RTHK: Trudeau hands back emergency powers after nine days

Canada is ending rarely used special measures invoked nine days ago to tackle weeks-long protests that shut some border crossings and paralyzed Ottawa since late-January, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday.

"After careful consideration, we're ready to confirm that the situation is no longer an emergency. Therefore, the federal government will be ending the use of the Emergencies Act," Trudeau told a news conference.

"We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe," he said.

Trudeau said the emergency measures would formally be revoked in the coming hours, when Canada's governor general signs the proclamation.

The Emergencies Act was approved in the House of Commons on Monday after being announced by Trudeau last week. The Senate has not yet voted to approve the act.

The province of Ontario also announced separately that it was terminating a state of emergency declared earlier this month in response to the protests.

The special measures have been deemed unnecessary and an abuse of power by some opposition politicians. Trudeau has said blockades were harming the economy and endangering public safety, and that the invocation of the act was needed to support police forces.

The protests, which started as an opposition to a cross-border Covid-19 vaccine mandate for truck drivers before turning into a broader demonstration against Trudeau's minority Liberal government, were brought to an end in Ottawa over the weekend. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
RTHK: Queen cancels virtual audiences due to Covid

Queen Elizabeth cancelled two engagements on Thursday after she tested positive for the coronavirus at the weekend, Buckingham Palace said.

"The two virtual audiences that had previously been scheduled to take place today will now be rescheduled for a later date," a spokesman said.

Royal officials announced on Sunday that the 95-year-old head of state had tested positive and had "mild" Covid symptoms, but would continue with "light duties".

Her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, tested positive for the second time since early 2020 on February 10, two days after meeting his mother at Windsor Castle.

The queen, who is in her record-breaking 70th year on the throne, cancelled similar virtual engagements planned for Tuesday but spoke to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday.

The monarch and the prime minister hold regular weekly meetings in private. They were conducted by telephone rather than in person due to coronavirus restrictions.

No further engagements are planned for this week but the latest cancellation will inevitably stoke further fears for her health, given her advanced age.

As a precaution, the queen and her husband Prince Philip moved to Windsor, west of London, in March 2020 as the global pandemic hit Britain.

The couple, who were married for 73 years, self-isolated with a reduced number of household staff. Philip, 99, died in April 2021, and his funeral was held under virus curbs.

She returned to official duties after his death and as restrictions were lifted. But she was forced to slow down on medical advice in October last year.

The palace was forced to confirm that she had an overnight stay in hospital after going in for unspecified tests. Since then her appearances have become rarer.

She held a public engagement at her Sandringham residence in eastern England on February 5 on the eve of the anniversary of her accession to the throne in 1952.

Preparations are well underway to mark the queen's Platinum Jubilee, with four days of public parades, pageants and parties planned for early June.

It will be hoped they will lighten the mood after a disastrous start to the historic landmark.

Her second son Prince Andrew, 62, earlier this month settled a US civil case for sexual assault, after years of scandal at his friendship with convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Public outrage on both sides of the Atlantic saw the queen strip Andrew of his honorary royal titles and charitable positions, in a move designed to protect the institution from further reputational damage.

Charles himself has also come under scrutiny after police in London announced a probe into "cash for honours" claims connected to one of his charities.

Meanwhile his son Prince Harry, in self-exile in the United States with his wife Meghan and their two children, has made waves with another legal case against a British newspaper.

On Wednesday, he filed a complaint for libel against Associated Newspapers over a report about a separate court case against Britain's interior ministry and the funding of his private security.

But the royals were keen to give the impression of business as usual, announcing a series of royal tours to eight of the 14 Commonwealth countries outside Britain where she is also queen and head of state.

Charles and his second wife, Camilla, will visit Ireland from March 23-25, while his eldest son, Prince William and his wife, Catherine, will travel to the Caribbean.

They will be in the Commonwealth countries of Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas from March 19-26, with the visit likely to be keenly watched after Barbados ditched the queen as head of state in November last year.

The queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, will visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines from April 22-28.

And her only daughter, Princess Anne, will be in Papua New Guinea, from April 11-13. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
US President Joe Biden announced new "harsh" sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine he called Russian President Vladimir Putin an "aggressor."

Biden imposed measures to impede Russia's ability to do business in the world's major currencies along with sanctions against banks and state-owned enterprises.

"This is a premeditated attack," Biden told reporters at the White House, saying Putin rejected attempts by the West to engage in dialogue and had violated international law. "Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences."

Biden said the sanctions were designed to have a long-term impact on Russia and to minimise the impact on the United States and its allies. And he said Washington was prepared to do more.

Biden said NATO would meet on Friday to map out further measures. He reiterated that the United States would not engage in war with Russia, but that it would meet its Article 5 commitments to defend NATO partners.

Biden said this was a dangerous moment for all of Europe, and that he had authorized troops that had been placed on standby to deploy to Germany.

"Putin's aggression against Ukraine will end up costing Russia dearly," Biden said. "Putin will be a pariah on the international stage."

US President Joe Biden declined to comment when asked about whether China would help isolate Russia.

Biden said the invasion is "about Putin's desire for empire by any means necessary. By bullying Russia's neighbours through coercion and corruption. By changing borders by force, and ultimately by choosing a war without a cause."
A complete shift to renewable energy in North Carolina by the middle of the century would cut the cost of electricity by more than half and lead to a net gain of more than 200,000 long-term jobs in the state, according to a study by Stanford University researchers.

The projections for the state by researchers at Stanfords Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering largely mirror the projects national findings.

They also are a broadside against claims from skeptics who insist a wholesale shift to green energy is neither feasible nor sustainable, some North Carolina environmental advocates say.

Fossil fuel companies like Exxon and their political supporters say that switching to renewable energy will ruin our way of life, said Bill Blancato, a Winston-Salem lawyer who serves as regional coordinator for North and South Carolina at Citizens Climate Lobby, an international environmental organization. Thats just not true. Powering our cars and homes with renewable energy will reduce consumers energy costs, create jobs and be good for the environment.

In North Carolina in 2050, the Stanford researchers predicted, a 100% transition to renewable energy would:

Keep the states electrical grid stable 100% of the time.

Create 207,000 more long-term full-time jobs than are lost.

Save 1,630 lives from air pollution per year.

Reduce energy demands by 52.7%.

Reduce annual energy costs by 52.4% (from $56.5 billion to $26.9 billion).

All about the grid

The Stanford scientists focused on how to meet projected energy demands every 30 seconds across the United States in 2050 and 2051, with no blackouts, while using power generated only by wind, water and the sun.

Failure to meet the 30-second requirement anywhere in the nation would shut down the simulation.

That was a crucial distinction for the studys authors, who noted California blackouts in the summer of 2020 and widespread winter outages in Texas a year ago were often blamed on the growth in renewable electricity and its intermittency.

A report from three California agencies found that a failure to prepare for predictable historic heatwaves caused by climate change was to blame for rolling blackouts in 2020. State regulators also failed to instruct utilities to set aside sufficient power supplies for use at night, when solar panels went offline, the agencies reported.

In Texas, low temperatures caused natural gas, coal, nuclear, and wind electricity generators to fail, with natural gas being the largest source of electricity and failure, the report says.

At least 246 deaths were reported as a result of last Februarys Texas winter storms.

Stockpiling energy for such extreme weather events is critical in preventing grid failure and subsequent outages, the studys authors stress.

They say pooling and refreshing stores of high-capacity batteries when energy availability is at its highest will create reserves for when demand is greatest  or when the wind isnt blowing or the sun is not shining.

In North Carolina, weather variability will add another layer of insulation against grid strain, according to the study.

This is helped by the fact that, during cold storms, winds are stronger and wind/solar are complementary in nature, the authors explain.

Replicating real world

The study makes both broad and highly specific assumptions to reach conclusions about what will happen nearly three decades from now, something the authors are careful to concede when they note several uncertainties, including whether the models used here can replicate the real world.

The outcomes assume that in 2050, all U.S. vehicles on the road are either electric or powered by hydrogen fuel cells, and count on the electrification of all building heating and cooling systems, appliances, indoor and outdoor power equipment, and other devices that run on fossil fuels.

The authors also make detailed projections about energy generation from rooftop solar panels (on homes, as well as commercial and institutional buildings), utility-scale solar arrays, and both onshore and offshore wind turbines.

In addition, they rely on the ability of regional electrical grids to share power at critical times.

For North Carolina, the studys timeframe dovetails with the latest climate change executive order signed by Gov. Roy Cooper in January. It calls for a 50% reduction in the states greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2030, and net-zero emissions no later than 2050.

The timeline also aligns with the most recent decarbonization goals set by Duke Energy.

The company says it has reduced direct greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by 44% from 2005 levels, and that it is on pace to achieve goals of at least a 50% reduction by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050.

A Duke Energy spokesman declined to comment on the Stanford study Monday.

John Deem covers climate change and the environment in the Triad and Northwest North Carolina. His work is funded by a grant from the 1Earth Fund and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. 336-727-7204

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RALEIGH  Hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians work in companies that sell goods and services all around the world. Theyll prosper, as will our state, to the extent we knock down barriers to our exports.

Few disagree with that goal. Differences of opinion arise when we get specific. Consider the recent news that the United States ran a trade deficit of $859 billion last year. In dollar terms, thats the largest such deficit in the countrys history. Its also a 27% increase over the trade deficit for 2020.

At the risk of sparking the first big disagreement, I should say at the outset that I dont think the trade deficit is itself an issue of critical importance. It doesnt signify, for example, that our exporters took in on the chin. In fact, goods exports shot up 23% last year to $1.8 trillion, also a record amount, as economies around the world began to recover from the COVID crisis and their consumers gobbled up American-made products.

Of course, American consumers also gobbled up goods imported from abroad. And Americas service industries didnt have as good a year, in part because of continued weakness in education and tourism (if foreigners come to the U.S. to study or travel, their expenditures constitute exports).

So, the net result was a trade deficit  but that hardly made it a crisis. American consumers got products they highly valued. And our service sector will likely bounce back more strongly in 2022 as COVID-induced fears and restrictions fade. More fundamentally, because America remains one of the best places to invest money, we are going to run trade deficits of some size for the foreseeable future. Its an inescapable fact of accounting: if we run a capital-account surplus, we must run a current-account deficit, the vast majority of which will be a trade deficit.

Now, lets talk about China. Americas $355 billion trade deficit with that country represented 41% of the total. Again, exports to China rose but imports from China rose much more.

Remember the deal former President Trump negotiated with the Chinese regime two years ago? It required the Chinese to purchase an additional $200 billion in American imports by the end of 2021.

The deal didnt stick. Chinese imports from American firms turned out to be only 57% of the required figure. Moreover, since the 2020 agreement came after the former president initiated a trade war, setting off cycles of retaliatory tariffs, the real point of comparison would be exports to China now vs. exports to China before the tariff escalation. By that metric, the policy has been an abject failure. Our exports to China havent yet returned to the pre-trade-war baseline.

Im not arguing that the Trump administration bungled the execution of the agreement during its last year, or that the Biden administration bungled it during 2021. Im rejecting the entire premise that the way to help American industries sell more overseas is to negotiate sales quotas with national governments. Exports to China went up last year but exports to our other trading partners, especially in Europe, went up more. The latter didnt happen because a bunch of politicians set sales quotas.

We need to stop trying to manage trade and focus instead on slashing taxes (tariffs) and increasing our economys productive capacity.

With regard to the first goal, the best way to encourage the governments of our trading partners to lower tariffs and other barriers to accessing their markets is to offer reductions in our existing barriers to their goods and services  not to raise tariffs first and seek negotiation later. As recent experience has shown, that tends to provoke retaliatory tariffs, not productive discussion leading to net reductions in trade barriers.

And with regard to productive capacity, North Carolina leaders and their counterparts in Washington have full power to act on their own. Reforming our systems of taxation, regulation, education, and infrastructure would help all our businesses, including exporters, to grow and thrive.

John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member and author of the new novel Mountain Folk, a historical fantasy set during the American Revolution (MountainFolkBook.com).
Even Illinois residents who do not have direct ties to Ukraine or Russia may soon feel the effects of the invasion and the accompanying sanctions on the Russian economy. One place that will be felt is at the pump, as oil and gasoline prices rise.
MATTOON  A Louisiana man was ticketed after the box truck he was driving struck a parked Illinois Department of Transportation truck blocking traffic from nearby workers along Interstate 57.

The crash happened around 12:33 p.m. Tuesday in the northbound lanes of the interstate at milepost 188 south of Mattoon. The crash caused the northbound lanes to be closed, then traffic restricted, to allow for the removal of debris.

According to Illinois State Police in Pesotum, Evan T. Bebee, 24, struck the IDOT truck which was equipped with a truck-mounted attenuator, and overturned on its side in the roadway. A 2019 Chevrolet Traverse also was damaged after it drove through the crash debris.

Bebee was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the IDOT truck, a 64-year-old male of Humboldt, and the driver of the Traverse, a 25-year-old male of Michigan, refused medical attention.

Bebee was issued citations for failure to yield to a stationary emergency vehicle (Scotts Law) and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

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CHARLESTON  The Coles County Board's Health and Safety Committee has agreed to hold a conversation on the county's animal shelter at next months meeting after hearing Tuesday from a group of concerned residents.

"We wish to foster a community where volunteers are welcome and could contribute to programs," said Latonya Davies, owner of All For Them, Latonyas Pet Care Services and an organizer of Concerned Animal Advocates of Coles County.

"At the end of the day, we wish to see a pet-friendly Coles County."

The Concerned Animal Advocates of Coles County, which had over a dozen individuals at Tuesday's meeting, cited among its concerns the high euthanasia rates of cats and the unlivable situation for animals brought to the facility because of the limited amount of space.

The shelter's warden, Julie Deter, said in an interview Wednesday that last year, 848 cats were brought into the shelter with approximately 501 euthanized at the owner's request or because of overpopulation of the shelter and cats being aggressive and feral or contracting sickness like upper respiratory issues, feline herpes, ringworm and feline immunodeficiency virus.

"There are a lot of feline diseases that come through," Deter said. "We definitely need more space and to make a place where we can isolate younger kittens from the adults. It's almost like running a daycare because everything that comes in is exposed."

Even with treatment and medication, Deter said it still does not avoid the option of euthanizing those cats because their quality of life is still hindered by the space and resources they have available.

On the other hand, Melissa Brown Burton-Sanders, a former warden of the shelter and organizer of the advocacy group, said the shelter lost its primary way of spaying and neutering animals after the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine suspended its spay and neutering program and they need to have a someone on hand to handle the animals that come.

Coupled with the issue of cat colonies occupying the county and the shelter not having the resources to trap, neuter and release them back to private properties, Burton-Sanders said it will only worsen the issue of feral cats in the area.

"I understand the situation that Julie (Deter) is in. I'm in a unique position compared to pretty much everybody else here. I've served both as a private citizen running my own rescue, assisting other rescue facilities, and I've worked as a warden," said Burton-Sanders, who owns Forever Homes Rescue.

Burton-Sanders was brought in to be an interim warden at the shelter from Sept. 22 to Oct. 26 in 2021 when Deter was placed on administrative leave for six weeks.

"I do know that there is an absolute influx of animals that come into the shelter and the facility is too small to house the animals in this county," Burton-Sanders said. "There is no way they could be a no-kill shelter or even a local shelter because of the number of animals that come as an animal control facility."

Davies suggested changing the name of the facility from "County Animal Rescue & Education" to "Animal Control Facility" to reflect current practices and to not mislead the public into thinking the facility can limit the number of animals they receive when it can't.

Deter said she is all for a trap, neuter and release program, as long as she has the permission from the county, a way to pay for the treatment and support from volunteers who want to do the work.

As a way to help and facilitate volunteer work, Burton-Sanders said organizers want to established a steering committee for the shelter in order to support, guide and provide oversight on the facility and to revise applications for state funding and grant programs, including funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Better Cities For Pets grant from Mars Petcare.

Deter said the shelter did have an official from Mars Petcare evaluate the shelter through inspections and audits and had it deemed acceptable per the grant requirements except for one factor; its euthanasia rate of cats.

"I think we're all on the same page to give each animal a chance, it's just how are we going to accomplish it," Deter said. "I am all for working together if we can figure out how we can get these animals fixed and housed with a family."

Looking at those who were present during the meeting, Burton-Sander said there are people in the community who have the skills and are willing to do the work, it is just a matter of being able to allow them in and work alongside.

"Everyone understands the realities that we all want to see us as humans working toward a better world for those animals though there's so many out there that are neglected or abused," Burton-Sanders said. "It's our job to provide good, loving, caring facilities for these animals to go to."

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  An Illinois state senator resigned Wednesday just before indicating his intention to plead guilty in a federal embezzlement case.

Democrat Thomas E. Cullerton of Villa Park gave up his seat of nearly 10 years and his lawyer told U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman that a trial would not be necessary over a charge Cullerton accepted $275,000 in salary and benefits from the Teamsters union for a no-show job.

Gettleman set a change of plea hearing of March 8 for the 52-year-old Cullerton, part of a Chicago political family that dates to the Great Fire of 1871. He is also a distant cousin of former Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat.

Cullerton, whose case was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2019 on 39 counts of embezzlement from a labor union, one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefit plans and one count of making false statements in a health care matter.

Cullerton declined comment through a spokeswoman until all legal proceedings are finalized.

Elected to the state senate in 2012, Cullerton was a truck driver and Teamsters member who got a job as an organizer for Teamsters Joint Council 25 that same year after a former employer shut down.

His indictment came just days after former Teamsters boss John T. Coli pleaded guilty in an extortion case. Coli acknowledged arranging the job for Cullerton despite doubts that the employment was legitimate.

Prosecutors allege that from 2013 to 2016, Cullerton collected $188,320 in salary, bonuses and allowances from the Teamsters, $64,068 in health and pension contribution and $21,678 in reimbursed medical bills while doing little or no work for the labor union.

Democratic leaders in Cullerton's DuPage County senate district will choose a replacement to complete Culllerton's term which expires in January 2023.

An Illinois state senator resigned Wednesday just before indicating his intention to plead guilty in a federal embezzlement case.

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Winston-Salem is set to get a new craft brewery this spring. Lesser-Known Beer Co. is currently renovating an old service-station building at 901 S. Broad St., where it will put its brewery and a tasting room.

Owners Will Loring and Ryan Gramlich moved here from Richmond, Va., to start their brewery, which will focus on traditional lagers and older styles of beer.

We spent a weekend looking around North Carolina, and when we came to Winston-Salem, we just fell in love with it, Loring said.

Gramlich has been a brewer in Virginia. Loring worked in craft-beer wholesale distribution. The two friends had met in college, then reconnected years later over a love of beer.

Loring said that Lesser-Known will have a 10-barrel system. It will have a custom three-vessel brewhouse to enable decoction, a traditional brewing technique in Germany and the Czech Republic.

We just came back from a trip to Germany and the Czech Republic to meet with brewers and suppliers, Loring said. Two weeks ago we were in Moravia  it just so happens were two blocks away from Old Salem (which was settled by Moravians).

Loring said that Lesser Known also will do open fermentation, an early, traditional method used in brewing.

Loring said that the building is about 4,000 square feet and will include a pass-through window from the brewery side to the tasting-room side to allow them to serve beer as soon as its made. Lesser-Known also plans to have outdoor seating in front.

Loring said the brewery will offer at least one hoppy beer, but that it would like to introduce people to lesser-known styles, such as kellerbier, as the brewerys name implies.

For more information, visit lesserknownbeer.com.

336-727-7394 @mhastingsWSJ

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UAE-based Al Habtoor Group has denied any links to Rashid Al Habtoor and his company Al Habtoor Trading Enterprises (HTE) and affiliates.

Founded by the Chairman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, the leading business conglomerate is today globally recognised through its involvement in the hotel, automotive, real estate, education, and insurance sectors. The Al Habtoor Group today operates in the UAE and international markets.

In an official statement released to the media, the Habtoor Group said all its divisions, including Habtoor Hospitality AKA Habtoor Hotels, have no link or relationship of any kind with HTE.

A spokesperson for the group said: "We feel obligated to clarify that Al Habtoor Group and Rashid Al Habtoor are two separate entities. We want to make clear to anyone that might have the impression that the two are linked, that they are not in any way connected."

"Any actions or business decisions taken by Rashid Al Habtoor, and or Al Habtoor Trading Enterprises or any of their associates are their sole responsibility, and Al Habtoor Group is not liable under any circumstance for any damages or liabilities arising directly or indirectly from Rashid Al Habtoor and Al Habtoor Trading Enterprises business ventures," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A popular Raleigh bar is planning to open a location in Bailey Power Plant in Winston-Salems Innovation Quarter this year.

Dram & Draught expects to move into a ground-floor space in Bailey Power Plant this fall. The entrance will be next to Bailey Power Plants iconic smokestack. Dram & Draught will be near Anchor Coffee, but its large windows face out onto Patterson Avenue, just a few yards from Alma Mexicana.

Kevin Barrett and his business partner, Drew Schenck, opened the first Dram & Draught in Raleigh in 2016. They opened a Greensboro location in 2018 and a Durham location last fall.

This is a neighborhood bar thats kind of there for everybody, said Lentz Ison, the companys director of operations.

Dram & Draught is known for stocking 300 or more whiskeys, as well as a selection of New and Old World wines and local and national craft beers on tap.

Most of our business is craft cocktails, Ison said.

Ison said that the bar will utilize the area around the smokestack for a patio and will have an outside entrance so customers wont have to enter the main Bailey Power Plant building first.

Ison said that each Dram & Draught has a slightly different design tailored to the specific location but that all feature a specially designed bar so everyone can see each other when theyre at the bar.

Dram & Draught also has a private barrel program, with a different whiskey stored in barrels at each location. We serve the whiskey out of the barrel, and we use that for our old-fashioneds, Ison said.

Dram & Draught also is planning new locations in Charlotte, Wilmington and Cary.

336-727-7394 @mhastingsWSJ

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Q: Ive been walking a lot lately at Tanglewood Park and I noticed the park staff pulling the tops out of dead trees, then leaving the trees standing. Just wondering why they dont cut down the dead trees rather than pulling off just the tops?

R.S.

Answer: The trees were killed by an infestation of the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that feeds on ash trees. The infestation is causing communities across the country to cut down ash trees, before the borers kill the trees.

"The area and trees in question at Tanglewood have been heavily impacted by infestation from the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB)," Christopher S. Weavil, the assistant director of park operations for the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department. "EAB are non-native invasive pests that infect all species of ash trees. There is no effective control for forest or woodland stands of ash.

"The EAB arrived in North Carolina in approximately 2013 and is now prevalent across most of the state.

"The area referred to at Tanglewood was addressed by the Tanglewood maintenance staff in early winter.

"Removing the tops from the dead ash trees was a quick and effective way to reduce the risk of falling limbs from the affected ash trees along this section of trail. Once infested it takes about 2 years for damage to completely kill a tree.

"Ash that have been killed by EAB infestations become extremely brittle and can drop limbs at any time, especially during storms and any high winds.

"The remaining standing trunks (though unsightly pose a significantly reduced risk) will be addressed at a later date.

"All proper safety precautions should have been in place at the time this work was conducted for park patrons as well as staff. We will speak with staff and ensure all safety protocols and precautions were taken then and for any work."

Q: Last summer at the Downtown Jazz Series, they had a wonderful musician, The Terence Young Experience scheduled to perform at Corpening Plaza. As we waited for the performance to begin, the sky opened up and after an hour or so of rain, the concert was canceled. Are there plans to bring this remarkable musician back to complete his performance? He is quite wonderful.

D.R.

Answer: Jason Thiel, the president of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, Inc., one of the sponsoring organizations for the Downtown Jazz Series said that the schedule for this summers concerts has not been finalized yet.

Sorry about that last year. We expect to have a schedule by no later than mid-May, Thiel said.

Q : Judging traffic around me on rainy days, it seems a lot of people don't know they should have their lights on when it's raining. Can you remind them?

M.H.

Answer: Gladly. N.C. General Statute 20-129 requires that drivers use their headlights from sunset to sunrise, when there is not sufficient light to discern a person or vehicle on the roadway at a distance of 400 feet, and when windshield wipers are on in times of fog, rain, sleet, snow or when inclement weather or environmental factors severely reduce the driver's ability to clearly discern a person or vehicle on the roadway at a distance of 500 feet ahead.

When wipers are on intermittent headlights are not required.

Also, running lights are not considered "headlamps" under North Carolina law, according to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles.

Email: AskSAM@wsjournal.com Write: Ask SAM, 418 N. Marshall St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101

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A former Forsyth County minister told a judge Wednesday that the stress, anxiety and isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic led him down a dark path to downloading and viewing child pornography.

T Elliott Welch, 35, of Stonewell Lane in Tobaccoville made the comments in Forsyth Superior Court after he pleaded guilty to 13 counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor.

Welch told Judge Richard Gottlieb of Forsyth Superior Court that he had just become lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Stanleyville when the coronavirus pandemic shut down in-person church services. He said he was suddenly limited in what he could do for church members, including ministering in-person with church members dying from COVID-19 in the hospital. Welch said he became stressed as people argued about whether to wear a mask or, later, whether to take a COVID-19 vaccine.

I turned to pornography to numb the stress and anxiety, said Welch, who resigned as senior pastor of First Baptist Church on April 29, 2021 after his arrest.

During a hearing that lasted more than an hour, Welch; his wife, Julia; and three supporters, including Nancy Epperson, whose husband, Stu Epperson Sr. is co-founder of Salem Media Group and a nationally-recognized Christian evangelical leader, implored Judge Richard Gottlieb of Forsyth Superior Court to not impose an active sentence. Welch now works for Stu Epperson Sr.s company, doing administrative and other responsibilities.

Welch said having to serve prison time would be a significant step backward on all of his efforts to deal with his addiction to child pornography and to make amends for his criminal conduct.

Gottlieb split the difference. Per plea arrangement, he consolidated all 13 counts into seven consecutive sentences, with one being an active sentence. Gottlieb sentenced Welch to a minimum of one year, 7 months and a maximum of six years, 11 months in prison. Then, Gottlieb gave him six consecutive suspended sentences totaling a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 42 years.

Welch will be placed on supervised probation for two years and six months. If Welch violates the terms of his probation, he faces the potential of having to serve up to 42 years in prison.

He will have to register as a sex offender for a period of 30 years once he is released.

A Cyber Tip

Assistant District Attorney Pansy Glanton said Forsyth County Sheriffs investigator A.N. McBride received a Cyber Tip on April 16, 2021 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone living in the 7600 block of Stonewell Lane had child pornography. The tip had come from the Kik messaging application showing that someone had downloaded and distributed a video showing a girl, who was between 10 and 12, on her knees while a man raped her.

The tip also included eight images showing a young girl in sexually provocative poses, Glanton said. The images and video came under a Kik account identified as pastormills42. There was also an email account that also used pastormills as part of the address. Investigators ultimately identified the person downloading the child pornography as Welch.

The Forsyth County Sheriffs Office executed a search warrant at Welchs house. Welch was home and he made statements to McBride and another investigator who is only identified by the last name Neefe and who works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Welch, Glanton said, told investigators that he had started viewing adult pornography and that he went to pornography involving teenagers. That later devolved into watching child pornography that included the sexual abuse and rape of young girls between the ages of 3 and 13, Glanton said.

Welch said he would download the pornography, watch it, masturbate and then delete it. Glanton said Welch was part of a group in the Kik messaging application where people were supposed to distribute child pornography to each other.

Glanton said that because Welch deleted accounts containing child pornography, he would create new usernames and passwords to continue viewing child pornography.

Investigators seized Welchs cellphone, computers and other items from the home. After a forensic analysis, Glanton said investigators identified 87 files. Thirty-six of those files contained videos of child pornography, she said. One of the videos showed a young girl being sexually abused with a toothbrush and a blue ink pen.

The video and images retrieved from the Cyber Tip was dated Feb. 20, 2020, Glanton said.

Have mercy

On Wednesday afternoon, 25 people, including Welchs wife, sat in several rows in Courtroom 5A, watching Welch, dressed in a light-gray suit, white shirt and a black tie, stand before Gottlieb and plead guilty.

Welch had served as associate pastor and minister of students at First Baptist Church in Stanleyville from September 2014 to January 2020, according to the churchs website when he was first arrested. In February 2020, he became senior pastor.

Welch had received a bachelors degree in science in religion, specializing in youth ministry, from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. He also received a masters of divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served in churches along the East Coast and was a church-planting catalyst in northern Ghana with the International Mission Board. Welch said he worked as a street preacher and he and his wife wrote a book entitled Grace and Gingerbread: A 25-Day Devotional about the Christmas season.

But on Wednesday, instead of a pulpit, he stood beside his attorney, Dylan Greenwood, and described in excruciating detail how ashamed he is of his criminal conduct and the many steps he has taken since his arrest to change his life for the better.

He said he has not looked at any kind of pornography for 308 days. He is on step 9 of a 12-step program for sexual addiction. He said he attends weekly counseling, goes to church and participates in a Mens Bible group.

And he said he works 30 to 40 hours a week at a job supporting his wife and four children. He said he is the sole provider while his wife stays home to take care of the children.

Welch told Gottlieb that he takes responsibility for his actions and is ashamed of what he did.

I am sorry for exploiting and perpetuating the abuse of the girls in the videos, he said. I am disgusted with myself.

Julia Welch, his wife, said she was stunned when sheriffs deputies came to their house with a search warrant. She had no idea what they were looking for and when she did find out, she was speechless. Her first instinct, she said, was to take her children away and live with her family. But she decided to stay.

She said she watched her once-confident husband collapse, broken and remorseful for what he had done. And she saw him aggressively take steps to repair the damage he had done, Julia Welch said. She said she and her husband have also worked hard to save their marriage.

Please do not send him to prison, she told Gottlieb.

Greenwood told Gottlieb that his client has made significant progress toward rehabilitation and that he has been punished enough. Welch is now getting the help he likely needed when he was younger and didnt develop the necessary coping skills to deal with lifes stresses, Greenwood said.

Glanton said an active prison sentence was needed because child pornography harms children over and over again. It didnt matter that Welch himself didnt sexually abuse any children; he viewed images and videos for more than a year of young unidentified girls who were being raped and sexually abused and distributed that material to others, children who were about the same ages as his four children, she said.

When you do the crime, you face the exposure of time, she said.

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At Tuesdays meeting of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education, several people spoke passionately and at times heatedly about why they wanted the mask mandate to be lifted immediately.

The tone and tenor of the comments took an unusual, and ultimately disruptive turn, when two speakers, first, Regina Garner and then Deborah Tuttle, began reading from a script that attempted to make a case that the school board has failed to uphold the state and federal constitutions by enforcing a mandate, in this case a mask mandate.

Among other issues, they falsely accused the school board of practicing medicine without a license, committing child abuse because of masking and violating the states obscenity law by keeping in school libraries materials with obscene and inappropriate images.

Tuttle told the school board that unless these violations were corrected in 72 hours, the school board would be receiving letters of intent to file a claim against the school districts insurance carrier, Liberty Mutual.

The scene was straight from the playbook of Bonds for the Win, a group that is urging parents and far-right activists to serve claims against school districts, claiming they have broken laws. Bonds for the Win has a website that includes scripts on how to file claims in several states, including North Carolina.

NBC reported Monday that Bonds for the Win has attempted to serve paperwork to school districts in 14 states. Most recently, a group used the tactic in Iredell-Statesville Schools causing a commotion.

On Tuesday, as Tuttle read from a Bonds for the Win script, a man crossed the line of civility when he walked past the barrier separating the school board from the public, carrying a box with documents he attempted to give each school board member as well as Superintendent Tricia McManus.

The public is not allowed to cross the barrier, as is made clear before each meeting. When he refused to leave the platform where the board sits, security pulled him off the platform and eventually held him on the ground in an attempt to subdue him.

He was expected to be cited with resisting a public officer and trespassing. In addition, he is banned from school property, school spokesman Brent Campbell said.

Board Chairwoman Deanna Kaplan said on Wednesday that she wants to discuss with other board members and school officials what she called a disgraceful display by some members of the community.

Beyond the man crossing the safety barrier, there were several disruptions, a shouted expletive and a chant of Terrorists after Kaplan ordered a brief recess as security tried to subdue the man.

It was very disappointing, unnerving and disturbing, Kaplan said. Were going to have some serious discussions on what meetings look like moving forward, especially when someone shouts out, The patriots are coming.

School board meetings throughout the country have become more heated, fueled by discussion of mask-wearing and Critical Race Theory. Though local school board meetings have been relatively calm, the school district in the fall installed a security barrier  essentially an elastic piece of material stretched across the front of the room  that separates the board and superintendent from the audience.

Typically, if people want to give something to each board member, they will announce their intention, then give it to a staff member who will distribute the material.

As emotions have escalated over the last few years, it gives us an extra layer of protection, Kaplan said.

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The COVID-19 case count for Forsyth County remained above 100 for the second consecutive report, which also included an additional related death, according to Thursdays update from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Service.

Forsyth has had 65 COVID-related deaths in February and 757 altogether since the pandemic began in 2020.

Meanwhile, DHHS said the State Laboratory of Public Health has not identified the BA.2 Omicron subvariant.

However, we are aware that the BA.2 subvariant has been identified by other laboratories in the state, including some of the laboratories participating in the statewide COVID-19 sequencing network, DHHS said.

BA.2 represents a very small proportion (about 4% to 5%) of sequenced viruses in the United States at this time.

Forsyth was reported with five COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday and Tuesday.

The county ended January with 73 COVID-related deaths. The second-highest total is 67 in February 2021 before COVID-19 vaccines were readily available.

DHHS lists COVID-19 cases and deaths on the day they are confirmed by medical providers and public health officials, so individuals may have been infected or may have died days or weeks before their cases were counted.

Forsyth health director Joshua Swift said Tuesday he remains confident the number of COVID-related deaths will decline, as have numbers of new cases and hospitalizations over the past two weeks.

Statewide, 59 additional COVID-related deaths were listed in Thursdays report, bringing North Carolinas total COVID-related deaths to 22,449.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of December the risk of dying from COVID-19 was 14 times higher for unvaccinated adults than fully vaccinated adults.

For those who had gotten a booster shot, they were 51 times less likely to die from COVID-19 that an unvaccinated individual.

Forsyth case counts

Forsyth was reported with 108 new cases for the second consecutive DHHS report, which are up from 60 Tuesday and 49 Monday.

Mondays case count has been the lowest daily total since the omicron variant surge began in mid-to late-December.

Forsyth has recorded a total of 91,011 cases since the pandemic began.

The recent decrease in new cases is among the factors that led Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines to end the citywide mask mandate. Starting Tuesday, people will not be required to wear masks.

Thats even though the city hasnt reached the COVID-19 targets set by Joines on Oct. 29.

At that time, Joines said that in order to lift the citys mask mandate, the city must have a COVID-19 positive test rate of 5% or less for at least two weeks and must average fewer than 10 new cases per 100,000 people over five days.

As of Thursday, Forsyths positive test rate over the past 14 days was 11%.

The statewide rate was 7.9% on Thursday, the lowest since 7.8% on Dec. 16.

Thursdays update had Forsyth averaging 29 cases per 100,000 residents over the most recent two-week period. Thats down from 82 per 100,000 residents in the Feb. 11 report.

Joines cautioned that if other COVID-19 variants emerge to cause large spikes in cases, reinstating the mandate is always a possibility.

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education voted 6-2 on Feb. 22 to lift the districts mask mandate Monday.

Gov. Roy Cooper has encouraged local school boards and governments to end their mask mandates by March 7 if key COVID-19 numbers continue to decline at current rates.

Wake Forest decision

On Thursday, Wake Forest University officials issued a statement that a phased approach would begin March 5 toward lifting the campus mask requirement.

Our decisions regarding campus COVID protocols are influenced by these local public health guidelines, as well as our own campus health data, according to the statement.

This is a positive step in line with the low number of infections among students, faculty and staff, and the result of full university compliance with booster vaccination requirements. We continue to monitor relevant indicators of potential risks to our campus community and are prepared to make adjustments as needed in the future.

The March 5 start coincides with the first day of spring break on the Reynolda campus.

At that time, masks will continue to be required in classrooms, healthcare facilities and on university transportation. Use of masks will be optional in most other indoor campus spaces, according to the statement.

On March 19  the Saturday after students return from spring break  masks still will be required in healthcare facilities and on university transportation, but will be optional in all other locations.

Please remember that you may choose to wear a mask for your personal protection even if others are not masked, according to the statement. Faculty and staff may request students and colleagues wear masks in their respective classrooms, meeting spaces and individual offices through the end of the semester.

Faculty, staff and students with underlying health conditions can submit a request for reasonable accommodations through the normal accommodation processes.

Swift and Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious diseases expert with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, still encourage residents to wear a mask in indoor public settings if they believe there is a risk for exposure.

Swift also still encourages people to be fully vaccinated and boosted when eligible.

Statewide update

Statewide, DHHS reported 3,650 cases on Thursday, compared with 3,470 Wednesday, 1,716 Tuesday and 2,060 Monday.

Mondays report marked the lowest daily statewide count since 1,041 on Nov. 28  about 2 weeks before the omicron surge commenced locally.

The record-high daily case count stands at 35,759, reported Jan. 14.

North Carolina has recorded 2.58 million cases during the pandemic, according to DHHS.

COVID-19 hospitalizations remain on a downward trend with 1,982 patients statewide on Wednesday. Thats down from 2,123 on Tuesday.

Statewide, COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped for 28 consecutive days.

Hospitals in the 17-county Triad region had a combined 422 COVID-19 patients Wednesday, down 18 from Tuesday.

Statewide, 258 patients are on ventilators, including 55 in the Triad region. There were 44 children hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, including 10 in the Triad region.

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In a major new archaeological discovery, a Neolithic complex of 9,000-year-old stone carvings has been uncovered in Jordan's southeastern desert.

The find was recorded by a team of Jordanian and French archaeologists and announced on Tuesday at a press conference held by the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The site is believed to be a unique ritualistic installation dedicated to the hunting of gazelles, and features gigantic stone traps known as "desert kites," which the researchers say are the world's oldest large-scale human-built sculptures.

This latest discovery was made in October 2021 by the South Eastern Badia Archaeological Project (SEBAP), headed by Mohammad B. Tarawneh and Wael Abu-Azizeh, who have been investigating the region for the past decade.

The "desert kite" hunting traps consist of long stone walls which led prey to an enclosure in which they could be corralled, and were first discovered by the team in the Jibal al-Khashabiyeh area in 2013.

This led then to the discovery of campsites used by the hunters whose lives were centered around the desert kites and the catching of game. The residents lived in semi-subterranean circular huts, and pottery and animal bones have previously been unearthed.

Archaeologists say the new discovery gives an insight into these ancient people's creative and spiritual expressions. It consists of two stone carvings, which have been named Ghassan and Abu Ghassan. The taller of the two, at 112 centimeters, has been carved with the representation of a desert kite incorporated with a human figure, while the smaller, at 70 centimeters, has a finely detailed human face.

Other finds include a ritual altar stone, a hearth, a carefully arranged collection of some 150 marine fossils, as well as animal figurines and delicately executed flint objects.

"This is the only architectural model of its kind known to date worldwide in a Neolithic context," says SEBAP in a statement.

These rare anthromorphic carvings are some of the oldest artistic expressions in the Middle East, and the team says that the altar and associated hearth suggest that they were likely used for sacrificial offerings.

"The sacral symbolism and ritual performance evidenced were most likely devoted to invoke the supernatural forces for successful hunts and abundance of preys to capture," says SEBAP. "It sheds an entire new light on the symbolism, artistic expression as well as spiritual culture of these hitherto unknown Neolithic populations [who] specialized in mass hunting of gazelles using the 'desert kites.'"

The earliest known temple in human history is Gobekli Tepe complex in southeastern Anatolia, Turkey, and is believed to have been built by hunter-gatherers. The 11,500-year-old stone structure was discovered by German archaeologist Dr. Klaus Schmidt in 1994 and is older than Stonehenge.

___
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Vladimir Putin told the world in the lead-up to Thursdays attacks on Ukraine that his operation aims to denazify Ukraine, a country with a Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust and who heads a Western-backed, democratically elected government.

The Holocaust, World War II and Nazism have been important tools for Putin in his bid to legitimize Russias moves in Ukraine, but historians see their use as disinformation and a cynical ploy to further the Russian leaders aims.

Israel has proceeded cautiously, seeking not to jeopardize its security ties with the Kremlin, despite what it considers the sacred memory of the 6 million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust.

Here's a closer look at how the ghosts of the past are shaping today's conflict:

The war that defines Russia

World War II, in which the Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people, is a linchpin of Russias national identity. In today's Russia, officials bristle at any questioning of the USSRs role.

Some historians say this has been coupled with an attempt by Russia at retooling certain historical truths from the war. They say Russia has tried to magnify the Soviet role in defeating the Nazis while playing down any collaboration by Soviet citizens in the persecution of Jews.

On Ukraine, Russia has tried to link the country to Nazism, particularly those who have led it since a pro-Russian leadership was toppled in 2014.

This goes back to 1941 when Ukraine, at the time part of the Soviet Union, was occupied by Nazi Germany. Some Ukrainian nationalists welcomed the Nazi occupiers, in part as a way to challenge their Soviet opponents, according to Yad Vashem, Israels Holocaust memorial. Historians say that, like in other countries, there was also collaboration.

Some of Ukraines politicians since 2014 have sought to glorify nationalist fighters from the era, focusing on their opposition to Soviet rule rather than their collaboration and documented crimes against Jews, as well as Poles living in Ukraine.

But making the leap from that to claiming Ukraines current government is a Nazi state does not reflect the reality of its politics, including the landslide election of a Jewish president and the aim of many Ukrainians to strengthen the countrys democracy, reduce corruption and move closer to the West.

In terms of all of the sort of constituent parts of Nazism, none of that is in play in Ukraine. Territorial ambitions. State-sponsored terrorism. Rampant antisemitism. Bigotry. A dictatorship. None of those are in play. So this is just total fiction, said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, a history professor at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

What's more, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish and has said that three of his grandfather's brothers were killed by German occupiers while his grandfather survived the war. That hasn't stopped Russian officials from comparing Zelenskyy to Jews who were forced to collaborate with the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Holocaust distortion

Putin's attempts to stretch history for political motives is part of a trend seen in other countries as well. Most prominently is Poland, where authorities are advancing a nationalist narrative at odds with mainstream scholarship, including through a 2018 law that regulates Holocaust speech.

The legislation sought to fight back against claims that Poland, a victim of Nazi Germany, bore responsibility for the Holocaust. The law angered Israel, where many felt it was an attempt to whitewash the fact that some Poles did kill Jews during the German occupation during World War II. Yad Vashem also came out against the legislation.

Havi Dreifuss, a historian at Tel Aviv University and Yad Vashem, said the world was now dealing with both Holocaust denial and Holocaust distortion, where countries or institutions were bringing forth their own interpretations of history that were damaging to the commemoration of the Holocaust.

Whoever deals with the period of the Holocaust must first and foremost be committed to the complex reality that occurred then and not with wars over memory that exist today, she said.

Israeli interests

The Holocaust is central to Israel's national identity. The country comes to a two-minute standstill on its Holocaust remembrance day. Schoolchildren, trade groups and soldiers makes regular trips to Yad Vashem's museum. Stories of the last cohort of Holocaust survivors constantly make the news.

Israel has butted heads with certain countries, like Poland, over the memory of the Holocaust. But Israel has appeared more reticent to challenge Putin and his narrative, according to some observers, because of its current security interests. Israel relies on coordination with Russia to allow it to strike targets in Syria, which it says are often weapons caches destined for Israel's enemies.

Israel came under fire from historians in 2020 after a speech by Putin and a separate video presentation at a meeting of world leaders in Jerusalem to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, which they said skewed toward his narrative and away from the historical facts.

Israel was conspicuously muted in its criticism of Russia in the lead-up to the attacks on Ukraine. Commentator Raviv Drucker wrote in the daily Haaretz that Israel was on the wrong side of history with its response, which initially sought to support Ukraine while not rattling Russia.

On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid condemned Russias attacks as a grave violation of the international order. But Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stopped short of issuing a public condemnation of Russias attack.

Vera Michlin-Shapir, a former official at Israels National Security Council and the author of Fluid Russia, a book about the country's national identity, said that Israel's regional security concerns were of greater interest than challenging Russia on its narrative.

Russia can provide weapons systems to our worst enemies and therefore Israel is proceeding very cautiously  you could say too cautiously  because there is an issue here that is at the heart of Israels security, she said.
A letter soliciting support from members of Congress  including our own Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis  will, we hope, be influential. Its cause is compassionate and just.

The letter, signed by more than 70 evangelical pastors, leaders and church members  participants in the Evangelical Immigration Table  urges our legislators to provide permanent legal status to Afghans who are already resettled across the U.S. after fleeing from the nightmare of Afghanistans final days as a democracy in August 2021.

These are the people, and their family members, who assisted the U.S. military and other Americans during our long and, at the end, tragic foray in Afghanistan, only to have to abandon their homes and rush to safety here after civilized allies left and the Taliban resurged.

More than 70,000 Afghans evacuated Kabul  approximately 1,600 of them live in North Carolina. But while theyve been granted temporary humanitarian parole, their path to permanent legal status is not yet clear. Theyre existing in a sort of limbo  temporarily shielded from deportation and allowed to work  but without the assurance of permanent legal status.

Their parole could end up being part of a perpetual temporary status, requiring periodic renewal at significant cost.

Thats not good for any family.

The evangelical leaders have suggested support for the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow Afghan parolees to be processed in a similar way to those resettled through traditional refugee resettlement programs. Theyd be allowed to apply for Lawful Permanent Resident status after one year.

But there may be other options. The important thing is to provide permanent status to these refugees that would allow them to make long-range plans for their future. Providing permanent status would give them the kind of reassurance and security that most of us take for granted.

For the evangelical leaders advocating for the Afghan refugees, their motivation comes largely from their faith.

My faith compels me to lead with love and I believe that wise discernment need not give way to fear, Graham Aitkin, a pastor from Boone, wrote in a news release. At its best, this nation serves as a beacon of hope for those who have faced the unimaginable and yet found a way to endure. May we always be willing to come alongside them and welcome them home.

At World Relief Durham, weve been overwhelmed by the response from local churches and the broader community to welcoming the Afghans being resettled here in North Carolina, Adam Clark, the director of World Relief Durham, wrote. As churches and volunteers step up to ensure that these new neighbors are able to integrate into our community, the Congress must do its part, as well, ensuring that Afghans are able to apply for permanent legal status, while also extending that permanence to others stuck in perpetual temporary status such as Dreamers whose ability to work and live lawfully in our community is once again in legal jeopardy.

We love working in our community, because Winston-Salem is a very welcoming community, Rob Cassell, executive director of World Relief Triad, told the Journal last year while discussing the Afghan refugees who are living here. A lot of what we do is connect these new arrivals with wonderful volunteers who get to be that first circle of support, those first friends in a community.

That perception speaks well of us.

The Evangelical Immigration Table is just as supportive of DACA beneficiaries and other Dreamers and, in its letter, asks Congress to take action on their status, too  a view thats shared by a majority of Americans.

It is both in these immigrant neighbors interest and in the interest of our society as a whole for our nation to formally affirm what we, as Christians, are eager to convey to these neighbors: that they are welcome here, that they belong and that the United States is now their home, just as it is ours, the letter reads.

The Afghans who have resettled here also sacrificed greatly to help our nation when we needed them. They risked torture and death once the Afghan government collapsed, and it was both a mercy and the meeting of a responsibility to bring them here.

But the jobs not done yet. Its no sacrifice to help them achieve permanent status in our country; it benefits everyone.
Saudi-based Acwa Power, a leader in power generation and water desalination plants, has announced the financial close of senior debt facilities worth $1.3 billion for the Red Sea Multi-Utilities Project in partnership with a consortium of financiers.

The financial close is for the development, construction and operations and maintenance of the Red Sea Multi-Utilities Project, said Acwa Power in its filing to the Saudi bourse Tadawul.

This comes following the finalization of the deal worth $1.302 billion on the conditions under the financing documents (Wet Financial Close) instead of $1.33 billion that was highlighted in the previous announcement (dry financial close) on December 21, 2021, it stated.

In the December notification, Acwa had announced that it had completed the dry financial close for $1.33 billion senior debt facilities for the Red Sea Multi-Utilities Project.

This project serves the worlds most ambitious regenerative tourism project and has been designed to offer access to some of Saudi Arabias most important cultural treasures while protecting, preserving and enhancing the local environment.

It is a joint venture between Acwa Power, Spic Huanghe Hydropower Development Company and Saudi Tabreed District Cooling Company (Saudi Tabreed), with Acwa Power holding a 50% equity stake.

In December, Acwa had announced that the JV would be responsible for the development, financing, design, engineering, construction, procurement, manufacturing, testing and commissioning, operation and maintenance and eventual transfer of the project systems and associated facilities, under a 25-year multi-utilities offtake contract with The Red Sea Utilities Company.

But in yesterday's bourse filing, Acwa revealed the JV will only look into the construction, management and operations of power, desalination, waste-water treatment, solid waste processing, district cooling plants and communication infrastructure for the Red Sea Project.

The financiers' consortium includes Saudi National Bank in addition to lenders mentioned earlier - Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corp, Banque Saudi Fransi, The Saudi British Bank, Arab Petroleum Investment Corporation (Apicorp), Standard Chartered and Riyad Bank.-TradeArabia News Service

In addition, the JV has secured Equity Bridge Loan facilities from Bank AlBilad, Bank Al-Jazira and Arab National Bank and a Working Capital and VAT Facility for $93.4million from Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation.-TradeArabia News Service
Putin and Biden

Sorry, Im not sorry: After watching former President Trump genuflect before Russian President Vladimir Putin on the world stage and saying nothing, no Republican has any business referring to President Bidens weakness.

Of course, theyd complain no matter what Biden did.

Harold Reines

Winston-Salem

Thank you, Vincenzos

In 1988, my husband and 5-year-old son moved to Winston-Salem and began building a home on Robinhood Road outside Winston-Salem. Every Friday night we would go to see the progress and on the way home stop at Vincenzos for dinner.

That tradition has continued for 34 years. Our son, his friends and our friends have gone every Friday night.

During the pandemic we got takeout. The staff became family  one of our waitresses has a picture of our son and her taken during his high school graduation celebration on her refrigerator. When he comes home to visit, it is the first place he wants to go.

Vincenzos is closing its dining room Feb. 25 (Vincenzos to close dining room but continue takeout, Feb. 23). Given everything going on in the world today, we were taken aback about how sad this made us. Perhaps its because it is a constant in our life that is otherwise changing daily. We will see Richard and Susan when we pick up our food after the 25, but will miss all those other souls we saw in passing every Friday.

Thank you, Vincenzos, for helping us make Winston-Salem feel like home 34 years ago.

Donna Cowden

Pfafftown

Switching to renewables

A recent Journal article (Study touts benefits of green energy, Feb. 22) interviewed Bill Blancato, who again provided proof that electricity blackouts  even in the face of extreme weather events  can be avoided by switching to 100% renewable energy  including solar, wind and water.

For the naysayers who say it cannot be done, or will take too long, we know that we are technically and economically prepared to transition immediately. By doing so, we can welcome lower energy costs for consumers, create millions of jobs and improve not just our environment but our health. I applaud Gov. Roy Cooper for signing another executive order to establish new emissions reduction goals and move the state toward carbon neutrality and environmental justice.

I hope our state legislators will provide more incentives to citizens to support these transitions.

Anne Markey Jones

Winston-Salem

A successful con

I smell fish. The proposed bill to put lesson plans by teachers online is a bucket of chum (Academic transparency bill worries educators, Feb. 21).

Republicans are hoping that parents get angry enough to turn out in the next election and give them a huge victory. It is an invented issue that supposedly got the Virginia Republican governor elected.

For years, teachers have begged parents to attend PTA meetings and teacher conferences. For years, if a parent wanted to see what was being taught, they just needed to look. Now, an invented crisis means that state legislatures must act?

There has been much in the news lately about successful con operations. This is just another one. In complete transparency, I am neither a teacher nor do I have a student presently in public school. Dont take the bait.

Victoria Weeke

Winston-Salem

Russian aggression

Russias aggression in Ukraine is creating ample opportunity for Sen. Richard Burr to leverage, as they say, unique information available to him as co-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee to make bank.

Anyone else watching his portfolio?

Kurt Weber

Winston-Salem

Sunken

After hearing his response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I guess former president and very stable genius Donald Trump is going to have to amend his slogan to be America First  except for Russia. Or maybe he could just make it the obvious: Russia First.

Oh, how far the GOP has sunk.

Mark B. Howard

Winston-Salem
Readers continue to have questions about COVID-19 and related health issues. The World-Herald has been partnering with the University of Nebraska Medical Center to offer solid information and dispel myths.

These responses were provided by Dr. Angela Hewlett, an associate professor in the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases and medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit; and Dr. Kelly Cawcutt, assistant professor in the infectious diseases division and associate medical director for infection control and epidemiology at Nebraska Medicine.

Can a person get different variations of COVID back-to-back? I tested positive and I had certain symptoms the first few weeks. But then, when I had a day or two feeling better, I got sick again and had the strain where I lost taste and smell (along with other symptoms). Is this possible?

We are seeing re-infections with the omicron variant in people who had previous infections with other variants. This is due to the fact that omicron is able to dodge the typical immune system response, so a previous infection doesnt necessarily protect a person from infection with the omicron variant. It is also possible that your symptoms were due to the same infection but worsened over time, which has definitely been known to occur with COVID. At this time, we are not aware of people with omicron getting rapidly re-infected with omicron again, but if new variants arise, re-infections may again be possible.

Should we wear masks during the flu season?

This experience with COVID has taught us the importance of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), which are actions, other than getting vaccinated or taking medicine, that people and communities can take to slow the spread of illness. Influenza is a virus that is transmitted in much the same way as SARS-CoV2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), so masks, along with other NPIs such as avoiding crowded indoor spaces, can help stop the spread of influenza.

In many other countries, it is common to wear masks during respiratory virus season for this very reason. At this point, it is unclear whether COVID-19 will be seasonal like influenza and some of the other respiratory viruses. In the future, people (especially those who have or live with someone who has a compromised immune system or other high-risk medical condition) may choose to wear masks to protect themselves during influenza season based on the lessons learned from COVID. However, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from influenza is to get your flu shot.

When will there be a test to show the strength or amount of COVID antibodies in your system?

Antibody (serology) tests can help indicate whether you have had COVID-19 (or received one of the COVID-19 vaccines) in the past. Currently, most antibody tests give you a negative or positive result but do not tell you how much antibody response (or what type of antibody) is present. There are antibody tests available at some specialized centers that give more detailed results on the types of antibodies present, but we are still learning how to interpret these results. It is important to note that antibody tests can have both false negative and false positive results. Antibody tests also should not be used to diagnose acute infection with COVID-19. Tests that look for new infection, like PCR or antigen tests, should be used if someone is experiencing symptoms or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Now that the government has sent out home COVID testing, won't the reported cases of COVID dramatically drop?

This is true, because the vast majority of antigen test results are not reported because testing is typically performed at home. COVID cases reported to hospitals, clinics and public health authorities may seem to decline when people are performing their own testing at home, which could give a false sense of security because these cases are not being counted. We would recommend reporting a positive test to your primary care doctor or provider as well.

What happened with the vaccination for under 5? Pfizer had applied to the FDA and then pulled its application. What happened? When do they anticipate a vaccination for under 5? Where is Moderna at in its trial for under 5?

The Pfizer vaccine was given at a lower dose in kids younger than 5 years old compared with any other age group. The immune response to this lower dose was not as strong as anticipated in the clinical trial, but the data thus far suggests that three doses may result in a stronger immune response. Pfizer plans to await further data (likely out this spring) on the effectiveness and safety of the third dose prior to applying for authorization. The Moderna vaccine study in children ages 2-5 is awaiting further data analysis, which will likely be completed in March. If the results are promising, they intend to apply to the FDA for approval.

My sister, who is highly allergic, will not be vaccinated because she says she cannot find the ingredients. She thinks there may be additives to the vaccine that are harmful, such as mercury. What ingredients are in the vaccine or where can we find that information?

Vaccine ingredients vary by the type of vaccine and the manufacturer. Lists of the exact ingredients of the vaccines currently in use in the United States (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) are available on the CDC website. The CDC website contains very specific information on what is and is not in the vaccines, as well as discussions on common myths about vaccines. None of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines contain mercury.

It is always appropriate to talk with your primary care doctor or provider about any concerns you may have regarding vaccination. Additionally, an allergy specialist can provide assessment for people with significant prior allergies to determine if a particular vaccine can be given. Many patients with prior allergy concerns have been safely vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines thus far. With billions of vaccines given worldwide and more than 76% of the U.S. population having received at least one vaccine dose, the overall safety of these vaccines is excellent, and adverse events, including allergic reactions, are very rare.

Responses from UNMC medical and public health professionals are general and are not intended as individual medical advice. Individual medical questions, particularly in cases of current illness or symptoms, should be addressed by an individuals medical professional.
The local decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has been so pronounced that Lancaster County's risk dial is now at its lowest level in more than three months.

Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Director Pat Lopez announced Wednesday that the risk dial dropped this week from the elevated orange range to the low orange range, where it hasn't been since the week of Nov. 9. Just two weeks ago, it was in the red, or severe, range.

The move comes after a prolonged sharp drop in both COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, which prompted officials on Friday to end the county's mask mandate a week early.

The county recorded 432 cases last week, the lowest weekly total since July 30 of last year. Total COVID-19 hospitalizations were at 60 Wednesday morning, up from 59 on Tuesday, but that number is also at its lowest level in more than six months.

Case numbers have been falling for several weeks in the county and are now down more than 90% since hitting their pandemic peak of 4,963 cases in the week ending Jan. 14, the height of the surge caused by the omicron variant.

It took local hospitalization numbers longer to start falling, but they have done so sharply over the past couple of weeks. The seven-day rolling average has dropped from 141 hospitalizations on Feb. 1 to 97 on Feb. 15 to 61 as of Tuesday.

"Last week was a turning point for our local hospitals," Lopez said.

She said another positive sign is that the COVID-19 test positivity rate dropped below 10% last week for the first time in months.

Local cases and hospitalizations mirror what's happening statewide.

Statewide, the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases fell from 1,490 on Feb. 5 to 277 as of Saturday. From mid-January until Jan. 26, daily new cases in Nebraska routinely topped 4,000.

As of Tuesday night, 356 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized statewide. That's down from the omicron peak of 767 on Jan. 28 and the lowest total since late August.

One concerning sign, however, remains the number of people dying of COVID-19. Lopez reported another death Wednesday, an unvaccinated man in his 40s. Over the holiday weekend, officials reported two local deaths, a man in his 40s who had not been vaccinated and a man in his 80s who was vaccinated.

In February, Lancaster County has reported 28 deaths from COVID-19. There were 37 in January.

Lopez said she expects the rate of deaths to start declining soon as deaths often lag case and hospitalization trends by a few weeks.

"Were on the right track and continue to see significant improvement," Lopez said. "The pandemic is not over, but each week were making progress and getting our community to a better place."

If another surge does occur, county residents have a chance to be better prepared, as Lopez announced Wednesday that the Health Department has received its allotment of free at-home tests from the state and is now offering them to the public.

She said a limited number of at-home test kits will be available in the lobby of the department's offices at 3131 O St. each day. The tests come in lots of six, and she recommended people take only one lot.

The department also plans to give a number of test kits to schools, child care centers, cultural centers and other sites to provide access to a wider swath of the community, Lopez said.

The Health Department continues to run vaccination clinics out of its office and at elementary schools across Lincoln in hopes of boosting the numbers of vaccinated residents.

As of Wednesday, 66% of all Lancaster County residents are fully vaccinated, but just 1 in 3 children ages 5-11 have received two doses.

Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.

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The 52-year-old Lincoln woman who died Wednesday evening in a head-on collision on U.S. 77 north of town had been driving south in the northbound lanes before the crash, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.

Nicki Beenblossom, who authorities believe was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, was pronounced dead at the scene, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.

The crash happened on U.S. 77 near Mill Road at 9:07 p.m. Wednesday, a minute after the sheriff's office received a report of a Honda Accord driving the wrong way on the highway.

The Honda crashed into a Lincoln Navigator that had been traveling north in the proper lane, causing the SUV to catch fire, Houchin said.

The driver of the Navigator, a woman who remains unidentified, was pulled from the burning vehicle by a bystander and sheriff's deputy and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.

"That witness that assisted probably saved the driver of the Navigator's life," Houchin said.

Houchin said the cars collided atop a hill, giving neither driver a chance to swerve or brake in the moments before the crash.

Beenblossom wasn't wearing a seat belt, Houchin said.

U.S. 77 was closed between Waverly and Mill roads until about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. Houchin said the sheriff's office crash reconstructionist team is still investigating the collision.

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The footage is jarring.

A 12-year-old student with Asperger's syndrome in Sioux City, Iowa, sits on a packed bus when one of his peers jabs a pencil into his neck, telling him to move. Another student turns around in his seat and punches the boy. Then, a boy sitting across the aisle bashes the student's head into a seat.

Filmmakers had captured the scene while working on the 2011 documentary, "Bully," which followed five students across the U.S.  including in Sioux City  to put a face to a growing epidemic of violence in schools.

Paul Gausman, the Sioux City superintendent, and board members had agreed to open their district up to crews filming the documentary, which was later screened in thousands of theaters  from Iowa to across the world.

"There were so many screenings," said Cindy Waitt, one of the film's executive producers and the director of the Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention. "I think it woke up school districts  really opened eyes all over the country."

The film wasn't without its critics, and Sioux City later put into place additional anti-bullying supports, like cameras on school buses.

But the fact that Gausman was willing to open up his district, to not cover up a problem that affects nearly every school, is a testament to his leadership, said Waitt.

That made the news Tuesday that Gausman would be leaving Sioux City to be the next superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools bittersweet for Waitt, who considers him a friend.

"Paul is a leader that can see an issue and say, 'Let's do something about this,'" Waitt said.

Waitt worked with Gausman to expand a mentor-based, anti-bullying program that was piloted in a Sioux City high school over 20 years ago and later spread to other schools across Iowa. Researchers found the program, which pairs high school students with freshmen to teach them the importance of being a helpful bystander when someone is bullied, helped decrease the number of violent incidents in schools.

Waitt expects Gausman to bring that expertise in tackling bullying and school violence to Lincoln.

"I think it will be really fun to see the kind of things he'll do in Lincoln, and I think he's certainly up to the task," she said.

When Gausman leaves for Lincoln this summer, he'll be closing a chapter at a school district where he's served as superintendent for 14 years.

On Tuesday, the Lincoln Board of Education unanimously chose the 55-year-old Fremont native over three other finalists to replace Steve Joel as superintendent. Gausman graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor's in music education and got his career started in Lincoln as a teacher in Lincoln Northeast's music department.

Jeremy Saint, former president of the Sioux City school board, said he always had a good experience working with Gausman.

One of his strengths, Saint said, was building consensus around needed changes, such as construction projects, consolidating schools and redrawing attendance areas, which can often spark controversy.

"But in all those times of decision-making processes, Paul was really good at identifying the stakeholders and really getting people engaged in the process very early, so there would not end up being the controversies or the fights you would expect with those issues," said Saint, who served four years on the board starting in 2017.

He said Gausman built a strong team around him in Sioux City, and would expect him to surround himself with "good voices and good ideas" in Lincoln.

Sioux City board president and businessman Dan Greenwell, a frequent critic of Gausman and the district, declined to comment on his relationship with Gausman in a phone call Wednesday but said he wished him the best.

We are grateful for (his) 14 years of service to the Sioux City Community School District. During his tenure, the District has celebrated many academic achievements, Greenwell said in a statement to the Sioux City Journal.

As the new superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools, Gausman has an opportunity to return to the place where his career first began. On behalf of the board, I congratulate Dr. Gausman on this new career endeavor.

Greenwell has often clashed with Gausman, first as a parent watchdog and as a member of the board since being elected in 2019.

Greenwell has been outspoken about a number of issues, including the budget, standardized test scores and administrative salaries, according to the Sioux City Journal.

In 2018, the newspaper reported that Greenwell challenged Gausman to publicly release his dissertation, claiming Gausman had justified some of his decisions by citing the document.

And in 2017, Greenwell brought forward concerns at a board meeting and through emails on behalf of John Chalstrom, the district's former finance director, who alleged Gausman of fostering a hostile workplace environment.

According to a Sioux City Journal report, Chalstrom accused Gausman of threatening his job if he shared alternative budget proposals with board members outside official meetings.

Gausman denied the allegations, and an internal investigation resulted in no disciplinary action.

The Lincoln Board of Education could approve a contract with Gausman as early as its meeting on March 8. The board will then likely approve a transition agreement to compensate Gausman for any time he spends working in Lincoln before officially taking over on July 1.

Gausman's current annual salary in Sioux City is $248,646, part of a $351,999 total compensation package. Joel, who's last day is June 30, is set to make $334,515 this school year, part of a $391,638 total compensation package.

Contact the writer at zhammack@journalstar.com or 402-473-7225. On Twitter @zach_hammack

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The Legislature advanced a proposal Thursday to reduce the top state income tax rate, breaking a filibuster when a number of opponents of the current bill agreed to try to seek a compromise after more information is available on anticipated state revenue and budget recommendations.

The bill (LB939) sailed ahead on a 40-1 vote after senators first voted 41-1 to invoke cloture, ending eight hours of debate that had trapped the proposal.

Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha was the sole senator to vote no.

Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln, who had led efforts to trap the bill at first-stage consideration, said he "thought originally that we could stop the bill" from moving ahead, but recognized that legislative sentiment "had shifted as of this morning," with a number of opponents expressing a willingness to send the bill forward.

Under the informal agreement reached by senators on both sides of the issue, the bill will be "parked" at second-stage consideration while the Legislature awaits the latest revenue projections that will be forthcoming from the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board, which will meet Monday, and budget recommendations from the Legislature's Appropriations Committee.

LB939 would reduce the top individual income tax rate from 6.84% to 5.84% over three years, matching the reduction in the top tax rate for corporations.

While some opponents of the legislation want to adjust tax rates to ease more of the burden on low- and middle-income Nebraskans while seeking a larger contribution of state revenue from high-income individuals, others have pointed to the significant reduction in state revenue that the bill would trigger.

Estimates point to a $61.7 million reduction in state revenue in fiscal 2022-23, rising to $363.4 million in fiscal 2026-27.

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said current tax brackets should be realigned to provide "a significant cut" for middle-class Nebraskans while expecting more from wealthy taxpayers.

Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln said she was "very torn on this issue," but was willing to move the bill forward in the hope of providing changes that would help "the working poor ... and people in need."

Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha said he is willing to move the bill ahead with the hope of targeting tax reductions to low- and middle-income Nebraskans.

"The state can't afford (the currently anticipated) reduction in revenue," he said. That's a loss that would "set the state up for failure," Vargas said.

Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson, who opposes the current bill, said advancing it provides "an opportunity to compromise."

The bill was introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who has been actively seeking agreement to move the proposal forward, acquire more revenue and appropriations information and then consider whether to make any changes.

Linehan is chairwoman of the Legislature's Revenue Committee.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon

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Major tax reform legislation continued to be stalled in the Legislature on Wednesday by an ongoing filibuster with some senators suggesting that it be moved to second-stage consideration and then "parked" there awaiting new state revenue projections and budgetary decisions.

Meanwhile, a comprehensive new "tax modernization" proposal was presented to the Legislature's Revenue Committee calling for reduction of personal and corporate income tax rates while broadening the state sales tax base, along with other tax changes.

That plan contained in LB1264, introduced by Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, carries a huge price tag in terms of a legislative fiscal office estimate of reduced state revenue that was sharply disputed by supporters of the plan during a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda in advance of the committee hearing.

That loss was measured in billion-dollar annual figures.

Former Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, who previously headed the Legislature's Revenue Committee, said he was "suspect of that fiscal note" and said the proposal, which he helped formulate as executive director of Blueprint Nebraska, was designed to pursue "a revenue-neutral approach."

McDonnell said he believes "modernization of our taxes" should be essentially revenue-neutral without a reduction in services.

The tax plan is designed to foster economic growth while attracting individuals and businesses to move to Nebraska and retaining those who already are here, a number of speakers at the news briefing said.

Jim Vokal, CEO of the Platte Institute, said Nebraska needs to take action now to address its workforce shortage.

The proposed legislation would create more than 65,000 new jobs by 2031, supporters estimated.

Meanwhile, the income tax reduction bill filibuster on the floor of the Legislature consumed most of the morning session and headed toward a vote on a cloture motion to end debate that may be considered on Thursday.

Sen. John McCollister of Omaha questioned Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, chairwoman of the Revenue Committee, about whether her plan was to "park" the bill if senators would agree to break the filibuster and advance the proposal to second-stage consideration.

Linehan said she would be prepared to try to "right-size" the proposal at the second stage when senators would have a better understanding of budget proposals emerging from the Appropriations Committee and the latest revenue estimate from the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Board which will meet on Monday.

Moving the bill to second stage would "keep it alive," Linehan said.

The proposal (LB939) would reduce the top individual state income tax rate from 6.84% to 5.84% by fiscal 2025.

The annual reduction in state revenue is estimated to grow from $61.7 million in fiscal 2022-23 to $363.4 million in fiscal 2026-27.

Linehan has argued the tax reduction would make Nebraska more competitive.

Opponents said the bill provides the most benefit to people who need it the least. These are the people who "already are ahead," Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha said.

Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson said that while he is "open to broadening the sales tax base," he will not support the bill because additional property tax relief is what is needed most.

"We need to level the playing field," he said.

If one of the arguments in favor of the bill is promoting Nebraska and prompting population growth, then "we need to do things that increase the quality of life," Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said.

Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, a Democratic candidate for governor, suggested that the Legislature should increase the minimum wage and provide additional tax brackets.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon

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Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed North Platte banker Mike Jacobson to fill the open seat of former state Sen. Mike Groene, who resigned this week following allegations that he took inappropriate photos of a former female staff member.

Jacobson, founder and president of NebraskaLand National Bank, was sworn in as the District 42 senator on Wednesday morning after the governor's announcement at the state Capitol. He was joined by his wife, Julie.

Jacobson, the current chairman of the North Platte Airport Authority, will complete Groene's term in the Legislature, which ends in early January 2023. He said he will run for election to the seat beginning with a contested primary in May.

Ricketts said Jacobson is a conservative who will reflect the values of District 42.

"He will be an advocate for efficient and effective government, for family values and for making sure we're creating opportunities for families here in the state of Nebraska," the governor said.

He also called Jacobson a "fantastic American success story," pointing out he founded the bank with zero assets and today it has grown into an $850 million operation with offices in North Platte, Kearney and Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Jacobson said he believes in building teams and working together. He also said he's against raising taxes and is "pro-life."

He called himself a strong conservative who believes in entrepreneurship.

"I see this as an opportunity to give back and continue to promote conservative values in the Legislature," he said.

He replaces Groene, who officially resigned from the Legislature on Monday after it surfaced that he took photos of a former female staff member without her knowledge.

It was reported last week that the staffer who was photographed, Kristina Konecko, discovered photos of herself on Groenes laptop in the course of her work. The photos were described as objectifying and demeaning.

Groene admitted taking the photos, but said he didn't send them to other people. He also said he never made sexual advances toward the staffer or said anything to her that could be termed harassment.

The Legislature and the Attorney General's Office have launched investigations.

Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board, said Tuesday he had asked Sens. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, John Arch of La Vista and Tom Briese of Albion to conduct an official legislative probe with the help of an outside investigator.

At the request of the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, the Nebraska State Patrol has also opened an investigation into Groene's conduct.

Jacobson, a registered Republican, said he'd previously considered filing to run for the seat representing North Platte in the Legislature. The 42nd District includes all of Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Thomas and Hooker counties and a large part of Perkins County.

Groene was term-limited and couldn't have run for reelection. Three North Platte residents had filed to replace him: Lincoln County Commissioner Chris Bruns, Brenda Fourtner and retired Great Plains Health CEO Mel McNea.

Jacobson grew up near Sutton and taught and farmed in Red Cloud. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

He began his banking career in Hastings and worked in Lincoln at the National Bank of Commerce before relocating to North Platte in 1994.

He has served on a variety of boards in North Platte and has been a leader of statewide and professional groups.

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KEARNEY  When Carma Womeldorf was just eight years old, she couldnt tell twins Allen and Alvin Edwards apart. Well, she said, Ill just marry them both!

Thats exactly what she did.

In her later years, she said she had three As in her life: Allen, Alvin and Alzheimers.

Allen was her first husband. Alvin, nicknamed Al, was her second husband. Carma married him after Allen died in an accident. Alzheimers was the third A and the final chapter in their unusual love story.

Identical and inseparable

The story begins on Feb. 23, 1931, the day Allen and Alvin were born on a farm six miles south of Dallas, S.D. Their mother told them apart by the small wart on Als left knuckle.

Like many identical twins, they developed their own language. They always dressed alike. They attended a one-room school. We were inseparable growing up. All of my early experiences were as we, not 'I', Al said. That included meeting Victoria Carma Womeldorf, known as Carma, in Sunday school when they were 5 years old.

As teenagers, the boys and Carma formed a trio. Allen and I liked to go to the show on Sundays in the summer if we could get a ride to town, and wed see Carma and her friend Sally, Al said as he reminisced not long ago. Wed go to the movies and then get ice cream. Wed sit across from them at the ice cream parlor.

A strange feeling

Carma was the only girl Allen ever dated. Their romance began in 1945, when Allen was a high school freshman, but Al often tagged along on their outings. Wed ride in the pickup. Shed sit between us and listen as the two of us talked, Al said.

After graduating from Dallas High School in 1948, Al attended South Dakota State University. In 1951, he left college and joined the U.S. Marines. Carma and I went on very different paths, but we stayed in close contact, he said.

She and Allen married in 1948 and had two daughters, Linda and Marci. In February 1953, Allen died suddenly from a severe blow to the head in a farm accident.

Al, then stationed with the Marines in California, had a strange feeling that afternoon and declined an invitation to go off base with friends that evening. I waited in the barracks, where I received the call that Allen had passed away, he recalled. Within six months, Carma had lost her husband, her father and her grandmother.

A new life

Al stayed in close contact with Carma, and one year later, on Feb. 21, 1954, just two weeks after his honorable discharge, he married Carma and became a stepfather to Linda, then 6, and Marci, not quite 2. Al and Carma eventually had three children of their own: Janice, Tom and Genelle.

After their wedding, they moved to Manhattan, Kansas, where Al resumed his veterinary studies at Kansas State University. Tuition was $124 per semester. They rented an apartment for $27 a month. Carma, an excellent bookkeeper, typed theses for foreign veterinarians and babysat as she raised her small children. When Al graduated in 1959, he did carpentry work to pay off his $400 college debt.

He then joined Dr. Harold Seversons animal clinic in Winner, S.D., just 26 miles from where he had grown up, but within a few years, he was eager to establish his own practice. The Marine Corps had given me backbone. Im a tough Swede. I wanted to be on my own, he said.

Life in Ainsworth

In 1962, on a Saturday drive to Ainsworth, they met an Ainsworth veterinarian who was eager to retire. On the spot, he sold them his practice, so they moved 80 miles south and took over his practice. Eventually, Al built a new clinic. He learned to fly, too.

I bought a Super Cub in Ainsworth. I had just two lessons, but I had flown quite a bit with a friend, he said. His first landing strip was on an 18-acre alfalfa field next to his clinic. I had clients 50 miles away across the Niobrara River. Id put skis on the plane in the winter so I could land on the Sandhills, he said.

Later, when he built a new vet clinic outside of town, he used the runway from the old World War II airport.

Life was busy. He built an indoor arena because his children were active barrel racers who showed calves and horses at 4-H events. He wrote for a veterinary journal and spoke all over the Midwest. Initially, he turned down a job offer from Kansas State. I was having too much fun. I loved to fly, and we were getting busier. I had two people working for me, he said.

A move to Kansas

But finally, after 13 years in Ainsworth, he accepted a job at Kansas States veterinary college. He taught while earning a doctorate in veterinary pathology. His research earned him an invitation to speak to the World Veterinary Congress.

Carma assisted with his clinic in Ainsworth while raising a family and doing bookkeeping. In Kansas, she worked part time in a high-class dress shop. She was also an expert quilter and painter.

Al traveled extensively as part of his job, but never alone. Carma always went with him. Al said, I dont leave home without her.

She rode a camel in Egypt. We saw wildebeests in Kenya. We went up the Nile. It turns out Prince Philip of England was on our boat, and Carma danced with him in a circle dance. No cameras were allowed, he said.

Retiring in Kearney

Sixteen years ago, after retirement, Al and Carma moved to Kearney, where two of their children lived. They joined Golden K Kiwanis and took to the road in their mobile home, spending winters in Yuma, Arizona, or Florida, and summers in the Black Hills or Alaska. Carma researched every destination they visited.

Weve driven all across Canada. Weve been to 50 states. We drove to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and whale-watched in Alaska. In New Zealand, we stayed at a place where they generated electricity with the tides. One other place we stayed cooked with thermal heat, he said. Thermal heat, in fact, provided energy for the entire town.

He and Carma also came to Kearney to see the sandhill cranes for 20 years.

Alzheimers intrudes

In 2012, Carma was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Life slowed down, but their love did not. In recent years, they moved to an assisted living apartment at Kinship Pointe Northridge. They each had recliners so they could hold hands while taking a nap. If Al wore khakis, Carma would, too. When she got a bright red walker, he did, too.

In her last seven weeks, Al and his five children took care of her in their apartment. She was under hospice care for the last three weeks of her life. She never slept alone. She knew she was safe, Al said.

She passed away right after the minister had prayed over her. One sister talked to her on the phone. We were all around her. It was wonderful, he added.

He is grateful that he was able to keep her in their apartment as she declined. I had friends who lost their wives, and for the last two years, they could see them just once a week in another facility. That just tore them up. We were all here, he said.

Their love was so amazing, daughter Janice Powell said.

Added daughter Linda Edwards, They will go on being a pair forever, like Romeo and Juliet.

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Etihad Rail, the developer of UAE's national rail network, today (February 24) signed a financing agreement worth AED1.99 billion ($542 million) for passenger transport services with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).

Etihad Rails passenger services will be the first of its kind connecting the cities and regions of the UAE.

The agreement comes as part of the UAE National Railways Programme, wherein First Abu Dhabi Bank will be the Certified Lead Arranger for the loan, as part of the agreement.

It was signed by Etihad Rail CEO Engineer Shadi Malak and Hana Al Rostamani, Group Chief Executive Officer at First Abu Dhabi Bank in the presence of Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, and Chairman of Etihad Rail and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Saif Bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of FABs Board of Directors.

With the launch of the new service, the passenger trains will strengthen connectivity between the UAE by linking 11 cities and locations in the country from Al Sila to Fujairah. Travelling at a speed of 200 kmph, with a capacity of 400 passengers per train, the number of passengers is expected to increase to reach more than 36.5 million passengers annually across the country by 2030.

Passengers will be able to commute between Abu Dhabi to Dubai in only 50 minutes, between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah in only 100 minutes, between Dubai and Fujairah in only 50 minutes, and between Abu Dhabi and Al Ruwais in only 70 minutes.

On the deal, Sheikh Theyab said: "With this, we at Etihad Rail look forward to enhancing cooperation, uniting efforts, and working together towards realising the vision of the UAE in accordance with the goals of the UAE National Railways Programme, which was launched under the Projects of the 50 to establish the basis for a new stage of sustainable economic growth for the country."

Sheikh Mohamed said; "As we look to the next 50 years of our nations journey, the UAE continues to lead the region in setting a bold and progressive vision for the future. FAB is integral to that journey and committed to driving economic growth and improving the quality of life for citizens and residents."

"Through our support for the Etihad Rail project, we are reinforcing the UAE's position as a global and regional transport and logistics hub, leveraging our strategic geographic location to improve and reinforce our links with the rest of the world," he added.

Malak said through this agreement, Etihad Rail will move full steam ahead with its mission to provide passenger railway services, which will bolster public transport system in the UAE and the wider region.

"Etihad Rail is an essential component of the GCC rail network, and this agreement brings us one step closer towards realising our strategic goals of strengthening the UAEs reputation as a regional and global transport hub," he added.

First Abu Dhabi Bank Group CEO Hana Al Rostamani said: "Etihad Rail is proof of the sense of vision and purpose that makes the UAE distinct. By connecting the UAE through a fully integrated rail network, Etihad Rail will bring significant economic and social benefits to the businesses and communities it serves, empowering future growth and providing opportunities for all."

"FAB is proud to support Etihad Rail in fulfilling this important project which will drive forward economic development for our nation," he added.

Etihad Rail said it is forging ahead towards completing Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network. Stage One of the Network has been operational since 2016.

The project is progressing at an accelerated pace with 70% of the project being completed in less than 24 months, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

It involves more than 27,000 experts, specialists, and workers operating at more than 3,000 construction sites across the UAE, putting in 76 million work hours so far using more than 6,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment.-TradeArabia News Service
Theres a reason youll find statues of a blindfolded Lady Justice in many courts and law offices. The idea is that who we are shouldnt serve as a predictor of how likely it is that well find ourselves involved in the criminal legal system nor should it determine our outcomes.

In Nebraska, the principle is enshrined in the state motto: Equality Before the Law.

The motto, unfortunately, is more of an aspiration for the state, since Nebraskans of color continue to be starkly overrepresented throughout its legal system.

Recent reporting from the Lincoln Journal Star has highlighted how Nebraskas criminal legal system is experiencing the inevitable consequence of short-sighted policies enacted in the 1990s that prioritized long-term sentences with mandatory minimum terms. Such sentences have been disproportionately imposed on Black and Latinx people in the state.

At the Sentencing Project, we work daily to address and ultimately end these disparities. Thats why we are encouraging Nebraska lawmakers to fix the mistakes of the past and scale back the states extreme racial disparities in state imprisonment by passing LB814. Introduced by Sen. Terrell McKinney, LB814 provides a straightforward opportunity to inform policy-making through the adoption of racial impact statements.

Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons across the country at nearly five times the rate of white Americans, and Latinx individuals are 1.3 times as likely to be incarcerated than non-Latinx white Americans.

In Nebraska, the ratio is 9 to 1, one of the highest in the nation. Compared to white individuals, Nebraska incarcerates Latinx individuals at a rate of 2 to 1. Black people comprise 5% of the states population but 28% of the prison population.

Disparities accumulate as people travel through the system, with diversion offered to white people but not offered to Black people nearly as frequently, despite similar crime rates for most offenses. University of Nebraska-Omaha researchers identify disparities being at the point of arrest. The Sentencing Projects research on life imprisonment finds that among the 970 people serving life sentences, 340 (35%) are Black.

LB814 is a measure that directs the office of Legislative Research to provide racial impact statements for proposed laws relating to the criminal legal and youth justice systems. The bill would govern a process summarizing the estimated impact of a legislative bill on racial and ethnic communities to measure the estimated impact of existing or potential racial disparities.

Like fiscal statements estimating how much a bill would cost to implement, these statements would be just one more tool for state senators to assess the impact of legislation.

Recently, other states advanced measures similar to LB814. Last year, lawmakers in Maine, Maryland and Virginia adopted racial impact statement laws. States with the nations highest disparities, like Nebraska, have a special responsibility to implement these statements.

While prison population growth has slowed or even reversed in most states in the past 10 years due to sentencing reforms and early release mechanisms, Nebraska is one of only four states that has increased its prison population, now holding roughly four times the number of prisoners it had in 1980. Consequently, Nebraska now has one of the most overcrowded prison systems in the United States.

Its well past time for this state to implement a systemic way to combat indirect and direct bias that has created its unacceptable disparate treatment of people of color.

Ashley Nellis is a senior research analyst at The Sentencing Project, a national nonprofit organization focused on criminal legal reform and based in Washington, D.C..

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KENOSHA  A Kenosha County Circuit Court commissioner Monday imposed a $100,000 cash bond for a 30-year-old Racine woman charged in an overdose death of a Kenosha woman in December.

Reanna M. Moon, of the 300 block of High Street, remained in custody as of Monday at the Kenosha County Jail. Moon has been charged with a felony count of first-degree reckless homicide, which carries a maximum possible prison term of 25 years, plus 15 years extended supervision in addition to a fine of up to $100,000.

Moon, who is due back in court for a preliminary hearing next week, is also charged with misdemeanor bail jumping.

According to the criminal complaint:

A Kenosha Police officer responded to a city residence at 10:49 p.m. on Dec. 7 for a medical overdose call. When police arrived, they found a man standing over the patient, who stated he found the woman lying on the floor next to a bed and couldnt find a pulse.

The officer attempted CPR, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police reported finding two clonazepam pills, a folded piece of paper that had a white powdery substance on it, two medical packets of suboxone and two glass crack pipes on a nightstand in the deceased womans bedroom.

A witness told police that the deceased woman had exited the residence earlier that night, and she believed Moon had supplied the woman with drugs. The witness stated she was sure that the defendant was in the car that (the deceased) had met up with that night, according to the complaint.

Surveillance video outside the home showed the deceased had contact with an older model Chevrolet vehicle that later was connected to the defendant. A search of text messages between the defendant and the victim showed the two discussing a possible drug purchase.

Police spoke with the defendant, who stated she drove her old black Chevrolet Malibu to the victims residence that night with a male to deliver heroin, which had been mixed with Benadryl and some crack cocaine. Moon admitted to brokering the deal and delivering the drugs directly to the victim, the complaint states.

The number of overdose deaths, specifically from opioids, in Wisconsin have exploded in the past two decades, growing from 111 in 2000, to 410 in 2010, to 614 in 2015, to 916 in 2019, to 1,226 in 2020, according to the Department of Wisconsin Health Services.

The Kenosha County Medical Examiners Office ruled last week that the victim had died from acute mixed drug intoxication.
Wisconsins elected officials from both sides are condemning Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Marine veteran who represents northeastern Wisconsin, called Putin a KGB thug. Gov. Tony Evers said he and his wife are praying for the children whose lives have been upended.

While there was general unity, a few Republicans  including Gallagher and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany  criticized President Joe Bidens administration for not acting more forcefully to deter the Russians.

It is the largest invasion of any European nation since World War II. Dozens, if not more than a hundred or hundreds of both civilians and soldiers, are already dead.

U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis.:

Vladimir Putins unprovoked and unjust attack on the people of Ukraine must be condemned and met with severe consequences. Putin cannot be allowed to profit from his evil and ruthless actions. As the people of Ukraine strive for democracy and freedom, they need to know America stands with them.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.:

Putin has violated international law, invading a sovereign and democratic nation that wants peace and independence. Putins aggression has been met with sanctions, and his violent attack against Ukraine should be met with stronger sanctions, including a full set of punishing financial, technology, and military sanctions. I stand with the Ukrainian people and I believe we need to continue standing strong with our European allies and NATO by providing them the support they need to hold Putin accountable for the largest invasion of Europe since World War II.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.:

Weakness tempts tyrants and totalitarians to seek more power. People who only want to live in peace suffer the consequences. Ultimately, there is only one group of people responsible for the tragedies unfolding  Vladimir Putin and his cronies. They have stolen wealth from the Russian people, destabilized and done great harm to their European neighbors, and now theyve crossed another line that will yield untold horrors. Europe must act with strength and resolve to prevent risking a wider conflict, and the U.S. must support our NATO allies and freedom-loving people in this moment of extreme peril.

Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat:

(First lady) Kathy and I are praying for the Ukrainian people, including the millions of kids, whose lives have been upended by Russias unprovoked invasion. I join leaders across the world in condemning this attack on Ukraines sovereignty and support efforts to hold Russia accountable.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., a Racine native:

I strongly condemn Russias decision to invade Ukraine. This decision is even more troubling when you consider the robust diplomatic efforts by the Biden Administration and the international community conducted in the past weeks to prevent such a calamitous outcome and to prevent this crisis from escalating.

No one will lose more than the people of Ukraine and my heart goes out to them. The United States and its partners and allies must remain unified as they consider options for responding to Russias dangerous escalation and for providing support to the people of Ukraine and those displaced from their homeland.

U.S. Rep. Gallagher, R-Wis.:

Vladimir Putin is a KGB thug who understands no language except force. He has brought war to Europe because he believes he will secure a quick and decisive victory. Our task is to ensure that he is disappointed, by aiding the Ukrainians who are taking up arms to defend their homeland and imposing economic costs now, not after the inevitable humanitarian disaster. Unfortunately, throughout this crisisas during the Afghanistan fiasco  the Biden Administration has demonstrated little urgency, creativity, or willingness to admit errors and adapt. The president must change course, or our deterrent posture will continue to collapse, chaos will continue to spread, and eventually no one will trust Americas promises or fear American power.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis.:

What Vladimir Putin is doing is wrong and should be condemned by the entire world.

The events now unfolding in Ukraine are a direct result of failed Biden administration policies that have made Americans poorer while enriching the Putin regime.

Since day one, President Biden has strangled American energy producers  weakening us at home, emboldening our adversaries abroad, and making the world much less safe. We are now seeing the consequences of those policies in real time. Weakness leads to war.

Restoring American credibility and respect on the world stage starts with getting our own house in order. It is way past time for President Biden to reverse course on his destructive domestic policies so that America can once again negotiate from a position of strength.

U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis.: These unprovoked attacks by President Putin must be met with severe consequences. The U.S. must move swiftly to pass a comprehensive sanctions package that cripples Putin and his oligarchs. I stand with the Ukrainian people in their fight against tyranny.

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis.: My prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they face an unprovoked attack from Russian military forces. This week Im in London for meetings with officials from the UK government and members of the British Parliament about this aggression, focusing on coordination of sanctions. Now is the time for the United States and our allies to stand united in condemning Putins unjustified actions towards Ukraine and hold Russia accountable. I couldnt be more pleased with the level of cooperation and coordination that we are receiving from our British and European allies.

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Madison and Dane County will get nearly $21 million to invest in local initiatives to boost disadvantaged communities, including the final capital funding piece for the long-sought Madison Public Market on the East Side, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday.

The funding is part of Evers program that uses federal COVID-19 relief funds.

The city is getting $6 million, including $2 million for the Bayview Foundations $52 million redevelopment of its diverse, international, low-income community at the corner of West Washington Avenue and Regent Street Downtown, and $4 million for the $16.5 million Public Market to be forged from a city-owned building at 200 N. First St.

The county will receive $14.8 million, including $5 million toward supporting entrepreneurs through the Urban League of Greater Madisons $25.5 million Black Business Hub that will rise at the Village on Park mall on the South Side; $5 million toward expanding economic and other opportunities through the coming $38 million Center for Black Excellence and Culture on the South Side; and $4.8 million to help Centro Hispano build new facilities on the South Side.

With this funding, we will be breaking ground this year in November, said Madison Public Market Foundation board member Anne Reynolds. Theres been so much uncertainty over the past two years, but now we finally have some certainty. Its really exciting.

The markets financing piece is now locked in, said Matt Wachter, city planning, community and economic director. The city can now pursue a construction contract, contracts with the operator, the Madison Public Market Foundation, and seek other final approvals for the project, he said.

Bayviews redevelopment includes a four-story, 48-unit apartment building now under construction, a three-story, 25-unit apartment building and eight, two-story townhouses with a total of 57 units on 4.6 acres. The idea is to move current residents into new buildings as theyre built and then demolish the older ones.

On Wednesday, Bayview announced it has exceeded its $4 million capital campaign goal and will extend the campaign in the hope of raising an additional $2 million to increase the long-term stability of programs and operations essential to the organizations continued success and to offset the significant increase in construction costs due to the pandemic.

The capital campaign will continue, foundation executive director Alexis London said. A portion of the new state grant will go toward that, and a portion will go to housing costs that are not a part of the capital campaign, she said.

Bayview residents were significantly affected by the pandemic; these funds will strengthen our community for years to come, she said.

With the $5 million in state money, The Center for Black Excellence and Culture has now raised $17 million of its $36 million capital campaign in six months, said the Rev. Alex Gee, the centers CEO and founder.

The Center is a first-of-its-kind Black-inspired, Black-designed and Black-led multimillion-dollar project in Madison and is poised to open its doors at 655 W. Badger Road in late 2023. The building will be a three-level, 65,000-square-foot destination for cultural, health, business, arts and community development.

The Urban League has now raised nearly $17.5 million for its $25.5 million Black Business Hub, and with Thursdays announcement the nonprofit now has sufficient funds to begin construction in the next week or two, with fundraising to continue, officials said.

Centro Hispano, now located at 810 Badger Road, is looking to create new facilities that can better support its mission, Wachter said. The city has already purchased a property at 833 Hughes Place to combine with city-owned properties at 837 Hughes Place and 2405 Cypress Way to help create new facilities on the block, he said.

Targeted aid

The grants come from $250 million Evers allocated to local municipalities, counties, tribes and nonprofit health care organizations for projects meant to boost disadvantaged communities.

I am glad to award these funds to help local leaders and community-based organizations working together to continue to serve and bolster their neighborhoods, ensuring they dont just recover but thrive, Evers said Thursday.

Recently, Evers announced $9 million for Beloit, $15 million for Milwaukee and $10.5 million for Milwaukee County.

In total, $200 million is for a Neighborhood Investment Fund grant program and another $50 million is for a Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment grant program. Both programs are using money from federal COVID-19 funds, over which Evers has sole discretion as governor  a point of contention in the Legislature.

Currently, the governor has sole discretion over how federal funds are spent, but there has been a growing push among legislative Republicans seeking more control over how the executive office doles out federal funds  primarily in recent years as the federal government pumped billions of stimulus dollars into the state to help address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, the Republican-led Assembly approved a constitutional amendment, SJR 84/AJR 112, to give lawmakers final say over how the governor spends federal funds allocated to the state. Evers would not be able to veto that proposal.

Evers has vetoed several efforts in recent years by Republicans seeking control over federal funds.

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1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market.

2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image.

3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers.

4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while.

Vote

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Global low-carbon energy company Engie has won the Utility Project of the Year at the Middle East Energy Awards 2021, for its independent water projects (IWP)  Jubail 3B and Ar Rayyis (Yanbu-4)  located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Middle East Energy Awards celebrate the energy projects, initiatives, individuals and the companies that have changed the way we use energy in the Middle East. In addition, it recognizes the leading achievements within oil and gas, refining and petrochemicals and utilities in the region.

It is given to the most innovative project disrupting the regions utilities landscape, which offers hope for a better, more sustainable future.

The Jubail 3B project was awarded by Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) as a build, own, operate (BOO) contract under the public-private partnership (PPP) structure. Once commercially operational in February 2024, the plant will produce 570,000 cu m/day of potable water through reverse osmosis technology to supply the cities of Riyadh and Qassim.

The plant will include in-house renewable solar energy capacity of 61 MW to reduce electricity grid consumption throughout the desalination process and storage capacity for one operational day. The project seeks to achieve a 90% Saudization rate all along the 25 years of operations and will create both direct and indirect jobs.

The Ar Rayyis (Yanbu-4) project was also awarded by SWPC as a BOO contract and is expected to be operational in the last quarter of 2023.

The Ar Rayyis IWP plant is the first renewable integrated seawater reverse osmosis project in Saudi Arabia that includes storage facilities for two operational days and is the first water pipeline in the country developed under the PPP structure.

Set to achieve one of the most competitive power consumption levels in the kingdom, the plant will have a capacity of 450,000 cu m/day. Built at a cost of SR3.1 billion and set to contribute SR1.5 billion to GDP, the plant will create approximately 500 direct and indirect jobs opportunities during construction and operation.

On the award wins, SWPC Chief Executive Officer Khalid Al Quraishi said: "This award is recognition that Saudi Arabia remains at the forefront of innovation in the global energy sector. With the support of Engie, we are demonstrating to the world our leadership in the renewable energy sector and climate action."

"Jubail 3B and Ar Rayyis (Yanbu-4) are success stories of how future utility projects can achieve our energy objectives while meeting vital net-zero carbon objectives," he stated.

On the big win, Engie Saudi CEO Turki Alshehri said: "We are delighted to be recognized for our ongoing efforts to utilize innovative technologies for our independent water plants in the kingdom. This milestone serves as testament to our approach of supporting the Saudi's vision to reach Net Zero by 2060 through a Carbon Circular Economy approach."

"Our projects, Jubail 3B and Ar Rayyis (Yanbu-4) demonstrate that the strategic use of renewable energy and that the transition to circular economy is not only achievable but beneficial for both the global environment and local communities. I would like to congratulate everyone involved that has made these projects possible," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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KEARNEY  Esther Uma didnt dig through employment and salary data before deciding on a college major.

She simply followed her heart.

My main goal is to help people in any way I can, and I think social work can really help me do that, she said.

A freshman at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Uma chose this career because she wants to make a positive impact in the world by advocating for children and families, promoting mental health, empowering communities and supporting vulnerable populations so they can overcome the everyday challenges they face.

I dont think many people recognize the struggles there are growing up, especially for people of color, she said. Its really hard. I feel like representation is really important in this field because to truly understand what someone is going through, you need someone who looks like them and who can really communicate with and help them.

Umas own experiences fueled her passion for the profession.

I cant think of someone who understands the intersectionality of helping minoritized communities better than Esther, said Luis Olivas, assistant director of UNKs Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion. She understands that it is not about privilege or special treatment, but of guaranteeing equitable access to resources that will help upend generational cycles of oppression.

The oldest of four siblings, Uma was born in Delta State in southern Nigeria.

In her hometown  about the size of Lincoln, Nebraska  she was known by her middle name, Uchechi, an Igbo word meaning Gods will. When her family moved to the United States  Uma was 10 at the time  she started using her English first name because it was easier for people to pronounce.

Coming here was entirely different, because it was like a change of my identity, said Uma, who also spoke with a strong accent thats faded over the years.

Although the U.S. offered an opportunity for a better life, the transition wasnt easy. She didnt understand the culture, communication was difficult and the educational system was completely new to her. On top of that, she lived thousands of miles away from her father, who works as an engineer in Nigeria, and other family members.

Uma turned to school activities as a way to fit in. She participated in choir, musicals, bowling and art and book clubs while attending Boone Central High School in Albion, using her warm, friendly personality to connect with other students.

Esther has a specific quality to her that makes people gravitate toward her energy, Olivas said.

That was obvious the day she arrived at UNK.

The recipient of a full-tuition Diversity Service Scholarship, Uma made an immediate impact on campus. Shes part of the Student Diversity Leadership Program and a recently created committee that promotes diversity and inclusion through campus artwork. Uma also serves as vice president of the Black Student Association (BSA), an organization that encourages people from all races and backgrounds to come together and support each other.

I think theres this misconception that you have to be a person of color to be in BSA, and thats totally not true, Uma said. Its a really open, safe environment that anyone can participate in. Our goal is to spread awareness so more people know about the Black community and the struggles we face. We want people who are willing to listen and make change.

As a first-year student, Olivas said, Uma has stepped into these roles with ease and determination.

Her commitment to making UNK a welcoming and affirming environment for all is undeterred, he said. She embodies the future of leadership at UNK.

Uma hasnt forgotten about her past either. She represented Nigeria during a Cultural Fashion Show hosted last semester on campus, donning a traditional skirt, tribal face paint and jewelry her aunt made.

That was a really nice way for me to showcase my culture, she said. It was an amazing experience.
KEARNEY  Theres an easy way to measure the quality of the University of Nebraska at Kearneys health science programs.

Just look at the acceptance rates.

Over the last three years, 87% of UNK students who applied for admission to a clinical program or professional school were successful. This includes acceptance rates of 100% for pharmacy, optometry and chiropractic programs, 99% for nursing, 86% for radiologic technology, 73% for physical therapy and 64% for medicine  all well above the national averages.

Nearly 350 of the 399 students who completed their initial education at UNK advanced to a professional program in their chosen health care field, with most of them continuing their training at the world-renowned University of Nebraska Medical Center in either Omaha or Kearney.

Charlie Bicak, senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at UNK, called these figures remarkably high.

Were looked on favorably in terms of the quality of our undergraduate learning experience, he said.

When it comes to preparing future health care workers, UNK utilizes a full-service approach. The roughly 800 students currently enrolled in health science programs have the opportunity to learn from expert faculty members on campus while gaining real-world experience in the community.

Students who come to UNK are not only getting the academic background and preparation they need to be successful, but theyre also developing personally and professionally, said Peggy Abels, director of UNK Health Sciences.

Because of its size, UNK can provide one-on-one mentoring and advising and, at the same time, expose students to cutting-edge technology and research.

I think UNK fits a unique niche between the large universities and the smaller colleges, because we have highly trained science faculty with the knowledge and expertise to get grants, involve undergraduate students in research and provide them with those extra educational experiences you cant get at all the small institutions, Abels said. And, at a lot of the larger institutions, those things are reserved for graduate students.

Our faculty came to a university this size because they want to engage with undergrads and they want to personally know them, have them involved in their research and get them involved in the classroom. Were that nice mid-level size that provides more experiences and opportunities for students, but the faculty still are focused on teaching undergrads.

BENEFICIAL EXPERIENCE

This hands-on learning is very valuable, according to Nicole Kent, who graduated from UNK in May 2020.

Being able to sit down with professors one on one and discuss topics that were difficult was one of the best things for me, Kent said. I remember sitting down with my immunology professor, Dr. Joe Dolence, for hours just talking about how the immune system works. He welcomed that and he loved that.

The same could be said for a lot of my professors at UNK. Having that one-on-one attention and professors who are truly invested in your education really helped prepare me for professional school.

The Benkelman native conducted genetics research with biology professor Kim Carlson, studied health care policy with political science professor Peter Longo and participated in lab activities at the Health Science Education Complex on campus, putting her a step ahead of students from other schools.

One of the most beneficial things I was able to do at UNK was take a gross anatomy class where we did our own dissection, she said. Almost none of my classmates at UNMC had that experience, but thats something we do all the time during Phase 1 of our medical education here.

A second-year medical student at UNMC in Omaha, where shes also a student senator and class curriculum chair, Kent wants to practice family medicine in rural Nebraska.

The different experiences Ive had made me appreciate rural doctors, family medicine doctors and everything they do to provide such a wide variety of care, she said. I think having a consistent, community-minded doctor can make a real impact in a community. I hope that I can be that doctor for a community someday and be part of the solution to the problems facing rural health care.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Kent learned a lot about this career through the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP).

A partnership between UNK and UNMC, the program grows the states health care workforce by recruiting and training students from rural Nebraska who are committed to practicing in these areas. Participants are awarded full-tuition scholarships to attend UNK and guaranteed admission to UNMC if all requirements are met.

They receive additional assistance, along with a $2,000 room waiver, through the KHOP Learning Community. A requirement for freshmen, the one-year residential learning community gives members a chance to look at various health care professions while receiving support and guidance as they transition to college.

There are courses the students take together, providing a shared academic component, and they participate in weekly mentoring groups with upperclassmen, covering topics such as study skills, professional development and campus resources. KHOP members also meet with health care providers and tour medical facilities, allowing them to see different career paths and create professional networks.

A similar program, the Health Science Explorers Learning Community, is offered to any freshman or transfer student interested in health care.

These learning communities do a great job of setting students up for academic success, Abels said.

UNK Health Sciences serves students in other ways, too. They can join the Health Science Club or Alpha Epsilon Delta health preprofessional honor society, listen to guest speakers and attend meetings, workshops and other events.

Staff also provide academic and career advising and connect students with health care-related job shadowing, internship and employment opportunities in the Kearney area.

Thats what we mean by full service, Abels said. We really work with students on an individualized, personal level.

By helping students choose a path that best fits their interests and abilities, you ultimately end up with better acceptance rates, Abels added.

And those numbers speak volumes at UNK.
The Middle Easts leading education exhibition and a student recruitment event, the Global Education & Training Exhibition (Getex), was inaugurated by Jameela Salem Al Muhairi, Minister of State for General Education, on February 24.

Held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the opening ceremony was attended by Dr Abdulla Al Karam Director General of Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), other dignitaries and heads of several universities and schools in UAE.

Getex 2022s first day witnessed the attendance of hundreds of students in uniform from several schools across UAE. The afternoon session saw families and professionals of all age groups and nationalities engage with region and international institutions on the show floor.

This years edition paved the way for the 1st Education Leaders Networking Reception, where heads of universities discussed and engaged with leaders of K-12 schools for opportunities and potential collaborations moving forward.

The newly introduced K-12 education segment brought together 30 regional and international schools from the UAE, the US, Canada, the UK, and India to present and tackle opportunities and academic options for learners aged 3 to 18.

The inclusion of young learners is to provide parents the chance to build a solid educational foundation starting with their childrens early academic years.

This exhibition, which will run until February 26, serves as a platform for learning institutions to achieve enrolment quotas while giving students and parents a wide array of options in their pursuit of quality education. It provides schools a chance to present themselves to a willing audience who are looking for education options

Additionally, students can leverage the expertise and services of career guidance counselors present at the event.

Participants also joined the 8th edition of the Getex Counsellors Forum, designed as a professional development platform for counselors. Titled Fostering Resilience in Students, the session highlighted new learning methodology and the emotional and psychological impacts of the pandemic on educators.

Other interactive seminars include Changing Landscape of International Education; Use of Digital Audio Feedback; Online Schooling vs Traditional Schooling; How to Enroll in an Ivy League and Tier One University; UWC-High School at University; Preparing Youth for the Fourth Industrial Revolution; and Boarding Students Success in University.

To offer students further insights on studying overseas, Getex also hosted the following seminars: Get to know Bahrain School & Dorm, Introduction to US Boarding School, Applying to an Art and Design College in the US and Study in Germany.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E), the organiser of Getex, said: The Middle East has one of the fast-growing student populations in the world, recording double-digit growth rate annually. We have to ensure that the younger generations have access to quality education to better prepare them for competitive job markets in the future. Getex is the ideal platform to present learners options and opportunities so they can decide which educational programme suits them well and which school would best help them unlock their potentials.

The annual Getex exhibition is aligned with the UAEs education agenda of making quality education accessible to local and international students in the region while giving educational institutions an efficient and consistent wide-scale platform for their recruitment objectives.-- TradeArabia News Service
A Douglas County judge on Tuesday ordered an Omaha man charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash to be held on $1 million bail.

Santiago Paiz-Bautista, 20, also was charged with tampering with evidence. He must pay 10% of the bail amount, or $100,000, to be released from jail.

Police said Paiz-Bautista is responsible for the death of Tommy Tsosie, 43, of Omaha. Witnesses said Tsosie was hit by a red vehicle about 1:20 a.m. Saturday while he was walking near 24th and D streets.

Tsosie was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said a red 2015 Chevrolet Camaro was southbound on 24th Street when it hit Tsosie, who was dressed in dark clothes. The Camaro then turned west on G Street.

An affidavit filed by police said officers located Paiz-Bautista on Sunday at a home near 39th and U streets. He was interviewed at police headquarters an admitted to being the driver of the Camaro that struck and killed Tsosie.

Paiz-Bautista told officers that the Camaro had been towed to a mechanic near 37th and Lake streets for repairs. Police inspected the vehicle and found it had heavy front-end damage on the right side and a cracked windshield with blood on it.

He also told police that he had been drinking alcohol prior to the collision and "admitted to being under the influence" while driving.
Vernon County Sheriff John B. Spears reports the arrest of a 29-year-old Onalaska man on multiple counts of felony theft from residents at an assisted living facility.

Justin Patrick Reilley of Onalaska was arrested on Feb. 21, following an extensive investigation. A search warrant was executed at Reilleys residence and stolen financial items were recovered. Under Wisconsin statute 943.20 (3)(d)(6) theft is a class H felony.

During an interview with Vernon County investigators, Reilley admitted to taking financial items from residents at the assisted living facility. The theft of the financial information occurred while Reilley was employed as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the assisted living facility.

On Feb. 22, Reilley had a bond hearing through the Vernon County Circuit Court and was released on a $1,000 signature bond.

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As the country of Ukraine endures the invasion of Russian military forces, its an anxiety citizens have lived with for decades that has finally become reality, according to a UW-La Crosse professor.

Elizabeth Peacock, an associate professor of archaeology and anthropology, specializes in Eastern Europe and language and has lived and researched in Ukraine. Combined, she has spent roughly two years in the country, largely in the city of Lviv, spanning 2003-2016, which overlapped with the Orange Revolution and the annexation of Crimea.

Through her research, Peacock also relies heavily on social media to stay connected with Ukrainians and has been communicating with friends, colleagues and other citizens as the attack continues.

In some ways it is shocking and in other ways it feels like deja vu, Peacock told the Tribune in an interview.

Peacock said that to many in Ukraine, Russia and Vladimir Putin have always been a force to be anxious and worried about, and that since Ukraine became independent in 1991, Russias significance has always lingered.

One friend of Peacocks in Ukraine told her today, I dont believe Im living in a war. Were very worried but calm at the same time. Peacock added, its in their backyard.

Peacock said, Its the sense that: Were worried, but he does this all the time. Were worried, but Russias always a threat. But now, hes here, and will anything that Europe does save us? She pointed to the fact that Ukraine means borderland, and that the country has long embodied that definition as a buffer zone between conflicts.

There isnt a large Ukrainian community in the La Crosse region, Peacock said, but the implications and significance of the invasion will still certainly be felt in the area.

We live in a global, interconnected world. What happens in such a place that seems so far away, affects all of us, whether the ripples are only felt in rising gas prices at the pump, or stock market swings due to new sanctions, she said in an email. We might feel relatively safe and are protected here in La Crosse, but the pandemic has shown us  I hope  just how connected we are.

Not only that, but local military reservists may be called to join NATO forces in Eastern Europe, including a student of Peacocks. And refugees in the area, from recent Afghans to longtime Hmong residents, may commiserate with shared experiences of feeling powerless to protect themselves from more powerful outside forces, she said.

Peacock said students have been asking and turning to her with questions about what is unfolding, and in a class Thursday they spent time discussing the crisis.

I definitely had a few students in there who were concerned because they dont know anything about Ukraine, Peacock said. To put it into context, Peacock described that the city of Lviv on a map is similar to Chicago, and the countrys eastern regions would be like New York City.

There are also tactics being used during the attack that Americans may be able to relate to, she said, specifically the use of misinformation, which includes false messages that Ukraine provoked the attack.

This use of misinformation may complicate ways outside forces may be able to help.

Peacock said reliable and vetted ways to help include the charity foundation Come Back Alive, which provides essential supplies for the Ukrainian Army, Peacock said, and other fundraisers can be found at sites.google.com/view/standwithukraine.

Peacock urged that Russian people not be demonized because of the actions of Putin and his supporters, and she said that existing, complex tensions around loyalty and nationality will only continue. She specifically noted that language and dialect are already used as ways to discriminate in the Ukraine.

Looking ahead, Peacock said that her biggest fear is a bloodbath, and she worries that international response may not be enough, specifically the most recent sanctions that have been announced.

One thing we share as humans is the desire to make our own decisions, to be able to decide as we choose, what kind of world we wish to live in, Peacock said.

The Ukrainian people have yet to be left alone to decide for themselves what kind of country they want to be. Rather, the Russian bear has been a constant threat, against which only the powers of Europe and the United States has any chance of protecting them, Peacock said.

And now, that bear has attacked, openly and unapologetically. When Putin invaded Crimea, the West ultimately did nothing. Now, will our response be the same?

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There's no telling where the "Lonesome Road" will lead.

For Eli Perron, that road went from Lancaster to Nashville, and now, for one night, back again.

Perron, a Manheim Central grad, will perform with his band, New Suede, at the Lititz Shirt Factory on Friday, Feb. 25. Tickets are $20.

Other than a show at Tellus360 with a previous incarnation of New Suede, Perron has been making a name for himself in Tennessee, first in Murfreesboro to attend Middle Tennessee State University for audio production, and then on to Nashville.

"Being in Lancaster and then being in Nashville...it's just a lot different," Perron says by phone. "I definitely had culture shock at first."

In the summer of 2021, Perron and his bandmates tracked what would be the band's official debut album, "Lonesome Road," over the course of two days at Nashville's famed Welcome to 1979 studio. All nine tracks were recorded live to tape by Perron on guitar and vocals, Danny Anderson on bass, Aaron "Bucky" Anderson on drums and Nathan Aronowitz on keyboard.

After recording in spurts and releasing a few songs over the course of several years, "Lonesome Road" released in January of this year.

"I just wanted to put out an album, because I wanted to do that," Perron says. "We've put out singles in the past, but, for whatever reason, we just never got an album out, which was frustrating to me. This time, I thought, 'I just want to get some songs out and feel good about it.'"

"Feeling good" is an apt description of "Lonesome Road," as its heavily blues and funk rock-influenced sound seems ready to soundtrack your next barbecue or party. Songs like "Looking Glass" and "Freedom Funk" pulsate with wah-wah guitars, harmonica and a head-bobbing drum beat.

While some songs were birthed in the studio, some, such as "Soulshine," whose lyrics provide the name of the album, date back years, with Perron only recently unearthing demos to work on further.

"It's a feel thing," Perron says of his creative process. "Sometimes things align, and it's easier when you're not thinking about it and just sitting there strumming. What you're doing subconsciously catches your attention, and that's how you know it's good."
Despite early and widespread concern that the long-anticipated twin-demic would strike this year, early data appears to show a relatively mild 2021-22 season, state health data shows.

Health officials had feared the confluence of flu and coronavirus  coined the twin-demic  could overwhelm hospitals this season.

The flu season by itself usually strains our systems, said Dr. John Goldman, an infectious disease specialist at UPMC in central Pennsylvania.

Noting this flu season has been mild, Goldman added, I think its a huge relief.

The flu season is typically between October to March, but can extend into April and May.

Predictive modeling had shown flu hospitalizations could be 20% higher this flu season in the United States compared to previous seasons before COVID-19, but that hasnt materialized.

The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was starting as the 2019-2020 flu season was nearing its end, Pennsylvania saw 3,664 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, a 95% decrease over the previous season.

State and federal health officials credit the low number of flu cases to the COVID-19 mitigations in place  social distancing, masking and good hand hygiene  as well as the record number of Americans 6 months and older who got a flu shot in the 2020-21 season, about 52%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to state health data, Lancaster County had 2,790 influenza cases in the 2019-20 season, the most recent seasonal data available. Pennsylvania had 131,282 cases.

Flu cases so far this season in Lancaster County are down roughly 26% over the 2019-20 flu season before COVID-19 ushered in mitigation efforts that greatly impacted the number of cases. Pennsylvania this season has had 33,881 cases, a 74% decline.

To date, Pennsylvania has had 35 influenza-related deaths this season. Ryan Eldredge, a state health department spokesperson, declined to provide the number of county deaths.

While the data is incomplete, Lancaster County appears to have suffered very few flu deaths.

LNP | LancasterOnline inquired about the number of influenza-related deaths with the countys health systems.

As of Feb. 12, Penn State Health did not record any deaths and Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health had one patient flu death. UPMC officials said they did not have the number of influenza deaths at its Lititz facility and WellSpan Health declined to provide it.

A season-over-season comparison of cases and deaths is not possible because the Pennsylvania Department of Health has not yet released data for the 2020-21 season.

Please note that comparison between these seasons might be misleading due to a variety of factors including but not limited to, COVID mitigation, additional testing and weakened immunity against the flu, Maggi Barton, a state health department spokesperson, said in an email.

Influenza cases are up over last season, but that  health officials said  was expected given the COVID-19 mitigation efforts in place.

At this point in the 2019-20 flu season, Lancaster County had 1,815 of the 84,654 cases reported statewide. This season, the county has 2,252 of the 35,703 cases in Pennsylvania.

In contrast, Lancaster County reported more than 51,000 new COVID-19 cases during this flu season.

What this illustrates is that COVID is much more contagious than the flu, Goldman said.

Dr. Catharine Paules, an infectious diseases physician at Penn State Health, cautions the worst may be in the rearview mirror, but shes still advising her patients to get a flu shot.

As we relax our measures for COVID, we may see surges in other viruses, Paules said.

For example, the respiratory syncytial virus typically peaks in winter, but last year, Paules said, it struck in August.

Paules added, We could see a surge in influenza cases.

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Email the Lancaster Watchdog at watchdog@lnpnews.com, or go to LancasterOnline.com/watchdog and tell us about it.

Flu cases, deaths Following are the number of flu cases reported in Lancaster County and Pennsylvania from 2015 through 2019: *Flu cases Flu season 2015-16 Lancaster County: 744 Pennsylvania: 31,992 Flu season 2016-17 Lancaster County: 1,680 Pennsylvania: 71,272 Flu season 2017-18 Lancaster County: 4,570 Pennsylvania: 122,030 Flu season 2018-19 Lancaster County: 2,368 Pennsylvania: 99,308 Flu season 2019-20 Lancaster County: 2,790 Pennsylvania: 131,282 *Flu deaths 2015 Lancaster County: 11 Pennsylvania: 369 2016 Lancaster County: 5 Pennsylvania: 126 2017 Lancaster County: 22 Pennsylvania: 258 2018 Lancaster County: 24 Pennsylvania: 507 2019 Lancaster County: 15 Pennsylvania: 273 *Note: The Pennsylvania Department of Health has not released data for the 2020-21 season. Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health
After seven years leading the School District of Lancaster, Superintendent Damaris Rau is retiring. Why? Shes tired. But shes not giving up on advancing the goals of educational and racial equity.

In a commentary featured this week in the Southern Education Foundation blog at southerneducation.org, Rau acknowledges the pressures of COVID-19 but delves deeper into the stressors and frustrations educations top leaders face every day.

Rau cites inadequate state funding, racial injustice and culture wars as only a few of the reasons that she is tired, but not giving up on education.

Even once I retire, I will continue to stand up for people who are not in the room, and I will continue to support people doing the hard work for all of us, Rau wrote.

And, shes not the only one. Rau is one of nearly half of the superintendents nationwide who plan to leave their role in the next two to three years, according to Newsweek.

Though pandemic stressors made her job more difficult  as Rau explained in a January interview with the LNP | LancasterOnline  they were only the tip of the iceberg.

[Retiring Lancaster superintendent talks goals: What's done, what's left and how COVID hit education]

Instead, her commentary details a feeling of exhaustion over explaining racial injustice like the murders of George Floyd and Travon Martin to students. Shes tired of defending the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and people calling for banning books by Black and Brown authors, according to the piece.

The fight for fair funding to public schools also made her list. In December, she testified in a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court lawsuit filed by the School District of Lancaster and others seeking to change the states public school funding formula. She called for more support to districts, like hers, who lack the resources to renovate aging buildings and to properly prepare students for college and careers.

But Rau said she will continue to support organizations and people making a difference such as the attorneys representing the district and five other school districts suing over education funding.

She goes on to thank several other organizations including the Southern Education Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union.

It is OK to be tired, but it is not OK to give up, Rau wote. To quote the great Dr. Martin Luther King: The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. We all need to stand up now.

Read the full article on the Southern Education Foundation website.
The Swiss Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai will launch the Blue Peace initiative at a high-level function, announcing the start of a Water Month and opening of an exhibition to bring water related issues and challenges to the fore.

In a statement, officials said the Blue Peace Exhibition from February 26 to March 31 at the pavilion, spearheaded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), will showcase the Swiss commitment to water diplomacy and sustainable use of worlds water resources for peace, stability and development.

"Switzerland has a long history of promoting transboundary water cooperation and is committed to supporting countries in achieving sustainable access to clean water. Through Blue Peace, Switzerland plays an active role as a mediator and offers countries its support to manage their water resources more efficiently and to reduce tensions between multiple water users, both nationally and internationally," said Patrizia Danzi, SDC Director.

SDC, the arm of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of Switzerland launched the Blue Peace initiative in 2010, and ever since then it has become an internationally recognised movement with multiple development programmes in various water-stressed regions.

The focus of the movement is cross-border water cooperation to promote peace, stability and sustainable development, bringing countries together to commit to resolve disputes peacefully and to use water as a basis for more economic and political collaboration.

Manuel Salchli, Commissioner General of the Swiss Pavilion and Chairman of the Steering Committee at Expo 2020 Dubai said: "Water is a key issue in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region where water scarcity is a real problem. Switzerland has a long experience in water management and is at the forefront of water diplomacy. It is an opportunity to present our know-how in this field here in Dubai, in particular through the Blue Peace initiative, which aims to prevent conflicts through equitable and efficient water management.

He added that the Blue Peace initiative on the inspiring themes of water and peace throughout the last month of the Expo 2020 Dubai will leave a lasting impression and reaffirm Switzerland's commitment to the international community and the general public in these areas.

Under SDC, Switzerland is engaged in water diplomacy around the world for equitable water rights. There is nothing more essential to life on earth than water and often water insecurity often degenerates into conflict and serves as a trigger for migration, Swiss officials said, adding that there need to be a consensus on intelligent management of available water resources to reduce the risk of conflict.

The opening day of the Blue Peace expo at the Swiss Pavilion will start with a high-level discussion on "Water - a catalyst for sustainable development and peace." The launch of the Blue Peace Days during the whole of the Water Month will bring high-level experts and think tanks to discuss current water challenges and developments through a varied programme of colloquia and workshops.

A roundtable on March 2 on the topic of Water Security for Peace and Development, in preparation for the World Water Forum to be held in Dakar from March 21 to 26, 2022 and a March 24 an event on Youth Engagement for Global Water Security, are some of the leading programmes during the Water Month.

The Blue Peace Exhibition space, located in the last part of the Swiss Pavilion, will have three parts - an explanatory graphic room with appealing visuals and a movie on Blue Peace projects, an interactive part where guests can dive into an animated movie experience on Blue Peace. It will also showcase innovative content creations around blue peace in the likes of posters, art objects, presentations etc.

The Blue Peace experience room will be the heart of the Blue Peace Exhibition where visitors can dive into the experience of Blue Peace by simulating all the challenges but more importantly the benefits that arise around transboundary water cooperation.-- TradeArabia News Service
East Cocalico Township police

THEFT

EAST COCALICO TWP.: Ella Clare, 49, of Mount Joy, was charged with theft by deception after stealing $1,459 from a resident in the 400 block of East Lancaster Avenue since May 27, police said. Clare was the victims power of attorney and took the money without their knowledge or consent, police said.

East Lampeter Township police

THEFT

EAST LAMPETER TWP.: Three unidentified women stole more than $1,200 in merchandise from an Under Armour outlet store at Tanger Outlets on Lincoln Highway East around 5:05 p.m. on Feb. 21, police said. The women used reusable store bags and filled them with clothing and then grabbed more clothing in their arms and fled the store without paying, police said.

Lititz Borough police

THEFT

LITITZ: A package containing about $700 worth of goods was stolen from the doorstep of a business in the first block of South Broad Street around 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, police said. The business owner received an automated message from the shipper that the package had been delivered earlier in the morning while the business was closed, but arrived to find the package had been taken, police said.

Manheim Township police

ASSAULT

LANCASTER TWP.: Gerald R. Eshelman, 43, of Lancaster, was charged with simple assault after attacking an employee at Valentinos Cafe at 132 Rider Avenue at 6:04 p.m. on Jan. 31, police said. Eshelman, who had been flagged earlier and had to leave the establishment, later returned and then pushed and tacked the employee without warning, injuring their shoulder, police said.

Manor Township police

SPEED ENFORCEMENT DETAIL

MANOR TWP.: Ten vehicles were stopped for exceeding the 35 mph speed limit on Charlestown Road, just west of Manor Boulevard, on Feb. 22, police said. The top speed was 62 mph, police said.

New Holland police

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

NEW HOLLAND: William Matthew Buehler, 28, of New Holland, was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment after intentionally setting off a car alarm in the 300 block of Valley View Drive at 4:16 a.m. on Feb. 18, police said. Neighbors in the area had complained of the alarm being set off in the early morning hours in recent weeks, causing them to lose sleep and interrupting their lives, police said.

DUI

NEW HOLLAND: Darwin W. Brumbach, 47, of Reinholds, was charged with driving under the influence, driving under suspension and a summary traffic offense after losing control of his vehicle and driving into the front yard of a residence in the 500 block of West Cedar Street at 1:36 p.m. on Jan. 29, police said. Brumbach, who had a BAC of 0.126%, attempted to leave the scene before police arrived and tried re-starting the car, but had mechanical issues, police said.

Pennsylvania State police

ASSAULT

MARTIC TWP.: Joseph Rankin, 35, of Pequea, was charged with assault after threatening a person with a hammer on House Rock Road at 4:51 p.m. on Feb. 15, police said.

BURGLARY

SADSBURY TWP.: An unidentified burglar broke the small glass window of a garage door in the 400 block of South Vintage Road and then reached inside and unlocked it sometime before 9 a.m. on Feb. 14, police said. No items were taken from the vacant garage, police said.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

COLERAIN TWP.: Bottles were thrown at a house and car on Solanco Road, causing a combined $250 in damage, at 10:15 p.m. on Feb. 19, police said.

DUI

ELIZABETH TWP.: Logan S. Nelson, 18, of Manheim, was charged with driving under the influence after crashing into a mailbox in the 100 block of West Lexington Road, disabling his vehicle, at 11:03 p.m. on Dec. 22, police said. Nelson was drunk at the time, police said.

FRAUD

COLUMBIA: A 42-year-old woman, of North Third Street, was lured into an online romance scam and sent about $30,000 in gift cards to an unidentified suspect between July 29 and Feb. 14, police said.

HARASSMENT

PEQUEA TWP.: Michael Sheppard, 49, of Willow Street, was charged with harassment after pushing a woman on two different occasions, causing bruising to her chest, in the first block of Carriage House Drive between 5 p.m. on Feb. 19 and 4:20 a.m. on Feb. 20, police said.

PROVIDENCE TWP.: A 46-year-old man was struck in the back of the head with a glass object on Good Road at 8:51 a.m. on Feb. 21, police said.

THEFT

BART TWP.: A gold sapphire diamond ring was stolen from a residence on Dry Wells Road sometime on Feb. 8 and then pawned, police said.

MARTIC TWP.: A $300 chainsaw was stolen from the 200 block of Fox Hollow Road sometime before 10 a.m. on Feb. 18, police said.
U.S. Senate candidate David McCormick visited Columbia Borough on Wednesday morning to make his pitch to local Republican voters. Pennsylvania needs a battle-tested senator, he said, one who understands the international and domestic challenges the United States is facing.

McCormick, who until last year was the CEO of the worlds largest hedge fund, attempted to paint himself as an outsider because he has never before run for political office, though he did serve as a Treasury Department official under former President George W. Bush.

State Sen. Ryan Aument, R-West Hempfield, introduced McCormick to the group of about 20 voters. Aument said hes gotten to know McCormick and believes hes on a very positive trajectory to win this race.

(McCormick) has the experience to help this country navigate this challenging era, Aument added.

McCormick, a U.S. Army veteran, gave a short stump speech about his time growing up in Bloomsburg and how the embarrassing withdrawal of U.S. troops from last year Afghanistan motivated him to run. He then answered questions from attendees for about an hour Wednesday morning at Hinkles Restaurant in Columbia Borough.

Residents asked McCormick his views on a number of popular conservative issues like immigration, the outcome of the 2020 election, corruption in government, how the U.S. should approach China and more.

He noted that during his time as a Treasury official, he negotiated directly with some of the nations biggest adversaries, including China and Russia. Its this experience, as well as his time as a businessman, that sets him apart from the six other GOP Senate candidates running in whats expected to be the most expensive U.S. Senate race in the states history.

Pennsylvania needs to have a strong, America-First conservative advocate in Washington, McCormick said.

One voter asked McCormick what he would do on his first day in office if he were elected. McCormick said hed want to immediately restart building the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and end a policy that allows people to be released after they are apprehended by Customs and Border Patrol. (While the Biden administration paused border wall construction soon after Trump left office and has scaled back aggressive construction efforts, the Department of Homeland Security continues work on wall sections in several priority areas.)

He also said he would remove Jay Powell as the head of the Federal Reserve (Powell was appointed by Trump) and cut regulations on the energy sector.

McCormick is one of a few Senate candidates who have made stops in Lancaster County ahead of the May primary election. Last month, Democrat Conor Lamb met with Latino business owners and leaders. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity physician, and Jeff Bartos, the GOP lt. governor nominee in 2018, have both made appearances in the county as well.
With the launch of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 23, political leaders in Lancaster County and Pennsylvania issued comments of support for the people of Ukraine.

Here are some of those comments:

Gov. Tom Wolf (D)

"I stand with @POTUS in condemning the unprovoked and unjustified Russian military invasion of the independent country of Ukraine. This attack on a peaceful country is shocking. I urge democratic leaders across the globe to unite and respond decisively to this unlawful attack. Frances and I pray for the people of Ukraine  and for the Pennsylvanians who have loved ones living in Ukraine."

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D)

"Putin alone is responsible for last nights death and destruction in Ukraine. The international community stands united with Ukraine and we will move swiftly to enact consequences against Putin for this unprovoked attack."

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R)

"My prayers are with the Ukrainian people. Putin has launched a war of aggression against a neighboring state. His war will cost many thousands of innocent lives and threaten security around the world. President Biden must immediately impose the strongest sanctions possible and Congress should pass the NYET Act to cripple Russias financial sector and make Putin regret his terrible decision."

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R)

"The Russian invasion and unprovoked attacks on Ukraine at Putins direction are unacceptable and depraved. The Biden administration, our NATO, and international allies must stand together to support Ukraine against this needless aggression."

Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons (R)

"Pray for Ukraine and our troops in nearby countries. Very disturbing and dangerous times for the world."

State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster city

"I just signed on to co-sponsor a PA House Resolution to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. PA has the second largest Ukrainian American population in the US. We must denounce this immoral aggression and stand with Ukraine."

U.S Rep. Conor Lamb, Democrat and candidate for U.S. Senate

"This unprovoked invasion of Ukraine must be met with punitive economic sanctions by the United States and our allies. Putin and those around him must be made to feel severe, lasting consequences for this unlawful attack. I stand with the Ukrainian people and pray for their safety in defense of their country."

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, Democrat and candidate for U.S. Senate

"Gisele and I send our thoughts to the people of Ukraine as they suffer an unprovoked + unjustified attack. Putin chose to reject diplomacy + peace to start a war of aggression. @POTUS and our allies are already taking steps to hold Russia accountable + we must continue to do so."

Mehmet Oz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate

"We are praying for the brave and resilient Ukrainian people. The attacks being carried out by Vladimir Putin are reprehensible. We stand with our friend and ally."

Carla Sands, former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate

"Please pray for Ukrainians as they are forced to defend themselves against an unprovoked invasion."

Kathy Barnette, Republican candidate for U.S Senate

"More is to come. Unfortunately, Taiwan is up next. This will not end well for them or America. And it's all as a direct result of our CURRENT feckless 'leadership.'"

Jeff Bartos, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate

"My prayers are with the people of Ukraine tonight."

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, and candidate in this year's GOP gubernatorial primary

"Praying for the people of Ukraine and the many Ukrainians in Pennsylvania who fear for their loved ones back home."

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R)

"Russia's unprovoked and unnecessary attack against Ukraine poses a threat to freedom in Europe and to America's NATO allies in the region."

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, Republican representing parts of York and Cumberland counties

"As we pray for the Ukrainian people, make no mistake: THIS is what happens when Americas enemies see a weak and incompetent @POTUS. #Ukraine #BidenIsAFailure. As Sec. of State, John Kerry did nothing to stop the invasion of Crimea, all for an unenforceable agreement to fight the air. Now that his chickens came home to roost, hes more worried about emissions from war & distraction from the climate than the slaughter in #Ukraine."

U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R)

"Russias attack on the freedom-loving people of Ukraine is unjustified, unprovoked, and a flagrant violation of international law. Sanctioning Russia BEFORE an invasion would have forced Russia to the negotiating table from a position of weakness. Instead, Biden decided on a wait-and-see approach. The last 24 hours prove how incredibly foolish that was."

U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D)

"This is Putin's madness in action. He must be held accountable. My prayers are with the Ukrainian people as this unjust attack on their nation unfolds. The world is with you."

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R)

"Biden allowed Putin to cross his red line without severe consequences. This weak foreign policy has emboldened Putin to act aggressively. Its time for the full force of sanctions from the U.S. and our allies."

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D)

"Putin and those who enable him must pay a major price for his attacks on Ukraine. I support @POTUS Biden and our allies as they work to make that happen, and I stand with Ukrainian civilians who are going to be the most affected."

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R)

"Today (Wednesday) I joined @USRepKeating to announce bipartisan legislation that would impose sanctions on Russian parliamentarians who voted in favor of the Kremlins recognition of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as 'independent states.' It is critical for the US to impose immediate, crippling sanctions that strike at the heart of Putins corrupt regime & send a clear message about the consequences Russia will suffer for invading Ukraines sovereign territory. The world is watching & the time to act is now."

U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R)

"Join me in praying for the people of Ukraine tonight."

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D)

"My thoughts are with the innocent people of Ukraine, including the Ukrainian-American community watching this unconscionable attack on their families and home unfold. America stands with you and we stand for democracy."

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D)

"My prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they face unprovoked and unjust attacks across their sovereign nation at the hands of a dictator. Mr. Putin is responsible for the devastation and must be held accountable for bringing violence and instability to Europe and the world. We are all watching Mr. Putins horrific attacks on the independent nation of Ukraine. This is a humanitarian crisis  and as we discuss next steps, one thing should be clear: the world must send aid and prepare to take in refugees. We cannot wait."

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller (R)

"Amidst the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, President Biden recently promised to supply energy to our European allies, with the aim of reducing the regions dependence on Russian natural gas. If Biden is serious about lowering energy costs & diminishing Russias power, he must expedite approval of U.S. energy infrastructure, including pipelines & liquified natural gas export facilities, & allow the U.S. to be the lowest-cost provider of clean energy at home & abroad."

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Democrat representing Chester County

"Today is a sad day for humanity and democracy. Putin's premeditated and unprovoked act of aggression against Ukraine cannot and will not go unpunished."

U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (R)

"President Putin has begun an unprompted and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine, which is the most significant infringement in Europe since World War II. This attack calls for a strong response from the U.S. and our allies, including significant economic sanctions."

State Sen. Doug Argall, R-Schuykill County

"I stand with the rest of the Free World today in condemning the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine. I stand with the Pennsylvanians who have family in Ukraine and all of our citizens of Ukrainian ancestry, including those in Cass Township in Schuylkill County which has the highest percentage of people of Ukrainian ancestry in the United States."
When: Supervisors meeting, Feb. 17.

What happened: The board unanimously approved an agreement with Lancaster Family YMCA to continue managing and operating the Leola Community Pool for the 2022 season. Township Manager Michael Morris said the last season went very well with the YMCA in charge.

Quotable: If you remember, we got a lot of positive responses from people. ... It was really nice with all the years that weve had issues, Morris said.

New ordinance: The board approved advertising an ordinance regulating the placement and design of small wireless facilities on utility poles in the township. It follows a 2021 state law that directs municipalities to adopt a standard set of rules to accelerate 5G infrastructure construction throughout Pennsylvania.

Appointment: Debra Morris was appointed to a five-year term as a member of the Upper Leacock Township Municipal Sewer Authority beginning Feb. 17 and ending Dec. 31, 2026. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Cindy Shenk.

Signage: The state Department of Transportation has authorized the installation of engine brake retarder prohibition signs on Quarry Road between Main Street and Center Square Road.

Bike ride: The Rotary Club of Lancaster Sunrise informed the township it will be holding its 18th annual bike ride fundraiser, Rotary Ride for the Community on Saturday, June 4. As in past years, the club sought permission to paint directional markings on Upper Leacock roads.

Contribution: Morris acknowledged receiving the Worship Centers annual $2,500 contribution to the township. As a nonprofit organization, the church is exempt from paying municipal real estate tax.

Next meeting: The board meets again at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17.
THE ISSUE

On Feb. 15, the U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol sent a letter to state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, saying hed been subpoenaed to provide documents by March 1 and testimony on March 10 regarding his involvement in Donald Trumps efforts to overturn Joe Bidens victory in the November 2020 presidential election. In a climate in which right-wing media portray the charges against Jan. 6 insurrectionists as persecution rather than prosecution and the House committee investigating the attack as illegitimate, the subpoena could turn out to be an asset in Mastrianos campaign for the GOP (gubernatorial) nomination, reported Brad Bumsted and Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus, an LNP Media Group watchdog publication, in last Fridays edition.

The subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee is only good news for Mastriano, according to Alison Dagnes, a Shippensburg University political science professor who studies right-wing media.

And Tom Baldino, a former political science professor who is writing a book on Pennsylvania politics, told The Caucus that the subpoena is a badge of honor, perhaps as good as it gets, short of an endorsement from Trump himself.

We believe this to be both true and deeply discouraging.

As Wereschagin and Bumsted wrote, Mastrianos fealty to Trump catapulted him into front-runner status in the jam-packed GOP gubernatorial primary. Hes traveled to events around the state in the last year to stump for a partisan review of the 2020 election, endearing himself to the portion of the GOP base that incorrectly believes the election was stolen.

They noted, however, that Mastriano doesnt have as much money as his better-connected or personally wealthy opponents.

Dagnes believes this could change because of the subpoena. He is going to fundraise like crazy off of this, she told The Caucus.

She noted that to the voters who get their political news from Fox, Newsmax and OAN, Mastriano now has street cred that no other candidate in the race can match.

Again, discouraging but likely true.

We remember a time not so long ago when a connection to an attempt to overturn an American election would have been electoral poison. Especially to Lancaster County residents, whose religious faith traditionally has been accompanied by a high level of integrity, and whose patriotism demands loyalty to the Constitution.

Unfortunately, allegiance to the truth  and the Constitution  seems to have gone out of fashion. (Witness the forced resignation of Joe Mohler, former chairman of the Lancaster Township Republican Committee, because he wrote an LNP | LancasterOnline column decrying the county GOPs affiliation with an organization that spreads, as he correctly described it, inflammatory and verifiably false information.)

Over the next several months, in the run-up to the May 17 gubernatorial primary election, Lancaster County residents will be bombarded with advertisements for the candidates.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is running unchallenged in the Democratic primary. But the Republican gubernatorial primary is akin to an episode of ABCs The Bachelorette  its crowded, messy and the mostly male candidates are eager to distinguish themselves from the others.

Its likely to get ugly.

As The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday, state Senate leader Jake Cormans campaign alleges that Mastriano has clearly and flagrantly ignored campaign finance law and should be investigated. Mastriano previously denied such claims.

The call for a probe comes a day after Mastriano filed an amended financial report showing he raised $1 million in 2021  three times as much as he initially disclosed, The Inquirer reported. The new filing said Mastriano spent $215,000 last year, 15 times as much as he first reported. Mastriano filed the updated report hours after The Inquirer reported on his campaigns omission of basic expenses.

Like we said: ugly.

Registered Republican voters are going to have to sift through a deluge of information in the coming weeks. They will have their own set of qualifications they expect to see in the candidate who ultimately gets their vote. We just hope that one of those qualifications is a reverence for the legitimacy of free and fair elections.

As Wereschagin and Bumsted noted, Mastriano, a retired U.S. Army colonel first elected in 2019, rose to prominence by organizing a hearing in Gettysburg weeks after the 2020 election in which numerous false and misleading claims about the election (were) spread. Trump called into the hearing and later invited Mastriano to the Oval Office.

Mastriano bused Trump supporters to the Jan. 6, 2021, rally that preceded the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. He walked to the Capitol after the rally, but said he and his wife left when the violence started.

More from Wereschagin and Bumsted: The Trump campaign had been pressuring Republican legislators in key states to decertify Bidens victory and vote to send Trumps electors to Washington, D.C., rather than Bidens, according to (the Jan. 6) committee.

The plan rested on the widely derided legal theory that the U.S. Constitution allows state legislatures to overrule voters after a presidential election takes place.

Mastriano introduced a resolution to do just that.

As a Nov. 30, 2020, interview with pro-Trump radio talk show host Eric Metaxas was about to get underway, Mastriano took a call from Trump, who wanted to know what was going on in Pennsylvania.

Metaxas listened to the call, Wereschagin and Bumsted reported. This president really is the kind of a maniac who calls up state senators to find out Whats going on? What can we do? How can I help? Who should I contact? And the presidents writing down the information, Metaxas recounted to his audience, with evident admiration. Albin (Metaxas producer) and I were just stunned listening in to this phone call. ... This ramped things up to another level.

According to The Caucus reporting, Mastriano and Metaxas asked the radio audience to pressure Republican legislators to vote on Mastrianos resolution and claim for the Pennsylvania General Assembly the sole authority to appoint presidential electors.

I need 26 votes out of 50 (state Senators), Mastriano told Metaxas. Right now Im at nine or 10 or so who cosponsored my legislation to take back our constitutional authority.

The state Legislature could not choose different electors after the election already took place, constitutional scholars have said. A post-election power grab would not be constitutional.

We hope that whoever is on the gubernatorial ballot in November accepts this. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in an 1819 letter to John Adams, good government means in all cases to follow truth as the only safe guide.
If its in the dog, its in the pup.

I am referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. I also viewed his father, Pierre Trudeau, as a tyrant 50 years ago. Pierre Trudeau would use a sledgehammer to crush a peanut to show his power to the Canadian people. I believe that Justin Trudeau is doing the same with his recent use of that nations Emergencies Act against the peaceful people protesting for their freedom and seeking the end of government mandates.

All truckers in North America should be commended for their bravery during the past two years. They unselfishly delivered goods and services to all of us.

But there comes a time when enough is enough. The proud, hardworking, peaceful Canadians protested in Ottawa, only to have Trudeaus minions beat them, ride horseback through the crowd, steal their fuel, smash their windows, arrest about 200 of them, seize dozens of vehicles, freeze their bank accounts, cancel their insurance and drivers licenses and much more.

I only hope that our neighbors to the north can rally and defeat this socialist now. Our friends need to be treated like humans, not dogs.

Jim McElroy

East Hempfield Township
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), which is regenerating a vast swathe of north-west Saudi Arabia as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage, has been officially announced as a government member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

This will support RCUs strategy to conserve nature and wildlife by creating and activating nature reserves to protect ecosystems, fragile habitats and biodiversity; restoring and enhancing degraded ecosystems and ecological processes; and reintroducing native species, said a statement.

While IUCN government members are primarily at the state level, RCU was granted government membership status in recognition of its commitment to conservation. RCU will now be able to not only draw upon the specialist knowledge of 18,000 IUCN experts, but also provide information on the results obtained from its work in AlUla to a global audience through, for example, attendance at the IUCN annual meetings and quadrennial congresses.

Amr AlMadani, the CEO of RCU, commented: This announcement is a testament to AlUlas potential for natural heritage and wildlife conservation. It demonstrates the increasing international recognition that RCU, undertaking a project of immense scale, is a key player in global conservation. We look forward to the increased exchange of knowledge between our two organisations so that the flora and fauna of AlUla can be restored to their former glory through cutting-edge approaches.

Abeer AlAkel, Chief of Special Initiatives & Partnerships at RCU, said: Mutually beneficial partnerships are essential to RCUs strategy. They create a platform for acquiring knowledge, establishing alliances with key scientific stakeholders, expanding our expertise and co-creating initiatives. We welcome international partners such as IUCN that will be with us for the long haul and that share our desire to benefit the citizens of AlUla.

IUCN was founded in 1948 and has counted Saudi Arabia as a member since 1981. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.  TradeArabia News Service
Al Sharpton  Locke Was Guilty Only of Being Black in America

The Rev. Al Sharpton told the hundreds gathered Thursday for the funeral for Amir Locke that the 22-year-old Black man who was shot by Minneapolis police as they served a no-knock search warrant was not at fault when he was killed.

Amir was not guilty of anything but being young and Black in America, Sharpton said.

Other speakers at Lockes funeral at Shiloh Temple International Ministries condemned police for the events that led to Lockes killing, as they remembered Locke and other Black people who have died in encounters with police.

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Sharpton said if Minneapolis had passed a ban on no-knock warrants we wouldnt be at a funeral this morning.

Lockes aunt, Linda Tyler, denounced racism in policing and demanded that officers stop talking about the need for more training, and instead start using de-escalation techniques on white and Black people alike.

If it is something you simply cannot do, we just ask that you resign today instead of resigning another brother or sister to her grave, she said. She also said she doesnt want to hear about how policing is a difficult job.

If you think being a police officer is a difficult profession, try to be a Black man, she said, as the crowd erupted in cheers.

As the service was getting underway, those gathered were prompted to Say his name and they responded with Amir Locke. A large portrait of Locke was displayed at the front of the church, with a white casket topped with roses and bouquets of flowers nearby. Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter were among those in attendance.

Lockes death has provoked an outcry against no-knock warrants, with a push by his family and others to ban them in Minnesota and beyond.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has come under scrutiny for the citys use of such warrants, and Minneapolis Interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman did not attend. Shiloh Temple Bishop Richard Howell Jr. told the Star Tribune that Frey would not attend without an invitation from the family.

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As the service began, hundreds of people sang the hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing before Howell led the church in a prayer. Members of the Grammy Award-winning group Sounds of Blackness also performed.

The service was held in the same church where Daunte Wright was remembered after he was killed by a suburban Minneapolis police officer in April. Sharpton, while presiding over Wrights funeral, decried the stench of police brutality.

Locke was shot by a SWAT team member shortly before 7 a.m. on Feb. 2 as officers served a search warrant in a St. Paul homicide case. Body camera video shows at least four officers using a key to quietly enter the downtown apartment where he was staying, then shouting their presence. The video shows Locke, wrapped in a comforter, stirring and holding a handgun right before an officer shot him.

Locke wasnt named in the warrant and did not live at the apartment. Family members called his killing an execution, noting the video shows an officer kicking the sofa, and suggested Locke was startled awake and disoriented. They have also pushed back against police saying Locke was shot after he pointed his gun at officers.

Frey has imposed a moratorium on such warrants while the city reexamines its policy. The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating Lockes shooting.
Ask the DMV  Take care of your DMV business the safest and fastest way: online

Did you know that most things you need to accomplish at the DMV can be done online? The DMV is encouraging Californians to access its expanded online services portal amid the surge of the omicron variant of COVID-19.

In addition to providing more services online, the DMV has accommodated customers in many ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the DMV announced the extension of commercial drivers licenses, learners permits, endorsements and special certificates expiring between March 2020 and February 2022, through February 28, 2022.

Q1: I have a commercial drivers license that is about to expire; how can I get it renewed?

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A1: Renewing a commercial drivers license previously required a visit to a DMV office. However, the DMV is now offering most commercial drivers license renewals online. Those who are eligible can simply renew their license at www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv-virtual-office/commercial-driver-license-renewal.

Eligible commercial drivers can upload the necessary documents, pay the required fee by credit or debit card, and then receive their new card within a few weeks. While most commercial drivers can renew their drivers license online, some exemptions may require an appointment at a local field office.

Q2: I would prefer to visit the DMV in-person, is that an option for me?

A2: California DMV offices are still open for business. To protect the health and safety of DMV employees and customers, the DMV requires everyone in its offices to wear face coverings, keep their distance, wash hands frequently, and stay home if they are sick. Customers are also asked to limit the number of family members who accompany them to an office to those who are necessary to complete a transaction, and to be patient while waiting to be served.

Additionally, Californians can use a DMV kiosk, with locations throughout the state that often offer extended hours. At a kiosk they can complete their vehicle registration renewal and print tags on the spot, submit proof of insurance, receive a driver or vehicle record, and much more.

Customers can also visit DMV business partners to complete selected transactions in-person. To find out more about your options, visit www.dmv.ca.gov and use the service advisor tool.

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For more information or answers to questions not listed here, please visit www.dmv.ca.gov.
Calif. Reparations Task Force Meeting to Honor Movements History

The California Task Force to Study and Development Reparations Proposal for African Americans is holding its seventh meeting this week.

During the two-day virtual conference, the task force will pay homage to Black History Month as well as African American heroes who initiated the fight for reparations  and kept it alive over the years  in the United States.

Happy Black History Month! The first-in-the-nation California Reparations Task Force meets again on Wed-Thurs Feb 23-24, tweeted Kamilah Moore, chair of the task force. Join us as we celebrate past and current reparations efforts!

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Moore, a Los Angeles native, is an attorney and activist whose scholarship and work has focused on the study of reparations.

On Feb. 23, the committee members and guest speakers will revisit the origins of Black History Month, followed by a commemoration of past and current reparations movements that have fought for restitution from the government for formerly enslaved Black people in the United States.

Chad Brown, a member of the National Assembly of American Slavery Descendants  Los Angeles, will speak to the panel during the segment of the program recognizing current reparations movements.

Sending *special* Congratulations to @Chad_Boogie @NAASDLA on his selection testify to the CA Reparations Task Force on Wed 2/23 (between 3pm & 4pm) in recognition of current efforts at reparations, tweeted the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California.

During the second half of the first day, the panel will host historian, attorney and University of Pennsylvania professor Mary Frances Berry. She will lead a discussion titled Recognizing Current Efforts at Reparations discussion.

Berry is the author of My Face is Black Is True: Callie House and the Struggle for Ex-Slave Reparations. The book tells the story of a formerly enslaved woman named Callie House who spearheaded a movement for reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black people 70 years before the Civil Rights Movement. A widowed washerwoman from Nashville and mother of five, House (1861-1928) fought for African American Union soldiers to get pensions denied them, strategically targeting $68 million generated in taxes on seized cotton from Confederacy states.

On Feb. 24, the members of the task force are scheduled to hold a discussion focused on eligibility.

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The nine-member panel will also vote on operational details of the project as outlined in Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, the law that authorized the task force.

The same day, the task forces Advisory Committee Members: Moore, Jovan Lewis, who is chair of the Department of Geography at UC Berkeley, and a representative from the California Department of Justice will discuss how the task force will employ expert consultants to assist with their work.

Each day, the first action on the task force agenda is an hour devoted to public comment. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to speak.

In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the states historic reparations task force bill into law. It was authored by Californias current Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber when she was a member of the Assembly representing the 79th District in the San Diego area.

This weeks meeting will be accessible by video and teleconference. For more information on the task force, visit the California Department of Justice website.
For High Court Nominees Whens Your Birthday? Matters

Help wanted: Well-respected liberal jurist. Black. Female. Seniors need not apply.

President Joe Bidens search for a nominee to the Supreme Court isnt just limited by credentials, race, and gender. The reality for the nations oldest president  and for any president  is that for a lifetime appointment on the nations highest court, youth is particularly prized.

Its simple math. The younger Bidens nominee, the longer she is likely to serve as a justice. The longer she serves as a justice, the longer liberals can expect to hold a seat on the court now dominated 6-3 by conservatives.

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While a nominees experience and academic and work credentials may be most important in the selection, how long the person can serve is clearly significant for the 79-year-old Biden in what may well be his only chance to nominate a justice.

Younger is considered better, but not so young that you dont have a track record, said C. Boyden Gray, White House counsel to former President George H.W. Bush. And the age issue extends to nominating federal judges at all levels, he said.

Age may be most significant at the Supreme Court. It is often said that a presidents picks are among his most lasting legacies, with recent justices serving 25 years or more. Retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, nominated by President Bill Clinton at 55, is retiring at 83.

Balancing age and experience, recent presidents have picked nominees in their late 40s and 50s, with 60 generally seen as the very upper end of the range. All three of Bidens most talked-about potential nominees are in that age window, but theres also a decade between the youngest and oldest.

California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger is 45, while South Carolina federal Judge J. Michelle Childs is 55. In between is Washington, D.C., federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51.

On Tuesday the court transparency group Fix the Court tweeted that Republicans are pushing Childs for the seat in part because shes the oldest of the potential nominees & more likely to die sooner. The group then voiced support for 18-year term limits, which would make age less a factor.

Breyers fellow Clinton nominee Ruth Bader Ginsburg was nominated at 60 and served until her death in 2020 at 87.

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Some people thought I was too old for the job, Ginsburg said in 2019 at an event with Clinton. Noting that she was starting her 27th year on the court, she told the former president: If you worried about my age, it was unnecessary.

I did worry about it, the Democrat acknowledged, describing age as a serious issue.

The concern about a nominees potential longevity cuts across party lines. In 1991, when Justice Thurgood Marshall announced his retirement at 82, then-President George H.W. Bush said he would look for a nominee who believes in the Constitution of the United States and also somebody who will be able to serve for a while.

He chose Clarence Thomas, then 43. No nominee since has been younger. Last year, Thomas marked 30 years on the bench. The Supreme Courts youngest-ever nominee was 32-year-old Joseph Story, who joined the court in 1812 and served for more than 30 years.

Former President Donald Trump also picked young nominees. Neil Gorsuch was the youngest in a quarter century when he was nominated at 49. He was followed by Brett Kavanaugh, then 53, and Amy Coney Barrett, then 48. The remaining members of the court  Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Samuel Alito  were nominated at 50, 50, 54 and 55 respectively.

Knowing he was facing an uphill confirmation fight in 2016 to replace conservative Justice Antonin Scalia who died unexpectedly, President Barack Obama picked a moderate who was also older. Merrick Garland was 63. Still, Republicans controlling the Senate refused to hold a hearing for Garland, now Bidens attorney general.

For Biden, age may be of particular significance. While Trump appointed three justices, Biden is unlikely to be able to leave the same stamp on the court, even if he runs for and wins a second term. After Breyer, the courts two oldest members  Thomas, 73, and Alito, 71  are conservatives unlikely to retire during a Democratic administration. The courts remaining liberals, Sotomayor and Kagan, are 67 and 61 and could still serve at least a decade longer or more.

As Biden decides whom to nominate, hell be weighing multiple factors: candidates records, Ivy League versus state school educations, prosecutor versus defense attorney backgrounds.

I think younger ages are definitely a factor, and rightly, but not the only factor, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee and one of the senators who have met with Biden about the nomination.

Biden himself has acknowledged the role that age can play. In a 2010 interview as vice president, defending Obamas choice of Kagan, he brushed off criticism that the president had chosen another Harvard graduate and pointed out that she was then the administrations top Supreme Court lawyer.

He described her as ready, willing, able and, adding another key quality: the right age.

___

Associated Press writers Mark Sherman and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
Kamlagers Bill Package Centers on Economic Justice

Senator Sydney K. Kamlager (D  Los Angeles) introduced her legislative package for this 2022 legislative session on Feb. 18. The robust package centers on economic justice in the fight for autonomy and safety.

I am excited to introduce my largest legislative package yet, shared Senator Kamlager. Too often we overlookor worse, criminalizethe plight of Californians who are working to make ends meet. We let criminal records hinder the ability of formerly incarcerated individuals to find jobs and allow parents to be separated from their children based on weak standards of proof.

Now is the time to stop criminalizing poverty and start prioritizing economic stability. This legislative package sets out to do just that.

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Kamlager, recently designated as Chair of the Budget Subcommittee #4 on State Administration and General Government, is prioritizing economic justice with a bill package including legislation aimed at decriminalizing poverty while also putting forward solutions to strengthen environmental protections, family reunification programs, and abortion access.

The legislation consists of SB 1304  Gate Money Allowances, which will ten-fold increase the allowance given to people recently released from prison (known as gate money). The bill will require the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to raise the amount, last increased in 1973, from $200 to $2589, a calculation drawn from the current cost of living in California.

SB 1286  The California Clean Slate Act: similar to the Clean Slate Acts of Pennsylvania and Utah, this bill provides a mechanism for the automatic expungement of low-level (misdemeanor) offenses. Expungement to apply for those who successfully avoid recidivism and complete all court-ordered obligations within a certain number of years following their release.

Atwo-year bill, the Senator continues to champion ACA 3  The California Abolition Act, which would remove slavery and involuntary servitude from the California Constitution.

Continuing to build on her record as an advocate for health equity and access, the Senator has also introduced legislation aimed at addressing gaps in coverage in social programs:

SB 996  CalWORKs Accessibility: expands accessibility for those currently on and looking to apply to the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program through the elimination of asset tests and some deprivation requirements.

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SB 1055  Drivers Licenses Suspensions: seeks to address equity concerns around drivers license suspensions for those that have missed child support payments and are currently living at or below the poverty level.

SB 1085  Redefining Neglect: provides an additional carve-out when determining child neglect in Dependency Court hearings. This will provide critical protection for Californias families vulnerable to separation based on factors such as poverty, homelessness, and a lack of access to basic resources.

SB 1139  Humane Health Care: disallows CDCR from charging incarcerated folks to access their medical records. It also implements a format of guided steps and tools to ensure that health care services offered by CDCR are humane.

SB 1245  LA County Abortion Safe Haven: seeks to create and fund a pilot program in the County of Los Angeles to ensure equitable access to abortion.

Kamlager has also introduced legislation aimed at combating climate change and encouraging sustainability:

SB 1052  Baldwin Hills Conservancy: expands and protects the Baldwin Hills Conservancy to provide additional resources for communities that have faced historic disinvestment.

SB 1187  Circular Fashion Economy Pilot Program: aims to address material waste generated by fashion retailer brands.

Additional legislation is being developed that will focus on cryptocurrency, pharmaceutical drug importation, and climate protections relating to oil industry pollution. SB 679, a two-year bill, which would create an independent L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, also remains one of the Senators priorities.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature, stakeholder groups, and advocates in the district to undo the economic injustices that mire our state, added Kamlager. Im all in for the fight to reinvest in Californias communities.
Local Prodigy of Illustration celebrates Black History, through the Power of Art

Al Hornsby began painting when he was 12, hes been creating art for over 47 years.

At the age of 14, Hornsby would paint daily for over 12 hours. His observational talent evolved and so did his art.  By the age of 17, I fully understood different styles and periods of art and could identify which art came from each period and which art came from a part of Europe. Hornsby said.

Prior to attending art school, Hornsby was self-determined to master the principles of visual reality, Linear and atmospheric perspective, human anatomy, wave anatomy, tree anatomy, materials and chemistry, and color theory

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Hornsby studied the major periods: the High Renaissance of Northern and Southern Europe and the Dutch masters such as Johannes Vermeer. Following his passion, Hornsby attended Otis Art Institute and Parsons School of Design.

Hornsby reflected on his time of getting to know his personal art style, by considering art history. He stated,

I was profoundly influenced by past classic art traditions. I had taught myself so much of what I needed to understand in order to create what I wanted to paint in a realistic manner.

The artist continued, I learned as a child much about all the major periods: The High Renaissance of Northern and Southern Europe, namely, how to distinguish the Flemish and Italian style I most enjoyed. The Golden Age of the Dutch Masters namely Vermeer, RembrandtI most enjoy due to their ability to depict their textural effects of everyday objects on canvas. Hornsby said.

Other art styles Hornsby pulls from is Frances Neo-Classicism and the Romanticism fine art period. Hornsby shared,  I admire both 19th century French artists, Jean Baptiste Corot and Auguste Dominique Ingres, from whom I have drawn inspiration, as well as early artists such as the major art figures Trio, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, of course.

Hornsby absorbed styles from American art from the 18th century. I studied the impressionism period of Monets influence and artists of his time in France, as well as the post-impressionistic period. But my favorite Dutch artists of that movement was Vicent Van Gogh. Hornby expressed that his family and close friends were not surprised at this success in art school, during his formal training at Otis, Hornsby received high marks in art history and life drawing classes.

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Throughout the 1980s Hornsbys art was displayed nationally on the news and talk shows. Some of the featured art included a painting of former President Ronald Reagan as a Black man, which created strong dialogue around race during that time. In celebrating the beauty found within the Black culture, Hornsby has curated a series of paintings that depict great leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Presently Hornsby is still in commission, looking to present to recent work to a member of the Jewish Community. In the future my hope is that I expand and further diversify my output in varied subject genre and incorporate esoteric imagery in my art compositions that is predictive prophetic. Hornsby Stated.
Louisiana Army National Guards First Black Woman Pilot

A woman who was once rescued from the Superdome on a helicopter during Hurricane Katrina has gone on to become the Louisiana Army National Guards first Black female pilot.

Warrant Officer Tatiana Julien of New Orleans pilots a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in B Company, 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion, which is based in Hammond.

I feel like I now have a responsibility to let young females know that aviation is an option for them even though it is a male-dominated field, she said in a news release sent Thursday. There arent many women, and even fewer Black women in aviation, both in the military and on the civilian side.

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She said she had no idea shed be a trailblazer when she asked for the training.

It feels surreal, she said.

The Louisiana Army National Guards 115 or so helicopter pilots include six African Americans, three other minorities and five women, including Julien, Sgt. Dennis Ricou, a guard spokesman, said in an email.

Julien decided to become a pilot after seeing a Black pilot from New Orleans in her unit while it was deployed to the Middle East from 2017 to 2018. That pilot became her mentor.

We often dont realize what kind of impact we have on other peoples lives. Simply seeing someone doing their job is enough to spark an interest, said Julien.

She graduated Warrant Officer Candidate School in August 2019 and completed flight school on July 21, 2021.

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Julien had an associate degree when she enlisted in 2014 to continue her education. She now holds a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of New Orleans and intends to pursue her masters degree in either counseling education or human resources.

The pilot she met in the Middle East, now Chief Warrant Officer 4 Troy Willis, said, I am extremely proud of Julien. Her level of intelligence and her inquisitiveness really stands out, making her a perfect candidate to become a pilot, and I believe that diversity of our armed forces is what makes us strong.

Retired Sgt. 1st Class Haywood Harrison, another of Juliens mentors, now asks her to talk to his Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps classes at Broadmoor High school in Baton Rouge.

My students needed to see someone that looks like them, someone that wasnt exposed to helicopters but was able to seek out the things she needed to do to become the first African American female pilot in the Louisiana Army National Guard, he said.

Julien said shed like to talk to students at George Washington Carver High School in New Orleans, her alma mater.

I feel like the exposure just isnt there for many young Black kids in the community I grew up in. A lot of us dont know about opportunities like this, said Julien.

Julien knows first-hand how valuable emergency missions can be. After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, Julien and her family were rescued from the Superdome in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. They had been there for a week.

Hope, security and relief were all that I felt in that moment. I am now in a position where I may have to do the same for someone else, she said.
Mitchell Uses Black Faith Project to Promote African Presence in Christianity

For centuries, historians and artists portrayed biblical figures as Caucasian, leading many to refer to Christianity as a White mans religion. But, that erroneous depiction is being vigorously countered through the Black Faith Project.

The campaign, headed by Harry Mitchell, is designed to inform and educate believers about the abundance of Africans and people of color highlighted throughout the Bible. Mitchells website, blackfaithproject.org, lists information, resources and even collectibles emphasizing this fact.

An L.A.-based author, he released An Untraditional Fire: The Extraordinary Ministry of Rocellia Johnson in 2021. The book covers the ministry and legacy of the famed Los Angeles preacher, teacher, church builder and evangelist.

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Naming his new campaign as the Black Faith Project was not an attempt to exclude other ethnicities, said Mitchell, but rather an intentional effort to focus on the issue of the Black representation in the Bible as a Black, or can I say, an unapologetically Blackity-Black issue. It delves into the intersections of our sense of identity, humanity, mission, Christian faith, and spirituality.

The connection between those areas materialized for Mitchell while he was researching background on a book to aid the latest generation of Black church leaders. Exploring the prevalence of racism in Christianity, he decided to review documents from the beginnings of the faith in an effort to trace how the trajectory of discrimination came about towards darker-hued believers. During his investigation, he discovered that people of color were intimately involvement in the development of the early church.

I learned things like there [had] been an African Pope and the African church fathers like Tertullian, Athanasius, Origen and Augustine made major contributions to Christian theology and doctrine that we embrace today, said Mitchell.

It was during that process that I felt the Lord put on my heart the idea to look for the Black people in the Bible and tell others about them. So far, Ive been able to identify about 20 or so people of African descent in the Bible, like Zipporah, Prophet Zephaniah, King Tirhaka, Jehudi and Apollos.

Tradition says Christianity was taken to Africa. In addition, God spoke to and used the Black people of that time. They are part of our history. We need to say their names and tell their stories, insisted Mitchell.

Another revelation for the researcher was the fact that Black presence in the Bible was not actually hidden, but rather ethnicity was not always indicated. Calling the practice as hiding in plain sight, Mitchell noted that these people have been in the Bible the whole time, but their birthplace and ancestry of these people is never explained.

In addition, Bible commentaries and seminaries rarely denoted the link to Africa. Over time, European-influenced sculptures and paintings reflected White people in biblical scenes even though it was well known that Egypt was in Africa, called by many as The Dark Continent.

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With the rise of Black pride in the late 20th century, White biblical images were replaced by beautiful Black faces and bodies. Still, many believers were unaware how historically accurate those drawings were, which is where the Black Faith Project comes in to dispel those fallacies.

Black people in the Bible provides a Christianity that predates chattel slavery. It also provides a model of how God originated diversity, equity, and inclusion in His plans for redemption, Mitchell explained.

Hes not a God for White folks and Christianity is not a White mans religion as some claim. The reconciliation for the church should begin by reconciling our minds and hearts around this truth that there are Black people in the Bible because they were part of Gods mission. God called and commissioned Black people throughout the Bible for His specific work, he asserted.

Mitchell aims to share this message with as many people as possible through the Black Faith Project. The website not only offers a range of affirming and uplifting products, but also provides free presentations and other resources such as calendars and scholarly tomes.

Future plans include the publication of childrens books to help parents have conversations about race, racism, and the Black presence in the Bible with young people. Also on the horizon are increased fundraising efforts to enable the campaign to grow and flourish.

Our goal is to create awareness and engagement, not just at the Black church, but for the Black household. So, if I dared to have an expectation, it would be that we begin to create a new narrative for our Christian story and find new ways to get the message out, said Mitchell.

Therefore, our faith need not be connected with the pains of slavery, but with the historical facts that we were always in Gods plans and the Bible reveals that story. The hope is that by understanding this information that we begin to shape a new identity and outlook to fight the battles that still remain for us as a people with new outcomes. Its time.
This is Our Moment

There have been far too few national moments where Black women have been at the center of public celebration. February 2022, the month designated in the United States of America as Black History Month, will now be celebrated as Black Future Month as well, thanks to President Joe Biden and Vice President, Kamala D. Harris.

Honoring his campaign commitment to name a Black woman for the first time in the 233-year history of the Supreme Court should be written down in history as one of the greatest historical moments in our lifetime as Americans.

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The Supreme Court, the highest Court in our nation, has never had the voice and brilliance of a Black woman on the court. There is no need for Americas highest court to be off limits to a Black woman anymore, said Donna Brazile, political strategist.

This moment is the harvest of our ancestors, who believed in a future they could not see. The time is right for this incredible moment.

Every Black woman whose name has circulated across the media since the pending nomination was made public, is a woman of impeccable credentials and worthy of this sincere consideration. Every Black woman highlighted, talked about, and hailed as the potential candidate, deserves this public celebration of her individual accomplishments, stellar body of work and legal scholarship.

The bench of nominees is deep and is intentionally getting deeper according to Dean Danielle M. Conway, dean, and Donald J. Farage, professor of law, at Penn State Dickinson Law.

Black women have been preparing for this moment for decades. We have not given up the fight for justice, freedom, and equal rights. The future is brighter for young girls everywhere, as this nomination affirms their ambition, and validates their arduous work.

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I can only smile from a deep place when I imagine what my mentors, the late Dr. Dorothy I. Height, national African American civil rights activist, and Mother Ida B. Kinney, leader of seniors in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California, would say about this moment. These women would ask that we not miss the opportunity to express our Joy as we celebrate this victory and movement forward in this country.

Dr. Height especially would say thank you to the women who have spent years striving for excellence that is required of us in all that we do to advance. She would say thank you to the Black families who practice unity and self-determination  one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa  in helping to prepare these women for this very moment.

Finally, I believe both Dr. Height and Mother Kinney, would be among the organizers of some grand recognition of the occasion for the world to stop and learn not just about the one deserving woman whose name will be put forth as the nominee of President Biden, but, to also learn about the entire class of women being considered thus ensuring that their exceptional talents would remain in our memory forever.

Barbara A. Perkins is an executive leadership coach and multi-faceted businesswoman with 30+ years in the private and public sector. She is president of the International Black Womens Public Policy Institute and president of Image Builders Etcetera, LLC, a full-service leadership development and coaching firm.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a military operation in Ukraine even as Ukraine reported multiple explosions in many cities.

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen.

As Putin spoke, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine. Later, air sirens went off in Kyiv, indicating that the city is under attack.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia had carried out missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and the country's border guards.

Ukraines Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the country will defend itself from Putins war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win, said the minister.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry has said Russia's "invasion has begun" with missile strikes on Kyiv. CNN reporters and witnesses in cities across Ukraine have also reported hearing explosions.

Ukraine's President introduced martial law across the country on Thursday, urging citizens to remain calm.

Ukraine was attacked through multiple borders, the Ukrainian state border service said. "At about 5:00 am, the state border of Ukraine in the area with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus," the service said.

It added that border guards, along with Ukraine's Armed Forces and National Guard, are "firing at the enemy" depending on the situation on the border.

US President Joe Biden said he has spoken with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and briefed him on the steps he is taking "to rally international condemnation".

In a statement, Biden says he condemned the attack as "unprovoked and unjustified".

The US president says he will be meeting with G7 leaders on Thursday, and the US and allies "will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia".

"We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," he says.
Uplifting the Legacy of the Hon. Marcus Garvey: The Global Struggle for His Exoneration

The global struggle to secure the exoneration of the Honorable Marcus Garvey is an urgent and compelling one. It is a struggle to be strongly embraced and actively supported, not only by African peoples throughout the world African community, but also by other persons, organizations, institutions and peoples all over the world who love justice, cherish truth, respect and defend human rights and oppose injustice everywhere, whether in its legal or illegal forms.

Our organizations, The African American Cultural Center (Us) and the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO), stand and work in active solidarity and support of this global initiative and urge others everywhere to do likewise.

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Indeed, this global campaign and struggle must be waged and won for several cogent and compelling reasons. These reasons include: the urgent and imperative need to achieve overdue justice for the Hon. Marcus Garvey; to achieve justice for African people against whom this shared injustice was also done; to resist racist uses of the law to criminalize and suppress rightful resistance; to seize the pen of history and correct the historical record; and to understand and pursue this struggle as part and parcel of our overall struggle for reparations and liberation.

The struggle is first to exonerate the Hon. Marcus Garvey from the false and falsified charge and wrongful conviction for mail fraud in 1923. It was a political trial so obviously based on trumped up charges that the U.S. attorney general questioned it and Pres. Calvin Coolidge commuted Nana Garveys sentence after a massive organizing effort of the people in 1927.

Still determined to disable and destroy him and his work, the FBI (then the Bureau of Investigation), set in motion a plot to deport him as an undesirable alien. And in 1927, they deported him to his country of birth, Jamaica. The need here is for the U.S. government to acknowledge this injustice and correct it as the petition to exonerate him seeks and demands.

Furthermore, the global struggle to exonerate the Hon. Marcus Garvey is at the same time a struggle to exonerate ourselves as a world African community. For indeed this injustice committed against Nana Garvey is not only committed against him, but is a shared injustice also committed against us, the world African community. For justice, like freedom, for us, is indivisible and anywhere and anytime any African is denied their rights and due respect, all of us are somehow denied and injured.

As Nana Haji Sekou Toure taught, it is as if a person cuts their finger, the finger itself does not feel the pain alone, it is the whole body of that person that registers it. Thus, each and all of us feel the pain of this injustice, suffers it and seeks to overcome and end it.

This is especially true in a context of systemic racism where crime is racialized and whole races are criminalized, especially the Black race, i.e., African peoples. Also, the global struggle to exonerate Nana Garvey from these false charges and this wrongful conviction is to resist racist uses of the law to criminalize and suppress rightful resistance.

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The Hon. Marcus Garvey was a pan-Africanist liberator and leader, a teacher, a global organizer of the largest number of Black people in history, an institution builder, a journalist and writer, and a speaker of liberating and uplifting truth. His central message and mission was African redemption, African self-determination, African liberation and upliftment from unfreedom and oppression. His battle cry was Up you mighty race. You can accomplish what you will.

He stressed education and organization of the masses of our people in self-reliant, self-authorizing and cooperative projects and practices. For him, African liberational redemption was a collective project and practice in which all Africans should self-consciously participate.

Teaching against vulgar individualism and self-seeking at the expense of the people, he said, The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself, but the ends you serve that are for all in common, will take you into eternity. Such a liberative, redemptive, dignity-affirming, and life-enhancing message, messenger and mission should not be criminalized and suppressed. And we are morally obligated to engage in righteous and relentless resistance to this.

To join and wage the struggle to exonerate Nana Marcus Garvey is also to seize the pen of history, rescue African history from the falsification imposed on it by colonialists, imperialists, racists, genocidists and other oppressors of all kinds. It is to set the record straight; correct the distortions and falsifications they literally thrive on.

Such is the case with the political trial, trumped-up charges and wrongful conviction of the Hon. Marcus Garvey. And it is a similar story with our people, our other liberation leaders, and other peoples and resistance leaders around the world. Our oppressors thrive on a falsification of history that indicts the oppressed and exonerates the oppressors.

We must, then, through righteous and relentless struggle, seize the pen of history, lived and written history, and rewrite truthfully the real history of our people and leaders and humanity as a whole and thus, set the record straight.

For in this new history, struggled for, rewritten and achieved, not only will Nana Marcus Garvey, our other leaders and our people be exonerated and free in real and relevant ways, but also the whole of humanity.

Finally, the global struggle for the exoneration of the Hon. Marcus Garvey must be understood and pursued as part and parcel of our overall struggle for reparations and liberation. Here Nana Garveys concept of African redemption can be understood as a reparative and uplifting liberation. This calls for a reparative justice for great and grievous injury, i.e., the holocaust of enslavement, the savagery of segregation, and continuing systemic racism.

Certainly, the criminal injustice system that racializes crime, criminalizes the Black race and practices mass incarceration of us as public policy and socially sanctioned practice is in dire need of both radical repair and replacement with a system meticulously respectful of the principle and practice of justice and human rights as a whole.

The global struggle for the exoneration of the Hon. Marcus Garvey has a long history of ongoing efforts by his family and the UNIA. Its latest initiative was launched on February 1, 2022, to coincide with Black History Month and strives to collect 100,000 signatures during the 30-day period, ending March 2 and deliver them to President Joe Biden petitioning for an exoneration.

Dr. Julius Garvey, son and principal keeper of the legacy of his father, poses a challenge to Biden to do justice as he promised. Dr. Garvey told the Washington Post that President Biden has made statements in his inaugural address about the dream for justice not be denied any longer. We will take him at his word. Racial injustice was done to my father more than 100 years ago. He committed no crime. What he was trying to do was elevate the status of African Americans and Africans across the world.

You can support this historic and critical effort by: signing the petition; urging others and your organizations, institutions and professional networks and social media networks to do likewise. To join the campaign and receive updated and vital information, please visit justice4garvey.org and sign up.

In a letter from Atlanta prison during his political imprisonment, Nana Garvey calls on us to continue the struggle, to be co-workers in the cause of African Redemption and to not lose hope, be dispirited or diverted from the struggle.

Indeed, he says that even if it seems our oppressors and the enemies of human freedom have seemingly triumphed for a while, we must continue the struggle, for the final battle when staged will bring us complete success and satisfaction. Thus, he concludes his letter from Atlanta urging us to, Hold fast to the faith. Desert not the ranks. But as brave soldiers march on to victory through righteous and relentless struggle.

For he says a redeemed and liberated Africa has a vital role to play in reconceiving and rebuilding the world. Africa will pose, he asserts, a new way to life and peace, achieved not by ignoring the rights of our brother (and sister) but by giving to everyone (their) due. Indeed, the hand of justice, freedom and liberty shall be extended to all (hu)mankind.
The ancient Italian city of Pompeii historically has had its fair share of ups and downs.

Back in 79 A.D., a volcano erupted and turned the lively city into a wasteland in just a few hours. The destructive event buried the city and its people in volcanic ash.

Then in this century, the excavated Roman city seemed close to a second death. This time not by a volcano, but by years of inattention and mismanagement of the heavily visited ruins.

In 2010, a building where ancient Roman soldiers had trained collapsed. Because of this, Pompeii nearly lost its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an honor it received in 1997.

But these days, Pompeii is beginning to experience a rebirth.

A restoration project to prevent more collapses includes new excavations. The work has led to new discoveries about the everyday lives of the ancient people of Pompeii.

The restoration is also helping to limit the effects of a new threat: climate change. Climate extremes  including increasingly intense rainfall and periods of extreme heat  could threaten Pompeii.

The new director of the ruins, archaeologist Gabriel Zuchtriegel, is using the latest computer technology to help restore Pompeii. He compares the ancient citys fast destruction, which began in the 1970s, to an airplane going down to the ground and really risking breaking apart.

Some conditions are changing and we can already measure this, Zuchtriegel told The Associated Press.

The Great Pompeii Project was a $120 million restoration effort that ended in 2016. It helped keep the ruins from further harm. Zuchtriegel said, It was all spent and spent well.

However, future problems are expected to develop for the ruins, which were first excavated 250 years ago. The ruins at Pompeii were first discovered in the 16th century, Encyclopedia Britannica says on its website.

Zuchtriegel said that moving forward, the use of new technology will be critical to help fight the ancient citys battle against time.

AI to the rescue

The treasures of Pompeii include numerous pieces of art found on the floors and walls. Depending on humans alone to search for signs of climate-caused damage would be nearly impossible. So artificial intelligence (AI) tools and drones will help collect and process data and images in real time.

Since last year, AI and robots are doing what otherwise would be impossible jobs  such as putting wall paintings that have collapsed into very small pieces back together. Among the goals is to rebuild the painted ceiling of the House of the Painters at Work. It was destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II.

Robots will also help repair damage to collapsed structures in a building believed to have been used by Roman soldiers.

Seventeen of Pompeiis 66 hectares remain unexcavated. They are still buried deep under lava stone. There is a long-running debate over whether they should stay buried.

At the start of the 19th century, Zuchtriegel said, the idea was to excavate all of Pompeii. But in the years leading up to the Great Pompeii Project, people were not quick to excavate. Zuchtriegel said the thinking was because we have so many problems we wont excavate anymore.

The head archaeologist before him, Massimo Osanna, took a different approach to the restoration. Osanna targeted excavation in places that needed to be fixed and strengthened. This aimed to prevent further collapses.

But it was a different kind of excavation. It was part of a larger approach where we have the combination of protection, research, and accessibility, Zuchtriegel said.

Helping the community too

Today, the goals of the Pompeii park go further than protecting ruins. The nearby towns have suffered from organized crime and high youth unemployment. This has caused many young people to leave.

So the archaeological park is bringing together students from the areas wealthy institutions and students from working class neighborhoods. They will perform together at Pompeiis Great Theater.

We ... can try to contribute to a change, Zuchtriegel said.

There are also plans to create public walking grounds in an unexcavated part of Pompeii. That part of the ruins, until recently, had been used as an illegal waste dump and even a marijuana farm.

Im Anna Matteo.

Frances D'emilio reported this story from Pompeii for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

erupt  v. to send out lava, rocks, and ash in a sudden explosion

excavate  v. to dig out and remove

restore  v. to bring back to or put back into a former or original state : restoration  n. an act of returning something to its original condition : the result of having been returned to the original condition

artificial intelligence  n. a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers

drone  n. an uncrewed aircraft or ship guided by remote control or onboard computers

lava  n. melted rock coming from a volcano or after it has cooled and hardened

accessibility  adj. able to be used or obtained

contribute  v. to give along with others
Russia and Ukraine are both recalling their citizens as tensions between the countries intensify.

Russia has withdrawn diplomatic workers from its embassy in Kyiv while Ukraine has urged its citizens to leave Russia.

The actions come as Russian President Vladimir Putin received approval from Russias parliament Wednesday to use military force outside his country. Western nations have answered that move with sanctions on Russian leaders and banks.

The U.S. and its European allies accused Russia on Tuesday of crossing a red line after entering into separatist areas in eastern Ukraine. On Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden, in a televised message, called the moves the beginning of a Russian invasion.

Russia also withdrew diplomatic officials from Ukraine, state news agency Tass reported. By Wednesday, the Russian flag was no longer flying over the embassy in Kyiv. Police had surrounded the building.

After weeks of demonstrating calm, Ukrainian officials showed signs of increased concern on Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia. It also said Ukrainian citizens in Russia should leave immediately. The head of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council also called for a nationwide state of emergency.

There have been a number of signs of rising tensions. They include the withdrawal of Ukraines ambassador to Russia. Ukrainian officials are also considering breaking diplomatic ties with Russia.

Several nations have blocked rich Russian business leaders, known as oligarchs, and banks from international financial markets. Germany halted the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia. The United States sent more troops to NATO alliance partners near Russia. And the top U.S. diplomat canceled a meeting with Russias foreign minister.

The threat of war has already severely damaged Ukraines economy. There are also reports of death and destruction in eastern Ukraine while energy shortages are being felt in Europe.

Leaders warned the situation could become more dangerous. Russia has 150,000 troops positioned on three sides of Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden warned that more sanctions could be placed on Russia.

Germanys Foreign Minister on Wednesday called the latest European Union sanctions a first step. She said additional measures could follow. However, the United States and its European allies have said they do not want to oppose Russia with military force.

Russian ambassador in the U.S. Anatoly Antonov said that sanctions cannot solve a thing in a statement on Facebook. It is hard to imagine that there is a person in Washington who expects Russia to revise its foreign policy under a threat of restrictions.

An eight-year conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces in the countrys east has killed nearly 14,000 people. Violence there is increasing. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and six more were injured after firing by the separatists, the Ukrainian military said. Separatist officials reported several explosions in territory they control and three civilian deaths.

After weeks of rising tensions, Putin took a series of steps this week that greatly intensified the conflict. First, he recognized the independence of Ukraines separatist areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. Then, he said that recognition extends even to the large parts of the territories now held by Ukrainian forces. Finally, he received permission from Russias parliament to use military force outside the country.

Putin has said there were only three ways out of the crisis. He called on Ukraine to recognize Russias sovereignty over Crimea. Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. He also called on Ukraine to give up its attempt to join the Western military alliance NATO and to reduce its military forces.

The first two demands had been rejected by Ukraine and Western nations.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this for VOA Learning English from reporting by The Associated Press.

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Words in This Story

sanctions  n.(pl.) actions taken to force a country to obey international law by limiting or stopping trade or cutting economic aid

red line n. a line that marks the limit of what is safe

separatist  n. a member of a group of people who want to form a new country that is separate from the one they are in now

revise v. to make changes to something especially to correct or improve something

oligarch  n. a person who belongs to a small group of people who govern or control a country or business

sovereignty n. a countrys independent authority and right to govern itself
Thailands government recently provided new guidance on how the official name of the capital, Bangkok, would be used internationally.

The guidance, however, caused some confusion. Some people thought it meant that English speakers would need to start calling Bangkok by its longer, local name, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon.

But Thailands Royal Society recently explained that the new guidance did not mean that people should stop calling the capital Bangkok. The Royal Society is responsible for creating academic and language guidelines for the country.

In its recent guidance, the agency said the capital would now be officially known internationally as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). This was a change from the old guidance, which described the capital as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon; Bangkok.

As people tried to understand the meaning of the new guidance, many saw the use of parentheses around Bangkok as a sign that the short form may no longer be welcomed like before.

The short name for the capital means great city of angels in Thai. When speaking, most Thais shorten that name to Krung Thep.

Some language experts wondered if the new guidance would lead to difficulties for people not aware of the capitals longer, official name. As the issue gained attention in Thailand, the Royal Society released a statement on Facebook explaining that its new guidance simply represented a stylistic change.

Writing the capital city's official name with the Roman alphabet can be done both as Krung Thep Maha Nakon and Bangkok, the statement said.

What some people may not know is that even the term used by Thais to describe the capital is a shortened version of the official name. That name, which has roots in the Pali and Sanskrit languages, stretches 168 letters. It is more of a phrase to describe the city than a traditional name.

The Guinness World Records organization lists Bangkoks extremely long official name as the world's longest place name.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

confusion  n. a state in which people do not understand what is happening or what they should do

parentheses  n. two curved lines that are used around extra information or information that should be considered separate

stylistic  adj. relating to a particular style of doing something
The American agency responsible for issuing copyright protections has rejected a request to register an image created by a machine.

The request, to the U.S. Copyright Office, was made by Stephen Thaler, a scientist and developer of neural networks. A neural network is a computer system built to simulate, or act like, the human brain.

Thaler built an artificial intelligence (AI) powered system called the Creativity Machine. The system produced a colorful, painting-like image with the help of an algorithm processed by a computer.

Thaler named the image A Recent Entrance to Paradise. He said it was meant to represent the AI systems visual creation of a simulated near-death experience.

Thaler first sought a copyright registration for the digital image in 2018. That request was denied in 2019. So, he asked the agency to reconsider that decision. In a new ruling last week, the Copyright Office upheld its first rejection.

The agency explained the reasoning for its decision in a letter to Thalers legal team.

In the document, the Copyright Office states that Thaler described the image as being autonomously created by a computer algorithm running on a machine. In other words, he believes his AI system created the digital artwork completely on its own, without help from humans.

The agency said the request sought to register the computer-produced image as a work-for-hire to the owner of the Creativity Machine. Thaler listed himself as the owner of the machine.

In its latest ruling, the Copyright Office explained that it was once again rejecting the registration request. It said it had taken the action because the image lacked the required human authorship required to receive copyright protection.

In seeking a reconsideration of his request, Thaler argued that the agencys human authorship requirement is unconstitutional and not supported by case law. The Copyright Office rejected that argument.

It said it had accepted Thalers description that the image he sought to register was created without any human involvement. Current rules state that the Copyright Office must refuse a registration if it determines that a human being did not create the work, the agency said.

The Copyright Office added that Thalers request was not effectively supported by current U.S. law or decisions in past copyright-related cases. It noted that the request appeared to be more of a policy argument in favor of legal protection for works produced solely by artificial intelligence.

The continued development of AI systems built to assist humans is likely to lead to new debates over whether current laws relating to copyrights and patents should be changed.

In 2020, Thaler sought patents for two products he claimed were completely created by an AI system he calls DABUS. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office also rejected those requests, The Verge website reported. That agency said it denied the requests because under current patent laws, a machine does not qualify as an inventor.

Thaler also sought approval for the products with patent agencies in Britain and Europe, but those requests were also denied. However, a judge in Australia ruled last year that inventions created by AI systems can qualify for patent protection, Engadget reports.

A legal representative for Thaler, Ryan Abbott, said in an online discussion about the issue that he has not argued that AI should own actual patents. Rather, a patent should be held by the owner of the system or machine that did the inventing. However, Abbott said he and Thaler do believe that governments should recognize the machine as the inventor or creator. He said this could prevent people from claiming credit for work they havent done.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the U.S. Copyright Office and online sources.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - US Copyright Agency Rejects Registration for AI Created Image Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

copyright  n. the legal right to be the only one to reproduce, publish, and sell a book, musical recording, etc., for a certain period of time

artificial intelligence  n. the development of computer systems with the ability to perform work that normally requires human intelligence

algorithm  n. a set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process

visual  adj. related to seeing

autonomous  adj. independent and having the power to operate automatically without human involvement

author  n. someone who writes a book, article, etc.

sole  adj. only

patent  n. an official document that gives a person or company the right to be the only one that makes or sells a product for a certain period of time

qualify  v. to be permitted to do or have something
If not for Jane Does courage, former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, R-Lewiston,  a man who stands convicted of raping her and now faces spending the rest of his life in prison  would no doubt be on his way toward securing a second term representing this area in the Legislature.
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), which is regenerating a vast swathe of north-west Saudi Arabia as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage, has been accorded government status.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which granted the status, welcomed the Royal Commission for Al Ula to the IUCN family.

This will support RCUs strategy to conserve nature and wildlife by creating and activating nature reserves to protect ecosystems, fragile habitats and biodiversity; restoring and enhancing degraded ecosystems and ecological processes; and reintroducing native species.

While IUCN government members are primarily at the state level, RCU was granted government membership status in recognition of its commitment to conservation. RCU will now be able to not only draw upon the specialist knowledge of 18,000 IUCN experts, but also provide information on the results obtained from its work in AlUla to a global audience through, for example, attendance at the IUCN annual meetings and quadrennial congresses.

Amr AlMadani, the CEO of RCU, commented: This announcement is a testament to AlUlas potential for natural heritage and wildlife conservation. It demonstrates the increasing international recognition that RCU, undertaking a project of immense scale, is a key player in global conservation. We look forward to the increased exchange of knowledge between our two organisations so that the flora and fauna of AlUla can be restored to their former glory through cutting-edge approaches.

Abeer AlAkel, Chief of Special Initiatives and Partnerships at RCU, said: Mutually beneficial partnerships are essential to RCUs strategy. They create a platform for acquiring knowledge, establishing alliances with key scientific stakeholders, expanding our expertise and co-creating initiatives. We welcome international partners such as IUCN that will be with us for the long haul and that share our desire to benefit the citizens of AlUla.

IUCN was founded in 1948 and has counted Saudi Arabia as a member since 1981. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

In recent years it has worked on a number of initiatives in the Arabian Peninsula, including ensuring that key knowledge products such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas are integrated into local level planning and regulations.

Last year, RCU and IUCN cemented their partnership with the signing of a three-year cooperation agreement. The agreement is assisting RCU in developing a Protected Area Network with effective and equitable governance of natural resources that provide benefits to both people and nature as it regenerates a territory spanning 22,561 sq km centred on AlUla County.

Specific areas covered by the agreement include enhancing support for effective and equitable governance of natural resources, supporting the implementation of protected areas and natural heritage management through the IUCNs Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, supporting the implementation of wild nature restoration and management, and developing education and capacity-building initiatives on conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.

I am very pleased to welcome the Royal Commission for Al Ula to the IUCN family, said Dr Bruno Oberle, IUCN Director General. Counting RCU among our Members will enhance IUCNs presence in the region, and further strengthen the Unions capacity to promote the good governance of the worlds natural resources and environment.

For millennia AlUla has been home to a rich and diverse environment, featuring spectacular landscapes and a wealth of biodiversity from small and beautiful flowering plants that blossom annually after seasonal rains to acacia thickets, specialist animals such as the Nubian ibex and top predators like the Arabian Leopard.

However recent human activity including water-table depletion and overgrazing has resulted in habitat loss and fragmentation, with detrimental consequences for local species. RCU, established by Royal Order in July 2017, is protecting and enhancing the regions cultural and natural assets.

By following the principles of the AlUla Sustainability Charter, and with the assistance of IUCN and other strategic partners, RCU is pursuing a world-leading, socially responsible approach to the conservation, interpretation and presentation of natural and cultural heritage.

Dr Hany El Shaer, Director of the IUCN Regional Office for West Asia, added: We are proud that the Royal Commission for AlUla has joined IUCN. Their accession constitutes a qualitative addition to the West Asia Office, which in turn will contribute to the protection and conservation of nature in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular and the West Asia Region in general.-- TradeArabia News Service
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A Beloit man was convicted of sex trafficking of women and a 16-year-old girl in federal court, authorities reported.

Cory Hereford, 50, last Thursday was convicted of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, maintaining a property for the purposes of distributing and using controlled substances, and committing sex trafficking of a minor while being a person previously convicted of a crime that required registering as a sex offender. The jury reached a verdict after five hours of deliberation following a four-day trial in federal court in Madison, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and U.S. Attorney Timothy M. OShea said in a statement.

The government presented evidence at trial that Hereford targeted vulnerable young women struggling with drug addition, including the 16-year-old girl, enticing them with access to heroin, and in some instances threatened to withhold the heroin to induce withdrawal sickness as a means of compelling the victims to engage in prostitution for his profit. Hereford also threatened physical violence to achieve his criminal ends, Clarke and OShea said.

Hereford, who previously was convicted of second-degree sexual assault of a child in Wisconsin, which required him to register as a sex offender, worked with Tonyiel Partee, 30, of Janesville, to recruit women and compel their commercial sex work. Partee pled guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in July 2021, Clarke and OShea said.

Hereford also maintained a home on South Franklin Street in Janesville, for the purposes of distributing and using heroin and cocaine, Clarke and OShea said.

This defendant preyed on vulnerable members of our society  young women and girls addicted to drugs, Clarke, who works in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, said in a statement. Using their addictions to lure them deeper into the world of drugs and prostitution, he trafficked these victims for his own greed, without regard to their age, their pain, or their safety. We will continue to enforce our human trafficking laws to restore freedom and dignity to victims of this crime.

Hereford will be sentenced on May 12. The sex trafficking charge involving a minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison. The charge of committing a crime involving a minor while a committed felon required to register as a sex offender has a mandatory 10-year penalty that federal law requires be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the sex trafficking of a minor. The charge of maintaining a drug house has a maximum penalty of 20 years.

The case was investigated by Janesville police, assisted by the state Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Rock County Sheriffs Office. The prosecutors were Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger of the Western District of Wisconsin, and Slava Kuperstein of the Civil Rights Divisions Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, call 888-373-7888, text BeFree (233733), or live chat at www.HumanTraffickingHotline.org . The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously.

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Travis M. Christianson, who stabbed his 13-year-old daughter to death 19 months ago as she bathed in a tub, then tried to kill his wife, will never be released from prison, a Dane County judge said Thursday.

Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara said the gravity of what Christianson, 46, did to Addrianna Christianson at the familys Southwest Side home on July 30, 2020, outweighed everything else he had to consider in deciding when, if ever, Christianson would be eligible to seek release from prison while serving the life sentence McNamara had imposed in September.

I think anything less than a full life sentence just doesnt balance with what youve done, McNamara said.

Under Wisconsin law, a person convicted of first-degree intentional homicide is automatically sentenced to life. A judge has to decide whether that person can be eligible to seek release on extended supervision after serving a minimum of 20 years, some other longer period of time, or never.

McNamara said this was only the second time in his 13 years on the bench that hes denied supervision eligibility for someone convicted of homicide. The other person was Steven Pirus, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to killing his wife and later blowing up their Southwest Side home to make her death appear accidental.

Christiansons lawyer, Jessa Nicholson Goetz, asked that Christianson be made eligible at 20 years, arguing that nobody knows what kind of person Christianson would be at that point. Assistant District Attorney John Rice asked that Christianson never be eligible, or in the alternative receive combined sentences that would functionally keep him locked up until he dies in prison.

McNamara said he pondered a sentence that effectively would have given Christianson 77 years  one year for each of the 66 times Christianson stabbed Addrianna and 11 times he slashed her  so that Christianson would always be reminded of that whenever someone, such as a fellow inmate, asked why he was serving such an odd-numbered sentence.

Ultimately, McNamara said, that would be too glib.

In addition to a life sentence for Addriannas death, Christianson received a concurrent sentence of 30 years in prison followed by 10 years of extended supervision for the attempted homicide of his wife, Dawn Christianson.

Marital problems

A criminal complaint states Christianson stabbed his daughter to death after his wife had threatened to end their marriage. She left the house to buy more beer for Christianson, who was already intoxicated, to keep him from driving drunk. When she arrived home, she was met by Christianson, who was holding a large kitchen knife.

I already killed her, he said when she asked about Addrianna. Christianson then attacked his wife.

Rice said Christianson, who worked as a school custodian, offered zero explanation for his actions to the writer of a state Department of Corrections pre-sentence report, claiming he was too drunk to remember. His blood alcohol concentration was nearly 0.27%, more than three times the 0.08% limit for Wisconsin drivers.

He also told the DOC agent about the crime, It is what it is.

Nicholson Goetz said Christianson abused alcohol to cope with memories of abuse and trauma he suffered as a child. She said Christianson is also traumatized by the loss of his daughter, even though he caused the loss himself.

Many questions

Assuming its true that Christianson doesnt remember what he did, McNamara wondered, havent some of those events crept into Christiansons consciousness? Did Christianson knock on the bathroom door or break it open? Did Addrianna scream? Did she see the knife? Those events did not flash by quickly, he said, as with the firing of a gun.

The amount of time for you to wound her 77 times  its incomprehensible, McNamara said.

Denying Christianson the opportunity to ever seek release from prison, McNamara said, spares Addriannas family from ever having to go to a hearing decades later to explain why Christianson should remain behind bars.

Hopefully, McNamara said, it will also bring some measure of peace to Addriannas mother and the rest of her family, and perhaps even to Christianson.

I dont know if youll find peace, McNamara told Christianson. Maybe thats a gift of forgetfulness.

Christianson declined to speak when he was given the opportunity. Nicholson Goetz said earlier that there arent any words Christianson could offer that would adequately express his remorse.

Dawn Christianson was not in the courtroom Thursday.

Friend speaks

A friend of Dawn Christianson, who was not fully identified in court, spoke for her in court. She recounted holding Dawn Christiansons hand as she was told her daughter had died.

As Addriannas mother and I walked out of the hospital in silence, she said, I watched all the strength and light leave the strongest person I know. Watching grief consume my friend as she is telling her father that Addrianna is dead was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to witness.

Travis Christianson, she said, took so much from so many when he killed Addrianna, including the future that Addrianna never got to live. Addrianna loved Harry Potter, art, music, video games and photography. She will live in the hearts of family and friends that genuinely loved her, her mothers friend said.

There will never be a day, an hour, a moment or even a second that our hearts will stop aching for Addrianna, she said.

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An Onalaska man was arrested Monday for stealing from residents at a Vernon County assisted living facility, the Vernon County Sheriffs Office reported.

Justin P. Reilley, 29, was arrested on multiple counts of felony theft while working as a certified nursing assistant at the unnamed assisted living facility, Sheriff John Spears said in a statement.

A search warrant was executed at Reilleys residence, stolen financial items were recovered, and Reilley admitted to taking the financial items during an interview with Vernon County Investigators, Spears said.

Reilley had a bond hearing in Vernon County Circuit Court on Tuesday and was released on a $1,000 signature bond, Spears said.

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One City Schools founder Kaleem Caire leaned against a wall in a third-floor hallway of the new school site, overwhelmed with emotion after signing a contract Wednesday with the University of Wisconsin System to expand his charter school up through the 12th grade.

Its been hard, its been the hardest work of my life. But its been beautiful, seeing all of the people who are coming together around it, getting involved in it, Caire said. The fact that we were able to get here, so many people played a role, its just crazy.

The contract inked with the System greenlit Caires 33-year dream of growing One City Schools from early childhood education and elementary to include students through grade 12, roughly a decade after the Madison School Board rejected a similar proposal for a charter school overseen by the Madison School District that would have been called Madison Preparatory Academy.

One City Schools will add grades 5, 6, 9 and 10 next fall, he said. The first class of high school students will graduate in 2025. Some of them may earn more than a high school diploma.

Caire, UW-Oshkosh and Madison Area Technical College are hashing out a dual enrollment partnership that would allow students to gain college credits while in high school and potentially earn an associate degree, too, which could be used to transfer to a UW campus or an institution outside the System.

The idea may even go beyond dual enrollment, he said, with some students potentially able to earn a bachelor's degree at the end of five high school years due to the school's longer, three-semester schedule.

"This will be a revolutionary exercise in education," he said.

Former Wisconsin governor and current UW System President Tommy Thompson, who has been a supporter of Caire and One City for years, was present at the Wednesday signing.

Students in grades 4K-4 are currently learning on the third floor of the new facility, purchased by One City Schools in March through a $14 million donation from American Girl founder and philanthropist Pleasant Rowland. Caire said his plan for the 157,000-square-foot office building, on the campus of WPS Health Solutions in Monona adjacent to South Madison, is to build a full K-12 charter school with an enrollment of nearly 1,000 students by the 2024-25 school year.

One City Schools has $7.5 million left in its fundraising goal, but Caire said he's confident he'll be able to raise the rest that's needed to transform the building from an office to a school.

There are some people who wanted to make sure we had the dream sealed before they wanted to commit, he said.

One City will keep its Fisher Street location open to serve students in early childhood education, who may later attend the K-12 school.

Marilyn Ruffin, the school's vice president of family and community initiatives, said shes excited about being able to watch the students grow up as they attend the school once the older grades are added.

I see some of our scholars now, and Ive known them since theyve been with us since they were 3 years old and now theyre in third grade, she said. Cradle to college, we say, all here on the South Side of Madison.

Alternatives to public schools

The ratification of the contract also came following a state legislative push to approve more than a dozen education bills that form a key plank of the Republican midterm election strategy. Among proposals approved by the Assembly Tuesday was the creation of a statewide Charter School Authorizing Board, which would be able to authorize independent charter schools (Republicans previously created such a board under the University of Wisconsin System), if signed by Gov. Tony Evers.

Republicans have long pushed to expand school choice programs, especially as divisive topics such as mask mandates and online learning arose during the pandemic.

I really dont care about the whole Democrat, Republican, conservative, liberal thing, I really dont, Caire said.

Last year, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction reported the number of public school students dropped, while attendance at independent charter and voucher schools grew for the 2021-22 school year.

The state's independent charter schools and private schools participating in voucher programs saw enrollment grow 15.6% and 6.6%, respectively, in the 2021-22 school year.

Independent charters, which are public schools authorized by a government entity other than a local school board, enrolled 10,691 students. Schools in the state's four voucher programs had 48,919 students who are provided taxpayer subsidies for income-eligible families to enroll children in participating private schools.

State Journal reporter Kelly Meyerhofer contributed to this report.

Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect that the UW Board of Regents has removed "interim" from University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson's title.

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A new tool will allow Dane County's snowplows to clear two traffic lanes at once, speeding up the pace at which the trucks can remove snow from the county's roads.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and other county staff members showed off the equipment during a press conference Wednesday. The steerable trailers, called "tow plows," will be pulled behind the snowplow trucks and can swing off to the left or right to clear an extra lane.

The county said it is using tow plows for the first time this winter. The tools can be used not only to clear snow but also to apply salt and brine.

"This new equipment will help the Highway Department keep pace with Dane Countys growing infrastructure and clear our roads of ice and snow more efficiently during winter weather events," Parisi said.

The announcement of the new equipment comes ahead of a snowstorm expected Thursday into Friday. In Madison, the storm could start around 4 p.m., forecasters said.

The county is asking residents to make sure they stay at least 300 feet behind snowplows because operators often have to stop, turn or back up if clearing an intersection. The trucks can also salt across three lanes of traffic, so drivers should give them plenty of room along the sides as well.

"When you come upon a snowplow, reduce your speed," the county said, noting that the speed of a snowplow ranges from 5 mph to 35 mph.

The county also issued the following safety reminder to drivers ahead of Thursday's storm: Don't use cruise control, avoid situations where you need to slam on your brakes and don't change lanes on bridges, which tend to get slippery.

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Quang Tri: Over 25,000 ha of land cleared from war-left UXOs

The central province of Quang Tri has so far cleared over 25,000 ha of land from war-left landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) and safely handled 765,000 UXO items.









The central province of Quang Tri has so far cleared over 25,000 ha of land from war-left landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) (Photo: VNA)



The local authorities have also worked hard to support thousands of landmine victims, and raise awareness of local students and residents of the dangers of mines and UXOs.



Besides funding from the budget, the locality has mobilised over US$110 million from donors for the settlement of wartime UXO consequences.



The mobilization of aid has helped Quang Tri train technicians, and equip them with modern equipment and devices in mine clearance.



Quang Tri is the most polluted locality in terms of UXOs in Vietnam, with over 82% of its land area contaminated. War-left landmines and bombs have killed over 3,430 people and injured 5,100 since the war ended in 1975.



Since 1995, the local authorities have cooperated with international organisations to carry out demining activities.



According to Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Hoang Nam, Quang Tri is striving to become the first locality in Vietnam to be safe from UXOs left over by the war in 2025.



The locality aims to clean up about 3,000 ha of contaminated land and mobilise US$10 million each year from foreign non-governmental organisations for the task. It will strive to complete the zoning of land areas contaminated with cluster bombs and announce dangerous areas to the public, and build policies on human resource development serving bomb and mine clearance in the 2021-2025 period.



Each year, up to 60,000 people can access education programmes on bombs and mines, and 1,300-1,500 victims and their families are expected to receive support in healthcare and livelihood development.



By 2025, all local schools will include bomb and mine education in their curricular.
Senior Aramco executives have emphasised the role of the circular carbon economy and digital transformation in the global energy transition at the recent International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) 2022 in Riyadh.

Ahmed Al-Khowaiter, Aramcos Chief Technology Officer, stressed the need for stakeholders to transition from debate to consensus to accelerate global decarbonisation efforts.

Highlighting the benefits of the circular carbon economy model, he also emphasised the importance of increased transparency across the industry at the conference which concluded on Wednesday.

A circular carbon economy is how we transition from today to a low carbon future in a technology-agnostic way that encompasses all players holistically and unleashes the power of the existing energy industry. It is the most economical thing to do, not only the quickest. There is a huge potential to reduce emissions from the global oil and gas industry, not just through renewables but also through good gas management and petroleum engineering practices. We need regulators to recognise good performance and incentivise transparency because it is good for both our industry and society at large, Al-Khowaiter said.

Executive Director of Strategy and Market Analysis, Ashraf Al-Ghazzawi, explained the need for a stable, practical and inclusive energy transition rooted in reality and not abstract concepts.

He said: We all know that as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, there is going to be a fundamental change in our energy infrastructure, our energy systems, and how energy is utilised around the world. A one-size-fits-all approach to the energy transition will not work. Developing countries will need to ensure they have affordable access to energy and an inclusive transition is one that will ensure all parties are in it together.

Nabil Al-Nuaim, Vice President, Digital Transformation, said that the evolution of Saudi Arabias digital ecosystem, including cloud computing, would help to turbocharge innovation across the energy sector while supporting the sustainability and decarbonisation agenda.

Digital transformation has changed our lives and it will continue to bring disruption and added value to our societies. At Aramco, part of our digital transformation agenda is to create a world class digital ecosystem to support our core business and expand for the future. Building this ecosystem is not easy  it takes years of hard work with our partners. We are confident that this will lay the foundations of another Silicon Valley for the energy sector, he said.

Abdul Hameed Al-Rushaid, Vice President, Drilling & Workover, highlighted the important role Aramco has played in ensuring reliable energy supplies to the world in recent years, underscoring the vital function that the companys resilient infrastructure performs in overcoming adversity, especially throughout the pandemic.

He said: Change is coming from all directions, and as an industry we have to adapt and innovate in this environment if we are to prevail We managed to increase production during times when the whole world was facing major supply chain interruptions. Capitalising on our localisation initiatives through the IKTVA programme, and utilising the latest IR4.0 technologies, allowed us to continue to run our operations, remotely whenever needed, as planned and uninterrupted, keeping the wellbeing of our workforce ahead of all other priorities.-- TradeArabia News Service
A former Idaho lawmaker has been convicted of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern after a dramatic trial in which the young woman fled the witness stand during testimony, saying I cant do this. The verdict was returned Friday. The intern told a Statehouse supervisor that Aaron von Ehlinger raped her at his apartment after the two had dinner at a Boise restaurant in March 2021. He said the sex was consensual. At the time, von Ehlinger was a Republican state representative from Lewiston, but he later resigned. Von Ehlinger was found guilty of rape. He was found not guilty of sexual penetration with a foreign object. Afterwards, prosecutors lauded the victim for her courage in coming forward.
BOISE  Legislation to enhance protections for gun-makers, sellers and weapons carriers during declared emergencies in Idaho headed to the governors desk on Wednesday.

The House voted 58-9 on Wednesday to approve the measure that alters the states disaster preparedness act by prohibiting the closing of gun-related businesses during emergencies.

Republican Gov. Brad Little issued a temporary stay-at-home order in early 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Some workers and businesses were declared essential and allowed to continue, including gun businesses.

The new law would make sure they stay open under future governors. The legislation also prevents Idahos concealed weapons laws from being circumvented.

This is an essential bill to protect our citizens Second Amendment rights, said bill sponsor Rep. Judy Boyle in a statement after the vote. It recognizes the reality that self-defense is an absolutely essential business, and it protects lawful gun owners from illegitimate and unconstitutional seizures under false pretenses by an overreaching government.

The legislation also prevents Idahos concealed weapons laws from being circumvented, and that weapons used legally cant be confiscated during disasters. The bill also clarifies that the protections regarding firearms also cover ammunition, components and accessories.

Littles chief legal counsel has said the state is still under an active emergency declaration due to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing the state to get money from a disaster emergency account and giving Little flexibility to deploy the Idaho National Guard to help with health care.

He also said there are currently no restrictions, and there have been no restrictions on any rights or constitutional privileges.

The Senate approved the bill earlier this month on a 30-5 vote.

Boyle said the bill received support from the National Rifle Association, the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police, the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association and the Idaho Sheriffs Association.
BOISE  The Idaho Senate passed a concurrent resolution Wednesday encouraging Idaho schools to teach a full and accurate history of the United States along with the principles of freedom and individual liberty.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 118 says, divisive content is appearing in school curriculum across the country, and says the content seeks to disregard U.S. history and its journey to becoming a pillar of freedom in the world. The act also references critical race theory, an academic idea about structural racism in legal and government systems, as well as The 1619 Project, a series from The New York Times that explored the founding of the United States with a focus on slavery and the Black experience in American history.

To date, Idaho teachers and the Idaho School Board Association have reported neither subject being taught in Idaho schools.

Democrats in the Senate said they could not support the resolution, saying it was unnecessary particularly because it pointed to specific ideas that arent being taught in Idaho schools. Sen. David Nelson, D-Moscow, also questioned how divisive content would be defined, because the resolution does not define it.

Sen. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, said the resolution only seeks to avoid blame on the basis of race.

We want to talk about our successes and why the United States was so successful. In the last 200 years, weve had a 5,000-year leap in human progress, and thats partially because  mostly because  we had a system of limited government that trusted people, coupled with the free market system, which has lifted most of the world out of poverty, Thayn said.

Sen. Jim Rice, R-Caldwell, said he doesnt think any particular teachers in Idaho are teaching critical race theory or the 1619 Project. He read the First They Came poem by Pastor Martin Niemoller in reference to the Holocaust as part of his debate.

This is a poignant poem because of what happened to the Jewish people, Rice said. There was a teaching of race guilt that was pushed for a long, long time in the history of Europe.  When it rises its head, that idea raises its head, anywhere in our nation or our world, we should speak out against it. Thats all this does. It says were not going to blame people for stuff they didnt do.

The resolution passed by a voice vote, with opposition from the Senates seven Democrats. It will now head to the House for consideration.

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Now that Ammon Bundy has declared hes running for governor as an independent and not as a Republican, Idaho is closer than ever to a one-on-one showdown in a closed Republican primary between incumbent Gov. Brad Little and Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin.

Bundy, McGeachin and a host of other Republican candidates have lined up to the far right of Little.

The prevailing wisdom has been that the slate of right-wing candidates would split the votes of those constituents, paving the way for an easy primary victory for the governor.

With Bundy out of the Republican primary, most of his votes likely will go to McGeachin. Certainly, voters who support Bundy, the candidate who has called the governor a tyrant, wont be swinging their votes to the incumbent.

Some of Bundys supporters might pick one of the other Republican candidates still in the race, such as Ed Humphreys or Steve Bradshaw, but at this point, McGeachin is clearly the most serious challenger to Little, and Bundys withdrawal as a Republican candidate helps her cause.

Todays announcement by Ammon Bundy that he is withdrawing from the Republican Gubernatorial Primary makes it all the more clear that there is only one viable conservative candidate in this race, McGeachin wrote in a news release. I am, as I have been throughout my campaign, entirely focused on defeating Brad Little and restoring the principles of State Sovereignty, Individual Liberty, and Traditional Conservative Values in Idaho. (Capitalizations McGeachins.)

The Idaho Republican Party establishment certainly isnt shedding any tears over the loss of Bundy as a candidate.

Remember, back in June, after Bundy announced his candidacy, Idaho Republican Party Chairman Tom Luna issued a statement of no support.

First, Mr. Bundy is currently not registered to vote in Idaho, and he is not even registered as a Republican, Luna wrote. Furthermore, we do not support his antics or his chaotic political theater. That is not the Idaho Republican Party, and we will not turn a blind eye to his behaviors.  Ammon Bundy wishes to divide our party, openly supports defunding the police, and has known alliances with the radical factions of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.  Ammon Bundy is not suited to call himself an Idaho Republican let alone run for governor of our great state.

Bundy did eventually register as a Republican and in his statement Thursday, Bundy said he still supports the Republican Party platform.

The Republican Party platform is the platform I stand behind, Bundy wrote, but he didnt leave it there.

But the Republican establishment in Idaho is full of filth and corruption and they refuse to put forth the party platform, he wrote. He then provided a laundry list of misbehavior among Republican officials, reaching into the wayback machine for the DUIs of U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and former Gov. Butch Otter, and the infamous Minneapolis airport bathroom gay sex scandal of 2007 with then-U.S. Sen. Larry Craig.

Good riddance, Luna must be thinking today.

Bundy may have seen the writing on the campaign fundraising wall. Bundy raised a respectable $325,000 but has spent most of it, with only about $11,000 in cash on hand, not a lot to mount a serious challenge.

Littles support  and donations  have included the Republican establishment and a wide range of influential donors, from developers and political action committees to health care companies and powerful agriculture organizations.

Little has raised nearly $1.5 million for his campaign, while McGeachin has raised a little more than a half-million dollars for hers. A further narrowing of the Republican field would certainly help McGeachin.

Whether its enough to defeat Little, though, remains questionable.

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The Saudi British Bank (SABB) has signed a project financing agreement with Nesma & Partners Contracting Company Ltd. worth $693 million (2.6 billion riyals) for the construction of a mall in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Zawya reports.

The deal will span three years and will be used to build Avenues-Riyadh mall, owned by Shumoul Holding. The project will cost 6.4 billion riyals, SABB said in a statement on Wednesday.

The mall will feature hotel towers and a commercial complex with more than 1,300 businesses and stores.
Domingos Simoes Pereira, former Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, has been banned from leaving the country due to a judicial review in an investigation that includes an attempted coup in 2021, the Prosecutor Generals Office in Bissau announced Wednesday.

Pereira, a member of parliament and leader of the former ruling PAIGC party, which has dominated political life in Guinea-Bissau since independence in 1974, was President Umaro Sissoco Embalos opponent in the January 2020 presidential runoff election, the results of which he is contesting.

He served as head of government from 2014 to 2015 under President Jose Mario Vaz (2014-2019). Domingos Simoes Pereira has been under judicial supervision since Tuesday, said Wednesday the Attorney General of the Republic Bacary Biaye.

The Attorney Generals Office issued a statement Tuesday evening announcing a measure of coercion against Mr. Pereira from Tuesday. This decision prevents him from leaving the country without the authorization of the Public Prosecutors Office, the statement said.

This measure was taken because of the delay that the ANP (the National Peoples Assembly) to respond to the letter requesting a lifting of his immunity and given the danger that (his exit from the territory) represents for the success of the investigation.

The judiciary, after opening a judicial investigation against Pereira in early February, referred a request for the lifting of his immunity to National Assembly Speaker Cipriano Cassama on February 18, according to an official document.

Pereira is officially accused, while he was Prime Minister, of allowing a $5 million disbursement to Guinea-Bissau businessmen to pay debts owed to local banks, according to official sources.

He is accused of not having consulted the National Assembly before making the disbursement. He is also cited in an alleged coup attempt against President Embalo on April 12, 2021, according to the official document.
The new Head of state of Burkina Faso, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, met with associations of journalists to give the deep motivations of the MPSR, the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration.

Since taking power as President of Faso, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba has been meeting successively with the umbrella organizations of professional organizations. Last weekend, it was the turn of the men and women of the media.

It was to tell us why this coup detat took place. It is true that he asked us for true and sincere support. But the media sought to understand in what sense. Thats when the President of Faso said that he did not ask the media to praise the MPSR, but that they do their job as it should be done, said Denise Coulibaly, member of the Federation of Associations of Communicators and Cultural Journalists of Burkina.

Beyond the grievances submitted by the media owners, many left satisfied.

The private media, which live exclusively from the sale of information, are very attached to the availability of this commodity. For Cyriaque Pare, the president of the association of online media in Burkina, communication is like nature.

It abhors a vacuum, said Pare. There is therefore a need for media professionals to have the information they need to know what to say to citizens, not to be there to embroider or invent things and give free rein to rumors, he added.
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Data-driven technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) are powerful tools demonstrating potential in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as skin cancer. Yet these could inadvertently worsen the health inequalities experienced by minority ethnic groups if current challenges such as biased algorithms, poor data collection and a lack of diversity in research and development are not urgently addressed.

These are the findings from a new white paper by Imperial College London's Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI), which calls for further research and transparent discussion on the creation and use of these technologies in health care.

The white paper reviewed academic literature and policy evidence to identify the issues and opportunities for AI and data-driven technologies to improve the health and care of minority ethnic groups, who generally experience poorer health than the wider population, as emphasized by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included interviews with a range of experts in the UK and internationally across academia, industry, NHS policy and practice, legal and regulatory bodies, patient-facing organizations and charities.

Artificial intelligence systems are created by combining large amounts of data, for example from research studies or the Internet. The information is then used to 'train' a computer program or algorithm to make decisions based on the data. For example, using data, AI algorithms can create 'risk scores' to predict which patients might be likely to develop certain diseases in the future.

Yet if much of this data is unrepresentative of minority ethnic groups and focuses predominantly on, for example White participants, then these systems are more likely to make decisions which exclude diverse communities.

The report presents evidence of this racial bias in AI, demonstrating how minority ethnic groups can be underserved by technology. For example, facial recognition systems have shown to be up to 19% less accurate at recognizing images of Black men and women compared to White individuals. Such bias is also seen in AI when used in the detection and treatment of health conditions such as skin cancer. Images of White patients are predominantly used to train algorithms to spot melanoma which could lead to worse outcomes for Black people through missed diagnoses.

The authors argue unconscious and conscious bias in AI is partly fueled by the lack of diversity in academia, among AI developers and at strategic levels of the health system and government.

Experts interviewed for the report also voiced concern that the lack of diversity in the AI workforce could lead to solutions which are not fully representative of all users' needs. The report advises that improving representation in this industry must go further than addressing recruitment processes. Rather, the issue should also be tackled at all stages of education from primary school to postgraduate level.

The authors highlight examples of good practice seen across health and social care in both the UK and U.S. and propose actions to be undertaken across academia, among AI developers and at strategic levels of the health system and government to work towards developing a system that facilitates the development of more representative AI technologies, designed with equity in mind. At the national level, more is being done to tackle some of these inequities in healthcare. The Government recently announced two independent reviews, following the publication of the "Levelling Up" White Paper, to tackle health disparities, including a review into the health impact of potential bias in medical devices.

Dr. Saira Ghafur, digital health lead at the Institute of Global Health Innovation, said: "AI has tremendous potential for healthcare system delivery. However, our white paper shows how it can exacerbate existing health inequities in minority ethnic groups. By working across government, healthcare and the technology sector, it is crucial we ensure that no one is left behind."

Lord James O'Shaughnessy, Visiting Professor at the Institute of Global Health Innovation, said: "Tackling health inequality is one of the major challenges of our time. Advances in AI and machine learning give us new tools to tackle this challenge, but our enthusiasm must be tempered by a realistic appraisal of the risks of these technologies inadvertently perpetuating inequalities.

"This paper explains how these risks could manifest and makes concrete proposals about how to mitigate them. Policymakers should heed the lessons of the report so that the wonderful advances in computer science can benefit those who most need it."

Based on this research, the scientists make a series of recommendations to better enable AI for minority ethnic communities. These include:

Involving patients and the public in all areas of AI technology development.

Creating governance systems, legislation and regulation in AI which protect data and citizen's rights.

Developing a regulatory framework to ensure algorithms are tested on and appropriate for minority ethnic groups to reduce bias in datasets.

Professor Ara Darzi, co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation, said: "Our new white paper identifies some important future considerations to maximize the potential of AI for the health of our entire nation. We hope that our report can be a catalyst for the important conversations that need to be had as we increasingly use AI in healthcare."

Explore further Ethnic minorities experience persisting inequality in treatment for mental health problems

More information: Addressing Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Data-Driven Health Technologies: Addressing Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Data-Driven Health Technologies: imperialcollegelondon.app.box.  y64lq2s53t2yzsfcv15d
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Canadian health authorities approved Thursday the first domestic COVID-19 vaccine, Quebec City-based biopharmaceutical firm Medicago and its partner GlaxoSmithKline announced.

This comes after more than 90 percent of Canadian adults have already received two jabs of other vaccines, but about half of the population has yet to get a booster shot.

Calling Health Canada's approval of its Covifenz vaccine "a significant milestone for Canada in the fight against the pandemic," Medicago chief executive Takashi Nagao said the company was already "manufacturing doses to start fulfilling its order."

Ottawa had pre-ordered up to 76 million doses of Covifenz.

Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the development of the vaccine also marked a reversal of a decades-long decline in Canada's biomanufacturing capabilities, which the pandemic had exposed.

"This is the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine developed by a Canadian-based company, and the first that uses a plant-based protein technology," said a government statement.

Ottawa had previously approved six other COVID vaccines, including AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer.

According to Health Canada, clinical trials have shown the two-dose Covifenz vaccine to be 71 percent effective in protecting adults aged 18 to 64 against coronavirus infections.

 2022 AFP
SARS-CoV-2 (shown here in an electron microscopy image). Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH

The proportion of people with current COVID-19 infection missed by the Innova lateral flow test (LFT) is substantial enough to be of clinical importance, particularly when testing people without symptoms, warn experts in The BMJ today.

An analysis by Professor Jonathan Deeks and colleagues predicts that Innova would miss 20% of viral culture positive cases attending an NHS Test-and-Trace center, 29% without symptoms attending mass testing, and 81% attending university screen testing without symptomsmany more than predicted by mathematical models on which policy decisions are based.

The authors acknowledge that LFTs are an important tool in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, but say claims that LFTs can identify "the vast majority who are infectious" have been overstated, with risk of false reassurance to those seeking to rule-out infection.

Lateral flow tests (LFTs) for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for COVID-19) have been recommended for widespread use, largely based on predictions made by mathematical models.

While empirical data show LFTs give a positive result when virus is present on a swab in high quantities, and therefore can detect people who are likely to be infectious, the proportion missed who are infectious has not been evaluated.

To address this evidence gap, Deeks and colleagues drew on empirical data from several sources to predict the proportion of Innova LFTs that produce negative results in those with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infectiousness. They then compared these with predictions made by influential mathematical models.

Their focus was to identify the joint probability that people are likely to be infectious (in that they have a viral culture positive result or are a secondary case) and that they test negative on Innova.

Their results are based on testing in three settings: symptomatic testing at an NHS Test-and-Trace center, mass testing in Liverpool in residents without symptoms, and in students at the University of Birmingham.

The analysis predicted that of those with a viral culture positive result, Innova would miss 20% attending an NHS Test-and-Trace center, 29% without symptoms attending municipal mass testing, and 81% attending university screen testing without symptoms, along with 38%, 47%, and 90% of sources of secondary cases.

In comparison, two mathematical models underestimated the numbers of missed infectious individuals (8%, 10%, and 32% in the three settings for one model, whereas the assumptions from the second model made it impossible to miss an infectious individual).

The authors stress that evaluating the accuracy of a test for current infection or infectiousness is challenging owing to the lack of a reference standard, and say there is the potential for error in their estimates. "The findings in this analysis therefore must be taken as illustrative and not exact," they say.

However, they point out that these data "are currently the best available and clearly show that missing people with current infection or who are infectious is possible in all settings."

"Allowing for the uncertainties in the results from our analyses, the proportion of people with current infection missed by the Innova LFT is likely to be of public health importance, particularly in settings with greater proportions of infectious people with lower viral loads; where the tests are often being applied," they write.

They argue that key models have failed to appropriately use empirical evidence to inform assumptions of test accuracy and chances of infectiousness, resulting in unrealistic overestimates of test performance, and say until new generation LFTs are available that meet the regulatory performance requirements, negative test results from LFTs cannot be relied on to exclude current infection.

"Policy makers need to ensure that the public are aware of the risk of being infectious despite testing negative, and that tests are not used in situations where the consequences of false negative results are considerable," they conclude.

When rapid antigen tests were introduced, we were promised they would "identify those who are likely to spread the disease, and when used systematically in mass testing could reduce transmissions by 90%." Yet despite the UK spending more than 7bn on lateral flow devices since mid-2020, the lack of hard evidence on this promised impact is striking, argue public health experts in a linked opinion article.

They point out that observational studies attempting to assess the impact on transmission as a result of testing asymptomatic non-contacts have struggled to show an effect and none seem to have examined the costs of the programs.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization cautions against mass asymptomatic testing because of high costs, lack of evidence on the impact, and risk of diverting resources from more important activities.

"Surely it is time to start afresh," they say. "Publication of this new paper should prompt the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to reassess its authorisations of rapid antigen tests in asymptomatic people. The public deserves to have better evaluations, ensuring good test performance in real life settings, and a policy that specifies effective and efficient test use for carefully targeted purposes," they conclude.

Explore further Lateral flow tests detect most people at risk of transmitting COVID-19

More information: SARS-CoV-2 antigen lateral flow tests for detecting infectious people: linked data analysis, The BMJ, 2022. www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj-2021-068632 SARS-CoV-2 antigen lateral flow tests for detecting infectious people: linked data analysis,, 2022. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-066871 Opinion: www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o445
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A new collection of scientific articles published today shines a light on the differences between men and women when it comes to heart health.

Experts from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai led the project, which resulted in an anthology of 14 scientific articles that review the past decade of research on women's cardiovascular health. The collection of articlescalled a compendium in medical circleswas published by Circulation Research, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association and its Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences.

The articles were written by thought leaders across cardiac subspecialties and summarize current knowledge regarding differences between the sexes in cardiovascular risks and outcomes. The articles also identify critical scientific gaps and future research priorities.

"The timing is right for this review and call to actionnot only because of where the science is now, but because COVID-19 has starkly reminded us that sex differences can profoundly impact health outcomes," said Susan Cheng, MD, MPH, MMSc, the Erika J. Glazer Chair in Women's Cardiovascular Health and Population Science, professor of Cardiology, and senior editor of the compendium. "One important point the compendium highlights is how females and males differ in many aspects of fundamental biology."

The structure of two of the heart's four major valvesthe tricuspid and mitral valvesis different in women than in men, as are the heart's electrical pathways, anatomy of arteries and veins, and even the cellular composition of male and female hearts, the experts say.

"This sets the stage for important differences in risk factors, including elevated blood pressure, symptoms such as chest pain, and outcomes like heart failure," said Natalie Bello, MD, MPH, director of Hypertension Research in the Smidt Heart Institute's Department of Cardiology and co-editor of the collection of articles. "But despite what the research findings make clear, sex-specific indicators of heart disease risk are rarely taken into account."

Featured research also covers sex-specific differences in:

Genetic origins of certain cardiovascular traits

Symptoms of various types of heart failure, heart disease, stroke and arterial disease

Risks to heart health caused by cancer and cancer treatment

Effectiveness of cardiovascular treatments

Impact of immune disorders on heart health

Pregnancy and reproductive risk factors for cardiovascular disease

Biomarkers for cardiovascular disease

Cheng, Bello and compendium co-editor Noel Bairey Merz, MD, director of the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, emphasize that a one-size-fits-all approach to diagnosing and treating heart disease and stroke risk in women must end. In the compendium, the authors say the ways in which cardiologists examine their patients, measure risk factors, make diagnoses and treat disease need to be more tailored.

"Women suffer a greater risk of heart attack and stroke for any elevation in blood pressure and are more likely to be hospitalized for high blood pressure complications than men," said Bairey Merz. "Women also tend to have worse outcomes than men due to missed or delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment."

Researchers add that many common cardiovascular diseases cause different symptoms in women than in men. Women's symptoms tend to be disregardedand therefore, women often go undiagnosedwhich compendium authors suggest is because women's symptoms are also understudied.

"Now more than ever, we need to include sex as a biologic variable in all of our science," said Bello. "When we enroll adequate numbers of women and men in our research to examine sex-specific differences, we can make tremendous scientific discoveries that improve the lives of all individuals."

Explore further Women have a lower range of 'normal' blood pressure than men

More information: Natalie A. Bello et al, A Scientific Imperative as Seen Through a Sharpened Lens: Sex, Gender, and the Cardiovascular Condition, Circulation Research (2022). Journal information: Circulation Research Natalie A. Bello et al, A Scientific Imperative as Seen Through a Sharpened Lens: Sex, Gender, and the Cardiovascular Condition,(2022). DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.122.320825
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The UK government's decision to sell its Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Center (VMIC) is baffling and should be reversed, argue experts in The BMJ today.

Launched in 2018 to develop and make vaccines, as part of UK efforts to prepare for future pandemics, the center is the jewel in the crown of the UK's COVID-19 vaccine response, write Rebecca Glover at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and colleagues.

As recently as March 2021, the government described the VMIC as a "highly specialist facility" that can "respond to pandemics by producing millions of doses quickly."

So why is this key UK vaccine infrastructure being sold off, they ask?

According to the government, industry has effectively taken over production of COVID-19 vaccines, and "the need for VMIC's surge capacity has passed."

While it is true that large pharmaceutical companies are now producing billions of vaccine doses and that these same companies should be able to update vaccines to respond to emerging variants, is this really making the best use of public money, ask Glover and colleagues?

Or is it another case of what the former head of the UK Vaccine Task Force, Kate Bingham, recently described as the government's neglect of biological threats and lack of strategic scientific expertise in decision making?

As highlighted by numerous commentators, including Bingham, maintaining robust vaccine research, development, and manufacturing capabilities should be a cornerstone of any national security strategy.

But this requires long term funding and political backing and expecting industry to make these investments is naive, they argue.

The VMIC, which was conceived before the pandemic, was a sign of renewed political ambition and confidence in the UK's vaccine infrastructure, they say. Selling it without parallel improvements to strengthen the upstream innovation that led to much of the UK's early COVID-19 vaccination successes makes little economic sense.

Reputationally and strategically, the damage may be even worse, they add, "signaling a lack of government commitment that will deter investors who may wish to build British biomedical capacityan important goal of post-Brexit strategic planning."

They point out that the government is entertaining offers for the VMIC, "but it has not yet accepted any, to our knowledge." Until it is sold, they say "there remains an opportunity for the UK public and its elected members of parliament to convince those in charge to protect what could well become a cornerstone of British pandemic preparedness and bioindustrial infrastructure."

Explore further White House to spend billions to boost COVID vaccine supply

More information: Editorial: Sale of UK's Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre, The BMJ (2022) www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj-2022-069999 Editorial: Sale of UK's Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre,(2022) DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-069999
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, Monday Feb. 21, 2022, to outline the Government's new long-term COVID-19 plan. Credit: Tolga Akmen/Pool via AP

All government-mandated coronavirus restrictions in England were lifted Thursday, including the legal requirement for people who test positive for COVID-19 to isolate at home.

Officials say that those who tested positive will still be advised to stay at home for at least five days. But from Thursday they are not legally obliged to do so, and those on lower incomes will no longer get extra financial support to make up for a loss of income due to isolation. The routine tracing of infected people's contacts has also been scrapped.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday set out his Conservative government's strategy for "living with COVID" in the longer term. He said Britain is moving "from legal restrictions to personal responsibility," and that the end of all domestic legal measures marked the end of two of the darkest years in the country's peacetime history.

The strategy includes plans to massively scale back free universal coronavirus testing from April 1.

England already binned most virus restrictions in January, after infection rates and hospitalizations fell following a surge in late December. Face masks are no longer legally required anywhere and vaccine passports for entering nightclubs and other venues were scrapped.

Chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, Monday Feb. 21, 2022, to outline the Government's new long-term COVID-19 plan. Credit: Tolga Akmen/Pool via AP

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which set their own public health rules, have similarly opened up though at different paces.

Some other European countries, including Denmark and Sweden, have also recently lifted all COVID-19 restrictions.

Some critics have questioned whether it is too early to end all restrictions, especially isolation laws. The British Medical Association warned that Johnson's strategy fails to protect the most vulnerable people and those at highest risk of harm from COVID-19.

Some 85% of people aged 12 and older in the U.K. are fully vaccinated, and about 66% have had their third or booster dose.

The U.K. still has Europe's highest coronavirus toll after Russia, with more than 161,000 recorded deaths.

Explore further Boris Johnson scraps remaining COVID restrictions in England

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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The European Union's drug watchdog Thursday approved Moderna's anti-COVID shot for children aged six to 11, the second vaccine to be approved for younger children in the 27-member bloc.

"The EMA's human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended granting an extension of indication for the COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax to include use in children aged 6 to 11," the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency said in a statement.

The jab, developed by US-based pharmaceutical company Moderna, has already been approved for adults and children aged 12 and above.

"As in the older age group, the vaccine is given as two injections in the muscles of the upper arm, four weeks apart," the EMA said.

Pfizer/BionTech's anti-COVID shot called Comirnaty was greenlit for children aged five to 11 in November.

The regulator has so far approved five vaccines for use in the EU: Pfizer and Moderna, which use messenger RNA technology, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, which use viral vector technology, and Novavax, which is based on a spike protein produced in a laboratory.

Explore further EU watchdog backs Pfizer booster for children over 12

 2022 AFP
RATs should be free for people with disability and their support workers. Credit: Shutterstock

People with disability bear a disproportionate burden of COVID infections, serious disease and death. Every time a support worker enters their home, people with disability risk COVID exposure.

But while Australian states have evidence-based measures to reduce the spread of COVID in schools and hospitalssuch as improving ventilation, mandating masks, and using rapid antigen tests to detect casesfew strategies exist to reduce transmission to people with disability in their homes.

Last Thursday, Australia's disability royal commission released a "statement of ongoing concern" about how Omicron is impacting the health, safety and well-being of people with disability.

The Disability Royal Commission has made a strong statement of ongoing concern that people with disabilities "are still not being appropriately prioritized during this phase of the pandemic"https://t.co/tn1rVcOR0p pic.twitter.com/zY4vgiimYu  casey briggs (@CaseyBriggs) February 16, 2022

So what do governments need to do to protect people with disability from COVID? And what can people with disability do to mitigate their risk in the meantime?

Free RATs and regular testing for disability workers

When community prevalence of COVID is high, rapid antigen tests (RATs) are an important tool to identify cases of COVID and prevent transmission.

But RATs are not freely available to all Australians with disability. And there is no clear advice about how RATs should be used by people with disability or support workers who enter their home.

While National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants can claim the cost of RATs in their NDIS plans, they're not currently recommended for surveillance of workers, except those working in group homes.

But not all Australians with disability are on the NDIS. Nor are all people with disability on health care cards and entitled to ten free RATs every three months.

Given the risks of COVID and the high levels in the community, free RATs should be provided to all people with disability and support workers who come into their homes.

This should come with clear guidance on how frequently to test workers and other people who come into contact with a person with a disability.

In the absence of clear guidelines, support workers should test at least twice a week. But daily testing might be required where a worker is in contact with many people and when someone with a disability is at high risk of serious disease or death if they catch COVID.

However some caution is needed. When there are high levels of community transmission, one negative RAT in someone with symptoms may well be a false negative. So someone with symptoms should isolate irrespective of the RAT result.

Mandate N95 masks for disability workers

Cloth and surgical masks are not enough to prevent the spread of Omicron.

Respirators, also called N95, P2, FFP2 and KF94 masks, offer substantially better protection. Respirators cut transmission 2.5 times as much as surgical masks, even when they haven't been professionally fit-tested. And there are good online videos and infographics to help people ensure their respirators have a good fit.

Respirators can also be re-used, rotating daily over five days, as independent scientific advisory group OzSAGE recommends.

The United States government is providing free respirators to the public, yet Australian governments only recommend respirators in the disability sector when someone with disability is COVID-positive or a worker is a close contact.

Given the obvious benefits, and relatively few downsides of respirators, it's critical they are mandated for disability workers when supporting people with disability indoors.

In the absence of guidelines, people with disability should get workers to wear well-fitted respirators when they are supporting them indoors.

Improving ventilation

Good natural or mechanical ventilation can reduce COVID transmission.

This can involve simple measures such as opening doors and windowspreferably at the opposite ends of an indoor space to ensure a cross-breezeand using ceiling fans or pedestal fans placed near a window.

Sometimes it's not possible to open doors or windows because it's too hot or cold, especially given some people with disability, such as those with spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis have greater difficulties regulating their temperature.

Spaces like toilets, bathrooms, lifts, and stairwells are also hard to ventilate.

You can check the quality of the air inside using CO 2 monitors. The concentration of CO 2 is higher in areas that are poorly ventilated, while outside it's around 400 ppm. If the level is below 800 ppm, the risk of infection is relatively low.

In situations where CO 2 levels are high, a portable HEPA air purifier could be used. The HEPA filter helps remove very small particles from the air, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID. They range in price from A$200 to A$2,000.

CO 2 monitors vary in design and cost, with prices starting from around A$50.

CO 2 monitors and air purifiers should be available to people with disability requiring support in their own homes for free, potentially through NDIS plans.

In group settings, such as day programs and disability residential settings, services should be required to audit CO 2 levels and purchase air purifiers if needed.

In the absence of clear guidance on ventilation, people with disability should make sure they have as good an airflow as possible and check their air conditioning and heating are working properly.

If they have the resources, they could purchase a CO 2 monitor (or borrow one from someone) to check ventilation and where CO 2 levels are high, consider an air purifier.

Governments need to step up

Nearly two years into the pandemic, it feels like Australians with disability are being forgotten.

Mandatory respirators, RATs for surveillance and cleaner air are relatively inexpensive strategies critical to protecting people with disability in their home. Governments should provide free of cost for all people with disability who need them, not only NDIS participants.

Governments must be proactive and have guidelines and resources in place as we face Omicron and in future, as new variants emerge.

Explore further Raising the bar on disability care

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In 2020, Denmark culled millions of mink to quell a source of zoonotic COVID-19 transmission, the passage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus between humans and animals. Last year, zoo animals including lions, tigers, and gorillas got sick with the virus, presumably infected by their keepers. And earlier this year, pet hamsters were implicated in precipitating a new outbreak in Hong Kong.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, coronaviruses were known to cause certain varieties of the common cold as well as diseases important in animal populations. As the pandemic has stretched on, it's become clear that SARS-CoV-2 has a penchant for infecting a wide range of animal species.

With a virus so competent at jumping species, the fear is thateven if the pandemic is wrestled under control in human populationsthe virus could remain in an animal population, ready to jump back over species borders once again to start the cycle of human infection anew.

"The danger is that it can form an animal reservoir that can spill back into humans," says Frederic Bushman, a microbiologist at Penn's Perelman School of Medicine. "That is believed to have happened with mink. Whenever the virus persists, there is an opportunity for additional evolution, for the virus to change."

And while there isn't evidence of that happening to a significant degree, research by scientists around the United States, including a team at Penn, suggests that these reservoirs may already exist.

Last year, a Penn State University-led investigation into SARS-CoV-2 infection in white-tailed deer in Iowa found high rates tested positive for the virus. A prior study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found 40% of deer tested had antibodies, a sign they had had previous exposure to the virus. And earlier this month, the omicron variant was found in deer in New York. Altogether, SARS-CoV-2 has been found in white-tailed deer in 15 states.

"White-tailed deer are at the top of a list of animal species that have cellular receptor binding sites that allow them to be infected by SARS-CoV-2," says Eman Anis, a veterinary microbiologist at the School of Veterinary Medicine. "If you think about what you need to have a reservoir, you need the species to be infected at a relatively high percentage and be able to spread the infection from one animal to another. All these criteria are met with what we are seeing in deer."

In a recent study, Anis, as well as Bushman, doctoral student Andrew Marques, wildlife disease ecologist Erick Gagne of Penn Vet, and colleagues aimed to get a broad look at the prevalence of the virus in deer across the state of Pennsylvania. The Wildlife Futures Program, a partnership between the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, helped facilitate sample collection.

"We were interested in trying to use our network to get a widespread set of samples, so we would have a better idea of the spatial distribution and prevalence of the virus in deer," says Gagne.

Working through Wildlife Futures, the researchers obtained nasal swabs from 93 hunter-killed or road-killed deer during fall and winter of 2021. Of these, 18 tested positive with a PCR test, or 19% of those sampled, across 10 of 31 counties sampled, representing various regions of the state.

Seven of these positive samples underwent whole-genome sequencing in Bushman's lab, which has been sequencing human samples and tracking variants since the start of the pandemic and maintains a dashboard of their results, representing nearly 5,000 whole genome sequences. Of the deer samples, two were from the alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2, and five from the delta variant. The findings have been published on a preprint server, MedRXiv, and have not yet been subject to peer review, but are the first written reports of delta and alpha in deer, Bushman says.

The two alphas, the researchers noticed, were different enough to suggest that the virus had jumped from humans to deer two different times. And of note, there was no alpha circulating in people at the time the alpha was detected in deerdelta had unseated alpha as the dominant variant.

"Alpha peaked in people in April and May," Bushman says, "but we're seeing it in deer in November, long after it's gone in humans. It's suggestive that the alpha variant has been circulating in deer in Pennsylvania for quite a long time."

The delta samples also fell into two distinct groups, "which looks like potentially two independent spillover events," Gagne says. "Those sequences match more closely to what was circulating within people at the time of sampling."

Though the researchers urge caution in interpreting their results, the findings, together with those of other groups, offer evidence that "deer getting infected isn't a one-off or rare event," says Gagne.

Deer aren't generally thought of as animals that interact closely with humans on a regular basis. It remains something of a mystery how humans might have repeatedly passed infections to the animals. People feeding deer, captive deer, or even contact with virus-laden wastewater are all being considered as possibilities.

"Now that we are aware that deer can be infectedindeed a huge percentage are positivewe need to keep digging," Anis says.

In the coming months, these Penn researchers plan to do just that, aiming to expand their testing of wild deer and incorporate testing of other wildlife species.

"It's very important to continue monitoring and expand our surveillance to make sure we know what different species can be infected, and what is really going on out there in the world," says Anis. "That will help in developing strategies for management that can protect animals and humans as well."

Explore further Not just humans: Study finds NYC omicron spike hit deer too

More information: Andrew D. Marques et al, Evolutionary Trajectories of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta Variants in White-Tailed Deer in Pennsylvania, (2022). Andrew D. Marques et al, Evolutionary Trajectories of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta Variants in White-Tailed Deer in Pennsylvania,(2022). DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.17.22270679
For those patients who had been fully vaccinated, being over 60 and having kidney failure were the sole predictors of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Credit: Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom/Agencia Brasil

Vaccination has changed the profile of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and people who die from the disease in Brazil. A study conducted in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, reports on the start of this process.

Researchers affiliated with the Virology Laboratory at Sao Jose do Rio Preto Medical School (FAMERP) retrospectively analyzed data for 2,777 patients treated between January 5 and September 12, 2021, at the region's base hospital. The Gamma variant (P.1) of SARS-CoV-2 was then predominant in the state, and most fully vaccinated Brazilians (two doses at that time) were over 60.

The patients were divided into vaccinated and non-vaccinated, and the researchers compared the characteristics of the two groups, from age, sex and comorbidities to symptoms, clinical conduct in hospital and outcome (recovery or death). The results are reported in a letter to the editor of the Journal of Infection.

"The aim of our study was to discover the best predictors of death in COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections," Mauricio Lacerda Nogueira, a professor at FAMERP and corresponding author of the article, told Agencia FAPESP.

The average age of the 2,518 non-vaccinated participants was 51, and 71.5% had one or more comorbidities, mostly heart disease, diabetes and obesity. The average age of the 259 participants who had received two vaccine doses was 73, and 95% had comorbidities.

The researchers used statistical techniques to analyze the data for these patients and found that the factors that correlated with a heightened risk of hospitalization and death among the non-vaccinated were being over 60 and having one or more of the following conditions: heart disease, liver, kidney and neurological disorders, diabetes, and immune deficiency. In the vaccinated group, being over 60 and having kidney failure were the sole predictors of mortality.

"This is clear evidence that vaccination is effective as protection and saves lives," Nogueira said.

For Cassia Fernanda Estofolete, first author of the article and a member of FAMERP's Virology Laboratory, vaccine rollout has "drastically" changed the profile of patients hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19, as well as the natural history of the disease (how it evolves).

"With the resumption of elective surgeries, immunization of a large proportion of the population and the emergence of Omicron, we're seeing a different picture in hospitals," she said. "Many patients don't go to hospital because of the virus but discover they have COVID-19 on admission for a scheduled operation or due to injury. Also, many older people with comorbidities are hospitalized because COVID-19 exacerbates an underlying disease, leading to decompensated diabetes or kidney failure, for example. Most patients are no longer hospitalized for SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] as they were at the time the study was conducted."

Explore further Why some vaccinated people still get hospitalized with COVID-19

More information: Cassia Fernanda Estofolete et al, Predictors of death in COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections in Brazil, Journal of Infection (2022). Cassia Fernanda Estofolete et al, Predictors of death in COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections in Brazil,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.01.040
THURSDAY, Feb. 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A drug developed for an autoimmune disease shows promise in treating a potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition in children who've had COVID-19, researchers say.

The rare condition is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). It typically develops weeks to months after a child has had mild or even asymptomatic COVID-19.

"Working collaboratively, we've been able to demonstrate that viral particles that remain in the gut long after COVID-19 infection can instigate MIS-C," said study co-author David Walt. He is a principal investigator in the pathology department at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

"Building on this important discovery, we wanted to see if treatment with a drug developed for another condition  celiac disease  could help resolve symptoms in children experiencing MIS-C," Walt said in a hospital news release.

MIS-C causes fever and hyperinflammation that can affect multiple organs, including the heart, brain and gastrointestinal tract.

Fifty-five children out of over 6,400 diagnosed with MIS-C have died since May 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The researchers applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February 2021 for emergency compassionate use of the drug larazotide acetate to treat MIS-C.

The doctors gave the drug to four extremely ill children, aged 3 to 17, being treated for MIS-C at Massachusetts General Hospital. Larazotide decreases the release of a molecule called zonulin, which increases the risk that the highly inflammatory spike protein associated with COVID-19 can escape the gut and get into the bloodstream.

The four children who received four daily oral doses of larazotide acetate also received steroids and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG). They were compared to 22 children with MIS-C who received only steroids and IVIG.

Compared to those who didn't receive larazotide, the children who got the drug had a much quicker recovery from gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and also had slightly shorter hospital stays.

The spike protein associated with the coronavirus cleared from the blood of children treated with larazotide within one day, compared to 10 days for the children who weren't given the drug, according to the study.

"These findings suggest that larazotide may provide a safe and beneficial adjuvant therapy for the treatment of MIS-C," the study authors concluded.

The results were published online recently in the journal Critical Care Explorations.

Larazotide is currently in a phase 3 clinical trial for approval to treat celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that leads to damage in the small intestine.

More information

For more on MIS-C, go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCE: Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, news release, Feb. 23, 2022

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Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
The ACLU of Montana filed a brief in federal court last week in support of Randall Menges, arguing a person whos had same-sex relations should not be required to register as a sex offender.

The case follows Menges, now 46, who was convicted of having gay sex in Idaho in 1994 after he had consensual relations with two 16-year-old boys. He was 18 at the time.

He was convicted under Idaho's Crimes Against Nature law, which bans anal and oral sex between consenting adults, according to the lawsuit initially filed by Menges against Attorney General Tim Fox in December 2020.

After serving seven years in prison and being released on probation for the remainder of his sentence, Menges, now a Montana resident, was required to register as a sex offender in Idaho. When he moved to Montana in the mid-2000s, the requirement to register followed him across state lines, according to court documents.

Last May, U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen in Missoula ruled that Menges would not have to register as a sex offender, saying Montana has no rational basis for requiring Menges to register as a sex offender based off the Idaho conviction.

Immediately following Judge Christensens ruling, Attorney General Austin Knudsen filed an appeal arguing the district courts ruling had far-reaching consequences. Specifically, the attorney general pointed to the potential of Montana facing lawsuits to challenge sex offender registration on a similar basis.

Now, the ACLU is firing back at Knudsen.

Anti-LGBTQ laws have been deemed unconstitutional both by the Montana Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court, said Alex Rate, ACLU of Montana Legal Director, in a news release. Appealing the District Court's well-reasoned decision demonstrates the lack of respect that Attorney General Knudsen has for the law and the citizens of this state and country. For the past 20 years, Mr. Menges has repeatedly been forced to pay the consequences for an unconstitutional conviction and it is time to end this man's persecution.

The LAMBDA Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Center for HIV Law and Policy filed the brief along with the ACLU. They argue Knudsens appeal violates a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Lawrence v. Texas, that said laws barring anal sex are unconstitutional.

The brief contends that Lawrence v. Texas foreshadowed the sex offender registration issue thats been at the forefront in Menges case.

It acknowledged that the state-sponsored condemnation arising from the criminal prohibition of sodomy did not stop with criminal prosecution, but could be extended through sex offender registration requirements triggered by those convictions, the ACLU brief reads. By holding there was no constitutional basis for such state action, the Court sought to protect the core aspects of personal liberty guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.

In a statement, Knudsen spokeswoman Emilee Cantrell said the ACLU is attempting to weaken Montanas sex offender registry law.

Montana law is clear: anyone who is required to register as a sex offender in another state, must also register here. A challenge to a conviction requiring sex offender registration in another state belongs there, not in Montana. Sex offender registries are an important public safety tool, and ACLUs inserting itself into this case seems to be another step toward its goal of ending sex offender registries across the nation, Cantrell said.

The ACLUs filing pushes back against this, saying Montana is trying to impose all constitutional responsibility onto Idaho, but Montana is liable for its own decisions.

Ultimately, both states continuing intrusions on liberty for sodomy-only convictions are unjustifiable in light of Lawrence, the filing reads.

On Feb. 14, a Senate bill was introduced into the Idaho State Legislature that seeks to repeal the Crimes Against Nature law.

"It means the world to us that Lambda, the Center for HIV Law and Policy, and the ACLU of Montana are in full support of our challenge to this injustice. These are the groups that have been doing the important work for decades. That they weighed in here brings real experience and gravitas to the issues," said Menges' attorney, Matthew Strugar.

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An Idaho woman is deceased following a crash in Columbia Falls early Thursday morning.

Around midnight, a Columbia Falls police officer responded to a single-vehicle accident that had just occurred at the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 (Ninth Street West) and Nucleus Avenue, according to a Facebook news release from the Columbia Falls Police Department.

The driver, a 26-year-old woman with an Idaho driver's license, was the only occupant in the car. She was found dead from injuries she had sustained in the crash.

Alcohol and excessive speed are suspected to be factors, the news release said. The investigation is still underway, and the name of the victim has not been released to the public yet.

U.S. Highway 2 and Nucleus Avenue have been cleared of debris and there are no further traffic delays as a result of this incident.

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Filmmakers involved with the new Washington Post Opinion documentary, Bring Them Home, offered University of Montana journalism students advice and insight Wednesday into behind-the-scenes details of producing their film.

Kate Woodsome, a director and producer on the film, executive producer Michael Duffy and editor Katrina De Vera fielded questions from students in professor Nadia Whites Global Current Affairs class Wednesday.

"Bring Them Home" focuses on an American family fighting to free their husband and father, Emad Shargi, who is serving a 10-year sentence in Iran after being convicted of baseless espionage charges without a trial.

So this film, and what were doing with the film, is essentially the intersection between journalism and filmmaking and I think theres incredible importance in both because journalism has standards and ethics  it can be an incredibly powerful tool to move you, to bring you into their homes and worlds, people whose shoes you would never walk in personally, Woodsome said.

De Vera explained the nuances of documentary editing versus a narrative structure. Rather than having a script to follow, she finds that documentary editing is more similar to writing.

As an editor I spend the most time with the footage out of the entire crew, so there are things that even if the director is present for the entire shoot you forget things, usually the obvious stuff stands out and usually those are the pieces that we start working with right away, De Vera said. But there are a lot of small moments in between which actually tell the story and help move it along in ways that are really nuanced and maybe not so obvious.

Over the last year, the team of Washington Post filmmakers spent time reporting and filing the Shargi family and U.S. officials from the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations to form the story. Though the film is premiering this week at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, the team recently opened up their final cut to add new developments to the story.

It was kind of a feat, I think, to get any of them, much less a number of them, and some of them are currently holding their positions  which is even harder  but to get them on the record, on camera is really, Duffy said as he trailed off before letting out an exasperated sigh.

It astounded me when we did it  and we got them from both sides  thats no small deal, Duffy continued.

After the team spoke about the process of building trust with their sources to tell their story, sophomore journalism student Jack Condon asked if they had any tips on how to allow for a similar level of care while reporting stories that have a more condensed deadline than their film.

A lot of times youre going to be doing parachute journalism where youre going in for two days on the ground and thats the two days you have, Condon said.

Duffy suggested reporters relish and embrace their deadline rather than being discouraged by it.

The great advantage is you know exactly how much time you have to solve the problem, you know exactly how much you can take on board, how many questions you can answer and how many you have to leave aside, Duffy said.

Woodsome recommended focusing on pre-reporting and preparing for the trip  that way the reporter has a better understanding of the background to the story and has built some trust prior to even arriving.

Amelia Liberatore, a graduate student at the university, attended the panel although she is not enrolled in Whites class this semester.

I think it was just a really nice opportunity to hear from outside professionals, Liberatore said. I think the j-school does a great job of bringing in people like that all the time.

Liberatore is particularly curious about investigative journalism, as well as international and environmental conflict, she said.

Generally, we talk about journalism not impacting the event  but when youre reporting on current events you might be making some impacts, Liberatore said. I just wanted to hear from them about how they navigate that.

Bring Them Home premieres Thursday at the Zootown Arts Community Center at 5:30 p.m. during the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. The film will be available online for streaming through March 3.

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A Frenchtown man is in jail on a $100,000 bond after being arrested on suspicion of raping a young teenage girl who he was sharing a house with.

Nyibe J. Nguyen, 23, is charged with two felony counts of sexual intercourse without consent. He faces up to 100 years in Montana State Prison if convicted.

Missoula County Sheriff's deputies took a report Monday of a sexual assault that occurred on the 17500 block of Beckwith Street in Frenchtown, according to court filings.

The accuser, who is 14 years old, said she had been staying at the Frenchtown house with her uncle. Nguyen had moved in with them about two weeks prior and was aware of her age, charging documents said.

On Feb. 19, the survivor and Nguyen were hanging out in the trailer with others when the two started to "play fight" and Nguyen grabbed and touched her in ways that made her uncomfortable. Later that evening, into the early morning hours of the following day, the two were alone together when Nguyen grabbed the girl by the neck and pushed her up against a wall.

Some time later, Nguyen allegedly entered her bedroom and raped her. She told him "no," attempted to pull away, and screamed in pain, but Nguyen did not listen, she told law enforcement. He pinned her down by the wrists during the attack.

On the same day, the survivor and Nguyen communicated on Facebook Messenger about the assault. Deputies looked through the messages, in which she told Nguyen he had raped her, and he apologized for doing so, charging documents said. He told her not to disclose what had happened to anyone, and urged her to delete their conversations and block him.

When deputies interviewed Nguyen, he denied having any sexual contact with the girl.

Nguyen's arraignment was set for March 7 in Missoula County District Court. If he is released from custody, he is ordered to have no contact with the survivor and not to go to the Beckwith Street address.

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Ukraines ambassador tells Security Council that Putin has declared war on Ukraine. Congress backs Biden sanctions, gas prices to spike, Trump calls Putin a "genius." Get the latest developments here, and find out how they affect you.
PHOENIX  The Biden administration will use $1.7 billion from the recently enacted federal infrastructure bill to fund 16 tribal water rights settlements, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced Tuesday.

The money will ensure that tribes get access to water they've been promised but have been unable to use because of a lack of funding for infrastructure to store and move it.

"I am grateful that tribes, some of whom have been waiting for this funding for decades, are finally getting the resources they are owed," Haaland said in a statement during a trip to Arizona, where she announced the funding.

Access to reliable, clean water and basic sanitation facilities on tribal lands remains a challenge for hundreds of thousands of people. The funding for settlements is part of about $11 billion from the infrastructure law headed to Indian Country to expand broadband coverage, fix roads and provide basic needs like running water.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1908 that tribes have rights to as much water as they need to establish a permanent homeland, and those rights stretch back at least as long as any given reservation has existed. As a result, tribal water rights often are more senior to others in the West, where competition over the scarce resource is fierce.

Litigation can be expensive and drawn-out, which is why many tribes have turned to settlements. The negotiations generally involve tribes, states, cities, private water users, local water districts and others and can take years if not decades to hash out.

Nearly 40 water rights settlements have been reached with tribes, some of which include more than one tribe. The Interior Department said 31 of the settlements are eligible for funds from the infrastructure bill. Altogether, the infrastructure bill included $2.5 billion for water rights settlements in the coming years.

The settlements receiving funding this year are: Aamodt Litigation Settlement (Pueblos of San Ildefonso, Nambe, Pojoaque, and Tesuque), Blackfeet Nation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Crow Nation, Gila River Indian Community, Navajo-Utah Water Rights Settlement and Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, San Carlos Apache Nation, Tohono O'odham Nation, and White Mountain Apache Tribe.

Last week, a group of Democratic senators from Western states wrote a letter calling on Senate leaders to include $616 million for drought and agricultural assistance in an upcoming appropriations bill. The senators from California, Oregon and Arizona noted that Colorado River flows are expected to continue to decline in coming decades, threatening a crucial water resource for seven states.

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A recent lawsuit in Montana District Court has brought confusion and now hopefully some clarity on what is and is not allowed for hunting wolves.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in response to a lawsuit from two wildlife advocacy groups argues that its removal of language from Montanas wolf hunting regulations prohibiting hunting wolves from aircraft was justified because state law does not specifically bar hunting wolves from the air.

But according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and subsequently acknowledged by FWP, a federal law prohibits shooting wildlife from aircraft, although comes with some exceptions.

On this episode, Tom Kuglin walks us through the lead up to a consensus among both federal and state officials that wolves may not be hunted from aircraft for recreational purposes.

This podcast from the Montana State News Bureau is created in partnership across five newsrooms  the Billings Gazette, the Helena Independent Record, the Missoulian, the Montana Standard and the Ravalli-Republic. You can support this podcast and our efforts by subscribing. Visit any of these newspapers websites, and click on the Become a Member button at the top of the home page. We appreciate your support of local journalism.

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A Montana National Guard spokesman on Thursday said officials are monitoring the ongoing situation in Ukraine, however, at this time there are no changes to its readiness status or Force Protection Condition and no impacts to its operations.

Maj. Ryan Finnegan, state public affairs officer, said the Force Protection Condition, known as FPCON, has five levels.

We are currently at Bravo which is in the middle, he said in an email. There has been no change to this level due to the Ukraine situation.

We are standing by for any changes that may be ordered by higher headquarters or as the situation develops, Finnegan said.

Finnegan said Montana now has about 520 troops overseas. About 40 are in Europe and the rest are in the Central Command area of operations in the Middle East and Southwest Asia.

The Montana National Guard, which originally formed in 1867, has about 3,300 members, Finnegan said. It is a component of the U.S. Army and the U.S. National Guard. Nationwide, it makes up nearly half of the U.S. Army's available combat forces and about one-third of its support organization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to attack Ukraine early Thursday after weeks of failed diplomacy and a massive military buildup. He said it was to liberate and protect the Russia-backed separatist eastern region of Ukraine.

President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. will impose severe economic sanctions on Russia over what he described as an unprovoked and unjustified attack.

The Pentagon announced the deployment of 7,000 additional U.S. service members to Europe, an effort to shore up defenses around NATOs eastern flank countries along Russias western border.

This story contains information from the Associated Press.

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

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Senator Greg Hertz, chair of the Montana Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, published a recent oped (Missoulian Feb. 17) proclaiming that Montana Republicans will protect your freedoms. While this oped may help his fundraising efforts, it twists the facts like a pretzel. Rather than spewing divisive and polarizing rhetoric, Republicans like Hertz would do better to take a good, hard look in the mirror and ask themselves why they did not pass much sensible policy that benefits Montanans.

Democrats in the last session were laser-focused on improving the lives of ordinary Montanans, promoting affordable housing, access to child care, infrastructure, sensible COVID policy, improving our health care and mental health systems, protecting our public lands and wildlife and hunting and fishing rights and addressing climate and energy issues, all of which were blocked by Republicans.

The good senators claims about Republican bills in the last session are highly misleading. He failed to mention that over 80% of the Republicans supposed tax cuts went to Montanas wealthiest 20%. While the average Montana family may save a measly $50, the family with a million-dollar income will save over $1,500. That doesnt take into account the ability Hertz and his party created for Montanas wealthiest to receive tax credits for as much as $200,000 for donating to private religious schools at the expense of our public schools.

Republicans chose tax breaks for the wealthy over funding our collapsing mental health system, critical care for the elderly and those with disabilities, and housing for at-risk youth. In recent weeks, weve seen how the Montana State Hospital, childrens mental health programs, and Montanas mental health facilities are barely functioning and vulnerable children are being housed out of state instead of staying in Montana. Were losing health care workers, mental health professionals, and teachers because Republicans prioritized tax breaks for the wealthy. Perhaps the senator should explain how such policies enhance our freedoms and help Montanans.

The senators other claims are equally misleading. So-called Republican voter integrity laws are in reality voter disenfranchisement laws. The senator well knows Montanas elections are free and fair (and resulted in a Republican sweep), and that these new laws are merely an attempt to advance the Big Lie. In fact, Montanas elections are some of the most secure in the nation. New Republican laws limiting governments ability in the public health arena are in reality laws dismantling our public health systems and putting Montanans' health at risk.

Religious freedom in Montana is already robust, and any person can practice any religion of their choosing. New Republican laws that purport to protect everyones religious freedom are just more Republican identity politics to bully LGBTQ and minority Montanans. New laws blocking access to abortion violate Montana womens fundamental right to autonomy. Instead of empty rhetoric, perhaps the senator can explain how Republicans' disrespect for families and intrusion on our privacy enhances our freedoms.

The good senator also falsely claims that while Republicans are advancing their radical culture war policies, Democrats are focused on so-called critical race theory, defunding the police, and opposing control of the southern border. We must have attended different legislative sessions, because none of these subjects was raised by Montana Democrats even once. CRT is not taught in Montana's K-12 schools, Montana Democrats have a demonstrated history of supporting public safety, and Montana doesn't have jurisdiction over the southern border.

Despite Senator Hertzs claims, the Republican sweep of all statewide Montana offices and nearly 2/3 of the Legislature has accomplished nothing to advance freedoms for ordinary Montanans. Their greatest accomplishments were making the wealthy wealthier, selling our wildlife to the highest bidder, and unprecedented power grabs by the far right.

Rep. Jessica Karjala (D-Billings) represents House District 48 in the Montana Legislature. Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell (D-East Helena) represents House District 84.

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" " NATO headquarters is located in in Brussels, Belgium, and serves as its political and administrative center. NATO

As we mentioned previously, NATO is the acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance of 30 independent countries that work together to implement the North Atlantic Treaty. NATO's 12 founding member countries include the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Greece and Turkey joined in 1952, followed by West Germany in 1955. Spain joined in 1982.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, several Eastern European countries joined, including the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in 1999; Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in 2004; and Albania and Croatia in 2009. Montenegro and North Macedonia were the last two countries to join in 2017 and 2020 respectively [source: NATO].

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When the founding members drafted the original treaty, there were disagreements on how many countries should join. The United Kingdom wanted to keep the NATO small and strong, but the United States wanted to include smaller, weaker countries  those more likely to succumb to the Soviets. France was most concerned with protecting its colonial territories, and Germany was a concern to all three countries [source: NATO].

Today, countries don't have to be members to work with NATO, however. Partnerships with non-NATO countries started back as far as 1991. The goal is to help these non-member nations become stable and democratic, with modern armed forces. Three partner countries have declared interests in NATO memberships: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Ukraine. Today, any European country can join NATO as long as it accepts the commitments and obligations of membership (more on that shortly). Since 2016, for instance, Ukraine has worked with NATO through the Comprehensive Assistance Package and receives support of NATO allies according to NATO standards. This type of NATO cooperation is crucial to Ukraine's the ongoing democratic transition. In September 2020, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved Ukraine's new National Security Strategy, which provides a distinctive partnership with NATO with the aim of becoming a nation member.

NATO headquarters is located in Brussels, Belgium, and serves as its political and administrative center. Representatives from member countries, as well as civilian and military experts, work there daily consulting on global security issues. More than 5,000 meetings are held there annually. All decision-making at NATO is done by consensus, which is a central value that was included in the creation of NATO in 1949.

Consensus decision-making means that there is no voting at NATO. Instead, discussions take place until all 30 member nations can come to an acceptable solution  and then it is deemed a NATO decision. Often that means some member nations "agree to disagree." The job of leading the consensus decision-making process falls to the NATO secretary-general [source: NATO].

The North American Treaty The North Atlantic Treaty was written and signed in 1949. It arose because of the growing strength of the Soviet Union after World War II (which ended in 1945). Right after the war, the Soviet Union consolidated itself under communism and strengthened its armies. At the same time, Europe was exhausted and in shambles. The United States implemented the Marshall Plan in 1948 to help rebuild Europe, but the European countries would not have the strength to fight against the Soviets. The United States and Canada would be needed to provide the force necessary to counter any attack from the Soviet Union.
Many years ago I taught high school English. The curriculum was heavy on literature, ranging from Beowulf to Black Elk Speaks and capped every year with a Shakespearean tragedy.

And every year, another tragedy unfolded: Kids with poor reading skills washed out. We didnt have reading specialists who could address their challenges. We didnt have math specialists, either. We didnt have programs for the gifted or the autistic or the developmentally delayed or the child with leukemia who had to miss school for unpredictable stretches of time.

What we had was a public school system that approached education like baking cookies. Place 20-30 students in tidy rows in a rectangular space, stir in equal measures of curriculum, set the oven at 70-to-pass, and cook for 12 years, checking periodically for doneness. If some fell through the rack or burned to a crisp  well, cookies crumble.

Yes, there were special schools for the deaf, the blind, the backward and feeble-minded, but these schools simply put an early stamp of approval on what would become a lifelong lack of societal accommodation for people with disabilities. There was nothing special for the poor, for children whose first language and culture were indigenous, or for children experiencing abuse, homelessness, grief, or any of the countless traumas that freeze a child in time.

Today we know all children, including children with disabilities, have abilities that, if developed, will substantially improve their lives. We know children who are hungry or scared or sick have a hard time learning. We know we can project the number of prison cells well need 20 years from now by the number of third-graders not reading at benchmark right now.

In short, we know children are not cookie dough. They come with ingredients and experiences more varied than were dreamt of in our Olde School philosophy. Many start school on unequal footing and others encounter challenges that freeze them along the way. Without help these children will not reach the full educational potential our constitution promises. We should be proud of the steps weve taken as a nation, a state, and a profession in the last half-century to face that fact  and to do something about the inequity that existed for far too long in schools purporting to prepare all Americas children for adult life.

The lessons schools learned about inclusiveness and accommodation through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act have benefited not just children with disabilities, but all children, because schools now have the tools, the practices, and the mindset to address every childs unique  i.e., unequal  needs. The achievement gaps identified by No Child Left Behind have taught schools to provide timely, tailored interventions that lead students to success, rather than passively watch cookies crumble.

Today a high school senior who once thought she was too dumb to read is taking Honors English. A little boy with the speech delays preemies often experience now uses complete sentences, replete with adjectives and prepositions. An autistic child who has spent the last two years in a transitional pre-K to help him control his anxiety and learn to focus just hit his benchmarks in math. A girl who missed much of elementary school battling cystic fibrosis. Is now sitting in a middle school classroom with her peers.

Fifty years ago, these children would have been written off as cookies too broken to frost. Today, thanks to the programs in our public schools and the commitment of public schoolteachers, they have the same shot at developing their potential that other kids have. That is educational equity.

Today Montana educators have no doubt what equity, inclusion and diversity mean to the students they teach. Unfortunately, Montana is now getting caught up in a nationally orchestrated effort, apparently supported by our Governor, Attorney General and Superintendent of Public Instruction, to turn these words into cusswords, especially equity.

Equity, they say, is a codeword sneaky teachers use to indoctrinate kids with guilt about the sins of their forefathers. Equity, they warn, makes smart kids lose opportunities. Equity, they insist, reduces standards to the lowest common denominator.

You have to stretch reality to the snapping point to throw shade on equity. If in the process you sully public education  schools that are the pride of the nation and teachers who have been saving this nations bacon for the last two years  well, theres a word for that, too: shameful.

Most shamefully, all this ado has nothing to do with equity. Or education. The root cause is in the e section, though: elections. Of that, more on another day.

Mary Sheehy Moe retired as Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education in 2010. Since then she has been a school board trustee, a state senator, and a city commissioner in Great Falls. She writes from Missoula.

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ARCHIVED - Showers sweep across southern Spain: Weather forecast February 24



Storms are forecast for Andalucia but temperatures will rise in eastern parts of Spain

Cooler temperatures, rain and even snow will return to Spain on Thursday February 24 as a new DANA sweeps in from the Canary Islands , bringing much more typical weather than the country has been experiencing for the last few weeks.

However, the depression will not affect all areas equally, and the mercury will actually rise in eastern provinces. In general though, a noticeable drop in temperatures will be experienced in Galicia, Cantabria and western Andalucia with intervals of strong winds, cloudy skies and rain.

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has activated an orange warning for coastal phenomena in Pontevedra, La Coruna, Lugo and Asturias, where a force 7 northeast wind could result in waves up to 6 metres high.

In addition, a yellow alert has been issued for the Cantabrian coast and the Basque Country.

Showers and occasional heavy rain are predicted for the southern half of the peninsula while storms havent been ruled out in Andalucia. As well as this, meteorologists have warned of high levels of suspended dust in the air in addition to snow above 2,000 metres in the mountainous east of the community.

Day and night-time temperatures are on the increase across much of eastern Spain, with Granada topping the thermometers at an unseasonable 25C.

Maximum and minimum temperatures on Thursday February 24:

Alicante: 19C / 11C

Almeria: 22C / 10C

Granada: 25C / 6C

Malaga: 20C / 10C

Murcia: 23C / 5C

Sevilla: 23C / 9C

Image 1: Archive

Images 2 & 3: Aemet
MUSCATINE  When Kayla Carlsten decided to open her own practice to help people with their mental health, she wanted to do things differently.

Nearly a year later, Carlstens strategies are working well, according to her growing number of patients, she said.

Carlsten, a psychiatric nurse practitioner for 10 years, opened Calamity Rose Ranch on the north side of her farm, 1612 Taylor Ave., Muscatine, last May. She assesses, diagnoses and treats her patient's mental health needs.

When I first started, my goal was to have 40 patients, Carlsten said. Ive since quadrupled that, so its been eye-opening on the need of mental health services in Iowa and Muscatine specifically.

Carlsten previously worked in the Alzheimers unit at Lutheran Homes, as a psych nurse in emergency rooms and intensive care units.

After working in cities like Des Moines for so long, Carlsten realized how under-served rural communities are. She returned to her hometown of Muscatine to open Calamity Rose Ranch to serve that need.

One of her unique services is animal-assisted therapy. Her patients can interact with rabbits, cats and goats as they talk about their mental health.

Animals have always been something Ive had a love for. To be able to pet an animal for about 15 minutes releases anxiety, and some people may not have that option where they live, she said. So instead they can come to my office and just hang out with an animal.

She also offers free, open-for-anyone goat yoga," three times a week.

We have baby goats running around, and during goat yoga they may jump on your back or you may cuddle them for a while. Fifteen minutes of petting or playing with an animal really can reduce stress in people, so just adding that option to yoga for me is a lot more fun.

Her practices main goal, however, is to be there for those in crisis. Carlsten will offer a walk-in clinic every other Thursday, beginning March 31.

The benefit of the walk-in clinic is to work to prevent ER visits for mental health, taking some of that burden off our local ER, Carlsten said, having the experience to know that emergency rooms cant always handle patients who are in crisis in a timely manner. With this clinic, she said that she hopes to see 20 patients throughout the walk-in period, which takes place throughout the day (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

(The walk-in appointments) would be shorter appointments, but it would be enough to follow up with my other patients if theyre having an emergency or to help a patient who just couldnt get an appointment otherwise, she said. In some cases for some psych providers, it could be a two- to three-month wait to schedule an appointment, but keeping every other Thursday open allows for people to just walk in and be seen. They may have to still wait a little bit, but at least theyre not waiting months.

Carlsten said she hoped to eventually expand her practice to create a wellness center for her community.

For more information, visit calamityroseranch.com.

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Discovery Banks normalised operating loss for the six months between 1 July and 31 December 2021 was R498 million  18% lower than last year.

Discovery Banks performance exceeded expectation, with excellent performance across all metrics, Discovery Limited stated in its unaudited interim results.

According to Discovery, the bank continued to gain traction with 385,200 clients, up from 287,182 in December 2020.

By the end of 2021, Discovery Bank had 793,215 accounts compared to 540,252 accounts in December 2020.

It also expanded its existing Discovery and non-Discovery client base and achieved more than 750 average daily sales in January to new customers.

This is higher than its current plan, Discovery noted.

Retail deposits grew by 69% to R9.5 billion, and advances grew at 10% to R4.1 billion at 31 December 2021, said Discovery.

Customer quality remains excellent with high average levels of non-interest revenue per client, and the quality-focused credit strategy was evidenced by the low credit loss ratio of 0.96%.

Discovery said the business models benefits are shown in improving operating leverage, with overall costs remaining constant in real terms, despite the significant customer growth.

Discovery Bank constitutes the largest investment into new initiatives, the company stated.
The Johannesburg Labour Court has ordered state-owned arms manufacturer Denel to pay R90 million in outstanding salaries to employees.

That comes after Solidarity took Denel to court over overdue salaries and other payments owed to its members.

Solidarity chief executive Dirk Hermann described the courts order as a huge victory for the unions members, some of whom have not received their full pay since May 2020.

We are incredibly grateful for the relief this order brings to our members. Our members had to do their work almost continuously without full pay, and this amid the major uncertainty and challenges the Covid-19 pandemic brought, Hermann said.

Although we are, of course, delighted with the outcome, it is still a crying shame that we have to approach the courts on an ongoing basis to force state entities to fulfil their duties towards employees.

Solidarity said it would instruct the sheriff of the court to seize Denels assets if the company does not make the required payments within ten days.

We cannot allow workers money to be used to fund mismanagement and looting, Hermann said.

The R90 million Denel must pay to Solidaritys members makes up a small portion of the total R636 million it had owed workers as of August 2021.

Solidarity previously received warrants to seize Denel property worth R12 million, after which Denel paid the employees.

In November 2021, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) also took Denel to the Pretoria High Court.

It secured an order against Denel to pay the unions members their full outstanding salaries and benefits dating back to May 2020.

A smaller group of 14 employees also succeeded in their bid to get R4.3 million in outstanding salaries paid back late last year.

While Denels employees have been struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table, three Denel executives suspended for alleged wrongdoing linked to the Gupta-linked VR Laser Group still received their full salaries.

The second part of the Zondo commission of inquirys state capture report detailed how the Gupta family exercised influence over the company with strategic appointments on its board facilitated by former public enterprises minister Lynne Brown.

This alleged corruption caused delays in key projects and cash flow from the company.

Criminal charges warning

Solidarity blasted President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet for their smart talk about future plans while workers at state entities almost starved.

The union said its next step is to make sure that those responsible for mismanagement at Denel are brought to book.

We cannot allow that our members and ordinary taxpayers have to carry the can for the states mismanagement anymore while the plunderers can simply carry on plundering with impunity, Hermann said.

We have to take matters further. We will now carry on with litigation and will file criminal charges to ensure that those who caused this mess be held accountable for it.

Now read: Naspers gave R1 million to the ANC in 2021
Frank Familys Historic Larkmead Winery and yellow craftsman tasting room have long been an attraction for locals and visitors alike. Located on the quiet, tree-lined Larkmead Lane in Calistoga, it is the only tasting room to have been awarded Winery of the Year twice by the Connoisseurs Guide to California Wine. For eight consecutive years, the tasting room won the readers choice for Best Napa Winery in the annual Bay Area A-List contest. With this latest honor from the Best of Napa Valley Readers Choice Awards, Frank Family continues to uphold its reputation of offering the friendliest hospitality in Napa Valley.

Frank Familys General Manager and Winemaker Todd Graff has been with the winery since 2003, after spending many years working throughout the worldfrom France to Portugal. During his tenure at Frank Family, he has managed the winerys steady growth, overseeing estate vineyard purchases and winemaking. Under Graffs leadership, Frank Family achieved Napa Green certification in 2014 for both winery and vineyards, and he continues to hold his team to increasing standards of sustainability each year. He was also named Winemaker of the Year by the North Bay Business Journal in 2020.

I feel very fortunate to do what I love for my career, Graff said. To do it at Frank Family Vineyards and in the Napa Valley makes it even more special. I extend my congratulations to our entire team.
Updated at 4:22 p.m.  Streets near a Napa synagogue were littered overnight with flyers bearing a screed linking Jews to "the COVID agenda," in an act similar to anti-Semitic leaflet dumps across California and the U.S. in recent weeks, according to Napa Police.

Napas central dispatch center began receiving calls at about 7:55 a.m. Thursday about residents of Elm, Oak, Pine, and other streets near Congregation Beth Shalom who found the pamphlets outside their homes, police said in a news release. Officers began interviewing witnesses and checking the vicinity of the synagogue at 1455 Elm St. for surveillance videos, according to the department.

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As of Thursday afternoon, there were no known threats to Congregation Beth Shalom or to those who received the flyers, police said.

Police collected several of the more than 100 handbills as evidence, and have determined they have the same titles and messages as anti-Jewish flyers that were discovered in at least three Bay Area cities last weekend, according to Lt. Chase Haag. Napa Police also intends to share any information from physical evidence or security video cameras with other law enforcement agencies in the region, he said.

Anyone with information on the case  including tips and video footage  is asked to contact Napa Police Officer Adam Gilbert at 707-257-9223 or agilbert@cityofnapa.org.

A neighborhood resident described seeing the handbills strewn down several streets as he went for a morning jog at about 7:15 a.m.

I noticed them from Elm Street (near the synagogue) north all the way to Third Street, and there was a flyer in front of every house, said Hardy Wallace, who has lived in the area since 2015. I noticed them from Jefferson all the way to Coombs Street, and also on Franklin. There had to be hundreds of homes, if not more.

A photograph shared with the Napa Valley Register showed one leaflet sealed in a clear plastic zip bag, which was partially filled with dry rice as an apparent weight. Topping the page was a Star of David and the headline EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THE COVID AGENDA IS JEWISH, followed by the names of federal and state government and health leaders, as well as executives and scientists with Pfizer and Moderna, producers of two COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the U.S.

At the bottom of the leaflet, a QR code apparently was placed to be scanned with a smartphone to link a viewer to an anti-Semitic video. The back of the flyer bore the message Lets Go Brandon, a phrase popular with right-wing critics of President Joe Biden.

Napas CrossWalk Community Church announces closure through Wednesday after reported threat CrossWalk Community Church was closed Sunday and will remain off limits through Wednesday, according to Pastor Pete Shaw.

The presence of Shearer Elementary School near the synagogue made the appearance of the handbills doubly offensive, Wallace said in a telephone interview.

Theres plenty of kids walking to school, so many kids walking to Shearer, which is next to the temple, he said. Theres hundreds of kids walking to school (who can) come across these. Its sick.

The first thing I thought was how disgusting it was, and then I was very angry, and then I thought, This really shows a basic lack of courage, running around and throwing around things like that, said Cindy Watter, a board member with the Napa Valley Unified School District who has lived in the neighborhood for 32 years. Its horrible; it was so ugly. I was afraid kids would see them. I picked them up and gave them to police officers that came by.

These are people who have no compunction, no charity; how can they be like that? said Watter, whose husband and children are Jewish. How can they want to expose children to this sort of thing? Its cruelty  these are people who feel they have failed in some way so they have to create a monster that they can assign some sort of responsibility to.

Nobody was inside the Congregation Beth Shalom building when the flyers were reported to police, according to Rabbi Niles Goldstein, who said one of the leaflets was left at the home of a synagogue member.

I myself am very angry; even though hate and anti-Semitism dont belong in this world, theyre always been around and probably always will be, he said Thursday.

In an email to congregation members, Goldstein described the Napa incident as likely part of a larger pattern of extremists spreading anti-Semitic material in various California communities in recent weeks. Hundreds of similar messages were found on Sunday in Berkeley, Tiburon, and Palo Alto on Sunday, according to media reports.

Clusters of anti-Semitic tracts also have been distributed in recent weeks in San Francisco, Denver, Houston, Miami, and elsewhere, NPR.org reported Wednesday. One such incident  with COVID-related diatribes worded similarly to the Napa handbills, and also sealed in weighted bags  was reported in Colleyville, Texas, where a gunman took a rabbi and worshipers hostage at a local synagogue on Jan. 15.

This is yet another incident, as if we needed one, that demonstrates we are living in a period with an uptick in hate speech and anti-Semitism, and we need to be vigilant," said Goldstein. "We need to be calm, but we need to be aware. We need to come together along with government and law enforcement to do what we can to combat hatred, to bring those who perpetrate it to justice, and to celebrate our religious and cultural identity.

Later Thursday, Napa resident Hugh Linn, in a letter to the Register, promised a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in connection with the anti-Semitic flyers distributed near Congregation Beth Shalom.

If people dont stand up and say its not acceptable, its going to continue, said Linn, of the RSA+ planning and engineering firm on Fourth Street. At some point, people have to say, This is not what we stand for, and we will not tolerate it here.

Hopefully by sending this message, whoever decided it would be a good idea to share this will see it didnt accomplish what they tried to accomplish. We will circle the wagons if you attack any part of our community  no matter the race, creed, color, religion, its not acceptable.

Last month, Congregation Beth Shalom was one of 290 community and nonprofit groups to be jointly awarded $47.5 million in state funds to improve physical security against hate-driven violence. The congregation plans to use its $126,525 to help pay for lighting, fencing, and cameras, said Goldstein.

Possible uses for the funding from the state Office of Emergency Services include upgrades such as reinforced doors, gates, shatterproof glass and window film, security guards, and access control systems, the agency said in announcing the program on Jan. 25.

You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com

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What's happened so far:

-Putin orders army into Ukraine, seeks to demilitarize neighbor

-Explosions heard in Ukrainian cities of Odesa, Kharkiv as Putin announces launch of military action

-Biden denounces 'unprovoked and unjustified' attack on Ukraine, pledges world will 'hold Russia accountable'

-Putin warns any foreign attempt to interfere with Russian action would lead to 'consequences they have never seen'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians.

Explosions were heard in Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Kharkiv but few details were available. In a televised address, Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia doesn't have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian "regime."

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences they have never seen."

He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a "demilitarization" of Ukraine. Putin said that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

U.S. President Joe Biden denounced an "unprovoked and unjustified" attack on Ukraine, and pledged the world will "hold Russia accountable."

U.S. officials have repeatedly pledged to place overwhelming sanctions on the Russian economy and Putin allies in retaliation for a further invasion of Ukraine.

U.N. Secretary-General Guterres urged Russia's Putin: "Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance."

With rare but fragile alignment, the U.S. Congress is largely backing President Joe Bidens decision to confront Russia with potentially escalating sanctions for the crisis in Ukraine as lawmakers brace for perhaps the most daunting foreign policy crisis the nation has faced in a generation.

Ukraines parliament and other government and banking websites were hit with another punishing wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.

Ukrainian businesses large and small no longer plan for the future  they can barely foresee what will happen week to week.

There's little support among Americans for a major U.S. role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to a new poll, even as President Joe Biden imposes new sanctions and threatens a stronger response that could provoke retaliation from Moscow.

So what's happening and where?

As a long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be underway, here is a map locating Ukraines Donbas region and the area currently held by Ukrainian separatists. This map is current as of February 22, 2022 and will update as news breaks.

A full-scale invasion could have major repercussions in the U.S. Stocks have taken a hit this week as investors react to the Russia-Ukraine military conflict. But experts say you shouldnt shake up your investing strategy just because stock prices are moving.

Meanwhile, oil hit $100 a barrel and stock futures fell sharply. Dow futures lost nearly 700 points, or about 2%. Nasdaq futures dropped 2.7%.

Brent crude, the world benchmark, briefly climbed above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014. US crude jumped 3.3% to $95.15 a barrel. Oil supplies are already very tight. Analysts have warned that any disruptions to oil flows from Russia, the world's No. 2 oil producer, would drive consumer gas prices even higher.
I like to taste wine in the mornings when my palate is fresh, explained Bernard Portet, one of Napas earlier French imports who arrived in the valley in the late 1960s following a long and circuitous journey from Bordeaux to Napa.

Currently serving as Clos Du Val winerys director, Portet began as the winerys first winemaker when founders John and Henrietta Goelet founded Clos Du Val in Napas Stags Leap appellation in 1972. Portet did take a brief hiatus but has returned to continue his involvement as the winery celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

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We were sitting in the private lounge for a morning tasting and chat with Portet at Clos du Vals uber-contemporary Hirondelle House, a recent addition to the winerys building laced with Virginia creeper along the Silverado Trail. Hirondelle ("swallow" in French) is named for the swallows that return every spring to nest on the side of the building.

Assisted by Sydney Toth, the winerys marketing manager, Portet began the tasting with the elegant 2018 Cabernet Franc, a wine Portet called capricious. Sometimes we put a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon to build structure, he noted. This has a rough structure but as it ages it will become velvety and silky.

The next wine, a vibrant 2018 SVS Cabernet Sauvignon piqued the vignerons curiosity. Every time I taste this wine, it tastes different, Portet commented. Today its elegant, was his verdict on the wine supported by small percentages of Cabernet Franc and Malbec. You get a youthful softness from Malbec. The wine is produced from single vineyards from Clos Du Val estates in Yountville and Stags Leap District.

In between sips, Portet expounded on Clos Du Vals philosophy. Its terroir; expression of terroir, and second its balance, elegance, complexity, and a long finish.

The encompassing goal for Portet is that wine should complement the food. Wine is made to go with food, insisted the Bordelaise who grew up learning about wine from his father, a technical director at Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

We moved on to the 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Hirondelle Vineyard, a beguiling wine with silky tannins and rich blueberry flavors. We finished with the mesmerizing 2016 Estate Three Graces, a trio of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

I remember tasting it yesterday, the more we were checking the more it was breathing, Portet noted. There are no rough tannins here. And then he declared in earnestness: Its two steps above SVS, and Hirondelle.

The vintages we tasted were made by winemaker Ted Henry. In 2021, Carmel Greenberg took over as winemaker, producing wines from the two estates, Stags Leap District and Yountville with a total of 220 acres under vine.

The journey to Napa

Portets journey to Napa in 1971 came by happenstance, in an extended and indirect manner. Portets initial visit to Napa was in 1968, which was an exploratory trip for a French company. Soon Portet was back in Bordeaux and he began working for Goelet in 1970 to manage a chateau he was acquiring. But the deal fell through. So, to keep me busy, John suggested to go around the world and pick a region where we could make world-class wines, Portet recalled. Johns vision is world vision and he had invested in a series of companies across the world.

Portet embarked on a world tour, traveling to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Chile, where he would meet his future wife Helia who joined him onwards on his travels in California.

I recommended to him this property, said Portet of the Silverado Trail ranch. Although Portet found Napa wines too alcoholic compared to Bordeaux wines at the time, Napas hot days followed by cool nights convinced him of wines that would have the freshness, he was looking for.

In December 1971, Goelet acquired the property, and with his work accomplished, Portet headed back to Bordeaux, only to return to Napa in March 1972 to help out for a few weeks, with the vineyard planting.

Or so he thought.

Goelet suggested that Portet apply for a U.S. visa. Portet agreed to stay for two years to make Clos Du Vals initial wines, the 1972 and 73 vintages, produced from sourced fruit from a neighboring vineyard. The 72 vintage was crushed at Cuvaison and 73 at Carneros Creek Winery.

By 1974, with building construction finished, and the first crush of that vintage done at the newly built winery, with wine made from sourced and partial estate grapes. (Sourcing fruit continued until 1978 when the estate vineyards had fully matured).

In 1974 John said, Weve got all this wine in the cellar so you better start selling it. So Portet stayed.

"I start selling wine, Portet continued. In 1978 Clos Du Val was growing by leaps and bounds, so I decided to stay. The initial 5,000-annual case production of 1972 vintage had grown to 18,000 cases by 1978.

Portets stay in Napa evolved organically as the winery grew. It just happened, mused the Frenchman. Im not like the new generation who plans everything. I never planned to stay in the United States. But stay he did, as he found himself enjoying the engaging camaraderie between vintners in the valley.

I realized that it was a very friendly place, an honest place where with a handshake you get a five-year grape contract.

In 1974, he joined the Napa Valley Vintners Association at a time when there were between 20-25 member vintners. Everyone was working with the same purpose to make the best wines possible, to help one another.

Portet recalled several incidents when fellow vintners would come and help in time of need. One day one of the big pumps in the winery broke down, he said. Robert Mondavi winery had that pump and they offered to help. Mondavis winemaker said, You can have it but dont break it; we need it by tomorrow. That kind of stuff is not automatic in France; its a pioneering spirit here, very positive.

The third generation

As we walked around the Clos Du Val grounds on this crisp fall morning, we met up with Olav Goelet who represents the familys third generation as the winerys chairman.

While continuing the legacy of Clos Du Vals terroir-driven wines, Goelet is also poised to take the winery in the future as it embarks on its sixth decade.

Our focus is that you have to use the rearview for perspective but have to create the next chapter for our organization, its not about going back in time but informing about the foundation of what Bernard and my grandfather started so we can inspire, said the young vintner who was appointed as the CEO in 2018.

The beauty of Bernards winemaking philosophy and what were trying to capture here is wines that have age-worthiness and also have the ability to show fantastic youth, Goelet said.

Over the years, Portet established a style of wine that reflects Stags Leap appellations power-packed tannins that, even in youth, comes off as soft and elegant -- drink-now wines with a lasting agebility.

The cellar-worthy quality was on display when Clos Du Vals 1972 Cabernet Sauvignon took first place in a 1986 rematch on the 10th anniversary of the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting.

After a 37-year tenure, Portet decided to retire and in 2009 embarked on producing wines in the southern part of Mendoza under his Nandu label. This endeavor lasted a few years and by 2013 he was back at Clos Du Val as a consultant. In 2017, he was appointed winery director.

This is where I belong, he said with a smile. Fate brought me back.
Blasts are heard in Kyiv, Kramatorsk, Odessa, Kharkiv, and Berdiansk, UNIAN news agency reported.

"On Thursday, February 24, after 5 o'clock early in the morning (after 6am Moscow time), the sounds of explosions are heard in a number of cities, including Kyiv. At least four explosions in Kramatorsk, powerful explosions in Odessa, Kharkiv, Berdiansk, and heavy shooting in Donbas are reported," the statement said.

It is added that the sounds of explosions are heard in the capital, too.

"At the same time, there are reports of shootings and explosions near the Boryspil airport," the agency said.
Copper price is stable

No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

American Armenian youth hold protest rally outside Armenia embassy in Washington

Gold is getting cheaper

U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue issues joint statement

Newspaper: Armenia Patrol Guard Service head to be summoned to Investigative Committee to give explanation

Armenia parliament regular sittings continue

Newspaper: Armenia opposition members falling into National Security Service trap by opening links

Civil disobedience protests resume in Yerevan

Earthquake shakes Armenia-Georgia border zone

Mark Milley: Potential for significant international conflict between great powers is increasing

EU: Poland fines in rule of law dispute now top $170 million

Putin and Lukashenko discuss ongoing situation

Greece and Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help reduce dependence on Russia

German vice chancellor calls for rapid construction of LNG terminals

Rally of Resistance Movement takes place in France Square

Robert Kocharyan takes part in opposition march

Mario Draghi calls on EU to abandon requirement of unanimity in making foreign policy decisions

Finland and Sweden not yet decided whether to join NATO

Croatian president uses veto power to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO

Slovakia will seek exemption from the EU embargo on Russian oil imports

NEWS.am digest: Blinken meets Mirzoyan in US, people detained during protests in Yerevan

Turkish Foreign Ministry on meeting of special envoys in Vienna

Opposition rally in central Yerevan starts with Sirusho's performance

Italy to face serious issues in winter if Russian gas supplies are cut off now

Johnson announces new military aid to Ukraine in amount of 300 million euros

Resistance Movement rally on France Square in Yerevan

EU hopes to adopt sixth round of sanctions against Russia at next EU Council meeting

Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Spitak

Spain extends OVID-19 entry restrictions

Vayk joins demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation

Putin and Macron discuss Ukraine

Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block road from Vayots Dzor to Yerevan

Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Vanadzor demanding PM's resignation

Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block Gyumri-Yerevan highway

Sirusho: Today I will join our compatriots in France Square

Third meeting of Armenia and Turkey special representatives held in Vienna

Dollar rises slightly after long decline, euro also goes up in Armenia

Civil disobedience actions in regions: Yerevan-Goris highway blocked

Azerbaijan settling occupied Armenian Hadrut, Shushi cities of Artsakh

New colors and new services: Team Telecom Armenia completes rebranding

Armenia legislature speaker receives France-Armenia Friendship Group delegation

France senator: We are leaving for Armenia with Senate group

Putin signs decree on economic measures against unfriendly countries

Armenia legislature speaker: Authorities have repeatedly proposed dialogue to opposition

Backpack action of protest being held outside Armenia parliament (PHOTOS)

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD statement does not correspond to reality

Armenia defense minister receives Kansas National Guard delegation

Armenia Police: Yerevan-Sevan motorway reopened

Ned Price: Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting will launch US-Armenia strategic dialogue

Mirzoyan, Nuland discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement process

Civil disobedience actions are carried out in some Armenia cities

Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM and now lawmaker Gevorgyan trial to resume

Pashinyan to Morawiecki: This year we mark 30th anniversary of Armenia-Poland diplomatic relations

No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia Central Bank leaves refinancing rate unchanged at 9.25%

Demonstrators demanding PM Pashinyan's resignation block Sevan-Yerevan motorway

Police: 117 demonstrators apprehended in Yerevan

Kansas National Guard leadership visiting Armenia

Bloomberg: EU new gas partners

Armenian member of Turkey legislature says he was thrown at table of wolves

Italian PM slams Lavrov for his 'Hitler' statements in interview with local television

South Korea and US plan to start air force exercises on May 9

Police special forces apprehend Armenia ex-president Robert Kocharyans son

Police: 70 people apprehended from Yerevan streets

World Press Freedom Index 2022: Journalism as a profession is humiliated in Armenia

Newspaper: Armenia ruling party MPs are worried

Borrell speaks on possible disconnection from SWIFT of new Russian banks

Cyprus becomes first EU country with full 5G coverage

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
Russian landing forces are landing in Mariupol and Odessa; in addition, Odessa is partially left without electricity, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

It is also reported that air bases in Vasylkiv are being hit.

Also, missiles are being fired at military facilities in the Dnieper region.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Ukrainian people Thursday morning, and announced the declaration of martial law in Ukraine. This is stated in Zelenskyy's message which was posted on his official Facebook page.

"Today, [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin announced a special military operation in Donbas. Russia has struck at our military infrastructure and our border guards, border detachments. Sounds of explosions have been heard in many Ukrainian cities. We are imposing martial law throughout the country. Minutes ago I had a conversation with US President [Joe] Biden. The US has already begun to mobilize the international assistance. Today, each of us is required to remain calm, stay at home as much as possible. We are working, the [Ukrainian] army is working, the security sector of Ukraine is working in full. I, the Government of Ukraine will be in constant contact with you," Zelenskyy stated.
The air defense means of the Ukrainian armed forces have been rendered ineffective. This is noted in a Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD) statement, which is quoted by RBC.

"The air defense means of the Ukrainian armed forces has been suppressed," the statement said.

The Russian MOD added that the soldiers of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine did not show resistance against the Russian army units, and that the military aviation infrastructure of Ukraine was rendered ineffective, too.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) reported that a fire broke out after the shelling in an ammunition depot in the village of Olshanitsa in the Belotserkovsky district of the Kyiv region. This is stated in the message disseminated by this departmentand which was posted on Facebook.

"The General Staff of the National Guard of Ukraine in the village of Novi Petrivtsi has caught fire," the representative of the SESU added.

Also, three employees of the emergency service were injured as a result of the shelling of the command-dispatch station of Nezhinskaya village of the Chernihiv region.
YEREVAN.  The Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Greece to Armenia, Emmanouil Asimakopoulos, on Thursday officially handed over the consignment of 35,000 doses of Moderna vaccines, donated by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Armenia, the Greek embassy in Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am about this.

We want to express our full satisfaction that this project of donating 35,000 doses of Moderna vaccines to Armenia was successfully completed today and, in this way, we help in practice our Armenian friends in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, we want to express our gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the Ministry of Health of Armenia for our exemplary coordination and for their support to the successful implementation of this project.

The project was implemented by activating the Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism which supported the vaccine transportation process.
"Circumstances force us to take decisive and immediate action. The Donbas People's Republics have appealed to Russia for help, Putin noted.

He claimed it was for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. We do not intend to occupy Ukraine, Putin added.

According to the Ukrainian media, within minutes of Putins short TV address, at about 5am Ukrainian time, blasts were heard near major Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv.

Ukraines interior ministry reported that the country was under attack from cruise and ballistic missiles, with Russia appearing to target infrastructure near major cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Dnipro. Kyiv residents reportedly sought safety in bomb shelters as explosions were heard outside the city.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Ukrainian people Thursday morning, and announced the declaration of martial law in Ukraine. He has already convened a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.

Zelenskyy called on Russian citizens to listen to Ukraine, its desire for peace and assured that Ukraine has never posed and will not pose a threat to Russia.

He added that he tried to contact Putin, but all in vain.

Meanwhile, the Russian MFA announced the suppression of air defense systems of Ukraine.

However, both sides now are issuing contradicting statements.

The Ukrainian media has already reported they had shot down 5 Russian planes and one helicopter, while Russia denies all the reports.

World leaders condemned Putins decision.

The US President Joe Biden issued a written statement saying: The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.

We will hold the Kremlin accountable, wrote Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU Commission, which had announced new sanctions against Moscow just hours before the attack.

And UK PM Boris Johnson noted that Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
Russia has suspended navigation in the Sea of Azov, TASS reported, citing a source in the maritime sector.

"It is temporarily suspended," the source said.

And the Russian Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport reported that the aforesaid navigation was suspended until a special order.

Earlier, the Ukrainian armed forces had reported destroying two Russian tanks and several military trucks.
I am in Mariupol city right now, the sounds of bombing are heard, it is more panic, but we do not have such information yet that they are talking about entering the city. Vahagn Matevosyan, the head of the Union of Armenians of Donetsk Region, told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

"Foreseeing all this, we had prepared in advance, our compatriots wanted have been evacuated, and we are constantly in touch with those who decided to stay in their homes. Overall, there is a psychologically tense situation. People who do not have a car but want to be evacuated, we have cars that are ready to evacuate them. But I can say that at the moment more than 50% do not want to leave their homes," Matevosyan added.

According to him, there are no definite numbers yet on how many Armenians have been relocated.

"Most of the Armenians went to Dniepropetrovsk [city]. We have an arrangement that the evacuees gather near the Armenian church, where they are met by representatives of the Armenian community, given first aid, and after which everyone goes to the house of a relative, acquaintance," said the head of the Union of Armenians of Donetsk Region, adding that they are in constant contact with the Embassy of Armenia in Ukraine.

As reported earlier, in his video address to the Russians at 5:50am Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had made a decision on conducting a special military operation in Donbas.
On Thursday, the West will be convening emergency consultations to put pressure on Russia amid the latters military operations in Ukraine, DW reports.

Accordingly, US President Joe Biden will meet with the G7 allies to impose tough measures on Russia.

The heads of EU countries and governments will hold a special session and discuss the package of sanctions to be imposed on Moscow. Brussels has called on Russia to immediately cease hostilities in Ukraine.

The permanent representatives to NATO will in attendance to the emergency meeting.

In addition, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will convene a meeting of the Civil Contingencies Committee (COBRA).

The German government will be convening an emergency meeting of the anti-crisis team, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and promised him "complete solidarity of Germany."
First casualties have been reported in Ukraine. This was announced by Anton Herashchenko, an adviser for the Interior Minister of Ukraine, citing information from the National Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

"Brovarskoy, military settlement No. 161: During the air strike, a building and a 4-story house caught fire, the 3rd and 4th floors were partially damaged (). According to preliminary information, there is one casualty, one wounded, and 5 more affected," he said.

One child and three civilians were injured in the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced new casualties as of 9am.

Accordingly, military unit No, 0173 in the city of Podilskyi, Odessa region: shelling, 6 casualties, 7 wounded, 19 missing.

One person was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region.

In addition, according to the State Border Guard Service, a Ukrainian border guard was killed in the Kherson region.

A car came under fire in the Konotop region. As a result, a child and a woman were injured.

In the city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dniepropetrovsk region, three strikes were launched to a contingent of 17 tank ARs, No. 4608 combat duty positions in Krasnopol, a strike by a drone.

Chernihiv region: airport of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. There are casualties.

In the Zhytomyr region, Ozerna settlement was fired upon, one plane was destroyed.
On May 19, 2021, as a result of voting at the plenary session of the European Parliament, resolution-report on Turkey was also confirmed, in which the European Union (EU) reaffirms its call for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Hakob Arshakyan, deputy speaker and currently acting speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, stated this at Thursdays session of the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Partnership Committee.

He added that Turkey was also urged to refrain from any kind of anti-Armenian propaganda and hate speech, and to fully respect its commitment to protecting Armenian culture.

Arshakyan noted that this report makes several references also to Turkey's negative role in the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict.

He stated that in its reports, the EU reaffirms its call for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Unfortunately, the non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the denial of the genocide lead to new genocides and wars, Hakob Arshakyan added.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned Russia's military actions in Ukraine, saying his country would respond quickly with the United States and other allies, Voice of America reports.

The Russian invasion threatens the basic principle of the international order, which prohibits the unilateral use of force in an attempt to change the status quo, he noted strongly condemning Russia.

The PM added they we will provide a prompt response in cooperation with the United States and other Western countries.

Spain, France, Australia and Italy condemned the attack, among others. Germany and Turkey urged their citizens in Ukraine to stay in safe places.
The events of the previous year have created new reality in our region and outside it. The grave consequences of the 44-day war of September 2020 unleashed by Azerbaijan and Turkey against Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)] have become irreversible for us. Hakob Arshakyan, deputy speaker and currently acting speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, stated this Thursday at the second meeting of Armenia-EU Parliamentary Partnership Committee. He continued as follows, in particular:

Today, we face security challenges. The peace of the region is endangered and the stability is fragile. The penetration of the Azerbaijani armed forces to the sovereign territory of Armenia is a more dangerous development. The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is tense from May 12, 2021. The encroachments against the Republic of Armenia resulted in human losses and seriously endangered the regional security.

Armenia strictly condemns the military actions by Azerbaijan, which damages the regional peace and security.

We expect from our international colleagues urgent and addressed response to the illegal actions of Azerbaijan, including the penetration to the sovereign territory of Armenia and the provoking further escalations on the borders by Azerbaijan. To our deepest conviction, the use of force cannot promote the establishment of the events for strengthening trust, as well as the atmosphere of peace.

In this respect I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the European Parliament for showing position of principle after 44-day war. I would like to especially touch upon the resolution adopted by the overwhelming majority of the votes in the European Parliament on the return of Armenian prisoners of war, and with this the European Parliament demands the urgent and unreserved release of all arrested Armenians captives, the military and the civilians during the conflict and after it.

We are convinced that the resuming of the peaceful settlement process of the Karabakh problem under the auspice of the OSCE Minks Group Co-Chairmanship, the full implementation of the trilateral statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, the elimination of the consequences of their violations, including the preservation of the unreserved ceasefire regime, the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the RA sovereign territory, the urgent return of prisoners of war and the civilian hostages can create conditions for strengthening peace and security.

Armenia greatly highlights having normal relations with the neighbouring states. We are for and trying to establish relations with open borders in the region and anchored on the partnership.
Deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Ruben Rubinyan, as the representative of Armenia, met with the representative of Turkey, Serdar Kilic, on January 14, and the second meeting of the envoys will take place in Vienna today. Hakob Arshakyan, deputy speaker and currently acting speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, stated this at Thursdays session of the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Partnership Committee.

He added that they are full of hope that Turkey will reconsider its policy of closed borders with Armenia since 1993.

Also, Arshakyan noted that Armenia is ready to have bridges of cooperation both with neighboring countries and with international organizations operating in various formatsand in favor of Armenia's development and the strengthening of peace in the region.

The acting speaker of the Armenian parliament expressed confidence that the EU is the organization that will contribute to the establishment of that peace and stability with its mission, while the MPs will use all the levers of parliamentary diplomacy to establish and respect democratic values in the region.
There will be two flights from Zvartnots International Airport of Yerevan to Krasnodar, Russia, Thursday, at 7:05pm and 11:25pm. And at 8:40pm, a flight scheduled to the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv.

Lilit Aghabekyan, assistant to the chair of the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that at the moment, the airlines to conduct the aforesaid flights have not submitted requests to cancel these flights.

"Since the [aforementioned] airlines are foreign, they need to cancel the flights and inform us. The situation is changeable and does not depend on us; that is, a new airport or airspace may be closed, and this will affect us, "Aghabekyan added.

As reported earlier, in his video address to the Russians at 5:50am Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had made a decision on conducting a special military operation in Donbas.
Belarusian troops are not taking part in the Russian special operation in Donbas, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said, BELTA reported.

His remarks came at an operational meeting with the military.

"Around 5:00 am, the state border of Ukraine at the Russian-Belarusian section was attacked by Russian troops backed by Belarus."

"Our armed forces are not taking part in this operation," said Lukashenko after reading the excerpt.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in the country due to the situation in Ukraine and asked the parliament to approve it.

Earlier, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said that after Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday, a state of emergency could be declared in Lithuania.

The situation itself needs to be discussed, and the president will probably decide to declare a state of emergency, which will require a meeting of the Seimas, the prime minister said in an interview with Radio LRT.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia sent a congratulatory message to President Emmanuel Macron of France on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The message runs as follows, in particular:

February 24, 1992 is a memorable day for the Republic of Armenia and the French Republic. Thirty years ago today, Armenia, which opened the page of its modern history with the declaration of independence, established diplomatic relations with the French Republic.

Thus, the centuries-old Armenian-French interactions and friendship, strengthened by the presence of the Armenian community in France, acquired an interstate framework for further development.

I have to note with satisfaction that over the past three decades, Armenia and France have managed to establish a unique relations based on close political dialogue, regular high-level contacts, active parliamentary cooperation, decentralized partnership, as well as multisectoral cooperation in economy, education, science, culture, healthcare and other areas.

We attach great importance to the close cooperation with France within the frames of European structures and international organizations.

For Armenia, as an active member of the International Organization of La Francophonie, holding the Francophonie Summit in Yerevan in autumn 2018 was of exceptional importance, in the sidelines of which it was a special honor to host you in our country. I would like to note that the French University in Armenia, which is one of the most significant achievements of our bilateral relations in educational field and plays a vital role in Armenias higher education system, brings its valuable contribution to the spread of Francophonie in our country.

We highly appreciate the valuable commitment of France to assist Armenias economic development which is reflected in the Armenian-French economic cooperation development roadmap signed in Paris on December 9, 2021 and defines our common commitment to raise our bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, new technologies and healthcare absolutely to a new level and quality in the next five years. Moreover, the importance on deepening the comprehensive partnership with France is for the first time reflected in the Armenian Governments five-year Action Plan.

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by law by France as the first country and declaring April 24 as an Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in France by your presidential decree are of special importance in the history of the interstate relations of Armenia and France. With this step France once again showed its solidarity with Armenia and the Armenian people, as well as its deep dedication to the universal values.

France is always careful and consistent with the protection of Armenias vital interests and the fundamental rights of the Armenian people. We highly appreciate the clear positions and solidarity of France and yours personally during the military aggression against Nagorno Karabakh [(Artsakh)], as well as your resolute efforts and commitments to resist the geopolitical and humanitarian problems caused by the war, including in the preservation of the historical-cultural heritage of Artsakh.

Armenia also attaches great importance to Frances key role together with the other OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries  Russia and the United States, in the peaceful settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which aims at clarifying the status of Nagorno Karabakh with the guarantee of the right of Artsakh-Armenians to self-determination.

Today, the relations between Armenia and France mark their 30th anniversary with important achievements, which, I am confident, will continue deepening and expanding with our joint efforts, opening new bright pages in the history of the Armenian-French unique relations for the perpetuation of the Armenian-French brotherly friendship.
Baltimore will lift its indoor masking requirement next week as the number of coronavirus cases continues to decline in the city.

Effective March 1, masks will no longer be required in indoor spaces, both public and private, across the city, Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott announced Thursday. The move does not apply to city schools, he said, where leaders will make their own decision about masking.

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The move marks the end of a seven-month stretch when the mask mandate was in place in the city, which has enacted more restrictive coronavirus protection measures than surrounding jurisdictions and the state.

During a news conference, Scott called Baltimore a national model on how to withstand the impacts of this pandemic.

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There is now an even-brighter light at the end of the tunnel, and hopefully we can begin to return to our new normal, he said.

As of Thursday, the citys seven-day average case rate was 18.37 cases per 100,000 residents  well below the 58 per 100,000 in August when the mandate was enacted. Baltimores seven-day positivity rate stood at 2.03%, a 77% decrease compared to one month ago.

Nearly 77% of city residents 12 and over have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa hold a press conference at the War Memorial to announce the end of the city mask mandate on March 1. (Kim Hairston)

Baltimore Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa she is encouraged by the citys significant decline in case rates and positivity in the last several weeks. However, she encouraged people to continue to wear masks while indoors in crowded spaces, particularly those with limited ventilation.

This is in no way an indication that the pandemic is over, she said. Rather, we are entering a new phase.

Businesses will still have the right to require masks and vaccinations for patrons, Dzirasa said. However, the city will not require people inside City Hall and other city-owned buildings to wear a mask.

Baltimores decision to lift the masking restriction comes well after many surrounding jurisdictions removed their indoor masking policies, which were enacted during a post-holiday surge of the omicron variant. Anne Arundel, Howard and Baltimore Countys orders expired at the end of January. Other jurisdictions never enacted such policies.

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Earlier this week, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan lifted a mask requirement for workers and visitors in state buildings that was instituted amid the surge. Masks continue to be strongly recommended in state buildings for those who are unvaccinated against the coronavirus.

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On Tuesday, the Maryland State Board of Education voted to rescind an emergency regulation mandating the use of face masks in schools, sending the decision to state lawmakers for final approval.

Scott said he would consider reinstating the mask policy if another variant emerges.

It is unclear how the lifting of the mask requirement will impact the citys coronavirus testing policy for employees. In October, Baltimore introduced a requirement for city employees to get vaccinated or face weekly COVID-19 testing as part of a program to protect employees but also restore in-person services at city government offices.

Scott said Thursday the policy will change, but officials were still discussing the details. He noted that the decision to lift the mask mandate was not made until late Wednesday.

Scott declined to answer questions about whether he plans to reopen City Hall, which has been closed to the public since 2020. Public meetings continue to be held virtually although numerous other public buildings have reopened, including courthouses and the State House in Annapolis.

The mayor said he plans to speak to City Council President Nick Mosby and City Comptroller Bill Henry, both Democrats, before making a joint announcement about the plans in the next few weeks.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the statement of the British authorities about helping Ukraine to defend itself, said that they had already helped.

British Foreign Office: Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but we will help it in self-defense. You helped. Relax, Zakharova wrote in her Telegram channel.

Earlier, British Foreign Office Secretary of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly said that Ukraine was not a NATO member state but that it would receive help for self-defence. He added that the prime minister was holding an emergency cabinet meeting to decide what form of assistance would be provided. He said that if a NATO member country is threatened, the reaction will be immediate and NATO will show solidarity.
The Supreme Security Council decided to introduce a state of emergency in Moldova in connection with the Russian attack on Ukraine, European Truth reported.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu noted the Commission for Emergency Situations will hold a meeting at which it will discuss the existing crisis management measures.

"We will help people who need our help and support," Sandu said.

Sandu ordered to increase the patrolling of units of the Ministry of Defense to prevent possible provocations.
The people's militias of the Donetsk and Luhansk have launched an offensive with the fire support of Russian troops, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, RIA Novosti reported.

According to him, the DPR and LPR fighters managed to repel the aggression and break the leading edge of the echeloned and well-equipped defence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In particular, the grouping, near Volnovakha, advanced three kilometres, and the formations near the town of Shchastia advanced one and a half kilometres.

"Intelligence data show that Ukrainian Armed Forces units and servicemen are leaving their positions en masse, abandoning their weapons. The positions of the AFU units that have laid down their weapons are not being targeted," he said.
Part of the Belarusian airspace is closed for flights, the Belarusian Ministry of Defence informed, BELTA reported.

To ensure the safe use of Belarusian airspace, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus has decided to close at 12 noon on Thursday part of the Belarusian airspace for flights by civil aircraft along the following borders: the Belarusian State Border, Vysokaje, Baranavichy, Asipovichy, Krichev, and further along the southern part of the Belarusian State Border to Vysokaje.

Altitudes of the current restriction are from 0 m to 19,800 m.
The goal of Russia's special operation is to denazify Ukraine; ideally, the country would be cleansed of Nazis, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, RIA Novosti reported.

In a conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that nobody was talking about occupying Ukraine and that it was "unacceptable" to use the word to describe in the context of Russia's operation

Peskov did not clarify whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is considered "pro-Nazi".
The European Council on the evening of Thursday, February 24, will agree on political terms for the adoption of the toughest package of sanctions ever imposed against Russia amid its aggression in Ukraine, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell reported, Deutsche Welle added.

As follows from another statement released by EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano, the EU's response will include both sectoral and individual restrictive measures, fully coordinated with our transatlantic partners and like-minded people.

According to Borrell, Europe is going through some of its darkest hours since World War II.

The largest nuclear power has attacked a neighboring country and is threatening to kill any other state that can come to its aid, the head of European diplomacy stated.

Borrell noted that this is not only about a gross violation of international law by Moscow, but also the basic principles of human coexistence. The conflict will cost many lives and its consequences are unknown, he pointed out.

The EU High Representative noted that he would maintain contacts with transatlantic partners and European countries in order to force Russia to immediately stop unacceptable actions. Otherwise, the Russian leadership will face unprecedented isolation, Borrell warned.

He added that this is not about the formation of blocs, not about diplomatic games for power. It's a matter of life and death. It is about the future of our world community, the politician said.

Brussels also condemns the participation of Belarus in the aggression against Ukraine and calls on it to comply with its international obligations, Stano added. Finally, the EU reaffirms its unwavering support for Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, as well as its commitment to their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Turkey again calls on Russia and Ukraine to resolve all contradictions through dialogue within the framework of the Minsk agreements, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

The head of state noted that Turkey rejects and considers Russia's military operation against Ukraine unacceptable.

The Turkish leader said that Ankara considers Russia and Ukraine friendly countries with which it has close political, economic and social ties.

Erdogan said Turkey supports Kyiv's fight to defend its territorial integrity.

"Russia's military invasion of Ukraine contradicts the norms of international law and is a serious blow to peace and stability in the region," the Turkish leader said.

The president said that Turkey is ready to make the necessary efforts to ensure the safety of Turkish citizens, the brotherly Crimean Tatar people and all those living in Ukraine.
Baltimore County school system pledged to make masking optional in buildings as soon as the jurisdiction achieves community health metrics outlined in a statewide masking mandate for schools.

Administrators updated the school systems COVID-19 mitigation plan Wednesday to say that face coverings will be optional in buildings once Baltimore County has recorded 14 consecutive days of case rates in the moderate or low transmission levels, which amounts to less than 50 cases per 100,000 residents over seven days.

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Several groups held a rally Feb. 22 calling for the end to the school face mask mandate across the street from the Nancy S. Grasmick State Education Building. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun )

Baltimore Countys COVID-19 case rate dropped below 100 cases per 100,000 residents on Feb. 10, moving the county into the substantial transmission category defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. County health officials, along with experts from Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland, believe that the jurisdiction may enter the moderate transmission classification by the end of the month, according to a message delivered to school communities Wednesday.

About 44% of Baltimore County students had received one or more COVID-19 vaccines by late January, system officials said in the announcement. And approximately 83% of the countys teachers were vaccinated as of Feb. 16, according to state officials.

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The announcement comes one day after the Maryland State Board of Education voted to rescind an emergency masking mandate that has been in place since the beginning of the school year. The measure will head next to the General Assemblys administrative, executive and legislative review committee for final consideration on Friday at 2:30 p.m.

The state board voted to rescind the policy following calls to do so this month from Republican lawmakers and Gov. Larry Hogan. The mandate currently includes offramps for school systems to ease masking mandates once a countys community spread of COVID-19 is considered moderate or if vaccination rates are above 80% in the school or the surrounding community.

State officials clarified that guidance Tuesday to specify that the vaccination rate means among eligible populations  which does not count children under the age of 5.

In the month that the mandates offramps have been in effect, four county school systems  Anne Arundel, Frederick, Howard and Montgomery  have qualified to make masking optional. Anne Arundel recently reverted to an optional masking policy in school buildings.

The Baltimore County Board of Education also considered a motion at its meeting Tuesday that would instead make masks optional on March 1, which aligned with the target date that the State Board of Education recommended to legislators this week. The motion failed, with board members Julie Henn, Kathleen Causey, Russell Kuehn and Rod McMillion voting in favor of the motion.

Baltimore County school officials say masks will still be required on buses according to federal requirements as well as in school health rooms, in alignment with CDC guidance. The system is recommending individuals with a higher risk for severe disease and those with a higher risk family member continue to wear masks.
The EU positively assesses the democratic reforms carried out in Armenia, but it does not mean that the European Union considers the situation in the country ideal, Marina Kaljurand, Co-Chair of the Committee, Member of the European Parliament for Estonia said.

Her remarks came at the briefing following the meeting of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee on Thursday, commenting on the cases of restrictions imposed on the activities of journalists, as well as arrests of oppositionists.

According to the MEP, there are no perfect countries. The EU representatives had time to discuss with the foreign minister and the prime minister such important issues as constitutional reforms, legal reforms, as well as the law on criminalizing serious insults. These issues were also discussed in today's meeting.

Kaljurand said that she had a meeting with representatives of ARF Dashnaktsutyun The EU Ambassador to Armenia also organized a meeting with representatives of civil society.

The parliamentarian assured that the situation in Armenia is monitored on a daily basis.

She noted that the EU does not keep silent when there is a need to voice relevant criticism.

Kaljurand said that the EU was objective and tried to notice those positive changes, which were registered in the country.
Special Representatives for the normalization process between Armenia and Turkeythe Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Ruben Rubinyan, and Ambassador Serdar Kilic, respectivelyheld a meeting Thursday in Vienna.

The Special Representatives confirmed that the ultimate goal of the negotiations is to achieve full normalization between Armenia and Turkey, as agreed during their first meeting in Moscow, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian New-NEWS.am.

They exchanged views on possible concrete steps that can be mutually undertaken to that end, and reiterated their agreement to continue the process without preconditions.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said he convened a virtual summit on Friday, with the leaders of the 30 member states to discuss the way forward following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, MorningStar reported.

Stoltenberg called what happened a "deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion" that constituted a "blatant violation of international law".

Ukraine is not a member of the alliance but has a standing offer of possible NATO membership if it meets strict criteria. Stoltenberg said there were no NATO troops in the country. "What we do is defensive," he said.
The most part of Ukrainian ports is still closed and there is no damage to Ukraine's port infrastructure. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.

At the moment most of the ports are closed, we coordinate with the military. There is no damage to the port infrastructure, said in the message.

It is also known that Ukraine has submitted an official appeal to Turkey to close the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits for Russian ships, stated the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine in Turkey Vasyl Bodnar, reports Ukrinform.

"Once again I appeal to the Turkish people and the Turkish authorities to help Ukraine. We call for closing the airspace and closing the passage through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles for Russian warships. An official request has been sent to the Turkish side," Bodnar said.

The ambassador also called for sanctions against Russia and its assets in Turkey.
Russia Federal Security Service said that Ukrainian border guards are arriving in Russia, refusing to continue serving in Ukraine, RIA Novosti reported.

"The departed Ukrainian border guards are arriving in the territory of Russia," the statement said.

According to the special service, 26 servicemen of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service arrived at the Troebortnoye checkpoint in the Bryansk region at 11:15 a.m., while another 16 arrived at the Dzhankoi checkpoint in Crimea at 12:10 p.m.

According to the Federal Security Service, as of 13:00 Moscow time, the Ukrainian border guards left all units on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan attended Thursday session of Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Nur-Sultan, the Government press service informed NEWS.am.

The meeting of the Council was attended by Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alihan Smaiylov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov and Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission Board Mikhail Myasnikovich.

A number of issues relating to the development of integration mechanisms in the Eurasian space in various fields were discussed at the meeting. In particular, they addressed industry, customs, information systems, organization of e-commerce, transport communications and other areas.

An extended meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council is scheduled for Friday.
The Federal Security Service of Russia in the Krasnodar Territory reported that an explosion of a munition that flew out from Ukraine was detected in Kuban, RIA Novosti writes.

"On February 24 this year at 12:10 a.m., officers of the Border Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Krasnodar Territory near the settlement of Shirochanka, Yeysky District, Krasnodar Territory recorded a burst of ammunition fired from the direction of Ukraine. There were no casualties or injuries. The law enforcement agencies are carrying out an investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident," the department's press service reports.

On Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided on a special military operation to demilitarize Ukraine. In a televised address to Russians, he said that circumstances require to act decisively and immediately, the people's republics of Donbass have asked Russia for help. According to the Russian leader, all responsibility for the bloodshed will be on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine. He urged the Ukrainian military not to follow the criminal orders of the Ukrainian authorities, to lay down their arms and go home.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.
Hanoi couple perservere in organic farming

A couple in Hanoi have left their good jobs at a state-owned institution to follow an organic farming project.









Nguyen Duc Chinh and his wife Nguyen Thi Duyen have left their good jobs at a state-owned institution to follow an organic farming project.

Nguyen Duc Chinh, 40, and his wife Nguyen Thi Duyen, 39, both graduated from the Hanoi University of Agriculture in 2001. They had struggled to find a suitable workplace before winning a place at a major agricultural research institution in Hanoi.



The couple then completed their master's degrees in Australia. Duyen was assigned to join in an organic farming project in 2015 and she borrowed an abandoned 1,000 square-metre plot of land to carry out the project. Her love for organic farming has developed since.



In 2016, Chinh won a scholarship for his doctorate in Japan and he took his family with him. Here the couple knew about the book The One-Straw Revolution about natural farming by Masanobu Fukuoka. They also saw and practised natural farming and their love for organic farming grew stronger.



The couple returned to Vietnam in 2019 with a determination to introduce natural farming in the country. They spent a lot of time finding suitable land by the Day River in Hanoi's Phuc Tho District and started growing vegetables and fruits following natural farming techniques in early 2020.



Facing numerous difficulties in the first days, Duyen resigned at her institute late that year and Chinh also sent his resignation in early 2021 to spend all their time on their own project. Some other colleagues also resigned to join their project.



The couple spent all their savings on the farm but they faced losses the whole first year.





"We had poor quality vegetables due to severe heat and unstable water sources," Duyen said. "We also faced lots of challenges dealing with the large number of pests which we hadn't expected. Our customers complained. And we've gradually found measures to deal with the weather and pests as well as made our own nutrient organic biological fertilizers to have better quality vegetables."













The couple said they spent lots of time catching insects at the farms. They also bought eggs, and soybeans to make organic biological fertilizers.













Chinh catches insects

"With limited money, we can only employ four workers," Duyen said. "We also work like real farmers. But were happy that our vegetables and fruits taste much better and are of course safer than those sold at many local markets."













Duyen shared that although Vietnam is known as an agricultural country, many farmers overuse insecticides and herbicides. They want to promote natural farming to have safe agricultural products for local people.













"It's great that now many people have praised our work and supported us," she said. "We are having more customers and our friends and relatives who earlier said we were crazy now also support our project."
University of Maryland, Baltimore County received a $21 million donation, the largest gift the university has ever received, to expand the schools educational research, teacher preparation and partnerships with Baltimore city schools, the university announced Thursday.

Donated by the Sherman Family Foundation, the money will be used to create a new center called the Betsy & George Sherman Center, a namesake of former teacher Betsy Sherman and her husband, the late George Sherman, a business executive, who together supported educational opportunities for underprivileged students.

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The Sherman family has donated more than $38 million throughout the past 25 years and established two other educational programs at UMBC: the Sherman STEM Teachers Scholars Program and Sherman Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities.

The recent donation will fund the creation of an umbrella organization that will direct the two teaching programs and an educational research initiative.

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So much of what we do is done better when each of these three areas is working together, said Rehana Shafi, director of the scholars program, which launched in 2007.

The new center will encompass both programs and be led by an executive director, whom the university plans to hire ahead of the 2023-2024 school year. The funds will also go toward hiring another faculty member so the current director of the Sherman Center for Early Learning can concentrate on growing the centers research team beyond early childhood education to focus on multiple education topics.

The Sherman scholars program prepares college students to become teachers in Baltimore and other cities in Maryland with a focus on training educators to meet the needs of culturally diverse grade school students learning science, technology, engineering and math. Scholars have close partnerships with Baltimore schools, such as Lakeland Elementary/Middle School in Southwest Baltimore, where students have boosted their math test scores with the help of individualized learning plans.

Were preparing our folks to become teachers in Baltimore City to a degree where principals call us now to say, Who have you got graduating? because the word is out that Sherman scholars are ready to hit the ground in a way that other first-year teachers might not be, Shafi said.

Last year, 22 scholars graduated from the program, 19 of whom are teaching in Baltimore, Shafi said. Approximately 170 teachers have graduated from the program since 2007 to work in high-need schools across the state.

The Sherman Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities started in 2017 with a $6 million donation from the Sherman family. Fellows in the program run a summer institute with a focus on improving students literacy, in part by offering a range of multicultural and bilingual books from which students can choose to learn to read. Fellows also work closely with students families at five Baltimore schools.

The second-highest gifts given to UMBC after the Shermans gifts are two donations of $10 million for two special scholarship programs in STEM and the arts, said a spokeswoman for UMBC.
The situation in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv is calm at the moment and there is less panic, Hamlet Hovhannisyan, Assistant Honorary Consul of Kharkiv, told NEWS.am.

"Residents in some districts heard explosions and even saw them, so they were quite concerned, and people were trying to get information and understand what to do next," Hovhannisyan said. "At the moment the situation in the city is calm, the Russian media is spreading a lot of misinformation. In particular, WarGonzo published a picture of how Kharkiv was taken, but thank God it is not true. Kharkiv is Ukrainian," Hovhannisyan said.

According to him, there are long queues near supermarkets. People buy basic necessities. There are also many queues at ATMs, although there is a limit, it is impossible to take out more money than the set limit.

"The mayor's office is urging people not to leave their homes. Its representatives are publishing maps so that people can hide if necessary," he added.

According to him, there has been no evacuation of Kharkiv residents. Some citizens left the city, but of their own volition. "Yesterday, when there was still no war, all the tickets were sold. If you go from Kharkiv to Kyiv, for example, you can find yourself in a more dangerous situation. So it is better to stay at home," Hovhannisyan concluded.
The U.S. itself has refused to have a dialogue with Russia on Ukraine and global security, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, RIA Novosti reported.

"Today, on this very day, the Russian delegation, the official one, led by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, was supposed to be just in the very European expanses, from which we hear all kinds of accusations against us. And the delegation was supposed to be there to negotiate with the American delegation led by U.S. Secretary of State Mr. Blinken ... it was the American side that refused to negotiate further," Zakharova said on NTV.

She specified that this includes talks on global security, strategic stability, the current state of affairs. "Well, and, of course, it would not be without Ukraine. The U.S. side sent an official response to the Russian side in the form of a message from the U.S. Secretary of State, which outlined in a detailed, rather boorish manner their unwillingness to negotiate with Russia. All this was received by Moscow before the special operation began. The whole world should know it," added the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Russia has disabled 74 ground military infrastructure facilities as a result of the strikes, the Defence Ministry's spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov told reporters, RIA Novosti reported.

"This includes 11 airfields of the Air Force, three command posts, a Ukrainian Naval base, as well as 18 radar stations of S-300 and Buk-M1 air defence systems," he said.

The defence ministry said it was not targeting any civilian objects on Ukrainian territory, only military infrastructure, with no threat to civilians.

About two hours afterwards, the ministry added that Ukrainian border guards "are not showing any resistance", Ukrainian air defence assets have been suppressed, and the infrastructure of military air bases has been disabled. The Defence Ministry did not confirm the information of foreign media about the downed Russian plane over Ukraine.
On Thursday, two flights to Russia's Krasnodar city were scheduled from Zvartnots International Airport at 7:05 pm and 11:25 pm, assistant to the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia, Lilit Aghabekyan told NEWS.am.

The flight to another Russian city, Sochi, was scheduled at 7:55 pm. At the same time, the flight to the capital of Ukraine was scheduled at 8:40 pm.

Aghabekyan said airlines announced the cancellation of all four flights.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who describes himself as a personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, called on Thursday for an early end to the war in Ukraine and for Europe's remaining ties with Russia not to be severed, Reuters reported.

"There have been many mistakes - on both sides. But Russia's security interests do not justify the use of military means either," Schroder

wrote in a post on LinkedIn.

"With the necessary sanctions, care must be taken not to completely cut the remaining political, economic and civil society ties that exist between Europe and Russia," he added.

Schroder chairs the shareholder committee of Nord Stream 2, the company responsible for building the controversial Russian gas pipeline to Europe, which is now under US sanctions, although he is not personally affected by the sanctions, the news agency noted.

On Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation in Ukraine.

He said that Moscow did not intend to occupy Ukrainian territories. According to the Russian president, the goal is to demilitarize and denationalize Ukraine.

Later, the Russian Defence Ministry informed about missile strikes against the Ukrainian military infrastructure. In particular, it spoke about spot strikes on airfields and command posts near Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed martial law. He said he would break off diplomatic relations with Russia.

Ukraine has also closed its airspace.
The Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko announced the introduction of a curfew in Kiev, Ukraine 24 reported.

Today, a curfew has been introduced and you should know that at night, movement around the city is limited, Klitschko said.

However, he did not specify what kind of watch it was.

Klitschko said that the situation in Kiev is under control, but there is a possibility of terrorist groups appearing.

He noted that at the moment, exit from Kyiv and entry into the capital is not limited.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday the start of a military operation in Ukraine for 'the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.'

Later, the Russian defense ministry informed about the launch of missile strikes on the Ukrainian military infrastructure. In particular, it was about pinpoint strikes on airfields and command posts in the area of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared martial law. He announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Russia.

Ukraine also closed its airspace.
Is not Ukraine that chose the path of war, but Ukraine is proposing to return to the path of peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, Novyny Live reported.

"It's not just the sound of rockets we hear now. This is the sound of the iron curtain, which is now coming down and separating Russia from the entire civilized world," Zelenskyy said in his address, which was published on the Ukrainian president's Telegram.

Zelenskyy also said that Russia faces complete isolation at the global level.

Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation in Ukraine.

He said that Moscow's intentions did not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories.

According to the Russian president, the goal is to demilitarize and denationalize Ukraine.

Later, the Russian Defence Ministry informed about missile strikes against the Ukrainian military infrastructure. In particular, it spoke about spot strikes on airfields and command posts near Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed martial law. He said he will break off diplomatic relations with Russia.

Ukraine has also closed its airspace.
In recent months, geopolitical tensions between the West and Russia have led to a full-scale war, which will undoubtedly have a serious impact on the world economy as well.

Armenia will not be left behind either.

Armenia has been a member of the Eurasian Economic Union since 2014, at the core of which is Russia. The economic crisis caused by the epidemic has hurt all EAEU member states: the economic decline in Russia was 3%, Armenia 7.4%, Belarus 0.9%, Kazakhstan 2.5% and Kyrgyzstan 8.6%. For the Russian economy 2021 was a year of recovery. Economic growth amounted to 4.4%, helped by an increase in the price of natural gas on the world market and increased exports to EU countries.

Notably, the Russian economy fully recovered in 2021, while Armenia did not.

2021 was a year of achievements in terms of Armenian-Russian economic relations: exports from Armenia to Russia amounted to $847 million, an increase of 24.5% compared to the previous year. At the same time, imports from Russia increased, amounting to USD 1.9 billion in 2021, an increase of 19.2% compared to the previous year.

Armenia's exports to Russia account for 28% and imports for 33.3%. Russia exports mainly finished final consumption goods (canned goods, wine, cognac, agricultural products, jewellery, etc.), which further benefit the Armenian economy. Russia, on the other hand, imports energy, metals, construction materials and consumer goods.

Economic sanctions imposed by the West will slow down the development of the Russian economy. Reduced investment and negative expectations will lead to a sharp devaluation of the Russian ruble, resulting in higher prices for imported goods, including Armenian goods, all in the face of falling incomes in the Russian market. That is, the continued devaluation of the Russian ruble may lead to a reduction in exports from Armenia.

Since Armenia's independence, Russia has been and remains the main destination for those who go to work. Every year, tens of thousands of Armenian citizens go there to work, which allows them to receive large remittances. Particularly, during 2021 individuals, through banks, transferred money from Russia to Armenia amounted to $865 million, which is about 41% of all transfers. Some people living in Armenia simply cannot exist without this money (aid).

In addition, Russia is considered the largest investor in Armenia's economy. In particular, in January-September 2021, the net inflow of investments from Russia amounted to 52.4 billion drams, which is almost twice as much as last year. Many large Armenian companies operate with Russian capital, some of which are subsidiaries of Russian companies, such as Gazprom Armenia. The direct sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russian companies may also affect subsidiaries operating in Armenia. Five out of 10 Armenian companies, which pay the highest taxes, operate with Russia. They create thousands of jobs and pay billions of drams to the state budget.

Possible restrictions for Russian companies will seriously affect the investment climate in Armenia. At the moment, it is impossible to stop the steep fall in the value of Russian companies' shares, and foreign investors are rushing to get rid of them.

Economic risks in Armenia are quite high, and to counter all this, the Armenian government should show a comprehensive approach, without waiting for losses to be identified.
The Kherson regional administration said that it has lost control over Henichesk district, the statement issued by the authorities on Thursday said, TASS reported.

"All state structures have gone under the control of the invaders. Equipment is standing right in the Henichesk, there are roadblocks in the area," the message posted on Facebook reads.

The authorities specified that this information was received from the district administration by phone.

The Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform said it had received confirmation of this information from Henichesk mayor Oleksandr Tulupov. According to them, Tulupov allegedly confirmed the presence of foreign troops in the city.

As of 6:15 pm Moscow time, there was no confirmation of this information from other sources, TASS reported.
The James Beard Awards are back  and three Baltimore chefs and a Chinese restaurant have been named semifinalists.

Cantons NiHao was named in the category of Best New Restaurant, while one of its founders, Peter Chang, was a semifinalist in the Outstanding Chef category for his work at his eponymous restaurants in Maryland and Virginia. A new branch of Peter Chang is set to open in Columbia this fall.

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Lydia Chang, chef Changs daughter and co-owner of NiHao, said she was pleasantly surprised by the shoutout for the Baltimore restaurant she helped launch during the pandemic. We didnt expect it, she said, adding that her dad, hearing that he had been nominated in the Outstanding Chef category, simply shrugged. The day moves on, Chang said he told her.

Meanwhile, Charlestons Cindy Wolf was excited to be named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Chef category, according to her business partner Tony Foreman. Wolf has been a semifinalist in the Best Chef: Mid Atlantic category 13 times. This is a bigger deal, said Foreman, noting that its a national category.

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The Beard Awards, among the food worlds highest honors, announced an audit of policies and procedures in 2020 in response to calls for a more inclusive and transparent Awards process, according to a news release. The awards were canceled that year amid concerns about a lack of diversity and misconduct among some nominees.

In addition to their skills and innovations in the kitchen, winners now must promote racial and gender equity, sustainability, and a work culture where all can thrive.

Carlos Raba of Clavel Mezcaleria was named a semifinalist in the Best Chef: Mid Atlantic category this year. Its a first time being nominated for Raba, though the restaurant has previously been a semifinalist in the Outstanding Bar Program category.

To date, only one Charm City chef has ever received the top honor: Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen.

Finalists will be announced March 16; winners will be made public at the June 13 awards ceremony in Chicago.
Britain announced sanctions imposed on Russia in connection with the military operation in Ukraine, RIA Novosti reported.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that sanctions have been imposed on Aeroflot's operations in the UK. He also said the UK was freezing VTB's assets.

Sanctions have also been imposed on Uralvagonzavod, Rostec and the Tactical Missiles Corporation.

Johnson added that the available levers allow for complete exclusion of Russian banks from the UK financial system.

The UK Prime Minister also promised to "squeeze Russia out of the global economy".

In addition, sanctions have been imposed on Russian billionaire Kirill Shamalov, the chairman of Promsvyazbank, Petr Fradkov and the deputy president-chairman of VTB, Denis Bortnikov.

On Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation in Ukraine. He said that Moscow did not intend to occupy the Ukrainian territories. According to the Russian president, the goal is to demilitarize and denationalize Ukraine.

Later, the Russian Defence Ministry informed about missile strikes against the Ukrainian military infrastructure. In particular, it spoke about spot strikes on airfields and command posts near Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed martial law. He said he would break off diplomatic relations with Russia. Ukraine has also closed its airspace.
Vladimir Putin speaks about special operation in Ukraine

At a meeting with representatives of business circles, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had to take forced measures because it was impossible to respond to the situation in Donbas by other means, Vesti.ru reported.

"What is happening is a forced measure. We were left with no chance to do otherwise. Security risks have been created such that it was impossible to respond by other means," the head of state said. His meeting with representatives of major Russian enterprises is being broadcast by the Rossiya 24 television channel.

"This is a forced measure, because they could create such risks for us that it is unclear how our country would exist," the Russian leader said.

According to TASS, Putin also assured that Russia remains part of the global economy.

"Russia remains part of the world economy and in this regard, as long as it remains this part we are not going to harm the system in which we ourselves feel a part," the head of state said at a meeting with representatives of Russian business circles.

He highlighted the fact that the Russian authorities have been preparing for what is happening in terms of sanctions policy. "We all understand the world we live in, and we have been preparing in one way or another for what is happening now in terms of restrictions and sanctions policy," he said. Putin noted that Russia's partners in the West should understand and not push us them of system. Nevertheless, the Russian leader is confident that "these restrictions will happen".
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone talk with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday, Kremlin press service reported.

The Russian president briefed his Iranian counterpart on developments around Ukraine in the context of the decision to conduct a special military operation.

It is noted that the conversation took place at the initiative of the Iranian side.

"Vladimir Putin informed him about developments in the situation around Ukraine in the context of the decision to conduct a special military operation to protect civilians of Donbas in line with international law and obligations under the agreements on friendship and mutual assistance with Donetsk and Luhansk," the Kremlin said.

The Iranian president "expressed understanding of Russia's security concerns due to the destabilizing actions of the United States and NATO," the press service added.

Putin and Raisi discussed progress in implementing the deal on Iran's nuclear program. "Diplomatic efforts to preserve and fully implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program were considered. It was noted that reaching a final agreement on the JCPOA will help maintain regional stability and security," the statement said.
The main part of the US diplomatic corps in Ukraine is now operating from the territory of Poland, TASS reported, citing Reuters.

"We will continually assess the security situation to determine when it may be safe for US government personnel to return to Ukraine," the official said.

Earlier, the US decided to temporarily relocate its embassy in Ukraine from Kyiv to Lviv. In recent days, representatives of the US diplomatic corps have been working from Lviv and leaving for Poland overnight. CNN reported on Thursday that all US diplomats were now outside Ukraine.

OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid said she had decided to temporarily evacuate all OSCE mission members from Ukraine as soon as possible.

Poland in connection with the situation in Ukraine has decided to suspend the work of four consulates-general in that country. According to the Polish Foreign Ministry, the embassy in Kyiv and the consulate-general in Lviv will continue their work.

"For security reasons, the activities of the other Polish consular missions in Ukraine have been temporarily suspended," the Foreign Ministry added. These are the consulates general in Kharkiv, Lutsk, Odessa and Vinnytsia.
Armens: Louisa Sharamatyan on cooking tolma on Food Networks Worst Cooks and being compared with Kim Kardashian

Copper price is stable

No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

American Armenian youth hold protest rally outside Armenia embassy in Washington

Scientists analyze unobvious consequences of wearing masks

Gold is getting cheaper

U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue issues joint statement

4 surprising benefits of using Kiwi fruit daily in your diet

International premiere of animated film about Armenian Genocide survivor Aurora to be held during famous festival

Newspaper: Armenia Patrol Guard Service head to be summoned to Investigative Committee to give explanation

Armenia parliament regular sittings continue

Pregnant Rihannas statue appears at Metropolitan Museum of Art (PHOTOS)

Newspaper: Armenia opposition members falling into National Security Service trap by opening links

Civil disobedience protests resume in Yerevan

Earthquake shakes Armenia-Georgia border zone

Champions League: Liverpool reach final

Mark Milley: Potential for significant international conflict between great powers is increasing

Villarreal win Liverpool 2-0 (first half)

EU: Poland fines in rule of law dispute now top $170 million

Putin and Lukashenko discuss ongoing situation

Greece and Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help reduce dependence on Russia

German vice chancellor calls for rapid construction of LNG terminals

Rally of Resistance Movement takes place in France Square

Robert Kocharyan takes part in opposition march

Ararat-Armenia defeat Noravank

Mario Draghi calls on EU to abandon requirement of unanimity in making foreign policy decisions

Finland and Sweden not yet decided whether to join NATO

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Johnson announces new military aid to Ukraine in amount of 300 million euros

Resistance Movement rally on France Square in Yerevan

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Vayk joins demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation

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Dollar rises slightly after long decline, euro also goes up in Armenia

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Thomas Muller extends his contract with Bayern

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New colors and new services: Team Telecom Armenia completes rebranding

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Backpack action of protest being held outside Armenia parliament (PHOTOS)

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Garnik Cholakyan becomes gold medalist of World Youth Championship

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COVID-19 situation in Armenia stabilizing: from now on, health ministry will publish data once a week

Civil disobedience actions are carried out in some Armenia cities

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Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM and now lawmaker Gevorgyan trial to resume

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No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

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Armenia Central Bank leaves refinancing rate unchanged at 9.25%

Demonstrators demanding PM Pashinyan's resignation block Sevan-Yerevan motorway

Police: 117 demonstrators apprehended in Yerevan

Kansas National Guard leadership visiting Armenia

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Italian PM slams Lavrov for his 'Hitler' statements in interview with local television

Artur Azaryan appointed as UEFA delegate for Real Madrid vs Man City match

South Korea and US plan to start air force exercises on May 9

Police special forces apprehend Armenia ex-president Robert Kocharyans son

Police: 70 people apprehended from Yerevan streets

World Press Freedom Index 2022: Journalism as a profession is humiliated in Armenia

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Betis lose points

Manchester United defeat Brentford (video)
New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI/Oswaal Books): So, the big news for the students, that came from the Supreme Court, is that the CBSE Term 2 exams are not being cancelled. On Wednesday, 23rd February 2022, the Supreme Court stated that CBSE Term 2 Exams will not be Cancelled. The Supreme Court Justice AM Khanwilkar has rejected the plea and called it " ill advised, premature. He also added that the petition was a false hope and a publicity stunt. He warned petitioners to stop these activities in the future. He said, let the authorities and the students decide what actions should be taken towards the same. "Hence, students would get their fair share of opportunity to score good marks in the 90s per cent wise although the clock is ticking fast having just 45 days to prepare for the big day, i.e., if they prepare well and perform up to their potential on the given and respective exam days. So, in this relatively short span of time, what could be the strategies & tactics that could lead up to an outstanding CBSE Term 2 results for the students? Let's Introspect!! Well, to look it on a broader spectrum, one can employ a lot of strategies & implement a whole lot of tactics to come up with an excellent show in the examination. However, the focus should always start from the basics or the fundamentals. Students need to have a thorough grasp of all the subjects encompassed in the syllabus if they are to entertain or harbour any chances of securing a score of 95 per cent or above in the exam and thereby stand out. Strategies to Score 95 per cent in CBSE Term 2 2022: Subject-wise Preparation -Avery good & quiet common way to kick-start the proceedings is to have all your strong subjects prepared in the first place so that one can keep sufficient time for the other subjects in which arecomparatively weaker. Divide your subjects according to the ease and difficulty of these. Prepare your tough subjects first and then go with the easy one. Relax your Mind - Is to have an uncluttered mind & go about one's preparation in a systematic process & with a simplistic approach so as to not confuse things up or feel the heat unnecessarily which then may lead to tension, anxiety, fear, depression & even exam phobia all on a sudden. Clear Study Objectives -In order to put the best foot forward, students should have a clear aim & follow that accordingly with the ongoing and gradual passage of time. Define your clear study objectives according to the time taken for the same. Prepare objectives according to the week and apply them for chapter-wise preparation. Choose Quality Material - There shouldn't be any room for procrastination at all or leaving it too much till too late. Studying with a good frame of mind with necessary help from the tutors and reading the textbooks well always play a key and pivotal role in the eventual outcome. Students can also plan their exams with Oswaal CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 10 & 12 For Board Exams 2022. Students will get different ways of learning: * Self-Assessment Papers for Term 2 Board Exams March-April 2022 * Oswaal CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 10 & 12 For Board Exams 2022 include all latest typologies of Questions as specified in the latest CBSE Sample Papers Released On 14th Jan 2022 * On-Tips Notes & Revision Notes for Quick Revision * The CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 10 & 12 For Board Exams 2022 include Mind Maps for Better Learning * The Book provides Free Oswaal 360 E-Assessments based on the latest Typologies of Questions as per CBSE Term 2 Board Exams 2022 Here is the recommended link for CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 10 for Board Exams 2022, click here https://bit.ly/3IgIhOS Here is the recommended link for CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 12 for Board Exams 2022, click here https://bit.ly/3h7jUHk Decide Targets - It is very important side by side that one doesn't get lost in strategizing only and not executing enough. So, setting realistic goals and short-term targets with a larger vision in place is really vital for the cause. Remove Obstacles - Going with the flow is very important too in the sense when one's in good touch or things are falling into place as far as the preparation is concerned, a student should make full use of it making the most out of it. Unnecessary roadblocks should be avoided as far as practicable. If you wish to know the 7 greatest habits of highly successful students in detail, then you can read this article to know! This story is provided by Oswaal Books. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Oswaal Books)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 24 (ANI/PR Newswire): Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, is one of the fastest growing fund houses in India. Today, the fund house has announced the launch of 'Mirae Asset Nifty Midcap 150 ETF', an open-ended scheme replicating/tracking Nifty Midcap 150 Total Return Index. The NFO will open for subscription on February 24, 2022, and close on March 4, 2022. Mirae Asset Nifty Midcap 150 ETF will be managed by Ekta Gala. The minimum initial investment in the scheme during the NFO will be Rs 5,000 and multiples of Re 1 thereafter. Key Highlights: - The Nifty Midcap 150 Index aims to track the performance of 150 mid-market capitalization companies- Opportunity to participate in entire midcap segment of the market.- Relatively low Total Expense Ratio (TER) proposed to be charged by the Scheme. The scheme proposed to charge 5 basis point as the TER ^- The Nifty Midcap 150 Total Return Index has given better returns than Nifty 50 and Nifty 100 in the last 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 years Periodic Performance Data as on January 31, 2022. National Stock Exchange (NSE), Past performance may or may not sustain in future. The index return is in Total Return Variant. The data shown above pertains to the Index and does not in manner indicate performance of any scheme of the Fund. Returns greater than one year are CAGR returns. "The Midcap segment is a group of emerging companies in Indian industry*. We at Mirae Asset Mutual Fund are constantly working towards providing cost effective products like these to our partners & investors which can help them enhance their portfolio in this Midcap ETF space," said Mr. Swarup Mohanty, Director & CEO, Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd. Disclaimers & product label: PRODUCT LABELLING Mirae Asset Nifty Midcap 150 ETF is suitable for investors who are seeking* - Returns that are commensurate with the performance of the NIFTY Midcap 150 Index, subject to tracking errors over the long-term- Investment in equity securities covered by the NIFTY Midcap 150 Index *Investors should consult their financial advisors, if they are not clear about the suitability of the product. Investors understand that their principal will be Very High Risk BSE/NSE Disclaimer: Every person who desires to apply for or otherwise acquires any unit of this Fund may do so pursuant to independent inquiry, investigation and analysis and shall not have any claim against the Exchange whatsoever by reason of any loss which may be suffered by such person consequent to or in connection with such subscription/ acquisition whether by reason of anything stated or omitted to be stated herein or any other reason whatsoever. NSE Indices Limited Disclaimer: NSE INDICES LIMITED do not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Nifty Midcap 150 Index or any data included therein and NSE INDICES LIMITED shall have not have any responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein. NSE INDICES LIMITED does not make any warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Issuer, owners of the product(s), or any other person or entity from the use of the Nifty Midcap 150 Index or any data included therein. NSE INDICES LIMITED makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, NSE INDICES LIMITED expressly disclaim any and all liability for any claims, damages or losses arising out of or related to the Products, including any and all direct, special, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages (including lost profits), even if notified of the possibility of such damages. ^It indicates that Scheme proposes to charge 0.05 per cent per annum of daily net assets of the scheme as the Total expense ratio (TER). However, the same is subject to change within the limits defined under SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996. The above does not include the transaction costs which has to be borne by the investor. The minimum application amount during the NFO Period is Rs. 5,000 and in multiples of Re. 1 thereafter. *Classification as per SEBI circular (SEBI/HO/IMD/DF3/CIR/P/2017/114) dated October 6th, 2017, the universe of Mid Cap shall consist of 101st to 250th company, Large Cap shall consist of top 100 companies, Small Cap shall consist of 251st and onwards companies in terms of full market capitalization. Statutory Details: Trustee: Mirae Asset Trustee Company Private Limited; Investment Manager: Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Private Limited (AMC); Sponsor: Mirae Asset Global Investments Company Limited. The information contained in this document is compiled from third party and publically available sources and is included for general information purposes only. There can be no assurance and guarantee on the yields. Views expressed herein cannot be construed to be a decision to invest. The statements contained herein are based on current views and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Whilst Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Private Limited (the AMC) shall have no responsibility/liability whatsoever for the accuracy or any use or reliance thereof of such information. The AMC, its associate or sponsors or group companies, its Directors or employees accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any kind resulting out of the use of this document. The recipient(s) before acting on any information herein should make his/her/their own investigation and seek appropriate professional advice and shall alone be fully responsible / liable for any decision taken on the basis of information contained herein. Any reliance on the accuracy or use of such information shall be done only after consultation to the financial consultant to understand the specific legal, tax or financial implications. For further information about other schemes (product labelling and performance of the fund) please visit the website of the AMC: www.miraeassetmf.co.in Please consult a financial advisor or mutual fund distributor before investing Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. About Mirae Asset Group Mirae Asset Global Investments (India) Private Limited ("MAGI India") has transferred its asset management business to its wholly owned subsidiary, Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Private Limited ("Mirae AMC"), as part of internal restructuring of its business with effect from January 1, 2020. Over the last 2 decades Mirae Asset Global Investments Ltd. (the sponsor) has become one of the world's largest investors in emerging market equities, managing total assets of over USD 217.9 billion as on 30th September 2021. Headquartered in South Korea, Mirae Asset Global Investments Ltd also has investment management operations in Hong Kong, United Kingdom, India, Vietnam, USA, Canada, Taiwan and Brazil. Apart from Asset Management, Mirae Asset Financial Group has business interest in Life Insurance, Securities and Investment & Venture Capital. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI/NewsVoir): India's No.1 export brand and one of leading tractors manufacturers in the country, International Tractors Limited has widened its footprint under the Solis Yanmar brand portfolio with the launch of its new YM3 tractor series. Also known as Global 4W Drive experts, Solis Yanmar has introduced two new tractors - YM 342A and YM 348A that are fully tuned to deliver higher productivity and unmatchable performance. Built with 110 year old diesel engine expertise of Yanmar, the new YM3 series is fully tailored as per Indian farmer requirements and robustly designed for Indian conditions. The YM3 tractor range fully sealed tractors with premium features like world class engine, fully synchromesh gear, push button operated PTO and carries optimum weight to address both farming as well as special application needs of farmers. Even before being launched in India, the YM3 tractor range has already been globally successful while being exported to Thailand, South East Asian countries, Europe, Brazil as well as US markets. The Yanmar YM3 series features aerodynamic hornet design with ergonomically designed 4-way adjustable seat and power steering for farmer comfort. At the heart of tractor lies the legendary Japanese Engine Technology that has been refined to offer best performance. The tractor powerhouse is a 4-cylinder engine with Monoplunger FIP and feather touch 8F + 8R shuttle shift transmission, coupled with balancer shafts to eliminate noise and vibration for superior performance. Sharing his vision during the new launch, Raman Mittal, Joint Managing Director - ITL, said, "Introducing premium technologies that steer farmers towards a prosperous future remains sacrosanct for us at Solis Yanmar. After the tremendous response to our Solis range of tractors since its launch in 2019, we are now launching the Yanmar tractor range with the YM3 tractor 4WD series which is a clear reflection of advanced Japanese engineering. The tractors are optimally designed with world's best Supernova engine by Yanmar, the 110 year old Japanese diesel engine giants. Also, the YM3 series tractors are fully designed with top end features to offer extraordinary performance and safety without compromising farmer's comfort. Our engineers have made sure that the YM series tractors deliver zero noise & zero vibration so as to allow long, fatigue-free working hours under diverse operations. Solis Yanmar will continue to offer new tractor range to address every application specific needs of farmers." Speaking on the launch, Akihiko Hiraoka, Chief Marketing Officer, Yanmar Holdings Co. Ltd., said, "Since the beginning of Yanmar Holdings, we have always focused on offering solutions for the betterment of the world. Being a proud partner of Solis (ITL), we together will surely revolutionized the agriculture sector across the globe. Today, we are proud to introduce the YM3 series tractors specially designed for the Indian soil. YM3 series tractors which are developed with the expertise from both Solis (ITL) as well as Yanmar team will be manufactured at the World's No.1 tractor manufacturing plant of ITL in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. YM3 series tractor is a commitment from Yanmar and Solis (ITL) to serve the Indian farming community while meeting their varied farming requirement." Solis, in collaboration with Yanmar, has developed wide tractor range that is optimised for significant productivity increase but reduce water consumption during agriculture. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 24 (ANI/NewsVoir): Quantum CorpHealth Pvt. Ltd. (Quantum), a pioneer and India's leading provider of healthcare and wellness solutions to corporates and individuals, today announced that the company has further expanded its footprint by opening 3 new offices, in Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad, to cater to the exponentially rising demand for health and wellness services for corporate employees and their dependents in the country. Headquartered in Mumbai and led by the doctor pair, Dr. Narendra Vankar and Dr. Bhavya Vankar, Quantum has a decade long presence in the country and has already served over 500 corporates and more than 5,00,000 satisfied individuals, providing complete employee healthcare and wellness solutions under one roof. With its vast network and infrastructure across 700 cities in India, the company currently operates through strategic tie-ups and partnerships with over 3,000 diagnostics/medical centres, 500 plus hospitals and 10,000 plus medical professionals (doctors and paramedics) across the country. Since the beginning of the pandemic, particularly after the second wave, there has been an increased focus on employee health, with many corporates ramping up efforts towards providing comprehensive health and wellness solutions for employees and their dependents. This includes providing regular health checkups, remote health monitoring, telemedicine, teleconsultations and mental wellness solutions. This, coupled with an increasing number of lifestyle-related diseases, has led to corporates providing more impetus to wellness programs. According to industry research, the corporate wellness market in India is expected to be valued at Rs. 21.5 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of ~6% during 2020 - 2025. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Narendra Vankar, Co-founder of Quantum, said, "With the COVID-19 pandemic and the China-U.S. trade war having created the need for MNCs to diversify their supply chains outside of China, popularly known as 'China plus one' strategy, India is fast becoming an attractive destination for companies looking for an additional centre of production or distribution outside of China. Ease of doing business, access to labour, and government incentives have further made India the next best candidate for multinational companies looking to establish their presence here. Sectors like agrochemicals, building products, packaging, metals, and new-age electronics are already witnessing significant investment interest from MNCs. This further presents an opportunity for trusted healthcare service providers like Quantum to scale up our offerings and provide holistic, 360-degree health and wellness solutions to these corporates." "Bengaluru already counts itself among the top 5 cities for technology multinational companies in Asia-Pacific, Pune is a recognized hub for automotive & manufacturing industries; and Hyderabad also has a rich presence of corporates in the IT/ITeS, consulting as well as manufacturing sectors. These cities presented tremendous opportunities for us to reach out and offer our services to cater to rising demand from these corporates, which can also benefit from our decade-long experience. Going forward, we plan to open more offices in such strategic zones across major metros in the country," added Dr Narendra Vankar. "Since the pandemic, we have observed more corporates becoming aware of how employee health and wellness is directly linked to their performance. As more and more corporates adopted a work-from-home culture, we saw huge demand for various employee health checkups and mental wellness packages from our clients across industries including IT, manufacturing, BFSI, logistics, among others. We have actively been partnering with such teams to enable India Inc to embrace complete employee wellness by providing simplified, easy-to-access healthcare solutions under a single roof," said Dr Bhavya Vankar, Co-founder of Quantum CorpHealth. "Going forward, as offices open up, we expect to see a further jump in the demand for new and innovative healthcare and wellness solutions from corporates. Looking to provide sustained healthcare benefits for employees and their dependents," she added. Corporate wellness programs have steadily gained momentum in recent times, as more companies prioritise employee healthcare for better productivity and workplace engagement. Furthermore, companies are adopting data analytics and new technologies to enhance the overall employee healthcare and wellness experience. Quantum CorpHealth Pvt. Ltd. is India's leading holistic healthcare and wellness technology and solutions provider, catering to Fortune 500 companies across over 700 cities, including Tier-2 and 3 towns. Headquartered in Mumbai, the company is a pioneer in the health-tech domain and has already serviced over 500 leading corporates and more than 5,00,000 individuals throughout its decade-long experience in this space. Founded in 2012 by the doctor duo, Dr Narendra Vankar and Dr Bhavya Vankar, the company offers an array of uniquely curated offerings under a single roof, including health and diagnostic check-ups, Tele consultations (GP/Specialists, Digital Smart Health Records, Health Audits for Corporates, Health at the doorstep (Doctors/Paramedics), Occupational Health Centres (In-house), Hospitalisation Support & Hospital OPD, COVID Care and vaccination, Elderly Health care, Women's Wellness, Mental Wellness, Wellness Programs, Pharmacy Access and Health Audit. The company follows a unique hub and spoke healthcare service model focused on creating long-term value for corporates and individuals. Quantum has best-in-class technology, infrastructure and a highly qualified team of medical professionals who provide superior quality services to customers, both in the B2B and B2C segments. It currently operates through a strong nexus of partnerships with over 3,000 diagnostics/medical centres, 500 plus hospitals and 10,000 plus medical professionals (doctors and paramedics) across the country. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
The Baltimore Sun should be congratulated for its introspective look into the companys history and past actions (We are deeply and profoundly sorry, Feb 18) affecting the Black community across Baltimore and the state of Maryland. All organizations who make the effort to examine how biases and actions have impacted their practices and operations ought to be commended.

The health care industry certainly has an opportunity to do the same. Many times, barriers to equitable care are rooted in larger, systemic issues that can lead to health disparities for entire communities or groups of people. Were working hard to eliminate these obstacles for every individual who walks through our doors.

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The past few years have been a wake-up call for many to the structural inequities, injustices and systems in place that have created barriers for people based on their race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Many institutions have begun to acknowledge the injustices that disenfranchised and minoritized populations have endured, and similar to The Suns reckoning, have begun to reconcile past transgressions. However, there is long way to go.

At the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), we have been evaluating how were addressing equity, diversity and inclusion across our organization. We have been having tough conversations, transparently examining our practices and policies and truly listening to our employees, patients and neighbors. As a result, we are focusing on a transformative plan that outlines our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

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UMMS is committed to taking actions and implementing changes that will reduce, and eventually eliminate health care disparities. For example, earlier this month we stopped estimating kidney function using a race-based diagnostic formula that placed African Americans at a disadvantage in receiving care for chronic kidney disease, the first step in our effort to eliminate race-based medicine in care delivery practices.

Other measures we are taking focus on improving the diversity in our workforce, refocusing on delivering culturally competent care, ensuring we have appropriate language interpretation available at all of our sites, meeting the spiritual needs of all our patients, ensuring our facilities are accessible to all, and addressing transportation issues that impact access to health care.

But these efforts alone are not enough. We must also look at the bigger picture and uncover where there are gaps and failures. We will examine patient outcomes from across our system and identify areas of disparity, develop robust plans to address those disparities and improve outcomes for affected individuals. We will develop new policies and procedures focusing on equity, diversity and inclusion, work with partners to examine which communities may be experiencing poorer health outcomes, develop services and solutions to address specific needs of neighborhoods and increase our partnerships with businesses that reflect the growing diversity of our community, patients and workforce.

As a health care leader and as anchor institutions in the communities we serve across our diverse state, we owe this to the people of Maryland and are committed to these efforts moving forward.

Roderick K. King, Baltimore; Dr. King is senior vice president and the chief equity, diversity and inclusion officer for the University of Maryland Medical System.

Dr. Joseph L. Wright, Upper Marlboro, is vice president and chief health equity officer at UMMS.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 24 (ANI/NewsVoir): With the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic finally showing signs of abating in India, students across the country are all set to resume full-time offline classes. After nearly two years of online education, almost everyone - from students to teachers and parents will be welcoming this return to campus - albeit in the era of the 'new normal'. Cleanliness and safety will be the top priority for all stakeholders. In such a scenario, services like EduCare by Sodexo, specially curated to prepare education campuses for this 'new normal', will assume paramount importance. Sodexo provides unmatched Food, Hospitality & Campus care services to the education sector across the world. Leveraging its vast global footprint, Sodexo has launched EduCare in the year 2020, under their Education Services Segment - an industry first, India-centric solution that prepares for post COVID reopening with scientifically proven heightened health & hygiene protocols. A comprehensive campus management solution, EduCare addresses all key touchpoints that ensure the safety and peace of mind of all concerned stakeholders. They prioritize safe commuting to the campus, entry point controls, frequent disinfection and cleaning of washrooms and classrooms and providing nutritious, fresh and immunity-boosting food on campus. "The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the educational community both financially and psychologically," said Nitin Trikha, Country Head, Sodexo, Education Services Segment. "As we prepare for resumption of off-line education, in this new normal, it is important for all stakeholders to have complete trust and peace of mind. EduCare, our industry-first, comprehensive and highly curated program focusing on health and wellness solutions is the ideal partner for education institutes in this journey. By working together and leveraging the Sodexo expertise, with its nuanced focus on preparation and planning, campuses across the country can be ready to resume operations in a manner that will inspire a high level of confidence in schools, students and parents alike." Primary focus of Sodexo has been to enhance the quality of campus life for students, teachers and campus communities and EduCARE will help reassure students, parents, faculty and staff about the hygiene and wellness protocols in place. Some of the key protocols include safe commuting to reach the campus, entry point controls like temperature checks, mask discipline and contactless hand sanitizers. The classrooms and washrooms are frequently cleaned and disinfected. Safety and hygiene is ensured in the corridors and play areas. The health and welfare of students staying in hostels is prioritized with fresh, nutritious and healthy food in the cafeterias, and thorough care is taken to ensure social distancing and touch-free services. Refreshments are available as grab-and-go, vending solutions and tuck shops, where payments can be made digitally. "Since we are a residential school, Sodexo's contribution has been instrumental in making sure our campus community's needs are met throughout this tough pandemic. Be it delivering meals to doorsteps during quarantine periods, or ensuring a hygienic cafeteria experience. Our students were especially grateful for the way Sodexo staff managed to keep them well fed during their periods of quarantine. Additionally, the Grab-n-go on campus has created many healthy snacking options for students and faculty. We are grateful for the pleasant and hardworking Sodexo staff every day! They truly make a valuable contribution to our college," said Dr Dale Taylor, Head of UWC Mahindra College, Pune "We were amongst the first campuses that opened in NCR Region post 1st & 2nd wave," said Samiran Baral, Director of Finance & Administration, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon Campus. "With COVID positivity declining and everything opening up again post 3rd wave, students have returned back to the campus and Sodexo played a pivotal role in ensuring every return to be seamless and safe. The heightened safety and hygiene requirements in the wake of COVID-19 is a crucial requirement for Educational Institutions. EduCare by Sodexo is the perfect fit with the most comprehensive campus care program." Jain Heritage School in Bangalore had biggest concern on safety of staff and students as they reopened the school on 14th February 2022. Archana Vishwanath, School Director said "The Sodexo team's planning and execution is at its best with all COVID safety SOPs & protocols in place which is boosting the confidence levels of our staff, teachers, parents and students. Team Sodexo's assurance to our parents has resulted in exceptional attendance of students to our campus." The key to a nurturing campus experience lies in ensuring the physical and mental wellness of the students. Col. Ganesh Sharma, ex-CEO, Jain International Residential School expressed, "We're happy to have sustained a 20+ years partnership with Sodexo to support the holistic well-being of students through their integrated campus management services. Constantly evolving with enhanced wellness practices & food solutions, they are extensively supporting the campus to make #backtocampus effortless for the students. Be it with enhanced disinfection services to provide well-nourished delicious meals & much more. EduCARE by Sodexo, a comprehensive campus management solution helps us to better prepare and reopen with confidence." "Team Sodexo has been a strong pillar of support in reopening the Institute," said Shri. H Satyanarayanan, Additional GM-Administration Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai "Sodexo Education Services has played a pivotal role in ensuring this return will be seamless and safe. The heightened safety and hygiene requirements in the wake of COVID-19 played a key role in determining who our partner should be and EduCare by Sodexo Education was the perfect fit, with the comprehensive solutions program they offered." "Being back on campus, one of the biggest challenges was to make students feel connected & cared for. We know that the best way to do so is FOOD, we could not have done it without Sodexo. Thank you for all the delicious treats," said Marci Carrel, Elementary School Principal at American School of Bombay, Mumbai. "EduCARE by Sodexo has been integral part of the reopening and smooth operations of the C.V Raman Global University, ensuring safe return of the students on campus from hygiene & safety from the COVID point of view," said Dr Binita Panda, Registrar, C.V. Raman Global University, Bhubaneswar Sodexo is proud to serve iconic 4,600 education campuses across 42 countries with exceptional food, facilities & campus care services for over 50 years. In India, currently, they work with premium schools & universities across 15 states & 20 cities serving more than 50 million healthy & nutritious meals every year to 1,00,000 students and 10000 staff and faculty. Sodexo also manages 30 million sq.ft of facilities including complete maintenance of 10,000 hostel rooms on campus. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 24 (ANI/PRNewswire): STL [NSE: STLTECH], an industry-leading integrator of digital networks, will be demonstrating its vision for a new era of 5G-powered networks at Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona next week. STL is showcasing its range of solutions that will be based on secure, open interfaces, with the ability to work across new-age 'All-in 5G' 5G networks that will be converged (combination of optical and wireless), and operate across multiple bands. Alongside wireless products, the suite will also include STL's latest optical fibre, virtualisation, network deployment, and software solutions. These new capabilities together form a part of STL's All-in 5G offerings that will allow network builders and operators to seamlessly and cost-effectively deploy next-generation 5G digital networks. STL's All-in 5G showcase exhibited at #MWC22 is across these four key areas, critical for 5G deployment: Wireless: Garuda: New open and virtualized indoor 5G solution for enterprises Firebird: New multi-band macro O-RAN compliant radio units (O-RUs) for wide area 5G coverage RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC): A cloud-native component for near real-time monitoring and optimization of RAN Programmable FTTx: Cloud virtualized wireless access solution for fibre networks Optical Networking: Celesta: A high-density optical fibre cable; and Stellar Optical Fibre: the world's first universal A2 optical fibre Opto Bolt and Opto Blaze: Pre-connectorised optical networking solutions for secure fibre termination and distribution Network Deployment: LEAD 360 o : A Hyperscale network deployment solution for faster and more efficient 5G rollouts Software: Enterprise Marketplace: A telco-focussed integrated marketplace platform to connect service providers, customers, and partners dWiFi: A digital Wi-Fi solution to manage and monetise Wi-Fi, while offering superior user experience Ankit Agarwal, Managing Director, STL, comments: "As the world's biggest mobile communications event, Mobile World Congress serves as the ideal platform for us to unveil our 'All-in 5G' range of new products. Our new offering brings together technologies and innovations that will allow new, faster and highly scalable 5G network build-outs around the world. This reflects STL's goal of building digital networks that combine wireless and optical technologies built on secure, fully programmable, open-source interfaces. We look forward to engaging with the industry in Barcelona and advancing on our purpose of transforming billions of lives through digital networks." Please visit STL at Mobile World Congress 2022 at Hall 2, stand 2E18. STL is a leading integrator of digital networks providing All-in 5G solutions. Our capabilities across wireless connectivity, optical networking, software, and services, place us amongst the top 5G RAN vendors by Gartner. These capabilities are built on open-source and converged architectures helping telcos, cloud companies, citizen networks, and large enterprises deliver next-gen experiences to their customers. STL partners with service providers globally in achieving a green and sustainable digital future in alignment with UN SDG goals. STL has a strong global presence in India, Italy, the UK, the US, China, and Brazil. Read more, Contact us. stl.tech |Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
According to public records obtained by TMZ on Wednesday, the Oscar-winning actor has welcomed her baby in Los Angeles County. The exact date she gave birth -- and the sex of the baby -- are unknown.

This is Lawrence's first child with her husband, art gallery owner Cooke Maroney, whom she married at the famed Belcourt of Newport mansion in Rhode Island in October 2019. Page Six broke the news of Lawrence and Maroney's relationship in June 2018.

The couple confirmed they were expecting September 2021.

During a December 2021 visit to 'The Late Show', a pregnant Lawrence joked that she spent much of her three-year hiatus from acting between the sheets. That same month, she returned to the public eye, walking the red carpet for the 'Don't Look Up' premiere.

The couple currently has a home in Manhattan, but have been seen house-hunting throughout New York, perhaps seeking a larger unit for their expanding family. They also have a home in Beverly Hills. (ANI)
As per People Magazine, the shows will take place at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 8, 9, 15, and 16 -- which follows their last appearance in Las Vegas -- their 2017-2018 residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Following the announcement, the Backstreet Boys Instagram account also shared the news with a short clip and wrote, "Vegas is in our DNA. What better way to kick off the #DNAWorldTour2022 then FOUR NIGHTS at The Colosseum at @caesarspalace?!"

During an Instagram Live with People Magazine on Wednesday, Nick Carter shared his enthusiasm about hitting the Las Vegas stage. "We are extremely excited to get back to work, to get back to entertaining people again," he said.

The boy band, which consists of members Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson were originally set to perform in Las Vegas over the holidays, but eventually had to cancel due to the state of the pandemic -- and subsequently postponed their holiday album.

The DNA World Tour, on the other hand, originally kicked off in 2019 and had to stop halfway through the tour because of the pandemic. (ANI)
Becoming the first witness to take the stand for Harvey Weinstein's upcoming Los Angeles trial, a limousine driver testified on Wednesday about working for the Hollywood producer. Becoming the first witness to take the stand for Harvey Weinstein 's upcoming Los Angeles trial, a limousine driver testified on Wednesday about working for the Hollywood producer. According to Variety, Weinstein was convicted in February 2020 of counts of rape and sexual assault in New York and is serving a 23-year sentence on those charges. He is awaiting word on an appeal of that conviction after several justices expressed concern in December that he might not have received a fair trial. Alfred 'Freddy' Baroth was called to testify early because L.A. prosecutors worry that his health could prevent him from appearing at the trial, which has not been scheduled and remains at least several months away. Baroth's testimony referred largely to trip records and invoices that established Weinstein's presence in the city on various dates in 2010 and 2013. The disgraced Hollywood mogul is facing 11 counts of rape and sexual assault in incidents involving five women between 2004 and 2013. Weinstein appeared in a wheelchair, wearing a mask and a jail jumpsuit, and clutching a paperback copy of the bestselling novel 'All the Light We Cannot See', which is currently being adapted by Netflix as a limited series. Baroth's testimony was videotaped, presumably so that it can be shown to the jury once the trial gets underway. He testified that he had picked up Weinstein at Clay Lacy Aviation, a charter jet service based in Van Nuys at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 17, 2013. Weinstein was in town for the Los Angeles, Italia Film, Fashion and Art Fest at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Baroth testified that he later took Weinstein to the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, where Weinstein often stayed while visiting Los Angeles. An Italian actor and model had told a news outlet in 2017 that she spoke to Weinstein at the festival, and that he showed up after midnight at the Mr. C Hotel, near Beverly Hills, and forcibly raped her. Weinstein's attorneys have denied that he was at that hotel, reported Variety. Weinstein faces three counts in connection with that alleged assault, including rape, forcible sexual penetration and forcible oral copulation. His attorney, Mark Werksman, noted that Baroth's invoice indicated he worked 8.5 hours on that date, including 30 minutes before and after for Baroth's commute, which suggested that he must have dropped Weinstein off at the Peninsula around 12:30 a.m. Weinstein left town on February 20, 2013, according to the records. He is also charged with a sexual battery of another woman that allegedly occurred on February 19, 2013. Baroth was also asked about two other Weinstein visits, from November 4-8, 2010, and May 6-11, 2010. Weinstein faces charges of rape and forcible oral copulation from an incident on November 5, 2010, and a charge of sexual battery on May 11, 2010. On cross-examination, Baroth testified that he would drive Weinstein to meetings and events, and then wait by his car for the producer to emerge. Asked if he ever attended or witnessed the meetings, he said, "Absolutely not." He said that Weinstein had paid him a USD 1,000 bonus after his last job for the producer, in October 2017, just after the sexual misconduct scandal broke. "I got bonuses every time Mr Weinstein came to town because I did a great job," Baroth said. He said that Weinstein had personally promised him an additional USD 10,000 bonus, but he never received it. He also said that Weinstein had subsequently paid for his attorneys' fees. As per Variety, prosecutors have submitted a sealed motion seeking to allow "prior bad acts" witnesses to testify at the trial. Such witnesses would testify about assaults that are not covered by the indictment but could reinforce the charged offences. The defence has argued that none should be allowed to testify. That question has turned out to be a critical issue in the New York appeal. Judge Lisa Lench is set to hear argument on the issue on May 4. (ANI)
A decision not to present eight Oscar categories live during the March 27 broadcast of the 93rd Academy Awards was met with a storm of criticism. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the decision was described as "insulting" by numerous Academy members who spoke with the outlet following the announcement. The Academy plans to present Oscars in eight categories, documentary short, film editing, makeup/hairstyling, original score, production design, animated short, live-action short and sound, inside the Dolby Theatre an hour before the live telecast commences. They will be recorded and edited into the subsequent live broadcast. Nominees in the affected categories were informed of the approach to the presentation via a town hall-style meeting on Tuesday afternoon, shortly before the official announcement from the Academy, according to one source. Despite the decision to change the presentation, members were told a three-hour show is still planned, the source said. Whether all guests will be seated in the theatre or still on the red carpet for this earlier presentation wasn't clear, according to the source. "It's complete fiasco. It's another example of the Academy bowing to the network. There are a lot of very unhappy people," said one affected Academy member of the decision. Another added, "I am offended and insulted by the Academy's decision to relegate eight categories to an inferior position at the awards this year. ... It's absurd and the leadership should be ashamed." In 2019, the Academy had announced plans to present four categories during commercial breaks followed by taped replays later in the show but reversed the decision amid criticism. By Tuesday evening, some Academy members had started to reach out to directors, producers and studio executives seeking help in reversing this latest plan. Numerous associations additionally released statements. The American Cinema Editors board of directors said: "We are deeply disappointed by the Academy's decision to alter the way certain categories, including film editing, will be presented in the Oscars telecast. It sends a message that some creative disciplines are more vital than others. Nothing could be further from the truth and all who make movies know this." They continued, "As a group of artists wholly dedicated to advancing the art and prestige of film editing, we passionately believe that editing, and all other creative disciplines that are part of the collaborative art of filmmaking, should be treated equally. Our contributions to that collaboration may sometimes appear invisible but they are undeniable. We hope that film editors and other artists affected by this change will be honoured and celebrated with the passion, dignity and inclusion they deserve." Mark A. Lanza, president of Motion Picture Sound Editors, agreed: "The Academy's mission is to honour the craft of filmmaking in all its parts. Eliminating certain categories from the live broadcast degrades that mission." He also pointed to the "bill of goods the sound branch was sold" when, beginning with the 2021 Oscars, there was a change to a single best sound category. "The Academy made an explicit promise not to eliminate sound from the live broadcast if they agreed to the travesty of combining sound editing and sound mixing into one category," he said. The International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) additionally released a statement, which read in part, "We are so proud of our members whose work will be honoured during the Academy Awards show this year. We are, however, disappointed by the Academy's decision to exclude so many exceptional artists in other branches from the live broadcast itself. Cinematographers and all filmmakers understand the collaboration required to produce ineligible images." But not all reacted in the same way. "We support the Academy's commitment to identify all nominees on-air and feature all winners' acceptance speeches on the live broadcast," said Nelson Coates, president of the Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800), in a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI)
It might be just another day for everyone, but not so for 'Tanhaji' actor Kajol, as she celebrated her wedding anniversary with her husband Ajay Devgn on Thursday. The 'Baazigar' actor took to her Instagram handle to share a heart-warming picture with Ajay to mark their 23rd wedding anniversary. But her caption was the scene-stealer. The actor posted a witty yet endearing caption, which read, "Running, walking, limping, kicking, screaming here we are 23 years later. Do we deserve a medal or a look of awe? Either ways since we both know how u feel about award functions I'm taking a bow now." Her quirky wish got a loving reply from Ajay, who wrote, "I got my award 23 years ago," adding a smile emoji to it. Other celebs from the industry like Rakul Preet Singh and Mickey Contractor too wished her in the comments section. The actor's sister, Tanisha Mukherjee posted an endearing comment on the post, which read, "Happyyyyy anniversary and baby u guys deserve to take a bow a medal a trophy and the padmashree! Oh wait u already got those so then just take some hugssss from meeee! love u both @ajaydevgn," adding a heart emoji to it. Earlier, Ajay had posted an adorable wish for Kajol, on his Instagram handle, which read, "Pyaar toh hona hi tha 2022 - Pyaar toh always hai! Happy Anniversary @kajol." The actors tied the knot on 24 February 1999 and share two beautiful children, a daughter, Nysa and a son, Yug. (ANI)
In a tweet, actor Tillotama Shome wrote that "nothing can be uglier than war."

"I worry incessantly for my mother who is battling cancer in the midst of covid. But when I think of the families and cancer patients in the middle of war, my brain just ceases to comprehend. Nothing absolutely nothing is uglier than war. Mothers don't give life for war," she tweeted.

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, too, reacted to the situation.

"If the Russian / Ukrainian conflict evokes a sense of fairness n justice, a humane desire to protect the weaker in them, Why all of the western powers are totally indifferent towards Saudi carpet bombings and atrocities on a small country like Yemen," he wrote on Twitter.

"Every annexation/withdrawal of troops that push a country back into the Dark Ages/new data privacy rules, everything that'll happen now will happen to 'further democracy' and in 'national interest'.(If people don't fight for freedom, we'll be glorified serfs again)," Richa Chadha tweeted.

Putin announced the military operation via televised speech.

Defending its military action, Russia said the root of "today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself" and the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in the eastern part of the country. (ANI)
Taking to his Twitter handle, Sood wrote, "There are 18000 Indian students and many families who are stuck in Ukraine, I am sure the Government must be trying their best to get them back. I urge Indian Embassy to find an alternate route for their evacuation. Praying for their safety. #IndiansInUkraine."

Earlier in the day, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also wrote a letter to the Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asking him to ensure the safety of Indian students and requested to make necessary arrangements for their return by arranging special flights.

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) on Thursday landed at the Delhi airport at around 7:45 am carrying 182 Indian nationals, mostly students. Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several airlines are operating special flights, including Air India, to bring back Indian nationals safely.

The Ministry of External Affairs is currently holding high-level meetings, sources said on Thursday as the situation continues to escalate near the Ukrainian border after Russia launched its military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Weeks after his return to social media, 'Saturday Night Live' star Pete Davidson has yet again deleted his Instagram handle. This comes amid rapper Kanye West's ongoing social media drama in which he shared a slate of anti-Pete Davidson messages. On Wednesday, Davidson had shared a clip from Martin Scorsese's 1982 film 'The King of Comedy', in which Robert De Niro, as wannabe comic Rupert Pupkin, claims, "Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime." Fans promptly surmised that the quote was calling out West amid his drama with Kim Kardashian, who is currently dating Davidson. The 28-year-old comedian also shared his first post on his IG handle on Wednesday morning. He dug out a clip from his upcoming film 'The Home,' according to a screenshot obtained by Page Six. For the unversed, Davidson had reactivated his Instagram account earlier this month after being idle on the app for four years. A day later, West followed his account. West has earlier claimed that Kardashian, who filed for divorce in February 2021 after seven years of marriage, was keeping him from his kids. The estranged couple share four children: North, 8, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 2. The 'Donda' artist even posted screenshots of private text messages between him and Kardashian where she allegedly told the rapper he was putting Davidson in danger. The 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' star eventually released a statement begging West to put an end to his public tirades so they could handle matters privately. "Divorce is difficult enough on our children and Kanye's obsession with trying to control and manipulate our situation so negatively and publicly is only causing further pain for all," she had said in a statement. For the uninformed, West recently objected to Kardashian's request to be declared legally single amid their divorce. The rapper was earlier in the headlines for claiming that he wants to win Kardashian back. However, the romance between the beauty mogul and Davidson is seemingly getting stronger as the couple spent Valentine's Day together. (ANI)
A squeegee and squirt bottle of window washing fluid remain on the pavement where a 17-year-old boy who was washing windows at the I-83 exit ramp for Mt. Royal Avenue was shot one year ago. File. March 2, 2021. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun). (Amy Davis)

My favorite quotation is by Henry James, the British-American author: Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.

I recently retired as a nurse practitioner where my mission, like all health care workers, was to protect the health of people of Baltimore and surrounding counties. It is very hard to understand why we have people in the city and suburbs who value life so little that there is a daily violent murder and twice that number of shootings. Last week, there was a shooting at our local high school of a student by other students (In a tough Baltimore neighborhood, a nonprofit group fights to help youth pursue dreams, Feb. 19).

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I propose to add a component to education from pre-K to high school for students to find a way to be kind daily and to orient them in a positive way. Children should be consistently reminded of the importance of reaching out to others by being kind to other children, community members, family, pets, wildlife and the environment. For example, classes could be nominated by teachers weekly at schools for exhibiting kindness in some way, even for working hard together as a group to master a certain learning objective. Parents, PTA, or community groups could sponsor small rewards for this. I see this as a way to increase awareness in children of ones role in building a community, general increase in maturity and a decrease in self-centeredness. Schools could measure whether they see an improvement in behavior, such as a decrease in bullying, fighting or disrespect from this initiative.

Im aware that there have been additions to curricula in values education, but I believe there needs to be an environment of teaching about kindness and caring from youngest to oldest students. An online search shows that there is a current program in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio schools with similar goals. I hope that Baltimore and surrounding county schools would consider this suggestion.

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Ellen Koehler, Catonsville

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American actor Alexandra Daddario recently opened up about her engagement to producer Andrew Form and being named an ambassador for the Screen Actors Guild. According to People magazine, the 35-year-old star said, "It feels so exciting. But mostly it just feels very peaceful. I feel very at peace with him and very happy, and I just feel very lucky. That's what it just feels like. Feels like peace." On the subject of wedding planning, she admitted that she's "been saying all I want is to get married at the Elvis chapel in Las Vegas" but "it's hard to convince." The couple's engagement had been confirmed by People magazine in December after the actor seemingly celebrated the news with a heartfelt tribute to Form on Instagram. "The absolutely most wonderful man, you handle nonsense, loss, life, difficulty, people, with grace and compassion," Daddario wrote alongside a photo smiling with Form at the time. She added, "You're a loving father, funny, hard-working, honest, introspective, sexy, kind and sensitive." The bride-to-be further said, "You've taken the worst moments of my life and soothed them, just knowing that you existed when they happened makes my heart fuller and more pieced together." Ahead of the SAG Awards on Sunday, Daddario said she's "excited" about getting to "celebrate actors and celebrate what I do." When she found out she would serve as an ambassador alongside Ross Butler, the actor said she was "thrilled." Daddario also said that Form will likely not be her date for the evening because "he's working." She said, "He produces a show called Jack Ryan. So he is working. If he can get away, yeah, of course. He was my first invite. He's very hard working man." The couple had made their red carpet debut as a couple during the premiere of 'The White Lotus' in California last summer. Last May, the actor also shared a black and white photo of herself giving Form a kiss, writing, "I love you ... 'and even that is an understatement.'" As per People magazine, Form has two sons Rowan and Julian from his previous marriage to Jordana Brewster which ended in 2020 after 13 years. (ANI)
Taking to his Twitter handle, Ruffalo wrote, "Sending love and good prayers to all innocent people of Ukraine and Russia and Europe who are caught up in this sad and corrosive moment of asymmetrical violence and destruction, especially the young people. You have done nothing to deserve this perversion and obscene spectacle."

The tensions between the two nations escalated after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Putin on Thursday morning said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, sent a condolence letter to veteran actor Raveena Tandon, who lost her father, veteran filmmaker Ravi Tandon earlier this month. Taking to her Twitter handle, Raveena shared a picture of the condolence letter sent to her by PM Modi, on her father's terahvin (a ceremony that marks the final day of mourning). In the note sent by PM Modi, he praised the late filmmaker for his contribution to Indian cinema. He also mentioned that Ravi Tandon enriched Indian cinema with his creativity and skill and that his death is an irreparable loss for the art world. PM Modi went on to add that Ravi's influence was visible in Raveena's career. "Your personality and success in films reflect his guidance and values he imparted to you," the note read. Raveena thanked PM Modi for the letter and wrote, "Thank you for your kind words Sir @narendramodi Ji Truly said .. he leaves a legacy of versatile work." With the note, Raveena also shared some old pictures of her father. "Today being Papa's tehravi" the 13 day, they say, this is the day when the soul finally leaves all attachments and rests in his heavenly abode. I thank all of you for the outpouring of love for him and support for us. A gentleman director. He was and is, truly loved," she wrote. For the unversed, veteran filmmaker Ravi Tandon passed away on February 11. As per reports, the filmmaker died due to respiratory failure. Ravi Tandon was a renowned filmmaker-producer and had helmed several films including 'Anhonee', 'Khel Khel Mein', 'Majboor' and 'Zindagi' among others. (ANI)
The 'Dhamaka' actor took to his Twitter handle and shared glimpses from the event that featured Kartik and his mother dancing along with a group of cancer survivors.

Stating he was proud of how she was able to win the battle against cancer, Kartik wrote, "From going for chemotherapy sessions during d shoot of these songs to now dancing on stage on d same."

"The journey has been arduous! But her Positivity, Fortitude n Fearlessness kept us going. Today i can proudly say: My Mom fought the battle against cancer and WON," he continued.

Kartik's mother Mala Tiwari had reportedly been diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kartik will be seen in 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', 'Shezada', 'Captain India', 'Freddy' and Sajid Nadiadwala's untitled next. (ANI)
Each unit will have five marine watchers who will be moving around in two deepwater boats. These units will interact with other agencies like Customs, Coast Guards as also with Indian Navy officers for intelligence gathering.

The primary objective of the force is to protect the management of the marine areas and also watch out for disasters involving marine and coastal wildlife.

Marine resources are constantly exploited for economic reasons and protected species are also hunted illegally due to the huge price they fetch in international markets.

Marine turtles, sea cucumbers, sea horses, sharks and rays, pipefishes, dugongs, and dolphins are regularly poached and hunted down for various economic benefits and hence the state government has decided to form a Marine Elite Force to tackle this down.

Tamil Nadu has already sanctioned an amount of Rs 1.09 crore for establishing two units of the force.

--IANS aal/vd

( 195 Words)

2022-02-23-19:58:03 (IANS)
Amid the row over the death of Aliah University student Anis Khan, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she will not allow anyone to create any disturbance in the state. "I will not allow anyone to create any disturbance in the state. Those who are causing obstructions are committing an offence. I have told the police to take appropriate action. You cannot insult state police in the name of CBI," Chief Minister Banerjee said. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of West Bengal Police on Wednesday arrested a Home Guard personnel and a civic volunteer from Amta, Howrah in connection with the death of Aliah University student Anis Khan. West Bengal Police had constituted a three-member SIT on Tuesday to probe the death of the student in Aliah University. The team is led by the Additional Director General of Police of CID Gyanwant Singh. According to the state government order, the SIT will submit its report within 15 days. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave the direction for the constitution of an SIT on Monday after protests had erupted over the death of Aliah University student Anis Khan. Anis Khan was found dead outside his home in Howrah's Amta area on Friday night. His parents have alleged that he was thrown off the roof of the building by four police officers, who had come to search for their son. The police, however, have denied the allegations. Addressing a public gathering in Howrah, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "I have asked for an SIT headed by DG, with the report within 15 days. A thorough inquiry will be done and culprits will be punished." The Chief Minister requested people not to fall prey to misinformation on the matter. (ANI)
The Supreme Court has observed that indefinite adjournment in a matter relating to anticipatory bail, that too after admitting it, is detrimental to the "valuable right" of a person. A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli said: "When an application for anticipatory bail was listed before the learned Single Judge, which was also accompanied by an application for ad-interim relief, the learned Judge should have decided the same one way or the other, so far as the ad-interim prayer or should have taken up for consideration after giving some reasonable time to the state." It added that even if admitted, the judge should have listed the same for final disposal on a specific date, keeping in view the nature of relief sought in the matter. "Not giving any specific date, particularly in a matter relating to anticipatory bail, is not a procedure which can be countenanced. We are of the considered view that this type of indefinite adjournment in a matter relating to anticipatory bail, that too after admitting it, is detrimental to the valuable right of a person," it held. The top court, however, made it clear it is not going into the merits of the matter. "When a person is before the court and that too in a matter involving personal liberty, least what is expected is for such a person to be given the result one way or the other, based on the merit of his case and not push him to a position of uncertainty or be condemned without being heard, when it matters," it said. The top court's February 21 order came on plea filed by Rajesh Seth citing delay by Chhattisgarh High Court in deciding his pre-arrest bail plea. The petitioner was aggrieved that the high court merely admitted the anticipatory bail application filed by him with a further direction to list in due course, but did not consider his application seeking interim protection during pendency of the bail application. Seth said the co-accused in the same FIR has been granted interim protection from arrest till the final disposal of application for anticipatory bail by the high court. The top court asked the single judge of the high court to dispose of the anticipatory bail application, pending adjudication before him, on its own merits and in accordance with law, expeditiously and preferably within a period of two weeks. "If the main application cannot be disposed of for any reason, the I.A. for interim relief be considered on its own merits. Till such time, we grant interim protection from arrest to the petitioner herein. We clarify that this shall however not influence the view to be taken by the Learned Single Judge on merits," it said. --IANS ss/vd ( 476 Words) 2022-02-23-20:36:02 (IANS)
A woman in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district refused to marry the bridegroom, right in the middle of the wedding rituals, citing his mental condition. Not only that, the bride's family members even allegedly beat up the bridegroom and the 'baraatis' after taking them hostage. A video of the incident has gone viral in which the bridegroom is being seen being dragged by hair. His side alleged that the bride's family took them hostage and beat them up following a dispute. The 'baraat' from Manikwar village had arrived at Vanpadhar village under Mauganj police station area. Amidst the matrimonial rituals, a dispute erupted over the behaviour of 'baraatis' and the girl refused to get married. According to the police, the girl raised questions on the boy's mental status and refused to marry him. The dispute erupted after some of the 'baraatis', during a traditional ritual in which the groom's relatives throw 'batasha' (a kind of sweet) on the bride's relatives, allegedly misbehaved with women of the other side. The dispute escalated and the girl's relatives allegedly started beating the 'baraatis'. Video of the bridegroom and his companions being beaten has gone viral on social media. As per reports, one of the baratis rushed to the police station and informed them about the incident after which police reached the spot and freed the 'baraatis'. Additional Superintendent of Police, Shiv Kumar told reporters that the girl's family members alleged that the boy was behaving "improperly" during the rituals. It was also alleged that the boy's family hid the fact that his "mental condition is not good". There was a dispute over this and the marriage did not take place. At the same time, the boy's father accused the bride's family of taking them hostage and beating the 'baraatis'. --IANS snp/shs ( 313 Words) 2022-02-23-20:42:01 (IANS)
The accused, identified as Karnail Singh, a resident of Kapurthala, Punjab, and presently residing in Tilak Nagar, Delhi, was declared a Proclaimed Offender in 2003.

Furnishing the details about the two-decade-old case, ACP Shibesh Singh said that Karnail Singh is accused of cheating one person of Rs 5.5 lakh on the pretext of providing a visa for Switzerland.

The accused lured Jeet Singh on the pretext of lucrative employment in Switzerland and promised to arrange a visa for him for a sum of Rs 5.5 lakh.

"After taking the money, Karnail Singh vanished and accordingly a case of cheating was registered in Phagwara against him," the ACP said.

On Tuesday, a police team arrested Karnail Singh from his hideout in Tilak Nagar. He had been changing his addresses on regular intervals and the Tilak Nagar house was his sixth address in the last 18 years, the officer pointed out.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he was active in the visa racket for the last 20 years.

"He used to work with a travel agent at the IGI airport where he learnt the art of hoodwinking potential targets seeking visas. Three criminal cases were also registered against him," said the officer.

He further said that the concerned police stations in Delhi and Punjab have been informed, and antecedents of the accused are being verified.

--IANS uj/arm

( 271 Words)

2022-02-23-20:58:03 (IANS)
Ahead of the Budget session of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, the Patna district administration on Wednesday launched an operation to ensure that no liquor bottle is found inside the premises. The session is starting from Friday and district administration wants to ensure that no "mischief" would take place. During the Winter session, a liquor bottle was found inside the premises and had led to huge uproar. Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekher Singh and SSP M.S. Dhillon inspected the entire premises on Wednesday and deployed police force at every corner to keep an eye on wrongdoers. "We have asked every employee inside the Vidhan Sabha to stay alert and have strictly directed police personnel to ensure no liquor bottles be found inside the premises. The police personnel will be held responsible for negligence if any liquor bottle is found in their respective areas," Dhillon said. "We have also deployed police personnel outside of the premises to keep an eye on persons who may throw liquor bottles or any other banned substance inside the premises," he added. During the Winter session, a liquor bottle was found around 200 metres away from the chamber of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav highlighted the incident and slammed the Nitish Kumar government. Following the incident, the Bihar Chief Secretary and the DGP were seen searching for liquor bottles inside the premises, and this video went viral. Patna police were unable to find clues about the person who may have consumed liquor or thrown an empty bottle inside the premises. --IANS ajk/shs ( 269 Words) 2022-02-23-21:32:03 (IANS)
Republican legal challenges to Marylands newly redrawn congressional districts can mostly move forward, a state court judge ruled Wednesday as she largely rejected a request by attorneys for the state to throw out the dual lawsuits.

Judge Lynne A. Battaglia dismissed one count that argued partisan gerrymandering of the congressional maps violated a clause in the Maryland Constitution that says state legislators must enact laws necessary for the preservation of the purity of elections.

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But Battaglia is letting the rest of the case move forward, at least for now.

The two lawsuits, which are being considered together, both argue that partisan gerrymandering of the congressional districts by Democratic state lawmakers violates provisions in the state constitution, claims that have not been tested previously in Maryland courts.

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A group of Republican state lawmakers backed by Fair Maps Maryland, an anti-gerrymandering advocacy group tied to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, filed one of the lawsuits. The other was brought by the national conservative activist group Judicial Watch on behalf of 10 Republican voters in the state, including two Republican congressional candidates, state Del. Neil Parrott and Jeff Werner.

Marylands congressional districts have been criticized widely as among the most heavily gerrymandered in the nation. Democrats currently hold seven of the states eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives even though Republican voters usually make up at least a third of the states electorate.

The new map, passed over Hogans veto in December by the Maryland General Assembly with only Democratic votes, likely shores up the Democratic Partys hold on those seven seats and gives a Democratic challenger a more realistic shot at knocking off the states lone Republican congressman, U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, by adding more Democratic voters to his Eastern Shore-based district.

Battaglia, a retired state appeals court judge assigned to the cases, is considering both lawsuits at once and probed lawyers for all sides in two separate hearings before issuing her decision Wednesday.

The Fair Maps lawsuit contends the congressional maps are filled with grotesque examples of extreme partisan gerrymandering and claims that clauses in the state constitution guaranteeing fairness and purity of elections should prohibit politicians from skewing district boundaries for political advantage.

A 1972 amendment to the section of the constitution on the state legislature decrees that its legislative districts shall consist of adjoining territory, be compact in form and of substantially equal population and that lawmakers must consider natural boundaries and the borders of political subdivisions like counties and cities.

But the Maryland Constitution includes no such rules for congressional districts.

Lawyers for Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat defending the states position, maintain that the challenges fail to demonstrate any actual violations of the Maryland Constitution. Assistant Attorney General Andrea Trento has argued that the framers of the states constitution anticipated that politics would play a role when they assigned the job of drawing districts to state lawmakers.

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Trento argued in Anne Arundel District Court again on Wednesday that the legal challenges are baseless, since in his view nothing in the Maryland Constitution or state law stops politicians from gerrymandering congressional districts, and that voters fed up with the practice should demand that lawmakers  not the courts  outlaw the practice.

Striking down the congressional map as unconstitutional would involve essentially amending the [Maryland] Constitution by judicial fiat, Trento said.

Maryland Policy & Politics Weekdays Keep up to date with Maryland politics, elections and important decisions made by federal, state and local government officials. >

Robert Popper, a Judicial Watch attorney challenging the map, likened partisan gerrymandering to stealing elections by unfairly stacking the deck against voters of differing political views. Popper argued that, although no single provision of the Maryland Constitution clearly blocked the practice, several more general provisions protecting the rights of Marylanders should be seen as limiting or prohibiting the practice.

A separate set of lawsuits over the redrawn districts used to elect state lawmakers to the General Assembly are pending before the Maryland Court of Appeals, the states highest court.

Successful challenges to either map could upend Marylands scheduled primary elections June 28. Election officials already are scrambling to implement the newly passed maps by then and Trento told the judge last week that any significant court-ordered changes likely would force a delay of the primary.

The deadline for potential candidates to file for the election already has been delayed because of the uncertainty. The deadline, originally set for this past Tuesday, is now March 22. State law requires that candidates for legislative seats live in their districts, meaning that any changes to the boundaries could upend who is legally qualified to appear on the ballot.
A special PMLA court in Mumbai on Wednesday remanded Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik to eight-day ED custody till March 3, nearly 15 hours after his pre-dawn dramatic detention, interrogation and arrest in an alleged money-laundering case arising out of a tainted land deal. Malik was produced by the Enforement Directorate (ED) before the special court eight hours after his detention and arrest on Wednesday evening, following which a furious legal battle ensued for his 14-day remand with the defence team opposing the same. The development gave a massive jolt to the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government as Malik became the first sitting Cabinet minister to be arrested, sending tremors in the political circles. After a series of meetings with top leaders of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, it was decided that irrespective of the court orders, Malik would not be compelled to resign as the Minority Affairs Minister. On Wednesday afternoon, ED Assistant Director Niraj Kumar said in his arrest order that the agency had "reason to believe" that Malik "has been found guilty of an offence punishable under the provisions of PMLA," and accordingly placed him under arrest at 2.45 pm. Shortly after the formal arrest, Malik was whisked away by an ED team to a government hospital for a medical check-up from where he was taken to the designated special PMLA court. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh represented the ED while senior counsel Amit Desai appeared on Malik's behalf, as the minister's colleagues, political activists and relatives reached the court. While he was escorted out of the ED office by the CISF, police and ED staff, a grinning Malik in a white kurta-pyjama was seen raising a fist in the air, and declaring: "Jhookenge Nahin, Ladenge Aur Jeetenge" (Will not succumb, will fight and win) to his supporters as he was made to sit in a vehicle. The fast-paced developments started with an ED team along with a CISF team knocking at Malik's home at around 4.30 am and taking him away a couple of hours later for questioning in the 17-year-old Kurla land deal case having a mafia taint, with an alleged money-laundering angle emerging from it. The ED had deployed teams of the CISF and Mumbai Police for the operation even as a large number of NCP workers staged a noisy protest outside the agency's office since morning to protest against the detention of Malik. Malik, 62, became the first sitting minister and the second senior NCP leader in the MVA government to be arrested by the ED. Former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was arrested by the ED on November 2, 2021 in alleged corruption and money-laundering cases. Malik's arrest triggered hectic political activity with NCP President Sharad Pawar rushing to meet Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and others in an urgent meeting held on Wednesday evening. The MVA partners and top leaders like Pawar, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Majeed Memon, Chhagan Bhujbal, Vidya Chavan, Sanjay Raut, Kishore Tiwari, Nana Patole, Chavan, Naseem Khan, and others slammed the ED for the action against Malik, saying they would not be "cowed down" by the vendetta politics and targetting of opponents, and "silencing" them by letting loose central probe agencies on them. Simultaneously, the opposition BJP sharpened its swords and intensified efforts to bring down the MVA government before its declared deadline of March 10. Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis termed the matter as "extremely serious" since the land worth crores of rupees was allegedly grabbed at a throwaway price with persons linked to absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, colluding with enemies of the country, and the proceeds were laundered for terror funding and anti-national activities. BJP state President Chandrakant Patil demanded that since Malik has been arrested, he should quit, as also all other ministers facing various allegations should resign from the Cabinet immediately, failing which the BJP would launch an agitation on the streets. The MVA leaders announced a sit-in at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near Mantralaya at Nariman Point on Thursday morning, besides announcing statewide protests against Malik's arrests, highlighting how the central probe agencies are being misused to topple the Maharashtra government and other states ruled by the Opposition parties. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)--IANS --IANS qn/arm ( 744 Words) 2022-02-23-21:48:02 (IANS)
Apart from Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton, several central ministers and leaders also went out for campaigning in Manipur on Wednesday, where polling to the 60-member Assembly would take place in two phases on February 27 and March 5.

Shah tweeted : "Today, interacted with the people of Manipur during the door-to-door campaign in Churachandpur and urged them to bless BJP again with a thumping majority."

"Tremendous support and enthusiasm for BJP in Manipur," he tweeted after conducting a door-to-door campaign in Bhamon Leikai in east Imphal.

Several leaders, including the Assam Chief Minister, Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister, Manipur state BJP President A. Sharda Devi, Nagaland BJP President TemjenImna Along, BJP's national spokesperson Sambit Patra, party's National General Secretary (organisation) Ajay Jamwal and Assam Minister Ashok Singhal, campaigned for BJP candidate Biswajit Singh on Wednesday.

Manipur Minister Singh, who holds six important portfolios including PWD and contesting from Thongju assembly constituency for the third consecutive time, told the media that the BJP would secure at least 40 seats this time.

Singh is the BJP's first MLA (2015) in Manipur and played a vital role in bringing in many Congress MLAs and leaders in the BJP's fold including the incumbent Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Imphal.

--IANS sc/shs

( 264 Words)

2022-02-23-22:36:05 (IANS)
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Wednesday said that with the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), approximately one lakh people have got employment through the LPG distribution system. "The LPG coverage has increased from 61.9 per cent to near saturation level in last five years," they added. As part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, as per the Ministry's press release, more than 14 crore free LPG refills were provided to the PMUY beneficiaries during COVID-19. Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Rameshwar Teli, shared this information with the participants while addressing the post-budget webinar organized to accelerate development and make public welfare schemes effective. The webinar was attended by Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the team of social media, representatives from oil marketing companies, distributors and cylinder manufacturers. Jain said that there is a need to make coordinated efforts to take Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana door-to-door. "To make the scheme effective, special attention should be given to include self-help groups, creation of LPG Bank to serve as micro-finance for refills, to establish the network of micro distributors, along with leveraging existing social network and institutional knowledge to attract consumers for a refill," he said. Nidhi Prabha Tiwari, a social development professional working in the rural sector, said that the loan arrangement for cylinder refill was started in Betul and after that, the number of customers who got refill started increasing. She informed that women empowerment is getting a boost through the Ujjwala scheme. (ANI)
In what can be termed as a conscious effort to woo investment in Tripura, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday invited top garment industry figures of Bangladesh to invest in the state to avail special subsidies being offered by the Indian government in the Special Economic Zone. Deb said, "If you export products, you are charged with customs duties and other subsidiary taxes. If the same product is manufactured here, you will get a special subsidy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's industry-friendly schemes." "We are setting up a logistics hub here in Sabroom, only 72 kilometres away from Chittagong. Come and invest here. India is a big market. Since Bangladesh is now world-famous for its garments industry, it should also make efforts to get hold of the whole North-Eastern market," he added. The Chief Minister was speaking at the inaugural function of the Bangladesh Film Festival at a private hotel in Agartala. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have given a new height to the Indo-Bangla bilateral ties. Problems that were dragged on and on had been resolved owing to the concerted efforts of both the Prime Ministers," Deb said. Speaking about Tripura, Deb said, Tripura is gradually taking shape as the corridor of North East India. "From Sabroom, Chittagong port is just 72 kilometres away. From Guwahati, the distance is 642 kilometres. Before NE states got access to the Chittagong port, the nearest seaport was over 1,200 and 1,600 kilometres away from Guwahati and Tripura respectively. These new opportunities will not only benefit Tripura but shall also give a boost to the economy of Bangladesh," observed Deb. Deb also pointed out that infrastructure projects worth Rs 15,000 crore in the railway and highway sectors are going to be approved soon, while another Rs 20,000 crore projects are in the implementing stage. "Bangladesh is an exporter of cement and steel that are some of the basic raw materials needed for infrastructure development and certainly the country can make good profit from the ongoing projects," he said. Deb also talked about the disturbing elements trying to disrupt the bilateral ties of India and Bangladesh, and said, "There are some vested interest quarters that are trying to create mistrust but PM Modi is with the Bangladesh PM and 130 crore people of this country are standing solid with Sheikh Hasina." (ANI)
Police say a case has also been registered in the Didihat police station for a probe.

According to the police, a written complaint was given to the Election Commission and the police on Tuesday on behalf of Congress candidate Pradeeppal from the Didihat assembly in the said case.

State Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal, while speaking with ANI, informed that they have lodged a complaint with Election Commission about the alleged foul play during the Uttarakhand Assembly election.

"A person has claimed impersonation, officials were scheduled to come to his house to take the vote but they didn't arrive," he said.

The polling for the 70-member state Assembly was held on February 14. The counting of votes would be held on March 10. (ANI)
Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane on Wednesday presented Presidential Colours to four parachute battalions at Parachute Regiment Training Centre in Bengaluru. The four battalions are the 11 Para (Special Forces), 21 Para (Special Forces), 23 Para, and 29 Para battalions. The award of President's Colours or the 'Nishan' is one of the highest honours bestowed upon a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation, both during the war and in peace. (ANI)
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) landed at the Delhi airport at around 7:45 am on Thursday carrying 182 Indian nationals, mostly students. Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several airlines are operating special flights, including Air India, to bring back Indian nationals safely. "A special flight of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) landed at Delhi Airport from Kyiv, at 7:45 am today, with 182 Indian citizens, including students," an official of Ukraine International Airlines in India told ANI on condition of anonymity. The representatives of India's Ukraine International Airlines are very happy to announce that the first evacuation flight from Kiev in Ukraine operated successfully with Indian nationals. "Ukraine International Airline, the first special evacuation flight touched down today at 07:45 hours at Delhi Airport bringing in 182 Indian National mainly students studying in different universities in Ukraine," Anju Wariah, GSA representative of the UIA in India told ANI. Further, Anju Varia thanked the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and India's aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for allowing the special UIA aircraft to operate the evacuation flight. "This has been possible with the support of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Indian Embassy beside the UIA team in both the countries working round the clock," Anju Wariah told ANI. Ukraine is currently in a state of war due to tension between the two countries (Russia), with many parents in India insisting on bringing back their children and relatives who are currently in Ukraine. Parents are in constant touch with Ukraine based airlines and Air India for safe return. "We understand the concerns of the parents and our endeavour is to help and assist as many students studying there to come back home. There are four special evacuation flights that are scheduled in the next couple of days and we are working on more," Anju said. In the coming days for Indian citizens, more flights are going to be operated from Ukraine (Kiev) amid tension in the country. (ANI)
Ahead of the fifth phase of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, former Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray's grandson Aaditya Thackrey will convey his party's ideology to the people later on Thursday here in Siddharthnagar district. Serving Minister of Tourism and Environment in Maharashtra government, the 32-year-old leader will start his campaigning for Shiv Sena by seeking support for party candidate Raju Srivastava, who is contesting from 306-Dumariyaganj Assembly constituency in Siddharthnagar district. Aaditya Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, will address a public rally here around 11 am in Dumariyaganj, a town, and tehsil of Siddharthnagar district in eastern Uttar Pradesh located on the bank of the river Rapti, 30 km south of the Nepal border. Aaditya Thackrey will later move to the 265-Koraon Assembly constituency in Prayagraj district to address another rally in the evening. President of Yuva Sena, a youth wing of Shiv Sena, Aaditya Thackrey will be accompanied by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, who had announced earlier this month that Shiv Sena will contest on 50-100 seats in the state and that it will not be a part of any alliance in Uttar Pradesh. Raut had also said that "we have ideological differences with Samajwadi Party but we want a change in the state (Uttar Pradesh) now". "We have been working in UP for a long time but did not contest the elections because we did not want to harm BJP earlier," Raut said earlier. Uttar Pradesh, which has 403 assembly seats, is having seven-phase elections of which four rounds have already concluded. The four-round of voting was held on February 10, 14, 20, and 23. The fifth phase of polling will take place on February 27, and the remaining two phases on March 3 and March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
An application for impleading of Muslim Personal Law Boards has been moved by All India Bar Association (AIBA) in Karnataka High Court, which is presently hearing several pleas into the hijab row. The application moved by Adish C. Aggarwala, Senior Advocate and Chairman of the All India Bar Association, stated that the court is looking into the aspect that whether Hijab is an essential religious practice for Muslim women. "There is no representation from any Personal Law Board, be it the All India Personal Law Board or the Shia Personal Law Board, who majorly contribute and represent that they work towards the proper applicability of the personal laws of Muslims and also form the opinion of Muslims in India," the applicant said. "The entire exercise of the constitutional validity of the essential religious practice of wearing hijab will be incomplete without the representation of the Personal Law Boards in this matter," said Aggarwala in his petition. Both Personal Law Boards of Muslims in India are necessary parties in these proceedings for adjudication of the instant petition and hence these Boards be impleaded and heard in the interest of justice, added Aggarwala in his petition. A bench of the three judges, comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit, and Justice JM Khazi, was hearing various petitions challenging the ban on hijab in educational institutes in the state. 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. 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. (ANI)
Lauding the contributions made towards the agricultural sector in the Union Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that agricultural loans for farmers have been increased by 2.5 times in the last seven years. The Prime Minister also said that PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme has become a strong support for the small farmers in the country. "PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme was started three years ago on this day itself. Today this scheme has become big support for the small farmers. Under this, about Rs two lakh crore has been given to 11 crore farmers so far," said the Prime Minister while addressing a webinar on various ways the Budget strengthens the agriculture sector. The Prime Minister added, "In the last seven years, we have taken many new initiatives. From taking seeds to market, we have improved the old systems. Budget for agriculture has increased manifold in just seven years. Agriculture loans for farmers have also been increased by 2.5 times in seven years." Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6000 per year is provided to the eligible beneficiary farmers, payable in three equal installments of Rs 2000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. PM Narendra Modi addressed a webinar on the topic "Smart Agriculture". (ANI)
Following this, the total cases in the country have mounted up to 4,28,81,179 of which 1,48,359 are active cases. Active cases account for 0.35 per cent of the total cases.

The government's data added that a single-day rise of 302 fatalities pushed India's death toll to 5,12,924. Of the newly reported fatalities, Kerala accounts for 188 fatalities.

Further, the recovery rate is currently at 98.46 per cent in the country as the country added 30,009 recoveries in the last 24 hours. With this, the total recoveries from Coronavirus touched 4,22,19,896.

The ministry informed today that as many as 11,55,147 tests have been conducted in the last 24 hours wherein a daily positivity rate of 1.22 per cent has been observed.

As a part of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive, about 176.52 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. (ANI)
Artificial intelligence is going to completely change the trade related to agriculture and farming in the 21st century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday. While addressing a webinar today on 'Smart Agriculture, the Prime Minister highlighted the need for larger utilization of drones in the agriculture sector. "Artificial intelligence is going to completely change the trade related to agriculture and farming in the 21st century. The greater use of Kisan drones in agriculture is part of this change. Drone technology will be available on a scale only when we promote agri Startups," said the Prime Minister. PM Modi mentioned in his address today that the government has a lot of emphasis on "Per Drop More Crop" and this is also the need of the hour. "The government has a lot of emphasis on 'Per Drop More Crop' and this is also the need of the hour. It also has a lot of potential for the business world. You all know very well what changes will come from the Ken-Betwa link project in Bundelkhand," he said. Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare is implementing 'Per Drop More Crop' component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY- PDMC). The PMKSY- PDMC focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation technologies such as drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. The Prime Minister also mentioned the celebrations of the 'International Year of Millets' and urged people in the corporate world to come forward for branding and promoting India's Millets. "The year 2023 is the International Year of Millets. In this also our corporate world should come forward for branding, promoting India's millets. The big missions in other countries should also organize seminars and make people aware of the benefits of millets," said PM Modi. He added, "India's cooperative sector is very vibrant. Be it sugar mills, fertilizer factories, dairies, loan arrangements, purchase of food grains, the participation of co-operative sector is huge. Our government has also created a new ministry related to it." PM Modi also mentioned that "agri-residue", which is also called 'parali' (stubble), is equally important to be managed. "Agri-residue, which is also called Parali, is equally important to be managed. For this, some new measures have been taken in this Budget, which will reduce carbon emissions and farmers will also get income," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a webinar on 'Smart Agriculture' on Thursday. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala and Food Processing Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras also attended the webinar. (ANI)
With the administration of more than 30.49 lakh (30,49,988) COVID-19 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 176.52 crore (1,76,52,31,385) as per provisional reports till 7 am today, informed the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. This has been achieved through 2,01,49,530 sessions, stated the ministry. As per the ministry, of the total doses administered so far to the health care workers (HLW's), 1,04,01,131 have received the first dose, 99,60,537 have received the second vaccine dose and 41,13,480 have been administered the precaution doses. According to the ministry, 1,84,08,724 frontline workers were administered the first dose, 1,74,30,375 with the second dose and 60,92,569 with the precaution doses. 5,42,63,490 vaccine doses were administered as the first dose and 2,47,48,744 vaccine doses were given as the second dose in the age group 15-18 years. 55,10,97,609 vaccine doses were administered as the first dose and 43,99,93,963 vaccine doses were given as the second dose in the age group 18-44 years. Similarly, for the age group of 45-59 years, 20,21,57,669 have received the first dose and 17,92,34,856 have received the second dose whereas, 12,63,13,709 vaccine doses were administered as the first dose, 11,16,53,849 as second and 93,60,680 as precaution doses to the people over 60 years. 30,009 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients since the beginning of the pandemic is now at 4,22,19,896. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.46 per cent, the Ministry stated. 14,148 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing India's Active Caseload presently at 1,48,359. The active cases constitute 0.35 per cent of the country's total Positive Cases. The Ministry further added the testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 11,55,147 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 76.35 Cr (76,35,69,165) cumulative tests. While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, the weekly positivity rate in the country currently stands at 1.60 per cent and the daily positivity rate is reported to be 1.22 per cent. (ANI)
The Delhi Government on Thursday informed the Delhi High Court that a meeting was convened on February 10 and the process for appointing a Lokayukta in the national capital is underway and even a name has been also recommended in this regard. The submission of the Delhi Government through its standing counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi came on Thursday during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought direction to the Delhi Government to appoint the Lokayukta on top priority, the position of which is lying vacant since December 15, 2020. After taking note of the submissions, the Division Bench of Justice DN Patel and Jyoti Singh adjourn the matter for April 29, 2022. According to the petition due to the non-appointment of Lokayukta, hundreds of complaints relating to corruption are pending in the office. The Petitioner, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay alleges that Aam Aadmi Party has not only promised an independent and effective Lokayukta in the 2020 Assembly Election Manifesto but also in the 2015 and 2013 Assembly Election Manifesto but they are still using outdated ineffective 1995 Act. Petitioner in its PIL has further submitted that the "fulcrum of democracy is fair-electoral-process. If the integrity of the electoral process is compromised then the notion of representation becomes vacuous." "Political parties are promising irrational freebies but not fulfilling essential promises. So, the danger to democracy and Indian republic cannot be gainsaid," it reads. The Petitioner has also requested the Court to analyze whether political parties are really concerned about governance or do they cynically participate in the evisceration of the democratic electoral political process. Petitioner further submits that the Centre and Election Commission of India have not taken steps to regulate the functioning of political parties and to regulate the manifesto. So, the Court is the only hope of citizens. Petitioner submits that the "Court may issue appropriate writ order and directions to the weed-out menace of corruption, black money generation, Benami transaction and improve India's pathetic ranking in Corruption Perception Index. " Alternatively, the Court may direct the Law Commission of India to examine the anti-corruption laws of developed countries and suggest steps to weed-out corruption, black money generation, money laundering, Benami transactions, and disproportionate assets and to improve India's ranking in Corruption Perception Index, plea read. (ANI)
An empty flight of Air India AI-1947 is returning from over Iran air space as Ukraine imposed restrictions on civilian aircraft, sources said.

"Air India flight AI1947 is coming back to Delhi due to NOTAM at, Kyiv, Ukraine," Air India informed.

Notice to airmen (NOTAM), is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the flight.

Air India is scheduled to operate a second special flight for Ukraine to bring back stranded Indian citizens.

Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several airlines are operating special flights, including Air India, to bring back Indian nationals safely.

"A special flight of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) landed at Delhi Airport from Kyiv, at 7:45 am today, with 182 Indian citizens, including students," an official of Ukraine International Airlines in India told ANI on the condition of anonymity.

In the coming days for Indian citizens, more flights are going to be operated from Ukraine (Kiev) amid tension in the country. (ANI)
According to the police, the accused is a resident of Haryana.

As per the police, the accused is mentally unstable. He had called up the offices of various other envoys also as he was denied visa by some countries, stated the police.

During investigation, the caller was traced to an area in Mumbai and he was placed under arrest, added the police. (ANI)
"Our stand is neutral and we hope for a peaceful solution," said Singh while speaking to ANI here today.

Meanwhile, a special flight from Ukraine comprising Indian nationals including students landed in Delhi today.

"The situation where I was living is fine as the place is far from the border. But our embassy told us to leave; came back after the advisory was issued," said an MBBS student who returned from Ukraine in the wake of the conflict.

"Last night we received a message about the emergency situation in Ukraine for 30 days, so we landed back home," says another student, who returned from Ukraine.

Air India is operating three flights between India-Ukraine on February 22, 24, and 26.

The flights will take off from Boryspil International Airport and bookings are open through Air India booking offices, website, call centers, and authorized travel agents.

Russia President Vladimir Putin this morning declared a 'military operation' in Ukraine.

Tensions rose dramatically after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered sending Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine's breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his address to the nation on Monday.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held a meeting following a request from the United States and allies on Monday.

Condemning Russia's move to recognize regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations demanded Moscow to return to negotiations besides ensuring the immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of the occupation troops.

India strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. (ANI)
Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari Thursday said that China's latest demonstration of physically moving one of its disabled satellites into the graveyard orbit is bringing new threats in the space domain. While delivering the inaugural address at the 13th Jumbo Majumdar International seminar, he said, "China's latest demonstration of physically moving one of its disabled satellites into the graveyard orbit is bringing new threats in the space domain." "The first and foremost challenge that we will face is that of keeping pace with technology...No other field has seen such rapid transformation in technology as air-power has seen in the last 120 years of its existence. It has seen an evolution from a small biplane to space-based anti-satellite weapons," he added. "The second challenge that I foresee is to develop doctrines, training philosophies, and concepts of operations. There is a need for doctrines to be contemporary because if the fundamental guiding principle is dated then our warfighting will also be dated," he stated. Doctrine is an important element in the development of future force structures and capability requirements that will require capability dedicated and specialized requirements, said Chaudhari, adding "our training philosophy will need to be modern, flexible, and adaptive". "A well-trained air warrior who is technologically sound and yet able to adapt to disruptions would serve a future force multiplier. The next step is to use the doctrines and well-trained manpower to evolve employment philosophies and concepts of operations. This would require joint planning and joint execution of plans," he said. The next challenge will be of command and control, and another will be aerospace control, he said, adding that the primacy of who will do what cannot be determined by the pro-rata system of who has a larger mass of forces or equipment. "This process must change and it will be important to appreciate the capabilities of each service to make 2 plus 2 equal to five," he further said. He further stated, "The fundamental strength of individual services must be brought together to deter potential enemies and decisively win the nation's war. There is a need to wage tomorrow's wars with pragmatism and not necessarily idealism. One such challenge is aerospace control." (ANI)
"This is the fourth of four additional aircraft delivered under the options contract signed by the Ministry of Defence in 2016," informed Boeing in its official statement today.

The P-8I aircraft is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft that Boeing developed as a replacement for the US Navy's ageing P-3 fleet.

In May 2021, the US State Department approved the proposed sale of six P-8I patrol aircraft and related equipment, a deal estimated to cost 2.42 billion dollars.

In November 2019, the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the procurement of the long-range maritime surveillance aircraft manufactured by Boeing.

Indian Navy became the first international customer for the P-8 aircraft with the conclusion of the nearly US 2.1 billion dollars contract on January 1, 2009, for a total of eight aircraft. The first aircraft arrived in India on May 15, 2013.

Ministry of Defence informed that the P-8I aircraft is equipped for long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of the broad area, maritime and littoral operations. Its communication and sensor suite includes indigenous equipment developed by defence PSUs and private manufacturers.

With its high speed and high endurance of about 10 hours, the aircraft is capable of thrusting a punitive response and maintaining a watch over India's immediate and extended areas of interest. (ANI)
Delimitation Commission will meet on Thursday in Delhi to discuss suggestions of Jammu and Kashmir MPs, who are associate members of the panel on its delimitation draft proposal. The meeting will be chaired by Justice (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai and attended by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Jammu and Kashmir state EC chief, and the chief electoral officer of the Union Territory. On February 23, the Central government had extended the tenure of the Delimitation Commission, tasked with redrawing the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir by two more months until May 5, 2022. The Delimitation Commission was constituted in March 2020. Third Member of the Commission is the State Election Commissioner of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Commission also has five Associate Members nominated by the Speaker, Lok Sabha. The Commission already has held a series of meetings related to data and maps of the Districts and constituencies related to Census 2011. Earlier, it invited all Associate Members for interaction, which was attended by two of the Associate Members. A number of representations have also been received on various aspects concerning delimitation from civil societies and members of the public from the Union Territory. The Commission has already taken note of all such suggestions and directed that these may be deliberated further in the context of ground realities concerning delimitation. The Commission expects that all stakeholders will cooperate and will provide valuable suggestions so that the task of delimitation is completed timely. (ANI)
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday charged that the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was mocking the indigenous COVID-19 vaccines even while Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported scientists in the battle against the pandemic. Shah was addressing a public rally in the Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh. "When COVID-19 vaccines were made within the country, the Prime Minister congratulated scientists. But Yadav tweeted urging people to not take the vaccines by calling them 'Modi vaccines'. But 15 days later, he took the vaccine out of fear in the darkness during the night," said Shah. Shah asserted that the Yogi Adityanath government in the state improved the law and order situation to an extent that one cannot see 'Bahubaalis (strong goons) but Bajrangbaali (Lord Hanuman)' everywhere. "Yadav asks what improvements have been made in law and order situation. Well, those who wear black glasses can only see black. In Yogiji's tenure, dacoity fell by 75 per cent, loot by 62 per cent, rapes by 50 per cent, assassination by 31 per cent and kidnappings by 30 per cent. Where are Ateek Ahmed, Mukhtar Ansari, Azam Khan now? If you want them to stay in jail, vote for the BJP in the elections," added Shah. The Home Minister said that the SP has people who are 'Samajwadis' (socialists) only for namesake'. "Poor, disadvantaged and tribal people can get their places only in the BJP. Modiji believes in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas," he added. Shah pointed out that in UP over one crore women have received free gas connections, toilets have been built in over two crore houses and electricity was given to over one crore households during the BJP's rule in the state and Centre. "The UP farmers also got Rs 6,000 per year straight into their bank accounts," he added. Shah said that SP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have been wiped out in the first four phases of the polls. He also stated that Yadav is a 'weak bowler' who has delivered a 'full toss' that needs to be hit beyond the boundary line to make sure that Lotus blossoms again in the state. The fifth phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh will take place on February 27 while final two phases on March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
The Special PMLA court in Mumbai on Wednesday sent Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik to Enforcement Directorate custody till March 3 in connection with alleged links with Dawood Ibrahim and a money laundering case.

"The court will hear tomorrow our applications seeking permission to allow Malik to carry his medicines and get food from his home during his custody, and also the presence of lawyers during his custodial interrogation," said Tariq Sayyed, Nawab Malik's lawyer to reporters yesterday.

Earlier, ED had sought 14-day custody of the NCP leader from the court. He was arrested on Wednesday by the ED.

According to the sources, Malik was not cooperating during the questioning.

Soon after his arrest, Malik said that he is not scared and will fight and win.

Earlier this month, the ED conducted raids at the residence of Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar in Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case.

Searches were carried out by the ED at several places linked to people associated with the underworld in Mumbai, informed sources said on Tuesday.

The ED had also conducted searches at 10 different locations related to Haseena Parkar, sister of Dawood Ibrahim, in Nagpada.

The agency had also questioned Dawood's nephew and Parkar's son Alishah Parkar and Chota Shakeel's henchman Salim Qureshi aka Salim Fruits. (ANI)
A bail plea has also been filed by Lalu's lawyer.

On Monday, a CBI court sentenced Yadav to five years imprisonment in the fifth fodder scam case and imposed a fine of Rs 60 lakh on him.

Yadav was declared guilty on February 15. Of the 99 accused in the case, 24 were acquitted, while three-year jail terms were pronounced for the 46 accused.

Yadav has been found guilty of illegal withdrawals of Rs 139.35 crore from the Doranda treasury by a special CBI court in Jharkhand's Ranchi.

Earlier, the former chief minister had been sentenced in four fodder scam cases. This case (RC 47A/97) was the fifth and the biggest in which Rs 139.35 crore was illegally withdrawn.

The Rs 950-crore fodder scam relates to the fraudulent withdrawal of public funds from government treasuries in various districts of undivided Bihar.

The scam came into light after a raid conducted by Deputy Commissioner of Chaibasa Amit Khare at the Animal Husbandry Department in January 1996.

The CBI was roped in by the Patna High Court in March 1996 after increasing pressure to investigate the case. The CBI registered an FIR in the case at a time when Bihar was still undivided.

In June 1997, Yadav was named an accused in the case for the first time in the chargesheet filed by the CBI. (ANI)
The Delimitation Commission has accepted certain suggestions made by five associate members from Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir including National Conference Lok Sabha MPs Farooq Abdullah, Hasnain Masoodi and Akbar Lone and BJP MPs Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore, officials told ANI. The Delimitation Commission met in Delhi today to discuss suggestions of Members of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir, who are associate members of the panel, on its delimitation draft proposal. The meeting was chaired by Justice (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai and attended by Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission chief and the Chief Electoral Officer from the Union Territory. Officials told ANI that Delimitation Commission in its meeting today held discussions at length on the suggestions given by five associate members. "We had discussed point by point. After a wide range of discussions, the Commission has accepted certain suggestions given by five associate members. Now we will go back to associate members and will inform the decision that is made today," an official said. Suggestions of the associate members were submitted to the Delimitation Committee on February 14. Associate members were asked to give their suggestions on the draft report prepared by Delimitation Commission which they were opposing. The Delimitation Commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai with Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and J-K election commission chief KK Sharma was set up on March 6, 2020, and was given a one-year extension last year. Earlier this month, it was given two months extension till May 6 to complete the exercise of redrawing assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre extended the term of the Commission by two months by amending the notification issued on March 6, 2020. "In the said notification, in paragraph 2, for the words, 'two years', the words, 'two years and two months' shall be substituted," a notification by the Ministry of Law and Justice stated. Now, the panel's term will end on May 6. The Delimitation Commission has held two meetings with the Associate Members on February 18 and December 20 last year. While the first meeting was boycotted by the three National Conference MPs, they attended the second meeting. As per the preliminary proposal of the Delimitation Commission, the number of seats in the Jammu region will be increased from the existing 37 to 43, while Kashmir will have one additional seat, taking its tally to 47 seats from the current 46. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 notified by the government on August 9, 2019, paved the way for the creation of two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature and Ladakh, without it.The Act provides that the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of Union Territory ofJammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114, and delimitation of the constituencies will be determined by the Election Commission. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked microblogging site Twitter to take down several tweets made by historian Audrey Truschke in which plagiarism allegations were made against author and historian Vikram Sampath in relation to a two-volume biography of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The bench of Justice Amit Bansal also sought the response of Meta Inc, the parent company of social media platform Facebook, on an application filed by Vikram Sampath alleging defamatory content has been circulated on the platform. Advocate Raghav Awasthi and Advocate Mukesh Sharma appeared for plaintiff Vikram Sampath. Earlier, in an interim order court had restrained several historians including Audrey Truschke, Ananya Chakravarti, Associate Professor of History at Georgetown University, Rohit Chopra, Associate Professor of Communications at Santa Clara University, from publishing any defamatory content (online and offline) about Vikram Sampath and observing that the plaintiff has made a prima facie case. Recently Historian Audrey Truschke and others have accused Vikram Sampath of plagiarism and wrote a letter dated February 11, 2022, to the Royal Historical Society (RHS) in London and made serious allegations of plagiarism against Sampath with respect to his two-volume biography of Savarkar. Sampath is also a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Justice Bansal earlier noted that the continued publication of said letter has been causing considerable damage to the plaintiff's reputation and career. Court further asked the counsel for the plaintiff to supply the copy of the plaint to the defendants and sought their response within four weeks. The court fixed the date for April 1, for further hearing in the matter. The Court is presently hearing a civil suit filed by Vikram Sampath against other historians who made alleged defamatory tweets against him. Sampath also sought a decree of damages of Rs 2,00,00,100 in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants. The petition stated that the said letter makes it clear that allegation against the plaintiff is that in an essay written for the journal, plaintiff has plagiarized from an essay written by one Vinayak Chaturvedi. It is submitted that the said allegation is quite absurd inasmuch as a perusal of the article in question would clearly establish beyond all reasonable doubt that Vinayak Chaturvedi has been cited. References are there in the article and have given extensive and exhaustive footnotes in the book. The relevant extract has been reproduced, stated the petition. It further added that the alleged defamatory letter in question is being quoted extensively on the platform of the microblogging site Twitter by various unscrupulous elements and Twitter users. It is clear that the same is part of the motivated smear campaign against the plaintiff and each and every time the defamatory material is being retweeted, a new cause of action arises. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thursday said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is taking steps to bring back about 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine. Addressing a media in Thrissur, the Union Minister said the Central government's aim is to ensure the safety of all Indians and for that all measures are being planned. "MEA is taking steps to bring back about 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine. The central government will ensure the safety of all Indians," said MoS Muraleedharan. Amid the closure of Ukrainian airspace, the Indian embassy in Kiev has said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine. The information was conveyed through an advisory that comes in the backdrop of Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The embassy said the schedule for special flights has been cancelled due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace. "At the time when there was a war threat itself, we tried to put more flights in service and bring back those willing to come back. But since the air space in Ukraine has been closed, we have stopped the measures to bring back Indians via flights. We are planning alternative measures to bring back Indians. Ministry of External Affairs has decided to send more diplomats to this area to help the Indian embassy," he added. He further urged students and parents not to panic as the Central government will be able to ensure the safety of Indians. "I spoke to Malayali students in Ukraine on phone. Indian students in the southern areas of Ukraine have told us that they are getting food, water and power. Students and parents should not panic. Our government has brought back Indians even from places like Iraq. The central government will be able to ensure the safety of Indians, there is no doubt about that. The control room has been expanded, more telephone numbers have been given," he said. Meanwhile, leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the Shiv Sena should take strict disciplinary action against Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik. Taking to media persons here, the Chief Minister refused to comment directly on the arrest of NCP leader Malik. "I think Nawab Malik should be accountable for this political and moral action. Only ED will know legal factors, I don't want to comment on that, but prima facie when you come to know someone has land dealing with Dawood, it doesn't go well. I think Shiv Sena will take strict disciplinary action," said Sarma on Nawab Malik's arrest. He further said that if any Indian is found to be connected directly or indirectly with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim then strict action should be taken against that person. "My only request and appeal will be that if any Indian found to be connected directly or indirectly with Dawood Ibrahim so strict action will be taken against that person," he added. Malik was sent to the ED custody for seven days by a court in Mumbai with alleged links with Dawood Ibrahim and a money laundering case. Meanwhile, ED in a remand application against Malik in Special PMLA court on Wednesday mentioned that complainant Munira Plumber had filed a complaint in small causes court in 1989 that he was forcing and threatening her to give her property (Goawala Compound) to him. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party is demanding the resignation of the State Minister but the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA-- comprising Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP) government has rejected the demand for Nawab Malik's resignation. (ANI)
Ahead of the fifth phase of polling for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday took a dig at the Samajwadi Party alleging that the party propagates riots. "Decide what kind of government you want, one that propagates riots or the one that frees you from them and works for the welfare of poor people", said Adityanath while addressing a rally in Barabanki. Adityanath promised free electricity for the farmers and scooty for girls after the BJP returns to power in the state. "We will give free scooty to girls and free electricity to farmers. We will get express highways and colleges constructed," he added. Attacking the previous Samajwadi Party on electricity supply, the Chief Minister said, "Uninterrupted power supply to every household with the establishment of power sub-station in Ramnagar area of Barabanki at a cost of Rs 63.87 crores. Parivarvaadis (Samajwadi Party) used to discriminate during government, but the BJP government has ensured equal power supply in every district." He said that the BJP government has implemented projects related to the construction of bridges and roads while taking flood protection measures at an amount of Rs 36.22 crore in the Ramnagar area of Barabanki. "In the Ramnagar area of Barabanki, projects related to bridge construction, road construction and flood protection have been implemented at an amount of Rs 36.22 crores. The previous governments used to turn a blind eye to the problems of the people, but the BJP government has implemented them by making plans accordingly," added the UP CM. The Uttar Pradesh CM while addressing another rally in Bahraich, stated that the BJP government, extracted money from the mafias and it is now being utilized for welfare schemes in the state. "We have made highways, medical colleges and expressways. The money extracted from mafias are being used for welfare schemes in the state," he added. Adityanath said that amount given to girls under Mukhayamantri Kanya Sumangla Yojana would be increased Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 while the among given for the marriage would be increased from Rs 51,000 to Rs 1 lakh. "Under Mukhayamantri Kanya Sumangla Yojana Rs 15,000 is now being given to daughters which will be increased to Rs 25,000 while the amount given for their marriages will be increased from Rs 51,000 to Rs 1 lakh," the CM said in Bahraich. The fifth phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh will take place on February 27 when 60 assembly constituencies will go to the polls. (ANI)
Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of businessman Praveen Raut till March 7 in connection with Rs 1,034 crore land scam case. Praveen Raut is close to Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who was arrested by the ED on February 2. ED arrested Praveen Raut in a land dispute case of Rs 1,034 crore. (ANI)
Prasanna, who represents BJP in Telangana's Neredmet case, was allegedly attacked on Wednesday on the Malkajgiri local court premises after an argument post-hearing in the matter.

BJP leader including N Ramchander Rao, T Raja Singh, Anthony Reddy, Prakash Reddy and others paid a visit to the injured BJP leader, who is admitted at Yashoda Hospital in Secunderabad.

Speaking to ANI, former member of Telangana Legislative Council and Senior Advocate, Telangana High Court N Ramchander Rao said, "The political situation in Telangana has been heated up by TRS leaders including the Chief Minister of Telangana (K Chandrashekar Rao). KCR, his son KT Rama Rao and ministers are making statements like people should chase away BJP leaders, teach them a lesson, beat them in publicly. As a result, BJP legal cell leader and advocate Prasanna, who contested as corporator on BJP ticket was beaten by TRS activist and practising advocate in the court."

Rao alleged that the BJP advocate was badly beaten up by the TRS activist and other party supporters.

The Neredmet police had registered a complaint against the accused lawyer under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

"The police have registered a case in milder sections of IPC, though it attracts attempt to murder and other serious offences. The Telangana police are working on the instructions of TRS government. The BJP workers are being harassed and cases are being filed against them and TRS goons are roaming scot-free," Rao alleged.

"A lady advocate was beaten and we condemn it. We demand the culprits to be arrested immediately and law should take action against these persons," Rao added.

Taking to Twitter, BJP national Vice President DK Aruna and BJP Telangana President Bandi Sanjay Kumar have also condemned the alleged attack. (ANI)
In the wake of Russia-Ukraine crisis, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday assured that all the people of Uttarakhand who are stuck in Ukraine will be repatriated and said that the state is constantly in touch with Ministry of External Affairs in this regard. "Our government is committed to bringing back safely every people of Uttarakhand who are stranded in Ukraine. We are constantly in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs in this regard," tweeted the CM. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thursday said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is taking steps to bring back about 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine. Amid the closure of Ukrainian airspace, the Indian embassy in Kiev has said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine. The information was conveyed through an advisory that comes in the backdrop of Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine. Earlier today CM Dhami offered prayers at Naina Devi Temple in Nainital and Golu Devta temple in Ghorakhal. He visited Shri Siddha Peeth Sai Dham in Kashipur later. "I prayed to Sai Nath for the happiness, prosperity and health of all the people of the state", tweeted Pushkar Singh Dhami. He met the students of Kashipur Dham today. He said, "These children are the foundation of the bright future of Uttarakhand." (ANI)
Amid the row over the murder of former student leader Anish Khan, West Bengal Police on Thursday urged people and the family of the deceased to have faith in the ongoing probe. "Investigation of Anish Khan murder for proper justice has been speedily done. All angles are being looked into by the SIT. As of now, two police personnel have been taken into custody. Request members of public and family members of Anish Khan to have faith in West Bengal Police and to cooperate with the Special Investigation Team which is set up to ensure proper and speedy justice," said West Bengal Police. Earlier on Wednesday, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of West Bengal Police arrested a Home Guard personnel and a civic volunteer from Amta, Howrah in connection with the murder of former Aliah University student Anis Khan. West Bengal Police had constituted a three-member SIT on Tuesday to probe the death of a student in Aliah University. The team is led by the Additional Director General of Police of CID Gyanwant Singh. According to the state government order, the SIT will submit its report within 15 days. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had given the direction for the constitution of an SIT on Monday after protests had erupted over the murder of Khan. Meanwhile, Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered a second post mortem in the murder case of Aliah University student Anis Khan which will be monitored by the District Judge. A group of lawyers including senior advocate and CPIM Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya had made an oral plea before the Calcutta high court seeking initiation of suo moto motion into the mysterious death demanding an inquiry by an independent agency. The Court ordered that the postmortem report copy is to be served to the family members of Khan and the petitioner. The Court also directed sending forensic samples to Hyderabad lab. However, the High Court ruled out the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry for now. The SIT will continue to investigate the matter for now, said the High Court. Anis Khan was found dead outside his home in Howrah's Amta area on Friday night. His parents have alleged that he was thrown off the roof of the building by four police officers, who had come to search for their son. The police, however, have denied the allegations. (ANI)
Targeting the previous Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh over the law and order situation in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has run such a government that no "bahubali can be seen even with binoculars". Addressing a rally here, he talked about the steps taken by the BJP-led government at the Centre and the state government to boost the production of defence equipment in Uttar Pradesh. He said the equipment and ammunition being manufactured in the state will be used to target the enemies of the country if there is a need. He said there was a time when 'goliyan' for illegal weapons were made in the state but now 'gola' (defence ammunition) is manufactured here. "A defence corridor will come up in Lucknow and Bundelkhand. At one time, 'goliyan' (bullets) for 'katta' and 'charre' (air gun) were made in the state. Now Uttar Pradesh is manufacturing 'gola' which will drop in Pakistan (if there is a need). The state is not making 'tamancha' but BrahMos missile which will demolish the enemy on the borders. The change has been brought about by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. He alleged that Uttar Pradesh was "on the top spot" in terms of crime when Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav was the chief minister of the state and now there was rule of law in the state under Yogi Adityanath. "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has freed the state from bahubalis and mafia and established the rule of law. The mafia had captured land worth Rs 2,000 crore and CM Yogi Adityanath freed it and established homes for the poor. There were 16,000 kidnapping incidents from 2012 to 2017 in Uttar Pradesh. The state was number one in various crimes under the rule of the Samajwadi Party," he said. "Today, there is a decline of 72 per cent in robbery incidents and 31 per cent decline in murders and 50 per cent decline in the rape incidents," he added. Amit Shah said if Samajwadi Party comes back to power, "criminals" will be released from jail. "If people in UP decide to ride on a bicycle (vote for SP), these criminals will be released from jail. After BJP came to power in 2017, YogiJi has run such a government that even with binoculars, no Bahubali can be seen. Yogiji has run the administration in a way that we cannot see even one 'Bahubali', now there's only 'Bajrangbali' everywhere," he said. The BJP leader said Samajwadi Party spread "darkness" in the state while the BJP government has provided electricity for 20 to 24 hours bringing power to every home. "Samajwadi Party had spread darkness in the state while the BJP has brought light to every home by giving electricity for 20 to 24 hours. They had given corruption and potholes to the people of UP, we provided homes to 42 lakh poor," he said. The Home Minister exuded confidence about the party's victory in the polls. "The polling in the four phases of elections has made sure that SP, BSP are going to lose the elections. The BJP will form a government in Uttar Pradesh with more than 300 seats once again," he said. Polling has been held in four of seven phases of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. Voting for the remaining phases will be held on February 27, March 3, and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
Amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday expressed concern over the safety of people, who have gone from Maharashtra for industry, education and business. As per an official statement from Chief Minister's Secretariat, the Chief Minister has instructed the Chief Secretary to coordinate with the Central Government and keep in touch with them. The Chief Minister has also asked the administration to coordinate with the Centre on priorirty over the safety of students and other people from Maharashtra who are in Ukraine and "bring them back safely to the state." Thackeray has instructed the administration to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs to see what arrangements are being made for the citizens of Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is taking steps to bring back about 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine. Amid the closure of Ukrainian airspace, the Indian embassy in Kiev has said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine. The information was conveyed through an advisory that comes in the backdrop of Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The embassy said the schedule for special flights has been cancelled due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace. Soon after Russia launched its military operations in the Donbas region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday announced the decision of severing his country's diplomatic relations with Moscow. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. (ANI)
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said an Air India flight which took off from Delhi to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine has returned mid-air after the "things escalated" there, adding that, flights from India to Ukraine will again fly, once the air-space of the concerned country opens up. "Flights were flown for Ukraine earlier. Today also flights were flown to Ukraine but after 3 hours when things started escalating those flights came back. Whenever the air-space will open, we'll fly the flights again," said Scindia. "We have been told that the airspace is complete as notice to airmen (NOTAM) has been issued," he added. The Union Minister assured that the Indian government is committed to the safety and security of Indians in Ukraine. "On the matter of Indians in Ukraine, I held a discussion with the Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. We are keeping an eye on the entire situation," he said. "Air India flight AI1947 is coming back to Delhi due to NOTAM at, Kyiv, Ukraine," Air India informed. Notice to airmen (NOTAM), is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the flight. Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Amid ongoing Russia's military operation on Ukraine, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday assured that appropriate measures are being taken to bring stranded Indians back home. "At the time when war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, about 100 Indian students were on their way to the airport in two buses and got stranded, as the flights could not land. More than 10 are Kannadigas, we are gathering information about them," Bommai said. CM further said that his government is in touch with Indian Embassy in Ukraine over the issue. "The Indian Embassy in Ukraine has issued suitable guidelines for the safety of Indian students. Action is being taken to bring them back safely once the flight services resume. We are in constant touch with the Foreign Secretary and I will discuss it with our External Affairs minister too," he said. "About 200 Indians returned home from Ukraine last week under the shadow of war. The students are returning in batches and this is the last batch. Karnataka students would be brought home safely," he added. Air India flight which took off from Delhi to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine has returned mid-air after the "things escalated" there and Ukraine airspace is closed due to notice to airmen (NOTAM) as 'military operation' has been started between Russia and Ukraine. Notice to airmen (NOTAM), is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the flight. Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Thursday sought External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's intervention to ensure the safety of Indian nationals, including around 2,000 students belonging to Kerala, stranded in Ukraine. "The crisis in Ukraine has blown into a full-fledged war The ramifications thereof have already resulted in the closure of Ukraine's air space, and this is just the beginning of what may unfold further. This has rightfully created huge apprehension among the Indian citizens, including students pursuing education stranded in Ukraine, Venugopal wrote to Jaishankar. He said that around 2,000 students belonging to Kerala alone are staying back so that they could complete their education without a break but "they have been stranded in the war zone". Many of these students have been posting videos on social media platforms seeking help since after the situation escalated. "I would urge your kind intervention with the authorities for ensuring the safety of Indian citizens and students in Ukraine. I would also urge you to make alternate evacuation routes for our citizens as Ukraine has closed its airspace," urged Venugopal. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thursday said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is taking steps to bring back about 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine. Amid the closure of Ukrainian airspace, the Indian embassy in Kiev has said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine. The information was conveyed through an advisory that comes in the backdrop of Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The embassy said the schedule for special flights has been cancelled due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace. Soon after Russia launched its military operations in the Donbas region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday announced the decision of severing his country's diplomatic relations with Moscow. "Kiev is terminating diplomatic relations with Moscow amid Russia's military operation," the Russian News Agency Sputnik quoted Zelenskyy as saying. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. Amid Russia's military operations, Ukraine has introduced martial law and urged citizens to remain calm. Ukraine has closed the airspace for civilian aircraft "due to the high risk of aviation safety." (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India Hardeep Singh Puri among others were present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, according to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night.

The tensions between the two nations escalated after Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Putin on Thursday morning said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region.

Moreover, many Indian citizens and students are stranded in Ukraine.

The Indian Embassy on Thursday issued a third travel advisory to Indian nationals/students.

The Mission asked Indians to be aware of the surroundings, be safe, do not leave homes unless necessary and stress on carrying their documents at all times. (ANI)
Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a complaint against Talla Narayana Rao, branch Post-Master, Sativada of Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam District, before the Special Judge (PMLA), Visakhapatnam, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002 in a case of misappropriation of MNREGA funds. The complaint was filed with a prayer for awarding punishment to the accused of committing the offense of money laundering. The Court has taken cognizance of the matter. ED initiated a money-laundering investigation on the basis of the FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, against Talla Narayana Rao under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and IPC, 1860. As per the release by the ED, investigations by ED revealed that during the period from 2013 to 2015, while he was working as Branch Post Master, Sativada, an amount of Rs 1,53,77,868 was misappropriated by Talla Narayana Rao, by increasing the number of beneficiaries (by way of altering the figures available on the print outs of the Point of transaction device (POTD)) under MNREGA. Therefore, the said amount of Rs 1,53,77,868 is considered as proceeds of crime as per PMLA. Parts of the above proceeds of crime were invested or utilized by him in acquiring immovable properties. After detection of fraud, said assets were disposed of and an amount of Rs 1,44,25,350 was realized back by the Postal department, read the release. Now, ED has completed the investigation under PMLA and filed a prosecution complaint for the trial court to adjudicate the offense of money laundering. (ANI)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor accused the government of going silent on the matter in the aftermath of the Russian military operation in Ukraine and said that "it is a pity." Speaking to ANI, Tharoor said, "Russia is a friend and there could be some legitimate security concerns but for India to go suddenly silent on it will be seen as a disappointment by Ukraine and its friends. It's a pity that India has gone silent." He further said that India has consistently upheld these principles -- the inviolability of sovereign borders and the inadmissibility of change through force and violence that countries are not supposed to go and achieve their objectives by invading other countries. That's why diplomacy was invented and the importance of establishing the principle that no country has to right to conduct regime change in another country. Tharoor, who formerly served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs from 2014 to 2019, said, "It does not reflect well when a country like India who aspires for UN Security Council seat goes completely silent on internationally recognised principles." Tharoor also said that Ukraine's request to India to intervene in the matter is "completely understandable." "Our stand has been that we do not support invading other countries and regime change through violence and war," he added. The Congress MP also said, "We have carefully chosen not to blame anyone and we have carefully chosen to say nothing either about an invasion or an attack or to point any fingers at Russia." "A de-escalation implies that there are two sides fighting and you want them both to calm down. But in this case, that is not the reality. The reality is that one side has attacked another, had sent troops from one country to another. This is not the situation where we can request both sides to de-esclate. We have to ask the Russian to stop what they are doing. We have to remind the Russian that they are violating the principles that matter to us," the Congress MP noted. Speaking on Indians stranded in Ukraine, he said, that there are 24,000 students from India of whom 2,300 are from Kerala. "I have too received messages for intervention. Since air-space is closed, there is no practical way to fly them back to the country," he added. On India's neighbour China, with which we have held several stand offs at borders, Tharoor said, "If the Chinese march into our country we would want other countries to stand up for us. If Ukraine expects us to speak to Russians, then at least we should try and be counted on the right side of the issue." Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
The retro-modification will be carried out in 957 T-90 tanks of the Indian Army. Commander sight of Battle Tank T-90, India's premier battle tank, is presently fitted with Image Converter (IC) tube-based sight for night viewing.

Based on the requirement projected by the Indian Army, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and BEL have jointly designed and developed an advanced Mid Wave Thermal Image (MWIR) based sight as a replacement for the existing IC-based sight.

According to the Defence Ministry, the new retro-modified Commander sight employs a thermal imager capable of detecting the targets at 8 Kms during day and night and a Laser Ranger Finder (LRF) to find the ranges accurately up to 5 Km, thereby enhancing its capability to engage a target at longer ranges.

With the corrections from ballistic software and LRF, the Commander of T-90 can detect, engage and neutralize the targets with phenomenal accuracy. The indigenously developed sight completed extensive evaluations under field conditions successfully.

The successful indigenous development of Thermal Imager based Commander Sight will provide further fillip to indigenous research and development and defence manufacturing. (ANI)
Communist Party of India (Marxist), the principal opposition party in Tripura on Thursday, called for resistance against the alleged atrocities being meted out against the opposition party workers in Tripura and asked its workers to be vocal against the "misrule" of the ruling BJP. The CPI-M rally saw a massive crowd and CPI-M's red flags in thousands were once again waved all over the Swami Vivekananda Stadium throwing a challenge against the saffron camp. Senior CPIM leaders including former national general secretary Prakash Karat, general secretary Sitaram Yechury, former chief minister of Tripura and leader of opposition Manik Sarkar, CPIM state committee secretary Jitendra Chowdhury and other state leaders addressed the gathering. The rally was organized as a prelude to the two-day state conference beginning on February 24. While addressing the rally, CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury blamed PM Narendra Modi for inciting hatred between communities. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not give any importance to the real issues and his followers keep busy pushing forward the divisive agendas like Hijab, Love Jihad and Gau Raksha. "He speaks of hatred. The communal harmony in Tripura is also under serious threat. Tribes and non-tribes are being pitted against one another. Similarly, minority community people are facing discrimination. We believe in inclusiveness and humanity. Our flag is red as we see no discrimination among human beings", Yechuri added. On the other hand, former general secretary of CPIM Prakash Karat alleged that the Modi-led BJP government is abusing the UAPA to target political rivals. "Whoever raises voice against the government, they (BJP) slap UAPA on them. After the formation of Modi government in 2014, there is a direct attack on the democracy, on Constitution and on Secularism", Karat said. Karat also accused the government of using IB, CBI and ED for harassing and arresting the opposition party leaders. "We have fought against the agenda of the Modi government," he stated. Leader of the Opposition Manik Sarkar claimed that the ruling BJP betrayed the people of Tripura. "Before the formation of BJP government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah lured the people with lucrative promises that turned out to be empty and hollow. But after the formation of the government, people are suffering from severe job crises, no plan for regularization and no fresh recruitment drives. They are carrying out attacks on people belonging to opposition parties," claimed Sarkar. "The only option left now is 'resistance'. Without resistance, there are no alternative ways. Everyone has to come out of their home to intensify the protest", Sarkar added. (ANI)
Trimulgherry police station nabbed five members of an interstate drug peddling gang operating from Odisha and seized 1.530 kgs of marijuana and tobacco products on Wednesday. Chandana Deepti, Hyderabad North Zone DCP while speaking to ANI said, "We have nabbed five people who are in consumption of Ganja. They buy the ganja at a certain rate and sell it at profit to other potential consumers. Another supplier is absconding and he is on the radar. The people who are continuing to supply or consume ganja have to stop right away and the people who are doing it will come under the scanner of law. If booked in NDPS, it has far repercussions. The entire police force is determined to drive away from the drug menace from the region." According to the DCP's statement, On Wednesday, sleuths of Trimulgherry Police Station, Begumpet Division, North Zone team apprehended five accused-Raju Rawath, Giridhari Kaibartha, Bhungraj Shabar, Karol Mahesh Kuma and Md. Anwar-for illegal possession of Narcotic Drug (Ganja), Tobacco. They were also trying to sell the same to the needy customers at the Parking area, Bowenpally Market Yard, Trimulgherry, Secunderabad and earning easy money. The Police seized 1.530 Kgs of dry contraband Ganja worth Rs 30,600 and 320 packets of Tobacco worth Rs 1,600; a total worth Rs 32, 200 from their possession. The police team behind the apprehension of accused persons are Inspector B Sravan Kumar, Sub-Inspector D Karunakar, and crime staff under the Supervision of G Venkateshwarlu, Additional DCP North Zone, P Naresh Reddy, Assitant Commissioner of Police, Begumpet Division, Hyderabad. (ANI)
The largest coal producing company of the state miner had dispatched 138.77 MT in the last financial year 2020-21. The figure reported as on February 23, 2022 surpassed last year's cumulative dispatch despite 36 days are still remaining for the closure of current fiscal 2021-22, according to an official release.

Going by the stride, SECL is all set to record the highest ever coal dispatch in the current financial year. The Bilaspur-headquartered miner had provided 14 per cent more coal to the consumers compared to last year.

SECL spokesperson said that compared to the previous year, the company had supplied 25 per cent more coal to the power companies to facilitate sufficient stock. Even rake loading registered a 13.4 per cent surge compared to last year, read the release.

In another major leap forward, the company has liquidated 20 MT of its pithead stock.

The company's Chairman-cum-Managing Director Dr Prem Sagar Mishra and the Board of Directors had congratulated the SECL Collective for the feat and thanked the labour and workers' unions besides railways and Chhattisgarh government, other stakeholders for their support. (ANI)
The Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday said that the killing of a 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist in Shivamogga was a "planned murder" and the accused arrested in the case have a history of criminal cases and habitual offenders. "They did plan from very long, it's a pretty planned murder. The arrested had criminal cases on them & are habitual offenders,"said Jnanendra after chairing a meeting with Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Raman Gupta, Inspector General of Eastern range Thyagarajan and various other police officials. "We will appoint a special prosecutor and request the court to speed up the trial to finish the case as soon as possible. We have to give a message to the people," he said. Since the accused has pending Criminal cases against them in Kote and Doddapete police station, the Home Minister taking cognizance of the matter has ordered an enquiry. "I've ordered an enquiry on part of police officers. Based on that report there will be a major action with regards to two police stations," he added. A total of six people have been arrested and 12 are being questioned by the State Police in connection with Bajrang Dal activist Harsha murder case, said BM Laxmi Prasad, Superintendent of police, Shivamogga on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of the district Selvamani R announced that CrPC section 144 has been extended by two more days till Friday morning. A 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist was allegedly murdered on Sunday night in Shivamogga. Security was tightened in the city following the incident. Over the issue of Indians stranded in Ukraine amid the 'Military Operation' in the country by Russia, the state Home Minister said, "Three people from the Shivamogga district are stranded in Ukraine. As per the information they are at the airport. I've spoken to the Home Secretary for their safety. We are in touch with the embassy."(ANI)
Amid the hijab row, senior advocate Devadatt Kamat appearing for a petitioner told the Karnataka High Court on Thursday that the government order is illegal. A bench of three judges, comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi, was hearing various petitions challenging the ban on hijab in educational institutes in the state on Thursday. In his rejoinder arguments, senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat submitted that the government order has to be quashed and if it goes, there is no restriction on the exercise of fundamental rights. In a lighter vein, he said that he felt like a batsman and referred to arguments as fast deliveries. He called some arguments good length deliveries. He referred to some arguments as wide deliveries which Court has to decide whether to consider or not. He cited some arguments as no balls perhaps inadvertent-- overruled decisions, dissenting judgments were cited. Meanwhile, Advocate General submitted a report on the progress of investigation in the complaint registered against Campus Front of India (CFI) in a sealed cover. Senior Advocate AM Dar appearing for another petitioner argued that "India is neither a Hindu rashtra nor an Islamic republic but a democratic, sovereign, secular, republic where rule of law must prevail." The Karnataka High Court will continue hearing on Friday various petitions challenging the ban on headscarves in educational institutes. The Karnataka High Court will continue hearing on Friday various petitions challenging the ban on headscarves in educational institutes. 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. 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. (ANI)
Indian Navy regularly interacts with the Vietnamese People's Navy (VPN) through bilateral exercises, port visits and training cooperation which has resulted in enhanced understanding, interoperability and trust between the two navies, an official release said.

The latest edition of the Indian Navy's multilateral exercise MILAN 2022 is scheduled to commence from Friday in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam with the theme of 'Camaraderie-Cohesion-Collaboration' aiming to hone operational skills, and enable doctrinal learning in the maritime domain, through professional interaction between friendly navies.

MILAN 22 is being conducted over nine days in two phases with the harbour phase scheduled from February 25 to 28 and the sea phase from March 1 to 4.

Since the inception of MILAN in 1995, the event has been held biennially except for 2001, 2005, 2016, and 2020. While the 2001 and 2016 editions were not held due to International Fleet Reviews, the 2005 editions were rescheduled to 2006 due to the 2004 Tsunami. 2020 edition of MILAN was postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19. (ANI)
As per an official statement, the President will grace the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Lachit Barphukan in Guwahati on February 25.

President Kovind will grace and address the 19th convocation of Tezpur University at Tezpur on February 26. On the same day, he will visit the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and inaugurate a photo and archival exhibition on conservation there.

Earlier this week, the President visited Odisha and Andhra Pradesh from February 19 to 22. (ANI)
The Maharashtra government expressed concern over the fate of a large number of students, businessmen and tourists from the state who are stranded in Ukraine as Russia launched military operations against that country on Thursday. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed the Chief Secretary and others to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs on the arrangements being made for the rescue of Indians, particularly people from Maharashtra stuck in Kiev and other cities of Ukraine. "The CM has expressed concern over the safety of the people who have travelled to Ukraine for business, education or tourism purposes. He has directed all concerned officials to keep track of their wellbeing," an official from the CMO told IANS. Earlier, Higher & Technical Education Minister Uday Samant wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister for External Affair S. Jaishankar and others seeking their urgent intervention to bring back the students trapped there as all commercial flights have been closed. Samant pointed out that there are around 1,200 students from Maharashtra and their lives could be in danger due to non-availability of flights and other resources for survival during the war-crises that have erupted there. "The Government of India, in the past, has rescued Indians stuck in a similar situation in other countries. It is a kind request to urgently rescue these students and direct the concerned authorities to bring them back safely to the state," Samant said in his letter. Besides Maharashtra other states like Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka and Haryana, have also sent similar appeals to the Centre seeking intervention on priority. An estimated 20,000-plus Indians, mostly students are reported to be stranded in Ukraine, Europe's second largest country as Russia started pounding its former territory with bombs and missiles from Thursday morning. --IANS qn/skp/ ( 309 Words) 2022-02-24-19:22:03 (IANS)
Khan, who is on a two-day visit to Moscow, will exchange views on international and regional issues during his meeting with Putin, according to Radio Pakistan.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss bilateral relations, especially cooperation in the energy sector.

Before the meeting, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who is part of Khan's delegation in Moscow, confirmed that the Pakistan premier was on his way to meet President Putin, debunking "speculation" regarding the premier's visit being cut short amid Ukraine-Russia tensions.

Sharing the update on Twitter, Chaudhry said after the meeting between both leaders, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Valentinovich Novak would call on PM Imran and the delegation accompanying him at the hotel where they are staying.

In a tweet, the information minister said the premier's "visit is proceeding and PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule", Dawn reported.

According to Dawn News correspondent who is currently in Moscow, the PM's "important meeting" with Putin has been extended to three hours, which was earlier scheduled for an hour.

--IANS san/shs

( 203 Words)

2022-02-24-20:02:04 (IANS)
Ahead of the Budget session in Bihar, the opposition parties have prepared a list of issues to corner the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government. The Budget session of Bihar Assembly will begin on Friday. Bhai Virendra, the RJD MLA from Maner and chief spokesperson of the party, alleged that the Nitish Kumar government is involved in various kinds of expenditures, including monitoring illegal liquor trade using helicopters. "Bihar is considered to be a poor state, but Nitish Kumar is making provisions to track liquor trade using helicopters. It is an expensive affair involving misuse of taxpayers' money. The liquor ban has completely failed in Bihar. "No one is listening to Nitish Kumar who is calling for awareness among the common people through 'Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan'. Despite that, his government has approved the use of choppers to keep an eye on illegal liquor trade in Bihar," Virendra said. "This is a unique government, which always distances itself from the questions raised by the Opposition. Whenever Tejashwi Yadav or other leaders of the RJD ask questions, the ruling party evades them. We have prepared a list of questions related to unemployment, failure of liquor ban, frequent crimes, corruption, caste-based Census, and special status for Bihar, among others," Virendra said. The Congress has also prepared for taking on the NDA government on the floor of the House. Congress Legislative Party leader Ajit Sharma said that Nitish Kumar has given direction to install CCTVs in the entire premises of Vidhan Sabha to monitor violation of liquor ban. "Liquor is not banned only in the Vidhan Sabha, but in the entire Bihar. It is available everywhere, especially in the rural areas. What plans does Nitish Kumar have to tackle this mess, especially since many policemen are having alleged links with liquor mafias," Sharma asked. "Using helicopters is not a wise decision, as the matter pertains to law and order which is in a pathetic state in the remote areas," he added. --IANS ajk/arm ( 342 Words) 2022-02-24-20:04:02 (IANS)
Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Thursday informed that the total number of deaths caused by road accidents has increased in the national capital in 2021 as compared to 2020, that is, 1,180 people died last year and 1,151 in 2020. He also shared the data about major traffic offences including red light jumping, overspeeding, triple riding, etc. According to data shared by the Delhi Police during its annual press conference on Thursday, the total number of compounding challans are 1,74,166 and court challans are 10,71,712. "In 2020, the total accidents were 3,976 in Delhi, out of which 1,119 were fatal accidents. In 2021, as many as 4,512 accidents were reported, of which 1,145 were fatal accidents. A total of 1,151 died due to road accidents in Delhi in 2020 whereas, in 2021, a total of 1,180 died in fatal accidents reported," Asthana said while addressing a press conference. He also said that the police had registered over 700 cases in the Northeast Delhi riots out of which around 62 cases are being investigated by the crime branch. "As far as Northeast Delhi riots are concerned, we had registered over 700 cases. Out of these, around 62 cases are being investigated by the Crime Branch. One case of the larger conspiracy is being investigated by SPL Cell. Rest of the cases being probed at local Police Station level," he added. Northeast riots broke out on the night of February 23, 2020. Asthana further said that the cases registered against women also increased in the year 2021 as compared to the year 2020. "In the year 2021, a total of 1,969 cases were registered against women. In the year 2020, this number was 1,618. That is, an increase of 21 per cent. 99 per cent of first-timers and cases of rape by unknown persons have come down," he added. Similarly, where more than 7,000 cases of snatching were registered in the year 2020, in the year 2021 this number increased to about 8,800. That is an increase of about 17 per cent. In 2021, about 36,000 cases of motor vehicle thefts were registered, said Delhi Police. (ANI)
The Karnataka High Court bench, hearing the petitions filed by students pressing for their right of wearing hijab, has asked all counsel to conclude their submissions by Friday and if the submissions are over, it is likely to reserve the judgment thereafter. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the 10th day of the hearing, the three-judge bench heard the counsels' argument who vehemently pressed for the right of hijab. A.M. Dar, counsel for the girls who have been denied their right to wear hijab, submitted an elaborate argument quoting verses from Quran and stated that hijab is a life and death question for Muslim girls. He prayed before the bench to come down heavily on the state for passing an order restricting hijab in classrooms. Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat presented his rebuttal to arguments and citation of previous judgments against wearing of hijab in classrooms. He maintained that the Government Order, issued regarding wearing of hijab, clearly offends Article 14 of the Constitution. Denying entry to girls for wearing hijab is affecting their right to education which is paramount, he said. At this, Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, who is heading the bench, asked Kamat that he is insisting to wear headgear inside an institution which has a prescribed uniform. The CJ further said that as Kamat also says that it is the fundamental right and asked him to establish his (petitioner girls) right. He underlined that Article 25 (2) is a 'reformatory power' given to the state. Kamat maintained that wearing of hijab is indeed an essential practice under Islam. The Education Act and uniform rule cannot be a measure of social reform and wearing of hijab is not a regressive practice as it is portrayed by the AG, he added. Senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar appeared for lecturer of Udupi College who has been made a respondent and submitted his arguments in favor of prescription of uniform. The hijab row which started from Udupi Pre-University Girls' College has become a crisis in the state, with students refusing to attend classes without hijab and maintaining that they will wait until the final verdict is given. the high court had issued an interim order banning both hijab and saffron shawls or scarves inside the classrooms, the agitation is ongoing. --IANS mka/vd ( 391 Words) 2022-02-24-21:16:02 (IANS)
The Supreme Court said any default in the payment of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution by the employer is liable to imposition of penalty by authorities concerned. A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Abhay S Oka said: "We are of the considered view that any default or delay in the payment of EPF contribution by the employer under the Act is a sine qua non for imposition of levy of damages under Section 14B of the Act and mens rea or actus reus is not an essential element for imposing penalty/damages for breach of civil obligations/liabilities." It noted that that "it is well settled that mens rea or actus reus is not an essential element for imposing penalty or damages for breach of civil obligations and liabilities". The top court was hearing appeals against the common judgment and the order passed by the division bench of the Karnataka High Court in October 2009. The high court had observed that once the employer has failed to deposit the contribution of EPF or committed default, as mandated under the provisions of the Employees Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and after determination under Section 7A by the competent authority, levy of damages is a sine qua non and upheld the order for recovery of damages in the proceedings initiated under Section 14B of the Act. The top court dismissed the appeals of the company challenging the high court order. The company challenged imposition of damages of Rs 85,548 in addition to Rs 74,288 which it had not contributed towards EPF. The company did not comply with the provisions of Act from January 1, 1975 to October 31, 1988 and proceedings were initiated and dues towards contribution of EPF for this period was assessed at Rs 74,288 by the competent authority, which was paid by the company. Later, the authorities issued a notice under Section 14B for delayed payment of provident fund amount and directed the company to pay damages of Rs 85,548. The top court noted that the high court held that once the default in payment of contribution is admitted, the damages as being envisaged under Section 14B are consequential and the employer is under an obligation to pay the damages for delay in payment of contribution of EPF under Section 14B. The Regional Provident Fund Organisation counsel submitted that mens rea is not an essential element for imposing penalty for breach of civil obligations or liabilities and mere contravention of the provisions of the Act or default in making compliance of the mandate of law as regards the civil liabilities are concerned, mens rea or actus reus is not the requirement of law to be considered, while imposing damages like, in the instant case, under Section 14B. --IANS ss/vd ( 475 Words) 2022-02-24-21:20:02 (IANS)
He said that Bhopal's Gandhi Medical College will start offering MBBS courses in the Hindi language from this April.

Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, Vishwas Sarang said, "MBBS will be taught in Hindi medium. Bhopal's Gandhi Medical College to start offering MBBS course in Hindi from April."

"Various researches have also shown that learning in mother tongue is beneficial and has better results," the Minister added. (ANI)
The 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIH)s set up across the country through the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) are boosting new and emerging technologies to power national initiatives in key areas, an official statement said on Wednesday. Several technologies and technology platforms established under the mission have helped push impact in multiple sectors and they are bringing out several technological solutions for people-centric problems, it said. A total of 496 technological products, including 46 new technologies, have been developed through these TIHs. They include the first-of-its-kind Internet of Things (IoT) device that monitors ambient temperature during the transportation of vaccines, including Covid-19, medicines, blood samples, food and dairy products, meat products, and animal semen developed by researchers at the IIT Ropar Technology Innovation Hub - AWaDH and its startup ScratchNest. Besides, a team of scientists from IIT Bombay has developed tapestry method for screening Covid-19 under Remedial Action, Knowledge Skimming, and Holistic Analysis of Covid-19 (RAKSHAK), an effort supported by the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) at IIT Jodhpur, the Science and Technology Ministry statement said. An AI-driven platform that helped chest X-ray interpretation of images sent over WhatsApp was developed by ARTPARK at IISc Bangalore. It brought early intervention through rapid screening of Covid-19, aiding doctors who have no access to X-ray machines. A consortium launched by IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation and five other entrepreneurial start-up companies in the deep tech and engineering domain have been established Under the mission I-STAC.DB - Indian Space Technologies and Applications Consortium Design Bureau, the release said. The TIHs have also led to the establishment of 13 Technology Business Incubator (TBI), 54 startups and spin-off companies, and the creation of around 928 jobs. As many as 2,024 human resource development activities, including 1,083 skill development programmes, have been conducted, and 32 international collaborations started. The initiative has also given rise to 191 publications, IPR, and other intellectual activities, as well as 1,073 entrepreneurship development activities. "NM-ICPS, which fosters technological solutions in health, education, energy, environment, agriculture, strategy cum security, Industry 4.0 is being implemented through 25 TIHs established in top academic, and National R&D Institutes was approved by the Union Cabinet at a total cost of Rs 3,660 crores in December 2018," the release said. --IANS niv/vd ( 386 Words) 2022-02-23-21:38:02 (IANS)
Former chief minister of Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has called for the protection of linguistic diversity and said that language is the identity of a nation. Speaking at a seminar, organised by Balochi Labzan ki Diwan in connection with International Mother Language Day on Tuesday, Malik Baloch, also the National Party (NP) president, said that famine, earthquakes and epidemics were not the cause of the destruction of nations rather "giving up language, culture and customs is the ultimate reason behind the destruction of a nation's identity and even existence", Dawn newspaper reported. According to the United Nations, International Mother Language Day recognizes that languages play a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. Meanwhile, Balochistan is gifted with abundant minerals, oil and natural gas, gold and copper. Pakistan in many ways is dependent on Balochistan for its natural resources. Still, regrettably, the province has the highest rural poverty and deprivation rate with more than 62 per cent of its rural population living below the poverty line, according to International Forum for Rights and Security. Also, a large number of people in Balochistan live in poor housing conditions with minimum or no access to clean drinking water, hospital, education and electricity. The condition of a common person in the province is terrible. The people of Balochistan have been experiencing various forms of atrocities caused due to illegal state activities, resulting in their struggle against brutality and demand for an independent country. Since the late 1990s, the Federal government of Pakistan became infamous for its kill-and-dump policy in the province. (ANI)
They also exchanged views on the situation with Russia's recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics.

"Vladimir Putin stressed the objective necessity to take that decision based on the Ukrainian authorities' aggression in Donbas and their categorical refusal to implement the Minsk Agreements," Kremlin said in its official statement.

Additionally, Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave his views on the matter. Apart from that, the issues of working out "long-term legally binding security guarantees" for the Russian Federation were also discussed.

Kremlin added, "In this context, Vladimir Putin expressed his disappointment with the US and NATO response which came down to an attempt to ignore Russia's legitimate concerns and demands."

The presidents agreed to continue Russian-Turkish contacts in various formats. (ANI)
Several residents of provincial capital Tarin Kowt said that the man was flogged in the city's central square on February 21 in the morning, the report said.

Tarin Kowt resident Noor Agha, who witnessed the public flogging, said that the Taliban brought a man to the town square in a military vehicle.

They later announced the man's name and location over loudspeakers, saying they had arrested him in the Chora district for allegedly having extramarital sexual relations with a woman, RFE/RL reported.

According to Agha, the Taliban said the "public punishment is meant as a lesson."

Sultan Muhammad, a 65-year-old eyewitness, told Radio Azadi about the humiliation of the victim.

"The accused was humiliated, and I do not think he would be able to live a dignified life like anyone else in society after this," Muhammad said.

Photos and videos obtained show hundreds of people attended the flogging.

Such public punishments were common during the Taliban's previous regime from 1996 to 2001. But this is the first time since the militant group regained power in August that they meted out such a punishment in public.

No information was available about the fate of the woman allegedly involved in the case.

--IANS san/shs

( 233 Words)

2022-02-23-21:58:03 (IANS)
This comes after President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk and ordered the sending of Russian troops in the regions.

Both sides discussed the "extensive bilateral coordination on developing and executing swift and severe economic measures against Russia."

Furthermore, Secretary Blinken expressed "unwavering support" for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and commitment to European security.

"Secretary Blinken condemned the Russian Federation's decision to recognize the so-called "independence" of the purported republics controlled by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine and send Russian troops to these areas as a "peacekeeping" force. They discussed the extensive bilateral coordination on developing and executing swift and severe economic measures against Russia. Secretary Blinken expressed unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and commitment to European security," read the statement by the US State Department. (ANI)
State President Phuc leaves for Singapore visit

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse left Hanoi on February 24, beginning a three-day official visit to Singapore at the invitation of President Halimah Yacob.









State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse leave Hanoi for an official visit to Singapore. (Photo: VNA)



Phuc is accompanied by a number of ministers and leaders of localities that seek to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of defence, economic, trade, investment, and information and communication.



The visit is of special significance as it takes place at a time when the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries is developing well in all fields.



The two countries will celebrate 50 years of bilateral diplomacy and 10 years of their Strategic Partnership in 2023.



President Phuc is scheduled to meet with President Halimah, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and Singapore parliamentarians.



Phuc and Lee are set to jointly witness the signing of bilateral agreements that will further strengthen the multifaceted cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam.



He will also deliver a keynote speech at the Singapore-Vietnam Business Dialogue, to be organised by the Singapore Business Federation and the Vietnamese Embassy.
"The bill plans increasing expenses for Ukraine's defense. As such, it suggests increasing expenses for the budgetary program 'Development, purchase, upgrades and repairs of weapons, military equipment and materiel' by 9,096 billion hryvnias [$314 million] from 28.4 billion hryvnias [$980 million] to 37.5 billion hryvnias [1.3 billion]," an explanatory noted read.

The situation in Ukraine's Donbas region has escalated in recent days, with the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk people's republics (DPR and LPR) reporting increased shelling by Ukrainian forces and ordering general mobilization in anticipation of an offensive by the Ukrainian army. The evacuation of Donbas citizens, first of all, women, children and the elderly, to the Rostov region began late last week.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the DPR and LPR. (ANI/Sputnik)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has revoked the use of the Emergencies Act on Wednesday which he imposed during massive protests in Ottawa over covid restrictions. Addressing the news conference, Trudeau said "The situation is no longer an emergency," adding, "We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe." He said the Governor-General will officially sign off on the revocation in the coming hours, ending the state of emergency, reported CBC News. Earlier, Trudeau, on February 14, invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in 50 years to give the federal government extra powers to handle ongoing truckers blockades and protests against the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Then on February 21, MPs in the House of Commons voted to pass the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act in response to the convoy blockades in Ottawa and at border crossings however the latest announcement revokes the Act. The Emergencies Act, which replaced the War Measures Act in the 1980s, defines a national emergency as a temporary "urgent and critical situation" that "seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians and is of such proportions or nature as to exceed the capacity or authority of a province to deal with it." The Act gives special powers to respond to emergency scenarios affecting public welfare (natural disasters, disease outbreaks), public order (civil unrest), international emergencies or war emergencies. It grants the cabinet the ability to "take special temporary measures that may not be appropriate in normal times" to cope with an "urgent and critical situation" and the resulting fallout. It is still subject to the protection of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (ANI)
The United States reacted to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Moscow by saying that it is the responsibility of every "responsible" country to voice objection to Russia's actions in Ukraine. The US has informed Pakistan about its position on the situation in Ukraine, the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday. "We've communicated to Pakistan our position regarding Russia's further renewed invasion of Ukraine and we have briefed them on our efforts to pursue diplomacy over war," Price said during a press briefing when asked about Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's scheduled meeting with Russians President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The United States views its partnership with Ukraine as critical to US interests, Price added. Pakistani Prime Minister left for Moscow on Wednesday to meet President Vladimir Putin and discuss issues including economic cooperation comes hours after the US and a number of Western nations hit Russia with new sanctions for its military deployment into parts of eastern Ukraine. Also on the agenda will be the two counties and their mutual concerns in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and regional security cooperation. Khan is the first foreign leader to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russian troops entered the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine amid the escalating crisis between Russia and the West. Khan's visit to Moscow--the first by a Pakistani Prime Minister in 23 years--has been in the works for a while, but by going ahead as planned, experts see this as an implicit Pakistani endorsement of the Russian leader's actions. Earlier today President Joe Biden moved ahead with sanctions on the company in charge of building Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline after blocking such measures last year using a national security waiver. "Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers. These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate," Biden wrote in a statement. The move is part of a series of penalties the US and its allies have imposed on Russia this week in response to Putin's recognition of separatist territories in eastern Ukraine as independent. On Monday, Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of the breakaway people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Following this, Biden announced its first tranche of sanctions on Russia and affirmed its support to Ukraine. (ANI)
The security forces launched the operation by acting on an intelligence tip-off regarding the presence of terrorists' camp and hideout in the area, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement.

The operation was launched to arrest "externally sponsored enemies of peace in Balochistan," but when "the troops started cordoning the area, terrorists tried to flee their hideout and opened indiscriminate fire whereby, a heavy exchange of fire ensued," the statement added.

The 10 killed terrorists included a militant commander, and they were involved in recent firing and attack on security forces in Turbat and Pasni areas of Balochistan, Xinhua news agency reported.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered which was planned for use against security forces, said the statement.

"Operations to eliminate perpetrators of terrorist acts will continue and they will not be allowed to sabotage peace, stability and progress of Balochistan," it added.

--IANS int/khz/

( 195 Words)

2022-02-23-23:16:05 (IANS)
The heads of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to offer help "amid aggression from the Ukrainian Armed Forces". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said, "Written requests have come through for Russian President Vladimir Putin from Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the Lugansk People's Republic, and Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic," he said. "The heads of those republics on behalf of themselves and their peoples express their gratitude to the Russian president for the recognition of their states," reported TASS News Agency. This comes at a time when Russia has recognized the independence of Ukraine breakaway regions following which Biden has imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed its support to Ukraine. "Their appeals emphasize that amid the deteriorating situation and threats from Kiev, the republics' citizens are currently forced to flee their homes, and their evacuation to Russia is ongoing. Amid the continuing military aggression by Ukraine's Armed Forces, the republics are experiencing the destruction of civil and industrial infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and kindergartens, and worst of all, the deaths of the civilian population, including children," Peskov said, quoting the letters. "Kiev is continuing its military buildup along the line of disengagement, simultaneously receiving comprehensive support, including military ones, from the United States and other Western states. The Kiev regime is determined to resolve the conflict by force," the letters to Putin say, reported the news agency. "In view of the above, amid the current situation and in order to prevent civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster, the two republics' heads ask the Russian president to help in repelling the aggression of the Ukrainian armed forces and formations, in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of the friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaties between Russia and the republics," Peskov added. (ANI)
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, at a virtual event of the India-US Health Partnership roundtable on "Vaccine for All", on Tuesday, said that India's 3 vaccines -- Covaxin, Corbavex and Covishield -- were the products of partnerships that bridged sectors as well as borders. The Indian Embassy in the United States hosted this virtual event of the India-US Health Partnership roundtable on "Vaccine for All" on Tuesday. Bill Gates appreciated India's commitment to global health and said that it is a shared ambition. "Prime Minister Modi has talked about deepening India's commitment to global health by continuing to harness the country's science and technology talent to advance scientific discovery and the creation of new products. This shared ambition and partnerships are central to making it a reality," he said. He said that "The Quad country partnership with Bio E. to produce over a billion vaccines is an example of how these partnerships can be scaled to support an equitable response," he added. Acknowledging India's unique contribution he said, "accomplishments would have never helped so many people without India's unique contribution." "Over last year, India delivered over 150 million doses of covid vaccines to nearly 100 countries. At the same time, thanks to Indian vaccine manufacturers, almost every country in the world now is offering vaccines to protect children from diseases like Pneumonia and Rotavirus which have been leading causes of child's deaths for decades," he added. Talking about the partnership between the Government of India and his foundation, Bill Gates said, "Our foundation has partnered with the Indian Govt and the Indian private sector over the years on many successful vaccination campaigns and the provision of low-cost drugs to prevent and treat infectious diseases worldwide." Furthermore, he stressed that everyone needs to come together to move forward, "we are looking for opportunities to help develop MRNA capabilities across all of South Asia, East Asia and Africa. We have learned a lot about how to do better going forward. One thing is clear - everyone, governments, communities and the private sector need to come together," he said. The event was hosted by Ambassador of India to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Bill Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rep. Dwight Evans, Ms Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, WHO, Dr VK Paul, Member, Niti Aayog, Government of India, Prof. Peter Jay HOtez, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Ms Karen Freeman, Acting Assistant Administrator, USAID, Prof. Gangandeep Kang, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Board Member-CEPI and Ms Mahima Datla, CEO, Biological E, Hyderabad. At the outset, he pointed out the sheer importance of vaccines saying, "Increasing access to life-saving vaccines has been central to our Foundation's work since the beginning. And this pandemic has proven once again why formal vaccines are so critical. Covid has affected everyone on the planet." "The economic effects have been drastic, especially to the most vulnerable. Countless children missed out on education and many people, especially women have been forced to leave their jobs. The pandemic has undermined years of progress towards making the world healthier and more equitable." Touching upon the contribution of his foundation he said, "our foundation committed more than 2 billion dollars to help end the pandemic and helping people cope with its impacts." Moreover, Ambassador of India to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Tuesday said cutting-edge technology and research leadership of the US and capabilities of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, can be combined for producing affordable vaccines. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba said, "Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance which is a further escalation of the security situation."

Apart from Kuleba, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell Fontelles, said that request for assistance from DPR, LPR breakaway regions is a "very dangerous additional step" that would put thousands of lives at risk.

Borrell in a tweet said, "The request for assistance by Moscow from the so-called DPR/LPR breakaway regions announces a very dangerous additional step against #Ukraine's sovereignty that would put thousands of lives at risk. The EU strongly urges #Russia to refrain from any further escalatory actions."

This comes at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the Ukraine breakaway regions following which Biden imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed US' support to Ukraine.

Putin after his announcement also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine's breakaway regions.

In another key development, the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, on Wednesday approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions amid the escalating situation at the country's borders. (ANI)
Brahma Chellaney, a strategic expert, says that China is walking in the footsteps of the Taliban saying that the destruction of two massive Buddha statues built in the sixth century by China is similar to the destruction of numerous religious artefacts in Afghanistan by Taliban. China is putting efforts to do every bit to restrain Tibetans from exercising their rights. Chinese authorities have switched Tibetan language schools to Chinese. They are aiming to cut Tibetans off their ancient traditions, reported Tibet Press. Recently, they demolished a 99-foot statue of Lord Buddha in the Tibetan region of Sichuan. Chellaney compared the unfortunate incident to the Taliban destroying the Bamiyan Buddhas in 2001. Demolition of the two historic and giant 15th-century statues in Afghanistan had sent shock waves across the world, he said adding that China is walking in the footsteps of the Taliban. Even after gross human rights violations, the International Olympic Committee has assented to let China host the Olympics following which the event has attracted widespread criticism and profound concerns by the global powers, reported Tibet Press. Many activists fighting for human rights have blamed the IOC for supporting China, which is "committing atrocities against ethnic minorities". "Despite well-documented evidence of systematic rights violations by China, the IOC chose to place profit over people," the Tibetan exile group stated. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has even equated Beijing's rule with "cultural genocide". The human rights violations in the Xinjiang region have gained much global attention. Since 2014, nearly 1 million Uyghurs and other Turkic communities, which mainly practise Islam, have been placed in "re-education" centres. Many are deployed as forced labour in Xinjiang and other places. The last decade under Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been especially troublesome. (ANI)
An emergency session of the UN Security Council on the prevailing situation in Ukraine will begin at 09.30 pm (New York time) on Wednesday, as per Russia's Permanent Mission to the UN. "The UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine is scheduled today for 21:30 New York time and will be held in the format of an open briefing," the mission said. Ukraine requested an urgent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Meet after Heads of the Ukraine breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, have asked the Russian President Vladimir Putin for help. Taking to Twitter, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba said, "Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance which is a further escalation of the security situation." Apart from Kuleba, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell Fontelles, said that request for assistance from DPR, LPR breakaway regions is a "very dangerous additional step" that would put thousands of lives at risk. Borrell in a tweet said, "The request for assistance by Moscow from the so-called DPR/LPR breakaway regions announces a very dangerous additional step against #Ukraine's sovereignty that would put thousands of lives at risk. The EU strongly urges #Russia to refrain from any further escalatory actions." This comes at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the Ukraine breakaway regions following which Biden imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed US' support to Ukraine. Putin after his announcement also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine's breakaway regions. In another key development, the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, on Wednesday approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions amid the escalating situation at the country's borders. (ANI)
As many as 10 militants were killed in the Hoshab area of Balochistan in an exchange of fire with the security forces, The News International reported.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the possession of these militants, who were involved in recent firing and attack on security forces incidents in Turbat and Pasni areas, the publication reported.

In a separate operation, two militants were killed in an Intelligence Based Operation conducted by security forces on the reported presence of terrorists in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Arms and ammunition, including submachine guns, hand grenades, and a large quantity of multiple calibre rounds, were recovered from their possession.

The militants were involved in attacks against the security forces, according to the military's media wing Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR), Samaa TV reported.

In January alone, several terror incidents rocked Pakistan as major cities including Islamabad and Lahore were targeted. An Islamabad-based think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, recently published a report endorsing the fear that Pakistan has been slowly sliding into chaos and instability for the last couple of years.

Apart from the brewing terrorism in Balochistan province, the Baloch are also against the Pakistani security forces as the region has registered thousands of disappearances of political activists, intellectuals, journalists, and students. (ANI)
Campus News

Schumer announces legislation to cut cost of insulin

Sen. Charles Schumer addresses the high cost of insulin during a press conference held at UBMD Pediatrics in the Conventus building on the Downtown Campus. Photo: Sandra Kicman

By ELLEN GOLDBAUM

Two-thirds of the children we treat are on Medicaid. For them, the cost of their medications is the greatest single barrier to their care. 

The multidisciplinary pediatric endocrinology center that is a partnership between UB, UBMD Pediatrics and Oishei Childrens Hospital was the place on Monday where Sen. Charles Schumer chose to announce legislation that would cap what he called the outrageously high price of a monthly dose of insulin.

Holding up a tiny bottle, Schumer said, This little bottle costs $600 and the price keeps going up and up and up. It can add up to an annual total of $13,724 for a Type 1 diabetic, he said.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, would cap the cost at $35 per month for most patients with diabetes, far below the hundreds of dollars that it now costs.

Schumer said there are 1.7 million New Yorkers who have diabetes, and the incidence of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing around the world.

For patients like Emily Dickey, a freshman at UB who was diagnosed at the age of 5, the clinical struggles with the disease may now be dwarfed by the financial challenges of getting the drug she needs for her very survival.

Dickey pointed out that before the pandemic, people in Western New York could access much cheaper insulin by crossing the border into Canada, where the same amount of insulin that cost hundreds in the U.S. would only cost about $25. And they could buy it without a prescription.

This should be appalling to Americans, she said.

Schumer noted that the economics of having diabetes is becoming such a crisis that one in four patients with diabetes now report they are rationing insulin, reducing the amount they take based on how much insulin they can afford, instead of how much they need.

Thats a very real issue for many of the 1,000 children with diabetes who are treated at the UBMD Pediatrics Diabetes Center, said Steven Lipshultz, A. Conger Goodyear Professor and Chair of Pediatrics in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

When patients with diabetes cant get enough insulin, the risk of serious complications, emergency room visits and hospitalizations goes way up.

Lipshultz noted that with access to care and health equity issues representing some of the thorniest issues that providers can face, the research mission of the Jacobs School faculty is a key element.

Two-thirds of the children we treat are on Medicaid, said Lipshultz, who is president of UBMD Pediatrics. For them, the cost of their medications is the greatest single barrier to their care.

Schumer plans to bring the bipartisan legislation to a floor vote in March.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan landed in Moscow late on Wednesday on a two-day visit amid the ongoing crisis at the Ukraine-Russia border. This comes as tension continues to escalate after Russia's recognition of eastern Ukrainian enclaves of Donetsk and Luhansk. As a response to Moscow's actions, several Western nations hit Russia with fresh sanctions for its military deployment into parts of eastern Ukraine. Imran Khan's ill-timed visit, the first such trip by a Pakistani PM in 23 years, aims to push for the construction of a long-delayed, multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline to be built in collaboration with Russian companies. The Pakistan Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit and discuss issues concerning economic cooperation. Earlier, Pakistani media reports had said that Moscow and Islamabad were in talks to finalise a plan for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit this year. A Pakistani newspaper said Putin's visit was under discussion for the last two years but could not materialise because of several reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Moscow also wants that there must be "big-ticket projects" that the Russian president would announce. Before Imran Khan's departure, a Pakistani geopolitical analyst had pointed out that the visit did not come at a suitable time. Analyst and Balochistan politician Jan Achakzai noted that Russia didn't seek Pakistan's support, nor did the US stop Pakistan from going to Moscow. He also said that Russia is not going to give Pakistan anything because Moscow losing India for the sake of Islamabad's support is not an option. The Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Delhi on Wednesday stressed that Imran Khan's visit to Moscow would in no way affect relations between India and Russia. Addressing an online briefing in New Delhi, he also welcomed India's stand at the Security Council on the ongoing developments in Ukraine. (ANI)
Condemning Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine", US President Joe Biden said that the premeditated war will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human. "The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," said Biden, as per a statement released by White House. Asserting that the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way, Biden said that Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable, he added. The US President further informed that he will be monitoring the situation from the White House as of now and will meet with his G7 counterparts in the morning. "Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security," he said. Biden said that the US will also coordinate with its NATO allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the alliance. "Tonight, Jill (First Lady Jill Biden) and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine," he added. Biden's statement comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a special "military operation" to protect Donbas, the separatist-held region in eastern Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday. Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize Ukraine and also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Notably, Putin recognized the independence of the Ukraine breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk following which Biden imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed the US' support to Ukraine. Putin after his announcement also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine's breakaway regions. Following this, the Ukrainian Parliament, Verkhovna Rada, on Wednesday approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions amid the escalating situation at the country's borders. (ANI)
Announcing a special "military operation" in the Donbas region, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize Ukraine and defend people "suffering persecution and genocide" by the Kiev regime. "I have taken the decision to carry out a special military operation. Its goal will be to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime. For this we will aim for demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine," said Putin, asking Ukrainian soldiers to lay down arms. "Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history," he added. This comes hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has not posed and will not pose a threat to Russia. In an emotional appeal delivered largely in Russian, Zelenskyy said, "You are being told that Ukraine can pose a threat to Russia. "It was not like this in the past, it is not like this now and it will not be so in the future. You demand security guarantees from NATO. We also demand guarantees of our security - from you, from Russia, and other guarantors of the Budapest memorandum," Zelenskyy said in a video address. Ukrainian President also refuted Moscow's claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives. The White House on Wednesday had warned that Putin will face significant consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the Russian President to stop "attacking Ukraine" and to give peace a chance, speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday night. "The day was full of rumours and indications of an offensive against Ukraine was imminent. In the recent past, there were several situations with similar indications, similar rumours," Guterres told the council. "I was wrong. And I would like not to be wrong again today," he added. (ANI)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, announced the country's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday and added that Ukrainian cities are under strikes. "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," Kuleba tweeted. This tweet comes less than an hour after Putin announced a special "military operation" to protect Donbas in eastern Ukraine. Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya, told UN Security Council "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself." "The root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself, who for many years were sabotaging its obligations under the (Minsk agreement)," said Nebenzya. Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. Condemning Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine", US President Joe Biden said that the premeditated war will bring a catastrophic loss of life. "The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said in a White House statement. Asserting that the US and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way, Biden said that Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable, he added. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres asked the Russian President to stop "attacking Ukraine" and give peace a chance, Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday night, the UN chief said, "The day was full of rumours and indications of an offensive against Ukraine was imminent." "I was wrong. And I would like not to be wrong again today," he added. (ANI)
The Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations has appealed to its members to "stop the war" at an emergency meeting of the Security Council late on Wednesday (local time). "It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war," Ukrainian envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya was quoted as saying by CNN during the meeting of the security council. At an emergency meeting, Kyslytsya said it was "too late" for de-escalation and urged other countries to help stop the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a full-scale invasion, announced Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and added that Ukrainian cities are under strikes. "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," Kuleba tweeted. This tweet comes soon after Putin announced a special "military operation" to protect Donbas in eastern Ukraine. Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself." "The root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself, who for many years were sabotaging its obligations under the (Minsk agreement)," said Nebenzya. Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. Condemning Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine", US President Joe Biden said that the premeditated war will bring a catastrophic loss of life. "The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said in a White House statement. Asserting that the US and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way, Biden said that Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. (ANI)
Taking to his Twitter handle, Johnson said that he is appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the next steps.

"President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively," he stated.

This tweet comes soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special "military operation to protect Donbas" in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations has appealed to its members to "stop the war" at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

"It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war," Ukrainian envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya was quoted as saying by CNN during the meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

However, defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

"The root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself, who for many years was sabotaging its obligations under the (Minsk agreement)," said Nebenzya.(ANI)
Condemning Russia's military operation in eastern Ukraine, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday called on Moscow to withdraw all military from the country. "Canada condemns - in the strongest possible terms - Russia's egregious attack on Ukraine. These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of Russia's obligations under international law and the Charter of the UN," Trudeau tweeted. "Canada calls on Russia to immediately cease all hostile and provocative actions against Ukraine, and withdraw all military and proxy forces from the country. Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected," he said in a subsequent tweet. After Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special "military operation" in the Donbas region, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations requested the members of the UN to "stop the war." At an emergency meeting of the Security Council, Ukrainian envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya said, "It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war." Kyslytsya added it was "too late" for de-escalation and urged other countries to help stop the conflict. Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday said Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and added that Ukrainian cities are under strikes. "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," Kuleba tweeted. Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself." Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. (ANI)
The fertilizers have become costlier and unavailable and if the situation does not change, there will be a decline in the production of the crops, said Chaudhary Shaukat, regional president of Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP), a body representing smallholder farmers.

Complaining that the selling price of the crops is lower than the expenses, the protesters demanded exemption on general sales tax on seeds and agricultural tools.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has broken all the records of tyranny and injustice, the vernacular media reported JI chief Siraj-ul Haq as saying.

Haq further said that all departments and sectors are crumbling due to the wrong policies of the government that has become a slave of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The protesting farmers and laborers will surround the Punjab assembly if their demands are not fulfilled, he added.

The agitators also demanded immediate release of arrested farmers, Pakistan's vernacular media reported.

Notably, as many as 200 farmers were arrested in Lahore as they staged a sit-in protest against an exorbitant hike in petroleum prices, unavailability of fertilizer, and higher prices of compost and demanded the reversal of the government decisions, Dawn newspaper reported. (ANI)
In a brief video address, Zelensky said Russia has announced a special military operation in the Donbas region and is conducting strikes on its military infrastructure and border guards.

"We're introducing martial law in the whole territory of our country," Zelensky said in a statement. He also informed that he spoke with US President Biden and Washington has already started mobilizing international support.

"Today each of you should keep calm. Stay at home if you can. We are working. The Army is working. The whole sector of defense and security is working," he added.

In a statement, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said, "The purpose of Russia's offensive military operation is to destroy the Ukrainian state, seize Ukrainian territory by force, and establish control through occupation."

According to the statement, Russian troops are attacking Ukrainian cities from various directions, including the temporarily occupied Donbas and Crimea, as well as the northeastern region.

"This is an act of war, an attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a gross violation of the UN Charter and fundamental norms and principles of international law," the ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry also said Ukraine has activated its right to self-defense in accordance with international law. "Ukraine calls on the international community to act immediately. Only united and decisive steps can stop Vladimir Putin's aggression against Ukraine."

Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine.

A number of countries, including the US and Canada, have condemned Russia's military operation. (ANI)
The Russian Defence Ministry has clarified that the Russian army is not carrying out any missile, aviation or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine and is not targeting civilians, Sputnik News reported.

"Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being put out of action by [Russia's] high-precision means of destruction," the news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

The ministry added that the military action does not threaten the Ukrainian civilian population.

The ministry's remarks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special "military operation to protect Donbas" in eastern Ukraine.

However, Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday said Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and added that Ukrainian cities are under strikes.

The Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations requested the members of the UN to "stop the war."

At an emergency meeting of the Security Council, Ukrainian envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya said, "It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war."

Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. (ANI)
Most of my heroes are people who are older than me  people I want to be like when I grow up. Like former Gov. Parris Glendening, the former governor who has done so much for the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. But one of my heroes is considerably younger  Democrat Sen. Sarah Elfreth, the youngest woman ever to be elected to the Maryland Senate.

I was acquainted with Sarah when she worked at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, before she was elected to the District 30 seat in 2018, and I was impressed with her energy and vision. Since then, shes proven to be a dynamic force for the environment, serving as the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bay Critical Areas and most recently taking on the mantle of chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

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The goal of the commission is to serve as catalyst to coordinate legislation and policy action between Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia to restore the bay. I cant think of a stronger candidate for that role than Elfreth. Sarah and I got together last weekend for a hike through Franklin Point State Park. She wanted to bring me up to speed on a new piece of legislation shes introducing to boost funding for state parks, The Great Maryland Outdoors Act.

Jeff Holland, Sarah Elfreth, and Millie at Franklin Point State Park (Courtesy Photo)

It was on one of those early-hint-of-spring days when we met at the park in Shady Side. Sarah was as happy to meet Millie, my rescue retriever, as Millie was to meet her. I strapped myself into my new dual harness rig with me on one end of the tether and Millie on the other. I highly recommend this system; its hands-free dog walking, even more companionable and far more comfortable than a hand-held leash.

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As we strolled down the lane toward the waters edge, Sarah noted that over the past couple of years, during the peak of the pandemic, visitation to Maryland state parks increased more than 45 percent. Ive seen that myself in my rambles, and not just in state parks, but in county and city parks as well. Thats a good thing, she agreed, but its put a strain on the parks infrastructure and staff, both of which have been seriously underfunded in the past.

Her bill is the result of a year-long study from a commission led by Elfreth, Glendening and Del. Eric Luedtke of Montgomery County. The study lists a number of recommendations, including increasing Maryland Park Service staff; supporting projects that mitigate the effects of climate change such as flood barriers and forest buffers; relieving overcrowding by increasing the number of state parks, particularly sites of historic significance and ones that can offer outdoor recreation opportunities to minority communities; improving amenities at existing parks and devoting $68 million to catching up on a backlog of needed repairs; and increasing public access to our waterways with paddle boat launches and the like.

We stopped in the glade overlooking Deep Creek, which in reality is a tidal pond thats about as deep as a toddlers swimming pool. If ever a site could use some investment, its Franklin Point. You can launch a canoe or a kayak by tipping it off the edge of the pond, but outside of a portable toilet and a couple of picnic tables, there isnt much there except 477 acres of salt marsh, meadow and forest. The park is maintained and monitored by volunteers.

Jeff Holland, Sarah Elfreth, and Millie at Franklin Point State Park (Courtesy Photo)

Sarah and I crossed a raised berm, actually the overgrown landing strip of the family owned air park that occupied this area up until the early 1990s, like the one at Lee Airport in nearby Edgewater. Its cluttered with the sweet gums that are among the first trees to appear when a meadow transitions to forest.

The property was doomed for development until the nonprofit South Arundel Citizens for Responsible Development (SACReD) fought for its rescue. Eventually, the state of Maryland took it over, but lacking the resources to do anything with it, they padlocked the gate and let it lie fallow for 20 years. In 2015, the West & Rhode Riverkeeper organization signed an agreement with the Maryland Park Service to provide the volunteer people power to open the park to the public.

I had the privilege of serving as the riverkeeper at that time, and I was blessed with a great team of volunteers. They got busy cleaning up the site, creating trails, and providing monitors to keep an eye on the place. It opened to the public in 2017 and is now open every day, all year long, sunrise to sunset, and free of charge. Still, it needs a lot of work to reach its full potential.

As Sarah and I talked, Millie led us along a grassy path that eventually tunneled through a grove of longleaf pines. The trail peeked out onto the narrow channel that leads from the pond through the marsh and out onto the open Chesapeake Bay. The senator noted how important our parks are, not just for the health of citizens and the environment of Maryland, but also for the health of the economy.

State parks generate more than $14 billion in consumer spending yearly, 109,000 direct jobs, $4.4 billion in wages and salaries, and $951 million in state and local tax revenue. The senator rattled off these facts from the top of her head. I didnt stop to write all of that down in my reporters notebook, although I could have, seeing as I had both hands free, but I looked up her testimony in support of the bill when I got home. I concurred that public parks are a good investment all around.

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The grassy trail ends in a loop where it touches the marsh, but a side trail marked with a white blaze leads into the oak and holly forest. Millie led us into the woods and out onto the open marsh. At one time, the landing strip ended about there in ramps where seaplanes could be launched into the water. Now, its an expanse of cord grass and bayberry, with a wall of tall, invasive common reeds encroaching on the native marsh plants.

Far off to the east, we could see the treetops of Franklin Point proper, a spit of land that extends down from the end of Columbia Beach Road. Its separated from the rest of the park by this marsh and another shallow channel called Flag Pond. The exposed shore of the point on the bay side has severely eroded over the years. There have been plans in the works to protect this site with a living shoreline, but somehow that project has been stalled. Perhaps the senators legislation can give it a kick-start.

Sarah wondered if there was a way to get from here to there, but there isnt. Ive long wrestled with how to connect the two disparate sections of the park. A boardwalk would be nice, but that would be expensive and also block sunlight from any underwater grasses that might be growing below. It wasnt until I got to bed that night that the perfect solution came to me.

Ive been reading David McCulloughs amazing book, The Pioneers, about the people who moved westward in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Early in the saga, he writes about a group of hardy settlers on their way through the wilds of Pennsylvania to the Ohio country. They had crossed Chestnut Ridge in 1788 and on Feb. 14 they reached Sumerills Ferry on the Youghiougheny River, thirty miles southeast of Pittsburgh. I dropped the book and picked up my mothers grandfathers book of our family history. That wasnt Sumerills Ferry, it was Simerals ferry, owned by one of my ancestors, Alexander Simeral and his brother, John.

It occurred to me that we could connect the main section of the park to Franklin Point with a ferry across Flag Pond. It could be something as simple as an aluminum jon boat and a cable. Wouldnt that be a hoot?

Senator Sarah, see if you can write that into your bill.

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The Great Maryland Outdoors Act is SB541.

Franklin Point State Park

Franklin Point State Park is located in southern Anne Arundel County. Access is on the Dent Road entrance off of Shady Side Road between Churchton and Shady Side. Its managed by the staff at Sandy Point State Park. Wear waterproof boots and beware of the atrocious plethora of ticks as the weather gets warmer.

For information and directions, and to get the combination of the lock on the gate to the boat launch, look up Franklin Point State Park on the Maryland Park Service web site, dnr.maryland.gov.
Taking to Twitter, Biden said he spoke with Zelensky via a secure phone call after the Ukrainian President reached out to him.

"President Zelenskyy reached out to me tonight and we just finished speaking. I condemn this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation, including tonight at the UN Security Council," Biden tweeted.

The US President said Zelensky asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against Russia's "aggression".

"Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the Leaders of the G7, and the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia. We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," he said in a subsequent tweet.

After Russian President Vladimir Putin announced military operations in the Donbas region, Zelensky on Thursday morning imposed martial law, urging people to remain calm.

In a brief video address, Zelensky said Russia has announced a special military operation in the Donbas region and is conducting strikes on its military infrastructure and border guards.

A number of countries, including the US and Canada, have condemned Russia's military operation. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO have also condemned Moscow's actions.

Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. (ANI)
"We strongly condemn Russia's unjustified attack on Ukraine. In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives. We will hold the Kremlin accountable," Leyen tweeted.

Separately, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia's actions, saying that Moscow's operation in Donbas violates international law.

"I strongly condemn Russia's reckless attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. This is a grave breach of international law and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. The NATO allies will meet to address Russia's renewed aggression," the NATO chief tweeted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday morning introduced martial law, urging citizens to remain calm amid Russia's military operations.

In a brief video address, Zelensky said Russia has announced a special military operation in the Donbas region and is conducting strikes on its military infrastructure and border guards.

"We're introducing martial law in the whole territory of our country," Zelensky said in a statement. He also informed that he spoke with US President Biden and Washington has already started mobilizing international support.

Ukraine has closed the airspace for civilian aircraft "due to the high risk of aviation safety."

"The Joint Civil-Military Air Traffic Management System of Ukraine on the use of Ukraine's airspace, in accordance with the requirements of the Air Code of Ukraine and the Regulations on the use of Ukrainian airspace, has taken urgent measures to close Ukraine's airspace to civilian airspace users," the authority said in a statement.

Multiple explosions were heard near the main airport in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev soon after Russia announced a military operation in Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday.

Several reports indicate several explosions in the Boryspil area to the east of the capital, CNN reported. (ANI)
India is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine, sources said on Thursday as the situation continues to escalate near the Ukrainian border after Russia launched its military operations in the Donbas region. "Focus is on safety and security of Indians, particularly students. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) control room is being expanded and made operational on a 24x7 basis," the sources added. Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Meanwhile, Ukraine has introduced martial law, urging citizens to remain calm amid Russia's military operations. In a brief video address, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed that he spoke with US President Biden and Washington has already started mobilizing international support. Moreover, Ukraine has closed the airspace for civilian aircraft "due to the high risk of aviation safety." The Indian embassy in Ukraine said the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain. "Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit." Expressing concern over ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, India on Thursday said that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis which may undermine the peace and security of the region. India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti reiterated India's call for immediate de-escalation of tensions. "The situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis. We express our deep concern over the developments, which if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region," he said. (ANI)
However, the Russian military has denied the claims, the TASS news agency reported.

"Message from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ... 5 planes and a helicopter of the aggressors were shot down in the area of the Armed Forces today," the Defence of Ukraine said in a tweet in Ukrainian.

Leaders from a number of counties, including the UK, US, Canada and European Union, have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukrainian cities are under strikes from Russia.

"Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," Kuleba tweeted.

In another tweet, Kuleba said the world must act immediately.

"Future of Europe and the world is at stake. To-do list: Devastating sanctions on Russia NOW, including SWIFT. Fully isolate Russia by all means, in all formats. Weapons, equipment for Ukraine. Financial assistance. Humanitarian assistance," he said.

Russia has defended its actions in Ukraine, saying "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. (ANI)
Beijing imposing sanctions against Sri Lanka after Columbo rejected the fertilizer consignment of a Chinese firm underscores the souring relations between the two countries, said a think tank, Policy Research Group (POREG). China weaved its way into Sri Lanka through its cunning policy of lending shoulder to countries shunned by international communities for poor human rights records. Similarly, Beijing warmed up to Colombo when Sri Lanka became an outcast state with allegations of state-sponsored human rights abuses during Tamil Tigers-led insurgency in the country. In 2007, when the USA ended its military aid to Sri Lanka and India refused to sell offensive weapons, China along with military equipment provided aid of USD 1 billion to Sri Lanka, the think tank reported With its habitual policy of promising economic assistance to a pariah state, Beijing has now Colombo enmeshed in a debt trap, luring it with the bait called the 'Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)'. In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping had announced massive loans and investments for Colombo including the development of the Hambantota port. However, China gained control of Hambantota on a 99-year lease in a debt-swapping deal to the tune of USD 1.2 billion, POREG reported. Another Chinese venture, Colombo Port City development project, worth USD 1.4 billion, is also being criticized for Beijing trying to turn a key section of the capital city into a Chinese colony under the garb of transforming Colombo's waterfront. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Sri Lanka in January 2022 also did not offer any respite to the island nation that immediately needs to repay nearly USD 2 billion to Beijing. Notably, Sri Lanka's foreign debt obligations are to the tune of over USD 7 billion, according to the think tank. Sri Lanka's dynamic relations with China demonstrate that Beijing stops at nothing when it comes to the promotion of its own strategic interests. "The Bamboo Capitalist has proved to be worst than the Shakespearian Shylock with no concern whatsoever for the Lankan plight," the think tank quoted a Lankan diplomat as saying. (ANI)
The present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain and Indian citizens should remain calm and safe, the Indian embassy in Kiev said on Thursday as the situation in Ukraine continues to escalate following the Russian military operation in Donbas region. The advisory was issued in the light of Russian military operations in the Donbas region which has prompted criticism and sanctions from several western countries. "The present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain. Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit," the embassy said. "All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries," the advisory added. The embassy said further advisories will be issued for any updates. Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. Amid Russia's military operations, Ukraine has introduced martial law and urged citizens to remain calm. Ukraine has closed the airspace for civilian aircraft "due to the high risk of aviation safety." Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself." Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. (ANI)
Russia must "immediately" end military operations in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday as he extended solidarity with Kiev. "France strongly condemns Russia's decision to wage war on Ukraine. Russia must end its military operations immediately," he said in a tweet on Thursday. "France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands with Ukrainians and is working with its partners and allies to end the war." The Elysee Palace informed that Macron spoke with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky during which Zelensky asked for "multiple interventions" to support Ukraine. He also requested "unity in Europe." Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said these are among the darkest hours for Europe since World War II. "A major nuclear power has attacked a neighboring country and is threatening reprisals on any other state that may come to its rescue." "The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms. The President of the European Council, [Charles] Michel has called for a meeting of the European Council this evening. And they will agree and provide political guidance to adopt the strongest package, the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented," he added. In a separate statement, EU chief President von der Leyen said the 27 member bloc will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions, to European Leaders for approval. "With this package, we will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia. We will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernize," she added. Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Amid the closure of Ukrainian airspace, the Indian embassy in Kiev has said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine. The information was conveyed through an advisory that comes in the backdrop of Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The embassy said the schedule for special flights has been cancelled due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace. "Alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian nationals. The embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalized so that Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country," added the advisory. It further suggested that Indian citizens carry their passports and necessary documents at all times. The embassy also issued helpline numbers while directing the citizens to keep following its website and social media for updates on relocation arrangements. Earlier, the embassy has said that the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain and Indian citizens should remain calm and safe. "All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries," it had said. Meanwhile, leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Notably, Ukraine has introduced martial law, urging citizens to remain calm amid Russia's military operations. Moreover, it has closed the airspace for civilian aircraft "due to the high risk of aviation safety." (ANI)
Ukrainian ambassador to India Igor Polikha on Thursday termed Russia's military operation in Ukraine a case of 'blatant aggression' which it says has led to civilian casualties. Addressing a press briefing here in New Delhi, Polikha said in spite of the assurances of the strikes only on the military installations, the Russian troops are crossing the border. "It's a case of blatant aggression which started at 5 o'clock in the morning. We have confirmed information that a lot of Ukrainian aerodromes, military airports, military installations were attacked by bombs and missile attacks," Polikha told media persons. "Some attacks happened on the outskirts of the capital. Some attacks happened deep inside the territory of Ukraine. We're getting the first information about casualties among our soldiers and among the civilian population," he added. Giving the update on the situation in Ukraine, the envoy said "we have first civilian casualties even on outskirts of the capital." "There's fighting in some areas. According to information of our Ministry of Defence, Ukrainian side shot down 5 Russian fighter planes, 2 helicopters, we destroyed 2 tanks and several trucks," Ukrainian envoy added. The Indian embassy in Kiev earlier today said the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain and Indian citizens should remain calm and safe amid escalating situation in Ukraine following the Russian military operations. The advisory was issued in the light of Russian military operations in the Donbas region which has prompted criticism and sanctions from several western countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. Amid Russia's military operations, Ukraine has introduced martial law and urged citizens to remain calm. Ukraine has closed the airspace for civilian aircraft "due to the high risk of aviation safety." Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. (ANI)
The new American law prohibiting foreign companies to source their imports from forced labor in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) has infuriated Beijing, local media reported. Banning imports from Xinjiang, Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (ULFPA), signed by US President Joe Biden on December 23, 2021, also imposes sanctions on foreign individuals responsible for forced labor in the region, The HK post reported. The UFLPA presumes that a product with any link to Xinjiang or to trafficked Uyghurs is made with forced labor. Thus, all goods manufactured even partially in the XUAR will be considered a product of forced labor resulting in the prohibition of its entry at US ports. Under such an act, an importer will have to furnish clear evidence that the imported product was not a result of forced labor, the publication reported citing Bloomberglaw. It added that under such conditions, the companies sourcing goods from China will have to review their supply chains to ensure that none of the imported products, starting from its raw materials, is made with forced labor in China. Notably, China has been rebuked globally for the crackdown on Uyghur Muslims by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities, and sending members of the community to undergo some form of forcible re-education or indoctrination. US lawmakers have accused China of imprisoning as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups in a system of extrajudicial mass internment camps, where they are forced to produce textiles, electronics, food products, shoes, tea, and handicrafts. Beijing, on the other hand, has repeatedly denied all accusations of being engaged in abuses in Xinjiang. (ANI)
A 16-year-old boy and 18-year-old were shot in separate incidents in the city Wednesday , Baltimore Police said.

Officers arrived around 1 p.m. to the 1800 block of West North Ave. and found a teen suffering from a gunshot wound in the thigh, police said. Emergency medical services transported the 16-year-old to a local hospital.

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The injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, police said.

Later Wednesday, Eastern District patrol officers were sent to an area hospital for a walk-in shooting victim at an area hospital around 8:15 p.m.

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Officers found an 18-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the left shoulder. Police said it is believed that he has non-life-threatening injuries.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

Police said the victim was shot in the area of Presstman and North Calhoun streets.

Wednesdays shootings are among a series of incidents this month involving young people who have been injured by gunfire.

A 17-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was shot in the chest Feb. 17 in the Oliver neighborhood in East Baltimore. Baltimore police located a 16-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen Feb. 9 in the Berea neighborhood of Northeast Baltimore. Hours earlier, officers were called to a local hospital Feb. 9 for a 17-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound. The teen was walking on South Franklintown Road in Shipley Hill in Southwest Baltimore when he was shot by an unidentified suspect, police said.

Western district detectives are investigating Wednesdays shooting and ask anyone with information to call investigators at 410-396-2477 or make an anonymous call to the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-866-7LOCK-UP. Anonymous tips can also be made online to Metro Crime Stoppers by visiting the MCS Maryland website.
Calling India a "very influential global player", the Ukrainian ambassador to India Igor Polikha on Thursday sought India's support amid the ongoing military operation from Russia in Ukraine. Speaking at a press briefing here in New Delhi, Polikha said, don't forget that India was the leader of the non-alignment movement for many years. "Non-alignment movement was created in the time of the Cold war just to prevent world tension. It was based on the principle of peace," he said, adding that India was the architecture of world-famous principles -- 'Panchsheel'. At the present movement, "we are asking and pleading" for the support of India, he added. "I am an ambassador to India. Of course, the position and the task of every ambassador is to make the position of his country make more favourable. ...India is UNSC's non-permanent member. India is a very influential global player," he said. Polikha said that up to the last moment the world was hoping for a peaceful solution. "Up to the last moment, our President was asking for bilateral negotiations with Russia," he said. "We have confirmed information that a lot of Ukrainian aerodromes, military airports, military installations were attacked by bombs and missile attacks," Polikha told media persons. "Some attacks happened on the outskirts of the capital. Some attacks happened deep inside the territory of Ukraine. Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" residents in eastern Ukraine. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. The Indian embassy in Kiev today said the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain and Indian citizens should remain calm and safe amid escalating situation in Ukraine. (ANI)
A Tibetan monk, who spent more than 20 years in Chinese prisons, died at the age of 61. Ngawang Gyaltsen, one of the 21 monks of Lhasa's Drepung Monastery who in 1987 took to the streets in a show of support for the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence, passed away on Monday, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). For his actions in 1987, Gyaltsen was convicted of "undermining national security" and remained in prison until his release in 2006. "It is so heartbreaking to hear about the passing away of another political prisoner. We must offer our prayer and with his demise the Tibetan youths in exile must realize the courage, determination and aspiration of our brothers and sisters inside Tibet," RFA quoted Ngawang Woebar, another monk who participated in the 1987 uprising, as saying. "Ngawang Gyaltsen committed his whole life to speaking against repressive Chinese policies in Tibet. He continuously protested the (Chinese Communist Party) regime following the 1987 uprising and dedicated his life to Tibet." Following his release, he entered the Shag Rongpo Gaden Dargyaling Monastery in Nagchu County (in Chinese Naqu), where he had been enrolled as a child. He was a well-known artist who studied thangka painting and was proficient at ritual dance, according to RFA. RFA further reported that at that monastery, Gyaltsen resisted a re-education campaign imposed by Chinese government officials based there. They required the monks to denounce the Dalai Lama and other important Tibetan Buddhist figures. "He was later forced by authorities to leave the monastery, and restrictions were placed on his movements and on whom he was allowed to contact. He was again taken away by police "late at night" on February 24, 2015," sources told RFA's Tibetan Service at the time. Gyaltsen was later tried on unknown charges and was sent to Drapchi prison in Tibet's regional capital Lhasa to serve a three-year term in addition to his time spent in pre-trial detention, Free Tibet said after his release in 2019. Tibet was formerly an independent country that was conquered and absorbed into China by force 70 years ago. Tibetans living in Tibet and Tibetan areas of western China frequently complain of discrimination and human rights abuses, and say they fear Beijing is pursuing aggressive policies aimed at eradicating their national and cultural identity. (ANI)
"Kiev is terminating diplomatic relations with Moscow amid Russia's military operation," the Russian News Agency Sputnik quoted Zelenskyy as saying.

Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

"We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia," Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian authorities will inform the press on how the situation unfolds every hour, he added.

While speaking, Zelenskyy switched to the Russian language to address "Russian people."

"I know that this information is absolutely not shown on your TV channels, a lot of things are blocked in social networks. But blocking is evil, ... it is impossible to block history," he said, before switching back to the Ukrainian language, Sputnik reported.

Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region.

Amid Russia's military operations, Ukraine has introduced martial law and urged citizens to remain calm. Ukraine has closed the airspace for civilian aircraft "due to the high risk of aviation safety."

Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. (ANI)
"The Government of Nepal has been closely following the developments in Ukraine. Nepal calls on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint not to escalate tension," Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

As a member of the United Nations, Nepal views that the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as enshrined in the UN charter are sacrosanct and must be fully respected by all member states, read the statement.

Recognition of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent entities goes contrary to the provisions of the UN charter, the statement said.

Nepal opposes any use of force against a sovereign country in any circumstance andbelieves in peacful resolution of disputes through diplomacy and dialogue, the statement added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. (ANI)
"Received a call from EU HRVP @JosepBorrellF. Discussed the grave situation in Ukraine and how India could contribute to de-escalation efforts," Jaishankar tweeted.

Earlier today, the declaration was made by Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the European Union on the invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation.

"The European Union (EU) condemns in the strongest possible terms the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation. We also condemn the involvement of Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine and call on it to abide by its international obligations," the European Union said in a statement.

EU demanded Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease Russian military operations immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine.

"Russia bears full responsibility for this act of aggression and all the destruction and loss of life it will cause. It will be held accountable for its actions," the statement read.

The statement noted that Russia's military attack against Ukraine - an independent and sovereign State - is a flagrant violation of international law and the core principles on which the international rules-based order is built.

The EU calls on the international community to demand from Russia the immediate end of this aggression, which endangers international peace and security at a global scale, according to the statement. (ANI)
The vaccines were gifted in a ceremony at Nepali Army Headquarters, Tundikhel, read a statement of Embassy of India in Kathmandu.

The vaccines were handed over by Lt Gen PN Ananthanarayanan, SM, President Gorkha Brigade to Lt Gen Bal Krishna Karki, VCOAS of the Nepali Army.

Lt Gen PN Ananthanarayanan, SM, President Gorkha Brigade also lauded the gallantry and commitment of the Gorkha soldiers in the Indian Army and expressed his commitment to serve the Gorkha community, added the statement.

The VCOAS Nepali Army welcomed the gift of vaccines and expressed happiness over the cooperation extended by the Indian Army.

The Indian Army has been assisting the Nepali Army to fight COVID-19 through various kinds of assistance since 2020 including the Covishield vaccine, medical equipment, ambulances, etc.

This latest gift of vaccines is another testament to the close cooperation between the two armies and the two countries, particularly in times of need, said the statement. (ANI)
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, as well as additional maritime assets, the alliance's council said on Thursday. In a statement North Atlantic Council, NATO's political decision-making body, said that Russia's actions pose a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security, and they will have geostrategic consequences. "NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the security and defence of all Allies." "We are deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, as well as additional maritime assets. We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies," read the statement. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's horrifying attack on Ukraine, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked. We also condemn Belarus for enabling this attack." The statement said that this renewed attack is a grave violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and is wholly contradictory to Russia's commitments in the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris, the Budapest Memorandum and the NATO-Russia Founding Act. It constitutes an act of aggression against an independent peaceful country. NATO's political decision-making body called on Russia to immediately cease its military action and withdraw all its forces from in and around Ukraine, to fully respect international humanitarian law, and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need. "Today, we have held consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty. We have decided, in line with our defensive planning to protect all Allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defence across the Alliance. Our measures are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory," read the statement. "Our commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is iron-clad. We stand united to defend each other," the statement added. (ANI)
The Western countries run the risk of legitimising the Talban by holding talks with it even though the outfit has trampled basic human rights and indulged in violence, said a media report. Since returning to power in mid-August last year, the Taliban for the first time held three day talks with the representatives of the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, France, EU in a meeting hosted by Norway in Oslo. Recently, led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban held their first official talks with the Western world. The 15-member all-male delegation arrived in the Norwegian capital Oslo in a plane chartered by the Norwegian government. Also in the delegation was Anas Haqqani of the Haqqani network, reported a Canada-based think tank, International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS). The main goal with which the Taliban went for the talks was to get recognition and to persuade to unfreeze the USD 10 billion Afghan money that was frozen by US and other western countries after Taliban took control over Afghanistan. Afghanistan is facing worse humanitarian crisis with no international aid. Ravaged by severe droughts, the country is going through a worse hunger crisis affecting 55 per cent of Afghan population according to the United Nations. Unemployment is at its peak and government officials have not been paid their salaries for many months now. Taliban was circulating the idea that it was a meeting called by the western nations to recognise and legitimise the Afghan government under the Taliban rule, a Canada-based think tank reported. According to the think tank, the Taliban has to be made answerable for the atrocities committed in the past, and also the continuing human rights violations. Peace in Afghanistan is only possible when constitutional safeguards are in place to protect the rights of women and ethnic minorities. Is the Taliban ready to do this? Going by the recent attacks on women in particular it looks nowhere close to this. So, engaging with Taliban currently would only mean de facto recognising it and this would not be in the best interest of an ordinary Afghan citizen, IFFRAS reported. Just after Norway visit, Taliban officials landed in Geneva to seek humanitarian aid. Hosting Taliban in Oslo and then in Geneva is a disfavour to the Afghan women. "Taliban brutality is as clear as a day to the whole world to see, so why would the western nations continue to hobnob first in Norway and then in Geneva? Normalising relations with the Taliban would only embolden them to brazenly carry forward the tyranny, which has become important characteristic of their rule," a Canada-based think tank questioned. The people of Afghanistan deserve better from the western nations. The humanitarian aid can also be made available to the Afghan people without giving legitimacy to Taliban. The aid can be made available by adopting or recognising parallel structures for the disbursement of humanitarian aid by totally bypassing the Taliban, IFFRAS reported. (ANI)
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said that the organization has activated its defence plans, however, there will be no deployment of troops inside Ukraine. "Today, we activated NATO's defence plans that give our military commanders more authority to deploy forces when needed. No NATO troops inside Ukraine. We are increasing the presence of NATO troops in the eastern part of all the alliance on NATO territory," said Stoltenberg in a press briefing after an extraordinary meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Russia's unprovoked and "unjustified attack" on Ukraine. He said that over 100 jets and 120 allied ships have been sent to the Mediterranean region. "We have over 100 jets at high alert protecting our airspace and more than 120 allied ships at sea from north to the Mediterranean. We will do whatever is necessary to shield the alliance from aggression. NATO leaders to meet tomorrow to address the way forward," said NATO Secretary-General. Stoltenberg also said that democracy will always prevail over autocracy. Freedom will always prevail over oppression. He said that NATO stands in solidarity with Ukraine. "NATO allies are imposing severe costs on Russia for their reckless invasion of Ukraine. NATO allies in close coordination with EU and other partners all over the world are now imposing severe economic sanctions on Russia," said NATO chief. He also said that over the years NATO has been providing practical support, military support to Ukraine and helped them to build a much stronger, better equipped and better-trained force today than Ukraine had in 2014. "So, we continue to stand together condemning the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Our allies also stand together in sending a message that we will never accept the brutal violation of international order," said Stoltenberg. He also condemned Russia's military operation in Ukraine and called on Russia to immediately seize its military action and withdraw from Ukraine. "NATO condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the strongest terms. We call on Russia to immediately seize its military action & withdraw from Ukraine," said Stoltenberg. He said that deconfliction is extremely important. "There have been contacts between our military commanders and Russia. We will continue to reach out to them to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure deconfliction," he said. (ANI)
The meeting between Khan and Putin is underway, with both leaders discussing bilateral relations, Geo News reported.

According to the Pakistani newspaper, Khan will discuss issues including economic cooperation hours after a number of Western nations hit Russia with new sanctions for its military deployment into parts of eastern Ukraine.

Imran Khan landed in Moscow late on Wednesday on a two-day visit.

Imran Khan's ill-timed visit, the first such trip by a Pakistani PM in 23 years, aims to push for the construction of a long-delayed, multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline to be built in collaboration with Russian companies.

Separately, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov discussed regional and global issues amid the Moscow-Kyiv crisis, Geo News reported.

"Pakistan attaches special importance to bilateral relations with Russia [...] relations between Pakistan and Russia have gradually strengthened," Qureshi said. (ANI)
Lawyers for Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby have filed a trio of legal motions as they seek to mount a defense against the federal charges she faces.

Mosbys defense attorneys attached a range of documents to support their pleadings, the most expansive being a long-shot legal argument for a judge to dismiss the case because of alleged prosecutorial bias.

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The two-term Democratic states attorney is charged with two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements on loan applications to buy a pair of properties in Florida.

Here are five takeaways from the more than 100 pages of documents:

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Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek Barrons alleged comments

Sheaniqua A. Thompson, a top City Hall adviser for Marilyn Mosbys husband, City Council President Nick Mosby, submitted a declaration in support of Marilyn Mosbys lawyers attempt to have the indictment thrown out.

Thompson drew on her memory of the time she worked with Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek Barron from 2017 to 2019 while he was a Democratic state delegate and she was a lobbyist as the senior policy advocate at the Job Opportunities Task Force.

In the written statement, Thompson paraphrased a conversation she said she had with Barron outside a legislative committee room after Marilyn Mosby walked by.

Sheaniqua A. Thompson, a top City Hall adviser for Marilyn Mosbys husband, City Council President Nick Mosby, said Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek Barron, above, would tell me how much he disliked working with States Attorney Mosby, and how he didnt like her style and approach.

I expressed admiration for her, Thompson recalled. He responded first by discussing rumors about States Attorney Mosbys sex life, and then commented: I dont understand all the hype around her, I dont get it. She was my intern and I dont get how she got where she is.

Thompson said Barron would tell me how much he disliked working with States Attorney Mosby, and how he didnt like her style and approach.

Marilyn Mosbys attorneys said the statement from Thompson shows that Barron harbors animosity toward Mosby, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Leo Wise, who is prosecuting Mosby, and argued that her charges should be dismissed because the indictment wouldnt have come unless the federal prosecutors were vindictive.

The U.S. attorneys office declined to comment over the weekend, and Barron didnt respond to a separate request.

Before Mosbys lawyers called out Barron in publicly available motions, attorneys and legal observers in Baltimore had raised concerns that Mosbys indictment could strain the relationship between the office of the Baltimore states attorney and the U.S. attorneys office.

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Documents detail an Attorney Grievance Commission probe cited by Mosbys lawyers as the genesis of the federal case

The documents provide insights into an investigation of Mosby by the Attorney Grievance Commission led by bar counsel Lydia Lawless, who Mosbys lawyers have said referred her investigation to federal prosecutors.

Emails included in the federal case exhibits show what information Lawless was after. After receiving Mosbys tax returns for tax years 2014 through 2019, Lawless in November 2020 requested documents substantiating Mosbys charitable donations for those years, as well as business records for the Baltimore power couples private businesses.

In the same request, Lawless also sought all correspondence between Nick Mosby and the IRS concerning tax years 2014 through 2018.

Marilyn Mosbys lawyers at the time said the states attorney agreed to supply documents about the businesses, but said Lawless didnt have the authority to request more tax records and that they could only ask Nick Mosby for more information, as Marilyn Mosbys lawyers didnt represent him.

Defense attorneys for Marilyn Mosby, above, have attached a range of documents to support their pleadings, the most expansive being a long-shot legal argument for a federal judge to dismiss the case because of alleged prosecutorial bias. (Amy Davis/Amy Davis)

Marilyn Mosbys lawyers during the grievance commission probe declined to turn over documents about the charitable donations, and noted that Nick Mosby already supplied an affidavit.

Marilyn Mosbys lawyers in the federal case, led by A. Scott Bolden, accused Lawless of conspiring with Wise, the lead assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting Mosby, to pursue Mosbys case because they share a disdain for Mosby. They contend Lawless referred the investigation to Wise. This is not a new theory from Mosbys defense, but the defense attorneys said an email from Wise included in the documents proved it.

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An excerpt from an email included part of a back and forth between Mosbys lawyers and federal prosecutors in which Wise wrote, We reiterate that the Bar Counsels investigation raised numerous questions related to your clients taxes.

Nick Mosby took blame for the couples tax woes

Nick Mosby attested in the affidavit supplied in the Attorney Grievance Commission probe that he was responsible for filing the couples federal income taxes from 2014 to 2018, and that his tax liabilities led to federal tax deficiencies.

Marilyn Mosby reviewed the tax return forms only to confirm her income figures before signing, according to Nick Mosbys affidavit.

In that affidavit, Nick Mosby said his wife was unaware of withdrawals he took from his 401(k) without withholding enough taxes, the resulting tax liability, and installment payment plans he established with the Internal Revenue Service.

Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby attested in the affidavit supplied in the Attorney Grievance Commission probe that his tax liabilities led to federal tax deficiencies. (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun)

Nick Mosby also said he did not inform his wife of the tax issues they faced until he learned of a $45,000 tax lien against them after being contacted by a Baltimore Sun reporter in October 2020.

At the time, Marilyn Mosbys lawyer described her as an innocent spouse that did not know about the 2014-2018 tax issues stemming from her husbands efforts to deal with the tax issues on his own and to conceal his efforts from my client.

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Marilyn Mosby is now charged federally with making a false statement on loan applications to buy properties in Florida, in part, by failing to disclose the tax lien. Her indictment also includes two counts of perjury.

Marilyn Mosby received income from and accrued expenses related to her husbands business

Lawless also sought records pertaining to the private businesses of the City Council president and states attorney.

In a letter to Marilyn Mosbys attorney seeking more documents, Lawless revealed the states attorney took in money and accrued expenses related to her husbands now-defunct consulting business, Monumental Squared LLC. She reported a gross income of $3,600 and $9,900 in tax year 2017, and $49,227 in gross income and $52,371 in expenses in tax year 2018.

[ May trial date scheduled for Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosbys federal case ]

Additionally, the document notes that Mosby in 2019 reported $0 for gross income and $5,000 in expenses for Mahogany Elite Enterprises LLC. Thats the holding company for Marilyn Mosbys travel and consulting businesses, Mahogany Elite Consulting and Mahogany Elite Travel.

A spokeswoman for Mosby previously said the company had been on paper only, and that there were no plans to operate the company while she was states attorney.

Mosbys attorney accuses feds of leaks to the media

In a May 19 letter to Jeffrey Ragsdale, director and chief counsel for the U.S. Department of Justices Office of Professional Responsibility, Bolden accused the U.S. attorneys office of tipping the media off about subpoenas issued in its investigation of the Mosbys.

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He said the FBI was brazen to have agents interrupt a City Council meeting to serve Nick Mosby with a subpoena, which Bolden says happened at federal prosecutors direction.

The FBI agents visited City Hall on a day that Nick Mosby led a city Board of Estimates meeting, not a City Council meeting. That virtual, livestreamed meeting ran two hours and 23 minutes without any apparent interruption, according to a video of the event, which did not show agents with Mosby.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

Bolden goes on to say that the FBIs presence at City Hall was publicly known, but not that Mosby was served with a subpoena, suggesting that someone on the prosecution team leaked the existence of the subpoena to the media.

As a direct result of the FBIs intentional lack of discretion, that same night, Fox News sent a media inquiry to Council President Mosbys office requesting comment on not only the FBI investigation, but also the subpoena that was served on him, the letter said.

[ Report in federal case against Baltimore States Attorney Mosby foreshadows fight over prosecutors involvement ]

Bolden further claims federal prosecutors were leaking to the media because, he said, Mosby was made aware by a reporter in October 2020 that she was under investigation.

The Baltimore Sun reported in October 2020 that the IRS placed a $45,000 tax lien against the Mosbys property, according to records filed in Baltimore Circuit Court.

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In March 2021, The Sun obtained a federal grand jury subpoena through a Maryland Public Information Act request that showed federal prosecutors had opened a criminal investigation into the Mosbys. Marilyn Mosbys campaign treasurer had forwarded the subpoena to state elections officials, along with an email about the use of campaign funds for legal fees.

Bolden accused Wise of communicating with the media, specifically a reporter with knowledge of the investigation has a close relationship with him and also authored a book on the GTTF Prosecution  a prosecution led by Mr. Wise.

Former Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton published We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops, and Corruption in 2021 on the Gun Trace Task Force scandal.
"A telephonic discussion with UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz. Exchanged perspectives on the Ukrainian situation," Jaishankar tweeted.

Earlier, Jaishankar also spoke with EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell Fontelles and discussed the grave situation in Ukraine and how India could contribute to de-escalation efforts.

Meanwhile, Indian Embassy on Thursday issued a third travel advisory to Indian nationals/students.

The Mission asked Indians to be aware of the surroundings, be safe, not to leave homes unless necessary and stressed on carrying their documents at all times.

"As you are aware, Ukraine is under martial law, which has made movement difficult. For those students who are stranded without a place of stay in Kiev, Mission is in touch with establishments to put them up," read the Indian Embassy statement.

"We are aware that certain places are hearing air sirens/bomb warnings. In case you are faced with such a situation, Google maps have a list of nearby bomb shelters, many of which are located in underground metro," advised the statement.

Moreover, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine also provided the official link from KMDA Kiev city administration for bomb shelters-- https://kyivcity.gov.ua/bezpeka ta pravoporiadok/bomboskhovy shcha ta ukryttia/ (ANI)
The Indian Embassy in Kiev on Thursday organized safe premises nearby for Indian students in Ukraine who turned up outside the Embassy and no one is currently stranded outside the Embassy, said sources. "Today morning, a large number of Indian students in Ukraine turned up outside the Indian Embassy in Kiev. Naturally, not all could be accommodated inside the Embassy premises. Accordingly, the Embassy organized safe premises nearby and the students were moved there. This process took some time given the ground situation in Kiev. No Indian national is currently stranded outside the Embassy," said sources. The sources further said a fresh batch of students has arrived outside the Embassy and they are being moved to the safe premises. Embassy is continuing to assist Indian nationals, including students, in Ukraine. Partha Satpathy, Ambassador of India in Ukraine, said that the Embassy of India in Kiev will continue to operate till every Indian is evacuated. "The Embassy of India in Kiev continues to operate round the clock 24X7. Today morning we woke up with the news that Kiev is under attack, the whole of Ukraine is under attack. This has generated a lot of anxiety, uncertainty, and created tension. I would like to assure all of you that the Embassy of India continues to operate around the clock looking out for the safety and security of Indians here," he said. "With the news of war, the air space has been blocked, therefore our special flights have been affected, the roads are also choked, trains services have been disrupted. In this scenario my advice to all of you is to stay wherever you are in your normal area of habitation. If you are in transit, please go back to the normal area of habitation and if you are stranded in Kiev then reach out to friends, families, Indian community members and Indian Embassy. We are in touch with the authorities here regarding the safety and security of the Indian citizens," he said. He further urged people to stay calm, level-headed and take necessary safety and precautions. "The Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy are fully alert and working on modalities to see how we can evacuate our citizens through the neighbouring countries along the western borders of Ukraine. As I say times are uncertain and therefore it is important to be calm, level-headed and take necessary safety and precautions that are important to all of us. We will continue to operate here till every Indian is back," he added. The Embassy of India in Ukraine accommodated more than 200 Indian students at a school near the Embassy in Kiev. Satpathy also interacted with Indian students in Kiev. "We heard of the news that flights are cancelled and martial law has been imposed," he said to students. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
With Ukraine closing its airspace after Russia launched a military operation against it, the Embassy of India in Hungary on Thursday said it has sent a team to coordinate and facilitate the exit of Indians from Ukraine. "Team from Embassy of India in Hungary has been despatched to the border post-Zohanyi to coordinate and provide assistance to facilitate the exit of Indians from Ukraine. The mission is working with the Government of Hungary to provide all possible assistance," Indian Embassy in Hungary said in a tweet. It further said that the Government of India is closely monitoring the situation and evacuation plans are being worked out "Embassy of India in Kyiv, Ukraine and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is closely monitoring the situation and evacuation plans are being worked out," it added. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden on Thursday discussed with his national security team on ways to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine. President Biden met with his national security team in the Situation Room this morning to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine. "Biden discussed how we will hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine," informed The White House. Condemning Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine", US President said that the premeditated war will bring a catastrophic loss of human life. Asserting that the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way, Biden said that Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable, he added. The US President further informed that he will be monitoring the situation from the White House as of now and will meet with his G7 counterparts in the morning. Biden said that the US will also coordinate with its NATO allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the alliance. Moreover, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has clearly stated that the organization has activated its defence plans, but specified that there will be no deployment of troops inside Ukraine. He said that over 100 jets and 120 allied ships have been sent to the Mediterranean region. Biden also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Russia announced the military operation in eastern Ukraine. Notably, Russian Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the Ukraine breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk following which Biden imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed the US' support to Ukraine. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Protestors have continued to picket areas near the federal Parliament which resulted in stone pelting, firing of tear gas and baton charge by Nepal Police. 500 million US Dollars grant assistance to the Himalayan Nation by the United States of America has become a subject of protest as rumor has deep-rooted claiming it to be a military pact. Though US Mission in Kathmandu had made attempt to clarify the issue, a misguided group of people has been thronging the area near Parliament on the day when the Parliament meeting is called on for. Dozens of protestors had gathered and fought with riot police hours before 1 pm (local time) parliamentary meeting called on for Thursday. Dozens of protestors are injured in the clash with some reported with serious injuries. The government has also deployed large number of security personnel in the area. "Currently the overall situation is full of rising tension. As the parliament was set to discuss on the MCC, there is much aggression on the side of the protestors as well as resistance has been witnessed from the police forces where by-walkers also have been beaten by Police at the time of protest," Bimal Poudel, Kathmandu Representative from Informal Service Center (INSEC) Nepal, a human rights organization working with the objective of protecting the rights of people engaged in informal sectors told ANI. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also has urged the government to respect the human rights of citizens to protest peacefully. Issuing a press release on Thursday, NHRC Spokesperson, Dr Tikaram Bhattarai asked the government and the bodies concerned not to use force in demonstration and to adopt tolerance while maintaining peace and security. "The NHRC requests the political parties and their sister organisations and general people launching the protest to make their demonstration peaceful, not to damage property and physical infrastructures and to maintain patience in course of the demonstration," the statement reads. Though the parliamentary meeting of Thursday has been postponed till 1 pm next day, demonstrators still blocked the road near Parliament chanting anti-government slogans and stone-pelting. Thursday's meeting was scheduled to hold discussions on Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). As per the notice issued by the Parliament secretariat, the meeting has been postponed by House Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota at the request of the government. Earlier today, discussions were held between Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Chairman of Maoist Center Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) prior to the start of the House of Representatives meeting. Before reaching Baluwatar, Maoist Chairman Prachanda, Chairman of Unified Socialist Madhav Kumar Nepal, its senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal, Janata Samajbadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav and others had also held a discussion on the issue. The Maoist Center has already decided to stand against the MCC. On the other hand, Prime Minister Deuba is making preparations to endorse the MCC even with the support from the main opposition CPN-UML. (ANI)
Amid Russian military operations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is creating an anti-Russia coalition against President Vladimir Putin. He said that he has spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron, President of EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Karl Nehammer about concrete sanctions and assistance for the military. "We are creating an anti-Putin coalition. I spoke with@vonderleyen, @EmmanuelMacron, @karlnehammer and @RTErdogan about concrete sanctions and concrete assistance for our military. We are waiting for decisive action," tweeted Zelensky. Earlier in a series of tweets, the Ukrainian President said that he will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country and lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend the country. "We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities," tweeted Zelensky. "We will lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of the territorial defence with weapons in hands," added Zelensky. Soon after Russia launched its military operations in the Donbas region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday announced the decision of severing his country's diplomatic relations with Moscow. "We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia. For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine," said Zelensky. He said that Russia has treacherously attacked Ukraine in the morning and compared the act with Nazi Germany. "Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in #2WW years. As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks," added Zelensky. Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba called on its partners to severe diplomatic relations with Russia. "Ukraine has severed diplomatic relations with Russia. I call on all our partners to do the same. By this concrete step you will demonstrate that you stand by Ukraine and categorically reject the most blatant act of aggression in Europe since WWII," tweeted Kuleba. (ANI)
Amid Russian military operations in Ukraine, the Indian Embassy in Kiev on Thursday urged the Ukrainian Government for the safety and security of Indian students in the country. In a letter to Andriy Borysovych Yermak, Head of the Office of President of Ukraine, Kiev, the Embassy Indian Embassy informed that 15,000 Indian students are stranded in Ukraine in various regions. "Embassy of India in Kyiv presents its compliments to the office of the President of Ukraine and has the honour to inform that over 15,000 Indian students are stranded in Ukraine in various regions. The Embassy of India would be grateful if their safety and security be ensured and they will be allowed to remain wherever they are. Arrangements for essential amenities like food and water for their survival may be provided to them. Their safety and security are of paramount concern to the Embassy of India and all necessary steps be taken to ensure that," it said. It further said that the Embassy of India in Kiev takes this opportunity to renew to the office of the President of Ukraine, the assurances of its highest consideration. The Indian Embassy in Kiev had organized safe premises nearby for Indian students in Ukraine who turned up outside the Embassy and no one is currently stranded outside the Embassy, said sources. The Embassy of India in Ukraine accommodated more than 200 Indian students at a school near the Embassy in Kiev. Partha Satpathy, Ambassador of India in Ukraine, said that the Embassy of India in Kiev will continue to operate till every Indian is evacuated. "The Embassy of India in Kiev continues to operate round the clock 24X7. Today morning we woke up with the news that Kiev is under attack, the whole of Ukraine is under attack. This has generated a lot of anxiety, uncertainty, and created tension. I would like to assure all of you that the Embassy of India continues to operate around the clock looking out for the safety and security of Indians here," he said. He further urged people to stay calm, level-headed and take necessary safety and precautions. The tensions between the two nations escalated after Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Putin on Thursday morning said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Addressing a special briefing on the Ukraine situation following the CCS meet here, Shringla said, "At the CCS meeting, PM Modi has stated that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals including students in Ukraine."

Amid the ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine, the Prime Minister on Thursday chaired a CCS meeting in New Delhi.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India Hardeep Singh Puri among others were present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, PM Modi will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly amid Moscow's ongoing military operations in Ukraine, said Shringla on Thursday.

The tensions between the two nations escalated after Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Putin on Thursday morning said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region.

Moreover, many Indian citizens and students are stranded in Ukraine.

The Indian Embassy on Thursday issued a third travel advisory to Indian nationals/students.

The Mission asked Indians to be aware of the surroundings, be safe, do not leave homes unless necessary and stress on carrying their documents at all times. (ANI)
The two days meeting which commenced in the Nepali capital from Wednesday also agreed to form a joint technical team and take forward the works of research.

The meeting took place in person, which was postponed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic after the last meeting held in Bangalore, India. The 9th round of meetings was led by the Secretary at the Ministry of Energy Devendra Karki from the Nepal side while Indian Energy Ministry's Secretary Alok Kumar led the Indian team.

During the meeting, Nepal has proposed the export of 850 megawatts of power to India from the coming monsoon. So far, Nepal has received permission to export only 39 megawatts of power produced from the Devighat Hydropower Project and Trishuli Hydropower Project.

Similarly, discussions also has been held regarding the progress of the Butwal-Gorakhpur transmission line, the second trans-border power transmission line being developed between Nepal and India.

As per the officials, discussions were held on Kataiya-Kushwahaba 132 KV transmission line, Raxaul-Parwanipur transmission line and New Nautanahawa-Mainiya 132 KV transmission line. Project and transmission line construction of Arun-III and the project also has been discussed during the joint-secretary meeting. (ANI)
Expressing his disappointments over UN Chief Antonio Guterres's statement on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday said that Guterres statements were amenable to West's pressure and were at odds with his status and powers under the UN Charter. "To our great regret, @antonioguterres has proved amenable to the West's pressure and he made a number of statements on the developments in eastern Ukraine, which are at odds with his status and powers under the UN Charter," tweeted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. He made the remarks during talks with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in Moscow. "All these years, the UN Secretary-General should have demanded that Kiev implement Minsk Agreements, primarily by developing a dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk, which is clearly set out in the Minsk Package of Measures and UNSC Resolution 2202," added MoFA Russia. The conflict in Donbas between Ukraine's government and the breakaway of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics has been going on since 2014. The Minsk Agreements, designed to find a political resolution to the conflict, was negotiated by the leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine -- the Normandy group -- in February 2015. However, the agreement has so far not been observed and sporadic clashes continue. Moscow has repeatedly stated that Kiev is not fulfilling the Minsk agreements and is delaying negotiations to resolve the conflict. "We intentionally looked up the statistics, past files and dossiers and found that there was not a single conflict, where a Secretary-General, be it Guterres or his predecessors, took the liberty of making similar pronouncements with regard to any other country," said Lavrov. The Russian Foreign Minister further said that he has instructed the Russian Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Vasily Nebenzya to communicate to Antonio Guterres the assessment of his statements. "Taking this opportunity and considering the fact that you have been appointed to this position by him personally, I would like to ask you to communicate our assessments to him, if such an opportunity or occasion presents itself," he said. (ANI)
As COVID-19 infection rates continue to decline in Carroll County, the countys health department reported four additional deaths due to COVID-19 for the seven-day period ending Tuesday.

The total number of confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 in Carroll County stood at 378 as of Tuesday.

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Carroll Countys COVID-19 positivity rate reached 5.71% this week, putting the county in the substantial transmission category for the first time in months, according to Rachel Turner, community health educator at the Carroll County Health Department.

The overall COVID-19 case count in Carroll County is now at 20,929, Turner noted.

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Carroll County Public Schools reported Wednesday 131 positive COVID-19 cases among students and staff this week, the lowest number of cases reported in schools since mid-October. This number included four staff members and 127 students.

The school system also reported 40 people in quarantine this week, the lowest number of people in quarantine during this school year, according to the dashboard.

Quarantine data reflect the number of individuals required to quarantine because they have had close contact with a positive COVID-19 case. The quarantine data do not reflect individuals in quarantine because they are COVID positive.

This is the sixth consecutive week that overall case numbers have declined, after peaking at 1,313 cases reported for the week ending Jan. 12.

This week, Cranberry Station had the most positive cases among elementary schools with 12, while Eldersburg reported 10.

Among middle schools, the highest number of cases was at Mount Airy, which reported eight. Sykesville Middle reported six cases and Oklahoma Road reported four.

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Manchester Valley had the most positive cases among high schools with six. Liberty High reported five cases and Winters Mill had four.

The Carroll County Health Department offers COVID testing at 290 S. Center St., Westminster. Testing is available 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays. For updated information, visit cchd.maryland.gov/covidtesting or call 410-876-4848.

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The health department also hosts vaccination clinics at Carroll Community College for residents age 5 and older. Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccinations for COVID-19 are available. Registration is at https://cchd.maryland.gov/registration-links/.

Clinics at the college will be held 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., today and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturday.

In partnership with the health department, the Carroll County Public Library system has been distributing free COVID-19 home-test kits at branches and its headquarters. Those interested should check the library website at https://library.carr.org or call 410-386-4488 for current distribution details.

Test kits also may be requested through the federal government online at covidtests.gov. One set of four tests is available per mailing address.

If an individual tests positive for COVID-19 with an at-home test kit, the Maryland Department of Health asks that results be submitted to covidlink.maryland.gov/selfreport.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that a package of additional tough sanctions against Russia from the European Union is approaching amid Moscow's ongoing military operations in Ukraine as discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron. "A package of additional tough sanctions against Russia from the EU is approaching. Discussed all the details with Emmanuel Macron," Zelensky tweeted. "We demand the disconnection of Russia from SWIFT, the introduction of a no-fly zone over Ukraine and other effective steps to stop the aggressor," Zelensky added. Zelensky is also creating an anti-Russia coalition against President Vladimir Putin. He said that he has spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron, President of EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Karl Nehammer about concrete sanctions and assistance for the military. "We are creating an anti-Putin coalition. I spoke with@vonderleyen, @EmmanuelMacron, @karlnehammer and @RTErdogan about concrete sanctions and concrete assistance for our military. We are waiting for decisive action," tweeted Zelensky. Earlier in a series of tweets, the Ukrainian President said that he will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country and lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend the country. "We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities," tweeted Zelensky. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla on Thursday said that the situation on the ground is "difficult and rapidly evolving" assuring that the government's topmost priority is the safety and security of Indian nationals. Addressing a special briefing on the Ukraine situation following the CCS meet here, Shringla said, "The situation on the ground is difficult and is rapidly evolving." Shringla said that the government of India will handle the evacuation with utmost precaution "Roadways have been mapped out to evacuate Indian nationals from Kiev and reach safer places," he said. He said that a number of advisories have been issued by embassies on the situation as it evolves "Our Embassy in Ukraine continues to be functional. A number of advisories have been issued by embassies on the situation as it evolves. We are consulting universities, student contractors in the process of providing welfare and safety of our students," said Shringla At the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals including students in Ukraine, he said. "One important step we have taken is to pursue all universities in Ukraine to conduct online classes. PM Modi has specifically stated that the MEA should do everything possible for our citizens in Ukraine," he added. Shringla said that MEA is in touch with the Ministry of Defence to keep provision for airlift (of Indians) capacity, in regard to the situation in Ukraine. He further said that number of steps have been taken to deal with the emerging situation in Ukraine. Highlighting the steps taken by the government for facilitating the return of Indians from Ukraine, he said, "We started the registration of Indian nationals in Ukraine about a month ago. Based on online registration, we found that 20,000 Indian nationals were there." "4000 Indian nationals have already left Ukraine in the past few days. The MEA control room in Delhi has got 980 calls and 850 emails, he added. He said that PM Modi is also scheduled to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "It would be difficult to guess in advance the nature of the conversation between Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversations will be around the situation in Ukraine today," said Foreign Secretary. He added that some sanctions have been imposed on Russia by the UK, US, Australia, Japan among others. "We have to see what impacts these sanctions will have on our interests. Any sanctions will have an impact on our relationship, I think it would be correct to acknowledge that," he added. The tensions between the two nations escalated after Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Earlier today, Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that Russia was left with no other choice than military operations in Ukraine, reported Sputnik. Putin on Thursday morning said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. The tensions between the two nations escalated after Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Expressing his disappointments over UN Chief Antonio Guterres's statement on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday said that Guterres statements were amenable to West's pressure and were at odds with his status and powers under the UN Charter. "To our great regret, @antonioguterres has proved amenable to the West's pressure and he made a number of statements on the developments in eastern Ukraine, which are at odds with his status and powers under the UN Charter," tweeted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. He made the remarks during talks with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in Moscow. "All these years, the UN Secretary-General should have demanded that Kiev implement Minsk Agreements, primarily by developing a dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk, which is clearly set out in the Minsk Package of Measures and UNSC Resolution 2202," added MoFA Russia. (ANI)
"Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla welcomed Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Masud Bin Momen. In a productive meeting, both sides discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.

Shringla had spoken at the 10th India-Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue which was organized by the India Foundation.

In his interaction with Bangladesh Delegation at the Friendship Dialogue on Monday, Shringla had said that effective management of the border is key to facilitating economic linkages and people-to-people contact.

"We need to work closely to strengthen border infrastructure to ensure smooth transit of goods and people while ensuring that illegal activities are kept under check. An example of this approach is our objective of establishing additional border haats," he had said.

Shringla said that the two-way trade in the recent past has witnessed a quantum jump with exports from Bangladesh, for the first time, expected to cross USD two billion this year. Early conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement is vital to enhancing this momentum in trade," he said. (ANI)
"External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is expected to speak to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister today," said Shringla during a special briefing on the Ukraine situation.

Jaishankar will also speak to Foreign ministers of Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.

He further said that number of steps have been taken to deal with the emerging situation in Ukraine.

Highlighting the steps taken by the government for facilitating the return of Indians from Ukraine, he said, "We started the registration of Indian nationals in Ukraine about a month ago. Based on online registration, we found that 20,000 Indian nationals were there."

"4000 Indian nationals have already left Ukraine in the past few days. The MEA control room in Delhi has got 980 calls and 850 emails, he added.

"At the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals including students in Ukraine," he said.

The Foreign Secretary also informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly.

Indian Embassy in Kiev has urged the Ukrainian Government for the safety and security of Indian students in the country.

The tensions between the two nations escalated after Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Earlier today, Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine situation and appealed for an immediate cessation of violence while stressing on concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations. According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), President Putin briefed the Prime Minister about the recent developments regarding Ukraine. Prime Minister reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue. "The Prime Minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue," PMO said. Prime Minister also sensitised the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India. The leaders agreed that their officials and diplomatic teams would continue to maintain regular contacts on issues of topical interest. Earlier today, Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. Moreover, many Indian citizens and students are stranded in Ukraine.The Indian Embassy on Thursday issued a third travel advisory to Indian nationals/students. The Mission asked Indians to be aware of the surroundings, be safe, do not leave homes unless necessary and stress on carrying their documents at all times. (ANI)
India's focus at the UN Security Council has always been on "de-escalation of tensions" between Russia and Ukraine and of diplomatic dialogue as the only way forward, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Thursday. Addressing a media briefing on the Ukraine situation, Shringla said India has emphasised dialogue and would be happy "if there is anything that we can do to facilitate that engagement". "In our statements in the UNSC, in all of this, I think we have maintained that people need to talk to each other, parties need to be engaged. If there is anything that we can do to facilitate that engagement, we are more than happy to do. I think as we go along, we will try and be as helpful as possible," Shringla said. He was asked if India is playing any role in talking to both USA and Russia in regards to the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the military operations initiated by Russia. The Foreign Secretary said India has maintained the best of relations with all countries concerned. "Whether it is USA, Russia or the European Union. We have been in touch with all parties concerned. As you can imagine, both as a member of the Security Council as a country with a lot at stake in that region. As a country with so many of its citizens in the vulnerable zone, we have been in close touch with all concerned. The Minister of External Affairs was in Europe where he has had a number of meetings with his interlocutors," Shringla said. "This evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be speaking to President Vladimir Putin. The Minister of External Affairs himself has spoken to a number of Ministers from the European Union and will be speaking to those of his counterparts who are from the neighbouring countries, which is very important primarily for our own citizens and their safe evacuation out of Ukraine. "Our focus in the UNSC has always been on de-escalation of tensions, diplomatic dialogue is the only way forward. We have also emphasised on the existing agreements, the Minsk agreements, the Normandy Format. We have also obviously placed the highest importance on the safety and security of our nationals in Ukraine," he added. The Indian embassy in Kiev earlier today said the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain and Indian citizens should remain calm and safe amid escalating situation in Ukraine following the Russian military operations. (ANI)
Moscow [Russia], February 24 (ANI/Sputnik): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced on Thursday new sanctions against Russia over the military operation in Ukraine, saying the UK will aim to "squeeze Russia from the global economy." "We will continue on a remorseless mission to squeeze Russia from the global economy piece by piece, day by day and week by week," Johnson told the Parliament. As part of the new sanctions package, the UK has imposed a full freeze on the assets of the VTB bank. The UK has powers to altogether exclude Russian banks from the UK financial system, Johnson noted. The United States is taking similar measures, he added. Additionally, Russian state and private companies will be banned from raising funds in the UK. The amount of money Russian nationals will be able to deposit in the UK banks will be also limited. Overall, the UK will be imposing asset freezes on more than a hundred of new entities and individuals, the prime minister said. The UK is also banning Aeroflot carrier from making flights to and from the country. On top of the financial measures, the UK in consort with the US and the EU will introduce new restrictions and "stringent" export controls, including a full ban on the export of all duel-use items to Russia. The restrictions will affect high-end technological products in such sectors as electronics, telecommunications and aerospace. (ANI/Sputnik)
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday said the impact of sanctions against Russia in the wake of the Ukraine crisis needs to be studied carefully for "what sort of impact these will have on our own interest". Addressing a media briefing here on the Ukraine situation, Shringla said additional sanctions have been imposed by some countries including the USA and UK on Russia. "You are aware that certain unilateral sanctions were already existing as far as Russia is concerned. Some additional sanctions have been imposed by the USA, EU, Australia, Japan, the UK among others," he said. "But this is an evolving situation and we have to see what sort of impact these sanctions will have on our own interest. Clearly, we need to study this carefully because any sanctions will have an impact on our existing relationship. I think it would only be correct to acknowledge that factor but the actual impact of the sanctions needs to be studied carefully and we will do that," he added. (ANI) Following the Russian military operations, the Indian embassy in Kiev earlier today said the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain and Indian citizens should remain safe. (ANI)
The trucks carrying the aid had entered Pakistan's territory a couple of days ago before continuing with their journey towards Afghanistan.

Bearing banners inscribed with the message "Gift from the people of India to the people of Afghanistan", around 41 trucks, carrying 2,500 tonnes of wheat, had rolled into the Pakistani territory through the Attari-Wagha border after these were flagged-off on Tuesday by Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla.

Farid Mamundzay, Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, was also present on the occasion.

The consignment is part of the 50,000 tonnes of wheat promised by India as aid to Afghanistan.

The Indian government has been providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan ever since the Taliban took over the country in August last year.

The Central government had sent a proposal to Pakistan last year regarding transit of wheat to Afghanistan, which had received a positive response.

Afghan trucks were allowed into the Indian side via Pakistan to collect the wheat. These were decorated with banners bearing a "Message of Love" from India. However, these trucks were delayed on the Pakistani side after they crossed the Attari border.

Sources said these trucks were sent to Afghanistan late on Wednesday night, but only after removing the banners.

"Besides hinting its hostility towards India, this gesture of Pakistan made it quite evident that it opposes India's bonhomie with Afghanistan," they added.

--IANS shs/arm

( 269 Words)

2022-02-24-19:16:01 (IANS)
The states top prosecutor announced criminal indictments Wednesday against five men  three from Anne Arundel County and two from Baltimore City  on organized crime, drug and firearms charges tied to an alleged drug ring operating out of two auto body shops.

Police in Anne Arundel County witnessed dozens of hand-to-hand transfers of drugs during a monthslong probe of the family businesses, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said at an afternoon news conference, adding that police seized cocaine, heroin, nine firearms, $70,000 in cash and 5 kilograms of fentanyl.

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Thats an enormous amount of the powerful opioid, Frosh said, noting that 1,000 micrograms of fentanyl will kill just about anybody, and a single kilogram would be enough to kill a million people.

Facing charges are family members Michael Dwayne Booze, 27, and Thomas William Booze, 31, of Glen Burnie, as well as Thomas Timothy Booze, 51, and Dwayne Anthony Booze, 48, of Baltimore.

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The four mens attorneys either did not answer calls for comment Wednesday, or said they did not know enough about the news conference to speak.

Maurice Dotson, 47, of Severn also faces charges, Frosh said, but court records for his case were not available online as of Wednesday.

Michael Dwayne Booze allegedly ran the ring, according to the news release from Froshs office, and he was charged under the states drug kingpin statute, as well as 98 other counts.

Dwayne Anthony Booze is Michael Boozes father, and Thomas Timothy Boozes brother, a spokesperson for the attorney generals office said. Thomas William Booze is Dwayne Boozes cousin.

Prosecutors allege the five men ran a drug distribution ring out of Furnace Branch Auto, a Glen Burnie auto body shop, and Xclusive Services, an auto body shop on Pratt Street in Baltimore where Frosh said police had found a sophisticated marijuana growing operation, seizing 400 cannabis plants.

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Drugs were brought to the Glen Burnie shop from the city, either through the Baltimore shop or other sources, said Paul Halliday, an assistant attorney general in the offices organized crime department. The drugs were then distributed to middle- and lower-level purchasers throughout the county.

The four Booze family members were first indicted in December. This month, prosecutors tacked on more offenses in a superseding indictment handed down by an Anne Arundel County grand jury.

Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad said the investigation was a huge undertaking requiring substantial resources, with thousands of hours clocked by investigators, but added that police are starting to see results.

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It was a large operation, Awad said at the news conference. Weve seen a reduction of the crime in our northern portion of the county as a result of this substantial arrest.

She lauded the indictments, saying that investigators saved the lives of potential victims of fatal drug overdoses.

The investigation started with a simple tip from a concerned citizen, Awad said, thanking the tipster on behalf of the police department.

Your tip demonstrates that you care about people, that you care about your community, and that you trust your police department, Awad said. Your tip saved countless lives. You made a difference.
Asserting that the safety and security of Indian nationals is the topmost priority of the government, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday said that about 4,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine in the past few days and Indian Embassy in Ukraine continues to be functional. Addressing a media briefing on the Ukraine situation, Shringla said a number of steps have been taken to deal with the emerging situation in Ukraine, including the contingencies that can arise. "About 4,000 Indian nationals have already left Ukraine in the past few days. Our Embassy in Ukraine continues to be functional and is rendering all assistance possible to Indian nationals, notwithstanding, the complicated and evolving situation. We started the registration of Indian nationals in Ukraine about a month ago. Our embassy anticipated the need to connect and be in contact with all Indian students in Kiev," he said. Shringla said that based on online registration, it was found that 20,000 Indian nationals were there in Ukraine. He said the Ministry of External Affairs has taken a number of measures to facilitate flights out of Ukraine and this included removing the cap on the number of passengers that could fly out which was enforced by the civil aviation authorities of both countries. "There were 440 numbers that could fly every week, that cap was removed. We also ensured that the number of flights was augmented rapidly from about twice a week to two flights a day. We should also remember that there were a number of other options available through flights to Dubai, Istanbul and other places from Kiev," Shringla said. The Foreign Secretary also said that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine issued a number of advisories in recent days. "Today itself it had issued three advisories that provided advise to Indian nationals on the situation as it evolves - travel towards safer places in the Western part of the country that will facilitate the exit by road, and other means, safety precautions that our citizens need to take, etc," he said. "We are consulting universities, student contractors in the process of providing for the welfare and safety of our students," he added. Shringla said an MEA control room has been set up in Delhi that has been operational for the past seven-eight days. "Over 20 officers are manning this and are working on a 24X7 basis. At least 980 calls were answered and 850 emails were entertained today. Our Embassy in Kiev has also set up a 24X7 helpline centre. Another measure we have taken is that we have despatched Russian speaking officers to Kiev and to the countries neighbouring Ukraine. Some of these officers have already reached and are functioning, some will be reaching shortly," Shringla said. "We have also asked our embassies and ambassadors in the countries neighbouring Ukraine to send a team of officers to border areas to facilitate the exit of Indian nationals from Ukraine, permit them to come into their countries so that they can be safely evacuated to India," he added. Shringla said teams are on their way to Zahony border post in Hungary, the land border along with Ukraine and Poland, Slovak Republic land border with Ukraine, and the land border of Ukraine and Romania. Regarding the reluctance of Indian students to return to India in wake of offline classes, Shringla said, "One important step we have taken a number of our students were reluctant to leave because the universities authorities said that classes must be offline. We have now persuaded all the universities, institutions to allow online classes. Therefore, students can now leave without having to face the strain of not being able to miss out on their classes. He said India had done preparations according to the "evolving and complicated situations" to evacuate the Indian nationals from Ukraine. "It is a complicated situation. Due to the evolving situation, we may think that the action could have been taken earlier also. We had done preparations according to the evolving and complicated situation. We also have to see that the students who despite issuing an advisory, were seeing if they would miss their classes if they are conducted offline," Shringla said. "We were in touch with them and issued advisory. The ones who wanted to get out of there got out. The ones who had to be facilitated, we facilitated them. If we see the advisory that was issued on February 15, we had said that non-residential Indian citizens could leave the country. We had issued an advanced notice. The situation that stands today is because of the evolving situation. We will handle the evacuation arrangements of our citizens," he said. Shringla's response came in response to a query about opposition parties stating that the evacuation process of Indians in Ukraine was delayed. Asked about the safety of the routes decided for the evacuation of the Indians stranded in Ukraine, Shringla said the safe routes have been identified and the government is sending teams to facilitate citizens on their way out of Ukraine. "The safe routes have been identified. By road, if you go from Kiev, you would reach Poland in nine hours and Romania in nearly 12 hours. The road has been mapped out. We are sending teams who will be present there so that we can provide help to our citizens," he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Putin said on Thursday morning that special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". (ANI)
Taking to Twitter, Blinken said, "I spoke with @JosepBorrellF today. The United States and EU stand together in strongly condemning Russia's premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine. Together with partners around the world, we will impose severe costs to hold Russia to account."

The European Union, in a statement, also condemned Russia's action. "The European Union (EU) condemns in the strongest possible terms the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation. We also condemn the involvement of Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine and call on it to abide by its international obligations," the statement read.

EU demanded Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease Russian military operations immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine.

"Russia bears full responsibility for this act of aggression and all the destruction and loss of life it will cause. It will be held accountable for its actions," the statement further said.

Moreover, the statement noted that Russia's military attack against Ukraine - an independent and sovereign State - is a flagrant violation of international law and the core principles on which the international rules-based order is built.

The EU calls on the international community to demand from Russia the immediate end of this aggression, which endangers international peace and security at a global scale, according to the statement. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden, while addressing the nation on Thursday (local time), said that the US is in consultations with India over the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Replying to the questions whether India is with the US over the Ukraine crisis, Biden said, "We are in consultation with India today, we haven't resolved that completely." Earlier today, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged an end to violence in Ukraine during a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Indian government said in a statement on Thursday. "(The) Prime Minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue," the government said. In an appeal to India, Ukrainian diplomat Igor Polikha has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tell Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop any more military adventure. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday said India will wait to see the final shape of the UN Security Council resolution on the Ukraine situation before taking a position. "The possibility of UNSC resolution that would be tabled on the evolving situation, we have seen a draft resolution. I am told that would undergo considerable changes. We will wait to see the shape that this resolution takes before we can pronounce ourselves in the position that we will take on this issue," Shringla said at a media briefing here in response to a media query. He said it is an evolving situation both on the ground and in the United Nations. (ANI)
The farmer wing of Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday protested in Lahore over the issue of lower rates of crops and many of them were arrested by the police. They were complaining that the rates fixed for their crops were lower than their expenses. They demanded that the general sales tax on the seeds and agricultural tools should be removed, reported Dunya Daily. Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sirajul Haq, addressed the meeting and said that the farmers and labourers will surround the Punjab Assembly if their demands are not met. The central president of the Kisan Board Chaudhary Shaukat said that the fertilizer had become costlier and unavailable at the same time. "If the situation does not change, then the production of the crops will fall down," said Shaukat. The protestor said that the government should accept their demands and release their arrested colleagues, otherwise they will close down the entire province, reported Dunya Daily. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Haq said that the Imran Khan-led PTI government has broken all the records of tyranny and injustice. "All departments and sectors are crumbling due to the wrong policies of the government. It has to go now. It has become a slave of the IMF," said Haq. (ANI)
US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning 24 Belarusian individuals and entities "due to Belarus's support for, and facilitation of, the invasion" of Ukraine by Russian. Condemning Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen said, "Having already sacrificed its legitimacy to suppress the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people, the Lukashenka regime is now jeopardizing Belarus's sovereignty by supporting Russia's further invasion of Ukraine." "Treasury continues to disrupt Belarus's military and financial capabilities through targeted sanctions. Further, due to the interconnectedness between the two countries, the actions Treasury took against Russia today will also impose severe economic pain on the Lukashenka regime," he added. Earlier, US President Joe Biden, in an address to the nation, said on Thursday (local time) that sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin is "on the table".Replying to a question whether he will impose sanctions on Putin, Biden said, "It is on the table". During his address, Biden announced "new strong sanctions and limitations" on Russia.The sanctions include limiting Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds, and yen to be part of the global economy, stopping the ability to finance and grow the Russian military and impairing Russia's ability to compete in a high-tech 21st-century economy. Biden said that the United States is not doing this alone adding that the 27 EU members and G7 members will participate in these sanctions as well. The US sanctioned Russian banks that together hold around USD 1 trillion in assets. Biden added, "we're also blocking four more major banks. That means every asset they have in America will be frozen." "This is going to impose a severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time. We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize a long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies," he said. Furthermore, the EU demanded Putin to cease Russian military operations immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine. "Russia bears full responsibility for this act of aggression and all the destruction and loss of life it will cause. It will be held accountable for its actions," the EU statement said. Moreover, the statement noted that Russia's military attack against Ukraine - an independent and sovereign State - is a flagrant violation of international law and the core principles on which the international rules-based order is built. The EU calls on the international community to demand from Russia the immediate end of this aggression which endangers international peace and security at a global scale, according to the statement. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Deeply appreciate the support from FM @BogdanAurescu of Romania on evacuating Indian nationals from Ukraine. @MEAIndia is working with @MAERomania to ensure border crossing expeditiously. Times of difficulty that's what friends are for."

Jaishankar also held talks with the Foreign Minister of Hungary Peter Szijjarto and Slovakian FM, Ivan Korcok on the Ukraine evacuation of Indian nationals through their countries.

Jaishankar is expected to speak to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba amid Moscow's ongoing military operations in Ukraine, said Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla.

"External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar is expected to speak to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister today," said Shringla during a special briefing on the Ukraine situation on Thursday.

The tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated after Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Furthermore, EAM will also speak to the Foreign Minister of Poland. (ANI)
This comes at a time when Ukraine tensions are escalating after the announcement of Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of Ukraine's breakaway regions.

"Now, I'm authorizing additional US force capabilities to deploy to Germany as part of NATO's response, including some the US-based forces that the Department of Defense placed on standby weeks ago," Biden said in remarks at the White House.

Earlier on Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in a press conference, announced that the alliance activated its defense plans at the request of Gen. Tod Wolters, who leads the US European Command, reported The Hill.

While Stoltenberg said that no NATO forces are in Ukraine but it is working to bolster NATO's defense capabilities to defend the members of the alliance and prevent the spillover. (ANI)
Solo pickets --public protest in Russia --have taken place from the southern city of Tolyatti to the Far East city of Khabarovsk, reported Moscow Times.

The police reported nearly 100 detentions in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities for staging protests. Rights activist Marina Litvinovich on Thursday called on Russians to attend a "walk" against the Russian military operation in Ukraine, including on Pushkin Square in central Moscow.

Moscow prosecutors warned that unauthorized gatherings are illegal and will lead to "negative consequences," and the federal Investigative Committee issued a special warning to "unpermitted" demonstrators, reported the news portal.

This is a key development as the tensions along the Ukraine borders escalate following which many west counties have announced sanctions on Russia targeting its economy. (ANI)
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan sees his Russian visit as one of the rarest opportunities for his energy-starved country. Pakistan is eyeing gains in strategic, energy, and regional connectivity from Russia, reported Dawn. This comes at a time when tensions at Ukraine's borders are escalating after Russia's announcement of its recognition of the independence of Ukraine's breakaway regions. National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, however, rejected the notion about the timing of the visit. "Yes there is a global tension but our visit is of bilateral nature and a similar path was taken in the visit to China where economy, economic indicators, and connectivity was at the heart of that tour," he said. Pakistan has been facing an unprecedented energy crisis. The frequent and long energy shortages are creating difficulties for common households as well as hampering industrial output. This has impacted exports as well. It further reported that the unprecedented power crisis, mismanagement and lack of recovery plan are nudging the country toward economic calamity. The uneven and interrupted supply of gas, electricity and petroleum products are leading to discomfort among different provincial governments and the federal government of Islamabad. Many cities in Pakistan are witnessing protests from people over natural gas shortage and prolonged power outages. Electricity is not available for several hours across Pakistan. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the power shortage leaves people without electricity for 18 hours. And whenever there is electricity, voltage is low, which is making people difficult to draw drinking water. This has led to protests and people especially women are blocking roads to vent their anger. A senior government official in his interaction with the Pakistani journalists said that energy would be the key sector Pakistan is looking to aim for. (ANI)
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Police Commissioner Michael Harrison brief the media following a shooting earlier in the day in which police officers shot and killed a suspect that was allegedly accelerating toward them on Chilton Street. (JERRY JACKSON/Baltimore Sun)

The Maryland Attorney Generals Office on Wednesday released the names of the two police officers who shot and killed a man Saturday in Northeast Baltimore as police say he accelerated his car toward them.

The officers were identified as Baltimore City Police Officers Robert Mauri and Connor Murray. The attorney generals office said they shot and killed 18-year-old Donnell Rochester of Odenton.

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The attorney generals Independent Investigations Division is still investigating whether the shooting was justified, according to a news release.

Mauri has been a Baltimore police officer for 4.5 years and Murray for 3.5 years, according to the Attorney Generals Office. The shooting took place in the 1800 block of Chilton Street around 3:15 p.m.

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Police Commissioner Michael Harrison told reporters the officers approached Rochester because they thought he had a warrant for his arrest. Harrison said the officers were using license plate readers and were working the area as a response to a recent string of armed robberies. It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether Rochester had an open warrant for his arrest.

A Baltimore Police spokesperson said the department planned to release body camera footage of the shooting Friday.

Mauri and Murray fired into Rochesters car before he hit one of them with it, police said. After being shot, Rochester got out of the car and the officers arrested him. Harrison said once the officers realized they had shot Rochester, they tried to give him medical aid. Rochester was taken to an area hospital where he died, police said.

The Maryland General Assembly passed a law last year requiring the Attorney Generals Office investigate all fatalities involving police in the state beginning Oct. 1.

The Baltimore Police Department and the Attorney Generals Office reached an agreement to also allow the police department to conduct its own investigations in order to meet certain requirements of its federal consent decree.
Satellite images taken after Russias invasion of Ukraine show damage to a fuel storage facility and other airport infrastructure at an airfield in Chuhuiv, Ukraine, according to Maxar Technologies.

The satellite imagery company has been collecting images of Russian military movements since late 2021, tracking troops as they inched closer to Ukraine. The images released Thursday reveal damage to the Chuhuiv airfield in eastern Ukraine, as well as military convoys in Russia.

Overview shows Chuhuiv airfield, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Closer view shows damage at a fuel storage area at Chuhuiv airfield, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Closer view shows damaged hangar and a crater in the tarmac at Chuhuiv airfield, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Closer view shows damaged airfield navigation infrastructure at Chuhuiv airfield, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows armor and artillery in a convoy position at Brestsky training area, Brest, Belarus, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows armor and equipment at a railyard in Brest, Belarus, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows more than 50 heavy equipment transporters at Brestsky training area, Brest, Belarus, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Closer view shows armor near a railyard in Brest, Belarus, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows a newly deployed ground attack helicopter near Tomarovka, Russia, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows 2 ground attack helicopters in flight near Tomarovka, Russia, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows ground attack helicopter in flight near Tomarovka, Russia, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows part of a long military convoy heading west near Sergievka, Russia, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Closer view shows armor and self-propelled artillery in a military convoy heading west near Sergievka, Russia, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows a newly deployed field hospital near Krasnaya Yaruga, Russia, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows ground forces deployed near Krasnaya Yaruga, Russia, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

Overview shows Russian forces with artillery and multiple rocket launchers west of Belgorod, Russia, Feb. 24, 2022 (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies)

According to Maxar, the images reveal the following activity:

Damage to fuel storage areas and other airport infrastructure at the Chuhuiv airfield

Military forces and more than 50 heavy equipment transporters at the Brestsky training area near Brest, Belarus

Additional equipment positioned at a railyard near Brest, Belarus

A new ground attack helicopter deployment near Tomarovka, Russia

Helicopters seen flying in the area of Tomarovka, Russia

A new field hospital assembled within the past 24 hours near Krasnaya Yaruga, Russia

Russian forces with artillery and multiple rocket launchers deployed in and around Belgorod, Russia

An additional satellite image shared Thursday by Planet shows black smoke billowing over Chuhuiv airfield.

Latest from Chuhuiv Airbase in Ukraine. Imagery captured on February 21 and today, February 24, 2022. pic.twitter.com/xUwtjRJPIC  Planet (@planet) February 24, 2022

Russian troops launched the attack on Ukraine Thursday.

President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation as the United Nations Security Council met to discuss how to de-escalate the crisis. For months, Moscow denied it had intentions to invade.

Explosions and sirens rocked the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as the sun rose. A Ukrainian presidential adviser told The Associated Press that Russian forces launched the attack from the north, east and south.

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A graphical comparison of Russian and Ukrainian military forces

President Joe Biden condemned the military assault, announcing new sanctions and promising further punishment for Russia in the coming weeks.

America stands up to bullies. We stand up for freedom. This is who we are, Biden said.

He directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to order the deployment of 7,000 additional troops to Europe, according to the Pentagon. The troops will be sent to Germany to support NATO allies. Thousands of American troops have already been moved to Poland, Romania and Germany in support of NATO allies.

NATO called on Russia to stop military action immediately and withdraw forces from in and around Ukraine, calling the attack an act of aggression against an independent peaceful country.

We urge Russia in the strongest terms to turn back from the path of violence and aggression it has chosen, NATO said in a statement. Russias leaders must bear full responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Russia will pay a very heavy economic and political price.
The scrum-half battle between Ali Price and Antoine Dupont could be key to Scotlands Six Nations meeting with France (Malcolm Mackenzie/Julien Mattia-PA Images/Zuma Press).

Scotland and France meet at BT Murrayfield on Saturday in a Guinness Six Nations clash that is critical to both countries title aspirations.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the battle between the two No.9s, Ali Price and Antoine Dupont.

Ali Price  Glasgow Warriors

Scotlands Ali Price (right) in action during the Six Nations win over England. (PA Wire)

Position: Scrum-half

Age: 28

Caps: 48

Debut: versus Georgia, 2016

Height: 5ft 10ins

Weight: 13st 12lbs

Points: 20 (4 tries)

Price has steadily improved throughout his career and has developed into one of Scotlands key men alongside Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell, dictating play with his lightning-quick decisions. The Glasgow scrum-halfs rise was highlighted by his involvement with the British & Irish Lions last summer while he was named as one of Scotlands two vice-captains for the Autumn Test against Tonga in the absence of Hogg. Price played a key part in the lead-up to Duhan van der Merwes last-gasp winning try in Paris last year, and the influential 28-year-old will be hoping to play his part in what would be another huge victory over the French this weekend.

Antoine Dupont  Toulouse

France scrum-half Antoine Dupont makes a break during the Six Nations win over Ireland in Paris. (PA Wire)

Position: Scrum-half

Age: 25

Caps: 37

Debut: Versus Italy, 2017

Height: 5ft 10ins

Weight: 13st 3lbs

Points: 55 (11 tries)

Dupont, the 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year, has formed a formidable half-back pairing for club and country with Romain Ntamack. The Toulouse duo are key to making France tick. Dupont scored three tries in last years Six Nations and scored his first of this years tournament in the victory over Ireland a fortnight ago. Price will have his hands full trying to keep the French superstar in check.
By Jeffrey Dastin and Julia Love

(Reuters) -Amazon.com Inc labor organizer Christian Smalls was arrested on Wednesday, accused of trespassing when he delivered warehouse workers food as part of a high-profile union campaign he is leading.

Smalls, a former Amazon employee, and two other individuals have been charged with obstructing governmental administration, said Lt. John Grimpel of the New York City Police Department, adding that Smalls was also charged with resisting arrest and trespassing.

The other two individuals were Amazon workers, an advocacy group said. Smalls said all three were later released, adding that he disputed the charges and would continue his battle in court.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said Smalls has "repeatedly trespassed despite multiple warnings." The company had not contacted the police about its own employees.

Thirty-three year-old Smalls' quest to make Amazon's JFK8 Staten Island warehouse a unionized facility will come to a head when workers vote starting March 25.

A second closely watched election is currently occurring at Amazon's Bessemer, Alabama warehouse, with vote-by-mail being accepted until March 25 and the vote count starting March 28. Last year, workers at that warehouse voted against unionizing.

A majority vote to unionize at either facility would mark Amazon's first organized workplace in the United States and a milestone for those seeking to invigorate the American labor movement.

Reached by phone, Smalls said he brought food on Wednesday afternoon for current employees to distribute, something he has done for months. The break-room meals are the ALU's chance to share literature and build relationships with workers, he said.

But this time, Smalls said the Amazon manager who had fired him two years ago told him to leave, later calling the police.

"I'm literally a visitor. Do y'all call police on taxi drivers and Uber drivers who wait for associates?" Smalls said, adding Amazon wanted to "increase the intimidation factor" through his arrest. Amazon had no immediate comment on Smalls' claim.

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His clashes with Amazon date back to March 2020 when the company terminated him for protesting at JFK8 despite being on a paid quarantine. Smalls then sued Amazon, alleging it fired him because he is Black and had opposed discriminatory COVID-19 policies. A federal judge dismissed the complaint this month.

Sienna Fontaine, general counsel for advocacy organization Make the Road New York, said: "The people that Amazon is throwing in jail are fighting for better working conditions and should be treated with respect and dignity."

Smalls said the arrest would not stop him from organizing at the warehouse.

"Im on my way there now," he said, shortly before 10 p.m. Eastern Time. "Im going to bring more food for the night shift."

(Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in Palo Alto, Calif., and Julia Love in San Francisco; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Shivani Singh)
People drag their suitcases as they arrive in a bus station to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

KYIV, Ukraine  Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukraines government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.

Military forces battling Russians on multiple fronts suffered dozens of casualties.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored global condemnation and cascading new sanctions as he unleashed the largest ground war in Europe since World War II and chillingly referred to his countrys nuclear arsenal. He threatened any country trying to interfere with consequences you have never seen, as a once-hoped for diplomatic resolution now appeared impossible.

Ukrainian forces sought to fend off a Russian barrage of land- and sea-based missiles, an attack that one senior U.S. defense official described as the first salvo in a likely multi-phase invasion aimed at seizing key population centers, decapitating Ukraines government and installing a new one. Already, Ukraine officials said they had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the worlds worst nuclear disaster.

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Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted. His grasp on power increasingly tenuous, he pleaded Thursday for even more severe sanctions than the ones imposed by Western allies and ordered a full military mobilization that would last 90 days.

Zelenskyy said in a video address that 137 heroes, including 10 military officers, had been killed and 316 people wounded. The dead included all border guards on the Zmiinyi Island in the Odesa region, which was taken over by Russians.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia, saying Putin chose this war and that his country would bear the consequences. Other nations also announced sanctions, or said they would shortly.

[ Biden hits Russia with new sanctions after invasion of Ukraine, says Putin chose war ]

Fearing a Russian attack on the capital city, thousands of people went deep underground as night fell, jamming Kyivs subway stations.

At times it felt almost cheerful. Families ate dinner. Children played. Adults chatted. People brought sleeping bags or dogs or crossword puzzles  anything to alleviate the waiting and the long night ahead.

But the exhaustion was clear on many faces. And the worries.

Nobody believed that this war would start and that they would take Kyiv directly, said Anton Mironov, waiting out the night in one of the old Soviet metro stations. I feel mostly fatigue. None of it feels real.

The invasion began early Thursday with a series of missile strikes, many on key government and military installations, quickly followed by a three-pronged ground assault. Ukrainian and U.S. officials said Russian forces were attacking from the east toward Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city; from the southern region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014; and from Belarus to the north.

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People gather in a shelter during Russian shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Zelenskyy, who had earlier cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law, appealed to global leaders, saying that if you dont help us now, if you fail to offer a powerful assistance to Ukraine, tomorrow the war will knock on your door.

Though Biden said he had no plans to speak with Putin, the Russian leader did have what the Kremlin described as a serious and frank exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Both sides claimed to have destroyed some of the others aircraft and military hardware, though little of that could be confirmed.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-unused Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce battle, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said it was told by Ukraine of the takeover, adding that there had been no casualties or destruction at the industrial site.

A woman reacts as she waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti / AP)

The 1986 disaster occurred when a nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Kyiv exploded, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe. The damaged reactor was later covered by a protective shell to prevent leaks.

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Alyona Shevtsova, adviser to the commander of Ukraines ground forces, wrote on Facebook that staff members at the Chernobyl plant had been taken hostage. The White House said it was outraged by reports of the hostage-taking.

The chief of the NATO alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said the brutal act of war shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders decrying an attack that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government. The conflict shook global financial markets: Stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Condemnation came not only from the U.S. and Europe, but from South Korea, Australia and beyond  and many governments readied new sanctions. Even friendly leaders like Hungarys Viktor Orban sought to distance themselves from Putin.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he aimed to cut off Russia from the U.K.s financial markets as he announced sanctions, freezing the assets of all large Russian banks and planning to bar Russian companies and the Kremlin from raising money on British markets.

Now we see him for what he is  a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest, Johnson said of Putin.

The U.S. sanctions will target Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, Biden said, but they were designed not to disrupt global energy markets. Russian oil and natural gas exports are vital energy sources for Europe.

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[ In January, Ukrainian Americans expressed support, fear for loved ones overseas ]

Zelenskyy urged the U.S. and West to go further and cut the Russians from the SWIFT system, a key financial network that connects thousands of banks around the world. The White House has been reluctant to immediately cut Russia from SWIFT, worried it could cause enormous economic problems in Europe and elsewhere in the West.

While some nervous Europeans speculated about a possible new world war, the U.S. and its NATO partners have shown no indication they would send troops into Ukraine, fearing a larger conflict. NATO reinforced its members in Eastern Europe as a precaution, and Biden said the U.S. was deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO.

European authorities declared the countrys airspace an active conflict zone.

After weeks of denying plans to invade, Putin launched the operation on a country the size of Texas that has increasingly tilted toward the democratic West and away from Moscows sway. The autocratic leader made clear earlier this week that he sees no reason for Ukraine to exist, raising fears of possible broader conflict in the vast space that the Soviet Union once ruled. Putin denied plans to occupy Ukraine, but his ultimate goals remain hazy.

Ukrainians were urged to shelter in place and not to panic.

Until the very last moment, I didnt believe it would happen. I just pushed away these thoughts, said a terrified Anna Dovnya in Kyiv, watching soldiers and police remove shrapnel from an exploded shell. We have lost all faith.

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With social media amplifying a torrent of military claims and counter-claims, it was difficult to determine exactly what was happening on the ground.

Russia and Ukraine made competing claims about damage they had inflicted. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities and drones. It confirmed the loss of one of its Su-25 attack jets, blaming pilot error, and said an An-26 transport plane had crashed because of technical failure, killing the entire crew. It did not say how many were aboard.

Russia said it was not targeting cities, but journalists saw destruction in many civilian areas.

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Ukraines health minister said 57 Ukrainians were killed in the invasion and 169 more were wounded. It was not clear how many were civilians, although earlier in the day it had said 40 soldiers had died.

Polands military increased its readiness level, and Lithuania and Moldova moved toward doing the same.

Putin justified his actions in an overnight televised address, asserting the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the U.S. predicted he would make as a pretext for invasion. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees, saying the military action was a forced measure.

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Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle.

In a reminder of Russias nuclear power, he warned that no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.

Inside Russia, authorities moved swiftly to crack down on any critical voices. OVD-Info, a group that tracks political arrests, reported 1,620 people in 52 Russian cities had been detained for protesting the invasion, more than half of them in Moscow.

Isachenkov and Litvinova reported from Moscow. Francesca Ebel in Kyiv; Angela Charlton in Paris; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Raf Casert and Lorne Cook in Brussels; Nic Dumitrache in Mariupol, Ukraine, Inna Varennytsia in eastern Ukraine; and Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Nomaan Merchant, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.
CHICAGO  An arbitrator ruled City Hall's vaccine mandate for all city employees applies to unions representing police employees, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday.

Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 officials sued to block the Lightfoot administration from enforcing the vaccine requirement. A Cook County judge pressed pause on the city's Dec. 31 deadline for workers to either get vaccinated or get placed on no-pay status until an arbitrator ruled on the union's grievance.

On Wednesday, arbitrator George Roumell Jr. denied the union's grievances and ruled police department employees have until March 13 to get a first vaccination dose and April 13 for the second jab.





The mayor said she hopes the ruling will signal to police union members "who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated."

When asked about the ruling Tuesday, Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara said in a text message that he did not have a comment, "Yet."

This is a developing story.





This article originally appeared on the Chicago Patch
President Joe Biden on Thursday announced what he characterized as harsh new round of sanctions against Russia, just hours after Moscow launched an attack against Ukraine, plunging Europe into one of its gravest security crises since World War II.

Speaking from the White House, Biden criticized President Vladimir Putin for his naked aggression against Ukraine and vowed to make the Russian leader a pariah on the international stage.

Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences, Biden said.

After weeks of touting a diplomatic solution, the invasion shifted Bidens tone.

There is a complete rupture right now in U.S.-Russian relations, he said when asked by a reporter about relationship between the two nations.

The new sanctions restrict the exports of some products from the U.S. to Russia, blocking Moscows ability to acquire semiconductor chips and other technology essential to defense, aerospace and other critical sectors. The sanctions also target Russian banks and elites with close ties to Putin, freezing every asset Russia has in the U.S.

Biden also authorized U.S. forces to be deployed in Germany and said NATO allies would convene a summit on Friday to map out the next steps. The president reiterated his commitment to not send American troops into Ukraine to fight Russia, but said the U.S. would defend its NATO allies if Russia advanced beyond Ukraine.

Biden announced an initial narrow round of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday after Putin moved troops into Moscow-backed breakaway regions in the eastern part of Ukraine, hoping to deter the Russian leader from launching a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Biden warned then that more severe actions would be taken against Russia if Putin were to escalate the situation.

Thursdays announcement stopped short of cutting Russia off from SWIFT  the Belgian financial messaging system that links more than 11,000 financial institutions in over 200 countries and territories  and did not directly sanction Putin. A move by the U.S. and Europe to kick Russia off SWIFT had been characterized by some financial experts as a nuclear option, with some warning it could have negative impacts on the global economy.

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Biden said that European allies were opposed to kicking Russia off SWIFT, but argued that the sanctions announced this week were more consequential and said they could always revisit Russias access to SWIFT. Biden said that sanctioning Putin was still on the table.

Moscow launched a broad attack on Thursday, bombing Ukrainian cities and infrastructure as Russian troops attempted to advance towards Kyiv. Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., said that dozens of Ukrainian civilians have been killed.

Related: Ukrainian parents are taking heartbreaking measures to try to protect their children

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukrainians to take up arms in defense. The defense minister also announced that small arms would be distributed to all veterans and volunteers.

Biden has been adamant about not sending U.S. troops to Ukraine to fight Russia and is relying heavily on sanctions to punish Moscow.

Biden urged Americans to have patience with the sanctions, saying that they would take time to weaken Russia. And he warned that Americans could feel some economic pain from the invasion, but that he expected the impact to be short lived.

The president said his administration was actively taking steps to make sure that gas prices would not climb even higher and warned oil and gas companies not to take advantage of the moment to raise prices. The U.S. would be prepared to tap into its oil reserve as needed, Biden said.

I will do everything in my power to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump. This is critical to me. But this aggression cannot go unanswered, Biden said.

America stands up to bullies.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Biden





President Biden on Thursday said he had no plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid what he called a "complete rupture" in relations between the two countries after Russia invaded Ukraine overnight.

"There is a complete rupture right now in U.S.-Russia relations if they continue on this path they're on," Biden after announcing additional sanctions against Russia for its aggression in Ukraine.

Biden last spoke to Putin via phone on Feb. 12, with the president warning of consequences if Russia moved forward with an attack on Ukraine as it amassed troops along the border. Diplomatic relations have broken down in recent days, however.

Asked about the risk of another Cold War, Biden noted "the vast majority of the rest of the world" is united in opposition to Putin's attacks on Ukraine.

"So it's going to be a cold day for Russia... You don't see a whole lot of people coming to his defense," Biden said.

Biden's remarks came as the United States and its European allies announced a coordinated round of sanctions meant to cripple the Russian economy in response to its attacks on Ukraine.

The president announced sanctions on four additional Russian banks, including its second largest one, and on more Russian elites in addition to those targeted by sanctions earlier in the week. The goal, Biden said, would be to squeeze the Russian economy over time so its war in Ukraine becomes untenable.

Russian forces moved into Ukraine overnight Thursday, with video and reports on the ground documenting military planes, shelling and troop movements in various parts of the country, including the capital of Kyiv.

Pentagon officials warned in a briefing on Thursday morning that Russian forces are likely to try to remove the Ukrainian government, a sign that the attacks are likely to only grow more intense in the coming days.

Putin launched the military invasion in an address delivered before 6 a.m. Moscow time on Thursday.

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Putin on Tuesday had recognized two areas in eastern Ukrainian as independent republics, allowing the Russian military to overtly provide support to Russian-backed separatists there. That move came after he delivered a speech in which he accused Western experts of rewriting history, questioned the independence of Ukraine, and portrayed the nation as historically and culturally Russian.

The Russian invasion has sparked large protests in parts of Russia, with police in cracking down and arresting demonstrators.

In Ukraine, scores of people are attempting to flee the country to neighboring countries.
MOSCOW  Shocked Russians turned out by the thousands Thursday to decry their countrys invasion of Ukraine as emotional calls for protests grew on social media. Some 1,702 people in 53 Russian cities were detained, at least 940 of them in Moscow.

Hundreds of posts came pouring in condemning Moscows most aggressive actions since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin called the attack a special military operation to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine from genocide  a false claim the U.S. had predicted would be a pretext for invasion, and which many Russians roundly rejected.

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Police officer detain a woman during an action against Russia's attack on Ukraine in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Hundreds of people gathered in the center of Moscow on Thursday, protesting against Russia's attack on Ukraine. Many of the demonstrators were detained. Similar protests took place in other Russian cities, and activists were also arrested. (Dmitry Serebryakov/AP)

Tatyana Usmanova, an opposition activist in Moscow, wrote on Facebook that she thought she was dreaming when she awoke at 5:30 a.m. to the news, which she called a disgrace that will be forever with us now.

I want to ask Ukrainians for forgiveness. We didnt vote for those who unleashed the war, she said.

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As sirens blasted in Kyiv, Ukraines capital, and large explosions were heard there and in other cities, Russians were signing open letters and online petitions demanding the Kremlin halt the assault, which Ukrainian forces reported had killed more than 40 soldiers and wounded dozens.

Public opinion is in shock, people are in shock, political analyst Abbas Gallyamov told The Associated Press.

One petition, started by a prominent human rights advocate, Lev Ponomavyov, garnered over 150,000 signatures within several hours and 289,000 by the end of the day. More than 250 journalists put their names on an open letter decrying the aggression. Another one was signed by some 250 scientists, while 194 municipal council members in Moscow and other cities signed a third.

Im worried about the people very much, Im worried to tears, said Zoya Vorobey, a resident of Korolyov, a town outside Moscow, her voice cracking. Ive been watching television since this morning, every minute, to see if anything changes. Unfortunately, nothing.

Several Russian celebrities and public figures, including some working for state TV, spoke out against the attack. Yelena Kovalskaya, director of a state-funded Moscow theater, announced on Facebook she was quitting her job, saying its impossible to work for a killer and get paid by him.

I know that right now many of you feel desperation, helplessness, shame over Vladimir Putins attack on the friendly nation of Ukraine. But I urge you not to despair, human rights activist Marina Litvinovich said in a video statement on Facebook, calling for mass protests Thursday evening.

We, the Russian people, are against the war Putin has unleashed. We dont support this war, it is being waged not on our behalf, Litvinovich said.

But the authorities were having none of that.

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In Moscow and other cities, they moved swiftly to crack down on critical voices. Litvinovich was detained outside of her residence shortly after posting the protest call. OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests, reported that 1,702 people in 53 cities had been detained by Thursday evening, at least 940 of them in Moscow.

Russias Investigative Committee issued a warning Thursday afternoon reminding Russians that unauthorized protests are against the law.

Roskomnadzor, state communications and media watchdog, demanded that Russian media use information and data they get only from official Russian sources. Some media reported that employees of certain state-funded companies were instructed not to comment publicly on the events in Ukraine.

Human rights advocates warned of a new wave of repression on dissent.

There will be new (criminal) cases involving subverters, spies, treason, prosecution for antiwar protests, there will be detentions of journalists and bloggers, those who authored critical posts on social media, bans on investigations of the situation in the army and so on, prominent human rights advocate Pavel Chikov wrote on Facebook.

It is hard to say how big this new wave will be, given that everything has been suppressed already.

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Despite the pressure from the authorities, more than 1,000 people gathered in the center of Moscow Thursday evening, chanting No to war! as passing cars honked their horns.

Hundreds also took to the streets in St. Petersburg and dozens in Yekaterinburg.

This is the most shameful and terrible day in my life. I even was not able to go to work. My country is an aggressor. I hate Putin. What else should be done to make people open their eyes? Yekaterina Kuznetsova, 40-year-old engineer who joined the demonstration in St. Petersburg, told the AP.

Russias official line in the meantime remained intransigent. Speaker of the upper house of parliament, Valentina Matviyenko charged that those who spoke out against the attack were only caring about their momentary problems.

State TV painted the attack in line with what Putin said in his televised address announcing it.

Russia 1 TV host Olga Skabeyeva called it an effort to protect people in Donbas from a Nazi regime and said it was without exaggeration, a crucial junction in history.

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AP writer Kirill Zarubin contributed to this report from Korolyov, Russia.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks in a joint press availability with Fiji acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyumduring





Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday night that he agreed with the notion that there is reason to believe a full Russian invasion in Ukraine could occur before the night is over.

On "NBC Nightly News," host Lester Holt asked the nation's top diplomat if there was "reason to believe that before this night is over Russian forces will be engaged in something akin to a full invasion of Ukraine."

Blinken responded, "I do," adding that Russia has positioned its forces around its border with Ukraine at the "final point of readiness."

"Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine," he added.

Holt sought to clarify the secretary's response, asking if a full-blown invasion "could" or "will" happen.

Blinken then said that he could not put a definitive time or date on it.

"Look, I can't put a date or an exact time on it, but everything is in place for Russia to move forward," he said.

The news comes amid increasing evidence that Russia is poised to lead a large-scale attack on the former Soviet state.

The Pentagon confirmed earlier Wednesday that Russia appeared to be moving more troops into eastern Ukraine, an area where Russian-backed rebels have fought against the Ukraine military. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the two territories of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent, sparking international condemnation.

Also on Wednesday, President Biden announced that the U.S. would impose sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a vessel that carries natural gas from Russia to Germany.

Biden on Tuesday announced initial sanctions against Russian financial institutions, elites and sovereign debt.

At this point however, it appears that these sanctions from the U.S. and its allies have yet to deter Putin from building its military presence.

Blinken during his interview with Holt said that the administration wasn't out of options to discourage Russia from invading Ukraine, telling the host, "I think [there's] still an opportunity to avert a major aggression, although, again, they're in their final stages of being able to engage in one."

"We said very clearly that if Russia continues to escalate, so will we. And so they have to factor that into what they're thinking," Blinken told Holt.

"At the end of the day, if that doesn't stop President Putin, we've made very clear along with all of our allies and partners that there will be massive consequences going forward, a price that Russia will have to pay for a long, long time," he added.
33-year-old Brandon Toseland appeared in court once again Thursday morning, this time for the murder charge he is now facing. Toseland is accused of killing 4-year-old Mason Dominguez in December and placing his body inside of a freezer.
BEIJING (AP)  Brent crude tops $100 per barrel after President Vladimir Putin launches Russia's long-anticipated attack on Ukraine.
Busy Philipps is calling out Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for cruelty following his latest aim at trans youth.

On Wednesday, Abbott, who is up for reelection in November, released a letter stating that parents who allow their child to undergo sex change procedures, which include taking puberty blockers, should be reported for child abuse. The directive, which many are calling transphobic, has earned Abbott the ire of stars like Philipps, who penned a lengthy note about the news on her Instagram.

The Girls5Eva star, whose child Birdie identifies gay and uses they/them pronouns, shared phots of herself and her kids to the platform, alongside a caption slamming Abbott for his intentions.

Supporting who your children are is the opposite of abuse. Its your only job as a parent, Philipps began, tagging Abbott and continuing, "your disgusting attempt to distract from the reality of your failures as a politician will not be tolerated. The cruelty of your actions towards parents, children, caregivers and doctors is remarkable. You are a villain for a superheroes journey. And I am here to tell you, the superheroes are ready to face you and your tiny army of intolerance and hatred.

Philipps, who called Abbott a small sad man grasping for power, has also called out the politician for his abortion ban, which effectively bans the medical procedure after six weeks and instructs citizens to report those who are seeking to terminate their pregnancy.

There is nothing American in your actions and in fact, theres nothing remotely human about them, the actress continued. Whats your cute saying? DONT MESS WITH TEXAS? Well. Mr. Abbott, Ive actually got a saying of my own  DONT MESS WITH MOMS.

Philipps received much praise for her words in her comments section. One follower wrote, Much love from Texas. Where we often wonder why we stay, but also know that people have to fight for our kids and women. Another added, I have a non-binary 14 year old who is amazing! It breaks my heart to know there are people out in the world that would hate them for just existing. I feel the same, Busy. And Ill fight for my child and every child that just wants to be able to exist in this world.

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Philipps isnt the only actress speaking out. Jamie Lee Curtis, who is the mother of a trans child, also called out Abbott on her Instagram feed, stating she was outraged as a parent.

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With all the problems we are facing right now one might think that using some gestapo type tactics to inflict suffering on our own citizens might not be a priority, Curtis wrote in the caption of her post. But it is.

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Gabrielle Union, whose stepdaughter Zaya came out as trans in 2020, took to Twitter to express her anger at the directive, sharing Abbott's letter and writing, "This is where we are. We shot past dangerous and horrific a long time ago. The rubber has hit the road so who is standing shoulder to shoulder in this fight? Who truly gives a s**t and whose on that performative bs? Let's see."

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Bombardier, which manufacturers private jets, may be one of the companies affected by the export cancellations. (China Daily via REUTERS)

Canada is cancelling all export permits to Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine, a decision that Canada's foreign affairs minister says will impact companies in the aerospace, technology and minerals sectors.

The cancellation of existing export permits and additional sanctions were announced at a press conference on Thursday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Anita Anand. Joly said that hundreds of export permits are being cancelled, worth more than $700 million. Applications for new permits to export goods to Russia will be rejected.

"No aerospace technology or mineral goods will be sent to Russia," Joly said.

"Together with our allies, we are inflicting severe pain on the Russian regime and the Russian economy... Our goal is to weaken the Russian regime and its economy."

Canada exported $121 million in aerospace products and parts to Russia in 2021, according to Statistics Canada. Total exports to Russia totalled $656 million last year.

Bombardier (BBD-B.TO), which manufactures private jets, may be one of the companies affected by the export cancellations. Chief executive Eric Martel said on Thursday that the company's supply chain will not be impacted by the crisis, and it is checking whether any of its customers may be subject to government sanctions. Between 5 to 6 per cent of Bombardier's deliveries traditionally come from customers in the region, he said.

"We'll monitor the situation closely," Martel told reporters after the company's investor day.

"We'll see what are the sanctions, and we may have... to terminate some of these agreements if there are sanctions on our customers,"

A spokesperson for Bombardier said the company is seeking more details about the latest round of sanctions.

"We continue to monitor and follow all guidelines and sanctions put in place and will not pursue business with sanctioned individuals and entities," Bombardier spokesperson Tinca Stokojnik Prouvost said in an emailed statement.

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Canada's second biggest pension fund, the Caisse de depot, said Thursday that it had sold positions in Russia and would avoid exposure to the country as it faces additional sanctions.

The Canadian government announced additional sanctions on Thursday, targeting 58 individuals and entities including members of the Russian elite and major Russian banks. The government is also sanctioning members of the Russian Security council, including its defence minister, finance minister and justice minister.

"These sanctions are wide-reaching and will impose severe costs on complicit Russian elites and will limit (Russian President Vladimir Putin's) ability to continue funding this unjustified invasion," Trudeau said.

With files from Reuters

Alicja Siekierska is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow her on Twitter @alicjawithaj.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
New York Times awards columnist Kyle Buchanans new book Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road is being hailed as the definitive oral history behind George Millers unlikely 2015 Oscar winner and fan favorite-reboot of the filmmakers Mel Gibson-starring trilogy.

But theres one section in particular thats raising eyebrows from here to the furthest reaches of desert wastelands: the volatile on-set relationship depicted between stars Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron.

Theron and multiple crew members tell Buchanan that Hardys persistent lateness to the films Namibia desert set led to a tense exchange between the actors, leaving Theron shook to the point where she requested protection from her co-star.

I remember vividly the day, camera operator Mark Goellnicht recalled in an excerpt posted on Vanity Fair. The call on set was eight oclock. Charlize got there right at eight oclock, sat in the War Rig, knowing that Toms never going to be there at eight even though they made a special request for him to be there on time. He was notorious for never being on time in the morning. If the call time was in the morning, forget it  he didnt show up.

Theron sat in the War Rig in full makeup and costume, and waited. And waited. And waited. She didnt go to the bathroom, didnt do anything, Goellnicht added.

Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron in 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. (Photo: Jasin Boland/Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection)

Hardy, who played post-apocalyptic survivor Max Rockatansky, finally arrived  three hours late  much to the chagrin of Theron, who co-starred as revolting war captain Furiosa and was a new mother whose baby was looked after at a nearby childcare center.

She jumps out of the War Rig, and she starts swearing her head off at him, saying, Fine the f***ing c*** a hundred thousand dollars for every minute that hes held up this crew, and How disrespectful you are!' Goellnicht said. She was right. Full rant. She screams it out. Its so loud, its so windy  he mightve heard some of it, but he charged up to her and went, What did you say to me?'

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He was quite aggressive. She really felt threatened, Goellnicht explained. That was the turning point, because then she said, I want someone as protection.

Said Theron: It got to a place where it was kind of out of hand, and there was a sense that maybe sending a woman producer down could maybe equalize some of it, because I didnt feel safe.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD was a clash of the titans, and their names were Tom and Charlize. In this @VanityFair excerpt from my new book (Blood, Sweat & Chrome, out today), we learn what really went on between the two stars: https://t.co/PUnI1ULv1M pic.twitter.com/AkNqOwUJqW  Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) February 22, 2022

Veteran producer Denise Di Novi was eventually dispatched to Namibia to mediate the conflict, Buchanan writes. But while Di Novi regularly checked in with Theron, she mostly stayed in the production offices, leaving the actress feeling naked and alone on set.

I dont want to make excuses for bad behavior, but it was a tough shoot. Now, I have a very clear perspective on what went down. I dont think I had that clarity when we were making the movie. I was in survival mode; I was really scared s***less.

Boy f***ing howdy, was it clear that those two people hated each other, editor J. Houston Yang told Buchanan. They didnt want to touch each other, they didnt want to look at each other, they wouldnt face each other if the camera wasnt actively rolling.

It was a tense atmosphere at times. It was kind of like youre on your summer holidays and the adults in the front of the car are arguing, co-star Nicholas Hoult said more diplomatically.

Said Miller: There are things that I feel disappointment with about the process. Looking back, if I had to do it again, I would probably be more mindful.

Hardy responded to Buchanan by email.

In hindsight, I was in over my head in many ways, the actor said. The pressure on both of us was overwhelming at times. What she needed was a better, perhaps more experienced partner in me Id like to think that now that Im older and uglier, I could rise to that occasion.
Xi congratulates Julius Nyerere leadership school on inauguration

Xinhua) 07:49, February 24, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday sent a congratulatory letter for the inauguration ceremony of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania.

The leadership school was co-founded by six parties in southern Africa: Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, the African National Congress of South Africa, the Mozambique Liberation Front Party, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola, the SWAPO party of Namibia and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front.

Noting that the six parties have united and led the people in pursuing national independence, construction and development, Xi said the inauguration of the Julius Nyerere leadership school will provide an important platform for the six parties to enhance their governance capacity and better lead their respective countries to achieve development and benefit their people.

As the world is undergoing changes rarely seen in a century, China and Africa need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever to cope with risks and challenges, promote common development and improve people's well-being, Xi stressed.

The CPC is willing to take the inauguration of the Julius Nyerere leadership school as an opportunity to strengthen the exchange of state governance experience with parties in Africa, support each other in pursuing development paths that suit their own national conditions, deepen pragmatic cooperation across the board, promote the building of a high-level community with a shared future between China and Africa, and contribute more to the building of a better world, he said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Ukainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the press in the town of Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on April 4, 2022. (Ronaldo Schemidt/Getty-AFP)

WARSAW, Poland  Russian troops launched a broad, three-pronged assault on Ukraine that opened with air and missile strikes on Ukrainian military facilities and included ground troops invading from Crimea.

Ukraines leadership called a full-scale war aimed at destroying a Western-looking democracy intent on escaping Moscows orbit. The health minister said 57 Ukrainians have been killed as a result of the Russian invasion and 169 more were wounded.

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As Ukrainian forces fought back and civilians piled into trains and cars to flee, the U.S. and European leaders rushed to respond, if not directly in Ukraine, with strong financial sanctions to punish Russia. NATO moved to strengthen its eastern flank.

Here are the things to know about the conflict over Ukraine and the security crisis in Eastern Europe:

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Putin makes his move

In a televised address as the attack began, Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists have been fighting for almost eight years.

The U.S. had predicted Putin would falsely claim that the rebel-held regions were under attack to justify an invasion.

The Russian leader warned other countries that any attempt to interfere in Ukraine would lead to consequences you have never seen in history  a dark threat implying Russia was prepared to use its nuclear weapons.

Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demands to block Ukraine from ever joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

Putin said Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine but plans to demilitarize it. He urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home. Soon after his address, explosions were heard in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa.

Russias Defense Ministry reported hours later that the Russian military has destroyed 74 Ukrainian military facilities, including 11 air bases.

The West reacts quickly

World leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraines democratically elected government and threaten the post-Cold War balance.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Russias attack a brutal act of war and said Moscow had shattered peace on the European continent.

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U.S. President Joe Biden said Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

In Lithuania, a small Baltic nation and NATO member that borders Russias Kaliningrad region to the southwest, Belarus to the east, Latvia to the north and Poland to the south. President Gitanas Nauseda signed a decree declaring a state of emergency. The countrys parliament was expected to approve the measure later in the day.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Putin has unleashed war in our European continent and Britain cannot and will not just look away.

Our mission is clear: diplomatically, politically, economically and eventually militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure, Johnson said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sharply condemned Russias attack, calling it a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said: This Russian invasion stands to put at risk the basic principle of international order that forbids one-sided action of force in an attempt to change the status quo.

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Ukraines president urges calm

Residents of Ukraines capital, Kyiv, could be heard shouting in the streets when the first explosions sounded.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a video statement declaring martial law. He told Ukrainians that the United States was gathering international support to respond to Russia. He urged residents to remain calm and to stay at home.

Zelenskyy had repeatedly appealed to Putin in recent days to pursue a diplomatic path instead of taking military action. He urged world leaders Thursday to provide defense assistance and help protect Ukraines airspace.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a presidential adviser, said fighting was taking place Thursday along practically the entire perimeter of the countrys border.

The head of the U.N. refugee agency called on neighboring countries to keep their borders open for Ukrainians fleeing the fighting.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi pointed to reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety.

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He said his agency had stepped up its operations and capacity in both Ukraine and its neighbors.

World markets fall

World stock markets plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Beyond its human toll, the conflict looks set to send prices spiraling even higher at gasoline pumps and grocery stores around the world.

Russia and Ukraine are major producers not only of energy products but also grains and various other commodities. War could upend global supplies, as could sanctions brought by the United States and other allies.

When will the West impose more sanctions?

Ukraines forces are no match for Moscows military might, so Kyiv is counting on other countries to hit Russia hard  with sanctions.

Biden on Wednesday allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the companys CEO.

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Biden waived sanctions last year when the project was almost completed, in return for an agreement from Germany to take action against Russia if it used gas as a weapon or attacked Ukraine. Germany said Tuesday it was indefinitely suspending the pipeline.

Biden said more sanctions would be announced on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the European Union planned the strongest, the harshest package ever, to be considered at a summit on Thursday, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue, Borrell said.

This is not only the greatest violation of international law, its a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence. Its costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.

What sanctions were under U.S. consideration if Russia invaded?

The Biden administration had made clear it was holding tough financial penalties in reserve in case of just such a Russian invasion.

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The U.S. hasnt specified just what measures it will take now, although administration officials have made clear that all-out sanctions against Russias major banks are among the likely options. So are export limits that would deny Russia U.S. high tech for its industries and military.

Another tough measure under consideration would effectively shut Russia out of much of the global financial system.

Chinas support for Russia

Chinas customs agency on Thursday approved imports of wheat from all regions of Russia, a move that could help to reduce the impact of possible Western sanctions.

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Chinas populous market is a growth area for other farm goods suppliers, but Beijing had barred imports until now from Russias main wheat-growing areas due to concern about possible fungus and other contamination.

Russia is one of the biggest wheat producers, but its exports would be vulnerable if its foreign markets block shipments in response to its attack on Ukraine.

Thursdays announcement said Russia would take all measures to prevent contamination by wheat smut fungus and would suspend exports to China if it was found.

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Ukraine sees more cyberattacks

The websites of Ukraines defense, foreign and interior ministries were unreachable or painfully slow to load Thursday morning after a punishing wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks as Russia struck at its neighbor.

In addition to DDoS attacks on Wednesday, cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware, some in neighboring Latvia and Lithuania.

Officials had long expected cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion.

Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report.
BEIJING (AP)  China called Thursday for talks to resolve the Ukraine crisis and avoided criticizing President Vladimir Putins attack while, in a step that could blunt the impact of Western sanctions, Beijing also approved imports of Russian wheat.

Chinese ties with Russia have grown stronger under President Xi Jinping, who met Putin this month in Beijing. China's multibillion-dollar purchases of Russian gas for its energy-hungry economy have been a lifeline to Putin, who already was under Western sanctions over its 2014 seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.

China is the only major government to refrain from condemning Putin's attack. But it tempered that by calling for restraint and respect for national sovereignty.

We still hope that the parties concerned will not shut the door to peace and engage instead in dialogue and consultation and prevent the situation from further escalating, said a foreign ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying.

Meanwhile, Chinas Embassy in Ukraine told its citizens there to stay home and to place a Chinese flag inside or on their vehicle if they needed to travel.

Xi's government echoes Russian frustration with what they say is unfair American dominance of global affairs and Moscows rejection of the eastward expansion of NATO, the U.S.-European military alliance.

Beijing has blamed Washington and its European allies for the conflict over Ukraine.

All parties should work for peace instead of escalating the tension or hyping up the possibility of war, Hua said. Those parties who were busy condemning others, what have they done? Have they persuaded others?"

After their Beijing meeting, Xi and Putin issued a statement endorsing key foreign policy issues for both sides  Moscow's opposition to a NATO expansion in former Soviet republics and Chinas claim to the self-ruled island of Taiwan.

Moscows attack has thrust Beijing into a conflict between its partnership with Putin and its sensitivity about respect for national borders due to its anxiety about holding onto restive areas such as Tibet and Xinjiang.

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Li Xin, director of the Institute of European and Asian Studies at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said the West forced Russia to take action with NATOs expansion and the deployment of a missile defense system.

On the one hand, we respect territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Ukraine, but on the other hand, we must consider the historical process of the situation where Russia has been pushed into a corner and forced to counterattack, Li said.

China hasnt endorsed Putins recognition of independence of eastern Ukraines separatist areas or his decision to send in soldiers, but Hua said Beijing called on parties to respect others legitimate security concerns.

Hua did not describe Russias actions as an invasion or directly refer to the movement of Russian forces into Ukraine.

At a conference in Germany last weekend, Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the United States of stirring up antagonism. However, Wang said the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of any country should be respected. He added, Ukraine is no exception.

Western trade and financial sanctions on Russia would strengthen Beijing in their relationship by increasing Chinas importance as an export market and source of investment.

On Thursday, Chinas customs agency approved imports of wheat from all regions of Russia, giving Putin an alternative to Western markets that might be closed under possible sanctions.

Russia is one of the worlds biggest wheat producers but has been shut out of China until now due to concern about possible fungus and other contamination.

The two governments announced an agreement Feb. 8 for China to import Russian wheat and barley after Putin became the highest-profile foreign guest to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Thursdays announcement said Russia would take all measures to prevent contamination by wheat smut fungus and would suspend exports to China if it was found.

Russia has spent much of the past decade trying to expand gas exports and other trade with China and East Asian markets to offset the impact of Crimea-related sanctions.

Last month, state-owned Gazprom signed a 30-year contract to supply natural gas to China's northeast from the Russian Far East. The two sides agreed payment would be in euros to reduce their use of U.S. dollars, the common currency in natural resource markets.

Earlier, the two governments signed another gas supply contract in 2014 after more than a decade of negotiations. Industry analysts said Russia gave in to Chinese pressure for favorable terms due to Moscow's need for export revenue after the Crimea sanctions.
China on Thursday told its citizens in Ukraine to "stay at home" or display the national flag.

The announcement from the Chinese embassy came the same day Russia attacked Ukraine.

Other nations have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine or to be prepared to evacuate.

In the hours after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine, the Chinese embassy in Ukraine advised Chinese nationals there to "stay at home" or to display the Chinese flag on their cars if they have to go outside.

"Social order is chaotic and out of control, especially when there are periods of serious unrest in the city," the embassy wrote in a safety reminder on Thursday.

"It is best to stay at home and away from windows and glass to avoid accidental injury," the statement continued.

The embassy told citizens that if they have to travel by car, they should take note of where to refuel and should "affix the Chinese flag at a prominent spot on your car." Thousands of cars were spotted leaving Kyiv on Thursday morning.

In its reminder, the embassy also encouraged Chinese nationals in the country to help each other, suggesting that wealthier Chinese businessmen or Chinese citizens more familiar with Ukraine should offer assistance to the more inexperienced, such as traveling students.

The notice did not tell Chinese citizens to evacuate the country.

In contrast, other countries have been advising their citizens to leave Ukraine or be ready to evacuate as explosions were heard from Kyiv to the eastern city of Kharkiv, and as Russian tanks were reported to have crossed the border from Belarus and occupied Crimea.

The South Korean embassy strongly urged its citizens to prepare to leave Ukraine just before Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise announcement on Thursday morning that Russia would launch a "special military action" against Ukraine, CNN reported.

Other nations such as the US, UK, Japan, and Israel have for days or even weeks told their citizens to evacuate the country as fears of Russia's invasion grew.

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The embassy's advisory comes as a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry on Thursday refused to describe Russia's attack as an "invasion" and called for tensions to de-escalate, The New York Times reported.

On Tuesday, the state-owned media outlet Horizon News appeared to have accidentally published a memo instructing Chinese media not to publish anything "not positive to Russia or positive to the West."

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Michele Kambas and James Pearson

NICOSIA/LONDON (Reuters) - A 24-year-old videogame designer who runs his small business out of a home next to an old Cypriot church in a quiet suburb of Nicosia now finds himself entangled in a global crisis following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Polis Trachonitis' firm, Hermetica Digital Ltd, has been implicated by U.S. researchers in a data-shredding cyberattack that hit hundreds of computers in Ukraine, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Discovered on Wednesday night just hours before Russian troops rolled into Ukraine, the cyberattack was widely seen as the opening salvo of Moscow's invasion.

The malware had been signed using a digital certificate with Hermetica Digital's name on it, according to the researchers, some of whom have started calling the malicious code "HermeticWiper" because of the connection.

Trachonitis told Reuters he had nothing to do with the attack. He said he never sought a digital certificate and had no idea one had been issued to his firm.

He said his role in the videogame industry is just to write the text for games that others put together.

"I don't even write the code  I write stories," he said, adding that he was unaware of the connection between his firm and the Russian invasion until he was told by a Reuters reporter on Thursday morning.

"I'm just a Cypriot guy ... I have no link to Russia."

The extent of the damage caused by the malware attack was not clear, but cybersecurity firm ESET said the malicious code had been found installed on "hundreds of machines".

Western leaders have warned for months that Russia could conduct destructive cyberattacks against Ukraine ahead of an invasion.

Last week, Britain and the United States said Russian military hackers were behind a spate of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks that briefly knocked Ukrainian banking and government websites offline.

DIGITAL CERTIFICATE

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Cyber spies routinely steal random strangers' identities to rent server space, or register malicious websites.

The Hermetica Digital certificate was issued in April 2021, but the time stamp on the malicious code itself was Dec. 28, 2021.

ESET researchers said in a blog post that those dates suggested that "the attack may have been in the works for some time."

If, as is widely assumed by cybersecurity experts and U.S. defence officials, the attacks were carried out by Russians, then the time stamps are potentially significant data points for observers hoping to understand when the plan for the invasion of Ukraine came together.

ESET's head of threat research, Jean-Ian Boutin, told Reuters there were various ways in which a malicious actor could fraudulently obtain a code signing certificate.

"They can obviously obtain it themselves, but they can also buy it in the black market," Boutin said.

"As such, it is possible that the operation dates back further than we previously knew, but it is also possible that the threat actor acquired this code signing certificate recently, just for this campaign."

Ben Read, director of cyber espionage analysis at Mandiant, said it was possible that a group could "impersonate a company in communications with a digital cert providing company and get a legitimate cert fraudulently issued to them."

Cybersecurity firm Symantec said organisations in the financial, defence, aviation and IT services sectors had been targeted in Wednesday's attack. DigiCert, the company that issued the digital certificate, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Juan-Andres Guerrero-Saade, a cybersecurity researcher at digital security firm SentinelOne, said the purpose of the attack was clear: "This was meant to damage, disable, signal and cause havoc."

(Reporting by Michele Kambas in Nicosia, and James Pearson and Raphael Satter in London; Additional reporting by Christopher Bing in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The Daily Beast

Claudio Peri/Pool/ReutersROMESince the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has floated the idea that he wants to take a trip to Kyiv to try to broker a ceasefire. But now he says he would prefer to go to Moscow to try to talk some sense into Vladimir Putin, who he has not outwardly condemned in the now nearly three-month-old war and only did so lightly in a lengthy interview with an Italian newspaper.I feel that before going to Kyiv, I must go to Moscow, he told Corriere D
By Gabriella Borter

(Reuters) -Florida's House of Representatives on Thursday approved a Republican-backed bill that would prohibit classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure Democrats denounced as being anti-LGBTQ.

Dubbed the "don't say gay" bill by opponents, the legislation is part of a broader political debate in the United States over how sexual orientation and gender identity should be recognized in schools, sports and healthcare settings.

The Florida bill states that "classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."

The bill's supporters said it was designed to keep schools from talking about topics young kids were not ready to process. U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, called it "hateful" in a tweet earlier this month and pledged that his administration would fight to protect the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community.

While the language only specifically includes young children in those primary school grades, critics said it could be interpreted to extend to all grade levels depending on what is deemed "age appropriate." The bill would allow parents to sue school districts in violation.

The measure passed 69-47 on Thursday, with mostly Republican support.

"Little children do not have a fully developed prefrontal cortex. They don't have that ability to understand things at a certain level," Republican state Representative Tom Fabricio said during debate ahead of the vote.

State Democratic Representative Mike Grieco slammed the bill as an attack on LGBTQ people.

"This is an anti-gay bill. And if you vote for this anti-gay bill, after today, you can never ever claim to be an ally of the LGBTQ community. In fact, you are voting to be an opponent," he told fellow lawmakers.

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A companion bill must also be passed in the state Senate before the legislation goes to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature. DeSantis, a Republican, seemed to signal his support for the bills formally titled "Parental Rights in Education" at a public event earlier this month.

"Injecting these concepts about choosing your gender...that is just inappropriate for our schools," he told reporters.

The governor's office did not return a request for comment. The bill would take effect in July if it becomes law.

LGBTQ LEGISLATION

Republican lawmakers across the country have pushed measures seeking to limit childrens education on LGBTQ issues and restrict transgender kids from accessing gender-affirming medical treatment and bathrooms that match their identity.

Democrats have sought to increase childrens freedom to access these services and facilities in accordance with their gender identity.

In Texas this week, Republican Governor Greg Abbott instructed the state's child welfare agency to investigate any gender-affirming medical procedures for transgender youth as "child abuse." That move was also widely condemned by LGBTQ advocates, as well as healthcare providers.

The governor's letter to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services came after the state attorney general last week wrote that such medical procedures "can legally constitute child abuse" under Texas law.

It was not immediately clear how this interpretation of the law could be enforced.

Cathryn Oakley, state legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, condemned Abbott's move and Florida's bill in a call with reporters on Thursday. She said 2022 is "poised to become the year of the most anti-LGBTQ legislation" in the United States.

(Reporting by Gabriella BorterEditing by Colleen Jenkins and Aurora Ellis)
Florida Attorney General Joseph Ladapo





The Florida State Senate on Wednesday approved Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-Fla.) nominee to be the state's Surgeon General who has publicly opposed federal health policies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including masking and vaccine mandates.

Joseph Ladapo was approved to be Florida Surgeon General by the state's Republican-controlled Senate amid continued scrutiny from Florida Democrats on how he plans on handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

"People have opinions, I know that things have been pretty politically charged, but I want to assure everyone that I'm really passionate about health, good health," Ladapo said after his confirmation, according to The Associated Press.

"I've been consistently talking good health from the beginning of the pandemic, holistically and not in one particular lane, so that's what I'll continue doing as the surgeon general," he added.

Ladapo, who was nominated by DeSantis in September, has garnered controversy due to his apparent relaxed approach to COVID-19 policies. Earlier this month, Ladapo declined to disclose his vaccination status when pressed by Democrats.

While he has acknowledged that vaccines can prevent hospitalizations and deaths, he has also been quick to point out evidence that vaccine effectiveness declines over time. He has previously avoided saying whether he believes vaccines are effective when pressed by lawmakers.

Ladapo had also previously refused to wear a mask in October while meeting with a Florida Democratic lawmaker who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, saying that he did not consider speaking with a mask on to be "productive."

As the AP noted, Democratic Florida state Sen. Jason W. B. Pizzo noted Ladapo's "noncommittal" approach and said it made him look like a "yes man."

"And we can't have the third-largest state in the country's top doctor being a yes man to a politician," Pizzo said on Wednesday.

Last month, state Democrats walked out of a vote to advance Ladapo's confirmation, expressing frustration with the answers he was giving lawmakers.

Sen. Janet Cruz (D) said at the time that she was hearing "arrogance and polite avoidance" from Ladapo and said his answers were "mired in words upon words and nonsense."
While President Biden has made clear that U.S. troops wont deploy to Ukraine to help defend the country from an unfolding Russian attack, the U.S. has provided other types of overt  as well as secret  security and intelligence support to Ukraine.

The support has included billions of dollars in military aid; enhanced intelligence sharing between the CIA, the National Security Agency and Ukrainian spy agencies; anti-corruption assistance; and enhanced cybersecurity coordination.

As Yahoo News reported in January, the CIA has also conducted paramilitary training for Ukrainian special operations forces at a facility in the Southern U.S. as part of a secret program that began in 2015, and has sent agency paramilitaries to the front in eastern Ukraine to advise their counterparts there.

U.S. service members take part in a drill in Ukraine in 2015. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images)

Recently, as the threat of a Russian invasion became more acute, U.S. officials quietly stepped up coordination with Ukraine on shared cybersecurity threats, according to current and former officials.

"There is continued work with Ukraine and neighboring states to shore up cyber defenses, [and] we have been seeing warnings, both publicly and privately, that cyberattacks could be part of a broad Russian effort to destabilize and further invade Ukraine, a DHS cyber official told government and law enforcement officials on an internal call last week on escalating Ukraine-Russia tensions that was exclusively reported by Yahoo News. And so there have been U.S. government efforts to work closely with Ukraine, and we continue to do so and will do so in the days ahead.

The U.S. bolstered its support of Ukraine in late January, sending cyber experts and resources there, according to current U.S. government officials.

For the last 10 years, [Ukraine has] been a testing ground for Russian cyber weapons, Jaak Tarien, a senior NATO cybersecurity official, said at a conference in Munich last week.

Ukraine has come under increasing waves of disruptive cyber operations in the run-up to Russias assault, with another group of wiper attacks on Thursday hitting institutions in Ukraine as well as NATO allies Lithuania and Latvia. The attacks on Ukraines financial and government networks were reported by Ukrainian government officials and are expected to continue.

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The Ukrainians are very capable folks, but at the same time you have the force of three [intelligence] services laying everything they have to bear on you, a current NATO official said of the Russian cyberattacks. And Im not sure how many countries in the world, if any, could handle that kind of pressure.

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in the Luhansk region on Thursday. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

But with a shooting war having begun, some of the enhanced cooperation with the Ukrainians on cybersecurity has taken a back seat to more acute worries.

Incident response during a shooting war is going to be all but impossible, said a former U.S. national security official still closely involved in Ukraine issues. No ones going to be focused on computer forensics when they are being shot at or bombed and their lives and that of their families are at stake.

In addition to cybersecurity help, the U.S. has provided advanced military training to elite Ukrainian military and special operations units. A small contingent of U.S. special operations and other military personnel were based in Ukraine to train their counterparts there, though they were were recently evacuated by the Pentagon because of the looming threat of a Russian invasion.

The CIA has also provided secret training to Ukrainian security officials. In 2015, the agency began sending a small cohort of paramilitary officers to the eastern front to help advise Ukrainian forces there, former U.S. intelligence officials told Yahoo News.

One area where U.S. paramilitary trainers have been focused on helping shore up defenses against a Russian strike or occupation is the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, according to a former CIA executive.

While held by the Ukrainian government, Mariupol  which has already reportedly come under Russian attack  is claimed by a nearby Russian-backed statelet carved out of Ukraine. There is widespread expectation that the new Russian offensive will seek to wrest the city, which is strategically located on the Sea of Azov, from Ukrainian control.

Smoke rises from an air defense base after an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Thursday. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Photo)

Since 2015, CIA paramilitaries have also run an intensive U.S.-based training program for Ukrainian special operations forces and other intelligence personnel, former officials told Yahoo News. The program has included training in firearms, land navigation and camouflage techniques, among other areas, according to former officials.

Begun during the presidency of Barack Obama, the U.S.-based program was later augmented under then-President Donald Trump and has increased in size again during the Biden administration, according to former officials. Since Russias initial 2014 military incursion in Crimea, the U.S. and Ukraine have also stepped up intelligence sharing regarding Russias military activities and movement in the region, former U.S. intelligence officials told Yahoo News.

U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence agencies have even cooperated on offensive cyber operations against Russian targets, according to former officials.

The U.S. has also provided over $2.7 billion in military aid to Ukraine since 2014, according to the State Department, to help Ukraine preserve its territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO.

Where are Russian forces surrounding Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out.
Idaho State Police arrested three people and cited 12 for camping at the Capitol Mall on Thursday  at least the fifth time in the past three weeks such action has been taken.

Police also launched an investigation into the use of methamphetamine at the site after finding evidence, according to a news release.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., state troopers arrested and booked three people into the Ada County Jail. A 26-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of meth and two outstanding warrants for failing to appear, according to the news release. A 43-year-old man and a 31-year-old man were arrested on outstanding warrants for a probation violation and failing to appear in court, respectively.

During their visit Thursday  which an ISP spokesperson said via email was part of a routine welfare check  troopers said they saw drug paraphernalia in plain view inside a tent. State police said they found and seized a pipe, multiple syringes and a white powdery substance that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

Police said in the news release that they were accompanied to the site by representatives of the Idaho Department of Administration and agents with the Idaho Department of Correction Division of Probation and Parole. The protest has been taking place on state property at the corner of Jefferson and 6th streets.

SherryJo Crandall, one of the homeless protesters, told the Idaho Statesman that troopers seized sleeping bags and blankets Thursday morning. Since mid-January, troopers have removed tarps, propane heaters, tables, pillows  anything they feel is an indication of camping. State law prohibits camping on the Capitol Mall.

State police said in the release they removed numerous items Thursday, including sleeping bags, pillows and propane tanks. The release did not specify whether blankets had been removed, but spokesperson Lynn Hightower said they are one of the prohibited items that if unclaimed, are subject to seizure.

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Tents may be pitched on the property, but the indicia of camping is prohibited. Under Idaho state law, no person shall camp on or in any state-owned or leased property or facility including, but not limited to, the Capitol Mall, except those that are designated as a recreational camping ground, area or facility.

Crandall, 52, said the most common items she has seen taken are blankets and heaters. She added that hand warmers and propane were some of the things they just needed at the site.

Before Thursday, ISP troopers had been to the location at least four times in the past three weeks. At least seven people had been arrested, and 30 citations or written warnings issued.

Of those seven arrests, six were the result of outstanding warrants not related to the protest. On Jan. 24, police arrested and later charged local activist Ty Werenka, 28, with obstructing and delaying officers. Werenka has since posted bail on the misdemeanor.

Critics, including Idaho Legal Aid, have pushed back and say police have violated protesters First Amendment rights and their Eighth Amendment rights to sleep on public property when no shelter is available. In 2019, a court ruled that people experiencing homelessness cannot be cited or arrested for sleeping outdoors if there isnt available shelter space.

Authorities have said that shelter space does exist.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine, escalating an ongoing conflict between the two nations into an invasion.

As the situation in Ukraine evolves, Illinois politicians and elected officials have offered a range of condolences, prayers and even some legislation in response.

On Thursday morning, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs announced he plans to file legislation which would require Illinois to disinvest in all Russian businesses.

Today, we must send a strong signal to these people that we stand with them and support their sovereignty," said Durkin in a statement.

Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs oversees investment portfolios with a cumulative total over $100 billion.

Local connection: Ukrainian in Springfield says friends back home are 'ready to struggle' against Russians

Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, also introduced a pair of bills which would allocate an additional $20 million of the Department of Human Services' budget to aid in the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees.

DHS oversees Illinois' refugee resettlement program and has placed more than 120,000 refugees since 1975.

As a nation founded by refugees, there is no American value more enduring or essential than welcoming refugees from war-torn places all across the world and helping them and their families resettle safely," said Demmer.

Other elected leaders have used their positions to offer messages of condolences.

"I offer my thoughts and prayers to Illinois' Ukrainian community, their families that live in Ukraine and those with ties to eastern Europe amid the ongoing crisis," said Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside, on the House floor Wednesday.

Members of the House rose out of respect and solidarity in response to Zalewski's comments.

Bipartisan disapproval of Russia attack against Ukraine

Politicians and political candidates of both parties have also come forward with statements condemning Russian aggression and offering solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

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At the federal level, Illinois' two U.S. senators, both Democrats, criticized Russia's aggression.

"Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraines sovereign land is a dire threat to the established international order and must be resolutely deterred," said Sen. Dick Durbin in a statement Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks Monday in Moscow.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth also criticized the action. She is a combat veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

"Vladimir Putins unprovoked and inexcusable escalation of this violent invasion will succeed in only one thing: uniting the free world against Russias autocratic regime in support of Ukraines territorial sovereignty, its people and its right to self-governance," said Duckworth in a statement Wednesday.

More in politics: Illinois lawmakers push to make enforcement of lead regulations easier

Republicans in Illinois' congressional delegation have also come out against the act.

"I condemn Vladimir Putins unprovoked and unjustified attacks against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms," said U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood in a statement. "The world is witness again to the true evil of Putin, who alone has chosen a path of bloodshed in Ukraine."

Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis issued a statement on Thursday supporting a Republican proposal for strict sanctions on Putin and his associates.

"Im joining my Republican colleagues in supporting the toughest sanctions on Russia ever proposed by Congress," said Davis. "Our adversaries will only respond to strength."

Gov. JB Pritzker took to Twitter Wednesday to offer his solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

"Tonight we stand together in prayer for the people of Ukraine and united in our resolve against the tyranny of a Russian autocrat determined to undermine democracy and threaten peace on the European continent," wrote Pritzker.

Editor's note: House Republican Leader Jim Durkin's hometown has been corrected in this story.

Contact Andrew Adams: aadams1@gannett.com; (312)-291-1417; twitter.com/drewjayadams.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Ukraine, Russia war prompts prayer, legislation from IL lawmakers
By Abhirup Roy and Alasdair Pal

MUMBAI (Reuters) -India is focusing on evacuating its 16,000 nationals still stuck in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said late on Thursday, after Russian forces mounted a mass assault by land, air and sea on the former Soviet republic.

Teams of Indian foreign ministry officials have been sent to Ukraine's land borders with Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania to provide assistance to any fleeing Indian nationals, Shringla told a press briefing.

Ukrainian forces were battling Russian invaders around nearly all of the country's perimeter on Thursday as missiles rained down on cities including the capital Kyiv, in the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged an end to violence in Ukraine during a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, an Indian government statement said on Thursday.

"(The) Prime Minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue," the statement said.

Modi also raised the issue of the safety of Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, the statement added.

"The prime minister has conveyed ... that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals, including Indian students, and their evacuation from Ukraine," Shringla said.

Around 4,000 Indians have already been evacuated since the government set up repatriation efforts a month ago, he added.

Indian government advisories call on Indians to find shelter or if possible to attempt to leave the country by land, he said, after Ukraine shut its airspace and evacuation flights were suspended.

(Reporting by Abhirup Roy and Alasdair Pal; Editing by Alison Williams, Gareth Jones and Jonathan Oatis)
Claudio Mandia, 17, died of an apparent suicide at EF Academy in Westchester, New York (Instagram / claudio_mandia)

An Italian family is demanding answers after their teenage son died by suicide at a boarding school in New York, where they say he was being held in isolation as punishment.

Claudio Mandia, 17, was found dead on Saturday in his dorm at EF Academy in Westchester County. Hours later, his parents arrived at the JFK Airport to celebrate his birthday, only to hear from a school official that he was dead.

The family was devastated.

Claudio was a wonderful person and student and he couldnt wait for his family to come to New York from Italy to celebrate his eighteenth birthday, a lawyer for the Mandias told The Daily Beast.

Even more disturbing, the family says Claudios anguish stemmed from primitive and unimaginable treatment he was receiving at the school. The Mandias told Vanity Fair that by the time he died, Claudio had been in solitary confinement for three days as punishment for class work.

The family called this the direct cause of Claudios suicide, and said they intend to take action against the school.

According to Vanity Fair, EF Academy has a policy of isolating expelled students until they can fly home or get picked up by their parents. Its possible that Claudio had been expelled  his uncle told the Beast he was suspected of cheating  and may have been left in isolation until his family arrived.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department has said it is investigating the incident. Results from a full autopsy are still pending.

In a statement, EF Academy said it was cooperating with police.

We are deeply, deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Claudio Mandia, the school told the Beast. The safety of our school community is always our top priority  We are in close contact with the local authorities who are investigating the circumstances of his death. We are heartbroken and have offered to provide whatever support Claudios family may require, while also mobilizing counselors and additional support for our broader school community.

The Independent has reached out to EF Academy for further comment.
After a months-long review, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday that it is ending the Trump-era China Initiative, an anti-espionage program that has faced criticism of stoking anti-Asian hate.



The program, which launched in 2018 under former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, sought to counter Chinese national security threats such as hacking, trade secret theft and economic espionage.



Matthew Olsen, assistant attorney general of the DOJs National Security Division, ordered a review of the program last November in response to reports that it was fueling anti-Asian sentiment. Since the onset of COVID-19, at least 10,370 Asian Americans have become victims of hate and violence, according to Stop AAPI Hate.



Critics have also blamed the program for impeding academic research. Since its launch, multiple Chinese researchers in U.S. universities have faced prosecution over alleged ties to the Chinese government, but a significant number of such cases were dropped or dismissed, according to an investigation by MIT Technology Review.



Among those cases was one involving MIT professor Gang Chen, a naturalized U.S. citizen accused of grant fraud and colluding with China. More than 170 colleagues rallied behind him, and the DOJ ultimately dismissed all charges.



In a speech on Wednesday, Olsen said he believes the China Initiative was driven by genuine national security concerns; however, he also acknowledged that it had affected peoples trust in the DOJ, including those it was supposed to protect.



By grouping cases under the China Initiative rubric, we helped give rise to a harmful perception that the department applies a lower standard to investigate and prosecute criminal conduct related to that country or that we in some way view people with racial, ethnic or familial ties to China differently, Olsen said.



This erosion of trust in the department can impair our national security by alienating us from the people we serve, including the very communities the PRC government targets as victims.



Olsen said the China Initiative was too limited and failed to reflect the overall threat landscape. In lieu of the program, the department will be launching the Strategy for Countering Nation-State Threats, a comprehensive approach that draws on the full extent of our tools and authorities to address the alarming rise in illegal activity from hostile nations.



We see nations such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea becoming more aggressive and more capable in their nefarious activity than ever before, Olsen said. Our new strategy is threat-driven.



Asian American officials who had lobbied to end the program welcomed the DOJs decision.



There are serious national security concerns facing our country from all across the world, but our response must be based on evidence, not racism and fear, said Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), as per the Associated Press.



This change is going to result in less racial profiling of Asians and Asian Americans, and that is a good thing, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said, according to Reuters. Now we need to monitor it and see what actually comes of the change.



While the DOJ is adopting a broader approach, Olsen affirmed that China remains a top priority. Last month, FBI Director Christopher Wray reported that the Bureau has over 2,000 China-related cases  accounting for almost half of its active cases with a new one opening approximately every 10 hours.



Make no mistake, we will be relentless in defending our country from China. The Department will continue to prioritize and aggressively counter the actions of the PRC government that harm our people and our institutions, Olsen said.



The China Initiative resulted in the conviction of Harvard professor Charles Lieber, who was found guilty of concealing his affiliation with the Wuhan University of Technology and his participation in the Chinese governments Thousand Talents program.







Featured Image via Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)

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Rep. Adam Smith, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Rep. Adam Smith said a surge of additional US equipment to Ukraine would not reach it in time to ward off Russia's advances.

Smith, the chair of a powerful congressional panel, said the US should prepare to support a Ukrainian insurgency.

The Biden administration has sent over $650 million worth of weapons and other gear to Ukraine in the past year.

Rep. Adam Smith, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, ruled out surging supplies into Ukraine as a last-ditch effort to stall Russia's invasion, arguing it's unlikely such support would arrive quickly enough to make a difference.

"The odd of us being able to do that in a rapid enough fashion to be able to repel the invasion are remote," Smith told CNN on Thursday when asked about a Ukrainian official's request for more equipment. "I don't think it's realistic to think that we can reinforce them enough in the short term to be able to repel the invasion."

Instead, Smith, a Democrat from Washington State, argued the US should prepare to support a Ukrainian resistance. He added that America's two-decade long war in Afghanistan shows what happens when an overwhelming military force is met with an organized insurgency.

"Even if you can overwhelm a country with force, if that country is unwilling to accept the fact that they have been taken over, a very strong insurgency can be built," Smith said.

Russian troops launched airstrikes on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other key cities on Thursday, unleashing what many Western officials are calling Europe's worst conflict since the end of WWII.

NPR previously reported that the Biden administration has sent $650 million in defense equipment and services to Ukraine in the past year. In January, the State Department signed off on Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania sending anti-armor missiles and other US-made weapons to Ukraine, Politico reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Getty Images)

Kim Kardashian has reportedly asked that a judge sign off on her divorce from Kanye West because the rapper has failed to keep details of their divorce and family matters private and, as a result, has caused her emotional distress.

In new court documents viewed by TMZ, the Skims founder said: I very much desire to be divorced, and referenced the misinformation that West, who legally changed his name to Ye, has been spreading via his social media platforms.

I have asked Kanye to keep our divorce private, but he has not done so, Kardashian wrote, according to Billboard. Kanye has been putting a lot of misinformation regarding our private family matters and co-parenting on social media which has created emotional distress.

I believe that the Court terminating our marital status will help Kanye to accept that our marital relationship is over and to move forward on a better path which will assist us in peacefully co-parenting our children.

Kardashian, who shares four children with West, filed for divorce in February 2021. In December, the former Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, who is currently dating Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson, requested for the divorce to be fast-tracked and to be declared legally single.

Despite her request for divorce, West has, on a number of occasions, attempted to publicly reconcile with his estranged wife. In recent weeks, the rapper has also taken to social media to discuss the divorce and criticise Davidson.

After sharing, and deleting, messages that appeared to have been exchanged between West and his estranged wife, the rapper said that he was working on his communication.

However, last week West filed an opposition to Kardashians request to be declared legally single, with the rappers lawyer arguing that there are several issues that need to be resolved before the pair can be divorced.

One of the issues relates to the custody decision regarding the couples children North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, two, with West requesting that Kardashian waive future marital privilege until the issue has been resolved.

In the latest court documents filed by Kardashian, she acknowledged that she wished her marriage to West would have succeeded, but stated that she has come to the realisation that there is no way to repair our marriage.

Kanye does not agree, but at least it appears that he has come to the realisation that I want to end our marriage, even if he does not, she wrote, adding that she wants the divorce to be finalised so that their family can begin the healing process and move forward in this new chapter in our lives.
Airstrikes hit Chuhuiv, Ukraine

Members of the Ukrainian security forces accompany a wounded man after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 Credit - Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Russian assault on Ukraine continued Friday, with Russian troops reaching northern parts of the capital city Kyiv. The city came under a sustained barrage of airstrikes this morning, leaving craters in the street.

Russian forces launched a wide-ranging assault on Ukraine the day before, sending tanks across the border and bombarding the country with airstrikes, following an order from Russian President Vladimir Putin for a special military operation.

Putin has urged Ukrainian troops to lay down their arms and vowed to retaliate against countries who interfered with Russias actions.

Read More: How the West Can Stop Putin

World leaders have condemned the invasion and promised to retaliate with increased sanctions. On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he was authorizing new sanctions that would impose a severe cost on the Russian economy both immediately and over time.

This is a dangerous moment for all of Europe, for freedom around the world, Biden said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. This was never about genuine security concerns on (Russias) part. It was always about naked aggression, about Putins desire for empire by any means necessary.

Heres the situation at the moment.

Whats happening on the ground in Ukraine?



Russian troops have reached the northern parts of the capital Friday and the Associated Press (AP) reported that gunfire has been heard near the government quarter in Central Kyiv. The mayor of Kyiv says the Ukrainian capital has entered into a defensive phase, a Reuters journalist tweeted.

On Friday morning, Ukrainian interior ministry advisor Anton Herashchenko said on Telegram that attacks on Kyiv with cruise and ballistic missiles had resumed, and that he had heard two powerful explosions.

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Ukraines defense ministry on Friday called for people of all ages to take up arms against Russia.

The invasion of Ukraine began in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday. AP said that Russia sent in troops and tanks from the west, north and south and unleashed a barrage of airstrikes across the country.

Kyiv residents try to leave the city following missile strikes in the Ukrainian capital on Feb. 24. Chris McGrathGetty Images

Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address late Thursday that 137 Ukrainians, including 10 military officers, had been killed and more than 300 people were wounded. Airstrikes alone killed at least 25 civilians and injured 102, the Guardian reported, citing U.N. human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

The websites of Ukraines defense, foreign and interior ministries also experienced a wave of damaging cyberattacks Thursday morning, according to an AP report. Cybersecurity researchers said that unidentified attackers had infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware, some in neighboring Latvia and Lithuania.

Read More:We Will Defend Ourselves. Photographs of Ukraine Under Attack

Zelensky has declared martial law. He said that he had spoken to Biden following the attacks. He also called on Russians to protest Putins move and thousands heeded the call, taking to the streets Thursday to demonstrate against their countrys decision to invade Ukraine. More than 1,700 people across 53 Russian cities were detained, according to the AP.

Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Twitter for the world to place devastating sanctions on Russia immediately.

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022

According to AP, the Russian military said it had struck Ukrainian air bases and other military assets with no threat to civilian population. Zelensky challenged that claim on Friday, calling it a lie and sad that Russian attacks were hitting military and civilian targets. Kyivs mayor Vitaly Klitschko said a rocket hit an apartment building in the city.

Late on Thursday, a Ukrainian presidential adviser told AP that Ukraine had lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear site, after a fierce battle with Russian troops. The power plant is the site of the worlds worst nuclear disaster.

A woman stands in a street as black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuhuiv on Feb. 24. Aris MessinisAFP/Getty Images

After the absolutely senseless attack of the Russians in this direction, it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe, the adviser, Myhailo Podolyak, said.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency has called for maximum restraint in order to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear power plants.

The Russian Defense Ministry says its forces have taken control of a key airfield near Kyiv, the BBC reported, citing Russias Interfax news agency.

Read More: Russias Invasion of Ukraine May Trigger a Refugee Crisis

Elsewhere, many sought shelter. The Guardian journalist Luke Harding said that he had taken shelter in his basement in Kyiv and that air raid sirens could be heard in the capital. Videos circulating on social media showed heavy traffic around the city as people attempted to leave. The Kyiv subway was reportedly being used as a bomb shelter.

Kyiv subway. Entry is free. Its bomb shelter now.  olexander scherba (@olex_scherba) February 24, 2022

Fears over conflict in Ukraine had already roiled global financial markets in recent weeks. On Thursday, Asian and European stock markets slumped and Brent crude oil prices surged to more than $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014 in response to the attacks.

Ukrainian tanks on the move following Russia's invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Why is Russia taking action in Ukraine?

The Russian leader has accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.

In a televised address on Thursday before the assault, Putin also claimed that the attack was necessary to protect civilians in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The areas in eastern Ukraine are controlled by Moscow-backed separatists and were recognized by Moscow this week as independent republics.

Read More: Russias Invasion of Ukraine Is a Major Test for Joe Bidens Foreign Policy Vision

The U.S. says Russias moves were intended to create a pretext for a wider invasion, and the range of the attacks includes targets well outside of eastern Ukraine.

A police officer stands by the remains of a shell in Kyiv on Feb. 24, 2022. SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Zelensky said that he had asked for a call with Putin late Wednesday, but that the Kremlin did not respond. In a direct appeal to Russias citizens, he warned If we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and the lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.    (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2022

What happens next in the Ukraine crisis?

Already several countries, including the U.S. and Australia, have pledged new sanctions against Russia. The collective impact of sanctions will squeeze Russian access to finance and technology [and] degrade its industrial capacity for years to come, Biden said Thursday, adding that he estimated that international coordination would help cut off more than half of Russias high-tech imports. He stressed, however, that sanctions would take time to have their desired effect.

Biden said that he had no idea what Putin was threatening when he said that any attempt to interfere in Ukraine would lead to consequences you have never seen in history in response to a reporter who asked whether the Russian president was implying a willingness to use nuclear weapons. Biden said that Putin has made clear that he has much larger ambitions than Ukraine and that he wants to reestablish the Soviet Union.

The European Union approved a sanctions package on Thursday, which will freeze Russian assets in the E.U. and block Russian banks from accessing European financial markets.

Read More: Why Sanctions on Russia Wont Work

In a written statement issued on Thursday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that the organization, which has several members that border Ukraine, will do all it takes to protect and defend its alliesbut he added that NATO has no plans to send any troops into the country.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a statement on Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Brussels on Feb. 24, 2022, ahead of a EU special summit called to discuss the crisis KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The U.N. said Thursday that it would be freeing up $20 million for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. The World Health Organization also announced Thursday that it had released $3.5 million to buy and deliver urgent medical supplies; Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the importance of allowing the health system to deliver essential medical care.

Zelensky urged world leaders on Thursday to provide defense assistance and to target Putin with all possible sanctions. Putin has unleashed a war with Ukraine and the entire democratic world, he said. Together we must save Ukraine, save the democratic world, and we will do it, the Ukraine president said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
The CEO of Ford Motor Co. says the automaker has no plans to spin off its electric vehicle or internal combustion businesses, but is reinventing itself by removing costs and ramping up for large-scale EV and software sales.

Ford CEO Jim Farley told the Wolfe Research virtual global auto technology conference Wednesday that the company could hit Tesla-like profit margins by using common electric motors, electronic components and other parts across all sizes of vehicles.

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But to do that, Ford needs radically different human talent than it now has, Farley said in a surprisingly candid interview with analyst Rod Lache. He also said the company has too many people and too much complexity, and it doesnt have the expertise to transition to battery-electric vehicles. Thats the simple answer. Theres waste, he said.

Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford has about 183,000 employees worldwide, including about 4,900 who work at an assembly plant on Chicagos Southeast Side.

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Ford President and CEO Jim Farley speaks during the official announcement of Ford Motor Company along with SK Innovations in building two electric battery factories in Glendale, Ky., at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Sept. 28, 2021. Farley says the automaker has no plans to spin off its electric vehicle or internal combustion businesses. Farley told the Wolfe Research virtual global auto technology conference Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, that Ford needs to hit Tesla-like profit margins by using common electric motors, electronic components and other parts across all sizes of vehicles. (Timothy D. Easley/AP)

Ford, Farley said, cant just pivot from internal combustion engines to battery powered vehicles. The internal combustion engine organization is good at body, paint and manufacturing, and would be envied by startup EV makers.

But I cant turn to the ICE organization and say go be Tesla, Farley said. They may do it on the (auto) body. They may do it in plant operations, but thats not good enough, he said, without giving specifics of what changes are coming.

Ford has only 15% of the market in the U.S., so the transition to battery vehicles is a chance to attract new customers. But Farley said it needs to make the buying process simple and all online, with no inventory in the system and home deliveries of the vehicles.

Fords distribution costs are $3,000 to $4,000 higher than Teslas, Farley said, and is seeking to close that gap by attracting new talent with those skills.

Neither Fords internal combustion business nor its electric vehicle operations earn as much profit as they could, Farley said. The company needs more talent to lower structural costs and raise quality in its ICE business, and cut the cost of materials for electric vehicles, he said.

The company also can differentiate itself by doing online software updates so that customers understand how their vehicle is changing, and it needs to keep service customers so if they have a fender bender or a problem develops in four or five years, they can stay within a simple Ford system, Farley said.

He said also the company is working hard to secure raw materials such as lithium and nickel to make EV batteries, and to expect more announcements in the coming months.

Bloomberg News on Friday reported that Ford is looking at ways to separate its electric vehicle business from its legacy combustion operations to earn the kind of investor support enjoyed by Tesla.

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But Farley said Wednesday thats not happening.

We have no plans to spin off our electric business or our ICE business, he said. Its really more around focus and capabilities, expertise and talent.

Shares of Ford closed Wednesday down 2% to $16.95. They have lost about one-third of their value since hitting a 2022 high on Jan. 14.
A Letcher County Middle School teacher was sentenced earlier this week to 370 months  a little more than 30 years  in prison for producing child pornography and cyberstalking his victim.

Charles Evans Hall Jr., 49, of Jackhorn, was convicted after a three-day trial in October 2021. He was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom in London federal court.

The victim was a then 14-year-old student, according to the Whitesburg Mountain Eagle.

Hall met the girl when he was her teacher in middle school and began grooming her for abuse, the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed, said in a sentencing memorandum.

The victim testified that after class, Hall touched her over her clothing, and also took part in inappropriate conduct and comments in his classroom, according to the memo.

Hall convinced the student to set up a secret Snapchat account to send him sexually explicit pictures and videos, according to evidence presented at Halls trial.

The government is strained to find a more egregious instance in which an individual abuses their position of public trust, Reed wrote. Parents do not send their children to school to be sexually fondled, groomed, and preyed upon by the very people we trust to protect them in our absence.

Kentucky State Police seized his cell phone in November 2018. After the police took his cell phone, Hall used an Instagram account to continue cyberstalking the victim and encouraged the victim to destroy evidence. Hall threatened the victim when the victim refused to comply, according to court records and evidence presented at trial.

Hall repeatedly badgered the girl for her account passwords in order to delete incriminating content after police interviewed him, according to the government memo.

Hall told the girl if she didnt help him destroy evidence, he would lose his children, and even threatened to kill himself, the prosecutor said.

While in jail, Hall convinced an inmate to enlist someone not in custody to contact the victim again, prosecutors said. Hall told the victim to alter her statement to police and prosecutors.

Under federal rules, Hall must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.
Rittenhouse has compiled a list of media companies and individuals that he plans to take legal action against

Three months after Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges in the shooting deaths of two protesters in Kenosha, Wis., he now plans to sue the media, celebrities, politicians, and athletes including Whoopi Goldberg for calling him a murderer and white supremacist.

As reported by Yahoo, Rittenhouse, 19, appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight Monday to speak about launching the Media Accountability Project to raise money to pay for his potentially hefty legal fees.

(Credit: Getty Images)

Rittenhouse says he and his team have compiled a list of media companies and individuals that they plan to face off against in court for the lies they said about him.

Right now were looking at quite a few, Rittenhouse said. Politicians, celebrities, athletes. Whoopi Goldbergs on the list. She called me a murderer after I was acquitted by a jury of my peers. She went on to still say that. And theres others. Dont forget about Cenk Uygur from The Young Turks. He called me a murderer before the verdict and continues to call me a murderer.

In November, Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges after pleading self-defense in the deadly Kenosha shootings, The Associated Press reported.

The teenager, per The AP, had been charged with homicide, attempted homicide and reckless endangering after killing two men and wounding a third with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle during a tumultuous night of protests over police violence against Black people in the summer of 2020.

The overwhelmingly white jury deliberated for close to 3 1/2 days.

Rittenhouse, who is white  as were those he shot  was facing life in prison if found guilty on the most serious charge of first-degree murder.

Prior to the trial, Rittenhouse was labeled a white supremacist while out on bail after he appeared to flash a white power sign at a bar, NBC reported. Rittenhouse told Carlson that he intends to sue anyone who called him a white supremacist.

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We are going to hold everybody whos lied about me accountable, Rittenhouse said. Such aseverybodys whos lied, called me a white supremacist. Theyre all gonna be held accountable and were going to handle them in a courtroom.

Rittenhouse was 17 when he traveled from his home in Antioch, Illinois, to Kenosha amid violent protests over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white police officer.

Armed with a weapon that authorities said was illegally purchased for the teenager, Rittenhouse, claimed his intention was to simply protect property and provide medical aid. Bystander and drone video captured the critical moments leading to Rittenhouse killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and protester Anthony Huber, 26, and wounding demonstrator Gaige Grosskreutz, now 28, per The AP.

Rittenhouse explained to Carlson that the Media Accountability Project will support anyone who wants to sue the media.

I dont want to see anybody else have to deal with what I went through, he said.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press.

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The post Kyle Rittenhouse threatens to sue Whoopi Goldberg for allegedly calling him a murderer appeared first on TheGrio.
A map shows where two people were shot by sheriff's deputies in an unincorporated area between Norwalk and La Mirada

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies injured two people in a shooting near La Mirada on Wednesday afternoon, authorities confirmed.

The shooting occurred shortly before 2:40 p.m. in the 14500 block of Chere Drive, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. The area is in an unincorporated part of the county between Norwalk and La Mirada.

Deputy Miguel Meza, a Sheriff's Department spokesman, confirmed to The Times that deputies shot and injured two suspects. He was not able to say what prompted the shooting.

The two injured suspects were taken to a hospital in unknown conditions, according to the Sheriff's Department. A third person was detained.

Footage from KABC-TV Channel 7 showed a silver sedan with several bullet holes, and deputies blocking a nearby street.

KABC also reported that two deputies, one of whom was off duty, suffered minor injuries.

One of the deputies was hospitalized, according to the station. Officials did not confirm those details to The Times.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In a show of unity, Republican and Democratic lawmakers swiftly condemned Russias military attack against Ukraine and vowed to inflict economic pain on President Vladimir Putin by imposing a torrent of punishing new sanctions.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said she wants Russia cut off from the SWIFT international banking system. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called on international law enforcement to target Putin and his allies by seizing their lavish apartments, fine art, yachts and other items.

And Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the U.S. must continue to send financial support and arms to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia.

Todays invasion of Ukraine by Russia is a premeditated and flagrant act of war, said Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee. These are not the actions of a proud nation and people, but the actions of a desperate man whose only desire is to sow chaos in order to make himself look strong.

His Democratic counterpart, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez of New Jersey, said Putins unprovoked attack has underscored the need to blacklist the Russian president and expel the current Kremlin leadership from the international community.

Today must mark a historical shift in how the world views and deals with the despot in Moscow, Menendez said.

The flurry of statements and tweets from Capitol Hill came moments after Putin declared Thursday local time in a national televised address that Russia was launching a military operation to support the demilitarization and denazification of eastern Ukraine. Explosions could be heard in cities across the country, including in the capital of Kyiv, where emergency sirens sounded.

For the most part, Democrats and Republicans struck a bipartisan note, pressing Biden to go further in sanctioning Russia but reserving their fury for Putin.

Following news of Putins further invasion of Ukraine with enormous concern and anger, tweeted Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, typically a vocal critic of Biden. The US will stand with our Ukrainian allies, continue to provide them with arms to defend themselves, and work to counter Putin and hold accountable those responsible for this aggression.

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Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., who tweeted that he was attending a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, said he was "listening to Russian lies about their support of Ukrainian people." He questioned how Putin could claim that he wants to "de-Nazify" Ukraine when the country's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is Jewish.

"Putin is a wild dog and wont stop at Ukraine. Hitler didnt stop at the Sudetenland. Learn from history!" Cohen tweeted. "The United States and all NATO must immediately provide as much military support as possible to the Baltic countries, to Poland, and other allies at risk."

And the top Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs, Armed Services and Intelligence committees also took direct aim at Putin.

The last few hours have laid bare for the world to witness the true evil that is Vladimir Putin.  Reps. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio, said in a joint statement. Every drop of Ukrainian and Russian blood spilled in this conflict is on Putins hands, and his alone.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., tweeted, "Russia has just become a pariah nation. Everything short of involving US forces should be done to punish this action. This should be unrelenting."

Yet there were a handful of Republicans who placed the blame for the Russian attack at Bidens feet.

Joe Biden has shown nothing but weakness and indecision, said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., whos considered a possible 2024 presidential candidate. Now is the time to show strong purpose. Sanction Russias energy sector  the engine of its economy  to its knees and reopen American energy production full throttle.

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a former ambassador to Japan, tweeted that Biden's strategy to prevent a war had failed. "Despite Ukrainian President Zelenskys persistent call for pre-invasion sanctions, the Biden Administration chose to do nothing until it was too late and must now change course," he wrote.

In a statement, Biden said Putin had chosen a premeditated war and vowed to unilaterally impose another round of crippling sanctions on Russia on Thursday, just two days after he had targeted Putin with an initial tranche of sanctions.

But any congressional action on sanctions will have to wait until at least next week when both House and Senate lawmakers return from their Presidents Day recess.

In the meantime, top Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, are planning to hold an unclassified phone briefing for senators Thursday on the developments in Ukraine.

That will be followed by a separate briefing for House lawmakers.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats have been comparing Putins military incursion to Adolf Hitlers military advance during World War II, the last time there was a major war in Europe.

This is a momentous and tragic day when once again we see a dictator in Europe try to remake the map of Europe by using its military power, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said on MSNBCs The Last Word with Lawrence ODonnell.
By Alan Charlish

MEDYKA, Poland (Reuters) - Ukrainians fleeing a Russian invasion have started trickling into Poland, with dozens arriving at the normally quiet Medyka crossing on Thursday, some carrying luggage and accompanied by children.

Officials in European Union countries bordering Ukraine, including Romania and Slovakia, said there was no big influx of refugees for now, but local media and witnesses said foot traffic was increasing.

Alexander Bazhanov fled his home in eastern Ukraine with his wife and young child, taking only what they could carry and walking the final part of their journey into Poland.

The 34-year-old technical manager from Mariupol, 113 km (70 miles) from Donetsk, decided to cross into Poland when he learned the war had started from a colleague.

"I don't have any feelings other than that I am very scared," Bazhanov said at the pedestrian border crossing, about 400 km from Warsaw. "I will visit my father in Spain but I don't have any money and I don't know how I will do that."

Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east.

Central European nations that share a border with Ukraine have for weeks braced for an expected flood of refugees searching for sanctuary within the European Union.

The Medyka crossing is largely used by people going shopping across the border or travelling for work.

Lines to enter the Polish border town grew during the morning. Some people said they feared Russia could push far into Ukraine.

"Everybody thought western Ukraine was safe because it was close to EU and NATO nations," said Maria Palys, 44, who was travelling with her family and that of her brother. "It seems like it is not the right protection."

Russia has demanded an end to NATO's eastward expansion and Putin repeated his position that Ukrainian membership of the U.S.-led military alliance would be unacceptable.

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Putin said he had authorised military action after Russia had been left with no choice but to defend itself against what he said were threats from modern Ukraine, a democratic state of 44 million people.

News of the invasion spurred Olga Pavlusik and her boyfriend Bohdan Begey to rush to the border, leaving their dog at home in their town in western Ukraine. They have no destination in mind. "Anywhere safe will be fine," she told Reuters.

(Reporting by Alan Charlish, Bryan Woolston Kacper Pempel and Leon Malherb, Writing by Michael Kahn, Editing by Janet Lawrence)
The graphic novel "Maus," a prize-winning book about the Holocaust, is among the books recently removed curriculums in school districts across the U.S. (Maro Siranosian / AFP/Getty Images)

To the editor: Book banning, a degenerate first cousin to book burning, has engulfed 39 states. Its adherents claim to protect their progeny and cobweb sensibilities from ideas, ideology and information that (the horror!) provoke independent thought. ("The recent onslaught of book bans is a strategic part of wider attacks on our democracy," Opinion, Feb. 20)

For years, American students have been rhapsodized to about the Founding Fathers, the Boston Tea Party and the America forged from the tyrannical British monarchy. Today, obstructionists lambast critical race theory as the bogeyman, but it offers objective and accurate appraisals.

South Carolina House Bill 4605, which Suzanne Nossel mentions in her op-ed article, aims to immunize students from material that might cause discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress, due to race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation or other characteristics. That jaw-dropping legislation creates enough room for an 18-wheeler to barrel through with comfort.

In contrast, German high school students are required to study the Holocaust, and they routinely visit museums and the sites of concentration camps.

And we're the home of the brave?

Marc D. Greenwood, Opelika, Ala.

..

To the editor: This latest book-banning idiocy, along with the impugning of our true history, continues to demonstrate the harm that fearful, regressive and downright stolid conservatives can bring to American culture.

Politicians in South Carolina and other conservative states declare they are "protecting" students from all kinds of imagined evils. The Palmetto State has passed a bill to keep students from experiencing "discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress" related to themes often taught in history and other subjects.

Conservatives from the state that fired the first defiant shot of the Civil War at Fort Sumter in 1861, like in other secession states, seem bent on perpetuating the old myth of the "lost cause."

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But is this kind of "corrected" curriculum really what we want taught to our students, who will soon become adult citizens living in a rapidly changing world?

June Maguire, Mission Viejo, Calif.

..

To the editor: I was shocked to learn from this op-ed article that school board members in my hometown of Redding, Conn., had "stepped down last year after receiving death threats in the course of curricular battles."

Redding's Mark Twain Library, founded by author (who lived his final years in Redding), holds a notable book fair each Labor Day weekend, carrying on the town's literary and artistic legacy.

If the madness can come to Redding, it can come anywhere.

Treadwell Ruml, Redlands

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's president declared a state of emergency on Thursday, telling the NATO country's army to deploy along its borders in response to "possible disturbances and provocations due to large military forces massed in Russia and Belarus".

The state of emergency, declared hours after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, will be valid for two weeks.

Parliament will meet later on Thursday to vote whether to confirm or cancel President Gitanas Nauseda decision.

Once ruled from Moscow but now part of NATO and the European Union, Lithuania borders Belarus and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas, writing by Gwladys Fouche, editing by Nerijus Adomaitis and Terje Solsvik)
Buck says he wasn't sure what to expect when Escovedo walked into a Portland studio in March after his lengthy hiatus. "I was worried because I wasn't sure where Al was (in terms of his health and mental outlook), but he was radiant," Buck says. "I was going through some life changes myself, as tends to happen at this age (Buck is 59, Escovedo 65), so there was a feeling of rebirth. Al loved the band (which included Decemberists drummer John Moen and guitarist Kurt Bloch, formerly of the Fastbacks)  a bunch of guys who have been doing this a long time but can still tap into what we did at 15, 16, when you do this because you want to play loud and fast. How many years do any of us get? In the creative realm, there's not many people at 75 who put a record out that's great, so let's make sure this is a defining statement."
By Iain Withers

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's biggest domestic lender Lloyds said on Thursday it was on "heightened alert" for cyberattacks from Russia as the crisis in Ukraine has worsened.

"We've been on heightened alert... internally around our cyber risk controls and we've been focused on this now for quite a while," Lloyds CEO Charlie Nunn told reporters after the bank's full-year results.

Preparation for potential cyberattacks was discussed in a meeting between the government and banking industry leaders about Russia on Wednesday, Nunn added. Lloyds has been on heightened alert for the "last couple of months", Nunn said.

Russian forces fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine and landed troops on its coast on Thursday.

Banks globally have been preparing for tougher sanctions from Western governments against Russia. A number of lawmakers in Britain have criticised the country's initial measures for being too weak.

As a primarily UK-focused bank, Lloyds is not very exposed directly to Russia but has nonetheless been checking its controls and preparing for stricter sanctions, Nunn said.

"This is obviously top of our minds at the moment. We have been, like other financial service organisations, talking to the government in the last few weeks," Nunn said.

"We have been very close to making sure we have checked all of our controls and we have the right capabilities in place to enforce the current sanctions and be ready for any new areas."

(Reporting by Iain Withers, editing by Lawrence White)
Lloyds has been on heightened alert for the 'last couple of months' Photo:Budrul Chukrut/Getty

The UKs largest high street bank is on heightened alert for cyberattacks from Russia as Vladimir Putin launches invasion of Ukraine.

"We have been on heightened alert internally around our cyber risk controls and we have been focused on this now for quite a while," Lloyds (LLOY.L) CEO Charlie Nunn told reporters after the bank's full-year results

This has been an area where we have invested really significantly over the last few years to strengthen our own cyber control and I know that other companies in the UK have been focused on their lack of protection as well, he added.

Read more: Lloyds profits jump to 6.9bn as lender announces 2bn share buyback plan

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of the GCHQ eavesdropping intelligence agency, called on British organisations to "bolster their online defences" following the developments.

"While the NCSC is not aware of any current specific threats to UK organisations in relation to events in and around Ukraine, there has been an historical pattern of cyber attacks on Ukraine with international consequences," it said in a statement hours before Putin ordered troops to invade.

Lloyds has been on heightened alert for the "last couple of months", Nunn said.

The prime minister on Wednesday told finance chiefs that he wants the next batch of sanctions against Russia to really bite.

Read more: The Russian banks and billionaires targeted by UK sanctions

Attendees included British banks Lloyds, Barclays, NatWest and HSBC, US banks Goldman Sachs, Citi and Morgan Stanley, as well as the Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England.

"This is obviously top of our minds at the moment. We have been, like other financial service organisations, talking to the government in the last few weeks," Nunn said.

"We have been very close to making sure we have checked all of our controls and we have the right capabilities in place to enforce the current sanctions and be ready for any new areas."

Watch: Sanctions at what cost? West dials up response to Putin's move on Ukraine
Macys is recognizing Black creatives with another Icons of Style launch, a collaboration with Black visionaries to help move the fashion industry forward.

Featuring exclusive designs across ready-to-wear, mens, shoes and accessories for brands found exclusively at Macys, each creative designed a capsule of spring items, inspired by their perspective and style, while offering customers an elevated fashion experience.

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Icons of Style will be available on Macys e-commerce and at select locations nationwide starting April 21. The retailer will feature three seasonal collections throughout 2022.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion specifically as it relates to fashion and style is a critical component of how we connect with our consumers, Durand Guion, vice president, Macys fashion office, told WWD. We are proud to announce the second iteration of Icons of Style with a new group of Black visionaries who are bringing their creative excellence to Macys.

One of the collaborators is GooGoo Atkins, a celebrity stylist, who created limited-edition plus-size rtw capsules.

I was inspired to create this collection because someone who looks like me needed to make clothes for me, Atkins said. I have a colorful and feminine personality and my clothes represent that. My followers have said, Goo Goo, if you give us a line, we know it will be intended for us. I want my fans and followers to feel like Ive listened to them, care about them and to know that my heart and soul is in this as gaining their trust is key to me, she said.

Areeayl Goodwin, a jewelry designer, will create limited-edition jewelry collections for Macys. She is a self-taught jewelry artist born and raised in Philadelphia. At the age of 15, she began learning to create jewelry as a form of self-expression. She started her jewelry line while a student at Howard University, and a large demand grew for her work both on campus and beyond. Her pieces have been worn by Beyonce, Blue Ivy Carter, Tracee Ellis Ross, Indya Moore, Naomi Osaka and Lil Nas X.

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My collection is inspired by pieces that symbolize home so I can feel at home wherever I am. I want people when they wear my jewelry to feel grounded, protected, affirmed and special. My pieces are wearable art and allow the wearer to express themselves in a deep and personal way, Goodwin said.

Matthew Harris, a handbag, shoe and jewelry designer who designs under the label Mateo, is another designer. Born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and the son of a seamstress, Harris discovered his true passion  the art of jewelry making  while living in New York City. Each of his pieces are made from 14-karat gold and diamond and precious gemstone accents.

The brand has been worn by Rihanna, Michelle Obama, Zendaya and Anne Hathaway. His collection was selected by the Smithsonian Museum to be featured and sold at the African American Museum of Art and Culture in Washington, D.C., in 2016 and the Hirshhorn Museum of Contemporary Art in 2017. The brand was a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist in 2017.

Jerome LaMaar, a creative director and stylist, will design a limited-edition unisex collection for the retailer. Bronx-born and -raised, they created their own magical brand called 5:31 in 2013. Ten years after starting, LaMaar opened their own concept store pop-up in the South Bronx called 9J, which showcased art, music, color, design and new thought.

This collection was inspired by a balance of masculine and feminine vibes  there are no gender norms in my eyes. When the fashion dreamer discovers these clothes, I want them to feel magical, seen, loved and most importantly, happy, LaMaar said.

Another Icon of Style is Ade Samuel, a celebrity stylist who will design a limited-edition rtw collection. Samuel was born to a family of Nigerian decent and raised in the Bronx. What inspired this collection was a sense of airiness, color, sophistication and femininity. I wanted to create a chic collection that spoke to me and others who are like minded. I want my consumer to feel sexy, bold, empowered, playful and most importantly themselves, she said.

The final collaborators are Stella and Blaise Bennett, influencers and models, who will design limited-edition kids clothing collections. Stella and Blaise, ages 12 and 10, respectively, live in Orange County, Calif.

FOR MORE STORIES:

Macys Teams Up With Canadian Model Nicole Williams English for Collection

Bridgerton Is the Next Carousel Pop-up at Bloomingdales

Macys Studies Dot-com Spin-off

Macys Elevates Sustainability and D&I Goals

Macys Highlighting Black Brands and Creatives

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Click here to read the full article.
Smoke rise from an air defence base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine





"Dancing with the Stars" alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy is in Ukraine and has a message for Russia: "In a civilized world, this is not the way we do things."

The choreographer, who was born in the besieged nation, posted a series of social media videos on Thursday from Kyiv.

"I am not at this point someone who is pleading, you know, for someone else's safety from a far distance," Chmerkovskiy said. "I'm somebody who's about to go into a bomb shelter, because shit's going down," he added, appearing to be filming from a high-rise building in the Ukrainian capital as sirens blazed in the background, after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an attack on Ukraine hours earlier.

"Dear Russians, I know you know me and I know that a lot of people currently in Russia that are watching this that are watching the news, and hearing the propaganda, and hearing this complete nonsense that's been talked about," Chmerkovskiy, 42, told his more than 750,000 Instagram followers.

"As a powerful, forward-thinking nation - not a third-world kind of country - I think the Russians need to get up and actually say something, because no one's opinion is being heard," he said.

"This is all one man's ambition," Chmerkovskiy, who immigrated to the United States as a 14-year-old with his family nearly three decades ago, said of Putin.

Another of Chmerkovskiy's videos showed a Ukrainian family rolling suitcases through a park.

"I know that at the very least, I have a chance. I have a passport and I have a way out," Chmerkovskiy, who won "DWTS" in 2014 alongside Olympian Meryl Davis, said, noting he felt "uneasy and "very scared."

"A lot of people do not, and it's f---ing nonsense. I love Ukraine," he said.

"There's ALWAYS another way!" the dancing pro wrote in an Instagram post alongside his videos. "War is NEVER an answer"
Manu Tuilagi is back in Englands team (Andrew Matthews/PA) (PA Wire)

England enter their pivotal Guinness Six Nations match against Wales with Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes restored to the team following spells out through injury.

Tuilagi makes his first start in the competition in almost two years after completing his recovery from a torn hamstring and will resume the centre partnership with Henry Slade last seen in the autumn.

Lawes is also making his maiden England appearance of 2022 having overcome concussion, enabling him to pack down at blindside flanker and relieve Tom Curry of the captaincy duties.

We can't wait for this one!



Eddie Jones has named his match day squad for #ENGvWAL @O2 | #WearTheRose  England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 24, 2022

In an unexpected twist, however, Ben Youngs must surpass Jason Leonards record as Englands most capped played as a replacement due to Harry Randall continuing as starting scrum-half.

Youngs was expected to be restored at nine after being demoted for the five-try rout of Italy in Rome, but he will win his 115th cap off the bench before a full house at Twickenham.

Eddie Jones has made three changes in personnel and one positional switch for round three with Luke Cowan-Dickie displacing Jamie George at hooker to complete the new arrivals into the starting XV.

Maro Itoje moves from the back to the second row and Alex Dombrandt holds off the challenge of Sam Simmonds at number eight. Tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler will win his 50th cap.

Ben Youngs will start on the bench (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)

Jones said: It will also be a special match with two significant milestones for Ben and Kyle, both of whom have made outstanding contributions to English rugby so far in their careers. We congratulate them and we know there is more to come ahead for them.

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Weve prepared very well for this game, the squad have really come together on and off the pitch.

Wales are a good, tough side and Six Nations champions and it will make for an exciting Test match in front of a full Twickenham crowd.

Weve got a talented, young, hungry squad who have trained with real intensity this week. Were ready to go at them and cant wait to play in front of our supporters again.
The original Law & Order premiered in 1990 and it is the show that launched the Dick Wolf TV empire, running on NBC for 20 seasons and 456 episodes before coming to an end in 2010. But apparently no show is truly gone forever. And so here we are, more than a decade later, with Season 21 of Law & Order picking up where it left off, a sad simulacrum of what it once was.

The ripped-from-the-headlines template remains intact, slicing the procedural in two: First theres the police investigation, then its the prosecutions turn. Law & Order went through several cast changes over the years and invariably it worked, but there were exceptions and Anthony Andersons Det. Kevin Bernard never felt lived-in enough, nor did his portrayal find room for small moments of wit; that hes been brought back is not an encouraging sign. The other familiar face is that of Sam Waterstons Jack McCoy, who, in the originals last few seasons, had ascended to the top job of district attorney, and thats where we find him now. This, too, is cause for concern; Waterston and the shows writers had a real grasp on the character when he was full of ego and righteous indignation and champing at the bit to get into a courtroom. The guy had a sense of humor, too! But once he was elevated to district attorney, McCoys characterization became stiff and ossified and thuddingly grim, which has carried over into this incarnation as well.

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Filling out the law side of things are Camryn Manheim as Lt. Kate Dixon (with the right kind of no-nonsense impatience) and Jeffrey Donovan as Det. Frank Cosgrove (very intense, possibly racist and sporting a chip on his shoulder). On the order side is Hugh Dancy as assistant district attorney Nolan Price (an empty space where a character should be) and Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun (smart, beautiful and given almost nothing to do). These are their stories. Dun-dun.

From left: Camryn Manheim as Lt. Kate Dixon, Anthony Anderson as Det. Kevin Bernard, Jeffrey Donovan as Det. Frank Cosgrove on "Law & Order." (Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

I had so many mixed feelings when the continuation of Law & Order was first announced, both thrilled and wary, because this is a show I find myself returning to again and again. But Wolfs ensuing spinoffs have tended toward the ridiculous and overheated. Plenty of audiences are fine with that, but I would argue the original has remained a favorite  in a constant loop of reruns and streaming on Peacock  because it is so grounded. Show me a couple of people hashing out ideas over hot dogs they bought from a street vendor and Im in. I always liked the workaday energy of it all, of the cops who found so much of the job boring, and of the prosecutors crouched over their desks late into the night, rolling up their sleeves to dig through more paperwork. Its a well-built show that allows for easy dipping in and out, with stories rooted in fair play (an enticing fantasy) and an attempt to untangle the knots of human nature. The unassuming brilliance of actors such as Jerry Orbach as Det. Lennie Briscoe, S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren and Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff made it look easy.

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Im not sure Law & Order ever fully recovered after Jerry Orbach left the show in 2004, but it worked as well as it did, for as long as it did, because it took a deeply satisfying approach to storytelling: Avoiding caricatures, leaving room for thoughtful debates and weaving in the occasional sardonic line that actually landed. It filmed (and still does) in and around New York City in ways that created a texture that felt specific. And everybody whos anybody showed up as a guest player before becoming famous  spotting them is part of the fun of watching old episodes now  from a baby-faced Sebastian Stan to Ellen Pompeo to Chadwick Boseman.

If the original was unique in the way it eschewed melodrama, the cold open of the new season embraces the opposite, with a showy crane shot swooping down over a dead body. (Just a single episode was provided to critics.) Then its a close-up on each detective ghoulishly peering over the victim as they make their observations and theres not a droll sentiment to be found. These are specific stylistic decisions and instead of hewing to the shows naturalistic, hand-held look and feel, the entire sequence is shot in a way that brings attention to itself and it plays out like an exaggerated parody.

Showrunner Rick Eid (a longtime Wolf veteran) has jettisoned much of the nuance and realism of the original in favor of something labored and clunky, as if the scripts were WRITTEN IN ALL CAPS and too often the actors follow suit. No ones underplaying anything. That detectives Bernard and Cosgrove are at odds from the word go feels especially tedious and cliched, as does Cosgroves subsequent clash with a prosecutor, literally poking him in the chest with his finger: I catch em, you cook em, thats how this is supposed to work. Funny thing about that line: Wolf initially developed the show in 1988 under the title Catch Em and Cook Em. That hes still wedded to such an off-putting (not to mention hacky) phrase  so much so that hes revived it 30-plus years later  gives me pause.

Hugh Dancy's ADA Nolan Price (left) getting an earful from Jeffrey Donovan's Det. Frank Cosgrove. (Eric Liebowitz/NBC)

The show has always asked us to put our faith in the criminal justice system, no matter its flaws, and that remains firmly in place. The police department is our partner, McCoy gravely intones at one point, steam practically blowing from his ears and in case you havent been paying attention theyre under attack. Every decision, every arrest is scrutinized. There are people trying to defund them, for Gods sake. Its a monologue that goes unchallenged, which seems antithetical to Law & Order of old, and it doesnt help that Waterston sounds as if hes delivering his lines with a piece of balled up wool in his mouth. Dancy, who is British, also struggles to locate a workable American accent.

But more to the point, the episode is dull. Nobody functions as an intriguing foil to anyone else because theres no chemistry. Scenes play out like clunky Twitter exchanges rather than two people talking with human inflection. The unwavering paradigm of a white male lead prosecutor paired with an extraordinarily gorgeous female helpmate is played out. And we see so little of the absurdist details that were always there amid the human tragedy. Or just the labor  the bit by bit efforts  involved in building a case. The show feels like a walking corpse brought back from the dead, but lacking any of the important animating qualities that made it standout in a well-worn genre.

So why does this new version exist? As someone who thinks a lot about TV and film and how it shapes our ideas about the world, I find it both cynical and interesting that broadcast networks cant get enough cop shows  with the police as point-of-view characters  even after the history-making protests of police killings and brutality that took place following the murder of George Floyd nearly two years ago. These shows are also extremely financially remunerative for Wolf personally; Forbes reports his fee is as much as $200,000 per episode, and thats on top of an unusually lucrative deal that entitles him to half his shows profits.

Last year, an entirely different Law & Order project was in the works called Law & Order: For the Defense, set inside a criminal defense law firm. Now that would have been interesting, and it would have shifted the emphasis in Wolfs kaleidoscope of shows (which also includes the FBI franchise on CBS) away from the law-enforcement-as-protagonist formula. But somewhere along the way, that idea was scrapped  would love to know why  and Law & Order, the mother ship, was revived instead.

If only it bore a meaningful resemblance to the original.

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Sam Waterston as D.A. Jack McCoy. (Michael Greenberg / HANDOUT)

Law & Order  1.5 stars (out of 4)

Where to watch: 7 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

Nina Metz is a Tribune critic

nmetz@chicagotribune.com

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Good morning, Los Angeles, and happy National Tortilla Chip Day! Here's everything you need to know to get this Thursday started off right.

If youre vaccinated, you might just be able to drop your mask on Friday. Also, the Natural History Museum wants you to photograph snails. Finally, car theft report figures are a mixed bag.



First, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine, but cool. High: 61 Low: 40.

Here are the top five stories in Los Angeles today:

Mark the date and time! Vaccinated L.A. County residents can go maskless as of 12 a.m. Friday. Only 36 percent of Los Angeles County residents have received a booster shot, and only 74 percent of eligible residents 5 and older have been vaccinated. (Patch) We learned Wednesday that the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLA) wants you to participate in Snailblitz. This is an event where you find, photograph, and send pictures of the snails and slugs you see. Last year, the museum received 1,000 observations and documented 50 different species. Theres even a snail bingo for the kids! (KCRW) Wednesdays reports show that there were 29,508 theft from vehicle reports in 2021. This is a marked increase from 2020 when the number was 27,589. On the bright side, it is considerably fewer than the 33,055 incidents reported in 2018. (@CrosstownLA) We learned Friday that city-run Los Angeles art institutions have still not reopened. This is in stark contrast to the art spaces that are not overseen by the citys Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA). Insiders blame a leadership crisis and lack of transparency that have left many of these community-focused spaces to operate with very little support. (The Art Newspaper) The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is celebrating its 250th year. Archbishop J. H. Gomez announced Wednesday that he plans to mark the occasion with an 11-mile spiritual pilgrimage past eight of the archdioceses parishes in April. Camino: A Walk with Jesus, will take place Saturday, April 2, starting at 9 a.m. at the Mission San Gabriel and ending with a closing prayer service at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. All are invited! (My News LA)

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Today in Los Angeles:



Connecting Hydrogen Supply and Demand at Japan House Los Angeles (9 AM)

Xeomin Event at the Dylan Keith Salon (10 AM)

NAACP Live! At Hollywood / Highland (11 AM)

SOCO Fundraiser at MochiNut (3:30 PM to 6 PM)

From my notebook:

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief nominee Kristin Crowley sits down to talk with LA CityView35 about her career and the path that has led her to become LAFD's top firefighter. (Facebook)

Senior Lead Officer Robert Solorio, of the Los Angeles Police Department, says "Don't Overshare Your Personal Information - Be Aware" (Nextdoor)

A Beachwood Canyon neighbor is missing a cat! They just got him last night, and he got out today. He will likely be hiding somewhere nearby. He is microchipped but does not have a collar. (Nextdoor)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

 Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

This article originally appeared on the Los Angeles Patch
The suspect in the deadly shooting at Richlands Fred Meyer store has been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

The request was made Wednesday by Aaron Christopher Kellys defense lawyers.

It means his murder case in Benton County Superior Court will be on hold until a judge determines whether Kelly is competent to proceed to trial.

Wednesday was Kellys second time appearing in court for the Feb. 7 encounter that ended up with Instacart shopper Justin Krumbah dead and Fred Meyer employee Mark A. Hill critically wounded.

Two relatives of one of the victims were in court for the hearing.

Kelly, 39, has not yet entered a plea to charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

Both felony counts include firearm enhancements, which will add time to his prison sentence if hes convicted as charged.

Objected to handcuffs

Prosecutor Andy Miller said the defense told him before the start of Wednesdays hearing that Kelly did not agree to being shackled in the courtroom and wanted a hearing on his individual rights.

As Miller and defense lawyer Karla Kane Hudson argued the issue in the courtroom, Kelly and his other court-appointed lawyer, Michael Vander Sys, sat in an inmate holding room and participated virtually through a laptop.

Aaron C. Kelly, 39, appears Wednesday in Benton County Superior Court on charges he killed one and wounded another on Feb. 7, 2022 inside the Richland Fred Meyer store.

Miller revealed that one to two hours after the shooting, Kelly drove to Walla Walla and went to a branch of his Tri-Cities bank and essentially emptied his bank account.

Investigators dont know exactly what he did during the time period after the alleged murder and the time he was arrested, but he certainly had incentive to get out of the Tri-Cities and evade law enforcement officers that he knew were looking for him, said Miller.

Kelly was arrested about 11 hours after the shooting while driving on Interstate 90 near Sprague in Eastern Washington.

He was cooperative when stopped and contacted by officers on the freeway, said Miller.

In the end, Judge Joe Burrowes cited case law in granting the prosecutions motion that Kelly remain in handcuffs and leg shackles for the hearing.

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Burrowes noted that while shackles may be inherently prejudicial, they may be necessary in some circumstances to prevent injury to others in the courtroom, disorderly conduct at a trial or an escape.

He said the corrections officers were understaffed with only two in the room  along with the court bailiff  to provide security for everyone, and pointed out the seriousness of the charges against Kelly.

Kane Hudson reiterated that they objected to the ruling, saying her clients constitutional rights should not be minimized or violated.

Kelly and his attorneys can revisit the issue in future hearings.

His next scheduled court date is April 20 to check on the status of his competency evaluation through Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake.

Emptied bank account

The Pasco man is accused of walking into Fred Meyer on Wellsian Way about 11 a.m. Feb. 7 and having a brief conversation with Krumbah in a store aisle before pulling out a gun and shooting the shopper several times.

Kelly then shot Hill near the customer service desk and wandered briefly in the store before leaving through the north doors, according to court documents.

He spent less than seven minutes inside the store, which was filled with Monday morning shoppers at the time, documents said.

Krumbah, 38, died from his wounds despite efforts by the first officers on scene to save him.

Hill, a 56-year-old employee, was carried out of the store to waiting paramedics. He has since undergone at least two surgeries at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland after he was hit by three bullets, according to loved ones.

An update posted Sunday to a GoFundMe account for Hill said he is no longer needing supplemental oxygen and his vital signs remain stable, though he now has pneumonia, blood clots in one leg and difficulty sleeping.

Fred Meyer was closed for nearly two weeks to give employees some time to heal and allow for a store remodel. It re-opened its doors on Sunday with heightened security.
South Pointe in Miami Fla., is seen on Saturday, November 6, 2021.





Miami Beach officials have voted to restrict the sale of alcohol in an effort to curb heavy late-night drinking among tourists during spring break.

Miami Beach City Commissioners on Wednesday approved to prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol after 2 a.m. between March 7 and March 21 in the city's entertainment district, commonly known as South Beach.

The current last call for alcohol sales throughout the city is 5 a.m.

The proposed legislation was approved in a 4-3 vote, the Miami Herald reported.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber (D) said the new ban will free up police resources and ensure public safety during the height of spring break, according to the Miami newspaper.

"For the hardship it may deliver, I'm sorry," Gelber said. "But from our point of view, going through that two-week period ... is a danger to the public. It's a proven danger to the public."

Several Miami Beach residents also spoke in favor of the alcohol restriction.

The new legislation comes amid last year's spring break, which saw large crowds of spring breakers force the city to impose a night curfew and shut down its major causeways due to public disorder and tourists clashing with police.

Several South Beach nightclub owners and employees argue that limiting alcohol would cost them money and create an unfair advantage for clubs, restaurants and hotels in the rest of the city, the Herald reported.

"It's just picking winners and losers. It's wrong," Jimmy Resnick, owner of Exchange Miami on South Beach, said.

City Commissioner David Richardson, who opposed the legislation, said the ban will not make the city safer and force tourists onto the streets at the same time.

"During the pandemic, the bars were closed. But yet we had the worst experiences in Miami Beach," Richardson said.
Missouri state workers will get pay raises, the Medicaid system will remain funded for the rest of the fiscal year and schools will get nearly $2 billion in federal aid under a supplemental budget bill Gov. Mike Parson signed Thursday.

Swift passage of the bill, after weeks of delay in both the House and Senate, allows the state to avert multiple crises.

The aid school aid had to be allocated by March 24. Failing to meet that timetable would result in the state being forced to return the funds to the federal government. Kansas City Public Schools alone is waiting on $64 million from the bill.

And Medicaid had been getting close to running out of money. Under Medicaid expansion, 66,500 new enrollees have received health benefits but lawmakers last year had refused to add funds for their coverage.

The legislation, which adds close to $4.6 billion to the budget for the fiscal year that ends July, also includes a line blocking Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid dollars -- part of a renewed effort by conservatives to defund the provider after a similar budget move was struck down in the state Supreme Court.

Federal law already prohibits Medicaid from paying for abortions in most instances.

The House worked quickly to approve the bill after the Missouri Senate passed it on Wednesday night, and Parson signed it soon after. He had originally wanted it on his desk Feb. 1.

Nearly two months into the legislative session, it was the first bill that passed the Senate after weeks of gridlock. Hardline conservatives and GOP leadership had been at a standstill first on a congressional map, then on other legislation and more recently on a members wearing of overalls onto the chambers floor.

The latter issue dominated legislative business on Tuesday. But Sen. Mike Moon, the Ash Grove Republican who wore the allegedly offending garment, and Senate President Dave Schatz, a Sullivan Republican, declared a truce late Wednesday afternoon with mutual apologies offered.

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The budget bill passed on a vote of 25-7. After a few hours of filibuster, all ten Democrats supported the bill despite their unsuccessful attempts to remove the Planned Parenthood line, explaining they wanted to hasten along passage of Medicaid dollars and schools aid.

Conservative lawmakers in the House had removed funds for Parson to raise wages for state workers to at least $15 an hour. The Senates bill restored those raises. The bill also provides all state workers, who are experiencing a turnover rate of 26%, a 5.5% boost in pay.

After signing the bill, Parson said the raise is long overdue.

Several Democrats in the Senate on Wednesday said they believed the Planned Parenthood line would get thrown out in court or result in repercussions from the Biden administration. Federal regulations give Medicaid patients a choice of their medical provider, a position Planned Parenthood has called on Biden to reaffirm.

Republicans for several years had passed language in regular budget bills blocking Medicaid dollars to abortion providers, or any affiliate or associate, to target Planned Parenthood. A Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis is the states only abortion clinic; the organization also operates 11 clinics statewide that provide low-income patients pap smears, birth control and other health care.

After being denied Medicaid payments from the state, Planned Parenthood sued, resulting in a 2020 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that lawmakers could not make policy through the budget bills.

But conservatives have not given up their efforts to block the provider from the state health program. Hardliners last summer tried to couple such a measure with renewal of a critical hospital tax that funds Medicaid, and GOP leaders formed a special committee dedicated to studying how to achieve the defunding.

The courts have already told us that this legislation through this budget process is unconstitutional, said Sen. Jill Schupp, a Creve Coeur Democrat. Why are we going through it again? Why are we wasting the taxpayers time and money?

Sen. Dan Hegeman, a Cosby Republican and the Senate Appropriations Chair, said he believed a state Supreme Court case upholding the Medicaid eligibility expansion last year opened the door to allowing lawmakers to choose certain coverage to block through the budget.

I find their decisions contradictory right now, he said.

The latest budget bill adds the Planned Parenthood line in a different section of the legislation than the version the court struck down in 2020. But Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, said nothing is new.

This attempt to defund Planned Parenthood was just as unpopular and illegal then as it is now, she said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo by Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images

The head of a state-run theater in Moscow called Putin a "killer" as she announced her resignation.

"You can't work for a killer and get paid by him," Elena Kovalskaya, who runs the Meyerhold Center theater, said on Facebook.

Kovalskaya said on Thursday she was quitting in protest over Russia's wide-ranging attack on Ukraine.

The director of a state-run theater in Moscow on Thursday publicly called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "killer" as she announced that she was stepping down from her post in protest over Russia's wide-ranging attack on Ukraine.

"Friends, in protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I am resigning," Elena Kovalskaya, the director of the Meyerhold Center theater, posted on Facebook.

Kovalskaya added, "You can't work for a killer and get paid by him."

"I will bring my projects  the ones I have initiated  to the end, on a voluntary basis," Kovalskaya said.

Meanwhile, the theater  named after late Russian playwright Vsevolod Meyerhold  also spoke out on Facebook, saying that Russia's relentless aggression in Ukraine has "now come into tragic conflict with our mission."

"We cannot be silent about this. We only have this left to say: 'No to war,'" the performing arts venue said in the social media post. "War is much more than disrespect for a person, and much more horrifying. War is the death of a person, it is the killing of people."

The theater also thanked Kovalskaya for her "courage."

Putin early Thursday ordered a broad military invasion of Ukraine with missile strikes on several Ukrainian cities. Blasts have since been heard in multiple locations, including Ukraine's capital Kyiv and the eastern city of Kharkiv.

Russia's conflict with Ukraine has been rumbling for years, but dramatically escalated in recent weeks.

Russia assembled vast numbers of troops around Ukraine  as many as 190,000, per US estimates  in the largest military operation in the region since World War II.

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Putin on Monday recognized the independence of two Moscow-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine  Luhansk and Donetsk  and ordered troops there for what he described as a limited peacekeeping operation in the east of the country.

Less than 72 hours later, Putin authorized a full-scale attack on Ukraine. In the hours that followed, explosions pounded cities around Ukraine, many hundreds of miles from the previous conflict zone. Ukrainian officials reported fighting on its borders with Russia, and dozens of casualties.

The new wave of hostilities expanded the clash from a limited incursion over disputed land into the most serious armed conflict in Europe for at least a decade.

Insider's live blog of the invasion is covering developments as they happen.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Myleene Klass is a mum of three. (PA)

Myleene Klass has revealed she has been sexually harassed in auditions, and that a director once asked her to take off her dress.

The star, who found fame when she won a place in pop group HearSay on talent show Pop Stars: The Rivals, said shes faced harassment in the entertainment industry many times.

Speaking on the Dirty Mother Pukka podcast, the mum-of-three said she now makes a very loud noise about sexual harassment because she does not want her daughters  or any other woman  to go through what she did.

Read more: Myleene Klass shares heartbreak of suffering miscarriage while presenting live radio

Klass, 43, said: I remember going into one of the worst auditions of my life and I thought I was really safe. It was at his house and he did this kind of role play.

"I was in music college and he asked me to read the lines. And he then said, 'Take off your jacket', that was the line, so I took off my imaginary jacket and handed it to him and he broke character and said, 'Theres nothing in my hand' and that is where as any woman will know, you go ice cold.

Myleene Klass says she's been harassed at auditions. (Doug Peters/EMPICS)

The star eventually took off her actual coat and handed it to the man - who she said was a well known, very well respected director - and he replied: "Thank you, now take off your dress."

Klass said on other occasions comments were made about her body.

She went on: At the time, I wouldve crept out the door and felt horrific.

"Now I make a very loud noise about it because you will not put me in a position where my daughters will then have to follow suit, or any other woman who cant speak up for herself or the 19-year-old me in the room.

Klass said she is teaching her children  daughters Ava and Hero and son Apollo  to speak up if they are uncomfortable, saying: No means no. If it feels uncomfortable, its wrong.

Read more: Myleene Klass allegedly spat at by taxi driver in drop off dispute

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You dont have to wait for the justification of, Im sure he was being really nice but, or, Maybe I misinterpreted it but, or, Maybe you came a little bit too close but. I said: There is no but.

Additional reporting by PA.

Watch: Myleene Klass 'spat on by Uber driver'
By Robin Emmott

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -NATO on Thursday ordered its military commanders to intensify preparations to defend allied territory after Russia invaded Ukraine, putting hundreds of warplanes and ships on alert and agreeing to increase troop numbers on its eastern flank.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he had convened a virtual emergency summit of the alliance's 30 nations for Friday, which is set to include U.S. President Joe Biden, and they would be joined by the leaders of Sweden, Finland and European Union institutions.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday, confirming the worst fears of the West with the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two.

"Peace on our continent has been shattered," Stoltenberg told a news conference. "Russia is using force to try to rewrite history, and deny Ukraine its free and independent path."

The activation of NATO's "graduated response plans" is a rare step that Stoltenberg said underscored the gravity of a "full-fledged invasion" of Ukraine, giving allied commanders greater scope for decision-making.

"This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion," Stoltenberg said. "Russia's unjustified, unprovoked attack on Ukraine is putting countless innocent lives at risk with air and missile attacks."

Ukraine is not a member of the alliance and Stoltenberg said there were no NATO troops in the country. "What we do is defensive," he said.

But NATO is now set to step up its plans to deploy capabilities and forces, including the high combat-readiness NATO Response Force, to eastern European countries.

NATO is also planning to create combat units in Romania and Bulgaria, and possibly Hungary and Slovakia - similar to those already set up in the Baltic states and Poland.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine appeared to galvanise support for such a step in Slovakia, with the Slovak government saying any new battlegroup plans would include Slovakia.

"The unit will be made from countries that are geographically close to us. It will be about several hundred soldiers which will come with equipment that we don't have and which will significantly increase our ability to defend our country," Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said.

(Reporting by Marine Strauss, Sabine Siebold, Robin Emmott, Jason Hovet and John ChalmersWriting by Ingrid MelanderEditing by John Chalmers and Frank Jack Daniel)
Brett Hankison said he believed the Louisville officers who raided Breonna Taylors apartment were taking fire from an AR-15 rifle, which he said prompted him to fire 10 shots into her apartment.

Hankison said as much to investigators about two weeks after his fellow officers fatally shot Taylor during a nighttime raid of the Black womans apartment. A recording of the interview was played at Hankisons wanton endangerment trial in Louisville on Thursday.

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Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison prepares to leave the courtroom during a recess, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, during his trial in Louisville, Ky. Prosecutors begin their case against Hankison, charged with wanton endangerment for shooting through Breonna Taylor's apartment into the home of her neighbors during botched police raid that killed Taylor. (Timothy D. Easley/AP)

I was under the impression (the officers) were getting sprayed with bullets at Taylors front door, Hankison told investigators with Louisvilles Public Integrity Unit in the March 25, 2020, interview.

Hankison said he glanced through the open door and thought he saw a figure in a shooting stance with a long gun or AR rifle. He told the interviewer he pulled away amid rapid gunfire, turned a corner and saw more muzzle flashes through the blinds of her sliding glass door, so he opened fire in his fellow officers defense.

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The narcotics detective was fired a few months later. Hankison was not charged in Taylors shooting death, but some bullets he fired through Taylors sliding glass door and bedroom window went into a neighbors apartment, coming close to striking a man inside. Police officials who dismissed him said he fired blindly into Taylors apartment.

The interview with Hankison preceded any protests about Taylors death, when awareness of the incident was low and public officials were focused on the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. At one point Hankison said he couldnt remember the name of the woman who was shot. It would be another two months before George Floyds death in Minnesota sparked interest in Taylors death at the hands of the police.

Hankison is charged with three counts, endangering Taylors neighbor, his girlfriend and her son. The felony is punishable by one to five years in prison in Kentucky.

Sgt. Jason Vance with Louisvilles public integrity unit conducted the interview with Hankison, and testified Thursday that a thorough search of Taylors apartment turned up no illegal drugs or long guns. Describing ballistics evidence on Wednesday, he noted a single bullet from Taylors boyfriends handgun, and many shell casings from the officers weapons.

Taylors boyfriend fired that shot as officers burst through the door, striking Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly in the thigh. The handgun was found under a bed.

During opening arguments Wednesday, prosecutors emphasized to jurors that the case is not about the killing of Taylor or police decisions that led to the raid. They said the focus should be on Hankisons shots and the near harm they caused.

Hankisons attorney, Stewart Mathews, told jurors that when the gunfire began, Hankison was attempting to defend and save the lives of his fellow officers and followed his police training.

Mathews said Hankisons shooting was justified during a chaotic scene lasting just 10 to 15 seconds. On Thursday Mathews highlighted that Hankison helped set up a perimeter after the shooting, assisted in bringing Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, into custody and warned incoming officers of possible long guns inside the apartment.
By Gopal Sharma

KATHMANDU (Reuters) -Nepal's parliament on Thursday postponed debate on $500 million in U.S. aid that critics say undermines sovereignty as protesters opposed to the proposed funds clashed with police outside the assembly, officials and witnesses said.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government aid agency, agreed in 2017 to provide the aid in a grant to fund an electricity transmission line and road improvement project.

The aid does not need to be repaid and Washington says it comes without conditions.

But opponents, many wary of U.S. influence in the region, say the aid would undermine Nepal's laws and sovereignty, as it would not have sufficient oversight over the projects.

Major political parties, including those in the ruling coalition, are divided over whether to accept the U.S. grant, which has yet to be ratified by parliament.

"Thursday's session of parliament has been postponed for Friday afternoon at the government's request," parliament official Rojnath Pandey told Reuters.

The postponement came as hundreds of protesters broke through barricades and clashed with police as they tried to march on parliament, witnesses said.

"Police have used teargas, water cannon and batons to stop the protesters," Kathmandu district official Deepak Paudel said.

Thirteen protesters were detained for trying to demonstrate in a banned area and four people were injured, he added.

The U.S. Embassy in Nepal says the grant would be "a gift from the American people and a partnership between our nations" that would bring jobs and infrastructure and improve the lives of some of the world's poorest people.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Alasdair Pal, Robert Birsel and Mark Porter)
Ukrainian soldiers walk past a sign in English and Ukrainian on a combat training facility in western Ukraine in 2020.

Jonathan Pylypiv stayed up all night, watching his homeland attacked on TV from his living room in Kimberly, Wisconsin.

Pylypiv has many emotions, he said, chief among them a sense of resolve, a calmness. It's a calmness he hears in the family members he's called in Ukraine. War and its threats are not new to them, he said. They have been living it since Russia invaded their country in 2014.

"Even while their country is being invaded it's this sense of calm. It's just remarkable. Its inspirational, but when youre defending your life, your family, and your freedom, youre going to have a sense of calm," he said Thursday.

As Russia escalated its attack on its southern neighbor Wednesday night, bombing several cities throughout the country, including the capital, Kyiv, Ukrainians living in Wisconsin connected with family, prayed and called U.S. elected officials, hoping the Americans will do more to help.

Pylypiv, who came to the U.S. in 1992 and runs the Facebook page Wisconsin Ukrainians, has organized vigils to support Ukraine over the last week and continues to coordinate with Ukrainian groups statewide to support family and friends abroad.

"The Russian war isnt going away. The Ukrainian people need our support," he said.

Especially in light of the 1994 Budapest memorandum, a political agreement in which Ukraine agreed to give up its nuclear weapons for security assurances from the U.S. against threats to its territory, America and its allies should do more, Ukrainians in Wisconsin say.

"Its the moral and right thing to do," Pylypiv said. "I think there is more that should be done, and this goes back many years. More should have been done sooner."

Ruslana Westerlund, of Madison, grew up in Ukraine and came to the U.S. in 1995 and to Wisconsin in 2013. Her father and stepmother live in Buzhanka, in central Ukraine, and she has family throughout the country.

"It's very hard to process, and Im kind of shell-shocked," she said. "I also want Americans to educate themselves in the history of Ukraine and to know that Ukraine is an independent nation, and Ukrainians will never give up. They will die for their country, but they need global support."

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She called Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson and Sen. Tammy Baldwin on Thursday morning to urge them to take more action to support Ukraine.

"First time I called I couldnt talk. I cried through the whole message. Im going to call again," she said.

The conflict, Westerlund said, is not between the Ukrainian people and the Russian people, many of whom have family and friends in both countries. It is the result of a dictator and tyrant, Vladimir Putin, she said.

Putin's regime has increasingly been willing to use violence to maintain his power, the result of which has played out over the last week, said Yoshiko Herrera, an expert in Russian-U.S. relations and a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

"He is very threatened by the fact that Ukraine has had two successful revolutions kicking out in 2004 and 2014," she said. "It's an example to his regime of the people rising up and getting rid of a dictator."

Despite longstanding disagreements over the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, that debate is a bit of a distraction now, she said.

"Everything changed last week," she said. "States have disagreements with other states, (but) its a complete different matter to invade your neighbor. It takes the discussion of historical grievances and it puts that aside and says, 'We're dealing with a state now that is willing to invade another country.'"

Katelyn Ferral is an investigative reporter looking into reader tips for the Journal Sentinel. Email her at kferral@gannett.com.

More: Biden says world will hold Putin accountable for 'unprovoked and unjustified attack' on Ukraine

More: Russia's invasion of Ukraine has the same sad echoes of an earlier invasion - and the outcome is likely to be the same, too

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Ukrainians react to Russian invasion in their homeland
NORWALK, CT  Norwalk Public Schools is partnering with the Norwalk Community Health Center to provide free Pfizer brand coronavirus vaccines to eligible students ages 12+, with parental consent, via a mobile clinic Thursday.

According to a post on the district's Facebook page, the clinics will take place during school hours and all doses, including boosters, will be available at each clinic.

The following clinics will take place Thursday, according to the district:

West Rocks Middle School Clinic - 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Brien McMahon & CGS Clinic - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parental consent forms are available online and should be returned to a school nurse.

Further information can be found at www.norwalkps.org or by calling NPS Health Services at 203-854-4129.

This article originally appeared on the Norwalk Patch
Dmitry Muratov said Novaya Gazeta would publish in both Russian and Ukranian following the invasion (AFP via Getty Images)

A Russian newspaper editor who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year has said he will publish an edition in Ukranian as a show of solidarity against Putin's invasion.

Dmitry Muratov, who was recognised last year for fighting for freedom of expression, said he felt "grief" and "shame" after Russian troops attacked on Thursday.

Mr Muratov said he will publish Novaya Gazeta in both Russian and Ukranian to show the newspaper did not consider the under-siege country as "an enemy".

Russian moved in on Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday after the threat had loomed for weeks. Forces fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on its south coast, after Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east.

We all gathered at the editorial office early today. We are in grief, Mr Muratov said in a statement on Thursday morning.

Our country, on the orders of President Putin, started a war with Ukraine. And there is no one to stop the war. Therefore, along with grief, we and I experience shame.

Russian troop movements and reported explosions in Ukraine (Press Association Images)

He added: But we will publish this issue of Novaya Gazeta in two languages aa- Ukrainian and Russian. Because we do not recognize Ukraine as an enemy, and the Ukrainian language as the language of the enemy. And we will never admit it.

Only the anti-war movement of the Russians can save life on this planet.

Mr Muratov won the Nobel Peace Prize last summer along with journalist Maria Ressa, with both commended for their courageous fight for freedom of expression.

This made him the first Russian to win the prestigious award since Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev  who himself helped set up Novaya Gazeta with his Nobel Peace Prize money in 1990.

Dozens of people have died after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine, where police said fighting was going on across almost everywhere throughout the country on Thursday.

Russian forces fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on its south coast on Thursday, after Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east.
Former President Barack Obama was one of many prominent U.S. politicians to comment on Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, saying it "threatens the foundation of the international order" and offering his perspective on what Americans should do moving forward.

The former president first condemned Moscow's "brutal" attack, despairing at the death and destruction that would leave "untold numbers" of displaced Ukrainians.

He then called on Americans to denounce Russia's actions and put aside political differences to "support President Biden's efforts ... to impose hard hitting sanctions on Russia."

"There may be some economic consequences to such sanctions, given Russia's significant role in global energy markets," Obama continued. "But that's a price we should be willing to pay to take a stand on the side of freedom."

See his full statement below.

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SABINE PASS, Texas (AP)  A fire aboard a decommissioned offshore oil rig platform briefly trapped nine shipyard workers Thursday until they were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter.

The fire broke out shortly before 1 p.m. at a shipyard in Sabine Pass, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson told The Associated Press. Sabine Pass is where the Texas-Louisiana border meets the Gulf of Mexico.

Video from KBMT-TV in nearby Beaumont showed the Coast Guard helicopter shuttling between the burning platform to another platform nearby, plucking the trapped workers from danger.

No workers were injured and the cause of the fire was being investigated, Dickinson said.
ORRVILLE  A high school teacher has been ordered to work from home amid an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior with students.

According to Orrville City Schools Superintendent Jon Ritchie, the action to remove a male teacher from the classroom came after the instructor was accused of "inappropriate contact with some female students."

Tax abatement for local business: Orrville council OKs tax abatement for Jarrett warehouse project

Several students came forward in the last 24 hours, Ritchie said on Wednesday. The school district then turned the issue over to the Orville Police Department.

City police were "made aware of allegations of unwanted physical contact with students in the past," according to a police report filed Tuesday, Feb. 22.

"We take the safety of our students extremely seriously," Ritchie said. "And when our kids have issues, we try to address them as quickly and thoroughly as possible, and when matters arise like this, we immediately turn it over to law enforcement."

The school is also doing an internal investigation under Title IX  a federal law that prohibits schools that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of sex and plans to bring in an outside agency to lead the probe.

Ritchie said the teacher is "assigned to home" and is not working with any students or assisting with any extracurricular activities.

Emails seeking comment from the teacher and the union representing teachers were not immediately returned Wednesday.

Police have turned the investigation over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, said a spokesperson for the department.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Daily Record.

TikTok videos allege improper behavior of an Orrville teacher

Lavender Polka Dot, an organization that assists survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking, students and former students have been posting videos on TikTok alleging inappropriate behavior from the teacher.

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Orrville Police Chief Matt Birbeck said he and his team are aware of the videos and have consulted with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

County Prosecutor Daniel Lutz declined to comment citing the ongoing investigation.

A Lavender Polka Dot representative declined to speak with a reporter.

Reach Rachel at rkaras@gannett.com and Bryce at bbuyakie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Orrville High teacher barred from classroom amid student complaints
Ukraine imposes state of emergency over tensions with Russia

Xinhua) 07:55, February 24, 2022

KIEV, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian Parliament on Wednesday supported a bill to introduce a state of emergency in the country starting Feb. 24 amid the ongoing tensions with Russia, according to the parliament's press service.

The legislation, introducing the state of emergency in all Ukrainian regions except for the conflict-hit Lugansk and Donetsk regions, for 30 days, was supported by 335 lawmakers in the 450-seat parliament.

In the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, where a Joint Forces Operation is underway, a special legal regime has been already in effect.

According to Interfax-Ukraine news agency, the state of emergency in 22 Ukrainian regions envisages a ban on holding mass meetings and protests, on changing the place of residence by those liable for military service, and on the production of information materials that can destabilize the situation in the country.

The new law also stipulates for restriction of freedom of movement, inspections of vehicles, premises and personal belongings of citizens, and the introduction of a curfew if the need arises.

Besides, it provides for the evacuation of residents from places where there is a danger to the lives of people.

Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council proposed the parliament introduce a state of emergency across the country due to the buildup of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border.

Earlier in the day, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) of Ukraine imposed special measures in regions bordering Russia, Belarus and those having access to the seas.

The measures include the limitation of movement of private vehicles and floating devices, flights of light planes and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as restrictions on filming and photographing of certain objects.

Since November, Kiev and some Western countries have accused Russia of assembling heavy troops near the Ukrainian border, including in Belarus, with a possible intention of "invasion."

Denying any intention to attack any country, Russia said it has the right to mobilize troops within its borders to defend its territory, as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's increasing military activities near Russia's borders constitute a threat to Russia's border security.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Gov. Greg Abbott told state health agencies in Texas on Tuesday that medical treatments provided to transgender adolescents, widely considered to be the standard of care in medicine, should be classified as child abuse under existing state law.

His statements, made in a letter to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, followed an opinion Friday by Attorney General Ken Paxton that said providing medical treatments like puberty-suppressing drugs and hormones to transgender teenagers should be investigated as child abuse.

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Abbott specified that the reporting requirements applied to all licensed professionals who have direct contact with children who may be subject to such abuse, including doctors, nurses, and teachers, and provides criminal penalties for failure to report such child abuse.

It is still unclear how and whether the orders, which do not change Texas law, would be enforced. While the states child welfare agency has said that it will investigate such claims, some county and district attorneys have stated that they will not enforce the opinion.

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This is a complete misrepresentation of the definition of abuse in the family code, said Christian Menefee, the Harris County attorney. Menefee said that any such investigations in Harris County, the states most populous county, will not be prosecuted. We dont believe that allowing someone to take puberty suppressants constitutes abuse, he said.

Abbotts effort to criminalize medical care for transgender youth is a new front in a broadening political drive to deny treatments that help align the adolescents bodies with their gender identities and that have been endorsed by major medical groups. Twenty-one states introduced such bills last year, according to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

Arkansas passed a law making it illegal for clinicians to offer puberty blockers and hormones to adolescents and banning insurers from covering care. But the law was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in July after the American Civil Liberties Union sued on behalf of four families and two doctors.

Several such bills were also introduced in Texas. None passed. Facing political pressure, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Childrens Medical Center Dallas closed the states only multidisciplinary clinic for transgender youth in November.

The letter from the Texas governor comes as early voting has begun in primary elections across the state. Election Day is March 1. Abbott and Paxton, both Republicans, face challengers who have questioned whether they have been sufficiently conservative. Paxton, a two-term incumbent who has been indicted on securities fraud charges, is seen as particularly vulnerable. Political strategists say he is unlikely to receive more than 50% of the vote and is heading for a runoff.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in Houston, Oct. 27, 2021. In a letter on Tuesday, Feb. 22, Gov. Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate gender-affirming treatments for transgender adolescents as "child abuse." (Callaghan O'Hare/The New York Times)

Professional medical groups and transgender health experts have overwhelmingly condemned legal attempts to limit gender-affirming care and contend that they would greatly harm transgender young people.

Gender-affirming care for transgender youth is essential and can be lifesaving, Adm. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Biden administrations highest-ranking pediatrician, said in an emailed statement. Our nations leading pediatricians support evidence-based, gender-affirming care for transgender young people.

A growing number of transgender adolescents have sought medical treatments in recent years. Transgender teenagers are at high risk for attempting suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preliminary research has suggested that adolescents who receive such medical treatments have improved mental health. Long-term studies are ongoing.

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Marissa Gonzales, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, said that there were no pending investigations of child abuse involving the procedures described, but that the agency would investigate cases that were reported.

Whether children can be taken from their parents for allowing them to receive such medical care will ultimately be at the discretion of the courts.

At this moment, its unclear what child protective services, prosecutors and judges are going to do with this nonbinding opinion from the attorney general, Kate Murphy, senior policy associate for child protection at Texans Care for Children, a nonprofit childrens policy group, said in an emailed statement. What is clear is that politicians should not be tearing apart loving families  and sending their kids into the foster care system  when parents provide recommended medical care that they believe is in the best interest of their child.

If local attorneys do not pursue cases, the state attorney generals office could do it, Menefee, the Harris County attorney, said, adding that the position taken by the governor and the attorney general could have a chilling effect. Its designed to make parents scared, he said. Its designed to make doctors scared for even facilitating gender-affirming health care.

Some treatments used in gender-related care carry medical risks. Puberty-blocking drugs, which suppress the production of testosterone and estrogen, can weaken bone development, though evidence suggests it recovers once puberty starts. If blockers are used at an early stage of puberty and a teenager pursues hormone therapy, the drug regimens can lead to fertility loss. The standards of care for transgender health therefore recommend that patients and their families be counseled on how to preserve fertility by delaying the use of blockers if having children is important to them.

The standards also recommend that doctors and families wait until the teenager has reached the age of majority, which is 18 in Texas, before pursuing irreversible genital surgeries.

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Some political groups who oppose gender-related treatments for young people say the stakes are simply too high.

Minors are prohibited from purchasing paint, cigarettes, alcohol, or even getting a tattoo, said Jonathan Covey, director of policy for the group Texas Values. We cannot allow minors or their parents to make life-altering decisions on body-mutilating procedures and irreversible hormonal treatments.

Experts who work with transgender patients, like Dr. Alex Keuroghlian, a clinical psychiatrist at Fenway Health in Boston and the director of the Psychiatry Gender Identity Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, say decisions about treatments for young people should be weighed only by a patient, their parents and their physicians. Keuroghlian denounced Abbotts letter: Its legislating in a manner that is entirely divorced from medical evidence, consensus and mainstream practice.

Though some doctors have debated how much time should be spent on psychological assessments for adolescents before starting treatment, medical groups broadly agree that puberty suppression and hormones benefit transgender teens.

Erica Anderson, a clinical psychologist and the former president of the United States Professional Association of Transgender Health, has pushed for more assessment for such teenagers before initiating medical treatments. She said that blocking gender-affirming care and forcing teenagers to go through the physical changes of puberty for a gender they dont identify with was inhumane.

For legislators or politicians to weigh in on an area of medicine for which they have no background is preposterous, Anderson said. People in Texas should be outraged.

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Adri Perez, a policy and advocacy strategist at the ACLU of Texas who uses gender-neutral pronouns, called the governor and attorney generals stance politically motivated and said it could prevent young trans people from getting the medical care they urgently need.

Gender-affirming care saved my life, they said in a statement. Trans kids today deserve the same opportunity by receiving the highest standard of care.

c.2021 The New York Times Company
Senate Republicans added their own proposal to a growing list of tax relief ideas on Thursday, unveiling a plan to rebate up to $500 in state income taxes to inflation-weary Kentuckians later this year.

The Senate budget committee voted unanimously to approve a rewritten version of Senate Bill 194 so that it now includes a $1.15 billion, one-time tax rebate. Kentuckys state budget is expected to close the fiscal year June 30 with a $1.9 billion surplus, so the plan leaves $800 million to spare, Senate budget chairman Chris McDaniel said.

The biggest issue confronting everyday Kentucky families is inflation, McDaniel, R-Taylor Mill, told reporters after the committee hearing.

It is in everything that we do, from our fuel to our rent to everything we spend money on right now. The average Kentuckian has seen about a $267 a month increase in their cost of living. This should begin to do some good work to help offset that, McDaniel said.

The Consumer Price Index rose 7.8 percent from January 2021 to January 2022 across the American South, which includes Kentucky, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear recently signed an executive order freezing the property tax on motor vehicles, which was expected to rise as much as 40 percent given the inflation-charged hike in vehicle prices. He also has proposed, with House Democrats, a reduction in the states sales tax from 6 percent to 5 percent.

A spokeswoman for Beshear said Thursday that he will carefully review any proposal, but he has not yet received a copy of the Senate tax rebate plan.

Between the two plans, the Senates and Beshears, the governors is likely to reach more Kentuckians, said Pam Thomas, a state budget analyst for the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy in Berea.

About 705,000 of the poorest Kentuckians do not pay a state income tax, according to an analysis by KCEP, so they wouldnt qualify for the rebate. Retirees living on Social Security and pension income are largely shielded from state income taxes in Kentucky and likewise would see little to no rebate.

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But everyone who spends money in Kentucky pays the sales tax, Thomas said.

When you look at who pays the sales tax in proportion to how much money they make, it falls the heaviest on poor people, because theyre spending most of the money they earn, Thomas said.

That said, she added, None of this is very targeted. These plans are blunt instruments meant to deal with inflation, which is a difficult problem that state government just cant do very much about.

Meanwhile, Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled legislature have expressed interest in making broader changes to the states tax code that would lower or even eliminate the income tax while raising the sales tax Kentuckians pay on many goods and services.

Asked about the Senates tax rebate proposal Thursday, House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, said: We certainly can rally around the idea of allowing taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money. However, our mission in the House continues to be long-term, meaningful tax modernization that benefits Kentuckians for generations.

The Senate bill would set aside excess state revenues in an account to be called the individual income advanced tax credit disbursement fund. From July through October of this year, the Kentucky Revenue Department would draw on the account to send rebates to Kentuckians of up to $500 individually or up to $1,000 per household, depending on the size of their 2020 state income tax payments made last year.

If you were a household that paid $750 in personal income tax last year, then by the end of the summer, you will have a refund for that whole $750, McDaniel explained Thursday. If you are a household that paid over $1,000 in Kentucky income tax last year, you will receive a refund of $1,000.

Kentucky Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Taylor Mill, chairman of the Kentucky Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee

Members of the Senate budget committee all praised the plan. Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said many Kentuckians will spend the rebate, contributing to their local economies and adding to state sales tax revenue.

The only note of caution came from Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, who said a case could be made to spend the $1.15 billion on the states pressing needs, such as more quickly paying down its $26.9 billion in public pension debt.

Looking at all the struggles we have in the commonwealth, theres an argument toward investing in the future, Carroll said. And then theres an argument that is very sound, which is to give it to the people who gave it to us, at a time when they need it drastically and at a time when we can do so. And that is a valid argument.

The bill proceeds to the full Senate.
Credit - Peter Mountain/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures

In an age in which people have gotten all too used to streaming new releases at home, sometimes the best a movie can hope for is to remind audiences of what a big screen is good for. The extravagant musical Cyrano is that kind of movie. If youre looking for visual grandeur, its here in billowing quantities: youll see gowns in macaron-pastel colors and duels that take place in the dusty velvet night. So at least theres that.

But Joe Wrights well-intentioned adaptation of Erica Schmidts stage musical (itself drawn from Edmond Rostands 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac) cant survive its own petulant, self-centered love object, Roxanne (Haley Bennett). Its unclear if, in this particular interpretation of the source material, Roxanne is supposed to be deeply unlikable or just flawed but sympathetic. The most generous reading is that shes a silly thing who cant see beyond her own clouded romantic vision, a mirror counterpart to Cyrano (Peter Dinklage), the brainy, swashbuckling royal guardsman who loves her blindly but who fearscorrectlythat she wont be able to see past what he deems his own ugliness. (Theres no colossal proboscis in this Cyranothe title characters insecurities stem from his own misgivings about his physical stature.)

Read more reviews by Stephanie Zacharek

The story is by now so famous that it practically writes itself: after learning Roxanne is in love with the beauteous newbie guardsman Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr.)charming enough but no great shakes in the poetry departmentCyrano agrees to pen florid love notes for the eager swain. Roxannes ardor for Christian intensifies, as Cyrano pines for her from afar; Dinklage conveys this with a pained facial expression that suggests indigestion more than lovesickness.

Still, thats no excuse for Roxannes failure, over and over again, at reading basic social cues. In the movies most unintentionally comical scene, she flops around on a feather bed, clutching at her nightie as she gets fired up by one of Christians faked letters. Theres a lot going on in Cyrano. Every so often theres a song about thwarted desire, or a depiction of simple townsfolk dancing around merrily in their rough linen garments. Ah, humanity! What a mess we are. If this Cyrano gets at nothing else, its that.

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A 500-pound bear dubbed Hank the Tank has been ravaging homes in South Lake Tahoe, California (CBS News)

As a 500-pound bear known as Hank the Tank continues pillaging California homes for food, local police have begged the public to stop calling in to defend him.

Please stop calling SLTPD to give your opinions about Hank, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department pleaded on Facebook on Wednesday. Our dispatchers are being inundated with these calls about Hank. Its affecting their ability to give their full attention to emergency calls.

The hungry bear, dubbed a tank for his massive size, has broken into at least 28 homes in the Tahoe Keys area, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

This bear is extremely food-habituated and has used its immense size and strength to break in and through front doors and garage doors, the CDFW reported. Food-habituated means that the animal has lost its fear of people and is associating people with access to food.

The agency said it was searching for a solution, including relocating the marauding bear or, as a last option, euthanizing him. This, apparently, triggered an avalanche of public concern  not for the homeowners, but for Hank.

The SLTPD does not have a say in where Hank lands, police explained on Facebook. Our local wildlife agencies are working together to find the best option for Hank. No one wants to see him euthanized. They are searching for an option that will be good for Hanks mental/physical health, and the safety of our local residents.

Meanwhile, Hank has continued his rampage. On Friday, police reported that he had broken into yet another home near lake Tahoe, somehow squeezing his enormous frame through a small window to get to the trash inside.

On Catalina Drive this morning, Officers Sullivan and Wallace responded to a report of Hank inside a house, the SLTPD said. They banged on the exterior of the home until he popped out a back door.

The next day, CNN reported, police received another call that the bear had broken into a home, this time by breaking down its front door. The SLTPD is not sure the bear was Hank, but believes it was probably him.

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Though certainly destructive, Hank has proven non-violent so far. Since last summer, when his burglaries began, the bear has not attacked any humans or their pets.

This may be part of why the public has shown such sympathy for him. Under two separate posts by the SLTPD, begging people to stop voicing their opinions about Hank, countless people voiced their opinions about Hank.

Hank the Tank is such a gentle bear to humans, one Facebook user wrote. They seriously cannot capture and kill him! He is a Tahoe icon!

Save Hank!!! another wrote. Dont let any harm come to him. He has probably been displaced due to all the fires. Not his fault.

Hank can come live with me! someone else offered. I got snacks!
Feb. 23Detectives with the Elkhart Police Department are requesting assistance from the public in identifying two theft suspects.

According to the department, the two women are wanted for questioning in a theft that occurred at Images Jewelers, 300 E. Bristol St., Elkhart, on Feb. 15.

One of the females is described as having dark hair while the other had dyed red hair. Both were wearing long black or dark-colored winter coats. They appeared to be approximately 30 to 35 years old, and were talking to each other in an unknown language, the department noted.

Department detectives are asking anyone who can identify these individuals, or who has information regarding the investigation, to call Det. Barron at 574-295-7070, ext. 321, Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP or 800-342-STOP, or the EPD's tip line at 574-389-4777.

Tips may also be submitted via email at tips@elkhartpolice.org.

ARREST REPORTS

Justine Anderson, 47, 57265 C.R. 13, Elkhart, was arrested by Elkhart County police on a charge of domestic battery while at her home at 10:44 a.m. Tuesday. She was booked into the county jail.

John Firestone, 48, 63672 Crooked Creek Road, Cassopolis, Michigan, was arrested by Elkhart County police on a charge of possession of marijuana following a traffic stop in the area of U.S. 20 and C.R. 23 at 11:51 a.m. Tuesday. He was released pending a court date.

CRASH REPORTS

A Goshen teen was injured when he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle at 2:24 p.m. Monday in Goshen. According to Goshen police, Ruvun Kalchenko, 17, 24654 C.R. 32, Goshen, was riding his bicycle west on the Elkhart Road bike path approaching the Rieth Boulevard intersection when a vehicle heading north on Rieth Boulevard attempted to turn right onto Elkhart Road and struck his bicycle. Kalchenko complained of ankle pain resulting from the collision. The driver of the vehicle, Jeffrey Sweetser, 56, 64827 Cobbler Cove Ct., Goshen, was uninjured. Sweetser was cited for failure to yield the right of way.

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A LaGrange man was injured in a two-vehicle collision at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday in Elkhart County. According to Elkhart County police, Jose Delgado, 20, Goshen, was stopped in his vehicle facing south on C.R. 31 at the C.R. 38 stop sign. Delgado then reportedly entered the intersection and crossed into the path of a second vehicle heading east on C.R. 38, resulting in a collision. The driver of the second vehicle, Manuel Garcia, 66, LaGrange, was transported to Goshen Hospital for treatment of head pain resulting from the collision. Delgado, who was uninjured, was cited for failure to yield the right of way.

An Elkhart woman was injured when she was struck by a vehicle early Wednesday morning in Goshen. According to Goshen police, Aaron Mast, 45, 17620 Furrows Lane, Goshen, was driving his vehicle east on Davis Drive when he looked down for a moment at his thermostat knob. Mast noted that when he looked back up at the road there was a pedestrian directly in front of his vehicle, and he was unable to stop in time to avoid striking them. The pedestrian, Julianna Mendez, 29, 30520 Pine Bluff Drive, Elkhart, was sustained incapacitating injuries to her head and body and was transported via medical helicopter for additional treatment of her injuries. Mast was uninjured.

A Goshen man and a Syracuse woman were injured in a two-vehicle collision at 7:50 a.m. Monday in Goshen. According to Goshen police, Emily Yoder, 19, 72803 C.R. 37, Syracuse, was stopped in her vehicle facing east on West Wilkinson Street at the North Indiana Avenue stop sign. Yoder then reportedly entered the intersection and crossed into the path of a second vehicle heading north on North Indiana Avenue, resulting in a collision. Yoder complained of face pain and a bloody nose resulting from the impact. The driver of the second vehicle, Lavon Short, 75, 1362 Pebble Court, Goshen, complained of head and chest pain.

Alejandro Montiel-Tellez, Goshen, told Goshen police he was the victim of a hit and run accident while at 2304 Lincolnway East at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Ana Martinez, Goshen, told Goshen police she was involved in a car crash in the 200 block of Chicago Avenue at 7:37 p.m. Tuesday. She noted that the driver of the other vehicle then left the scene without exchanging information or notifying police.

THEFT REPORTS

Brandon Soto, Goshen, contacted Goshen police at 12:44 p.m. Tuesday to report that the license plate was stolen from off of his vehicle while it was parked at 2512 W. Clinton St. sometime during the overnight hours.

George Cornish, 26394 Cottage Ave., Elkhart, contacted Elkhart County police at 3:13 p.m. Tuesday to report that his jon boat and trailer were stolen from his property sometime between 3 p.m. Monday and 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Silvia Montes told Elkhart County police someone broke into a home she is remodeling at 30015 Tower Road, Elkhart, and stole several tools sometime between 6 p.m. Monday and noon Tuesday.

Courtney Stump told Elkhart County police someone stole her Chevy Tahoe while it was parked at 27888 Willard Road, Elkhart, at approximately 6:37 p.m. Tuesday.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF REPORTS

Todd Fowler, 59205 C.R. 21, Goshen, contacted Elkhart County police at 11:50 a.m. Monday to report that someone came onto his property at approximately 11:50 p.m. Sunday and kicked his garage door, which resulted in damage.

Dale Yoder contacted Goshen police Tuesday to report that his business at 1700 Egbert Ave. had been vandalized.

FRAUD REPORTS

Michelle Rose, 27477 Cherry Lane, Elkhart, contacted Elkhart County police at 5:08 p.m. Monday to report that she discovered she was the victim of fraudulent activity sometime between 7:45 p.m. Feb. 9 and noon Monday.
Feb. 23State police are looking for two men who they believe stole a check from a mailbox belonging to a Ligonier accounting firm and used it to steal about $10,000 from Latrobe Municipal Authority.

Michael G. Machay, 35, of Butler, and Bryan A. McGraw, 30, of McKees Rocks, are charged with numerous counts of forgery, theft, tampering with records and related offenses.

Trooper Steve Limani said the suspects used a "washing" process that erases details written into a check, then replicating a blank version of it.

"Our concern is this is part of a larger group of people that are doing this and they're going to target places that have checks coming in and out, such as a small business, such as accounting places, things of that nature," he said. "If you can just be cognizant of how you're receiving and sending those types of things through the mail, I think that would go a long way in trying to secure and making sure you're not an easy target."

Troopers were notified of the situation Dec. 30 by the municipal authority in Derry Township and were provided copies of the six forged checks. Three were made out to Machay totaling $5,432 and they were cashed at a trio of Commercial Bank & Trust branches in the area on Dec. 22, according to court papers.

The other three checks, totaling $5,173, were cashed by McGraw at the same branches, police said.

Limani praised bank employees for getting identification information of the two suspects.

"The good thing for us is when they went to those banks, those banks were smart enough to ask for ID so we have actually a copy of their ID as part of this investigation," he said, adding troopers also have surveillance footage. "We're fortunate to be able to have that type of information."

Troopers learned that a check from the municipal authority to Singer Accounting was missing from the Route 30 firm's mailbox, according to court papers. Bank officials showed investigators several discrepancies between a legitimate check and the forged ones, police said.

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Troopers got arrest warrants Jan. 2 for Machay and McGraw but have been unable to locate them. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the state police Kiski Valley station at 724-697-5780.

"We're very concerned that there's a possibility they might be doing this other places," Limani said.

He urged business owners or anyone putting checks into the mail to drop them off directly in a mailbox or at a post office. Anyone who would be receiving checks by mail should consider a secure way to receive them, he said.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Ukainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the press in the town of Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on April 4, 2022. (Ronaldo Schemidt/Getty-AFP)

BRUSSELS  World leaders Thursday condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine as barbaric and quickly slapped heavy sanctions on the Russian economy, President Vladimir Putins inner circle and many of the countrys oligarchs.

Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences, U.S. President Joe Biden declared.

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In near-unison, the United States, the 27-nation European Union and other Western allies announced a round of punitive measures against Russian banks and leading companies and imposed export controls aimed at starving the countrys industries and military of semiconductors and other high-tech products.

From the U.S. to Western Europe and Japan, South Korea and Australia, nations lined up to denounce the Kremlin as the outbreak of fighting raised fears about the shape of Europe to come. The invasion initially sent stocks slumping and oil prices surging on fears of higher costs for food and fuel.

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The West and its allies showed no inclination to send troops into Ukraine  a non-member of NATO  and risk a wider war on the continent. But NATO reinforced its member states in Eastern Europe as a precaution against an attack on them, too.

Make no mistake: We will defend every ally against any attack on every inch of NATO territory, said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

In the meantime, countries began taking steps to isolate Moscow in hopes of forcing it to pay so high a price that it changes course.

Biden, for now, held off imposing some of the most severe sanctions, including cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, which allows for the transfers of money from bank to bank around the globe. Ukraines president called for Russia to be cast out of SWIFT, but the U.S. has expressed concern about the potential damage to European economies.

EU leaders held an emergency summit and agreed on sanctions that cover, among other things, the financial, energy and transport sectors and various Russian individuals. In a statement, the leaders said the measures will have massive and severe consequences for Russia.

The details will not become available until Friday at the earliest.

We want to cut off Russias industry from the technologies desperately needed today to build the future, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: It is about the leadership of Russia and being merciless in finances and the economy.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announced financial restrictions and export controls. In addition, Britain will also prohibit Russias flagship airline, Aeroflot, from landing at British airports.

Johnson called the attack on Ukraine hideous and barbaric and said of Putin: Now we see him for what he is  a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.

Canada imposed sanctions that will target 58 people and entities, including members of Russias elite and their families, the paramilitary Wagner Group and major Russian banks. The punitive measures, announced after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended a virtual meeting of G-7 industrialized nations, will also cover members of the Russian Security Council, including key cabinet ministers.

In the days before the attack, Germany suspended approval of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.

With Stoltenberg and Johnson, von der Leyen called the invasion a barbaric attack on an independent nation that threatened the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order.

The new U.S. sanctions also targeted the military and financial institutions of Belarus, Ukraines neighbor to the north. Russia is using Belarus as a staging ground for troop movements into Ukraine.

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Separately, the U.N. Security Council is expected to vote Friday on a resolution condemning Russia and demanding the immediate withdrawal of all its forces. But Moscow is certain to veto it.

Highlighting a widening rift in superpower relations, China stood alone in failing to condemn the attack and instead accused the United States and its allies of worsening the crisis.

In a clear defense of Moscow, China called on parties to respect others legitimate security concerns.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that all parties should work for peace instead of escalating the tension or hyping up the possibility of war  language China has consistently used to criticize the West in the crisis.

China went further and approved imports of wheat from Russia, a move that could reduce the impact of Western sanctions. Russia, one of the biggest wheat producers, would be vulnerable if foreign markets were closed off.

The possible repercussions extended well beyond economics and geopolitics. The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worried that the crisis will further distract global attention from helping the worlds least vaccinated continent fight COVID-19.

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Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
As Russia launched a nationwide attack on Ukraine early Thursday, eliciting near-universal reactions of horror and condemnation from the international community, President Vladimir Putin proceeded with a "long-planned" visit with Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan in Moscow, The New York Times reports.

"What a time I have come ... so much excitement," Khan can be heard saying in a clip as he greeted Russian officials upon his arrival in Moscow. According to Khan's office, the two leaders planned to discuss "the entire gamut of Pakistan-Russia bilateral cooperation, and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest" in apparent defiance of the poor timing and optics.

According to the Times, Khan in particular "intended to push for a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline to be built by Pakistani and Russian companies." Earlier this week, Germany announced the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline between Germany and Russia would be halted over Moscow's aggression. Naturally, that "could potentially increase the importance of other outlets for Russian gas," the Times adds.

The U.S. State Department publicly expressed hope that Khan would address Russia's attack on Ukraine during his meeting with Putin, stating that every "responsible" country would object to the senseless violence.

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GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday urged all sides in the Ukraine conflict to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and essential services such as water and power supplies.

ICRC President Peter Maurer said in a tweet: "@ICRC teams are responding to urgent humanitarian needs and they must be able to continue their life-saving work."

The Geneva-based agency, which has some 600 aid workers across Ukraine, including 400 in the east, has been helping provide water in the Donetsk region after two water pumping stations were damaged by weekend shelling, disrupting water supplies to 1 million people.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Alison Williams)
PROVIDENCE  The state Health Department on Thursday posted for public comment proposed changes that would allow health care workers who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations" to return to work as long as they "wear a medical-grade N95 mask when transmission rates in Rhode Island are substantial."

Substantial was defined as "50 cases or more per 100,000 people per week."

According to department spokesman Joseph Wendelken, These proposed regulations align the definition of up to date for COVID-19 vaccination with CDC guidance. Whereas the emergency regulations focused on the completion of a primary series, the proposed permanent regulations would include booster doses.

Public comments being accepted

Public comment on the proposed changes in Rhode Islands Immunization, Testing and Health Screening for Health Care Workers regulations will be accepted until March 25, after which the Rhode Island Department of Health will decide whether to implement them.

As a result of the emergency regulations, roughly 94% of Rhode Islands health care workforce is vaccinated, Wendelken stated. Our vaccination rate increased by more than 10% in September, after RIDOH promulgated the emergency regulation. This was incredibly important to patient and resident safety, given that months later we were seeing individual days with 5,000 and 6,000 new cases.

Schools: Rhode Island focuses on school vaccination as it starts third year of COVID pandemic

However, we are at a different point in this pandemic, with cases, hospitalizations and deaths all declining. As Governor McKee and Dr. McDonald shared yesterday [at their COVID briefing], serious illness from COVID-19 is now becoming a preventable, treatable disease. We have the systems and tools in place to manage COVID-19 like we do other endemic diseases.

Police: Dozens of Providence police officers risk firing as COVID vaccination deadline looms

What they say: Healthcare groups on easing mandate

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The proposed regulation would continue to mitigate risk for the health care worker and help keep patients and residents safe.

If implemented, the changes would replace "the emergency regulations that were first promulgated on August 17, 2021 and updated on February 10, 2022," according to Wendelken.

The proposed changes can be viewed at https://rules.sos.ri.gov/Promulgations/Part/216-20-15-7

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI proposes changes in COVID vaccination policy for health care workers
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday weighed in on events that allegedly involved a car belonging to the Chicago Police Departments chief of internal affairs involved in a drug arrest.

A Lexus registered to the chief of the bureau of internal affairs Yolanda Talley was involved in an arrest earlier this month when a 34-year-old man threw heroin out the window and her niece was allegedly driving the car, according to police sources.

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Talley remains in her position, and its unclear how much she knew of the incident and if she reported it. Chicago police spokesman Don Terry confirmed she is still chief as of Wednesday but referred all other questions to the citys Office of Inspector General, which is investigating the incident.

Asked about the unfolding situation, Lightfoot said she was concerned about media coverage which seems to intimate that chief Talley had some involvement in what happened.

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Feb. 22, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Ive seen zero evidence to substantiate that, Lightfoot said. What I know of her is she is very hardworking, very well regarded, and does her job with integrity.

The mayor also said someone in the Police Department leaked details about the investigation, saying its not OK and a violation of many, many orders within the Police Department.

Inspector general spokeswoman Natalie Kuriata wrote in an email that all inspector general investigations are confidential so she cannot confirm or deny any details. Kuriata said the inspector generals office received a referral complaint from CPD the day after the arrest.

On Feb. 1, officers allegedly saw Kenneth Miles bend down to pick up a multicolored bag near a black Mitsubishi SUV, according to a police report. Miles then walked over to a silver Lexus and got in.

The Lexus drove away, eventually turning into an alley, and an officer put on the squad cars lights and followed, the report said. The front seat passenger of the Lexus, allegedly Miles, then threw the bag out the open passenger window.

Officers found that the bag had 84 individual pink-tinted baggies with heroin inside, the police report said. Miles was arrested at 11:25 a.m. in the 500 block of North St. Louis Avenue in the East Garfield Park neighborhood.

The driver, who sources say is Talleys niece, was not arrested. Talley was not in the vehicle.

The department publicly announced that Talley was promoted to the chief of internal affairs on Dec. 1. She has worked for the department for more than 25 years and before being promoted she was the deputy chief of recruitment and retention.

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Talley also had worked as a commander and watch operations lieutenant in the Austin District, where she worked to strengthen community relationships and reduce the amount of violent crime in the district, according to a news release on her promotion.

Earlier in her career, Talley worked as an undercover narcotics officer, the release said. She graduated from Northwestern Universitys school of police staff and command, and has a masters degree in forensic psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Chicago Tribunes Annie Sweeney and Jeremy Gorner contributed.

pfry@chicagotribune.com

gpratt@chicagotribune.com
BANGKOK (AP)  Some human rights advocates are urging governments to impose sanctions against supplying aviation fuel to Myanmar as its security forces carry out air strikes against opponents of the army-led administration.

Calls to cut off jet fuel supplies gained attention after several major oil and gas companies, including Total and Chevron, said they would withdraw from ventures in the country, potentially reducing flows of hard currency to the military.

While Myanmar still produces oil and gas in partnerships with Thai, Japanese, Chinese and South Korean companies, it has no large-scale modern refineries and imports all its aviation fuel for both civilian and military use.

Widespread nonviolent protests followed a Feb. 1, 2021, military takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. An armed resistance has grown after peaceful protests were put down with lethal force. The country now faces an insurgency that some experts characterize as a civil war.

More than 1,560 civilians have been killed by the security forces, including some in air strikes, according to monitoring groups.

So far, no governments have banned or otherwise sanctioned supplying aviation fuel to Myanmar, although the British government recently urged companies to avoid providing products that might be used in such attacks.

The Myanmar military regularly uses air strikes against civilian targets, it said in a statement. If dealing with any entity linked to Myanmars aviation sector, businesses should conduct thorough supply chain diligence to ensure that commodities such as jet fuel do not reach the military.

In the past, the U.S. has barred provision of aviation fuel to Russian forces in Syria.

This week, the European Union imposed sanctions against state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, a joint venture partner in all the country's offshore gas projects. That includes the Yadana gas field, which Total Energies and Chevron recently said they would quit.

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Air travel with and inside Myanmar has dropped sharply due to the political violence and the pandemic, but imports of aviation fuel continue. Critics of the Myanmar military want those stopped to prevent security forces from carrying out air attacks in areas where dissidents have sought refuge, some of which are controlled by ethnic armed groups.

Those opposed to targeting aviation fuel say it would hinder commercial aviation and efforts to provide aid to tens of thousands of people displaced by civil strife after last years military takeover.

Burma Campaign UK said it is calling for sanctions on Myanmar companies involved in supplying jet fuel to the military and on foreign companies to prevent their involvement in any aspect of supplying aviation fuel to the country, including insurance and other support services.

Justice for Myanmar, a human right alliance, said it is still researching aviation fuel supply chains, but that the air attacks should stop.

We urge governments to impose targeted sanctions on aviation fuel, as a viable way to disrupt the Myanmar air forces ability to carry out indiscriminate air strikes," said Yadanar Maung, a spokesperson for the group.

The juntas air strikes are killing civilians, destroying property, displacing whole communities and severely worsening the humanitarian crisis caused by the Myanmar militarys illegal coup," Yadanar Maung said.

National Energy Puma Aviation Services Co Ltd. (NEPAS), a joint venture between Singapore-based Puma Energy Co. and state-owned Myanmar Petrochemical Enterprise, was Myanmars main supplier of aviation fuel before the military takeover. Puma Energy suspended its business there days later, leaving operations to its local partner.

Most aviation fuel for Myanmar is supplied either from Singapore or Malaysia. Marinetraffic.com and other ship tracking sources show a steady stream of oil products shipments moving between Singapore and Malaysian ports to Yangon and nearby Thilawa port.

The Panamanian-flagged chemical and oil products tanker Super Hero was moored Thursday near the terminal for Puma Energy at Thilawa after having left Singapore Refining Co. a few days earlier, ship tracking sites showed.

Myanmar port information obtained by rights advocates indicated it was a load of Jet A1 aviation fuel, however it was unclear whose product was in the shipment.

Singapore Refining Co. is a 50-50 joint venture between Chevron and Singapore Petroleum Co., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of PetroChina, one of Chinas big state-owned energy giants. Previous reports have documented shipments of aviation fuel from PetroChina by tanker from Singapore.

Chevron said in response to an inquiry about the shipment that it was complying with all relevant laws and regulations, including trade sanctions, and noted its recent decision to leave Myanmar.

As a matter of policy, we do not comment on supply and trading matters," the company said in a statement.

In announcing its decision in January to withdraw from the Yadana offshore gas project in Myanmar, Chevron said it would work to ensure its exit was done in a planned and orderly manner" with priority placed on the safety of its employees and operations. It's unclear exactly how many or which companies are supplying aviation fuel to civilian and military jets. Apart from NEPAS, several other local companies, some of them known to have close ties to the military, have bid for the right to import aviation fuel.
Russian troops training on Ukraine's border. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/Associated Press

Russia attacked Ukraine early Thursday in what Ukraine called a "full-scale invasion."

Dozens of Russian and Ukrainian troops, and at least eight Ukrainian civilians, were reported dead.

Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with Russia, and Western countries promised harsher sanctions.

Russian forces attacked Ukraine early Thursday morning, with Ukraine initially reporting dozens of deaths on both sides.

Ukraine said at least 40 of its soldiers and 50 Russian troops were killed early in the fighting, according to the Associated Press and Reuters.

At least eight Ukrainian civilians were killed and nine were wounded by Russian shelling, a Ukrainian internal affairs ministry advisor said, according to Reuters. As the fighting continued, Ukraine's health minister said at least 57 Ukrainians have died and 169 more were wounded as a result of the Russian invasion, as of Thursday afternoon.

Russia's offensive threatens to kill thousands of people, force millions more to flee, and destabilize much of Europe, with the consequences certain to reverberate across the world.

'Full-scale invasion of Ukraine'

Ukraine's foreign minister called Russia's actions "a full-scale invasion of Ukraine," with his ministry saying Russian forces were "launching attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities from different directions."

Starting early Thursday, blasts were heard from Kyiv, the capital, to the eastern city of Kharkiv about 280 miles away, with reports of outgoing artillery fire from Russian forces across the border. Missile strikes and explosions were also heard across Ukraine, the BBC reported.

Ukraine's interior ministry said early Thursday that Russian tanks were pouring over the border from Belarus as well as from occupied Crimea, with Russian troops attacking Ukrainian security forces with artillery and small arms.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, declared martial law and said the country would arm any citizen willing to defend it.

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"We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country," he said. "Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities."

Police officers inspecting the remains of a missile that fell in the street in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday. Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Ukraine's border guard said early Thursday that Russian military columns had entered the Ukrainian regions of Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Luhansk, according to Reuters.

People have been fleeing Kyiv and using the city's subway stations as bunkers.

Ukraine announced on Thursday that it was cutting diplomatic ties with Russia, and it called on allies to do the same. It also said it was evacuating its embassy staff from Moscow.

People taking shelter in a subway station in Kyiv on Thursday. Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Thursday's invasion was preceded by a formal request for military intervention from Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, where rebels backed by Russia have been fighting Ukrainian troops for eight years.

On Wednesday evening, Zelensky took to the airwaves in a last-ditch appeal for peace  while pledging that Ukrainians would "fight back" against any further Russian incursion.

Hours later, in an early-morning address that coincided with an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Russian President Vladimir Putin effectively declared war, insisting that Russian forces would strive for the "demilitarization" and "denazification" of Ukraine, whose president is Jewish.

The intense fighting that has been seen so far may be just the beginning, according to a senior defense official who spoke to reporters Thursday.

Russia launched more than 100 missiles on Ukrainian targets, the official said, according to The Washington Post's Dan Lamothe. Airfields and military assets were targeted first, but the official said "what we are seeing is initial phases of a large-scale invasion." The expectation is that Russia will move on Ukraine's capital.

The Pentagon believes the Russians "have every intention of basically decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance, which would explain these early moves towards Kyiv," the official said.

If the invasion continues "as we have come to believe that it will, it has every potential to be very bloody, very costly, and very impactful on European security writ large," they said, according to Task & Purpose's Haley Britzky.

The assault on Ukraine appears to be moving along three main axes  out of Belarus, Crimea, and western Russia.

Russian troops also attacked Ukraine through the special protected zone that surrounds the remnants of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. An adviser to the plant said there was "fierce fighting" in the area, which remains the site of a decades long containment effort by many nations.

"After a fierce battle, Ukrainian control over the Chernobyl site was lost. The condition of the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant, confinement, and nuclear waste storage facilities is unknown," said Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the head of Chernobyl plant, BuzzFeed News's Christopher Miller reported.

Chernobyl remains the "most contaminated place on earth" according to UC San Francisco's Lydia Zablotska, a radiation expert who grew up in Ukraine. Parts of the zone are not expected to support human life for another hundred years.

"No one should go into those areas," Zablotska told Insider. "It's dangerous for a reason. A number of studies both in humans and animals and from different branches of science say it's dangerous, unadvisable and no one should go into that area."

The road to war

Tensions had been mounting for months as Russia amassed troops, tanks, and amphibious ships near Ukraine's borders.

Late last year, Russia began amassing tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine's borders, with an estimated 190,000 deployed by the time of the attack. This buildup prompted US President Joe Biden to conclude an invasion was nearly certain.

Russia in mid-February claimed to be withdrawing some of its troops from Ukraine's borders, but the US and NATO didn't buy it, citing intelligence that the Kremlin had actually deployed thousands more troops.

Biden warned last week that he believed Russian forces would ultimately besiege Ukraine's capital, which has a population of nearly 3 million people. Earlier this week, he unveiled a new round of sanctions against Russian officials in response to Moscow deploying troops to the eastern Donbas region, which he characterized "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine."

Over the past few months, the US and its allies worked to find a diplomatic solution to prevent a broader confrontation, but Russia made demands for binding security guarantees to which they would never agree. This included permanently barring Ukraine and Georgia from NATO, a request the alliance and Washington repeatedly made clear was a nonstarter.

Ukraine has sought to join NATO for years, and it maintains robust ties with the alliance. The US since 2014 has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars' worth of military assistance, including lethal aid like Javelin anti-tank missiles.

Other NATO members have also provided Ukraine with weapons. That said, Ukraine is not on track to become a NATO member in the near future, despite suggestions from the Kremlin to the contrary.

For years, Putin offered hints of his ambitions when it comes to Ukraine. In 2008, he told President George W. Bush that Ukraine was "not even a country," and he's referred to Ukrainians and Russians as "one people."

In short, Putin has been clear he wants Ukraine under Russian sway and the US out of the region he perceives as being in Russia's sphere of influence.

Putin, a former KGB operative, during his 20 years in power has moved to reestablish Moscow's hegemony in countries that were once part of the Soviet Union. The military operation he just ordered in Ukraine shows he's committed to this course, despite the risks that it will damage his economy or provoke a more robust NATO presence.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON  Telegraphing Russias playbook didnt deter President Vladimir Putin from ordering troops into Ukraine.

An initial round of sanctions wasnt enough to stop him from launching a full-scale attack.

Now, President Joe Biden will lay out the U.S. plan to hold Russia accountable for what could be the biggest military battle in Europe since World War II.

Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way, Biden said in a statement late Wednesday after Putin announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

U.S. officials have estimated the invasion could cause major loss of life and injury. It could prompt a refugee crisis across Europe, test the NATO alliance, raise energy prices and turn Russia into a pariah state in the eyes of the West.

Biden is scheduled to consult with Americas most powerful allies Thursday morning before addressing the nation in the afternoon on a coordinated response.

He is expected to announce a new round of sanctions that White House officials have cast as unprecedented. They could include targeting more Russian banks beyond the two already hit and imposing export controls to deprive Russia of technologies it needs to grow its high-tech industry.

"Security, economic, political, diplomatic: All of that will be forthcoming," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told ABC's "World News Tonight" on Wednesday. "All things that President Putin says he wants to prevent will be happening."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the new actions must include one of the most severe penalties contemplated: cutting Russia out of the SWIFT financial system, which shuffles money from bank to bank around the globe.

Lawmakers in both parties also urged Biden bring the hammer down on Putin.

"Today must mark a historical shift in how the world views and deals with the despot in Moscow," Sen. Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement.

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The U.S. needs to "exact maximum costs on Putin, the Russian economy, and those who enabled and facilitated this trampling of Ukraines sovereignty," Menendez said.

At the same time, Biden has promised to mitigate the consequences Russias invasion will have on the U.S. economy, particularly on energy prices. Russia is one of the world's largest suppliers of oil and gas.

As he has done repeatedly, Biden is likely to warn Americans that standing up to Russia is not without cost.

"Defending freedom will have costs for us as well," Biden said on Tuesday. "We need to be honest about that."

Putin warned late Wednesday that any attempt to interfere with the Russian assault would lead to consequences they have never seen.

'A tragedy': World reacts to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Sanctions explained: Biden announces sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine. Here's what that means

In this video grab taken from a handout footage made available on the official web site of the Russian President (kremlin.ru) Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow early on February 24, 2022. - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "military operation" in Ukraine on February 24 and called on soldiers there to lay down their arms, defying Western outrage and global appeals not to launch a war.

The Russian leader's announcement came not long after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an emotional address, said his people want peace.

"But if we come under attack that threaten our freedom and lives of our people we will fight back," Zelensky said in a televised plea to avoid war.

In an emergency meeting at the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged Russia to back away from the brink before it is too late.

This is a perilous moment and we are here for one reason and one reason only," Thomas Greenfield said. To ask Russia to stop.

Barbara Woodward, Britains ambassador to the U.N., said a full-scale conflict in Ukraine will bring immense suffering, casualties on both sides, and devastating humanitarian consequences.

For months, Russia has been holding a gun to Ukraine's head, Woodward said. Now, President Putin's finger is on the trigger.

Literally waiting for a missile to come: What life is like in Ukraine as Russia invades

Energy impact: Will gas prices keep rising after Russia invasion of Ukraine? Here's what we know

Ukrainians gather for "Mariupol is Ukraine" in Mariupol, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022.

U.S. officials have been warning for weeks that Russia was poised for an attack.

Satellite imagery and intelligence gathering had shown 80% of Russian forces moved into forward positions. Ten Russian amphibious landing ships were in the Black Sea to get boots on the ground, according to the Defense Department.

Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine," Blinken said on "NBC Nightly News" Wednesday.

On Monday, Putin ordered troops into two pro-Russian separatist regions in eastern Ukraine that he declared "independent" from Ukraine and in need of military protection.

In response, the U.S. imposed "full blocking sanctions" on two major Russian financial institutions, as well as on the country's sovereign debt.

The U.S. also imposed sanctions on Russias elites and their family members, and on the company and corporate officers overseeing the Russian-owned gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2. Germany has blocked certification of the pipeline that runs from Russia underseas to Germany.

Opinion: Will Biden's sanctions work to stop Russia? Yes. If allies stand firm.

More: Here's how the US response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict could affect you

President Joe Biden speaks about Ukraine in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Washington.

Blinken said the U.S. and its allies are "doubling down on our support to Ukraine."

Biden has repeatedly made clear, however, that the U.S. will not be sending troops into Ukraine. He has vowed the U.S. will move forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to bolster America's Baltic allies, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

"Were going to do a number of things that Russia is not going to like, including reinforcing the NATO defensive alliance, including right near Russias borders to make sure were protecting allies and partners," Blinken said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russia moves towards full invasion of Ukraine as UN urges him to stop
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police detained at least 167 people at anti-war protests that took place in 24 Russian cities on Thursday, the OVD-Info protest monitor said.

Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday. The OVD-Info monitor has documented crackdowns on Russia's opposition for years.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth; editing by Maria Kiselyova)
KYIV (Reuters) - Russian troops from the direction of Belarus entered an area near the former nuclear power plant Chernobyl on Thursday, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister said, as fighting continued across the country.

The mayor of the capital, Kyiv, said four metro stations would be used as air raid shelters, while the local Ukrainian leadership in the Donetsk region said Russian forces had hit a hospital there, killing four people.

(Reporting by Matthias Williams and Natalia Zinets; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Alison Williams)
Maja Hitij/Getty Images

The Securities and Exchange Commission is examining whether Elon Musk and his brother, Kimbal, committed insider trading violations, according to unnamed sources cited by The Wall Street Journal.

The report alleged that in November Kimbal Musk sold 88,500 shares of Tesla stock worth $108 millionabout 14 percent of his holdingsjust a day before company CEO Elon Musk conducted a Twitter poll asking if he should sell 10 percent of his shares in the electric carmaker.

I will abide by the results of this poll, whichever way it goes, Elon said then.

The central question is whether Kimbal Musk was tipped off about the poll in advance. At the time of his stock sales, Tesla was trading close to an all-time high. The companys stock has since dropped more than a third.

SpaceXs Moon-Bound Starship Rocket Could Go to Space This Year

In an email to the Financial Times, Elon Musk denied giving his brother a heads up and said that Tesla's lawyers were clued in before he posted the poll.

Kimbal had no idea I was going to do a Twitter poll... The idea that I would care about whether my brother might sell shares for a few million dollars less when my Twitter poll caused my own share sale to be over a billion dollars less is utterly absurd, he wrote, referring to stock sales he also made in November. He blamed the investigation on an enforcement official at the SEC grinding his very tiny axe yet again.

Kimbal Musk did not immediately responded to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the SEC declined to comment.

In recent days, Musk has sounded off against the government agency. I didnt start the fight, but I will finish it, he wrote in reply to a thread on Wednesday speculating baselessly about whether he is building a corruption case against the commission.

He also agreed with another poster claiming that the SEC is colluding with Wall Street hedge funds.

The animosity traces to 2018, when Musk sparked a firestorm after abruptly tweeting that he was considering taking the company private at a price $420 per share, seemingly a wink at the number most often associated with marijuana.

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The SEC investigated whether the billionaire actually had funding secured, as he claimed. It ultimately reached a fraud settlement with him, which included $40 million in penalties and forced him to step down as chairman, among other requirements.

The initial complaint alleged that, in truth, Musk knew that the potential transaction was uncertain and subject to numerous contingencies.

His lawyers have since claimed the initial tweet was indeed truthful, citing the potential backing of the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund. Additionally, they have claimed that the SEC has unfairly targeted him with repeated inquiries and leaked information about its investigative process.

Earlier this week the billionaire commended the Department of Justice for targeting a frequent thorn in his side: short-sellers who have bet for years that Teslas stock is overvalued.

In an interview with CNBC, he used the opportunity to once again swipe at the commission. This is something the SEC should have done, but, curiously, did not.

Musk also made headlines this month over new filings that showed he donated $5.7 billion to charity in November, the same month as his Twitter poll.

His acolytes celebrated the news as proof of his generosity, while some experts raised concerns about the lack of transparency over where that money will go, and whether the billionaire is simply affording himself a massive tax write-off by giving to a donor-advised fund.

The way that the tax law is structured today theres no requirement for that money ever to get to the community. You can give money to a donor advised fund and keep it in a tax-free investment account forever, fellow billionaire John Arnold told the Associated Press.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of the Ukraine on Thursday. (Getty

A senior Conservative MP has called on the UK and its Western allies to deploy military support to Ukraine after Vladimir Putin launched a "full-scale invasion".

In an address ahead of the invasion, the Russian president warned of the "greatest consequences in history" for anyone who interfered.

Read more: These two maps explain how Russia has launched the war in Ukraine

Russian troops marched across Ukraine on Thursday, with missile strikes and explosions reported throughout the country.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his citizens were listening to the sound of a new Iron Curtain falling, after Moscow mounted a massed assault by land, sea and air in the biggest attack on a European state since the Second World War.

Zelenskyy warned that other European countries may be next.

Senior Conservative MP David Davis has called on the West to send military support to Ukraine. (Getty Images)

A girl walks past an apartment building, which locals said was damaged by recent shelling, in the separatist-controlled town of Yasynuvata (Yasinovataya) in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. (Reuters)

Western leaders have reacted in horror to the invasion.

Boris Johnson has vowed that Britain cannot and will not just look away and pledged to unite with allies to respond with sanctions designed to hobble the Russian economy.

Late on Thursday, he announced the governments largest ever package of economic sanctions against Russia including an immediate asset freeze on all major Russian banks.

However, the UK prime minister has previously faced criticism for not being tougher with Putin in the run-up to war with many MPs saying the sanctions outlined earlier this week are not enough.

One senior Conservative MP, David Davis, called on the UK to retaliate with direct military involvement to prevent further escalation.

"Whether we like it or not Putin has effectively declared war on the West," Davis, a former Cabinet minister, said.

"He will view confining our actions to Article 5 measures as legalistic weakness."

Ukrainians hold a protest against the Russian invasion outside Downing Street, London. (PA Images)

Article 5 is a key part of the Nato alliance which states that an attack against one member state is considered as an attack against all 30 countries.

While Davis said it was "far too late" for the UK to put troops on the ground in Ukraine, he said "it is not too late to provide air support to the Ukrainian army which may neutralise Putin's overwhelming armoured superiority".

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He added: "There are no zero-risk options. If we do not act militarily, then Nato will be significantly weakened and we must fear for the safety of every state that borders Russia...

"Ultimately it is a trade-off between two outcomes - whether we defend the democratic rights of more than 40 million Ukrainians or fail to act now and be forced to act later but at a possible greater cost."

Read more: Moment Sky News reporter in Ukraine runs for cover to escape shelling

On Thursday in an address to the nation, Johnson called Putin "the Russian dictator" and said the UK supported Ukraine's right to sovereignty - however, he stopped short of saying the UK would send military support.

"It's an attack on democracy and freedom - in eastern Europe and around the world," he said.

"This crisis is about the right of a free, sovereign, independent people to choose their own future. That is a right the UK will always defend."

People gather at a bus station as they try to leave the city of Kyiv in Ukraine (Reuters)

People are seen stuck in a huge traffic jam as they try to leave Kyiv in the direction of the western parts of the country. (Getty Images)

James Cleverly, minister of state for Europe and North America, emphasised that while Ukraine was a "good friend" it is "not a member state of Nato".

"Nato's a defensive organisation, and our responsibility is to support our Nato allies - which is why we have sent troops and equipment to the eastern Nato allies," he said.

"And, whilst Ukraine is not a Nato state, we will continue to support them in their self-defence against this Russian attack."

On Thursday afternoon, Lithuania  a Nato state bordering Ukraine  announced it had declared a state of emergency in response Russia's invasion.

Read more: 'Forget about 80p for bread': Fears Ukraine war will be disastrous for cost of living crisis

General Sir Richard Sherriff, Britains former top Nato commander, has called the Ukraine situation the most perilous in Europe for decades.

He said that while the war would initially be between Ukraine and Russia, the possibility that Nato could get involved is very real.

He told the BBC: Nato has got to man the ramparts now", adding that the West has to assume the worst when it comes to Russias nuclear strategy.

A child arrives to the border of Ukraine-Slovakia, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Vysne Nemecke, Slovakia, February 25, 2022. (Reuters)

To justify Russian aggression, Putin has claimed Ukraine is a threat to Moscow, that the country is controlled by neo-Nazis and that it is committing genocide in the east of the country.

Western leaders have ridiculed these claims.

On Friday afternoon, Putin hinted that he was open to talks with Ukraine, but required demilitarisation first. He also repeated false claims about the country being run by Nazis.

"I would like to address the Ukrainian army men, do not let these nationalists use you, your women, your children, your elderly, use them as human shields," he said.

"It will be so much easier to talk to you, to negotiate with you than with this gang of Nazis that have captured Kyiv."

Watch: Russia launches full-scale attack on Ukraine as Putin warns U.S. and NATO
WORCESTER  A registered Level 2 sex offender facing charges that he touched a 16-year-old girl and had a cache of child pornography, including violent sex acts, was held on $77,500 cash bail following his arraignment Wednesday in Worcester Superior Court.

Shane W. Ricci, 45, of Town Farm Road in Brookfield, is charged with indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, four counts of possession of child pornography, assault and battery, intimidation of a witness and photographing an unsuspecting person in the nude.

Ricci was originally arraigned in Western Worcester District Court in East Brookfield before the defendant was indicted to Worcester Superior Court.

Police investigated allegations that Ricci went into the bedroom of a teenager in New Braintree and touched her inappropriately in early June, court records show.

Hardwick-New Braintree Police Sgt. Robert Toupin obtained search warrants for Ricci's home in Brookfield and a residence in New Braintree, where he allegedly found evidence that Ricci had been surreptitiously recording the teen he was accused of touching.

In addition to images of the teen, Toupin, with the assistance of Massachusetts State Police, also recovered dozens of images depicting nude children, violent sex acts involving children and images that appear to have been taken inside a local store, a police report states.

Toupin said one of the videos appears to depict a young child being stabbed and shot, though police were unable to determine who took the video.

"It's very disturbing and looks realistic," Toupin said. "We don't know if it was digitally manipulated but we are still investigating."

As a result of the investigation, Ricci was arrested a third time.

At the time he was first arrested in June, Ricci was wearing a GPS monitor and is a registered sex offender in Maine.

Ricci is also a Level 2 sex offender in Massachusetts and is not allowed to have contact with anyone under 16 years old.

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Bail was set at $77,500 cash without prejudice. Bail was transferred from Western Worcester District Court to Worcester Superior Court, according to court documents.

Ricci was ordered to wear a GPS monitor, to stay away and have no contact with any complaining witnesses, abide by any and all restraining orders, and to have no contact with children under 16 years old.

On Wednesday, Ricci wasnt present for first call on his case. Concluding that he wasnt going to appear, a warrant was issued for his arrest. The warrant was recalled when Ricci later arrived the same day, but late, in court.

Ricci is due back in court on April 21.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Sex offender charged with touching teen girl, possessing videos of violent sex acts against children
The former vice president of a now-shuttered Bridgeport bank pleaded guilty Thursday in a massive embezzlement scheme involving millions of dollars in bad loans that were hidden through a web of falsified records that made the banks books look legit.

James Crotty, 42, of Tinley Park, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a financial institution.

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He is the highest-ranking officer to be convicted in the ongoing investigation into the 2017 collapse of Washington Federal Bank for Savings, which also ensnared former Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson.

[Most read] Fellow alderman on Patrick Daley Thompson conviction: He got the royal screw job because of what his name is 

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Crotty, who rose from branch manager to vice president of the century-old family-owned bank, admitted in a plea agreement with prosecutors that he falsified records on the orders of bank President John Gembara to make it look like certain loans were solid when in fact they were given with no collateral or expectation of repayment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Netols said Crotty concealed the fact that the loans were not legitimate to make it appear that the banks loan committee was overseeing Gembara when he was actually running the bank with unfettered discretion.

Crotty faces up to five years in prison, however prosecutors have said that if he continues to cooperate they will push for a lesser term. U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall did not immediately set a sentencing date.

At the center of the alleged fraud scheme was Robert Kowalski, a Chicago attorney and former bank customer, who was a large debtor of the bank when it was closed by regulators in December 2017 with about $66 million in bad loans.

A superseding indictment filed last year also charged William Mahon, a then-top official with the citys Streets and Sanitation Department, with willfully filing false tax returns and failing to disclose a $130,000 personal loan hed received directly from Gembara.

Gembara, 56, who is referred to in the charges only as Individual A, took his own life in the Park Ridge home of Marek Matczuk, one of the banks biggest customers, less than two weeks before the banks closure, according to court documents.

Matczuk has also been charged as part of the conspiracy and has pleaded not guilty.

Meanwhile, Crottys guilty plea Thursday marked the latest conviction in the wide-ranging probe.

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Last month, Alicia Mandujano, a former loan officer at the bank, admitted in a plea agreement that she falsified loan records on Gembaras orders, including a $219,000 line of credit for Thompson, the 11th Ward alderman, that prosecutors said was never repaid.

Another former employee, loan processor Cathy Torres, has also pleaded guilty to helping Gembara embezzle funds from the bank.

Thompson, 52, the grandson and nephew of Chicagos two longest-serving mayors, was convicted last week of filing false tax returns and lying to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. officials about the payments from Washington Federal.

Thompson later stepped down from the City Council seat hed held since 2015. Hes scheduled to be sentenced July 6.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
Feb. 23When Janiyah Williams visited Oklahoma State in June, she and her family figured they were going on an informal campus tour, an early way to ease into the recruiting whirlwind.

With an unforgettable ending, it exceeded their expectations.

Williams, from Stillwater, had a behind-the-scenes look into a familiar place, seeing the locations and amenities available to a Cowgirl basketball player.

The campus walkaround wrapped up at a random, seemingly ordinary place  the apartments where student-athletes live  but it served as the backdrop for a moment that sticks in the minds of Williams and her parents. There, Cowgirl coach Jim Littell suddenly gave her the news that amazed them: he extended a full scholarship to OSU.

At 13, Williams had her first college offer.

She had never played one second in a high school game, never suited up for a varsity team. Her first day of freshman year was still a couple of months away.

None of those factors mattered. The Cowgirl coaches saw Williams' talent. Williams said she was ecstatic, while her mom, Melissa, was overcome with joy and astonishment as she watched her daughter achieve a milestone before she could have dreamed it would happen.

"It was a lot of pride, and emotional in that aspect of knowing that someone else believes in your kid as much as you do," Melissa said.

Now, Williams has so many believers, they could likely fill the blue and gold bleachers at Pioneer Fieldhouse, where she has spent her freshman season illustrating why she has landed on numerous recruiters' radars. Coaches across the nation know the versatile, tenacious guard from Stillwater. They stop by the Lady Pioneers' practice sessions, and they see Williams' leadership in summer tournaments with the Arkansas Banshees, her AAU team.

At 14, Williams, an uncommitted recruit, already has an array of college options  she holds offers from OSU, Eastern Michigan, Arkansas State, Arkansas, TCU, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Penn State, Ohio State, West Virginia, Texas Tech and Tulsa. Melissa said all are equally meaningful.

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But Williams hasn't always known this level of recognition.

Throughout her young career, Williams had to prove herself, solidifying her place when others might have initially doubted her. It didn't matter if she was playing for a boys' squad at age 8, earning her black belt in Taekwondo as a fifth-grader or recording a triple-double against a 17-and-under team before her freshman year.

For a teenager who isn't yet old enough to get her driver's license, all of the pressure can add up, but Williams finds ways to add balance and peace to her life away from the court. As a former multisport athlete at Cushing High, Melissa makes sure to emphasize this.

"She works hard for what she wants," Melissa said. "And I also can see where that might be a stressor for her. But she does great with it. She handles herself, and she's calm. She handles herself well."

Williams' determined, wise-beyond-her-years nature has guided her since she was a tiny hoopster proudly lifting trophies nearly half her size.

Holding her own

At first, some of her teammates were hesitant.

Why was an 8-year-old girl on the court with them? Williams had to navigate this challenge when she made her AAU debut as a third-grader. Her parents, Tevin Sr. and Melissa, noticed Williams' precocious basketball skills and wanted to support her passion for the game, but they weren't aware of girls' teams in the Stillwater area.

That was no problem. Williams joined the boys. When she stepped into the gym, she sometimes heard her peers questioning why she was there, but she didn't let this discourage her. Williams changed their perspective in the best way she knew.

"I went in the first practice, and I was hooping on all of them," Williams said. "And then I started to gain more respect out of them, and they started to accept me."

Williams was in a new setting, but advocating for herself in a competitive environment came naturally to her. With 11 older siblings, she quickly learned how to hold her own in a basketball game. Tevin III, the sibling closest in age to her, is a Baylor cornerback and former Stillwater track star who broke a state record in the 100-meter dash, so a healthy rivalry flourished in her household.

"It definitely influenced me a lot," Williams said. "It definitely taught me a lot of toughness."

Her career started on a Little Tikes goal. Like a ragged favorite stuffed animal, the plastic hoop showed wear and tear from the many times Williams practiced throwing down dunks as a toddler. Sometimes, she took a football-like approach, smothering the basket as if she were a miniature lineman sacking a quarterback.

This meant the Williams family had to buy more than one basketball goal, but the purchases were worth it. As she graduated from the toy hoop to a standard goal in the driveway, she started to catch her siblings. By the time she was in middle school, the youngest Williams was winning their games of H-O-R-S-E, Melissa said.

Williams developed a tendency to thrive when people underestimated her. On the boys' team, she formed lasting friendships with her teammates as they supported her, but her motivation to prove people wrong came from the teams she faced. One time, Melissa heard an opposing coach telling a kid to make sure to defend "that girl" and not let her drive on him.

"Um, she's really strong," the kid replied.

Williams didn't have a size advantage. Kendra Kilpatrick, Williams' coach at Stillwater High, knew her when she was an elementary-aged kid attending local basketball camps. Although she was small, Williams, who is now 5-foot-9, always competed in groups of older athletes, using her "exceptional" skills to surprise those who watched, Kilpatrick said.

"She was just this little bitty second-grader, and I remember just thinking, like, 'Can she even get the ball to the rim?'" Kilpatrick said. "And then seeing her play, and just going, 'Oh, my goodness.' ... She's always just been a level up, just athletically and skill-wise."

The Taekwondo experience helped. Melissa said she and Tevin Sr. enrolled their daughter in Taekwondo classes as an outlet for her boundless energy, and it paid dividends, instilling not only toughness, but also composure and focus in her.

As a fifth-grade athlete, Williams prospered. First, she received her black belt. Then she won a national championship with BTR, her first girls' AAU team.

After relishing the triumphs, Williams had to learn patience.

Elevating her game

Seven months crawled by as Williams waited to play basketball again.

She couldn't practice her jump shot or maneuver around a defender with a nifty crossover. She couldn't even run. Williams, then a sixth-grader, simply had to sit and rest while her knee healed.

Melissa said it was difficult to determine when her daughter got hurt. Williams was good at disguising pain because she wanted to keep playing, but after winning her fifth-grade AAU championship, the injury became obvious.

"She (was) dragging her leg, even when she's still trying to play basketball," Melissa said. "And that's when we kind of realized, 'Yeah, something's not right here. We need to go see a doctor.'"

Early in the recovery process, Williams had to use crutches. Although an inactive lifestyle was mentally draining for a kid who loved to be on-the-go, she managed to sharpen her basketball skills without playing. As she healed, Williams watched games on TV to pass the time. She wasn't just a fan or a casual observer. Williams embraced the role of a diligent student, taking mental notes of ways to expand her skill set and adapt professional athletes' techniques to her style.

"I like to take little things that they might do or a move that I might see, and I might just go try it in a game and see what happens," Williams said. "...If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't."

Williams said she models her game after Russell Westbrook, Maya Moore and Candace Parker. She likes to break the stereotype of "playing like a girl," she said, instead sticking to a fast-paced, physical style that took root when she had to compete among boys.

After closely watching the pros, Williams turned her lengthy absence into an asset when she finally returned to the court. This marked a turning point, the time when she became aware of the doors that could open for her if she continued to dedicate herself to basketball.

"I kind of got off to a rocky start," Williams said. "But ... my skill set became better, and I was like, 'OK, I can do this.'"

Melissa realized her daughter had a new level of dedication after the injury. Williams asked her parents to take her to the gym. She motivated herself to keep working. It was her idea, her passion, her dream.

A couple of years later, after Williams started playing school ball, an AAU coach in Arkansas noticed, too.

Nathan Sadler, director of the Arkansas Banshees, said he wanted Williams to join his team as soon as he saw one of her highlight clips. The organization has served as a launchpad for multiple Division I athletes, including OSU sophomore Taylen Collins, Texas Tech freshman Chantae Embry and OU freshman Kelbie Washington.

Williams, who played for the Banshees during the past summer, has offers from all of those programs. Sadler complimented her athleticism and versatility, and he also praised her leadership.

"She is just a great communicator with the team off the court as well," Sadler said. "She will bring girls together, whether that's team dinner or anything like that. She's just a great teammate off the floor."

That translates to the court, guiding her team through nerve-racking situations. In the Banshees' final tournament of the summer, they matched up with a 17U squad. Facing opponents three or four years her senior couldn't intimidate Williams.

"She had a triple-double," Sadler said. "And we won in front of a bunch of scouts and head college coaches and McDonald's All-American voters, a bunch of influential people."

Sadler said he has confidence Williams will be a McDonald's All-American. He has coached recipients of the honor, so he knows what it takes.

Williams shows those skills when she plays for the Lady Pioneers, too. As a first-year varsity player, she averaged 19.3 points per game with a total of 405 during the regular season. She also added 5.5 rebounds per game, three assists per game, two steals per game and one block per game. Opponents try to build their defenses around her, often double-teaming her, but Williams is always up for a challenge.

"She won't back down," Kilpatrick said. "It doesn't matter who she's playing. It doesn't matter if you're the best person in the nation."

On a Stillwater team featuring four senior leaders and active juniors, Williams has emerged as the youngest starter. Kilpatrick said it benefits Williams to work with seasoned Lady Pioneers such as fellow point guard Jayden Mason, a senior who plays scrappy defense against her in practice. Williams is not only a standout scorer, but also a supportive teammate, showing as much enthusiasm on the bench as she does when she's securing a rebound or hitting a shot to ice a victory.

"She's all about team, and that's how we have raised her and what we emphasize," Melissa said. "So those are the proud moments there."

Williams maintains her down-to-earth mentality outside the gym.

Being herself

Nearly every day, in the midst of her busy schedule, Williams sets aside time to write.

Her hobby blossomed when the COVID-19 pandemic started, giving her an escape from boredom, and it now has another purpose. Her poetry is a diversion from basketball, reminding her nothing has to be all-consuming.

"It's definitely a different route," Williams said. "It makes me settle down and kind of go off into my own little world, when I'm writing or I'm reading or listening to music. It just helps me calm down and reset and regroup."

Williams said she writes about a variety of topics. Sometimes, it's a channel for her emotions. Other times, she addresses social injustices. Melissa said her favorite is a poem Williams wrote about freedom.

This creative outlet keeps Williams well-rounded, Melissa said, and it isn't the only way she achieves this.

Williams, whose parents own a restaurant in Langston, also enjoys cooking. She makes anything from pasta to cookies and ice cream  but salmon with a side of vegetables or rice is her signature dish, she said. In the summers, she runs the register or the grill at the family business, Tevin's Home Cooking, when she has a break from the hustle and bustle of AAU trips.

Twelve-hour drives are normal for the Williams family. They load up their vehicle and go anywhere from Georgia to Tennessee to Texas for summer tournaments. Melissa said she doesn't know how many miles she covers in one summer, but it's the lifestyle she knows, one she enjoys because it gives her an opportunity to watch her daughter do what she loves.

"We just drive and get there, and that's what we do," Melissa said.

Navigating the recruiting process isn't easy for anyone, but it could be especially demanding for a freshman who is still building her AAU and high school careers.

Her athletic resume has put her on a fast track in the recruiting world, but Williams is still a 14-year-old girl.

She needs time to relax and time to be a student  Melissa said school always comes first. Williams doesn't have to choose where she's going to college or what she will study yet, though she said factors such as degree programs and a community's level of commitment to women's basketball will play into her college decision. Williams strives to put everything in perspective as she handles her responsibilities.

"It's definitely very stressful, but I'm still thankful and grateful for everything that I've accomplished and received," Williams said. "I'm just trying to stay humble throughout the whole process. I don't want to get a big head. ... I just want to stay humble and keep pushing because I want to get more offers and want to get better."

The next step is her first high school playoff game. Williams and the Lady Pioneers start regional play against Booker T. Washington at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Bixby, striving to make a postseason run as they did last year before she joined the varsity team.

Williams has long-term goals, too. Before she graduates, she wants to win Gatorade Player of the Year, an award that would give her a banner in Pioneer Fieldhouse alongside the one her brother received for track. She also aims to be a McDonald's All-American.

"I want to do all these things," Williams said. "But my main goal is just to get better and try my hardest to move onto the next level."

The possibilities await, and with three years of high school left, time is her friend.
Militants of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic stand in front of a damaged building in the town of Yasynuvata in the Donetsk region, Ukraine on 24 February 2022. (PHOTO: Reuters)

SINGAPORE  Singapore on Thursday (24 February) strongly condemned the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, as Russia on the same day began multiple attacks in various parts of its neighbouring state.

Singapore strongly condemns any unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country under any pretext, a spokesperson from the city-states Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The spokesperson said that Singapore is gravely concerned by Russias special military operation in the Donbas region, and reports of land and air attacks on multiple targets in Ukraine.

We reiterate that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected.

Singapore hopes military actions will cease immediately, and urges a peaceful settlement of the dispute, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law.

The statement was the second in three days issued by MFA as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate dramatically .

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
Levy Gershanovich, left, and his mother Tetyana Sirman joined the protest at Times Square (Bevan Hurley/The Independent)

Dozens of Ukrainians gathered in New Yorks Times Square on Thursday to protest the Russian invasion.

The crowd sang hymns and chanted stop Russian Hitler and Stand with Ukraine while holding a giant national flag.

Ukraine latest  live updates

Tetyana Sirman joined the protest with her son Levy Gershanovich, who held a sign saying Russia bombing Ukraine.

Ms Sirman told The Independent the world needed to wake up to the threat posed by Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Were concerned not only for Ukraine, were concerned for all of Europe. Putin needs to be stopped right now otherwise everybody will pay the price.

A Ukrainian family join the protests in Times Square on Thursday (Bevan Hurley/The Independent)

Innocent people are being bombed right now that have nothing to do with any agenda. Putin lies about the history, he twists everything to his own benefit. And this is just horrible that the world is watching and letting it unfold like that.

Ms Sirman, who was born in Ukraine, said she believed the West would finally be compelled to take collective action against Russian aggression.

A Ukrainian family watches on as protesters chanted Putin is a killer' (Bevan Hurley/The Independent)

I dont have the recipe, but there are a lot of smart people who know what to do and they need to act right now before its too late. It could mean World War Three for the world, and people need to understand.

The crowd, many draped in the blue and yellow national colours of Ukraine, chanted in English and Ukrainian, saying Putin is a killer.

Another protester, Vladimir Sobur said he thought he was watching a bad movie as news of the invasion broke on Wednesday night.

I thought is this really happening? I thought it was some kind of stupid joke. How can you stab the knife in your brother. Ukraine is in a war with Russia for no reason.

Vladimir Sobur joined the protest in Times Square. He watched in horror news of the invasion on Wednesday night (Bevan Hurley/The Independent)

The protesters then headed north along Times Square towards a second demonstration at the Russian Embassy to the United Nations.

Earlier, in the Little Ukraine area of Manhattans East Village neighbourhood, Ukrainians living in New York said they wanted to see more action from the West.

Sergiy Donkin, the head of a local Ukrainian-US organisation, told The Independent the Ukrainian military could hold out against Russian forces for a time, but would need additional military and financial backing.

Story continues

Ukraine has a strong army right now, has a good president. Theres no panic, we need to stop this crazy guy, Putin. He is terrorist number one in the world, he told The Independent on Thursday.

I hope that the US stops this crazy guy. America, England, every normal country needs to support us.

Mr Donkin said he hadnt slept since the invasion began, and was in close contact with friends and family back home.

I feel very very bad, because what can I do to help? Maybe send money. Every Ukrainian will do something. Everybody is thinking about how they can help. All of my family are living in Ukraine, my cousins, my parents.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's Defence Minister will look at ways to strengthen Ukraine's capacity to resist Russia's invasion, the government said on Thursday, without giving details.

"I have ... today given the Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist the task of immediately preparing a decision so that we, from the Swedish side, can support Ukraine with further ways to... to strengthen their resilience," Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told reporters during a news conference.

Neither she nor Hultqvist would say what support the military would be able to give, though Andersson said Sweden's competence was in areas such as mine-removal and healthcare materiel.

Swedish regulations prevent the export of weapons to countries that are at war except in exceptional circumstances.

(Reporting by Simon Johnson, editing by Helena Soderpalm)
File photo: An armed US-made F-16V fighter lands on the runway at an air force base in Chiayi, southern Taiwan, 5 January 2022 (AFP via Getty Images)

Taiwans air force has scrambled to warn off nine Chinese military aircraft that entered its air defence zone (ADIZ) just hours after Russia invaded Ukraine, withTaipei fearful that the crisis could embolden Beijing to increase pressure on or even attack the island.

China, which claims self-governing Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up a military intimidation campaign against the island in recent years, and regularly flies jets into its ADIZ.

The defence ministry said the latest mission involved eight Chinese J-16 fighters and one Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft, and that in response, Taiwanese fighters were sent up to warn the Chinese aircraft and air defence missiles were deployed to "monitor the activities".

Chinas incursions usually coincide with high-level foreign visits or important occasions in Taiwan, and Thursdays incident followed Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea.

Taipei is concerned that Beijing may take advantage of a distracted West to ramp up pressure on the island amid the crisis in Ukraine, Taiwanese officials have said.

The government last month set up a Ukraine working group under the National Security Council, and President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday that Taiwan must increase its surveillance and alertness on military activities in the region - although she did not directly mention China.

While Taiwan has said the regions situation is "fundamentally different" from Ukraine, MsTsai has expressed "empathy" for Kiev because of the military threat Beijing could pose to Taipei.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that Taiwans government in concert with the West was using Ukraine to "maliciously hype up" military threats and whip up anti-China sentiment.

Experts have previously warned that with the frequency of Chinas gray zone incursions continuing to rise, Taiwans air force capabilities face the risk of being stretched too thin.

Story continues

In a report released by its Ministry of National Defense last September, Taiwan accused China of trying to take control of the island by wearing down its military capabilities and influencing public opinion.

The report said that 554 incursions by different types of Chinese military aircraft took place over Taiwans ADIZ between September 2020 and August last year.

Taiwan, which rejects Beijings sovereignty claims, has lived under the threat of Chinese invasion since the defeated Republic of China government fled to the island in 1949 after losing a civil war to the Communists. China has not ruled out the possibility of a military incursion of Taiwan.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that if Western nations failed to fulfil their promises to support Ukraines independence, it would have damaging consequences worldwide, including for Taiwan.
On February 24, Russia launched an invasion of neighboring Ukraine after months of a military build-up on its borders.

The attack began with cyberattacks that targeted Ukrainian government departments with floods of internet traffic and data-wiping malware, followed by a ground, sea and air incursion. News outlets in Ukraine are also reporting outages caused by cyberattacks, which the Ukrainian government says it has "unambiguously linked" to Moscow.

The invasion was met with sharp rebuke from the United States, the European Union and NATO allies, with broad, unprecedented financial and diplomatic sanctions promised against Russia, sanctions that are likely to affect business, trade and finance across the region.

The impacts of the invasion are also, undoubtedly, being felt across Ukraines wider tech ecosystem, which includes not only hundreds of startups and larger tech firms, but also research and development offices for some of the worlds biggest technology brands.

As the situation on the ground changes rapidly over the next few hours and days, TechCrunch will continue to bring news and analysis on how the conflict unfolds across the tech and startup community.

GET IN TOUCH

To get in touch or pass along information, email us at tips@techcrunch.com or use our tips page if you want to contact us anonymously.

A director at one major tech company, who asked us to not name the company for the safety of its employees, confirmed to us that it is in the process of working out how to evacuate all of its staff in Ukraine. The situation is being hampered by the fact that all airspace is now out of bounds, and public transportation is largely out of action. The current plan is to figure out how to get staff across the border either to Hungary or Poland.

The situation is also going to spell major economic fallout for startups in Ukraine.

Readdle, the company that makes PDF, email and other productivity tools, is one of the better known bootstrapped startups out of Ukraine. Based out of the southern city of Odessa, the companys main spokesperson and managing director, Denys Zhadanov, canceled a phone interview for this story, saying that there were too many emergencies that needed to be handled at the moment. He did, however, speak with TechCrunch by text message.

Story continues

Weve made business continuity plans a while ago and [are] executing them now, he said. All Readdle products and services at Readdle are up and running, and theres no evacuation for the team [being undertaken] at this point.

Zhadanov noted that Readdle has grown into an international company, with people employed in 11 countries. A "big chunk" of the team, he said, is still based in Ukraine.

Ukraine is home to the finest engineers, designers, and other tech professionals, he added. I know that many tech CEOs have made a conscious decision to stay in Ukraine. Many of them are helping and donating to help the county and its people.

In Ukraine, there are many more home-grown startups that are also feeling the fallout (and bear supporting if youre so inclined). They include Ajax, a home wireless security company; the AI-based grammar and writing engine Grammarly; the face-swapping app Reface; pet camera system Petcube; People AI, the sales and marketing intelligence startup; and language tutor marketplace Preply. These companies have raised funding from some of the worlds biggest VCs and one question will be how and if those relationships will be impacted with the latest developments.

Software house MacPaw, which develops Mac software and utilities, said in a blog post that while its headquarters is in Kyiv, its infrastructure is hosted on Amazon Web Services and physically located outside of Ukraine. Its payments processor, Paddle, is based in the U.K., and anticipates that "nothing is going to change" for its users. "At this moment, were staying strong, united, and ready to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," said MacPaw in an email to TechCrunch.

One company with a presence in Ukraine declined to talk on the record to TechCrunch, citing the rapidly changing situation on the ground.

In addition to startups, there are larger tech companies that have both R&D operations out of the country as well as teams providing more localized services, ranging from content to ad sales.

For those with consumer-facing platforms like Googles YouTube or ByteDances TikTok, the question will be how they are being used  or misused  with disinformation, or conversely censorship, and how the companies are handling that kind of traffic. On top of that is the question of services overall, how they are staying up and whether they are running the risk of getting shut down due to sanctions or interruptions of internet service. Weve reached out to Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Facebook, Google, Meta and Snap for comment and will update this as and when we learn more. When reached, Microsoft declined to comment.

A few other points to note for now:

Google, by the looks of it, has around 200 people working in the country, covering both R&D for global services and localized operations. It has faced a number of issues over the years with censorship around YouTube in Russia, although that, so far, has not had an analogue in Ukraine.

Uber, which has operated in Ukraine since 2016 and is present in nine cities, paused operations within the country. Uber offered Kyiv-based employees and their immediate families temporary and voluntary relocation to other parts of Ukraine or other countries. For gig-working drivers and the riders they serve, Uber advice is to stay home.

Our focus continues to be doing whatever we can to protect the safety of Uber riders, drivers and employees. We have a cross-functional team monitoring the situation very closely and will restore service as soon as it is safe to do so, Uber told TechCrunch.

Lyft has also taken precautions for its Ukraine-based employees.

Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our team members in Ukraine. Were providing financial support for emergency preparedness and for those who wish to temporarily relocate, increased time off and additional mental health resources. Were closely monitoring the situation and will continue to evaluate our response as necessary," Ashley Adams, a Lyft spokesperson, told TechCrunch. Per Reuters, Lyft is estimated to have around 60 employees in Ukraine and wrote in a December blog post that it had plans to expand its Kyiv office, which opened in April. Beyond the engineering office, though, Lyft doesn't operate rideshare services in the country.

TikTok and its parent ByteDance typically do not disclose how many employees it has by country, and so it's unclear how many they have in Ukraine. But they do have a very popular app  which last year was estimated to have a reach of 30% in the country, doubling over the previous year. TechCrunch chronicled last year how it emerged as a key battleground around Navalny-fueled, anti-Putin activism.

"The safety of our community and our employees is our top priority," a spokesperson from TikTok said in a statement provided to TechCrunch. "We take action on content or behavior that threatens the safety of our platform, including removing content that contains harmful misinformation, and will continue to monitor and dedicate resources to the situation as it evolves."

Facebook head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher tweeted about the actions the platform will take in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gleicher said that Facebook established a Special Operations Center with native speakers to closely monitor the situation and act as fast as possible. The platform also deployed a feature in Ukraine that allows users to lock their account, meaning that those who are not a users friend cannot download or share their profile picture, or see posts on their timeline. This is the same strategy that Facebook used in August to try to protect users in Afghanistan. Meta also temporarily removed the ability to view and search the Friends list for users in Afghanistan and rolled out pop-up alerts for on Instagram with instructions about protecting their accounts. So far, those two measures havent been adopted for accounts in Ukraine.

Twitter is warning users in Ukraine to protect their online accounts, such as using multi-factor authentication and disabling location in tweets. It's a sharp turnaround from 24 hours earlier, when Twitter confirmed it mistakenly suspended accounts that are sharing details about Russia's military activities prior to the invasion.

And, internet giant Cloudflare chief executive Matthew Prince said the company had "removed all Cloudflare customer cryptographic material from servers in Ukraine," hours after the invasion began, as part of an effort to protect customer data and communications in the event that the data center is compromised. Cloudflare opened its Kyiv data center in 2016, which remains operational according to the company's status pages. Cloudflare provides content delivery and network security to organizations and governments.

Updated with remarks from Facebook, TikTok, Uber, and Lyft.
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Her job is to survey the intricacies of human nature. And then, she draws them.

Perhaps one lawyer waves his hands a lot; another might place hers on a desk. Are family members reacting to testimony with stoicism or grief?

These are the details that for decades, Cheryl Cook, known as Cookie, has noted through her courtroom artwork. Cook has been a court illustrator since the 1980s, beginning when there were so many court artists it could be hard to ensure theyd all find a seat. Now, she is one of few remaining in Chicago and the only known woman, and these days its never hard to find a spot while drawing courtroom characters.

I sketch it if theyre constantly pacing, if theyre a person whos constantly throwing their arms in the air or pounding their fist on something, she said. The body gestures that are saying something.

Cheryl Cook, known as Cookie, outside the Kluczynski Federal Building on Jan. 31, 2022. Cook has been a courtroom illustrator since the 1980s in Chicago. (Raquel Zaldivar / Chicago Tribune)

Her most recent trial, in a career studded with boldfaced names such as Rod Blagojevich and Drew Peterson, was for Jussie Smollett, with sketches distributed across the country showing Smollett with his hands before him on the stand as he was cross-examined.

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Cook expects to be back in the courtroom March 10, when Smollett will be sentenced after his conviction in December of faking a hate crime attack on himself.

Years ago, she began illustrating in courtrooms after falling into it, she said. Shed always been an artist. Growing up in Florida, she attended The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and began working at Hallmark in Kansas City where she remained for several years, helping design items, including gift wrap.

I had some variety, she said. I loved to experiment. I loved to try new things.

After about three years in Missouri, she thought, Chicagos the next big city.

She came here without a job and began looking for work. That led her to advertising agencies, creating storyboards and adding pizazz to product packaging.

One day, someone told her the Chicago Tribune was seeking people to do live drawings in court.

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I said, Well that would be kind of fun, wouldnt it?  she recalled.

Cheryl Cook's illustration shows actor Jussie Smollett standing with his legal team in a Leighton Criminal Building courtroom on Dec. 9, 2021, in Chicago, after a jury found him guilty on five of six charges he staged a racist, anti-gay attack on himself and lied to police about it. (Cheryl Cook / AP)

She arrived at the call for applicants, where she and others were instructed to draw a person who walked around the room. After all, courtrooms arent static. Theyd be expected to draw people delivering arguments, moving around, expressing emotions. People arent standing still, waiting for you to draw them, she said.

She was hired.

Her first court experience was for the trial of former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds, convicted in 1995 of having sex with an underage campaign intern and trying to cover it up. At the time, many other court sketch artists were competing in the courtroom. I was the new kid on the block, if you will, she said. I thought, Oh my goodness, what did I get myself into? 

But, she added, I kept at it, just to see if I could make it work, and over the years figured things out.

She was one of multiple women known as great court sketch artists: Marcia Danits, whose exhibits of her paintings included court experiences; Carol Renaud, whose art included fashion illustration and three decades of court sketches; and Andy Austin, whose work included a watercolor sketch of activist Bobby Seale, bound and gagged in the courtroom, and whose work has been displayed at Northwesterns Pritzker School of Laws Legal Research Center.

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L.D., or Lou, Chukman, the other remaining Chicago-based court illustrator still regularly working trials, said I was the only boy in the business for many years.

Through the years, Cook has worked steadily for different employers. In recent years, she has worked for WBBM-Ch. 2. News organizations hire court artists on a freelance basis to work trial to trial.

Cheryl Cook's illustration shows Rod Blagojevich during a break on July 21, 2010, as he stopped to sign autographs in the courtroom. (Cheryl A. Cook/for the Chicago Tribune)

Art Lien, a Washington, D.C.-based court artist who worked alongside Cook as they both drew Blagojevichs corruption trial, said he noticed her style.

Shes very smart. She knows what to emphasize, and theres a certain simplicity of line in her drawings, Lien said.

Sometimes Cook is in court every day for a week, such as with the Smollett trial; other times she comes downtown for a day.

Her career has been filled with characters.

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She remembers that during the trial of mobster Joey the Clown Lombardo, he was in an orange jumpsuit with his heavy framed glasses as the judge was telling him how long theyd been looking for him. He told the judge, I wasnt hiding, judge. I was in Cicero!

The whole courtroom broke up in laughter, she said.

In contrast, opening days at trial are usually stiff, she said. Everybody in the room knows whats coming, and its not a happy place for anybody to be, she said. As time goes on, its almost like we all get to know each other.

Cheryl Cook's illustration shows Joey "the Clown" Lombardo with his attorney Rick Halprin during Lombardo's sentencing at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 2, 2009, in Chicago. Lombardo, one of the five outfit associates convicted in the landmark Family Secrets trial, was sentenced to life in prison. (Cheryl A. Cook/for the Chicago Tribune)

Beyond the headlines are the humans within the ecosystem of every courtroom. Family members of victims, family members of defendants, witnesses and sometimes people who come just to watch. Those are the court groupies, as Cook calls them, and some were present every day for trials like that of Blagojevich.

Whether its for a big name or someone less well known, she aims to portray an accurate reflection of whats happening in the room.

The Library of Congress recently honored courtroom sketches with an exhibit, Drawing Justice: The Art of Courtroom Illustration, with artwork from artists hired by newspapers and television from 1964 to the present.

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Cameras have not always been allowed in courtrooms; the media was allowed to record in the Illinois Supreme Court, for example, since 1983, but the state Supreme Court ruled only in 2012 to allow media cameras to record proceedings in state circuit courts, just ahead of high-profile cases such as Petersons murder trial. As more cameras have entered courtrooms, they have offered more visual options, likely contributing to fewer court sketch artists.

Unlike a camera, Cook said, she can be attuned to things outside a frame. She is taking in energy from across the room, paying attention to reactions from people throughout, an emotional frequency that she believes is more easily translatable to a pen than a cameras stable shot.

Ive got a temperature on that room of whats going on, she said. The camera cant do that.

Judges often dictate rules; perhaps they can draw certain things but not others. Children are always off limits. She also does not draw juries, unless solely for her own notes.

As illustrators have become less common, the importance of their work has not, she and other court artists said.

Its a different way to see things, said Chukman, who started in the field in 1975. And I still believe its harder for participants to make exaggerated melodrama for a sketch artist than a camera.

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Courtroom artist Cheryl Cook in front of the Kluczynski Federal Building on Jan. 31, 2022. (Raquel Zaldivar / Chicago Tribune)

He and Cook were both at the Smollett trial. In a field thats often melancholy, recording human suffering, he said theyve cultivated dark humor. Even though at times exasperating, he said, during the Smollett trial theyd remind each other, At least its not a murder.

When not in court, Cook teaches oil painting at Lake Zurichs Mainstreet Art Center and works on other projects including designing for horsemanship merchant Yonder Horse, where her oil paintings are featured on silk scarves.

She is still drawn to the work. Shes always listening, always learning, always doing her best to capture authenticity. Nothing more, nothing less.

I wasnt in it to make a fortune. I wasnt in it to make a living, she said. I was in it because I was curious.

abowen@chicagotribune.com
A Texas deputy constable moonlighting at a Houston mall was fatally shot with his gun during a struggle with a man Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Deputy Neil Adams was working at the PlazAmericas mall when, shortly before 4 p.m., he got into a physical confrontation with a suspect described only as a 35-year-old, they said.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said at a press conference Wednesday night that it was possible Adams was responding to a disturbance inside a store when the violence took place.

Two Houston police officers who were among others dispatched to a report of an officer needing help at the mall found the suspect in the mall's food court, Finner said.

"He had a sharp-edged weapon, came at the officers," he said.

Police and fire personnel stand near a Houston Fire ambulance after a mall shooting. (KPRC)

The two opened fire, ending the threat and sending the suspect to a hospital, where he died, the chief said.

Police said earlier the deputy had also been hospitalized following the initial shooting.

Roy Rogers, the Precinct 1 constable of San Jacinto County, said Wednesday that Adams was one of his deputies, a nearly 10-year veteran responsible for environmental enforcement.

We lost one of our heroes, Rogers said at the press conference. He was a good man. He worked hard to take care of his family, to take care the of the constituents of our county.

PlazAmericas is in the citys Sharpstown community.

The officer's shooting was still under investigation by Houston police. Because officers subsequently opened fire, the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney's Office were investigating that aspect of the violence.
Refugee tents in Moldova. Maia Sandu

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees have fled accross the border to Moldova on Thursday.

The government set up tents and vowed to keep its borders open after Russia attacked Ukraine.

Human rights groups have expressed concern following reports of Russian airstrikes.

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees have fled to Moldova, where the government set up tents and vowed to keep its borders open to help.

"First [Ukrainian] citizens arrive in [Moldova], with over 4000 crossings today," Moldova's President Maia Sandu wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

She added: "The [government] has deployed temporary placement centers near Palanca and Ocnita. Our borders are open for [Ukrainian] citizens who need safe transit or stay."

Photos posted by Sandu appear to show tent villages in an open field. It was not immediately clear where, exactly, the photos were taken.

Human rights groups are concerned after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier on Thursday that Russia was launching a "special military action" against Ukraine. Within minutes, Ukraine was targeted by airstrikes, according to its government.

Amnesty International's Secretary General Agnes Callamard said in a statement that the Russian invasion has made the group's "worst fears" come true.

"After weeks of escalation, a Russian invasion that is likely to lead to the most horrific consequences for human lives and human rights has begun," Callamard said.

Eyewitnesses told Insider they saw and heard explosions, while dozens of Ukrainians have reportedly been killed.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Reuters) - Three soldiers have been killed in an Israeli rocket attack in the vicinity of Damascus early on Thursday, Syrian state TV said, citing an army source.

State TV said earlier that Syrian air defenses had confronted an Israeli attack on the capital city and its surrounding countryside.

(Reporting By Ahmed Tolba; Writing By Moaz Abd-Alaziz; Editing by Leslie Adler)
BROOKLYN, NY  As Threes Brewing co-founder and CEO defends his claim that COVID-19 vaccine mandates are a "crime against humanity," restaurants and shops across Brooklyn are taking his beer of their menus.

Joshua Stylman doubled down with a blog post Wednesday, one week after outraging customers and employees by publicly comparing vaccine mandates to policies of the Jim Crow South and Nazi Germany.

"As to the specific tweets comparing vaccine mandates to historical atrocities, I stand by my comments," Stylman wrote in post, linking to a tweet comparing vaccine mandates to an anti-democracy Nazi decree.

"What I am saying is I am against discrimination, and these mandates discriminate by creating a two-tier society based on arbitrary biomedical status."

Stylman's defense did little to appease Brooklyn restaurant owners and managers who told Patch they've already pulled Threes brews from the menu.

Colonia Verde beverage director (and former Patch reporter), Noah Manskar, said he didn't like the message he'd send if Threes beers remained on the Fort Greene restaurant's menu.

"I don't want our guests coming in and seeing a Threes beer on our menu and thinking that we tacitly endorse [Stylman's] incredibly offensive and medically inaccurate views," said Manskar.

"Workers in the hospitality industry are being protected by vaccine mandates and anyone who's saying otherwise has no place at the helm of a business that relies on those workers," Manskar added. "I think he's betraying the people who work in the industry upon which his company depends."

Stylman's message prompted Threes Brewing employees to publicly condemn their CEO, which emboldened BKLYN Larder owner Mandy Wynn to yank the beers from her shelves and publish an explanation as to why.

"The statement from Threes frustrated me because it seems hollow without any action behind it," Wynn told Patch. "But it was also clear to me that [the employees] couldn't take action, so I felt like I could."

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But on Twitter, Stylman chastised those who said they'd boycott the beer, arguing it hurt Threes employees more than him. Wynn, and others, do not support that claim.

"If the business starts to suffer now, it's not random," Wynn said. "It's not the fault of the employees."

Reached for comment, Stylman refused to say more beyond the written statement, instead pointing to the positive response his blog post got on Twitter from others who oppose vaccine mandates.



While Wynn doubts that Threes will seriously suffer as a result of Stylman's statements, many customers and businesses are still deciding what supporting the business will look like in the future.

Vinny Milburn, owner of Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co., has been hosting a pop-up in Threes' Greenpoint location (the businesses are separate and do not share income, he said), but doesn't know how much longer it'll last.

"There's nothing concrete as of yet, but if we don't stay through the summer it would be entirely because of [Stylman's] statements," Milburn told Patch.

"We firmly believe that vaccination and vaccine mandates are beneficial to the community at large."

Siobhan Greene, a New York City healthcare worker, planned to have her wedding at Threes' flagship location in a couple of months but is now second guessing that decision, even though family will be flying in and she's put a non-refundable deposit down on the venue.

"I chose Threes because it's a local, independently-run business where I felt good about spending my money," Greene said. "I'm devastated that Josh has taken that away from me."

This article originally appeared on the Park Slope Patch
Americans earning $1 million hit a milestone today: After February 23, anyone with an annual income at or above that level has hit the payroll tax cap and paid all of their Social Security taxes for the year.

In an op-ed at The Hill, Max Richtman of the nonprofit National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare argues that in light of the programs precarious finances, which could result in benefit cuts as soon as 2034, its time for Congress to raise the wage cap on Social Security taxes, currently set at $147,000.

In years past, 90 percent of wages earned in this country fell below the cap, Richtman writes. Today only 83 percent of those earnings are subject to the Social Security payroll tax. Most Americans pay 6.2 percent of their wages into Social Security. But the effective tax rate for the wealthy is significantly lower, in some cases as little as .08 percent.

Richtman calls on Congress to pass the Social Security 2100 Act from Rep. John Larson (D-CT), which would raise the income cap to $400,000 per year. The bill has nearly 200 co-sponsors.

The right path for lawmakers is not to cut benefits, but to expand them to meet the needs of seniors, workers with disabilities and their families, Richtman says. The fairest way to fund such an expansion is by finally asking high earners to pay their fair share. If this wasnt an obvious course before the pandemic, it certainly is now.

Read Richtmans op-ed here.

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English and French adapted a Latin word for torture. French uses it for working. English uses it for traveling.

That's a little simplified, but it's true. Both the French travail ("work") and English travel trace to Latin tripalium, a word related to torture. And the journey from one to the other was laborious.

Travail and travel are a classic example of "false friends"  words that look very similar but do not mean the same thing at all. You may have heard this pair called "false cognates," but they are not. Cognates are words that are related etymologically, as travail and travel are  at least historically.

Let's start with the Latin. We know from classical references that a tripalium was a device used to immobilize large, surly animals for veterinary procedures, and that it (or something of the same name) was also used to torture slaves  it may have been what they were tied to while being tortured. We can surmise that the tripalium consisted of three wooden rods: tri means "three," while palium is a derivation of palus, meaning "stake" (it also gave us impale and, through a reference to boundary stakes, beyond the pale). But we do not know what it looked like. None have survived. No one drew a picture. When the tripalium was still in use, everyone knew what it was, presumably, and once it was gone, no one wanted to memorialize it.

Except, that is, as a byword for suffering. Latin sloped into Old French in about the same way as disco sloped into house music: French even kept a sense of travail meaning "machine for restraining a large animal, such as a horse that is being shod." But in the main, the earliest uses we see in Old French of travail and its verb form, travailler  starting about a thousand years ago  use it to mean "torture" or "cause to suffer." Typically the torturer would be an abstract thing like an idea, a dream, a fascination, or an obligation, but it could also be an enemy, through war or civil oppression. And from all that, travailler also came to mean "suffer through obliged exertion": break your back or bust a gut for someone or something, figuratively speaking.

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The progression took a while, but by the 1600s, notable French authors, including the great French playwrights Corneille and Moliere, were using travail and travailler in pretty much all of these senses  the Dictionnaire Littre gives numerous illustrative quotes. Really, they're all one sense, aren't they? Work is suffering.

There are descendants of tripalium in several languages, each of which has made its own version: Spanish trabajo ("work"), Portuguese trabalho ("work"), Italian travaglio ("suffering, labor"), Catalan treball ("work"). It spread through the descendants of Latin, and then from French into English.

But the English version  travel  means something different, obviously. So what happened?

It's not as though English didn't have a perfectly good verb for traveling already: fare, as in seafaring and farewell, cognate with German fahren. But somehow, even in an era without airport security inspections, overpacked airplanes, and lost luggage, we decided that a French word for doing something unpleasant would be better.

Perhaps because of the effort and unpleasantness of traveling a thousand years ago, travailler had also come to mean "to travel," as in "go on a trip," in Norman French  the French spoken in Normandy, northern France. Normandy was full of people descended from Scandinavian invaders who had invaded, settled, and taken on the local language. And then they invaded England and took over there, too. It's tempting to speculate that they developed that sense specifically because when they traveled, others suffered, but there's no reason to believe that's actually how it went.

For the residents of England, Norman French became the prestige language, and eventually many of its words became part of English. English-speaking peasants raised cows, pigs, and sheep, and French-speaking lords ate buf (beef), porc (pork), and mouton (mutton). English-speaking peasants might have fared occasionally  they would at least have had to go to their local market towns to sell their animals  but French-speaking lords would have had the means and occasion to travel. And, over time, we kept all the luxury words. Of course we did.

We also held onto the "suffer" sense of travail: we have used travail for almost a millennium to mean "torment," "distress," "hard work," and "labor" (as in pregnancy). In fact, travel was originally spelled the same way as travail, because they were the same word. But over time, travel and travail split into two different words. (This is not the only time we've split a word into two senses and two spellings  other examples include person and parson, staunch and stanch, and to and too.)

It's not that we didn't have other luxury words we could have used instead of travel. We also took voyage and journey (from journee) from French at about the same time. But voyage originally meant a sea trip, and journee was specifically a day's travel. The earliest uses of travel/travail referred mainly to journeying outside of the country  and from England, that typically involved a journey by boat. There was no quick jaunt across a land border, as there could be from France.

And so the travails of travel became engraved in the lexicon. Over time, and as travel became a little less hazardous, we forgot the connection. Even today, it can be an ordeal  unless your work is paying for you to fly business class.

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President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a joint press conference in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Trump has continued to laud Vladimir Putin, even as an impending invasion of Ukraine looms.

Trump released a statement on Twitter, saying Putin was "playing Biden like a drum."

The former president was also filmed at a Mar-a-Lago event calling Putin "pretty smart" for taking over Ukraine for "$2 worth of sanctions."

Former President Donald Trump has continued to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin, even as a full-scale attack on Ukraine looms.

"Putin is playing Biden like a drum. It is not a pretty thing to watch!" said Trump in a statement released on Wednesday over Twitter via his spokeswoman Liz Harrington.

Video of the former president at an event at Mar-a-Lago surfaced Wednesday night, where he appeared to complain about how he was criticized for his comments on Putin. Trump on Tuesday lauded Putin's justification for invading Ukraine as "savvy" and "genius."

"'Trump said Putin's smart.' I mean, he's taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. I'd say that's pretty smart," Trump said. "He's taking over a country, literally, a vast, vast, location, a great piece of land with a lot of people, and just walking right in."

It is unclear when the video at Mar-a-Lago was taken, and representatives for the former president did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Russia is now poised to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, per Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken told NBC Nightly News that he could not put a date or time on when it would happen, but said that Russian troops are now ready to move into Ukraine from positions along the country's borders to the north, east, and south.

Ukraine has also declared a state of emergency in response to Russia's troop movement, and the country's parliament has passed a law allowing its citizens to carry firearms.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's President Kais Saied said on Thursday he will outlaw foreign funding for civil society organisations as he tries to remake the country's politics after establishing one-man rule.

Civil society organisations, including some that have had funding from Western democracies, have played a significant role in Tunisia since the 2011 revolution that introduced democracy.

"Non-governmental organisations must be prevented from accessing external funds... and we will do that," Saied said, saying the change was needed to stop foreign interference in the country.

Last summer Saied suspended the elected parliament and assumed executive power before brushing aside the constitution to say he will rule by decree during an interim period.

This month he also moved against the country's judiciary, seen as the last significant Tunisian institution of state still able to act as a check on his power, by dissolving the top judicial council.

Saied has justified his acts as necessary to save Tunisia from years of political and economic stagnation that came to a head last year amid protests during a COVID-19 spike. He has denied having dictatorial ambitions.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara, writing by Angus McDowall, Editing by William Maclean)
The liberal Jewish organization J Street PAC has endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten over U.S. Rep. Marie Newman in the suburban 6th Congressional District primary amid growing concerns from some of Newmans own supporters about the viability of her campaign as she faces an ongoing ethics probe.

J Streets political arm had endorsed both candidates when they ran in separate districts in 2020, and held a fundraiser for Newman as recently as October. But amid a congressional ethics investigation into campaign hiring by Newman, J Street announced it is backing Casten in the redrawn in the south and southwest suburban district that Newman chose to run in this time around.

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J Street had come under pressure from pro-Israel groups for its previous support of Newman, and its October fundraiser came prior to the adoption of new congressional maps in the state.

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten speaks as employees of the Art Institute of Chicago, and its affiliated School of the Art Institute are joined by elected officials and supporters on Nov.22, 2021, as they rally outside the the Art Institute. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

The group initially told the Tribune that after Newman decided to run against Casten, it had evaluated both candidates and decided to back Casten. Later, in an interview with the publication Jewish Insider, the group said the ethics investigation played a role in its decision.

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The move by Washington-based J Street PAC comes as some groups that previously endorsed Newman are starting to question her prospects for success and to rethink the level of financial help theyre willing to provide to the first-term La Grange Democrat heading into the June 28 primary against Casten, of Downers Grove.

Newmans campaign manager, Ben Hardin, dismissed reports that supporters are concerned, saying Newman has broad and diverse coalition is energized to reelect her because of her strong track record of fighting for progressive values and standing up for working families.

At issue is a House Ethics Committee investigation into a complaint that Newman used the offer of a high-level staff position to keep a prospective challenger from running against her in the 2020 Democratic primary.

In January, the House panel extended its investigation after a referral from the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics found substantial reason to believe Newman may have promised federal work to Iyman Chehade, a prospective primary candidate, for the purpose of procuring political support. Such a deal would potentially violate House rules, federal law or House standards of conduct.

U.S. Rep. Marie Newman, a Democrat from La Grange who represents several south and southwest suburbs in Congress, in her campaign office in Countryside on Nov. 22, 2021. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown)

Newman last summer settled a lawsuit filed by Chehade, who alleged he had entered into an employment contract with Newman in December 2018 that said if she won the 2020 3rd Congressional District race, he would be hired by her office as a foreign policy adviser or district director for $135,000 to $140,000 annually.

After winning the primary against Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, Newman did not hire Chehade. But campaign finance documents filed with the Federal Election Commission show after the court settlement, Chehade has been paid $54,000 as director of foreign policy and research from Newmans campaign fund through the end of 2021. Chehade is now a candidate in the newly drawn 3rd Congressional District.

In an Oct. 27, 2018, email from Chehade as he negotiated terms of the employment contract he sought, he asked Newman to commit to opposing any legislation that entails ADDITIONAL military sales or aid to Israel. He also wanted her to oppose policies that funded or encouraged Israeli settlements in occupied territory or on expropriated Palestinian or Syrian land and restrictions on the right of Palestinians to build in the West Bank or Gaza.

Chehade also wanted complete discretion over the itinerary of fact-finding delegations to Palestine and other Middle Eastern countries, saying there will be no requirement to meet with representatives of the Israeli government, the Jewish National Fund, or settler organizations. The contract he sought would bar Newman from accepting funding for congressional delegations from the JNF and any organization affiliated with the Israeli government.

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In her response to Chehades contract language, Newman said in an email that she took some time to digest the doc. Most of it looks good. Couple of concerns  mostly phraseology. The issues involving Israel were not part of the final employment contract.

The ongoing ethics investigation has prompted a variety of groups, from organized labor to issue-based PACs, that were early endorsers of Newman to rethink their support, said two sources knowledgeable about her political operation who were not authorized to speak publicly about her campaigns inner workings.

Some people have talked to her and I know others are considering when and how to talk with her. I think its incumbent on the campaign at this point in time to show us their path to victory, said one of the sources. Its not always saying, Oh, were going to pull an endorsement. It just the level of support of what youll do from here.

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Both sources said the biggest effect of the probe is on independent expenditure contributions to Newman from outside groups, which cannot be coordinated with her campaign.

Under FEC rules, individuals, corporations, labor organizations and political committees can support or oppose candidates with such independent expenditures, which are not subject to federal contribution limits.

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Newman received millions of dollars from efforts in her 2020 primary race, and that money was seen as a key element in her election to Congress.

EMILYs List, which endorsed Newman in November after she decided to take on Casten, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which backed Newman in December, did not respond to requests for comment on their level of financial commitment to Newman going forward.

Earlier this month, Rolling Stone published an article about the Casten-Newman and the ethics probe that said several progressive groups, including EMILYs List, had reaffirmed their support for Newman, whose Democratic ideology is more progressive than Castens.

Hardin, Newmans campaign manager, said the campaigns internal polling shows voters decisively side with Newmans messaging about the track records of the candidates in the race.

We look forward to continuing to have a robust debate about the future of the new 6th District, he said.

Campaign expense reports show Casten ended 2021 with more than $1.58 million in cash on hand to Newmans more than $573,000. While the Democratic primary winner would be viewed as a favorite, the district is far from safe for the party and includes territory that Republicans previously held until Castens 2018 victory over GOP U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton.

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This story was updated at 6:53 p.m. to include additional information about U.S. Air Force activity in Europe.

As Russia presses its attack against Ukraine, the U.S. military is pushing forces closer to that embattled nation.

Six Air Force F-35 fighter jets are due in Estonia, Lithuania and Romania on Thursday as Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to clash outside of Ukraines major cities, a senior defense official told reporters.

Another 32 AH-64 Army Apache helicopters are also set to arrive in Poland and the Baltic states on Thursday, the official said, as part of a build up of thousands of U.S. troops to reassure NATO allies as Russia makes moves toward a full takeover of Ukraine.

On the ground, the official said, thousands of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division are prepared to assist any American refugees who come across Ukraines border into Poland.

(Jacki Belker/Staff)

Theyre poised to support, but I dont have an update for you in terms of whether theyre actually anybody at their facilities at this time, the official said, later adding that there has been an increase in people heading across the border in general.

Roughly 4,700 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division were sent to Poland in recent weeks. Another 3,800 soldiers from a 1st Infantry Division armored brigade have also been in the country since August as part of a regular rotation of forces. Paratroopers in Poland have set up at a military airport near Mielec, about 90 miles from the Ukrainian border by road. Another 1,000 soldiers from the Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment were dispatched to Romania. And a battalion of paratroopers from the Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade are heading to Latvia, as well.

Since the fighting began early Thursday morning in Ukraine, the Defense Department has been able to confirm that attacks have targeted military barracks, ammunitions storage and airfields.

We do not have a good sense of of total damage, the defense official said. As you might expect, we do not have a good sense of casualties, civilian and or military.

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Russian ground forces began to move later in the morning, he said, adding that there has been no confirmation that troops undertook an amphibious assault from the Black Sea. Indications are that troops air assaulted, fast-roping down from helicopters, into Kharkiv.

We havent been surprised by what weve seen thus far, the official said.

Live updates from Russias massive Ukraine invasion

The official also could not confirm reports that Ukraine had shot down multiple Russian jets.

Air Force Lt. Col. Tyson Wetzel, an intelligence officer and military strategist currently working as an Atlantic Council fellow, said in an online briefing late Wednesday he believed Russian air and naval forces would work to control Ukrainian airspace and the sea as daylight broke there Thursday.

I think what were seeing right now are the initial standoff strikes, he said.

Those would take out the surface-to-air missiles that protect Ukraine from overhead attack, allowing Russian jets to patrol the skies so their ground and naval forces can move around the country more freely, Wetzel said.

The opening moves of the Russian air campaign likely aim to sever military units ties to their commanders  cut the head off of the snake, if you will, Wetzel said. Interrupting Ukrainian troops access to command, their leaders control, and communications more broadly can hurt their ability to slow Russias advance.

Experts said ahead of the invasion that the air defense systems were perhaps the most vulnerable aspect of Ukraines military protection.

The United States set the tone for this type of attack in 1991 in the opening hours of [Operation] Desert Storm, Wetzel said. It is a methodology that still works today.

For now, the U.S. is not flying any reconnaissance missions over the country, nor able to use aircraft to bring aide to Ukraine.

The F-35s will police NATO airspace over the Baltic and Black Sea regions from Estonias Amari Air Base, Lithuanias Siauliai Air Base and Romanias Fetesti Air Base, the service said in a release.

Why are they in the Baltics? Its assurance, deterrence and, quite frankly, I think theyll do training as well, depending on how the situation evolves, a senior F-35 official told Air Force Times on Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin nor Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were at the White House on Thursday morning, the senior defense official told reporters.

I would not rule out or take off the table  the possibility that therell be additional repositioning inside Europe or even flow from outside Europe, he said.

Multiple U.S. Air Force tankers were airborne Thursday to refuel jets patrolling the skies as part of NATOs air policing mission and other movement around the region. Alongside the F-35s, the United States has currently dispatched F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle fighter jets to Romania, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania.

Cargo aircraft, including several C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules planes, and intelligence-collection assets are actively executing their mission throughout Eastern Europe, U.S. Air Forces in Europe spokesperson Capt. Daniel de La Fe said.

Flight trackers showed three NATO E-3 airborne target tracking planes in the nearby skies Thursday morning, as well as an American E-8C ground target tracking jet and RC-135 signals intelligence plane. Open-source flight radar also showed an RQ-4 Global Hawk reconnaissance drone circling over the Black Sea, where Russia has amassed naval forces.

Farther north, two B-52 Stratofortress bombers linked up with the Swedish and Polish militaries for previously planned joint aviation training. The Cold War-era bombers, which can carry conventional and nuclear weapons, worked with Swedish troops who called in airstrikes in practice runs in the Arctic, and partnered with Polish MiG-29 fighters for a show of force in the Baltics, the Air Force said.

USAFE is postured and ready to adjust forces as necessary to support a range of options for NATO and Department of Defense leaders, and we are working closely with NATO allies and partners to coordinate aircraft maneuvers throughout the theater, de La Fe told Military Times.
By Pete Schroeder and Michelle Price

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. banks were well-prepared for the Western sanctions announced so far over Russia's aggression towards Ukraine, but they are still nailing down details and worry that new measures could increase the cost and complexity of enforcing the new restrictions, lawyers and industry executives said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine on Thursday in what appeared to be the start of war in Europe over Russia's demands for an end to NATO's eastward expansion.

U.S. President Joe Biden said he would announce further sanctions on Russia on Thursday, in addition to financial measures imposed this week.

The United States, the European Union and Britain on Tuesday announced new sanctions on Russia after Moscow's recognition of two separatist regions in Ukraine. Chief among their targets: Russian banks and their ability to operate internationally.

Washington imposed the harshest measures on Monday prohibiting trade and investment between U.S. individuals and the two breakaway Ukraine regions and moving on Tuesday to cut off Russia state-owned Promsvyazbank and Vnesheconombank and 42 of their subsidiaries from the U.S. financial system.

The U.S. Treasury also barred trading in newly-issued Russian sovereign debt, and ordered that assets relating to a handful of Russian elites and their family members be frozen.

Financial institutions are the primary enforcers of sanctions.

In the past they have paid hefty fines for falling down on the job but since 2014 when countries sanctioned Russia for annexing the Crimea, banks have pulled back from the region and beefed up their sanctions compliance programs.

U.S. banks spent an estimated $35.2 billion on financial crime compliance - including sanctions, anti-money laundering checks and controls against other illegal activities - in 2020 alone, according to a LexisNexis survey.

As tensions in the region rose, the Biden administration was in touch with the industry for several weeks on potential measures and alerted banks ahead of Tuesday's announcement so the industry could prepare, three industry sources said.

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"The new U.S. sanctions should not be hard to implement because, at least for now, the Russian bank designations are fairly discrete and, post-Crimea, U.S. and global banks have had ample time to address the nuances of these kinds of sanctions," including identifying beneficial asset owners, said Mario Mancuso, international trade partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Still, industry executives starting to implement the rules on Wednesday said they were seeking additional clarity from the Treasury on some details, most importantly the precise geographic boundaries of the breakaway territories.

"Those jurisdictions are defined under Ukraine law but they may or may not be what the breakaway jurisdictions assert is within their alleged sovereignty and that may change," said Andrew Shoyer, a partner at law firm Sidley Austin.

He added that the 30-day deadline the Treasury had given companies to comply was the toughest it dishes out.

A spokesman for the Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

MORE TO COME

The White House and other nations said Tuesday's measures are just the start. Some additional sanctions, like expanding their scope to include more Russian banks or individuals would be relatively simple to handle.

But executives flagged concerns that jurisdictions might diverge in their sanctions approach if disputes arose over how to address Russian aggression. Reuters reported last week that the U.S. and its allies are not agreed on how they should respond to non-military Russian aggressions, like identifiable cyber attacks.

"I think more financial sanctions on big Russian banks are probably inevitable, and that will hurt everyone in Russia who relies on them to do business with the outside world," said Nick Turner, a lawyer specializing in sanctions and anti-money laundering at Steptoe and Johnson in Hong Kong.

"It's hard to predict the consequences because it's not often you see major institutions being carved out of the financial system. As far as the U.S. and E.U. banks are concerned it is the equivalent of having a major counterparty disappear, and whatever financial impact that would have would be the same."

Conflicting sanctions regimes would be more complex and expensive to implement, executives said.

Another major question is whether Biden imposes "secondary sanctions" on overseas parties that do business with the underlying sanctioned entities. Those are also trickier to implement because of the complexity of identifying business ties.

Some financial industry executives have also told the administration that they oppose any sanctions that would target Russia's access to payment provider SWIFT, which is used by more than 11,000 financial institutions in over 200 countries.

Such a move could hurt Russian banks but it would also be disruptive for the global payments system and make it tough for creditors to get their money back from Russia.

While the White House has downplayed that option, lawmakers could pursue it. Although Congress is on recess this week, Isaac Boltansky, policy director for brokerage BTIG, said he expected lawmakers to advance legislation to challenge Russia's action soon.

"There will also be an effort to ban Russia from the international payments infrastructure SWIFT, but there are concerns that doing so could harm Russian creditors awaiting funds," he added.

(Reporting by Michelle Price and Pete Schroeder, additional reporting by Hannah Lang, Liz Dilts and Alun John; editing by Richard Pullin and Jason Neely)
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States believes Russia's invasion of Ukraine is designed to decapitate Ukraine's government and one of the three main axes of assault is directed at the capital Kyiv, a senior U.S. defense official said on Thursday.

After President Vladimir Putin declared war in a pre-dawn televised address, explosions and gunfire were heard throughout the morning in Kyiv, a city of 3 million people.

The assault brought a calamitous end to weeks of fruitless diplomatic efforts by Western leaders to avert war, their worst fears about Putin's ambitions realized.

"The indications we've seen thus far, in just these first, not even 12 hours, are in keeping with our assessment earlier, that would be his goal: to decapitate this government," the official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official did not provide evidence.

The official said this appeared to be only the first phase of a large-scale Russian invasion that so far has used a limited number of the more than 150,000 Russian troops arrayed around Ukraine.

"We don't believe he has committed anywhere near a large portion of the forces that he has available to him," the official said.

Previously, U.S. officials had told Reuters that a Russian invasion could last 10-15 days but this official declined to speculate on how long the Russian onslaught would last, saying putting a timetable on it would be "a fool's errand."

The Russian attack has included more than 160 missile launches by Russia so far, including short-range ballistic missiles, as well as medium-range missiles, cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles.

There has been no indication of any amphibious assaults yet by Russian forces, despite early media reports, but they used about 75 military aircraft in the first phase of the invasion, the official added.

"The targets, thus far ... have been primarily focused on military and air defense. So barracks, ammunition warehouses, nearly 10 airfields targeted," the official said.

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The U.S. official detailed three main axes of the Russian attack: 1) a Russian advance south into the northern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the site of the heaviest fighting so far; 2) a push north out of Russian-controlled Crimea to the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson; 3) Two lines of Russian assault southeast and southwest from Belarus toward the capital Kyiv.

The official said Russian forces had made advances on Kyiv.

The Kremlin's early push toward Kyiv supports the U.S. view the Russians aim to install "their own method of governance."

"These three axes are ... clearly designed to take key population centers," the official said. The senior defense official said the United States had not seen an increased threat with regards to Russia's nuclear forces.

The United States is sending 7,000 troops to Germany to help reassure NATO allies, some part of a larger contingent that had already been put on alert earlier this year, the official added.

President Joe Biden referred to these troops in a speech earlier on Thursday. There are already about 90,000 U.S. troops in Europe and Biden has made clear they will not be going into Ukraine to fight Russian forces.

The U.S. official said the United States had seen indications that Ukrainians were fighting back and the invasion had the potential for massive bloodshed.

"It has every potential to be very bloody, very costly and very impactful on European security writ large."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Howard Goller and Daniel Wallis)
GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations refugee agency said on Thursday that the situation in Ukraine was quickly deteriorating after Russia's invasion and appealed to neighbouring countries to keep their borders open to people seeking a safe haven.

"We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety," Filippo Grandi, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said in a statement.

The UNHCR said it had stepped up its operations and was working with Ukrainian authorities to provide greater humanitarian assistance. It was also working with governments in neighbouring countries "calling on them to keep borders open to those seeking safety and protection", it said.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Jon Boyle)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States' sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine include 24 Belarusian individuals and entities over their support for Moscow's attack, the U.S. Treasury Department said on Thursday.

The U.S. sanctions target two state-owned banks -- Belinvestbank and Bank Dabrabyt -- as well as Belarus' defense and security industries and defense officials, Treasury said. They target Aliaksandr Mikalaevich Zaitsau, a former Belarusian government official and a member of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenkos inner circle, the department said.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
Chicago residents will be able to apply to participate in the citys $500-per-month basic income pilot program in April, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Thursday.

The City Council passed a $31.5 million basic income program as part of Lightfoots $16.7 billion budget.

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Lightfoot administration officials are in the process of hiring an outside company to run the program, which aims to provide 5,000 low-income households with the monthly cash payments for 12 months  something the mayor has touted as one of the largest programs of its kind nationwide.

Applicants must be over 18, live in the city, have experienced economic hardship due to COVID-19 and be below 250% of the federal poverty level. That means a household of three cant have an income higher than $57,575 to be eligible, for instance.

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot, shown in City Council Chambers during Wednesday's council meeting, has announced a series of anti-poverty initiatives that include direct cash payments to qualifying residents. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

More information is on the citys website, including a signup for those who want to be alerted when the applications, at: chicago.gov/cashpilot.

In April, the city will also open applications for a $4.8 million program offering one-time $500 payments to domestic workers. In addition, the city also has established a $10.7 million fund offering one-time $500 payments to people who are ineligible for federal relief, including undocumented immigrants.

And Lightfoots administration will launch another pilot program, allowing low-income motorists to pay off old tickets without interest or other penalties. That program, called the Clear Path Relief pilot, will open on April 1.

The city is also introducing a fix-it option for expired city sticker or license plate violations, where individuals can purchase the required stickers within 30 days of the violation without having to pay the penalty.

Todays announcement is all about supporting our residents who are still struggling to make ends meet, Lightfoot said in a statement. Our innovative, monthly cash assistance program will help to stabilize and ensure the wellbeing of residents that have been struggling both before and during the pandemic.

Lightfoot cast the announcements as part of a broader anti-poverty agenda, but shes faced criticism for her efforts as well.

Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons.

The mayor initially opposed efforts by Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, to implement a basic income cash program, for example, but introduced her plan as part of last years budget.

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As a candidate, Lightfoot campaigned against the citys system of fines and fees, frequently criticizing the city for balancing its budget on the backs of taxpayers using regressive penalties on tickets.

Within months of taking office in 2019, the mayor shepherded through the City Council a series of reforms to the citys fines-and-fees system that ended the practice of suspending the drivers licenses of people who havent paid parking tickets, reduced vehicle sticker penalties and created a six-month payment plan to give those with ticket debt more time to pay.

But she introduced a plan in 2020 to start ticketing drivers going as little as 6 mph over the speed limit, a move that drew criticism from activists who called it a cash grab. The mayor said its meant to boost public safety.

gpratt@chicagotribune.com
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian police on Thursday said Russia had carried out 203 attacks since the beginning of the day, with fighting going on almost everywhere throughout Ukraine's territory.

State border guards said the Ukrainian military was fighting Russian forces near the eastern city of Sumy. Ukraine's defence minister said some Russian forces had been taken prisoner in heavy fighting.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets and Matthias Williams; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Alison Williams)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Ukraine has requested an urgent debate be held at the U.N. Human Rights Council on the situation stemming from the 'Russian aggression', the United Nations said on Thursday.

"This is (a) response to the extremely grave deterioration in the human rights situation in Ukraine as a result of Russia's hostilities on Ukrainian territory," Yevheniia Filipenko, Ukraine's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said in a letter sent to the president's forum, posted in a tweet by its mission to the U.N. in Geneva.

The European Union (EU) said in a separate tweet that it supported the move.

The Council president will meet and discuss the request with the 47-member body for its consideration, a U.N. statement said. A simple majority is needed to hold an urgent debate during its main annual month-long session opening on Monday.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya attends the United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine with Russia, in New York City, U.S., February 23, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Ukraine's UN ambassador ripped into Russia as it launched an attack on his country.

"There is no purgatory for war criminals," he said at a UNSC meeting. "They go straight to hell."

Putin announced a military operation against Ukraine early on Thursday in Russia.

Ukraine's ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, delivered a blistering speech on Wednesday condemning Russia for launching a military operation against his country and ended the meeting with a sharply-worded parting shot.

In comments directed to the Russian ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting, Kyslytsya said, "About 48 minutes ago, your president declared war on Ukraine."

Kyslytsya called on Nebenzya to "say on the record that at this very moment your troops do not shell and bomb Ukrainian cities, that your troops do not move in to territory of Ukraine."

The Ukrainian ambassador said that if Russia's representative could not answer in the affirmative, he should step down from his leadership position. Nebenzya claimed after Kyslytsya's remarks that the military operation Moscow has launched against Ukraine did not constitute a war.

That was not the only tense moment during the Security Council meeting though.

"There is no purgatory for war criminals," Kyslytsya said to the Russian ambassador at the end of the meeting. "They go straight to hell"

These developments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia was launching a "special military operation" against Ukraine, effectively declaring war. There were subsequently reports of explosions in multiple Ukrainian cities, including the capital city of Kyiv.

President Joe Biden denounced Putin for launching an "unprovoked and unjustified attack."

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"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way," Biden said in a statement. "The world will hold Russia accountable."

Biden has repeatedly said that the US will not send in troops to defend Ukraine against a Russian attack, but earlier this week, he slapped sanctions on Russia over its recent actions. The president has also warned of "steeper" consequences if Russia escalated the situation and continued take take aggressive steps against Ukraine.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York on February 23, 2022. Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine's top diplomat urged the international community to "stop Putin."

Dmytro Kuleba's remarks come after the Russian president announced a military attack on Ukraine.

Kuleba also wrote a "to do list" of steps to deter Russia, including "devastating" sanctions.

Ukraine's top diplomat urged the international community to "stop Putin" after the Russian president announced a military attack on Ukraine and explosions were reported near Ukrainian cities.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Russian president's actions are a "full-scale invasion" on Ukraine, and called it a "war of aggression."

"The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," he wrote on Twitter minutes after Russia's invasion. "Ukraine will defend itself and will win. "

Kuleba also posted a "to-do list" of steps to deter Russia and said the future of both Europe and the world "is at stake."

Kuleba requested "devastating" sanctions on Russia, weapons and equipment for Ukraine, financial assistance, and humanitarian aid.

The Russian attack was launched while the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting late on Wednesday night.

As the UN met, Putin said in a video that aired early on Thursday morning in Russia that the country was launching a "special military action" against Ukraine.

Within minutes, explosions were reported near major Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian officials said the country has been targeted by airstrikes.

Earlier on Wednesday before the attack, Kuleba told the UN General Assembly that a full-blown war with Russia would be "the end of the world order as we know it."

He urged the UN and the international community to levy "swift, concrete, and resolute actions" as a response to Russian aggression.

The US, UK, European Union, and other countries have already imposed sanctions on Russia after increased military action by Putin in recent days. US President Joe Biden called the assault a "premeditated war" on Ukraine.

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring," Biden said. "The world will hold Russia accountable."

Read the original article on Business Insider
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday called on all citizens who were ready to defend the country from Russian forces to come forward, saying Kyiv would issue weapons to everyone who wants them.

Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday, the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two and confirmation of the worst fears of the West.

Zelenskiy urged Russians to come out and protest against the war.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets and Matthias Williams; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Matt Dunham/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for peace amid fears of an imminent Russian invasion.

The leader said he tried to call Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday but the Kremlin was silent.

He said if his country's freedom or its people's lives are threatened, "we will fight back."

In a somber early-morning speech from Kyiv, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed directly to the Russian people, pleading for peace amid rising fears of an imminent invasion.

"The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace," Zelensky said via video address, according to the Associated Press. "But if we come under attack that threaten our freedom and lives of our people we will fight back."

The Ukrainian president began by addressing his own people with an update on the national state of emergency, which lawmakers imposed Wednesday, two days after Putin recognized the independence of two Kremlin-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, the self-described "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk.

But in a notable follow-up, Zelensky next turned his attention to the Russian people, addressing them in their own language and insisting that Ukraine has no issue with Russia, nor means them any harm.

The Ukrainian leader acknowledged that his words were unlikely to be heard by Russian citizens, whose access to non-state-controlled media is strictly controlled. Still, he said, they should "know the truth."

"And the truth is that this needs to stop before it's too late," he said.

Zelensky said Putin had approved a military incursion into Ukraine, warning that "the trigger" could appear at any minute and begin "a great war on the European continent."

"They're telling you that this flame will liberate the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free," Zelensky said. "Ukraine on your TV news and the real Ukraine are two totally different countries. Ours is real."

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He rejected Russian accusations that Ukranians are neo-Nazis who hate Russian culture, citing his own Jewish background.

"You are being told we are Nazis. How can a nation that gave 8 million lives to combat Nazism support it? How can I be a Nazi?" Zelensky said. "Tell my grandpa, who went through the whole war in the infantry of the Soviet Army and died as a colonel in independent Ukraine."

Zelensky also rejected Russian claims that Ukraine is rightfully a part of Russia.

"Neighbors always enrich one another culturally, but that does not make them one, does not dissolve us in you," he said. "We are different. But it is not a reason to be enemies."

Zelensky said he tried to call Russian President Vladimir Putin late Wednesday but was met with "silence" from the Kremlin.

"If the leadership of Russia doesn't want to sit down at the table with us for the sake of peace, maybe they will sit down at the table with you," Zelensky said, apparently addressing the Russian people. "Do Russians want war? I would like to answer that question, but the answer depends only on you."

Read the original article on Business Insider
ANKARA (Reuters) - Ukraine's ambassador to Ankara said on Thursday that his country expected solidarity from NATO member Turkey and that it should not remain impartial after Russia launched an offensive against its neighbour.

Speaking to reporters after holding talks at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar said Turkey will evaluate a Ukrainian request to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian ships.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ali Kucukgocmen; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Ece Toksabay)
Members of both parties in Illinois congressional delegation on Thursday overwhelmingly denounced Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine  with one notable exception.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican who has embraced the far-right elements of the national GOP and is backed for reelection by former President Donald Trump, issued a statement that neither condemned Putins actions nor backed U.S.-led sanctions to his regime.

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Instead, she praised Trump for using a peace through strength strategy and achieving energy independence during his tenure in the White House as she delivered a litany of what she considered national security failures of Democratic President Joe Biden and radical leftists in Congress. She also warned that gas prices are about to skyrocket even higher.

None of this would be happening if President Trump was still in the White House, Millers statement concluded. I will continue to pray that God watches over the people of Ukraine.

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Millers statement was in stark contrast to the reactions from the rest of the delegation, including the four other Illinois Republicans in the House.

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (15th) speaks at Republican Day on the Director's Lawn at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Aug. 19, 2021. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Miller, of Downstate Oakland, is seeking a second term against five-term Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville in the June 28 primary in the redrawn 13th congressional district.

Davis issued a strong denunciation of Putins actions and backed a strong U.S. response.

On Twitter, Davis said he joined the free world in strongly condemning Russias unprovoked invasion, and added that the Ukrainian people need our prayers and they need our support through tough sanctions on Russia.

Thugs like Putin only respond to strength. Now is the time for severe economic consequences, Davis tweeted.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro also took to Twitter, saying Putins invasion must be met with decisive action from the U.S. & our global partners.

We must send the message that we stand firm with the Ukrainian people and on the side of peace, Bost tweeted. The world is watching.

Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said he condemned Putins unprovoked and unjustified attacks against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms.

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The world is witness again to the true evil of Putin, who alone has chosen a path of bloodshed in Ukraine, he said in a statement. America and the free world must stand with Ukraine by enacting the strongest possible economic sanctions, crippling Russias ability to make war and punishing Putins regime and his oligarchs on the international stage.

Retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon, an outspoken critic of Trump and the former presidents dealings with Putin, said on Twitter that the Russian president once again showed himself for who he really is.

From poisoning countless political opponents & his assassination of (liberal Russian politician Boris) Nemtsov, to the brutal air strikes murdering thousands of Syrian citizens, we have seen who Putin is & the impunity of his barbaric attacks on the world. He must be held accountable, Kinzinger tweeted.

The states 13 House and two Senate Democrats were unified in their criticism of Putin and backed a strong response from Biden.

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North Side and northwest suburban Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a House Intelligence Committee member and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said, Russias unprovoked attack on Ukraine begins a war of choice entirely of President Putins making, despite months of intense diplomacy. The price that Ukrainians will pay for that choice is unfathomable.

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As I have for months, I will continue to call for appropriate repercussions for Russias invasion, and if necessary, I will press the administration and our allies to take broader, harsher action, Quigley said in a statement.

Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. Senate and the states senior senator, said Putins actions were a dire threat to the established international order and must be resolutely deterred.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran, said any blood spilled and human suffering caused by the invasion rest solely on Putins hands.

Our nation, our NATO allies and all countries who value human rights, sovereignty and the rule of law must hold him and his cronies fully, painfully and immediately accountable, she said.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Naperville noted in a statement that while the U.S. has no treaty-level obligation to defend Ukraine, we have a special moral duty to assist Ukraine because of its decision to give up its nuclear weapons at the end of the Cold War in return for international assurances of its territorial integrity.

The people of Illinois stand on the side of democracy, he said, and with the people of Ukraine.

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Yesterday, a 15-year-old girl named Daniele, who lives in Ukraine's capital, told CBS News of her hopes and dreams for the future. This morning, she woke up to a war.

"At 5am today I had woken up bc [because] of some explosion sound, but I thought that was fireworks and went to sleep," Daniele said in a message. "At 7am I again woke up and the first thing I saw was my friends from another cities texted me that they also heard those sounds, everyone was frightened."

Daniele lives in Kyiv, which was among the Ukrainian cities hit by Russia's overnight attack, which Ukrainian leaders called a "full-scale invasion" and Vladimir Putin referred to as a "special military operation." CBS News teams are also in the city, and like Daniele, have reported hearing loud explosions. A Ukrainian government spokesperson said "cruise and ballistic missile strikes" targeted the city's military control centers.

"I just woke up, all of my friends frightened and don't know what to do," Daniele told CBS News over Twitter on Thursday morning. She said all school, including online lessons, had been canceled and that she and her parents have plans to leave the city.

Soon after, Daniele tweeted that something had exploded near her, but that she wasn't sure where.

"Oh my god it's not only near me, something's going in Kyiv rn [right now]," she said, and then soon after, "Now it's [quiet]."

She is feeling OK at the moment, she said, but is scared for her friends who are in the Kharkiv region, an area in northeast Ukraine that was also hard hit by Russia's military overnight, along with the major cities of Odessa and Mariupol.

"My friend texted like hour ago that there were a lot of Ukrainian tanks and military in Kharkov region," she told CBS News around 10:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, using the Russian name for Kharkiv. "[They] haven't texted again since."

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She and her family are getting ready to leave their home, she said. They are planning to go to the countryside, where they believe it might be safer.

Just a day earlier, CBS News spoke with Daniele about the situation in Ukraine. She had expressed hope that a full-scale war would not happen. It was something she and her friends often talked about, but that they tried not to dwell on. They much preferred listening to music, watching movies and enjoying each other's company.

They also had hopes for a school dance, but Daniele said making plans for such an event had to be put on the back burner, "because we don't know what will happen."

"I'm just worried that war will start because there's so many people who die and it's horrible," she told CBS News less than 12 hours before Russia's attack began. "I just want there to be peace."

Daniele has hopes of one day becoming a lawyer so she can help people, she said.

"I'm just a kid, and I don't want to worry about those things. I just want to go to college. I want my dreams to come true. And there's so many people who also want this."

"If war starts," she said, "it will be terrifying."

Preview: Trayvon Martin: 10 Years Later"

Retired U.S. Navy admiral on Russia attack against Ukraine

Ukraine is under martial law after Russia launches invasion overnight
A US Marine Corps F-35B lands on HMS Queen Elizabeth in the South China Sea, July 29, 2021. Royal Navy/PO Jay Allen

British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was trailed by Chinese submarines as it sailed through the South China Sea this fall.

That encounter, during the carrier's maiden deployment, was an introduction to the challenge that subs pose to aircraft carriers.

After decades focused elsewhere, navies are reemphasizing anti-submarine warfare to counter that increasingly sophisticated threat.

During its maiden deployment this fall, the British Royal Navy's newest aircraft carrier launched into anti-submarine-warfare training when it detected Chinese submarines nearby.

The encounter was a taste of what Western navies can expect in an era of renewed great-power competition with peer adversaries  namely, China and Russia.

A UK carrier strike group led by the HMS Queen Elizabeth detected Chinese subs as it sailed through the Indo-Pacific region and was ready to intercept any incoming aircraft with fighter jets aboard the carrier, Sky News reported in November.

Royal Navy officials told the outlet how the carrier's accompanying frigates and helicopters, equipped for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), held the Chinese boats at bay until the carrier could "literally side-step" them.

The run-in served as training for both the Chinese submarines  which without a doubt intended to gather reams of data on the Queen Elizabeth  and for the British-led multinational carrier strike group, comprising eight supporting ships, including a Dutch frigate and a US guided-missile destroyer, along with a British Astute-class submarine and five air squadrons.

RFA Tidespring, center, conducts replenishment-at-sea with HMS Queen Elizabeth and HNLMS Evertsen in the South China Sea, August 2021. British Royal Navy/POPhot Jay Allen

The carrier sailed with a blended air wing of US Marine Corps and Royal Air Force F-35Bs, along with British Merlin helicopters, during the seven-month deployment that featured interactions and exercises with over 40 countries.

The deployment was an opportunity for the United Kingdom's newest naval asset to venture into the Indo-Pacific  a region of growing interest and activity for many of the world's militaries.

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It also tested the navy's ASW acumen after many years of atrophy and provided an opportunity for the fleet to understand "the issues involved in deploying a task force of this size and capability, at this range, into that region, and how it fits in with working with allies and partners," said Nick Childs, a senior naval analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

The navies that took part in the deployment have had limited occasion to practice real-world ASW since the end of the Cold War. Some, including the US Navy, have reemphasized ASW in recent years, but it remains a challenging discipline.

The different platforms helped the strike group detect the subs nearby, but unmanned systems and more varied sonar techniques could help fill gaps in Western navies' anti-submarine warfare strategies.

Old threat, new methods

A British Astute-class submarine sails with HMS Queen Elizabeth, June 13, 2021. Royal Navy/POPhot Jay Allen

Submarines have posed an undersea threat to surface fleets for over a century, but recent technological advancements make them particularly menacing for aircraft carriers.

Many navies, including China's and Russia's, have introduced newer generations of submarines that are much quieter than their predecessors. Others, such as North Korea and Iran, are using subs to "level the playing field" with regional and Western competitors, according to a report by the Hudson Institute, a US think tank.

For over a decade, Beijing's submarines have shadowed US carrier deployments for training purposes. Their presence, in turn, becomes a training opportunity for the carrier strike group to "hunt a sub," said Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a coauthor of the report.

There are plenty of ways to respond to an identified submarine threat, but actually detecting it in the first place is the tough part, Clark said. "Finding it means you've got to use sonar. Sonars have a limited range, and they can only cover certain sectors. So you've really got to have multiple platforms out there  to be able to cover the 360 degrees around the carrier."

A Royal Navy Merlin helicopter launches a training torpedo off the Cornish coast in 2014. Royal Navy/POA (Phot) Paul A'Barrow

The Royal Navy likely anticipated that it would encounter some Chinese submarines over the course of this deployment and approached that as its own training mission, Clark told Insider.

Beijing "will want to get as much data as possible on the UK strike group, particularly the Queen Elizabeth," Clark said. That includes acoustic and electromagnetic data, along with information on different radars and radio systems.

While submarines themselves have become more technologically sophisticated, the main way navies find subs  using receivers to detect vibrations and sound waves in the water via passive sonar  is largely unchanged since the Cold War.

But new undersea vessels are so quiet that the range on a passive sonar system is too restricted to detect them, Clark said. The Merlin helicopters aboard the Queen Elizabeth have dipping sonar systems, but those are only really effective at a short range, he added.

European navies are shifting back to "active sonar" technologies that send sound waves through the water in order to find those boats, a method that will probably be "the future of anti-submarine warfare for the next couple of decades," Clark said.

Filling the gaps

HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales met at sea for the first time in May 2021. Royal Navy/POPhot Jay Allen

The arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2017 was a renewal of the Royal Navy's carrier capability after its last carrier left service in 2014. As with its carriers, the Royal Navy is renewing its focus on ASW, which it neglected for more than a decade.

In 2016, the UK committed to buying nine P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the US, and it received the last of them in January. The P-8 is considered the most capable sub-hunting aircraft in operation.

The Type 26 City-class frigate in production for the Royal Navy "will probably be the best anti-submarine frigate in the world, when it finally arrives," Childs said. The first, HMS Glasgow, is being built and is scheduled to enter service in the mid-2020s.

The next-generation frigate will host multiple ASW features, including an acoustically quiet hull and multiple sonar systems. It will have space to accommodate unmanned aerial systems and be capable of carrying anti-submarine rockets.

Unmanned systems could also fill in the gaps in ASW coverage for Western navies.

The crew of HMS Prince of Wales launched drones from the carrier's flight deck in a first-of-its-kind test in September 2021. Royal Navy

The Royal Navy has selected the maritime variant of the General Atomics-built MQ-9 Reaper drone. The MQ-9, which can stay aloft for more than 18 hours, has a dedicated ASW package that it can use to conduct an eight-hour patrol over a radius of 1,200 nautical miles.

With that kind of range, a drone like the MQ-9 could easily deploy from an airfield on shore, fly down to the ship, and operate from there, Clark noted.

The US navy is also developing an unmanned surface vessel that could eventually counter the submarine threat.

"Those are two unmanned systems that could help a lot in terms of giving [navies] more capacity for searching for submarines," Clark said.

Childs said that with renewed concern about great-power competition and with "the challenges of complex naval warfare," ASW is "back on the agenda in a way that it hadn't been in the last two or three decades."

"Everyone, from the Americans downwards, in terms of particularly carrier operations, is having to adapt to that," Childs said.

Vivienne Machi is an award-winning reporter based in Stuttgart, Germany. Her writing has appeared in outlets including Foreign Policy, Defense News, the Counter, and Via Satellite. Twitter: @VivienneMachi

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The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, putting an arm around Ukraine's ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, on Thursday. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine's ambassador to the UN appeared forlorn after news broke of a Russian attack on his country.

He delivered a sharply worded speech to Russia's ambassador condemning the assault.

As he sat in the Security Council chamber, other UN ambassadors turned to comfort him.

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations, was consoled by fellow UN representatives on Wednesday after Russia's surprise announcement that it had launched a military assault on his country.

Kyslytsya, in the image above, was seen seated behind US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield as she placed a hand on his shoulder while UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward turned to face them.

He had moments before closed an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council with a sharply worded speech to Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, telling him: "About 48 minutes ago, your president declared war on Ukraine."

"There is no purgatory for war criminals," Kyslytsya said. "They go straight to hell."

The meeting, held to discuss Moscow's recent military actions in Ukraine, pivoted to include Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of a "special military action" in the country, effectively declaring war. Putin's announcement aired while the meeting was still in session.

In another photo taken after the meeting, Kyslytsya was seen standing by himself on the phone.

Kyslytsya on the phone after the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Numerous media outlets have described reports of Russian attacks on Ukrainian soil, while reporters in Kyiv said they had heard explosions while in the capital city.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry also said Russian tanks had crossed the border and Ukrainian forces were being attacked by artillery and small arms.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council in Moscow on February 21, 2022. ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

UN Chief Antonio Gutteres made a desperate plea to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday night during an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting regarding Russia's invasion into Ukraine.

"If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart: President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine," Gutteres said. "Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died."

The meeting had been requested by Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba hours earlier.

During the UNSC meeting, Putin declared a "special military operation" in Donbas, scaling up his country's military invasion into Ukraine.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.

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Ukrainians gather for





The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday night following a request from the Ukrainian minister of foreign affairs.

The meeting was called amid Russian military buildup in eastern Ukraine on the countries' border, a presence that could result in a full-scale invasion.

The meeting was called after Russian-backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance.

"Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance, which is a further escalation of the security situation," Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

The meeting is set to start at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier Wednesday that Russia is at the "final point of readiness" to launch a large-scale invasion into Ukraine.

The Pentagon confirmed earlier Wednesday that Russia appeared to be increasing troops into breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized those areas of the country as independent on Monday.

It is the second emergency meeting called by Ukraine this week as tensions have boiled over with Russia.

In Monday night's Security Council emergency meeting, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned Russia and its claims troops in Ukraine would be on a peacekeeping mission.

"He has since announced that he will place Russian troops in these regions. He calls them peacekeepers," Thomas-Greenfield said. "This is nonsense. We know what they really are."

"In doing so, he has put before the world a choice. We must meet the moment, and we must not look away," she added. "History tells us that looking the other way, in the face of such hostility, will be a far more costly path."




U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting Wednesday Russian President Vladimir Putin "delivered a message of war."

While the meeting was underway, Putin issued a televised address saying Russia is conducting a military operation in Ukraine and said any country that interferes will face "consequences they have never seen."

"At the exact time as we are gathered in the council seeking peace, Putin delivered a message of war in total disdain for the responsibility of this council," Thomas-Greenfield said.

She called for the council to respond to the threat and said "we will put a resolution on the table tomorrow." No details of the resolution were given.

The emergency meeting was called late Wednesday by Ukraine, with Thomas-Greenfield warning earlier in the meeting a full-scale attack by Russia was coming.

"We are here tonight because we believe, along with Ukraine, that a full-scale further invasion into Ukraine by Russia is imminent," Thomas-Greenfield said.

She said she spoke with President Biden before the meeting, adding that he wanted to "share that the United States and our allies and partners will continue to respond to Russia's actions with unity and clarity and with conviction."

After weeks of negotiations, Thomas-Greenfield said only Russia is to blame for this crisis and that putting it on any other country is "giving them a pass."

"Russia's attack on Ukraine is tantamount to an attack on the U.N. and every member state in the chamber tonight," she added.

The meeting comes on the same evening Putin announced he would embark on a "special military operation" in eastern Ukraine and amid multiple reports that explosions were hear by reporters near the capital of Kyiv.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on "NBC Nightly News" it was possible Russia would launch an invasion into Ukraine before the night is over.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the country on Wednesday while pleading for Russia to reverse course.

"The Ukrainian people want peace," Zelensky said. "The government in Ukraine wants peace and is doing everything it can to build it."

"Neighbors always enrich each other culturally," Zelensky added. "However, that doesn't make them a single whole. It doesn't dissolve us into you. We are different, but that is not a reason to be enemies. We want to determine, build our future ourselves, peacefully, calmly and honestly."

Zelensky has warned that Ukraine will defend itself from any Russian aggression and will not concede territory.

Updated 11:24 p.m.
Changing the fashion business and bringing a more diverse representation in relation to race, gender and body starts in the classroom, said leading industry educators, advocates and creatives, as the curtain has fallen on London Fashion Week in the British capital.

In the heart of central London's energetic and eclectic nightlife district Soho on Tuesday evening, the Conde Nast College of Fashion & Design launched its "Global Fashion Perspectives" initiative in a bid to better promote diversity and inclusion across the sector.

"The idea is to explore ways to bring about new international collaborations in the fashion industry through bringing together views from diverse global and regional voices," Nick Isles, CEO of the college, stressed. "There will be a lot of elements to this including events, symposia, research, publishing, student engagement, new curricula, and new policy ideas."

The program is developed with the African Fashion Foundation (AFF) and the Council for International African Fashion Education and will be marketed specifically to the African fashion and media industries and the professionals who work therein, Isles explained.

"The first part, and this is really exciting for us, is the launch of a bespoke trio of online programs created for and targeted specifically at Sub-Saharan Africa. These course modules will be about, styling and creative direction, the business of luxury and digital content creation and contemporary marketing strategies," he said.

The college, opened in 2013 by the global media giant Conde Nast, provides students education for a career in the fashion, media and luxury lifestyle industries and works closely with the teams at Vogue, LOVE, Glamour, GQ, and other Conde Nast magazines.

Lisa Mann, director of postgraduate, professional and online programs at the college, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the initiative's launch that an area of focus will be attracting creative talent from China.

"China is definitely of interest. We need to encourage more people from China to come and collaborate with us, we would love that," she emphasized.

"London is a place where we can really make big strides towards being more diverse, more accessible, more inclusive, and more equal, with opportunities for so many people," said the director. "The Chinese designers are just incredible, they are amazing. There are a few to watch."

But still, creating a lasting reset in an industry that has long suffered from a lack of diversity remains a challenge.

Roberta Annan, a Ghanaian investor and the founder of the AFF, is one of the pioneers making headway.

"The old norm has to stop and we have to be more inclusive and open to other people and the fact that they are different. I hope this initiative really motivates people to think outside the box and take bold moves," she told Xinhua.

"I am African and I'm a big advocate and proponent for the development of the continent. The conversation I've had with the college has been around how to make the curriculum more inclusive and more global," said Annan, who also sits on the advisory council of the college.

The Global Fashion Perspectives program is designed to be in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, as well as achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, according to the college.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States has expelled Russias second-ranking diplomat in Washington in retaliation for the Russian expulsion of the No. 2 U.S. diplomat in Moscow earlier this month, a senior State Department official said Thursday.

The expulsion is unrelated to the unfolding Russian invasion of Ukraine and is part of a long-running dispute between Washington and Moscow over embassy staffing. However, it comes as tensions between the two capitals have hit a post-Cold War high over Ukraine.

The official said the State Department had informed the Russian Embassy on Wednesday that it is expelling Minister Counselor Sergey Trepelkov, who is currently the No. 2 at the mission under Ambassador Anatoly Antonov. Russia expelled U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Bart Gorman from Moscow in mid-February.

The official, who was not authorized to discuss the expulsion ahead of a formal announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the step was taken as a direct response to the unprovoked Russian expulsion of our deputy chief of mission.

Despite plummeting relations over the current situation in Ukraine, the official said the U.S. still believes it is important to maintain diplomatic contacts to facilitate communication between our governments. But, the official said it would not allow actions like Gormans expulsion go without a response.

Aside from tensions over Ukraine, the United States and Russia have been locked in a tit-for-tat battle over diplomatic staffing in each others countries since early 2017 when the Obama administration ordered several Russian diplomatic missions in the United States closed and expelled numerous Russian diplomats over Moscows interference in the 2016 presidential election. Russia responded with reciprocal measures and the situation has since escalated.
US President Donald Trump (right) meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the first day of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019. Kremlin Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

On Tuesday, former President Trump endorsed Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling his strategy "wonderful" and "smart."

Putin announced Thursday that Russia would be conducting a "special military action" in Ukraine.

Some veteran US diplomats took to Twitter to condemn Trump's support of Putin and the conflict.

Veteran US diplomats took to Twitter this week to condemn former President Trump after he expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin's war strategy.

"I went in yesterday, and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine  of Ukraine  Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful," Trump said on the "Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show Tuesday." "I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's going to go in and be a peacekeeper."

The Russian leader announced early Thursday morning that Russia would be conducting a "special military action" in Ukraine. The move came after Putin on Tuesday officially recognized the Ukrainian separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

"We could use that on our southern border. That's the strongest peace force I've ever seen. There were more army tanks than I've ever seen," Trump added. "They're going to keep peace all right. No, but think of it. Here's a guy who's very savvy.  I know him very well  very, very well."

Ivo Daalder, former US ambassador to North Atlantic Treaty Organization, disagreed.

"There is nothing 'savvy,' 'smart,' or 'genius' about that. It's evil. Pure and simple," Daalder said on Twitter. He called Russia's actions "an unprovoked, full-scale war against an independent country that poses no threat to Russia."

"I knew Putin very well. I got along with him great. He liked me. I liked him," Trump said. "I mean, you know, he's a tough cookie, got a lot of the great charm and a lot of pride. But the way he  and he loves his country, you know? He loves his country."

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Trump added that he and Putin used to discuss how he "wanted" Ukraine.

"I used to talk to him about it. I said, 'You can't do it. You're not going to do it.' But I could see that he wanted it. I used to ask him. We used to talk about it at length," Trump said.

A retired Foreign Service officer, Steven Pifer, argued that if Trump were in office during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, "he'd be trying to blackmail Kyiv for his personal gain."

Staunch conservatives such as right-wing FOX News pundit Tucker Carlson agree with Trump in praising Putin and are calling on the US not to act in Ukraine's defense.

"It may be worth asking yourself, since it is getting pretty serious, what is this really about? Why do I hate Putin so much?" said Carlson Tuesday. "Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him?"

Carlson, who hosts a top cable news show, also took digs at Alexander Vindman, former director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council, who urged the US to interfere with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Vindman, who is Ukrainian, responded in a Twitter thread saying Trump and Carlson alike are a "play on Russian state-run media on a loop." He added, "You entice and embolden Putin."

Russian troops sat at the borders of Ukraine for days before attacking  therefore marking the first European war in years. Thousands of lives are at stake.

"There is good and there is evil in this world. Those now praising Putin, showing respect for Putin, calling Putin a genius, are going to regret those words once this horrific war begins," Michael McFaul, former United States Ambassador to Russia, tweeted Wednesday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Feb. 23A veterans group behind a 2019 federal lawsuit calling for the removal of a Bible from a POW-MIA memorial at the Manchester VA Medical Center is now proposing a second display to honor veterans of all religious faiths.

Lawyers for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Concord on Wednesday to dismiss "without prejudice" the MRFF's case against the Manchester VA  for now. The judge agreed.

Created by the Northeast POW-MIA Network, the POW-MIA display includes a Bible that was donated by the late Herman "Herk" Streitburger of Bedford, who was held captive in a German POW camp during World War II.

The MRFF lawsuit was filed on behalf of two veterans who get medical care at the Manchester VA  including an Air Force veteran from New Hampshire who is a Christian. It stated that inclusion of the Bible in the display was a violation of the First Amendment protection against government establishment of religion.

Mikey Weinstein from the MRFF said his organization will ask the VA Medical Center in Manchester to approve its request for a second POW-MIA display that would honor veterans of all faiths  and those who have none.

"It is our distinct hope the VA will follow through in a spirit of diversity, inclusion and equity, and expeditiously, fairly, justly, rationally and reasonably grant us approval for our request for that table to represent all POWs and MIAs and indeed all members of the U.S military," Weinstein said in an interview Wednesday.

"We want to honor them all," Weinstein said.

In an artist's rendering, the proposed display features an American flag, a "Generic Book of Faith," and a granite plaque with the words of the First Amendment.

Weinstein said the "book of faith" would include prayers and readings from a number of faiths as well as representing "atheists, agnostics, secularists and humanists."

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First Liberty Institute, a law firm dedicated to protecting religious freedom, is an intervenor defendant in the federal case.

"The Bible stays and our veterans win," Michael Berry, First Liberty's director of military affairs said Wednesday.

"The POW/MIA Remembrance Table is a visible, time-honored tradition that will remain on display at the Manchester VA Medical Center," Berry said. "Others are free to create their own displays, but anyone who tries to alter or disturb our client's display will have to go through us."

If the VA does not approve MRFF's request, Weinstein said, his organization will return to federal court to press its case.

The Manchester case garnered national attention in 2019 when then-Vice President Mike Pence declared in a speech to a veterans' group: "Let me be clear: Under this administration, VA hospitals will not be religion-free zones."

"We will always respect the freedom of religion of every veteran of every faith," said Pence, an evangelical Christian. "And my message to the New Hampshire VA hospital is: The Bible stays."

That same year, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced an updated policy "permitting religious literature symbols and displays at VA facilities to protect religious liberty for veterans and families while ensuring inclusivity and non-discrimination."

The VA updated its policy in January 2020, stating: "Religious symbols may be included in a passive display, including a holiday display, in public areas of VA facilities ... if the display is of the type that follows in the longstanding tradition of monuments, symbols and practices that simply recognize the important role that religion plays in the lives of many Americans."

"Such displays should respect and tolerate differing views and should not elevate one belief system over others," the directive reads.

The policy also encouraged top officials at all VA facilities to form local committees representing "diverse faith traditions" to address such displays.

Weinstein said most people who work at MRFF are Christians. "This is not about slamming Christianity," he said. "It's about supporting our Constitution, which is blind ... to whatever anyone's particular religious view is."
Select Abbott Nutrition infant formula is being recalled. Here is what to look for to see if you have the recalled product.

RICHMOND  Abbott, the infant formula manufacturer that is provided through Virginia Women, Infants and Children (WIC), announced a proactive, voluntary recall of some powdered Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare infant formulas manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan, according to a press release from the Virginia Department of Health.

Virginia WIC is working to make all participating families aware of the disruption, the VDH reported.

If this recall affects you, please reach out to us at localnews@newsleader.com to share your experience.

The powdered formula products included in this recall have the expiration date of April 1, 2022 or later and are:

12.6 oz Similac Total Comfort

12.5 oz Similac for Spit Up

all EleCare Infant and Junior

all Similac Alimentum

The powdered formula products that might be included in this recall are:

12.5 oz Similac Sensitive and

12.4 oz Similac Advance

This recall does not include Similac Isomil, Similac Neosure, and all concentrate or ready-to-feed formulas, the release said.

Do not use Similac, Alimentum or EleCare powdered infant formulas if they meet all three of these conditions:

Check the lot number and expiration date on the bottom of the can to determine if the 12.5 oz Similac Sensitive or 12.4 oz Similac Advance cans are included in this recall.

The first two digits of the included lot numbers are 22 through 37.

The code on the container will contain K8, SH, or Z2.

The expiration or use-by date will be April 1, 2022 or later.

If the formula container does not include all three of these conditions, then it is not affected by the recall and is safe to continue using. To check if the lot number is included in the recall, go to www.similacrecall.com/us/en/product-lookup.html.

If a WIC participants product is affected by the recall, it should not be used. Participants should return the product to their local grocery store. If they are unable, then they should call their WIC local agency for assistance.

More information about the recall can be found on the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations website.

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Virginia WIC reminds parents and caregivers that infant formula should never be diluted. Never give homemade formula to infants.

WIC is funded by the USDA and is administered by the Virginia Department of Health.

More: Khaleesi: What is happening with the case of a vanished little girl from Augusta County?

Your support helps keep the lights on at The News Leader. Stay connected with our stories, enterprise reporting and more by clicking "Subscribe" at the top of the page.

 Monique Calello (she/her) has been a journalist with The News Leader/USA TODAY Network since she made the Shenandoah Valley her home almost 10 years ago. Have a good feature or story tip? Questions? You can reach her at mcalello@newsleader.com. Follow her on Twitter @moniquecalello.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Virginia WIC: Abbott infant formulas recalled due to contamination
People arrive at the Conservative Political Action Conference 2022 (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida on 24 February 2022 (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Its 3.00 am on Thursday, 24 February. Vladimir Putin has just invaded Ukraine, potentially launching the largest war in Europe since 1945.

Ive spent most of my adult life reporting on Congress, the White House, and the inner workings of the US government. But on what might be one of the most consequential days in living memory, Im nowhere near Washington.

Instead, Im in Orlando, Florida for the largest yearly gathering of Republicans that youll find outside of the quadrennial presidential nominating conventions, otherwise known as the American Conservative Unions Conservative Political Action Conference  or CPAC, for short.

Since 1974, when the first edition of what has become the ACUs annual confab was keynoted by none other than Ronald Reagan  then the governor of California and the embodiment of the conservative movements hopes and dreams  it has become a cant-miss date on young conservatives social calendars. These days, CPAC is a networking bonanza for ladder-climbing operatives and activists, and a veritable cattle call for reporters hoping to catch a few minutes with this or that Republican bold-faced name in a friendly environment.

Ive covered CPAC before, first at the downtown Washington Marriott it called home for years, and more recently at the sprawling Prince Georges County, Maryland convention centre at National Harbor, where it decamped to during Donald Trumps presidency.

And while the conferences storied history might lead one to think Im here to get a look at what the next generation of Republican luminaries has to say, theres a subtle  even insidious  difference in this years program. Depending on who you ask, it may not bode well for the GOPs future  or the futures of a generation of Republican hopefuls.

For the second year in a row, the most prominent speaker at the conference isnt a senator, a governor, or even a reality TV star hoping to jump into presidential politics on the Republican ballot line. Instead, the keynote speakers  the last to take the stage on Saturday and Sunday  are two men with the same name: Donald John Trump. The former president will speak on Saturday to close out the days program, while his son Donald Jr will close out the conference the next day.

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The man who many consider to be waiting in the wings if Trump doesnt run  Florida governor Ron DeSantis  has been relegated to a relatively sleepy Thursday afternoon speaking slot. And Trumps former vice president, Mike Pence, is persona non grata after declining to hijack the certification of electoral college votes to install himself and the former president in the White House for a second term.

Nor will other former headliners-turned-Trump critics be there. The man who has won more of CPACs annual straw poll than anyone else  2012 GOP nominee and Utah senator Mitt Romney  was famously declared not welcome by ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp a few years back. Wyoming representative Liz Cheney  once considered CPAC royalty as the daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney  has also seen her name turn to mud in the minds of attendees, as has her colleague on the House January 6 select committee, Illinois representative Adam Kinzinger.

The rest of the agenda  all four days worth  is similarly dominated by the elder Trump, his former White House aides, his right-wing media supporters, and the vast constellation of allies who make up the expanded Trump-GOP universe.

At my last count, no fewer than 12 ex-Trump administration officials are slated to speak at this years CPAC. They range from the obscure (a trio of ex-ambassadors, Lynda Blanchard, Carla Sands and Lana Marks) to the ubiquitous (CNBC pundit-turned-Trump-aide-turned-Fox Business pundit Larry Kudlow and ex-press secretary Sean Spicer) to the notorious, such as ex-Defence Department aide Kash Patel and Sebastian Gorka, the bombastic Hungarian-British-American radio host who spent the first eight months of 2017 serving in an ill-defined White House job before being fired after failing to obtain the required security clearances to work there.

The subject matter they will cover is similarly Trumpy as well. From this years theme  awake not woke  to the various panel topics, which include The Invasion, War through Weakness, Elections Matter, The Truth about January 6th, Making Middle East Peace Great Again and Persecution by Prosecution, the entire schedule is less about building the future of conservatism than ever. Ironically, the one thing that seems to be conserved here is the supremacy of Trump and his galaxy of grievances.

On Monday, the complete and continued Trumpification of the GOPs largest grassroots gathering would be an ordinary story on what would be just another day in America. But with Europe  and the world  facing the specter of war for the first time in generations, the continued focus of one of Americas two major parties on one man and his personal agenda seems particularly absurd. Even for devoted CPAC attendees, the optics of America First might come out looking that much worse for wear.
Britain told the United Nations Security Council in 2018 that the Salisbury poisoning was an unlawful use of force (Getty Images)

Estonia warned us. So did Latvia and Lithuania. The Baltic States have a long experience of Vladimir Putins aggression. They told Europe, the UK and the US, but no one paid much attention. Well, as the cruise missiles, bombs and rockets rain down on Ukraine, everyones paying attention now.

The Russia/Ukraine debacle has been likened to the Cuban missile crisis or even the build-up to the Second World War. But as the west scrambles to sanction Russia and defend Ukraine, those who predicted this disaster are saying: I told you so.

In fact, we didnt need to be told by the Baltic states, who spoke from bitter personal experience. Evidence of Russian malignity was there in front of our noses. It was there in 2006 when Alexander Litvinenko had a sushi lunch on Piccadilly, was taken ill and  his face ghastly yellow against the hospital pillows  gradually deteriorated, dying three weeks later from polonium poisoning. His widow said nothing was done after a public inquiry into Litvinenkos death.

A full 12 years then passed before a nerve agent attack on the streets of Salisbury. Youd have thought lessons would have been learned, but the immediate response was confused, and the EU was divided.

It was a similar picture in 2020 when parliaments intelligence and security committee accused the British government of failing to carry out an adequate assessment of Kremlin attempts to interfere with the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Why has the UK missed so many opportunities to take action? As Lithuanias prime minister Ingrida SimonytA told The Guardian earlier this month, we have allowed Putins cronies to become embedded in British society. We have overlooked how these people are using our way of living. They like our universities, our hospitals, banks, because they know rules exist in this part of the world and no one will come and strip them of your possessions. You can go to court to protect yourself, yet at the same time they are trying to undermine our way of living in any way they can, she said. No wonder they call our capital city Londongrad.

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Opposition MPs scoffed yesterday when Boris Johnson told them: We do not raise money from Russian oligarchs. And while its true the law dictates that foreign nationals cant donate to a UK political party, many extremely wealthy people with dual UK-Russian nationality, or with significant business links with Russia, have bankrolled the Conservatives to the tune of nearly 2m since Johnson became prime minister, according to figures compiled by the Labour Party.

There is, as SimonytA eloquently explained, a dangerous schism: we rail against Moscow and its contempt of our laws, yet still the streets of our capital city are paved with Russian roubles.

Britain told the United Nations Security Council in 2018 that the Salisbury poisoning was an unlawful use of force  a violation of article two of the United Nations charter, the basis of the international legal order. Sanctions followed, but Putin remained entirely unscathed.

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The same approach is being taken now. Even as Putin prepared to send his fighter jets over the border to Ukraine, Johnson spoke loudly but carried a relatively small stick  to turn President Roosevelts famous dictum about foreign policy on its head.

So as the west returns Putins artillery fire with an opening salvo of sanctions, the man in charge of the second most powerful military power in the world doesnt seem to care. If Russian lawlessness had been tackled back in 2006 when Litvinenkos widow beseeched world leaders to do something about it, perhaps Ukraine wouldnt be suffering now. But the wests apparent inability to think beyond political short-term expediency has now created a crisis which will be with us for years to come.

And if our leaders appear incapable of thinking sufficiently far ahead to outwit a master tactician, Putins obsession with history also exposes our embarrassing ignorance of the lessons of the past.

No wonder Commonwealth soldiers laughed nervously yesterday when the defence secretary, Ben Wallace namechecked the Crimean War as evidence that the UK had kicked the backside of Russia before and can always do it again. Had he forgotten the Charge of the Light Brigade, when hundreds of British cavalry were accidentally ordered to ride to their deaths at the hands of Russias artillery?

We have short memories. Putin, on the other hand, forgets nothing, and rewrites history accordingly. Back in 2016, the Lithuanian foreign minister, Linas LinkeviAius, summed up the situation: "Russia is not a superpower, its a super problem." If only wed listened  and acted  then.

Cathy Newman presents Channel 4 News, weekdays at 7pm
APTOPIX Biden Ukraine Tensions (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Russia has invaded Ukraine, and now everyone waits to see what the rest of the world, including the United States, does in response.

Naturally, as with most issues these days, the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin has created yet another opportunity for partisan politics. Much of it centers around a primarily irrelevant question: How would this have played out if Donald Trump were still president?

Its an odd flex for people to say, Thank God Biden is in office and not Trump, Putins puppet! especially considering that Putin did invade with Biden in office in 2014. Equally bizarre are those (including Donald Trump Jr., who took advantage of a Kanye meme) who say, Putin would have never done this if Trump was still president! No one knows that.

Some explanations offered up are almost comical. Rich Lowry, the editor of National Review, suggested Trumps unpredictability might have made Putin wary. John Harwood, White House correspondent for CNN, said Putin schemed to get Trump elected as it would make the task of invading Ukraine easier. Its all conjecture  and it helps nobody.

Trump obviously doesnt have much of an agenda beyond propping himself up. During an interview with Laura Ingraham, the former president sought to use current events to advance his lies about the 2020 election, saying: He [Vladimir Putin] was going to be satisfied with a peace, and now he sees the weakness and the incompetence and the stupidity of this administration, and, as an American, Im angry about it, and Im saddened by it. And it all happened because of a rigged election. This would have never happened.

During that same interview, Ingraham said, We are just learning that US officials are looking at a potential amphibious landing now in Odessa, Ukraine. For whatever reason, Trump chided Ingraham, as he appeared to think she meant the United States was conducting an amphibious landing rather than Russia. They should do that secretly, not being doing that through the great Laura Ingraham, he said. They should be doing that secretly. Nobody should know that, Laura.

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Trump is not even aware of whats happening in Ukraine. He no longer has access to the latest intelligence, is not in contact with military leaders, and doesnt influence anyone on the world stage.

Putin, however, is counting on the finger-pointing currently going on within our political system. Such divisions, more than words from Donald Trump or actions by President Biden, create a sense of disorder that Russia (and its ally, China) counts on to foment the kind of chaos so many believe was at the heart of his shenanigans in US elections.

Senator Ted Cruz does himself and no one else favors when he tweets, as he did just now: Why didnt Putin invade Ukraine during the Trump admin? It was because the US signaled strength & resolve against Russian aggression. Putin stopped building his Nord Stream 2 pipeline minutes before Trump signed my sanctions legislation into law. #Verdict. Giving credit to the nations strength and resolve  that he apparently believes no longer exists  is not the service to the American people that he thinks it is.

Meanwhile, Democrat Tulsi Gabbard thinks the invasion all could have been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russias legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraines becoming a member of NATO, which would mean US/NATO forces right on Russias border. Credit goes to Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who corrected her and said that was not Putins sole demand: As recently as last week, [Putin] once again demanded NATO leave every country that joined after 1997, including Bulgaria, Romania and 12 others.

No rule says Republicans and Democrats should all line up behind the Biden administration and offer support for whatever steps it wants to take in dealing with what could be the first ground war in Europe in decades. Congress has a role to play, and robust debate between members and the White House is necessary to come to a consensus in the United States and in coordination with allies worldwide.

However, if the people in charge want to spend more time arguing about it on Twitter and pontificating about who would have done what if X was in office instead of Y, the only one who gains is Vladimir Putin.
The Fayette County Sheriffs office on Wednesday arrested a man wanted for a deadly shooting in another Kentucky county.

Deovion Day, a 22 year old murder suspect from Christian County, was found by officials from the Fayette County Sheriffs office and taken into custody. The warrants division of the office received an anonymous tip revealing Days whereabouts, the sheriffs office said. Day has been charged with murder, first degree assault and possessing a handgun as a convicted felon, among other charges.

Day was wanted in connection for a deadly shooting in Hopkinsville in late November, according to the Hopkinsville Police Department. Two other people  27 year old Jaquavian Spencer and 21 year old Zamarius Humphries  were also wanted in connection to the shooting.

Spencer was wanted for first degree assault and Humphries was wanted for attempted first degree assault, according to police. Both also face additional charges.
China will adopt the tariff rates it has pledged under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement on part of imports from Malaysia from March 18, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has said.

The new tariff rates will take effect on the same day as the world's largest deal comes into force for Malaysia, which has recently deposited its instrument of approval with the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The RCEP deal, which entered into force on Jan. 1 initially in 10 countries, will then be effective for 12 of its 15 signing members.

According to the commission's statement, the first-year RCEP tariff rates applicable to ASEAN members will be adopted on imports from Malaysia. The annual rates for subsequent years will be implemented from Jan. 1 of the respective years.

The agreement was signed on Nov. 15, 2020, by 15 Asia-Pacific countries -- 10 ASEAN members and China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- after eight years of negotiations that started in 2012.

Within this trade bloc that covers nearly a third of the world's population and accounts for about 30 percent of the global GDP, more than 90 percent of merchandise trade will eventually be subject to zero tariffs.
By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The World Bank said on Thursday it was preparing options to provide immediate support to Ukraine's government, as the development lender and the International Monetary Fund assess the economic fallout from the conflict in Ukraine.

"We stand ready to provide immediate support to Ukraine and are preparing options for such support, including fast-disbursing financing," World Bank President David Malpass said in a statement, adding that the institution was "horrified by the shocking violence and loss of life" in Ukraine.

The statement came after Malpass told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday that the bank was preparing a $350 million disbursement to Ukraine for budget support by the end of March.

It was unclear, however, what resources may be available to aid Ukraine's people if Zelenskiy's democratically elected government is deposed by Russian forces.

In recent cases of abrupt shifts of government power by force, including coups in Myanmar and Sudan, the World Bank has suspended dealings with military-installed governments.

But in Afghanistan, which the Taliban took by force last August, the bank is seeking to use around $1 billion in a frozen Afghanistan trust fund for education, agriculture, health and family programs to ease a worsening humanitarian crisis.

NO REFERENCE TO AN "INVASION"

For Ukraine, Malpass said the World Bank was mobilizing a global crisis group to coordinate among its divisions and development partners to work on a rapid response. The bank is also coordinating closely with the IMF to assess the "far-reaching economic and social costs."

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a tweet https://twitter.com/KGeorgieva/status/1496858061797011456?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet that she was "deeply concerned" about the conflict in Ukraine, which "adds significant economic risk for the region & the world.

Story continues

"We are assessing the implications & stand ready to support our members as needed," Georgieva said, echoing comments she made earlier this month.

Neither leader used the term "invasion" in their statements. Russia and Ukraine are members of both institutions, which were created at the end of the last major conflict in Europe, World War Two. The United States holds controlling interests in both organizations.

Malpass said the World Bank was also in active dialogue to support neighboring countries affected by the conflict "and will make additional resources available."

The IMF and the World Bank also said they were working to keep remaining employees in Ukraine safe. Most of the World Bank's Ukraine staff have relocated outside the country, though some remained for personal and family reasons.

"We will continue to identify options for those who have decided to not leave the country at this point," Malpass said in an internal memo to the bank's nearly 16,000 global employees.

A spokesperson for the IMF said the fund had been in contact with remaining local staff in the country.

(Reporting by David LawderEditing by Chris Reese and Leslie Adler)
Virginia ABC stores will return to normal business hours starting March 1.

All stores will open by 10 a.m. every day, apart from some stores which regularly open later on Sundays. Store closing times vary by store and will remain the same.

For roughly a month since Jan. 24, Virginia ABC stores were opening late at noon in response to COVID-19 and staffing issues. Those issues have now been resolved, according to Virginia ABC.

With COVID-19 case numbers once again falling in Virginia, we are now able to return to our normal operating hours, Travis Hill, chief executive officer of Virginia ABC, said in a statement. We truly appreciate our retail teams dedication and flexibility throughout this pandemic, and we look forward to serving our customers with expanded hours soon.
Even with continual changes posed by the pandemic, the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance had 730 active members in 2021 and raised more than $1.6 million for economic development initiatives.

It supported six regional expansions and added 175 jobs and $68 million in capital investment last year.

On Wednesday, Alliance members came together for its annual meeting to celebrate those wins plus look forward to whats to come in 2022.

Denise Woernle, 2021 Alliance chair, spoke about the past year and said despite the lingering effects of COVID-19, the Alliance remained committed to seeing an economic growth and pursuing that growth through its program of work.

The Alliance hosted more than 65 opportunities where members connected and learned valuable information to help their organizations, and it hosted two new business development opportunities: Diversity Equity and Inclusion Summit, and the Minority Business Expo, which showcased 26 businesses.

We brought you top-notch local, state and national speakers on relevant topics aimed at helping you navigate the complex and rapidly changing business climate we find ourselves in, she said.

Woernle said the Alliance also continued to brand the region nationally by engaging more than 100 global site selectors and business development specialists so the area can grow in jobs and capital investment.

We raised more than $1.6 million for industrial site development and the redevelopment plan for the Central Virginia Training Center and we continued our strong public policy work to advocate for pro-business policies on the local, state and federal levels, she said.

Central Virginia Training Center is a now-defunct state-owned complex on 300 acres in Madison Heights. It formerly served residents with disabilities but its last patient was relocated in spring 2020.

Luke Towles, incoming chair for 2022, said the Alliance has created a new three-year strategic plan to continue enhancing the business climate, cultivating talent and generating jobs and investment in the region.

Glenn Llopis, president of GLLP  a workforce development and business strategy consulting firm  spoke to members about what leadership looks like during the massive disruption of the pandemic.

Each and every one of you presents and represents the roots of this city, the surrounding county, businesses. Everybody here needs to unleash one another, he said. Were opportunity experts. Thats what were trying to be. Were trying to bring in new members. Were trying to generate economic growth. The truth is we are rebuilding our community together.

He urged the business community to get to know each other again, stating who we are in 2022 is different than who and what we were pre-pandemic.

We have a tendency to see people in a very static way. But we dont pay attention to how people actually evolve. Do we know how all this radical change is impacting each and every one of us, our families, our lives? he said.

He said businesses need to be able to see opportunities in everything, do a better job of anticipating the unexpected, and help unleash each others passionate pursuits.

We all got stuck in the traps of standardization, he said. We all got caught on the treadmill. Weve been pushed out of it. And now we have to reinvent the wheel all over again. And we cant do that alone anymore. Which means what we need to live with [is] an entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurship just isnt about business anymore. Its a way of life.

Every year at the annual meeting, the Alliance presents three awards to deserving community members.

This year, Fred Armstrong was the recipient of the 2021 F.M. Dink Cloyd Award, presented each year to a member who has rendered outstanding voluntary service to the organization. Armstrong recently retired from Wiley|Wilson after 32 years with the firm. He has served as CEO since 2000 and chairman of the board since 2004. Armstrong began his professional career in Richmond with the Virginia Department of Transportation. He moved to Lynchburg in 1981 to join Babcock & Wilcox on Old Forest Road working on the steam supply components of commercial nuclear power plants. Armstrong joined Wiley|Wilson in 1989 as a project engineer in their civil department.

Bill Bodine was the recipient of the 2021 George Taylor Stewart Award, which is known for impactful service to the region.

Bodine has served as president and CEO of the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation for the past seven years, but most of his career was spent in health care management. He is a distinguished alumnus of Leadership Lynchburg and has served on the boards and volunteer corps of many organizations including the Alliance Ambassadors, the Academy Center of the Arts, Virginians for the Arts, Riverviews Artspace and as president of the University of Lynchburg Alumni Board.

Kathleen Davis received the Young Professional to Watch Award for her work at University of Lynchburg in her role as director of engagement marketing. Davis started her design career at The Weather Channel two days after graduating from the University of Alabama. After 10 years of working for brands including The Home Depot, Yamaha Motorsports and Yamaha Watercraft, Kathleen switched to higher education.

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Japan Times - Apr 27

The average age of homeless people in Japan has hit a record 63.6 years old, with 40% of them living on the streets for more than a decade, according to a health ministry survey conducted every five years to keep track of homelessness in the country.
DES MOINES  The procedures by which Iowa schools consider complaints from parents about books and other classroom materials may soon include state requirements.

Two Republican state lawmakers who on Wednesday participated in a legislative hearing on a sweeping K-12 policy proposal said they believe those procedures are not working as they should.

Some parents in Iowa and across the country have raised concerns about some library books and classroom materials in public schools that they deem to be obscene. Typically, the books are about LGBTQ people or people of color, and some include passages that describe sexual activity.

Most Iowa schools have in place procedures for parents to raise objections to books or classroom materials. Typically, a committee or the school board ultimately decides whether to remove the flagged materials from the school.

Some parents have testified in legislative hearings this year that they have raised objections to materials, but the school chose to retain them. Not all complaints guarantee a removal.

There are processes, but I dont think theyre being followed very well, said Sen. Chris Cournoyer, R-LeClaire, and a former school board member, during a hearing Wednesday. I want to get that in this bill.

The legislation discussed Wednesday was Gov. Kim Reynolds K-12 education policy bill. It includes a proposal for shifting taxpayer funding for public schools to scholarships for families who wish for their child to attend a private school.

Reynolds bill also has a section that requires school districts to maintain a level of transparency with library books and classroom materials.

Cournoyer and Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa, indicated they want to strengthen that section of the bill.

I have correspondence from students suggesting our transparency procedures are not working very well right now, Rozenboom said during the hearing. We need work on transparency.

Neither Rozenboom nor Cournoyer said what specific policies they would like to see added to the bill.

Statehouse Republicans have introduced myriad proposals addressing so-called transparency in education. House Republicans have aligned themselves with Reynolds original proposal, which would require school districts to catalog all their materials online so parents can access it.

Sen. Jake Chapman, a Republican from Adel, has introduced legislation that would allow parents who disagree with a schools decision to sue the district, teacher or librarian, which could result in criminal charges for the educator.

The governors bill, Senate File 2349, had already passed through the Senates education committee. Because it includes funding for the governors proposed private school scholarships program, it is now moving through the budget committee. With Rozenbooms and Cournoyers approval Wednesday, the bill is now eligible for consideration by the full budget committee.
A proposal to create up to 48 psychiatric residencies at state institutions as part of a large package of legislation to increase mental health access across Iowa was unanimously approved by the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday.

House File 2157 calls for the creation of the residencies at mental health institutes at Cherokee and Independence, and the Iowa Medical and Classification Center at Oakdale, the Glenwood and Woodward resource centers and the state training school at Eldora, according to Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge.

The state would work with the University of Iowa to fill the psychiatric residencies and ensure residents get the training needed to be physicians, she said.

Iowa ranks 44th in the number of psychiatrists per capita, so the need is great, Meyer said.

Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo, agreed the bill would be a good step toward meeting the need for psychiatrists.

Our next job will be to get them to stay in Iowa, she added.

Each residency will cost $100,000 per year, Meyer said. The bill calls for $1.2 million in funding for 12 residencies the first year and $4.8 million in fiscal 2027 and beyond.

The bill now is eligible for floor debate. It has no companion in the Senate.

TWOS WILD: On 2/22/22, a Tuesday, the Iowa House approved HF 2222, which would do three things.

The bill would allow defendants represented by counsel to file motions to disqualify their counsel, a notice of appeal and a response to a motion by counsel to withdraw. It passed 95-0.

FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF: Flags will be at half-staff at the Iowa Capitol and Capitol Complex on Feb. 23 to honor Army Pfc. Don D. Dowler Jr. of Clarinda. Dowler, who was reported missing in action in December 1950 after his unit was attacked near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, was accounted for in September 2021. He will be buried Feb. 23 in Santa Maria, Calif.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses and government entities are encouraged to fly their flag at half-staff.

CURSIVE COSTS: A proposal that Iowa students be taught cursive writing by the end of third grade could cost school districts around the state more than a half-million dollars.

In a fiscal note on SF 2351, the Legislative Services Agency estimated it will cost schools $15 per student and $25 per teacher to offer cursive instruction. There are 35,253 third-graders, LSA said. The cost could range from $400,000 to $575,000.

The Senate Education Committee has recommended approval of SF 2351.

RAPE SHIELD EXPANSION: HF 2239 would apply the provisions of the rule of evidence relating to a victims past sexual behavior in sexual abuse cases to discovery conducted in a criminal case or in a post-conviction relief proceeding, including depositions.

According to the rule, the following evidence is not admissible in criminal cases, with some exceptions: reputation or opinion evidence offered to prove that a victim engaged in other sexual behavior, and evidence of a victims other sexual behavior other than reputation or opinion evidence.

It was approved 92-3.

FAMILY FIRST: A bill to further implement the federal Family First Act, focused on keeping children with their families and not in foster homes, was approved 95-0.

HF 2252 would allow adult adoptees more access to their historical information, and allow siblings to stay in contact even if they are adopted by another family. It also adjusts eligibility for Child Care Assistance to include parents or guardians who are permanently disabled. It would increase the age that an individual can stay in foster care from 18 to 21 even if they are finished with their high school education under some conditions.

The bill also allows the Department of Human Services to disclose information to financial institutions if there is an allegation of financial exploitation of a dependent adult.

FLOOD CONCERNS: Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, expressed concern with legislation that would streamline the permitting process for building a structure in or on a floodway, flood plain or stream.

In another small way it chips away at our states already inadequate protection for our flood plains, and thats a problem because Iowa has a problem with funding, Hogg said during debate on the bill. He then summarized the many significant floods Iowa has experienced over the past 15 years.

SF 2311 passed 36-13 and now moves to the House.

PUBLIC GARBAGE: State law would make clear that law enforcement officials are able to search an individuals garbage under legislation that earned unanimous approval by the Senate. SF 2296 would clarify that garbage placed outside is not considered private, thus legal for law enforcement to search. The bill now moves to the House.

The bill stems from a Clear Lake case. The defendant successfully appealed a conviction and sentence for drug possession charges because the district court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence obtained from a warrantless search of his garbage containers set out for trash collection.
The two Rock Island County correctional officers charged with beating an inmate have been fired.

Sheriff Gerry Bustos announced Thursday that an internal investigation at the jail has concluded and resulted in the termination of Cameron Gerischer, 21, and Jacob H. Ward, 29.

Both men face a single charge of felony aggravated battery and are accused of allegedly repeatedly striking the inmate with their fists on Jan. 30.

Asked for a motive in the beating, Bustos referred to it as "an excessive use of force."

Inmate allegedly beaten by Rock Island County correctional officers was 'mentally disabled' Four days before an inmate at the Rock Island County jail reportedly was beaten by two correctional officers, a judge asked the state to place him in a secure setting because of his mental disability.

The inmate had been deemed mentally disabled and incompetent to stand trial, court records show. The county had requested he be placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services, DHS, just days before the incident.

The agency declined the transfer request and does not comment on incarcerated individuals.

Bustos said the incident occurred on a Sunday, and he launched an internal investigation the next day. It was conducted by his department's Office of Professional Standards. He then ordered a criminal investigation, the sheriff said, which was conducted by the City of Rock Island Police Department.

The results of the city's investigation were turned over to the state's attorney's office, which then filed charges. Aggravated battery is a Class 3 felony.

Ward and Gerischer had been on administrative leave since the incident occurred.

The case was the second of its kind at the Rock Island County Jail in a year.

In a Jan. 29, 2021 incident, officers Alondra Valtierra-Martinez, 25, and Mackenzie Martin, 24, were accused of battering a female inmate.

Both women have since pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor charge of battery. They initially were charged with Class 3 felonies, aggravated battery, which is the same charge leveled in the recent case.

Valtierra-Martinez was sentenced to one year on conditional discharged during a hearing Feb. 3 in Rock Island County Circuit Court, according to circuit court electronic records.
China's national reunification must, will surely be realized: spokesperson

Xinhua) 07:56, February 24, 2022

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attends a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Through joint efforts from compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, China's national reunification must be and will surely be realized, noted a mainland spokesperson Wednesday.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a press conference when replying to a media query about opinions on promoting national reunification voiced recently by scholars.

Ma said that first and foremost, resolving the Taiwan question and achieving China's complete reunification is an aspiration shared by all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation and is essential to realizing national rejuvenation.

Second, "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" are the fundamental guideline for seeking a solution to the Taiwan question and are the best approach to realizing national reunification. He added that national reunification by peaceful means best serves the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, including compatriots in Taiwan.

Ma reiterated that, on the basis of the one-China principle, the mainland is ready to engage in broad exchanges of views with all parties, groups, and individuals in Taiwan regarding political issues between the two sides and the promotion of peaceful reunification, in order to forge social consensus and advance political negotiations.

Third, China's Constitution, Anti-Secession Law and other related legal documents have made detailed stipulations on resolving the Taiwan question and promoting national reunification, Ma said.

Noting that the Anti-Secession Law has effectively deterred separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" and helped ensure peace and stability across the Strait, Ma said the mainland will work with the greatest sincerity and exert utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification.

"However, should separatist forces continue to provoke us, force our hand or even cross the red line, we will have to take resolute measures," Ma added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China has unveiled a regulation requiring enterprises to disclose their environmental information in a timely manner and in accordance with the law, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Wednesday.

The disclosure of environmental information is common practice globally in implementing corporate environmental responsibility, said Yan Gang, deputy chief of the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning under the ministry.

Enterprises with large-scale emissions of pollutants, high environmental risks, and those discharging toxic and harmful substances, among others, are identified as the subjects of environmental information disclosure, according to Yan.

To guarantee the public's right to know and forestall environmental and market risks, companies are required to disclose relevant environmental information in a timely manner when their environmental behaviors may have a significant impact on society, the public and investors.
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There are moments that will always haunt Kaitlin Rogge after two years of watching COVID-19 take its toll on the patients in the intensive care unit where she works.

She can close her eyes and see the man struggle to breathe. Hear the alarm going off at the nurses' station and the helplessness in her voice as she called other staff to his room. Feel the tears welling up as the pulmonologist tells the man he is dying.

"The panic in his eyes is forever engrained in my memory," the Lincoln nurse told lawmakers. "It's heartbreaking to watch someone suffer and know there's nothing we can do to help them."

Rogge and other nurses relayed stories from the front line of the pandemic Tuesday in support of a bill that would provide bonus payments to an estimated 20,000 Nebraska nurses.

A bill (LB1055) introduced by Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha would allocate $50 million of federal pandemic recovery funds for the payments. Nebraska is in line to get $1.04 billion through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The bill would provide one-time payments to nurses who provide direct care for patients in hospitals and federally qualified health centers.

The size of the payments would depend on the number of nurses in that category. McDonnell estimated they would be about $2,000 apiece. The bill limits payments to a $5,000 maximum.

McDonnell called the payments "minimal" but said they would be a way to express the state's appreciation to nurses. He also said he hoped they would encourage nurses to stick with the profession, despite the stresses.

"I don't think it's enough," he said. "I don't know if there is enough for what they've done, what they've sacrificed and what they continue to do."

Kari Wade, president of the Nebraska Nurses Association, said the payments would represent a much-needed morale boost for nurses, who have shown "ceaseless devotion" to their work as the pandemic reaches its 100th week.

"They are exhausted emotionally, mentally and physically," she said.

Linda Stones, testifying for the Nebraska Board of Nursing, said the pandemic has worsened an anticipated shortage of nurses in the state. She said the number of nurses renewing their licenses last year dropped for the first time in 20 years, with 2,600 nurses opting against renewal.

Some of those leaving the profession had been nearing retirement already, but others left because of the stress created by the pandemic.

No opponents appeared to speak against the bill. The Appropriations Committee will consider it along with numerous other proposals for federal coronavirus stimulus funds.
LINCOLN  Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Steve Wellman has announced the hiring of Dr. Roger Dudley as state veterinarian.

Dudley has worked for NDA since 2011, serving as state epidemiologist and deputy state veterinarian. He will replace Dr. Dennis Hughes, who retired in December.

Dr. Dudley has extensive experience in veterinary medicine, an excellent understanding of animal epidemiology and outstanding leadership skills, Wellman said. He already has established relationships with veterinarians throughout the state and with USDA officials. He is the best person for the job of keeping Nebraskas livestock healthy and safe.

Dudley attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in pre-veterinary science. He then earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Kansas State University.

Before working for the state of Nebraska, Dudley worked at the Gothenburg Animal Hospital from 1996-2011. He worked his way up from associate veterinarian to owning and operating the business. Dudley has also worked in Iowa and Minnesota.

Throughout his career, Dudley has participated in leadership and management training programs including the states PeopleFirst Leadership Certification Program and the Beef Cattle Production Management Series at Great Plains Veterinary Education Center at Clay Center, Nebraska. He is an active member of the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association. Dudley and his wife have six children and six grandchildren.

Veterinary medicine is my career and my passion, Dudley said. I look forward to continuing my work with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and taking on this leadership role to help protect the livestock industry.
UPDATED, Feb. 24, 2022, 10:20 am: Updates to correct source on information on LB 783.

***

As Mike Jacobson filled District 42s short-lived Unicameral vacancy Wednesday, he created two other openings affecting North Platte City Hall and Lee Bird Field.

Jacobsons new State Capitol colleagues, meanwhile, had largely decided which of departed Sen. Mike Groenes bills theyd take on for the 2022 sessions second half.

The NebraskaLand Bank founder and leader resigned as a board member and chairman of the North Platte Airport Authority Wednesday morning, Airport Manager Sam Seafeldt said.

He received Jacobsons resignation about 11:30 a.m., just before Chief Justice Michael Heavican swore him in at Lincolns State Capitol.

State law says Mayor Brandon Kelliher must nominate Jacobsons airport board successor, subject to City Council approval, Lincoln County Clerk Becky Rossell said.

Jacobson had just short of three years left on his current six-year airport board term. Kelliher said hell start seeking city residents interested in filling that vacancy.

Hopefully the City Council will approve my selection on March 15, most likely, he said. I dont know who that will be.

Hed like to have Jacobsons airport board successor in place in time for that panels next meeting March 27, he said.

The five-member Airport Authority board had only one seat up for election this year. Daren Wilkinson has filed for the seat now held by Greg Hanna, who chose not to seek re-election.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the City Councils initial vote to create the Airport Authority on Aug. 21, 1962. Members of that council reaffirmed their decision on April 26, 1963.

Though the airport board was created by the city, its a separate political subdivision under state law. North Platte voters elect Airport Authority board members separately from their mayor and council members.

It took Jacobson a bit longer Wednesday afternoon to text Kelliher his resignation from North Plattes five-member Community Redevelopment Authority board.

The mayor and council also will have to fill Jacobsons CRA board position. He had been chairman since joining the board in 1999.

In Lincoln, at least eight of Groenes 2022 bills had officially acquired new legislative sponsors before Speaker Mike Hilgers Tuesday deadline for senators to decide.

Leading the group were Legislative Bill 1065, the microTIF update bill now sponsored by Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne, and LB 788, the industrial rail park funding bill now championed by Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer.

Hilgers chose LB 1065 as one of his 25 speakers priority bills for the second half of the 60-day session. Senators reached Day 30 Wednesday.

The Unicameral webpage for LB 783, Groenes request for federal COVID-19 funds to aid construction of Sustainable Beef LLCs North Platte meatpacking plant, wasnt yet showing a new sponsor Wednesday afternoon.

Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg said Tuesday that Omaha Sen. Mike McDonnell had agreed to shepherd the beef-plant proposal toward passage.

But two other lawmakers have showed interest in taking over LB 783, so its new sponsor remains undecided, according to Hilgers office.

Though introduced as a separate bill, LB 783 is expected to be rolled in with American Relief Plan requests from other lawmakers into a single Appropriations Committee bill.

Lincoln Sen. Anna Wishart emerged as the new sponsor of Groenes LB 1275, which would allow the use of cannabis in oil or pill form to treat Nebraskans with certain terminal or incurable illnesses.

Groenes bill received its Judiciary Committee hearing as scheduled Wednesday. Wishart, who has been leading an initiative petition drive allowing for broader medical marijuana use, saw her 2021 bill on the subject (LB 474) stall last May due to a filibuster.

Sen. John Lowe of Kearney will sponsor Groenes LB 1181, which would require official ID documents to be presented when registering to vote and casting ballots. The bill will receive its public hearing March 2.

Bayard Sen. Steve Erdman has taken over as sponsor of three Groene bills, each at different stages of legislative consideration.

 LB 786, awaiting second-round floor debate, says election candidates who own their principal home wouldnt have to disclose its address to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

 LB 787, which would bring boards created by interlocal agreements under state budget laws, has advanced from committee and awaits first-round debate.

 LB 785, which would shorten the early voting period for regular elections from 35 to 22 days, was heard Jan. 26 but remains in committee.

Six of Groenes 2022 bills apparently failed to gain new sponsors by Tuesdays deadline, including his renewed efforts to clarify educators disciplinary powers (LB 1179) and boost state school aid (LB 1207).

LB 1179s scheduled Feb. 28 hearing has been canceled, as has Thursdays planned hearing for LB 784, which would base hospital tax exemptions on the extent of their charity care.

More by Todd von Kampen

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Senator Mitt Romney speaks with reporters just outside of the Senate chamber during a vote on Capitol Hill on February 10, 2022. Photo: Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A decade ago, Mitt Romney, who would soon clinch the Republican 2012 presidential nomination, made headlines by telling CNNs Wolf Blitzer that Russia was without question, our number one geopolitical foe. In a subsequent general-election debate, President Barack Obama mocked Romney thusly: The 1980s, theyre now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold Wars been over for 20 years.

While Democrats largely joined in the laughter at Old School Mitt, mired in the past, Republicans generally supported Romneys take (other than the small band of Ron Paul supporters, whose paleoconservative-libertarian approach to international affairs marginalized them as cranks). Nowadays, members of both major U.S. political parties see Romneys alarums about Russia as more prescient than anachronistic. But Republicans are no longer one the same page about how to respond to Russian aggression.

What does unite Republicans these days is the conviction that President Joe Biden cannot be entrusted with Americas national security. Even where they agree with specific steps Biden has taken in response to Russian aggression toward Ukraine, they charge him with being too late, too weak, and having too little credibility to influence the course of events. That sentiment is particularly strong among the Senate Republicans who engaged in bipartisan negotiations in recent weeks aimed at a resolution encouraging sanctions against Russia but ultimately abandoned the effort on grounds that Democrats werent willing to impose them immediately.

Senators Mitch McConnell, Tom Cotton, and Tommy Tuberville were prominent among those claiming that Biden should not have waited for overt Russian military action before imposing sanctions on Russia and its economic interests. The senator who probably best exemplifies the fusion of Cold War conservatism and MAGA America First unilateralism, Ted Cruz, distinguished himself well before the current crisis by demanding action to stop the Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline between Germany and Russia, even holding up Biden foreign-policy appointments for weeks over the issue.

Closer to the heart of MAGAland, the tendency has been to express ambivalence about the need for direct American efforts to restrain or counter Russia, alongside claims that Trumps strength would have deterred Vladimir Putin from violating Ukraines sovereignty. The 45th president himself has insisted this never would have happened with us just before the Russian invasion began and blamed the escalation of events on Bidens fecklessness, as the Wall Street Journal reported:

In a telephone interview with Fox News late Wednesday night, as Russia launched its invasion, Mr. Trump called the unfolding events a very sad thing for the world and the country. He said Mr. Biden hadnt done enough to dissuade Mr. Putin from invading.

He was going to be satisfied with a piece and now he sees the weakness and the incompetence and the stupidity of this administration, Mr. Trump said on Fox News on Wednesday night.

Trump has characteristically mixed his attacks on his successor with gestures of admiration toward Putin for his shrewd ruthlessness. During a fundraiser on Wednesday, he said of the Russian president, Hes taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. Id say thats pretty smart.

This attitude is shared by some of Trumps closer associates like former secretary of State Mike Pompeo (a rumored 2024 presidential candidate if Trump does not run), who also went on Fox News recently to call Putin a very talented statesman with lots of gifts, requiring in response the kind of toughness exhibited by Trumps administration. Vladimir Putin is the same person he was during our administration. The only thing that has changed is American leadership.

Some Trumpy politicians are going further in deploring any serious engagement with Russia over its attack on Ukraine. Missouri senator Josh Hawley opposed the bipartisan resolution calling for tough sanctions against Russia and has claimed the U.S. should be focused on China rather than Russia. Ohio U.S. Senate candidate J. D. Vance is saying the situation has nothing to do with our national security and it is distracting our idiot leaders from focusing on the things that actually do matter to our national security, like securing the border & stopping the flow of Fentanyl thats killing American kids. And Kentucky senator Rand Paul carried on his fathers tradition by attacking the bipartisan War Caucus and arguing that Ukraine should become a neutral bridge between Russia and the West.

In the MAGA commentariat, the highly influential Tucker Carlson has taken a tack that one analyst called anti-anti-Putin, arguing that conservatives should remain focused on the terrible deeds of Joe Biden instead of the relatively less threatening Putin. And far out there on the right, Ann Coulter, who has been calling for a harsher variant of Trumpism than Trump himself can provide, is arguing that the whole Ukraine crisis has been cooked up by Democrats: Whenever you see any media talking about Ukraine, your Pavlovian response should be, Oh, I see. They dont want me to think about immigration or crime.

So it is very clear that anti-Bidenism is the tie that binds Republicans of every persuasion. And that extends to Mitt Romney, who attacked both Democratic and Republican administrations for being asleep at the wheel, as Fox News reports:

Sen. Mitt Romney laid the blame for Russias Wednesday night invasion of Ukraine at the policies of the three most recent U.S. presidents, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden 

Putins impunity predictably follows our tepid response to his previous horrors in Georgia and Crimea, our naive efforts at a one-sided reset, and the shortsidedness of America First, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee added.

In a bitter callback to Obamas famous 2012 quip, Romney commented: The 80s called and we didnt answer. Hes one of the few Republican politicians who has been consistent in his take on Russia, though few in his party seemed inclined to follow him down the road to a new Cold War.
The greater protection afforded to workers' rights in the food-delivery and car-hailing industries over the past year illustrates how a talking point at China's "two sessions" can result in swift and solid action to tackle thorny problems.

A year ago, national legislators and political advisers called for new policies on the protection of laborers' rights in the new economy, issuing their call during the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

They urged efforts to clarify the responsibilities of online platforms, such as food-delivery apps, and to tackle the lack of guarantees for workers regarding occupational injuries.

"We pay great attention to suggestions and proposals submitted by legislators and political advisers," said an official of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

After thorough discussions and careful studies, a guideline, which incorporated the opinions of legislators and political advisers, was unveiled jointly by seven central government departments in July. The document emphasized that platform companies should shoulder their due responsibilities in protecting the lawful rights and interests of workers.

Over the past months, most of the top platforms have taken action in line with the guidelines, including building channels of expression for workers and mechanisms for communication and consultations, improving their rules and algorithms, and stepping up supervision over labor dispatching partners, the official said.

The official said that many suggestions and proposals are targeted and practical, and the ministry will continue to heed and adopt the opinions of legislators and political advisers in the future.

The guideline was only one of the numerous policy improvements prompted by the "two sessions."

Last year, offices and departments under the State Council handled 8,666 suggestions from NPC deputies and 5,718 proposals submitted by CPPCC members, accounting for 96.4 percent and 93.4 percent of the total numbers of suggestions and proposals, respectively.

Relevant departments adopted more than 4,300 pieces of advice and subsequently introduced over 1,600 policy measures.

The fifth annual session of the 13th NPC is scheduled to open on March 5, and the fifth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee is set to begin on March 4.


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Vini Nathan, Auburn Universitys dean and McWhorter chair in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction, has been named interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, President Jay Gogue announced Thursday.

Nathan will succeed Provost Bill Hardgrave on March 7. Hardgrave was named president of the University of Memphis and begins his appointment on April 1.

As the universitys interim chief academic officer, Nathan will provide leadership to Auburns 13 colleges in addition to numerous academic programs and units that support the universitys instruction, research and outreach mission.

Dean Nathan is a seasoned academic leader who is knowledgeable about Auburns culture, traditions and policies, Gogue said. She has a demonstrated commitment to students, faculty and staff as well as all aspects of Auburns land-grant mission. I am confident Vini can seamlessly move into the interim position and provide the provosts office with expert leadership.

Nathan earned her doctoral degree in architecture from the University of Michigan in 1994. She began her appointment at Auburn in 2011 when she assumed the CADC deanship and McWhorter chair. Previously, she was the dean and professor in the School of Architecture at Thomas Jefferson University (previously Philadelphia University) in Philadelphia, department chair and assistant professor of interior architecture at the New York Institute of Technology and an assistant professor of Interior Design at Michigan State University.

I am honored to be named the interim provost, Nathan said. I am excited to partner with Auburns students and faculty to continue to advance the universitys world-class academic reputation, unparalleled student experience and robust research and outreach mission. I look forward to working with President Gogue and incoming President Roberts.

Under Nathans leadership, the College of Architecture, Design and Construction increased student enrollment and faculty lines, expanded its undergraduate and graduate program offerings, and experienced an increase in philanthropic support for endowed student scholarships, graduate fellowships, professorships, new and upgraded facilities and programmatic support.

I look forward to working with Vini in this role, said Chris Roberts, dean of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering who was named Auburns 21st president on Feb. 4. We have both served as deans for the past 10 years. In that time, Ive been able to get to know her well and Ive appreciated her leadership in her college and on campus.

Incoming-President Roberts will begin the nationwide search for a permanent provost following the start of his presidency on May 16. As interim provost, Nathan will not be a candidate for the permanent provost position.

An acting dean for the College of Architecture, Design and Construction will be named in the coming weeks. Nathan will return to the dean position in the CADC when a permanent provost is selected.
Japan is the worlds second-largest LNG importer, and if it does not reduce its reliance on LNG imports, it is likely to face higher levels of energy instability

As climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue, governments worldwide have stepped up efforts towards decarbonization. Japan aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26% from 2013 levels by 2030. Leveraging nuclear energy could help Japan meet this goal, a fact understood by the administration of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. However, the government faces an uphill battle in the shadow of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Japans Energy Ambitions

Prior to the Fukushima disaster, nuclear power generation accounted for almost 30% of Japans energy mix. However, safety concerns and public backlash in the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima disaster led the government to shut down all the countrys nuclear power plants by May 2012. Though some plants have resumed operation since then, nuclear energy currently accounts for only around 6.2% of Japans energy mix. To make up for the nuclear shortfall, Japan stepped up imports of natural gas; liquified natural gas (LNG) imports jumped 12,621 thousand tonnes between 2010 and 2011. At the time of writing, Japan is the worlds second-largest LNG importer behind China and the third-largest importer of coal behind India and China.

Positively, renewable energys share of Japans energy mix has increased steadily in recent years, reaching a share of 18% in 2019. The government anticipates that renewable energy will account for at least 36% of Japans energy mix by 2030. PM Kishidas administration also aims to leverage Japans nuclear infrastructure to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, hoping to have nuclear energy take up between 20-22% of the energy mix by 2030. Even so, continued public opposition and post-Fukushima reforms make it unlikely that Japan will be able to meet this 2030 target.

Public Opinion

A decade on from the Fukushima disaster, the Japanese public continues to view nuclear power with suspicion, as the results of a 2020 survey by the Japan Atomic Energy Relations Organization (JAERO) indicate. Questioned about their perception of nuclear power, 61% of the 1200 respondents considered it dangerous. When asked about their stance on nuclear energy policy, 48% felt that while nuclear energy should be used for the time being, it should be phased out gradually. Another 8% took a firmer position, arguing that Japan should abandon nuclear power as soon as possible. Taken together, these statistics are discouraging for the Japanese governments plan to return nuclear powers share of the energy mix closer to that which it enjoyed pre-2011.

Illustrating the impact which local communities can have on the nuclear restart process, in March 2021 an Ibaraki district court ordered the suspension of the T?kai 2 nuclear power plant, citing insufficient disaster readiness measures, following a lawsuit filed by 224 residents of Ibaraki, Tokyo and Chiba. Prior to the decision on T?kai 2, 7 other lawsuits were filed with similar initial outcomes barring nuclear power plants from operating. Though many of these were overturned on appeal, dealing with ongoing public opposition constitutes an additional cost and delay to the governments efforts.

Regulatory Changes

Post-Fukushima reforms to Japans nuclear regulatory framework have also contributed to the languishing restart process. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) established after the disaster enjoys a far greater degree of independence than its predecessor, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), insulating it from government or industry pressure. While this is beneficial for ensuring nuclear safety, some scholars have argued that the NRAs communication with plant operators is ineffective and that some of the Authoritys safety goals are excessive. As a result, delays and increased review costs have slowed the recovery of Japans nuclear industry.

Related to this, power plant operators face significant costs in complying with the NRAs safety requirements. The NRAs regulations include measures to respond to an intentional attack (such as by terrorists or a missile) and steps to prevent damage to a reactors containment vessel. Implementing these conditions across 28 of Japans nuclear plants would cost, according to a 2018 examination of reports, approximately 4 trillion yen (about USD $35 billion).

Farewell, Fission?

Faced with growing costs and uncertainty about the prospects for plant operation in the face of lawsuits and regulatory inspections, Japans power companies have increasingly decided to divest themselves of nuclear power stations. Of Japans 57 existing reactors, 24 are set to be decommissioned whereas only 3 new reactors are under construction. Under the current system whereby nuclear plants may not operate for more than 60 years, it is likely that more reactors will be decommissioned in the next decade, presuming this limitation is not relaxed.

Related: Australia Eyes Key Role In Booming Asian LNG Market

Overall, it is unlikely that nuclear power will account for 20% of Japans energy mix by 2030 as the government hopes. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to state that if the current state of affairs continues, Japans nuclear infrastructure is quite likely to atrophy significantly. Such an outcome would place at risk not only Japans climate ambitions but its national security.

As a resource-poor nation, nuclear power is a reliable source of energy which reduces Japans dependence on imports from other countries; energy independence serves to secure freedom of action and reduce the impact of external shocks. Recent tensions surrounding Russia and Ukraine underscore the risks inherent to Japans LNG import dependence. Worries about the possibility of Russia cutting off its supply of gas to Europe if conflict erupts resulted in US President Joe Biden requesting Japan divert some of its imported LNG to Europe, potentially challenging Japans ability to respond to sudden domestic gas demand. A European conflict would push gas prices up further, straining Japanese finances.

Japans reliance on LNG also endangers other parts of the economy, as price spikes caused by events like unexpected cold spells (as occurred in early 2021) squeeze the finances of both consumers and firms. If Japan does not reduce its reliance on LNG imports, it is likely to face higher levels of energy instability as LNG demand continues its global growth trend and climate change leads to more unpredictable temperature shifts. The decline of Japans nuclear industry would also jeopardize decades of accumulated research and expertise. With neighbors like China investing more into cutting-edge nuclear technology, abandoning nuclear energy would put Japan at a competitive disadvantage and result in the loss of skilled workers in the field. Though the Fukushima disaster exposed fatal flaws in Japans nuclear energy sector, admirable progress has been made over the last 10 years to rectify those weaknesses; neglecting nuclear power now is likely to cost Japan dearly in the future.

By Global Risk Insights

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The reason this first round of sanctions is relatively light is two-fold, the West wants to maintain some leverage over Russia and has very limited options.

These sanctions include the suspension of the certification of Nord Stream 2 and the freezing of assets associated with some banks and wealthy individuals.

Russias decision to recognize the independence of two cities in Ukraine and send troops over the border has triggered a slew of sanctions from the West.

This week, Germanys Chancellor Olaf Sholz ordered the suspension of the certification process for Nord Stream 2, the Russian gas pipeline that wouldve significantly boosted the supply of Russian gas to Germany.

The move came in response to Russias decision to recognize the two breakaway Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent republics and following the decision to send Russian troops there, which the Kremlin claimed was for peacekeeping purposes.

All EU governments, the UK, and the United States denounced the move and threatened sanctions. The UK and the U.S. later declared some, but, oddly enough, none of the sanctions targeted Russias massive energy industry.

The UK, in its sanction drive, froze the assets of five Russian banks and three Russian individuals. The UK parliament also said it would target with sanctions the Russian MPs who voted in favor of the recognition of Luhansk and Donetsk and said it would ban British companies from doing business in the two regions. The EU targeted politicians with punitive action.

U.S. sanctions, as announced by President Joe Biden, include putting two big Russian banks and what he termed Russian elites and their families on the U.S. Specially Designated Nationals List, which effectively cuts off access of these individuals to the U.S. financial system.

The other target was Russian sovereign debt. As Biden told reporters on Tuesday, the sanctions against Moscow basically prevent it from borrowing abroada move that sent shock waves across the debt trading industry.

So, apart from Sholzs suspension of Nord Stream 2, not a single sanction shot was fired against Russias energy or commodity industry. It is highly likely that such sanctions are on the agenda for later. But given the pain such sanctions are going to inflict on European countries and maybe even the United States itself, they might become a last resort.

For starters, the suspension of Nord Stream 2 will be a lot more painful for Germany than for Russia if the pipeline remains suspended over the longer term. The point of Nord Stream 2 was to increase gas flows to Germany as the country shuts down its nuclear and coal power plants. So if there is no pipeline, Germany would have to replace the cheap pipeline gas with costlier LNG.

As for Russias pain, Gazprom recently sealed a deal with China to double the capacity of its Power of Siberia gas pipeline that delivers gas to northern China. Over the short term, the stranding of the $12-billion Nord Stream 2 project would be unpleasant, but it wont be the end of Gazprom.

But why did nobody sanction Russian oil or gas or metals? First, there are a lot of big, important Western companies working in Russian oil and gas and metals. Second, Russia is a major global commodity supplier and sanctions would disrupt an already shaken global economy.

Shell, BP, and Exxon are the biggest oil majors with Russian businesses. BP is the most intimately linked to Moscow, with a 25-percent stake in state oil major Rosneft. Commodity trading leaders including Vitol, Glencore, and Trafigura are also among Moscows business partners, the Financial Times wrote in an overview of the implications that Western sanctions could have on Russias economy and on its partners.

Extensive sanctions would be really problematic for the energy sector, even if they dont directly target exports, the FT quoted the head of political risk at GPW, a consultancy, as saying.

The least that these Western companies could expect in the event of sanctions targeting their sectors would be to down tools while they worked out their exposure, Livia Paggi also told the FT. The most, judging by how sanctions unfolded in Venezuela, would be to leave the countrysomething that BP, for one, would be loathed to do given its pretty lucrative participation in Rosneft.

Reuters published a factbox about Russias weight in international commodity trade this week, according to which, as of last year, Russia supplied some 6 percent of the worlds aluminum, 4 percent of the worlds cobalt, and 3.5 percent of the worlds copper.

Nornickel, the metals giant, is the worlds largest nickel miner, supplying 7 percent of global output but also the worlds largest palladium miner and one of the top platinum miners.

Thats not all, either, because Russia also produces 4 percent of global steel output and a tenth of global gold output. Sanctions against its mining industry would, in all likelihood, lead to even higher commodity prices.

Yet besides metalsand oil and gas, which are the most obvious and most problematic sanction targetsRussia is also a major producer of fertilizers, accounting for 13 percent of the global total. It is also, critically, the worlds largest producer of wheat.

What all this means is that for all the sanction threats the U.S., the UK, and the EU have considered in the past couple of months, their hands are, to a pretty significant extent, tied. Unless, of course, Washington, London, and Brussels are ready and willing to add more price pain for industries they are prioritizing in their economic plans, such as renewable energy and EV manufacturing.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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None of the first sanctions announced by the U.S., the European Union, or the UK targeted any Russian bank that deals in Russian oil and gas transactions.

Biden: sanctions are designed to maximize long-term pain inflicted on Russia, while minimizing the pain felt by American consumers.

Crude oil retreated on Thursday afternoon as U.S. President Joe Biden prepared yet another round of sanctions on Russia in order to punish Russia for its earlier attack on Ukraine.

In a White House presser, President Joe Biden recapped existing sanctions and announced new ones. The sanctions are purposefully designed, President Biden said, to maximize the long-term pain inflicted on Russia, while minimizing the pain felt by American consumers.

And its not just the United States. President Biden said he met with the G7 leaders earlier on Thursday, the members of which are in full and total agreement. We will limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds, and yen to limit Russias ability to be part of the global economy.

The United States will stunt the ability to finance and grow the Russian military. It will impair Russias ability to compete in todays high-tech economy.

The U.S. has also sanctioned Russian banks that together hold around $1 trillion in assets. The largest bank had already been cut off from the U.S. financial system. Today, four more major banks will be included. That means every asset they have in America will be frozen.

The United States has also sanctioned additional Russian elites and their family members.

On Tuesday, The U.S. sanctioned the Russian government to keep them from raising money from U.S. or European investors. Now, this will be applied to Russias largest state-owned enterprises, which are those whose assets exceed $1.4 trillion.

President Biden vowed that some of the most powerful impacts will come over time.

The President issued a reminder that U.S. forces are not and will not be engaged with Russian forces in Ukraine, but that the U.S. will defend NATO territory with the full force of American power.

In reference to the current gasoline price situation, the President said the White House was taking active steps to bring down the cost. He issued a warning, however, to American oil and gas companies. They should not exploit this moment to hike their prices to raise profits.

The sanctions specifically allow energy payments to continue, and energy supplies are being monitored for disruption. To that end, the United States has once again engaged in a campaign with countries around the world to elevate collective release of strategic petroleum reserves of major energy-consuming countries. The US will release additional barrels of oil as conditions warrant.

Both GOP and Democratic lawmakers have called on the White House to slap Russia with harsher sanctions, following the Presidents Tuesday sanctions on Russian financial institutions and sovereign debt, and Wednesday sanctions on the company that owns the non-operational Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

The first round of sanctions from the United States was called by some analysts as underwhelming. None of the first sanctions announced by the U.S., the European Union, or the UK targeted any Russian bank that deals in Russian oil and gas transactions. While lawmakers were calling for harsher sanctions, the fact that energy markets were not directly affected seemed to have injected some sort of calm to the market that the West would not target energy supply from the country accounting for over 10 percent of global oil supply and nearly 40 percent of the natural gas Europe imports.

Putin will be a pariah on the international stage, Biden said.

Oil prices eased somewhat, with Brent falling back below $100 per barrel following the press conference, absent of any energy-related sanctions.



By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer: Putins claim that his goal is demilitarization of Ukraine is a lie.

Putins declared intent at this point is to ensure a pro-Russian government in Ukraine, and the only question now is how long the Ukrainians will fight.

Speaking on Bloomberg TV, Former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus said Putins aim now is to topple the Ukrainian government, replace it with a pro-Russian regime, control the capital and control everything east of the Dnieper, as well as the southern portion of the country to cut Ukraine off from the Black Sea and connect up with a Russian unit in the eastern part of of Moldova.

Ukrainian forces are overwhelmed, and Russian has complete superiority, says Petraeus, and everything now depends on whether Ukrainian forces surrender or fight.

The former CIA director notes that Ukraine is a vast country for Russia to control, and Putins ability to sustain this effort for an extended period of time depends on whether or not the Ukrainians can cut off Russian logistics.

As Russia over-reaches, Petraeus says, the question is how vulnerable will Russias supply lines be and how much will Ukrainian forces continue to fight.

So far, the general says, the Ukrainians have managed to knock out a Russian helicopter and some armored vehicles, but it is not yet crystal clear how tough the Ukrainian resistance is.

And there will be no more weapons shipments to Ukraine for the time being, with Russia holding air supremacy.

However, there will likely be more reinforcements of front line NATO countries, such as the Baltic states and Poland, with eastern Poland potentially becoming the front line in a new cold war.

Sanctions are going to be massive, targeting Russian banks, Russian oil companies and the oligarchs around Putin.

Speaking on Bloomberg TV, Senator Sherrod Brown said Russia will pay a major price for this.

Brown noted that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is navigating her way through sanctions against Russian banks. That depends on cooperation from Americas biggest banks, which Brown expects to be forthcoming.

There will be major collateral economic damage. While Europeans will feel a much deeper impact than Americans, American consumers will understand, says Brown.

According to Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group, Putins claim that his goal is demilitarization of Ukraine is a lie.

Putin has told us for the last two months. Hes told Biden, hes told Macron, hes told Schultz, hes told Johnson that he has no intention of invading Ukraine. Hes lied in consistent and staggering fashion and so tragically for the Ukrainian people. Theyre now saying they have no intention to occupy Ukraine but Russia has already said that they consider that the Ukrainian nation is part of Russia. It is very clear that they intend to overthrow this Ukrainian government and they intend to integrate it in some way within a broader Russian structure.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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The U.S. slapped sanctions on Swiss-registered Nord Stream 2, the consortium behind the pipeline of the same name that has come into the focus on sanction action following Russia's recognition of the two breakaway regions of Lugansk and Donetsk in Ukraine.

And more sanctions on Russia could be coming after Russia attacked Ukraine earlier on Thursday. President Joe Biden announced post-attack that the world will "hold Russia responsible". Biden is expected to unveil new sanctions at noon ET today.

The additional measures Biden could take include restrictions on large financial institutions, sanctions on more members of Putin's inner circle, or cutting Russia off from advanced tech.

Earlier this week, Germany's Chancellor announced the certification of the pipeline would be suspended even though previously he had noted that Nord Stream 2 would be kept separate from anything Germany decides to do with regard to the situation in Ukraine.

"We now have to reassess the dramatically changed situation: This also applies to Nord Stream 2," Scholz said on Tuesday, adding that "The certification cannot take place now."

"Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers," said President Joe Biden a day later.

"These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate," he also said, as quoted by Reuters.

Reuters noted in its report on the news that the sanctions did not extend to former Germany Chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder, who is the head of the shareholder committee of Nord Stream AG.

Related: Australia Eyes Key Role In Booming Asian LNG Market

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told media that as a result of the sanctions, Nord Stream 2 is "no longer part of the equation," Al Jazeera reported.

"That is now an $11bn prize project that is a piece of steel at the bottom of the ocean," Price also said.

Nord Stream is a 55-billion-cu-m pipeline under the Baltic Sea and is the twin of the already operating Nord Stream 1. The project has been controversial since its inception, with Ukraine accusing Russia of building it in order to bypass Ukraine as a transit route and strip it of much-needed transit fees. Central European countries and the Baltics, for their part, claimed the new pipeline would increase European dependence on Russian gas.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Oil traders in Asiaexcept in Chinaare alarmed that they could soon struggle to procure enough crude if the West imposes sanctions on Russian oil trade or cuts Russia from the SWIFT banking system, market participants told Energy Intelligence after Russia attacked Ukraine early on Thursday.

The general perception among Asian oil traders is that the situation is "quite complicated," one trader told Energy Intelligence.

Two-thirds of Russia's crude oil exports are seaborne, from ports in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea.

After Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, the United States, the European Union, and the UK vowed to impose another round of sanctions against Moscow. None of the first sanctions announced by the U.S. or the European Union, or the UK, targeted any Russian bank dealing with Russia's oil and gas transactions.

This morning's invasion, however, prompted world leaders to vow "massive" strong sanctions against Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden said that "the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia" later on Thursday.

If the West were to use the "nuclear option" and sanction Russian oil and/or cut Russia from the SWIFT system of global payments, Asian oil importers that are U.S. allies will likely comply with the sanctions. Those include major crude importers such as Japan and South Korea.

But China, the world's top oil importer, is unlikely to heed any sanctions and continue importing Russian oil, Energy Intelligence notes. China, for example, has continued buying Iranian and Venezuelan crude oil, even after the U.S. imposed sanctions on those two countries' exports.

"If anyone is to buy sanctioned stuff, you can count on [the] Chinese," a trader working on the Chinese market told Energy Intelligence.

China refused today to describe the Russian invasion of Ukraine as "invasion" and said that "It may not be what everyone wants to see."

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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More drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea is unlikely to reverse the energy price climb that has created hundreds of thousands of new energy poor in the UK.

This is what the Climate Change Committeean independent advisory body to the UK governmentsaid this week in a letter sent to business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.

The price of gas is very, very marginally affected by what we produce in this country, said the chairman of the Climate Change Committee, John Gummer, said, as quoted by Bloomberg. We know that already because more than half of it is produced in this country and still we are paying the international price.

Whats more, new oil and gas production will take decades to develop, and it wont have much of an impact on energy prices in Britain because of its interconnectedness with international oil and gas markets.

On the other hand, the CCC chairman said, building more offshore capacity would have reduced energy costs for households.

In more comments on the idea of new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, Gummer said that this idea undermined efforts by the UK to build an image for itself as a frontrunner in the energy transition.

We are very concerned about the signalling impact of new North Sea exploration, he said, adding that an end to UK exploration would send a clear signal to the rest of the world that we really are serious about [limiting global warming to] 1.5C.

Gummer explained that should new exploration be approved, it would make it harder for the UK to persuade other nations to do more about emissions-cutting. However, media noted that the CCC chairman had stopped short of embracing a ban on new oil and gas drilling in UK waters in the North Sea.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Owners of tankers have become reluctant to offer their vessels to load crude from Russia for fear that their future cargo could be breaching potential sanctions if the West decides to deploy the harshest sanctions against Russia after it invaded Ukraine early on Thursday.

Several shipbrokers and tanker owners told Bloomberg on Thursday that they avoid offering their vessels to load Russian crude.

Two-thirds of Russia's crude oil exports are seaborne, from ports in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea.

After Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, the United States, the European Union, and the UK vowed to impose another round of sanctions against Moscow.

The first round of sanctions, while cutting some Russian banks from international markets and expanding sanctions on trading with Russian sovereign debt, was underwhelming, analysts said.

None of the first sanctions announced by the U.S. or the European Union, or the UK, targeted any Russian bank dealing with Russia's oil and gas transactions, which calmed the market that the West will not target energy supply from the country accounting for over 10 percent of global oil supply and nearly 40 percent of the natural gas Europe imports.

Earlier this week, a senior U.S. State Department official said that sanctions that the United States imposed on Russia for recognizing two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and sending troops there were not targeting Russian oil and gas flows, nor would they target such flows in subsequent sanctions that could be imposed in the near future.

This morning's invasion, however, prompted world leaders to vow "massive" strong sanctions against Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden said that "the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia" later on Thursday.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said that "The sanctions that we are preparing will have a heavy impact. Russia's economy has already faced intensified pressure. These pressures will now accumulate."

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Ukraine has now lost control of its Chernobyl plant to the Russians, and the first Ukrainian refugees have arrived in neighboring Poland, as the UK makes the first move to slap damaging sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin who has threatened what analysts believe is a nuclear option against anyone intending to meddle in the situation.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced new sanctions on Russia, including freezing the assets of all major banks. The target list includes VTB bank, which is Russias second-largest.

Russian companies and the Russian government will also be barred from raising money on UK markets, and an export ban on high-tech products, including oil refinery equipment, will be put in place. Additionally, Russian airline Aeroflot is barred from landing in the UK.

In all, some 100 new individuals and entities will be sanctioned by the UK.

These are the hardest-hitting sanctions slapped on Russia so far, as they target Putins closest circle of oligarchs. Among them, and included on the list, is Putins ex-son-in-law, Kirill Shamalov, Russias youngest billionaire.



Speaking to the House of Commons, Johnson called Putin a bloodstained aggressor and described the sanctions as "the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen".

Johnson also said the G7 group would be uniting to "maximise the economic price that Putin will pay for his aggression" and that Belarus would be added to the sanctions, as well, the BBC reported.

The sanctions come shortly after Putin issued what appears to have been a veiled nuclear threat, according to some analysts.

"Whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history," Putin said earlier on Thursday.

The threat comes as Russia attacks from all sides, seeking to control the capital and the Black Sea ports, as well as reports of incursions into western Ukraine.

Whether President Putin fully intended to threaten an all-out nuclear strike, the message he is trying to send, Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer told CBS this morning, is that Ukraine belongs to him. What Putin is saying is that this country is mine. I am taking it. I am working to reintegrate the Russian Empire.

Reintegrating Ukraine would go a long way to reversing the collapse of the Soviet empire. A collapse that was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century, Putin said back in 2005.

Putins definition of meddling could include sanctions that are in the works and expected to be severely painful, with a global impact.

But the energy markets are eyeing more than a potential nuclear strike.

New sanctionswhich could include oil or even gas-related assets and finances beyond the UKs ban on oil refinery equipment and fundraisingcould be announced as early as this afternoon from the United States.

Brent crude was trading at $102.10 at 1:50 p.m. ET, with WTI at $95.47.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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 Flash

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed on Wednesday to hold their 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) during the week of 13 June in Geneva, the organization said.

According to a WTO press release, the decision was taken by the organization's General Council following the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions in the host country Switzerland. The exact dates of the meeting will be specified later.

Dacio Castillo, ambassador of Honduras to the WTO and chair of the General Council, said that fixing the dates for the conference should provide impetus to the WTO's work and focus for the discussions.

"Let us work together with the primary objective in mind that the Conference will provide the WTO, and us here in Geneva, with an opportunity to demonstrate that the WTO can deliver," Castillo said. "Let us make this count."

MC12 was originally due to be held in June 2020 in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

The rescheduled meeting was set to be held between Nov. 30 and Dec. 3, 2021, but was postponed due to the Omicron variant COVID-19 outbreak, which led to the imposition of travel restrictions and quarantine requirements that would have prevented many ministers from reaching Geneva.

The Ministerial Conference, which is attended by trade ministers and other senior officials from the organization's 164 members, is the WTO's highest decision-making body.
For the past three years, noted musician and conductor Hal France has been at the University of Nebraska at Omaha teaching musical theater classes.

Hes probably better known, however, for his 10 years as the executive director of Opera Omaha (from 1995 to 2005) and his extensive freelance career as a guest conductor with noted opera companies across the country.

His last appearance with Opera Omaha was in 2018, as the conductor for Giuseppe Verdis Falstaff.

Now hes back behind the baton for the company as the conductor of Stephen Sondheims Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, premiering Friday at the Orpheum Theater.

Hes thrilled to be working on such an iconic example of musical theater  one that has many elements of opera  as he settles into his still-evolving gig as an instructor at UNO.

Hes helping the school develop an undergraduate program that will allow students to choose a musical theater major or minor. Hes also planning for UNOs first summer musical academy for high school students, set for this June.

Musical theater is an area Im very keen on developing in my life, he said. Its a vast and fascinating world.

Sweeney Todd is an iconic example of the genre, he said.

(It) is one of the great masterpieces in the world, he said. Its our Mozart in some ways.

France said concept and stage director Susan Clement and her team have developed the Opera Omaha production from the ground up.

Its very different from other approaches, he said, and very ambitious.

The musical is the story of a Victorian-era British barber who returns to London after 15 years of exile to exact revenge on the corrupt judge who sent him away. He eventually swears vengeance on the entire human race and murders as many people as he can. His associate, Mrs. Lovett, bakes their remains into pies and sells them.

Many productions focus on realistic street settings to set the tone, but Clement  longtime artistic director of Omahas Blue Barn Theatre  is digging into the psychology of Sweeney, France said.

There will be lots of historic references but in an abstract way, he said. Its ambitious to go after a more internal view and not just realistic street settings.

France praised the creative spirit of Clement and the production designers, including lighting, sets, hair, makeup, costumes, sound and everything else that goes into a show.

Its a very significant team, all of them, he said. Bill Kirby of the Blue Barn is the sound designer and David Neumann, an old friend of Susan who is respected in the Broadway world, is the choreographer, France said.

No matter the approach, the show blurs the lines between opera and musical theater, making it an attractive choice for opera companies.

When Sweeney Todd hit Broadway, it sparked a hot debate about its genre, France said.

When it came out in 1979, people said Thats Stephen Sondheims opera, he said. Its a tragedy with dark themes and characters and Sweeney sings an incredible song that you have to call an aria.

Sondheim didnt engage in the debate, France said.

(He) was just telling a very dramatic story in the way he knew how.

The legendary Hal Prince, who directed Sweeney Todd on Broadway, was also at the helm the first time an opera company produced it. He brought the musical to the Houston Opera Company along with some members of the original cast. France worked with Prince as an assistant conductor on that production.

Opera Omaha leaders had no idea of that when they approached France for their Sweeney Todd.

Why they thought of me I dont know, but Im glad they did, he said.

There are only two performances of Opera Omahas Sweeney Todd, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available at operaomaha.org.

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Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2022 shows a screen displaying Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking during a televised address, in Moscow, Russia. [Photo/Xinhua]

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in the Donbass region, and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack.

"Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," Putin said in a televised speech to the nation, noting that Russia's move is in response to "fundamental threats" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Putin called on all people living on the territory of Ukraine to "independently determine the future of their own and children."

In the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, explosions were heard at Boryspil International Airport and other places across the city, according to local media reports. The country's airspace was closed for civilian aircraft, and local authorities were evacuating passengers and staff from the airport.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday declared martial law in the country following Russia's military operation.

In a video address, Zelensky said his country is under attack. According to the Interior Ministry, military depots and airfields in the capital were hit by missiles.

Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states and deployed "peacekeeping" forces in the two regions.

Seeing it as "a matter of time" for NATO to expand eastward, Putin took military actions against Ukraine after his recent negotiations with the United States and NATO failed.

Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons, he said Thursday, adding that Russia took action to protect itself from "those who take Ukraine hostage."

In case of external interference in the situation in Ukraine, Russia will respond immediately, Putin said.

In a late-night address Wednesday, Zelensky said he had unsuccessfully sought talks with Putin. "I initiated a telephone call with the president of the Russian Federation. Result: silence."

While mobilizing troops, Russia closed its airspace to civilian aircraft on its western borders with Ukraine and Belarus, the aviation authorities said Thursday.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Armed Forces are destroying "military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" with high-precision weapons, not targeting Ukrainian cities.

Besides Kiev, several military targets in eastern and southern Ukraine were under attack early Thursday, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Here's your latest COVID news for Feb. 23, 2022.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday he is removing emergency powers police can use after authorities ended the truck blockades at the borders and the occupation in Ottawa by those opposed to COVID-19 restrictions.

Trudeau said the threat continues but the acute emergency that included entrenched occupations has ended. His government invoked the powers last week and lawmakers affirmed the powers late Monday.

Speaking of trucker protests, the Pentagon has approved the deployment of 700 unarmed National Guard troops to the nations capital as it prepares for trucker convoys that are planning protests against pandemic restrictions beginning next week.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved the request Tuesday from the District of Columbia government and the U.S. Capitol Police, the Pentagon said in a statement Tuesday night.

The troops would be used to assist with traffic control during demonstrations expected in the city in the coming days, the Pentagon said. Four hundred Guard members from the District of Columbia Guard will be joined by 300 Guard members from other states, according to the statement.

The vaccination drive in the U.S. is grinding to a halt, and demand has all but collapsed in places like the deeply conservative manufacturing town of Hamilton, Alabama where many weren't interested in the shots to begin with.

The average number of Americans getting their first shot is down to about 90,000 a day, the lowest point since the first few days of the U.S. vaccination campaign, in December 2020. And hopes of any substantial improvement in the immediate future have largely evaporated.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will announce new metrics to guide Covid-19 restrictions such as mask-wearing as early as Friday or possibly in the early part of next week, according to a CDC scientist directly involved with the process.

The CDC currently says that people who live in counties with substantial or high levels of Covid-19 transmission should wear masks indoors. The agency will not be changing that guidance but will be changing the way it assesses "community levels of disease," by shifting from looking at cases alone to looking at "meaningful consequences" of the virus such as hospitalizations, emergency room visits and deaths.

***

Check out more COVID-19 news here:
I dearly wish that N.C. Bruce, a Black soldier in 1898, could somehow meet Staff Sgt. Tamara Silcott and Lt. Col. Eric Baptiste, Nebraskans who are serving in the Air Guard and Army Guard respectively in 2022. Such a meeting between these Black Americans, across more than a century of change, would have given Bruce, who witnessed terrible abuses of Black military service personnel in his day, a measure of hope for our countrys future.

In 1898, at the start of the Spanish-American War, Bruce volunteered for the all-Black Third Regiment in North Carolina. I wrote about him in a series of articles in 1998 on the centennial of the Spanish-American War. I was still working in my native North Carolina, and my series examined the historical significance of the war (a conflict, by the way, which sparked The World-Heralds first efforts at direct reporting on a global issue).

In 2022, race relations remain a supreme challenge for our country, no question. Racial inequities weigh heavily on America. Still, the achievements of Tamara and Eric in our time are, to a great degree, a fulfillment of the dream that Bruce put forward in a letter in 1898, at the start of the Spanish-American War.

The outbreak of that war set the stage for a major debate within our countrys Black community. On one side, many Black Americans questioned why any Black man should volunteer for service in the war at a time when horrific Jim Crow abuses and discrimination were rampant in the South and race relations were far from perfect outside that region.

Other Black Americans, such as Bruce, took a different view, seeing a chance for societal change. Wartime service, they said, offered a landmark opportunity for racial progress once White society witnessed the dedication to country by Black servicemen willing to put their lives on the line in battle in Cuba and the Philippines.

The war has begun for Justice to Humanity  justice at home as well as abroad, Bruce wrote at the start of the war. The conflict, he proposed, would not end until any and every color of American man will be gladly welcomed into the trenches alongside of the other boys to fight for Christs peace and justice on earth.

Similarly, Black journalist E.E. Cooper, editor of a newspaper in Washington, D.C., wrote that the war with Spain was certain to bring about an era of good feeling the country over and cement races into a more compact brotherhood through perfect unity of purpose and patriotic affinity.

Instead, the wartime experience brutally crushed those hopes.

The all-Black 25th Infantry Regiment  buffalo soldiers from Missoula, Montana  received one of the earliest indications. In Missoula, White parishioners delayed their Easter Sunday services to give the soldiers a warm farewell as they began heading east for wartime deployment. But once the 25th arrived by rail in Kentucky and Tennessee, they quickly sensed the bitter contempt from White residents.

As for Bruces North Carolinas Third Regiment  one of only a handful of volunteer units to be commanded by Black officers  it suffered abuse and suspicion from Whites throughout its existence. The experiences of the regiments soldiers and other Black military volunteers were especially horrendous when they were stationed for a protracted period in Georgia.

When a private with the 25th walked into a drugstore in Hampton, Georgia, and ordered soda water, a White customer shot him dead. In three separate incidents, conductors in Georgia fatally shot Black servicemen who refused to leave their seats on whites-only streetcars. None of the shooters were convicted for their actions.

Col. Amos Brandt, commander of an all-Black unit from Iowa, later said in a public address in Des Moines that while stationed in Georgia during the war, the treatment we received in that state was the most hellish one can imagine.

Given my past writing on that history, I decided to reach out to the Nebraska National Guard during Black History Month to talk with two Black Nebraskans who are currently serving. I spoke with Staff Sgt. Tamara Silcott, a native of El Paso, Texas, who serves in the Air Guard. Military service, it turns out, runs in the family: Both her parents served in the Army at Fort Bliss, Texas.

I joined the service because of them, said Tamara, a Lincoln resident. I wanted to be like them.

Tamara is a medic, and once COVID struck, she worked in the Guards mobile testing and mobile vaccination clinics for just over a year. Her work began shortly after the virus struck the state in March 2020. She also has had an overseas deployment to Guam.

Capable, attentive care for patients has great value, she said, and service in the Air Guard has provided her such an opportunity, including for high-level training: As a medic, a lot of doors have been opened for me.

Every job has its shortfalls, she said, but the military in general has made great strides in being racially inclusive. A recent change much appreciated by Black service personnel is the militarys greater flexibility in hairstyle regulation.

Tamaras mother, decades ago, had to keep her hair in check with heavy gel and hairspray to meet the strict Pentagon standards. It was a wearying burden, week after week. Now, Tamara said, I can wear my natural hair  an important sign of the militarys respect for service personnel.

I also talked with Lt. Col. Eric Baptiste, who has 32 years of military service, first in active-duty status in the Army and, this century, in the Army Guard. Eric, a native of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, didnt experience white racism until his family moved to Louisiana when he was a child.

In the military, he specialized in tank mechanics and, later, wheel mechanics. His Nebraska Guard service provided him the opportunity for officer training and getting a business degree, and he now commands the 126th Chemical Battalion, overseeing nine shops with about 170 mechanics and staff personnel.

Since Ive been in the military, I have not felt or experienced any type of racism, said Eric, who lives in Omaha. But, he added, My head isnt in the sand  I know its out there. His rank as a commanding officer may have shielded him from experiencing race-focused abuse, he said.

My mind wonders what N.C. Bruce, the Black soldier whose hopes were shattered in the Jim Crow era, would think if he could see that our current secretary of defense is a Black man, Gen. Lloyd Austin. And I wonder what Bruce would say if he could hear the statement of gratitude by Eric, the Nebraska Army Guard officer, for the opportunities military service has provided him.

The military, Eric said, has given me everything I have.

Geitner Simmons, a longtime student of Nebraska government, is a writer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a former World-Herald editorial page editor. Views do not represent UNL. Twitter: @GeitnerSimmons. Write him at gcolumn100@gmail.com.
In January, 20 Nebraska lawmakers commemorated the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says the Constitution protects a pregnant persons freedom to choose abortion care, by introducing LB 781. Its a bill to ban all abortions in the state after just six weeks, before most women even know theyre pregnant.

Nebraska policymakers will also likely ban all abortions if Roe is overturned later this year by attempting to pass a trigger ban (LB 933), also introduced this year.

A recent poll showed that 50% of Nebraskans say abortion should be legal, which indicates that anti-choice legislation goes against at least half of residents beliefs. In addition to having laws reflect what residents want, theres an economic imperative for allowing access to abortions.

Most of us have heard about how the pandemic disproportionately impacted women in the workforce. A staggering 4.2 million women across the country had to leave the workforce  a full million more women than men  setting womens labor force participation back more than 30 years. That was because of two key factors: First, unlike previous recessions, this one had layoffs in sectors that were more likely to employ women.

In addition, women have had disproportionate caretaking responsibilities while schools, day cares and senior centers were closed. Research suggests that womens employment will not recover to pre-pandemic levels until 2024, and even recovering to that level means Nebraska women being paid just 78% of what men are paid with an even bigger wage gap for women of color and LGBTQ individuals.

As someone who tracks womens economic mobility, we also know that forcing pregnancy and childbirth traps women and their families in generations of poverty. Even if a woman who is denied an abortion then places the baby for adoption, she still has a massive labor and delivery hospital bill to contend with, which in Nebraska averages $8,805.

Abortion bans, which force women to give birth or have an unsafe abortion, can be emotionally traumatic, financially ruinous and physically dangerous. The U.S. has the highest maternal death rate of the worlds developed nations, a frightening number that has actually been increasing over the last 20 years, and leads to the deaths of 700 pregnant people each year.

While the majority of people who have an abortion already have one or more children, the most common reason for choosing an abortion is not being able to afford having a child (the federal government estimates the average cost of raising a child is over $233,000). Research shows that when a person wants to end a pregnancy but is denied that choice, they are more likely to end up living in poverty, having a hard time affording basic needs like rent and groceries, than someone who was able to get an abortion. The relationship is clear between abortion bans and more families trapped in poverty.

And lets face it: women in the U.S. with financial means  usually white women  have always been able to access safe abortions, regardless of the law. Roe just leveled the playing field so that women of color and lower-income women could have safe abortions too. Our laws must strive to serve our community with fair systems that promote equity for all of us, not just for the privileged few.

Never before have Roes protections in Nebraska been so endangered  and never before have they been this necessary and urgent.

If we really care about the lives and welfare of Nebraskas women and children, we need to ensure women have the economic freedom that men do  and that depends on being able to control their own decisions about their bodies.

Jo Giles is the executive director of the Womens Fund of Omaha. Elizabeth Barajas-Roman is the president and CEO of the Womens Funding Network, the worlds largest philanthropic alliance for gender equity.
BLOOMINGTON  Six months after her son disappeared, Carmen Bolden Day says she still has no answers.

I still know nothing but I believe that God is working, she said in a recent Facebook post. Too many people are praying and those prayers are not falling on deaf ears.

Jelani Day, a 25-year-old Danville man, was reported missing out of Bloomington on Aug. 25; the next day his car was found in a hidden wooded area near the Illinois Valley YMCA in Peru, a small city an hour north of Illinois State University, where Day was a graduate student studying speech language pathology.

His body was pulled from the Illinois River near Peru on Sept. 4 and confirmation of his identity was released to the public Sept. 23. The LaSalle County coroner later determined he died by drowning, and the medical examiner noted The manner in which Mr. Day went into the Illinois River is currently unknown.

Days family has been adamant that he was murdered and did not go into the river by his own choice.

Jelani's murderers are still free, walking the streets among us. We must do all that we can to hold them accountable, Bolden Day wrote in a Facebook post Jan. 20.

A multi-jurisdictional law enforcement team that dubbed itself the Jelani Day Joint Task Force has released little information in the last six months, with the last news release sent in December, announcing the FBI was offering a $10,000 reward for information regarding Days final hours.

The task force includes the LaSalle County Sheriffs Office, the Bloomington, Peru and LaSalle police departments, Illinois State Police, Illinois Attorney Generals Office, FBIs Chicago office and the FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit.

They have urged the FBI to take the lead on this investigation, but thus far the bureau has declined, acting only in an assistance role. Bureau officials have told The Pantagraph the FBI will not take over the case unless a federal crime has been committed, which no authorities have indicated is the case.

Peru Police Department is still the lead investigative agency, though all agencies on the task force are contributing to the investigation. There is no additional comment at this time, FBI Special Agent Siobhan Johnson said Tuesday.

Peru Police Chief Robert Pyszka did not return calls requesting comment.

Despite the bureau saying Peru is the lead agency, a Bloomington police spokesman and a LaSalle County lieutenant said this week any inquiries related to Days case should be directed to the FBI.

Bolden Day and her family have taken to social media, asking supporters to call police chiefs in Peru, Bloomington and LaSalle, LaSalle County Sheriff Adam Diss, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and other public officials, demanding more attention and more FBI involvement for Days case.

These are the people who are really making the decisions  I want to know what happened to my son and what they are doing, Bolden Day wrote in one call to action on Facebook. Please email and call these individuals  Help me to make them accountable.

She met with Bloomington Chief Jamal Simington this month, after speaking at a Bloomington City Council meeting in January, criticizing the department for lack of transparency and communication.

Social media posts indicate Days family left that meeting with no answers. Bloomington police declined to comment on the meeting and Bolden Day has not responded to requests for comment.

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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BLOOMINGTON  Jordyn Thornton was seeking recognition and respect from his hybrid gang members when he shot and killed Trevonte Kirkwood in October 2018 in Bloomington, a prosecutor said Wednesday in closing arguments of Thorntons weeklong trial on murder charges.

Jurors are deliberating whether to convict Thornton, 22, of three charges of first-degree murder for the Oct. 30, 2018, shooting death of Kirkwood, 27, in the 1300 block of North Oak Street in Bloomington.

McLean County Assistant States Attorney Mary Lawson said Thornton did not know Kirkwood because Thornton was new to town in 2018, so he had to play catch up and he wanted his gang members to recognize that hes the real deal. Hes a killer.

Kirkwood was going to a friends house with his girlfriend and two other friends around 8:30 p.m. that night when their car malfunctioned. Kirkwood took a walk in the neighborhood to cool down and a man began to follow him.

Neighbors heard about three gunshots, and Kirkwood stumbled to the ground as his friends ran toward him.

Prosecutors said Thornton was in a Chevy HHR vehicle driven by Quentin Jackson, who was sentenced last year to 17 years in prison for his role in the shooting. Darien Davis and another friend were in the passenger seats.

They drove into the area of North Oak Street and West Seminary Avenue when Thornton told Jackson to stop the car and he got out.

Jackson, Davis and their other friend heard gunshots and moments later, Thornton ran back to the car. They drove back to Thorntons home on Front Street where there was a party, Jackson told police.

A friend of Thornton's told police that he had seen Thornton with a .38 Special handgun earlier that night. He said that after the shooting that night, Thornton hid the .38 Special at his cousins house on Washington Street.

Thornton later asked that friend to drive him to a local lake with another friend. The man who drove them to the lake said Thornton had the .38 Special at the lake and that Thornton and the other friend exited the car, walked toward the water, and then he heard a splash that he believed was the firearm going into the water.

Thornton and his friend returned to the car muddy and that .38 Special is gone, Lawson said of witness's statements.

McLean County Public Defender Ron Lewis called the prosecutors evidence garbage and criticized the Bloomington Police Departments investigation of the homicide through claims that it did not follow up on other leads or rule out other potential suspects.

Lewis said the case comes down to the believability of witnesses. He claimed that Thorntons friends and associates cooperated with police to pin the case on Thornton so they could stay out of their own trouble.

Bloomington Police Det. Jeff Engle testified that he showed up to interview Jackson with a folder containing documents that read Warrants sticking out of it, as a method to gain Jacksons cooperation.

Lewis called the states attorneys offices case a theory and a production and direction of story time, noting the lack of DNA and physical evidence.

Sometimes when people go to look at proving theories, theyre wrong, Lewis said. In this instance, ladies and gentlemen, there is no proof that this theory is accurate. There is no proof that Jordyn was in the vehicle.

Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying [Photo/mfa.gov.cn]

China opposes any act of inciting war and has taken a responsible attitude from the very beginning to persuade all parties not to escalate tensions and incite war, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to queries on the Ukraine issue, noting that the United States has sent at least 1.5 billion dollars' worth of over 1,000 tonnes of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.

"At that time, if all the parties had promoted peace talks, reviewed the historical context of the Ukraine issue, respected and accommodated each other's security concerns, and resolved the issue in a reasonable, proper way for a soft landing of the situation, what would be happening now?" Hua asked.

The culprit of the tensions should now consider how to put out the fire as soon as possible with concrete actions, instead of blaming others, she said.

In response to the U.S. State Department spokesperson's remarks on Ukraine, Hua said the United States is not qualified to tell China what to do on the issue of respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Even today, we are still facing the real threat from the United States and its so-called allies wantonly interfering in China's internal affairs and undermining China's sovereignty and security on Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan issues," she said.

That is why China always firmly upholds the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations, resolutely safeguarding its own sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, as well as international fairness and justice, she added.

The United States, in nearly 250 years since it was founded, has gone less than 20 years without foreign military operations, she said, adding that the excuses used for military interventions are sometimes democracy or human rights, sometimes simply a small bottle of laundry powder or a piece of fake news.

In response to the U.S. suggestion that Russia launched its operations thanks to China's backing, Hua said China's Russian friends would be very unhappy to hear that.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a major independent country, Russia has independently formulated and implemented its own diplomatic strategy based on its own judgment and national interests, she said.

Stressing that China-Russia relations are built on the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and the non-targeting of third countries, Hua said this is fundamentally different from the United States' actions in drawing ideological lines, forming cliques with bloc politics and creating confrontations and divisions.

As for the China-Russia joint statement, Hua suggested that the U.S. side should read it again scrupulously, adding that strengthening strategic communication and coordination between China and Russia and safeguarding the international system, with the UN playing a central coordinating role, demonstrates exactly the role of major responsible countries.
BLOOMINGTON  James Todd Ringel, a prominent defense attorney who handled many major felony cases in Central Illinois courts, has died. He was 54.

His death was reported on the afternoon of Feb. 17 in his Bloomington home, and only the day before he had handled a felony trial that went on into the evening in Macon County.

Presiding Judge Thomas Griffith, who presided at that trial, said Ringel had been on his usual top form: He seemed his normal kind of jovial self and he did a good job like he always does, added Griffith.

He was always very down-to-earth, personable and kind of self-effacing. He would tell funny stories about himself and, as a lawyer, he was smart, he was prepared and he was able to get things done. I liked him very much and he was very well-liked among the judges because of how he was. I am going to miss him very much.

Ringel had spent years working with the Johnson Law Group in Bloomington but had recently joined Decatur-based Hawkins, Amero & Root as a solo practitioner.

Attorney Chris Amero said hes had the difficult job of telling many clients that the lawyer they trusted above all others is no longer around to handle their cases.

I met with one of his clients last night down at the jail and he started crying when I told him about Todds death, Amero said, speaking Thursday. He was just telling me stories about Todd and what a great guy Todd was.

Amero said Ringel had worked as an administrative law judge but had returned to criminal defense work because that was his first love. He said he had a passion for the law and was a true believer in the system and always went the extra mile for his clients, even handing out his cell phone number and taking their calls at all times of the day and night.

Todds clients believed in Todd, said Amero. And while they may not have believed in the system, they definitely believed in Todd.

A Celebration of Life event will be held in Ringels memory from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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BLOOMINGTON  Installation of automatic license plate reader cameras in Bloomington was greenlit by the Public Safety Community Relations Board, but only as a crime-solving tool.

After two hours of discussion, board members voted unanimously on Wednesday to recommend approval of a $59,000 contract with Flock Safety to purchase the technology. Additional transparency measures were recommended to be included in the Bloomington Police Department's policy usage.

"This tool is not about crime reduction, but it's about crime solving," said board member Brigitte Black said during the Wednesday afternoon special meeting. "We want our police officers to have whatever they need to solve crimes, but this is not about crime reduction, because then we have to look at solutions, what the problem is and how we got to the problem in the first place."

The cameras have been at the center of discussions on privacy, transparency and over-policing. Specifically, concerns have been raised by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus, and Conexiones Latina de McLean County.

Representatives of the groups spoke against the contract, urging the PSCRB and the Bloomington City Council to not move forward with the contract until the community has had more input and a draft of the police department's policy for how it intends to use the cameras is released to the public.

We stand against this violation of our rights to privacy," said Antoinette Rountree, co-chair of the Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus. "We feel allowing these Flock Cameras in our community takes away our freedom to be ourselves and violates our freedom of movement. We should be free to move about without having to provide our data to law enforcement without our knowledge and consent.

Flock technology is used by more than 600 police departments in 38 states, according to the vendor. Locally, Springfield, Rantoul and Decatur have signed agreements with the vendor.

Conversations Wednesday afternoon about the technology  which is currently being used in 79 law enforcement agencies in Illinois  largely surrounded explaining the capabilities of the cameras and how they will be used.

The 10 single-pole-mounted cameras cover up to two lanes of traffic in a single direction. They capture images of vehicles going up to 100 mph, which includes the license plate number, color, make and model of the vehicle. Data is encrypted and stored in an Amazon Web Services cloud for up to 30 days, unless it's part of an investigation.

Data is not used for traffic enforcement, fines, towing or immigration enforcement, said Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington. Department policies limit police usage to only major crime investigations, such as homicides, shootings, robberies, arson and sexual assaults.

Simington added that the department will have a more conservative policy for accessing and using the data compared to other departments. The data will only be shared with other local agencies, which must provide a request and reason for accessing the data.

A limited number of vetted users can access the system, and each would have to specify why the data is needed, said Jack McQueen, who supervises the Bloomington police crime and intelligence analysis unit. Inquiries are single searches of a license plate or partial plate number.

"It's not a large pile of data that we can sift through at will," he said.

McQueen added that there is no empirical data showing the cameras reduce crime, but conversations with local departments have shown success in helping solve several cases involving violent crime.

Simington said the technology could substantially reduce the number of man hours police spend combing through the city's current public safety cameras during investigations.

It is our responsibility to serve the community at a high level," said Simington. "We strive to employ the best practices implementation, continuous improvement so we can serve you better, more efficiently, more effectively, but also responsibly and ethically.

The Bloomington City Council will consider the Flock Safety contract Monday night. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on the fourth floor of the McLean County Government Center. Meetings are also livestreamed on the city's YouTube page.

Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry.

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CHICAGO  The young Afghan men prayed together at a Willowbrook, Illinois, mosque just two days after arriving in Illinois from a military base in New Jersey. Afterward, they shared a meal of chicken, rice and samosas.

In the midst of listening to words of welcome over lunch, one of the men raised his hand.

I dont have a question, but I thank you for everything, he said, through a translator.

After a pause, he added: I love your food.

The men are among scores of Afghan refugees arriving in Illinois this month, as the U.S. government works to move people from military bases into communities. Since September, about 2,142 Afghans have resettled in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services. In all, Illinois plans to welcome about 2,500 to 3,000 refugees.

Chicagoland resettlement agencies and related nonprofit groups have worked on overdrive with strained resources since the U.S. completed its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, leaving the country in control of the Taliban and tens of thousands of people evacuated to the U.S. due to the humanitarian crisis there. Many Afghan workers who aided the U.S. military during the war have sought asylum in other countries, fearing for their safety under a Taliban regime.

Though the agencies have welcomed a steady flow of refugees since August, they are geared up to accept an influx of new people this month, as federal officials designated Feb. 15 as a goal for emptying the military bases that had served as temporary housing, according to those working in the resettlement process and reporting from national outlets.

Resettlement agencies, still in the process of rebuilding after being whittled down during the Trump era, are working with nonprofit groups, mosques, churches, private donors and volunteers to bridge the gaps in funding and resources.

Even though the government will support people for a short period of time, the funding offered is bare minimum, said Irshad Khan, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. We are asking our communities to step up.

Because the resettlement agencies are operating at capacity, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago is among the organizations aiding in the efforts.

These are families who were assisting the U.S. military in Afghanistan. They had good jobs, said Ayesha Ahmed, board director of development at Urban Muslim Minority Alliance, who has also been working closely with refugees. Overnight, their lives were just uprooted.

A high level of need

Those who work with refugees said their communities are offering money, time and translation services and donating basic necessities. But the need is overwhelming, they say.

Generally, the government supports refugees for a short time period, after which, they rely on private funding through nonprofits and resettlement agencies until they are self-sufficient.

Since September, the Illinois Department of Human Services has provided more than $12.5 million in state and federal funding, along with some ongoing rolling funding, to the refugee process, including funds for emergency housing assistance, mental health, legal assistance and other aspects of the resettlement process.

Jims Porter, manager of communications and advocacy at RefugeeOne, a resettlement agency in Chicago, said the agency settled more refugees in a three-month period than during the three previous fiscal years combined.

Porter said resettlement agencies lost infrastructure during the years former President Donald Trump was in office. The agencies are in the process of rebuilding.

Its definitely put a stress or strain on the system, he said, adding that they rely heavily on community support.

Nan Warshaw, founder of a group that seeks to help resettlement agencies meet the basic needs of refugees, uses Facebook to crowdsource in obtaining much-needed items. Her group, Refugee Community Connection, provides winter apparel, pots and pans, toiletries and culturally relevant items like Afghan rugs. The organization also stocks up these items in free stores in Rogers Park and Albany Park.

The resettlement agencies have been operating in crisis mode since the fall and they are doing a little bit better, but all are still dramatically understaffed and overworked, Warshaw said. Were trying to fill in the gaps.

Housing is one of the most difficult hurdles in the resettlement process, experts say. There is already a lack of affordable housing in Chicago, and refugees generally come with no credit or rental history. RefugeeOne guarantees rent for the first three months, Porter said.

There is a need right now for landlords, rental management agencies to open their doors to refugees to start a new life here, he said.

It takes a long time to start over

During a Friday prayer service days before Valentines Day, Imam Hassan Aly of the Mecca Center in Willowbrook spoke about love among community members. He bid his community to embrace the newly arrived refugees praying beside them.

Today, we have a beautiful group of our Afghan brothers who are visiting us, who just came to Illinois two days ago, Aly said during the service. We are so honored and so humbled to welcome them.

Despite working with strained resources, those coordinating resettlement efforts say their communities have stepped up.

Volunteers with Exodus World Service, which works with resettlement agencies, have helped welcome more newly arrived refugees in recent months than all of last year, said Susan Odom, the executive director.

It takes a long time to start over and rebuild your life, Odom said. We do need volunteers and more people to be involved.

A group of north suburban Illinoisans are supporting about eight Afghan families who are living in a hotel, said Ahmed, of the Urban Muslim Minority Alliance. They cater Friday dinners for them, provide basic necessities as well as company and comfort.

One Friday at the hotel, Ahmed watched a mother video-chat with her daughter, who was still in Afghanistan. The teenager was separated from her family amid the chaos that upended Kabul as the U.S. withdrew, Ahmed said, and did not make it out of the country.

The volunteers are working with the family to bring their daughter here, including eliciting the help of local officials. A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, confirmed the office is working with the family to do what it can.

Its heartbreaking, Ahmed said.

The familys story is just one of many who risked their lives to come, and were forced to leave loved ones back home.

None of the 9/11 hijackers were Afghani, but their country has been in some kind of war for the last 40 years, Ahmed said. All of a sudden they were just kind of displaced overnight.

I really feel like it is our duty as Americans to help them rebuild their lives.

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BLOOMINGTON  Candidate for lieutenant governor Aaron Del Mar has a simple pitch for why he is the best Republican candidate for the position: He is the best qualified to be governor should he need to step in.

Del Mar is running alongside Bull Valley businessman Gary Rabine.

Among those vying for lieutenant governor, Im qualified to be the governor of Illinois, and I think Im the only one," he told The Pantagraph prior to an appearance in Bloomington on Wednesday night. The primary is in June.

Del Mar is a former Palatine village councilman, Republic chairman for Cook County and board member of the Illinois International Port Authority. He is also an entrepreneur with four companies, also works as an insurance agent for Country Financial and is Palatine Township Highway Commissioner. During the pandemic he has also worked as a substitute teacher.

If elected, Del Mar said, he would have three focuses as lieutenant governor: crime and public safety, government consolidation and education funding and curriculum.

The first role for a governor is to protect the residents of the state, Del Mar said. He pointed towards recent violent crime in Chicago as evidence Gov. J.B. Pritzker was not doing that.

Pritzker, a Democrat, is running for a second term with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

As a current highway commissioner, Del Mar argues he would bring needed executive political experience with a budget and levy to the lieutenant governor spot. It has also given him a view into the many different taxing bodies in Illinois and potential consolidations.

In Palatine, most property tax goes to education and the strength of the schools is one of the draws for the northern suburbs, he said. It worries him though that there is not every student has access to high quality education in the state, something worsened during the pandemic by a lack of internet access.

Theres no reason in 2022 that kids should not have access to the internet, he said.

He also believes that there should be more local control in education, alongside clear state direction to school boards on best practices.

Each community and the curriculum should be respective of their own local values and concerns, while still making sure that there is correct funding and teachers are fairly compensated and union contracts are honored, Del Mar said.

Del Mar acknowledged that he and Rabine would be outspent in the primary. Richard Irvin has received the backing of billionaire Ken Griffin, who started with a $20 million donation. Pritzker has already donated $90 million to his own campaign.

Campaign disclosures show Rabines committee ended 2021 with around $526,000 on hand.

To Del Mar, the high level of funding is a sign of weakness, not political strength, especially when the candidate is an incumbent. A candidate who felt good about their position would not be dumping millions into their campaign.

The challenge in Illinois is the best guy doesnt always get elected, he said.

That is a big part of his pitch for himself and Rabine too. Both are self-made businessmen who have executive experience leading multi-million dollar companies.

More important than that, (Rabines) an honest, honorable man, Del Mar said.

Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood

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SPRINGFIELD  In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the Illinois Senate voted to pass a measure that provides domestic violence and sexual assault survivors online access for order of protection court hearings in the states nine largest counties.

Sponsored by Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, Senate Bill 3667 provides survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault the option to file an order of protection online or in-person and requires counties with a population of 250,000 or more to offer a remote hearing to the petitioner for a protective order.

Counties above that threshold include Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry, Winnebago, Madison and St. Clair.

An order of protection orders an individual who is causing harm to stay away from someone and provides an extra measure of safety to survivors.

At a Wednesday morning news conference, Stadelman was joined by Sen. John Connor, D-Lockport, Carrie Ward, executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and Amanda Pyron, executive director of The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence, to discuss how the legislation benefits victims.

Ward said providing remote options eliminates the barriers of travel limitations, child care issues and victims having to face their attackers.

As a community, as a state and as a society, we need to do everything we can to help survivors recover from trauma, Ward said.

In Cook County, Pyron said, survivors currently have access to remote hearings on emergency orders, ensuring survivors with disabilities or those who are hospitalized have equal access to justice.

Pyron shared the story of a survivor of domestic violence who was shot by her partner but was able to obtain an emergency order of protection prior to being discharged from the hospital. She said the online option saved her from traveling to court while she was recovering and provided protection from her attacker.

According to the bill, courts will need to issue and publish a court order, standing order or local rule that details information about the process for requesting and participating in remote court appearances. The order would need to be published on the courts website, posted on signs throughout the courthouse and in the clerk's office.

The bill also allows the petitioner and the respondent to appear for related hearings remotely or in person. Courts could approve or deny the request for a remote hearing.

As a former prosecutor of domestic violence cases, Connor said he was often able to predict the outcome for victims depending on how well they could navigate the court system.

Connor said victims who were unable to navigate the system had worse outcomes, and it is the legislatures responsibility to ensure survivors of domestic abuse are safe throughout the reporting process.

Ward said ICASA hopes the legislation is the first step in increasing the survivors ability to receive protective orders in the safest and most efficient way possible. Ward noted they would like to see subsequent legislation that eliminates the population requirements and opens online access to the entire state.

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Rock Island Arsenal officials are staying silent for now on what role the U.S. Army installation may or will play in military readiness or response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal for 160 years, has supported our soldiers around the globe during times of peace and war. We continue to support diligently where any soldier plants their feet," said Staci-Jill Burnley, public affairs officer for U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal.

Burnley declined to comment further.

A public relations official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon also declined to comment, but provided a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby, who said U.S. Army and Air Force troops and equipment were being moved from Germany and Italy into the Baltic region.

"The U.S. maintains significant numbers of combat capable forces in Europe," Kirby said.

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Professor Fiifi Ofori-Acquah, Director of the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) and Dean of the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences (SBAHS) at the College of Health Sciences, has been awarded a $3 million grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, to sequence the whole genome DNA of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Ghana.



The grant application was submitted through the University of Pittsburgh where he holds a joint appointment as Associate Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics.



The DNA sequencing studies will be performed on samples of participants enrolled in the Sickle Cell Disease Genomics of Africa (SickleGenAfrica) Network, an existing $5.4 million NIH project that his team has been working on from 2018.



In addition to the DNA sequencing, the new grant will fund other studies including genotyping of two polymorphic DNA repeat sequences in the promoter of the heme oxygenase-1 gene in a project entitled, Therapeutics Targets of Acute Chest Syndrome.



The work in Ghana will be performed in collaboration with a team of SickleGenAfrica investigators including Dr. Yvonne Dei-Adomakoh, Director of the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics, and Head of the Department of Haematology, Prof. Edeghonghon Olayemi and Dr. Amma Benneh-Akwasi Kuma both of the Department of Haematology, Dr. Cathy Segbefia, Department of Child Health, Dr. Vivian Paintsil, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Dr. Ryan Minster, University of Pittsburgh, who will perform the bioinformatics analyses.



Professor Ofori-Acquah who holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of London is a globally renowned researcher in SCD and the Lead Investigator of the SickleGenAfrica Network.



He explained that the new NIH grant will pay for sequencing of the first 500 cases of a target of 1,000 Ghanaian children with severe genetic disorders including SCD and childhood cancers as part of a bigger initiative called the Ghanaian Genome (GhGenome) Project to be launched later this year by WAGMC with Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Okyenhene as the Patron.



The goal of GhGenome is to build genetics health capacity in Ghana to ultimately provide access to all aspects of genetic medicine in the country.



WAGMC launched the first-of-a-kind MSc Genetic Counselling programme in Sub-Saharan Africa in the current academic year as part of the genome project. Other planned activities of GhGenome include a nationwide Public Lecture Series on the Ghanaian Genome to be given by Prof. Ofori-Acquah and free genetic health screening for sickle cell conditions, breast and prostate cancers and developmental delays in collaboration with several academic partners and traditional leaders across the country.



Congratulations to Prof. Ofori-Acquah and his team for securing a new multimillion dollar grant, which his team will leverage, through whole genome DNA sequencing of 1,000 Ghanaians to add our unique Ghanaian genomic heritage to the human genome atlas.

Statement

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Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Prof Solomon Nunoo, has asked lecturers to go back to the classroom.



The University of Ghana (UG) branch of UTAG, has voted against a decision by the National Executive Committee of the Association to suspend its nationwide strike. University of Education (UEW), Winneba has also voted against the suspension of the strike.



However, Prof Solomon Nunoo speaking to Kwami Sefa Kayi in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' told the lecturers; "Why rush to reject the suspension when we dont know what is on the table . . . whether you voted yes or no, you have to go back to the classroom.



Quoting article 5, section 4, sub-section c of their constitution, he indicated that, "We are together as a unit so you cant say you voted 'no' so youre still on strike".



Even though he acknowledged that the action of UG and UEW can have a ripple effect on other campuses who are yet to vote, he asked "for us to move forward as a unit. We believe this is the right way for us at this point . . . everything were doing is in the interest of our members. We need to see what government is offering before we make an informed decision".



Meanwhile, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Cape Coast are resuming lectures today.



Listen to Prof Nunoo in the video below





UTAG has been on strike since January 10, 2022, over governments failure to review their conditions of service since 2017.On Monday they decided to suspend its industrial action temporarily until March 4 by which time they would have engaged government and reached a favourable outcome.However, if no agreement is reached by March 4, they will resume their strike action

Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the Komenda Sugar Factory will resume operations by April this year.



He said ongoing civil works on the factory were expected to be completed by the end of March to enable operational activities at the factory to commence.



The President disclosed this when a delegation of chiefs and elders from the Komenda Traditional Area called on him at the Jubilee House, Accra, on Wednesday.



The chiefs were at the Presidency to thank the President for the support offered by the Government during the final funeral rights of the late Paramount Chief of Komenda, Nana Kojo Kru II, who passed away last year.



President Akufo-Addo, during his tour of the Central Region last October, pledged that his administration would ensure that the factory was revamped to commence production by the first quarter of 2022.



He said though the facility had become an albatross on the neck of the Government, no effort would be spared to revive it.



The factory was established in 1964, but ceased to operate for well over 30 years due to technical and managerial difficulties.



Attempts in 2016 by the previous administration to revive it became unsuccessful due to the lack of raw materials to sustain operations.



The President told the delegation that his administration was determined to ensure that the factory was operational and profitable.



He said a 20,000-acre land had been secured at Wassa Fiase in the Western Region for a sugarcane plantation to ensure the sustainable production of raw material to feed the factory.



About 5000 acres of sugarcane farmlands belonging to the factory have been encroached by private developers.



The development threatened the cultivation of sugarcane needed for the viability of the plant.



The Acting President of the Komenda Traditional Council and the Twifohene of the town, Nana Kwahin V, thanked the President for the commitment of the Government to the development of the area.



He commended the Government for the sea defense at Komenda and the establishment of a landing bay, with the capacity to hold over 200 canoes.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The government will not allow traditional authorities to frustrate investors in the mining sector, Mr Steven Agbo, Assistant Manager, Community Relations, Minerals Commission, has said.



He said the mining sector had huge prospects and contributed significantly to the nations economic development and advised Ghanaians to cooperate with mining companies for the country to get desirable benefits to push socio-economic growth and development.



Mr Agbo gave the advice at a media workshop organized by the Newmont Ahafo North Mine in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region on Tuesday in Sunyani.



It provided a platform for regulators in the mining sector to engage and build relationships, while the Mine updated the media on its operations in the Ahafo North.



Mr. Agbo said it was the governments prerogative to negotiate better agreements and release concessions to mining companies.



So traditional authorities have no right to frustrate activities of mining companies in the local communities, he said.



Dr. Jackson A. Nyantakyi, the Ahafo Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), explained once a mining company obtained operational permits, the company had the privilege to mine within the concessional areas without obstruction.



He, however, expressed worry about recurring pockets of violent clashes between some mining companies and local communities and asked the Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) to learn lessons from its Ahafo South Mine and ensure that such unfortunate incidents were not repeated when the company commenced actual mining in Ahafo North.



Dr. Nyantakyi commended the Newmont Ahafo South project for its excellent operational standards and expressed the hope its Ahafo North would also follow suit.



Mr. Kwame Agbeko Azumah, the Communications and External Relations Director, NGGL said the NGGL believed in local content, saying the Ahafo North project had reserved and engaged 40 per cent of its workforce in the local communities.



In addition, he explained, the Mine would collaborate effectively with stakeholders, explore opportunities and create more jobs outside the Mine for the locals for enhanced socio-economic livelihoods.



Mr. Samuel Osei, the Communications and External Relations Manager of the Newmont Ahafo South Mine at Kenyasi, explained the companys Skill Development Opportunity programme did not guarantee automatic employment at the Mine for beneficiaries.



He explained, though some of the beneficiaries might have had the opportunity to be engaged at the Mine, the programme was aimed at providing beneficiaries with employable skills training for them to establish their own businesses.



The Newmont Ahafo North project is part of the NGGL main Ahafo lease and consists of seven mineralized areas, 3.35 million ounces of reserves and a further 0.95 million ounces of Resource.



In July 2021, Newmont approved funds to develop the Ahafo North project investment of between US$750 and US$850 million.



The project, which includes a Tailing Storage Facility, is expected to produce 3.3 million ounces of gold over the mines 13-year life span.



Yamfo, Adrobaa, Susuanso, Techire and Afrisipakrom are the host communities for the project expected to generate 1,800 jobs and 550 direct jobs during construction and operations respectively.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has chastised big mining companies in the country for not committing enough resources into the reconstruction of Appiatse, the community in the Prestia-Huni Valley municipality in the Western Region that was destroyed in an explosion last month.

He said given that mining companies benefitted immensely from mining activities in the country, it was unacceptable that they had failed to make adequate financial commitment to the reconstruction of the Appiatse community which got destroyed from the explosion of mining explosives.



He expressed the reservation when the Ghana Chamber of Mines (GCM) donated $4 million (GHc26 million) to the Appiatse Support Fund yesterday.



4 Companies contribute



The President of the GCM, Mr Eric Asubonteng, led the team from the chamber and officials of Goldfields Ghana Limited to present a dummy cheque for GH6,159,800, being Goldfields' share of the total amount, to the fund.



He explained that the three companies that had made similar contributions to the fund were AngloGold Ashanti, Newmont Ghana Limited and Chirano Gold Mines Limited.



Minister dissatisfied



However, when the amount donated was disclosed, Mr Jinapor pointed out to the team that he was dissatisfied with the contribution made by the GCM.



"A chamber of your size, strength, membership, portfolio and what you are involved in mean that you should do better than this. If I had my way, the Appiatse Support Fund idea would be abandoned for the chamber to step forward and say that it would fund the reconstruction of the community because the explosion was mining related.



The point is that it will not be out of place if the GCM takes the whole bill for reconstructing the Appiatse community.



We appreciate the four companies that contributed this money, and Ghanaians will thank you for this effort. However, I am not too sure that this amount is significant," he emphasised.



Mr Jinapor urged the other mining companies that had not contributed to the fund to rethink their decision and take steps to do so.



He intimated that the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry and the GCM were "partners in the same boat", so whatever affected the ministry affected the chamber.



GCM's support



Mr Asubonteng said the key objective of the GCM was to provide leadership for solutions to national issues regarding the mining industry, saying it was in that spirit that since the explosion occurred at Appiatse on January 20, this year, members of the chamber had got involved in processes to restore livelihoods to the area.



For instance, Future Global Resources (FGR), owners of the Bogoso Prestea Mine, helped in the rescue exercise and provided earth-moving equipment to clear debris during the initial phase of the rescue exercise.



Again, he said, members of the chamber had assisted in delivering humanitarian services such as beds, mattresses, food and water to the people of Appiatse.



Mr Asubonteng also said the GCM had been a key stakeholder in structural processes, including representation on the committees working to reconstruct the community.



He said FGR's agreement to release its resettlement houses to the government to accommodate displaced residents of Appiatse was a testament to the fact that the chamber was committed to support the rebuilding process.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Fear, panic and pandemonium gripped the Law Court complex in Accra Wednesday when a prison officer accidentally discharged his weapon in a courtroom.



The incident happened at the Criminal Court 5 which is on the fourth floor of the court complex during the hearing of the trial of four persons alleged to have kidnapped some two Canadians.



All hell broke loose immediately the gunshot was heard with people in the courtroom taking cover and running for their lives.



The presiding judge, Justice Lydia Marfo, suspended proceedings.



The prison officer who accidentally discharged his weapon is part of the team that brings remand prisoners to the court for trial.



A source told the Daily Graphic that the prison officer is currently in critical condition.





He sustained serious injuries and was sent to the Law Court complex clinic. But he has currently been sent to the hospital, the source said.













Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has called on mining companies, especially the large-scaled ones, to be more responsible in their operations to ensure their activities bring optimal benefits to the people.



He said the mining companies must, at all times, ensure they conformed to the environmental and socially acceptable rules to minimize the impact of their operations on the environment.



Mr Jinapor made the call while addressing a conference in Tamale on irrigation and agricultural development, organised by the West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) of the University for Development Studies (UDS).



The two-day conference, on the theme: Mining, Water Resources Management and Environmental Sustainability in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges, created a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge among stakeholders for the development of the irrigated agriculture sub-sector.



It brought together practitioners, academics, researchers, policymakers, civil society, community and traditional leaders, farmers, agricultural extension agents, irrigation consultants, technical experts, and students.



Whilst mining is important for national development, the extraction of minerals comes with some negative social, economic and environmental impacts such as human rights abuses, social vices, deforestation, environmental, land, and forest degradation, health risks, and destruction of viable farmlands, hence the Ministers call for responsible mining.



Mr Jinapor pledged governments commitment to implementing appropriate regulatory, legal, fiscal, and environmental policies to build a responsible, viable, sustainable and environmentally-sound mining industry anchored on integrity, transparency and good governance to bring maximum benefits to the people.



He said to that effect, Government is prioritising the resourcing and retooling of the Minerals Commission and repositioning it to perform its functions effectively.



He said the operations of the Commission had been decentralised by the opening of more regional and district offices with adequate staffing to ensure they delivered on their mandate.



As part of measures to clamp down on illegal mining activities that have the greatest impact on our water bodies and natural environment, we have enacted the Minerals and Mining (Mineral Operations  Tracking of Earth Moving and Mining Equipment) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2404), to track all earthmoving and mining equipment to know in real time, where each machine is, and what it is being used for, Mr Jinapor said.



He said the Ministry was also working with the Office of the Attorney-General to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) to expressly prohibit the manufacture, sale, supply and use of the floating device, changfans, mostly used for illegal mining in the country.



The Government had launched a National Reclamation Programme to reclaim all degraded mined lands and return them to viable agricultural lands, add green cover and provide employment and income for local communities, he said.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh has advised lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo, Dome/Kwabenya Member of Parliament, to stop holding the government to ransom.



Lawyer Adwoa Safo's absence in Parliament is disturbing the Majority in Parliament as their e-levy policy remains hanging without her vote.



Adwoa Safo, who doubles as Minister for Gender, is presently based in United States and making demands before she comes back to Parliament.



She wants the President to remove the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament and hand over the position to her, according to Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong.



She is said to have threatened not to return to her Parliamentary duties if the President refuses to heed her demand.



Hon. Sylvester Tetteh, in response, has admonished Adwoa Safo to reconsider her decision.



He asked her not to forget the good things that the NPP has done for her stressing ''it's the party's (NPP) ticket that brought you to Parliament, so you should be grateful to the party first and be grateful to the President''.



He added; ''We, in Parliament, are 138 and the people who voted for NPP are over 5 million, I don't think the President can give everyone an appointment in his eight-year tenure as a President. And so, if you are blessed to be given that opportunity, you must accord the President respect. You must respect Parliament, your leadership. You don't make further demands. The demands she is making, what it means, is that you are insulting all the Parliamentarians.''



Hon. Tetteh found Adwoa Safo's behavior very offensive to the NPP saying ''I feel Adwoa Safo knows very well what she is doing...If she has a problem, she must let us know but until we know she has any specific problem, we see her conduct as very offensive to the majority caucus; very offensive to her constituents''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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President Akufo-Addo has been criticized for expressing worry over the depreciation of the Cedi against the US Dollar.



According to the President, Im aware of the anxiety there is in business circles and throughout the population about the recent depreciation of the Cedi. Im extremely upset and anxious about it too. But I want to assure you that all efforts are being made to arrest the decline and restore the Cedi to stability in order to improve the competitiveness of Ghanaian industry, and I think very soon you will see some results.



However, a member of the Communication team of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) wonders "who the President is complaining to"?



Eric Adjei who was contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's 'The Platform' programme stated: "the economy is in tatters and if you listen to how the government is speaking; it's not even encouraging . . . the President now says he is worried and upset about the cedi depreciation; who is he complaining to? Prior to you coming to power you spoke a lot . . . you're embarrassed. Where is the so-called economic management team . . . you've messed up the economy".



Listen to him in the video below





Ghanas currency, the Cedi, has been abysmal since the beginning of the year.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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John Boadu, the general secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has confirmed that all efforts to get the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo back to the country to perform her parliamentary duties have not been successful.



He said the continued absence of the lawmaker is a worrying trend.



Speaking on Asaase Radio, Boadu said, were all concerned about making sure our government runs and considering how Parliament is split in the middle, any occasion that any of the MPs is absent is a cause for worry.



Demands

The Assin Central MP Ken Agyapong alleged that Safo is demanding for the removal of Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin before she would return to Parliament.



If the President heeds to Adwoa Safos demands then I will also go to the US and demand that the President resigns before I come to Parliament, Agyapong told Kwaku Nhyira-Addo.



However, Boadu feels the matter should be handled with tact because there were times that Ken [Agyapong] himself was outside the country, he had planned to come two days before we needed him and he had to be rushed to come to join his colleagues.



Just as Adwoa was occasionally brought in and this time I think shes kept out far too long and all efforts to get her is proven futile, but I dont think were at the end of the tunnel, Boadu added.



Adwoa Safo took leave of absence

Meanwhile, the national chairman of the governing party Freddie Blay has disclosed that Safo took a leave of absence to address some health issues.



I know that she [Adwoa Safo] asked for a period off to take care of some health issues and so lets not make any hasty decisions we must appreciate the situations she also finds herself in, Blay told The Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday.



It is unfortunate that Adwoa Safos matter is in the public domain but I will like to say that at the end of the day Parliamentary proceedings must continue; a resolution will be reached.



Sack Adwoa Safo now

The managing editor of the Daily Dispatch, Ben Ephson, has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to allow Adwoa Safo, the MP for Dome-Kwabenya, to hold the party to ransom.



Ephson said the party should call Safos bluff and sack her to pave the way for a by-election

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An Accra Circuit Court has acquitted and discharged Salifu Maase also known as Mugabe Maase, radio presenter of two criminal charges preferred against him.



He was charged with offensive conduct to breach public peace and publication of false information that could cause fear and panic and was on GHC50,000 with three sureties bail.



Mugabe has on Thursday February 24, 2022 been released on the two counts by the court presided over by Eva Bannerman Williams.



He is said to have described the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and all police officers in the country as fools during a political show  Inside Politics  on Accra based Radio XYZ on Feb 8, 2019.



Mugabe is alleged to have said further on his programme on Radio XYZ that he had credible information regarding a threat on the life of Mr. Manasseh Awuni, whose documentary on some alleged militia group training at the former seat of government, Osu Castle, dominated major conversations in the country.



However, the government said the documentary was misleading and denied sponsoring the group.



The Minister of State in charge of National Security at the time, Byran Acheampong said the activities of the group, known as De Eye, at the Osu Castle were halted in October 2018.



However, the then Director General of Criminal Investigation Department of the Police, DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah at a press conference had said Maase during police interrogations said he made the statements under the spirits.

Previous PostHassan Zeins Lawyers File Injunction Against A Plus

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THE ATTORNEY Generals Office has filed an application before an Accra High Court to summon two persons who stood as sureties for former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Attionu Tamakloe, who is standing trial for causing financial loss to the state.



The two officials who stood surety for the accused person have been identified as former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Alex Mould and one Gavivina Tamakloe, formerly with National Theatre.



The Attorney Generals (AG) Department has also filed an application seeking leave to hold the trial of the John Mahama appointee in her absence.



The applications were filed by the prosecution as a result of the failure of the former MASLOC boss to return from the United States of America for the continuation of the trial after the court had granted her permission to travel.



Ms. Tamakloe and a former Operations Manager of MASLOC, Daniel Axim, are standing trial for causing financial loss to the state.



They are facing 78 counts of charges including conspiracy to steal, stealing, and unauthorised commitment, among others.



Medical Check-up



Last year, the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe had granted Ms. Attionu leave to travel to the US and was expected to return to court on October 6, 2021, but failed to do so and the judge issued a warrant for her arrest and subsequently adjourned the matter to November 16, 2021.



The accused person still failed to return to the country and the case was once again adjourned to January 10, 2021, with the hope that she would have returned by that date.



She has still not returned to the country, thereby holding the trial in abeyance.



Applications



Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney, appearing before the trial court yesterday, said the prosecution has filed two applications in respect of Ms. Tamakloes continuous absence from the trial.



She said the first application is for forfeiture of recognisance of sureties while the second application is for her to be tried in absentia.



As a result, former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Alex Mould and one GavivinaTamakloe, formerly with National Theatre who stood as sureties for the accused are to be served with forfeiture processes to come and explain to court why they should not be made to pay the GH5m bail sum to the state.



The court has adjourned the case to March 10, 2022, for the sureties to be served with the processes and appear in court.



Trial



Ms. Attionu and Mr. Axim have been dragged to court for allegedly stealing, causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH93 million, among other charges.



Together, the two are facing 78 counts of charges including conspiracy to steal, stealing, unauthorised commitment, resulting in a financial obligation for the government, improper payment, money laundering and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.



The two accused persons allegedly stole a total amount of GH3,198,280 while at MASLOC and willfully caused a GH1,973,780 financial loss to the state.



Again, Ms. Attionu and her accomplice while in charge of MASLOC allegedly made unauthorised commitments resulting in financial obligations for the government to the tune of GH61,735,832.50.



The charges against the two also include a GH22,158,118.85 loss to public property and improper payment of GH273,743.66 as well as money laundering of GH3,704,380 while in charge.





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The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford, has denied some media reports suggesting that he has granted the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabeya Sara Adwoa Safo, permission to absent herself from Parliament.



The Speaker said he has not granted any such permission and that the Votes and Proceedings of Parliament.



Mr Bagbin's explanation on the floor of the House on Thursday followed some media reports that suggested that he was aware of the Dome-Kwabenya MP's absence from the House.



"I want it to be known by all that I have not granted any such [media] interview anywhere. I have not said anything like that anywhere, and the Votes and Proceedings of the House are so loud that, she is absent without permission. That is on the Votes and Proceedings of the House. it is not the Speaker who determines who is present and who is absent... and those who are absent with permission. And so please, I have received a lot of [telephone] calls from a number of media men on that issue and that is why I don't want to delay in making the world know that I have not said such thing anywhere," Mr Bagbin said.

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Since the first U.S. presidential election began in 1788, the country has been no stranger to odd occurrences among candidates, voters and results. If it seems like it should be an easy process, the presidential election has often proven anything but simple. You'll see what we mean with this quiz.

START QUIZ
Presidential candidates Leni Robredo (left) and Leody de Guzman. (Photos: Robredo - MARIA TAN/AFP via Getty Images; de Guzman - Josefiel Rivera/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Candidates for the 2022 Philippine national elections condemn Russias military operation in Ukraine, calling it unjustifiable and unacceptable.

Ka Leody de Guzman said that he is not in favor of any form of war as large corporations and manufacturers of the military-industrial complex are the only ones benefitting from this.

Naniniwala ako na hindi katanggap-tanggap ang lahat ng klase ng pananakop at pakikialam sa isang soberanyang bansa ng mga nagbabanggang imperyalistang interes, de Guzman said.

(I believe that all forms of invasion and incursion of a sovereign nation with imperialist interests are unacceptable.)

His running mate, Walden Bello, said that the invasion is a by-product of the United States trying to bring Ukraine into a military alliance, and calls on the United Nations to immediately begin peace negotiations between the two countries.

It is the predictable result of Washingtons efforts to bring NATO right to the borders of Russia following the collapse of the old Soviet Union and install a government friendly to the West in Kyiv, Bello, who is also a sociology professor at the State University of New York, said.

Presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo meanwhile said that more than ensuring the safety of Filipino nationals in the country, we should also look into the repercussion this conflict creates in the global market.

Kailangan din natin paghandaan, ano ba yung epekto nito sa, halimbawa, sa presyo ng  langis, ng marami pang ibang produkto, she said in an interview with Mara Cepeda .

(We also need to be prepared, what will be the effect on, for example, the price of oil, and many other products)

De Guzman also warned of a possible surge in oil prices due to the conflict, and suggested that the government must use Section 14 of the Oil Deregulation Law to control and regulate the oil industry in an emergency situation.

Robredo also stressed the importance of diplomatic relations with the forces involved so that we arent alone in resolving things. However, since the Philippines has no national interest at stake, De Guzman and Bello said that we must avoid taking sides in this conflict.

Story continues

Iwasan dapat ng administrasyong Duterte ang magpahiwatig ng anumang pagsuporta at manatiling non-aligned  Dapat manindigan tayo bilang isang bansa para sa pandaigdigang kapayapaan at pakikipagkapatiran ng mga bansa ng daigdig, de Guzman added.

(The Duterte administration must not show any form of support and remain neutral  We must stand for a country that is for peace and brotherhood among nations.)

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has assured that while there is no mandatory evacuation yet, Filipino nationals who want to be repatriated will be given assistance. We stand ready to assist, said DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola in a press briefing earlier today.

On February 24, in a live broadcast from the Kremlin , Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would conduct a special military action in Ukraine, demanding Kyiv and neighboring countries to lay down their arms. He also urged in the broadcast for other nations not to intervene in the conflict.

Whoever would try to stop us and further create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russias response will be immediate and lead you to such consequences that you have never faced in your history. We are ready for any outcome, Putin warned.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden calls on leaders of the world to speak up in support of Ukraine and to hold Russia accountable.

Marvin Joseph Ang is a news and creative writer who follows developments in politics, democracy, and popular culture. He advocates for a free press and national democracy. The views expressed are his own.

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

An after-school program specifically designed to address racial and economic disparities affecting Black youth and empowering them to be a positive change in their community has long-term effects on behavior, according to a new University of Michigan study.

The analysis looked at five years of data and compared results of students participating in regular after-school programs to those who took part in the Youth Empowerment Solutions program, which focuses on implementing a curriculum that acknowledges structural, historical and contemporary racism, said lead author Elyse Thulin, a postdoctoral research fellow at U-M's School of Public Health.

"Our study shows that this program can have lasting effects on positive youth development, both increasing positive social interaction and diminishing negative behavior a year after going through the program," Thulin said.

For the study, youth were recruited between 2012 and 2016 from after-school programs in participating schools in Flint and Genesee County, with a total of 33 program cohorts from 15 schools.

In all, 418 middle schoolers participated in the program. Of the original sample, 45% were Black, 18% biracial, 34% white and 3% reported other races. Students completed surveys at the beginning of the program, at the program's conclusion, 6 months after and 12 months after.

Students enrolled in Youth Empowerment Solutions, or YES, attended the program four days a week for about 15 weeks. The curriculum included developing youth leadership skills, increasing ability to work with peers, developing critical thinking skills, and planning and implementing community change projects.

"These results demonstrate that youth can be involved in the solution of violence prevention and not just the focus of our prevention efforts," said Marc Zimmerman, the Marshall H. Becker Collegiate Professor of Public Health at U-M and principal investigator for the study.

"It flips the script for youth violence prevention and, importantly, provides an evidence-base for practitioners that leadership development and helping youth become change agents in their community can contribute to building safer communities and schools."

Notably, Thulin said, the curriculum included sessions that focused on African American culture and pride, including learning about Black history, African ancestry and African American contributions to American life.

A year after participating in the program, researchers evaluated youth aggressive behavior and prosocial behavior. Among the key findings, researchers found that YES participation:

Increased feelings of prosocial behavior for Black and white youth by increasing empowerment of white and Black youth

Directly reduced aggression at the one-year follow-up but was less effective for females

Was efficacious for decreasing behaviors in Black youth and particularly male Black youth but not for white youth

"Given the limited uptake of evidence-based programs implemented through community settings, our study demonstrates that YES can be successfully delivered in community settings, that it can have lasting effects on positive youth empowerment and that it can have lasting effects on positive youth development," Thulin said.

"Implementing a curriculum that acknowledges historical and contemporary structural racism while engaging youth at the individual, interpersonal and community level through leadership development and empowerment may be particularly effective for African American youth."

Explore further Empower kids to solve community challenges and many will avoid trouble

More information: Elyse J. Thulin et al, Longitudinal effects of Youth Empowerment Solutions: Preventing youth aggression and increasing prosocial behavior, American Journal of Community Psychology (2022). Elyse J. Thulin et al, Longitudinal effects of Youth Empowerment Solutions: Preventing youth aggression and increasing prosocial behavior,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12577
Together with artifacts from the past, ancient DNA can fill in details about our ancient ancestors. Credit: Nina R/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

Every person alive on the planet today is descended from people who lived as hunter-gatherers in Africa.

The continent is the cradle of human origins and ingenuity, and with each new fossil and archaeological discovery, we learn more about our shared African past. Such research tends to focus on when our species, Homo sapiens, spread out to other landmasses 80,00060,000 years ago. But what happened in Africa after that, and why don't we know more about the people who remained?

Our new study, conducted by an interdisciplinary team of 44 researchers based in 12 countries, helps answer these questions. By sequencing and analyzing ancient DNA (aDNA) from people who lived as long ago as 18,000 years, we roughly doubled the age of sequenced aDNA from sub-Saharan Africa. And this genetic information helps anthropologists like us understand more about how modern humans were moving and mingling in Africa long ago.

Tracing our human past in Africa

Beginning about 300,000 years ago, people in Africa who looked like usthe earliest anatomically modern humansalso started behaving in ways that seem very human. They made new kinds of stone tools and began transporting raw materials up to 250 miles (400 kilometers), likely through trade networks. By 140,000120,000 years ago, people made clothing from animal skins and began to decorate themselves with pierced marine shell beads.

People took shelter in natural rock overhangs, leaving behind an archaeological record of their daily activities  and sometimes their graves. By digging carefully, archaeologists can connect information from aDNA to information about the social lives of these people. Credit: Jacob Davis, CC BY-ND

While early innovations appeared in a patchwork fashion, a more widespread shift happened around 50,000 years agoaround the same time that people started moving into places as distant as Australia. New types of stone and bone tools became common, and people began fashioning and exchanging ostrich eggshell beads. And while most rock art in Africa is undated and badly weathered, an increase in ochre pigment at archaeological sites hints at an explosion of art.

What caused this shift, known as the Later Stone Age transition, has been a longstanding archaeological mystery. Why would certain tools and behaviors, which up until that point had appeared in a piecemeal way across Africa, suddenly become widespread? Did it have something to do with changes in the number of people, or how they interacted?

The challenge of accessing the deep past

Archaeologists reconstruct human behavior in the past mainly through things people left behindremains of their meals, tools, ornaments and sometimes even their bodies. These records may accumulate over thousands of years, creating views of daily livelihoods that are really averages over long periods of time. However, it's hard to study ancient demography, or how populations changed, from the archaeological record alone.

This is where DNA can help. When combined with evidence from archaeology, linguistics and oral and written history, scientists can piece together how people moved and interacted based on which groups share genetic similarities.

Beads made from ostrich eggshell were hot trade items and can show the extent of ancient social networks. Credit: Jennifer Miller, CC BY-ND

But DNA from living people can't tell the whole story. African populations have been transformed over the past 5,000 years by the spread of herding and farming, the development of cities, ancient pandemics and the ravages of colonialism and slavery. These processes caused some lineages to vanish and brought others together, forming new populations.

Using present-day DNA to reconstruct ancient genetic landscapes is like reading a letter that was left out in the rain: some words are there but blurred, and some are gone completely. Researchers need ancient DNA from archaeological human remains to explore human diversity in different places and times and to understand what factors shaped it.

Unfortunately, aDNA from Africa is particularly hard to recover because the continent straddles the equator and heat and humidity degrade DNA. While the oldest aDNA from Eurasia is roughly 400,000 years old, all sequences from sub-Saharan Africa to date have been younger than around 9,000 years.

Breaking the 'tropical ceiling'

Because each person carries genetic legacies inherited from generations of their ancestors, our team was able to use DNA from individuals who lived between 18,000400 years ago to explore how people interacted as far back as the last 80,00050,000 years. This allowed us, for the first time, to test whether demographic change played a role in the Later Stone Age transition.

Map of all published ancient genomes, with black dots scaled to the number of individuals genomes. Blue dots indicate Later Stone Age foragers comparable to those in our study. Red stars indicate individuals reported for the first time in our study. Inset map underscores the gap between Africa and other parts of the world in terms of published ancient genomes. Ancient DNA preserved between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is rare. Credit: Mary Prendergast; basemaps by Natural Earth, CC BY-ND

Our team sequenced aDNA from six individuals buried in what are now Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. We compared these sequences to previously studied aDNA from 28 individuals buried at sites stretching from Cameroon to Ethiopia and down to South Africa. We also generated new and improved DNA data for 15 of these people, trying to extract as much information as possible from the small handful of ancient African individuals whose DNA is preserved well enough to study.

This created the largest genetic dataset so far for studying the population history of ancient African foragerspeople who hunted, gathered or fished. We used it to explore population structures that existed prior to the sweeping changes of the past few thousand years.

DNA weighs in on a longstanding debate

We found that people did in fact change how they moved and interacted around the Later Stone Age transition.

Despite being separated by thousands of miles and years, all the ancient individuals in this study were descended from the same three populations related to ancient and present-day eastern, southern and central Africans. The presence of eastern African ancestry as far south as Zambia, and southern African ancestry as far north as Kenya, indicates that people were moving long distances and having children with people located far away from where they were born. The only way this population structure could have emerged is if people were moving long distances over many millennia.

Recovering and sorting archaeological remains is a slow and laborious process, where even small fragments can tell big stories. Credit: Chelsea Smith, CC BY-ND

Additionally, our research showed that almost all ancient eastern Africans shared an unexpectedly high number of genetic variations with hunter-gatherers who today live in central African rainforests, making ancient eastern Africa truly a genetic melting pot. We could tell that this mixing and moving happened after about 50,000 years ago, when there was a major split in central African forager populations.

We also noted that the individuals in our study were genetically most like only their closest geographic neighbors. This tells us that after around 20,000 years ago, the foragers in some African regions were almost exclusively finding their partners locally. This practice must have been extremely strong and persisted for a very long time, as our results show that some groups remained genetically independent of their neighbors over several thousand years. It was especially clear in Malawi and Zambia, where the only close relationships we detected were between people buried around the same time at the same sites.

We don't know why people began "living locally" again. Changing environments as the last Ice Age peaked and waned between about 26,00011,500 years ago may have made it more economical to forage closer to home, or perhaps elaborate exchange networks reduced the need for people to travel with objects.

Alternatively, new group identities may have emerged, restructuring marriage rules. If so, we would expect to see artifacts and other traditions like rock art diversify, with specific types clumped into different regions. Indeed, this is exactly what archaeologists finda trend known as regionalization. Now we know that this phenomenon not only affected cultural traditions, but also the flow of genes.

New data, new questions

As always, aDNA research raises as many questions as answers. Finding central African ancestry throughout eastern and southern Africa prompts anthropologists to reconsider how interconnected these regions were in the distant past. This is important because central Africa has remained archaeologically understudied, in part because of political, economic and logistical challenges that make research there difficult.

Additionally, while genetic evidence supports a major demographic transition in Africa after 50,000 years ago, we still don't know the key drivers. Determining what triggered the Later Stone Age transition will require closer examination of regional environmental, archaeological and genetic records to understand how this process unfolded across sub-Saharan Africa.

Finally, this study is a stark reminder that researchers still have much to learn from ancient individuals and artifacts held in African museums, and highlights the critical role of the curators who steward these collections. While some human remains in this study were recovered within the past decade, others have been in museums for a half-century.

Even though technological advances are pushing back the time limits for aDNA, it is important to remember that scientists have only just begun to understand human diversity in Africa, past and present.

Explore further Ancient DNA reveals surprises about how early Africans lived, traveled and interacted

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Savanna bur oaks during a spring burn at the Cedar Creek Long-Term Ecological Research site. Credit: Susan Barrott CC BY-SA 4.0

Wildfires have made headlines worldwide in recent years. Evidence points to wildfires increasing in frequency and intensity across vulnerable ecosystems as climate change impacts grow more evident. But periodic wildfires in ecosystems adapted to them can help inhibit plant disease outbreaks, according to research by scientists affiliated with the U.S. National Science Foundation Cedar Creek Ecosystem Long-Term Ecological Research site in Minnesota.

Interactions between disturbances like fire and disease are likely to impact whether an ecosystem changes state, such as from a woodland to a grassland. But such interactions have rarely been studied over long periods.

Researchers surveyed vegetation plots at Cedar Creek for 35 years as part of a fire frequency experiment that has been maintained for more than a half-century. The temperate oak savanna-forest ecotone that comprises the plots recently experienced an outbreak of a fungal pathogen called oak wilt.

In the absence of disease, tree population sizes were strongly influenced by fire frequency, with unburned plots transitioning from savanna to forest, while intermediately and frequently burned plots remained savanna. However, oak wilt rapidly reversed the effect of fire exclusion, increasing mortality by 765% in unburned forests while having relatively minor effects in frequently burned savannas.

The savannas include two main tree species: Quercus ellipsoidalis (red oak group; northern pin oak) and Q. macrocarpa (white oak group; bur oak). At Cedar Creek, oak wilt, or Bretziella fagacearum, has spread rapidly in the last decade, leading to exponential increases in tree mortality, particularly of red oaks.

Trends in tree populations changed strikingly from 2010 to 2018, with rapid declines in tree biomass in several plots, coinciding with the outbreak of oak wilt.

Disease invasion decreased tree biomass, increased light penetration and grass cover, and shifted tree populations from being dominated by fireresistant adults to firesensitive saplings, especially in the unburned plots. The results are published in Ecology Letters.

Explore further Study shows how climate change can worsen impact of invasive plants

More information: Adam F. A. Pellegrini et al, Disease and fire interact to influence transitions between savannaforest ecosystems over a multidecadal experiment, Ecology Letters (2021). Journal information: Ecology Letters Adam F. A. Pellegrini et al, Disease and fire interact to influence transitions between savannaforest ecosystems over a multidecadal experiment,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/ele.13719
The percentages of California schools offering and students taking computer science courses dramatically increased from 2004-2019, according to data that schools reported to the state's Department of Education. Credit: Graphic provided

New studies of computer science education at California high schools found that a greater emphasis on computer science education did not produce the anticipated spillover effects, neither improving or harming students' math or English language arts skills, according to school-level test scores.

However, one trade-off of increased enrollments in computing courses may be that students are taking fewer humanities courses such as the arts and social studies, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found.

Paul Bruno and Colleen M. Lewis examined the implications of California's recent state policies promoting computer science education and the proliferation of these courses in the state's high schools. Bruno is a professor of education policy, organization and leadership, and Lewis is a professor of computer science in the Grainger College of Engineering, both at Illinois.

Using data that schools reported to the California Department of Education from 2003-2019, the researchers explored the effects on student test scores and the curricular trade-offs of student enrollments in computer science courses. That study was published in the journal Educational Administration Quarterly.

In a related project, the couplewho are marital as well as research partnersexplored equity and diversity among California's computer science teachers and their students. That study was published in Policy Futures in Education.

The Google Computer Science Education Research Program supported both projects.

California has been near the forefront of a nationwide movement prioritizing technology curricula at the kindergarten-12th grade levels.

In 2018, the state adopted computer science standards for K-12 students, and the following year implemented a statewide strategic plan to expand access to computer science education.

The proportion of students attending California high schools that offered at least one computer science course jumped from 45% in 2003 to more than 79% in 2019, the data indicated.

"As someone who works in school administration, it raises a lot of questions about how schoolsespecially high schoolsare going to implement this rapid change and offer these new courses effectively," Bruno said. "Schools are already having trouble offering all the courses that they need for students to graduate and go on to collegeand finding enough qualified instructors to teach them, especially in science, technology, engineering and math subjects."

While school systems often promote computing courses as cultivating competencies and skills that improve student achievement in subjects such as math and reading, the researchers found no significant improvements in school-level standardized test scores in these subject areas.

Although they were not able to study individual students' test scores, a limitation they plan to address in their ongoing work, Bruno and Lewis said test scores are not all that matters.

"Ultimately, all students deserve the opportunity to understand the computational world around them, which computer science courses provide," Lewis said. "But in the U.S., low-income students and students who identify as Black, Hispanic and/or Indigenous are less likely to have access to computer science courses at their high school."

One trade-off of California high school students' increased enrollments in computer science courses has been that their enrollments in humanities courses and electives declined.

"We're not able to see why or how schools or students are making these kinds of choices, but we think that's an important consideration," Bruno said. "If we want students to take more computer science, what are we comfortable with there being less of in the curriculum?"

Some school districts allow computer science courses to count toward graduation requirements in mathematics and foreign languages, while other schools haven't yet determined how to incorporate them, he said.

As schools add or expand computer science curricula, Bruno said it's important to be aware of the demands placed on the students' and schools' time and resources to ensure that these courses are offered in ways that benefit students, teachers and their communities.

"That means thinking carefully about who we have to teach these courses and how we adjust the curricula to make room for them. All of these things are important in thinking about what the actual costs and benefits of computer science education are," Bruno said.

With school districts across the country grappling with teacher shortages, flexible authorization requirements enabled California schools to staff their computer science courses with faculty members who had a wide range of credentials and experience, such as backgrounds in math, science or vocational education.

Yet, as a profession, computer science education is disproportionately white and male.

And Bruno and Lewis found significant racial and gender disparities among computer science students and teachers. Black, Hispanic and Native American youths often were less likely to attend schools that offered computer science courses than their Asian or white peers. But even when they had similar access to these courses, all girls and Black, Hispanic and Native American boys were underrepresented in computer science enrollmentsdisparities that the researchers believe are influenced by the relative scarcity of computer science teachers who are women or racial and ethnic minorities.

"Effective and equitable computer science implementation requires more than enrolling ever-growing numbers of students in ever-growing numbers of courses," Lewis said. "Going forward, it will be increasingly important to develop better measures of computer science teacher quality that can be used to assess both the average strength of these teachers and the prevalence of gaps in teaching quality between differing groups of students."

The research was published in Educational Administration Quarterly.

More information: Paul Bruno et al, Computer Science Trends and Trade-offs in California High Schools, Educational Administration Quarterly (2021). Paul Bruno et al, Computer Science Trends and Trade-offs in California High Schools,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/0013161X211054801
Two images show the structure of amphibole asbestos before (left) and after (right) interaction with lung cells in culture. Credit: Scientific Reports, modified by Ruggero Vigliaturo, used under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A common building material, asbestos is the term used to describe a range of naturally growing minerals. Serious diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, can arise decades after coming into contact with asbestos.

Biomedical researchers have spent many years trying to understand how asbestos causes disease, though multiple pieces of the puzzle remain unknown. Taking a completely different approach, an international team led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania looked instead at how the interactions change the mineral itself.

"Many studies have looked at the toxicity of asbestos, and we wanted to approach this issue from the opposite side, not investigating the effects on the cells, but rather exploring what happens to the mineral once inside the cell," says Reto Giere, a professor in Penn's Department of Earth and Environmental Science in the School of Arts & Sciences, and senior author on the work, published in Scientific Reports.

"We used cutting-edge experimental techniques, going down to the nanoscale and even the atomic scale, to see the transformation of the minerals," says first author Ruggero Vigliaturo, now a tenure-track assistant professor at Italy's University of Turin who completed the research during a postdoctoral fellowship at Penn. "What we saw is that the minerals are undergoing changes that almost look like they're defending themselves from the cells."

The research grew out of a larger set of experiments on asbestos, undertaken through Penn's Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology. Though a common term, the word "asbestos" is not a scientific one, but rather is used in industry to refer to a wide range of minerals with varying structures and chemical compositions. In the current work, Vigliaturo, Giere, and colleagues focused on amphibole asbestos, which is hypothesized to be more hazardous than other varieties.

While much research into asbestos toxicity has focused on how the body's tissues respond to the mineral, here the researchers wanted to observe how the mineral responded to being taken up by human lung cells. Collaborating with researchers at the National Institute of Chemistry in Slovenia, Vigliaturo and Giere made use of imaging technology with an extremely high-spatial resolution to characterize the minerals after two days spent inside human lung cells. In contrast, most asbestos research has so far focused on impacts on the body when long asbestos fibers remain in areas of tissue outside of cells.

With specialized transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques, the researchers documented never-before-seen changes in the amphibole minerals, many of which were taken up by compartments in the cell called lysosomes, which typically are involved in processing cellular waste and programmed cell death.

"In these lysosomes, which are more acidic than the rest of the cell, we observed that the surface of the mineral starts dissolving," says Giere.

An immediate question about these relatively iron-rich minerals quickly arose: "What was the fate of the iron?" he says.

A refined type of TEM analysis allowed the researchers to see that the oxidation state of iron was changing during this dissolution, alterations that could influence the way the mineral reacted with other cellular components, such as organelles and cell nuclei.

The mineral surfaces also underwent striking changes, which included the formation of an iron-rich, amorphous layer after being internalized by the cells. To the scientists, the layer was reminiscent of asbestos bodies, but with marked structural and chemical differences. Asbestos bodies are formed by macrophages in the lung tissue rather than inside the cells, and are associated with extended exposure to asbestos.

"When you examine samples of lung tissue extracted from patients that succumbed to asbestos-related diseases, you'll find asbestos fibers surrounded by a brownish coating. These are asbestos bodies," Giere says. "The coating is biogenically formed, and the iron is delivered primarily from the body through a protein called ferritin."

In their experiments, with the asbestos inside the cells rather than in the intercellular space, the researchers did not observe asbestos bodies, but rather an iron layer on the minerals that was derived from the mineral itself. And unlike asbestos bodies, these coatings did not contain phosphorous.

"Why this happens, we don't know," Giere says. "It may be the cell is attempting to protect itself by triggering this change in the mineral but it's too early to say."

In addition, Vigliaturo notes that the more iron-rich amphiboles unexpectedly showed less pronounced dissolution and a less extensive amorphous layer than the varieties that contained less iron. "This was the opposite of what we anticipated and what was reported in abiotic experiments," he says.

The mineralogic changes, the researchers say, could impact how the body responds and deals with the asbestos fibersa process that may have links to how disease arises decades later. They caution, however, that their experiments were carried out over a short time frame, just two days, and conducted in vitro with cell lines rather than within the human body. More work is necessary, they say, to understand whether what they observe is reflected in living people exposed to asbestos.

Giere, Vigliaturo, and their colleagues continue to explore the interaction of lung cells and asbestos, but with a focus on the biochemical changes in the cells themselves. They're also experimenting with different types of asbestos to better understand how their similarities and differences may relate to disease burden.

They hope that their findings will help other researchers interpret the toxic and carcinogenic effects of asbestos. And for Vigliaturo, who was born in Casale Monferrato, Italy, a city of 40,000 people with more than 3,000 deaths attributed to asbestos toxicity from a local factory, the desire to learn more about asbestos-related disease is personal.

"We took nanoscience, biology, and nanomaterials technology and brought it to mineralogy," he says. "We're using our specialized backgrounds to contribute to solving this part of the puzzle."

Explore further Pressures rise on Canada to ban asbestos

More information: Ruggero Vigliaturo et al, Nanoscale transformations of amphiboles within human alveolar epithelial cells, Scientific Reports (2022). Journal information: Scientific Reports Ruggero Vigliaturo et al, Nanoscale transformations of amphiboles within human alveolar epithelial cells,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05802-x
Researchers from Norway, France, Austria and England were able to use information from SK152 to reconstruct what she might have looked like. Credit: Stian Suppersberger Hamre/FaceLab

A young woman walks Trondheim's streets 800 years ago, carrying a secret in her body. It's 150 years before the plaguethe Black Deathbut this young women is sick with a disease that no one thought was found in Europe at all during medieval times.

We don't know whether this particular disease killed this young woman, but we do know the name of her diseaseSalmonella enterica. It took some modern-day archaeological sleuthing to find out what ailed her, though. Researchers found their evidence for the disease between this woman's teeth.

Beginning in 2017, an international team of researchers began working on a joint project called MedHeal, focused on Trondheim's medieval history.

They've combed through the records from a series of archaeological digs in the town's center over the last century, and are using new technologies to explore the secrets locked inside skeletons that have been excavated and preserved over the years from the different digs.

"We had really good archaeological sources from this time, because there has been a lot of professional archaeological excavations in this town from the beginning of the 1970s and the conditions for preserving organic material and skeletons are superb," says Axel Christophersen, a professor of historical archaeology at the NTNU University Museum.

By digging deeply into the data from Trondheim's medieval cemeteries, latrine wastes and dental plaque, researchers have been figuring out how diseases changed the way medieval populations behavedand how this information can help us understand how pandemics like SARS-CoV-2 happen, so we can better combat pandemics in the future.

What makes a pathogen jump?

Among the researchers involved in the MedHeal project is Tom Gilbert, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Copenhagen who is also a professor at the NTNU University Museum. Gilbert is interested in what ancient DNA can tell us about ancient and modern pathogens, like the Salmonella he and his colleagues discovered in the dental plaque from the 800-year-old female skeleton from Trondheim. The skeleton is officially called SK152, but British researchers gave her the name Ragna.

The record for SK152, the skeleton from a woman who died around 1200  with evidence of a deadly pathogen between her teeth. In an article about her disease, rsearchers called her Ragna. Credit: NTNU University Museum/Riksantikvaren

While it's of academic interest to find a pathogen that wasn't actually believed to be in Europe during that time, Gilbert says the information is also useful in helping us to be on the lookout for potential dangerous pathogens now and in the future.

"By getting the old pathogens one can study when this transmission happened, what kind of characteristics are needed, which can then be translated back into the useful information for monitoring today," he said. "So it's about extra knowledgewhere do things come from, how do they adapt? How easy is it for pathogens to jump?"

Linking history with DNA code

New technologies developed over the past few decades have changed the way that archaeologists and evolutionary biologists are able to study biological remains.

The MedHeal project allowed Gilbert and his colleagues to study the DNA in the Trondheim skeletons, so they could learn more about where each individual came from.

In one case, researchers were able correlate what's written in the history books with what they find written in the DNA code.

"And we actually find somebody in Trondheim in about 1100 who basically looks like a modern Icelander, and we actually think it may well have been a high-status Icelander," Gilbert said.

There was a lot of conflict in Iceland in the 1100s, and Gilbert says this person could have come from Iceland to Trondheim to negotiate with royals who would have been in the city during the period.

The NTNU University Museum has an unparalleled collection of ancient and medieval skeletons that contain all kinds of secrets from the past. Here, Anne-Marijn Snaaijer, a PhD candidate at the University of Copenhagen, examines a spine from Trondheims Archive Centre at Dora. Credit: Age Hojem, NTNU University Museum

Researchers can also confirm that this individual came from Iceland because of another component found in the skeleton, called isotopes.

Isotopes are variants of elements that are found in small quantities. Most people have heard of Carbon 14 dating. Carbon 14 is a variant of carbon that can be used to date organic material. But other chemical isotopes can tell biologists and archaeologists where you lived at certain periods of your life, in part based on what you eat or the water you drank.

In this case, the composition of the skeleton's isotopes strongly support that the man was an Icelander, Gilbert said.

High-born means more children

But that's not all that can be learned about this individual, Gilbert says.

"This particular Icelander has a genome which is most closely related to modern Icelandic genomes," Gilbert said. But Gilbert specifically said the man was believed to have been high status. How can researchers possibly know this?

"You can't say the high-status bit from DNA, except for this," he said. "Not every human has the same number of descendants through time. People who are high status typically have many more offspring. And actually, if you have an ancient sample that's given rise to a lot of offspring that give rise to a lot of offspring, they actually look even closer to the current population because there's more of them in the current population."

So the fact that this Icelander looks much more like a modern Icelander than other Icelanders from the 1100 can be explained by "having had way more descendants from this one person," Gilbert said.

Heres how the Danes mapped Trondheim in 1658, which is at the end of the study period for the MedHeal project. By this time the citys population had rebounded from the Black Death, but the town was still small in comparison to other southern European settlements. Credit: Map: Det Kgl. Bibliotek collection

"More people today look like him than the other Icelanders, and that is what leads us to suggest he is a high-profile person, because they were typically the guys who had the wealth to have all the children."

Gilbert points out that this is somewhat speculative, of course, but "it does fit with the history, where there was civil strife in Iceland and people were traveling (to Trondheim) to try and get support from the Norwegian King," he said.

"So with all these bits pointing together, you can start building up quite an interesting story. Each bit on its own is speculative, but together they paint quite an interesting picture."

Not from Trondheim

Researchers have also learned quite a bit more about the young woman who had evidence of Salmonella enterica between her teeth. An isotopic analysis from her bones showed researchers that she actually wasn't born in Trondheim.

But to learn more about where she was from, and other lessons learned from Trondheim's medieval skeletons, you'll have to listen to 63 Degrees North.

Explore further Scientists map the earliest Icelandic genome

More information: Zhemin Zhou et al, Pan-genome Analysis of Ancient and Modern Salmonella enterica Demonstrates Genomic Stability of the Invasive Para C Lineage for Millennia, Current Biology (2018). Zhemin Zhou et al, Pan-genome Analysis of Ancient and Modern Salmonella enterica Demonstrates Genomic Stability of the Invasive Para C Lineage for Millennia,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.058 Stian Suppersberger Hamre et al, Three individuals, three stories, three burials from medieval Trondheim, Norway, PLOS ONE (2017). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180277 Stian Suppersberger Hamre et al, Stable oxygen isotope evidence for mobility in medieval and post-medieval Trondheim, Norway, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.06.046 Journal information: Current Biology , PLoS ONE
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers solve the more than 25-year-old puzzle of how proteins are sorted in the cell. A protein complex known as NAC (nascent polypeptide-associated complex) serves as a "gatekeeper" in protein synthesis, regulating the transport of proteins within the cell. The molecular mechanism behind this function has now been elucidated by cell and molecular biologists from Konstanz within an international collaborative project.

For the maintenance of our cellular functions, it is essential that proteins are transported to various destinations within the cellreferred to as "cell organelles" in analogy to the organs of our bodywhile they are still being synthesized. But how is it possible to distinguish between different transport destinations and prevent proteins from reaching the wrong organelles? An international research team has now discovered how this complex process is controlled at the molecular level for an important cellular destinationthe transport of nascent proteins to a membrane network of the cell, the endoplasmic reticulum.

In their current publication in the journal Science, the researchers were able to show that a protein complex known among experts as NAC, which was discovered more than 25 years ago, plays a decisive role in this process: Like a gatekeeper, NAC ensures that only proteins with the endoplasmic reticulum as destination are passed on to the protein transporter SRP (signal recognition particle). SRP then mediates the transport of the "cargo" to the specified destination. If, on the other hand, a nascent protein has a destination other than the endoplasmic reticulum, the gatekeeper NAC denies access to the protein transporter SRP.

Protein factory

Using the genetic material as a blueprint, thousands and thousands of new proteins are produced every minute in the cells of our body. This protein production takes place in the ribosomes, the cellular "factories" of our bodies, where individual amino acidsthe building blocks of proteinsare assembled into long amino acid chains. The resulting proteins can later take on a wide variety of functions and accordingly have different destinations within the cell. Suitable sorting mechanisms therefore often already ensure during protein production that the proteins reliably reach their respective location within the cell.

Until now, it was known that two protein complexes, the aforementioned NAC and SRP, play an important role in the targeted transport of nascent proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum. SRP is the actual "transport protein" that establishes the contact of the nascent proteins together with the ribosome to the endoplasmic reticulum. It recognizes a specific transport signal that is encoded in the newly synthesized protein. However, there is a problem: SRP also binds non-specifically to ribosomes that have no signal for the endoplasmic reticulum.

"Uncontrolled, SRP would bind to any ribosome close by and then transport it to the endoplasmic reticulum, regardless of whether or not a protein with that destination is currently being produced. This would result in countless misdeliveries that would severely impair the function and viability of the cell," explains Elke Deuerling, one of the senior authors of the current study and professor of molecular microbiology at the University of Konstanz. So the researchers conclude that there is a control instance that prevents exactly that: the gatekeeper NAC.

Tracking down the molecular mechanism

How exactly NAC prevents SRP from binding non-specifically to any ribosome at the molecular level and instead ensures that only the correct ribosomes are transported to the endoplasmic reticulum was previously unclear. The biologists from Konstanz investigated this question in their current study in collaboration with colleagues from ETH Zurich (Switzerland), MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB, Cambridge, UK) and the California Institutes of Technology (Caltech, Pasadena, U.S.).

To do this, they first simulated the processes in the cell by mixing purified ribosomes together with NAC and SRP in the test tube. The mixture was then snap-frozen at below -150 degrees Celsius and the sample examined under an electron microscopea method known as cryoelectron microscopy. This allowed structural biologists Dr. Ahmad Jomaa and Dr. Viswanathan Chandrasekaran, co-authors of the study, to reveal how NAC binds to ribosomes before and after cargo transfer to SRP. This was an important cornerstone in elucidating the gatekeeper mechanism, but the transition between the states remained unclear.

"The transition is a highly dynamic process that cannot be visualized by cryoelectron microscopy," explains Dr. Martin Gamerdinger, one of the lead authors from the University of Konstanz. To understand this process, he and his team, doctoral researchers Annalena Wallisch and Zeynel Ulusoy, conducted high-resolution biochemical binding studies that revealed in detail the interaction mechanism of NAC on ribosomes depending on the type of protein synthesized.

NAC as a gatekeeper

Using this method and computer-assisted reconstruction of the 3D structures, as well as experiments by Dr. Hao-Hsuan Hsieh on the binding strength between the components involved, the researchers succeeded in deciphering how NAC works at the molecular level. Based on their results, they were able to suggest a detailed molecular mechanism for NAC's sorting function.

According to this, NAC binds to the ribosome, specifically to the section where the nascent protein leaves the "protein factory." Like a gatekeeper, part of NAC sits protectively in front of this exit, the ribosomal tunnel, and denies SRP access to the ribosome and the nascent protein. Access is only granted when a transport signal sequence for the endoplasmic reticulumencoded in the nascent proteinleaves the tunnel in the course of the protein synthesis. NAC recognizes this signal and changes its position on the ribosome. This way, the exit of the ribosomal tunnel becomes unblocked and SRP can now dock to the tunnel exit after being actively recruited to the ribosome via a "grabbing arm" of NAC, i.e. the UBA domain. After SRP binding and signal sequence transfer, the ribosome together with the nascent protein is transported to the endoplasmic reticulum.

"Our study reveals the molecular function of NAC as a gatekeeper, granting SRP only access for those nascent proteins whose destination is the endoplasmic reticulum," Professor Elke Deuerling summarizes this fundamental control mechanism. She agrees with her international cooperation partners Professor Nenad Ban (ETH Zurich, Switzerland), Professor Shu-ou Shan (Caltech, U.S.) and Professor Ramanujan Hegde (MRC-LMB, UK): "Future studies will have to show whether NAC also has other control functions at the ribosomal tunnel."

Explore further New protein-sensing mechanism discovered

More information: Ahmad Jomaa et al, Mechanism of signal sequence handover from NAC to SRP on ribosomes during ER-protein targeting, Science (2022). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl6459 Journal information: Science Ahmad Jomaa et al, Mechanism of signal sequence handover from NAC to SRP on ribosomes during ER-protein targeting,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abl6459
From 2018 to 2020, collars affixed to 51 female bighorn sheep in the Nebraska Panhandle reported the precise locations of those ewes up to 24 times a day. Credit: Todd Nordeen | Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

In the Nebraska Panhandle, where the flatlands of the state's eastern expanse occasionally give way to rocky buttes and canyons that preview the mountainous terrain farther west, reside pockets of bighorn sheep, a species once gone, now returned.

Amid the Wildcat Hills and the Pine Ridge, the iconic cloven-hooved mammalknown for navigating the steepest of slopeshas maintained a foothold since being reintroduced to the Cornhusker State in the early 1980s.

"Typically, most people are like, 'You have bighorn sheep in Nebraska?' And that's kind of what I thought before I came here," said John Benson, assistant professor of vertebrate ecology at the University of NebraskaLincoln.

Named for the signature curlicue horns that spiral from the heads of its males, bighorn sheep flourished throughout western North America for more than half a million years. As recently as 1800, several 100,000 bighorn sheep remained. Unregulated hunting, respiratory disease and habitat change combined to leave just a fraction of that number by the early 20th century, when they disappeared from Nebraska.

Since helping oversee the relocation of bighorn sheep to the Panhandle about 40 years ago, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has monitored two subpopulations: one in the Wildcat Hills, near Scottsbluff, and another on the Pine Ridge, near Chadron.

A group of Husker researchers led by Bensonwho's accustomed to studying wolves, mountain lions and other large predators that would consider bighorn sheep a worthy mealhas teamed up with the commission for several years. With the aid of GPS-enabled collars, that team is now getting a better sense of where, exactly, the bighorn sheep live, how much space they use, and whether and how far they migrate.

Homing in on those answers should ultimately improve management and conservation efforts, Benson said. That's particularly crucial on the Pine Ridge, where sometimes-devastating pneumonia outbreaks have thinned three herds of the species.

"We believe, and there's good evidence to suggest, that understanding space-use behavior can give us information about patterns that influence mortality and potentially disease transmission," Benson said of the bighorn sheep, which remain at risk in Nebraska.

From 2018 to 2020, collars affixed to 51 female bighorn sheep reported the precise locations of those ewes up to 24 times a day. The collars dropped off the ewes at designated dates and were later collected. The resulting data has revealed that Nebraska's bighorn ewes occupy seasonal home ranges as small as any documented to datein some cases, just 2 square miles, with none larger than 5 square miles. And the vast majority of those ewes maintained the same home ranges over time.

Benson said the findings could speak to the unique ecological conditions of the Nebraska Panhandle, which differs from the habitats occupied by most bighorn sheep in other states.

"There's been a ton of research on bighorn sheep over the years, but most of it is in high-elevation mountain populations and desert populations," he said. "This would be along the easternmost periphery of their range, here in Nebraska, and a very different landscape than, say, the Rocky Mountains or Sierra Nevada or the deserts in the Southwest."

Bighorn sheep likely adapted to living among and climbing slopes because those slopes serve as so-called escape terrainground up which the sheep can flee when pursued by mountain lions, coyotes and other predators. In more mountainous regions, that escape terrain tends to be abundant and far-reaching. Conversely, Nebraska's Wildcat Hills and Pine Ridge are environmental outliers: relatively small, isolated areas of elevation that abruptly meet massive stretches of flat, exposed terrain where predators reclaim the advantage.

"It stands to reason that if there are relatively few areas of true rugged, steep escape terrain, then that might serve to anchor them to those areas," Benson said, "and might be one of the reasons they have a relatively small range."

Credit: Google Earth

The remoteness of those escape routes might also help explain why most of the bighorn ewes migrated relatively short distances between seasons. Of the 51 ewes, 45 spent the winter in areas that overlapped with the territory they occupied during the summer, when they birth and begin rearing lambs that are especially vulnerable to predators.

Though few in number, the other six ewes did hint at a potentially interesting aspect of bighorn migration in Nebraska. It's not unusual for a species to include both residents and migrantsindividuals that stay put versus those that migrate, respectively, even in the same population. In some species, the residents of one year tend to remain residents the next, as do the migrants. By contrast, the four migrating ewes that were tracked across multiple years actually migrated in only one of those years, staying put in the others.

"So they have this kind of flexibility and switching behavior," Benson said. "Presumably, they're gaging: What are the resources like this year? What's the weather doing? How risky is it where I am relative to where I might go? And something tells them, 'OK, we're going this year,' or, 'Not this year.'

"I think there's a ton that we can learn about the environmental conditions that drive their behavior with further investigation into this plasticity in migratory behavior across years."

As much as the "where" is influencing range size and migration, Benson said the "when" could be factoring in, too. Prior research has indicated that recently relocated populations may migrate less, on average, than native populations that have continuously occupied an area. One study found evidence of that migratory reluctance dissipating over time, suggesting that it might stem partly from an unfamiliarity with a landscape. The researchers plan to keep an eye out for a similar trend in Nebraska's bighorn sheep, which, by ecological standards, are still relatively recent arrivals.

Despite the Panhandle's reputation as a sparsely populated, largely undeveloped area, Benson and the team also sought out signs of a relationship between home ranges and the density of nearby roads. Historically, studies have concluded that more roads can equate with larger home ranges in wild animals, which presumably need to travel more in order to reach food or other resources separated by those roads.

Sure enough, the team found that the bighorn ewes tended to occupy larger ranges in the road-adjacent areas of both the Wildcat Hills and Pine Ridge. Moreover, the ewes in the region with the higher density of roadsPine Ridgefavored larger ranges than their counterparts in the Wildcat Hills. Because more travel requires more energy, and larger energy expenditures demand more food, the presence of roads could also be tilting survival odds. The fact that bighorn ewe numbers have recently declined on the Pine Ridge, but not in the Wildcat Hills, might suggest that a fragmented landscape can exacerbate the herds' issues with respiratory disease.

There's also the possibility that the small ranges of bighorn ewes in the Nebraska Panhandle are rooted, at least partly, in a more heartening explanation, Benson said.

"Typically, we think of home range size as some indication of habitat quality, with smaller home ranges reflecting high habitat quality or abundant food resources," he said. "Because why go farther if you've got everything you need right there?

"The Wildcat Hills is the subpopulation that's been pretty stable, so the smaller home ranges could be an indication that habitat quality is better there. We know that what's driving (bighorn mortality) is disease, but it certainly stands to reason that better habitat quality could help a population withstand a disease outbreak better."

Benson said the team needs to analyze its data more thoroughly before it can gage, with confidence, how much any of the behavioral factors may actually be influencing the survival rates and population dynamics of Nebraska's bighorn sheep. He's especially interested in using statistical models to help tease out which resources and habitat conditions the bighorn sheep are prioritizing in deciding when, where and how much to move.

"What we learned in this study may not lead us immediately to strong management recommendations for bighorn sheep," Benson said. "But it's really valuable baseline information that is needed to help manage in a more effective wayand has led us to additional questions that will continue to benefit managers."

The team reported its latest findings in the Journal of Wildlife Management. Erin Wood, a recent master's graduate and advisee of Benson's in the School of Natural Resources, was lead author of the study. It was co-authored by Todd Nordeen and Will Inselman of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission; Peter Mahoney, a former postdoctoral researcher in Benson's lab now with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and Benson.

More information: Erin Wood et al, Spatial ecology of female bighorn sheep in a prairie landscape in Nebraska, The Journal of Wildlife Management (2022). Journal information: Journal of Wildlife Management Erin Wood et al, Spatial ecology of female bighorn sheep in a prairie landscape in Nebraska,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22201
Diagram of QubiC prototype showing room-temperature electronics hardware. Credit: Gang Huang and Yilun/Berkeley Lab

The Advanced Quantum Testbed (AQT) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has open sourced a new electronics control and measurement system for superconducting quantum processors, making the engineering solutions for the emerging hardware more accessible. Superconducting circuits are one of the leading quantum computing technologies seeking to solve complex problems beyond the reach of classical computers.

AQT's superconducting qubit control systemQubiC for shortis customizable and modular. QubiC's performance data was published in IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering. Researchers Gang Huang and Yilun Xu from Berkeley Lab's Accelerator Technology and Applied Physics Division (ATAP) led the AQT QubiC design, leveraging a robust technological legacy in research and development for particle accelerators. AQT is funded by the Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program in the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.

The need for more affordable qubit control

Quantum information processors require expensive electronic controls that can manipulate qubits with precision. However, it is both a theoretical and experimental challenge to develop the control hardware that maximizes quantum computers' performance. Furthermore, current coherence times are short-lived, and most commercially available electronic equipment is designed as general-purpose for non-quantum systems. The cost, size, and complexity of control and measurement hardware increase with a growing number of qubits. This presents a significant roadblock for startups and junior academic research groups worldwide.

AQT's researchers at Berkeley Lab are tackling these control challenges by designing modular control hardware for current and future superconducting processors and open sourcing the system's full-stack code, so that it can be accessed, improved, and leveraged by the broader quantum information science community.

"Newer control electronics systems are not tailored for quantum control systems," explained Huang. "So quantum researchers need to make the control system bigger by purchasing more instruments as the processors become more complex. But the cost for control hardware should not be linear or exponential, and that's where we try to come in. By building this as a more accessible and affordable system from the ground up, we really know what happens underneath for further integrations and to try to scale the design."

QubiC integrates an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) RF (radio frequency) system, which modulates the signals at room temperature to manipulate and measure the superconducting qubits cooled down to cryogenic temperatures. AQT's cryogenic dilution fridge "Blizzard" reaches very low temperatures, close to absolute zero.

Researchers Gang Huang and Yilun Xu led the QubiC design leveraging robust research and development for particle accelerators at Berkeley Lab. Credit: Christian Junger/Berkeley Lab

QubiC's Python-based software and firmware implement the control and measurement protocols to characterize and benchmark the quantum chips, optimize one- and two-qubit gate algorithms, and mitigate errors. Experimental results have demonstrated that QubiC executes quantum algorithms with promising synchronicity and speed, delivering results similar to commercially available systems at less cost.

"We're working on providing a more modular and affordable hardware control solution that performs equal to or slightly better with the added benefits," emphasized Huang. "But we cannot do everything by ourselves, so by open sourcing the code, we can find a community willing to support, contribute, and develop."

QubiC is compatible with commercial and custom-designed electronics. As a result, testbed users from a variety of national laboratories, startups, and companies have shown strong interest to deploy their projects using QubiC's customizable interface.

Xu explained: "Open sourcing the full stack of the QubiC system benefits the community because more people can contribute, customize, and improve it. And as an early career researcher involved in its design from the start, I have learned to integrate different disciplines from engineering to physics to experiments."

Leveraging the legacy of particle accelerators

The research and development of AQT's control hardware comes from a seemingly unlikely source, but that leverages Berkeley Lab's origins and 91-year history: particle accelerators. Across their many sizes and purposesranging from compact medical treatment machines to extensive research facilities like the Large Hadron Collideraccelerators speed up charged particles and funnel them into a controlled beam to explore matter and energy.

As particle accelerators grow more powerful, the need for state-of-the-art instrumentation and control systems increases. It's critical to precisely stabilize particle beams and the sophisticated equipment that produces them. The resulting technology and know-how can benefit many other fields, such as quantum computing.

Researchers designed and open sourced a modular field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based electronics control system called QubiC for superconducting quantum information processors. Credit: Berkeley Lab

Huang and Xu are members of the Berkeley Accelerator Controls and Instrumentation (BACI) Program, where expertise in these control systems is a common resource crucial to the varied efforts of the ATAP Division. BACI, supported by the General Accelerator R&D program in the DOE Office of High Energy Physics, has a decades-long history of developing precision control and feedback systems for particle accelerator projects. "I am very happy to see that previous investment for accelerator controls now can be further developed and used for qubits controls," said BACI Program Head Derun Li.

"Particle accelerators are a vital component of Berkeley Lab's scientific endeavors, so the work with advanced FPGA-based RF control technology and engineering for particle beams helped us streamline the customization for quantum hardware," added Huang. "AQT researchers and testbed users are able to take advantage of the open source toolbox and gain a deeper understanding of flexible control hardware platforms that are both cost-effective and scalable."

ATAP Director Cameron Geddes described the QubiC design for AQT's superconducting processors as "classic examples of how capabilities developed for one area can benefit others in the team-science tradition of Berkeley Lab."

Open access testbed

Extensible quantum computers will require significant modifications to current tools and standard techniques, which is why AQT researchers have pioneered the open sourced control hardware used in the Berkeley Lab quantum computing testbed program that is inspired by technology transfer of particle accelerators.

By providing AQT users full stack access to QubiC and its infrastructure, the broader community has access to state-of-the-art superconducting quantum processors and co-participates in their evolution, potentially making QubiC compatible with other quantum computing technologies as well.

Explore further How a novel radio frequency control system enhances quantum computers

More information: Yilun Xu et al, QubiC: An Open-Source FPGA-Based Control and Measurement System for Superconducting Quantum Information Processors, IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering (2021). Yilun Xu et al, QubiC: An Open-Source FPGA-Based Control and Measurement System for Superconducting Quantum Information Processors,(2021). DOI: 10.1109/TQE.2021.3116540
UQ Centre for Animal Science director, Professor Ben Hayes sampling tail-hair. Credit: QAAFI

A way to determine the age of cattle by analyzing their tail hair has been described as a "game changer" for Australia's lucrative northern cattle industry.

University of Queensland researchers have developed the method that uses an existing real-time sequencing device to read the age of the animal from DNA extracted from the tail hair.

Meat & Livestock Australia funded the project, which was supported by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and producers, to address a core issue affecting northern Australia's beef industrythe inability to determine the age of individual animals.

UQ Centre for Animal Science director, Professor Ben Hayes said herds range freely in-between annual musters and the births of individual animals were generally not recorded.

"Without age records, it's difficult to establish the baseline growth rates, apply genomic predictions, and there are also adverse impacts on herd management."

The work is led by UQ Research Fellow Dr. Elizabeth Ross using an Oxford-developed portable DNA sequencing device called MinION.

"The device is currently being used to give us information about the genetic makeup of the animal," Dr. Ross said.

"But we've discovered that it can also be used to accurately measure a cattle's age to within 1.5 years.

"The DNA extracted for the animal's tail hair using this method works across all ages in a herd, from five days to 14 years."

The Northern Australia herd comprises 12.5 million cattle and makes up 90 percent of Australia's live cattle exports.

Dr. Ross said if adopted by producers, the technology can deliver both the age estimate and genomic predictions from the same DNA test and is a "game changer" for improving herd performance.

"There'll be gains across the board for producers including improved herd fertility, growth rates, health, and meat traits," she said.

"Tools we can't imagine today will be a reality in five years and I'm excited to be working with the portable DNA sequencer to help the cattle industry prepare for future challenges."

The team is now working to include hundreds more tail hair samples before taking the technology for proof-of-concept trials on cattle stations later this year, and Dr. Loan Nguyen, who led the sequencing work, has developed protocols for several new studies.

As one of the inventors of genomic prediction, Professor Hayes said it was great to be able to help the Australian dairy and beef herds achieve significant productivity gains through this technology.

"This form of genetic analysis has proved exceptionally powerful at driving-up important productivity and welfare traits," he said.

Meat & Livestock Australia General Manager Research Development & Adoption, Michael Crowley said MLA supported this work because of the benefits that genomics can bring to the red meat industry.

"The performance data and DNA gathered from cattle will enable genomic predictions and this completes the feedback loop and making sure that industry data will be used to drive ongoing genetic improvement," Mr Crowley said.

The study is published in Frontiers in Genetics.

Explore further Genetic link between cattle temperament and autism

More information: Ben J. Hayes et al, An Epigenetic Aging Clock for Cattle Using Portable Sequencing Technology, Frontiers in Genetics (2021). Ben J. Hayes et al, An Epigenetic Aging Clock for Cattle Using Portable Sequencing Technology,(2021). DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.760450
Predicted probabilities of approval from Gender  Race model. The results are from the full model with field-office fixed effects that contains the independent variables, control variables, and an interaction term for Female  Race/Ethnicity. Credit: DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2114430119

It took filing a federal lawsuit for Professor Emily Ryo to complete a new empirical study on the naturalization, or citizenship, process.

"The Importance of Race, Gender, and Religion in Naturalization Adjudication in the United States," co-written with Reed Humphrey (MPP 2018), Ph.D. candidate at the Evans School of Public Policy, University of Washington, indicates that naturalization adjudication outcomes are significantly different for many racial, ethnic, religious and gender groups.

The research, posted in late February in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), determined that, despite widespread assumptions of fair and equitable treatment in the process, race, ethnicity, gender and religion predict approval rates. The study shows probability of approval for Black males at 89% compared to 94% for White females; probability for Blacks from Muslim-majority countries is 86% compared to 96% for Whites from non-Muslim majority countries; and probability for females from Muslim-majority countries was 87%, compared to 93% for females from non-Muslim majority countries. The data ranges from the years 20142018.

"U.S. citizenship laws have a long history of formally excluding non-whites, religious minorities, and females," she said. "We assume all that is in the past, because [our] laws now prohibit those kinds of discrimination. We shouldn't expect to find continued disparities by race, gender, and religion. So the persistent disparities that we found are surprising and troubling."

Ryo, who studies immigration enforcement, filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for data on naturalization applications with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in August of 2018. But when officials were slow to cooperate with her requests, in July 2020 she filed federal lawsuit against USCIS, represented by American Oversight, a nonpartisan government watchdog agency in Washington, D.C. The litigation took more than a year.

"I was shocked to find USCIS has never released individual level data on their naturalization decisions," she said. "That meant no one could address basic and important questions like whether certain groups are more likely to be denied, and whether denial rates depend on which field office adjudicates the application. The only way to obtain the data to answer those kinds of questions was to file a FOIA."

Data on naturalization application denials missing or obscure

Ryo's inquiries revealed that, despite laws requiring USCIS to explain the basis for denying applications, 20% of denials in the data were simply missing. Another 14% were attributed to reasons such as "Other" and "Secondary Evidence" that are never explained. The study highlights the need for understanding the possible role of bias in agency decision-making and how structural inequities in the criminal justice system that disproportionately impact certain immigrant groups might become compounded in the immigration adjudication system, Ryo says.

In a companion study that Ryo and Humphrey plans to publish separately, they also completed an analysis of disparities in outcomes from different field offices throughout the United States.

Ryo hopes the PNAS study helps to illuminate the full consequences of disparities on individuals and families trying to gain rights as U.S. citizens.

"My hope is that this study brings to light the type and nature of inequalities that characterize the naturalization system so that we can develop a system that is more fair and equitable," she said.

Explore further Naturalized immigrants more politically integrated citizens, research shows

More information: Emily Ryo et al, The importance of race, gender, and religion in naturalization adjudication in the United States, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Emily Ryo et al, The importance of race, gender, and religion in naturalization adjudication in the United States,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2114430119
BOLTON  The quality of Lake George water will be improved by the first woodchip bioreactor to be used at a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

The Town of Bolton has demonstrated that woodchips can be used to reduce the release of algae-causing nitrate into groundwater and a tributary that feeds Lake George, a news release from the Lake George Association states.

The bioreactor will be used to filter nitrates from the wastewater, which have been proven to negatively impact Lake George water quality.

Nitrate is a chemical compound present in organic waste that, when discharged to water in high quantities and over long periods of time, can result in human and ecosystem health problems and foster the growth of algae.

Boltons wastewater treatment plant was constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s and, like other plants of that era, is lacking the denitrification stage found in modern-day plants that converts nitrate to nitrogen gas and releases it harmlessly into the air.

A 27-month study, a follow-up to a 2016-17 study, showed that the bioreactor removed 38% of nitrate from the wastewater as opposed to the 0% removed from the water that did not flow through the woodchip bioreactor.

The news release explains that the bioreactor adds a wholly natural denitrification process to the plants treatment capabilities.

Wastewater is diverted from the treatment plant through the bioreactor, which is an underground cell, 20 feet wide and 100 feet long, filled with a bed of Adirondack woodchips 4 feet deep, and bacteria in the water then feed on carbon from the chips and take their oxygen from the nitrate, converting it to nitrogen gas.

The waterkeeper of Lake George, Chris Navitsky, said the LGA wanted to congratulate the town of Bolton on this new addition.

We were very excited about the project. We want to congratulate the town for implementing this. It is the first known application of this technology in a municipal plant, he said.

Navitsky hopes that the work done around the lake can lead as an example for other lakeside towns and villages.

We think a lot of the work we do around Lake George can be a model for other communities that have similar plants that are lacking some of the technology to address nitrogen removal, Navitsky said.

He said the problem was identified through the LGAs frequent monitoring of areas that have potential impacts on water quality, noting that wastewater treatment plants were often a source.

Our studies are what led to the replacement of the Lake George Villages wastewater treatment plant, Navitsky added.

The idea for use of the bioreactor is credited to the towns engineer, Kathy Suozzo.

The project was funded by a $50,000 grant from The Fund for Lake George, which has now merged with the LGA.

The bioreactor began as a demonstration project in October 2018 and reportedly treated 30% of the plants wastewater flow until maintenance was required in June 2021.

After the success of the study, the town has applied for and was recently awarded a $246,000 grant from the New York State Water Quality Improvement project to construct two additional woodchip bioreactors on site.

All three bioreactors are projected to treat the 80,000 to 275,000 gallons of wastewater flowing through the plant each day.

Jana DeCamilla is a senior reporter who covers Moreau, Queensbury, and Lake George. She can be reached at 518-742-3272 or jdecamilla@poststar.com.

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CAMBRIDGE  By a 3-2 vote Wednesday night, the Cambridge school board decided to appeal state Education Commissioner Betty Rosas order to retire the schools Indian nickname and imagery.

Board of Education President Jessica Ziehm said every state official shes spoken to about the ruling agreed that Rosa overstepped her bounds.

This is about our rights as a community and a school district, Ziehm said before the vote.

She added that she felt Rosa had singled out the school by not addressing all districts in the state with Native-themed mascots.

Im concerned about the ramifications for our budget if we dont stand up for our community, Ziehm said.

Board member Neal Gifford, who was school board president in June when the board voted to retire the mascot, said Rosas decision wasnt about the mascot but rather the revote the board took less than a month later to restore the mascot.

Its disingenuous to say we were singled out over the mascot, Gifford said.

Shay Price, who joined the board in July and voted to overturn the previous months vote, said Rosa voided a legal vote on her opinion.

Board member Dillon Honyoust said he and Price were elected by a large majority of district voters on their pledge to retain the Indian.

The previous board knew our opinions, Honyoust said, adding that voting with one lame duck member just before the new board took office was premature. The decision to rescind the previous vote was just and rational and supported by Native Americans living in the district, he said.

This horse has been beaten to death, said board member Caleb Breault. Your main constituents are the students of this school.

On a voice vote, Ziehm, Honyoust, and Price voted to proceed with an appeal. Gifford and Breault were opposed.

The resolution said the board disagrees with Rosas order to retire the mascot, calling it beyond the authority of the Commissioner, and/or in that her decision is arbitrary or capricious in nature. It directs the boards attorneys, Honeywell Law Firm PLLC, to commence any appropriate legal action necessary on behalf of the Board of Education to challenge the Commissioners Decision, and authorizes Ziehm to handle any necessary legal documents.

No estimate was offered of what the appeal might cost the district.

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QUEENSBURY  A plea bargain offer has been made in the case involving a 73-year-old Chester woman accused of shooting and injuring her husband in April 2021.

The woman, Susan F. Bohmer, did not make a decision on the offer and the case was adjourned until March 9 at 2 p.m.

Bohmer, of 365 Hardscrabble Road, shot Raymond Bohmer on April 25, 2021, at their residence around 7:10 p.m., according to state police.

She is accused of shooting her husband in the stomach with a semiautomatic handgun, according to court records.

Raymond Bohmer was taken to Albany Medical Center where he was treated in the intensive care unit for several days.

Susan Bohmer was originally charged with with felony counts of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

On Wednesday, Warren County Judge Robert Smith outlined a plea bargain that would see Bohmer plead guilty to a violent felony first-degree assault charge. That plea would carry with it a sentence of no more than 15 years in prison, which would be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

She would also be required to pay a $50 DNA fee and submit a DNA sample to the state DNA databank.

Bohmer would waive her right to appeal, and there would be restitution if it was sought by her husband. A full order of protection for the husband would be included in the agreement.

Smith outlined the possibility of an alternative sentence if Bohmer were to fall within the criteria of the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, which gives judges the flexibility to sentence domestic violence survivors convicted of offenses related to their abuse to shorter sentences.

Smith said it was his understanding that if he were to determine that Bohmer were entitled to receive the benefit of that protection afforded under that statute that he could sentence her to a sentence of one year or less.

He also said he could sentence her up to 5 years probation or a determinant sentence between 1 to 5 years to be followed by post-release supervision that can range anywhere from 2 1/2 years to 5 years.

We havent gotten to that step yet, Smith said. That would be something that would be subject to a hearing.

Bohmers attorney, Taalib Horton, indicated that she was not ready to accept the plea bargain on Wednesday.

He said his hope was for the opportunity to discuss the matter further with his client and have the plea offer remain open. He said this was because it is a serious case and it is the first offer of a plea bargain.

First Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burin, who was representing the prosecution, noted that the offer came from Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusones office, and that the date for accepting or declining the offer was Feb. 16.

Smith responded by saying that Horton had sent an email to the court on Feb. 7 requesting a one-week adjournment on the matter due to transportation issues Bohmer was facing.

Smith said Carusone agreed to extend the accept-or-reject date to Wednesday. Burin said prosecutors would be open to negotiating the case, but would be looking to hear a counteroffer from the defendant.

I think our position has been made pretty clear at all of the prior conferences that this is the position we will be taking, Burin said.

The court date was adjourned until March 9 at 2 p.m. Burin wanted to have a commitment from the defense on that date if Bohmer still wanted to testify before the grand jury if an agreement was not met. He said the case would be presented to a grand jury shortly after the March 9 date.

A conference was scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. in which a representative of the District Attorneys Office, a representative of the Warren County Probation Department, Smith and Horton would meet to have further discussion to see whether the prosecution would be willing to make an alternative plea offer.

Burin added that the position of the prosecution is clear, and that his hope would be to hear from Horton of what Bohmer would be willing to accept. At that point, the prosecution would consider modifying the plea offer to reflect what the defense is willing to do.

I know from the several conferences weve had and the discussions with District Attorney Carusone that the position that we have taken that the court put on the record today is the position of the District Attorneys Office as of right now, Burin said.

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.

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ALBANY  As COVID-19 transmission rates plunge, nearly three out of five New York voters want the state to proceed cautiously before the controversial school mask mandate is lifted, the Siena College Poll reported Tuesday.

The survey found that 30% of voters would end the mandate immediately, while 10% would like to wait for a decision to be made when new data is released after children return to classrooms next Monday following the winter break. Fifty-eight percent said the state should wait until early March before deciding.

Gov. Kathy Hochuls administration is facing lawsuits both in state and federal courts from opponents of the school mask mandate. In some New York school districts, there have been disruptions over the mandate, ignited by both students and parents who say the requirement violates the rights of those subjected to the rule.

A state appellate judge has determined the mandate must stay in place while the court case is being litigated.

More than 50 school superintendents from Western New York have also urged state officials to convert the mask-wearing requirement to an option.

If it were up to Niagara City Schools Superintendent Mark Laurrie, the state would let the districts decide the matter themselves.

After we return next week, I think its high time to make masking a local decision, Laurrie told CNHI.

Laurrie noted that when masks were optional for students during a six-week summer session last year, only one COVID-19 infection was reported among the children and about 70% of the children wore masks even though having a face covering was not required.

We have to move on from this, the superintendent said. The benefit from keeping a mask on is certainly not worth it any longer versus the benefit from seeing a childs expression, seeing a teachers expression.

Hochul, a Democrat, is expected to review the matter next week.

After we have kids tested, we are going to make an assessment that first week in March, she said Feb. 9. That was the day Hochul scrapped a mask mandate for businesses and local governments.

The state School Boards Association has stayed on the sidelines, as some of its members push to relax the mandate and others are content to let the state make the determination on when the mandate should be rescinded.

Robert Lowry, deputy director of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, said his group has urged state officials to make available the metrics that would be used to decide whether the mask mandate should be kept in place.

We think metrics make sense because it should give credibility to the states decisions and also give everyone some benchmarks to keep an eye on, with the recognition we could have another surge and may need to make some changes to deal with that, Lowry said.

Thoughts on crime

The poll also measured sentiment on changes to the bail law that have blocked judges from considering potential danger posed by defendants before deciding whether they should be released to the community following arrests for numerous crimes.

Siena reported 65% of voters signaled judges should have more discretion in bail matters. The poll found young adults favor amending the law by 12 points, while Latino voters hope to see amendments by seven points and Black voters by four points.

Hochul has sought to distance herself from the bail controversy, saying she expects the Legislature will decide whether to amend the law now on the books.

Across every demographic group, a majority of voters told the Siena poll that they view crime as a very serious problem in New York.

The poll indicated Hochul has the backing of 46% of Democratic voters, while rivals Jumaane Williams, the New York City public advocate, and Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-Long Island, are supported by 17% and 9% respectively. More than 25% of Democrats remain undecided.

Of the GOP gubernatorial slate, the Siena poll did not include hypothetical matchups of the candidates. It found that Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-Long Island, who has the support of most of the partys county organizations, has a favorability rating of 27% positive and 16% unfavorable. Andrew Giuliani was rated 47% favorable and 28% unfavorable, while former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino came in at 27% favorable, 13% unfavorable.

The poll results are based on a survey of 803 registered voters, with the three-day survey wrapping up last Thursday.

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Warren County Health Services reported 21 new COVID cases on Thursday, with six of the cases from at-home test results.

The last time Warren County had as few as 21 new cases in one day was Nov. 1.

In the past five days, Warren County has recorded 118 positive cases.

The county reported four residents in the hospital, with two vaccinated patients and one in the ICU.

Glens Falls Hospital had 12 COVID patients on Thursday afternoon, according to spokesman Ray Agnew.

The seven-day rolling positivity rate was at 5.7%.

As of Thursday morning, state data indicated 51,354 county residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 48,156 have been fully vaccinated.

The New York state mass vaccination site at Aviation Mall in Queensbury is operating as a vaccine and COVID testing site. This site offers testing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Washington County

The county had not updated its COVID data as of Thursday afternoon.

According to New York state data, of the 265 tests administered in Washington County on Wednesday, only 13 yielded positive results.

The seven-day rolling positivity rate was down to 4.6%.

As of Thursday morning, 41,152 residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 38,891 residents have been fully vaccinated.

Statewide

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced positive cases in the state have been trending down for the past 47 consecutive days since the Jan. 2 peak, and hospitalizations have trended down for the past 42 days straight since the peak on Jan. 12.

Thanks to the diligence of New Yorkers stepping up to get vaccinated and boosted, we are on our way to beating back the pandemic, Hochul said.

On Thursday, the states seven-day positivity rate was at 2% and the statewide positivity rate was at 2.1%.

Of the 129,059 test results reported, 2,704 were identified as positive COVID cases.

The data indicated an additional 265 individuals were admitted to the hospital, bringing the statewide total to 2,274, with 130 residents discharged on Thursday.

According to CDC numbers, 75.4% of New Yorkers have completed the vaccine series and 88.8% have received at least one dose.

Jana DeCamilla is a senior reporter who covers Moreau, Queensbury, and Lake George. She can be reached at 518-742-3272 or jdecamilla@poststar.com.

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GLENS FALLS  Whiteman Chevrolet is helping support Daffodil Days.

Daffodils arrive the week of March 21 for pickup at Whiteman Chevrolet. Orders are due by this Friday.

One bunch of daffodils is $10; one potted mini-daffodil plant is $15; and $25 is for the Gift of Hope Program, which will go to the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital.

Ask for Nicole at Whiteman Chevrolet for more information.

Team Whiteman Chevrolet is selling the flowers to benefit the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Oct. 23.

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VENTNOR  After four years of offering a place to eat healthy, and using the profits to help people recover from substance abuse, the nonprofit Enlightened Cafe will close Monday, according to Hansen Foundation President Jennifer Hansen.

The space on Ventnor Avenue will be leased to Playa Bowls, which will allow the foundation to continue hosting support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other groups that meet there in a private room, as well as workshops and yoga.

We want to thank all of our wonderful guests and employees for supporting us over these past four years, Hansen said in a letter posted on Enlightened Cafes Facebook page Tuesday. We have been grateful to serve the community and humbled that we were in a position to help those find employment, good food and good vibes.

The cafe has donated 100% of its profits to those who cannot afford treatment for substance abuse, according to the organization.

No worker will involuntarily lose employment, manager Charlie OReilly said as he worked Wednesday afternoon.

We will continue to work inside the company at different jobs, OReilly said.

The Hansen Foundation also owns and operates Serenity Estates, Serenity Houses and Enlightened Farm.

Employees have known about the possibility of closure for about a month, OReilly said.

I will miss the open-door policy. Its been a hub for a lot of people we know, said Michael Facchinei, of Ventnor, as he sat at a table Wednesday. Everyone knows the food is good, but I will miss the environment.

Barbara Cheeseman, of Egg Harbor Township, was having her birthday lunch with sister Judy Connor, of Williamstown, Gloucester County, at the restaurant Wednesday.

Im going to miss it. I have a friend who is devastated, Cheeseman said. A lot of my friends come here to support the mission.

People can enjoy a free buffet, live music and jam sessions one last time at Enlightened Cafe from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday.

City Council seeks changes to regulations for sober living homes ATLANTIC CITY  City Council wants state lawmakers to amend a bill regulating sober living h

Playa Bowls, according to its website, was founded by Robert Giuliani and Abby Taylor  Jersey Shore natives and longtime surfers from Monmouth and Ocean counties, respectively. The business serves healthy, delicious acai, pitaya, coconut bowls and smoothies with sustainability and community in mind, its website says.

We are passionate about health, and we feel like we have brought another great addition to the community with our leasing of the space to Playa Bowls, Hansen said. We hope you continue to enjoy the space.

Contact Selena Vazquez: 609-272-7225 svazquez@pressofac.com Contact Michelle Brunetti Post: 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com

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CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE  Atlantic Cape Community Colleges Cape May County campus hosted the Cape May County Prosecutors Office and Louisiana State Universitys National Center for Biomedical Research and Training for their Active Threat Integrated Response Course for 30 local first responders Dec. 13-17.

The course, administered by the Department of Homeland Security and conducted by LSU in conjunction with FEMAs National Training and Education Division, helps first responders build the critical skills they need when faced with mass-consequence events.

John Britton, a member of the Upper Township EMS, said one of the biggest takeaways was learning how to communicate better with the other first responders.

We all have a skill set that we use during our emergency calls, but taking all three disciplines and working together isnt something we practice, so this course was valuable to get all of us working together, Britton said.

Lt. Jeffrey Laag of the Cape May Fire Department thanked Atlantic Cape for allowing the course to run on the Cape May Court House campus, stating its a benefit to use our local resources instead of having our first responders traveling to locations that may require overnight stays.

Bill Kline of the Galloway Township Police Department added, Having the use of a local building helps with getting used to bigger and varied locations.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape is a comprehensive two-year community college serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. The college offers over 40 career, transfer and workforce development programs to more than 8,000 students annually at three campuses in New Jersey: Atlantic City, Cape May Court House and Mays Landing.
TRENTON  Acting Commissioner Sarah Adelman today announced students can now apply to the 2022 Board of Trustees Scholarship program, which provides college scholarships to individuals who are blind, deaf-blind and visually impaired.

The program, run by Human Services Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI), is open to high school seniors and college students, of any age, who are registered to attend the 2022-2023 academic year. Students must be active or eligible CBVI clients. For full eligibility requirements please visit here.

We have seen the impact this program has among blind, deaf-blind and visually impaired individuals in advancing their career and academic goals, said Acting Commissioner Adelman. We are proud to launch this program once again for the 20222023 school year and look forward to receiving applications to help the next generation of students.

Four privately funded scholarships will be available, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Each scholarship will be awarded to a student who best fits the qualifications.

Available scholarships are:

The Nathan & Sally Rogoff Scholarship for Academic Excellence

 Amount: $1,000

 Sponsor: NJ Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CBVI) - Board of Trustees

 Award is based on in order of priority: Response to essay questions, GPA, SAT score, strength of letters of recommendation, involvement in extra-curriculum activities and volunteer/community service.

The Caroline Rose Foster Scholarship for Independence and Self-Determination

 Amount: $1,000

 Sponsors: The CBVI Board of Trustees

 Award is based on in order of priority: Response to essay questions, strength of letters of recommendation, GPA, and SAT score.

The Cathy and Herb Bodensiek Scholarship for Students Majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) or Business Administration

 Amount: $2,000

 Sponsor: Estate of Herb Bodensiek

 Award is based on in order of priority: Candidate must major in STEM or Business Administration, response to essay questions, GPA, SAT score, strength of letters of recommendation, involvement in extra-curriculum activities and volunteer/community service and financial need.

The Mary Louise Buckley Scholarship for Students Majoring in Health Services or Communications

 Amount: $5,000

 Sponsor: Estate of Mary Louise Buckley

 Award is based on in order of priority: Candidate must major in Health Services or Communications, involvement in extra-curriculum activities, volunteer and community service activities, response to essay questions, GPA, SAT score, strength of letters of recommendation and financial need.

Interested applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 for all scholarships.

Having access to college education opens opportunities and beneficial experiences that would otherwise have not been available. We understand the impact financial burden can have in limiting this, said Deputy Commissioner Elisa Neira. We are happy to provide the opportunity to help reduce financial burden for blind, deaf-blind and visually impaired students pursing higher education so they can experience these benefits.

We are delighted to once again make this program available, as we have done for over 20 years, and help advance higher education for students who are blind, deaf-blind or visually impaired, CBVI Executive Director Dr. Bernice Davis said. All should have the financial means necessary to pursue education. I urge CBVI clients to check their eligibility and apply.

Applications and supporting documents must be submitted on-line or e-mailed as an attachment by or before April 20 to CBVI.Scholarship@dhs.nj.gov.

Selected scholarship winners will be recognized during an awards ceremony.

For questions or additional information, email Pamela.Gaston@dhs.nj.gov.
Police blotter information is supplied by local police departments and other law enforcement agencies. All people named are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Angeline G. Santiago, 33, of Egg Harbor Township, was arrested Feb. 4 and charged with Simple Assault.

Patrick K. Grenald, 22, of Egg Harbor Township, was arrested Feb. 6 and charged with Burglary, Theft, Eluding Police.

Robert E. Smet, 38, of Galloway, was arrested Feb. 6 and charged with Defiant Trespasser.

Jamil A. Holley, 33, of Atlantic City, was arrested Feb. 6 and charged with Defiant Trespasser.

Jamir I. Blunt, 19, of Mays Landing, was arrested Feb. 7 and charged with Simple Assault, Possession of a Weapon.

Carmine Palladino, 33, of Egg Harbor Township, was arrested Feb. 9 and charged with DWI.

John R. Burns, 38, of Northfield, was arrested Feb. 9 and charged with DWI.

Jamal Bashirbey, 42, of Absecon, was arrested Feb. 10 and charged with Forged Writing, Obstruction, Resisting Arrest.
Mayor William Pikolycky announced the Borough of Woodbine has received $645,000 in grant funding from the New Jersey Department of Transportation Bikeways Grant Program. The award will be used to extend the path on Sumner Avenue from Heilprin Avenue to Fidler Road, adding approximately six-tenths of a mile of safe, healthy, and inclusive bikeways connecting various publicly-owned sites to the county bike system, the Coastal Heritage Trail, Pinelands Byway and the greater state bikeways system, according to the mayors news release. Future projects will connect the EcoPark and municipal airport to the main borough bike system along DeHirsch Avenue, forming a loop.

I would like to thank NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti and her staff for all their hard work making worthwhile projects like bikeways a top priority. Every additional foot of new paths benefits our residents, visitors, and local economies. This would not be possible without the Commissioners support, stated Pikolycky.

Also, the borough received a $5,000 grant for borough volunteer firefighters helmets and turnout gear. With the mandated replacement of structural firefighting equipment every 10 years, grants like these lower the burden on Woodbines taxpayers to support our volunteer firefighting force. I appreciate NJ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, DEP Office of Local Government Assistance Director Kerry Pflugh, and their staffs assistance on securing this grant, said Pikolycky. Woodbine cant be successful without our partners at the state and county level.
SOMERS POINT  Barbara Estabrook is finally ready to trade in her stethoscope and scrubs for retirement  and a well-deserved chance to be more involved in her young grandchildrens lives. She is working her last shift in Shores Emergency Room, where she has bravely served our communitys emergency medical needs as a nurse for the last nine years, closing out a 52-year career in nursing.

Barbara grew up in North Jersey and attended the Bellevue School of Nursing in Manhattan, graduating in 1969. She worked in the city for quite a few years, and then went on to Florida, Long Island, and then to the Pocono Medical Center in Pennsylvania where she worked the bulk of her long career while raising her family. She worked in home care, a surgery center, the ICU and the ER  pretty much every area of nursing except the in-hospital OR and maternity.

Barbara and her family spent a great deal of time at the Jersey shore over the years, so when she was ready for a change in 2007, she headed to Galloway Township in Atlantic County. She got a job working at another local hospital, but later wanted to cut back on her hours. She retired but she missed working, so she got a job at Shore working pool shifts, where she has been covering two to three ER shifts a week ever since.

Of all the nursing paths Barbara has experienced, the ER is her favorite, and shes especially fond of her ER experience at Shore.

What I like about the ER is that were seeing something different all the time. Were constantly learning, Barbara said.

Of course, having great coworkers makes all the difference, too. It was really nice coming to Shore. Its a great place to work, the people are great to work with, and the doctors are all approachable.

As for her colleagues? The admiration is more than mutual. Sherri Richmond, director of Emergency Medicine, says Barbara is absolutely phenomenal, and while they are happy for her to have this chance to retire and enjoy her family, it is a huge loss for the team.

You dont meet people like Barbara in your career very often, Sherri said. Barbara is a role model for all of us. She has precepted countless new nurses. She is patient, she is clinically brilliant. Shes probably one of the best nurses and clinicians Ive ever had the privilege of working with. She is our go-to and makes herself available to all of our nurses when they have questions, even if she isnt at work. Theyll reach out to her to just to see what she thinks about how they are handling an issue. We know she deserves this retirement, but boy are we sad to see her go.

One of Barbaras favorite memories of her time at Shore was when her colleagues threw her a party at Gregorys restaurant two years ago to celebrate her 50th year working as a nurse. So many people were there  doctors, our nurse manager, colleagues  even my children came from several hours away. It was really heartwarming.

The pandemic has admittedly been challenging for Barbara, just like it has for many healthcare heroes. At the beginning, she took a 3-month break at the recommendation of her physician colleagues. COVID was hitting older populations harder, and Barbaras colleagues wanted to protect her from serious illness while they were learning more about the virus. She was grateful, but equally glad to come back in June 2020. She felt very secure in the procedures put in place, with N95 masks, shields, etc.

Barbara will miss her colleagues, but shes very much looking forward to moving back to the Poconos to spend time with her grandchildren, who are ages 8, 6 and 1.

Theyre involved in a lot of activities. Im really looking forward to going to their events and watching them grow up. Once COVID is less of an issue, she also looks forward to traveling, including to Queens, Santa Fe and Boston where her other children live. Shes also planning to get more involved in kayaking.

Reflecting on the last nine years, Barbara feels shes ending her career on a good note, although she hasnt totally given up on the idea of dabbling in nursing in some capacity in the Poconos. When asked to share a message to her Shore friends, she said, Thank you all very much for the camaraderie and the support. Its been a pleasant experience being here.
ATLANTIC CITY  Speaking to a roomful of public relations professionals, the president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and the Casino Association of New Jersey called for more transparency and communication between the industry, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the media and the public.

Lupo asked more than 50 members or friends of the Public Relations Council of Greater Atlantic City to help him get accurate information out about the industry and city, and to encourage more midweek events and conventions.

The luncheon was held at Hard Rocks Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, where Lupo said he was proud of Hard Rock International being named the best employer in New Jersey by Forbes magazine in September.

PSEG, Microsoft, Apple and Barclays round out the top five in the rankings for New Jersey, according to Forbes, based on a national survey of 80,000 Americans who work for companies with at least 500 employees.

REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com

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Gov. Phil Murphy reiterated at his COVID-19 briefing Wednesday that as of March 7, masks and facial coverings will no longer be mandated for students, staff or visitors in schools and childcare centers.

Until then, the states health officials will continue preparing schools.

Murphy also announced that his administration will hold its last COVID-19 media briefing March 4, nearly two years since the first case of the coronavirus in New Jersey surfaced.

Many area school districts, including Egg Harbor and Hamilton townships and Ocean City, plan to make masks optional beginning March 7.

State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli on Wednesday called on school administrators to coordinate masking policies with local health departments and on-staff nurses in the event a group of students tests positive for the coronavirus.

Students who are immunocompromised should remain masked up in school, she said.

Everyone must still wear masks on buses, unless they meet specific criteria to be excused from the requirement.

Providing a healthy and safe environment is key to keeping our children in schools, Persichilli said.

Going forward, schools will need to pay attention to their communitys COVID-19 Activity Level Index, according to the guidance from the state.

Hamilton Township schools to remove mask mandate March 7 HAMILTON TOWNSHIP  Township schools will go mask optional March 7, when Gov. Phil Murphys 

The stronger the grip the virus has in the community, the more urgent the need to implement an in-school masking mandate, Persichilli said.

The health commissioner Wednesday also stressed the importance of schools adhering to the guidance despite the states forthcoming hands-off approach.

Other layered preventions, such as vaccination and boosters, physical distancing, frequent hand washing and staying home when feeling ill continue to be critically important in disease prevention, Persichilli said.

Test-to-stay students, those who can remain in school if theyve been exposed to the coronavirus but have tested negative for it, should remain masked when participating in the initiative, Persichilli said.

Now that COVID-19 is on the run, as Murphy described it, parents will be an important play-caller moving forward.

Parents will be tasked with independently deciding whether their child should wear a mask in class based on their communitys COVID-19 trends, if their school has yet to implement a mask requirement in spite of higher-than-desired caseloads.

Masks to be optional in Egg Harbor Township schools after March 7 Masks will soon be optional for students, staff and visitors at Egg Harbor Township schools,

As school restrictions are eased, COVID-19s grip on New Jersey is stabilizing, Murphy said, adding that falling caseloads and hospitalizations under 1,000 patients within the past week are signs of improvement.

New Jerseys rate of transmission as of Wednesday stands at 0.69. A rate of transmission under 1.0 means the virus spread continues to dwindle as winters omicron surge comes to an end.

While the pandemic is looking less bleak, at least in New Jersey, answers to many questions remain unclear or unanswered, such as whether a stealth variant of omicron could fuel a resurgence of COVID-19, thwarting progress made on ending many restrictions, Murphy said.

Thus far, early evidence suggests the sub-variant may be even more transmissible than omicron.

However, New Jersey, as well as the U.S., has not seen large amounts of the variant detected in the past few weeks, state Medical Director Dr. Ed Lifshitz said.

Testing capacity is one concern, which Murphy addressed, saying New Jerseyans should not fear the state being shorthanded with tests. He said he remains in contact with the White House on the matter.

Clearly, testing capacity  not just do you have it, but can you get it instantly at scale and its accessible  is the key, Murphy said.

Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin

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MIDDLE TOWNSHIP  Superintendent David Salvo has been named Cape May Countys Superintendent of the Year.

Salvo, 53, of Ocean View, is now in the running to be named one of New Jerseys three Regional Superintendents of the Year by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.

Salvo started in the Middle Township School District as an assistant principal in 1995, after graduating from the former Glassboro State College. He became superintendent in 2014.

During his time as superintendent, Middle Township formed a partnership with Atlantic Cape Community College that allows students to earn college credits while still in high school. The district also partnered with Cape Assist to open South Jerseys only recovery high school, Coastal Prep, according to a news release. Salvo is currently working on a complete refresh of all district websites.

We are thrilled that Dr. Salvo is being recognized for a trait weve known all along  being a great leader, Middle Township Board of Education President Dennis Roberts said.

ACIT student wins 2021 Congressional App Challenge HAMILTON TOWNSHIP  Since he was a child, TeJean Florestal has been interested in electroni

Salvo, a husband and father of six, is appreciative of the support and the opportunities the people around him have provided.

This recognition is more about the support I have received from family, lifelong mentors, fellow superintendents, Board of Education members, staff and students than it is about me individually, he said.

Salvo is committed to continuing the growth and success of the district to make sure students have the best experience, he said.

This is a well-deserved honor for Dave Salvo, said Mayor Tim Donohue. Middle Township students are fortunate to have such a caring and forward-thinking leader. The school district is a big part of what makes Middle Township a great place to live.

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Kerri Tillett handily won her election to the Northern Burlington County Regional school board in 2020. Now shes fighting to keep her seat after a petition by three residents seeks to oust her.

In the sprawling rural district just south of Trenton, Tillett has been targeted in what petitioners say could be the first of several efforts against the nine-member school board.

The petition filed in January by residents Kelly Stobie, Cynthia OMalley and Melissa Bearden provided no reason for the recall  and is not required to do so under a 1995 state law. The three have 160 days to gather signatures from 25% of the towns 7,662 registered voters, which legal observers say will likely be an uphill battle.

Tillett, an attorney and an associate vice chancellor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, won her position in a 1,845-872 vote to capture the only seat up for grabs to represent Mansfield on the regional school board, which also covers Chesterfield, North Hanover, Springfield Township and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Stobie, a science teacher in the Burlington County Special Services school district, declined to comment. OMalley and Bearden did not respond to requests for comment.

But at a school board meeting last week, Stobie and OMalley blasted what they described as the districts ridiculous quarantine policy, which required quarantine for in-school close contacts.

New Jersey prepared for potential truck convoy, officials say TRENTON  New Jersey highway and law enforcement officials are prepared to tow any tractor-t

You are hurting our kids emotionally and mentally, OMalley said. The board voted to end that policy and make masks optional when a state mandate expires March 7.

Tillett said in a statement she planned to vigorously defend her seat. It was the first time the mother of two sought an elected office.

I ran because I believe I have the skills and knowledge necessary to be an asset to the board, Tillett wrote. I find it telling that no statement of the reasons for the recall was provided.

Supporters of Tillett, including the local chapter of the NAACP and members of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, packed a board meeting Tuesday night wearing their red sorority colors. Tillett is one of two Black women who serve on the predominantly white board.

School board elections in New Jersey are nonpartisan, and candidates run under a slogan and not a party affiliation. Tillett is a registered Democrat; the petitioners are registered Republicans.

In addition to Tillett, the petitioners have said they plan to file similar action against board member Radiah Gamble, who is also Black, as well as Gerry Spence and board President Paul Narwid, who are white. A recall cannot be sought until members have been on the board for at least a year.

Casino school gives strong hand to aspiring dealers NORTHFIELD  Denise Hillery Angel Jones and her husband, Glenn, rolled the dice on opening

Narwid declined to comment on the recall effort, saying it was a political process and not a board matter. Spence scoffed at the womens campaign. If they want the job, they can have it, he said.

Why me? What did I do? asked Gamble, a mother of four and a high school math teacher in North Jersey who was elected in November. I just got here.

Under state law, a recall petition can be initiated by at least three registered voters. Once enough signatures are obtained, the recall goes before voters in the next general election to decide whether to keep the elected official. The board member can submit a 200-word statement in response.

Ballotpedia, a nonpartisan group that tracks cases, covered 351 recall efforts nationally against 537 officials in 2021. Of those, 25 officials were removed after an election. Others either resigned, were put on a ballot but defeated the recall efforts, never were placed on a ballot or still face those efforts.

This month, voters in San Francisco approved recalling three school board members, including the boards president and vice president. Two parents, upset that the board kept schools closed, spearheaded the drive.

Petitions spiked nationally in 2021, with school board members getting the most recalls, Ballotpedia said. Most revolve around how school officials are handling issues related to the pandemic, a topic thats been increasingly divisive in the past two years.

Weve never seen as many school board recalls as we did last year, said Abbey Smith, a writer for Ballotpedia. When youre talking about peoples children, it doesnt get more personal than that.

The mask policy bubbled up at Tuesdays Northern Burlington Regional meeting when some parents demanded that board member Angela Reading, the only board member not wearing a mask, put one on, and she complied.

Herbert Kemp, of North Hanover and a father of two, spoke in support of Tillett. He noted that the recall committee has identified two Black women.

You cant deny the optics of what it looks like, said Kemp, who is Black. The three petitioners are all white women.
Lawmakers are condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine. Below are some of their comments on the situation.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd: President Bidens decision to finally impose sanctions on Russia, while in the right direction, comes far too late to deter Russian advancement into Ukraine. Weakness has been the central theme of President Bidens presidency from destroying our own energy independence through canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline, to the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan  he has continually destroyed the perception of Americas strength on the world stage. We must get American energy back to full production and lead the world in energy independence. We must permanently end Nord Stream 2 to remove Russias stranglehold on European energy demands, and we must impose crippling sanctions on Russian industries that fuel military production. We are on the precipice of the largest war in Europe since World War II, and the time to act is now.

U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd: Overnight, Russia declared war and attacked a free, sovereign nation of 44 million people. Today we must put politics aside, unite as a country and a globe against this despicable act of war. Must be unequivocal in standing with Ukrainian people. No one can take Putins side.

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Tonight, my heart is heavy for the people of Ukraine. As we pray for them in this dark moment of uncertainty, it is clear that history will prove Vladimir Putins decision to sacrifice the lives of countless Ukrainians and Russians was made out of fear  fear of allowing a neighboring independent, sovereign nation to pursue democracy and freedom. This unprovoked attack has brought into sharp focus the need to expel the current Kremlin leadership from the international community. Today must mark a historical shift in how the world views and deals with the despot in Moscow. The United States and our allies have successfully galvanized an international coalition to counter Russian aggression; now we must refuse to stand by and watch innocent Ukrainian men, women and children suffer. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I am committed to ensuring that the United States upholds our responsibility to exact maximum costs on Putin, the Russian economy and those who enabled and facilitated this trampling of Ukraines sovereignty. Ukrainians are a resilient, determined people. We know that they will stand up for their country and their freedom. And we will continue to stand with them. But tonight, our prayers are with an entire nation, young and old, who refuse to let a tyrant use military might to impose his will on Ukraine.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.: Just five years ago, I visited Ukraine to meet with the nations leaders to discuss the urgent threats they faced from ongoing Russian aggression. I found a hopeful, resilient people determined to build a free, prosperous nation that is a part of the international community, and I was lifted then as I am now by Ukrainians fierce commitment to democratic ideals like liberty and self-determination. President Putins illegal and unprovoked invasion is putting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people at grave risk. This unjust attack threatens the international rules-based order, which has helped to ensure peace and promote security in Europe. In these dark hours, the United States and our allies will stand with the freedom-loving people of Ukraine who share our most fundamental ideals. We will hold Putin and the Kremlin accountable for this outrageous violation of Ukraines sovereignty. I strongly support the enactment of broad and severe international sanctions targeting Putin, the Russian economy, and those individuals and entities that are supporting and enabling the Russian militarys invasion. We are united with Ukraine, its people and our NATO allies in our determination to counter Russias aggression and its attack on an independent, democratic nation.

U.S. Rep Donald Norcross, D-1st: I strongly condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin bears sole responsibility for this escalation in hostilities. Despite months of multilateral negotiations and engagement of many of our European allies and partners, Putin has decided to send troops into a sovereign nation. As Ive engaged on this issue, one thing has remained constant  Putin and the Russian government are no friends of democracy and have no regard for international law. President Biden has repeatedly warned that the U.S. response to Russian aggression will be swift and severe. While I believe we must exhaust all diplomatic options before resorting to harsher measures, it is clear Putin is not interested in diplomacy. Therefore, I am calling for crippling economic sanctions to be placed on Putin, his inner circle, their families, and the corporations and financial institutions they rely on for economic and military muscle. Putin and his cronies in the Kremlin must be held accountable for their actions. Putins actions are the culmination of a sustained effort to sow division in America and Europe and cause cracks in our strongest alliances. We now must stand united and project strength in our resolve to face down the most serious threat to peace in Europe since World War II.

US Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-6th: The premediated attack on Ukraine is nothing less than an all-out assault on a sovereign, independent democracy. This invasion has already endangered countless innocent lives and destabilized peace and cooperation in Europe. I stand with President Biden and the united coalition he has organized in condemning the unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. The United States will act swiftly and decisively with our allies to show Putin that this invasion has no place on the European continent. The United States has rebuilt our alliance and partnerships over the past year, and our unified action will ensure steep consequences for this violent attack. I will continue to work with the Biden administration, my colleagues in Congress, and our international partners to ensure we are acting in a unified front to address this threat head on. We must treat Putin as the bloodthirsty autocrat that he is and make him pay for the needless and unnecessary suffering his actions will cause.

Contact Nicholas Huba: 609-272-7046 nhuba@pressofac.com Twitter @acpresshuba

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PLEASANTVILLE  The movement seeking justice for 19-year-old Irving Mayren-Guzman after he went missing and was found dead in a marsh near a strip club in January came to City Hall on Wednesday. And they were met with a triumphant success.

City Council voted Wednesday night to revoke the mercantile license of Centerfolds Cabaret on Delilah Road.

Hundreds of people rallied outside Centerfolds earlier that afternoon, marching from the strip club to City Hall on First Street and demanding that council vote to remove its license. Hours of waiting later, they erupted in celebration as they caught wind of the vote.

The protest was led by El Pueblo Unido of Atlantic City and members of Mayren-Guzmans family.

There was evidence that Mayren-Guzman had been consuming alcohol, leading to questions about why the 19-year-old had been allowed to enter the club and drink.

Issues at Centerfolds predate the January incident, with the club having a history of violating state code set by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Since 2010, when Centerfolds came under new ownership, the club has faced multiple complaints of allowing lewd activity with audience participation. It also has been charged with being delinquent on tax payments, not producing true books and licensing violations. For these infractions, the club has faced tens of thousands of dollars in penalties.

The body of Mayren-Guzman, of Egg Harbor Township, was discovered in a marsh outside Centerfolds on Jan. 25. Two days earlier, he had been escorted from Centerfolds by security after an altercation inside about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 23. At a virtual detention hearing, a New Jersey Superior Court judge said three men can be seen on video following Mayren-Guzman outside the club on the morning of Jan. 23 and attacking him. The men on the video punch and kick Mayren-Guzman and continue to do so after he falls to the ground.

Three men were arrested Jan. 26 and charged with assault and conspiracy in connection with the incident  Jamaul Timberlake, 30, of Atlantic City, and Pleasantville brothers Garnell and John Hands, 29 and 24, respectively. All three remain in jail.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com

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U.S., Chinese economies highly interdependent, win-win cooperation only right choice

Xinhua) 08:13, February 24, 2022

Evan Greenberg, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the insurance company Chubb Limited, speaks during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Closer economic cooperation between the United States and China is not only crucial but also mutually beneficial as the world's two largest economies are highly interdependent, business leaders, diplomats and officials have said.

"China-U.S. economic and trade relations are win-win in nature," Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang said in his video remarks to the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce -- USA (CGCC-USA) held here on Tuesday evening.

Noting that China and the United States have "highly complementary economic structures and deeply intertwined interests," Qin stressed that "win-win cooperation is our only right choice."

"We have broad common interests and great potential for cooperation, especially in trade," said the Chinese diplomat.

Qin called on the business community to continue to serve as a "bridge and bond" between the two countries, to cultivate an objective and rational view of both sides, and tell the story of cooperation.

"Our two nations have deep and longstanding inter-dependencies," said Evan Greenberg, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the insurance company Chubb Limited.

"Two-way trade and investment between the United States and China are strategically important, and in the interest of both our countries," Greenberg noted, who also serves on the board of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and the U.S.-China Business Council.

The American business executive believes that it should be a priority for governments and private sectors in the two countries to advance productive economic relations, which will benefit both sides.

During the event, Guan Linhua, CEO at Surge Energy America, a Texas-based production and exploration company, told Xinhua that China and the United States are quite complementary in the energy sector and enjoy great potential for cooperation.

Calling China and the United States as "amazing partners," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in her address that it is vital that "we continue to work together collaboratively and our people are joined together in a common vision of giving people a better life."

As many speakers at the event suggested, the two countries should enhance collaborations and mutual understanding while managing differences through candid communication and dialogue.

Saddened by the recent years' strains and misunderstandings in the bilateral ties, Ray Dalio, a renowned American investor and founder of Bridgewater Associates, called on joint efforts to promote mutual understanding and improve U.S.-China relationships.

"It is incumbent upon all of us in both the public and the private sector to continue to reach for greater people-to-people interaction between us," Greenberg said.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang delivers a video speech during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, speaks during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang delivers a video speech during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE  The women who fought for voting rights in Cape May County more than 100 years ago will be honored during a talk on International Women's Day, March 8.

Cape May County Clerk Rita Rothberg will describe the local womens suffrage movement in a 45-minute discussion starting at 2 p.m. at Atlantic Cape Community Colleges Cape May County campus.

It will also be available on Zoom.

Rothbergs presentation, The Voice is our Vote: Cape May County and Suffrage, will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Women won the right to vote in the United States when the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified Aug. 18, 1920.

The Cape May County campus is located at 341 Court House-South Dennis Road. Access the talk remotely at atlantic-edu.zoom.us/j/98668135822 (Webinar ID: 986 6813 5822).

Obstacles remain at 100th anniversary ratifying of allowing women to vote EDITORS NOTE: Aug. 26 marks the anniversary of the 19th Amendment being signed into law. On 

Rothberg has been county clerk since 2005. She also serves as chairwoman of the Cape Womens Resource Fund, a nonprofit established to promote equal rights and the achievements of women.

Rothberg's presentation is part of a series of Atlantic Cape evens centered on Americas voting history, as the college prepares to host the traveling Smithsonian exhibition Voices and Votes this summer.

Voices and Votes is based on an exhibition on display at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History called American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith.

The display includes historical and contemporary photos, educational and archival video, multimedia interactives with short games, and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia and protest material.

The exhibition, presented by Museum on Main Street in cooperation with the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, will be at Atlantic Capes Mays Landing campus July 11 through Aug. 13.

To learn more, visit museumonmainstreet.org.

The college plans to host panel discussions and guest speakers monthly until the exhibition opens. Future speakers and dates will be announced soon.

REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com

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Iowa and Illinois elected officials strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and several called for sanctions and for democratic nations to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for the invasion.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois

On a call with reporters, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in response to a question of whether sanctions announced by President Biden earlier on Thursday go far enough, that he'd "like to see more, and I don't think this is the end of our sanctions regime."

Biden in a speech on Thursday announced new restrictions to block exports of some products to Russia, including semi conductors and other technology needed for military and other critical sectors. Biden also authorized U.S. troops to be deployed to the Baltic area in NATO countries.

"We're not even 24 hours into this invasion of Ukraine," Durbin said. "I want to give the administration the latitude to think through what should be done next, but I would take this war home to Putin and his oligarchs. Let them feel the pain directly. I think we've been playing with kid gloves as far as they're concerned, and I think that this invasion of Ukraine puts an end to that."

Durbin wrote on Twitter that this week he visited Lithuania and talked with U.S. soldiers from Illinois who were training Lithuanian soldiers in a NATO exercise.

"This week, I had lunch w/ soldiers from Kankakee, Montgomery, & Latham, IL. They are in Lithuania training their soldiers in a NATO exercise. Now, they will awaken to the most dangerous land war in Europe since World War II. We need to stand together for them & thousands more like them.

"Let me be clear: Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine's sovereign land is a dire threat to the established international order and must be resolutely deterred.

Ukraine and our NATO allies facing ongoing Russian belligerence have strong bipartisan, bicameral support in the U.S. Congress. As someone who who has strong ties to the region, my prayers are with the Ukrainian people and all of Eastern Europe."

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, who is a combat veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. and allies must "hold (Putin) and his cronies fully, painfully and immediately accountable."

The human suffering caused  and any blood spilled  as a result of this unjustified and unjustifiable attack on Ukraines sovereign territory are solely on Vladimir Putins hands. Our nation, our NATO allies and all countries who value human rights, sovereignty and the rule of law must hold him and his cronies fully, painfully and immediately accountable. Vladimir Putins unprovoked and inexcusable escalation of this violent invasion will succeed in only one thing: uniting the free world against Russias autocratic regime in support of Ukraines territorial sovereignty, its people and its right to self-governance.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, made a more personal statement noting her experience living in Ukraine.

"I first traveled to Ukraine in 1989 as a college student, celebrated when they voted for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, & served alongside Ukrainians in the Global War on Terror," she tweeted. "Ukraine wants freedom; the free world must stand with them. My prayers are with the Ukrainian people."

Thursday morning, Ernst tweeted again:

"Vladimir Putin is a ruthless thug who seeks to stamp out freedom. He is a brutal autocrat intent on restoring Soviet-era rule if allowed to advance unchecked. The unnecessary bloodshed in Ukraine is on Putin's hands.

"America and all of our freedom-loving partners around the world, must not only strongly condemn, but swiftly and severely respond and hold Putin accountable for his unjust actions."

After Biden's address to the nation, Ernst issued a statement that called for more sanctions:

"Putin deserves no grace. He is slaughtering innocent people and attempting to overrun a sovereign, freedom-loving nation and partner of the United States. The administration should not be holding back; our adversaries are certainly not. Kick Russia out of the SWIFT banking system, sanction Putin and his oligarch friends directly, and ensure that Ukraine has the lethal firepower necessary to win this fight. Anything less will not stop this autocratic thug."

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa

In a tweet, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said: "Putin is inhumane to benefit his own ego. He has no respect for agreements Russia signed to respect sovereignty of Ukraine. Hes killing innocent people like Stalin did in 1930s.

Im praying for the ppl of Ukraine"

Illinois 17th Congressional District Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois

Rep., Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois, a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, spoke on News Nation, a subscription television network, to say Americans "must put country over party."

"We are protecting democracy in this. That is what this is about. We know this is far away from us from a miles perspective, but this is about protecting democracy and not allowing a leader like Vladimir Putin to continue to spread his authoritarian ways."

Iowa 2nd Congressional District Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa

Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, tweeted: "Praying for the people of #Ukraine.

"The U.S. and our allies must immediately impose the strongest possible sanctions on the economies and governments of both #Russia and #Belarus, who has been a willing accomplice to Russias invasion.

Anything less is unacceptable"

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker tweeted Wednesday night: "Tonight we stand together in prayer for the people of Ukraine and united in our resolve against the tyranny of a Russian autocrat determined to undermine democracy and threaten peace on the European continent."

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote on Twitter Thursday afternoon:

"We stand with the people of Ukraine currently fighting for freedom and their country's future. I join with leaders across America and the globe in condemning the brutal actions of the Russian military. I ask Iowans to join me in prayer for Ukraine and peace in the world."

Democratic Senate candidate and retired Adm. Mike Franken

Franken, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa and retired three-star admiral, issued a statement on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

I join President Biden in condemning Russian militarys assault against Ukraine, Franken said. I trust that actions from our nation, our NATO allies, and other like-minded nations will be swift, significant and focused at Russian leadership. We must hold Russia accountable."

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What's happened so far:

-Putin orders army into Ukraine, seeks to demilitarize neighbor

-Explosions heard in Ukrainian cities of Odesa, Kharkiv as Putin announces launch of military action

-Biden denounces 'unprovoked and unjustified' attack on Ukraine, pledges world will 'hold Russia accountable'

-Putin warns any foreign attempt to interfere with Russian action would lead to 'consequences they have never seen'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians.

Explosions were heard in Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Kharkiv but few details were available. In a televised address, Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia doesn't have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian "regime."

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences they have never seen."

He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a "demilitarization" of Ukraine. Putin said that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

U.S. President Joe Biden denounced an "unprovoked and unjustified" attack on Ukraine, and pledged the world will "hold Russia accountable."

U.S. officials have repeatedly pledged to place overwhelming sanctions on the Russian economy and Putin allies in retaliation for a further invasion of Ukraine.

U.N. Secretary-General Guterres urged Russia's Putin: "Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance."

With rare but fragile alignment, the U.S. Congress is largely backing President Joe Bidens decision to confront Russia with potentially escalating sanctions for the crisis in Ukraine as lawmakers brace for perhaps the most daunting foreign policy crisis the nation has faced in a generation.

Ukraines parliament and other government and banking websites were hit with another punishing wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.

Ukrainian businesses large and small no longer plan for the future  they can barely foresee what will happen week to week.

There's little support among Americans for a major U.S. role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to a new poll, even as President Joe Biden imposes new sanctions and threatens a stronger response that could provoke retaliation from Moscow.

So what's happening and where?

As a long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be underway, here is a map locating Ukraines Donbas region and the area currently held by Ukrainian separatists. This map is current as of February 22, 2022 and will update as news breaks.

A full-scale invasion could have major repercussions in the U.S. Stocks have taken a hit this week as investors react to the Russia-Ukraine military conflict. But experts say you shouldnt shake up your investing strategy just because stock prices are moving.

Meanwhile, oil hit $100 a barrel and stock futures fell sharply. Dow futures lost nearly 700 points, or about 2%. Nasdaq futures dropped 2.7%.

Brent crude, the world benchmark, briefly climbed above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014. US crude jumped 3.3% to $95.15 a barrel. Oil supplies are already very tight. Analysts have warned that any disruptions to oil flows from Russia, the world's No. 2 oil producer, would drive consumer gas prices even higher.

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Shocking as Russias invasion of Ukraine is, it should come as no surprise to anyone in the West. Russian President Vladimir Putin, performing exactly as the United States predicted, set up a straw-horse justification for invading Ukraine and is now acting on the basis of that lie. He used the same set of lies in 2014 to justify seizing and annexing Crimea and, in the same year, to arm separatist militants in two eastern regions of Ukraine. Key to Putins fiction is the idea that Ukrainians oppressed by freedom and democracy are crying out to be united under his murderous dictatorship.

Russia is now launching the process of swallowing enough territory, combined with Crimea, to constitute a tenth of Ukraines territory. In his speech Monday, Putin dismissed Ukraine as an artificial creation of Soviet communism and asserted that it belongs to greater Russia. His remarks Monday appeared to open the door to future military adventurism in Baltic states that won independence after the Soviet Unions collapse. President Joe Biden said Tuesday NATO is boosting its forces in those states, raising the specter of a direct NATO-Russia confrontation should Russia continue advancing troops, tanks and missiles westward.

Putin seems unfazed by threats of unprecedented Western sanctions, but he might soon change his mind. Germany has canceled certification of a new pipeline that Russia was counting on for natural gas export revenues. An international embargo on Russian oil also could inflict more economic hardship. But the mother of all sanctions still awaits: the freezing of all Russian government bank accounts abroad and its exclusion from the global Swift banking system, which could severely limit Moscows ability to pay bills and collect revenue from abroad.

Theres something oddly familiar about a scenario in which a cataclysmic event unfolds based entirely on lies and false provocations. The last time the world witnessed such an event was Jan. 6, 2021, when the foundations of American democracy were rattled by the actions of extremists responding to one mans ego-driven fiction.

One of Putins longtime cheerleaders, former President Donald Trump, asserted Tuesday that the Ukraine crisis is the result of Biden administration weakness. Putin would have never done during the Trump Administration what he is doing now, no way! Trump wrote. Putin didnt need to because Trump already was doing Russias bidding. Trump weakened NATO and publicly sided with Putin when U.S. intelligence assessments said Russia meddled in the 2016 election. It was Trump who withheld badly needed U.S. military aid from Ukraine while extorting its president to help to dig up dirt that would undermine Bidens election campaign.

Putin also enjoys the support of Fox News cheerleaders like Tucker Carlson, who is openly supporting Russia over Ukraine. Then theres Missouris junior senator, Josh Hawley, who seems to think Russia attacking Ukraine isnt such a big deal. And Biden is the weak one?

This editorial from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Illinois Pacesetter: Rock Island's Bernard won a state title at the last second, but the support he received from his family and friends is something he is just as thankful for.

Read about the hardworking senior:
January 3

1. A 2008 Chevrolet Equinox and a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country collided at the 2700 block of 62nd Street Court, resulting in $10,000 in damage

January 6

2. A 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 and a 2014 Chrysler 300 collided at 14th Street and Lincoln Road, resulting in $8,500 in damage

3. A 2017 Ford F150 Supercrew and a 2006 Honda Accord collided at the 3500 block of Belmont Road, resulting in $200 in damage

January 11

4. A hit and run was reported on the Interstate 74 bridge

January 18

5. A vacuum cleaner, valued at $500, was reported stolen from the 800 block of Lincoln Road

January 23

6. Firearm accessories, total value $31.98, were reported stolen, and approximately $200 in damage to a Hyundai Sonata was reported at the 2700 block of Magnolia Drive

January 26

7. A 2004 Lexus RX330, valued at $6,629, was reported stolen from the 1300 block of 14th Street

8. Prescription pills, valued at approximately $220, were reported stolen from the 3800 block of Tam O Shanter Drive

9. A car seat, valued at $75, and a 2020 Ford Edge, valued at approximately $37,000, were reported stolen from the 3100 block of Westwood Road. The Ford Edge was recovered

January 27

10. Sophia Marie Maresca, 47, no address given, was arrested at the 1800 block of Middle Road on suspicion of check forgery and third degree theft

11. A 2012 Honda CRV and a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix collided at the 3200 block of Magnolia Court, resulting in $2,000 in damage

January 28

12. Two bags of Gain Flings, valued at $24.98, were reported stolen from the 800 block of Middle Road

13. Assorted jewelry, total value $7,750, was reported stolen from the 2900 block of Linden Lane

14. A hit and run was reported at the 4800 block of Competition Drive

15. Jill Blankenship, 36, 1604 Arlington Avenue, Davenport, was arrested at the 900 block of Middle Road on suspicion of intrastate warrant

January 29

16. Christopher Eric James, 51, 510 23rd Street was arrested at Interstate 74 and State Street on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia

17. Three bottles of alcohol, valued at $175.97, were reported stolen from the 2900 block of Devils Glen Road

January 30

18. A third-degree burglary was reported at the 2800 block of Hawthorne Drive

19. Tools, valued at $200, were reported stolen at the 2800 block of Hawthorne Drive

20. Third-degree burglary was reported at the 2800 block of Hawthorne Drive

January 31

21. Jazzmenn Renea Bryant, 36, 809 West 17th Street, Davenport, was arrested at the 1500 block of Grant Street on suspicion of intrastate warrant

22. Currency, two bank cards, an Iowa drivers license and a purse, total value $360, and a damaged passenger window, valued at approximately $1,000, was reported at the 4800 block of Devils Glen Road

23. A tool bag and various tools, total value $230, were reported stolen at the 2800 block of Hawthorne Drive

24. Chad William Kutzman, 42, 2716 West 34th Street, Davenport was arrested at Interstate 74 and State Street on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia

25. A total of 500 challenge coins, valued at $2,500, were reported stolen from the 7100 block of Valley Drive

26. John Daniel Pickel, 46, 931 Jones Street, was arrested at the 900 block of Jones Street on suspicion of interstate warrant and possession of drug paraphernalia

February 1

27. Mark Watson Hampton, 36, 2330 Avalon Drive, was arrested at the 1700 block of Isle Parkway on suspicion of trespassing and interference with official acts

28. Brian Kean Fauth, 50, no address given, was arrested at the 1700 block of Isle Parkway on suspicion of intrastate warrant, possession of a controlled substance and possession of contraband in a correctional facility

29. A 2015 Ford Edge collided with a building and sign at the 4400 block of Devils Glen Road, resulting in $20,000 in damage

February 2

30. A 2021 Toyota Tacoma and a 2008 Honda Pilot collided at Spruce Hills Drive and Utica Ridge Road, resulting in $3,800 in damage

31. A 2012 Chevrolet Silverado K150 and a 2017 Ford F250 Super Duty collided at Glenbrook Circle South and Devils Glen Road, resulting in $10,000 in damage

32. Kelly Shackelford, 30, 20 Parklane Circle, was arrested at the 20 block of Parklane Circle on suspicion of OWI first offense

33. Christopher Gilbraith, 37, 3816 Cody Trail, Davenport was arrested at the 200 block of 23rd Street on suspicion of OWI first offense

34. A bong, valued at $19.99, was reported stolen at the 1800 block of State Street

35. Roshelle Ann Swinton, 56, no address given, was arrested at the 1100 block of State Street on suspicion of intrastate warrant, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia

36. A firearm was reported stolen from the 1600 block of Brown Street

37. Miscellaneous items, valued at $352.84, were reported stolen from the 1400 block of Kimberly Road

38. A 2020 Ford F150 and a 1997 Toyota Corolla collided at Middle Road and 14th Street, resulting in $3,500 in damage

February 3

39. Two catalytic converters, valued at $2,500, were reported stolen from the 6400 block of Crow Creek Road

February 4

40. A 2018 Jeep Wrangler and a 2004 Jeep Wrangler collided at Middle Road and Devils Glen Road, resulting in $2,000 in damage

41. Andrew Joel Moreno, 24, 2929 Hawthorne Drive, was arrested at the 2900 block of Hawthorne Drive on suspicion of intrastate warrant

42. Tina Marie Haller, 40, 2717 Stafford Boulevard, was arrested at the 2700 block of Stafford Boulevard on suspicion of child endangerment and interference with official acts

43. Erica Lynn Serbin, 37, no address given, was arrested at the 1700 block of Isle Parkway on suspicion of providing false identification information, failure to have valid license/permit while operating, operation without registration and violation of financial liability coverage

44. A 2019 Toyota Sienna and a 2021 Toyota Rav4 collided at Middle Road and Forest Grove Drive, resulting in $700 in damage

February 5

45. Gene Ray Colbert, 39, no address given, was arrested at Parkway Drive and Middle Road on suspicion of second degree theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to have valid license/permit while operating

46. Angela Marie Smith, 42, 1030 39th Street, was arrested at the 2900 block of Devils Glen Road on suspicion of fifth degree theft. Various merchandise, total value $158.19, was reported stolen

47. A 2016 BMW 428 collided with a tree at Whispering Hills Drive and Shawnee Court, resulting in $20,100 in damage

February 6

48. A 2020 Nissan Pathfinder and a 2019 Ram 1500 collided at Devils Glen Road and Middle Road, resulting in $800 in damage

49. A hit and run was reported at the 1700 block of Isle Parkway

50. Sonya Jo Carey Otte, 54, 3769 Cedarwood Court, was arrested at Oak Park Drive and Middle Road on suspicion of OWI first offense and failure to respond to steady red signal

51. Dustan C Smith, 35, 1009 21st Avenue, Silvis, was cited at Spruce Hills Drive and Utica Ridge Road on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia

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Two Rock Island County correctional officers charged with beating an inmate have been fired.

Sheriff Gerry Bustos announced Thursday that an internal investigation at the jail has concluded and resulted in the termination of Cameron Gerischer, 21, and Jacob H. Ward, 29.

Both men face a single charge of felony aggravated battery and are accused of repeatedly striking the inmate with their fists on Jan. 30.

Asked for a motive in the beating, Bustos referred to it as "an excessive use of force."

Inmate allegedly beaten by Rock Island County correctional officers was 'mentally disabled' Four days before an inmate at the Rock Island County jail reportedly was beaten by two corre

The inmate had been deemed mentally disabled and incompetent to stand trial, court records show. The county had requested he be placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services, DHS, just days before the incident.

The agency declined the transfer request and does not comment on incarcerated individuals.

Bustos said the incident occurred on a Sunday, and he launched an internal investigation the next day. It was conducted by his department's Office of Professional Standards. He then ordered a criminal investigation, the sheriff said, which was conducted by the City of Rock Island Police Department.

The results of the city's investigation were turned over to the state's attorney's office, which then filed charges. Aggravated battery is a Class 3 felony.

Ward and Gerischer have been on administrative leave since the incident occurred.

The case was the second of its kind at the Rock Island County Jail in a year.

In a Jan. 29, 2021 incident, officers Alondra Valtierra-Martinez, 25, and Mackenzie Martin, 24, were accused of battering a female inmate.

Both women have since pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor charge of battery. They initially were charged with Class 3 felonies, aggravated battery, which is the same charge leveled in the recent case.

Valtierra-Martinez was sentenced to one year on conditional discharged during a hearing Feb. 3 in Rock Island County Circuit Court, according to circuit court electronic records.

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Eldridge Police on Thursday said a vaping accessory seized last week at North Scott High School suspected of containing fentanyl tested negative for the synthetic opioid, based on results from the Iowa Crime Lab.

The North Scott Community School District advised parents a vaping accessory containing suspected fentanyl was recovered at the districts high school.

The school district said the device, known as a "weed cart," was seized by the high school administration Thursday, Feb. 17. A field test indicated the device contained THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, and fentanyl, but could not be confirmed until further testing.

"The Iowa Crime Lab has completed the testing on the contents of the vaping device," according to a news release from the Eldridge Police Department. "It has been confirmed the vaping device is positive for THC and negative for fentanyl."

Eldridge Police said the incident still was under investigation and that further information would be provided pending the investigation.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration describes as being 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It often is combined with other drugs, and an overdose can lead to respiratory failure, unresponsiveness and death.

There has been an increase of vaping in schools, and Quad-Cities authorities say they have seen an increase in fentanyl in vaping devices.

The Bettendorf Community School District issued a statement to parents asking them to talk to their children about vaping and its possible risks.

"Our message comes with an added sense of urgency as a dangerous national trend has been identified here in the Quad-Cities area," the Bettendorf statement reads. "Across the country and in our local community, authorities have discovered an increase in the presence of vaping devices that contain ingredients laced with the potentially fatal drug fentanyl."

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Rock Island Arsenal officials are staying silent for now on what role the U.S. Army installation might play in military readiness or response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal for 160 years has supported our soldiers around the globe during times of peace and war. We continue to support diligently where any soldier plants their feet," said Staci-Jill Burnley, public affairs officer for U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal.

Burnley declined to comment further.

A public relations official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon also declined to comment but provided a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby, who said U.S. Army and Air Force troops and equipment were being moved from Germany and Italy into the Baltic region.

"The U.S. maintains significant numbers of combat capable forces in Europe," Kirby said.

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Iowa and Illinois elected officials strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and several called for sanctions and for democratic nations to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for the invasion.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois

On a call with reporters, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in response to a question of whether sanctions announced by President Biden earlier on Thursday go far enough, that he'd "like to see more, and I don't think this is the end of our sanctions regime."

Biden in a speech on Thursday announced new restrictions to block exports of some products to Russia, including semi conductors and other technology needed for military and other critical sectors. Biden also authorized U.S. troops to be deployed to the Baltic area in NATO countries.

"We're not even 24 hours into this invasion of Ukraine," Durbin said. "I want to give the administration the latitude to think through what should be done next, but I would take this war home to Putin and his oligarchs. Let them feel the pain directly. I think we've been playing with kid gloves as far as they're concerned, and I think that this invasion of Ukraine puts an end to that."

Durbin wrote on Twitter that this week he visited Lithuania and talked with U.S. soldiers from Illinois who were training Lithuanian soldiers in a NATO exercise.

"This week, I had lunch w/ soldiers from Kankakee, Montgomery, & Latham, IL. They are in Lithuania training their soldiers in a NATO exercise. Now, they will awaken to the most dangerous land war in Europe since World War II. We need to stand together for them & thousands more like them.

"Let me be clear: Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine's sovereign land is a dire threat to the established international order and must be resolutely deterred.

Ukraine and our NATO allies facing ongoing Russian belligerence have strong bipartisan, bicameral support in the U.S. Congress. As someone who who has strong ties to the region, my prayers are with the Ukrainian people and all of Eastern Europe."

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, who is a combat veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. and allies must "hold (Putin) and his cronies fully, painfully and immediately accountable."

The human suffering caused  and any blood spilled  as a result of this unjustified and unjustifiable attack on Ukraines sovereign territory are solely on Vladimir Putins hands. Our nation, our NATO allies and all countries who value human rights, sovereignty and the rule of law must hold him and his cronies fully, painfully and immediately accountable. Vladimir Putins unprovoked and inexcusable escalation of this violent invasion will succeed in only one thing: uniting the free world against Russias autocratic regime in support of Ukraines territorial sovereignty, its people and its right to self-governance.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, made a more personal statement noting her experience living in Ukraine.

"I first traveled to Ukraine in 1989 as a college student, celebrated when they voted for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, & served alongside Ukrainians in the Global War on Terror," she tweeted. "Ukraine wants freedom; the free world must stand with them. My prayers are with the Ukrainian people."

Thursday morning, Ernst tweeted again:

"Vladimir Putin is a ruthless thug who seeks to stamp out freedom. He is a brutal autocrat intent on restoring Soviet-era rule if allowed to advance unchecked. The unnecessary bloodshed in Ukraine is on Putin's hands.

"America and all of our freedom-loving partners around the world, must not only strongly condemn, but swiftly and severely respond and hold Putin accountable for his unjust actions."

After Biden's address to the nation, Ernst issued a statement that called for more sanctions:

"Putin deserves no grace. He is slaughtering innocent people and attempting to overrun a sovereign, freedom-loving nation and partner of the United States. The administration should not be holding back; our adversaries are certainly not. Kick Russia out of the SWIFT banking system, sanction Putin and his oligarch friends directly, and ensure that Ukraine has the lethal firepower necessary to win this fight. Anything less will not stop this autocratic thug."

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa

In a tweet, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said: "Putin is inhumane to benefit his own ego. He has no respect for agreements Russia signed to respect sovereignty of Ukraine. Hes killing innocent people like Stalin did in 1930s.

Im praying for the ppl of Ukraine"

Illinois 17th Congressional District Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois

Rep., Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois, a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, spoke on News Nation, a subscription television network, to say Americans "must put country over party."

"We are protecting democracy in this. That is what this is about. We know this is far away from us from a miles perspective, but this is about protecting democracy and not allowing a leader like Vladimir Putin to continue to spread his authoritarian ways."

Iowa 2nd Congressional District Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa

Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, tweeted: "Praying for the people of #Ukraine.

"The U.S. and our allies must immediately impose the strongest possible sanctions on the economies and governments of both #Russia and #Belarus, who has been a willing accomplice to Russias invasion.

Anything less is unacceptable"

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker tweeted Wednesday night: "Tonight we stand together in prayer for the people of Ukraine and united in our resolve against the tyranny of a Russian autocrat determined to undermine democracy and threaten peace on the European continent."

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote on Twitter Thursday afternoon:

"We stand with the people of Ukraine currently fighting for freedom and their country's future. I join with leaders across America and the globe in condemning the brutal actions of the Russian military. I ask Iowans to join me in prayer for Ukraine and peace in the world."

Democratic Senate candidate and retired Adm. Mike Franken

Franken, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa and retired three-star admiral, issued a statement on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

I join President Biden in condemning Russian militarys assault against Ukraine, Franken said. I trust that actions from our nation, our NATO allies, and other like-minded nations will be swift, significant and focused at Russian leadership. We must hold Russia accountable."

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A prisoner at the Greenville Federal Correctional Institution pleaded guilty on Tuesday to assaulting a correctional officer in August of 2020.

At the time of the offense Dakota Holland, 26, was serving a six-year sentence for gun and drug charges stemming from the Southern District of Indiana.

Holland pleaded guilty in the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Illinois to throwing bottle of soap out of his cell door's food slot, striking the officer in the face below the eye. The officer did not require medical treatment, according to a release from the court.

Holland was indicted in September of 2020 by a federal grand jury and faces an additional eight years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2022.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by the Assistant U.S. Attorney John Trippi.

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The Iowa House voted 90-5 to approve HF 2160 to establish a crime of fourth-degree sexual abuse when a health care professional implants their own genetic material into a patient during fertility treatment without their consent, said Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids.

This is a really dastardly crime, said Rep. Marti Anderson, D-Des Moines, who has heard from people about how horrible finding out that their father, the person they thought was their father, was not their father, but their mother's gynecologist.

Anderson and Rep. Ras Smith, D-Waterloo, wanted stricter penalties for anyone convicted of implanting a patient with their own reproductive material without consent. Sexual abuse in the fourth degree is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $8,540 and two years in prison. It also could require registration as a Tier III sex offender.

We have an inherent sense of trust in physicians, Smith said. We have an assumption that they're going do the right thing. My concern is that we're not setting forth strong enough penalties for those who just have complete disregard for that public trust.

There will be an opportunity to increase the penalties, Jones said, referring to a similar bill, SF 2169, being considered in the Senate.

That bill would make providing false information to an assisted reproduction patient a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,245. A physician or health care facility that provides human reproductive material other than what the patient consented to would be a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $13,660.

ANTISEMITISM: A bill requiring the state to consider a widely used definition of antisemitism when determining whether there has been a violation of law of policy prohibiting discriminatory acts was approved 65-31 Wednesday.

Supporters of HF 2220 called its enactment timely and important because antisemitism is the leading form of religious-based hatred in the U.S., according to the FBI. Jews were the most frequent target, said Rep. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville.

HF 2220 calls for using a definition used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Defining antisemitism is necessary to combat it, she said. The House rejected as not germane a Democratic proposal to change the definition of hate group to include any group identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

NEW OMBUDSMAN: The Senate voted unanimously to confirm Bernardo Granwehr as the new state ombudsman, the official that serves as a conduit between the public and state government. Granwehr will serve as acting ombudsman until July 1, when his official, four-year term begins.

Granwehr, who was chief of staff and legal counsel to former state auditor Mary Mosiman, has worked in the state agriculture department, and most recently worked for the Iowa Utilities Board.

As described on its website, the ombudsmans office is an independent agency to which Iowans can air grievances about state government. The office facilitates communications between citizens and government, and has the authority to investigate complaints about state and local government, with some exceptions.

SPOUSAL PRIVILEGE: A proposal to require Iowans to testify against a spouse in cases involving threats by one spouse against the other or a third party was approved 93-0.

HF 2282 would codify two exceptions found in current law, said Rep. Brian Lohse, R-Bondurant. A person could be compelled to testify against their spouse about threats made against them or a third party as well as about communications disclosed to a third party. The bill would add a third exception, compelling testimony in cases where one spouse is charged with criminal acts against the other, such as domestic abuse, he said.

The third exception drew on a case where a woman threatened to kill her husbands girlfriend with a detailed explanation. Those communications, which were needed to prove intent, were not permitted at trial because of spousal privilege, Lohse said.

Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, pointed out the woman was convicted and will be in prison for life without the possibility for parole, so the need for this may not be so significant. She supported its passage.

HEARSAY TESTIMONY: HF 2221 to create an exception to the hearsay rule in prosecuting physical abuse or a sexual offense upon or against a child, a person with an intellectual disability, a person with a cognitive impairment or a person with a developmental disability was approved by the House 94-0. It would allow testimony by the victim of an out-of-court statement made by the victim to another person regarding the offense and by allowing testimony by another person concerning an out-of-court statement made by the victim describing any element of the offense. Hearsay is not admissible in court unless the Iowa Constitution, a statute, the Iowa Rules of Evidence, or an Iowa Supreme Court rule provides an exception.

JUDICIAL APPORTIONMENT: A bill changing how district associate judges are assigned was unanimously approved by the House. HF 2338 would allow the Iowa Supreme Court, going forward, to assign judges based on weighted workload, administrative duties and travel time.

Under current law, district associate judges are apportioned based upon county population. The bill provides that in those districts with more district associate judges than the new formula prescribes, vacancies will not be filled while districts with fewer or the same number of associate judges as called for under the new formula will fill vacancies as they occur.

Any time we can make government more efficient is a wonder and a good thing to do, Rep. Brian Lohse, R-Bondurant, said.

LINE OF SUCCESSION: House Joint Resolution 2005 to ask Iowa voters to approve a constitutional amendment to establish a line of succession in the event the governors office becomes vacant due to illness, death or removal of the governor was approved 62-33.

Under the resolution, the state constitution would be amended to say that if the governor is temporarily unable to fulfill the offices duties, the lieutenant governor will act as governor until the governor can resume his or her duties. If the governor leaves the office permanently or dies, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the governors term and the lieutenant governors office is vacant, clearing the way for the lieutenant governor to appoint a successor.

Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, offered an amendment to require the lieutenant governor appointee confirmed by a simple majority of the House and Senate. That would be consistent with federal law and prevent the governor from appointing someone inappropriate. It was rejected 39-57.

The lack of a clear line of succession became apparent when former Gov. Terry Branstad resigned in 2017 to become ambassador to China. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller issued a formal ruling that stated upon her move, Reynolds did not have the authority to name a new lieutenant governor. She named Adam Gregg her acting lieutenant governor.

HJR 2005 is the same as SJR 15, which has been approved by the Senate State Government Committee.

Before an amendment is put on the ballot it must be approved in two consecutive sessions of the Legislature.

INMATE DEATH: Charles Leroy Zipprich, 70, died Feb. 22 at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center. He had been serving a 25-year sentence for second-degree sexual abuse from Lee County since Oct. 17, 2000.

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State Sen. Thomas Cullerton resigned from office Wednesday shortly before his lawyer revealed in court that hes planning to plead guilty in a federal embezzlement case alleging he took a do-nothing job with the Teamsters union.

Cullerton, 52, a Democrat from Villa Park, was charged in 2019 in an indictment alleging he pocketed almost $275,000 in salary and benefits from the Teamsters union despite doing little or no work.

The case against Cullerton, who had remained in office and is free on bond, was originally supposed to go to trial this week, but was postponed due in part to a COVID-19-related backlog of cases. Meanwhile, both sides continued to work behind the scenes on a potential deal.

In advance of a status hearing in the case on Wednesday, Cullerton sent a letter to Tim Anderson, secretary of the Senate, confirming his resignation from the body.

Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, and Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods were copied on the letter, which consisted of only two sentences.

This document shall serve as my letter of resignation as an Illinois State Senator, the letter read.

Less than an hour later, during a telephone status hearing before U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman, Cullertons lawyer, Dan Collins, announced that theyd reached a plea deal with prosecutors and a trial date will not be necessary in this case.

Gettleman set a change of plea hearing for March 8.

Cullertons appearance was waived for the brief hearing. He could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

The indictment against Cullerton filed in August 2019 alleges 39 counts of embezzlement and one count each of conspiracy and making false statements.

According to the indictment, then-Teamsters boss John Coli conspired with Cullerton in 2013 to give the newly elected senator a do-nothing job with the clout-heavy union. Over the next three years, the two ignored complaints from supervisors when Cullerton failed to even show up for work, according to the charges.

In all, Cullerton was accused of fraudulently obtaining $188,320 in salary, bonuses and cellphone and vehicle allowances from the Teamsters between 2013 and 2016, as well as $64,068 in health and pension contributions.

The charges against Cullerton came three days after Coli pleaded guilty to extortion charges and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. According to his plea agreement, Coli extorted a total of $325,000 from Alex Pissios, president of Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the West Side, by threatening a union work stoppage.

Colis sentencing has been delayed until after his cooperation against Cullerton was complete.

Cullerton, who previously was village president of Villa Park, is a distant cousin of former Senate President John Cullerton. He was first elected to the state Senate in 2012.

Democratic leaders in Cullertons district, which stretches from Villa Park to Bartlett, will appoint a replacement to fill out the remainder of Cullertons term, which expires in January. Along with every other seat in the Senate, Cullertons is up for election in November under a new legislative district map, with the districts boundaries shifting farther east and south.

Cullertons indictment was the first in a cascade of federal criminal cases brought against state politicians, including charges against two of his former colleagues in the senate, Martin Sandoval and Terry Link, as well as indictments against former state Reps. Luis Arroyo, Annazette Collins and Edward Acevedo.

A graduate of Loyola Academy in Wilmette and an Army veteran, Cullerton was elected a Villa Park trustee in 2005 and was village president from 2009 to 2013. He worked as a truck driver for Hostess.

In 2008, Cullerton challenged incumbent Republican state Sen. Carole Pankau of Itasca, only to be removed from the ballot because he had voted in the Republican primary that election cycle, before the Democrats tapped him to run.

He won his Senate seat in the 2012 election after district lines were drawn following the 2010 census. As a senator, he was best known for helping to lead a legislative inquiry into the deadly 2015 outbreak of Legionnaires disease at an aging state veterans home in downstate Quincy, which became major issue for then Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Cullerton sponsored legislation requiring taxing bodies to notify the public if they enter into a severance agreement with an employee who has been accused of sexual assault, as well as measures regulating lead levels in drinking water and speeding up the government consolidation process. He was outspoken on the issue of noise and pollution at OHare International Airport.

At the time he pleaded not guilty to the charges in August 2019, a spokeswoman for Cullerton issued a statement saying he would continue to fight these untrue allegations in court until his name is cleared. His attorney at the time, John Theis, blamed Coli for alleging false claims to avoid being punished himself.

Cullertons campaign fund has reported spending $110,000 on legal fees since April 2019, when subpoenas for his Senate records were made public.

Resisting prior calls for his resignation, Cullerton gave up chairmanship of the Senate Labor Committee after his indictment, but became chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, maintaining an annual stipend of more than $10,000 for leading a committee on top of his legislative salary of roughly $70,000.

In all, Cullerton has been paid more than $200,000 out of the state coffers since he was indicted, according to the comptrollers office. Cullerton chose not to participate in the retirement system for legislators and therefore will not receive a state pension.

Chicago Tribunes Clare Spaulding and Jeremy Gorner contributed.

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DES MOINES  In the wake of the murder of two staffers at Anamosa State Penitentiary, the Iowa Department of Corrections is planning a major recruitment and retention effort that includes adding 43 positions at the Jones County prison.

We've been through some very challenging times, Corrections Director Beth Skinner told legislators Wednesday, referring to the March 23, 2021, deaths of nurse Lorena Schulte and correctional officer Bob McFarlane, and the hostage-taking of another staffer, Laurie Mathis.

Skinner asked the House Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee for a $407.7 million general fund budget for the coming fiscal year, which includes the second half of a $20 million appropriation lawmakers approved in 2021. If her request is approved, it would be an increase from nearly $387 million in each of the previous two budget years.

Skinner hopes to add 85 positions  80 of them in the states nine prisons. Recruitment and retention are problems for employers everywhere, she said, but there are additional challenges in corrections. So the department has added a person to develop a strategic plan for recruitment and retention.

Corrections has 288 vacancies with 203 of those being correctional officer positions, Skinner said.

We can hire 50, 60 people, but then 56 are gone out the door, Skinner said. So we have to be thoughtful and strategic of how we keep our good staff and bring in good staff.

Staffing numbers have fluctuated, but are down from 3,064 in fiscal 2009 to 2,450 today. Over that time, prison population has been as high as 8,781, and is at 8,181 today, Skinner said, meaning that the inmate to staff ratio has gone from 2.75 to 1 to 3.33 to 1.

Staff numbers and COVID-19 absences contribute to as much as $9 million in overtime costs  up from $3.5 million per year pre-pandemic, she said, and the competitive market for nurses likely will cost the department nearly $3 million for contract and temporary nurses.

Inmate population has dipped during the coronavirus pandemic, but is starting to creep up now that the court system has opened up, Skinner said. Prison population, which was 22 percent over capacity before the pandemic, now is 17 percent over capacity. The department also is aware there are nearly 4,000 felony cases pending in the courts and 244 prisoners being held in county jails.

So what we know is that there's a potential for our population to continue to grow, she said.

The subcommittee took no action on Skinners funding request, but its recommendation will be part of the overall House budget proposal.

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DES MOINES  The procedures by which Iowa schools consider complaints from parents about books and other classroom materials may soon include state requirements.

Two Republican state lawmakers who on Wednesday participated in a legislative hearing on a sweeping K-12 policy proposal said they believe those procedures are not working as they should.

Parents in Iowa and across the country have increasingly raised concerns about some library books and classroom materials in public schools that they deem to be obscene. Typically, the books are about LGBTQ people or people of color, and some include passages that describe sexual activity.

Most Iowa schools have in place procedures for parents to raise objections to books or classroom materials. Typically, a committee or the school board ultimately decides whether to remove the flagged materials from the school.

Some parents have testified in legislative hearings this year that they have raised objections to materials, but the school chose to retain them.

There are processes, but I dont think theyre being followed very well, Sen. Chris Cournoyer, R-LeClaire, a former Pleasant Valley school board member, said during a hearing Wednesday. I want to get that in this bill.

The legislation discussed Wednesday was Gov. Kim Reynolds K-12 education policy bill. It includes a proposal for shifting taxpayer funding for public schools to scholarships for families who wish for their child to attend a private school.

Reynolds bill also has a section that requires school districts to maintain a level of transparency with library books and classroom materials.

Cournoyer and Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa, indicated they want to strengthen that section of the bill.

I have correspondence from students suggesting our transparency procedures are not working very well right now, Rozenboom said during the hearing. We need (to) work on transparency.

Neither Rozenboom nor Cournoyer said what specific policies they would like to see added to the bill.

Statehouse Republicans have introduced myriad proposals addressing so-called transparency in education. House Republicans have aligned themselves with Reynolds original proposal, which would require school districts to catalog all their materials online so parents can access them.

Sen. Jake Chapman, R-Adel, has introduced legislation that would allow parents who disagree with a schools decision to sue the district, teacher or librarian, which could result in criminal charges for the educator.

The governors bill, Senate File 2349, had already passed through the Senates education committee. Because it includes funding for the governors proposed private school scholarships program, it is now moving through the budget committee.

With Rozenbooms and Cournoyers approval Wednesday, the bill is now eligible for consideration by the full budget committee.

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The blockade of Ottawa by Canadian truckers has finally come to an end. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the federal Emergencies Act and Ottawa police moved in to evict the protesters, who were voicing their opposition to vaccine mandates. The truckers continued to wave the Canadian flag, but most either left peacefully or were arrested.

In the United States and Canada, we often romanticize protest  at least when we agree with the cause the protesters are supporting. Protesters are going to great lengths, and sometimes putting their lives on the line, to express their opinions on important public matters. They are exercising their rights to free speech and assembly because they dont feel heard in any other way. One notable history of the protest movements of the 1960s is titled Democracy Is in the Streets.

Or is it? Nonviolent protesters may be brave, but they arent necessarily informed, principled or acting in the best interests of their communities and country. Even when it is peaceful, a protest is not a safe space for people who disagree to negotiate and find common ground. It is not an environment that helps people absorb information and sort out fact from fiction. And protesting is dangerous, especially for people of color, indigenous people, religious minorities, and members of other groups that are already subjected to discrimination and violence.

Democracy works better indoors  at least it should. Unfortunately, while most of our indoor democratic opportunities are safer than protesting, they are generally not empowering, participatory or collaborative. Most public meetings and hearings operate by a 100-year-old formula that gives citizens a few minutes at a microphone to express their concerns. Even the layout of the room reinforces a kind of parent-child dynamic between public officials and the public, with officials sitting in comfortable chairs on a raised dais with name plaques while citizens mill about below. These official interactions tend to make everyone angry, and they increase mistrust between citizens and government.

There are, however, many proven ways of making democracy work better. Around the world, citizens and officials have developed innovations that make governance more informed, equitable and deliberative. Many of these reforms and practices give people a greater voice in public decisions and inspire citizens to devote some of their time, energy and skills to their communities.

These reforms and practices include engagement commissions, large-scale deliberative processes, serious games, participatory budgeting, citizens assemblies, SMS-enabled discussions, youth voice programs, crowdsourcing processes and many others. Democratic innovations have been instituted in many countries, from Iceland to Taiwan to Colombia, as well as at the local level in some U.S. cities. When asked in surveys and opinion polls, Americans favor these kinds of innovations, even across party lines: Support for these measures ranges from 75 percent to almost 90 percent, without significant differences between Republicans and Democrats.

An interesting benefit of protest is that the experience tends to bond people. Like the Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street protesters before them, the Canadian truckers strengthened relationships and built trust with one another for many it will turn out to have been a formative political experience. But protests dont have to be the only opportunity for bonding: We can and should build more civic opportunities that have those same benefits into the ways that our institutions and communities function.

Polarization has become such a problem in America that many people cant imagine having a reasonable conversation, let alone a productive encounter at a public meeting, with someone on the other side. And it is true that not everyone is capable of being reasonable. But the vast majority of Americans, and Canadians, have enough common decency that  especially if they are in a safe, supportive environment for deliberation  they can listen to one anothers experiences, analyze information together, disagree politely on some things and agree wholeheartedly on others. To overcome polarization, and to deal with shared challenges, we need more of these kinds of opportunities in public life.

Though the drama in Ottawa ended with more of a whimper than a bang, the conclusion will probably not make either the truckers or their opponents happy (or the downtown businesses and tow truck companies that have been caught in the middle). It may make Canadians who were hesitant about vaccines more resistant. It may help extremists co-opt the Canadian flag and portray their causes as patriotic.

Even in a more successfully democratic society, there should always be room for protest. Many social movements have achieved great benefits to society, particularly in advancing civil rights, by taking to the streets. Free speech and assembly should be protected, because protest is the last resort for people who want a say in public decisions. But if it is the only resort, we all lose.

Matt Leighninger is head of democracy innovation for the National Conference on Citizenship. This was written for The Fulcrum, which covers what's making democracy dysfunctional and efforts to fix our governing systems, and distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., spent Wednesday substitute teaching a first-grade class at Black Hawk Elementary School to gain an understanding of the challenges facing school districts seeking certified and substitute teachers.

"I think educators have a tough job, and they are on the front lines. I think you just get a much deeper sense of how difficult the job is if you actually walk in those shoes for a day," Johnson said.

Throughout Wednesday, Johnson had to deal with a two-hour late start for classes because of the extremely low temperatures and wind chills. Trying to keep caught up with the lesson plan for the day, an indoor recess so that the students could burn off some energy, making sure the children had a healthy lunch to eat, and keeping the students' attention were challenges, he said.

"Clearly, kids are going through a lot, too. I think sometimes the big kids  the adults, the policymakers  like to have lots of strongly held opinions on what's going on with America's children, even when they may not have spend a lot of time around them in school," Johnson said. "For me, I want to make sure I'm out learning from teachers and learning from kids."

Johnson was wrapping up the school day when he spoke with the Journal. Prior to dismissing the class to go to physical education, he spent time teaching math and counting skills using a clock. When Johnson returned to the classroom, he reflected on what he had learned from the students.

"They are able to disagree while being respectful, and they really want to learn," Johnson said. "If you've got a lesson that's engaging them, they know that this is what they are supposed to be doing."

Johnson has immersed himself into teaching in classrooms across South Dakota during the times that he is able to escape the confines of Washington, D.C., or formal meetings with South Dakotans. Johnson noted that students and teachers are his constituents, too, and it is important for him to recognize they have a voice, even when the dialogue around education is politically charged.

He said when the focus is on teachers and students, instead of politics, it becomes clear that the majority of public education goals are not political.

"Overwhelmingly what you see from educators is a passion for the work. That makes a big difference when you have an educator who's engaged and you can tell they are here because they care about the kids and educating those kids," Johnson said. "They are aware that not all of these kids are walking into the classroom in the same place  some are more advanced than others, some have a much more stable home environment than others.

"Anytime I'm in the classroom or talking with teachers, I am amazed at how aware they are about those differences and how seamlessly teachers adjust the way they teach to meet the individual needs of the kids. They are not just robots that are pre-programmed with lesson plans."

Johnson said he believes that the federal government should maintain adequate funding for special education, food and special service programs for minority groups. Otherwise, Johnson said, the federal government should stay out of classroom curriculum standards.

"These administrators and educators have enough to worry about without having to worry about whether or not the federal government is going to make good on its commitments," he said. "The federal government should stay out of the classroom with regard to what's being taught. That's the state's job and the local school board's job."

Johnson also cautioned state lawmakers and local school boards about taking education policy to the extreme based on political beliefs.

"This is bit of a coarse political environment. So, I think we have a tendency to talk in pretty stark terms about people or things we don't agree with," he said. "A lot of people have opinions about what is going on in South Dakota's classrooms that maybe aren't as well informed as they could be.

"Let's learn, really understand what's going on with the standards, understand the decisions that school boards have made. Let's understand what our teachers are teaching in the classroom, and I think parents and committee members need to be even more engaged in that discussion than they have been.

"Let's just not make allegations that aren't backed by fact. Let's make sure we keep kids at the center of all of these discussions," Johnson said.

Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com.

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We should be glad that the residential dumping fees that the mayor and Solid Waste proposed one year ago didn't get passed. Otherwise, we would now be getting dump fees and permanently reduced hours for the landfill, in addition to automatic increased collection fees each year.

I saw Helene Duhamel talking about the need for changes to the marijuana law and find it interesting she claims it is the Legislature's duty to make changes while she is fronting for her boss, Thom, who sued to stop it in the first place.

To the writer who suggested that a huge majority of voters wanted legalized pot, it was 54 percent.

An autocratic leader known to silence his opposition by eliminating them is leading his totalitarian nation into an invasion and occupation of a democratic country in Europe and the leader of our Republican Party describes this as an act of genius. What happened to the party of Reagan?

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DNA is a wondrous molecule. It can be used not only to discover relatives but also solve criminal cases. Last year, the Cascade County Sheriffs Office closed out what they believe was the coldest of cold cases in the country.

Based on forensic genetic genealogy, authorities say Kenneth Gould is the most likely suspect in the rape and murder of Patty Kalitzke and the murder of her 18-year-old boyfriend Duane Bogle in Great Falls in early 1956.

On the evening of Jan. 2, Bogle, a Malmstrom airman, and Kalitzke, a junior at Great Falls High School, headed to a spot just west of Great Falls near Wadsworth Park along the Sun River.

The next day, three kids stumbled upon Bogles dead body. He was found with a gunshot wound to the head. A day later, a county road worker came upon the body of Kalitzke which was found about five miles to the north on Vineyard Road, close to Hill 57. She too had been shot in the head. A subsequent investigation determined she had also been raped.

As the years went by, the two murders remained unsolved. Then in 2013, Sergeant Jon Kadner took another look into the cold case. This time, he was able to use DNA testing which was not available during the many decades following the murders. Through DNA testing, he eliminated several suspects, including notorious crime boss James Whitey Bulger, who, surprisingly, had actually been in the area at the time of the murders.

Edward Wayne Edwards was another person of interest who was eliminated when his DNA wasn't a match either. He had been arrested for burglary in Montana in 1956 and served time at the Montana State Prison. He was the subject of a book by former Great Falls Police Detective John Cameron, who had linked Edwards to the "Lover's Lane murders" in Wisconsin and Ohio.

Seven years later, detectives had additional DNA testing conducted by a company called Bode Technology, which specializes in the new field of familial DNA matching. A DNA sample from an unknown source was uploaded to the company's database.

After running DNA matching software, three people were found to be genetically compatible; included in that group was Kenneth Gould. Although Gould died at age 79 in 2007 with his body being cremated, his adult children agreed to submit DNA samples that ultimately resulted in a statistically significant match to their father.

At the time of the murders, Gould lived only a mile from Kalitzke. Further, he worked with horses mere blocks from her residence in the southwest section of Great Falls. A little over a month after the killings, Gould sold his property and moved to Tracy, a small town southeast of Great Falls. By July of that same year, he had moved to the tiny town of Geraldine, Montana. From 1958 to 1967, the Goulds resided in Hamilton and from there on to Alton, Missouri.

The reason Gould had not shown up in any prior DNA match was that he had no known criminal history either before or after the killings. After conferring with family members, none indicated they were aware of any criminality on his part.

Around the country, over 120 unsolved murder cases have been cracked using familial DNA matching with the biggest being the arrest in 2018 of Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo.

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A Laurel High School student pleaded not guilty Wednesday to allegedly bringing a firearm to school and threatening a student.

The 16-year-old boy appeared in Yellowstone County District Court via teleconference. Prosecutors have charged him as an adult with assault, a felony, and possessing a weapon inside a school building, a misdemeanor.

The defendant allegedly brought a handgun into Laurel High School on Feb. 9, according to charging documents. He showed the gun to a student in one of the schools bathrooms after mentioning that he might get a felony. The defendant then threatened the student that he better not tell anyone, documents say, making the student afraid for his safety.

He allegedly showed the handgun to another student the following day, who alerted the school resource officer. After the defendant told the officer he had a vape unit, the SRO found a loaded semi-automatic handgun during a search. He was arrested that morning and initially charged in Youth Court. The investigation into the charges, headed by the Laurel Police Department, is ongoing.

LPD Chief Stan Langve wrote in a press release issued Feb. 10 that the defendant told the officer that he had no plans to use the weapon against anyone, but carried it for his protection. When asked for an update regarding the investigation Wednesday, LPD referred The Gazette to Jared Anglin, the SRO at Laurel High School who responded to the report of the firearm. Anglin was not available to comment Wednesday.

In Montana, prosecutors can press assault charges against anyone suspected of causing physical harm with a weapon, or, in this instance, causing reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury, according to state law. If convicted of assault with a weapon, the student could face up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. A sentence for possessing a weapon inside a school building comes with the possibility of up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $500. Montana law prohibits anyone other than law enforcement from carrying a weapon, concealed or otherwise, within K-12 schools.

Standing Master Laurie Grygiel set the students bond at $5,000 during his arraignment. As part of the conditions of his release, he must remain under the custody and supervision of his mother, who was present in the courtroom Wednesday. He will also have to be electronically monitored and check in weekly with Youth Court upon his release. His next appearance in court is scheduled for April 19.

District Judge Michael G. Moses will preside over the case.

Editor's note: Although the suspect in this case was charged as an adult, The Gazette typically doesn't name juveniles.

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" " Three jars of rice on display: basmati, sushi and jasmine. The rices look similar uncooked, but good basmati often has a slightly golden color. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

More than 120,000 types of rice are grown around the world, each boasting its own nuanced texture, flavor and size. Two of the most popular in the U.S. (for people branching out from the standard long-grain white) are basmati rice and jasmine rice. Don't make the mistake of mixing the two up when cooking, however. Jasmine and basmati rice are distinctly different, though they do share some similarities.

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How Basmati and Jasmine Rice Are Similar

First, both are classified as a long-grain rice, meaning the grain has a "long, slender kernel, three to four times longer than its width," according to the USA Rice website. When cooked, long-grain rice is fluffier and lighter than those rice types that fall in the short- or medium-grain categories. Short- and medium-grain rice tends to clump and get sticky once cooked, making it ideal for dishes like risotto, paella or sushi. On the other hand, long-grain rice tends to keep its grains separate, making it perfect for use in soups, stir-fries and pilafs.

Basmati and jasmine are both considered to be aromatic long-grain rices, but that's about where the similarities end.

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How Basmati and Jasmine Rice Differ

If you've ever smelled a pot of jasmine rice cooking, you'd understand how that rice got its name. Jasmine rice has "a delicious fragrance similar to sweet flowers," emails Belinda Tumbers, CEO of Global Rice, at SunRice, one of the largest rice food companies in the world, which is based in Australia. This distinctive floral aroma is due to a high level of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, a naturally occurring compound in rice. "[Jasmine] is softer and fluffier than basmati rice and is slightly sticky when cooked, making it a great choice for a wide variety of fried rice, stir-fry and curry recipes," she says.

By contrast, basmati rice "is a rice varietal renowned for its popcorn-like aroma and long slender grains. It is typically grown in India and Pakistan," she says. ("Basmati" comes from the Hindi word for "fragrant.") "When cooked, basmati rice expands in length  between two to three times its original length  and produces a light, fluffy texture that is ideal for absorbing the flavors of your cooking. It is a drier rice and the grains remain separate after cooking," Tumbers says.

The difference between the two rice types is due to the molecules that make them up. According to Cook's Illustrated, basmati has lots of amylose, a long straight starch molecule, which doesn't gelatinize when cooked. Jasmine rice has much less amylose and more amylopectin, a starch molecule that makes rice sticky.

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Buying and Cooking Basmati Rice

Although basmati rice is now grown in many locations around the world, including the U.S., it originated in the Himalayan foothills of northern India. In fact, up to 70 percent of the world's supply of basmati rice is grown in India. There are 34 different types of basmati rice grown there alone. Given its location of origin, it's not surprising that basmati is a staple of Indian and Mediterranean cooking, although USA Rice points out that it can be used in any recipe calling for long-grain rice.

" " Hyderabadi biryani prepared with basmati rice. Sanjay Borra/Getty Images

As with most products, there's a range of basmati rice available for purchase. The highest-quality versions come in cloth packaging, rather than plastic. In addition, the "extra-long-grain" types are considered superior. The grains should also be slightly golden in hue, rather than gray or white. Really good basmati rice is also aged, sometimes for up to several years.

Basmati rice can be used in any recipe that calls for long-grain rice, but it's a critical component of Indian dishes like curries, stews and biryani. The rice is also easy to cook. You'll want to follow the directions on the rice package but here's some general information:

Put water in a saucepan (Tumbers recommends 1.5 cups of water for every cup of rice).

Add 1 tsp. salt to the water.

Bring water to a boil and add the rice. ("Many people soak the rice for a half-hour before cooking to make it softer and fluffier," Tumbers notes. However, this is not required.)

Cover and turn the heat to low.

Let rice simmer for about 15 minutes.

Remove from heat and let the rice rest for five minutes to encourage its trademark fluffy texture.

Tips: According to Indian food expert Sukhi Singh, the rice should only be stirred once at the beginning of cooking. Too much stirring will make it stick together.

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Buying and Cooking Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice is much newer to the culinary scene than basmati, having only been developed in the 1950s. It's formally known as Thai Hom Mali rice. Since it's local to the Southeast Asia region, it's not surprising that jasmine rice is a staple of Thai cuisine and other Asian cooking, particularly stir-fry.

Like basmati, jasmine can be subbed in place of any type of long-grain rice. Jasmine rice is so delicious and versatile, it has become the fastest-growing type of rice in the U.S., in terms of popularity. Although the majority of authentic jasmine rice is grown in Thailand, it is produced stateside as well.

Jasmine isn't a rice that requires aging. "Unlike basmati rice, which is a drier rice, jasmine is a fresher, fragrant rice so ideally you'd want to consume jasmine rice which comes from a more recent crop," Tumbers explains. "This is because the longer jasmine rice is stored in paddy form, the more likely its fragrance can diminish."

" " Jasmine rice has a lovely aroma reminiscent of flowers. Ge JiaJun/Getty Images

Much like basmati, jasmine rice is easy to cook. The rice package will have cooking instructions, but here are some general directions:

Put water in a saucepan (Tumbers recommends 1.25 cups water per every 1 cup of rice).

Add 1 tsp. salt to the water.

Bring water to a boil and add the rice. ("Jasmine rice should be washed before cooking, to release excess starch and preserve its fragrance," Tumbers says.)

Cover and turn heat to low, about 10-12 minutes. Do not stir or lift the lid.

Take the rice off the fire and let it stand another 10 minutes to finish cooking. Then fluff with a fork.

Tips: Rice brand Mahatma says you can replace the water with seasoned broth or even coconut milk to add extra flavor to jasmine rice. You can also increase or reduce the liquid content depending on whether you like your rice drier or moister.

Now That's Cool Did you know that white and brown rice are actually the same? The only difference is how the rice has been processed. For white rice, the hull and outer bran layer are removed, which makes the rice softer. However, brown rice is more nutritionally dense, and is packed with more protein and fiber.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine met Wednesday with some Richmond-area employees of the coffee store giant Starbucks who are seeking to unionize, expressing support for that movement.

Kaine did not explicitly endorse the unionization efforts at Starbucks  which have sprouted at the chains stores around the country since late last year  though he said he generally supports collective bargaining efforts by workers.

I have a real heart for all of our front-line workers during the pandemic, whether they are in grocery stores, working in restaurants or Starbucks, Kaine said.

I definitely support collective bargaining, Kaine added. I grew up in a household where my dad was in management and they had a union workforce  they worked as a team. I dont work here [at Starbucks]. I am not an employee. I dont tell people how to vote, but I think collective bargaining and unions are a positive force in our country.

The National Labor Relations Board is hearing petitions this week from workers at two Richmond-area stores that were among the first in the state to file documents last month seeking union representation. Those two stores are at 11136 Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County and 6980 Forest Hill Ave. in South Richmond.

The hearings will determine which employees qualify to vote for union representation.

Employees at five more Richmond stores have petitioned the NLRB to hold unionization votes, along with employees at three other Virginia stores in Roanoke, Farmville and Springfield.

Workers at the local Starbucks stores as well as representatives of labor organizations said Wednesday that several other stores in the state are expected to join the ranks seeking unionization soon.

These people represent a whole generation now that sees unions as the pathway to economic opportunity and participation, said Virginia Diamond, president of the Northern Virginia Labor Federation, which is working with Workers United, a Philadelphia-based union that represents workers in various service and warehouse industries. Diamond attended the meetings with Kaine.

Kaine met with about a dozen workers from various Starbucks stores in the region. The meetings were held outside of two Starbucks locations in the area where employees are seeking to unionize  the store on Forrest Hill Avenue and the store at 3555 W. Cary St. in Carytown.

The employees were all young people, most of whom have been working at Starbucks between a few months and several years.

Speaking with Kaine, they mostly discussed safety and health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic  that they believe the company has not properly addressed  as well as staff shortages at some locations and concerns about employee pay and benefits.

We feel anything we say or request or suggest is really getting set aside, said Hayden Stilley, an employee at the Forest Hill Avenue location.

Stilley, a Richmond resident who has worked for Starbucks since 2015, said he thinks pay rates should be higher.

For the amount of work that we do and the amount of positions we need to cover  the amount of people we have on the floor at any given time is not enough  I believe we should get a higher rate, Stilley said.

Dillon Dix, a Starbucks employees for four years who works at the store at 2559 Huguenot Road and in Westchester Commons in Chesterfield, which has also filed for union representation, said Starbucks employees in the region are organizing a music festival for April to support the union movement.

Personally, for me, unionizing at Starbucks is something that has been a goal for me for a long time, he said.

The pandemic became a flash point for organizing. I care a lot about the rights of disabled people and immunocompromised people. I want a Starbucks that has this policy of being an open and safe place for everyone to go, Dix said. Beyond that, I think baristas and everyone deserves to make a livable wage, seniority pay, with better access to health care and mental health care ... and giving us a voice to speak on those things as they develop.

Kaine said he buys coffee at Starbucks at least once every two weeks.

I would encourage anybody who is a Starbucks fan  and Starbucks has a lot of fans, and they should  you should just ask any of the baristas or other workers when you are getting coffee how they are doing. The last two years have been tough, Kaine said.
POWHATAN  The Powhatan County Sheriffs Office will soon be saying farewell to a dedicated officer, but in doing so, they know its what is best for both him and the agency moving forward.

Argie, a 3 -year-old Belgian Malinois, has been with the sheriffs office since December 2019 and has done an admirable job as a K-9 officer in the community, said his partner Sgt. Kaitlyn Crane. But the writing has been on the wall for Argies career in Powhatan and the state as a whole since legislators made the decision in 2021 to legalize up to 1 ounce of marijuana for personal use, effective July 1, 2021.

The problem comes with a narcotics dogs like Argie, who is trained to alert his handler to five different odors, one of which is marijuana. Since the dogs can only scent the presence of marijuana, not the amount, and they dont differentiate between the narcotics they were trained on, law enforcement agencies across Virginia have been phasing out dogs trained to detect marijuana.

The sheriffs offices other K-9 officer, Sgt. Bane, is still usable because he is a dual purpose dog, trained not only in narcotics but in patrol and tracking, she added.

Argie has remained useful in searches at the schools, where it is still illegal to possess marijuana, but that limited use is neither good enough for the K-9 officer, who Crane said loves to work, nor the sheriffs office, which isnt using its K-9 program to the fullest potential.

It is not fair for him to only be 3  years old and not be able to work anymore because he is a good worker. This dog loves to work. It is not fair to him to keep him and not let him go to work every day, Crane said.

While some law enforcement agencies are choosing to retire the affected narcotics dogs, Argie still has too much potential use to let his training go to waste, Crane said. In the coming months, Argie will be gifted to Ventosa Kennel in North Carolina, which trains K-9 dogs for law enforcement. The kennel will sell Argie to an agency in a state where marijuana is not legal, which will likely be a cost savings for another agency as well.

(Argie) going to Ventosa Kennels is 100% free. Hopefully he will be able to find a home pretty quickly being a retrained dog and being pretty young. He should be able to start working quickly, Crane said.

The Powhatan County Sheriffs Office will receive a credit toward buying a future dual purpose K-9 officer when it has the funds to do so. Toward that end, Crane has started fundraising efforts to purchase a new dog, which she estimated would cost upwards of $15,000.

Three Crosses Distilling Company and Island Glow are partnering to host a Lucky Dog Fundraiser beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 17. The event will raise money toward the purchase of a new dog for the sheriffs office as well as collecting donations of food and pet items for Powhatan Animal Shelter.

The funds raised will help with purchasing, training and equipping a new dog, which is expensive. Powhatan got lucky with Argie because he was gifted to the sheriffs office by the Richmond Police Department in September 2019 after picking him up from an animal shelter in Maryland, Crane said. At the time, the training program she attended in Chesterfield was also free, but that school wont be possible this time because of time constraints, she said.

Crane, who long wanted to be a K-9 handler, said that being partnered with Argie was an exciting turn in her career. She added that he also came at a time when she needed him because her mom had died, and he helped her through that.

And he probably needed me a little bit. I dont know what his circumstances were in Maryland but he was a shelter dog. So we both kind of gave each other something to focus on, she said. I think that is what makes it so hard. But the part that makes it easy is he has proven himself in the short time in Powhatan as a good drug dog. I know he will do well in another jurisdiction and that is what he needs. He needs to work. If he was just going to retire and go somewhere that would be harder on me.

The sheriffs office, which is located at 3880 Old Buckingham Road, is currently taking donations for the purchase of a new K-9 dog. Any funds people want earmarked for the program should be labeled appropriately.
POWHATAN  As Vietnam veteran and Powhatan resident Tom Ashmore stood in front of the mural bearing his likeness, words escaped him.

The overwhelming feeling he experienced wasnt vanity or the belief that having a permanent mural honoring him at Hunter Holmes McGuire Hospital made him more special than other veterans. Nor was it only nostalgia at seeing the painting of his 76-year-old visage side by side with a recreation of his black and white U.S. Marine photo taken when he was only 17 years old.

The unveiling of the mural in his honor on Valentines Day, along with four other veterans honored with murals the same day, did more than anything he has experienced in the decades since being honorably discharged in 1968 to lessen the sting of the reception he received when he came home from war and make him feel like it might have all been worth it.

When we came home we couldnt come into the United States in our uniforms. We had to change into civilian clothes. We didnt understand it  never did. We basically had to sneak back into our own country, and that always bothered me, Ashmore said.

The only subterfuge last week was on the part of the organizers at the VA Hospital, who kept the murals hidden until the official unveiling ceremony held Feb. 14 to honor five veterans with personalized murals. In addition to Ashmore, murals were unveiled in honor of Charles Battle, U.S. Navy; Thessalonia Higgs, U.S. Marine Corps; Mary Golden, U.S. Army, and James Howard, U.S. Army.

The mural project, which is called The Journey of a Veteran, was created as a partnership between the hospital and Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond. Kristy Coie-Day, chief of the Center for Development and Civic Engagement, said the hospital was already considering a mural project when the foundation reached out with a similar idea. The foundation didnt have a set concept in mind, so she suggested making the murals about veterans who volunteer with the VA Hospital to make life better for other veterans.

They selected the five veterans with connections to the hospital and a wide range of stories that artists Jason Ford and Ed Trask used as inspiration to represent just how diverse people can be who share a designation as a veteran.

I thought those five made a very well-rounded group of individuals to be represented in this mural, she said. So I gathered pictures from their time in service and pictures of them currently and set up a meeting for them to all sit down and speak with the artists so the artists could really feel connected with them. That went amazingly well.

While he knew he was going to be included in a mural, Ashmore said he had no idea when he agreed to meet the artists at a veterans retreat run by James Howard that the simple conversation would lead to a mural that captured some of the most meaningful aspects of his life and military service.

In addition to the images of his current and younger self and an American flag, there are three main elements in Ashmores mural with special meaning.

While there is only one Purple Heart painted in the mural, Ashmore actually received three Purple Hearts during his time in Vietnam.

I tell people all the time marines are thick headed. That is why I had to get three of them before I said I have to get out of here, he joked before getting serious. Every person that is in the military in a combat situation does what they have to do. They go where they have to go and fight what they have to fight. That is a way of life.

Ashmore said he had known since he was in first grade he wanted to be a marine, which is why he enlisted in 1964. He was planning to make the Marine Corps his career, but when the injuries sustained in Vietnam meant he likely could only continue to serve behind a desk, he decided that wasnt for him.

In addition to being wounded, Ashmores health, like that of so many other veterans, was seriously impacted by exposure during the war to Agent Orange. An orange banner runs along one corner of the mural to represent his health complications caused by the tactical herbicide.

The third important component is Ashmores cane, which is a nod to him using his extensive martial arts and defense training to create the Cane Loyalty program. The five-point system focuses on situational awareness, balance, flexibility, building strength and defense  both against an assailant and the natural effects of aging such as slips and falls.

Although he does charge for some classes, Ashmore offers free classes, seminars and training to veterans.

Those components were also some of the main reasons Coie-Day said Ashmore was the first veteran she thought of for a mural. She appreciates how engaging Ashmore is when he works with veterans to teach them defense or how to use a cane to improve their quality of life.

I just felt Tom was continuously giving back to the veteran community, she said.

She added that working with Ashmore previously, he became a mentor to her, so she got to see firsthand the positive impact he can have on people.

Seeing all of those important aspects of his identity represented together was a powerful moment, Ashmore said.

I didnt have any problem looking at it. I just kept looking at it. I have a picture on my phone I have probably looked at it 100 times, Ashmore said the day after the unveiling.

He added that he was equally impressed by the other murals. First of all I was fascinated that the artists were able to do such a good job. I dont know how you can capture people like they did. I think you can see the emotions of them in the murals.

Ashmore was doubly surprised at the ceremony when he was presented with a quilt given to him by Quilts of Valor. Looking at it, he said he could feel the love and respect that went into it. He said he was fighting back tears when the description of the meaning of the quilts was read to him.

It was just an overwhelming feeling, said Ashmore, adding he was emotionally drained at the end of the event but also felt incredibly honored.
Bestselling author David Baldacci and his wife, Michelle, have given $1 million to the Library of Virginia, the library announced this week.

The gift made through the Library of Virginia Foundation will help launch expanded programming and initiatives starting in the librarys 200th anniversary year in 2023.

Growing up, libraries and reading had an enormous impact on us and significantly influenced who we became as adults, the Baldaccis said in a statement. We are thrilled to support the Library of Virginia in its ongoing efforts to help lead the commonwealth through the new century, one reader and one curious mind at a time.

A portion of the gift will establish the David and Michelle Baldacci Vision Fund, which will provide sustainable support to future initiatives such as the librarys Diversity Fellowship and Internship Program, increasing statewide impact, and projects that expand and celebrate Virginias literature and authors, library officials said.

Library of Virginia Foundation board president Lucia Pia Trigiani called the gift transformational and said in a statement that it will be a spark that will ignite the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Library in 2023 and bring one of Virginias best kept secrets to the people of the commonwealth.

Librarian of Virginia Sandra Gioia Treadway said she applauded the Baldaccis for their efforts to encourage writing, reading and creativity across Virginia and Baldaccis long history with the library.

The couple are founders of the Wish You Well Foundation, supporting family and adult literacy programs in the United States.

David and Michelles timely gift will allow us to tell Virginias story in new and compelling ways to wider audiences and will ensure that the library steps confidently into our third century next year, Treadway said.

David Baldacci, who grew up in Henrico County, is a 1978 graduate of Henrico High. He went on to earn a bachelors degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
Rick Plautz was at a Fox Elementary School PTA meeting, a few days after the school caught fire, discussing not just what he could do for his second grade son, but how parents could channel that support for others.

That discussion led Plautz and others to organize an event featuring local musicians and community partners coming together for a benefit concert to support all of Richmond Public Schools elementary school music programs.

Plautz said the idea came after hearing other parents perspectives about the flood of support coming to Fox. He said one parent spoke up during the PTA meeting, saying there are other schools in the Richmond community falling apart and arent getting the same attention Fox is.

For Plautz, that was a humbling realization.

That was just kind of a really sobering moment for me to realize, not only because I havent thought about in general, but seeing all the support from the community all of the sudden felt really good, he said. But on the other hand theres the realization that there are plenty of other places in the city that are decimated and no one is coming to help them.

Plautz said for him, personally, he wanted to find a way to help Fox and raise other school communities in the process. Soon his friend Erin Frye a local musician and founder of grassroots advocacy group Gals For a Cause put him in contact with Lucas Fritz, owner of The Broadberry, with an exciting opportunity after a band dropped from their schedule.

The three brokered a partnership  along with many others from the Richmond music community  bringing together local musicians NO BS! Brass, Fear of Music, Prabir Trio, Erin Lunsford, Landon Elliott and Buenas to perform and raise funds for the music programs at RPS elementary schools.

Frye said the event came together quickly as local musicians started to contact one another, discussing what they could do to help Fox students. As their discussions evolved, he said they saw a larger opportunity to address all elementary schools.

We just realized we have the resources at our fingertips, Frye said. We have passionate people who care about our public schools elementary school music programs and, while what happened at Fox was absolutely horrific and horrible, there are so many other schools that have needed attention for a long time as well.

Frye said it just makes sense for a group of musicians to support the young, budding talent lying in wait at RPS.

There are elementary schools and public schools right now that sometimes may not have the resources that they need for students to thrive, Frye said. If we can be part of providing those resources  instruments or whatever they need  thats really wonderful and we feel compelled and excited to be part of that.

The Banding Together Benefit Concert is scheduled for Saturday, March 5. Along with the nighttime showing, there will also be a daytime, kid-focused program, featuring the Diggity Dudes, Jonathan the Juggler, Buenas, and more. Kids age 12 and under may attend this concert for free.

The daytime show starts with doors at 2 p.m. The show starts at 2:30 and admission is free. The afternoon program starts with doors at 7 and music at 8.

Concert tickets are on a sliding scale starting at $20, and 100% of the proceeds go to the RPS Education Foundation, earmarked for purchasing resources for the elementary schools music programs.

There will also be a concert at The Camel on March 4 featuring Honest Debts and the Jared Stout Band. Ticket proceeds for these shows will also be donated to RPS elementary school music programs. Ticket are $10.

Both venues require proof of a complete COVID-19 vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result within 72 hours to enter. For information about the vaccine policy and ticket information, visit The Camel or The Broadberrys website.
Chesterfield County Jail officials have seen a threefold increase in recent months of inmates found with anomalies inside their bodies  usually concealed narcotics  after being examined by the facilitys full-body X-ray scanning machine. A cylinder-shaped object containing drugs was found Tuesday in the abdomen of a Petersburg man who was being processed into the jail.

Id say probably in the last two months weve seen this increase  and its concerning, Chesterfield Sheriff Karl Leonard said Wednesday. Generally its like one [inmate] every other couple of days. Now were seeing about three a day that have to be isolated until the contraband inside their bodies can be passed.

Inmates detected to have anomalies are put through a process called dry cell  a cell without a toilet  where they are isolated until they pass whats inside them.

Its not unusual to see three people a day waiting to clear things in their system, Leonard said. The process is a little disgusting, [because] when it passes, our deputies literally have to go through it to find the [hidden] material.

On Tuesday, John J. Anderson was arrested in Chesterfield on three felony probation violation charges from Brunswick County. As part of his processing at the jail, Anderson was required to submit to a full-body scan, which revealed a cylinder-shaped object in his abdominal area, the sheriffs office said.

Anderson was placed in a dry cell, where he later passed the object, which authorities said consisted of two bags of suspected suboxone, a mixture of buprenorphine and naloxone medications used to treat opioid addiction. The man-made drugs can be addictive and, in some cases, result in overdoses.

In February 2021, deputies uncovered a complex scheme to smuggle Suboxone strips into the Chesterfield Jail that authorities said involved exploiting a loophole in the facilitys legal mail system for inmates. Six people were charged, including four inmates awaiting trial or already serving time for various convictions.

Since the Chesterfield Sheriffs Office purchased the body scan machine in 2019 for $166,000, a large assortment of drugs and other contraband  such as cigarette lighters and syringes  have been detected inside inmates bodies. The drugs detected include fentanyl, a highly addictive synthetic opioid that can result in a fatal overdose in minuscule amounts. Just 3 milligrams is enough to kill an average-sized man.

If we believe its fentanyl, were going to admit them to a hospital to get medical care, so the medical expert can actually monitor and watch the individual, Leonard said. Because potentially, it could be very fatal if it breaks open inside them.

Leonard said those most likely to try and smuggle drugs inside the jail are defendants convicted and sentenced to jail who are given a deferred incarceration date. Before reporting for jail to begin serving their sentence, theyll load up ... because they know theyre going to be in there awhile, he said.

The sheriff recalled one person who almost brought an entire pharmacy with him.

He had marijuana, he had pills, he had cocaine, he had heroin  all within baggies inside of him, Leonard said, adding, Were not seeing the large quantities of drugs anymore because you dont need as much when its a drug like fentanyl.

Although expensive, the sheriffs office decided it couldnt wait any longer to purchase a full-body scanner when we started seeing the trend with fentanyl around 2019.

The last thing we want is somebody coming into our facility, getting through the jail and into the back with fentanyl on them, Leonard said. We did our best to identify [contraband] prior to this, but the [body scanner] is a whole new level of potential for us. Its a great tool.

Andrews now faces a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance for the suspected suboxone that was concealed inside his body.

The sheriff says he believes the uptick in the number of inmates detected concealing drugs just goes hand-in-hand with the increased number of overdoses were seeing and the increased number of deaths.

I think theres more drug use going on and its more prevalent now than ever, Leonard added. And I think that has to do with the ease of getting drugs, especially fentanyl.
Del. John McGuire, R-Goochland, has ended the suspense over his political ambitions by declaring his candidacy in the newly drawn 10th District for the Virginia Senate instead of resuming his run for Congress in a district now centered in Northern Virginia.

McGuire, 53, announced late Wednesday that he would run for the Republican nomination in the new 10th District, which no longer includes parts of Chesterfield County and Richmond, but still covers Powhatan County. The 10-county, heavily Republican district is more rural than suburban, reaching from northern Hanover County to Farmville and Prince Edward County.

McGuire, serving his third term in the House of Delegates, said he and his wife, Tracy, are fired up to continue serving and doing our part to make Virginia the best place to live, work and raise a family.

We will win this open seat, continue serving Virginia, and help other conservatives across the commonwealth hold onto the House and take back the Senate in 2023, he said in his campaign announcement.

McGuire previously had filed to run for the Republican nomination in the 7th Congressional District and begun to build a campaign war chest to pay for it. He had been silent about his intentions since the Virginia Supreme Court approved a new political map in late December that left his home in Goochland far from the new 7th, based in eastern Prince William County and the Fredericksburg area.

His decision to run for the state Senate leaves eight Republicans vying for the party nomination to challenge Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, in the new 7th. Spanberger lives in western Henrico County but has been running in the new district since mid-January while continuing to represent her current district.

McGuire already faces competition for the GOP nomination in the 10th Senate District from Duane Adams, chairman of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors.

Adams, who has served on the board for five years and one as chairman, said he already has raised more than $100,000 for the race and received endorsements from a number of prominent Republican elected officials, including Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, and Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper.

John is joining the race, Adams said Thursday. John is not leading the pack.

Taylor Keeney, a former press secretary under Gov. Bob McDonnell and owner of a nonprofit organization, also is considering running for the seat, after a brief bid for the 7th Congressional District seat.

I have been encouraged by many people I deeply respect to run, but 2023 is a long way away, said Keeney, who also lives in Goochland, in a statement on Wednesday night. I am going to take some time to make sure its the right decision for my family and the district while staying active in my community.

Keeney declared her candidacy for the 7th Congressional District last year, but dropped out of contention after the Supreme Court approved a map that left her home in the 5th Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. Bob Good, a conservative Republican.

The 10th District seat currently is held by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, who already has declared her candidacy in the adjoining 15th Senate District, based in eastern Chesterfield and South Richmond.

The district had long been represented by former Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, who retired at the beginning of 2016. He was succeeded by Sen. Glen Sturtevant, a Republican who subsequently moved from Richmond to Chesterfield.

Hashmi defeated Sturtevant in 2019. Sturtevant is now seeking the Republican nomination for the new 12th Senate District, along with former congressional candidate Tina Ramirez and, most likely, Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield.
Former Gov. Jim Gilmore considers the Russian invasion of Ukraine the most serious crisis in Europe since the Soviet Union divided and walled off Berlin more than 60 years ago.

Gilmore also calls the movement of Russian troops into two Ukrainian regions a precise parallel to Nazi Chancellor Adolf Hitlers intervention in the Sudetenland as a pretext for Germany to occupy the Czech province in 1938 as prelude to invading the rest of Czechoslovakia and then Poland the next year.

So Gilmore  who served for two years as U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe  hopes western attempts to defuse the crisis dont repeat British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlains mistake in appeasing Hitler with a diplomatic compromise ceding sovereign territory.

The consensus cant be either a war with Russia on one hand or surrender like Neville Chamberlain on the other, he said in an interview Wednesday.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who succeeded Gilmore as governor in 2002, said Gilmore has been pretty clear-eyed about Russia, unlike some of his friends in the Republican Party.

I think Jim Gilmore is right that it is the most dangerous time, at least since the Berlin Wall, if not the end of World War II, said Warner, who is playing a major role managing the crisis as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

While his most pressing concern is the unknown ramifications of Russian cyber-attacks that could cause damage beyond Ukraine, he said, You could end up with a major shooting war in Ukraine. ... You dont want to go down that path. You dont know where youll end up.

Gilmore, a Republican, has been critical of President Joe Biden for his handling of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian buildup on Ukraines borders, but he strongly supports the presidents decisions to impose heavy economic sanctions on Russia, the deployment of U.S. troops in Eastern Europe and the delivery of what he called defensive weaponry to Ukraine.

If Russia invades the rest of Ukraine, as he expects, the former governor said, We should have absolutely no commerce with Russia whatsoever and neither should our allies. We shouldnt even be speaking to the Russians.

Gilmore scorned members of what he calls the isolationist wing of the Republican Party, such as Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., for dismissing the importance of the showdown over Ukraine to the security interests of the U.S.

He said Hawley and Fox News talk show host Tucker Carlson are wrong on Ukraine for defending Putins pretext of sending troops into the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as a defense of Russian security from encroachment by NATO.

Gilmore is more forgiving of former President Donald Trump, who appointed him ambassador to OSCE. This week, Trump spoke admiringly of Putin and his dispatch of Russian troops into the Ukrainian regions as a peacekeeping force.

He thinks Putin is smart; that doesnt mean he thinks hes right, Gilmore said of the former president. Trump has always been reckless with his language.

Gilmore dismisses Putins talk of peace keeping and Russian security against NATO as baloney.

The notion of youre threatening us is for suckers, he said.

Gilmore, who served as a U.S. Army intelligence officer in West Germany in the early 1970s, said Putin has a much larger goal than helping Ukrainian separatists in the two regions.

His goal has been for quite a long time to reassert the Russian empire in Europe and make Europe subject to Russias political will, he said.

Gilmore considers Putins actions in Ukraine  as well as the occupation of Crimea in 2014  a repudiation of the Budapest Memorandum that President Bill Clinton negotiated with Russia and Britain in 1994 to guarantee the sovereignty of Ukraine territory in exchange for the country giving up nuclear arms.

The former governor says Bidens mistakes were to grant Putin a summit meeting last year, lift sanctions that Trump had imposed on Russia for the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline to Europe, and wait too long to begin imposing economic sanctions over the troop buildup on Ukraines borders.

But Gilmore said he is heartened by German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs decision to suspend Nord Stream 2 in response to the invasion. On Wednesday, Biden imposed U.S. sanctions on the company building the pipeline.

Warner, an ally of the president who criticized his handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan last year, said, I think Biden has played this well.

He is especially heartened by the cooperation of the U.S. and allied intelligence services in publicly countering Russian disinformation, and the presidents efforts to bolster the NATO alliance he said Trump had undermined.

NATO is stronger than it has been in decades, said Warner, who just returned from an international security conference in Munich and meeting with British intelligence officials in London.

Gilmore also praised Bidens efforts to bolster NATO and guarantee security to its members if they are attacked.

I think we are better off than we were, he said. NATO has rallied.
Federal authorities announced the recent arrests Wednesday of 13 people accused of participating in the Roanoke Valleys drug trade.

The takedown was spearheaded by the U.S. Attorneys Office, which joined state and local police departments to address increasing numbers of drug overdoses and other social ills caused by drug dealing.

The individuals were charged with a variety of federal offenses, including distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of explosives by a felon and illegal storage of explosives.

We all know the harm that narcotics trafficking causes to a community, which too often includes cycles of escalating violence, U.S Attorney Chris Kavanaugh said in a news release.

Roanoke Police Chief Sam Roman said the arrests show how local and federal authorities can effectively join forces.

These are individuals who wish to cause harm through organized crime in our community, and this shows them and others like them that we will not stand for their behavior in Roanoke, Roman said.
Citing the reports of two experts, a Franklin County judge declared Michael Alexander Brown not guilty by reason of insanity Wednesday, concluding that the troubled Marine had been unable to understand his actions when he carried out a 2019 killing that generated national headlines.

Brown, whos been diagnosed with a rare form of dissociative amnesia, will be committed to a psychiatric hospital until hes deemed ready for release.

The ruling brings a close to a high-profile case that began as a fatal shooting and expanded into a multi-state manhunt that gripped the region for 18 days before Browns arrest.

Defense attorney Deborah Caldwell-Bono said she felt justice had been served with Wednesdays decision.

Testimony and exhibits presented in court had detailed Browns erratic behavior, she noted, including episodes described as lost time or blackouts during which he had no memory of what happened.

Brown told court-appointed evaluators that he had fallen into one such episode on the morning of Nov. 9, 2019, as he drove up to the house in Hardy where he had been raised. He said he awoke at one point in the woods outside the home, with his .300 Blackout rifle across his shoulders, then awoke again in the yard and saw Rodney Brown, 54, lying dead on the ground as his mother was screaming.

Michael Brown, now 24, said he had no memories of the shooting. He described feeling dazed, and wondering if the entire scene was a dream.

He needs help. He doesnt need to be locked up, Caldwell-Bono said, adding she felt the court had listened carefully to all the evidence and arrived at a verdict that was spot on.

Hes grateful for the opportunity to go [to a hospital] and get the help he needs so he can, hopefully, return to society soon and continue to be a good, productive citizen, Caldwell-Bono said of her client. Up until this, Michael led a very law-abiding life, despite really adverse circumstances.

The reports filed by two court-appointed experts who independently evaluated Browns sanity offered detailed accounts of a traumatic childhood that included years of physical abuse by Rodney Brown  who was in a long-term relationship with Michael Browns mother and raised him as a father  and long absences from his mother, who testified at an earlier hearing that she has schizoaffective disorder and was institutionalized for eight years of Michael Browns childhood.

The evaluations both concluded Brown met the threshold for an insanity plea. One doctor later qualified his conclusions on the stand after he said new details were brought to his attention, but Caldwell-Bono noted he didnt withdraw or amend his original report.

The second doctor said the other information cited had been considered in her analysis already and didnt affect her opinion. She also said her assessment included a series of tests to screen for malingering but Browns symptoms were deemed to be genuine.

Judge Stacey Moreau, who presided over the case, said she found it significant that both evaluations had separately found evidence of dissociative symptoms, a rare condition, in Brown. One of the assessments conducted by University of Virginias Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy diagnosed it as dissociative amnesia that would leave Brown physically present, but not consciously aware, during an episode.

In arguments Wednesday, prosecutors were skeptical of Browns account of lost time, arguing in part that his selective memory of events seemed convenient and belied the extensive planning that must have gone into both shooting and subsequent 18-day run from law enforcement.

Caldwell-Bono countered that Brown, a trained Marine, would have mapped out a better scheme if he had planned the killing. He would not have carried the shooting out in front of his mother, for example, or stopped at a nearby convenience store with security cameras that spotted him, she argued.

Judge Moreau, in announcing her verdict, said she found the conclusions of the expert reports to be persuasive. She ruled Brown had been unable to appreciate the nature of his actions in the moment of the shooting due to a mental disease or defect.

Hell be transferred to the custody of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Caldwell-Bono said periodic updates on his progress while in treatment will likely be made to the court but those details were still pending.

Prior to Wednesdays final ruling, Brown did plead guilty to breaking and entering for returning to the house where the shooting occurred days later to seek shelter as he hid from authorities. He would be found and arrested there.

The plea, made under an agreement with the prosecution, will leave him with a felony conviction that bars him from owning a gun again. Brown agreed to never petition for a reinstatement of his firearm rights.

Commonwealths Attorney A.J. Dudley said authorities felt those points were important given the nature of the crimes that Brown had been accused of.

Caldwell-Bono said she felt it was a fair outcome. Brown was sentenced to time served on the charge. His transfer to the states mental health system is set to take place within 45 days.

Dudley said his office respected the verdict and the detailed process that the court used in its evaluation of the case.

An initial search paralyzed part of Southwest Roanoke early one morning in November 2019 when a shelter in place order was issued after murder suspect Brown attempted to visit his grandmothers house in the neighborhood. Then an RV he had been traveling in was discovered in a Carlton Road church parking lot.

Authorities ripped open one side of the RV with tactical equipment before searching it and, hours later, towing it away. The vehicle carried seven handguns, two rifles and an assortment of ammunition, according to an inventory filed by investigators.

Brown would ultimately be arrested after emerging from attic at the same house in Hardy where the shooting occurred. He told doctors that he sought shelter there after his RV was seized by police.

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Blitz the prison dog was missing two front teeth.

Which may have been one of the reasons why it took a jury in Roanokes federal court just seven minutes Wednesday to decide that his bites to an inmate at Keen Mountain Correctional Center were not a case of excessive force.

The jury found that two prison guards and a medic were not liable for what happened to Marlon Canady, a sex offender who was incarcerated at the Buchanan County prison in far Southwest Virginia.

Canady, who stood out in the courtroom for his orange prison coveralls and the legal acumen he applied in representing himself, admitted that the bites to his right leg and arm were not that severe.

But, he told the jury, whether its a small amount of pain or a lot of pain, it still violates the Constitution.

Testimony during the two-day trial showed that Canady, 63, was attacked by another inmate who struck him with a heavy object wrapped in a sock on June 25, 2015.

As the two men fought on the prison floor, guards first used pepper spray in an attempt to separate them and then called in Blitz, part of a canine team used to maintain order at the prison.

At the command of a correctional officer, Blitz joined the scuffle. His bites to Canady were limited by the time of the encounter  about five seconds  and the absence of two of his canine teeth, the pointed ones that sit at the front of the mouth.

One of the teeth went missing before the dog was deployed to Keen Mountain; it was not clear what happened to the other one.

Photographs of Canadys injuries that were shown to the jury were more consistent with a major gumming than a mauling. Nathan Schnetzler, a Roanoke attorney who represented the medic sued by Canady, argued that there was no serious medical need that went ignored.

After closing arguments in the case, U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen complimented Canady on the way he had presented his case. Lawsuits filed by jailhouse lawyers are a daily occurrence in federal court, but its rare for one to make it to a jury.

The two guards had maintained they only used the amount of force necessary to restore order. Schnetzler told the jury that prison dogs are trained to control inmates, not to maim them.

As for Blitzs state of mind, that remained unclear. The dog was not called to the witness stand.

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Once again, what could be the states first on-shore wind farm is searching for a buyer of the renewable energy it will produce.

Apex Clean Energy, which plans to build 14 giant wind turbines atop North Mountain in Botetourt County, signed a power purchase agreement with Dominion Energy in late 2019. Dominion had intended to buy the electricity and then sell it to Virginia to help the state meet its clean energy goals.

But the agreement expired Dec. 31, 2021, and Apex says it is now looking for a new buyer.

A decision not to renew the contract was a mutual agreement between Apex and Dominion, according to Patrick Chilton, a spokesman for the Charlottesville-based renewable energy company.

Development of the Rocky Forge Wind facility is proceeding. Rocky Forge has drawn significant market interest and Apex is confident that the project will fully contract in the next few months, Chilton wrote in an email.

Construction of the long-delayed project is expected to start by the end of this year, possibly as early as late summer. The wind farm, which is expected to produce enough electricity to power up to 20,000 homes, should be in operation by late 2023, Chilton said.

Plans for the Rocky Forge, which originally included up to 25 turbines that would have been smaller than the 612-foot height now proposed, received all of the required local, state and federal approvals by 2017.

But work never began as Apex searched for a buyer.

In October 2019, then-Gov. Ralph Northam announced that Virginia would purchase the electricity from Dominion to help it meet a goal of getting at least 30% of the electricity consumed by the states agencies and executive branch from renewable sources by late 2022.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and supply chain issues again slowed plans for Rocky Forge.

Chilton said the decision to let the power purchase agreement with Dominion lapse was not related to the departure of Northam, a Democrat, and his replacement by Republican Glenn Youngkin.

We were excited to work with Governor Youngkins administration on this project, but the level of interest in the market was something we could not ignore, he wrote in his email.

Attempts to reach Youngkins office were not immediately successful Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for Dominion declined to comment, saying the utility could not talk about its discussions with another business.

If plans for the wind farm finally get off the ground this year, Apex will first have to survive legal challenges brought by Virginians for Responsible Energy, a group of citizens in Botetourt and Rockbridge counties.

Opposition to the industrial-scale utility includes concerns that the turbines  which will be about twice as tall as the Wells Fargo tower in downtown Roanoke  will mar the scenic landscape, create harmful low-frequency sound, devalue nearby properties and pose a threat to the surrounding flora and fauna.

The wind farm would be located on a nearly 7,000-acre isolated parcel about five miles northeast of Eagle Rock, near the county line.

Virginians for Responsible Energy is contesting an approval by the state Department of Environmental Quality, alleging among other things that the agency failed to consider the turbines threat to golden eagles. A hearing is set for March 11.

In a filing earlier this month, the group mentioned the expiration of the contract with Dominion. Today, Rocky Forge has no buyer for the modest amount of energy the project would theoretically generate, Evan Mayo, an attorney for the opponents, wrote.

Jeff Scott of Virginians for Responsible Energy said its questionable if Apex will be able to attract any investors.

It is time for Apex to do the responsible thing and cancel Rocky Forge, and go somewhere that actually has sufficient wind and wont destroy an environmentally and scenically significant mountain ridge, Scott wrote in an email.

A second lawsuit by the group takes issue with Botetourt Countys board of zoning appeals, which determined last year that Apex qualified for a statewide extension of planning and zoning deadlines. The General Assembly voted to give plans slowed by the pandemic until this July 1 to be approved.

Apex had missed a deadline of May 26, 2021, for final approval by the county of its site plan.

The company has since overcome the pandemic-related delays and submitted a final plan to the county, Chilton said. A spokeswoman for the county said the documents are being reviewed.

Once the plans are approved, Chilton said Apex will proceed to close the financing for the project and begin construction.

The Sierra Club supports Rocky Forge and a second wind farm that Apex is planning in Pulaski County. That project, to be located on land owned by the Boy Scouts of America, is still in the preliminary stages.

Virginia is one of just nine states that does not have at least one on-shore wind farm. Dominion is planning a large development off the coast of Virginia Beach, and two pilot turbines began spinning last year.

Although for years the wind in Virginia and other southern states was not considered strong enough to support wind energy, improvements in technology are changing that.

Just seeing renewables will nurture hope in most people, said Dan Crawford, chair of the Sierra Clubs Roanoke group. These big steps energize the Sierra Clubs efforts toward a sustainable future.

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Ive lived in Southwest Virginia all my life, and I started working in the coal mines as a teenager. When I was 45, after decades of working for Westmoreland Coal, I noticed it was becoming difficult for me to walk through the mine without stopping to rest. It got worse and worse, and became difficult to do much of anything without getting winded. By my mid-50s, I was diagnosed with black lung and could no longer work.

Black lung is caused by inhaling coal and silica dust while working in the mines. Some days, I worked in dust so thick, I couldnt see my hand in front of my face. The dust accumulates in the miners lungs and becomes hard like concrete. It makes it harder and harder to breathe, ultimately suffocating many. There is no cure for it, only therapies to live with it.

When a miner gets diagnosed with black lung, his employer is required by law to pay for all the ongoing medical treatment the disease requires, and to provide a monthly disability payment of less than $700 for the miner to live on. But when the company goes bankrupt, the federal government picks up the tab through a program called the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund.

I had to fight Westmoreland Coal for 14 years to get the medical care and disability benefits that were owed to me as a miner with black lung. In fact, Westmoreland only quit fighting me on it after my case was scrutinized in the media.

Not long after I finally received my black lung benefits and medical card, Westmoreland and a number of other coal companies started filing for bankruptcy. These bankruptcies pawned me and about 20,000 other miners off onto the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund.

The trust fund is financed by the black lung excise tax, a very small tax paid by coal companies for each ton of coal they sell. Congress must extend this tax each year, but failed to do so this past December, effectively slashing this crucial source of funds for sick and dying miners by more than half. Thanks to our lawmakers, the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund is now losing $2.8 million every week as a result.

Another issue with the black lung excise tax is that it does not apply to coal exported to other countries, which makes up a large percentage of the coal mined in Southwest Virginia and across Appalachia.

In many cases, these are the mines that are causing the worst cases of black lung. Because they are mostly exporting valuable metallurgical coal used to make steel, these companies can justify having workers cut through tons of sandstone, exposing them to incredible levels of toxic silica dust. This export loophole costs the trust fund tens of millions of dollars each year.

There is a bill before Congress called the Black Lung Trust Fund Solvency Act. It wouldnt do anything about the export loophole, but it would restore the historic rate of the black lung excise tax and extend it for 10 years. This would be a big step in the right direction. We miners have asked U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, to support this legislation, but he has shown no interest.

He has told us he cant help us as he is not on the right congressional committee. Never mind that he weighs in on other issues outside his committee assignments all the time. He told us he wants to find a compromise with the coal companies that can shore up the trust fund, but hes never given any idea what that compromise might be.

Griffith should represent the sick miners in the 9th Congressional District of Virginia who have supported him at the polls election after election. Yet he just folds his hands and sits back when we need him most. It is my belief that Griffith is more interested in supporting the greed of the coal companies than the needs of the coal miners.

He has dodged this issue for long enough. It is time for Griffith to stop dodging, and make a public commitment to us miners. I am calling on Griffith to co-sponsor the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund Solvency Act (H.R. 6462), and to commit to leading the way on future legislation that will close the export loophole. If he doesnt feel like he can do that, then he needs to tell us what compromise he thinks he could live with.

Brock is president of the Southwest Virginia Black Lung Association, Chapter 2, based in Norton.
CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers.
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" " The chime generator apparatus to be installed in the 10,000 Year Clock. Designer Danny Hillis created a progressive algorithm to ring a series of 10 bells in a different sequence each day over the course of 10,000 years  over 3.5 million permutations. Long Now Foundation

Since 1989, an inventor named Danny Hillis has been working on a truly mind-boggling project  a 500-foot-tall (152-meter-tall) solar-powered clock inside a mountain in West Texas that is designed to keep time for 10,000 years, with minimal maintenance or interruption. In an article published in American Astronomical Society in 2012, Hillis and colleagues described the plan for the device, which will maintain its long-term accuracy by synchronizing to the sun through heating of a sealed chamber of air by a beam of sunlight that shines into it at solar noon.

The massive clock is being built by the Long Now Foundation with the help of Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos, who donated $42 million to the project, according to a 2011 Wired article.

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Bezos recently created a stir on Twitter when he posted a time-lapse video to announce that the clock is now in the installation phase.

In an undated blog post on the 10,000 Year Clock website, Bezos explains that he's been helping with the project for years because "As I see it, humans are now technologically advanced enough that we can create not only extraordinary wonders, but also civilization-scale problems. We're likely to need more long-term thinking."

No word yet on when the clock actually will be completed and operational.

Now That's Interesting According to the 2012 article written by Hillis and colleagues, Earth's rotation currently is slowing at a rate of 1.8 milliseconds per day per century, slowly altering the length of a solar day. But melting icecaps caused by climate change could influence that process as well, creating an uncertainty of plus or minus 37 solar days over the clock's 10,000 year lifetime.
TEHRAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Senior Iranian officials said Thursday the speedy achievement of an agreement in the Vienna negotiations on the restoration of a 2015 nuclear deal hinges on the West's political decisions on the remaining important issues.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said in a tweet the final stage of the talks in Vienna will not "take place" unless the West takes the political decision to resolve the remaining crucial issues needed for a balanced deal.

For his part, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani listed in a tweet the requirements for taking the last step and reaching an agreement in Vienna as extra caution, greater perseverance, additional creatively and adoption of a balanced approach.

He stressed that to finish the job, the United States and E3 group of France, Britain and Germany are required to take a number of certain political decisions.

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015. However, former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed Washington's unilateral sanctions on Tehran.

Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties, namely Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, to revive the deal. 
DARLINGTON, S.C.  Darlington Raceway will host six Track Laps for Charity events, including two as part of its 2022 NASCAR race weeks, this season. The first will be Saturday.

Track Laps for Charity offers fans the opportunity to drive their personal vehicles around the track Too Tough To Tame for a donation of $20. All proceeds from each event will support the beneficiary charity and Darlington Shares.

Track Laps for Charity is one of our most popular experiences at the track Too Tough To Tame, so we look forward to expanding the amount of our events to six this season, said Kerry Tharp, Darlington Raceway president. As we expand our Track Laps program to give back to the Palmetto State, fans will have an even bigger impact in supporting local charities in our community. The opportunity for race fans to take friends and family for laps in their personal vehicles around the track Too Tough to Tame is always a memorable experience.

This is the third year of Track Laps for Charity events at Darlington Raceway.

Darlington Raceway will host Track Laps for Charity events to benefit the Genesis Community Foundation on Saturday, VFWs Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship program with Sport Clips on Saturday, June 4, Darlington County Humane Society on Saturday, Aug. 6, and Toys for Tots on Saturday, Nov. 19. These four events will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Two more NASCAR race week Track Laps for Charity events will be held under the lights on Wednesday, May 4, and Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The beneficiary for the race week Track Laps for Charity will be announced online in the future.

The Genesis Community Foundation is an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation founded by Genesis Healthcare Inc. in 2020. The organizations mission is to improve the quality of life for the disadvantaged and underserved youth and their families through education and advocacy, as well as to serve, provide and unite communities within and across the county of Darlington as well as Olanta, S.C., and across the state of South Carolina. To learn more, www.gcfofdarlingtonsc.org.

Founded in 1899, the Veteran of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) is a nonprofit veterans service organization composed of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and reserve forces. With more than 1.5 million VFW and Auxiliary members in over 6,000 posts around the world, the VFW provides vital assistance and support for Americas service members, veterans and their families as well as communities worldwide. For more information about the VFW, visit vfw.org.

Since 2013, Sport Clips has been the primary supporter of the VFWs Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship program, which provides scholarships for service members and veterans for use at post-secondary schools and trade schools. Sport Clips contributed $1,026,105 to the program through their 2020 fundraising efforts. To date, they have awarded more than 1,900 scholarships totaling $8.7 million.

Recipients of the Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship program come from every part of the United States, represent every branch of service and are earning a variety of degrees including engineering, computer science, business, accounting, health care and many more. For more information on the Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship program, visit sportclips.com.

The Darlington County Humane Society (DCHS) is a non-profit organization with the mission of promoting humane and compassionate care for abandoned and neglected dogs and cats in Darlington County. DCHS places shelter pets in safe homes with responsible owners through reclaim, adoption and rescue services. For more information, visit darlingtonhumane.org.

The mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is to assist the U. S. Marine Corps in providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. This assistance includes providing day-to-day leadership and oversight of the Program, raising funds to provide toys to supplement the collections of local Toys for Tots campaigns, to provide promotional and support material and defray the costs of conducting annual Toys for Tots campaigns. To learn more about Toys for Tots, visit www.toysfortots.org.

For each Track Laps for Charity, fans will enter the track through the Gate 39A tunnel entrance off Highway 151. To participate in Track Laps for Charity and drive three laps around the track, fans must abide by the following rules and restrictions:

All drivers must be 18 years of age or older with a valid state-issued drivers license.

Driver and passengers must sign Track Laps for Charity waivers in the presence of track personnel.

All participants must adhere to South Carolina state laws regarding the use of seat belts and child safety restraints.

Passenger vehicles only; motorcycles are not permitted.

Maximum speed is 55 miles per hour and regulated by Darlington Raceway personnel with a lead and chase vehicle.

Drivers must stay up to speed and refrain from lagging behind in order to speed up.

Track Laps for Charity may be postponed or canceled due to inclement weather or safety conditions. If a cancellation is necessary, Darlington Raceway will make its best effort to contact guests in advance of their visit.

For more information on Track Laps for Charity, visit www.darlingtonraceway.com/tracklaps.

To learn about Darlington Shares, a donor-advised fund of The NASCAR Foundation, go to www.darlingtonraceway.com/darlington-shares.
 "Waiting for Relief: A National Survey of Waiting Periods for Record Clearing" | Main | "Social Trust in Criminal Justice: A Metric" 

February 23, 2022

Taking a look at compassionate release record of one SCOTUS short-lister

I recall seeing a few weeks ago a notable Twitter thread about the compassionate release record of Judge J. Michelle Childs, who is on Prez Biden's SCORUS short list. I see now that Matthew Ahn has turned his analysis into this new Inquest piece, headlined "No Compassion: Judge Michelle Childs many denials of compassionate release signal a carceralism that should have no place on the Supreme Court." I recommend the piece in full, and here are portions:

[R]equests for compassionate release in recent years have required judges to confront the horrors of pandemic incarceration and the added harshness of a sentence that usually did not contemplate COVID-19. And judges have wide discretion to reduce a sentence; the reduced sentence is not subject to the harsh mandatory minimums enshrined in federal law. Despite this, judges often sidestep the question and conclude that things havent changed enough since sentencing, either in the urgency of an inmates situation or in the work theyve done on themselves to grow despite that situation. Even if an applicant is almost done serving their sentence or has been actively participating in prison programs for several years, the odds are long  only 18 percent of compassionate release motions were granted in 2020 and early 2021. These low rates of compassion seem hard to square with the basic nature of a pandemic that has torn through prisons at rates far more dangerous than in the broader population. Even then, its hard to overturn denials of compassionate release on appeal, given the broad discretion the law affords trial judges. Thus, a mixed record containing some grants and some denials of compassionate release might be tolerable if the judge is actually considering the arguments and agreeing to some reductions. Its harder to stomach if the judge isnt granting any motions. Based on her 23 COVID-related compassionate release rulings available on Westlaw, Judge Childs falls into that latter category.... When I set out to examine Judge Childs record in this setting, I was not expecting every case she considered to end in compassionate release. For many of them, her hands are tied because the applicant either hasnt made the proper requests to the BOP prior to asking the judge, as the law requires, or hasnt submitted any supporting information. Judge Childs denials in those cases are unsurprising to me. But I did not expect to find nothing but denials. And not just denials  Judge Childs has never, in any of these available decisions, ruled for anyone on either of the two steps. Thats unlike many other judges, who will often find extraordinary and compelling reasons but deny based on the  3553 factors. In other words, Judge Childs record is a genuine outlier that is especially punitive and carceral when it comes to evaluating requests for compassionate release. And its not just that she is from South Carolina, either. The grant rate in Judge Childs district is 18 percent, which is right at the national average. Shes an outlier compared both to the country and her state.

February 23, 2022 at 05:46 PM | Permalink

Comments

No wonder bootlicker Lindsey Graham and Tim no relation to Rick Scott are so fond of her. Biden ought to see that as a giant red flag.

Posted by: kotodama | Feb 23, 2022 7:33:46 PM

The cited article as well as the prospect.org piece convince me she is likely to be in Judge Garland territory on criminal justice issues, well to the right of Breyer.

Posted by: Poirot | Feb 24, 2022 1:41:50 AM

Also should be noted is the article here: Michelle Childs Sentenced a Man to 12 Years for Selling Eight Ounces of Weed

The defendant had prior convictions, but faced a mandatory minimum of only five years.

One can only speculate if the circumstances of her father's demise have rendered her unable to see the full humanity of defendants and prisoners whose cases she's had to rule on, where she seems to stretch things in favor of the government again, and again. (A similarity on the right would be Michael Luttig, whose father's death seems to have done the same thing to him, and colored his views on the right to bear arms.) I hope criminal justice reform advocates do a much better job of loudly protesting the picking of her than they did with Garland.

Posted by: Poirot | Feb 24, 2022 11:26:21 AM

The right choice is Leondra Kruger.

Merrick Garland has a few loose marbles. He's either weeping or his voice is shaky.

Posted by: FluffyRoss | Feb 24, 2022 1:24:26 PM

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OMAHA -- Nebraska agriculture experts are closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine and its possible effects on commodity prices and production.

A Russian invasion and blockade of Ukraine jeopardizes the latter countrys wheat exports, which account for 12% of the worlds total, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To prevent supply chain issues, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently told the Associated Press, American farmers will boost wheat production in the event that a full Russian invasion of Ukraine chokes off agricultural exports.

If something happens (in Ukraine)  its going to create some uncertainty and volatility, said Jay Reppe, senior economist for Nebraska Farm Bureau.

With Ukraine also being a major corn exporter, one possible impact of a Russian invasion would be price spikes of the two commodities. Reppe acknowledged that could be beneficial to Nebraska farmers who produce those crops.

He added that it could give the United States more opportunities to bolster its trade relationships with China and the Middle East  two regions that already are major importers of U.S. corn and wheat crops.

Partly in response to the crisis, the futures market on wheat and corn commodities have reflected price increases. As of Wednesday afternoon, the price of a bushel of corn was $6.82 and a bushel of wheat was trading at $8.75. Those prices, Reppe said, were up 27 and 80 cents, respectively, compared to Friday's prices.

With Nebraskas winter wheat already rooted, farmers may look to maximize their yields with additional fertilizer applications, assuming it comes out of dormancy in good shape, said Cory Walters, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincolns agricultural economics department.

While U.S. farmers may benefit from increased wheat and corn prices, they may be on the hook for paying more for fertilizer. Reppe noted that Russia is a big fertilizer exporter. While buyers of Russian fertilizer are primarily European countries, the U.S. imports some as well.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden ordered sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs, joining 27 European Union members who agreed to levy their own initial set of sanctions targeting Russian officials. Russia could respond in ways that push fertilizer prices up.

Theres kind of a trade-off (with) some opportunities in the corn and wheat markets, but higher cost on the fertilizer side, too, Reppe said.

Any short-term gains for the United States from the Ukraine crisis might be offset by long-term effects that could be detrimental nationally and globally.

In an email, Brad Lubben, an associate professor at UNLs agricultural economics department, noted energy markets could be affected. In response to the crisis, Germany announced it was halting the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia  a lucrative deal long sought by Moscow but criticized by the U.S. for increasing Europes reliance on Russian energy.

While we could see gains from the short-run supply constraints that could support global price levels and U.S. export prospects," Lubben wrote, "the state of conflict and continued uncertainty also creates losses for the market and the global economy as a whole over the longer run."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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MOSCOW/KIEV, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in the Donbass region, and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack.

"Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," Putin said in a televised speech to the nation, noting that Russia's move is in response to "fundamental threats" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Putin called on all people living on the territory of Ukraine to "independently determine the future of their own and children."

In the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, explosions were heard at Boryspil International Airport and other places across the city, according to local media reports. The country's airspace was closed for civilian aircraft, and local authorities were evacuating passengers and staff from the airport.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday declared martial law in the country following Russia's military operation.

In a video address, Zelensky said his country is under attack. According to the Interior Ministry, military depots and airfields in the capital were hit by missiles.

Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states and deployed "peacekeeping" forces in the two regions.

Seeing it as "a matter of time" for NATO to expand eastward, Putin took military actions against Ukraine after his recent negotiations with the United States and NATO failed.

Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons, he said Thursday, adding that Russia took action to protect itself from "those who take Ukraine hostage."

In case of external interference in the situation in Ukraine, Russia will respond immediately, Putin said.

In a late-night address Wednesday, Zelensky said he had unsuccessfully sought talks with Putin. "I initiated a telephone call with the president of the Russian Federation. Result: silence."

While mobilizing troops, Russia closed its airspace to civilian aircraft on its western borders with Ukraine and Belarus, the aviation authorities said Thursday.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Armed Forces are destroying "military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" with high-precision weapons, not targeting Ukrainian cities.

Besides Kiev, several military targets in eastern and southern Ukraine were under attack early Thursday, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Shortly after Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday night called on Russia to withdraw its troops.

If the military action would lead to a generalized war, "it is difficult to forecast how dramatic it will be in the number of people who will die, in the number of people who will be displaced, in the number of people who will lose hope in relation to the future," Guterres told reporters following a Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine.

To rally support of the West, Zelensky has reached out to U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron over phone.

During the call, Biden briefed his Ukrainian counterpart on the steps Washington is taking "to rally international condemnation," adding that the United States "will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," according to a White House statement.

Biden also said he will meet with other leaders of the Group of Seven countries on Thursday.

The United States has announced what it called "the first tranche" of punitive measures on Russia -- sanctions on two major Russian banks and on the country's sovereign debt, preventing Moscow from raising money from the West and trading new debt in U.S. or European markets. It also sanctioned Russian elites and their family members. 
DES MOINES -- Most Iowa workers would pay a 3.9 percent state income tax  a large reduction for the states highest wage earners and a modest decrease for low-income workers  under a new $1.9 billion tax cut proposal that is likely to become law soon.

The new tax plan, introduced Thursday at the Iowa Capitol, is the result of negotiations between Republican leaders in the Iowa House and Senate and Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Legislative leaders plan to debate and pass the bill Thursday. That would give Reynolds time to sign it into law just before she is scheduled to appear on national television next week to deliver the Republican Partys response to President Joe Bidens State of the Union address.

Under the plan:

 State income taxes would be gradually reduced over multiple years to a 3.9 percent rate on the vast majority of workers. Iowa now has nine income brackets, with rates from 8.53 percent on the highest wage-earners and 4.14 percent on lower-income workers. The median Iowa household pays 6.25 percent.

 State taxes on retirement income would be eliminated, including for retired farmers.

 The corporate tax rate would be reduced gradually. Each year the state collects $700 million in business tax revenue, the rate will be reduced until it reaches 5.5 percent.

 Some corporate tax breaks and incentives would be reduced gradually, including the most expensive: the research and activities credit.

At full implementation in five years, the plan will result in tax savings  and thus a reduction in state revenues  of $1.9 billion, according to the states nonpartisan fiscal estimating agency.

Iowas current budget is just over $8 billion.

COMPETITIVE OR NOT FAIR

This has been a Senate Republican priority for the six years weve been in the majority, to continue to reform taxes and make us competitive, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, told Radio Iowa. When we pass this bill  Iowa will be one of the most competitive states in the country now for taxes.

Democrats argued the plan overwhelmingly benefits wealthier Iowans.

They pointed to an analysis by the Department of Management, the state budget office, which shows the median Iowa household will see an average reduction of $593 on their state income taxes, while the wealthiest Iowans  those earning $1 million or more  will see a $67,000 reduction.

Theyre more focused on the ultrarich that fund their campaigns, Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, said of Republicans proposal. Its not fair. Its out of touch. And its completely disconnected form the lives of everyday Iowans.

Senate Democrats countered by proposing an expansion of the tax credit for low-income workers and the child care and early childhood tax credits, and lowering rates for all Iowans making less than $250,000 while maintaining current rates for those making more.

BUDGET IMPACT

Statehouse Republicans and Democrats disagree on the tax cuts impact on future state budgets.

House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said their tax projections, which assumed annual revenue growth of roughly 3 percent, will be sufficient to cover the revenue reductions and should not require the state to trim its budget.

The proposal would use the roughly $1 billion in the states taxpayer relief fund to cover any budget shortfalls that occur as a result of the income tax reductions.

We were able to continue to do this in a way that our projections and our runs continued to work to make sure that we could continue to fund state government but also provide the significant tax relief, Grassley said.

Rep. Dave Jacoby of Coralville, the top Democrat on the House tax policy committee, took a more cautious view.

I hope the economy does (grow 3 to 4 percent annually). But COVID, (federal pandemic relief funding), Ukraine  I dont know what I would predict, Jacoby said.

If it were me, I would be doing this bill after the March (state revenue estimating panel meeting) because that may give us a better picture, a more accurate picture of where were going.

NO OUTDOOR FUND

The bill does not, as was proposed by Senate Republicans, shift sales taxes in order to begin funding the states long-starved outdoor and natural resources trust fund.

It really wasnt on our radar, Grassley said. The (House Republican) caucus just was not in a position where they had the support to do that.

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SIOUX CITY -- Following Thursday morning's attack on Ukraine by Russian troops, the Diocese of Sioux City is offering up words of prayer and encouraging people throughout Siouxland to join in.

In a press release, Bishop R. Walker Nickless asked residents to hold a minute of silence and prayer at 3 p.m. today. Along with that, Nickless requested all churches and houses of worship ring bells to signal the call to prayer.

"As airstrikes and missiles are targeting areas of Ukraine, our brothers and sisters in that country are suffering from this aggression. We fear the people of Ukraine will continue to experience death and destruction of their homes in the days to come. We ask our Blessed Mother, Mary, Queen of Peace to pray for us for an end to war," the release said, in part.

The release then goes on to suggest that when the clock strikes 3 p.m. people should considered a four-line prayer: "For peace, for Russia to cease their aggression and to withdraw to their own borders, for President Biden and all world leaders to collectively work for world peace, for our military men and women who serve at home and abroad and for their families."

Jared McNett is an online editor and reporter for the Sioux City Journal. You can reach him at 712-293-4234 and follow him on Twitter @TwoHeadedBoy98.

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LE MARS, Iowa -- A psychiatrist has determined that a Merrill, Iowa, man has been exaggerating his mental limitations and is competent to stand trial for the shooting death of another man at his home.

In a report filed Feb. 9 in Plymouth County District Court, Dr. Arnold Andersen said that after three months of observing Thomas Knapp's behavior, he concluded that Knapp "has engaged in 'strategic exaggeration' of his limitations" and that his behaviors when not being evaluated contradict his demonstrations of being unable to understand or recall events.

There's no evidence Knapp suffers from psychiatric illness or significant memory deficit, only a personality disorder that does not meet criteria for mental illness or significant cognitive impairment, according to Andersen's report, which was submitted as evidence at a hearing Monday.

Taking those findings, District Judge James Daane ruled that Knapp's competency has been restored and scheduled his trial for Sept. 6.

Knapp, 83, has pleaded not guilty of first-degree murder and willful injury. He is charged with shooting Kevin Juzek, 51, in the abdomen and chest with a 20-gauge shotgun during a May 11, 2020, disturbance at a rural Merrill home.

Knapp's mental condition has been an issue since the case's beginning. A previous psychiatric examination found Knapp mentally incompetent to stand trial, but the evaluation report mentioned the possibility of having Knapp undergo an MRI or other brain scan.

In August, Senior Judge Duane Hoffmeyer ruled that Knapp was unable to appreciate the charges against him and could not understand court proceedings or assist in his defense. Hoffmeyer declared Knapp incompetent and suspended all court proceedings, ordering him to undergo treatment at the Iowa Department of Corrections' Forensic Psychiatric Hospital.

Days prior to Andersen's Feb. 9 report, Daane noted that a progress report indicated efforts to restore Knapp's competency had stalled.

The case has been further complicated by Knapp's hearing loss, which has made it hard for him to communicate with his attorney and follow along with court proceedings, even after being fitted with hearing aids. Andersen said Knapp can read lips and understand questions written down for him. With those accommodations, he said, Knapp's hearing difficulties would not prevent him from assisting in his defense.

Knapp has pleaded not guilty in a separate case of willful injury causing bodily injury, domestic abuse assault while using or displaying a dangerous weapon and two counts of first-offense domestic abuse. He is charged with striking his wife in the head with a stick and breaking bones in her hand during the same disturbance in which Juzek was killed.

Both cases will be tried at the same time.

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SIOUX CITY -- Shortly after arriving at a Sergeant Bluff trailer park, two Woodbury County Sheriff's deputies faced what would later be determined a life-or-death situation.

Unexpectedly confronted by a man holding a four-way tire iron, deputies Devin Groenhagen and Eric Fay, along with Sergeant Bluff police officer Jereme Muller, were forced to make a snap decision in how to respond.

Video of the shooting shows that after the man, later identified as Michael Meredith, struck Fay in the left forearm with the tire iron, Fay fired two shots from his Glock service weapon, one of them striking and fatally wounding his assailant.

Based on Meredith's actions, the Jan. 12 shooting was reasonable and a justified homicide under Iowa law, Woodbury County Attorney Patrick Jennings said Wednesday.

"It was not until Deputy Fay felt that his life was in danger that he discharged his firearm. It was reasonable under the circumstances known to Deputy Fay for him to fear for his safety," Jennings said at a news conference in which he released the findings of his review of an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation probe.

After reviewing body cam videos of the shooting, Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan said Meredith's rapid advance on the officers and his striking of Fay with the tire iron left Fay with little choice.

"In this case, unfortunately, the ending that happened was out of our control," Sheehan said. "The incident wasn't going to end any other way."

A 12-year law enforcement veteran hired by the sheriff's office in 2020, Fay remains on administrative leave while dealing with the effects of the shooting, Sheehan said. Groenhagen, a sheriff's deputy since 2016, has returned to active duty after also being placed on administrative leave after the shooting.

An internal investigation determined the deputies' actions that night did not violate any department policies, Sheehan said.

Jennings' report gave a brief synopsis of the events leading up to the shooting, and Sheehan showed media a video that combined footage from the three officers' body cameras.

At 5:44 p.m., Muller was dispatched to Lot 5 in the Woodford Mobile Home Park, 501 B St., for a report of a possible burglary in progress. Groenhagen and Fay, in the area for a training exercise, responded and arrived a minute after Muller.

As the three walked toward Lot 5 in the dark, the area illuminated by street lights and their own flashlights, the officers heard shouts from a female and male saying, "you're on my porch." Groenhagen, followed by Fay, ran to the trailer, approaching between a parked car and a neighboring trailer. Muller followed and approached from the driveway.

Video shows the deputies walk up to the trailer and Meredith, who at the time was unknown to any of the officers, immediately approach them, the tire iron raised. Groenhagen can be seen backing up while Fay is heard shouting "show us your hands" twice before Meredith hits Fay in his left forearm, which was raised to shield himself from the blow. Fay then fired two shots as Groenhagen discharged his Taser.

The confrontation occurred in an instant, lasting less than 10 seconds.

Sheehan said his review of the shooting showed Groenhagen was in a spot that allowed him to distance himself from Meredith. Fay, however, was in a location where he was unable to retreat when Meredith approached him.

"It was just a rapid advance," Sheehan said.

Sheehan said it appeared that Groenhagen fired his Taser in between Fay's gunshots. Meredith could not be heard speaking as he approached the deputies, who quickly administered first aid after determining the threat was over, Sheehan said.

Meredith, 35, of Sergeant Bluff, was pronounced dead at MercyOne Siouxland hours after the shooting. An autopsy said he died of a single gunshot wound in the right chest that punctured his heart and came to rest next to his left armpit.

Fay was treated for injuries to his arm and released that night.

Sheehan said his office continually reviews its policies for all situations and has done so in the wake of the shooting. He does not anticipate any policy changes concerning use of force after reviewing his deputies' actions.

"Anytime law enforcement officers are forced into using deadly force, it doesn't feel good, it doesn't sound good, it doesn't look good," Sheehan said. "There is nothing else Deputy Fay could have done."

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MOSCOW, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia closed its airspace to civilian aircraft on Thursday on its western borders with Ukraine and Belarus, the Russian aviation authorities announced, shortly after President Vladimir Putin authorized a "special military operation" in the Donbass region.

"Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," said Putin.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian Armed Forces are destroying "military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" with high-precision weapons, not targeting Ukrainian cities. 
SIOUX CITY  For the last few years, Paul Gausman kept close tabs on his friend, Steve Joel, watching to see when Joel would retire as the Lincoln Public Schools superintendent.

After Joel announced in September he would step down after 37 years, Gausman's thoughts turned to landing his "dream job" in his home state of Nebraska.

This just happened to be the year and I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to apply, interview and be selected, Gausman, superintendent of the Sioux City school district for the last 14 years, said at a press conference in Sioux City Wednesday.

The Lincoln school board on Tuesday night picked the Fremont native over three other finalists, which included Norfolk superintendent Jami Jo Thompson.

As Gausman watched a delayed livestream of Tuesday's meeting in Sioux City, LPS board attorney Jim Gessford called him to relay the good news.

To me at this time, at this season of the work that Im doing, this is truly a dream job, Gausman told the Lincoln Journal Star. This is something where I realized the board, the community, has made an investment in bringing me forward as the next superintendent and I intend to return that investment to them by working collaboratively, collectively with the staff and the community to bring about even better things for students as time goes forward.

At Wednesday's press conference with Sioux City media, Gausman, 55, said he was at a stage in his career where he needed to evaluate where he would spend his remaining years of his career.

I know that Ive got another 10 or 15 years of the work of a superintendent in front of me, he told reporters.

Gausman, whose last day in Sioux City is June 30, the end of the current school year, said the board secretary is seeking prices and proposals for superintendent search firms.

Im confident this board  will be very thorough in engaging the community, the entirety of our community, in looking for the next leader for the Sioux City schools, he said.

In a statement, the Sioux City school board said it would announce its plans for selecting a new superintendent at a later date.

We are grateful for Gausmans 14 years of service to the Sioux City Community School District," board president Dan Greenwell said in the statement. "During his tenure, the district has celebrated many academic achievements.

Among the accomplishments Gausman pointed to were growing the four-year graduation rate to 90%, establishing a career pathways program for middle and high school students centered on over 35 career fields, expanding magnet initiatives in schools and developing groundbreaking anti-bullying policies.

Under his leadership, the Sioux City district also built new elementary schools, added science centers at each of its three high schools.

In 2014, he was named Iowa's superintendent of the year.

Gausman said he has grown to love Siouxland and the people throughout the community.

I pledge to this community that I intend to finish well here, he said. Weve got a lot of things in the works right now and I intend to keep working forward on those things and to not be distracted as I do that work. This community, these students, deserves no less.

PROVEN TRACK RECORD

While Lincoln board members said the decision was a difficult one, they coalesced around Gausman, each sharing their thoughts on the candidates prior to Tuesday's vote.

Board member Kathy Danek said Gausman rose to the top for her as someone who can work well with the Lincoln community and build relationships.

He understands the systems to move a district forward, and that is collaboration, Danek said.

Many of the board members also liked that Gausman had presented them with a 90-day transition plan if chosen, which Gausman said boils down to building relationships at all levels of the community.

Theres a lot for me to learn about all of the great things that are going on in the Lincoln Public Schools and in the Lincoln community, he said.

Annie Mumgaard was the lone board member to support another candidate (Licata), but said she could back Gausman because of his proven track record.

And it's a track record that started in Lincoln.

Gausman, 55, attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he earned his bachelor's in music education and played drums in the Cornhusker Marching Band.

And he has a history at LPS, too. He started his career as a student-teacher at Lincoln Southeast High School and taught at Lincoln Northeast, where he also served as the associate band director.

Music has remained a theme of Gausman's career since then.

He was the director of bands at Millard West and later the coordinator of performing arts at Sioux Falls School District in South Dakota.

Gausman was also a percussion instructor in UNL's marching band for a time and even served as a stage manager at the university's Kimball Recital Hall. He was also the director of student activities for UNL's Great Plains Music Camp for six years.

And since 1989, he has been a musician and clinician with the Yamaha Corp., presenting over 75 workshops for schools in music education and leadership.

Gausman earned his master's in educational administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

This is a part of my upbringing, a part of my home and its just a fantastic school district, he said.

Before he moved to Sioux City, Gausman was the superintendent of West Central School District -- a district of around 1,200 students in Hartford, South Dakota -- from 2005-2008.

Gausman learned from his transition from West Central the work as a superintendent is the same, just adjusted to the size of the district.

Since 2007, Gausman has worked for the national superintendent consulting firm McPherson & Jacobson, the same firm for which Joel is a national recruiter.

When Gausman assumes his position, he'll be leading a school district notably larger than Sioux City, which has just under 15,000 students. Many of those students come from low-income and diverse backgrounds: 69% of students qualify for the federal free- and reduced-lunch program and nearly 20% are English language learners.

Lincoln Public Schools includes nearly 42,000 students, 8,000 staff member and over 70 student facilities, with plans to open two new high schools and a new elementary school over the next two years.

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SIOUX CITY -- This weekend will mark the first time that Bishop Heelan's show choir program really gets to show off at the high school's new gym.

According to a press release from the Catholic educators, about 30 Siouxland show choirs will compete on Friday and Saturday in Bishop Heelan High Schools annual Crusader Classic show choir invitational event. It will be just the second time the entire show choir event is held in Heelans new high school and the OGorman Fieldhouse. The previous years event had to be downsized due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Middle school competition will start at 5:45 p.m. on Friday and high school competition begins at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday. The finals portion of the competition gets going at 7:30 p.m.

Sioux City East, which is hosting Sing All About It! on Saturday, March 5, will have a performance at 6:35 p.m. on Friday and shows on Saturday at 8:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 4:05 p.m.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton will go on at 5:45 p.m. on Friday and perform at 8:40 a.m. on Saturday.

Sioux Center is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. on Friday night and has Saturday times of: 10:55 a.m. and 2:40 p.m.

Schools also set to perform on Friday, in order of appearance, include: Hinton, Harrisburg North, Westwood and Harlan. As for Saturday, there will be: Rock Valley, Hinton, Elkhorn South, Gretna, Westwood, Altoona, Blair, Harlan, Ralston, Le Mars and Spirit Lake.

Bishop Heelan will have the closeout performances each night.

Admission prices are $10 for the middle school night, $10 for daytime only on Saturday, $7 for the finals and $15 for the entire day. For more information contact Heelan vocal music faculty member Gage Fenton, at 226-0319 or gage.fenton@bishopheelan.org.

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Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota elected officials strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and several called for sanctions and for democratic nations to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for the invasion.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds

At 1:26 p.m., the @IAGovernor account for Reynolds tweeted out: "We stand with the people of Ukraine currently fighting for freedom and their countrys future. I join with leaders across America and the globe in condemning the brutal actions of the Russian military. I ask Iowans to join me in prayer for Ukraine and peace in the world."

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa

Ernst made a more personal statement noting her experience living in Ukraine.

"I first traveled to Ukraine in 1989 as a college student, celebrated when they voted for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, & served alongside Ukrainians in the Global War on Terror. Ukraine wants freedom; the free world must stand with them. My prayers are with the Ukrainian people."

This morning, Ernst's account tweeted again:

"Vladimir Putin is a ruthless thug who seeks to stamp out freedom. He is a brutal autocrat intent on restoring Soviet-era rule if allowed to advance unchecked. The unnecessary bloodshed in Ukraine is on Putin's hands.

America and all of our freedom-loving partners around the world, must not only strongly condemn, but swiftly and severely respond and hold Putin accountable for his unjust actions."

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa

In a tweet, Grassley's account said: "Putin is inhumane to benefit his own ego He has no respect for agreements Russia signed to respect sovereignty of Ukraine Hes killing innocent people like Stalin did in 1930s.

Im praying for the ppl of Ukraine"

Iowa 2nd Congressional District Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa

Miller-Meeks tweeted: "Praying for the people of #Ukraine.

The U.S. and our allies must immediately impose the strongest possible sanctions on the economies and governments of both #Russia and #Belarus, who has been a willing accomplice to Russias invasion.

Anything less is unacceptable"

Iowa 4th Congressional District Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa

On Twitter, Feenstra said: "Please join my family in prayer for the people of Ukraine. Putin has launched an unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine that will cause untold suffering. His aggression must be met with crippling economic sanctions. Putin and his cronies must be held accountable."

Democratic Senate candidate and retired admiral Mike Franken

Franken, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa and retired three-star admiral, issued a statement on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

I join President Biden in condemning Russian militarys assault against Ukraine, said Franken. I trust that actions from our nation, our NATO allies, and other like-minded nations will be swift, significant, and focused at Russian leadership. We must hold Russia accountable."

Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.

At 9:28 a.m., the two-term senator's account shared a message saying: "Putin treacherously used diplomacy as a distraction, played games as he increased his military capabilities, and sowed false narratives. A sovereign nation has been invaded and innocent Ukrainians are being killed because of a despot's imperial ambitions. The fundamental principles of security in Europe are in peril. President Biden must immediately lead a global response that cripples the Russian economy and isolates Russia diplomatically."

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb.

On Tuesday, NBC News noted: "After Biden announced a set of sanctions targeting Russias banks and sovereign debt, Sasse said the presidents actions were 'too little, too late,' arguing that sanctions should have been in place before Putin sent in troops and criticized his 'flagrant disregard for the rule of law.'"

Nebraska 1st Congressional District Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.

Describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as "unhinged," Rep. Jeff Fortenberry said Russia has "raised a new Iron Curtain" with its invasion of Ukraine. "How easy it is to create death and destruction in our so-called enlightened time," the 1st District congressman said in a written statement. "Russia presides over the United Nations Security Council while launching a premeditated war in Europe, stripping away any semblance of civilized, sane and orderly process for resolving conflict," Fortenberry said.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem

The most-recent tweet about the invasion from the Republican's official governor account on Twitter stated: "When it comes to both foreign policy and his liberal energy agenda, @joebiden has embarrassed our nation. I can sum up President Bidens incompetence in these areas with one simple story: a tale of two pipelines."

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.

On Feb. 18, Rounds appeared on South Dakota Public Broadcasting to say: "We will not be sending troops into Ukraine because we don't have a legal obligation to do so...I know that there are some people who say we should be in there and actively engaged. We can provide defensive resources. Most certainly we want Mr. Putin to think twice about trying to redraw the maps in Europe based on force."

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

At 1:19 p.m. on Thursday, @SenJohnThune tweeted: "Putin was given every chance to choose diplomacy and peace. Instead, he chose war. Putin will only respond to strength. The U.S. and other free nations must match the resolve of the Ukrainian people and respond with swift and severe consequences for Putin and his cronies."

South Dakota At-large Congressional District Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D.

"Putin has chosen war. America and our European allies must stand united in bringing the full force of economic sanctions against Putin and his oligarchs. Pray for the Ukrainian people," Johnson's account tweeted.

Jared McNett is an online editor and reporter for the Sioux City Journal. You can reach him at 712-293-4234 and follow him on Twitter @TwoHeadedBoy98.

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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China opposes any act of inciting war and has taken a responsible attitude from the very beginning to persuade all parties not to escalate tensions and incite war, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to queries on the Ukraine issue, noting that the United States has sent at least 1.5 billion dollars' worth of over 1,000 tonnes of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.

"At that time, if all the parties had promoted peace talks, reviewed the historical context of the Ukraine issue, respected and accommodated each other's security concerns, and resolved the issue in a reasonable, proper way for a soft landing of the situation, what would be happening now?" Hua asked.

The culprit of the tensions should now consider how to put out the fire as soon as possible with concrete actions, instead of blaming others, she said.

In response to the U.S. State Department spokesperson's remarks on Ukraine, Hua said the United States is not qualified to tell China what to do on the issue of respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Even today, we are still facing the real threat from the United States and its so-called allies wantonly interfering in China's internal affairs and undermining China's sovereignty and security on Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan issues," she said.

That is why China always firmly upholds the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations, resolutely safeguarding its own sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, as well as international fairness and justice, she added.

The United States, in nearly 250 years since it was founded, has gone less than 20 years without foreign military operations, she said, adding that the excuses used for military interventions are sometimes democracy or human rights, sometimes simply a small bottle of laundry powder or a piece of fake news.

In response to the U.S. suggestion that Russia launched its operations thanks to China's backing, Hua said China's Russian friends would be very unhappy to hear that.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a major independent country, Russia has independently formulated and implemented its own diplomatic strategy based on its own judgment and national interests, she said.

Stressing that China-Russia relations are built on the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and the non-targeting of third countries, Hua said this is fundamentally different from the United States' actions in drawing ideological lines, forming cliques with bloc politics and creating confrontations and divisions.

As for the China-Russia joint statement, Hua suggested that the U.S. side should read it again scrupulously, adding that strengthening strategic communication and coordination between China and Russia and safeguarding the international system, with the UN playing a central coordinating role, demonstrates exactly the role of major responsible countries. 

Related:

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunyings Regular Press Conference on February 24, 2022
WINDHOEK, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Namibian businesses suffered an average of 1,382 cyber attacks each week in 2021, cyber-security research firm Check Point Research (CPR) said Wednesday.

When compared to the global figure of 930 within the same period, that translated to Namibian businesses dealing with 49 per cent more cyberthreats, said CPR in a press statement.

"Clearly, closing the cybersecurity skills gap - not only in Namibia but across the continent - is essential for protecting Africa's businesses and boosting these nations' economies, especially considering that cybercrime is at an all-time high," it said.

Namibia's University of Science and Technology (NUST), Complete Enterprise Solutions (CES), Salt Essential IT has, as of Wednesday partnered with CPR to help tackle the cybersecurity skills shortage in Namibia which will see NUST faculty members complete a Certified Security Administrator training, enabling them to teach a range of cybersecurity courses to NUST's students, beginning this year.

The partnership is expected to deepen the reach of cybersecurity education already being provided by the Check Point Cyber Security Jump Start programme. Through this programme, learners can access free online courses from anywhere in the world, gaining recognised certification upon completion.

Currently, over 20,000 students and security professionals across Africa have completed these courses, increasing Africa's overall cyber safety through industry-leading skills. 
Precious McKesson will serve as the next executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party, the party announced Wednesday.

McKesson, a longtime political operative who was appointed to a job in the U.S. Department of Education in October, will move back to Omaha from D.C. and start the job in late March. She told the World-Herald that she was already planning to return to her home state for personal reasons when this opportunity came up.

As a special assistant in the Department of Education's Office of Communications and Outreach, McKesson said she has worked on family and parent engagement, a cause dear to her as the mother of a senior in high school.

"It's been an honor to work under the Biden-Harris administration, as well as under Secretary (Miguel) Cardona," she said. "There's some awesome work going on and (it) will continue to support the people of the United States."

This won't be McKesson's first time working for the Nebraska Democratic Party. She previously worked as its finance director and constituency director and is still listed on its website as Black Caucus chair. She was also a staffer for the Biden campaign in Nebraska, then became the first woman and first woman of color in the state to cast an Electoral College ballot for a Democrat after the president's victory in the Omaha-based 2nd District.

Current executive director Jim Rogers served in the role for eight years and will be taking a job in the private sector, according to a news release. Before he was executive director, he worked in other roles within the party.

Jim was an ally, equipped to deal with difficult situations, respected all of our volunteer party leaders and worked with candidates from school boards to the U.S. Senate in order to help them win," party chair Jane Kleeb said in the news release. "It has been an honor serving alongside Jim as he led the NDP staff and helped build our party.

McKesson said her first step will be supporting candidates and rallying up voters ahead of Nebraska's May 10 primary. Her long-term vision includes getting Democrats elected and flipping seats, getting more people of color to run for office, supporting candidates, and increasing voter turnout and outreach in communities that are typically underserved. She aims to get familiar with the vast and mostly rural 3rd District, she said.

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DAMASCUS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Three soldiers were killed in an Israeli missile strike targeting military sites in Damascus after midnight, Syrian state news agency SANA said before daybreak on Thursday.

The Israeli attack triggered the Syrian air defenses, which intercepted most of the Israeli missiles, said SANA, citing a military source without providing further details.

The attack came only about a day after Israel struck Syrian military sites in the southern province of Quneitra, causing damage.

On Feb. 16, Israel carried out a similar missile strike against points south of Damascus, which resulted in material damage but no casualties. 
The first Black woman on the Supreme Court is justice delayed, and President Joe Biden -- and the nominee -- has the historical burden of presenting the perfect pick to the nation.

I think I know who that woman would be. Someone Biden sees often and knows well: Vice President Kamala Harris. The high court matches her lawyerly skills. Her job now exposes a struggle to get up to speed after more than a year in office.

The fortress across First Street from the Capitol needs another woman like Harris to shake it up. It's a co-equal branch of government where she could make more of a difference.

Joining the right-wing John Roberts Court, Harris could shore up a three-woman line of Democratic defense, bringing some star power to that dark temple.

The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made the Court more visible with her wise dissents and a persona that became a cause celebre.

You hear it all the time: we need a justice who's won an election, like the great Chief Justice Earl Warren, governor of California. We need a Justice that comes from west of the Mississippi River. And we really need another Justice that didn't go to Harvard or Yale.

Harris fits all those bills and brings the diversity of a Howard University degree, the historically Black college in the District of Columbia.

That is a distinction, a life experience that her peers Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, products of the all-male, Catholic "Prep" and of Ivy League law schools, sorely lack.

Senate confirmation would likely be smoother for a former colleague.

Plainly put in realpolitik, the idea of Harris becoming president if anything befalls the president, 79, is no comfort. These are times that try our souls.

Her groundbreaking place on the 2020 ticket thrilled Democrats, the Black community and beyond -- as kind of a second coming of former President Barack Obama. But she hasn't bonded with the American people with that extraordinary sweeping grace.

Hear me out.

The freshman senator had to bail out of her presidential campaign before Iowa. Her prosecutor demeanor was not a natural to win voters.

Even with a bright smile, she's not one to shoot the breeze with easy camaraderie on the trail or in the Senate, as Biden always loved to do.

The president is an exuberant extrovert. Coolly reserved, Harris might enjoy a more cloistered form of public service. She'd be a formidable fencing foe for the Trump Three: arrogant Gorsuch, beer-drinking Kavanaugh and prim Amy Coney Barrett.

She'd have long summers off to travel or hang out in her Brentwood home, without the press glare that's on her now.

The way Harris made a mark as a California senator -- sharply questioning Supreme Court and attorney general nominees -- would serve her well on the bench.

Former President Donald Trump's nominees, such as Southerner Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, were flustered when they were put on the spot by Harris' pointed digs.

Biden proposing Harris clears a better field for both.

Frankly, it's no secret here Harris has yet to prove herself. She failed to achieve the big job she asked for: passing voting rights in Congress. She's made a few goofs as a foreign policy rookie. Now NATO forces are confronting Russia over Ukraine.

Nothing in her background prepared her for such high stakes, though she is traveling to Munich this week to meet with NATO allies.

"Go home," was her terse takeaway to immigrants when she visited the Southern border. Adept diplomacy is a practiced art.

Biden declared Harris as his 2024 running mate. However, note Obama didn't back his own vice president, Biden, in 2016. Cut loose himself, Biden might feel free to make a change in the political winds.

At least three superb judges are serious contenders. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the House majority whip who rescued Biden's candidacy, is pushing hard for a South Carolinian, J. Michelle Childs.

Like the old school Chicago code: "You do something for someone, they do something for you."

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Its possible that a Nebraska school district might want to start school after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day.

Perhaps after listening to parents and staff, the school board in that district might decide that its better to have shorter breaks during the year  or just skip spring break entirely.

Maybe in that particular district, a longer summer vacation might outweigh the value of such mid-year breaks, as well as the opportunity for teachers to have days without students in the classroom for planning, additional training and strategic meetings.

A local school board is able to consider the pros and cons and come up with a plan that satisfies its constituents. And if that results in a school calendar running from Labor Day to Memorial Day, fine.

But thats not what Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard is proposing. If he has his way with his Legislative Bill 1001, the state would mandate a specific school calendar for every district across Nebraska.

Its a one-size-fits-all approach that snubs the idea of local school control. Its just not necessary for the heavy hand of state government to meddle in such decisions.

Erdman told the Nebraska Legislatures Education Committee this month that student learning is currently being interrupted by teacher in-service days and too much time off for winter and spring break.

Having such days off makes it difficult for parents to find child care, Erdman said. He questioned whether schools need to have teacher in-service days during the school year.

Besides, Erdman said, the current schedule teaches young people that they dont need to work five days a week.

Thats an interesting argument for a member of a legislative body that has met five times a week only once since the session began on Jan. 5.

It seems likely that local school boards and teachers in the classroom might have a better perspective than Erdman how instruction might be affected by scheduled breaks during the school year.

School districts might also be able to decide whether teachers can productively use a day without students in the classroom, such as analyzing test scores and recalibrating their instructional plans based on individual student needs.

The World-Heralds Emily Nitcher reported that Colby Coash, representing the Nebraska Association of School Boards, said his group is opposed to Erdmans bill. The group believes that decisions about when to open and close the school year should be left to local school boards that are well-suited to consider what their own community needs.

Coash said most school districts actively do solicit parental input on their school calendar.

Erdman is correct that families can face challenges in arranging child care when school is closed for whatever reason. Certainly, school districts should take into account the impact on families when setting the school calendar, which is typically established early enough so parents have time to make adequate child care arrangements.

However, Erdmans linkage of the school calendar with student achievement seems speculative at best.

Last summer, Erdman wrote to constituents asserting that Nebraskas reading test results have declined in recent decades. Some people concerned about that issue might consider whether its because of demographic changes such as increased poverty or an influx of non-English speakers. Others might want to examine teaching strategies and seek more effective methods.

But Erdman suggested that its because Nebraska children arent on summer vacation long enough.

Could this be the result of reducing time for summer reading? he asked.

Oh.

It seems likely that a student who wanted to read a lot but was thwarted by a too-short summer vacation would still find a way to pick up a book, perhaps during one of those midyear breaks that seem excessive to Erdman.

But the issue isnt really whether a state senator has cracked the code for why some Nebraska students dont read well. Its whether state lawmakers need to override locally elected school boards in setting the school calendar.

The answer is simple: They dont.

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Even though the daytime temps were in the single digits, Kari Sandage didn't mind going on a nature hike at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

"If there was snow on the ground, it would be a different story," she said, mid-hike, on a late January morning. "But this is quite pleasant."

A naturalist at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Sandage said hiking along the trails is only one of the things a person can do at the 4500 Sioux River Road educational facility.

"Whether you love the outdoors or prefer to watch nature from inside, we have something for everyone," she said.

That's probably why the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center beat out Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and the Sioux City Public Museum as being Siouxland's Choice for Best Tourist Destination.

This doesn't surprise education programs director Dawn Snyder who said attendance at the nature center had been inching up since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For a while, we were among the only places that wasn't closed due to COVID," she acknowledged. "Plus a park is a perfect place to maintain some social distance."

Over time, more and more people continued to make the nature center a go-to place.

"We've always been popular with out-of-towners," Snyder said. "It has been very gratifying that more local people are taking advantage of our facility."

Indeed, a person visiting the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is literally stepping into the majestic Loess Hills.

While hiking a trail, you can explore the gi-normous bur oak trees. Climb all of the ridges and you can imagine what Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark might have seen during their historic Corps of Discovery.

Obviously, the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is more than just trails and trees. It also boasts a 14,000-square-foot exhibition hall, complete with office space and dedicated classrooms.

It also has Loess Hills natural history displays, interactive prairie, wetland and woodland exhibits.

Wanna see wildlife, up close and personal? Check out the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center's live native reptile and fish exhibits.

But no stop would be complete without a visit with Harlan the Barred Owl, Scout the American Kestrel and Scarlet the Red-Tailed Hawk.

Did you know that a Red-Tailed Hawk can eat up to eight mice a day? Luckily, we weren't around during Scarlet's dinner break. Despite that, the Nature Center's live birds of prey have always been a hit with visitors.

"Kids gravitate toward the birds because they're wonderful to look at," Snyder said. "Mom and dad are amazed to see such birds so close to city limits."

This is, perhaps, a key to the nature center's popularity.

"Even though, we're in the city limits of Sioux City, it doesn't feel like it," Sandage explained. "We're off the beaten track but still close to home."

In face, Sandage is also close to home.

A nature center naturalist for nearly two years, she grew up in Atlantic, Iowa.

After graduating with a Bachelor's degree from Central College, in Pella, Iowa, she was accepted into the Peace Corp's Master's International Program at Antioch University, in Keene, New Hampshire.

It was during grad school that Sandage worked as a Peace Corps volunteers, teaching environmental science to kids in Nicaragua.

That experience probably helped her to secure positions as a park ranger in Alaska as well as in Alabama after graduation.

Huh, so Sandage has worked in both Alaska and Alabama. Guess returning to her home state of Iowa represents the perfect middle ground between the last frontier of Alaska and the relentless heat and humidity of Alabama, right?

"To be honest, I like the heat more than I do the cold weather," she noted. "My dream job would be something in a tropical climate."

Wait, so why is Sandage trekking the trail on a such a frigid day? More importantly, why are we following her?

"A good hike gets your heart racing," she said. "Plus you get to warm up inside the nature center after all of that exercise."

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When it comes to social media influencers, you're more likely to think of a Kardashian than a former service manager for a Hinton, Iowa-based pressure-washing dealership.

But Jesse Sneller has quickly become one of the area's most prolific web-based food reviewers.

His Fat Boy Food Blog is a popular online destination for discriminating gourmands looking for off-the-beaten-track eateries. More than 15,000 people currently follow him on Facebook (Facebook.com/FatBoyFoodBlog).

For the big bite he takes out of the culinary scene, Weekender readers voted Sneller as Siouxland's Choice Sioux-lebrity of the Year. In addition, his food blog was voted best social media site.

To be fair, the Le Mars resident started his blog as a lark.

"I began following the Siouxland Local Eats Facebook page," Sneller said. "That site was originally set up to help restaurants survive during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a great idea."

Eventually, he began offering short restaurant critiques on the site.

"The reviews began getting a good response and a buddy suggested I start my own food blog," Sneller explained. "I thought the blog would attract four or five followers before petering out. Instead, it got 1,500 followers very quickly. That's grown to the 15,000 followers that I have right now."

The blog's distinctive name came from his dad.

"Even when I was a kid, my dad called me a 'fat boy,'" Sneller said. "Hey, guess I've always been a healthy eater."

One thing that Sneller had never been before was a food industry professional.

"I worked in chain fast food places when I was younger," he said. "That was OK because my reviews always came from a consumer point of view."

Was the food good? Did the customer get his money's worth? Those were the questions that were in the back of Sneller's mind and his audience began to rely on his recommendations.

"Whenever I traveled to different areas, I was always attracted to places where the locals would go to eat," he said. "I wanted my readers to get a sense of good, affordable, out-the-way places."

Plus, Sneller kept things above board.

"I would never trash a restaurant, but if the food or the service wasn't good, I'd tell the truth," he said.

Indeed, fans of the Fat Boy Food Blog ate up Sneller's no-nonsense take on local eats.

They also showed up whenever Sneller used his online celebrity to promote burger contests or cookoffs that would raise funds for nonprofit organizations like the Warming Shelter or Toys for Tots.

"Not only did the readers show up, so did restaurants," he said.

That included Joe Sitzmann, whose P's Pizza House would always lend a helping hand when it came to food.

"I met Joe primarily through my fundraising," Sneller said. "If I needed a helping hand for a benefit, Joe and P's Pizza House was usually the first one to come on board."

A few months ago, Sitzmann made Sneller an offer he couldn't refuse.

"I was looking for a general manager for the Dakota Dunes P's Pizza House and Jesse was the perfect person for the job," Sitzmann explained. "After all, who knew more about the Siouxland food scene than him."

Sneller accepted Sitzmann's job offer but he is also keeping Fat Boy Food Blog running as well.

"Even though I work for a restaurant, I must stay completely impartial," Sneller said. "As soon as I start working for P's, I reviewed Tony's Pizza in Sioux City and loved their food."

One things that definitely changed was Sneller's hours.

"Before this, I was working 9-to-5 hours," he said. "Now, I work crazy restaurant hours."

So, what does that mean for fans of the Fat Boy Food Blog?

"Well, I'll be sampling more breakfast meals than dinner meals," Sneller said. "That's fine, since I do like a good breakfast."

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1 Colder than ice!

The toughest, fastest and most extreme motorcyclists will hit the ice at the Tyson Events Center, 401 Gordon Drive, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Wait, what? Nope, those hog-huggers will really be on ice at the World Champions Motorcycle Ice Racing Series. Ice, ice, baby!

2 Be a rebel!

The American Rebel Tour is made up of musicians who are meant to be wild! How do we know? They play country, rock, alternative, originals, whatever. Plus they'll be at Beer Can Alley, 1109 Fourth St., at 9 p.m. Friday. See, they're rebels!

3 Raiders who rock!

The definition for a marauder is a raider who roams from place to place, looking to opportunities to plunder. Having said that, Matt Cox & the Marauders will be playing Vangarde Arts, 416 Pierce St. at 8 p.m. Saturday. So, if you go, hide your pirate's booty.

4 Know your barks & twigs!

Can you tell the difference between an oak and an elm tree by just looking at bark? Huh, neither can we! Perhaps, going to a Winter Tree ID class might be beneficial. One will be taking place at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, 4500 Sioux River Road.

5 Going to seed(s)!

Think you're artsy? Join artist Jessica Hammond (aka "Brutal Doodles") for the next meeting of Gathering Seeds, an informal get-together for community-minded individuals who meet at Art SUX, 515 Fourth St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

6 Beer & 'Za!

What better combo is there than beer and wood-fired pizza? Check out a Pizza & Pours event, featuring Wise ! craft beers and Catalanos Gourmet Pizzas from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at 15 Second St. N.E., Le Mars.

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My 9-year-olds teacher contacted me to let me know she has seen an increase in defiance from childcentered around when theyre asked to redo assignments due to illegible handwriting, but also when theyre generally corrected as well. My child is exhibiting behaviors like crumpling up papers, tearing worksheets out of the book so roughly they tear in half, slamming books around desk, and general harumphing. Nothing involving other students or anything I would consider violent but still not acceptable.

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We have been working on the handwriting situationmy child wants to just be DONE with assignments and flies through them, writing illegibly at times. When they take their time, handwriting is perfectly fine and quality of writing is good to excellent. A rewards system is in place for writing well the first time, or completing a re-write at home without fuss.

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How can I help my child curb the unacceptable behaviors at school? Do you have any strategies I could mention to the teacher and/or that we can also use at home to create continuity? If theyre stomping around or crumpling things at home, I have them sit on our stepsboth as a time out and as a way to give them space to calm down, but obviously that isnt feasible at school.

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Flaring Tempers

Dear Flaring Tempers,

Im sorry to hear your child is struggling with managing their emotions around handwriting. While this is a common frustration for children their age, youre right to be concerned about impact its having on their behaviors in class. I see the problem as two-fold, and I recommend two separate approaches to help resolve the issue.

In my opinion, the primary issue here is teaching your child to self-regulate. Even if your child is frustrated with redoing the assignment, they must learn to express and handle that frustration in more productive ways. I find two curriculums, Second Step and Kelsos Choices, helpful in teaching parents (and teachers) about how to support a child to develop better self-regulation strategies.

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The secondary issue is helping your child to develop handwriting stamina. From what you describe, your child is very capable of producing good handwriting, but they simply do not have the patience for it. While handwriting stamina typically increases over time, it may be a good idea to add in some targeted practice. It will be important to refrain from making them redo the additional handwriting practice, even if its illegible. The goal here is for them to build up the stamina needed to complete their work without becoming frustrated in the process.

As you mention, its a great idea to look for strategies that can be implemented both at school and home. I always aim for positive reinforcements as opposed to negative consequences like a time out. Positive reinforcement will be much easier to implement at both school and home. It will also give your child the encouragement they need to build their stamina. Sticker charts can work wonderstheyre a reward-based system where, quite simply, every time they complete an assignment with legible handwriting, they receive a sticker on a chart. Once theyve received a predetermined amount of stickers, they receive a small reward or treat. Good luck.

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Mr. Hersey (elementary school teacher, Washington)

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My son is almost four and has been in a high quality, full-time day care since infancy. As a result he is already school ready in many ways, both the academic and behavioral aspects. However, his birthday is in early October so he wouldnt be able to enter most kindergarten programs (public or private) until he is almost 5. I worry that he will be reading by then and will find kindergarten incredibly boring. What can/should be done in a situation like this? Is enrichment at home enough?

Ready to Go

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Dear Ready,

It sounds like your son is doing very well! While your concerns are very thoughtful, I wouldnt interrupt your sons academic growth for fear of him finding a future kindergarten program boring. In the meantime, the key is to prioritize fostering a love for learning. If he continues to enjoy growing academically, you should encourage and support that growth and address any potential academic engagement issues if they arise (and they very well may not!). Kindergarten teachers are extremely adept at teaching to many, many different levels of understanding and ability.

Fostering a love for learning is possible through home enrichmentin fact, its possible through everyday life. You can use this time until he begins kindergarten to hone what hes learned in daycare. Nurture a love of books and reading. Engage with nature and the outdoors to help him learn independence, assessing risks, science, and the world around him. You can also help him develop interests and hobbies such as music or sports. All of this will help round out his experiences.

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Mr. Hersey (elementary school teacher, Washington)

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Thanks to the pandemic, my 3-year-old began school this year for the first time and after a few months, their transition to life away from home seems to be getting increasingly worse. The first few weeks (a few full days per week) were initially met with enthusiasm but several prolonged quarantine periods meant the flow kept getting interrupted. They report being scared of one of the teachers at some times and excited to share a new toy or book with the same teacher at other times. This specific teacher is experienced and well-liked by the other kids and parents, but I also get the sense theres a disconnect of some kind. My child also doesnt seem as connected with the other children as those kids are with each other, although they love being around other kids of any age at home.

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Theres nothing unusual going on at home, outside of a global pandemic and more screen time than Id like. The school activities seem interestinglots of arts and crafts, handiwork, and even cooking, all stuff they love at homeso I dont think theyre bored, experiencing more separation anxiety than is normal, or too immature for preschool (they started as a young three but not that young).

Everyone at the school assures me that everything is fine and this is normal. But my kid seems miserable about half the days we go to school and almost all of the time after I pick them up. I cant observe because of the pandemic, and I cant get much information from them without them telling me they dont want to talk about it, except that they dont have friends at school or like playing outside (they love playing outside when not at school).

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Some of their educational skills, which arent my primary concern at this point, seem to have regressed. When I ask the staff about these things, I keep being told my child is fine, and the teachers are not seeing problems. Except my kids not fine, and I want to wait a few years before Im telling them they have to suck it up. The school isnt insanely rigorous, and I tried to pick one that played to their strengths, but I am now leaning toward finding them another school to get a fresh start. At this point, due to the staffs earlier responses, I feel like further discussions with the school will result in more reassurances without a resolution or an increased focus on my kids emotional state to their detriment.

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Is moving them the right thing? If so, what can I do to make the transition a better match this time? And if moving to a new school is not a good idea, what do I do to help my child recover their emotional equilibrium? Theyre a good kid, but I think they may actually be a little depressed from all of this. I dont need a genius or a Pollyanna, and I dont expect school to be an amusement park, but I do want my kid to know that the thing theyll be doing for the next fifteen more years can be at least minimally enjoyable.

Were Not Ok

Dear Were Not OK,

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I think you can do two things at once here. It doesnt sound like a bad idea to look for another school, and while you do so, communicate with your school more. Tell them outright that your kid seems really unhappy, and see how they respond if you are more blunt (polite, but blunt) about whats worrying you. If the school starts to respond more actively to your concerns and things get better, thats a win. Stay where you are and work with them to address your concerns. If not, youll know with greater certainty that you should leave because they arent listening to you.

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In this round of reaching out, Id request a meeting rather than trying to discuss this via email. Id also ask for the school counselor or whoever guides their social-emotional learning programs to be present, so you can have a semi-outside perspective, rather than just you and the classroom teachers.

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If you continue to experience pushback, just move. Kids are resilient. Your child probably wont even remember. As far as making the transition better? I find transparency is keywith the other school, with your child, with everyone involved. Tell the next school about your experience and your concerns, specifically about your childs regression and about what that looks like from the outsidethat your child is showing depressive symptoms.

Meanwhile, tell your child that theyre moving schools. Pre-set them about when the change will occur, and how their new morning might be different. Ask the new school if they can assign your child a buddy, so that theres at least one peer connection firmly in place.

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I doubt this will have a lasting impact on their education regardless. Many children do not remember their experiences in preschool all that well. Of course, you want him to be happy at school, but that is the responsibility of the teachers, and if this school isnt a good fit, and youve exhausted your options there to make it fit better, trying somewhere else wont hurt your child.

Ms. Sarnell (early childhood special education teacher, New York)

My 7-year-old has had a number of behavior problems since the start of the pandemic. Progress has been in fits and startstwo steps forward, three steps back. It took us seven months to find a therapist, which we only managed through pure luck, but weve been having trouble landing on the right medication.

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In the last two weeks, he was kicked out of his after-school program and had three major meltdowns in school, one resulting in him being held in the principals office all day and another resulting in a formal one-day suspension. He physically attacked teachers, threatened to vomit on purpose, and lifted furniture.

We had not had a formal 504 plan or IEP because the school was doing almost everything theyd do with a formal plan in place. I think we need one now to protect him and us, now that hes facing severe punishment for his behavior. I wish wed done it earlier.

Im at a total loss for what to do. While I get why hes a danger, I cannot fathom how a suspension is useful. What works is medicine, but his medicine isnt working now and, after talking to his psychiatrist, I think we may have a month until we get into a stable state with his current medicine.

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My son is a wonderful, delightful child 99 percent of the time and I had really thought he

was doing better and we were all going to get our lives back on track.

What should we ask for or look for in the IEP? His therapist suggested possibly doing virtual school, but our experience with virtual school last year was an unmitigated disaster. His therapist also suggested half days, which would be painful but would at least cut his probability of getting in trouble by half, but only because hed only be in school half the time.

What documentation should we make sure to keep in case the school fails

to provide adequate accommodations? What do we look for in an effective IEP?

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At the End of My Rope

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Dear At the End of My Rope,

Yes, I would ask for a PPT (Planning and Placement Team) meeting immediately. This is a meeting between yourself, the school principal, the classroom teacher, the school nurse, the school psychologist, and special education teachers. Its clear that there Is something going on with your child that needs to be addressed in a more planned, thoughtful, and specific way.

By law, you must be granted a PPT when requested. If an IEP is needed, it will be determined through the PPT process.

I would also secure the services of an educational advocate to assist you. These are people who have worked through the bureaucracy of the school system already and will be able to guide you to finding the best course of action for your child. These professionals can be hired but are also often provided free of charge from local counseling centers and family advocacy organizations. If you know families in the school district, you might see if you can find parents who have been through the process already for advice.

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Its hard to know what accommodations are most appropriate until you identify the root cause of the problem. Ideally, the PPT will determine what testing and observation might be required in order to identify the cause of your childs struggles.

I would also contact your pediatrician if you havent already and schedule an appointment, too. There may be issues beyond the expertise of educators that your doctor may be able to address, too.

I hope you find answers soon. This must be incredibly challenging for both you and your child. My heart goes out to you.

Mr. Dicks (fifth grade teacher, Connecticut)

More Advice From Slate

My son is in third grade, and Ive been very active in volunteering in his classroom. When I emailed his teacher earlier this week to ask what I can do for the Halloween party, she said that she doesnt need help with it. Im so upset, and Id really love to help with it. What should I do?
This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy.

In his Feb. 15 Just Security article Ukraine: Unleashing the Rhetorical Dogs of War, Barry Posen argued that NATO and Ukraine should have cut a deal with Russia because the Ukrainian military would surely be defeated by Russia without direct U.S./Western military participation, and U.S. offers of equipment were only encouraging a potential Ukrainian insurgency against Russian occupation that would be as bloody as it would be futile. The prescription depends entirely on Posens assumption that to satisfy Russia, all Ukraine would have had to do would be to swallow the bitter pill of accepting armed neutrality between NATO and Russia, rather than NATO membership.

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This assumption contradicts events of recent months and the historical record. While Vladimir Putin has claimed that his goal is keeping Ukraine out of NATO, he also insisted that he was just conducting military exercises. Instead, he is invading Ukraine again. He likewise insisted in 2014 that he wasnt capturing Crimea, despite the presence of his unidentified Little Green Men and his subsequent annexation of the peninsula, or that he was not fighting in Ukraines Donbas area in the east all these years, despite all evidence to the contrary. There is no reason to take Putin at his word. His Feb. 21 diatribe conferring Russian recognition of independence for the two eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and his order for Russian troops to move in as ostensible peacekeepers shows clearly his disdain for diplomatic resolutions.

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Moreover, this is not even primarily about NATO.

NATOs eastward expansion may have played a role in straining the relationship between Russia and the West, but mainly because, for Russia, seeing former satellites eagerly abandon it for the greener pastures of Euro-Atlantic integration stung. However, Putins rhetoric and actions over almost two decades reveal that his goals extend beyond imposing neutrality on Ukraine or even staving off further NATO expansion. The larger objective is to reestablish Russian political and cultural dominance over a nation that Putin sees as one with Russia, and then follow up by undoing the European rules-based order and security architecture established in the aftermath of World War II. Given these goals, Ukrainian neutrality is a woefully insufficient concession for Putin.

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If Russias main concern had been NATO enlargement, it would have reacted with rhetoric and/or hostile actions in its neighborhood after each step in the NATO expansion process. The largest wave of NATOs eastward expansion took place in March 2004, when seven Eastern European countries joined, including the formerly Soviet Baltic states. Russia grumbled, as the New York Times put it then, by adopting a Duma resolution criticizing the expansion, but no hostile and sustained rhetoric followed about NATO enlargement as a Western plot against Russian interests.

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In 1997, Ukraines president, Leonid Kuchma, signed the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine, and in 2002, he publicly declared Ukraines interest in NATO membership, to little opposition from Russia. The NATO membership issue has ebbed and flowed within Ukraine, as presidents alternated in power who were either more pro-Western or more pro-Russian. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko advocated during his 200510 tenure for Ukraine to be granted a NATO membership action plan, a program of preparation for entry into the alliance, while successor President Viktor Yanukovych backed away from the idea after 2010. Russia did not respond to any of these pro-NATO moves by Ukrainian presidents with military threats and aggression.

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Russia knows further NATO expansion to the east is highly improbable because certain alliance members have long balked at the prospect, making the required consensus impossible to attain. Russia also has an authoritarian ally within NATO, Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who can help stave off any future consensus, and other NATO members such as Germany and France do not support membership for Ukraine, Georgia, or other post-Soviet states. The security guarantee that Russia demands now goes much further than membership issues. Putins Feb. 21 speech shows he perceives any security cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, from modernization of airports to training exercises, as a knife to [Russias] throat.

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Even after a new pro-Western government in Ukraine that followed the 2014 incursions again embraced the goal of NATO membership, and Ukrainian public support for such a move rose, Ukraines accession was that much more unlikely because of the alliances reluctance to embrace new members embroiled in territorial disputes. If Putins main concern now was to keep Ukraine out of NATO, he had nothing to fear in 2014, when he first invaded Ukraine, and had even less to fear in 2021, when he embarked on the current escalation.

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A longer look at Putins two decades in power shows that, above all, he fears political competition in the neighborhood. When mass protests over rigged elections swept across the post-Soviet space in 200305, toppling the Georgian and Kyrgyz incumbents and preventing the pro-Russian candidate from taking office in Ukraine, the Kremlin exploded with fiery rhetoric about Western-backed anti-Russian plots. A recent book on conspiracy theories in the Russian media since 1995 shows that the 200305 color revolutions were the top source of conspiratorial, anti-Western narratives. All 19972002 NATO enlargement summits are lower in the ranking of analyzed events. American realists have long argued that Russia was too weak to strike back with actions, but evidence shows that the Kremlin did not react with strong rhetoric either. Instead of decrying NATO expansion, Russia prioritized complaints about Western political meddling in its neighboring countries, by which Russia meant U.S. and European support for domestic democratization drives.

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In 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and instigated an armed insurgency in eastern Ukraine, NATO membership for Ukraine hadnt even been on the agenda. Rather, the spark for Russia was the ouster of the increasingly authoritarian pro-Russian president, Yanukovych, following months of street protests. Those Euromaidan protests had erupted after Yanukovych backpedaled, following pressure and bribery from Russia, from signing a trade agreement with the European Union.

So why was 2014 so concerning to Russia that it chose to invade? Given Putins rhetoric about Euromaidan as a Western-backed plot, the most obvious conclusion is that he was afraid that regime change and democratization in Ukraine might reachor at least set an example forRussian society and destabilize Putins increasingly consolidated authoritarianism. Research on the color revolutions and on the third wave of democratization in the region shows that this neighborhood effect was real. In other words, its not NATO at its doorsteps thats so concerning to the Kremlin, but political competition, because it threatens authoritarian stability and introduces prospects of democratization.

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There is ample evidence, most strikingly laid out in Putins Feb. 21 speech, that his problem with a sovereign Ukraine goes deeper than a document formalizing the obvious status quo of Ukraines NATO ineligibility. Realist legitimation of Russias demands could be used endlessly to justify more demands. By such rationales, a democratic, sovereign Ukraine is, by default, an unfriendly power in Russias backyard. Realist theory can neither guarantee that further demands would not be made, nor predict when they might be made. Would an international agreement not to Russias liking be threatening enough to its power? Modernization of Ukraines military? An effective anti-corruption reform that holds Ukraines oligarchs accountable while their Russian counterparts continue to plunder national wealth as Russias top anti-corruption campaigner, Alexei Navalny, sits in prison? Putins 2014 aggression dramatically reduced the already dim prospects of Ukraines entry into NATO, but clearly this has not been sufficient for Russia. Why would the formalization of the status quo suffice now?

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Ukraine aside, there is another danger of trying to satisfy Putins demands for Western democracies. Conceding the underlying principles of the rules-based international order under armed threat from an autocratic government carries profound long-term dangers for global democracy and post-WWII security. As Larry Diamond warned in a recent essay, Putin has broad contempt for the West and is determined to upend the international order. Rolling over now would only allow Putin to move on to bigger wants.

Instead of taking at face value Putins claim of being threatened by the nonexistent prospect of Ukrainian membership in NATO, Western leaders and theorists of realism ought to take at face value Putins disdain for democracy that he has expressed on multiple occasionsfrom his 2007 Munich speech to the recent joint statement with Chinese President Xi Jinping on international relations entering a new era.

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A written promise from NATO has the allure of a quick fix to achieve security. But it is too good to be true and the West should not fall for it. Instead, the current crisis that Putin keeps escalating should serve as a wake-up call for the West that we are indeed facing, to quote Diamond, the darkest moment for freedom in half a century. Only collective resolve to deter Putin could both prevent an even wider war in Ukraine and preserve the rules-based democratic order in Europe and beyond.

More From Just Security

The Big Lie Is a Reality

United States v. Donald Trump
War broke out live on television Wednesday night. As the U.N. Security Council convened an open session to discuss Russias imminent invasion of Ukraine, a CNN correspondent on a rooftop in Kyiv heard explosionsone after another after another, later revealed to be cruise missiles. The correspondent in Kharkiv, near the Russian border, 300 miles to the east, heard explosions too. Another reporter in Russias Belgorod region heard outbound artillery firepossibly the source of the noises in Kharkiv.

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This was around 5 a.m. Ukraine time. Two hours earlier, satellite footage on Google Maps showed a traffic jam of military vehicles heading toward the border from the same Belgorod region.

As if to confirm what viewers were hearing and seeing all over the world, word came that Vladimir Putin appeared on Russian TVat 5:30 a.m. Moscow timeto announce that he was starting a special military operation to protect the Russian-speaking people of Ukraines Donbas region. Two days earlier, Putin had recognized the regions Donetsk and Luhansk provincesparts of which are controlled by pro-Russia separatistsas independent republics. He also unleashed a stream of propaganda that Ukrainian soldiers were committing acts of genocide in those districts as pretext for his military operation.

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But if the explosions in Kyiv are any indication, the scope of the war was already extending far to the west of Donbas, Ukraines easternmost region. Putins speech suggested as much. He claimed that the U.S. was helping Ukraine build nuclear weapons, likened the Kyiv government to Nazis, and declared that the aims of his military operation are the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.

In other words, Putin has embarked on a war of regime change. He means not merely to slice off a chunk of eastern Ukraine but to overthrow the Ukrainian governmentwhich seeks association with the European Union and (someday) membership in NATOand to replace it with a pliant proxy who would bring the country back into Moscows orbit.

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For months, Russian ground forces have surrounded Ukraine from the east and the north, while naval forcesincluding troop carriers and cruise missilefiring shipshave done so from the south. If Putin has ordered a full-scale invasion, as worst-case scenarios had envisioned, attacks would come from all sides. In the pre-dawn hours, that was what started to happen.

The attack began with Russian cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and artillery shells striking military targets. They cratered Ukrainian airfields to keep the countrys combat jets groundedfive cruise missiles exploded on a single military airfield in Kyiv aloneand pounded anti-air batteries to keep Ukrainian forces from shooting down Russian jets and helicopters. Though this isnt known, it is likely that Russia has also mounted cyberattacks to cut off communications from Ukrainian commanders to their officers in the field, in order to fog their intelligence and disrupt their defenses. Cyber squadrons could also feed Ukrainian officers false communications, to further discombobulate a defense.

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Shortly after sunrise in Ukraine, video footage showed Russian tanks and armored vehicles crossing the northern border from Belarus, where in recent weeks they had assembled for what were said to be routine military exercises. This northern border is a mere 100 miles from Kyiv. There were also reports of explosions or attacks in several Ukrainian cities, not just in the east and the north near Kyiv but also in the south around Odessa.

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If Putin carries out the full scale of what are now his clear intentions, the assault will be the largest, most complex military operation in Europe since World War II. But it goes too faras some network commentators have doneto liken the attack to World War II or Putin to Adolf Hitler. The Russian military, though much improved in recent years, has nowhere near the might of Nazi Germanys Wehrmacht. Nor does it have the slightest ability to move on from Ukraine to Poland and, from there, to the rest of Europe. Nor, for all of Putins grandiosity, does such a wild-eyed scheme seem to be his intention. Nor, even if it were, does a newly revitalized, unified NATO seem remotely inclined to let him get away with anything of the sort.

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Whats happening now is more comparable to the Soviet Unions 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, to keep its leader, Alexander Dubcek, from pursuing what he called socialism with a human face and reaching out to the nations of Western Europe for support. The Soviets sent in five tank divisions250,000 troopsto sack Dubcek, install a loyalist, and oppress the population, destroying the roots and branches of the pro-democracy movement called the Prague Spring. (One big difference is that, in Czechoslovakia 68, the local military and Communist Party were loyal to Moscow and abetted the oppression. This is not true of the Ukrainian military today or many of its politicians.)

Putin intends to bring Ukraine back in Moscows orbit with similarly brusque methods.

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The Russian military massively outguns Ukraines; it will probably have little trouble in the first phase of this war. But it will be an extremely daunting task to occupy sections of Ukraine and fight off bands of regular soldiers and citizen insurgents in a country three times the size and 10 times the population of Czechoslovakia in 68. This is especially true given the strong likelihood that the U.S. and other Western countries would assist the Ukrainian resistance, even if they dont send their own troops to fight.

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Many Russian officers no doubt remember these lessons from their adventure in Afghanistan, which helped bring down the Soviet Union itselfjust as Americans learned it in Vietnam, Iraq, and belatedly Afghanistan.

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Putin may believe that his holy causethe restoration of as much of the old Russian empire as he can manage, or at least to block any further lossestranscends the lessons of history, that he can somehow succeed where lesser mortals have failed.

Ukrainians are awakening with the awareness that, however this ends up, they are now living in a different country. People all over Europe must be feeling the same sensation, not because they may face bombs or artillery fire, but because very few have imagined in their lifetimes the prospect of a land war in Europe.

Unless Putin changes course, that is now the gruesome reality.
February has been, by nearly any measure, a bad month for Donald Trump.

The rollout of his new social media platform was a bug-riddled disaster. The Supreme Court smacked down his effort to block the National Archives from turning over potentially incriminating materials surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection to the House select committee. Another judge issued a ruling that a civil lawsuit against him for allegedly stoking that insurrection could go forward. Yet another judge issued an opinion ordering Trump and family members to appear for depositions before New York Attorney General Tish James civil probe of the Trump Organization.

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To top it all off, there are signs that the former presidents legal and business woes might finally be starting to break the previously undying fealty of the GOP rank and file. While this is evident from recent polling and from the struggles of some Trump-endorsed candidates, its also beginning to appear in the form of potential 2024 GOP rivals doing more and more to position themselves to usurp Trump, or claim his mantle, in a future presidential primary.

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The politics of this have been ugly, with potential GOP presidential nominees adopting crueler and cruder positions in areas that animate the Trump base, but the pattern is clear: Possible Trump rivals seem to think they can outflank one another by moving further and further right, grabbing a greater share of the conservative media spotlight as Trumps star appears to fade. They seem to smell blood in the water.

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The latest signs of this came this week. First, Sen. Rick Scott, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, issued a surprise 31-page, 11-point Republican agenda that surely annoyed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.*

The Scott plan is incomprehensible as a political strategy for helping his party retake the Senate in 2022. And it also offers Democrats several cudgels with which to bludgeon candidates who endorse the official NRSC proposalsuch as Scotts promise to raise taxes on the lowest-income Americans and to default on U.S. debt.

As a potential personal presidential campaign manifesto, though, it makes more sense, with Scott moving to the hard right on divisive culture war issues, including plans to finish the border wall and name it after Trump and to crack down on mostly peaceful protests against police violence. Perhaps most viciously, Scotts approach includes a statement seeking to erase the existence of transgender people, while banning trans children from competing in sports. As Adam Serwer famously put it when writing about Trump in 2018, the cruelty here is the point, offering red meat to those who have been conditioned to seek political gratification from hatred.

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On Wednesday, another potential 2024 candidate, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, announced a statewide policy that outdid Scott in terms of callous pandering. Abbott declared that Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is hereby instructed to separate transgender children from their parents if they have been given certain forms of gender-affirming health care. Further, Abbott stated that teachers, doctors, nurses, and anyone who suspected that children had received such care and did not report the parents to authorities should themselves be criminally prosecuted. Depending on the extent to which its enacted, Abbotts plan could be one of the most horrific government attacks on children since Donald Trumps family separation border policy.

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Again, though, that cruelty clearly enlivens a certain portion of the Republican electorate. Indulging it can be read as a signal that these Republicans think that the GOP nomination in 2024 is open for the taking and that they are interested.

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Its of course possible that Abbott is merely positioning himself as far right as possible to outflank opponents in an upcoming gubernatorial primary, or that he was trying to get ahead of a separate scandal that broke on Wednesday. Abbott, though, has a commanding lead in that governors primary race, along with Trumps coveted endorsement. Maybe hes noticing a political opening from Trumps downtrend that other possible 2024 candidates are already beginning to exploit, and he doesnt want to miss the boat. The order could position Abbott favorably among Republicans ahead of a potential primary for president in 2024, as Axios speculated.

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The most high-profile possible 2024 GOP candidate, of course, is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose cold war with Trump has for months garnered national attention and who is only increasing his embrace of divisive culture war issues.

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In the past few weeks, DeSantis has signed a lucrative campaign book deal while signaling support for a piece of legislation that is, compared with Abbotts latest anti-trans policy, similarly horrific. That bill, which passed in the Florida House on Thursday, would make it illegal for LGBTQ teachers and students and those with LGBTQ parents to talk about their families in a class setting.

Again, these are truly awful, child-damaging policies. And they are red meat for the MAGA base. To wit: Also on Thursday, the University of North Florida released a poll showing DeSantis ahead of Trump in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup in the states critical 2024 primary.

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Notably, its not just these hard-right politicians from red states who are apparently moving to capture Trump voters. In purple Virginia, recently elected Gov. Glenn Youngkin has issued an all-out attack on mask mandates and the nebulous concept of critical race theory being taught in schools. This is not a strategy for a candidate who sees a statewide political future in Virginiahis polling numbers are underwater less than two months into his governorshipbut it would be a fine strategy for a politician who has national Republican ambitions and sees a possibly open stage.

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As New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman noted on Twitter on Thursday, Youngkin also seems to be taking advantage of the opportunity to differentiate himself from Trump in an area where he is especially unpopular: the former presidents toadying to Vladimir Putin. On Thursday, Youngkin denounced Putins invasion of Ukraine in no uncertain terms. That sort of statement is not the traditional role of state governors, but it is of future presidential candidates.

As the New York Times reported last month, one poll found that 44 percent of Republican voters dont want Trump running again, while in another, 56 percent of Republicans said they identify more strongly as GOP supporters, compared with 36 percent who said they identify more as Trump supporters. More and more Republicans seem to be trending toward that view, and perhaps toward the opinion that the future of their party is Trumpism without Trump.
This essay is excerpted from The Sentences That Create Us: Crafting A Writers Life in Prison, a recently released collection of essays from Haymarket Book and PEN America. Edited by PEN Americas Director of Prison and Justice Writing, Caits Meissner, the book weaves together insights from over 50 justice-involved contributors and their allies to offer inspiration and resources for creating a literary life in prison.

It started out just another day in prison: I shuffled the deck for a game of spades. My opponents had either been cheating or were having one hell of a lucky streak. Or maybe I just sucked at stacking the deck. I was certain Id gotten all the cards just where Id wanted them, when everyone stopped talking, eyes wide.

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With my back to the window, I smelled the acrid stench of old insulation and smoldering cloth before turning toward the flames. Outside, grown men with faces covered in towels and T-shirts ran every which way. Prisoners were laying waste to the buildings weak points: the windows and doors. Id later hear that some officersfearing for their own safetyopened doors and stood back as their prisoners revolted in response to the wardens lockdown orders. A billowy plume of smoke rose from where the chow hall used to be. A brick exploded against the metal grate barricading the window, and glass shards cascaded through the room. As my opponents rushed out into the chaos, the cards fell to the floor, the king of spades staring up.

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The entire prison began to riot.

The year was 2009. The aftermath was Kentuckys costliest riot in history. A friend of mine asked if I could help him put the experience into words for his family. For the first time since my imprisonment, I sat down to capture the havoc and devastation on paper. With pen to paper, my words flowed like the tears I was too ashamed to cry.

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Id never before been asked to describe the hell of prison. Why had I resisted depicting my environment for so long? Id always wanted to be a creator of worlds, an author, an artist with words. Only somewhere along the way, Id become convinced I wasnt smart, educated, or articulate enough to say anything someone else would ever give a damn to hear. My dream of being an author was beat down by the poverty I was raised in, my inability to focus on my teachers, their lessons, and my grades, and eventually by the drug addiction I used to mask my

inadequacies.

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Three years into my incarceration, I was asked, When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

It was then I decided to do something different. My pursuits turned to writing. Id ask any and everyone for help. Id finally dream. Id change! But there was the nagging thought: Would anything I put down on the page make a difference? It was discomforting to not know where to begin, or what I wished to say.

Who was I as a writer? I found myself emulating all of my favorite authors in an attempt to locate my voice. But everything I wrote received the same critiques. Despite my imitation, I wasnt making the progress I wanted. I still needed to work on my dialogue, characters, and plots. Discouraged, I stopped showing anyone my work. For a time, I stopped writing altogether.

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It was only after my success with the riot piece that I felt comfortable enough to want people to read my work again. I felt validated, even if only temporarily. By then, the piece had been published on prisonwriters.com, and now all I had to do was wait. Someone would recognize my greatness, I thought to myself. And someone didjust not in the way Id imagined it.

The friend who Id written the riot piece for signed me up to join a group from Pioneer Playhouse, a local theater bringing the arts to prison. I was less than thrilled. Though I had zero interest in acting or writing plays, the prison offered nothing else.

I took the risk and joined the Voices Inside program.

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Write about what you know, said the instructor. Write from the gut.

Im not writing about prison. Nobody gives a damn about prison, I replied.

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As it turned out, though my prison riot piece had been published, aside from pats on the back from a few of my fellow inmates and a small fifteen-dollar payment for the article, no one else said a thing about it. Id bled on the page, and no one seemed to care, or even notice. The other twenty inmates of the very first Voices Inside class all agreedno one wanted to write about the hell we all woke up to every morning. Instead, we showed up with our knockoffs of popular sitcoms, SNL skits, and all too many thinly veiled retellings of Romeo and Juliet.

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The work was uninspired. The plays we would go on to write and perform in class all suffered greatly for our avoidance. With excuses of writers block, procrastination, and sheer refusal, we were lying to ourselves.

In attempting to tell storiesany storiesto avoid the topic of prison, we werent being true to our stories. I decided to set down the heavy sack of shame that Id lugged around everywhere since my conviction. I wrote a new play in which I spoke of my own incarceration, not as something that had taken my life from me, but as something that had allowed me the time, separation, freedom to examine my life.

I wasnt dead. None of us were. And though wed all been stripped away from our families, our comforts, our routines and were confined to this new normal, our lives had not come to an end.

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My first prison play involved the very people Id spend the next twenty-five years locked away from: my children. With myself as the protagonist, I used my childrens hypothetical questions, blame, and confusion over my absence as the antagonist to reveal every truth Id once steered clear of. Ultimately, guilt and innocence aside, it was my own poor choices that had put me in a prison of my own making.

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I staged the play in the crowded classroom we used each week. Desks were moved aside to make an improvised auditorium with a few rows of plastic chairs. The play took place in the span of a visit with my now-grown childrenstrangers to me, with the names and once-familiar faces of the young people theyd been fifteen years before.

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I wrote them as tragic characters whod missed out on the father who had never put down roots, never truly loved their mother, never even attempted to be the man his children needed him to be. In the play, my daughter, the eldest, arrived on the scene to confront me with her anger. How could I ever leave her alone with two small brothers and a drug addict for a mother? Had I been the one to put the pipe to her mothers lips, the needle in her veins? Did I know about the overdoses? All the strange men whod found their way into my daughters bedroom in the middle of the night? Did I know all of the pain my being incarcerated had caused? Was I happy? Did I know all of the terrible things my children had grown up hearing about me? Did I know?

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The man playing my daughter slapped me in the face with her last question before rushing offstage in tears. A voice from the audience called out: Fucking go after her, man! But the play ended with my character being restrained by an officers single hand.

Afterwards, I sat devastated and exposed. But as I glanced around the room, everyones resentment toward the man playing the officer was clear. I could feel them stewing on the same question. How do we begin to comfort the loved ones our decisions have taken us away from?

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That child needed her father, said the man beside me. I hate prison, he said, placing his own comforting hand on my shoulder. That really happens.

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Eleven years later, I still hear my fellow prisoners complain of having to share the details with those in their lives who know nothing about the realities of prison. No one wants to relive the grief of their incarceration. Ripping off scabs is painful. Their reticence is valid. I am patient. They have to find the courage on their own terms, within their own voices.

Why write about prison? Every story needs hope.

In our stories, we may have started out the murderers, rapists, thieves, and addicts, the monsters, the bad guys, the adversaries, the villains, the defendants, but prison does not have to be the end of our tale. If we dont write our own endings, we hand our pens over to the legislators, owners of privatized prisons, and propagators of the lies behind mass incarceration.

I write about prison because there are more people in prisons in America than populate some small countries.

Because my experiences are the experiences of countless others. I write because there is truth in our stories that cannot, must not, be denied: the separation from our families, the toll on our loved ones, all the wasted time, the warehousing of our bodies, and our fruitless efforts

to prevail against a flawed reality of incarceration.

That is the story I dare everyone to acknowledge. And only people behind bars can tell it as it truly is.
China urges Japan to strictly discipline its diplomatic personnel in China

Xinhua) 08:30, February 24, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China has lodged solemn representations with Japan over the conduct of a Japanese diplomat in China, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks in response to a query on China's temporary detention of a Japanese diplomat in Beijing this week.

"We found upon verification that the Japanese diplomat engaged in activities inconsistent with the individual's capacity in China," she said, adding that relevant Chinese departments had conducted an investigation and inquiry into the individual in question in accordance with laws and regulations.

China has urged the Japanese side to respect Chinese laws and strictly discipline its diplomatic personnel in China to prevent similar incidents from occurring, Hua said.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations has clear provisions on the boundaries of the conduct of diplomats. Foreign diplomats have the obligation to comply with host country laws and regulations, Hua said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
WINDHOEK, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) on Thursday announced that it had made a major light oil and associated gas discovery offshore on the Venus-1X prospect.

The NAMCOR said in a statement that the Venus-1X prospect is located in the Orange Basin, offshore southern Namibia.

"The Venus-1X discovery is located approximately 290 kilometres off the coast of Namibia, in the deep-water offshore exploration block. The well was drilled to a total depth of 6,296 metres, by the Maersk Voyager drillship, and encountered a high quality, light oil-bearing sandstone reservoir of Lower Cretaceous age," said the statement.

The NAMCOR Managing Director, Immanuel Mulunga, said that "following the recent success of the Graff-1 well by Shell, this second light oil discovery by TotalEnergies has demonstrated the world-class potential of this new play in the deep-water of the Orange Basin, which could be a major game-changer for Namibia's economy and its people. We look forward to the upcoming appraisal programme to quantify the extent of this major discovery."

Earlier in February (NAMCOR) announced that it's Graff-1 deepwater exploration well had made a discovery of light oil in both primary and secondary targets together with its partners in that particular well, Shell Namibia Upstream BV and Qatar Energy. The Graff-1 well has proved a working petroleum system for light oil in Namibia's offshore Orange Basin, 270 km from the town of Oranjemund.

"Drilling operations commenced in early December 2021 and were safely completed in early February 2022," NAMCOR Marketing Manager Paulo Coelho said. 
As part of the broader invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces captured Chernobyl on Thursday after a battle at the shuttered power plant, which is best known as the site of the worst nuclear disaster in history. The plant, which is to the north of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, is still highly radioactive, and further tumult there could be dangerous for the wider region. After the absolutely senseless attack of the Russians in this direction, it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe, said Ukrainian presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak, who announced the news of the capture. Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke out against the assault on the plant.

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Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the #Chornobyl_NPP. Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. Reported this to @SwedishPM. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.    (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2022

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Is all of this  as bad as it might sound? Heres what you need to know about the nuclear dead zone that just changed hands.

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Remind me what happened in Chernobyl again?

On April 26, 1986, a group of engineers in what was then Soviet-ruled Ukraine ran an ill-conceived safety test that resulted in several explosions at Chernobyls reactor No. 4 and a partial meltdown of the core. The accident released 400 times more radiation than the nuclear bomb that the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima. Dozens of firefighters and workers at the plant died at the time of the disaster, and the resulting radiation affected thousands more in the aftermath.

What was the state of the plant up until the invasion?

There hasnt been a functioning reactor at Chernobyl since 2000, and Ukraine had designated the approximately 1,000-square-mile area around the plant as an off-limits exclusion zone. There is little human activity in the area, save for some locals who declined to evacuate or resettled there after the disaster. A small tourism industry has also taken root in the area.

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In 2016, about 30 countries including the U.S. funded the construction of a new $1.7 billion, 36,000-ton structure called the New Safe Confinement that was placed over reactor No. 4 to seal off the radioactive material, as the concrete shelter that had originally been constructed there in 1986 was developing cracks. Ukraine was put in charge of the structures maintenance in 2020.

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How was the plant captured?

Because the shortest route from the Russian border to Kyiv passes through Chernobyl, Ukraine deployed security forces to keep watch over the area two months ago. However, the New York Times reported that the Ukrainian troops were mostly serving as scouts and wouldnt be able to fend off an invasion. On the first day of the invasion, Russian special forces and airborne troops attacked the site. A spokesperson for the agency that maintains the exclusion zone told CNN that the staffers who manage the plant had already left by then. While the full details of what led to the capture are still unclear, Ukrainian presidential adviser Podolyak said that there was a fierce battle between the opposing forces, and the Times reports that fighting took place in the marshes surrounding the plant. RT, the Russian state-controlled news outlet thats been accused of spreading propaganda, reported that the Kremlin had neither confirmed nor denied the capture.

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What are the risks to the soldiers at the site?

According to the Times, soldiers in the area wont face much harm from the radioactive particles decaying in the ground or under the reactors enclosures as long as they dont spend too much time in patches where radiation is high. The Ukrainian soldiers sent to the area in the lead-up to the invasion carried around devices on lanyards that continuously monitored their exposure levels.

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What are the risks to the broader region?

A Ukrainian interior adviser told the Times that damage to the nuclear waste storage facilities could result in radioactive dust spreading throughout Ukraine, Belarus, and the European Union. While gunfire or explosions damaging the nuclear waste storage or reactors could be a threat, a physicist at the University of Liverpool told New Scientist that it would likely take a deliberate attack on the structures to release nuclear material. The New Safe Confinement that was placed over reactor No. 4 should be able to withstand a tornado. A scientist at Chernobyl also told New Scientist shortly before the invasion that monitoring would continue, and that the rise in emission of neutrons from the reactor, an important safety metric, would only be detectable in April. The nonprofit American Nuclear Society announced that it was monitoring the situation, and that the currently available information indicates that the fighting has not resulted in any additional radiological dangers in the region.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
A version of this article originally appeared in Issues in Science and Technology.

On Jan. 27, 2021, in one of its first executive orders, the Biden administration requested a National Intelligence Estimate, or NIE, on the national and economic security impacts of climate change. Addressing this complex issue provided an opportunity to broaden the concept of national securityand a chance to reimagine American foreign policy and national security for the next generation, as the president said when first introducing his national security team.

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Climate Change and International Responses Increasing Challenges to US National Security Through 2040, which was published in October 2021, recognizes that climate change presents challenges to national security, that geopolitical tensions will grow over efforts to reduce emissions, and that the effects of climate change will exacerbate cross-border geopolitical flashpoints. But it looks through the proverbial keyhole: The basic narrow picture is accurate, but vital information and perspectives are missing. This approach to climate change evokes an earlier age when national securitys near-exclusive focus involved defending the United States against external threats, an approach that assumes international and zero-sum competition.

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The NIEs key takeaway is that climate change will increasingly exacerbate risks to U.S. national security interests as the physical impacts increase and geopolitical tensions mount about how to respond to the challenge. For instance, it warns about potential miscalculation over strategic competition in the Arctic and the risks of climate effects destabilizing countries. A last paragraph in the report notes that the state of science is still unable to adequately answer the question of when a given component of either the regional or global climate system will approach or pass a tipping point, an area of high importance given the risks associated with it.  The traditional geopolitical framing of the climate NIE reflects the limits of current conceptions of security. A policymaker reading the documentand most people reading it are policymakers and other expertscould easily come away with the sense that the biggest climate change-related challenges are global competition for economic dominance in the warming Arctic and the possibility that a country might unilaterally deploy geoengineering.

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But there are at least as consequential things already happening that need our attention. The NIE doesnt mention that reduction of the Greenland ice sheet, for instance, occurred more rapidly than expected with potentially catastrophic economic and ecological consequences for the world. And it doesnt address the implications for human security of such faster-than-expected changes already evident in the biosphere. (The issue of potentially significantly faster-than-expected melting of the Greenland ice sheet and the West and East Antarctic glaciers is mentioned in an Annex titled Events That Would Change Our Assessment.)The NIE acknowledges that the intelligence community has low to moderate confidence in assessing how climate change effects could cascade in ways that affect US national security interests  given the complex dimensions of human and state decision-making and the challenge of connecting climate, weather, and sociopolitical models. Such systemic risks, however, can be addressed through a wider and more interdisciplinary lens in forward-looking ways that can help nonscientists better understand the immediacy and enormity of the ecological crisis and why a traditional geopolitical approach is insufficient. But this would require a different scope and approach for the NIE, which in turn requires redefining national security.

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The report explicitly acknowledges its narrow scope, but it fails to recognize that such a restricted framing of the topic itself creates an inherent security risk. In this way, the NIE is an example of the perils of excessively relying on the military and defense framing of security that have characterized the U.S. national security sector since the end of World War II.

And although the NIE acknowledges that higher temperatures and loss of biodiversity will increase human health risks, it makes no mention of the COVID-19 pandemic. The public is accustomed to hearing about the pandemic and climate change as different issues involving different experts, impacts, and audiencesbut in fact they are related phenomena. Pandemics, like climate change, generally stem from human-caused, or anthropogenic, environmental degradation due to economic activities, such as deforestation and urban sprawl, that destroy natural habitats and bring humans and wildlife into closer contact. The novel coronavirus, for instance, is generally believed to have involved a zoonotic transmission of a virus from an animal to a human host, like many viruses before that caused diseases such as influenza, Ebola, West Nile fever, and SARs. As such, climate change and many epidemics or pandemics are increasingly manifestations of vulnerabilities in interconnected natural and human systems that reveal important new security realities.

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These new security realities include the Earths inability to support unbounded economic growth without destroying the web of living systems that have made human civilization possible, a profound contradiction at the heart of mainstream economics with implications for every child today. Such dynamics cannot be captured by a state-centric analysis. As if to warn us of climate changes still greater dangers, COVID-19 has triggered global economic contractions, reversal of international development gains, greater vulnerabilities for girls in low-income countries, and tremendous upsets to supply chains, which are all still roiling the world. And the crisis has exposed and exacerbated security-related vulnerabilities and inequities that weaken societys capacity for resilience.

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The experience of the pandemic suggests that national security should be reframed to prioritize global public health in an age of growing climate disruptions. Climate change and environmental breakdown contribute to recurrent disease outbreaks, including pandemics. These effects challenge societal resilience, threatening to overwhelm local economic resources, public safety, food and water security, and health care infrastructure. Such factors inevitably will affect nations and communities resources and their abilities to adapt to climate change. International cooperation around the subject of global public health, and enhanced investments in precautionary and preventive approaches, as means of pandemic preparedness, will be essential to human, national, and economic security in a world disrupted by climate change. The emergence and spread of new mutations of the novel coronavirus, including the omicron variant, and its relationship to disparities in vaccine availability and acceptance, are yet another reminder of this important aspect of security.

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The NIE also assumes, problematically, that climate change-amplified risks will increase gradually over time. A chart on the first page of the document, for example, projects the geopolitical risks to US interests through 2040 as increasing in a progressive way. This belies the potential for highly disruptive nearer-term risks emanating from converging crises, such the prospect of extreme weather events causing global disruptions in food, energy, or medicine.

Although it is difficult to capture the notion of abrupt change in charts that are linear by design, the NIEs framing implies a steadily building emergency that progresses in a logical, step-by-step fashiona characterization at odds with nonlinear and potentially more abrupt climate change scenarios. Fundamentally, this perspective fails to capture the immediacy and unpredictability of abrupt departures from normal climatic patterns.

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Another limit of the climate NIE, and current concepts of security more generally, is its focus on potential state-based strategic competition and relative lack of attention to systemic risks in human and ecological systems. For example, although the report highlights the dangers of food insecurity, it overlooks instances in the last decade when localized climate events, including droughts, floods, and wildfires, affected global commodities networks. Linkages among local, regional, and global phenomena make it potentially misleading to characterize a single countrys adaptability to climate change without reference to the complex international web of transboundary interdependencies.

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For instance, the NIE says that Egypt is less exposed to climate effects than many countries. But that seems to overlook other analyses as well as recent experience. In 2010, high rainfall in Canada and drought and bushfires in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan contributed to unexpected spikes in global market prices of wheat, an imported commodity that Egypt relies on heavily. Higher bread prices aggravated discontent, and political protests soon coalesced into the Arab Spring movement. Although the Arab Spring sparked first in Tunisia, it quickly moved to Egypt in early 2011 in what was a major strategic surprise for the United States and global institutions.

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And as security is reconceived, young peoples rights, perspectives, and needs deserve special consideration. As of mid-2020, children under 15 made up about one-quarter of the worlds population. In a recent survey of 10,000 young people between 16 and 25 years old in 10 countries, more than half reported being very or extremely worried about climate change, as well as experiencing feelings of anger, sadness, and guilt. Climate change and societys failure to act are creating feelings of deep insecurity in youthfeelings that have potentially profound implications for governments.

Concerns about the mental health of young people rarely enter into traditional national security priorities, but current framings may lead to the vilification of climate activists by criminalizing their advocacy for their own security. Young people involved in nonviolent direct actions such as road blockages, civil disobedience, or mobilizing more support are sometimesand perhaps increasinglyseen as security threats themselves. The Indian government, for example, has invoked a colonial-era sedition law against 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi. Similar prosecutions elsewhere are creating new security dynamics involving international and intergenerational tensions.

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Looking broadly at the security implications of climate change will require a much wider lens than the intelligence community has traditionally used. A state-centric frame of analysis may not even be appropriate when unprecedented ecological realities are bearing down on the security and livability of human societies now and in the future. Understanding the physical, social, ecological, and political impacts of climate change requires more deliberate consideration of global interdependencies between natural and manmade systemsand between the countries of the world. As environmental security researcher Simon Dalby has observed, for much of the history of the rise of European power and the subsequent extension of its mode of economy to encompass most of the world in the processes of globalization, [Western and U.S. national] security has been about maintaining this social order. This is no longer good enough.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Imagine this: A 13-year-old student is called into their school counselors office. There they find their counselor and their parents waiting for them, concerned looks on their faces. We know you think youre trans, one of them says. The student is horrified. Theyve never shared these private thoughts with anyone, channeling their feelings and questions into their personal diary on their laptop. Had their parents been reading their diary? No. Their laptop was given to them by their school, and it contains software that flags any student writing that uses, among other terms, queer or transgender. The company forwarded the flagged content to a school counselor. And under a recently passed Dont Say Gay bill in the students state, the counselor was required to report the writing to the students parents, outing the student. Outing the student before they were ready to share their identity, or even sure of it themselves, puts that student at risk of their family disowning them, or worse.

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This story is hypothetical, but its realistic. Last year, a student in Minneapolis was outed when school administrators contacted their parents after a surveillance software flagged LGBTQ keywords in their writing, and schools abilities to screen students writings are becoming more and more invasive.* The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a seismic shift in the use of surveillance software by schools. Simultaneously, a growing reactionary backlash against school policies affirming and supporting LGBTQ students is resulting in legislation, lawsuits, and pressure campaigns to implement anti-LGBTQ policies. These coinciding events threaten to turn schools into a surveillance apparatus uniquely suited to outing and marginalizing at-risk LGBTQ students.

As schools scrambled to shift to remote learning, they hastily signed contracts with educational technology vendors without understanding the implications on students privacy. A recent survey by the Center for Democracy and Technology showed that 81 percent of teachers report their schools are now using surveillance software to monitor students. One particular software used by schools around the country is Gaggle, which surveils school computers and student accounts. The use of Gaggle has resulted in the constant monitoring of students through their Gmail and Microsoft Office accounts, even when at home using personal devices. Gaggle even monitors in real time the content being written by students on Google Docs.

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Gaggle flags the terms lesbian, gay, and transgender as sexual content that is reported to human reviewers at the company to determine if it should be passed along to school staff. Gaggles CEO, Jeff Patterson, defended the policy of flagging LGBTQ content as a means to protect students from bullying.

There are real potential harms to this kind of surveillance. A student writing that they might be queer or trans in a personal diary in a Google Doc on their school Google accountwhether on their school or personal computercould then result in that writing being reported to school administrators and outing the student.

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While off-campus surveillance of students personal devices presents a grave threat to all students privacy, low-income students unable to afford personal devices feel the brunt of these surveillance technologies. Prior to the pandemic, 43 percent of schools had device distribution programs; now, 86 percent do. We know that school-issued devices often feature more invasive surveillance software and internet content filters. But despite this rapid increase, there is no readily available information on how schools monitor their students or with what software. Its often up to journalists and nonprofit advocacy organizations to uncover this information through public information requests that take months or longer.

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Whether on school-issued devices or downloaded onto students own, these software tools do not disclose the source code of their software nor how they prioritize student information for review and reporting, leaving parents, students, and even school administrators ignorant of what the privacy concerns even are before they can begin working for mitigation. But what is known is not good. A.I. automation tools, such as those used by Gaggle, are rife with broken promises about accuracy. They often have fundamental racial and gender biases. A consequence of using these tools to monitor students online content is that they will disproportionately affect people of color and marginalized groups.

This surveillance technology becomes even more harmful when combined with recent efforts to require the outing of students, such as the now-withdrawn amendment to Floridas Dont Say Gay bill that would have required school staff to out children within six weeks of discovering the information, regardless of concerns about the childs health and safety. Even worse, Texas has declared that providing gender-affirming care to trans children is child abuse. Legislation like this is part of a massive reactionary backlash directed at school boards for everything from mask mandates to so-called critical race theory, or CRT.

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There is concerted effort by anti-LGBTQ organizations and politicians to ride the coattails of the anti-CRT movement. They seek to reverse gender-affirming policies and implement the forced outing of students to their parents by school staff. Recently, a group of anonymous parents in New Hampshire requested that the Hanover school board repeal or substantially amend its trans-affirming policy adopted in 2016 and require parental notification if a student reveals they are trans to a teacher or school counselor.

In Florida, anti-LGBTQ forces are trying more direct measures. Over the past few months, two lawsuits were filed in Florida by the Child & Parental Rights Campaign, or CPR-C, seeking to implement forced outing through litigation. These lawsuits seek to require school staff to out students by reporting to parents if a student has gender dysphoria or is questioning their gender. CPR-C is a thinly veiled anti-trans organization affiliated with the Alliance Defending Freedom, which the Southern Poverty Law Center lists as a hate group. The CPR-C executive director has been on record comparing LBGTQ people to cockroaches.

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Republican state legislators have increasingly picked up on this trend and have introduced several bills targeting school officials who come to learn of a students transgender status. Several anti-trans bills, such as Alabamas S.B. 184 and Arizonas H.B. 2161, outlaw school staff, including mental health counselors, withholding a trans students gender identity from their parents.

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It is not hard to see how schools requiring the forced outing of queer and trans students to their parents could be a threat to their well-being and safety. Given the recent moves by Texas, it could even mean trans children being separated from their parents. It bears repeating that LGBTQ youth, especially those of color, have the highest rates of youth homelessness among any demographic, often due to family rejection of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

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The confluence of increased school surveillance with the movement to require school officials to out LGBTQ students presents a perilous future for queer and trans youth. If these lawsuits and bills succeed, trans youth would not be able to turn to trusted adults at their schools to confide their feelings without fear that their potentially homophobic or transphobic parents will be notified. Add surveillance technologies, and they may not even be able to safely commit these private thoughts to writing.

Ironically, many of the purveyors of surveillance software proclaim that their intentions are to reduce student suicide and self-harm. Yet the software contains the potential to expose the privacy of trans students, who are at the greatest risk of suicide. Queer and trans youth face a future of increasing paranoia and isolation. School is supposed to be a safe place for students, where they can access supportive staff and resources. Instead, schools may increasingly become a nightmare of surveillance used for the purposes of harming LGBTQ students.

Correction, Feb. 24, 2022: This piece originally conflated two separate incidents that happened to two separate LGBTQ students. The erroneous reference has been removed.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Its been less than 24 hours since Russia invaded Ukraine, yet we already have more information about whats going on there than we would have in a week during the Iraq war. Already, Google Maps has revealed Russian armored invasion routes due to civilians in the area getting caught in traffic, leading Google to send out alerts. We know almost exactly when Russian forces began their helicopter air assault near Kyiv. We know that one of two Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces on Thursday is probably 20 years olda reporter found his social media account.

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If youre interested, you can find footage of airstrikes, ground battles, Russian helicopters getting shot down, civilians being targeted. Most of it isnt coming from traditional sources. The amount of information flowing in live is so great that there are whole social media accounts devoted to analyzing Russian and Ukrainian combat strength, the front lines, and the losses of equipment down to the vehicle. This sheer amount of information being widely available is unheard-of for a major conflict. People in Ukraine are posting combat footage on Reddit for engagements that are still ongoing. Even TikTok has become a source for those who want to keep up with events ongoing in the country.

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It takes time, people, and equipment for media organizations to produce live reports on any event, especially a conflict. It is those things that will limit news organizations in their efforts to establish a full picture of whats occurring. What is coming out of Ukraine is simply impossible to produce on such a scale without citizens and soldiers throughout the country having easy access to cellphones, the internet, and, by extension, social media apps. A large-scale modern war will be livestreamed, minute by minute, battle by battle, death by death, to the world. What is occurring is already horrific, based on the information released just on the first day.

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The official messages coming out of Ukraine may sometimes seem garbled and confused, but very few governments, if any, could keep up with all the narratives that are occurring. Such confusion creates an ample opportunity for misinformation to spread and for actors to exploitwhich they already have.

When I was a U.S. Army journalist/photographer in Iraq in 2016, a same-day turnaround was considered quick by Department of Defense standards. If I could get footage and interviews from a firebase outside Mosul on Christmas into the living rooms of Americans back home before the New Year, that was a win. In fact, it ended up taking me only two days.

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Now, thats way too slow.

Half a century ago, the Vietnam War being widely televised fundamentally changed how the world viewed conflict. No longer could there be rosy reports from the front lines through radio broadcasts that spoke coolly about the fighting or photos that took weeks or months to arrive. Now, people could view footage from the front lines of combat at home mere days after the events happened, the realities of the actions of the combatants, and their effects, readily apparent for all to see. Whether the images caused support for the conflict to grow or falter is up for debate, but conflicts would take place in living rooms and the battlefield from then on. By the time the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, it was a given that the world was watching, and that it took intentional effort to guide those eyes toward the intended message.

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The explosive growth of the internet and associated technologies in the last two decades has changed that, starting with the Arab Spring in late 2010 (the first livestreamed revolution), when social media served as a megaphone to the outside world, and through the Syrian civil war afterward. Raw, often brutal footage was captured by participants who frequently were engaged in a struggle for survival as they took the images. In these early events, most of the information from these events reached outside audiences through key interlocutors who then spread the footage to the wider world.

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Domestically, we saw an evolution of that media landscape during the George Floyd protests in 2020, itself a continuance of the efforts started by images of police brutality posted on social media. Within hours of Floyds murder, the footage of the event had spread internationally, sparking perhaps the largest protest movement in the countrys history. No longer were interlocutors as important. The sheer amount of information coming from the protests was astonishing: hundreds of videos documenting individual instances of police violence, attacks on protesters, and suspected infiltrators seeking to cause violence. Users on social media sites even took to forums asking military personnel what they would do if they were ordered to attack American civilians.

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Two years later, the information environment has further evolved. Embedded reporters now post Instagram live content highlighting the fighting on the ground. The first footage of the Ukraine invasion came not from news crews on the border, but from CCTV footage that was released online. Journalists are creating updated data on the front lines of the conflict based on geolocation of fighting reported on social media. Any atrocities will have dozens, if not hundreds, of witnesses spreading footage in minutes.

The scale and impact of whats occurring and what were seeing cant be understated. Were watching a massive conflictthe scale of which hasnt been seen on the continent in almost 100 yearsrock the second-largest country in Europe. From our offices, our porches, our cars, and our schools, we can watch battles as they happen. What could this possibly mean? Its too soon to tell. But it signifies a historical change in how we fightand how the world watches those fights.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
In the aftermath of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Slovakia will ask NATO allies for consultation under Article 4.

Flames seen from an area near the Dnieper River in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Source: AP/SITA)

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Several Slovak politicians have condemned the direct military attack on Ukraine.

PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) called it an "unforgivable barbarian act" and "a gross violation of international law."

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"The Russian imperialism has been restored in front of our eyes in its aggressive, militant form," he wrote on Facebook.

Heger added that the Slovak government condemns the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his administration.

"All victims of this war will be his victims and he will be responsible for them in the eyes of the global public," he added, stressing that the establishment of peace is an absolute priority.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) condemned the attack and said it was a gross violation of both the international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

"It represents a direct threat to European security," he wrote on Twitter.

Korcok will attend the NATO meeting today. He said Slovakia will ask the allies for consultation under Article 4, as "the situation demands it."

Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that allies "will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened."

President Zuzana Caputova condemns the unlawful aggression of Russia towards Ukraine and expressed full support and solidarity with the people in Ukraine and the leaders of the country.

The hope of those who thought Russia would be satisfied with the military occupation of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions proved to be an illusion, the president wrote on Facebook.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad (OLaNO) says all Slovak security forces and constitutional bodies are in touch, adding they will report on any further development and measures during the day.

Speaker of Parliament Boris Kollar (Sme Rodina) joined his coalition colleagues in criticism towards Russia.

I consider this step unacceptable, unforgivable and unprecedented, he wrote in a statement. Its a gross violation of international law and violation of our neighbours territorial integrity.

Even the opposition party Hlas condemned the Russian attack, calling it an unprecedented act that is at odds with the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter.

We express solidarity with Ukraine, which tried to calm down the situation until the very last minute, the party said.

Martin Klus, state secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, warned of the threat of spreading hoaxes and disinformation. He says that this day has served as a lesson for all irresponsible politicians who have been defending the Russian aggression.

He calls on people to stay up to date on the situation in Ukraine and to follow relevant news sources.

The Security Council of the government has been in session since 8:00 this morning. Meanwhile, the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador to Slovakia.

The state-run passenger carrier ZSSK has suspended all trains towards Ukraine, until further notice.
President Zuzana Caputova and dozens of public life figures have condemned attacks against several people doing their job.

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We are living in hard times, going from one crisis to another, experiencing many negative impacts like the loss of our closest ones or employment, poverty and fear for our safety, said President Zuzana Caputova in her February 23 address.

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Even though many people might be frustrated and the fact that the state does not always help might result in anger, it should never turn to hatred as it is no solution.

Especially in the past few weeks we can feel in our society that weve taken a path from which there might be no return, the president said. It leads only to physical attacks and rudeness in the public space. We can see that this has gone too far as people, who are doing their job with their best knowledge, cannot feel safe even in their own homes.

Group of people banging on MPs door because of his vote on defence agreement Read more

The president was joined by more than 30 personalities from various spheres of life, and together they called for keeping decency a norm in Slovakia. This includes former diplomat Magda Vasaryova, former PM Iveta Radicova, Ombudswoman Maria Patakyova and expert on infectious diseases Vladimir Krcmery.

The effort to intimidate or punish those with a different opinion is a departure from the area of democratic rules, Caputova continued. She adds that this is an attack on the cohesion of society and can indicate an effort to establish a non-democratic or even totalitarian regime. Lets say no to hatred in society together, while there is time. Im convinced that decency must remain the norm in Slovakia.

She stressed that society needs reconciliation, and we must do everything we can to achieve it. The difference in opinions might serve as an opportunity that should not be considered hostility, but a privilege of democracy.

"Traitor of the country" lives here. Opposition goads masses against coalition MPs Read more

Democracy needs an active, pulsing civil society again, the president continued. Lets have a dialogue in our neighbourhoods, communities and towns, and update our own arguments about who we are, where we belong, why we are democrats and why we appreciate our values.

Caputova also called on society not to lose hope.
We are still capable of solidarity and humanity.

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Ukraine is helping us open our eyes, Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok told journalists a few hours after the only state neighbouring Slovakia that is not a member of either NATO or the EU was invaded by Russian troops.

The minister was speaking to a nation that must seize this moment of clarity. The last two months have made it very plain that there is a lot of confusion among the public, nearly half of whom, according to a January public opinion poll, believed that NATO and the US were to blame for what was at the time described as tension on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

This is a clear indicator of just how badly Slovakia has been losing to the disinformation campaign that it has been exposed to for years. Propaganda websites, Facebook trolls and power-greedy politicians have done huge damage.

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Despite this confusion, Slovak state representatives have clearly and without hesitation shown where Slovakia stands: with Ukraine, and with its EU and NATO allies. With its message of open doors for all those fleeing the conflict, the country has also shown it is still capable of humanity and solidarity with its neighbour.

The statements and emotions of this Thursday are reminiscent of the reactions to the outbreak of the pandemic two years ago - a rare outpouring of solidarity and unity among the public in the face of unknown adversity.

This time around, the adversity we are facing as a society has a name and a face. We do not know what is yet to come in the big picture, but we do know that we are going to be even more heavily targeted by disinformation and propaganda. It is essential that the country and its people stay focused. Slovakia cannot afford to let slip the clarity of this moment.
https://sputniknews.com/20220223/russian-defence-minister-foreign-ministry-spokeswoman-put-on-eu-sanction-list--1093315529.html

Russian Defence Minister, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Put on EU Sanction List

Russian Defence Minister, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Put on EU Sanction List

The European Union has approved sanctions against Sergei Shoigu, Russia's Defense Minister, Maria Zakharova, director of the foreign ministrys Information and... 23.02.2022, Sputnik International

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Maria Zakharova, the director of the Russian foreign ministry's Information and Press Department, was placed on the sanctions list due to her being deemed "the central figure of state propaganda." The EU also accuses her of "promoting the deployment of Russian troops in Ukraine."The EU has accused Simonyan of presenting a "positive attitude towards the annexation of Crimea and the actions of the separatists in the Donbass," through MIA Rossiya Segodnya and RT. Inclusion on the sanctions list prevents entry into the EU and the freezing of assets in the region. It also freezes the assets of organizations included on the list. The sanctions also prohibit EU citizens and organizations from transferring funds to individuals and entities on the list.The sanctions are designed to target individuals and entities deemed close to the Russian president. The EU has banned certain transactions with securities of the Russian Government and Central Bank issued after March 9. The sanction is designed to limit Russia's ability to tap into the EU's capital and financial markets. The sanctions also extend to business and economic dealings in non-Ukrainian controlled regions of the Donbas.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220223/syrian-air-defenses-combating-israeli-strike-on-damascus---state-media-1093315665.html

At Least 3 Syrian Soldiers Killed After Air Defenses Engage Israeli Strikes - State Media

At Least 3 Syrian Soldiers Killed After Air Defenses Engage Israeli Strikes - State Media

Several explosions were reportedly heard in Damascus, Syria, early Thursday morning as air defense systems of the Syrian Arab Army forces engaged hostile... 23.02.2022, Sputnik International

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The Syrian Arab News Agency and other local outlets have confirmed fighter jet activity and several explosions over Damascus. At least three Syrian soldiers were reportedly killed in the strike, per Syrian state television. Material losses have also been reported.A military source has since disclosed that the SAA's engagement began around 1:10 a.m., local time, in response to Israeli military aggression targeting a direction north of Lake Tiberias. Most of the missiles were downed by air defenses. Early reports immediately tied alleged airstrikes to Israeli forces. As of 1:32 a.m., local time, the strikes had reportedly concluded. Additional footage reportedly shows different perspectives of SAA air defenses engaging targets early Thursday morning. Israeli missiles may have been targeting Zakiyah or Al-Kiswah, two areas in the Syrian Governate of Rif Dimashq, according to initial reports. The town of Zakiyah was recently targeted by Tel Aviv in a nighttime surface-to-surface missile strike approximately one week ago, according to the Syrian government. Although material damage was reported, no injuries or deaths accompanied what is thought to be an Israeli missile strike. The Israeli missile strike came hours after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Russia's defense minister in Damascus. Prior to that, approximately four F-16 Israeli fighter jets fired missiles at targets near the city of Al-Kiswa, just 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Damascus. One Syrian soldier was killed and another five were injured in the February 9 missile attack. According to Rear Adm. Oleg Zhuravlev, deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria, Israeli forces fired at least 10 surface-to-surface missiles from the Golan Heights, targeting SAA defense units.

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NAIROBI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya plans to license more liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) import terminals along the Indian Ocean coastline to boost uptake of the clean energy source, the energy regulator said on Thursday.

Daniel Kiptoo, director general, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) told journalists in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, that the country currently relies on only one privately owned import terminal to satisfy the country's domestic demand for the cooking gas.

"We need to have more LPG import terminals in order to increase supply," Kiptoo said during the release of the 2021 Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report.

Kiptoo added that Kenya is keen to have more berths for unloading LPG carriers in order to lower the cost of the cooking gas in the market.

He said that Kenya currently has no local production of natural gas and is therefore dependent on imports of LPG.

According to the energy regulator, eight private sector players have expressed interest in constructing import terminals for LPG.

Kiptoo observed that more import terminals will also increase the country's storage capacity and therefore will attract bigger LPG vessels to supply the cooking gas to the Kenyan market.

The official noted that currently Kenya's capita consumption of LPG stands at 7.5 kg compared to a target of 15 kg.

He noted that lower cost of LPG will attract more households to switch from Kerosene, charcoal or firewood to clean cooking fuels. 
https://sputniknews.com/20220223/there-will-be-a-price-to-pay-pelosi-slams-putin-as-tyrant-warns-of-further-sanctions-1093314811.html

'There Will Be a Price to Pay': Pelosi Slams Putin as 'Tyrant,' Warns of Further Sanctions

'There Will Be a Price to Pay': Pelosi Slams Putin as 'Tyrant,' Warns of Further Sanctions

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden announced that Washington would impose sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 LNG pipeline, and its corporate officers, over... 23.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-23T22:59+0000

2022-02-23T22:59+0000

2022-02-23T22:59+0000

nancy pelosi

vladimir putin

us

russia

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US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), during a Wednesday news conference, proclaimed that Russian aggression toward Ukraine amounts to "an attack on democracy" that the US, along with its allies, will continue to oppose via defensive support of Ukraine and swift sanctions against Russia. "There will be a price to pay for Vladimir Putin," Pelosi added during her speech, highlighting the Russian president's past affiliation with the KGB. Pelosi noted that the world has yet to see the "depth" of the new sanctions. Those penalizing Russia for the decision to recognize the DPR and LPR include the US, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, Japan, and Canada.Schiff claimed that the goal is to ensure the costs continue and that the Russian people see "the cost of their dictator's aggression." The House speaker's weekly news conference came as the US president moved to place further sanctions on Nord Steam 2 AG, and its corporate officers, as part of the "initial tranche of sanctions" regarding the situation in the breakaway DPR and LPR. Washington's move was accompanied by Berlin halting the certification of the $11 billion liquefied natural gas pipeline that, if it entered service, would be capable of doubling the delivery of Russian fuel to Germany.Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, heads of the People's Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, have called on the Russian president to help avoid civilian casualties in the states by providing military assistance in repelling Ukrainian forces, according to Wednesday comments from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia is, at present, carrying out peacekeeping efforts in the Donbass republics.

https://sputniknews.com/20220223/biden-order-sanctions-against-nord-stream-2-ag-corporate-officers-1093311307.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220224/biden-warns-russia-of-further-consequences-after-launch-of-special-military-operation-in-donbass-1093319490.html

Biden Warns Russia of 'Further Consequences' After Launch of Special Military Operation in Donbass

Biden Warns Russia of 'Further Consequences' After Launch of Special Military Operation in Donbass

United States President Joe Biden warned Russia of "further consequences" in a press release Wednesday night. The US president said he will meet with the... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T03:35+0000

2022-02-24T03:35+0000

2022-02-24T04:18+0000

russia

vladimir putin

joe biden

ukraine

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In the statement, Biden called Russia's newly-launched special military operation on Ukraine "unprovoked and unjustified". Biden said that he will monitor the situation through the night before meeting with his G7 counterparts in the morning before addressing the American public and the world over further actions. The European Union and the United States have already issued sweeping economic sanctions against Russia and Russian individuals and entities. The US said it would not send troops to Ukraine and engage in a war with Russia. The response comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a special military operation in the Donbass to protect the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic from Kiev forces. The manoeuvre has been described as a peacekeeping mission by Russia, and an invasion by Ukraine and the United States and its NATO allies. Russia remains the only member nation of the United Nations to recognise the DPR and LPR. The two breakaway states have been in conflict with Ukraine since declaring their independence in 2014.Earlier on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that a meeting between Biden and Putin was not currently being considered. With sanctions already in place and war off the table, it remains to be seen what "further consequences" are at Biden's disposal.

https://sputniknews.com/20220224/putin-authorizes-special-operation-in-donbass-1093318890.html

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russia, vladimir putin, joe biden, ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/california-farmers-will-not-receive-water-from-government-amid-megadrought-1093347732.html

California Farmers Will Not Receive Water From Government Amid Megadrought

California Farmers Will Not Receive Water From Government Amid Megadrought

On Wednesday, the federal government told California farmers it would not be giving them any water despite an unrelenting megadrought that has been ravaging... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T20:42+0000

2022-02-24T20:42+0000

2022-02-24T20:43+0000

drought

california

california drought

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Ernest Conant, the regional director for the US Bureau of Reclamation, admitted that the decision to allocate 0% of water towards farmers is devastating, but unfortunately, we cant make it rain, he said.California is responsible for a quarter of food in the U.S.There are two major systems that California relies on for water. One is state-owned, the other is owned by the federal government. The Central Valley project is federally operated, and will not be providing water for those who farm south of the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta.However, the federal government has allocated 25% of the available water for drinking and industrial uses for its cities and some parts of the Bay Area.Conditions are very dry. And as a result we have to be very cautious with these allocations, Conant says. He points out that the months of January and February are on track for being the driest months the region has experienced on record thus far.Last year, the Bureau of Reclamation had allocated 5% of water for agricultural purposes, and 55% for cities. Those numbers have since been cut to 0% and 25%, respectively, as the megadrought shows no sign of relief for the region. Conant warns that if it doesnt rain this March, things will only get worse in terms of water resources.The state of California is experiencing its worst megadrought in 1,200 years. A megadrought refers to a drought that lasts two decades or longer. Californias drought is in its 22nd year, surpassing the longest megadrought on record, which was in the late 1500s.These events have rarely been seen and were once considered a worst-case scenario in modern times, said Park Williams, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles.Previous megadroughts were caused by random ocean conditions, like La Nina weather events in the tropical Pacific. But researchers say human-caused global warming is responsible for 42% of the current megadrought. Temperatures will only get worse as people continue to burn fossil fuels, according to climate scientists. The megadrought could last for as long as 30 years.A 2021 study has shown that covering all 4,000 miles of Californias water canals with solar panels would prevent the evaporation of water, saving more than 65 billion gallons of water annually, with the added bonus of electrical energy supplied by the solar panels.The Turlock Irrigation District (TID), which is a California-based utility company, is teaming up with the states Department of Water Resources (DWR) to begin a project that will test this study in a state whose goal is to be decarbonized by the year 2030.Using water canals for solar infrastructure conserves water while producing renewable electricity and avoids converting large tracts of land to solar development, says researcher Brandi McKuin.The only problem the project faces includes cost of solar infrastructure, the need to access the canals for maintenance, and the maintenance and delivery of the electricity.

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drought, california, california drought, climate change, science
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/eu-may-discuss-personal-sanctions-against-vladimir-putin-reports-say-1093329213.html

EU May Discuss Personal Sanctions Against Vladimir Putin, Reports Say

EU May Discuss Personal Sanctions Against Vladimir Putin, Reports Say

The news comes a day after Brussels announced punitive measures against Russias Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and the countrys military chiefs, as well as... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T09:43+0000

2022-02-24T09:43+0000

2022-02-24T10:53+0000

eu

sanctions

brussels

russia

vladimir putin

ukraine

donetsk people's republic

lugansk peoples republic

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The European Union could discuss personal sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bloomberg reported, citing its sources. Such a move would be symbolic, as the Russian head of state barely owns any assets, the news agency said. An EU diplomat told Bloomberg that the option of targeting the Russian head of state is not in the package of sanctions that has already been prepared by Brussels, but said it could appear if theres enough political agreement.The news comes as Western countries imposed harsh sanctions on Moscow following the Kremlins decision to recognise the independence of the Lugansk and Donetsk Peoples Republics. The decision, which Putin said came in response to continued attacks from Kiev, was announced during an emergency meeting of Russias Security Council and later approved unanimously by the Russian parliament.Both republics said that Ukrainian forces shelled their territories, prompting them to evacuate civilians to Russia. Australia, Canada, Britain, Japan, the European Union, and the United States have imposed sanctions on Russian banks, officials, and individuals close to the Russian president, while Germany has halted the Nord Stream 2 project designed to supply European countries with Russian gas.Earlier on Thursday, President Putin ordered a special operation after the DPR and LPR asked Moscow for military assistance to defend against Ukrainian aggression. The Russian head of state said the operation was pre-emptive in nature and that Moscow intends only to protect population of the two republics and not occupy Ukraine.Kiev has called Moscows actions a "full-scale invasion" and declared martial law. President Volodymyr Zelensky also called for international support, including harsh sanctions against Russia.The Russian Defence Ministry said that there is no threat to the civilian population of Ukraine, as it is conducting precision strikes on military infrastructure - air defence facilities, military airfields, and air forces.

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eu, sanctions, brussels, russia, vladimir putin, ukraine, donetsk people's republic, lugansk peoples republic
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/european-commission-to-introduce-new-round-of-sactions-against-russia-1093326123.html

European Commission to Introduce New Round of Sanctions Against Russia

European Commission to Introduce New Round of Sanctions Against Russia

Earlier in the day, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine amid escalating attacks by Kiev's forces in Donbass. President Vladimir Putin said that the operation aims for the denazification and demilitarisation of Ukraine, and said that the perpetrators of war crimes in Donbass should stand trial.

2022-02-24T07:42+0000

2022-02-24T07:42+0000

2022-02-24T08:31+0000

russia

sanctions

eu

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The European Commission said on Thursday it would soon propose a new package of sanctions against Moscow, threatening to target the Russian strategic sector.EU leaders will discuss new measures against Moscow in light of Russia's military operation in Ukraine at an extraordinary meeting later on Thursday, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.The new package was announced in response to the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Moscow launched the op on Thursday, targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure with precision weapons and noting there are no threats to the civilian population.

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Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg

Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg

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russia, sanctions, eu
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/ex-french-presidential-candidate-west-upended-minsk-agreements-now-reaps-what-it-sowed-in-ukraine-1093329336.html

Ex-French Presidential Candidate: West Upended Minsk Agreements, Now Reaps What It Sowed in Ukraine

Ex-French Presidential Candidate: West Upended Minsk Agreements, Now Reaps What It Sowed in Ukraine

On 21 February, Russia recognised the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) triggering a storm of criticism from the West. Jacques Cheminade... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T11:38+0000

2022-02-24T11:38+0000

2022-02-24T11:38+0000

russia

europe

world

opinion

donetsk people's republic

lugansk peoples republic

ukraine

neo-nazi

joe biden

france

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Jacques Cheminade: "This interview was conducted on 22 February, i.e. prior to Russia's military operation in Ukraine. As I say in the conclusion of the interview, an international conference on a new international security architecture, as requested by the Schiller Institute, is needed more than ever to prevent war from becoming a substitute to diplomacy and mutual economic interest".Sputnik: What's your take on Russia's decision to recognise DPR and LPR after Kiev had torpedoed the Minsk Agreements for eight years? Why aren't the US and the EU listening to Moscow's arguments?Jacques Cheminade: The US, the United Kingdom, and the EU form a bloc of states under a double control: financially of the City of London and Wall Street and militarily from the Pentagon. Under the conditions of the monetary and financial crisis hitting the Western nations, their real aim is to keep Russia and China from economically and technologically developing because they fear to be challenged. Their way of thinking is geopolitical, to win at the expense of the other, and not to build a common system of military stability and shared economic development.This way of thinking  or better say non-thinking  infects even the more "moderate" sectors of Europe. For example, Jean-Yves le Drian, the French minister of European and Foreign affairs, has declared that "for him [Sergei Lavrov], it is Ukraine which is responsible for the non-respect of the Minsk Agreements on the Donbass. In brief, he [Lavrov] is in a position of pure denial". So, such Western types have the nerve to accuse their partner, in that case Russia, of their own deeds and calculations, as if it was Russia and not Ukraine, supported by mainly the US and Great Britain, which prevented the Minsk II Agreements from being enforced.Sputnik: France is the only major European country that appeared to have taken Russia's security concerns about NATO expansion seriously. Would you agree that Russia's "red lines" with regard to NATO's expansion corresponds to pan-European security?Jacques Cheminade: Russia's "red lines" with regard to NATO's expansion are not only legitimate but do correspond to the security and stability of all Europe, "from the Atlantic to the Urals", as General de Gaulle used to say. The present crisis, as noted by a number of Russian and Western strategists, is like the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis in reverse. It is now Russia which is facing the deployment of American and NATO nuclear missiles next to its borders, despite what was pledged by the main Western powers at the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany, that NATO was not going to deploy further than the borders of the reunified Germany. There was not a written agreement on this because, as Mikhail Gorbachev said, "we thought we were negotiating with people of good company and unfortunately for us it was not the case".In that context, it is true that President Macron has to some extent taken Russia's concerns about NATO's expansion seriously. But as some observers noted, the fact that he remains part of the NATO bloc greatly reduces his credibility. That is why my fight is to create the political and economic conditions for France to leave the integrated NATO command and in doing so, to recover its sovereignty.Sputnik: The US is going to roll out a new package of anti-Russian sanctions over Moscow's recognition of the DPR and LPR. Why is the EU following Washington's suit, in your opinion?Jacques Cheminade: For the time being, new US sanctions remain limited against the DPR and LPR. An executive order from President Biden prohibits "new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from or in the so-called DPR and LPR regions of Ukraine...We will soon announce additional measures". The statement from the US administration makes clear that these "are not the severe economic measures we have been preparing should Russia further invade Ukraine". It remains then that other sanctions over Ukraine are intended and designed by US Treasury and National Security Council officials to crush Russia's economy. The EU would be impotent in front of them because they control, directly or indirectly, all the military-industrial complexes in European countries, notably through their control of their data, cyber forces, and advanced AI.Sputnik: The Council of Europe is the body that imposes and lifts sanctions. This year France is heading the council. How could it influence the process of discussing and adopting a further package of tougher anti-Russian sanctions?Jacques Cheminad: France's influence depends on its political will. It demands courage and obstination. Most other countries have delegated their security to NATO. France therefore is formally an exception, but it is, as I said before, controlled "from within". Its doctrine is no longer that of General de Gaulle or even Francois Mitterrand. Nonetheless, many of the presidential candidates, from Eric Zemmour to Jean-Luc Melenchon, and also to a certain extent Valerie Pecresse, Marine Le Pen, and Fabien Roussel, express their willingness to change policy towards Russia. But none has measured yet the consequences of such a decision in terms of the domestic policy to be followed to sustain such a foreign policy.Sputnik: What's your prognosis on relations between Russia and Europe following the recognition of LPR and DPR?Jacques Cheminad: Very simple: we have the BRICS and the Belt and Road initiatives and it is in the interest of European countries to join such a political and economic direction, as partners involved in a new approach of connectivity through productivity. With my friends from the Schiller Institute, and my political party in France, Solidarite et Progres, we fight for a new international strategic agreement or conference based on a completely different economic policy from that of the collapsing casino game of the City of London, Wall Street, and their European collaborators.

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2022

Ekaterina Blinova

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Ekaterina Blinova

russia, europe, world, opinion, donetsk people's republic, lugansk peoples republic, ukraine, neo-nazi, joe biden, france, eu, recognition, us, united kingdom
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/ex-us-official-europe-brought-high-energy-price-on-itself-with-its-thoughtless-sanctions-on-russia-1093345097.html

Ex-US Official: Europe Brought High Energy Price on Itself With Its Thoughtless Sanctions on Russia

Ex-US Official: Europe Brought High Energy Price on Itself With Its Thoughtless Sanctions on Russia

The price of March futures for gas in Europe has jumped to over $1,636 per 1,000 cubic metres, up 60% from Wednesday's indices after Germany froze... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T18:53+0000

2022-02-24T18:53+0000

2022-02-24T18:53+0000

energy prices

energy market

nord stream 2

gas

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The European gas price is continuing its rally: according to Bloomberg's Tuesday report, it had already jumped by as much as 13% on "geopolitical tensions" over the Ukraine crisis. Still, it's only the beginning, given that the EU appears ready to slap even more sanctions on Russia, according to Dr Paul Craig Roberts, former US assistant treasury secretary in the Ronald Reagan administration.Sputnik: How will the unfolding events affect the already soaring gas prices in Europe?Paul Craig Roberts: The sharp rise in natural gas price in Europe is entirely due to Western hysteria and stupidity. According to the EU's own data, Europe is dependent on Russia for 46% of its natural gas. In the face of such extraordinary dependency on Russian energy, the moronic European "leaders" are falling all over themselves imposing impotent sanctions on Russia. The idiotic German chancellor actually punished the German people for Russia's recognition of the Donbass republics by "cancelling" the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This foolish act was a prime reason for the hysteria that has caused a sharp rise in prices. The price rise helps Russia -- if it continues to supply Europe with energy. It hurts Europe and whoever financed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. If the pipeline sits not operating, it cannot produce a revenue stream to service the capital invested in the pipeline. I do not know who financed the pipeline. If it was Germany, then the chancellor's sanctions on Russia have twice injured the Germans.Sputnik: Russia is the main source of energy for Europe and alternative supply routes do not seem as feasible. Will Europe willingly back itself into a corner by refusing to buy Russian gas? What will be the consequences for European energy security?Paul Craig Roberts: The EU's 46% dependency on Russian natural gas is independent of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the opening of which has been on hold due to Washington's pressure on Germany. Therefore, the rise in gas price is not due to a reduction of supply, but due to speculation that Russia will reduce or cut off supply. Europe is served by other pipelines. What if Russia responds to the EU's "sanctions" by closing the pipelines that deliver 46% of Europe's natural gas? What would Europe's fate be?Russia has accepted sanctions without replying in kind. Perhaps it is time for Russia to impose sanctions to teach the West a lesson.In my opinion, there is no reason for Russia to deplete its own energy resources by sharing them with its European enemies. Perhaps the Russian government's idea was that energy sales would be a source of foreign exchange earnings and that providing Europe with energy was in the interest of good relations with the West.Now that the West has demonstrated that the West has no interest in good relations with Russia, there is no point in the Russian energy sales. Russia has no need for foreign exchange. The Russian central bank can finance Russian economic development with no need of foreign involvement. Russia's holdings of instruments denominated in dollars or euros would just be confiscated by sanctions.Sputnik: Is the Nord Stream 2 project dead now, or is this just a short-term reaction to the unfolding events? Can Europe actually do without Nord Stream 2?Paul Craig Roberts: Europe brought the high energy price on itself with its thoughtless sanctions; the high prices benefit Russia and hurt those who financed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline; Russia should consider turning off all natural gas to Europe and conserve its energy source for its own and China's development.Europe is nothing but a thorn in Russia's side, a collection of Washington's puppets. Russia owes Europe nothing.

https://sputniknews.com/20220224/germany-says-launch-of-nord-stream-2-impossible-in-short--and-medium-term-1093325621.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220118/german-finance-minister-says-high-energy-prices-major-concern-for-european-citizens-1092346402.html

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energy prices, energy market, nord stream 2, gas
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/iranian-government-returns-unauthorized-us-made-vaccines-to-poland-1093318600.html

Iranian Government Returns 'Unauthorised' US-Made Vaccines to Poland

Iranian Government Returns 'Unauthorised' US-Made Vaccines to Poland

The Iranian government has reportedly returned close to a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Poland after discovering the inoculations were manufactured in... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T02:16+0000

2022-02-24T02:16+0000

2022-02-24T04:13+0000

iran

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According to a letter reportedly sent to the Iranian customs authority by the country's health minister, Bahram Einollahi, officials there were repeatedly assured by Polish authorities that none of the dosages would derive from "unauthorised sources"- only to find out that around 820,000 were produced in the US. In the letter, Einollahi reportedly says Poland has since offered to "replace the vaccines with ones from an authorised source".Longstanding animosity between the Iranian government and the US came to a head during the presidency of Donald Trump, when hardliners in the administration pushed a so-called "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign that further isolated the struggling Iranian economy.As the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep the globe in early 2020, the situation in Iran became more desperate, with the head of the Iranian Central Bank going as far as to label the US' refusal to allow Iranians access to critical supplies as "medical terrorism".Months later, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei banned the use of vaccines manufactured by the US, insisting that Iran would instead seek doses from "reliable places". The country has since relied largely on shipments of doses from Russia and China, as well as several of its own shots which were developed locally.Iran is far from the first country to return COVID vaccine doses. Throughout the pandemic, poorer countries have been repeatedly forced to return or dispose of millions of vaccines donated by wealthier nations.In October 2021, Haiti was obliged to return hundreds of thousands of doses to the US to prevent them from expiring. A month later, Nigerian Health Minister Osagie Ehanire announced the African nation will no longer accept vaccines with short shelf lives after the country had to destroy around a million expired donated doses.

https://sputniknews.com/20220223/waste-not-want-not-africa-cdc-to-request-pause-in-covid-19-vaccine-donations--1093284882.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220224/joe-biden-delivers-speech-after-g7-meeting-on-ukraine-1093325304.html

Joe Biden Delivers Speech After G7 Meeting on Ukraine

Joe Biden Delivers Speech After G7 Meeting on Ukraine

Tensions around Ukraine have been escalating over the past few days. Following an appeal from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Russia recognised... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T18:45+0000

2022-02-24T18:45+0000

2022-02-24T18:45+0000

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Sputnik is live from Washington, DC, as US President Joe Biden delivers a speech following a virtual G7 meeting dedicated to the situation in Ukraine. The meeting was held as Russia has launched a special military operation, aiming at the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.The US and their allies previously threatened Russia with another round of sanctions.Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More!

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Joe Biden Delivers Speech After G7 Meeting on Ukraine Joe Biden Delivers Speech After G7 Meeting on Ukraine 2022-02-24T18:45+0000 true PT23M29S

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https://sputniknews.com/20220224/journalists-suspended-from-twitter-condemn-blatant-censorship-over-russia-views-1093314271.html

Journalists Suspended From Twitter Condemn 'Blatant Censorship' Over Russia Views

Journalists Suspended From Twitter Condemn 'Blatant Censorship' Over Russia Views

Just a week after US intelligence officials accused independent news site Zero Hedge of spreading Russian propaganda, another alternative media outlet, ASB... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T00:20+0000

2022-02-24T00:20+0000

2022-02-24T02:05+0000

censorship

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As tensions between Russia and the US-backed Ukrainian regime continue to escalate, the conflict is extending well beyond the military realm. Amid a new kind of conflict that military scholars label hybrid warfare, one of the most compelling targets emerging for the US and Europe seems to be alternative information sources.Politicians in London are currently demanding that Russia Today be banned from British airwaves, while their counterparts in Brussels sanction RT's editor-in-chief. Now, however, it seems the witch-hunt has expanded to those with no discernible links to Russia.On Tuesday, the ASB Military News account on Twitter was slapped with a half-day suspension by the social media giant for an unspecified violation of Twitter rules.' Now, the ASB Military team is denouncing their suspension as part of ongoing efforts to silence dissenting voices.Describing themselves as a team of individuals from Western Europe and North America, the ASB Military content creators, who have declined to provide their real names, say their group first came together two years ago. They report that as individuals, they felt called to action after deciding that the information the Western media provides us with is blatantly false and coming to the conclusion that the general public is being lied to and manipulated to support western foreign policy.This is what motivated us to start ASB Military, and counter western propaganda, they say.So far, at least, theyve enjoyed what many might characterize considerable success. After opening their primary Twitter account in February 2020, they immediately found a core audience and rose to over 66,000 followers in two years by establishing what they describe as a reputation for hard-hitting military reporting. With the consistent ability to obtain raw video from primary sources across the globe, they have on several occasions beaten major mainstream platforms to a scoop. And they do it all, they say, for no compensation.All was going well for the outlet, they noted, until Tuesday, when ASB Military tweeted in response to a call for sanctions on Russia by EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell in which the outlet suggested that [the EU] effectively sanctioned themselves. Borrell promptly deleted his tweet amid widespread mockery. Just hours later, ASB Military reports, we found ourselves suspended from Twitter for 12 hours.Equally as troubling, the unnamed members say, was that the column in which Twitter states the reasoning for suspension was left empty. Instead, there was no explanation whatsoever for the suspension. The ASB Military content providers note that they are not sure if these factors contributed to the suspension, but are adamant that they did not violate Twitter's Terms and Conditions, a fact which they suggest seems to be understood by Twitter since the social media giant isnt able to state what we violated.As the anonymous ASB Military editors detail, this is partly why the suspension feels personal. On the one hand, We live in western countries where freedom of speech is supposed to be guaranteed to anyone and everyone - by law. But beyond the worrying limitations on freedom of speech implied by the suspension, theres a human aspect as well.If history is any guide, theres reason for concern. The ASB Military group points to South Front, a well-known conflict-monitoring outlet banned from Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for what Facebook dubbed coordinated inauthentic behavior. Facebook removes Russian propaganda outlet in Ukraine, announced DFRLabs, a project of the notorious NATO-linked think tank Atlantic Council, just days after the accounts removal.As the ASB Military editors explain, South Front was also an anti-propaganda outlet and touched on sensitive subjects, and questioned the Western narrative- like we do. All of their accounts were banned overnight, without a single word of explanation.To the unnamed content team with ASB Military, and reportedly to much of their audience, Twitters move to silence outlets isnt just unfairit also illustrates the hypocrisy of governments who frequently present themselves as the guarantors of individual freedom in the west.

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 27 one-horned rhinoceros have died in the oldest Chitwan National Park of Nepal in the last seven months.

"We have recovered 27 dead bodies and one carcass since July 16, 2021," Hari Bhadra Acharya, chief conservation officer of the park, told Xinhua.

Clashes for territory among the rhinoceros, killing by tigers, drowning in swamp and poaching are the major reasons behind the deaths, he said.

Much progress has been made in Nepal in increasing the number of endangered species over the years. As to rhinoceros, their population had grown to 752 from 645 in 2015, according to the census conducted in 2021.

The Chitwan National Park is home to 694 rhinoceros in the country, and such a density has contributed to clashes among the animals, Acharya said.

For rhinoceros, the highest death toll was caused by clashes among themselves, followed by attacks of tigers, said Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, information officer at the park.

Two rhinoceros were killed by the poachers for their horns, said Tiwari.

"With an increase in their population, we must now consider their relocation and translocation," said Acharya. "We're looking for favorable places for their relocation and translocation." 
"Today, within hours of Russia unleashing its assault, NATO came together and authorized an activation response plan. This will enable NATOs high-readiness forces to deploy when and where theyre needed to protect our NATO allies on the eastern boundaries of Europe. And now Im authorizing additional US force capabilities to deploy to Germany as part of NATOs response, including some US-based forces that the Department of Defense placed on standby weeks ago," Biden said.
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/new-us-sanctions-to-affect-europe-ukraine-more-than-russia---expert-1093317872.html

New US Sanctions to Affect Europe, Ukraine More Than Russia - Expert

New US Sanctions to Affect Europe, Ukraine More Than Russia - Expert

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The new US sanctions against Russia, imposed in response to Moscows recognition of the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T01:05+0000

2022-02-24T01:05+0000

2022-02-24T01:04+0000

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The United States and its European allies imposed new sanctions against Russia after President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the DPR and LPR. Under new treaties, Moscow pledged to ensure the security of the two Russian-speaking republics. The sanctions target Russias Vnesheconombank (VEB) and the Promsvyazbank Public Joint Stock Company (PSB), the country's sovereign debt, its elites and their families.However, the European and Ukrainian economies will face more serious consequences, he said.Rasmussen did not rule out that the situation in Ukraine will deteriorate even more as the time passes, but he noted that it was possible to avoid such a development if NATO would stop expanding eastward and Ukraine implements the Minsk agreements.At the same time, Rasmussen said the global economy will not suffer as much as the Biden administration thinks it will.Russias decision to recognize the DPR and LPR comes after a significant deterioration of relations along the line of contact amid interference by the United States and its allies. Russia has repeatedly denied having any intention of invading Ukraine.

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us, sanctions, russia, europe, ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/no-russia-did-not-invade-ukraine-1093317551.html

No, Russia Did Not Invade Ukraine

No, Russia Did Not Invade Ukraine

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Austin Pelli talk about Russia being the most useful villain for the US and its allies, billions in... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T07:56+0000

2022-02-24T07:56+0000

2022-02-24T08:47+0000

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fault lines

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No, Russia Did Not Invade Ukraine On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Austin Pelli talk about Russia being the most useful villain for the U.S. and its allies, billions in Covid funds getting handed to fraudsters, and if theres any court willing to convict Hunter Biden for his shady business dealings.

Guests:Jareth Copus - Author, Ukraine, Forever a Pawn | Putin is the Wests Best VillainMark Frost - Economist | Biden Admits Economic Consequences of Russia SanctionsMiranda Devine - Author & Columnist | Whos Willing to Convict Hunter Biden on Shady Business Dealings?In the first hour, Jareth Copus joined the show to talk about how the U.S. worked with Nazi groups after World War 2 which led to fascists in Ukraine demonizing Russia to this day. We also talked about why Putin waited until now to send peacekeeping troops to two volatile regions in Ukraine.In the second hour, Fault Lines was joined by Mark Frost for a discussion on how trillions in Covid relief packages didnt help the average American like it was pitched and how hospitals are diagnosing benign issues as Covid for increased funding. We also talked about the global economic consequences of sanctioning Russia - something which will likely hurt the US more than Russia.In the third hour, Miranda Devine joined the conversation to talk about Hunter Bidens ex-girlfriend and baby momma testifying against him in investigations into his shady business dealings and the likelihood of the presidents son getting convicted on tax evasion and fraud.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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us, fault lines, ukraine, russia, covid-19, economy, hunter biden, , radio
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/nordic-countries-condemn-russian-special-operation-in-ukraine-1093322568.html

Nordic Countries Condemn Russian Special Operation in Ukraine

Nordic Countries Condemn Russian Special Operation in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin previously recognised the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk republics after a new spike in violence by Kiev's forces. 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T05:52+0000

2022-02-24T05:52+0000

2022-02-24T05:52+0000

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Danish Social Democrat Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod has condemned Russia's special operation in Donbass."Denmark completely condemns this heinous attack by Russia on Ukraine", Kofod said, calling it "a repulsive violation of international law".Kofod added that severe sanctions were on the way."Russia bears full responsibility for this unnecessary conflict. We will coordinate closely with allies, partners for the strongest possible international response".Finnish President Sauli Niinisto called Russia's military action in Ukraine "an attack on the entire European security system" in a tweet."I strongly condemn the military measures Russia has started in Ukraine. Russia's acts target Ukraine, but at the same time they are an attack on the entire European security order. We feel deep compassion towards Ukraine and are seeking ways to increase our support to Ukraine", Niinisto tweeted.Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin directed the nation's armed forces to conduct a special operation in the Donbass region. "Ukrainian military infrastructure, air defence facilities, military airfields, and air forces are being neutralised by high-precision weapons", the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.Vladimir Putin previously recognised the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk republics after a new spike in violence by Kiev's forces.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220224/putin-on-military-op-in-ukraine-russia-was-left-with-no-other-choice-1093343293.html

Putin Tells Russian Industrial Leaders Nation Has Prepared for Sanctions

Putin Tells Russian Industrial Leaders Nation Has Prepared for Sanctions

Early on Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military action to "demilitarise" Ukraine, calling the situation "life and death" for... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T16:33+0000

2022-02-24T16:33+0000

2022-02-25T04:48+0000

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Putin reiterated that point on Thursday afternoon, saying there was "no other way" to defend Russia other than to launch the operation.Speaking to leading representatives of Russia's business community on Thursday, Putin said that although the meeting had been planned in advance, it was still taking place "under non-standard conditions".Putin said that the Kremlin had analysed the geopolitical risks of new sanctions by the West, but could not forecast all potential impacts.The Moscow Stock Exchange has already announced that Friday morning sessions for stock and futures trading had been cancelled."Of course, the current geopolitical situation leads to the fact that Russian business will have to work in difficult conditions, taking into account restrictions of various kinds. But I would like to confirm that not only the state, the economy as a whole has learned to survive crises, but also that since 2014, Russian business has learned to adapt to crisis phenomena and, moreover, has learned to solve development problems", Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE), said at the meeting."It will be necessary to implement an import substitution strategy, look for new partners in those countries that are ready to continue cooperation, but of course, a lot also depends on the timeliness and success of the government's activities", the RUIE head added.The US has threatened Russia with sanctions able to crush the Russian economy if it were to take military action inside Ukraine. Following Putin's recognition of the two Donbass republics on Monday, the US, the UK, and Australia imposed a "first tranche" of sanctions targeting Russian state development banks and dealings in Russia's sovereign debt, as well as leading Russian government and social figures.Speaking separately on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky both urged that Russia be cut off from the Brussels-based SWIFT bank wire system. However, US President Joe Biden has previously rejected such calls.

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world, vladimir putin, ukraine, russian union of industrialists and entrepreneurs, us sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/russian-mfa-special-op-in-ukraine-is-not-beginning-of-war-but-attempt-to-stop-global-war-1093334749.html

Russian MFA: Special Op in Ukraine is Not Beginning of War, But Attempt to Stop Global Confrontation

Russian MFA: Special Op in Ukraine is Not Beginning of War, But Attempt to Stop Global Confrontation

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a special military operation on Thursday in order to defend the people of Donbass as well as... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T13:05+0000

2022-02-24T13:05+0000

2022-02-24T14:15+0000

world

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The spokeswoman added that it was the US who had refused to engage in further dialogue with Russia.She clarified that the negotiations between Russia and the US were to focus on global security and stability, among other issues.The delegations were also to discuss the situation in Ukraine, according to Zakharova. The US official message to Russia was about Washingtons unwillingness to conduct negotiations. This took place before Moscow started the special operation in Ukraine, she said.Earlier, she said that the evacuation of Russian diplomatic institutions in Ukraine ended on the night of 24 February."We don't have diplomatic institutions working there.Russian citizens who remain in Ukraine can return to Russia, following the evacuation of the embassy. They can contact the consular offices of the Russian Federation in neighbouring states, Zakharova said on Thursday.Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Moscow was recognising the DPR and LPR. On Thursday he announced the beginning of a special operation in Ukraine aimed at the demilitarisation and denazification of the country, which neighbours Russia. The decision was prompted by the deteriorating situation on the line of contact between Kiev's forces and the Donbass republics, with the Ukrainian Army intensifying the shelling of cities and positions of the DPR and LPR last week. A monitoring mission of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) spotted over 2,000 ceasefire violations, with the LPR saying that the OSCE recorded Kiev violating humanitarian law.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220224/russian-su-25-jet-crashes-due-to-piloting-error-pilot-ejected-and-is-now-safe-at-base-mod-says-1093335585.html

Russian Su-25 Jet Crashes Due to Piloting Error, Pilot Ejected and is Now Safe at Base, MoD Says

Russian Su-25 Jet Crashes Due to Piloting Error, Pilot Ejected and is Now Safe at Base, MoD Says

The Ministry of Defence stated that the incident occurred during a special military operation in Ukraine.

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russia

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plane crash

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The crash happened amid the special military operation in Ukraine, launched on Thursday morning.It came after an escalation in Donbass, with Ukrainian forces shelling the territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. The DPR and LPR appealed to Russia, and Moscow recognised both as independent nations, urging Ukraine to stop the bloodshed in the region.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220224/uk-publishes-new-russia-sanctions-1093344390.html

UK Publishes New Russia Sanctions

UK Publishes New Russia Sanctions

Earlier, European nations and the US vowed to impose on Russia a new round of "severe" sanctions over the launch of a special operation in Ukraine, which they... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T17:06+0000

2022-02-24T17:06+0000

2022-02-24T17:53+0000

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The UK has published a list of new sanctions that it will impose on Russia over its start of a special operation in Donbass to defend the Donetsk and Lugansk People's republics (DPR and LPR). The government added 11 new sanctions listings and slapped over 100 individuals, entities and their subsidiaries with economic restrictions.Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK will slap Russia airline Aeroflot, VTB bank and state company Rostec with sanctions. Their assets in the UK will be frozen.The UK's head of the government also announced broader sanctions against Russia: the export of high-tech and dual-use products to Russia will be banned, all major Russian companies will be prohibited from raising finance on the British markets and limits will be imposed on deposits for Russian citizens in UK banks. Johnson added that the UK will push Russia out of the global economy.The sanctions will also be imposed against Russia's ally, Belarus, which denies reports of taking part in the military operation, Johnson stated.At the same time, the British prime minister said that so far London will not try to cut Russia off from the SWIFT banking system. However, he hinted that the measure is still on the table. Earlier, US media reported that EU countries were discussing the move as a potential nuclear option over Russia's decision to launch the operation in Donbass.The operation was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin early in the morning on 24 February after the Donetsk and Lugansk People's republics (DPR and LPR) asked for protection against Ukraine's attacks. Putin stressed that Russia was left with no alternative after Donbass being shelled for more than a week and the Minsk agreements being abandoned.Putin said the goal of the special operation was to protect the Donbass republics after the "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine. The Russian Defence Ministry repeatedly stressed that armed forces won't attack any cities or civilian infrastructure and will be only aim at the Ukrainian military's targets.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220224/ukraine-crisis-is-part-of-a-new-cold-war-with-russia-and-china-is-nato-a-dead-man-walking-1093318452.html

Ukraine Crisis is Part of a New Cold War with Russia and China; Is NATO a Dead Man Walking?

Ukraine Crisis is Part of a New Cold War with Russia and China; Is NATO a Dead Man Walking?

The US Empire is working to subordinate Europe and subvert its economic partnership with the new Eurasian superpowers. 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T08:44+0000

2022-02-24T08:44+0000

2022-02-24T08:44+0000

the critical hour

juan guaido

nato

ukraine

china

kosovo

craig murray

radio

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Ukraine Crisis is Part of a New Cold War with Russia and China; Is NATO a Dead Man Walking? The US Empire is working to subordinate Europe and subvert its economic partnership with the new Eurasian superpowers.

Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, and researcher, joins me to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. The diplomatic meeting between Antony Blinken and Sergei Lavrov has been canceled. Also, we compare the current crisis in Ukraine to the NATO military attacks and border restructuring in Serbia, Yugoslavia, and Kosovo.Dr. Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, joins me to discuss covid. Vaccine protection against the omicron variant was much weaker than previous variants. Also, there seems to be a significant number of people experiencing heart problems as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.KJ Noh, activist, writer, and teacher, joins me to discuss China. The US Empire is working to subordinate Europe and freeze its economic partnership with the new Eurasian superpowers. Also, China is expressing support for Russia during the standoff with NATO. China argues that the collective West should pay attention to Russia's demands for border security and work through diplomatic channels to resolve these issues.Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins me to discuss the assault on independent journalism in the West. Craig Murray is going back to court to address the distinction made between independent and traditional journalists during his trial. Also, Marine Le Pen has suspended her presidential bid.Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins me to discuss NATO. Scott talks about the current crisis of security interests between the US empire and numerous members of NATO. Is the current crisis a signal that NATO is becoming a public relations nightmare that has outlived its usefulness?Ajamu Baraka, former vice presidential candidate for the Green Party, joins me to discuss how the Ukraine crisis fits into the US empire's imperialist order. Ajamu argues that "the US empire's manufactured crisis in Ukraine cannot be separated from the drive for full spectrum dominance."Robert Fantina, journalist and Palestine activist, joins me to discuss preventative detention. Our guest discusses the use of rules allowing detention without trial or adjudication throughout the US empire and its various vassal states.Steve Ellner, an American scholar, retired professor at the Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela, and author of 12 books including his latest, entitled "Latin American Extractivism," joins me to discuss the Global South. Venezuela joins Cuba in formally announcing its support for Haiti in its quest to shake free from imperial control. Also, Juan Guaido's political support has crumbled as 100 members of his party have quit.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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the critical hour, juan guaido, nato, ukraine, china, kosovo, craig murray, , radio
Canada Slams Sanctions on Russian Lawmakers Who Voted For Recognition of DPR, LPR, As Well as Putin's 'Inner Circle'

"The new amendments impose restrictions on 31 individuals who are key members of President Putins inner circle, close contacts and family members of some individuals already sanctioned by Canada, and 27 key financial institutions. Additionally, the measures impose restrictions against 4 Ukrainian individuals who are pro-Russian agents of disinformation," the Canadian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on late Thursday.

"In addition, the amendments will include 351 members of the Russian State Duma who voted for the decision to recognize the independence of the so-called DNR and LNR [DPR and LPR], as well as new prohibitions in the area of sovereign debt, specifically prohibiting direct or indirect dealings with three central Russian entities, and impose sanctions on two significant financial entities. It is now prohibited for any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada to directly or indirectly transact in, provide financing for or otherwise deal in new Russian debt," the statement noted.

Ottawa also targeted with sanctions the Russian Central bank, many other Russian banks - including Sberbank, VTB and Alfa-Bank - the Russian Finance Ministry and other entities.
BANGKOK, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Thailand on Thursday reported a record daily increase of 23,557 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours, as the Omicron variant continues to spread across the Southeast Asian country.

That brought the total number of infections in the country to 2.79 million, while that of fatalities to 22,768, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

The number of daily COVID-19 deaths was 38, well below the 184 fatalities reported on Aug. 13, 2021, when Thailand recorded its previous record of 23,418 new cases.

Early this week, the Ministry of Public Health raised the COVID-19 alert level from 3 to 4, a category that includes regulations discouraging dining or drinking at restaurants and avoiding public gatherings to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The ministry expected the number of new infections to keep rising in the coming one or two weeks.

The CCSA announced on Wednesday that the country would further ease entry requirement for vaccinated inbound visitors starting next month.

As of Wednesday, 71.3 percent of the country's nearly 70-million population had been fully vaccinated, while 28.2 percent had received booster shots, according to the CCSA. 
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/us-confirms-expelling-no-2-diplomat-at-russian-embassy-1093348663.html

US Confirms Expelling No. 2 Diplomat at Russian Embassy

US Confirms Expelling No. 2 Diplomat at Russian Embassy

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States informed the Russian Embassy in Washington that it is expelling its Minister Counselor in a tit-for-tat move, a State... 24.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-24T21:29+0000

2022-02-24T21:29+0000

2022-02-24T21:31+0000

russia

us

embassy

russian embassy in us

diplomatic expulsions

russian diplomats

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"We can confirm that the United States informed the Russian Embassy that we are expelling its Minister Counselor," the spokesperson said. "The Russian Deputy Chief of Mission previously departed as part of a normal rotation. The Minister Counselor is the next most senior official at the Russian Embassy."The spokesperson said the decision is in response to the Russian expulsion of the Deputy Chief of the US Mission in Moscow.After the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk requested aid to defend themselves from continued attacks by Ukrainian troops, Russia started a special operation in the early hours of Thursday. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the operation is aimed against Ukraine's military infrastructure, and the civilian population is unaffected. Moscow has stated that it has no intention of occupying Ukraine.Later, the Russian Defense Ministry stressed that the Russian Armed Forces has not launched any missile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine: military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation were disabled by high-precision weapons.

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russia, us, embassy, russian embassy in us, diplomatic expulsions, russian diplomats
OMAHA -- Nebraska agriculture experts are closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine and its possible effects on commodity prices and production.

A Russian invasion and blockade of Ukraine jeopardizes the latter countrys wheat exports, which account for 12% of the worlds total, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To prevent supply chain issues, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently told the Associated Press, American farmers will boost wheat production in the event that a full Russian invasion of Ukraine chokes off agricultural exports.

If something happens (in Ukraine)  its going to create some uncertainty and volatility, said Jay Reppe, senior economist for Nebraska Farm Bureau.

With Ukraine also being a major corn exporter, one possible impact of a Russian invasion would be price spikes of the two commodities. Reppe acknowledged that could be beneficial to Nebraska farmers who produce those crops.

He added that it could give the United States more opportunities to bolster its trade relationships with China and the Middle East  two regions that already are major importers of U.S. corn and wheat crops.

Partly in response to the crisis, the futures market on wheat and corn commodities have reflected price increases. As of Wednesday afternoon, the price of a bushel of corn was $6.82 and a bushel of wheat was trading at $8.75. Those prices, Reppe said, were up 27 and 80 cents, respectively, compared to Friday's prices.

With Nebraskas winter wheat already rooted, farmers may look to maximize their yields with additional fertilizer applications, assuming it comes out of dormancy in good shape, said Cory Walters, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincolns agricultural economics department.

While U.S. farmers may benefit from increased wheat and corn prices, they may be on the hook for paying more for fertilizer. Reppe noted that Russia is a big fertilizer exporter. While buyers of Russian fertilizer are primarily European countries, the U.S. imports some as well.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden ordered sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs, joining 27 European Union members who agreed to levy their own initial set of sanctions targeting Russian officials. Russia could respond in ways that push fertilizer prices up.

Theres kind of a trade-off (with) some opportunities in the corn and wheat markets, but higher cost on the fertilizer side, too, Reppe said.

Any short-term gains for the United States from the Ukraine crisis might be offset by long-term effects that could be detrimental nationally and globally.

In an email, Brad Lubben, an associate professor at UNLs agricultural economics department, noted energy markets could be affected. In response to the crisis, Germany announced it was halting the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia  a lucrative deal long sought by Moscow but criticized by the U.S. for increasing Europes reliance on Russian energy.

While we could see gains from the short-run supply constraints that could support global price levels and U.S. export prospects," Lubben wrote, "the state of conflict and continued uncertainty also creates losses for the market and the global economy as a whole over the longer run."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
LINCOLN  Applications are now being accepted for the NE Chambers Leadership Nebraska  the statewide leadership program that prepares Nebraskans who want to play a key role in helping their community and state thrive.

Applications must be received in the NE Chamber office on or before April 15, 2022. Applications can be completed online and submitted, e-mailed or mailed.

Leadership Nebraska is beginning its fourteenth year of developing informed leaders who wish to gain more in-depth knowledge about Nebraska issues, define the problems, develop solutions and achieve positions of higher responsibility. Those who participate in this unique leadership program are selected from different regions of the state. They possess varied backgrounds and diverse talents. Participants should have demonstrated community and professional leadership experiences and should have an abiding interest in Nebraska and its future.

The year-long program consists of six sessions, each of which lasts two and a half days. The sessions cover a broad range of key Nebraska issues  such as economic development, health care, education, agriculture, government and policy.

The depth chart of strong leaders in our communities and state is a key factor in Nebraskas ability to compete and win in the race for talent, new residents, new employers and even new markets, said Bryan Slone, president of the NE Chamber. Leadership Nebraska truly helps develop and connect our next generation of great leaders.

Leadership Nebraskas next class will begin with an orientation retreat in June at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City. Other sessions will be held in August, September, October, November and January. A commencement ceremony will be held in Lincoln in February 2023. The application form and all session dates are posted at www.leadershipnebraska.com.

Tuition for the 2022-2023 class is $3,500, which includes all meals and lodging. Individuals not sponsored by an organization or employer may be eligible for a scholarship, based on financial need. For more information, please contact Leadership Nebraskas executive director, Roberta Pinkerton, at the NE Chamber, 402-480-6918.
Reforming the rules by which the House and Senate operate isnt usually the stuff of breathless headlines. But the high-stakes maneuvering over the Senates filibuster rulespart of Democrats efforts to enact voting-rights changeshas captured a lot of attention recently. The reason is plain: The filibuster rules may be arcane, but they have real-world consequences for what voting will look like in the future.

How Congress operates always has an impact on Americans lives. Which laws get passed, which get blocked, how they get shaped and amended It often comes down to the rules governing Capitol Hill. This is why reforms that would make Congress work better are worth Americans attention.

Theres often a problem with what commentators say or write about the subject, though: They tend to jump into the middle by talking about which specific reforms theyd like to see. Yet theres a basic question to start with: What do you want Congress as an institution to do? In other words, which democratic values should it embody?

This is not easy to answer. Youll often hear that Congress should allow members to express their will on public policy that solves problems in American society. But what does this mean? Surely, the majority should be able to enact its prioritiesbut should it be at the expense of riding roughshod over the concerns of the minority? And Congress needs to search for, address, and decide the problems that Americans want solved.

There are plenty of people who these days call Congress a legislative wasteland. I think thats a bit strong, though its fair to say its not working very well right now. Theres no doubt the US is stronger when Capitol Hill functions effectively.

To some extent, members have recognized this. Back in 2019, the House created the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, with an equal number of members of both parties. In the time since then, its made recommendations on everything from making Congress more accessible to people with disabilities to finding better ways to retain staff to reforming the budget process. But the committee will fold at the end of this year.

Instead, I favor a permanent committee on reform in Congress, one that is able, year after year, to work to improve the operations of Congress. It should tackle problems incrementally, rather than trying to create a big reform package that generates a lot of heat and conflict andif the past is any guidedoesnt get very far. Congress needs to take how it operates seriously, but also recognize the political reality that small changes are easier to swallow than dramatic ones.

There are any number of issues a committee like this could address. One key focus would be the budget process. In the end, congressional power lies in its imprint on the federal budget, and at the moment rank-and-file members have fewer opportunities than they once did to affect the budget.

In part, thats because they have fewer opportunities than in the past to affect legislation in general. A standing reform committee could certainly improve Congresss democratic functioning by finding ways to restore elements of whats known as the regular orderthe hearings, investigations, vigorous amendment process, debate, and room for compromise that used to mark its process.

Similarly, Id argue that its important for members of Congress to meet regularly with the president. Communications between the two branches are often strained, but the truth is, it should not be a big deal for legislators to go meet with the president or members of the White House staff. Theres no reason meetings cant become a regular, normal part of the governing process.

I dont mean to suggest by any of this that congressional reform is the be-all and end-all of improving Capitol Hills effectiveness. The truth is, when a country is deeply dividedas we are nowthose divisions will show up in Congress and make it more difficult to legislate. But a Congress functioning at the top of its game is better equipped to deal with division and disagreement, and to find ways to address the real needs the country faces.
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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
Currently most U.S. surface warships have a basic version of the AN/SLQ-32 (or "Slick 32") that can monitor enemy electronic transmissions in real-time, identify them as much as it can and instantly share the information with nearby U.S. forces.

Since 2019 ships with SLQ-32 have been receiving a series of major upgrades called the SEWIP (Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program). The full name of the SEWIPed gear is AN/SLQ-32(V)7 and it was developed as three major components or Blocks. Block I improved the basic capabilities of SQL-32 and improved the displays and UI (User Interface). Block II improved detection and identification of electronic signals near the ship. The recently released Block III includes major capability upgrades. This means determining how to respond to an attack by identifying which electronic or non-electronic (missile, autocannon) system on the ship is best suited for the task and rapidly using it, as well as what additional defenses are required. The complete SEWIP upgrade enables a ship to make the most of its defensive weapons and quickly incorporate data on new enemy electronic and non-electronic weapons. BLOCK I and II were available in 2019 but the more complex Block III did not begin arriving until 2021.

During the Cold War Russia, as the Soviet Union, was the primary naval opponent and was equipped with advanced electronic sensors and weapons. To deal with this Slick 32 was installed on American ships expected to encounter Russians. The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 and within a few years a much reduced (in population) Russia had taken most of the Soviet era fleet out of service and ceased upgrading electronics and other systems. Over a decade ago Russia resumed upgrading its warship and aircraft electronics.

Meanwhile American warships assigned to the West Pacific (7th Fleet) have been receiving more China-specific electronic sensors and jammers to deal with Chinese weapons that are not exported and expected to only reveal their abilities in an actual shooting war.

The Chinese have been introducing a lot of new radars and other sensors along with ECM (Electronic Countermeasures). SWEP Block III was designed to handle all these as well as new systems and do so fast enough to keep ships protected. To do this SEWIP is taking advantage of more powerful data processing systems to provide each SQL-32 system with rapid machine learning, also called AI (Artificial Intelligence), which quickly analyses unfamiliar signals and makes a best estimate of what a new electronic signal or combination of signals is and what it is capable of. This means which offensive electronic countermeasures; jamming or deceptive signals (spoofing) are best suited to protect a ship.

Slick 32 first appeared in the late 1970s and since then has quietly evolved to deal with new threats. That development continued after the Cold War ended in 1991 as the Russian threat largely evaporated, along with most of the huge Russian fleet. By the late 1990s, it became apparent that the Chinese were picking up where the former Soviet Union left off and since then AN/SLQ-32 has been evolving more rapidly to keep up with new Chinese capabilities. One of the other China-specific items added to the U.S. Pacific based warships is the AN/SLQ-59. This is a TEWM (Transportable Electronic Warfare Module) device only found on 7th Fleet ships. The hardware is a refrigerator-size metal device found mounted on the exterior of warships. The capabilities of the AN/SLQ-59 are one of those military secrets China is eager to obtain. There is little unclassified information about AN/SLQ-59, other than the official name and that it is part of TEWM and related to the larger AN/SLQ-32 family of sensors.

When it comes to EW (Electronic Warfare) the Chinese Navy has one major disadvantage, its relatively small and constricted coastline compared to the United States. This limits the areas where new navy electronic systems can be tested over water without electronic surveillance by foreign nations.

Navies and air forces seek to detect new enemy electronics used in offensive weapons and defensive systems. This is where the U.S. Navy has long had an edge. Not only does the navy have several AGI (Auxiliary General Intelligence, or electronic reconnaissance) ships, but also specialized AGI aircraft. The American military has the largest and most experienced force of long-range electronic surveillance aircraft. What exactly these aircraft are looking for and, more importantly, what they discover, is kept secret. Sometimes the results of discoveries by these surveillance aircraft, and ships, become public.

How important these aircraft are to the Chinese was made clear in the late 1990s when American electronic reconnaissance aircraft were increasingly harassed when found flying off the Chinese coast, outside of Chinese territorial waters (everything 22 kilometers from the coast) but close enough to detect the electronic emissions of Chinese electronic systems. The Chinese were trying to drive off these aircraft and that led to a collision between a U.S. Navy EP-3 electronic reconnaissance aircraft and a Chinese fighter in April 2001.

Since the 2001 EP-3 incident, run-ins between Chinese and US aircraft have continued along the Chinese coast. There have been no more aircraft lost or forced to make emergency landings. The Chinese have increased their numbers of AGI ships. It is feared that China might eventually be able to station EP-3 type aircraft in Cuba or Venezuela but that would still not enable them to monitor U.S. Navy tests of new equipment off the west coast of North America or Hawaii, except occasionally when one of their new aircraft carriers was in the area.

At the time of the 2001 incident, China had begun developing a modern AGI ship. China now has nine Dongdiao class Type 815 AGI vessels. In a tradition stretching back to the Cold War (1948-1991), AGIs regularly show up uninvited at naval exercises held in international waters. There these ships loiter while collecting all the electronic and photographic data they can. What AGI ships cannot do is fly off the coast on short notice to monitor tests of new weapons and sensors.

While the growing number of Chinese warships visiting foreign waters appears threatening, the AGIs are not warships but in many respects are more of a threat. In the last twenty years, China has become a major user of AGIs which, during the Cold War, were mainly used by the U.S. and Russia. The Americans still have a lot of them but Russian AGIs have largely disappeared, and are now replaced by even more capable Chinese models.

The growing military use of electronic sensors and communications (ESM or Electronic Support Measures) has made forces more capable, but also more vulnerable, especially if enemy AGIs spend a lot of quality time monitoring your operations.

As a counter to ESM scrutiny and vulnerability (to detection in combat) equipment can be disguised where possible. Signals can be varied in some circumstances. For equipment that is detected by shape and composition, like aircraft and ships, their shape and substance can be designed to minimize detection. This is the essence of the stealth technology that the United States is applying to a number of vehicles, especially aircraft. Small ships, aircraft, helicopters, and vehicles loaded with sensors do most of the collecting. Low flying satellites are useful for catching signals deep inside a nations territory. UAVs and unmanned surface and subsurface vessels are used also, plus robotic sensors that are left on the ground or sea bottom. The collection involves more than sensors. Recording devices, foreign language interpreters and signal processing equipment also come into play.

Computers are increasingly crucial in sifting through the ocean of data swept up and comparing it to what is already known. Huge libraries of signals are collected, analyzed and boiled down to manageable amounts of data which friendly troops and weapons can use. ESM has been so successful that one entire class of sensors, active sensors, has become endangered. Active sensors detect things by broadcasting a signal. When this signal bounces off something, the sensor detects the bounce back and knows something is out there. This is the basis of radar, which broadcasts microwaves, and sonar, which broadcasts sound. Because of the signal being broadcast, a passive sensor can detect it.

Passive sensors just listen. Because active sensor signals must reach an object with sufficient energy to bounce something back, a vehicle carrying a passive sensor will detect a vehicle carrying an active sensor first. This is what happens when you use a radar detector in your car to detect police speed trap radars. You usually have time to slow down before your illegal speed is detected by the police radar. As users of these devices well know, there is constant competition to come up with better radars and countermeasures. Passive sensors are the hot item in research and development these days and for obvious reasons. Passive sensors are nearly impossible to detect. Passive sensors can also pick a wide variety of signals. Infrared sensors can detect heat, including something as faint as body heat or the hot skin of an approaching jet aircraft.

The growing need for SEWIP and similar equipment has become a large expense for the navy and currently costs several billion dollars a year. That cost is justified by the fact that this tech not only protects ships but collects and classifies data on new enemy systems as they are encountered. Getting information like that first, before the enemy can do it to you, is often a crucial factor in wartime.
Russia claims one of the decisive systems it has deployed against Ukraine since late 2021, for a threatened invasion, are their latest EW (Electronic Warfare) and ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) equipment. This includes the latest version of Krasukha-4. Ukraine has six years of experience with the latest Russian EW/ELINT systems, including Krasukha-4. Since 2015 NATO has been sending teams of technical experts to help Ukraine with the EW threat, and this allowed NATO to get a close look at the new Russian gear. Some of it was impressive, and a definite upgrade to the systems Russia used during the Cold War. NATO was forced to adapt to those Cold War systems, which were a lot more effective against unprepared NATO forces. Since the 1990s, new communications tech appeared, which neutralized or limited the effectiveness of Russia EW equipment. Ukraine also adapted, as they were regularly exposed to Russian jamming after 2014.

New Russian EW gear has received some harsh reviews from users. At the end of 2020 Armenia blamed its defeat in a six-week war with Azerbaijan on Russian electronic warfare equipment purchased in 2017 for $42 million. Armenia received the truck mounted Krasukha-4 ELINT/Jammer system that was supposed to keep hostile aircraft away from Armenian troops. It didnt work, even though Russia sent an updated Krasukha-4 during the war and claims that the upgraded Krasukha-4 was responsible for the loss of several Turkish Bayraktar UAVs. While the latest Krasukha-4 was better, it wasnt enough.

Russia also sent Krasukha-4 to Syria in 2017, where it was used mainly for ELINT. The Turkish UAV is similar to the American Predator and has been very successful in Syria, northern Iraq and Libya. The Krasukha-4 used its passive monitoring systems in Syria but not the jammer, which has a range of 250 kilometers and can disrupt most electronic signals, including datalinks between Bayraktar UAV and their controllers. Unlike many UAVs, the Bayraktar flight control software is not capable of automatically having the UAV return to base if the control signal is lost. In Syria there were no hostile Turkish UAVs to deal with but in Libya there were but Russia did not use Krasukha-4 to degrade the performance of the Turkish UAVs.

The Krasukha-4 also disrupted civilian navigation systems, which are not built with any resistance to this sort of thing. Modern military systems have been designed to cope with Krasukha-4, while Russia continues insist that the latest version really does work. The latest Krasukha-4 upgrade, which is now on the Ukrainian border, is seen by Russia as a key to success if Russian forces do invade. The questionable performance of Krasukha-4 is one of many reasons why Ukrainians do not believe Russia will invade.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing, takes off from the flightline at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Feb. 10, 2022, in support of a deployment to the United Arab Emirates. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Anthony Nin Leclerec)

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SYDNEY, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Australia's two worst-hit states in the COVID-19 pandemic are easing restrictions as authorities thought the Omicron peak has passed, but health experts warned that restrictions can not be removed without thinking of consequences.

In the state of New South Wales (NSW), from Feb. 25, masks will only be required for certain high-risk settings, such as hospitals and public transport. A similar plan will take effect in the neighboring state of Victoria from 11:59 p.m. local time Friday.

The relaxation of mask rules will also apply to schools. In NSW, high school students or staff will no longer need to mask up from Feb. 28 and the same rules will take effect for teachers and staff at primary schools and childcare centers from March 7.

Schools will be able to welcome more visitors onto campuses including parents and will resume activities such as assemblies and school camps.

A twice-weekly rapid antigen test (RAT) for school students and staff will no longer be required from Feb. 28. They will only need to take a rapid test if they have symptoms.

However, given the number of community transmissions and the relatively low vaccination rate of younger children, health experts warned the authorities should be cautious about loosing of restrictions.

More than 20,000 NSW schools children had tested positive for COVID-19 in the first two weeks of the school year and the number of cases among students was rising rapidly, with an almost 50 percent increase between week one and week two, according to reports by the national broadcaster ABC.

Last week, the whole of Year 3 students in a primary school in Sydney were switched back to online learning after a number of students tested positive.

Victoria also identified infections for 18,825 students and 1,934 teachers since the start of the school term, according to the Guardian.

Gaetan Burgio, an expert in infectious diseases from the Australian National University College of Health and Medicine, told Xinhua that given the high number of community infections and relatively low vaccine coverage for children, schools would become one of the major transmission locations.

"The virus is more likely to transmit in unvaccinated peoples. Given the (national) number of cases still oscillates around 10,000 or 20,000 per day, the observed outbreaks are in majority in schools, where the vaccine coverage is relatively low," Burgio said.

There were 27,382 new coronavirus cases reported in Australia till 9:00 p.m. local time Wednesday with 2,322 cases currently in hospitals. 94.32 percent of residents aged 16 and over have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, while only around 50 percent of children aged five to 11 have just received their first doses. Less than 1 percent of children in this age group have been fully vaccinated.

"The Omicron outbreak is not over. The removal of restrictions, such as indoor masks, will lead to a spike in infection and increase the pressure on healthcare burden," Burgio said.

Professor Maximilian de Courten from Mitchell Institute, an education and health policy think tank, told Xinhua that even though on average the virus causes less severe symptoms on younger students, "it is by no means a harmless disease."

"There are still few cases of children ending up in emergency departments ... and the worst is that they can have contacted lots of people who take care of them in families and schools," he said.

Professor Lidia Morawska, director of the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health at the Queensland University of Technology, agreed that many of the restrictions are lifted without thinking about the consequences.

"If the restriction is removed without doing anything to the ventilation to improve air quality, it means the more people in the venue, potentially the more infections," she told Xinhua.

"The same with wearing masks. Even if you have very good ventilation, there are still a lot of infections in the community. If you are in close proximity to somebody, like on public transport when people are very close to each other, the probability of infection in such situation with a very highly infectious virus, like Omicron is very high."

She added that even if sometimes children are not able to wear masks perfectly, the masks are still lowering the risk of transmission so long as they could fit the faces. 
A man who miraculously survived the terror attack on Christchurchs Al Noor mosque on March 15, 2019, will walk the gunmans route from Dunedin to Christchurch starting on the first of March.

Temel Atacocugu, who was shot nine times, wants to raise awareness of childrens mental health struggles and money for mental health charity I Am Hope.

His walk is timed so that he will arrive in Christchurch for the third anniversary of the attacks.

My idea came in July, when I attended the Christchurch Invitation event at the Town Hall. It inspired me to think about what I can do for myself physically and mentally, my community of Christchurch, and New Zealand. A walk for peace and a visible protest against extremism was what I came to, says Temel.

My walk will be a challenge to others to continue the Christchurch Invitation in their own ways, joining the movement for peace in New Zealand. Funds raised through Givealittle campaigns during my walk will go to three charities, Gumboot Friday, The Child Cancer Foundation and Save the Children. Mental health, particularly with regard to children, is a cause very dear to my heart.

Temel getting his cast removed.

The trauma of March 15 will be with me forever. I have PTSD, and have lost count of the number of operations that I have had, and am still having. Ten of them were major. But I also feel I have to stay strong to help in any way that I can to make the future better. It is my personal mission to empower others to reject extremism, war and violence of any kind.

I Am Hope founder Mike King says Temels efforts are astounding.

What Temel is doing is incredible. To have survived the horrific terror attacks of March 2019 and to continue to be affected by it, both physically and mentally, is gut wrenching. When you go through something that is unfathomable to any sane human being, youre changed permanently. You will never be the same again, and you will continue to live with the repercussions of the trauma for the rest of your life, says Mike.

To turn around and turn that pain into a higher purpose that could benefit others, especially our struggling children, is truly humbling. We urge every New Zealander to get behind Temel, and support the cause because it is through helping each other that we all heal together.

Temel will have a support crew of two who will document the challenging journey, plus a number of I Am Hope youth ambassadors, walking some distance behind.

My aim from this walk is to bring communities together through a better understanding of each other. I want to encourage others to give from their hearts, show strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and make their own personal contributions to a peaceful future.

While the physical and mental challenges continue for myself and the affected community, I want to show that I can use my experience with nine bullets to work for a safer future and invite others to join me along the way. By walking through communities, meeting people, and speaking on social and broadcast media, we can touch more people with our stories of strength and our hope for our country. If I can walk this far with a body full of shrapnel, I am sure others can find positive ways forward as well, he says.
A resident who lives near a house at the centre of a homicide investigation in Hamilton says it was a surprise to hear arguing from the home.

Emergency services were called to Vernall St in Nawton around 5.10pm on Monday following reports of an altercation.

Hamilton City area commander Inspector Andrea McBeth says despite efforts from medical personnel, a 37-year-old man at the address was unable to be revived and died at the scene.

Police have launched a homicide investigation.

A homicide investigation has commenced to determine the circumstances of his death.

A scene guard was in place overnight and the scene will be examined in the coming days.

On Tuesday morning, people were seen sitting in chairs on the footpath inside the cordon. Police tape was wrapped around the property and there was a police car at the scene.

Nearby resident, Billy Taitoko told Stuff, as far as shes knew, two men and two children live at the home.

One of the children is in my sons class, her son is 9-years-old.

We walk past the house all the time to go to the park, the family would always greet us. There were always kids playing in the front yard.

Taitoko was walking to the shop on Monday when she noticed it was taped off.

Its sad seeing the tape up, you think stuff like that only happens in the movies. Its only a few doors away, I feel for the whanau, she said.

I heard arguing, but I didn't think it was them. Its not normal to hear noise from that house.

They're pretty quiet.

Taitoko has lived in the Nawton home for three months and said the only arguing comes from a neighbour further down the road.

Another resident, who lives close by to the house, who didnt want to be named, said they noticed a lot of sirens on Monday evening.

He counted five police cars and two ambulances and the house cordoned off between 5.30pm and 6pm when he went to The Base.

He lives behind Vernall Street - and has been in Nawton for six years and hasn't seen anything like this before.

He didn't hear anything unusual before the police turned up. "I thought I heard yelling, but this is Hamilton.

At least died in suspicious or homicidal circumstances in New Zealand so far in .

At the same time last year there had been suspected homicides. Last year's toll closed at .

On average there are homicides in New Zealand each year. The rate of 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people is above the OECD median of 0.95 per 100,000.

The Homicide Report's data is provisional and may change depending on the outcome of investigations and court cases.

-Stuff/Chloe Blommerde and Jo Lines-MacKenzie.
Turkey demands UAE repatriate mob boss Sedat Peker after Interpol red notice

by IANS |

Ankara, Feb 24 (IANS) The Turkish Justice Ministry demanded the United Arab Emirates (UAE) detain and repatriate a Turkish mafia leader after Interpol issued a red notice for him, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.



Sedat Peker, a convicted fugitive, is in the UAE and had been broadcasting videos on YouTube in which he exposed alleged corruption among top Turkish officials, said the Turkish news agency on Wednesday.



He also claimed that public officers were involved in his network's criminal acts, Xinhua news agency reported.



Last year, Turkish courts issued two arrest orders against him on charges of extortion and organised crime.



The Turkish government officially demanded his extradition in June last year, but the UAE did not respond to the request. However, Peker has since stopped publishing videos on YouTube as the UAE officials took him for questioning.



Interpol issued a red notice on February 1, 2022, to search for Peker internationally in 194 countries.



The move of the Turkish Justice Ministry came amid reconciliation efforts between Ankara and Abu Dhabi after years of tension.



Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid an official visit to Turkey's capital Ankara in November 2021, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the Gulf country on February 14, aiming to restore their bilateral relations that were long strained by regional disputes.



In 2013, Turkey and the UAE took rival sides after the latter lent support to the overthrow of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi who was backed by Turkey.



Relations between Turkey and the Gulf country had derailed over their conflict of interests in Libya, the Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Inmates at Longviews Work Release facility will be able to receive visitors again starting this weekend after a roughly two-month suspension to prevent the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

The Washington State Department of Corrections announced Tuesday 10 Work Release facilities and three prisons will reopen visitation due to declining COVID-19 cases. Private visits with immediate family members still are suspended.

Work Release facilities are detention centers that are less restrictive than prisons to help inmates with six months or less left in their sentences re-enter communities.

All 12 of the state Work Release facilities are scheduled to accept visitors except the Brownstone in Spokane and Progress House in Tacoma, the state says. Prison visitations will be allowed at Clallam Bay Corrections Center in Clallam Bay, Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Littlerock and Olympic Corrections Center in Forks.

Male Cowlitz County inmates are transferred to a prison in Shelton, Washington, said Cowlitz County Corrections Director Marin Fox, then transferred to other locations based on their Department of Corrections classification. Women are sent to a Purdy, Washington, facility and remain there, she added.

COVID-19

The nine prisons that are not lifting the visitor ban are considered to have the status of facility-wide outbreak by the Department of Corrections. The state says visitors will be allowed at those facilities once cases drop.

Department of Corrections data shows COVID-19 outbreaks in its prisons were higher in January 2022 than any other time during the pandemic. Cases peaked at 1,926 on Jan. 16 for prisoners and 340 for staff.

Throughout the state, the average prison population in 2021 was 12,546 and the average Work Release population was 342, the state says.

The Longview Work Release facility located on First Avenue houses men and women and offers services like employment assistance and Alcoholics Anonymous, according to the Department of Corrections.

Visitation at prisons were suspended due to the Omicron variant on Jan. 12, then Work Release facilities were suspended the next day. Visitations have been paused several times since the pandemic began, including more than a year at prisons from March 2020 to May 2021.

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Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Fugitive  Cowlitz County sheriffs officers Tuesday arrested Zaccary Bopp, 22, of Kelso, on suspicion of being a fugitive from justice and obstructing a public servant.

Heroin possession  Cowlitz County sheriffs officers Tuesday arrested Blake Brosnahan, 29, of Kelso, on suspicion of heroin possession with intent, failure to obey a police officer, tampering with evidence and driving with a suspended license.

Theft  Longview police officers Tuesday arrested Bradley English, 30, of Longview, on suspicion of theft, resisting arrest, obstructing a public servant and contempt of court.

Fraud  Longview police were alerted Tuesday of a man attempting to pick up gift cards without paying for them at multiple stores.

Burglaries

100 block of Streeter Road, Silver Lake. Tuesday. Residential burglary.

300 block of Hawthorne Street, Kelso. Tuesday. Commercial burglary.

700 block of Pioneer Avenue, Castle Rock. Tuesday. Residential break-in but nothing reported stolen.

Stolen vehicles

1200 block of Coweeman Lane, Kelso. Tuesday. Green 2000 Honda Civic. WA plates.

2600 block of Ocean Beach Highway, Longview. Tuesday. Grey 2005 Honda Civic. WA BOW7261.

200 block of Baltimore Street, Longview. Tuesday. Silver 2013 Ford Fiesta. OR 407GMW. Passenger side window cracked.

Thefts

1900 block of Allen Street, Kelso. Tuesday. Catalytic converter stolen.

300 block of Three Rivers Drive, Kelso. Tuesday. Wallet and phone stolen from locker.

300 block of Three Rivers Drive, Kelso. Tuesday. Wallet stolen from car.

2000 block of Washington Way, Longview. Tuesday. Attempt to steal catalytic converter from car.

Alder and Baltimore streets, Longview. Tuesday. Attempt to take tires from parked car.

Vandalism/malicious mischief

100 block of Crown Point Road, Longview. Tuesday. Call about graffiti.

400 block of Barnes Street, Kelso. Tuesday. Broken window, possibly from break-in attempt over the weekend.

900 block of Eighth Avenue, Longview. Tuesday. Rock thrown through window.

Vehicle prowl

300 block of Horizon Drive, Kalama. Tuesday.

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WorkSource Southwest Washington is hosting a hiring event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the YMCA of Southwest Washington in Longview.

The organization reports 21 companies, like Foster Farms, Bud Clary Auto Group and Community Home Health & Hospice, are scheduled to be at the event.

A representative from Total Employment And Management, or TEAM, said the Longview employment firm also will be at the event and will represent employers such as Corsicana Mattress, Willis Enterprises and the Roof Doctor.

WorkSource says sample positions available to apply for will include jobs in automotive and maintenance, office support, manufacturing and customer service.

The YMCA of Southwest Washington is located at 766 15th Ave., Longview.

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Motorola Edge 30 Pro competes with iQOO 9 and Oppo Reno 7 Pro. Check the expected price and specifications of the smartphone

Motorola Edge 30 Pro is going to be launched today. This will be the companys new flagship smartphone. Following Motorola Edge 20 Pro, which was released in 2021, Edge 30 Pro is likely to feature significant improvements. Leaks suggest that the smartphone will have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which was also seen in iQOO 9 and Samsung Galaxy S22 series. The chipset also goes head to head with Oppo Reno 7 Pro which was equipped with the Mediatek Dimensity 1200-Max. Ahead of its launch, several leaks have suggested what the possible specifications and price of the smartphone may be at launch.

The Motorola flagship smartphone will go on sale via Flipkart soon after its global launch. The Motorola Edge 30 Pro India launch event is scheduled for today, February 24, at 8 PM. Motorola Edge X30 was launched last year in China and the Edge 30 Pro is expected to be based on the same model and carry similar specifications. The smartphone is also expected to be priced under Rs. 50,000.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro specifications

Motorola Edge 30 Pro is likely to have a 6.8-inch FHD+ OLED display with a high refresh rate of 144Hz and a touch sampling rate of 576Hz. Under the hood, it is expected to be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, just like iQOO 9. The smartphone will be backed by a 5,000 mAh battery with 68W fast charging support.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro may sport a triple rear camera setup with a50MP primary lens, a 50MP ultra wide lens and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it will feature a 60MP selfie camera. The smartphone will have up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro price

The smartphone is expected to be available at Rs. 49,999. However, after introductory discounts, it can be available for as low as Rs. 44,999. Those who may be interested, can buy the smartphone after 8PM today on Flipkart, where it will be exclusively available. Considering the specifications of the smartphone, it is geared towards heavy performance. But we will only know the final details after all the features are officially announced.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is now in smartphones under 25000 segment. Check its price and other offers on Amazon.

It is very difficult to choose which smartphone to buy with several tempting options available in the market and several more popping up with the new launches. One major criteria to select one is your budget. But what if we tell you that you can buy a premium phone at a very affordable rate? Yes, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G can be availed at a discount of around 50 percent today on Amazon. Apart from the discount offer, the ecommerce website is also offering exchange and bank offer on the phone. But what needs to be noted is that the deal is valid only for today and you need to grab it before it ends. Check the details below to know more about the offers on Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G on Amazon that have brought it into the smartphones under 25000 category.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G price on Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage in cloud navy colour can be purchased for Rs. 39,990 at a discount of 47 percent against its market price of Rs. 74,999 on Amazon. That is you can buy the phone at a discount of Rs. 35,009. You can reduce the cost of the phone further by availing exchange offer and bank offers.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G price on Amazon: Exchange offer

If you buy Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G with exchange then you can get up to Rs. 15,000 off on Amazon. With the price cut and exchange offer the smartphone will cost Rs. 24,990 on the ecommerce website. However, you need to enter your pin code and check if the exchange offer is available at your place or not. Also, the off on price with exchange depends on the model of the phone you are exchanging and its condition.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G price on Amazon: Bank offer

The bank offers being provided on Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is as under:

1. You can get 10X cashpoints with HDFC Bank MoneyBack+ Credit Cards and 2X reward points with MoneyBack Credit Cards.

2. 10 percent instant discount up to Rs. 1000 on OneCard Credit Card transactions on the minimum purchase value of Rs. 5000.

3. Up to 5 percent cashback on HDFC Bank Millennia Credit Cards.

4. 7.5 percent up to Rs. 2000 instant discount on Standard Chartered Credit Card EMI transactions.

5. 7.5 percent up to Rs. 2000 instant discount on HSBC Credit Card EMI transactions.

6. 5 percent instant discount on HSBC Cashback Card transactions.

How to avail offer

You can avail the offer by selecting an eligible card at the time of checkout. No promo code is required to avail the offer.

About Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Octa-Core processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage with expandable memory up to 1TB, Android 11.0 operating system, among others. It has a 6.5 inch Infinity-O Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and is equipped with a 4500mAh battery. While coming to the cameras, the phone supports a triple rear camera setup that is (12+12+8) along with a 32MP front camera.
Google will remove Chrome Lite after Chrome 100 is rolled out.

Google will be unleashing a major upgrade in coming weeks that will bring several changes to your browsing experience. The upcoming Google upgrade is called Chrome 100. While that may be good news for most users, it spells trouble for those who use Chrome Lite as the company is likely to kill it off. The feature has been available on Android for years, however, it will be removed after Chrome 100 roll out. Chrome Lite for Android is a Data Saver version of the internet browser that was introduced on the platform several years ago. It was designed as a tool for those with slow or limited data connections. Though, its a useful feature, but has become less necessary in recent years. Hence, the tech giant has decided to remove it.

Google, in a help page post, confirmed the news that Lite Mode in Chrome will be removed with the v100 update which is scheduled to be released on March 29. Google explained that the reason for removing this feature is they have seen a decrease in the cost of mobile data in a number of countries in recent years. At the same time, Google also made certain improvements to Chrome to further minimize data usage and improve web page loading. The company will ensure that Chrome delivers a fast web page loading experience on mobile in the future.

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The users who have been using the Chrome Lite mode can still limit the amount of data on their Android smartphone. They can restrict background data for individual apps in settings, limit apps syncing and use some of their offline apps.

What is Chrome lite?

Launched in 2014 as Data Saver feature was later renamed as Lite Mode in 2019. It was designed to help people with slow or limited data connections. When enabled on an Android smartphone, Lite mode sends the user's web traffic through Googles own servers before it is downloaded to their device. If the pages loaded slowly, the search giants servers simplify them to minimize the data consumption. .

Although it helps those with less mobile data, the feature does not work when private browsing is enabled and prevents users from accessing pages on a local network.
Our home, the Milky Way Galaxy, has begun colliding with the Andromeda Galaxy! What will be the impact on the Earth? Find out what NASA says, courtesy Hubble Space Telescope!

Get set for some shocking news! In 2012, NASA warned us all that one day our Milky Way galaxy, that contains the entire solar system including the Earth, is headed for a crash with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy. But the event was not supposed to happen for another 4.5 billion years. But now, new research reveals that the process may have already begun! Yes, you read that right. This galactic event is a scary situation. When galaxies collide, new stars are born and gravitational forces are redefined, changing the entire galactic architecture. The obvious question here is that, will the Earth and the solar system survive this massive space catastrophe? Read on to find out.

First reported by Earth Sky, new research has revealed that the galactic merger between the Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy may have already started. The research was based on Project AMIGA (Absorption Maps of Ionized Gas in Andromeda) in which the Hubble Space Telescope took a comprehensive look at the space around the Andromeda galaxy. NASA called it the most comprehensive study of a halo surrounding a galaxy. Now, the research, which was published in the peer-reviewed Astrophysical Journal, states that the process of galactic collision is already underway.

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The Milky Way is crashing into Andromeda: Will Earth survive?

According to the research, the halo of both the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy have started touching each other. The halo of a galaxy is essentially a large layer of gasses, space dust and outlier stars that surrounds a galaxy. These halos determine the true extent of a galaxy. However, detecting them is not easy. It is because these halos are so faint, telescopes often glance over them without noticing. Only by long exposures at a certain wavelength, they can be seen. Project AMIGA of the Hubble Space Telescope did exactly that and found out the true extent of Andromeda. What it also told us shockingly, is that the collision predicted for 4.5 billion years later by NASA, is happening right now. This will affect the Earth and our entire solar system.

When the merger begins, it will be a trillion stars of Andromeda Galaxy merging with 300 billion stars of the Milky Way. Stars from both the galaxies will fall into new orbits around the newly merged galactic center. According to NASA scientists who were involved in the 2012 research, it is likely that our solar system will be flung to a new region of the galaxy. But they also assured that the Earth and the solar system were not in danger of being destroyed.

But what about life on Earth? The eventual merger is still at least 2.5 billion years away. So our home planet and the solar system is safe until then. But after that, it is bad news for Earth. Depending on the position of the solar system, Earth can be exposed to more radiation from nearby stars resulting in inhospitable temperatures. Earth can also be trapped in a gravitational trap and can have its orbit shift. And even the slightest of change will drastically affect the climate and living conditions on the planet.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (R) meets visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (L) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 24, 2022. Hun Sen and his visiting Malaysian counterpart on Thursday vowed to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era for mutual benefits. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and his visiting Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Thursday vowed to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era for mutual benefits.

The commitment was made during their around two-hour talks at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.

Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, Hun Sen said the discussions touched on bilateral relations and cooperation in trade and investment, defense and security, tourism, education, labor, and the post-pandemic economic recovery.

"We focused on cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and vowed to further promote bilateral trade, investment, health, tourism, science and technology, and the people-to-people exchanges with the view to bolstering the post-COVID-19 economic recovery," he said.

"We are also committed to strengthening cooperation in human resource development, labor, digital and green economy to achieve long-term healthy growth and sustainable development for the benefits of the two peoples," he added.

According to Hun Sen, trade volume between the two countries was valued at over 500 million U.S. dollars in 2021, up from 442 million dollars in the year before, and Malaysia was the third largest investor to Cambodia in the last five years.

"We were pleased to see an increase in bilateral trade despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19," he said. "We hope our bilateral trade volume will continue to rise this year."

Ismail Sabri said the two ASEAN members had significant room for further growth in trade and investment volumes, adding that Malaysia was interested in exploring commercial collaboration in information and communication technologies, fintech, and small and medium-sized enterprises sectors in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian prime minister said that Malaysia would reopen its borders for international travelers in the near future after the country achieves its high vaccination rates against the COVID-19.

"When our international borders are fully reopened, Malaysia will further increase bilateral cooperation with Cambodia in various sectors," he said.

In the ASEAN framework, he fully supported Cambodia's ASEAN chairmanship in 2022, vowing to work closely with the chair to maintain the bloc's centrality, unity, peace, stability, sustainable development and prosperity.

Ismail Sabri arrived in Cambodia on Wednesday for a two-day official visit. 

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob inspect the guard of honor in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 24, 2022. Hun Sen and his visiting Malaysian counterpart on Thursday vowed to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era for mutual benefits. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)
Air New Zealand posted a record interim loss Thursday and warned the airline is set to plunge further into the red as it faces the most difficult year in its history.

The flag carrier, which is majority owned by the New Zealand government, said half-year losses blew out almost four-fold to NZ$272 million ($185 million), from NZ$72 million a year earlier.

It said the airline was on track for a full-year loss exceeding NZ$800 million amid rising fuel prices and ongoing Covid restrictions at the New Zealand border.

Chairwoman Therese Walsh said the 2022 financial year, which runs to June 30, would be "the most difficult one yet for the airline" as the pandemic only affected the last quarter of financial 2020 and government subsidies softened the blow in 2021.

"The 2022 financial year has and will continue to be much more heavily impacted, both by continued suppressed demand and rising costs," she said.

The airline said it planned to tap the market for a capital raising around the end of March and the government had agreed to participate.

Air New Zealand has not specified how much equity it is seeking under the plan, which was postponed twice in 2021 due to adverse market conditions.

Chief executive Greg Foran said Air New Zealand's international passenger networkwhich normally provides about two-thirds of total revenuewas effectively grounded during the June-December 2021 reporting period.

Foran said lockdowns, particularly in the country's largest city Auckland, also affected domestic passenger numbers.

He was encouraged by New Zealand's plan to slowly reopen the border over the next eight months, beginning on Monday when Kiwis arriving from Australia can self-isolate instead of going into hotel quarantine.

"We have the right strategy, the right people and we are ready to fly," he said.

"We're excited about welcoming Kiwis home in the coming days and months and international travellers back to Aotearoa (New Zealand) later in the year."

 2022 AFP
Green-screen composition of a user exploring a network map with a rare disease focus in Virtual Reality environment. Credit: Christiane V.R. Hutter, published in Nature Computational Science 2022.

When visualizing data using networks, the type of representation is crucial for extracting hidden information and relationships. The research group of Jorg Menche, Adjunct Principal Investigator at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Professor at the University of Vienna, and Group leader at Max Perutz Labs, developed a new method for generating network layouts that allow for visualizing different information of a network in two- and three-dimensional virtual space and exploring different perspectives. The results could also facilitate future research on rare diseases by providing more versatile, comprehensible representations of complex protein interactions.

Network visualizations allow for exploring connections between individual data points. However, the more complex and larger the networks, the more difficult it becomes to find the information you are looking for. For lack of suitable layouts, so-called "hairballs" visualizations emerge, that often obscure network structure, rather than elucidate it. Scientists from Jorg Menche's research group at CeMM and Max Perutz Labs (a joint venture of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna), developed a method that makes it possible to specify in advance which network properties and information should be visually represented in order to explore them interactively. The results have now been published in Nature Computational Science.

Reducing complexity

For the study, first author Christiane V. R. Hutter, a Ph.D. student in Joerg Menche's research group, used the latest dimensionality reduction techniques that allow visualizations for networks with thousands of points to be computed within a very short time on a standard laptop. "The key idea behind our research was to develop different views for large networks to capture the complexity and get a more comprehensive view and present it in a visually understandable waysimilar to looking at maps of the same region with different information content, detailed views and perspectives." Menche Lab scientists developed four different network layouts, which they termed cartographs, as well as two- and three-dimensional visualizations, each following different rules to open up new perspectives on a given dataset. Any network information can be encoded and visualized in this fashion, for example, the structural significance of a particular point, but also functional features. Users can switch between different layouts to get a comprehensive picture. Study leader Jorg Menche explains that "using the new layouts, we can now specify in advance that we want to see, for example, the number of connections of a point within the network represented, or a particular functional characteristic. In a biological network, for instance, I can explore connections between genes that are associated with a particular disease and what they might have in common."

The interplay of genes

The scientists performed a proof-of-concept on both simple model networks and the complex interactome network, which maps all the proteins of the human body and their interactions. This consists of more than 16,000 points and over 300,000 connections. Christiane V.R. Hutter explains that "using our new layouts, we are now able to visually represent different features of proteins and their connections, such as the close relationship between the biological importance of a protein and its centrality within the network. We can also visualize connection patterns between a group of proteins associated with the same disease that are difficult to decipher using conventional methods."

Tailored solutions

The flexibility of the new framework allows users to tailor network visualizations for a specific application. For example, the study authors were able to develop 3-D interactome layouts specifically for studying the biological functions of certain genes whose mutations are suspected to cause rare diseases. Jorg Menche adds that "to facilitate the visual representation and also analysis of large networks such as the interactome, our layouts can also be integrated into a virtual reality platform."

Explore further VR visualization supports research on molecular networks

Provided by CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
In this photo taken Nov. 17, 2014, a Toyota Motor Corp.'s new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle Mirai arrives at a charge station near Toyota's showroom in Tokyo. Four Rocky Mountain states announced plans Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, to cooperate on making the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, more readily available and useful as fuel for cars, trucks and industry. Credit: AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File

Four Rocky Mountain states will cooperate on developing ways to make the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, more available and useful as clean-burning fuel for cars, trucks and trains, the states' governors announced Thursday.

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming will plan a "hydrogen hub" to be built somewhere in the region, drawing from $8 billion in recently approved federal infrastructure funding for four or more such regional hubs in the U.S.

"This coalition represents a shared vision for the future of hydrogen in the Mountain West region," Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said in a joint statement with governors Jared Polis of Colorado, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Spencer Cox of Utah.

The Western Inter-State Hydrogen Hub will have facilities in all four states under plans to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy, according to an agreement signed Wednesday.

Goals will include economic development and the "latest science, research and technology for cost-effective generation, transportation, and use of clean hydrogen," the states' agreement said.

Hydrogen has long been eyed as an abundant, clean fuel. Companies including major auto manufacturers have been developing hydrogen-fueled cars, trucks, buses and trains.

Hydrogen can be derived from water using an electric current and when burned emits only water vapor as a byproduct. The fuel could theoretically reduce greenhouse emissions and air pollution, depending on how it's obtained.

As with electric vehicles, however, hydrogen's potential has been limited by infrastructure. Lack of fueling stations limits the market for hydrogen-fueled vehicles. Few hydrogen-fueled vehicles limits investment in producing and moving hydrogen.

In New Mexico, Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, has amid criticism pushed aggressively to attract private investment and federal dollars for hydrogen production and distribution.

"Hydrogen is coming everywhere in the country," Lujan Grisham said last week at the close of the state's annual legislative session. "My job is to make sure we have the right safeguards and effort."

Critics point out that as it's now produced, hydrogen isn't green, carbon-free or unlimited. Currently nearly all hydrogen commercially produced in the U.S. comes not from water but natural gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

While advocates say using fossil fuels to produce hydrogen now can help to develop a clean industry later, environmentalists are skeptical.

"It's essentially a push for expanded oil and gas development. More oil and gas development is completely at odds with the need to confront the climate crisis and drastically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels," Jeremy Nichols with the Santa Fe, New Mexico-based environmental group WildEarth Guardians said by email.

Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming rank seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively, for U.S. onshore gas production. Utah also is significant gas-producing state, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Explore further Estimating the future cost of hydrogen fuel for transport in India

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


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1 event to mark on your calendar

The Brazos County Senior Citizens Association will host a free health fair from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 13 at 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan. Blinn College nursing students will screen for high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, vision and hearing issues and answer health- and medical-related questions. For more information, call 822-6873.

WEDNESDAY

EVENTS

Astronomy on Tap, 7 p.m. at Grand Stafford Theater, 106 S. Main St. in Downtown Bryan. Presentations on stars and galaxies. Free and open to all ages.

Tigers Be Still, 7 p.m. at the Student Center Theatre on the Blinn College Bryan campus, 2423 Blinn Blvd. in Bryan. General admission tickets are $5 and available at blinn.edu/boxoffice. Performances are also scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Recommended for ages 13 and older.

Making Things Easier, 5 p.m. at The Stella Hotel, 4100 Lake Atlas Drive. A meet-up and book signing with author Chris Westfall. Tickets are $25 and includes a signed copy of Westfalls latest book, Easier. Get tickets at bit.ly/stella-easier.

Negotiating the USMCA: Domestic and International Challenges, 6 p.m. at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center, 1002 George Bush Drive in College Station. U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, the Republican leader of the House Ways and Means Committee, will discuss the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

Salvation Army food distribution, beginning at 9 a.m. at 2506 Cavitt Ave. in Bryan. Food will be distributed to those in need until supplies run out.

One Million Cups, 8:30 a.m. at Lake Walk Innovation Center, 3891 S. Traditions Drive in Bryan. A weekly meeting that brings entrepreneurs and community members together for coffee and conversation.

Comedy night, 9 p.m. at 3rd Floor Cantina, 201B W. 26th St. in Downtown Bryan. No cover charge. Open mic starts at 8:30 p.m.

Pool tournament, 8 p.m. at Bottlenecks, 1789 F.M. 60 in Deanville. $10 entry fee.

Story time for Babies and Toddlers, 10 a.m. at Clara B. Mounce Public Library, 201 E. 26th St. in Bryan. A musical, puppet-filled story time for children ages 3 and under.

Ready to Read story time, 10:30 a.m. at Clara B. Mounce Public Library, 201 E. 26th St. in Bryan. Longer stories geared toward children ages 4 to 6 years old.

Tween Craft Hour, 4 p.m. at Larry J. Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Parkway in College Station. For ages 8 to 12. Registration is required. Email earthur@bryantx.gov for information.

COVID-19 TESTING

St. Teresa Catholic Church, 201 Hall St. in Bryan, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On-site registration accepted. curative.com.

New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1505 Dansby St. in Bryan, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On-site registration accepted. curative.com.

Kohls parking lot kiosk, 1509 Texas Ave. in College Station, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Rapid PCR testing. On-site registration accepted. curative.com.

Blinn College, 651 Blinn Blvd. in Brenham, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. On-site registration accepted. curative.com.

Rudder Plaza kiosk, 275 Joe Routt Blvd. on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For Texas A&M students, faculty and staff members. Appointments required.

Mays Plaza kiosk, 210 Olsen Blvd. on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For Texas A&M students, faculty and staff members. Appointments required.

A.P. Beutel Health Center, 311 Houston St. on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For Texas A&M students, faculty and staff members. Appointments required.

EXHIBITS

Oceans of Plastic at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station. A collection of art made from plastic pollution acquired from beaches along the Texas coast. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults, and tickets must be purchased at bush41.org/visit/admission.

Unexpected Treasures on the Texas A&M campus, through April 22 at the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives. The exhibit includes rare and unique items from campus collections. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Astrophotography: Exploring Celestial Mysteries, through March 19 at the Arts Council of Brazos Valley, 4180 Texas 6 in College Station. A collection of work by Randall Light, a photographer and member of the Brazos Valley Astronomy Club. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Lovin That Lone Star Flag, through April 2 at the Arts Council of Brazos Valley, 4180 Texas 6 in College Station. A collection of work by E. Joe Deering. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Taking Shape: Geometry in Art, through March 9 at the J. Wayne Stark Galleries in the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station. The exhibit features works by artists who expressed themselves and the world around them through geometric forms, optical illusions and abstraction. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. tx.ag/geometry.
WASHINGTON  The surly drums of war  a phrase from Winston Churchill, who knew the soundtrack of European history  again reverberate on a continent that thought it had heard the last of them. It has not even heard the last of Otto von Bismarck.

Vladimir Putin is emulating Bismarck, who used three quickly decisive wars  against Denmark in 1864, Austria in 1866 and France in 1870  to create a unified modern Germany from what had been a loose confederation of states.

Denmark lost a third of its territory and 40% of its population. Prussias seven-week war against Austria established the Hohenzollern dynasty, which Bismarck served, as dominant within the confederation. The Franco-Prussian War sealed Germanys unity.

By acquiring land, some German-speaking populations and an aura of national vitality, Bismarcks wars of national creation stoked cohesion.

Putin believes, or wants the world to believe that he believes, that his war against Ukraine, now entering its ninth year, is an act of re-creation, bringing Ukrainians home to the community from which they were sundered when the Soviet Union expired.

If Putin succeeds in reducing Ukraine to satellite status, and in inducing NATO to restrict its membership and operations to parameters he negotiates, he might, like Bismarck, consider other wars  actual, hybrid, cyber. The Baltic nations  Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, all NATO nations  should worry.

Todays crisis echoes 1938, when Hitler stirred the restiveness of separatists: ethnic Germans in Czechoslovakias Sudetenland.

Therefore, todays crisis also echoes 1918, when President Woodrow Wilson embraced self-determination as a universal right and an imperative principle of action.

His secretary of state Robert Lansing wondered, What unit has he in mind? Does he mean a race, territorial area, or a community?

Wilson mistakenly assumed that nations and peoples are synonyms, or that they designate coterminous entities. In Putins plan to dismember Ukraine by embracing self-determination for ethnic Russian separatists, he, like Hitler in 1938, is exploiting careless rhetoric that ignores the fact that ethnicities do not tidily coincide with national boundaries.

Lansing, who called Wilson a phrase-maker par excellence, warned that certain phrases of Wilsons have not been thought out. The undigested phrase self-determination is simply loaded with dynamite.

Nevertheless, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Churchill, in their Atlantic Charter of August 1941, affirmed the right of self-determination for all peoples, which the United Nations Charter also affirms.

In 2015, the year after Putin sliced Crimea off Ukraine, his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said Russias annexation was merely a response to the people of Crimea invoking the right of self-determination.

This phrase can be used to sanitize the dismemberment of Ukraine  and some other nations (see above: the Baltics). And perhaps can reduce nations supposedly supporting Ukraine to paralytic dithering about whether sanctions, or which sanctions, are an appropriate response to an aggression wielding a Wilsonian concept.

It must delight Putin to employ an American saints piety in an act of anti-American realpolitik. Much of Putins geopolitics consists of doing whatever opposes U.S. policy. Call this the Nelson Rule.

Before the Battle of Trafalgar, Lord Nelson, meeting with some of his officers, reportedly picked up a fire poker and said, It matters not at all in what way I lay this poker on the floor. But if Bonaparte should say it must be placed in this direction, we must instantly insist upon its being laid in some other one. Regarding the United States, Putin is Nelsonian.

In 2013, President Barack Obama grandly declared that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must go. Putin decided that Assad must stay. Nine years later, Assad is still there, partly because of Putin.

Practice supposedly makes perfect, but not yet for Putins regime. It has had abundant experience with lying, but this has not made it an even competent liar. When leaders of the pro-Russian separatist movement in eastern Ukraine released videos claiming attacks on ethnic Russians, it was quickly established that the videos were recorded two days before the separatists said the attacks occurred.

But raw power lubricated by audacious lying is Bismarckian. In July 1870, the French ambassador to Prussia asked King William of Prussia for certain assurances, which the king declined to give. Bismarck edited a telegram describing this conversation to make the episode resemble an exchange of insults.

Passions boiled in both countries, and France declared war, which Bismarck wanted because he correctly thought war would complete the welding of the German states into a muscular nation.

Bismarck was clever. Putin, with his feral cunning, might be a clever imitator.

George Wills email address is georgewill@washpost.com .
In New Orleans, rum is a given in cocktails, like the citys signature Hurricane . But it also makes a surprisingly delicious appearance in desserts as well.

New Orleans and rum go hand in hand, says Kate Heller, owner of Leos Bread bakery. Rum and desserts are a part of this city's history like no other  just look at Bananas Foster. Distilling is a big part of our culture, as are sweet treats. People all around town are exploring how to use what the city has to offer in distilling and baking.
COLOMBO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's health authorities have urged citizens to get their COVID-19 vaccines as 900,000 locals were yet to receive their doses due to an anti-vaccination movement spreading across the country, local media reported here Thursday.

Epidemiology Unit Director of the Health Ministry, Samitha Ginige quoted in the Daily Mirror said that 17.6 million people above 12 years of age were eligible to get the vaccines in Sri Lanka, but the total number administered with the first dose stood at 16.7 million as of Wednesday.

He said those who were hesitant to take the vaccines were misguided and were believing myths and misconceptions.

Sri Lanka is rolling out the booster shots to all those aged above 20, however, Ginige said over 1.1 million people aged above 60 had not taken the booster despite constant reminder, which was worrying as they were more vulnerable to succumb to COVID-19.

Sri Lanka has, in recent weeks, recorded a rise in COVID-19 infections due to a spread of the Omicron variant with over 1000 new infections being reported daily.

Health authorities have urged the public to seek immediate medical treatment if they develop any of the COVID-19 symptoms and get vaccinated without further delay.

To date, Sri Lanka has recorded 640,578 COVID-19 infections since March 2020 and 16,086 deaths. 
WOOD RIVER  A Kansas man is in the Hall County Jail after driving the wrong way on Interstate 80 early Thursday morning near Wood River.

Around 2:20 a.m. a Nebraska State Patrol trooper saw an Acura MDX traveling west in the eastbound lanes of I-80 near Wood River. The trooper pulled the vehicle over in the median.

When the officer tried to contact the driver, a NSP news release says the sport utility vehicle fled the scene, and continued traveling west in the eastbound lanes of I-80. A short time later, the trooper successfully performed a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) to bring the SUV to a stop.

The driver refused to exit the SUV, the release said, and as troopers attempted to remove the driver from the SUV, he allegedly kicked a trooper multiple times.

The driver, Casey Jasper, 31, of Chanute, Kansas, was arrested on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, driving under the influence of alcohol, willful reckless driving, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, assault on an officer, and several other charges.

Reports on the incident will be forwarded to the Hall County Attorneys Office for possible prosecution.
The Legislature has launched a formal investigation into a workplace sexual harassment complaint lodged against former state Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte who abruptly resigned over the weekend in the wake of allegations by a female member of his staff.

At the same time, Attorney General Doug Peterson informed Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha that "we will begin our review of the matter" in a response to her request for an investigation of what transpired.

Hunt requested such a probe in a letter to the attorney general and the Nebraska State Patrol.

Groene is accused of taking photos of the staff member without her knowledge and then distributing them in private communications accompanied by allegedly inappropriate remarks.

Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board, informed his colleagues that he has named Sens. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, John Arch of LaVista and Tom Briese of Albion to launch a formal investigation and hire an outside investigator to conduct an official legislative probe.

"I am aware of no evidence that any other senator or staff were involved in, shared or received pictures from Sen. Groene," Hughes told members of the Legislature.

"Legislative IT staff searched Sen. Groene's laptop and his personal cellphone, including his e-mails and hard drives. They discovered no evidence that Sen. Groene sent pictures to any third party, and not to any senator or staff," he said.

The uproar over the fast-moving weekend disclosure that prompted Groene's abrupt resignation occupied the Legislature's morning session Tuesday with a number of female senators challenging their male colleagues to deal with the reality of sexual harassment and discrimination which they said they have confronted throughout their lives and during incidents within the Legislature.

"You need to listen to us," Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said after filing a legislative motion that required all senators to return to the floor of the Legislature if they were not already there to hear what they had to say.

The ensuing discussion then consisted almost solely of remarks by the Legislature's female senators directed at their male colleagues as well as all American males.

"We minimize these things so often," Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington said.

"It happens to so many of us," Sen. Jen Day of Omaha said.

"You can do better," Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue said.

"We need an outside formal investigation," Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln declared.

"I stand with you as an ally," Sen. Julie Slama of Sterling, who often is in disagreement with many of her female colleagues, said. "I'm all in."

Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha was the only male senator other than Hughes to participate in the debate.

"I'm committed to address this," he said. "It's not just Groene's actions; it's the culture."

Hughes said the three-member committee he has appointed will prepare a report following its investigation that will be shared with the public as well as the Legislature.

"I want to stress that if the panel uncovers evidence of any potential criminal activity, that information will be referred to the attorney general for appropriate action," he said.

"Further, while the information to date has shown that Sen. Groene acted alone, and that no other senators or staff were aware of his actions, if the formal investigation uncovers that more individuals were involved, or were aware and did nothing, appropriate action will be taken."

Hughes told his colleagues that he is aware of "no evidence that any senator, whether on the Executive Board, or otherwise, or any staff, discouraged the complainant from exercising her rights."

Gov. Pete Ricketts will appoint a replacement to serve out the rest of Groenes term.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon
KEARNEY  When Carma Womeldorf was just eight years old, she couldnt tell twins Allen and Alvin Edwards apart. Well, she said, Ill just marry them both!

Thats exactly what she did.

In her later years, she said she had three As in her life: Allen, Alvin and Alzheimers.

Allen was her first husband. Alvin, nicknamed Al, was her second husband. Carma married him after Allen died in an accident. Alzheimers was the third A and the final chapter in their unusual love story.

Identical and inseparable

The story begins on Feb. 23, 1931, the day Allen and Alvin were born on a farm six miles south of Dallas, S.D. Their mother told them apart by the small wart on Als left knuckle.

Like many identical twins, they developed their own language. They always dressed alike. They attended a one-room school. We were inseparable growing up. All of my early experiences were as we, not 'I', Al said. That included meeting Victoria Carma Womeldorf, known as Carma, in Sunday school when they were 5 years old.

As teenagers, the boys and Carma formed a trio. Allen and I liked to go to the show on Sundays in the summer if we could get a ride to town, and wed see Carma and her friend Sally, Al said as he reminisced not long ago. Wed go to the movies and then get ice cream. Wed sit across from them at the ice cream parlor.

A strange feeling

Carma was the only girl Allen ever dated. Their romance began in 1945, when Allen was a high school freshman, but Al often tagged along on their outings. Wed ride in the pickup. Shed sit between us and listen as the two of us talked, Al said.

After graduating from Dallas High School in 1948, Al attended South Dakota State University. In 1951, he left college and joined the U.S. Marines. Carma and I went on very different paths, but we stayed in close contact, he said.

She and Allen married in 1948 and had two daughters, Linda and Marci. In February 1953, Allen died suddenly from a severe blow to the head in a farm accident.

Al, then stationed with the Marines in California, had a strange feeling that afternoon and declined an invitation to go off base with friends that evening. I waited in the barracks, where I received the call that Allen had passed away, he recalled. Within six months, Carma had lost her husband, her father and her grandmother.

A new life

Al stayed in close contact with Carma, and one year later, on Feb. 21, 1954, just two weeks after his honorable discharge, he married Carma and became a stepfather to Linda, then 6, and Marci, not quite 2. Al and Carma eventually had three children of their own: Janice, Tom and Genelle.

After their wedding, they moved to Manhattan, Kansas, where Al resumed his veterinary studies at Kansas State University. Tuition was $124 per semester. They rented an apartment for $27 a month. Carma, an excellent bookkeeper, typed theses for foreign veterinarians and babysat as she raised her small children. When Al graduated in 1959, he did carpentry work to pay off his $400 college debt.

He then joined Dr. Harold Seversons animal clinic in Winner, S.D., just 26 miles from where he had grown up, but within a few years, he was eager to establish his own practice. The Marine Corps had given me backbone. Im a tough Swede. I wanted to be on my own, he said.

Life in Ainsworth

In 1962, on a Saturday drive to Ainsworth, they met an Ainsworth veterinarian who was eager to retire. On the spot, he sold them his practice, so they moved 80 miles south and took over his practice. Eventually, Al built a new clinic. He learned to fly, too.

I bought a Super Cub in Ainsworth. I had just two lessons, but I had flown quite a bit with a friend, he said. His first landing strip was on an 18-acre alfalfa field next to his clinic. I had clients 50 miles away across the Niobrara River. Id put skis on the plane in the winter so I could land on the Sandhills, he said.

Later, when he built a new vet clinic outside of town, he used the runway from the old World War II airport.

Life was busy. He built an indoor arena because his children were active barrel racers who showed calves and horses at 4-H events. He wrote for a veterinary journal and spoke all over the Midwest. Initially, he turned down a job offer from Kansas State. I was having too much fun. I loved to fly, and we were getting busier. I had two people working for me, he said.

A move to Kansas

But finally, after 13 years in Ainsworth, he accepted a job at Kansas States veterinary college. He taught while earning a doctorate in veterinary pathology. His research earned him an invitation to speak to the World Veterinary Congress.

Carma assisted with his clinic in Ainsworth while raising a family and doing bookkeeping. In Kansas, she worked part time in a high-class dress shop. She was also an expert quilter and painter.

Al traveled extensively as part of his job, but never alone. Carma always went with him. Al said, I dont leave home without her.

She rode a camel in Egypt. We saw wildebeests in Kenya. We went up the Nile. It turns out Prince Philip of England was on our boat, and Carma danced with him in a circle dance. No cameras were allowed, he said.

Retiring in Kearney

Sixteen years ago, after retirement, Al and Carma moved to Kearney, where two of their children lived. They joined Golden K Kiwanis and took to the road in their mobile home, spending winters in Yuma, Arizona, or Florida, and summers in the Black Hills or Alaska. Carma researched every destination they visited.

Weve driven all across Canada. Weve been to 50 states. We drove to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and whale-watched in Alaska. In New Zealand, we stayed at a place where they generated electricity with the tides. One other place we stayed cooked with thermal heat, he said. Thermal heat, in fact, provided energy for the entire town.

He and Carma also came to Kearney to see the sandhill cranes for 20 years.

Alzheimers intrudes

In 2012, Carma was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Life slowed down, but their love did not. In recent years, they moved to an assisted living apartment at Kinship Pointe Northridge. They each had recliners so they could hold hands while taking a nap. If Al wore khakis, Carma would, too. When she got a bright red walker, he did, too.

In her last seven weeks, Al and his five children took care of her in their apartment. She was under hospice care for the last three weeks of her life. She never slept alone. She knew she was safe, Al said.

She passed away right after the minister had prayed over her. One sister talked to her on the phone. We were all around her. It was wonderful, he added.

He is grateful that he was able to keep her in their apartment as she declined. I had friends who lost their wives, and for the last two years, they could see them just once a week in another facility. That just tore them up. We were all here, he said.

Their love was so amazing, daughter Janice Powell said.

Added daughter Linda Edwards, They will go on being a pair forever, like Romeo and Juliet.
Ed Tech Trends

New Inventory of Utah School Technology Reveals Most-Used Devices and Software Solutions, Unmet Needs

The latest Utah School Technology Inventory report just released by the Utah Education and Telehealth Network shows that the number of devices deployed in schools across the state rose by 31% since the pandemic began, and 65% of all student computing devices in Utah are now Chromebooks, according to UETN.

Completed in collaboration with nonprofit Connected Nation, the report provides insights into the hardware in use in every school across Utah as well as the types of curriculum, LMS, and SIS software being used, unmet classroom tech needs identified by schools, connectivity tech in use and unmet connectivity needs, and device management and security solutions in use statewide.

The 2021 Utah School Technology Inventory survey included approximately 55 questions posed to 153 Utah local education agencies, including school districts and charter schools, representing a total of 1,037 public schools statewide, serving more than 675,500 students this school year.

The 2021 inventory was completed in December and includes 80,000 new data points. The inventory survey was completed by 100% of Utah schools' leadership and district-level technology directors; questions focused on devices, age of hardware and software, teaching resources, and for the first time, at-home access, UETN said in a news release.

We started working with Connected Nation to track technology in our schools in 2015, said UETN CEO Ray Timothy. The inventory, which is completed every other year, has consistently helped our schools identify areas that need improvement, as well as best practices. The January 2020 findings were released just months before the onset of the pandemic. Because Utah leaders were already taking this proactive approach to improving technology in the classroom, our schools were better prepared to pivot in response to COVID-19 closures  something that many other schools districts across the country struggled with in 2020.

Following are key findings in areas covered in the inventory:

Device Overview: Students and Teachers

The number of computing devices available to students grew by 31% to more than 888,800, representing about 1.32 devices per student, up from 1.19 in 2019.

Statewide, 2 out of 5 Utah schools (39%) have deployed mobile computing devices on a 1:1 basis so students can take devices home  a dramatic increase from 2019, when only 6% of schools allowed this option.

Google Chromebooks remain the most widely deployed device for students, with 577,690 deployed in 2021, a 37% jump over the 421,238 Chromebooks deployed in 2019. The second-most common type of student device used in 2021 was iOS tablets, with 100,710 deployed, a decrease of about 2,500 since the last survey in 2019.

Teachers and administrators remained more likely to be issued desktop computers than portable computing devices, but the deployment of mobile devices for teachers and administrators predictably exploded during the pandemic: the number of Chromebooks in use by Utah educators grew by more than 400% to 22,052; iOS tablets increased 12% to 23,569; Windows-based laptops jumped 27% to a total of 16,712; and Mac laptops were up 13% to a total of 17,754.

While more than half of schools (56%) say their teachers receive adequate training and professional development to integrate mobile-learning devices into classroom pedagogy, 44% say they do not. This represents only a slight improvement from 2019 when 51% of schools reported adequate professional development and training.

Student Technology Access

Statewide, nearly 19 out of every 20 schools (94%) say they provide email accounts for their students use.

More than 2 out of 3 schools (68%) report that at least some of their students do not have adequate internet service at home.

On average, 8% of Utah students do not have adequate access at home, equating to over 55,000 students, and LEAs report that the No. 1 barrier to home adoption is affordability.

Despite the increase in devices being sent home with students, only 27% of Utahs Local Education Agencies (LEAs) provide some form of remote internet access for their students.

The largest share of LEAs that provide remote internet access do so by distributing mobile Wi-Fi hotspots to students in need, offering them either 5G or LTE internet connectivity through a commercial cellular carrier. Other methods include providing service via private LTE connectivity (or other fixed wireless technology), through hotspots installed on buses that are parked throughout the community, or via the purchase of subscriptions from local wireline ISPs.

WiFi Networks and Connectivity
Mergers & Acquisitions

'Significant' Shareholder Objects to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Sale Deal with Veritas Capital

Breach Inlet Capital Says It Will Not Tender Its Shares Amid Flurry of Law Firms Interest, Moodys Review for Downgrade

A day after K12 curriculum provider Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. announced it is being acquired by private investment firm Veritas Capital in a deal valued at $2.8 billion, one of HMHs significant shareholders objected to the sale in a letter to the board of directors, saying it will not be tendering its shares into Veritas offer.

Based in Boston, HMH is one of the three largest providers of K12 education and professional development content, according to Moodys Investors Service. The acquisition agreement released on Tuesday calls for HMH shareholders to receive $21 in cash per share, representing a 36% premium to the company's share price as of January 13, 2022.

HMH executives said in a recent earnings and guidance call that it expected to top $1 billion in total billings in 2021, which should translate to a higher valuation per share than the offer by Veritas Capital, wrote Breach Inlet Capital in a letter sent today to the HMH board and shared publicly online. HMH did not respond to a request for comment by THE Journal on Wednesday.

Breach Inlet Capitals letter opened by noting that its ownership interest exceeds that of all independent members of the Board of Directors combined, and it praised HMH managements efforts toward the companys digital transformation.

We are extremely disappointed in the boards decision to sign a definitive merger agreement allowing Veritas Capital to acquire HMH for a paltry $21/share, the letter stated. We do not believe Veritas offer fully reflects the fair value of the company. Accordingly, we will NOT be tendering our shares into Veritas offer to acquire HMH for $21/share.

The letter detailed Breach Inlet Capitals five primary reasons for objecting to the terms of the sale:

The potential value to be unlocked by HMHs transformation and the secular shift to digital learning weighs against a premature sale of the company.

Conservative estimates and a below-market multiple objectively demonstrate that HMH is undervalued at $21/share.

Veritas offer is inferior to McGraw Hills acquisition multiple, yet HMH is a superior company.

HMHs valuation premium may be further enhanced as the market begins to view the Company as a subscription-based business.

The timing of HMHs sale is perplexing, given forthcoming 2022 guidance and a seemingly incomplete sale process.

We find it disturbingly convenient for Veritas to sign a merger agreement just prior to HMH earnings report, especially given HMHs fundamental momentum, the letter said. The 4Q21 earnings report was due on February 24, 2022. As part of that report, HMH was likely to provide guidance for 2022. Given CEO Lynchs optimism about business fundamentals, we believe the release of 2022 guidance would have forced Veritas to pay more than $2.8b for the company.

The letter, signed by Breach Inlet Capital Founder and Portfolio Manager Chris Colvin, pins its objections on comparable valuations of HMH competitors as well as recent earnings and outlook statements by HMH executives, concluding with: We think selling HMH for $21/share is an egregious decision and we will NOT be tendering our shares into the offer.

The agreement to sell comes about a year after HMH sold its consumer book publishing division to HarperCollins Publishers parent News Corp. for $349 million.

Since Tuesdays news of the acquisition deal, several law firms announced intentions to "investigate possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of HMH, in connection with the proposed acquisition by Veritas Capital via a tender offer.

Investor rights attorneys at four firms  WeissLaw, Ademi, Bragar Eagel & Squire, and Halper Sadeh  said in news releases Tuesday and today that they have launched investigations into the bidding and sale process and the agreed-upon tender offer.

The merger agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for HMH by prohibiting solicitation of further bids, and imposing a significant penalty if HMH accepts a superior bid, alleged Ademi in its news release. HMH insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

Bragar Eagel & Squire said in its inquiry announcement that it is concerned that HMHs board of directors oversaw an unfair process and ultimately agreed to an inadequate merger agreement. Accordingly, the firm is investigating all relevant aspects of the deal and is committed to securing the best result possible for HMHs stockholders.

Also on Tuesday following the acquisition announcement, Moodys placed HMH credit ratings on review for downgrade, revising its outlook from stable.

Executives at HMH  which serves more than 50 million students and 4 million educators in 150 countries  said Tuesday that the acquisition will allow the company to grow its product offerings and reach more students and educators globally.

The decision to sell to Veritas followed a strategic review by HMH's Board of Directors that included discussions with several potential bidders, according to the news release announcing the acquisition agreement.

Partnering with Veritas will provide HMH with the opportunity to accelerate our momentum and increase our impact.  The time is right to move into the next phase of our long-term growth strategy alongside a partner that brings significant industry expertise, said HMH President and CEO Jack Lynch, who will continue to lead the company along with the current management team, the news release said. As the promise of digital learning increasingly takes hold across the nation, we are confident this transaction will deepen our ability to bring the power of learning to even more teachers and their students, invest in our purpose-driven team, and have a positive impact on the communities we serve.

The deal was unanimously approved by HMH's Board of Directors, the company said, and it is expected to be completed by July 1, 2022, subject to receipt of requisite regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions, HMH said. More information about the transaction and tender offer are included in the Schedule 14D-9 filing.

HMH is scheduled to release fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results before the market opens on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. The scheduled earnings and guidance conference call has been canceled, HMH said.

For more information, visit the HMH website.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 83F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low around 65F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
JONESBORO  A Jonesboro man has been arrested for alleged aggravated criminal sexual abuse with a child.

Charles Mills, 58, was arrested for two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault  Class X felonies  one count of criminal sexual assaults of a victim under the age of 13  a Class X felony  and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13  a Class 2 felony.

Officers from the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 7 were requested by the Department of Children and Family Services on Dec. 15, 2020 to investigate allegations of sexual abuse, according to ISP.

On Jan. 6, a search warrant was executed by DCI Zone 7 and agents of the Illinois Attorney Generals office at a residence in Jonesboro following their investigation.

The arrest warrant was obtained and Mills was arrested on Feb. 22.

He was taken to Jackson County Jail where hes currently being held on $250,000 bond, according to ISP.

Anyone with additional information regarding possible illegal conduct by Mills is asked to call ISP DCI Zone 7 at 618-845-3740, Extension 281.

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Add Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 and John A. Logan College to the list of local education institutions going "mask optional."

The Carbondale district  one of the last, few school systems in the region requiring masks as of late  has changed its policy to one of no longer mandating that students wear face masks during education sessions. Instead, the district has moved to a strongly recommended masking policy.

The change was effective Wednesday, following adoption of a resolution by the Carbondale Elementary School District Board of Education Tuesday evening.

Carbondale District Superintendent Janis Pavelonis announced the policy change in an email to district parents Tuesday evening. Fall enrollment data shows 1,444 students served by the Carbondale district in four school buildings.

The district continues to recommend staff and students wear high-quality masks, but masks will no longer be required. Masks will continue to be available to all individuals in schools that [sic] wish to use one, the email read.

Likewise, John A. Logan College announced Wednesday that when the state's indoor mask mandate expires at the end of February, masks will be optional but not required on the campus. Officials from the college said the institution's vaccination mandate will remain in place.

Most elementary and high schools in the region removed their mask mandates following Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow's Feb. 4 ruling which struck down Gov. J.B. Pritzkers school mask mandate.

A midlevel appellate court dismissed the case Thursday.

On Wednesday, it was announced that the Illinois Supreme Court is being asked to review the states mask mandate and other COVID-19 mitigation orders for K-12 schools on an expedited schedule.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a petition for appeal Tuesday, along with a motion for an emergency stay of a Sangamon County judges order to block enforcement of the rules.

Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.

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ISLAMABAD, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani army conducted two separate operations in different areas of the country on Thursday, killing seven terrorists, said the military.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani army, said in a statement that security forces conducted an operation on the reported presence of terrorists in the Hamzoni area of North Waziristan district of northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The ISPR said that six terrorists were killed during the intense exchange of fire.

"The killed terrorists were involved in terrorist activities against security forces, target killing and kidnapping for ransom," added the ISPR.

The security forces also recovered weapons, ammunition and equipment from the killed terrorists, including submachine guns, hand grenades, mines, handcuffs and a large number of multiple caliber rounds.

In another operation, the security forces raided a hideout in the Sambaza area of southwest Balochistan province and killed a terrorist who was firing at the personnel from a cave.

The ISPR further added that the operations to eliminate perpetrators of terrorist acts in Pakistan will continue, and they will not be allowed to sabotage the peace and stability of the country. 
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Postal Service has finalized a contract to replace its mail truck fleet with new Oshkosh Corp. models, almost all of them gasoline powered, after the Biden administration unsuccessfully lobbied for buying more electric vehicles.

The move, announced in a record of decision made public Wednesday, affirms a decision by the independent agency to move forward with a contested plan to begin purchasing as many as 165,000 mail trucks over the next 10 years. As many as 90% of those will run on gasoline instead of climate-friendly batteries, according to the plan.

The decision allows the agency to begin purchasing gasoline-powered trucks from Wisconsin military truck maker Oshkosh Corp. under a $6 billion contract awarded last February. The Postal Service rejected a bid from fledgling electric vehicle specialist Workhorse Group Inc., and resisted pressure from Biden administration officials to boost electric vehicle purchases beyond its planned 10% baseline.

Oshkosh fell 1% to $107.13 at 10:28 a.m. in New York trading. The stock is down 5% this year, compared with an almost 10% drop in the S&P 500. Workhorse fell as much as 3.6% and was down 1.3% to $2.99. The stock has lost almost a third of its value since the beginning of the year.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy defended the decision, stressing that the fleet replacement is urgent while reiterating the agency will buy additional battery-electric vehicles as more funding becomes available.

Our commitment to an electric fleet remains ambitious given the pressing vehicle and safety needs of our aging fleet as well as our fragile financial condition, DeJoy said in a news release. The process needs to keep moving forward. The men and women of the U.S. Postal Service have waited long enough for safer, cleaner vehicles.

But the authorization is unlikely to be the last word on the matter.

Environmental groups are preparing to immediately challenge the move in federal court, arguing the Postal Service is illegally justifying its move with a fundamentally flawed analysis of the purchase plan that underestimates greenhouse gas emissions, relies on faulty economic assumptions and fails to consider alternatives.

The United States Postal Services ill-informed and costly decision will lock Americans into an overwhelmingly gas-powered mail delivery system for generations to come, the Zero Emission Transportation Association, which represents electric vehicle makers such as Rivian Automotive, Inc. and electric utilities such as NRG Energy, Inc., said in a statement. This decision directly subverts federal regulations and our international commitments  and President Bidens executive order to electrify the federal fleet.

Although the Biden administration has limited authority over the Postal Service because it is an independent agency, federal courts have found the USPS is still bound by the National Environmental Policy Act that requires analysis of major policy decisions. And federal courts have previously invalidated government leases sold to private companies after finding that analysis lacking.

The USPS is playing a very high-stakes game by going against what the law requires, Adrian Martinez, an attorney with the environmental group Earthjustice, said prior to the announcement.

The Postal Service said its approach was best because it will ensure the agency has a purpose-built right-hand drive vehicle capable of meeting performance, safety, and ergonomic requirements for efficient carrier deliveries to businesses and curb-line residential mailboxes over the entire nationwide system.

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Three Eutawville men have been found guilty of murdering four people in the Holly Hill area.

This was pure evil, 1st Circuit Assistant Solicitor David Osborne said Wednesday during closing arguments at their trial.

A jury deliberated for about three hours before finding Robert Pockets Bailey, Antly Jermaine Jackie Man Scott and Luther Joseph Joe Smith guilty of four counts of murder and one count each of first-degree burglary and attempted murder.

Derrick Coleman is facing the same charges but was not tried with his co-defendants. He testified as a witness during the trial.

The men were found guilty of shooting 8-year-old Dreamzz Nelson and killing Tamara Alexia Perry, 14; Shamekia Tyjuana Sanders, 17; Krystal Hutto, 28; and Jerome Butler, 50, at Huttos home. The home is located at 7050 Old State Road.

The Orangeburg County jury reached its verdict at 8:05 p.m.

Circuit Judge Ed Dickson sentenced each of the three men to five terms of life in prison on the murder and burglary counts, plus 30 years for the attempted murder count.

He ordered the sentences to run concurrently, which means they wont be served one after the other, but at the same time.

Attorneys for the men said they plan to appeal and request new trials.

First Circuit Public Defender Mark Leiendecker noted the jury didnt ask to see any evidence. He also thought the jury didnt deliberate long enough.

Scotts mother, Jaqueline Scott, addressed the court moments before Dickson sentenced her son.

Hes a family man. He loves children. He loves people, Scott said.

I just dont understand, she said.

Maam, Im sorry, Dickson said, I know he appreciates you being here.

During closing arguments, defense attorneys said prosecutors didnt have any physical evidence that put their clients at the scene.

The police cannot solve this case, they want you to, said Aimee Zmroczek, one of the attorneys for Luther Joseph Joe Smith.

Osborne speculated that a federal drug suspect arrested a year before the murders ordered a lick on Christopher Dean Wright, father of the children who were shot.

Wright, who was engaged to Hutto, lived at her home part of the time. He was at his other fiancees Summerton home at the time of the murders.

The federal drug suspect was jailed at the Al Cannon Detention Center in Charleston at the time of the murders.

Osborne alleged the federal drug suspect thought Wright snitched on him.

He also claimed cellphone records showed a four-minute conversation between Bailey and someone with the same nickname as the man who was in federal custody on July 14, 2015, on the eve of the murders.

Leiendecker said in closing arguments that his client was on the phone with a cousin who had the same nickname as the federal drug suspect.

Attorneys for the suspects also argued that Coleman wasnt a credible witness, alleging he wasnt at the scene when the murders took place.

Colemans phone records proved he wasnt there, they argued.

Coleman had testified he drove Smith and Scott to the scene, but waited in his truck for 45 minutes until the pair returned.

Osborne said on Wednesday, Derrick didnt sit on the side of the road. Derrick was in that driveway. He heard those gunshots.

Smith ultimately drove Coleman and Scott to Indian Bluff Landing, according to Osborne, but stopped at Baileys house on the way.

Derrick is not going to tell you that they didnt go to Pockets house to smoke some weed with the weed guy and split up the money, Osborne said.

Osborne claimed the four suspects went to rob Wright at Huttos home in the early morning hours of July 15, 2015.

They were seeking drugs, cash and Wright, he said.

Osborne speculated that when the suspects arrived at Huttos home, they first encountered Butler, who was drinking beer in a red Camaro in the driveway.

A gunman shot him twice, but the shots didnt kill him, Osborne said.

Once the shooting started, there was no turning back, Osborne said.

Hutto went outside to see what was happening, but not before ushering the children to safety in the closet of the kids bedroom. She locked the bedroom door.

She placed two calls to Wrights cellphones at 1:22 a.m., but they went unanswered, Osborne said.

Perry attempted to reach her father by phone, but that call went unanswered too, he added.

Hutto then went back inside the house, but the burglars kicked open the door, Osborne said.

Inside, the burglars ransacked the home looking for drugs and money. They kicked open the locked door of the kids bedroom and found Hutto and the children hiding inside.

Nelson testified during the trial that he saw Bailey enter the room and Bailey allegedly asked one of the other intruders to escort Hutto out of the room.

Osborne said Bailey knew Hutto, Butler and the children.

He also noted that a gunman shot Nelson first and then turned the gun on his half-sisters  Perry and Sanders. The two were holding hands, Osborne said.

Zmroczek questioned the story laid out by prosecutors.

If you are going to ransack and then kill people, why are you going to leave drugs behind? Zmroczek said.

The burglars left cocaine in a plastic cup on the kitchen counter.

She said cellphone records dont match what prosecutors claimed happened.

Do not stand for the state knowingly putting up liars, she said.

Zmroczek said the states case left more questions than answers as to what happened that deadly night.

Defense attorneys also questioned if Nelson truly remembered anything at all from the shooting. They didnt call him a liar. Zmroczek speculated he was parroting what he heard his family say about the men charged in the crime.

Scotts attorney, Ola Johnson, told the jury that investigators shouldve interviewed other known drug sales associates of Wright.

Johnson also said, Theyve got one witness, Derrick Coleman, who says my client was there.

In addition to Osborne, Assistant Solicitor Chelsea Glover also prosecuted the case.

The trial began on Feb. 9.

Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD

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A COVID-19 vaccination event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Family Health Centers, Inc., located at 3310 Magnolia Street in Orangeburg.

FHC will be offering free COVID-19 Moderna vaccines for individuals 18 or older and Pfizer vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 years old, as well as Moderna booster shots for eligible individuals.

Also, there will be free HIV rapid testing and community vendors. In addition, there will be free food, free food boxes, free baby supplies, raffles and a live radio remote by the Big DM 101.3 FM.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 803-531-6900 or 803-531-8972.
HOLLY HILL  Some eastern Orangeburg County residents are worried about the distance students would have to travel under the districts new facilities plan.

We just need our children to not have to bear the burden across so many miles to attend school, one person said during a public meeting in Holly Hill on Tuesday.

The Orangeburg County School District has developed a $190 million plan for improving schools across the county. Superintendent Dr. Shawn Foster is holding a series of meetings across the county to gain public input about those plans.

Under the districts plan, a new elementary school would be built on the Lake Marion High School campus in Santee, but separate from the high school. It would serve the elementary students currently learning at the Elloree, St. James-Gaillard, Holly Hill and Vance-Providence schools.

The district is also planning for Holly Hill and Elloree middle school students to move to a new wing on the Lake Marion campus.

The speaker at Tuesdays meeting said eastern Orangeburg County students will have to travel longer distances than Orangeburg-area students, who will also have some schools consolidated.

I live three minutes away from the county line and if I had a small child and had to bus all the way to Santee, I would have to get my older children a car to make sure theyre safe. Not everyone has those economic resources, so Im not asking a question. I just want you to take this as feedback for consideration, she said.

Others at the meeting said having younger children riding on the same buses as older students could pose a safety issue.

Others worried about losing an important piece of the community.

Youre closing down the foundations due to the cost for renovations, due to cost and programs. As you well know, community schools are very important. Its the pride and joy of the community, another woman said.

Having two children who graduated from this district, I am invested. They didnt have opportunities like you mentioned. I had to pay extra for them to get the things they needed to be college bound, so Im with you on that, she said. But she questioned Why move the central school that has become the hub of this community?

The sentiments were shared by Holly Hill Mayor Billy Chavis, who mentioned the distance that elementary and middle school students will have to travel.

He added that the districts proposal could have an effect on the economy of the town as a whole.

Its not just the Holly Hill kids, its the Elloree kids, its the Vance kids, its the kids all across this eastern Orangeburg area. Its the consensus but, I dont want the elementary and middle school kids potentially riding on one bus to go Lake Marion High School, Chavis said.

I believe, in all honesty, it would handicap Holly Hills future with all the developments coming, it would handicap us if you moved all these schools out of town. The first thing homeowners are looking for whenever they come into a new town is theyre looking at schools. If youre taking two of these schools that have been a staple in eastern Orangeburg County, i.e. Holly Hill, youre going to handicap Holly Hill greatly, Chavis said.

Foster said he and the school board want regular feedback.

This isnt the school districts plan. This is the communitys plan. We know were going to have to make some tough decisions at the end of the day, but at least we had an opportunity to have people come to the forefront and engage in the educational experience, Foster said.

Foster noted Orangeburg County already has school buses serving multiple levels of students.

With the shortage of drivers, this will actually make things more efficient and will allow us to do more enhanced, quicker routing. This isnt the first time before that we had multilevel students on the bus. We do it every day at H-K-T, Branchville, Bethune-Bowman, Dover, and we do it well. I think since its a new phenomenon, people will have questions and reservations, which are understandable. Just like anything else, we have an obligation to make sure all students are safe, whether theyre traveling together or separate, Foster said.

I cant do this alone, the school board cant do this alone. Its the responsibility of the whole community. We cant just come out when people have a concern, we need to come out when there are great things as well. That builds a strong community. Not just during times of despair or times where something is being taken away, Foster said.

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Thirty years ago, Cecil Williams  using his vast collection of historic images  began developing a series of powerful story-telling wall art  called by some, poster.

The posters were created from Williams experiences during the era of the civil rights movement, amplified with his skills in photography, art and computer graphics.

Only recently during COVID-19, did he complete the series which now contains over 100 images.

He named the series: The South Carolina History That Shaped America.

In addition to the general public and collectors, it is his intent to distribute sets of the posters to every middle and high school in the state. As many educators often proclaim, Williams believes images are 80% more effective as a learning tool.

In todays digital society, images shared with open licenses permit educators to easily create stimulating, thought-provoking content to inspire, provoke and transform the way learners see themselves and the world. Images are also most effective in developing values, stated Williams

Visual images play a powerful role in the experiences of humans. They add emotional context and relevancy to topics and were the very first method of communication and expression used by humans tens of thousands of years ago, Williams said. There is no better way to judge the future than the past.

Williams images  coming from his perspective growing up in the Deep South during the era of Jim Crow and racism  depict events and people who he believes significantly impacted American history.

For example, depicted in his collection are events and the people who affected or were affected by them. They include the Orangeburg Massacre, Thurgood Marshall, Septima Clark, Modjeska Simkins, Judge J. Waites Waring, Harry Briggs, Judge Matthew Perry, the quiet heroism of Elloree School teachers, President John F. Kennedy, the Rev. J.A. DeLaine, President Barrack Obama, Harry Briggs, the Charleston Hospital Workers Strike and many more.

The exhibition, which is in the Lusty Gallery through March 7, is free and open to the public.

This marks the debut of the poster series in an exhibition space other than the Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum.

At 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, Williams will discuss the historic significance of his collection in a gallery talk. The public is also invited to attend this event.

The multi-year production of the posters was made possible through an extensive list of sponsors and donors. Local sponsors include Paragon Builders, Tourville Management, Fulton Family Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Young Butler, Dr. Richard Tyler, Reggie Gibson, Claudia Brinson, Carolyn Sanders James, Andre Rice (Muller & Monroe), Kenneth Chenault Foundation/Quick Family, Williams Sanchez Foundation/MacArthur Shuler and Wesley Williams Grant. Regional sponsors include Volvo, BMW, Dominion Energy, Walmart Community Foundation, Mullikan Law Firm, Gaylord-Donnelley Foundation, Brooklyn Community Foundation, Central Community Foundation, Good Neighbor Foundation, Black Voters Matter, South Carolina Arts Commission, South Carolina Humanities and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Copies of all the posters in the exhibition will be for sale. The Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center is located at 649 Riverside Drive, Orangeburg. The Arts Center is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For additional information contact the Arts Center at 803-536-4074 or email vglover@orangeburgarts.org.

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(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.
BEIRUT  The Foreign Affairs Ministry said Thursday it condemns the invasion of Ukraine and calls on Russia to immediately stop military operations.

Heres what we know:

 In a statement, the ministry said that Lebanon condemns the invasion of Ukrainian territory and calls on Russia to immediately stop military operations and withdraw its forces from it and to return to the logic of dialogue and negotiation to solve the current conflict in order to secure the sovereignty, the security and concerns of both sides.

 The Foreign Affairs Ministry also said negotiations would enable the two countries to spare the people of the two countries, the European continent and the world the tragedy and agony of war.

 Earlier today the ministry announced a platform on which Lebanese living in Ukraine who wish to leave can register.

 On Thursday morning, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the biggest attack by a European country on another since World War II.
A year after the Wyoming Legislature afforded the governors office more than a million dollars to defend coal in court, the money hasnt been used.

Wyoming was blocked last May from challenging the out-of-state threat to an in-state coal plant  a Colorado utilitys plan to limit its use of power from Laramie River Station  that gave rise to the bill. A month later, the Supreme Court put an end to the states yearslong efforts to export coal from one of several failed West Coast terminals.

Other states actions, meanwhile, havent impacted the Wyoming coal industry directly enough to fall within the scope of the bill: Existing statute permits Gordon only to initiate lawsuits, only to challenge other states and to do so only when Wyomings ability to export coal or operate its coal plants is at risk.

Last year, the bill was specifically targeted to somewhat of a narrow litigation opportunity, Randall Luthi, Gov. Mark Gordons chief energy advisor, told the House Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday.

According to Gordon, more leeway will help. Lawmakers are considering giving it to him.

Lawmakers want to dedicate $1.2 million to defend Wyoming coal The Legislature proposed setting aside $1.2 million for Wyoming to sue other states for divesting from coal.

The amended language in House Bill 141 would authorize the governors office to do a whole lot more with that $1.2 million, including starting, joining or defending against lawsuits involving other states or the federal government, in response to any actions that result in the decreased use of Wyoming coal or the closure of coal-fired electric generation facilities that use Wyoming coal.

Rep. Shelly Duncan, R-Goshen County, isnt convinced expanding the bill is the right answer. The overlapping discretion it would create, including with the state Attorney Generals office, gives her pause. She said during Wednesdays committee meeting that she supported last years bill because its message was so specific. What if this years amendments diluted it?

The audience is just bigger, responded Shawn Taylor, executive director of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association and one of the leading backers of the bill. The message is the same.

Duncan pushed harder. Who was the audience this time?

Everybody, Taylor said.

Duncan looked skeptical.

Two of three fossil fuel preservation bills move on to second week of budget session The 2022 budget session brought a new suite of bills defending the state's resource-reliant economy. One was withdrawn. Two others achieved the two-thirds majority needed for introduction and head to committee for review next week.

I mean, Taylor went on, anybody that wants to try and come in and tell us, tell the state of Wyoming, what to do with our coal resources. If its through litigation or legislation or regulation, we just want to be prepared.

When it came time to vote, Duncan hesitated, took a long breath, then voted in favor. The committee advanced the bill in a party-line vote of 8-1.

Duncan told the Star-Tribune after the meeting that she still didnt think the bill was necessary, but after hearing from Taylor, had decided to leave it up to the full Legislature. Shes leaning toward voting for the bill then, too, though shed still like it to be a little more specific.

At the same time, she said, its the committees job to try to cover a lot of different issues.

Being a little more broad in statute is sometimes better, she said. And let the executive office be a little more focused and targeted. That way we dont have to keep coming back year after year, getting involved and messing with statute.

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The Nicolaysen Art Museum will host a tutu party next month to close out its art exhibit honoring the life and legacy of Sissy Goodwin.

Goodwin was known throughout Wyoming for wearing dresses, skirts and blouses. A self-described cross dresser, hes remembered as an example of tolerance and an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights in the state.

Sissy is a slur used against people who defy traditional male gender roles, especially gay and bi men, and transgender women. Goodwin, who endured violence and harassment for the way he dressed, decided to reclaim the term by adopting it as his nickname, he told the Star-Tribune in 2017.

Goodwin died in March of 2020 at age 73. In his memory, the Nicolaysen opened Larry Sissy Goodwin: The Fabric of His Life in October 2021.

The exhibit draws from an assortment of media to tell Goodwins story  from his career, family, favorite hobbies and everything in-between. His dresses, blouses, skirts and accessories are also on display. The exhibits open until March 26.

Sissy Goodwin gained national attention as a Wyoming man who wore women's clothes. A year after his death, his wife is keeping his legacy alive. For the past year, Sissy Goodwin's wife has been working to preserve his memory. He opened up his life to others because he wanted to help people like him. This is her way of honoring that wish.

Community members are invited to send the show off with a tutu party at the gallery at 5:30 p.m. on March 25, according to news release Tuesday from the Nicolaysen. The museums Discovery Center will also host a drop-in tutu-making craft from March 22 to 25.

I am looking forward to seeing everyonewhether your wear a TUTU or a petticoat or come in your most comfortable clothing. Please join us as we celebrate Wyomings diversity, Goodwins wife, Vickie, said in the release.

The celebration is partly inspired by 2017s Live and let Tutu Day, when bars statewide asked their patrons to wear tutus in support of Goodwin and LGBTQ people in Wyoming.

The NIC invites any business or groups in the state to celebrate with their own TUTU PARTY on March 25th, 2022, even if they cannot make it to the NIC in Casper, the museums release said.

The 2017 event was organized to protest offensive comments about cross-dressing men by the late U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi.

I know a guy that wears a tutu and goes to the bars on Friday night and is always surprised that he gets in fights, Enzi said while speaking at Greybull High School in April 2017.

Members of the public took the remark as an oblique reference to Goodwin, though Enzi said it wasnt. He later apologized to Goodwin over the phone.

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An election reform bill that former President Donald Trump is lobbying lawmakers to adopt has cleared its latest legislative hurdle.

The Wyoming Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously passed a ban on crossover voting Tuesday night. A day later, it passed first reading in the Senate.

Senate File 97, sponsored by Ranchester Republican Sen. Bo Biteman, would end same-day party affiliation change in Wyoming. If enacted, changes in voter affiliation would not be allowed in roughly the three months prior to a primary.

Normally, voting bills are handled by the Senate Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee. But the crossover bill was moved to the Senates agriculture committee, which some speculated made it more likely to succeed.

Tuesday nights debate touched on a central question hanging over Wyoming politics: Who should participate in a primary election?

The League of Women Voters and one lawmaker on the committee pointed out that the bill would require voters to register with a party before knowing who the candidates are in the upcoming race. A voter couldnt decide at the polls which primary he or she would prefer to participate in.

Biteman said thats the point when a committee member posed that scenario Tuesday.

Thats the exact practice Im trying to stop, he said. I dont think its fair.

Critics, however, said the bill would prevent some voters from participating in the political process.

People in Wyoming vote for the individuals. They always have. They dont vote for the parties, and I believe that allows the voters to fully exercise their franchise, said Marguerite Herman, a lobbyist for the league. It seems to have done a good job so far.

Throughout the process, dissenters have also questioned if the bill is trying to address a problem that doesnt exist.

Overall, people know that Wyoming elections are secure, and they trust the results, said Jenn Lowe, executive director of the policy center. If its not broke, why fix it?

The broken part of Wyoming GOP elections may lie elsewhere, said Gail Symons, the writer for the nonpartisan blog, Civics307. She pointed out that there were more registered Republican voters in Wyoming who did not vote in the 2020 primary than all of the registered Democrats in the state.

The problem is not switching over, the problem is participation, she said.

Biteman has tried to pass this bill multiple times before. He urged the committee Tuesday night to drag this carcass across the finish line.

A crossover voting ban is not a new concept in Wyoming politics. The Wyoming Republican Party has pushed for it, and so did the late GOP mega donor Foster Friess. Critics say the practice has resulted in moderate Republicans succeeding over their more conservative counterparts in crowded primaries, even though the state is deeply red.

That includes Gov. Mark Gordon, whos considered a moderate by the far right, thought the data does not back the assertion that he owes his victory to crossover voting.

Now, as Gordon and Cheney are up for reelection, the fear of crossover voting in Wyoming has become more acute, especially after Cheney has become the face of the anti-Trump movement, a move that angered state Republican activists but attracted support from moderates and Democrats. Cheneys political enemies she would benefit from crossover voting  specifically from critics of the former president.

Last week, Trump issued a statement in support of the measure.

This critically important bill ensures that the voters in each party will separately choose their nominees for the General Election, which is how it should be!, he wrote.

If passed, the bill would go into effect in time for this years primaries. Poll workers and poll managers would be expected to manually ensure that each voter is not changing their party affiliation when theyre not supposed to be.

Educating the public on this change would likely tack on an extra cost.

Voters need to be educated, said Kai Schon, the Wyoming Elections Division director.

Two county clerks told lawmakers they would be able to administer the change if the bill passes.

After this election, the process of barring voters from changing their party affiliation outside of a certain time frame would become automated.

Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis

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SMALL business owners in three Caribbean countries will get the opportunity to showcase how their enterprises are transforming their communities, and themselves, due to support from the social enterprise, Nudge Caribbean.

The opportunity comes tomorrow, at an event called Nudge Now, which is being organised by Nudge Caribbean, which was founded by Anya Ayoung-Chee, design strategist and social entrepreneur, and Julie Avey, Massy Groups senior vice president of People and Culture.
The Point is to Change the World, a collection of writings by Guyanese political activist Andaiye, was in the spotlight on Thursday, the first day of the 2022 Bocas Lit Fest, which kicked off with a series of virtual events.

Thursdays conversation centred on Andaiyes writings and legacy.

Journalist Sunity Maharaj said while Andaiye left a legacy through her work, she also used her platform to be open and honest about every aspect of her life, including her battle with cancer.
Many people are struggling during this Covid-19 pandemic as prices increase, while many are 
And so it has come to pass. One week after the island-wide blackout of February 16, we told you in this space that, from among the best authority available, there would be, there could be no one to blame for what happened.

We told you that the determination had already been made as to what happened, how and why, and that nobody could have been held responsible for that. It was a warning against the natural national tendency to go for blood. Loud had been the shouts of sabotage, the result of worker discontentment, and a clamour for heads to roll.
While Christians are a minority in many places, they are generally acknowledged as being good citizens. The vehemence with which they are attacked by godless authorities is a symptom of the spiritual battle we all face.

Religious persecution in Vietnam

According to Operation World 2010, Christians comprise nearly 10% of the population in Vietnam. They are described as being overwhelmingly good and peaceful citizens.

Catholics, including many priests, are active in the fields of social justice and journalism. Protestants, including many pastors, are especially active in the fields of pro-democracy and human rights education and advocacy.

The regime justifies its repression and persecution by falsely accusing them of abusing religion for political subversion.For example, a couple attending a meeting of the Revival Ekklesia Mission (REM) in Ho Chi Minh City, tested positive for COVID-19. While the church had been meticulous in its adherence to health orders, the government seized the opportunity to attack Protestant Christianity.

Church leaders were publicly blamed and shamed on state-run media and social media,triggering a wave of social anger and hate against the citys Protestants.

The Vietnam Human Rights Networks 2020-2021 report lists 288 prisoners of conscience, 39 of whom are ethnic minority Protestants. Meanwhile, the Campaign to Abolish Torture in Vietnam lists 79 Montagnard Prisoners of Conscience Serving Prison Sentences and House Arrest Amounting to Eight or More Years. This shocking list illustrates the brutality of persecution in Vietnam and the way in which injustice is meted out with impunity.

Carlos Aguilera  Christian Faith and Freedom Director of Communication & Advocacy - has been invited to attend the follow-up Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue Roundtable on 11 February 2022, as a result of CFF's submission to the 17th Annual Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Roundtable in November 2021.

Please praythat the closed trials of peaceful religious liberty advocates and journalists, arouse effective international protest to promote justice, and freedom from Communist oppression.

Pray also that the love of Christ burns brightly in the hearts of Vietnams Christians, radiating His Light to dispel darkness, drawing others into a life-transforming relationship with Him.

Hindu nationalism in India

In August 2019 India's Hindu nationalist BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) -led federal government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy. Since then, the BJP has been enacting its plan to 're-organise' and gerrymander Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to empower minority Hindus at the expense of majority Muslims (many of whom have been radicalised).

While intolerant Hindu nationalism is rising, so too is persecution.A 26 January report by Morning Star News (MSN) details two very worrying cases of persecution with impunity in Jammu Division's southern-most Kathua District which borders India's Punjab State.

On Christmas Day last year, Pastor ChunglenlalSingsit (40) was attacked by a mob of Hindu nationalists. Theydemanded he chant 'Jai Shri Ram'(Hail Lord Ram).

They accused him of paying people to convert to Christianity and rebuked him for being in the majority-Hindu Jammu Division. Pastor Singsit was held in police detention for over 24 hours before being released without charge, but with an order to leave J&K within five days.

On Sunday 5 January youths from the Bajrang Dal (a Hindu nationalist youth militia) invited local news reporters to record them attacking a house-church worship service in Kathua District's Ward No. 4 colony. When the police arrived, they too harassed and humiliated the Christians.

The believers were held in police custody until 7pm, when they were released without charge. The media then ran a highly provocative and entirely false story claiming the Christians were engaged in 'forced conversions'.

On Thursday 20 January Kathua District pastors held a press conference. Led by Pastor Shoukat Peter, president of the J&K Joint Churches Fellowship, the pastors explained that Christians are law-abiding citizens and have only been exercising their constitutional right to freely 'profess, practise and propagate' their faith (from Article 25 of the Indian Constitution).

Pastor Shoukat Peter acknowledged that most Indians appreciate the good works being done by churches; works of justice and mercy that are foreign to the Hindu nationalists who attack them. Ignoring the constitution, police in Kathua District are now insisting that Christians obtain permission before gathering for prayer or worship.

Please pray that the Lord would bless, comfort and encourage Pastor Singsit as he and his family settle back into Manipur from whence they came; may the believers left behind in Kathua District know the Lord's love and presence; may the Lord provide their every needs.

May God grant all the pastors and believers of Kathua District great wisdom and grace as they navigate through these increasingly difficult days of escalating Hindu nationalism, as two intolerant worldviews - fundamentalist Islam and Hindu nationalism - compete for dominance.

May the Holy Spirit move powerfully in J&K, to awaken Kashmiri Muslims and Hindus to the dangers of sectarian hatred; may many hearts be softened and opened to the Gospel of Peace.

Christians in Pakistan gravely imperiled

On Sunday 30 January, Reverend William Siraj (75) was driving home after leading worship at Shaheedan-e-All Saints' Church in Peshawar, north-west Pakistan, when two men on a motorbike ambushed his vehicle. Shot multiple times in the head, the much-loved pastor died instantly.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the targeted assassination, an enlarged and emboldened Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP, the Pakistani Taliban) and a determined Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) are both active in the area.

The departure of Western counter-terrorism forces from Afghanistan has opened the space for terrorist groups to compete, recruit and operate. Of all the cities in Pakistan, none is more vulnerable than Peshawar. Peshawar's Christian clerics, churches and communities may be more at risk now than at any time in Pakistan's history.

While Afghanistan's imperiled remnant secret Christians exist deep 'underground', Pakistan's imperiled Christians have long been known, open, and 'above ground'. They mostly live together in Christian communities, with churches and cathedrals that are well established.

As individuals, Pakistani Christians have long lived with systematic discrimination, violent persecution, and gross insecurity. Today, Peshawar's Christians are imperiled as individuals and as a group in the face of an enlarged and emboldened TTP and a determined ISKP, Peshawar's churches and Christian communities may be more at risk now than at any time in Pakistan's history.

Please pray that God will sustain, comfort and provide security for the Christian community in Peshawar. May the Lord of hosts deploy his angelic forces to watch over his imperiled precious children in these days of terror and insecurity.

May God awaken many Pakistani Muslims to the threat posed by intolerant fundamentalist Islam; may the Holy Spirit move in power and grace, to open eyes, enlighten minds, and soften hearts; may a harvest be reaped among Pakistani Muslims made receptive to the Gospel.
Its well known that Frank Sinatra stood with Black performers, using his star power to break the so-called color line that was ubiquitous back in the 1950s and early 1960s. But to hear one of those stories from Frank himself, in conversation with Sammy Davis, Jr., was an eye-opener.

In September 1988, my husband and I had just arrived at Sammy Davis, Jr. and his wife Altovises suite at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, excited to be with them for the first performance of The Ultimate Tour, kind of a Rat Pack Revamped Tour, with Liza Minelli subbing in for Dean Martin. (Sammy had been a dear friend for decades, ever since he married my former roommate, Altovise.)

Before we could even settle in, Sammy said, Come on! Franks invited us down before the show.

Now, in my dancing/acting days in Hollywood, I had the chance to hang out with or work with major stars ... but Sinatra! That was huge ... and even more so for my husband, Rod, who hadnt experienced the show biz life I had in my 20s.

The four of us walked out to Sinatras suite, where we met him, his wife Barbara, Liza Minelli and her former husband, Jack Haley, Jr., along with Frank Sinatra, Jr., who was conducting the show. Just the nine of us for drinks and snacks in the suite.

After introductions and banter, we heard stories about Frank growing up in New Jersey and the strong force his mother had been in his life. Liza Minelli talked a bit about her childhood with her mom, and about emerging from Judy Garlands shadow.

Then Sammy and Frank talked about the old days. The history they shared was powerful, as was their strong mutual respect.

Sammy told us about Frank breaking color barriers for him and future Black performers in Las Vegas. As recently as the early 1960s, when Sammy performed at The Sands neither he nor his band was allowed to stay in that hotel. He couldnt even have a formal dressing room there. Instead, he and his band had to stay in North Vegas, the minority section of town, and come to The Sands ready to go on stage.

As Frank and Sammy told the story: When Frank learned from Sammy how he and other Black performers were being treated, he told The Sands management if Sammy couldnt stay at the Sands and have the stars dressing room when he was performing there, then Frank wouldnt perform there either. Period.

And thus the policy changed.

In the 20 years Id known Sammy and the months Id been one of his dancers performing at The Sands with him, I had never known that piece of history. I simply took it for granted that after the show we could all just hang out and have a late dinner in Sammys suite at The Sands. I never knew that just a little more than a decade earlier, that wouldnt have been possible had one major star not stood up for another  and for what was right.

Tucsonan Nina Trasoff is a former Broadway dancer, television news anchor woman and Tucson City Council member.

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Legals 0005230866-01 "El Rio is currently soliciting proposals for Medical Equipment from Medical Supply Vendors and/or Manufactures to furnish and deliver to the University Clinic. Submittal Deadline: June 10, 2022, at 5:00pm AZ Time for details, see website at https://www.elrio.org/ about-elrio/rfps/." Published May 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005243181-01 ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ENTITY INFORMATION ENTITY NAME: LONE SAGUARO FINE CARPENTRY LLC ENTITY ID: 23362296 ENTITY TYPE: Domestic LLC EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/18/2022 CHARACTER OF BUSINESS: Any legal purpose MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE: Member-Managed PERIOD OF DURATION: Perpetual PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: N/A STATUTORY AGENT INFORMATION STATUTORY AGENT NAME: United States Corporation Agents, Inc. PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 17470 N. Pacesetter Way, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 MAILING ADDRESS: 17470 N. Pacesetter Way, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 PRINCIPAL ADDRESS 10780 S Piety Hill Dr., VAIL, AZ 85641 PRINCIPALS Member: Andrew Emmanuel Muliett - 10780 S Piety Hill Dr., VAIL, AZ, USA --Date of Taking Office: ORGANIZERS Legalzoom.com, Inc.: 101 N Brand Blvd, 11th Floor, GLENDALE, CA, 91203, USA, SIGNATURES Organizer: By: Cheyenne Moseley, Asst. Secretary of Legalzoom.com, Inc., A Delaware Corporation - 04/18/2022 Published May 4, 5 and 6, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005223486-01 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA, PIMA COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of JOSEPH ALLAN SCHINDLER, Deceased. No. PB2022-0609. NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION Notice is given to all creditors of the Estate: 1. Janet Rae Brockway has been appointed as Personal Representative of the Estate. 2. Claims against the Estate must be presented within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or be forever barred. 3. Claims must be presented by delivering or mailing a written statement of the claim to the Personal Representative, Janet Brockway at 3329 23rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407. Published April 20, 27, & May 4, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005243447-01 THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT The National Guard Bureau (NGB) invites public comment on the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) For Off-base Drinking Water Response Action to support a non-time critical removal action of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Morris Air National Guard Base, Tucson International Airport, Arizona. The EE/CA documents the evaluation of alternatives and selection of the proposed remedy by the NGB to conduct a Non-Time Critical Removal Action (NTCRA) in response to the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (two (2) subsets of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)), above the Environmental Protection Agency's lifetime Health Advisory levels of 70 parts per trillion, both individually or combined, in two (2) off-base private residential drinking water wells. The drinking water wells are downgradient of Morris Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Tucson, Arizona. PFOS/PFOA present in groundwater in the vicinity of the base is attributable to human action, including past firefighting and training activities by the Arizona Air National Guard. In response, the ANG is temporarily providing bottled water to the impacted well owners, and proposes a final remedy of connecting both properties to municipal drinking water. The municipal connections will ensure safe drinking water is provided to the properties. A Public Comment Period on the EE/CA non-time critical removal action will begin on May 4, 2022 and will end on June 2, 2022. Written comments related to the ANG actions presented in the EE/CA should be sent to the ANG Environmental Restoration Senior Program Manager, Mr. Keith Freihofer (address provided below) by June 2, 2022. The ANG will respond to Public Comments, and they will be included with the EE/CA and/or Action Memorandum. The Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) For Off-base Drinking Water Response Action is available on the Base webpage provided below. Document is available at: https://www.162wing.ang.af.mil/ News/Article/3013218/\ For more information, contact: Keith Freihofer at 3501 Fetchet Avenue, Joint Base Andrews, MD, 20762-5157, keith.freihofer.1@us.af.mil or by telephone at 240-612-8762. Published May 4 & 5, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005233595-01 Your Name: Gena Arostequi Your Address: 475 W Duane Street Your City, State, ZIP: Benson, AZ 85602 Your Telephone No: 520-255-0973 Representing Self, Without an Attorney IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA COCHISE COUNTY Case No. GC202200047 NOTICE OF HEARING (Appointment of Guardian) DAVID THORN Judge/Commissioner In the Matter of the Guardianship of: Chloe Madison Camargo Minor(s) NOTICE IS GIVEN that the court will consider the Petition for Appointment of Gena Arostequi Guardian(s) of Minor(s) on Monday, May 23, 2022, at the hour of: 1:30 pm at the court designated above, the address of which is: COCHISE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISON 3 4 LEDGE AVENUE, BISBEE, AZ /s/Gena Arostequi Petitioner's Signature Date 4/15/22 THIS IS A LEGAL NOTICE. YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED. ESTE ES UN AVISO LEGAL. SUS DERECHAS PODRIAN SER AFECTADAS. 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PHOENIX  Attorney General Mark Brnovich is abusing his powers in threats to prosecute and possibly imprison Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, an attorney for her told a judge on Wednesday.

Roopali Desai said the decision by Hobbs to take down part of the E-Qual system where candidates can get online signatures for their nomination petitions is necessary for both her office and counties to deal with the new changes in legislative and congressional districts. That, she told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Joan Sinclair, ensures that only signatures from people eligible to sign each candidates petitions are counted.

Otherwise she will be in violation of the statute, Desai said.

But whats happened, she told the judge, is that Brnovich is now threatening her with criminal prosecution over her decision to take down the system on March 11 for the necessary updates.

If Attorney General Brnovich wishes to operate and administer elections, perhaps instead of running for the U.S. Senate he should run to be a county recorder, Desai said, pointing out his bid to be the Republican nominee to take on incumbent Democrat Mark Kelly. But he is not.

Assistant Attorney General Michael Catlett argued that his boss is doing what he is supposed to do: ensuring that state officials like Hobbs follow state law. He said the Legislature mandated that Hobbs make the E-Qual system available for the entire time signatures can be gathered, a period that runs through April 4.

And Catlett inserted his own political notes into the legal arguments.

The secretary, an elected official, also running to be the next governor, not only would have this court greenlight a clear violation of Arizona law that would not only significantly hamper candidates from appearing on the ballot, but would have the court preemptively enjoin the attorney general and the state from even investigating and enforcing that violation, he said. Hobbs is seeking to be the Democratic nominee for the states top office.

Whether there is a clear violation of Arizona law, however, is one of the issues that Hobbs disputes.

More immediately, the judge has to decide whether to restrain Brnovich and his office from even investigating the decisions Hobbs has made.

Catlett told Sinclair that Arizona law allows her to issue such an injunction only if Hobbs could show she would suffer irreparable harm without it. He said there will be no harm to the secretary of state if she simply complies with the law and doesnt take the system down for maintenance as scheduled on March 11.

More to the point, Catlett said, all of this legal wrangling is premature.

All the AG has done is sent the secretary a letter reminding her of her statutory duty to maintain the system and advising her of what the potential consequences could be for failing to do so, he said.

She didnt even respond to that letter, Catlett said. Instead, she hauled off to court.

But it is what was in that letter that made Hobbs decide not to wait to see what Brnovich would do.

It warned that Hobbs could be charged with a minimum of a Class 3 misdemeanor, jailed for up to 30 days and fined $500 for knowingly refusing to perform a duty required under state election laws. In fact, it even said Hobbs could be prosecuted as a felon, with the potential of being sent to state prison.

The fight is over the E-Qual system.

First established in 2011, it provides an online alternative for candidates to gather the signatures they need to run for office.

In the case of legislative and congressional candidates, it is linked to other state records to ensure that people can sign petitions only for those in their own districts.

Only thing is, the Independent Redistricting Commission in January adopted new lines.

And while lawmakers said candidates can get signatures in the interim from both their old and new districts, Desai said the counties still have to update their own voter information databases ahead of the next election. And since the E-Qual system is not built to accommodate two different sets of maps, she said, the only alternative is taking the system down to make the changes.

Catlett does not dispute that. What he does dispute is that it has to happen now.

Its the last four weeks in the period when candidates are fervently trying to gather signatures so that they can appear on the ballot, Catlett said. And now, he said, Hobbs wants Sinclair to block Brnovich from even investigating all that.

Desai, however, said all that fails to understand the deadlines the counties themselves are under to update their voter databases. And that, she said, doesnt even account for the fact that leaving E-Qual up, with the out-of-date district lines, would itself result in a separate violation of the law because people would be signing petitions theyre not legally entitled to sign.

Perhaps, Desai said, Brnovich is setting up a situation where if she leaves the E-Qual system in place then he would prosecute her for violating other election laws.

Catlett told Sinclair theres no legal risk to Hobbs.

She could avoid all of this by instructing the county recorders that shes not updating the (E-Qual) system, that they need to wait, he said. So this is a manufactured issue by the secretary in order to request the court give her cover to enjoin the attorney general from enforcing a statute that no one disputes he has the power to enforce.

Desai, however, said her boss is not violating the law.

This entire case is about the AGs myopic focus on undermining elections and undermining election administrators, she said. Instead, Desai told Sinclair, this is about Brnovich trying to dictate there is a better time for the counties to update their voter databases.

He doesnt get to decide, she said.

And he doesnt get to question the counties actions, Desai continued. Nor does the secretary of state.

Desai also pointed out that the E-Qual system was shut down after the last redistricting  that one by Republican Secretary of State Ken Bennett  and there were no threats by anyone to prosecute him.

Sinclair promised a quick ruling on whether to enjoin Brnovich from further investigation. If she does not grant the injunction, the next issue would be to rule on Hobbs motion for a ruling that she is not breaking any laws with how she is handling the E-Qual system.

On Twitter: @azcapmedia

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Editor's note: This column was first published in April 2014. It is being reposted online today after Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine.

You scrape beeswax from a block into a tiny brass funnel wired to the end of a short dowel.

Then you hold the wax over a flame to turn it liquid.

Then you start coating your egg with wax, using the small end of the funnel to put it everywhere except where you want the dye to adhere. Then you dip the egg into one color of dye, and repeat the process, removing wax where necessary to apply a new color.

These are the basic steps of making Ukrainian Easter eggs, something that kids like me, growing up in the 1970s in Minneapolis, did annually, never achieving the artistic elegance of the Ukrainian ladies who taught us. That painstaking process came to mind on Good Friday as I sat in services at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, 715 W. Vanover Road, and inhaled the sweet scent of burning beeswax candles.

Ukraine, the bread basket of that part of the world, is in the news now for a reason familiar to many generations of Ukrainians: Russian attempts to take their land. After Russia took Crimea from Ukraine with barely a shot last month, pro-Russian militants now are holding government buildings in eastern regions of the country in what looks like an effort to take over that area, too.

This is nothing new for the Ukrainian people, Father Andriy Chirovsky, pastor of St. Michael, told me before the service. Its been going on like this for 360 years.

The remarkable thing is, despite cycles of conquest  as the longtime University of Arizona anthropologist Edward Spicer called them in reference to the U.S. Southwest  the Ukrainian culture, language and identity persists.

Not that Russia wants to recognize it. Early this year, in a telling remark, a Kremlin adviser named Sergei Markov told a reporter for the Toronto Globe and Mail: Everybody knows that Ukrainians are Russians.

What Ukrainians throughout the diaspora want the world to know is, No, we are not.

In the neighborhood where I grew up, the Ukrainian presence was noticeable. Kramarczuks deli remains a landmark, and when I was young, an old man named Gregory lived, with a couple of other Ukrainian men, in a house at the end of our alley. My dad got Gregorys story in occasional snatches of German and heavily accented English. The stories were cut off sometimes when crows would fly overhead and Gregory would go inside to hide from what he called birds of death.

Forgive Gregory his fears. As my dad recalls, Gregory was conscripted into the Soviet army in World War II, taken prisoner by the Germans, then placed in a Ukrainian division fighting for the Nazis. When the war ended, Gregory  miraculously alive  escaped across Europe to a displaced-persons camp, before ending up in Minneapolis.

Any Ukrainian from Gregorys generation is a survivor. In the early 1930s, Joseph Stalin, perturbed by persistent Ukrainian nationalism and trouble incorporating Ukrainian peasants into the new Soviet Union, carried out one of the greatest crimes of the 20th century. His forces killed and imprisoned those peasants he termed kulaks, or higher-class peasants, and forced the rest into a new collective system of farming, seizing more and more of the Ukrainians harvests every year, while making lesser demands of Russians across the border.

The result is whats been termed a terror-famine and genocide. Ten million or more Ukrainians died. And guess who repopulated the dead peasants villages in some of eastern and southern Ukraine? Russians.

Ive been reading The Harvest of Sorrow: Soviet Collectivization and the Terror-Famine by Robert Conquest, a landmark 1986 history that consolidated the evidence of Moscows policies of starvation and genocide in Ukraine. Conquest reports that the Soviet government sent Russian peasants to live in emptied Ukrainian villages but notes some could not stand living in houses still smelling of death.

All of the places now in revolt are where much of the intentional famine took place, Chirovsky said.

That famine-era migration isnt the only reason so many Russians live in eastern Ukraine, but its a significant one.

Its the singular curse of the Ukrainian people to have an extremely aggressive neighbor, Chirovsky said. Its not enough to take our lands. They want to take our history, too.

St. Michael parishioners such as Bohdan Gojnycz are intent on preserving it. Gojnycz left Ukraine in 1950 at age 12 and was in two Eastern European labor camps before ending up in New York.

In 2009, Gojnycz installed an old icon wall behind the altar at St. Michael, featuring portraits of Jesus, Mary and several saints. It turns out the Tucson church received the wall, known as an iconostasis, from the old St. George Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Minneapolis, about five blocks from where I grew up. St. George had merged with another church there but preserved the iconostasis.

Gojnycz is rightfully proud of his work in the Tucson church but pessimistic about Ukraines future.

Eastern and southern Ukraine are definitely goners, he said, adding that Vladimir Putins regime only knows one thing  that is threat.

But Chirovsky insists on hope.

Can Ukraine count on the U.S.? No. Can Ukraine count on NATO? No. Who can Ukraine count on? God, he said. Why do we still exist as a people? Must be God.

Then he donned his bright red vestments and prepared to enter the candle-filled chapel.

Contact columnist Tim Steller at tsteller@azstarnet.com or 807-7789. On Twitter: @senyorreporter

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Ukraine introduces special measures in regions bordering Russia, Belarus

Xinhua) 08:32, February 24, 2022

KIEV, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has imposed special measures in regions bordering Russia, Belarus and those having access to the seas, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) of Ukraine said on Wednesday.

The measures include the limitation of movement of private vehicles and floating devices, flights of light planes and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as restrictions on filming and photographing of certain objects, according to a statement on the SBGS website.

Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council has proposed that the parliament should introduce a state of emergency in Ukraine amid the ongoing tensions with Russia.

If the parliament approves the move, the state of emergency will be introduced in all parts of the country, except for the conflict-hit Lugansk and Donetsk regions, for 30 days.

In Lugansk and Donetsk, the state of emergency has already been in place since 2014 after the conflict between the Ukrainian government troops and local armed groups started.

Since November, Kiev and some Western countries have accused Russia of assembling heavy troops near the Ukrainian border, including in Belarus, with a possible intention of "invasion."

Denying any intention to attack any country, Russia said it has the right to mobilize troops within its borders to defend its territory, as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's increasing military activities near Russia's borders constitute a threat to Russia's border security.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
This article is written after a week full of drama which included attending two funerals. The first funeral was for a neighbour while the second funeral was for an individual who was instrumental in the financial enablement of my churchs Love Loud Meal Delivery COVID response service.

In addition to the funerals, within the church community, we received the news of the untimely passing of one of members. And in that family situation, the loss was amplified  since the mourning mother had just endured the passing of her own mother back in January and now is also having to soldier on without her beloved son.

I also received news of the passing of my high school chaplain. All in all, that is four deaths that have crossed my path.

Talking about death

The topic of death can be quite morbid. In some cultures it is a taboo. The fear associated with death is a very natural human emotional response which Hollywood has tapped into regularly. Death is very much a one-way path  it is largely agreed that no one comes back from the dead; it is a final destination that awaits us all.

Some faiths believe in reincarnation and that we endure a never-ending cycle of rebirth and returning to this world in a new form. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all share a common finality that death awaits us all.

Christianity stands alone in that death has been conquered on the Cross by Jesus. Gods divine plan was that death would merely be a doorway which we must pass through.

Funerals are for the living

Ecclesiastes chapter 7 provides Gods wisdom on the topic of death:

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter because a sad face is good for the heart.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. (Ecclesiastes chapter 7)

That passage was shared during one of the funerals and its life lesson struck me, particularly given that during this period I was dealing with so much death and indeed attending the house of mourning a fair few times more than usual.

The value of difficult things

Generally, this passage from Ecclesiastes is repeatedly emphasising the value of difficult things over pleasant things.

We might notice that our life seems to be filled with difficult things  difficult people, difficult situations, problems that are over our head, etc. And its when life is filled with these kinds of things that were most likely to bitterly contend with God.

When we consider the first verse  no one remembers their day of being born. Further, as believers, a day of death can be offset by the faith we have that the person we mourn has transitioned to the afterlife.

In the second verse, the reason behind the day of death being better than the day of birth becomes clearer. Death is an unavoidable end for everyone, so dont fight it. Instead, embrace and take it to heart. Be ready for death. Be ready to face God our Maker.

Sadness of face is good for the heart.

There are things that God has to show and teach us through the experience of sorrow that help us grow. We tend to grow through hardship more than lives of comfortable. Further, as the fourth verse highlights, it is wise for you to consider your end and act based on what you have learned.

We are connected

At one funeral, the mourning son was quite philosophical  he reflected on the week that unfolded ever since his father had passed away. He didnt know what to feel, or to think. The hole that his father had left would always remain.

But the legacy and memory of his father was shared among all of us in attendance. And the impact and influence of his father had clearly rubbed off on each of us to varying degrees.

So, yes we mourn and funerals are part of that framework for us to have closure.

In the Catholic mass/funeral which I attended for my neighbour, all of us who lived immediately around the home were in attendance. That comradely and community helped us share in the grief, supporting one another.

Each time a loved one departs, a part of us dies.

For myself, my Mum died when I was four years old. During my childhood I worked so hard to forget the pain that many memories from that time seem to be impossible to recall now.

With a 90-year-old father suffering from dementia, I have taken steps to prepare for his unavoidable end. However, as much as the practical and operational aspects of dealing with that future event are in place, I am fully cognisant that the emotional pain will be unparalleled.

I will however take solace in the fact that he will have completed running this race of life and finished well to be reunited with my Mum and  more importantly  with God in heaven.

Jesus said  I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?  (John chapter 11, verses 25, 26)
My walk along the Camino de Sydney during 2021 provided a time to reflect on some of the wider cultural changes that have been occurring in the Greater Sydney region.

I was familiar with a fair part of the walking area as I have been a resident for four decades and have travelled over Greater Sydney more than most people. I mainly utilise public transport, and in doing this, one experiences and becomes more aware of terrain and related issues with the necessary walking sections of a journey

People rarely walk distances.

I rarely encountered people out walking in most areas, with the main area exceptions being the beach suburbs and the mountains. Another though shorter based exception, particularly on weekends and during Covid lockdowns is the walk to the local cafe or take-away coffee shop.

I think part of this would be the difficulty for some people simply of walking in areas with significant hills and inadequate shoulders and/or paths. Overall though I put this factor down to a reliance on the car (the car is no longer the instrument of travel for the middle class as more Australians are middle class now in any case).

It is an irony to note that with the proliferation of gyms, people will drive to a gym to work out when once they may have simply walked to their paid work and undertaken more physical work.

Non-car transport and exercise

Cycle ways are being increasingly developed across areas and intentionally included in new areas or in the revamping of roads in older areas. These are usually dual pedestrian/cycle paths, with the hope of encouraging more non-car-based transport and exercise.

About exercise, I was intrigued to see an increasing number of outside gym areas. These modern wooden and metal creations are provided by local councils in parks or side areas to facilitate further patterns of exercise, though I did not see anyone using them (unlike in Singapore were it almost seemed the in-thing particularly among older people). Perhaps in Sydney these Covid times have made people a little more circumspect?

While I dont think I will be starting a walking company, Iam now reasonably placed to give advice for others who may venture in this way. One small tip from the Northern Beaches walk and some readers may already be aware of this section, as it is a popular tourist walk. There are two paths up to the BarrenjoeyHeadland or Lighthouse. The Smugglers Track path outlines 400 metres and 'steps' and is a beautiful scenic walk, but there are I think approximately 518 steps. The other way is a steady and quite steep climb, but evenly graded for access.

Public Art

Another area that has been developed by councils often in collaboration with developers and artists has been public art, particularly contemporary styled installations in parks, walkways, and outside public buildings. I noted St Marys Cathedral has continued their nativity scene in the foreground area and wondered if this scene was now seen as public art?

Cross Cultural diversity

Cities have always attracted the bulk of immigrants and Sydney has had waves of people arriving and moving into distinct areas over the time of its European settlement. Some areas are still quite Anglo in their demographic profile, and some like the inner west, have changed from being the dominant immigrant area in the 1960s to 1980s back to a more Anglo and now younger age area. The amazing diversity of cultural expression is vividly and publicly highlighted in the food on display in all the suburbs, the style of the cafes and the coffee offered, and the languages illustrated and spoken.

Cafes/Coffee shops are everywhere

I once thought the shopping centre was the new temple for worship, but now I perceive it has been replaced by the coffee shop or cafe. It was rare to pass through an area without encountering a new or revamped cafe, often tucked away in a side street. Coffee has become a central focus for many in Sydney now. Long gone are the days when ordering a coffee in Sydney (apart from Leichhardt with the early Italian immigrants) one witnessed the barista scooping a spoonful from a tin of caterers blend.

Covid times increased this local connection during the Monday to Friday period. People who had a paid job that required travel for example to the city or Parramatta moved from the often more impersonal city cafes to their local cafe, joining friends, families and even neighbours they had not met for a time of fellowship, sharing and contemporary discourse.

Was there a message of hope though and were there Christians sowing among these places?

Interestingly there are more churches providing cafes as part of their wider public image or ministry (and not just the traditional welfare-based drop-in style ones). I had a lovely break at The Sunroom, the cafe of Life Congregational Church in the very up-market suburb of Hunters Hill.

Church Life

In some areas, new church buildings had appeared, particularly with the more established Anglican and Catholic denominations, but newer denominations and independent churches were common in factory style buildings, schools or other established facilities.

Changing features includednew church buildings for immigrant members of denominations of the last 2-3 decades, including middle eastern areas (for example the Assyrian and Chaldean faith) and European based orthodox churches. I passed streets particularly in greater western Sydney featuring houses with overt Christian symbolism and statues.

I also witnessed the other side of church building life, with church buildings, particularly in the inner west now used for a variety of other activities, including businesses, designer clothing shops, art studios, and very expensive historic homes.

The amazing beauty of creation

I never cease to be amazed at creation and the depth and range of the physical beauty in the Greater Sydney area provides an awesome display. The beaches, waterways, and bush areasspeak to the truth of the scripture of God the creator.

In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (Psalm 95: 4-5)

I give thanks to God for this time to experience more of his creation, for the good works undertaken by his creatures, and particularly for keeping me safe along the way.

Next time: Tips for walking
Due to touching a button on my TV remote, I recently lost connection on my TV. No matter what I pressed, I kept seeing a white screen, with words in black that read:No Signal- find source. At one point, everything went completely grainy.

It happened shortly before midnight, while I was on the sofa in the living room, with the remote nearby. In getting up to close the window, Imoved a leg that inadvertently touched a buttonon the remote, while I was watching a movie.

I started to panic as Id never seen that message before. I wasnt sure what I had pushed. And no matter what Ipressed afterward, there was no change.I took a breath and told myself to relax. Im used to solving problems. No big deal, I thought, I can figure it out.

My read of the manual for the TV didnt help, either. None of what I was seeing was covered in the Troubleshooting section in that guide. I resolved to give up. I pictured the hassle of having to call a repair technician the next day. And what if that person couldnt fix it? I became frantic. I had visions of a TV-less existence.

But my mother said, in her calm way: Dont stress. Youll figure it out, Sharma. With those words, and a yawn, she got up from her recliner and went to bed.

I knew the problem had to do with the source. The TV somehow was connected to the wrong one. I clicked and clicked. And clicked some moreuntilsuccess! I selected the right source. The right connection was restored. I watched the rest of the movie with ease.

I couldnt help but think about the bigger picture: how we go through our lives disconnected from our one true source: God.

Words from Paul

The Bible verses that came to mind during that incident were those from the passage in the Book of Acts where the Apostle Paul addressed the people of Athens. These people had an inscription on an altar that read: to an unknown God.

The people of Athens were so obsessed with worshipping idols and gods that they were worshipping ones they couldnt even give a name to!In Acts Chapter 17, Paul explained that the God who made the world does not live in temples built by human hands.

And this God is not served by human hands since he doesnt need anything. Instead, he gives everyone life and breath. From one man (Adam) he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

God made the world and we are not here by chance. You were born in this time and in the country you are for a reason.

Not by chance

Many of us think that we are here completely by chance. We think of our existence as accident or coincidence. We think we are here because of choices our parents made or through some random series of events.

As God said to the prophet Jeremiah: Before you were born I knew you, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah Chapter 1 verse 5). Read Psalm 139 to get an understanding about how intimately God knows you.

Why are we here?

In verses 27 to 31 of Acts Chapter 17, Paul said:

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.As some of your own poets have said, We are his offspring.

Therefore, since we are Gods offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stonean image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed [Jesus]. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.

In short, Paul is saying we are here to connect with our Source. God wants us to know Him. We are ultimately ineffective if we are unconnected from Him. Our lives are blank. Empty. Even if we think we have everything we need.

In Him, is true eternal life. Without him, we will not experience our full potential and fulfil our purpose on earth.

Give up self-reliance and trying to figure it out on your own. Dont waste time panicking about the problems in your life, either. Help is available.

Again, I encourage you to connect to the Source.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Vladimir Putin told the world in the lead-up to Thursdays attacks on Ukraine that his operation aims to denazify Ukraine, a country with a Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust and who heads a Western-backed, democratically elected government.

The Holocaust, World War II and Nazism have been important tools for Putin in his bid to legitimize Russias moves in Ukraine, but historians see their use as disinformation and a cynical ploy to further the Russian leaders aims.

Israel has proceeded cautiously, seeking not to jeopardize its security ties with the Kremlin, despite what it considers the sacred memory of the 6 million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust.

Here's a closer look at how the ghosts of the past are shaping today's conflict:

The war that defines Russia

World War II, in which the Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people, is a linchpin of Russias national identity. In today's Russia, officials bristle at any questioning of the USSRs role.

Some historians say this has been coupled with an attempt by Russia at retooling certain historical truths from the war. They say Russia has tried to magnify the Soviet role in defeating the Nazis while playing down any collaboration by Soviet citizens in the persecution of Jews.

On Ukraine, Russia has tried to link the country to Nazism, particularly those who have led it since a pro-Russian leadership was toppled in 2014.

This goes back to 1941 when Ukraine, at the time part of the Soviet Union, was occupied by Nazi Germany. Some Ukrainian nationalists welcomed the Nazi occupiers, in part as a way to challenge their Soviet opponents, according to Yad Vashem, Israels Holocaust memorial. Historians say that, like in other countries, there was also collaboration.

Some of Ukraines politicians since 2014 have sought to glorify nationalist fighters from the era, focusing on their opposition to Soviet rule rather than their collaboration and documented crimes against Jews, as well as Poles living in Ukraine.

But making the leap from that to claiming Ukraines current government is a Nazi state does not reflect the reality of its politics, including the landslide election of a Jewish president and the aim of many Ukrainians to strengthen the countrys democracy, reduce corruption and move closer to the West.

In terms of all of the sort of constituent parts of Nazism, none of that is in play in Ukraine. Territorial ambitions. State-sponsored terrorism. Rampant antisemitism. Bigotry. A dictatorship. None of those are in play. So this is just total fiction, said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, a history professor at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

What's more, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish and has said that three of his grandfather's brothers were killed by German occupiers while his grandfather survived the war. That hasn't stopped Russian officials from comparing Zelenskyy to Jews who were forced to collaborate with the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Holocaust distortion

Putin's attempts to stretch history for political motives is part of a trend seen in other countries as well. Most prominently is Poland, where authorities are advancing a nationalist narrative at odds with mainstream scholarship, including through a 2018 law that regulates Holocaust speech.

The legislation sought to fight back against claims that Poland, a victim of Nazi Germany, bore responsibility for the Holocaust. The law angered Israel, where many felt it was an attempt to whitewash the fact that some Poles did kill Jews during the German occupation during World War II. Yad Vashem also came out against the legislation.

Havi Dreifuss, a historian at Tel Aviv University and Yad Vashem, said the world was now dealing with both Holocaust denial and Holocaust distortion, where countries or institutions were bringing forth their own interpretations of history that were damaging to the commemoration of the Holocaust.

Whoever deals with the period of the Holocaust must first and foremost be committed to the complex reality that occurred then and not with wars over memory that exist today, she said.

Israeli interests

The Holocaust is central to Israel's national identity. The country comes to a two-minute standstill on its Holocaust remembrance day. Schoolchildren, trade groups and soldiers makes regular trips to Yad Vashem's museum. Stories of the last cohort of Holocaust survivors constantly make the news.

Israel has butted heads with certain countries, like Poland, over the memory of the Holocaust. But Israel has appeared more reticent to challenge Putin and his narrative, according to some observers, because of its current security interests. Israel relies on coordination with Russia to allow it to strike targets in Syria, which it says are often weapons caches destined for Israel's enemies.

Israel came under fire from historians in 2020 after a speech by Putin and a separate video presentation at a meeting of world leaders in Jerusalem to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, which they said skewed toward his narrative and away from the historical facts.

Israel was conspicuously muted in its criticism of Russia in the lead-up to the attacks on Ukraine. Commentator Raviv Drucker wrote in the daily Haaretz that Israel was on the wrong side of history with its response, which initially sought to support Ukraine while not rattling Russia.

On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid condemned Russias attacks as a grave violation of the international order. But Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stopped short of issuing a public condemnation of Russias attack.

Vera Michlin-Shapir, a former official at Israels National Security Council and the author of Fluid Russia, a book about the country's national identity, said that Israel's regional security concerns were of greater interest than challenging Russia on its narrative.

Russia can provide weapons systems to our worst enemies and therefore Israel is proceeding very cautiously  you could say too cautiously  because there is an issue here that is at the heart of Israels security, she said.

Photos: Scenes from Ukraine as Russia invades

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The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

The parking lot for the Tucson post office branch was vacant, expectedly so on a Sunday evening. A lone dark figure in a wheelchair, positioned near the door, was an unexpected sight.

As we made eye contact, the man said, I was wondering, would you go over to Albertsons and buy me a salad? Something with a lot of leafy greens. And a bottle of vodka. Here  I have a gift card. And, I have $5.

In the mans extended right hand, he did indeed hold gift cards; in the left hand he displayed five one-dollar bills. He was serious about his proposal; he was not asking for a handout, only help in procuring some food. And drink.

Hah! was my uncensored response. The unlikely pairing of a leafy green salad and vodka was startling to me. And humorous. I considered the gift card  until I looked at it. He had obviously carried it around for some time; it was grimy.

What kind of salad? I asked.

One with leafy greens and fresh vegetables. They have lots of good salads in the grocery store. He was interested in a healthy meal  another surprise.

Well  Ill consider getting a salad for you, but Im not sure about the vodka.

There are small, inexpensive bottles of pretty decent vodka at Albertsons. Here, take the card and the money for it, he held the card and cash toward me insistently.

OK, Ill go to Albertsons to get you a salad. And Ill think about the vodka, I said and walked to my car in the empty parking lot.

When I returned, the homeless man was still there  patiently sitting in his wheelchair  in the vanishing light of this Sunday and now illuminated by my headlights.

Youre not vegetarian, are you? I asked, somewhat in humor.

No, he replied.

OK, good. I bought a piece of chicken and a roll for you too. And I found some vodka. He was happy to see the small bottle, and, feeling comfortable with me, shared a few stories about his life.

Back in the 80s in England, I was hanging out with some peace workers, and they were all vegetarians. One day, when I came back with a hamburger, they almost killed me! I probably should stop eating meat; Id be healthier. Dairy, too.

Did you know its supposed to rain tomorrow? he asked. During the monsoons, I got soaked and then the temperature dropped. I ended up in the hospital, almost got pneumonia. I dont like rain.

Oh, sure. I understand. Well, I hope you enjoy the food. Stay safe, I said as I turned to go.

He thanked me.

Turning back, I asked, Whats your name?

Jack. But you can call me John, he added.

Somewhere that night, in Barrio Hollywood in Tucson, a homeless man in a wheelchair was eating a leafy green salad and chicken on a roll, licking his fingers, and washing it all down with vodka  and, looking for shelter from the coming rain.

Throughout the winter, I saw Jack parked in his chair near the post office, in the shade of an ironwood tree, just off the sidewalk. Until last week.

A friend, stopping to pick up mail, found the parking lot closed off. He saw a body on a gurney being put into an emergency vehicle, while police officers gathered Jacks wheelchair and his scattered belongings from the small patch of earth that he had occupied. He must have died during the chilly night.

Was there an obituary for this homeless man? Heres my version: Jack, of the streets of Tucson, died as a result of exposure, but also of a world terribly out of balance and in need of compassion. May you find peace, Jack, warmth, and all the vodka and leafy green salads that you desire on the other side. And, no rain.

Laura Star is a freelance writer, artist and tai chi chih teacher who lives in Tucson in the winter and Duluth, Minnesota, in the summer.

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A Tulsa nonprofit formed in partnership with the George Kaiser Family Foundation is making inroads with the tech sector.

The nonprofit, inTulsa, serves candidates seeking tech jobs and companies looking for tech hires, regardless of their headquarters location.

Since its founding in 2021, the group has facilitated the hiring of more than 100 people across at least 40 organizations, more than 50% of which made their first Tulsa hire. Today, inTulsas talent database sits at 5,000 candidates, with the nonprofit planning to increase that number to more than 10,000 over the next year.

It works with companies with large hiring needs such as electric vehicle maker Canoo, which plans to locate a factory in Pryor; Volt, a local SMS platform with its founding team in Tulsa; tech companies such as Bloomboard, Ro, a virtual health care company; and Sprockets, a venture-backed startup that hired eight Tulsans to technology roles in 2021.

Tulsa is primed to be a new model for driving a citys growth by putting people at the center of our focus, inTulsa Managing Director Megan Thomas said in a statement. Remote work is here to stay, and Tulsa is a perfect place for capturing tech growth in a world where you no longer are tied to a big metro to enjoy strong career opportunities.

This city is livable, innovative, affordable, and has a unique history of providing an opportunity for risk-takers. Tulsa has all the building blocks that companies and people need to grow successfully here  its just a matter of creating connections to our talented people.

Tech jobs are in high demand, with local job postings increasing by 106% since 2017, which is 39% above the national average, according to EMSI, an Idaho-based labor market data company. Tech positions also pay 59% higher salaries than local non-tech jobs, according to data.

Similar efforts to attract and retain talent in Tulsa have led to substantial success in recent years.

Tulsa Remote has attracted more than 1,300 remote workers to Tulsa since 2018 and contributed an estimated $62 million in new labor income to the local economy in 2021, according to a recent study conducted by the Economic Innovation Group. inTulsa builds upon the city-wide efforts to boost Tulsas economic prospects by offering a comprehensive solution to link people with tech skills to innovative companies.

Brian Kidd is an example. inTulsa linked him to a job as a senior account executive at Munich-based trbo.

inTulsa made me feel like they were a champion for me, and that they truly cared about my success, he said in a statement. They wanted me to get placed and made me feel like they believed in me.

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Oil prices of $90 to $100 per barrel following Russias invasion of Ukraine are likely to remain, at least in the short-term, the head of a state oil and gas industry group said Thursday.

Depending on what happens  especially if Russia continues to invade the whole country  I think the price will go up more, said Dewey Bartlett Jr., president of Keener Oil and Gas and chairman of the Oklahoma Energy Producers Alliance.

It will probably settle at some point, and it will certainly be high, he said.

Bartlett said, however, If they invade another country, all bets are off.

The possibility of another big war would have a tremendous impact on the U.S. and global economy.

Oil prices on both sides of the Atlantic briefly jumped above $100 per barrel to their highest levels since 2014. But they gave back much of their gains after President Joe Biden said new sanctions are specifically designed to allow energy payments to continue.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for April delivery closed at $92.81 a barrel Thursday, up 71 cents.

Brent crude  used in the worldwide market  for May delivery was up $2.24 to $99.08 a barrel.

Bartlett, a former Tulsa mayor, said poor decisions by some countries in the region, including Germany, will leave them particularly vulnerable to high energy prices resulting from the invasion.

Both Germany and Ukraine, he said, shuttered coal and nuclear power plants and put all their energy eggs, so to speak into natural gas, most of which going to Europe comes from Russia.

The price of European natural gas spiked as much as 31% on Thursday.

Oklahomas economy could actually benefit, Bartlett said, because the state has an abundant supply of natural gas.

However, he said the U.S. currently buys about 600,000 barrels of oil a day from Russia.

He said if Biden tells Russia, We dont have to buy your oil, where are we going to get it?

I would assume Saudi Arabia,  but a lot of countries that used to have an excess of producing capacity dont have that anymore.

He said had the Biden administration not delivered the final coffin nail for the Keystone XL pipeline project, the U.S. could be receiving 600,000 to 800,000 barrels of tar sands oil a day from Canada.

That would give the U.S. a much stronger bargaining position. We could tell Russia, We dont have to buy your oil. We can get it right here from our friends in Canada, Bartlett said.

Gov. Kevin Stitt also addressed that issue on Thursday via Twitter, saying, This crisis underscores the need for the U.S. to be energy independent.

Oil and gas prices have always been a double-edged sword in Oklahoma.

While high prices are good for the industry and the states coffers through production taxes, they are not good for consumers who pay much higher prices at the pump and to heat homes and businesses.

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The city is reviewing all permit requests to install 5G cell poles in response to an increasingly loud chorus of voices demanding an explanation of the process and questioning why residents were never told the poles were going up.

We are reviewing all pole installation permit requests for compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, the city said in a statement issued Tuesday.

The grassroots effort to get answers began a few weeks ago after concerns were raised that the poles  and the small cell technology they support  could create health risks and decrease property values.

These are as ugly as sin, said Shelli Landon, who, with her husband, the Rev. Barry Landon, organized a press conference Tuesday to draw attention to the issue. Somebody got one put right in front of their picture window. How would you like that, trying to sell your property next time around?

The press conference was held in front of an unwired 5G pole installed in the right of way next to a home in the Walnut Creek neighborhood, between Harvard and Lewis avenues and 71st and 81st streets in south Tulsa. Ken Rudzienski and his partner, Carlton Robinson, have owned the property since 1995.

Rudzienski said he was never notified that the pole was going to be installed.

The sad thing is, if this is (an) easement, fine. If they have to bury something and they put it back the way they found it, fine, Rudzienski said. But when they add something like this and we have no say-so in the matter and we have been maintaining it with our lawn crew for all these years, I dont feel like I want to pay to have my lawn guy cut it anymore if we dont have a say in what goes on in here.

Lori Morris lives about a mile from Walnut Creek but said she attended the press conference because shes afraid the poles could pop up in her neighborhood.

They are obtrusive, and they will definitely affect property values, Morris said. And there was no notice given to residents here, and I think that that is not the way it should be done.

Councilor Jeannie Cue has been working with residents to get their questions answered. Speaking at Tuesdays press conference, she said her primary concern is that the city protects residents property rights.

I had a concern when the resident notified me that she didnt know who was even on her property, Cue said. They didnt have any credentials or cards.

5G is the next latest generation of mobile technology. It not only provides much faster internet service but has the capacity to handle many more devices at the same time.

The city has permitted 350 5G, or small cell, device locations, the first of which was installed in 2017, city spokesman Carson Colvin said in an email. Another 25 permits are pending review. Where existing utility poles do not exist, new poles typically are installed.

The companies that have applied for permits to install poles are AT&T, Verizon, Mobilitie and U.S. Cellular.

The Tulsa World called one of the internet providers but did not receive a response before press time.

Colvin said the city cannot say how many installations have been completed because the process has multiple steps, but he estimated that approximately 200 poles are in various stages of construction.

How many small cell poles will ultimately be installed in the city also is unknown.

The poles are part of a private companys business plan, Colvin said. Basically, it is a business decision of how many and where the poles are placed within rights of way.

City officials say their ability to regulate small cell wireless technology, including pole installation in public rights of way, is tightly constrained by FCC regulations and state law.

The Oklahoma Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act states in part that a wireless provider shall have the right, as a permitted use not subject to zoning review or approval, to collocate small wireless facilities and install, maintain, modify, operate and replace utility poles along, across, upon and under the right-of-way.

Shelli Landon, who said she is a cancer survivor, is worried about the potential health implications of having a small cell pole close to her home.

So you think I am going to sit across from one of these poles 100 feet away, and I have a paid-off house? Landon asked.

According to the American Cancer Society, there is no strong evidence that radiofrequency waves from cellphone towers cause cancer.

However, this does not mean that the RF waves from cell phone towers have been proven to be absolutely safe, the organizations website states. Most expert organizations agree that more research is needed to help clarify this, especially for any possible long-term effects.

Neither the potential loss of property value nor potential health factors can be considered when the city applies the rules the State Legislature has adopted for small cell facilities, Colvin said.

Tulsans who believe a small cell pole is not located appropriately in the public right of way, as allowed by state law, should call 311.

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Oklahomas two U.S. senators took somewhat different directions Thursday morning in their responses to Russias overnight invasion of eastern Ukraine, with one advocating increased oil and gas production to aid European allies and the other calling for more military assistance for the besieged Ukrainians.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe said in a written statement: While I am continuing to monitor the situation as events unfold, I believe it is in our countrys best interest to respond strongly  by providing additional defensive aid to continue to help our Ukrainian friends defend themselves and by sending additional resources to our troops in Eastern Europe who are working alongside our NATO allies to deter this aggression from spreading further; and by imposing the most severe economic costs on Putin and his inner circle for this grave misstep.

Inhofe, as the senior Republican on the U.S. Armed Forces Committee, has advocated military support for Ukraine since at least 2014, when Russia occupied Ukrainian territory in the Crimea.

To be clear: Putins ambitions wont stop with Ukraine  unless America and our allies stop Putin, Inhofe said Thursday.

Inhofe described the Russian invasion as shocking, even though it had been expected for weeks.

U.S. Sen. James Lankford, meanwhile, said economic sanctions against Russia will work only if the western allies stick together  and the U.S. moves to replace the Russian oil and gas much of western Europe depends upon.

America and our allies must respond quickly and decisively with crippling sanctions on Putin, Russia, and anyone who seeks to aid their actions, Lankford said in a written statement. We will absolutely impose trade restrictions and enforce sanctions on countries who continue to work with Russia.

Europe is dependent on Russian oil and natural gas, Lankford continued. Sanctions on Russian energy are meaningless unless the world responds by producing more energy to replace Russian oil and gas.

During this moment of crisis, the United States should work to dramatically ramp up energy production to strengthen our allies and to cut off the flow of money into Putins war machine.

Every dollar paid for Russian energy is a dollar they will use to murder their Ukrainian neighbors, Lankford said. America must lead the world by increasing our production of energy to decrease reliance on Russian exports.

Russias economy is heavily dependent on energy sales, Lankford continued. We should make sure that immediately dries up.

Several members of Oklahomas House delegation also weighed in.

First District Congressman Kevin Hern used the occasion for a Twitter attack on President Joe Biden, saying, A weak @POTUS in the White House allows the bullies, dictators, and terrorists of the world to grow stronger than ever.

Later, Hern criticized Bidens climate change ambassador, John Kerry.

The people of Ukraine are facing an invasion by one of the worlds largest militaries & the only thing John Kerry is worried about is how it will affect climate change, Hern said Monday, before the Russian invasion actually began.

While Hern and, to a lesser extent, Inhofe and 2nd District Congressman Markwayne Mullin took shots at Biden, none mentioned former President Donald Trump, whom all of the states all-Republican delegation have praised to varying degrees in the past.

Trump was openly scornful of the United States European allies and called Putins incursion into Ukraine genius.

None of the delegation was taking Putins side Thursday.

For decades, Vladimir Putin has violated the rights and freedoms of sovereign bordering neighbors, attempting to rewrite history and upend the balance of power in Europe, said 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas, whose district includes northwestern Tulsa and several nearby suburbs.

Now, Russias invasion of Ukraine lays bare for the world to witness the evil of an irresponsible and dangerous dictator  one who alone will be responsible for the death and destruction that this invasion will bring.

Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine marks a historic shift in how the world should regard and engage with Moscow and the Kremlin, Lucas said. The United States and our allies across the globe must remain committed to enacting swift, strong, and painful sanctions, ensuring Putin is held accountable and Russias ability to make war is short-lived.

Mullin blamed Putins actions on a desire to re-create a communist state in the image of the old Soviet Union.

What we are seeing from former KGB officer and Russian President Vladimir Putin is an attempt to spread communism throughout the world and bring back the Soviet Union, said Mullin. I urge President Biden to reverse his anti-fossil fuel policies and open American oil and gas production so we can aide our allies in Europe and take back control of the energy market.

Authorities on Russia tend to say Putin has little to no interest in communism but is fixated on rebuilding a Russian empire.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is an unprovoked naked act of aggression that is eerily reminiscent of what the world witnessed almost a century ago in the 1930s. The world was slow to unite to confront aggression in that era. It must not make the same mistake today, said 4th District Congressman Tom Cole, who holds a Ph.D. in history.

Vladimir Putin has chosen to launch the largest military operation in Europe since World War II, Cole said. He has done so against a country that has neither attacked nor threatened him or the Russian state. Putin has chosen to violate a peace in Europe that has lasted more than 75 years.

If he succeeds in dismantling Ukraine, he and others of his ilk all over the world will be tempted and emboldened to repeat his aggression against their innocent and weaker neighbors.

This truly heinous act jeopardizes the stability of Europe and peace across the globe, said 5th District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice. The United States must take every action, including the permanent closure of Nord Stream 2, to impose severe economic costs on Putin, his oligarchs, and the Russian economy, and ensure the Ukrainian people have the tools they need to withstand this violent attack.

Nord Stream 2 is a pipeline from Russia to Germany through the North Sea. It has been opposed by the Oklahoma delegation for political and economic reasons.

We must ensure Putin pays a heavy price by imposing all possible sanctions, Gov. Kevin Stitt tweeted. This crisis underscores the need for the U.S. to be energy independent.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma Attorney General John OConnor is reviewing more than 50 books to see whether they could violate the states obscenity law.

Some books on his list are classics, such as Of Mice and Men and Lord of the Flies.

The list also includes Gender Queer: A Memoir, and The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families.

The review was first reported by the online news outlet The Frontier.

Attorney General OConnor received complaints from several concerned individuals, said Madelyn Sheriff, a spokeswoman.

The agency did not have a timeline for completing its review, she said.

Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed OConnor to the attorney generals post after Mike Hunter resigned. OConnor is seeking a full term in this years elections.

The real issue here isnt the books, said Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, a former Tulsa Public Schools teacher. It is the election.

The state has librarians and procedures for community standards, Waldron noted.

We dont need the attorney general to look over the shoulder of trusted librarians with advanced degrees just because a group of people want to stir up some trouble, he said.

Waldron said the role of OConnors office is to find out why natural gas prices increased so dramatically during last winters freeze and getting millions of dollars returned from Epic Charter Schools following a critical audit.

Instead, we are going after President Biden and we are going after the (Native American) tribes, Waldron said.

OConnor has filed lawsuits against the policies of the Biden administration and sought to overturn a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, McGirt v. Oklahoma, which affirmed that tribal reservations still exist for purposes of criminal prosecution.

Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, said he is not concerned about OConnors review.

Schools have a process by which they approve books and have a process by which a book can be requested for review, Hime said.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, who is running against Stitt in this years gubernatorial election, said: Parents should have a say in the books that their children have access to.

Local school boards are required to have a process in place to review books in school libraries, and state rules clearly place that responsibility in the hands of local boards.

Before AG OConnor begins arresting teachers and librarians, we hope he would share the complaints hes received over the last year with the OSDE (Oklahoma State Department of Education), she said.

School library books have also gotten the attention of lawmakers.

Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed Senate Bill 1142. The measure would prohibit schools from maintaining or promoting books that make as their primary subject the study of sex, sexual preferences, sexual activity, sexual perversion, sex-based classifications, sexual identity, or gender identity or books that are of a sexual nature that a reasonable parent or legal guardian would want to know of or approve of prior to their child being exposed to it.

The measure would require districts to remove books within 30 days after a written request to do so.

Failure to remove such a book would result in an employees dismissal and inability to be re-employed for two years, if the bill becomes law.

Parents and legal guardians would be allowed to seek damages of a minimum of $10,000 per day a book requested for removal remained on the shelf.

Our education system is not the place to teach moral lessons that should instead be left up to parents and families, Standridge said in a December press release. Unfortunately, however, more and more schools are trying to indoctrinate students by exposing them to gender, sexual and racial identity curriculums and courses.

The measure has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee.

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U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe is expected to announce within the next few days that his long and storied political career will come to an end when the current Congress expires next January.

Calls and messages to Inhofes staff were not returned Thursday afternoon following New York Times reporter Jonathan Martins tweet that he had heard that the 87-year-old Republican was about to announce his retirement plans.

Several sources have since confirmed that theyve been told the same thing.

Inhofe was elected to finish a partial Senate term in 1994 and was last elected in 2020. His current term expires in 2026.

If Inhofe does indeed announce his retirement effective early next year, a special election would be held on the same schedule as other elections this year. A new law, enacted only last year, that allows for the appointment of U.S. senators to fill vacancies would not come into play.

In fact, that law would apply only if a vacancy occurs before March 1, which is Tuesday.

Possible successors to Inhofe would likely include 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern, who has made no secret of his interest in the Senate and has the financial wherewithal to overpower the many other Republican contenders interested in the job.

Second District Congressman Markwayne Mullin is also said to be looking at a potential Senate race.

Other potential candidates, either for the Senate vacancy or the 1st District, should Hern run for Senate, include state Sen. Nathan Dahm and Jackson Lahmayer, who are both campaigning against Oklahomas other U.S. senator, James Lankford.

Lankford is up for reelection this year.

Inhofe is currently the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He previously served as chairman of that committee and as chairman and ranking Republican of the Environment and Public Works Committee, a position that gave him considerable power in matters related to highways, airports and oil and gas regulation.

Inhofe was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 and moved to the Senate in 1994. His 35 years in Congress are the most in state history.

Prior to his congressional career, Inhofe served in the Oklahoma House and Senate, was the Republican nominee for governor in 1974 and served three two-year terms as Tulsas mayor.

All told, Inhofe has been in 51 elections, beginning with a state House special election in 1966, and lost only three times  for governor in 1974 to Democrat David Boren; for Congress in 1976 to Democratic incumbent James R. Jones; and for mayor in 1984 to Democrat Terry Young.

He replaced Jones in Congress in 1986 and Boren in the Senate in 1994 after both retired.

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University of Tulsa professor Benjamin Peters boils down Ukraines importance to Russia and to the world into a principle attributed to former U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski: Without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be an empire, but with Ukraine suborned and then subordinated, Russia automatically becomes an empire.

So long as Russia does not have an empire, the current international order and economy stays the same, Peters said.

That, then, leads to the question of to what extent the U.S. and its allies will go to prevent Russia from regaining its empire, even as Russian forces march into eastern Ukraine.

The West, I think, is making a bet that staggered sanctions are going to cost less than the costs of a resurgent Russian empire, Peters said Wednesday afternoon, just hours before Russia began sending rockets into targets across Ukraine. For us, the bet is that if you can freeze Russian capital,  you can exert pressure on the circles that are pushing Putin to do this.

Peters list of titles includes chair of media studies and an affiliation with TUs School of Cyber Studies. He was also director of Russian studies at the university.

Peters lived and studied in Russia and Ukraine for several years during the late 1990s and early 2000s, and he has some definite ideas about the current situation. The two countries may be a long way from Oklahoma, but Peters said there are more reasons than fuel and oil and gas prices to care about what happens there.

Ukraine is an independent country, he said. It has the right to self-determination.  Its a country, and its having its sovereign territory invaded.

That invader, Russia, has long historical, cultural and political ties to Ukraine, which Russian President Vladimir Putin advances as justification for occupation of eastern Ukraine and before that Crimea. Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, was the seat of the Rus people from whom Russia derives its name.

But Ukrainians have long thought of themselves as a separate people whose rich soils and natural resources made them more important to Russia than Russia is to them.

Peters said a 17-year-old relative of a family friend living in Kyiv sees no meaning in life except to sacrifice it fighting Russians.

It will be forfeit and worthwhile if he dies at the age of 18 fighting Russians over a chunk of land in southeastern Europe, Peters said.

The economic sanctions being brought to bear against Russia and its ruling oligarchs also affect the West, including the United States. Stock markets are spiraling, and fuel prices are expected to rise beyond the rebound from the COVID-19 downturn as markets close to Russian exports.

The long-term alternative, though, likely would be worse, Peters said.

The cost of our gas is probably going to go up a little bit, but consider that to the cost of outright war, which would be horrific and catastrophic, he said. It would be horrific in human costs.  There are 4 million people just in the (Russian-occupied) southeast corner of Ukraine. There are also military costs. Every time the United States or NATO exercises itself militarily, we just jump millions of dollars  trillions of dollars  overnight.

And that, he said, would be pennies compared to the long-term generational costs of war. We just simply cannot go to war.

War would be catastrophic, but at the same time the status quo is kind of dark.

Almost no one in the United States is advocating war with Russia, but some in Oklahomas all-Republican congressional delegation are satisfied with the sanctions announced by the Biden administration. Earlier this week, 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern called the administrations reaction weak and too late.

Other observers with foreign policy backgrounds say Bidens staggered approach is preferable because it leaves the U.S. room to maneuver.

And, in any event, the sanctions must be agreed upon by all Western allies to be effective.

Standing by watching is China and its increasingly autocratic leader Xi Jinping.

What China decides to do in the future, some think, may take its cues from how the West responds to Russia, Peters said. Russia is making kind of on-ramps and setting the model for China. And China is such a bigger deal.  Russia is not economically powerful; it just has a few rich guys.

Peters said it is important to recognize that Russia is not the U.S.S.R. and that the conflict is not about capitalism versus socialism. Russia has adopted a hybrid brand of bare-knuckled capitalism free of Western democracy and its moderating institutions.

This is not Cold War 2.0, said Peters. This is not state socialism. This is imperial capitalism without democracy.

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MOSCOW (AP)  Shocked Russians turned out by the thousands Thursday to decry their country's invasion of Ukraine as emotional calls for protests grew on social media. Some 1,745 people in 54 Russian cities were detained, at least 957 of them in Moscow.

Hundreds of posts came pouring in condemning Moscow's most aggressive actions since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin called the attack a "special military operation" to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine from "genocide"  a false claim the U.S. had predicted would be a pretext for invasion, and which many Russians roundly rejected.

Tatyana Usmanova, an opposition activist in Moscow, wrote on Facebook that she thought she was dreaming when she awoke at 5:30 a.m. to the news, which she called "a disgrace that will be forever with us now."

"I want to ask Ukrainians for forgiveness. We didn't vote for those who unleashed the war," she said.

As sirens blasted in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and large explosions were heard there and in other cities, Russians were signing open letters and online petitions demanding the Kremlin halt the assault, which the Ukrainian health minister said had killed at least 57 Ukrainians and wounded dozens more.

"Public opinion is in shock, people are in shock," political analyst Abbas Gallyamov told The Associated Press.

One petition, started by a prominent human rights advocate, Lev Ponomavyov, garnered over 150,000 signatures within several hours and more than 330,000 by the end of the day. More than 250 journalists put their names on an open letter decrying the aggression. Another one was signed by some 250 scientists, while 194 municipal council members in Moscow and other cities signed a third.

"I'm worried about the people very much, I'm worried to tears," said Zoya Vorobey, a resident of Korolyov, a town outside Moscow, her voice cracking. "I've been watching television since this morning, every minute, to see if anything changes. Unfortunately, nothing."

Several Russian celebrities and public figures, including some working for state TV, spoke out against the attack. Yelena Kovalskaya, director of a state-funded Moscow theater, announced on Facebook she was quitting her job, saying "it's impossible to work for a killer and get paid by him."

"I know that right now many of you feel desperation, helplessness, shame over Vladimir Putin's attack on the friendly nation of Ukraine. But I urge you not to despair," human rights activist Marina Litvinovich said in a video statement on Facebook, calling for mass protests Thursday evening.

"We, the Russian people, are against the war Putin has unleashed. We don't support this war, it is being waged not on our behalf," Litvinovich said.

But the authorities were having none of that.

In Moscow and other cities, they moved swiftly to crack down on critical voices. Litvinovich was detained outside of her residence shortly after posting the protest call. OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests, reported that 1,745 people in 54 cities had been detained by Thursday evening, at least 957 of them in Moscow.

Russia's Investigative Committee issued a warning Thursday afternoon reminding Russians that unauthorized protests are against the law.

Roskomnadzor, state communications and media watchdog, demanded that Russian media use "information and data they get only from official Russian sources." Some media reported that employees of certain state-funded companies were instructed not to comment publicly on the events in Ukraine.

Human rights advocates warned of a new wave of repression on dissent.

"There will be new (criminal) cases involving subverters, spies, treason, prosecution for antiwar protests, there will be detentions of journalists and bloggers, those who authored critical posts on social media, bans on investigations of the situation in the army and so on," prominent human rights advocate Pavel Chikov wrote on Facebook.

"It is hard to say how big this new wave will be, given that everything has been suppressed already."

Despite the pressure from the authorities, more than 1,000 people gathered in the center of Moscow Thursday evening, chanting "No to war!" as passing cars honked their horns.

Hundreds also took to the streets in St. Petersburg and dozens in Yekaterinburg.

"This is the most shameful and terrible day in my life. I even was not able to go to work. My country is an aggressor. I hate Putin. What else should be done to make people open their eyes?" Yekaterina Kuznetsova, 40-year-old engineer who joined the demonstration in St. Petersburg, told the AP.

Russia's official line in the meantime remained intransigent. Speaker of the upper house of parliament, Valentina Matviyenko charged that those who spoke out against the attack were only caring about their "momentary problems."

State TV painted the attack in line with what Putin said in his televised address announcing it.

Russia 1 TV host Olga Skabeyeva called it an effort "to protect people in Donbas from a Nazi regime" and said it was "without exaggeration, a crucial junction in history."

___

AP writer Kirill Zarubin contributed to this report from Korolyov, Russia.
In the coming weeks and months, Oklahoma has the opportunity to make historic and transformational investments through its allocation of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, a stimulus bill to aid public health and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oklahomas share of APRA funds is approximately $1.8 billion, and we are looking to our lawmakers for leadership and discernment as they award funding for projects that move our state forward.

Rogers State University has submitted such a project for fundingThe Center for Science and Technology at its main campus in Claremore.

More than a building, the center holds the key to unlocking further economic growth in northeast Oklahoma by providing a homegrown workforce that can meet the needs of current and future employers. Economic developers will tell you that Oklahoma has one of the most favorable business climates in the nation, but that it lacks the highly educated workforce needed to staff the jobs of the future.

Our degree programs in nursing, health sciences and medical, molecular biology have produced truly remarkable outcomes at the regional level. As we look to the future, we wish to build upon our outstanding reputation by growing our existing offerings and developing new science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.

With the successful funding of the center, RSU will expand its program offerings to include engineering, specifically chemical engineering. Oklahoma cannot meet the present demand for engineers and demand will only grow as this region becomes a national hub for the electric vehicle industry.

Additionally, the center will allow for expansion of RSUs nursing program allowing more students to be accepted into arguably the best program in Oklahoma. As we have all experienced during the past two years, increasing the number of bachelors degree educated nurses is essential when it comes to improving health outcomes.

Altogether, the center will provide courses of study and training for 27 Oklahomas 100 most critical occupations as defined by the Department of Commerce.

Gov. Kevin Stitt and other legislative leaders have specifically challenged higher education to focus on producing more engineers and nurses. RSU stands ready to meet that challenge if the $24.2 million request is fundeda request that is less than 2% of Oklahomas $1.8 billion ARPA funds.

Currently, legislative workgroups are reviewing proposals as an initial part of the awarding process. Ultimately, a committee of legislative leaders and members of the governors staff will make recommendations for final funding approval to Stitt. The process is highly competitive.

The mission of RSU is to strengthen Oklahomas economic vitality and overall quality of life. We do this by educating the workforce in alignment with our industry partners and regional stakeholders.

Already, we have received significant support on this proposal from the Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority, Claremore Chamber of Commerce, MidAmerica Industrial Park, and Tulsa Ports. We are grateful for their confidence in RSU.

It is now time to call on support from the community. It is important that community leadership, our alumni, and friends, express to legislators and the governor, their support for this project.

Your voice has an influence on our lawmakers leadership and discernment as they award funding for projects that move our state forward.

Larry Rice is president of Rogers State University.

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Discounts for Vietnamese coffee narrowed this week amid high gasoline prices and shipping rates, and thin trade, while discounts rose in Indonesia as some exporters released remaining beans from last harvest, traders said on Thursday.

Farmers in the Central Highlands, Vietnam's largest coffee-growing area, sold coffee at 40,600-41,800 dong ($1.78-$1.83), slightly changed from last week range of 40,500-42,000.

Traders in Vietnam offered 5% black and broken-grade 2 robusta at a discount range of $330-$340 per tonne to the July contract, compared with $360 discount last week.

"Discounts will stay stable at around $330-$350 per tonne due to high production cost, gasoline price, and shipping rates," said a trader based in the coffee belt.

"Farmers are selling for cash during watering process but not in large volume now as they are betting on higher prices."

London prices settled down $26, or 1%, at $2,240 per tonne on Wednesday.

In Indonesia's Lampung province, Sumatran robusta beans were offered at a discount of $170 to the March and April contracts, one trader said, compared with a $130 discount to the April and May contracts last week.

"Some exporters were seen selling their remaining stocks as new harvest is expected in coming months," the trader said.

Another trader offered $200 discount to the May contract, unchanged from last week.
There is a controversy about foreign language certification in Vietnam, while domestic universities only accept international certificates.

Regarding the issuance of foreign language certificates, the Ministry of Education and Training released a circular on the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework in Vietnam from January 2014.

The framework is theoretically a common standard that all education systems in the country rely on to set the requirements for the various foreign languages taught in schools. It is also a set of criteria that educational institutions use to test and verify the foreign language skills of students.

In recent years, certificates issued under the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework (FLPF) have been "ignored" in admissions tests at almost all Vietnamese universities.

Only international certificates accepted

For many years, Vietnam has had an exemption from foreign language testing in high school graduation exams for some exceptional cases. In this case, a student who is exempt from the exam is deducted ten points in the foreign language exam.

This priority applies to members of the national Olympic teams for foreign languages and to examinees with qualified foreign language certificates that are still valid until the examination date and have the required minimum grade.

As for English, students who have one of the international certificates, such as IELTS or TOEFL, are exempted from taking the English exam as part of the baccalaureate examination, while FLPFs are not accepted in the same way.

The same is true for the university entrance exam, where only international certificates are given preference, without FLPFs being considered.

At the same time, FLPFs are still accepted in other tests related to recruitment and appointment. In these cases, domestic foreign language certificates are also required for both entrance and final examinations.

For example, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology has a conversion table for IELTS and TOEFL certificates with certain scores in the admission test. IELTS 6.0 is converted to 10 points, IELTS 5.5 is equivalent to 9 points, and IELTS 5.0 is equivalent to 8 points. TOEFL iBT 79 is equivalent to a score of 10 and TOEFL iBT 46-47 is equivalent to a score of 8.

There are some universities that consider English certificates as a key factor in the combined admission examination.

At Ho Chi Minh City Medical University, applicants with an IELTS of at least 6.0 can apply for the combined admissions tests for medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, etc.

At Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, the IELTS 6.0 certificate has become one of the standards by which the quality of study and student outcomes can be judged.

The University of Science of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City also requires international certificates in foreign language proficiency when seeking 5-10 percent of all applicants for high-level or advanced degree programs.

In addition to assessing learning outcomes and morale, many educational institutions require foreign language certificates as the main criterion for admission. Both the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the University of Economics and Law (under the National University of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City) also consider international English certificates in the admission process.

Some universities, such as Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City... allow applicants with appropriate international English certificates and qualified high school diplomas to be exempted from admission tests.

No international recognition

Nguyen Minh Ha, rector of Ho Chi Minh City Open University, said his university allows applicants with high-quality IELTS certificates not to take the test because the certificates are internationally accepted.

Ho Chi Minh City Open University has cooperated with many other foreign universities in education, so it is convenient for students who want to continue their studies abroad to have international certificates, Ha said.

Using international certificates helps improve the quality of education and gives students more advantages later, he added.

"Vietnam's 6-level foreign language proficiency framework was not extremely popular. The fact that it has not been recognized by other countries makes it less attractive to students. For this reason, it is understandable that students choose the international framework," the rector said.

Bui Hoang Thang, head of the education department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, said his institution is willing to accept Vietnamese foreign language certificates. In fact, however, there are very few, if any, applicants who have such certificates, so it would be abnormal to list them as one of the requirements for the entrance exam.

Quality concerns

Pham Thai Son, head of the Ho Chi Minh City University Food Industry Admissions Department, expressed concerns about the quality of domestic certificates that have been used for several years.

Although the examination process and tests are fine, the way they are evaluated and assessed leads many people to lack confidence in the certificates, Thai Son said.

At the same time, international certificates, which have dozens of years of experience in testing and organization, can provide an accurate assessment of test takers' abilities in a foreign language.

In addition, holders of international foreign language certificates can use them in various situations outside the academic environment.

"We are considering..." According to Nguyen Trung Nhan, head of the Education Department of Ho Chi Minh City Industrial University, most parents nowadays choose to enroll their children in the university to obtain international foreign language certificates. The reason, of course, is the popularity and worldwide acceptance of these certificates. However, domestic certificates are not the same. "We did not accept the Vietnamese level 6 certificates last year and we are considering whether to accept them in this year's entrance exam," said Nguyen Trung Nhan.

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Many COVID-19 cases have been recorded among students and lecturers at universities in Ho Chi Minh City after in-person learning was resumed in mid-February.

Vo Van Tuan, vice-president of Van Lang University, said that the school has restored offline study for more than a week.

A lot of students have contracted COVID-19, Tuan continued, adding that the exact number has not been calculated.

Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology has detected about 10 coronavirus cases since February 14.

At the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, eight students, one lecturer, and three staff members have tested positive for the virus.

About 40 students at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry are now quarantined at home after coming into contact with COVID-19 patients.

Nguyen Truong Thinh, a senior lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, stated that the school has allowed students of practical subjects to return to classes in the past two weeks.

Four COVID-19 cases have been reported and handled in accordance with regulations, Thinh continued.

As students of theoretical subjects are expected to attend in-person learning next week, the school has prepared plans to prevent large gatherings of students at the same time.

Each class can also decide whether online or offline study suits them the most.

Students attend in-person learning at the University of Economics and Finance in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Bich / Tuoi Tre

At Van Lang University, students who got COVID-19, as well as their direct contacts, can attend online lessons during their home quarantine.

If lecturers contract the virus, they will switch to remote teaching.

If they are unable to teach due to bad health, a substitute will be assigned.

Students and lectures will be permitted to attend in-person classes once they test negative for the pathogen.

A similar approach is also applied at the University of Economics and Finance, said Truong Thi Ngoc Binh, director of the schools information and communication center.

Ho Chi Minh City has documented over 523,500 local infections since the fourth virus wave hit the country last April.

Health workers in the city of nine million have administered 8.1 million first vaccine shots, 7.3 million second doses, and 4.6 million third jabs.

The majority of university students in the metropolis resumed in-person learning on February 14 after the activity had been suspended since early May last year due to the serious outbreak.

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French drugmaker Sanofi and its British partner GlaxoSmithKline are seeking regulatory approval for their COVID-19 vaccine to be used as a booster, as well as a standalone two-dose shot, after several setbacks.

The companies said on Wednesday they intended to submit data to regulators from a late-stage trial of the vaccine, and another testing it as a booster, with full results for both studies expected to be published "later this year."

Sanofi, which plans to produce the vaccine in France, Italy and the United Sates, is hoping for a comeback after falling behind in the race for COVID-19 shots, while GSK, the world's biggest vaccine maker by sales, has not developed its own candidate and is instead contributing its adjuvant technology to developers.

Sanofi-GSK's shot relies on a conventional protein-based approach, compared with the newer mRNA technology used in established COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

It is similar in technology to one of Sanofi's seasonal influenza vaccines, and is coupled with GSK's adjuvant, a substance that increases the effectiveness of a shot. It is also easier to store and transport than some rival shots.

The protein technology, which is also behind the recently approved COVID-19 shot from Novavax, has been in use since the mid-1980s, leading public health experts to hope that some of those who have shunned mRNA shots might opt for a vaccine class with a decades-long safety record.

The companies said final analysis of the booster trial, which included participants previously given shots based on mRNA technology or adenovirus viral vectors, showed it could increase neutralising antibodies by 18 to 30 times.

"We are confident that this vaccine can play an important role as we continue to address this pandemic and prepare for the post-pandemic period," said President of GSK Vaccines, Roger Connor.

Early data from the late-stage trial of the vaccine as a standalone two-dose shot showed it was 100% effective against severe COVID-19 and hospitalisation, with 75% efficacy against moderate or severe disease.

"No other global Phase 3 efficacy study has been undertaken during this period with so many variants of concern, including Omicron, and these efficacy data are similar to the recent clinical data from authorized vaccines," said Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president for Sanofi Vaccines.

The companies said they were in discussions for approval of their shot with regulators including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency.

A Sanofi spokesperson added the filing was imminent and would take a few days at most.

He reiterated the French drugmaker's commitment to supply a total of 75 million doses to the EU and Britain, as well as 100 million to the United States, contingent on regulatory approval.

The planned U.S. deliveries would be governed by a $2.1 billion contract with the U.S. government signed in July 2020, he added.

Discussions with the international vaccine-sharing facility COVAX about shipments to lower-income countries are ongoing.

The head of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Richard Hatchett, said new protein-based vaccines administered with adjuvants could "potentially become the workforce for vaccinations in the future," when asked about the role of late-comers to the vaccine race.

CEPI co-runs COVAX.

Sanofi and GSK surprised investors in December by delaying key results from the vaccine trials to this year, while Sanofi also dropped plans for its own mRNA shot due to the dominance of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
The number of major wildfires worldwide will rise sharply in coming decades due to global warming, and governments are ill-prepared for the death and destruction such mega-blazes trail in their wake, the UN warned Wednesday.

Even the most ambitious efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions will not prevent a dramatic surge in the frequency of extreme fire conditions, a report commissioned by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) concluded.

"By the end of the century, the probability of wildfire events similar to Australia's 20192020 Black Summer or the huge Arctic fires in 2020 occurring in a given year is likely to increase by 3157 percent," it said.

The heating of the planet is turning landscapes into tinderboxes, and more extreme weather means stronger, hotter and drier winds to fan the flames.

Such wildfires are burning where they have always occurred, and are flaring up in unexpected places such as drying peatlands and thawing permafrost.

"Fires are not good things," said co-author Peter, an expert in forest fire management at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

"The impacts on people -- socially, health-wise, psychologically -- are phenomenal and long-term," he told journalists in a briefing.

Large wildfires, which can rage uncontrolled for days or weeks, cause respiratory and heart problems, especially for the elderly and very young.

A recent study in The Lancet concluded that exposure to wildfire smoke results, on average, in more than 30,000 deaths each year across 43 nations for which data was available.

Economic damages in the United States -- one of the few countries to calculate such costs -- have varied between $71 to $348 billion (63 to 307 billion euros) in recent years, according to an assessment cited in the report.

Zombie fires

Major blazes can also be devastating for wildlife, pushing some endangered species closer to the brink of extinction.

Nearly three billion mammals, reptiles, birds and frogs were killed or harmed, for example, by Australia's devastating 2019-20 bushfires, scientists have calculated.

Wildfires are made worse by climate change.

Heatwaves, drought conditions and reduced soil moisture amplified by global warming have contributed to unprecedented fires in the western United States, Australia and the Mediterranean basin just in the last three years.

Even the Arctic -- previously all but immune to fires -- has seen a dramatic increase in blazes, including so-called "zombie fires" that smoulder underground throughout winter before bursting into flames anew.

But wildfires also accelerate climate change, feeding a vicious cycle of more fires and rising temperatures.

Last year, forests going up in flames emitted more than 2.5 billion tonnes of planet-warming CO2 in July and August alone, equivalent to India's annual emissions from all sources, the European Union's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reported.

Compiled by 50 top experts, the report called for a rethink on how to tackle the problem.

"Current government responses to wildfires are often putting money in the wrong places," investing in managing fires once they start rather than prevention and risk reduction, said UN Environment chief Inger Andersen.

"We have to minimise the risk of extreme wildfires by being prepared."
MADRID -- Spurred on by soaring demand for seafood, a Spanish company plans to open the first commercial octopus farm next year but as scientists discover more about the enigmatic animals some warn it could be an ethical and environmental disaster.

"This is a global milestone," said Roberto Romero, aquaculture director at Nueva Pescanova, the company pouring 65 million euros ($74 million) into the farm, which is pending environmental approval from local authorities.

At the company's research centre in Galicia, northwest Spain, several octopuses silently propelled themselves around a shallow indoor tank.

Two technicians in waders plucked a mature specimen into a bucket for transfer to a new enclosure, with five other octopuses.

Building on decades of academic research, Nueva Pescanova beat rival companies in Mexico and Japan to perfect the conditions needed for industrial-scale breeding.

The commercial incentives for the farm, which is slated to produce 3,000 tonnes per year by 2026 for domestic and international food chains and generate hundreds of jobs on the island of Gran Canaria, are clear.

Fisherman Pedro Cervino, 49, kills an octopus with a wooden stick inside of its mouth after fishing it with pots, at estuary of Ferrol in Mugardos, in Galicia, northwestern Spain February 8, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Between 2010 and 2019 the value of the global octopus trade ballooned to $2.72 billion from $1.30 billion, according to data from the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organisation, while landings only rose around 9% to 380,000 tonnes.

Welfare concerns

However, previous efforts to farm octopus have struggled with high mortality, while attempts to breed wild-caught octopus ran into problems with aggression, cannibalism and self-mutilation.

David Chavarrias, the centre's director, said optimising tank conditions allowed the company to eliminate aggression and breed five generations in captivity.

"We have not found cannibalistic behaviour in any of our cultures," he said.

But not everyone is convinced.

Since the 2020 documentary "My Octopus Teacher" captured the public imagination with its tale of a filmmaker's friendship with an octopus, concern for their wellbeing has grown.

David Galvez, chef at the Casa Gallega restaurant, prepares an octopus to serve after cooking it in the traditional Galician way in Madrid, Spain, February 2, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Last year, researchers at the London School of Economics concluded from a review of 300 scientific studies that octopus were sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and happiness, and that high-welfare farming would be impossible.

Raul Garcia, who heads the WWF conservation organisation's fisheries operations in Spain, agrees.

"Octopuses are extremely intelligent and extremely curious. And it's well known they are not happy in conditions of captivity," he told Reuters.

Any farming operation aiming for a high quality of life by approximating their natural habitat - solitary on the sea bed - would likely be too expensive to be profitable, he said.

European Union laws governing livestock welfare do not apply to invertebrates and although Spain is tightening up its animal protection legislation, octopuses are not set to be included.

Nueva Pescanova has not provided specific details on tank sizes, density, or feed, citing trade secrecy. It has said the animals are constantly monitored to ensure their wellbeing.

Chavarrias said more research was needed to determine if octopus were truly intelligent.

"We like to say that more than an intelligent animal, it is a responsive animal," he said "It has a certain capacity for resolve when faced with survival challenges."

Fisherman Pedro Cervino, 49, stands on his boat called Olga, while he kills the octopus with a wooden stick inside of its mouth after fishing it with pots, at estuary of Ferrol in Mugardos, in Galicia, northwestern Spain February 7, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Sustainable?

Despite increasing concern for animal rights, demand is booming, led by Italy, Korea, Japan and Spain, the world's biggest importer. Natural fishing grounds are feeling the strain.

"If we want to continue consuming octopus we have to look for an alternative ... because the fisheries have already reached their limit," said Eduardo Almansa, a scientist at Spain's Oceanography Institute, which developed the technology used by Nueva Pescanova.

"For now aquaculture is the only available option."

Half the seafood consumed by humans is farmed. The industry has traditionally pitched itself as a means of meeting consumer demand while alleviating pressure on fishing grounds, but ecologists say that obscures its true environmental toll.

Around a third of the global fish catch is used to feed other animals and rising demand for fishmeal for aquaculture is exacerbating stress on already depleted stocks, the WWF said.

Nueva Pescanova's Chavarrias said he recognised the concern around sustainability and stressed the company was researching the use of waste fish products and algae as alternative feed but said it was too early to discuss the results.

Some activists say the solution is much simpler: don't eat octopus.

"There's so many wonderful vegan alternatives out there now," said Carys Bennett of animal-rights group PETA. "We're urging everyone to protest against this farm."

The project is pending approval from the Canary Islands' environmental department.

David Galvez, chef at the Casa Gallega restaurant, prepares an octopus to serve after cooking it in the traditional Galician way in Madrid, Spain, February 2, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Asked if the department would consider opposition from rights-groups, a spokesperson said "all required parameters would be taken into account".

Traditional octopus fishermen are also wary of the venture, worried it could push down prices and undermine their reputation for quality produce.

Pedro Luis Cervino Fernandez, 49, leaves the Galician port of Murgados at 5 a.m. every morning in search of octopus. He fears he will not be able to compete with industrial farming.

"Big companies just want to look after their bottom line ... they couldn't care less about small companies like us," he told Reuters on his small boat off the Galician coast.

A few hundred miles inland at La Casa Gallega, a Madrid restaurant specialising in pulpo a la gallega - seared octopus with boiled potatoes and plenty of paprika - staff were unimpressed by the prospect of farmed produce.

"I don't think it will ever be able to compete with Galician octopus," said head waiter Claudio Gandara. "It will be like other farmed fish ... the quality is never the same."
Two ships from the Japanese Training Squadron, manned by a combined crew of approximately 480 officers and sailors, made a port call to Da Nang on Thursday, beginning a visit to the central Vietnamese city.

The vessels -- HATAKAZE and INAZUMA -- led by Colonel II Masaaki, commander of training vessel unit No. 1 of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, arrived at Tien Sa Port on Thursday morning.

Representatives of the Da Nang Department of External Affairs, the Naval Region 3 Command, the Military Region 5 Command, the citys border guard and military commands, and the External Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defense held a welcome ceremony for the Japanese officers and sailors upon their arrival.

Members of the Japanese delegation arrive at Tien Sa Port in Da Nang City, Vietnam on February 24, 2022. Photo: V.D. / Tuoi Tre

The event was also attended by Japanese Consul General in Da Nang Yakabe Yoshinori, Deputy Consul General Shimonishi Kyoshi, and Deputy Defense Attache Lieutenant Colonel Hamamoto Michinori from the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam.

Colonel II Masaaki said the visit aims to promote exchanges and mutual understanding between the Vietnam Peoples Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, as well as defense cooperation between the two countries.

During the three-day trip from Thursday to Saturday, the head of the Japanese delegation will pay courtesy calls to leaders of Da Nang City and the Naval Region 3 Command via videoconference.

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Check out news you should not miss today:

Society

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has recently urged localities to complete the inoculation of the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people from 18 years old in the first quarter of 2022, as well as finish vaccinating the second dose for children from 12 to under 18 in February 2022, and get ready to vaccinate children from 5 to under 12.

-- The number of COVId-19 patients in Hanoi is increasing sharply, with nearly 7,000 cases reported within 24 hours, deputy director of Hanois Department of Health Tran Van Chung said at a Wednesday online meeting on the pandemic control.

-- Three submarine cable systems that account for the majority of Internet connection traffic from Vietnam to the world including Asia Pacific Gateway (APG), Asia America Gateway (AAG) and Intra-Asia (IA) are currently breaking down, disrupting Internet speed in the country.

Business

-- Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The on Wednesday had a meeting with Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Obaid Saeed Obaid Bintaresh Al Dhaheri to seek ways to step up cooperation in transport between Vietnam and the UAE, the Vietnam News Agency reported the same day.

-- Vietnam reported a trade deficit of US$3.91 billion in the first 15 days of February as exports decreased, the General Department of Customs has announced, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Education

-- Many universities in Ho Chi Minh City have reported COVID-19 cases after students were back to campus since early last week, while some schools in Hanoi have switched back to online studying given surging positive cases.

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Health authorities in Hanoi recently detected four more cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant after conducting genome sequencing on the patients samples at a local hospital.

Vice-chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Chu Xuan Dung chaired a teleconference with authorities in districts and towns on Wednesday to discuss more drastic measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the meeting, Dung stated that the genome sequencing process had recently detected four Omicron cases among the COVID-19 patients being treated at Bach Mai Hospital.

This had already been predicted and competent authorities have implemented specific response plans, the vice-chairman added.

Hanoi has so far reported 18 out the 205 Omicron cases officially logged in Vietnam.

The Omicron mutant was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a variant of concern in November 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic remains serious in Hanoi, with an average of 5,128 cases recorded daily over the past week, vice-chairman Dung continued.

The reopening of non-essential services, tourism, and aviation, as well as the cold weather have also brought about many challenges, the official assessed.

He praised the relentless efforts of local health authorities and frontline forces in pandemic response, stressing the importance of minimizing the number of seriously-ill patients and deaths.

Authorities must also focus on providing treatment, information, and sufficient medicine for COVID-19 patients who are quarantined at home.

Hanoi has documented more than 218,300 local infections and over 870 coronavirus-related deaths since the fourth virus wave hit the country in late April 2020.

Nearly 6.1 million out of eight million people in the capital city have received their first vaccine dose, while about 6.2 million have been jabbed twice, according to the national COVID-19 vaccination portal.

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U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry has announced the US$2.5 million Innovation Challenge Fund (ICF) to assist Vietnams urban energy security improvement.

The envoy made the announcement at a fund launching ceremony in Hanoi on Wednesday, as part of his four-day visit to Vietnam, which started on Tuesday.

The ICF is part of the USAID-funded $13 million Vietnam Urban Energy Security project, which was chartered for four years to help the country improve legislation related to clean energy, mobilize relevant investment, and increase the adoption and deployment of innovative energy solutions.

This fund expects to finance 20 pilot projects for advanced urban energy systems in Da Nang in central Vietnam and/or Ho Chi Minh City in the south, with each successful applicant able to receive funding up to $100,000, VnExpress reported.

Economic growth in Vietnam has driven a significant increase in electricity demand and is forecast to continue at eight percent through 2030, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Vietnam will need $8-10 billion per year to invest in the energy sector over the next decade to meet the growing energy demand as an energy shortage has already been predicted.

As Vietnam owns hydroelectricity, wind energy and solar energy, the Southeast Asian country is likely to have a very balanced power supply, Kerry told the ceremony.

The special envoy said the U.S. will continue to help Vietnam develop renewable energy, reduce emissions, formulate policies to phase out coal power, and gradually shift to a clean energy model, especially through solar energy.

Kerry expressed high appreciation for Vietnam's commitments at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) last year and reaffirmed his nation's pledge to assist with these efforts.

Vietnam has made significant commitments to reduce net emissions to zero by 2050 and abandon coal power from 2040, John Kerry said, commenting that the Vietnamese government is currently working very hard toward the goals.

The U.S. is excited to work together with Vietnam to help facilitate and accelerate this transition, Kerry said.

In addition to Kerry, the ceremony was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper and USAID Vietnam Director Ann Marie Yastishock.

The event included a small exhibition showcasing the first urban energy solutions financed by this fund.

Kerrys ongoing visit in Vietnam was aimed at meeting with "government officials, civil society representatives, and business leaders to build consensus on key actions to address the climate crisis and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy, the U.S. Embassy said on its verified Facebook page on Thursday.

The special envoy had productive meetings with State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, and Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, among other officials, according to the embassy.

They discussed how Vietnam can be a leader in tackling the climate crisis in Southeast Asia, the diplomatic agency said.

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Nine fishermen who had been drifting at sea have been brought to safety after their fishing boat was sunk by strong winds and waves on the way home from Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

Dang Tan Thanh, deputy chairman of Ly Son Island District in central Quang Ngai Province, confirmed the successful rescue on Wednesday.

The affected ship, numbered QNg 96237, belongs to Han Minh Trong, a 50-year-old fisherman living on the island, and was captained by Mai Van Ly, a 46-year-old local man.

While carrying its nine-member crew home from the Hoang Sa fishing grounds at around 4:15 am on Wednesday, strong currents and high winds sank the QNg 96237 fishing vessel about five nautical miles west of the island.

Captain Ly promptly contacted the local authorities and the local Coast Guard for help.

After dispatching two coast guard ships to the reported location of the ship in distress, the Coast Guard also called for joint rescue efforts from the nearby QNg 96093 fishing boat captained by Mai Chi Thanh, a 38-year-old resident of Ly Son Island.

As strong waves made it difficult to approach the sinking boat, it was not until 6:40 am on the same day that rescuers managed to save five of the nine fishermen, who were found drifting on two basket boats.

The two coast guard ships continued to scour the sea in the inclement weather for the remaining four fishermen.

At 11:15 am today, were told that the four fishermen have been rescued, Thanh said.

The sea area around Ly Son Island is currently being affected by strong northeasterly winds.

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Vietnams capital city of Hanoi has recently been listed among the best places for traveling alone.

American website BuzzFeeds writer Hannah Loewentheil rounded up responses from a travel forum on Reddit of the best and worst destinations for those who consider solo travel.

In her list, Loewentheil named Hanoi along with other places across the globe as the best for solo travelers, including Japan, Ireland, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Guatemala, Argentina, New Zealand, Portland and New York City in the U.S., Thailand, Crete in Greece, Mexico, Malta, Iceland, Georgia, and South Korea.

"I would say Hanoi is one of the best cities for solo travel, and it's the best option in Southeast Asia, Loewentheil cited a comment from dubz12 on Reddit.

The city has charm, culture, hospitality, and affordable prices, whereas other urban hubs like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are very heavily modernized.

In Hanoi, there are many vibrant hostels filled with backpackers near the French Quarter and beautiful architecture.

It's really easy to meet fellow travelers here to travel to the northern reaches of Vietnam (Sa Pa, Ha Giang) or head down to Saigon.

A file image shows people visiting the St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

In August 2020, Vietnam was also listed among the 20 best countries for solo travelers by American travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

In the list compiled by Skye Sherman and Elizabeth Preske which recommended countries ideal for both first-time and experienced solo travelers - safe destinations where you can expect a warm welcome, the magazine introduced endless adventure awaits in Vietnam.

According to Travel + Leisure, Vietnam is a country where solo travelers can explore Hanois historical and cultural sites and leisurely walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, hop on a boat that departs from Ha Long and cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay, home to some of the worlds most striking blue water and natural landscapes," or take a guided tour of Son Doong Cave, the largest natural cave in the world.

Visiting the ancient city of Hoi An on the central coast during the full moon to be welcomed by the awe-inspiring sight of hundreds of lanterns floating down the Thu Bon River was also what the American magazine suggested its readers to do while in Vietnam.

Visitors are seen at a cafe in Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam in February 2020. Photo: B.D. / Tuoi Tre

Meanwhile, heading south of the country, solo travelers may find Ho Chi Minh City attractive through street food at Ben Thanh Market and experiences at the War Remnants Museum as well as the Cu Chi Tunnels.

After a two-year-halt due to COVID-19, the Vietnamese government has agreed to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourisms proposal to fully reopen tourism to foreign visitors in its new normal period starting from March 15. Under the current regulations, Vietnam unilaterally waives visa requirements for citizens of 13 countries, namely Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Belarus, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. In addition, Vietnam and 88 other countries and territories have reached an agreement on visa exemptions.

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Mondays Four Corners is Russia vs Russia, a report from Euro broadcaster Arte.

With nations on the brink of war, the story looks at Putins aggressive power play in the region.

Each time we have backed down from the West, they have aggressively imposed their economic, cultural models and their moral values on us that will never happen again, that ship has sailed. Putin political ally

In Ukraine, a serious escalation of the military and diplomatic crisis is taking place with Russian forces moving in as so-called peacekeepers. President Vladimir Putin has gone on the attack, taking aim at western nations, accusing them of threatening the Russian state and raising grievances dating back to the Cold War. Stoking the fires of this Russian nationalist sentiment is part of the Putin playbook.

Putins regime needs legitimacy. No one believes the elections are legitimate anymore, no one sees economic growth, and his popularity is plummeting. He needed national unity in order to get the Russian people to come together around one idea. Exiled economist

With growing dissent inside Russia, President Putin has sought to paint his opponents as tools of the West.

There is a small percentage of young people who never knew the Soviet Union, and were brought up at a time when the Russian national idea had been abandoned. Our great mistake is that we have allowed this generation of 20 to 30-year-olds to grow up mixing Western values with their Russian culture. Putin parliamentary ally

The regime has engaged in a ruthless campaign to shut down and lock up political opponents and activists.

There is a team of professional killers that serve the state. They poisoned me twice. Opposition activist

On Monday, in this timely film, the activists who have risked everything are speaking out about the abusive political climate in Russia.

We were characterised as horrible people, and after, I received threats from people who wanted to shoot me, burn me, hang me. Protestor

Many are ordinary citizens paying a heavy price for their political views.

Im a qualified engineer in the space industry. I used to work in a research institute, but I was forced to resign on the grounds that I was a political activist.

High ranking political allies of President Putin say the protest movement gets what it deserves.

They often find themselves tangled up in the justice system. If they are victims of anything, its not of Putins regime as they say, but of their own stupidity. Putin political ally

Despite the dangers, members of the opposition movement say they will not be silenced.

I dont care if they follow me, if they listen in on meWe know the reality of this country, and who we are dealing with. Opposition activist

Monday 28th February at 8.30pm on ABC.
Crime Investigation Australia returns to Seven on Sunday with brand new episodes, hosted by Matt Doran.

Season 4 Episode 1 The Cangai Siege looks back on 1993 crimes.

This is a new season of 8 cases produced by Graham McNeice of Shadow Productions.

In March, 1993, Leonard Leabeater, Robert Steele and Raymond Bassett went on a brutal murder rampage, killing five people and taking children as hostages across two states. The gang had been on the run from South Australia where Leabeater had been accused of indecently assaulting two girls.

8:45pm Sunday on Seven.
I cover local government in East Texas for the Tyler Morning Telegraph. Im from East Texas and love getting to report on the area I grew up in. Texas A&M University former student. If you have story ideas email me at mmcham@tylerpaper.com

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Mostly cloudy...isolated thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell, on behalf of the EU, issued a statement in which he called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to immediately stop hostilities against Ukraine.

"The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation. We also condemn the involvement of Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine and call on it to abide by its international obligations," the EU High Representative said in the statement, the text of which was circulated in Brussels on Thursday.

"We demand President Putin to cease Russian military operations immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine. Russia bears full responsibility for this act of aggression and all the destruction and loss of life it will cause. It will be held accountable for its actions," according to the document.

The EU said the military attack against Ukraine  an independent and sovereign State  is a flagrant violation of international law and the core principles on which the international rules-based order is built. "The EU together with transatlantic and like-minded partners have been united in making unprecedented efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to the security crisis caused by Russia. Russia has not reciprocated these efforts and instead opted unilaterally for a grave and premeditated escalation," Borrell said.

He said the EU response will include both sectoral and individual restrictive measures, fully coordinated with transatlantic partners and like-minded people.

"Russia should be in no doubt that the EU will remain resolutely united as it takes the next steps in close coordination with partners. The EU calls on the international community to demand from Russia the immediate end of this aggression, which endangers international peace and security at a global scale," Borrell said.

The EU also called on Russia to fully respect international humanitarian law, and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need. We also call on Russia to ensure the safety of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

"The EU reiterates its unwavering support and commitment to Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The EU reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the European Union. We stand by the people of Ukraine and its democratically elected institutions and representatives. The EU also reiterates its unwavering support for, and commitment to, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and of the Republic of Moldova," Borrell said.
Ministry of Infrastructure will evacuate Ukrainians from other countries through Poland

The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine has agreed with Poland on the evacuation of Ukrainian citizens who remained abroad to their homeland through its territory.

Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov told the Interfax-Ukraine agency currently the tour operator AZUR has 12,420 people abroad: 8,450 in Egypt, 307 in Male, 317 in Cuba, 636 in Zanzibar, 526 in Mexico, 248 in Turkey, 1,933 in the Dominican Republic.

Bees Airline also announced that about 3,000 people are planned to be evacuated from Egypt and the UAE in the next 10-14 days.

Kubrakov thanked the partners for their support and coordination.

The ministry continues to count citizens who will need to return to their homeland.

Ukraine International Airlines told the Ministry of Infrastructure that 725 UIA passengers were supposed to return to Ukraine on February 24 and 25. Of these, 180 people are from Turkey, the rest are from Hurghada in Egypt.
By Karen Updyke, School of Engineering

The National Society of Black Engineers Chapter and Special Interest House at the University of Dayton thrive because of the love, the sharing and the strength of the NSBE leaders and constituents who relentlessly protect and grow the NSBE connection.

In 2006, when Jackie Nicol 08 (Hawthorne), civil engineering major, became the president of NSBE UD Chapter, she faced the challenge of a new beginning because the previous leadership graduated without leaving a playbook  she started anew. According to Nicol, My goals were to grow the NSBE UD Chapter, to bring NSBE awareness to the UD student body, and to apply for a NSBE Special Interest House, which would be a safe place for multi-ethnic STEM students who looked like me  representation matters.

Nicol spearheaded the NSBE Special Interest House, which was approved in 2007, and was a place where everyone was welcome. On the application, Nicol wrote that the House would give back to the University by tutoring those who needed a safe place to study. NSBE House tutoring was every Sunday, which was quickly followed by an open-door tutoring policy  NSBE students helped those who needed help, when they needed help.

The NSBE House was unique; there was no other NSBE House in the world, said Nicol.

NSBE UD not only provided mentoring and tutoring but also gave back to the community through service. We participated in Habitat for Humanity, Christmas on Campus and others, said Nicol.

Fast forward 15 years  2021, NSBE student president, Caleb Cecil '23, computer engineering major, faced Covid 19 challenges and also had to start anew. Restrictions were in place on campus and NSBE activities were disrupted. My current goals are to grow the NSBE UD Chapter, to return to our successful activities and service, and to support our STEM students academically and professionally," said Cecil.

The Mission of NSBE International is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

NSBE UD Chapter emulates the mission of their parent organization and offers its members leadership training, professional development, mentoring opportunities, service opportunities, career placement services and more.

Today, Nicol, a successful Ohio Department of Transportation civil engineer, inspects road projects in the Montgomery County district and engineers the solutions. One of her current undertakings is the Edwin C. Moses and I-75 project. According to Nicol, My biggest challenges are the unexpected issues, such as problem soil, or an unforeseen or unrecorded design.

She frequently returns to UD and participates in Career Fairs, Diversity in Engineering Center events, etc. Laura Bistrek, executive director of the UD School of Engineering Diversity in Engineering Center, was her NSBE adviser and a huge help, said Nicol.

In 2021, Cecil stepped up as the NSBE president because of the guidance that he had received from NSBE since elementary school. Cecil participated in numerous NSBE competitions and professional workshops before coming to UD. Through a coding workshop, NSBE helped him to decipher his computer engineering career path.

In his heart, Cecil needed to propel NSBE UD forward and bring students together again to provide mentorship, guidance, tutoring and service  and an open-door policy for all. As a member of the NSBE Special Interest House, Cecil states, It is a de-stress place for like-minded people.

Recently, NSBE successfully collaborated with other UD student organizations, including Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, on a Spooky Carnival fundraiser.

Through collaboration, NSBE will be stronger, said Cecil.

After spring 2022 semester, Cecil will travel to Seattle for a summer internship with Amazon.

When Cecil returns to UD in the fall, he will continue the NSBE UD legacy and plans to initiate a registration event to disseminate faculty, advising and flowchart information to students for a positive beginning.

NSBE UD is dedicated to the academic and professional success of STEM students and professionals. Their current adviser, Gerica Brown, is the director of the UD School of Engineering Multi-Ethnic Engineers Program.

NSBE at the University of Dayton is effective because of its leaders. It is an organization that adheres to community, professionalism and engineering excellence. If youre looking for more ways to get involved on campus, NSBE is an organization with students that helps students.
Jennifer Lawrence has reportedly given birth to her first child.

According to public records obtained by TMZ, the Oscar-winning actress and her husband Cooke Maroney recently welcomed their first child in Los Angeles County. Exact details, such as the date she gave birth and the sex of the baby, are currently unknown.

The 31-year-old sparked speculation she was pregnant when she was photographed out and about in New York with the art gallery director in the summer, and they confirmed the news in September last year.

The Hunger Games star returned to the limelight in December after a three-year hiatus to promote the film Don't Look Up. During the press tour, she told Vanity Fair that she intends to keep details about her pregnancy and child private as much as possible.

"If I was at a dinner party, and somebody was like, 'Oh, my God, you're expecting a baby,' I wouldn't be like, 'God, I can't talk about that. Get away from me, you psycho!'" she said. "But every instinct in my body wants to protect their privacy for the rest of their lives, as much as I can."

Lawrence explained that she never wants the public to feel "welcome" into her child's life, noting that starts with not including details about her pregnancy in press interviews.

The actress married Maroney at the famed Belcourt of Newport mansion in Rhode Island in October 2019.
This handout video grab released by the Russian Defence Ministry on February 15 shows Russian tanks after joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus (Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via)

Vladimir Putins forces have launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine on a series of fronts.

The main line of attack is on Donbas, to defend and expand the territory controlled by the breakaway governments of Luhansk and Donetsk. This is being matched by bombardment of nearby ports on the Black Sea, Mariupol and Odessa, the third biggest city.

Putins generals are trying to avoid close combat between Russian and Ukraine ground forces, regular and irregular. The main weapon systems, shown in a constant stream of propaganda photos and videos, are standoff Grad rocket systems, long distance artillery and main battle tanks. The rocket systems of choice are the BM-21 Grad and Strela 35 BMPs. They are the successors to the Katyushas of the Red Army, known as Uncle Joe Stalins organs.

The rocket forces are complemented by medium and long range artillery  especially the self-propelled 152mm self-propelled and 152mm towed artillery.

The main tank force are based on the T-72 main battle tank. It has been in service for some time now, and came in towards the end of the troubled Soviet operation in Afghanistan from 1979-89. New models are in the pipeline, but havent become operational. Familiar to all Russian infantry units are the tracked wheeled armoured carriers, the BMP-2s and BMP-2s.

More than half the effective combat power of the Russian army is now committed to the Ukraine theatre of operations. They are expected to coordinate with air forces with manned and unmanned aircraft. The standard attack aircraft are the SU-34s, used in both Syria and Libya, with mixed success and the older Mig-29.

The unknown factor is the use of drones, Uncrewed aircraft. Russia has dozens of unit using them  but how successfully is not clear. The Russian backed Armenia forces were bested by Turkish and Israeli drones used by Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh war in autumn 2020. Ukraine has Turkish Bayraktar tb2 drones, and have used them against Russian artillery.

The weapon most likely to be used by both sides is the most famous, and successful, assault rifle in history the Kalashnikov AK-47 and 74s.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks at the General Assembly 58th plenary meeting in New York on February 23, 2022, on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine's top diplomat issued a grave warning to the United Nations on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said full-blown war with Russia will be "the end of the world order."

He urged the UN and the international community to impose "swift, concrete, and resolute actions."

Ukraine's foreign minister told the United Nations on Wednesday that a full-blown war with Russia would spell the "end of the world order."

"The beginning of a large-scale war in Ukraine will be the end of the world order as we know it," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the UN General Assembly in New York and later shared on Ukraine's government website.

He added: "If Russia does not get a severe, swift and decisive response now, this will mean a total bankruptcy of the international security system and international institutions which are tasked with maintaining the global security order."

Kuleba urged both the UN and the international community at-large to impose "swift, concrete, and resolute actions" as a response to the latest Russian aggression.

Russia on Monday recognized two regions in eastern Ukraine governed by Kremlin-backed separatists as independent states, shortly before President Vladimir Putin ordered troops across his borders and into Ukraine.

The move has triggered expansive sanctions from the US, UK, European Union, and other nations, targeting banks, Russian lawmakers and elites, and the country's finances.

Kuleba said the world is at a "critical juncture" in its history, and called the ongoing situation Europe's "largest security crisis" since World War II.

He said the UN needs to take "concrete actions to stop the Russian machine of war" before a "bloody" conflict ensues.

"I do not want this," he said. "Ukraine does not want this. The world does not want this."

President Joe Biden has previously said that US troops won't send to Ukraine  which is not a NATO ally  but that the US and its allies will "defend every inch of NATO territory."

Story continues

Earlier on Wednesday, Kuleba wrote on Twitter that countries should impose more sanctions on Russia and Putin.

"Hit more. Hit more. Hit now," he wrote.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a similar plea on Wednesday, calling on the international community to deliver a "harsh" response to Russia's actions.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ponakovs Back-to-Back Super MILLION$ FT Ends in Victory

February 24 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

Aleks Ponakovs reached the GGPoker Super MILLION$ final table last week as the chip leader but could only muster a fifth-place finish. This week, Ponakovs navigated his way to the Super MILLON$ final table again, where he sat down in fifth place. Fast-forward three-and-a-half hours and Ponakoivs got his hands on the title and the $475,125 top prize, denying Andras Nemeth what would have been his third Super MILLION$ victory.

Super MILLON$ Season 3 Episode 31 Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Aleks Ponakovs Latvia $475,125 2 Andras Nemeth Hungary $366,372 3 Rodrigo Selouan Brazil $282,511 4 Chris Klodnicki Canada $217,846 5 Tauan Naves Brazil $167,982 6 Elio Fox Mexico $129,532 7 Ole Schemion Austria $99,882 8 Seth Davies Canada $77,020 9 Sung Joo "ArtePokerTV" Hyun Hong Kong $59,390

There was drama from the moment the final table action commenced because Elio Fox cracked Andras Nemeth's aces with pocket queens in one of the very first hands.

Final table short stack and last week's champion, Sung Joo "ArtePokerTV" Hyun was the first player to bust. Hyun never managed to get going and busted when he pushed all-in with ace-seven on the button for a shade under ten big blinds. Nemeth looked him up from the big blind with ace-nine, which held to reduce the player count by one.

Seth Davies busted during the next level when blinds were 40,000/80,000/10,000a. Davies looked down at ace-deuce in the cutoff and moved all-in for 405,988. Nemeth called in the small blind with pocket kings, but big blind Rodrigo Selouan did not take the bait. However, he did call with ace-ten offsuit. Both players checked the jack-high flop, leading to another jack landing on the turn. Again, the action went check-check. A six on the river saw Nemeth lead for a third of the pot, which folded out Selouan. Game over for Davies.

Ole Schemion came unstuck in seventh place

One of the pre-final table favorites, Ole Schemion, was the next superstars heading for the showers, doing so on the very next hand after Davies' demise. Schemion min-raised to 160,000 before jamming in 1,737,530 over the top of Nemeth's 360,000 three-bet. Nemeth called with pocket nines and was racing against the ace-queen of Schemion. The board ran out void of aces or queens, and Schemion bowed out.

The first five-figure prize, namely $129,532, went to Fox despite him being second in chips when six-handed play began. Fox can count himself unlucky with the way his tournament ended. He made it 250,000 from the button during the 50,000/100,000/12,500a level with ace-king of clubs. Nemeth folded his small blind, but Selouan piled in 4,954,638 from the big blind, which covered Fox's stack. Fox called and discovered he was way ahead of his Brazilian opponent's ace-four of diamonds. Selouan flopped a four but Fox had a club flush draw. The flush never came in, instead, Selouan improved to an unlikely full house, fours full of nines, and Fox headed for the exits with a bad beat story in tow.

There was a lull in eliminations until the 100,00/200,000/25,000a level. Tauan Naves open-shoved for six big blinds from the button with ace-jack of spades. Nemeth re-shoved with pocket fives, and won the pot when the five community cards fell queen-high. Naves' $167,982 payout more than doubled his lifetime winning at GGPoker.

Chris Klodnicki

The final four became three when Chris Klodnicki ran out of steam. Klodnicki made a move for his 11.5 big blind stack from the small blind with ace-five, but Nemeth was lying in wait in the big blind with ace-king, and made a standard call. Unlike the cruel Fox exit hand, the ace-king remained true this time around.

Klodnicki's seat had not even gone cold when Selouan joined him on the rail. Selouan min-raised to 500,000 from the button with ace-queen, and Ponakovs shipped in his 8,089,796 stack from the small blind with the dominating ace-king. Selouan called and lost despite flopping an ace as the door card.

That hand gave Ponakovs a narrow 12,154,588 to 11,345,412 chip lead over Nemeth, the latter looking for his third Super MILLON$ victory. Ponakoivs dominated the early heads-up confrontations, but Nemeth refused to bust. However, an ill-timed bluff from Nemeth when Ponakovs held a king-high flush turned the contest on its head because Ponakovs held a 10-to-1 advantage.

The final hand saw Nemeth shove for 8.7 big blinds with queen-six, and Ponakovs called with pocket threes. Ponakovs' lowly threes held, and he won the Super MILLION$ title for the first in his career.
The PokerStars EPT Returns to Monte Carlo This April

February 24 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

PokerStars has delighted live poker tournament players around the world by announcing the return of the ever-popular PokerStars and Monte-Carlo Casino European Poker Tour stop.

The EPT returns to the Monte-Carlo Casino from April 28 and stays there until May 7. Monte-Carlo Casino served as the home of the EPT Grand Final on 11 occasions and saw some of the biggest-ever EPT Main Event prizes awarded at the luxurious venue.

Gavin Griffin won the EPT Monte Carlo's first seven-figure prize when he outlasted a 706-strong field and banked an impressive 1,825,010. Glen Chorny won the following year and netted 2,020,000 before Netherlands' Pieter de Korver got his hands on 2,300,000 when he won in 2009. Chorny's incredible haul is considered the largest-ever EPT Main Event score due to the euro-to-dollar exchange rate at the time of his victory.

German superstar Manig Loeser is the reigning EPT Monte-Carlo champion, having triumphed over 921 opponents in 2019. The event did not run in 2020 nor 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is returning with a bang between April 28-May 7, 2022.

EPT Prague Live Reporting Hub The PokerNews live reporting team is on the ground for the latest stop on the European Poker Tour. Be sure to check out the action as it happens. Click Here

Highlights of the Upcoming EPT Monte-Carlo Festival

Sergio Aido won the 100K Super High Roller in 2019

Several side events complement three must-play tournaments during the festival. A 100,000 buy-in EPT Super High Roller runs from May 1-3 and is sure to attract the biggest names in the business to Monaco. When this event ran in 2019, 52 players bought in for 100,000, and Sergio Aido left them all in his wake as he marched on and collected 1,589,190.

The eagerly anticipated EPT Main Events runs from May 2-7. It comes with a 5,300 buy-in, although online satellites are available at PokerStars from a mere 1.10. As mentioned, Loeser is the reigning champion. PokerNews fully expects him to be on the ground for an attempted title defense.

"Live events have always been a big part of PokerStars"

A 25,000 EPT High Roller is scheduled for May 5-7. This tournament paid out 3,374,630 in 2019 with a significant chunk of it heading to Benjamin Pollak and Koray Aldemir who struck a deal that saw the former bank 705,840 and the latter 655,840. Aldemir is another star likely to be in Monaco especially as he won the 2021 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Severin Rasset, Managing Director & Commercial Officer, PokerStars, had this to say about the return of EPT Monte-Carlo.

EPT Monte-Carlo is a favorite for many, and were pleased we can now share details for the event along with the exciting announcement that regional tours are back. We understand that these are uncertain times for everyone.

The health and safety of our players and staff is paramount to our plans and well continue to communicate openly with players as each event approaches. Live events have always been a big part of PokerStars, and we cant wait to get back to the live felt and hope to see many of our players at events soon!

Former EPT Monte Carlo Champions

Pieter de Korver netted 2.3 million for his EPT Monte-Carlo win

Some of the biggest names in world poker have returned home from the EPT Monte-Carlo Main Event with the title of champion and a suitcase crammed with euros.

Rob Hollink won the first-ever event back in 2005, while American Jeff "yellowsub86" Williams became one of the youngest EPT champions when he triumphed in 2006.

Others who have returned home victoriously from an EPT Monte-Carlo trip include Lebanon's Nicolas Chouity, Mohsin Charania, Steve O'Dwyer, and Adrian Mateos. Taking down the 2022 edition of this long-running event puts you among some esteemed company.

*EPT Monte Carlo served as the EPT Grand Final from Season 1-12 with the exception of Season 7 which took place in Madrid

Full PokerStars EPT Prague Schedule; Festival Just Three Weeks Away!

Regional Tours Return After a Five-Year Hiatus

It is not only the EPT Monte-Carlo festival that is returning because seven regional tours are back for 2022. Eureka, UKIPT, ESPT, and FPS all make their long-awaited return throughout the year, giving players with shallower bankrolls the chance to play in an amazingly-structured event and potentially win life-changing prizes.

Dates Festival March 6-10 Eurkea Prague March 28-April 3 ESPT Madrid Gran Via April 4-10 UKIPT London April 28-May 2 FPS Monte-Carlo May 20-29 Eureka Rozvadov October 4-9 FPS Divonne November 22-27 FPS Aix-en-Provence

More details of the EPT Monte-Carlo festival and the schedules for the regional tour will be published in due course.
Business owners on La Salle Avenue spoke out this week against the local Salvation Armys plan to move all of its downtown services to La Salle, while advocates for the project said the proposed facility is crucial to Waco and the county at large.

The Salvation Armys Waco chapter plans to buy a 9.9 acre lot at 1324 La Salle Ave. from the city of Waco and build a new headquarters to house its Community Kitchen, shelters, church and other services now located downtown. The Waco Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend granting the organization a special-use permit for the new shelter space during a meeting Tuesday. The Waco City Council is scheduled to vote next month on whether to grant the permit.

In an interview Wednesday, Salvation Army of Waco Maj. Jim Taylor said that when the organization surveyed local agencies and nonprofits that work with the homeless about their needs in 2019, a day shelter and housing for homeless families were at the top of the list.

During inclement weather, like Wednesdays dive back to below-freezing temperatures with ice in the forecast, workers disinfect the Community Kitchen near Third Street and Webster Avenue, set up cots and turn the multi-use facility into a shelter. The process takes time and effort, and space for beds is limited, but Taylor said the La Salle Avenue location will be built with a permanent day shelter.

He said the new location will include transitional housing for families, administrative offices and a church, and will be much more than a shelter.

19th State District Judge Thomas West, a Salvation Army advisory board member and longtime Community Kitchen volunteer, told the Plan Commission he favors the special permit and said the frigid weather forecast is evidence of the projects importance.

Our Sallys House houses women and children. Its too small. We have a great need for that, West said.

He said the new headquarters would serve as a day shelter, and that combined with the sites 100 beds would keep more people off of the street.

Were looking forward to bringing a first class facility to La Salle, West said. It will be fenced, well have concrete driveways and parking for the facility. Well offer over 40 services  meeting everyones needs.

The Salvation Army of Waco is in the homestretch after more than two years of searching for a property large enough to accommodate all of its services, said advisory board Chair Ralph Patterson.

Its not just about serving lunch on Thanksgiving Day, but its about helping these people, Patterson said. Sometimes its their lifeline to get them back on their feet and out there again.

Dennis Smith, who owns property at 1515 La Salle Ave., said he is torn on the issue, and that if the new facility leads to an influx of homeless people in the area it will be up to the city of Waco and Waco Police Department to keep them from sleeping outside of surrounding businesses.

I promise if it goes bad I will be up here and I will be raising hell, I promise you that, Smith said.

About five of the speakers at the Plan Commission meeting either said they oppose the permit for The Salvation Army or requested the Plan Commission take no action for the time being.

Joe Phipps, owner of Phipps Memorial Co. at 1110 La Salle Ave., said he is opposed to putting the facility on La Salle Avenue.

Im in favor of The Salvation Army, motherhood, apple pie, the American way, Phipps said. But this is not the location to put it on La Salle Avenue.

He said it would undo years of work he and other businesses have invested in making La Salle safe and welcoming enough for pedestrians to feel safe walking from Baylor University to the Waco traffic circle.

He also said he is worried for the safety of his employees, especially four women who work in the office.

The back door going into this facility is right at my back door, Phipps said.

Wednesday, Taylor said The Salvation Army went before the La Salle Avenue steering committee over a year ago and presented the idea. He also said he understands business owners concerns.

I think we can look at them, visit together and address them in an open and honest way, Taylor said.

He said nearby Baylor University is a big source of Salvation Army volunteers for the Community Kitchen, thrift store and other efforts.

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Hong Kong: Emergency rule enacted

The regulation made pursuant to the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to provide the legal basis for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Government to implement the anti-epidemic measures supported by the central government has come into operation.

The measures to be implemented with the support of the central government include the construction of hospitals and isolation facilities, etc.

In response to the current public health emergency situation, the Chief Executive in Council earlier approved that the Emergency (Exemption from Statutory Requirements) (COVID-19) Regulation is to be made. The regulation became operational after it was gazetted today.

Hong Kong is facing a very dire epidemic situation which continues to deteriorate rapidly. It is foreseeable the number of COVID-19 cases will continue to escalate exponentially and go beyond the epidemic control capacity of the Hong Kong SAR Government.

The city's healthcare system, manpower, anti-epidemic facilities and resources, etc. will soon be insufficient to handle the huge number of newly confirmed cases detected every day. Such situation has constituted an occasion of emergency and public danger as defined under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance.

The regulation allows the Hong Kong SAR Government to exempt certain persons or projects from all relevant statutory requirements in respect of licensing, registration and application, etc., such that it may draw on Mainland's support and resources in a flexible and prompt manner to undertake key anti-epidemic projects at full speed when necessary, so as to increase Hong Kong's epidemic control capacity for containing the fifth wave within a short period of time.

It empowers the Chief Secretary to, for preventing, protecting against, delaying or otherwise controlling the incidence or transmission of the specified disease or treating patients with the specified disease, having regard to the factors set out in the regulation, grant an exemption in writing to persons or projects such that they do not have to comply with certain requirements under enactments, including a requirement for licence, authority, approval, exemption, permit, registration, standard or specification.

The Emergency (Exemption from Statutory Requirements) (COVID-19) Regulation will provide a legal framework for the central government to render the necessary emergent support to Hong Kong in a more effective and expeditious manner.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will leverage support of the central government and assume the main responsibility to curb the epidemic. With the staunch support of the Central People's Government, Hong Kong will surely overcome the epidemic as long as the public in general acts in concert.

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
China calls for diplomatic settlement of Ukraine issue

Xinhua) 08:33, February 24, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday urged all parties to stay cool-headed and find a solution to the Ukraine issue through negotiations.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing.

"Sanctions are never fundamentally effective means to solve problems, and China always opposes all illegal unilateral sanctions," Hua said in response to a query on the recently announced sanctions against Russia for its actions toward Ukraine.

"Have U.S. sanctions solved any problems? Is the world a better place because of those sanctions?" she asked, adding illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by countries like the United States have caused severe difficulties to the economy and people's livelihood in relevant countries.

Hua said that on the Ukraine issue, lately the United States has been sending weapons to Ukraine, pushing up tensions, creating panic and even hyping up the possibility of war. It has been pouring oil on the flame and acted irresponsibly and immorally. She called the United States the culprit of the current tensions surrounding Ukraine.

"Under the current circumstances, the door to a peaceful solution of the Ukraine issue has not been completely closed," Hua said, noting that the Russian side has repeatedly stated that it has no intention of waging war against Ukraine and stands ready to hold dialogues with relevant parties on Ukraine's accession to NATO.

Hua stressed that China hopes relevant parties remain calm and rational, and commit themselves to peacefully resolving relevant issues through negotiation in accordance with the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter.

China will continue to promote peace talks in its own way, and it welcomes and encourages all efforts that would contribute to a diplomatic settlement, Hua said.

"The United States must not harm the legitimate rights and interests of China and other countries when dealing with the Ukraine issue and relations with Russia," Hua said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Join Edith Salas of Salas Properties & host Jenn Barlow as they visit the Coronado Shores community. The towers have amazing views including the world famous Hotel del Coronado, downtown San Diego, San Diego Bay, the City of Coronado, Point Loma, and the Pacific Ocean.
Believe it or not, Humble Pie is more than just a 1960s and 70s rock band featuring the great Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton. Yes, humble pie is not just the supergroup that performed 30 Days in the Hole, Black Coffee and I Dont Need No Doctor. It is more than, as the music website last.fm says, the group that produced one of the best live rock albums of its era 

Okay, admittedly, I did not even know that Humble Pie was ever the name of a rock band until recently. Probably like you, I typically think about humble pie not as a bold, loud and flamboyant supergroup but more like Merriam-Websters humble pie.

The dictionary describes humble pie as, a figurative serving of humiliation usually in the form of a forced submission, apology, or retraction  often used in the phrase eat humble pie. And American Heritage Dictionary offers this as its first definition: A pie formerly made from the edible organs of a deer or hog.

Tim Lambert writes the following on his website, localhistories.org:

Humble pie

The expression to eat humble pie was once to eat umble pie. The umbles were the intestines or less-appetizing parts of an animal that servants and other lower-class people ate. So if a deer was killed the rich ate venison and those of low status ate umble pie. In time it became corrupted to eat humble pie and came to mean to debase yourself or act with humility.

The lowly shepherds pie has long been considered a type of humble pie. Foodtimeline.org says it was probably invented sometime in the 18th century by frugal peasant housewives looking for creative ways to serve leftover meat to their families.

Shepherds pies cousin, cottage pie, came first. That term first appeared in print in the Rev. James Woodwards Diary of a Country Parson when he wrote, Dinner to day, Cottage-Pye and rost Beef on Aug. 29, 1791.

While food scholars and pub owners alike dispute the country of origin for this savory meat pie, all agree that it started somewhere in the United Kingdom and that its original name was cottage pie. The two terms (cottage and shepherds) are often used interchangeably today, but cottage pie refers to the pie made with beef and shepherds refers to the pie made with lamb. Thankfully, neither is made from cottages or shepherds.

Regardless of the dishs origin, Irish folk now claim it as their own and as one of their most famous dishes. In this season of celebrating St. Patricks Day and all things Irish, it seems appropriate to remember the humble shepherds or cottage pie. Serve it with a pint of Guinness, or as British food and wine writer Fiona Beckett suggests, a red Rioja, an inexpensive red Bordeaux, or a Southern French red Cotes-du-Rhone Villages.

The real shepherds pie would contain the minced meat from a previous meal, beautifully repurposing yesterdays dinner. It is a wonderful option if you have a pot roast or leg of lamb for a special Sunday dinner. But, if you are just craving a good meat pie, a pound of ground beef or lamb works just fine.

It is important to note that a true cottage or shepherds pie will vary from house to house, depending on the available ingredients and the tastes of the pie maker. Explore and invent for yourself, but here is my personal basic recipe.

If you are being especially frugal or if you are trying to cut down on cleaning, use the same skillet for cooking the meat and vegetables (sans potatoes) as you do for the final baking with potatoes on top.



Shepherds Pie

2 T butter

1 lb. ground lamb (or beef)

1 c chopped onion

1 c carrots, julienne-cut

 c fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 t dried thyme

 t ground nutmeg

 to  t cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

3 T tomato paste

2 T all-purpose flour

1 c beef bone broth

1 c frozen peas

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef or lamb, breaking up chunks with a wooden spoon.

Drain grease then add onions, carrots, parsley and thyme. Cook until onion and carrots are soft. Season with salt and pepper.

Whisk the beef broth and flour together in a large measuring cup. Add flour mixture and the tomato paste into the meat mixture and continue to cook until it reaches a chili consistency, stirring occasionally.

Let it cook until it thickens. Pour this into a glass baking dish and let it cool a bit and then sprinkle green peas evenly over the beef.

Top with mashed potatoes (suggested recipe below) and bake at 350 degree for about 30 minutes. Broil an additional 2 minutes to toast the peaks of the potatoes.

Mashed potatoes are often made by peeling and dicing the potatoes, but, for shepherds pie, I often BAKE my potatoes before mashing. It saves counter and stovetop space, and it allows a little extra time to prep and cook the other ingredients.

Mashed Potatoes

2 lbs. baking potatoes

2 T butter

 c milk

 c whipping cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Scrub potatoes. Cut a small slit in the top of each potato. Bake for approximately 1 hour or until soft. Let cool enough to handle comfortably, but still warm.

Slice the potatoes in half and scoop the flesh out into a large mixing bowl. Add butter, milk, and cream. Beat with a mixer until all ingredients are well-combined and have reached the desired consistency. (I like mine just a bit lumpy.)

If you are feeling a little nutty, try topping the shepherds (or cottage) pie with sweet potatoes. It may not be traditional, but it provides a unique and tasty twist on the dish. Instead of peeling and boiling, bake the sweet potatoes as in the above mashed potato recipe, adjusting seasonings according to your taste. Even my very Texan-raised nephews like it this way.

Ultimately, this humble pie is nothing more than comfort in a casserole. Its a satisfying meal for a chilly March evening, and if this is what humility tastes like, Ill eat humble pie any day.

Incidentally, ClassicBands.com says Marriott and Frampton chose the name Humble Pie because they did NOT want the press to call them a supergroup. I like that they like truly humble pie.

Happy cooking, eating, and St. Patricks Day-ing! 
HERSHEY  A love for drag racing started with a chance meeting for the Fletcher girls, Alliana, 17, and Terralynn, 9.

Terry Fletcher, their dad, took the family to the Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado, in 2019. They met Mike Salinas, a NHRA Top Fuel racer with Scrappers Racing who has won numerous national titles.

He stopped us on the way out because of Terralynn, Terry said. He wanted to give her a piston, which shes still got to this day.

Salinas talked with Terralynn about his own girls, who are also racers, and told her she should think about doing it as well.

That was in July, Terry said. In August, Terralynn came up to me and said, Dad, Ive been thinking, and thats where it started. We got her in it.

Alliana was hesitant when her dad and mom, Bobbi, asked if she was interested in racing as well.

I didnt want my parents spending over $5,000 to put me in something I never tried and not enjoy it. So I told them I wasnt going to do it.

But her parents didnt give her the option.

My dad said, No, youre going to, threw me in a car, and it became my passion, Alliana said.

Her dad said Alliana has attention deficit disorder. Racing gives her a respite and helps her to focus.

I like the peace that comes out of it, Alliana said. I mess a lot with myself mentally, and when Im pulling up to the (starting lights) tree, you literally cant think of anything else.

A lot of people wouldnt say its peaceful because youre going 85 mph within an eighth of a mile, but its literally the most peaceful thing I could do, and I just love doing it. Its a mental game.

Terry said Alliana found a niche that she truly enjoys.

And Im surprisingly good at it, Alliana said.

But Terralynn was the first to get started in drag racing. Salinas gave her the encouragement she needed to give it a try.

What made me want to race is that I have courage, Terralynn said. I knew I could do it from the start, and Mike Salinas told me someday I might get in one of those cars. And here I am in one of these cars.

Terry bought a car for Terralynn, and they practiced up and down the street next to their house in Hershey. She had to get a racing license, which includes a medical checkup among other intense steps, like driving tests and demonstrating familiarity with the track.

After going through the process, the girls joined the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League. It offers kids ages 5 through 17 a chance to race half-scale dragsters in a controlled environment at the NHRAs 130 member tracks throughout the United States and in Canada long before they can obtain a state drivers license.

Terralynns first race was at Kearney Raceway Park.

I dont remember who I was going against, but I was still learning how to turn onto the track, so some people helped me, Terralynn said. I dont know if I won or not, but I felt really happy that I started doing it.

Terralyns engine is about 17 horsepower and Allianas is about 52 horsepower. Allianas top speed is 85 mph and Terralyn said the fastest Ive gone is 62 mph.

According to Terry, the engines are based off the Briggs and Stratton flathead engine, which is a single cylinder. The bore size is different in the two cars.

Its just a lawn mower on steroids, Alliana said.

The girls race at the Julesburg Dragstrip most of the time. They like the competition and camaraderie that is found there.

The sportsmanship is huge, Bobbi said. Win or lose, these kids are out there every race giving knuckles, wishing good luck before the race. After the race, they get out of their cars and give high fives, knuckles.

This season, the girls are signed up for the Western Conference Finals that will take place at Bandimere June 24 to 26. Racing teams will come from all over the western United States as well as Canada and Mexico.

Last season, the girls competed at the Division 5 finals at Bandimere and performed well.

There were 69 cars in my class, and I placed sixth, Alliana said.

Bobbi said it was her daughters first time racing at Bandimere. Terralynn finished third out of about 20 cars.

In September, the girls will compete in the District 7 finals in Las Vegas.
This week marks the 49th anniversary of Operation Homecoming, the freedom flights that brought our Vietnam POWs home. Inspired by these men and the courageous efforts of their wives and families to bring them home safely, the League of Wives Memorial Project is a local initiative to bring a public art commemorative piece to Coronado.
WATERLOO  A teen has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a Waterloo man who was working on his car Wednesday night.

Eric Darnail Hayes, 16, of Waterloo, was arrested for first-degree robbery, willful injury causing serious injury, intimidation with weapon and going armed. He is charged as an adult.

According to police, the victim and a woman were working on their vehicle in an alley off the 600 block of Dawson Street around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when two people came up behind them. One of the assailants was armed with a long gun, and they told the victims to empty their pockets.

The man was shot when he told the robbers he didnt have anything.

The victim suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm and chest. Paramedics with Waterloo Fire Rescue took him to UnityPoint-Health Allen Hospital, and he was later transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Hayes was found in the area, and police obtained video showing him possessing a long gun as he approached the victims, according to court records.

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WATERLOO  Hawkeye Community Colleges spring enrollment dropped slightly, but retention rates are up this year.

And high school students taking concurrent college classes continue to be an important point of growth at HCC.

On Jan. 23, Hawkeyes spring semester count day, there were 4,788 students enrolled. That includes 3,350 in arts and sciences programs and 1,009 in career and technical programs. Total enrollment was 4,808 in the spring of 2021.

Thats 20 students different, Nina Grant, vice president of student affairs and institutional diversity, told the board of trustees Tuesday. She noted the decrease amounts to a drop of less than 0.5%.

Spring credit enrollment has been trending down at the college. It stood at 5,391 in 2018 and at 5,331 in 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic become a concern in Iowa.

Grant said 3,528 students returned to Hawkeye from the previous semester while 3,381 people continued their education at the college in the spring of 2021.

Concurrent enrollment, or high school students taking college classes, was up 8% with a headcount of 2,351. Those students are taking 11,628 credit hours, a 9% increase.

This is really the group that is making up the difference, said Grant, on enrollment. The number of concurrent students grew by 168 from spring 2021. The 2,437 nonconcurrent students enrolled this spring represented a drop of 188 compared with a year ago.

Total spring credit hours were at 39,505.5, a decline of less than 1%. Nonconcurrent students made up 27,877.5 of those hours, a 5% decrease. Those students average 11 credit hours while concurrent students average eight hours.

A total of 68% of students were attending Hawkeye part-time this spring. The majority of students were female, at 57%. Forty students from six different countries were enrolled in the college.

Ethnic and racial minorities made up 19% of students, or 915. That was a drop of 2%, or 17 students, from last spring.

Students who are totally learning online came to 1,020 students this spring, 21.3% of enrollment.

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CEDAR FALLS  A surplus of students living in University of Northern Iowa housing this year is allowing for needed upgrades to its largest residence hall.

As we started the year, we had a total occupancy of 111 more students then we had budgeted, resulting in approximately $1 million in additional revenues, Nick Rafanello, executive director of UNI Housing & Dining, told the Board of Regents on Wednesday during its meeting in Urbandale.

As a result, the department was able to identify the way forward on the third and final phase of renovations in Noehren Hall, which completes the modernization of the largest housing facility at UNI with more than 600 beds. That multi-year project is now in its final stages, expected to be completed this summer.

Rafanello was presenting UNIs preliminary fiscal year 2023 residence system budget as well as proposed rates for living and dining on campus. Officials from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University made reports on their proposed budgets and rates, as well.

Approval for dorm and meal plan rates at all three state universities is expected in April while budgets will be subject to further review and action when institutional spending plans are finalized.

On Wednesday, the board also received the five-year residence system plans for each university.

Noehren Hall has been updated to reflect modernized living spaces and increased student privacy, according to a news release. Laundry facilities were added to each floor and the bathrooms were transitioned from the typical communal-style to pod-style facilities that each include private toilets, sinks and showers that are secured with locking doors. Common spaces and corridors were also updated.

While there have been many successes this year, weve also seen challenges, said Rafanello. In addition to worker shortages, we have seen increases in our insurance rates, utilities and costs of goods  all of which weigh on our financial health, both in the short- and long-term.

For two consecutive years, we have maintained housing and dining rates at the same level, all the while working to find efficiencies that will not impact our staff or the student experience, he noted. But to maintain the level of services our students need and have come to expect a 2% increase in room and board is being proposed. The higher rate would be reflected in all housing and meal plan options.

Rafanello said that will offset a small percentage of the impact from those external cost pressures. In addition, we also implemented numerous strategies to increase occupancy. He said the continued renovations and esthetic improvements are part of that along with offering a two-year contract with a $500 scholarship.

He praised the role of housing and dining staff in these efforts, as well. As a result of their great work, the number of students choosing to stay on campus is increasing and students are staying on campus longer, said Rafanello.

UNIs housing capacity for next year between 11 buildings is 3,592 students. Expected occupancy ratio is 79.7% for eight residence halls and 98.1% for three apartment buildings.

In any given school year, these units are home to 90% of incoming freshmen and a third of the universitys student population, a news release said. Seven of the residence halls are dorm-style while Lawther Hall is suite-style. The housing facilities are self-sustaining and receive no state funding for their operation.

Full-year costs for each occupant in a double room at UNIs seven traditional halls would rise by $94 to $4,793. The cost of a Lawther Hall double would increase by $99 to $5,048. Prices are higher for other housing options at Lawther, super single rooms in the traditional halls and in the three apartment buildings.

The all-access meal plan cost at UNI would grow by $89 to $4,550 for the full year. Rate increases are proposed for other meal plans, as well.

The universitys residence system has a preliminary budget of $22.72 million for 2022-23 with net revenues of $1.91 million after debt service payments and mandatory transfers.

A 3% increase is proposed in residence system rates for the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

The most popular double room options would have rates that increase $216 at the University of Iowa and $135 at Iowa State. At Iowa, that room option has air conditioning and would be $7,407 for a full year. At Iowa State, that option has no air conditioning and would be $4,725.

Prices for the most popular meal plans would grow by $107 to $3,672 at Iowa and by $135 to $4,633 at Iowa State.

Preliminary budgets and net revenues are $56.72 million and $10.16 million for Iowa and $69.49 million and $9.7 million for Iowa State.

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DES MOINES  The number of cases filed in Iowa courts fell during the pandemic, but the time it took to dispose of them continued to exceed national standards, significantly, in some instances.

Case filings fell by about 18%, or 130,646, from 2019 to 2020 while dispositions dropped 20%, or 147,508, according to an annual presentation from the Judicial Branch to the House Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee.

As you might expect, the pandemic has had a significant impact on court business, State Court Administrator Bob Gast told legislators. Filings rose about 48,000 in 2021, but it would take an additional 85,000 filings to get to the 2019 level.

We think it will work its way there, but were not back to the filing level yet, Gast said.

The pandemic contributed to the time it took to dispose of cases, but Gast said the need for more judges continues to be a larger factor. Based on National Center for State Courts standards and the workload carried by Iowa courts, there should be an additional 24 district court judges, Gast said.

As a result, he said, 23% of felony cases remain pending after 12 months. The national standard is 2%. The numbers are similar in other categories  32% of indictable misdemeanor criminal offenses, 37% of dissolution, paternity and custody cases, 17% of probate cases, 23% of complex civil cases and 45% of regular civil cases. All exceed national standards.

In his budget request, Gast asked for funding for four additional judges. The Judicial Branch also is seeking legislation to allow it to assign judges based on workload while also maintaining judges in all 99 counties.

The Judicial Branch is asking for an appropriation of $202,468,895 for the coming year  a 6.76% increase from the current $189,640,252 budget.

Gast pointed out the courts collected more than $144 million in fines and fees  equal to 75% of its budget. The amount of uncollected fines and fees has gone up over time from $807 million to $869 million.

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Not much of a smartphone poster. Yet until set up better, it will have to do.Therefore

Well, finally the Bear has awoken You prodded, poked, threatened, lied and sanctioned her enough and now shes on the warpath I gave plenty of warnings right here on this blog Why bother the Russian Bear?

Well for me? I got lots to do and will follow what is happening a couple of times a day

Hope we have a world leftover to enjoy?

Thanks US, for the Bear just wanted to have a good sleep

WtR
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In her early 20s, Erin Hupp studied and perfected her art at a pottery studio in Madison, Wisconsin while pursuing a mainstream legal career. But something was missing.



"As I practiced law, I often wondered about that other life, the other path in which I pursued an MFA and focused solely on my art," she says. Five years ago, situated in the creative hub of Oakland, she decided to find out, ditching the law for a full-time career in art.

"Returning to my art practice in a more meaningful way was a rebirth, a coming back to my true self," she recalls. "Ceramics is a beautiful teacher."

Hupp's many hours spent over her potter's wheel became the constant in her life, a form of meditation, and though she found solace in it, she also found community. "I met a lovely group of local ceramicists and learned a lot about letting go and having patience with myself. It was the beginning of a lifetime passion."

Five years into the pottery business, she's found her niche making art to order, on commission, brainstorming every last detail with her clients. "My art is intentional and handmademy hands touch each piece hundreds of times through the 12-step ceramic process, from design inception to final firing."

She designs refined objectsher new ring and bracelet vases are available at Hayes Valley's chic jewelry shop Metierand custom tableware collections for fine dining restaurants such as San Francisco's Nightbird, Californios, and Sorrel.

Erin Hupp's black glazed plates for San Francisco Michelin-starred restaurant Californios. (Adahlia Cole)

"I've lived in the Bay Area for 15 years, so it comes as no surprise that I love food," says Hupp who, while dining out over the years, has given a lot of thought to how her ceramics could be "the artistic architecture for a chef's food. Handmade ceramics complement a chef's tasting menu with a unique form, color, and design," she says.

Her first restaurant collaboration was with chef George Meza at Onsen. The place has unfortunately closed due to the pandemic, but the experience laid the groundwork for her to pursue projects with more of her favorite restaurants in SF. Now, working with chefs offers Hupp a fresh perspective on her art, and they help each other grow in their respective fields.

"When I first started working with chef Val Cantu (Californios), I showed him two black glaze choices for his taco plates. He wished there was a middle black glaze color and asked me to combine them. This hadn't occurred to me; it is not the first thing a ceramicist would do. But I thought, why not? I combined the glazes and the result was stunning. That glaze is now my trademark semi-matte ink glaze. Val and I often build off each other's ideas when brainstorming at the restaurant."



In fact, Californios serves up an an extensive array of Hupp's ceramics including chargers, taco plates, bowls, bon-bon dishes, and bud vases.

In 2019, Nightbird chef/owner Kim Alter proposed another challenge: to create a stunning pillow plate that would both highlight the restaurant's culinary artistry but also be lightweight enough that her servers could gracefully lift it off the table.

"I returned to my studio and had a moment of inspiration when watching Warren MacKenzie, an iconic Midwestern craft potter, make his drop-rim bowl. By applying his method to a completely different form, I stretched the clay to its absolute maximum, the very brink of a piece collapsing, and created my cushion plate. Nightbird now features two versions of my cushion plate in its five-course tasting menu."

More recently, Hupp's work has captured the attention of Sorrel's Michelin-starred chef/owner Alex Hong, for whom she designed two new plates, and the Auberge Stanly Ranch, a new 700-acre working ranch and resort in Napa that will serve all its restaurant's dishes on a unique collection of Hupp's work.



As a proud and happy mother, she is also due to launch a limited edition collection of vases that celebrate motherhood; look for them on her website in time for Mother's Day.

// Follow Erin Hupp on Instagram at @erin_hupp_ceramics; erinhuppceramics.com.
Open seven days a week, the new Fog City Flea Trading Post overflows with artisanal things large and small from Bay Area makers.

Plus, Pacific Heights welcomes two new jewelry stores to the neighborhood: Aurate, the internet's fave sustainably sourced and reasonably priced label, and Alexis Bittar, which is returning to its onetime Fillmore Street 'hood, reborn and with handbags.

Happy shopping.

Fillmore Street is a little sparklier now that sustainable jewelry brand Aurate moved in. (Courtesy of Aurate) Buzzy NYC-based jeweler Aurate has come west and is currently celebrating its first California storefront. Yep, the charming jewel box (sorry, but it is!) now calls Pac Heights home. People, make room on those fingers, necks, and wrists as you're going to wanna layer on the handcrafted and sustainably sourced gold and diamond goodies from this D2C women-led brand. Not only are the rings, necklaces, bracelets and more super cool, the prices are beyond reasonable for the quality. We say it's time for a little treat-yourself treatafter all, buying yourself diamonds is the new buying yourself flowers. We're all in and heading straight for the Luna gold huggie earrings and the Icon ring with white diamonds. // 2208 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights), auratenewyork.com
Our fear with somebody with gait issues is (a) falling but (b) the impact its going to have since they start to get less and less functional, Vincent says.

A classic misconception older adults have is that falling is normal, and theres nothing anybody can do because theyre getting older, says Levi Atanelov, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor who runs an Owings Mills, Maryland, practice called Steady Strides. In truth, a rehabilitation program designed by a physiatrist, a doctor trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation, can help people make substantial improvements.

Police detective Larry Armwood, age 52, sought help from Atanelovs office after suffering a stroke in 2019. At the time, he had very little function on his whole right side, from his eye and ear all the way down to his foot.

My right side was almost like it was frozen, he says. He had difficulties with walking, standing and balance, and couldnt pick things up. Armwood engaged in a comprehensive rehabilitation program including several sessions a week of physical and occupational therapy. Besides physical exercises, he received an injection of Botox to relax the muscles, stood on a vibration board to help with neuropathy, and used a therapy brush to stimulate nerve sensations, among other treatments.

They nursed me back to probably 98 percent, says Armwood, who lives in Parkville, Maryland. He returned to work a year ago, rides his motorcycle, and can run two miles and do 50 push-ups. Im laser-focused, he says.

Keep an eye on balance and falls

If you notice youre shuffling along, your friends are waiting for you to catch up, or youre starting to trip or catch your feet on the carpet or other surfaces it may be time for you to get evaluated, Vincent says.

Balance offers another clue, says Atanelov. If youve had two falls in a year, or one fall with a trauma, thats a sign. So is walking with a cane or walker. If you think  or better yet, if your spouse, friends or family think  you have trouble with balance, that means you have trouble with balance.

Dont be shy when it comes to seeking help, he advises. There is a stigma for the patients psychologically, Atanelov says. They do not want to face the reality they actually have trouble with their balance. ... Theyre scared: Now my kids are going to think Im old, or theyre going to put me in a nursing home, or make me get a walker. 

A physiatrist is the first place to turn to evaluate gait and design a program to help you improve, Vincent and Atanelov say. If youre not sure where to find one, tell your primary care physician you are noticing a decline, and ask for a referral.

During an evaluation, a physiatrist will observe your walking pattern, including your speed, the length and width of your stride, and how you transfer weight between your legs. They also will check your balance, ask you to rise up from a chair, walk up and down stairs, or observe how you can step over small obstacles.

If youre not observing gait issues yet, or youre in your 50s, now is the time to try to slow the decline, say Atanelov and Vincent. Maintain a good weight and level of fitness, keep your blood sugar in check if you have diabetes, and have your eyes checked yearly. Improve lighting in your house and remove things you could trip over. Wear shoes with good traction and support. Have your hearing checked if you are noticing issues, and take care of medical concerns promptly.

The good news, Vincent says, is that its never too late to make improvements. In fact, a study of frail nursing home residents up to age 96 found that a program of high-resistance weight training helped improve average gait speed by 48 percent in just eight weeks.

In a recent community talk, Vincent said, Grandma needs a treadmill, not a rocking chair. We need her to keep moving, so that she doesnt decline.

The body is a wonderfully resilient and adaptive mechanism that responds to the activity and the stress, he says. Yes, it might be a little bit achy at first if youre moving and you hadnt been, and yes, it will take time to adapt. ... But it will adapt. Youre never too old.
President Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled harsh new sanctions on Russia meant to punish the country for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, cal
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President Joe Biden speaks about Ukraine in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 22 in Washington. Biden has warned Americans they will have to pay a price for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

To be nominated for a prestigious James Beard Award means something is being done right in the kitchen.

On Wednesday, the James Beard Foundation announced the 2022 restaurant and chef award semifinalists  and New Mexico is well represented.

In the Best Chef: Southwest category, there are 21 semifinalists, five of whom are New Mexico-based .

The Salazar brothers from La Guelaguetza and Marie Yniguez from Bocadillos are representing Albuquerque. Meanwhile, Ahmed Obo from Jambo Cafe, Fernando Olea from Sazon and Martin Rios from Restaurant Martin in Santa Fe are also up for the award.

The Southwest category covers chefs from New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Oklahoma.

In the Outstanding Baker category, Nobutoshi Nobu Mizushima and Yuko Kawashiwo from Ihatov Bread and Coffee in Albuquerque are nominated. According to the foundation, the category recognizes a baker of breads, pastries or desserts who displays exceptional skill.

(They) must consistently sell goods directly to the public, but does not need a brick-and-mortar presence, and must have been working as a pastry chef or baker for the past three years, the foundation said.

In the Best New Restaurant category, the foundation is looking for a restaurant opened in 2020 or 2021 that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine and hospitality, and seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come.

Zacatlan Restaurant in Santa Fe is the lone New Mexico representative. The category features 30 restaurants from such places as New York City, Hawaii and San Francisco.

According to the foundation, winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony June 13 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The James Beard Awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability and a culture where all can thrive.

The James Beard Foundations Restaurant and Chef Awards were established in 1991.
Chris Miller and Phil Lord have become a powerful duo in the film and TV industry.

The pair have worked together since the early 2000s and by 2003, they wrote the screenplay for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Not to mention that they picked up Oscars for producing Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Lord was also a co-writer on it.

The pair is back with The Afterparty, which is streaming on Apple TV+.

It debuted on Jan. 24 and has been releasing a new episode each week. The seventh episode will begin streaming on Friday, Feb. 25.

Created and directed by Miller, The Afterparty is a genre-defying series centered on a murder mystery at a high school reunion.

Each episode explores a different characters account of the fateful evening in question, all through the lens of popular film genres and unique visuals to match the storytellers perspective.

In addition to directing, Miller serves as showrunner and is executive producing alongside Lord through the pairs production banner, Lord Miller.

The cast includes Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Zoe Chao, Ike Barinholtz, Ilana Glazer, Jamie Demetriou and Dave Franco.

Miller says its been a really long road to get the project to screen.

I had the idea about 11 years ago, Miller says. I wrote it as a movie and we got busy. We came up for air a couple of years ago and it seemed like in a movie format it was going to be difficult to dig deep into each character. In a series, we are able to give each character their own episode. This helps them into becoming more interesting characters. It really came to life once we made that switch. Its been a long time coming, but its been worth it.

Miller says he and Lord had a lot of fun challenges with The Afterparty.

They wanted it to be musical and have some magic.

The problem with the magic is that it required it to be animated, Miller says. With the animated episode, we had to build an animation pipeline. It worked out in the end.

Miller and Lord were able to put together a highly popular and talented cast  which had its own process.

Lord says many of the actors in the cast were always wanted for the project.

When we thought about who would be good, these were the people that were friends of mine, Lord says. Together in one room, there is magic. On top of that, they have a lot of acting range.

Lord says the show allows each actor to get behind their vulnerabilities.

It also is a massive challenge for them to craft a character in each episode, Lord says. For people who are not as experienced and savvy, its a complicated thing.

Lord hopes that audiences enjoy watching the series.

Its a show about empathy and paying attention to each other, Lord says. Its more than just stereotypical. I want people to just listen carefully to one another.

Streaming now

The seventh episode of The Afterparty begins to stream on Friday, Feb. 25. The other six are available to stream on Apple TV+.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Public Service Company of New Mexico will extend operations at the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station to avoid blackouts this summer, after state regulators said Wednesday that the utility doesnt need their permission to continue operating the plant.

PNM had requested state Public Regulation Commission approval last week to keep one of San Juans two generating units running through Sept. 30  three months longer than expected  because of delays in bringing four new solar facilities online to replace power from the coal plant. PNM and other plant co-owners had planned to shut down San Juan on June 30, when their joint ownership agreement expires. But without the solar replacement power in place, the utility would face energy shortages this summer, likely leading to rolling blackouts.

The PRC originally approved PNMs request to abandon San Juan in 2020 to comply with the states Energy Transition Act, which requires local utilities to convert their grids from fossil fuels to 100% carbon-free generation by 2045. That approval, however, never set a specific date for abandonment, meaning its up to PNM when it actually shuts down the facility, the commission said at Wednesdays open public meeting.

The ball is in PNMs court, said Commissioner Cynthia Hall.

In response, PNM will now definitely extend operations at San Juans generating unit No. 4, which it co-owns with three other utilities, said PNM Vice President for Generation Tom Fallgren. That should allow PNM to meet peak summer demand in July and August  the hottest months of the year when consumers collectively blast their air conditioners.

San Juans generating unit No. 1, the only other unit currently operating at San Juan, will shut down on June 30 as planned, followed by the full closure of unit 4 on Oct. 1.

Sept. 30 will now be the definitive, full abandonment date for San Juan, Fallgren told the Journal.

The PRC, meanwhile, will examine any additional utility costs incurred by extending San Juan operations to evaluate the prudence of PNMs actions and decide on the amount it can recover from ratepayers.

Stop-gap solution

San Juans three-month extension should resolve PNMs electric supply problems this summer. But the threat of blackouts still looms for summer 2023.

Thats because two leases that currently provide PNM with power from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona will expire next year. And although commissioners approved new solar projects last week for PNM to replace Palo Verde power, the utility says delays in getting that approval have made it impossible to bring the new facilities online in time for summer 2023.

In addition, PNM and other utilities still face chronic problems that are making resource-adequacy planning extremely difficult going forward. That includes critical supply-chain shortages due to the global pandemic  which caused the delays in getting the San Juan solar replacement power online  plus the threat of extreme weather events from climate change.

Supply-chain shortages will eventually end. But climate-related challenges, such as intense summer heat waves, now represent a chronic problem, raising difficult questions about how to ensure grid reliability in the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.

We need real facts on resource adequacy going forward, because this is not a short-term circumstance, Commissioner Hall said Wednesday. Well have climate disruptions in the future, and supply-chain issues. PNM bears the burden to make sure they secure more resources in advance of next year.

Testy exchanges

Although this summers energy shortages may be resolved, the prospect of blackouts, whether this year or in 2023, has generated heated controversy between PNM and the PRC, igniting a tirade of mutual criticism about who is to blame.

PNM says the PRC has downplayed grid reliability issues in the transition to renewables. It rejected, for example, a utility request for a new peaking gas plant that can rapidly ramp up and down to provide backup electricity for intermittent solar facilities after San Juan closes. And lengthy PRC delays in approving solar replacement projects for both San Juan and Palo Verde exacerbated pandemic-related supply-chain issues, according to PNM.

In fact, Attorney General Hector Balderas told the PRC last week that his office is now examining the prudence of PRC decisions and policies given the threat of blackouts.

Those allegations have incited sharp responses from some PRC commissioners.

At Wednesdays meeting, Hall and Commissioner Stephen Fischmann both blasted PNM for sending mixed messages about the problems it faces.

According to Fischmann, PNM Chairman, President and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn told investors in a Feb. 3 earnings call that the company had adequate resources to cover summertime needs, but at the same time it told the media that blackouts were likely this summer.

Were getting different messages for different audiences, purposes and agendas, Fischmann said.  In terms of communication, PNM has been awful on transparency and clarity.

Commissioner Hall suggested that PNM is manipulating information.

I do feel theres been some fear mongering going on with warnings about blackouts, she said.

PNM spokesman Ray Sandoval said Vincent-Collawn had the San Juan extension plan in mind when she spoke with investors, but negotiations with plant co-owners were still underway, so she couldnt disclose that to them.

In addition, when it became clear last summer that the companies contracted to build the San Juan solar replacement facilities couldnt complete the plants in time for summer 2022, PNM immediately made a presentation about the problems to the PRC, Sandoval said. But the PRC has been slow to react, and PNM needed to inform customers about the pending risks.

Its unfortunate that it took going to the public to get the PRC to really focus on this problem, Sandoval said.

The PRCs action and inaction has put the utility in a tough position, Vincent-Collawn added.

As PNM puts its solution into action for this summer, challenges remain on ensuring customer needs are met in summer 2023 due to regulatory delays that have created yet another obstacle for reliability, Vincent-Collawn said in a statement Wednesday.
New Mexico hospitals are out of the woods, which is why a mask mandate ended last week and more public health orders will wind down next month, acting Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase said Wednesday.

COVID hospital admissions have fallen dramatically in recent weeks. There were 172 COVID patients admitted to hospitals in the state last week. That was down from 430 new admissions the week ending Jan. 31, according to state epidemiology reports.

Scrase said that on Wednesday, there were 34 open ICU beds across the state. For much of the last four months, there were fewer than 10 ICU beds available on some days, he said.

He also said hospital self evaluations of patient volume, staffing and equipment have reached their most relaxed levels in months, according to data presented during the briefing.

Most hospitals are feeling now like they are really out of the woods, he said. What does this mean, for you and me? It means if one of us has a heart attack, there will be an ICU bed for us.

Last week, New Mexico ended a statewide indoor mask mandate. Of the few public health orders remaining, one, a designation allowing health care facilities to declare crisis standards of care, will likely end next month, Scrase said.

Melanie Mozes, a spokeswoman for Presbyterian Healthcare Services, said Presbyterians hospitals in the Albuquerque metro area are still operating under the crisis standards this week. University of New Mexico Hospital also hasnt lifted that designation, said Mark Rudi, a hospital spokesman.

And there remain public health orders requiring masks in certain health care and congregate living facilities.

Though the metrics for hospital capacity were positive, deaths attributed to the virus remain high.

On Wednesday, New Mexico reported 30 additional deaths, pushing the statewide toll to 6,851. Most of those who died were older, but two women in their 30s, two men in their 30s and a man in his 20s were also included in the deaths reported.

The state also reported 544 more cases, of which 175 were in Bernalillo County.

There were 350 people hospitalized with COVID throughout the state.

When asked questions about why the state lifted its mask mandate last week, Scrase said that because hospitals were no longer in crisis it was the right time.

He said the state is now encouraging adults who are more vulnerable to severe disease because of their age or underlying health conditions to take precautions and talk to their doctor about getting an additional booster shot or taking a pre-exposure monoclonal antibody treatment that is now available for certain people who are immunocompromised.

The responsibility of deciding how to keep ourselves safe, our families safe and our community safe has moved from state government to the individual, Scrase said. Some people are certainly very glad to have that responsibility and other people are puzzled on how to work through that.
SANTA FE  State Rep. Roger Montoya of Velarde and his predecessor, Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde, are set to face off in the Democratic primary this year for a House seat in northern New Mexico.

Montoya succeeded Sanchez after Sanchez gave up his legislative seat in 2020 to run for Congress.

House District 40, where Montoya and Sanchez will compete, stretches from the outskirts of Espanola and Chimayo up to the Colorado border.

All 70 seats in the House are on the ballot this year.

Montoya, a community organizer and artist, said he has a strong record to run on and remains a good fit for the district. He said he has successfully sponsored legislation eliminating certain court fees for juveniles and establishing a committee on rural economic opportunities, in addition to helping found Moving Arts Espanola, a role that led him to be recognized as a CNN hero.

My lifes work has centered on advocacy for children and families, Montoya said.

Sanchez, an engineering manager at Los Alamos National Laboratory, said his priorities include supporting the oil and gas industry on a reasonable transition to renewable energy, promoting the state as a hydrogen hub and expanding broadband to support high-tech jobs.

We struggle with our education system and lack of economic opportunities, Sanchez said in a written statement, but by listening to our communities and working together, we can turn things around.

The primary election is June 7.

Open seat

The House seat that will be vacated by Republican Rebecca Dow  whos running for governor  has attracted at least two Democratic candidates so far.

Socorro school board member Tara Jaramillo and Socorro Mayor Ravi Bhasker are campaigning in the Democratic primary in District 38, which covers a chunk of central New Mexico.

The newly redrawn district may be more friendly to Democrats. Analysis of elections over the last decade shows Democrats have had a roughly 4 percentage point edge in the district, according to redistricting contractor Research & Polling Inc.

Jaramillo, a speech pathologist who owns a business that helps people with disabilities, said her priorities include more funding for education, supporting small businesses and providing reliable broadband internet.

I am running because theres a need for voices like mine in Santa Fe, she said in a written statement. At my core, Im an advocate for others, but Im also an entrepreneur and businesswoman and what drives me is bringing opportunities to New Mexicos children and families.

Bhasker, a family physician who has served as Socorro mayor for 32 years, said he is eager to work on legislation to lower the cost of medication and secure funds to address infrastructure needs, such as flood control.

He described himself as kind of a conservative Democrat.

Im a nuts and bolts and infrastructure guy, Bhasker said in an interview. Im not huge on social issues.

If elected, he said he would finish his term as mayor, which runs another a year.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A Raton man accused of sexually assaulting a young relative was previously investigated for sexual misconduct  once when he was a corrections officer at the former New Mexico Boys School in Springer and once for voyeurism at a highway rest stop, court records show.

An assistant district attorney in Raton has filed an expedited motion for pretrial detention against Larry Guara which is expected to be argued Monday afternoon in district court in Raton. The incident reports for the previous allegations are attached to the motion.

Guara does not appear to have been charged in either of the previous cases.

Guara, 61, was arrested on Friday by New Mexico State Police following an 11-month investigation. He is charged with two counts of criminal sexual penetration and four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. Police say he assaulted a female relative for six years, starting when she was 8.

Guara had his first appearance Tuesday in Raton Magistrate Court.

Ray Floersheim, Guaras court-appointed attorney, said Wednesday he had been out of the office and had not received the case paperwork yet.

According to a State Police incident report from March 2000, an officer responded to the then Boys School in Springer for a report of sexual misconduct.

An 18 year-old inmate told the officer he had been subjected to isolated strip searches by Guara involving only him.

Guara admitted making a sexual comment to the inmate but said strip searches were an everyday procedure and conducted according to policy.

The case was referred to the district attorney.

In another incident, State Police were called to an Interstate 25 rest stop in Mora County in July 2009, for a report of a man peering into the ladies restroom.

According to the report, a 14-year-old girl, traveling back to Denver with her family, told an officer that a man had been looking at her through the window while she was using the toilet.

She stated she was scared, she described the man as not wearing a lot of clothing, the report said.

The girl and family members confronted the man in the parking lot, but he ignored them.

This is wrong, you shouldnt do that, you need to stop, the girl told him and he responded, I know, I know, the report states.

On the way to the rest stop an officer stopped a northbound pickup truck driven by Guara. He admitted being at the rest area and said as he was leaving unknown subjects had approached his vehicle and were yelling at him but he did not know why, the report said. Guara agreed to allow the officer to photograph his footwear.

At the rest stop the officer saw scuff marks in a grassy area below the bathroom window and a footprint that appeared similar to tread marks from Guaras footwear.

A warrant was issued for Guaras arrest, the report said. However, the case cannot be found in online court records and its unclear what happened next.

In the current case, the victims aunt said Guara also sexually assaulted her but the statute of limitations prevents charges from being filed, the motion for pretrial detention states.
MOSCOW  Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen.

Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraines military infrastructure and explosions are heard across the country. Zelenskyy said he had just talked to President Joe Biden and the U.S. was rallying international support for Ukraine. He urged Ukrainians to stay home and not to panic

Biden pledged new sanctions meant to punish Russia for an act of aggression that the international community had for weeks anticipated but could not prevent through diplomacy.

Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees, and credulously claimed that Russia doesnt intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to demilitarize it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

Biden in a written statement condemned the unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine and he promised the U.S. and its allies will hold Russia accountable. Biden said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday.

Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the action as a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a war of aggression, adding, Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

The Russian military said it has struck Ukrainian air bases and other military assets and hasnt targeted populated areas. The Russian Defense Ministry statement said the military is using precision weapons to target Ukrainian air bases, air defense assets and other military infrastructure. It claimed that there is no threat to civilian population.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraines interior minister, said on Facebook that the Russian military has launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.

After the initial explosions in Kyiv, people could be heard shouting in the streets. But then a sense of normality returned, with cars circulating and people walking in the streets as a pre-dawn commute appeared to be starting in relative calm.

Beyond casualties that could overwhelm Ukraines government, the consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions levied on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, affecting energy supplies in Europe, jolting global financial markets and threatening the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

Asian stock markets plunged and oil prices surged after the military action got underway. Earlier, Wall Streets benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.8% to an eight-month low after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked for military assistance

Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle, saying, whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.

Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home.

In a stark reminder of Russias nuclear power, Putin warned that no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor. He emphasized that Russia is one of the most potent nuclear powers and also has a certain edge in a range of state-of-the-art weapons.

Though the U.S. on Tuesday announced the repositioning of forces around the Baltics, Biden has said he will not send in troops to fight Russia.

Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian aggression, an announcement that the White House said was a false flag operation by Moscow to offer up a pretext for an invasion.

Putins announcement came just hours after the Ukrainian president rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate, last-minute plea for peace.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

In an apparent reference to Putins move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.

Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything, he said.

He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.

At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called by Ukraine because of the imminent threat of a Russian invasion, members still unaware of Putins announcement appealed to him to stop an attack. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting, just before the announcement, telling Putin: Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.

NATO Secretary-General Jen Stoltenberg issued a statement saying he strongly condemns Russias reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.

Anxiety about an imminent Russian offensive soared after Putin recognized the separatist regions independence on Monday, endorsed the deployment of troops to the rebel territories and received parliamentary approval to use military force outside the country. The West responded with sanctions.

Late Wednesday, Ukrainian lawmakers approved a decree that imposes a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday. The measure allows authorities to declare curfews and other restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations in the interests of national security and public order.

The action reflected increasing concern among Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended that any Ukrainians who are there leave immediately.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Wednesday the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraines borders is in an advanced state of readiness. They are ready to go right now, Kirby said.

Early Thursday, airspace over all of Ukraine was shut down to civilian air traffic, according to a notice to airmen. A commercial flight tracking website showed that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 flying from Tel Aviv to Toronto turned abruptly out of Ukrainian airspace before detouring over Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. The only other aircraft tracked over Ukraine was a U.S. RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned surveillance plane, which began flying westward early Thursday after Russia put in place flight restrictions over Ukrainian territory.

Another wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks hit Ukraines parliament and other government and banking websites on Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.

Officials have long said they expect cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the incidents hew to a nearly two-decade-old Russian playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.

Even before Putins announcement, dozens of nations imposed sanctions on Russia, further squeezing Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets.

Biden allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the companys CEO.

Germany said Tuesday that it was indefinitely suspending the project, after Biden charged that Putin had launched the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine by sending troops into the separatist regions. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.

Even before the Russian military attack on Ukraine began, the threat of war had shredded Ukraines economy and raised the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos.

European Union sanctions against Russia took effect, targeting several companies along with 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for a motion urging Putin to recognize the rebel regions and 27 senior government officials, business executives and top military officers.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage.

___

Karmanau and Heintz reported from Kyiv. Angela Charlton in Paris; Frank Jordans in Berlin; Lorne Cook in Brussels, Frank Bajak in Boston, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.
BRUSSELS  Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine, and he warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen.

President Joe Biden says the world will hold Russia accountable.

The Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate plea for peace.

Before Putins announcement, world leaders worked to maintain a united stance and vowed to impose tougher sanctions in the event of a full-fledged invasion.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Wednesday night at Ukraines request.

Here are the things to know about the conflict over Ukraine and the security crisis in Eastern Europe:

Putin: Operation necessary

Putin said the military operation was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a claim the U.S. had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion

In a televised address, Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said Russias goal was not to occupy Ukraine.

As Putin spoke, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine.

Ukraine leader pled for peace

Speaking in Russian, Zelenskyy gave an emotional address early Thursday.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, he said.

But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Zelenskyy said he asked for a call with Putin late Wednesday but the Kremlin didnt respond.

Earlier Wednesday, Ukraine imposed a nationwide state of emergency, which allows authorities to impose restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations.

What action is the UN taking?

The U.N. Security Council held another emergency meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday night, just two days after another emergency session saw no support for Russias decision to recognize the two rebel regions of Ukraine as independent and to order Russian troops there for peacekeeping.

If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart: President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council.

Council diplomats are now finalizing a draft of a resolution that would declare that Russia is violating the U.N. Charter, international law and a 2015 council resolution on Ukraine, a diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. The resolution would urge Russia to come back into compliance immediately, the diplomat said.

How is Ukraines economy affected?

It is Ukraine, not Russia, where the economy is eroding the fastest under the threat of war.

Embassies and international offices in Kyiv have closed. Flight after flight was canceled when insurance companies balked at covering planes arriving in Ukraine. Hundreds of millions of dollars in investment dried up within weeks.

The squeezing of Ukraines economy is a key destabilizing tactic in what the government describes as hybrid warfare intended to eat away at the country from within.

The economic woes include restaurants that dare not keep more than a few days of food on hand, stalled plans for a hydrogen production plant that could help wean Europe off Russian gas and uncertain conditions for shipping in the Black Sea, where container ships must carefully edge their way around Russian military vessels.

Ukraine under cyberattack

Ukraines parliament and other government and banking websites were hit with another wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks Wednesday.

Unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware, cybersecurity researchers said.

Officials have long said they expect cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the incidents hew to a nearly two-decade-old Russian playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.

How are Russian people reacting?

Russian state media are portraying Moscow as coming to the rescue of war-torn areas of eastern Ukraine that are tormented by Ukraines aggression.

TV presenters are professing the end of suffering for the residents of the breakaway regions.

You paid with your blood for these eight years of torment and anticipation, anchor Olga Skabeyeva said during a popular political talk show Tuesday morning. Russia will now be defending Donbas.

Channel One struck a more festive tone, with its correspondent in Donetsk asserting that local residents say it is the best news over the past years of war.

Now they have confidence in the future and that the years-long war will finally come to an end, she said.

Whether ordinary Russians are buying it is another question.

China appears to back Russia

Russia is not facing the rest of the world on its own. China is leaning toward Russia and accused the U.S. of stoking the Ukraine crisis.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Washington keeps sending weapons to Ukraine, creating fear and panic and even playing up the threat of war.
A Hobbs police officer and a suspect are both in the hospital after being injured in a shooting Wednesday evening.

New Mexico State Police said, on Twitter, that the incident happened at 1832 North Turner in Hobbs.

Officer and suspect both injured and transported to hospital, according to the post. Scene active. Details limited.
KYIV, Ukraine  Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.

Explosions sounded before dawn in Kyiv as Western leaders scheduled an emergency meeting and Ukraines president pleaded for international help. The nature of the explosions was not immediately clear, but the blasts came amid signs that the capital and largest Ukrainian city was increasingly threatened following a day of fighting that left more than 100 Ukrainians dead.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the government had information that subversive groups were encroaching on the city, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Kyiv could well be under siege in what U.S. officials believe is a brazen attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to dismantle the government and replace it with his own regime.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers on a phone call Thursday evening that Russian mechanized forces that entered from Belarus were about 20 miles from Kyiv, according to a person familiar with the call.

The assault, anticipated for weeks by the U.S. and Western allies and undertaken by Putin in the face of international condemnation and cascading sanctions, amounts to the largest ground war in Europe since World War II.

Russian missiles bombarded cities and military bases in the first day of the attack, and Ukraine officials said they had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the worlds worst nuclear disaster. Civilians piled into trains and cars to flee and patrons of a hotel were directed into a shelter as explosions sounded in Kyiv.

Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom, Zelenskyy tweeted. His grasp on power increasingly tenuous, he called Thursday for even more severe sanctions than the ones imposed by Western allies and ordered a full military mobilization that would last 90 days.

Zelenskyy said in a video address that 137 heroes, including 10 military officers, had been killed and 316 people wounded. The dead included border guards on the Zmiinyi Island in the Odesa region, which was taken over by Russians.

He concluded an emotional speech by saying that the fate of the country depends fully on our army, security forces, all of our defenders. He also said the country had heard from Moscow that they want to talk about Ukraines neutral status.

Biden was to meet Friday morning with fellow leaders of NATO governments in what the White House described as an extraordinary virtual summit to disuss Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia, saying Putin chose this war and had exhibited a sinister view of the world in which nations take what they want by force. Other nations also announced sanctions, or said they would shortly.

It was always about naked aggression, about Putins desire for empire by any means necessary  by bullying Russias neighbors through coercion and corruption, by changing borders by force, and, ultimately, by choosing a war without a cause, Biden said.

Blinken said in television interviews that he was convinced that Russia was intent on overthrowing the Ukrainian government, telling CBS that Putin wants to reconstitute the Soviet empire and that Kyiv was already under threat, and it could well be under siege.

Fearing a Russian attack on the capital city, thousands of people went deep underground as night fell, jamming Kyivs subway stations.

At times it felt almost cheerful. Families ate dinner. Children played. Adults chatted. People brought sleeping bags or dogs or crossword puzzles  anything to alleviate the waiting and the long night ahead.

But the exhaustion was clear on many faces. And the worries.

Nobody believed that this war would start and that they would take Kyiv directly, said Anton Mironov, waiting out the night in one of the old Soviet metro stations. I feel mostly fatigue. None of it feels real.

The invasion began early Thursday with a series of missile strikes, many on key government and military installations, quickly followed by a three-pronged ground assault. Ukrainian and U.S. officials said Russian forces were attacking from the east toward Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city; from the southern region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014; and from Belarus to the north.

Zelenskyy, who had earlier cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law, appealed to global leaders, saying that if you dont help us now, if you fail to offer a powerful assistance to Ukraine, tomorrow the war will knock on your door.

Though Biden said he had no plans to speak with Putin, the Russian leader did have what the Kremlin described as a serious and frank exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Both sides claimed to have destroyed some of the others aircraft and military hardware, though little of that could be confirmed.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-unused Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce battle, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said it was told by Ukraine of the takeover, adding that there had been no casualties or destruction at the industrial site.

The 1986 disaster occurred when a nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Kyiv exploded, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe. The damaged reactor was later covered by a protective shell to prevent leaks.

Alyona Shevtsova, adviser to the commander of Ukraines ground forces, wrote on Facebook that staff members at the Chernobyl plant had been taken hostage. The White House said it was outraged by reports of the detentions.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense issued an update saying that though the plant was likely captured, the countrys forces had halted Russias advance toward Chernihiv and that it was unlikely that Russia had achieved its planned Day One military objectives.

The chief of the NATO alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said the brutal act of war shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders decrying an attack that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government. The conflict shook global financial markets: Stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Condemnation came not only from the U.S. and Europe, but from South Korea, Australia and beyond  and many governments readied new sanctions. Even friendly leaders like Hungarys Viktor Orban sought to distance themselves from Putin.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he aimed to cut off Russia from the U.K.s financial markets as he announced sanctions, freezing the assets of all large Russian banks and planning to bar Russian companies and the Kremlin from raising money on British markets.

Now we see him for what he is  a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest, Johnson said of Putin.

The U.S. sanctions will target Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, Biden said, but they were designed not to disrupt global energy markets. Russian oil and natural gas exports are vital energy sources for Europe.

Zelenskyy urged the U.S. and West to go further and cut the Russians from the SWIFT system, a key financial network that connects thousands of banks around the world. The White House has been reluctant to immediately cut Russia from SWIFT, worried it could cause enormous economic problems in Europe and elsewhere in the West.

While some nervous Europeans speculated about a possible new world war, the U.S. and its NATO partners have shown no indication they would send troops into Ukraine, fearing a larger conflict. NATO reinforced its members in Eastern Europe as a precaution, and Biden said the U.S. was deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO.

European authorities declared the countrys airspace an active conflict zone.

After weeks of denying plans to invade, Putin launched the operation on a country the size of Texas that has increasingly tilted toward the democratic West and away from Moscows sway. The autocratic leader made clear earlier this week that he sees no reason for Ukraine to exist, raising fears of possible broader conflict in the vast space that the Soviet Union once ruled. Putin denied plans to occupy Ukraine, but his ultimate goals remain hazy.

Ukrainians were urged to shelter in place and not to panic.

Until the very last moment, I didnt believe it would happen. I just pushed away these thoughts, said a terrified Anna Dovnya in Kyiv, watching soldiers and police remove shrapnel from an exploded shell. We have lost all faith.

With social media amplifying a torrent of military claims and counter-claims, it was difficult to determine exactly what was happening on the ground.

Russia and Ukraine made competing claims about damage they had inflicted. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities and drones. It confirmed the loss of one of its Su-25 attack jets, blaming pilot error, and said an An-26 transport plane had crashed because of technical failure, killing the entire crew. It did not say how many were aboard.

Russia said it was not targeting cities, but journalists saw destruction in many civilian areas.

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Isachenkov and Litvinova reported from Moscow. Francesca Ebel in Kyiv; Angela Charlton in Paris; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Raf Casert and Lorne Cook in Brussels; Nic Dumitrache in Mariupol, Ukraine, Inna Varennytsia in eastern Ukraine; and Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Nomaan Merchant, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.

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Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
BRUSSELS  World leaders Thursday condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine as barbaric and quickly slapped heavy sanctions on the Russian economy, President Vladimir Putins inner circle and many of the countrys oligarchs.

Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences, U.S. President Joe Biden declared.

In near-unison, the United States, the 27-nation European Union and other Western allies announced a round of punitive measures against Russian banks and leading companies and imposed export controls aimed at starving the countrys industries and military of semiconductors and other high-tech products.

From the U.S. to Western Europe and Japan, South Korea and Australia, nations lined up to denounce the Kremlin as the outbreak of fighting raised fears about the shape of Europe to come. The invasion initially sent stocks slumping and oil prices surging on fears of higher costs for food and fuel.

The West and its allies showed no inclination to send troops into Ukraine  a non-member of NATO  and risk a wider war on the continent. But NATO reinforced its member states in Eastern Europe as a precaution against an attack on them, too.

Make no mistake: We will defend every ally against any attack on every inch of NATO territory, said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

In the meantime, countries began taking steps to isolate Moscow in hopes of forcing it to pay so high a price that it changes course.

Biden, for now, held off imposing some of the most severe sanctions, including cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, which allows for the transfers of money from bank to bank around the globe. Ukraines president called for Russia to be cast out of SWIFT, but the U.S. has expressed concern about the potential damage to European economies.

Top Biden administration officials including the secretaries of State, Defense and Treasury briefed members of the U.S. Congress in unclassified calls Thursday.

This is going to be a long battle that requires a sustained action and unity, said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, after the session with senators.

The senator said there was agreement that Congress stands ready to provide whatever additional resources are needed as the U.S. supports the Ukraine military and backs the Ukrainian resistance. More funding may be needed from Congress.

Many lawmakers have pushed for the toughest sanctions possible on Russia to stop the invasion. The senator said theres a recognition we can continue to build on those Biden has already announced.

EU leaders held an emergency summit and agreed on sanctions that cover, among other things, the financial, energy and transport sectors and various Russian individuals. In a statement, the leaders said the measures will have massive and severe consequences for Russia.

The details will not become available until Friday at the earliest.

We want to cut off Russias industry from the technologies desperately needed today to build the future, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: It is about the leadership of Russia and being merciless in finances and the economy.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announced financial restrictions and export controls. In addition, Britain will also prohibit Russias flagship airline, Aeroflot, from landing at British airports.

Johnson called the attack on Ukraine hideous and barbaric and said of Putin: Now we see him for what he is  a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.

Canada imposed sanctions that will target 58 people and entities, including members of Russias elite and their families, the paramilitary Wagner Group and major Russian banks. The punitive measures, announced after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended a virtual meeting of G-7 industrialized nations, will also cover members of the Russian Security Council, including key cabinet ministers.

In the days before the attack, Germany suspended approval of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.

With Stoltenberg and Johnson, von der Leyen called the invasion a barbaric attack on an independent nation that threatened the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order.

The new U.S. sanctions also targeted the military and financial institutions of Belarus, Ukraines neighbor to the north. Russia is using Belarus as a staging ground for troop movements into Ukraine.

Separately, the U.N. Security Council is expected to vote Friday on a resolution condemning Russia and demanding the immediate withdrawal of all its forces. But Moscow is certain to veto it.

Highlighting a widening rift in superpower relations, China stood alone in failing to condemn the attack and instead accused the United States and its allies of worsening the crisis.

In a clear defense of Moscow, China called on parties to respect others legitimate security concerns.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that all parties should work for peace instead of escalating the tension or hyping up the possibility of war  language China has consistently used to criticize the West in the crisis.

China went further and approved imports of wheat from Russia, a move that could reduce the impact of Western sanctions. Russia, one of the biggest wheat producers, would be vulnerable if foreign markets were closed off.

The possible repercussions extended well beyond economics and geopolitics. The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worried that the crisis will further distract global attention from helping the worlds least vaccinated continent fight COVID-19.

In New York City, a projection artist is projecting Stand With Ukraine and the countrys flag on a wall of the United Nations headquarters. The artist, David Forsee, says he decided to do this because hes a concerned person who doesnt want to be surrounded by nukes.

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Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.

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Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
BOSTON  Cyberattacks against Ukrainian government websites and affiliated organizations added to the confusion of Russias military assault Thursday, including data-wiping malware activated a day earlier that cybersecurity researchers said infected hundreds of computers including in neighboring Latvia and Lithuania.

Researchers said the malware attack had apparently been in preparation for as much as three months.

A distributed-denial-of-service attack that began last week and temporarily knocked government websites offline Wednesday continued and there were sporadic internet outages across the country, said Doug Madory, director of internet analysis for the U.S. network management firm Kentik Inc.

Measures to blunt the DDoS attacks were having some success, however, as major government websites including those of the defense and interior ministries and the banking sites of Sberbank and Alfabank were reachable Thursday despite the onslaught. U.S. and allied governments quickly blamed the denial-of-service attacks on Russias GRU military intelligence agency after they began last week. Such attacks render websites unreachable by flooding them with junk data.

Major Russian websites also came under a denial-of-service attack on Thursday, Madory said, possibly in retaliation for the similar DDoS attacks on Ukrainian websites.

The sites of Russias military (mil.ru) and Kremlin (kremlin.ru), hosted by the Russia State Internet Network, were unreachable or slow to load as a result. Madory said an entire block of internet domains that host kremlin.ru sites was under attack.

Ukraines cybersecurity agency said cellular networks were saturated with voice calls, suggesting that people unable to complete them use text-messaging.

Madory said Ukraines internet was under severe stress presently.

The London-based Netblocks internet monitor said the eastern city of Kharkiv, near which Russians were reported attacking, appeared to be taking the brunt of network and telecoms disruptions.

Some cybersecurity experts said prior to the assault that it might be in the Kremlins intelligence  and information war  interests not to try to take down Ukraines internet during a military attack.

Ukraines cybersecurity service also published a list on its Telegram channel of known active disinformation channels to avoid.

It was not clear how many networks were affected by the previously unseen data-wiping, which targeted organizations in the financial, defense, aviation and information technology industries, Symantec Threat Intelligence said in a blog post Thursday.

ESET Research Labs said it detected it on hundreds of machines in the country. ESET research chief Jean-Ian Boutin would not name the targets but said they were large organizations.

The researchers said it was too early to say who was responsible, but Ukrainian officials blamed Russia for a si milar attack last month that damaged servers in at least two government networks.

Officials have long expected cyberattacks to both precede and accompany any Russian military incursion. The combination of DDoS attacks, which bombard websites with junk traffic to render them unreachable, and malware infections hewed to Russias playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.

Symantec said the wiper discovered Wednesday had some similarities to malware deployed in the January attack, which was disguised as ransomware and activated during a diversionary headline-grabbing website defacement. Microsoft dubbed it WhisperGate.

Symantec detected the new wiper at three organizations  Ukrainian government contractors with offices in Latvia and Lithuania and a financial institution in Ukraine, said Vikram Thakur, its technical director. Both countries are NATO members.

The attackers have gone after these targets without much caring for where they may be physically located, he said.

All three had close affiliation with the government of Ukraine, said Thakur, saying Symantec believed the attacks were highly targeted. He said roughly 50 computers at the financial outfit were affected, some with data wiped.

NATO has classified crippling cyberattacks on its members as potentially capable of triggering an armed response but has been vague on the threshold and the wiper attack was likely far below it.

Asked about the wiper attack on Wednesday, senior Ukrainian cyber defense official Victor Zhora had no comment.

Russia likely has been planning this for months, so it is hard to say how many organizations or agencies have been backdoored in preparation for these attacks, said Chester Wisniewski, principal research scientist at the cybersecurity firm Sophos. He guessed the Kremlin intended with the malware to send the message that they have compromised a significant amount of Ukrainian infrastructure and these are just little morsels to show how ubiquitous their penetration is.

Cyberattacks have been a key tool of Russian aggression in Ukraine since before 2014, when the Kremlin annexed Crimea and hackers tried to thwart elections. They were also used against Estonia in 2007 and Georgia in 2008. Their intent can be to sow panic, confuse and distract.

Distributed-denial-of-service attacks are among the least impactful because they dont entail network intrusion. Such attacks barrage websites with junk traffic so they become unreachable.

The West blames Russias GRU for some of the most damaging cyberattacks on record, including a pair in 2015 and 2016 that briefly knocked out parts of Ukraines power grid and the NotPetya wiper virus of 2017, which caused more than $10 billion of damage globally by infecting companies that do business in Ukraine with malware seeded through a tax preparation software update.

The wiper malware detected in Ukraine this year has so far been manually activated, as opposed to a worm like NotPetya, which can spread out of control across borders.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

A chaotic scene unfolded in Hobbs late Wednesday when an officer was wounded and a suspect killed in a shootout.

Moments later, authorities said a second suspect  who had been handcuffed  managed to steal a police cruiser. She crashed into a nearby bank drive-thu and fled on foot.

Daniel Ramirez, 27, was taken to the hospital, where he died. Janessa Perez, 28, remains at large. Both are from Hobbs; the Journal could not reach their families.

The New Mexico State Police is investigating the shooting, which is standard.

In a news conference Thursday afternoon, August Fons, interim chief of the Hobbs Police Department, said the officer was in stable condition and recovering with his family. Fons did not identify the officer, nor say what injuries he sustained.

My greatest fear is that Ill have to notify a family of an officers line-of-duty death, and I thank God I didnt have to do that last night, Fons said.

This is the second shooting of an officer in New Mexico this year.

Less than two weeks ago, police say a Torrance County man shot and wounded a New Mexico State Police officer near Sedillo Hill, off Interstate 40. He and his girlfriend were both charged in the incident.

Wednesdays shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. when a Hobbs police officer spotted a black Dodge dually pickup that appeared to be stranded  it was stopped on the 1900 block of N Turner, partially in the entrance of a Valero gas station.

Fons said the officers body camera footage shows him talking to the driver and asking him to step out of the vehicle. Thats when the driver, later identified as Ramirez, and Perez fled on foot toward a nearby bank.

The officer chased Ramirez toward the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot, wrote officer Ray Wilson, an NMSP spokesman, in a news release. At some point during the foot pursuit, gunfire was exchanged between Ramirez and the officer. The officer was struck by gunfire and transported to an area hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The suspect sustained gunshot injuries and was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

Perez was detained and handcuffed, according to the Hobbs Police Department. Its unclear how she got away, but Fons said officers were rendering aid to the wounded officer at the time. Wilson said Perez stole a police unit from a second officer who arrived on scene.

Perez crashed the HPD unit into the Wells Fargo drive-thru and then fled on foot, Wilson said. She has not been apprehended.

Both suspects have criminal histories that include drug charges and battery. However previous cases were dismissed without prejudice.

Fons referenced Ramirezs history, adding, However, we certainly understand that the loss of life is tragic to his family and everyone involved.

He pushed back on those who are critical of law enforcement and urged changes to keep violent felons off of our streets and keep our community safer.

While not perfect, police officers are out there 24/7 and are willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to keep all of us safe, Fons said. I, we, the Hobbs Police Department, are very fortunate to live in a community where citizens and lawmakers support the police department, and we will continue to uphold the tradition of honorable law enforcement. All we ask in return is reciprocal consideration.

Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of Janessa Perez to call New Mexico State Police at 575-382-2500 or Hobbs Police Department at 575-397-9265.
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...
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

The man accused of racing another driver and crashing into a school bus full of children Wednesday on the West Side is facing two felonies.

One witness told police that Mario Perez, 49, appeared to be going over 110 mph in the 40 mph stretch just before the crash. Perez is charged with two counts of great bodily harm by vehicle, third-degree felonies. Perez, the school bus driver and several middle school students were hospitalized.

Two students, ages 13 and 14, had serious injuries. The injuries included a broken pelvis and a broken femur that required surgery.

Perez, who also broke a femur, will be booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center once he is released from the hospital, police said.

Court records show he has been ticketed twice since 2015 for speeding and got off with a warning in the second incident.

Rebecca Atkins, an Albuquerque police spokeswoman, said police are asking for help from the public to identify the second driver who fled the scene.

According to witnesses, the other driver was in a blue Ford Mustang, she said.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in Metropolitan Court:

Police responded around 4:05 p.m. to the crash at the intersection of Messina and Gibson SW, just west of Blake. Officers found the school bus flipped onto its side and a white Mustang on fire.

Witnesses told police the driver of the white Mustang, Perez, was racing the driver of a blue Mustang before crashing into the school bus.

The school bus driver told police the collision happened so fast, and afterward, Perez told him he had been driving between 60 and 80 mph.

Officers checked Perez for impairment and found that he was not under the influence.
SABINE PASS, Texas  A fire aboard a decommissioned offshore oil rig platform briefly trapped nine shipyard workers Thursday until they were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter.

The fire broke out shortly before 1 p.m. at a shipyard in Sabine Pass, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson told The Associated Press. Sabine Pass is where the Texas-Louisiana border meets the Gulf of Mexico.

Video from KBMT-TV in nearby Beaumont showed the Coast Guard helicopter shuttling between the burning platform to another platform nearby, plucking the trapped workers from danger.

No workers were injured and the cause of the fire was being investigated, Dickinson said.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Journal capitol Bureau

Surrounded by families searching for missing relatives, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation Thursday empowering the Attorney Generals Office to take the lead on cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women.

She also approved a companion bill establishing an annual event intended to connect the relatives of missing persons in New Mexico with law enforcement and other services.

The approvals came in a signing ceremony at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center as about 30 family members of missing persons carried signs and called out thanks to the governor and law enforcement. Some cried and shared hugs with Lujan Grisham afterward.

This is a somber recognition, the governor said, that we have a significant issue that demands our attention, every single effort and bringing together the most powerful tools at our disposal.

One of the measures she signed, Senate Bill 12, is aimed at easing jurisdictional complications and applying extra resources to help solve missing person cases.

It creates a specialist position within the Attorney Generals Office to help coordinate law enforcement efforts and assist  with the permission of Native American tribes, nations and pueblos  the prosecution and investigation of missing person cases.

The bill appropriates $1 million to support the work. The legislation is also intended to make the Attorney Generals Office the lead point of contact for families looking for answers.

One day, we hope to walk into a courtroom with you and seek justice for your family members, Democratic Attorney General Hector Balderas said as he addressed the crowd.

Lujan Grisham, also a Democrat, signed Senate Bill 13, too, creating an annual event dedicated to missing persons in New Mexico. It would allow families to file missing person reports, submit DNA records and meet with investigators.

Zia Pueblo Gov. Jerome Lucero offered a blessing and delivered some of his remarks in Keres, his native language.

This is a great first step, he said, but we have much more work to do.

Gallup resident Meskee Yatsayte, a member of a state task force dedicated to missing and murdered Indigenous women, read out a list of missing persons dating back to 1986 during the ceremony.

We shouldnt have to fight this hard to be seen, she said.

In a recent six-year period, about 290 Indigenous women were reported missing in the state, according to a report by the state task force.

New Mexico had almost 930 active missing persons cases this month.

Joining the governor at the ceremony were the sponsors of Senate Bill 12: Senate Majority Whip Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque; Sen. Shannon Pinto, D-Gallup; and Rep. Pamelya Herndon, D-Albuquerque.

The fight aint over, Lopez said.

The missing persons bills are the first to receive the governors signature since the 30-day legislative session ended last week. The governor has until March 9 to act on legislation passed in the final days of the session.
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Aside from reportedly firing her longtime manager Bernie Young and her crisis manager Howard Bragman, 'The Wendy Williams Show' host is seeking legal action over her firing from her daytime show.

Feb 24, 2022

AceShowbiz - Wendy Williams is seemingly letting her management team go. If a new report is to be believed, the talk show queen has fired her longtime manager Bernie Young and her crisis manager Howard Bragman after "The Wendy Williams Show" slot was replaced by Sherri Shepherd's new show.

A source told The Sun on Wednesday, February 23, "Bernie and Howard are out. They don't even have a way to get in contact with her." The insider went on to say, "No one has no way to get in contact with Wendy, she doesn't even have her own phone anymore."

The so-called inside source went on to detail that Howard, who was never hired by Wendy herself, was brought on by the show's production company Debmar Mercury in September just days after the 57-year-old host was transported to a New York City hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. The informant went on to add that Bernie was hired back in 2019 and led in large part by the production company.

Another source spilled to the outlet that Wendy is now in good hands with her son Kevin Hunter Jr., who is caring for his mother with guidance from the TV personality's ex-husband Kevin Hunter Sr. "Her son is doing a great job with her, taking care of her and getting her the help she needs," said the insider.

"Kevin Jr has Power of Attorney, but his dad is helping him manage what that means he needs to do," the informant added. "He's young, and because of everything going on, Wendy isn't opposed to having her ex-husband help her."

Meanwhile, a separate source told Radar that Wendy is "considering legal action against her producers." The insider claimed, "Wendy is on sick leave and has basically been fired. This isn't right and Wendy isn't going to take this. She is considering legal action against her producers and is also deciding on what to do about Sherri Shepherd."

"Sherri was supposed to be a friend filling in for Wendy while she was sick, but instead, Sherri stabbed Wendy in the back," the source explained. "If anyone thinks Wendy is going to disappear without a fight they are a fool."

It's also reported that Wendy is going to do things like Chris Cuomo and Megyn Kelly after their sudden firing. "Wendy has been reading the news where Chris Cuomo is suing CNN for $60 million and Megyn Kelly got $60 million when she was kicked out of NBC," said the insider.

"Knowing Wendy, she will think she can get the same amount too," the source continued. "This is going to get ugly. She was hired because of her big mouth, well now that big mouth is going to bite the hand that fed her."

The reports came one day after Wendy denied her publicist and manager crisis Howard's claims that she's "incredibly grateful" after Sherri was confirmed to officially take over "The Wendy Williams Show" slot. On February 22, Wendy released a statement that read, "Mr. Bragman, Although I appreciate your concerns and respect you immensely, I have not authorized you to make any statements on my behalf regarding my current status with Debmar Mercury." She concluded, "Again, Thanks for your continuing concern and support."
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Prior to this, Donald's brother Stephen Glover revealed at the TCA that 'Atlanta' crew were racially harassed on their first evening in London, where they filmed the show's season 3.

Feb 24, 2022

AceShowbiz - Donald Glover has responded to claims that the cast and crew of "Atlanta" were racially profiled while shooting scenes in London. Taking to his Twitter account, the actor revealed that they didn't take the incident seriously as they're able to laugh it off.

"that 'racially abused' headline about us is lame," Donald wrote on Wednesday, February 23. "the story is tru. but we were all laughin tellin it."

Donald Glover addressed racial abuse in London.

Prior to this, Donald's brother Stephen Glover revealed on Thursday, February 18 at the Television Critics Association's virtual winter press conference that they were racially harassed on their first evening in London, where they filmed the show's season 3. "It was the first night there," Stephen told the press conference, adding that a group of intoxicated people approached the "Atlanta" team when they were standing outside of a closed bar near their home in London.

"This group of people walks up. And maybe one of them kind of notices Donald or recognizes him," Stephen said. "And she stops and they start asking if they know anywhere around here to get something to drink. I think we were talking to them for a second. It's this girl and two or three guys."

Stephen went on to say that one of the harassers told the crew that they could go to jail because they carried guns. "Mind you, all of the writers on 'Atlanta' are black. So, he's making a reference that we all have hammers, and we can just break into this place, which we kind of ignored," Stephen said.

"It was so insulting, but not insulting at the same time because it took us five minutes to fully understand," Robinson said, while laughing. "He got to a point of like if the insinuation was lost on us, he got specific and he was like, 'You guys are black, you've gone to jail and you do things like that.' Like he kept doubling down on it."

Co-writer Stefani Robinson added it took the "Atlanta" team a while to realize what the man was talking about guns. She continued recalling, "It was so insulting, but not insulting at the same time because it took us five minutes to fully understand."

"He got to a point of like if the insinuation was lost on us, he got specific and he was like, 'You guys are black, you've gone to jail and you do things like that.' Like he kept doubling down on it."

As to how the incident concluded, Stephen said that it had something to do with a woman they encountered on the street. "She's talking to us. And then, after a minute, the guy just runs back down the street and grabs her and throws her over his shoulder, and he's like, 'Run. They are going to rape you, like, rape you,' " Stephen said. "The girl was literally, like, 'I'm sorry,' as she's being taken away. So, it was pretty bad."

Donald added, "We are just standing there, like, 'What just happened?' "
Instagram Celebrity

When announcing that she's returning to her home, the former adult film star says that 'there's something off' with her femoral nerve that affects the strengths in her legs.

Feb 24, 2022

AceShowbiz - Jenna Jameson has been discharged from hospital amid her battle with a mystery illness. Taking to her social media platform, the former Playboy model told her fans that she's back home but she is still unable to walk.

Making use of her Instagram Story on Tuesday, February 22, the former adult film star revealed in a video that she's now "just resting" at home while her doctors continue to find out what exactly caused her to lose her ability to walk. "I still have more testing to do but it seems there's something off with my femoral nerve, and it's affecting my strength in my legs," she said in the clip.

Jenna went on to note that she's still using a wheelchair. "So I am still in a wheelchair, unfortunately, but I hope to be out of the wheelchair soon and walking, so say a little prayer," continued the "Zombie Strippers" star.

Jenna then provided footage of her left leg moving. The 47-year-old mom of one went on saying that her "quad strength is really, really, really weak." She shared, "And as you can see I have some atrophy happening."

"My legs are incredibly skinny," Jenna pointed out. She then assured her fans, "But don't get too alarmed, because my legs have always been ultra skinny. So don't judge me. We will be back to the best soon."

Jenna was rushed to hospital last month after she lost the ability to walk and had been vomiting for weeks. At the time, her partner Lior Bitton said that the muscles in her legs "were very weak. So she wasn't able to walk to the bathroom."

"And then within two days it go really not so good, her legs started to not hold her, she wasn't able to walk," the Israeli businessman further explained. The doctors then declared that she had Guillain-Barre syndrome after undergoing an MRI test and a spinal tap.

However, one week later, it's confirmed that Jenna doesn't have the syndrome. Lior said in a video shared on her Instagram page, "Jenna is still in the hospital. She doesn't have the Guillain-Barre syndrome."

Earlier this month, Jenna assured her fans that she's "doing okay." In a video she shared on her Instagram Story, she could be seen lying in her hospital bed. "Hey you guys. So I am still in the hospital, but I'm doing okay and I'll be out soon," she said before blowing kisses to the camera.
WENN/Avalon Celebrity

The Duke of Sussex files a libel lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited over an article about dealings with the British government and his attempts to get security when he and his family visit the country.

Feb 24, 2022

AceShowbiz - Prince Harry's war against the U.K. media isn't over just yet. According to a new report, the Duke of Sussex filed a libel lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited, the newspaper group behind well-known titles like Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday.

The complaint has something to do with a Mail article, which was published on February 20. The said article was about Harry's dealings with the British government and his attempts to get security when he and his family visit the country.

According to the publication, Harry sued the U.K. government after it rejected his request for police security, as it was tax-payer funded. The story also claimed that the Duke, who announced his and wife Meghan Markle's decision to give up their royal titles, duties and funding from the Sovereign Grant in 2020, tried to keep the details of the lawsuit hidden from the public by requesting a confidentiality order on documents related to the complaint.

A spokesperson for Harry confirmed to Reuters that the Duke is suing Associated Newspapers Limited. The rep, however, didn't share any more details.

Last month, Harry applied for a judicial review of a Home Office decision not to allow him to personally pay for police protection for himself and his family when they are in the U.K. In a statement from his legal spokesperson, he claimed that his family "has been subjected to well-documented neo-Nazi and extremist threats."

"The UK will be Prince Harry's home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe. With the lack of police protection, comes too great a personal risk," the statement further added, noting that Harry tried to offer to fund a private security team multiple times only to be dismissed. "It is due to a leak in a UK tabloid, with surreptitious timing, we feel it necessary to release a statement setting the facts straight."

Back in 2021, Meghan sued the Mail on Sunday over a 2018 article that included portions of a private letter she had written to her estranged father. She won the lawsuit and was awarded a symbolic 1 ($1.36) in damages.
Instagram Celebrity

The former pro-dancer of 'Dancing with the Stars', who moved to the United States back in 1994, breaks down in tears as he shares a chilling video from the capital city of Kyiv.

Feb 25, 2022

AceShowbiz - Maksim Chmerkovskiy has shared updates on the situation in Ukraine following a Russian invasion into the country. Turning to Instagram, the former professional dancer of "Dancing with the Stars" shared horrifying videos taken from the capital city of Kyiv.

"There's ALWAYS another way! WAR is NEVER an answer #standwithukraine," Maksim penned alongside the first video shared on Thursday, February 24. "P.S. I will never be the same. This is stressful and I'm getting old feelings back, like I've done this before. This does feel like the way it was when and why we left in the 90s."

Noting that his "old PTSD I've finally fixed is coming back," Maksim explained, "I literally only just forgot about those 'always on the edge' feelings and actually started worrying about things like bbq grills." He added, "I'm crying as I'm typing this because all man deserves to worry about 'bbq grills' and not f**king war. Hug your loved ones."

In the second clip, there were some families who brought their luggage, apparently trying to leave the country. Maksim went on to unleash another video that saw a number of sirens blaring on the streets. "That's the military," he disclosed.

While holding back his tears, the husband of Peta Murgatroyd told his fans, "Honestly, I'm getting really emotional." He continued, "It's a little difficult. You know me, you know me I stay strong, and I don't show it, but I want to go back home... And what I'm realizing is that my friends, whose kids are here and whose moms, dads are here-and elderly people are here, and they can't just escape."

"I know there's a lot of people currently in Russia that are watching this, that are watching the news and hearing the propaganda and hearing this complete nonsense that's been talked about," the TV personality further elaborated. "I am not at this point someone who is pleading, you know, for someone else's safety from a far distance, from a safe distance. I'm somebody who's about to go into a bomb shelter because s**t's going down."

Maksim moved to the United States from Ukraine in 1994 along with his family, including brother Val Chmerkovskiy. More recently, the father of one returned to his native country to join the judging panel of Ukraine's new "World of Dance" series.
Admitad, an IT Company, working in MarTech and AdTech industries, with its Indian regional headquarter is in Gurgaon,has presented its 3-year round of investing in a massive transformation process. Over $30 Million was spent on creating, acquiring, and implementing businesses in the new international structure. The company has moved away from focusing on the affiliate network business and encompasses more on marketing and financial services.

Since its establishment in 2009, entrepreneurs and marketers have perceived Admitad purely as an affiliate network due to its exponential growth and market leadership in that field. In 2021, Admitad Affiliate partners generated $7.8 billion of sales, while the total sales created by all Admitad businessesresulted in $11.6 billion. Admitads new structure maintains and builds on that success while currently including eight B2B businesses and one B2C business, which were grown internally or acquired.

The revenue dynamics of the affiliate network and other services clearly demonstrates the transformation into a multi-product company.

The company began a systematic search and launch of new businesses, along with transformation back in 2018. But earlier, in 2015, Admitad created a tool for managing and optimizing budgets in advertising networks. Together with the affiliate network, this provided a foothold for the future structure.

YySince 2018, weve invested over $30 million in buying companies, setting up representative offices in various countries, launching and scaling new businesses with Admitad Projects, a startup studio. During this time, our startup studio has screened over 300 business ideas, four of which have grown to round A with an option for a complete buyout, said Alexander Bachmann, Admitads CEO and founder.

At the same time, the company was actively selecting businesses for mergers and acquisitions from related markets. For example, Admitad acquired two technology companies: Adgoal in 2018 and Tapfiliate in 2021(Europe). This increased the pool of tools for partners and the number of advertisers. To develop Smart Shopping, Admitad acquired the receipt scanning service CheckScan (Russia) that later became a successful alumnus of the startup studio. Later that year, the company acquired the online insurance service Pampadu(Russia) to develop its line of partner services.

Also, since 2015, Admitad has invested in B2C services, including Letyshops and Litnet. You can find the complete list of these investments on Admitads CrunchBase page.

Several of these businesses such as Admitad Affiliate and Admitad White Label already offer their services in India. More of the new services from Admitad will also soon be introduced to the region.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has ordered blocking of apps, website, and social media accounts of foreign-based Punjab Politics TV having close links with Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), an organization that has been declared unlawful under theUnlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Relying on intelligence inputs that the channel was attempting to use online media to disturb public order during the ongoing State Assembly Elections, the Ministry used emergency powers under the IT Rules on 18th February to block the digital media resources of Punjab Politics TV.

The contents of the blocked apps, website, and social media accounts had the potential to incite communal disharmony and separatism; and were found to be detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, and public order. It was also observed that the launch of new apps and social media accounts was timed to gain traction during the ongoing elections.

The Government of India remains vigilant and committed to secure the overall information environment in India and thwart any actions having the potential to undermine Indias sovereignty and integrity.






A South Windsor man pretended to be in college so he could scam his grandparents out of $679,000 that he said was for tuition and an investment fund, federal authorities said.

Douglas Senerth, 32, pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud in New Haven federal court, officials said.

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From 2011-19, Senerth scammed his grandparents by falsely claiming to be a college student and persuading them to give him about $419,000 for nonexistent tuition and related expenses, authorities said. Senerth also ripped off his grandparents for an additional $260,000 by falsely claiming he would invest their money into a fund run by one of his nonexistent professors, federal officials said.

As part of the scheme, Senerth created bogus college transcripts, letters and email accounts to corroborate his lies, officials said.

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Senerth, who has been detained in state custody since Feb. 10, 2021 on unrelated charges, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of of 20 years in prison, authorities said. Scheduled to be sentenced on May 17, he has agreed to pay restitution of $679,944, officials said.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.

The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline, according to a news release, is staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed.

When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotlines toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). For more information, visit: https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope.

Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com
Colors Tamil has always been screening contemporary movies in all hues and shades for its viewers. This Sunday, fasten your seat belt to enjoy the roller-coaster ride with the horror movie Cindrella. Colors Tamil is all set to bring the World Television Premiere of Rai Lakshmis hit horror film, Cinderella on 27th February, 2022 at 7 pm. The movie is written and directed by Vinoo Venketesh under the banner SSI Productions and has Rai Lakshmi in the titular role. The movie offers a sensational experience to the audience with the perfect horror element in it. Sakshi Agarwal, Robo Shankar, Kallori Vinoth and Mohan Raman will also play key roles in this horror movie.

This gripping thriller follows Akira (played by Rai Lakshmi), a sound engineer, who travels to a hill station to record the sounds of rare birds for a Hollywood project. She finds a Cinderella costume in an antique shop and brings it home and begins to have paranormal experiences. The rest of the film outlines what happens after that, providing ample opportunities for some amazingly funny and thrilling moments.

Commenting on the movie, actor Rai Lakshmi said, "I am extremely excited for my movie Cinderella to get its World Television premiere in a channel like Colors Tamil. Being a part of this movie gave me immense pleasure. It was great to work alongside Robo Shankar, Sakshi and many more stars for the first time. I hope viewers will enjoy my character as much as I enjoyed filming for it."

Commenting on the launch, Director Vinoo Venkatesh said, "Cinderella will eternally be close to my heart as it imprints my journey as a filmmaker. I am excited and overwhelmed that my debut film is going to be watched by a wide spectrum through its World Television Premier on Colors Tamil. As a team, we have put in a lot of hard work into this film and I strongly believe that the audience will be able to connect and relate with every character in it."

Dont forget to tune in to Colors Tamil to feel the chills on 27th February 2022 at 7 PM. Colors Tamil is available on all leading cable networks and DTH platforms - Sun Direct (CH NO 128), Tata Sky (CHN NO1515), Airtel (CHN NO 763), Dish TV (CHN NO 1808) and Videocon D2H (CHN NO 553).
Global creator company, Jellysmack is working with 80dB Communications, a reputation management advisory as its PR partner for India. 80dB will support Jellysmack in India on a range of strategic initiatives that will underpin the companys communications efforts.

Using a tech-driven approach that leverages deep data and AI capabilities, Jellysmack helps content creators who are successful on one platform diversify their portfolios across major video platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube to help fuel their growth by optimizing video performance across different platforms, to uncover new audiences, and establish new revenue streams.

Jellysmack works with some of the biggest content creators globally, such as PewDiePie and MrBeast and has already signed up major India creators, including Kanaks Kitchen, Triggered Insaan and Faisal Khan. Jellysmack will look to sign nearly 100 Indian content creators in 2022

We are happy to appoint 80dB as our communications partner for India '', said Vipasha Joshi, Country Manager, Jellysmack. Our goal is to raise our position and build a stronger understanding of the brand and its values in the region. We appreciate 80dBs for their ability of having brought the brief alive with a realistic, doable approach, their deep thinking and strong relationships.

Kiran Ray Chaudhury, Co-founder of 80dB Communications said, We are delighted to partner with Jellysmack and look forward to creating stories that drive business outcomes. The content creator economy is booming in the present scenario and we are excited with the task ahead of building Jellysmacks reputation as the global leader among relevant stakeholders.
Orange Business Services today announced that it is transforming snack-food giant Mondelez International with an all-digital communications platform based on Microsoft Teams. Cadbury, Chips Ahoy!, Oreo, and Ritz are just some of the Mondelez International brands whose operations will now be unified on a single, global platform.

Orange Business Services will manage the Microsoft Teams platform, which will improve communication and collaboration among Mondelez Internationals offices, factories, warehouses, and contact center agents on a massive scale, encompassing 80,000 employees across operations in approximately 80 countries. It will eliminate all legacy PBX systems, and Orange will take over and manage Mondelez Internationals global communications platform end-to-end, including unique voice capabilities in markets such as China, India, the Middle East and Russia. Embedded cloud flexibility will enable Mondelez International to scale their platform to grow and expand into new markets.

Some of the benefits expected once the implementation is completed by the end of 2022 include cost optimization, a simpler IT vendor ecosystem with multi-cloud orchestration to manage the voice transformation, and a platform for new digital innovations.

The entire physical footprint and home-based employees of Mondelez Internationals worldwide operations will be fully connected via a new virtual workspace, said Jyotin Shah, Sr. Director, Global Digital Workplace Services at Mondelez International. We will be able to easily share digital resources, communicate with one another, inspire creativity and collaborate across all our brands, from Oreo to Chips Ahoy!. Even as the industry faces global supply chain challenges, Mondelez International is staying one step ahead.

Co-innovation That Touches Everything

Orange Business Services is delivering more than just a Microsoft Teams solution. Orange is also integrating ecosystem partners to provide reliable voice and video solutions for additional functionality. Mondelez Internationals contact center platform will leverage the Orange global network and employ advanced analytics, automation and A.I. capabilities. This will enhance various business functions, such as HR, payroll, and customer care, improving the customer journey experience and providing greater insights.

The same mix of technology provides Mondelez International with a global 360-degree oversight of their entire operations. With advanced analytics and monitoring capabilities, Orange can identify possible points of disruption and deploy proactive maintenance prior to issues arising. In addition, a self-care portal provides visibility and a high-quality seamless communications experience.

From top to bottom, Mondelez International is undergoing a massive digital transformation of their people, processes and systems to create a modern, global business, said Rob Willcock, senior vice president, Americas for Orange Business Services. Only Orange Business Services has the worldwide scale, in-house expertise with Microsoft Teams, and end-to-end services to make it happen for them. At the same time, Mondelez International is playing a central role with us, co-innovating many of the new services that will be introduced. We are helping the transformation of a new Mondelez International thats ready to reshape the snack industry."
Prasuma, Indias favourite Momo brand, has announced the promotion of Lisa Suwal from its Chief Growth Officer to its Chief Executive Officer. At the helm of the company, Lisa will now oversee the fast-growing brands top-line, bottom-line, profitability, and overall management. The daughter of Prasumas founder Mehendra Suwal, Lisa will also ensure that the companys mission and vision are thoroughly implemented across its operations.

Having been the driving force behind the launch and resounding success of Prasuma Momos, Lisa brings a wealth of FMCG, Ecommerce, dynamic brand building experience, strategic insight, and passion to the CEO position. With strong people management skills and the ability to bring ideas to fruition, Lisa has been viewed as the right person to take the brands legacy forward.

On the development, Mahendra Suwal, Founder  Prasuma, said, I am thrilled and proud to pass on the mantle of my beloved business to the most capable person I could think of. Coincidentally, she happens to be my daughter. The time is right, the business is on the verge of being ripe. I wish her nothing but the best and am sure that with her leadership this business will reach heights that it has never seen before."

Lisa Suwal, said, Creating categories and launching 1st to market innovations have been the hallmark of our business. We were (Prasuma) the first ones to bring Fresh and Chilled Deli Meats to India and I am proud to have been able to contribute to that tradition with the launch of Indias first and most loved Frozen Momo Brand. I am grateful for this opportunity as I know how valuable it is given the value that I know we will create. I look forward to the journey ahead, more mouthwatering, high quality products, more consumers, and definitely more consumer love. This is just the beginning!

Launched in 2019, Prasuma Momos has an omnichannel model with distribution across 70 cities. In 2021, on the back of growing consumer demand, the brands distribution footprint almost tripled, increasing from 40 to 70 cities. Its retail presence went from 1000 to 5000 stores over the past year. Prasuma is available in all top modern retail chains as well as e-commerce platforms.

This year, her first as CEO, Lisa looks forward to driving sales and distribution for the brand by onboarding more retail channels and partners while also unlocking strategic product diversification. In the next 5 years, she envisions Prasuma becoming a global food brand, bringing joy and nourishment to families, enriching lives with extraordinary food.
British TV regulator Ofcom may revoke the broadcast license of RT (Russias official broadcaster Russia Today) in the UK in view of its coverage related to the Russia-Ukraine standoff. The culture secretary has been requested to evaluate the activities of the channel.

In light of Russia's foray into Ukraine, concerns about RT's support for and by the Putin administration have grown.

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer urged Ofcom to intervene at the prime minister's questions. Russia Today is his [Putins] personal propaganda tool. I can see no reason why it should be allowed to continue broadcasting in this country.

Nadine Dorres, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom previously urged the media regulator to reconsider RT's license, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. We live in a democracyand we live in a country that believes in free speech and I think its important we should leave it up to Ofcom rather than politicians to decide which media organisations to back, thats what Russia does.

Johnson chastised Labour MPs for "validating" RT by appearing on the programme in 2017, while he was the foreign secretary.

There have also been requests for Alex Salmond, the leader of the Alba Party, to have his RT show, The Alex Salmond Show, taken off the air because of allegations that the Scottish party is disseminating Russian disinformation.

Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive of Ofcom, said in a letter to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:

"Thank you for your letter of today about the crisis in Ukraine. I agree with you that a free media is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. Ofcom takes very seriously our role as the independent communications regulator, charged with upholding freedom of speech while ensuring that TV and radio audiences are protected from harm."

"Recognising the serious nature of the crisis in Ukraine, we have been keeping the situation under close review and have already stepped up our oversight of coverage of these events by broadcasters in the UK. We are expediting complaints in this area as a matter of urgency and we will not hesitate to take swift action where necessary. I am confident that we have the full range of enforcement tools at our disposal and our track record shows that when we find a breach of our rules, we can and do take action. As always we will be fully transparent about any investigations we open, and the outcomes of those," Melanie added.

"Ofcoms Broadcasting Code, which reflects the rules established by Parliament in the Communications Act, requires all licensees to ensure that news  in whatever form  is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. It is acceptable for broadcasters to present issues from a particular perspective provided that alternative views and opinions are also represented. It would not be acceptable for any of our licensees to broadcast one-sided propaganda. Noting the Parliamentary interest in these issues, I am copying this letter to Julian Knight MP and the Rt Hon. the Baroness Stowell of Beeston, as chairs of the Commons and Lords Select Committees respectively," wrote Melanie.
Through the vast clutter of music available online, how does one discover quality music? Songdew Network brings a simple solution. The first ever music review show, a new series called Replay has been launched by Songdew Network. Over a number of episodes, Replay features seasoned artists from the music industry who review their favourite music of Indie artists in India.

A series made for music artists and enthusiasts alike, one can discover quality music and playlists through reliable recommendations by industry experts, which go beyond the algorithms of online platforms. Replay is set to feature an exciting lineup of seasoned panelists, such as Shitalchandra Kulkarni, a multi-award winning musician such as InterContinental Music Awards, Indian Recording Arts Academy, etc.; Christopher Powell, a leading percussionist and ex-Euphoria; The Tapi Project, an internationally recognised Contemporary Indian Folk Band and the critically acclaimed Harpreet, known for his work on humanist poetry; with several more acclaimed panelists to come!

In a short span of time, Songdew has become a leading platform for Indie musicians, providing them the opportunity to amplify their music, says Sunil Khanna, Founder and CEO of Songdew TV. The growing popularity and reach is testimonial to the outstanding content being created by indie musicians. Launch of Replay fills a long standing need of music lovers to have credible review of some of the best music being released.

Songdew Network has visibility on mass media channels through SongdewTV with a reach of 200 million + households, available on DishTV, Videocon D2H, JioTV, DEN, and several more and partners with 150+ streaming and download services across 240 countries, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Gaana, etc. Additionally Songdew Network offers promotions through partnerships with several national Radio Stations, Publishers and Brands. Replay, a one of a kind platform, further helps accelerate the career of an Indie music artists through discovery and sharing of the artists music, with an exciting chance to be reviewed by reputed names in the Industry.

Replay is a fantastic opportunity for artists to showcase their work, and for all to discover new music while also learning about the technicalities of music from different perspectives, says Chris Powell, leading percussionist and ex-Euphoria. I am excited about a platform as unique as Replay, cant wait to see what kind of quality music I find!



Replay is set to air on Youtube and Songdew TV on 24th February, 2022. For more details, visit our website www.songdew.com and follow @songdewnetwork on .
The Coca-Cola System in India* released its Sustainability Update for the year 2020-21, in line with its principle of building sustainable communities as foundations for sustainable businesses. The update outlines the Companys (Company refers to the Coca-Cola System in India) endeavor to Refresh the World and Make a Difference. In conjunction with a strong emphasis on Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Indias journey of economic selfreliance, it focusses on identifying issues that matter most to the ecosystem and facilitate creation of sustainable solutions in line with its ESG priorities. This report further delves into the same and reflects how the Company remained steadfast while responding to the evolving situations during the pandemic.



Commenting on the release of the Sustainability Update 2020-21, Ms. Devyani Rajya Laxmi Rana, Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability said, Our environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals are embedded in how we operate as a businessthey are a part of our very foundation. While keeping health, safety and wellbeing of our people, communities, and planet as a top priority, we remain resolute in our commitment towards creating a better shared future. This report, transparently, sheds light on consistent efforts undertaken by the Coca-Cola system in India along with its partners in furthering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We feel humbled to share our sustainability journey comprising of initiatives including World Without Waste, Water Leadership, Fruit Circular Economy and others, in line with our ESG priorities and imperatives.



The annual Sustainability Update, which is being published for a decade now, attempts to highlight these initiatives in a transparent manner.


After completing a successful year since its launch in October 2020, Womens Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industrys Public Relations and Digital Marketing Council, today announced the names of the council members for 2022, along with a leadership change.

The council set up with the objective to enable, equip and empower women to rise to leadership levels within the communications industry, will continue to be led by Kavita Lakhani, National President, WICCI Public Relations & Digital Marketing Council, and Director Operations, Weber Shandwick. Tarunjeet Rattan, Founder, Nucleus PR, has this year stepped in to support as Vice President of the council. They will be joined by a diverse set of highly respected, senior women leaders who come with rich experience in communications, and most importantly an unmatchable passion for creating an inclusive culture.

Here are some highlights from 2021:

The council launched the I Lead survey in early 2021, to understand the experiences and challenges for women to reach leadership positions in the field of communications

The council launched the HearHer Advisory Service, an online counselling initiative to support the professional development needs of women in communications

Taking a cue from the findings of this survey, that re-emphasized the need for mentorship and upskilling opportunities, the council launched I Lead Mentoring Program 2021, created exclusively for mid and senior level women professionals, with the objective to bridge mentoring gaps in the communications industry

It also conducted several masterclasses and webinars through the year to upskill professionals. Topics included the Use of digital media for personal brand building and Elevating your story

Commenting on the priorities for 2022, Kavita Lakhani, National President, WICCI Public Relations & Digital Marketing Council, and Director Operations, Weber Shandwick, said, Through this year, the council will lay greater focus on rolling out initiatives that equip  viz. mentoring and a series of upskilling masterclasses. We will also invite some of the inspiring leaders in the industry to mentor and share best practices for balanced leadership. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the council members for their meaningful contribution and making 2021 a truly impactful year. I am surely sad to see some council members move on, but at the same time I am excited to welcome some new members who have joined us this year as we work towards creating an inclusive environment for women in the communications industry.

The Council has become a strong force to reckon with in the industry. It is focused on not just throwing a spotlight on some very pertinent challenges but is also solution oriented. This year, we will add some experienced and some fresh voices, energies, and ideas from the Council to the conversation. Year 1 has been fantastic. I cant wait to see the energy Year 2 brings to the discussion. added Tarunjeet Rattan, Vice President, WICCI Public Relations & Digital Marketing Council and Managing Partner  Nucleus PR.

The full list of Council Members in 2022 in alphabetical order:


Singapore Polytechnic (SP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jamco Aero Design & Engineering (JADE), a joint venture between Jamco Corporation and SIA Engineering, to jointly establish the first fully certified flammability test aviation laboratory and data centre in the Asia Pacific region.

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Under the terms of the five-year partnership, SP and JADE will co-build the lab within the grounds of the polytechnic in Singapore, in SPs Aero Hub. They will equip the laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, enabling both partners to provide testing and training capabilities that are aligned to industry benchmarks in areas such as certified training and accreditation, as well as to front commercial agreements with external industries and parties for certified test services. Construction of the laboratory is expected to be completed in 2025, when it will add new capability to and strengthen Singapores position as an aviation hub in the region.

The facility will be used for the testing and certification of materials used in aircraft cabin components, such as sidewalls, lighting and ceiling panels, door linings, seat belts, seat cushions and signage, prior to being fitted in an aircraft. By carrying out flammability tests in Singapore, JADEs MRO operations  and airline clients  can enjoy savings from lower logistical costs and shorter turnaround times, as well as greater visibility in the progress of their jobs.

JADE says that adding this new testing capability will also make the testing process easier to understand for aviation stakeholders, and support innovators by enabling them to evaluate their designs in terms of passenger safety and comfort. The partners believe these benefits will catalyse the expansion of niches of excellence in manufacturing, cabin interior design and modification, as well as aircraft conversion in Singapore.

JADE will work with SP to offer relevant industry training, accreditation, final-year project collaborations and internships to SP students, in order to build up talent pipelines, foster talent development, as well as upskill the workforce in relevant technical skills through co-development and co-teaching of continuing education and training (CET) courses leading to flammability certification.

Dr Desmond Ong, general manager of JADE said, We are glad to be partnering Singapore Polytechnic to value add to the regional aviation industry and make this niche flammability testing knowledge more accessible to the students. We hope that building the flammability laboratory as a state-of-the-art training and test centre will provide the students with a deeper insight into the aviation world. Establishing it as a database centre to support R&D developments will further strengthen the position of Singapore as a global aviation hub.

Mr Soh Wai Wah, principal & CEO of SP added, Our goal for this exciting partnership is to establish Singapore as a leading regional aerospace training and test centre, as well as a key industrial solution partner with local and regional aviation companies. Through this collaboration, we will strengthen our students skillsets and update our curriculum so that we can continue to provide the country with a robust pipeline of talented workforce for the regional aviation sector, and promote the growth of new niches of excellence in aviation-related business services.
People drag their suitcases as they arrive in a bus station to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

KYIV, Ukraine  Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukraines government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.

Military forces battling Russians on multiple fronts suffered dozens of casualties.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored global condemnation and cascading new sanctions as he unleashed the largest ground war in Europe since World War II and chillingly referred to his countrys nuclear arsenal. He threatened any country trying to interfere with consequences you have never seen, as a once-hoped for diplomatic resolution now appeared impossible.

Ukrainian forces sought to fend off a Russian barrage of land- and sea-based missiles, an attack that one senior U.S. defense official described as the first salvo in a likely multi-phase invasion aimed at seizing key population centers, decapitating Ukraines government and installing a new one. Already, Ukraine officials said they had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the worlds worst nuclear disaster.

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Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted. His grasp on power increasingly tenuous, he pleaded Thursday for even more severe sanctions than the ones imposed by Western allies and ordered a full military mobilization that would last 90 days.

Zelenskyy said in a video address that 137 heroes, including 10 military officers, had been killed and 316 people wounded. The dead included all border guards on the Zmiinyi Island in the Odesa region, which was taken over by Russians.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia, saying Putin chose this war and that his country would bear the consequences. Other nations also announced sanctions, or said they would shortly.

[ Biden hits Russia with new sanctions after invasion of Ukraine, says Putin chose war ]

Fearing a Russian attack on the capital city, thousands of people went deep underground as night fell, jamming Kyivs subway stations.

At times it felt almost cheerful. Families ate dinner. Children played. Adults chatted. People brought sleeping bags or dogs or crossword puzzles  anything to alleviate the waiting and the long night ahead.

But the exhaustion was clear on many faces. And the worries.

Nobody believed that this war would start and that they would take Kyiv directly, said Anton Mironov, waiting out the night in one of the old Soviet metro stations. I feel mostly fatigue. None of it feels real.

The invasion began early Thursday with a series of missile strikes, many on key government and military installations, quickly followed by a three-pronged ground assault. Ukrainian and U.S. officials said Russian forces were attacking from the east toward Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city; from the southern region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014; and from Belarus to the north.

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People gather in a shelter during Russian shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Zelenskyy, who had earlier cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law, appealed to global leaders, saying that if you dont help us now, if you fail to offer a powerful assistance to Ukraine, tomorrow the war will knock on your door.

Though Biden said he had no plans to speak with Putin, the Russian leader did have what the Kremlin described as a serious and frank exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Both sides claimed to have destroyed some of the others aircraft and military hardware, though little of that could be confirmed.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-unused Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce battle, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said it was told by Ukraine of the takeover, adding that there had been no casualties or destruction at the industrial site.

A woman reacts as she waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti / AP)

The 1986 disaster occurred when a nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Kyiv exploded, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe. The damaged reactor was later covered by a protective shell to prevent leaks.

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Alyona Shevtsova, adviser to the commander of Ukraines ground forces, wrote on Facebook that staff members at the Chernobyl plant had been taken hostage. The White House said it was outraged by reports of the hostage-taking.

The chief of the NATO alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said the brutal act of war shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders decrying an attack that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government. The conflict shook global financial markets: Stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Condemnation came not only from the U.S. and Europe, but from South Korea, Australia and beyond  and many governments readied new sanctions. Even friendly leaders like Hungarys Viktor Orban sought to distance themselves from Putin.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he aimed to cut off Russia from the U.K.s financial markets as he announced sanctions, freezing the assets of all large Russian banks and planning to bar Russian companies and the Kremlin from raising money on British markets.

Now we see him for what he is  a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest, Johnson said of Putin.

The U.S. sanctions will target Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, Biden said, but they were designed not to disrupt global energy markets. Russian oil and natural gas exports are vital energy sources for Europe.

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[ In January, Ukrainian Americans expressed support, fear for loved ones overseas ]

Zelenskyy urged the U.S. and West to go further and cut the Russians from the SWIFT system, a key financial network that connects thousands of banks around the world. The White House has been reluctant to immediately cut Russia from SWIFT, worried it could cause enormous economic problems in Europe and elsewhere in the West.

While some nervous Europeans speculated about a possible new world war, the U.S. and its NATO partners have shown no indication they would send troops into Ukraine, fearing a larger conflict. NATO reinforced its members in Eastern Europe as a precaution, and Biden said the U.S. was deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO.

European authorities declared the countrys airspace an active conflict zone.

After weeks of denying plans to invade, Putin launched the operation on a country the size of Texas that has increasingly tilted toward the democratic West and away from Moscows sway. The autocratic leader made clear earlier this week that he sees no reason for Ukraine to exist, raising fears of possible broader conflict in the vast space that the Soviet Union once ruled. Putin denied plans to occupy Ukraine, but his ultimate goals remain hazy.

Ukrainians were urged to shelter in place and not to panic.

Until the very last moment, I didnt believe it would happen. I just pushed away these thoughts, said a terrified Anna Dovnya in Kyiv, watching soldiers and police remove shrapnel from an exploded shell. We have lost all faith.

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With social media amplifying a torrent of military claims and counter-claims, it was difficult to determine exactly what was happening on the ground.

Russia and Ukraine made competing claims about damage they had inflicted. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities and drones. It confirmed the loss of one of its Su-25 attack jets, blaming pilot error, and said an An-26 transport plane had crashed because of technical failure, killing the entire crew. It did not say how many were aboard.

Russia said it was not targeting cities, but journalists saw destruction in many civilian areas.

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Ukraines health minister said 57 Ukrainians were killed in the invasion and 169 more were wounded. It was not clear how many were civilians, although earlier in the day it had said 40 soldiers had died.

Polands military increased its readiness level, and Lithuania and Moldova moved toward doing the same.

Putin justified his actions in an overnight televised address, asserting the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the U.S. predicted he would make as a pretext for invasion. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees, saying the military action was a forced measure.

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Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle.

In a reminder of Russias nuclear power, he warned that no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.

Inside Russia, authorities moved swiftly to crack down on any critical voices. OVD-Info, a group that tracks political arrests, reported 1,620 people in 52 Russian cities had been detained for protesting the invasion, more than half of them in Moscow.

Isachenkov and Litvinova reported from Moscow. Francesca Ebel in Kyiv; Angela Charlton in Paris; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Raf Casert and Lorne Cook in Brussels; Nic Dumitrache in Mariupol, Ukraine, Inna Varennytsia in eastern Ukraine; and Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Nomaan Merchant, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.
Boarded-up windows and doors accent the exterior wall at the old Ames headquarters in Rocky Hill. Plans are being made to develop more than 200 apartments along with retail and commercial projects at the high-visibility site that's been derelict for 20 years. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

A developer is planning more than 200 apartments along with retail and commercial projects at the former Ames headquarters, a high-visibility site in Rocky Hill thats been derelict for 20 years.

Hamden-based Belfonti Companies LLC plans to demolish the 250,000-square-foot office building and replace it with 213 apartments, making it among the largest new residential projects in central Connecticut.

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Rocky Hill officials have worked for years to find a new use for the abandoned 12-acre Ames site. After prolonged talks with the developer, the planning and zoning commission this month approved a special permit.

Mayor Lisa Marotta said this week that Belfontis plan will help all of the surrounding area as well.

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This site is right across from our town Green, our Memorial Day parade goes right by it. Now weve gotten to the point where we wont have to look any longer at the awful blighted building weve been staring at for 20 years, Marotta said.

The former Ames headquarters in Rocky Hill. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

Gov. Ned Lamonts administration last year put up $500,000 toward environmental cleanup, and the state department of economic and community development may provide another $500,000 to $1 million.

Belfonti hasnt specified a start date or a completion target, but told planners it intends to put up 93 one-bedroom apartments and 120 two-bedroom units. They would be leased at market rate except for 10 percent of the project, which will be designated for workforce rental rates.

The project will include about 11,000 square feet of commercial office space and 10,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space.

This is a mixed-use development that ticks off all the boxes  we need housing, we need retail space, Marotta said. This lot is the last large property that can be redeveloped. Its going to be done with a lot of green space, a beautiful pocket park and new sidewalks above and beyond what we could ask for as a municipality.

Weeds highlight parking lot cracks outside the Ames headquarters in Rocky Hill. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

The property is along Route 99 at Route 160, and has been an eyesore in town since Ames shut down its chain of department stores in 2002.

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Marotta said redeveloping it is a key part of a larger five- to 10-year plan to create a village center for Rocky Hill.

Were looking for a place where people can walk, gather or ride bikes at the beginning of our downtown  because we dont have one, she said. The vision is to start creating a space where people pull up to commercial establishments and can walk around.

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Maybe there will be some infill development along the Silas Deane. And our goal this year is to connect to the riverfront. We can start building our sidewalks off this development, she said.

Belfonti has smaller projects underway in Manchester, Groton, Hamden, Middletown, Litchfield, Ellington, Watertown and Guilford, along with other large-scale ones in Miami and Revere, Massachusetts.

Owner Michael Belfonti told planners that the Rocky Hill project will include a pool, clubhouse and public amenity spaces. It will have nine buildings of apartments and five garage buildings, and engineers told the town that the 360 parking spaces will be shielded from public view.

Belfontis consultant team also told the town that the project should benefit stormwater management in the area, since much of the 12 acres is currently paved. That will be sharply reduced in the new plan, according to the developer.

Consultant Mark Forlenza of Brookfield-based Mark Forlenza and Associates said the target market for the new apartments will be young professionals as well as empty-nesters seeking to downsize from suburban houses.
The history of Islam and the West has been one of unwavering antagonism and seismic clashes, often initiated by the followers of Muhammad. By the standards of history, nothing between the two forces is as well documented as this long war. Accordingly, for more than a millennium, both educated and not so educated Europeans knewthe latter perhaps instinctivelythat Islam was a militant creed that for centuries attacked and committed atrocities in their homelands, all in the name of "holy war," or jihad. In the words of Konstantin Mihailovic, a fifteenth-century Serb who was forced to convert to Islam in his youth and made to fight as a slave-soldier for the Turks until he escaped: "the Persians, the Turks, the Tatars, the Berbers, and the Arabs; and the diverse Moors ... [all] conduct themselves according to the accursed Koran, that is, the scripture of Mohammed."

This long-held perspective has been radically twisted in recent times. According to the dominant narrative  as upheld by mainstream media and Hollywood, pundits and politicians, academics, and "experts" of all stripes  Islam was historically progressive and peaceful, whereas premodern Europe was fanatical and predatory. Or, to quote the BBC, "[t]hroughout the Middle Ages, the Muslim world was more advanced and more civilised than Christian Western Europe, which learned a huge amount from its neighbour."

The reason for these topsy-turvy claims is that "who controls the past controls the future," as George Orwell observed in his 1984 (a dystopian novel that has become increasingly applicable to our times). It is, therefore, unsurprising to discover that the greatest apologia for politically active Islamists and their leftist allies  and the first premise for all subsequent apologias for Islam  is purely historical in nature.

Recall, for instance, the most popular and oft-asked question to arise after the September 11, 2001 terror strikes: "Why do they hate us?" Unbeknownst to most, this question presupposed  indeed, was heavily laden with  a historical point of view that had been forged over decades and largely remains unquestioned, even by critics of modern Islam: because Islam was tolerant and advanced in the past, this entrenched perspective holds, its current problems in the present  authoritarianism, intolerance, violence, radicalization, terrorism, etc.  must be aberrations, products of unfavorable circumstances, politics, economics, "grievances"  anything and everything but Islam itself. Simply put, if they did not "hate us" before  but were rather progressive and tolerant  surely something other than Islam has since "gone wrong."

From here one can see the importance of safeguarding the current narrative of a historically "advanced" and "tolerant" Islam vis-a-vis a historically "backward" and "intolerant" Europe.

I myself experienced firsthand just how important controlling this narrative is for political Islamists. After the U.S. Army War College invited me to lecture on my last history book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its leftist allies launched an "unprecedented" attack on me and the War College. They issued  on two separate occasions  press releases and hysterical petitions (presenting the War College  even me, an ethnic Egyptian  as "white supremacists") and made several direct calls to and met with the heads of the War College  all in an effort to get my talk canceled.

In the end, they failed, in part because the National Association of Scholars sent a petition letter to then-president Donald Trump signed by over five thousand people, mostly university-affiliated academics. Ten congressmen also came to my support. More to the point, and as retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives Allen West, who also came to my support, explained, "not one sentence of his recent literary project [Sword and Scimitar] was mentioned by these Islamo-fascists [as being wrong]."

When CAIR and "woke" allies realized that their attempts at academic censorship had failed and that I would speak anyway, they urged the War College, and it agreed, to allow another historian to present a "counterview" in response to my lecture. This was John Voll, professor emeritus of Islamic history at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. (See here for how this renowned apologist misrepresented and whitewashed Islam's history of terror vis-a-vis the West.) Unfortunately, and despite the fact that the War College videotaped my talk (objectively summarized by a reporter here) and informed me that it would be, like all of their talks, posted online, it never was published.

At any rate, why did CAIR and its allies launch such an attack on me in the first place, especially considering that they did not respond similarly to my other books, which I also lectured about in other prestigious venues  books that dealt with current and hot topics (e.g., Crucified Again: Exposing Islam's New War on Christians and The Al Qaeda Reader)? Why instead did they go after a book that revolved around, of all things, "ancient history"  and with such vehemence, at one point desperately insisting that if I am allowed to lecture on it at the War College, American servicemen would get so riled as to start massacring Muslims on sight?

Because they too know what is at stake; they too know that "who controls the past"  which they are determined to continue doing  "controls the future." So long as the people of the West accept as a first premise that Islam was historically and for centuries an advanced, enlightened, and tolerant force  especially in comparison to Europe  so long must all the violent and terrible things currently being committed in its name be chalked up to other factors  territorial disputes, grievances, economics, education, politics, and/or "lack of jobs" to quote the Obama White House  never Islam itself.

Such logic is admittedly sound  but only as long as its first premise remains unchallenged. For those, however, who become acquainted with Islam's true history vis-a-vis the West, there is no "why do they hate us?" or "what went wrong?" to explain away. Rather, the obvious becomes painfully clear: the Muslim world's present is, sadly, an extension  often a mirror representation  of its past.

Raymond Ibrahim, author of Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

Image via Pexels.
I have contended frequently that our jury system is woefully defective because unscrupulous prosecutors and personal injury lawyers can easily find uninformed and easily manipulated rubber stamps as opposed to the educated and responsible citizens envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Examples include, in my opinion, the prosecution of Kyle Rittenhouse despite the prosecution's own stipulation that the three men he shot were not only the initial aggressors but pursued Rittenhouse when he tried to retreat from the conflicts they started. Another was Scott Harshbarger (D-Mass.)'s prosecution and conviction of the Amiraults "to protect the children." The same goes for the subsequently vacated conviction of police officer Grant Snowden for a junk child abuse case in which Janet Reno (D-Fla.) played a prominent role.

In this case, twelve apparently "woke" Minnesotans who were too stupid to get out of jury duty appear to have rubber-stamped a manslaughter verdict against police officer Kimberly Potter, who killed a suspect with her sidearm, which she had mistaken for a Taser. This case was supervised by Louis Farrakhansupporter, 9/11 conspiracy theorist, and Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison (D-Minn.). The fact that Minnesotans elected somebody like this casts serious doubt on the judgment of the entire state's electorate. Judge Chu's own commentary on the sentencing shows, however, that the case should have never been brought in the first place.

Unlawful Homicide Is a Prerequisite for Manslaughter

The usual definition of manslaughter is an unlawful or reckless act that results in an unintentional and also unlawful homicide. Suppose, for example, that somebody follows Shotgun Joe Biden's quack advice to fire a shotgun to scare off a prowler. The shotgun charge, however, strikes and kills either the prowler or a bystander. It is unlawful to use deadly force on a trespasser who does not pose an immediate threat to your safety, so the homicide is, while unintentional, also unlawful. This makes it manslaughter.

Suppose on the other hand that somebody follows President Houseplant's quack advice to shoot an assailant who is unarmed with a knife in the leg. (Who needs stand-up comedians when the Houseplant in Chief of the United States depicts a knife-wielding assailant as unarmed?) The round hits the assailant's femoral artery, and he bleeds to death before anybody can save him. The homicide is again unintentional, but, as you are justified in using deadly force on an aggressor who is close enough to reach you with a lethal contact weapon, it is not unlawful.

The same would apply if you had no weapon but struck your assailant with your fist, an action that the law's hypothetical reasonable person would not expect to cause death unless you are a professional boxer or martial artist. Your assailant, however, falls in such a way as to strike his head against a hard object, or the pavement, and dies as a result. The homicide is again unintentional but also lawful because you were amply justified in using your hands to defend yourself against his knife. The same might even apply if he did not have a knife because you are justified in meeting a fist with a fist  i.e., your blow was lawful even if it caused an unintentional fatality. An unlawful, or at least grossly negligent act is a prerequisite for manslaughter.

A conviction for first-degree manslaughter in Minnesota requires either intent (but short of the intent required for murder) or commission of an unlawful assault that results in death. Second-degree manslaughter requires "culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another." Drawing a firearm instead of a Taser would seem to qualify if its sole purpose was to subdue a suspect who is resisting arrest or seeking to escape but otherwise posed no serious threat to police or others.

Daunte Wright was, however, as stipulated by Judge Chu, doing a lot more than just resisting arrest. "And," Chu said, "Potter was trying to protect another officer who could have been dragged and seriously injured if Wright drove away." State laws say almost universally, if not universally, that you can indeed use deadly force to protect yourself or another person from an immediate and unlawful threat of death or serious injury. The judge stated that Daunte Wright was in fact threatening another person with unlawful death or serious injury when he was shot, which ought to make the homicide lawful even though unintentional (similar to shooting the knife-unarmed assailant in his leg and hitting his femoral artery). While I cannot give legal advice, I would certainly encourage Potter's attorneys to appeal the verdict on this basis, especially if the prosecutors do not dispute the judge's statement.

This is by no means an argument that what happened was OK, or should ever be allowed to happen again. This was not the first time that a police officer reached for and used the wrong weapon, but it should be the last. Police departments should ensure that officers do not carry nonlethal weapons next to lethal ones because an officer does not have time to pick and choose between them in a split-second confrontation such as the one that resulted in Wright's death. It means only that Potter had to take immediate action to protect another officer from what she believed reasonably to be an unlawful threat of death or serious injury, and the judge stipulated that this was in fact the situation. If the prosecutors do not contest this statement, then the verdict should indeed be vacated.

Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. The author is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter.

Image via Flickr, public domain.
On February 14, 2022, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett arrived in Bahrain, a small island country in the Persian Gulf with a population of 1.5 million, which has had a very small Jewish population for more than a century. It was the first trip by an Israeli prime minister to this gulf state. Bennett was greeted at the airport by the King and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa and a guard of honor playing Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem which celebrates a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.

The Bennett visit was the outcome of the signing of the Abraham Accords on September 15, 2020, brokered by President Donald Trump, normalizing relations between Israel and two Arab countries, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, a historic achievement for mutual recognition and increased cooperation between the three countries on trade and investment, and on defense against aggression by Iran.

The visit was a convincing refutation of a new report, Israels Apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime against Humanity, issued by Amnesty International. It concludes that Israeli laws, policies, and institutional practices regarding Palestinians amount to a regime of oppression and domination defined as apartheid under international law. In the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, apartheid is defined as inhumane acts by one racial group over any other racial group with the intention of maintaining its regime.

The biased Amnesty Report has been dismissed by objective commentators as a libel, smear, and anti-Semitic. it ignores the reality that 20 percent of Israels population are Arabs, who have equality under the law and are members of the Knesset and Supreme Court. Most Palestinians are under the governance of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank or Hamas in Gaza. In a dramatic announcement, Mansour Abbas, Israeli Arab, leader of the United Arab party that controls four seats in the Knesset and supports the present Israeli coalition, declared he would not use the word apartheid to describe relations between Jews and Arabs in Israel.

The Bennett visit exemplifies the reality that a common patriarch is shared by the Middle East contending parties, Abraham whose descendants share the origins of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The children of Israel descend from Abrahams son Isaac and his wife Sarah, and Arabs stem from Ishmael, half-brother of Isaac, and his handmaiden Hagar.

At this moment of changing priorities in the Middle East, it is time for reconciliation again for cousins if not brothers, to advance a culture of peace among the religions based on mutual understanding and coexistence. Three factors are important; mutual recognition; the need for economic development; and opposition of all parties to Iranian threats. Occasional meetings and visits have taken place. The Oslo Peace Accords were in 1993. Prime ministers, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres went to Muscat, then foreign minister Tzipi Livni to Oman in 2008, and Bibi Netanyahu visited Sultan Qaboos in Oman in 2018.

Official ostracism was declining, and though full peace and normalization are not in sight, the ice had been broken. For some years, Israel took part in trade missions in the capitals of some Arab countries.

A new chapter, backed and sponsored by the U.S., began on August 23, 2020, when a joint statement normalizing relations was signed by the State of Israel and the United Arab Emirates at the White House. This was the first public normalization of relations between an Arab county and Israel since that with Jordan in 1994. It was followed on September 15, 2020, by the normalization of ties between Israel and Bahrain.

The countries recognized each states sovereignty and agreed to establish embassies. Conscious of the need to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Israel agreed to suspend plans to annex parts of the West Bank, though Gulf monarchies presently pay little more than lip service to the Palestinian cause.

Netanyahu had already met in February 2020 with Sudans head of state Abdel Fattah al-burhan in Uganda. On October 23, 2020. Sudan, a country that hosted Osama bin Laden, agreed to normalize relations with Israel.

The U.S. removed Sudan from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism. The link with Israel has led to cooperation in agriculture, technology, and migration. Then on December 10, 2020, Morocco agreed to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel while the U.S. agreed to recognize Moroccos claim to rule over territory in the western Sahara.

The misguided Amnesty International should note some of the changing events. Israel opened an embassy in Abu Dhabi, and Israeli president Isaac Herzog traveled to the UAE. The first official flight took place between Israel and UAE. In April 2021, the UAE air force flew alongside Israeli fighter jets in training exercises in Greece, practicing various tactics. The chief of the UAE air force attended Israels Blue Flag aerial exercise on October 21, 2021. Similarly, maritime collaboration between Israel, Arab, and U.S. forces is taking place. An Israeli military officer will be posted in Bahrain where there are already Israeli investments in a number of sectors. Biweekly flights between the two countries are beginning.

In November 2021, Israel, UAE, and Bahrain together with U.S. naval forces and a coalition of others, took part in a five-day naval exercise with the object to enhance collaboration to safeguard freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade and to meet the aggression of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

A growing menace in the Persian Gulf has been the use by Iran of anti-ship mines, of which it has a store of 6,000, which hinder oil tankers from using Arab ports. The U.S. Navy minesweeper force is limited and, consequently, Israel state-owned defense contractors are designing navy vessels capable of mine detection and anti-submarine warfare. After events in Afghanistan, Israel-Arab defense cooperation with the U.S. is crucial to deter Iranian aggression.

Israel began importing aluminum from Bahrain and the two countries are signing an agreement that allows the transshipment of goods arriving by sea in Bahrain on to planes going to Israel. A network of trade pacts is developing. The UAE and Israel have exchanged official ambassadors, and foreign minister Yair Lapid has visited UAE as have many Israeli tourists. Commercially, the UAE has invested in Israels offshore natural gas extraction.

A major UAE sovereign wealth fund has invested about $100 million in venture capital into Israels technology sector. Trade in 2022 is expected to reach $2 billion, up from $250 million annually before normalization.

Politically, it is clear that for Arab countries the fear of Iran is more consequential than resolution of the Palestinian problem. What is needed are useful actions to end Palestinian obduracy.

It was a welcome sign that in September 2020, the Arab League did not condemn the UAE decision to normalize ties with Israel. But the League needs to go beyond beneficial sentiments to denounce boycotts of Israel and advocate normalization. It must overcome the negativism of Hamas and the inept Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, now 85, in the 17th year of his four-year term as president. Even the hopelessly biased Amnesty International might agree.

Image: White House
It finally happened, and everyone should have seen it coming: Russian bombs are now raining down on Kiev  and Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Mariupol  making Ukraine a full-blown war zone with reports of civilian and military casualties piling up.

Long lines of cars are streaming out of the country. Russian troops are pouring in from multiple directions. Ukrainians with kids are hiding in basements. Missiles are raining down. Back in Moscow, long lines are streaming at banks as desperate locals seek to get their money out before it's devalued to nothing, frozen in sanctions, or otherwise expropriated. Cyber-attacks are taking down Ukrainian government websites. Attacks on the electrical grid are expected. It's all-out warfare as Russia's Vladimir Putin seeks to conquer and annex the country, which he sees as entirely Russian, the righting of a wrong, as well as the command of geography. It's a partial truth that has no consent from the westward-leaning Ukrainians.

The Ukrainian president's sad realization of what was happening after upbraiding the West for its panicked warnings is pathetic. He's now begging for arms. He's begging for help from the United Nations. He's calling the reserves (he needs to be calling the regulars at this point). He ought to have been prepared to play dirty with Russia  counter-cyber-attacks, terror attacks inside Russia, illegal alien warfare, and other poor man's war tactics  because he's fighting an invading nuclear Russia that is playing for keeps. And what's really bad  as the West hand-wrings and upbraids Russia  is that Ukraine is fighting this alone.

This tweet by Katya Yushchenko, the wife of a former Ukraine president who had been poisoned earlier, likely by Russia-linked interests, tells us the root of the tragedy:

We knew this would happen. That is why Ukraine and Georgia pleaded for NATO membership in 2008. The US supported us, but Russia lobbied hard against it and Germany vetoed it. If the answer had been yes, none of this would be happening.  Kateryna Yushchenko (@KatyaYushchenko) February 24, 2022

They begged and couldn't get in.

Why the heck wasn't Ukraine made a member of NATO if protecting Ukraine was as important to the West as it now claims? Without that membership, Ukraine was a sitting duck. Surely, some ace strategist at the NSC should have noticed this. With enfeebled Joe Biden in power and his wokester military leadership demonstrating their chops for war in the disastrous Afghanistan pullout (which made the USSR's 1989 Afghanistan pullout look good in comparison), Putin knew that the window of opportunity was right now.

The U.S. claimed that it supported the membership, dating from 2008, but Germany, a country that doesn't live up to its promised military spending on NATO, reportedly was the power that vetoed it. U.S. support was lip service, though, since the U.S. didn't do anything other than talk about it. Deadbeat Germany ought to have been easy to muscle into changing its stance, given that it wasn't pulling its NATO weight, but Democrats like Joe Biden and Barack Obama were too busy gushing their admiration for socialistic German chancellor Angela Merkel and waving through the NordStream 2 pipeline from Russia so that Germany could scrap its nuclear plants; put in inefficient, unsustainable green energy; and still get real energy from Russia on the side.

Worse still, this unresolved conflict on NATO membership left Ukraine hanging. Vladimir Putin's original demand was for the West and Ukraine to guarantee no NATO membership. That would have made Ukraine neutral, like Austria or Finland, which is a compromise, an imperfect solution, but a workable arrangement if history is any indicator. Austria and Finland have been pretty well placed for the region in keeping the peace with paranoid Russia, and there have been no problems. If NATO couldn't agree to make Ukraine a member, it ought to have gone the neutrality route to keep Putin from the door.

As Daniel Davis wrote two days ago in 1945:

Ignore these realities by stubbornly clinging to the fiction NATOs door remains open to Kyiv, and the U.S. will likely reap rotten fruit: potentially tens of thousands of Ukrainian people dying in an avoidable war, NATO security damaged  and regardless of which choice NATO makes, Ukraine will remain outside of NATO. The West at large is trying every diplomatic way imaginable to avoid compromising on any of its baseline positions and refusing to grant Putin any of his key demands (which are no NATO membership for Ukraine, a return to 1997 security lines, and no intermediate- or short-range missiles near Russian borders). NATO prefers to resolve the crisis in a way that results in Putin standing down his military buildup, preserves the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and keeps the door open to future NATO aspirants.

Now the results speak for themselves.

The West is talking about the whole thing as if it's an attack on NATO, but acting like this is only Ukraine's problem, not their own. Putin has made threatening noises to Poland and the Baltics. Finland has signaled that it now wants to apply for NATO membership. It doesn't seem as though it's all going to end with Kiev. And Putin was very, very specific about what would happen to the West if it tried to stop Russia from taking Ukraine: "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history." There may be more to this than just Ukraine. High oil prices for America and electrical power grid attacks may be in the works for us. And it may well be that Putin is talking nukes.

What was at the root of Germany's opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine?

That Ukraine was just too corrupt to be allowed into the alliance.

Yes, the place was corrupt. In 2021, it ranked a lowly 122 out of 180 countries evaluated by Transparency International in its annual Corruption Perceptions Index.

Transparency International added this for perspective:

The African state of Eswatini (Swaziland) is next to Ukraine, also having scored 32 points [out of 100]. Zambia, Nepal, Egypt, the Philippines, and Algeria are one point ahead  all with 33 points each.

Germany said Ukraine was too corrupt to be in NATO.

But it takes two to tango on corruption. Did it help that Germany's opposition was accompanied by the odd fact that former chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder was the power behind the NordStream 2 pipeline? The guy was a leftist, not an oilman, yet somehow he got that well-paid job from the Russians.

It wasn't just Schroeder who was on the other side of the Ukraine corruption equation. There also was Joe Biden  and, more specifically, Hunter Biden.

Via Instapundit, Austin Bay of StrategyPage has some cogent observations about what Hunter Biden's seat on the Burisma board meant for Ukraine, which desperately needed that seat at NATO:

The Ukrainian government contends the Russian-backed war in its Donbas region prevents it from effectively pursuing economic and political reform. The war slows reform, but since 2015 many Western creditors disagree argue Ukraine hasn't treated corruption as the grave security vulnerability it is. Why? Fair question. U.S. government and media preach reform  but there is increasing evidence that U.S. leaders and institutions don't practice what they preach. Earlier this month John Solomon, reporting in "Just The News," analyzed State Department emails obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request. One email, written on Nov. 22, 2016, by former U.S. embassy official George Kent, was particularly chilling. It directly contradicted mainstream media reports in 2020 and public testimony by U.S. officials that "insisted Hunter Biden's lucrative job with the allegedly corrupt Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings ... had no impact on U.S. efforts to fight corruption in that country." Solomon reported that in 2016 State Department officials in Ukraine told Washington "that Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine 'undercut' U.S. efforts to fight corruption in the former Soviet republic." Kent included this guidance: "The real issue to my mind was that someone in Washington needed to engage VP Biden quietly and say that his son Hunter's presence on the Burisma board undercut the anti-corruption message the VP and we were advancing in Ukraine." Kent added: "Ukrainians heard one message from us and then saw another set of behavior, with the (Biden) family association with a known corrupt figure whose company was known for not playing by the rules in the oil/gas sector." Hunter Biden's blatant corruption and hypocrisy had and still have real world strategic and national security costs. If defending Ukraine is a U.S. security interest, American participation in corruption undermines our security efforts. Hunter Biden was hindering Ukraine's warfighting and corruption-fighting effort.

So Hunter Biden's need to take baksheesh undercut U.S. security interests, left Ukraine a corruption-soaked mess unfit for NATO membership, and opened the gates wide for Russia to move in on Ukraine. Ukraine was too corrupt to be a member of NATO, yet Western interests were knee-deep in perpetrating that corruption and reaping big dollars for themselves.

Way to go, Joe. Biden family corruption was one of many reasons why Ukraine couldn't get into NATO and secure the Article 5 protections it needed to deter Russia. Now it's fighting alone and hoping it can defeat the Russian juggernaut, which is only just beginning. Whether Putin intends to stop just there is anyone's guess. He's not in a friendly mood right now and has the wherewithal to use his oil earnings to wreak untold havoc on the West. Is Hunter enjoying his money now? We know that no prosecutor seems to be able to stop him.

We hope Joe and Hunter are proud of themselves. This is a war they made possible as they helped themselves to the goodies.

Image: Alerta News24 Twitter screen shot.
Imagine waking up each day to a civil war, with the sounds of mortar shells raining down upon your house. All you ask for  along with a million of your neighbors  is the right to self-determination; the right to self-government; and most of all, the right to peace from an unruly neighbor. This is the reality, and the daily experience, of the people who live in Ukraine's Donbas region.

Our media are good at spinning the news. Indeed, we were told that the BLM riots were mostly peaceful, despite videos of murders and burnings, and that honking truckers are violent Nazis who need to be maced, beaten with clubs, and sent to prison for requesting bodily autonomy.

So before we jump to conclusions about what is happening in Donbas, can we at least place the shoe on the other foot? Can we demand answers to hard questions?

The Ukrainian government calls the 2014 uprising "liberation," but the people in Donbas call it a "coup." President Victor Yanukovych was forcibly removed from office after refusing to sign a political association and free trade agreement with the European Union. In response to these riots, the Ukraine parliament called for an early election, and the following day, Yanukovych fled from the capital. In a 328-0 vote (out of 450), the parliament relieved him of his duties.

Is that liberation? Is it a coup?

If a subsection of the American people forcibly removed a sitting U.S. president, then could we imagine a scenario where some states decided to secede? Would they have a moral right to secede? If so, does Donbas? All of us who attended grammar school remember the saying "no taxation without representation." Are the people in Donbas being represented when mortars are landing on their front porch? Is that worth paying taxes for? Is a declaration of autonomy an act of war? Who is the aggressor? Donbas or Kiev? Our answers to these questions must be morally consistent.

We have been told that Putin is orchestrating a massive invasion and that Russia is conducting a false flag operation. All of this might be true. But how do we know?

The problem is that whenever the American people demand proof, they get a messy pile of poor rhetoric, hearsay, and promises. Just recently, an associated press reporter asked Ned Price for hard evidence that Russia is, or was, engaged in a false flag operation. In response, Mr. Price did what poorly educated political hacks tend to do: he stumbled and mumbled, looked perplexed, and ended with the childish and illogical retort  "I'm sorry, you don't like the content ... I'm sorry you are doubting the information that is in the possession of the U.S. government ..."

What content? What information? How can I possibly dislike content I cannot see? Where is the proof?

Some believe that Russia should not be selling arms to Donbas, but is selling arms a crime? Again, we must apply the shoe on the other foot. America is the largest exporter of weapons. We export our weapons to every region of the world, including many areas of conflict. When a Mexican cartel member shoots a journalist, should the exporter be responsible? Should the exporter be sanctioned? If not, then why is it just for us to sanction Russian companies when they sell arms to Donbas?

I'm not defending Putin, nor am I defending totalitarianism. Putin is a corrupt politician, who probably has a hand in a number of extrajudicial killings. But none of the foregoing is evidence of a "false flag operation."

If Russia is guilty of these sweeping allegations, then show us evidence, not rhetoric. And if we are being asked to send our boys to meddle in a civil war 5,000 miles away, then please explain how that conflict is pertinent to American interests. How does that conflict threaten our liberty? Why is a Ukrainian civil war our problem?

The American people deserve more than empty rhetoric.

Image: Vladimir Putin via Flickr, CC BY 3.0.
Hartford HealthCare is seeking to have a federal judge dismiss the landmark antitrust lawsuit filed by Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, arguing that its competitor has chosen not to engage in fair competition despite being the much larger hospital chain.

In its motion to dismiss, its first substantive response to a federal lawsuit alleging it is violating antitrust laws, Hartford HealthCare acknowledges it has hired away doctors from its competitor, a central claim of the lawsuit. But, it claims Saint Francis remedy should be to use its massive financial advantage to keep its physicians, instead of trying to stifle competition.

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Hartford HealthCare and other competing systems in Connecticut have indeed successfully competed to recruit some physicians to their systems who formerly practiced at St. Francis. That leaves St. Francis with a choice. One option is to compete harder to recruit and retain physicians, the motion states.

There is no reason it could not do so, particularly given its massive financial resources  it has higher operating margins than Hartford HealthCare, and is owned by industry giant Trinity Health, a system that includes about 90 other hospitals.

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But rather than compete, Saint Francis chose to file the antitrust lawsuit and not only chill its main competitor but also deny physicians the right to seek better employment, whether it be with Hartford HealthCare or some other hospital, it says.

St. Franciss injuries do not derive from a reduction in competition; they arise from competition itself. The injuries about which St. Francis complains  alleged reduced opportunities for physician referrals to St. Francis  would be the same if St. Francis had lost those physicians to any other hospital in the area, such as Yale New Haven Hospital, Manchester Memorial Hospital, Bristol Hospital, or UConn, the motion states.

We are aware Hartford Healthcare has filed a response to our complaint, said Kaitlin Rocheleau, Saint Francis Hospitals spokesperson. We strongly disagree with Hartford HealthCares position and remain committed to protecting our patients, physicians and the community. Our ultimate goal remains that the residents of the Greater Hartford area have access to health care that is high in quality with lower costs.

Hartford HealthCare spokesperson Tina Varona released a statement as well.

St. Francis, which is one of almost 90 hospitals across the nation run by Michigan-based Trinity Health, is bringing this suit not because of a reduction in competition, but because of competition itself  the kind of competition and innovation that benefits patients and that antitrust laws are designed to protect, Varona said. Further, St. Francis is attempting to interfere with where physicians may choose to do their work. St. Franciss suit has no merit and distorts the many ways Hartford HealthCare serves the community.

The motion was filed late Wednesday night in U.S. District Court. It is a routine legal maneuver by a defendant in a lawsuit. Saint Francis will have 21 days to respond to the motion to dismiss, and then Hartford HealthCare will have a chance to file a rebuttal claim.

The case has been assigned to Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello, who could decide to hold a court hearing on the motion or rule on the legal arguments from both sides. Defendants typically have a high bar to prove that a case should be dismissed with no evidence being collected.

The 75-page lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in New Haven in January alleges a campaign of exclusion, acquisition and intimidation and claims that Hartford HealthCare executives have stated in meetings that their plan was to crush or bury Saint Francis.

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The lawsuit claims that Hartford HealthCare, as it has acquired physician practices over the last four years, has threatened and intimidated physicians who dont comply with its dictates.

The lawsuit sheds light on many issues that normally remain behind closed doors but could be aired in a courtroom as the two giants fight a legal battle that could affect the delivery of health care in the Hartford region for years to come.

Saint Francis is seeking financial damages, a court order to divest any physician practices that Hartford HealthCare has purchased since 2020 and a permanent injunction prohibiting what it describes as anticompetitive conduct.

Hartford HealthCare officials have said publicly only that they would fight the lawsuit and that it was without merit.

Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. >

The lawsuit names 21 physicians whose practices were acquired by Hartford HealthCare over the last four years and nine others who became exclusively affiliated with Hartford HealthCares network, known as Integrated Care Partners, or ICP.

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Among them is Ulysses Wu, an infectious disease specialist who has spoken to media including CT Mirror about the COVID pandemic. Saint Francis also lost Muzibul Chowdhury, a cardiologist, to Hartford HealthCare, the lawsuit states.

Dr. Chowdhury admitted the most cardiology cases at Saint Francis prior to his acquisition, the lawsuit states. Many of these losses are especially harmful to Saint Francis, and to competition, disproportionate to the numbers of physicians lost.

Hartford HealthCares acquisition of the physician practices of cardiologists is especially harmful to Saint Francis and Hartford HealthCares other hospital competitors. That is because cardiac and cardiac surgery cases are among the most profitable cases for hospitals, and therefore the loss of such cases is especially harmful.

The motion to dismiss also argues that Saint Francis has failed to plead sufficient facts to sustain its allegations that it was foreclosed from a relevant market, or that Hartford HealthCares other alleged conduct constitutes an antitrust violation.

A party claiming foreclosure must adequately define the relevant market, and plead facts indicating that it has been substantially foreclosed from that market. But instead of defining a market based on the range of competitive opportunities available to it, St. Francis instead attempts to define markets limited solely to a subset of patients  those enrolled in plans offered by commercial insurers, the motion states.

St. Francis does not adequately allege why other types of patients, i.e., those who pay for their care with Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, or traditional Medicare, are not important as well, and why they are not adequate substitutes for commercially insured patients.
Russian President Vladimir Putin remembers how cooperative Obama and Biden were during their eight years in office, no matter what he did.

In 2009, Obama backed out of a promise to put up missile shields in Poland and the Czech Republic, which certainly appeased Putin. It showed NATO members that the U.S could not be trusted to keep its word.

Obama scraps Bush missile-defense plan

In March 2012, Obama whispered to the Russian president at the time that he would be more flexible to cave to their wishes after the election. He just needed to lie to the American people for eight more months.

Obama tells Russia's Medvedev more flexibility after election

President Barack Obama was caught on camera on Monday assuring outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he will have "more flexibility" to deal with contentious issues like missile defense after the U.S. presidential election.

On September 11, 2012, Putin saw that Hillary and Obama cared more about their political power than Americans under attack in a foreign country, in Benghazi, Libya. Instead of lifting a finger to help them, they concocted a lie about a video. Putin had to be pleased to be dealing with people without a conscience and knowing that so few in the American media cared

Before the election in 2012, Obama laughed at Romney when he said Russia was a dangerous adversary. Most of the media and other Democrats cheered at Obama's brilliance. Putin was probably cheering that so many powerful Americans were that naive.

Mitt Romney finally gets credit years later for his warnings on Russia

Madeleine Albright, a top Democrat on foreign policy, apologized to Romney. Romney's claim drew a memorable slam from Obama during a presidential debate: "The 1980s, they're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back," Obama said, seeking to paint Romney as out of touch on a key foreign policy issue. Albright, who similarly criticized Romney in 2012, said she'd "underestimated" Russia back then.

In 2013, Russia took over North American uranium resources, and all they had to do was give massive kickbacks to the Clintons.

Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal

Putin and other dictators have to be pleased that the Bidens, Clintons, and others are so willing to line their pockets with kickbacks from foreign countries. But of course, it certainly leaves them vulnerable to blackmail.

Obama drew a red line, stating that if Syria's Assad ever used chemical weapons on his people, he would be in big trouble. He used them, and Obama essentially moved the red line and engaged Russia to monitor Assad, the Russians' buddy. That is as brilliant as having a fox guard a henhouse.

To Assuage Russia, Obama Administration Backed Off Syria Chemical Weapons Plan

The campaign to punish Assad for attacking his people with chlorine bombs took a back seat to Kerry's diplomacy with Moscow

The Obama administration signed on to the worthless Paris climate agreement, which leaves Russia and OPEC more powerful to control oil prices and essentially does nothing about the climate. It destroys the U.S. economy by decimating our fossil fuel industry.

As Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, Obama refused to give them weapons, which certainly had to please Putin.

FOR THE sake of the cameras, President Obama assured Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a White House meeting Thursday that "not only do we support Ukraine's sovereignty and independence in words, but we've also been supporting it in deeds." If only that were true.

White House rebuffs Ukraine appeal for weapons

The Obama administration has refused to provide lethal aid for fear of escalating tensions.

It had to be pleasing to Putin that the Obama-Biden administration was so willing to lie to build up Iran with hundreds of billions as they pledged death to America.

The more money Iran had, the more it could spend in Russia, one of its biggest trading partners.

Obama took lying to new heights with the Iran deal

Putin watched as the corrupt Obama administration paid over a billion dollars in bribes to tyrants and let drug-running terrorists off the hook to appease the Iranian tyrants. How brutal and dishonest does a politician have to be to not care about how many people die from terrorism and drugs because he is more interested in his legacy?

U.S. Transferred $1.3 Billion More in Cash to Iran After Initial Payment

First $400 million coincided with Iran's release of American prisoners and was used as leverage, officials have acknowledged

The secret backstory of how Obama let Hezbollah off the hook

An ambitious U.S. task force targeting Hezbollah's billion-dollar criminal enterprise ran headlong into the White House's desire for a nuclear deal with Iran

Putin studied as Hillary, the DNC, the corrupt Justice Department, Obama, Biden, intelligence officials, and the media all colluded to destroy Trump with false information and illegal spying.

He is probably very supportive of a media establishment that willingly spreads propaganda to push an agenda. A lot of journalists in America still act as if the most corrupt administration in history was scandal-free.

Contrast the actions of Obama and Biden with Russia to how Trump handled them:

Unlike Obama, Trump gave Poland and Ukraine weapons, which would have ticked off Putin.

Poland signs $4.75 billion deal for U.S. Patriot missile system facing Russia

Trump administration approves lethal arms sales to Ukraine

Trump sanctioned Russia even when the Russians weren't invading. Trump lectured the Germans to the effect that they should stop relying on Russia for energy.

Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline

Trump pushed NATO allies to pay more for their defense, which had to displease Putin.

In gesture to Trump, US allies close to deal to pay more for NATO running costs

Trump pulled out of the worthless Paris climate accord and started producing more American oil, which reduced the pricing power of Russia and OPEC and helped Americans with lower prices, especially the poor and middle class.

Trump pulled out of the Iran deal and punished Iran with many sanctions, and that harmed Russia.

When Trump blew out the terrorist general from Iran, Biden and others said how dangerous that was. It wasn't. It saved a lot of lives. Why would we ever trust someone with such bad judgment to be our president?

In Iran Speech, Biden Calls Escalating Tension Avoidable And Dangerous

Leading Democratic presidential candidates on Tuesday blasted President Trump's decision to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, casting it as a dangerous escalation in a volatile region.

As Trump was much tougher on Russia for four years than Obama and Biden ever were, the media and other Democrats continually lied to the public that he was a Russian puppet to mislead. They also called him an illegitimate president.

Putin and other dictators had to be pleased that while Trump was in office, the media and other Democrats trashed our country as an unfair, systemically racist country that cares only for the rich. They love propaganda that they can feed to their people to say how much better they are than us.

As the media campaigned for Biden, they buried the truth about the corruption of Biden and the entire Obama presidency. Putin and other dictators love state-controlled media.

When Biden was installed as president, Putin probably felt as though he had won the lottery with such a weak American CEO.

One of the first things Biden did was block the Keystone XL pipeline and send a message that he would destroy the American fossil fuel industry. And prices started going up.

We also rejoined the Paris climate accord, which further weakens America and further raises prices. Anyone who thinks Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other oil-producing countries care about their carbon footprint needs to have his head examined.

The mental midgets in the Biden administration are anxiously trying to strengthen the Iran that still pledges death to America. Putin will love it if Iran gets more money.

Biden gave Putin a gift with the lifting of sanctions on his lifeblood.

Nord Stream 2: Biden waives US sanctions on Russian pipeline

Biden and his minions have been warning Putin for months about harsh sanctions if he invaded Ukraine, so he clearly prepared. Nord Stream 2 has been canceled by Germany (for now). Then, when he invaded, they issued soft sanctions on two banks and some people and warned Putin that you'd better not go over that next red line, or we will really get tough.

My guess is Putin has worked out a deal with China to go around the sanctions. China doesn't care about American sanctions on Iran or anyone else. The Chinese know how the politicians and bureaucrats cave.

Putin appears to be playing chess while Blinken, Sullivan, Biden, and the generals are playing tic-tac-toe.

While Putin, Iran, and China prepare for war, the American military is focused like a laser on wokeness, computer-generated climate models, and kicking healthy people out of the military for refusing a vaccine that doesn't protect against a virus.

Will the media ever wonder why a politician's wife in Moscow gave Hunter Biden over $3 million or do research on all the other kickbacks?

I have seen many journalists say Putin appears to have changed and looks unstable. What about Biden?
They seem to bounce and wobble from one side to the next. The drugged-out, half-alive skeletons of Kensington Avenue in Philadelphia make their way past erected tents and filthy sidewalks en route to their next fix.

How Kensington Avenue, a poverty-stricken place in one of the most impoverished cities in the country, gets away with brazenly being the center of one of the largest open-air narcotics markets in the United States is frightening, bewildering, and telling.

It's a race to the city morgue for many inhabitants of Kensington injecting themselves in broad daylight. And with so many new places like Kensington popping up across the country, the question is, which Democrat-run city will emerge as the most prolific killer of American youths?

Kensington is an atrocious evil disguised as benevolence. This sickening eyesore and open wound is the poster child of poor policies by leadership, who believe that caring means enabling young adults, hallucinating and covered with skin ulcers, to receive free crack pipes and sleep in human waste.

According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, there were an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 12 months ending in April 2021, an increase of 28.5% from the 78,056 deaths during the same period the year before.

Anyone with a pulse realizes that the lethal drug fentanyl is a primary contributor to the high death rates of young Americans.

CNN reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection saw a 1,066% increase in fentanyl seized in south Texas in 2021. This synthetic opioid, originating from China, which is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, gets into the bodies of soon-to-be-dead Americans mainly through the open southern border with Mexico.

Drug addiction leads to homelessness. Clearing out homeless encampments in Kensington is like taking a bucket to move water from one area of the ocean to another. As day disappears into the night, these forgotten outcasts of the "City of Brotherly Love" evaporate into the city's decay.

Morning on Kensington signals the start of another monotonous reality, where survival is not assured. It's a compounded tragic reality that Kensington Avenue also has a violent crime rate 30% higher than the rest of the city.

Eventually, these street travelers will arrive at the last stop, which is the fatal overdose. According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, 639 people died of a drug overdose in Philadelphia between January and June 2021.

Kensington is more a state of mind than a place found on Google maps. More and more cities run by the same kind of liberal system are well on their way to creating their own Kensington Avenues.

Kensington Avenue is not part of some foreign, third-world country; it is America. To watch the human horror and be convinced that any progress is being made takes a level of denial previously reserved for those believing in a flat earth.

Many people refuse to believe or acknowledge that contributing factors that destroy lives in places like Kensington exist because leadership in America finds it politically advantageous to keep the southern border open.

And the same hypocritical politicians who preach against racism are aware that the death rates from drug overdoses primarily come from the minority community.

The Pew Research group released a January 2022 report that stated that there were 54.1 fatal drug overdoses for every 100,000 Black men in the United States in 2020. As a result, Black men have overtaken White men. They are now on par with American Indian or Alaska Native men as the demographic groups most likely to die from overdoses.

While stuck in a drug-induced haze, America's youths encamped on Kensington cannot help themselves. They are left to suffer prolonged pain on the streets until their emotional deaths transform into physical ones.

Rick Hayes is an award-winning New York City-based journalist with 20 + years of experience within the major news industry. He holds a B.S. degree from St. John's University.

Image: Simon.
On Tuesday of this week, Megan Fox at PJ Media reported on Fox News's correspondent Bill Melugin's somewhat foolish account of child rapist James Tubbs. While Melugin gets the heinous nature of Tubbs's crime and the terrible response to it by the Los Angeles County district attorney correct, he plays into the left's hands when it comes to perverse gender ideology. As Mrs. Fox notes:

While reporting on a gruesome story in which child rapist James Tubbs (who calls himself "Hannah") has been caught on tape bragging about the light sentence he got after sexually assaulting a ten-year-old in a bathroom, Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin went out of his way to call Tubbs "she" and "her" multiple times on America's Newsroom. It's not only wrong but confusing to the audience. Why would Fox News join the woke gender bullies who demand that everyone gets their preferred pronouns no matter what our eyes tell us or despite whatever heinous crime they've committed?

Mrs. Fox goes on to note:

Strangely, Melugin did not call Tubbs "she" and "her" on Tucker Carlson's show, seeming to know the audience wouldn't appreciate calling the convicted child rapist "she." So what's the story? Is Melugin required to use the preferred pronouns of psychopaths, or is it a personal choice?

Sadly, it seems that Melugin's ignorant use of the English language is indeed an indication of policy on America's Newsroom. Yesterday, in order to again discuss the Tubbs case, the day after Melugin's appearance, America's Newsroom co-host Bill Hemmer had on Alex Bastian, a special adviser to inept Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascon. In the segment, multiple times, Hemmer referred to Tubbs using the female pronouns "she" and "her."

This is a shameful display and plays right into the hands of the evil LGBT agenda. To her credit, Dana Perino  the other America's Newsroom co-host  read a quote from Tubbs's victim. It declared,

The things he did to me and made me do that day were beyond horrible for a 10-year-old girl to have to go through. That man was very clear minded and old enough to know what he did that day was wrong and still did it anyway.

Perhaps this was Perino's way of sticking it to the pronoun propagandists at Fox, and rightfully pointing out the truth on who exactly James Tubbs is. If that's the case, then good for her. However, it shouldn't be necessary, especially not when almost every other mainstream news organization in America long ago abandoned the truth on who is a male and who is a female.

Mrs. Fox sums up the Tubbs case well:

This is not a woman. Period. pic.twitter.com/7wvx0BbCVV  No, not THAT Megan Fox  (@MeganFoxWriter) February 22, 2022

In order to defeat the wicked gender-deluded mob, we need as many agents for the truth as possible. It would be nice if we  those on the side of truth  could count America's Newsroom as an ally in this fight.

Trevor Grant Thomas: At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith and Reason.

www.TrevorGrantThomas.com

Trevor is the author of The Miracle and Magnificence of America.

tthomas@TrevorGrantThomas.com

Image: Rae Whitlock via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped).
On July 28, 1835, Giuseppe Marco Fieschi positioned himself in front of an open window on the third floor of N. 50 Boulevard du Temple in Paris. Overlooking the window was a street that King Louis-Philippe of France was expected to pass through as he went for his annual review of the Paris National Guard. Fieschi intended to assassinate the King, and to make sure he had a high degree of success, he designed one of the most infernal guns in history.

Giuseppe Fieschi's infernal machine at the French History Museum, Paris. Photo: Parisette/Wikimedia

Giuseppe Marco Fieschi was born in 1790 on the island of Corsica to a landless, impoverished family. He spent his childhood and adolescence as a shepherd. When he turned 18, he joined a Corsican regiment and was sent to Naples, and then to Russia to fight in the Napoleonic Wars. In 1814, Giuseppe left the army and returned to Corsica to join former King of Naples Joachim Murat in an ill-fated attempt to regain his kingdom, and ended up being arrested. Giuseppe escaped execution and was deported to France, where he was sentenced to 10 years in jail for the theft of a steer.

After spending a few years as a vagrant, Giuseppe obtained a small post in Paris by means of forged papers, but upon losing his job and pensions that he had fraudulently obtained, Giuseppe resolved to revenge himself on society. Shortly after, Giuseppe joined his disgruntled neighbor Pierre Morey, and the two conspired to assassinate King Louis-Philippe. But first they needed a gun.

Instead of firing a single shot at the king and risk missing it, Giuseppe and Morrey decided to build a volley gun with 25 barrels placed side by side. They took the plan to another conspirator, Theodore Pepin, who the gave the plan legs. Because Giuseppe was penniless, the cost of building the infernal machineabout 500 francswas split between Pepin and Morey, while Giuseppe did the building. Eventually, Giuseppe had the gun ready.

The weapon, built of wood and metal, was constructed in a room overlooking the street on the third floor of N. 50 Boulevard du Templethe same room from which he would fire his gun. The barrels were mounted side by side with each touch hole in line with the next. In combination with a trail of gunpowder, the barrels could all be fired at once with a single fuse. Each barrel contained about 6 to 8 balls and an additional 13 to 14 slugs. It was a powerful killing machine indeed.

The annual review, which commemorated the 1830 July revolution, took place on 28 July 1835. At around noon, Louis-Philippe and his entourage was passing along the Boulevard du Temple, accompanied by three of his sons, when Giuseppe fired the weapon. A terrible explosion ripped through the air showering the passing company with a volley of projectiles. Men and horses dropped immediately and the street was filled with the dead and dying. One witness reported that there was suddenly a void around the king. Napoleonic war hero Marshal Mortier and his horse lay in a bloody heap on the pavement. Lieutenant-Colonel Rieussec of the 8th Legion was killed instantly. Colonel Raffet, commandant of the Gendarmerie, also fell to the ground. He died several hours later. The king only suffered a minor graze to the forehead, but eighteen other people were killed at the scene, or later died from their wounds.

Assassination attempt by Giuseppe Fieschi on King Louis Philippe I of France on July 28, 1835.

Unfortunately, the weapon was too powerful and too crudely made. When Giuseppe lighted the fuse, the gun literally exploded sending bullets all around the room. Giuseppe was thrown back towards the wall, sustaining bullet injuries to his head, face, and hand. Despite his injuries, Giuseppe managed to pull himself up and before the kings guards could rush into the building, he used a rope to swing out of the room into the adjoining building. But Giuseppe was badly injured and bleeding. The guards soon caught up to him by following the trail of blood he left.

Fieschi's trial became a great spectacle and he enjoyed his stardom. During the trial Fieschi clearly embraced his celebrity status, wrote Jill Harsin in Barricades: The War of the Streets in Revolutionary Paris, 1830-1848, [he] assumed that the slightest details about himself would interest the court, and entered into numerous narcissistic rambles about his thoughts, emotions, and habits.

Giuseppe was found guilty and sentenced to death along with Pierre Morey and Theodore Pepin. On 19 February 1836, the three were taken to the guillotine and their heads chopped off. Pepin was the first to go, followed by Morey. Fieschi was the last, and he used this opportunity to give a little speech: Im going to appear before God! I have spoken the truth. I die content. I have rendered a service to my country in signaling my accomplices. . . . I regret my victims more than my life.

The head of Fieschi after his execution. Oil painting by Jacques Raymond Brascassat

Fieschi's head went to a doctor at Bicetre Hospital where a postmortem examination of his brain was carried out to determine if it exhibited features that might explain his behavior. The original gun is now on display at the Musee des Archives Nationales, the state museum of French history, in Paris. A replica of the weapon is on display at the Musee de la prefecture de police, the museum of police history.
(Image source from: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

Indian Embassy in Ukraine issues advisory for Indian students:- Russia as predicted announced a war on Ukraine and the troops surrounded the border. Some tensed situations are reported and the Indian students woke up to hearing explosions in Ukraine after the Russian attack. A medical student residing in the country told he woke up to hear explosions and all his friends had the same experience. Students of the Indian community are sharing the videos. The Indian Embassy urged the Indian students to leave the country and return back to India temporarily. Some of them told that there are missile attacks in some of the cities of the country. Some of the students left from Ukraine and India has been running special flights to evacuate the professionals, students and others temporarily.

IMPORTANT ADVISORY TO ALL INDIAN NATIONALS IN UKRAINE AS ON 24 FEBRUARY 2022.@MEAINDIA @PIB @DDNEWS pic.twitter.com/e1i1lMuZ1J  India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 24, 2022

"Dear Indians in Ukraine, The present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain. Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit. All those who are traveling to Kyiv, including those traveling from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along with the western bordering countries. Further advisories will be issued for any updates" told the Embassy of India in Kyiv.
(Image source from: Twitter.com/ramsayz)

Bollywood beauty in talks for Ram?:- Energetic Star Ram is on a roll and the actor is extra cautious. After Ismart Shankar ended up as a smashing hit, the actor is rushed with offers. His Hindi market too increased big time and Ram hiked his fee. He is currently busy with The Warrior in the direction of N Lingusamy and the film will have a simultaneous theatrical release in Tamil Nadu along with Telugu. Ram is keen to cement his place in Tamil with this film that will release post-summer. Krithi Shetty is the leading lady and Srinivasaa Chitturi is the producer.

Ram also announced that he would be working with Boyapati Srinu in his next film and the shoot commences later this year. The film would be the costliest one in Ram's career and the film will also head for a pan-Indian release. The makers approached Janhvi Kapoor for the role and the actress rejected the offer. The latest news says that Bollywood beauty Parineeti Chopra is on board to romance Ram and the actress gave her nod. Srinivasaa Chitturi will produce this project too and the film will hit the screens next year.
Information about several Samsung Galaxy A series smartphones has leaked online over the past few months. We have seen the Galaxy A23/A23 5G, Galaxy A33 5G, Galaxy A53 5G, and the Galaxy A73 5G appear in multiple leaks, certification listings, benchmarks, and even official support pages. The frequency of those leaks has gone up lately, suggesting that the new devices are getting closer to launch. Today, we have the key specs of all four models courtesy of tipster @Shadow_Leak on Twitter.

2022 Samsung Galaxy A series specs tipped

According to the new report, the Galaxy A23 5G will sport a 6.6-inch FHD+ IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Under the hood is MediaTeks Dimensity 700 SoC that comes with an integrated 5G modem. The device gets a quad rear camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel primary shooter. It is flanked by an 8-megapixel and two 2-megapixel sensors. Samsung will include a 5,000mAh battery in this phone, with 15W fast charging.

Now, none of this is new info. Prior leaks had already revealed all of these details. But its still nice to be reminded of them all at once. Interestingly, the latest leak claims the Galaxy A23 5G will come with Android 11 onboard. But we doubt thats correct. The device should run Android 12 out of the box. Note that Samsung also has a 4G-only Galaxy A23 in the works, reportedly featuring Qualcomms Snapdragon 680 chipset.

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The new report also mentions Android 11-based software for the Galaxy A33 5G, which is likely incorrect too. This device should boot Android 12 from day one as well. The claims of the Dimensity 720 SoC on this phone might also be inaccurate as the device has been spotted with Samsungs in-house Exynos 1200 processor on multiple occasions in the past. Or maybe the Korean brand will use two different chipsets on the Galaxy A33 5G depending on the market as it does with its flagship models. We shall see.

Other reported Galaxy A33 5G specs include a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, a 48-megapixel quad rear camera setup, and a 5000mAh battery with 15W fast charging. There are speculations that it will support 25W fast charging though. We will have to wait for confirmation on that.

Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A73 5G will get 120Hz displays

Moving on, we have the Galaxy A53 5G featuring a 6.52-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This device is said to use Samsungs Exynos 1200 SoC, which, as discussed above, we are also to power the Galaxy A33 5G as well. The Korean firm is equipping the Galaxy A53 5G with a 64-megapixel primary camera on the back. It also gets a 12-megapixel and two 5-megapixel sensors. The battery capacity of this device is said to come in at 5000mAh, with 25W of fast charging. It will boot Android 12 out of the box.

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The Galaxy A73 5G, which will top Samsungs 2022 Galaxy A lineup, will build on the Galaxy A53 5G with a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, slightly bigger 6.7-inch 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, and a 108-megapixel primary camera, which would be a first for the companys mid-range lineup. It will also replace one of the two 5-megapixel sensors with an 8-megapixel one.

Samsung will likely take wraps off these phones over the next two or three months. In the interim, we expect to see more leaks about them. We will keep you posted.
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China requires enterprises to disclose environmental information

Xinhua) 08:33, February 24, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China has unveiled a regulation requiring enterprises to disclose their environmental information in a timely manner and in accordance with the law, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Wednesday.

The disclosure of environmental information is common practice globally in implementing corporate environmental responsibility, said Yan Gang, deputy chief of the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning under the ministry.

Enterprises with large-scale emissions of pollutants, high environmental risks, and those discharging toxic and harmful substances, among others, are identified as the subjects of environmental information disclosure, according to Yan.

To guarantee the public's right to know and forestall environmental and market risks, companies are required to disclose relevant environmental information in a timely manner when their environmental behaviors may have a significant impact on society, the public and investors.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Migraines have baffled humankind at least as far back as the ancient Egyptians, who blamed the excruciating headaches, and their often-accompanying visual auras and nausea, on the supernatural.

Now, in a development doctors are calling revolutionary, an international group of neurologists has deciphered the mystery of why people get migraines and, in doing so, has determined how to greatly reduce their frequency and severity.

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The discovery has revolutionized our treatment of migraine, said Dr. P. Christopher H. Gottschalk, a neurologist at Yale Medicine and professor of neurology at the Yale School of Medicine.

An international group of neurologists has deciphered the mystery of why people get migraines and, in doing so, has determined how to greatly reduce their frequency and severity. The discovery has revolutionized our treatment of migraine, said Dr. P. Christopher H. Gottschalk, a neurologist at Yale Medicine.

Im witnessing a change in the landscape, said Dr. Sandhya Mehla, a headache specialist and vascular neurologist with Hartford HealthCare Medical Group. I would say this is a milestone.

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The discovery, the fruit of 40 years of research, won four scientists in Sweden, Denmark and the United States the 2021 Brain Prize, the worlds most prestigious award in neurology.

Its already leading to treatments that can significantly reduce migraine attacks as well as minimize any breakthrough headaches. The new class of drugs has the potential to change the lives of the 1 billion migraine sufferers around the globe.

Linda Kelley-Dodds life has already been transformed. The Bristol resident started having headaches as a teenager, although, she said, It wasnt until I was in my 20s that I really noticed, This is a problem for me. This is really, truly a problem.

Before becoming one of Gottschalks patients, Kelley-Dodd, 49, whos the costume project coordinator at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, experienced all the hallmarks of migraines. In addition to headaches, she had auras, nausea, smell sensitivity and, especially, light sensitivity, which forced her to wear sunglasses when she drove home at night because the headlights of oncoming cars were so painful.

Her headaches varied. Sometimes they would range from just a low-grade headache to a full-on I-cant-deal-with-the-world-please-just-somebody-make-it-go-away.

She carried an arsenal to help at least just tamp down the pain so I could semi-function and plowed through Excedrin Migraine for days at a time, jacking herself up on Coca-Cola, aspirin and ibuprofen.

A year and a half ago, however, Kelley-Dodd started monoclonal antibody therapy, injecting herself once a month with a drug called Emgality.

I cant talk about how amazing this drug is, she said. It has completely changed my life.

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Cause of migraine

Migraine, the scientists found, is the result of an interaction between the largest nerve in the head, called the trigeminal, and the meninges, the thin membrane surrounding the brain that senses pain.

When fibers in the trigeminal nerve are activated, they emit powerful chemical signals that dilate blood vessels in the meninges. The meninges then becomes inflamed, triggering a migraine.

What activates the trigeminal fibers is highly individualistic. In her essay, In Bed, Joan Didion, a lifelong migraineur, wrote, Almost anything can trigger a specific attack of migraine: stress, allergy, fatigue, an abrupt change in barometric pressure, a contretemps over a parking ticket. A flashing light. A fire drill.

The researchers found that blocking those chemical signals, which they named calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP), can abort a migraine. This is what monoclonal antibodies, or CGRP antagonists, do.

Mehla of the Hartford HealthCare Medical Group called the discovery a milestone because it led to the first medications that were specifically designed and tested only for migraine. In the past, she said, doctors have had to treat their patients with medications that were developed for other medical conditions.

Migraine is in our genes, so it really cannot be cured, she said. But these new medications can greatly reduce their frequency.

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Another huge benefit, said Gottschalk, is that their side effects have been practically zero.

The Migraine Personality

Like tuberculosis, migraine has often been linked to personality. In the 1930s, New York neurologist Harold Wolff asserted that the condition was especially prominent among perfectionists, those driven by ambition, a theory that remained popular until the 1980s.

And because one in three migraineurs are women, the disease has long been dismissed, or at least minimized, as just another psychosomatic condition of neurotic women.

Its distressing, Gottschalk said when asked about migraines and gender bias. It was not that long ago, 50 years ago, that doctors who were specialists in headache were writing [that] clearly the migraine personality includes sexual frustration in women. Unbelievable!

For a disease that has been part of the human condition for as long as migraines have, it may be surprising that it took so long to understand it. Gottschalk blames that not only on its association with womens supposed neuroses but also because migraine is one of those invisible diseases.

Its not like diabetes, where your sugars way high, he said. Its not like high blood pressure where you can do a thing on your arm and show that theres a number thats higher than it should be. Its somehow ... mysterious or unsettling that theres not a clear source of the problem that people can identify.

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Insurance Coverage

The CGRP receptor antagonists are, predictably, expensive  about $500 a month  but Mehla and Gottschalk are optimistic about their cost to patients in the longer term.

Dr. Sandhya Mehla, Hartford HealthCare Medical Group (Jeff Evans)

I have to say its not as bleak as I was afraid it would be in the beginning, Gottschalk said, but its also not as good as it should be. The fact that [the medication is] FDA-approved specifically for migraine means that pretty much every commercial insurance has to approve at least one of these antibodies, and usually its more than one.

Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. >

Patients seeking monoclonal antibody treatment had to have tried several drugs in the past before an insurer approves the new regimen.

Most of the patients that we see in the headache clinic are the ones who have tried something before, Mehla said. So, our patients usually meet the criteria if we are prescribing it. But [given the robust response], we can foresee that these medications will be covered much faster.

Her Long Road

Kelley-Dodds road to controlling her headaches may have been a bit atypical in that she was referred to Gottschalk for another ailment. And that it wasnt until she started getting treatment for the other ailment that she started getting treatment for her migraines.

I went for years without proper treatment, she said, not knowing that there was even treatment.

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Today, Kelley-Dodd admits, its a little hard for her to remember everything she went through in her 20s and 30s. She laughs as she remembers thinking, This isnt actually the way a human should live, where I would just power through these headaches. You just have to power through.

I think, truly, there isnt enough information out there for humans to understand that this truly is a disability and that it truly affects peoples lives.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (c-hit.org), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
Ukraine: Torn between Russia and the West From independence to pro-European uprising and invasion

(ANSA-AFP) - PARIS, FEB 23 - Ukraine, sandwiched between Russia and the European Union, has since independence in 1991 been torn between its former Soviet master Moscow and the Western institutions it wants to join.



- Independence and nuclear arsenal scrapped - In December 1991, Ukraine votes in favour of independence from the Soviet Union in a referendum. Russian president Boris Yeltsin accepts the vote and Russia, Ukraine and Belarus set up a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). But over the next five years, Ukraine seeks ways to escape Russia's guardianship, which goes back three centuries. Perceiving the CIS as an attempt to bring ex-Soviet republics under Moscow's control, it takes a lukewarm approach to the structure and turns towards the West. It seeks ties with the US-led NATO military alliance -- a no-go for Russia. In the aftermath of the end of the Cold War, Ukraine, Russia, the UK and the US in December 1994 agree to respect the independence, sovereignty and borders of Ukraine. The agreement is in exchange for Ukraine abandoning the nuclear weapons it inherited from the Soviet Union. - Friendship treaty - In May 1997 Russia and Ukraine sign a friendship treaty without removing a main source of tension: Kiev's ties with NATO. It settles a key disagreement by allowing Russia to retain ownership of the majority of ships in the Black Sea fleet based in Ukraine's Crimea while requiring that Moscow pay Kyiv a modest rent to use the port of Sebastopol. Moscow also remains Kyiv's most important commercial partner, with Ukraine totally dependent on Russian oil and gas. Ukraine draws a warning from the EU in 2003 when it signs an accord with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan on a Common Economic Space.



Brussels says that it could hinder Ukraine's rapprochement with the bloc and its membership to the World Trade Organization. - Pro-Westerner in power - Ukraine's 2004 presidential election is marred by fraud and the victory of the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych provokes unprecedented protests in the peaceful Orange Revolution. The uproar leads to the vote being cancelled and in December pro-Western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who was victim of a mysterious dioxin poisoning during the campaign, becomes president. It marks the beginning of a new political era in Ukraine after 10 years under the thumb of Leonid Kuchma, who staggered between Europe and Moscow.



Yuschenko swiftly reiterates Ukraine's wish to join the EU, despite reservations from the bloc, along with NATO. In 2008 at a summit in Bucharest, NATO leaders agree that Ukraine has a future in the alliance, sparking Moscow's ire. Russia and Ukraine engage in several disputes, notably over gas in 2006 and 2009 which disrupt Europe's energy supplies. - Pro-European uprising - Yanukovych is elected president in 2010, and in November 2013 he suspends talks on a trade pact with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. It sparks weeks of massive protests by pro-European opposition groups demanding the pro-Russian president quits. The uprising, centred on Kiev's Independence Square, comes to a head in February 2014 when police fire on protesters. Around 100 demonstrators and 20 police officers die during the three-month uprising. Yanukovych flees to Russia and is impeached. - Annexation and war - Russia responds by sending special forces to take control of strategic sites on Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. In March 2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a treaty absorbing Crimea into Russia. The annexation provokes the worst diplomatic crisis between the West and Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. Then in April, a pro-Russian rebellion erupts in Ukraine's industrial eastern areas.



Pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Lugansk declare their regions to be independent. Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of instigating the uprising and pouring in arms and troops to bolster the self-proclaimed republics. The clashes become a full-blown conflict in May and the conflict has since left more than 14,000 people dead. After massing tens of thousands of soldiers on Ukraine's borders, Putin on February 21, 2022 recognises the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk. He also orders Russian troops into the regions, without giving the scope or timetable of the deployment. (ANSA-AFP).





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ROME - Moroccan journalist Soulaimane Raissouni has been sentenced to five years in jail for "sexual assault" by a court of appeals in Casablanca. The judge upheld a sentence issued by a court of first instance against Raissouni, a 49-year-old editorialist who is well-known for is critical voice against authorities. He was accused of "sexual aggression" by a young LGBTQ activist.



Raissouni denied the charge at the trial, saying he was prosecuted "due to his opinions".
BEIRUT - At least six people have been reported killed and 20 wounded according to a provisional toll following air raids, attributed to Israel, against arms depots of pro-Iranian militias near the airport of Damascus, in Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitoring group reported that two separate raids occurred overnight: one targeted a depot of weapons and another a missile launch pad between the military base of Kiswa and the pro-Iranian Shiite stronghold of Sayda Zaynab, south of Damascus.



"The Israeli enemy has carried out an air raid with several missiles" targeting positions around Damascus, "killing three soldiers and causing material damages", the Sana news agency previously said, adding that the majority of missiles were intercepted by the Syrian air defense.



It is the fourth air raid attributed to Israel against Iranian and pro-Iranian positions since the start of the month.



Yesterday, an air raid, also attributed to the Jewish State, hit positions of the Syrian government army on the contested Golan Heights, in an area where - according to multiple local sources - the forces of Damascus de facto respond to orders of the pro-Iranian Lebanese Shiite militias Hezbollah.



Last night's attack, said the monitoring group, killed four pro-Iranian militants and two Syrian soldiers. The sources added that the toll could rise over the coming hours.
TRIPOLI - The Libyan prime minister designated by Parliament, Fathi Bashagha, has announced that he has completed the formation of his government, with a list being sent to lawmakers for a vote of confidence. "The government's composition is ready and will be transmitted today to the chamber of representatives" Bashagha's press office said in a statement. The premier is a rival of the sitting prime minister, Abdel Hamid Dbeibah.



To form his government, the former influential interior minister conducted "in-depth consultations with all political parties, Parliament and the High Council of State, and examined numerous proposals according to criteria of competence and efficiency", said the statement.



Already suffering from divisions between competing institutions in the east and west, Libya recently found itself with two rival premiers in Tripoli, after missing a crucial electoral deadline in December. On February 10, in fact, Parliament in the east named Bashagha to replace Dbeibah at the helm of the interim government. However, the sitting premier said he would surrender power only to an elected executive.



Along with Dbeibah's replacement, the lawmakers approved a new political agenda that must bring to presidential elections no later than in 14 months. Bashagha's cabinet did not indicate when the vote of confidence in Parliament would take place.



However, Parliament summoned a meeting on Monday to specify the order of the day.



At the start of this week, in affirming that he would surrender power only to an elected cabinet, Dbeibah announced legislative elections by the end of June, to counter the process started by Parliament chaired by his rival Aqila Saleh. Dbeibah also started a controversy with Parliament, stating that the "reckless" decision to replace him "will inevitably lead to war". After years of conflicts and divisions, a year ago the head of an interim government was appointed to lead the transition and organize presidential and legislative elections initially scheduled last December. But persistent fighting led to the postponement, without a new date, of the double vote on which the international community was pinning great hopes to end chaos in the country since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011 during the Arab Spring.
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a great friend of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, continues to keep silent and to postpone an announcement of a clear position on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, which precipitated after Moscow launched a military operation at dawn in Ukrainian territory. Vucic, according to local media reports, met on Thursday morning in Belgrade with ambassadors of the 'Quint' group - US, Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy - together with the head of the EU representation in Belgrade. However, Tanjug reports citing Vucic's Instagram profile that, "all information on positions expressed by the various participants will be made public over the next 36 hours". The situation is embarrassing, given the reactions of condemnation to Putin's actions that have come from practically all the various European leaders, including in the Balkan region.



Serbia, historically connected by a close friendship to Russia, of which it is the main ally in the Balkans, categorically refuses to open to any type of sanctions imposed by the EU and the West on Moscow, and appeals have multiplied from Brussels to Belgrade, which intends to become a EU member, to align with European foreign and security policy. Militarily neutral and extremely hostile to Nato due to the air raids of spring 1999 during the war of Kosovo, Serbia counts a lot on Russia's international support, in particular on the issue of Kosovo, of which Belgrade and Moscow don't recognize the independence. At 1 pm the president summoned the National security council, while at 3 he attended an extraordinary government meeting.
Ukraine: 'We can't stand against Russia' - Serbia's Dacic 'Who will defend our interests?'; he remembers1999 NATO raids

(ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, FEBRUARY 24 - Serbia's Ivica Dacic, Parliament speaker and leader of the Socialist party (Sps) who has served in the past for a long period of time as foreign minister of Belgrade, says Serbia must maintain a balanced position on the Ukrainian crisis and should not condemn or adhere to sanctions against Russia, nor other initiatives that could endanger its national interest. Dacic said this was necessary because the countries asking for such a stance had not behaved in a correct manner in 1999, when NATO attacked Yugoslavia militarily, conquering Kosovo.



"We have to look at our interests", he said. "Let's maintain relations with the EU and with other international requests, but we must not destroy relations with Russia and China because nobody will defend us anymore if they cease to do it", Dacic was quoted as saying Thursday by local media.



Serbia is engaged in adhesion talks with the European Union but remains strongly connected to Russia, refusing to adhere to any type of European and Western sanctions against Moscow.(ANSAmed).




Student Diana Yaulema stitches pieces of discarded plastic to a 60-foot piece of canvas during the Our House after school art program in Meriden. The students were assisting University of Hartford Professor Katherine Owens to create a 60-foot sperm whale out of reclaimed plastic. (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

When the pandemic canceled trips to Uganda, Colombia and India, Kat Owens, a plastic-pollution researcher and professor at the University of Hartford, looked around her home in Middletown.

I dont have to travel around the world to study plastic. It is really everywhere, she said in an interview Wednesday. Ive been trying to think about how its in our everyday life and unavoidable.

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Owens trains members of the public to collect plastic pollution using scientific methods to create data that is usable for scientists. Shes also an artist and a mom. The combination of skills and heaps of plastic waste from caring for a family led her to a new project, using plastic to create life-size portraits of 46 animals harmed by plastic debris.

She uses canvas for structure, then hand sews the animal portraits out of the kind of film plastic thats nearly impossible to recycle in the United States.

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University of Hartford Professor Katherine Owens shows a drawing she is using to guide her through the creation of a 60-foot sperm whale mural, stitched with reclaimed plastic, to students at Our House in Meriden Wednesday. (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

To me, its about sharing information. When we see those arrows printed on something, we think Its on me. I just have to figure out where to recycle this, but in most cases its not really recyclable, Owens said.

To build awareness of the materials ubiquity, where it ends up and the animals it harms, Owens visited summer camps in Hartford, West Hartford and Middletown with a portion of an 18-foot minke whale and invited children to participate in its creation.

Catherine Del Buono, founder of Our House Meriden, invited Owens to the free after-school art program Wednesday to work with the children.

Owens has also set up shop in an empty storefront at 428 Main St. in Middletown, where anyone can drop in and work on the project or see 25 portraits already completed.

Kneeling on her mural of a harbor porpoise, University of Hartford Professor Katherine Owens talks with students at Our House in Meriden.

What I hear from people when they come by Main Street and they see it from far away is Oh, its this cool, bright, toy-colored portrait of an animal. People love animals. They say, Oh, its a turtle. I love turtles,  Owens said. But when they get close, they recognize things they use  Whether little kids or adults, they say Thats my potato chips or I have that Old Navy mailer. 

Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. >

Owens hopes people will realize how much plastic has permeated their everyday lives, and that its not going away. Ninety-five percent of plastic packaging isnt recycled globally, she says.

The goal isnt to shame consumers because the material is practically unavoidable, she says.

I read stories about people who go without plastic and I really admire that, but without unlimited time or money, I dont know how working parents could do that, she said. At some point you have to buy food.

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Students Layla Velez, left, and Dylan Baez Ayala help University of Hartford Professor Katherine Owens carry a 60-foot canvas she is using to make a mural of a sperm whale out of discarded plastic. "Polluting oceans is just an act of unkindness," said Dylan, 7. "The animals don't deserve that." (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

Instead, shes hoping to increase education and advocacy. On Wednesday she had just sent in comments to the Connecticut General Assemblys Environmental Committee on Senate Bills 115 and 118 concerning plastics.

On SB 115, the idea is that whoever is [producing] this kind of packaging, they need to be held accountable for what happens to it at the end of its life. As it is now, its usually taxpayer dollars cleaning up rivers and the ocean. The people who are profiting from it are not picking up the tab, Owens says.

Owens is currently working on a 60-foot sperm whale. For information on volunteering or to follow her work, visit katowens.com.

Kaitlin McCallum can be reached at kmccallum@courant.com
The Prime Minister is pushing to cut Russia out of the Swift system, a type of international bank sort code, after Vladimir Putin launched a full-out invasion of Ukraine.

Boris Johnsons official spokesman said that the Government will work with its allies in the G7 and Nato to limit Russian banks access to the system.

There are a range of views of it and we recognise it is a challenge, the spokesman said.

Certainly it is the Prime Ministers intention  he thinks it is the right thing to do.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had renewed calls for a Swift ban in the House of Commons on Thursday.

Speaking to MPs, Sir Keir called for the hardest possible sanctions on Vladimir Putins regime.

It must be isolated, its finances frozen, its ability to function crippled. That means excluding Russia from the financial mechanisms like Swift and banning trade in Russian sovereign debt, he said.

I will not be diplomatic on this. Everyone who now doubts whether Russia should be banned from SWIFT has to understand that the blood of innocent Ukrainian men, women and children will be on their hands too. BAN RUSSIA FROM SWIFT.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022

Mr Johnson said: I know that this House will have great interest in the potential of cutting Russia out from Swift. I can confirm, as Ive always said, nothing is off the table.

Proponents say excluding Putin and his banks from the system will have a huge impact on their ability to operate abroad.

The Swift system is set up to make it possible for people or companies to take payments by card or electronically even if they do not use the same bank.

Each bank gets a unique ID number, which identifies which country they are in, and the city and bank branch.

Removing Russia would not stop the countrys banks from making payments across borders but would make it a lot more complex and costly. It would also make it harder for the country to sell its oil and gas, which make up a huge portion of its trade.

I would now suspend Russia and other countries assisting the invasion of Ukraine from swift sanction all major Russian banks not just the small ones sanction all Russian extractive industries including diamonds  sanction all members of the Russian Duma + Navalny list  Chris Bryant (@RhonddaBryant) February 24, 2022

Iranian banks were cut off from the system over the countrys nuclear programme in 2012 before being reconnected in 2016 as relations thawed.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that his country and the EU would not support such a major move, the Financial Times reported.

The EU is still working on a united line to take in terms of whether to shut Russia off from Swift, with some more inclined than others.

Earlier on Thursday, Ukraines ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko called for Russia to be blocked from Swift, echoing the opinions of his president.
The Duke of Sussex has launched a High Court libel action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.

Court filings show Harry filed a claim against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) on Wednesday afternoon.

It is understood the claim relates to an article published by The Mail On Sunday on Sunday February 20 relating to issues on his familys security, under the headline Revealed: How Harry tried to keep his legal fight over bodyguards secret.

The duke is currently bringing privacy claims against News Group Newspapers, which publishes The Sun, and Mirror Group Newspapers, now Reach, which publishes The Mirror, over alleged phone hacking and unlawful information gathering.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Yui Mok/PA)

Harry, 37, is also involved in litigation against the Home Office over his security arrangements when he is in the UK.

He is bringing a High Court challenge against a Home Office decision not to allow him to personally pay for police protection for himself and his family while in the UK.

Harry wants to bring his son Archie and baby daughter Lilibet to visit from the US, but his lawyers say he and his family are unable to return to his home because it is too dangerous.

It follows an incident in London in the summer of 2021 when his security was compromised after his car was chased by paparazzi photographers as he left a charity event.

His wife, the Duchess of Sussex, previously brought a successful privacy claim against ANL over articles which reproduced parts of a personal and private handwritten letter to her estranged father, Thomas Markle.

The Duchess of Sussex (Jeremy Selwyn/Evening Standard/PA)

Meghan was awarded 1 nominal damages, along with an undisclosed sum which she donated to charity, after winning her case.

ANL was also ordered to issue a front-page apology and pay the duchesss legal costs.

An appeal by ANL was dismissed by senior judges in December last year.

A spokesperson for the duke said: I can confirm the duke has filed a complaint against Associated Newspapers Limited.
The husband of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins says it is absurd that Alec Baldwin did not take responsibility for her death.

Matt Hutchins said he felt so angry seeing the actor talk publicly about his wifes death after having held the firearm that fatally injured her.

Ms Hutchins was killed on the set of the movie Rust in October last year, after a prop gun Baldwin was holding was discharged.

Baldwin gave an interview to US network ABC following the incident in which he said he felt sadness, not guilt, and could not say who was responsible for her death.

EXCLUSIVE: Matt Hutchins, husband of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed by a prop gun held by Alec Baldwin on set of "Rust," is speaking out in an exclusive interview with @hodakotb. More here: https://t.co/cIvEhK76Qv  TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 23, 2022

In an exclusive interview with NBCs Today show Mr Hutchins said: Watching him I just felt so angry.

I was angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way and then to not accept responsibility after having just described killing her.

The idea that the person holding the gun causing it to discharge is not rep is absurd to me.

It comes as the Hollywood actor continues to fight a number of lawsuits stemming from the incident in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Cases are being brought by script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, head of lighting Serge Svetnoy and Ms Hutchins family.

Lawyers said during the fatal incident on the set of the western, Baldwin had pointed the prop gun at Hutchins during the set-up for the filming of a scene when it discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding the director, Joel Souza.

Baldwin has said he was pointing the gun at Hutchins at her instruction and it fired without him pulling the trigger.

As well as Baldwin, two of the lawsuits name nearly two dozen defendants associated with the film including David Halls, the assistant director who handed Baldwin the gun; and Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was in charge of weapons on the set.

Mr Hutchins told NBC that there were multiple responsible parties in his wifes death.

Gun safety was not the only problem on that set, there were standards that were not practiced, he said.

There are multiple responsible parties.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to receive a top accolade at the NAACP Image Awards for heeding the call to social justice and joining the struggle for equity around the world.

Harry and Meghan were named as recipients of the prestigious Presidents Award, which recognises special achievement and distinguished public service.

The couple, who stepped down as senior working royals in 2020, said in a joint statement that it was a true honour.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will receive NAACPs Presidents Award (Jeremy Selwyn/Evening Standard/PA)

They added that the efforts by US civil rights organisation the NAACP on racial justice were as vital today as they were more than a hundred years ago when it was founded.

Past recipients of the Presidents Award include Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, LeBron James, Rihanna, Jay-Z and Lauryn Hill.

The NAACP, which stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, was set up in 1909 in response to ongoing violence against black people and is the USs largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organisation, with more than two million activists.

Its Image Awards celebrate outstanding achievements and performances of black and minority ethnic people in the arts.

Go Mary! Go Mary! The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul @maryjblige will perform at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards. Its a family affair you cant miss! Tune in Saturday, Feb 26 8/7c on @bet! pic.twitter.com/QAr7YaVZ5q  NAACP Image Awards (@naacpimageaward) February 17, 2022

Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, said: Were thrilled to present this award to Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who together have heeded the call to social justice and have joined the struggle for equity both in the US and around the world.

The Sussexes Archewell Foundation is supporting a new NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, which recognises leaders creating transformational change at the intersection of social justice and technology.

Mr Johnson added: Not only do they continue to lead by example, the duke and duchess have also decided to inspire the next generation of activists through the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, ensuring the support and recognition of generations of civil rights leaders to come.

This inaugural recipient is author and scholar Dr Safiya Noble, who has pioneered the study of how digital technologies intersect with culture, race, and gender.

She will receive a 100,000 US dollars unrestricted stipend to help advance new work in the field.

Harry and Meghan said in a joint statement: Its a true honour to be recognised by President Derrick Johnson and the NAACP, whose efforts to propel racial justice and civil rights are as vital today as they were nearly 115 years ago.

Were proud to support the NAACPs work and to also partner with the organisation on the newly created annual NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, which will be bestowed to Dr Safiya Noble as part of the 53rd NAACP Image Awards.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The Sussexes have been vocal on matters of race, contributing to the national debate in the US.

Meghan told of her absolute devastation at racial divisions in a speech to her old high school in June 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.

Marking Black History Month later that year, the Sussexes said there was a lost generation of people of colour whose contribution to UK society will remain untapped as long as structural racism exists.

In October 2020, Harry admitted his privileged upbringing as a member of the royal family meant he had no understanding of unconscious racial bias.

Harry said it took him many years  and the experience of living in wife Meghans shoes  to recognise the issue, during a conversation with Black Lives Matter supporter Patrick Hutchinson.

Meghan, the first mixed race person to marry a senior British royal in centuries, said in their bombshell Oprah interview that an unnamed royal raised concerns with Harry about how dark their son Archies skin tone might be before he was born.

The pair has campaigned on the need for global vaccine equity, with Meghan also addressing gender equality and paid leave for new parents.

The 53rd NAACP Image Awards is being aired live in the US on February 26.
Boris Johnson is expected to discuss the deepening crisis in Ukraine with Joe Biden and other G7 leaders after Russia further fanned fears it is trying to create a pretext for war.

Kyiv declared a nationwide state of emergency and was braced for an all-out invasion following a Kremlin declaration that rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine had requested military assistance.

The White House said the plea from Russian-backed separatists was an example of the false-flag operation the West was expecting Vladimir Putin would use to strike.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it is possible Russian forces commence an invasion of Ukraine before the night is over.

He told NBC News: Russia has positioned its forces at the final point of readiness across Ukraines borders to the north, to the east, to the south. Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine.

I cant put a date or an exact time on it, but everything is in place for Russia to move forward.

Under increasing pressure to go further on sanctions against those supporting the Russian president, Mr Johnson is expected to join a virtual meeting of G7 leaders on Thursday.

Washington confirmed the US president will participate in the call after Mr Biden increased his economic action against Moscow by targeting measures against the company that built the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an emotional televised address in Russian after a 30-day state-of-emergency order handing the government sweeping powers in the interest of national security was approved.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace. But if we come under attack that threatens our freedom and lives of our people we will fight back, he said, as he rejected Moscows claim Ukraine is a threat to Russia.

Following Mr Zelenskys speech, the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting at the request of Ukraine, which said there is an immediate threat of a Russian invasion.

It came as the Ukrainian government began closing airports in eastern Ukraine until at least 7am (9am London) because of the expected confrontation.

Mr Johnson has vowed the UK will send more lethal defensive weapons and other aid to bolster Ukraines resistance to a fully-fledged Russian offensive.

We must stand united against Russia and end the era of Putin-linked donations in Britain. #PMQs pic.twitter.com/nK592usn3v  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 23, 2022

Downing Street cited operation security reasons in not detailing what equipment would be dispatched, but Britain has previously sent anti-tank firepower to Ukraine.

Mr Putins internationally-criticised decision to recognise the two breakaway states of Donetsk and Luhansk has led to co-ordinated economic sanctions from the UK, US and EU.

Britain has targeted three Oligarchs close to Putin and five smaller banks in what Mr Johnson called a first barrage of sanctions on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said the next wave of measures will stop all Russian banks, all oligarchs, all Russian individuals, raising money on London markets.

But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is among those calling for him to go further now to include barring Russians from the Swift financial system and ban trading in Russian sovereign debt.

Senior Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Commons Defence Committee, said the existing strategy is simply baffling.

Were holding back any sanctions until after an invasion, as if somehow the tanks will then turn around and go home, he told BBC Newsnight.

I have to say this is just feeble. If Kyiv falls, history will ask why the West did not do more.

Russia is currently estimated to have amassed around 150,000 troops on Ukraines border, with warplanes and armoured vehicles continuing to deploy in the area.

Mr Putin has said the only way to resolve the crisis is for the government in Kyiv to give up its ambitions to join Nato and to accept the demilitarisation of the country.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the Russian leader had gone full tonto and has been left with no allies over his actions in Ukraine.
There is a strong possibility that Covid jabs will be given every autumn alongside flu vaccines for those most in need, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said.

Professor Adam Finn told BBC Breakfast it was important that older people and the vulnerable came forward for their spring booster, with a wider rollout to be announced for the autumn.

Asked if people could expect an annual jab, he said: Its hard to be absolutely sure about that, but the direction of discussion at the moment is certainly a booster campaign in the autumn, directed probably at the people who we think are most at risk.

Whether that goes on year after year like the flu programme is still an open question and depends on what coronavirus does to us in the interim, but its a strong possibility that we may have a winter-time campaign, combined with the flu vaccine campaign, going forward.

Prof Finn said the scientific community was concerned about the lifting of restrictions because this is a tricky business, we really cant predict the future with all that much confidence.

He added: We have to make a best guess, we have to base it on the evidence that weve got and we clearly all of us dont want to go back to a position where large numbers of people are dying and being admitted to hospital.

But we have to make the best call that we can.

And I think the public have done a lot to mitigate the seriousness of the pandemic by being cautious, avoiding transmitting infection to each other, taking vaccines, wearing masks and so on. And I hope theyll go on doing that.

Boris Johnson set out the Governments strategy for living with Covid on Monday, announcing the axing of self-isolation laws and the end of free universal testing in England.

The Prime Minister hailed the development of vaccines and treatments for coronavirus as possibly the greatest national effort in our peacetime history though he warned the pandemic is not over and there may be significant resurgences.

Mr Johnson acknowledged there is likely to be another variant that will cause us trouble, saying he did not want people to think theres some division between the gung ho politicians and the cautious, anxious scientists.

Englands chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance during a media briefing in Downing Street (Tolga Akmen/PA)

He said: The most important thing is that  and I hope this is the big take out from this the sun is shining but were keeping our umbrella.

During a round of interviews on Tuesday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said people needed to remain cautious and vigilant despite the lifting of restrictions.

He told Sky News: Covid is still out there. We may be done with Covid, but it is certainly not done with us and we have to remain cautious and vigilant.

That is why we set out yesterday just how we will continue to do that, so vaccines remain an important part of our defences.

The antivirals and other treatments that we have also will play a continued important role.

But also weve put in place a surveillance system so that were able to detect any potential future threats, and also the ability for us to react quickly.

Mr Javid said there had been a debate in Government about the final shape of the living with Covid plan.

The announcement on Monday only happened after last-minute wrangling between Cabinet ministers.

(PA Graphics)

There was no extra money in the plan for Mr Javids department but he told BBC Breakfast his existing funding settlement would cover the costs of ongoing testing and surveillance schemes.

Although we couldnt have known exactly where we would end up at this point of the year, we had anticipated requiring funding for such action, he said.

Asked if he had disagreed with the Prime Minister about how this should be paid for, Mr Javid said: If you are asking me did we debate in Government what should be our final response in our Living with Covid document, of course we did because thats normal in government, thats what you do.

Did we come to an agreement on the best way forward  myself, the Prime Minister and others, the entire Cabinet? Of course we did.

Thats why I think what we set out yesterday is a historic moment that we can all be proud of.

The Health Secretary also said he would continue to wear a face mask on busy trains.

He told LBC: For now, although the infection levels have been falling significantly, week after week, I think where infection levels are at the moment, if I was on the London Tube, for example, and it was packed, I would wear a face mask.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that the living with Covid strategy fails to protect those at highest risk of harm from Covid-19, and neglects some of the most vulnerable people in society.

(PA Graphics)

Charities such as Blood Cancer UK have also said the move creates anxiety and anger among its community, and has called for more economic support as well as easier access to treatments.

Meanwhile, in Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will set out her new strategic framework for dealing with coronavirus on Tuesday.

The First Minister will speak in the Scottish Parliament in the afternoon as the Scottish Governments blueprint for managing and recovering from Covid-19 is published.
Child welfare systems have traditionally focused on responding to allegations and incidents of child abuse and neglect, stepping in when warning signs or problems are already visible. What would it look like to have a system dedicated to engaging with parents and shoring up families all along the way, so that problems are prevented before they occur? This is the idea behind new federal policies, including the Family First Prevention Services Act and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and a national demonstration initiative funded by the Department of Justice called Child Safety Forward.

What these all share is an effort to devote more resources to front end, upstream services that support families before abuse or neglect occurs and to remodel child welfare systems into child and family well-being systems that extend beyond child protection to all systems that help bolster child and family well-being.

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These shifts are long overdue. Childrens early experiences get built into the brains architecture, so ensuring healthy, nurturing environments for infants and toddlers leads to healthy, thriving children and adolescents who are equipped to learn and fulfill their potential.

A stronger emphasis on promoting family well-being is also an important part of addressing racial injustices in the child welfare system  like the troubling fact that a disproportionate number of children who are removed from their families and placed in foster care are children of color. In fact, a February 2021 report from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families noted African American and Hispanic/Latinx children are more likely to be substantiated for maltreatment, removed from their homes, and remain in care longer than white children.

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We all have a stake and a role in addressing this issue. We also have a responsibility to speak up in support of policies that put good jobs, safe neighborhoods, consistent health care and great schools within reach for every family. Policies like the Child Tax Credit, which experts have noted has the potential to cut childhood poverty by half, and the recent research from Chapin Hall that shows that providing families with concrete supports like food, cash and housing both strengthens communities and families.

Addressing disproportionality in the child welfare system is one of the key goals of the Child Safety Forward initiative. Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Child Safety Forward is a demonstration initiative to develop multidisciplinary strategies and a public health response to address fatalities or near-death injuries as a result of child abuse and neglect. The initiative takes place across five sites, and the St. Francis site is primarily focused across the Hartford region.

In Hartford, the team faced socioeconomic conditions across the region, including poverty, racially segregated communities and inadequacies in data collection and reporting that have led to limited opportunities for a proactive, preventative approach to addressing child safety. Central to this effort is the data-driven collaborative approach that engages parents alongside grassroots neighborhood organizations, caregivers, health professionals, researchers, foundations, state agencies and others, with a goal of better equipping those with lived experience in the tools and resources they need to help their communities and families thrive.

Armed with data showing a higher-than-average number of unsafe sleep deaths among African American infants, the Hartford Child Safety Forward site was able to work with parents to develop and disseminate culturally appropriate safe sleep messages for communities.

Parents are full members of the Hartford sites stakeholder group, working in partnership with CPS officials, pediatricians, community-based organizations and other service providers. Community organizing and leadership development are among the methods used to build parent confidence and skill to assert the value of their lived experiences. The project helps prepare them to not only speak truth to power but to see themselves as powerful. One outcome of this process is that parents created a list of topics on which they want to be educated so that they can create a comprehensive, proactive child safety curriculum that will be accessible to parents before CPS or law enforcement reports result in being mandated to classes.

By engaging parents as part of the solution and providing them with the tools and resources they need to improve their lives and their families lives, we can continue to support a shift from child welfare systems to child well-being systems that better serve all families. Child protection systems are important but represent only one aspect of a larger network of systems that can promote child and family well-being and unlock childrens full potential.

Regina S. Dyton is principal investigator for the Child Safety Forward Project in Connecticut.
When Bob Saget checked into room 962 at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes in Florida on Jan. 7, the 65-year-old comedian seemed to have the vitality of a man half his age.

"He was cracking jokes, waving to people in the lobby," a hotel employee tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "When people asked for selfies, he would run over and grab their phones to take the pictures with them, joking the whole time. He was a ball happy, positive energy."

But by the time the weekend was over, Saget was found dead in his hotel room bed on Jan. 9, raising many questions on how the beloved actor could have died so suddenly.

The mystery deepened when Chief Medical Examiner Joshua Stephany, MD later revealed in the autopsy that Saget's death was "the result of blunt head trauma," ruling the manner of his passing an accident not tied to any illicit drugs or toxins. Additionally, the comedian's autopsy indicated he had severe fractures to the back of his head and around his eyes when he died.

PEOPLE spoke with several involved in the investigation of Saget's death. "It's definitely an unusual case," an Orange County Sheriff's deputy says. "There are still a lot of unanswered questions."

Bob Saget. (Getty Images)

The last time Saget was caught on surveillance video, he was seen exiting the elevator of the ninth floor and walking down the long hallway towards his room. Authorities who have seen the footage tell PEOPLE that nothing seemed out of the ordinary: Saget showed no sign of distress.

Using his key card, Saget entered his room at 2:17 a.m., hanging a "Do Not Disturb" placard on his doorknob and locking the door from the inside. The door didn't open again until the following afternoon when hotel security found him dead.

Now, investigators have pieced together a theory of how Saget died.

Authorities checked the marble end tables and counters in the bathroom, but found no traces of blood or hair. Now, they believe that Saget lost consciousness in the bathroom and fell backward onto the marble floor, striking his head.

Police believe that a groggy Saget regained consciousness and stumbled into bed, where he again lost consciousness and died. His time of death was estimated to be around 4:00 am, approximately 12 hours before his body was found.

As police move towards closing the investigation into Saget's death, those close to the actor are choosing to focus on the fond memories they had with him.

"We all want to keep Bob's legacy alive," his Full House costar Candace Cameron Bure tells PEOPLE. "I want to share things about Bob and share about the laughs and the good times. That part feels comforting."

For more on the Bob Saget's shocking death, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up this week's issue, on newsstands Friday.
Ireland has branded Russias military assault on Ukraine a murderous act of aggression.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin condemned the latest action by Vladimir Putin on Thursday, as the Department of Foreign Affairs urged all remaining Irish citizens in Ukraine to seek shelter in a secure place.

It advised citizens not to move around the country in the coming hours and to follow the advice of local authorities.

I utterly condemn Russias indefensible attack on the sovereign people of Ukraine. Our first thoughts are with them. We will work with the EU & UN to hold Putin and his regime accountable. Russia will pay a high price for this outrageous act of aggression. We stand with Ukraine.  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 24, 2022

Mr Martin tweeted: I utterly condemn Russias indefensible attack on the sovereign people of Ukraine.

Our first thoughts are with them. We will work with the EU & UN to hold Putin and his regime accountable.

Russia will pay a high price for this outrageous act of aggression. We stand with Ukraine.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said a strong response is needed from the international community.

He said Irelands diplomatic team in Kyiv have moved to a safe place.

Russia has launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them.Rocket attacks & explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly. @dfatirl  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 24, 2022

In a series of tweets on Thursday morning, the minister said: Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them.

Rocket attacks & explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly.

Our thoughts & prayers are with the innocent people of Ukraine, as families wake up to shocking Russian attacks.

Russian leaders are lying to their own people to justify this illegal aggression. We utterly condemn Russia for this act of unjustifiable war in the heart of Europe.

He added: Our diplomatic team in Kyiv has moved to a safe place and we stay in close contact with them. We are working with EU colleagues to ensure their safety.

At the emergency UN Security Council meeting Ireland condemned the decision of Russia to launch a military operation and called on UNSC members to assume their responsibility and to speak out in the strongest possible terms about this act of aggression.
Irish politicians on Thursday urged the Government to respond strongly to the crisis in Ukraine.

Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty urged Tanaiste Leo Varadkar to ensure that there is a clampdown on Russian money moving through the country and called for a humanitarian response in Ukraine.

In a specially convened press conference on Thursday morning, Taoiseach Micheal Martin condemned the outrageous actions of Russia in Ukraine and promised harsh new sanctions from the EU.

He also confirmed that the country will waive visa requirements for Ukrainians seeking to enter Ireland.

Mr Doherty said: I want to begin on behalf of Sinn Fein by expressing our complete opposition to the actions of the Russian government in their violation of Ukraines sovereignty and internationally recognised borders.

And Im sure that all of us here in this Dail are united in our condemnation of the latest actions of Russia overnight.

This morning, weve all witnessed distressing scenes of families fleeing their homes, and very early reports of casualties

We also have our own responsibilities in this regard.

We know that Russia and (Vladimir) Putins inner circle possess large amounts of off-shore wealth.

He said that the Irish financial world is a major source of finance to the Russian economy.

Mr Doherty cited figures showing that 118 billion euros of Russian money were funnelled from Dublin to Russia between 2005 and 2017.

In his response, Mr Varadkar said that Ireland was not neutral on the crisis in Ukraine.

Ireland is militarily neutral, but in this conflict, Ireland is not neutral at all.

Our support for Ukraine is unwavering and unconditional, he said.

This is an act of aggression.

It is unprecedented in the 21st century and gives us grim echoes of a much darker past.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking at Government Buildings in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Ireland has much in common with Ukraine.

And many people of Ukrainian origin have made their home in Ireland and they and their families are in our thoughts.

Mr Varadkar said that Ireland would back tough new sanctions on Russia.

Ireland will not be putting any selfish or economic interests ahead of responses required.

We will support whatever sanctions are necessary including those that would disrupt the banking and financial services that are used by Russians, whether it be in this state, or in other states.

And the same thing applies to aviation as well.

He also accused Sinn Fein of being historically soft on Russia.

Social Democrats TD Cian OCallaghan, in his intervention in the Dail, said: This is not a time for political scoring from any sides of this house.

The world is watching with huge alarm.

He said that he welcomed the decision on a visa waiver, which Mr Varadkar said would likely be operational in the coming hours.

However, Mr OCallaghan warned that it came very late.

He said that in recent weeks Ukrainians in Ireland, trying to secure a visa for family members in the country, had faced huge bureaucratic hurdles.
Three men who plotted to attack electricity substations in a white supremacist bid to sow national unrest pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorism, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

Federal prosecutors in Ohio said the three planned to disrupt the electricity grid in order to sow civil unrest and economic uncertainty in furtherance of their white supremacist cohort. They hoped to cause unrest and trigger a race war, but the plot never really got past the planning stage, prosecutors said.

Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of West Lafayette, Indiana, and of Katy, Texas; and Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty after initially claiming innocence.

The three had planned to kill themselves with "suicide necklaces" containing fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid, if law enforcement came upon them before they were successful, prosecutors said. When police initiated a traffic stop on Sawall and Cook in Ohio before they could carry out key aspects of their plan, Sawall took his portion of fentanyl but survived.

Justice Department officials said the three represented a serious threat to the nation.

These defendants conspired to use violence to sow hate, create chaos, and endanger the safety of the American people, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio said in a statement. As this case shows, federal and state law enforcement agencies are dedicated to working together to protect this country against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, said targeting power plants and water supplies is a common aspiration among white supremacists.

Within both the folklore and history of the racist far rights plotting over decades has been the glorification of leaderless resistance style targeted plots and attacks, ranging from assassination, infrastructure and intimidation for the purpose of advancing an insurgency, in part through destabilization," he said by email.

Frost and Cook met in an online chat group in fall 2019, and Sawall joined the trio by the end of the year, prosecutors said. Frost had the idea of attacking the power grid, and the three set out to recruit possible participants, they said.

Cook maintained the group's ideology by giving his coconspirators a reading list that reenforced white supremacy and "Neo-Nazism," the Justice Department said in a statement.

The trio decided to disable electricity substations in major regions of the nation essentially by shooting at them, prosecutors said. Frost and Cook trained with an Armalite semiautomatic rifle to prepare, they said.

"They had conversations about how the possibility of the power being out for many months could cause war, even a race war, and induce the next Great Depression," according to the Justice Department statement.

The trio initially focused on Columbus, Ohio, where Sawall and Cook painted a swastika with the worlds "Join the Front" under a bridge in early 2020, the Justice Department said.

Cook and Frost then headed to Texas to continue to plan their power disruption. There, Cook tried to recruit teenagers to help the three, prosecutors said.

It's not clear how the plot unraveled and the case remained under seal. The case was investigated by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force in Columbus, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Houston.

The defendants were charged Feb. 7. The allegation of providing material support to terrorism carries with it a maximum sentence of 15 years.

Sentencing was not yet scheduled. Defendants were prosecuted in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Samuel Shamansky, attorney for Frost, described the defendants as misguided young men who went down an internet rabbit hole.

"My client is extremely remorseful for his conduct and understands the potential harm he and his coconspirators could have caused," the lawyer said.

Frost is willing to "remedy" any harm he caused and was "committed to rehabilitation," he said. The defendant has disavowed his white supremacist views, Shamansky said, and now "understands the importance of thinking for himself."

Attorneys for the other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. (Alexei Druzhinin / Associated Press)

As Russia pushes into Ukraine and President Biden marshals the global response, the elephant standing in the shadows is China.

On the surface, Russian President Vladimir Putins attack may seem to hand Chinese leader Xi Jinping a golden opportunity  a chance to pursue the common goal of the two U.S. rivals to damage Washington and its alliances.

But the conflict also puts Xi in an uncomfortable position that ultimately could prove consequential for his country and its relationship with the United States and American allies.

If Putin continues to use military force to re-create his dream of restoring the boundaries of the former Soviet Union, Chinas dual goals of discomfiting the West and benefiting its economy may be hard to maintain.

That is particularly true if China is seen as enabling Putins destabilizing behavior and personal ambitions to restore Russias glory, something China has little self-interest in supporting.

While Russia and China are not formal allies, their strengthening partnership has raised concerns in Washington and other capitals about how well Western powers could combat challenges in a two-front cold war.

The Ukrainian conflict coincides with the 50th anniversary of President Nixons trip to China, meant to diplomatically draw the country away from the Soviet Union. Some in the U.S. have advocated similar efforts to limit Beijing's backing of Moscow, although few see that as likely.

This is a very different world than 50 years ago, said Bin Yu, senior fellow at the Russian Studies Center at East China Normal University in Shanghai. America was on the top, able to deal with both countries. Now America is faced with two large powers.

Beijing has never been a supporter of economic sanctions as a means of upholding international order, let alone when imposed by individual countries. And just as it has done with North Korea, China is expected to quietly help Putin soften the blow of Western measures, whether by providing backdoor channels to facilitate Russian finance and trade, or buying more oil and gas.

Some experts argue that Chinas tacit support has emboldened Putin in his latest military action. With Chinas soft backing, Russia can direct its military power toward Ukraine without worrying about disputes along its China borders.

The Chinese can provide almost everything the Russians need, and Russia in return provides China with more and more energy, Yu said. But the most important thing is this diplomatic support.

The risk is that China may find itself lumped together with Russia in the eyes of the West, alienating many of the nations it now relies on for trade.

One possible outcome of the events [involving Ukraine] is a sharper division of the world into autocracies and democracies. And I think thats a world that China does not benefit from, said Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

China continues to have hope that it can have a somewhat normal relationship with the West, she said. It continues to rely on Western countries for all sorts of technology, and whether were talking about collaborative research or people-to-people exchanges, China does not want to have all that cut off and be seen as in the same camp as Russia.

After Putin's meeting with Xi during the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing, Russia issued a 5,300-word joint statement seeming to declare a new unity with China. It denigrated American political activities, NATO and other Western democratic coalitions, and promised a new partnership with no forbidden areas of cooperation.

But there are strict limits on how far Beijing is likely to go in backing military adventuring by Russia or anyone. Chinas long-professed principle of noninterference in sovereign states is the centerpiece of its foreign policy. Putins military aggression and recognition of separatists in Ukraine clashes with Chinas messages of stability and national sovereignty as sacrosanct.

Many of the world's largest nations were quick to condemn Russias attack on Ukraine. But the response from China reflected Beijing's increasingly close ties with Moscow.

On Wednesday, hours before explosions were reported across major Ukrainian cities and airports, a spokeswoman for Chinas Foreign Ministry blasted the United States as the culprit in the current problems over Ukraine, accusing the U.S. of heightening tensions, creating panic and even hyping up the possibility of warfare.

Many American analysts were puzzled by Beijing's antagonistic statement. But it was a reminder that the Biden White House and Congress have not let up on their criticisms of Chinas human rights abuses in Hong Kong and the western Chinese region of Xinjiang. Nor has the U.S. pulled back from the tariffs and other hard-line policies under former President Trump.

And unlike Trump, Bidens negotiations and strengthening of U.S. alliances, including the security pact with Australia and Great Britain, have put more pressure on Chinese leaders.

Most American analysts as well as some Chinese scholars say Beijing does not want to join with Russia in being isolated from the West. Indeed, China is in a very different situation from Russia. Unlike Russias much smaller and anemic economy dependent on oil and gas, China is the worlds second-largest economy. The Chinese Communist Partys political stability and interests are tied directly to the development of its economy that is deeply intertwined with the U.S., Europe, Japan and other democracies.

Im pretty convinced that the Chinese are not enthusiastic about a bifurcated world order and the emergence of two blocs, said Daniel Russel, a top Asian affairs official in the Obama administration and now a vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute. And if there were two blocs, I dont think Russia would be their choice of preferred parties, certainly not on the economic side.

China does stand to gain some concrete things from its deepened ties with Moscow, notably a stable source of energy in Russias vast oil and gas fields. Beijing also has purchased Russian military technology, including jet engines that China cannot produce by itself. But by and large, experts said, Putin has given up most of the technology Moscow has to offer.

Russia's diplomatic support also could prove valuable, especially over China's claim on Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing considers a part of its territory. As Xi has ratcheted up reunification rhetoric and warplane incursions over the island, some in Taiwan worry that the invasion of Ukraine foreshadows a similar show of force from China.

As for Xis shared interest with Putin in a weakened America and the Western-led connections, so far, Russia's actions in Ukraine seem to have done the opposite: It's strengthened U.S.-led alliances and deepened their resolve, instead of splintering NATO and dividing Washington and its allies. In fact, Glaser thinks that the Putin-Xi statement attacking the West may have been a wake-up call to some Europeans that have been reluctant to go along with the U.S. in pressuring China.

The best outcome for China would have been a diplomatic solution in which NATO says there will be no more expansion, an outcome in which the United States was not closely aligned with its European partners, Glaser said.

In confronting the West, Putin has sought to raise doubts about Americas credibility and deterrence in the eyes of the world, Russel said. To the extent that [other] countries start to question whether the United States can or will actually protect them, the more likely they are to cave under pressure from Beijing to go along [with them]. Thats the central axis of Chinese interests.

In Washington, one important question is whether the closer Moscow-Beijing ties are more than a short-term marriage of convenience. Theres a history of suspicion between the two. Also, Putins unpredictability and the one-sided leverage that Beijing has over Moscow will test their relationship.

Whether China is able to back Putin depends on how much the situation deteriorates. An extended conflict or war could increase economic and political pressure on China as more U.S. allies get involved. China also has economic relations with Ukraine, a trading partner and important hub for its Belt and Road Initiative.

Now things get a lot riskier for China, said Ja Ian Chong, associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore. How much would Beijing want to risk its own ties with the rest of the world?

It's a question that China may not yet have an answer to. Some Chinese policy experts seemed taken aback by the strikes that Russia launched on Thursday. Afterward, the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine notified local citizens to stay home and avoid glass and windows. Those driving long distances should pay attention to refueling opportunities and display a Chinese flag conspicuously on their vehicle, the embassy said.

"The Chinese didnt think that it was going to happen, so there was an element of surprise," said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at Washington-based think tank Stimson Center. "Then again, when this actually happened, they did not see it as a strategic loss. So far, theres no cost to Chinas actions."

Lee reported from Washington. Yang reported from Taipei.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In this October 2021 file photo, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (left) met with Dr. James E. Shmerling, President and Chief Executive Officer at Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

To address deep-rooted staffing issues in pediatric mental health care, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal Wednesday urged a $200 million federal investment in pediatric medical education this year and highlighted funding disparities in medical training.

The docs who are trained to work with children get less funding than the residents and trainees at other hospitals, Blumenthal said. He noted that pediatric training for physicians is effectively funded by annual allocations, rather than by automatic Medicare funding, as it is for other medical education programs.

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The additional funding would strengthen the Childrens Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program, which funds resident training programs at childrens hospitals across the country. Annually, more than 7,000 pediatric residents receive training supported through the program.

Connecticut continues to face a pediatric mental health crisis, which predates but was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Months after facing a surge of children seeking urgent behavioral health care on any given day there are still 30 to 40 children in the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center emergency department, half of whom are waiting for an inpatient bed to become available, said Dr. James E. Shmerling, the hospitals president and chief executive officer.

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[ Connecticut lawmakers unveil comprehensive legislative effort to invest in childrens mental health ]

In recent months, mental health care providers have highlighted workforce issues in their field, particularly involving the recruitment and retention of clinicians, which state legislators have recently made a cornerstone of their effort to address the crisis.

Part of the solution is having a larger workforce, having pediatric-trained psychiatrists and other disciplines that take care of these children, Shmerling said.

Childrens serves as the Department of Pediatrics for the UConn School of Medicine and trains the vast majority of pediatricians in Connecticut, according to Shmerling. Currently, Childrens has about 60 pediatric residents, who train with the institution for three years, as well as 40 fellows who have completed residency and are in sub-specialty training for a few years, he said. Hundreds of other medical students and residents of other disciplines rotate through Childrens.

Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

But ideally, the hospitals training capacity would be much greater, he said: Its probably a quarter of what should be coming through to take care of the demand that were experiencing.

In a letter Wednesday to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat and chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Blumenthal noted that the demand for pediatric mental health care is outpacing supply. A 2019 study found that by 2016, the rate of child psychiatrists to children in the United States stood at about 10 per 100,000 children, though it is estimated that 47 per 100,000 are needed.

Blumenthal conceded that the additional $200 million would represent a temporary fix to the crisis, but said he hopes that it would bridge the funding disparity until the formula could be changed.

We need to change the structure for funding the training of doctors and others who help children, he said. They should not be funded in a second-class way, as they are now.

Eliza Fawcett can be reached at elfawcett@courant.com.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies will impose "severe sanctions" on Russia after its military forces launched an attack on Ukraine, President Biden said after blasts were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other cities.

Biden said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and briefed him on the steps Washington was taking to rally international condemnation of Russia, including at a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

"Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the leaders of the G7, and the United States and our allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia," Biden said in a statement.

Washington would continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and its people, he added, but gave no details.

Earlier, Biden condemned the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who told state television shortly before the onslaught that he had authorized a "special military operation" in eastern Ukraine.

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said in a statement late on Wednesday.

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable."

The White House said Biden would speak in the early afternoon.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on Russia-Ukraine situation from the White House in Washington

Biden said he would monitor the situation from the White House before meeting online with his counterparts from the Group of Seven advanced economies early on Thursday.

Then, he said, he would "speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security."

Biden said Washington would also coordinate with NATO allies "to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the alliance."

Biden, who orchestrated an initial round of Western sanctions this week against Russian oligarchs, financial institutions and exports, had made clear that Moscow would pay a steeper price for continued aggression.

Next steps are likely to include sanctions against more Russian banks, such as Sberbank and VTB, steps to bar U.S. financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian banks, and export controls on U.S. and foreign-made goods.

Such items range from commercial electronics and computers to semiconductors and aircraft parts.

On Wednesday, Washington had already stepped up pressure on Putin with sanctions on the firm building the $11-billion Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and its corporate officers, a move that Biden had waived for months.

Germany froze approvals on Tuesday for the pipeline, which has been built but is not yet in operation, amid concerns it could allow Moscow to weaponize energy supplies to Europe.
By Krisztina Than and Pawel Florkiewicz

WARSAW/BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hundreds of Ukrainians fleeing war with Russia started arriving in neighbouring central European countries on Thursday and the region braced for many more, setting up reception points and sending troops towards the borders to provide assistance.

The countries on the European Union's eastern flank were all once part of the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact and are now members of NATO. Among them, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania all share land borders with Ukraine.

Russia has launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea, the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two. It has fuelled fears of a massive flood of refugees fleeing Ukraine, a nation of 44 million people.

Poland called for the "fiercest possible sanctions" against Russia. Czech President Milos Zeman, long sympathetic to Moscow, called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "madman" and Prague stopped issuing visas to Russians and ordered closure of two Russian consulates.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has also forged good ties with Putin, also condemned Moscow's actions. He said Hungary would prepare humanitarian aid for Ukraine and was ready to receive refugees.

Ukrainians started trickling into Poland, home to the region's largest Ukrainian community of around 1 million and the easiest EU country to reach from Kyiv.

Dozens were arriving at the normally quiet Medyka crossing on Thursday, some carrying luggage and accompanied by children.

Groups of people also fled into Hungary via the Beregsurany and Tiszabecs crossings, some coming from as far as Kyiv, a Reuters eyewitness said. Some arrived by car but many pedestrians were also hauling suitcases across.

Slovak customs officials said passenger cars were having to wait up to eight hours at the busiest of Slovakia's three road crossings with Ukraine.

HOSPITALS ON STANDBY

Poland was preparing a medical train to transport wounded Ukrainians and drew up a list of 1,230 hospitals that could admit the injured, the health ministry said. The Polish army raised the level of preparedness of some units.

"We will do everything to ensure that every person who enters the territory of Poland has access to healthcare, including hospitalisation," the ministry said.

Poland set up reception points for refugees near border crossings.

Slovakia also said it was ready to help refugees.

"Please let's have compassion and understanding for them," Prime Minister Eduard Heger said.

Slovakia will send up to 1,500 troops to its border with Ukraine and additional crossings will be set up, said Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad. Hungary has also said it will send troops to its border to help process refugees.

The governor of Slovakia's eastern Kosice region, Rostislav Trnka, told Reuters around 2,000 beds and some 60 gyms had been prepared to help house refugees.

A Polish government spokesman said Polish diplomatic missions in Ukraine would remain open "as long as possible" but the foreign ministry urged all Polish citizens to leave Ukraine.

Hungary also said its embassy in Kyiv remained open.

The Czech Republic closed its Kyiv embassy but its consulate in the west Ukrainian city of Lviv remained open.

Germany offered humanitarian help to countries bordering Ukraine. German media have cited estimates that between 200,000 and one million people may flee to the EU from Ukraine.

FLIGHTS, TRAIN SERVICES SUSPENDED

The Slovak railway halted services to Ukraine, and budget airline Wizz temporarily suspended all flights in and out of Ukraine. Czech Airlines also suspended flights as Ukraine closed its airspace.

The Czech Republic, which does not border Ukraine but is home to 260,000 Ukrainians, also said it was ready to help refugees. Czech Railways offered rail cars with 6,000 seats and beds to help evacuate people if necessary.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians also work in Slovakia and Hungary, which has a large ethnic minority of around 140,000 living just inside Ukraine's border.

Romania is ready to grant humanitarian aid if needed, President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday. He also called for the "consistent consolidation" of NATO's eastern flank.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said his country was preparing to evacuate by land more than 4,000 ethnic Bulgarians from Ukraine and was ready to host other Ukrainian refugees.

(Reporting by bureaus across Central EuropeWriting by Krisztina Than and Jan LopatkaEditing by Gareth Jones)
In response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the separatist-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine as "independent" states and to attack Ukraine, President Joe Biden announced two waves of sanctions against Russia.

Biden on Tuesday initiated sanctions, warning they could grow more severe. After Russia attacked Ukraine, Biden put in place escalated sanctions on Thursday, though not the full economic punishment Ukraine and others have called for including putting sanctions on Putin himself.

"Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden said Thursday.

MORE: Russia-Ukraine updates

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian state TV earlier this week that Russia was already "used to" sanctions and that it believes more sanctions would be imposed on Moscow regardless of what it does.

"That our [Western] colleagues are trying to push the blame on Russia for the failure of the Minsk agreements, we also understand," he said, referring to a truce Ukraine and separatists signed in 2014. "Our European, American, British colleagues won't stop and won't calm down as long as they haven't exhausted their possibilities for the so-called punishment of Russia."

What are economic sanctions?

Economic sanctions are defined by the Council on Foreign Relations as the withdrawal of customary trade and financial relations for foreign and security policy purposes. The sanctions can be comprehensive, which prohibit economic activity with an entire country, or targeted, which block transactions by and with specific individuals, businesses or groups.

These restrictions are placed on individuals or entities and prevent them from doing business with the country imposing those sanctions. Sanctions put in place by the U.S. government cut off an individual or entities from the American financial system, meaning they can no longer do business in the U.S. and all their assets under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers remarks on developments in Ukraine and Russia, and announces sanctions against Russia, from the East Room of the White House, Feb. 22, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Americans and American businesses are also prohibited from doing business with these institutions, unless authorized by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Sanctions aim to impair the ability of the person or entity from being able to perform basic functions in the international financial system. They are used by the U.S. government depending on foreign policy and national security goals.

What sanctions did the US impose on Russia?

New sanctions were placed on Russia's biggest banks on Thursday, accounting for nearly 80% of all the banking assets in Russia, according to the Department of Treasury.

The new sanctions also targeted Russian elites and families and restrict Russia's ability to raise funds by adding additional prohibitions related to new debt and equity of major Russian state-owned enterprises and large privately owned financial institutions.

The U.S. also on Thursday put in place export controls in an effort to block Russia from being able to import technologies like semiconductors or software, which it needs to build out high-tech industries and the military. The U.S. sought to block Russia from importing these technologies manufactured anywhere in the world, so long as they contain American-developed components.

"There aren't a lot of semiconductors in the world that don't have an American component," said Tom Graham, an expert on Russia at the Council on Foreign Relations, to ABC News.

MORE: Biden announces new sanctions on Russian banks, elites but not yet on Putin himself

This follows an initial wave of sanctions placed on two Russian state-owned financial institutions and five Kremlin-connected elite on Tuesday, which targeted the Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs, which is known as Vnesheconombank (VEB), and Promsvyazbank Public Joint Stock Company (PSB), along with 42 of their subsidiaries.

These sanctions, which targeted institutions specific to raising funds and Russia's defense sector, instead of institutions that ordinary Russians use, were not the most severe option available. This was a tactic, according to Julia Friedlander, a former Treasury Department official who worked on sanctions policy.

"The idea is that you can't blow all your options at once," Friedlander, who is now a fellow at the Atlantic Council, said earlier this week. "If you blow all your fire now, then what is Russia's incentive to hold back?"

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, VEB is crucial to Russia's ability to raise funds, and PSB is critical to Russia's defense sector. The two institutions and their subsidiaries hold combined assets worth tens of billions of dollars.

"Today's action constrains Russia's ability to finance defense-related contracts and raise new funds to finance its campaign against Ukraine," the Department of Treasury said in a statement Tuesday.

PHOTO: Russian armored vehicles are loaded onto railway platforms at a railway station in region not far from Russia-Ukraine border, in the Rostov-on-Don region, Russia, Feb. 23, 2022. (AP)

VEB, which finances Russia's national economic development, has an asset portfolio of $53 billion, making it one of Russia's top five financial institutions, according to the Treasury Department. Some of VEB's sanctioned subsidiaries include banks and other financial firms, electronic component producers and a coal mining group in Russia and three other countries.

PSB, Russia's eighth-largest bank, was designated by the government to finance the Russian Ministry of Defense and defense sector, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury. It services nearly 70% of Russia's defense contracts and provides banking and personal finance to Russian military personnel.

Influential Russians and their family members who are in Putin's inner circle and believed to be participating in the Russian regime's "kleptocracy" -- including the chairman and CEO of PSB -- were also sanctioned, the Department of Treasury said.

Will the sanctions have an effect?

The U.S. and its allies went after Russia's biggest banks in the second wave of sanctions announced Thursday, which would leave a greater impact on its economy, experts told ABC News.

"The bottom line is that these sanctions will have a significant impact on Russia's overall economy, and average Russians will feel the cost," Clay Lowery, executive vice president for the Institute of International Finance (IIF), a trade association that represents global banks, said in a statement Thursday. "These sanctions target Russia's domestic financial system, causing bank runs and forcing Russia's central bank to continue hiking rates."

The U.S. said it wanted to minimize the impact of sanctions on ordinary Russians, putting less severe restrictions on the country's largest bank, Sberbank, which handles a lot of pensions and salaries. The ordinary Russian won't be as directly impacted, but they will likely suffer from the many effects of a weakened economy.

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Feb. 11, 2022. (Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, FILE)

"The whole idea is to destabilize the economy financially," said Maria Shagina, a sanctions expert at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. "The indirect impact will reverberate through the whole system."

Jeffrey Schott, a trade expert at the Peterson Institute of International Economics, said the export controls are a significant step meant to "degrade" Russia's economy over the long-term.

"Those export controls won't have an immediate impact on Russian capabilities," he said. "They will have a corrosive effect on the development and growth of Russian industry and military. The damage builds up over time."

Schott said this is a strategy that has worked during the trade war between the U.S. and China in 2019. The U.S. imposed export controls on Chinese tech giant Huawei, which has been successful in hampering the company's access parts to make smartphones and other technologies.

MORE: As Putin eyes Ukraine invasion, Trump praises his actions as 'genius'

Russia has been preparing for sanctions, said Andrew Lohsen, a former officer with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, earlier this week. Sberbank has reportedly been testing its ability to survive without access to Western software. It also has hundreds of billions in foreign currency reserves and in a national wealth fund.

"The Russian economy has worked to sanction-proof itself since 2014," Lohsen, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told ABC News. "But at the end of the day, my concern is that Russia will just force its citizens to tighten its belts and will just proceed with this empire building project that it's set for itself in Ukraine."

He questioned whether the limited sanctions put in place earlier this week will be enough to deter Russia.

"Can anything deter Putin," he said, "short of return fire?"

ABC News' Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.

What to know about economic sanctions and how they will affect Russia originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Hes taking mudslinging to a new level.

A candidate challenging Rep. Lauren Boebert for her congressional seat in Colorado announced his entrance to the race with an ad featuring flying cow feces.

We are real Coloradans, candidate Alex Walker says in the ad. We deserve a living wage, small government that actually works and freedom of choice. Instead, we have bulls---.

(Warning: Video contains explicit language)

In the ad, Walker says Boebert is to blame for the cow excrement that real Coloradans have to deal with. He drives the point home with a Faux-Boebert spraying it across her office.

Walker, a political newcomer, is the 11th Democrat to enter the race for Colorados 3rd District, according to the Denver Post. All of Boeberts potential Democratic opponents, who must first win a primary before even facing Boebert, have raised much less money than her.

Boebert, a QAnon supporter, stunned political observers by taking down Scott Tipton in the 2020 Republican primary. Tipton was a five-term Republican representative who had been endorsed by then-President Donald Trump.

The 35-year-old outsider quickly made a name for herself with blatant anti-Muslim bigotry and misspelled demands to imeach Biden. Boebert is often named alongside Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) among the influx of far-right Republicans in Congress.

Colorados 3rd District leans Republican; 52% of its voters chose Trump in both 2016 and 2020. According to the Denver Post, the person with the best chance of beating Boebert is fellow Republican and Colorado state senator Don Coram.
BRUSSELS (AP)  NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Thursday that the military alliance would defend every inch of its territory should Russia attack a member country, as he slammed Moscow for launching a brutal act of war on Ukraine.

Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on its neighbor, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling. Ukraines government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border and accused Moscow of unleashing a full-scale war.

Speaking after chairing an emergency meeting of NATO envoys, Stoltenberg said the 30-nation security alliance will continue to beef up its defenses on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia. He said U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts will hold an online summit on Friday.

Russia has attacked Ukraine. This is a brutal act of war. Our thoughts are with the brave people of Ukraine," Stoltenberg told reporters. Peace in our continent has been shattered. We now have war in Europe, on a scale and of a type we thought belong to history."

NATO is the strongest alliance in history, and make no mistake we will defend every ally against any attack on every inch of NATO territory, he said at the organization's Brussels headquarters. An attack on one ally will trigger a response from the whole alliance."

During the meeting, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia triggered urgent consultations under Article 4 of NATO's founding Washington Treaty. These are launched when the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the (NATO) parties is threatened.

Stoltenberg said that NATO has decided to activate emergency planning to allow commanders to move forces more quickly. He spoke shortly after envoys to the trans-Atlantic alliance agreed to further beef up its land, sea and air forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia.

We have decided, in line with our defensive planning to protect all allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense across the Alliance, the ambassadors said in a statement. Our measures are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory.

Lithuania declared a state of emergency in a decree signed by President Gitanas Nauseda in response to Russia's attack. The Baltic countrys parliament was expected to approve the measure in an extraordinary session later Thursday.

The measure, in effect until March 10, allows for a more flexible use of state reserve funds and increased border protection, giving border guards greater authorities to stop and search individuals and vehicles in border areas.

NATO member Lithuania borders Russias Kaliningrad region to the southwest, Belarus to the east, Latvia to the north and Poland to the south.

While some of NATOs 30 member countries are supplying arms, ammunition and other equipment to Ukraine, NATO as an organization isnt. It wont launch any military action in support of Ukraine, which is a close partner but has no prospect of joining.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, however, said in a joint statement: We would need to urgently provide Ukrainian people with weapons, ammunition and any other kind of military support to defend itself as well as economic, financial and political assistance and support, humanitarian aid."

The most effective response to Russias aggression is unity, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas tweeted. Russias widespread aggression is a threat to the entire world and to all NATO countries.

NATO began beefing up its defenses in northeastern Europe after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014. It has around 5,000 troops and equipment stationed there, but those forces have been beefed up with troops and equipment from several countries in recent months.

A first step now could be to activate the NATO Response Force, which can number up to 40,000 troops. A quickly deployable land brigade that is part of the NRF  made up of around 5,000 troops and run by France alongside Germany, Poland, Portugal and Spain  is already on heightened alert.

Some NATO members have also sent troops, aircraft and warships to the Black Sea region, near allies Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. The Pentagon has also put up to 8,500 U.S. troops on heightened alert, so they will be prepared to deploy if needed to reassure other allies.

___

Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark and Jari Tanner in Helsinki, contributed to this report.
A Ukrainian soldier keeps watch on the front line with Russia-backed separatists near the town of Shchastia in Luhansk, Ukraine. (Anatolii Stepanov /AFP, via Getty Images)

Several explosions were reportedly heard outside the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, early Thursday, as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his forces were conducting a military operation to disarm the country but not take it over.

Smoke pours from a building in Chuguiv, a Ukrainian town near Kharviv, after it was attacked Thursday. (Aris Messinis / AFP via Getty Images)

Hundreds of people seek shelter underground in a metro subway station as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region on Feb. 24. (Anatolii Stepanova/AFP via Getty Images)

A man uses a carpet to cover a body stretched out on the ground after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

An injured man waits to receive medical assistance after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

A woman and child peer out of the window of a bus as they leave Sievierodonetsk, in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. (Vadim Ghirda/Associated Press)

Damaged radar arrays and other equipment smolder after a missile strike outside Mariupol, Ukraine. (Sergei Grits / Associated Press)

Russian military vehicles move toward the border in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A Ukrainian serviceman speaks on a walkie-talkie at his position near rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine. (Evgeniy Maloletka / Associated Press)

A wounded woman whose apartment complex was damaged by an airstrike outside Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A man mourns near a body after an airstrike at an apartment complex outside Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Residents leave Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, after Russian missile strikes. (Pierre Crom / Getty Images)

A woman walks away from a line for the ATM as people try to obtain cash as news of Russia invading Ukraine continues to dominate the headlines, in Slovyansk, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Civilians are evacuated from the Donetsk region, under the control of pro-Russia separatists. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Girls hold their mobile phones as they take refuge in a Kyiv metro station. (Daniel Leal / AFP, via Getty Images)

People stand at the doorway to a basement they use as a bomb shelter in the town of Shchastia, near the eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk. (Aris Messinis / AFP, via Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall to mark the Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow on Wednesday. (Alexey Nikolsky / Sputnik)

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Democratic plan for a statewide property tax on mansions with a market value of more than $1.8 million would impact homes like this one in Greenwich. The mansion pictured along Long Island Sound is in the town's Indian Harbor section, where then-developer and future president Donald J. Trump owned a waterfront mansion on Vista Drive. (Photo by Christopher P. Keating)

HARTFORD  With the state projecting a surplus of $1.5 billion in the current fiscal year, Gov. Ned Lamont and some legislators have been pushing repeatedly to avoid any tax increases during an election year.

But the tax-writing finance committee voted Wednesday to hold a public hearing on creating a new statewide property tax on mansions with a market value of more than $1.8 million. The annual tax would be two mills, and the money would be used to help fund the Sheff vs. ONeill education desegregation settlement and special education costs for the towns.

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But some moderate Democrats, such as Rep. Stephen Meskers of Greenwich and Chris Ziogas of Bristol, voted against the idea. The additional property tax would have a major impact in Greenwich, where the median sales price in 2021 was $2.3 million. The average price was more than $3 million as it was boosted by the sale of high-end mansions, according to local real estate statistics.

Rep. Sean Scanlon, a Guilford Democrat who co-chairs the committee, told colleagues that they were taking not a vote for or against the concept. It is for or against having a hearing on it.

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But Rep. Holly Cheeseman, the ranking House Republican, said the prospects are dim because Lamont, a longtime Greenwich resident, had opposed a similar version last year.

This is not going anywhere, Cheeseman said before voting against the hearing.

Lamonts chief spokesman, Max Reiss, said that Lamont has been promoting tax cuts, not tax increases.

Thanks to our third consecutive year of budget surpluses, Gov. Lamont is focused on providing responsible tax relief to Connecticut families, Reiss said. However, his administration is reviewing the proposal, as we do with all legislation.

The bill is being pushed by Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, a liberal Democrat who is one of the most influential legislators and a key player in negotiating the state budget with Lamont. He says officials need to look at taxes on a statewide basis and not strictly on a town-by-town basis.

The tax would apply annually to homes with a market value of more than $1.8 million, meaning an assessed value of $1.2 million as the assessment is 70% of the market value. The tax could raise as much as $86 million per year.

We have to look at other options to the tax structure that we have now, Looney said in an interview. The thing about the property tax is  the positive is its reliable and collectible. The negative is it tends to be regressive.'

The measure, which passed by 32 to 18, now goes to a public hearing in the coming weeks. The committees deadline for voting on the bill is April 7, and lawmakers intend to vote on Lamonts entire $24.2 billion budget before the legislative session ends on May 4.

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Lamont has proposed a $336 million package that would reduce taxes on residential real estate and cars. Within income limits, the property tax credit would be restored to all residential property owners. Currently, the credit is limited only to those with dependents and those over the age of 65.

Under Lamonts plan, an additional 500,000 people would become eligible for the property tax credit for the 2022 calendar year  and they would receive the credit when they file their state income taxes in April 2023. The property tax portion of the plan would save taxpayers a combined $53 million, and the credit would be limited to single filers earning up to $109,500 and joint filers earning up to $130,500.

The governors budget office estimates the current surplus at $1.5 billion, which represents 7.3% of the general fund budget. The projected surplus for the once-troubled Special Transportation Fund is now $275 million in the current fiscal year. In addition, the states rainy day fund for fiscal emergencies is expected to grow to $5.6 billion later this year if fiscal trends continue. That total would be reduced when money is taken out to pay off long-term pension debt.

The tax committee also voted Wednesday to hold a hearing for a personal income tax deduction for the first time for installing residential charging stations for electric cars. The deduction would be a maximum of $2,500. The measure was introduced by Rep. Lucy Dathan, a Democrat who represents New Canaan and Norwalk.

But Rep. Devin Carney, a Republican from Old Lyme, questioned why we would give a tax credit for something that very few can afford.

Some electric cars have been highly expensive in recent years, but advocates say that the prices will eventually come down as battery technology improves, production increases, and the cars become more commonplace.

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Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
By Julia Harte

(Reuters) - Protests against Russia's invasion of Ukraine are planned in several major U.S. cities on Thursday, calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt a missile and troop assault as U.S. President Joe Biden maps out his response.

The earliest known protest occurred outside Russia's embassy in Washington around 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT) on Thursday, shortly after news broke that Russian forces had launched a massive attack against its neighbor.

Local news reports showed dozens of protesters in the U.S. capital waving Ukrainian flags and chanting "stop Russian aggression."

Additional protests are scheduled for later on Thursday in Washington, New York City, Houston, and Denver, according to social media posts. Similar rallies took place in cities around the world on Thursday.

Russia's invasion, the biggest attack by one country against another in Europe since World War Two, has left many Ukrainian-Americans fearful for the safety of loved ones still residing in the eastern European country.

One of the people at Washington's early-morning protest, which dispersed before sunrise, told Washington television station WUSA that he had been pleading with his parents and sister to leave and get to safety for weeks, to no avail.

Dozens of Ukrainians began fleeing the country into Poland after Russia's assault began on Thursday, some taking only what they could carry and leaving behind possessions and pets.

In Russia, protest against the invasion of Ukraine has been stifled. A Moscow-based opposition activist, Marina Litvinovich, was detained by Russian police on Thursday after she called for anti-war protests in the country.

(Reporting by Julia Harte; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled the start of a military operation in Ukraine early Thursday morning local time, announcing that Russian troops would enter Ukraine's Donbas region. The territory is held by Russian-backed separatists, and Putin declared it independent of Ukraine earlier this week.

I have decided to conduct a special military operation, Putin said in a speech broadcast on Russian television. Russia cannot exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine.

Experts described the move, which was reported by the Russian state news agency Tass, as a de facto declaration of war. Putin has declared war on Ukraine, tweeted Alexander Vindman, a retired United States Army lieutenant colonel who was the director for European affairs on the National Security Council under President Donald Trump. The objective is to demilitarize and pacify Ukraine. This is basically the worst case scenario ... Putin wants to destroy Ukraines armed forces and install a puppet regime.

Russian-speaking journalists echoed Vindman's assessment. "Putin said that he will 'denazify and demilitarize Ukraine' and bring those responsible for 'war crimes' to trial," tweeted Julia Ioffe of Puck News. "Not the Donbas, Ukraine. All of it."

CNN immediately reported that its team on the ground is hearing several loud explosions near Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. The New York Times posted video of explosions visible near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Ukraine's Interior Ministry reportedly confirmed that Kyiv is under aerial attack. It also said Russian troops landed in Odessa.

The invasion has begun, the ministry said in a statement.

Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba tweeted, Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes.

President Biden released a statement condemning the unprovoked and unjustified attack.

On Tuesday, Putin deployed troops to the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine, having previously surrounded the country with more than 150,000 troops on its borders. That same day, the United States and its European allies imposed economic sanctions on Russia in response.

President Vladimir Putin delivering a video address to the Russian people on Monday. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters)

Tomorrow, I will meet with my G-7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security, Biden said in his statement on Putin's latest move, late Wednesday night in Washington. We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance.

At the same time that Putin made his announcement, the United Nations Security Council was holding an emergency meeting at Ukraines request at which member states criticized Russia for creating the conflict. At that meeting, representatives of numerous countries condemned Russia's invasion. We urge Russia to cease its military operation and withdraw its troops," said Germany's U.N. ambassador, Antje Leendertse.

Just hours earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday but that the Kremlin didnt respond.

In an impassioned plea directly to the Russian people, Zelensky said: The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves."

According to the Washington Post, state-controlled Russian newscasts have depicted Ukraine as a nation run by Nazis threatening Moscow.

The Ukraine on your news and Ukraine in real life are two completely different countries  and the main difference is ours is real, Zelensky, who is Jewish, said. You are told that we are Nazis. How could a people that lost more than 8 million people in the fight against Nazism support Nazism? How could I be a Nazi?
By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia's invasion of Ukraine brought no pause to partisan squabbling in the U.S. Congress on Thursday, as some Republicans blasted Democratic President Joe Biden's handling of the crisis and called on him to "change course" in his response.

Some Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives blamed Biden for failing to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from sending forces into Ukraine and called on the U.S. president to take a stronger position on the largest conflict in Europe since World War Two.

"There's no doubt that weakness leads to war," Representative Brian Mast, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a Thursday morning tweet. "Putin once said the collapse of the Soviet empire was the 'greatest geopolitical catastrophe' of the past century for Russia. For America, President Biden may be the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of this century."

The invasion of Ukraine followed months of Russian military buildup along the country's borders, leading to frantic diplomacy and sanctions from the United States and NATO that failed to prevent the incursion. Biden plans an address to the nation at 12:30 p.m. EST (1730 GMT).

"Almost 12 hours since Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and the only response we've gotten from Biden is a Zoom call. Where's Biden? He's the leader of the free world. It's time to start acting like it," Representative Carlos Gimenez wrote on Twitter.

Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as the invasion began late on Wednesday, convened his National Security Council on Thursday, and met with his counterparts from the Group of Seven allies to map out more severe responses.

"The president must change course or our deterrent posture will continue to collapse, chaos will continue to spread and eventually no one will trust America's promises or fear America's power," said Representative Mike Gallagher, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Former President Donald Trump  who even out of office remains the most powerful voice in the Republican Party  had threatened during his four years in office to leave NATO, calling the military alliance "obsolete." He withdrew the United States from international agreements  including the Paris Climate Accord, which it has since rejoined  and pulled out of a pact in which Iran had curbed its uranium enrichment program, a possible pathway to nuclear arms, which is now being renegotiated.

Trump, who has expressed admiration for Putin, described the Russian leader's actions leading up to invasion as "genius," "smart" and "pretty savvy."

ELECTIONS LOOMING

The response among congressional Republicans  blaming Biden, calling for stronger sanctions and warning against any use of U.S. troops in Ukraine  largely mirrored the sentiments of Republican voters, as lawmakers approach the Nov. 8 midterm elections that will determine the balance of power in Congress ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Only 34% of Americans  including just 12% of Republicans  approved of the way Biden was handling the crisis in the run-up to the invasion, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted Tuesday and Wednesday.

Twenty-five percent of Republicans polled said Biden was primarily to blame for the conflict, with 46% saying Putin was primarily to blame. Nearly one in five was unsure who to blame.

Senator Mitt Romney, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a moderate voice in his party, offered broader criticism that also blamed U.S. responses to Russia by former Presidents Barack Obama and Trump while evoking the Reagan era's tough posture against the former Soviet Union.

"Putin's impunity predictably follows our tepid response to his previous horrors in Georgia and Crimea, our naive efforts at a one-sided 'reset,' and the shortsightedness of 'America First.' The '80s called' and we didn't answer," Romney said in a statement.

Senator Dan Sullivan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned that Putin's action had changed the global landscape for the Americans and their Western allies.

"We must wake up to the fact that this new era of authoritarian aggression will likely be with us for decades. We need to face it with strategic resolve and confidence," the Alaska Republican said.

(Reporting by David Morgan, additional reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis)
Inside the dining room at the recently reopened Here's Looking At You in Koreatown. (Silvia Razgova / For The Times)

Ding ding. The tinny chime of a twice-tapped service bell  the analogue silver dome once used to summon hotel desk clerks  pierces the din of the packed 50-seat dining room as Drakes Fake Love pounds from the speakers. Chef Jonathan Whitener, impossible to miss with his towering height, shouts one word from the kitchen: Scallop!

A server races across the floor to pick up the plate and then disappears behind the wall of people filling every seat at the bar to deliver it. More chimes, another shout and soon an order of scallops arrives at our table. Theyre the small, sweet, bay variety, a winter treat from the Gulf Coast, arranged in a pool of gently smoked soy sauce brightened by yuzu juice. A slurry of passion fruit pulp and seeds glosses the cluster of pink-beige scallops. Elements of the flavors suggest ponzu, and the whole dish seems to riff on a Peruvian style of ceviche, but its a pleasure to eat without any context beyond its own deliciousness. Tart and citrusy and salty, it pairs smartly with a mai tai given unexpected depth from house-aged Jamaican rum.

Salt and pepper frog's legs with salsa negra at Here's Looking At You. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

I sip my drink while gazing around the room at the unblushing curios that define the spaces decor: blowfish taxidermy; two stuffed oryx heads glancing away from a picture window that looks out onto one of Koreatowns densely commercial blocks; and a portrait of a Christlike figure sporting a rainbow flag kaftan.

Lien Ta, the front-of-house virtuoso and Whiteners business partner, whizzes by and notices me staring at the art.

Nice to see things returned to their rightful place, I say.

She looks around and her eyes, above a black mask, flash equal cheer and weariness. Yup, we dug everything out of storage, she says. Glad they didnt get lost.

The entirety of Ta and Whiteners restaurant Heres Looking at You could have vanished forever as one of the pandemics countless casualties. And yet here it is, reopened in January in its original location after a 17-month hiatus. Its comeback is no out-of-the-blue miracle for its owners: They had to weigh nearly two years of back-rent, debt and responsibility to employees against the wager of customers returning nightly to one of the citys quirkiest, most ambitious havens for modern Angeleno cooking.

Considering the obstacles, though, the return of HLAY (as its called by most everyone who knows the place) still feels like an act of grace for its enthusiasts, me among them.

Here's Looking At You owners Lien Ta and Jonathan Whitener outside their re-opened restaurant in Koreatown. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Ta and Whitener met while working at Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolos Animal. Three years later they opened HLAY in a corner space on West 6th Street and South Oxford Avenue that had previously housed a restaurant devoted to cheesesteaks, and a psychic reader before that. Ta had envisioned a small bar serving a menu centered on Vietnamese flavors. What they ended up creating was something far more broadly idiosyncratic. A reductive description like global small plates plus brainy cocktails doesnt convey the improbable, thrilling combination of ingredients that Whitener grafted with skill and imagination. Scorched shishitos served in a bowl over creamy tonnato dusted with powdered huamei (Chinese preserved plums)? Unorthodox, wonderful and perfectly Los Angeles.

Allan Katz and Danielle Crouch designed the original bar program, a collision of tiki updates, martinis stained purple-blue with violet liqueur and a wild fizz employing Angostura bitters, mango nectar, coconut cream and aquafaba. The blaring hip-hop and tight, in-it-together seating navigated by upbeat servers kept pace with the culinary energy.

HLAYS scrappy, scrunched brand of creativity was not designed to withstand COVID-19. Ta and Whitener tried, as they scrambled to also sustain All Day Baby, their second restaurant that opened in Silver Lake in late 2019. There was no possibility for outdoor dining at HLAY. They held taco pop-ups, reluctantly joined the delivery apps, and tempted with burgers and takeout cocktails. They sold T-shirts and donated the proceeds to the NAACP. Business stalled while expenses piled up.

We are closing Heres Looking at You, Ta posted on Instagram on July 8, 2020. For now. On paper, this is temporary. But, of course, you dont need us to tell you that life is super-duper uncertain right now.

Ta and Whiteners landlord urged them to sell the restaurant. A low-ball offer came in and then lingered too long in escrow; after nearly a year, during a hopeful moment in early June 2021, all parties agreed that HLAY deserved another shot at life. The duo planned quietly for months and announced its resurrection in November. Ta set up a GoFundMe page for the restaurant that eventually raised over $85,000. The dining room, with its abstractly Midcentury Modern vibe, was reassembled. Health concerns and staffing shortages due to the omicron variant pushed the reopening back from mid-December to early January.

A view of the bar at HLAY. (Silvia Razgova / For The Times)

The starting food menu  pared to a dozen or so in-flux dishes, roughly half the number of options in early 2020  largely draws on previous favorites. Its a heartening act, disappearing again into the high-acid, full-throttle creations that could come only from Whiteners mind and hands: The salt-and-pepper frogs legs cut with lime juice and splattered with salsa negra. The smooth swoosh of whipped chicken liver swiped with crusty bread and a few drops of smoked maple syrup. Steak tartare channeling Korean galbi, potent with chile and tamari and mellowed with egg yolk. The chopped broccoli salad with its separate, immaculate mounds of nuts, seeds, pickled ginger, sliced jalapenos and tiny popcorn; stir it together into an earthy, crunchy, avant-garde party snack.

A hefty rib-eye gilded with fermented radish butter returns as the baller splurge. There are reds from the Loire or Rhone to drink with it; theyll taste grown-up and grounded after an opening round of mai tais or bourbon laced with sweet potato liqueur and crowned with toasted marshmallows.

Are the tomatoes sprinkled with frizzled lap xuong and splashed with bagna cauda  one of Whiteners most-missed signatures  out of season and a little cottony? Do I wish I could have caught the tangerine-scented duck confit, with the crackling skin that looks so hypnotic in social media pics but is always sold out whenever I try to order it? Small qualms are insignificant when there is so much to celebrate.

Whitener has an ideal counterpart in pastry chef Thessa Diadem. Her desserts at HLAY, as at All Day Baby, stretch notions of spice and degrees of sweetness without tipping into absurdity. Her warm, chewy chestnut mochi bathe in muscovado caramel and coconut cream with a finishing shower of crushed halva. So many layers of texture and flavor. Same with a frozen cloud of pear soda foam, dotted with sorrel granita and hiding avocado leaf gelee and tapioca pearls soaked in fermented honey milk. It sounds aggressively vegetal, but the final effect is one of restraint, and the combination is soothing and head-clearing.

Roasted chestnut mochi from pastry chef Thessa Diadem. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

It makes sense for the team to glance back at the near-past when reorienting to the present. Im excited, though, for a taste of whats next at HLAY. Were in a time when many of the conspicuous new restaurants in Los Angeles are opening in hotels or are part of international chains and well-funded restaurant groups. They have their place: They provide jobs, and they feed people familiar foods that are easy to swallow in a prolonged era of uncertainly. But the soul of dining in Los Angeles resides in leaders like Ta and Whitener. Their kind of will to survive engenders the freshest ideas, the most provocative meals and the truest insights into bettering the business of restaurants.

How often do we get a second chance to cherish something we were certain had left our lives for good? In his 2019 book Becoming a Restaurateur, for which he chose HLAY as the primary subject, former Los Angeles magazine restaurant critic Patric Kuh notes a 2005 Ohio State University study that found 59% of restaurants fail within the first three years. The industry is brutal. So make a reservation and show up for it. Take in the hopeful look in Ta's eyes as she shows you to a table or bar seat. Order the shishitos. Have a second Angostura fizz. That a restaurant this small and this vital has fought its way back into the world should feel like a triumph for all of us.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
People leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, as Russian forces moved into the country Thursday. (Pierre Crom / Getty Images)

As explosions battered Ukraine on Thursday, leaders from across the globe decried Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to launch an unprovoked military invasion on a continent that many believed had long ago shaken off the scourge of war.

In Colombia, President Ivan Duque called the invasion a threat to world peace.

In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack as an attempt to redraw Europes borders and wipe an entire country off the world map.

And in Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on other nations to come to the aid of a country that for decades has enjoyed freedom and democracy and the right to choose its own destiny.

We, and the world, cannot allow that freedom just to be snuffed out, he said.

The chorus of harsh rebukes, coupled with new rounds of economic sanctions that aim to isolate Moscow and weaken its war effort, belied an anxiety over what the Ukraine invasion means not just for Europe, but for the global world order.

What is at stake is the stability of Europe and the whole international order, said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Unions executive arm.

Some leaders voiced a fear that Putins attacks could encourage similar transgressions from other authoritarian governments. Bolstering those concerns  and contributing to the sense of a growing global rift  were the tepid reactions of some of Russias top allies, including China, which declined to condemn Russias actions and moved Thursday to approve imports of wheat from Russia, a move that could reduce the impact of Western sanctions.

Speaking at a regularly scheduled news conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying refused to call the assault on Ukraine an invasion, saying that the term is prejudiced and that the conflict was the result of a very complicated historical background.

This is perhaps a difference between China and Westerners, Hua said. We wont go rushing to a conclusion.

China and Russia, which have fortified political and economic ties in recent years, share a frustration over what they believe is the unfair American influence in world affairs as well as the eastward expansion of NATO, the U.S.-European military alliance.

Chinas reaction to the crisis is being closely watched because of its long-standing desire to take control of Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing considers a breakaway territory.

Other Russian allies, such as Iran and Venezuela, also failed to condemn the invasion, with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro saying his country would give its full support to Putin in his brave defense of his people and his homeland.

Still, across much of the world, official reaction to the invasion was outrage, with Russia condemned by both right-wing and leftist governments across Latin America, Africa and Asia.

I will call it what it is, said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who said his nation was issuing sanctions against Russia that would take effect Friday. The Russian government launched a brutal invasion, unprovoked.

In Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned what he termed a full-scale invasion, saying the Russian attack shakes the foundation of the international order.

Japan, which has a long-running territorial dispute with Russia near its northern prefecture of Hokkaido, said it was considering releasing oil reserves to help blunt the sharp rise in crude prices, which reached $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014.

Everyday citizens also condemned the invasion, some taking to the streets to make their feelings known.

In Washington, protesters wrote murder in red paint on the driveway outside the Russian Embassy.

In Berlin, thousands gathered at the Brandenburg Gate, which marked the division between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, chanting: Stop Putin, stop war.

In London, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Downing Street to call on the British government to do more to stop Russian aggression. Many were Ukrainians living in London who said they were heartbroken and terrified at the unfolding news. Some held signs showing an image of Putin with blood on his hands.

Opposition to Russias attack, the harshest military action in Europe since World War II, was particularly strong across the continent.

Innumerable missiles and bombs have been raining down on an entirely innocent population, Johnson said in a somber video address in which he announced he was freezing the assets of all large Russian banks and barring Russian companies and the Kremlin from raising money on British markets.

This hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure, he said.

On the streets of London, where some can still remember the drone of air raid sirens more than 75 years ago, images of Ukrainians huddling in subway stations to protect themselves from bombs were unsettling.

Irina Jarrett, 72, a Russian native who lives in London, said she had to turn off news of the invasion because it was too upsetting.

For me, its devastating, she said. It upsets me so much. Its just full-scale war.

I dont know how a monster like this could exist and rewrite history, she said of Putin. He wants a war and he will have a war.

Ruediger Jaeger, 55, of Berlin said he was terrified.

Ive never experienced anything as dangerous as this in my lifetime, he said. This feels a bit like the early 1980s during the Cold War. That was already pretty scary, but now bombs are are falling just 1,300 kilometers away.

Others were concerned about the economic impact of the war, which momentarily sent stocks tumbling and oil prices surging amid fears of higher costs for food and fuel. In Europe, some also braced for a possible wave of Ukrainian refugees fleeing west for safety.

Im worried that hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers will end up coming to Germany, said Joerg Quitt, 60, an engineer in Berlin.

The European Union says it is prepared for that eventuality  mindful of the 2015 migrant crisis that saw 1 million newcomers, many of them escaping warfare in Syria, arrive on European shores and lead to bitter divisions within the 27-nation bloc.

We have, with all the front-line member states, now explicit contingency plans to welcome and host immediately those refugees from Ukraine who start arriving, Von der Leyen said Thursday.

Linthicum reported from Mexico City, Chu from London and Pierson from Singapore. Special correspondents Christina Boyle in London, Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin and Cecilia Sanchez in Mexico City contributed to this report.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Betty Endale was worried, the Kyiv-based musician told Yahoo News around 5 a.m. local time on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin had just announced he was sending troops into her country, and Ukraines banks and government ministries had already been hit the day before by another round of cyberattacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had telephoned Putin shortly after midnight on Thursday, but his call wasnt put through. Shortly thereafter he declared a state of emergency that morphed, as Russian troops advanced, into martial law.

Minutes after Putin announced his plans Thursday morning to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine, Endales frightened parents phoned her from the northeastern city of Kharkiv, having been woken by explosions. Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, was under attack by Russia, missile fire lighting up the night sky. Then explosions began booming on the outskirts of Kyiv, and Ukrainian television news told of other attacks in cities from Odessa in the south to Donetsk in the east. As Endale watched, air raid sirens rang in Kyiv.

She fled to a friends apartment, discovering in the dim morning light that a missile had exploded in a building a few doors from her apartment. This is a surreal moment, she said, echoing others who spoke of disbelief at Putins apparent decision to attack Ukraine from all sides.

An explosion near Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on Thursday. (Reuters)

The citys airport had been closed, reportedly attacked and damaged by Russian drones and missiles. Traffic jams clogged the highways as many Kyiv residents headed west to cities like Lviv or toward the Polish border. Security checkpoints had hastily gone up in every city, and police patrolled the streets. Some people in Kyiv hunkered down in their basements or huddled in their living rooms watching reports on TV. Others, with children and pets in tow, headed to subway stations that doubled as bomb shelters. Everyone in Kharkiv is in bomb shelters, Endale said, noting that her parents had relocated to one.

By midmorning in the capital, as explosions subsided, Kyivans ventured out, finding parts of missiles in the street and dark smoke billowing from the suburbs, where missiles had attacked a military airfield, killing six. Russian forces now controlled the airfield, CNN reported, some soldiers having parachuted in.

Lines quickly formed outside ATMs and grocery stores, where some clerks demanded cash payments only. My father is trying to wire me money, one Ukrainian told Yahoo News, but the transfer wont go through.

Zelensky appeared before his countrymen at 12:30 p.m. local time, saying diplomatic relations with Russia were severed and the government was delivering weapons to sites for the volunteer reserve forces. He urged all Ukrainians who were able to take up arms to defend the country. Anyone with military experience must report to stations, he said. He also asked that Ukrainians call their friends and families in Russia to tell them what was unfolding.

Thousands of volunteers had signed up within hours, according to Kyiv resident Yehor Soboliev, a former parliamentarian turned computer analyst, who has been training with the civilian Territorial Defense Forces since summer. There are lots of newcomers just today, he said. All of us are very angry. Putin is ruining our lives, our families, our careers, our country. We want to kill him and the slaves hes sent into Ukraine.

People stand around a structure damaged by a rocket in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

By late afternoon Thursday, Russian forces had taken control of a hydroelectric plant near Crimea in the south. To the north, fighting was taking place near Chernobyl, fueling fears it would disturb radioactive material left behind in the 1986 nuclear disaster that rendered the area all but deserted. Zelensky posted an evening tweet to alert residents that Russian forces were trying to seize the entire radioactive plant and site. Just hours into the invasion, over 100 Russian troops had been killed, according to Ukrainian news reports, and the Ukrainian military had destroyed seven Russian planes, four helicopters and at least 10 armored vehicles. Ukrainian deaths had yet to be tallied, but dozens had died by midafternoon.

Another resident of Kyiv, fashion public relations specialist Lesia Donets, told Yahoo News that she hadn't heard explosions in the city. The Russian army, however, seems to be getting closer  now they're trying to get into the Kyiv area, she said.

On Wednesday evening, Kyiv artist Daria Pugachova hired a car to visit her parents in the western city of Rivne, a five-hour drive from the capital, which thus far hasnt been bombed. I didnt know the invasion was so close, she told Yahoo News. Im not surprised that Putin did this, but its hard to believe war is really happening. She sees Putins announcement that he is protecting the people of Donbas in the east as an obvious ruse to justify the war. Putin, she noted, said the so-called Kyiv regime is to blame, but we dont have a regime here. We are a free nation, and we will stand up for our freedom.

Military helicopters, apparently Russian, fly over the outskirts of Kyiv. (Ukrainian Police Department Press Service via AP)

Throughout the day, Ukrainian copywriter Ira Luzina was touched by letters from friends and colleagues in Russia. I would like to offer my deepest apologies, wrote one. The moment when it was still possible to change something in Russia peacefully has long passed. And it is very painful for all of us now to realize the consequences of this inaction. Another Russian wrote on Facebook that she felt only shame and sorrow, said Luzina, who recently left Kyiv for Spain.

Im glad, she told Yahoo News, that Putin didnt do this kind of attack in 2014  when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Now world leaders are more united against Putin and see how crazy he is. They realize that his goal is not just to take Ukraine  he is trying to change the geopolitical architecture of the world. Unlike in 2014, she added, this time the West is helping with arms, financial support and sanctions. This time, with Western support, I think Ukraine can fight back.

Civilians are keeping calm, Endale reported in the late afternoon. Sporadic bombing and explosions continue, and she said the Donetsk and Luhansk areas in eastern Ukraine had been severely damaged. Reports of fatalities, including 40 military personnel and dozens of civilians, were filtering in. But we are staying strong. We are not running away or panicking. Today Ukraine is stronger than ever. Were making history and giving an example to the whole world of what it is to fight for freedom.

Where are Russian forces surrounding Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out.
By Janis Laizans

LIELVARDE, Latvia (Reuters) - About 20 U.S. Apache military attack helicopters landed at Lielvarde military airfield in Latvia on Thursday, hours after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

The arrival of the choppers was first announced last week, when it was billed as a participation to the bi-annual international U.S.-led exercise Saber Strike.

But on Thursday the Lithuanian defence minister was describing them as part of U.S. military reinforcements to the Baltic region after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Some forty U.S. service members arrived in Latvia from Italy earlier on Thursday, the first group of what is expected to be a deployment of more than 300 troops, the Latvian Defense Ministry said.

(Reporting by Janis Laizans in Lielvarde; writing by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; editing by Niklas Pollard)
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the long-feared attack on Ukraine early Thursday, promising any countries that interfere with consequences they have never seen.

As Putin blustered before dawn, blasts were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other cities throughout the nation  and President Biden promised the Russian rogue could be in for some hell of his own, ripping him for launching an unprovoked invasion on his much-smaller neighbor.

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. Biden said in a statement. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

FILE - President Joe Biden





FILE - President Joe Biden (Alex Brandon/)

Putin, a KGB colonel in the former Soviet Union, has been building up troops along Ukraines border for weeks. He has seemingly been looking for an excuse for his military land grab, and came up with a flimsy reason this week. He recognized two separatist areas of Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk, and sent in peacekeeping forces to those areas.

On Thursday morning, Putin ordered the invasion, calling it a special military operation.

But as explosions echoed, Ukraine officials described the Russian aggression for what it really was.

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, tweeted Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Feb. 11, 2022.





Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Feb. 11, 2022. (Alexei Nikolsky/)

CNN reported that the Ukrainian interior ministry is reporting hundreds of casualties from Russias first missile strikes.

The attack came hours after Ukraines president pleaded for peace.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, an emotional President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, speaking in Russian. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Russian military tanks and armored vehicles advance in Donetsk, Ukraine on February 24, 2022.





Russian military tanks and armored vehicles advance in Donetsk, Ukraine on February 24, 2022. (Anadolu Agency/)

On Wednesday night, Ukraines ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, issued a desperate plea to the Security Council and all countries to stop Russias invasion of his nation, as the sounds of explosions echoed through the night in Kyiv and rattled an anxious world.

Today, the entire membership of the United Nations is under attack, Kyslytsya said in an emergency meeting at UN headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked John Lennon, urging Putin to give peace a chance.

Putin chose war instead.

The Russian leader urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home.

He also warned other nations to stay out of the way.

I have a few words for those who could feel tempted to interfere with ongoing developments, he said. Whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.

Russian military tanks and armored vehicles advance in Donetsk, Ukraine on February 24, 2022.





Russian military tanks and armored vehicles advance in Donetsk, Ukraine on February 24, 2022. (Anadolu Agency/)

As the world reacted with revulsion, financial marked recoiled. Asian stock markets plunged and oil prices spiked after word of the attack got out. Markets in Tokyo and Seoul fell 2% and Hong Kong and Sydney lost more than 3% early Thursday.

Oil prices jumped nearly $3 per barrel on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies.

Ukraines was hit by cyberattacks as well as military ones. The nations parliament and other government and banking websites were hit with cyberstrikes Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.

A Ukrainian serviceman stands at his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022.





A Ukrainian serviceman stands at his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/)

Early Thursday, Ukrainian airspace was shut down to civilian air traffic. A flight-tracking site showed that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 flying from Tel Aviv to Toronto made a quick turn out of Ukrainian airspace before detouring over Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

Biden and U.S. allies have been hitting Russia with economic sanctions. Even before the attack began, dozens of nations imposed sanctions on Russia, putting pressure on that nations oligarchs and financial institutions.

Biden OKd sanctions to proceed against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the companys CEO.

Germany announced earlier this week it is suspending the project in response to the expected invasion. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.

A Ukrainian serviceman walks to his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022.





A Ukrainian serviceman walks to his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/)

President Biden will address the American people on Thursday to update them on the crisis.

Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security, Biden said.

We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.

With Tim Balk and News Wire Services
WASHINGTON  You have to understand, George. Ukraine is not even a country.

Those were the jarring  and, it would turn out, prescient  words uttered by Russian strongman Vladimir Putin in 2008, during a meeting with then-President George W. Bush. It was an unambiguous assertion of ownership over a sovereign nation, an assertion that has particular resonance 14 years later, as Putin has just recognized the independence of two Ukrainian regions and sent troops to bolster Russian-backed separatists.

The West is outraged by Putins current aggression, as well as by the logic for his seemingly inevitable full-scale invasion. Who in the Lords name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belonged to his neighbors? wondered President Biden in remarks delivered from the White House on Tuesday.

President Vladimir Putin addressing the Russian people on Tuesday. (Kremlin Press Service/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Such outrage, however, ignores a complex and uncomfortable truth: Many Russians recognize Putins sentiments about Ukraine as largely in keeping with established beliefs about the relationship between the nuclear superpower and its much smaller neighbor, which has a similar language and culture. That may explain why many Russians support military action against Ukraine, which they see as a necessary response to Western meddling.

America badly wants to start this war, an elderly Muscovite told the New York Times, citing  as Putin has  the expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe as a prime reason for the current conflict. Ukraine isnt currently eligible for membership, but Russians have watched carefully as the Western alliance has crept ever closer throughout the last two decades.

Having grown up in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, I can safely say that most Russians view Ukraine as part of Russia. It is impossible to speak for a nation of 144 million people, especially long after leaving. However, the Russian view of geopolitics and history has, paradoxically, become more assertively nationalistic than it was during the Soviet era, when it tellingly embraced Joseph Stalin as a model leader.

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, 14 republics were freed from the Kremlins grasp, only to discover that genuine independence would prove no simple matter. Russia never accepted anything but conditional independence of the former republics, predicated on an alliance with Moscow and belonging to Russias sphere of influence, Serhii Plokhii, a Harvard professor of Ukrainian history, recently wrote in the Financial Times. Belarus hewed closely to Russia, while the three Baltic states sought (and achieved) close ties to Western Europe.

At the same time, Putin was never shy about exerting Russian force if he saw the more economically and culturally consequential of the former Soviet states straying too far afield. He invaded Georgia in 2008, then Ukraine in 2014. The current crisis can be seen as a redoubled effort to remind the former republics that there are consequences for defying the Kremlin.

In the United States and Western Europe, Putin has been described as a warmongering bully who deserves a strong brushback from the West. Youve got to punch him in the nose, former Central Intelligence Agency officer John Sipher told Yahoo News last week.

The West is preparing to do just that, with sanctions and military support to Ukraine. But none of that will erase Russian grievances that have festered for decades  and are inarguably at work today. Understanding those grievances is crucial to engaging in what some are describing as a new Cold War.

A proud people with centuries of intellectual and artistic achievement, Russians despise being lectured by a West that has never fully accepted them as equals. Nor is Russia much interested in being chided by Washington about invading other countries, especially in the wake of our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Kremlin gains domestic legitimacy from confrontation with the West, as long as bullets arent being fired, Samuel Greene, a British scholar of Russian society, told the Guardian.

And though democracy is nonexistent in Russia today, the 1990s-era flirtation with freedom was so unsettling and chaotic that many people have simply accepted autocracy as a fact of life.

Were not being invaded by Nazis and theres food in the stores, so as far as Im concerned hes doing a good job, a Russian villager said about Putin to Vice News in 2014. Despite occasional outbursts of protest, 70 percent of Russians approve of how he governs.

Shoppers in Moscow's Red Square. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

History for Russians is also a much more intimately lived experience than it is for most Americans, who tend to favor the present, with an eye to the future. Some of the tensions at work today between Russia and Ukraine go back centuries, as an intentionally provocative tweet from the U.S. Embassy reminded the world, in a series of memes, that Kyiv is an older city than Moscow.

The principality known as the Kievan Rus fell to the Mongols in the 13th century, to later become part of the Russian empire  and, later still, of the Soviet Union. When the USSR collapsed in 1991, Ukraine and the other Soviet republics became independent  a split that Russians saw, not without cause, as a rebuke.

The Lithuanian people reject lies, and they are not afraid, Lithuanian President Vytautas Landsbergis said in 1991, as his nation pulled away from the Soviet Union and into Europes embrace. Native languages replaced Russian in government institutions and schools. At the same time, Russians who continued to live in the now independent nations worried that they would be punished for the cruel excesses of the Soviet regime.

Putin has stoked those fears by promulgating reports of violent persecution of Russians by Ukrainians. The Kremlins savvy propagandists understand that those reports  which are exaggerated, outdated or simply untrue  play on incipient Russian anxieties about the resentment directed toward them by former subjects in Ukraine and elsewhere.

More important, Putin has continued to reference the same sentiment he voiced to Bush in 2008: that Ukraine is a region of Russia that has no claim to independence. Modern Ukraine was entirely and fully created by Russia, Putin said earlier this week. The sentiment is obviously ahistorical, but it does hold an almost mystical appeal for Russians who see their nation as no less a regional beacon  albeit in profoundly different ways  than does the United States.

Ukrainian protesters near the Russian Embassy in Kyiv on Tuesday. (Sergei Chuzavkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Nothing unites Russians like memories of World War II. Every child growing up in Russia was inculcated with legends about the heroic defeat of Hitler, a victory that permeated every aspect of Soviet culture  and of Soviet psychology. To grow up in Leningrad, as both Putin and I did, is to feel the war right at your door  the Nazis laid siege to the city for nearly three years, in what came to be known as the 900 Days.

The Red Army that defeated Germany on the Eastern Front was constituted from all over the Soviet Union, not just Russia, but that fact has been intentionally forgotten. Even before the war began, Stalin saw the diversity of cultures as a threat to Bolshevik dominance. The war with Germany only intensified his desire to forge a single national culture, a project known as Russification.

Putin has seen to a determined rehabilitation of Stalins image, which suffered what seemed like a fatal blow from decades of revelations about the terrors to which he subjugated the Soviet Union. The more recent resurrection has been striking: Stalin now enjoys widespread popularity in Russia. Stalin was the best master. He won the war and built the country from ruins, a 44-year-old Russian businessman from central Russia said last year. Such attitudes could only further embolden Putin to pursue the kinds of policies Stalin would doubtless have approved of.

Ukrainians remember Stalin too: He oversaw the intentional starvation of 4 million Ukrainians in the 1930s, a brutal and prolonged famine known as the Holodomor. And while that atrocity is commemorated with a monument in Washington, D.C., and is recognized as genocide elsewhere, the Russian government steadfastly rejects responsibility.

And while most of the world sees Russia as the instigator in the present conflict, Putin insists that Western imperialism is to blame.

A portrait of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in Donetsk, Ukraine. (Aleksey Filippov/AFP via Getty Images)

Once again, they threatened us with sanctions, Putin said in Mondays speech, correctly predicting Bidens response. They will still impose those, the stronger and more powerful our country becomes. They will always find an excuse to introduce more sanctions regardless of the situation in Ukraine. The only goal they have is to contain the development of Russia.

It is an old idea, one pulled straight from Soviet history into the anxious and uncertain present.

Where are Russian forces surrounding Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out.
Lincoln, NE (68508)

Today

Cloudy early with showers for the afternoon hours. High 57F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 49F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
WASHINGTON (AP)  With rare but fragile alignment, the U.S. Congress is largely backing President Bidens decision to confront Russia with potentially escalating sanctions for the crisis in Ukraine as lawmakers brace for perhaps the most daunting foreign policy crisis the nation has faced in a generation.

But the next steps are highly volatile  even more so after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced early Thursday a military operation in Ukraine and explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other cities there.

We must refuse to stand by and watch innocent Ukrainian men, women, and children suffer, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said in a statement after Putin's forces moved against Ukraine. He said he was committed to ensuring that the United States upholds our responsibility to exact maximum costs on Putin, the Russian economy, and those who enabled and facilitated this trampling of Ukraines sovereignty.

With isolationist impulses rising at home, Congress has no appetite for war. Yet Americans also appear ambivalent about the U.S. working to keep the peace. New polling from The Associated Press and NORC  taken before Putin's announcement  says just 26% of Americans want the U.S. to play a major role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

'There will be a price to pay for Vladimir Putin'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that Russia's aggression toward Ukraine is an attack on democracy, vowing that the U.S. will stand united with its allies around the world in swiftly imposing sanctions on Russia and ensuring financial and political support for an independent Ukraine.

Pelosi, who returned to the Capitol from a diplomatic overseas trip, situated the aggression from Russia toward Ukraine alongside intervention in the United States' own democratic process during the 2016 election.

There will be a price to pay for Vladimir Putin," she said, flanked by lawmakers who had joined her delegation at the annual security conference in Munich.

While Republican critics of the Biden administration  and even some Democrats  want the White House to go even tougher with swifter and more severe sanctions on Russia, most have given varying degrees of support for the White House strategy, including Bidens move Wednesday to sanction the company building the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

The top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, said sanctions on Nord Stream 2 are long overdue, but I cannot overstate how critical they are to showing Putin that violating a nations sovereignty has consequences.

Risch, who has worked with colleagues on a bipartisan basis for years trying to end the pipeline, said: It is good to see President Biden do the right thing.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., flanked by Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., left, and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif.,holds a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Republican leaders have sought to steer the conversation to their preferred terms, as the party whose defense hawks once led the nation on the national security front. But it's not at all clear whether today's GOP can keep Republicans from tapping into an impassioned non-interventionist strain unleashed by Donald Trump's America First approach.

It was Trump who sought to strip protections for Ukraine from the Republican Party platform for the 2016 election, and who was impeached by the House for abuse of power after he pressured the Ukrainian president to dig up dirt on Biden ahead of the 2020 campaign.

This week, Trump cheered on Putin as he massed military forces near Ukraine's border and recognized the independence of its separatist regions in a move Biden and others warned was the start of an invasion of Ukraine. As president, Trump had been critical of NATO, working to distance the U.S. from the historic partnership and berating allies to contribute more money to defense.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a longtime champion of NATO, spoke highly of the Western alliance this week, but some within his party are gravitating away from that traditional Republican position and toward Trump's views.

McConnell said he wants to see Biden impose the toughest possible sanctions.

Most Republican senators are backing Biden's sanctions

Other Republicans, though, most notably Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, a potential Republican presidential hopeful, has said the U.S. should be paying closer attention to the greater challenges he believes are posed by China.

Still, most Republican senators are backing Biden's sanctions on Putin, even if some are clamoring for more and taking political punches at Biden for seeming too tepid.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a sometimes Trump ally who is also one of the party's leading defense hawks and who used to globetrot with fellow GOP Sen. John McCain, invoked his late colleague this week in urging Biden to confront Putin more forcefully.

Graham said Congress should impose sanctions from hell on Putin and his regime when lawmakers return to work next week.

Sen. Ted Cruz, who had single-handedly blocked Biden's nominees for various State Department posts to halt the Russia-to-Germany pipeline, said with the announced new sanctions he would lift his blockade. President Biden has now taken positive steps, Cruz, R-Texas, said in a statement. "But much more still needs to be done to deter and counter the threat that Putin poses to our allies in Ukraine and across Europe.

Pelosi said Russians need to understand what their leader is doing. Its stunning to see in this day and age a tyrant roll into a country, Pelosi said. This is the same tyrant who attacked our democracy in 2016,

It's unclear what more, if anything, Congress will do to confront Russia, as lawmakers hold back their own legislative response to Putin while Biden engages U.S. allies in a more global strategy.

The Senate has bipartisan support for a robust sanctions package but after running into differences over the scope and timing of the response decided to shelve a vote as the White House pursued its own approach.

Graham has suggested a supplemental spending package for Ukraine, which already receives money and defensive equipment from the U.S., but it does not yet appear that additional funds are being considered.
The UK and allies will impose sanctions to cripple the Russian economy following Vladimir Putins barbaric assault on Ukraine.

Boris Johnson promised a massive package of economic measures in tandem with the US and European Union after the Russian president finally launched the invasion which had been feared for weeks.

In a sombre address to the nation, the Prime Minister said the world cannot stand by and allow the freedom of Ukraine to be snuffed out, as Moscow hit its neighbour with a wide-ranging attack, targeting cities and bases with air strikes or shelling.

This act of wanton and reckless aggression is an attack not just on Ukraine, its an attack on democracy and freedom in eastern Europe and around the world, Mr Johnson said from Downing Street.

A vast invasion has been launched by land, sea and air and innumerable missiles and bombs have been raining down on an entirely innocent population, he said.

Mr Johnson was woken with news of the invasion in the night and spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shortly after 4am.

The Prime Minister said: Today in concert with our allies we will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy.

Diplomatically, politically, economically, and, eventually, militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure.

The Prime Minister, US President Joe Biden and other leaders of G7 nations were holding a virtual meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss their next moves.

Ukrainians hold a protest against the Russian invasion outside Downing Street (Yui Mok/PA)

Mr Johnson warned of the prospect of grim months to come, before echoing an earlier address from Mr Zelensky in speaking directly to the Russian public.

I cannot believe this is being done in your name or that you really want the pariah status it will bring to the Putin regime, the Prime Minister said.

Mr Zelensky has declared martial law and called on Ukrainians to volunteer to fight for their country.

We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities, he said.

In other developments:

 Russias ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin was summoned to the Foreign Office for the second time in a week to account for the illegal, unprovoked invasion.

I have summoned the Russian ambassador to meet me and explain Russias illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. We will be imposing severe sanctions and rallying countries in support of Ukraine.  Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 24, 2022

 Transport Secretary Grant Shapps instructed the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure airlines avoid Ukraine airspace following the horrific events overnight and carriers began suspending flights.

 Stock markets across the globe slumped and oil prices soared to levels not seen in eight years as a result of the crisis.

 RAF Typhoons were committed to patrolling the airspace on the borders of Nato members Poland and Romania with Ukraine.

 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for the hardest possible sanctions against Mr Putins bandit rule.

The Kremlin has claimed it is only targeting Ukrainian air bases and other military assets, not populated areas.

But Western officials fear an attack on the capital Kyiv could result in bloody urban warfare, with civilian lives at risk.

In a televised address, Mr Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen.

(PA Graphics)

He said Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine, and claimed responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian regime.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv moments later, while blasts were also reported in the cities of Odesa and Kharkiv.

A Ministry of Defence intelligence update shortly after 12.30pm said there had been more than 80 strikes at Ukrainian targets, while ground forces were advancing across the border from at least three points, including from the previously annexed Crimea.

The first targets included Ukrainian air defences, designed to ensure Russias aerial superiority in the conflict.

Reports suggested Russian troops had captured an airport on the outskirts of Kyiv.

Western officials have reported forces crossing over from Belarus, where they have been engaged in large-scale exercises, and from Russian-occupied Crimea.

The aftermath of Russian shelling, outside Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

They are also said to have moved into the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Mr Putin has recognised the two breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Officials say it is unclear whether he intends to take control of the entire country.

However they believe his objectives include Kyiv and the port city of Odesa, as well as joining up Crimea, which he seized in 2014, with the Donbas.

Ukrainian forces have been putting up resistance, with reports that at least one Russian warplane has been brought down.

However analysts believe the combination of aerial superiority, precision munitions and artillery firepower gives Moscows forces a marked military advantage.

There are particular concerns now about the prospect of an assault on Kyiv, a city with a population of more than 2.8 million.

In the past, such as in the Chechen capital Grozny, Russian forces having shown they are willing to use overwhelming firepower if they cannot achieve their objectives quickly, potentially resulting in large-scale civilian casualties.
Flights between the UK and Ukraine have been suspended as the crisis in the eastern European country intensifies.

Ukraine closed its airspace in the early hours of Thursday morning after Russia launched a major military assault.

The UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice to warn that British nationals in Ukraine should not expect increased consular support or help with evacuating.

Following the horrific events overnight in Ukraine, Ive instructed @UK_CAA to ensure airlines avoid Ukraine airspace to keep passengers and crew safe. We continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and work with our international partners to respond to this act of aggression.  Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) February 24, 2022

Wizz Air cancelled its flights between Luton Airport and the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Lviv on Thursday.

Ryanair and Ukraine International Airlines (UIA)  the other carriers which fly between the UK and Ukraine  also suspended those routes.

Images from aviation website Flightradar24 show there are no civilian aircraft in Ukrainian airspace and very few over neighbouring Belarus, where many Russian troops are positioned.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps banned aircraft flying to or from UK airports from using Ukraine airspace.

The Cabinet minister tweeted that he made the decision following the horrific events overnight.

He added: Ive instructed @UK_CAA (the Civil Aviation Authority) to ensure airlines avoid Ukraine airspace to keep passengers and crew safe.

We continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and work with our international partners to respond to this act of aggression.

We advise British nationals to leave Ukraine immediately if you judge it is safe to do so. If you cannot leave safely, you should stay indoors, away from windows, and remain alert to developments that would allow you to leave safely.  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) February 24, 2022

Ryanair said it has suspended its flights to and from Ukraine for at least the next 14 days and has removed them from sale for at least the next four weeks until further information becomes available from EU safety agencies.

It added: Ryanair remains committed to our services to/from Ukraine and we look forward to restoring flight services there as soon as it is safe to do so.

We sincerely regret and apologise for these unprecedented disruptions and any inconvenience that they will inevitably cause to our Ukrainian customers.

A Wizz Air spokeswoman commented: The safety and security of our passengers and crew remains our number one priority and we hope normality will return to Ukraine soon.

UIA said it takes all possible measures to ensure the safety of our passengers.

The lack of flights will make it harder for British nationals to evacuate from Ukraine to the UK.

Due to the current events in Ukraine and the airspace closure, Wizz Air must temporarily suspend all flights to and from the country. Passengers can find more information on https://t.co/AeMNWOJWFF, or alternatively, via the airlines call centre: 00380 893 202 532.  Wizz Air (@wizzair) February 24, 2022

The Foreign Office updated its travel advice to state: Ukraines airspace is closed. It is likely that commercial routes out of Ukraine will be severely disrupted and roads across Ukraine could be closed.

It added: Russias military action in Ukraine will severely affect the British Governments ability to provide consular assistance in Ukraine.

British nationals should not expect increased consular support or help with evacuating in these circumstances.

On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss urged Britons in the country to leave now via commercial routes while they are still available.

Flights are continuing to operate over Russia, which is a route used by many services between the UK and Asia.

In July 2014, Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a missile launched from an area of Ukraine controlled by pro-Russia separatists, killing all 298 people on board.
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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara has officially asked Turkey to provide support after Russia launched a special military operation in Donbass.

The Russian Federation launched a war against Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian settlements are under bombardment. We are calling on our strategic ally Turkey and the friendly people of Turkey to help us at this difficult time, the embassy said in a statement.

The Russian military denied targeting any civilian settlements.

Earlier on Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he made the decision to hold a special military operation in response to the address of leaders of Donbass republics, TASS reports.

"Peoples republics of Donbass approached Russia with a request for help. In connection therewith, <> I made the decision to hold a special military operation. Its goal is to protect the people that are subjected to abuse, genocide from the Kiev regime for eight years, and to this end we will seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine and put to justice those that committed numerous bloody crimes against peaceful people, including Russian nationals," Putin said in the television address as quoted by TASS.

Justice and truth are on Russias side, President Vladimir Putin said in a special television address.

"The welfare, the very existence of entire countries and peoples, their success and health are always originating from the strong root system of culture and values, experience and traditions of ancestors, directly depending on abilities to quickly adapt to continuously changing life, consolidation of the society, its readiness to consolidate and gather all forces together for moving forward," Putin said.

"Forces are always needed but they can be of different quality," the Russian leader said. "And we know the real strength is in justice and truth that are on our side," he added.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense once again released disinformation falsely accusing the Armenian military in opening fire at Azerbaijani positions.

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, by continuing its conduct of regular disinformation on the border situation, has announced as if in the evening of February 23 the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire in the direction of Azerbaijani military positions deployed in the south-eastern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia is once again calling on the Azerbaijani side to refrain from spreading obvious fake reports on the border situation. The situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is relatively stable as is under the full control of the Armenian Armed Forces, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Co-Chair of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Andrius Kubilius says if Azerbaijans statements for peace and stability in the region are really a sincere wish, then they must resolve the issue of the return of Armenian POWs immediately.

Co-Chair of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, MEP Andrius Kubilius, who is also a former Prime Minister of Lithuania, was in Armenia these days within the frames of the sessions of the Bureau and committees of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly.

He gave an interview to ARMENPRESS, talking about the Armenia-EU relations, the achievements of Armenia in the fight against corruption and other topics.

-Mr. Kubilius, the sessions of the Bureau and the Committees of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly were held in Yerevan. How would you assess the sessions, and what important issues did you discuss?

-First of all its pleasure to come to Yerevan and thanks to hospitality of Armenian delegation which was responsible to organize these sessions. Secondly, this was the first session after almost two years, its the first session personal, not anymore online. Thats again was pleasure to enjoy that moment in Yerevan. On content, well, first of all, committees were discussing some very important reports on energy, security, on Green Deal which is important topic for all the European Union. Of course, we were also discussing quite deeply the geopolitical security in South Caucasus, and also the recent developments, the Russian aggression against Ukraine. And we approved a special statement on that, from one side with a very critical language on what Kremlin is doing, what President Putin is doing, threatening the sovereignty of Ukraine, from another side what we as an EU need to do in order to strengthen Ukraine. So these were the most important topics which we were discussing in Yerevan.

-You are the Co-Chair of an organization whose members are both Armenia and Azerbaijan. What role can the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly play in promoting stability in our region and also why not resolving the conflict?

-Well, first of all, of course, we are a parliamentary assembly. So its more a body which can discuss some issues, can recommend what kind of solutions should be adopted either by the national governments or by the European institutions. But we are not a body implementing any kind of decision. So what was important here in Yerevan it was that we had also a delegation from Azerbaijan. We discussed South Caucasus issues, we invited prominent exerts both from Armenia and Azerbaijan to make an overview of the whole situation and what is the future options, and then we discussed among ourselves. Of course, still there are quite painful issues to be resolved, but I hope that really what we can call normalization of situation both in the relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan and between Armenia and Turkey can proceed. I am very happy that during the last Eastern Partnership Summit in the middle of December in Brussels President of the European Council Charles Michel invited and organized an informal conversation between Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev. As I was informed, it took something like five hours, and it looks like that it was a rational conversation. Of course, its very difficult to avoid emotions in such situation, but rationality is what can bring stability and peace. So there are different issues which need to be resolved, like border demarcation, opening of interconnectivity, railways, roads and so on. Those are very important practical issues which need to be pushed forward. And I hope all the sides in this very important region will look for the possibilities how to create those opportunities. That is our vision, EU can play here an important role being and offering some kind of platform for discussion, and that is what Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is doing. We are a good platform to discuss. Sometimes the discussions are emotional, sometimes angry. In any case, we are not only looking into the past, but also into the future. I think Armenia can tell the success stories much more widely not only for the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, but also for the European Parliament. I was joking that Armenians are very good at keeping their achievements as very deep secret. For example, what Armenia achieved in fighting corruption during recent years, that is something remarkable and that is not very well known in Europe. And that is what other Eastern Partnership countries should learn from Armenia how to achieve such a result. So that is what Euronest Parliamentary Assembly helps us both to learn about your achievements and also to offer some kind of platform for dialogue. And that is much needed exactly both for the stability and peace in the region.

-In your article Transcaucasia: the Armenian Dilemma, in which you also referred to the 2nd war of Nagorno Karabakh, you also mentioned the genocide committed against the Armenian nation. Here is a quote: The most prominent details here are the genocide towards the Armenian nation and the location leading to dangerous geopolitical neighbourhood. In other words, can we describe the 2nd Karabakh war as an act of genocide committed against the Armenian nation?

-Well, I think your quote maybe is not in the precise way.

-I just quoted a little part.

-I was saying that that is a very painful history of Armenia, that you faced also a genocide, which, for example, Lithuania recognized. That was during the First World War, that is a tragedy that we need to have in mind. That very much impacts your mentality, your way of thinking. But also I was saying in that article that after the 2nd Karabakh war, which really was a tragedy and catastrophe and so on, I was saying that Armenians need to look more deeply into their history, achievements and problems and to try to have some kind of a review of the national strategy. I was quoting very well-known book of American historian Jared Diamond Upheaval. Here he was exactly telling the stories of perhaps 7 or 6 big countries which in their history faced something like national catastrophe, and then they managed to review their own strategic vision on how the country should recover from that tragedy and how the country should move into future, changing their positions and strategy, and so on.

-1.5 year has passed since the end of the 2nd Karabakh war, but Azerbaijan still continues holding the Armenian prisoners of war. There is evidence on torture against the POWs. What role can the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, whose member is also Azerbaijan, play in forcing Azerbaijan to return the Armenian POWs? How do you and also the Parliamentary Assembly assess such behavior of Azerbaijan?

-Well, of course, we are concerned about some of those human rights violations, no matter who is doing it. Thats our concern always. I would say definitely that in building stability and peace first of all trust should be brought back in between neighbors. Its difficult, your history is a very complicated history, its difficult to advice something. But first of all what is very much needed is an open dialogue. And that is when the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly can provide that dialogue to allow both members of the parliaments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to talk, to explain each other all the complaints, to have some kind of exchange of opinions. We can be those who are listening to both sides, and if one of the sides is doing some kind of a mistake or misbehavior, or crime against human rights, we can clearly state our opinion. But I will repeat again and again, and I was talking to the Armenian delegates, the members of the parliament of Armenia that you should try to engage much more intensively with European institutions, with European Parliament. We see Armenian members of parliament not so often. I was telling to colleagues from the Armenian parliament that they should learn for example from the Georgian and Ukrainian parliamentarians who have a good tradition to visit Brussels and Strasbourg much more often to speak to parliaments, to tell both achievements and problems. That is what will help first of all the European institutions to understand much better all those facts which you are saying. Secondly, it would be a possibility for Armenians to talk not only about the problems, which really are very huge, but also about those achievements which I was saying. You are the country which managed to achieve remarkable results in fighting corruption. The Transparency International showed that most rapid improvement among the 180 countries is what Armenia managed to achieve during the last four years. And second, you managed to show that you have very mature and very deep democracy. Despite all the tragedy of the war, your people again voted and gave a new mandate to the government which in some way lost the war. Its a very rare occasion when people after such a national tragedy would again give a new mandate to the government in such a situation. I think you should tell the whole story to Europeans.

-I would like to hear your opinion, how do you assess this behavior of Azerbaijan as it is still holding the Armenian POWs.

-I think this is a big mistake. I hear from Azerbaijani members of parliament that they will like to work for peace and stability in the region. So if that is really a sincere wish from the Azerbaijani side, then they should resolve that problem, that issue immediately.

-I would like also to talk about the relations between Armenia and the European Union. You know that last year the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement came into force. In what spheres do you see potential for deepening the partnership between the two sides and how?

-One thing is agreement which is important, and second, what is really important also not only the formal relationships, but also everything that creates better understanding, people to people relations, political relationship in between political parties. That is what I would like Armenians to be more active in that area, and members of parliament, experts should come to Brussels much more often, to different institutions, to the European Parliament, first of all to tell us the stories of your success, and also to talk about the problems, issues and challenges. Challenges in this part of Europe and in eastern part of Europe are really becoming quite big ones. We see what authorities in Russia are doing, that will continue, we need to be ready for whatever developments, and that is when the relationship between Armenia and the European Union can be of a very great value.

One of the topics which we are pushing forward, not only speaking about Armenia, but also about other Eastern Partnership countries, especially those who have an Association Agreement, a Free Trade Agreement, like Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, the so-called Trio countries. So now under all the threats which we see in the region, we are pushing that EU should engage with those Trio countries much more in more accelerated integration towards EU. And first of all, we are talking about integration to single market, which is economical integration. I think for Armenia it would be also beneficial to look into some spheres where that integration could go forward. We know that you have different relationships with the EU, if to compare with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, but there are areas where that cooperation can be pushed forward. Second, definitely I think that you should demand what you can get from European Union, much more speedy developments on visa free regime for Armenians. As I understand, some member states still are reluctant to open that possibility which is open for Georgians, Moldavians and Ukrainians. And I think that it would be really important and very good also that such a possibility will be given to Armenians. That is what we can try to push both Armenians and us, the European parliament, the friends of Armenia, what we can try to achieve.

-As you are from Lithuania, in what spheres do you see a potential for cooperation between Armenia and Lithuania?

-I havent looked very much into some kind of specific relationship issues, but again we can be of assistance, help, in bringing more of a relationship in between Armenia and the European Union. We can assist with our experts in different spheres, bringing some knowledge of European type of reforms could be made here in Armenia. I know that our experts were quite intensively involved for example into police reforms, which, as I understand, you managed to implement and also are giving good results. In other spheres also, reforms could be in medical sector, healthcare sector and economy. We can be really of assistance in bringing not only the Lithuanian knowledge, but also the European knowledge. And I would again speak about not only about the formal relationships, but also about the relations between peoples, political parties. That is very important. In Vilnius we know what a good kitchen you have, and what good wines you have.

-In the end, what impressions did you manage to get from Armenia?

-Well, my impression, first of all, is very simple. I would like to come back here as soon as possible and for a longer period of time, and without maybe political agenda, but just to enjoy your very nice country, very nice people. I had no possibility to see anything more, just spend my time in Yerevan, but I liked it very much.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Photos by Gevorg Perkuperkyan

Cameraman Hovhannes Mkrtchyan
YEREVAN, 23 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The 35 thousand doses of Spikevax vaccine of Moderna company donates by the Greek Government to Armenia has already arrived. The donation was initiated by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and with the support of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ARMENPRESS reports, the Health Miistry of Armenia informs, adding that the donation was made with the support of the European Union Civil Defense Mechanism within the framework of the "Europe Team" initiative.
YEREVAN, 24 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. UNESCO calls for the protection of international humanitarian law in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, ARMENPRESS reports, TASS said.
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $341 million contract by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) to develop, test and deliver a Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) in support of its Space Domain Awareness mission.

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Artist rendering of the Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (Illustration source: Northrop Grumman)

The DARC program will field a resilient ground-based radar providing our nation with significantly enhanced space domain awareness for geostationary orbit, said Pablo Pezzimenti, vice president, integrated national systems, Northrop Grumman. While current ground-based systems operate at night and can be impacted by weather conditions, DARC will provide an all-weather, 24/7 capability to monitor the highly dynamic and rapidly evolving geosynchronous orbital environment critical to national and global security.

DARC will augment the militarys space surveillance network as an additional sensor with increased capacity and capability to monitor deep space objects and eventually provide full global coverage. The initial DARC contract includes the design, development and delivery of a Site 1 system located in the Indo-Pacific region, expected to be completed in 2025. There will be a follow-on of two additional sites strategically placed around the world.
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In a televised address, Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO

A man takes his things out of the house after damaged by artillery shelling in Novoluhanske, eastern Ukraine. (Photo: AP)

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences you have never seen.

He said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine - a claim the US had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion.

In a televised address, Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said Russia doesn't intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to demilitarise it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

As Putin spoke before dawn, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other cities across Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden in a written statement condemned the unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine and he promised that the US and its allies will hold Russia accountable.

Biden said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday.

A full-blown Russian invasion could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government. And the consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions levied on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, affecting energy supplies in Europe, jolting global financial markets and threatening the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

As he unleashed the military action, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle.

I have a few words for those who could feel tempted to interfere with ongoing developments: whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history, he said.

Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home.

Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian aggression", an announcement that the White House said was a false flag operation by Moscow to offer up a pretext for an invasion.

Putin's announcement came just hours after the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow's claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate, last-minute plea for peace.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

In an apparent reference to Putin's move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.

Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything, he said.

He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by Ukraine because of the imminent threat of a Russian invasion, members still unaware of Putin's announcement appealed to him to stop an attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting, just before the announcement, telling Putin: Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.

Anxiety about an imminent Russian offensive soared after Putin recognised the separatist regions' independence on Monday, endorsed the deployment of troops to the rebel territories and received parliamentary approval to use military force outside the country. The West responded with sanctions.

Late Wednesday, Ukrainian lawmakers approved a decree that imposes a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday. The measure allows authorities to declare curfews and other restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organisations in the interests of national security and public order.

The action reflected increasing concern among Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended that any Ukrainians who are there leave immediately.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Wednesday the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraine's borders is in an advanced state of readiness. They are ready to go right now, Kirby said.

Early Thursday, airspace over all of Ukraine was shut down to civilian air traffic, according to a notice to airmen. A commercial flight tracking website showed that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 flying from Tel Aviv to Toronto turned abruptly out of Ukrainian airspace before detouring over Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

The only other aircraft tracked over Ukraine was a US RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned surveillance plane, which began flying westward early Thursday after Russia put in place flight restrictions over Ukrainian territory.

Another wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks hit Ukraine's parliament and other government and banking websites on Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.

Officials have long said they expect cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the incidents hew to a nearly two-decade-old Russian playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.

Even before Putin's announcement, dozens of nations imposed sanctions on Russia, further squeezing Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets.

Biden allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the company's CEO.

Germany said Tuesday that it was indefinitely suspending the project, after Biden charged that Putin had launched the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine by sending troops into the separatist regions. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.

Even before the Russian military attack on Ukraine began, the threat of war had shredded Ukraine's economy and raised the spectre of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos.

European Union sanctions against Russia took effect, targeting several companies along with 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for a motion urging Putin to recognize the rebel regions and 27 senior government officials, business executives and top military officers.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimise the damage.
The Indian Embassy in Kyiv is reportedly still functional despite the attacks, giving advisories which should be followed carefully

New Delhi: Hours after Russia launched a scathing military attack on Ukraine, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine asked its citizens to maintain calm and remain safe wherever they were, noting that the current situation in the country was highly uncertain.

"Those traveling to Kyiv are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily," the Indian Embassy said, adding that it was functional despite the attacks, giving advisories that should be followed carefully. According to estimates, over 15,000 Indians are currently staying in Ukraine.

Image via @IndiainUkraine

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) held a series of high-level meetings to put into operation certain contingency plans in view of the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine.

Official sources said given that the Ukrainian airspace was closed for civilian aircraft, alternate evacuation routes are being activated to bring back the Indians, especially the students.

They said additional Russian speaking officials have been sent to the Indian embassy in Kyiv and are being deployed in countries neighbouring Ukraine.

In view of the prevailing situation in Ukraine, a Control Room has been set up at @MEAIndia to provide information and assistance:



Phone: 1800118797 (Toll free)

+91-11-23012113

+91-11-23014104

+91-11-23017905



Fax: +91-11-23088124



Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) February 16, 2022

Indian national carrier Air India, on February 19, announced that it would operate three flights between India and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26. The first flight, which operated on February 22, brought back around 240 people.

Air India's Thursday flight was scheduled to be the second flight to bring back Indians from the eastern European nation. However, due to the sudden closure of Ukrainian airports, the plane, which took off for Kyiv from New Delhi, returned back to its base on Thursday morning.

After the Air India flight had departed from Delhi on Thursday morning, the Ukrainian authorities issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which stated that flights of civil aircraft within Ukraine "are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation". Air India and the central government then decided to call back the plane to Delhi, officials said, adding that the plane took an about-turn in the Iranian airspace to return to Delhi.

Meanwhile, a Ukraine International Airlines flight from Kyiv landed at the Delhi airport at around 7.45 am on Thursday. "There were 182 Indian nationals onboard the flight and majority of them were students... A couple of more flights have been scheduled," Anju Wariah, Director at STIC Group, said.

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On the overall crisis in Ukraine, the Russian diplomat alleged that Western powers have been trying to destabilise the region

New Delhi: Russia on Wednesday welcomed India's "independent position" on the Ukraine crisis and said its views on the issue at the UN Security Council was reflective of the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries.

Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said India has been playing a vital role as a responsible global power and it takes an "independent and balanced" approach to world affairs.

He also said that the crisis would not impact India-Russia ties including in areas of defence and that there will be a "huge" Russian participation in the DefExpo in Gujarat next month.

"We welcome the independent position of India which it took twice at the UN Security Council and which was expressed openly by the Indian external affairs minister and other officials," he said at an online media briefing.

"The Indian activities at the UN Security Council are fully reflecting the merit of our special and privileged strategic partnership," he added.

Amid escalating tension between Moscow and the West after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway Ukrainian regions as independent states, India at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday night called for "restraint on all sides".

It stressed that the immediate priority is "de-escalation of tensions", taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Specifically asked whether the Western sanctions will adversely impact India-Russia defence cooperation including supply of S-400 missile systems, Babushkin did not give a direct reply but indicated that all the projects will continue.

"We keep in mind the possibility of the negative influence of sanctions with regard to our cooperation in particular affairs, including defence. But at the same time, when it comes to our case with India, we have very strong and trusted cooperation," he said.

Babushkin further added: "We continue our work with our Indian partners in defence. We have big plans and we hope that our partnership will continue further at the same level we are enjoying today."

He said the Western sanctions against Russia will negatively affect the Russian economy and banking system, adding the punitive measures will create instability to the global economy as they will lead to an "atmosphere of distrust and fear".

Babushkin said the Russia-India partnership is based on a strong and solid foundation and that his country was open to sharing sophisticated technologies with India.

He also said that Russia's participation in India's DefExpo next month will be "huge".

The Russian diplomat said India and Russia don't "threaten" each other with unilateral sanctions and don't interfere in each other's domestic affairs.

"Our cooperation does not represent any threat to anyone and at the same time we keep moving shoulder-to-shoulder to establish a just and equal multipolar world," he added, hoping that the intensity of India-Russia ties will continue at the same level.

On the overall crisis in Ukraine, the Russian diplomat alleged that Western powers have been trying to destabilise the region.

The Russian diplomat claimed that NATO has been a source of instability and that the Western countries are trying to exert more pressure on Russia.

He alleged that Ukraine has been under "external control" since 2014 and that the US has been sending thousands of tonnes of military equipment to that country during the period.

Babushkin said Russia has always been ready for dialogue as it believes in the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said his party will get double century seats by the fourth phase of polls

According to the Election Commission, 2.3 crore people, including 1.14 crore men and 99.3 lakh women, are eligible to vote, for whom 24,643 polling booths and 13,817 polling centres have been set up in this phase. (Representational Image/ DC file)

New Delhi: An average of 57.45 per cent polling was recorded till 5 pm on Wednesday in 59 Assembly constituencies during the fourth of the seven-phase elections in Uttar Pradesh, according to the Election Commission. Kheri (Lakhimpur Kheri) recorded the highest turnout at 62.42 per cent, followed by Pilbhit (61.33 per cent) and Raebareili (58.40 per cent) amid allegations of malfunctioning of EVMs.

In Lakhimpur Kheri, where eight people, including four farmers, were killed during the farmers' stir in October last year, Union minister and BJP leader Ajay Mishra, surrounded by scores of policemen and paramilitary personnel, cast his vote.

His son Ashish Mishra is an accused in the case and was under arrest. Ashish was earlier this month granted bail by the Allahabad high court, prompting families of the deceased farmers to move the Supreme Court over the matter.

As many as 624 candidates are in the fray in this round of voting being held in Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Banda, and Fatehpur districts.

SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said his party will get double century seats by the fourth phase of polls even as he taunted Union home minister Amit Shah over a laptop promise.

BJP chief J.P. Nadda said, This election is meant to end the shroud of black clouds that are lingering in the form of Akhilesh Yadav and his gang of 'gundas' (goons).

According to the Election Commission of India, Sitapur recorded 58.39 per cent, Hardoi 55.29 per cent, Unnao 54.05 per cent, Lucknow 55.08 per cent, Banda 57.54 per cent and Fatehpur 57.02 per cent.

Around 73.67 per cent of votes were cast till 5 pm in polling station number 266 of the Karhal Assembly segment in Mainpuri district where a repolling has been ordered by the Election Commission.

Polling in Karhal, where Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is in the fray against Union minister and BJP's S.P. Singh Baghel, was held in the third phase on February 20.

While poll panel officials claimed that voting was largely peaceful, the Samajwadi Party has alleged certain irregularities in some areas of Lucknow, Unnao, Hardoi and Sitapur and demanded action.

In Lucknow, BSP president Mayawati, deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, state minister Brijesh Pathak, and many senior officials were among the early voters.

According to the Election Commission, 2.3 crore people, including 1.14 crore men and 99.3 lakh women, are eligible to vote, for whom 24,643 polling booths and 13,817 polling centres have been set up in this phase.

Of the 59 seats where polling was held in this phase, the BJP had won 51 in the 2017 Assembly elections, Samajwadi Party four, Bahujan Samaj Party three, and the remaining one had gone to the BJP's ally Apna Dal (Sonelal).

In 2017, 62.55 per cent polling was reported across these seats, while in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, it was 60.03 per cent.

Among the prominent candidates in this phase are Uttar Pradesh law minister Brijesh Pathak, Samajwadi Party national spokesperson Anurag Bhadauria, ex-SP minister Abhishek Mishra, former Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Nitin Agarwal and Aditi Singh.
Russia's ground forces invaded Ukraine from several directions within hours of Putin announcing his decision to launch an assault

A flame is seen from an area near the Dnieper river in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (AP)

MOSCOW: More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers and around 10 civilians died in the first hours of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Thursday.

"I know that more than 40 have been killed and several dozen wounded. I am aware of nearly 10 civilian losses," presidential administration aide Oleksiy Arestovych told reporters.

Russia's ground forces invaded Ukraine from several directions on Thursday, encircling the country within hours of President Vladimir Putin announcing his decision to launch an assault.

Heavy Russian tanks and other equipment crossed the frontier in a string of northern regions as well as from the Kremlin-annexed peninsula of Crimea in the south.

They were also advancing into the Western-backed government's territory along the eastern front, where a separatist insurgency has claimed more than 14,000 lives since 2014.

Ukraine's confirmed military death toll reached five a few hours after Putin launched the invasion.

But there were reports of major clashes across large parts of the vast eastern European country and the death toll seemed likely to climb throughout the day.

Ukraine claimed to have killed around 50 "Russian occupiers" while taking back control of the eastern frontline town of Shchastya.

AFP could not independently confirm the claim.

Although Ukraine has been riven by conflict in the east, which has forced some 1.5 million from their homes, it had reported no fatalities along its southern border with Crimea for some years.

But the border guard service reported some of the heaviest fighting near Crimea, where the servicemen died in Russian missile and helicopter attacks.

Russia has heavily fortified its positions on the peninsula, where it has had military bases since its takeover in 2014.

After holding a series of emergency calls with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Ukraine's leader Voldymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of the top military brass.

Zelensky "gave orders to inflict maximum losses against the aggressor," Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Valeriy Zaluzhny, said.

Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said Ukraine's forces were "waging heavy combat" and repelling Russian advances in some parts.

Kyiv airport bombed

Ukrainian officials said Russia was primarily targeting military infrastructure and silos, hitting a string of air fields.

These included Boryspil airport in Kyiv, the armed forces said.

Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian traffic. Tracking websites showed no civilian airliners within the country's airspace on Thursday.

The invasion was also staged from several positions in Belarus, where Russian armed forces have been holding massive military drills this months involving an estimated 30,000 troops.

But Belarus strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko said his forces were "not taking part in this operation".

Ukraine also claimed it had downed six Russian planes, a helicopter, and destroyed four tanks.

Moscow did not confirm suffering any casualties or other military losses.

In Ukraine's east, where AFP reporters heard violent explosions in several towns along the front, Russian-backed forces took control of several villages that had been under the government's control.

But Ukraine's armed forces claimed it had won back some areas in a counteroffensive.

Putin this week authorised sending "peacekeepers" into the rebel provinces, after recognising their independence on Monday.
by Shafique Khokhar

An organisation by young people set up with the support of Caritas serves other young people of all religions. Here I learnt not only English, but also many values," said one student. Archbishop Travas wants to open a university and colleges.

Karachi (AsiaNews)  The Divine Hope Foundation delivered its first certificates to 53 students in Karachi last Friday.

The programme, which was put in place thanks to cooperation between the Foundation and Caritas Pakistan, included courses in English, stitching, embroidery and computer science.

Here I learnt not only English, but also many values," said Aqsa, a Muslim student, speaking to AsiaNews. "This Christian organisation is trying to bring diversity into the life of students from different religions, she added.

The main guest at the ceremony, Archbishop Benny Mario Travas of Karachi, handed out the certificates to the recipients.

Other guests included Fr Benjamin Shahzad, pastor at St Pauls parish; Mansha Noor, Caritas Pakistan Karachi executive secretary; and Kashif Anthony, local coordinator for the National Commission for Justice and Peace.

Archbishop Travas congratulated the students, encouraging them to go forward and do good.

In his address, he also singled out Dr Daniel, a young doctor who founded the Divine Hope Foundation, and his entire team.

Dr Daniel said that he hoped to contribute some positive change through education and training young people.

For Dr Maria Fletcher, a post-doc researcher at the Agha Khan Hospital and the Foundations co-founder, Our motive is not only to teach them but also to know their challenges and prepare them for their future life.

This was the first time that the archbishop met this youth-oriented organisation. He would like to see students apply for public sector jobs to serve Pakistan, their beloved country".

To this end, he is working on three main objectives for the community. The first one is opening a university and colleges for youth, the second is to prepare students for the federal exam, and the last is to provide scholarships with the help of the parish priests.
The Assyrian cathedral dedicated to the Holy Apostles Mar Thomas, Mar Addai and Mar Mari will rise near the citadel. Construction was put on hold for the past 10 years, but now the community is back in its land after a long exile. Yesterday also marked the 7th anniversary of an attack by the Islamic State against Assyrian Christians in the Khabour plain in which scores of Christians were killed and their places of worship were devastated.

Baghdad (AsiaNews)  A simple but intense ceremony yesterday marked the laying of the first stone of the future Assyrian Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Mar Thomas, Mar Addai and Mar Mari, disciples of the East, in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The church will become the religious and administrative centre of the patriarchal see of the Assyrian Church of the East, marking its final return to Iraq. The see had been closed for more than a decade.

The ceremony was led by Patriarch Mar Awa III, together with numerous local religious leaders (including Chaldean and Syriac bishops) along with government officials and representatives of civil society groups.

The land on which the future cathedral and the patriarchal see will rise belongs to the Assyrian Church of the East and is located near downtown Erbil, not far from the citadel.

Construction began about ten years ago, under the leadership of then Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV, but was eventually abandoned for a long time. The project was resumed recently, culminating in yesterdays ceremony.

Local Christian sources are very happy about the event, noting that it represents a further sign of the Churchs "return to Mesopotamia" and its land of origin after a few decades of exile.

The Assyrian Church of the East follows the Eastern Syriac rite and is considered a legitimate continuation of the Eastern Church.

In 1933, due to the geopolitical situation in the region and anti-Christian persecution, starting with the Assyrian-Armenian genocide in the First World War, the Church moved its headquarters first from the Middle East to Cyprus, then to Chicago in the United States.

The first steps towards return were taken in 2006, with the decision to build the new patriarchal see in Erbil and the election of the patriarch, with full authority over the place where the history of the Assyrian Church originated.

Mar Awa Royel is the current head of the Assyrian Church of the East, succeeding Mar Gewargis III Sliwa who resigned last September. Most of the Churchs 350,000 members live in the diaspora.

In both Iraq and Syria, Christians also commemorated yesterday (pictures 3 and 4) the seventh anniversary of a deadly attack by the Islamic State against Assyrian villages in the Khabour plain, in Syria.

Overnight between 22 and 23 February 2015, hundreds of Islamic State vehicles drove into 35 villages in Hasakah governorate, north-eastern Syria, kidnapping 290 civilians, most of them women and children, executing at least 44 of them.

About 10,000 people fled the region in search of safety. All churches and Christian places of worship were set on fire or destroyed in one of the darkest pages in the history of anti-Christian persecution by the Islamic State.
The priests were on their way to bring aid to internally displaced people in Shan State. Local sources report images linked to the anti-coup resistance were found on their phones. However, spot checks take place at all hours of the day and night and any act is punishable by imprisonment.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - Two Catholic priests from Taunggyi have been arrested by soldiers of the Burmese military junta near the diocese of Pekhon. On February 21 Fr John Paul Lwel and Fr John Bosco of the St. Therese Little Way Missionary Institute, were on their way to help a group of displaced people in Shan State when they were stopped at a checkpoint. In addition to the two priests, the driver and another young man in the car with them were also taken.

AsiaNews sources report all the travellers had their phones checked, a practice that has become routine. The arrest was prompted by the discovery of pictures with the logo of the Government of National Unity in Exile (formed by former members of parliament, mostly belonging to Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party) and other photos of people linked to the Resistance Army.

The fact that the car was intended to bring aid to internal refugees made the situation worse: the generals, suspicious of religious people, claim that the Church protects the anti-coup militias. In the past year, junta forces have repeatedly made arbitrary arrests of nuns and priests in Kayah, Shan and Chin States where the Christian population is concentrated.

However, "if the army wants to make a certain number of arrests on a certain day and in a certain place, it does so, because the acts punishable by imprisonment are now so many that it is impossible not to have made at least one," continues our source. "Even staying at home is no longer safe because spit checks take place any time of day or night."

The arrest of the two priests coincided with the intensification of clashes in the diocese of Pekhon, in the southern part of Shan State, where the junta's forces conducted air strikes and generated yet another exodus of displaced people.

After the coup d'etat by the Tatmadaw (the Burmese army) on 1 February 2021, civil conflict broke out in the country. The military controlled the central region, while ethnic anti-coup militias concentrated on the borders, encircling the military forces.

In December, the diocese of Loikaw, capital of Kayah State, was bombed. Of its nearly 70,000 inhabitants, at least 60,000 have now moved to the nearby cities of Taungoo and Taunggyi, or have crossed the border into Thailand. According to UNHCR figures, there are now over 400,000 internal refugees.

Faced with this situation, the PIME Foundation has set up the S145 Emergenza Myanmar Fund (in Italian) to help initiatives by local churches, many founded by PIME missionaries before the expulsion of foreign missionaries in 1966. The goal of the campaign is to provide immediate help to thousands of people through the relief network the dioceses of Taungoo and Taunggyi are putting in place.

Many local religious groups have responded to the emergency and in doing so are showing the most beautiful face of Myanmar, that of a people who, despite the suffering that has marked its history, choose the path of solidarity. Aid will be sent to them, starting with basic needs: shelter, food, and a school for children deprived of an education for the past two years because of the pandemic and the war.

Donations can be made out to S145Emergenza Myanmar:

- directly online at this link (in Italian) choosing S145Emergenza Myanmar among the projects (progetti);

- by bank transfer payable to Fondazione Pime Onlus IBAN: IT 11 W 05216 01630 000000005733 (it is recommended that a copy of the transfer be sent by email to uam@pimemilano.com indicating name, address, place and date of birth, plus fiscal code if in Italy or equivalent social insurance number in other countries)

- to the postal current account n. 39208202 made out to Fondazione Pime Onlus via Monte Rosa, 81 20149 Milan

- in cash or check by going in person to the Centro PIME in Milan, via Monte Rosa 81  business hours Monday to Friday: from 9 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm).
In his message for the time that leads up to Easter, the pontiff says: Let us not grow tired of asking for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. He warns against addiction to digital media and urges the faithful to seek out  and not to avoid  those in need.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  In his message for this years Lent, released by the Vatican Press Office today, Pope Francis said that, Bitter disappointment at shattered dreams, deep concern for the challenges ahead and discouragement at the poverty of our resources can make us tempted to seek refuge in self-centredness and indifference to the suffering of others.

In responding to this attitude, The Lenten season calls us to place our faith and hope in the Lord. In his message, the pontiff choses as biblical reference for his reflection a verse from Pauls exhortation to the Galatians: Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity (kairos), let us do good to all (Gal 6:9-10).

Francis takes up the image of sowing, mentioned by the apostle. All too often in our lives, he says, greed, pride and the desire to possess, accumulate and consume have the upper hand. By contrast, Lent invites us to conversion, to a change in mindset, so that lifes truth and beauty may be found not so much in possessing as in giving, not so much in accumulating as in sowing and sharing goodness.

A first fruit of the goodness we sow appears in ourselves and our daily lives, even in our little acts of kindness. But in the end, Serving God in freedom from sin brings forth fruits of sanctification for the salvation of all.

The fruits go beyond us since Sowing goodness for the benefit of others frees us from narrow self-interest, infuses our actions with gratuitousness, and makes us part of the magnificent horizon of Gods benevolent plan. Thus, the real harvest is eschatological, the harvest of the last, undying day.

Lent reminds us that the Christs resurrection inspires our earthly hopes. However, Bitter disappointment at shattered dreams, deep concern for the challenges ahead and discouragement at the poverty of our resources, can make us tempted to seek refuge in self-centredness and indifference to the suffering of others.

[O]nly if we fix our gaze on the risen Christ will we be able to respond to the Apostles appeal, Let us never grow tired of doing good. More importantly, Let us not grow tired of praying. Jesus taught us to pray always without becoming weary (Lk 18:1). We need to pray because we need God. Thinking that we need nothing other than ourselves is a dangerous illusion.

If the pandemic has heightened the awareness of our own personal and social fragility, may this Lent allow us to experience the consolation provided by faith in God, without whom we cannot stand firm (cf. Is 7:9). No one attains salvation alone, since we are all in the same boat, amid the storms of history; and certainly no one reaches salvation without God, for only the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ triumphs over the dark waters of death.

Let us not grow tired of uprooting evil from our lives. May the corporal fasting to which Lent calls us fortify our spirit for the battle against sin. Let us not grow tired of asking for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, knowing that God never tires of forgiving. Let us not grow tired of fighting against concupiscence, that weakness which induces to selfishness and all evil.

In view of this, Francis warns against addiction to the digital media, which impoverishes human relationships. Lent is a propitious time to resist these temptations and to cultivate instead a more integral form of human communication made up of authentic encounters, face-to-face and in person.

Let us not grow tired of doing good in active charity towards our neighbours. During this Lent, may we practise almsgiving by giving joyfully.

Lent is a favourable time to seek out  and not to avoid  those in need; to reach out  and not to ignore  those who need a sympathetic ear and a good word; to visit  and not to abandon  those who are lonely. Let us put into practice our call to do good to all, and take time to love the poor and needy, those abandoned and rejected, those discriminated against and marginalized.

The soil is prepared by fasting, watered by prayer and enriched by charity. Let us believe firmly that if we do not give up, we shall reap our harvest in due time.

May the Virgin Mary, who bore the Saviour in her womb and pondered all these things in her heart (Lk 2:19), obtain for us the gift of patience. May she accompany us with her maternal presence, so that this season of conversion may bring forth fruits of eternal salvation.
Today's headlines: fuel shortage hits Vietnam; striking in Cambodia can lead to imprisonment; Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan proposes televised debate with Narendra Modi; the Emirates wants to buy Chinese jets; women in Turkmenistan must wear traditional dress to vote.

RUSSIA

Citizens of Novosibirsk, central Siberia, demonstrated against the recognition of the independence of the Donbass, fearing that 'Putin's warlike manias will lead to an increase in the cost of living in all regions of Russia'. Also in St. Petersburg and other cities signs against war with Ukraine appeared.

VIETNAM

In Vietnam there is a fuel shortage: according to data from the Ministry of Commerce at least 300 retailers have suspended sales of petrol. The reasons appear to be twofold: insufficient supplies and another number of workers who have contracted Covid-19.

THAILAND

Yesterday, the number of Covid-19 cases reached a new record in Thailand with 23,557 new infections. Despite this, entry restrictions for foreign tourists have been relaxed: from March, quarantine will no longer be compulsory and only a negative swab will be required after the fifth day in the country.

CAMBODIA

Around 50 workers were arrested and detained in degrading conditions for striking against the NagaWorld Casino in Phnom Penh. The Cambodian authorities made the end of the protests a condition for their release. The casino, owned by a Hong Kong-based company, had 8 union leaders arrested and workers demanded their release.

SOUTH KOREA

Kim Sung-han, an adviser to the main opposition presidential candidate, Yoon Suk-yeol, said the purchase of an additional THAAD defence system - after the one installed in 2017 - would provoke economic retaliation from China, but at the same time allow for a "reset" of diplomatic relations with Beijing.

PAKISTAN - INDIA

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has proposed a televised debate with Narendra Modi to resolve "differences" between the two countries. According to the Prime Minister, greater trade relations would benefit both countries. After months of stalemate, convoys of aid began being shipped overland to Afghanistan from India through Pakistan yesterday.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The Emirati Defence Minister said he intended to sign a contract with the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation for the purchase of 12 L15 training and light combat aircraft, with the provision to add 36 more.

TURKMENISTAN

The registration of candidates for Turkmenistan's snap presidential elections has been completed, with eight candidates including the favourite Serdar Berdymukhamedov. Female university students in the country were obliged to wear national costumes, without which they will not be admitted to the polling stations.
The figure in a study recently published by the International Organisation for Migration. The escalation of tension between Moscow and Kiev is also worrying because of repercussions on grain supplies. A 12-year-old girl was killed in a Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in a bombing raid; all the wounded were civilians.

Sana'a (AsiaNews) - Over 20,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since the beginning of the year because of the violence, the fighting and a climate of constant terror that invites people to flee, caught between the grip of famine and the drama of a forgotten conflict. The figure emerged in the latest report on the Arab country, published in recent days by experts from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

"From 1 January 2022 to 19 February 2022 - explains the UN body in a note - the Displacement Tracking Matrix (Dtm) estimates that 3,368 households (equal to 20,208 individuals) have experienced displacement at least once".

According to the report, most of the displaced people were registered in the governorates of Marib, Hudaydah and Taiz. Thousands of people are trying to escape a war that in recent weeks has seen a military escalation between the Houthi rebels supported by Iran and pro-government forces linked to Saudi Arabia. A progression of the conflict that has led to the displacement of many families, together with great human and material losses.

The conflict in Yemen erupted in 2014 as an internal confrontation and escalated from internal confrontation to open warfare with the direct intervention in March 2015 by Riyadh at the head of a coalition of Arab nations, which has claimed more than 130,000 lives in recent years. According to the UN, it has caused the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world", on which the Covid-19 has had "devastating" effects; millions of people are on the brink of starvation and children - 10,000 of whom have died in the conflict - will suffer the consequences for decades. There are over three million internally displaced persons (IDPs), most of them living in conditions of extreme poverty, hunger and various epidemics, not least cholera.

Activists, aid workers and experts are also concerned about the escalation of tension between Moscow and Kiev (the Kremlin's military operation began this morning), which could have serious repercussions in the Middle East and in countries that are already very tried, such as Yemen. Moreover, several Arab states in the area - Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia to name but a few - depend on imports of Russian and Ukrainian wheat to meet local needs. These are countries that are already experiencing food crises to a greater or lesser extent, and the potential increase in prices due to the decrease in production and supply risks further exacerbating the suffering of a starving population.

Finally, on the war front, new victims continue to be recorded, including minors, as reported by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) operators working in the area. In recent days, 10 wounded people and the bodies of a 12-year-old girl and a 50-year-old woman, victims of the bombings in the Hajja governorate, have been brought to Abs hospital. All the wounded, operators explain, are civilians and most are women and children, including a pregnant woman.

Thomas Curbillon, Msf's head of mission in Yemen, points out that "since the fighting has intensified on the front line near the city of Haradh" and more recently "in the northern district of Abs", the health workers "have received a significant number of injured people". The new escalation is a source of concern "for the safety of people already affected by years of fighting and displacement" and "for the terrible impact of indiscriminate attacks". "We call on all parties to the conflict in the country," Curbillon concludes, "to respect international humanitarian law and to take all necessary measures to protect the lives of civilians.
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A Rhode Island woman is headed to federal prison for stealing insurance payments meant for the customers of the auto body shop where she worked as an office secretary, according to the Department of Justice.

Idalee Johnston, 48, devised a scam to steal the proceeds of nearly 200 checks sent to customers by their insurance companies for vehicle repairs, the Justice Department said. Johnston pleaded guilty to mail fraud and has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Beginning in 2016, Johnston used two methods to steal customers insurance payments.

In some cases, she would not have customers sign direct-payment forms that would have caused payments to be made directly to the auto body shop for repair work. In other cases where customers did sign the payment forms, she would not forward them to the insurance companies.

As a result, insurance checks meant to pay for auto repairs were sent directly to customers---who, at Johnstons direction, gave the checks to her as a representative of the business.

Johnston admitted in court she deposited some of these checks into her own bank account. In other cases, stolen checks were provided to family members to be deposited into their bank accounts. Later, at Johnstons direction, these family members gave her most of the proceeds of those checks.

The scam continued for two years and resulted in a loss to the auto body shop of more than $220,000, according to the Justice Department.

After the completion of her two-year prison term, Johnston must serve two years of supervised release. She has also been ordered to pay restitution of $220,083 to the owner of the auto body shop.

We thank Insurance Business for reprint permission.
EV

On the other hand, Car and Driver also shuffled the cars a bit. According to the American magazine, DeLorean Motor Company is the primary stakeholder in DeLorean Motors Reimagined.Troy Beetz, the CMO (chief marketing officer) for the new Delorean, told us that DeLorean Motor Company was now the Classic DeLorean division of the new company, meaning that they were integrated. Beetz promised to release more information to clarify that soon.The concept will be inspired by the original DMC-12 , and it will anticipate the low-production electric vehicle that the company intends to sell. It will have around 300 miles of range, and DeLorean is working on a tailor-made platform for the. The electric powertrain and battery pack will come from a supplier.According to Joost de Vries, it would not make sense to integrate everything vertically in a company that does not target massive sales volumes. Indeed: the sales would not pay the investments to develop everything in-house. Now we should pay attention to who can sell DeLorean the components it needs.At this point, we know they are not coming from Karma . De Vries and Beetz want to make sure the new DeLorean is in no way associated with their former employer, and we can see that in the Car and Driver article . The author mention that De Vries worked for Volvo and Tesla but did not mention Karma, which was his last job. That was certainly a request from the executives.There are plenty of companies that can sell DeLorean these components, such as Koenigsegg . However, there are some safer bets to make in that regard. One example is Italdesigns involvement with the project. Being a Volkswagen company, Italdesign could help the new DeLorean get electric parts from the German automaker. Volkswagen Group Components already said that it wanted the MEB and its electric components to be what the Beetle engine and floor pan once were to small car manufacturers. Thats precisely how DeLorean now defines itself.We are still waiting for the press release Beetz promised. However, we would not be surprised if we only grasped all details involved with making this new DeLorean  whatever it is called  in August, six months from now. Let's hope the wait is worth it.
HP

The 1938 Talbot Lago Goutte D Eau, that translates to Teardrop, is a striking piece of automotive art. It is often considered one of the most beautiful cars ever designed. Its a marvel of classic cars worldwide, often winning the best-in-class category at various events. Under the hood, this ultra-rate classic has a 4-liter straight-six cranking out 140, a substantial amount in its hay day.According to Joe Ford, a classic car collector and dealer, the Milwaukee man bought the rare classic in 1967, and stored it in his plastic factory near Hamilton and Marshal. He kept the car for 31-years before a professional outfit of thieves made away with it in 2001, WISN 12 news reported.They loaded the 1938 Talbot Lago into a boxcar and smuggled it out of the country in pieces. Ford believes the crooks repainted the car to change its appearance.According to the FBI, Gardner shipped the classic to Europe in 2006 before restoring it in France.An Illinois buyer purchased the rare classic from Gardner in 2015 for $7.6 million, but failed to check the records if it was a stolen car. The FBI estimates the car is worth at least $10 million today. Last summer, Gardner was in the custody of authorities in Italy but fled after placing him on house arrest.Ford is looking forward to getting the car back. Since the original owner of the classic died in 2005, hes teamed up with the family and hopes to get the prized classic back.FBI says Gardner faces extradition to Milwaukee concerning the offense. However, they are still waiting for details of his arrest and detention. Until then, the accused remains classified as wanted.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The sagging passenger-side underbody insulator is responsible for at least 40 broken driveshafts reported between July 2017 and November 15th. These incidents and the aforementioned investigation subsequently resulted in a field action that involves a simply whopping 247,445 pickup trucks.FoMoCo isnt aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.No fewer than 223,628 examples of the Ford F-250 are called back, workhorses produced between October 2015 and December 2021. The 2017 to 2022 model year F-350 is called back to the tune of 23,817 examples.As mentioned beforehand, all of them feature gasoline-fed powerplants in the guise of the 6.2-liter Boss V8 motor and 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 motor. Documents filed with thefurther list the Super Duty with the SuperCab and CrewCab body styles.North Carolina-based Lydall Thermal/Acoustical, Inc. is listed as the supplier of the underbody insulators, which bear two part numbers: HC3B-2611130-AB and HC3B-2811130-AB. The Ford Motor Company removed the shoddy insulator from production at the Kentucky Truck Plant last December. An under-carpet thermal patch is presently used for insulation.The Dearborn-based automaker notes that dealers were informed of the recall on February 17th. Owner notifications, on the other hand, will have to wait until April 4th. All of the envelopes should be delivered by April 8th.Instead of using the aforementioned under-carpet thermal patch, FoMoCo says that the original insulator will be properly attached to the vehicle. Of course, authorized dealers will inspect the aluminum driveshaft. If necessary, dealers will either repair or replace the aluminum driveshaft.At the moment of reporting, the Super Duty kicks off at $37,495 for the F-250 Regular Cab XL SRW with the eight-foot bed, 142-inch wheelbase, and 6.2-liter engine. The most affordable F-350 retails at $39,010 sans taxes.
In the fraught 1990s, Newport News Christopher Phillips started a movement: He created Socrates Cafe, a group and a model for people to meet and discuss lifes big questions respectfully and thoughtfully. A bestselling book, Socrates Cafe, followed, as did hundreds of groups worldwide. Other initiatives ensued  Democracy Cafe, Constitution Cafe, Philosophers Club, Declaration Project.

So did other books. His newest is Soul of Goodness: Transform Grievous Hurt, Betrayal, and Setback into Love, Joy, and Compassion (Prometheus, 232 pp.). It stems from the unexpected and devastating death of Phillips father, and the aftermath.

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On March 7, Phillips and mentor Cornel West  the professor, philosopher and activist, who wrote a foreword to the book  will discuss it in a livestreamed event about 6 p.m. D.C.s Busboys and Poets bookstore is the host. Free; for a Zoom link, sign up at tinyurl.com/CPgoodness. Other options: busboysandpoets.com

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Mark your calendar: Earl Swift, March 29, discussing Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island  a talk postponed two years ago, early in the pandemic. Requiem was on several best of 2018 lists, including Smithsonians. 5:30 p.m., Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. Groups working on sea level rise will have booths. Free. Register: suffolkcenter.org. Masks required. 757-923-0003.

Events for kids, grades three through eight: Through the Virginia Beach Central Library. Free; registration required. 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd., 757-385-0150: In person, Lev Grossman, author of the Magicians trilogy, discussing The Silver Arrow. 2 to 3 p.m. March 5. Register: tinyurl.com/VBLev. ... Virtual: Sci-fi/fantasy writer Greg van Eekhout (COG), 6:30 p.m. March 2. tinyurl.com/VBGreg ... DC Comics Kate Karyus Quinn and Demitria Lunetta (Anti/Hero), 6:30 p.m. March 3. tinyurl.com/VBAnti

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ina Garten: The Norfolk Forum has individual tickets for the presidential historian and the cookbook author. Goodwin: 7:30 p.m. March 15, Chrysler Hall; $50 plus fees. Garten, May 24, $75 plus fees. thenorfolkforum.org.

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Explaining Ukraine/Russia: Seven books, chosen by The Wall Street Journal:

Red Famine: Stalins War on Ukraine, Anne Applebaum

Stalins War on Ukraine, Anne Applebaum Who Lost Russia? How the World Entered a New Cold War, Peter Conradi (how Russia went from potential partner in the mid-1990s to adversary)

How the World Entered a New Cold War, Peter Conradi (how Russia went from potential partner in the mid-1990s to adversary) In Wartime: Stories From Ukraine, Tim Judah

Stories From Ukraine, Tim Judah The Border: A Journey Around Russia Through North Korea, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Norway and the Northeast Passage, Erika Fatland (translator Kari Dickson)

A Journey Around Russia Through North Korea, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Norway and the Northeast Passage, Erika Fatland (translator Kari Dickson) War in 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century, David Patrikarakos

How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century, David Patrikarakos The Return of the Russian Leviathan, Sergei Medvedev (translator Stephen Dalziel)

Sergei Medvedev (translator Stephen Dalziel) Lost Kingdom: The Quest for Empire and the Making of the Russian Nation, Serhii Plokhy

You Saw It Coming Dept.: Britney Spears. Book deal. Tell-all. $15 million-ish. Good grief.

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New and recent

Arthur C. Brooks, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. The social scientist and writer for The Atlantic: If you have worked hard to be exceptional at what you do, you will almost certainly face  decline and disappointment  and it will come much, much sooner than you think. He told NPR: We can find a new kind of success if were willing to make some jumps and some changes and show some humility and have an adventure thats better than the first half. (Portfolio, 272 pp.)

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 Erica Smith, erica.smith@pilotonline.com
Ian Somerhalder is best known for his role in the popular supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries, in which he played alongside Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley. And even if he finished filming the series five years ago, Somerhalder and Wesley continue to make a great team. The two have recently launched the Indiana-based Brothers Bond bourbon, which has become one of the fastest-selling bourbon brands.As you might imagine, his travel schedule is all booked for 2022. And he plans to take his brand-new Fleetwood RV Discovery LXE 40M on his trip across the country. Its not the first time he chooses the RV life, though. Back in 2017, Somerhalder took his wife, Nikki Reed, and drove across the entire country in their Airstream.Now, hell hit the road in a luxurious Class A motorhome. Last year, in December, he went to see the beauty he purchased and was impressed with the result. He even wrote in an Instagram post at the time:I cant wait to explore the open roads of this beautiful country in this amazing piece of engineering. My grandfather and I always talked about traveling around making memories in a @fleetwoodrv . He may be gone now but I will be making memories for sure.An RV will allow him and his family to enjoy the beauty of the country at their own pace. His dog will accompany him too and get a little spoiled on the trip since this motorhome is filled with luxe amenities.Theres heated porcelain tile flooring, an electric fireplace, three TVs (one place on the outside), and a spacious kitchen that comes complete with a full-size refrigerator, induction cooktop, convection microwave, and dishwasher.The model has a large master bedroom with a king-sized bed, two wardrobe closets, a glass-enclosed shower with a bench, a washer/dryer combo, and one bathroom with his and hers sinks and a half-bath.While we dont exactly know how much the actor paid for this beautiful RV, its worth noting that a 2022 Fleetwood RV Discovery LXE 40M starts at $451,611.
One packing a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 under the hood. Along with a flurry of enhancements on top of the usual 1500 goodies. So, this is now the king of high-performance OEM trucks. However, that may not be enough for some people. Those who seek to stand out in any truck crowd might do it for the culture.Well, this is the motto used by the good folks over at Atlanta, Georgia-based Road Show International for their custom builds. Unfortunately, we have no idea what affluent showbiz star or businessperson ordered this build project, as the aftermarket outlet is always extremely discrete about such stuff.All we know is that we are dealing with yet another squeaky-clean RS Edition project. This time around, a 2021 Ram 1500 TRX was dressed up in Satin Gun Metal on the outside. It is decidedly subtle, yet there are a few hints that something is amiss . For starters, the orange Hermes accents contrast both the gray and the RS Black Optics trim package.Or the Gloss Hermes/ Black 24-inch Forgiato aftermarket wheels , for that matter. By the way, has anyone noticed this Ram TRX rides lifted some additional four inches (10.16 cm) from the ground? Frankly, there is an entire list of modifications that are not that apparent.Luckily, Road Show has a particularly good habit of outlining them all in the description. Alas, there are a few highlights that we need to discuss. Aside from the goodies tucked on the outside, there is also a major surprise waiting inside. After noticing the powdered orange brakes or the motorized side steps with LEDs, the real star of the show is easily revealed.That would be the completely customized cockpit that is clad in RS Hermes leather and Alcantara. Even the steering wheel gets the same treatment! And during the night the atmosphere is just like in a Rolls-Royce thanks to the RS Shooting Starlight Ceiling.
Tesla is not making much progress with Giga Berlin , a final approval being hindered by scarce water resources in the region. Nevertheless, Elon Musk appears unfazed and willing to take its business elsewhere if Germany proves unpracticable. With or without Giga Berlin, Tesla will double its production capacity in China, and the expansion work is said to begin next month.To be sure, this would be more than an expansion of the existing facility, and sources consulted by Reuters confirmed a second gigafactory is in the making. The second plant will be built close to the existing Giga Shanghai in Lingang, Pudong New Area. Once the new plant will be fully operational, Tesla will have the capacity to produce two million vehicles per year in China. The figure surpasses the local production of many established carmakers, including Toyota (1.6 million vehicles produced in China in 2021), and GM (1.4 million).It is not clear when the Giga Shanghai 2 will come online, but the first Tesla Gigafactory in China (known as Gigafactory 3) started production less than a year after breaking ground. Tesla builds Model 3 and Model Y at Giga Shanghai, and has plans to raise the weekly production to 22,000 vehicles in the coming months. This means the existing facility will be on track to build 1.1 million vehicles per year, more than double the plants original projected capacity.Tesla received special treatment from the Chinese government when it first came to China, being the first foreign carmaker not required to form a joint venture with a Chinese partner. Giga Shanghai has become the crown jewel of Teslas empire and also its main production hub. Around half of the 936,000 vehicles delivered globally were made in China. Besides, Tesla used the Chinese factory to implement the newest technologies before they rolled out to the other production facilities in the U.S.
EV

According to Nikkei Asia, Toyota will only offer the bZ4x in Japan through its Kinto subscription service. That should happen by May or June, while thes production will start in April. June is a safer bet than May: manufacturing usually anticipates deliveries by around two months so that there are enough cars to begin distribution. With the bZ4x , that makes even more sense: Toyota aims to produce around 60,000 units in 2022.Toyota argues that it will not sell the car in Japan because the country is not craving EVs as other markets. While that may seem like a sensible point, it does not make sense. Toyota could just let Japanese buyers decide about demand. If it is offering the electric crossover in its subscription program, the reason must be stronger than that.It may have to do with reputation. Nikkei Asia stated that EVs rarely show up for sale as used cars in Japan. The reason would be that battery pack deterioration makes their resale value drop steeply. In that sense, the subscription service would allow drivers to taste the bZ4x without concerns about depreciation.In a way, that is similar to Volkswagens approach of leasing used cars multiple times. The final goal is to remain in control of the battery pack for as long as possible. Toyotas extremely aggressive warranty terms for the bZ4x battery pack may be another strategy for that to happen.Should the battery pack fail before ten years or 240,000 km (150,000 mi), Toyota will replace it for free. The company just did not say it will replace this battery pack with a similar one: it may present better cell technology, such as solid-state batteries. Were sure Toyota will start selling EVs in Japan when they are available.
Volta Trucks boasts of its Volta Zero being the worlds first purpose-built, full-electric vehicle designed for urban logistics. Were talking about a 16-ton truck that offers a range of 150 to 200 km (95 to 125 miles) on a charge, promising to cut around 1.2 million tons of CO2 by 2025.The Volta Zero truck has enjoyed great feedback so far, with the manufacturer claiming its received more than 5,000 pre-orders for it so far, with an order book value of over 1.2 billion ($1.3).It is this huge amount that has motivated investors to pump more money into the company, giving Volta Trucks the confidence that theyre on the right track. According to CEO Essa Al-Saleh, the latest funding round offers them the financial runway to deliver their goals and transition from a startup to a manufacturer of full-electric trucks.Volta Trucks aims to start the series production of the Zero at the end of 2022. The plans also include the completion of a fleet of Design Verification prototypes for testing and engineering development, as well as a Product Verification fleet of vehicles. The latter will be ready for evaluation by London and Paris customers sometime in mid-2022.The money will also be used for the companys manufacturing facility in Steyr, Austria, where the production of customer vehicles is also estimated to begin by the end of 2022.With a payload of 18,960 lb (8,600 kg), sustainable construction with biodegradable exterior panels, and using Lithium Iron Phosphates batteries that eliminate the use of precious metals, the Volta Zero is described as a pioneering product.The truck has a glass house-style cab design, giving the driver wide, enhanced 220-degree visibility. It also comes with navigation services from HERE Technologies , including a Range Assistant feature with range prediction (which allows for better route planning) and integration with the what3words geolocation service.
An employee works on an electric engine assembly line at automaker Stellantis plant in Tremery, eastern France, on January 27, 2022. (Photo : ERIC PIERMONT/AFP via Getty Images)

Stellantis announced on Wednesday, February 23, that it posted incredible financial results in 2021, with the automotive giant tripling its net profit and doubling its operating income last year. Stellantis increased its net revenues compared with 2020 when it was still split between the FCA and PSA groups.

Stellantis made $15.2 billion in its first year after it was formed from the merger of Peugeot maker PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. That helped the company beat its profitability target, boosting hopes that it could cope with a shortage of semiconductor chips and rising costs of raw materials in 2022.

Shares of the world's No.4 carmaker listed in Milan surged during Wednesday afternoon's trading, going up 6.5 percent as investors reacted positively to the news. Stellantis, whose brands include Opel, Maserati, Jeep, and Ram, reported an adjusted operating profit margin of 11.8 percent in 2021, easily beating its target of around 10 percent.

Merger boosts Stellantis' 2021 profit

Stellantis managed to accomplish that feat thanks to solid progress on synergies from the merger in just its first year, generating around $3.6 billion (3.2 billion euros) in net cash benefits. Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares was delighted with his company's performance, telling analysts in a conference call that the results they posted demonstrated that they would deliver on their commitments.

The outstanding numbers come less than a week before Stellantis presents its much-awaited strategic plan for the next few years. One of the things to look out for in that plan reveal is how Stellantis will address its struggling car business in China, which holds the world's largest auto market.

Tavares said he expects Chinese authorities to approve Stellantis' plans to increase its stake in its joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) in China. He also expects Stellantis to post another double-digit margin again this year.

Also Read: Toyota Partners With Yamaha Motor to Develop Hydrogen-fueled V8 Engine

Stellantis distributes record profit-sharing payments

Margins in North America, where the company sells its highly-profitable Ram and Jeep pickup truck models, soared to a record 16.3 percent in 2021. That trumped rival General Motors' comparable margin in North America for 2021, which stood at just 10.2 percent.

Stellantis' profits for last year were up 179 percent compared to its numbers in 2020. The automaker cited strong sales and cost-cutting measures as the main reasons behind the increase in profits. Stellantis, consisting of 14 brands, including Vauxhall, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, DS, and Fiat, introduced ten new models in 2021 and 34 low-emission variants of existing models.

With revenues skyrocketing, Stellantis announced that it will distribute profit-sharing payments of almost $15,000 to all UAW-represented workers, the largest amount ever shared in its history. Tavares paid tribute to the workers, saying, "Every Stellantis employee took on an extraordinary task in 2021 of combining two automakers while facing serious external challenges."

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Volkswagen is reportedly in discussions with the automotive division of Huawei about acquiring the project team that is developing the latter's self-driving unit. According to various Chinese news sources this week, Volkswagen plans to form a joint venture with Huawei to develop the autonomous driving system.

Volkswagen will provide the necessary funds for the company and control the joint venture, while Huawei will provide the needed technology to become a Tier 1 supplier. According to people with knowledge of the matter, Huawei could be selling its autonomous driving business to Volkswagen for a price that could reach $1.6 billion (around RMB 10 billion).

The news comes after reports from Germany surfaced last week about Volkswagen having talks with Huawei to buy the latter's self-driving business, with the former promising "unconventional solutions" for the vehicles it assembles for the Chinese market. Sources said Volkswagen executives have been negotiating the deal with Huawei for months now, with the planned acquisition also involving technology systems that the German automaker does not specialize in.

Volkswagen and Huawei discussing joint venture for months now

The joint venture between Huawei and Volkswagen first came to light in October of last year. The Chinese telecommunications equipment company reportedly provided a number of its senior technical talents to support the partnership. Among those rumored to join the project was Su Jing, Huawei's head of the intelligent driving product department and a former self-driving business line executive.

Huawei denied ensuing reports that it was also in talks with other companies about forming a joint venture with its self-driving division. Volkswagen China CEO Stephan Wollenstein finally revealed in January that discussions are indeed taking place between his company and Huawei. He provided no confirmation, though, of the talks centering around the planned joint venture between the two companies.

Also Read: Volkswagen Planning Porsche IPO: Market Listing Could Place Car Brand's Value up to $102 Billion

Diess wants Volkswagen to be a leader in autonomous driving

Volkswagen is one of the world's biggest carmakers, shipping 8.9 million vehicles last year. To further boost its business, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess wants his company to play a central technology role in this era of autonomous driving.

Diess outlined his vision in an interview with Verge last month, saying, "We want to become able to really drive the car, because we think the big differentiator is, and the big step change in the industry is, are you able to take over the responsibility for driving the car? That makes a big difference."

Diess said Volkswagen has two autonomous driving projects lined up. The German firm is working with US startup Argos AI to develop urban robotaxis. The other collaboration that Diess is alluding to seems to be the project with Huawei, which involves autonomous driving in private vehicles on open roads.

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The world's biggest automakers have a huge problem in their hands after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Operations of Volkswagen, Stellantis and Renault in Russia are now certainly at risk with Western leaders set to impose the harshest sanctions yet on the country after Thursday's deadly attack.

All three carmakers have assembly plants or factories in Russia. The one that will be affected the most by this conflict is Renault Group, which has a controlling stake in AvtoVAZ. That company makes Lada, the most popular car brand in Russia.

Renault also has a second facility near the Russian capital of Moscow. Renault's chief executive Luca de Meo said in an interview that most of the parts that the Lada plant uses is sourced locally, which should help isolate the facility from production problems heading its way. That being said, AvtoVAZ is already looking for alternative supplies of computer chips in case the coming sanctions by Western countries started affecting deliveries to Russia.

VW Group and Stellantis own factories in Kaluga

Also affected by the escalating conflict are VW Group and Stellantis. Both automakers have factories in the city of Kaluga, which is located just 180 kilometers (112 miles) southwest of Moscow. Kaluga has become an automotive hub in Russia with Volkswagen Group building the Skoda Rapid, Tiguan, and Polo, as well as assembling the Audi Q7 and Q8 SUVs there.

Stellantis and Mitsubishi jointly operate a factory in Kaluga from which it intends to export vans to the European continent. Other big name suppliers also do business in Kaluga such as Magna, Visteon, and Continental.

Renault, Stellantis, and Volkswagen might be the auto companies that have the most to lose from the impending sanctions, but they are not the only carmakers that are active in the Russian region. Mercedes made a huge investment recently in Russia, pouring in more than $284 million (250 million) in a plant to build the company's popular E-Class and SUV models.

A Mercedes spokeswoman issued a statement to Automotive News Europe about the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, saying "We are very concerned about the recent developments and hope that further escalation can be prevented." She added that Mercedes, as a matter of course, will take into account applicable sanctions in their business activities with Russia.

Also Read: EPA Orders Tesla to Pay $275,000 Penalty for Clean Air Act Violations in Fremont Facility

BMW also watching Russia conflict closely

BMW does not own a full factory in Russia but it has business interests in that country as well. The German automaker has had semi-knockdown kits assembled at a facility operated by Russian manufacturing company Avtotor in Kaliningrad since the year 1999.

In fact, BMW just renewed its contract with Avtotor until 2028, with the tie-up between the two companies calling for painting, welding, and assembling vehicles at the Kaliningrad factory. The models that would be built in the facility are BMW's 5 series as well as its X5, X6, and X7 large SUVs.

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President Biden on Thursday declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin "will be a pariah on the international stage" for his unprovoked attack on Ukraine, and he announced severe new sanctions that include sweeping export controls and a freeze on billions of dollars' worth of Russian assets.

Why it matters: The new sanctions are coordinated with the G7  countries that together make up 50% of the world's GDP  and are designed to "maximize a long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies."

"Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden said.

Moments after Biden finished speaking, the Pentagon announced that an additional 7,000 U.S. troops would be deployed to Europe to shore up NATO's defenses.

Details: Sberbank  which is Russia's largest financial institution and holds nearly one-third of the overall Russian banking sector's assets  will be cut off from the U.S. financial system.

"Full-blocking" sanctions will be imposed on four additional Russian banks, freezing the U.S.-based assets of VTB, Bank Otkritie, Sovcombank OJSC, Novikombank and 34 subsidiaries.

New debt restrictions will be imposed on 13 Russian state-owned enterprises and entities that together hold nearly $1.4 trillion in assets: Sberbank, AlfaBank, Credit Bank of Moscow, Gazprombank, Russian Agricultural Bank, Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, Transneft, Rostelecom, RusHydro, Alrosa, Sovcomflot, and Russian Railways.

The U.S. will impose sweeping export controls on technologies critical to the Russian defense sector and broader economy, including semiconductors, telecommunication, encryption security, lasers, sensors, navigation, avionics and maritime technologies.

Seven Russian elites and their family members who hold "some of the highest position of powers in the country" will also be sanctioned.

Zoom out: The European Union, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom plan similar actions, acting as a "force multiplier," according to the White House.

Between the lines: Biden did not announce that Russia would be disconnected from SWIFT, which is akin to the central nervous system for international financial transactions.

SWIFT sanctions were viewed as among the harshest under consideration, but some European allies feared that disconnecting Russia would cause collateral economic damage.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted earlier Thursday: "Everyone who now doubts whether Russia should be banned from SWIFT has to understand that the blood of innocent Ukrainian men, women and children will be on their hands too."

Pressed by a reporter, Biden said cutting Russia off from SWIFT is "always an option" but "right now that's not the position that the rest of Europe wishes to take."

The big picture: Biden said there is "a complete rupture right now in U.S. and Russia relations" and that sanctioning Putin himself remains on the table.

What he's saying: "The Russian military has begun a brutal assault on the people of Ukraine without provocation, without justification, without necessity. This is a premeditated attack. Vladimir Putin has been planning this for months, as we've been saying all along," Biden said.

Biden emphasized that U.S. forces "are not and will not be engaged in a conflict with Russia in Ukraine, and our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine but to reassure those allies in the East."

"This aggression cannot go unanswered, and if it did, the consequences for America would be much worse. America stands up to bullies. We stand up to freedom."

Go deeper: Ukraine-Russia crisis latest developments

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.
S. African experts call for BRICS to expand scope after COVID-19

Xinhua) 08:38, February 24, 2022

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- After COVID-19 exposed some challenges bedeviling the BRICS countries, there is a need to re-examine its strategies and integrate and expand its scope, said South African experts on Wednesday at the webinar "South Africa and the BRICS: Revisiting developmental priorities".

The Witwatersrand University School of Governance lecturer Lihle Ngcobozi said COVID-19 showed the problems of patents and vaccine nationalism that BRICS should address.

"BRICS should lead and be trend or policy setters. They should lead in vaccine democratization," she said.

She pointed out that BRICS countries have a potential influence on global decisions such as climate change and COVID-19. It should have a blueprint on infrastructure development, economic reforms, fiscal prudence, and post-economic recovery while respecting the sovereignty of the countries.

Krish Chetty, the chief researcher at one of the country's think tanks, the Human Science Research Council, said COVID-19 created new areas of cooperation.

She said while China quickly managed to adjust to online learning at a large scale, countries like South Africa, India and Brazil faced challenges.

"We should continue with knowledge sharing on BRICS as think-tank and universities. There is a space to work together in renewable energy platforms and new technology. We must promote mass digital skills training for students and lecturers," she said.

Sanusha Naidu, senior researcher at Institute for Global Dialogue concurred with other experts.

She pointed out that while BRICS made progress in building institutions like Contingent Reserve Arrangement, New Development Bank, there have been calls for the establishment of the digital payment system.

Naidu called on members to address tariff and non-tariff measures which are barriers to trade within BRICS countries.

The webinar was organized by the South African Institute of International Affairs and South African BRICS Think Tank.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
HONOLULU  A civilian contractor working for the U.S. Navy on Wednesday disclosed the names of four employees killed when their helicopter crashed on the Hawaii island of Kauai.

Croman Corp. said 64-year-old Daniel Maurice of Lyle, Washington, was the aircrafts chief pilot.

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Three Kauai residents who were on board also were killed. Patrick Rader, 55, was the command pilot. Ericka Tevez-Valdez, 42, and Mathew Haider, 44, were mechanics.

Croman said the crew was conducting routine training operations at the Pacific Missile Range Facility under contract with the Navy when their Sikorsky S-61N helicopter crashed shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday.

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The Pacific Missile Range Facility is a Navy base on the western edge of Kauai where the military tests missile defense technology and various units conduct exercises.

Croman, which is based in White City, Oregon, has provided commercial air support service to the Navy at the Kauai base since 2007.

Haider was originally from Springfield, Oregon, and lived on Kauai for two years with his wife, said his mother, Penny Haider. He had two children from a previous marriage, she said.

Her son took his job as a helicopter mechanic seriously, she said.

Matt was a very action-oriented type of person, she said. Even though this work was intense, he thrived on that intensity.

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AP Researcher Randy Herschaft in New York City contributed to this report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn swift condemnation from President Biden and other world leaders after announcing a "special military operation" in Ukraine, in a speech that appeared to serve as a declaration of war.

State of play: Russian troops moved into eastern Ukraine and large explosions were reported immediately after Putin's speech, including near Kyiv. The attacks have killed at least 40 people, officials said Thursday.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that a "full-scale invasion" had begun.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said military installations around the country were under attack and declared martial law. He said he'd spoken to Biden and urged Ukrainians: "Stay calm, stay at home, the army is doing its work."

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to be attacking military targets and air bases, not population centers.

Data: Mapbox/OSCE as of Feb. 14, 2022; Map: Will Chase/Axios

What he's saying: Putin said the military operation would be intended to "demilitarize" Ukraine, but not to occupy it. That message appeared to be aimed not at the separatist republics where Putin had already deployed troops, but to the country as a whole and its leaders in Kyiv.

"To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside: if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me," Putin said.

Putin called on Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms, and claimed "all responsibility for possible bloodshed" would fall on the government in Kyiv.

He claimed Ukrainian forces provoked the conflict, despite the fact that Russia has built up a force of over 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders over several months. He argued on Monday that Ukraine has no right to exist as an independent country.

What they're saying: Biden issued a statement saying, "The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces."

Biden promised Zelensky additional U.S. support in their call, per a White House readout. He said he'd meet with other G7 leaders Thursday and vowed "our allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia."

additional U.S. support in their call, per a White House readout. He said he'd meet with other G7 leaders Thursday and vowed "our allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia." Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the alliance's response to the attacks, the State Department said.

and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the alliance's response to the attacks, the State Department said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that the U.K. and its allies "will respond decisively" and that he's "calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible."

tweeted that the U.K. and its allies "will respond decisively" and that he's "calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible." French President Emmanuel Macron , who helped secure an "in principle" agreement for Biden and Putin before Russian troops moving into eastern Ukraine put an end to the deal, tweeted: "France strongly condemns the decision of Russia to start a war with Ukraine. Russia must immediately put an end to its military operations."

, who helped secure an "in principle" agreement for Biden and Putin before Russian troops moving into eastern Ukraine put an end to the deal, tweeted: "France strongly condemns the decision of Russia to start a war with Ukraine. Russia must immediately put an end to its military operations." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who met with Putin in Moscow in an attempt to stave off a Russian invasion, denounced the attacks on Ukraine as "a blatant violation of international law that was unjustifiable."

Worth noting: As Putin was speaking, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield was addressing an emergency session of the UN Security Council. In a bizarre split-screen, several countries then made urgent appeals to prevent a war that Putin had already declared. China's representative did not criticize Russia.

Zelensky made an address of his own on Wednesday night, speaking to the Russian people directly to plead for peace but warn that if Russia attacks, "you will see our faces, not our backs."

Go deeper: The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
The Israeli government on Thursday condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a "violation of the world order."

Why it matters: It is a significant change in the Israeli position toward the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Israel had attempted to balance aligning itself with its biggest ally, the U.S., while maintaining good relations with Russia, with which it has an important security relationship.

On Wednesday, Israel issued a statement that supported Ukraine's territorial integrity, but didn't condemn Russia.

What they're saying: "The Russian attack on Ukraine is a violation of the world order and Israel condemns it. Israel is ready to give humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Israel knew many wars. War is not the way to solve conflicts," Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement Thursday.

Several hours after Lapids statement, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also addressed the situation in Ukraine during a speech to military cadets but didnt condemn Russia.

Like everyone else, we pray for peace and calm in Ukraine, and still hope that dialogue will lead to a resolution," Bennett said.

"These are difficult and tragic moments, and our hearts are with the civilians that, through no fault of their own, have been thrust into this situation. Israel will mobilize to extend humanitarian aid as needed," he added.

One of Lapids aides told me the prime minister and the foreign minister were coordinated and approved both messages which were not contradictory but complementary."

Behind the scenes: The European Union and several of its member states in recent days pressed Israel to take a firmer position against Russia, a senior EU official told me.

After the attacks began early Thursday, Israel had to take a much clearer position, Israeli officials said.

On Thursday morning, Lapid and Bennett held several consultations about escalating Israel's public response.

Israeli officials told me they are not concerned about paying a price for the stronger position against Russia due to Israel's close and good relationship with Moscow.

Russia officials told Israel later on Thursday that Moscow is going "to contain" the Israeli condemnation, but will not create tensions over it or retaliate, two Israeli officials told me.

Meanwhile, Lapid spoke on the phone with Secretary of State Tony Blinken about the Ukraine crisis.

Lapid spoke on the phone with Secretary of State Tony Blinken about the Ukraine crisis. According to an Israeli official, Blinken welcomed the Israel's condemnation of the Russian invasion.

Don't forget: Russia holds enormous influence in neighboring Syria but allows Israel to operate freely against Iranian activity there.

Yes, but: The Israeli officials told me they don't think the Israeli position on the Russian invasion will harm its operations in Syria.

What's next: Israeli officials said the next decision will be whether to join the international sanctions against Russia.

Go deeper: Ukraine-Russia crisis latest developments

Editor's note: This story has been updated with Bennett's comments.
Legend has it that Mississippi Delta bluesman Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil for supernatural guitar talent. He went on to record songs in the 1930s about cars, the crossroads  and tamales.

The big picture: Johnson's famous homage to tamales in "They're Red Hot" points to regularly neglected Latino connections to Black American music and cuisine scholars are just now working to uncover.

Details: Johnson recorded "They're Red Hot" in an improvised San Antonio, Texas, studio in 1936 while the state celebrated its 100th year of independence from Mexico.

Between recording sessions, the bluesman took note of the Mexican American women selling tamales during the fiesta, according to "Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson" by Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlow.

Mexican American women selling tamales during the fiesta, according to "Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson" by Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlow. The lyrics describe vendors trying to draw attention to their red hot tamales while Johnson's guitar invites listeners to dance.

They were recorded in the same studio as Tex-Mex performers Andres Berlanga and Francisco Montalvo, who were considered the Mexican equivalent of Southern bluesmen with their song "Corridos de los Bootleggers." Berlanga, Montalvo and Johnson listened to each other.

Yes, but: Even before Johnson went to San Antonio, the tamale was also a common food in the Mississippi Delta and parts of Tennessee where a southern version of the dish had evolved, music historian Elijah Wald told Axios Latino.

"There were tamales all over the Black South. I would be interested to go back and look at pictures of tamale vendors back in those days."

Tamales first appear in high numbers along the Mississippi Delta in the early 20th century, according to Melissa Booth Hall, interim co-director of the Oxford, Mississippi-based Southern Foodways Alliance.

Mississippi Delta tamales are diverse and can be made of cornmeal or masa, with pork, turkey or greens and can be wrapped in corn shucks or parchment paper.

It is such a staple that Mississippi has its own tamales festival and a Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale Trail where visitors can see famous and historic tamale sites.

"There was a catfish tamale. There was a tamale that had greens in it. All of them were good," Hall said.

But, but, but: How did the tamale get there?

Some believe Mexican migrants who helped clear the Delta at the turn of the century introduced the tamale to the region, Hall said.

Others theorize U.S. soldiers from Mississippi brought back tamale recipes from the U.S.-Mexico War while some argue that the Southern tamale is a product from Indigenous tribes from the region, though little evidence is available.

The intrigue: Despite those connections, Wald said he doesn't see that much Latino influence in what today we call the Delta blues.

However, Wald said blues from Texas and Louisiana appear to have Hispanic influences with claves and vocal tricks.

"The Jimmy Rogers yodel, which then becomes the Tommy Johnson falsetto and then the Howlin Wolf falsetto...I think, it is not a yodel. I think it's a Mexican thing."

Don't forget: Johnson died at 27 after drinking a poisonous bottle of whiskey at a juke joint.

He would be forgotten until a collection of his songs were re-released in the 1960s, influencing a new generation of musicians from Keith Richards to the Beatles to Carlos Santana.

His "They're Red Hot" has since been covered by Eric Clapton and the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Subscribe to Axios Latino and get more news that matters about Latinos and Latin America, delivered right to your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an impassioned address on Wednesday night that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered an invasion of his country but that if Russia attacks, "you will see our faces, not our backs."

The latest: Hours after the speech, Putin invaded Ukraine  including attacking the capital, Kyiv  in an overnight barrage that was swift, broad and ruthless.

Ukraine entered a state of emergency on Wednesday as the Pentagon warned that Russia's preparations for invasion appeared to be complete, and Ukrainian citizens prepared for war.

After Putin's speech, explosions were heard in cities including Kyiv.

What he's saying: In the final hours before the invasion began, Zelensky revealed that he had tried to call Putin but been met with "silence." He addressed the Russian people in Russian to make an appeal for peace, while acknowledging the need to prepare for war.

After Putin's invasion order, the smallest spark could start a "big war" and "burn everything down," he said, adding: "You are told that this flame will liberate the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free."

Zelensky said the Russian people have been told he and his citizens are Nazis, despite the fact that his grandfather fought the Nazis in the Soviet infantry.

He said Russians have falsely been told both that Ukrainians hate Russian culture and have no culture of their own. "We are different, but that is not a reason to be enemies," he said.

He said Ukraine had never been and never will be a threat to Russia, and while Russia would never allow his speech to be shown on Russian television, "the people of Russia need to see it."

Between the lines: Zelensky's speech was a clear rebuttal to Putin's combative and historically revisionist hour-long address on Monday, in which he effectively asserted Russia's right to bend Ukraine to its will and erase its independence.

Zelensky spent weeks downplaying the risk of an imminent invasion in order to avoid panic, but has now adopted the tone of a president preparing his country for war.

Go deeper: The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis

Editor's note: This article has been updated with details of Putin's declaration.
Russian forces have seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said Thursday, according to Reuters.

The latest: The U.S. is "outraged by credible reports that Russian soldiers are currently holding the staff of the Chernobyl facilities hostage," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing Thursday evening.

The hostage taking could disrupt the "civil service efforts required to maintain and protect the nuclear waste facilities," Psaki said, adding that the reports are "incredibly alarming and greatly concerning. We condemn it and we request their release."

Driving the news: "It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians," Mykhailo Podoliak, the adviser, said.

"This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today," Podolyak said, per Reuters.

State of play: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier Thursday that Russian forces were attempting to capture the nuclear power plant.

" Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. ... This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe," Zelensky wrote in a tweet.

Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. ... This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe," Zelensky wrote in a tweet. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in a tweet also warned that a Russian attack on Ukraine "may cause another ecological disaster."

"In 1986, the world saw the biggest technological disaster in Chernobyl. ... If Russia continues the war, Chernobyl can happen again in 2022," the ministry wrote.

The big picture: The Chernobyl power plant was the site of the worlds worst nuclear accident when a nuclear reactor exploded in 1986, sending radioactive contamination across Europe, AP notes.

The plant is 80 miles north of Ukraine's capital of Kyiv.

Thought bubble from Axios' Andrew Freedman: The reports of fighting at Chernobyl are concerning since the lands surrounding the power plant have high levels of radiation, and are known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

In addition, munitions  gunfire, artillery shells, missiles, hitting the facility itself could release radioactivity and threaten citizens of nearby EU countries. However, Russian soldiers are likely aware of the dangers, and their aim may be to secure the area in order to move troops more directly to Kyiv.

Go deeper: Ukraine-Russia crisis latest developments

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.
The Armenian Embassy in Kyiv instead urged them to contact the mission and inform it about their whereabouts. It publicized emergency phone numbers on its website and social media accounts.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry indicated last week that despite the looming threat of a Russian invasion it has no plans to evacuate the embassy or the Armenian consulate general in the Ukrainian city of Odessa.

The ministry said on Wednesday that Yerevan regards both Russia and Ukraine as friendly countries and hopes that they will resolve their standoff through diplomatic dialogue. It did not immediately react to what Russian President Vladimir Putin called "a special military operation" against Ukraine launched the following morning.

In a nationally televised speech early on Thursday, Putin sought to justify the offensive operation by claiming that he has to stop Ukraine from acquiring nuclear weapons and attacking two breakaway region in the eastern Donbass region which Moscow recognized as independent republics earlier this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Moscow has launched a full-scale attack on his country, with missile attacks targeting our military infrastructure and border guards in several cities.

There was immediate and widespread condemnation from the West, with vows of new, tougher sanctions to be slapped on Moscow.

U.S. President Joe Biden called the action an unprovoked and unjustified" attack on Ukraine and said the world would hold Russia accountable. The European Union likewise accused Moscow of grossly violating international law and undermining European and global security and stability.

Ukraine is officially home to some 120,000 ethnic Armenians. According to the Union of Armenians of Ukraine, their actual number is much larger and only half of them are Ukrainian nationals.

Ruben Makarian, a representative of the union, spoke of a first wave of panic among Armenians living in the Ukrainian-controlled parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions making up Donbass.

In the Lugansk region, local authorities announced an evacuation [of the population,] Makarian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service from Kyiv. But there is no specific evacuation of local Armenians yet. I am in constant touch with the leaders of the [Armenian] community there.

Regular flights between Yerevan and Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities were cancelled on Thursday after Ukraine closed its airspace to commercial aircraft.
The two pro-government lawmakers arrived in Armenia earlier this week to attend a session of a parliamentary assembly of the European Union and ex-Soviet states involved in the EUs Eastern Partnership program.

While in Yerevan, they also visited the citys Blue Mosque and later posted on social media photographs of themselves sanding at its picturesque courtyard. Both men wrote that the Muslim shrine is the sole Azerbaijani monument preserved in the Armenian capital and expressed confidence that its real masters will be able to pray there soon.

The Iranian Embassy in Armenia hit back at the Azerbaijani deputies on Wednesday in a series of tweets written in Armenian, Persian and English. It also posted photographs of Persian-language inscriptions on the walls of the mosque and adjacent structures.

The Blue Mosque, a symbol of Iranian art, has been active again in the last 3 decades as the praying and congregation place of Muslims residing in Armenia and a touristic attraction, wrote the embassy.

A great pleasure that its centuries-old Persian epigraphy has been preserved! Who can read them? it said in English.

Mahmoud Movahedifar, an Iranian clergyman serving there, made the same point as he showed RFE/RL journalists around the mosque on Thursday. He insisted that it has distinctive features of Irans traditional Islamic architecture.

What language is this: Persian or Azeri? he asked. Even if there was a single tile here with an Azerbaijani inscription we would recognize that fact.

If those gentlemen claim that this is an Azerbaijani mosque then let them show one trace of Azerbaijani history here, he said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly described Yerevan and other parts of Armenia as historical Azerbaijani lands.

Movahedifar complained that neither he nor other people working in the mosque were informed about the Azerbaijanis visit beforehand.

Had I known about their visit, I would have immediately come here and shown them all this evidence and said: If you say its Azeri, show me a single piece of evidence, he said.

The Blue Mosque was built in 1766 at a time when most of the territory of modern-day Armenia was part of the Persian Empire. It was shut down by Soviet Armenian authorities in the mid-1920s. Its buildings and courtyard were used for mostly secular purposes in the following decades, up until the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The mosque complex was reopened as a religious institution in 1996 after being thoroughly renovated by the Iranian government in line with an agreement with Yerevans municipal administration. It now also houses an Iranian library and cultural center.
Combined, the services have received more than 14,000 requests for religious accommodations. The Marine Corps had allowed three as of last week while the Army and Navy had not approved any. (Kristopher Radder Brattleboro Reformer/AP)

TOLEDO, Ohio  A dozen U.S. Air Force officers have filed a lawsuit against the federal government after the military denied their religious exemptions to the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine.

The officers, mostly from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, along with a handful of airmen and reservists, accused the Air Force of using a double standard when approving the requests.

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The Air Force, according to the lawsuit filed last week, had allowed more than 3,000 medical and administrative exemptions but only nine religious exemptions.

The granting of more than one thousand medical and administrative exemptions belies any assertion that vaccination is mission-critical and that no exemptions can be granted, the lawsuit said.

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A message seeking comment on the lawsuit was left with an Air Force spokesperson Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and military leaders have said the vaccine is critical to maintaining military readiness and the health of the force. But members of Congress, the military and the public have questioned if the exemption reviews have been fair.

Combined, the services have received more than 14,000 requests for religious accommodations. The Marine Corps had allowed three as of last week while the Army and Navy had not approved any.

At least 97% of the troops in each service have gotten at least one shot, while those who refuse can face discipline up to being discharged from the service.

Those who filed the lawsuit in Ohio said they had followed their chain of command and each had talked with an Air Force chaplain to determine the sincerity of their beliefs.

Many also said they already had been infected with COVID-19 and that antibody tests show they now have natural immunity, according to the lawsuit.
It was just supposed to be a normal drive down the street to a friends house on New Year's Eve. But one car crash changed everything for four
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 71F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low around 50F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
People drag their suitcases as they arrive in a bus station to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

KYIV, Ukraine  Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukraines government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.

Military forces battling Russians on multiple fronts suffered dozens of casualties.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored global condemnation and cascading new sanctions as he unleashed the largest ground war in Europe since World War II and chillingly referred to his countrys nuclear arsenal. He threatened any country trying to interfere with consequences you have never seen, as a once-hoped for diplomatic resolution now appeared impossible.

Ukrainian forces sought to fend off a Russian barrage of land- and sea-based missiles, an attack that one senior U.S. defense official described as the first salvo in a likely multi-phase invasion aimed at seizing key population centers, decapitating Ukraines government and installing a new one. Already, Ukraine officials said they had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the worlds worst nuclear disaster.

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Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted. His grasp on power increasingly tenuous, he pleaded Thursday for even more severe sanctions than the ones imposed by Western allies and ordered a full military mobilization that would last 90 days.

Zelenskyy said in a video address that 137 heroes, including 10 military officers, had been killed and 316 people wounded. The dead included all border guards on the Zmiinyi Island in the Odesa region, which was taken over by Russians.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia, saying Putin chose this war and that his country would bear the consequences. Other nations also announced sanctions, or said they would shortly.

[ Biden hits Russia with new sanctions after invasion of Ukraine, says Putin chose war ]

Fearing a Russian attack on the capital city, thousands of people went deep underground as night fell, jamming Kyivs subway stations.

At times it felt almost cheerful. Families ate dinner. Children played. Adults chatted. People brought sleeping bags or dogs or crossword puzzles  anything to alleviate the waiting and the long night ahead.

But the exhaustion was clear on many faces. And the worries.

Nobody believed that this war would start and that they would take Kyiv directly, said Anton Mironov, waiting out the night in one of the old Soviet metro stations. I feel mostly fatigue. None of it feels real.

The invasion began early Thursday with a series of missile strikes, many on key government and military installations, quickly followed by a three-pronged ground assault. Ukrainian and U.S. officials said Russian forces were attacking from the east toward Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city; from the southern region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014; and from Belarus to the north.

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People gather in a shelter during Russian shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Zelenskyy, who had earlier cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law, appealed to global leaders, saying that if you dont help us now, if you fail to offer a powerful assistance to Ukraine, tomorrow the war will knock on your door.

Though Biden said he had no plans to speak with Putin, the Russian leader did have what the Kremlin described as a serious and frank exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Both sides claimed to have destroyed some of the others aircraft and military hardware, though little of that could be confirmed.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-unused Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce battle, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said it was told by Ukraine of the takeover, adding that there had been no casualties or destruction at the industrial site.

A woman reacts as she waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti / AP)

The 1986 disaster occurred when a nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Kyiv exploded, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe. The damaged reactor was later covered by a protective shell to prevent leaks.

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Alyona Shevtsova, adviser to the commander of Ukraines ground forces, wrote on Facebook that staff members at the Chernobyl plant had been taken hostage. The White House said it was outraged by reports of the hostage-taking.

The chief of the NATO alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said the brutal act of war shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders decrying an attack that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government. The conflict shook global financial markets: Stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Condemnation came not only from the U.S. and Europe, but from South Korea, Australia and beyond  and many governments readied new sanctions. Even friendly leaders like Hungarys Viktor Orban sought to distance themselves from Putin.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he aimed to cut off Russia from the U.K.s financial markets as he announced sanctions, freezing the assets of all large Russian banks and planning to bar Russian companies and the Kremlin from raising money on British markets.

Now we see him for what he is  a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest, Johnson said of Putin.

The U.S. sanctions will target Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, Biden said, but they were designed not to disrupt global energy markets. Russian oil and natural gas exports are vital energy sources for Europe.

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[ In January, Ukrainian Americans expressed support, fear for loved ones overseas ]

Zelenskyy urged the U.S. and West to go further and cut the Russians from the SWIFT system, a key financial network that connects thousands of banks around the world. The White House has been reluctant to immediately cut Russia from SWIFT, worried it could cause enormous economic problems in Europe and elsewhere in the West.

While some nervous Europeans speculated about a possible new world war, the U.S. and its NATO partners have shown no indication they would send troops into Ukraine, fearing a larger conflict. NATO reinforced its members in Eastern Europe as a precaution, and Biden said the U.S. was deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO.

European authorities declared the countrys airspace an active conflict zone.

After weeks of denying plans to invade, Putin launched the operation on a country the size of Texas that has increasingly tilted toward the democratic West and away from Moscows sway. The autocratic leader made clear earlier this week that he sees no reason for Ukraine to exist, raising fears of possible broader conflict in the vast space that the Soviet Union once ruled. Putin denied plans to occupy Ukraine, but his ultimate goals remain hazy.

Ukrainians were urged to shelter in place and not to panic.

Until the very last moment, I didnt believe it would happen. I just pushed away these thoughts, said a terrified Anna Dovnya in Kyiv, watching soldiers and police remove shrapnel from an exploded shell. We have lost all faith.

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With social media amplifying a torrent of military claims and counter-claims, it was difficult to determine exactly what was happening on the ground.

Russia and Ukraine made competing claims about damage they had inflicted. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities and drones. It confirmed the loss of one of its Su-25 attack jets, blaming pilot error, and said an An-26 transport plane had crashed because of technical failure, killing the entire crew. It did not say how many were aboard.

Russia said it was not targeting cities, but journalists saw destruction in many civilian areas.

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

Ukraines health minister said 57 Ukrainians were killed in the invasion and 169 more were wounded. It was not clear how many were civilians, although earlier in the day it had said 40 soldiers had died.

Polands military increased its readiness level, and Lithuania and Moldova moved toward doing the same.

Putin justified his actions in an overnight televised address, asserting the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the U.S. predicted he would make as a pretext for invasion. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees, saying the military action was a forced measure.

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Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle.

In a reminder of Russias nuclear power, he warned that no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.

Inside Russia, authorities moved swiftly to crack down on any critical voices. OVD-Info, a group that tracks political arrests, reported 1,620 people in 52 Russian cities had been detained for protesting the invasion, more than half of them in Moscow.

Isachenkov and Litvinova reported from Moscow. Francesca Ebel in Kyiv; Angela Charlton in Paris; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Raf Casert and Lorne Cook in Brussels; Nic Dumitrache in Mariupol, Ukraine, Inna Varennytsia in eastern Ukraine; and Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Nomaan Merchant, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.
Upon her appointment in 2019, Shannon Allen became the first African American female superintendent of Beaumont ISD.

She's one of only a handful of African American superintendents in the state of Texas.

But when her career in education began, she didn't see herself sitting in that position. In fact, she never planned to have a career in education at all.

Since a young age, Allen's ambition was to be a medical doctor. She even majored in biology and minored in chemistry at Prairie View A&M University. She sat for the Medical College Admission Test three times, earning the same score each time. The path towards a medical career suddenly wasn't as clear.

"When I graduated from college, I ended up substitute teaching, and that's when things started clicking that, 'Hey, you may have another area that you can go into,'" Allen said. "I ended up substitute teaching at Fehl Elementary and at that time, I was in a second grade class and I thought I was going to teach second grade."

Allen applied for the permanent second grade teaching position but was denied the job. It wouldn't be the last time she'd encounter rejection. On the first school day that year, BISD opened Ozen High School, and Allen applied to be a substitute biology teacher.

"I called to make an appointment to meet with the assistant principal, who happened to be my former English teacher," she said. "And she just hired me to be a permanent sub on the spot. I started on the second day of school teaching biology at Ozen and really and truly learned the profession, learned the craft and fell in love with teaching."

Allen secured a teaching contract, and her career began.

While working towards her master's degree at Lamar University, Allen said she saw the potential for leadership outside of the classroom for the first time.

"That's when the drive really kicked in," she said. "I wanted to have an opportunity to one day lead a school and the avenue that you take is to become an assistant principal. That was the next step in the traditional pathway at the time."

Allen said she's shy by nature. However, she always found a way to be in leadership throughout her schooling years.

"When you are working, especially in education, you realize that you have so much more ability to impact more change the higher you go," she said. "Having graduated from Beaumont ISD, for me, it's so unique because I had an excellent education. The education I had put me in this seat, and I want so much more for our students in BISD right now."

While still teaching at Ozen, Allen became the department head and worked with the curriculum department in the summer, taking more and more opportunities to become a better, more-experienced leader in the hopes of being the school's next assistant principal.

"It didn't happen. The job was given to somebody else," she said. "I was disappointed because I was a leader on campus and everybody said, 'Oh, you're going to get that job,' and I felt like the principal wanted to but, politics, he ended up giving the job to somebody else."

But Allen didn't let the rejection keep her from moving upwards in administrative roles.

"I ended up applying for a curriculum coordinator position at Price (Elementary)," she said. "I worked at Price for one year as the curriculum coordinator and had an excellent experience. That was my first experience in a leadership role at an elementary campus and Price, at that time, was a really small campus with a little over 200 students. So, you really had an opportunity to learn the kids, understand the curriculum."

Allen's former principal at Ozen then recruited her to come back to the campus as an assistant principal -- the job she had previously been denied -- and magnet program coordinator, where she stayed for four years.

In 2007, the district opened Marshall Middle School and Allen applied for the principal position.

"I was very excited," she said. "I remember I drove to that campus and I sat in my car in the parking lot and I just prayed. I said, 'Lord, this is the school that I really, really want.' Everything just worked out. I had a great interview. That's the first time I remember being sick, I was so nervous that I was physically sick."

Allen got the job, oversaw Marshall for eight years and led the school to become the first exemplary secondary school in BISD.

"During that leadership tenure, we were so proud because that was one of our goals and we worked really hard to hit that goal," she said. "We just had a super dynamic group of educators and when you work in a scenario like that, where it was so much collaboration and synergy among the team, everybody's focused on the same goal, we had a great school for a number of years."

Allen didn't get her M.D., but she still became a doctor. After a few years as Marshall's principal, she went back to Lamar University to earn her doctorate in educational leadership, which she completed in 2013.

"During that time I started thinking beyond the principalship," she said. "I wanted to become a superintendent."

She applied for assistant superintendent but did not get the job. She also applied to be the principal of West Brook High School and did not receive that job either.

"I was disappointed and I recognized, in reflection over the years, that all of these closed doors were strategic, they closed for a reason," she said. "At the time, you don't recognize it, but then when you go back and think about it, God does everything in his time."

In time, Allen became principal of Ozen and then became assistant superintendent -- years after she had first applied to the job.

Allen credits previous BISD Superintendent John Frossard with providing her opportunities and giving her advice whenever she needed it.

"He served as a sounding board, gave me excellent advice, career advice," she said. "He would always ask me when we would meet, 'You want to be a superintendent?' and I'd say, 'Yes, sir.' and he said 'Are you sure?' He would ask me that all the time and every time I would respond in the affirmative, he would allow me to show my leadership potential. When the opportunity came, he already saw me as a superintendent."

Allen said she feels her leadership has been defined by the management of many crises.

Just two months after Allen's appointment, the district was impacted by Tropical Depression Imelda, which damaged numerous campuses and facilities.

The following year, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted schools and has persisted since.

"Just like many leaders across our nation, we're trying to keep the pandemic from sucking the life out of what it is that we're supposed to be doing, which is to educate our children," she said. "We're in that transition phase is what I say. We're in it, it's not over, (and we are) transitioning to a new way of educating our students and it's painful. It's hard. But we're going to get through it. I have no doubt we're going to get through it."

Allen said part of her job is make sure that the district can see beyond current circumstances and making plans for the future.

"(We're making sure) that every kid, when they graduate from a Beaumont ISD school, they have a plan in a direction, that they're not graduating and lost," she said.

One of the more difficult aspects of Allen's job is that she can never turn it off, she said.

"I think people underestimate the gravity of the work sometimes," she said. "The responsibility is so big, it's so significant. That's the job, I understand it. But, every place you go in the community, you have a responsibility and I take that responsibility seriously, making sure that I represent our district and our students well and that the community really understands their role in the success of our school district."

Allen said everyone in Beaumont has a responsibility toward the school district, whether they have children or not because everyone is invested here.

"I don't think people realize how important it is to watch what we say, watch what we post, watch what we're doing and saying about our school district, about our teachers, about anything right now, because they don't have to do it," she said. "They have choices. We want to create an environment where people want to come work here. I think sometimes our community, we don't really think about that."

As the first female and first African American female superintendent of the district, Allen said she hopes it empowers female students to believe that they could achieve the same thing.

"I want to make certain that I'm doing my part in encouraging other females, African American, white, females in general, 'Hey, you can do this. If this is your aspiration, you can do it,'" she said. "If you don't see someone like you, then you don't even think that you can actually obtain that goal. So, I think it's powerful for our students, young ladies especially, to see a female and an African American female, somebody who actually looks like me, in that role."

Allen said she works to foster a dialogue with students when she visits campuses to inspire them to reach beyond what they might think is possible.

"That's one of the things that our kids need more than ever, they need opportunities to see outside of their little geographical sphere, where they live, where they go to school, where they go to church," she said. "If you can see something outside of that, then you have more potential to actually become that."

When all is said and done, Allen said she hopes her legacy is to be able to get every child in the district reading beyond grade level.

"That's one of the things that I'm really truly focused on, the literacy in our community," she said. "My personal vision as superintendent is, we are breaking the cycle of poverty in our community by providing an exemplary education for our kids. Our kids have opportunities that change their lives."

Allen's journey toward the superintendent's chair was not straightforward. Not getting certain job positions at different times was disappointing, she said.

But, she said if she had taken any of those positions then, she wouldn't have gone down the path she's on now.

"I tell anybody, don't mourn a door that's closed because it closed for a reason," she said. "I've seen that. If it closed, it will open again. If you're supposed to be somewhere, if you're supposed to have an opportunity, you're going to get that opportunity. Nothing, no man, nobody can keep you from that opportunity. Stay focused, stay committed, and keep doing good work."

olivia.malick@hearst.com

twitter.com/OliviaMalick
Joe Petito, the father of Gabby Petito, was invited to a ribbon-cutting at a SafeSpace shelter in Vero Beach, Florida, Wednesday.

He spoke on how his family is doing after the death of his daughter, who the FBI said was killed by her fiance, Brian Laundrie. Laundrie's body was later found in a Florida state park.


A would-be robber took a fiery approach this week when he combined seemingly innocent store products to make an improvised flame thrower, according to the Lenior Police Department in North Carolina.

Logan Ryan Jones failed to get the cash he sought, but he did manage to set the stores counter on fire, the department said in a news release.

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It happened around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the Ross and Company convenience store on Harper Avenue, police said. Lenoir is about 75 miles northwest of downtown Charlotte.

Logan Ryan Jones has been charged with one felony count of attempted Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and one felony count of Burning Certain Buildings. (City of Lenoir Police Department)

While inside the store, the suspect approached the cash register with a cigarette lighter and a can of spray de-icer, police said in the release.

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The suspect then handed the cashier a note demanding money. When the cashier refused to give the suspect any money, he sprayed the de-icer and ignited it with the cigarette lighter, police said. This caused a small fire to start near the cash register.

Spray de-icer products typically contain highly flammable ingredients such as a butane-propane blend, ethanol and isopropanol, according to Allcarleasing.com.

The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was hurt, but the resulting turmoil gave Jones, 29, an opportunity to flee, police said. He was seen getting into a red Ford Focus and driving away, officials said.

The vehicle was found a short time later by Caldwell County sheriffs deputies outside another convenience store. The deputies then tracked Jones to his home on Watson Place, which is less than a mile from where the car was found, officials said.

Jones was arrested and subsequently charged with one felony count of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and one felony count of burning certain buildings, police said.

Jones already had an outstanding warrant for one felony count of accessory before the fact to a felony.

Bond was set at $250,000, officials said.
In 2019, Microsoft Japan launched a pilot program giving their employees a four-day work week while still receiving their five-day paycheck. While the company didnt keep the policy, productivity increased 40% during the pilot period.

Now, some Texas companies are adopting the four-day work week with their own employees.

Employees at Covert Marketing, a search engine optimization company based in Houston, work Monday through Thursday for nine hours a day for a 36-hour work week. Founder Gregory Melon said he piloted the program last September as a way to deal with burnout.

Melon said he conducted a survey with his staff before and after the trial run and found that on-time task completion increased 14%, work-life balance increased 17% and job satisfaction increased 21%.

Melon said he shifted the work week from 40 hours to 36 to solve the core issue behind needing a four-day work week in the first place.

The entire motivation was that everyone was feeling overworked, stressed and burnt out," Melon said. If we were to have them work the exact same amount in a compressed time frame, I think it would be highly unlikely that would solve the actual core issue at hand.

Josh Berthume, founder of Swash Labs, a Denton-based digital advertising agency, said he piloted a program in summer 2021 giving his employees a half-day off every week. He said the response was overwhelmingly positive, so in January he shifted the company to a four-day, 32-hour work week.

Engaging in this kind of thinking and really thinking about how to improve the working life of our employees has really worked for us, Berthume said.

At Swash Labs, every department has employees that work either Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday, Berthume said. Because of this, he said he tries to plan meetings for the middle of the week, when everyone is online working, and save the beginning and end of the week for his employees to have long periods of time to think critically about their work.

In addition to increasing productivity and job satisfaction, Melon said the four-day work week has been an amazing competitive advantage for retaining existing staff and recruiting new employees. He said he created a career page on his companys website advertising the four-day work week and other perks and received a dozen resumes within the first few weeks, including from employees at local competitors.

Both Melon and Berthume said they think the four-day work week can translate to other industries, as well. Melon acknowledged that working in the SEO industry gives his company the privilege to have a four-day work week, unlike other industries that may require more emergency or on-call work.

Despite this, he said he thinks other companies should still find ways to try to implement four-day work weeks into their schedule instead of rejecting the idea.

Theres ways to do this, but when a lot of company leaders reject it outright and blatantly disregard it without even entertaining the idea of it, theyre not even afforded the opportunity to create a conversation for how to make this outstanding work benefit actually work for them, Melon said.

Berthume also said that there is a corporate culture that isnt always open-minded to new ways of running businesses.

The desire to do things the way things have always been done, especially in corporate culture, is really strong, Berthume said.

Melon said, just as the idea of remote work seemed impossible until the COVID-19 pandemic, he thinks the idea of working four days a week instead of five is becoming possible for many companies. He said the ultimate goal of companies should be to take care of their staff and create a work-life balance.

We work to live, not the other way around, Melon said.
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Ramona Walker has been election to the board of directors for Keep Orange County Beautiful, a non-profit organization organized in Texas in 1997.

A graduate of LCM schools, Walker also attended Lamar State College in Port Arthur and went on to Lamar University in Beaumont. She is best known around Orange County as the owner and chief stylist at Hair & Co. on Strickland Drive at the junction with Martin Street, aka Snake Road.

Together with her husband-to-be, along with family and friends, Walker renovated one of the older buildings in Orange and turned it into the salon that it is today. The main building was reportedly built in the mid-1930s.

Walker and her husband, Jess, have been married for 13 years and have two children. Theyre the reason I strive to do my best every day! she said.

According to Walker, Our words can be so powerful. We need to encourage one another and lift each other up. Lets use our words to put things in motion.

She recently had a mural painted on the west side of her building saying If you see something Beautiful in someone, Speak it.

Becky McAnelley has been promoted to Assistant Dean of Student Services and Registrar at Lamar State College Orange. McAnelley has worked at LSCO for over 35 years. She began as a student assistant and has performed roles since such as Recruiter; Assistant Registrar; Director of Admissions, Recruitment, and Registrar; and now, Assistant Dean of Student Services.

Becky McAnelley is an example of the best of Lamar State College Orange  someone who has invested so much of her time, talent, and energy into making our students successful, said Dr. Tom Johnson, President of Lamar State College Orange. We thank Becky for her years of service and are thrilled to see her continue to excel in her new role.

Dr. Wendy Elmore, Provost and Executive Vice President of Lamar State College Orange, added, Beckys dedication over the years in service to our students is unmatched. She provides a very valuable role in overseeing several critical functions of our college. Lamar State College Orange is better because of her leadership and wise counsel. I know as Assistant Dean of Student Services, our college will continue to benefit from her excellence,

Harmony Public Schools will be giving pay raises to all levels of substitute teachers after giving across-the-board pay raises to full-time teachers and campus staff earlier this school year.

The daily rate increase goes into effect on Monday was approved unanimously by the Harmony Public Schools Board of Directors on Jan. 29. Under the rate increase, substitute teachers will earn an extra $20 to $30 per day on top of their salary now.

For a teacher only working a few days per week, the increase will mean a few hundred dollars each month on top of the pay they already earn. For certified teachers and long-term substitutes, the rate increase could mean up to $600 per month in additional pay.

Earlier this school year, Harmony had announced $4,000 to $7,500 in additional annual compensation for teachers and other school staff. The increase was the third occasion in the past two school years in which Harmony announced a major improvement to employee compensation and benefits.

Each day, substitute teachers are making a major impact on our schools by keeping our students on-track and learning when their regular teachers are unable to attend school, said Harmony CEO Fatih Ay. These professionals are important members of our school community, and we want to show our thanks.

Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-wide public charter school system with campuses serving Pre-K to Grade 12 students in 23 cities across the state, including Beaumont. Harmonys curriculum places a heavy focus on STEM skills, character education, project-based learning, and college readiness.

Do you have a news item like this that your customers or clients need to hear about? A new manager or owner, a major change in your operations? Send it to Opinions@BeaumontEnterprise.com so we can spread the word!
There are many unfortunate aspects of a new state law designed to promote election integrity in a state with very few problems related to voting. But the worst part has to be a provision that forbids election officials from encouraging voters to request mail-in ballots.

You read that right. Simply encouraging a Texan to vote by mail is now illegal. Can it get worse? Yes. Any election official who does that could be charged with a felony. A felony.

Thats wrong on so many levels, and finally a federal judge has stepped in. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio has temporarily blocked the state from enforcing this provision against Harris Countys election administrator until the rest of a larger lawsuit against the bill is concluded.

If nothing else, Rodriguez indicated that the law violates the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech to all Americans. Elections officials should enjoy this right too, certainly for something as inoffensive as simply encouraging someone to vote by mail if that is a better option for them.

Yet if they carried out that routine task now, they could face a state jail felony for trying to solicit the submission of an application to vote by mail if the voter did not request it.

State elections officials have said that the new law has a chilling effect on their interactions with voters. A huge part of their job is answering questions or proposing options to voters  especially with a complex new law. This is basic public service, something that taxpayers want from all of their elected officials.

As Harris County election administrator Isabel Longoria testified at the hearing before Judge Rodriguez, When it comes to voting by mail, she said, I have to be very careful with my words. I stop mid-sentence sometimes at town halls.  Im tentative to overreach at the moment.

Longoria said her office is now taking a passive approach to voter outreach when it comes to voting by mail, with employees gingerly weighing their words while answering voters questions about their options.

Another election official offered examples of how cant help voters navigate the vote-by-mail process, such as an 88-year-old voter whom she would usually call at the start of every year to remind her that she has to reapply for mail-in ballots.

Judge Rodriguezs injunction is welcome, but it only applies to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and prosecutors in Harris, Travis and Williamson counties. All elections officials in Texas should be protected from this harsh law and feel that they can speak freely with all voters.

These officials should be able to do all they can to encourage more people to vote in the format they choose. Any politician who thinks that should be illegal needs a refresher course in democracy.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lot of worthless political lawsuits, probably far more than any other state attorney general, but it is said that even a blind hog will find an acorn now and then. The lawsuit by Paxton  and every other state attorney general  against the three largest opioid manufacturers has paid off in a big way.

Those pharmaceutical companies  Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen  have agreed to pay $26 billion to 52 states and territories for the damages caused by overuse of the powerful drug they often peddled like candy. Texas will receive $1.167 billion as its share.

Texans have been devastated by the opioid crisis and it is important that this settlement is proportioned fairly among the communities that need it most, Paxton said in a news release. Pharmaceutical companies that have been at the root of the problem must be involved in not only changing their business practices to keep this tragic epidemic from taking more lives in the future, but also by providing treatment for those currently still struggling with opioid addiction.

For once Paxton is right about a major issue. In fact, this is the fifth opioid settlement Paxton has secured for Texas  again, just like many other attorneys general. So far, Texas has received over $1.89 billion from opioid manufacturers and distributors for Texas, with most of it coming from this settlement.

Previously the state had received $225 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which includes $75 million worth of opioid overdose medication Narcan; $290 million from Johnson & Johnson; $63 million from Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and $34.8 million from McKinsey.

The goal now for state officials is to use this money to help the people addicted to opioids rebuild their lives. Drug treatment facilities and counselors should also be funded with these settlements.

The opioid plague is finally getting the attention it deserves. For years big pharmaceutical companies pushed huge amounts of opioids on doctors, who also prescribed the powerful drugs without enough oversight. Some physicians werent aware of the damage they were causing, while others knew exactly what they had with opioids and sold them relentlessly, often in phony pain clinics. In those shoddy facilities, addicts would line up and pay cash for their pills, often reselling them on the streets for even more money.

It was difficult, if not impossible, for most individuals to break their opioid habit on their own. The drug is incredibly addictive, in some ways more so than heroin. Some patients had legitimate pain problems, but for them opioids were a classic case of the cure being worse than the disease.

Today opioids are prescribed with much greater oversight. Yet there are countless victims from the epidemic who still need help. The billions of dollars paid out by opioid manufacturers will never bring back the thousands of lives lost to this crisis, but it can help some of the surviving victims. This money must be put to good use for this purpose in Texas and every other state.
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As another winter storm threatens north Texas and beyond this week, several airlines have canceled hundreds of flights out of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport ahead of the weather.

In anticipation of wintry hazards, airlines canceled more 800 flights to and from DFW on Wednesday and close to 700 flights Thursday, according to FlightAware. Those numbers were pulled around 11:30 a.m. and could increase throughout the day as conditions deteriorate. The bulk of canceled flights are with American Airlines, Envoy Air and SkyWest. Mesa, Delta and Spirit also have several flights canceled.
Bedford, PA (15522)

Today

Becoming partly cloudy after some morning rain. High near 70F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low around 50F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
With omicron fading and pressure growing to ease mask rules and other pandemic restrictions, there is growing debate among health officials and experts about if or when a second booster shot will be part of this path toward recovery.

Vaccines and boosters proved highly effective against serious illness from omicron. But what is also clear, though, is that the defense afforded by vaccines  while still robust  tends to wane over time, leaving even some vaccinated and boosted individuals more vulnerable than others.

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Data released earlier this month by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined people who got a booster shot of a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine after completing a two-dose primary vaccination series.

During a time when omicron was the dominant coronavirus variant, vaccine effectiveness against COVID-related emergency department or urgent care visits for people was 87% during the two months after the booster shot, but that fell to 81% during the third month and dropped to 66% for the fourth month after the booster.

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I think thats kind of a word of caution, said Dr. George Rutherford, a epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco.

A subsequent booster would seemingly help address the issue of waning immunity. But not everyone is convinced a second booster will be needed anytime soon.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Bidens chief medical adviser, noted last week that a single booster shot still provides high levels of protection against severe disease. During the omicron surge, vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19-related hospitalization was 91% during the two months after the booster, fell to 88% during the third month and dropped to 78% for the fourth month, according to data published by the CDC.

Nonetheless, the level of 78 is still a good protective area, Fauci said, adding that he and other officials will continue studying the need for a second booster shot. Recommendations, if needed, will be updated according to the data as it evolves.

The CDC has already recommended that those age 12 and older with moderate or severely compromised immune systems who have already received three doses of vaccinations get a fourth dose.

But, in terms of universal boosting, I dont think thats where were going to go anytime soon, Rutherford said, although its possible we may eventually get around to it.

Its not just U.S. officials that are weighing the issue. Some other countries, such as Sweden, the United Kingdom and Israel, are making second booster doses available to certain populations  such as residents who are older or at higher risk of severe health impacts from COVID-19.

Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of UC San Franciscos Department of Medicine, tweeted Saturday that evidence of efficacy of a second booster from Israel is mixed, however, so I doubt well have one soon in U.S.; maybe by the fall, as a prelude to an annual COVID shot.

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Personally, second boost would make me more comfy going maskless, but Im OK waiting for additional data, Wachter added.

For most of those living in the U.S., an additional booster dose would mean four shots total  an initial two-dose series of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, plus two subsequent boosters. The shots manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna are collectively known as mRNA vaccines.

For those who initially got the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a second booster would mean a third overall shot.

The potential future [recommendation] for an additional boost or a fourth shot for mRNA or a third shot for J&J is being very carefully monitored in real time. And recommendations, if needed, will be updated according to the data as it evolves, Fauci said last week.

In San Francisco, health officials have moved ahead of federal guidance and are already allowing Johnson & Johnson recipients to get a second booster shot.

Despite ongoing discussions around the wisdom of even further boosting, many officials say their top priority at the moment is getting more residents to avail themselves of the additional shot for which theyre already eligible.

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Recipients of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines should get boosted at least five months after completing their initial two-dose series, according to the CDC. The recommended waiting period is two months for those who received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Statewide, almost 28 million Californians are already fully vaccinated, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. But only about 13.8 million of them have so far gotten a booster.

Significant gaps also persist across age groups. Among Californians who are at least 65 years old, 72.3% of eligible people have already been boosted. The share is lower, 62.1%, for those between the ages of 50 and 64.

However, fewer than half of eligible adults ages 18 to 49 have been boosted so far. And the same is true for only abut 30% of those between the ages of 12 and 17, state data shows.

Health officials say dramatically increasing booster coverage  as well as getting more people to roll up their sleeves for the first or second time  is key to reducing not just an individuals risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, but the dangers posed by potential new surges.

The work that lies ahead will be focused on the kids who have only recently become eligible, or who remain ineligible for vaccines, to get them fully vaccinated, up-to-date on their immunity  also on boosters, with a particular focus on our older, disabled, immunocompromised citizens, with a focus on closing yet another emerging equity gap in the current administration of boosters, Dr. Mark Ghaly, Californias health and human services secretary, said during a recent briefing.

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According to the latest available state data, unvaccinated Californians remain almost six times more likely to be infected by the coronavirus than those who have been fully vaccinated and boosted. Theyre also nearly 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and 17 times more likely to die from the disease than their fully vaccinated and boosted counterparts.

Being fully vaccinated provides really excellent protection against COVID-19. But because the vaccines protection fades over time, people do need that booster dose to be optimally protected, said Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

Ongoing concerns about the potential for future surges is one reason why some California elected officials have voiced support for COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

A group of Democratic lawmakers is pushing a bill that would require employees and independent contractors to be vaccinated as a condition of employment  unless they have an exemption based on a medical condition, disability or religious beliefs.

And last October, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a plan to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all public and private schoolchildren. That would initially take effect for grades 7 through 12 for the school term following the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations full approval of the vaccine for children ages 12 to 15.

Children of that age can currently receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine under emergency authorization, but it isnt clear when the FDA might give its full approval. The vaccine has been fully approved by the FDA for those 16 and older.

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Unlike with other vaccines required for schoolchildren, Newsoms plan  because it was not enacted through the Legislature  would allow parents to cite personal beliefs in refusing to inoculate their children against COVID-19.

There are efforts underway to strengthen that pending requirement. One legislator, state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), has proposed a bill that would add COVID-19 vaccines to Californias list of required inoculations for attending K-12 schools, which can be skipped only if a student receives a rare medical exemption.

If passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, the measure would supplant Newsoms plan.

In an interview broadcast on MSNBCs The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart, Newsom touted the states handling of the pandemic as one that has saved lives.

State health officials have published data showing how Californias cumulative per capita COVID-19 death rate is lower than the nations five other most populous states: Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Newsom said now is the time to prepare for new surges should they come, such as making sure the state is not caught unprepared yet again with shortages of medical equipment like gowns and N95 masks.

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Were realizing that were going to have to live with different variants of this disease for many, many years, Newsom said on the program.
[Handout from the press service of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service via Reuters]

The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service site is seen damaged by shelling in the Kyiv region in Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022.

Singapore and Indonesia condemned the violation of Ukraines territorial integrity on Thursday, after Russia invaded the former Soviet Republic, but much of the rest of Southeast Asia was muted in its reaction to the development.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine early on Thursday in what the European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell on Twitter called among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War.

Missiles rained down on Ukrainian targets as columns of troops poured across the countrys borders on three sides, Reuters reported. At least 40 Ukrainian soldiers were killed Thursday, according to AP.

Singapore said the city-state was gravely concerned by Russias announcement of what it called a special military operation in Ukraines Donbas region.

Singapore strongly condemns any unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country under any pretext. We reiterate that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected, the ministry said in a statement.

We hope military actions will cease immediately; and urge a peaceful settlement of the dispute, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

Indonesias foreign ministry said in a statement that Jakarta was concerned about the escalation of the armed conflict in Ukraine because it endangers the people and peace in the Asian region.

Affirming that international law and the United Nations charter regarding the territorial integrity of a country must be adhered to, and condemning any action that clearly constitutes a violation of the territory and sovereignty of a country, ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah read out from the statement.

Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo posted on Twitter  without referring to Russia or Ukraine: Stop the war. War brings misery to mankind and puts the whole world at risk.

The Ukrainian envoy to Indonesia urged stronger words and deeds from Indonesia, Southeast Asias largest country and the worlds third largest democracy.

[W]e also expect Indonesia, like other countries in the world, to impose sanctions and also provide deep criticism and condemn Russia's aggression, envoy Vasyl Hamianin said Thursday in Jakarta.

I think that if Indonesia speaks up, no one, no country, no region, no leader in the world would dare to ignore it.

Indonesia currently holds the presidency of the G-20  which groups the worlds 19 biggest economies and the EU  and this creates a dilemma when it comes to responding to Russias invasion of Ukraine, an analyst told BenarNews.

Indonesia will refrain from commenting because we want the G-20 to run well, Teuku Rezasyah, a professor of international politics at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, told BenarNews.

The G-20 meeting in Bali will be attended by leaders of the U.S., Russia, and the European Union. So, Indonesia needs to make a statement that wont be interpreted as taking sides. As president of the G-20, Indonesia has a strategic position, but it also poses a dilemma.

We do not get involved

Meanwhile, other members of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) delivered tamer reactions, perhaps because the credo of the regional bloc is non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told a press conference Thursday that he regretted the the latest developments in Ukraine.

ASEAN, as an organization of free countries, agrees that we do not get involved in the issues of foreign countries, he said at a press conference in Cambodia, which he was visiting.

[Cambodian] PM Hun San also agrees that we will not be making any statements unless ASEAN countries discuss the matter and come to a consensus.

The Philippines said its main concern was the safety of Filipinos in Ukraine, while Thailand said it was following the developments in Ukraine with deep concern.

ASEAN member Vietnam, Moscows closest partner in Southeast Asia, has remained passive, giving no substantive comment besides a formulaic call for restraint, reported Radio Free Asia (RFA), a BenarNews sister entity.

In a departure from before, though, the Vietnamese media is covering the situation in Ukraine without their usual pro-Russia bias, RFA said. Russia is Vietnams most important defense partner and the main provider of weapons and equipment to the Vietnamese armed forces.

ASEAN has yet to issue a statement about Ukraine, although news agency Reuters got a look at what it said was a draft statement by the regional bloc. It said the situation must see a peaceful resolution in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter.

Past and future implications

While striking, the lack of a strong response from Southeast Asia is not new, analyst Zachary Abuza wrote Tuesday in a commentary for BenarNews. He cited Moscows 2014 invasion of Crimea as one example.

The only reason that Southeast Asia was at all pulled into the situation was the July 17, 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile that killed all 298 passengers and crew, Abuza, a professor at Washingtons National War College, noted in the column.

Even then, few in Southeast Asia showed any will to confront Russia over MH-17, he said.

The reason for the lackluster response is that Russia is far from Southeast Asia and has few economic or political ties with the region, the columnist wrote.

But Southeast Asian nations should take a stronger stance, he argued.

[T]his is something that creates a very dangerous legal precedent, especially for an assertive country like China that has repeatedly pushed for its own interpretations of international law, most clearly in the South China Sea.

Six Asian governments have territorial claims or maritime boundaries in the South China Sea that overlap with the sweeping claims of China. While Indonesia does not regard itself as party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of that sea overlapping Indonesia's exclusive economic zone.

China has never accepted the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which said that Beijings expansive historical claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis.

And stability in Southeast Asia has been threatened lately with alleged incursions by Chinese vessels in the exclusive economic zones of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia in the South China Sea.

Nontarat Phaicharoen and Wilawan Watcharasakwet in Bangkok, Suganya Lingan and Muzliza Mustafa in Kuala Lumpur, and Jeoffrey Maitem and Basilio Sepe in Manila contributed to this report.
A picture widely circulated on social media shows an F-35 in the sea after it crashed while trying to land on the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, Jan. 24, 2022. The U.S. 7th Fleet verified the photo.

One month after an F-35C Lightning II fighter-jet crashed on an aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy is finally making the first steps to retrieve the plane from the bottom of the sea.

The U.S. Navy 7th Fleet spokesperson on Thursday confirmed to Radio Free Asia (RFA), a BenarNews sister agency, that it had sent a team to verify the site and recover the F-35C aircraft involved in the Jan. 24 crash aboard [the] USS Carl Vinson.

Only after the crash site is verified can the recovery process officially begin.

Cdr. Hayley Sims said that the Navy has embarked personnel  aboard the diving support construction vessel (DSCV) Picasso, which departed Naha, Okinawa [on] Feb. 23.

The team includes personnel from Task Force 75 (CTF 75), the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), and NAVSEAs Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), Sims said.

Carl Schuster, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former director of operations at the U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center, said it would take three to five days for the Picasso to reach the location from Okinawa, depending on transit speed and sea conditions along the route.

The Navy and CTF 75 have spent the last month planning and gathering what they needed, he said.

CTF 75 specializes in disaster response, and expeditionary operations that require specialized skills and equipment, including salvage operations.

The F-35C crashed into the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and then fell into the water on Jan. 24. A leaked video showed the plane hit the deck then rotated and skidded in flames before sliding off the flight deck and into the sea.

Five Navy personnel are facing charges for leaking the video, deemed official as it was taken from the pilots landing aid television on the aircraft carrier.

High-tech deep-diving support vessel

Last month, the Japanese Coast Guards Hydrological and Oceanographic Department issued a navigation warning for salvage operations to be carried out in northern part of the South China Sea until further notice.

A navigation warning is a public advisory notice to mariners about changes to navigational aids and current marine activities or hazards including fishing zones and military exercises.

The operations are believed to be for the crashed F-35C and the navigation warning is still in effect.

It would take weeks if not months, and millions of dollars to recover the state-of-the-art stealth fighter-jet, experts have said.

The crash is listed as a Class A mishap - an incident either involving loss of life or permanent disability, or the complete loss of an aircraft or property damage of $2.5 million or more, according to the U.S. Navy.

The vessel contracted by the U.S. Navy for the operation, DSCV Picasso, is a high-tech, deep-diving support vessel built and operated by Singapore-based Ultra Deep Solutions.

Picasso can carry deep-diving underwater unmanned vehicles to do the survey work.
Sureerat Chiwarak hugs her son, Thai pro-democracy activist Parit Penguin Chiwarak, after his release from more than six months in custody at the Bangkok Special Prison, Feb. 24, 2022.

Parit Penguin Chiwarak, a Thai anti-government protest leader, was released on bail Thursday after spending more than six months in custody on royal defamation and other charges, his lawyers said, while a half-dozen other prominent pro-democracy figures remain in jail.

Parit was freed from the Bangkok Special Prison in the evening after a criminal court in the Thai capital granted him bail earlier in the day so he could resume his studies at Thammasat University. He faces 43 charges including sedition and Lese-Majeste, a law that makes it illegal to defame, insult or threaten the monarchy, and carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison for each conviction.

I feel the freedom and thank all for giving me moral support in the past six months of my incarceration, Parit said upon his release.

We are prisoners of conscience. We did not do anything wrong, we are not criminals, but our freedom was deprived. And people know why it was so, he said as he held a white rose and flashed a three-fingered salute, a protest sign inspired by the Hunger Games movies.

Parit hugged his mother, Sureerat Chiwarak, after emerging from the prison. Last year, she had shaved her head and stood outside the court in protest as a response to the judges turning down her request for her sons bail on humanitarian grounds.

Penguin is not only my son, but he belongs to you as well, Sureerat said Thursday as dozens of supporters of her 23-year-old student-leader son surrounded her.

I am happy to have him back. First, I dont want him to be sent back to jail, and second, Im concerned about his safety, she said.

Parit, who has been in detention on and off since October 2020, went on a 57-day hunger strike last year.

Defense lawyers who posted bail of 200,000 baht (U.S. $6,093) said the court had granted Parit a temporary release, until May 24, to resume his studies.

We lodged a bail request citing his education needs with a letter from the dean of the faculty of political science [of Thammasat University], and he needs to appear for examinations from late February to March, Krisadang Nutcharus, a lawyer from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), said outside the prison.

Another lawyer said Parit, who faces nine Lese-Majeste charges, was released under strict conditions, including abstaining from all political activities or posting political messages on social media.

He must wear an electronic ankle monitor at all times, remain at home between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and cannot leave the country without permission.

Student protests

Since July 2020, a largely youth-led movement has issued three demands  for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha to step down, the constitution be rewritten and the monarchy be reformed. At its peak, rallies drew thousands of demonstrators.

In October 2020, Prayuth announced an emergency decree to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Human Rights Watch alleged the government was using it as a pretext for a crackdown on peaceful demonstrations.

Since then, protest leaders have been arrested and at least six activists, including human-rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, remain in jail on Lese-Majeste and other charges, according to TLHR.

The lawyers group said it had documented 3,448 charges brought against 1,767 people linked to the protests between July 18, 2020, and the end of last month. At least 169 people, including 13 juveniles, are facing Lese-Majeste charges.

Parit Chiwarak (left) and his mother, Sureerat Chiwarak, give three-finger salutes after he was released from the Bangkok Special Prison, Feb. 24, 2022. [Suntorn Chongcharoen/BenarNews]

Bencharat Sae Chua, a lecturer at Mahidol University in Bangkok, said the institution of monarchy is a taboo topic, and the protests addressing the monarchy explicitly and publicly  created a big stir in the country.

It is not a surprise then that the youth-led movements are perceived as a threat by the establishment in Thai society, she said during an online lecture on Tuesday organized by the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Justice in Southeast Asia Lab.

The most direct state retaliation has come in the form of arrest, judicial harassment and violence against the protesters in general and targeted against the leaders who make the most noise in particular, she said.

Bencharat said the prosecution alleged Parit delivered a speech at a November 2020 protest that intended to distort information about the king.

The prosecutor said this would cause unrest in the kingdom, and the people will lose respect, which is a crime against the king, she said.

Parit is the fourth activist in recent weeks to be given temporary freedom from prison. Panupong Mike Jadnok and Jatupat Pai Dao Din Boonpattararaksa were released earlier this month and Panusaya Rung Sithijirawattanakul was released in December. Bencharat said their bails carry strict restrictions, as well.

If you speak out, if you protest, you go back to prison. So, I think thats the message that they want, she told BenarNews. They grant you the bail, not because they want to give you freedom, but they want to put this condition on you, the leader, and on the protesters.
Over the past seven months, the Williamsburg natives have transformed the trailer into a stylish 7-foot-tall, 6-foot-wide and 9-foot-long venue on wheels. Larkin, an architect and contractor by trade, handled much of the labor.

It was early August, and Courtney Popelka was scrolling through Instagram when she stumbled upon a 30-second spot from a Florida woman who had converted an old horse trailer into a mobile bar.

Popelka already was feeling uncertain about her career in human resources and she remembers watching the video at least 10 times. Four days later, she and her boyfriend, Ross Larkin, had purchased a rusty 1984 horse trailer for $400 from a friend in Mathews County.

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Over the past seven months, the Williamsburg natives have transformed the trailer into a stylish 7-foot-tall, 6-foot-wide and 9-foot-long venue on wheels. Larkin, an architect and contractor by trade, handled much of the labor.

The couple, both 35, have launched Sipping Southern Mobile Bar, LLC, a small local business that sends the trailer  plus bartenders, cups, cocktail napkins, straws, ice and cleanup services  to weddings, parties and other events.

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Its just a fun and unique way to help people celebrate, Popelka says. I knew I wanted to do something that was creative and challenging and brought us joy. We joke that it was kind of like a midlife crisis, but we think a good one.

Bartenders can serve beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages such as soda, juice and coffee. The trailer has two coolers that can hold up to 284 12-ounce cans, a single-tap Kegerator to dispense chilled beer, and an ice bin.

Customized packages can provide four-plus hours of service, flowers and other decor, outdoor heaters or fire pits, and extra bartenders for weddings or gatherings of more than 75 guests. Prices vary based on an events size, details, date and location; the first 25 miles of travel from Williamsburg are free.

Popelka and Larkin opted not to apply for a business liquor license. Instead, they carry general and liquor liability insurance and use beverages purchased by their customers, leaving any leftovers behind.

Sipping Southern can help hosts shop for drinks and/or obtain a simpler one-day liquor license if needed, Popelka says: This way, they avoid a costly markup from caterers and dont lose what they dont use. One of our focuses is being inclusive for all types of budgets.

Popelka and Larkin met in second grade and began dating after they reconnected as adults in 2018. Popelka, a Lafayette High School graduate, has a degree in English Literature from the University of Hawaii and more than 10 years of bartending experience.

Larkin went from Jamestown High School to Virginia Tech, where he was an architecture major. He has long loved tinkering with cars; the truck that pulls the mobile bar, in fact, is a 1998 model that Larkin bought for $1,000 after its owner couldnt start it for two years.

It was stuck in a company parking lot, so I went out there a couple of weekends last year and got it running again, he said.

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A 38-year-old horse trailer, though, posed a whole different challenge: It was basically just an ugly, rusty old shell when we got it. So, that was a big learning experience.

The couple hired a welder to take care of steel modifications and apply a coat of white paint, while Larkins duties ranged from installing vinyl flooring to wiring electric brakes to hanging up a neon Cheers sign.

Popelka, meanwhile, spent hours reading online articles on mobile bars and party planning. The business web page went live in February, and she said inquiries have come from as far as Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina.

The mobile bar requires flat ground for setup and service, as well as a clear access route for Larkins truck to enter and exit. If a site is not within 200 feet of a power outlet, Sipping Southern can bring along a quiet generator for an additional fee.

Although the trailer conceivably could fit into a large indoor space, most suitable events will be outside and fairly intimate. Fortunately, small outdoor gatherings have grown more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, Popelka notes.

Popelka and Larkin hope Sipping Southern eventually can become a full-time gig. They plan to handle some bartending duties at first and hire part-timers if needed.

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I have so many ideas in my head about what we can do, Popelka says. Ever since I saw that Instagram video, everything has felt like it was meant to be.

Alison Johnson, ajohnsondp@yahoo.com
Lubbock, TX (79409)

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Bennington, VT (05201)

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Investigations editor

Larry Parnass joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, CommonWealth Magazine and with the Reuters news service.
Pittsfield's level of transmissibility has been downgraded because of a decrease in the testing positivity rate below 5 percent.
The Western Mass Area Labor Federation helped organize a rally in Pittsfield in July to support the Pittsfield Federation of School Employees and the Fair Share Amendment, a 2022 ballot question.
POWNAL, Vt.  John C. Tietgens, a businessman and horse owner who purchased the former Green Mountain Race Track at auction in 1993, hoping to revive horse racing there, died Sunday, at 98.

Tietgens, of Clarksburg, also owned the former J.T. Bus Lines, providing bus service to school districts for 58 years.

Clarksburg Town Administrator Carl McKinney remembers riding those buses to school as a kid.

He was a pillar of the community, a generous gentleman, McKinney said. I have nothing but good things to say about him.

State Rep. John Barrett III, former mayor of North Adams, said Tietgens was a generous, active member of the community, which was reflected in his dealings with the school district.

Barrett said Tietgens would stand firm on the contract price for bus service for the schools. Then, "he would turn around and donate generously to the school department. He was a good businessman and a gentleman in every sense of the word."

Tietgens only reluctantly gave up on his dream of reviving horse racing in Pownal in 2004, when he sold the 144-acre property in Pownal to a group of investors.

John was a great patriot and family man, and the kind of guy you like to meet in your life, said Jim Winchester, owner of a store across Route 7 from the track site.

Winchester moved to Pownal during the heyday of thoroughbred and harness racing at Green Mountain, which opened in 1963, working there as the race starter. He later opened Winchesters Store as the track shifted to greyhound racing in the late 1970s and later closed entirely.

Tietgens, despite failing eyesight, had remained healthy until recently, Winchester said, adding, His mind was sharp; he was in great shape.

Auction surprise

Winchester described the 1993 foreclosure auction at the racetrack with Tietgens and three bidders from Connecticut, who were the only ones prepared to put up a required $25,000 down payment if successful in the bidding.

The Rooney family, owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers, had purchased the track from the original ownership group during the 1970s and had set up a greyhound track in the middle of the horse track, eventually switching to dog racing only.

The family had paid a reported $8.5 million for the track in 1973 and expected it would sell for more, Winchester said.

Instead, Tietgens entered the high bid of $250,000 and became the owner. That figure was as high as Tietgens was prepared to go, Winchester said, but no one bid any higher.

After the auction, Tietgens expressed shock to reporters that he was the winning bidder. When the auctioneer tried to open bidding at $1 million, there was no response, and no response at $500,000 or $300,000, before Tietgens bid $200,000.

Another bidder offered $225,000, but Tietgens went up to $250,000, and there were no other bids.

Tietgens then tried several times, with a number of potential partners, to restore horse racing, in part because he had been a longtime owner/trainer with horses at the Pownal track.

John had some good horses, Winchester said. There were eight or 10 good horsemen in the North Adams area at the time.

Casino bid

The horse racing plan that garnered the most attention, statewide and nationally, was Tietgens proposal during the mid-1990s to partner with Eric Nelson, of Las Vegas, to create a facility offering casino gambling and racing.

Stiff opposition from anti-gambling advocates in the area, many Vermont lawmakers and, finally, from then-Gov. Howard Dean killed the proposal.

Other proposals over the next few years seemed to come close to reviving Green Mountain as a horse track before collapsing over regulatory, financing or other obstacles.

I think the times were just against him, Winchester said. Tracks were closing up, and states were getting into gambling.

Despite the failure to restore racing, John did a lot of good for Pownal, Winchester said.

During his tenure owning the property, he said, a Lollapalooza concert in 1996 drew about 30,000 people to the area; large-scale bingo events to benefit the Shriners charities were well-attended, as were antique auto shows.

Several events planned under recent ownership groups have failed to materialize, including a 2015 rock concert that was canceled shortly before the date.

A 2010 proposal involving a planned 29-megawatt biomass power generating plant was abandoned amid fierce opposition from area residents and residents from nearby Berkshire County, over projected stack emission problems.

In addition, the imposing vacant former track grandstand was left a blackened hulk after a nighttime fire in 2020.

Born in 1923

According to an obituary, Tietgens was born in North Adams in 1923 and went on to serve in the Army during World War II, in the European and Pacific theaters.

He married his late wife, the former Ellen G. Shields, in 1944, and they were married just over 73 years when she died 2017.

The Paciorek Funeral Home in Adams is in charge of arrangements.
BECKET  Beckets Planning Board voted Wednesday to close a public hearing on a controversial cannabis farm, rejecting an attorneys call for the panel to continue to accept comment.

The board moves next to its deliberations, after hearing an additional two hours of arguments against granting a special permit to TetraHydra AgTek LLC, as well as a pointed denunciation of opponents by the man who co-owns the site in question.

Youre treating our town as if its some kind of a theme park created just for you, Jerome Josh Schwartzbach told the board through a videoconference link, referring to opponents.

Schwartzbach, who owns the Quarry Road parcel with his wife, Adrienne K. Metcalf, unleashed on critics of the farm, accusing them of advancing half-truths and outright lies.

Folks, your levels of entitlement seem amazing, he said. At the boards Feb. 9 meeting, Metcalf said opponents were standing in the way of her familys quality of life.

Opponents, speaking individually and through their attorney, Mitchell I. Greenwald, continued to question TetraHydra AgTeks plan to erect a 31,310-square-foot greenhouse to grow marijuana indoors. The companys latest plan drops a proposed outdoor field for cultivation and adds parking.

While opponents have rapped the company for a series of plan changes, its representatives and supporters termed those adjustments good-faith responses to neighborhood concerns.

Brendan P. Slean, an attorney with Lawson & Weitzen representing TetraHydra AgTek, urged the panel to close the hearing, saying the applicant had waited a significant period of time to get to this point.

My clients have been more than willing to bend over backwards to really address a lot of the major issues that were concerning to the town, Slean said.

Robert T. Ronzio, the boards chairman, said consideration of the application will begin when the board meets at 6 p.m. March 9. To secure the special permit, the company needs four of the panels five members to vote yes.

Thats the start of the cycle, and how long it will take us to actually render a decision, I dont know, Ronzio said.

Separately, the towns Conservation Commission will take up issues related to the presence of wetlands on the site, according to its chairman, David Johnson. He said his commission will schedule consideration after it receives a referral from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

I want everyone to know the Conservation Commission will take this seriously, Johnson said at the meeting, attended in person by Planning Board members and virtually by about 60 viewers.

We want to be sure  that we do this right, Johnson said.

Greenwald, the Pittsfield attorney representing opponents, told the panel that town bylaws require that it consider the views of neighbors and judge whether a project seeking a special permit is consistent with community and neighborhood concerns and its potential impacts on the natural environment.

Theres that word, neighborhood, Greenwald said. You have a right to strongly consider and weigh all those factors.

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Greenwald called for the Planning Board not to close the hearing, saying that the public didnt have enough time to review changes in the project.

Opponents continued to question the projects effect on the neighborhood and its ability to contain odors, protect wetlands and handle stormwater, among other things.

Resident Debra Eberhardt was one of many who questioned the size and character of the greenhouse that would be the farms primary structure.

A building completely out of character with the neighborhood, she said.

Opponents, including Arthur Telegen, asked why they havent been able to see examples of what the greenhouse would look like. Telegen said that while an earlier proposal placed the greenhouse in a hollow on the property, it now is positioned close to Quarry Road.

Michele Cohen was one of several opponents who claimed that a large TetraHydra AgTek greenhouse, on land leased from Schwartzbach and Metcalf, would be out of place.

It is not in keeping with the surrounding neighborhood, Cohen said.

Ronzio, the board chair, responded to Cohens criticism by saying it would not be the first greenhouse in the area.

This ones bigger, but that is the character of the neighborhood, he said of the proposed building. As I said, its a greenhouse, and its larger.

Greenwald asked Ronzio to stop referring to the proposed building as a greenhouse, suggesting that its size makes it something else.

David Killeen, who represents a trust that owns a neighboring Quarry Road property, asked planners to protect the area from harm and called the project a large, industrial-type operation.

Resident Barbara Wacholder also expressed alarm about the size of the proposed cultivation center.

That just reminds me more of a prison, [or] where they keep the chickens who cant even stand up anymore, she said.

Michael Goodenough, a TetraHydra Agtek partner, said the greenhouse his company seeks to erect is akin to what is in the neighborhood now.

Responding to various criticisms, Goodenough said the company has provided adequate information in its application and would be a good neighbor.

Our detailed site plan is exponentially more detailed in every which way, shape, or form, he said, then referred to the companys operations in Connecticut. We take good care of everyone thats around us.

The proposal first was aired in January 2021, then was withdrawn and resubmitted in June. The application was taken up at a contentious Planning Board meeting in August, when the review was delayed by the discovery that applicants needed to have secured a host community agreement with Becket.
State regulators give Housatonic Water Works Co. a warning that it is violating drinking water standards, and a deadline for a plan to fix the problem. Levels of a compound linked to cancer were elevated at the end of last year, and the company failed to report the results, according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

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A few showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High 52F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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The Scripture teaches us that the Pharaoh we read of in Exodus had a heart that was hardened. But who was responsible for that hardening? In some passages, it appears like he hardened his own heart. Yet, in many other passages, God claimed credit for the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. So just who was responsible for his hardened heart? Pharaoh? God? Or some combination of the two?

God Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

Throughout the Exodus story, we find references to God either hardening Pharaoh's heart or telling Moses that he would harden him. In Exodus 4:21, as God was calling on Moses to return to Egypt, he made it clear that he would harden the Pharaoh's heart so that he would not let Israel go. In Exodus 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17 we find this same thing expressed; God would harden Pharaoh's heart. In the last of those references, the hearts of the Egyptians as a whole were hardened, not just Pharaoh's.

It should be clear from this that God actively hardened Pharaoh's heart. Repeatedly, the inspired Scriptures affirm that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Regardless of what else we may find about the hardening of his heart, God was playing an active role in it.

Pharaoh Hardened His Own Heart

When Moses first called on Pharaoh to let Israel go, he responded with, Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go (Exodus 5:2). While this verse says nothing specific about Pharaoh's heart being hard, it does show that Pharaoh was unwilling to listen to what God had to say. The scene was set here with Pharaoh setting himself up in opposition to God.

In Exodus 8:15, 32; and 9:34, we are told explicitly that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. There are several other passages in this account, like Exodus 7:13, where we see that Pharaoh's heart became hard, but with no reference as to who was responsible.

And yet other passages speak of Pharaoh's resistance to God. In Exodus 3:19, God made clear to Moses that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. Exodus 7:14 says that Pharaoh's heart was unyielding and that he would refuse to let Israel go. And Exodus 13:15 says that Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let Israel go. You might understand Pharaoh's stubbornness to be a consequence of Gods hardening. But I believe it is more likely that these passages describe Pharaoh's own hardness of heart.

God Raised Him Up for a Purpose

One of the attributes of God that most Christians affirm is his sovereignty. But precisely what is meant by Gods sovereignty is a topic of debate. Does sovereignty require absolute control of everything that happens within the creation  including the thoughts and actions of humans? Or is there a place for true libertarian freedom for humanity within Gods sovereignty?

A complete answer to that debate is beyond the scope of this article. Yet it has a bearing on how we understand the topic at hand. Lets look first at Gods sovereign activity here. And later, we will look at any responsibility Pharaoh may have had in hardening his own heart.

Exodus 9:15-16 is a crucial passage in understanding what God was doing as he hardened Pharaohs heart. In this passage, the Lord told Pharaoh, For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

This passage reveals that God had at least two options available for delivering Israel from Egypt. He could have just destroyed Pharaoh and all of Egypt. And by so doing have freed Israel and allowed them to return to Canaan. But he did not.

The second option was what God chose to do. He chose this specific person to be Pharaoh. He put him into power at that time and place for a purpose, so that Gods name might be proclaimed throughout the earth. This second option became a contest between the gods of Egypt and the LORD God of Israel. In each of them, the power of God is demonstrated, and he gains renown among the nations  not to mention among his own people.

God chose this man to be Pharaoh. God placed him into power at the head of Egypt, and he did so for his own reasons. The Pharaoh of the Exodus may have thought he had his place because of his birth or ability. But those were only secondary reasons that God used to accomplish his primary reason. And that reason was, to put it somewhat crudely, to make a punching bag out of him.

Was Pharaoh a Helpless Pawn?

The question then is what responsibility Pharaoh had for his actions. Was he just a helpless pawn in Gods hands? Or did he have some freedom to have acted differently than he did?

I believe that Paul can shed some clarity on this question. 2 Thessalonians 2 discusses the coming of the antichrist and the peoples response to him. And in this discourse, we find the following:

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

This lawless one that Satan sends will deceive those who are perishing. But they are perishing because they have refused to believe. They are responsible for their lack of belief. The relevant part of this passage is what follows. God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe Satans lie. That delusion comes to those who had first refused to believe.

I believe that something like that applies to Pharaoh as well. Pharaoh was not a helpless pawn who found himself with a hardened heart through no fault of his own. Instead, I believe God used him and put him into power precisely because God knew that he would resist, allowing God to demonstrate his power over the gods of Egypt.

Pharaoh refused to let Israel leave Egypt. He hardened his heart toward Gods command. He bore responsibility for his actions. But God took that hardened heart of Pharaoh and further hardened it, ensuring that his power would be fully demonstrated to Egypt, Israel, and the nations Israel would later dispossess.

Pharaoh Acknowledged His Culpability

I find another aspect of the hardening of Pharaoh's heart interesting. During the plagues, Pharaoh acknowledged his sin, accepting responsibility for what was happening. In Exodus 9:27, after the plague of hail, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. This time I have sinned, he said to them. The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. And he repeated this in Exodus 10:16 after the plague of locusts.

Pharaoh knew that he was acting contrary to Gods command in refusing to let Israel go. And by confessing his sin, he recognized that he should have, and could have, done otherwise. Pharaoh knew that he was fighting against God, and that he was wrong in doing so. But because of the hardness of his heart, he refused to back down.

So, Who Hardened Pharaoh's Heart?

So, in the end, who hardened Pharaoh's heart? I believe that the Scripture teaches us that both Pharaoh himself and God were responsible for that hardening. Pharaoh was one who God put into a position of power specifically so that God could demonstrate his power in him. But God did not pick a helpless pawn. He chose one who, on his own, would resist God. And then God further hardened his heart.

There is much I do not understand about Gods sovereignty. But it is clear from the story of the Exodus that God has a purpose and plan, and that he uses people to carry out his plan. He used Moses to confront Pharaoh and to lead Israel out of Egypt. And he used Pharaoh to demonstrate his power. God chose both men to fulfill the role they were assigned. But I believe he chose them because of who they already were. His choice of these two men was not arbitrary.

Photo credit: Unsplash/AussieActive
Loyalty is a trait that many people value, especially in interpersonal relationships. It comes in many forms, including a Christians relationship with God, friendships, and marriages. When someone commits an act that breaks trust, it is an act of infidelity. Usually, these acts take the form of a sinful act: a lie, an inappropriate sexual encounter, or making the choice to ignore the right thing.

Infidelity is another way of saying unfaithfulness. Being faithful to someone involves being truthful, consistent, and available. God is ever faithful, but humans often hurt the Lord through unfaithfulness to Him. The world will often diminish unfaithfulness, but the Bible is clear that God is always faithful to His people, and wants the same from us, and for us to display it to others.

What Is Infidelity?

Infidelity is a word weighted with many emotions. In modern culture, people come up with nuanced definitions of what it means to them. Often people think of it only in a sexual context, but there is more to it. Merriam-Webster provides a well-rounded definition, the act or fact of having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than one's husband, wife, or partner; unfaithfulness to a moral obligation; lack of belief in a religion.

All three of these definitions from the dictionary align with aspects and examples of infidelity in the Bible. There is discussion about unfaithfulness in romantic relationships in the Bible. Friends betray one another. The greatest infidelities are betrayals and rebellion against God, turning away from Him.

Where Do We See Infidelity in the Bible?

Infidelity is a common theme in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, which highlights the lives of flawed people and Gods relationship with the nation of Israel.

Example of Unfaithfulness in Interpersonal Relationships in the Bible:

Josephs brothers against Joseph

They said to one another, Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams (Genesis 37:19-20).

Out of jealousy, Josephs brothers plotted to murder him, then decided to sell him into slavery instead.

David against Uriah the Hittite

Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her.In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die (2 Samuel 11: 3-4, 14-15).

Uriah was a foreigner, but was fiercely loyal to David and the God of Israel. David had an affair with Uriahs wife, and then had Uriah killed to cover up the fact that she was pregnant with his child.

Hoseas wife against Hosea

And the Lord said to me, Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins (Hosea 3:1).

God had Hosea marry a prostitute named Gomer who committed adultery against him, acting out the infidelity of Israel against God.

Judas against Jesus

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, What will you give me if I deliver him over to you? And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him (Matthew 26:14-15).

Despite being one of His twelve apostles, Judas chose to turn Jesus over to the religious leaders for money

Examples of Unfaithfulness to God in the Bible:

The Hebrew Children at Mount Sinai

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together with Aaron and said to him, Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him (Exodus 32:1).

Even after seeing the ten plagues fall on Egypt, being guided by Gods Spirit manifested as a flaming column, and seeing the Red Sea parted before them, the Hebrews abandoned God after Moses did not come down from Mount Sinai fast enough, choosing to make an idol and worship that as their god instead.

The Nation of Israel against God

And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals when she burned offerings to them and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry, and went after her lovers and forgot me, declares the Lord (Hosea 2:13).

The northern Kingdom of Israel often struggled with falling into idol worship, which God characterized as being like an unfaithful wife.

The Nation of Judah against God

Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god (Malachi 2:11).

The southern Kingdom was the Nation of Judah, which eventually gave itself over to idolatry.





Photo credit: Getty Images/designer491

Why Is This Such a Serious Issue to God?

God takes faithfulness and fidelity seriously because those are parts of His character that He put within humanity. When the Bible records, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them, (Genesis 1:27), part of that image is His innate characteristics. The capacity to stay true to ones family, friends, ideals, country, and God are in each person because they are designed with it.

He intended for people to always be faithful and loyal to one another and to Himself. Once sin entered the world, everyone had the choice, and everyone choses to rebel, turning away from God.

In many respects, any sin is an act of infidelity against the Lord. He asked for those who love Him to be righteous, and not walking the straight path is a show of disloyalty and unfaithfulness. Another way of looking at fidelity is the capacity to remain steadfast, a trait often attributed to Gods love, particularly in the Psalms. Wavering in resolve is another kind of unfaithfulness, whether to a person or to God. When people are unfaithful to one another, people get hurt. When someone is unfaithful to God, they sadden God and heap more condemnation on themselves, unless they repent. Part of why God emphasizes faithfulness in marriage and other human relationships is because if it is difficult for someone to be faithful to someone whom they see on a consistent basis, sometimes daily depending on the relationship. It will be even harder for that individual to be faithful and steadfast walking with God.

Bible Verses about Infidelity

Some Bible verses that address interpersonal and spiritual infidelity include:

He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself (Proverbs 6:32).

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes (Isaiah 5:18).

Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, Who sees us? Who knows us? (Isaiah 29:15).

You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, No one sees me; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, I am, and there is no one besides me (Isaiah 47:10).

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28).

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous (Hebrews 13:4).

Why Does It Matter So Much That God Pursues Us, Despite Our Infidelity?

If God expected perfection and perfect loyalty from people, no one would have a chance to receive His forgiveness. Placing a contingency on goodness or faithfulness in order to extend His grace would leave it out of reach for everyone; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Because He knows and understands human moral frailty and that no one is capable of always pursuing Him in perfect righteousness - which was highlighted by the Law - He sent Jesus to cover the sins of the world. [All]...are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:24-26).

God continues to pursue those He loves, whether they be sinners, the nation of Israel, or believers, to demonstrate His glory, prove His own righteousness, and to make a way for all to turn away from their sins and to Himself. If God did not pursue humanity, there would be no hope for eternal salvation.

Just because God pursues people does not mean it is okay to constantly sin and rebel against Him, feeling secure that God will always forgive and pursue. Some people will say because sins are covered by grace it is glorifying to God to sin, and Christians should do so. Paul addresses this false doctrine directly in his letter to the church in Rome; What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-4).

Instead, people who have a saving faith and relationship with Jesus Christ should pursue Christ-like living, so that God can be glorified and Christs sacrifice is not mocked. It is not loving to sin and abuse the gift of grace. The Lord Jesus said directly, If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15). Those who love God want to live in the freedom that grace and forgiveness provide, which means being free from the sins of the flesh and the former self.

Infidelity is a sin that does not just hurt the person who commits it, but the people it is committed against. There are many temptations in this world to turn someone away from a friend, spouse, or from God, but His Spirit empowers Christians to stand firm in their love and their faith, remaining faithful in all things, just like God, who is faithful in all things.

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Sources

Bentorah, Chiam. Hebrew Word Study Revealing the Heart of God. New Kensington: Whitaker House, 2016.

Instone-Brewer, David. Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible The Social and Literary Context. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2002.

Ortlund, Raymond. Gods Unfaithful Wife A Biblical Theology of Spiritual Adultery. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Related articles

Staying Faithful in a World Thats Lost Its Way

5 Ways God Is Faithful When Life Doesn't Feel Fair

What Is Adultery and What Are Some Sneaky Signs We're Ignoring?

Photo credit: Unsplash/Jachan Devol

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer and editor. She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry.
BOISE  Idahos wildland firefighters are a step closer to receiving competitive compensation on par with their federal peers and other western states.

A release from the Idaho Department of Lands says the agency has become a defacto training ground for wildland firefighters and faces extreme challenges recruiting and retaining qualified personnel. The agencys wildland firefighters engage in highly dangerous work for low pay protecting 6.2 million acres of private, state and federal land. Most are hired as temporary, seasonal employees and do not receive benefits.

After just two seasons 40% of IDL wildland firefighters do not return to work for the agency. This high turnover rate, given training requirements, is costly. Those seeking careers in fire often use IDL to obtain certifications and experience, then go on to obtain permanent or higher paying jobs elsewhere.

Surrounding states and the federal government offer higher wages and benefits, including firefighter hazard differential pay equal to 25% of hourly rates while engaged in dangerous fire suppression activities.

If there is a wildfire on private land protected by IDL, federal firefighters work shoulder to shoulder with IDL firefighters. The state is required to pay hazard pay to the federal firefighter but is not allowed to pay it to its own. When IDL firefighters are dispatched to states that do provide hazard pay, they cannot receive this additional compensation due to Idahos laws.

HB588, a bill sponsored by Rep. Sage Dixon, is seeking to help level the playing field, allowing Idaho wildland firefighters to receive the same hazard pay benefit of those they work next to on a wildfire. In a recent survey 60% of IDLs wildland firefighters who indicated they would not return to work for the agency in the next season reported that if hazard pay was provided, they would stay on with IDL.

Having enough experienced wildland firefighters in place and at the ready is vital to protecting our communities, said Representative Dixon. It also protects the $2.4 billion dollar forest products industry that is important to our local and state economies.

The bill recently cleared the House Commerce and Human Resources committee unanimously with a coveted do-pass recommendation. If the legislation becomes law, Idaho wildland firefighters will receive hazard pay when they are working on an uncontrolled fire or at an active fire helibase.
Joe Biden imposes economic sanctions on Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump reacts to Russias incursion into Ukraine, A new poll shows most Democrats tuning-out cable news, the Freedom Trucker convoy heads to Washington, DC.

Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, will Hillary run again?
Based on the latest demographic trends, Malaysia is expected to be an aged nation by 2030 and super-aged by 2050

Led by the School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University has established a collaborative partnership with the Senior Citizens Club Subang Jaya in fostering a holistic approach to healthy ageing and well-being that includes physiological, psychological and socio-economic dimensions. The Senior Citizens Club Subang Jaya is one of the most active and dynamic citizens club in Malaysia; working closely with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia to reach out and enrich the lives of older adults in the community through social and personal development activities.

The Sunway Universitys Ageing Health and Well-Being Research Centre, led by Prof. Dr. Alexandre Schaefer at Sunway University was established to foster multidisciplinary research and interventions that are focused on the promotion of a healthy lifespan development in South-East Asian (SEA) communities. Specific areas of interest will include (but not limited to) the well-being of older adults in Malaysia, the interplay between socioeconomic conditions and mental health, and strategies to build resilience against future pandemics and climate events.

Recognising the significant influence that the lived environment has on behaviour, risk exposure, health outcomes, and social inclusion, this academia-public partnership will focus on developing initiatives to develop a more age-friendly environment.

Prof. Dr. Mahendhiran Nair, Sunway University Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research Engagement & Impact) said, This collaboration is aligned to the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, the 12th Malaysian Plan and the 10-10 Malaysian Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy Framework, which will enable new opportunities for socio-economic growth through the development of an inclusive silver economy.
The laboratory covers 1400 sq ft, capable of 400 sample testing per day

Metropolis Healthcare has launched an advanced diagnostic testing centre in Nanded, Maharashtra. The 1400 sq ft laboratory can conduct around 400 sample testing per month with a quick turnaround time and high-quality reports.

Inaugurating the new testing centre, Ashokraoji Chavan, PWD Minister, Former Chief Minister, Maharashtra, said We welcome the Metropolis new and advanced diagnostic centre to serve patients in Nanded."

The new laboratory is located at Shop G1, G2 Aagale Complex, Opposite Kalamandir, Nanded- 431602
Scientists discuss various aspects of the medical devices industry along with advocating the consolidation of the sector

The 3rd National Conference on Nanomedicine and Medical Devices in Healthcare was recently organised by the Apeejay Stya Univesity in support of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), DST, Government of India.

The conference witnessed eminent scientists and experts from the field of nanomedicine and medical devices technologies across the country, who put forward their perspectives on various aspects of the industry along with advocating the consolidation of the sector.

The conference was also a platform for many faculty members, PhD scholars including postgraduate and undergraduate students to exhibit their valuable research/review through scientific poster presentations on various aspects related to the theme.

Prof Alok R Ray (Ex-Consultant Professor, School of International Biodesign, All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi), said: Most of the polymers that are used in medical devices are made in India. But we do not produce the final product because people from various fields like pharmaceutical, hardware, bioelectronics, nanodevices, etc, do not work together so much."



Prof Raj S Dhankar, Vice-Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University (ASU) highlighted the facts how India played a vital role during the last covid waves and contributed effectively in quality medicine and vaccines to address the domestic as well as global demand.

Dr Vivekanandan Kalaiselvan, Senior Principal Scientific Officer, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ghaziabad, spoke about Materiovigilance Programme of India: Roles and responsibilities of Pharmacy professionals while elaborating on the role of Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission that obtains scientific data, analyses and communicates it to the regulating authority.

Dr Manish Diwan, Head-Strategy Partnership & Entrepreneurship, Development BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India spoke about the growing startup ecosystem of the country.

Dr Arvind Bansal, Professor of Pharmaceutics, NIPER, Mohali, Chandigarh, spoke on nanocrystalsthe approaches used for its generation and its various applications.

Dr Dhiraj Kumar Chopra, Vice President & Head Sterile R&D, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, spoke on the key factors considered in polymer selection for drug delivery system, the importance of managing the rate of polymer degradation, use of polymers for depot injections that are non-toxic, controlled erosion and biocompatible, among others.

Prof Bansi D Malhotra, DST-SERB (Science & Engineering Research Board, Govt of India) Distinguished Fellow & Adjunct Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (DTU), spoke about how nanomaterials-based conducting paper can be helpful in the development of biomolecular electronic devices like biosensors for cancer detection.
Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University along with GRID Council under Project REACH-HTN, analysed four states to gauge the success of making blood pressure medicine refills available

Banaras Hindu University, senior government officials and public health leaders have said that policy measures like an extended prescription for chronic diseases have helped India cope better with the chaos unleashed during the pandemic. At an event organised by the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), to release a policy brief and set of recommendations from Banaras Hindu University, health experts and senior representatives of the government called for the need to focus on such nimble yet effective solutions to improve last-mile delivery of health services.

Speaking at the event, Dr Sudarshan Mandal, Deputy Director General (NPCDCS), Dte GHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said, While all NCDs require a continuum of care and treatment, it is critically important to focus on hypertension and diabetes mellitus, also called the silent epidemics of India."



Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University along with GRID Council under Project REACH-HTN, analysed four states to gauge the success of making blood pressure medicine refills available for extended days as per the government guidance.

Dr Sangeeta Kansal, Professor at the Department of Community Medicine, BHU and principal investigator of the project said, Our analysis revealed that issuance of the government order recommending that medicines be made available for at least a month, has been overall beneficial for those relying on public health systems for their treatment  particularly those in rural India. It encouraged several innovations such as the use of a differentiated drug delivery system and disbursement of medicines through ASHAs and ANMs."



Vandana Shah, Regional Director, Global Health Advocacy Initiative (GHAI) said, Making medicine refills available particularly in the remotest corners of the country is one such important solution."



Dr Basab Gupta, Additional Medical Superintendent, Kalavati Saran Hospital said, To make extended days refill a success, the first step is a standard treatment protocol, which is playing a major role in stemming the NCD crisis, as it successfully did with the HIV crisis.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Kalpana Apte, Secretary General, FPA India said, The guidance for extended days prescription, issued just when India was entering a hard lockdown nationwide, has immense potential of fixing the woes of last-mile service delivery.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has welcomed Condor Airline's intent to operate direct flights from Frankfurt to Johannesburg, says Charles Shilowa, ACSA Group Executive: Strategy and Sustainability. Condor, a German-based leisure airline will launch two weekly flights between Frankfurt International Airport in Hessen, Germany, and OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng from November 2022.

The new direct flights will add much-needed traffic from Europe to South Africa, helping to re-ignite the tourism sector, a key driver of economic activity and job creation in the country," says Shilowa.Condors flights to Johannesburg will be in addition to the three weekly flights planned for Cape Town International, scheduled to also begin in November. Condor will effectively operate five direct weekly flights into South Africa, linking Johannesburg and Cape Town to Frankfurt. Condor will operate both Johannesburg and Cape Town flights on a seasonal basis, from November 2022 to April 2023.The airline will operate a Boeing 767-300ER with up to 259 seats in a three-class configuration (Business Class/Premium Economy Class/Economy Class). This product will cater to both corporate and leisure market segments.Condor has an interline agreement with FlySafair, and this will link the planned Johannesburg service to Condors Cape Town operations. Condors planned operations will accelerate the recovery of ACSAs international market segment.Frankfurt International Airport is a global hub and gateway with extensive transatlantic connections. These additional flights will enhance South Africas connectivity to global markets, in particular, Europe and North America."OR Tambo International will provide Condor with access to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) market, which has a population of over 300 million and is one of the fastest-growing trade blocs in Africa," says Shilowa.
Ukraine crisis arouses concerns, U.S., EU, Britain announce sanctions against Russia

Xinhua) 08:48, February 24, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to intensify as Russia recognized "the Lugansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as "independent and sovereign states."

As the Ukraine crisis is arousing widespread concerns, the United States, the European Union (EU), and Britain have announced sanctions against Russia for its latest actions.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced "the first tranche" of sanctions against Russia.

Calling Russia's move "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine," Biden said in remarks delivered from the White House that his administration will impose sanctions on two Russian financial institutions -- the VEB and the country's military bank -- as well as on Russia's sovereign debt and five individuals.

He explained that the measure "means we've cut off Russia's government from Western financing. It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either."

Additional sanctions will be followed if the situation escalates, he said.

On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called off a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov scheduled for Thursday.

In a statement on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said EU member states had given their political consent to a new package of sanctions against Russia.

The package contains a number of "calibrated measures" targeting banks that finance the Russian military apparatus and contribute to the destabilization of Ukraine.

It also bans trade between the two regions and the EU, as it did with Crimea in 2014, and limits the Russian government's ability to raise capital on the EU's financial markets.

According to Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, the package comprises sanctions against 351 members of the Russian State Duma or lower house of the country's Federal Assembly, who voted to recognize the two "republics."

The EU will also "target 27 individuals and entities who are playing a role in undermining or threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence," he said.

Furthermore, the sanctions aim to target the Russian state's ability to access the EU's capital and financial markets and services.

"If Russia continues to escalate this crisis that it has created, we are ready to take further action in response," von der Leyen said.

On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a range of sanctions against Russia.

Johnson said that Britain would sanction five Russian banks and three very high net worth individuals.

"Any assets they hold in the UK will be frozen, the individuals concerned will be banned from traveling here, and we will prohibit all UK individuals and entities from having any dealings with them," he said, adding that this is the "first tranche, the first barrage, of what we are prepared to do alongside the United States and the European Union if the situation escalates still further."

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Lubbock, TX (79409)

Today

Cloudy skies. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. SSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
As it turns out, many doctors have spoken out against smallpox vaccination and published data demonstrating its dangers. For example: 11

We know this because other plagues for which there were no vaccines disappeared right along with smallpox and polio. While the medical industry eventually embraced vaccination, and increasingly over time treated it as something that could not be contested or questioned, Humphries book details the opposition.

With regard to smallpox and smallpox vaccination, living conditions during the industrial revolution were horrid. Plagues and infectious outbreaks were commonplace, not because of insufficient vaccination, but because sanitation was near-nonexistent and people, including children, were overworked and underfed. Early progressives believed deadly plagues could be prevented by improving living and working conditions, and they were correct.

Many who experienced kidney injury or kidney failure had recently received a flu vaccine. It was a singular common denominator. So, she began to challenge the hospitals routine practice of vaccinating patients. Humphries was roundly ignored and was ultimately forced to leave. The book grew out of her frustration with people who insisted that vaccines had eliminated scourges like polio and smallpox. Once she delved into the research, what she found was something else entirely.

A Midwestern Doctor 10 goes on to discuss Dr. Suzanne Humphries 2009 book, Dissolving Illusions: Disease, Vaccines, and the Forgotten History, in which she shatters the notion that vaccines (and certain other medical interventions) have been single-handedly responsible for improved health and increased life spans. As a nephrologist (kidney specialist), Humphries noticed a pattern among her patients.

In 1898, the U.K. implemented a new law that allowed people to opt out of vaccination for moral reasons. As reported by the BBC, this was the first time conscientious objection was recognized in U.K. law. 9 Now, we have to fight to regain that right yet again, all around the world.

On the other hand, there were well-vaccinated areas that had lower case rates and fewer deaths, and areas with low vaccination rates that also fared worse in this regard, so vaccination was probably not the determining factor either way.

As a result, when smallpox broke out again between 1892 and 1894, Leicester got off lightly, with a case rate of 20.5 cases per 10,000. In all, the town had 370 cases and 21 deaths  far lower than the towns of Warrington and Sheffield, where vaccination rates were high.

The alternative countermeasure implemented in Leicester involved quarantining infected people and notifying anyone whod been in close contact with the patient. They also used ring vaccination in which hospital workers who took care of infected patients had been inoculated. 8

Eventually, one of the largest protests of the century occurred in 1885 in Leicester (an English city). Leicesters government was replaced, mandatory vaccination abolished, and public health measures rejected by the medical community were implemented. These measures were highly successful, and once adopted globally ended the smallpox epidemic, something most erroneously believe arose from vaccination.

Briefly, the original smallpox vaccine was an unusually harmful vaccination that was never tested before being adopted. It increased, rather than decreased smallpox outbreaks. As the danger and inefficacy became known, increasing public protest developed towards vaccination. Yet, as smallpox increased, governments around the world instead adopted more draconian mandatory vaccination policies.

What is occurring now in Canada and other places is almost identical to what happened with the smallpox vaccination campaigns over a century ago, and I believe it is critical we understand these lessons from the past and it is vital this message gets out to the Truckers.

A Substack user going by the moniker A Midwestern Doctor 5, 6 details this part of history, explaining why it matters to us today. He writes: 7

In the late 19th Century, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in opposition to compulsory smallpox vaccinations. There were arrests, fines and people were even sent to jail. Banners were brandished demanding Repeal the Vaccination Acts, the curse of our nation and vowing Better a felons cell than a poisoned babe. Copies of hated laws were burned in the streets and the effigy was lynched of the humble country doctor who was seen as to blame for the smallpox prevention program.

In the decades to come, smallpox outbreaks were occurring all over the world, and forced inoculation was typically the answer, even though it had its own risks. In 1885, England became the host to a massive anti-vaccination movement that ultimately resulted in people overturning the governments compulsory vaccination rule.

In 1862, it was Los Angeles, Californias turn. Compulsory vaccination was again rolled out, and anyone who refused was subject to arrest. Infected people were terrified of being forcibly quarantined in a pest house, miles outside the city limits, and for good reason. It was a place where you were dumped to die, with not so much as a bedsheet for comfort. 3

The hypodermic needle had not yet been invented at this time, so the vaccination consisted of rubbing some cowpox pus into an open wound on the arm. Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, who introduced the inoculation at the urgings of Rev. Cotton Mather, was forced into hiding and was eventually arrested. Mathers home was firebombed.

In the 1700s, Boston, Massachusetts, was hit by a series of outbreaks, and the introduction of a vaccine led to violent rebellion by those who believed it was dangerous and a violation of Gods will. Local newspapers were rife with disputes for and against the vaccine. 2

Smallpox, a highly infectious and disfiguring illness with a fatality rate around 30%, 1 has been with us for many centuries, probably thousands of years. During the last four centuries, forced mass vaccination has been a recurring countermeasure relied on by government during these kinds of outbreaks, often with devastating results, and there have always been large portions of society that opposed it.

If youre wondering how well ever put an end to these draconian COVID-19 mandates that are destroying lives and sanity across the world, take heart. History can serve us in this regard. The parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and its countermeasures that of previous smallpox pandemics are fascinating to behold, and therein we can also find the answer to our current predicament.

> The Leicester Model was proven successful in the wake of that 1885 anti-vaccination protest and has been standard ever since. By quarantining infected patients and improving public hygiene, smallpox was finally eradicated

> The trucker protest in Canada and elsewhere is almost identical to what happened during smallpox vaccination campaigns more than a century ago, when mass protests and peaceful disobedience broke the governments tyrannical hold

> Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in opposition to compulsory smallpox vaccinations. Many were fined and jailed, but in the end, the government relented and abolished the mandate

> Over 135 years ago, in 1885, England became the host to a massive anti-vaccination movement that ultimately resulted in people overturning the governments compulsory vaccination rule

> If youre wondering how well ever put an end to these draconian COVID-19 mandates that are destroying lives and sanity across the world, take heart. History can serve us in this regard

The Moving Goal Post

Once it became clear that the smallpox vaccine was incapable of providing long-lasting immunity as initially promised, the medical profession moved the goal post and started justifying vaccination on the basis that it could protect against more severe illness, even if it couldnt provide lifelong perfect immunity the way recovering from the infection could.

This has been a basic mantra ever since, and weve gotten a double-dose of it during this COVID pandemic. Within months, the goal post was switched from two doses are near-100% effective, to two doses wear off in six months and leave you more vulnerable to severe illness thereafter. Some bargain!

Corruption of Vital Statistics Protect Vaccination Narrative

Whats worse, the trend of not reporting vaccine injuries due to allegiance to the practice, as noted by Henry May in the Birmingham Medical Review in January 1874, has continued unabated. According to May, vaccinated people who died were typically recorded as having died from some other condition, or were erroneously listed as unvaccinated.12 As noted by A Midwestern Doctor:13

This corruption of the vital statistics creates many challenges in assessing the efficacy of immunization, and is also why many authors have noted no metric can be used to assess COVID-19 immunizations except total number of deaths (independent of cause) as this cannot be fudged.

Of note, a different significant overlap exists with the early polio campaigns (also detailed within Dissolving Illusions), where polio diagnostic criteria was repeatedly adjusted to meet the political need for polio cases.

Governments responded to this skepticism by progressively using more and more force to mandate vaccination. Vaccination was made compulsory in England in 1853, with stricter laws passed in 1867. In the United States, Massachusetts created a set of comprehensive vaccination laws in 1855 (which created the Supreme Court case Jacobson v. Massachusetts a case that is frequently cited about state enforced vaccination).

Lemuel Shattuck emphasized the need for vaccination and pushed for house-to-house vaccination to be enforced by the authority of the City of Boston in an 1856 report, also noting The City has already provided that no unvaccinated child shall be admitted into the public schools.

A situation emerged I term the Vaccine positive feedback cycle. Keep in mind that most systems in nature are instead negative feedback systems. In these, when something occurs, it self-corrects the system and turns it off rather than accelerating it, as occurs in a positive feedback system. The cycle is as follows:

A concerning disease exists.



Immunization is cited as a potential solution to the problem.



An immunization campaign is conducted and makes the problem worse.



As the problem is now worse, the need for immunizations to address it increases and another campaign is conducted.



This makes the problem worse.



This increases the need for more aggressive measures to increase immunization.



This makes the problem worse and further perpetuates the cycle, before long leading to very questionable governmental policies designed to force unwilling parties to vaccinate.

The underlying drivers of this process seem to be an unquestionable faith in vaccination, a conviction dating back to the days of smallpox, that vaccinating an ever-increasing proportion of the population through vaccination can end epidemics (now termed herd immunity), and the government having limited options to address the issue besides immunizations and governmental force.

The Effects of Forced Smallpox Vaccinations

A Midwestern Doctor continues describing the effects of the governments insistence of forced smallpox vaccination:14

In accordance the positive feedback cycle, these results were found everywhere. Within the United States, as smallpox worsened in Boston, in 1855, the government made enacted strict enforcement of vaccination.

It was followed by the epidemics of 1859-1860, 1864-1865, 1867 (these were all similar in size to earlier epidemics), and then infamous 1872-1873 epidemic which dwarfed all previous epidemics (proving fatal to 1040 persons, at a rate of 280 deaths per 100,000 people).

By the end of 1868, more than 95% of the inhabitants of Chicago had been vaccinated. After the Great Fire of 1871  strict vaccine laws were passed, and vaccination was made a condition of receiving relief supplies. Chicago was then hit with a devastating smallpox epidemic in 1872 where over 2,000 persons contracted smallpox, with over 25% dying, and the fatality rate among children under 5 being the highest ever recorded.

A 1900 medical article discussed vaccination in three European nations. In England, of 9392 small-pox patients in London hospitals, 6,854 had been vaccinated and 17.5% of the 9,392 died.

In Germany official returns show that between 1870 and 1885 one million vaccinated persons died from small-pox. In France, every recruit that enters the French army is vaccinated. During the Franco-Prussian war there 23,469 cases of small-pox in that army.

An 1888 article in the Encyclopedia Britannica describing Prussias strict vaccination practices throughout the population (including mandatory re-vaccination for school pupils), noted: Notwithstanding the fact that Prussia was the best revaccinated (boosted) country in Europe, its mortality from smallpox in the epidemic of 1871 was higher (59,839) than in any other northern state.

Other countries reported the same smallpox trends, including Italy and Japan, where smallpox death rates after successful vaccination campaigns were unprecedented. Vaccine injuries, including deaths, were also common. It is shocking how closely the miserable failures of the smallpox vaccines mirror the COVID jabs.

One of the most common causes of death after smallpox vaccination was erysipelas, a painful bacterial skin disease. An 1890 Encyclopedia Britannica article reported that smallpox vaccination had triggered a disastrous epidemic of erysipelas. Other side effects included jaundice, syphilis, tuberculosis, eczema vaccinatum (a rare and lethal skin condition).

Massive Historic Public Protests Over 135 Years Ago

As skepticism of and opposition against smallpox vaccination grew, enforcement increased. Vaccine refusers were fined, jailed and sometimes vaccinated by force. Parents were even forced to vaccinate their second child even if the first one died from the inoculation. Intermittently, riots would break out. A Midwestern Doctor details what happened next:15

In 1884, 5,000 court summons had been issued against the unvaccinated, a case load that completely overloaded the court system. Letters in local newspaper at this time revealed widespread disdain for the irrationality of the procedure and the medical professions steadfast defense of a dangerous practice that had clearly failed over the last 80 years.

Tensions reached a boiling point and on March 23, 1885, a large protest estimated at 80,000 to 100,000 people erupted. It was composed of citizens of all professions from across England and receive support from citizens across Europe who could not attend it.

The procession was 2 miles long, with displays showing the popular sentiments against vaccination present throughout the crowd. The demonstration was successful, and the local government acceded to and acknowledged their demands for liberty. Many of the description of this protest (and the jubilant mood there) are extremely similar to reports I have read of the Truckers protest.

Mr. Councilor Butcher of Leicester addressed the protest and spoke of the growing opinion that the best way to get rid of smallpox and deadly infectious diseases was to use plenty of water, eat good food, live in light and airy houses, while it was the municipalitys duty to keep the streets clean and the sewers in order. He emphasized that if this was not done, it was unlikely any act of Parliament or vaccination could prevent the diseases.

That year, following the protest, the government was replaced, mandates were terminated, and by 1887 vaccination coverage rates had dropped to 10%. To replace the vaccination model, the Leicester activists proposed a system of immediately quarantining smallpox patients, disinfection of their homes and quarantining of their contacts alongside improving public sanitation.

The medical community vehemently rejected this model, and zealously predicted Leicesters gigantic experiment would soon result in a terrible massacre, especially in the unprotected children, who were viewed by government physicians as bags of gunpowder that could easily blow up schools (along with much other hateful and hyperbolic rhetoric directed at them).

This smallpox apocalypse would forever serve as a lesson against vaccine refusal the medical profession bet their stake upon. [But] the predicted catastrophe failed to emerge and Leicester had dramatically lower rates of smallpox in subsequent epidemics than other fully vaccinated towns (ranging from 1/2 to 1/32).

Various rationalizations were put forward to explain this, but as the decades went by, a gradual public acceptance of Leicesters methods emerged, but even 30 years later, a New York Times article still predicted a disaster was right around the corner and it was imperative Leicester change their methods.

Fortunately, the value of Leicesters novel approach of quarantining and improvement public hygiene was recognized and gradually adopted around the world, leading to the eventual eradication of smallpox.

Keep in mind that these protests occurred when the population was much lower, so as a percentage of the population it was much higher. In 1885, the U.K. population was only 36,015,500,16 so a protest with 100,000 was just under 0.3% of the entire population. As of February 16, 2022, todays U.K. population is 68,471,390,17 so to match that protest, percentage-wise, about 205,400 would have to hit the streets.

History Repeats Itself

Those who dont know their history are bound to repeat it, and it seems thats precisely what weve allowed to occur in the past two years. Many doctors predicted and warned that the pandemic would be prolonged and worsened by rolling out non-sterilizing vaccines (i.e., vaccines that do not prevent infection and transmission). And thats precisely what weve witnessed.

Predictions of devastating side effects have also come true. And, as resistance to the shots grew, draconian mandates followed. History tells us forced vaccination is not the answer. History also tells us how to get out from underneath a tyrannical governments insistence on forced vaccination.

The answer is peaceful noncompliance. The answer is standing together, en masse, and saying No more. Enough. The truckers in Canada, the U.S., Belgium and elsewhere have the right idea, and the rest of us need to join and support them, in any way we can.

Like the smallpox vaccination campaigns, the COVID-19 immunization campaign has been so egregious it has inspired a large global protest movement with the large scale current protests being very similar to those that occurred 135 years ago, A Midwestern Doctor writes.18

My hope is that this movement can remember the lessons from the past and carry them forward to now so a future generation does not have to repeat our mistakes.

If you want to learn more about the fraud of all vaccines, I would encourage you to carefully review Suzanne Humphries excellent book, Dissolving Illusions. In my view it is the best book out there on the subject.

Sources and References
A trucker sits in his cab as truck drivers and supporters gather one day before a Peoples Convoy departs for Washington, DC, to protest COVID-19 mandates in Adelanto, California, on Feb. 22, 2022.

The Department of Defense (DOD) said that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved the deployments of the guards, which had been requested by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and U.S. Capitol Police (USCP).

The people who live, work and visit the District are part of our community, and their safety is our first mission priority, Maj. Gen. Sherrie L. McCandless, D.C. National Guard commanding general, said in a statement to news outlets.

Our MPD and USCP partners have asked for our help in ensuring people can demonstrate peacefully and safely, and we stand ready to assist.

The approval will enable around 400 D.C. National Guard members to provide support at designated traffic posts, provide command and control, and cover sustainment requirements.

Guards deployed to the area will not be armed and will not help with law enforcement or carry out domestic surveillance activities. No aircraft has been approved for use.

Austin also approved USCPs request for assistance for up to 300 National Guard troops from outside the Washington area to help at certain traffic posts and Capitol entry points, Breitbart reports. That will begin later than 7 a.m., on Saturday, February 26, according to Breitbart, who note that 50 large tactical vehicles will also be placed at designated traffic posts on a 24-hour basis in the area.

John Kirby, the Department of Defenses spokesman, told news outlets in a statement on Tuesday that the department was analyzing a request for assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

Those agencies have asked for National Guard personnel to provide support at traffic control points in and around the District to help the USCP and D.C. government address potential challenges stemming from possible disruptions at key traffic arteries. No decisions have been made yet to approve these requests, Kirby added.

The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) said recently that they were planning extra security in the nations capital ahead of President Joe Bidens State of the Union address on March 1 which looks set to cross over with the trucker convoy protests.

Multiple convoys are planning to journey to the Washington area in protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, among other issues and policies of President Joe Bidens administration.

Similar demonstrations have been held in Canada in recent weeks, prompting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to invoke the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadas history, using it to freeze the bank accounts of protesters.
In this article, we will explore the true nature of the international rules-based order (IRBO) and examine the forces that shape it. We will consider if the narratives we are commonly fed stack up.

It is widely accepted that the IRBO is undergoing disruptive change. That transformation is often reported as an eastward shift in the balance of power between nation states.

It is said that this new, emerging international order will be founded upon a global multipolar system of sovereign states and international law. This new system allegedly stands in opposition to the fading, western rules-based model.

This time, rather than relying upon western imperialism, the new international law-based system will emphasise multipolar cooperation, trade and respect for national sovereignty. It will instead be led by a Eurasian economic and technological power-block.

The apparent, ongoing antagonism of geopolitics looks likely to maintain the East-West divide we are familiar with. However, what is now being framed as the multipolar order is, in reality, the multistakeholder order.

As we shall discover, nation states are not the driving force behind the current restructuring of global governance. The geopolitical narratives we are given are frequently superficial.

Those leading the transformation have no allegiance to any nation state, only to their own globalist network and collective aspirations. In their hands, international law is no more of an impediment to their ambitions than a vague commitment to rules.

National governments are partners within this network formed of both state and non-state actors. Despite professed animosities, they have collaborated for decades to fashion the global governance complex that is now emerging.

No matter who is said to lead it, the IRBO is set to continue in a new form. As the post WWII system recedes, the framework being imposed to take its place is completely alien to the people who live in the former western, liberal democracies.

Thus, we too must be transformed if we are to accept the realignment. We are being conditioned to believe in the promise of the new IRBO and the global technocracy it is built upon.

The International Rules Based Order (IRBO)

In 2016, Stewart Patrick of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) published World Order: What, Exactly, are the Rules? In it, he described the post WWII era as the international rules-based order (IRBO).

Rooted firmly in American exceptionalism, Patrick described how the so-called IRBO acted as a mechanism for hegemonic control of global politics, the worlds economy and the international monetary and financial system (IMFS):

What sets the post-1945 Western order apart is that it was shaped overwhelmingly by a single power, the United States. Operating within the broader context of strategic bipolarity, it constructed, managed, and defended the regimes of the capitalist world economy [] In the trade sphere, the hegemon presses for liberalization and maintains an open market; in the monetary sphere, it supplies a freely convertible international currency, manages exchange rates, provides liquidity, and serves as a lender of last resort; and in the financial sphere, it serves as a source of international investment and development.

While international law is a component of the IRBO, it is not in and of itself law. Professor Malcolm Chalmers, writing for the UK Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), described the IRBO as a combination of universal security and economic systems combined with international agreement and conflict resolution processes.

The current IRBO is supposedly a western system of international norms and institutions. Based upon both the post WWI and WWII settlements, what is suggested as order is little more than a realisation of might is right on the international stage.

Actions Not Words

In the West, we have been educated to have faith in the IRBO. It is sold to us as an arrangement that establishes normative behaviour for nation states. A basis for international relations is supposedly agreed upon and acceptable behaviour ordained.

Far from being a set of rules to facilitate peaceful coexistence between nation states, the IRBO has always been a tool for manipulation. The question is who wields it?

The recent joint statement between the Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China appeared to explicitly redefine the current IRBO. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping agreement read, in part:

Today, the world is going through momentous changes, and humanity is entering a new era of rapid development and profound transformation. It sees the development of such processes and phenomena as multipolarity, economic globalization, the advent of information society, cultural diversity, transformation of the global governance architecture and world order. [. . .] a trend has emerged towards redistribution of power in the world. [. . .] the international law-based world order, seek genuine multipolarity with the United Nations and its Security Council playing a central and coordinating role.

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in 2018 Photo: WikiCommons  www.kremlin.ru

By contrast, the speech delivered by UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to the Lowy Institute, a Rothschild backed Australian policy think-tank with a focus upon the Asia-Pacific region, illustrated the western position. She said:

Russia and China are working together more and more, as they strive to set the standards in technologies like artificial intelligence, assert their dominance over the Western Pacific. [. . .] Theyre destabilising the international rules-based order and theyre chipping away at the values that underpin it. [. . .] We believe in freedom and democracy. [. . .] As Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, we know from the evidence of human history that democracies are the engine room of change. [. . .] Technology has empowered people by enabling incredible freedom, but we know it can be seized upon by others to promote fear. [. . .] By joining forces with the US we are showing our determination to protect security and stability across the region.

Taken on face value, we would inevitably conclude that, while the axis is in flux, the adversarial stand-off continues. To a great extent, this is a fabrication.

In discussing the IRBO, we immediately run into a nomenclature problem. Sometimes referred to as the rules-based international order; at other times the international order or rules-based system; or occasionally the rules-based international system, now we seemingly need to add international law-based world order.

While there is no settled definition for this alleged system of global governance, it all amounts to the same thing. The fulcrum may have moved, but the ruse remains intact.

This definition problem illustrates the primary flaw with any notion of a global rules-based order. It is ill-defined and transient. It relies more upon the realpolitik of the day than any genuine moral, legal or political precepts.

While Truss accurately outlined how that so-called order can be seized and exploited, she misled her audience in regards to who the abusers are. Nor is the existing IRBO founded upon democracy and freedom. Her claims were a deceit.

Recently the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that undermining trust in the government was achieved by individuals spreading false narratives and that this was tantamount to terrorism. In other words, no US citizen has any right to question government policy. If they do, they are spreading disinformation. Consequently, the DHS suggests that not trusting the government should be prosecuted as a crime.

This is the claimed justification for the focus of the new domestic terrorism unit working alongside the US Justice Departments National Security Division. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen told a Senate Judiciary Committee that the unit was created to combat the growing threat of extremism, which apparently includes anti-government and anti-authority ideologies.

To question either authority or government is an extremist position, according to the US Justice Department and the DHS. There is no room for freedom of speech in the governments extremist ideology. Without freedom of speech, US democracy is finished.

Similarly, in New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader) admitted her governments intention to ignore peoples inalienable right to roam unless they submitted to vaccination. So too with the European Commission, whose EU Digital COVID Certificate limits freedom of movement only to citizens who have the right pharmaceutical products injected into them.

These vaccine certificates are the gateway to full digital ID for all compliant citizens. Speaking in June 2021, the President of the EU Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, said:

We want to offer to Europeans a new digital identity. An identity that ensures trust and protects users online. [. . .] It will allow everyone to control their identity online, and to interact with governments and businesses, across the EU.

In other words, the EU citizens vaccine status, which will form a key part of digital identity per EU plans, will also be required for them to access goods and services. Without the appropriate authorisation, they will be excluded from society.

Recently, some governments have appeared to backtrack on their vaccine passport (certificate) plans. This is simply a brief cessation in the face of mounting public protest.

The commitment to digital identity, controlling every aspect of our lives, is inherent to the UNs Sustainable Development Goal 16.9. The policy trajectory towards digital identity is global, no matter who allegedly leads the IRBO.

None of these policies indicates, as Truss claimed, any underlying belief in freedom and democracy. Among the Five Eyes nations and across the EU, all we see is a commitment to authoritarian dictatorship.

Elizabeth Truss Photo: Policy Exchange

In the UK, where Truss is a leading government figure, plans for a dictatorship are at an advanced stage. The UK state has exploited the pseudopandemic to progress and enact a slew of dictatorial legislation.

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act 2020 empowers the state to commit any crime it likes and removes all legal liability from its operatives; the Police, Crimes, Sentencing & Courts Bill effectively outlaws all public protest and, while currently stalled after the House of Lords rejected the Bill, some minor amendments will almost certainly see it passed into law; the Online Safety Bill, when enacted, will end freedom of speech online and the proposed changes to official secrets, counter-espionage; and counter-terrorism legislation will remove the journalists defence of acting in the public interest, effectively ending whistle-blowing and investigative journalism in the UK.

All these tyrannical changes are exemplified by the UK governments proposed Human Rights Act reforms. Their press release demonstrates how their claim of respecting individual rights, freedoms and democracy is nothing more than propaganda designed to dupe an unsuspecting public.

While they speak of diversity and a historical commitment to freedom, peppering their press release with fluffy sound-bites, their actions belie their intent. They state:

The government wants to introduce a Bill of Rights in a way that protects peoples fundamental rights whilst safeguarding the broader public interest [. . .] [T]he growth of a rights culture [. . .] has displaced due focus on personal responsibility and the public interest. [. . .] Whilst human rights are universal, a Bill of Rights could require the courts to give greater consideration to the behaviour of claimants and the wider public interest when interpreting and balancing qualified rights. [. . .] The shift of law-making power away from Parliament towards the courts, in defining rights and weighing them against the broader public interest, has resulted in a democratic deficit. [. . .] [F]reedom of expression cannot be an absolute right when balanced against the need to protect national security, keep citizens safe and take steps to protect against harm to individuals.

While the UK state claims human rights are universal they clearly arent if they are qualified rights based upon whatever the government decides to be more important. Individuals pressing their rights in court has hampered the governments programs. This is considered to be a democratic deficit. Therefore, the New Bill of Rights will protect the governments power and authority over-and-above the freedoms of the people.

The UK Government will define national security. Protecting it, as they see fit, will override all individual rights. Freedom to roam, of speech and expression will not be tolerated by the UK state. Instead a commitment to the public interest, safety and protecting the population from some nebulous notion of harm, will replace freedom and democracy.

On both sides of the Atlantic, and in the Five Eyes global south, a new system is emerging which facilitates what Mussolini described as the Fascist State:

The Fascist conception of life stresses the importance of the State and accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the State. [. . .] Liberalism denied the State in the name of the individual; Fascism reasserts the rights of the State as expressing the real essence of the individual. [. . .] The Fascist conception of the State is all embracing; outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist, much less have value. Thus understood, Fascism, is totalitarian, and the Fascist State  a synthesis and a unit inclusive of all values  interprets, develops, and potentates the whole life of a people.

It is the US led alliance of Five Eyes nations and the European Union that claim themselves to be the protectors of the international rules-based order. With their commitment to a new form of global fascism, the idea that the IRBO keeps us safe is questionable. In truth, the current IRBO has never actually promoted either freedom or democracy.

It is customary for the IRBOs alleged leaders to practice double standards. Illegal wars, prolonged terrorist campaigns against their own populations, support for foreign terrorist insurgencies, cruel economic sanctions and involvement in international narcotic smuggling operations typify the activities of the nation states that claim ownership of the IRBO.

While the western hegemony insists that all follow their rules, they dont hold themselves to the same. A few recent examples, among many, have witnessed the U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), often referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal; NATO renege on assurances, given to the last Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, that it would not expand one inch eastward; and the imprisonment of journalists.

This is not to claim that the supposed opponents of the current IRBO, notably Russia, China and Iran, are above reproach themselves. However, it is untenable for the leading nations of the existing IRBO to commandeer any moral supremacy.

Politicians like Truss promote the IRBO as the cornerstone of international peace and security, but these are meaningless platitudes. There is nothing inherently peaceful or secure about it.

The Real IRBO

The current IRBO is portrayed as a project of western, formerly liberal, democratic states that has capitalised upon U.S. economic and military dominance. However, despite that being how mainstream media (MSM), academia and think-tanks present it, that is not what the international rules-based order is today.

The IRBO can more accurately be described as a vehicle for a worldwide stakeholder capitalist network to manipulate nation states in pursuit of its own predominantly private, corporate agenda. Indeed, we might argue that is all it has ever been.

A truly global network of corporations, think-tanks, private foundations, intergovernmental organisations, NGOs and governments work in partnership to convert global policy agendas into policy and legislation at the national and local government level. This is the Global Public-Private Partnership (G3P) and its reach extends to every nation.

We may view the global political map as a patchwork of sovereign nations, existing in a state of anarchy (no one rules them), but the G3P does not. What the global stakeholder capitalist network (G3P) sees is an authoritarian, compartmentalised structure to be manipulated to reach their objective, with that objective being, to create a cohesive system of global governance under their rule.

Throughout the pseudopandemic, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has partnered with government and intergovernmental organisations to promote its Great Reset policy agenda. The G3P is the embodiment of what the WEF calls the multistakeholder model of global governance.

In October 2019, shortly before the pseudopandemic began, the WEF published Global Technology Governance: A Multistakeholder Approach. Assuming the authority to demand that the world accepts the intrusion of its planned 4th Industrial Revolution, the G3P, represented by the WEF, bemoaned what they considered to be the lack of progress towards global governance.

In this multistakeholder system, elected governments are merely one among many stakeholders. Most of the leading partners in the G3P are private corporations, such as the Bank for International Settlements, or they represent private corporate interests, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development for example.

Our democratic oversight only reaches as far as our national governments influence as a G3P stakeholder allows. We can appreciate the extent of this democratic accountability if we consider the comments of Dominic Cummings, former chief advisor to UK Prime Minister. In testimony given to a parliamentary committee on May 2021 (go to 14:02:35), Cummings said:

In March I started getting calls from various people saying these new mRNA vaccines could well smash the conventional wisdom.. People like Bill Gates and that kind of network were saying. Essentially what happened is, there is a network of people, Bill Gates type people, who were saying completely rethink the paradigm of how you do this [] What Bill Gates and people like that were saying to me, and others in number 10, was you need to think of this much more like the classic programs of the past.. the Manhattan Project in WWII, the Apollo program [] But what Bill Gates and people were saying [] was, the actual expected return on this is so high that even if does turn out to be all wasted billions its still a good gamble, and that is essentially what we did.

Cummings was talking about the UK governments public health policy response to an alleged global pandemic. These were decisions that would impact the health of every man, woman and child in the country.

His comments reveal that the UK government was simply following the orders issued by the network of Bill Gates type people. The UK state designed a crucial national policy at behest of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). They were acting under the instruction of a private, tax exempt foundation.

The BMGF are among the leading stakeholders within the G3P. Like the WEF, their partnerships with government and intergovernmental organisations are extensive.

As we now know, the alleged vaccine safety and efficacy claims made by the BMGF, and the politicians who implemented public health policy for them, werent even remotely accurate. We also know that this failure is immaterial to the BMGF because the return on this is so high it doesnt matter.

The policy think-tanks lie at the heart of the G3P. They collaborate with other G3P stakeholder partners to devise the policy agendas that governments then enforce upon their populations.

Think-tanks, such as the Royal Institute for Interantional Affairs (RIIA  Chatham House), are invariably formed by representatives from multinational corporations (including central banks), financial institutions, NGOs, philanthropic foundations, private donors, intergovernmental organisations, academic institutions and governments, etc.

For example, Chatham House members include the United Nations, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Open Society Foundation, The Bank of England, Astrazeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Bloomberg, The Guardian, The City of London, The European Commission & Union, BAE systems, Goldman Sachs, De Beers, BlackRock, China International Capital Corporation, Huawei, Kings College London, the London School of Economics (LSE), Oxfam, the British Army and governments from around the world. The list goes on.

To imagine that these globalist organisations are effectively powerless and exist merely to help governments devise policy is extremely naive. A more accurate summation has been offered by a few academics. Prof. Hartwig Pautz wrote:

[T]hey seek to influence policymakers and the wider public, and that they try to do so via informal and formal channels and by making use of their well-connected position in often transnational policy networks encompassing political parties, interest groups, corporations, international organizations, civil society organizations, and civil service bureaucracies. [. . .] [P]olicymakers increasingly need curators, arbiters, or filters to help them decide which information, data, and policy expertise to use in their decision-making processes.

However, we only need look at the comments of people like Dominic Cummings or Hillary Clinton to recognise that even Pautz observations fall short. As then US Secretary of State, Clinton said that the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) role  as a US foreign policy think-tank  was to tell the US State Department what we should be doing and how we should think about the future.

Governments, including those of the US, Russia and China, are G3P stakeholders. In 2017, speaking at a Harvard seminar, the founder and executive chairman of the WEF, Klaus Schwab, said:

Mrs Merkel, even Vladimir Putin, and so on, they have all been Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. But what we are really proud of now with the young generation like Prime Minister Trudeau, President of Argentina and so on, is that we penetrate the cabinets. So yesterday I was at a reception for Prime Minister Trudeau and I know that half of this cabinet, or even more than half of this cabinet, are for our actually Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum.

This was no idle boast. Political leaders such as Tony Blair, Jacinda Ardern, Emmanuel Macron, Alexander De Croo (Belgian PM), Sanna Marin (Finnish PM) and many more political heavyweights have been through the YGL programme. This is why, in an address to the Canadian nation in November 2020, in direct reference to the WEFs so-called Great Reset, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said:

Building back better means getting support to the most vulnerable while maintaining momentum on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the SDGs. [. . .] This pandemic has provided an opportunity for a reset. This is our chance to accelerate our pre-pandemic efforts to re-imagine economic systems that actually address global challenges like extreme poverty, inequality and climate change.

Trudeau is one among many WEF Young Global Leaders (YGL), and members of its predecessor program called the Global Leaders of Tomorrow, who have shaped the global policy response to the pseudopandemic. As a YGL graduate, his task was to convince the Canadian public to embrace the G3Ps Great Reset policy agenda.

Despite Schwabs claims, Russian President Vladimir Putin does not appear to have been among the WEFs YGL proteges. Yet, speaking in 2019 to President Quesada of Costa Rica, Klaus Schwab repeated his statement about Putin:

Mrs Merkel, Tony Blair, they were all, even President Putin, they were all Young Global Leaders.

In 1993, when the Global Leaders of Tomorrow program began, Putin was 41 and the upper age limit for entry into the program was supposedly 38. It seems unlikely that Putin was officially a WEF YGL trainee.

Following 16 years of service in the Soviet KGB, Putin was building his reputation as a politician in 1993, acting as deputy to the Mayor of St Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak. Sobchak subsequently co-authored the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

Putin at the 2009 World Economic Forum

Putin was instrumental in encouraging foreign investment into the city and it was during his time in St Petersburg that Putin seemingly developed a close relationship with Klaus Schwab. In his address to the WEFs 2021 virtual Davos gathering, Putin said:

Mr. Schwab, dear Klaus, [. . .] I have been to Davos many times, attending the events organized by Mr. Schwab, even back in the 1990s. Klaus just recalled that we met in 1992. Indeed, during my time in St Petersburg, I visited this important forum many times. [. . .] [I]t is difficult to overlook the fundamental changes in the global economy, politics, social life, and technology. The coronavirus pandemic [. . .] spurred and accelerated the structural changes.

In terms of G3P partnerships, Russias is perhaps one of the closest to the WEF. The WEFs annual Cyber-Polygon global cybersecurity training exercise is orchestrated by Bi.Zone, a subsidiary of Sberbank.

Bi.Zone is responsible for designing and running the Cyber Polygon scenarios and exercises. Sberbank is a majority state owned Russian bank and is among the founding members of the WEF Centre For Cybersecurity (CCS).

Other CCS partners include leading US foreign Policy think-tank the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), Europol (representing EU governments), INTERPOL, the Organisation of American States (representing the governments of the North and South American subcontinents), and national cyber security centres from Israel, the UK, Korea, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland (home of the BIS).

Of the many corporations involved in Cyber Polygon 2021, Russian companies formed the largest contingent from any single nation. In addition, the WEF partners with the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF.)

The SPIEF International Foundation was formed in St Petersburg in 1998 under the direction of Herman Gref. He was serving as vice governor of the city at the time.

In 1993, Gref was also a close associate of Anotoly Sobchak in St Petersburg where Putin was Sobchaks senior advisor. Gref is currently the CEO and Chairman of Sberbank.

In 2017, Schwab recognised that the SPIEF and Russia were global leaders on international regulation and stated:

In the new economic environment and with due regard for the latest technological breakthroughs, we are faced with the need for new cooperation formats. [. . .] I am absolutely positive that Russia, as one of the leaders in responsible global regulation, must play a central role in determining new forms of co-existence in the era of the fourth industrial revolution.

Russia and the SPIEF are part of the G3P network and are heavily involved in global cybersecurity and, in particular, the regulation of technology. It is clear that, through partners like the CFR, BMGF and the WEF, the Global Public-Private Partnership is pushing a global policy agenda supported by both sides of the East-West divide.

WEF assets, like Trudeau and other compromised officials, are positioned to ensure policy distribution is as frictionless as possible. The Russian and, as we shall see, Chinese governments are equally active stakeholders in the G3Ps global governance efforts.

If we believed the western MSM, this would present a seemingly unfathomable conundrum. While these nation states are G3P partners, we are told that they are also undermining the IRBO. Something doesnt add up.

According to Reuters, European banks need to prepare for Russian cyber attacks. CBS claims the DHS are on full alert for the looming cyber war, while the UK media carried the same scary stories. Forbes reported that Russia had been waging a cyber war against the West for 20 years and the Guardian alleged that this was typical fare for the Russian Federation.

All of this seems extremely odd given that western global corporations such as IBM, Deutsche Bank and Santander were engaged in cyber polygon preparedness exercises that were largely run by a Russian state-owned bank. If any of the MSMs claims are even remotely plausible, the industrial espionage risk alone would appear to have been off the charts.

Governments from across the western world participate in the WEF Cyber Security Centre which was founded, in part, by Sberbank. At the same time, they keep warning their populations about the danger of Russian cyber attacks.

Frankly, these Russian cyber-threat stories are puerile. The western governments and corporations, who appear to follow G3P orders to the letter, are seemingly content to be guided by a Russian state banks cybersecurity assessment and recommendations.

A far more credible rationale for these MSM stories and government fearmongering is that they are designed to prepare us, and provide justification, for the digital transformation of the financial sector. In their 2020 cyber threats report, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) stated that the pseudopandemic had necessitated this change.

In a barely concealed reference to Russia and China, the CEIP asserted that cyber attacks from nation states were inevitable. They then predicted that the response to this supposedly unavoidable attack would be to fuse the activities of banks, the financial authorities and the national security apparatus of nation states.

Centralising authority, especially over financial systems, is always the solution as far as the G3P are concerned. Primarily because they assume the right to exercise that authority.

On the major issues, governments dont form policy and policy is instead curated by the G3P think-tanks like the CEIP. We should not labour under the illusion that the think-tanks simply offer suggestions. They have the financial, economic and political power to make decisions on the global stage and they have done so for generations.

No one votes for think-tanks. To this extent, so-called representative democracy is a charade. We, the people, have never had any say on the big issues. For those of us who live in western democracies, government grandstanding simply serves to convince us that we are somehow represented in the deliberations. It is essentially a confidence trick.

This is the context within which we can come to understand the International Rules Based Order. While it currently relies upon what appears to be the western hegemony and is transitioning towards a Eurasian led multipolar system, both are just convenient mechanisms through which the G3P wields power and authority.

As noted by many commentators, including the WEF, the IRBO is changing. As it does we all move ever closer to an IRBO based upon the Chinese model of technocracy.

Technocracy: A G3P Love Affair

The G3P think-tanks, perhaps most notably, but not exclusively, the Trilateral Commission, have been pursuing the dream of creating a global Technate for nearly a century. The often heard pseudopandemic mantra of led by science exemplifies technocracy.

Technocracy grew out of the efficiency movement during the US progressive era in the early 20th century. It capitalised upon the principles of scientific management suggested by Frederick Winslow Taylor and the economic ideas of social-economist like Thorstein Veblan, who famously coined the term conspicuous consumption.

Veblan was among the founding members of a private research initiative in New York funded by John D. Rockefeller called the New School For Social Research. This soon led to the creation of the Technical Alliance.

Howard Scott, the leader of the Technical Alliance, subsequently joined M. King Hubbert at Columbia University. In 1934, they published the Technocracy Inc. Study Course.

This was a blueprint for a North American Technate. It proposed a society led by science, engineering and academia rather than politics. Hubbert wrote:

Technocracy finds that the production and distribution of an abundance of physical wealth on a Continental scale for the use of all Continental citizens can only be accomplished by a Continental technological control, a governance of function, a Technate.

Technocracy demands that the activity of every citizen be continually recorded and controlled. It requires constant surveillance of the population.

This enables the Technates total energy expenditure to be calculated in real time. The data is then collated and analysed in order for the central committee of technocrats to manage and distribute the Technates resources right down to the level of the individual.

Scott and Hubbert planned a new monetary system based upon energy consumption, with goods and services priced according to the energy cost of production. Citizens would be allocated the new currency in the form of energy certificates.

In the US of the 1930s, this was a technologically impossible task. Though popular for a decade or so, the people came to realise that the suggested Technate was something of an absurdity.

Despite the seemingly preposterous system proposed by Scott and Hubbert, the Rockefellers in particular could see the potential to use technocracy to enhance their control of society. They continued to bankroll the technocracy movement and associated programs, for many years, regardless of waning public interest.

Zbigniew Brzezinski Photo: Terry Ashe

In 1970, Professor Zbigniew Brzezinski published Between Two Ages: Americas Role In The Technetronic Era. At the time, he was a professor of political science at Columbia University, where Scott had met Hubbert in 1932. He had already been an advisor to both the Kennedy and Johnson campaigns and would later become National Security Advisor to US President Jimmy Carter (1977  1981).

Through a paper thin veil of caution, Brzezinski wrote enthusiastically about how a global scientific elite could not only use all-pervasive propaganda, economic and political manipulation to determine the direction of society, but could also exploit technology and behavioural science to brainwash and alter populations behaviour. Describing the form of this society and the potential for authoritarian control, he wrote:

Such a society would be dominated by an elite whose claim to political power would rest on allegedly superior scientific know how. Unhindered by the restraints of traditional liberal values, this elite would not hesitate to achieve its political ends by using the latest modern techniques for influencing public behaviour and keeping society under close surveillance and control.

While he didnt use the word technocracy, Brzezinski nonetheless described a Technate. Realising that technology was fast approaching the point where technocracy would be feasible, he described how digital technology would dominate the technotronic era to transform society, culture, politics and the global balance of political power.

In 1973, Brzezinski joined David Rockefeller to form the Trilateral Commission. Their stated purpose could not have been clearer:

[T]he most immediate purpose was to draw together [. . .] the highest-level unofficial group possible to look together at the key common problems. [. . .] .[T]here was a sense that the United States was no longer in such a singular leadership position as it had been in earlier post-World War II years. [. . .] , and that a more shared form of leadership [. . .] would be needed for the international system to navigate successfully the major challenges of the coming years. [. . .] The growing interdependence that so impressed the founders of the Trilateral Commission in the early 1970s has deepened into globalization. [. . .] Doubts about whether and how this primacy will change [. . .] have intensified the need to take into account the dramatic transformation of the international system. [. . ] Our membership has widened to reflect broader changes in the world. Thus, the Japan Group has become a Pacific Asian Group, including in 2009 both Chinese and Indian members.

In 1973, the Trilateralists had already identified that US primacy would be dramatically transformed. This stemmed from Brzezinskis realisation that global corporations in the technotronic era would surpass nation states in terms not only of their financial and economic power, but also in their ability to innovate and direct the activities of billions of citizens. In Between Two Ages he wrote:

The nation-state as a fundamental unit of mans organized life has ceased to be the principal creative force: International banks and multi-national corporations are acting and planning in terms that are far in advance of the political concepts of the nation-state.

Fully committed to the process of globalisation, the Trilateralists started to create the new IRBO. Rather than US economic and military power the new world order would be based upon a communitarian commitment to the efficient management of resources and, via that mechanism, social control.

Nation states would give way to a global network formed by the fusion of state and corporation. This network would manage populations and business activity through a new resource-based monetary system and economic central planning.

Individual citizens and businesses would be constantly monitored and their behaviour restricted and ordered. This would afford the G3P the global governance capability they sought.

Brzezinski suggested how this future could be secured. Technocracy would enable the transformation:

Both the growing capacity for the instant calculation of the most complex interactions and the increasing availability of biochemical means of human control augment the potential scope of consciously chosen direction. [. . .] In the technetronic society the trend seems to be toward aggregating the individual support of millions of unorganized citizens [. . .] and effectively exploiting the latest communication techniques to manipulate emotions and control reason. [. . .] Though the objective of shaping a community of the developed nations is less ambitious than the goal of world government, it is more attainable. [. . .] In China the Sino Soviet conflict has already accelerated the inescapable Sinification of Chinese communism. [. . .] This may both dilute the regimes ideological tenacity and lead to more eclectic experimentation in shaping the Chinese road to modernity.

The modernisation of China was seen as an opportunity to develop an advanced technocratic society which, while developing both economically and technologically, would remain a dictatorship. This presented the G3P with a perfect test bed for the construction of a Technate.

Technocracy provides centralised authority over a managed capitalist system. It allows business to prosper so long as it adheres to the diktats of the technocrats.

The new IRBO will not be based upon the primacy of nation states or their imposition of any agreed values or norms. Rather, it will be founded upon the multistakeholder system, where nominally pragmatic solutions to a declared crisis form the moral imperative. Multistakeholding means a fusion between state and corporation.

This transformation of the IRBO was emphasized by the WEF in their 2019 policy white paper Globalization 4.0. Shaping a New Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Russia's military had announced within just a couple hours into the offensive that all of Ukraine's air defense systems have been taken out. A massive Russian aerial presence, including fighter jets and helicopters, has been confirmed over much of the country.

Confirmed by Ukrainian authorities. A large air assault operation with Mi-8 helicopters on Antonov International Airport in Hostomel. Interior Ministry says Russia has seized control. Very dangerous; its just 15 minutes west of the capital ring road. pic.twitter.com/JhlyVktVRC  Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 24, 2022

Soon after the initial attack which also included cruise missile launches, which likely came from Russia's Black Sea fleet, Kiev authorities cited "hundreds" of Ukrainians killed, including civilians.

It's believed that much of Ukraine's command and control military infrastructure was targeted and hit in the first wave, also as Ukraine border guards were attack, with some reports of soldiers fleeing the Russian advance. Moscow has declared safe passage for any Ukrainian soldier laying down their arms.

Ukraine's state emergency service has also said a Ukrainian military plane was downed, which killed five people. This as surreal battlefield footage continues to evidence the ferocity of an air war in progress.

A group of Russian helicopters was attacked using man-portable air defense systems (or RPGs).

Countermeasures are active.



20 km to Kiev. Vyshgorod, Kiev region. pic.twitter.com/iRL2SsaO7q  War News (@AlphaW4r) February 24, 2022

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday issued comment on the scope and goal of the military objections, citing Putin's aim of the "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine.

"Ideally, Ukraine should be liberated, cleansed of Nazis, of pro-Nazi people and ideology," Peskov said, saying that operations would end only once these objectives have been reached. It remains unclear whether this will mean regime change in Kiev, though at this point that scenario is looking more than likely. There were early reports that President Zelensky has been offered safe passage if he leaves Ukraine.

Russian Ka-52 shot down in Hostomel from up close. You can clearly see the 'Belarusian' V marking. One of the pilots has been taken prisoner. pic.twitter.com/EymYhnohoe  Tadeusz Giczan  (@TadeuszGiczan) February 24, 2022

Ukraine national police and emergency services have said there's been fighting throughout the entire country, with Russia conducting over 200 attacks, with severe clashes ongoing in various parts of Ukraine.

Footage of Russian soldiers hoisting the Russian flag on a hydroelectric plant building in Nova Kakhovka, 60km into Ukrainian territory. The Crimean front appears to have collapsed pic.twitter.com/nn4rThddZn  Tadeusz Giczan  (@TadeuszGiczan) February 24, 2022

Russian tanks rolling past @fpleitgenCNN while he's live on air. "That is the road leading to Ukraine." pic.twitter.com/N02h0whaHQ  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 24, 2022

President Biden has vowed severe and far-reaching new sanctions, which he said will be announced in an address on Thursday. German chancellor Olaf Scholz and other Western leaders condemned what Scholz called a "reckless act by President Putin," and "terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe."

Military airport in Lutsk, Ukraine destroyed. Tactical strikes on military installations continue. pic.twitter.com/YBDBRDlQQ9  Live Monitor (@amlivemon) February 24, 2022

"There is no justification for any of this -- this is Putin's war," Scholz said at a news conference in Berlin.

The large in scope Russian campaign is now being widely described as Putin's "shock and awe" war - to borrow from America's Iraq War - in the heart of eastern Europe. Bloomberg and others are calling it Europe's worst security crisis since World War II.
Russia said Thursday that its military had destroyed more than 70 military targets, including 11 airfields in Ukraine.

As a result of strikes carried out by the Russian armed forces, 74 Ukrainian military ground facilities were destroyed, said Igor Konashenkov, a defence ministry spokesman.

Destroyed facilities included 11 airfields, three command posts and 18 radar stations of the S-300 and Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems, he said.

He added that a Ukrainian military helicopter and four drones had also been shot down.

Konashenkov said separatist forces continued an offensive backed by air support of the Russian armed forces.

Currently armed groups of nationalists are putting up resistance, he said, claiming that Ukrainian troops wanted to leave the area of hostilities.

He said that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had ordered Russian troops to treat Ukrainian servicemen with respect.

Putin launched an offensive on Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday after a national address aired at around 5:40 am local time (0240 GMT).
Kiev has ordered civilians to rush to bomb shelters amid fears Russia is about to bombard the Ukrainian capital as its troops battle for control of a key airfield around 15 miles away after Vladimir Putin launched an all-out attack on the country by land and by air.

'They are going to bomb Kyiv now. Authorities told us to hide in shelters,' a source in the city told MailOnline amid reports the Ukrainians have started shelling Antonov Airport as an offensive began to re-take it from Russian forces which had landed there earlier in the day via dozens of helicopters - some of which were shot down by Ukrainian MiG fighters.

Ukrainian forces were this afternoon fighting in almost every region of the country, battling the Russians for control of military bases, airports and cities after an early-hours barrage of cruise missiles and guided bombs targeting ammo dumps and radar arrays.

By Thursday afternoon, battles were ongoing in the capital Kiev, along the northern border with Belarus, in Luhansk and Donetsk in the east and around Kherson and the Dneiper River in the south.

Ukrainian forces appeared to be putting up a stiff resistance around Kharkiv, in the east, where multiple Russian tanks and armoured vehicles were pictured having been destroyed by Kiev's forces - with bodies lying in the streets. Two Russian soldiers were also captured by Kiev's forces in the area.

But fighting appeared to be going less well in the south, with Russian tanks breaking out of Crimea near Kherson and moving towards the Dnieper River where they linked up with more helicopters and seized power plants - with a Russian flag seen raised over Kakhovka Hydroelectric plant in the early afternoon.

Border guard units said they were fighting for control of the eastern city of Sumy against Russian forces while fierce battles were also raging in Donetsk and Luhansk against pro-Russian rebel forces who launched an attack from rebel-held enclaves.

Estimates of dead and injured were almost non-existent as of early afternoon. One Ukrainian official said 'hundreds' had been killed in early fighting, while another put the death toll at 40 Ukrainians and 50 Russians.
Only in the ongoing month, China has sent a total of 40 military aircraft into Taiwans identification zone including 22 fighter jets, 17 spotter planes, and one helicopter. An ADIZ is an area that extends beyond a countrys airspace where air traffic controllers ask incoming aircraft to identify themselves.

China's fighter jets enter Taiwan

Marking the largest incursion since October by China, earlier in January, 39 Chinese aircraft had entered Taiwan's air defence zone. Taking to Twitter, Taiwans defence ministry had informed that the Chinese mission involved 34 fighters plus four electronic warfare aircraft and a single bomber. According to the map that the ministry provided, the Chinese aircraft flew in an area to the northeast of the Pratas. In response, Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them.

China rejects claims linking Taiwan to Ukraine's scenario

Questions were raised on China-Taiwan tensions amid Russia's attack on Ukraine stating the latter might face the same situation in the future. In response to that, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated the 'One-China principle'. He said that there is only one China, and Taiwan is a part of its territory. He continued by stating that this is a historical and legal reality that cannot be refuted and that the one-China principle is a widely accepted international norm.

He also said that the Chinese people have great resolve, determination, and capability to preserve national sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to ANI. Even after decades of independent rule, China still regards Taiwan as a separatist province. It has threatened to militarily take over the island on numerous occasions. When questioned about China's position on the Ukraine crisis, Wenbin said it should be settled by communication and diplomacy.
Quoting acclaimed Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy before the Biden-Putin summit at Geneva last June, the Russian leader uttered an ominous warning: There is no true happiness in life, only flashes, a mirage of it is on the horizon  cherish those. But the establishment media mocked the stark warning as nothing more than rants and raves of a deranged mind.

At the time, the British Royal Navy Defender had breached Russias territorial waters [1] in the Black Sea and as many as 20 Russian aircraft conducted unsafe maneuvers merely 500 feet above the warship and Britain also lamented shots had been fired in the path of the ship.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would not say whether he had personally approved the Defenders voyage but suggested the Royal Navy was making a point by taking that route, a Politico report [2] alleged in June.

Boris Johnson didnt explicitly acknowledge the naval incursion into Russias territorial waters was done on his orders. Something a lot more sinister happened behind the scenes that could have ended up in a false flag naval engagement like the Gulf of Tonkin incident before the Vietnam War in 1964, and given the NATO powers a pretext to start a war over and above the heads of elected politicians.

While the responsibility to recklessly provoke Russia ultimately rested with the entire British cabinet, there was a catch. A Telegraph report noted [3] that former Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had raised concerns about the mission, proposed by defense chiefs, and that Boris Johnson was ultimately called in to settle the dispute.

Therefore, what Johnson actually did was to play the role of a mediator in the dispute between the civilian cabinet and the UKs military. The provocation was clearly planned and executed by the UKs deep state in collaboration with its partners in the transatlantic NATO military alliance led by the Pentagon.

Its noteworthy that all the militaries of the NATO member states operate under the integrated military command led by the Pentagon. Before being elected president, General Dwight Eisenhower was the first commander of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). The commander of Allied Command Operations has been given the title Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and is always a US four-star general officer or flag officer who also serves as the Commander US European Command.

In Europe, 400,000 US forces were deployed during the height of the Cold War in the sixties, though the number has since been brought down [4] to over 100,000 after European powers developed their own military capacity following the devastation of the Second World War. The number of American troops deployed in Europe now stands at 50,000 in Germany, 15,000 in Italy and 10,000 in the United Kingdom.

During the last year, the United States has substantially ramped up the US military footprint in the Eastern Europe by deploying thousands of NATO troops, strategic armaments, nuclear-capable missiles and air force squadrons aimed at Russia, and the NATO forces alongside regional clients have been provocatively exercising so-called freedom of navigation right in the Black Sea and conducting joint military exercises and naval drills.

Excluding the self-styled global hegemon, the imperial United States, the rest of the Western powers might have been colonial powers before the Second World War but they are no longer powers in global politics. In fact, they can more aptly be described as Western regimes that serve no other purpose than act as Washingtons client states via the framework of transatlantic NATO military alliance to maintain the charade of multilateralism.

The national security and defense policies of modern nation states are formulated by civil-military bureaucracy, dubbed as the deep state. Whereas trade and economic policies are determined by corporate interests and business cartels within the framework of neocolonial economic order imposed on the post-colonial world by corporate America following the signing of the Bretton Woods Accords at the end of the Second World War in 1945.

Purportedly democratic governments, elected through heavily manipulated electoral process, are reduced to performing ceremonial gimmicks and are meant only to serve as showpieces to legitimize militarist and capitalist exploitation.

Fomenting crisis in Ukraine by audaciously intruding into Russias territorial waters isnt the only instance when the deep state flagrantly interfered into the US foreign policy. It went to the extent of discrediting and, at times, even brazenly assassinating American presidents who dared to refuse to toe the national security policy formulated by the high-command of the worlds most powerful military force.

Its worth recalling that at the height of the Cold War in the sixties when the US domestic politics was infested with the McCarthyite paranoia and communists were persecuted all over the country, Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of John F. Kennedy, was picked up as a scapegoat because he had visited Russia and Cuba before the hit-job in order to put the blame for the high-profile political assassination on the communists.

Not surprisingly, he was silenced by Jack Ruby before he could open his mouth and prove innocence in the courts of law. The cold-blooded murder of a pacifist and non-interventionist American president was obviously perpetrated by a professional sniper trained expert marksmanship by the deep state.

It was not a coincidence that Kennedy was murdered in November 1963, and months later, the Gulf of Tonkin resolution authorized his successor Lyndon B. Johnson to directly engage in the Vietnam conflict in August 1964 on the basis of a false flag naval engagement.

Its obvious that the American national security establishment was the only beneficiary of the assassination of Kennedy. Most likely, the deep state turned against Kennedy after the October 1962 Cuban missile crisis and Kennedys pacifist rhetoric and conciliatory approach toward Washingtons arch-rival, the former Soviet Union, in the backdrop of the raging Cold War.

Besides the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, another reason the Kennedy administration fell from the grace of the deep state was the botched Bay of Pigs invasion by the CIA operatives and the Cuban exiles in April 1961 to topple the government of Fidel Castro that JFK approved but later severely castigated the CIA for the fiasco and sacked CIA director Allen Dulles and several employees. The Pentagon wanted Kennedy to immediately invade Cuba following the foiled plot but he vacillated and let a golden opportunity to dismantle a security threat close to the US soil slip by.

Similarly, JFKs brother Robert F. Kennedy was a leading Democratic candidate for the presidential office when he was shot dead by a Palestinian Christian Sirhan Sirhan in June 1968. Being a pacifist himself, Bobby Kennedy opposed the US involvement in the Vietnam War and wrote a book on the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 in which he credited his brother, JFK, for showing restraint and amicably resolving the crisis.

As the former attorney general of JFK, Bobby probably had good leads on the masterminds of the JFK assassination, and wanted to avenge his brothers shocking murder by exposing the assassins after being elected president. This was the principal reason he, too, was silenced before he could be elected president.

Though serving a life sentence at a California penitentiary, Bobby Kennedys murderer Sirhan, now 77 years old, is a suspicious and deranged character, who frequently backtracked on his testimonies and confession during and after the trial, had no recollection of the murder and subsequent events, and his defense team had pleaded for a retrial several times but the request was summarily denied. He was due to be released on parole last August but California Governor Gavin Newsom decided against setting him free in January.

Likewise, the US security agencies turned against Richard Nixon after the deep state helped him get elected in the 1968 elections by eliminating his formidable Democratic opponent Robert F. Kennedy and felt betrayed after Nixon decided to end the Vietnam War.

The Watergate scandal was clearly orchestrated by the deep state, as Nixon was responsible for the Fall of Saigon and the humiliating defeat of the US in Vietnam at the hands of communists. Despite the allegation of illegal wiretapping, nothing was actually recorded at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Headquarters.

An additional charge was brought against Nixon that he had installed voice-activated taping system in the Oval Office, which is a customary practice for all the presidents before and after him, as all the offices in the White House and the Capitol are known to be bugged, though only a handful security officials have access to recorded conversations.

Not surprisingly, the perpetrators of clumsy wiretapping attempt at the DNC headquarters turned out to be former FBI and CIA agents. All 48 Republican campaign officials who threw Nixon under the bus by becoming approvers and testifying against him were found guilty, but were handed down light sentences, ranging from fines and several months in prison, excluding Gordon Liddy who served four and a half years in the penitentiary and later became a celebrity anchor.

To his credit, despite being a reviled politician in the American political discourse, Nixon ended the US involvement in the Vietnam War in 1973. He also ended the military draft the same year. Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972, the first ever by an American president, eventually led to the establishing of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Buttressing his pacifist credentials further, he signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the former Soviet Union the same year.

On October 10, 1972, the October Surprise on the eve of elections on Nov. 3, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, relying on an anonymous source Deep Throat (likely a Freudian slip implicating the deep state or could be a double entendre even more sinister), subsequently revealed to be an FBI director, reported that the FBI had determined that the Watergate break-in was part of a massive campaign of political spying and sabotage on behalf of the Nixon re-election committee.

Although venerated as credible investigative journalists by mainstream audience, both Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were formerly rogue reporters for the Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post before becoming best-selling author, and are known to be unapologetic deep state shills.

In 2019, the Trump administration awarded the Pentagons $10 billion cloud computing contract JEDI [5] to Microsoft over its rival Amazons bid. Amazons owner Jeff Bezos contested the decision in federal court, which ordered the Pentagon to reconsider certain aspects of the contract. The contract was subsequently scrapped by the Pentagon last July due to the controversy.

Its worth recalling the reason the corporate media took morbid interest in the gory details of the grisly assassination of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 was that Khashoggi was a columnist for the Washington Post, which is owned by Jeff Bezos, the worlds richest man with $200 billion net worth and the owner of Amazon.

Bezos had a score to settle [6] with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Mohammad bin Salman hacked Bezos phone in May 2018 and sent the details of Bezos extramarital affair to the National Enquirer in January 2019, leading to Bezos wife MacKenzie Scott divorcing him and taking a significant portion, $35.6 billion, of Bezos obscene wealth as alimony.

Nevertheless, the Washington Post, with its vast network of NATSEC shills having access to insider accounts of the deep state sources, has a history of working in close collaboration with the CIA, as Bezos won a $600 million contract [7] in 2013 to host the CIAs database on the Amazons web-hosting service.

Citations:

[1] Britain says dont get carried away by warship spat with Russia:

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-says-dont-get-carried-away-by-warship-spat-with-russia-2021-06-24/

[2] Russia says next time it may fire to hit intruding warships:

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/24/russia-says-next-time-it-may-fire-to-hit-intruding-warships-496011

[3] British PM Boris Johnson ignored warnings of his foreign secretary:

https://www.rt.com/russia/527563-johnson-order-warship-crimea-waters/

[4] What the US Gets for Defending Its Allies and Interests Abroad?

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/16/world/trump-military-role-treaties-allies-nato-asia-persian-gulf.html

[5] Jeff Bezos contests the Pentagons $10 billion JEDI contract:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/technology/amazon-jedi-defense-department.html

[6] The Saudi heir and the alleged plot to undermine Jeff Bezos:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/21/revealed-the-saudi-heir-and-the-alleged-plot-to-undermine-jeff-bezos

[7] Jeff Bezos Is Doing Huge Business with the CIA, While Keeping His Washington Post Readers in the Dark:

http://www.alternet.org/media/owner-washington-post-doing-business-cia-while-keeping-his-readers-dark

About the author:

Nauman Sadiq is an Islamabad-based geopolitical and national security analyst focused on geo-strategic affairs and hybrid warfare in the Af-Pak and Middle East regions. His domains of expertise include neocolonialism, military-industrial complex and petro-imperialism. He is a regular contributor of diligently researched investigative reports to alternative news media.
Ukraine demanded Thursday that Russian banks be excluded from the international SWIFT financial transfer network, as Western capitals considered how to ramp up sanctions in the wake of Moscows invasion.
Dear Ukrainians, this morning, President Putin announced a special military operation in the Donbas, Zalenskyy said, per Fox News.

Russia has attacked our military infrastructure and our border guards. Explosions were heard in many cities of Ukraine, he continued. We introduce martial law throughout the state.

Zelensky speaks to the nation. He says he's declared martial law and urges Ukrainians to stay home. We are working. The army is working," he says. "Don't panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/vamBb0pLWu  max seddon (@maxseddon) February 24, 2022

In an earlier video, Zalenskyy said he does not want war, but Ukraine will defend itself against hostile actors.

They say that Ukraine may pose a threat to Russia. This wasnt a case in the past, nor is it now, and wont be in the future. Our main goal is to maintain peace in Ukraine and keep Ukrainian citizens safe, Zelenskyy said.

He continued: For this we are prepared to hold discussions with everyone, including you [Russia], in whatever format you like at whatever venue.

If the leadership of Russia does not want to sit at the table with us to make peace, perhaps it will sit at the table with you. Does Russia want a war? I would very much like an answer to this question. But that answer depends only on you, citizens of the Russian Federation, he said.

Stay calm, stay at home, the army is doing its work, he added. Dont panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine.
Advisor to Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko said that Russian troops from the territory of Belarus entered the zone of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (NPP). Gerashchenko stressed that "if a nuclear waste storage facility is destroyed as a result of enemy artillery strikes, then radioactive dust can cover the territories of Ukraine, Belarus and the EU countries!"

Ukraine's President Zelensky has also reportedly sounded the alarm over combat in the containment area:

UKRAINE PRESIDENT SAYS RUSSIAN OCCUPATION FORCES ARE TRYING TO CAPTURE THE CHERNOBYL PLANT

Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the #Chornobyl_NPP. Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. Reported this to @SwedishPM. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.    (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2022

clarifying: advisor says heaving fighting MAY disturb nuclear waste.  Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) February 24, 2022

It goes without saying that given the ferocity of Russia's ongoing air and ground campaign, any major incident there could spark broader panic for Europe, and a possible long term negative health impact in parts of Europe.

Meanwhile Russia's air war continues to intensify...

Video of a dangerously close air-to-ground strike. Unclear of purpose or target. pic.twitter.com/CKIVjRWEyN  Global: MilitaryInfo (@Global_Mil_Info) February 24, 2022

* * *

Now many hours into Russia's attack that started around 5am Kiev time, it's become clear that a full-scale 'shock and awe' type invasion is clearly on - which is not just limited to Donbas in the east. Stunning videos from on the ground show what can be described as an ongoing air war on Kiev and several other cities across the country. Tanks have also been seen speeding across Ukraine's border from Belarus, with widespread reports that Belarusian soldiers are mounting the attack alongside Russian troops.

Russia's military had announced within just a couple hours into the offensive that all of Ukraine's air defense systems have been taken out. A massive Russian aerial presence, including fighter jets and helicopters, has been confirmed over much of the country.

Confirmed by Ukrainian authorities. A large air assault operation with Mi-8 helicopters on Antonov International Airport in Hostomel. Interior Ministry says Russia has seized control. Very dangerous; its just 15 minutes west of the capital ring road. pic.twitter.com/JhlyVktVRC  Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 24, 2022

Soon after the initial attack which also included cruise missile launches, which likely came from Russia's Black Sea fleet, Kiev authorities cited "hundreds" of Ukrainians killed, including civilians.

It's believed that much of Ukraine's command and control military infrastructure was targeted and hit in the first wave, also as Ukraine border guards were attack, with some reports of soldiers fleeing the Russian advance. Moscow has declared safe passage for any Ukrainian soldier laying down their arms.

Ukraine's state emergency service has also said a Ukrainian military plane was downed, which killed five people. This as surreal battlefield footage continues to evidence the ferocity of an air war in progress.

A group of Russian helicopters was attacked using man-portable air defense systems (or RPGs).

Countermeasures are active.



20 km to Kiev. Vyshgorod, Kiev region. pic.twitter.com/iRL2SsaO7q  War News (@AlphaW4r) February 24, 2022

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday issued comment on the scope and goal of the military objections, citing Putin's aim of the "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine.

"Ideally, Ukraine should be liberated, cleansed of Nazis, of pro-Nazi people and ideology," Peskov said, saying that operations would end only once these objectives have been reached. It remains unclear whether this will mean regime change in Kiev, though at this point that scenario is looking more than likely. There were early reports that President Zelensky has been offered safe passage if he leaves Ukraine.

Russian Ka-52 shot down in Hostomel from up close. You can clearly see the 'Belarusian' V marking. One of the pilots has been taken prisoner. pic.twitter.com/EymYhnohoe  Tadeusz Giczan  (@TadeuszGiczan) February 24, 2022

Ukraine national police and emergency services have said there's been fighting throughout the entire country, with Russia conducting over 200 attacks, with severe clashes ongoing in various parts of Ukraine.

Footage of Russian soldiers hoisting the Russian flag on a hydroelectric plant building in Nova Kakhovka, 60km into Ukrainian territory. The Crimean front appears to have collapsed pic.twitter.com/nn4rThddZn  Tadeusz Giczan  (@TadeuszGiczan) February 24, 2022

Russian tanks rolling past @fpleitgenCNN while he's live on air. "That is the road leading to Ukraine." pic.twitter.com/N02h0whaHQ  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 24, 2022

President Biden has vowed severe and far-reaching new sanctions, which he said will be announced in an address on Thursday. German chancellor Olaf Scholz and other Western leaders condemned what Scholz called a "reckless act by President Putin," and "terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe."

Military airport in Lutsk, Ukraine destroyed. Tactical strikes on military installations continue. pic.twitter.com/YBDBRDlQQ9  Live Monitor (@amlivemon) February 24, 2022

"There is no justification for any of this -- this is Putin's war," Scholz said at a news conference in Berlin.

The large in scope Russian campaign is now being widely described as Putin's "shock and awe" war - to borrow from America's Iraq War - in the heart of eastern Europe. Bloomberg and others are calling it Europe's worst security crisis since World War II.
This map does not show the progress of the operation but a likely operational plan the Russian military might have.

The Russian operation started with a volley of cruise missiles that destroyed air defense radars and missiles, military airports, ammunition depots and some military harbor. The followed ground attacks by armored forces from Belarus southward, form Russia westward and from Crimea northward. These progressed well though some tanks got destroyed by anti-tank missile fire. The ground moves have air cover and heavy artillery moving up behind them.

Like me and many other analysts Mearsheimer did not expect that a Russian move into the Ukraine would happen. Why the Russian government finally decided to take that step is not clear to me. I believe that Zelenskys lose talk about acquiring nuclear weapons for the Ukraine was one of the decisive factors. Who told Zelensky to come up with that?

On February 15 Professor John J. Mearsheimer gave a talk (video) about the Ukraine crisis. He starts out (at 3min) by explaining who has caused it:

The plan seems to be to a. take Kiev, b. encircle the 60,000 strong Ukrainian force that was preparing to attack Donbas c. take the coast.

A large fleet of helicopter with Russian parachuter took the Antonov / Hostomel airport some 20 miles from Kiev. They did not even bother with CNN filming them. A fleet of transport planes from Russia will soon land there and deliver more forces.

The nuclear reactors at Chernobyl have been secured by Russian troops.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claims Russian aircraft have destroyed, 83 ground targets, 2 Ukrainian Su-27s, 2 Su-24s, 1 helicopter, 4 Bayraktar TB-2 drones. One Ukrainian Su-27 has landed in Romania. The pilot was probably not interested in getting killed.

The Ukrainian air-defenses, airforce, navy, most large command and control elements and depots have ceased to exist. The moral of its ground troops will be generally low though some of the Nazi battalions may still be willing to fight.

It is not know yet how far the attack from the north has reached towards Kiev. The attack from Russian mainland is currently fighting around Kharkiv, the Ukraines second biggest city. The most successful attack was from Crimea as it has progressed significantly. The canal which provides water to Crimea and had since 2014 been blocked by the Ukraine has been liberated. Dnieper water is again flowing to the island.

Russia has so far only committed a relatively small ground force. More troops will follow when the first echelons make more progress. Russia has held back from using ballistic missiles and only used cruise missiles. That is probably a message to the 'west' that Russia could escalate if needed. There has also been little use so far of Russias electronic warfare elements. Internet and telephone are working in all of the Ukraine except for Kharkiv which seems to have Internet problems.

The Russian stock market is down but gold, oil and gas are up and Russia has so far lost zero money.

The U.S. is pushing its European 'allies' to commit economic suicide by sanctioning everything Russia. The U.S. should be more careful. Its is one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil and its aircraft industry depends on titanium from Russia. Russia surely knows who is trying to hurt it the most and it surely knows how, and has the means to, hurt back.
President Joe Biden has been presented with a menu of options for the U.S. to carry out massive cyberattacks designed to disrupt Russias ability to sustain its military operations in Ukraine, four people familiar with the deliberations tell NBC News.

Two U.S. intelligence officials, one Western intelligence official and another person briefed on the matter say no final decisions have been made, but they say U.S. intelligence and military cyber warriors are proposing the use of American cyberweapons on a scale never before contemplated. Among the options: disrupting internet connectivity across Russia, shutting off electric power, and tampering with railroad switches to hamper Russias ability to resupply its forces, three of the sources said.

You could do everything from slow the trains down to have them fall off the tracks, one person briefed on the matter said.

The sources said the options presented include pre-emptive responses to Russias invasion of Ukraine, irrespective of whether Russian launches its own cyberattacks on the U.S. in retaliation for sanctions. They said most of the potential cyberattacks under consideration are designed to disrupt but not destroy, and therefore fall short of an act of war by the United States against Russia. They say the idea is to harm networks, not people. Officials are debating the legal authorities under which the attacks would take place  whether they would be covert action or clandestine military activity. Either way, the U.S. would not publicly acknowledge carrying out the operations, the sources say. U.S. Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, the CIA and other agencies would have a role to play in the operations, the sources said.

Our response will be harsh and measured, but not so severe as to encourage Putin to take more drastic steps, one U.S. official said.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Based on a complaint from Mayuresh, cases were booked under sections 307, 295(A), 153(A), 427, 341, 147, 148 read/with 149 of the IPC and sections 11, 38 (3) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. (Representational Image/ PTI)

Hyderabad: Meerpet police arrested seven persons for instigating a major clash between cow vigilantes (gau rakshaks) and cattle transporters late on Tuesday night in the Karmanghat Hanuman temple area, Saroornagar. Tension gripped the area when one group chased the other inside the shrine and attacked them with iron rods.

Officials seized the vehicle used to transport the cattle, five of them, a bike and six iron rods from the spot.

Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said that the incident following a heated altercation took place near Meerpet TKR Kaman and the shrine in Karmanghat area on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

The arrested included Mohammad Yousuf, 50, Mohammad Nissar, 19, Mohammad Nawaz, 23, Mohammad Ghouse, 23, Mohammad Ayub, 21, Mohammad Mosin Kamal, 35 and their driver Soudamoni Lingamaiah, 26.

Yousuf and his son Nissar run a beef shop at Bhavaninagar. On Tuesday, around 9 am, they went to the Mall Crossroads in Nalgonda and purchased two oxen and three calves and engaged a vehicle (TS 07 UE 5570) and hired Lingamaiah as the driver. At about 7.30 pm when they reached Gayatrinagar of Meerpet, Koti Mayuresh, 21, a BCom student who resides at Arya Samaj in Goshamahal, requested them to stop their vehicle but they refused. Mayuresh and his friends followed the car in their SUV and made them stop to question them, said the official.

The two groups got into an argument and started hurling abuses following which Mayuresh and his friends were attacked with iron rods by the accused.

Lingamaiah sustained a head injury. Mayuresh and others ran to a nearby shrine for shelter. The accused chased them into the premises of the temple and attacked them, outraging the religious feelings of the group and left them with bleeding injuries, added the official.

Based on a complaint from Mayuresh, cases were booked under sections 307, 295(A), 153(A), 427, 341, 147, 148 read/with 149 of the IPC and sections 11, 38 (3) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The seven accused were sent to judicial remand in Cherlapally Jail. The seized animals were handed over to Yuga Tulasi Foundation at Abdullapurmet for safe custody.
Ukraine took to Twitter amid a full-scale invasion in an attempt to cancel Russias Twitter account, calling for the platform to ban their neighboring foe.

The official Ukrainian Twitter account even posted Hitler memes in the process, tweeting lets demand Twitter remove Russia from here They should not be allowed to use these platforms

Russia ignored the social media strategy and sent in paratroopers and tanks  disabling the entire Ukrainian military in less than 24 hours.

Liberals continue to tag Twitter Support in hopes the social media giant will once and for all put an end to the Russian regime.

Russia continues pushing further into Ukraine amid a barrage of angry tweets from the Ukrainian military.

Coincidentally, the tweets have halted after Russian forces allegedly bombed the 72nd center of information and psychological operations outside of Kyiv.

The Americans, whove thus far been watching from the sidelines, have considered airdropping thousands of Black Lives Matter militants into the Russian Capitol, a move that would disable the country, irreparably crippling infrastructure for years.
In the first five days of working at this company, Ive had more conversations about ethical journalism than I did probably in the last ten years of my career at CNN.

ORLANDO, Florida (LifeSiteNews)  Project Veritas James OKeefe wowed the audience on the opening day of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) when he revealed that CNNs former DC director of field operations has defected to Project Veritas and now serves as the organizations executive producer.

Patrick Davis, who had served in CNNs Washington bureau for over two decades, had been the subject of a 2019 Project Veritas undercover video where he admitted that the network wasnt what it used to be, and that CNNs brand of journalism had become infotainment.

In a video interview conducted before the surprise CPAC reveal, Davis told OKeefe that the FBI raid on the homes of Project Veritas journalists was a catalyst for him joining the organization.

I thought it was the biggest abridgment to the First Amendment in maybe the history of this country, said Davis. For the FBI to go blowing into the doors of journalists, it was unheard of.

In the first five days of working at this company, Ive had more conversations about ethical journalism than I did probably in the last ten years of my career, at CNN said Davis.

Davis joined OKeefe on stage and proclaimed, I know journalism, and I know good journalism, and the people at Project Veritas are some of the most dedicated, hard-working people Ive ever met. They love our country. They love the first amendment. They love seeking the truth.
Considering recent events, I think its safe to say that President Bidens tough talk towards Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding threats he made to invade Ukraine was not the brilliant strategy the White House thought it was. This despite the fact that Biden assured us prior to the 2020 presidential election that Putin doesnt want me to be president because Im the only person in this field whos ever gone toe-to-toe with him.

As it turns out, it appears Putin very much wanted Biden to be president. Perhaps he deliberately planned for the military incursion to officially start nearly two years to the day Biden first made the statement:

Look at the date. Two years ago TODAY. https://t.co/JhUnwvvIT0  Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) February 21, 2022

As it became more and more clear in recent days that Biden throwing out warnings to Putin would do little to nothing to deter him from going forward with an attack that was months in the making, the Usual Suspects in the media and on the left began to trot out the but Trump! card in an effort to blame the former president for Joe Bidens woes in trying and failing to manage the Russia beast.

Here are a few examples:

Four years of Trump EMBOLDENED Putin.  Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) February 24, 2022

If you are blaming Biden today for what Putin is doing in Ukraine please take down the American flag from your home or social media account and replace it with the Russian flag. It will help us all know where you clearly stand.  Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) February 22, 2022

Republicans who supported and STILL support greatest Putin appeaser cannot simultaneously be on Ukraine's side. Are they on team America/democracy or on team Trump/Putin?  Jennifer 'I stand with Ukraine' Rubin  (@JRubinBlogger) February 24, 2022

One thing worth keeping in my mind today: Theres a straight line from Russias attack on the US election in 2016 to 1/6 to todays new invasion of Ukraine. The chaos that Russia unleashed with the election of Trump weakened us to the point Putin feels confident invading Europe.  Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) February 24, 2022

another way of stating Garrett's point: the Russian thug now attacking Ukraine helped Donald Trump become president because he thought that would some day make this kind of attack easier to pull off he was right in the short term longer term, TBD https://t.co/HuRWEzMayR  John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) February 24, 2022

When one considers the inconvenient facts regarding the differing policies of the last three presidents towards Russia, Harwoods response in particular understandably rubbed people all kinds of the wrong way:

Reminder: Donald Trump fought to stop Russia from building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Joe Biden gave Putin the green light. Putin gained control over Europes energy market and less than a year later is invading Ukraine.  Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 24, 2022

Let's be real: Putin took Crimea while Obama was in office, he invaded the country at large while Biden was in office, Biden gave Putin Nordstream, and the Democrats filibustered sanctions just last year. Pretending that Russia's empowerment is attributable to Trump is insane. https://t.co/uQJ9p4eJZB  Humble Talent (@AHumbleTalent) February 24, 2022

"Putin elected Trump to weaken America but waited 5 years til Biden was elected, which of course strengthened America, and then Putin decided to invade Ukraine" this is seriously the logic they're going with https://t.co/wL3KVzV9At  Michael Duncan (@MichaelDuncan) February 24, 2022

Once one remembers how the Wikileaks documents proved that Harwood  who were supposed to believe is a neutral political correspondent for CNN  was little more than a mouthpiece for Hillary Clintons failed 2016 presidential campaign, the reason for his position becomes quite obvious:

John Harwood still believes Russia was responsible for hacking John Podestas emails(password 12345) which showed John is a democrat hack propagandist and that the DNC/Clinton worked to destroy Bernie Sanders costing her the election. This explains his entire worldview now. https://t.co/zTEkcyPLc2  a newsman (@a_newsman) February 24, 2022

The good news here is that at least the adults are back in charge, right?

It is from that June 2021 piece that CNN editor-at-large Chris Cillizza shared this thought-provoking analysis:

Even in Bidens tone, he appeared to be making a concerted effort to be dispassionate  rarely showing off the animation that he regularly displays when jousting with the American press corps stateside. He was also far briefer in his remarks (and the questions he took after them) than Putin who held court for the better part of an hour in the immediate wake of the world leaders meeting. While Biden never mentioned his presidential predecessor, the 2018 summit in Helsinki, Finland, between Trump and Putin hung over the proceedings like a stale fart  with both sides utterly aware of it but neither willing to acknowledge it directly.

Also, there are no more mean tweets to contend with, either. Silver linings and all that, I guess?

 Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and can be reached via Twitter. 
New Delhi: While saying the right to wear the hijab doesnt fall under Article 25 but under Article 19(1)(A) of the Constitution, the Karnataka government told the high court Tuesday there was no restriction on wearing hijabs on campus, and the restriction was only inside classrooms. The state advocate-general argued that the right to wear the hijab under Article 19 can be restricted under Article 19(2), reiterating it was not an essential religious practice of Islam, because if it was all women would have to wear it. The A-G added that private unaided minority institutions had the right to decide their uniforms and dress codes.

As the hijab row hearing entered the eighth day Tuesday, the students sought interim relief. The high court, refusing to grant such relief, asked the advocates to wind up arguments within this week.

The prohibitory orders around Bengalurus educational institutions has, meanwhile, been extended till March 8.

Advocate-general Prabhuling Navadgi argued Tuesday: There is no discrimination based on religion. As far as private unaided minority institutions are concerned, we are not interfering with the uniform code and have left it to them to decide A large number of petitioners who represent womens organisations I want to tell them that the dignity of women must be kept in mind.

The A-G told the three-member bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, and Justices Krishna S. Dixit and J.M. Khazi, that the petitioners havent shown that wearing the hijab was an essential Islamic religious practice, so the protection under Article 25 wasnt available to them.
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A local developer frustrated with red tape surrounding potential developments along the Trans-Canada Highway asked Brandon City Council for support in coming to an agreement with Manitoba Infrastructure during Tuesdays regular meeting.

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A local developer frustrated with red tape surrounding potential developments along the Trans-Canada Highway asked Brandon City Council for support in coming to an agreement with Manitoba Infrastructure during Tuesdays regular meeting.

According to John Burgess, representing Waverly Developments, a portion of land the company owns at 1910 Hamilton Ave. practically cannot be developed.

This is because it sits on the west side of 18th Street North and south of the Trans-Canada Highway in an area that Manitoba Infrastructure has set aside for the potential rerouting of the highway for the last 20 years.

"We had interest in the property immediately west of Husky by the highway tractor-trailer company," Burgess said. "We tried to subdivide the property and [Manitoba Infrastructure] nixed that and does not allow access to that property, thereby making the whole parcel virtually undeveloped."

The developer, Burgess explained, has owned the property for the last 10 years and is continuing to pay tax to the city despite it being unworkable.

The proposed subdivision would carve out a portion of the northeastern part of the parcel next to the Husky and allow it to be developed while leaving the rest of the land alone.

He argued that this wasnt only bad for the developer but bad for the city, too, since the area is zoned for highway commercial and hospitality use, and thats what the developer wants to install.

In a document attached to the agenda for Tuesdays meeting, city staff recommended that council vote against the subdivision of the property because Manitoba Infrastructure objects to the land being developed.

A potential compromise that city administration attempted to broker where the developer would access the property through 1990 18th St. North was rejected by the developer because they believed the lot would be "unreasonably and fully dependent" on access through that area.

However, Burgess said he has spoken with Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk since he assumed the portfolio last month and is open to discussing the situation.

As a gesture of support, Burgess asked for council to provide the developer with its backing and support if council were interested in having that property developed. This, he said, was partially done at the recommendation of city planners in the interest of finding a solution.

Burgess also said he doubted he represented the only property holder affected by the provinces set aside land.

Talking about the situation, Coun. Jeff Fawcett (Assiniboine) said a lot of the area appears to be in limbo and the city needs to make sure it gets on the same page as Manitoba Infrastructure to make sure development can take place along the highway.

"Theres periodic other development and commercial issues along the Trans-Canada that hinders and sometimes frustrates property owners and business owners up there because of the uncertainty," Mayor Rick Chrest said.

Multiple other councillors backed the mayor on hearing about development problems along the highway over the years. Chrest later said it was "absurd" for Manitoba Infrastructure to force landowners to hold on to land for so long without being able to do anything with it.

In response to a question from Coun. Barry Cullen (Victoria), Burgess said the proposed development would not affect Manitoba Infrastructures potential desire to install a cloverleaf interchange.

The citys director of planning and building, Ryan Nickel, said while the development aligns with the citys development goals, it contradicts the citys need to abide by Manitoba Infrastructures developments.

"MI is objecting to the request because they will not be able to access the property," Nickel said. "From a professional planning perspective, we cannot recommend approval for the subdivision of land that has no access."

However, Nickel conceded he understands developers frustrations as the province is denying requests but also isnt buying that land to do something with.

After a lengthy debate about whether to deny the application and have the developer appeal to the Municipal Board, approve the application in opposition to administration and Manitoba Infrastructure desires and tabling the issue, council voted to table the subject for up to six months.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
OTTAWA - Shock and horror turned to anger on Thursday as Canada and its allies responded to Russias invasion of Ukraine with a barrage of new sanctions targeting the Russian economy and its leaders that they hoped would avert an all-out war.

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OTTAWA - Shock and horror turned to anger on Thursday as Canada and its allies responded to Russias invasion of Ukraine with a barrage of new sanctions targeting the Russian economy and its leaders that they hoped would avert an all-out war.

Yet after having already warned Russian President Vladimir Putin for weeks that such a punishment was coming if he attacked Ukraine, it remained even more uncertain what, if anything, short of an armed confrontation would force him to reverse course.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Putin of sparking the greatest threat to European stability since the Second World War. He said the invasion of Ukraine represented an attack on democracy, international law, human rights and freedom.

"Russias actions stand in direct opposition to the democratic principles that generations of Canadians have fought to protect," Trudeau said.

"Democracies and democratic leaders everywhere must come together to defend these principles and stand firmly against authoritarianism."

The invasion was preceded by a Russian military buildup around Ukraine followed by weeks of dialogue and warnings from Trudeau, U.S. President Joe Biden and European leaders about devastating sanctions if Putin ordered an attack.

As Russian paratroopers reportedly took control of an airport only kilometres from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and more Russian troops poured into the country after a barrage of early-morning missiles hit sites across Ukraine, the sanctions were unveiled.

Fifty-eight people and entities connected to Russia, including key political leaders, oligarchs and their families, as well as the paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group are being sanctioned by Canada, along with several major Russian banks.

Also on the list are members of the Russian Security Council, including key cabinet ministers close to Putin.

Canada is also cancelling existing export permits for Russia. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, who earlier summoned Russia's ambassador for a dressing down at Global Affairs Canada, estimated the permits amounted to $700 million in trade.

"They will impose severe costs on complicit Russian elites, and they will limit President Putin's ability to continue funding this unjustified invasion," said Trudeau, after meeting G7 leaders.

The Russian embassy in Ottawa issued a defiant statement late Thursday defending its government's position, saying the West was trying to turn Ukraine into the "anti-Russia."

"The evolved political-military situation and dynamic of NATO military posture in Europe created a clear and immediate danger for Russia that could not have been mitigated by any other means than those Russia has to use today," reads the statement.

"The attempts by the West to turn Ukraine into a kind of "anti-Russia" will not succeed."

Trudeau joined Biden and European leaders who also moved to strangle Russia's financial ability to wage war while punishing Putin and his inner circle.

Trudeau's office said he spoke by phone with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to offer Canada's support and said the Ukrainian leader welcomed the arrival of two shipments of lethal military aid.

But one Canadian international affairs expert said Canada and its allies failed Ukraine by not doing enough to prevent what has now unfolded.

"I don't think more sanctions will stop Putin. He's made his decision how far he will go," Michael Bociurkiw said in an interview from the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.

He is a Canadian who formerly served as the spokesman for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe during the height of tensions following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

"Zelenskyy and his team have been begging and begging and begging the West for crippling sanctions to happen before an invasion. The West did not listen to that. Their response was actually quite weak, especially the White House one. So now we have what we have."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses a news conference on the situation in Ukraine ,Thursday, Feb.24, 2022 in Ottawa THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which represents 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent, called for Russia to be tossed from the banking system as part of "devastating" economic sanctions.

"Ukraine needs weapons with which to defend itself right now," UCC executive director Ihor Michalchyshyn added in a statement. "Most importantly they need anti-air systems like Stinger missiles and other air defence and naval defence systems."

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent, spoke directly to Ukrainians and Russians in their own languages.

"Ukraine is not yet dead," Freeland said in Ukrainian before switching to Russian and saying: "Our quarrel is not with the Russian people  it is with President Putin and those around him who have made the choice to threaten a sovereign democracy."

Andrii Bukvych, the Ukrainian charge daffaires to Canada, urged the severing of diplomatic relations with Russia and for NATO to enforce a no-fly zone over his country to prevent Russian aerial bombardments.

"We do understand there is a high toll that the free world economy of Western economies will pay for deterring Russia, for supporting Ukraine," the Ukrainian envoy added.

"But I believe that this toll is still much more less than having World War Three, which will inevitably take place unless Putin will be stopped in Ukraine.

Yet despite the stakes and unity, Canada and NATO have made clear they have no plan to send troops into Ukraine to fight Russia. They have instead reinforced the military alliances presence in eastern Europe in case the conflict expands beyond Ukraine.

In the most serious moment of his tenure in the White House thus far, Biden insisted Thursday that the world was united in its opposition to Putin and his "naked aggression" as he detailed further sanctions.

Biden said that while American forces have been deployed to backstop NATO forces in the area, the U.S. would not be sending troops to confront Putin's armies directly.

"I want to be clear: the United States is not doing this alone," he said, describing a broad coalition of international partners comprising well over half of the global economy, including Canada.

He also acknowledged the potential economic impact on the U.S., which is already reeling from inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but underscored the importance of everyone hardening their resolve.

"I know this is hard, and that Americans are already hurting. I will do everything in my power to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump," he said.

"But this aggression cannot go unanswered. If it did, the consequences for America would be much worse. America stands up to bullies. We stand up for freedom. This is who we are."

Defence Minister Anita Anand said 3,400 Canadian Armed Forces members are being put on standby in case they need to deploy in a hurry. Those forces are on top of the 460 additional troops promised to NATO operations in Europe earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Trudeau announced Canada has arranged for the safe passage of any Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families still in Ukraine through land borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova.

The federal government will be prioritizing immigration applications for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada and is launching a dedicated telephone line for anyone who has any urgent questions about emigrating from Ukraine, he added.

In a rare show of unity, political leaders across Canada set aside their differences to condemn Putin's actions and voice support for Ukraine, including interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

"Putin's contemptible aggression and invasion of Ukraine is unacceptable," Bergen said in a statement. "His attack on the Ukrainian people and their democratically elected government is despicable."

Singh called on the government to immediately impose severe economic sanctions "where it hurts Putin the most," including by targeting Russian oligarchs who support him and kicking Russia from the global banking system.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2022.

 with files from James McCarten in Washington, D.C.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said the new sanctions will target 62 people and entities connected to Russia. In fact, they will affect 58 people and entities.
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government can revoke the powers in the Emergencies Act now that the crisis in Ottawa and at Canada's border crossings has calmed down.

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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government can revoke the powers in the Emergencies Act now that the crisis in Ottawa and at Canada's border crossings has calmed down.

"We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe," Trudeau told a news conference Wednesday.

"I want to reassure Canadians: law enforcement agencies are prepared to deal with anyone engaging in unlawful or dangerous activities."

Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act, which replaced the War Measures Act in 1988, for the first time last week, saying police needed extra help to end protests against COVID-19 restrictions that had occupied downtown Ottawa for weeks and spread to key Canada-U.S. border crossings.

On Monday, Trudeau said the time-limited, extraordinary powers granted by the Emergencies Act were still needed because his government was worried about blockades returning.

Trudeau said Wednesday the threat remains, but order has been restored.

Justice Minister David Lametti said the emergency powers, which were set to expire mid-March at the latest, will officially end when the Governor General signs a proclamation to revoke the act.

Regulations under the Emergencies Act granted powers to turn tow trucks into essential services, require banks to freeze accounts of people participating directly or indirectly in the protest and designate no-go zones for public gatherings, including Parliament Hill, border crossings and other areas deemed to be critical infrastructure.

Police in Ottawa used those powers over the weekend to push demonstrators out of the core in a massive, multi-day operation.

Downtown Ottawa remains under heavy police supervision. Checkpoints throughout the core, where the parliamentary precinct and surrounding streets are fenced off, are expected to remain throughout the weekend.

Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen, a staunch critic of the government's decision to invoke the emergency powers, questioned Trudeau's decision to revoke them now  after defending their continued use only days ago.

"Nothing has changed between Monday and today other than a flood of concerns from Canadian citizens, bad press and international ridicule," Bergen said in a statement.

"Trudeau introduced it in the first place for his personal political gain. He revoked it now for the very same reason."

Alberta and Saskatchewan's premiers agreed the act never should have been invoked in the first place.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said there never was an emergency that required the extrajudicial powers afforded under the act, called the invocation an "abuse of power" and said the province would move ahead with a judicial review into the federal government's use of the legislation.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question during a news conference, Monday, February 21, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

There were multiple border blockades in place when the prime minister invoked the act on Feb. 14, but most had been cleared by the following evening when his government published cabinet orders spelling out the specific powers it was establishing under the act. Unrest continued at that time in downtown Ottawa, however.

Though the act's powers are no longer in force, the precedent the government set by invoking the legislation remains, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said in a statement.

The CCLA pledged to fight the government's use of the act in court, and said Wednesday it's still important for the court to weigh in as a guide to future governments.

The House of Commons passed a motion to approve the measures under the act Monday evening, with the NDP voting in favour alongside the minority Liberal government.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had warned that his party would pull its support for the Emergencies Act as soon as it decided the measures are no longer necessary.

The Senate began debating a motion on the act Tuesday, but adjourned the discussion Wednesday after the prime minister's announcement.

Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos said he's relieved for the people of Canada that the powers have been revoked but disheartened by the damage that has been done for the sake of Trudeau's "politicking and legacy building."

"Sadly, despite the PMs attempted victory lap, nobody is a winner as a result of his actions," he said in a statement.

The integrated command centre, including Ottawa police, the Ontario Provincial Police and the RCMP, will continue to operate for an indeterminate amount of time, the RCMP said in a statement Wednesday.

The RCMP gave a list of influencers in the protest, as well as people who refused to move their vehicles from Ottawa's court, to financial institutions.

On Tuesday, Isabelle Jacques, the assistant deputy minister of finance, told a House of Commons committee that a total of 206 accounts involving $7.8 million were affected.

She also said the RCMP sent information to banks Monday about people whose accounts should no longer be affected.

The power to freeze accounts will end once the act is officially revoked. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland warned some accounts will remain frozen under the regular authority of the courts, law enforcement and financial institutions.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's office said Wednesday the provincial state of emergency to deal with anti-vaccine mandate blockades would be revoked to align with the federal government. The premier's office said "emergency tools" provided to law enforcement will stay in place for now to address ongoing activities.

Trudeau said that an inquiry into the circumstances that led up to the use of the emergency legislation, which is a requirement under the act, will take place within 60 days.

"It could look at policing," he said.

"The inquiry could also examine the funding, influence and disinformation that supported the illegal blockades and occupations, both foreign and domestic."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2022.
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday did not provide any relief to Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar from appearing before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Friday in a contempt case filed by junior IPS officer Abhishek Mohanty.

The CAT summoned the Chief Secretary to appear before it in person and explain why its order shifting Mohantys cadre from Andhra Pradesh to Telangana was not implemented. Turning down the states plea to stay the CAT contempt notice, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili said, Justice should be uniform to all officers benefited by the CAT orders and got their choice state to work in.

The above observations were made when the bench was briefed by Govind Reddy, the counsel representing AP, about the discrimination shown in implementing the CAT orders. He informed the bench that as many as 13 AIS officers including the Chief Secretary himself had been working in Telangana with the help of a CAT order. But in the case of Abhishek Mohanty, the government did not absorb him despite the CAT order, he pointed out.

Abhisheks counsel who urged the bench to tag the case filed against his client by the ministry of home affairs challenging the CAT order, said it was a clear case of discrimination and humiliation of a young IPS officer who had still 31 years of service and whose morale would be lowered.

Meanwhile, advocate general of Telangana B.S Prasad requested the bench to give relief in the contempt proceedings initiated by the CAT against Somesh Kumar, where he had to appear before the CAT on 25 February. He requested to issue direction to the CAT not to press for the appearance of the Chief Secretary. Without filing any application, the government requested for relief. But the bench was not inclined to issue any interim orders or entertain the request of the advocate general. It, however, agreed to tag Mohantys case with other pending cases.

In another related development, a division bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice A. Venkateshwara Reddy directed Somesh Kumar and other officers to file counter affidavits/replies within four weeks in a case filed against them by the department of personnel and training. These officers were originally allotted to AP cadre but have been working in Telangana based on a CAT order which was challenged by the DoPT way back in 2017 but came up for hearing for the first time on Wednesday.

In this case also, Santosh Kumar, the special counsel appearing for Telangana, urged the bench to suspend the CAT order seeking Someshs appearance in a contempt case. Justice Bhuyan made it amply clear that the contempt case was before the CAT and the High Court could not touch it.
MOSCOW (AP)  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen.

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FILE - A woman, her fingernails painted in the colors of the Ukrainian national flag, takes part in a protest against the escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine, near the Russian embassy in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Europe braced for further confrontation Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, after tensions over Ukraine escalated dramatically when Russian President Vladimir Putin got the OK to use military force outside his country and the West responded with sanctions. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

MOSCOW (AP)  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences they have never seen."

He said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a claim the U.S. had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion

In a televised address, Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said Russia's goal was not to occupy Ukraine.

As Putin spoke, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement condemning Russia's attack.

"Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms Russias egregious attack on Ukraine," Trudeau said late Wednesday.

FILE - Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, looks at Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba as he speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Europe braced for further confrontation Wednesday, Feb.23, 2022, after tensions over Ukraine escalated dramatically when Russian President Vladimir Putin got the OK to use military force outside his country and the West responded with sanctions. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, Pool, File)

"These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are also in violation of Russias obligations under international law and the Charter of the United Nations."

Trudeau called on Russia to immediately cease all hostile and provocative actions against Ukraine and withdraw all military and proxy forces from the country.

"Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and the Ukrainian people must be free to determine their own future."

Trudeau said Russias actions will be met with severe consequences. He said he would be meeting Thursday with G7 partners and would work quickly with NATO and Canada's allies "to collectively respond to these reckless and dangerous acts, including by imposing significant sanctions in addition to those already announced."

"We continue to stand with Ukraine, its people, and the Ukrainian Canadian community here in Canada. Russias brazen acts will not go unpunished."

Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, called what was happening "a grotesque war crime."

"Putin is the cause of all this. We cannot let him win," Rae said on Twitter. "Cmon people, stop pretending. War has started."

A man carries bags and a bunch of tulips on a bicycle in Stanytsia Luhanska, the only crossing point open daily, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Russian lawmakers on Tuesday authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside the country  a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the U.S. said an invasion was already underway there. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Rae went on to call what is happening "brutal thuggery."

"Unprovoked, evil, aggression. From a permanent member of the Security Council, during a meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations."

Eugene Lupynis with Metro Vancouvers Ukrainian Community Society Of Ivan Franko said the news about the invasion has left him full of terror and concern.

"Weve been watching this build not just for weeks but for years," he said in an interview. "When Russia invaded Crimea and eastern Ukraine back in 2014, there was always a feeling something would happen but we were praying it wouldn't."

Lupynis immediate family moved to B.C. in the 1950s but he has many relatives living in western Ukraine. He said the invasion "boggles the mind" and that everyone needs to fear what Putin could do next.

"The West has always underestimated what Putin could, and would, do  hes rewriting history in his own pen and trying to get the world to believe it."

U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the "unprovoked and unjustified" attack on Ukraine and said the world will "hold Russia accountable."

A Ukrainian serviceman stands at his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the "beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

A full-blown Russian invasion could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government. And the consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions levied on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, affecting energy supplies in Europe, jolting global financial markets and threatening the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a "demilitarization" of Ukraine. Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to "immediately put down arms and go home."

Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian "aggression." The announcement immediately fueled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned.

A short time later, the Ukrainian president rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and said a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

"The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. "But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs."

Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

In an apparent reference to Putins move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to "maintain peace" in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that "this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent."

Ukrainian servicemen eat dinner after their duty at the frontline near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the "beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

"Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything," he said.

He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that "you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free."

The United Nations Security Council quickly scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday night at Ukraine's request. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the separatists request "a further escalation of the security situation."

Anxiety about an imminent Russian offensive against its neighbor soared after Putin recognized the separatist regions' independence on Monday, endorsed the deployment of troops to the rebel territories and received parliamentary approval to use military force outside the country. The West responded with sanctions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rebel chiefs wrote to Putin on Wednesday, pleading with him to intervene after Ukrainian shelling caused civilian deaths and crippled vital infrastructure.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separatists' request for Russian help was an example of the sort of "false-flag" operation that the U.S. and its allies have expected Moscow to use as a pretense for war.

"So well continue to call out what we see as false-flag operations or efforts to spread misinformation about what the actual status is on the ground," she said.

A woman walks in Sievierodonetsk, the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. Ukraine urged its citizens to leave Russia, and Europe braced for further confrontation Wednesday after tensions escalated dramatically when Russia's leader received authorization to use military force outside his country and the West responded with a raft of sanctions.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian lawmakers approved a decree that imposes a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday. The measure allows authorities to declare curfews and other restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations "in the interests of national security and public order."

The action reflected increasing concern among Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended that any Ukrainians who are there leave immediately.

"For a long time, we refrained from declaring a state of emergency ... but today the situation has become more complicated," Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council head Oleksiy Danilov told parliament, emphasizing that Moscow's efforts to destabilize Ukraine represented the main threat.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraines borders is in an advanced state of readiness. "They are ready to go right now," Kirby said.

The latest images released by the Maxar satellite image company showed Russian troops and military equipment deployed within 10 miles of the Ukrainian border and less than 50 miles from Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv.

Early Thursday, airspace over all of Ukraine was shut down to civilian air traffic, according to a notice to airmen. A commercial flight tracking website showed that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 flying from Tel Aviv to Toronto turned abruptly out of Ukrainian airspace before detouring over Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. The only other aircraft tracked over Ukraine was a U.S. RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned surveillance plane, which began flying westward early Thursday after Russia put in place flight restrictions over Ukrainian territory.

Another wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks hit Ukraines parliament and other government and banking websites on Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.

A Ukrainian soldier talks with her comrades sitting in a shelter at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the "beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Officials have long said they expect cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the incidents hew to a nearly two-decade-old Russian playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.

In other developments, Russia evacuated its embassy in Kyiv; Ukraine recalled its ambassador to Russia and considered breaking all diplomatic ties with Moscow and dozens of nations further squeezed Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets.

President Joe Biden allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the companys CEO.

"As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate," Biden said in a statement.

Germany said Tuesday that it was indefinitely suspending the project, after Biden charged that Putin had launched "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine" by sending troops into the separatist regions. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.

Putin said Tuesday that he had not yet sent any Russian troops into the rebel regions, contrary to Western claims, and Donetsk rebel leader Denis Pushilin insisted Wednesday there were no Russian troops in the region, even though a local council member claimed the previous day they had moved in.

Already, the threat of war has shredded Ukraine's economy and raised the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos.

European Union sanctions against Russia took effect, targeting several companies along with 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for a motion urging Putin to recognize the rebel regions and 27 senior government officials, business executives and top military officers.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that "Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage."

In Ukraine's east, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and six more wounded after rebel shelling, the Ukrainian military said Wednesday. Separatist officials reported several explosions on their territory overnight and three civilian deaths.

Facing a barrage of criticism at the 193-member United Nations General Assembly, Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, warned Ukraine that Russia will monitor a cease-fire in the east and emphasized that "no one intends to go softly, softly with any violators."

"A new military adventure" by Kyiv "might cost the whole of Ukraine very dearly," he warned ominously.

After weeks of rising tensions, Putin's steps this week dramatically raised the stakes. He recognized the independence of the separatist regions, a move he said extends even to the large parts of the territories now held by Ukrainian forces, and had parliament grant him authority to use military force outside the country.

Putin laid out three conditions that he said could end the standoff, urging Kyiv to renounce its bid to join NATO, to partially demilitarize and to recognize Russias sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Ukraine long has rejected such demands.

-- With files from The Canadian Press, Nick Wells

___

Litvinova reported from Moscow. Angela Charlton in Paris; Frank Jordans in Berlin; Lorne Cook in Brussels, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Frank Bajak in Boston, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.

Explosions sounded before dawn in Kyiv as Western leaders scheduled an emergency meeting and Ukraine's president pleaded for international help. The nature of the explosions was not immediately clear, but the blasts came amid signs that the capital and largest Ukrainian city was increasingly threatened following a day of fighting that left more than 100 Ukrainians dead.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the government had information that subversive groups were encroaching on the city, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Kyiv could well be under siege" in what U.S. officials believe is a brazen attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to dismantle the government and replace it with his own regime.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers on a phone call Thursday evening that Russian mechanized forces that entered from Belarus were about 20 miles from Kyiv, according to a person familiar with the call.

The assault, anticipated for weeks by the U.S. and Western allies and undertaken by Putin in the face of international condemnation and cascading sanctions, amounts to the largest ground war in Europe since World War II.

A Ukrainian serviceman stands at his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the "beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Russian missiles bombarded cities and military bases in the first day of the attack, and Ukraine officials said they had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the worlds worst nuclear disaster. Civilians piled into trains and cars to flee and patrons of a hotel were directed into a shelter as explosions sounded in Kyiv.

Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom, Zelenskyy tweeted. His grasp on power increasingly tenuous, he called Thursday for even more severe sanctions than the ones imposed by Western allies and ordered a full military mobilization that would last 90 days.

Zelenskyy said in a video address that 137 heroes, including 10 military officers, had been killed and 316 people wounded. The dead included border guards on the Zmiinyi Island in the Odesa region, which was taken over by Russians.

People queue for fuel at a gas station in Sievierodonetsk, the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

He concluded an emotional speech by saying that the fate of the country depends fully on our army, security forces, all of our defenders. He also said the country had heard from Moscow that they want to talk about Ukraines neutral status."

Biden was to meet Friday morning with fellow leaders of NATO governments in what the White House described as an extraordinary virtual summit to disuss Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia, saying Putin chose this war and had exhibited a sinister view of the world in which nations take what they want by force. Other nations also announced sanctions, or said they would shortly.

People queue to use an ATM machine outside in Sievierodonetsk, the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

It was always about naked aggression, about Putins desire for empire by any means necessary  by bullying Russias neighbors through coercion and corruption, by changing borders by force, and, ultimately, by choosing a war without a cause, Biden said.

Blinken said in television interviews that he was convinced that Russia was intent on overthrowing the Ukrainian government, telling CBS that Putin wants to reconstitute the Soviet empire" and that Kyiv was already under threat, and it could well be under siege.

Fearing a Russian attack on the capital city, thousands of people went deep underground as night fell, jamming Kyiv's subway stations.

People stand by TV screens broadcasting the news of Russian troops that have launched their attack on Ukraine, in Hong Kong Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

At times it felt almost cheerful. Families ate dinner. Children played. Adults chatted. People brought sleeping bags or dogs or crossword puzzles  anything to alleviate the waiting and the long night ahead.

But the exhaustion was clear on many faces. And the worries.

Nobody believed that this war would start and that they would take Kyiv directly, said Anton Mironov, waiting out the night in one of the old Soviet metro stations. I feel mostly fatigue. None of it feels real.

People watch a TV reporting the crisis in Ukraine during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

The invasion began early Thursday with a series of missile strikes, many on key government and military installations, quickly followed by a three-pronged ground assault. Ukrainian and U.S. officials said Russian forces were attacking from the east toward Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city; from the southern region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014; and from Belarus to the north.

Zelenskyy, who had earlier cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law, appealed to global leaders, saying that if you dont help us now, if you fail to offer a powerful assistance to Ukraine, tomorrow the war will knock on your door.

Though Biden said he had no plans to speak with Putin, the Russian leader did have what the Kremlin described as a serious and frank exchange" with French President Emmanuel Macron.

In this image taken from UNTV video, United Nation Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Ukraine to deplore Russia's actions toward the country and plead for diplomacy, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, at U.N. headquarters. (UNTV via AP)

Both sides claimed to have destroyed some of the other's aircraft and military hardware, though little of that could be confirmed.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-unused Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce battle, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said it was told by Ukraine of the takeover, adding that there had been no casualties or destruction at the industrial site.

In this image made from video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressees to the nation in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen." Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)

The 1986 disaster occurred when a nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Kyiv exploded, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe. The damaged reactor was later covered by a protective shell to prevent leaks.

Alyona Shevtsova, adviser to the commander of Ukraines ground forces, wrote on Facebook that staff members at the Chernobyl plant had been taken hostage." The White House said it was outraged by reports of the detentions.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense issued an update saying that though the plant was likely captured, the country's forces had halted Russia's advance toward Chernihiv and that it was unlikely that Russia had achieved its planned Day One military objectives.

In this handout photo taken from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses to the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Zelenskyy declared martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraine's military infrastructure. He urged Ukrainians to stay home and not to panic. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

The chief of the NATO alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said the brutal act of war" shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders decrying an attack that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government. The conflict shook global financial markets: Stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Condemnation came not only from the U.S. and Europe, but from South Korea, Australia and beyond  and many governments readied new sanctions. Even friendly leaders like Hungarys Viktor Orban sought to distance themselves from Putin.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he aimed to cut off Russia from the U.K.s financial markets as he announced sanctions, freezing the assets of all large Russian banks and planning to bar Russian companies and the Kremlin from raising money on British markets.

People walk in a subway to get a train as they leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Now we see him for what he is  a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest, Johnson said of Putin.

The U.S. sanctions will target Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, Biden said, but they were designed not to disrupt global energy markets. Russian oil and natural gas exports are vital energy sources for Europe.

Zelenskyy urged the U.S. and West to go further and cut the Russians from the SWIFT system, a key financial network that connects thousands of banks around the world. The White House has been reluctant to immediately cut Russia from SWIFT, worried it could cause enormous economic problems in Europe and elsewhere in the West.

A man stands next to the consequences of Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

While some nervous Europeans speculated about a possible new world war, the U.S. and its NATO partners have shown no indication they would send troops into Ukraine, fearing a larger conflict. NATO reinforced its members in Eastern Europe as a precaution, and Biden said the U.S. was deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO.

European authorities declared the countrys airspace an active conflict zone.

After weeks of denying plans to invade, Putin launched the operation on a country the size of Texas that has increasingly tilted toward the democratic West and away from Moscows sway. The autocratic leader made clear earlier this week that he sees no reason for Ukraine to exist, raising fears of possible broader conflict in the vast space that the Soviet Union once ruled. Putin denied plans to occupy Ukraine, but his ultimate goals remain hazy.

People walk past the aftermath of Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukrainians were urged to shelter in place and not to panic.

Until the very last moment, I didnt believe it would happen. I just pushed away these thoughts, said a terrified Anna Dovnya in Kyiv, watching soldiers and police remove shrapnel from an exploded shell. We have lost all faith.

With social media amplifying a torrent of military claims and counter-claims, it was difficult to determine exactly what was happening on the ground.

Workers load the debris of a rocket onto a truck the aftermath of Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Russia and Ukraine made competing claims about damage they had inflicted. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities and drones. It confirmed the loss of one of its Su-25 attack jets, blaming pilot error, and said an An-26 transport plane had crashed because of technical failure, killing the entire crew. It did not say how many were aboard.

Russia said it was not targeting cities, but journalists saw destruction in many civilian areas.

___

Isachenkov and Litvinova reported from Moscow. Francesca Ebel in Kyiv; Angela Charlton in Paris; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Raf Casert and Lorne Cook in Brussels; Nic Dumitrache in Mariupol, Ukraine, Inna Varennytsia in eastern Ukraine; and Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Nomaan Merchant, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Oil prices of $90-$100 per barrel following Russia's invasion of Ukraine are likely to remain, at least in the short-term, the head of a state oil and gas industry group said Thursday.

"Depending on what happens  especially if Russia continues to invade the whole country  I think the price will go up more," said Dewey Bartlett Jr., president of Keener Oil and Gas and chairman of the Oklahoma Energy Producers Alliance.

"It will probably settle at some point, and it will certainly be high," he said.

Bartlett said, however, "If they invade another country, all bets are off.

"The possibility of another big war would have a tremendous impact on the U.S. and global economy."

Oil prices on both sides of the Atlantic briefly jumped above $100 per barrel to their highest levels since 2014. But they gave back much of their gains after President Joe Biden said new sanctions are "specifically designed to allow energy payments to continue.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for April delivery closed at $92.81 a barrel Thursday, up 71 cents.

Brent crude  used in the worldwide market  for May delivery was up $2.24 to $99.08 a barrel.

Bartlett, a former Tulsa mayor, said "poor decisions" by some countries in the region, including Germany, will leave them particularly vulnerable to high energy prices resulting from the invasion.

Both Germany and Ukraine, he said, shuttered coal and nuclear power plants and "put all their energy eggs, so to speak" into natural gas, most of which going to Europe comes from Russia.

The price of European natural gas spiked as high as 31% on Thursday.

Oklahoma's economy could actually benefit, Bartlett said, because the state has an abundant supply of natural gas.

However, he said the U.S. currently buys about 600,000 barrels of oil a day from Russia.

He said if Biden "tells Russia 'We don't have to buy your oil,' where are we going to get it?"

"I would assume Saudi Arabia, ... but a lot of countries that used to have an excess of producing capacity don't have that anymore."

He said had the Biden administration not delivered the final coffin nail for the Keystone XL pipeline project, the U.S. could be receiving 600,000 to 800,000 barrels a day of tar sands oil from Canada.

"That would give the U.S. a much stronger bargaining position. We could tell Russia, 'We don't have to buy your oil. We can get it right here from our friends in Canada,'" Bartlett said.

Gov. Kevin Stitt also addressed that issue on Thursday via Twitter, saying, "This crisis underscores the need for the U.S. to be energy independent."

Oil and gas prices have always been a double-edged sword in Oklahoma.

While high prices are good for the industry and the state's coffers through production taxes, they are not good for consumers who pay much higher prices at the pump and to heat homes and businesses.

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First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on February 26, 1982

The Royal Australian Institute of Architects protest rally against the demolition of the Rural Bank building attracted more than 300 people in Martin Place yesterday.

Architects Ian Stapleton, Dick Rowe and Howard Tanner demonstrate outside the Rural Bank, March 25, 1982. Credit:Antonin Cermak

Near a sign declaring, The State Bank destroys more for you personally, the protesters signed anti-demolition petitions, and heard architects speak in favour of retaining the building.

The Rural Bank building, now the State Bank, will make way for a new tower block of about 27 storeys, which will cover the site bounded by Martin Place. Elizabeth and Phillip Streets and the Goodsell building fronting Hunter Street.
March 4 Justice organisers have pulled the pin on a public rally in Sydney this Sunday rather than put on an event that didnt live up to the energy of last years massive national protest.

Sydney organiser Jaime Evans, who also sits on the March 4 Justice board, said the Omicron outbreak over summer delayed planning and publicity for a central event in Sydney for so long, they eventually decided they couldnt make it happen in the way that it deserved.

Last years March 4 Justice in Sydney attracted thousands of protesters. Credit:Edwina Pickles

The event last year was so good and such a big moment in time, and we had big crowds, and all of that support, and I would hate to rush through putting an event on and then not make it feel like something that people thought was worth heading out for, Ms Evans said.

When youre planning your event you always want the next one to be bigger and better than the last one.
People walk in a subway to get a train as they leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine. (AP Image used for representational purposes)

Hyderabad: With Russian military forces advancing into Ukraine on Thursday, Telugu-speaking students, like those from other Indian states, who pursuing academics there are in a state of panic.

Around 20 Telugu students could reach the airport at the Ukrainain capital Kyiv. They are all pursuing MBBS in Zaporizhzhya State Medical University, including Sumanjali, Ramya Sri, N Srinidi and Likhitha.

On Thursday, An Air India flight was dispatched to Kyiv but it had to return midway because a no-fly zone was clamped on the airspace by the Ukrainian government.

The students blamed the college managements for not allowing them to leave for their native places earlier. Educational institutions never anticipated that Russia would go to war with Ukraine.

The situation changed after Russian forces started bombing different places in Ukraine and captured several cities. We were asked to stay indoors and not to come out in any situation. We are all safe in the university campus, said Rohith Chouhan from Hyderabad, an MBBS first term student at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University. There are around 15 Telugu-speaking students in Ivano city, which is located around 600 km from Kyiv.

Rohith said that there was no war-like situation in the vicinity.

Another student, Pavan, said that Indian Embassy officials have released an advisory to educational institutions about the situation in Ukraine and asked students to leave to their native places. However, the university management remained aloof and stated that there were no directions for Indian students to leave Ukraine.
A Queensland state school music teacher has been found not guilty of molesting a female student on a flight back from an exchange trip to Japan in 2011.

The 38-year-old accused man, still employed by the Queensland Department of Education as a music teacher, was acquitted in the Brisbane District Court of two counts of indecent acts.

The complainant claimed that in 2011 her teacher sexually assaulted her on a Jetstar flight back from Japan. Credit:Quentin Jones

The 12-person jury reached a unanimous verdict in under 2 hours.

Several members of his large group of supporters, who were present throughout the trial, let out audible sighs of relief and started sobbing when the verdict was announced on Thursday afternoon.
The rights of people conceived through donated sperm, eggs or embryos to access information on their biological parentage will be assessed by a Queensland parliamentary inquiry.

The state government has referred the issue to Parliaments legal affairs and safety committee, which will review issues relating to donor conception, including whether a registry should be established for data to be held, and whether people should have rights to know their genetic origin, while also looking at the implications of the privacy of donors.

The committee, due to report by August, will also review the access to historical clinical records and implications of retrospectivity.

Laws exist in other parts of Australia to help donor-conceived children access their information.
They include the future headquarters of biotech giant CSL in North Melbourne, which will lease nine floors of research labs and seven floors of offices as part of a $1 billion education and research precinct. The company was optimistic on Thursday, saying it intended to work with Deloitte, Probuild and other stakeholders to mitigate any disruption to the well advanced project. Workers at Probuilds Ribbon Project site at Sydneys Darling Harbour on Thursday. Credit:Brook Mitchell CSL remains focused on completing the building to take occupancy of this landmark facility for the Melbourne biomedical precinct in early 2023, a CSL spokesman said. The four-tower, $2.6 billion-valued West Side Place development near Southern Cross Station will host nearly 3000 apartments and a luxury Ritz Carlton hotel when completed. Its owners, Far East Consortium, were unable to be contacted on Thursday.

Other ongoing projects include Caulfield Village, which is made up of eight residential towers and 437 apartments. The $1 billion project will be particularly difficult to unravel, according to two sources familiar with it, because Probuild entered it as a joint venture. A spokesman for Beck Property Group, the other party in the joint venture, said it hoped Probuild could trade its way out of its difficulties and was bullish about finishing the development. The site of the future headquarters of biotech giant CSL in North Melbourne is scheduled to open next year. Credit:Wayne Taylor This news does not reflect on the very strong financial position of Beck Property Group or its ability to complete the Caulfield Village project, he said. Interstate, problems at a development in Brisbane for Cbus property are believed to be a key factor in the firms financial strife, while work is also ongoing at Greenland Centre  Sydneys tallest residential building  and a 450-room luxury hotel in the revamped Darling Harbour precinct.

Melbourne-based lawyer Hubert Wajszel, who specialises in construction law with firm Barry Nilsson, said Probuilds ongoing worksites would inevitably sit empty for several weeks, which could extend into months. There will be some urgency here because of the fact youve got live, incomplete projects, he said. I imagine they will try and sell the business as a whole, whether its to an investment fund or otherwise, and if thats unsuccessful they may cut it into smaller pieces to sell it that way. Mr Wajszel said compensation for delays would almost certainly have been written into Probuilds contracts with clients, who could seek damages immediately. This would only add to the likely level of debt in the business and in turn make it more difficult to find a new backer or owner, he said.

The lawyer also predicted Probuild would not be the last large building contractor to face insolvency issues, a view reiterated by the Master Builders Association of Victoria, which said the proportion of insolvencies had risen close to their highest ever level since data recording started in 2013. With building contract prices locked in, the large and unanticipated surge in the prices of many building items such as timber and steel-based products means that many of our members are finding that the cost of completing work is more costly than expected, acting chief executive Michaela Lihou said. A Probuild spokeswoman said the local arm of the business was abruptly informed by parent company WBHO South Africa that all cash and securitisation support would cease. We are caught up in a set of circumstances not of our making, she said.

Loading The Probuild brand is strong, and we intend to keep it that way. We have several options for raising the necessary capital to continue as a premium Australian building company. These will all be pursued. Premier Daniel Andrews said his government was open to discussing support for Probuild. All of us should want that business to succeed. So, if theres anything we can do as part of that process  noting that its a for-profit, private company  we are always happy to try and provide support. And that can take many different forms, Mr Andrews said. State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said it was important to offer certainty to avoid repeats of Probuilds problems.
Western Australia has recorded 610 new local COVID-19 cases overnight, with seven other cases related to interstate travellers.

It is the second day the state has recorded more than 600 local cases, and Premier Mark McGowan said the daily numbers would likely soon be over 1000.

Premier Mark McGowan. Credit:Peter de Kruijff

It is clear cases are rising in the community, but this is not a reason to panic, he said.

If we all stick together and do the right thing, we will be in the best possible position.
Australias property price boom has pushed 70 per cent of homes out of reach of first home buyers on middle incomes despite record low interest rates, with those able to buy forced to save for an extra year to have a big enough deposit.

A report from the federal governments National Housing Finance and Investment Corp (NHFIC) also reveals a looming demographic shift that will change the property market, with a surge in the number of single-person and couple-only households.

The affordability picture is worst in Sydney, where almost two-thirds of first home buyers can afford only one in every 10 homes. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Property prices have soared over the past 18 months through the COVID-19 recession due to huge amounts of government stimulus and low interest rates. Median house values in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra have climbed above $1 million while households have taken on record levels of debt.

NHFICs report on the state of the nations housing sector said the surge in prices meant the average first home buyer now needed to save for an extra year to build a 20 per cent deposit of about $130,000. First-time buyers needed nine years to save a deposit compared to about four years in the early 1990s.
The NSW government could try to buy voters ahead of the 2023 state election if urgent reforms are not made to grants programs that have been open to fraud and pork barrelling, a parliamentary inquiry has found.

In its final report, released on Thursday, the grants inquiry committee found the government lacked integrity controls for grants allocated through bushfire, arts and cultural funding programs, which were used to curry political favour.

The inquiry found the allocation of $108 million Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund was politically driven. Credit:Nick Moir

As Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a fresh $400 million in grants for communities of west and south-west Sydney, the inquiry warned the public purse could be abused ahead of next years poll without added transparency and accountability measures.

The inquiry committee - dominated by opposition party members from the Greens, Labor and Shooters and Fishers Party - said the government had repeatedly used grants for political gain, while funding schemes lacked merit processes and guidelines.
At a certain indeterminate point, most governments stumble into boggy ground. Thats when the real danger starts.

It brings to mind the Battle of Agincourt, at which numerically superior French forces were trounced by the army of King Henry V in northern France in October 1415.

Like battle worn soldiers, Labor is beginning to get bogged down. Credit:Joe Armao

Weighed down by heavy armour, the French soldiers were exhausted before the fight even started, after marching through the sodden field, sinking to their knees in mud. The mud bath turned into a bloodbath. There is a lesson there somewhere.

More than 600 years later, no one really thinks the numerically superior Andrews government is heading for a bollocking like the French at Agincourt (unless something spectacular happens between now and November 26).
State school principals fear they will have to cancel school camps or hike their cost to parents to pay for an agreement struck by the education union and the Andrews government to give teachers more time in lieu.

Principals warn that school camps could become unaffordable when teachers gain more time in lieu for supervising them.

School staff will receive time in lieu for every extra hour they spend working on camps, excursions, and information nights as part of the latest agreement for government school staff.

The landmark provision was celebrated when the in-principle deal was struck this month because it is the first time Victorian school staff have won time in lieu for extra hours worked on extracurricular activities.

But several state school principals have said that while they believe their staff deserve the win, Victorias chronically underfunded public school system lacks the resources to pay for it.
Loading Chinas ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, on Thursday urged all parties to exercise restraint. The Chinese embassy in Kyiv told Chinese citizens in Ukraine to stay at home but did not advise them to leave the country, as dozens of other countries did. The Chinese yuan, seen as a safe haven in the widening conflict, rallied to a four-year high as major stock markets and currencies tumbled around the world. We believe that the door to a peaceful solution to the Ukraine issue is not fully shut, nor should it be shut, Zhang said. China has pointed out on many occasions that there is a complex historical context for the Ukraine issue and that the current situation is a result of the interplay of many factors. Putins march on democratic Ukraine  triggered by unsubstantiated claims of a genocide of Russian speakers in the east of the country  now threatens to turn from a demilitarisation campaign into an extended war. The Russian leader has urged Ukraines armed forces to lay down their arms, a call rejected by the Ukrainian government which has pledged to defend itself and win.

China and Russian ally Syria did not join calls from dozens of countries at a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday for it to immediately cease its Ukrainian offensive. Beijing has been wrestling with how to handle the Ukraine crisis for weeks as the number of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border surged to more than 190,000 while it promoted its Games under the banner of a peaceful shared future. Despite the new partnership between Putin and Xi, China remains wary of Russia gaining too much influence and protecting its energy interests in Central Asia. Police and security personnel inspect the remains of a shell landed in a street in Kyiv. Credit:AFP Foreign Minister Wang Yi last week said the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of every country should be safeguarded. Ukraine is no exception, he said. Since then, his Foreign Ministry has been casting the US as a key instigator in the conflict while framing China as the responsible international leader. The US has been sending weapons to Ukraine, heightening tensions, creating panic and even hyping up the possibility of warfare, Hua said on Wednesday night.

A key question here is what role the US, the culprit of current tensions surrounding Ukraine, has played. If someone keeps pouring oil on the flame while accusing others of not doing their best to put out the fire, such kind of behaviour is clearly irresponsible and immoral. Loading On Thursday, Chinese state media outlet Horizon News appeared to accidentally release official instructions on the coverage of the conflict banning unfavourable coverage of Russia. Across the board, Chinese state media have so far played down the invasion  a sign the government is still taking its time to decide how it will frame the conflict. In remarks directed at Beijing, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the meeting on Thursday that countries had to get off the sidelines. There is no middle ground here. Calling for both sides to de-escalate only gives Russia a pass. Russia is the aggressor here, she said.

China inserted itself for the first time into European affairs in February after it joined Russia in calling for the expansion of NATO to be stopped. In the Olympic communique released by Putin and Xi at the opening ceremony both sides attacked NATO, the AUKUS submarine deal, Western governments and old alliances for meddling in their internal affairs. The two leaders said their partnership was now superior to the Cold-War era. Bonnie Glaser, the director of the Asia Program at German Marshall Fund said on Twitter that there is no way that China will urge Moscow to back down. Loading The future of Taiwan is at the centre of how China responds to the conflict. Putin has spent weeks using Russian state media to argue the Ukrainian state should never have been created and that it was always a part of greater Russia. This is the same line that has been used by Beijing to justify its claim over neighbouring Taiwan, which has been governed separately for more than a century. Taiwan rejects Beijings claim and vows to fight to the end if it is attacked.
Sanctions against Russia will intensify as world leaders condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying the Russian President has chosen a path of death and destruction and warned that the world will respond in a united and decisive way.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the international community is banding together to condemn the outrageous attacks on Ukraine by Russian military forces.

World leaders including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have condemned Russias attack.

Ill call it what it is. The Russian government launched a brutal invasion, unprovoked, on Ukraine, and should be condemned for doing so  and Australia does, Mr Morrison said.

The footage that is emerging of missile strikes, air-raid sirens, and reports of hundreds of casualties, as yet unconfirmed are, sadly, not surprising given the events weve been witnessing for some time now, and have been warning about.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday launched the Integrated Temple Management System (ITMS) developed by the Hindu Endowments Department on Wednesday.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister Bommai said that the management of temples is very important. He said initiatives should be taken to record the number of pilgrims visiting the temples and the system to manage the temple assets needs to be streamlined. Bommai advocated the need for a Master Plan to provide amenities at the temples.

Emphasizing on building a Tourism Circuit, the chief minister said, "There is immense potential for Temple Tourism in northern, southern and coastal parts of Karnataka. There is huge scope for Monument Tourism too and this two can be integrated."

The chief minister emphasized reforms in temple administration.

Along with management, proper control is also necessary as it involves the contribution of the pilgrims and assets of the temples. Action would be taken to redress the problems being faced by Archaks and Priests, Bommai said.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for maintaining cleanliness and pollution-free ambience at temple premises.
Washington: Russias biggest banks will be excluded from global financial systems, export controls will be used to damage key Moscow industries, and additional troops will be deployed to help Ukraine defend itself in the largest conflict Europe has faced since World War II.

Hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a multi-pronged assault that killed more than 150 people and injures hundreds and forced many others to take shelter as missiles struck their cities, US President Joe Biden condemned the move as a premeditated invasion and vowed that the world would hold Putin accountable.

US president Joe Biden delivers his first remarks since Russias full scale invasion of Ukraine Credit:AP

Putins aggression against Ukraine will end up costing Russia dearly, economically and strategically, Biden said in an address from the White House. We will make sure that Putin will be a pariah on the international stage.

Warning that this was a dangerous moment for all of Europe and for freedom around the world, the President announced a new raft of measures that he said would devastate Russias economy and maximise the long-term impact on the country and its people.
Queen Elizabeth has postponed two scheduled virtual audiences on Thursday but will continue with light duties, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said as the 95-year-old British monarch recovers from COVID-19.

The Queen has cancelled some engagements as she continues to experience mild COVID symptoms. Credit:Getty

The Queen, who has been fully vaccinated against coronavirus, tested positive for the disease on Sunday when she was said to be suffering from mild cold-like symptoms.

While she has cancelled virtual engagements since then, she has continued to perform other official duties, such as speaking to Prime Minister Boris Johnson by phone on Wednesday, suggesting the worlds current oldest and longest-reigning monarch was not seriously unwell.

Buckingham Palace has said it would not give a running commentary on the condition of Elizabeth, who celebrated her 70th anniversary of becoming queen this month.
The arrival of Russian troops on Ukraines borders has dominated headlines all around the world, but aid workers in the country say many people arent aware of the conflicts biggest victims  the children who live on the front lines.

Hundreds of thousands of children need protection and assistance in this region. Yet the attention of the world in recent weeks hasnt necessarily translated into commitments to help them.

Children are among the biggest victims in eastern Ukraine. Credit:UNICEF

Ukraine has been in an ongoing conflict with Russian-backed separatists for eight long years. And children, as they do so often in conflicts, have borne the brunt in eastern Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week ordered his Defence Ministry to dispatch Russian troops to maintain peace in eastern Ukraines two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas, in a move US President Joe Biden called an invasion.
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 Russia has declared war on Ukraine and launched a major offensive from three sides in the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two. On Thursday AEDT, just minutes after Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on state television to announce the special military operation, explosions broke the pre-dawn quiet in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as well as its second-largest city, Kharkhiv, close to the Russian border in the north-east. At the time of writing, Russian forces had fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and military centres, landed troops on its south coast from the Black Sea and seized the shuttered Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as more troops spilled over the northern borders with Russia and Belarus. Ukrainians are fighting back to stop a new Iron Curtain falling in Europe, as a fresh wave of cyberattacks hit the country. Invading troops are now closing in on Kyiv. Many residents have taken shelter in metro stations deep underground, taking their sleeping bags and dogs with them, as explosions and gunfire ring out in the city above. Others have taken up arms. Meanwhile, Western leaders have been moving to send aid to Ukraine and unleash tougher sanctions on Russia, including freezing the assets of President Vladimir Putin himself. NATO countries are ramping up their air, land and sea forces in eastern Europe, and Russians have taken to streets back home to protest the war with their neighbour. Credit:. Where are the key flashpoints of fighting? So far, the attack is playing out as the pincer move Western intelligence had warned of, with strikes hitting from the north, east, and south as many people flee west. Missiles and rocket fire have rained down across Ukraine, including in the port cities of Odesa in the south and Mariupol in the east (Mariupol is just 20 kilometres from the long-simmering frontline between Ukrainian soldiers and Russian-backed separatists.) Ukraine has declared martial law and mobilised its armed forces, including civilian militias, as it fights back against one of the biggest militaries in the world. Ukraines own army has grown in recent years and Western weapons have been flooding in since Russian troops began massing on the border. Invading forces are marching over the borders in the north with Russia and its ally Belarus (where Russia had been massing troops) and fierce fighting has broken out around Kyiv  the capital is a key prize for Putin as the birthplace of both Ukrainian and Russian cultures. More troops were called in to defend the city on Friday and explosions rang out as Ukrainian forces shot down Russian aircraft and braced for incoming tanks.

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Meanwhile, the Ukrainian navy are defending bases and ports in the Black Sea, saying the Russians have begun firing cruise missiles on the coastal cities of Sumy, Poltava and Mariupol. Further inland, intense fighting is raging south of Kyiv as Russian troops try to move up deeper into Ukraine. The International Atomic Energy Agency has voiced concern after a battle Thursday at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near the Belarussian border, the site of the disastrous 1986 nuclear meltdown. Russian forces have now taken control of the plant (and reportedly its staff hostage.) Loading On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 137 civilians and military personnel were killed in the first day of the invasion. He called them heroes and hit out at Russias claim that it was only targeting military assets. Theyre killing people and turning peaceful cities into military targets, he said, adding Russian sabotage groups had already entered Kyiv searching for political leaders, with Zelensky himself as the number one target. But, despite fake Russian reports that he had fled the city, the Ukrainian president has so far refused US offers to evacuate him safely from Ukraine, instead staying to help defend the capital. On the second night of the invasion (Saturday AEDT), as Kyiv came further under siege, he said the fate of Ukraine was now being decided. By the morning, Ukrainian authorities said they had pushed back invaders from an army base and a key road near the city. UK officials said the Ukrainian resistance had been extraordinary so far considering the firepower they were up against, and Russia was failing in its initial bid to take key cities. Audio has also emerged of the moment a Russian warship told Ukraine border guards defending Zmiinyi island in the Black Sea to surrender or be fired on. They responded: go f*** yourself and were all killed under Russian fire Thursday as Moscow forces took over the island.

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What territories has Russia already claimed? Announcing the strike Thursday just as United Nations leaders were meeting to urge him back from the brink of war, Putin did not spell out how deep he would ultimately push into Ukraine. But he has previously flagged he intends to take the east, where separatists have been fighting an eight-year war for territory in the Donbas with Russian support. They control less than half of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions but claim sovereignty over the entire area. Putin officially backed their claim on Tuesday, sending in his own troops, who are now joining separatists in pushing against the frontline with Ukraine. As the strike began, Putin called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms. He has also demanded Ukraine cede Crimea in the south, which Russia annexed by force in 2014 when Ukrainian protests toppled the countrys pro-Kremlin president. A burning building in Kyiv on February 25 as missiles strike the city. Credit:UUkraines State Emergency Services Department How is Russia justifying the attack? Putin claims the strike is designed to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, not occupy it, but it extends far beyond the eastern territories he has been moving on in recent days and follows repeated denials from Russia that it was planning an attack.

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To the UN, Russia justified the strike under article 51 of the UN charter, which allows for self-defence. World leaders and media have dismissed Russian claims of Ukrainian aggression and even a genocide in the east against Russian-speakers as an invented pretext for war. Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons when it became an independent nation after the collapse of Soviet Union (as part of an agreement that Russia would not interfere in Ukrainian sovereignty). And until now Ukrainian soldiers had been reluctant to fire back at the line of contact with separatists, where shelling from the rebel side dramatically escalated ahead of the all-out strike. In 2014, Putin also claimed his seizure of the Crimean Peninsula was to protect Russian-speakers from what he called a fascist coup and when he sent troops into Georgia in 2008 he called them peacekeepers too. Loading On Thursday, Putin again hit out at the expansion of the Western military alliance NATO, which he has been demanding pull back its forces in eastern Europe and disavow talk of Ukraine ever joining the alliance. He warned the West that any foreign interference in the attack would lead to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history. We are ready for any turn of events. To Putin, Ukraine is a key battleground in his war for influence with the West, as he looks to reclaim some of Russias former Soviet glory. What has been the response so far?

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World leaders are condemning Russias attack and have been convening to coordinate responses. Large protests against the war have erupted around the globe (including Moscow itself where many Russian protesters have already been arrested). As the missiles began to rain down, Ukraine called on the world to act, and urged Turkey to close the Black Sea to Russia. While countries have said they wont send troops to defend Ukraine, as it is not a member of NATO, some have already been sending in weapons arm its growing army, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and many are now pledging further medical aid and supplies. (Australia will send non-lethal military equipment and medical supplies.) Nearby countries Poland and Moldova are already seeing tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing over their borders. Loading Western countries are also ramping up the new wave of economic sanctions on Russia that began this week as Moscow sent troops into the east. New US sanctions, for example, are designed to cut Russia off from most banking markets around the world, though they do not ban it from Swift  the main international payments network (Much of Europe worry it will do too much damage to their own economies.) Some, including Australia, are also expanding financial sanctions to Belarus, and Russia-wide bans will come into force on sensitive US technologies such as telecommunications and encryption security  a move that US President Joe Biden says will strike a blow to Putins long-term ambitions to modernise Russias military. Germany has already stopped certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which was key to Moscows plans to increase energy sales to Europe. NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has described the invasion as a cold-blooded and brutal act of war as the alliance ramps up its defences in nearby member countries. Germanys Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said Thursday was a dark day for Europe and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was appalled Putin had opted for a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Loading

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Russia has declared war. Real war. And it has undoubtedly begun. At 6am Moscow time, President Vladimir Putin, seemingly still incensed at the Wests refusal to give him what he wants, security guarantees, announced he had received a request for help from the leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics in eastern Ukraine, which he had just two days before recognised.

Putin said he had taken the decision to carry out a special military operation.

Its goal will be to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kyiv regime. For this we will aim for demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine, as well as taking to court those who carried out multiple bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation. Our plans do not include occupying Ukrainian territory.

US President Joe Biden has vowed not to send American troops into Ukraine. Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, doesnt blink. Credit:AP

The statement is chilling. It was opaque enough to allow the worst of interpretations, which are unfolding by the hour. The United Nations Security Council was already meeting on the crisis when the news came through. The statement of the Russian Ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, who is also the President of the Security Council, was confusing, to make matters worse. He implied this was a special military operation confined to the Donbas region where the two breakaway republics are located.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has brought Europe to the brink of its biggest military conflict since World War II, warning the West of terrible consequences for anyone who dares stand in his way of attempts de-militarise and de-Nazify Ukraine.

His message was as belligerent as it was dire. Russia, Putin said, had been left with no choice but to defend itself against threats from a hostile anti-Russia being created on its doorstep.

The dramatic escalation marks the second time Moscow has launched a military incursion into Ukraine since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. With as many as 190,000 troops massed near Ukraines borders, there are fears that anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000 civilians could be killed or wounded if Russia mounts an all-out attack to take over the entire country.

This is a struggle between a tyrant with a keen appetite for aggression and a continent still scarred by the traumas of too many terrible wars and desperate to avert another. It would always be an uneven contest.
Latest News Big four banks lift variable interest rates Increases across board for home loan customers

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The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has launched the Commbank Next Chapter Commitment to raise awareness on financial abuse within the family, making it one of the largest campaigns in Australian history.

The campaign was created in line with new research by Deloitte and commissioned by CBA. It found that over 380,000 women and 240,000 men were subjected to financial abuse by a current or former partner in 2020. This has cost victims $5.7 billion and another $5.2 billion to the Australian economy.

In other words, nearly 1 in 30 women and 1 in 50 men are subjected to financial abuse in any given year  and this is almost certainly an underestimate, the report stated.

Since the launch of Next Chapter in 2020, CBA has helped more than 500 customers through the Financial Independence Hub, a free and confidential service that aims to support financial abuse victims to feel more confident with money. In FY2021, another 22,000 customers suffering from family violence were assisted through CBAs Community Wellbeing team.

Matt Comyn, chief executive officer of CBA, said CBA had been working to end financial abuse since 2015. The bank introduced the Commbank Next Chapter Commitment after better understanding the extent and impact of the issue to victims and the community from Deloittes research.

The Next Chapter Commitment will see CBAproviding tools, advice and access to support services to help individuals or people they know recover from financial abuse and establish financial independence, Comyn said. It will take a community effort to address this hidden epidemic and this new commitment is one way we are playing our part. We want to help create a brighter future for all Australians, a future free of financial abuse.

In the same light, Patty Kinnersly, chief executive officer at Our Watch, said financial abuse is often rooted in gender inequalities and financial insecurities that women face. She also acknowledged the important role of financial institutions in curbing this social issue.

Violence and abuse are not always physical. Using money or finances to hurt or control someone is abuse, but it can be hard to identify, and often misunderstood, Kinnersly said. To prevent this, we need to address the underlying gender inequalities that drive financial abuse and other forms of violence against women. Financial insecurity is also a significant barrier for women seeking help and leaving violent relationships.

Over five million CBA customers are invited to support the call to end financial abuse, and CBA is expecting more future involvement as it plans to advertise the Commbank Next Chapter Commitment on television, print, digital and radio over the course of the campaign.
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Non-bank lender Liberty has made a formal commitment to advance reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through its inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

CEO James Boyle (pictured above) said Liberty is committed to building awareness while strengthening respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, traditions, and cultures across the team and broader community.

As advocates for inclusion and equality, we will apply our curiosity and free-thinking approach to champion and advocate for change, Boyle said. We will engage our team and work with Reconciliation Australia to make a positive difference for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our nations history is marked by devastating land dispossession and violence. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to experience limited equity, access and opportunity, so it is important to improve future outcomes and coordinate focused efforts that are vital in creating a truly inclusive and reconciled society,

Liberty started its reconciliation journey several years ago. Staff worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to build up their community awareness and understanding. Boyle said the RAP will guide Libertys future cultural initiatives and commercial partnerships.

Through events, policies, and training opportunities we have taken measurable strides towards embedding the principles of reconciliation into our workplace culture. While we recognise that there is still much work to do  were committed to continuing our trajectory,  Boyle said.

Liberty is working with organisations to form meaningful relationships that deliver lasting outcomes and healthy initiatives which promote awareness. It has formed a RAP working group to drive these activities.



Kent Morris

Liberty has also partnered with Barkindji artist Kent Morris (pictured immediately above), who created a piece of art representing the importance of integrating First Nations philosophies and knowledge into everyday life through the shared connection and responsibility to care for the country.

The artwork titled Cultural Reflections  Infinite Interconnections, is constructed from a photo of a fairy wren on Kulin Nations land (Yaluk-ut Weelam Country) in Melbourne, where he lives and works.

Through our work with Kent Morris, weve had the opportunity to further explore our connection to First Nations peoples and reflect on how our shared values guide us towards a more reconciled Australia, Boyle said.
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Pepper Money has released its full year CY2021 results, and has announced a statutory net profit after tax of $130.7 million  an increase of 31% on the previous year.

Total originations grew by 84%, with mortgage originations doing particularly well (+89%). Asset finance originations also performed strongly (+70%), and total operating income lifted by 18% to $375.8 million.

These are Pepper Moneys first full-year results following its listing on the ASX in May 2021, and CEO Mario Rehayem said they are a testament to our ability to deliver on our strategy.

Were very proud to present our figures today, and they really are a testament to the business and the people inside it, Rehayem told Australian Broker.

Were very grateful, particularly to the mortgage brokers who support Pepper Money and have done so for many years. Were very happy that the numbers that weve announced, and I think they send a very clear message around our ability to execute scale.

Being the leading digital non-bank gives us a lot of advantages to take to the market, Rehayem explained.

We have market leading turnaround times, and a strong set of products that cater to a wide range of customers. We have an ability to deliver consistency in our credit decisions which builds trust with our mortgage brokers, and that has really been something that theyve been complimentary of for many years. We understand the brokers and the customers, and we are designing our products, processes and experiences off the back of that.

Rehayem noted that a significant part of Pepper Moneys focus has been on the underserved segments of the market, and this has driven its high origination rates over the last year. He noted that the mortgage sector has been particularly competitive, but despite this, Pepper was able to achieve record originations of $6.4 billion.

Total Lending Assets Under Management also increased by 19% to $15.8 billion, which Rehayem said has been driven by strong demand across all asset classes.

Weve definitely been a beneficiary of the total market growing, and weve seen more customers tuning into non-banks, Reyahem said.

We have a 21-year history in this space, and weve consistently been able to roll out new products to serve different market segments. I think the banks have become very simple in what their offerings are, and that is leaving a large number of underserved customers.

Weve had ten years of double-digit growth, so the ability to increase in scale is not foreign to Pepper Money, he added.

Its part of our DNA. Well be looking to continue that over the next year, as well as rolling out new digital competencies that will help better serve brokers and their customers.

We remain focused on executing our vision to help half a million customers trust Pepper Money to finance their homes, cars, equipment and commercial properties by 2023, Rehayem concluded.

Our customer, new product and distribution plans, places us in the best position to continue to capture opportunities for growth. We have a strong proven track record of growth, and expect this will continue as we expand our market share.
Latest News Big four banks lift variable interest rates Increases across board for home loan customers

Commercial lending market flourishing 40% to 50% uplift, says brokerage

In the weeks leading up to February 21, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed the number of overseas arrivals spiked up to 195,760 as international students, permanent residents and Australian citizens were welcomed back amid concerns of the Omicron wave in December.

Travellers from New Zealand made up 40% of international visitors arriving for a short-term trip, according to the ABS. In spite of being the largest group, the count was much lower compared to the 1.4 million recorded in the pre-pandemic era of 2019.

Historically, almost half of overseas migrants end up in the same 10 SA4 regions located in Melbourne and Sydney, while the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast have always been the strongest when it comes to internal migration.

The flow of people arriving from overseas is different to the flow of people moving internally in Australia, which is part of why housing market dynamics have looked a little different through a period of closed international borders, CoreLogic reported.

If conditions remain as they are, the continued surge in overseas migration would most benefit Melbournes Inner region, where rental value in the inner-city has declined 11.3% in the past two years.

Eliza Owen, head of residential research at CoreLogic, unpacked what she called a tenure cycle, where fresh migrants start with rent and eventually, with enough time, settle for home ownership.

Most overseas immigrants tend to experiencerent and shared accommodation. The likelihood of home ownership increases with time in Australia, to the extent that rates of home ownership among overseas migrants is comparable with those that are Australian born, Owen said. But this means that recent arrivals to Australia are most likely to be renting, and this is where the housing market was most negatively impacted by border closures from March 2020.

It is also noteworthy that a decline in migration through the COVID period may eventually flow through to a lower demand in purchases where overseas migrants would otherwise be further along in their tenure cycle, Owen added. This could have implications for areas like Melbournes West and Sydneys inner west SA4 markets, where there have historically been high internal migration flows from the inner city to these places.
The state Haj committee and Haj Committee of India, who prepared an action plan for the pilgrims, are waiting for a green signal from the government of Saudi Arabia to sign up the bilateral agreement. (Represenatational Image/AFP)

HYDERABAD: The state Haj committee has received 4,300 online applications from aspiring pilgrims for Haj scheduled on July 9, this year. The Haj committee had closed receiving online applications on February 15 itself.

After a Saudi-based newspaper Saudi Gazette on Wednesday published a report `Pandemic is on the verge of ending, chances have gone brighter for the Haj pilgrims who have been eagerly waiting for the last two years for the spiritual retreat.

The state Haj committee and Haj Committee of India, who prepared an action plan for the pilgrims, are waiting for a green signal from the government of Saudi Arabia to sign up the bilateral agreement. Sources in the Haj committee revealed that the bilateral agreement between both the governments scheduled for the first week of January got postponed to the last week of February.

We are waiting for a green signal from the Saudi government. There are positive changes and we will strictly be following Covid norms. The Haj Committee of India and state have decided to allow 25 pilgrims in buses instead of 50 both in India and Saudi Arabia, B. Shafiullah, executive director of state Haj committee said. Instead of four-metre distance, nine-meter distance would be maintained while providing accommodation to the pilgrims as well, he said.

Reliable sources said if everything worked out, a Building Selecting Team (BST) from all the four zones of India would visit Saudi Arabia and arrange accommodation for pilgrims. There are two categories of pilgrims - green category (within one kilometre of Haram-Al-Sharif) and Azizia category. However, this year only Azizia category will be permitted and the state committee lifted age barrier for pilgrims.
Plotting a comeback trail in one of the fastest-growing sport utility vehicle (SUV) markets of the world, - dubbed America's 'most patriotic brand' - will be expanding its model line-up in India with the launch of the Meridian and the Grand Cherokee later this year. In the first 10 months of 2021-22, SUVs accounted for 42 per cent of sales in India's passenger vehicle market.

The Meridian, the companys three-row SUV that made a global debut as the Commander last year, is likely to go on sale in summer this year. The high-volume model will be crucial for Jeeps comeback in India, Christian Meunier, global chief executive officer, Jeep, said on Tuesday, addressing Indian media from Detroit.

I am not happy with the volumes in India. Thats why I want Brazil to be the benchmark. In Brazil, we sell 15,000 units a month with three models. In India, we were doing 4,000 units with two models (the Compass and the Wrangler). We need to grow in this market and push the limits, said Meunier. India will be the only market outside the US to have four nameplates from .

The Meridian gives an opportunity for greater volumes and will help the US automobile marque expand its manufacturing footprint in India, said Meunier. Strategically, India will be an export hub for the right-hand drive models.

A derivative of the Compass, the seven-seater model will be launched with more than 80 per cent of the parts locally procured. It is expected to be priced between ~25 lakh and ~30 lakh and will be pitted against the Mahindra XUV700, the Innova Crysta, and the Kia Carnival, among others.

The Meridian will be available in three powertrains; two trims will be offered only in the diesel variant.

The-fifth generation Cherokee will follow the Meridian. By the end of 2022, will have a portfolio of four nameplates  either locally assembled or produced in India.

Jeep has consciously taken a branding strategy which appeals to the emotion. This has helped it justify the premium pricing, says Ravi Bhatia, president and director at JATO Dynamics, an automotive business intelligence firm. The other side of the premium position is that the field of play is naturally small.

The very fact that most SUVs are actually soft roaders and modified hatches, and the market for 'true-blue SUVs' is quite minuscule, may well work in Jeeps favour. Given the strategy choice, the new product direction makes sense, says Bhatia.

The 80-year-old all-American classic SUV brand indelibly linked to freedom is looking to capitalise on the premiumisation trend in a market that it entered in 2017 with the high-end Wrangler Unlimited and the Grand Cherokee, followed by the made-in-India Compass. However, it all soon fizzled out. Sales of the Compass averaged 1,000 units a month. A delay in bringing refreshes and new models pushed it to the fringes in a market where competition was growing by leaps and bounds.

Clawing back its lost glory could be an uphill ride, says Puneet Gupta, director, I.H.S Automotive, a sales forecast and market research firm. Owing to the delay in launching products for the Indian market, Jeep lost the momentum it had built with the Compass. Given the competitive intensity in the SUV market, it may not be an easy ride for the brand to make deep inroads, he adds.

Commenting on whether a small compact SUV is under consideration, Meunier said, We would love to have a sub-four metre model in India. We are studying it. But we need to do it the right way. We dont want to take a hatchback and make it look like a Jeep.

The maker of Jeep and Dodge brands Stellantis, formed last year through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Frances PSA, is committed to make the India operations financially viable, said Roland Bouchara, CEO and managing director, Stellantis India. We are on track to make the business viable in India and localisation will play a very important role in that, he says.
The heating up of the tussle at BharatPe, involving Founder & Managing Director Ashneer Grover, will not have any adverse impact on Unity Small Finance Bank (SFB), in which the unicorn has a 49 per cent stake, said Jaspal Bindra, chairman of banks promoter .

Our partnership (with BharatPe) is with the funds that manage billions of dollars across the world like Sequoia that own around 85 per cent of the company. What happens within the company regarding Grover, his wife Madhuri Jain, or any other employee and founder, is their internal matter, said Bindra.

 is a shareholder in the bank and we have got their money. But there is nothing beyond that as they dont even yet have a representative on the banks board, he added.

Over the past couple of months, has been embroiled in a fight with Grover and his wife on the one side and the companys investors, independent directors, and other co-founders on another. On Wednesday, the company confirmed it had sacked Grovers wife as its head of controls after reports emerged alleging financial irregularities on the duos watch.

Unity SFB, promoted by Centrum with as a 'joint investor', was granted a banking licence in October 2021. It started functioning on November 1 last year with shareholder capital of Rs 1,100 and an asset base of over Rs 2,400 crore. The promoter and investor have committed a total capital infusion of up to Rs 3,000 crore.

In January, the government had approved the takeover of crisis-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank by Unity SFB. The newly formed SFB had said earlier that around 110 branches of the merged bank and over 1,100 of its employees will operate under the new label now.
and SE are in talks with the new owners of about an order for a raft of new planes, according to people familiar with the matter, part of a plan to rejuvenate the carrier and its fleet.

Tata Sons, which acquired the airline from the government last month, has begun talks with the planemakers and lessors for jets, including A350-900s and 787-9 Dreamliners, the people said, asking not to be identified.

The talks are at a preliminary stage, with Tata Sons assessing the right fleet mix and no decisions taken yet on aircraft type or order size. The carrier is in discussions for new or narrow-body jets that form the mainstay of Air Indias domestic and short-haul operations, as well as wide-body aircraft capable of flying as far as the US, the people said.

A spokesperson for Tata didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. A representative for Boeing in India said the firm seeks opportunities and holds talks with customers about supporting their fleet. An Airbus representative said the planemaker is in constant talks with current and prospective customers concerning fleet requirements.
Curefoods, a cloud kitchen company that houses brands like EatFit, CakeZone and Great Indian Khichdi, on Thursday announced acquisition of the South India franchise rights for US-based pizza chain Sbarro.

Sbarro is a global pizza brand that specialises in New York-style pizzas and is currently present in 630 locations across 28 countries, Curefoods said in a statement.

Curefoods plans to open around 50 Sbarro outlets in the next 3 years starting with Karnataka and the expansion will consist of a mix of walk-in outlets and cloud kitchens to ensure maximum customer reach.

As a result of this partnership, the first Curefoods-owned Sbarro outlet is set to open in Bengaluru within the next quarter.

Sbarro India's master franchise rights are operated by Upper Crust Foods.

"Pizza, as a category, enjoys immense popularity in India and having a New York-style pizza offering is a great addition overall to our portfolio at Curefoods. By working with an international brand such as Sbarro, we aim to leverage our expertise in scale and technology to amplify its presence further. This partnership will not only strengthen our presence in the pizza category but also help us serve a globally recognised and loved legacy pizza brand to the country, Curefoods Chief Business Officer Gokul Kandhi added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
firm has acquired its peer firm Getmyuni for about Rs 50 crore in a mix of cash and equity deal, a move that will aid the company's revenue growth, according to a top company official.

Post the acquisition, Getmyuni will continue to operate independently and some of the leadership team will also join the board of the combined entity, co-Founder and CEO Ruchir Arora told PTI.

"We have acquired 100 per cent of Getmyuni which is also a college discovery platform for about Rs 50 crore in cash and equity mix. They (Getmyuni) will continue to operate under their leadership. Some from their leadership team will also join in the leadership ecosystem," he said.

Founded in 2015, CollegeDekho is on a mission to institutionalise students' counselling in India in the higher education space.

"We have been growing close to 100 per cent year-on-year. Last financial year we closed with a net revenue of Rs 50 crore. Right now we are already expecting 4 times of that. With Getmyuni, we will have about 50 per cent of all students query through us," Arora said.

He said that CollegeDekho is trying to create a complete ecosystem around student needs, including access to loans.

He said Getmyuni is very similar to CollegeDekho.

"They also run another website called IELTS material. They are very similar to CollegeDekho. They will solidify our position. Between CollegeDekho and Getmyuni, we will cater to almost 50 per cent of all higher education traffic in the country," Arora said.

He said that Getmyuni will make the combined entity collectively become the largest student enrollment platform in the country collectively driving more than 25 crore annual student traffic and facilitating over 30,000 enrollments across almost 2,000 partner colleges.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Tech giant Google has announced that, with its upcoming Chrome 100 release, the company will discontinue the "Chrome Lite Mode" feature that has been available on for years.

"Lite Mode" in Chrome for is a rebranded version of "Data Saver," which debuted on the platform several years ago as a tool for those with slow or limited data connections, reports 9To5Google.

It is certainly a useful feature, but one that has become less necessary in recent years, the report said.

In a help page post, Google this week confirmed that "Lite Mode" in Chrome will be going away with the v100 update which is scheduled to be released on March 29.

"On March 29th, 2022, with the release of Chrome M100 to the stable channel, we will turn off Lite mode, a Chrome feature for that we introduced back in 2014 as Chrome Data Saver to help people use less mobile data on their phones and load web pages faster," Google was quoted as saying.

Google explained that the reason for sunsetting the feature is the "decrease in cost" for cellular data plans, as well as other improvements Chrome has made to data usage.

"In recent years we have seen a decrease in cost for mobile data in many countries, and we have shipped many improvements to Chrome to further minimise data usage and improve web page loading. Although Lite mode is going away, we remain committed to ensuring Chrome can deliver a fast webpage loading experience on mobile," the company said.

--IANS

vc/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sometime in the early 1960s, Rajanish Chandra Mohan Jain  who would later evolve into Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh and still later into a cult guru as Osho  taught philosophy in a college in Jabalpur. Even by then, he had launched on his journey to gurudom and was unconventional in some ways. One of them concerned his sartorial choice. He would wear a south Indian mundu and go to the college. The principal sent for him and advised him to dress decently and change over to Western or Indian national dress.

The rebel that he was, Rajanish insisted that he wouldnt do that and if compelled, he would exercise his fundamental right to freedom of religion and would adopt the attire of the digambar Jain, the faith to which he belonged! The principal realised the possibility of the desperado carrying out the threat, relented and permitted him to wear the mundu. The issue was resolved!

The BJP would have done well if they had the imagination of the principal and declared that they would pass a law doing away with hijab and burqa for Muslim women, if they were returned to power in UP. That would have done wonders as most Muslim women would have voted for them as they had done when triple talaq was made illegal. Instead, the ruling party kicked up an avoidable fracas, played into the hands of misogynist Muslim clerics and exploitative religion-ridden political parties that made it appear what was at stake was the Muslim identity! The non-Indian cultural baggage of Islam passes for Muslim Identity!

Our former ambassador to the US and a distinguished Hyderabadi, Abid Hussain, on an occasion summarised the predicament of our Muslims and said they would have no problems if they considered themselves Indian Muslims and not Muslim Indians! He allowed his Hindu wife to keep her faith and named his daughter Visakha, after the place where she was born! Statistics suggest almost 90 per cent of Indian Muslims are local converts, many of them Buddhists-turned-Muslims  Kandahar, Kashmir and East Bengal are obvious examples  and about ten per cent came with the invaders and made this country their home.

Islam imposed its non-Indian names and culture on the new converts. This is a later day parallel to the pastoral central Asian herders imposing their so-called Vedic culture on the native Indian population which led to the pernicious caste system which plagues the Indian society even now. Historically, culturally deluded Muslim leaders in British India promoted a two-nation theory with the covert support of the colonials and sowed the seeds of the two-nation myth that finally led to the partition of the country!

Indian Muslims have a lesson to learn from the Syrian Christians of Kerala. This group of proud Christians are as old as Christianity itself and its practitioners, in culture, attire, and the spoken language, are as Indian as any other. Their unique Christian identity is sustained by its Indianness. Two hundred million Indian Muslims are no small number and of them burqa and hijab wearers are a minuscule number. It is almost foolish to think that giving them up would affect the cultural identity of Muslims! In fact, they had an historic opportunity in Independent India to build a uniquely Indian Islamic culture shaking off the non-native cultural burdens!

As that brave rebel, Taslima Nasrin, often says, where religious practices or customs offend human rights, the former should not be sustained in the name of secularism or culture. Widow burning and infanticide were considered religious practices by the Hindu community in British India. Thanks to enlightened Indian reformers and responsible British administrators, not only these two, but many other abominable customs were abolished or abandoned! These reforms have not weakened the Hindu identity! Educated women among Muslims should question why they should be shrouded in a black burqa or veil hiding their elegant clothes while their men go around smartly dressed! A vibrant society would evaluate its cultural practices and customs from time to time to cope with a fast-changing society. Stubbornly holding on to them would not only retard its cultural evolution but would show it up as an anachronism!

Has not Kalidasa said that all that is old is not necessarily good? Isnt it time for us to revisit our Constitutional provisions governing the freedom of religion? Art 25 guarantees the freedom of conscience and the freedom to profess, practise and propagate to all citizens. While we should value freedom to profess and practise ones religion, one fails to see why there should be the freedom to propagate ones religion in a secular State! It is the propagation that disturbs my sleep in the early hours of the morning through the amplified singing at the temple or the muezzins raucous call for prayer! Why should ones religion intrude into anothers home? Other irritants include gaining converts for a price, and unsolicited praying for the sick with the hidden agenda of inducing them out their faith. In marriages across religions, the hideous practice of forcing people to change their religion and name may bring a spouse but cost the bride or groom their identity! Very often the victim is the girl in our male-dominated society!

It is time our Muslims give thought to liberalising and Indianising Islam; and it should start with their names. If Christians could retain both Indian and Christian names, like Christopher Kishore or Hemima Rani, why cannot there be cross-cultural names like Kamala Khan or Vempalle Sharif, or Akhila Ayesha! This would make the names more integral to our culture!
State-owned on Thursday said it has inked a pact with to securitise return on equity of its 540-MW Chamera-I Power Plant in Himachal Pradesh for 10 years.

" Ltd has signed a facility agreement today i.e. February 24, 2022, (on Thursday) with Ltd to securitise the return on equity of Chamera-I Power Station (3 X 180 MW), Himachal Pradesh, for a tenor of 10 years," according to a BSE filing.

The amount of the securitisation facility has been arrived Rs 1,016.39 crore or 5.24 per cent per annum discounting rate linked with three-month T-bills.

In December 2021, NHPC's board had approved the proposal for monetisation by securitisation through bidding process of return on equity (RoE) of Chamera-1 Power Station (3 X 180 MW), Himachal Pradesh, and further to monetise RoE of one or more power stations for 5 or 10 or 15 years in one go or rollover.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Venture Partners, an early-stage India-focused VC fund, announced the final close of its fourth of $120 million. The was oversubscribed and has exceeded its target of $100 million in commitments. It will invest in disruptive technology across fintech, edtech, healthtech, consumer internet and Global SaaS. Prime will continue to focus on being the first institutional investor, maintaining its high-conviction and deep-support investing model in early-stage technology startups. In addition to prior focus areas, the firm has expanded its portfolio into new areas, notably, EVs, B2B, Web3 and Gaming infrastructure platforms.

With this closing, the new takes the total capital under management across all Prime VP funds to over $250 million. In addition to existing investors, Fund IV is backed by International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, a top-tier university endowment, a top tier Fund of Funds and several global technology entrepreneurs, reflecting the strong performance of Prime VPs earlier funds.

We greatly appreciate and are humbled by the unambiguous support and confidence of our long-time LPs and new investors, which allowed us to complete an oversubscribed fundraise, said Amit Somani, managing partner, . With Fund IV, Prime VP is well-positioned to back a new group of category-defining technology startups and inspiring entrepreneurs in India. Fund IV is already off to an exciting start and we couldnt be more optimistic about the depth of the entrepreneurial talent and increasing level of ambition among the founders in India."

With a highly selective and active involvement strategy, more than 90 per cent of backed by Prime VP at the seed stage go on to raise follow-on capital led by marquee investors in India and globally within 18 months and achieve strong product-market fit, follow-on rounds, profitability or exits with meaningful outcomes to founders. As per the Cambridge Associates benchmarks, all of Prime VPs funds are in the top decile of all global VC funds of their respective vintages. Funds I to III are committed across 32 spanning sectors such as Fintech, Healthcare, SaaS, Education and Logistics. Prime VPs Fund I recently delivered a strong, top-decile (4x+) return to all its Limited Partners.

Over the past decade, Prime VP has been the first institutional investor and built-up one of the richest portfolios of startups. These include Niyo, a savings-led universal Neobank, Ezetap, a POS acceptance platform, Freo (Moneytap), the consumer-credit-led Neobank and KredX, the invoice discounting platform and OTO, the first two-wheeler leasing solution. Additionally, during the past 12 months, three of Primes early investments were acquired by marquee brands. These include the acquisition of business expense, payments and travel management platform Happay by Cred for $180 Million, financial operations startup Recko by Stripe, and retail-technology startup Perpule by Amazon.

Other notable investments by Prime include Quizizz, an ed-tech platform used by more than 100 million students in 120 countries and PlanetSpark - one of the fastest-growing education players in the language and communications sector. The other investments include Sunstone - an innovator in new-age MBA programs, MFine, a telemedicine and home diagnostics provider, MyGate - a leader in (gated) community operating systems and Dozee - a pioneer in remote patient monitoring solutions.
company is planning to raise around $500 million from the international market for refinancing existing debt and .

Merchant banking sources said the company had expressed intent on raising funds. Besides it, Adani group entity Mumbai International Airport is also in the market for money to replace bridge loans and capex.

The actual fundraising is dependent on market sentiments amid an escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which had increased volatility, they added.

is one of India's leading companies, with an operating capacity of 5.2 Gw diversified across wind, solar, and hydro generation across 14 states.

Last week, Fitch Ratings had revised the Outlook on Energy Holdings' (Greenko) Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating to from stable to negative and affirmed the rating at 'BB'.

The Outlook revision to Negative reflected a sharp increase in Greenko's trade receivables over the last two years. There is also lack of clarity about the timing and quantum of improvement in the receivables.

Greenko's receivables are expected to remain high at above $ 700 million in the financial year ending March 2023 (FY23). However, wind-based generation is expected to return to average historical levels after the dip in FY21 due to a much weaker wind season, in line with other Indian wind projects, Fitch said.

The group's receivables rose to $ 709 million by the end of December 2021 (FYE21: $566 million) due to continued payment delays by state utilities following slow disbursements from the central government's liquidity support package.

Greenko's 'BB' rating is underpinned by the group's diversified portfolio of 138 renewable-power assets, which have 5.2 Gw of capacity in operation. The capacity is sold under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) that provide fixed tariffs and stable volumes.

The rating also factors in Greenko's strong access to funding and liquidity support due to strong shareholders, which include GIC - Singapore's sovereign wealth fund; Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), and ORIX Corporation. GIC, in particular, has provided consistent equity support for Greenko's investments.
India sounded on Monday to plan flights to evacuate Indians stuck in . Under the Aircraft Act, the government can ask to make their aircraft available during an emergency situation.

While sources said and SpiceJet had planned to operate four flights, all plans had to be cancelled after the closure of Ukrainian airspace.

executives said the had planned to operate flights in Moldova. But Moldova also shut its airspace by 2 pm.

According to the latest information from MEA, Embassy of India in Hungary has been despatched to the border post, Zohanyi, to coordinate and provide assistance to facilitate exit of Indians from .




Asset Management Company (AMC) on Thursday announced Avinash Satwalekar will take over as president of India business from Sanjay Sapre in June 2022.

Satwalekar, currently is the country head of Malaysia and will relocate to India as president  designate effective April 1, 2022. Sanjay Sapre, current president of the India business, will join Franklin Templetons digital strategy and wealth management division in July 2022.

A spokesperson said, We would like to thank Sanjay for leading the India business with distinction over the last six years, including through the challenging period since April 2020, when the trustee announced the winding up of six fixed income funds. Since then, over 103 per cent of the aggregate reported assets under management (AUM) value across those 6 funds when the decision to wind up the funds was announced, has been distributed to investors so far.

Sapre has been appointed as the president of Asset Management India effective August 1, 2016. From July 2011 to July 2016 he held various positions in the group, providing strategic leadership to the customer service and customer operations functions with an increasing scope of geographical coverage starting from India and expanding to include international operations and customer service for the Asia pacific region.

In his new role from July 2022, Sapre will be responsible for developing and leading the firms consumer-oriented capabilities globally, with a special emphasis on helping its distribution partners grow their digital propositions. He will continue to be based in India in his new role and will remain on the India AMC board.

As the incoming president, Avi (Avinash) will work closely with all stakeholders to build our India business and strengthen relationships with clients and distributors. Avis extensive experience in both investment management and business development makes him an ideal candidate to lead our India business which is well-positioned for growth, said the fund house in the release.

Franklin Templeton India came under scanner after it decided to shut its 6 debt funds in April 2020 citing liquidity issues due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The move had hit over 300,000 investors and locked up over Rs 25,000 crore of investments.

This led to multiple legal cases against the fund house. Even the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) barred the fund house from launching any new debt schemes for two years.
Aluminium, Indias largest manufacturer of aluminium, launched a low carbon brand on Thursday as a step towards its commitment of achieving net- zero carbon by 2050.

unveiled two product lines  Restora (low carbon aluminium) and Restora Ultra (ultra-low carbon aluminium) -under the brand and said that it was the first major non-ferrous Indian metals producer to manufacture low carbon products (primary aluminium) for customers worldwide.

The first production volume of 100 kilo tonnes of Restora and Restora Ultra already has interest from environmentally conscious customers, a statement from said.

Rahul Sharma, CEO  Aluminium Business, Vedanta, said that the products would cater to the domestic market and exports. There are orders from Europe and the US; in India, a pilot was on for the automotive sector.

Restora has a GHG emission intensity that is "well" below 4 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) per tonne of aluminium manufactured  the global threshold for aluminium to be considered as low carbon aluminium, and Restora Ultra has an even lower carbon footprint, the company said.
IT major Ltd on Thursday announced over 500 technology jobs in in the next fiscal year, to support growth in delivering cloud solutions to clients.

The company will be hiring throughout Brazil, for a slew of roles ranging from IT and engineering to consulting, business development and operations.

Announcing its plans to hire over 500 new professionals over the next fiscal year, Wipro, in a statement, said its hiring goals are reflective of the company's strong growth in the Brazilian market driven by the 'human cloud concept', which helps organisations attract new talent and foster growth in a hybrid work environment.

"As we continue our growth and serve some of the most prominent firms in Brazil, we look forward to welcoming our new cohort of colleagues to join us on this exciting journey, Douglas Silva, Vice President and Country Head, Brazil, said.

The company will be hiring throughout Brazil, especially in the Northeast regionmainly the capitals Recife, Fortaleza, as well as in Natal - Curitiba, Braslia, and cities in the countryside of So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states, among other locations.

last year announced that it is planning to invest USD 1 billion in cloud technologies over the next three years and created Wipro FullStride Cloud Services to bring together the complete portfolio of cloud-related capabilities, offerings and talent to orchestrate the cloud journey for clients.

"To support these investments and its growth objectives, Wipro is also looking to train and certify 800 plus professionals in cloud solutions over the next 12 months in Brazil," the statement said.

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Goa Chief Minister Dr on Thursday sought the help of External Affairs Minister for the safe return of Goans who are currently in the crisis-hit Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians.

Sawant in a Twitter post said, "We are concerned about the Goans in Ukraine who are considering to return to India in the light of ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. I request Union Minister for External Affairs @DrSJaishankar ji for help in the safe return of Goans. I am keeping track of the situation.

Goa's NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar also wrote a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs in this connection.

Many Goans are currently residing in Ukraine due to various purposes, including higher studies, and due to the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, I have started receiving requests for help and assistance from them to return to India, Sawaikar said in the letter.

He said Goans in Ukraine are anxious to temporarily return till the situation normalises there.

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reported 293 new positive cases and eight deaths on Thursday, which took its infection tally to 12,21,874 and fatality count to 10,919, the health department said.

The number of active cases in the state now stands at 2,942.

Of these, 34 are on ventilator support, while the remaining ones are stable, it said in a release.

A total of 729 patients recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the tally of such persons to 12,08,013.

As many as 10.27 crore anti- vaccine doses have been administered to the eligible population so far in the state, of which 1.15 lakh doses were given during the day.

No new cases of COVID-19 were registered in the adjoining Union Territory of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu in the last 24 hours, an official release said.

Of the total 11,408 cases reported in the union territory so far, three cases are active. While four patients have died, 11,401 others have recovered, said a release by the UT administration.

Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 12,21,874, new cases 293, death toll 10,919, recoveries 12,08,013, active cases 2,942 and people tested so far - figures not released.

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Most of the Covid related curbs, including night curfew and 50 per cent seating capacity in restaurants and bars, are likely to be lifted by the DDMA which is scheduled to meet on Friday, officials said.

According to an official notice, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor at 12.30 pm on Friday.

"Except for gatherings related to political, social, cultural and such other activities, the remaining restrictions are expected to be lifted as the Covid situation has improved significantly," a senior official said.

The DDMA in its meeting earlier this month, allowed several relaxations, including the opening of schools and colleges and extended imposition of night curfew from 11 pm instead of 10 pm.

With the fresh Covid cases and positivity rate declining sharply, demands have been raised from several quarters, including the traders and political parties, for lifting the remaining curbs.

Several restrictions like allowing only one weekly market in a municipal zone, no standing passengers allowed in buses and Metro trains, 50 per cent cap on seating capacity in restaurants, bars and cinemas and no activity except weddings in banquet halls are yet to be relaxed.

The Chamber of Trade and Industry, an association of traders in Delhi, has written to the LG demanding that since the Covid case and infection rate are decreasing in the city, then the rest of the restrictions should be completely removed.

Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta has also written to Baijal requesting him to allow visitors to temples and other religious places. Currently, religious places are permitted to open without visitors.

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China reaffirms support for Nepal's own development path

Xinhua) 08:50, February 24, 2022

(Source:Xinhua)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to support the Nepalese people in choosing independently their own development path and offer support and assistance to Nepal's socioeconomic development to the best of its capability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Reports said the Nepalese government's decision to submit the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement with the United States in Parliament a few days ago has triggered a huge controversy as mass protests were held in places like Kathmandu.

The U.S. State Department said that Nepal's failure to ratify the compact will impact bilateral relations. Some analysts say that the MCC agreement gives itself higher authority than Nepal's domestic law, U.S. program staff's activities in Nepal will not be subjected to local jurisdiction, and the project's accounting and audit is supervised, managed and conducted by the U.S. side. Experts in Nepal believe that accepting the MCC will be detrimental to Nepal's security and sovereignty.

"The U.S. Embassy in Nepal described the 500-million-dollar MCC grant as 'a gift from the American people to Nepalis.' I wonder, since when does a gift come with the package of an ultimatum? How can anyone accept such a 'gift'? Is it a 'gift' or Pandora's box?" said spokesperson Hua Chunying.

"I'm afraid it will turn out like a Nepalese saying: It looks good, but you will find the meat difficult to chew," Hua said.

She said that it is China's consistent belief that in pursuing international development cooperation, the principle of mutual respect and equality should be upheld, the sovereignty of the country concerned and the will of its people should be fully respected, and there should be no interference in any country's domestic affairs, no political strings attached, no coercive diplomacy, and certainly no infringement on other countries' sovereignty and interests for selfish gains.

As Nepal's friendly close neighbor and development partner, China will continue to support the Nepalese people in choosing independently their own development path and offer support and assistance to Nepal's socioeconomic development to the best of its capability, Hua said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
witnessed a sharp rise in cases of in 2021, with a 21.69 per cent surge in as compared to the previous year, police said on Thursday.

Moreover, 2,429 molestation cases were registered in 2021, an increase of 17.51 per cent.

The Police claimed the rise in cases is due to a "conscious policy of fair and truthful registration".

In 2021, 1,969 cases rape were reported in the city, up from 1,618 in 2020.

Police said that in 98.78 per cent of the rape cases, the accused were known to the victims.

Addressing an annual press conference of the Police, Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said only over 1 per cent of the accused were not known to victims in sexual assault cases. In most cases, it was family members, friends, neighbours or relatives, he said.

A total of 2,429 cases of molestation were reported in 2021, against 2,067 cases in 2020, they said.

Similarly, harassment (eve-teasing) cases have also witnessed an uptick, with 421 cases being registered in 2021 as compared to 411 cases in 2020, police said.

They claimed that 95.48 per cent of the total registered were solved. Police were also able to crack 90.98 per cent of molestation cases and 85.75 per cent cases related to insulting modesty of women.

"For us, the safety of women, children and vulnerable sections of the society is of the utmost priority. So, we have initiated a drive to have a pink booths all over the city," Asthana said



The Delhi Police have set up these booths in an attempt to provide a safe complaint redressal mechanism for women.

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recorded over 15 per cent rise in crime in 2021 as compared to the previous year, Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said on Thursday, noting that the increase in crime rate was due to less number of cases being lodged during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Citing data, police said 3,06,389 cases were reported in 2021 as compared to 2,66,070 cases the previous year.

According to the data, 5,740 heinous crime cases were reported in 2021 as compared to 5,413 cases in 2020. Last year, 2,87,563 cases were registered under 'other IPC sections' (theft, robbery, burglary), 2,93,303 cases under 'total IPC' (heinous and theft) and 13,086 cases were lodged under 'local and special laws' (arms-related crime, NDPS).

Nearly 70 per cent of the reported in 2021 were of burglary, robbery and theft, police said.

In 2020, 7,965 cases of snatching were reported and in 2021, 9,383 such cases were registered, an increase of 15 per cent. There was also a 13 per cent rise in arrests in snatching cases.

Arrests increased by 17 per cent in 2021 as compared to 2020. In 2021, a total of 1,47,115 arrests were made as compared to 1,25,986 in the previous year, the data said.

Murder cases decreased by 3 per cent from 459 in 2021 to 472 in 2020 in the national capital. Police arrested 1,050 people in connection with murder cases as compared to 1,015 in previous year, it said.

The number of attempt to murder cases increased by 35 per cent from 485 in 2020 to 655 last year. Police arrested 1,629 people in connection with these cases which is 45 per cent higher than 1,126 in 2020, the data stated.

According to police, 9,383 cases of snatching were registered in 2021 as compared to 7,695 in 2020 which is 17.80 per cent higher.

There were 17 cases of kidnapping for ransom last year and all of them were solved. In 2020, 11 cases were filed which were all solved. The percentage of extortion cases solved was 87 in 2021 as a total of 170 cases were lodged, compared to 120 cases in the previous year, it said.

The use of firearms has also gone down by nine per cent in murder, attempt to murder and dacoity/robbery cases, the data said.

There was a 9 per cent increase in against senior citizens in 2021 during which 41,113 such cases were registered, police added.

The Police said a total of 15,146 PCR calls were received in 2021 and 2,359 cases were filed for robbery and dacoity. The number of PCR calls and cases were 11,790 and 1,972 respectively in 2020.

A total of 21 major gangs active in outlying districts of were identified and in 2021, seven dreaded criminals were neutralised, they said.

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(SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia was on Thursday remanded to judicial custody after he surrendered before a court in Mohali in connection with a drugs case, complying with the directions of the Supreme Court.

The trial court in Mohali remanded Majithia to two weeks judicial custody. However, the Akali leader moved a plea for regular bail which will be taken up before the court on Friday.

"...His bail application will be heard tomorrow," one of Majithia's counsels Arshdeep Singh Kler said.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case questioned Majithia for nearly 90 minutes in the court complex.

Speaking to reporters outside before entering the court premises in the morning, Majithia said, "As per orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, I have appeared before the (Mohali) court".

The apex court had recently directed the Police to not arrest the former minister till February 23 in a drugs case so he can undertake electioneering in the state.

A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli had, however, directed Majithia to surrender before a trial court after the assembly polls on February 20.

It had also directed the trial court to hear and expeditiously decide Majithia's regular bail plea after his surrender in the case.

The pre-arrest bail plea of Majithia, who was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on December 20 last year, was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 24. An appeal had been filed in the apex court.

Majithia, who is the SAD MLA and brother-in-law of SAD chief and brother of former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, contested the February 20 polls from the Amritsar East constituency, from where Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu is seeking re-election. The results will be announced on March 10.

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The for the first time has assessed the global risk of catastrophic wildfires, finding that as accelerates more of the world will burn, with disastrous consequences for human health, the economy and biodiversity.



The heating of the planet is turning landscapes into tinderboxes, while more extreme weather means stronger, hotter, drier winds to fan the flames, wrote the authors of the report, released on Wednesday by the UN Environment Programme and the nonprofit GRID-Arendal. Too often, our response is tardy, costly, and after the fact, with many countries suffering from a chronic lack of investment in planning and prevention.

This must change, the report added. Wildfires need to be placed in the same category of global humanitarian response as major earthquakes and floods.

The report forecast that the risk of cataclysmic wildfires could increase as much as 57% by the end of the century, depending on temperature rise. Even with the most ambitious efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the planet will still experience a dramatic increase in the frequency of extreme fire conditions, it stated.

Over the past decade the intensity and impact of wildfires has grown worldwide, with 2020 a particularly devastating year that seemed to herald the arrival of an apocalyptic new era.

That year began with continent-wide bushfires in Australia that killed an estimated 3 billion animals, including many endangered species, and burned rainforests previously thought impervious to fire. The disaster was preceded by a long drought and occurred during above-average temperatures that magnified the effects of the bushfires, according to the report.

Meanwhile, fires broke out in the Arctic as a heat wave hit the region. California suffered a series of megafires in 2020 that burned through vast forests and suffocated cities with toxic smoke.

The growth in wildfires in turn will exacerbate as burning forests and vegetation release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Wildfires pose a particular danger to rainforests and peatlands that store huge amounts of carbon.

Wildfires may accelerate the positive feedback loop in the carbon cycle, making it more difficult to halt rising temperatures, according to the report.

Humans are contributing to that feedback loop through deforestation in places like Indonesia, where land clearing for palm oil plantations and other agriculture has ignited carbon-intensive peatlands. Worldwide, peatlands contain a large share of the carbon stored in soil.

At the same time, the researchers found that the use of land for intensive agriculture in regions of China, India, Europe, the United States and South America has suppressed wildfires. Likewise, incidents of wildfire in Africa have fallen as grassland savannas become fragmented.

The recommended that nations invest more resources into reducing fire risks and making communities more resilient to wildfires and the health effects of smoke. The report also called for incorporating indigenous fire management practices and increasing international cooperation.
Civil Aviation Minister on Thursday said an flight which took off from Delhi to bring back Indian citizens from has returned mid-air after the "things escalated" there, adding that, flights from India to will again fly, once the air-space of the concerned country opens up.

"Flights were flown for earlier. Today also flights were flown to Ukraine but after 3 hours when things started escalating those flights came back. Whenever the air-space will open, we'll fly the flights again," said Scindia.

"We have been told that the airspace is complete as notice to airmen (NOTAM) has been issued," he added.

The Union Minister assured that the Indian government is committed to the safety and security of Indians in Ukraine.

"On the matter of Indians in Ukraine, I held a discussion with the Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. We are keeping an eye on the entire situation," he said.

" flight AI1947 is coming back to Delhi due to NOTAM at, Kyiv, Ukraine," informed.

Notice to airmen (NOTAM), is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the flight.

Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region.

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The Kejriwal government on Thursday approved Film Policy, 2022 to promote the city as a hub of shooting and other production activities through subsidy up to Rs 3 crore and hosting of an international film festival.

Deputy Chief Minister said in a press conference that a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister also approved setting up of an e-waste management park in Delhi, the first in the country, on 20-acre land.

The new film policy will be inclusive in nature focussing on the development of the tourism sector, growth of the economy and job creation, he said.

Under the policy, a single-window e-film clearance portal will be readied bringing over 25 agencies on it for various permissions related to film production, within 15 days, Sisodia said.

A Rs 50 crore Film Fund' will also be set up for supporting producers through subsidy. Also, film cards will be issued and its holders will get extra benefits and discounts, he said.

"This is an extremely progressive policy that will have broader objectives of not just film promotion but also inclusive development and job creation," Sisodia said.

It will seek to associates Delhiites with Delhi, branding of Delhi for location shoots, film, art and culture promotion and job creation, he said.

Under the policy, subsidy up to Rs 3 crore will be provided depending on the number of days of shooting, location and branding of Delhi, local hiring of actors and support staff, expenditure in Delhi during various stages of production, he said.

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Chief Minister on Thursday said that a massive campaign against drugs would be launched in the state soon.

Khattar said that a detailed action plan has been prepared by the State Narcotics Control Bureau and village, ward, cluster, sub-division, district and state mission teams have been formed to involve citizens of all age groups for a "drug-free Haryana".

He said that soon a massive campaign against drugs would be launched across the state.

He said that to help those involved in drug abuse, drug de-addiction centres would be set up and special counselling sessions for such people would be ensured to help them get rid of this habit and further bring them into the mainstream.

"Dedicated efforts are being made to curb the increasing trend of drug abuse," Khattar said while addressing a joint press conference here with Home and Health Minister Anil Vij.

He said that in the past year, State Narcotics Control Bureau and Haryana Police have registered 2,746 drug-related cases and arrested 3,975 people. During this period, 29.13 kg heroin, 157.25 kg charas, 11,368 kg ganja, 356.19 kg opium, and other drugs have been seized.

The chief minister said an Inter-State Drug Secretariat has been established in Panchkula for collecting relevant information on drug offenders from participating states to create a database to help northern states in cracking down on narcotics.

Khattar said the state government has decided to bring under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme all those families whose annual income is less than Rs 1.80 lakh and who are not included in Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.

"The process of registration of all such families having verified income has been started. Three phases of income verification have already been done. Now the data of these verified families would be uploaded on the Ayushmaan Bharat portal so that they can get their cards," he said.

He also said data available under Parivar Pehchan Patra (family id) showed that there are around 23,000 eligible old age pension beneficiaries who have never availed the benefits due to various reasons.

The state government has decided to adopt a proactive approach for reaching out to these eligible pension beneficiaries, he said.

With anganwadi workers and helpers on strike in Haryana demanding an increase in their honorarium, Khattar urged them not to get misled or instigated by some opposition leaders and said in the last seven years, several steps have been taken by the state government to safeguard their interest.

"We have taken several concrete steps in the interest of anganwadi workers and helpers. In the month of December also, the honorarium of anganwadi workers and helpers was increased by Rs 850 and Rs 736, respectively, he said.

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The Centre on Thursday said Indian passengers from Ukraine can return via Qatar, with aviation industry experts stating that civilian flights will restart from Ukraine only when its airspace opens.

Currently 20,000 Indians, mostly students, are stranded in Ukraine.

Since the Ukrainian airspace is closed due to the Russian military offensive, it is currently not clear how they are to travel from Ukraine to to take Qatar- flights, which are operating normally.

The authorities of the eastern European country issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) Thursday morning stating that civilian flights within Ukraine "are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation".

The Indian Embassy in said on Twitter, "Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed passengers traveling from Ukraine to travel by transit under India- bilateral air bubble arrangement."



This means that the passengers coming from Ukraine to Qatar will be able to board flights operating between Qatar and .

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External Affairs Minister on Thursday night spoke to his counterparts from Romania, Hungary and Slovakia on the evacuation of stranded Indians from Ukraine. Jaishankar also held a telephonic conversation with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on the Ukraine crisis and underlined that dialogue and diplomacy are the best way forward to defuse the situation.

"Just spoke to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia on the Ukraine developments. Underlined that dialogue and diplomacy are the best way forward," he tweeted.

As Ukraine closed its airspace following the Russian military assault, India is focusing on evacuating around 16,000 Indians from Ukraine through its land border crossings with Romania, Hungary, Slovak Republic and Poland.

"Deeply appreciate the support from FM @BogdanAurescu of Romania on evacuating Indian nationals from Ukraine. @MEAIndia is working with @MAERomania to ensure border crossing expeditiously. Times of difficulty-that's what friends are for," Jaishankar tweeted.

He also said that Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto promised full cooperation to facilitate the evacuation of Indians.

"Reached out to my friend FM Peter Szijjarto of Hungary on the Ukraine evacuation. He has promised full cooperation to facilitate evacuation from Debrecen. Thank him for his understanding," Jaishankar said in another tweet.

The external affairs minister also appreciated the willingness of his Slovak counterpart to help in facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals through Slovakia.

"Spoke to FM @IvanKorcok. Discussed the situation in Ukraine. Appreciate his willingness to facilitate the evacuation of Indian nationals through Slovakia," he said.

The Indian embassy in Poland said a camp office is being set up at Krakowiec on the Polish-Ukrainian border that will facilitate transit through Poland to India.

A similar office is also being set up in Lviv in Ukraine.

The Indian embassy in Hungary said it sent a team to the border post of Zohanyi to coordinate and provide assistance to facilitate the exit of Indians from Ukraine.

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Chief Minister on Thursday urged the Centre to help students and workers from the state, who were stuck in following Russia's attack on that country, return home.

Soren's appeal comes after one person requested the chief minister to make arrangements for bringing back his son, Aditya Raj, who is studying in a medical college in and others stuck there in the crisis-hit country.

"Please help Aditya Raj and others who have gone to to study or work from the country," Soren said in a tweet that was tagged to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and the embassy of India in Kyiv.

Earlier in the day, one person identified as Bishwanath Das of Godda district sought help from the CM for his son.

In a Twitter post, he said that his son Aditya Raj is a student of Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya in Ukraine.

He requested Soren to bring back his son and other students as soon as possible.

Godda administration is trying to trace the location of Aditya's father in a bid to get more details about his son.

We are trying to find out the address of Aditya's father in Godda," Superintendent of Police YS Ramesh told PTI.

Like Aditya, Md Danish Arzoo, a fourth-year medical student in Vinnytsya University, is also stuck in Ukraine, claimed his elder brother Khusster Hasnain, a resident of Mahagama, also in Godda district.

We requested the local MLA, district administration and the Indian government to ensure safe return of my brother," Hasnain told PTI.

He said as many as six students from Mahagama are stuck in Ukraine.

Dr Zahir Ahmed, who runs a hospital in Godda, said that his son Imran Seikh, a fourth-year medical student in Kyiv, returned home about a month back.

"But, two more students including a girl from Godda city who study with my son, are stuck in Ukraine. We urge the government for their safe return," Ahmed said.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said in New Delhi that Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed at a meeting that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indians including students and their evacuation from Ukraine.

There were around 20,000 Indians in Ukraine and of them, nearly 4,000 have returned to India in the last few days, Shringla said.

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A group of young riders practice their horseback riding skills at Old West Special Trails in Eads, Tennessee. Old West Special Trails is currently fundraising to purchase the land they are located on.
Law Minister on Thursday accused Samajwadi Party leader of insulting by allegedly not accepting his bust at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh.

Rijiju shared a video of Yadav purportedly not receiving the bust being given to him as a gift and apparently asking that it be kept backstage. The rally took place in Kaushambhi a few days ago.

Several BJP leaders too have accused the SP chief of insulting .

"I knew that was never serious about the sentiments of Dalits, but this open insult of is an insult of India's ethos," the Union minister tweeted in Hindi.

Kaushambhi is a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists.
At least 10 students from are stranded in and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma joined his counterparts in other states to seek the intervention by ministry of external affairs to ensure safe return of all those stuck there following a military confrontation with .

Received news about students from stranded in # . Humbly request Hon'ble Union External Affairs Minister @DrJaishankar Ji to ensure the safe return of all Indian citizens. We are praying for everyone's safety. May peace prevail, Conrad tweeted.

The students are persuing undergraduate studies at the Zaporozhye State Medical University, a family member of one of the students told PTI.

A student has reportedly told his family that tickets purchased for flights to return to India have been cancelled.

Appeals to the Centre have also been made by the chief ministers of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Jharkhand.

An Air India plane that took off for Kyiv in on Thursday morning to bring back Indians from the eastern European nation returned to Delhi due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace amid the Russian military offensive.

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co-founder Bill Gates, at a virtual event of the India-US Health Partnership roundtable on "Vaccine for All", on Tuesday, said that India's 3 vaccines -- Covaxin, Corbavex and Covishield -- were the products of partnerships that bridged sectors as well as borders.

The Indian Embassy in the United States hosted this virtual event of the India-US Health Partnership roundtable on "Vaccine for All" on Tuesday.

appreciated India's commitment to global health and said that it is a shared ambition. "Prime Minister Modi has talked about deepening India's commitment to global health by continuing to harness the country's science and technology talent to advance scientific discovery and the creation of new products. This shared ambition and partnerships are central to making it a reality," he said.

He said that "The Quad country partnership with Bio E. to produce over a billion vaccines is an example of how these partnerships can be scaled to support an equitable response," he added.

Acknowledging India's unique contribution he said, "accomplishments would have never helped so many people without India's unique contribution."

"Over last year, India delivered over 150 million doses of covid vaccines to nearly 100 countries. At the same time, thanks to Indian vaccine manufacturers, almost every country in the world now is offering vaccines to protect children from diseases like Pneumonia and Rotavirus which have been leading causes of child's deaths for decades," he added.

Talking about the partnership between the Government of India and his foundation, said, "Our foundation has partnered with the Indian Govt and the Indian private sector over the years on many successful vaccination campaigns and the provision of low-cost drugs to prevent and treat infectious diseases worldwide."

Furthermore, he stressed that everyone needs to come together to move forward, "we are looking for opportunities to help develop MRNA capabilities across all of South Asia, East Asia and Africa. We have learned a lot about how to do better going forward. One thing is clear - everyone, governments, communities and the private sector need to come together," he said.

The event was hosted by Ambassador of India to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Bill Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rep. Dwight Evans, Ms Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, WHO, Dr VK Paul, Member, Niti Aayog, Government of India, Prof. Peter Jay HOtez, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Ms Karen Freeman, Acting Assistant Administrator, USAID, Prof. Gangandeep Kang, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Board Member-CEPI and Ms Mahima Datla, CEO, Biological E, Hyderabad.

At the outset, he pointed out the sheer importance of vaccines saying, "Increasing access to life-saving vaccines has been central to our Foundation's work since the beginning. And this pandemic has proven once again why formal vaccines are so critical. Covid has affected everyone on the planet."

"The economic effects have been drastic, especially to the most vulnerable. Countless children missed out on education and many people, especially women have been forced to leave their jobs. The pandemic has undermined years of progress towards making the world healthier and more equitable."

Touching upon the contribution of his foundation he said, "our foundation committed more than 2 billion dollars to help end the pandemic and helping people cope with its impacts."

Moreover, Ambassador of India to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Tuesday said cutting-edge technology and research leadership of the US and capabilities of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, can be combined for producing affordable vaccines.

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More advanced and indigenised lifts and escalators will be installed in Delhi Metro's phase-IV corridors, the said on Thursday while awarding the contract for the lease and maintenance of these facilities, an official statement said.

M/s Johnson Lifts, Chennai will initially bear the entire cost for design, manufacturing, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the lifts and escalators, and will maintain them for a period of 15 years, the statement said.

The Phase-IV priority corridors are - Janakpuri West - RK Ashram Marg, Majlis Park- Maujpur and Tughalakabad - Aerocity.

The Rail Corporation (DMRC) has awarded these contracts to procure around 179 lifts and 323 escalators to be commissioned across these corridors comprising a total length of 65 Km and 45 stations, it said.

The statement said that these lifts are fully indigenised and for the first time escalators will be indigenised up to a level of 65%.

Till now, the escalators for heavy duty applications, were being fully imported, this will give a further boost to the 'Make in India' initiative, it said.

For the first time in India, the metro rail systems will have lifts with huge carrying capacity of around 20 commuters at a time, the statement said.

In earlier phases, had lifts with a carrying capacity of only 8 to 13 passengers.

CCTV cameras will also be installed inside the lifts for the first time under Ph-IV for enhanced safety, it said.

The contract agreements for the procurement of heavy duty, indigenised lifts and escalators for the three priority corridors under Phase-IV were exchanged between Director (electrical) DMRC, Om Hari Pande and Chairman cum Managing Director, M/s Johnson Lifts John K. John.

DMRC's Managing Director, Mangu Singh was also present on the occasion.

Presently, is operating a network of approximately 390 km with 286 stations, wherein around 1000 lifts and more than 1100 escalators have been installed.

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In a telephonic conversation with Russian President amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Prime Minister on Thursday appealed for immediate cessation of violence and asserted that differences between Russia and NATO can only be resolved through "honest and sincere" dialogue.

During their conversation, Modi also sensitised the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) here said.

President Putin briefed Prime Minister Modi about the recent developments regarding Ukraine, it said.

The prime minister reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue, the PMO said.

Prime Minister Modi appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue, it said.

The leaders agreed that their officials and diplomatic teams would continue to maintain regular contacts on issues of topical interest, the PMO said.

India has been pressing for de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries.

The situation in Ukraine deteriorated after Putin announced the military operation against the country.

The Modi-Putin telephonic talk came hours after Ukraine sought India's support in defusing the crisis following the Russian attack on the country and said it was "deeply dissatisfied" with New Delhi's position on the deteriorating situation.

Ambassador of Ukraine to India Igor Polikha said Prime Minister is among a very few global leaders to whom President Putin listens to and New Delhi can leverage its proximity with Moscow to control the situation

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Prime Minister on Friday will address a post budget seminar on the topic 'Aatmanirbharta in Defence - Call to Action', the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

"Union Budget 2022-23...has given further impetus to Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in Defence," the ministry's statement noted.

In this regard, the Ministry of Defence has organised a post budget webinar titled 'Aatmanirbharta in Defence - Call to Action' on the announcements made in the budget, it mentioned.

The objective of the webinar is to involve all the stakeholders in taking forward the various initiatives of the government in the defence sector, it noted.

"The webinar will be held on February 25 from 1030 hrs to 1415 hrs. Prime Minister Shri will deliver the inaugural address," it mentioned.

The webinar will have panel discussions with eminent speakers and experts from the Ministry of Defence, defence industry, industry fora, startups, academia, defence corridors etc, the statement noted.

"The valedictory session will be chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh," it mentioned.

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The timely attachment of proceeds of crime has led to the attachment of assets worth over Rs 19,000 crore out of the "total fraud of over Rs 22,500 crore by three fugitive offenders Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi, the Centre has told the .

These figures were mentioned in the note submitted by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the apex court, which is hearing arguments on a batch of petitions concerning the interpretation of certain provisions of the Prevention of Act (PMLA).

While advancing his submissions in the matter on Thursday, Mehta, who is appearing for the Centre, told a bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar that he had yesterday referred to the attachment of assets worth over Rs 18,000 crore of these three persons.

It is submitted that timely attachment of proceeds of crime has led to attachment of assets worth of Rs 19,111.20 crore out of total fraud of Rs 22,585.83 crore by three fugitive offenders namely Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi, Mehta has said in his note filed before the bench, which also comprised Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and C T Ravikumar.

It said that out of the attached proceeds of crime from these three individuals, assets of Rs 15,113.91 crore have already been returned to the public sector banks by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the relevant provision of the PMLA through the order of the court.

The note further said that assets worth Rs 335.06 crore have been confiscated to the Government of India i.e. 66.91 per cent of a total loss to the banks in these 3 cases has been returned back to them by the ED.

It is pertinent to mention here that SBI has already recovered cash of Rs 7,975.27 crore by selling a part of assets returned to it by the ED. The process of liquidation of other restituted assets by the banks is continuing, Mehta has said in his note.

The arguments in the matter would continue next week.

Some of these petitions have challenged the validity of certain provisions of the PMLA.

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on Thursday sought India's support in defusing the crisis following the Russian attack on the country and said it was "deeply dissatisfied" with New Delhi's position on the deteriorating situation.

Ambassador of Igor Polikha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among a very few global leaders to whom President Vladimir Putin listens to and New Delhi can leverage its proximity with Moscow to control the situation.

"I am following all the reports on the site of your ministry and the latest advisory to your citizens in Ukraine," Polikha told the media.

"We are deeply dissatisfied with the Indian position. We are asking, pleading for the strong voice of India. In this case, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji can address Putin," he added.

Pleading for India's help, the ambassador said is expecting a much more favourable approach from India.

"We are expecting a much more favourable approach of the Indian government in this crisis situation. It is the moment of truth. The moment of destiny. We are waiting, asking, pleading for the assistance of India," he said.

The ambassador particularly sought Prime Minister Modi's assistance.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is one of the most powerful, respected world leaders. I don't know how many world leaders Putin listens to. But the status of Modi ji makes me hopeful that in case of his s strong voice, Putin would think over," he said.

After Putin ordered a "military operation" in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, launched multiple attacks on several areas in central and eastern Ukraine that attracted severe condemnation from the US and its allies.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry alleged that goal of the Russian offensive is to destroy the Ukrainian state and to seize by force the territory of the country.

It said the Russian armed forces are launching attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities from different directions, including from the territory of Donbas and Crimea.

"This is an act of war, an attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a brutal violation of the UN Charter and basic norms and principles of the international law," the Ukrainian foreign ministry said.

The Ukrainian embassy in India also released the statement.

"Ukraine calls on the international community to act immediately. Only united and decisive actions can stop Vladimir Putin's aggression against Ukraine," it said.

India has been pressing for de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries.

The situation in Ukraine deteriorated after Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine.

Following Putin's announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said an "invasion" could be the beginning of a "big war" in Europe.

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The Centre on Thursday said Indian passengers from can return via Qatar, with aviation industry experts stating that civilian flights will restart from only when its airspace opens. Currently 20,000 Indians, mostly students, are stranded in .

Since the Ukrainian airspace is closed due to the Russian military offensive, it is currently not clear how they are to travel from Ukraine to Qatar to take Qatar-India flights, which are operating normally. The authorities of the eastern European country issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) Thursday morning stating that civilian flights within Ukraine "are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation".

The Indian Embassy in Qatar said on Twitter, Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed passengers traveling from Ukraine to travel by transit under India-Qatar bilateral air bubble arrangement.

This means that the passengers coming from Ukraine to Qatar will be able to board flights operating between Qatar and India.

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Ukraine's envoy to Dr Igor Polikha on Thursday urged Prime Minister to activate dialogue with amid the ongoing crisis.

Ambassador Igor Polikha said that has a special relationship with and New Delhi can play a more active role in controlling the situation. Urging PM Modi to step into the crisis, he said, "We urge PM to immediately contact Russian President Vladimir Putin and our President Volodymyr Zelensky."

"Modi Ji is one of the most powerful and most respected leaders in the world. You have a special privilege and a strategic relationship with . We are expecting a much more favourable attitude by the Indian government in this crisis situation," said Igor Polikha.

#WATCH | Delhi: Dr Igor Polikha, Ambassador of Ukraine to India seeks Government of India's intervention amid #RussiaUkraineConflict; urges PM Narendra Modi to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. pic.twitter.com/L1b48I42DN  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

Terming the attack as blatant aggression, he said that we are getting fresh information about casualties. They say they are attacking only military facilities, but we have suffered civilian casualties. "We have the first civilian casualties even on the outskirts of capital. There's fighting in some areas. According to information from our Ministry of Defence, the Ukrainian side shot down five Russian fighter planes, two helicopters, and destroyed 2 tanks and several trucks," he further told the media.

"Some attacks happened on the outskirts of the capital. Some attacks happened deep inside the territory of . We're getting the first information about casualties among our soldiers and the civilians,' the ambassador said.

--IANS

avr/dpb

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Packing up belongings to move further away from a bombed military airport in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. Residents of the countrys Donetsk region, accustomed to conflict and violence, are desperate after Russia launched military attacks.
India on Thursday mounted a major initiative to evacuate its citizens from to neighbouring countries through land border crossings after launched a large-scale military assault on the eastern European nation triggering major global concerns and sanctions against Moscow by several Western powers.

Amid the deepening crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and "sensitised" him about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students.

A government statement said Modi conveyed to Putin that India attaches highest priority to the safe exit of Indians from and their return to India.

"The prime minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue," an official statement said.

With increasing concerns over the safety of Indians in Ukraine, Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) with a primary focus of evacuating the citizens.

At a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the prime minister conveyed at the CCS meeting that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals including students and their evacuation from .

"I want to assure all Indian citizens including students in Ukraine and their family members that we will take all possible steps to bring you back safe and sound," he said.

The foreign secretary said there were around 20,000 Indians in Ukraine and of them, nearly 4,000 have returned to India in the last few days.

Shringla said the government has asked Indian ambassadors in countries neighbouring Ukraine such as Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary to send teams from their missions to border areas with Ukraine to facilitate the exit of Indians so that they can be evacuated to India.

The Indian embassy in Poland said a camp office is being set up at Krakowiec on the Polish-Ukrainian border that will facilitate transit through Poland to India. A similar office is also being set up in Lviv in Ukraine.

The Indian embassy in Hungary said it sent a team to the border post of Zohanyi to coordinate and provide assistance to facilitate the exit of Indians from Ukraine.

Shringla said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be speaking to his counterparts from Poland Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine on the crisis.

After Putin ordered a "military operation" in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, launched multiple attacks on several areas in central and eastern Ukraine that attracted severe condemnation from the US and its allies.

Shringla said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is in touch with the Ministry of Defence to facilitate airlifting of Indians if required.

As the Ukrainian government declared a state emergency and closed the country's airspace for civilian flights, the Indian embassy in Kyiv issued three separate advisories in the course of the day appealing to the Indians to maintain calm and remain safe wherever they are.

The embassy said in view of the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian nationals. However, it did not provide any clarity on evacuation arrangements.

Separately, the Indian ambassador to Ukraine, Partha Satpathy, called on Indians to face the current situation with "calm and fortitude" as the situation is "highly tense and very uncertain".

The envoy said the MEA and the embassy are working on a "mission mode" to find a "solution to this difficult situation".

In the midst of the Russian offensive, European Union's High Representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell spoke to Jaishankar and discussed the "grave situation" and how India could contribute to de-escalating the situation.

"Received a call from EU HRVP @JosepBorrellF. Discussed the grave situation in Ukraine and how India could contribute to de-escalation efforts," Jaishankar tweeted.

The 27-nation European Union has been playing a key role to defuse the crisis.

Jaishankar also spoke to his British counterpart Liz Truss on the situation in Ukraine.

In its latest advisory, the Indian embassy said the movement of people is now difficult in Ukraine as it is under martial law and those hearing air sirens and bomb warnings should find nearby bomb shelters.

"We are aware that certain places are hearing air sirens/bomb warnings. In case you are faced with such a situation, Google maps have a list of nearby bomb shelters, many of which are located in underground metros," it said.

"While the mission is identifying a possible solution to the situation, please be aware of your surroundings, be safe, do not leave your homes unless necessary and carry your documents with you at all times," it said.

Ambassador Satpathy said the Indian embassy in Kyiv continues to remain open and operate.

"I am reaching out to you from Kyiv. Today early morning, we all woke up with the news that Ukraine is under attack. The situation is highly tense and very uncertain and this of course is causing a lot of anxiety," he said.

"The air space is closed, railway schedules are in flux and roads are crammed. I would request everyone to stay calm and face the situation with fortitude," Satpathy said.

He said the embassy has already reached out to the Indian diaspora in Ukraine and requested them to assist the Indians to the "best of their abilities".

"I urge you to please stay wherever you are, in your familiar locations. Those who are in transit, please return to your familiar places of habitation," he said.

"Those who are stranded here in Kyiv, please get in touch with your friends and colleagues in Kyiv, universities and other community members, so that you can temporarily lodge there," Satpathy said.

Government sources said "contingency plans are being put into operation and that the immediate priority is to assist the Indians".

In one of its advisories, the Indian embassy said: "All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those travelling from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along with the western bordering countries."



It is learnt that the government is exploring the possibility of facilitating the movement of the stranded Indians to Polland from where they can be evacuated. However, there is no clarity on it.

In a related development, Ukraine's Ambassador to India Igor Polikha said India has a "special" relationship with and it can play a more proactive role in de-escalation of the situation.

He said Modi is among very few leaders who Putin listens to and New Delhi can use its proximity with Moscow to control the situation.

At the same time, he said Ukraine was "deeply dissatisfied" with India's position on the crisis.

India has been pressing for de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries.

The situation in Ukraine deteriorated after Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine.

Following Putin's announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said an "invasion" could be the beginning of a "big war" in Europe.

(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.)
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister on Thursday said nearly 4 lakh hectare area of rice fallow will be used for cultivation in 100 districts of 10 states as part of the government's efforts to boost domestic output and reduce imports of edible oils.

The minister was addressing a webinar on 'Smart Agriculture: Bringing Back Glory of Millets; Moving Towards Aatmanirbharta in Edible Oil'.

Moreover, he said 230 high-yielding districts of have been identified.

Nearly 20 lakh hectare area will also be brought under intercropping of in next 5 years, an official statement quoted Goyal as saying.

India imported edible oils worth Rs 1.17 lakh crore during 2020-21 marketing year ended October 2021, according to trade data.

With emphasis on millets, India is going back to its roots like Yoga, the minister said.

Bringing back the glory of millets will make the country Aatmanirbhar in 3 areas-- Food, Nutrition & Economy, Goyal said.

Suggesting four 'mantras' to make India a leading exporter of millets he said, states can duplicate the success of Karnataka's fruits model for crop diversification with a focus on millets.

Moreover, there is a need to collaborate with agri startups to provide the latest technology to ensure quality and aid in bio-fortification of millets.

He said campaigns should be launched to create awareness regarding health and nutrition benefits of millets.

There is also a need for international outreach to promote Brand India Millets.

Stressing that India produces all nine common millets, the minister pointed out that it is the second-largest producer and second-largest exporter of millets in the world.

He added that the government has undertaken reforms which have led to the highest procurement of foodgrains from farmers at minimum support price (MSP).

Today, India is set on a path to become Aatmanirbhar. In this mission, the Government is working towards realizing the image of a self-reliant farmer with the best crops, he said.

T Mohapatra, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) and DG, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said that the year 2023 has been announced as the International Year of Millets.

He noted that support will be provided for post-harvest value addition, enhancing domestic consumption & branding millets products nationally and internationally.

Ragi, jowar and bajra are some of the important millets.

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Chief Minister will convene a special meeting with the Council of Ministers at the Secretariat on Thursday to discuss the Budget for the upcoming financial year, Chief Minister's Office informed.

Taking to Twitter, the CMO said, "Chief Minister will convene a special meeting with the Council of Ministers at Secretariat on Thursday, February 24, to discuss Delhi's Budget for the upcoming financial year 2022-23."

The government began working on the Delhi Budget 2022-23 by the end of January and as per Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Manish Sisodia, this terms' Budget will be special and will foster the economic growth of the national capital.

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will be able to treat around 95 percent of the wastewater by the end of the year, which will help reduce the pollution load in the Yamuna River, according to Jal Board's projections.

generates around 744 million gallons of sewage a day -- 80 percent of the 930 MGD water supply.

The 34 sewage treatment plants operational at 20 locations across Delhi can treat up to 597 MGD of sewage and have been utilising around 90 per cent (514 MGD) of their capacity.

Untapped wastewater from unauthorised colonies and jhuggi-jhopri clusters, and poor quality of treated wastewater discharged from WWTPs is the main reason behind high levels of pollution in the river.

According to a report submitted to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, the Delhi Jal Board plans to augment its sewage treatment capacity by 130 MGD by December, 2022.

The treatment capacity will be increased by 20 MGD at the Kondli STP, 40 MGD at Rithala STP, 30 MGD at Okhla STP and 40 MGD at Coronation Pillar STP.

Thus, Delhi will be able to effectively treat 707 MGD (95 percent) of wastewater by the end of this year, it said.

The treatment capacity will be further increased to 903 MGD by June, 2023 to accommodate the future increase in sewage generation with the construction of 48 new STPs and decentralised STPs in outer Delhi, new STPs at Delhi Gate (10 MGD) and Sonia Vihar (7 MGD) and capacity augmentation of existing STPs through latest technology.

The construction of 48 new STPs and DSTPs in outer Delhi will increase the treatment capacity by 92 MGD and the DJB will be able to treat 87 MGD more wastewater after capacity augmentation of the existing STPs.

The DJB is also rehabilitating its existing STPs to meet the new standards for wastewater prescribed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

Delhi generates around 720 million gallons of wastewater a day. The 35 STPs located at 20 locations across Delhi can treat up to 597 MGD of sewage and have been utilizing around 90 percent of their capacity.

According to the DPCC, biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids and total nitrogen in the treated wastewater should be 10 milligrams per litre or less.

Chemical oxygen demand should be less than 50 mg per litre, and ammoniacal nitrogen and phosphate should be below 5mg per litre and 2 mg per litre, respectively.

On an average, 24 out of the 34 STPs in the national capital did not meet the prescribed standards for wastewater over the last one year, according to government data.

Of the 13 common effluent treatment plants in industrial areas across Delhi, only six comply with the DPCC standards for wastewater on an average.

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Top officials from the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) are set to meet on Friday to align the proposed policy and rules to regulate the e-commerce space in the country.

Secretary consumer affairs Rohit Kumar Singh and industry departments secretary Anurag Jain are expected to discuss how the e-commerce policy prepared by has shaped up. The proposed amendments in the consumer protection rules for etailers will also have to be in line with that, while ensuring that there is no overlap, a senior government official told Business Standard.

The consumer affairs ministry has completed consultation with top companies, industry associations and other relevant stakeholders. But we are also taking the views of NGOs, as the rules are consumer-centric, the official cited above said. The department is likely to dilute some clauses of the draft e-commerce rules aimed at consumer protection after key government departments, as well as top players raised concerns regarding the proposed amendments.

The consumer affairs ministry had in June last year proposed a set of guidelines for etailers including ban on flash sales or sale of goods at significantly reduced prices. The guidelines also gave preference to locally produced goods. Industry representatives and government departments were critical of the guidelines, arguing that investor sentiment would be hurt. The final rules main focus will be protecting the interests of consumers.

As far as DPIITs e-commerce policy is concerned, the department has circulated the latest draft policy to other government departments and ministries for consultation. Earlier, at least two drafts prepared by could not become policy after some government departments opposed certain clauses.
India and on Thursday agreed to form a joint task force on a proposal to construct a hydropower project from investments of the two neighbouring countries.

The task force will have maximum three members from both the countries.

The agreement was reached at the 9th meeting of the Nepal-India Energy Secretary-Level Joint Steering Committee in Kathmandu, according to officials at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary of the Energy Ministry Debendra Karki from and Secretary of the Energy Ministry of India Alok Kumar.

Kumar, who was in Kathmandu to attend the IndiaNepal Joint Steering Committee meeting, also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday evening at the PM's Official residence at Baluwatar.

During the meeting between Karki and Kumar, issues including existing transmission lines between the two countries, under-construction and proposed interstate transmission line, the Arun III hydropower and transmission line and interstate power trade were discussed, said Joint Secretary Chiranjivi Chataut.

Both sides agreed to increase the capacity of energy being imported and exported through the interstate 400 KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line. The 400 KV transmission line will span 140 kilometers (20 kilometers in Nepali territory and the remaining 120 in Indian territory).

The government of has to manage budget to construct the project on its side, as per the agreement.

India has taken a positive note of the proposal floated by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to export electricity to India. The NEA has requested India to approve the proposal to export 850 megawatts electricity to India prior to the coming monsoon, according to officials.

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As war broke out between and Ukraine, Prime Minister spoke to Russian President and the government acted in concert to oversee the evacuation of around 15,000 Indians, mostly students. Officials were despatched to all neighbouring countries and in three rapid advisories, students were given guidelines to protect themselves, not travel in the direction of some areas of the country and contact Indian officials waiting on all Ukrainian borders. The Indian Air Force is on standby to evacuate passengers from neighbouring countries. The airport remains closed. An Air India flight going to turned back for Delhi on Thursday morning. Flight trackers on the internet show no commercial aircraft in Ukrainian airspace.

In a special briefing Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla explained that an Operations Room had been working for a week and the Indian Embassy in had begun registration of Indians several days ago. This was in response to state governments, especially those ruled by non-Congress governments,which began ratcheting up their demand that the Centre step up evacuation efforts to bring our children back.

Prime Minister held a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at which Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Home Minister Amit Shah were briefed by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, who was in France for a meeting of EU leaders (France holds the presidency) but returned home.

The Indian Mission asked Indians to be aware of the surroundings, be safe, not leave homes unless necessary and stressed on carrying their documents at all times.

Ukraines ambassador in New Delhi sought Prime Minister Narendra Modis intervention with Putin to ask to pull back its troops. But the Opposition Congress described Indias position as equivocation.

India should unequivocally condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine in unambiguous terms. There comes a time when you need to tell friends they cant indulge in regime change. Indias conduct of international relations should be characterised by calling a spade a spade, said Congress MP Manish Tewari, asking, "In the 21st century, can you change the status quo by force?" Congress MP Vivek Tankha said he had written to the government last week asking it to escalate evacuation of Indians from Ukraine but the government acted when it was too late.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with French President Emmanuel Macron, during a meeting in Paris Photo: PTI

Describing conditions in Ukraine, third-year doctorate of medicine (MD) student Nikheta Francis, who was studying at the Bogomolets National Medical University in Kyiv but returned home in anticipation of a war, told Business Standard many of her classmates are still stuck there.

"So far the university was offering online classes which got cancelled on Thursday after the attack. Classes will remain cancelled until further notice, even as the university has asked students to stay safe and be packed and ready. However, this was not the scenario even until Wednesday, despite media frenzy," said Francis, who returned to Ahmedabad a week ago via an Air Arabia flight from Kyiv to Hyderabad via Sharjah.

Social media posts claimed that around 200 students were stranded outside the Indian Embassy in Kyiv.

According to the Indian Embassy in Kyiv, over 18,000 students from India are in Ukraine studying medicine or engineering, forming roughly 24 per cent of total international students.

However, the attacks have not dampened Indian students' spirit or preference for studying in Ukraine, even as they wait for things to normalise, said M Kalidhas, director of Mediseats Abroad, a leading Chennai-based medical education consultant, specialising in counselling and providing career guidance for students who want to become medical professionals. A large number of the Indian students in Ukraine are from Tamil Nadu or Kerala.

Both state governments are run by Opposition parties and Kerala was first off the bat to ask the Centre to speed up evacuation and bring back Indians stranded in the strife-hit country.

"Of so many Indian students in Ukraine, hardly a few hundred have returned. There was not much panic until Thursday and universities have also assured that classes will resume at the earliest, in the hope of returning to normalcy. Also, with flight fares being very high, it is not an easy decision to come back," said Kalidhas.

Seconding Kalidhas, Francis said some of her classmates have, therefore, booked flights for as late as May, hoping to return to their universities, given that the third and sixth year of their MD programmes are crucial years in their medical education.

"We flew 182 students from Ukraine to Delhi on Thursday. We have six more flights planned to Delhi until March 3 and 1,500 students have booked to travel. The Ukrainian airspace is closed. We have to wait and watch for now," said Isha Goyal, chief executive officer, Stic Travel Group, India representative of Ukraine International Airlines.
The Russia- conflict would have nil or negligible impact on India's foreign trade, and the crisis may give domestic exporters an opportunity to ship more wheat in the global markets, sources said on Thursday.

India's central pool stood at 24.2 million tonnes, twice more than the buffer and strategic needs, they said.

More than a quarter of the world's wheat export comes from Russia and .

Russia is the world's largest exporter of wheat, accounting for more than 18 per cent of international exports.

In 2019, Russia and together exported more than a quarter (25.4 per cent) of the world's wheat.

Egypt, Turkey and Bangladesh bought more than half of Russia's wheat, they said.

Egypt is the world's biggest importer of wheat. It spends more than USD 4 billion annually to feed its population of over 100 million. Russia and Ukraine cover more than 70 per cent of Egypt's imported wheat demand.

Turkey is also a big spender on Russian and Ukrainian wheat with 74 per cent of its imports worth USD 1.6 billion coming from those two countries in 2019.

"The crisis in Ukraine may give India an opportunity to export more wheat, provided we ship out more, as our central pool stood at 24.2 million tonnes, twice more than the buffer and strategic needs," the sources added.

India's biggest item of import from Ukraine is animal and vegetable fats and oils.

"But, the the current situation will not adversely impact India's trade position as the share of this commodity out of India's total imports of this item from across the world stands at only 10 per cent," one of the sources said.

Top-five countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of wheat include Russia (USD 7.9 billion), United States (USD 6.32 billion), Canada (USD 6.3 billion), France (USD 4.5 billion) and Ukraine (3.6 billion).

Total exports to Russia is USD 2 billion and to Ukraine USD 0.5 billion, which is less than even one per cent of India's total exports. "The way Indian exports have been diversified and the speed at which they are growing, the impact is negligible or almost nil," the sources said.

India import around USD 7 billion from Russia and USD 2 billion from Ukraine. The main product of imports from Russia is oil and there are enough other substitute sources available to fill in that, the sources said.

"The economy and India's foreign trade has become resilient enough to absorb the impact of such events of global significance without much attrition," they added.

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After the latest Russian attack on Thursday, several compatriots of third year MD student Nikheta Francis are still stuck and worried at her Bogomolets National Medical University in Kyiv, .

"So far the university was offering online classes which got cancelled today after the attack. Classes will remain cancelled until further notice even as the university has asked students to stay safe and be packed and ready. However, this was not the scenario even till yesterday despite the media frenzy," said Francis, who returned to Ahmedabad a week ago via an Air Arabia flight from Kyiv to Hyderabad via Sharjah.

On its part, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv issued an advisory on Thursday asking Indians in to remain calm and safe in their homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit. "All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those travelling from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries," the advisory further read as tweeted by the embassy.

Later on Thursday, the embassy issued fresh advisory for all Indian nationals and students in on alternative arrangements being made for their evacuation. On the other hand, social media posts claimed that around 200 students were stranded outside the Indian embassy in Kyiv.

According to the Indian Embassy in Kyiv, over 18000 students from India are in Ukraine studying medicine or engineering, forming roughly 24 per cent of total international students.

However, the attacks do not seem to dampen Indian students' spirit or preference for studying in Ukraine even as they await for things to normalize, said M Kalidhas, director of Mediseats Abroad, a leading Chennai-based medical education consultant.

"Of so many Indian students in Ukraine, hardly a few hundreds have returned. There was not much panic until Thursday and universities have also assured that classes will resume at the earliest in the hope of returning to normalcy. Also, with flight tickets being very high, it is not an easy decision to come back," said Kalidhas.

"We flew 182 students from Ukraine to Delhi today. We have six more flights planned to Delhi till March 3 and 1500 students have booked to travel. The Ukrainian airspace is closed so we have to wait and watch for now," said Isha Goyal, CEO of Stic Travel Group, India representative of Ukraine International Airlines.

Whereas Air India on Thursday said that it was to operate 3 flights on 22nd, 24th and 26th Feb, 2022 on the Delhi-Ukraine-Delhi sector. "We had operated a return flight between Delhi and Ukraine on 22nd Feb, bringing back 242 passengers from Ukraine. This morning our flight had left for Kyiv, Ukraine but had to return due to NOTAM (notice to airmen) announced at Kyiv and closure of airspace in Ukraine. The three return flights from Ukraine generally had good load factors," it stated.

Meanwhile, seconding Kalidhas is Francis who said that some of her classmates have booked flights for as far as May 2022 even as they hope to return to their universities given that third and sixth year of their MD programs are crucial years in their medical education.
on Thursday sought to quash speculation over the possibility of a post-poll tie-up with the ruling BJP, saying her BSP was not the B team of any party and the rivals were trying to mislead her supporters.

The speculation was triggered by a recent remark by Union Home Minister that Mayawati's remained relevant in the assembly polls and will get Dalit votes.

had responded by saying that it was Shah's magnanimity that he acknowledged this but added that the BSP will also get the votes of other communities.

"Ever since the Union Home Minister gave a statement on the BSP's position among Dalits and Muslims after the polling in western UP, rival political parties and the media have started saying that it is the 'B' team of the BJP, when there is no truth in this," the BSP supremo said at an election meeting here.

She also accused the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the BJP as having a "casteist mindset", a charge she also levelled on the media.

asked why the Samajwadi Party had allied with the BSP in a previous assembly election and then in the Lok Sabha polls if it was the BJP's B team. She said the media should also tell this to people.

She also referred to the BJP extending support to SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's government in the past.

The Dalit leader targeted the Congress and asked, Why did the Congress once contest the with the BSP and why did it seek support for its government at the Centre?



She called it the rivals' disgusting politics.

The BSP supremo said the truth is that the BSP is a national-level party and not "the A or B team of any party".

In a recent television interview, had said the BSP remained relevant in UP.

I believe it will get votes. I don't know how much of it will convert into seats but it will get votes," the BJP leader had said, triggering speculation over the possibility of a post poll understanding between the two parties. In 1995, 1997 and 2002, Mayawati was sworn in as chief minister with the BJP's support.

Lashing out at the media, Mayawati accused it of misleading the Scheduled Caste community by saying that your behan ji doesn't visit victims of atrocities on Dalits when Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra always does this.

Mayawati said like Sonia Gandhi, she is the national president of a party and not g just an in-charge of a state -- like Priyanka Gandhi.

She said her party too has office bearers who, like the Congress UP in-charge, rush to help victims of atrocities on Dalits. But there is no drama before the media, as in the case of the Congress and other parties, she added.

She asked her supporters to remain alert of the casteist media and double-faced political parties.

She said it was unfortunate that there were conspiracies to influence the elections in the name of terrorism or activities of the investigating agencies in Maharashtra.

The BSP president said her party is contesting the elections alone with full might so that the good days of the BSP government return to .

Like earlier, the BSP has given tickets to all sections of society (sarv samaj), she said.

If the BSP forms the government, its priority will be to provide jobs and steps will be taken remove poverty, she said.

Farmers will not be disappointed and the sants and mahants will be respected, she 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.)
General Secretary Vadra said the focus on caste and religion in politics has made politicians complacent, making them sideline the real issues.

Gandhi accepted that the organisation had weakened in the state over the past few decades but the party has worked hard now to rebuild it and reconnect with the public.

On a question related to the dominance of caste and religion in since 1989, Gandhi told PTI, It is correct that UP's politics has become about caste and religion, but the fact is that this kind of politics has contributed nothing to the progress of the state. It has not only pushed the state back but has enabled the political class to become complacent.

The average politician of UP believes that he will get votes on the basis of religion and caste anyway so what need does he have to perform on other counts? He can sideline the real issues of the public with ease. This is a very unhealthy development in a democracy, she said.

It effectively means that development, governance and economics take a back seat as emotions linked to caste and religion drive politics, Gandhi said in written answers to questions sent to her.

We are the only party that has offered a well thought out plan for women, youth and indeed for every aspect of UP's social and political upliftment and presented it in our manifestos. We believe that politicians must be held accountable for governance and development and are spreading this message across the state, she said.

Asked how strong the cadre in is as the party has not been in power for the last 33 years, Gandhi said, Our organisation in UP had been progressively weakened over the last few decades. For a number of elections due to alliances, we did not even put up candidates in as many as two to three hundred seats.

What I faced when I first came here was almost a complete erosion of our cadre although some old congressmen and women were still standing strong despite this, she added,



However, fielding candidates on 400 seats for the ongoing Uttar Pradesh elections will throw up new leadership and strengthen the Congress, she asserted.

We have worked very hard to rebuild our party. We changed the nature of the programmes so that they re-connected our cadres with the public and no longer remained party-centric alone. We trained over 100,000 workers and have built the organisation up to the Nyay panchayat and gram level across the state, she said.

Elaborating on the steps taken by her to rebuild the party, Gandhi said, We made sure that whenever the public faced problems in the last few years, our party workers were the first to respond and fight for their rights, yet we have a long way to go in terms of organisational strength on the ground.

Development is at the top of our political agenda. We are appealing to women and young people to replace the politics of caste and religion with a politics that responds to the needs of the public, she said.

On Congress' allegations that the BJP is diverting from core development issues and focusing only on terrorism and mafias, she said, I see it as a great shame that people are facing such immense problems, they are unable to make ends meet, they are struggling on a daily basis and yet, this is what BJP leaders are spending their time doing.

What is polarisation after all? It is a blatant political tool that allows political parties to underperform on every front, she said.

The Congress leader also vowed to continue to fight for the rights of the people of Uttar Pradesh irrespective of the election results.

I will be right here working for the people of UP and fighting for them regardless of what the results in this election will be. I know my responsibility towards them and I feel it deeply in my heart, she said.

UP has so much potential, so much skill and capability and its people are being cheated of their dues over and over again. They truly deserve a politics that puts their needs and aspirations first. I will work very hard to make this possible, the Congress leader added.

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Ltd (MMFSL) is looking to double the assets of its Sri Lankan subsidiary Ideal Ltd to Rs 16 billion over three-five years.

The entity has been re-branded as Mahindra Ideal where MMFSL raised its stake from 38 per cent to little over 58 per cent in July 2021.

Ramesh Iyer, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Mahindra said, Mahindra Finance is looking at expanding in Asia. This strategic partnership with the Ideal Group of is a significant step in that direction. The strategy is to work with local partners to enhance business presence. The company is exploring prospects for business presence in .

Besides vehicle financing, the plan is to provide housing finance and insurance distribution. It would take call on entering the Mutual Funds segment in at a later date, he added.

On capital infusion to support business growth, Iyer said Mahindra Ideal Finance has a capital adequacy of 34 per cent. This capital base plus retained earnings will support business growth. For any additional capital requirement it would take a call after one-two years.

The rebranded entity will offer a wider suite of products to include Gold Loans, leases for personal vehicles and consumer and personal loans. The company is also aiming to expand its branch network and enhance digital footprint across the island to service its customers as close to their doorstep as possible.

MMFSL also has a joint venture with the Rabobank group for operations in the United States of America. It also offers wholesale inventory-financing to dealers and retail-financing to customers to purchase Mahindra Group products.

Iyer said the American unit has a balance sheet of $ one billion and giving a return on assets of eight-nine per cent. The growth is supported by accrued profits.
An adviser to Ukraine's president says about 40 people have been killed so far in the Russian attack on the country.

Oleksii Arestovich, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that several dozen people have been wounded.

He didn't specify whether the casualties included civilians.

Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian authorities will hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.

The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian, he said, urging all those who can defend the country to come to the Interior Ministry's assembly facilities.

Ankara: Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey has called on the NATO member country to close its airspace and to shut down the straits at the entrance of the Black Sea to Russian ships.

We are calling for the airspace, Bosporus and Dardanelles straits to be closed, Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told reporters on Thursday. We have conveyed our relevant demand to the Turkish side. At the same time, we want sanctions imposed on the Russian side.

A 1936 convention gives Turkey control over the straits connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, and allows it to limit the passage of warships during wartime or if Turkey is threatened.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened an emergency security meeting to discuss the Russian attack on .

Turkey, which enjoys close relations with both and Russia, had been pressing for a diplomatic solution to the tensions.

Kyiv: A Ukrainian presidential adviser says that Russian forces have launched an attack on from the north, east and south.

The adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the Ukrainian military is fighting hard.

Podolyak said Thursday that "our army is fighting back inflicting significant losses to the enemy. He said that there have been civilian casualties, but didn't give details.

He said that Ukraine now needs a greater and very specific support from the world military-technical, financial as well as tough sanctions against Russia, he said.

Another adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said has targeted air bases and various other military infrastructure.

Oleksii Arestovich said the Russian strike hasn't achieved its goal to rout the country's military. He said that we suffered casualties, but they aren't significant, adding that the Russian strikes haven't eroded the combat capability of the Ukrainian military.

He said that the Russian troops moved up to 5 km (about 3 miles) deep into the Ukrainian territory in the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions, and, possibly in other areas.

(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.)
Supporters of Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the Resistance Front against the Taliban, and representatives held their first meeting in the centre of Islamic Republic of Afghanisation's Parwan province to seek an alternative to fighting.

The Resistance Front delegation comprised of 12 people led by Almas Zahid, a former Mujahideen Commander, and the six-member delegation was led by Mohammad Mohsin Hashimi, the Taliban's Deputy Leader of Intelligence. The meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon.

A representative of the Resistance Front, Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, wrote on his Facebook page that both sides agreed to not attack each other until the second round of negotiations is held, TOLO news was reported as saying.

The representatives met for three hours and then returned to their respective sides to share the discussed issues with their leaders.

"After three hours of discussion, it was decided that both delegations will share the message with their leadership and resume the negotiations to reach a durable peace in the country. It was also decided that the parties should not attack each other until the second round of negotiations," wrote Ezedyar.

A member of the delegation, meanwhile, said the Taliban wanted to discuss the issue of Panjshir, but Massoud's supporters wanted to discuss the structure of the future government. Thus the negotiations had no tangible outcome, he said.

"The Panjshir delegation was more focused on the overall structure of the governance system. Since there were big differences between the two sides' demands, both sides decided to take the messages to their leaders," said Anamullah Samangani, a member of the cultural commission of the Taliban.

The negotiations followed both sides' threatening to use military force.

"The discussions will bear results in the coming days. If the discussions have no results and they use another option (military), we will do the same," said Noorullah Noori, a member of the Taliban's political office.

"We are still waiting for the outcome of the negotiations. Despite this, we have all the military preparations as well," said Hamid Saifi, a member of the Resistance Front.

Ahmad Massoud in a recent interview with the BBC said that if an inclusive and acceptable government for all is not established, will be isolated both politically and economically.

"We are negotiating with the Taliban. So far, several countries like Canada has said it will not recognise an exclusive government. If that happens the people will continue to suffer," Massoud said.

The Taliban has said they will form an inclusive government, but the terms have still not been clearly defined.

--IANS

int/khz/

(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.)
.com Inc labour organizer Christian Smalls was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly trespassing on company property, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) said. Smalls, a former employee, had been dropping off food for workers ahead of a high-profile union election he is leading at a company warehouse in Staten Island, New York, said Seth Goldstein, a pro bono attorney representing Smalls' group known as the Labor Union.



Security for the retailer called law enforcement saying there were trespassers, leading to charges against three individuals including Smalls for obstructing governmental administration, said the NYPD's Lt. John Grimpel. Smalls also faced charges for resisting arrest and trespass, he said.



Smalls was not immediately reachable for comment. Amazon did not immediately comment. The 33-year-old organizer is seeking to make Amazon's JFK8 Staten Island warehouse the company's first unionized facility in the United States. Workers will vote starting March 25 on whether to officially form a union, just as a second closely watched election at Amazon's Bessemer, Alabama warehouse is unfolding.



A majority vote in favor of unionizing at either worksite would mark a victory for those seeking to invigorate the U.S.

labor movement. According to advocacy organization Make the Road New York, the two individuals arrested alongside Smalls were current Amazon employees helping provide a free lunch to workers.



Sienna Fontaine, the organization's general counsel, called for the immediate release of all three and for the "cessation of Amazon's anti-union activities at the JFK8 facility." "The people that Amazon is throwing in jail are fighting for better working conditions and should be treated with respect and dignity," she said.



Smalls had sued Amazon for allegedly firing him in 2020 because he is Black and had opposed discriminatory COVID-19 policies, a complaint that a federal judge dismissed earlier this month. Amazon has said it terminated Smalls because he joined a protest at JFK8 despite being on paid quarantine from coronavirus contact.

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Any attempt to interfere with Russian action would lead to 'consequences', warns Putin

Announcing a special "military operation" in the Donbas region, Russian President warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize Ukraine and defend people "suffering persecution and genocide" by the Kiev regime.

"I have taken the decision to carry out a special military operation. Its goal will be to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime. For this we will aim for demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine," said Putin, asking Ukrainian soldiers to lay down arms.

"Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history," he added.

This comes hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has not posed and will not pose a threat to Russia.

In an emotional appeal delivered largely in Russian, Zelenskyy said, "You are being told that Ukraine can pose a threat to Russia.

"It was not like this in the past, it is not like this now and it will not be so in the future. You demand security guarantees from NATO. We also demand guarantees of our security - from you, from Russia, and other guarantors of the Budapest memorandum," Zelenskyy said in a video address.

Ukrainian President also refuted Moscow's claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

The White House on Wednesday had warned that Putin will face significant consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the Russian President to stop "attacking Ukraine" and to give peace a chance, speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday night.

"The day was full of rumours and indications of an offensive against Ukraine was imminent. In the recent past, there were several situations with similar indications, similar rumours," Guterres told the council.

"I was wrong. And I would like not to be wrong again today," he added.

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The United States and its allies will respond in a united and decisive way to "an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" on Ukraine, U.S. President said after blasts were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.



"President (Vladimir) Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said in a statement.



" alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold accountable." Biden said he would announce on Thursday further consequences to be imposed on by the United States and its allies.



(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Thursday condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying in his view that economic sanctions my not be enough and the West may need to use force.

Mourao's comments went well beyond a statement by Brazil's Foreign Ministry expressing concern about Russia's military operations and urging a diplomatic solution. President Jair Bolsonaro, who recently met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow, had not publicly addressed the invasion on Thursday.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Brad Haynes)

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Brahma Chellaney, a strategic expert, says that is walking in the footsteps of the saying that the destruction of two massive statues built in the sixth century by is similar to the destruction of numerous religious artefacts in Afghanistan by .

is putting efforts to do every bit to restrain Tibetans from exercising their rights. Chinese authorities have switched Tibetan language schools to Chinese. They are aiming to cut Tibetans off their ancient traditions, reported Press.

Recently, they demolished a 99-foot statue of Lord in the Tibetan region of Sichuan. Chellaney compared the unfortunate incident to the destroying the Bamiyan Buddhas in 2001.

Demolition of the two historic and giant 15th-century statues in Afghanistan had sent shock waves across the world, he said adding that China is walking in the footsteps of the Taliban.

Even after gross human rights violations, the International Olympic Committee has assented to let China host the Olympics following which the event has attracted widespread criticism and profound concerns by the global powers, reported Press.

Many activists fighting for human rights have blamed the IOC for supporting China, which is "committing atrocities against ethnic minorities".

"Despite well-documented evidence of systematic rights violations by China, the IOC chose to place profit over people," the Tibetan exile group stated. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has even equated Beijing's rule with "cultural genocide".

The human rights violations in the Xinjiang region have gained much global attention. Since 2014, nearly 1 million Uyghurs and other Turkic communities, which mainly practise Islam, have been placed in "re-education" centres. Many are deployed as forced labour in Xinjiang and other places. The last decade under Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been especially troublesome.

(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.)
extended declines as Russias attacks on targets across Ukraine sent risk assets reeling, with slumping to a one-month low.

The largest token fell as much as 8.5% to $34,337 after Vladimir Putins push to demilitarise Ukraine started with a barrage of missile attacks on Thursday. Second-ranked Ether declined as much as 12% to $2,301.84. Other coins like XRP, Cardano and Solana were down as well.

Read more: Stocks Sink, Brent Scales $100 on Russia Assault: Wrap

Bitcoins swings during the past weeks of escalating geopolitical tensions have undermined the argument that offer a hedge in times of trouble. Thats in large part a result of its deepening integration into global financial markets, which causes it to move more like other risk assets, according to Ben Caselin, head of research and strategy at crypto exchange AAX.

The traditional safe haven gold, meanwhile, surged to the highest level since early 2021 on Thursday.

The Russia-Ukraine crisis could drive prices significantly lower in the short-term, said Jonathan Tse, head of trading at crypto platform Copper.co. However, it could be whats needed to find a bottom sooner, rather than an ongoing crypto winter for prices slowly grinding lower.

The next key level to watch for in the event of futher declines will be $28,000 to $29,000, said Vijay Ayyar, vice president of corporate development at Luno, a crypto platform. If that threshold gets breached, we could be looking at much lower levels in the low $20,000s and below.
is deeply dissatisfied with Indias position on the crisis arising out of Russian military offensive, Ambassador Igor Polikha said on Thursday and sought New Delhis support in defusing the situation.

The Ukrainian ambassador said India has special relationship with and it can play a more proactive role in de-escalation of the situation.

He said Prime Minister is among very few leaders whom President Vladimir Putin listens to and New Delhi can use its proximity with Moscow to control the situation.

The envoy said has been following Indias position on the crisis and it is deeply dissatisfied with it.

His comments came a day after Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said India has been playing a vital role as a responsible global power and it takes an independent and balanced approach to world affairs.

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday night, India had called for restraint on all sides.

It stressed that the immediate priority is de-escalation of tensions, taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond.

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External Affairs Minister Dr. on Wednesday (local time) chaired a meeting of Indian ambassadors to EU countries and appreciated their commitment to assist Indian diaspora during the Covid period.

Taking to Twitter," Chaired a meeting of our EU Ambassadors in Paris today. A comprehensive discussion on issues currently faced by Indian foreign policy. Appreciated the strong commitment of all our Embassies to assist Indians and our diaspora during the Covid period."

Notably, the External Affairs Minister arrived in Paris on Sunday on a three-day trip after paying a two-day visit to Germany.

On the first day of his visit to Paris, Jaishankar held extensive talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian covering a range of bilateral and global issues including the situation in Afghanistan and the Ukraine crisis.

Furthermore, during his address at the French Institute of Relations on the theme of 'How India sees France', the Minister said, ''Through the tumult of our times, India's relations with France have continued to move forward on a steady and clear course. It is a relationship that has been free from sudden shifts and surprises that we sometimes see in other cases.''

Jaishankar also called on the French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday where he conveyed him Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings. In a tweet, Jaishankar said that the discussions reflected the ''full spirit'' of the strategic partnership between the two countries and that both sides will cooperate closely in the Indo-Pacific.

''Delighted to call on President @EmmanuelMacron of France. Conveyed greetings of PM @narendramodi. Our discussions reflected the full spirit of our strategic partnership. We will cooperate closely in the Indo-Pacific,'' Jaishankar tweeted.

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The is planning the strongest, the harshest package of sanctions it has ever considered at an emergency Thursday, as the Russian military attacked Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the target is the stability in Europe and the whole of the peace order, and we will hold President (Vladimir) Putin accountable for that.

We will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions to European leaders for approval, she said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it the strongest, the harshest package ever considered.

(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 weakened and safe-haven currencies including the U.S. dollar were in demand on Thursday amid intensifying fears of an imminent full-scale Russian invasion of .

The greenback, yen and Swiss franc all rose back toward multi-week highs to Europe's single currency, while the greenback hovered near a one-week peak versus major peers after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believes Russia will invade within hours.

Riskier commodity-linked currencies also tumbled, succumbing to worsening risk sentiment after earlier in the week proving resilient due to high commodity prices.

has declared a state of emergency and Moscow began evacuating its Kyiv embassy, while the West slapped Russia with sanctions.

The fell as much as 0.26% to $1.12750, the lowest level since Feb. 3.

It declined 0.29% to 129.640 yen, approaching Tuesday's low of 129.360, its weakest since Feb. 3. It slipped 0.22% to 1.03550 franc, closing in on Tuesday's trough at 1.03405, which was the lowest since Jan. 24.

The U.S. dollar index - which gauges the against six major peers, including the euro, yen and Swiss franc - rose as much as 0.19% to 96.372 for the first time since Feb. 14.

"We're definitely seeing a knee-jerk reaction to Blinken's comments," with haven currencies in demand and the and commodity currencies sold off, said Joseph Capurso, a strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

"The situation certainly looks like it's going to get worse before it gets better."

The Australian dollar dropped 0.33% to $0.72075 and the New Zealand dollar slid 0.41% to $0.67475.

Sterling lost 0.08% to $1.35340.

(Reporting by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Sam Holmes)

(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 planning the strongest, the harshest package of sanctions it has ever considered at an emergency summit Thursday as the Russian military attacked Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the target is the stability in Europe and the whole of the peace order, and we will hold President (Vladimir) Putin accountable for that.

We will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions to European leaders for approval, she said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it the strongest, the harshest package ever considered.

A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue, Borrell said. This is not only the greatest violation of law, it's a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence. It's costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The will respond in the strongest possible terms.

Von der Leyen said the massive and targeted sanctions she will put to EU leaders will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for .

She said the sanctions, if approved, will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernize. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial financial markets.

Like the first package of sanctions that were imposed when recognised the two breakaway eastern Ukrainian republics, von der Leyen said all Western powers were walking in lockstep.

We are closely aligned with our partners and allies the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, but also, for example, Japan and Australia, she said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Western allies won't stand by as attacks Ukraine.

In an early morning call, Johnson told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he was appalled by events in Ukraine, according to a statement released by the prime minister's office.

The Prime Minister said the West would not stand by as President Putin waged his campaign against the Ukrainian people, Johnson's office said in the statement.

Johnson added that Ukraine was in the thoughts of everyone in the UK during this dark time.

The turmoil from the beginning of a long-feared act of aggression rippled from Europe to Asia. Stock markets plunged, oil prices surged, and European aviation officials warned of a high risk to civilian aircraft over Ukraine, reminding air operators that this is now an active conflict zone.

In New York, the UN Security Council held an extraordinary emergency meeting meant to dissuade Russia from sending troops into Ukraine. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' plea to give peace a chance came just as Russian President appeared on Russian TV to announce a military operation that he maintained was to protect civilians in Ukraine.

Putin, who said that rebels in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military assistance, warned other countries that any effort to interfere with the Russian operation would lead to consequences they have never seen.

As leaders across Asia and Europe scrambled to condemn the attack, explosions were heard in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. Nations around the world this week have also imposed a raft of new sanctions on Russia.

Moscow had massed more than 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders. On Monday, Putin recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian forces there for what he called peacekeeping.

Guterres at the UN disputed that, saying the troops were entering another country without its consent.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russia's attack a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe and a blatant violation of law. It cannot be justified by anything.

In a bulletin Thursday, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft and that the presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a HIGH risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels.

Asian stock markets were in turmoil.

Market benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul fell 2% and Hong Kong and Sydney lost more than 3% Thursday. Oil prices jumped nearly $3 per barrel on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies.

Earlier, Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.8% to an eight-month low.

Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in 2014, and pro-Russia rebels have since been fighting Ukrainian forces in the eastern areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. More than 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala condemned the Russian attack as absolutely unjustified act of aggression against a sovereign state. Slovakia Prime Minister Eduard Heger called it an unjustified barbarian act.

Many world capitals were trying to determine just what was happening in the tense and fast-changing early moments of a chaotic and violent event.

We are putting all our effort into collecting the information and comprehending the situation, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said shortly after Putin's announcement. It's important and challenging to secure the safety of Japanese people (in Ukraine). After fully comprehending the situation, we will handle the case properly.

Asked whether Taiwan would cooperate with the US and like-minded countries to put export controls on semi-conductors and technology products that the self-ruled island is known for, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou said they were in close coordination and would take the appropriate actions in response to help Ukraine and uphold the area's peace and stability.

China, which has denounced sanctions against Russia, advised its citizens in Ukraine to stay home and place a Chinese flag in or on their vehicles if they need to travel long distances.

Social order is chaotic and out of control, especially in the cities where at times of serious unrest, walking on the streets could make one a target of attack, traffic could be stopped at any time and venturing out creates the possibility of running into uncontrollable risks, the notice said.

China has increasingly aligned its foreign policy with Russia to challenge the West, and has blamed the United States and its allies for provoking Moscow.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said sanctions against Russia would become law Friday but would not take effect until the end of March. He said the time was needed to give opportunities for businesses that have had very legitimate operations and business interests in Russia and in the affected territories of Ukraine to be able to make changes to their arrangements.

Morrison said financial sanctions and travel bans that target eight members of the Russian Security Council will be a first batch of measures in response to Russian aggression toward Ukraine. Australia will also align with the US and Britain by targeting two Russian banks.

The reason we're doing this is there must be a price for the unprovoked, unlawful, unwarranted, unjustified attacks and threats and intimidation that has been imposed by Russia on Ukraine. This cannot be a consequence-free action by and the Russian regime, Morrison 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 CEO of Motor Co. says the automaker has no plans to spin off its electric vehicle or internal combustion businesses, but is reinventing itself by removing costs and ramping up for large-scale EV and software sales.

CEO Jim Farley told the Wolfe Research virtual global technology conference Wednesday that the company could hit Tesla-like profit margins by using common electric motors, electronic components and other parts across all sizes of vehicles.

But to do that, needs radically different human talent than it now has, Farley said in a surprisingly candid interview with analyst Rod Lache. He also said the company has too many people and too much complexity, and it doesn't have the expertise to transition to battery- .

That's the simple answer. There's waste," he said.

Ford, Farley said, can't just pivot from internal combustion engines to battery powered vehicles. The internal combustion engine organization is good at body, paint and manufacturing, and would be envied by startup EV makers.

But I can't turn to the ICE organization and say go be Tesla,' Farley said. They may do it on the (auto) body. They may do it in plant operations, but that's not good enough, he said, without giving specifics of what changes are coming.

Ford has only 15% of the market in the U.S., so the transition to battery vehicles is a chance to attract new customers. But Farley said it needs to make the buying process simple and all online, with no inventory in the system and home deliveries of the vehicles.

Ford's distribution costs are $3,000 to $4,000 higher than Tesla's, Farley said, and is seeking to close that gap by attracting new talent with those skills.

Neither Ford's internal combustion business nor its electric vehicle operations earn as much profit as they could, Farley said. The company needs more talent to lower structural costs and raise quality in its ICE business, and cut the cost of materials for electric vehicles, he said.

The company also can differentiate itself by doing online software updates so that customers understand how their vehicle is changing, and it needs to keep service customers so if they have a fender bender or a problem develops in four or five years, they can stay within a simple Ford system, Farley said.

He said also the company is working hard to secure raw materials such as lithium and nickel to make EV batteries, and to expect more announcements in the coming months.

Bloomberg News on Friday reported that Ford is looking at ways to separate its electric vehicle business from its legacy combustion operations to earn the kind of investor support enjoyed by Tesla.

But Farley said Wednesday that's not happening.

We have no plans to spin off our electric business or our ICE business, he said.

It's really more around focus and capabilities, expertise and talent.

Shares of Ford, which is based in Dearborn, Michigan, fell 2% to $16.95 Wednesday. They have lost about one-third of their value since hitting a 2022 high on Jan. 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.)
French President says and its European allies did everything to try to head off the attack on Ukraine. He said that they will show no weakness in their response.

Macron said in a televised address to the nation Thursday that Russia's attack is a turning point in European history and as a result there will be profound consequences for our continent and changes in our lives.

He said that to this act of war, we will reply without weakness, we will reply calmly and in a determined and united manner.

We have tried everything to avoid this war but it is here and we are ready, Macron said.

He said that sanctions will be proportionate to Russia's military operations, targeting its economy and its energy sector.

We will show no weakness, Macron said. We will take all measures necessary to defend the sovereignty and stability of our European allies.

Bratislava: The Slovak government has authorised the deployment of up to 1,500 soldiers to help guard the border with Ukraine following Russia's attack on Slovakia's eastern neighbour.

The defense ministry said Thursday they will be used if there is a massive wave of refugees.

The government said Slovakia is also ready to open more border crossings with Ukraine if needed.

Slovania last week lifted all coronavirus restrictions for potential refugees coming from Ukraine in the case of a Russian invasion.

Rome: Italian Premier Mario Draghi says Russia's attack on Ukraine has made dialogue with Moscow impossible.

He is demanding that Putin immediately stop the bloodshed and withdraw military forces.

Speaking after an urgent Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Draghi said Russia's operation concerns all of us, our way of living freely, our democracy.

He said Italy, which has kept its embassy in Kyiv open, fully supported very strong sanctions against Russia and was coordinating with NATO and EU allies to beef up security on NATO's eastern flank.

He said that "we are reinforcing our already significant contribution to the military deployments in all the most directly exposed Allied countries.

Helsinki: Latvian authorities say three Russian television channels will have their right to broadcast in Latvia suspended for several years with immediate effect.

They cited the channels' incitement to hatred against Ukraine, justification of war and spreading of disinformation on Ukraine, Latvia and other countries.

Latvia's National Electronic Mass Media Council said Thursday that there will be a ban on broadcasts of the Rossija RTR channel for five years, Rossija 24 channel for four years and TV Centre for three years.

European Union and NATO member Latvia is urging other European nations to make a similar decision.

We are calling on all European Union member countries to use the evidence we have collected, follow our example and ban these three (Russian) channels in the entire territory of the EU, said the council's chairman, Ivars Abolins.

He said that in the last several years, we have closed 41 programmes associated with Russia. Unfortunately, other European countries have not done the same.

Geneva: The head of the UN refugee agency is warning of devastating consequences of Russia's military action in Ukraine and calling on neighbouring countries to keep their borders open for people fleeing the fighting.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, pointed to reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety without elaborating.

He said in a statement that UNHCR had stepped up its operations and capacity in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries, without providing details.

Kyiv: Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says that Russia's key goal is clear: to oust the Ukrainian leadership and stir up as much panic as possible.

Podolyak said Thursday the Russians want to cut off part of the country and they moving in in big convoys.

He said that we are seeing attempts to estabilise the situation in big cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv.

Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Russia's military actions in Ukraine violate laws and amount to a heavy blow to regional peace and stability.

In an address to an gathering in Ankara on Thursday, Erdogan said Turkey -- which has enjoyed close ties to both Russia and Ukraine sincerely regrets that the two countries are confronting each other.

We reiterate our call for a resolution of the problems between Russia and Ukraine, with which we have deep historical ties and friendly relations, through dialogue, within the framework of Minsk agreements, Erdogan said. He was referring to deals that aimed to restore peace in eastern Ukraine.

The Turkish leader said Turkey would do its part to ensure the safety of everyone living in Ukraine, including Turkish citizens and Crimean Tatars, with whom Turkey shares ethnic and cultural bonds.

Geneva: The head of a Nobel Peace Prize-winning anti-nuclear group says a warning from Russian President to anyone who might meddle in Russia's attack on Ukraine amounted to a threat to launch a nuclear war.

Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, was referring to the Russian leader's comments as the attack began that whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.

Fihn, whose group won the Nobel prize in 2017, said Russia had manufactured a false justification for its military action in Ukraine and said Putin's warning was basically to launch a nuclear war.

She alluded to recent tests by Russia of intercontinental ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles, saying that they smacked of basically the Russian military practicing mass-murdering civilians.

Bucharest: The president of Romania has condemned Russia's reprehensible attack on Ukraine and said that Russian President threatens the peace of the entire planet.

Romania borders Ukraine and is a member of NATO and the European Union. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that Russia chose the reprehensible and completely illegal path of massive armed violence against an independent and sovereign state.

Iohannis said that Romania, a country of about 19.5 million people, is ready to deal with economic and humanitarian consequences that the conflict could generate.

He stressed that Romania will not be drawn into the military conflict in Ukraine and said Romanian authorities will take absolutely all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the country's citizens.

Prague: Czech President Milos Zeman, who has been a leading pro-Russian voice among European Union leaders, has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an unprovoked act of aggression.

Zeman said in an address to the nation that Russia has committed a crime against peace.

A week ago, Zeman said that warnings of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine were a failure by CIA. He said repeatedly he didn't believe Russian wanted to attack Ukraine.

I admit I was wrong, Zeman said Thursday. An irrational decision by the leadership of the Russian Federation will cause significant damages to the Russian state.

He called for harder sanctions against Russia, declaring that it's necessary to isolate a lunatic and not just to defend ourselves by words but also by deeds.

Brussels: NATO's secretary-general says Russia has launched war on Ukraine and shattered peace on the European continent.

Jens Stoltenberg called for a summit of NATO alliance leaders for Friday.

Stoltenberg said that this is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion. And he charged that Russia is using force to try to rewrite history.

Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine earlier Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling. Ukraine's government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border.

Helsinki: NATO member Lithuania, which has borders with Russian ally Belarus and Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, has declared a state of emergency effective early Thursday afternoon due to the situation in Ukraine.

The decree signed Thursday by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda steps up border protection. It gives authorities, among other things, the right to check and inspect vehicles, persons and luggage in the border area.

Lithuania also borders fellow NATO and European Union members Poland and Latvia.

Berlin: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine, calling it a dark day for Europe and expressing his country's full solidarity with Kyiv.

Scholz said in a statement at the chancellery in Berlin on Thursday that new sanctions to be imposed on Russia by Germany and its allies would show that Putin has made a serious mistake with his war.

Addressing NATO allies in eastern Europe, Scholz said Germany understood their worries in light of the latest developments and stands by its commitments within the alliance.

Scholz said he and French President proposed soon holding an in-person meeting of the heads of government of NATO member states.

Brussels: NATO has agreed to beef up its land, sea and air forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia after Russian President ordered a military offensive in Ukraine.

NATO ambassadors said in a statement after emergency talks Thursday that we have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies.

While some of NATO's 30-member countries are supplying arms, ammunition and other equipment to Ukraine, NATO as an organisation is not. It will not launch any military action in support of Ukraine.

Countries closest to the conflict Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland are among those to have triggered rare consultations under Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which can be launched when the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the (NATO) parties is threatened.

We have decided, in line with our defensive planning to protect all allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense across the Alliance, the envoys said in a statement. Our measures are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory.

Kyiv: An adviser to Ukraine's president says that Russian forces forged 10-20 kilometers (6-12 miles) deep into the Chernihiv region of northern Ukraine and are regrouping to continue the offensive.

But Oleksiy Arestovich said Thursday that Kyiv is under reliable protection and they will face tough battles.

Arestovich said that fighting is going on 4-5 kilometers (2 -3 miles) north of Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, in the country's northeast. He said Ukrainian troops destroyed four Russian tanks there. The adviser said that Russian troops that moved into Ukraine from Russian-annexed Crimea are trying to advance toward Melitopol and Kherson.

(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.)
Emporia, KS (66801)

Today

Showers early, becoming a steady rain later in the day. High 58F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

A steady rain early. Showers with perhaps a rumble of thunder developing late. Low 53F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
launched a vaccination requirement to enter shopping malls, restaurants and a host of other places on Thursday as it battles an expanding omicron outbreak and tries to overcome vaccine hesitancy in parts of its population.

Businesses posted a QR code at their entrances for people to scan with a smartphone app to check their vaccine status before entering.

Everyone aged 12 and over must have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to enter these places.

Beginning April 30, those aged 18 and above will be required to have two doses. Booster shots will be required for some starting June 30.

Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese city, is struggling to impose a zero-COVID strategy patterned on the tough measures mainland China has implemented to keep the virus at bay.

A sharp rise in cases driven by the omicron variant has left the city short of the hospital beds and isolation rooms needed for a zero-COVID approach.

Mainland experts have been brought in to help put up temporary testing facilities and new isolation wards to handle a mass testing of the entire population of 7.4 million people next month, similar to what China does in cities hit with even relatively small outbreaks.

The city of Hohhot in China's Inner Mongolia region launched a sixth round of citywide testing Thursday after finding more than 220 cases.

In Hong Kong, the Health Department on Wednesday reported 8,674 new cases of people testing positive in the latest 24-hour period, the highest daily total since the start of the pandemic.

The ongoing outbreak, along with the new requirement to be vaccinated to enter certain premises, has driven more people to get a shot.

About 5.9 million people, or 87% of the population 12 years old and older, have gotten at least one dose, according to the government.

Nearly 45,000 people received their first dose of vaccine in the 24 hours through 8 pm Wednesday, and more than 43,000 got either their second or third dose, the city government said.

The vaccine requirement also applies to fresh food markets, gaming centres, gyms, beauty parlours and barbershops, swimming pools, department stores and nightclubs.

Exceptions are made for people making a delivery or picking up an item, including takeout food.

King Woo, who was waiting for takeout outside a restaurant, said that people should have the freedom to choose whether to use the vaccine pass.

Even if I'm not vaccinated, I should have the right to dine-in," he said. "Therefore, in the current situation, I'd rather get takeaway.

At restaurants, an employee is required to check each customer's vaccine status and scan it with their smartphone.

At many other places, including shopping malls, there is no required check. The government said that police may conduct spot checks.

Link, an operator of 75 shopping centres and 52 fresh food markets, said it had set up the QR codes at the entrances and passageways to car parks and housing complexes, and reminded workers that they need to be vaccinated, too.

Our team has been working hard to provide the safest possible environment for our tenants and the public, George Hongchoy, the CEO of Link, said in a news release.

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Countries like cannot be "locked up" behind the iron curtain, the Russian Presidential Spokesman asserted on Thursday, as the US-led West threatened to impose more biting sanctions against Moscow after President Vladimir Putin ordered a military offensive against Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden has condemned for its "unprovoked" and "unjustified" attack on Ukraine and warned that the US and its allies will respond in a "united and decisive" way after Russian troops entered Ukraine.

Such country as cannot be locked up behind the Iron Curtain. Problems may certainly arise with a number of countries, however we had various issues with these countries before, if not speaking about the current situation, spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the official TASS news agency.

It is simply impossible to isolate such country as Russia with an iron curtain, Peskov said, using a notional barrier separating the former Soviet bloc and the West prior to the decline of communism.

President Putin announced in a televised address on Thursday morning that in response to a request by the head of the Donbass republic, he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.

Putin has said that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

Russia's Defence Ministry reported that Russian troops were destroying Ukrainian military infrastructure using precision weapons.

The US has already announced a series of sanctions on Russia to prevent it from accessing Western financial markets.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday morning for an update and pledged that the West would not stand by as Putin waged a campaign against the Ukrainian people.

I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps, Johnson tweeted soon after the call.

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called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine and cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiraling into a major crisis, just as Russian President announced his decision to launch a 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine.

The 15-nation UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Ukraine late Wednesday night, the second meeting this week and the fourth since January 31 as tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine.

As the UNSC meeting was underway, during which UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres made a direct appeal to Putin to stop your troops from attacking Ukraine, the Russian leader announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the Council that New Delhi had only two days ago at the Council meeting on Ukraine called for urgent de-escalation of tensions and emphasised on sustained and focused diplomacy to address all issues concerning the situation.

"However, we note with regret, that the calls of the community to give time to the recent initiatives undertaken by parties to diffuse tensions were not heeded to. The situation is in danger of spiraling into a major crisis, he said.

expressed its deep concern over the developments, which, if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region.

called for immediate de-escalation and refraining from any further action that could contribute to a worsening of the situation.

"We believe that the solution lies in sustained diplomatic dialogue between the concerned parties. In the meantime, we strongly emphasise the vital need for all sides to maintain peace and security by exercising the utmost restraint, he said.

Tirumurti also underlined that more than 20,000 Indian nationals, including students, are located in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. We are facilitating the return of all Indian nationals, including Indian students, as required, he said.

India called on all parties to exert greater efforts to bridge divergent interests, with Tirumurti underlining that the legitimate security interests of all parties should be fully taken into account.

India has consistently advocated at the United Nations the need for peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with law and with agreements entered into by parties concerned.

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Israeli President Isaac Herzog has confirmed his planned trip to Turkey, saying it is part of his new plan to form regional cooperation to fight the climate crisis.

"Over March I am going to visit our neighbours along the Mediterranean littoral -- Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey -- and meet their leaders," Herzog told a conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

He said he is also keeping "close and warm contact" with the leadership of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and the Palestinian authority and that he intends to "get them all on board for a regional partnership confronting the climate crisis".

Herzog cited a series of scientific studies conducted by and the UN that predict an average rise of 4 degrees Celsius in temperatures in the Middle East, 10-20 per cent less precipitation on average, and an intensification of floods, torrential rains, heatwaves and rising sea levels, if no effective action is taken, Xinhua news agency reported.

"For anyone who does not understand what this means, let me explain: this spells a genuine catastrophe," the President said.

"A catastrophe for everyone, for anyone living near the sea, for inhabitants of areas that will turn into deserts, for victims of lethal floods and heatwaves. It means fears of millions of refugees uprooted from their homes in Africa and the Middle East; it means a potential crisis in Gaza; it means disasters in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey. It means grave consequences for all of us, for everyone who is blessed to call this beautiful region 'home,'" Herzog added.

"This is a fully-fledged existential threat," he concluded.

His role as a President is largely ceremonial but since taking office in 2021, he has been employing diplomacy to improve Israel's relations with Turkey. Ties between the two countries have been deeply strained since Israel's deadly assault on a Turkish-led aid flotilla toward Israel-blockaded Gaza in 2010.

During his planned trip in March, Herzog will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two Presidents already spoke over the phone several times in 2021.

--IANS

int/khz/

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned Russia's military actions in and said his country will respond in a speedy fashion in concert with the United States and other allies.

This Russian invasion stands to put at risk the basic principle of order that forbids one-sided action of force in an attempt to change the status quo. We strongly condemn Russia, and we will respond speedily in cooperation with the US and other Western nations, he said at his official residence in Tokyo.

Spain, France, Australia and were among condemning the attack. Germany and Turkey also warned their citizens in to stay in a safe place.

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US President will deliver remarks on the Russian military actions in on Thursday, the announced.

Biden's first public comment on the Russian attack is scheduled to be delivered from the East Room of the at 11 pm IST (12:30 pm EST), according to the .

The presidential comment could come after his virtual consultations with the leaders of G-7 countries, a grouping of seven major advanced nations including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Three of them US, UK and France -- are permanent members of the UN Security Council.

According to a White House official, Biden and G-7 leaders were discussing their joint response to President Putin's unprovoked and unjustified attack on .

Earlier, Biden convened a meeting of the National Security Council in the morning in the Situation Room to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, said a White House official.

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NATO member Lithuania, which has borders with Russian ally Belarus and Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, has declared a state of emergency effective early Thursday afternoon due to the situation in Ukraine.

The decree signed Thursday by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda steps up border protection. It gives authorities, among other things, the right to check and inspect vehicles, persons and luggage in the border area.

Lithuania also borders fellow NATO and European Union members Poland and Latvia.

--



Ankara: Turkey has called on Russia to halt what it describes as unfair and unlawful actions in Ukraine.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement on Thursday said the Russian attacks were unacceptable and that Turkey rejects them.

This attack, beyond destroying the Minsk agreements, is a grave violation of law and poses a serious threat to the security of our region and of the world, the ministry statement said, referring to deals that aimed to restore peace in eastern Ukraine.

The statement added that Turkey opposes moves that change borders through the use of weapons.

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jumped on Thursday, with Brent rising above $105 a barrel for the first time since 2014, after Russia's attack on Ukraine exacerbated concerns about disruptions to global energy supply. Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two.

The United States and Europe have promised the toughest sanctions on Russia in response.

"If sanctions affect payment transactions, Russian banks and possibly also the insurance that covers Russian oil and gas deliveries, supply outages cannot be excluded," Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch said.

At least three major buyers of Russian oil were unable to open letters of credit from Western banks to cover purchases on Thursday, sources told Reuters. Brent crude was up $7.26, or 7.5%, at $104.10 a barrel as of 1437 GMT, having touched a high of $105.79. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped $6.63, or 7.2%, to $98.73.





Brent and WTI hit their highest since August and July 2014 respectively.

"Russia is the third-largest oil producer and second-largest oil exporter. Given low inventories and dwindling spare capacity, the oil market cannot afford large supply disruptions," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

"Supply concerns may also spur oil stockpiling activity, which supports prices."

Russia is also the largest provider of to Europe, providing about 35% of its supply. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain and its allies would unleash a massive package of economic sanctions on Russia and that the West must end its reliance on Russian oil and gas.

China warned of the impact of tensions on the stability of the energy market.

"All countries that are truly responsible should take responsible actions to jointly maintain global energy security," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said.Global oil supplies remain tight as demand recovers from pandemic lows.

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Oil prices gained more than $1 on Thursday, trading below seven-year highs hit earlier this week, as fresh developments on the Russia- crisis sparked concerns that supported prices.

Brent crude rose 73 cents, or 0.75%, to $97.57 a barrel at 0130 GMT, after soaring as high as $98.08.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures jumped 85 cents, or 0.9%, to $92.95 a barrel, after rising to as much as $93.50.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he believes will invade within hours after separatists on Wednesday asked for Russian help to repel "aggression" and as explosions rocked the breakaway eastern city of Donetsk.

is the world's second-largest oil producer, which mainly sells crude to European refineries, and is the largest supplier of natural gas to Europe, providing about 35% of its supply.

Adding to tensions, hundreds of computers have been hit by data-wiping software as part of what country officials said was an intensifying wave of hacks aimed at the country as massed troops around its borders.

"After a lull yesterday where the Russia-Ukraine situation fell out of the headlines, its inevitable reemergence overnight has caused a flight to safety once again and lifted oil over fears of a disruption in global energy supplies," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA.

"One factor that could act as a temporary brake on prices is the Iran nuclear deal with rumours swirling around that a new agreement could be announced, possibly as early as this week," he added. "However Ukraine fears, and their wider ramifications will continue to support oil prices which remain a solid buy on dips."

The U.S. and Iran have been engaged in indirect nuclear talks in Vienna, in which a deal could lead to the removal of sanctions on Iranian oil sales and increase global supply.

Iran on Wednesday however urged Western powers to be "realistic" in talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, and said its top negotiator was returning to Tehran for consultations, suggesting a breakthrough in its discussions is not imminent.

Additionally, U.S. crude stockpiles rose 6 million barrels last week while distillate stocks fell, according to market sources who were citing American Petroleum Institute figures late on Tuesday.

Ahead of government data on Thursday, analysts forecast a 400,000-barrel build in crude and a drawdown in fuel stockpiles. [EIA/S]

Gasoline inventories rose by 427,000 barrels and distillates stockpiles fell by 985,000 barrels, the API data showed according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

(Reporting by Emily Chow; Editing by Shivani Singh)

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surged by nearly $6 per barrel Thursday after President launched Russian military action in Ukraine.

Brent crude oil jumped to over $100 per barrel on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies. The price of US benchmark crude briefly surpassed $98 per barrel.

The ruble sank 7.5% to more than $87 to the US dollar.

The future for Germany's benchmark DAX index lost 5.3% and London's FTSE 100 was off 3.3% as Europe awakened to news of explosions in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine.

Putin said Russia's military operation was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine, a claim Washington had predicted he would make to justify an invasion.

US President Joe Biden denounced the attack as unprovoked and unjustified" and said Moscow would be held accountable, which many took to mean Washington and its allies would impose additional sanctions. Putin accused them of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and to offer Moscow security guarantees.

Both US and Brent crude oil were hovering near $100 per barrel by early Thursday European time.

Benchmark US crude was $5.66 higher at $96.76 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 25 cents to $92.10 on Wednesday.

Brent crude, the price basis for oils, advanced $5.41 to $99.46 per barrel in London. It lost 20 cents to $94.05 the previous session.

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Prime Minister landed in Moscow late on Wednesday on a two-day visit amid the ongoing crisis at the Ukraine- border.

This comes as tension continues to escalate after Russia's recognition of eastern Ukrainian enclaves of Donetsk and Luhansk. As a response to Moscow's actions, several Western nations hit with fresh sanctions for its military deployment into parts of eastern Ukraine.

Imran Khan's ill-timed visit, the first such trip by a Pakistani PM in 23 years, aims to push for the construction of a long-delayed, multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline to be built in collaboration with Russian companies.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit and discuss issues concerning economic cooperation.

Earlier, Pakistani media reports had said that Moscow and Islamabad were in talks to finalise a plan for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit this year.

A Pakistani newspaper said Putin's visit was under discussion for the last two years but could not materialise because of several reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Moscow also wants that there must be "big-ticket projects" that the Russian president would announce.

Before Imran Khan's departure, a Pakistani geopolitical analyst had pointed out that the visit did not come at a suitable time.

Analyst and Balochistan politician Jan Achakzai noted that didn't seek Pakistan's support, nor did the US stop from going to Moscow. He also said that Russia is not going to give Pakistan anything because Moscow losing India for the sake of Islamabad's support is not an option.

The Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Delhi on Wednesday stressed that Imran Khan's visit to Moscow would in no way affect relations between India and Russia.

Addressing an online briefing in New Delhi, he also welcomed India's stand at the Security Council on the ongoing developments in Ukraine.

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Russian troops launched a broad assault on Ukraine from three sides on Thursday, an attack that began with explosions before dawn in the capital Kyiv and other cities.

Ukraine's leadership said at least 40 people had been killed so far in what it called a full-scale war targeting the country from the east, north and south.

In a televised address as the attack began, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen in history.

Ukrainians started fleeing some cities, and the Russian military claimed to have incapacitated all of Ukraine's air defenses and air bases within hours.

World leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine's democratically elected government and threaten the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

US President Joe Biden declared that the world will hold accountable."



NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia's action as a violation of law and a threat to European security.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said Russia's intent was to destroy the state of Ukraine, a Westward-looking democracy intent on moving out of Moscow's orbit.

Here are the things to know about the conflict over Ukraine and the security crisis in Eastern Europe:



Putin makes his movePutin said the military operation was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine a claim the US had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion.

Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demands to block Ukraine from ever joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

Putin said does not intend to occupy Ukraine but will demilitarise it.

Soon after his address, explosions were heard in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa. said it was attacking military targets.

He urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home.

Ukraine's border guard agency said the Russian military has attacked from neighbouring Belarus, unleashing a barrage of artillery.

The agency said Ukrainian border guards fired back, adding that there was no immediate report of casualties. Russian troops have been in Belarus for military drills.

The West reacts quickly



Biden, Stoltenberg and other world leaders quickly condemned Russia's attack as unprovoked and unjustified.

Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Biden said in a statement.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Western allies will not stand by as Russia attacks Ukraine, and told Zelenskyy in an early morning call that he was appalled by events.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said: This Russian invasion stands to put at risk the basic principle of order that forbids one-sided action of force in an attempt to change the status quo."



Ukraine's President urges calm



Residents of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, could be heard shouting in the streets when the first explosions sounded. But some kind of normalcy quickly returned, with cars circulating in the streets in the early morning commute.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a video statement declaring martial law. He told Ukrainians that the United States was gathering support to respond to Russia. He urged residents to remain calm and stay at home.

World markets fall



World stock markets have plunged and oil prices surged by nearly $6 per barrel after Putin launched Russian military action in Ukraine.

Market benchmarks tumbled in Europe and Asia and US futures were sharply lower.

Brent crude oil jumped to over $100 per barrel Thursday on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies.

The ruble sank 7.5% to more than $87 to the US dollar. Earlier, Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.8% to an eight-month low after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked for military assistance.

China support for Russia



China's customs agency on Thursday approved imports of wheat from all regions of Russia, a move that could help to reduce the impact of possible Western sanctions.

The two governments announced an agreement Feb. 8 for China to import Russian wheat and barley after Putin became the highest-profile foreign guest to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics.

China's populous market is a growth area for other farm goods suppliers, but Beijing had barred imports until now from Russia's main wheat-growing areas due to concern about possible fungus and other contamination.

Russia is one of the biggest wheat producers but its exports would be vulnerable if its foreign markets block shipments in response to its attack on Ukraine.

Thursday's announcement said Russia would take all measures to prevent contamination by wheat smut fungus and would suspend exports to China if it was found.

Putin's declaration overtakes emergency UN Security Council Session



At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by Ukraine that opened just before Putin's announcement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Putin: Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.

Guterres later pleaded with Putin, In the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia.

When will the West impose more sanctions?



Ukraine's forces are no match for Moscow's military might, so Kyiv is counting on other countries to hit Russia hard with sanctions.

Biden on Wednesday allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the company's CEO.

Biden waived sanctions last year when the project was almost completed, in return for an agreement from Germany to take action against Russia if it used gas as a weapon or attacked Ukraine.

Germany said Tuesday it was indefinitely suspending the pipeline.

Biden said more sanctions would be announced on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the European Union planned the strongest, the harshest package ever, to be considered at a summit on Thursday, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbour country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue, Borrell said.

This is not only the greatest violation of international law, it's a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence. It's costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.

What sanctions were under US consideration if Russia invaded?



The Biden administration had made clear it was holding tough financial penalties in reserve in case of just such a Russian invasion.

The US hasn't specified just what measures it will take now, although administration officials have made clear that all-out sanctions against Russia's major banks are among the likely options. So are export limits that would deny Russia US high tech for its industries and military.

Another tough measure under consideration would effectively shut Russia out of much of the global financial system.

How is Ukraine's economy holding up?



It was Ukraine, not Russia, where the economy was eroding the fastest under the threat of war.

One by one, embassies and international offices in Kyiv closed. Flight after flight was cancelled when insurance companies balked at covering planes arriving in Ukraine. Hundreds of millions of dollars in investment dried up within weeks.

The squeezing of Ukraine's economy is a key destabilizing tactic in what the government describes as hybrid warfare intended to eat away at the country from within.

The economic woes include restaurants that dare not keep more than a few days of food on hand, stalled plans for a hydrogen production plant that could help wean Europe off Russian gas and uncertain conditions for shipping in the Black Sea, where container ships must carefully edge their way around Russian military vessels.

Ukraine sees more cyberattacks



The websites of Ukraine's defense, foreign and interior ministries were unreachable or painfully slow to load Thursday morning after a punishing wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks as Russia struck at its neighbour.

In addition to DDoS attacks on Wednesday, cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware, some in neighbouring Latvia and Lithuania.

Officials have long expected cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion.

How has the confrontation been seen in Russia?



In the buildup to the attack, Russian state media portrayed Moscow as coming to the rescue of war-torn areas of eastern Ukraine where residents were tormented by Ukraine's aggression.

You paid with your blood for these eight years of torment and anticipation, anchor Olga Skabeyeva said during a popular political talk show Tuesday morning.

Russia will now be defending Donbas.

Channel One struck a more festive tone, with its correspondent in Donetsk asserting that local residents say it is the best news over the past years of war.

Now they have confidence in the future and that the years-long war will finally come to an end, she said. Whether ordinary Russians were buying it is another question.

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was under siege on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was invading in what he termed a "special military operation", sending in tanks from the northern border with in a combined Russian-Belarussian offensive, and launching attacks from the east and south, including on the capital Kiev, a Daily Mail report said.

Hundreds of Ukrainians were killed in the onslaught, the Daily Mail quoted the Interior Ministry in Kiev as saying, and videos on social media showed the scale of the invasion.

Five Russian jets and one helicopter were shot down over the east of the country, near Kharkiv, Ukraine's military said.

In his announcement on early Thursday morning, Putin insisted that was only attacking military installations, and were avoiding populated areas. But Ukraine's officials said there had already been heavy casualties.

Ukraine's border force said that their posts in the north have come under attack from both Russian and Belarussian forces - a hugely significant development, meaning is not acting alone, and is attacking from all sides, the Daily Mail reported.

The livestream video of the invasion from was taken at the Senkivka, crossing with Veselovka, . The column was seen entering at 6.48 a.m., CNN reported.

A Ukrainian government spokesman confirmed that had invaded over the Belarus border as well, only 120 miles from Kiev.

He said: "The state border of Ukraine was attacked by troops from Russia and Belarus. At about 5a.m., the state border of Ukraine, in the area with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus."

--IANS

san/ksk/

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NATO's secretary-general says Russia has launched war on and shattered peace on the European continent.

Jens Stoltenberg called for a summit of alliance leaders for Friday.

Stoltenberg said that this is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion. And he charged that Russia is using force to try to rewrite history.

Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on earlier Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling. Ukraine's government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border.

Helsinki: member Lithuania, which has borders with Russian ally Belarus and Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, has declared a state of emergency effective early Thursday afternoon due to the situation in .

The decree signed Thursday by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda steps up border protection. It gives authorities, among other things, the right to check and inspect vehicles, persons and luggage in the border area.

Lithuania also borders fellow and European Union members Poland and Latvia.

Ankara: Turkey has called on Russia to halt what it describes as unfair and unlawful actions in Ukraine.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement on Thursday said the Russian attacks were unacceptable and that Turkey rejects them.

This attack, beyond destroying the Minsk agreements, is a grave violation of law and poses a serious threat to the security of our region and of the world, the ministry statement said, referring to deals that aimed to restore peace in eastern Ukraine.

The statement added that Turkey opposes moves that change borders through the use of weapons.

Berlin: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine, calling it a dark day for Europe and expressing his country's full solidarity with Kyiv.

Scholz said in a statement at the chancellery in Berlin on Thursday that new sanctions to be imposed on Russia by Germany and its allies would show that Putin has made a serious mistake with his war.

Addressing NATO allies in eastern Europe, Scholz said Germany understood their worries in light of the latest developments and stands by its commitments within the alliance.

Scholz said he and French President Emmanuel Macron proposed soon holding an in-person meeting of the heads of government of NATO member states.

Brussels: NATO has agreed to beef up its land, sea and air forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military offensive in Ukraine.

NATO ambassadors said in a statement after emergency talks Thursday that we have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies.

While some of NATO's 30 member countries are supplying arms, ammunition and other equipment to Ukraine, NATO as an organization is not. It will not launch any military action in support of Ukraine.

Countries closest to the conflict Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland are among those to have triggered rare consultations under Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which can be launched when the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the (NATO) parties is threatened.

We have decided, in line with our defensive planning to protect all allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense across the Alliance, the envoys said in a statement. Our measures are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory.

Kyiv: An adviser to Ukraine's president says that Russian forces forged 10-20 kilometers (6-12 miles) deep into the Chernihiv region of northern Ukraine and are regrouping to continue the offensive.

But Oleksiy Arestovich said Thursday that Kyiv is under reliable protection and they will face tough battles.

Arestovich said that fighting is going on 4-5 kilometers (2 -3 miles) north of Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, in the country's northeast. He said Ukrainian troops destroyed four Russian tanks there.

The adviser said that Russian troops that moved into Ukraine from Russian-annexed Crimea are trying to advance toward Melitopol and Kherson.

Jerusalem: Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine as a grave violation of the order.

Lapid told reporters on Thursday that Israel is prepared to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine and urged Israeli citizens to leave the country.

Israel is a country well-versed in war. War is not the way to resolve conflicts, he said, adding that there was still a chance for a negotiated solution.

Bucharest: Moldova's president says the country's Supreme Security Council has decided to ask parliament to introduce a state of emergency following Russia's attack on neighbouring Ukraine.

President Maia Sandu said Thursday that Russia's attack on Ukraine is a flagrant violation of norms.

Sandu urged Moldovan citizens in Ukraine to return home. Moldova, a former Soviet republic and one of Europe's poorest nations, has a population of around 3.5 million and is not a NATO member.

There are now concerns in Moldova that the neighbouring conflict could trigger an influx of refugees. Sandu said that at the border crossing points with Ukraine there is an increase in traffic flow.

She added that we will help people who need our support. At this moment, we are ready to accommodate tens of thousands of people.

Kyiv: An adviser to Ukraine's president says about 40 people have been killed so far in the Russian attack on the country.

Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that several dozen people have been wounded.

He didn't specify whether the casualties included civilians.

Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian authorities will hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.

The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian, he said, urging all those who can defend the country to come to the Interior Ministry's assembly facilities.

Ankara: Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey has called on the NATO member country to close its airspace and to shut down the straits at the entrance of the Black Sea to Russian ships.

We are calling for the airspace, Bosporus and Dardanelles straits to be closed, Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told reporters on Thursday. We have conveyed our relevant demand to the Turkish side. At the same time, we want sanctions imposed on the Russian side.

A 1936 convention gives Turkey control over the straits connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, and allows it to limit the passage of warships during wartime or if Turkey is threatened.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened an emergency security meeting to discuss the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Turkey, which enjoys close relations with both Ukraine and Russia, had been pressing for a diplomatic solution to the tensions.

Kyiv: Ukraine's president says his country has cut diplomatic ties with Russia after it was attacked.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the decision to rupture ties with Moscow on Thursday after it launched a massive air and missile attack on its neighbor and Russian forces were seen rolling into Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials say the country's military is fighting back and asked for Western defense assistance.

Kyiv: A Ukrainian presidential adviser says that Russian forces have launched an attack on Ukraine from the north, east and south. The adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the Ukrainian military is fighting hard.

Podolyak said Thursday that "our army is fighting back inflicting significant losses to the enemy. He said that there have been civilian casualties, but didn't give details.

He said that Ukraine now needs a greater and very specific support from the world military-technical, financial as well as tough sanctions against Russia, he said.

Another adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia has targeted air bases and various other military infrastructure.

Beijing: China's customs agency on Thursday approved imports of wheat from all regions of Russia, a move that could help to reduce the impact of possible Western sanctions imposed over Moscow's attack on Ukraine.

The two governments announced an agreement Feb. 8 for China to import Russian wheat and barley after Russian President Vladimir became the highest-profile foreign guest to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics.

China's populous market is a growth area for other farm goods suppliers, but Beijing had barred imports until now from Russia's main wheat-growing areas due to concern about possible fungus and other contamination.

Russia is one of the biggest wheat producers but its exports would be vulnerable if its foreign markets block shipments in response to its attack on Ukraine.

Thursday's announcement said Russia would take all measures to prevent contamination by wheat smut fungus and would suspend exports to China if it was found.

Berlin: Germany's foreign minister says that we woke up in a different world today.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a televised statement that after months of preparing lies and propaganda, President Putin decided today to let his threats be followed with terrible deeds.

Baerbock said that the Russian government is breaking the most elementary rules of the international order in front of the eyes of the world.

Baerbock said German diplomats remaining in Kyiv would leave the capital. A decision would be made whether the embassy could resume its work from Lviv.

Moscow: Security camera footage shows a line of Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraine from Russian-annexed Crimea.

Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday. President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen.

Kyiv: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging global leaders to provide defense assistance to Ukraine and help protect its airspace from the aggressor.

Zelenskyy said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has unleased a war with Ukraine and the entire democratic world. He added that the Russian leader wants to destroy our state, everything that we have built.

He praised the nation's soldiers, hailing their courage and urged civilians not to panic.

We are starting the creation of an anti-Putin coalition, he said. I have already urged global leaders to slam Putin with all possible sanctions, offer large-scale defense support and close the airspace over Ukraine for the aggressor.

Together we must save Ukraine, save the democratic world, and we will do it, Zelenskyy said.

Beijing: World stock markets have plunged and oil prices surged by nearly $6 per barrel after President Vladimir Putin launched Russian military action in Ukraine.

Market benchmarks tumbled in Europe and Asia and US futures were sharply lower. Brent crude oil jumped to over $100 per barrel Thursday on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies.

The ruble sank 7.5% to more than $87 to the US dollar. Earlier, Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.8% to an eight-month low after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked for military assistance.

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has ruled out any threat to Ukrainian civilians as it carries out military operations in the country, local media reported.

The Russian Defence Ministry has clarified that the Russian army is not carrying out any missile, aviation or artillery strikes on the cities of and is not targeting civilians, Sputnik News reported.

"Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Armed Forces of are being put out of action by [Russia's] high-precision means of destruction," the news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

The ministry added that the military action does not threaten the Ukrainian civilian population.

The ministry's remarks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special "military operation to protect Donbas" in eastern .

However, Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday said Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and added that Ukrainian cities are under strikes.

The Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations requested the members of the UN to "stop the war."

At an emergency meeting of the Security Council, Ukrainian envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya said, "It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war."

Defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine.

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said on Thursday that it was not talking about the "occupation" of the Ukrainian territory, but made it clear that the ongoing special military operation's timeframe would be determined by President Vladimir Putin based on the "results and progress".

In a televised address on Thursday morning, President Putin announced his decision to carry out the special military operation in eastern in order to protect people who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. Putin has said that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

"Nobody speaks of occupation and in this case this word is inapplicable here, Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

He reiterated the two goals of Russia's special operation on protecting the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) that were articulated by President Putin - the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine, state-owned TASS news agency reported.

Peskov said that the operation's timeframe would be defined by President Putin.

The goals were described by the president as the demilitarisation and denazification of . Both pose a threat to our country and our people, Peskov said. The timeframe will depend on the results and progress and will naturally be defined by the commander-in-chief, he added.

In response to a question on the future fate of and its leadership, Putin's press secretary said that this is a matter of choice for that country's citizens.

The rest is a matter of choice for the Ukrainian people, the official said.

"You are engaging in hypothetical deliberations. I cannot participate in such discussions with you now, he noted in response to a question on the matter.

Peskov refused to provide details about the Russian troops supporting the DPR and LPR. "I cannot provide you with any military, technological or any other kind of information related to this operation. In this case, it is up to our military, our Defence Ministry to be the source of information, he added.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday sharply condemned Russia's attack on calling it a terrible day for and a dark day for Europe.

The chancellor said that the Russian attack on is a blatant violation of international law. It cannot be justified by anything.

He added that Germany condemns this reckless act by President Putin in the strongest possible terms.

Scholz said in a written statement that our solidarity is with Ukraine and its people. must stop this military action immediately".

He added Germany would coordinate closely with others within the framework of the Group of Seven, NATO and the European Union.

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Russian military vehicles breached the Kyiv region from Belarus to the north, Ukrainian officials said, after tanks reportedly rolled earlier into Ukraine from Crimea. A senior Russian lawmaker said Russia aims to ensure a pro-Moscow government in Kyiv, pushing out US influence. President has summoned tycoons to the Kremlin.

The government in Kyiv called Russias actions a full-scale invasion as it declared martial law and called for support including harsher sanctions. Moscow said it had taken out military facilities, including airbases, Interfax reported.

Putins military moves upended markets, with the ruble and Russian stocks sinking while oil and gold soared. European gas prices surged as the attacks put fuel supplies in Europe  already in the midst of an energy crunch  at further risk.

Russia was condemned by Western leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, who said more sanctions would follow. The European Union will hold an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday and the UK said it intended further economic penalties on Moscow. China called for restraint but didnt rebuke Moscow.





Demonstrators hug at an anti-war rally at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on key questions about the Russias operation in Ukraine. He refused to elaborate on how long it will last, whether Russian troops will move into the entire country, and whether Moscow aims to install a new government.

On his daily news call, Peskov said only that Russias aims are to liberate Ukraine and neutralize its military potential.

Asked about potential isolation resulting from the move, Peskov said it was impossible to close off a country like Russia with an Iron Curtain. The current emotional reaction on financial markets will stabilize soon, he said.



Nato to discuss reaction

Nato leaders will hold a virtual summit on Friday to discuss the alliances reaction to the invasion, an official said. The alliance said it continues to deploy additional land and air forces to member countries near Ukraine, along with more naval assets, to bolster defense and deterrence.





People wait at the Ukranian side of the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine

We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies, the alliance said in a statement. The Baltic nations and Poland had asked NATO for additional support in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Putin summons Russian tycoons

With asset prices swooning, President has called major shareholders and the leaders of Russias biggest companies to the Kremlin to discuss the situation in Ukraine, people familiar with the situation said, asking not to be identified because the information isnt public.

The meeting may happen around 4 p.m. in Moscow, they said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Russian opposition and Western politicians have urged extending sanctions to more of Russias richest people, many of whom are seen as facilitating Putins regime.

Ukraine breaks diplomatic ties with Russia

Ukraine has cut diplomatic ties with Russia and will not give up its independence, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a televised briefing from Kyiv.

Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces were defending themselves, and Russia was unable to break through the line of contact in Ukraines east. Battles are taking place inside Ukraine, including near the second-largest city, Kharkiv, and near Kherson in the south.








South Africa's biggest construction firm Wilson Bayly Holmes - Ovcon Ltd (WBHO) said it is pulling out of Australia, saying the country's "hardline" COVID-19 response had impacted its property market and created business uncertainty.

The move amounts to one of Australia's most visible corporate casualties linked to the pandemic and undercuts government claims that stimulus programs through two years of stop-start lockdowns saved businesses and jobs.

In a Johannesburg Stock Exchange filing, WBHO said it pulled financial support for Australian unit Probuild and put it into external administration because "project delivery capability...has been negatively affected by unforeseen and severe COVID-19 restrictions" and risk outweighed reward.



WBHO said it expected to post a loss for July-December because of trading losses, an impairment charge and unrecoverable "tax assets" in Australia. Its shares fell 27% on the news, their biggest decline since 1998. The builder in a separate statement said the government's "hardline" COVID-19 response of border closures, lockdowns and enforced work-from-home had "a considerable impact on property markets as well as other industries such as the leisure industry". Restrictions had "created high levels of business uncertainty in Australia and have significantly reduced demand and delayed the award of new projects in these key sectors of the construction industry," it said.



Probuild, which was started in 1987, has been working on several high-profile commercial projects including new headquarters for biopharmaceutical giant CSL Ltd, having built a police headquarters in the second-most populous state, Victoria. A year ago, the government blocked a A$300 million ($217 million) buyout of Probuild by China State Construction Engineering Corp Ltd on national security grounds.

A spokesperson for Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who blocked the sale, declined to comment. Probuild's administrator Sal Algeri, of Deloitte Turnaround & Restructing, in a statement said he would assess the builder's financial position and begin work on finding a new owner.

($1 = 1.3850 Australian dollars)

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The in on Thursday asked Indians in that country to maintain calm and remain safe wherever they are..

The issued a fresh advisory as Russia carries out a military operation in Ukraine, triggering a major confrontation between the two sides.

"The present situation in is highly uncertain. Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit," the said.

"All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those travelling from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities. temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries," it said.

It said further advisories will be issued for any updates.

Official sources in New Delhi said India is looking at ways to assist its nationals, especially the students, in .

They said India is closely monitoring the "rapidly changing" situation in Ukraine and how to assist the Indians in that country.

"We are closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation. Focus is on safety and security of Indians, particularly students," said a source.

It said the control room set by the Ministry of External Affairs a few days back is being expanded and made operational on a 24x7 basis.

There is no possibility of sending special aircraft to Ukraine to evacuate the Indians including the Indian embassy staff as the airspace of Ukraine has been closed. Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian flights in view of high risk to safety.

"The government is looking at ways to extend assistance to Indians there," said a source.

According to estimates, over 15,000 Indians are currently staying in Ukraine.

It is learnt that a series of meetings are underway to assess the situation and ways to extend assistance to Indians in that country.

The situation in Ukraine deteriorated after President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation into Ukraine, triggering serious concerns over the possibility of a full-scale military confrontation between the two countries.

Following Putin's announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said an "invasion" could be the beginning of a "big war" in Europe.

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The UK and its allies will respond decisively to Russia's "unprovoked" attack on Ukraine, said Prime Minister on Thursday.

Taking to his Twitter handle, Johnson said that he is appalled by the horrific events in and has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the next steps.

"President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on . The UK and our allies will respond decisively," he stated.

This tweet comes soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special "military operation to protect Donbas" in eastern .

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations has appealed to its members to "stop the war" at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

"It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war," Ukrainian envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya was quoted as saying by CNN during the meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

However, defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

"The root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself, who for many years was sabotaging its obligations under the (Minsk agreement)," said Nebenzya.

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on Thursday vowed to hobble the Russian economy with sanctions for what he termed as President Vladimir Putin's hideous and barbaric venture of invading Ukraine.

Addressing the nation in a televised address, Johnson said the UK's worst fears have come true and all warnings proved tragically accurate as President Putin of unleashed war in our European continent without any provocation or credible excuse.

Johnson declared that a vast invasion is underway by land by sea and by air as innumerable missiles and bombs have been raining down on innocent people.

Today in concert with our allies we will agree to a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy, said Johnson.

And to that end we must also collectively cease the dependence on Russian oil and gas that for too long has given Putin his grip on western politics. Our mission is clear: diplomatically, politically, economically and eventually, militarily this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure, he said.

The UK Prime Minister asserted that Ukraine is not some faraway country but somewhere that for decades has enjoyed freedom and democracy.

Speaking directly to the people of about their President authorising a tidal wave of violence against a fellow Slavic people and the parents of Russian soldiers who will lose their lives, Johnson urged that he did not believe this is being done in their name or that they really want the pariah status it will bring to the Putin regime.

He added: To the British people and all who have heard the threats from Putin against those who stand with Ukraine, we will of course do everything to keep our country safe.

This act of wanton and reckless aggression is an attack not just on Ukraine. It is an attack on democracy and freedom in East Europe and around the world. This crisis is about the right of a free, sovereign independent European people to choose their own future and that is a right that the UK will always defend.

The TV address came as UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also issued a statement, outlining Britain's plans for unprecedented sanctions against the Putin administration over its unprovoked, premeditated attack on a sovereign democratic nation.

We are urgently convening discussions with our allies and partners to coordinate our response. Together we will hold the Russian government to account, said Truss.

We have always been clear there would be massive consequences and a severe cost for any Russian military incursion into Ukraine. As a result of their actions, we will today launch an unprecedented package of further sanctions that we have developed with our partners, she said.

The minister once again summoned the Russian ambassador to the UK to "explain Russia's illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine".

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the UK government would be "especially mindful of the potential for cyber attacks and disinformation emanating from Russia" in the wake of the "unjustified" attack.

"Be in no doubt there is work ongoing across government 24/7 to maximise our resilience to any such attacks, which would be met with a suitably robust response," she tweeted.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday announced an imminent ban on the ability of the Aeroflot airline to operate in the UK as he outlined a new tranche of sanctions against following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of .

The largest and most severe package of economic sanctions against tabled in the House of Commons includes a full asset-freeze of Russian state-owned bank VTB and powers to allow the UK to exclude Russian banks from Britain's financial system.

The UK government is set to place a limit on the amount that Russian nationals can deposit in their UK bank accounts and Russian state and private companies will be banned from raising money in the UK.

These trade sanctions will constrain Russia's military, industrial and technological capabilities for years to come, said Johnson.

Legislation to enforce some of these wide-ranging sanctions will be laid in Parliament by early next week.

"Putin will stand condemned in the eyes of the world, and of history. He will never be able to cleanse the blood of from his hands," Johnson said in Parliament.

"Now we see him for what he is, a blood-stained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest," he said.

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Prime Minister on Thursday termed the Russian invasion of Kiev as a "catastrophe for the European continent" and said that Britain and its allies 'will respond decisively'.

He blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for choosing a "path of bloodshed and destruction" for his unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

"I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The and our allies will respond decisively," tweeted Johnson.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Notably, Ukraine has introduced martial law, urging citizens to remain calm amid Russia's military operations.

PM Johnson said that the Russian move is a catastrophe for the European continent. Further, Johnson informed that he will address the nation on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and will also speak to his fellow G7 leaders, as well as call an urgent meeting of NATO.

"This is a catastrophe for our continent. I will make an address to the nation this morning on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible," tweeted Johnson.

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Residents in Kiev appeared to be filling up on gas and trying to exit the city via car and rail on Thursday just hours after Russian President moved in with tanks over the Belarusian border, the Daily Mail reported.

The reality of war has finally dawned on many Ukrainian residents who were in denial that Putin would actually invade. Many are now rushing for the western border to escape the incoming tanks as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law, the report said.

Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital and other major cities following Putin's announcement that a military operation had begun.

Photos and video showed Ukrainians driving out of Kiev Thursday morning, as air raid sirens wailed across the capital, Daily Mail reported.

Many were either heading for the exits or lining up in lengthy queues for gasoline, with some stopping at ATMs beforehand, the report said.

Intense lines were also seen at Kiev's Metro station with people attempting to get onto trains to flee the city. Some were just heading into the station to take refuge.

The Russian President announced the action during a televised address early on Thursday morning, saying the move was a response to threats from .

He adds that doesn't have a goal to occupy . Putin says the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian "regime".

Putin also is warning other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action will lead to "consequences they have never seen".

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The United States ambassador at the General Assembly (UNGA), Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday, said that the Ukrainian crisis may lead to the worst refugee crisis in the world today, with some 5 million people possibly displaced.

"If continues down this path, it could, according to our estimates, create a new refugee crisis, one of the largest facing the world today, with as many as 5 million more people displaced by Russia's war of choice and putting pressure on Ukraine's neighbors," Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

"Has headed these calls [for diplomacy]? No. Instead, it has responded with additional actions to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty, including mass disinformation, which we just heard again today, cyberattacks, and efforts to create a 'false flag' pretext," Thomas-Greenfield said adding, "Colleagues, there is no middle ground. Calling for both sides to deescalate only gives a pass. Russia is the aggressor here."

During the meeting, Thomas-Greenfield once again said that "Russia's aggression not only threatens all of Ukraine, but every member state and the UN itself."

Moreover, she reiterated US' stand on saying, "The United States rejects that firmly. This is 2022. We're not going back to an era of empires and colonies - or to the USSR or the Soviet Union. We have moved forward," Thomas-Greenfield said.

"Colleagues now is not the time to sit on the sidelines. Now is the time to get off of the sidelines. Let us show Russia that it is isolated and alone in its aggressive actions. Let us stand fully behind the principles of sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity for Ukraine, and for all member states," she added.

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The Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance Wednesday to help fend off Ukrainian aggression, an announcement that immediately fueled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned about.

A short time later, the Ukrainian president rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address to his nation in Russian. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Russian President late Wednesday, but the Kremlin didn't respond.

In an apparent reference to Putins move to sanction the deployment of the Russian military to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.

Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything, he said.

He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.

The United Nations Security Council quickly scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday night at Ukraine's request. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the separatists request a further escalation of the security situation.

Anxiety about an imminent Russian offensive against its neighbor soared after Putin recognized the separatist regions' independence on Monday, sanctioned the deployment of troops to the rebel territories to help maintain peace and received parliamentary approval to use military force outside the country. The West responded with sanctions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rebel chiefs wrote to Putin Wednesday, pleading with him to intervene after Ukrainian shelling caused civilian deaths and crippled vital infrastructure.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separatists' request for Russian help was an example of the sort of false-flag operation that the U.S. and its allies have expected Moscow to use as a pretense for war.

"So well continue to call out what we see as false-flag operations or efforts to spread misinformation about what the actual status is on the ground, she said.

The U.S. and key European allies accused Moscow of crossing a red line Tuesday in rolling over Ukraines border into a separatist eastern region known as the Donbas, with some calling it an invasion.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian lawmakers approved a decree that imposes a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday. The measure allows authorities to declare curfews and restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations in the interests of national security and public order.

The action reflected increasing concern among Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended that any Ukrainians who are there leave immediately.

Russia on Wednesday evacuated its embassy in Kyiv as hopes for a diplomatic way out of a new, potentially devastating war in Europe waned.

For a long time, we refrained from declaring a state of emergency ... but today the situation has become more complicated, National Security and Defense Council head Oleksiy Danilov told parliament, emphasizing that Moscow's efforts to destabilize Ukraine represented the main threat.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraines borders is in an advanced state of readiness. They are ready to go right now, Kirby said.

The latest images released by the Maxar satellite image company show Russian troops and military equipment deployed within 10 miles of the Ukrainian border and less than 50 miles from Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv.

In response to Russia's action, President Joe Biden allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the companys CEO.

Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers, Biden said in a statement. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate.

Germany said Tuesday it was indefinitely suspending the project, after Biden charged that Putin had launched the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine by sending troops into the separatist regions. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.

Putin said Tuesday he hadnt yet sent any Russian troops into the rebel regions contrary to Western claims, and Donetsk rebel leader Denis Pushilin insisted Wednesday there were no Russian troops in the region even though a local council member claimed the previous day they had moved in.

Ukrainian Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said a wave of denial-of-service attacks targeted official websites and some banks Wednesday. The attacked knocked offline the sites of the parliament, cabinet and Foreign Ministry and caused interruptions or delays to the sites of the defense and interior ministry, which controls the police.

Already, the threat of war has shredded Ukraine's economy and raised the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos.

Even as the conflict took a new, dangerous turn, leaders warned it could still get worse. Putin has yet to unleash the force of the 150,000 troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, while Biden held back on even tougher sanctions that could cause economic turmoil for Russia but said they would go ahead if there is further aggression.

In other developments, Kyiv recalled its ambassador to Russia and considered breaking all diplomatic ties with Moscow; dozens of nations further squeezed Russian oligarchs and banks out of markets; the U.S. repositioned additional troops to NATOs eastern flank bordering Russia; and the top U.S. diplomat canceled a meeting with his Russian counterpart.

European Union sanctions against Russia took effect, targeting several companies along with 351 Russian lawmakers, who voted for a motion urging Putin to recognize the rebel regions, and 27 senior government officials, business executives and top military officers.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage.

In Ukraine's east, violence spiked again. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and six more were injured after rebel shelling, the Ukrainian military said. Separatist officials reported several explosions on their territory overnight and three civilian deaths.

Facing a barrage of criticism at the 193-member United Nations General Assembly, Russias U.N. ambassador Vassily Nebenzia warned Ukraine that Russia will monitor the cease-fire in the east and emphasized that no one intends to go softly, softly with any violators.

A new military adventure by Kyiv might cost the whole of Ukraine very dearly, he warned ominously.

After weeks of rising tensions, Putin's steps this week that dramatically raised the stakes. He recognized the independence of those separatist regions, a move he said extends even to the large parts of the territories now held by Ukrainian forces, and had parliament grant him authority to use military force outside the country.

Putin laid out three conditions that he said could end the standoff, urging Kyiv to recognize Russias sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, to renounce its bid to join NATO and to partially demilitarize. Ukraine long has rejected such demands.
With the Russian threat growing, the Ukrainian president is pleading for peace and says Russian President would not accept his call.

In an emotional address to the nation late Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Moscow's claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and lamented that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, he said in Russian, hours after declaring a nationwide state of emergency. But if the nation comes under an attack, "we will fight back.

Zelenskyy said he tried to call Putin, but the Kremlin remained silent.

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UN Secretary-General is telling Russian President to not send Russian troops against Ukraine and give peace a chance.

Guterres opened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council late Wednesday saying the day was full of rumours and indications that an offensive against Ukraine is imminent.

In the recent past, Guterres says he never believed rumours that Russia would invade Ukraine and was convinced that nothing serious would happen.

But, he adds: "I was wrong, and I like not to be wrong again. So if indeed an operation is being prepared I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart: Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.

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UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned the arrest of four members of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the (MINUSCA) and called for their immediate release.

The UN peacekeepers were arrested by the (CAR) gendarmerie in Bangui on Monday, while escorting a senior military officer of the mission.

The Secretary-General on Wednesday emphasised that, pursuant to the 2014 status-of-forces agreement between the UN and the government of the CAR relating to MINUSCA, these MINUSCA members enjoy privileges and immunities which are held in the interest of the UN, Xinhua news agency reported.

The top UN official recalled that the 2014 status-of-forces agreement establishes a specific procedure in cases where members of MINUSCA are suspected, by the authorities of the CAR, of having committed an offence. Guterres noted that this procedure has not been followed in the present case.

The UN Chief called upon the government of the CAR to abide by all its obligations under law, including the status-of-forces agreement, and release these MINUSCA personnel "unconditionally and without delay".

--IANS

int/khz/

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The Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday night at the request of Ukraine, which said it feared an immediate threat of a Russian invasion.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked for the meeting in a letter to Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, who holds the council presidency in February. The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. EST.

The meeting comes two days after the 15-member council held an emergency open meeting, also at Ukraine's request, which saw no support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of independence for two separatist areas in Ukraine's east and his announcement that Russian troops would head there to keep the peace.

Council diplomats are finalising a draft resolution that they said would make clear that Russia is violating the UN Charter, international law, and a 2015 council resolution endorsing the Minsk agreements aimed at restoring peace in eastern Ukraine.

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The US has deployed an unspecified number of F-35A radar-evading fighters to Japan, its military said on Thursday, in an apparent move to reinforce deterrence against an assertive China and a nuclear-armed North Korea.

In a statement on its website, the US Indo-Pacific Command said the F-35As from the 354th Fighter Wing in Alaska were deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, on Sunday to conduct "integrated air operations."

The fighters' arrival came after the US military deployed four B-52 nuclear-capable bombers to Guam earlier this month to support training efforts with allies and partners, Yonhap news agency reported.

"Their arrival signals the continuing effort to refine the US Indo-Pacific Command's warfighting capability through agile combat employment, which supports the National Defense Strategy to develop a more lethal, agile and resilient force," the command said.

The US Air Force "uses a flexible theater posture" to "support our allies and partners in a free and open Indo-Pacific theater," it added.

The US has recently been demonstrating its military heft by relocating its strategic military assets to the Indo-Pacific region.

The move came amid speculation that the North could stage a major show of force in time for the 110th birthday anniversary of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's late grandfather and national founder, Kim Il-sung, on April 15.

Pyongyang ratcheted up tensions with seven known rounds of missile launches last month, including that of an intermediate-range missile capable of targeting Guam.

--IANS

int/sks

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With rare but fragile alignment, the is largely backing President Joe Biden's decision to confront Russia with potentially escalating sanctions for the crisis in Ukraine as lawmakers brace for perhaps the most daunting foreign policy crisis the nation has faced in a generation.

But the next steps are highly volatile even more so after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced early Thursday a military operation in Ukraine and explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other cities there.

"We must refuse to stand by and watch innocent Ukrainian men, women, and children suffer, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said in a statement after Putin's forces moved against Ukraine.

He said he was "committed to ensuring that the United States upholds our responsibility to exact maximum costs on Putin, the Russian economy, and those who enabled and facilitated this trampling of Ukraine's sovereignty."



With isolationist impulses rising at home, Congress has no appetite for war. Yet Americans also appear ambivalent about the US working to keep the peace. New polling from The Associated Press and NORC taken before Putin's announcement says just 26% of Americans want the US to play a major role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that Russia's aggression toward Ukraine is "an attack on democracy, vowing that the US will stand united with its allies around the world in swiftly imposing sanctions on Russia and ensuring financial and political support for an independent Ukraine.

Pelosi, who returned to the Capitol from a diplomatic overseas trip, situated the aggression from Russia toward Ukraine alongside intervention in the United States' own democratic process during the 2016 election.

There will be a price to pay for Vladimir Putin," she said, flanked by lawmakers who had joined her delegation at the annual security conference in Munich.

While Republican critics of the Biden administration and even some Democrats want the White House to go even tougher with swifter and more severe sanctions on Russia, most have given varying degrees of support for the White House strategy, including Biden's move Wednesday to sanction the company building the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

The top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, said sanctions on Nord Stream 2 are long overdue, but I cannot overstate how critical they are to showing Putin that violating a nation's sovereignty has consequences."



Risch, who has worked with colleagues on a bipartisan basis for years trying to end the pipeline, said: It is good to see President Biden do the right thing."Republican leaders have sought to steer the conversation to their preferred terms, as the party whose defence hawks once led the nation on the national security front. But it's not at all clear whether today's GOP can keep Republicans from tapping into an impassioned non-interventionist strain unleashed by Donald Trump's America First approach.

It was Trump who sought to strip protections for Ukraine from the Republican Party platform for the 2016 election, and who was impeached by the House for abuse of power after he pressured the Ukrainian president to dig up dirt on Biden ahead of the 2020 campaign.

This week, Trump cheered on Putin as he massed military forces near Ukraine's border and recognized the independence of its separatist regions in a move Biden and others warned was the start of an invasion of Ukraine. As president, Trump had been critical of NATO, working to distance the US from the historic partnership and berating allies to contribute more money to defense.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a longtime champion of NATO, spoke highly of the Western alliance this week, but some within his party are gravitating away from that traditional Republican position and toward Trump's views.

McConnell said he wants to see Biden impose the toughest possible sanctions.

Other Republicans, though, most notably Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, a potential Republican presidential hopeful, has said the US should be paying closer attention to the greater challenges he believes are posed by China.

Still, most Republican senators are backing Biden's sanctions on Putin, even if some are clamoring for more and taking political punches at Biden for seeming too tepid.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a sometimes Trump ally who is also one of the party's leading defense hawks and who used to globetrot with fellow GOP Sen. John McCain, invoked his late colleague this week in urging Biden to confront Putin more forcefully.

Graham said Congress should impose sanctions from hell on Putin and his regime when lawmakers return to work next week.

Sen. Ted Cruz, who had single-handedly blocked Biden's nominees for various State Department posts to halt the Russia-to-Germany pipeline, said with the announced new sanctions he would lift his blockade.

"President Biden has now taken positive steps, Cruz, R-Texas, said in a statement. "But much more still needs to be done to deter and counter the threat that Putin poses to our allies in Ukraine and across Europe.

Pelosi said Russians need to understand what their leader is doing. It's stunning to see in this day and age a tyrant roll into a country, Pelosi said. This is the same tyrant who attacked our democracy in 2016.

It's unclear what more, if anything, Congress will do to confront Russia, as lawmakers hold back their own legislative response to Putin while Biden engages US allies in a more global strategy.

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The Justice Department is scrapping the name of a Trump-era initiative intended to crack down on economic espionage by Beijing but criticised as unfairly targeting Chinese professors at American colleges because of their ethnicity.

The decision to abandon the China Initiative, announced Wednesday by the department's top national security official, follows a monthslong review undertaken after charges that the program chilled academic collaboration and contributed to anti-Asian bias.

The department also endured high-profile setbacks in individual criminal prosecutions that resulted in the last year in the dismissal of multiple criminal cases against academic researchers.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said the department will be relentless in defending our country from China, but no longer will group its investigations and prosecutions under the China Initiative label, in part out of recognition of the threats facing the U.S. from Russia, Iran, North Korea and others beyond China.

I'm convinced that we need a broader approach, one that looks across all of these threats and use all of our authorities to combat them, he told reporters before a speech in which he planned to lay out the changes.

The program was established in 2018 under then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions as a way to thwart what officials said were aggressive efforts by China to steal American intellectual property and to spy on American industry and research.

Olsen told reporters he believed the initiative was prompted by genuine national security concerns. He said he did not believe investigators had targeted professors on the basis of ethnicity, but he also said he had to be responsive to concerns he heard, including from Asian American groups.

Anything that creates the impression that the Department of Justice applies different standards based on race or ethnicity harms the department and our efforts, and it harms the public, Olsen said.

The initiative has resulted in convictions, including against hackers accused of breaching the networks of U.S. companies. Nonetheless, it came to be most associated with efforts to investigate professors at American universities for concealing ties to the Chinese government on applications for federal grants.

Federal prosecutors are still expected to pursue grant fraud cases against researchers when there is evidence of malicious intent, serious fraud and a connection to economic and national security, with prosecutors from the department's National Security Division in Washington playing a supervisory role. In some cases, prosecutors may opt for civil or administrative solutions instead of criminal charges.

Wednesday's announcement follows multiple cases in which the department has either dismissed its own prosecutions or had them thrown out by judges.

In January, the department dropped its case against Gang Chen, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor charged in the final days of the Trump administration. Prosecutors concluded that they could no longer meet their burden of proof after they received information from the Department of Energy suggesting that he had not been required to disclose certain information on his forms.

A federal judge in September threw out all charges against a University of Tennessee professor accused of hiding his relationship with a Chinese university while receiving research grants from NASA, and the university has since offered to reinstate him.

Olsen said the department continued to stand by cases that are pending against professors and researchers.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a speech last month that the threat from China was more brazen than ever, with the FBI opening new cases to counter Chinese intelligence operations every 12 hours or so.

I'm not taking any tools off the table here, Olsen said. In his speech at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, he noted that despite the diverse range of threats, it is clear that the government of China stands apart.

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As Russia intensified its aggression toward neighboring Ukraine earlier this week, Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio blasted President Vladimir Putin's provocations as a clear violation of law.

The co-chair of the Senate's Ukraine Caucus urged the Biden administration to work with allies to ensure a coordinated response to this unwarranted continued incursion on sovereign territory of Ukraine.

But one of the Republicans running to replace the retiring Portman had a very different message.

I gotta be honest with you, I don't really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another, J.D. Vance said in a podcast interview. I'm sick of Joe Biden focusing on the border of a country I don't care about while he lets the border of his own country become a total war zone.

The divergent responses to Europe's most significant foreign policy crisis in generations reflects a divided and rapidly changing Republican Party. An old guard, largely centered in Washington, that has long warned of Russian aggression is confronting an ascendant generation of conservatives who openly question why the U.S. should care about Russia's moves at all.

All of these people came up in a party where standing up tough against Russia was a prime directive," Doug Heye, a longtime GOP strategist, said of the divide. "It shows how our have gotten wayward over the last few years.

The GOP's approach to foreign policy took on new urgency after Putin on Thursday launched a military operation in Ukraine. In the runup to that action, the party's division was a reminder of Donald Trump's enduring impact on the GOP long after his departure from the White House.

The former president remains the most popular figure among the GOP base and is already wielding his influence in the midterm primaries that begin next week as he teases anther presidential run. Those races could yield similarly minded Republicans who will head into the fall campaign positioned to succeed foreign policy traditionalists like Portman.

The annual Conservative Political Action Conference that gets underway in Florida on Thursday could offer a preview of what's to come as leaders focus far more of their ire on President Joe Biden's handling of foreign policy than Putin's norm-breaking aggression.

Look, I think, Putin is as an autocrat. He's a bad guy, said American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp. And I think the sad thing is the Biden administration they're not just projecting weakness, they're projecting befuddlement, confusion. And tyrants take advantage of that.

For now, those questioning why the U.S. should care about Ukrainian security remain a small, if highly influential and vocal segment of the conservative movement. Congressional Republicans, especially those in the Senate, have been largely united in speaking out against Russian aggression, with some like Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas advocating a more aggressive posture and calling Biden's response timid and wholly unequal to this moment.

Almost all have become increasingly critical of Biden as tensions ramp up during a crucial midterm election year.

But those dismissing American involvement have powerful platforms. Fox News host Tucker Carlson, the network's biggest star who reaches several million viewers each night, has repeatedly questioned why defending Ukraine is important and even asked why the U.S. should side with them and not Putin.

Candace Owens, a prominent conservative commentator, has gone even further, openly parroting Putin's talking points.

I suggest every American who wants to know what's (asterisk)actually(asterisk) going on in Russia and Ukraine, read this transcript of Putin's address. As I've said for month NATO (under direction from the United States) is violating previous agreements and expanding eastward. WE are at fault, she tweeted Tuesday.

On Wednesday night, as the sound of explosions rang out through Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine, Trump called the scene a terrible situation" and insisted Putin never would have moved on his watch.

He sees the weakness and the incompetence and the stupidity of this administration. And as an American I'm angry about it and I'm saddened by it, he said, calling into Laura Ingraham's Fox News show. It's a very sad thing for the world, for the country, and its certainly very sad for a lot of people that are going to be needlessly killed."



It was a departure from his initial public response to Putin's escalation, in which he offered no clear condemnation and repeatedly praised the Russian leader's savvy in an interview on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show.

Critics see that mindset as symptomatic of the party's larger drift toward authoritarianism and embrace of anti-democratic action after Trump's repeated efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election to remain in power.

They're basically declaring their support for authoritarians and dictators and they don't seem to have a problem with that type of ruling coming to America, said Olivia Troye, a national security expert who advised Vice President Mike Pence in the Trump White House. I think Americans can disagree about how best to proceed. But we should be a united front in support of freedom and democracy.

What happened to Republicans being anti-Russia?" she added. That used to be the thing.

From the early days of his first presidential campaign, Trump has overseen a dramatic overhaul of the GOP's traditional foreign policy stance. He won in 2016, in part, by running against the forever wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, arguing the country had gained little from the interventionism and nation-building of the neoconservative George W. Bush era. He adopted an inward-looking America First doctrine that sought to use a combination of tough talk and unpredictability to scare off would-be aggressors.

At the same time, Trump embraced Putin, complimenting him and denigrating NATO, the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy since it was founded to counter Russia.

In 2016, his allies worked to strip language from the GOP platform that supported giving weapons to Ukraine. He repeatedly sided with Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies' conclusions about Russia's meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The embrace was so baffling to Russia watchers that some grew convinced the only plausible explanation was that Putin had some kind of dirt on him, speculation that has never been verified.

Trump was impeached the first time for pressuring Ukraine to investigate Biden ahead of the 2020 election while withholding military aid.

His tenure overlapped with a corresponding change in public opinion. Gallup found the percentage of Republicans who called Russia a friend or ally rose sharply during Trump's presidency, increasing from 22% in 2014 to 40% in 2018. Democrats' views of the relationship remained largely the same.

Today, there is little support among Americans for a major U.S. role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and even less among Republicans. A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only 22% of Republicans think the U.S. should play a major role in the conflict, compared with 32% of Democrats.

Republicans were also somewhat less likely than Democrats to say they're very or extremely concerned that Russia's influence around the world poses a direct threat to the U.S.

Adam Geller, a Republican political strategist and pollster, warned that while domestic issues have generally played a more decisive role than foreign policy in recent elections, that could change.

If there's going to be a major war in Europe, it's going to quickly rise up in the issue matrix in the minds of voters," he said.

That would spell bad news for Biden, he said, energizing both Republicans as well as independents who voted for Biden because he'd promised a return to pre-Trump normalcy.

But Douglas Brinkley, a professor of history at Rice University, said there were larger issues at play, calling it unprecedented for Republicans to be questioning the need to stand with Ukraine and, ultimately, NATO.

It goes against generations of foreign policy making," he said. NATO is the heart and soul of all American foreign policy."



You undermine NATO, there is no American presence in the world, he added. "This isn't a squabble about foreign policy.

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US President on Thursday met with his G7 counterparts to discuss President Putin's "unjustified attack" on and agreed to move forward on "devastating" packages of sanctions and other economic measures to hold to account.

Biden's comments came after his virtual consultations with the leaders of G-7 countries, a grouping of seven major advanced nations including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Three of them - US, UK and France -- are permanent members of the UN Security Council.

"This morning, I met with my G7 counterparts to discuss President Putin's unjustified attack on and we agreed to move forward on devastating packages of sanctions and other economic measures to hold to account. We stand with the brave people of Ukraine," Biden tweeted.

Earlier on Wednesday, Biden said the world will hold accountable for the death and destruction due to the "unprovoked" and "unjustified" attack on and the US and its allies will respond in a "united and decisive" way, President has warned, as his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a special military operation in eastern Ukraine.

President Putin, in a televised address, announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it is intended to protect civilians.

Reacting to Putin's move, Biden said his Russian counterpart has chosen a "premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering".

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable, he said.

In a late Wednesday night statement, Biden said the prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine as they suffer an "unprovoked" and "unjustified" attack by Russian military forces.

The president said he will be monitoring the situation in Ukraine from the White House and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.

Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security, he said.

We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine, Biden said.

Putin said Russia's move came in response to threats emanating from Ukraine. He also warned other countries that if they attempted to interfere with the Russian military operation they would see consequences they have never seen.

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President on Thursday said that the United States will have consultations with India on the crisis in following a military operation from .

In a televised address on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his move to launch a military operation in came in response to threats emanating from the neighbouring country.

He also warned other countries that if they attempted to interfere with the Russian military operation they would see "consequences they have never seen".

"We are going to have consultations with India (on the Ukrainian crisis). We haven't resolved that fully, Biden told reporters during a White House news conference on the Ukrainian crisis.

He was responding to a question if India was fully on board with the United States on the Russian aggression.

It is understood that India and the United States are not on the same page on the Ukrainian crisis.

India has a historic and time-tested friendship with . At the same time, its strategic partnership with the United States has grown at an unprecedented pace over the last decade and half.

It is believed that the Biden administration at various levels, ranging from the White House, the State Department and its National Security Council have reached out to their Indian counterparts at multiple levels seeking full support from it on the Ukrainian crisis.

During a background briefing with reporters a senior administration official deflected questions related to India's stand on the Ukrainian crisis at the UN Security Council.

However, behind the scene, US officials have expressed their displeasure with their Indian counterparts at the latest Indian position. India, under Modi, has maintained its own strategic independence.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on telephone today with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he reiterated India's long-standing conviction that the differences between and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue.

The prime minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue, according to a readout issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

President Putin announced in a televised address on Thursday morning that in response to a request by the head of the Donbas republic, he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years. Putin has said that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

Russia's Defence Ministry reported that Russian troops were destroying Ukrainian military infrastructure using precision weapons. The US has already announced a series of sanctions on Russia to prevent it from accessing Western financial markets.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian President will face significant consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine, the warned on Wednesday, noting that the series of sanctions announced against it in the last two days are just a beginning.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki, during her daily news conference, told reporters that the United States has a specific authority to take additional steps against Russia's financial institutions.

To make very clear to President Putin and to our partners around the world that there will be significant consequences beyond what we have already done, should he invade further, she said.

There's additional enormous financial institutions, the two largest banks, for example, which were not a part of the announcement we made yesterday (Tuesday).

There's an additional step we've expressed an openness to, including taking steps that relate to export controls. So, these are assessments we will continue to make internally, and we have a range of tools that we are prepared to -- steps we are prepared to take should he further escalate, Psaki said.

She said that America's preference would be that Putin doesn't further invade.

What we're also assessing is that he has had to adjust, adapt to the strength of the unity of the global community, to what our reaction has been. And he has been forced to need to respond and adapt his own actions. We will see.

We still very much anticipate and predict that he will invade further. But again, we're also seeing an impact on how he's behaving, Psaki said.

At the same time, she noted that the US is working on minimising the impact of Russian invasion on the global economy.

But there is not an impact from the sanctions we've announced on the American public. It really depends in part on what President Putin does in many regards, she said.

At the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, its Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is beginning.

Hours after Russia recognised the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as "independent," President Putin authorised Russian troops to enter those regions. He has taken other steps that amount to a direct assault on Ukraine's sovereignty, he said.

Moscow, Price reiterated, needs to demonstrate that it's serious about diplomacy.

Russia's actions over the last 48 hours have in fact demonstrated the opposite. If Moscow's approach changes, we remain ready to engage. The United States and our allies and partners remain open to diplomacy. We are eager to engage to avert what would be a brutal and costly conflict. But as we have said, diplomacy cannot succeed unless Russia changes course, he said.

Our goal here, even as the Russian invasion of Ukraine is beginning, is to avert the worst-case scenario. The worst-case scenario that we have warned about for some time now.

We have gone into great detail in terms of what that could look like. Electronic warfare, a fuller scale invasion, an attack on major urban centers including Kyiv, a city of 2.9 million people, horrific human rights abuses. Atrocities, potential war crimes, Price said in response to a question.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon said that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered the additional movement of some US forces that are currently stationed in Europe to continue its support for NATO allies in the defence of the Eastern Flank.

These forces consist of aviation elements and some ground forces. We'll move within the European area of operations to NATO's northeastern and southeastern Flanks in the coming days. And we expect them to be in place later this week. They include an Infantry Battalion Task Force of approximately 800 personnel. They'll be moving from Italy to the Baltic region. It's a movement of up to eight F-35 Strike Fighters from Germany to several operating locations along the Eastern Flank, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said.

A Battalion of Attack Aviation and specifically 20 AH-64 helicopters from Germany is being moved to the Baltic region. An Attack Aviation Task Force, which is 12 AH-64 helicopters, will move from Greece to Poland, he said.

The additional personnel are being repositioned to reassure NATO Allies, deter any potential aggression against NATO member states, and train with host nation forces and of course they'll report to General Tod Wolters, the Commander of US European Command, Kirby said.

They're temporary in nature, and they are part of the now 90,000 US troops that are already in Europe that are both there on rotational as well as permanent orders. The US maintains significant numbers of combat capable forces in Europe. Relatedly, the US Army, Europe and Africa will be kicking off Exercise Sabre Strike 22 later this month. The exercise will run through March with approximately 13,000 participants from 13 countries, Kirby added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US and corn futures rose by their daily trading limits on Thursday, while soybeans reached the highest level since 2012, after Russian forces attacked Ukraine, exacerbating worries over global supplies.

rose for a third day, scaling its highest in more than nine years, while corn climbed to an eight-month peak.

Shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke in a televised address on state TV on Thursday, explosions could be heard in the pre-dawn quiet of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

"Heightened tensions around Russia- and a fair amount of uncertainty over Russian supplies over the coming months have prompted traders to keep their grain at home rather than shipping it overseas," ING commodity strategists said in a note.

With Russia and accounting for about 29% of global exports, 19% of world corn supplies and 80% of world sunflower oil exports, traders were worried that any military engagement could hamper crop movement and trigger a mass scramble by importers to replace supplies from the Black Sea region.

"Russia- tensions exacerbated supply risks for the global market," the ING strategists said as they cited still-muted wheat exports from the European Union.

The most active May wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade soared 5.7% to $9.34-3/4 a bushel, the highest since July 2012.

Corn climbed by up to 5.1% to $7.16-1/4 a bushel, its loftiest since June 10.

May soybeans were up 4.2% at $17.41 a bushel at 0846 GMT, advancing for a sixth session. Earlier in the day, it hit its highest since September 2012 at $17.56-1/2.

Russia has suspended movement of commercial vessels in the Azov sea until further notice but kept its ports in the Black Sea open for navigation, its officials and five grain industry sources said, as news of Russia's attack on Ukraine rattled markets.

In China, soymeal futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange rallied to a record high even as the government plans to release soybeans from reserves amid worries over tight supplies in the market.

(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.)
World leaders expressed a raw outrage shrouded by an impotence to immediately come to the aid of Ukraine to avoid a major war in Europe, condemning Russia's attack on its neighbour as the European Union and others promised unprecedented sanctions to hit the Kremlin.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it a barbaric attack on an independent nation that also targeted the stability in Europe and the whole of the peace order.

The EU will hold an emergency summit in Brussels, where NATO is also meeting after Poland and the Baltic nations bordering Russia and Ukraine called for an urgent session.

But no one promised to move in militarily and defend Ukraine as it could touch off a major European war. Russian President warned anyone listening that any interference would lead to consequences you have never seen in history.

So instead, most of the world but not China condemned and threatened to hit the Russian elites with, in the words of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the strongest package, the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented.

A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbour country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue, Borrell said. This is not only the greatest violation of law, it's a violation of the basic principles of human coexistence. It's costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.

Von der Leyen said the massive and targeted sanctions she will put to EU leaders will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia.

She said the sanctions, if approved, will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernise. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.

Like the first package of sanctions that were imposed when Russia recognised the two breakaway eastern Ukrainian republics, von der Leyen said all Western powers were walking in lockstep.

We are closely aligned with our partners and allies the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, but also, for example, Japan and Australia, she said.

And highlighting a widening rift in superpower relations, China stood alone in failing to condemn the attack and instead accused the United States and its allies of worsening the crisis.

In a clear defense of Moscow, China called on parties to respect others' legitimate security concerns.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that all parties should work for peace instead of escalating the tension or hyping up the possibility of war, in language China has consistently used to criticise the West in the crisis. China has increasingly aligned its foreign policy with Russia to challenge the West.

Those parties who were busy condemning others; what have they done ? Have they persuaded others? Hua said.

One thing was clear weeks of diplomatic cajoling, global crisscrossing of leaders and foreign ministers, and the threat of sanctions against Putin's inner circle had failed to persuade the Kremlin to take one of the most significant measures in Europe since the end of the Cold War.

NATO envoys met in an emergency session as the 30-nation military organisation prepares to bolster its defences in allies neighbouring both countries. Preparations are also underway for a NATO summit.

Overall though, more sanctions appear the only option for the foreseeable future. And from South Korea to Australia to Europe, governments were lining up to oppose Putin.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and said Ukraine was in the thoughts of everyone in the UK during this dark time.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who had laboured until the last minute for a diplomatic solution, said France firmly condemns Russia's decision to wage war, and promised support for Ukraine.

Russia must end its military operations immediately, Macron said.

The turmoil from the beginning of a long-feared act of aggression rippled from Europe to Asia. Stock markets plunged, oil prices surged, and European aviation officials warned of a high risk to civilian aircraft over Ukraine, reminding air operators that this is now an active conflict zone.

Russia's attack and uncertainty about the intensity of the Western response sent stocks tumbling and oil prices surging by more than $5 per barrel. Market benchmarks in Europe and Asia fell by as much as 4%, while Brent crude oil briefly jumped above $100 per barrel in London for the first time since 2014 on unease about possible disruption of supplies from Russia, the No. 3 producer.

In New York, the UN Security Council held an extraordinary emergency meeting meant to dissuade Russia from sending troops into Ukraine. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' plea to give peace a chance came just as Russian President appeared on Russian TV to announce a military operation that he maintained was to protect civilians in Ukraine.

Putin, who said that rebels in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military assistance, warned other countries that any effort to interfere with the Russian operation would lead to consequences they have never seen.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. Moscow had massed more than 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders. On Monday, Putin recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian forces there for what he called peacekeeping. Guterres at the UN disputed that, saying the troops were entering another country without its consent.

In a bulletin Thursday, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft and that the presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a HIGH risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels.

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Members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has agreed to hold their 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) during the week of June 13 in Geneva, the organisation said.

According to a press release, the decision was taken by the organisation's General Council following the easing of the Covid-19 restrictions in the host country Switzerland. The exact dates of the meeting will be specified later.

Dacio Castillo, Ambassador of Honduras to the and Chair of the General Council, said fixing the dates for the conference should provide impetus to the WTO's work and focus for the discussions, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Let us work together with the primary objective in mind that the Conference will provide the WTO, and us here in Geneva, with an opportunity to demonstrate that the can deliver," Castillo added.

"Let us make this count."

MC12 was originally due to be held in June 2020 in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

The rescheduled meeting was set to be held between November 30 and December 3, 2021, but was postponed due to the Omicron variant Covid-19 outbreak, which led to the imposition of travel restrictions and quarantine requirements that would have prevented many ministers from reaching Geneva.

The Ministerial Conference, which is attended by trade ministers and other senior officials from the organisation's 164 members, is the WTO's highest decision-making body.

--IANS

int/khz/

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Russian President on Thursday declared war on Ukraine and gave a chilling warning to its allies in the West, Daily Mail reported.

Explosions were heard in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, as Putin announced that was launching a military attack on Ukraine.

"To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside - if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history," he said on a television broadcast.

The UN Security Council had just convened an emergency meeting Wednesday night when Putin took to Russian airwaves to announce the invasion.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had urged Putin to stop his tanks.

"If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart," said Guterres.

"President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died."

Putin ignored the plea, going on TV to describe the invasion as a "special military occupation' and said he wants to "demilitarize" and "de-Nazify", not occupy, the country, the report said.

He told Ukrainian service members to "lay down their arms and go home", saying could not exist with a "constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine" and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was "inevitable".'

--IANS

san/ksk/

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Jindal Global Business School (JGBS), of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), has expanded its international partnership portfolio by signing 11 new Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with prestigious and universities in five countries spanning four continents.

The new international collaborations include top such as the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, US, the Thunderbird School of Global at Arizona State University, US and the University of Queensland Business School, Australia.

As part of its global ambition and a commitment to provide global education, exposure, and experience to its students, JGBS has expanded its reach to institutions in Vietnam, in addition to its numerous collaborations in Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The list of new partner institutions are as follows:

1. Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States

2. Kelley School of Business, Indiana University-Bloomington, United States

2. Florida State University, United States of America

3. Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, United States

4. University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom

5. The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

6. Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom

7. The University of Queensland, Australia

8. Faculty of Business and Economics, Macquarie University, Australia

9. Bond University, Australia

10. Frankfurt School of Finance and Economics, Germany

11. FPT University, Vietnam

The new MoUs create a range of opportunities for JGBS students. JGBS has partnered with one of the globe's most recognised business schools, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, to add strong value as an elite study abroad component to its 1-year Global MBA in Business Analytics. The Thunderbird School of Global Management's Master of Global (MGM) dual degree programme brings JGBS students one step closer to living and working for up to 3 years in the United States through the USA's Optional Practical Training program. Study abroad and student exchange programmes with Florida State University and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in the United States offer learning experiences in a global setting.

Through the difficult months of the pandemic, JGBS persevered and remained committed to providing international exposure to its students. A list of curated partners was created who were able to offer long-term and short-term mobility options, keeping in mind the health and safety concerns with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 200 students have explored exchange and study abroad options through partnership arrangements since 2020, many of whom have pursued advanced degree programmes in top institutions in Australia, the UK, and the US. It is worth noting that since its inception in 2010, JGBS has established international collaborations with over 72 and universities in 24 different countries.

Professor (Dr.) C Raj Kumar, Founding Vice-Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University, explained that "These partnerships are developed to enable the students of JGBS to enrol in international business and education programmes with our partner institutions. The vision of JGU since our inception has been to constantly provide quality global education experiences for our students so that we produce globally oriented business professionals. The institutional opportunities created by JGBS have provided students with strong levels of global exposure through exchange programmes, immersion programmes, dual degree programmes, and short-term study abroad programmes. Additionally, JGBS has exploited the potential of blended learning and hybrid education to help our students continue to reap the benefits of international collaboration through various technological platforms."

Professor (Dr.) Mayank Dhaundiyal, Dean, JGBS, observed that "as the country's top global business school, JGBS is committed to providing world-class international mobility options to the students of JGBS. The students of JGBS have access to more than 70 partner business schools and universities located in five continents, providing them with an unparalleled network for international mobility. Today's supply chains frequently span multiple continents and countries, necessitating the presence of business professionals who are well travelled and capable of fostering synergies between diverse business teams operating in disparate geographies. Our international student mobility programmes assist our management students in preparing for these critical and rewarding positions. "

JGBS explored and developed unique pedagogical options with select partners such as Monash University and Singapore Management University to bring global classrooms to student homes by organising "first of its kind" collaboratively taught online short-term immersions in niche areas of business-like social enterprise and sustainable business and management. More than 100 students from JGBS and partner institutions combined have benefited from the various online programmes and have had the opportunity to build a community through virtual platforms. All these collaborations have resulted in deeper relationships between the institutions in the form of joint research and advanced degree programmes.

Ambassador Prof. (Dr.) Mohan Kumar, Dean, Office of International Affairs and Global Initiatives (IAGI), observed, "These international collaborations enhance student experiences and learning--professionally and personally--especially during this post-COVID-19 moment we seem to be entering. JGU carefully selects the leading international partners who can provide the global knowledge, social and cultural intelligence, and capacity-building opportunities to drive our students' careers further. "

Prof. (Dr.) Laknath Jayasinghe, Vice Dean (Internationalization and Mobility), JGBS, added, "The need of the hour is to develop global business leaders who are imbued with a sense of social purpose in a sustainable and post-COVID-19 world. Going forward, business school students' skills, capabilities, and knowledge will be built upon a mix of traditional and digital learning frameworks that permit global engagement, experience, and exposure. These new collaborations enhance the opportunity to develop such capabilities and prepare our students to leverage transnational employment and business opportunities."

JGBS is committed to providing a diverse range of international perspectives and cultivating cultural awareness through international mobility in order to provide students with a truly global education. This includes opportunities for research and internships in cutting-edge fields such as business analytics, deep learning algorithms, cyber security, and digital marketing. Negotiations to expand student and faculty mobility continue with new partners in Columbia, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

JGBS is also exploring other novel collaborations, such as short-term study tours and collaborative student immersions, for its students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate dual degree programmes. As travel restrictions ease globally, JGBS is optimistic about further increasing its overall student mobility numbers.

--IANS

san/svn/

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Shares of Dr Reddy's Laboratories hit a 52-week low of Rs 4,055.85, down 3 per cent on the BSE in Thursday's intra-day trade, after Russia ordered military operations in Ukraine and reports emerged of blasts in some major Ukrainian cities.

The stock of the pharmaceutical company, which has a significant presence in the Russian market, has fallen below its previous low of Rs 4,135.90 touched on March 19, 2021. In the past one month, it has underperformed the market by falling 10 per cent as compared to 5 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex.

According to a Business Standard report, a Dr Reddy's spokesperson said the company has had a strong presence in the region for over three decades. "We hope for a peaceful resolution. In case of an escalation, ensuring the well-being of our staff, meeting patient needs, and business continuity would be our main priorities. We are monitoring developments closely and are preparing accordingly," the official said.

In September 2020, Dr. Reddy's had signed up with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)  Russia's sovereign wealth fund  to cooperate on clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine in India. Upon regulatory approval in India, RDIF had committed to supply 100 million doses of the vaccine to Dr. Reddy's.

During the financial year 2020-21 (FY21), revenue from Russia was Rs 1,580 crore, representing a year-on-year decline of 6 per cent due to a depreciation of ruble compared to the Indian rupee. Moreover, sales were subdued on account of an overall market slowdown, the company said in FY 21 annual report.

In Russia, the company's key products  such as Nise, Omez, Nasivin, Cetrine and Ibuclin  were ranked among the top 200 best-selling formulation brands, as per IQVIA in its report for the 12-month period ended March 31, 2021, it said.

Revenue from CIS countries (including Romania) was Rs 740 crore, representing 15 per cent growth over the previous year. The growth was led by Ukraine, Kazak, Uzbek and Romania including certain tender sales, the company said in annual report.

According to analysts at Edelweiss Securities, the high US contribution, which is exposed to price pressure and regulatory risks, makesthe road ahead difficult for Dr Reddy.

"Furthermore, lucrative launches are limited until gRevlimid in H2FY23 and uncertainty persists on launch timelines for complex generic products. Freseniuss potential US pegfilgrastim launch is likely to gain traction only in FY23 post-Onpro kind of device launch. The Sputnik opportunity is shrinking, and its ramp-up is unlikely until clarity emerges on booster doses or Sputnik Light," the brokerage firm said company update.
Currently, trades on the Indian stock exchanges are settled within two days, just like most major such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. Indian exchanges, however, will be moving to T+1 settlement from February 25 in a phased manner. T stands for trade day. Here is the lowdown on what the shorter settlement cycle means:

What is the new T+1 settlement cycle?

T+1 means that trade-related settlements must be done within one day of the transaction's completion. Trades on Indian stock exchanges are currently settled in two working days after the transaction is completed (T+2). For example, if you buy shares on Wednesday, they will be credited to your Demat account by the next day, which is Thursday. Till now they were getting settled on Friday.



ALSO READ: Exchanges decide to implement T+1 settlement cycle in phased manner

Will it be a gradual transition?

Initially, on the last Friday of February, only 100 stocks that are placed at the bottom according to their market valuation will be placed under the new settlement cycle. After that, 500 more stocks will be added every last Friday of subsequent months, until every stock is placed under the new settlement system.

What are the benefits?

T+1 settlement system will shorten the settlement cycle which will reduce the risk of default and will increase the liquidity in the market with availability of funds. "We may see an increase in trading volume as the funds will be free within one day," said Vijay Dhanotiya, Lead Technical Research at CapitalVia Global Research. "T+1 settlement system will shorten the settlement cycle by a day reducing risk of pay-in/pay-out defaults, lower margin requirements and give investors more liquidity with availability of funds and securities," said Anupam Agal, Head Operations & Legal, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

Will there be any hurdles?

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are expected to face operational challenges in adjusting to the new regime because of the difference in time zones, especially for the US and European investors. The investors have asked the clearing corporations to push the deadline for equity trade confirmations to 9 a.m. on T+1 day. They have also requested a single trade confirmation deadline for both institutional and non-institutional clients. Once the shorter settlement cycle kicks in, forex will have to be necessarily booked either late in the evening of trade day or early morning the next day. This may pose some challenges as well.

Can exchanges go back to T+2 settlement?

After opting for the T+1 settlement cycle for a scrip, stock exchanges have to continue with the same for a minimum of six months. After that, the stock can be moved back to the T+2 settlement cycle by giving a month's notice to the market.

Which other operate on T+1?

China is the only market of significant size and scale which operates on a shortened settlement cycle (T0/T+1). The US market is also in the process of moving to T+1 in the coming months.
The key benchmark indices are likely to start trade on a negative note as the Russia-Ukraine crisis continue to weigh on the global . The monthly F&O expiry could add to the volatility today. As of 08:00 AM, the SGX Nifty futures quoted at 16,820, indicating a gap-down of nearly 250 points on the Nifty 50 index. Meanwhile, here are the top for trade on Thursday.

Indian Hotels: Tata Sons, the parent company of Company (IHCL), plans to dilute its stake by up to 8 per cent in the hotel major, as the hospitality giant is looking to raise around Rs 2,000 crore via qualified institutional placement (QIP) in the next two weeks. IHCL will use the proceeds to reduce its consolidated debt worth Rs 1,905 crore (as of December last year). READ MORE

Ashok Leyland: Hitachi Energy is all set to introduce an innovative flash-charging technology that will be able to recharge electric buses within 20 seconds, from several hours currently. A pilot project will be launched at IIT Madras, in association with within a month's time. READ MORE

Sanofi India: The companys net profit declined 18.5 per cent to Rs 132.20 crore in Q3FY21 as against Rs 162.40 crore in Q3FY20. Total income was down 4.3 per cent at Rs 704.20 crore from Rs 736.50 crore.

TCS: The IT major has made changes to its leadership roles in North America. As part of the changes Suresh Muthuswami has been elevated to the role of chairman, North America, said sources in the know. This is one of the most significant leadership changes the company has announced for the region. READ MORE

Insurance: Indians are buying more term plans now as term insurance ownership has gone up to 43 per cent from 39 per cent last year, revealed the India Protection Quotient (IPQ) survey 4. This is despite life insurance ownership remaining unchanged at 78, signifying the fact that consumers are now diversifying their insurance holdings and building a holistic portfolio. The term insurance ownership has gone up from 36 per cent to 43 per cent in two years time. READ MORE

Voda Idea: The British telecom giant Vodafone is in discussions to sell around 5 per cent stake in Indus Towers to Bharti Airtel, according to industry sources. The stake is estimated to be valued at over Rs 3,300 crore, and the proceeds will be pumped into the Indian entity Vodafone Idea, PTI reported. READ MORE

Maruti: The countrys largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday launched the all new version of its premium hatchback Baleno - in a renewed push to maintain its leadership position in the premium hatchback segment. The new Baleno has a new K 12 engine and design tweaks, but the most dramatic addition is that of internet features, including a customisable advanced voice assist feature. READ MORE

Future Retail: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday directed Amazon and Future Group to approach National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) for speedy disposal of the US ecommerce firm's case challenging Competition Commission of Indias (CCI's) order which cancelled its 2019 deal with Future Coupons. The SC has listed the case to be heard next on March 9. READ MORE

Dabur: The company has entered into an exclusive partnership with Indian Oil Corporation to provide direct access of the formers range of products to around 140 million Indane LPG consumer households across India. The initiative will help leverage Indian Oils reach to Indian households, the latters personel will distribute booklets and fulfill delivery obligations too. READ MORE

Bosch: The company has acquired a minority 26 per cent stake in B2B eCommerce auto spares, garage equipment and accessories Autozilla Solutions. The acquisition allows Bosch to participate in a digital B2B-marketplace for the independent aftermarket (IAM) in the domestic market, will help it in easing auto spares procurement, the company said in a statement. READ MORE

Gammon India: The companys Q3 net loss expanded to Rs 182.36 crore in the quarter ended December 2021 when compared with a loss of Rs 161.82 crore in the quarter ended December 2020. Total income slumped 48.6 per cent YoY to Rs 13.74 crore.

TVS Motor Company: The Chennai-based two wheeler major has clocked 1 million units of exports for the first time ever in a fiscal year in FY21-22. The key exports include the TVS Apache series, TVS HLX series, TVS Raider, and TVS Neo series.

Federal-Mogul Goetze (India): Pegauss Holdings has made an open offer to acquire up to 25 per cent equity stake (1.39 crore shares) of Federal-Mogul at Rs 275 each. The total consideration for the open offer is Rs 382.80 crore. The stock last traded at Rs 251.25 on Wednesday.

NBFCs: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday said non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) in the upper and middle layer, with ten or more fixed point service delivery units as of October 1, 2022, will have to mandatorily implement Core Financial Services Solution (CFSS) by September 30, 2025, a system akin to the Core Banking Solution used by banks. READ MORE

AGS Transact Technologies: The company informed BSE that Crisil Ratings has reaffirmed its rating  CRISIL A+/ Stable on the companys long-term loan facilities up to Rs 900 crore.

Piramal Enterprises: The companys board is scheduled to meet on February 28 to consider a proposal to issue NCDs up to Rs 100 crore, with an option to retain oversubscription up to Rs 400 crore.

Suzlon: The companys board is scheduled to meet on February 27 to consider a proposal for raising funds via preferential issue of equity shares.

Aptech: The companys board approved restoring and reclassifying the business operations of the Institutional Business (EBG) as Continued Operations which in February 2021 were approved by the board as Discontinued Operations.

Black Box: The companys board is scheduled to meet on March 14 to consider a proposal for stock split.

Nandan Denim: The company has fixed March 21 as the record date for the proposed 2:1 bonus share issue.

Results Watch: Frontline Financial Services, KSB, Linde India and Vesuvius to announce December quarter results today.

Stocks in F&O ban: Indiabulls Housing Finance, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Voda Idea are the only three stocks in the F&O ban period on Thursday.


Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo on Thursday morning said that it is very unfortunate that whatever is happening in Maharashtra is aimed to influence the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Mayawati's statement came after the (ED) on Wednesday arrested Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik in connection with links with the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and a money laundering case.

"It is very unfortunate that whatever is happening in the country in the name of terrorism and sometimes in the name of cases by investigation agencies in Maharashtra are aimed to influence the Assembly elections in UP. People must be alert," tweeted today morning.

The Maharashtra unit of the BJP will hold a state-wide protest on Thursday to demand the resignation of Malik.

Malik has been remanded to (ED) custody till March 3 in a money laundering case.

(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.)
Indices traded lower with sharp losses in morning trade as investors watched the escalating situation between Russia and Ukraine. The Nifty traded below the 17,600 mark. All sectoral indices on the NSE traded in the red with auto banks and IT stocks losing the most.

Trading sentiment took a hit after Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a public address that he had authorized a military operation in Ukraine. Later the media reported explosions were heard in Kyiv. Putin appealed to Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and go home. He said Russia doesn't plan to occupy its southern neighbour, but that Russia must defend itself from those who took Ukraine hostage -- the U. S. and its allies who had crossed Russia's red line with expansion of the NATO alliance.

At 10:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, declined 1,602.14 points or 2.8% to 55,629.27. The Nifty 50 index fell 472.65 points or 2.77% to 16,590.60.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 3.01% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index slumped 3.11%.

Sellers outpaced buyers.

On the BSE, 268 shares rose and 2834 shares fell. A total of 104 shares were unchanged.

Market may see high volatility today on account of monthly F&O expiry.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty IT index lost 3.6% to 32,882.85. The index declined nearly 6% in seven days.

Mindtree (down 5%), Coforge (down 4.82%), Tech Mahindra (down 4.55%), L&T Technology Services (down 4.31%), L&T Infotech (down 3.95%) and Wipro (down 3.76%) were top losers in IT space.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Federal-Mogul Goetze (India) jumped 8.14% to Rs 271.70 after Pegasus Holdings III, LLC, made an open offer to buy 25.02% of the fully diluted voting share capital of the company. Pegasus Holdings III, LLC will acquire up to 1,39,16,676 fully paid-up equity shares (25.02% equity) at Rs 275 per offer share aggregating to a total consideration of up to Rs 382.8 crore.

The open offer was triggered due to the merger between Pegasus Merger Co and Tenneco Inc, the ultimate holding company of Federal-Mogul Goetze (India). Tenneco Inc. on 23 February 2022, entered into an agreement to merge with Pegasus Merger Co., a corporation established under the laws of Delaware and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Pegasus Holdings III, LLC. Effective upon the closing of the transactions, Merger Sub will merge with and into Tenneco Inc., with Tenneco Inc. continuing as the surviving corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent. Tenneco holds a 100% stake in Federal-Mogul Mauritius and Federal-Mogul Germany under subsidiaries. Federal-Mogul Mauritius and Federal-Mogul Germany are the promoter companies of Federal-Mogul India. Meanwhile, promoter holds a 74.98% stake in Federal-Mogul India.

SKF India dropped 4% after the company announced that its chief financial officer (CFO) and key managerial personnel (KMP), Anurag Bhagania resigned from the position, from 22 February 2022.

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China to implement RCEP tariffs on Malaysian goods

Xinhua) 08:55, February 24, 2022

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 1, 2021 shows the container terminal in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Si Wei/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China will adopt the tariff rates it has pledged under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement on part of imports from Malaysia from March 18, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has said.

The new tariff rates will take effect on the same day as the world's largest deal comes into force for Malaysia, which has recently deposited its instrument of approval with the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The RCEP deal, which entered into force on Jan. 1 initially in 10 countries, will then be effective for 12 of its 15 signing members.

According to the commission's statement, the first-year RCEP tariff rates applicable to ASEAN members will be adopted on imports from Malaysia. The annual rates for subsequent years will be implemented from Jan. 1 of the respective years.

The agreement was signed on Nov. 15, 2020, by 15 Asia-Pacific countries -- 10 ASEAN members and China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- after eight years of negotiations that started in 2012.

Within this trade bloc that covers nearly a third of the world's population and accounts for about 30 percent of the global GDP, more than 90 percent of merchandise trade will eventually be subject to zero tariffs.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Thursday Notes: Illicit Tag Tracking - Apple at Fault Whatever the Brand; How not to do Folding Phones; Webex Woes

By Graham K. Rogers





AirTags do the job they were designed to do, but some use them for criminal pursuits. Apple tries to provide warnings when its own products are used this way. Some think that Cupertino should also do this for tags produced by other companies. The iPod Touch is still on sale: viva. Folding phones may not be the success pundits want them to be. Downfall on Netflix: the 737 Max. Watch this. Webex updates its meetings app: where is the button to start scheduled meetings?



There has been much comment online about the ways some people have used Apple AirTags for illicit tracking of cars and people. There have also been some creative uses, but that doesn't make headlines. For those using the iPhone, if a tag is following the user, there is a warning. On a couple of occasions I have left tagged items behind and a warning appears on my Watch and iPhone: working exactly as they should. Android users are less well-served and the apps available do not always warn the users effectively, if they work at all. There is an easy solution: buy an iPhone. Of course, some are just as deeply embedded into the Android environment as I am with iOS. I chuckle when people here explain to me that this is the same as the iPhone. There must be some smart salesmen out there.



Apple AirTags - Image courtesy of Apple

Other tag systems can be used for illicit tracking but they do not warn users; but as they are not Apple products, they are not worth any fuss from online commentators. Stalkers should buy these products for the least interference: the victims will never know. The amount of attention to this manufactured problem has grown considerably. Apple has taken some steps to improve warnings and adjusted other features. However a university in Germany thinks this is worthy of research (I smell a grant proposal). The research will focus on Android, but will not use Apple's own app because of the way that runs in the background. Instead, Oliver Haslam (iMore) reports that they will use AirGuard, which just happens to have been developed by one of the researchers. I will look forward to reading the full results (not some summary online), but how does this escape accusations of bias if the study is based on the researcher's own app? I treat anything about Apple on The Register with a degree of skepticism. Their stance on Apple comes from a time (long ago) when they ignored a publication embargo and Cupertino ceased to shower love on them. This week Gareth Corfield writes about a German infotech developer, Fabian Braunlein, and his cloned AirTags. These have been built using Apple's specifications - he claims. They show up in FindMy, but like tags from other manufacturers, don't warn users if they are being followed. It sounds as if these airtags which are not AirTags are missing some of Apple's special sauce. Braunlein is quoted in the article: "Apple needs to incorporate non-genuine AirTags into their threat model, thus implementing security and anti-stalking features into the Find My protocol and ecosystem instead of in the AirTag itself, which can run modified firmware or not be an AirTag at all." Let me try and analyze this. A developer has come up with a tracking device and because it can track people - like Tile Pro, Tile Mate, Samsung's Smart Tag et al - thinks it is somehow Apple's responsibility to provide tracking for tags from other manufactures? Whatever people do with their tracking devices is surely their responsibility or that of the manufactures of those devices. This sounds like blame Apple whatever. Mind you, it might be a bit of a coup if Apple was able to detect different brands of tags and give warnings like, "You have a [name] tag device following you not registered to your iPhone".

It was a bit of a surprise to me when Hartley Charlton (MacRumors) wrote this week that the iPod Touch was still on sale and was the oldest product in Apple's lineup. The 7th generation had been released in 2019: 1000 days before. I checked the Thai Apple store and indeed, there it was: 6 colors, starting at 6900 baht (32GB) up to 14,900 (256GB). I have fond memories of this device as it was available in Thailand a long time (relatively) before the iPhones arrived with the 3G model. Steve Jobs had introduced version 2 of this in the same keynote presentation as the MacBook Air, but I was annoyed that the software update that would bring the first version up to version 2 specs was only available in the iTunes App Store. At the time, this was not available to users in Thailand so automatically they were blocked from updating. I cornered Tony Li (then Apple Director for Product Marketing, South Asia), whom I had known for a while, in the MacWorld exhibition hall and told him of my concerns. He was between the devil and the deep blue sea. He told me that he had queried this with Apple Marketing but they had been adamant that this was how it would work. At dinner, I suggested to Tony that perhaps a second tier iTunes store for apps was feasible. I understood that music copyrights were the bar to that part of the Store in Thailand, but the apps were something else. I added that an advantage was that Apple would also have access to a large amount of data from such users. He told me he would pass the idea on. Of course, this was probably already in the planning stage as a few months later the App Store was live. And available to users in Thailand.

A lot of commentators have been pushing for Apple to come up with a folding phone. I do not see the sense in this: following fashion may not be the best strategy. Samsung did produce a folding phone and its first attempts did not have the best results. However, they seem to have been determined to show the World how to do the job and persevered. Juhani Letimaki (who also writes about technology) bought one and after 3 months found that - just above and below the fold - the plastic screen (not glass apparently) had a black blob. This grew. As the phone was under warranty, he sent it in for repair. Support was denied because of scratches. He adamantly denies the phone was dropped, but Samsung is not moved: foldable phone, screen damage, scratches, warranty denied. Samsung asked for 304 for the repair. He vows never to buy another Samsung phone. As part of the warranty denial, Samsung included images as support. Letimaki includes those as well as his own larger images of the same areas to provide a better context. My source for the item was Rob Beschizza (BoingBoing) from where I linked to the original article. I wonder what outcry there would have been had Apple made such a decision. A partial answer may be in the warranty denial over the wetness sensor in early iPhones that did not take into account humidity in certain areas. While a class action produced compensation for those affected in the USA, users in other humid places (including Thailand) who had been denied coverage did not benefit.

When it comes to the iPhone, and particularly its camera apps, I am biased. From the iPhone 5 on, these became a significant part of what I do. One app (645 Pro) moved me back to film photography. Sadly it appears that app is no longer available here although it is staying on my iPhone. It is not always easy to have an unbiased approach to such software (or the phone systems), but an article by Annette Lusina (PetaPixel) has an objective look at what there is and why Android users may not have the best deal here. I was of course drawn to the article by the title, Why Android Camera Apps are so Bad Compared to iOS; but the answer is - in part - one of the strengths of Android: the diversity. This causes fragmentation: one system for all types of phones. This is something that does not affect developers on iOS. Sony and Google Pixel phones come out quite well in the examination, but some phones are "gimmicky": not a word that springs to mind when discussing the iPhone.

I teach a course on Ethics & Morals for computer engineers. While I try to widen the areas I cover to make it more interesting, there are some examples that are directly related to the students I teach. These include Volkswagen's Dieselgate that also affected other car manufacturers. Smartphone benchmarking was examined by AnandTech a number of times and one of the articles includes the best table header I have seen: I Can't Believe I Have to Make this Table. There are also the software-related problems of the Boeing 737 Max that caused two unnecessary fatal crashes. Part of the problem was that the Boeing engineers did their own testing and sent reports to the FAA. There are several good articles on this, particularly a good examination from David Perell on his own site. Netflix has now also produced a documentary on these aircraft and it has interviews and other information that are easier to digest than long technical reports: Downfall: The Case Against Boeing. That title is an unfortunate pun with the two meanings of "downfall". Even the trailer gives a clear indication of the emotional aspects: easier to produce on the screen, but missing from written reports. Charles Brumesco (Guardian) reviews the Netflix documentary which made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival this year. I could sense the anger: rare in such a review. I watch the hour and a half presentation and the early parts outlining the buildup to each crash were compelling enough. I found it rivetting when the documentary explained how Boeing changed after its merger with McDonell Douglas. This inevitably led to ethics problems and the 737 Max crashes.

Just as I was about to start a class late last week, Webex put out a major update that changed the interface. For that class (and a couple in the same series) I had no problem as we had agreed I would use my personal room. However, a few days later there was a scheduled class (weekly: January to April). The meetings were shown in the panel, but nothing I clicked on allowed me to start the meeting. I tried several ways and as many different keystrokes as I could remember, but all to no avail. Cue panic. Eventually, by copying the meeting number (rather than the link) into the panel that appeared when I pressed Join a Meeting, I was able to start the class. Before the update this had been a single click from the Webex panel. Unless there is a magic button I have missed, this copy/paste way to start my classes is not how I want to work. I tried the Help pages, but nothing really covered the question I wanted to ask; so I used the feature to post a question to the HelpDesk. They thought of that too. When I submitted the question, the page changed: We can't seem to find that page. And the question evaporated. Trying the options later in the evening, I found that by copying the meeting URL into a browser would also work, but this adds an additional step and again is hardly efficient.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. After 3 years writing a column in the Life supplement, he is now no longer associated with the Bangkok Post. He can be followed on Twitter (@extensions_th)
Infosys announced the launch of Infosys metaverse foundry to ease and fast track enterprises' exploration of the metaverse, including virtual and augmented environments, for their customers, workplace, products and operations. Infosys metaverse foundry converges the power of domain and design expertise, platforms and digital accelerators, with strong relationships in a rich creator-partner economy. Enterprises can harness this confluence of capabilities as services on-tap, with the flexibility to ramp up and down their explorations at will. This gives them on-demand ability to securely and efficiently create their own metaverse environment, deliver signature experiences in an existing metaverse, and bring advanced AI-powered data analytics and simulations to realize their evolving aspirations as the internet evolves.

Infosys metaverse foundry helps enterprises navigate the metaverse by partnering with them through the Discover-Create-Scale cycle.

Infosys metaverse foundry puts Infosys' depth in business domains and expertise in immersive, interactive and experiential design to work for enterprises through its use cases, business cases and execution roadmaps. They harness the power of technologies like AR/VR, Blockchain, NFT, IoT, Applied AI, cybersecurity and 5G to advance value exploration in the metaverse. For example, a template that is popular with many large enterprises is for setting up an immersive retail experience where shoppers can explore a branded metaverse environment, buy products as NFTs or connect to an online checkout counter to make purchases that are delivered in the physical world.

Infosys Living Labs' multi-tiered digital infrastructure comprising technology, processes and people, includes several metaverse technology investments, including platforms and accelerators to build solutions and immersive experiences. They enable the rapid creation of engaging environments and digital replicas, while facilitating integration with enterprise data APIs and 360/3D asset management systems.

AI and engineering platforms to build digital twins of complex physical objects are also available to drive simulations. For example, a leading pharmaceutical, with Infosys XR platform, created a digital twin of their vaccine lab enabling quality engineers to access critical vaccine culture data to make predictions and decisions. Infosys metaverse foundry can also be leveraged as a makerspace to bridge the physical-digital worlds, in all Infosys digital centers. Infosys also leveraged the XR platform to launch its own mixed reality capability to host clients in highly immersive spaces to collaborate and co-create.

With Infosys metaverse foundry, enterprises can work in tandem with any creator-partner in the Infosys Innovation Ecosystem to manage the pilot-to-production ramp up smoothly or add more choices at the prototype stage to de-risk and future-proof investments. For example, an engineering consulting company took advantage of Infosys metaverse to prototype an immersive mixed reality workbench to inspect prospective engineering construction sites rendered as rich 3D assets. The capability was evolved and scaled for global use on Azure high-performance cloud with ready support from Microsoft, a long-standing Infosys partner.

Powered by Infosys metaverse foundry, Infosys will extend its global corporate university, now on Infosys Wingspan platform, to the metaverse. This will enable the company's workforce to seamlessly switch between physical and virtual learning spaces while benefiting from engaging and serendipitous interactions with fellow learners and educators. The environment will include hybrid libraries, heuristically evolved virtual classrooms, gamified learning and digital twins to better understand complex concepts.

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The benchmark indices continued trading with major losses in afternoon trade amid weak global cues. All the sectoral indices on the NSE were in the red. The Nifty traded below 16,500 level.

At 13:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, tumbled 1,926.73 points or 3.37% at 55,305.33. The Nifty 50 index slumped 596.10 points or 3.49% at 16,467.15.

Reliance Industries (RIL) (down 3.28%), HDFC Bank (down 3.33%) and Infosys (down 3%) dragged the indices.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index skid 4.56%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index dropped 4.99%.

Sellers outnumbered buyers. On the BSE, 224 shares rose and 3,094 shares fell. A total of 87 shares were unchanged.

Trading sentiment took a hit after Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a public address that he had authorized a military operation in Ukraine. Later the media reported explosions were heard in Kyiv. Putin appealed to Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and go home. He said Russia doesn't plan to occupy its southern neighbour, but that Russia must defend itself from those who took Ukraine hostage -- the U.S. and its allies who had crossed Russia's red line with expansion of the NATO alliance.

India has called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine. India's Permanent Representative UN, TS Tirumurti cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiraling into a major crisis. He was addressing an emergency meeting of UN Security Council held on Ukraine this morning. This was the second meeting of UNSC this week and the fourth since January 31 as tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine. Tirumurti emphasized sustained and focused diplomacy to address all issues concerning the situation.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a direct appeal to President Putin to stop Russian troops from attacking Ukraine.

Gainers & Losers:

Hindalco Industries rose 0.63%. It was the sole gainer in Nifty 50 index.

Tata Motors (down 7.47%), Hero MotoCorp (down 7.47%), UPL (down 6.73%), IndusInd Bank (down 5.97%) and Grasim Industries (down 5.36%) were major losers in Nifty 50 index.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Piramal Enterprises dropped 5.07%. On Monday, 28 February 2022, the company said that it will consider and approve the issue of secured, rated, listed, redeemable NCDs up to Rs 100 crore along with an option to retain oversubscription up to Rs 400 crore. The total size will aggregate up to Rs 500 crore, on a private placement basis.

L&T Finance Holdings dropped 9.03%. CitiGroup Global Markets Mauritius and CBNA London sold 6.39 crore equity shares or 4.88% stake of the company on 21 February 2022. Post transaction, CitiGroup Global Markets Mauritius and CBNA London decreased its shareholding to 3.87% stake from 8.75% stake held in L&T Finance Holdings. The deal was executed as secondary market sale.

Windsor Machines tumbled 9.91%. The company developed a new product called SPRINT- 800 for manufacturing thermoplastic products and is ready to be launched in domestic as well as international markets.

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Reliance Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 2297, down 3.25% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock jumped 7.12% in last one year as compared to a 9.07% rally in NIFTY and a 20.39% spurt in the Nifty Energy index.

Reliance Industries Ltd is down for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 2297, down 3.25% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 3.5% on the day, quoting at 16466.45. The Sensex is at 55244.61, down 3.47%.Reliance Industries Ltd has lost around 3.21% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Reliance Industries Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 5.72% in last one month and is currently quoting at 24164.75, down 3.57% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 73.17 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 57.52 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark February futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 2292, down 3.54% on the day. Reliance Industries Ltd jumped 7.12% in last one year as compared to a 9.07% rally in NIFTY and a 20.39% spurt in the Nifty Energy index.

The PE of the stock is 45.09 based on TTM earnings ending December 21.

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Wipro announced that it will be hiring more than 500 new professionals over the next fiscal year to support its growth in delivering cloud solutions to clients.

The company will be hiring throughout Brazil, especially in the Northeast regionmainly the capitals Recife, Fortalezaas well as in Natal - Curitiba, Brasia, and cities in the countryside of S Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states, among other locations, for a range of roles from IT and engineering to consulting, business development and operations.

Wipro's hiring goals are reflective of the company's strong growth in the Brazilian market driven by the human cloud concept, which helps organizations attract new talent and foster growth in a hybrid work environment.

As the concept of full-time office gets replaced with one that is more flexible and more accommodating to the lifestyle choices made by today's digital workforce, Wipro is increasing investments in its cloud capabilities to help customers achieve their business goals in this new world of hybrid work.

Wipro last year announced that it is planning to invest $1B in cloud technologies over the next three years and created Wipro FullStride Cloud Services to bring together the full portfolio of Wipro's cloud-related capabilities, offerings and talent to better orchestrate the cloud journey for clients. To support these investments and its growth objectives, Wipro is also looking to train and certify +800 professionals in cloud solutions over the next 12 months in Brazil.

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Russian president Vladimir Putins high-stakes moves in eastern Ukraine have come at an inopportune time for India.

The top edit outlines New Delhi's narrow economic and geopolitical options. Read it here

In other views:

Jaimini Bhagwati discusses long-term lending by public sector banks and other government-owned institutions leading to repeated taxpayer support for recapitalisation. Read it here

Harsh V Pant and Kartik Bommakanti analyse the sustainability of Indias defence export policy with the recent sale of the naval variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to the Philippines. Read it here

The second edit suggests a more workable solution to replace the governments largely unsuccessful plastic waste management rules. Read it here
Congress leader on Thursday met senior party leaders from Karnataka and discussed the political situation in the state and preparations for next year's assembly elections there.

AICC general secretary in charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala said the party would launch its 100-km 'Mekedatu Yatra' in the state from February 27.

The party had stalled the yatra in January because of rising Covid cases and some of its leaders contracting the disease.

Surjewala said the party has also decided to launch a series of agitations highlighting unemployment, price rise, corruption and scams in Karnataka.

Former Congress chief met with many senior party leaders from Karnataka, including the leaders of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Council, state unit chief and many other senior office bearers.

"We had a detailed discussion on the state of political affairs in Karnataka. How the (Basavaraj) Bommai government is mired in deep-rooted corruption, it is a 40 per cent tender commission government and how the crypto-currency scam has reached the highest echelons of power and the government being completely mum," Surjewala told reporters.

He said the Congress also discussed how "misgovernance and maladministration have become the buzzwords of the BJP dispensation in Karnataka and how price rise and complete mal-governance have impacted the state government.

"Consequently the Congress has decided to launch public agitations on each of these facets -- unemployment, price rise, misgovernance and maladministration and complete abdication of authority and complete corruption in the government.

"Now that the assembly polls are only 14 months away, those issues as preparations for the elections were deliberated upon," Surjewala said.

He added that had a free and frank discussion with the leaders and took their suggestions some of which will be implemented in the next few days.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Accusing the government of turning away its face in difficult times, the Congress on Thursday asked the government why it had not made arrangements in time to bring 20,000 Indian youths in back home safely.

Saying that Indians in are living in fear and apprehension, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy in electioneering and not taking care of their safety.

"Turning away its face in every difficult time...And remaining silent has become a habit of the Modi government. Our 20,000 Indian youth in are forced to grapple with fear, apprehension and life threatening situations," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Why were arrangements not made in time to bring them safely? Is this the 'self-reliant' mission," Surjewala asked.

As Russia carries out a military operation in Ukraine, triggering a major confrontation between the two sides, the Indian embassy in Ukraine has asked Indians in that country to maintain calm and remain safe wherever they are.

"The Government of India says - Our 20,000 Indians trapped in Ukraine should stay where they are. Because the government is busy fighting elections right now?" Surjewala said.

"Prime Minister ji, instead of taking care of all, you are busy in election rallies... But we Indians are praying for the well being of all of you," he said in another tweet."This is called...Opportunity in disaster once again? #Ukraine #UkraineConflict," he said.

In its fresh advisory, the Indian embassy in Ukraine described the situation as highly uncertain.

"Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit... All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those travelling from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities. temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries," it said.

Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences they had "never seen".

Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI/PNN): In sync with the policy of the Government, RunR Mobility focuses on swappable batteries as the prime USP of its Electric Vehicles.

The Union Budget for FY 2022-23 gives a huge impetus to the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Presenting the Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that a Battery Swapping Policy for electric vehicle charging in limited space will be framed soon.

The government has reiterated its thrust on EVs. Proposals in this regard related to infrastructure development and credit flow (classification of energy storage systems under harmonized infrastructure list), formulation of new interoperability standards and a battery swapping policy, creation of special mobility zones with zero-fossil fuel policy -- are aimed at spurring EV adoption.

The finance minister also announced plans to reinforce the push for EV penetration in public transport and create special mobility zones for EVs. This has been implemented in other regions like China and Europe to promote EVs and will aid in increased EV adoption, in addition to allocations under the FAME II scheme. The inclusion of energy storage systems in the harmonized list of Infrastructure will facilitate easier credit availability and cheaper financing availability for the EV segment.

Motivated by the positive move of the Government, RunR Mobility is looking to be a key player in the growing market of Electric Vehicles that too in the swappable battery space. The upcoming brand is backed by MECpower Solutions Pvt Ltd., a prominent name in renewable energy. This Gujarat-based company is building high-speed smart-electric scooters with swappable batteries as its USP. It has a large, 4.2-acre state-of-the-art factory with a capacity of producing 100 vehicles per day. Unlike many others, it includes in-house battery & motor testing. The brand is all set for a formal launch, later this year.

Until now, EVs had been slowly gaining acceptance (0.93 million EVs have been registered in India since FY2012), mainly e-3Ws and e-2Ws. E-2W registration picked up in 10M FY2022 because of the rising fuel prices and lower ownership cost of e2Ws over ICE. The segment witnessed the growth of over four times on a YoY basis, and 149,204 e-2Ws were sold in 10M FY2022.

Now with the Government's plans to implement a battery swapping policy and formalize interoperability standards, battery swapping is likely to gain acceptability in commercial applications like e2W and e3W and will help faster penetration in these segments, if implemented effectively. There is also a proposal to reduce customs duty for Nickel Ores and Concentrates from 5 percent to nil, ferronickel from 15 percent to 2.5 percent, nickel oxide and hydroxide from 10 percent to free. Nickel Manganese Cobalt is key chemistry used in lithium-ion batteries, which are used in EVs.

According to Setul Shah, Founder, RunR Mobility, "Given that nickel alloys are primarily imported, the reduction in customs duty will aid indigenous EV battery manufacturers in reducing production costs. Apart from that, there is a moderate level of localization when it comes to critical EV components like motors and controllers. Hence, reduction in customs duty from 10 percent to 7.5 percent in motor parts, will also help reduce the cost of EVs and will also leave a fair margin for the dealers associated with a brand like ours."

He also mentioned that overall, the Union Budget 2022-23 has been favourable for the EV space and will result in deeper penetration of green mobility over the medium term. The intention of the Government is in the right direction and the private sector is definitely encouraged to develop sustainable businesses. Building swap stations would have cost 10 times as much as setting up a fast-charging station but Sitharaman's announcement brings in a huge boost and a lot of cheer.

What we know about RunR Mobility's product (electric scooter) as of now, is that it is a connected vehicle powered by a combination of a lithium-Ion battery pack, features a smart 7-inch display, and reaches the high speed of 70-100 km/ph. It is likely to give an impressive range of up to 100km/charge. The swappable battery concept will allow the rider to be relaxed thereby making comfort, the biggest advantage apart from speed.

This certainly does not seem like just another RunR in the EV race. Awaiting further announcements by the brand for the dealership openings and product launch.

This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI/SRV): ChargePod, powered by NeCell Emobility Pvt Ltd will soon launch comprehensive EV charging solutions with battery swap stations, app-driven convenience, and cloud-based technology.

With a vision to contribute to the Government's carbon-free nation initiative, ChargePod aims to develop an extensive network of EV charging stations across the country

ChargePod's versatile portfolio will be bifurcated into three broad categories - AC Chargers, DC Chargers, and Battery Swapping Network. The seamless and hassle-free infrastructure will consist of unmanned and open to all charging stations, which will make the process user-friendly and comprehensible.

In its pilot phase, ChargePod will initiate its 'Electrifying India' mission and install EV charging stations across three major routes:

- Ahmedabad to Mumbai which covers approx. 524 km.

- Ahmedabad to Udaipur which covers approx. 264 km.

- Ahmedabad to Somnath which covers approx. 424 km.

Highlighting the Government's 2030 mission, Tyag Dharmik, CEO & Founder, ChargePod commented, "Despite being at an initial stage, the EV industry has already shown extreme potential and can single-handedly be a game-changer in terms of sustainability and environment-friendly practices. With constant technological advancements, the EV segment in India is expected to be a US$206 billion industry by 2030. Contributing to the above-mentioned vision, we aim to be a complete EV charging company & last-mileend-to-end e-mobility solutions provider."

Outlining ChargePod's vision, Dharmik further added, "Our fast DC and solar integrated EV stations supported with an app-based module will provide our users a stop-shop solution for all their EV charging needs along with achieving some breakthrough milestones. By 2030, we aim to serve through 1,000,000 (1 million) application-driven with IoT/CMS charging points and battery swap, energy sale of 15,00,000 (15 million) kWh units with 1.5 GWh of power daily and serve 300,000 vehicles daily."

ChargePod's service model will assist consumers in effectively saving fuel costs, locate charging points along the route at minimal intervals with real-time availability, digital payment mechanism, Knowing the EV Real State of Charge and estimated time left, charging history to track EV usage with cost, energy, and distance details.

Additionally, the cloud-based technology enables the teams to monitor the health and performance of a network via Network Operating Centre (NOC), provides data analytics to enhance the consumer experience, provides a smart charging feature to control charging as per peak load hours and off-peak hours, live remote monitoring and control of charging stations and batteries.

To know more visit:(https://www.chargepod.in/?utm_source=SRV-PR & utm_medium=ANI & utm_campaign=NeCell+Emobility+Pvt+Ltd+)

This story is provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chandigarh [India], February 24 (ANI//BusinessWire India): At a recent conference on external cladding, numerous eminent speakers of Stylam Industries discussed the various aspects of HPL technology and all of its applications. In the world of high class laminates, Stylam is a household name. It is one of only a few businesses to have received the prestigious certification. In addition, the firm is the world's largest maker and supplier of decorative laminates.

Manav Gupta, the director of Stylam Industries Limited, is carving out a niche in the industry. He has made a significant contribution to the company's rapid growth, and he's also introduced several intelligent techniques to make laminates and their designs more advanced. He is putting in a lot of effort to capture both the domestic and foreign markets, thanks to his many years of experience and competence.

This architect's chosen products are all about producing quality, and as a technology-driven product, they are one of the most popular options available today.

An Exceptional Blend of Strength and Style

Stylam Industries, known worldwide for its style statements, excels at providing an exclusive assortment of decorative and designer laminates for every requirement.

Stylam has radically transformed the art of modern and industrial decor, thanks to a remarkable history of trust and performance.

Stylam Industries provides the ideal blend of royalty, modernity, innovation, and creativity. The company provides a broader range of applications and installation of home furniture, office furniture, cabinets, counters, wall panelling, and worktops.

All of the offerings are professionally certified and distinguished by excellent quality, passionate artistry, and unrivalled manufacturing procedures.

Stylam Fascia will serve to strengthen the outside claddings

Fascia is well regarded as an architect choice for construction firms and project developers because of its endless bespoke designs. Balconies, commercial and residential structures, corporate office premises, educational institutions, health and wellness facilities, and showrooms can all benefit from these.

Technology on the Cutting Edge

Stylam exterior panelling is created with KLEIBERT, Germany's breakthrough hot coating technology. Stylam takes pride in being the first to introduce this technology in India.

Fascia is extremely fire retardant, chemical resistant, wear-resistant, and stress absorbing.

The technology protects against environmental adversities while also adding overall beauty.

This technology-driven product can be used in facade claddings, balcony claddings, partitions, railings, fences, ceilings, outdoor furniture, and attic claddings, to name a few applications.

Innovation Presented at its Finest

Fascia is a lightweight and long-lasting surface that provides a ventilated Facade system. This allows for moisture, water, or any other natural substance.

This product's exclusive size range is approximately 1220 x 2440mm, 1300 x 2880 mm, and 1300 x 3050 mm with a surface thickness of 6 mm and beyond, making it the pinnacle of quality.

Stylam's top-tier quality laminate, which is an authentic product of technology breakthroughs, has seen massive sales in various markets and is hoping to expand further as future growth is expected to be higher.

Budget-friendly building solutions are now available, making it easier for homeowners and project developers to plan a fantastic renovation. Because of its ease of upkeep and low cost, Stylam fascia is an excellent alternative.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
National Crime Records Bureau data showed that incidents of and rumour circulation saw nearly a three-fold rise in 2020 over 2019. A total of 1,527 cases of were recorded in 2020, compared to 486 cases in 2019 and 280 cases in 2018. Clearly, and misinformation are a growing menace in India. But, what exactly qualifies as fake news? Let us find out. A lot of things you read online, especially in your feeds, might appear to be true. But often, they are not. Especially misleading are articles that read like and look like a news article. But, in fact, they are only mimicking a news article and are deliberately promoting false information. That is the strict and narrow definition, which says that any news article that is verifiably and intentionally false, and has been designed to manipulate your perception of real events, facts, and statements, qualifies as fake news. The phenomenon of fake news is closely associated with politics, especially in places where it is highly partisan. Therefore, some experts recommend that we avoid using the term fake news, as its close association with politics can lead to a very narrow definition that might not be adequate in describing the diverse forms of misinformation that are prevalent today. Instead, the term false information or misinformation might be preferable since it can refer to a diverse range of disinformation on topics such as the environment, health, and economics across all platforms and genres. While fake news is narrowly understood as false political news stories, the term misinformation, for example, can also cover WhatsApp forwards containing rumours and altered images. This broader definition is especially helpful when dealing with fake news and misinformation in the Indian context.

According to experts, most misinformation in India comes in the form of images and videos, where the attached text blurb is most often the source of the misinformation. And, these are shared overwhelmingly over WhatsApp on mobile phones.

Images and videos on the internet are often re-purposed to change their original context and then used to spread misinformation.

For example, Pakistani handles on February 27, 2019, shared a video which claimed to be showing a captured Indian Air Force pilot. These posts came after Pakistan claimed that it had shot down two Indian aircraft inside its airspace and arrested one pilot.

However, an Alt News analysis of the video found that it was dated back to February 19. A day before the Aero India Show in Bengaluru when two Surya Kiran copters crashed during rehearsal, killing one pilot and injuring two others. The video shared on Pakistani was actually of a civilian in Bengaluru comforting one of the injured pilots who had parachuted out of his aircraft.

Similarly, in January 2019, a viral video on Twitter gave viewers the impression that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was drunk. In fact, Kejriwal was sober in the video, which had instead been edited mischievously. So, experts advise people to be vigilant and question the information presented.

Watch video
It was announced today that the Trigon Hotel Group has launched a recruitment drive to fill up to 40 positions at the Metropole Hotel and Cork International Hotel. A recruitment day will take place at the Metropole Hotel on Wednesday, March 2nd from 10am until 7pm. People are asked to bring a CV and references to the open day.



The open positions include a variety of full and part-time flexible roles in all departments. The Trigon Hotel Group say the jobs may suit parents, students, graduates or anyone wanting to return to the workplace.



Speaking this week, Strategic HR Director with Trigon, Kathleen Linehan said, "The recruitment day at the Metropole Hotel is the perfect opportunity to meet the team and could be the start of a new career for you. The 40 positions include a range of flexible roles across all departments. Team members can enjoy benefits such as hotel discounts and free meals while working. We also offer excellent training and development programmes to support career progression within the group. Were really lucky at Trigon to have many team members who have been with us for 20 or 30 years and were looking forward to meeting new recruits on Wednesday."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Local authorities have tightened movement restrictions and added more Covid-19 testing for residents of the capital during the five-day Labor Day holiday. Restaurant dining was suspended from Sunday to Wednesday, while three more rounds of nucleic acid tests are to be conducted in 12 districts from Tuesday to Thursday. A growing number of public venues have closed in the city, including exhibitions at the Palace Museum. The capital reported 62 local cases Monday

May 03, 2022 04:07 PM
In this Nov. 15, 2016 photo, a haul truck with a 250-ton capacity carries coal after being loaded from a nearby mechanized shovel at the Spring Creek strip mine near Decker, Mont. The mine is in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming, the largest source of coal in the U.S. Environmentalists are pushing to end mining because emissions from burning coal help drive climate change. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
Ukrainian servicemen sit atop armored personnel carriers driving on a road in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Attorney Mark Pomerantz arrives at Federal Court in New York, Aug. 12, 2002. Pomerantz, one of two prosecutors in charge of the Manhattan district attorney's criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump, have suddenly resigned throwing the future of the probe into question. (AP Photo/David Karp, File)
People attend a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. Russia says that some units participating in military exercises will begin returning to their bases. That adds to glimmers of hope that the Kremlin may not be planning to invade Ukraine imminently. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A Ukrainian serviceman stands at his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the "beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
From left, Superior Court Judges Nathaniel Poovey, Graham Shirley and Dawn Layton listen to testimony during a partisan gerrymandering trial over North Carolina's new political maps, Jan. 3, 2022 at a courtroom at Campbell University School of Law in Raleigh, N.C. The panel of trial judges made additional changes to North Carolina's congressional district map Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 declaring that the latest U.S. House redistricting performed by the General Assembly fails to meet standards of partisan fairness set recently by the state Supreme Court. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP)
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ATLANTA  The Carter Center condemns Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to send troops into the sovereign nation of Ukraine, a clear violation of international law and the human rights of the Ukrainian people. We call on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces and engage with Ukraines leaders and the international community to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Russias invasion of Ukraine and Putins recognition of two areas of Ukraine as independent states undermines fundamental democratic principles and exacerbates a humanitarian crisis that began with its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Conflict caused by Russian-backed separatists has already led to some 14,000 deaths and forced an estimated 1.6 million Ukrainians from their homes. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who in recent years have made great strides in strengthening their democracy and institutions, and who have the right to live free from violence and to chart their own future.

###

Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
On Sunday, February 20, 2022, Oscar nominee Joanna Quinn participated in a Women in Animation panel as part of the French Institute Alliance Francaise Animation First Festival.

Currently in the running for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, Quinns Affairs of the Art was a joint effort with her partner, writer/producer Les Mills. After the nominations were announced, Cartoon Brew was quick to point out that 12 out of 13 directors for animated feature and short were men. The sole woman director is Joanna Quinn.

Thats not due to a lack of women making films. Joining Quinn, whos based in the U.K., on the panel were Eleanor Coleman (Paris-based American), Angela De Vito (New York), Elea Gobbe-Mevellec (France), Claire Matz (France), and Taili Wu (New York-based Taiwanese). It was moderated by Ashley Gerst (New York).

Here are 10 key takeaways from the panel:

Be Smart About Your Opportunities

Animator, storyboard artist and graphic novelist Angela De Vito stated that getting her start in commercial animation was a great way to learn the ropes while being paid. Months after graduating, she interned at a multidisciplinary production studio in New York, then worked on commercials, and that led to tv series work. I think being in the commercial area of animation was really beneficial because I was able to do a bunch of things like storyboarding, create pitch packets, and do character design. It let me get the full scope of the animation pipeline.

Quinn agreed wholeheartedly on this point and added that its also important to seek out the people you want to work for  the ones you admire and want to learn from. And then be persistent, she said.

Theres Strength in Numbers

Organizations like Women in Animation and Les Femmes sAniment  and, to a larger degree, the many women-in-film organizations  exist to help women overcome the obstacles in their paths to success.

Eleanor Coleman, co-vice president of Les Femmes sAniment, recognized the value and need of such an organization early on. When we got started in our organization, there was not a lot of cooperation between women  It took time for everyone to start to trust one another and understand how they could work together.

Be Open to Possibility

When youre beginning a career in animation, you may have set ideas about what you want to do, but its important to be open to possibilities. This point was clearly illustrated by Quinn, who originally wanted to be an illustrator; by De Vito, who never imagined creating graphic novels; and by Matz, who started as an animator and moved into a creative-producer role.

A key element is to make peace with taking risks. It takes courage to veer from your chosen path, but its vital to your success to be open to opportunity when it arises.

Work On (and with) The Things Youre Passionate About

Animation is long and often tedious work, and its important to take on projects youre passionate about and can envision working on for a long period to come.

Affairs of the Art is Quinns fourth film featuring her working-class heroine, Beryl. The ability to spend so much time with one character is a shining example of that sort of passion. The first film, Girls Night Out, premiered at Annecy in 1987 and was a direct response to the rampant machismo of the day. Beryl was essentially Quinns response to the times. I wasnt comfortable at the time being angry and negative in terms of being political about feminism. I felt much more comfortable doing humorous work, but with really strong characters.

In addition to subject matter, Taili Wu kept coming back to the idea of how passionate she was about the tactile nature of her animation style  how working in stop-motion with fragile ceramic was something she derived a lot of pleasure from.

Find a Mentor if you Can

This is true not only in animation, but also in the business and creative world at large. De Vito illustrated this point when she spoke of her project Heartless Prince. She pitched the film to Disney based off of a Youtube endeavor. After the film was made, a director of IP that she worked under championed her idea and encouraged her to bring it to another medium. She connected me with the Disney Publishing division. I was paired with a writer  and the graphic novel came out this November.

Through this process, De Vito discovered that she loved writing. All of this happened because one person championed her work, and then she was able to learn under the writer she was paired with on her graphic novel.

Take Responsibility Once Youve Arrived

Once youve established yourself in the industry, give back.

On Affairs of the Art, Quinn hired Mia Rose Goddard, a recent graduate. As a result, Goddard ended up with experience on an Oscar-nominated film fresh out of school.

Quinn discovered early on while running her company how essential it was to have women on the team. Its so important to have a balance of gender. It makes such a difference to the workplace. And it makes it comfortable for everybody to be there.

In addition, she and her partner, Mills, often lecture at universities and colleges as a way to pass along their expertise as well as do some unofficial mentoring. Coleman also mentioned the important role that mentoring took on within Les Femmes sAniment.

Be Willing to Learn

Discussing the first feature film she co-directed, The Swallows of Kabul, Elea Gobbe-Mevellec said that she quickly discovered she was starting from scratch. I knew as a director I had to bring my team to the finish line. To have to do that while at the same time realizing I didnt know how to do that was very embarrassing.

It was a wonderfully candid moment that led to her explaining how she learned to let go of her preconceived notions and trust the expertise of those around her. Youre not the only captain on the ship  you cant be alone. You have to learn to work with a team to go further.

Go Where the Work Is

According to Coleman, the equality found in animation schools doesnt transfer to the workforce. As time goes on, there are less and less women in creative roles.

Moderator Ashley Gerst pointed out that while women make up 60 percent of the students in school, they only make up 20 percent of the animation workforce. Either way you look at it, its a problem, and you want the odds in your favor.

Eleanor Coleman spoke of the solid base the animation community has to draw on in France, with great schools and government support in the form of national and regional funding. Many countries offer similar incentives. Do the research for your niche.

Change Must Come from Within

An audience member asked what the general public can do to support women in animation. Claire Matz pointed out that one step people can take is to support the industry in general  go to the events, attend the festivals, see the films. If we give the industry the audience it deserves, it helps the industry grow.

Quinn acknowledged the hard truth that any real change must come from within the industry itself. The general public are only reacting to what theyre offered, so the real change has to come from within.

Just Go For It

The overall takeaway from the panel was the message to just go for it. Matz took a leap into producing, De Vito took a sharp turn with her graphic novel, and Wu crossed an ocean to pursue her dream.

When we followed up with Quinn after the panel, she expanded on this point, especially when it comes to fresh graduates. Absolutely go for it. Very soon you get responsibilities, and its just a matter of a few years, a little window, when youre young and vibrant and the new kid on the block. And very soon youre not. Use those couple of years. Go abroad and work  before you start to gather baggage.

Our sincere thanks to the participants and organizers who contributed to this panel discussion co-presented by Women in Animation and the French Institute Alliance Francaise. Additional information about the panelists is available here.

Affairs of the Art, a co-production between Beryl Productions International and the National Film Board of Canada, has appeared at over 65 festivals, garnering over 27 awards and securing a rare position as both an audience and jury favorite. The film has been nominated for an Oscar in the Animated Short Film Category, with Quinn being the only female nominee, and a BAFTA in the British Short Animation category.

Presented by The New Yorker and the National Film Board of Canada, Affairs of the Art is currently streaming in The New Yorkers Screening Room.
Mark Gravazzi, shift leader and air traffic controller, describes the airspace boundaries to Spc. Josue M. Bueno, trainee with F Co. 2-149th Avn. Regt., who is in the process of completing the tower control certification training at Hood Army Airfield.
Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says it's contributing $11.8 million to support Indigenous commercial fisheries enterprises throughout British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Fisheries and Oceans Canada says it's contributing $11.8 million to support Indigenous commercial fisheries in British Columbia.

Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray announced the funding at a news conference Wednesday, saying it would support business and training opportunities for 31 Indigenous companies involving 117 First Nations in the province.

Murray says commercial fisheries help support social and economic development and self-sufficiency in Indigenous communities, and her department is "working every day" to increase First Nations' involvement in fisheries management.

The funding is being distributed to 52 different projects through the Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative, a program first launched in 2007.

Fisheries and Oceans says the projects include funding to buy new equipment and vessels, expand kelp aquaculture operations and increase First Nations' commercial halibut and sablefish quotas.

Murray says the department's goal is to ensure that its programs "meet the needs and expectations of Indigenous communities and support their participation in the management of fisheries, oceans, aquaculture and aquatic habitat and resources."

The minister also acknowledged that Pacific salmon fisheries are in a "challenging state" and the federal government is working with First Nations to restore stocks.

Her department has said that many B.C. salmon populations are declining to historic lows due to climate change, habitat degradation and "fishing pressures."

About 60 per cent of the province's commercial salmon fisheries were closed last June as part of Ottawa's Pacific salmon recovery efforts.
Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Canadian Heritage and Quebec Lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez rises during question period in the House of Commons, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. The Heritage Minister says digital giants such as Google dont want a law making them pay Canadian media outlets for reusing their news.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez is pressing ahead with plans for a law to make digital giants pay Canadian outlets for using their content, not just to shore up the media but to counteract fake news.

Speaking at a virtual conference on the future of news on Wednesday, Rodriguez said a new law the government is preparing will help preserve Canada's independent media, which he said is starved of advertising revenue and "in crisis."

The online news bill will create a framework for news outlets to collectively negotiate fair deals with online platforms such as Google to compensate them for using their content.

The heritage minister argued action is needed because "the news sector in Canada is in crisis. And this contributes to decay in our society."

Since 2008, 451 Canadian news outlets have closed, 64 of them since the start of the pandemic, he said.

"In 2020, online advertising revenues in Canada were close to $10 billion dollars, with two dominant digital platforms taking over 80 per cent of those revenues. Thats an incredible chunk of power in the market," Rodriguez said.

The minister warned that the internet, though a popular source of news, had allowed more "mis- and disinformation" than ever before. The protests in Ottawa and across Canada over the past few weeks have provided compelling examples of fake news online, he said.

Rodriguez said a vibrant, professional and non-partisan media where journalists ask difficult questions  which could prove uncomfortable for politicians  is vital to a thriving democracy.

He said a law recently introduced in Australia to level the playing field between tech corporations and media outlets is working and Canada plans to use it as a model, with a few changes. He said the bill, to be introduced soon, will keep the government at "arms length" and the process transparent.

Canada would have a regulator and impose arbitration if a fair deal cannot be struck between Canadian media and the likes of Google and Meta, formerly known as Facebook.

Rodriguez said the digital giants did not want a law, though Google's vice-president of news Richard Gingras said the search engine is not opposed to regulation.

Gingras told the conference Google is willing to "step up and do our part." But he said it was important to "protect the open internet" and the principle of free linking between sites.

He said Google sent traffic to news sites worth around half a billion dollars a year.

He criticized Australia's law, saying its arbitration model was unbalanced and unpredictable and he hoped Canada would come up with a more workable blueprint.

Gingras, who has been in talks with the government about their plans, raised the prospect of a fund digital giants could pay into to support Canada's media, based on a formula.

John Boynton, vice-chair of NordStar Capital which owns the Toronto Star and dozens of other daily and weekly papers, said the Australian law had led to a huge injection of cash into the media.

Not only has Australia's media stopped laying off journalists but now has funds to start hiring them again, he said.
Photo: The Canadian Press A Ukrainian soldier talks with her comrades sitting in a shelter at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday.

UPDATE 11 p.m.

Russias defense ministry says it has degraded Ukraines air defenses through attacks on military infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Ukraines military claims it has shot down five Russian planes and one helicopter  reports Russia denies.

Ukraines border guard service says Russian troops have also attacked from Belarus with Belarusian support.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared martial law throughout the country in response to the invasion.

A minute ago I had a conversation with President Biden. The US have already started uniting international support. Today each of you should keep calm. Stay at home if you can. We are working. The army is working. The whole sector of defense and security is working, he said.

No panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will win over everybody because we are Ukraine.

Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the assault as a full-scale invasion" and said Ukraine will "defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

In the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko advised residents to stay home unless they are involved in critical work and urged them to prepare go-bags with necessities and documents if they need to evacuate. An Associated Press photographer in Mariupol reported hearing explosions and seeing dozens of people with suitcases heading for their cars to leave the city.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraines interior minister, said on Facebook that the Russian military had launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.

After the initial explosions in Kyiv, people could be heard shouting in the streets. Then a sense of normality returned, with cars circulating and people walking in the streets as a pre-dawn commute appeared to start in relative calm.

Results of Russia's overnight shelling of Kyiv's Holosiyiv district: damaged billboard, scattered debris damaged surrounding buildings within 200-300m, balconies, windows damaged, fire started



? Andriy Tsaplienko pic.twitter.com/mUT6hviaNi  Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) February 24, 2022

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said she has spoken with Canada's ambassador to Ukraine, Larisa Galadza.

"The team is safe and the embassy will offer consular services to Canadians from Lviv as long as possible," Joly said on Twitter. "If you need consular help in Ukraine, please reach us at [email protected]"

Eugene Lupynis with Metro Vancouvers Ukrainian Community Society Of Ivan Franko said the news about the invasion has left him full of terror and concern.

"Weve been watching this build not just for weeks but for years," he said in an interview. "When Russia invaded Crimea and eastern Ukraine back in 2014, there was always a feeling something would happen but we were praying it wouldn't."

Lupynis immediate family moved to B.C. in the 1950s but he has many relatives living in western Ukraine. He said the invasion "boggles the mind" and that everyone needs to fear what Putin could do next.

The West has always underestimated what Putin could, and would, do  hes rewriting history in his own pen and trying to get the world to believe it."

Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper issued a statement on Twitter, saying he prays for the people of Ukraine, and that the invasion is a long time coming.

"Putin's war on Ukraine began in 2014," the statement reads. "This full scale attack, unleashing death and horror on a mass scale, merely makes explicit what he has long planned."

UPDATE 9:40 p.m.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced via Twitter that President Zelenskyy reached out to him Wednesday night.

I condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation, including tonight at the UN Security Council, said Biden.

He asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putins flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine.

Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the Leaders of the G7, and the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia.

President Zelenskyy reached out to me tonight and we just finished speaking. I condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation, including tonight at the UN Security Council.  President Biden (@POTUS) February 24, 2022

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued the following statement condemning Russias attack on Ukraine:

Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms Russias egregious attack on Ukraine. These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are also in violation of Russias obligations under international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

Canada calls on Russia to immediately cease all hostile and provocative actions against Ukraine and withdraw all military and proxy forces from the country. Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and the Ukrainian people must be free to determine their own future.

Russias actions will be met with severe consequences. Tomorrow morning, I will be meeting with G7 partners, and we will continue working closely and quickly with NATO and our allies to collectively respond to these reckless and dangerous acts, including by imposing significant sanctions in addition to those already announced.

In the face of these attacks on Ukraine, Canada will take additional action to stop Russias unwarranted aggression. We continue to stand with Ukraine, its people, and the Ukrainian Canadian community here in Canada. Russias brazen acts will not go unpunished.

UPDATE 8:10 p.m.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen.

He said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a claim the U.S. had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion

In a televised address, Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said Russia's goal was not to occupy Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine and said the world will hold Russia accountable.

As Putin spoke, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine.

Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, called what is happening "a grotesque war crime."

"Putin is the cause of all this. We cannot let him win," Rae said on Twitter. "Cmon people, stop pretending. War has started."

Rae went on to call what is happening "brutal thuggery."

"Unprovoked, evil, aggression. From a permanent member of the Security Council, during a meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations."

A full-blown Russian invasion could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government. And the consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions levied on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, affecting energy supplies in Europe, jolting global financial markets and threatening the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a demilitarization of Ukraine. Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home.

Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian aggression." The announcement immediately fueled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned.

A short time later, the Ukrainian president rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and said a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

Multiple large explosions on the Kharkiv skyline cam. pic.twitter.com/nn7OM5L2sZ  Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) February 24, 2022

ORIGINAL 6 p.m.

The Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance Wednesday to help fend off Ukrainian aggression, an announcement that immediately fueled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned.

A short time later, the Ukrainian president rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and said a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

In an apparent reference to Putins move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.

Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything, he said.

He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.

The United Nations Security Council quickly scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday night at Ukraine's request. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the separatists request a further escalation of the security situation.

Anxiety about an imminent Russian offensive against its neighbor soared after Putin recognized the separatist regions' independence on Monday, endorsed the deployment of troops to the rebel territories and received parliamentary approval to use military force outside the country. The West responded with sanctions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rebel chiefs wrote to Putin on Wednesday, pleading with him to intervene after Ukrainian shelling caused civilian deaths and crippled vital infrastructure.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separatists' request for Russian help was an example of the sort of false-flag operation that the U.S. and its allies have expected Moscow to use as a pretense for war.

"So well continue to call out what we see as false-flag operations or efforts to spread misinformation about what the actual status is on the ground, she said.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian lawmakers approved a decree that imposes a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday. The measure allows authorities to declare curfews and other restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations in the interests of national security and public order.

The action reflected increasing concern among Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended that any Ukrainians who are there leave immediately.

For a long time, we refrained from declaring a state of emergency ... but today the situation has become more complicated, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council head Oleksiy Danilov told parliament, emphasizing that Moscow's efforts to destabilize Ukraine represented the main threat.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraines borders is in an advanced state of readiness. They are ready to go right now, Kirby said.

The latest images released by the Maxar satellite image company showed Russian troops and military equipment deployed within 10 miles of the Ukrainian border and less than 50 miles from Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv.

Early Thursday, airspace over all of Ukraine was shut down to civilian air traffic, according to a notice to airmen. A commercial flight tracking website showed that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 flying from Tel Aviv to Toronto turned abruptly out of Ukrainian airspace before detouring over Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. The only other aircraft tracked over Ukraine was a U.S. RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned surveillance plane, which began flying westward early Thursday after Russia put in place flight restrictions over Ukrainian territory.

Another wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks hit Ukraines parliament and other government and banking websites on Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.

Officials have long said they expect cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the incidents hew to a nearly two-decade-old Russian playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.

In other developments, Russia evacuated its embassy in Kyiv; Ukraine recalled its ambassador to Russia and considered breaking all diplomatic ties with Moscow and dozens of nations further squeezed Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets.

President Joe Biden allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the companys CEO.

As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate, Biden said in a statement.

Germany said Tuesday that it was indefinitely suspending the project, after Biden charged that Putin had launched the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine by sending troops into the separatist regions. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.

Putin said Tuesday that he had not yet sent any Russian troops into the rebel regions, contrary to Western claims, and Donetsk rebel leader Denis Pushilin insisted Wednesday there were no Russian troops in the region, even though a local council member claimed the previous day they had moved in.

Already, the threat of war has shredded Ukraine's economy and raised the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos.

European Union sanctions against Russia took effect, targeting several companies along with 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for a motion urging Putin to recognize the rebel regions and 27 senior government officials, business executives and top military officers.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage.

In Ukraine's east, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and six more wounded after rebel shelling, the Ukrainian military said Wednesday. Separatist officials reported several explosions on their territory overnight and three civilian deaths.

Facing a barrage of criticism at the 193-member United Nations General Assembly, Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, warned Ukraine that Russia will monitor a cease-fire in the east and emphasized that no one intends to go softly, softly with any violators.

A new military adventure by Kyiv might cost the whole of Ukraine very dearly, he warned ominously.

After weeks of rising tensions, Putin's steps this week dramatically raised the stakes. He recognized the independence of the separatist regions, a move he said extends even to the large parts of the territories now held by Ukrainian forces, and had parliament grant him authority to use military force outside the country.

Putin laid out three conditions that he said could end the standoff, urging Kyiv to renounce its bid to join NATO, to partially demilitarize and to recognize Russias sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Ukraine long has rejected such demands.
Photo: The Canadian Press

World leaders Thursday reacted to Russias invasion of Ukraine with raw outrage  and vows of unprecedented sanctions  that shrouded a sense of powerlessness to defend Ukraine militarily without running the risk of a wider war in Europe.

NATO had already reinforced its eastern flank facing Russia and planned a virtual summit of its leaders on Friday after President Vladimir Putin warned that any interference from other countries would lead to "consequences you have never seen in history.

European Union and NATO member Lithuania declared a state of emergency since the Baltic nation borders Russias Kaliningrad region to the southwest and Russia's ally Belarus to the east. NATO countries had 100 jets and 120 ships on high alert as a deterrent.

"Make no mistake: We will defend every ally against any attack on every inch of NATO territory, said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Stoltenberg both called the invasion a barbaric" attack on an independent nation that threatened the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order. The EU scheduled an emergency summit in Brussels.

But no one promised to move in militarily and defend Ukraine at the risk of touching off a bigger European war. Ukraine is not a NATO member, and the U.S. and its Western allies have said for weeks that they would not send troops into the country.

The goal instead is to make Moscow pay so high a price by other means that the Kremlin will change course.

Our mission is clear: Diplomatically, politically, economically and eventually militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Almost all of the world  but not China  condemned the attack and threatened to hit the Russian elites with, in the words of the EU president, massive and targeted sanctions. Von der Leyen said she would put to EU leaders late Thursday a proposal that would target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking access to key technologies and markets.

She said the sanctions, if approved, will weaken Russias economic base and its capacity to modernize. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.

We want to cut off Russias industry from the technologies desperately needed today to build the future, von der Leyen said.

She said all Western powers are in lockstep on the crisis.

U.S. President Joe Biden already convened a morning meeting of his National Security Council in Washington to assess the situation.

Highlighting a widening rift in superpower relations, China stood alone in failing to condemn the attack and instead accused the United States and its allies of worsening the crisis.

China went further and approved imports of wheat from Russia, a move that could reduce the impact of Western sanctions. Russia, one of the biggest wheat producers, would be vulnerable if foreign markets were closed off.

In a clear defense of Moscow, China called on parties to respect others' legitimate security concerns.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that all parties should work for peace instead of escalating the tension or hyping up the possibility of war  language China has consistently used to criticize the West in the crisis.

One thing was clear: Weeks of diplomatic cajoling, global crisscrossing of leaders and foreign ministers, and the threat of sanctions against Putin's inner circle had failed to persuade the Kremlin not to plunge Europe into one of its biggest crises since the end of the Cold War.

The turmoil set off by the attack rippled from Europe to Asia. Stock markets plunged, oil prices surged, and European aviation officials warned of the danger to civilian aircraft over Ukraine amid the fighting.

Oil prices climbed by more than $5 per barrel. Brent crude briefly jumped above $100 per barrel in London for the first time since 2014 over fears of a disruption of supplies from Russia, the No. 3 producer.

The possible repercussions extended well beyond economics and geopolitics. The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worried that the crisis will further distract global attention from helping the worlds least vaccinated continent fight COVID-19.
Photo: Glacier Media

A Fort St. John man has been sentenced to time served and eight months probation for making a drunken bomb threat against a local radio station last month.

Philip Testawitch, 33, pleaded guilty Wednesday to uttering threats against Moose FM. He must also write a court-ordered apology letter and has been banned from contacting the station and its employees.

Court heard Testawitch left a voicemail threatening to pipe bomb the station on Jan. 29 if they did not cover the ongoing Freedom Convoy rallies and demonstrations taking place locally and in Ottawa.

Testawitch used his cellphone to make the call, which appeared on call display and which RCMP traced to the Motor Inn where he was living. Testawitch was arrested, and after a search of his room by a sniffer dog no explosive substances or devices were found.

Court heard that Testawitch had been drinking heavily that day and was highly intoxicated when he made the call. Though he identified his voice when the message was played back to him, he was so impaired he could not remember making the call, court heard.

Court heard Testawitch was not involved in the convoy rallies. He told police he didnt know anything about bombs, and that the incident was embarrassing and out of character.

Defence lawyer Sigrid Thompson said Testawitch typically stays out of politics, but made a bad decision after being swept up in the convoy movement, which has seen strong local support, and the media coverage it has received.

It's been a real hot topic in our area, and unfortunately, Mr. Testawitch, who is normally quite apolitical, got caught up in what I can describe... was a bit of frenzy, and made a very poor choice," Thompson said.

Judge David Patterson strongly emphasized Gladue factors in his sentencing. Testawitch is a member of both the Whitefish and Tahltan First Nations, and court heard he has struggled with addictions and substance abuse since his early teens, and suffered systemic abuses and a troubled home life.

Testawitch has been in custody since the offence, and was credited for 39 days time served.

Crown prosecutor Declan Brennan had sought additional jail time and a term between 90 to 120 days. Patterson, however, dismissed the recommendation and said the purpose of the eight-month probation order was to give Testawitch a chance to get his life in order, including securing housing, pursuing education, and reconnecting with his First Nations background.

Testawitch has also been prohibited from possessing firearms for one year, while a second charge of intimidation by threatening violence was dropped.

Testawitch made no comment after his plea and being sentenced by the court.
YouTube CPAC

UPDATE 12 p.m.

Canada imposed more severe sanctions on Russia in response to its military strike against Ukraine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.

The new sanctions will target 58 people and entities connected to Russia, including members of that country's elite and their families, the paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group and major Russian banks.

The sanctions, announced after Trudeau attended a virtual G7 meeting, will also affect members of the Russian Security Council, including key cabinet ministers close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Canada is also cancelling existing export permits for Russia and will not issue new ones.

Canada has arranged for the safe passage of any Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families still in Ukraine through land borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, he said.

The federal government will be prioritizing immigration applications for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada and is launching a dedicated telephone line for anyone who has any urgent questions about immigrating from Ukraine, said Trudeau.

"President Putin has launched a horrific, unprovoked attack on their country, a sovereign nation, including missile strikes in their capital, Kyiv. He has needlessly put the lives of innocent people at risk, violated Russia's international treaties, and launched the greatest threat to European stability since World War Two," said Trudeau.

The Ukraine envoy called on Canada and its allies need to do everything it can to stop Russia's invasion of his country, otherwise "World War Three" awaits them.

Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Canada, Andrii Bukvych, said his country wants to see the Canadian government and the West impose crippling sanctions, cut diplomatic relations and would like to see NATO enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine to prevent Russian aerial bombardment that he says is taking place.

Bukvych said he believes Putin will push his military onward through NATO countries such as Poland and the Baltics if he is not stopped now.

"We do understand there is a high toll that the free world economy of Western economies will pay for deterring Russia, for supporting Ukraine," Bukvych said in an interview.

"But I believe that this toll is still much more less than having World War Three, which will inevitably take place unless Putin will be stopped in Ukraine," he added.

"And this time, I want every Canadian to be Ukrainian because to be Ukrainian right now, to be with Ukraine right now, it means that you are fighting for your freedom."

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said they cannot allow Putin's attack to be the end of the post-Second World War rules-based order that Canada helped to build to restore peace.

"It could be. This is an extremely serious challenge to that order. And if Russia succeeds, then that order will be breached. And we can't let that happen," said Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent and has been banned by Putin from travelling to Russia because she wrote critically about him in her pre-political career as a journalist.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said more sanctions against Russia were coming.

Earlier Thursday, Joly summoned Russia's ambassador for a dressing down as Trudeau huddled with other world leaders to discuss the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ambassador Oleg V. Stepanov met Joly at the headquarters of Global Affairs Canada, where she condemned "in the strongest possible terms Russia's egregious attack on Ukraine," the minister's office said.

Joly also told Stepanov that Russia had violated Ukraines sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

Bukvych said Canada should expel the Russia ambassador.

Joly said the remaining Canadian diplomats in Ukraine had been evacuated to neighbouring Poland.

A joint G7 statement earlier Thursday said "severe" and co-ordinated economic measures and sanctions were coming against Russia. It called on the international community to condemn the attack in the strongest possible terms.

On Tuesday, Trudeau announced a first round of sanctions and the deployment of hundreds of additional Canadian troops to eastern Europe after Putin ordered troops into two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine.

That limited military action was followed in the early morning hours in Ukraine on Thursday with the launch of a full-scale invasion, with missiles hitting Ukrainian cities and military facilities across the country and tanks and troops rolling in from three directions.

The invasion followed a steady Russian buildup of military forces on its borders with Ukraine and in neighbouring Belarus over the past two months, which had sparked numerous rounds of diplomacy between the Kremlin and the West.

Canadian leaders from across the political spectrum were united in condemning Russias invasion, with interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen blasting Putin as an autocrat who will be judged harshly.

"Putin's contemptible aggression and invasion of Ukraine is unacceptable," Bergen added. His attack on the Ukrainian people and their democratically elected government is despicable.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on the government to immediately impose severe economic sanctions "where it hurts Putin the most," including by targeting Russian oligarchs who support him and kicking Russia from the global banking system.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which represents 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent, echoed that call for Russia to be tossed from the banking system as part of "devastating" economic sanctions.

"Ukraine needs weapons with which to defend itself right now," UCC executive director Ihor Michalchyshyn added in a statement. "Most importantly they need anti-air systems like stinger missiles and other air defence and naval defence systems."

He also warned against Canada and its allies not taking a strong enough stance in its response to Russia, saying: "In the 1930s, the world was slow to recognize the danger that Adolf Hitler posed to our civilization. We cannot make that same mistake again with Putin."

UPDATE 10:30 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is imposing more severe sanctions on Russia in response to its military strike against Ukraine.

The new sanctions will target 58 people and entities connected to Russia, including members of that country's elite and their families, the paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group and major Russian banks.

The sanctions, announced today after Trudeau attended a virtual G7 meeting, will also affect members of the Russian Security Council, including key cabinet ministers.

Canada is also cancelling existing export permits for Russia and will not issue new ones.

Trudeau also says the federal government will be prioritizing immigration applications for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada and is launching a dedicated telephone line for anyone who has any urgent questions about immigrating from Ukraine.

He says Canada has arranged for the safe passage of any Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families still in Ukraine through land borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova.

ORIGINAL 10 a.m.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has summoned Russia's ambassador to Canada for a dressing down after his country's invasion of Ukraine.

Ambassador Oleg V. Stepanov met Joly at the headquarters of Global Affairs Canada on Thursday, where she condemned "in the strongest possible terms Russia's egregious attack on Ukraine," the minister's office told The Canadian Press.

Joly told Stepanov that Russia has violated Ukraines sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

"Canada will use all tools at its disposal to make sure that those illegal acts are not left unpunished," Joly's office said in a statement.

The meeting at the Lester B. Pearson Building in Ottawa took place as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was meeting virtually Thursday with G7 partners to discuss a response.

Trudeau said before the meeting that Russias actions will be met with severe consequences.

A joint G7 statement before the meeting said "severe" and co-ordinated economic measures and sanctions were coming against Russia. It called on the international community to condemn the attack in the strongest possible terms.

Trudeau said Canada would work with NATO and allies "to collectively respond to these reckless and dangerous acts, including by imposing significant sanctions in addition to those already announced."

Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, called the attack "a grotesque war crime" and "brutal thuggery."

Russian troops have launched a multi-pronged assault on Ukraine that has reportedly left 40 Ukrainian soldiers dead.
I read the Feb. 10, 2022 Castanet Report, 895 staff lost to vax mandates: IH facing staffing issues due to vaccine mandate, staff illness with disappointment knowing that, had the province not terminated unvaccinated health care workers, this situation may not be as dire.

In the Oct. 21, 2021 Order of the Provincial Health Order, Dr. Bonnie Henry wrote: I have reason to believe and do believe that an unvaccinated person who provides health care or services in a hospital or community setting, puts patients, residents, clients, staff and other persons who provide health care or services at risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, and constitutes a health hazard under the Public Health Act.

So, according to this mandate, Dr. Henry believed unvaccinated health care workers were spreading SARS-CoV-2 to other staff and patients.

A recent Freedom of Information and Privacy Act request for: Records regarding the Order of the Provincial Health Officer Hospital and Community (Health Care and Other Services) Covid-19 Vaccination Status Information and Preventive Measures  October 21, 2021 from page 3 and page 4: Records showing information regarding the risk of unvaccinated hospital physician staff spreading SARS-CoV-2 to patients and other medical staff. Specifically records showing the number of infections to patients or staff caused by vaccinated physicians compared with unvaccinated physicians; The names or initials of vaccinated and unvaccinated physicians who have infected patients or staff, if for privacy reasons, the names or initials cannot be provided, then provide the qualifications, role and nature of contact the physicians had with the patients they infected; The dates that these vaccinated and unvaccinated physicians infected patients or staff; The details of how these infections and the disease transmitters were verified; The acute care (not long term care) hospitals where these vaccinated and unvaccinated physicians to patient or staff infections occurred; The departments where these vaccinated and unvaccinated physicians who infected patients or staff occurred; Whether these vaccinated or unvaccinated physicians who infected patients or staff were wearing PPE correctly; The consequence of these infections, e.g. mild illness and patients or staff recovered or severe illness leading to death etc. (Date Range for Record Search: From 3/1/2020 To 10/1/2021) has now revealed that although a thorough search was conducted, no records were located in response to the request.

The ministry indicated it do not hold such specific information and data.

Thus, at least for physicians, unless the ministry has secret unattainable records, there are no public records that support Henrys contention unvaccinated doctors have been spreading SARS-CoV-2 to staff or patients. It is possible that this may also apply to other terminated health care workers.

If thats the case, why cant doctors who have evidence of natural immunity or agree to frequent testing be allowed to work in hospitals? At the very least, Henry should apologize to the many terminated doctors (and possibly other health care workers) for believing in something that may have been based on hearsay and not fact.

Reinstating the many terminated health care workers may not fully restore the capacity of B.C. hospitals, but unjustly removing them is certainly one reason why certain hospitals appear to be in perpetual crisis mode.

York N. Hsiang
Photo: BC Wildfire Service

Dozens of leading scientists around the world are warning of a "global wildfire crisis" over the coming decades as a warming planet ramps up the chance of increasingly devastating infernos.

In a landmark rapid response report published this week through the United Nations Environment Programme, over 50 experts from six continents warned, "the heating of the planet is turning landscapes into tinderboxes, while more extreme weather means stronger, hotter, drier winds to fan the flames."

By the end of the century, the chance of a repeat of the huge Arctic fires that consumed Siberia in 2020 or Australia's "Black Summer" of 2019-2020 will climb on any given year by between 31 and 57 per cent, the report found.

"It's very rare for people to come together on a report like this," said Amy Cardinal Christianson, a research scientist at the Canadian Forest Service and one of three Canadian authors.

"We've seen those projections of how much the temperature is going to increase. And I mean, if you're a fire researcher, you know that hot, dry weather in the summer basically adds fuel to dry fuel to fire events."

The report comes after B.C. suffered yet another devastating wildfire season.

Researchers have attributed the heat dome that enveloped Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest last June was made 150 times more likely because of planetary warming caused by humans. A day after the heatwave set a Canadian temperature record of 49.6 C in Lytton, B.C., the village was forced to evacuate as a wildfire burned through the town.

The global study collects a vast body of empirical evidence to back up its projections. In one case, it cites research showing that during the 2017 season, climate change was found to have increased the area burned by between seven and 11 times what it otherwise would have been.

"The summer of 2017 will be remembered as one of the worst wildfire seasons in British Columbia's history," reads a government summary of a fire season that burned a record 1.2 million hectares.

It took only one season for that record to fall.

Other scientists have documented upward trends in burned areas across the forests of eastern Australia, Southeast Asia and the American West. The report says all of them are forecast to see an increase in extreme fire events by the end of the century. And in the Siberian Arctic, scientists worry the burning of peatlands, which store vast amounts of carbon underground, could release a so-called "carbon bomb" on the planet's climate system.

"Even with the most ambitious efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the planet will still experience a dramatic increase in the frequency of extreme fire conditions," says the report.

A THREAT TO MUTUAL AID, PUBLIC HEALTH

Steep increases in burned areas are also expected in Canada's Boreal forest and across Western Canada.

"We're going to be seeing this big increase, and what that does is, in Canada, that really affects our ability to do firefighting," said Christianson.

"We rely a lot during the summer on international support. And so if other communities are also experiencing big fire events at the same time, then you lose that."

By the time wildfires surge 57 per cent around the globe, wildfire suppression resources will be swamped like never before, she warns.

Some of the effects of increased wildfires are already being felt in hard to recognize ways. In B.C.'s Interior, where wildfires burn every summer, but little industry exists, residents suffer some of the greatest fallout from air pollution in the country.

Between 2013 and 2018, the 10 census divisions in the country with the greatest exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were all in B.C.'s Interior, according to a 2021 Health Canada analysis of the impacts of air pollution on human health.

Of those, half the census divisions were among the top 10 slices of the country with the highest per capita rates of premature death. That includes the town of Nelson, B.C., where last summer's persistent smoke led at least one doctor to clinically diagnose a patient with climate change  likely a global first.

"A lot of people in the Kootenays sort of thought that this would be a good place to hide out while the rest of the world falls apart. But it's, of course, hitting us here, just like it's hitting many places, and we're really seeing the impacts," emergency room doctor Dr. Kyle Merritt told Glacier Media at the time.

Christianson says the wide-ranging impacts on public health are only likely to increase as smokey skies become a permanent backdrop of summer.

But while the global wildfire report paints a dire image of the future, it also points to Canadian Indigenous peoples and their traditional burning practices as beacons to weather increasingly hot and dry summers.

AN INDIGENOUS SOLUTION

In many locations across Canada, Indigenous communities will face the brunt of the fallout.

Christianson, who runs the Canadian Wildland Fire Evacuation Database, says that the trend has been clear for over four decades  of the more than 522,000 people have been evacuated due to wildfire and smoke since 1980, nearly half have come from Indigenous-majority communities.

Those trends are expected to continue. In the past decade, the number of Canadian reserves evacuated due to wildfire has doubled; in B.C., the number climbed 119 per cent, according to the database.

At the same time, Indigenous communities are some of the planet's most important stewards: they comprise only five per cent of the world's population but protect roughly 85 per cent of the world's biodiversity. But in B.C., a series of laws have prevented them from applying fire to the land through cultural or "cool burning," as many Indigenous peoples put it.

Before Europeans settled in B.C., it's thought more than 500,000 hectares of land were burned every year. However, unlike today, Indigenous people intentionally lit many of those fires, containing them to shoulder seasons when snow was still melting, or rain had fallen.

That practice has been suppressed through multiple laws for well over 140 years, concentrating much of the decision-making around wildfires into the hands of a handful of government agencies.

Government strategy has been to snuff out wildfires for decades before they can grow, all part of an expensive strategy to protect forests as an economic resource.

According to the UN report, Canada's total annual expenditure for national wildland fire management activities ranges every year between $500 million and $1 billion. But since the 1970s, it has increased about $120 million every decade.

That has allowed vast quantities of wood fuel to build up to unprecedented levels in places like British Columbia, what some have warned is a "ticking time bomb" waiting to go off.

"We need to maintain that forest in a healthy state. And that's the beauty of burning prescribed fire or cultural fire. It can really be used to kind of maintain a healthy, resilient low fire risk forest," said Christianson.

But even with a growing body of Western science that says traditional burning practices work, Christianson says there are a lot of barriers to decentralize decision-making and scale-up traditional burning.

"We think that you need to use like a forestry diploma or a university degree to be able to make these decisions or sign off on things," she said. "Many Indigenous people might have 30, 40 years experience with fire, and they're kept out of leadership positions because they don't have that Western education."

SIGNS OF CHANGE

Indigenous communities and their firekeepers have long been the ones keeping traditional burning knowledge alive to protect their homes and wild food sources.

Others appear to be catching on. At the national level, the United Nations report notes wildfire management experts in Canada were the first federal jurisdiction in the world to recognize a need to collaborate with Indigenous peoples as part of a decade-long blueprint for wildland fire science.

Even B.C.'s government has shown signs it is ready for a paradigm shift away from wildfire suppression and toward prevention.

A day before the UN wildfire report was released, the B.C. government announced a budget that included a $517 million spending pledge to help respond to extreme weather events. In addition to developing an extreme heat response framework, expanding the River Forecast Centre and the provincial floodplain mapping program, the province said it would move the BC Wildfire Services to a proactive, year-round model.

B.C. is way behind. Jurisdictions like Australia and California have already collaborated with their Indigenous counterparts, and in Florida, year-round preventative burning has been carried out for half a century, says Christianson.

"They're practically getting fire on the ground in good ways that we can really emulate. It's not like you have to really start from scratch," she added.

The UN report's findings are still projections. One way Christianson likes to re-think what the future of wildfire could look like is to replace "fires of chance with fires of choice."

"Fire is something that's needed by our forests in Canada, but fire in a good way. Not these scary fires that we're seeing all summer," she said.

"We need to start living with fire instead of experiencing these as more extraordinary events that are causing disasters."
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on June 3, 2020, shows, from left, former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. The former policer officers are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him. Judge Paul Magnuson abruptly recessed on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 after one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

Three former Minneapolis police officers have been convicted of violating George Floyds civil rights.

Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane were charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care when Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyds neck for 9 1/2 minutes as the 46-year-old Black man was handcuffed and facedown on the street on May 25, 2020.

Thao and Lane were also charged with failing to intervene to stop Chauvin.

The videotaped killing sparked protests in Minneapolis that spread around the globe as part of reckoning over racial injustice. Chauvin was convicted of murder last year in state court and pleaded guilty in December in the federal case.

Kueng knelt on Floyds back, Lane held his legs and Thao kept bystanders back.

Kueng and Lane both said they deferred to Chauvin as the senior officer at the scene. Thao testified that he relied on the other officers to care for Floyds medical needs as his attention was elsewhere.

Conviction of a federal civil rights violation that results in death is punishable by life in prison or even death, but such sentences are extremely rare.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  A jury reached a verdict Thursday in the federal trial of three fired Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyds civil rights when he was pinned to the ground for 9 1/2 minutes as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck.

The jurys verdict comes after two days of deliberations in the case against Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane. It will be read soon.

The former officers are charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care. Kueng and Thao are also charged with failing to intervene to stop Chauvin during the May 25, 2020, videotaped killing of the 46-year-old Black man that triggered protests worldwide and a reexamination of racism and policing.

Thao held back bystanders. Kueng and Lane helped restrain Floyd.

During the monthlong trial, prosecutors sought to show that the officers violated their training, including when they failed to move Floyd or give him CPR. Prosecutors argued that Floyds condition was so serious that even bystanders without basic medical training could see he needed help.

The defense said their training was inadequate and that the officers deferred to Chauvin as the senior officer at the scene.

Prosecutors told jurors during closing arguments that the three officers chose to do nothing as Chauvin squeezed the life out of the 46-year-old Black man. Defense attorneys countered that the officers were too inexperienced, werent trained properly and did not willfully violate Floyds rights.

A handful of protesters stood outside the courthouse Thursday morning holding large signs, including one mocking the officers that said, If I only had a brain, a heart, the nerve." It was decorated with pictures of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz.

All 12 members of the jury  eight women and four men  appear to be white, although the court has not released demographics such as race or age. A woman who appeared to be of Asian descent was excused Tuesday from the panel without explanation; a man who appears to be of Asian descent remains as an alternate if one of the current 12 cannot continue.

Lane is white, Kueng is Black and Thao is Hmong American.

That is a sharp contrast to the jury that deliberated the state murder case against Chauvin. That jury was half white and half nonwhite.

The federal jury pool was selected from throughout the state, which includes areas much more conservative and less diverse than the Minneapolis area from which Chauvins jury was drawn. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter, and later pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge.

Prosecutors sought to show during the monthlong trial that the officers violated their training, including when they failed to roll Floyd onto his side or give him CPR. They argued that Floyds condition was so serious that even bystanders without basic medical training could see he needed help.

But the defense said the Minneapolis Police Departments training was inadequate and that the officers deferred to Chauvin as the senior officer at the scene.

Chauvin and Thao went to the scene to help rookies Kueng and Lane after they responded to a call that Floyd used a counterfeit $20 bill at a corner store. Floyd struggled with officers as they tried to put him in a police SUV.

Thao watched bystanders and traffic as Kueng knelt on Floyds back and Lane held his legs.

The jurors are not sequestered  isolated from outside influences that could sway their opinion  which is sometimes done by having them stay in hotels during deliberations. They are allowed to watch videos from the scene and view other evidence as much as they want during deliberations.

Federal civil rights violations that result in death are punishable by up to life in prison or even death, but those sentences are extremely rare, and federal sentencing guidelines suggest the officers would get much less if convicted.

Lane, Kueng and Thao also face a separate trial in June on state charges alleging that they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter.
Energy complex sees uplift on Ukraine-Russia conflict, but discounts are stable

ICR Newsroom By 24 February 2022

Since ICRs most recent energy report, Russias recognition of the Donbas region in Ukraine and military move into it are lifting the energy complex. As no war has broken out at the time of writing, medium effects depend on political sanctions and the respect of borders. In the short term, oil is close to US$100.



As coal pushes higher, petcoke prices are increasing. Discounts are stable in neutral zones. The discount for petcoke FOB 6.5 per cent sulphur and 40HGI of US$136 is at 34 per cent, up from 31 per cent (base of comparison: API4, 2Q22  US$167). For the CIF ARA contract, which is at US$158, this is at 24 per cent, unchanged (compared with API2, 2Q22  US$166).

Published under
Benin to build 1.6Mta cement plant

ICR Newsroom By 24 February 2022

The government of Benin plans to build a cement plant with 5000tpd clinker capacity and 1.6Mta of cement capacity. The new plant will have an option to expand its cement capacity to 3Mta.



Benins Council of Ministers announced on 23 February 2022 the completion of preparatory studies for the construction project of a cement plant. "The Council has shown itself to be in favour of entering into a contract with a specialised group, with a view to carrying out preparatory studies for a project to build a cement plant with a capacity of 5000tpd of clinker, ie 1,600,000tpa of cement, expandable to 3,000,000tpa, the government spokesman announced.



With the project, the government intends to support the cement market, which has seen a real expansion in the country, with sales up by nearly 30 per cent between 2016-21 as a result of the Government Action Program. Going forward, the government expects construction activity to remain robust as major construction projects are scheduled to be carried out between 2021-26.

Published under
Buena Vista, CO (81211)

Today

Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High around 50F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 30F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Stacey Izquierda, employment readiness specialist, works in her office at Fort Hood ACS, on the second floor of the Shoemaker Center. We provide employment resources for military spouses, family members and Soldiers, she said.
This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions
Chatham, VA (24531)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
A woman and several pets are safe after escaping a large house fire Wednesday morning that sent a plume of smoke into the air visible from across the area.

A passerby called 911 to report that they were driving past a home in the 6600 block of Kenton Ridge Circle and saw that the residence was on fire. The home is in the Kenton Ridge subdivision in the Shallowford Road/Hickory Valley area.

Multiple Chattanooga Fire Department Green Shift companies responded and on arrival, they found heavy smoke coming from the back of the house. After further investigation, they also spotted flames and started attacking the fire. One crew attempted to go in the front, but they pulled back due to heavy heat and fire.

Once the flames went through the roof, command ordered an evacuation to protect the safety of firefighters. Crews launched a defensive operation due to concerns of structural collapse. Soon after, the roof did collapse.

Extra companies were called to the scene to provide support. Aerial devices were used to fully extinguish the fire.

One occupant and several pets escaped the burning home. It appeared one of the dogs had suffered burns.

The fire caused significant damage and the house is considered a total loss.

Firefighters successfully protected neighbors nearby homes located on either side of the structure. One of the neighbors houses sustained minimal damage thanks to the hard work of the CFD units who worked this call.

There were no injuries, and the cause of the blaze is under investigation.

This home will be torn down due to unstable walls in close proximity to neighbors houses and fire still burning down inside the basement area of the structure.
The Chattanooga Fire Department worked two water rescues back-to-back in the same area on Wednesday afternoon.

The first was on Lower Mill Road. A car tried to make it through water across the roadway and stalled out. Firefighters walked out into the water to the vehicle and removed two people.

As crews were finishing that rescue, another call came in, this time on School Drive. A driver went around the barricades and stalled out in the water.

The Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department was requested to assist with their boat due how deep the floodwaters were. They arrived and removed one person.
Governor Bill Lee invited Tennesseans to tune in for a live presentation of the new student-based funding formula, known as the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement formula (TISA), at 11 a.m. CT on Thursday.

He said, Thousands of Tennessee parents, students, teachers and administrators have contributed to our new student-centered funding formula, and we invite them to join as we introduce the plan in detail. In the coming weeks, I look forward to working with our partners in the General Assembly to pass this important legislation and improve the way Tennessee funds public education for the first time in over 30 years.

A livestream will be available here.

Starting last fall, the Department of Education and the General Assembly convened 18 funding subcommittees, organized a legislative steering committee, and provided over 1,000 opportunities for the public to engage, including 16 public town halls and local match conversations across the state. This January, Gov. Lee and Commissioner Schwinn released a draft framework for the new student-based K-12 funding formula, which incorporated input from thousands of Tennesseans.

To learn more about student-based funding, Tennessees recent public engagement process and subcommittee recommendations, and to access additional resources, visit the Department of Educations website.


The Tennessee Department of Health, which is now reporting updated COVID totals once a week, on Wednesday said there have been 1,995,040 total COVID cases in the state, with an average of 3,158 cases per day from Feb. 13-19.



There have been 23,981 coronavirus deaths in Tennessee, with an average of 82 per day from Feb. 13-19.



The state currently has 1,778 people hospitalized from the virus, with a decrease of 91 per day from Feb. 13-19.



The number of coronavirus tests that have been administered in the state is 12.449 million.



There have been 1,933,494 Tennesseans that have recovered from the virus, which is 97 percent.



Here are the numbers by county:



Bledsoe County: 4,618 cases, up 33; 48 deaths, up 4



Bradley County: 32,832 cases, up 217; 376 deaths, up 13

Grundy County: 3,947 cases, up 34; 68 deaths



Marion County: 8,745 cases, up 103; 121 deaths, up 2



McMinn County: 16,540 cases, up 426; 232 deaths, up 14



Meigs County: 3,323 cases, up 26; 51 deaths, down 1



Polk County: 4,624 cases, up 56; 56 deaths, up 2



Rhea County: 9,890 cases, up 77; 148 deaths, up 7



Sequatchie County: 4,165 cases, up 49; 64 deaths



Knox County: 125,673 cases, up 1,468; 1,228 deaths, up 34



Davidson County: 188,366 cases, up 1,427; 1,568 deaths, up 34



Shelby County: 233,156 cases, up 1,618; 3,081 deaths, up 62
Many years ago I had a small sign tacked above the carriage of my Royal manual typewriter that read: Great stories begin with powerful elements of human emotion, and, lordy, is that ever the truth.

Last weekend I got word a considerable number of parents at the Girls Preparatory School were deeply concerned over what they felt was the liberal direction the all-girls school was heading. I learned over 100 parents were fed up with a woke presence and a progressive bent the school had been engaged, despite the deeply conservative Southern roots for over 100 years.



I obtained a draft of a letter that I believe was delivered to School Head Mrs. Megan Cover sometime this week and I wrote of the parents concerns. Lordy me, the response has been huge and I have been both applauded and castigated for sharing the parents' views.



On Wednesday I reprinted some of those emails .. carefully omitting the senders names. Today allow me to give you a Volume II of the uproar, which illustrates Girls Preparatory School has some real problems to address while I, as simply the messenger, am greatly amused at mankind:



* * *



I am in agreement with you that GPS has a thick vail of superiority laced with all of the other issues you laid out in your article, but I wouldn't blame the new captain of the ship for the stench that lingers.



My daughter attended GPS for 6th and 7th grade. It was a complete nightmare.



We moved to Chattanooga from a small town in middle Tennessee in the hopes of finding better education for my child. A tour and placement exam was completed and the school was practically hounding us to join. Mrs. [redacted] said they needed bright, intellectual girls like my daughter to attend. Of course, a scholarship to pay approximately half of the tuition was given. A single mother working on a nurse's income could never imagine such an opportunity, so we jumped!



Over the next two years, my daughter was the victim of bullying and discrimination so damning it led to her trying to end her life.



My boyfriend and I made several trips to the various counselors and "Deans of such and such" office. We were always met with smiling faces and warm wishes... but never any solution. I think there is seriously something bigger going in the bowels of that school that would shame anyone involved.



I thought it was peculiar that GPS would immediately and discretely refund my whole deposit for 8th and just allow my daughter to pass with flying colors once our situation came to a head. That head being my daughter's suicide attempt and psych hold.



They brush everything under the rug and do as much face saving as possible to keep disgruntled parents like myself quiet. When truly, they're breeding beautifully educated elitists who will never face consequences because riding on the wings of a name and a couple grand can get them anywhere!



Maybe a lead attempting to keep things "woke" is the least of their problems.



* * *



I am an alumna of GPS and perceive it as such a grave travesty as to what it has become. I, along with a great group of alumnae friends, have changed our minds about our dearest alma mater.



I am a proud alumna of GPS and sadly, I fear that Roy is right properly correct since Ive been hearing echoes of increasing progressiveness for years.



With great dismay, our large circle of alumnae friends have decided to end our monthly giving and transfer those funds to another school in Chattanooga.



We shall never forget the tremendous education that we received whilst enrolled at GPS ~ with an emphasis on pure academics. Our capability to breeze through the first few years of uni amazed us. I was able to graduate Summa Cum Laude with three advanced degrees.



Of course we were taught to read critically, discuss and debate. We had ample access to newspapers and books in addition to the evening news channels and radio.



There was absolutely no need whatsoever for Make Love Not War and Burn, Baby, Burn posters in our classrooms or analyses regarding shedding brassieres or encouraging our boyfriends to set their draft cards ablaze.



We attended GPS for educational purposes, not social emotional as defined by todays standards.

How grievous it is, now, that those in charge think so little of their students that they feel as though they must pour an inordinate amount of superfluous curricula into their studies.



Best of wishes, my dearest Alma Mater!



* * *



I am thrilled that you have opened this can of worms which has been long overdue with the GPSs directional and negative leadership. Our daughter attended GPS, graduating nearly 17 years ago.

My husband spent a ton of money to send her there and we are very upset with the negative politics that has invaded this beautiful school. The perception may have been hiding from the community but for someone who has seen the changes over the years with the campus, I can say GPS has been heading in the wrong direction for many years. The leadership and curriculum stopped caring what was best for the school and thought the teachings of the left were more important than any young woman attending GPS. So sad, because, parents are having to pay for this and the damaged it causes it plentiful and heart breaking.



* * *



When you run into this much flack, you know you are on the target!!!



* * *



Upon review of your recent column How Woke is GPS, I felt compelled to respond to you directly.

As a proud alum of GPS, I am horrified by your characterization of the school, and of the student body. Setting aside your offensively presumptuous assertion that you or anyone else unassociated with the school should dictate curricular decisions or material, I find your implication regarding the intellectual fortitude of women and girls of GPS the most insulting. By suggesting that GPS should curtail their curriculum and limit these young womens exposure to ideas that could possibly diverge from their own (or rather, YOUR own), you imply that these young women are incapable of thinking for themselves and are simply subject to some sort of indoctrination and have no intellectual agency.



Girls Preparatory School is a institution of the highest intellectual caliber that has taught young women to think critically and to challenge convention since its inception. The school was founded to provide young women with the necessary preparation to attend college, a wildly progressive - or woke- notion at the time when many women were not permitted to finish high school, much less attend college. To suggest otherwise, or to insinuate GPS should betray these principles, is insulting beyond expression to its current students, alumnae, and founders.



Furthermore, your personal objection to a speaker who aims To to create spaces where students, and all community members, can be seen and heard while learning to be visible and use their voices in productive ways is both confusing, and insultingly paternalistic. I challenge you to expand more on what about this you find objectionable about this speaker. What exactly is problematic with all community members being encouraged to be visible and use their voices? In your view, should only SOME students and community members be seen or heard? What exactly is wrong with letting people feel safe, feel heard, and feel like they belong?



Finally, I would be remiss to not to call out your oblique reference to the previous Head of School as the last debacle. I cannot interpret this comment as anything other than what it is, which is racist, pure and simple.



How dare you presume to speak on behalf of the alumnae of GPS.



I encourage you to do the right thing and refrain from further commentary on this matter.



* * *



Keep up the good fight! Keep spreading truth and God will always be on your side! Ignore the noise and nonsense!



* * *



I am so glad to see you write about GPS and your concerns. Everyone on both sides of my family went to GPS. My dad was on the board for years and headed it for some. I think I heard him rolling in his grave.



I consider you brave and have a deep respect for you tackling issues no matter the response. What I find interesting in our "woke" culture is that when you disagree with the same people who are pushing "kindness and acceptance," they often feel so free to react with such vitriol. I noticed that they also frequently seem to feel so comfortable standing in judgement of you and in calling you names. My hat is off to you for stating your opinion no matter who agrees or does not!

I would rather remain anonymous for the fear of those mean people.



Regards to you and your family who I have loved and respected for years!



* * *



Why I just KNEW you were a mysenogistical, horny old Harvey Weinstein type! I hate you! I hate your guts! You, you, .......... RAPIST! You made me cry! HAHA!! Holy [expletive] brutha! Reckon you stirred up a loud [expletive] storm? I love it! People around here have been (whining) about that over at GPS for years and it's about time the whole USA started to wake up to the pathetic reality of "woke." Woke 'em up, man! Yeee HAAA!



* * *



  My sister just alerted me to the kerfuffle about an article you recently wrote. I too am disillusioned about GPS's liberal direction and despised the last head of school. Dr. [redacted] would never have let this crap go down. I filled out a GPS survey making it clear I'd be watching carefully as the next head of school was chosen. Something I read about her past gave me reason to believe she might be a conservative but alas, it appears not?



I recently moved to Charleston and am attending a "Meet and Greet with Megan Cover." there this Saturday. Apparently, GPS is hauling out the dog and pony show around the country. I plan to hit her head on with some direct/blunt questions...cocktail in hand (!) My last straw with GPS was when a Social Justice class appeared on the class offerings a few years back. Nope! I changed my estate plan immediately and plan to leave well over a million $ to animal charities instead... unless I see something major to change my mind. So sad that any private Christian based school could go woke, and GPS obviously HAS. I hear it from my classmates who have daughters there.



Anyway, I fully support your article and as usual, am disgusted by the intolerant left as they attack you for merely addressing the issue and re-posting parents' own words. So many of my childhood friends from Lookout are vile leftists, and I have literally defriended them...limousine liberals with silver spoons, spouting their leftist nonsense. You have a difficult job pleasing both sides of a city (and country) so divided and so quick to say hateful things instead of just disagree with you in a rational manner.



I have my 40-year GPS reunion in April and will likely skip it and tell them why. I hear they are still masking students?! If so, that will be one more objection to attending 



* * *



I wanted to thank you. I had been putting off donating to the GPS annual fund, but because of your mean words about a place I hold dear, I got on line and donated. And, I actually doubled my normal amount, too, and told them to keep doing what they are doing which providing girls with a fabulous education. Again, thank you.



* * *



I have two girls attending. One Junior and one 7th grader. In reading the responses emailed to you, I see that you as a journalist printed both sides of the issue. That is what good journalism does. Because  liked it and  didnt, you probably did the right thing. We may seriously pull out our 7th grader even though we have a long tradition of graduates.



If anyone was wondering if GPS is changing the values of how the girls feel about men, GPS traditions or the value of the flag, those Students with whom responses you shared tell all about the product there are producing. If I read these responses correctly. One girl questioned her Christian values while at GPS, one girl believes the pledge to our flag is an offense, One girl believes to be an old man is wrong and a relic of the past, one believes that the time honored traditions are of no value.



* * *



GPS is amazing and you are not.



* * *



Youve obviously got them scared their little secrets are out in the open. They rely on the usefully trustful, aka the boiling frog who doesnt realize its cooked until its too late. Thanks for exposing how many here are being naively led down the grim path of progressivism by a gleeful pied piper.



royexum@aol.com






A woman on ONeal Street told police she wanted her Apple watch back from another woman. The first woman said she gave the watch to the other woman to hold because someone stole the other womans Apple watch. The second woman said she attempted to send the woman $100 for the watch but she refused to take it.

* * *

While on patrol on East 27th Street Court, an officer saw a yellow VW beetle with a taillight out driving at a high rate of speed. The officer attempted to get behind the car but was unable to due to distance. In an attempt to get close to the car, the officer saw it entering into the East Lake Courts and spoke with two black males that were exiting the car. The driver said he had just picked up the passenger from his job. Both individuals checked negative for any outstanding warrants. Police asked for consent to conduct a vehicle search, though did not observe anything within the vehicle. The driver was issued a verbal warning for the brake light being out.

* * *

A woman on Hwy. 153 called police and said a man had previously been trespassed from the location by police and that he was back sleeping in front of the old Books-A-Million. He was no longer there when the officer arrived. The man had told the woman that he was aware that he was not supposed to be there.

* * *

Police responded to a suspicious vehicle on East Martin Luther King Boulevard. The tag on the vehicle came back to a Ford registered to a woman in Chattanooga. The car is registered to a woman in Athens, Tn. The officer wasnt able to speak with either woman. The vehicle was not reported stolen per NCIC. It was parked on private property.

* * *

A woman on South Hawthorne Street said she parked her vehicle behind her house when she got home from work. When she got back to her vehicle the next morning she discovered it was very loud when she started it. She then took it to the repair shop who discovered that the catalytic converter had been cut off and it would cost $693 to replace it.

* * *

Police were called to Storm Car Wash at 5062 Hunter Road. Two drivers said a wreck happened inside of the car wash due to a malfunction of the machine. A witness who almost had the same incident happen wrote a witness statement about this incident. There was no damage on the vehicles and the manager of the car wash didn't want to make a report.

* * *

Police received a call about a stolen garbage can from an address on McCallie Avenue. The man said he saw an unknown black male walking down the back alley with a green garbage can.

* * *

A man told police he was at Home Depot at 7421 Commons Blvd. and had parked a U-Haul. When he returned, he found the front bumper damaged and does not know how or who did it.

* * *

Police were called to East 3rd Street where a man was loitering on the property. He was identified and requested police give him a ride to the Community Kitchen. A warrant check was conducted showing no active warrants for the man and he was transported to the Community Kitchen without incident.

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A woman on South Lyerly Street told police she went to start her vehicle and realized it had been stolen. She isnt sure whether it was locked or not and told police she keeps a spare key fob in the vehicle. The officer didnt see any glass on the ground near the spot where her vehicle was parked at the time of the theft. Dispatch discovered the vehicle had been repossessed on Jan. 14, however, the woman said she had since retrieved her vehicle and no repossession record exists for last night/this morning. The vehicle was entered into NCIC as stolen.

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Police were called to Walmart at 3550 Cummings Hwy. for a lost purse. When the officer arrived, one of the employees had found the purse outside in one of the buggies. The officer delivered the purse to a woman on Browns Ferry Road and she said nothing had been taken out or removed.
Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn released the details of the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act (SB2396/HB2143) that he said would transition Tennessees K-12 public schools to a student-based funding approach. Starting in the 2023-24 school year, the TISA would invest an estimated $9 billion in education funding for the state, including state and local funds, which includes $1 billion in new recurring state funds and $750 million in one-time state funds this year.



Governor Lee said, "The TISA will update the way Tennessee funds public education for the first time in over 30 years to empower each student to read proficiently by third grade, prepare each high school graduate for postsecondary success, and provide resources needed to all students to ensure they succeed.

Under the TISA districts would receive more than they would under the BEP should enrollment remain stable."The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement formula will be a powerful tool the state can use to ensure we are putting all students on a path to success, said Governor Lee. By serving our students well and giving the public greater insight into how their tax dollars are supporting students, the TISA represents an exciting opportunity to improve educational outcomes, strengthen our workforce and propel Tennessee forward.Updating our public education funding model is an investment in our states students and our states future, said Commissioner Schwinn. Months of public feedback highlighted how committed Tennesseans are to strengthening how we fund public education, and the TISA puts the focus of education funding right where it belongs  on students.The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement is a student-based funding formula that will include the following proposed investments for each of these components: $6.6 billion for base funding for every public school student. $1.8 billion in additional funding to be allocated based on weights to address specific student needs. $376 million in direct funding for students to receive additional funding allocations to support specific programs, like tutoring. $100 million in outcomes funding to be awarded based on achievement to empower schools to help all students reach their full potential.Additionally, the TISA has reporting and district accountability requirements, including an annual TISA report delivered to the Tennessee General Assembly by the department and individual district-level accountability reports to be submitted by local school boards to the department to establish goals for student achievement in the current school year, explain how the goals can be met within the local budget, and describe how the local budget and expenditures for prior school years enabled districts to progress student outcomes.Being part of the engagement process and hearing the ideas brought forth by students, educators, industries and stakeholders was an incredible experience, and emphasized the need for Tennessee to move forward with a new formula that puts students first and puts our needs first, said Elizabeth Brown, Student Engagement Subcommittee Chairman and Coffee County High School Senior. Seeing that come to fruition in a way that can remove obstacles for postsecondary success is exciting and I look forward to the potential impact this will have to unlock future possibilities for a new generation of students.I was honored to have been asked to chair the Instructional Leadership Sub-Committee, said Danny Weeks, Director of Schools, Dickson County Schools. I have enjoyed the interactions with our Committee, enjoyed participating in the Town Halls, and reading the input from stakeholders from across the State. We are anxious to see the proposal and are excited about the possibilities it brings for all students."We are grateful to Governor Lee, Commissioner Schwinn and our legislative leaders for today's announcement and for their commitment to accelerating outcomes for TN students, said Barbara Hyde, Chair and CEO, Hyde Family Foundation. We believe shifting to a more transparent and student-based funding model will not only offer more Memphis students a high-quality education, but it should also bring additional resources, especially in addressing the needs of economically disadvantaged and historically underserved students all across the state. A modernized funding formula will play a key role in closing achievement gaps and preparing all students for a lifetime of success."Teachers see first-hand the impact of funding on the success of our students and schools, and educators know that this important conversation could not be more timely, said Morgan Rankin, 2021-22 Teacher of the Year, Johnson City Schools, Chair of Teacher Advisory Funding Subcommittee. Bringing together experienced and knowledgeable educators from a variety of positions and school districts across the state allowed teachers to truly lend their voice to this crucial discussion. This subcommittee worked diligently to review public feedback and to carefully weigh our recommendations in order to best meet the diverse teaching and learning needs across the state. We truly hope that our deliberate and thorough recommendations will help make a positive and long-lasting impact on teaching and learning in the state of Tennessee.Jackson County Schools hosted one of the eight town hall meetings with a great turn out for the Upper Cumberland Region. Being able to serve on the subcommittee for rural schools provided another way to address unique student needs and make thoughtful recommendations during the planning phase for a student-centered funding model, said Kristy Brown, Director of Schools, Jackson County Schools. Its important that all public school students be represented during this crucial time for public education in Tennessee. The engagement process has provided many ways for all stakeholders to have a voice. We must get this right for our students.It has been exciting to be a part of the engagement process as we envision the possibilities that having a student-centered funding approach can have on the future of our students and on our state, said Mischelle Simcox, Director of Schools, Johnson County School System. We know this is the right time for our state to move towards a student-based funding formula, which will help us focus on student outcomes and achievement.We must ensure all students, and especially the students we serve in rural communities across Tennessee, are truly workforce ready and prepared for postsecondary success. Nothing will be more important to the future of our state, to our businesses and industries, and to creating even greater employment opportunities and higher family incomes for more Tennesseans, said Janet Ayers, President, Ayers Foundation. We believe and are hopeful the new funding formula will help target the additional student-centered resources that local educators need and can use to accelerate the academic growth and success we want to see all across Tennessee." I would like to thank the Governor and Commissioner for their leadership and commitment to increasing state funding for public education, said Jacob Sorrells, Director of Schools, Marshall County Schools. I would also like to thank them for the multiple opportunities I was given to share my feedback. I understand the need for a new funding formula that better funds our students' educational needs and feel that the time is now. I am very excited about the proposed new recurring funds as outlined in the Governor's proposed budget and can see how these new funds will help address the needs of all students across Tennessee. I look forward to workingwith the state as we navigate any obstacles that may arise during this process."I am deeply appreciative of the administration's efforts to collect input and feedback on transitioning our state to a student-based public school funding formula. This will not only have a positive impact for the future of our students but also our economy and our state," said Dr. Nancy Dishner, President and CEO, Niswonger Foundation.The process for gathering input was comprehensive and all stakeholders had a seat at the table, said Cathy Beck, Director of Schools, Cheatham County Schools. This revision of the funding formula is an investment, not only in our children, but in the future for the entire state of Tennessee."We are excited by today's announcement and what it will mean for students, families, and educators all across Tennessee, said Victor Evans, Executive Director, TennesseeCAN. We applaud Governor Lee, Commissioner Schwinn, and our legislative leaders for taking such a bold student-centered approach - one that we believe can help all students, and particularly economically disadvantaged students, achieve academically and reach their fullest potential.""A student-based funding formula for K-12 public education is a positive step for the state of Tennessee, said Steve Starnes, Director of Schools, Greeneville City Schools. I have appreciated the level of engagement and feedback that has taken place as we have looked at how best to meet the needs of Tennessee students. I have valued the opportunity to participate in this important process.

To learn more about the student-based funding formula, visit FundingforStudentSuccess.org.


Christina Haack has been showing a lot of love to Tennessee lately after she bought a vacation home there. The Christina on the Coast star has praised her new location as it has provided many things she didnt have in California. However, the HGTV television personality is taking it all back after she realized the West Coast state has beautiful scenery as well.

Christina Haack | Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Christina Haack really loves California

Haack is someone that was born and raised in California and she has been living her whole life in the golden state. A couple years ago she moved to coastal Orange County when she married her now ex-husband Ant Anstead. However, she recently bought a vacation home in Tennessee and is loving every moment, even saying, country life is the best life.

Furthermore, Haack seems to have realized California is a great state and when she traveled to the Big Sure, she remembered why she loves her home state so much and even apologized.

Dear California, I apologize for all the negative things Ive ever said about you, Haack posted on Instagram. Big Sur is a gift from Heaven and I am officially in love. We are definitely retiring here. Peaceful tranquility. Josh + Redwood trees + the ocean = perfection.

After Haack shared a video of the beautiful scenery she experienced, it wasnt long before fans came in to give their own thoughts about California.

Big Sur is heaven on earth nothing like it we live 30 minutes north of this beautiful place. Enjoy, a fan replied.

California is THE best. We have everything here! a follower added.

Ohhhh wow!!! Amazing! So happy for your happiness!!! an Instagram user mentioned.

We bought our retirement property in San Luis Obispo. The central coast is amazing! another fan commented.

Wow its beautiful there! So happy for you, another follower added.

How could you say negative things about California? You live in paradise, another Instagram user said.

RELATED: HGTV Star Christina Haack Shares Sweet Moment Between Her 2 Sons Enjoying Nature

Why did Christina Haack buy a home in Tennessee?

Haack has been praising her time in Tennessee and after she bought her home in the country she explained why it was something she wanted to do.

Tennessee is gorgeous and the people out there are so nice, she said to People in May 2021. Being out there on all that land reminded me of my favorite childhood memories, which were staying summers on my grandparents farm. I felt so carefree and loved taking out their quads and hanging with my cousins on all the land.

It was on Christina on the Coast that Haack showed off her house hunting process. Haack had originally gone to Tennessee to visit a friend and when she saw the land she fell in love and had to buy a property there. She has been spending quite a lot of time there since as she renovated and made the home perfect for her and her family.

Haack will presumably share more of her life on the new season of her HGTV show which is reportedly in production now.

RELATED: Flip or Flop Fans Are Excited to See Christina Haack and Tarek El Moussa Back Together
Chickasha, OK (73018)

Today

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 69F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 58F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
The last several years have witnessed no small uptick in accessible academic books about evangelicals. Some of the most striking works have explored the political and racial history of the movement. This is evident in books like Jemar Tisbys The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Churchs Complicity in Racism, John Feas Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump, and Thomas Kidds Who is an Evangelical?: The History of a Movement in Crisis.

Into this rich body of work steps Anthea Butlers White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, an analysis of American evangelicalisms last 50 years that also includes a larger backstory. In some ways it is a cross between the spirit of The Color of Compromise and the style of Believe Me. Butler argues that the persistence of racism among evangelicals (not fear, as Fea argues) explains their support for Donald Trump and conservative politics since the 1970s.

Butler, a professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania, provides a strong historical overview of the depth and breadth of racism in American evangelical culture since the early 19th century. A strong work of synthesis designed for a popular audience, White Evangelical Racism deftly weaves together cutting-edge scholarship on evangelicalism from the last 20 years. Citing such important scholars as Daniel K. Williams, Joseph Crespino, Kelly J. Baker, Darren Dochuk, and Randall Balmer, among others, Butler challenges evangelicals to reject their racism and lust for political power and to work cooperatively with their fellow Americans to build a better society.

Serious soul-searching

While prominent scholars of evangelicalism such as Mark Noll, George Marsden, David Bebbington, and Thomas Kidd define the movement theologically and historically, Butler argues that it is not a simply religious group at all but rather a nationalistic political movement. Evangelicals, she writes, have defined themselves by their ubiquitous support for the Republican Party and its conservative quest to retain Americas status quo of patriarchy, cultural hegemony, and nationalismand this has made evangelicals, for all intents and purposes, culturally and politically white. She argues that racism and a quest for political power have defined evangelicalism for approximately the last 50 years.

While evangelicals often like to emphasize the proudest moral and racial moments of their past, Butler cares nothing about boosting their collective self-esteem. In fact, her project is designed to do the exact opposite. She wants to use history to jump-start some serious evangelical soul-searching.

To this end, she deliberately focuses on the trajectory of evangelical history that supported slavery, the Lost Cause, Jim Crow, and lynching because it is key to understanding how and why evangelicals continue to use scripture, morality, and political power today in support of racist and conservative policies and politicians. All this makes for painful reading, especially for those unfamiliar with the history. Butler argues emphatically and unapologetically that racism thoroughly infects all of evangelicalism. Racism, she declares, in one of her pithiest formulations, is a feature, not a bug, of American evangelicalism.

Butler is at her best when exposing and seamlessly weaving together the long arc of racist evangelical practices from the days of slavery to our own generation. (About half of the book covers national politics in the post-1970s era.) She offers a refreshing corrective to common popular misconceptions about 19th-century evangelicals and race, such as the notion that evangelical theology required believers to be abolitionists and that only Southern evangelicals were racists. She unflinchingly confronts evangelicals complicity in Americas lynchings (over 4,000, according to NAACP records), their support for Lost Cause ideology, their history of opposition to interracial marriage, and their contemporary insistence on a colorblind approach to race.

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Butlers analysis of the 20th century is impressively thorough as it draws in a wealth of prominent evangelical leaders, organizations, and initiatives: Billy Graham, the National Association of Evangelicals, W. A. Criswell, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, Focus on the Family, the Moral Majority, the Christian Coalition, Bob Jones University, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, Jack Hayford, George W. Bush, Franklin Graham, John Hagee, the Memphis Miracle (a 1994 interracial gathering of charismatic denominations), and the 1995 Southern Baptist resolution repudiating racism and slavery.

For me, one of the most painful parts of the book involves the sad story of Butler being offended while she was a member of Church on the Way, a key turning point in her journey away from evangelicalism. Another involves her recounting of a pair of infamous quotes from conservative political operatives Paul Weyrich and Lee Atwater. In the 1980s, Weyrich had told a mostly Christian audience that they should not want as many people as possible to vote, and Atwater had explained how conservative political rhetoric, while less outwardly racist than in the 1950s, still aimed at policies with a similar byproduct: that blacks get hurt worse than whites.

Omitting nuance

While the arc of Butlers narrative is largely accurate, she sometimes omits nuance to magnify the force of her argument. Black evangelicals, non-Trump-voting evangelicals in 2016, and self-identified progressive evangelicals will not find themselves well represented in this book. While she acknowledges the existence of these groups, she makes it clear that this book is not about them. In some ways Butlers narrative implies either that they cant be real evangelicals or that they are irrelevant to the story of evangelicalism. These groups already have a difficult time being heard within the movement, even without writers like Butler further downplaying their existence.

At times, Butler pushes her argument so passionately that she implies either that Black evangelical is an oxymoron or that all Black evangelicals have effectively become culturally white. Both views are quite disturbing. Butlers book left me wondering whether she personally knows anyone in any of these evangelical subgroups and, if so, what she would say to them.

Furthermore, Butler sometimes uses dubious or uncontextualized statements to support her narrative. Her discussion of the argument that slavery resulted from the Curse of Ham lacks historical context. She implies that this understanding of Genesis 9 originated with Southern white slaveholders, when in fact it began in medieval times and involved non-Christian interpreters. When discussing the evangelical response to Hurricane Katrinas impact on New Orleans, Butler highlights quotes from figures like Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham, President George W. Bush, and Dwight McKissic. But she omits the vast efforts undertaken by evangelical groups to provide relief to victims, leaving readers with a tremendously oversimplified picture. Just because the media emphasizes certain high-profile evangelicals does not mean that rank-and-file evangelicals believe these individuals represent their views.

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On a related note, Butler sometimes demonstrates a shaky grasp of who belongs within the evangelical fold. Her definition of evangelicalism leads her to identify pastors Rod Parsley and John Hagee as on the margins of the evangelical world, while placing Dylann Roof, who killed nine Black parishioners during a Bible study at a historic Charleston church, squarely within it. I understand that there is some overlap, however regrettable, between the domains of white supremacists and evangelicals, but Butler presents no evidence that Roof inhabits that space.

Perhaps Butlers most egregious statement comes when she asserts that evangelicals have turned away from those who are impoverished and in need to support powerful businesses and wealthy politicians. But a wealth of research tells a different story: After Mormons, on a per capita basis, evangelical Christians are the most generous givers in the United States.

While Butlers book does not commit a lot of space to discussing Donald Trump specifically, it does argue that white evangelical racism helps to explain why so many overlooked his moral failures in order to vote for him.

All in all, Butler clearly aims to be a prophetic voice awakening evangelicals to their ongoing racism and its implications for American society. And while there are certainly other factors besides racism that explain individual evangelicals political choices in recent years, Butler is correct to make sure we dont overlook the role racism has played overall. This is definitely not a book for people who dont want to be challenged.

Paul Thompson is professor of history at North Greenville University.
This piece was adapted from Russell Moores newsletter. Subscribe here.

Once when I was a youth pastor, a woman pleaded with me to let her rebellious son go to youth camp even though he missed the deadline to sign up.

I just want him to get tired enough that hes moved to walk down the aisle one time, she said. Then Ill know that no matter what he does after that, at least hell be in heaven.

I sighed at the cultural Christianity Id come to know all too wellone that substituted a momentary repetition of words for the gospel. The problem was that I thought theology was the answer. Many of us did.

The folk religion and human-centeredness of much of American revivalism contrasts with a big God theology and a focus on fidelity to confessions of faith. This makes sense. A thorough-going pragmatism can lead quickly into a whatever works mindset. This kind of anticreedalism leads not to the absence of creeds but to the proliferation of unwritten and unspoken creeds.

At the same time, many of us thought the problem could be solved by connecting the rootlessness and overemphasis on novelty in American evangelicalism with an older theological tradition.

In one sense, I still think thats valid. A church that learns from John Calvin or John Wesley is tied to a deeper stream, since Calvin and Wesley are themselves connected to Augustine, Irenaeus, and so on.

And yet, the quest for novelty and for narrowing parameters often turned out to be just as present in theologically focused evangelicalsand perhaps even more so. Its easy, after all, to skip straight from the apostle John to John Calvin to Jonathan Edwards to the guy with the Jonathan Edwards portrait as his Twitter avatar.

Likewise, many of us thought a more theologically robust evangelicalism would keep us from fragmenting. After all, unlike those who believe that doctrine divides, we knew that a people who share deep and abiding convictions would be united, come what may.

But thats not exactly how it worked.

The divides in American evangelicalismand in various denominationsdid not end up splitting along the lines we all thought they would: Calvinist vs. Arminian, complementarian vs. egalitarianism, revivalist vs. emerging church, or traditionalist vs. seeker sensitive.

Some of the people my 2007 self might have dismissed as theological pragmatists have ended up showing some of the most grit and conviction of anyone in the past several years. Alternatively, we saw some who were doctrinally precise do the exact opposite.

To imagine telling my younger self, 15 years ago, which people would now be considered allies and which ones would no longer be speaking to one another is jarringespecially when some who once emphasized the sufficiency of Scripture now align with activist atheists to critique the theology of evangelicals who should belong to the same tribe.

None of that would have been, as the cliche goes, on my 2007 bingo card.

Turns out, a lot of what we thought was evidence of a Christian worldview for some evangelicals turned out to be the same tribal loyalties and political rhetoric they would have employed if Jesus were still dead.

Some of that has to do with what weve discussed here beforethe idea of revealed preference, mentioned in a political context by writer David Frum. Over time, we start to realize that even people who held the same views held them for different reasons. And often the differences were between what one saw as a central issue and what one saw as peripheral.

Theres a huge contrast between the complementarian who believes that the Pauline epistles prescribe, in a very limited number of callings, some differentiation between men and women and the complementarian for whom gender is the grid through which almost every cultural phenomenon is situated.

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The egalitarian who thinks 1 Timothy 2 addresses a contextually local problem in Ephesus and that God gifts both men and women for pastoral leadership in the church differs from the egalitarian who thinks that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are patriarchal words that must go away.

One Calvinist might see unconditional election as an explanatory doctrine meant to undergird what all Christians already believethat Jesus sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood. Another might see predestination as a central theme of the Bible.

Likewise, a charismatic who believes all the gifts of the Spirit still operate for building up the church is radically different from the charismatic who believes that speaking in tongues or prophecy distinguishes anointed Christians from lifeless ones.

Sometimes theology leads us to another kind of pragmatismfor instance, a seeker sensitivity in which the seekers are defined as angry Christians looking to fight for the sake of fighting. Some forms of revivalism have confused a heightened emotional experience for conversion.

This has led to some Christians holding on to that felt experience for assurance and others despairing that their felt experience wasnt dramatic enough. Still others fake the emotion, hoping that if they emote long enough, theyll eventually find the real thing.

That can happen not only with emotions but also with the mind. A confession of faith can become a revival testimony for people who cant cry at an altar or speak in tongues.

Theology matters. Obviously, I still believe that, or I wouldnt spend my life connecting Christian theology to culture. But if weve seen anything in the evangelical meltdown of the past five years, its that theology is not enough. And left on its own, theology can become just as much of a prop for a cultural, politicized Christianity as anything else.

We cannot, as scientist and philosopher Alfred Korzybski put it about a very different matter, confuse the map for the territoryjust as we cannot confuse our weather app for whats actually happening outside. Theology is a word about God, which always points us back to the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.

Theres a kind of theology that can illuminate how to worship God and be on mission in the world. But there another kind of theology that becomes defined by winning debates in whatever current controversy is trying to separate the Christian wheat from the Christian tares.

Theology defined by the Bible sees itself as the map, not the territory. It refuses to yield to the idea that faith is amorphous and without content. God has spoken and He has spoken in words.

Yet this sort of theology also will acknowledge that God has given us both clarity and mystery, speaking to us as whole personsminds, hearts, consciences, intuitions. The God of the Bible cannot be reduced to a syllogism. But those who try to do so can easily replace a confession of faith for faith itself; ideology for the gospel; a theological tribe for the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church; or, worst of all, Christology for Christ Jesus himself.

When Jesus said that he was going away, he told his disciples, You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said exactly what I would have said: Lord, we dont know where you are going, so how can we know the way? What he wanted was an abstraction, a map.

Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:46). We need truth and life if we are to follow the Way. He never told us, Here, memorize this. He simply said, Come, follow me.

Theology is necessary, but it is not enough. Lets not confuse the map for the territory.

Russell Moore leads the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today.
On recent Sunday mornings in Ukraine, whispered reports have run through the churches: The soldiers on the eastern border have portable rocket launchers. The Bondarenko boy was shot in the leg; they say he wont walk again. Did you know the Kovals left? Some questions have gone unspoken: Will we be here again next week?

Yesterday, those whispers became cries as a series of missiles hit near Kyiv.

The invasion puts the Ukrainian church at the heart of the conflict, as Christian leaders contend with peoples despair and uncertainty. They are standing, united and strong, and theyre helping Ukrainians find hope in Gods Word.

As the head of the American Bible Society, Ive been in close contact with my friend and counterpart, Anatoliy Raychynets, who serves as the deputy general secretary of the Ukrainian Bible Society. Over the past few months, he has shared reports that are hard to read: mothers wailing for their sons outside the hospitals; children who wont remember their fathers faces; thousands of people feeling hopeless and afraid.

But Anatoliy has noted something else too: church leaders working together for peace, and people seeking out the hope of Scripture.

In Anatoliys church, people are fearful they will lose everything. In response, he has been sharing Psalm 31 with anyone searching for reassurance. He reports that people are often surprised to hear words that, according to them, sound like they could have been written in Kyiv in 2022: Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege (v. 21).

As people grapple with unknown, many are experiencing the Bibles message for the first time ever. According to Anatoliy, priests and pastors over the past weeks have been flocking to the Bible Society store in Kyiv to buy Bibles. Demand is so high that theyve run out of copies.

This, Anatoliy says, is one of their biggest challenges: We need more Bibles.

Another resource offered by the church in Ukraine is Bible-based trauma healing. Although it was introduced only six years ago, the program has been incredibly effective, especially for family members of those killed in the conflict with Russia. It allows community leaders to guide small groups of people through a restorative process.

Now that its available in so many churches across the country, the Ukrainian Bible Society cant keep up with requests for resources and training.

What, then, can we do to help?

Our brothers and sisters in Ukraine need Bibles for people searching for comfort in troubled times. They need trauma-healing resources to provide the balm of Scripture. And they need us to intercede for them.

I ask you, in the name of Jesus Christwhoever can pray, please keep us in your prayers, says local pastor Viacheslav Khramov. Today, the war started on our land. We ask everyone who is able to pray, please pray for us. Pray for Ukraine. Pray that lives are spared, as well as our bodies and souls."

Anatoliy, too, echoes this plea.

Out of everything hes shared with me, I am most inspired by the show of solidarity from the Ukrainian church across confessions, borders, and party lines.

We speak to our colleagues in Russia, he told me. We church leaders speak to one another, and we pray together. We are united in the Lord.

This is exactly the gospel message we should be magnifying to a hurting world: Gods Word can reconcile enemies, drive out despair, and heal suffering hearts.

This is the vision of the united church we see shining in Ukraine. Amid war, politics, and division, the church of Jesus Christ is still spreading the gospel and building the kingdom.

Robert L. Briggs is president and CEO of American Bible Society.

Follow CTs Ukraine-Russia coverage on Telegram: @ctmagazine (also available in Chinese and Russian ).

[ This article is also available in espanol, Portugues, Francais, , , Indonesian, and . ]
At 6 a.m. and in a 40-degree rain, David Mason arrived at work at the Bowery Mission, New York Citys oldest ministry to those without homes, with addictions, or in need of a meal.

He has been working on the frontlines as a staff ambassador serving the citys most vulnerable throughout the pandemic, without getting sick once, when others were working at home and the city was largely shuttered. He is a steady presence as the mission has seen staff and volunteer turnover.

Even when short on volunteers or kitchen workers, the mission starts the day by offering hot showers, a chapel service, and then breakfast to those on the street. It served 255,000 meals last year and housed 266 adults in its long-term residential programs. The missions main location in Manhattan, with its trademark red chapel doors, has been operating since before the last pandemic in 1918.

In this pandemic, though, volunteer numbers have been down and the mission has been short-staffed. About 10 percent of the Bowery Missions staff roles have gone unfilled for the past year, according to president and CEO James Winans, and the organization isnt getting many applicants for those spots.

Winans said the organization set aside money in the budget for those roles for a reason, and the gaps put an extra burden on remaining staff. The omicron wave took another 1015 percent of staff out of work temporarily, leaving the organization scrambling to continue serving hundreds of meals a day and offering shelter and residential programs in five 24/7 locations.

Until recently, the missions donations closet was a mountain of unorganized clothes and shoe donations because there werent volunteers to unpack and sort. The mission has turned to temp agencies to fill essential spots in kitchens or security and is leaning heavily on people like David Mason. The Bowery Mission is not alone in feeling these pangs.

The pandemic has led people to resign in record numbers across industries, with employees burned out and oftentimes eager for the flexibility of a new remote job. Volunteering has also slumped over the past couple of years. The Big Quit has left the Bowery Mission and many frontline ministries across the country short on help while demand for services has shot up. Across Christian shelters, drug recovery programs, food programs, and health clinics, ministries are having to rethink their operations in the long term while remaining staffers are shifting how they see their work. The work these employees do was already heavy and unrelenting, with drug overdose deaths, mental illness, and homelessness climbing.

Mason, though, liked working in-person through the pandemic and was grateful for a job. Hes an introvert but enjoys being with the people coming off the street. He used to work maintenance jobs where he didnt have to talk to anyone, but now he is starting to see that he is empathetic and good at loving people. Still, working on the frontlines during the pandemic wears on a person.

You dont realize in the moment, he said. Everything is changing, but youre just plowing through.

He recognizes that guests coming to the Bowery Mission feel that too, and when someone getting help speaks harshly to him, he thinks about the stress everyone is under. At one point, as Mason was talking to people outside the entrance, a man who had been in a fight in the mission biked past and cursed at them.

On this particular February morning, men and women knocked on the missions chapel door with a string of requests for Mason. They were looking for pants, a copy of the Bible, a COVID-19 test, a pair of boots, and a haircut. Mason said this was a slow day because of the rain, but it didnt feel slow, and his walkie-talkie buzzed.

A woman knocked on the chapel door as he was sorting out three different requests for clothes and showers. Give me a few minutes, he said, waving her in out of the rain. Come in and have a seat.

Some people just wanted to pray with Mason. He recognized each one who came in, which is the idea behind having a staff person in that position and not a volunteer. The mission wants staff to build relationships and know the stories of the people it serves. With a lot of new workers, Mason tries to make sure to introduce them to guests. Staff turnover means a loss of that institutional knowledge.

Mason greeted another man by name as he came in: Whats up? Were running low on a lot of stuff, but Ill see if I can get you what you need.

The appeal of remote work

Ask ministries working on the frontlines about staffing during the pandemic, and theyll tell you how theyve felt the pinch, from looking for cooks at temp agencies to deciding which programs could be temporarily cut. The whole ecosystem is disrupted, said Winans.

Across the city in Staten Island, Beacon Christian Community Health Center is short-staffed as it tries to keep up comprehensive health care offerings to low-income New Yorkers while administering COVID-19 vaccines and testing. Walker Methodist, a Christian assisted-living organization with multiple locations in Minnesota, has 77 openings and is offering a $1,000 signing bonus for cooks. A rescue mission in Boise, Idaho, has 10 staff openings, including multiple shelter staff and cooks. City Relief in New York, which also serves the homeless, is not short-staffed, but its referral partners like detox centers are, according to CEO Josiah Haken. That makes it hard to get men and women into drug recovery.

With nearly 800 staff members, the Salvation Army Greater New York Division is one of the largest nonprofits in the city, running disaster response, homeless shelters, food pantries, afterschool programs, daycare, homes for adults with developmental disabilities, and music lessons for children.

We got hit like a truck, said Major Kevin Stoops, the general secretary of New Yorks Salvation Army, a role equivalent to the chief operating officer.

Its five daycare centers are short key positions, staffing at shelter services is at 80 percent, and the director of the afterschool program went on leave. No one has applied for that job. Stoops often gets one or two applicants for job postings, so you dont even get a choice.

At the height of the pandemic, Stoops had to do three funerals for adults in homes for the developmentally disabled, one of whom had been in a Salvation Army group home 40 yearsa death that was hard on staff. Those types of impacts cant be measured by a stat or a dollar, Stoops said.

Three employees from the organizations development department were headhunted by other organizations and left, more big losses of institutional knowledge. The Salvation Army has had to get employees from temp agencies for its afterschool programs and homes for those with disabilities in Queens, which is expensive. Overtime is up. Stoops has been at the Salvation Army for 34 years, and he has never seen such a shortage of people before.

The organization has had to cut back some servicesmostly socialization programs for children and adultsbut decided to prioritize basics like food distribution as much as possible.

Winans at Bowery and Stoops both heard from employees who were concerned about using public transit to commute and the safety of the workplace. Stoops added that the city has a strict vaccination mandate, and some employees resigned over that. Winans said people are sometimes choosing remote work at a higher pay scale than were able to offer as a nonprofit ministry.

Its the ministry of presence, and thats the strain on employees and volunteers, said Stoops. Im so grateful for some very committed people who are like, Nope, well still show up.

Revamping to keep staffers

The Salvation Army higher-ups have been meeting to talk about the mental fallout of the last two years, looking at staff facing anxiety, depression, and possible addiction. Theyve encouraged respite days as needed, and during particularly strained times in the pandemic, they sent clergy staff to one of their camps outside the city for a few days at a time, with orders: Breathe. Dont check email. Walk in the woods.

Planning extra days off in the master schedule when the organization is already short-staffed is a logistical nightmare, said Stoops. But hes trying to hold on to people: The next wave has nothing to do with COVID; it has to do with fatigue. Fatigue is not, Im tired; its, Im done.

During the height of the pandemic, the Bowery Mission arranged transportation and nearby housing for some staff doing night shifts, as well as hazard pay. Now it is trying to improve compensation, and its offering counseling through either a direct line staff can call at any time or reimbursements for outside counselors.

Research on resilience for frontline ministries coming out of the pandemic is scant, but the Hartford Institute for Religion Research did a survey last summer to measure some of the effects of the pandemic on congregations. What the survey found surprised Scott Thumma, the institutes director.

The social safety net services that churches offered increased, as did giving in most places, even as churches reduced staff and saw a big drop in volunteers. Thumma found it remarkable that outreach increased while volunteers and staff decreased.

Demand for food assistance, financial assistance, counseling  all went up, Thumma said. [Churches] did rally and address this crisis.  There is a tremendous amount of resilience  in one of the hardest years of their ministry.

Now Thumma is interested to see, after profound shifts within churches the last two years, how that congregational social outreach continues as the pandemic abates. He will continue to survey congregations: People are worn out. Its been a roller coaster, but I dont see a majority of them ready to get off the ride.

Winans thinks the pendulum might swing back in a year or two as people feel more isolated in remote jobs.

People may be looking for work in community, in close proximity with people, and in a place where I can touch and feel and see what I'm doing, he said. So many folks are working in situations where they're cut off from that kind of opportunity right now. Working from the bedroom or the kitchen and interacting mostly with coworkers and mostly on Zoom  Im optimistic.

Back on the frontlines, Mason was fielding requests and knocks at the missions chapel door. He picked up stray food left behind and swept the floor under a walls biblical inscription: Come to me, all you who are weary.

The Bowery Mission residents from the long-term recovery program upstairs came down for lunch before the lunchroom opened up to everyone on the street. Mason went outside to manage the lunch line of about 200 guests in the rain. He left at the end of his shift. He now tries to avoid working overtime and appreciates his regular time off more.

Not to be super spiritual, but its by Gods grace, Mason said, about staying in his job. One person might thrive working here in a pandemic; another might not.
As Russia invaded Ukraine today, pressing near even to the capital of Kyiv, a Baptist home was destroyed and a seminary shaken by nearby blasts. Local sources told CT, however, that no churches or Christian buildings had been attacked so far.

President Vladimir Putin announced his forces were targeting only military installations. He also asserted that Ukraine does not truly exist as a nation.

Igor Bandura, vice president of the Baptist Union, the largest Protestant body in Ukraine, heard about collateral damage to the home of a Baptist in Donetsk during a Zoom call with his 25 regional superintendents.

Minus one. On the front lines of the eastern Donbas region, the Baptist leader from the occupied territory of Luhansk was unable to join.

But from the town of Chasov Yor on the front lines in neighboring Donetskin an area then still under Ukrainian government controlBandura learned the local assessment.

People dont want to be under Russian control, he was told. But they feel helpless. What can ordinary people do?

Pray. And remain calm.

This was the message put out by the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO), a day after its appeal to Putin went unanswered.

Ukraines chief rabbi invited Christian leaders to recite Psalm 31 together.

We urge you to remain calm, not to give in to panic, and to comply with the orders of the Ukrainian state and military authorities, stated the UCCRO. The truth and the international community are on the Ukrainian side. We believe that good will prevail, with Gods help.

Thousands of Ukrainians fled west as Russian missiles hit targets throughout the nation. Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs reported hundreds of instances of shelling.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced by video shortly after midnight that 137 Ukrainians died during the invasions first day. They are killing people and transforming peaceful cities into military targets, he said, according to The New York Times. Thats villainous and will never be forgiven.

Valentin Siniy, president of Tavriski Christian Institute (TCI) in Kherson, about 50 miles from Crimea, had to evacuate his seminary along with a team of Bible translators as Russian helicopters attacked local targets.

The majority of old pastors of the churches stayed in the cities. Youth leaders started evacuating young people, he told CT. We managed to purchase a van with 20 seats in order to evacuate people. About 30 people are in a safe place now, in western Ukraine. There are about 40 more people driving west [in] vehicles that are in bad condition.

Meanwhile his church has opened its basement to shelter neighbors living in multi-story buildings from bombings.

I and all ministers stay in Kyiv, said Yuriy Kulakevych, foreign affairs director of the Ukrainian Pentecostal Church. We continue our intercessory prayers, talk to people to reduce panic, and help those in need.

In Kamyanka, 145 miles south, Vadym Kulynchenko of Our Legacy Ukraine reported that his church had already started to receive refugees from the east. Temporary shelter will be provided, and the main needs are food, medicine, fuel, hygiene products, and air mattresses.

Bombs hit three infrastructure centers in his city.

Please pray for disciple-making in the country, safety for our people, and generosity in the midst of war, Kulynchenko asked. And also for discernment, as there is a lot of fake news.

Kyiv Theological Seminary (KTS) had earlier issued a general warning.

Generating panic through the spread of manipulative false information is exactly what the enemy seeks, a communications professor wrote on Tuesday. This war is not as much for our territories, as it is for our soul and our mind.

On Thurs, KTS cited Isaiah 41:10 as it urged its Facebook audience not to panic, but to remember how many times God in His Word says dont be afraid. The seminary noted that fear equals paralysis, while prayer, trust in God, and love of neighbor all give strength.

With a leaden heart, Taras Dyatlik wrote to supporters of theological education of the many prayer needs currently facing his fellow church and seminary leaders in Ukraineincluding receiving refugees into their dorms.

Many of them are thinking about evacuation of their workers and faculty and students within Ukraine, and some do not have any possibility to evacuate, wrote the Overseas Council regional director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

He asked for prayer for families, including his own, as Ukraines announcement of total mobilization means many students, graduates, faculty will be called for military duty to serve in the army and participate in the combats. And he requested prayer for the spouses of male leaders. Since all men ages 18 to 60 are no longer allowed to leave the country, he said many wives are staying as well.

Today I talked to [my wife] about evacuation out of Ukraine, wrote Dyatlik. She immediately refused and said: I will be with you to the very end.

Students at Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) outside Kyiv were instructed to shelter in place as military battled at a nearby airport, according to the schools director of English language services, Josh Tokar. Those on campus are scared but not panicked, he said. The seminary president sent out a message from Psalm 27: The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?

Bandura did not resonate with the call for calm.

Who are you to say our nation doesnt exist? he said of Putins rhetoric. The truth is with us, and God is with us. We want to live in peace, but if Russia wants to take this from us, lets fight.

While some Ukrainians favor Russia, he said, half the population is ready to personally defend their nation.

Pictures have circulated of grandmothers with guns. A recent CNN poll, meanwhile, found 13 percent of Ukrainians in favor of Russias use of force to reunite the two nations. Only 36 percent of Russians were in favor. (73 percent and 43 percent disagreed, respectively.)

The Russian Evangelical Alliance (REA) conveyed its support for the UCCRO appeal for peacemaking initiatives.

All evangelical Christians pray every day and ask the Almighty to give wisdom to all, stated Vladimir Vlasenko, REA general secretary, to preserve the fragile peace and not to plunge our countries into fratricidal conflict.

We see no justification for these actions and are deeply distressed by the death, destruction, chaos, and misery that will result, stated Thomas Bucher, secretary general of the European Evangelical Alliance, according to Evangelical Focus.

The invasion of Ukraine is both unjustified and unprovoked, he stated. It has been claimed that the attack is necessary to protect ethnic Russians within Ukraine and to stop Ukraine from threatening Russia. These claims are untrue. This disaster has been provoked into being by President Putin for wider geopolitical purposes.

In Rivne in western Ukraine, local officials directed all churches to remain open, with church leaders staying in touch with residents to help coordinate aid as well as military equipment as needed.

Many in Ukraine are showing resilience.

Our prayer today is that Gods will spreads on Earth as it is in Heaven, said Siniy. I encourage my staff and other Christian leaders that the mission stays the same even if we have to change geography.

Staff at New Life Radio in Odessa, on the Black Sea coast, watched missiles fly past their homes. They told Evangelical Focus they are taking actions to hide equipment and preserve broadcasting, in case the station is raided in the near future.

Vasyl Ostryi, a pastor at Irpin Bible Church 18 miles northwest of Kyiv and a KTS professor of youth ministry, has also decided to stay.

When this is over, the citizens of Kyiv will remember how Christians have responded in their time of need, he wrote for The Gospel Coalition. We will shelter the weak, serve the suffering, and mend the broken. And as we do, we offer the unshakable hope of Christ and his gospel.

Photos have circulated showing Ukrainians kneeling in prayer in city streets.

Image: Courtesy of Ukrainian Bible Society

YouVersion noted a spike among Ukrainian and Russian users of its popular Bible App over the past three weeks: searches for fear increased 11 percent; searches for peace increased 44 percent.

We printed Bibles for 2022 and we are now in second month of the year and the stock in our warehouse is almost gone, Anatoliy Raychynets, deputy general secretary of the Ukrainian Bible Society, told Eternity News shortly before the invasion.

In our churcheswhether it is Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, or Evangelical churchesthere are more new people. Not only on Sundays or Saturdays, but also during the week, he told the Australian Bible Society news service. On evenings when we have a Bible study, new people are coming. They want to pray, to hear something that brings hope or comfort.

Rick Perhai, director of advanced degrees at KTS, said the international church he pastors in Kyiv has several leaders recommending the congregation continue its worship this coming Sunday. Some of their expat members have fled; others want to stay and join the fight.

He laments that the enemy is seeking to destroy Ukraine as its Christians grow more and more poised to carry the gospel to surrounding nations. Nonetheless, he is praying for the Russians, asking for God to grant them repentance.

But his petition is also imprecatory.

Pray that the nation of Russia would tire of their tyrants rantings at home and abroad, Perhai said, and that they would remove him.

Dyatlik also requested prayer for the truth, citing all the perspectives in the media.

We did not invite the war. The Kremlin and Vladimir Putin brought it to Ukraine.  There is moral evaluation of the acts of aggression like this, wrote the theological educator. These acts have biblical definition and biblical evaluation. Please pray for the spiritual discernment about these things.

Dyatlik closed his prayer letter with requests for believers on both sides of the conflict:

Please pray about Russian Christians that they would raise their prayers and voice toward Russian government to stop the aggression; [that they] would not keep silent; please pray for the Western governments, of the US and European Union. Finally, please pray about Ukrainian Christians, that we will serve and live as the community of hope in a full sense of this term; that during these terrible times we would invite more and more people to the relationships with God and His children, to the relationships of love, hope, encouragement, support; that our minds and characters would continue to transform into the character of Jesus Christ.

Western nations have roundly condemned Putin, and readied sanctions. Reports circulated of Russians lining up at ATMs to withdraw their cash, fearful the nation would be cut off from the international banking system.

Meanwhile in Donetsk, where 25 missionary teams have been working to establish churches, gas lines require a wait of hours for a rationed supply of five gallons. Grocery stories suffer empty shelves, as Ukrainians stock up on emergency food and water.

Bandura conveys his supervisors two main prayer requests.

First, to stop the aggressor, he said. But then for peace of mind, to respond with Christian character and not from human hate.

Additional reporting by Rachel Pfeiffer

[ This article is also available in espanol, , , , and . ]
Biden vows to hurt Putin's long-term ambitions with new sanctions: 'Freedom will prevail' US 'forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia and Ukraine'

President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday as Russias invasion of Ukraine intensifies, vowing to enact additional sanctions to hurt the Russian economy and President Vladimir Putins long-term strategic ambitions. Biden assured that freedom will prevail.

Biden spoke at a press conference in the East Room, calling the Russian militarys attacks that began Thursday targeting Ukrainian military assets across several cities a brutal assault on the people of Ukraine without provocation, without justification, without necessity.

Lamenting the pre-meditated attack, Biden asserted that Vladimir Putin has been planning this for months.

This is a dangerous moment for all of Europe, for the freedom around the world, he contended.

While the 79-year-old president spent much of his speech discussing the peril of the situation, he remained optimistic about the future.

In the contest between democracy and autocracy, between sovereignty and subjugation, make no mistake. Freedom will prevail, he said.

Biden insisted that all available diplomatic options have been exhausted before indicating that he had authorized additional strong sanctions and new limitations on what can be exported to Russia.

He maintained that the additional sanctions would impose severe costs on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time.

We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize the long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies, he said.

Biden touted a coalition of partners, including 27 members of the European Union, Great Britain, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and others.

Biden had spoken with leaders of the G7, a coalition of the worlds largest democracies, earlier in the day. He reported that they were in full and total agreement in determining that we will limit Russias ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen to be part of the global economy.

Were going to stop the ability of them to finance and grow  the Russian military, he said. Were going to impair their ability to compete in [a] high-tech 21st-century economy.

He cited the efforts of existing sanctions on the Russian economy and the strength of Russian currency as evidence that the approach would work.

The new sanctions will expand to four additional banks in Russia, meaning every asset they have in America will be frozen. They will also apply to members of Russian elites who have personally gained from the Kremlins policies.

Between our actions and those of our allies and partners, we estimate that well cut off more than half of Russias high-tech imports, Biden predicted. It will be a major hit to Putins long-term strategic ambitions.

Biden stated that NATO, a group of nations formed during the Cold War to counter the Soviet Union, will convene a summit Friday. The summit will bring together the leaders of 30 allied nations and close partners to affirm our solidarity and to map out the next steps we will take to further strengthen all aspects of our NATO alliance.

The president vowed that U.S. forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia and Ukraine" and acknowledged the presence of U.S. troops in Europe to defend our NATO allies and to reassure those allies in the east.

Addressing the potential impact of heightened tensions with Russia on the price of gasoline in the U.S., Biden said that his administration was using every tool at its disposal to protect American families and businesses from rising prices at the gas pump.

Shortly after Biden spoke, reports surfaced that Russian forces seized the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in Northern Ukraine.

Biden insisted that this aggression cannot go unanswered because America stands up to bullies, we stand up for freedom.

This is who we are, he said.

Biden detailed a conversation he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The president assured support for the Ukrainian people and vowed to provide humanitarian relief to the Eastern European country.

In response to a question from a reporter, Biden declared that he has no plans to talk to Putin.

He told another reporter that [t]he notion that this is going to last for a long time is highly unlikely as long as we continue to stay resolved in imposing the sanctions were going to impose on Russia.

Biden pushed back on the idea that sanctions would not change Putins mind about taking further action in Ukraine because sanctions have failed to deter him thus far.

He concluded that imposing the sanctions as opposed to simply threatening sanctions will weaken Russia so that Putin will have to make a very, very difficult choice as to whether to continue to move toward being a second-rate power or, in fact, respond.

In addition to reaction from global political leaders, religious groups have also condemned Russias aggression against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations released a statement Thursday expressing disappointment that the efforts to prevent the outbreak of war by many people around the world, including our Council, have not been successful.

The truth and the international community are on the Ukrainian side, the statement reads. We believe that good will prevail with Gods help. We support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and all our defenders, we bless them in their defense of Ukraine from the aggressor, and offer our prayers for them.

A poll from the Associated Press, released Wednesday, reveals that Americans do not want the United States to play a major role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Just 26% of respondents want the U.S. to play a major role in the situation between Russia and Ukraine. Most Americans (52%) want the U.S. to play a minor role, while the remaining 22% think the U.S. should have no role in mediating the conflict.
CPAC panelists warn South Korea 'in danger' of falling under 'communist' rule

A North Korean defector argues that the democratic country of South Korea is in danger of becoming a communist state due to the possibility of a pro-China and pro-North Korea candidate winning the upcoming presidential election.

The 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual gathering of conservative activists, held its first full day of programming Thursday. For the second year in a row, the conference took place in Orlando, Florida, instead of National Harbor, Maryland, where it had taken place in previous years.

The first full day of the conference occurred as Russia invaded Ukraine Thursday. One of the first panels at this year's conference was titled I Escaped Communist North Korea." However, it began with a brief discussion from national security experts KT McFarland and Gordon Chang on Russia before North Korean defector Lee Hyun-Seung was introduced.

Lee, who now goes by the name Arthur, works for KCPAC, the Korean equivalent of CPAC. He didnt mince words about the direction he thinks South Korea is headed, although its been an American ally for many years.

In a conversation on the main stage with CPAC Executive Director Dan Schneider, Lee lamented that the President of South Korea [Moon Jae-in] is a socialist and the candidate to replace the current socialist is a communist [Lee-Jae Myung].

During the talk, Schneider reported that that communist has closer ties to the Chinese Communist Party and to North Korea than to the U.S.

The South Korean presidential election, scheduled to take place on March 9, is a faceoff between the Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee-Jae Myung and People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk-Yeol.

Lee Hyun-Seung elaborated on the situation, warning that Lee-Jae Myung is fascinated by the socialism and the communism.

He contended that they want to make South Korea  a socialist country.

So, they want to rig the election so that they can get the absolute power in the Congress and then  [manipulate] the National Election Commission to rig [the] election, he claimed.

The defector concluded that South Korea is really in danger because of politicians who want to establish one-party control. Schneider agreed, suggesting that South Korea could become the next Venezuela.

Lee Hyun-Seung stated that although President Moon and Lee-Jae Myung were human rights lawyers, they never talk about North Korean human rights and never talk about Hong Kong.

He suggested that their silence on the human rights violations in North Korea and Hong Kong is because they are pro-North Korea but also pro-China. He expressed hope that the American people can fight together to preserve our freedom on the Korean Peninsula.

At CPAC, Lee Hyun-Seung touched on his experience living in North Korea, which has operated as a brutal dictatorship run by the Kim dynasty for several decades.

I lived in North Korea for about 30 years, he said.

In North Korea, you are not allowed to gather in one place to express your opinion.  Everybody should be controlled by the regime and everything is controlled by the one man, he added.

Lee Hyun-Seung suggested that a conference like CPAC would not be possible in North Korea unless it was approved by the Kim regime.

He was asked by Schneider what would happen to him if he told a neighbor that he disliked what the Kim regime was doing. Lee Hyun-Seung said his family would have endured three-generation punishment.

In a three-generation punishment, grandparents, parents and their children will be punished severely. According to Lee Hyun-Seung, your grandfather will be executed, your father will be killed by the regime and your  children will be sent to political prison camps.

In the camp, when the  young babies were born in the camp, they have to live in the camp for their entire life unless the regime [releases] them, he explained.

After describing the political climate of North Korea, the defector touched on why his family escaped the country.

Seven years ago, my entire family made the toughest decision [of] our entire lives, he recalled, describing the decision as a choice to escape for freedom or live as [a] slave.

Lee Hyun-Seung expressed gratitude that his family decided to leave the country and leave everything behind for freedom. He said freedom is more valuable than life and the reason why he decided to escape.

So many people do not stop escaping, he said.
Dozens killed as Russia launches attacks on Ukraine; Biden slams Putin's 'premeditated war'

Attacks by Russian forces in several key cities in Ukraine have reportedly killed dozens of Ukrainian military personnel, the largest attack by one European country against another since World War II.

Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that at least 40 Ukrainian soldiers were killed Thursday and told ABC News that dozens of others were wounded. Meanwhile, Ukraine's military command said its forces killed around 50 Russian troops.

Explosions and missile strikes were reported in the capital Kyiv, the Black Sea port city of Odesa, as well as the eastern cities of Kharkiv and Mariupol.

At least 18 people were reportedly killed in an airstrike on a military base near Odesa, the Odesa regional administration said in a statement shared by AFP. The statement added that officials are still digging through the rubble.

A Ukrainian military plane was reportedly shot down with 14 people on board south of Kyiv. AFP reports that at least five people died, but the Ukrainian emergency service is still determining exactly how many were killed.

A Ukrainian government spokesperson told CBS News that "cruise and ballistic missile strikes" targeted military control centers in Kyiv. Russian helicopters also reportedly attacked a military airport near Kyiv.

Ukraines military claims that in addition to killing 50 Russian occupiers in Kharkiv, it also destroyed four tanks and six Russian aircraft in the Luhansk region, according to Reuters.

President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Biden said in a written statement. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

The attacks drew condemnation from other European countries, including the United Kingdom and France. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo tweeted that the attacks marked Europes darkest hour since the Second World War."

In a video uploaded to Telegram, President Zelenskiy declared that the people of Ukraine want peace. However, he vowed that Ukraine would defend itself if someone attempts to take away our land, our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children.

In a statement, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations called the attacks "unprovoked" and argued that the "truth and the international community are on the Ukrainian side."

The council represents 15 churches, religious organizations and one interchurch organization spanning Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and evangelical traditions. The interdenominational body seeks the "spiritual revival of Ukraine."

"We believe that good will prevail with God's help," the statement reads. "We support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all our defenders, we bless them in their defense of Ukraine from the aggressor, and offer our prayers for them."

On Wednesday, the council issued a plea for Putin to "stop the growing fire of war," adding that "the Ukrainian people do not seek war."

The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee called for peace in a statement Thursday, stressing that "the peoples of Ukraine and Russia are of the same family."

"Their mothers and grandmothers are of one common spiritual ancestry," the statement reads. "Do the mothers and grandmothers of Russia truly desire their sons and daughters to spill the blood of their spiritual brothers and sisters? This is a war without cause and the imperialistic aspirations of one man can never justify this destructive fratricide."

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Putin announced the start of a special military operation in Ukraine that he said would demilitarize the neighboring country. He claimed that the attacks were part of the de-Nazification of Ukraine."

Ukrainian President Zelensky, who is Jewish, responded to the claim on Twitter.

Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in #2WW years, he tweeted. As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. [Russia] has embarked on a path of evil, but [Ukraine] is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.

Earlier this week, Putin recognized the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine with sizable pro-Russian populations  Donetsk and Luhansk.

Putin has also claimed a so-called genocide of ethnic Russians in Ukraines eastern Donbas region, which has been echoed by Russian officials and state media. However, the international community has rejected such a claim since Russian-backed separatists have clashed with security forces for years since Russia annexed the southern Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Reuters notes that separatists in Ukraine had asked Moscow for assistance in repelling aggression on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, as intelligence showed that an attack on Ukraine was imminent, U.S. President Joe Biden announced sanctions designed to cut off Russias Western financing. He vowed to enact stricter sanctions far beyond those imposed in 2014 if Russia escalated the conflict. Biden is scheduled to give an address Thursday afternoon.
How should Christians 'live and love' in the 'last days'? Pastor Skip Heitzig answers

Pastor Skip Heitzig of Albuquerque, New Mexicos Calvary Church recently shared tips for how Christians should live, love, pray and serve in the last days before Jesus imminent return.

In a Feb. 14 sermon titled How to live (and love) in the last days, the 66-year-old pastor said that Christians should follow three elements to help them stand strong and be effective in the world during the last days.

The three elements, based on 1 Peter 4:7-11, are pray diligently, love deeply and serve wisely.

Notice that prayer is first on the list.  You can always do more than pray after youve prayed. But, you can never do more than pray until youve prayed, Heitzig preached.

Prayer is the key that unlocks the door of all the other blessings of God, he added.

Heitzig, who has served in ministry for nearly four decades, said he has noticed when he preaches on the subject of prayer that audiences seem nervous and quieter than usual because many people struggle with prayer.

The pastor reassured the audience that they are not alone if they struggle with prayer.

He cited statistics revealing that just 16% of pastors are very satisfied with their personal prayer lives.

Dont feel too bad, he said. Pastors arent a whole lot better.  Im not saying this to make you feel guilty. ... I think we can figure out ways to inject our daily lives with a little more prayer.

Christians need to pray harder as Jesus return approaches, according to Heitzig.

I dont know if you know this or not, but every day we live, our days become fewer, he said. So, as the days take their toll, as life casts its long shadow, as life [becomes] harder, it is prayer that will sustain you.

The Food for The Soul author said that engaging in one-on-one prayer wasnt always the norm in his own life. However, he noted that discovering authentic prayer was life-changing.

I grew up in a church where prayers were all memorized and said without a whole lot of thought or meaning. And suddenly, Im around Christians who are talking to God like Hes standing in front of them, and it was so awesome to me, Heitzig recounted.

Eventually, the pastor began going on three-day camping trips to fast and have conversations with God.

It was pretty exhilarating and exciting, he described. But then, I also noticed, Id come back and that fervor would sort of wear off. And I would kind of get back to cold, professional, infrequent, contained forms of prayer. I discovered that I was much like the church of Ephesus, to whom Jesus said, You have left your first Love.

In addition to prayer, Heitzig said Christians will be better equipped in the last days if they love others. He cited 1 Peter 4:8, which reads, Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

The icing on the cake, the cherry on the whipped cream is love because love is supreme, Heitzig said.

Christians should display two forms of love. The first type of love covers, and the second type of love recovers or restores.

Love like youre trying to win the love Olympics. Love people like youre trying to get the gold medal in love, Heitzig said, adding that the love Christians should show shouldnt expose those who have wronged them.

You can expose it ... and share their dirty laundry with everybody  [and] just slander them. Or if youre a mature Christian, you want to discreetly cover that up, not because its a cover-up, but youre trying to restore that person, Heitzig said. So, you dont want to kick them while theyre down. ... Love covers a multitude of sins.

Heitzig added that love is what makes an invisible God visible to an unbelieving world.

Nobody can see God.  Love makes an invisible God tangible to an unbelieving world, he said.

Finally, Christians should serve. The pastor explained that a spiritual gift is a God-given capacity to serve others so that they may be edified and God may be glorified.

Every believer has a gift.  My guess is you have a bunch of spiritual gifts. You have a cluster that compliments one another, and it is our responsibility to discover those gifts and to use them, he said.

Heitzig said that believers can be gifted in similar ways, but every Christians spiritual gifts are different in some ways.

Spiritual gifts are like snowflakes or fingerprints, he contended. Theyre unique to you. When you do whatever thing God has called you to do, it is so important because it is so uniquely an expression of Gods grace that cant come through anybody else.

By our unwillingness to get involved  you are robbing God of a certain portion of His glory that He would get if you did get involved and serve others.
Christian group calls on parents to pull kids out of private schools over LGBT activism

Christian groups are urging parents to remove their children from a group of private schools after video footage revealed an effort to teach pre-k students about LGBT ideology.

Breitbart News obtained video footage from a National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) workshop in 2020. NAIS describes itself as a nonprofit membership association that provides services to more than 1,900 schools and associations of schools in the United States and abroad, including more than 1,600 independent private K-12 schools in the U.S.

At the training session, which took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, speakers addressed how to prepare your PK-8 Students for Their World through the lens of gender, identity, and sexuality education.

NAIS lauded the workshop for enabling Belmont Day School, a private school in Belmont, Massachusetts, to share its comprehensive, dynamic, responsive Health and Wellness curriculum with a developmentally appropriate PK-8 Gender, Identity, and Sexuality strand.

One speaker who presented at the workshop discussed how with the younger children starting in pre-k, we talk about their bodies, about the parts that they were born with, about penises and vaginas and whether that makes somebody a boy or a girl. The speaker explained that students as young as pre-k are asked, What do they feel like inside? Do they feel like a boy or a girl? What does their head say? Does (sic) their head and their heart and their body match up?

As the woman spoke, a picture of the Every Body Tool appeared on the screen. The image on the left side of the screen featured a human body with icons representing the brain, heart and DNA. A key on the side of the screen had the phrase gender identity next to the brain icon, the phrase sexual orientation beside the heart icon and the word sex alongside the DNA icon. A star appears in the middle of the diagram to represent gender expression, which is implied to be a sum of an individuals gender identity, sexual orientation and sex.

In a statement to The Christian Post, Meg Kilgannon, senior fellow for education studies at the Family Research Council, explained that because parents with children in private schools do not enjoy basic civil rights protections that are afforded in public institutions, their recourse is to remove their child from the school since groups like NAIS are training private school teachers and administration to promote LGBT materials even to very young students.

Parents of children in private schools often have a false sense of security about the intellectual safety of their children from sexualized materials we see promoted in public schools, she added. Whether they are teaching in public or private schools, teachers and administrators are produced by the same university system thats obsessed with queer theory and critical race theory. The post-Obergefell world is fraught for parents seeking to protect children from sexualized content or instill a worldview based on traditional sexual ethics.

The 2015 Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Critics of the decision expressed concern that it would have negative implications for religious liberty and lead to schools promoting same-sex relationships as equally beneficial to children as the nuclear family.

LGBT interest groups and advocates have significant influence in public education settings, Kilgannon told CP. Private institutions are the next step, to the degree some were not early adopters of sexualized identity trends in education. The HRC rating and scores for businesses can easily be applied to private schools.

Kilgannon warned that LGBT activists and advocates are ready to name and shame any organization that doesnt go along with their demands for affirmation and applause, including private schools and the organizations that are part of the private educational infrastructure, like NAIS.

In a statement to The Christian Post, Jeff Johnston, culture and policy analyst for the Christian conservative advocacy group Focus on the Family, proclaimed that it's "important for parents to be aware that this false gender ideology is being promoted in public and private schools across the country  for children from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade.

Queer inclusive curriculum sexualizes and confuses children, from an early age, and its completely inappropriate for the classroom. This ideology teaches that gender is fluid, people can change from one sex to the other, and that your bodily sex can somehow be different from your so-called gender. We encourage parents to lay a strong foundation, even with very young children, about how God designed individuals to be male or female, in His image. Both are good, both are valuable, but they are different from each other.

Johnston also urged parents to help kids embrace their bodily reality and support their daughters as they grow into a healthy sense of their femininity and their sons as they grow into a healthy sense of masculinity. He cited helpful, free resources compiled by Focus on the Family for parents with children who encounter "queer ideology" in schools. They include webpages titled Back To School  For Parents and Resources When Your Child Encounters LGBT Ideology at School.

The video footage of the NAIS conference reveals that the effort to expose young children to LGBT ideology continues throughout the elementary school years. Suggested reading material for first-grade students includes the book, What Makes a Baby,characterized by Amazon as a twenty-first century childrens picture book about conception, gestation, and birth.

Amazon's summary of the book notes that the work reflects the reality of our modern time by being inclusive of all kinds of kids, adults, and families, regardless of how many people were involved, their orientation, gender and other identity, or family composition.

The summary also states that the story doesnt gender people or body parts, so most parents and families will find that it leaves room for them to educate their child without having to erase their own experience.

Who Are You? The Kids Guide to Gender Identity is listed as recommended reading for second-graders. Second-grade students are taught about gender identity in terms of your head and your heart and your body parts matching up and asked, Does that work for you? and What happens if it doesnt?

The kids draw wonderful self-portraits  dealing with all aspects of their identity, including specifically, their gender identity, the speaker explained. Under this curriculum, fifth-grade students are reintroduced to the Every Body tool and told that hormones and chromosomes are something that you can only change with a whole lot of effort.

The speaker suggested that fifth graders are told that gender expression is something that you can change from day to day.

Describing fifth grade as our big year, the speaker discussed the Gender Unicorn, where students are asked to check off their gender identity as either female/woman/girl, male/man/boy or other genders. Additionally, students have the option to check off their gender expression as female, masculine or other, their sex assigned at birth as female, male or other/intersex and indicate whether they were physically or emotionally attracted to women, men or other gender(s).

A Google drive account featuring Workshop Resources lists Anything by Planned Parenthood, but especially their Sexuality Education Conference Series as one of several recommended resources for NAIS schools looking to implement similar curriculum. Other recommended resources included the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educators Network, an LGBT advocacy group.

Five pages of recommended reading for students and parents included books promoting transgenderism, such as Jacobs New Dress and My Princess Boy, and books that promote same-sex relationships with titles like A Tale of Two Daddies and A Tale of Two Mommies. The list also featured a book titled Who Are You?: The Kids Guide to Gender Identity.

Another document outlines scenarios for teachers to respond to, including one where a male kindergarten student wants to wear a princess costume in the Halloween parade but his parents have communicated with the homeroom teachers that they do not under any circumstances want their son wearing a princess costume.

In another scenario, a student comes to the teacher saying that his parents refuse to let him participate in a gay pride parade the school is spearheading and uses homophobic and transphobic language as well as perpetuating LGBTQ+ stereotypes.

In each scenario, teachers are encouraged to consider guiding questions asking, Who does this impact? Who do we need to respond to? How does the approach change for different constituents? What would I like to do vs. what would I probably do? Can you use this framework with other scenarios in your school and How do you move or encourage others to move from an accomplice to ally?

Breitbarts reporting about the NAIS workshop comes as many American families increasingly turn to private schools and other alternative methods of education due to dissatisfaction with the sexually charged curriculum their children are exposed to in public schools. The inclusion of the books Gender Queer and Lawn Boy, which critics liken to child pornography and a promotion of pedophilia, in school libraries has caused particular concern.

Illinois recently enacted sex education guidelines teaching children in grades as low as kindergarten about gender identity have also resulted in parental protest. Outrage over public schools embrace of critical race theory, woke ideology and sexually explicit curriculum has led to the rise of advocacy organizations such as Parents Defending Education and the 1776 Project PAC, which is working to elect school board candidates opposed to such ideology.

Breitbart credited the video footage and screenshots included in its reporting to tips from Undercover Mother, a group that describes itself as a Mom Collective with children in independent schools seeking to protect their children from the abuse being inflicted by the schools and the cartels of the regional and National Association of Independent Schools.
Get a Good Ranchers box of USDA-graded 100% American meat and save up to $25.

Its easy to say youre going to make an effort to buy American products and support American companies. In practice, that policy isnt always so easy to carry out, even if youre paying attention and doing your due diligence to make that happen.

Case in point: purchasing meat. When you hit the grocery store meat section, youll usually find many cuts hailing from countries like New Zealand and Uruguay. When you finally do spot a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture sticker on a choice filet or rack of ribs, you might think your search is over. However, that patriotic sticker doesnt tell the whole story.

In many cases, companies can import meat from anywhere in the world, process and package it in the U.S., and still qualify for that USDA-approved label. That prime slab of meat you think is a 100% American product could easily have been born and raised in Mexico or dozens or other countries.

Good Ranchers is all about ensuring that only steakhouse-quality USDA-graded beef  originating only from American farms and ranches  reaches you. The company launched in 2018 with a simple premise: that everyone deserves to know exactly where their meat comes from and everyone should be able to afford it. With 85 percent of grass-fed beef imported from overseas, Good Ranchers began sourcing only U.S.-based cattle farms and ranches, then assembling fresh meat boxes to put premium American-raised cuts on dinner tables at a reasonable price.

Good Ranchers starts by only working with the cream of the U.S. cattle-raising crop. Their partner producers raise a variety of cattle breeds, all with practices that put a premium on sustainability, animal wellness, and social responsibility. From there, its just a matter of choosing the specific beef, chicken, pork, or even seafood collection that best suits your tastes.

Every Good Ranchers box features only prime and choice USDA-graded meat, the top cuts served in the finest restaurants. Each cut is hand-trimmed, individually wrapped, vacuum sealed, and flash frozen before being delivered right to your door.

Beef boxes include cuts like ribeyes and t-bones. Theres also 100 percent American Cornish chicken  and everything is always antibiotic- and hormone-free. Plus, its easy to adjust or cancel a Good Ranchers order if you change your plans.

Depending on your preferences, Good Ranchers boxes supply meats to serve anywhere from 30 to nearly 70 meals, with an average price per meal of just $3.21, more than 40 percent cheaper than most other companies out there. Shoppers can save even more money by setting up a Good Ranchers subscription, ensuring boxes of their chosen meats get delivered fresh every 4, 6, or 8 weeks for added savings.

Purchased a package and was blown away by the quality, Good Ranchers customer Ed reported on Facebook. Amazing meat and an even better price.

Right now, Good Ranchers shopper can save up to $25 off the cost of their first meat box while also earning free express shipping with code CHRISTIANPOST.
Grain security high on agenda in China's spring farming season

Xinhua) 09:01, February 24, 2022

HARBIN, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- While spring farming gradually spreads from south to north, China on Tuesday unveiled its "No. 1 central document," directing work on agriculture and rural areas for 2022.

As the first policy statement released by China's central authorities each year, the document is seen as an indicator of policy priorities.

This year, the document noted a firm hold on the bottom line of guaranteeing China's grain security, calling for efforts to stabilize and increase agricultural production.

For this purpose, China is expanding grain planting areas, adopting new technology for higher yield, and adjusting planting structures.

The document highlighted that efforts will be made to enhance the production capacity of soybeans.

Li Guoxiang, a researcher at the Rural Development Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China's soybean supply is highly dependent on imports and it is of great importance to make expanding soybean planting a policy priority in the document.

"This is conducive to increasing the domestic market supply of soybeans, reducing external dependence and improving self-sufficiency rate," Li said.

Heilongjiang Province is the largest production and supply base of high-quality soybeans in China, accounting for more than 40 percent of the country's soybean planting area.

This year, the province's soybean planting area is expected to reach about 4.57 million hectares, an increase of around 670,000 hectares compared to 2021.

Li Fuqiang, a farmer from Bei'an City in Heilongjiang Province, works in a local cooperative with some 13,000 hectares of farmland. Last year, about 3,870 hectares were dedicated to growing soybeans.

"This year, as soybean planting is encouraged, we are more confident and plan to boost the soybean growing area to more than 6,600 hectares, or half of the total farmland," Li said.

China aims to ensure the full-year grain output in 2022 stays above 650 billion kg, according to the "No. 1 central document." In major grain-producing areas, farmers adopt new technologies to boost yield.

Zeng Yuehua, a farmer from central China's Hunan Province, has increased his rice planting area by some 33 hectares this year and built a new intelligent greenhouse of 10,000 square meters.

In contrast to the traditional method of cultivating seedlings in open farmland, the greenhouse offers constant temperature and humidity, making seedling cultivation simpler and more convenient.

"It's also easier to manage while the yield can be guaranteed," Zeng said.

Local governments are offering timely assistance to farmers in adopting new technologies.

Huaxian County in central China's Henan Province is a major wheat-producing area, with a wheat planting area of about 8,000 hectares this year.

Ma Hailu, a local farmer, feels assured in the technical problems of wheat planting, as the local government has mobilized more than 200 agricultural experts to provide technical advice to the farmers.

"Whenever there is a problem, I can always make a phone call or send a message to get guidance from agricultural experts. It is very helpful." Ma said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
SBC must deal with 'stains' of racism, sex abuse to regain moral credibility,' Ed Litton says

Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton called racism and sexual abuse the most outstanding stains on the denomination on Monday, adding that the convention must take steps to cleanse itself.

The head of the nations largest Protestant denomination gave an address before a meeting of the SBC Executive Committee, saying that the denomination must regain moral credibility.

We all love to see progress. We love to hear great reports. We love to see good examples. But in order to do the Gospel that God has given us to do  we must regain moral credibility. We must deal with the stains on the Southern Baptist Convention, Litton, the pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, said.

Litton, who was elected to the helm of the SBC last June, assumed the role amid deep divisions in the SBC over how leaders had been responding to racism, critical race theory and enduring sexual abuse in member churches. He had promised shortly after his election that he would build bridges, not walls during his tenure.

So how do we dare face the stains of our great family? Litton asked before highlighting the 2017 book Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention: Diverse African American and White Perspectives by Jarvis Williams and Kevin Jones.

They have collected a series of essays by prominent SBC voices on the struggle we have had from our beginning with race. It was groundbreaking in many ways, because at its basic level, it admitted something that many have failed to admit in the past, and that is this is a historic stain.

He then quoted heavily from a chapter written by Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Racism is so insidious that it appears even when it is declared to have been eradicated. In 1995, on the 150th anniversary of the founding of the SBC, the denomination publicly repudiated its roots in the defense of slavery. That was a start, a horribly delayed but an important start, Mohler wrote, as quoted by Litton.

Today, far more is required of us. Repudiating slavery is not enough. We must repent and seek to confront and remove every stain of racism that remains and seek with all of our strength to be the kind of churches of which Jesus would be proud, the kind of churches that will look like the marriage supper of the Lamb.

So what do we know about stains? They are pernicious and hard to remove, Litton added. We must identify the source of our sin and stain. We cannot deny history, the history of our beginnings, or the lingering effects of racism throughout our time. This requires us to confront the sin of racism and to seek to remove the stain from SBC life.

Litton argued that just as Paul was not going to allow the Ephesian believers to neglect this issue by simply covering up the outside stain it left on their witness, Southern Baptists need to work intentionally to eradicate racism.

Dr. Mohler concludes in his chapter: If the church gets this wrong, it is not just getting race and ethnic differences wrong. It is getting the Gospel wrong, Litton said.

Litton further noted that he plans to present a practical, grassroots, simple, straightforward plan to help churches build bridges and tear down walls at the annual SBC meeting and pastors conference scheduled for Anaheim, California, in June.

In Anaheim, it is my plan and intention and the intention of others to present to this convention a practical, grassroots, simple, straightforward, direct way that our churches can begin to cross these barriers, tear down walls, build bridges, and bring peace, and show the world that we are followers of Jesus Christ, Litton said.

In addressing the issue of sexual abuse, the SBC leader said while he does not yet know what will be fully unearthed in an ongoing assessment of sexual abuse in the denomination by the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee, we can acknowledge that there has been a culture among us where predators found safe places to hide and the vulnerable found no safe place to rest. This is a stain.

It can be dealt with. It can be solved, Litton said. Not in one meeting or one vote. It has to be dealt with, with intentionality over a long hall.

We must take this [sex abuse] report seriously when it is delivered. And we must receive it with humility and brokenness. We must make changes necessary to protect the vulnerable and to bring healing as God will and God only can to the hearts of those who have suffered. We should not just brace for impact with this report. We should stand ready to act upon it.

The SBC Executive Committee is in the midst of an independent investigation into how leaders handled allegations of sex abuse impacting member churches. Whether the committee would waive attorney-client privilege was a source of contention for some on the committee last year. After the committee approved a motion to waive the privilege, several members of the committee resigned, including the committee's former head Ronnie Floyd and its legal team.
This week in Christian history: Falwell loses at Supreme Court; UMC backs traditional marriage

Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance.

Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births, notable deaths and everything in between.

Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while other happenings might be previously unknown by most people.

The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week  Feb. 20 to Feb. 26  in Christian history.

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Actress developed blood disorder 'out of nowhere' while filming supernatural horror The Conjuring

Actress Joey King has opened up about her time on the set of the horror film The Conjuring, revealing the physical condition she developed out of nowhere.

King played little girl tormented by demons in the 2013 film when she was 12. But in a recent interview on The Drew Barrymore Show, she admitted that the things she experienced made her shudder.

The actress said she suddenly developed an unexpected blood disorder while playing the character Christine Perron.

It was pretty intense. Some weird stuff happened on the set, along with the movie being scary, she revealed. Its true, I developed this bizarre, rare, out-of-nowhere blood disorder, and basically, my body, like all the red platelets from my body were like drained. They were just gone.

The condition was so grave King went to the hospital before each taping to ensure she didnt need a blood transfusion.

King had a high risk of internal bleeding. The actress said that every day before work and after work, she had to go to the hospital, get my blood taken.

Barrymore became spooked by Kings story when the 22-year-old revealed that the condition suddenly stopped as soon as she was finished filming The Conjuring.

Then, all of a sudden, I got home, and Ive never had a problem with my blood since, she commented. Every time I think about it, I just shudder a little bit.

In another interview in 2020, King told crass radio host Howard Stern that the bizarre condition was discovered when bruises randomly began appearing on her body during filming.

In the [movie], when the mom gets possessed, she gets all these bruises on her, King disclosed, saying that it was during those scenes that she noticed a lot of bruises show up on my body.

King, who comes from a mixed Jewish and Christian background, said she realized her experience was nothing but normal.

The Bible speaks of demon possession often and warns believers not to partake in darkness.

The Conjuring franchise was written by Christian screenwriters Chad and Carey Hills. Although many Christians think scary movies are evil and should be avoided, the writers maintain that their films are to show how faith overcomes evil.

For us, its very simple; we love doing true stories of where good conquers evil. Conjuring 2 is a story told through the eyes of believers, whose strongest weapon is their faith in God. Our film allows believers and non-believers to travel their journey with them, and in some ways, maybe affect someone who is on the edge of faith, and somehow give them the strength they need, the couple told The Christian Post in a past interview.

They added: For us, other than ones own faith in Jesus, the symbol of the cross radiates that faith for those who hold it, hang it and even tattoo it! Some may have a Bible in their home and think theyre protected. But without studying it and believing, its like just any other book. Same with the cross. One must believe in what it represents.
Black Americans more certain than any other racial group that theyre going to Heaven: study

An increasing number of Christians say faith in God is not required to go to Heaven, and Christianity is not the only way to get there. Now, a new study has revealed that a majority of Americans need to be certain theyll make it to Heaven, and African Americans are more certain than any other racial group that they will be with God in Heaven in the afterlife.

African Americans are also more likely to be certain theyre going to Heaven if they hold Christian beliefs, according to the findings of a recently published Evangelism Explosion Study of Americans Openness to Talking about Faith conducted by Lifeway Research from Dec. 8-17, 2021. Some 1,002 Americans from a national pre-recruited panel were surveyed for the report.

The Bible assures Christians in Scriptures like John 3:16 "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

According to the study, however, only 37% of Americans are sure they will be with God in Heaven, while 23% hope they get to Heaven. Another 17% say no one can really know that they are going to Heaven.

Still, some 55% of Americans, in general, note in the survey that it's very important to have the certainty they will go Heaven or have eternal life.

In the survey, 49% of African Americans chose the response I am sure I will be with God in Heaven when asked about their place in the afterlife" compared to just 37% of white respondents. Only 28% of Hispanics selected that response.

Some 63% of Americans who are sure they will be with God in Heaven hold Christian beliefs, while 21% who do not hold Christian beliefs say they are sure they will go to Heaven.

When it comes to the certainty that theyll make it to Heaven, more women, 44%, selected I am sure I will be with God in Heaven compared to 30% of males. Older American adults were also more certain about their place in Heaven than younger ones.

While women and older adults were more likely than men and younger adults to say they deserve to go to Heaven because of their trust in Jesus Christ alone, a significant share also said they should be allowed into Heaven just because they are a good person.

Respondents from the Northeast were found to be more likely to hold this view than those in the Midwest or South.

The study also showed that while a majority of Americans were open to talking with a friend or a stranger about God, six out of 10 say that many of their friends who claim to be Christians rarely talk about their faith.

Now, perhaps more than ever, people are open to conversations about faith, yet few Christians actually take the opportunity to engage in personal evangelism, John B. Sorensen, president and CEO of Evangelism Explosion International, said in a statement published by Lifeway Research.

Our mission at EE is to equip Christians to have the confidence to share the Gospel naturally, lovingly, and intentionally with family, friends, and yes, even strangers. We imagine a world where every believer is a witness for Christ to His glory.

It really isnt about religious liberty, people not wanting to hear, or religion being off-limits, Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, added. The reason conversations are not happening about the Christian faith is that Christians are not bringing it up.

While many Christians still maintain that their faith in Jesus alone will take them to Heaven, a recent survey from Probe Ministries, a nonprofit that seeks to help the Church in renewing the minds of believers with a Christian worldview, showed that nearly 70% of born-again Christians disagree with the biblical position that Jesus is the only way to God.

And according to Steve Cable, senior vice president of Probe Ministries, that could contribute to Christians not sharing their faith in a society where Christianity is losing its cultural dominance on faith in America.

If you think that there are multiple ways to Heaven, why would you want to go out of your way to convert someone to your religion? Cable asked. Of course, you could be sharing with an unaffiliated person who needs to choose a valid religion.

The Probe Ministries survey found that among the top reasons given by born-again Christians for not telling others about their faith is the acceptance of pluralism. When asked why they dont share their beliefs with others, born-again respondents chose, They can get to Heaven through their different religious belief, We shouldnt impose our ideas on others and The Bible tells us not to judge others as their top three responses, respectively.

At first glance, this may seem surprising. But in a culture where pluralism is a dominant part of all religious groups, it begins to make sense. And the pluralistic reasons were dominant, attracting around two-thirds of the population across all religious groupings, Cable said.

He stated that pastors and churches need to focus on teaching the exclusivity of Jesus as the only way to Heaven in their congregations in order to push back against the tide of pluralism.

On the most common reasons (which indicate a belief that other people dont really need to know about salvation through faith in Jesus), we need to make the exclusive role of Jesus Christ in any hope of salvation a recurring and prominent theme in our teaching, he said.

This is not a topic to tiptoe gingerly around. Rather, we need to boldly proclaim, There is salvation in no other name under Heaven other than the name of Jesus Christ. God would not have planned from before the beginning of time to sacrifice Himself on the cross for our salvation if there were any other means to reconcile sinful men and women to Himself.
Christian college uninvites speaker after students rally against 'hateful' comments

A private Christian college in Wenham, Massachusetts, canceled its invitation to Marvin Daniels, who was scheduled to be the main speaker for its annual spiritual emphasis week after students held a rally against what they claimed were misogynistic and transphobic comments delivered in his sermon on campus.

Gordon College President Michael Hammond announced that Daniels, executive director of The Hope Center in Missouri, who was to be the featured speaker for a three-day event at Deep Faith Chapel, would not speak at any of the remaining sessions after some students organized a Solidarity Rally against what he preached in the first session.

Daniels delivered his message last Monday on 2 Corinthians 5:21, about Christian living, the Gospel, anger, lying, sexual ethics and identity.

The verse reads, "God made him (Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Its amazing to see that even in the church, my Christian brothers out there (are) treating young ladies like theyre urinals and I am concerned about that. And Im concerned about my Christian sisters who dress like they (were) desserts on a menu and then they get upset when a brother wants to place an order, Daniels said in his address, according to the transcript published by Gordons student publication, The Gordon Review.

There are some things that we got to deal with in our own sexual behaviors. We got a culture in chaos. And they trying to redefine sexuality for us. Always crossing lines left and right. What was appropriate before is no longer appropriate. We got individuals that say, I feel like Im a female, and they get a chance to participate in female activities. Back in the day, I wish that would work. I would have been saying I feel like a female, so I can get into the girls' locker room. Come on now, he added.

A few hours later, an anonymously run Instagram account, gordon.gossip.girl, encouraged students to join in a walk-out protest that evening, the publication said.

We want to show Gordon that they cannot continue inviting someone who will spread more hate than love, the Instagram story said. The words Daniels chose to make his point were hateful to both women and the trans community and as well as many others on Gordons campus.

Students, it added, should feel welcome and encouraged, especially on a day Gordon has devoted to love. We will be peaceful, but impactful with our actions.

The rally was held by ALANA, Gordons club for inclusivity.

After the students protest, Hammond emailed them, saying, Our scheduled speaker, Marvin Daniels will not be speaking this evening, and I will be taking this opportunity to personally address some concerns within our campus community following this mornings opening session.
Joni Eareckson Tada shares COVID-19 update: 'What COVID meant for evil, Christ meant for good'



Just days after testing positive for coronavirus, Joni Eareckson Tada, the founder of a Christian ministry devoted to extending outreach to the disability community, shared an update on her condition, highlighting how what COVID meant for evil, Christ meant for good.

Tada, the founder of the Joni and Friends ministry, tested positive for coronavirus after experiencing flu-like symptoms, according to a Sunday post on the Joni and Friends Facebook page. Tada posted an update to her personal Facebook page Wednesday, indicating that she was in good spirits.

What COVID meant for evil, Christ meant for good, she declared in a Wednesday morning Facebook post. My faith has widened, my hopes are higher, my love for Jesus has skyrocketed, my appreciation for others has deepened, and Gods promises are cemented further into my soul. This is how Christ meant COVID for my good.

Tada added that my lungs are clear and my temperature is down. While she had to go to the emergency room so she could receive an antibody infusion, she took solace in the fact that her trip to the hospital enabled more people to experience the joy of the Gospel, which her husband, Ken, shared with hospital staff.

He was constantly giving out Gospel tracts, blessing nurses and aides in the name of Jesus, stopping to pray for them, and speaking words of Spirit-based blessed encouragement, she said. He even did this at the pharmacy. But isnt this what the Christmas season is all about? Using this season to share the Good News that Light has come into our darkness through Jesus Christ?!?

As the Joni and Friends ministry noted in a separate Facebook post on Wednesday, Joni says I always go by a 20%/80% way of praying  20% for physical stuff and 80% for increased faith, an embrace of Jesus and His promises, bright spirits, a singing heart, sure hope, the ability to endure, patience, concern for others in greater need, and thinking on things that are praiseworthy and true. Tada referenced the 20%/80% way of praying in her Facebook update.

What COVID meant for evil, Christ is using to spread His fame! she wrote. Tada urged her followers to keep spreading that wonderful word this week, and as you do, keep praying using that 80%/20% matrix.

Psalm 84:11 assures us that No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly, and we are being showered with good courage, good endurance, good healing, good confidence in our great Savior, and really good opportunities to tell others about his great Name, she added.

Tada, who was paralyzed in a diving accident more than a half-century ago, founded Joni and Friends 40 years ago in an effort to present the hope of the Gospel to people affected by disability through programs and outreaches around the world. The ministry believes that a relationship with Jesus Christ will enable those with disabilities and their families to cope with their feelings of poverty, pain, and despair.

Paralysis and coronavirus are not the only challenges Tada has experienced throughout her life. The disability rights advocate also survived two battles with breast cancer.

In addition to Tada, several other prominent figures in the Christian community have tested positive for coronavirus in recent weeks. Jentezen Franklin, the senior pastor of the Georgia-based multi-campus church Free Chapel, tested positive for coronavirus shortly after attending a White House Christmas party.



In October, California megachurch Pastor Greg Laurie tested positive for the virus after attending the White House ceremony announcing President Donald Trumps nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the United States Supreme Court.



While Laurie recovered from the virus and Franklin and Tada look on track to do the same, others in the Christian community have not been as lucky. Earlier this month, eight Catholic nuns residing in a Wisconsin retirement home died from coronavirus in a timespan of just one week.
Ministry shares positive stories about mission work during pandemic: God's doing amazing things

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, a new blog has been launched in an effort to share positive stories about the influential work of Christian missionaries as many around the world suffer enormous hardships.

The Field Stories of Hope blog, spearheaded by the ministry e3 Partners, features weekly stories of how God is working around the world. God is always at work, the blog states. Even in the midst of this pandemic, He is doing amazing things, and we want to share them with you!

Most of the six entries currently published on the blog highlight how Christian missionaries have used the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly two million people worldwide and infected many more, as a force for good. One story detailed how the pandemic caused many to experience hope and love like they never had before as e3s national partners distributed more than 4,000 hot meals and 300 grocery bags to impoverished South Asians, enough to feed a family for two to three weeks.

Additionally, the distribution of the food by e3 Partners enabled the gospel to be shared, resulting in more than 1,500 lost souls learning about the Gospel for the first time. By the time the 17-day period of food distribution was over, 600 of those lost souls had agreed to give their lives to Jesus Christ.

Another entry illustrated an additional example of how COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns are opening doors of opportunity to spread the gospel to new people and places. That particular blog focused on a migrant worker laboring in one of the most populous cities in South Asia, which was located more than 700 miles away from his home village.

As lockdowns began to take effect, the migrant worker, referred to by the pseudonym Rohit, elected to make the long journey back to his home village rather than starve here in the city. Throughout his journey, he shared the Gospel with those he encountered and when he finally reached his village, he shared the Gospel with his family and friends.

As people came to faith, he equipped them and together they reached out to acquaintances in surrounding villages. So far, Rohit has planted 10 new house churches since the lockdown began. And still, his passion to see the good news available to all people everywhere burns strong.

A third story of hope revealed how the pandemic forced three Oklahoma-based missionary families stationed in Asia to return to the United States. In spite of their inability to continue their missionary work overseas, one of their national partners started more churches during the pandemic than he had during the previous two years combined. As the missionary families remain in the United States, they have started several online Bible studies and are working to start a new house church in their home state of Oklahoma.

In addition to the stories shared on the Field Stories of Hope Blog, one prominent Christian activist in the United States has shared how her infection with the coronavirus allowed more people to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Joni Eareckson Tada, a disability rights advocate who founded the ministry Joni and Friends, was infected with the coronavirus earlier this month. In a Facebook post last week, she explained that in her case, What COVID meant for evil, Christ meant for good.

My faith has widened, my hopes are higher, my love for Jesus has skyrocketed, my appreciation for others has deepened, and Gods promises are cemented further into my soul, she said. Tada also discussed how her trip to the hospital to receive an antibody infusion enabled her husband Ken to share the Gospel with hospital staff.

He was constantly giving out Gospel tracts, blessing nurses and aides in the name of Jesus, stopping to pray for them, and speaking words of Spirit-based blessed encouragement. He even did this at the pharmacy.
Teachers across US advocating trans-ideology in classroom for Jazz & Friends reading day

Schools across the United States are urging students to read books about trans-identified children as part of an annual campaign promoted by a leading activist group to support transgender and non-binary youth.

Launched by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT activist organization, schools nationwide held the annual Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings on Thursday in partnership with the National Education Association and the American Association of School Librarians.

The event was first conceived after what the HRC characterized as a national anti-LGBTQ hate group [bullying] a young transgender girl in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin and her community rallied behind her by hosting a community reading of I am Jazz by transgender advocate Jazz Jennings.

Liberty Counsel, the religious liberty law firm that was derided by the Human Rights Campaign as a national anti-LGBTQ hate group, wrote a letter to the president of Mt. Horeb Area School District Board of Education in 2015, expressing opposition to plans to read the book, I am Jazz, to first-grade students. The law firm threatened to file a federal lawsuit against teachers and staff in their official and individual capacities for violation of parental rights if the school went ahead with the reading.

In response to the threat to take legal action, the Mt. Horeb Area School District canceled plans to read the semi-autobiographical childrens book to first graders. However, a Mt. Horeb parent presented the book reading at a public library in the village in a show of support for a trans-identified student in the district.

Shortly thereafter, the effort led to similar events across the U.S., which took place at schools and other community locations, such as libraries and places of worship, and has since become an annual affair. The stated purpose of the Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings is to support transgender and non-binary youth.

The Human Rights Campaign promotes I am Jazz as the primary reading material for the day, although it offers other suggested titles as well. The advocacy organization has put together a lesson plan, which encourages teachers to tell elementary school students that gender is a spectrum, not a binary, and that we all express ourselves in many different ways along that spectrum. Students are also taught about differences and being an ally.

Along with I am Jazz, the Human Rights Campaign has put together lesson plans for other books included on the advocacy organizations list of suggested reading material for the Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings. The descriptions for one of those books, CALVIN: Time To Be Me! reads: Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind, but he hasnt yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer.

The Human Rights Campaign lists CALVIN: Time To Be Me! as an ideal resource for students in kindergarten through second grade. The lesson plan for the book calls on teachers to use the Gender Snowperson when introducing the concepts of gender identity to their students, a concept whose lesson plan indicates that it is designed for students in the third through eighth grade. In other words, the Gender Snowperson is designed for students older than the target audience for CALVIN: Time To Be Me!

Lesson plans for CALVIN: Time To Be Me! describes the Gender Snowperson as a simple tool to break down the concepts of how you feel and know yourself to be (gender identity), who you love (sexual orientation), boy/girl assigned at birth (sex assigned at birth) and gender expression.

The lesson plan insists that many people do not realize that gender identity and sexual orientation are two very different concepts and that all of us have both a gender identity and sexual orientation, adding: there are lots of different ways to be a boy, girl, both or neither.

Conservative groups expressed concern about promoting LGBT activism and ideology to school children, contending that parents are the best people to teach their children about such topics. Jeff Johnson, a culture and policy analyst at Focus on the Family, first wrote about the Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings in 2019.

Sadly, this event is part of a much larger trend in public education, as children are taught confusing messages about gender and sexuality in classrooms across the nation, he said. These lessons are in direct opposition to objective, scientific reality  and to most parents beliefs and values.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest public school district in the United States, announced last week that it was partaking in the National Day of School & Community Readings to affirm transgender & non-binary youth. The event, available for viewing on Zoom, was hosted by Hooper Avenue Elementary Schools Rainbow Club.

National Day of School and Community Readings - JAZZ & FRIENDS

Affirm Transgender & Non-binary Youth

FEBRUARY 24,

8:20AM - 9:10AM https://t.co/qy3lktbq99pic.twitter.com/NDhOcoVWGH  BCM_COS (@BCM_CoS) February 15, 2022

Join Human Relations, Diversity & Equity (HRDE) and schools across the district for a nationwide virtual community reading about gender, diversity & inclusion, a promotion for the event states. Teachers, Zoom in with your class for the story, discussion, and an optional art activity. We recommend paper and basic supplies for the activity.

While the Los Angeles school district did not state which age group the discussion was geared toward, the fact that Hooper Avenue Elementary School is taking part suggests that young students will be participating. The book at the center of this particular discussion, From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea, is designed for students in kindergarten through third grade.

The Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings comes as parents across the U.S. have raised concerns that school officials are encouraging gender fluidity in children who might be confused or have questions surrounding their biological gender. Last year, a parent in Leon County, Florida, sued the school system for working to prevent her from finding out that the school had begun to refer to her daughter by using they/them pronouns and allowed the child to sleep in the same quarters as her male classmates on a school field trip.
50 Afghan evacuees brought to US had 'potentially significant security concerns:' Defense Dept. report

A report from the U.S. Department of Defenses Inspector General raises questions about the security threats posed by dozens of Afghan evacuees brought to the United States following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Central Asian country last year.

The report, released Tuesday, provided an Evaluation of the Screening of Displaced Persons from Afghanistan. As noted by Acting Assistant Inspector General Andre Brown, the purpose of the evaluation is to determine the extent to which the DoD managed and tracked displaced persons from Afghanistan through the biometric enrollment, screening, and vetting process.

President Joe Biden helped ensure the arrival of displaced persons from Afghanistan in the U.S. by initiating an inter-agency effort to evacuate and relocate Afghans who had applied for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) along with other vulnerable Afghans to address the rapid takeover of Afghan cities by the Taliban.

Upon arrival in the U.S., Afghan evacuees were placed at safe havens, primarily consisting of military bases that allowed federal agencies to determine whether they posed a national security threat.

The report concluded that U.S. agencies did not use all available data when vetting Afghan evacuees, stating that Afghan evacuees were not vetted by the National Counter-Terrorism Center [NCTC] using all DoD data prior to arriving in [the continental United States].

This occurred because Customs and Border Patrol [CBP] enrollments were compared against the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] Automated Biometric Identification System [IDENT] data, the report stated.

This data did not initially include all biometric data located in the DoD Automated Biometric Identification System [ABIS] database and because the DoDs National Ground Intelligence Center [NGIC] has agreements with foreign partners that prohibits the sharing of some ABIS data with U.S. agencies outside of the DoD, the report added.

While NGIC personnel expanded their normal analytic review of all biometric watchlist matches to also include non-watchlist matches of Afghan evacuees, the agreement between the NGIC and the Department of Homeland Security that enabled them to do so expired on Dec. 27. The agreement was ultimately renewed, and it will remain in effect until June 27.

Based on the results of the review thus far, the NGIC personnel identified Afghans with derogatory information from the DoD ABIS database who were already in the United States.

As of November 2, 2021, NGIC had identified 50 Afghan personnel in the United States with information in DoD records that would indicate potentially significant security concerns, the report stated.

However, government officials could not locate every Afghan evacuee with derogatory information on their records because of field representatives or operators failing to upload data or maintain devices properly. The NGIC had identified 31 Afghans with derogatory information present in the U.S. as of Sept. 17 but were only able to locate three of them.

As a result of the NCTC not vetting Afghan evacuees against all available data, the United States faces potential security risks if individuals with derogatory information are allowed to stay in the country, the report warned. In addition, the U.S. Government could mistakenly grant SIV or parolee status to ineligible Afghan evacuees with derogatory information gathered from the DoD ABIS database.

Security concerns are exacerbated by the fact that Afghan parolees have the right to leave the safe havens at any time after receiving the required vaccinations and tuberculosis testing.

Those seeking immigration parole status are separate from those seeking special immigrant visas after working on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan by working on a military base or serving as an interpreter or translator.

Although parolees must provide their address to [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] and notify USCIS of every change of address in order to obtain parolee status, many Afghan evacuees chose to leave the safe havens before completing the immigration process required to secure a two-year stay in the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons.

Reuters previously reported that more than 700 Afghan evacuees had left the safe havens before completing the resettlement process as of early October.

Regardless of whether Afghan evacuees have known terrorist connections, crimes committed by Afghans brought to the U.S. have caused some elected officials at the state level to call on the Biden administration to halt the refugee program.

In Montana, for example, the identification of a rape suspect as a 19-year-old Afghan evacuee caused Gov. Greg Gianforte to ask the Biden administration to conduct a careful, immediate reevaluation of the refugee resettlement program, citing issues with your vetting system.

Gianforte lamented that what happened in Montana was one of several tragic events over the last few weeks involving Afghan evacuees.

Just weeks before, two Afghan evacuees were charged with committing crimes while staying at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, one of the safe havens mentioned in the Inspector Generals report. A grand jury indicted one of the men for attempting to have sex with a minor and engaging in sex acts with a minor while the other man allegedly strangled and suffocated his wife.
Virginia withdraws from legal battle to get ERA added to US Constitution

Virginia has pulled out of a legal battle to get the Equal Rights Amendment added to the U.S. Constitution, an amendment pro-life activists fear would constitutionally cement legal access to abortion and create obstacles for religious freedom.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is part of the new Republican-led executive branch that took office last month, withdrew on Friday from an appeal seeking to compel certification of the ERA.

Proponents of the litigation claimed that when Virginia became the 38th state to pass the ERA in 2020, the amendment had garnered the support of the necessary number of states to take effect even though the ratification deadline had expired decades ago.

Judge Rudolph Contreras, appointed to the bench by former President Barack Obama, disagreed with their analysis and dismissed the case last March.

Christopher Schroeder, an assistant attorney general with the Biden administrations Office of Legal Counsel, agreed that the deadline had passed for the ERAs ratification. Miyares office cited the opinions of the Democrat-appointed legal scholars as justification for pulling out of the lawsuit.

Considering that a Democrat appointed judge, and the Biden administration all concluded that the deadline to ratify the ERA passed decades ago, Virginia will no longer participate in the ERA lawsuit with Illinois and Nevada, said Victoria LaCivita, Miyares communications director, said in a statement to The Washington Post.

Any further participation in this lawsuit would undermine the U.S. Constitution and its amendment process, she added.

First conceived in the 1920s, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the ERA in 1971, followed by the Senate in 1972.

After securing the required two-thirds support from both houses of Congress, the ERA went to the states for ratification. To take effect, the ERA needed to receive support from three-fourths of the states, the equivalent to 38 out of 50, within a seven-year deadline. The deadline was eventually extended to 1982.

The proposed amendment stated that Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Although the ERA failed to get the necessary 38 states for ratification by 1982, three states, including Virginia, recently passed the amendment, concluding that the deadline was not an issue. Nevada ratified the amendment in 2017, and Illinois approved the ERA in 2018.

While supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment see it as a necessary measure to enshrine equal rights for women into the Constitution, critics warn of its implications for religious liberty.

For example, the National Right to Life Committee has argued that the ERA was a constitutional stealth missile to make abortion permanently legal.

The ERA is a stealth missile with a legal warhead that could be used to attack any federal, state, or local law or policy that in any way limits abortion, stated Douglas D. Johnson, an NRLC senior policy adviser, in 2021.

Pro-abortion advocates failed under the constitutional amendment process provided in Article V of the Constitution  the ERA expired unratified over 40 years ago  so now they are attempting to achieve their goal by brazenly political means, hoping to cow the courts into ignoring the flimsiness of their constitutional claims.

Additionally, Mat Staver of the Christian conservative legal nonprofit Liberty Counsel expressed concern in a previous interview with The Christian Post that the ERA could be used as a hammer against religious organizations, including churches, to provide abortion or abortion-inducing drugs or devices and include an LGBT agenda that would conflict with churches and religious organizations with respect to biblical doctrines and beliefs of male and female in uniquely created and complementary sexes.

The lawsuit Virginia has just withdrawn from is not the only legal effort to get the ERA added to the Constitution.

In 2020, the feminist groups Equal Means Equal and the Yellow Roses joined a Massachusetts woman named Katherine Weitbrecht in filing a lawsuit against the National Archivist of the United States, David Ferriero, over his refusal to add the ERA to the U.S. Constitution.

In late June 2021, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued a unanimous ruling against the groups, arguing that they lacked the standing to sue.

Equal Means Equal and The Yellow Roses do not purport to premise their standing here on any benefit that has been denied to them by the challenged actions of the defendant in the way in which the plaintiffs in those three cases did, wrote First Circuit Judge David Barron on behalf of the panel, affirming a lower court decision.

They instead premise their standing on the risk of harm that they contend they face because of the Archivistsfailure to publish the ERA. Thus, those precedents fail to support the conclusion that the plaintiffs plausibly assert the requisites for standing.
Illinois county to pay $370K for violating Christian nurse's rights by forcing her to push abortions

A trial court in Illinois has ruled that Winnebago County must pay more than $370,000 in attorneys fees for violating the legally protected freedoms of a Christian a pediatric nurse who was ordered to refer women for abortions or provide abortifacient contraceptives against her religious beliefs and conscience.

Circuit Court Judge Eugene Doherty ruled last week that the Winnebago County Health Department must pay $374,000 to the attorneys of Sandra Rojas, who worked with the department for 18 years, said legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, whose attorneys served as co-counsel for Rojas, in a statement.

Eighteen years into the job, the nurse faced the country health departments new requirement forcing nurses to undergo training on how to refer women to abortion facilities and help them access abortifacient contraceptives.

The department refused to accommodate her objections of conscience in her existing job at the clinic and fired her from her job, following which she sought protection under the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act.

Medical professionals should never be forced to engage in or promote activities that violate their beliefs or convictions, ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot said.

Sandra served as a nurse according to her conscience and religion  a right for medical providers that is protected under Illinois and federal law, Theriot added. The courts fee award sends a clear message that health care workers are free to practice medicine in a manner consistent with their conscience and religious beliefs, and there will be a steep penalty if the government fails to respect that legally protected freedom.

Lead counsel in the case, Noel Sterett, from Dalton & Tomich, said, Healthcare professionals should not be required to violate their conscience to keep their jobs. We hope the outcome of this case will encourage other public and private health care employers to respect their employees rights of conscience.

Last November, the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Winnebago County ruled in favor of Rojas and wrote: The Health Department improperly discriminated against [Rojas] by refusing to accommodate her objections of conscience in her existing job at the clinic. The Court has concluded that the Health Department could have reasonably accommodated [Rojas] objections without removing her from her job.

No American should be forced to refer for abortions or assist patients in accessing abortifacients  least of all medical workers who entered the profession to follow their faith and save lives, not take them, Sterett said at the time. The courts decision is a win for all healthcare professionals throughout Illinois. Healthcare professionals should not be required to violate their conscience to keep their jobs.
Nebraska church wins settlement to build new facility in village

A Nebraska church will now be allowed to construct a multipurpose facility on property that a small town had previously prohibited them from building on.

Light of the World Gospel Ministries, a small, multiethnic church, was previously denied a permit by the Village of Walthill to build a facility off Main Street that would be used as its new worship space.

In a turn of events, however, First Liberty Institute announced last week that the ministry will now be allowed to construct the building, thanks to a settlement reached with the village.

Roger Byron, senior counsel for FLI, which has been helping to represent the church since it began the building application process, supported the settlement that ended a legal battle that began in 2018.

The church is pleased with the settlement and grateful to the Village officials for working with the church to reach a fair agreement, said Byron in a statement emailed to The Christian Post on Monday.

Paul Malcomson, Light of the World's pastor, said the congregation is "grateful that we can now bring the light and love of Jesus to our community and help revitalize our town."

"We just want to live in peace, worship and serve our neighbors," he said.

Malcomson continued: "What we're trying to do is breathe life into this community both spiritually and economically. Our heart is not to fight the politicians; our heart is to work with the politicians and with them to see this community turned around."

A congregation of about 100 people in a village of around 800, Light of the World had been meeting in a former funeral home when it decided that it needed a new worship space.

The church had initially purchased multiple buildings off Main Street with the intention of tearing them down to build a new facility to meet their needs, as well as a couple of small businesses, according to FLI.

In July 2018, after village officials denied multiple permits related to the construction off Main Street or having existing permits revoked, the church decided to file a lawsuit.

Village lawyer Matt Munderloh told ABC News affiliate KCAU 9 in Sioux City, Iowa, that the churchs requests violated local zoning laws, which were in keeping with state and federal regulations.

In February 2020, the U.S. Justice Department filed a suit against Walthill. Siding with the church, the government argued that the village had violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act when it denied the church a permit.

Treating places of worship less favorably than nonreligious assemblies is unlawful discrimination against religious exercise, stated Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division in a 2020 press release.

The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that governments do not deny congregations their federally protected right to exercise their faith through construction of places of worship.
Tennessee church seeks justice after elderly member is robbed during prayer

When Pastor Larry D. Robertson got up to address his congregants at a Wednesday evening prayer and Bible study meeting nearly two weeks ago, he was mad.

I ask your forgiveness for being a few minutes late, Robertson, the senior pastor of Hilldale Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee, said as he spoke to the congregation, which can be seen in a video posted on YouTube. Weve had an issue and I am, Im just gonna tell you right now, Im mad. Im ticked. Im a pretty even keel guy, so I dont break things when Im mad. I dont scream, cuss, anything like that, but Im very angry.

Robertson then recounted how two African American women had arrived early at the diverse but predominantly white church to attend their 6:30 p.m. service on Feb. 9 but ended up robbing a 78-year-old congregant as she prayed for them.

We had a couple of women who came at about 5:40 and said they thought the service started at 6 p.m. and I directed them in this direction (the sanctuary), Robertson said. One of our ladies came early and was here. And long story short, they stole, they robbed her.

The robbery, which was caught on the churchs security cameras and posted on YouTube, shows one of the young women asking the elderly member for prayer. As soon as she engaged the church member, the accomplice began rifling through the elderly womans purse.

While they had their eyes closed and their heads bowed, the other girl got into our church members purse and  got credit cards, cash, everything. And closed it back up. And amazingly thats when the prayer finished, Robertson recalled.

And then when this church member picked her wallet up, she thought that just feels lighter. Looked in it and by this time, the girls were gone. Vengeance is mine. I will repay sayeth the Lord, Robertson declared, pointing to the ceiling. The Lord knows who they are and where they are.

Last Thursday, the Clarksville Police Department, which is now seeking the publics help in identifying the suspected robbers, said in a statement posted on Facebook that there were four females working together at Hilldale Baptist Church. Three of them were recorded leaving a Sam's Club after they used the church members credit card.

As Robertson ponders how to ultimately respond to the women who committed a crime against his congregation, he's offering the power of prayer and a chance to call them to repentance. But he also believes they must pay the earthly costs once they're caught.

The Lord is a God of justice and righteousness. And we believe in that," Robertson said in an interview with The Christian Post on Monday. "And we support the law and the judicial system that prosecutes crime. Our government has the authority of God, to act on our behalf to keep order in society. And we believe that the law should do what the law is supposed to do. And that would be to find these criminals and to prosecute them.

We believe that is just. So the law should be what the law does, but the church should always do what the church does. And we've been called to preach the Gospel to all creation. Our message is a message of hope. And our desire would be that these girls would, even in prosecution, would see the error of their ways and repent of sin, not because they got caught, but because they truly understand that they have sinned against God, he added.

Robertson, who has been at the church for about 20 years, said it was the most brazen of a handful of robberies to have happened at the church under his watch, and his congregation is still in shock.

Among the congregation, everybody's still in a spirit of shock, you know. And, sadly,  I think people are going to be suspicious for a while if a stranger approaches them and asks for something so personal as prayer, Robertson explained.

I've said on a number of occasions since (the robbery) that money was the least of things that this lady lost, she lost a certain innocence. And she lost a certain trust. And so I think that's going to be shared among other church members as well, he added.

The Tennessee pastor explained that the church has a very robust security system, including cameras and volunteers with law enforcement experience, but no one was monitoring the security cameras almost one hour before the start of the Wednesday evening service. The security team is usually in place about 30 minutes before service begins, Robertson said.

These girls, I think, knew what they were doing. And some of our church members had seen them before, which makes me think maybe they had come and had  they knew what they were doing and, unfortunately, churches can be easy targets, he added.

He explained that the first thing that the women did when they got to the church was ask to see him, and he obliged because he wanted them to feel welcome and hoped that they would stay for the service.

They arrived and said they were visiting our church and wanted to meet the pastor. ... I know enough about the African American church culture to know that the pastor is a very central figure. And so I didn't think twice about them saying we're visiting your church we wanted to meet you, Robertson said.

I'm thinking they're operating within a certain faith tradition. They wanted to meet the pastor. You know, if I gave them bad vibes they might not stay. So I didn't think anything bad about it. I thought that they were truly there to check us out, he continued. We have people, you know [of] all skin tones in our church. ... We're not as diverse as we hoped that we were, but we have a certain diversity. I mean, I just didn't think anything about the fact that they wanted to meet me and they were there for the worship service.
Beware of false prophets and false brethren

Christians often spend a lot of their time and energy battling clear enemies of the Gospel who persecute them openly, like hostile governments or militants. Warfare prayers are often organized to paralyze their activities. However, what many of us do not realize is that there are many enemies within the Church who pretend to be godly but pervert the ways of God, hinder the Gospel and wound genuine believers in the process.

The Apostle Paul was emphatic when he warned the Philippian Church to be careful of this group of people. "For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ"(Philippians 3:18). They pretend to be godly but secretly work against the Gospel. They oppress and secretly persecute those who love and preach the cross.

Jesus also warned His disciples to be careful of those who are demonic but parade themselves as angels of light: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Mathew 7:15). In our time, there are similar false prophets, and their mode of operation has never changed.

They speak what the Lord has not spoken and deceive those who are genuinely serving the Lord. Their objective is to distract God's people from the ways of the Lord. Through their "prophecies," many lives and marriages have been turned upside down and many have been bewitched through their divination.

These ferocious wolves have made worshipers poorer through their manipulations, making empty promises that never come to pass. In Nigeria, some angry worshipers are now going to the "prophets" to collect back the money they gave them after endlessly waiting for the word of the prophet to come to pass.

A close look at the operation of these false prophets shows that they are intentionally perverting the Word of God by trying to make it more appealing to the flesh and to the world. The Apostle Peter prophetically declared the emergence of so many false teachers in this age. Many have developed itching ears and have been drawn to false doctrines and the other gospels.

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them  bringing swift destruction on themselves" (2 Peter 2:1). There are now false teachers whose mandate is to introduce and teach errors that will take Christ out of the center of Christianity and place Him in the margin or remove Him altogether.

The false brethren are the ones who promote the activities of the false teachers and prophets. Genuine believers are attacked whenever they raise objections to these false prophets and teachers. In Nigeria, you dare not talk against these people for fear of ostracization and slander, and sometimes even physical assault. You simply cannot "touch the anointed," lest you suffer the consequences.

In 2 Corinthians 11:26, Paul mentions false brethren in the list of dangers he faced on his missionary journeys. There are many of us who have escaped their manipulations, but the dangers they pose to the faiths of many are a daily phenomenon. I personally have suffered so much in the hands of false brethren who claim to be custodians of the Gospel. I have been wounded so severally that sometimes I resort to solitude and even contemplate quitting my ministry.

Many in the Church have been deceived because theyve been often taught that everyone in the visible Church is a true believer. "One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them" (Job 1:6). Sadly, the devil oftentimes attends church services. Every believer should ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of discernment.

Young Christians should beware of false prophets and teachers who use enticing words of mans wisdom to deceive people. They do all they can to divert people away from God. Mature Christians who are not susceptible to the gimmicks of false teachers and prophets should beware of false brethren who are strategically placed by the devil to wound, discourage and attack believers.

It is devastating when some people you thought are your brothers in Christ turn against God and present a false Gospel to the world. If this has happened to you, share your pain with God, for it happened to Jesus and Paul as well. We cannot stop the activities of false brethren, but we can be mindful of them. And as for me, I have resolved to love all believers, trust few and do wrong to none.
Current world affairs reminders of why so many voted for Trump

In the aftermath of the events of January 6, 2021, the narrative is becoming more and more fixed. Simply stated, the narrative claims that the vast majority of Americans who voted for Trump were gun-waving, white supremacists, insurrectionists, Christian nationalists, who need to be marginalized, if not purged from society. For many reasons, we need to continue to challenge that narrative. And recent world events involving Russia, China, and Canada provide a perfect opportunity to push back against that misleading and caricatured narrative.

To be clear, having voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, I do not want him to run again in 2024. And I am sympathetic to the argument that, in many ways, Trump did more harm than good, especially in his post-election behavior and in the damage that was done to our Christian witness when we looked to him as some kind of political savior. (I know that strong Trump supporters find this perspective utterly outrageous, but thats a battle I am not here to fight.)

But the purpose of this article is not to offer a retrospective analysis of the Trump presidency. Rather, it is to respond to those who cannot possibly understand how God-fearing, Bible-loving, morality-espousing people could vote for Trump. We actually had some very good reasons.

Lets start with the recent events in Canada and the Prime Minister Trudeau invoking the Emergencies Act in an attempt to crush the Freedom Convoy protesters. According to reports, he invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in the countrys history to crack down on protests against his vaccine mandate  just days after the Biden administration urged him to use federal powers.

How much of this came directly from President Biden? Only those involved know for sure.

But if true, an obvious question arises: Could you imagine the Trump administration encouraging this kind of extreme crackdown against freedom-loving, peaceful protesters? Could you imagine Trump telling Trudeau, Yeah, you really need to crush this resistance?

I think not.

Yet, when it came to international policy and Americas role in the world, those of us who voted for Trump felt far more confident in his leadership than the leadership of Biden. Does this make us violent white supremacists? Or, put another way, when it came to the massive implications of our international policies, was there no justifiable reason to vote for Trump?

As for Russia, while Trumps critics claimed that he was either too friendly with Putin or actually admired him, others saw things quite differently.

Writing for the Jewish Press on July 24, 2018, Daniel Greenfield claimed that, Trump Stood Up to Putin, Obama Appeased Him.

He wrote,

"The architects of Obamas appeasement of Putin have been some of the most militant voices denouncing Trump. . . . Instead President Trump has steadily reversed Obamas tide of concessions to Putin. The media is outraged over Russias invasion of Ukraine. But when that happened, Ukraine asked for weapons and the only aid that Obama offered their country was MREs. It took months for Obama to come through with boots and tires. Meanwhile, Trump has delivered actual weapons. Why did Obama refuse to provide Ukraine with weapons? According to senior officials, to avoid antagonizing Moscow. Trump isnt afraid of Russia. Obama however was shaking in his loafers. While Trump approved anti-tank missiles for Ukraine, Obama slow-walked shipments of boots, putting them on trucks instead of planes so that they took months to arrive, so as not to upset the Russians. Meanwhile the Trump administration cut the red tape by dipping into its own European stockpiles. In the time it took Obama to ship boots to Ukraine, Trump shipped Javelin missiles."

He closed with this:

"Unlike Obama, President Trump sold weapons to Ukraine. Unlike Obama, he bombed Assad and took on Russian mercenaries. Unlike Obama, he provided Poland with working Patriot missiles. Unlike Obama, he didnt base his foreign policy around fearing to offend Moscow. Unlike Obama, he stood up to Russia."

The fact is that many of us who voted for Trump felt that he would do a better job of standing up to the worlds strongmen than Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden would do. (For a relevant Twitter poll, see here.)

As for China, allow me to share two personal anecdotes. While in Australia in early 2020, shortly before the COVID travel restrictions, I was picked up at the airport by a Chinese national who was now an Australian citizen.

When I asked him for his views on Chinese President Xi, he told me plainly that he thought he was dangerous. When I asked him for his views on President Trump, he said, Hes a hero.

In fact, a colleague of mine who has spent almost all his adult life living and working in China, and who is well-connected to the underground Chinese church, told me that every Christian he knew in China was praying fervently for the reelection of Trump. And when Trump lost, many of them wept.

More broadly, a Bing search for the words "how Trump stood up to China" (not in quotes) yields pages of articles and videos with headlines like this: It Takes a Trump to Stand Up to China from The Hill and Finally, a President Stands Up to China from Townhall.

To be sure, Trump had more than his share of critics when it came to his Chinese policies, with CNNclaiming in July 2020 that, Trump blasts Beijing in public, but privately Trump org imports tons of Chinese goods.

But the fact remains that America just competed in the Beijing Olympics, with our athletes being urged not to protest and our official diplomatic protest seeming quite tepid, even with its reference to Chinas ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity.

Really now, if we truly believed that China was guilty of ongoinggenocide and crimes against humanity shouldnt we rather boycott the Olympics? Why not put teeth in our words?

Obviously, I cannot imagine the pressures President Biden is under, and the purpose of this article is not to throw stones at him. (How many Biden-bashing articles have I written?) And, to repeat, I do not want Trump to run again in 2024 for quite a few reasons.

Im simply reminding those who broad-brush and smear all of us who voted for Trump that international policies were a major consideration for many of us, with those policies potentially affecting hundreds of millions of lives. (And Ive not said a word here about our policies with Iran.)

That is hardly a matter of white supremacy or dangerous Christian nationalism. This is a matter of worldwide humanitarian concern.
Let's pray for Ukraine AND Russia

While tensions grow on the border between Russia and Ukraine, Christians around the U.S. are burdened for the people of Ukraine as they hunker down in fear of invasion  yet one thing to remember is that there are people on both sides that need our prayers. Christ doesnt label us based on what country we live in or by the color of our skin.

Having served the people of Eastern Europe for more than 60 years, we have many Christian brothers and sisters who live on either side of various political borders, but their primary allegiance is to Christ. Furthermore, there are people on both sides of the conflict that need to hear about Jesus and have access to Gods Word.

We have seen plenty of examples here in the U.S. of groups putting labels on people so that they can have a category for them, and not have to take the time to get to know them or hear their stories and perspectives. Not only is that just lazy, but its outside of Gods will for us as His followers. Now, because of the news headlines and the people in power, I fear well start to label Ukrainians as good and Russians as bad. But many citizens of Russia are against the war and are themselves victims of the authoritarian government.

We would like to call on believers across the U.S. to join us in interceding in prayer on behalf of Russia and Ukraine. We need to join together and ask God to intervene in the lives of leaders and people across these nations.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 offers a pointed proclamation about the importance of praying for leaders: "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

Here are just 5 suggested themes to pray over and intercede for the people of both Ukraine and Russia:

Pray for the leaders of both countries to know Gods truth and peace and be transformed by his Holy Spirit, and that they would seek to lead their countries in the way of peace and not war. Ask God to intervene. Pray for wisdom as world leaders maneuver, strategize and speak out. Pray that God would move in their hearts and guide their steps and plans. Pray for peace, comfort, and protection to cover the people of Russia and Ukraine. Ask to see Gods glory amid this great struggle. Pray that God would be glorified through the people of Russia and Ukraine who are following Him. Ask for open doors of opportunities for the Gospel to be shared and received. Pray that God would make His name known across Ukraine and Russia as the result of any conflict. Pray that the people of Ukraine and Russia will still have access to God's Word.

As we pray for leaders of all nations and for the people who will be affected by this current crisis, Ephesians 6:12 offers a reminder about where the real battle unfolds: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Thank you for joining me in prayer, and may God convict any of us who are tempted to label one another and allow that to determine our behavior toward them. Lets commit anew to loving one another and seeing them for who they really are, no matter where they live, what language they speak, or what color their skin.
Ottawa police arrest nearly 200 Freedom Convoy protesters, tow over 50 vehicles

Police in Ottawa, Canada, used pepper spray and stun grenades and arrested nearly 200 who were part of the Freedom Convoy to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions. Police also had more than 50 vehicles towed in an attempt to clear out demonstrators who have been protesting in the area for weeks.

At least 191 protesters were arrested and 57 vehicles were towed in the citys downtown area as of Sunday evening, Ottawa Police tweeted, adding, streets cleared.

Late Sunday, the police department tweeted, A Coventry Road location previously occupied by an unlawful assembly is now clear. 20 vehicles were towed and a police presence will remain in place to prevent anyone from returning.

As a result of the police action, the Freedom Convoy was moved out of Ottawa after three weeks of demonstrations, CTV News Ottawa reported Sunday.

Before the crackdown, police tweeted: If you are involved in this protest, we will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges. It also wrote, We continue to maintain a police presence in and around the area the unlawful protest occupied. We are using fences to ensure the ground gained back is not lost.

At least two police-involved incidents were also reported Saturday at the protests in Ottawa. The provinces Special Investigations Unit is investigating them, CNN reported.

On Saturday evening, there was an interaction between a Toronto Police Service officer on a horse and a 49-year-old woman on Rideau Street and Mackenzie Avenue. The woman has a reported serious injury, the SIU was quoted as saying.

In the second incident, Vancouver Police Department officers discharged Anti-Riot Weapon Enfields (less-lethal firearms) at individuals in the area of Sparks Street and Bank Street, but no injuries were reported, the agency claimed.

Police said some protesters were wearing body armor and carried smoke grenades and fireworks.

Protesters continue to be aggressive and assaultive on officers. They are refusing to comply with the orders to move. You will have seen officers use a chemical irritant in an effort to stop the assaultive behavior and for officer safety, police tweeted Saturday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also announced Sunday it had frozen the finances of individuals and companies associated with the ongoing protests.

The RCPM froze 206 bank and corporate accounts; disclosed the information of 56 entities associated with vehicles, individuals and companies; shared 253 bitcoin addresses with virtual currency exchangers; and froze a payment processing account valued at $3.8 million, CNN reported quoting RCPMs deputy commissioner of federal policing, Mike Duheme.

Samuel Sey, a Ghanaian-Canadian who lives in Brampton, a city just outside of Toronto, earlier wrote in op-ed for The Christian Post about his experience as a supporter of the Freedom Convoy.

Though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the truckers are just a small, fringe minority with unacceptable views, there were probably 5,000 people at the overpass that I was at, he wrote, adding: I dont want anyone to suffer from COVID. And I dont want anyone to suffer from vaccine mandates either. The two are not mutually exclusive. COVID has killed many people. However, that isnt an excuse for the government to kill our spirits.

Sey added, Its almost impossible to maintain a job or attend a post-secondary school  even if a person works at home or takes online courses  without getting the vaccine  Across the country, unvaccinated Canadians are banned from restaurants, movie theatres, concerts, gyms, some trains, and planes.

Many U.S. Republicans have shown support for Canadas Freedom Convoy.

Justin Trudeaus heavy-handed crackdown against peaceful protesters in Canada is not the action of a Western Democracy, but that of an authoritarian regime like Venezuela, Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., tweeted Saturday. Just as we provide asylum for political prisoners, we should do the same for truckers who have been subjected to violence, had their property confiscated, and their bank accounts frozen by a government that is quickly becoming the embarrassment of the free world.
According to Ukrainian, US, and western sources familiar with the situation, the US has warned the Ukrainian government that the newest intelligence points to Russia starting a full-scale invasion soon.

The US intelligence assessment comes as international leaders warn of an impending onslaught and claim that Russian forces are heading into eastern Ukraine's pro-Moscow territory. "Russia is at peak preparation to now complete a full-scale invasion of Ukraine," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during a media event in Australia on Tuesday evening eastern time.

Russia Moves Into Separatist Region

Morrison, whose nation is a part of the intelligence-sharing Five Eyes group, predicted it will happen "within the next 24 hours."

On Wednesday morning, the Prime Minister of Latvia, a NATO member, informed CNN that Russian forces had deployed into Ukraine's breakaway territory, which Russia has officially acknowledged as "autonomous." Later that day, the Pentagon confirmed that Russian troops had moved into the region.

Amid the warnings, as well as US President Joe Biden's assertions on Tuesday that the Russian invasion was underway, Ukraine's parliament authorized the government's proclamation of a state of emergency on Wednesday, which will take effect at midnight on Wednesday across the nation.

According to two other individuals familiar with US intelligence, additional Russian forces have crossed the border into the Donbas area since Putin recognized the two territories and issued an order deploying "peacekeepers" into the Donbas on Tuesday. Russia has sent one to two battalion tactical units, Russia's primary combat organization, each with an average of approximately 800 personnel, according to a senior US official familiar with the latest intelligence, CNN reported.

Read Also: Putin's Recognition of Breakaway Regions Prompt Swift Sanctions From US, Britain

Putin Urges Ukraine to Drop NATO Bid

According to two top European security sources, Russian mercenaries with experience fighting in Syria and Libya have infiltrated two rebel regions in eastern Ukraine, laying the framework for war.

The mercenaries, who number over 300, are affiliated with the Russian paramilitary outfit Wagner and came in the rebel strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk dressed in civilian clothes. According to one of the officers, they were followed from Libya and Syria and landed in Russian-controlled Crimea, from where they trickled into the opposition territory.

They are little in comparison to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia's estimated 190,000 troops stationed along Ukraine's border as he threatens to launch what many fear would be Europe's worst battle since World War II.

The presence of Wagner fighters, on the other hand, is another ominous sign of impending war, and it raises the possibility that Putin will repeat the strategy used in eastern Ukraine in 2014, when the Kremlin deployed Russian mercenaries, mostly veterans of the Russian military, to supplement rebel fighters' forces, as per New York Times.

According to a study, half of Russians feel it would be appropriate for Russia to use military action against Ukraine to keep the nation out of NATO. Fears are growing that Vladimir Putin will launch a full-scale war on Ukraine in the following days, with US information predicting that the lethal action will occur within the next 48 hours.

Putin stated that the problem could only be addressed if Ukraine abandons its NATO bid, declares neutrality, demilitarizes, and engages separatists in negotiations. The West has already stated unequivocally that Ukraine should not be excluded from NATO indefinitely.

Despite Putin's deployment of 190,000 troops to the Ukrainian border and Western intelligence reports that the forces are "ready to go" in an attack, only 13% of Russians questioned believe Russia would use military action against Ukraine, while 75% do not. The study was conducted in early February, just before Putin declared two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine autonomous and dispatched troops there, according to Daily Mail.

Related Article: Ukraine Provinces Experience Power, Internet Blackouts After Germany Announces Sanctions on Russia

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Houston-area parents who work in the service industry  restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and even arts and entertainment  have just over a month left to apply for a program that could provide them with free childcare for a year, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced during a press conference Wednesday.

The deadline to apply for the program is March 31. Of 12,000 available slots, only about 1,700 have been filled, according to Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. That leaves more than 10,000 slots remaining for workers who meet certain income thresholds. Ellis also noted that many people who believe they wont qualify are actually eligible.

The announcement comes just a day after the Harris County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 to invest $8 million in spending on early childhood programs. In addition to Ellis and Hidalgo, Commissioner Adrian Gracia also voted in favor of the program.

"Early childhood programs have some of the highest returns of investment of any program out there," Hidalgo said, noting that kids who benefit from such programs see better school performance, higher rates of employment as adults and less contact with the criminal justice system.



The money for the free childcare program comes from Child Care and Development Fund, a federal-state partnership overseen by the US Department of Health and Human Services. The childcare program falls under a series of pandemic recovery measures enacted under President Joe Bidens administration.

Hidalgo said that while other pandemic recovery programs, such as rent relief, are winding down, she wanted to make sure that people are aware of other opportunities.

"This is literally free childcare for 12 months," she said. "These opportunities do not come often."

The program covers a variety of industries, from grocery store workers, retail employees, restaurant industry workers, and more. Hidalgo noted that some of the occupations that are eligible may not be obvious.

Parents who are interested in the program can apply by visiting Harriscountykids.com, where they can fill out a two-page application that is available in both Spanish and English. A full list of eligibility requirements is available on the application site.

Applicants do not need to live in Harris County. The program covers 13 Houston-area counties including Waller, Matagorda, and more. Those interested in the program can also call 713-334-5980 for more information.

Parents will be notified of their eligibility within a week of submitting an application, and will then be able to choose from a list of approved childcare service providers. The childcare provider will be paid directly by the program.

Hidalgo asked that the public help spread the word about the program before enrollment expires on March 31. She also encouraged interested parents to apply sooner rather than later in the event there are issues with the application process.

The judge also acknowledged the difficulties working parents have faced over the past two years.

"I know it has been the toughest job, truly, to be a parent during this pandemic," Hidalgo said.
California Rep. Tom McClintock is facing criticism over remarks related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a clip of an interview with Fresno NBC affiliate KSEE24 released Wednesday, McClintock said the situation "is not an American security issue" but rather a "European security issue and needs to be handled by the Europeans." When asked directly whether he thinks the United States should be involved, McClintock stated, "Not to the extent that we're provoking war with Russia, no."

In response, Democratic Rep. John Garamendi said, "Tom is absolutely dead wrong. This is our fight, this is about democracy, this is about the rule of law around this world." Former Republican State Assembly candidate Justin Mendes tweeted, "I live in #CA05. I will not be voting for @tommcclintock."

The interview was filmed for a longer show due to air Sunday and could have been filmed prior to the full-scale invasion. Arguing that the United States has no vital national security interest in Ukraine and should not get directly involved is not an uncommon view, and a recent Associated Press poll found just 26% of Americans want the United States to play a major role in the conflict.

However, as of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, McClintock was conspicuously the only member of California's House Republican delegation to not provide comment condemning Russia's full-scale invasion. McClintock's office did not return an SFGATE request for comment.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy wrote in a statement, "Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine is reckless and evil. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine and prays for their safety and resolve. Putins actions must be met with serious consequence. This act of war is intended to rewrite history and more concerning, upend the balance of power in Europe. Putin must be held accountable for his actions."

Some prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have called Putin a "genius" and "savvy" over the invasion. However, after the invasion was launched, Trump called into Fox News and said the invasion was "a very sad thing for the world, for the country and its certainly very sad for a lot of people that are going to be needlessly killed."

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, another California House Republican more aligned with the "America First" wing of the GOP, also took time to criticize Putin while calling for American sanctions in his statement.

"Internationally, I can support the Biden Administrations plan to offer Lend/Lease advanced military aid to Ukraine to defend itself from a Russian invasion," reads a statement from Rep. Doug LaMalfa. "I cannot support sending American troops in harms way. Giving the Ukrainians the military tools needed to defend their country is in Americas best interest. With our technological aid they can make this invasion extremely painful for Russia and hopefully prevail.

"Further, immediate and crippling sanctions must be placed on all Russian industry, military leaders, and oligarchs."

Prominent anti-war California Democrats have also made statements on the invasion.

"The United States stands with Ukraine," tweeted Rep. Ro Khanna. "We will hold Putin accountable for his unconscionable, unjustified, and illegal attack on the innocent people of Ukraine. He is committing a crime against humanity and flagrantly violating international law."

"My prayers are with the Ukrainian people tonight," tweeted Rep. Barbara Lee. "We stand with them and we stand for democracy."
courtesy of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office has released recent video of a man suspected of looting $1,000 in cigars from a Texaco in Spring.

At around 7:45 p.m. Feb. 15, an unidentified man walked into a Texaco at 24627 Interstate 45 with the store manager observing him via the security camera. The man is said to have picked out multiple cigar boxes before concealing them in a hand-held bag, the sheriffs office detailed.
One winter storm has wreaked havoc on Midwest highways, and another is about to hit the Northeast with a hazardous surge of ice and snow. On Tuesday, the Midwest was hit by the first storm, dumping 10 to 30 inches of snow in some locations.

In the previous 24 hours, the Minnesota State Patrol recorded 373 collisions, with 34 persons injured. This week, a second storm is expected to deliver significant ice buildup from Texas to New York.

Winter Storm Will Bring Significant Amount of Ice, Snow

On Wednesday, the storm is expected to wreak havoc on Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas highways. Dallas has been given a winter storm warning, with ice being the most serious hazard. With over 800 canceled flights, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is suffering the greatest flight cancellations of any airport on Wednesday.

After that, the storm travels north, bringing rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow to the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. An icy mix will bring sleet, snow, and freezing rain to the Mid-Atlantic and Washington, DC, areas on Thursday morning.

On Thursday night, a larger wave of ice and snow will hit the Interstate 95 corridor from DC through Philadelphia and into northern New Jersey. From Philadelphia to New York City and the Hudson Valley, freezing rain and sleet will fall Thursday night into Friday morning, ABC News reported.

Ice is causing particular concern among forecasters, with accumulation totals posing a "serious threat" to traffic and infrastructure. According to NBC News, some places might get 24 hours or more of precipitation, with a 1,800-mile swath of ice likely from middle Texas to the Northeast.

On Wednesday, more than 1,100 flights were canceled at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport due to the winter storm Oaklee. It is likely to have a "substantial impact" on American Airlines' operations, according to the airline.

The Dallas Independent School District had to cancel school for over 154,000 pupils due to the forecasted storms. Forecasters are predicting up to a foot of snow in certain locations, in addition to concerns about dangerous ice formation.

Three to six inches of snow might fall from the Midwest to New England, with 6 to 12 inches expected from upstate New York to southern New England. Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Albany, New York, as well as Burlington, Vermont, Portland, Maine, and Boston, are all anticipated to receive snow.

On Wednesday, a low-pressure system is already dumping feet of snow across the Rockies, raising fears of avalanches. Avalanche warnings were issued by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center from Wednesday morning until Thursday morning for higher altitudes, which may see up to 4 feet of snow.

Read Also: Parents Call Miracle Baby Born on "Twosday," 2/22/22 at 2:22 a.m. an 'Answered Prayer'

Western States Could See Record Low Temp

On Wednesday, temperatures in a dozen western states might set new lows, with some locations dropping 20-40 degrees below average. Wind chills range from -30 to -50 degrees in parts of the Plains, causing "life-threatening circumstances."

According to the National Weather Service, the dangerously low wind chills could inflict frostbite on exposed flesh in as little as 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the East Coast is seeing temperatures that are 10 to 20 degrees above average, which is providing the ideal conditions for ice storms.

On Thursday, significant rain is forecast in the lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys as a result of the storm's higher temperatures on the south side, posing a danger of flash flooding. According to forecasts, wild weather is predicted to move off the coast of the United States early Saturday.

The weather, which will start on Wednesday, follows a winter storm that hit the area earlier this week, causing hazardous driving conditions. On the I-84 freeway in frigid Oregon, a 100-car pile-up allegedly wounded 19 people.

Winter Storm Nancy slammed through the upper Midwest and Northeast, sending temperatures plummeting. Last week, as snow squalls covered the area, another incident involving 20 automobiles was recorded in Detroit.

Due to the inclement weather, police advised motorists to drive cautiously and maintain a greater than normal gap between automobiles. According to Michigan State Police, everyone engaged in a collision should remain in their vehicles and wear their seatbelts, as per The Sun.

Related Article: Winter Storm Warning February 2022: 'Multiple Hazards' Threaten 100 Million Americans -- What and How to Prepare

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In the midst of a fresh drive to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos, a new analysis issued Wednesday estimates that doing so may lose up to 2,500 casino jobs and roughly 11% of revenue as the city's casinos try to recover from the coronavirus outbreak.

The analysis was created by Spectrum Gaming Group, an independent gaming research organization, which backs up casinos' long-held position that banning smoking would harm their business, deprive New Jersey of tax money, and put thousands of people out of employment.

Atlantic City Casino Smoking Ban May Cause of 2,500 Job Losses

The study was panned by a coalition of casino employees and anti-smoking activists, who said it put profits ahead of the health of staff and guests. They also claimed that it failed to consider what would happen in following years when guests get accustomed to the smoking prohibition, noting the success of several tribal casinos.

The analysis was commissioned by the Casino Association of New Jersey, but it did not make a recommendation on whether smoking should be outlawed, an option that is getting fresh support in the state Legislature. New Jersey's Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, has stated that if a bill is enacted, he will sign it into law.

It discovered, among other things, that smokers, who make up 21% of Atlantic City gamblers, are more valuable to casinos than non-smokers because they lose more money and spend more on non-gambling products, according to CBS News.

Atlantic City "faces some very dire issues," according to Joe Lupo, president of the casino association and owner of the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City. He said casino employment and visitation are both at 20-year lows, and in-person gambling revenue has yet to return to pre-COVID levels, down 5% in 2021 compared to 2019.

According to Lupo, Atlantic City casino officials will meet with the governor this week to discuss their concerns. In Atlantic City, smoking is permitted on 25% of the casino floor. The casinos argue that prohibiting smoking will drive smokers to Pennsylvania, where several casinos allow it.

For more than a year, a group of Atlantic City casino employees has been pushing for New Jersey to close the loophole in its public smoking law that allows it to continue in casinos even though it is prohibited in most other indoor spaces, with the help of national non-smoking organizations.

Despite the millions of dollars spent on filters and air purification technologies by casinos, they complain of suffering respiratory diseases and other problems from smoking secondhand smoke.

Read Also: Having Fun in the Sun is Medicine for Seniors

Smoking Ban Reintroduced in New Jersey This Year

Last year's legislation to ban casino smoking failed, but it has been resurrected this year with bipartisan backing, including from a former governor, Democratic state Sen. Richard Codey.

In 2008, Atlantic City prohibited smoking for four weeks; but after being disappointed with the results, it was swiftly reinstated to its existing 25% level. Casino earnings dropped by 19.5 percent in the first week after the prohibition, according to casino employees union representatives, and state authorities, as per Daily Mail.

According to the analysis, between 1,021 and 2,512 employment might be lost in Atlantic City in the first year of a smoking ban. According to Spectrum, each casino employee was funded by $155,008 in gaming revenue in 2019. They also spoke with casino executives, employees, and customers, as well as anti-smoking advocacy groups, and looked into the experiences of other states that have prohibited casino smoking.

If smoking is outlawed, the research estimates that 10% of Atlantic City's casino workers will lose their employment. It also discovered that a smoking ban would reduce non-gambling income by up to $93 million, or 6.5 percent, and tax collection by up to 44 percent.

Non-smoking clients would be more inclined to visit casinos if smoking was prohibited, according to the survey. However, the increased money would not be enough to compensate for a drop in overall gaming revenue, according to the analysis.

It does not anticipate all smokers to cease visiting the casinos in Atlantic City if smoking is prohibited. According to the research, about 13% of smokers would still visit casinos, and they also have the option of gambling online, ABC News reported.

Related Article: Vaping Does Not Help a Lot in Quitting Smoking, Causes Harm to Teeth, Gums

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Texas leaders released the following statements in response to the renewed Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The prayers of all Americans and Texans are with the people of Ukraine today. The harrowing images and videos of Russian forces indiscriminately attacking Ukrainian cities are a stark reminder of what happens when the world lacks strong American leadership. Make no mistake, this is a brutal assault on a sovereign nation by a petty dictator to destroy the democratic nation of Ukraine. Putin and his cronies must be held accountable for their crimes.

I have been proud to serve our country, including in times of war, and I know firsthand the horrors of combat. In the coming days I will be taking aggressive steps to demand that President Biden reverse course to finally impose crippling costs on Vladimir Putin and prevent further death and destruction in Ukraine; to fully defend the United States and our allies from malign actors and enemies. Now is the time for strength, not weakness.

 Congressman August Pfluger







"The State of Texas stands with the people of Ukraine in their fight for sovereignty. May God bless them and keep them safe. The United States must do all we can to repel Putin's invasion."

 Governor Greg Abbott via Twitter

America stands with Ukraine, and we will do everything we can to help them defend themselves against the Russian Federation.

The United States has played no part in creating this crisis, but we have a responsibility to support the Ukrainian people as they fight to defend their own sovereignty.

Putin has tried to get away with as much as he can, and it would be naive to think that he will stop at Ukraine. Ukraine is on the front line of a crisis, but the security of Europe is also in question.

This is not just about Ukraine. This is not just about Europe. This is about Americas credibility and that of our friends and allies around the world and our willingness to stand up for our values and defend our freedoms. If the U.S. fails to support Ukraine, other authoritarian movements like those in China and Iran will take note.

 U.S. Sen. John Cornyn

"Praying for the millions of Ukrainians who are facing Putin's unprovoked aggression & this existential threat. Ukraine has America's steadfast support & we will continue to arm them so they can defend their country. Those involved in this should know they'll be held accountable."

 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz via Twitter







"Russias attack on Ukraine constitutes the gravest security crisis on the European continent since World War II. I join the international community in condemning Vladimir Putins unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. The American government and people must stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people as they seek freedom and the right to choose their own future. We cannot tolerate the authoritarian bullying and danger that Putin poses. Ukraine is our friend and democratic ally and deserves our full support during this most difficult time."

 President George W. Bush

"Praying for the people of Ukraine. America stands with the citizens of Ukraine in the face of Vladimir Putins unprovoked invasion.

Putin has destroyed peace in Europe, he wants war. Now is the time for strength, not weakness."

 Christi Craddick, Texas Railroad Commissioner
The campaign of Governor Greg Abbott denied on Wednesday new allegations regarding his purported involvement in influencing energy prices throughout the state during the disastrous Texas freeze that left millions without power and led to the deaths of over 250 people in February of 2021.

As first reported by The Dallas Morning News' Philip Jankowski, Abbott campaign spokesman Mark Miner issued a statement Wednesday rebutting recent claims made by a former Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) leader alleging the governor played a role in keeping power prices at the maximum possible price cap as the grid struggled to stay online.

"As Texans would expect, Governor Abbott instructed everyone involved that they must do what was needed to keep the power on and to prevent the loss of life," Miner told Jankowski in a text message. "This is the same instruction Governor Abbot gave to the [Public Utilities Commission] and ERCOT earlier this year: do what needs to be done to keep the power on."

The statement comes in response to incendiary testimony from former ERCOT CEO Bill Magness, who testified in a Houston courtroom on Wednesday that he was acting in accordance with the governor's wishes when he ordered energy prices to remain at the highest possible price of $9,000 per megawatt hour for days on end during the crisis.

As first reported by the Houston Chronicle's James Osborne, the former ERCOT chief pointed to instructions from Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chair DeAnn Walker as the impetus for ERCOT's decision to keep energy premiums at their priciest amid the blackouts. Magness alleged Walker had impressed upon him the governor's desire for the council to do any and everything possible to prevent outages around the state from worsening.

"[Walker] told me the governor had conveyed to her if we emerged from rotating outages it was imperative they not resume," Magness testified, per Osborne. "We needed to do what we needed to do make it happen."

Magness' testimony is part of an ongoing bankruptcy case involving Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, one of the state's oldest large-scale power providers. The cooperative fell into insolvency after racking up a $1.9 billion bill as a result of energy price hikes during Winter Storm Uri, and has gone to trial in the Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court in hopes of having some of its debts eased.

The case revolves around ERCOT's choice to keep energy prices at a premium during the freezea decision the regulatory body claims it made to incentivize power generators to keep supplying electricity. According to Bloomberg.com's Jeremy Hill, representatives for Brazos Electric say the price hike did nothing to improve conditions and instead led to financial ruin for companies trading energy.

"We don't dispute what we bought, we don't dispute how much we bought," said Brazos attorney Lino Mendiola in court on Tuesday. "What we dispute is the price. It was literally the most expensive thing ERCOT could've done and it accomplished nothing."
Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will stop blocking President Joe Bidens State Department nominees now that the administration is implementing sanctions against a company that built a Russian gas pipeline meant to supply Germany with natural gas.

Still, Texas junior senator wants the administration and Congress to issue permanent sanctions on the pipeline as Russian President Vladimir Putin mobilizes forces along the Ukraine border. For months, Cruz single-handedly delayed dozens of key State Department nominees to retaliate against a previous Biden decision to drop opposition to the pipeline.

The Nord Stream 2 runs underneath the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany. Cruz and other lawmakers have opposed the pipeline for years and passed sanctions intended to block it.

Putin believes that Nord Stream 2's activation is a fait accompli now that it has been physically completed, and that any barriers or sanctions are only temporary, Cruz said. His aggression toward Ukraine is based on that assessment, and the only way to change his decision calculus is to convince him Nord Stream 2 will never come online.

Biden last year agreed to drop opposition to the pipeline, which was nearly complete, as a means to improve the relationship between the U.S. and Germany. But as Putin appears to be gearing up for a deeper push into the Ukraine, Cruz and Biden appear to be on the same page.

Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers, Biden said in a statement. These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russias actions in Ukraine.

Bidens sanctions come after German leaders announced the country would block usage of the pipeline as punishment for a Russian invasion into Ukraine that the Western world is expecting.

Todays announcement should be followed by additional steps inside the Biden administration and in Congress to permanently lock in sanctions, Cruz said.

Last spring, the Biden administration lifted sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO Matthias Warnig, a Putin ally. The Biden move was widely perceived as an accommodation to Germany, one of the United States closest European allies.

Cruz vigorously opposed that action, going so far as to put the matter to a Senate vote earlier this year.

In his statement, Cruz went on to call for more to be done to deter and counter the threat that Putin poses to our allies in Ukraine and across Europe.

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Austin, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released a statement concurring with Cruz.

Todays announcement, while long overdue, reflects years of bipartisan efforts and is a step in the right direction, McCaul said.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
In the wee hours of Thursday morning Russian military forces launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. As explosions thundered before dawn in the capital Kyiv and other major cities, Ukranian civilians hid underground to seek refuge from missile attacks and air strikes.

In a televised declaration before the assault, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen in history.

As news of the conflict hit the U.S., Texas leaders began weighing in, many echoing President Joe Biden's statements calling the invasion "unprovoked and unjustified." Former President George W. Bush in a message issued Thursday called the attack "the gravest security crisis on the European continent since World War II."

"The American government and people must stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people as they seek freedom and the right to choose their own future," Bush stated. "We cannot tolerate the authoritarian bullying and danger that Putin poses. Ukraine is our friend and democratic ally and deserves our full support during this difficult time."

Following the attack, Gov. Greg Abbott said the state stands in solidarity with Ukraine in their fight for sovereignty. "May God bless them and keep them safe," Abbott tweeted Thursday morning. "The United States must do all we can to repel Putin's invasion."

Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also took to Twitter to express his "enormous concern and anger" following news of the invasion. "The U.S. will stand with our Ukranian allies, continue to provide them with arms to defend themselves, and work to counter Putin and hold accountable those responsible for this aggression," Cruz tweeted.

Following news of Putin's further invasion of Ukraine with enormous concern and anger.



The US will stand with our Ukrainian allies, continue to provide them with arms to defend themselves, and work to counter Putin and hold accountable those responsible for this aggression.  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 24, 2022

Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn also issued a statement, saying that although the U.S. did not play a role in creating the crisis, it still bears the responsibility of supporting Ukraine in defending their own sovereignty.

"America stands with Ukraine, and we will do everything we can to help them defend themselves against the Russian Federation," Cornyn said, warning that the security of other European countries is also in jeopardy. "This is about America's credibility and that our friends and allies around the world and our willingness to stand up for our values and defend freedoms. If the U.S. fails to support Ukraine, other authoritarian movements like those in China and Iran will take note."

Others critiqued Biden's decision to deploy forces in response to Putin, suggesting his priorities were misplaced. Land Commissioner George P. Bush, a candidate in Texas' 2022 attorney general election, tweeted "Sleepy Joe is more interested in securing Ukraine's border than our own southern border. He sits idle by as yet another caravan of illegal immigrants makes its way here. We will not tolerate this again - wake up, Joe."

Following the Russian onslaught overnight, the AG candidate tweeted "Praying for peace in Ukraine. Unprovoked aggression must not stand."
Republican representative from Florida Michael Waltz tore into Joe Biden for what he calls not a position of strength that is a disadvantage for the US. This appeasement did not stop Vladimir Putin from rolling into pro-Russian provinces recently.

The GOP representative called the response of Joe Biden not enough as the Russians are not even concerned over the sanctions imposed on them.

Russian Advances

Last Tuesday, Waltz spoke to Newsmax, saying how the president dealt with Russian aggression, with Russian forces occupying friendly regions with power and internet backout that followed.

He said the following statements on Spicer & Co. last Tuesday when he went to Ukraine several months back. The kind of aid given was for fighting in Afghanistan but not for Russian armor.

The proper equipment was given because the White House was unwilling to provoke the Kremlin or anything that would make President Putin order an attack.

US officials have reported that Moscow will support two pro-Russian provinces that had been under attack by Ukrainian forces, per TASS. They were called independent and peacekeepers with heavy weapons, catching the west like in Crimea.

When Crimea was annexed by Russian forces in 2014, it was Obama and then vice-president Biden when it happened, as history repeats itself.

Biden Chooses Appeasement

Last Tuesday, President Joe Biden said the alleged swift and severe sanctions would be heaped on Moscow if Ukraine territory was invaded.

He said that Vladimir Putin acknowledged two regions as independent states that he declared free from Kyiv. Stating support for their quest for independence noted Rep. Waltz, who scoured Joe Biden for the miscalculation.

Read Also: Republican Senator Tells Joe Biden To Take Responsibility For Rising Fuel Prices, Stop Using Putin as an Excuse To Deflect Blame

Remarked that Russia has carved out parts of the country; he forgot to add that they want to secede and be part of Russia,

The Democrat president's s administration called a serious response to the Russian rollout consisting of shutting the Nord Stream 2 and freezing assets and accounts of two major Russian banks.

These Russian banks that were targets of penalties are V.E.B. and the Military bank; next would be affecting the status of Russian sovereign debt.

It is declared that it will cut off the Russian government from financial institutions in the west, but the question is whether western banking will stay steadfast on what Biden says will go.

Biden just hurt Europe and America more. The White House has been struggling to contain Putin has not been practical because deterrence failed.

GOP Rep. Waltz said the closing of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline would not faze the Russian leader; it would make it harder for Americans to deal with higher oil prices.

Moscow has made sure that if the Nord Stream 2 is stopped, the bloc will be paying more than the US, and there will be another strike for the Joe Biden White House dearly.

A position of weakness is what the US government has for allegedly not acting earlier and reportedly hampering energy independence that Putin saw from day one and the fall of Afghanistan.

Instead of continuing the Keystone XL pipeline in Alaska, he stopped it and no more drilling on federal land. The Democrats are pushing their Green New Deal that prevents oil and gas companies from operating profitably.

Rep. Waltz criticizes Joe Biden for all these missteps in energy independence and foreign policy that has not been beneficial; his people are patting their backs for an alleged good job. But the tanks rolled, and the EU could be facing a more severe energy crunch via wrong decisions.

Related article: Rep Comer Says Joe Biden Is To Blame for Energy Deficiency, Constant Increase Gas Prices

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In conjunction with the Florida Department of Educations (FLDOE) required Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP), school districts must create an additional ICP per the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE).

ICPs must include district procedures for maintaining the health and safety of students, educators and staff. However, unlike the FLDOE, the USDOE requires districts to include how they have adopted policies on each of the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC) safety guidelines.

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School board talks ESSER III, instructional continuity The Citrus County School District is nearing completion of the Elementary and Secondary Emer

At Tuesday mornings Citrus County School Board special meeting and workshop, district Director of Elementary Education Trish Kahler and Director of District Student Services Kit Humbaugh presented the districts plan, addressing CDC guidelines, to the board.

According to Humbaugh, between Feb. 15 and Feb. 21, seven staff members and 17 students reported a positive COVID-19 test. The schools are doing great, she said. Things are looking bright.

In their plan, the district has outlined the following procedures in place per CDC guidelines:

Mask wearing

Per Florida Executive Order 21-175, parents have the right to choose whether their child wears a mask. However, Kahler said, Citrus County Schools supports students and staff choosing to wear a mask.

In addition, the district strongly recommends mask wearing in clinics and isolation rooms.

Handwashing and respiratory etiquette

Videos, posters and signage are placed around district schools to encourage handwashing and respiratory etiquette. In addition, school nurses are available for classroom lessons and hand sanitizer stations are placed in school common areas for staff and student use.

Physical distancing

The district is encouraging schools to place students in smaller groups within the classroom or common areas such as lunch rooms.

Facility cleaning and ventilation

As needed, schools conduct nightly deep cleaning with CDC-approved agents. Hard surfaces in classrooms are cleaned multiple times per day.

In addition, the district is carrying out HVAC updates and filter changes, as recommended by the CDC.

Contact tracing, isolation and quarantine

Things have changed quite a bit, Humbaugh said.

Currently, the district and Citrus Department of Health (DOH-Citrus) are collaborating on contact tracing. However, the districts online COVID-19 dashboard has not been updated for public viewing since Oct. 28, 2021.

Per CDC guidelines, COVID-19 positive teachers can return to work after five days if they no longer present with a fever or other symptoms. Staff is still allotted 10 days of COVID-19 sick pay with a confirmed positive test.

However, students are governed under FLDOE, according to Humbaugh. Therefore, COVID-19 positive students must stay home for 10 days unless they provide a doctors note.

If teachers or students come in close contact COVID-19, both have the option to return to school if they are not presenting symptoms.

COVID-19 testing and vaccinations

Testing is not offered on school campuses, nor is there random temperature monitoring. However, the district and DOH-Citrus work together to distribute information on testing sites to students, parents and staff.

Vaccines and booster shots have been offered to staff and applicable students through DOH-Citrus.

In addition, the district and DOH-Citrus continue to collaborate on the development of COVID-19 procedures.

To view the districts complete ICP, visit tinyurl.com/t6phzraj and select the Feb. 22 special meeting and workshop.
United States President Joe Biden has interviewed at least three Black women for a potential Supreme Court nomination and is expected to reveal his decision by the end of this month.

The three individuals have been identified as Ketanji Brown Jackson, Leondra Kruger, and J. Michelle Childs. Many people view Jackson as the leading contender among the candidates and are currently seated on the U.S. court of appeals for the D.C. circuit. She replaced attorney general Merrick Garland in June 2021.

Biden's Supreme Court Nominee

On the other hand, Kruger is an associate justice of the California supreme court and has previously served as the acting principal deputy solicitor general during former President Barack Obama's administration.

The third candidate, Childs, is currently seated on the U.S. district court for the district of South Carolina and was previously nominated by President Biden for a seat on the D.C. circuit court of appeals.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer's impending retirement has allowed President Biden the opportunity to fulfill one of his campaign promises, which was to appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court, as per The Guardian.

The Democratic president has requested the aid of former Democratic Alabama Sen. Doug Jones for the experience he had in guiding the confirmation process. The coordination would include private meetings with senators and practice sessions known as "murder boards" that would prepare the nominee for what officials expect as tough Senate committee questioning.

According to Fox News, authorities have already set up an office space that is adjacent to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building that will become Jones' and other outside advisers' private space. Biden's nominee will also be given a suite of offices to prepare for the confirmation into the Supreme Court.

Read Also: Joe Biden, Top World Leaders Slam Vladimir Putin, Russia for Ukraine Invasion: "There's No Justification"

The director of the White House office of public engagement, Cedric L Richmond, told members of the organization Win With Black Women on Sunday evening that the Biden administration was "close" to choosing a nominee.

Deadline for a Choice

The official acknowledged that there will be criticisms of Biden's choice but argued that in the past decades, the majority of presidents picked close White friends for the Supreme Court. Despite dealing with rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Biden has set a deadline for his choice.

White House officials have also reportedly reached out to liberal groups to inform them that the U.S. president will not be shifting from his timeline. The Democrat also urged them to support "top tier" candidates despite attacks from critics.

A White House spokesperson, Andrews Bates, released a statement on Tuesday saying that Biden has not yet finalized his decision. He said that the president continues to evaluate eminently qualified individuals who share Breyer's convictions. Biden is said to be looking at the strongest records, intellect, character, and dedication to the rule of law that anyone could ask for in a justice.

Bates said that Biden believed all of the candidates he had been interviewing had these qualities and that the president was looking forward to announcing a nominee later this month, the New York Times reported.



Related Article: Ted Cruz Argues Biden's Promise To Put Black Woman on SC Is Illegal, Could Be Deemed as Racial Discrimination

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Done right, IT service management (ITSM) reduces IT asset and management costs, increases employee productivity and satisfaction, and gives management insights into how IT resources are being used to help the business.

ITSM is the policies and procedures for designing and delivering IT services to end users. It extends beyond IT support or help desk to all the monitoring, management, and troubleshooting needed to consistently improve IT services to meet the needs of the business.

Effective ITSM requires, among other things, identifying which technology components such as servers and databases support which applications, properly documenting that knowledge and fine-tuning support processes. Over time, as these relationships and dependencies become more complex, ITSM can become overly expensive and too focused on technology rather than the business.

Here are some common ways ITSM can go wrong and how to avoid them.

Boiling the ocean

Dont do too much too fast, says Christian Hjortkjr, head of IT asset and service management at Copenhagen Airport. Using ServiceNows ITSM platform, We started out with core ITSM, such as incident management and change management but limited their use to platforms such as laptops and software. The airport then slowly expanded ITSM to other services such as the ordering of access cards and parking permits. Had we offered all the services from the beginning we would have failed miserably because it requires time and resources.

Creating a knowledge base for users was another area where we have been overly ambitious, he says, failing to put in place proper processes to upgrade and maintain it. Sifting through inaccuracies and outdated information can require time and effort to correct when remediating problems, says Hjortkjr.

Start small with core functions and review them on a regular basis. Ensure these feel part of the culture of your IT organization before jumping to advanced activities such as AI, says Chris Matchett, a senior research director at Gartner. Document and optimize processes before automating them, he suggests. If the process is fundamentally broken then automation can only give you the wrong outcome again and again.

One of the first steps for Hjortkjr was leveraging ServiceNow to create a common data source, commonly referred to as a configuration management database (CMDB), with well-documented links to business applications. Use of the CMDB to track, for example, which services are dependent on which servers helps the IT staff determine which outages are most critical, to begin recovering them, and to quickly notify users of those applications about the issue, he says.

Customers using the ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) framework for ITSM should be sure to create a clear, well-defined IT service catalog and management processes says Ruben Avila Calvo, CTO at inspection and testing company Applus. ITIL implies that you have a clear definition of processes, roles, and responsibilities where each stage is properly documented, responsibilities are clear, and theres a procedure in place that ensures the service is delivered with a committed SLA [service level agreement]. Failing to provide this can lead to higher costs and lower-quality service as service issues are routed to the wrong staff, he says.

Cecile Blackburn, global end user services lead at agricultural chemicals firm Corteva, remembers one weekend when a user support ticket was routed to a support team that did not work over the weekend, rather than to the team that did. We really disrupted the business because of the difficulty of equating the business service with the IT components providing that service, she says.

Neglecting the business

Its tempting to focus on the IT in ITSM, but its real aim is to deliver business services. Failing to design ITSM with the business in mind, and to describe its benefits in business terms, reduces adoption and makes using it more confusing for the business.

If I sit in the business I dont really care how many incidents IT has had, says Hjortkjr. All I care about is my application, how many incidents does my application have, and how did I resolve them? He can only provide meaningful reports to the CEO if I can link my incidents to the correct configuration item, which is then connected to the correct business application and put in context of how those services help improve airport operations.

A challenge Corteva has addressed using ServiceNow ITSM is how to connect disparate IT components, so that the application owner doesnt have to chase server, database, and firewall teams just to build an application to deliver to the business. That means lots of wasted time. There are delays in getting tickets logged and delays in finding out how to solve the problem, says Kshitij Bahadur, enterprise service integration lead at Corteva.

Eugene Mejia, deputy chief technology officer of the town of Gilbert, Arizona, and his team made improving the experience for the towns 1,600 employees a key business driver for its ITSM efforts. He and the IT leadership team use monthly employee surveys to measure their success at developing features such as the quality of Web interfaces and mobile apps to facilitate remote work. They use Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Webex Contact Center to manage call queues for service requests and troubleshooting.

Such a focus on employee experience is very compelling for C-level executives who must fund ITSM, says Forrester analyst Will McKeon-White.

Failing to communicate

Unclear communication makes it far more difficult to explain the value of ITSM to the business, to properly organize ITSM efforts, to set expectations for its deployment and to secure proper funding for it.

Hjortkjr suggests using the CMDB to map IT components to business applications, assign ownership of those applications to both IT and business sponsors, and ask those sponsors to explain the role of each application to the business, as well as how best to use it and eventually when to replace it.

Thomas Smith, director of telecommunications and IT support at funeral goods and services provider Service Corp. International, recommends being candid about schedules. One of the biggest mistakes we made in the past, and still make, is to say `Were going to get it done in three months. Four months later, everyone is still hoping for three months, he says. Understand any deficiencies in your ITSM tool or services, he recommends, and tell the business process owners `We have a plan to address it.

Calvo says the terms of SLAs, such as those it created using BMCs Helix ITSM platform, can help set expectations and reduce frustration from users who think everything should be solved ASAP.

Clear communication can also help business owners agree on when when customization is worth the future maintenance headaches it creates, says McKeon-White. Everyone is trying to meet the organizations needs in the way they understand. But they may not be aligned to things like customer outcomes, reduced risk management, and so on, he says.

It is also necessary, says Smith, to specifically define what users need in ITSM support tools such as the Ivanti Neurons for ITSM platform he used. This may include, for example, What a user is seeing on their W-9 form, in a benefits interface on the web, or what they mean by `the screen keeps crashing, he says. Such requirements may be difficult to nail down because, for example, an HR staff member may not understand the difference berween an incident and a service request. He consults with IT and business users to share terms and definitions to ensure everyone understands what each requirement means and have agreed on their priority.

Over-customizing

McKeon-White calls over-customization one of the biggest challenges he sees in ITSM projects. Customers modify ITSM systems for what they feel are legitimate reasons, he says. As more changes are made to the system and the employees who made those changes leave the company over time, its impossible to reconstruct what changes were made or why, making the ITSM system harder to manage and upgrade. The problem is less each individual function that is customized, but how all those customizations work together, he says. Because of the number and complexity of interactions among the components in an ITSM platform, he says, If you want to change anything you cant, because if you touch one thing it will break something else.

Bahadur agrees, saying that often various IT teams establish their own support practicesand some more robust than the others. He recommends resisting pressure to implement these processes as exceptions. One day you may realize that you have more exceptions that you can handle, and the tool has been customized so much that it becomes difficult to maintain.

Rather than do a lot of customization, we want to use as many workflows out of the box as we can and change our processes and workflows, says Mejia, because the creators of ITIL and ITSM tools are the experts.

Firing and forgetting

ITSM cannot be fully implemented as a time-limited project, says Matchett. Failing to provide ongoing management and training can reduce ITSM effectiveness, especially as business requirements and the ITSM tool itself changes, he says.

Most ITSM tools are offered as software-as-a-service, meaning the software provider rather than the customer maintains the underlying infrastructure. However, says McKeon-White, customers should plan for one or two people to do ongoing optimization, whether serving customers, improving resiliency, reducing change risks, better incident management processes, making sure everyone who helps resolve the problem gets all the right information and understanding the state of work in progress.

Hjortkjr says ITSM requires continuous education for users in new processes, especially when moving to more advanced platforms. These can demonstrate the cool features, the fancy features, the impacts ITSM can apply to your daily work, from dashboards to reports to shortcuts  (the) many ways you can set up your ITSM screen to make you more productive and help you in your daily work.

As with so many IT initiatives, service management works best when it is designed around business needs, its values are clearly communicated, it does not incur long-term hidden technical debt, and it is properly managed over time.
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Wilkes Barre, PA (18701)

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Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 69F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Wilkes Barre, PA (18701)

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Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Vladimir Putin warned NATO and the US that hypersonic missiles are ready to attack his forces or Russia, these missiles have been tested recently.

But the Kremlin will not hesitate to use it should the Western alliance creep on Russian soil or its allies.

The Russian leader is seen as a no-nonsense head of state who is willing to commit his deadly arsenal if needed; so far, the west has no equivalent weapon yet.

Russian Unstoppable Arms Feared by NATO

Fears that these super-fast missiles may come into play when the Kremlin ordered his armored divisions to secure pro-Russian loyalists in two rebel provinces under attack from Ukraine forces, reported the Express UK.

Countless Russian troops are camped on the Ukraine border in a tense standoff; the west fearmongering is now propagandizing that 6,257 nuclear warheads will be trained on Kyiv.

The west is playing Putin's rulebook, but still lacking.

Russia's ace in the hole in the arsenal of superfast weapons already on combat status; each is lethality personified.

Putin said that these superfast missiles would continue development and advanced weaponry.

Physicist Steve Hsu stated to Richard Hanania from the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology; his warning about these weapons.

Warned that the Russians have learned the technology and are also ready for lethal use.

Giving a chilling overall assessment that guidance systems, sensor packages, and the material to build them are strong enough to resist heat traveling at Mach 5+ with a plasma shield in the atmosphere, cited the Newslanes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has these hypersonic missiles at his disposal to be nuclear-armed.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Says Russia Will Do Anything to Protect Itself Against NATO, Ukraine Aggression

Moscow and Beijing lead the US lagging in these kinds of weapons research, sending shivers to the west. If the US did not stop the same research and development twenty years ago, they would be leading, but it was too expensive.

Russia To Conquer

President Putin's words come as tests for two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) were done by the military.

One of the ICBMs or long-range missiles was fired in northwestern side Russia, and another is a submarine-launched missile located in the Barents Sea, noted TASS.

It was able to hit its target several thousand kilometers distance in Kamchatka's far eastern peninsula.

The Kremlin has often said it is a defensive build-up for Russia against NATO.

But the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is getting worked up over an alleged invasion of Ukraine, or go for Kyiv as allegedly possible.

No matter what the Kremlin does, the west scream invasion that is making things worse.

Getting bad for Kyiv as Washington's goading makes it worse

These ICBMs, according to sources, can travel as fast as four thousand miles a second; in ten minutes, the target would be devastated.

Like the Ukraine capital in a minute will be hit; no way to stop it.

The news is that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has extra powers when an emergency is declared. He could enact curfews and signs that Moscow is allegedly planning to attack.

A former British NATO commander, General Sir Richard Sherriff, summed up the situation of Kyiv as dire.

He added nukes are not in play yet, but the Russians apply nuclear options and hone it daily.

NATO is facing off Vladimir Putin, who has prepared in advance, and hypersonic missiles are now the deadly element in play. The US nor NATO could not hope to stop it but chose not to deal with the Kremlin the right way.

Related Article: Russian Scientists Develops New Technologies in Plasma Physics, Advanced Materials Applicable To Modern Weaponry Before the West

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Heres a Delphic riddle for our times: When is your father not your father? Answer: when hes a sperm donor. Consider a case now before the Kansas Supreme Court. An unmarried woman in her early thirties decided that she wanted a child and asked a friend to be a sperm donor. He agreed, one thing led to another, which led to a syringe of his sperm, which led to the birth of twins. The mother says that she always intended to raise the kids alone and never wanted the friend involved in their lives. The donor says that he planned to be the twins father in name and practice. There is no written contract. What does the contemporary Solomon do?

Well, in a Kansas trial court, Solomon rules that without a contract the twins have no father. The man who provided half of the childrens genetic material has no more relationship to them than does the taxi driver who rushed their mother to the hospital when she went into labor. Now, assuming that the supreme court upholds the decision, the state of Kansas can celebrate adding two more fatherless children to its population, and Mom can rejoice by dressing her twins in bibsavailable over the Internetproudly announcing: my daddys name is donor.

Youd think that we had enough problems keeping fathers around in this country, what with out-of-wedlock births (over a third of all children are born to unmarried women, and, in most cases, the fathers will fade from the picture) and divorce (the average divorced dad sees his kids less often than he takes his car in for an oil change). But these days, American fatherhood has yet another hostile force to contend with: artificial insemination. This may sound a tad overheated. After all, AI has been around, by some accounts, for over a century. And the number of kids born through the procedure each year, though steadily growing, remains quite small relative to the millions of babies conceived, as we can now say completely without irony, the old-fashioned way.

But aided by a lucrative sperm-bank service industry, an increasingly unmarried consumer base, a legal profession and judiciary geared toward seeing relationships through a contractual lens, and a growing cultural preference for individual choice without limits, AI is advancing a cause once celebrated only in the most obscure radical journals: the dad-free family. There are multiple ironies in this unfolding revolution, not least that the technology that allows women to have a family without men promotes the very male carelessness that leads a lot of women to become single mothers in the first place. And fatherless families are a delicate proposition, as AI families are discovering, since all the scientists technology and all the lawyerly contracts cant take human nature out of human reproduction.

In the middle of the twentieth century, artificial insemination seemed as family-values-friendly as Dr. James Dobson himself. If a woman had trouble conceiving, doctors would inject her husbands sperm directly into her uterus. Or, if the husbands sperm count was low, physicians would enlist the help of medical students willing to provide their sperm. AI was rare, producing 5,000 to 7,000 American babies a year.

It was also hush-hush. Doctors often kept no records or they signed false birth certificates, and they firmly instructed patients to tell no one, especially the kids. Most children conceived through AI during that era probably went through life unaware that Dad was not a biological relation. From todays vantage point, the approach seems typical of a time too enamored of family secrets and overly cowed by medical authority. Yet if the mid-century approach to artificial insemination was excessively protective of the feelings of infertile men and failed to grasp that family secrets have a way of unraveling rather messily, it also recognized, as did the culture at large, that a child needs both clarity and an intact home.

That recognition began to weaken as technology, economics, and a liberalizing social climate worked together to expand AI into brave new territory. First: technology. By the midtwentieth century, scientists figured out the science of cryo-freezing cattle sperm; by the late seventies, they had perfected techniques that could store the more delicate labor of men. This innovation led to the expansion of that peculiar contemporary entity, the sperm bank, and that in turn led to the transformation of AI from a fringe medical procedure to a consumer business. Freezing enabled sperm banks not only to weather but also to benefit from the HIV-AIDS epidemic. Bankers can freeze a mans sperm for six monthsthe time that it can take for HIV to show up in the blood test of an infected individualand then do a blood test on the donor before putting the product on sale, making frozen sperm safer than fresh.

Then: market economics. In his fascinating new book, The Genius Factory, David Plotz describes the 1980 origins of the Repository for Germinal Choice. Widely known as the Nobel Prize sperm bank, because (supposedly) it specialized in the seed of Nobel laureates, it was one of the earliest banks, and the first to treat would-be mothers as customers rather than as patients. The founder, an eccentric millionaire eugenicist named Robert Graham, marketed his stable of studs through brochures touting such qualities as beautiful teeth, happy and radiant personality, and, of course, a dazzling IQ. Todays sperm banksoften mighty enterprises compared with the corner-store operation that was the Nobel bankprovide lengthy online catalogs of donors, containing basic stats like height, hair, eye color, and education. If donor #305 has the right coloring and smarts to be your childs father, you can make sure that hes the one for an extra fee, by buying his psychological test, his baby photo, an audio interview with him, and perhaps even the sperm banks notes from his intake interview.

And finally: a changing social climate. The increasingly sophisticated, market-driven technology eventually joined forces with what I call the unmarriage revolutionthat is, the decoupling of marriage and child rearingand extended itself to single women and lesbians. As early as the seventies, a small number of lesbians were bypassing the medical establishment by procuring the necessary body fluid from male friends or acquaintances, and buying a mason jar and a turkey baster from the local hardware store.

Now theyre more likely to go to the sperm store like everyone else, especially since a 2006 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Ethics Committee report calling for equal access to fertility treatment for gays, lesbians, and singles. These days, anyone can buy sperm: married couples, gay couples, and single women; women on the AARP mailing list, women barely out of college, 40-year-old women who have tried desperately to find husbands and have no other hope of becoming mothers, and 20-something women whowelljust want to, thats all; rich and famous women like Annie Leibovitz, Wendy Wasserstein, and Mary Cheney; and divorced third-grade teachers who live in modest two-bedroom condos and are fed up with men. Whoever. The California Cryobank, the countrys largest, estimates that about 40 percent of its customers are unmarried women. The Sperm Bank of California says that two-thirds of its clientele are lesbian couples. Most professionals believe that about 1 million American children are the progeny of sperm donorsthe large majority of them anonymouswith 30,000 more boosting the ranks each year.

Subtract the children born via AI to infertile married couples: thats still a lot of fatherless kids.

Most fertility specialistsexcept perhaps the Nobel factorys, whose ambition was to improve the raceprobably never imagined themselves as building a new family order. They just believed that they were helping the unfortunate, a view that the joyful maternal testimonials filling sperm-bank websites support. But that doesnt answer the question of whether spreading happinessas opposed to the entirely different matter of healing the sickautomatically validates artificial inseminations almost entirely unregulated march into the mainstream of American life.

For starters, an AI foul-up can be traumatic. Just ask the white British woman who thought shed been inseminated artificially with her white husbands spermuntil she delivered black twins. For decades, sperm banks have proliferated like Starbucks. You could open one in your garage or in back of the local pet store. Plotz mentions a scientist who told a television reporter that, along with running a small sperm bank, he also bred dogs. In fact, he went on, he kept his human and canine sperm side by side in his freezer. The threat of a harried technician accidentally reaching for Rin Tin Tins seed as a potential mother-to- be waited nervously nearby was enough briefly to rouse California public health officials, who shut down the sperm bank. For the most part, though, industry oversight is minimal. Sperm banks must register with the FDA and screen for several diseases, including HIV, but thats about it.

The thorniest problems unleashed by widespread AI have had less to do with mix-ups than with what has always been one of societys most vexing questions: Who is the father? In a more conservative time, lawyers joinedcritics might say conspired withdoctors to contain the potential ambiguities of paternity and to bolster the social consensus that children should grow up with married parents. In 1973, the American Bar Association published the Uniform Parentage Act, a model state law that proposed that a womans husband automatically be deemed the legal father of her AI childrenassuming that he had consented to the procedure and that a doctor had performed the insemination. The donor dad would be a legal cipher, just as he was a domestic one.

But with a growing number of AI cases involving single women and lesbian couples, the pretense of the donors nonexistence is no longer tenable, since theres no father around. The issues surrounding the practice have grown vastly more complicated: Can a sperm donor be a father? Can his mother be a grandmother? Can a child conceived through AI inherit property from her biological father? Can a child have two mothers and no father? How about two mothers and a father? Can the lesbian partner of a biological mother have custody rights if the couple breaks up? Can she be required to pay child support? And, again, who are the grandparents?

Unfortunately, in the absence of any other authority, answering these questions has fallen to family court judges, who areand I mean no disrespectnot always the sort youd expect to be on the short list for the Louis Brandeis Award for Cautious Jurisprudence. True, these are hardly people who dream of redefining the family when they promise to uphold the Constitution; probably the last label that they imagine applying to themselves is activist judge. But when they try to figure out whether a woman has the right to visit the child she diapered, fed, and read to for four years before she and her partner split up, they have only a small number of blunt instruments in their legal toolbox: case law on custody and visitation, the best-interests-of-the-child doctrine, contract law, and so forth. They arent thinking that their decisions could be enshrining in law a profound cultural transformation that few Americans have had a chance to register, much less opine on. In fact, many legal theorists argue that in making such decisions, the courts are simply catching up with reality.

But it turns out to be more like reality on Mars. In unwitting alliance with a fertility industry fiercely protective of anonymous gamete donation, the courts have given their imprimatur to two nonsensical biological conditions: children who have no fathers and fathers who have no children. The old Uniform Parentage Act had it that a donor had no paternal standing, because at the time the law needed to resolve the potential problem of two fathers: the donor and the mothers husband. It should be obvious that in the case of a single or lesbian mother, the problem is quite different: there is no other father.

But it hasnt proved obvious to most legal experts, who continue to revert to the Uniform Parentage Act formula: as long as a doctor performs the insemination or a sperm bank sells the sperm, the donor is not a father. This doesnt simply mean that the child is fatherless in the way that, say, an orphan is fatherless. Rather, the child is born into an entirely new human circumstance. For, according to the law, he never had a father at all. The man who fathered him is not in fact his father; instead, hes the originating site of organic material that is for sale, like a sulfur mine or a fish farm. Witness the title of a 1994 Dickinson Law Review article: The Potential for Products Liability Actions When Artificial Insemination by an Anonymous Donor Produces Children with Genetic Defects.

To justify this new reality, many legal scholars argue that we should reject biology as the basis of parentage in favor of the principle of intentionality. Its the personor personswho planned the child who have parental rights. A donor doesnt intend to become a parent to his offspringhe is an intentional unparent, if you willwhile the woman who uses his sperm does, and therefore is. State interest is best served by honoring the preconception intent of each adult who took part in conception, regardless of his/her biological role, Justyn Lezin argues in The Hastings Womens Law Journal in language typical of this line of thinking.

You shouldnt have to be Brandeis to see the land mines that line the road of intentionality. For one thing, intentionality is wildly inconsistent with the laws traditional presumption of paternal responsibility. Say a man has a drunken one-night stand with a woman he meets in a bar. If she gets pregnant, the law sees him as a father, and he must pay child support for the next 18 years. But if a college student visits the local sperm bank twice a week for a year, produces a dozen children, and pockets thousands of dollars, he can whistle his way back to econ class, no cares, no worries. Intentionality cant explain that disconnect.

And thats just for starters. A woman participating in an online discussion group at the Donor Sibling Registry, a database for AI parents and children, describes how she and her lesbian partner decided to have a child together. After she became pregnant through a donor, the couple purchased a house and settled in to wait for the blessed event. But several months later, the partner lost interest and moved out, announcing that she no longer intended to become a parent. If it were the childs father who pulled that stunt, no rational person would disagree: your baby, your responsibility, Bub. But in what sense is the partner a parent to a child shes never seen, much less nurtured, and to whom she is biologically unrelated? Simply because for a few months she thought that she wanted to be a parent? And why should her intent prevail over other goodsin this case, the biological mothers need to create a loving environment for the child, ornow heres a radical idea!the childs interest in knowing her father?

As intentionality has come to supplant biology, the law, by pretending nature doesnt exist, has not caught up with reality; it has pole-vaulted over it. A family court in Burlington County, New Jersey, recently put two women on a state birth certificate. Last year, Virginia issued a birth certificate for a gay couple that read Parent A and Parent B. Massachusetts officials proposed crossing out Father on the states birth certificate and replacing it with Second Parent (until then-governor Mitt Romney nixed the plan). Many legal scholars are now proposing that courts move beyond the heterosexist model entirely. Why not put three parentsor four, for that matteron the birth certificate? This past January, an Ontario court did just that. Intentionality, it seems, can accomplish almost anything.

AIs potential for deconstructing the family has not been lost on radical feminists. In Baby Steps: How Lesbian Alternative Insemination Is Changing the World, Amy Agigian, a sociology professor at Suffolk University in Boston, observes: Lesbian appropriation of medical technology (AI) that was intended to shore up nuclear families has radically challenge[d] the power structure, assumptions, and presumed naturalness of major social institutions. AI promotes a postmodern family form that emphasizes affinity over biology and (patri)lineage. For thinkers like Agigian, one of AIs greatest benefits is that it dethrones what Canadian feminist Kathryn Pauly Morgan calls PIVMO (penis in vagina with male orgasm). Postmodern anthropologists studying reproduction technologyand there are enough of them to be producing a steady stream of volumes with titles like Conceiving the New World Orderhave joined in, arguing that the whole idea of kinship based on sexual procreation is a Western construct, happily on its way out.

Highly credentialed mainstream experts are also taking a take-em-or-leave-em approach to dads. There was Louise Silverstein and Carl Auerbachs infamous Deconstructing the Essential Father, a 1999 American Psychologist article arguing that neoconservative social scientists who cautioned against the fatherless family simply wanted to uphold male power and privilege. More recently, Peggy Drexler, an assistant professor at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and a board member of New York Universitys Child Study Center, has made a similar case in Raising Boys Without Men: How Maverick Moms Are Creating the Next Generation of Exceptional Men. Drexler announces that she herself is raising two children with her husband of 30-plus years, but one has to wonder whether her book isnt a silent cry for help. Her index under fathers includes: absent, after divorce, destructive qualities of, spending limited time with children. In our society, often we idealize and elevate the role of father in a boys life without giving credence to the fact that actual fathers can be destructive and a boy may be better off without his father, she informs us. In Drexlers view (spoiler alert for Mr. Drexler), dadless boys are actually better, more sensitive and more exceptional.

More ordinary choice mothers, as many single women using AI now call themselves, are usually not openly hostile to fathers, but they boast a language of female empowerment that implicitly trivializes mens roles in childrens lives. The term choice mothers frames AI as a matter of womens reproductive rights. Only the womans decision makingor intentioncarries moral weight. Similarly, advocates often cite the benefits of single motherhoods freedom from donor interference. Single moms avoid the need to discuss and negotiate around key parenting issues, one Toronto social worker told iParenting Media. She can shape a child in her own unique vision.

And in the same choice-trumps-everything spirit, choice mothers emphasize that they choose their kids. All the planning and deliberation that theyve got to go through to have children, they suggest, might make them better parents than those who just breed. Their kids are wanted children, observes sociologist Judith Stacey. The implication that sexual intercourse brings forth hordes of unwanted, unloved children, while AI produces a chosen elite, sometimes hangs in the air. Its a view that one of the pioneer choice mothers (though through adoption, not AI)Joan Mommy Dearest Crawfordprobably would have endorsed.

Still, while theres very little research on AI families (and what there is suffers from size or design flaws), its a good bet that most single women who go sperm shoppingand that includes lesbiansdont see themselves as you-go-girl! revolutionaries. On the contrary: their desires couldnt be more traditional. They want a baby. They long for a family. Like married women who set out to become pregnant, theyre looking to feel needed, known, and rooted.

In her recent book Single by Chance, Mothers by Choice, Rosanna Hertz found that most of her (non-lesbian) subjects had struggled for years to find husbands and start families before finally concluding that they had no choice but to go it alone.

Many mothers find that for all the magnificence of human intentionality and free choice, biology just wont go away. As they watch their children grow, they might notice an unfamiliar crooked smile or a musical talent when they have a tin ear. They wonder: Are these clues to the mystery man who is my childs father? They often try to flesh out an image of the human being from the sperm banks description. Odd as it sounds, they may become attached, even romantically arousedremember that they selected the donor because he sounded like the kind of man they might have wanted to marry. Plotz describes one mother who fantasized that she would meet [the donor] serendipitously, fall madly in love, and he would become the father of his own children. Another keeps a picture of a man she believes is her childs donor by her bedside. Strangest of all is a Washington Post story about a Massachusetts mother of two who tracked down her childrens father, donor #929 from the California Cryobank, in Los Angeles. After visiting him, she moved her family to L.A. and changed her kids middle names to his surname.

For the children of single mothers, biology is also an unexpected and frequent visitor. Even Peggy Drexler cant ignore the little boy, conceived by anonymous donor, who points to a strange man on television and exclaims: Theres my daddy! When her 15-year-old son wanted to track down his anonymous father, a Colorado woman named Wendy Kramer started the Donor Sibling Registry, a website that allows kids to search for other children of their donor fathers. More than 7,000 donor mothers and children have used the registry to try to locate half-siblings and sometimes fathersclose to 3,000 successfully.

True, not all donor children are keen on finding their fathers or siblings, just as not all adopted children set out to find their biological parents. Elizabeth Marquardt, at work on a book titled My Daddys Name Is Donor, finds a wide range of responses, from indifference to curiosity to angry obsession, and those feelings often change over time.

Yet even if the numbers of those suffering from father hunger are relatively small, their plight is consistent with a powerful human theme explored by storytellers from Homer to George Lucas: the childs longing to know his father. On websites, unhappy donor kids are beginning to speak up. I believe that it is a tragic turn for our society to celebrate fathers who intentionally disconnect themselves from their children, writes the proprietor of Whosedaughter.com. Im 18 and for most of my life, I havent known half my origins, Katrina Clark wrote in a Washington Post op-ed this past fall. Donor conception has always been about making adults happy, not children, she continued. As a child, she found herself jealous of a friend whose parents were divorced; at least the girl got to visit her father.

Some choice mothers anticipate the mystery-man dilemma and decide to use a known donora former boyfriend, a partners brother, or just an acquaintanceto avoid it. But the inherently ambiguous nature of the fathers relationship with his children can still be a source of misery for women, their children, and, as in the Kansas case, for men. Consider Drexlers example of the eight-year-old who says to his lesbian mother: I have no father. Sure you do, she answers. You have your dadwho lives 250 miles awayand you have Michaelher very warm, loving brother, whos a terrific father figure. The child is not reassured. I dont know my dad at all, and Michaels not my real father.

Marquardt describes AI and other reproductive technologies as presenting us with a competition between the rights of adults and the needs of children. Is there any question which is winning?

And what do the missing menthe donor/fathersmake of all this? Sperm bankers like to describe anonymous donors (who in reality are sperm sellers, its important to remember) as altruists, and many of these men probably do believe that theyre doing good deeds. But theyre a little like the socialist who loves humanity but hates individual people. The donors are willing to perform acts of charity for women theyve never met. But they dont want anything to do with what we used to call their own flesh and blood.

Ultimately, AI reinforces the worst that women fear in men. Think of all the complaints you hear: men cant commit, theyre irresponsible, theyre insensitive, they dont take care of the kids. By going to a sperm bank, women are unwittingly paying men to be exactly what they object to. Many donors are college studentssome sperm banks accept donors as young as 18responding to ads like the Fairfax Cryobanks: Why not do it for money? Sperm-bank officials say that many donors are married men who neglect to mention to their wives what theyre up to. Plotz tracks down a number of the Nobel banks donors and finds a motley crew of coldhearted rationalists, losers, and egotistsoften serial donors he calls the Inseminators. One is a sociopathic seducer with so many children, through girlfriends and sperm donation, that Plotz will only refer to the total number as X. It appears to be higher than 50, the total ascribed to another sorry case, who, otherwise basically jobless, made masturbating his lifes work over the course of 15 years.

Katrina Clark eventually found her father, but hes no candidate for Donor of the Year, either. Im tired of this whole sperm-donor thing, he tells her after several meetings. The young woman tries to put a good face on their encounter: Now that he knows I exist, Im okay if he doesnt care for me in the same way [that I care about him]. But I hope he at least thinks of me sometimes. There are many words to describe the father Katrina Clark finally discovered, but altruistic isnt one of them.

But why expect anything different? The very premise of AI is that, apart from their liquid DNA, we can will men out of childrens lives. Insofar as their Y chromosome is significant, they are completely interchangeable with other male role models. To produce and rear the next generation, women are still a vital presenceat least until artificial wombs become part of the artificial-reproduction toolbox. But men?

Plotz meets only one donor who shows any feeling for the children he has produced. This was what happened when a deliberate man with a pure soul became a sperm donor, he writes. He had tracked his children because he felt he must. A known donorpartly because hes unlikely to agree to produce 20 or 30 childrenis likelier to become attached to his kids, even if he thought he was just helping out a friend or if the initial contract had it that he was supposed to remain a relative stranger.

Recognizing that its probably not a good idea for society to erect a wall between children and their fathersand perhaps also not a good idea to encourage men to disown their kidsseveral Western countries have banned anonymous donation. Canada has made it illegal to pay someone for sperm. In Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and now Britain, donors must agree to be identified to their children once they reach 18. Unsurprisingly, the donor pool is drying up fast in some of these locales. Even countries with liberal laws on same-sex relationships, such as France, Iceland, and Norway, have banned AI (and, in some cases, adoption) for gays and singles. The contradiction is only superficial, a consequence of the way that we frame family making as primarily about adult rights and intentionality. What these European laws suggest is that you can support gay relationships, yet still think that its best for kids to grow up with a mother and father, preferably their own.

It would be a good idea for Americans likewise to abolish anonymous sperm donation. But lets not kid ourselves that such a ban would also put an end either to fatherlessness or to male fecklessness, both nourished by our cultural predilection for individual choice unconstrained by tradition, the needs of children, or nature itself. To modify that preference, well need something much more radical than government regulation.

Photo: IR_Stone/iStock
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UK-based charities and community groups have stepped up fundraising activity after Russia invaded Ukraine last night, following weeks of tension and diplomatic efforts.

Western leaders have called for a halt to military activity and promised to hold Russia accountable.

Charities and individuals have launched fundraising appeals for people who are affected and called for an end to the fighting.

Help Ukraine Emergency Appeal

Earlier this month a group of Ukrainian organisations in the UK launched an appeal, anticipating a humanitarian crisis and lasting trauma for people in the region.

In an update this morning, Anna Dezyk, who started the GoFundMe page said: We have heard the terrible news today that there has been a major assault on Ukraine, with reports of missile strikes and explosions. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainian people.

We have already funded with AICM Ukraine, in preparation for any casualties, medical packs which have just been delivered safely to two different hospitals in Luhansk and Kharkiv Oblasts where the distribution can be decided by the local health authorities in a few minutes. AICM say their local staff is safe and ready.

The GoFundMe page has reached 40,000 at the time of publication

Organisations involved in the appeal:

The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London

Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Great Britain

Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB)

Association of Ukrainian Women (AUW)

Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM)

Plast Ukrainian Scouts in Great Britain

Association of Ukrainian Teachers (AUT)

Walk for Ukraine

Dan Zenchuk, whose parents are from Ukraine , plans to walk 152 miles to raise money for the Support Ukraine UK Appeal.

He is a member of the private Facebook community, which was launched this January, and aims to raise money by walking to seven locations spelling out the word Ukraine.

Zenchuk has been featured in local and national newspapers. He told the Peterborough Telegraph: We set up a Facebook page and spread the word around the Ukrainian community in the UK, initially we organised local collections of aid items from the community, with myself covering Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. In the first round we collected 140kgs just from the community in Peterborough alone and 500kg in total.

Through my company, Danzen Logistics Ltd, I offered to sponsor the first ton of aid to be sent. In addition to this, we started a go fund me page to raise funds to buy equipment in Ukraine also  this to date has raised over 3,200 in just two weeks.

I was really happy at the support we received but wanted to do something personal and thats where Walk For Ukraine came from.

His crowdfunding page on JustGiving has so far raised 1,000 .

Save the Children

Save the Children estimates that at least 100,000 people including at least 40,000 children have been displaced from Eastern Ukraine in recent days. This comes on top of an estimated 854,000 people already displaced across Ukraine since the start of the conflict in 2014.

Today the charitys Eastern Europe director, Irina Saghoyan, said: Ukraines children are caught in the crossfire of this adult war. It should never have come to this.

Our most immediate concern is the risk to their health and wellbeing  in conflict, everything is on the table  death, injury, sexual violence, protection risks. Children are terrified. They are hearing explosions, they are being asked to flee with just the clothes on their backs. The risk to their mental health and potential for long-term trauma cannot be under estimated.

We are also gravely concerned about displacement and the subsequent soaring humanitarian needs. Any family forced from their home needs help with shelter, food, clean water  the absolute basics. We are also at the end of winter, with temperatures regularly below zero.

Save the Children has been operating in Ukraine since 2014. Its activity includes support for education, providing psychosocial support, distributing winter kits and hygiene kits, and providing cash grants to families so they can meet basic needs such as food, rent and medicines, or so they can invest in starting new businesses.

People can donate to Save the Children's emergency fund here .

Unicef

Unicef also called for an end to fighting.

Catherine Russell, executive director of Unicef, said: Unless the fighting subsides, tens of thousands of families could be forcibly displaced, dramatically escalating humanitarian needs.

Unicef is working across eastern Ukraine to scale up life-saving programmes for children. This includes trucking safe water to conflict-affected areas; prepositioning health, hygiene and emergency education supplies as close as possible to communities near the line of contact; and working with municipalities to ensure there is immediate help for children and families in need. UNICEF-supported mobile teams are also providing psychosocial care to children traumatized by the chronic insecurity.

The past eight years of conflict have inflicted profound and lasting damage to children on both sides of the line of contact. The children of Ukraine need peace, desperately, now.

sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Overnight local time, as fears of an imminent Russian invasion of his country intensified, Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, went on TV and addressed the people of Russia, in Russian. Wearing a black suit and a grave expression, he stood in front of a yellow-and-blue flag, with Ukraines national trident symbol visible across a fold, and a map of the country on an illuminated white backdrop. He appealed to ordinary Russiansactivists, journalists, musicians, actors, athletes, scientists, doctors, bloggers, stand-up comedians, TikTokers, and many othersand stressed their common humanity with Ukrainians. They try to convince you otherwise, he said. I know that Russian TV wont show my speech. But citizens of Russia need to see it. They need to see the truth. The truth is you need to stop before its too late.

What Russian TV had been showing, in recent days, was a fresh wave of propaganda asserting that Zelenskys forces have been perpetrating a genocide against the residents of two Russia-backed separatist regions that Putin mulled recognizing, then did recognize, in a two-act, made-for-TV play on Monday. State TV had teed Putin up by hyping bogus claims that Ukraine was shelling critical infrastructure, as well as heart-rending reports about the women and children who had to flee; the hysteria intensified through last night, when it reached, as Arkady Ostrovsky, The Economists Russia editor, put it, full military swing and frenzy. State media published two letters, dated Tuesday, in which separatist leaders appealed to Putin for help fighting Ukraines aggression. In the early hours of this morning, Moscow time, Putin went back on TV and declared that he had ordered a special military operation in Ukraine, aimed ostensibly at the demilitarization and denazification of the country. Putin said that he does not intend to occupy Ukraine, instead casting his goal as defending people against the genocide.

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Major US news sites quickly splashed the truth of Putins intentions in blunt banner headlines: RUSSIA ATTACKS UKRAINE (the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal); RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE (CNN and NPR). Truth echoed, too, through the explosions that quickly unfurled in locations across Ukraine, though it was far from easy for reporters to get a handle on precisely where the explosions were happening, or what exactly was precipitating them. We have gotten no clarity from authorities, NBCs Erin McLaughlin said from Kyiv, as the Russian attack got underway. Im standing here in the Ukrainian capital in a flak jacket and a helmet. Around the same time, Matthew Chance was reporting live for CNN from a hotel rooftop, also in Kyiv, when he heard a bang somewhere behind him. I probably shouldnt have done the live shot here, he said, before ducking out of view to put on his own flak jacket.

For the last several hours, reporters on the ground and covering the situation remotely have been trying together to build a clearer picture of Russias attack through a dense fog of war. After reports of a Russian takeover of Mariupol, a city in the Donetsk region that has been claimed by separatists but was not yet under Russian control, reporters including NBCs Richard Engel drove around and reported that that wasnt true (Ukraines army later claimed that it had retaken the city after heavy fighting); experts in open-source intelligence worked to verify and geolocate photos and video footage circulating on social media, and grew exasperated with accounts (including belonging to news outlets) reposting old photos for clicksor more nefarious purposes. (According to the internet expert Joan Donovan, one online hoax claimed that an American journalist had been killed in Ukraine.) The emerging bigger picture, perhaps unusually, was somewhat easier to see than the detail, and cable-news pundits and commentators quickly zoomed out to take stock of it. It is no exaggeration, Jeremy Cliffe wrote in the New Statesman, to say that we are probably at some form of turning point in history.

Back on Russian state TV, the picture was, again, very different. Rossiya-24 largely ignored goings-on outside of the separatist regions; likely correctly, The Guardians Andrew Roth wrote, they think that many Russians dont want to see videos of their missiles hitting cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Kharkiv. A top-selling tabloid took a similar tack. One channel reportedly ridiculed Western-media hysteria about an invasion even though an invasion had begun. State outlets relayed official claims that Ukrainian troops were abandoning their posts, but Ukraine denied this. The disconnect between propaganda on Russian state media and whats being covered on the few independent sites left is jaw dropping, CNNs Bianna Golodryga tweeted this morning. Its clear now why Putin spent the past year choking them off.

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Golodryga was referring to a recent clampdown on press freedom in Russia (which Ive chronicled in this newsletter), with Putins regime tarring numerous journalists and outlets as foreign agentsa designation that comes with onerous regulatory requirements, in addition to the Soviet-sounding stigmawhile forcing some into exile and effectively criminalizing one news organization as undesirable; officials have also expelled foreign reporters, including one from the BBC. According to Meduza, an independent Russian outlet now based in Latvia, Russias media regulator this morning ordered news outlets to only report information about Ukraine from official sources, threatening them with fines and censorship if they spread false information. One news site already complied with an order to delete a story about explosions in Ukraine. Staffers at another media group were reportedly told to shut down their social-media accounts on presidential orders, with criticism of the Kremlin now grounds for termination.

The censorship hasnt stopped some high-profile Russian journalists from speaking out against the invasion. Novaya Gazeta, an independent newspaper, said it would publish its next edition in both Russian and Ukrainian, with Dmitry Muratov, the papers Nobel Peace Prize-winning editor, expressing feelings of shame as well as sorrow in a video posted to social media while also calling on an anti-war movement of Russians to save lives. Elena Chernenko, a journalist at Kommersant, published a critical open letter signed by a hundred and seventy journalists and academics. Nataliya Gumenyuk, a Ukrainian journalist based in Kyiv, said that a famous Russian independent journalist, whom Gumenyuk had never met, called her for a quote after the explosions began, and begged for forgiveness for Russia. Both of us are experienced reporters and used to covering hard stories, conflicts, Gumenyuk wrote. We talked, and we cried.

This morning, Zelensky made another video, this one apparently filmed on a mobile device in front of an ornate wall, and addressed the people of Ukraine; he called on them to support the countrys armed forces, and promised that he would provide new information on an hourly basis to combat the proliferation of fake stories spreading online. He also addressed Russians again. I know this is not being shown on your TV channels, and much on social media is blocked, he said. But this evil, to eliminate a nation, cannot be blocked. You cannot block history.

Below, more on Russia and Ukraine:



Other notable stories:

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
STONECREST, Ga. (AP)  Water leaks at a new Atlanta-area market thats focused on minority-owned businesses have led to cracks, mold, buckets throughout the building  and tensions between some vendors and management.

Those who oversee the New Black Wall Street Market in Stonecrest have said the complaints are growing pains from a few frustrated businesses that will resolve over time, but some former tenants told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that poor management cant easily be fixed.

Theyre going to burn themselves down, said ex-vendor Denita Townes. Its just a matter of time.

The market  named after the Black business district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a race massacre happened in 1921  opened last fall. Director Matt Hampton told the newspaper the recent problems should not take away from the markets success, including quickly attracting thousands of shoppers and supporting more than 100 businesses.

Were going to get past this, and were going to continue to make this market all that it can be for our community and for the minority businesses that were growing currently, he said.

Hampton said the fast timeline to open the market before last years holiday season might have led to roofing problems falling through the cracks.

Townes previously ran her crab cake business out of the market. She said a professional kitchen, hot water infrastructure and other necessities for commercial cooking had not been installed, forcing vendors to bring their products every day or cook outside in tents.

The tent area would often flood, so Townes said she was not surprised about the recent water issues. Management added gravel outside after she complained, but Townes said they also increased everyones weekly rent as a result.

Cassandra Shields, who runs a shea butter company, and Jason Jones, who runs a technology repair business, told the newspaper their rented spaces were flooded when they arrived Feb. 4. They said management dismissed their complaints and asked them to leave. Stonecrest Code Enforcement found water damage after Shields filed a complaint, according to documentation she shared.

Jones said he felt like management was going against the markets goal: Its not the feeling of Black people being helped.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Gail Marsha Malitz, age 83, of Beachwood, was born June 11, 1938, in Cleveland, and passed away on May 2, 2022.

Arrangements under the direction of Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel.
The two top prosecutors leading the Manhattan District Attorney's investigation of former United States President Donald Trump have resigned amid the DA's alleged "disinterest" in the case.

The probe aims to look into the Republican businessman's company and its practices of alleged misevaluation. The two prosecutors handed in their resignation on Wednesday after a month-long pause in their presentation of evidence to a grand jury.

Probe Into Trump's Company

The sudden development came shortly after the high-stakes inquiry indicated gaining momentum and has forced the case to take a reverse turn, plunging its future into serious doubt. The two prosecutors who resigned were identified as Carey R. Dunne and Mark F. Pomerantz.

The two individuals allegedly handed in their resignation because the new Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, suggested that he was doubtful about moving forward with a case against the former president. In a brief interview, Pomerantz confirmed his resignation but declined to reveal details about the situation while Dunne did not comment on the issue, as per the New York Times.

A person familiar with the investigation of the district attorney's office said that Bragg has appeared disinterested in the probe of the Trump Organization amid his struggles with bad press. The situation was primarily caused by a memo he had released that detailed changes to prosecutorial policies.

Furthermore, the source said that despite Pomerantz and Dunne's resignation, the investigation into the former president's business will continue. They said that while a case was vulnerable to a team carrying it leaving, it did not mean the end for the probe.

Read Also: Trump Calls Putin's Actions Against Ukraine 'Smart,' 'Savvy,' Claims Close Relationship With Russian Leader

According to CNN, however, a different source argued that Bragg's alleged disinterest in the case was ridiculous and suggested that he was merely biding his time with the case. They said that the district attorney had a great interest in the case and had a strong team of lawyers who were continuing the probe.

Previously, the DA's office indicted the Trump Organization and its longtime chief bookkeeper, Allen Weisselberg, on 15 felony counts. On the other hand, the former president has not been charged with a crime.

Trump's Tax Evasion

The first round of charges focused on alleged tax-evasion schemes of the Trump Organization but have since shifted attention on whether or not the Trump Organization, or the former president himself, artificially inflated or deflated the value of assets for loan and tax purposes, respectively.

Furthermore, the DA's investigation also recently focused on whether Trump exaggerated his financial net worth when he applied for loans. Mazars USA, the Trump Organization's longtime accounting firm, cut ties with the company earlier this month and determined that decade-old financial statements were "unreliable."

The Wednesday suggestion of a slowdown of the DA's case comes as state attorney general Letitia James' civil probe begins to heat up. Last week, a Manhattan judge ordered that Trump and his two eldest children, Don Jr., and Ivanka, were required to comply with the AG's subpoenas for documents and testimony.

The situation also comes after lawyers for Trump and Weisselberg requested a judge to dismiss the probe into the former president's company and its CFO. They cited "selective" and politically-motivated prosecution, Business Insider reported.



Related Article: Trump's Legal Battle Officially Ends After Supreme Court Rejects Shielding of Jan. 6 Records

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Dr. Mehmet Oz, one of television's most well-known physicians, who is now running for Senate in Pennsylvania as a Republican, feels that the Biden administration has placed too much emphasis on a vaccine that has failed to deliver on its promises.

Vaccinations, according to Oz, a former cardiothoracic surgeon and long-time TV personality, are beneficial when given appropriately and with the right expectations. He said, however, that the Biden administration has promoted boosters for those who don't need them, claiming that research doesn't back the notion that young people, for example, should have a third dose.

Dr. Oz: Fauci Misled Us

"Dr. In an interview with the Washington Examiner last week, Dr. Mehmet Oz said, "Fauci has to mislead us." Oz, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, and long-time TV personality said vaccinations are great when administered correctly and with the appropriate expectations.

He referenced the Biden administration's choice to dismiss criticisms from certain notable public health professionals, notably Food and Drug Administration consultant Dr. Paul Offit, who objected to the proposal that youngsters line up for booster vaccinations.

Everyone above the age of 12 should get a booster vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oz's earlier advocacy of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial medicine not licensed for use in treating COVID-19, has been cited by critics as an example of what they call promoting baseless claims.

Oz is running for the Republican nomination to succeed departing Sen. Pat Toomey, who is leaving the Senate after 12 years in the chamber in the 2022 election cycle. The seat is critical to the GOP's hopes of gaining a Senate majority. According to Vice President Kamala Harris' tie-breaking vote, Democrats now have a 50-50 majority in the chamber, according to the Washington Examiner.

Read Also: Bill Gates Warns About New Pandemic Amid Weakening of COVID-19: "It Will Be a Different Pathogen"

Fauci Urges Not To Lift Mask Mandates Yet

Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House senior medical adviser and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, talked on masks in schools on Thursday, saying that lifting requirements on children might be premature and "risky." Masks have been demonstrated to have a detrimental influence on children's social abilities in studies. Meanwhile, the CDC's drive for masks in schools has been challenged for relying too much on faulty studies.

States throughout the country are repealing the increasingly controversial mask regulations in public schools, prompting Fauci's remarks. Other states, such as Pennsylvania, have been involved in court conflicts over the necessity to wear a mask. A statewide school mask mandate pushed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting State Health Secretary Alison Beam was ruled down by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Friday.

According to PennLIVE in Harrisburg, the court ruled that Beam, who took over after previous Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine left for the Biden administration, did not have the authority to require pupils to wear masks at school. Just days after suggesting that yearly COVID-19 booster injections may not be required for every American, Fauci said on Wednesday that future requirements for further boosters or shots are being reviewed, Fox News reported.

Related Article: Several States Drop Mask, Proof of Vaccination Mandates Except to a Lone Place; Here's Why!

@YouTube

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To many in the community, Alice Fingerhut will be remembered as the face and voice of the Cleveland Jewish News for her 37-year career as the receptionist. She died Feb. 20 in University Heights at age 97.

The Cleveland Jewish News had a special place in the community because of what the Cleveland Jewish News is, and the fact that she was the greeting person for the organization, I think just set the tone from the beginning to be so inviting, Gary Shamis, a former chairman of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company Board of Directors, told the Cleveland Jewish News Feb. 21.

He recalled the nicest smile and the warmest greeting from Fingerhut whenever he was in the office over the 10 years they worked together. The Cleveland Jewish Publication Company publishes Cleveland Jewish News.

Like Rabbi (Joshua) Skoff said at the funeral, we considered her the voice of the Cleveland Jewish News, her son, Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, told the CJN Feb. 23. If you called in the morning, anytime you called, anytime it was, Good morning, Cleveland Jewish News. That was my mother, she was the greeter, she was the upbeat face, she was so positive.

Born in Cleveland Jan. 31, 1925, Alice Fingerhut and her twin sister, Annette, were the youngest of 11 children (Adolf, Jack, Morris, William, Harold, Bertha, Helen, Rosella and Florence). As the longest-lived sibling, she became the face of her familys generation to the next generation of children, nieces and nephews.

She was the reminder of an important generation of our Jewish people, Eric Fingerhut said. The huge immigration to America from Eastern Europe between World War I and World War II.

He said that generation built families, businesses, fought in the war and created a whole generation that has built probably the largest, most successful Jewish Diaspora in the history of the world.

She was a widow for 47 years and raised her three children, Ruth Tamkin, Eric (Amy) Fingerhut and Lisa (Jim) Carlton, after her husband Samuel Fingerhut died at 57. She was grandmother of Simcha and David Tamkin, Charlotte, Olivia and Nathan Carlton, and Sam and Charlie Fingerhut.

My mother was a real force of nature. She was the driving force to make sure that my sisters and I got a Jewish education and were involved in the Jewish community, Eric Fingerhut said. It was all through her energy of making sure we were connected in the right way, making sure we were involved in youth groups and took us to Israel.

Outside of her time at the Cleveland Jewish News, Alice Fingerhut spent time helping her children to be involved in the Jewish community and volunteering herself.

She was always doing something that was contributing back and that was helping build the Jewish community, Eric Fingerhut said. She wasnt the president of the synagogue or the front person. She was the one that just worked and worked and worked and made sure things were happening.

With a large family of brothers and sisters, children, nieces and nephews and grandchildren, family was very important to Alice Fingerhut.

She just kept giving and giving to them and all of us, and I really believe that family was her hobby and her love, and thats what we remember most about her, Eric Fingerhut said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  Metrobanks earnings rose 60% in 2021, thanks to a strong performance in the last quarter of the year, it said on Thursday.

The Ty family-led bank disclosed to the local stock exchange a net income of 22 billion for the period, climbing from 13.8 billion in 2020.

The full-year figure came as one of the countrys largest banks reported earnings more than doubled" in the last three months of 2021, which the listed bank attributed to lower loan provisions, robust fees and other income, and lower operating expenses.

Metrobank reported an operating income of 101.4 billion for the stretch, while its net interest margin stabilized at 3.4% since the second quarter of 2021.

The sequential quarterly recovery in corporate and credit card loans has likewise been sustained, reflecting improving business and consumer confidence. The 12% increase in low cost current and savings accounts to 1.5 trillion continued to help trim over-all funding cost, said Metrobank.

The bank also reported a 12% annual drop in non-performing loans (NPL) in 2021, with its NPL ratio falling to 2.2% from the 2.4% logged the year prior. Its NPL cover, meanwhile, fared better last year at 174.7% compared to 163% in 2020.

Fees and non-interest income hit 21.1 billion last year, a 27% growth driven by higher transaction volumes along with cross selling strategies. These offset lower trading income, added Metrobank.

It also kept operating costs under control at 59.5 billion amid continued efforts to improve efficiencies.

Our positive performance in 2021 validates our strategies of fortifying our balance sheet and proactive provisioning during the pandemic. The Bank has emerged stronger and well-prepared to meet the needs of our stakeholders as the economy moves towards full recovery, said Metrobank president Fabian Dee.
"Two sessions" hot topic leads to better protection of workers' rights

Xinhua) 09:02, February 24, 2022

Delivery man Yan Yingzhao prepares for a delivery order in Yongding District of Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province, Aug. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The greater protection afforded to workers' rights in the food-delivery and car-hailing industries over the past year illustrates how a talking point at China's "two sessions" can result in swift and solid action to tackle thorny problems.

A year ago, national legislators and political advisers called for new policies on the protection of laborers' rights in the new economy, issuing their call during the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

They urged efforts to clarify the responsibilities of online platforms, such as food-delivery apps, and to tackle the lack of guarantees for workers regarding occupational injuries.

"We pay great attention to suggestions and proposals submitted by legislators and political advisers," said an official of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

After thorough discussions and careful studies, a guideline, which incorporated the opinions of legislators and political advisers, was unveiled jointly by seven central government departments in July. The document emphasized that platform companies should shoulder their due responsibilities in protecting the lawful rights and interests of workers.

Over the past months, most of the top platforms have taken action in line with the guidelines, including building channels of expression for workers and mechanisms for communication and consultations, improving their rules and algorithms, and stepping up supervision over labor dispatching partners, the official said.

The official said that many suggestions and proposals are targeted and practical, and the ministry will continue to heed and adopt the opinions of legislators and political advisers in the future.

The guideline was only one of the numerous policy improvements prompted by the "two sessions."

Last year, offices and departments under the State Council handled 8,666 suggestions from NPC deputies and 5,718 proposals submitted by CPPCC members, accounting for 96.4 percent and 93.4 percent of the total numbers of suggestions and proposals, respectively.

Relevant departments adopted more than 4,300 pieces of advice and subsequently introduced over 1,600 policy measures.

The fifth annual session of the 13th NPC is scheduled to open on March 5, and the fifth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee is set to begin on March 4.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
After Washington imposed sanctions on Moscow and committed to equipping Ukraine with weaponry, China accused the US of fomenting fear over the Ukraine conflict and insulting other countries' sovereignty.

After numerous nations placed sanctions on Russia in reaction to its president, Vladimir Putin, sending soldiers into two areas of Ukraine, which some saw as a prelude to a full invasion, the Chinese foreign ministry stated it opposed any "illegal unilateral sanctions."

China Opposes Russia Sanctions

On Monday, Putin said that Russia had legally recognized two rebel republics in eastern Ukraine and had ordered soldiers to be sent there. Several Western countries blasted the action and slapped Russia with a slew of penalties.

According to the US Treasury Department, the penalties included complete blocking restrictions against two large Russian financial companies as well as sanctions targeting "Kremlin-connected elites." Following suit, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Japan announced strong economic measures. Germany, for example, has put a hold on licensing for a large gas pipeline from Russia.

Hua posed a series of rhetorical questions to reporters, casting doubt on the efficacy of penalties. "Unilateral and illegitimate sanctions implemented by some nations, such as the United States, have caused major economic and living hardships," she added. Hua expressed China's hope that all sides would solve the situation via conversation before chastising the US in answer to a query regarding China's involvement in resolving it, as per South China Morning Post.

Read Also: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Orders Police To Take Away Trucker's Pet in Woke Anger Over the Freedom Convoy's Defiance

Beijing Blames US For Causing Tensions

China accused the US of "increasing tensions" and "creating fear" over the Ukraine situation on Wednesday, just hours after Washington imposed more sanctions against Russia and said it will continue to deliver weaponry to help Ukraine defend itself against a possible Russian invasion.

While they've become more estranged from the West and at odds with the US, China and Russia have grown closer in recent years. Earlier this month, Putin visited Beijing and spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as the Russian leader massed soldiers around Ukraine's borders.

Following Putin's statement that he would send the military into Donetsk and Luhansk, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, and Australia all declared sanctions. President Biden announced on Tuesday that the US will continue to send "defensive" weaponry to Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion, as well as deploy US soldiers to strengthen NATO partners in Eastern Europe, according to CBC News.

According to US authorities, China has provided a "tacit blessing" to Russian President Vladimir Putin's new invasion of Ukraine as part of a coordinated attempt to destroy the institutions that American and ally leaders constructed to reduce violence in decades after WWII.

Over the last few years, China and Russia have made a show of their alignment, culminating in the release this month of a communique outlining a wide range of plans for economic and diplomatic cooperation, including the Kremlin's support for Beijing's claim to sovereignty over the island democracy of Taiwan and Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping's support for NATO activity restrictions in Europe.

Price refused to draw the obvious conclusion from that comment that China is backing Russia in the escalating conflict, but his Defense Department colleague did not hesitate to do so. In recent days, Chinese officials have delivered conflicting messages about the problem. When Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated last week that "the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all countries should be recognized and maintained," he specifically included Ukraine.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement seemed to spur the Biden administration to reflect aloud on the Russian invasion of Ukraine as not only a security catastrophe within Europe but the literal battleground within a widening watershed in global politics, Washington Examiner reported.

Related Article: Republicans Call for Stiffer Solutions To Halt an Alleged Russian Offensive Not Slow Motion Surrender

@YouTube

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  Former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) chief John Castriciones is now part of presidential hopeful Manila Mayor Isko Moreno's senatorial slate, Aksyon Demokratiko party chairman Ernest Ramel confirmed Thursday.

Castriciones, who is also among President Duterte's senatorial bets, will be joining their slate as a guest candidate, Ramel told reporters.

The ex-Cabinet official, a PDP-Laban member, currently heads the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC), which had endorsed Moreno's presidential candidacy and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte's bid for vice president.

Still, Aksyon Demokratiko expects Castriciones to not mention other vice presidential hopefuls, as Dr. Willie Ong remains Moreno's official vice presidential candidate.

"That was the start, that started the ball rolling," said Ramel when asked if MRRD-NECC's endorsement led to Castriciones' inclusion in Moreno's slate.

"But more importantly, the group and the party agreed that we feel that Sec. Castriciones does not only add integrity, dynamism and progressiveness into the group but he also brings along years of experience as agrarian reform secretary," added the party official.

The latest addition brings Moreno's total senatorial bets to four. His initial picks were Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, educator and entrepreneur Carl Balita, and former PDP-Laban vice mayoral bet Jopet Sison.

CNN Philippines correspondent Paolo Barcelon contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed on Thursday that it is sponsoring presidential and vice presidential debates next month.

Just hours after Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez announced the commission received "commitments" that all 10 presidential candidates will participate, the spokesperson of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. issued a clarification that his attendance is not yet certain.

"His participation in the said event, which will be held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, will only be confirmed if his hectic campaign schedules permit," Vic Rodriguez said in a statement.

Jimenez then posted a document, signed by Marcos' campaign manager Benhur Abalos on Feb. 11, of the presidential candidate's "readiness to join" the debate.

"If more confirmation is needed, the COMELEC awaits the same with bated breath," the poll body official tweeted.

Marcos only attended one group event so far  the debate conducted by SMNI, the network owned by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy who endorsed his candidacy.

The survey frontrunner skipped the KBP forum and begged off from the upcoming CNN Philippines presidential debate on Feb. 27.

The Comelec event is set for March 19 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It will be broadcast live with no audience in the venue, which has yet to be finalized.

Jimenez said no questions will be given in advance to candidates, and they will not be allowed to bring notes on stage.

Comelec will also host a vice presidential debate on March 20. Jimenez said all bets confirmed except for Rep. Lito Atienza who will undergo knee replacement surgery this week.

CNN Philippines correspondent Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  A youth group and martial law victims vowed to fight disinformation and historical revisionism as they marked the 36th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.

YouthResist on Thursday launched its "Democracy Action: Martial Law exhibit" to counter disinformation online regarding the Marcos dictatorship.

The group's convenor Mark Diaz said the project aims to inform Filipinos about the human rights violations during the regime of the late president Ferdinand Marcos, and to show the relevance of bloodless revolution in today's democracy.

Standees with facts and figures from 1972 to 1986 were displayed during the event at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

"Magsiyasat, mag-research tayo ano ba 'yung tama. Namamatay ang kasaysayan dahil sa fake information, kaya dapat binubuhay natin," said Vincent Salidaga, one of the attendees.

[Translation: We should verify and research which information is correct. History dies because of fake information, so we must keep history alive.]

The youth present at the event also performed a flash mob, as well as community singing of "Di Niyo Ba Naririnig?"  a protest anthem inspired by the hit Les Miserables song, "Do You Hear The People Sing?"

There was also a candle lighting activity before the program ended.

Martial law victims and those who experienced the First Quarter Storm, meanwhile, had their own exhibit to remember the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law.

Historian Xiao Chua urged Filipinos to learn from history, saying the country would otherwise be bound to repeat "mistakes" from the past. He also said the EDSA revolution should not be blamed for what has happened to Philippine politics.

"What did we do to make this democracy work? And how did we make our leaders accountable to make that democracy work?" Chua asked, adding that the "Filipino people is the true power, and the citizens are the true sovereign."

He also said Filipinos get to enjoy the freedom to freely express themselves online as a result of the historic 1986 movement.

EDSA Revolution "100% successful," a game changer

Columnist Manuel "Manolo" Quezon III sees the EDSA Revolution as a success, as Filipinos were freed from the atrocities of the Marcos dictatorship.

"EDSA was 100% successful because it removed Ferdinand Marcos," he told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Ngayon.

"'Yun ang layunin ng mga kilusan dati. What happened after was nagkaroon tayo ng demokrasya," he said.

[Translation: That was the purpose of the movement before. What happened after was we had democracy.]

Quezon also said celebrating EDSA's legacy is one way to remind the current generation that Filipinos suffered from a dictatorship, and it ended because of a mass movement.

"Ang hindi dapat kalimutan ay nagkaroon ng diktadura. Milyong milyong Pilipino ang pumunta sa EDSA para wakasin 'yun," he said.

[Translation: We should not forget that there was a dictatorship. Millions of Filipinos marched to EDSA to end it.]

For Jesus Estanislao, the Finance chief during the Cory Aquino administration, the 1986 revolution was a "game changer."

"We're coming from a situation of deep crisis recent research shows that from 1972, all around the 1986, the long-term trend of the economy was going down and very unstable. Since 1986, because of People Power Revolution 1 the trend was reversed, it was going up and the rate of growth was fine or stable," he told CNN Philippines' The Final Word.

He noted dramatic changes in terms of the form of government and the way the economy was handled "that meant a lot in the lives of ordinary people."

As the country faces yet another crisis, Estanislao said this should be used as an opportunity "to leapfrog our economy," which needs a leader who will be able to connect all the issues so they won't be treated separately.

"Our problems are much more systemic, and the opportunities that we have are much more systemic," he said.

Estanislao also said changes to the 1987 Constitution would be needed since its anti-Marcos precautionary measures have operated against the Philippines.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  Six business organizations have called on the Duterte administration to act faster in resolving the two remaining drug charges against Sen. Leila de Lima, who is marking her fifth year in detention on Thursday.

The Filipina CEO Circle, Integrity Initiative Inc., Judicial Reform Initiative, Makati Business Club, Philippine Womens Economic Network, and Womens Business Council Philippines issued a joint statement on Wednesday, saying the case resolution will be good for the country's reputation and economy.

They also said half a decade is more than enough time for the government to resolve the two remaining cases considering one charge was already dismissed by the Muntinlupa court more than a year ago.

"By reconsidering the remaining two charges, the government may be doing justice, however belatedly," the groups said. "It would also be a step toward improving the countrys reputation for upholding the rule of law, which is a foundation for a safe society and a growing, inclusive economy."

De Lima, one of the fiercest critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been detained in Camp Crame since February 2017 for what she described as fabricated drug-related charges.

The lawmaker first earned the ire of Duterte when, as then chairman of the Commission of Human Rights, she investigated hundreds of killings allegedly by the so-called Davao Death Squad when Duterte was the mayor of Davao City.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  Reelectionist Sen. Joel Villanueva said Thursday that the newly created Department of Migrant Workers will allocate a portion of its action funds for legal services to protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers.

"It is important that we have this legal assistance as part of an action fund," Villanueva, a proponent of the measure, told CNN Philippines' The Source on Thursday.

"Before kasi yung legal assistance fund, dapat may probable cause yung pag-hire ng lawyers. Ngayon po sa department na ito, binibigyan agad ng access ang OFWs, ikaw man ay documented o hindi," he added.

[Translation: Before, access to the legal assistance fund requires a probable cause in hiring lawyers. Now, this department will provide easier legal access to OFWs, whether they are documented or not.]

Villanueva said there will also be a universal database system containing the profile of OFWs to easily streamline information among concerned government agencies.

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed last year Republic Act 11641 or the Department of Migrant Workers Act, a department solely dedicated to address the concerns of OFWs.

READ: Duterte signs law creating Department of Migrant Workers

Under RA 11641, the agency must also regulate the recruitment, employment and deployment of OFWs, help investigate and prosecute illegal recruitment and human trafficking cases, and assist the Department of Foreign Affairs and relevant government agencies in facilitating programs for the protection and promotion of OFW rights, among other functions.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration previously said the new agency may only start its operations by 2023 since its transition period will require proper budget allocation and finalization of its organizational structure.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25)  Some overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Ukraine, together with their employers, started leaving the city of Kyiv after a series of explosions on Thursday following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

CNN Philippines spoke to Joy Tolentino, an OFW in Ukraine, who gave updates about their situation amid tensions there.

Buong katawan ko nanginig sa pagsabog. Yanig talaga ang bahay pag nasa city ka, Tolentino shared. Sa Frankivka airport bombahan na raw, nag-panic na ang amo ko kasi andoon na nauna mga alaga ko.

[Translation: My whole body trembled because of the explosion. The whole house was shaking if you are in the city. They said there were explosions at the Frankivka airport. My employers panicked because their kids are already there.]

At 3 p.m., (9 p.m. Manila time) residents, including OFWs, started leaving the capital.

Moving out na kami ng city papunta sa safe location na medyo safe kasama ang aming mga amo. Tolentino disclosed. Traffic na ngayon papalabas ng Kyiv.

[Translation: We are moving out of the city together with our employers to find a safe location. There's heavy traffic getting out of Kyiv.]

She noted there are long queues of cars at different gasoline stations heading to provinces west of Ukraine near Poland and away from the Russian border.

Explosions continued as people tried to move away from the city, she said.

Guillen Rocher, also an OFW in Ukraine, shared a footage showing long lines outside of banks and people on the streets heading out of the capital.

Philippine authorities have encouraged OFWs in Ukraine to return home prior to invasion, but they have been hesitant due to lack of job opportunities back home.

So far, six Filipinos have been repatriated from Ukraine, with four more expected to arrive on Friday, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The DFA has committed to assist Filipinos who want to flee to safer grounds.
(CNN)  Pepsi is putting a whole new meaning into the soft drink.

In what the company describes its "most ambitious feat yet," PepsiCo announced Wednesday a first-of-its-kind nitrogen-infused cola that has a creamier and smoother taste compared to traditional carbonated sodas. The beverage, called Nitro Pepsi, is being released in the United States on March 28 and comes in regular and vanilla flavors.

Nitrogen is more commonly used in beer and coffee drinks, like Starbucks' wildly successful cold brews, as nitrogen gas creates a silky, foamy texture. But since those come out of taps, Pepsi had to come up with a way to maintain the nitrogen in a can.

To solve that problem, Pepsi took a page from Guinness' playbook and added a so-called widget at the bottom that creates a "frothy, foamy, smooth texture unique to Nitro Pepsi." Guinness patented the widget about 50 years ago, and the nitrogen-filled capsule releases the gas when opened to create the stout's signature foamy head.

Pepsi's nitro cola also produces a foamy head when opening the can, so the company recommends a special way of drinking Nitro Pepsi: serving it without ice and not using the straw.

Nitro Pepsi, first announced in 2019, is aimed at attracting drinkers who don't like carbonated drinks.

"While soda has been a beverage of choice for so many consumers over the past century, some people still cite heavy carbonation as a barrier to enjoying an ice-cold cola," said Todd Kaplan, Pepsi's vice president of marketing, in a press release. He added that Nitro Pepsi is a "huge leap forward for the cola category and will redefine cola for years to come."

Nitro Pepsi is the latest entrant on the soda shelves as young people's interest in them have been on the decline. New campaigns and product extensions, such as alcohol, could be a way to get potential customers to pay more attention.

For example, last week Coca-Cola released Starlight, a mysterious tasting soda inspired by space. Pepsi, meanwhile, has experimented with coffee-flavored drinks.
(CNN) -- The standoff between the United States and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine has so far mainly played out on diplomatic and economic fronts.

But now, as Russia invades Ukraine and the United States imposes new sanctions on Russia, there are concerns that may change. The US government is on high alert for the possibility of the conflict spilling over into cyberspace, where Russia has shown an ability to cause significant disruption and damage in the past.

On Tuesday, a senior FBI cyber official warned US businesses and local governments that they should be vigilant against potential ransomware attacks, just days after multiple US agencies issued a similar warning to executives at major US banks, according to people with knowledge of both meetings.

If the recent past is any indication, there are a number of ways Russian hackers could disrupt US businesses and the general public.

Precedent for Russian cyberattacks

Some of the biggest cyberattacks against US infrastructure in the past two years have been linked to suspected Russian hackers. The list includes the SolarWinds hack that infiltrated several government agencies in 2020, the ransomware attack that forced a shutdown of one of America's largest fuel pipelines for several days last year and another attack on one of the world's largest meat producers, JBS.

Russia has also been repeatedly accused of perpetrating online disinformation campaigns targeting the United States, including, most notably, efforts to interfere with US elections and sow discord. US officials this week also accused Russian intelligence of spreading disinformation about Ukraine.

While many online attacks can't directly be linked to the Russian state, there's a widespread belief that hackers operate with Russia's blessing, according to Herb Lin, a senior research scholar for cyber policy and security at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation.

"They don't operate directly for the Russian government, but they operate under a set of rules that says: 'you guys do what you want... don't target Russian stuff and we won't bother you,'" Lin told CNN Business.

Spillover from Ukraine

Ukraine has already faced multiple cyberattacks since the conflict with Russia started, including one on Wednesday that targeted the website of the country's parliament as well as several banks and government agencies.

Analysts say even targeted cyberattacks against Ukraine could potentially have implications beyond the country's borders (both physical and virtual). In a report Tuesday, analysts at S&P Global Ratings flagged "a heightened risk of cyberattacks on Ukraine... which could create knock-on effects for corporations, governments, and other parties in the region and beyond."

Companies worldwide that work with organizations in Ukraine need to be particularly careful, the analysts added, "since connections to Ukrainian systems might be used as a pivot point to other targets."

Military targets

Even if Russian hackers don't directly set their sights on US entities, Ukraine's dependence on foreign technology can pose big problems for the United States, according to Lin.

"For example, Ukraine doesn't have its own spy satellites, so where does it get its spy imagery? It gets it from commercial satellites," Lin said, with some of the companies behind those commercial satellites potentially located in the United States. "That's an obvious place you would expect Russian cyberattacks to be targeted. And that's just one example of what could be possible."

Should the conflict in Ukraine escalate further, Lin added, "all the stuff in the United States that directly helps the Ukrainian military machine... becomes fair game for the Russians to target."

Domestic targets

As past precedent has shown, Russian cyberattackers increasingly seem to target large-scale US infrastructure  and there's only so much consumers can do about it despite the resulting disruption to their own lives.

For individuals, the most important defense is to ensure any potential vulnerabilities in your devices are patched, whether that's through software updates or additional security measures such as two-factor authentication, where a code from an external device or app is used in addition to your password.

The burden is arguably on the public and private sector to prepare. Lin notes that the US banking system may be particularly vulnerable to attacks, with Biden's sanctions aimed at crippling the Russian financial system making American banks a ripe target for retaliation  particularly if the US moves to further cut off Russia from global financial networks.

The Biden administration has focused on shoring up US cyber defenses in recent months to protect against overseas attacks, including government entities and major businesses. But vulnerabilities always exist, and all it takes is one breach.

"Will they [cyberattackers] have more difficulty being successful? Yes, but the problem is that we don't see those," Lin said. "Let's say they're successful one in ten times instead of one in five times. It's still one in ten, nobody notices the others that have failed."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "US braces for Russian cyberattacks as Ukraine conflict escalates. Here's how that might play out"
(CNN)  The wait has ended. Yeezy Gap revealed the first look at its highly anticipated collaboration with fashion powerhouse brand Balenciaga.

The 25-piece collection includes a denim jacket paired with jeans, logo tees and hoodies, with some of the items featuring a dove motif representing "hope."

Eight of the items went on sale Wednesday at 9 am ET, but five of the limited-edition unisex styles sold out within minutes after they were posted online. Prices range from $120 to $440 for the eight pieces, which are available for purchase on YeezyGap.com and Farfetch.com.

Gap said the collection reflects "timeless silhouettes translated through the lens of Kanye West and Balenciaga's creative director, Demna's, shared vision of utilitarian design."

Other pieces will include a puffer jacket and a jumpsuit, items that are not yet available for sale.

Gap first announced the partnership, branded as "Yeezy Gap Engineered By Balenciaga," in early January.

Demna is the 40-year-old Georgian designer who has been designing ready-to-wear clothing for Balenciaga for six years. Demna and Ye most recently partnered in 2021 on the release of Ye's new album "Donda," for which Demna was creative director for the event.

Gap set a 10-year deal with Ye for the Yeezy Gap brand in June 2020. The debut piece from the new label was a $200 jacket, which sold out instantly online when it launched last fall. A handful of subsequent launches from the brand, including more jackets and hoodies, also sold out immediately.

Gap CEO Sonia Syngal said in the company's most recent call with analysts that the Yeezy Gap Hoodie delivered the most sales of a single item in one day in Gap.com history.

"With over 70% of the Yeezy Gap customers shopping with us for the first time, this partnership is unlocking the power of a new audience for Gap, Gen Z plus Gen X men from diverse backgrounds," she said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Yeezy Gap unveils Balenciaga collection that includes a $440 denim jacket."
(CNN)  It was a once in a lifetime date for many, including newlyweds rapper Da Brat and Jesseca "Judy" Dupart.

The couple married on 2/22/22 at the Horse Mansion in Fairburn, Georgia, according to People magazine.

Dupart explained to the publication and she and Da Brat have "been calling each other twin flames for a while. So this date, 2/22/22, is a significant event."

"We just didn't want to miss it because it comes once in a lifetime," the entrepreneur said. "It's relevant. It's just real significant to our relationship. It signifies angel numbers, and it also is reminiscent of twin flames."

About 100 guests were in attendance for the nuptials of the couple who costar on the WE reality series "Brat Loves Judy."

"Everything about her made me want her to be mine forever," Da Brat told People. "And I felt like I knew it not much longer than from the day we met."

Da Brat's former producer and dear friend Jermaine Dupri served as a groomsman and escorted her down the aisle, while her sister, actress LisaRaye McCoy, served as a bridesmaid.

Dupart was accompanied down the aisle by her brother, Damon Dupart Sr.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Da Brat and Judy Dupart married on 2/22/22."
Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former United States President Donald Trump, is reportedly in talks with the House Select Committee for a voluntary interview regarding her family's involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot.

The Republican businessman's daughter previously served as senior White House adviser during her father's presidency. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Ivanka released a statement that confirmed she was in discussions with the panel to appear for a personal interview.

Ivanka Trump's Cooperation

Two sources who had knowledge of the committee's investigation also confirmed that the two parties have been negotiating a potential meeting. The situation comes after the panel had previously requested the former president's daughter to voluntarily cooperate with its investigations surrounding the Jan. 6 riot with a letter.

The committee's letter revealed surprising new details regarding the Republican businessman's actions in the days prior to the Capitol Hill incident. The document included testimony regarding Trump's attempts to pressure former United States Vice President Mike Pence to follow his orders and put a stop to Joe Biden's certification, as per CNN.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the committee was considering issuing a subpoena to Ivanka to force her cooperation if she remained unwilling to present herself. Any potential subpoena to Ivanka and having her testify against her family would be a crucial development to the panel's Jan. 6 investigation.

It is believed that Ivanka has not yet agreed to a date for when would speak in front of the House Select Committee. Furthermore, the panel has not yet issued a subpoena to force the former president's daughter to testify against her father.

Read Also: 2 Top Prosecutors in Trump's Manhattan DA Case Resign Amid Alleged 'Disinterest'

According to The Guardian, Ivanka seems to be unwilling to follow the footsteps of Steve Bannon, a staunch ally of former President Trump, who refused to cooperate with the committee. He was later indicted for contempt of Congress.

Jan. 6 Committee's Investigation

Ivanka is known to have been one of several aides who attempted to persuade the former president to call off the violence sparked by his loyal supporters. Her lawyers have been in discussions with the committee since January.

Unlike what Trump has done with his other former top aides, he has not requested his daughter to defy the committee's requests. People familiar with Ivanka's way of thinking said that she was unlikely to take any step that her father was unaware of or approve of.

What the former president has done is call his eldest children victims of an investigation that he has repeatedly dismissed as illegitimate. In an interview last month, Trump said that the panel created a very unfair situation for his kids.

The situation comes as lawyers for the panel are currently in talks with Rudolph W. Giuliani, another potential key witness who was Trump's personal lawyer. He is believed to have assisted in leading the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 elections.

In the discussions, Giuliani's lawyer made it clear to the panel that he did not intend to provide information against the former president. They argued that doing so would violate attorney-client privilege, the New York Times reported.



Related Article: Jury Convicts 3 White Men Guilty in Murder of Ahmaud Arbery for Federal Hate Crimes

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As a child, Eduardo Roy Jr. stayed to watch the credits in every movie he watched. I remember all the directors, the cinematographers, the late director said in a post-screening interview at the Vancouver International Film Festival. His debut feature Bahay Bata, about the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, competed in the festival, among many others, in 2011. I realized that I want to become a filmmaker someday.

Set in real time, Bahay Bata blurs the line between reality and fiction: actors were inserted into Fabellas actual maternity ward to craft a story so close to reality many viewers mistook the film for a documentary. Diana Zubiris Sarah, a nurse working a double shift on Christmas day, may as well be any other Filipino health worker  overworked and undercompensated. Babies share beds. Mothers in labor spill into hallways. In Malacanang, the then-Reproductive Health Bill treads very slowly towards approval.

This vocation for the truth, no matter how ugly, would come to characterize the rest of Roys work. His next undertaking Quick Change, which won Best Screenplay and the Special Jury Prize in the 9th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Festival in 2013, examines beauty as currency through zeroing in on a trans woman performing illegal cosmetic surgery for a living.

Mimi Juareza in Quick Change (2013). Photo from BONFIRE PRODUCTIONS/YOUTUBE

But it is in 2016s Pamilya Ordinaryo, arguably his most popular feature, that Roys conviction as a filmmaker was most apparent. This story of a thieving teenage couple looking for their newborn is, frankly, familiar  there is no lack of urban poor narratives in Philippine cinema, but Roy dug uncomfortably deep. He followed the couple with the unflinching gaze of the camera, never giving the audience an opportunity to look away in unease.

The juxtaposition between the characters pickpocketing and their experiences of assault at the hands of the police, homelessness at the hands of the government, and exploitation at the hands of the media is particularly powerful. The corporate economy kills and maims more, is more violent, than any violence committed by the poor, wrote sociologist Alexander Liazos. Peoples lives are violated by the very normal and everyday workings of institutions. The young couple are, after all, two ordinary people.

The late filmmaker got his start as a Mass Communications undergrad at New Era University. His thesis film Ulirat bagged the grand prize at the Film Academy of the Philippines open competition in 2002. This win, Roy said, was a sign for him to continue [his] desire to become a filmmaker.

Hasmine Kilip and Ronwaldo Martin in Pamilya Ordinaryo (2016). Photo courtesy of NETFLIX

Roy penned soaps for a major network after college, only getting behind the camera again in 2006 with his second short, Ang Pinakamahabang One Night Stand. The film competed in two festivals in Spain and one in the United States.

He then went on to be a beloved name in Cinemalaya. Pamilya Ordinaryo was awarded Best Film in the year of its release. He was lauded Best Director in 2019 for Fuccbois, his last entry in the festival.

Beyond national recognition and international accolades, Direk Edong, as he was known to many, urged us to examine the political in the personal; to recognize the sheer power of film not just to entertain but to agitate, to transform, to comfort.

That same year, Roys Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino contender Lola Igna  his most tender, thoughtful work  earned four awards, including Best Picture and Best Screenplay. In it, a centennial grandmother defies the people around her: while they root for an even longer life so she can win the title of worlds oldest living grandmother, Lola Igna is eager about her own death, perhaps finding comfort in the liberation that comes with it. By the end, she lives, still. There is joy, but as Igna gazes at the camera in the films closing sequence, we remember her exhaustion, the immense pain shed had to endure.

Roys death means the loss of a valuable voice in contemporary Philippine cinema. Beyond national recognition and international accolades, Direk Edong, as he was known to many, urged us to examine the political in the personal; to recognize the sheer power of film not just to entertain but to agitate, to transform, to comfort.
The query martial laws [sic] marcos history commands 10 billion eyeballs on social media platform Douyin, known outside of China as TikTok. The page features the Marcoses at the height of their reign. One bit of footage, which portrays a young Imelda descending from a presidential plane, links to an audio clip of Blackpink Lisa trilling: Twerking, twerking when I buy the things I like / Dollar, dollars, dropping on my ass tonight.

That the Marcos family  whose name is marred by 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented tortures, 77 "disappeared," and 70,000 incarcerations  has been repackaged into celebrity royalty akin to the Kardashians is as baffling as the fact that a Chinese social network became this generations platform to learn about Philippine history.

But to blame it all on social media, TikTok to be exact, is to take a myopic view of the situation. Could it be that todays youths naivete  fawning over the ex-first ladys youthful beauty while glossing over human rights violations  is rooted in something much deeper?

The dilemma of Philippine history textbooks

A Zoom forum organized by the Far Eastern University Public Policy Center on January 25, entitled #TwistedTruths: The dilemma of Philippine history textbooks, connected what it called an education crisis to how history is taught to young Filipino students.

The forum centered on an extensive review of Grade 5 and 6 Araling Panlipunan textbooks: Lahing Kayumanggi: Mga Hamon at Tugon sa Pagkabansa," Pagbuo ng Pilipinas Bilang Nasyon, Kronika: Mga Hamon at Tugon sa Pagkabansa," Lahing Pilipino: Kaagapay sa Ika-21 Siglo," Bansang Pilipinas, Lahing Pilipino, Araling Panlipunan: Pilipinas Bilang Isang Bansa," Araling Panlipunan: Pag-usbong ng Nasyonalismong Pilipino," Kultura, Kasaysayan, at Kabuhayan," and Pilipinas sa Makabagong Mundo.

Academics from the University of the Philippines Dilimans Department of History  Dr. Kerby C. Alvarez, Dondy Pepito G. Ramos III, Francisco Jayme Paolo A. Guiang, and Aaron F. Viernes  conducted the review. Top historian Dr. Maria Serena I. Diokno, former chair of National Historical Commission of the Philippines, led the forum.

Read: Academicians say education must correct Marcos, martial law myths and disinformation

It could be remembered that in 2016, the top state historian tendered her resignation following the sudden burial of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. In her words, she said the event denies our history, erases the memory of lives lost and destroyed, mocks the collective action we took to oust the dictator, and denigrates the value of our struggle for freedom.

Fairly limited space to discuss martial law

Martial law was among several key topics discussed in the forum, which opened with the tendency of textbooks to focus on political events and themes (which limited the discussion of non-political topics such as major disasters or history of diseases).

That said, the proportion of pages dedicated to martial law pales in comparison to other major political events.

According to the review, only 7 to 11% of the total number of pages of textbooks are focused on martial law  a chapter in history that spanned 14 years. By contrast, the reform movement, Katipunan, and Philippine-American war (which ran for eight years) are discussed across five chapters, occupying 20% of the textbooks.

Of this meager percentage, there is a near-exclusive focus on Marcoss New Society programs.

Alvarez noted the positive assessment of PLEDGES, which stands for Peace and Order, Land Reform, Economic reform, Development of moral values through education, government reorganization, employment and manpower services, and Social services.

He says that this is provided with little or no discussion of cost and impact. Its deleterious effects were mentioned, but the explanation lacks evidence.

Bothsideism and the failure to mention economic crisis and plunder

Alvarez tallied the factors that influenced the imposition of martial law according to textbooks.

By his count, the so-called communist threat, rising protests, the Plaza Miranda bombing, the Enrile ambush, rampant criminality and drugs use, as well as the Mindanao problem were mentioned numerous times in various textbooks.

In comparison, there were only two mentions of Marcos ambition to remain in power.

For his part, Ramos noted that the textbook discussion of the events leading up to the 1986 People Power focuses much on the death of Ninoy Aquino, with a near-absent mention of the economic collapse of that time.

Moreover, apart from some discussion of Marcos cronies, the plunder of national coffers is also not taken up, except once, which was described in the book as merely usap-usapan.

Ramos noted a glaring lack of crucial evidence, such as economic data, the impact of martial law programs, evidence of human rights violations, as well as loans contracted on behalf of Marcos cronies.

The review also revealed that bothsideism, a phenomenon where issues are made to seem balanced between opposing viewpoints despite evidence, is practiced in an effort to be neutral or objective.

Diokno describes the textbook treatment of martial law as objective or at least fair, where the study of martial law is treated as a matter of opinion, as some distance themselves from sensitive opinions.

[The] question is not only to set fact apart from opinion, but also to evaluate. Given the massive disinformation and fake news going around, it is absolutely necessary that we teach our students how to evaluate an opinion.

[The] question is not only to set fact apart from opinion, but also to evaluate, Diokno said. Given the massive disinformation and fake news going around, it is absolutely necessary that we teach our students how to evaluate an opinion.

Critical thinking skills are hardly developed, and textbook attempts to solicit students opinions do not help develop the learners ability to gather evidence and evaluate opinions or perspective, she added.

Diokno lamented: We are suffering from a dearth in training in content.

Dearth in content

As a result of this dearth, the youth lap up their political content online, such as on TikTok.

On the app, where fake news can thrive among whimsical content, the vulnerable are caught up in a new platform of speech. While TikTok has announced its crackdown on misinformation, it can be hard to regulate content from over a billion monthly active users.

But the problem is more than just misinformation. In this age of information, the more pressing problem is miseducation.

The term was popularized by Renato Constantino in his 1982 landmark essay The Miseducation of the Filipino. He wrote: Education is a vital weapon of a people striving for economic emancipation, political independence and cultural renaissance Philippine education therefore must produce Filipinos who are aware of their country's problems, who understand the basic solution to these problems, and who care enough to have courage to work and sacrifice for their country's salvation.

Read: OPINION: The frailty of our Martial Law education

Today, the country needs to be saved from a new form of miseducation. Numerous calls for reforms in the education system have been made by various sectors, as social media platforms continue to enable the spread of lies and disinformation.

Read: DepEd: Textbook review to include SC decision on Marcos' burial

Algorithmically popular content on TikTok includes the gauche displays of wealth that led Filipinos to topple a dictatorship over 36 years ago.

But this time, the same footage is set to rap, skittering notes, and catchy beats  not the muted cries of thousands who never reached the day a Chinese app was used to tell an entirely different story.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  Metro Manila is ready to move into Alert Level 1, given the number of people vaccinated in the area, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

"Ang NCR (National Capital Region) pasado na ang metrics. Hinog na in other words..." he said at the Laging Handa briefing on Thursday.

[Translation: NCR has passed the metrics. Ripe, in other words...]

"One hundred percent na of its target population fully vaccinated..." Duque also said. "Tapos, yan ang kanilang estado which means they're truly and genuinely right for de-escalation."

[Translation: One hundred percent of its target population is fully vaccinated... That is their status which means they're truly and genuinely right for de-escalation.]

Duque added that among the National Capital Region's A2 group  senior citizens who are 60 years old and above  over 80% have been vaccinated.

"Sa Metro Manila ang A2 target population ay 1,222,154," he pointed out.. "Ang number ng fully vaccinated nasa 1.025 million... Sa kanilang pangkalahatan na target population, lampas na sila sa 80%."

[Translation: In Metro Manila, the target population for the A2 group is 1,222,154. The number of those fully vaccinated is 1.025 million... For the overall population, it is over 80%.]

The health chief said the Inter-Agency Task Force in charge of the COVID-19 pandemic will meet on Thursday afternoon and study the latest data before making a decision on whether Metro Manila and other areas could shift to the lowest alert level.

Regardless of the decision, Duque said the public will still need to continue observing minimum public standards.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, said they would prefer to wait for two weeks before considering the move to Alert Level 1.

"Pero kung yun ang desisyon ng IATF, susunod po kami ang ano lang diyan, ay ang implementasyon ng minimum public health standards  yun ang talagang kailangan gawin," de Grano said at the same briefing.

[Translation: But if that is the decision of the IATF we will follow, but the implementation of minimum public health standards must continue.]

De Grano expressed concern that the public would forget to follow safety protocols if Alert Level 1 is raised, especially during political campaign events where groups of people would be present.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) Four more Filipinos are expected to arrive home from crisis-hit Ukraine on Friday, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a media briefing on Thursday, DFA Undersecretary Sarah Arriola said the group which voluntarily sought repatriation should fly out by Thursday night "if circumstances allow."

"We expect them to arrive tomorrow here in Manila and we will be at the airport to welcome them home," Arriola added.

The first batch of repatriates from Ukraine  which faced military attacks from Russia  returned to the Philippines last week.

Evacuation remains voluntary as the DFA has yet to raise the alert level over the former Soviet nation. But the agency vowed assistance for nationals who would opt to go home or move to safer grounds.

"We will use all means," Arriola said. "If flying is still possible, we will fly them out of Ukraine and back to the Philippines. If not, then we will use land, anything else is possible."

The DFA official, however, admitted that some Filipinos based in Ukraine have to weigh in several factors before deciding to come home.

"Hindi madali para sa kanilang umuwi dahil sila po ang inaasahan ng kanilang mga pamilya dito sa Pilipinas," she noted.

[Translation: It's not easy for them to just go home because their families count on their support.]

Arriola said the government has accounted for at least 181 Filipino nationals in Ukraine  with majority currently in the capital, Kyiv.

EU countries to take in Filipinos?

DFA Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin said separately that Poland has agreed to take in Filipinos even if they do not have visas.

"Poland finally agreed to let ours in sans EU visas; not heard anything from Russia on our request re: its closest border," Locsin wrote on Twitter. "Most Filipinos in Ukraine are grateful guests and want to stick it out with their warm welcoming neighbors."

The DFA also said other European posts are on standby to help Filipinos if needed.

"For now, we urge our kababayans in Ukraine not to panic but exercise caution and mind their movement, to keep their vigilance, and to maintain communication with the Philippine Embassy Team," Arriola said.

Explosions in multiple Ukrainian cities were reported after Russia launched what it called a "special military operation." World leaders  including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres  urged Moscow to stop the conflict.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) on Thursday said Metro Manila is not yet ready to downgrade to Alert Level 1 considering the low vaccination and booster shot rate of two vulnerable sectors.

Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of PCP, said that while daily COVID-19 cases and healthcare utilization continue to go down in the capital region, Metro Manila has not yet vaccinated 80% of the elderly and people with comorbidities  one of the requirements of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

She added that the rate of administered booster doses should be up to par with the vaccination rate.

"The elderly as well as those with comorbid condition should have received both the primary vaccine, as well as the booster dose," she told CNN Philippines.

"It cannot be just the primary vaccine because if it's just the primary vaccine then we expect already that their immunity has already gone down and therefore increased likelihood of getting infection and getting severe disease," Limpin also said.

"We need to ramp up the vaccination campaign before we really start looking into downgrading our alert level system," she added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque on Thursday said Metro Manila is "ripe" for deescalation to Alert Level 1 since it has vaccinated over 80% of eligible senior citizens. However, he did not give details on the vaccination rate of those with comorbidities.

Metro Manila mayors unanimously recommended to the IATF to downgrade the region to Alert Level 1 or the "new normal" without restrictions in business and transport capacity starting March 1.

However, the IATF has also made it clear that a local government or a region should have vaccinated 80% of the eligible senior citizens and people with comorbidities before the lowest alert level can be considered.

The government has yet to vaccinate around 3 million from these sectors nationwide.

To date, the country has fully vaccinated 60 million citizens, but the booster rate is still at a dismal 8 million.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)  Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet Isko Moreno has stated he is open to include his election rival Vice President Leni Robredo in his Cabinet. That is, if he wins the country's top post on May 9.

"Kung saan siya magaling, kung ano 'yung kagalingan niya (I can appoint her where she's good at), if she's willing," Moreno informed the press in an ambush interview while he was campaigning in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite on Thursday.

The Manila Mayor assured he is confident to work with his fellow presidential contenders after the election is over and, in particular, if he wins.

When asked if he is interested to join Robredo's Cabinet if she instead gets elected as president, Moreno hinted at not foreseeing such possibility and mused, "Mag-retire na ako eh (I will retire already)."

The Vice President has yet to comment on Moreno's latest remarks.

In an earlier interview, Moreno said he is also willing to appoint Partido Reporma presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson as his Cabinet's anti-corruption czar if he's fortunate enough to win the public's vote.

Interestingly, Lacson was not that keen on Moreno's offer, though he thanked the Manila local chief executive for considering the idea of him being in his Cabinet.

"I also intend to win," Lacson quipped. "I want to thank Mayor for acknowledging my ability to address corruption. It's enough for me to thank him."

Moreno is running with vice presidential bet Dr. Willie Ong and senatoriables Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc, Jopet Sison, and newly adopted guest candidate and former Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones.

CNN Philippines correspondent Paolo Barcelon contributed to this report.
Cebu City (CNN Philippines, February 24)  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has announced the lifting of all COVID-19 restrictions on local establishments in the city.

Rama made the announcement labeled "Oplan Kagawasan (Oplan Freedom)" during the City's 85th Charter Day celebration on Thursday.

The development meant that policies like the "no vaccine, no entry" rule is now lifted. All establishments in the City can now be opened while all activities covered by its areas will be allowed regardless of the vaccination status of participants.

Curfew hours will no longer be in effect, except for minors who are still be prohibited from going out of their homes from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. as stipulated in a City Ordinance.

Despite the ease in restrictions, Rama said basic health protocols like social distancing, the wearing of face masks, and proper hygiene should still be strictly observed.

In his order, Rama emphasized that the City would still incentivize and promote the vaccination program even though establishments are no longer required to ask for vaccination cards upon entry of customers.

There was no specific mention as to the allowed capacity of opened establishments so long as they maintain social distancing.

Meanwhile, Cebu province said public transport would now be at "full capacity" as the local government further eases restrictions from the pandemic.

Governor Gwen Garcia made the announcement on Wednesday. She said that starting March 1, all buses, jeepneys, modern jeepneys, taxis, and other public transport vehicles will be allowed to operate at "full seating capacity."

"As the situation has evolved, so should we. And with the continuing drop of cases and less severe cases as it is, we believe that this also calls for less stringent regulations," Garcia said.

The governor held a dialogue with the PUV operators and local officials from the Land Transportation Office, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Cebu Police Provincial Office, which later came up with eased restrictions.

The dialogue also resulted to the scrapping of "no air-con policy" which started during the delta-driven surge August last year. All air-con buses are now allowed to ply provincial routes.

Basic health protocols will still be observed as the police makes sure that the seating capacity rule is enforced.

The mandatory use of air purifiers for drivers and conductors will now be optional.
(CNN) -- President Joe Biden was working the phones with top national security officials in the moments before and after his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin announced he was launching a military intervention in Ukraine, the grim fulfillment of Biden's predictions stretching back weeks.

National security aides had already been huddling in the West Wing on Wednesday evening, preparing for what US officials had warned was a looming assault on Ukraine, when Putin's speech began airing on Russian television around 9:45 p.m. ET.

Appearing before dawn in Russia, the speech came as a surprise.

At the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield had spoken by phone to Biden in the moments prior to her remarks at an emergency session of the Security Council. He asked her "to convey in the strongest possible terms his -- and our -- steadfast support for Ukraine," she said around 9:45 p.m. ET -- almost exactly the same time as Putin's address.

Her speech didn't reflect the major development that Putin had officially announced the invasion. Photos from the room show her texting with the Ukrainian delegate, saying she "wished I had the news before I ended my remarks."

At the White House, Biden convened a secure phone call with top military brass Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to the White House.

Just past 10 p.m. ET, activity in the West Wing briefly came to a halt as televisions tuned to CNN showed teams reporting hearing explosions in Kyiv and Kharkiv, hurriedly donning their protective gear and helmets.

In their offices, Sullivan and other aides worked on drafting Biden's initial statement declaring Russia's actions "unprovoked and unjustified" and vowing "the world will hold Russia accountable." Biden's statement came through at 10:25 p.m. ET.

Roughly an hour later, a request came in from Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky to speak with Biden, who was eager to get him on the phone. Earlier in the day, officials took note of Zelensky's public concerns, including declaring a state of emergency and mobilizing military reservists, believing it was first time he had conveyed publicly the concerns they have discussed privately for weeks.

On their call, which lasted approximately ten minutes, Zelensky asked Biden to "call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin's flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine."

As Biden was speaking to Zelensky, his aides were also on the phone to Europe as they prepared to announce what one official described as the "full scale" of sanctions, which could include export controls, restrictions on large banks and blocks on members of Putin's inner circle.

Biden received additional briefings on Thursday morning before attending a virtual session of the G7, where the sanctions will be discussed among the world's leading industrialized nations. Biden is scheduled speak Thursday afternoon to the American people from the White House.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "How Putin's attack on Ukraine unfolded inside the White House"
(CNN) The interval between first and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines may be as long as eight weeks for certain people, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in vaccine guidance updated Tuesday.

Previous guidance said the second doses should be administered three weeks after the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine or four weeks after the first shot of the Moderna vaccine.

The vaccines remain safe and effective at their original intervals, the CDC said, but extending the interval may reduce the risk of myocarditis, a type of heart inflammation, in some populations. Rare cases of myocarditis have been reported primarily after the second dose of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, and males ages 12 to 29 are at highest risk.

"While absolute risk remains small, the relative risk for myocarditis is higher for males ages 12-39 years, and this risk might be reduced by extending the interval between the first and second dose," the CDC said, noting that some studies in people older than 12 have shown "the small risk of myocarditis associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines might be reduced and peak antibody responses and vaccine effectiveness may be increased with an interval longer than 4 weeks."

"An 8-week interval may be optimal for some people ages 12 years and older, especially for males ages 12--39 years," the new guidance says.

The CDC says the three- or four-week interval is still recommended for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, adults 65 and older "and others who need rapid protection due to increased concern about community transmission or risk of severe disease." There's no data around children younger than 11, so this group is still recommended to get the second Pfizer vaccine three weeks after the first dose.

Booster doses continue to be recommended for most people five months after the two-dose primary series of an mRNA vaccine or two months after a Johnson & Johnson single-dose primary vaccination.

At a meeting of the CDC's independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices this month, agency officials suggested that guidance could be updated to recommend lengthening the interval between first and second doses of the mRNA vaccines.

The CDC's Dr. Sara Oliver, an epidemic intelligence service officer with the Division of Viral Diseases, told the committee that rates of myocarditis were lower with extended intervals between first and second doses. Still, the benefits of receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are clear, regardless of the time in between shots, she said.

"The benefits for both mRNA vaccines far outweigh the risk of myocarditis compared to no vaccine," Oliver said.

Lessons from longer vaccine schedules

Canada opted to delay a second doses to eight-week intervals in order to vaccinate more people when shots were in short supply. Several studies found that the delay lowered the already rare risk of myocarditis or pericarditis after vaccination, and there was an added benefit.

"Eight weeks can create the opportunity to develop stronger and more broad immunity, which could be important in future waves of the pandemic," Matthew Tunis, executive secretary for Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization, told CNN.

Tunis and his colleagues from the Public Health Agency of Canada presented their data about the delayed dosing schedule to the CDC's vaccine advisers in early February, when the agency was considering extending the interval between doses.

Dr. Ralf Duerr, an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology at NYU Langone Health, co-authored studies on the effects of the delayed dose and found that the shot could be delayed even longer and still provide robust protection.

"With later dosing of the second shot, we actually obtained a better immune response, and it was better in quantity and quality," Duerr said.

Studies also showed that a delay in getting the second dose would not leave people unprotected between shots.

"There was a bit of kind of anger among people at first who wondered if they were going to be protected with the delay. Is it going to be as good as the clinical trial?" said Rebecca Payne, a Newcastle University immunologist who has co-authored comprehensive studies about the effects of a delayed dose in the UK.

With the longer dosing schedule, antibody levels waned a bit between the first and second doses, but T-cells -- which promote antibody protection and can kill infected cells -- were well-maintained between doses.

After the second dose on the longer schedule, antibody levels surpassed those generated with the shorter schedule.

"So we could be reassured that people were protected during that longer interval, and then what we found was that actually, after the second dose in that longer interval, that after the second vaccine, what we saw was that the antibodies were doing a lot better, particularly when we tested it against a couple of the variants, including Delta," Payne said.

Also after the delayed dose, a higher proportion of the T-cells were helper T-cells, which are key to long-term immune memory with the longer dosing schedule, her study found.

"That implies that they're getting slightly better immune response," Payne said.

Importantly, she said, studies showed that both the short and long dosing schedules lead to strong real-world protection.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Time between Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines can be up to 8 weeks for some people, updated CDC guidance says'
(CNN) Russian forces have begun an attack on Ukraine, with reports of troops crossing the border to the north and south, explosions in multiple cities including the capital Kyiv and warnings from Russian President Vladimir Putin of bloodshed unless Ukrainian forces lay down their arms.

The offensive that Russia called a "special military operation" came as world leaders attempted to avert catastrophe with a meeting of the United Nations Security Council amid warnings that a possible invasion could start the biggest war in Europe since 1945.

The first blasts were heard at around 5 a.m. Thursday, prompting immediate condemnation from the United States and its allies, which have threatened to enact "full scale" sanctions in response to Russian military aggression.

As air raid sirens rang out across Kyiv early Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky moved to enact martial law and government ministers accused Moscow of launching a "full scale invasion." As dawn broke, heavy traffic could be seen clogging roads heading west out of the city, while further east, near the Russian border, the mayor of Kharkiv urged citizens not to leave their homes.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted on his official page that "peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strike" and called the situation "a war of aggression." And, an adviser for the Ukraine Interior Minister, Anton Gerashchenko, told journalists Russia's "invasion has begun" with "missile strikes on Kyiv," the capital.

CNN witnessed, through a livestream video, troops atop a column of military vehicles entering Ukraine from a border crossing with Belarus. The livestream video was taken at the Senkivka, Ukraine crossing with Veselovka, Belarus. The column was seen entering Ukraine around 6:48 a.m. local time.

In recent weeks, Russia has amassed a significant number of troops, vehicles and tanks in Belarus near the border with Ukraine. During that time, the two countries have held joint military exercises across the countries, and near the Belarus-Ukrainian border.

CNN teams in Russia and Ukraine also heard blasts from several parts of Ukraine, including near the capital Kyiv and the city of Odessa, and images released by the office of President Zelensky showed large explosions to the east of the capital Kyiv with huge columns of smoke rising into the air.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said five Russian aircraft and a helicopter were shot down early Thursday, claims Russia denied via state news agency TASS.

Hours before, Putin announced a military operation in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which contains the separatist-held regions of Donetsk and Luhansk which Moscow recognized as independent on Monday -- in violation of international law.

In the address, broadcast live on Russian national television, Putin urged Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms and go home, saying all responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the Ukrainian government.

"Our plans are not to occupy Ukraine, we do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone," he said, but threatened "those who may be tempted to intervene" on Ukraine's behalf.

"Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never experienced in your history," he said.

Before the announcement of military action, Zelensky appealed for peace but vowed the country would defend itself.

"If we are attacked militarily, if they try to take away our freedom, our lives, our children's' lives, we will defend ourselves," the Ukrainian President said, in a speech in Russian and directed at Russian citizens."When you attack, you will see our faces and not our spines, our faces."

US President Joe Biden issued a statement saying Russia had launched "an unprovoked and unjustified attack" on the Ukrainian people.

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," he said. "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable."

What's happening on the ground

Ukraine's borders were reportedly under attack from Russian forces to the north in Belarus and the south from Crimea, according to the Ukrainian State Border Service.

Russian troops had attacked border units, patrol border and checkpoints with "artillery, heavy equipment and small arms," the border service said.

The Russian military claimed Ukraine's border service "did not provide any resistance" and claimed to have "suppressed" Ukraine's air defenses. CNN was not able to immediately verify either of those claims.

CNN teams on the ground heard explosions in and near multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, the second largest city Kharkiv, Odessa, and distant firing from Zaporizhzhiya.

Ukraine Interior Minister adviser Gerashchenko tweeted that troops had landed in the city of Odessa and were crossing the border in Kharkiv, located in the country's northeast. In a post on his Facebook page, he also said control centers such as airfields and military headquarters were being hit by shelling in Kyiv and Kharkiv, and that there was artillery fire along the border.

The Russian military released a statement Thursday claiming it was not targeting Ukrainian cities, saying "the civilian population is not at risk."

"The Russian Armed Forces are not launching any missile or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine. High-precision weapons destroy military infrastructure: military airfields, aviation, air defense facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the statement read.

But despite the Russian military's claims civilians wouldn't be targeted, many chose to leave the capital. Kyiv residents had previously been told to stay at home and pack a bag with necessities, in case they need to leave abruptly.

Across the city, red arrows painted on walls indicate the locations of the nearest bomb shelters. The city first put them up after the war broke out in the east of the country in 2014, but they were recently repainted again.

Before Putin's address, Russia issued a notice banning civil aircraft from flight routes bordering north-eastern Ukraine. Separately, Ukrainian aviation authorities issued a notice restricting Ukrainian airspace in the regions around the capital Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Odessa and Simferopol.

European aviation regulators said there is a "high risk" to civilian aircraft near the Ukrainian border, fearing they could be targeted on purpose at any altitude.

"Air operators are reminded that this is now an active conflict zone," said the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, known as EASA.

In an apparent escalation in cyberattacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, several key Ukrainian websites were down as of 3 a.m local time on Thursday (8 p.m. ET Wednesday), including those of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Security Service in Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Justice.

Military operation comes as UN Security Council meets

The military operation came as the UN Security Council had "gathered in the council seeking peace" Wednesday night.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russian President Vladimir Putin had "delivered a message of war."

"This is a grave emergency. The council will need to act," she said. "We will put a resolution on the table tomorrow."

Her Ukrainian counterpart Sergiy Kyslytsya begged the Security Council to help stop a war, saying it was too late to speak about de-escalation.

"It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war," Kyslytsya said. "So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war," he added, looking around the room.

Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said the aim of Russia's military operation in Donbas is to protect locals who have been "suffering genocide" at the hands of the Ukrainian government for over eight years.

"The route of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself, who for many years were sabotaging its obligations under the Minsk package of measures," said Nebenzya.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Russia launches military attack on Ukraine with reports of explosions and troops crossing border."
Russia has invaded Ukraine making the fears of the US and its European allies realized.

But moments before the attack occurred, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a message on television saying Russia's development and security are at risk because of a constant threat generated by Ukraine. He decided to launch an invasion because he wants "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine, which he believes has been under the control of extremists. Though he said that occupation is not Russia's intention.

The Russia Ukraine conflict is about the latter country's future. However, Ukraine provides a broader platform for Russia to restore its influence in Europe and the rest of the world, as well as for Putin to cement his legacy, though it could result in tens of thousands of civilian deaths, a European refugee crisis, and a response from Western allies that includes harsh economic sanctions.

The United States and Russia have established boundaries that help clarify the costs, per Vox. Russia presented the US and its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Putin requested that NATO cease its eastward expansion and refuse Ukraine membership, and a decrease in troop deployment in countries that joined the coalition after 1997, effectively turning back the clock on Europe's security and geopolitical alignment by decades. But the US and NATO rejected Russia's demands.

An Enduring Struggle

According to Euronews, In 2013, after Putin proposed a customs union with Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych dropped plans to sign an agreement that would establish close ties with the European Union. Shortly after, Russia occupied Crimea, a move condemned by the United Nations General Assembly as illegitimate.

In 1954, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev moved the predominantly Russian-speaking peninsula to Ukraine.

Subsequently, conflict erupted between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed separatists who declared Donetsk and Luhansk, also known as the Donbas, self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine.

In 2014 and 2015, the two nations signed ceasefire agreements in Minsk. However, the conflict persisted due to violations and escalated into a trench war. The death toll from the struggle has already reached more than 14,000 as of present writing.

Russia began mobilizing tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine in the spring of 2021 in answer to what it described were NATO threats, a move that was highly denounced globally.

Read Also: Russia Invades Ukraine, Explosions Rock Kyiv in Biggest Attack Since World War II

Door of Diplomacy Still Open

On Dec. 17, the Kremlin asked that NATO deployments return to the borders that the alliance maintained a quarter-century ago, putting an end to NATO's presence in locations like the Baltic states, which were once under Moscow's dominance. According to NBC News, Russia has demanded that NATO forces and weaponry be removed from NATO members Romania and Bulgaria, the latter of which does not even border Ukraine. Russia has also warned NATO on its expansion into nations like Sweden and Finland that increased their cooperation with the coalition.

Though some believe that diplomatic talks are still an option in resolving the conflict, many worry about the serious impact of a war in Europe. Per Al Jazeera, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier announced that Putin was still interested to talk to US President Joe Biden and other European leaders to formulate a diplomatic solution.

The crisis is unpredictable, as many analysts have warned, and no one understands exactly what Putin is seeking to accomplish.

Related Article: Rep. Michael Waltz Says Joe Biden Is Not Projecting Strength but Chooses Appeasement Despite Threat Serious Sanctions to Russia

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(CNN) Ukraine's President struck a defiant note Thursday after Russia launched an unprecedented military invasion that has already left dozens dead, prompting Western leaders to condemn Moscow and vow unity with Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials said more than 40 soldiers and as many as 10 civilians had been killed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began shortly before dawn. Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser in the President's Office, said a few dozen soldiers had also been injured and "as far as I know, at the moment there are a few civilian deaths -- up to 10."

The first blasts were heard at around 5 a.m. local time Thursday, prompting immediate condemnation from the United States and its allies, which have threatened to enact "full scale" sanctions in response to Russian military aggression.

Russia's invasion follows weeks of warnings from the United States and other Western powers that an attack against Ukraine was imminent -- and weeks of denials by Moscow that it planned any such action.

As air raid sirens rang out across the capital, Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky moved to enact martial law and government ministers accused Moscow of launching a "full scale invasion" that would be resisted.

In a video message on his official Facebook page, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had "already taken on the first blow of the enemy and are resisting."

"Putin began war against Ukraine, against the entire democratic world. He wants to destroy my country, our country, everything we've been building, everything we are living for," he said.

Heavy traffic could be seen clogging roads heading west out of the city as dawn broke, while further east, near the Russian border, the mayor of Kharkiv urged citizens not to leave their homes.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted on his official page that "peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strike" and called the situation "a war of aggression." And an adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, Anton Gerashchenko, told journalists Russia's "invasion has begun" with "missile strikes on Kyiv."

CNN teams on the ground heard explosions in and near multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, the second largest city Kharkiv, Odessa, and distant firing from Zaporizhzhiya. Images released by Zelensky's office showed large explosions to the east of the capital Kyiv with huge columns of smoke rising into the air.

CNN witnessed, through a livestream video, troops atop a column of military vehicles entering Ukraine from a border crossing with Belarus.

In recent weeks, Russia has amassed a significant number of troops, vehicles and tanks in Belarus near the border with Ukraine. The two countries have held joint military exercises across the countries, and near the Belarus-Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told CNN that a "full-fledged large-scale war has begun in Europe."

"Russia is attacking not just Ukraine, but all the rules of normal life in the modern world. What will be left of the security system on the continent? Zero," he said. "From the north, east and south, Russian forces went on the offensive against Ukraine. Tanks, planes, diversion groups from Russia."

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said Thursday that one Russian K-52 helicopter was shot down in the Kyiv region, as well as three other helicopters. It is unclear if the other three were Russian or Ukrainian.

Earlier Thursday, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said six Russian planes had been shot down as forces attacked Ukraine. Russian military denied the claims, state news agency TASS reported.

US President Joe Biden issued a statement saying Russia had launched "an unprovoked and unjustified attack" on the Ukrainian people, adding that "the world will hold Russia accountable."

Biden is expected to spell out a raft of sanctions later Thursday in an address to the nation. The measures could cut off Russia from advanced technology, announce new restrictions on large financial institutions and slap sanctions on additional members of Putin's inner circle.

Putin vows 'immediate response' if countries intervene

Hours before the invasion began, Putin announced a military operation in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which contains Donetsk and Luhansk, the separatist-held regions that Moscow recognized as independent on Monday -- in violation of international law.

In the address, broadcast live on Russian national television, Putin urged Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms and go home, saying all responsibility for possible bloodshed would be entirely on the conscience of the Ukrainian government.

"Our plans are not to occupy Ukraine, we do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone," he said, but threatened "those who may be tempted to intervene" on Ukraine's behalf.

"Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never experienced in your history," he said.

The launch of the Russian military operation came even as members of the UN Security Council met in New York to call for a peaceful resolution to the impending crisis.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told foreign journalists Thursday that the "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine are among the objectives of Russia's military action in the country, which he described as a "special operation."

"Ideally, Ukraine should be liberated, cleansed of Nazis, of pro-Nazi people and ideology," Peskov said, though he refused to say if that meant regime change in Kyiv. This Russian claim of a need to "denazify" Ukraine is one Putin has touted repeatedly over the years and is entirely baseless.

Speaking in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described Russia's attack on Ukraine as a "brutal act of war" and said it put "countless innocent lives" at risk.

"Peace on our continent has been shattered. We now have war in Europe, on the scale and of the type we thought belonged to history," he said. "NATO allies condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. It is a blatant violation of international law, an act of aggression against a sovereign independent and peaceful country."

NATO will increase land, sea and air forces on its eastern flank, the security alliance said in a statement.

What's happening on the ground

Ukraine's borders were reportedly under attack from Russian forces to the north in Belarus and the south from Crimea, according to the Ukrainian State Border Service.

Russian troops had attacked border units, patrol border and checkpoints with "artillery, heavy equipment and small arms," the border service said.

The Russian military claimed Ukraine's border service "did not provide any resistance" and claimed to have "suppressed" Ukraine's air defenses. CNN was not able to immediately verify either of those claims.

Gerashchenko, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser, tweeted that troops had landed in the southern city of Odessa and were crossing the border in Kharkiv, located in the country's northeast. In a post on his Facebook page, he also said control centers such as airfields and military headquarters were being hit by shelling in Kyiv and Kharkiv, and that there was artillery fire along the border.

The Russian military released a statement Thursday claiming it was not targeting Ukrainian cities, saying "the civilian population is not at risk."

"The Russian Armed Forces are not launching any missile or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine. High-precision weapons destroy military infrastructure: military airfields, aviation, air defense facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the statement read.

But despite the Russian military's claims that civilians wouldn't be targeted, many chose to leave the capital. Kyiv residents had previously been told to stay at home and pack a bag with necessities, in case they needed to leave abruptly.

Witnesses told CNN that subway stations had become improvised bunkers and were full of people, with supplies organized in groups.

Across the city, red arrows painted on walls indicate the locations of the nearest bomb shelters. The city first put them up after the war broke out in the east of the country in 2014, but they were recently repainted.

Before Putin's address, Russia issued a notice banning civil aircraft from flight routes bordering northeastern Ukraine. Separately, Ukrainian aviation authorities issued a notice restricting Ukrainian airspace in the regions around Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Odessa and Simferopol.

European aviation regulators warned civilian aircraft were at "high risk" near the Ukrainian border. "Air operators are reminded that this is now an active conflict zone," said the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, known as EASA.

Leaders condemn Russian action

Western leaders were united in their swift and strong condemnation of Russia's military action.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to "weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernize" following its "barbaric attack" against Ukraine. "We will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets," she said.

Russian stocks plunged Thursday, with the country's main index dropping 45% before recovering some losses. The ruble briefly crashed to a record low against the US dollar.

"There is no justification for any of this -- this is Putin's war," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters in Berlin. "In attacking Ukraine, the Russian President Putin is blatantly infringing on international law," he said, adding that it is a "terrible day for Ukraine and a very dark day for Europe."

Scholz called on Putin "to immediately stop the military attack" and withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine. The "Russian leadership will pay a bitter price," he said. Germany has pledged support to its neighboring countries, including Poland, in the event that Ukrainians flee as a result of the Russian action.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a televised address that Putin had "attacked a friendly country without any provocation, and without any credible excuse." Britain and its allies "will slap a "massive package of economic sanctions" on Moscow, he said.

Italy described Russia's attack on Ukraine as "unjustified and unjustifiable." Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Italy was working with "European and NATO allies to respond immediately, with unity and determination."

"These are among the darkest hours for Europe since the end of World War II. A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to rescue," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Russia's military action in Ukraine as "unacceptable," adding: "This step, which we see as contrary to international law, is a blow to the regional stability and peace."

China, however, declined to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine, instead repeating calls for parties to "exercise restraint" and accusing the United States of "fueling fire" in the tensions.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Ukraine vows defiance as Russia launches major invasion."
(CNN)  A state of emergency is to be introduced across all parts of Ukraine under government control, officials said Wednesday, while President Volodymyr Zelensky said reservists would be called up as Russian forces remain massed along Ukraine's borders, as fears of an incursion mount.

Ukrainian, US and western officials told CNN that Washington on Tuesday warned Zelensky's government that the latest intelligence points to an imminent full-scale Russian invasion. A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv has not verified the intelligence and noted that the United States has issued similar warnings before, about assaults that ultimately did not materialize.

NATO allies have been given a similar intelligence assessment warning of an imminent Russian attack, according to a NATO military official. The official cautions that "no one knows for sure" what Putin is going to do.

Zelensky introduced the state of emergency two days after Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered troops into separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine. Moscow on Monday recognized those enclaves as independent, a blatant violation of international law that could spark a broader conflict in the region. US President Joe Biden called the events now underway in Ukraine the "the beginning of a Russian invasion," and Western nations responded by instituting a raft of sanctions against the Kremlin.

The Prime Minister of Latvia, a NATO member, and sources familiar with the latest US intelligence assessments said Russian troops have moved into the Ukrainian regions Moscow recognized as "independent."

Ukraine's leaders said they are instituting a state of emergency to prevent Russia from sowing chaos inside its eastern neighbor.

"Across the territory of our country, apart from Donetsk and Luhansk, a state of emergency will be introduced," Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, told a press briefing Wednesday in Kyiv.

"The main aim of the Russian Federation is to destabilize Ukraine from inside and to achieve its objective. To prevent this from happening, we decided today and made this decision today."

The emergency measure is expected to be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament within 48 hours. It would last for 30 days and can be extended for an extra 30 days.

The state of emergency would include "strengthening public order and security at critical infrastructure facilities" and tightening inspections on certain transportation movements, Danilov said.

"Depending on the local circumstances, there may be stronger or milder measures to ensure the security of our country," he added. "These are all preventative measures, in order to preserve peace and calm in the country and for the economy to continue to work."

A state of emergency has been in place in Ukraine's separatist-controlled regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since 2014, when pro-Russian separatists took control.

Ukraine's leaders insist they are still seeking a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, at the same time as readying the country for any potential conflict.

President Zelensky announced Tuesday that reservists would be called up for military training but said there would be no general mobilization of the armed forces. He also stressed that he was still pursuing diplomacy as a way out of the crisis.

Notwithstanding such diplomatic efforts, Ukraine's response to any potential attack by Russia "will be instant," Danilov said Wednesday. "We are aware of the risks posed by the Russian Federation. We have a clear understanding that our army is ready to respond. It does not matter which city is under attack by Russia -- we are ready for it," he added.

"With regards to mobilization, this is a separate decision. At the moment, there has been no such decision. If the need arises, it will be approved -- it has not been approved yet," he added.

'Ready to defend my country'

Ruslan Borovyk is one the reservists being called up. He served in the Ukrainian army when the war in eastern Ukraine started in 2014 and 2015 and fought in the two battles for Donetsk airport. He also served in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. He became a reservist and has worked in an organization supporting Ukrainian veterans, but now he is getting ready to possibly fight again.

"I'm a conscious citizen, I'm a patriot of my country and, of course I'm ready. I'm always ready to defend my country. If we were to give in to Putin's terms and conditions, and we're not sure in our strength, then in 2014 we would have lost," he told CNN.

"If you know the history of Ukraine, at least every 50 years, we had some conflicts with the Russian Empire. We had conflicts all the time. And at this time we are ready. We're not gonna lose, nobody's welcoming Putin here, there is no easy path for him. I'm confident in my country, in my army and in my people," he added.

It's not just the reservists getting drafted. The recruitment center of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Force across the street from Kyiv's town hall was buzzing with activity on Wednesday. The force is comprised mostly of civilian volunteers who receive military training and are charged with protecting key sites.

"In the summer, we received two to four calls in a week," said Pavlo Shchybria, who was manning the information desk, collecting contact details from the volunteers and advising them how to proceed.

"By the beginning of the winter, 20 to 30 people were calling each week, now, since the beginning of February, we have 200 people a day," he said.

Dmytro Ovsienko was one of those coming to the center to sign up on Wednesday. The 24-year old said he had been thinking about it for a while and decided now was the right moment.

"In 2014 and 2015, I wasn't 18 yet, so I couldn't sign up and then I had an operation so I wasn't fit enough," he said. "But now, I understand that now is the time. I cannot wait any longer. The longer we wait, the worse the situation gets. So if everybody just sits and waits, nothing good happens," he said.

Despite the tensions, the mood in Kyiv appeared calm Wednesday. People were out and about shopping and taking lunch breaks, with no sign that supermarket shelves were being cleared of essential goods.

"We are in Kyiv city and maybe you have seen that there is no panic. Nobody is buying up food, nobody is stocking up on medication, the stores are operating normally, all the institutions are working," Borovyk said.

Putin: Russia 'open for direct and honest dialogue'

The Kremlin's decree Monday recognizing the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, represented a sharp escalation in a long-running conflict.

At the same time, new satellite images from Maxar Technologies show that in recent days additional troops, vehicles and logistics infrastructure have been deployed to the Ukrainian border by Russia.

Social media videos geolocated and analyzed by CNN over the past several days appear to show the continuing build-up of armor and support vehicles in two regions just 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Ukraine's northeastern border.

Putin said in a video message Wednesday that the country's interests were "non negotiable" -- but insisted he was open to dialogue for "the most difficult problems."

"We see how difficult the international situation is developing, what dangers the current challenges pose, such as weakening of the arms control system or the military activity of the NATO bloc," Putin said in a clip released by the Kremlin for a Russian national holiday, Defender of the Fatherland Day.

"At the same time, Russia's calls to build a system of equal and indivisible security that would reliably protect all countries remain unanswered," he added.

Russia is "always open for direct and honest dialogue, for finding diplomatic solutions to the most difficult problems," he added. "But I repeat: Russia's interests and the security of our citizens are non-negotiable for us."

The press attache for Russia's embassy in Kyiv, Denis Golenko, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti on Wednesday that the departure of diplomatic staff from the embassy had begun.

Last week, the leaders of the Russian-backed self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk republics ordered the mass evacuation of women, children and the elderly to Russia, while barring men aged 18 to 55 from leaving.

Denis Pushilin, leader of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said Wednesday that the situation had become critical in the face of what he called "Ukrainian aggression," but added that the separatists would win with the help of what he called "the Russian world."

"Russian troops are not here at the moment," he said. "Is it possible for Russian troops to be here? Maybe. If there is a full-scale offensive, Russia, within the framework of the agreement, has the right to do so."

Ukraine's defense minister said that, as of Wednesday evening local time, territory under Ukrainian control had been shelled 59 times from the self-declared republics of Luhansk and Donetsk. One Ukrainian serviceman was killed and another injured, according to the ministry.

The separatists in Donbas have had substantial backing from Moscow since 2014, when the conflict in eastern Ukraine first erupted, shortly after Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

Russia has long maintained that it has no soldiers on the ground there, but US, NATO and Ukrainian officials say the Russian government supplies the separatists, provides them with advisory support and intelligence, and embeds its own officers in their ranks.

Details of EU sanctions to come

In a national address Tuesday, Ukraine's President welcomed an offer by Turkey to broker talks between Ukraine and Russia and called for a summit of all permanent members of the UN Security Council along with Germany and Turkey.

Zelensky also welcomed the sanctions announced by Western governments against Russia, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's decision to suspend certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

US President Joe Biden described the events underway in Ukraine as "the beginning of a Russian invasion" as he announced new sanctions against Moscow on Tuesday.

Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins told CNN's Jim Sciutto on Wednesday: "According to the information at my disposal, Putin is moving additional forces and tanks into the occupied Donbas territories," . "By any definition that's a crossing of a sovereign territory into a neighboring country."

Pressed specifically on whether he was referring to the entry of additional Russian troops since Moscow recognized the two separatist regions earlier this week, Karins replied: "Yes, according to the information at my disposal, this is exactly what we're seeing."

Without providing evidence, both the European Union's Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that Russian troops had entered the breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

CNN has been unable to independently verify this.

The Russian Embassy in London denied its troops had entered any disputed territory. In a strongly worded response to UK sanctions on Wednesday, the embassy said "it is well known that they have not entered those territories." Moscow called the UK sanctions "illegal."

In addition, Russia warned that US sanctions would hurt global financial and energy markets, and that "ordinary Americans will also feel the consequences."

Details of EU and Irish sanctions to be imposed in response to Russia's "utterly unacceptable behavior" are set to be announced Wednesday, Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe told Irish radio station RTE Radio 1.

"An element" of the EU sanctions will be "to break and challenge the links between the finance and capital markets of the European Union and Russia," he said.

Russia's Ministry of Finance announced measures Wednesday it said would ensure the stability of its access to debt markets, in response to US sanctions on Russia's sovereign debt.
(CNN) US President Joe Biden condemned Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" in a statement Wednesday evening following explosions in Ukraine.

The US and allies are planning on Thursday to trigger the "full scale" of the sanctions that have been discussed over the last several weeks in response to the attack, according to a senior Biden administration official.

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said. "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable."

The White House statement came in response to explosions across Ukraine, including in the capital of Kyiv. Shortly before the explosions began, Russian President Vladmir Putin announced a "special military operation" and called for Ukraine's "demilitarization" in televised remarks.

An adviser for the interior minister of Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko, said Russia's "invasion has begun" with "missile strikes on Kyiv," in an official WhatsApp group with journalists.

The early assessment from the US is that this is the start of the full Russian invasion, according to a senior US official familiar with the latest US intelligence. The source said the belief is that the explosions heard near Kyiv and Odessa are likely missiles, while those around Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine are likely artillery, given the proximity to the border.

Biden held a secure call with members of his national security team from the White House Wednesday evening, White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted. Biden was joined by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, she said.

Biden also spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a White House official.

Biden said in the statement that he planned to speak to his G-7 counterparts and would give a speech to the American people on Thursday. He said he intended to announce "further consequences" that the US and its allies planned to impose on Russia over "this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security."

"We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance," Biden said.

While the administration official declined to lay out specifics, the US has planned to target Russia's two largest banks, as well as other financial firms, and has prepared to deploy export controls to cut off Russian access to critical Western technology for entire Russian economic sectors.

Additional members of Putin's inner circle and their families are also likely to be targeted.

Discussions were ongoing late Wednesday evening between US and European officials about the final shape of the package, the official said. It will also be a topic of discussion at the virtual G-7 meeting that has been scheduled, the official said.

US officials remain on high alert for any cyber activity against key domestic targets including banks and critical infrastructure, the official said.

Biden's national security team plans to brief the House and Senate in separate, unclassified phone calls Thursday on the situation in Ukraine. Lawmakers from both parties roundly condemned Russia's actions in statements Wednesday and called for the US to ramp up sanctions against Moscow.

UN meeting as explosions begin

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening in New York -- offering a remarkable split screen as the diplomats delivered speeches at the same time Putin's speech aired on Russian television and the explosions began in Ukraine. Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko directly questioned Russia's representative in his speech.

"About 48 minutes ago, your President declared war on Ukraine," Yelchenko said. "You declared the war. It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war."

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke for a second time as the UN meeting was nearing an end, stating Putin had "delivered a message of war" while the Security Council was meeting. She said the US would introduce a resolution in the UN on Thursday.

"At the exact time as we are gathered in the Council seeking peace, Putin delivered a message of war in total disdain for the responsibility of this council," Thomas-Greenfield said.

As the final speaker of the meeting, Yelchenko turned his attention again to Russia's UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, who was acting as president of the Security Council.

"I welcome the decision of some members of this council to meet as soon as possible to consider the necessary decision that would condemn the aggression that you launch on my people," Yelchenko said. "There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, Ambassador."

Nebenzya shot back by claiming Moscow wasn't being aggressive against the Ukrainian people but against the "junta" in power in Kyiv, before hastily gaveling an end to the UN meeting.

This story is breaking and will be updated.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Biden condemns 'Russia's unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine'."
(CNN)  Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, sending troops into the ex-Soviet nation from three fronts and firing missiles on several locations near the capital, Kyiv, in a broad attack that has drawn deep condemnation from world leaders.

At dawn, troops and armor crossed into eastern Ukraine from the Russian border, as well as from Belarus in the north and from Russia-annexed Crimea to the south.

Here's how it unfolded.

Stirrings in Crimea

3:59 a.m. (8:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday): Livestream video from a border crossing station between Crimea -- which was annexed by Russia in 2014 -- and parts of southern Ukraine viewed by CNN showed what may have been the first signs of the Russian invasion.

In the video, a guard at the Kalanchak crossing is seen reacting to something heading towards the Ukrainian border. The guard begins moving back towards the gate, and soon another guard comes into frame.

About 25 seconds later, people who had just walked across to Crimea, are seen -- suitcases in tow -- running back across the border. The lights suddenly go out at the station, and the camera switches to black and white, recording in infrared.

4:08 a.m.: An individual dressed in camouflage is seen carrying a flashlight coming around one of the border guard stations. Three minutes later, three more individuals in camouflage are seen walking around the border crossing. Minutes later, the the camera cuts out.

Very soon after, another webcam at the Chongar border crossing -- the only other active border crossing station from Crimea -- shows lights suddenly turning off, and, minutes later, the camera turns off as well.

Putin announces 'operation'

4:50 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin made a speech, saying he had decided "to conduct a special military operation ... to protect people who have been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years," repeating a baseless claim about Ukraine's Russian-separatist-backed Donbas region.

He denied, however, that Russia was planning to occupy Ukrainian territories. "We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force."

He went on to warn: "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history."

Strikes begin

5.07 a.m.: Russian forces launched a series of missile attacks against locations near Kyiv, as well as the use of long-range artillery against the northeastern city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border.

Before daylight: The strikes quickly spread across central and eastern Ukraine, as Russian forces attacked the country from three sides. People in the cities of Odessa, Dnipro, Mariupol and Kramatorsk reported huge blasts.

Several detonations to the east of Kyiv let off massive plumes of gray smoke rising into the night sky. One of the chief targets was the main international airport at Boryspil, which is pummeled by missiles.

Video showed a cruise missile hitting a military installation at the airport at Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine. Airports were also hit in Kharkiv, Ozerne, Kulbakino, Chuhuiv, Kramatorsk and Chornobaivka.

Most of the targets were military bases, but there was clearly substantial damage in and around several cities. In Kharkiv, video emerged of an apartment block that had been damaged by a missile or long-range artillery. Another video showed a rocket embedded in a road. The State Emergency Service reported that six people were trapped in rubble in Nizhyn.

Ukraine's interior ministry said ballistic missiles had been used as part of the offensive, while jets were heard over the central city of Zaporizhzhye.

The Russians used a wide array of weaponry in their assault, including attack aircraft and helicopters, tanks, long range artillery and missiles.

6.48 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Putin with a minute-long speech of his own, saying he had spoken to US President Joe Biden and that the US was rallying international support for Ukraine.

"The West is with us," he said, and announced martial law across the country.

At the same time, a livestream video seen by CNN showed troops atop a column of military vehicles entering Ukraine from a border crossing with Belarus. The livestream video was taken at the Senkivka, Urkaine crossing with Veselovka, Belarus.

Dawn breaks

7 a.m.: After dawn, air raid sirens sounded across Kyiv and at around 7:45 a.m., sirens go off in the western city of Lviv.

A short time later, a single, unidentifiable plane roared above the capital.

8.00 a.m.: Ukraine claimed it had shot down five Russian aircraft and a helicopter. Russia denied losing any aircraft.

As the day began in Kyiv, streams of vehicles could be seen crossing the North Bridge, heading west, away from the focus of the Russian assault. Other people in the capital sought shelter in subway stations.

Across the country, long lines formed at gas stations and cash machines. A few people gathered in the streets of Kharkiv to pray.

An eyewitness who saw and heard the latest strike in the town of Brovary on the outskirts of Kyiv described the situation as "terrifying."

11.28 a.m: Ukrainian leader Zelensky made a televised address, in which he said Russia has attacked Ukraine in a "cunning way," comparing him to Hitler in World War II.

He called on "everyone who is able" to join the military and called on veterans to come forward.

"From today our countries are on opposing sides of world history. Russia is on the side of evil, but it depends on the Russian people," he said.

"The people of Russia will have to choose which path each of them takes. Everyone in Russia who has not lost their honor, they have time to come out and protest this war."

12:37 p.m.: More than 40 soldiers and about 10 civilians had been killed, Ukrainian authorities said.

12:45 p.m.: CNN teams in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and Mariupol heard more strikes, though they appear to be less severe than explosions reported earlier.

12:55 p.m.: Around five blasts were heard by a CNN team in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

Around 2 p.m.: A K-52 "Alligator" Russian helicopter was shot down in the Kyiv region, near Mezhyhirya, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry confirmed.

All timings are in local Ukrainian time and are estimates.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Here's what we know about how Russia's invasion of Ukraine unfolded."
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Kerin majored in journalism at Ohio University and has worked as an editor and reporter for monthly, daily and weekly publications in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Delaware since 1983. A native of Baltimore, Md., she has lived in Ocean View since 1996.
Staff Reporter

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The Coastal Point is a local newspaper published each Friday and distributed in the Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville, Millsboro, Long Neck and Georgetown, Delaware areas.
Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social is one of the most downloaded apps on the App Store, leaving several fans on the waitlist.

In addition to this, numerous supporters are getting an error message that has caused some confusion and annoyance among users.

Truth Social Signup Errors Bug Rollout

Last Monday, Feb. 21, Donald Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, was rolled out on the App Store/ The app was created by Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG).

The former president of the United States has been vocal about his opinions on several social media platforms, which is also the reason why several platforms have decided to suspend his account. Trump has since expressed that his views have been suppressed by social media platforms.

It is believed by many that the creation of Truth Social aims to provide an alternative platform for the American people. Truth Social said to want to be a platform for those suppressed.

With the rise in popularity of the app, the number of people signing up for an account has piled up and most of them were placed on the waitlist.

In our previous report, iTech Post emphasized that there is a possibility that the waitlist might take too long since TMTG stated that the Truth Social app will only be fully operational by the end of March.

Read Also: New Twitter Feature Will Allow Users to Leave Conversation, Truth Social Hits No.1 in App Store Chart

Fans Are Annoyed With Truth Social App

Since the beginning of the Truth Social app roll-out, several fans have been encountering different types of bugs and errors upon signing in.

For instance, Twitter user @shillman1 stated that he downloaded the app and entered his email address to sign up. Upon entering his email, however, he immediately got an error message that reads "Something went wrong. Please try again."

Aside from Shillman, the American political strategist Rick Wilson also tweeted an error prompt.

Who could have forseen that Trump's Truth Social would be a shitshow on rollout? https://t.co/nVRyFBtIHa  Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 21, 2022

Explaining the error that she encountered, Twitter user @kelzs1 said that "I got the message that Truth Social was ready to download, but I'm getting error messages every time I try and do anything." She also speculated that Apple could be screwing with the app.

A Donald Trump supporter who goes by the handle @Leerose1985 on Twitter stated that the Truth Social notification popped up on her device but explained that she keeps getting an error message.

Truth social notification popped up for me but I keep getting an error message.   L.Rose  (@Leerose1985) February 21, 2022

Corroborating with the supporter's encounter, another Twitter user wrote that he encountered the same error. The user added that he cannot create an account and likewise speculated that millions of fans are rushing the server.

Eager to have a Truth Social account, another Twitter user going by the handle of @Jillian22Betsy tweeted that she will try to sign in to an account with her laptop since she also received an error message.

Is anyone getting error msg on truth social where you cant sign up? 

Maybe I ll try signing w my laptop pic.twitter.com/1DWknw2OGD  Jillian (@Jillian22Betsy) February 21, 2022

In relation to the email error, an annoyed Twitter user also said that he has been trying to sign up for the Truth Social app, but he cannot verify his email address and keeps getting error messages.

A report by Ars Technica explained that there is no option to log in on the homepage of the Truth Social app, but users can simply enter their name and email address to be on the waitlist.

However, the news site stated that an error message that reads "405 Not Allowed" pops out whenever users try to.

Related Article: Truth Social App: Where and How to Download Donald Trump's Social Media App
Joseph Bertolino, aka Joey Valence, and his friend he met in Robinson Hall, Braedan Lugue, never thought the old school hip-hop they were making for fun would make it anywhere.

Now, Penn State class of 2021 graduates Valence and Lugue have millions of views on TikTok for the music they made in a bedroom, and they have hundreds of thousands of listeners on Spotify.

We have been pursuing this project specifically for about a year now, Valence said. Braedan and I would have so much fun. I would play a beat on my computer, he would come over, and we would write some stupid stuff.

We started making songs to be funny, and now we are here.

They had no idea that their music was going to blow up right away and that people would enjoy their music  especially to the point of being on The Ellen Show or having Skrillex follow them.

The duo said The Ellen Show was a really cool experience, and they both agreed it was super fun and went by super fast. It was the first time the two had performed live.

Valence  who graduated from Penn State as a telecommunications major with a minor in music technology  said he has always had a love for music and has been making music since middle school.

They both grew up listening to 90s rap from their fathers and were inspired by that music to create a similar style.

Valence and Lugue asked their parents if they could pursue music for six to 12 months to figure out what they were doing, and they were completely supportive. Six months in, the duo started blowing up.

Im really glad that we are pursuing something that we enjoy doing every day because I don't think I would be super stoked to be doing anything with my major right now, Lugue, who majored in health policy and administration, said.

Valence said not everyone has to get a job right out of college, and students should pursue their dreams because the time is now.

Why cant I follow my dream when I can? Valence said.

Crank It Up, Double Jump and Underground Sound are some of their hits that have gone viral. They were shocked when they blew up so quickly on TikTok.

People were like, Wow I havent heard music like this in forever. The lyrics are funny, there is so much energy into it. It made us realize that maybe this type of music can come back in a really unique way, Valence said. As far as I'm concerned, nobodys really doing it at all, at least to the extent we are.

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I think we sound like something really niche and really unique.

The duo doesnt want to force their music either, Valence said, and theyre continuing to make new music and pursue new projects, like playing the So What?! Music Festival in Texas in May.

They also said they would love to perform at Penn States Movin On festival someday.

Kyle Feigenwinter, both Valence and Lugues friend from Penn State, said Valence has always been making music.

He's been making music for almost half of his life, and I've been able to watch him grow as one for the past five years, Feigenwinter said. He shared a song he was working on when we were first hanging out, and we have similar taste in music, so it was pretty easy to connect on it.

I lived with him for three years at PSU and got to see how focused and driven he was at creating music.

Feigenwinter said he has always been a fan and supporter of their music, and he said they both play off of each other well. He also said their TikTok fame is super cool, and it doesnt change his opinion of his friends.

It's just awesome to see so many people finally appreciating their hard work because it's been deserved for so long now, Feigenwinter said. An underrated part of the music industry is how you promote your music, and they've figured out a way to push it out to as many people as possible, and it's working.

They've gained millions of views and streams just because they know how to market themselves and engage new audiences.

As a Penn State 2021 information sciences and technology graduate himself, Feigenwinter said hes excited to see where they go from here and is beyond proud of them.

If you know Joey and Braedan, you know that they work so hard to make this work, Feigenwinter said. Even with their growing platform, it's still Joey and Braedan  two friends who met at Penn State and love making music together. Nothing's going to change that any time soon.

As their music continues to grow and they continue to goof off with each other, both Valence and Lugue still enjoy working together and are glad they have support around them.

Its not very often that the first three songs you release become hits, Valence said. We have a lot of time to grow, and we have a lot of time to make decisions. We are going to keep doing what we are doing.

Lugue said they just wanna keep creating because they never know what people are going to like. Theyre continuing to put out new music, and theyre going to have fun, no matter what people say.

I think people do not realize they want this type of sound back, and its really fun to make. Its appealing to a lot of people too, Lugue said. Our audience is 45-year-old moms and dads all the way down to little babies. Everybody digs it. Its super refreshing to know that our music is for a bigger population of people.

How often is it that you have two Penn State [alumni] fresh out of school doing these fun music things?

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The Daily Collegian staffers spring 2022 playlist | Anjelica Rubins top songs This weeks Collegian playlist featured staffer is news features and investigations reporter Anjelica Rubin, who joined The Daily Collegian in spring 2021.
No men, no meat, all manners.

Thats the motto of the eccentric and hysteric womens society featured in No Refund Theatres latest spring production of 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche.

Get ready to have a blast with this comedic period piece set during the 1950s, an era of atomic threats and Cold War but also delicious baked egg cuisine.

The idyllic cast of characters that make up this rambunctious play, written by Andrew Hobgood and Evan Linder, can be seen now through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in 111 Forum Building. As per NRT tradition, the show is free of cost.

Recent Penn State graduate and the plays director Katie Smith discovered the show while searching through her high school drama teachers collection of scripts, and shes been obsessed with it ever since.

Smith, who graduated with degrees in psychology and Spanish in fall 2021, said she proposed the show when she was a student and knew she had to come back to direct it.

When I was closeted, when I was like 15 years old, I was scouring the internet for all sorts of media I could find with gay women in it, Smith said. I saw this, and I was like thats fing hilarious, the name of that is just so funny. It was so hard finding comedic representation with gay women.

Preparing for the show since November when the cast was announced, Smith said a main priority was creating an environment where everyone involved could have an enjoyable experience.

During her time working on the show, Smith said she wanted to especially draw back on her experiences as a closeted teenager and the queer representation she initially found when she was younger, especially with some of the problems or topics within the media, and find a way to make it satirical.

The play follows a group of five widowed women who have come together for an annual quiche breakfast meeting of the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein, where only the most delectable and tantalizing quiche can come out on top.

As a special treat, the audience is also included in the plot of this play, with name tags handed out by the actors at the beginning for viewers to don. The audience quickly takes on new identities and becomes part of the sisterhood of quiche-loving widows.

Throughout the story, the Stepford-esque characters tackle topics like nuclear fallout, coming out, self-discovery, identity and of course, perhaps the most important aspect of the show, eggs.

God bless the egg, one of the actors chants before the cast dives into a frenzy over the splendor of the mighty quiche before them.

As her first full-time collegiate show, Perry Drugan said the show is one of her favorites she has been a part of. Drugan (freshman-marketing), who plays Dale, the youngest widow, said her character is innocent and naive, while also showing an eventual sense of immense pride in her identity as a lesbian.

With the constant struggles presented by the coronavirus pandemic, Drugan said she relates the atomic blast that interrupts the characters quiche breakfast to the pandemic. Drugan said the play made her realize how the pandemic has upended peoples lives and how people continue to persevere through it.

Assistant Director Ella Bradner said going into the show, there was a need for a cast of five women who were absolute powerhouses. Bradner (sophomore-secondary English education) said that need was certainly fulfilled with the shows cast.

Though this comedic play includes queer representation, Bradner said the focus of the show isnt simply on the characters sexual orientations. She said there are both deeper and lighthearted topics that make up the lives of the women in the play, and their identitys cant be simplified to being lesbians.

Its not often you see a show thats not just about them being gay, Bradner said. Theyre struggling with other problems too You dont often see representation of queer women who are allowed to be women  I think thats a strong message in this show.

The matriarchal leader of the womens society and devoted believer in the power of the egg, Lulie is portrayed as the fearless, though sometimes questionable president of the society. The character is played by Marley Bradner, sister to the shows assistant director.

As her final production at Penn State, Marley said from the moment she heard the title of the show, she was captivated to get involved. She said this performance is the first time she has done a true comedy.

Part of the process of creating the show was breaking down every part of each character, ultimately getting to the root of what makes each woman unique. Marley said Lulie is in essence the female equivalent of Michael Scott, the infamous manager in The Office.

Even outside of the rehearsal space, Marley said the cast was able to bond with each other by staying in character and having fun along the way. She said being able to finish her collegiate theatre experience with this show has been an emotional, yet fulfilling experience.

I couldnt have asked for a better show to end with, Marley said. I just had so much fun with this characterI might not perform again, and Im sort of embracing it.

Drugan said bonding with her cast and crew mates opened the doors for an environment that allowed her to feel comfortable doing things she hasnt done before.

She said she hopes audiences take away this humorous tale of five lesbians who simply love eating quiche, but whose plans are quickly dissolved due to an atomic explosion.

Im hoping the audience finds it hilarious  thats the goal, Drugan said. In times such as this where things are taken so seriously and theres so much going on in the world, its just a good time to come and have a good laugh.

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Within Penn States College of Medicine, Dr. Dwight Davis, senior associate dean for medical school admission at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said hes seen firsthand the changes that have been made to medical school applications amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For Davis, he said he doesnt believe the pandemic has necessarily made the admissions to medical school easier.

Despite the fact that we are operating under pandemic conditions, we have maintained the same standards in terms of the review, the selection process and how we evaluate applicants, Davis said. Even though certain aspects of the process are now virtual, the values that we look for in students have remained intact.

Marc Lussier, a student in Penn State College of Medicines Early Assurance Program, has experienced the standards Penn State has for its medical students.

I was conditionally accepted into [Penn States] Hershey Medical School my sophomore year, Lussier (junior-premedicine) said.

Lussier also had to take certain science coursework and maintain a 3.6 science GPA at the time of his application.

To continue on in this program and maintain my acceptance, I have to meet certain requirements, Lussier said. I have to score at least a 507 on my MCAT, with no subsection less than 125, and graduate from Penn State with a GPA of at least 3.5.

For Lussier, one of the biggest concerns he had through his program was whether Penn State would be more lenient with meaningful medical experiences due to the lack of opportunities that the coronavirus pandemic presented.

They were very understanding of the challenges that COVID-19 presented for medical students, Lussier said. They did confirm that, if you do have less research or shadowing than another candidate, [the university] will take the pandemic into account when reviewing applications.

For Jordan Milano, a senior studying pre-health at the University of Florida, the medical school application has changed so much he feels as if he could write a book about the new adjustments.

Because of the pandemic, I have been prevented from participating in shadowing [physicians], Milano said. Applying without it is definitely a disadvantage and, in my case this was unfortunately out of my control.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Penn States 2021 Philanthropists of the Year teach students the importance of giving back For Gene and Roz Chaiken, Penn State has long been a part of their lives, and in 2021, the p

However, the process has become easier in some ways, Milano said.

Previously, medical school and residency interviews occurred in person all over the country, according to Milano. Applicants would have to schedule traveling arrangements and cover the expenses as well, but due to the pandemic, these interviews are now held virtually, Milano said.

The switch from in-person to online interviews definitely helps those with financial hardships, Milano said. Those who previously would have struggled with the expenses of interviews are now able to attend without any burden.

Milano encouraged future medical school applicants passionate about the field to research the process and then stick with it  even if it means applying multiple times.

Mohamad Hamze, a second-year medical student at the University of Vermont, said he was part of the last applicant cycle before the pandemics onset, and hes certainly seen changes in the curriculum as a medical student during the pandemic.

I started medical school in August of 2020, Hamze said, but the University of Vermont was able to provide students with three in-person days a week for classes.

Hamze said the hybrid-style curriculum was a luxury compared to what other medical schools were doing.

I was glad to be able to go to school and meet a lot of my classmates in my first year, Hamze said. It would have been tough to move to a new place and get to know people over Zoom only.

The biggest challenge in the actual curriculum, Hamze said, was the clinical rotations that begin in a students third year of medical school.

For a lot of students, clinical rotations were postponed or replaced with didactics over Zoom. Hamze said.

According to Hamze, medical school operations should start shifting back to some state of normalcy for his cohorts clinical rotations beginning in March.

Davis said he believes the next generation of physicians graduating from Penn States College of Medicine will be adequately prepared  if not more prepared  compared to previous cohorts of students.

The advantage we had here [at Penn State] was that we had a plethora of bright and innovative students that were a part of the transition process during the pandemic, Davis said. Our students found ways that they can remain engaged in both their education and the attempts we made to manage a pandemic.

Penn State medical students became actively involved with learning how to treat patients, as well as coronavirus mitigation policy the college enacted regarding the pandemic, Davis said.

Penn State medical students became a part of our pandemic clinical workforce, Davis said. They reviewed articles, they assisted in contact tracing and they followed up with patients.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

For Dr. Jeffrey Wong, associate dean for medical school admissions at University Park, the medical school application process could be considered harder than in previous years.

The applicants themselves are having a harder time getting experiences that holistic evaluation of admissions want them to do, Wong said. In the past, students may have had great opportunities to shadow physicians or be actively engaged in volunteer work, but COVID has limited these types of experiences.

Additionally, Wong said while experiences were limited, shadowing opportunities were also shut down unevenly across the country.

Through the application screening process, we can see how some students have been able to achieve all of those [admissions recommendations], and some have been really limited, Wong said.

Despite the challenges, Wong said the quality of the students applying to Penn States College of Medicine is astounding.

The amount that these young people are doing in the short period that they have been alive is mind-boggling, Wong said. We have the tough task of choosing which applicants we want to admit, and there are unfortunately more qualified applicants than available spots.

Nationally in 2021, there were 62,443 total medical school applicants, and 23,711 were accepted, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The total number of applicants was up 17.8% compared to 2020.

Davis emphasized the idea of utilization as advice for applying to medical schools.

College is a wonderful time for exploration, Davis said. Dont just go to class  utilize your time to engage in parts of the community and to foster self-growth.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE
Ah, February. The month often regarded as the sunniest time of year.

The past couple of days have been unseasonably warm here at Penn State  practically beach weather. I know Ive been rocking my bahama shorts and chilling poolside with a pina colada trying to catch some rays.

Baby, its been like Miami Beach out on the HUB-Robeson Center lawn. So, goodbye gray clouds  I think that sunshine is here to stay.

Mark my words, its never going to be cold again here at Penn State. Were no longer at University Park  this is now Margaritaville.

Since the past couple of days have been so nice, I think I should articulate what the whole student body has been thinking for a while. Lets just cancel spring break and say aloha to it (Editors Note: Aloha can mean both hello and goodbye, and in this context it means goodbye. This column is written for truly engaged intellectuals, so maybe do a little research and enlighten yourself before sending us another email).

Whoa, whoa, whoooooa, amigo (Editors Note: Amigo is Spanish for friend, you ignorant sheeple). I know you may be upset by what I just said, but just hear me out before harshing my buzz.

This past week, ignoring almost all other factors, has been practically spring break if you think about it. (A Different Editors Note: A reminder that editors must comport themselves in a professional way and not bring in issues from their life outside of work when reviewing an article to be published).

Ive had to wear sunglasses thats about the extent of the list. But honestly, who really needs the break (Editors Note: Oh yeah, was it professional when you slept with my wife, Terry?! Was it?! Ill kill you, you son of a [expletive]).

We survived without it last year, and that went well. No one was worn out when they got to the end of the semester last spring (Another Editors Note: It is the opinion of The Daily Collegian Editorial Board to not publish any foul or profane language and additionally to provide comfort to any colleagues spouse when they have been neglected). Were they? (Yet Another Editors Note: That is not an editorial decision of The Daily Collegian Editorial Board)

Believe me, I know how popular spring break is and how much everyone here was looking forward to it. (What Do You Know, Another Editors Note: Provide comfort to any colleagues spouse. Did you also sleep with Janet from marketings husband after she got hit by a bus?)

But I honestly think wed be better off not having the whole week off. You dudes can come catch some waves with me at the alumni duck pond (Janet From Marketings Note: Leave me out of this) or just take a siesta during class (Writers Note: I need an Editors Note here to explain what siesta means).

In conclusion, (Hopefully, The Final Editors Note: You cant fulfill Sharons needs, she never really loved you. You were just her meal ticket) lets all unite around this singular cause to eliminate spring break as one campus, one people.

Send a message to the administration that we dont need any rest or relaxation (Editors Note: [unintelligible crying]...my life is falling apart! I gave you everything Sharon!...sniff sniff How am I supposed to start over again?! [sobbing]).

Cowabunga, my dudes!
Good news for those who have recently bought items from Costco! A TikTok video explained that customers are eligible to have price adjustments within 30 days after the retail giant released some discount deals.

Despite the benefit it brings, people must note that they only have two options should they wish to enjoy the Costco price adjustment: through online and phone calls.

Costco Price Adjustment

TikTok content creator and lawyer Erika Kullberg shared an informative video, which explains that Costco customers could have prices on their purchased items adjusted.

In the said video, Kullberg informed a Costco representative that she recently bought a TV and noticed that it is $400 off upon talking to the staff. Responding to Kullberg, the staff said that she cannot do anything about it.

Since she read the terms, Kullberg replied that she knew about the Costco price adjustment.

The staff then asked Kullberg about the date of purchase and the lawyer responded that she bought the TV three weeks ago. Kullberg also emphasized that she is eligible for a money-back options since it falls under the 30-day price adjustment period.

To end the argument, the staff said that the company will be giving back the $400 difference.

As of writing, the video accumulated more than 800,000 views and above 80,000 likes.

Read Also: Holiday Scam: 11 Tips to Avoid Online Fraudsters From Stealing Your Personal Info, Money

For those unfamiliar on how to go about the price adjustment, Rather Be Shopping stated that a Costco price adjustment only occurs when a customer bought some products either from the the Costco warehouse or online and noticed that the item bought had a price drop within 30 days.

To emphasize, customers are eligible for both price adjustments and refund of the excess price in the product/s bought. For instance, this retail giant is known lower their prices every now and then, which happens mostly during Black Friday and the holiday season.

Costco has been doing this in order to keep its pricing competitive with other retail giants, including Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

How to Request a Price Adjustment Online After Missing Out on Major Discount

Customers who bought some products on Costo.com and noticed that there has been a price drop within 30 days are eligible to request a price adjustment.

For those who are curious to know how to do this, Rather Be Shopping noted that customers have two options. One of which requires the customer to fill out a form. The other way is by calling Costco at 1 (800) 774-2678.

Customers must also keep in mind that they cannot go to the warehouse to ask for a price adjustment on the products bought at Costco.com.

In case a customer has a difficult time connecting to Costco via the aforementioned number, there are simple steps that will be able to help consumers receive their Costco price adjustment.

Customers can head to this link and fill out all the important information such as customers' basic details, existing service request number, and item numbers of products purchased. Other information such as the price paid for the item/s, quantity of the items purchased, and confirmation of the shipped items will also be asked from the customer.

After filling out the said form, the Costco price adjustment request will be directed to the retail giant's system.

However, the report by Rather Be Shopping clarified that consumers must be aware that the said price adjustment will be coming from the online price and not the price from the Costco warehouse. This only means that people must look for the online adjustment rather than the warehouse price.

In relation to this, customers must keep in mind that the shipping cost affects the online price.

Related Article: PS5 Restock Tracker: Walmart PlayStation 5 Drop Scheduled After Amazon Restock
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
Actors Jin Sun-kyu, left, and Jun Jong-seo / Courtesy of Tving





By Kwak Yeon-soo







Director Lee Chung-hyun's award-winning short film, "Bargain," will be remade into a television series. Produced by Climax Studio, which saw a surge of success with "Hellbound" and "D.P.," the long-gestating TV adaptation will star Jin Sun-kyu and Jun Jong-seo.







Lee's 2015 short film, "Bargain," won several accolades, including the Jury Prize at the 33rd Busan International Short Film Festival, the Best Film Award at the 15th Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival in 2016 and the Best Short Film at the 11th Korean Film Festival in Paris (2017).







"Bargain" is a disaster thriller that unfolds when a massive earthquake hits a town. The last surviving members, who are trapped in a building, where they negotiate for black market items such as human organs, struggle to survive. Although it takes references from the original film, the series will differentiate itself by devising fresh characters and plotlines.







Jin will play the role of Hyung-su, who is on the verge of death after getting caught up in a crisis, which he luckily survives thanks to the earthquake. The "Through the Darkness" actor expressed excitement about the new project.







"I really have this feeling that it's going to be a great project. When I heard that it will be filmed in a single take, I wanted the role so badly," he said in a statement released by Tving. "I also look forward to working with director Jeon Woo-sung, who participated in the making of the original film, and actress Jeon, who has explosive energy."







Jin has appeared in more than 30 films, including "The Outlaws" (2017), "Extreme Job" (2019) and "Space Sweepers" (2021).







Jun, who has taken on a diverse range of roles  from a psychopathic serial killer to a mysterious missing woman  will play the role of Joo-young. She is a mercenary broker who unexpectedly sets foot in a shady underworld, and tries to benefit from the natural disaster.







Saying the series has an excellent plot that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, Jun said, "It's an honor to be part of the feature-length project of 'Bargain,' which has received considerable attention. It means a lot to me to take on a role as one of the pillars of the project."







Jun, who made her acting debut with 2018 thriller "Burning," has appeared in a slew of films, including "The Call" (2020) "Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon" (2020) and "Nothing Serious" (2021). The actress is dating director Lee, the original creator of "Bargain." The two met while working together on mystery thriller "The Call."







"Bargain" will be released on Tving in the second half of 2022.


As the Cubs were beating the Braves 6-3 Wednesday night Steve left to see the game with his mom and dad, Reva and Harold, brother Ron and baby niece Elizabeth Henney. He left behind to run the store his wife Kathleen (Knight), Amelia (27), Nathan (24) and his beloved cat Lewis Black. His sis
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Where do your employees live?

In the post-pandemic world of flex-work, hybrid-work, and remote-work, where your employees live is suddenly a very important question.

Conversations around post-pandemic employee categories overemphasize the differences between office workers on one hand and hybrid and remote workers on the otherand also underemphasize the much greater differences between specific kinds of remote workers. These differences have big implications for both the companies and the employees themselves.

In other words, we tend to intuit a Great Divide between full-time office workers and hybrid and remote workers. But thats not where the line is.

A full-time office worker and a hybrid worker (a person who works in the office part-time and at home part-time) have the most in common. They both usually reside in the same state and are therefore governed by the same employment laws. They both usually live within commuting distance of the workplace and can be called into the office on short notice. Theyre usually in the same time zone. They both usually pay taxes in the same state. And the tax implications for the employer are usually the same.

Full-time and hybrid employees are on the same side of our Great Divide. On the other side are some, but not all, remote employees. A remote employee may live (both legally and physically) in a different state, a different country, a different time zone, and they may not be called into the office on short notice. The employment law and tax status may be far more complex for both the employee and the employer.

So which side of the Great Divide do digital nomad workers fall?

The surprising answer is: It depends.

A digital nomad, by definition, lives in a different place than their legal address. Digital nomads dont live at home.

Let me explain.

A digital nomad moves from place to place. (Thats what makes them a nomad.) But the world isnt really set up for nomads; it demands a physical home address, even from people who dont have one. Federal and state governments, various companies, and other organizations simply wont accept blank home address fields in their forms and documents. And so, each nomad needs a physical address that is not a PO Box where they can receive mail.

So, what digital nomads do is either keep a home basea place they rent or own that they live in part-time between tripsor they use the address of a relative or friend.

That home address is what determines which states employment laws apply. Its also what governs tax laws and obligations for both the employer and the employee.

But back to our Great Divide question: A digital nomad whose legal home address is in the same state as the company is mostly on one side of the Great Divide (in terms of employment and tax laws for both the employee and the company). A digital nomad with a legal home address in another state is on the other side of the Great Divide. And it doesnt matter where the person actually lives at any given moment.

Take me, for example. Ive lived and worked as a digital nomad since 2006. My legal home address during that time has always been in California. But during most of that time, my actual residence has been in any number of countries in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, or North Africa.

Even though Im currently living in Morocco, everything about my employmentfrom employment laws to taxesis governed by the state of California and the United States of America.

When I enter a foreign country, Customs always asks if Im visiting for business or tourism. The answer is always tourism.

Unless I take up legal residency in a foreign country (something Ive never done), if I visit a country to attend a trade show (something Ive done only about a dozen times), then Im only there for tourism and not businesseven though Ill be working the entire time. (Yes, Im working, but thats not the sole reason as to why Im there in the first place.)

From a lifestyle perspective, the legal home address of a digital nomad is nothing and nowhere. It doesnt matter and it doesnt apply. The only thing that does matter is the physical location. But from an employment perspective, only the legal home address is required for employment and tax law purposes. The physical location of a digital nomad employee, however, is completely inconsequential.

And so, a digital nomad employee with a legal home address in the same state as the companybut who lives all over the worldis less complicated for employers than a work-from-home employee who lives on the other side of a state line.

Thats the most important fact about digital nomad employees. Now you know.

Next, Read This:
Volvo has unleashed a big improvement in customer satisfaction after equipping its 1,500 service engineers with an Apple Watch to use during their day. What, on the face of it, seems a small change reflects extensive cultural change across the company, which is actively engaged in digital transformation across its business.

What can an Apple Watch do for car servicing?

Volvo has equipped its engineers (Personal Service Technicians) with an Apple Watch and iPhone (running the Volvo Service app) to help them work more efficiently than before. The companys primary focus is to improve customer service, as it recognizes that technicians are the main point of customer contact across the life of the Volvo they drive.

So, how can an Apple Watch in a garage improve customer service?

In use, the engineer will receive a Notification when a customer arrives at the garage with their car.

The watch will show the customers name, relevant notes, and car details.

During the repair, engineers can access information  and once the repair is complete, they can directly call the customer to tell them.

They can also schedule and make a subsequent follow-up call.

The benefit is that with all this information being made available through the Watch (and accompanying iPhone app), engineers dont need to use printed records, or access a PC to stay up to date. Thats not only time-consuming, but learning how to use these systems takes up time. The company told me it took up to 6 months to train new recruits on the 15 different IT systems Volvo used before.

Now, thanks to smart analysis and smart integration of legacy systems, what technicians need to know is always with them.

With Apple Watch, I have everything I need for my job right on my wrist," said Johnnie Andersson, a personal service technician for Volvo." Its also way easier to train a new technician on the Apple Watch and the iPhone than our desktop systems.

The result is that paperwork doesnt disappear, technicians/engineers can stay focused, essential customer contact records arent lost and engineers always have clarity and purpose.

It all sounds so simple. It should sound simple. But it isnt simple.

The app reflects a cultural shift within Volvo itself.

Simplicity by design

Sometimes when you try to do things in the easiest way, you gain innovation out of it, said Sanna Lindstrom, Volvo Car Swedens head of digital transformation.

But making something simple out of something complex required humble understanding. It didnt mean endless committee meetings, but did require the company to move beyond traditional, hierarchical management practices and engage with the real needs of the people at the front end of customer contact.

Some might reflect that the evolution of Volvos Apple Watch Service app began when the company introduced the customer-facing Volvo Cars app, which lets drivers open doors, set climate, and start the car.

To understand the significance of the transformation, consider how the company worked on the project. Its an approach that should form part of the blueprint for any company seeking to digitise its own business.

The making of the Volvo Service app

Volvos digital team is relatively small. I spoke with Lindstrom, Digitalisation Director Markus Lundstrom, and Erik Bylund, head of tech and architecture to discover how they approached the project.

The first thing to understand is that the team worked in a kind of scrum fashion. While they had some ideas concerning what they thought they would build, they also recognized the need to take their lead from the people who do the job.

While the aim was to boost customer relationships by helping technicians spend more time with the customer than with the PC, the company understood that those at the front end knew better than anyone what was required. It was important to address the problems they actually have, not the problems we thought they had, they said.

Volvos teams understand that relevance and context are essential to successful digital practices.

To build a solution technicians would use, the teams watched what people actually did during the day, rather than catering to the tasks they thought or imagined technicians should be doing.

This is the right approach. Everyone who has dabbled on the edge of digital transformation recognizes that new digital processes that add complexity are not only counter-productive  they dont get used. We chose to focus on the necessary, Volvo explained.

'To focus on the actual needs'

The team found that engineers wanted and needed contextual information. They didnt need the interruption of leaving the job at hand to access a PC, carry printouts, find customer contact details, or anything else.

In fact, the old way of working really got in the way. The research showed that to do their job well, technicians needed to be mobile for 40% of the day, moving in the workshop, speaking with customers, or visiting stockrooms for parts. Scuttling back to the PC for information interrupted workflow.

Another temptation the team avoided was over-specification. Its easy to imagine how useful an app can be if it has all possible information, but even the act of going through too much information gets in the way.

Thats something Volvo found. It saw that engineers didnt want to be encumbered with too much information  their working lives were busy enough already  they simply wanted access to what they needed when they required it.

They needed to know the car, the problem, and the customer. They need to know where in terms of job completion the project is, which customers need a follow-up call and which vehicle that they worked on belonged to a customer. If they want more data, they can get it, but the essentials become more useful more of the time.

As they came to understand these needs, the team saw how an Apple Watch would provide a useful adjunct to an iPhone app, particularly to people using their hands to work. They saw that the watch could provide technicians with essential contextual information when needed.

In an era defined by mobility, why should engineers traipse over to a PC for the information they need? Why use paper when you can use a display? Volvo chose Apples solutions for their advanced security and stable app development environments.

The move to improve 15 legacy systems with one accessible front end also reflects the value of good management of digital change. No company can expect good results if its systems are clunky, slow, or hard to use.

In a digital age where we live like the Jetsons at home and (in some cases) the Flintstones at work, workflows that rely on multiple incompatible services and applications add friction, generate errors, and seldom deliver the results you need.

The UI needs to match purpose. Volvos team figured out how to make its app seamlessly integrate with multiple back-end IT systems. Employees shouldnt have to tolerate latency. The Volvo Service app integrates seamlessly with our backend systems, to give our technicians the data they need in real-time, Bylund says.

The project delivered multiple benefits

The project is already generating positive results. The company told me that 80% of technicians who use the app have increased their total customer satisfaction scores. Volvo also cites a 30% increase in post-service follow up calls and emails to customers, thanks to the tech pushing complex processes out of the way.

Digitalization Director Markus Lundstrom said: With the Volvo Service app were connecting people through technology. At one workshop, customers report a 37% improvement in the ability to access their Personal Service Technician.

The company also reported a 40% decrease in paper printouts. Volvo is also seeing the technicians use their new kit to get other tasks done. Some of our teams use the Walkie-Talkie feature to communicate with each other across the facility, they said.

But the main result was Volvo's primary goal: The Volvo Service App is creating huge interest across Volvo Cars globally. With Apple Watch our Personal Service Technicians can create stronger, closer relationships with customers.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
Microsoft Edge is now used on 9.54% of desktops worldwide, just behind Safari at 9.84%, according to data published this week by web analytics service StatCounter. Its the highest market share for Edge reported by StatCounter to date.

Google Chrome still holds the top spot by a long shot at 65.38%, with Mozilla Firefox bringing up the rear with 9.18% market share. The new data was first reported by TechRadar.

StatCounter

Edges lead on other browsers differs greatly depending on location. For example, in the US, Edge is well behind Safari  Edge has just 12.1% market share while Safari claims 18.2%. In Europe and Asia, Edge has already passed Safari, with 10.9% and 7.46%, respectively. Apples Safari runs on 9.95% of desktops in Europe and just 5.41% of desktops in Asia.

All in all, Edge is now a worthy competitor to Goggle Chrome, with rivals such as Firefox apparently losing the limited popularity they already had, according to Jack Gold, president and principal analyst at J. Gold Associates.

In 2020, Microsoft relaunched Edge, recasting it with Googles dominant Chromium technology; its the same browser code that powers Chrome. Not only did Microsoft make Edge a Chrome copy, it also expanded support to versions of Windows other than 10, including macOS and Linux.

"For one thing, when Microsoft switched to a Chromium engine, Edge got a lot faster and more compatible with more websites that, because of the preponderance of Google Chrome browsers, were built to be compatible with Chrome and not the older Edge (it had some unique requirements for full compatibility)," Gold said.

Microsoft also upped Edge's game around security and privacy, Gold said. And, while its not perfect, it does "a pretty good job of filtering out all the garbage people throw at you when browsing.

"And the link to Microsoft security helps with keeping away malware and malicious sites. But of course, Microsoft also has the advantage of putting Edge on every Windows machine, so there is a natural built-in use case for people who dont want to bother with downloading an alternative," Gold added.

Of course, Safaris lane is as a default browser on the Apple iPhone and iPad tablet. On those devices, its a very different story. Chrome has 46.3%, Safari nets 39.4%, and Android claims just 12.6% of traffic.

Some web analytics services already have Edge surpassing all other browsers except the ever-dominant Chrome. For example, Net MarketShares most recent data has Chrome at 69% market share, Edge at 7.75%, and Firefox at 7.48%. Safari is a distant fourth, with just 3.73%.

Safaris popularity in some quarters may, in fact, be waning  if Twitter comments can be a measurement of its popularity.

Earlier this month, an Apple employee who advocates for Safari developers got an eyeful after taking to Twitter to ask users for feedback on why the Safari browser is unpopular and to ask that they point out specific issues with it.

Jen Simmons, an Apple evangelist and developer advocate on the Web Developer Experience team for Safari and WebKit, was clearly taken aback by the responses.

Catching up with tech Twitter this morning and there seems to be an angry pocket of men who really want Safari to just go away, Simmons tweeted. Do we really want to live in a 95% Chromium browser world? That would be a horrible future for the web. We need more voices, not fewer.

Unlike some rival browsers, such as Firefox, Apple's updates to Safari are sparse, with major upgrades just once a year. So the bulk of new features are often rolled out in a single instance. While that may be appealing for some who dislike frequent browser updates, it also means upgrades and/or fixes for Safari dont come often.

In recent years, however, Safari has borne a raft of complaints about the browser's bugs, user interface and experience, and website compatibility, according to MacRumors. Last June, Apple unveiled a substantial redesign of Safari at the company's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). Many of those changes, however, were met with quick criticism describing them as "counterintuitive."

Apple went through several iterations of the browser during the summer  both on mobile devices and desktops  and allowed users to largely revert to the previous Safari design prior to the release of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey.

"Everyone in my mentions [is] saying Safari is the worst, it's the new IE, Simmons tweeted.

Hoping to get to the bottom of the anger, Simmons asked Twitter users to point to specific bugs and missing support that frustrate them or make it harder for them to create websites or apps. Bonus points for links to tickets, she wrote.

Specifics we can fix. Vague hate is honestly super counterproductive, she added.
02/24/2022

Photo (c) filo - Getty Images Imposter scams  in which criminals pretend to be from government agencies, law enforcement, or various companies  are among the most common and successful scams.

Believe it or not, these schemes are not against federal law. But nearly every state attorney general in the country says they should be. The attorneys general from 49 states have signed a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that urges the agency to draft a national rule to target impersonation scams.

Though the methods may vary, imposter scams cause financial harm to consumers, drain resources from regulators tasked with protecting the public, and may cause loss of trust in government services, said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.

The FTC reports that losses from imposter scams last year totaled $2.3 billion. Moody says various state laws address this type of fraud, but shes calling for more clarity at the national level to help states stop imposter scams.

In their letter to the FTC, the state officials say a national rule that encompasses and outlaws such commonly experienced scams would assist attorneys general and their partners in reducing harm to consumers.

Social Security scam

According to the FTC, one of the most common imposter scams involves a criminal pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and targeting seniors. Seniors who are dependant on Social Security often become alarmed when they are told their monthly check is in jeopardy.

But the FTC says seniors should remember that the SSA will never call and ask for their Social Security number. It wont also won't ask them to pay anything or threaten their benefits.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron says his office received over 1,500 reports of impersonation scams in 2021, totaling $9 million in financial losses.

These scams range from scammers impersonating businesses and charities to family members and loved ones, Cameron said. Regardless of the form these scams take, they are harming Kentucky consumers and businesses.

Common scams

Other common imposter scams include:

Grandparent scam: The caller pretends to be a grandchild in trouble

Tech support scam: The caller pretends to be from Microsoft and says your computer is compromised

Jury duty scam: The caller threatens you with arrest for failing to appear for jury duty

The electric company scam: The caller threatens to cut off your electricity for an unpaid bill

In their letter, the state officials say there is a pressing need for action at the federal level. They say such a rule would allow states to access the resources of the U.S. government in holding bad actors to account.


By Lee Min-hyung





Hana Financial Group has decided to extend the term of Hana Card CEO Kwon Gil-joo for another year based on his solid corporate management.







Kwon took office as the leader of Hana's card affiliate last April. He is recognized for driving its outstanding earnings growth. In 2021, the company generated a net profit of 250.5 billion won, up 62.2 percent from the previous year.







The financial holding firm also spoke highly of Kwon's stable corporate management by enhancing communication with employees and improving corporate culture.







When he was promoted to lead the company last year, his first scheduled event was to visit a customer service center where he encouraged employees and pledged to expand support for them.







He has since stressed the importance of going back to basics by urging employees to have a customer-oriented mindset.







Kwon is a finance expert with more than 35 years of experience in the industry after joining Korea Exchange Bank in 1985. After the bank merged with Hana Bank in 2015, he has held key posts at Hana Financial Group, Hana Bank and Hana Card. His previous career includes vice president of Hana Bank's information and communication technology group and vice president of Hana Financial Group.







Kwon also worked for what was then called Hana SK Card, playing a pivotal role in developing the company into one of the nation's major card companies.


Corsicana, TX (75110)

Today

Morning fog, then mostly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Hana Financial Group Chairman Kim Jung-tai, fifth from left, and KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung, center, pose with other officials from the two sides during a signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the group's headquarters in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. The MOU is aimed at jointly achieving the goal of carbon neutrality in accordance with environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) values. Courtesy of Hana Financial Group



By Yi Whan-woo



Hana Financial Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to tackle climate change and reach the U.N. goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 jointly, the banking group announced Thursday.



The MOU is line with the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles that have been embraced by the corporate and financial sectors worldwide after they were first formally introduced in 2004 in a U.N. Environment Program known as "The Global Compact Leaders Summit" report.



The areas of cooperation under the MOU center on challenges associated with climate change, the transition to low-carbon energy sources and expanding the use of renewable energy.



Hana Financial Group will therefore, provide 10 billion won ($8.31 million) to KAIST, to sponsor the country's top-ranked engineering university in a wide range of academic research, including in basic science and conversion technology, as well as in ESG management.



The group's flagship affiliate, Hana Bank, will separately spend about 10 billion won to jointly set up a lab with KAIST Holdings, the holding firm of KAIST, to develop artificial photosynthesis.



This term refers to a solar-to-chemical energy-conversion process that mimics the natural process of photosynthesis to convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen.



Launched in January, KAIST Holdings will be responsible for providing relevant knowhow and expertise.



Artificial photosynthesis is critical as the amount of solar and other sources of energy that can be obtained from nature vary depending on the weather and other variables.



In the case of Hana Financial Group and KAIST, they will focus on an environmentally-friendly technology called CCUS, an acronym for "carbon, capture, utilization, storage," to speed up the artificial photosynthesis process.



"The commercialization of carbon-negative energy is becoming urgent, with carbon neutrality being a hot topic in the international community," Hana Financial Group Chairman Kim Jung-tai said during the signing ceremony of the MOU at the firm's headquarters in central Seoul, Wednesday.



"I believe that Hana and KAIST, with this MOU, can emerge as game changers on the path toward the commercialization of next-generation technology and solutions to climate change."



KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung expressed hope that the MOU will "create synergy toward the goal of carbon neutrality, by bringing together the school's vision and technology with Hana's ESG drive."



Lee noted that, although in its nascent stages, KAIST Holdings hopefully can "set an example in nurturing prospective industries and creating an ecosystem for the low-carbon energy sector."



In 2021, Hana Financial Group declared that it would embark on practicing ESG management and has begun to materialize corresponding strategies since then.



One of its mid- to long-term strategies is "2030&60," aimed at providing financial assistance worth 60 trillion won to every possible sector concerning the environment and sustainability through 2030.



Another strategy is "ZERO&ZERO," which pursues the lowering to zero by 2050 of both the level of greenhouse gas emissions and the use of coal as a source of energy in the workplaces of the group and its affiliates.


Sue B. Donnelly, 87, of Crossville, passed away at her home on April 26, 2022. She was born on May 18, 1934, in Crossville, Tennessee, daughter of the late James T. Brandon and Clara (Hamby) Brandon. Sue was the owner of Boats and Harbors and of the Baptist Faith. She is survived by her chil
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Authors Lee Su-zy and Choi Deok-kyu / Courtesy of BIR Publishing Co. and YUN Edition



By Park Han-sol



Two critically-acclaimed Korean picture books have been honored in this year's prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Awards for children's literature, presented at Italy's Bologna Children's Book Fair.



Lee Su-zy's "Summer" and Choi Deok-kyu's "Father's Big Hands" earned special mentions in the fiction and nonfiction categories, respectively.



The Bologna Ragazzi Awards, which are awarded to international works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and comics each year, are celebrated prizes in the world of children's book publishing, along with the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB).



Choi's "Father's Big Hands" is a semi-autobiographical story about a son who grew up under his father's care and is now looking after him as an adult. The book's juxtaposition of illustrations of a father and son switching roles  giving each other a bath and helping each other to get dressed and eat  has captivated both young and adult readers alike.





A page from Lee Su-zy's "Summer" (2021) / Courtesy of BIR Publishing Co.
Audience members raise their hands in support as Joseph Shelton speaks at the D11 board meeting.
House Bill 22-1137 was introduced on Feb. 4 by Rep. Naquetta Ricks (D-Arapaho County) to keep people from being forced into foreclosure because of HOA fines and fees.

Some of the bills components:

 Requires an HOA to alert the unit owner regarding the delinquency by, in addition to sending a notice of delinquency to the unit owner as required by current law, attempting to contact the unit owner by at least two other methods, including first-class or certified mail, an email, a telephone call or voice mail message, or in-person contact. The HOA must document attempts to contact the unit owner.

 Prohibits an HOA, or a property management company acting on behalf of an HOA, from referring the delinquent account to a collection agency or attorney unless a majority of the HOAs board of directors vote to refer the matter at a public hearing.

 Prohibits an HOA from imposing late fees, fines and interest on a per-diem basis in an amount that exceeds the lesser of $50 per day or $500 total.

 Prohibits an HOA from charging a rate of interest on unpaid assessments, fees or fines of greater than 8 percent per year.

 Requires an HOA to adopt a policy to provide the unit owner with contact information for foreclosure counseling services available in the owners county.

 Before an HOA may initiate a foreclosure action, requires the HOA to offer the unit owner a repayment plan to pay the debt in monthly installments, and the unit owner either declines the offer or, after accepting the offer, fails to make at least three monthly payments.

 Limits the amount that an HOA is entitled to recover in any action or suit that the HOA brings against a unit owner to an amount equal to three times the amount of unpaid regular and special assessments plus interest.

If Ricks bill had been in place prior to commencement of Ranae Lichtenbergers case, the amount the condo association could collect would have been capped at well below the final figure of $18,000.

Ricks tells the Indy that Lichtenberger isnt the only person whos lost a home due to unpaid dues and penalties. A woman in the Denver metro area saw her dues, assessments and penalties rise to $38,000, which led to foreclosure, as it did for Lichtenberger. In another case, overdue fees of $100 swelled to $2,000, crippling the homeowners chance of paying off the debt.

Thats too much power, Ricks says. Its a property rights issue. We want to be sure theyre protected in their homes. Seniors have reached their earning capacity, and if they lose their homes, its likely they wont replace it.

Though the bill includes additional notification requirements, in Lichtenbergers case, she might not have responded, just as she ignored court filings delivered to her door.

Ricks says the idea that a court case could span two years without the defendant responding and then lead to a sheriffs sale prompts her to consider sponsoring a separate bill that would require a determination, based on evidence, of a persons competency prior to a homes sale.

A persons capacity [to act in their own interest] should be more than some person checking boxes, she says. There has to be more due diligence around the matter.
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released information surrounding the guilty plea of Mexican businessman Carlos Guerrero and his conspiracy to sell and use hacking tools that were manufactured by companies in Italy, Israel, and elsewhere. Guerrero had a bevy of companies that he stood up for this purpose, with the Tijuana-based Elite de Carga being among the most prominent.

Of particular note, according to court documents, which included his plea agreement, Guerrero and a co-conspirator, Daniel Moreno, together in August 2014 met with representatives of Italian Company A (believed to be Hacking Team) in San Diego, where the Italians demonstrated their devices and their capability to intercept wireless communications and to geolocate targets of interest. Elite de Carga would sell these capabilities to the Mexican state government of Baja and Durango for what was tacitly understood to be for political as well as law enforcement purposes.

Spyware tools available to businesses, political groups and governments

In 2020, the Cartel Project initiative conducted by Forbidden Stories (a global network of investigative journalists) took a deep dive into the global political connections of the Mexican drug cartels, including those in Mexico. This effort, coupled with the organizations Pegasus Project, served to lay bare how surveillance technologies being sold by Israels NSO Group and others were being used for illicit purposes.

All told, in 2020 at least 20 different companies were selling technologies in Mexico to businesses, political groups, and both federal and state governments.

Mexican journalist Manuel Diaz observes how, Sophisticated systems, such as Pegasus, have been used by all Mexican governments to break into opposition leaders, businessmen, and companies for the purpose of pressuring them or to ease questioning or to deny public contracts. Unfortunately, government entities spy on citizens instead of criminal organizations.

The use of technology for illicit competitive intelligence purposes was further evidenced, by Guerrero directly, when in December 2015, Guerrero and Moreno opted to intercept the phone calls of a business competitors cellular phone to benefit Guerreros consortium. This intercept occurred in both the United States and Mexico. At this time Guerrero expanded the availability of surveillance devices to other manufacturers or application developers from other countries. They went on to create an on-demand service for $25,000 per month.

In 2016 to 2017 the services offered by Elite de Carga included signal jammers, Wi-Fi interception tools, IMSI catchers, WhatsApp hacking capability, geolocation, and cellphone interception. Elite de Carga sold its services to clients in both the United States and Mexico for the purposes of collecting information on targets. An example provided by the DOJ showed how a client hired Elite de Carga to hack the phone and email account of a Florida-based sales representative of a large Mexican business in exchange for $25,000 from a Mexican business client.

In yet another instance, Guerrero arranged for a Mexican mayor to gain unauthorized access to a political rivals Twitter, Hotmail and iCloud accounts.

U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said, Todays guilty plea helps stem the proliferation of digital tools used for repression and advances the digital security of both U.S. and Mexican citizens. This Office is committed to disrupting malicious cyber activities and mitigating unlawful surveillance.

SteathGenie case another example of spyware risks

Contemporaneous with the efforts of Guerrero in California/Mexico, a separate case was unfolding that led to an indictment and subsequent guilty plea on the east coast of the U.S. Hammad Akbar was indicted for the sale and usage of the application StealthGenie, which was hosted out of a data center in Ashburn, Virginia. StealthGenie could record all incoming/outgoing voice calls, intercept calls, monitor calls within a 15-foot radius, and monitor voicemail, address books, calendars, etc. all without the knowledge of the user. One can imagine how such capability could be exploited at trade events or other opportunities where proximity allowed to be within 15-feet of a target of interest.

The court documents highlight how StealthGenie could be installed on a variety of different brands of mobile phones, including Apples iPhone, Googles Android, and Blackberry Limiteds Blackberry. Once installed, it could intercept all conversations and text messages sent using the phone. The app was undetectable by most users and was advertised as being untraceable.

CISO awareness of spyware and surveillance risks

According to a DOJ press release, Guerrero also admitted that the hacking tools and technologies he brokered would be used for commercial and personal purposes by private clients. This admission by Guerrero may serve as a useful peg upon which CISOs and CSOs may anchor their awareness briefings highlighting the efforts that an unscrupulous competitor or a nation-state supporting a competitor may resort.

The targeting of employees and their devices may occur at any time at any location. That said, highlighting this risk as a part of the travel briefing program would seem prudent. Where warranted, consider a periodic and unannounced review of company devices for the existence of spyware or other extraneous applications that may serve as leverage for the criminal or unscrupulous competitor to garner intellectual property or trade secrets.
Work is well underway in the demolition of three buildings on a former part of the University of Bridgeport campus for the new Bassick High School in the citys South End, after a lot of back-and-forth about the location and financing.

The demolition and hazardous materials abatement, by all accounts, went more smoothly. AAIS Corp., a West Haven company on the states preapproved list of demo and haz-mat contractors, won the bid for $8,769,000 on Sept. 30, city records show.

AAIS has already taken down much of the 8-story former dormitory, Bodine Hall. But it was not the lowest bidder. Bestech Inc., of Ellington, bid $5,445,000 for the same job.

Thats a difference of $3.3 million, making the AAIS bid a whopping 61 percent higher than its competitors offer.

Bestech is on that same controversial state list of four demolition and haz-mat contractors as AAIS, which was created in 2016. Both firms are on the list of likely subpoena recipients in an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation into school construction in Connecticut.

No one can say Bestech wasnt a qualified bidder. The whole point of the list is to give the state and cities and towns a choice among contractors that are fully vetted and ready to roll, with unit prices pre-set  X amount per square foot to remove asbestos tiles and Y amount per ton for cement, for example.

So, why would Bridgeport pick the higher bidder? Not just higher, but unheard-of higher, in a competitive industry where differences of 5 percent are viewed as significant.

Bridgeport officials stood by their decision Tuesday.

The opinion is that AAIS would provide a better, completed job even though their initial price is higher overall, Michele Otero, a construction project manager for the city of Bridgeport, wrote in the minutes of the Sept. 30 special meeting of the citys school building committee.

The citys message is that with unit prices in force, the final price paid to AAIS might well fall below its bid and the price offered by Bestech might have required upward adjustments. Maybe so, but $3.3 million on top of a $5.4 million bid? Seems unlikely.

The 60-percent haircut

Bestech has demolished similar-sized buildings in Connecticut, records show. Its hard to see a reason for bids at all if youre going to allow a 60-percent haircut.

That might be a question federal investigators ask school construction contracting under the former director of the school building program, Konstantinos Kosta Diamantis, an inquiry that was made public on Feb. 2.

AAIS was by far the largest recipient of work on state buildings between 2017 and the end of 2021 among the companies on that preapproved list, I reported Sunday  with $20.2 million of the $28.8 million in work orders. Bestech was No. 2, at $8.2 million and the other two firms pulled in less than $400,000 combined.

Those numbers dont include work done by cities and towns for school and municipal projects such as the Bassick High School project. Cities and towns are entitled to tap into the same unit prices as the state from those contractors for work they need done.

Diamantis, the former director of the state Office of School Construction Grants and Review, told me Tuesday he had nothing to do with the selection of AAIS and that he neither recommended the firm nor approved the citys use of a higher bid. In fact, he said the office he headed did not oversee municipal and school systems use of the preapproved list at all.

The Office of school construction and grants has no role in that process and nor does it have an opinion, Diamantis said in an email, adding in a conversation, Theres a big presumption that I know more about it than I do.

Diamantis retired from his job heading the school construction office on Oct. 28, rather than accept a suspension ordered by Gov. Ned Lamont  who fired him from his in his related, appointed position as deputy secretary of the state Office of Policy and Management amid allegations of nepotism.

The city of Bridgeport said in a written statement to me Tuesday that neither Diamantis nor anyone else at the state level expressed a preference for either demolition contractor, and the city did not need to seek approval from the state for choosing a much higher bidder.

We did not discuss this with the State prior. We did inform them after the fact that the School Building Committee decided to award the contract to AAIS, the email said.

State taxpayers on the hook

Some of the confusion over which state agencies oversee local schools use of the preapproved list stems from the fact that Michael Sanders, who managed the haz-mat and demolition work for the state for many years, reported to Diamantis in recent years. In at least one instance, in Bristol in 2020, Sanders suggested the city hire a specific contractor for a school job  Bestech, as it happened  according to a letter from the then-Bristol city attorney.

Bestech won the job despite a bid that was $200,000 higher but the school system later reversed that decision and went with the lower bidder.

That suggestion to Bristol was a mistake, Diamantis, a former state Representative from Bristol, said Tuesday. He said it was made by Sanders without understanding that the bidding process in that case required the city to use the lowest qualified bidder because it involved companies not on the state list.

Sanders died at age 53 on Dec. 17 in Old Lyme; his death was ruled an overdose of cocaine, fentanyl and another substance by the state medical examiner. I certainly cant say what he said and to whom he said it, Diamantis added Tuesday.

So no evidence of steering has emerged in Bridgeports demolition job but it still raises questions. State taxpayers are on the hook for $2.3 million of the $3.3 million bid difference, based on the 68.93 percent state reimbursement rate on the Bassick project.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Administrative Services, where the school construction office is housed, said the agency did not have an immediate comment on the Bassick High School demolition project. Neither Bestech nor AAIS returned messages seeking comment Tuesday.

Less than what was required

Bridgeport, in its written statement, said Bestech sent an email asking why they were not awarded the job. The city was not able to immediately produce that email when I requested it late Tuesday afternoon.

Diamantis said his office did not receive any emails, letters or calls from Bestech or any other firms about the bid selection  nor should it have, he said, since that was not the role of his office.

But in the approval minutes, and in its emails to me, the city explained its reasoning. It was based on estimated amounts of material to be removed.

Quantities as laid out in the work plan provided by Bestech were less than what was required in the documents, the citys statement said. As for AAIS, in the award meeting minutes, Otero wrote, Should they not remove the quantities indicated in their proposal the City would receive a credit back. Likewise, should Bestech go over quantities they would look for a change order from the City.

A former co-owner of AAIS, Brian T. Bannon, pleaded guilty to a fraud charge in 2001, connected with an accused kickback of $81,000  plus free work at the home of a local official  to secure contracts in the first administration of Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. Ganim later served seven years in prison in the corruption scheme and was re-elected after his release.

AAIS was barred from some state contracting in 2003, a sanction that was upheld in state courts. In recent years the company was sold to an out-of-state company but it still does business as AAIS. Its unclear whether Bannon is still affiliated with the business; his name is not mentioned in the AAIS telephone directory.

When I asked the city officials whether they were aware of that history, they responded with three question marks. They also said AAISs status as a union company was not relevant to the bid decision. It is being done under a project labor agreement, which would assure union labor even at an open-shop firm such as Bestech.

Buried in all this is why the city of Bridgeport invited only the four companies on the preapproved list to bid. What about other big demolition firms such as Stamford Wrecking, which lodged a series of complaints to state officials in 2020 about what it and its lawyer called improper use of the list.

The given answer is that cities such as Bridgeport  and there were many others  called on the list as a way to keep their projects simpler and running smoother.

Hazmat abatement holds up Projects the most, Diamantis said in his email to me Tuesday, explaining the value of the list. The hazmat world is inconsistent and needs attention.

Speaking of Bridgeport, he said, I know the town was eager to get the project moving they were behind schedule and costs were escalating.

Right, then. Costs were escalating, so they paid a steep premium to a bidder. Clearly we have more questions than answers here.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, Jan. 19, in this photo provided by the North Korean government. Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to send troops into eastern Ukraine could be a reminder of the grim reality for North Korea: A deal to bargain away its nuclear arms could prove to be a scrap of paper anytime in the world of power politics. AP-Yonhap





Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to send troops into eastern Ukraine could be a reminder of the grim reality for North Korea: A deal to bargain away its nuclear arms could prove to be a scrap of paper anytime in the world of power politics.







Defying international pleas, Putin ordered his "peacekeeping" troops into two breakaway regions in Ukraine, Monday, recognizing them as "independent" states  a move that U.S. President Joe Biden has said amounted to the "beginning of a Russian invasion."







The strongman's military step is now rekindling a debate over the fate of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum under which the United States, Russia and Britain pledged to offer security assurances to Ukraine in return for its handover of all Soviet-era nuclear weapons.







For Pyongyang, the unfurling crisis in Ukraine might be a grim indication that any future denuclearization deal  whether that be with Washington or Beijing  could be as fragile as the Budapest Memorandum, observers said.







"The Ukraine crisis will be yet another historical lesson for North Korea: A weak country is likely to face such a scenario after all," Park Won-gon, professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, said.







"In fact, the North's position has long been that security assurances from major powers are futile, and that is a reason why it has sought to bolster self-reliant capabilities and build its own nuclear force," he added.







The escalating standoff over Ukraine came as nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have remained stalled since the summit between the two countries in Hanoi in 2019 ended without a deal.







People wearing face masks walk on the street near the Pyongyang Railway Station, North Korea, Jan. 27. AP-Yonhap





The North's nuclear quandary has long eluded U.S. administrations partly because the recalcitrant regime has remained doubtful whether any American promises of security assurances can be credible and will remain unaffected by a change of government inherent in a democracy.







The North's such doubts were reinforced when in2018 former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the landmark 2015 Iranian nuclear deal signed under his predecessor, Barack Obama.







Putin's troop dispatch order this week harks back to Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, which was then cited as an ominous sign that the Budapest arrangement was hanging by a thread.







The 2014 redrawing of the European map and the current Ukrainian crisis have unnerved the U.S. and other allies as they see the two cases as a body blow to the long-held principle: National borders should not be altered by military force.







Amid growing signs of the principle's erosion, the North has gone overboard to sharpen its military edge through a series of advanced missile tests last month, including those of hypersonic and intermediate-range ones.







Pyongyang has also appeared keen on reinforcing its nuclear weapons capabilities, casting them as the "treasured sword." It has expressed a desire to develop tactical nuclear arms while doubling down on diversifying delivery vehicles.







"As North Korea watches the encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine in the annexation of the Crimea and the ongoing crisis, the regime would find it difficult to abandon its nuclear program, which is like an insurance policy for the North," Kim Tae-hyung, a professor of international politics at Soongsil University, said.







A TV screen at Seoul Station shows a media report on the Ukrainian crisis, Feb. 22. Yonhap





For South Korea, what's happening there may not be something it can write off as a faraway crisis. Beyond its potential economic fallout, the security crisis poses a major geopolitical question of whether to allow what could be a breach of a key international rule: noninterference.







The Seoul government has so far appeared cautious about the issue of joining the U.S.-led campaign to sanction Russia for its latest military operation, while signaling its desire to offer humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.







The U.S. and its allies imposed coordinated retaliatory sanctions targeting Russian officials and two key banks while warning of tougher measures to be rolled out in the case of escalation.







A senior official at Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday that Seoul was not considering military support or deployment in connection to the Ukrainian crisis while leaving ambiguity on the sanctions issue.







"Major Western nations have expressed a willingness to join in sanctions. We are also looking at this while leaving various possibilities open," the official told reporters on the condition of anonymity.







As the Biden administration has been striving to rally its regional allies and partners against an assertive China and a nuclear-ambitious North Korea, Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang have appeared to be closing ranks with one another.







For Beijing and Pyongyang, however, the unfolding situations in Ukraine could be a worrisome development given that both have ardently championed the principle of noninterference  a term they often use to criticize America.







"From the North's perspective, the Russian order to send troops into Ukraine might be an act against its anti-imperialist credo," Park of Ewha Womans University said. "For China that has balked at any acts to meddle in internal affairs, it could be an embarrassing one too." (Yonhap)






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ANSONIA  Why would successful Latin fusion restaurant Crave completely renovate and relaunch with a new menu and new name?

Owner Libby Meissner said its about taking a risk.

Life is about taking risks..., Meissner said. And I've always done that all my life.

The official Ansonia Facebook page announced on Tuesday that Crave would be shutting down for renovations, to reopen in early April.

But Meissner said Crave is going to be a completely different restaurant when it reopens. Meissner said shes switching it up in order to stay ahead of her competitors who are now part of a local food scene that didnt exist when her restaurant first opened more than a decade ago.

Meissner said the restaurant will close on March 14, so customers still have a chance to get their favorites before Crave shuts down. But she did say her customers have pleaded with her not to remove customer favorites from the menu.

Some people are saying Oh no, please dont take this, please dont take that. Everythings coming off. Theres not going to be one identical menu item. Now will I have weekly specials that might bring back those items? Perhaps? Im not sure yet, she said.

However, Meissner was mum when it came to revealing what her restaurant would soon serve.

The food is still in my head. Its still in that little corner of my head and I havent extrapolated it yet. Its coming. I know its there. And I have some great ideas I really do. But I dont have the whole menu set up. But I will tell you one thing. Theres no doubt itll be delicious, she said.

One customer on the Ansonia Facebook page asked why she would revamp her menu. Meissner said her customers asked her as well. But she said she decided to change because Crave came about in 2007 and Main Street wasnt the food destination it is now. Crave, she said, was one of the few restaurants in the immediate area. Now, there are a number of restaurants on Main Street. Meissner calls it restaurant row.

She said while she serves Latin fusion cuisine, other restaurants in the area also offer similar fare. Eateries in Shelton have also sprang up, she said, but many dont stand out.

She said she wants to create trends, not follow them.

Meissner said her menu will still offer fusion fare. She said her mixed ethnic background is also an influence.

I'm going to create my own fusion because Im a fusion kind of girl. Im a Puerto Rican German Jew, so thats a fusion in itself. So therefore, Im somebody that identifies with fusion, she said.

However, she said some of her employees were also surprised by her announcement. On Wednesday, she flagged one of her employees, Josh Gonzalez, to her table. Gonzalez said her employees trust her.

There was some concerns but people trust you. People have faith in your vision, Gonzalez told Meissner.

Ansonia Economic Development Director Sheila OMalley said she was also surprised at the announcement. OMalley said when she first heard Meissner was going to visit City Hall to speak to the mayor on Tuesday, she said she thought it was about something else.

She always comes in with good news. So yeah, a bit surprised to hear that. But Im not surprised at all that shes going to reinvent herself and her restaurant, OMalley said.

OMalley did say she would miss one of the items on Craves menu.

I like the nachos. Those are really good. If you know Libby and how creative she is, theres going to be new options for people that theyll like even better, she said.

Crave is set to reopen April 1 with the new name and menu, according to Meissner. Crave gift cards, she said, will still be honored but customers wishing to enjoy Latin fusion must use them by March 14.

As for what Crave will soon be called, Meissner said thats still under wraps as well.

I won't even disclose the name... one of the reasons why I cant tell you is because I dont have a clue yet, Meissner said
The legislatures Finance Committee agreed to explore income tax cuts aimed at the middle class, the working poor, renters and businesses on Wednesday, but the Democrat-controlled panel also renewed its push to raise more from Connecticuts wealthiest households.

The move, which includes a mansion property tax to help fund urban school desegregation, will again put the committee at odds with Gov. Ned Lamont.

I believe we can get to a bipartisan tax [relief] package this year. If we dont, I think weve failed in one of our biggest charges this session, said Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, co-chairman of the finance panel.

Lamont and top lawmakers from both parties have pressed hard for tax cuts this winter, noting that while Connecticuts economy remains fragile from the coronavirus pandemic, state government coffers have swollen to record proportions.

But there also are some sharply different philosophies at the Capitol over how to provide that relief  and whether more from the rich is needed to ensure tax cuts for others are sustainable.

Its going to take compromise from everybody, Scanlon added, including the governor.

The Finance Committee, which has until April 7 to complete its recommendations this session, is feeling pressure from all groups to cut taxes. The budget reserve, which holds a record-setting $3.1 billion, is at its legal maximum equal to 15 percent of annual operating costs.

The current fiscal years budget also is on pace to make history and finish with about $2.5 billion left over.

But with Connecticut still down more than 70,000 jobs since March 2020, when the pandemic began, many lawmakers say relief needs to be targeted to those most in need.

Focusing on income tax relief

Not surprisingly, the Finance Committee is expected to focus much of its proposals on the income tax, by far the states largest revenue engine.

The committee agreed Wednesday to raise a concept bill  carrying a title but no details yet  on the income taxs property tax credit.

Currently, the credit provides $53 million in relief, chiefly to middle-income households with seniors or children, covering up to $200 of their municipal property tax burdens.

But the credit is just a shell of its former self.

In 2010 it stood at $500, was available to income-eligible households without children or seniors and was worth $365 million.

Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed boosting it to $300. The House Republican caucus wants to go back to $500. Both would remove the requirements that the household contains seniors or kids.

The finance panel wont settle on any recommendation for at least a month, but it did agree to schedule a public hearing on a bill to raise the credit to $400 and to eliminate the other restrictions.

Scanlon and the committees other co-chairman, Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, said the group also wants to explore possibly creating some form of credit for low- and middle-income renters in Connecticut. Research shows many landlords build the cost of their property tax bills into the fees charged to their tenants.

The committee also agreed to explore boosting the Earned Income Tax Credit, a state income tax break for working poor households, from 30 percent to 40 percent of the federal EITC. This would add roughly another $40 million to more than 190,000 families that earn less than $57,000 per year  an average boost of about $250 per household.

The third major income tax cut involves the new child tax credit proposed by Scanlon, who is recommending up to $600 per child or a maximum of $1,800 per household. Nonpartisan analysts said last year when Scanlon raised the concept that it would cost the state about $300 million per year.

To combat rising gasoline prices, the committee will hold a public hearing this spring on a bill proposed by Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, to credit all working households, regardless of their income limits, with $50.

Everyone is feeling the pinch from higher gas prices, Looney said Wednesday. You dont have to be really poor to feel the squeeze right now, he said.

If majority Democrats in the House and Senate hope to get Republican votes on a tax package, they might consider the Senate GOPs proposal to reduce the sales tax rate, at least for 2022, from 6.35 percent to 5.99 percent. The caucus also wants to suspend the 1 percent surcharge on restaurant food and other prepared meals for the calendar year, arguing broad-based relief is the best way to help jump-start the economy.

The Finance Committee raised a bill to implement the Senate Republicans proposal. But theyre also exploring some other tax proposals that likely would drive Senate and House Republicans away, as well as Lamont.

Though the states coffers are flush right now, thats due in part to billions of dollars in emergency federal pandemic relief that will expire in 2024. Theres also no guarantee a stock market that was largely robust until the start of 2022  and drove much of state governments revenue growth over the past four years  wont plunge at some point.

During the Great Recession of 2007-09 and the eight years of sluggish recovery that followed, legislatures largely whittled away at state services, municipal aid and tax credits for the middle class and the poor to help keep budgets in balance.

Tax fairness debate heating up again

To ensure that any tax relief offered this year is sustainable  and to recession-proof core services and programs  progressive Democratic legislators on the Finance Committee have proposed raising taxes on the wealthiest households.

The panel voted Wednesday to hold a public hearing on Looneys proposal for statewide property tax on homes with assessed values at $1.2 million or greater.

And since property tax assessments represent 70 percent of market value, this involves homes priced at more than $1.7 million.

This mansion tax could generate as much as $86 million. Looney says the revenue should be used to fund the school desegregation initiatives the state recently endorsed to settle the landmark Sheff v. ONeill case and also to relieve local school districts of surging special education costs.

The Finance Committee also will hold a hearing on a plan from Looney for a 1 percent income tax surcharge on the capital gains earnings on the states wealthiest households. This involves couples earning more than $1 million annually and singles topping $500,000. It would raise about $130 million per year.

But Lamont, a fiscally moderate to conservative Democrat from Greenwich, has said repeatedly that he fears any tax hikes now would weaken the states economic recovery. Lamont also has said he believes state tax hikes aimed at the wealthy would prompt them to flee the state.

Lamonts communications director, Max Reiss, said Wednesday the governor is focused on economic growth, a structurally balanced budget and keeping Connecticut affordable.

The governors views have remained consistent on some of the issues raised today that we have seen previously, however, his administration is reviewing all proposals, as we do with all legislation, Reiss added.

But Lamont isnt the only one likely to balk at these proposed tax hikes.

Rep. Holly Cheeseman of East Lyme, ranking House Republican on the finance panel, said the GOP is very interested in providing tax relief but not in increasing taxes on anyone.

If a significant number of those [tax increase proposals] are included, I think the chances of having a bipartisan revenue plan are slim and none, she said, and slim has left town.

Looney, who had offered a statewide property tax tax and a capital gains surcharge last year as well, noted that both proposals were tempered this year in hopes of reaching a compromise.

The property tax offered in 2021 would have been imposed on all homes with market values around $430,000 or greater. And the capital gains surcharge was 2 percent, not 1 percent.

And Fonfara, said those who believe the pandemic has worsened Connecticuts longstanding gaps in wealth, education, health care and economic opportunity are as passionate as those who oppose higher taxes on the rich.

Lamont blocked many of these tax hikes in 2021 but wasnt running for re-election then, as he is now. And the governors latest proposal to cut income taxes on the middle class via the property tax credit is needed to fulfill an overdue pledge he made in his 2018 campaign.

Im hopeful that, unlike previous years, there is an appreciation for a [negotiation] process that is mutual, Fonfara added. That hasnt been the case because there hasnt been a need in the past.
The states community colleges could begin the formal transition to one consolidated institution as soon as next month.

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities submitted a renewed merger proposal to its accreditor, the New England Commission for Higher Education, earlier this month for consideration and approval. The association will meet with college officials on Mar. 3 and deliver a decision.

CSCU President Terrence Cheng expressed confidence at a Board of Regents meeting Thursday that the regional accreditor will approve the plan.

The substantive change proposal clarified the roles of central leadership and campuses in decision-making and local management, and stressed alignment across the campuses, officials said. It also limited new positions to make the new structure more affordable, but added a vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Officials decided to merge the community colleges into Connecticut State Community College almost five years ago, and have cited enrollment declines, lagging measures of student success and an unsustainable financial trajectory.

Two community colleges currently have negative financial reserves, officials reported.

And unfortunately, several institutions may likely follow that in the next year or two, said Michael Rooke, interim president of Connecticut State. So we urgently feel the need to restructure our staffing to account for enrollment declines, and leverage our shared services, and invest heavily in enrollment, retention and completion.

CSCU officials told the legislature earlier this week that even with Gov. Ned Lamonts proposed changes to the biennial budget, the system is still projected to see a $174 million deficit. Headcount fell over the 2010s by more than 33 percent at the community colleges, according to state data  a trend then sped up by the pandemic.

Rooke and his colleagues said the proposed merger would improve student success, from adding a quoted 158 advisors by the summer to aligning curriculum and transcripts so students can take classes on any campus and easily transfer to the four-year universities. There will be single college catalog published this fall with common general education requirements, prerequisites and learning outcomes.

The interim president anticipated Connecticut State could begin accepting students this October, which he said is going to be here sooner than we expect. He said the formal process to transition should wrap in June 2023, so that the statewide community college can formally open on July 1.

Theres still much to be done over the next 15 months or so, Rooke said, such as to finish the merged colleges strategic plan and establish a diversity, equity and inclusion plan. Officials will also implement the new shared governance structure, and transition current roles and responsibilities to future positions before summer next year.

Rooke added that one of his goals has been to make the consolidation process as unnoticeable as possible for students  in terms of interruption to their education, though he suggested he would raise awareness of the change for those who may be less involved with their schools.

But the faculty advisory committee to the Board of Regents said they did not see the renewed proposal before it was submitted to the regional accreditor.

I just want to emphasize one point in particular, namely the Faculty Advisory Committee, based on our discussions with faculty at the community colleges and at the universities, remain opposed to the elimination of the accreditation of the 12 community colleges, said David Blitz, chair of the committee and a philosophy professor at Central Connecticut State University.

We understand many of the aspects of increased coordination and modification of strategy, Blitz said. But we are concerned about the danger of elimination of campuses, if not in the immediate, then in the unforeseeable future.

Cheng responded to faculty concerns by stressing the thought and input that has gone into the merger, and his intention to keep campuses open.

The amount of work that has gone into this process for over five years now is indisputable, said Cheng. Its not an easy process; its not a comfortable process. Change is hard. We have to evolve, or else we just continue to die a little bit more every day. And thats not what our students deserve. Its not what the state deserves.

We are going through this process because we are focused on doing whats best for our constituencies and whats responsible for the tax payers investment in our system, Cheng said.

CSCU is also seeking approval from the United States Department of Education to award federal student aid funds. It will proceed with its plans to move to central offices in New Britain next month.
A daughter of New Haven who forever considered herself a Connecticut Yankee, Constance Baker Motley  the first Black woman appointed to the federal judiciary  made an indelible mark on the country as a chief legal tactician of the civil rights movement. Motley earned the moniker civil rights queen for her exploits inside and outside the courtroom.

The counterpart to Thurgood Marshall, Mr. Civil Rights, who led the NAACP Legal Defense Funds successful effort to overturn laws mandating racial segregation, Motley helped litigate Brown v. Board of Education, one of the most important cases in American constitutional law; desegregated schools and universities in the South; helped secure the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s release from jail in Birmingham; and won nine of the 10 U.S. Supreme Court cases that she argued, setting landmark precedents in areas ranging from the rights of protesters to capital defendants right to counsel.

The state of Connecticut, the city of New Haven and Yale University featured prominently, and happily, in the narrative that Motley spun about her life. Born in 1921, Constance Juanita Baker grew up in the shadow of Yale University, located a short distance from her childhood home.

The city, a refuge for immigrants from all over Europe, also attracted West Indian immigrants like her parents, Willoughby and Rachel. The pair arrived in the city from Nevis during the early 20th century. They settled in a racially integrated neighborhood, the Hill. Her father, and virtually all her male relatives, worked at Yale; Willoughby was a chef at Skull and Bones and other Yale eating houses. Like many Nevisian transplants, the Bakers attended St. Lukes Episcopal Church on Whalley Avenue, and they were married there. So was Constance, who became the wife of Joel Wilson Motley II on Aug. 18, 1946.

Baker came of age during the Great Depression and remembered class  not race  as the defining disadvantage of her young life. She attended racially integrated schools and didnt encounter much racism in the state, she said, sharply contrasting her experience from that of the Southern Blacks whom she would represent as a civil rights lawyer. In Connecticut, Blacks could vote and find work in the citys service industries and munitions factories. But employers in the city practiced occupational segregation; a cobbler in the old country, her father was shut out of that trade in New Haven, where it was the province of white ethnic groups.

During her time at Hillhouse High School, Motley discovered the writings of W.E.B. Du Bois and James Weldon Johnson; their works sparked in her an abiding interest in race relations. Highly intelligent and a great student, she dreamed of going to college and then to law school. She found role models in two pioneering Black lawyers: George W. Crawford, the corporation counsel for the city of New Haven and ally of the NAACP; and Jane Bolin, the nations first Black woman judge. Both had graduated from Yale Law School.

But Constance encountered deep skepticism when she told people of her desire to become a lawyer. Their daughters aspiration to attend college and then law school struck her parents as absurd. Women didnt get anywhere in the law. Besides, the family sometimes struggled to afford food and other necessities; they would never be able to raise the money to send Constance to college. Instead of dreaming of a far-fetched career as a lawyer, Constance should secure a practical job, one that would produce a steady income. She should become a hairdresser, her parents counseled.

The intervention of Clarence W. Blakeslee  a white New Haven industrial magnate, a philanthropist and a total stranger  changed everything for Constance Baker. The wealthy Yale alumnus supported several civic groups, including the Dixwell Community House, which he built for the colored citizens of New Haven. It was there that he encountered Constance Baker; the 19-year-old made such an impressive speech in support of the Black communitys interests that Blakeslee offered to bankroll her education as far as she wanted to go. Because of his generosity, Baker was able to pursue her educational dreams. She earned her undergraduate degree from New York University. Baker graduated from Columbia Law School in June of 1946, and from there embarked on her path-breaking career in the law.

Blakeslees intervention in her life was like a fairy tale, Baker Motley later reminisced. Given the life-changing good fortune that he visited upon her, it is no wonder that Connecticut forever held pride of place for her. Motley never lost touch with New Haven; she visited often and bought a home at 9 University Place that family members lived in for many years. And she found respite from her busy professional life in Chester, the picturesque hamlet where she bought a historic home in 1966. Motley entertained family, friends and colleagues in Chester, a sanctuary from the hurried pace and clamor of her work life in New York City.

In the wake of President Bidens promise to nominate a Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, Constance Baker Motley is receiving renewed attention. It is fitting that the life of this daughter of Connecticut is being seen for what it is: Baker Motley is a shining example of what we can achieve in this country when opportunity is equally available and talent is found and nurtured, wherever it exists.

Tomiko Brown-Nagin is dean of Harvard Radcliffe Institute and author of  Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality .
Sino-European joint space mission conducts magnetometer extension test

Xinhua) 09:05, February 24, 2022

The photo shows the process of the magnetometer extension test. (Provided by the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- A China-Europe joint space mission, Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), has successfully carried out the extension test of its payload magnetometer in Europe, Science and Technology Daily reported Wednesday.

The test shows that the function and performance of the magnetometer subsystem integrated with the payload module meet the mission requirements and that the researchers from China and Europe have reached an agreement on the development specifications, technical process, test methods and evaluation standards.

The magnetometer is a set of high-precision detection equipment of space vector magnetic field. It is used to detect the three-dimensional vector of the space magnetic field and obtain the detection data on the size and direction of the solar wind magnetic field.

The magnetometer arrived at the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) of the European Space Agency (ESA) last month for thermal vacuum test, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

The SMILE mission is a comprehensive collaboration between the CAS and the European Space Agency (ESA). The magnetometer of the mission was developed by the State Key Laboratory of Space Weather under the CAS National Space Science Center.

The mission, reportedly, expects to send satellites into space before the end of 2024.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby listens to a question from a reporter during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Feb. 23. AP-Yonhap





The United States' commitment to defend South Korea remains unchanged despite escalating tensions in Ukraine over a possible Russian invasion, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday.







John Kirby also hailed Seoul's support for Ukraine, saying it was noticed by the "whole international community."







"Nothing's changed, obviously, about our commitment to our South Korean allies," he said when asked what impact a possible armed conflict in Ukraine may have on the Korean Peninsula.







The U.S. says Russia stands ready, and possibly determined, to invade Ukraine at any minute, despite strong concerns and objections from numerous countries, including the U.S. and its key allies.







"We noted that the South Koreans also came out publicly yesterday with a statement of support for Ukraine. That was certainly noticed by the whole international community," said Kirby.







South Korean President Moon Jae-in said his country will join international efforts for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, also adding Ukraine's sovereignty must be respected.







Moon made the remarks Wednesday (Seoul time) in an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to discuss ways to safely evacuate remaining South Korean nationals in Ukraine.







Seoul earlier said about 60 South Koreans remained in the Eastern European country as of Wednesday. (Yonhap)






Funeral Service for Garry Dwight Knopp, age 66, of Cullman, will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. prior to the service. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Knopp passed away on Sunday, May 1,
Foreign ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam speaks during a regular press briefing at its headquarters in Seoul, Feb. 24. Yonhap



Korea will join international sanctions on Russia if Moscow launches a "full-fledged" war with Ukraine, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.



Seoul's first such statement on its possible sanctions enforcement came as Moscow mounted an expected attack on Ukraine in defiance of global warnings and condemnation.



"The (Korean) government has no other option but to join sanctions against Russia, including export controls" if Russia goes ahead with a full-fledged war in any form despite repeated warnings from the international community, the ministry said in a text message sent to reporters.



The message marked a shift from Seoul's earlier show of cautiousness on the issue of joining multinational sanctions on Moscow  its crucial partner for peace on the Korean Peninsula, trade and other exchanges.



The previous day, Seoul officials struck a cautious note, only saying they were leaving the possibilities of "various options" open.






Advertisement

British Pound Outlook:

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has provoked meaningful downside, even as British Pound losses have reversed.

Technical studies continue to suggest more weakness in the GBP-crosses, but long wicks on the daily candles hint at forthcoming stability.

Recent changes in r etail trader positioning suggest a bearish bias for EUR/GBP GBP/JPY , and GBP/USD rates.

Opening the Matryoshka Doll

European currencies have been under a great deal of pressure over the past 24-hours following the formal Russian invasion of Ukraine. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced significant sanctions against Russian financial institutions, beginning to follow through on his promise to open up the Matryoshka dolls of Russian-owned companies, and Russian-owned entities to find the ultimate beneficiaries within.

And while global financial markets initially took the news rather negatively, calmness has started to take root; hope springs eternal. The US, UK, and their NATO allies dont appear willing to commit military forces to Ukraines defense, and the sanctions levied arent targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin directly  nor has Russias access to the SWIFT payments system been revoked.

In turn, the prospects for further escalation appear to be contained, at least at the moment. There has been a dramatic turnaround in all asset classes, with gold prices turning negative, oil prices giving up their gains, stocks turning positive, and the battered European currencies  the British Pound included  clawing back from their worst losses of the day.

GBP/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (February 2021 to February 2022) (CHART 1)

While GBP/USD rates are well off their daily lows, the technical damage has been done. The uptrend from the December 2021 and January 2022 lows is broken, with the pair having also fallen back below the descending trendline from the June and October 2021 highs. Bearish momentum has accelerated, with GBP/USD rates below their daily 5-, 8-, 13-, and 21-EMA envelope. Daily MACD has dropped below its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics are on the cusp of falling below their median line. The prospects of a more significant recovery may be limited as long as Russian aggression in Ukrainian territory continues; sideways chop is likely.

IG Client Sentiment Index: GBP/USD RATE Forecast (February 24, 2022) (Chart 2)

GBP/USD: Retail trader data shows 60.82% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.55 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 10.19% higher than yesterday and 25.07% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 31.71% lower than yesterday and 40.48% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests GBP/USD prices may continue to fall.

Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger GBP/USD-bearish contrarian trading bias.

GBP/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (February 2021 to February 2022) (CHART 3)

GBP/JPY rates have turned sharply lower, even though a long lower wick suggests buying interest is returning quickly. Despite the losses, the pair continues to hold above the descending trendline from the July 2007 (all-time high) and August 2015 highs, as well as the ascending trendline from the March 2020 and December 2021 swing lows. A symmetrical triangle continues to be carved out with a genesis in October 2021, meaning that more consolidation appears on the horizon before a more significant breakout transpires.

IG Client Sentiment Index: GBP/JPY Rate Forecast (February 24, 2022) (Chart 4)

GBP/JPY: Retail trader data shows 31.04% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 2.22 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 11.01% lower than yesterday and 5.83% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 31.80% lower than yesterday and 26.83% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests GBP/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Yet traders are less net-short than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current GBP/JPY price trend may soon reverse lower despite the fact traders remain net-short.

EUR/GBP RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (February 2021 to February 2022) (CHART 5)

EUR/GBP rates are surprisingly higher on the session, but not before briefly touching their lowest level since February 4. The charts speak to a lack of clarity right now, suggesting that, among the three major GBP-crosses, this would be the one to stay away from at present time. EUR/GBP rates have returned to their daily 21-EMA, with no sequential ordering in the EMA envelope. Daily MACDs descent below its signal line is eroding, while daily Slow Stochastics have turned higher before reaching oversold territory. Further advances may play out, however, as the Russia-Ukraine crisis gives the Bank of England pause with respect to a March rate hike, of which markets are currently pricing in greater than a 100% chance.

IG Client Sentiment Index: EUR/GBP Rate Forecast (February 24, 2022) (Chart 6)

EUR/GBP: Retail trader data shows 76.70% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 3.29 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 11.00% lower than yesterday and 2.13% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 11.06% lower than yesterday and 13.99% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests EUR/GBP prices may continue to fall.

Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger EUR/GBP-bearish contrarian trading bias.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Strategist
Today

Generally cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 84F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication, speaks during a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. Yonhap



Presidential candidates slam invasion



By Kang Seung-woo



President Moon Jae-in said, Thursday, Korea will join international sanctions against Russia in the wake of Moscow's attacks on Ukraine.



While expressing regret over Russia's military aggression, the President added that any use of force causing the loss of innocent lives cannot be justified.



"It is regrettable that Russia has invaded Ukraine despite the international community's repeated warnings and diplomatic efforts. Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence must be guaranteed. Any dispute between countries should be resolved not through war but through dialogue and negotiation," Moon was quoted as saying by Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication.



"As a responsible member of the international community, Korea stands up for and participates in efforts, including economic sanctions, to deter the Russian invasion of Ukraine and resolve the situation in a peaceful way."



In the wake of the Russian attacks, U.S. President Joe Biden said, Wednesday (local time), the United States and its allies will impose severe sanctions on Russia.



National Security Director Suh Hoon also presided over a National Security Council meeting and the Korean government expressed strong regret over the invasion, calling for an immediate halt.



Earlier in the day, the foreign ministry also said the nation will join a move to sanction Russia if it launches a full-scale invasion, although it failed to elaborate on the definition of a full-blown conflict.




Pennsylvania State Police agreed to make changes or consider policy revisions based on a state oversight committees recommendations, but they did not give up the ability to investigate their own.
Ven. Seollae, left, from Nepal who has helped Nepali immigrants adapt to Korea and promote South Korea's Buddhism culture; Wesley John Wentworth Jr., center, a missionary from the United States who has worked to promote Christianity in South Korea; Justice Minister Park Beom-kye and Sister Cristina Evelina Gal, right, from Romania, who has helped migrant workers and children in South Korea are seen in this photo, provided by the justice ministry Feb. 24. Courtesy of Ministry of Justice





The justice ministry awarded South Korean citizenship to three foreign religious activists Thursday in recognition of their long-running contributions to the country, according to government officials.







Missionary Wesley John Wentworth Jr. from the United States, Sister Cristina Evelina Gal from Romania and Ven. Seollae from Nepal were given South Korean citizenship as special contributors to the country.







They can keep both their original and South Korean nationalities, according to the ministry.







Wentworth, an 86-year-old whose Korean name is Won Yi-sam, first visited South Korea in 1965 as a construction engineer and built Christian hospitals in several cities across the country, including Seoul and Gwangju in the southwest.







He has stayed in South Korea since reentering the country in 2003 and worked to promote studies on Christianity and establish Christian groups here.







The Romanian nun was dispatched to the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul in 2007 and has since worked to build shelters for migrant workers and children, and give education and medical support to them at pastoral care centers in the country.







Since 2018, the 45-year-old has worked at the Diocese of Jeju, helping Yemeni refugees' resettlement.







The 45-year-old Nepali monk, whose real name is Tamang Dhawa Chhiring, was invited to South Korea to practice a monastic life by the Jogye Order, the country's largest Buddhist sect.







He built a Nepali sanctuary at Bongguk Temple in northern Seoul to help Nepali immigrants adapt to Korea and promote South Korea's Buddhism culture.







After receiving citizenship certificates, the three said they were proud to become Korean citizens.







"Living here for about 50 years, South Korea has become my home," Wentworth said, expressing hope the country will have a brighter future.







Since adopting the system in 2012, the justice ministry has granted citizenship to a total of 12 foreign special contributors who have had a positive influence on the country for a long time, including John Alderman Linton, an American Korean doctor who reportedly developed South Korea's first locally manufactured ambulance in 1992 and has worked to eradicate tuberculosis in North Korea. (Yonhap)






It was just 16 days ago that the French President with chronic small man syndrome Emmanuel Macron boldly pledged that his pal Vladimir Putin had given him personal assurances that Russia would not go to war with Ukraine.

After being kept at a ridiculous distance from the tyrannical Russian President at a large table designed to humiliate, Macron swallowed Putins obvious lies that he was prepared to de-escalate the crisis.

He strutted over to Ukraine and announced to understandable scepticism: Peace in our time!

Well, today that appeasement strategy has proved a disaster of historic proportions.

Not only has the insane megalomaniac Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched an invasion of a sovereign country in Europe by a major power for the first time in 80 years, he has also threatened the world with nuclear war.

To anyone who would consider interfering from outside: If you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All the relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me, Putin warned in a chillingly unhinged pre-recorded televised address.

Macron is now the modern-day Neville Chamberlain.

With depressing predictability, appeasing Putin failed spectacularly  and Europe and the world is now in great peril.

God help us that the leaders of the west and the east, who hold our very future in their shaky hands, are both senile old men.

DAN WOOTTON: God help us that the leaders of the west and the east, who hold our very future in their shaky hands, are both senile old men

DAN WOOTTON: Then theres the war criminal Putin himself who is a decade younger than Biden but has been described by the jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as a senile drunk grandfather, which could even be funny if he wasnt in charge of the nuclear codes and threatening to use them

Theres the likely dementia-plagued US President Sleepy Joe Biden, who, at 79, barely managed to stutter and stumble his way through a scripted address about the crisis two nights ago.

How are we meant to believe Biden can rally the western world behind a once-in-a-generation effort to stop a modern-day Hitler plunging Europe into a prolonged war, when his disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal was proof the US has lost moral authority on the international stage?

Then theres the war criminal Putin himself who is a decade younger than Biden but has been described by the jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as a senile drunk grandfather, which could even be funny if he wasnt in charge of the nuclear codes and threatening to use them.

Hitler-lite Putin has lost the plot in his Moscow bunker, with even his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov believed to be in the dark about the true extent of his crazed plans.

While the Labour party and the Leader of No Opposition Keir Starmer would like you to believe Boris Johnson is some sort of joke on the international stage, thats certainly not how the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sees it.

Channelling his inner Churchill and showing he is the right Prime Minister for this moment in history, Boris has called this crisis correctly from the start.

DAN WOOTTON: Channelling his inner Churchill and showing he is the right Prime Minister for this moment in history, Boris has called this crisis correctly from the start

As he pointed out on Tuesday: The sad thing is that at every turn our pessimistic predictions have been vindicated. Im afraid all the evidence is that Putin is bent on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I think that would be absolutely catastrophic. If Putin continues down this track of violence and a full-scale invasion, it is absolutely vital that the effort that conquest should not succeed and Putin should fail.

It is necessary to point out at this juncture that if Starmer had got his way at the last election, the UK would currently be led by the Putin apologist Jeremy Corbyn, who throughout the last week has propagated the dangerous myth that NATO, not Russia, is the aggressor in this conflict.

While Corbyn is now an independent MP, Labour continues to host a number of his acolytes as MPs who think exactly the same way.

So spare me the lectures that the far left loons in Labour would have somehow provided moral leadership to the world at this time.

Then theres Remoaner obsessive Alastair Campbell who used the moment Russian missiles began killing innocent Ukrainian civilians to declare that Brexit weakening EU and UK helped lead to war.

DAN WOOTTON: I would argue the UKs independence has encouraged Boris to take a much tougher stance when it comes to Putin

What a load of revisionist piffle.

I would argue the UKs independence has encouraged Boris to take a much tougher stance when it comes to Putin.

It was the unrelenting moral pressure from the UK that helped Olaf Scholz to make the financially devastating decision to halt the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline earlier this week, after the new German Chancellor tried for weeks to avoid even mentioning the project.

Now, Boris must fulfil his pledge to ratchet up financial sanctions immediately and make them so devastating that Putins oligarch mates are hit overnight, while stopping the dirty Russian money that flows through London on a daily basis.

Of course, both the EU and the UK have made grave mistakes in our dealings with Putin for many years.

We turned a blind eye to the criminal intervention in Crimea; we forgot the Salisbury poisonings far too quickly; we havent done enough to help the opposition leader Navalny who could be killed in jail at any moment; not to mention the brave local journalists who have been murdered by Russian state operatives far too regularly.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared today: We now have war in Europe on a scale and of a type we thought belonged to history.

And thats the problem: Putins behaviour made it obvious he was always capable of this despotic behaviour; the west just didnt want to believe it.

Besides, weve been hysterically distracted by a fast-weakening coronavirus with a 99 per cent plus survival rate for the past two years.

Russia and China have laughed at us as we became obsessed with woke issues like the Black Lives Matter movement, the march to Net Zero and the use of gender pronouns.

Well, now with war in Europe, we must man up and get serious.

The appeasement of a Russia on the march to war was a deadly mistake.

Macron will be on the wrong side of the history books.

Boris called it right and Partygate is now a meaningless distraction which everyone should move on from.

The British Prime Minister must fill the moral vacuum left by a half-baked Biden, implement the massive sanctions he promised in his powerful TV address today and ensure the world stops Putin.

The future of Europe depends on it.
Whether or not Vladimir Putin mounts a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is surely clear that an increasingly aggressive Russia will continue to pose a threat to Nato and Eastern Europe for the foreseeable future.

I say this with regret since I agree with my colleague Peter Hitchens, who described in yesterday's Mail how Nato failed over the past quarter of a century to establish cordial  or at least workable  relations with Moscow.

Unfortunately, that ship has long since sailed. It would take Herculean efforts over many years to mend shattered fences. As long as Putin remains in the Kremlin, it almost certainly can't be done.

In the medium term, at any rate, Russia is a potential adversary, and a formidable one to boot.

No one can say whether, having dealt with Ukraine in whichever way he chooses, Putin will turn his attention to former Soviet satellites such as Estonia or Lithuania. Only a fool would rule it out.

Whether or not Vladimir Putin mounts a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is clear that Russia will continue to pose a threat to Nato. Pictured: Putin at a wreath-laying ceremony on February 23

We aren't witnessing a return to the Cold War inasmuch as Russia doesn't possess the economic power or military clout of the Soviet Union. But we are certainly entering a new era of tension and uncertainty.

The threat could be more easily met if we didn't also face what may be a greater danger from China, whose economy and military spending already far surpass Russia's.

It's a long time since Britain was simultaneously confronted by two such powerful malign enemies, who happen to be increasingly friendly towards one another.

No wonder the head of MI5, Ken McCallum, spoke to this paper last Saturday in almost apocalyptic terms about the 'struggle' Britain faces for its very way of life as China and Russia wage what he called a 'contest' for international supremacy.

How appallingly ill-prepared we are! And not just us, but all of Europe. We have been living in a fool's paradise, spending inadequate amounts of money on defence even as the world around us grows more dangerous.

Large European countries, Germany in particular, have been especially feckless.

In the mid-1980s, when the Soviet threat was at its highest, Britain spent nearly five per cent of its gross domestic product on defence. Even so, knowledgeable critics argued that we should spend more.

I remember ex-Navy minister Sir Keith Speed warning that the Royal Navy was being savagely cut back. If he could see it now!

Russia has more than 150,000 combat troops surrounding Ukraine. Pictured: Russian vehicles at the railway station in Rostov region, Russia, on Wednesday

Today, we spend around two per cent of GDP defending ourselves  roughly the same proportion as France, and appreciably more than Germany, Spain or Italy. The consequences of our parsimony are not difficult to discern.

By 2025, the size of the regular British Army will have shrunk to 72,500, the smallest since the 18th century, and less than half of what it was at the beginning of the 1990s.

It is doubtful whether we could deploy as many as 10,000 combat troops in the event of war. Russia has more than 150,000 surrounding Ukraine.

Numbers of sailors and ships have also tumbled. The Royal Navy possesses white elephants in the shape of two new aircraft carriers which have fewer air-planes than they should, and depend on frigates from other Nato countries to protect them when they go to sea because we have so few of our own.

The RAF is also much depleted. It boasts the smallest number of combat jets in its history  around 120, a reduction of 43 per cent since 2007, and little more than an eighth of the number during the height of the Cold War.

According to the 2022 World Air Forces report, the United States has 1,957 such aircraft, China 1,200 and Russia 772.

It's true that, in the teeth of opposition from the Chancellor, in November 2020 the Ministry of Defence secured a 16.5 billion boost in capital spending over four years to help fund new investments in digital warfare.

However, in last October's Budget Mr Sunak got his own back by announcing a real terms fall of 1.4 per cent in the annual growth of day-to-day defence expenditure between 2021 and 2025.

Yet departmental spending across Whitehall is soaring during this Parliament by a whopping 150 billion, amounting to a 3.8 per cent a year increase in real terms.

By 2025, the regular British Army will have shrunk to 72,500, the smallest since 18th century. Pictured: Boris Johnson is briefed by Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin

In other words, although it was barely noticed, the Chancellor saw fit to claw back a few billions from an already withered defence budget, while lavishing vast sums of money on causes dearer to his heart. Doesn't that say it all?

Successive British governments over recent decades have shown how much they like to cut a figure in the world, as we have seen during the past few weeks.

Our politicians lecture leaders of comparable countries for spending less than we do on defence. Meanwhile, we continue to underfund our Armed Forces.

Are we deceiving ourselves or the rest of the world  or both? The reason we get away with it  just  can be explained in one word. America.

The population of the United States is about five times that of the United Kingdom. But Uncle Sam spends more than ten times as much as we do on defence.

The rest of Europe is in the same boat, of course, relying on the American taxpayer to contribute handsomely to its defence. President Trump fulminated, while President Biden appears much more amenable.

What of his successor, though? Is it sensible, nearly 80 years after the end of World War II, to expect this grotesque inequity to persist?

Needless to say, I don't at all suggest we hand a blank cheque to the Ministry of Defence, which has a shameful record of overpaying for sub-standard kit.

The latest debacle concerns the Ajax light tank, which has already cost the MoD at least 4 billion, with only a handful of vehicles so far delivered. Its defects include causing crews to suffer acute hearing loss, nausea and spinal injuries.

Then there is the growing menace of China, which may turn out to be a more deadly foe. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects troops during a parade in July 2017

Russia, by the way, has an economy about two thirds the size of the UK's. But it spends more than twice as much on defence as a proportion of GDP and, to judge by the size and quality of its armed forces, gets better value for money.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was being vainglorious when he bragged yesterday that Britain has 'kicked the backside' of former Russian leaders and 'can always do it again'.

We can't force other Europeans to pay more for their defence.

We can, however, build up our Armed Forces (not least our capacity to deal with lethal cyber-attacks) in the knowledge that the U.S., though likely to remain pre-eminent, won't shoulder a disproportionate financial burden for ever.

No one can know how the crisis in Ukraine will end, but it is surely inarguable that Russia presents more of a threat than it did even a few years ago.

And then there is the growing menace of China, which may turn out to be a more deadly foe. Britain has seldom faced greater perils.

Is the complacent political class that has presided over the dwindling of our Armed Forces capable of reversing the process? I don't know.

It takes a monster such as Vladimir Putin to provide us with an overdue wake-up call.
Nearly two years ago I asked Parliament to approve a set of laws more draconian than any in peacetime history.

Mostly when you pass a law you want it to be permanent. Not this time I didn't. And I am delighted that today those laws relating to Covid restrictions are finally being abolished, and our freedoms restored.

Hearing the Prime Minister in the House of Commons this week made me emotional. We should all be proud that Britain is the first major nation to come out of such restrictions.

It is testament not only to the huge project to develop, manufacture and distribute vaccines, but also to the enthusiasm with which people came forward to have them.

From the start of the pandemic, I believed vaccines would be the only way out  we had to suppress the virus until a vaccine could make us safe.

We started work on getting a jab in January 2020. I distinctly recall a meeting with Jonathan Van-Tam, then deputy chief medical officer, and the brilliant team of scientific advisers who told me that developing a vaccine usually takes five to ten years  but given the circumstances, they said, we could aim for 18 months.

I am delighted that today laws relating to Covid restrictions are finally being abolished, and our freedoms restored, says Matt Hancock (pictured in June 2021)

Because I believe in the power of science and human ingenuity, I set them the task of producing a vaccine by the next Christmas  in less than 12 months.

This was ambitious, but I knew that if we stripped back the bureaucracy, we could achieve it.

The team delivered magnificently, meaning we were the first country in the world to make use of a vaccine  and in every part of the UK.

I always said that once the vaccine was deployed we must 'cry freedom' and learn to live with Covid as we do flu. Due to the fastest vaccine rollout ever, today is that Freedom Day.

Covid is no longer a pandemic in the UK, it is instead endemic. It will always be around  we cannot see off a disease that spreads as easily as this does.

Some countries have tried, like China, but the result is that they are struggling with a semi-permanent state of lockdown.

In the UK, by contrast, we have been able to pass this point and get back to our cherished way of life.

Which is why it is time to end all of these intrusive Covid regulations.

In response to the Omicron variant of the virus, when some said we should lock down again, the Prime Minister appealed to everyone's sense of personal responsibility, trusting people to take action to help stop the spread of the virus and protect others.

The point is that where we can solve problems by relying on science and personal responsibility, not diktat, we should. It is the British way.

Now, why should the Government express a view on where people work, whether it is home or the office? Pictured: Commuters arrive at Waterloo station on February 2

Now we should apply that lesson to all remaining Covid regulations.

Airlines have records of who is flying and their addresses, so why do we need another piece of bureaucracy  the passenger locator form which travellers must fill in before entering the UK? If the problem is inflexible EU rules banning the modern use of data, we should tackle this.

And now the pandemic is over, why should the Government express a view on where people work, whether it is home or the office? It is for people, and their employers, to decide. I say 'cry freedom' on work-from-home, too.

I am a freedom-loving liberal Conservative. My parents had a small family business and I went into politics partly out of frustration at the red tape that held back their firm.

It is in the Conservative Party's DNA to allow businesses and entrepreneurs to flourish. The way we simplified rules to accelerate the vaccine shows the way.

I have a positive view of human nature and believe the more restrictions the state imposes on people, the more they crowd out the talent we need to unleash growth.

Decisions in the pandemic were a wrestle for me between my burning belief in freedom on the one hand, and a data-driven practical necessity to reduce transmission of the virus on the other.

In effect, the restrictions we had to impose were a necessary evil. But now the vaccine has replaced the need for regulation, we can get on with our lives.

Some will never agree with the decisions about restrictions that we made in the pandemic. I understand the differences in opinion.

What I would say is that in the face of an unprecedented global health crisis, we had a duty to protect lives and get us out of the pandemic as quickly as possible.

Without action, hundreds of thousands more would have died, and the NHS would have been overwhelmed.

My fervent belief is that people should be free to act as they choose, unless they harm others.

But in a pandemic, people can be harmed unwittingly. And as there was so little information about this virus, and the world had no cure for it, the only way we could protect lives was to ensure individuals didn't infect others. We did what we had to do.

I also understand why some people are now cautious about moving too quickly. Covid is a horrible disease. But the question for anyone opposing the lifting of restrictions is: if not now, when?

In Parliament this week, we had the contorted sight of the Labour Party clinging onto these restrictions, without any answer to that question.

We have seen the Opposition benches calling on the Government to keep mandated masks, keep passenger locator forms, keep working-from-home measures and keep self-isolation requirements.

Covid is no longer a pandemic in the UK. Some countries have tried, like China, but they are in a semi-permanent state of lockdown. Pictured: Beijing airport after the 2020 Winter Olympics

Even the most ardent supporter of lockdowns can see such measures must be temporary. We cannot wait until there is no Covid at all, as then we'd be waiting for ever.

Those on the Left always have an instinct for intrusion and bureaucracy. To give in to their demands to keep restrictions would be a slippery slope.

After all, it is the instinct of bureaucracies through the ages to accumulate power rather than give it away.

The liberal instinct of trusting the people is always harder when the pressure is for caution and regulations. Yet it is vital that freedom wins the day.

Around the world, a worrying consequence of Covid is more authoritarian interventions. We must resist this dangerous slide.

Just as every generation before us has had to do, we once again need to win the argument for liberty.

Some ask why this is so important, why government can't continue to make decisions for us.

The answer is simple: it is because people know what is best for them, not the state. It is the role of government to enable people to fly as high as their aspirations take them.

We must now make the most of our chances in this post-Brexit, post-pandemic world. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to tackle unnecessary red tape, and shape our country as an open, liberal democracy.

We must not forget that free enterprise and free trade are the drivers of prosperity. Now is the moment to make the most of them.

So, let's seize this moment and embrace Britain's natural love of freedom to create a dynamic country that will prosper as no other in the decades ahead.

Matt Hancock was Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, 2018-2021
Pictured: Conservative MP Bob Seely

Five months after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of communism, I travelled to Ukraine to witness the joyous first Easter celebrations since the Second World War.

I went on to spend four years as a foreign correspondent in countries that, like Ukraine, had been part of the Soviet Union.

To this day I retain a love of that part of the world and its people.

So I was perhaps more interested than most to hear what the Prime Minister had to say when he stood up in a packed Commons chamber on Tuesday to announce the Government's response to the Kremlin's move into Ukraine.

As I stood listening by the Serjeant at Arms' chair, I welcomed the announcement of sanctions against five Russian banks and three corrupt billionaires.

It is a start, but Boris Johnson needs to go much further in the coming days and weeks.

It was recently reported that Russians accused of corruption or who have links to the Kremlin have bought up property in Britain amounting to 1.5billion  28 per cent of it in Westminster, a stone's throw from Parliament.

In addition, some 2,189 UK-registered companies are involved in Russian money laundering and corruption cases involving a staggering 82billion. These are shocking figures.

Many of the multi-billionaire oligarchs at the heart of these cases are not simply dodgy businessmen but trusted members of President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and often called upon to do the regime's dirty work.

Pictured: Boris Johnson speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons

And yet they have been welcomed by our financial institutions with open arms, not least in the City of London, which has consistently lobbied for a light-touch regulatory regime to help it attract business.

Kleptocrats and oligarchs have, as a result, found a safe haven for the billions they looted from their own people.

To fight this tide of dirty money, the Prime Minister has promised an Economic Crimes Bill, which is expected to reform Companies House in such a way that it is transformed from a registry of companies to a regulator of them, and the introduction of rules requiring those holding property through offshore shell companies to declare their identities.

But where is that Bill? We need it now. It should not take an international crisis to stir us into putting our house in order.

Can it really be in our nation's interests for tens of thousands of properties to be owned by shadowy offshore trusts which hide their true ownership, or for there to be so few checks on establishing UK firms, when they have been used so often to transfer billions from Russia and former Soviet states, the fruits of one of the greatest thefts in history?

Meanwhile, the journalists, newspapers, websites and publishers  here and abroad  who have bravely sought to highlight oligarchs' financial scandals find themselves confronting the awesome power of some of the most prestigious law firms in the world.

Our libel laws are being abused, data privacy legislation is being weaponised, and individuals and organisations are harassed via lawsuits known as Slapps (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) that are designed to intimidate, frighten and bankrupt. No wonder it's called 'lawfare'.

Some firms effectively offer dirt-digging services dedicated to seeking 'kompromat'  compromising material  on those looking to expose wrongdoing by their clients.

Many of the oligarchs at the heart of these cases are not simply dodgy businessmen but trusted members of Putin's inner circle and often called upon to do the regime's dirty work

Given that their paymasters tend to be some of the most corrupt  and powerful  people on earth, this is an alarming state of affairs.

Lawyers are not the only winners when it comes to oligarchical largesse. They are also willing to spend millions on PR  and the UK is an influence-peddler's paradise.

Rich Russians with an image problem can pay for the best PR advice, the best legal advice, have the best reputation launderers on speed dial and, I'm sad to say, can call on senior former politicians and officials here in Britain to help them navigate their way round the rules, which are broken so rarely because there are so few to break.

Chillingly, the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) now warns that the position is so dire that our own agencies, including the National Crime Agency and Serious Fraud Office, are hopelessly ill-equipped to take on Putin's kleptocrats.

The ISC reported that 'the NCA lacks the resources required in terms of financial investigators, technical experts and legal expertise' to bring them to heel.

Combined with the cash that billionaires can throw at the legal profession, this means that prosecutors, police and lawyers acting on behalf of the British people are being effectively silenced  in our own country  by high-end lawyers in the pay of the sinister clique around Putin.

The fact that some people are too powerful, too rich, or too malign to be prosecuted is a scandal which threatens the rule of law. How can any of this be in the interests of the British people, or the interests of justice?

What I find particularly offensive is that, while hundreds of British Armed Forces personnel serve in the Baltic states  a potential front line in any conflict with Russia  a class of wealthy facilitators at home peddle their services to the mega-rich cheerleaders of a criminalised, authoritarian regime, which boasts of its nuclear arsenal.

Yes, we want and need UK law firms and the City to thrive. But I fear that there are many lawyers now doing their collective reputations great harm, while the taint of dirty Russian money will damage the City's relationship to the many Russian investors who want nothing to do with Putin.

It is in everyone's interests to clean up our system, not least the pin-striped enablers currently abusing it, whom history will judge with contempt.

The Kremlin mocks us because it sees through our Janus-like policies towards them.

On the one hand we declare that we stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with Ukraine, on the other we block any moves that threaten to impede the flow of funny money through London.

That duality sums up our attitude. In the past decade, we have gone from complacency to panic to complacency and back again to panic.

Rather than shuffling between two extremes, we should instead have had a policy that is considered, thoughtful and robust.

A policy that does not shut us off from the world, but makes clear our intent to protect our values and our institutions.
The most excruciating scene in any Bond movie  for a chap, at least  is when a stark naked Daniel Craig is strapped to a hollowed-out chair in Casino Royale while the villain Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen, sets about his undercarriage with a knotted rope.

Craig came dangerously close to becoming the first gender-fluid 007 in cinema history. Fortunately, Bond escaped to Die Another Day with his dignity, and crown jewels, intact.

That was back in 2006. Today, tethering male MI6 agents to a chair and whacking their unmentionables is, metaphorically speaking, part of the HR playbook.

Stephen Lovegrove laid out the ground rules for today's spies in a document leaked to the Daily Mail this week

They're being encouraged to confront their inherent 'white privilege', according to Britain's national security adviser, Stephen Lovegrove.

He may sound like a character from a Carry On film, but he's charged with overseeing the operations of the Funny People at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.

In a document leaked to the Daily Mail this week, and endorsed by the heads of all the so-called secret service departments, Mr Lovepants lays out the ground rules for today's spies.

As Russian tanks roll into Ukraine, one of the most senior spooks charged with keeping us safe is more concerned with ensuring that his staff use the 'correct pronouns' at all times.

Under no circumstances should they ever utter the deeply offensive term 'manpower', with all its implicit sexist connotations.

Nor should they use problematic phallocentric terms such as 'strong' and 'grip' which can 'reinforce dominant cultural patterns'.

Lovepants circulated this complete parcel of bolognese around Whitehall in the wake of the humiliating bottle job in Afghanistan.

Rather than addressing what has gone horribly wrong with the Defence of the Realm in recent years, he chose to focus upon fashionable 'diversity' fantasies.

As British troops were scuttling out of Kabul  sorry, Karble  and the drums of war were getting louder in the East, our risible 'national security adviser' was sounding the alert over 'misgendering'.

Agents were warned against participating in 'all-male' panels, in the interests of 'inclusion'.

National Security Adviser Stephen Lovegrove pictured in 2018. He previously worked at the Ministry of Defence

Yet in the same breath, Lovepants praises a female Muslim employee who refuses to shake hands with male colleagues because it offends her religious beliefs on modesty.

Beam me up, Scotty.

In case you missed it, bear with me. This intelligence-insulting drivel created by the alleged head of the intelligence services is entitled 'Mission Critical'.

Geddit? You could get on the radio with stuff like that. Mission Critical? More like Mission Impossible. Your mission, Jim, should you choose to accept it, etc...

Stick this in a script in front of Tom Cruise and it would self-destruct in five seconds. Written in the usual HR-speak gobbledegook, this ludicrous 'toolkit' lays down the ground rules for spookery in the age of wokery.

Call me old-fashioned, but when I was growing up, toolkits were something carried by people who did a useful job, such as mechanics, plumbers and carpenters  not soft-handed, otherwise unemployable layabouts in aitch-arrrr.

In his foreword, Lovepants insists: 'This toolkit is called Mission Critical because a diverse and inclusive culture is critical in succeeding in our national security missions.'

Eh?

Some of this document is beyond parody. A young female civil servant at the Ministry of Defence moans that she felt 'humiliated' because as a 'new girl' she had to 'earn her place in the team'.

Richard Littlejohn says: 'No wonder Putin feels emboldened'. Pictured, the Russian President earlier this month

She has a point, I suppose. Last time anyone looked, most of the civil servants at the MoD were still 'working from home', which is why the Afghan evacuation was such a bugger's muddle.

So it must be difficult to earn your place in the team if you're sitting in your bedsit eating Hobnobs and watching Lorraine in your jimjams while pretending to be taking part in a Zoom meeting.

Apparently, 'workplace culture' failed her. Sorry, pet, we didn't realise the Ministry of Defence had to be reorganised to suit you. Take the rest of the week off and have a nice lie down.

Play your cards right and you could be entitled to com-pen-say-shun.

Be honest, do you want the Ministry of Defence  Defence?  revolving around some dopey bird who complains that she is humiliated by having to 'earn her place in the team'.

Tell that to the formidable breed of women who worked at Bletchley during World War II cracking the Enigma code.

When I used to drink in the Prince of Wales, in Highgate, North London, there was an old lady who sat quietly in the corner doing the crossword in the Evening Standard, sipping a small scotch and soda.

She was said to be the inspiration for Hilda Pierce, the MI5 stalwart in Foyle's War. You can't imagine her giving a flying fig about the inappropriate deployment of pronouns.

What would Hilda have made of the following Flowerpot Man gibberish?

Mr Lovepants says staff should 'understand your unconscious bias' and 'be aware of intersectionality'.

Pass.

They should 'acknowledge their privilege' and declare their pronouns in order to make transgender colleagues more comfortable.

For instance: 'You can do this by adding your pronouns to your email signature or sharing them at the start of a slidepack.'

I give up.

If you ever wondered why the Civil Service couldn't organise a booze-up in the proverbial, look no further.

The way you get on in Whitehall these days is spouting woke-speak straight out of the Left-wing Common Purpose Guardianista songbook.

Mr Lovepants is one of the worst offenders. A careerist opportunist, he was last heard of churning out Black Lives Matter propaganda when he was permanent secretary at, yes, the Ministry of Defence.

Pictured, GCHQ in Gloucestershire. Richard Littlejohn writes of Lovegrove: 'He may sound like a character from a Carry On film, but he's charged with overseeing the operations of the Funny People at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ'

We're not talking Sir Humphrey Appleby here.

Around the time BLM thugs were chucking missiles at the Old Bill and beating up a policewoman just yards from the front door of the MoD, Lovepants was slagging off his own department for being institutionally racist.

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota, he wrote to warn his staff: 'Systemic racial inequality is not unique to America but also has deep roots within UK society, including Defence.'

What the hell had an admittedly horrible death 4,000 miles away got to do with a British civil service chief?

Absolutely nothing, apart from an onanistic urge to put himself in the movie  just like George Floyd's new best friend Neil Basu at Scotland Yard.

Do the likes of Lovepants believe any of this nonsense?

Who knows. What we can be sure of is that they are sincerely committed to the advancement of their own careers.

Also, what we do now know is that this kind of woke grandstanding is a peacetime, 'end-of-history' self-indulgence which has no place in a grown-up world where war is once again the answer, at least as far as the madman Vlad the Impaler is concerned.

Does anyone seriously believe they're checking their pronouns in the Kremlin?

No wonder Putin feels emboldened. The White House is currently occupied by a dribbling imbecile in adult diapers and the EU is a cowardly basket case, dependent on Russian gas.

The British military and security services are run by a navel-gazing clique, made up largely of 'white privileged' public-school-educated chancers, obsessed with emasculating our armed forces in pursuit of knighthoods and another 50-grand-a-year directorship.

A couple of weeks ago, the Chief of the General Staff told what's left of the Army to take a day off to 'reflect on inclusivity'.

Putin must be trembling in his snow-capped boots.

Someone should drag Mr Lovepants out of his comfort zone, strap him to a hollowed-out kitchen chair and go to work on his pronouns ...
Thursday was supposed to be Freedom Day, the start of a bright new post-Covid era. It heralded instead a far darker dawn, the beginning of a new conflict, which not only threatens the innocent citizens of the Ukraine  but also poses a deadly threat to us all.

There is a grim inevitability to the images on our TV screens and front pages, to the panic circulating on social media. Everyone I know is consumed by an overwhelming sense of fear and trepidation, a sense of real foreboding.

Perhaps if we hadnt just endured two years of Covid, there might be more room for optimism. But we are all, in our own ways, shattered, our reserves of energy and resilience depleted. Yesterday morning, when I met a friend for breakfast after school drop off, neither of us knew what to say, how to process the news.

Instead of our usual animated discussion, we just stared blankly at our rapidly congealing eggs, sighing intermittently. Later, I called another friend who works for the civil service. She sounded exhausted, on the verge of tears. First Brexit, then Covid, now this, she said. Will it ever end?

Part of the problem is that Putin has always seemed so implausible, like a character out of a Cold War movie, a James Bond villain full of empty boasts. We thought people like him had been banished for ever, relics of a bygone age

Over the years we got used to seeing bad guys like Putin portrayed less as bogeymen and more like buffoons, parodied on stage and screen, depicted as knuckle-heads, turned into the butt of jokes... except nobody is laughing now

My 17-year-old son came home from school, his face serious. Did I think he would be conscripted? I laughed  of course not, I said. But seriously, Mum, thats what everyones saying.

I spoke to a colleague and she said her daughter had asked the same question. Another had been in tears. Poor kids: locked in their rooms for two years, now terrified at the prospect of World War III.

Of course, all this is nothing as to what the people of Ukraine are going through. I cant conceive of what it must have felt like to wake in the middle of the night in Kyiv to the sound of sirens and the national anthem, as Putins troops rolled into action.

To be facing obliteration, the end of civilised life, a future where the only certainty is pain and loss. I imagine it must be like standing on a beach as a tsunami sucks the sea from the shore, knowing the wave is coming, knowing there is no way you can possibly outrun it.

Anger, fear, frustration, the injustice of it all. And yet, its not like we werent warned. Its not like we couldnt have seen it coming. For years, Putins Russia has been growing, spreading, multiplying like a deadly cancer. Endless warnings, endless red flags, from the Skripal poisonings to the Russian bot factories.

And yet, like someone who ignores a suspicious lump because they simply cant face the awful truth, we have turned a collective blind eye to the increasingly glaring symptoms of this mans diseased mind. Its almost as though we hoped the whole thing might go away on its own. Unfortunately, thats not how cancers  or despots, for that matter  work.

Part of the problem is that Putin has always seemed so implausible, like a character out of a Cold War movie, a James Bond villain full of empty boasts. We thought people like him had been banished for ever, relics of a bygone age.

It felt almost absurd to believe him, to view him as a serious threat, not least because his behaviour  the endless pictures of him riding bare-chested through forests, the memes of him fighting bears, rumours about him owning tigers  and old-school rhetoric felt like something out of a Hollywood satire. Where once the West used to take men like Putin deadly seriously, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union slowly changed perceptions.

Over the years we got used to seeing bad guys like Putin portrayed less as bogeymen and more like buffoons, parodied on stage and screen, depicted as knuckle-heads, turned into the butt of jokes.

Except no ones laughing now, are they? And we in the West appear guilty not only of arrogance but also an almost criminal complacency. Its as though, having banished one swivel-eyed despot all those years ago, we somehow thought we would never have to do it again. But evil is like knotweed. It doesnt matter how much you hack it back, no matter how painstakingly you dig it out, torch it, poison it, raze it, it burrows those rhizomes deep down into the darkness where it lies dormant before finding its way back out. You have to be ever vigilant, for it never truly goes away.

What we are witnessing here is a re-emergence of the evil that tore through Europe in the 20th century, costing millions of innocent lives. Its clear that Putins ambitions dont stop at the border, and that his ultimate aim is the destabilisation of democracy across the globe.

And where once I would have wholeheartedly agreed with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace when he said we kicked the backside of Russia during the reign of Tsar Nicholas I, and that we could always do it again now, Im afraid, Im just not sure.

Britain is not the powerhouse it once was. Not only do we find ourselves in a much weaker position politically, socially and economically; we are also psychologically and, I fear, morally less equipped to rise to the challenge.

Is it really any wonder Putin thinks he can do whatever he wants? He looks at the West  not just the UK, but once mighty America  and sees democracy weakened by petty infighting and trivial rivalries, scoffs at our obsession with human rights, our self-flagellation over climate change, the endless march of the woke brigade.

He saw what happened in Afghanistan, how we abandoned the Afghan people to the Taliban for the sake of political appeasement back home. He has witnessed the mollification of our once great institutions  from the BBC to the Armed Forces. There is a weakness in us that cannot be denied.

So here we are, arguing about unisex toilets while teenage conscripts my sons age are dying for the sake of an old mans mad ego.

Putin may be mad, but he is no fool. He has played a long game, and chosen his moment well. While weve been fighting a pointless culture war, hes been preparing for the real thing. And now we must all dance to his deadly tune.
During the run-up to yesterdays invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin hinted he might be satisfied with a modest military operation. But one day in, all the indications are that he is embarked upon a massive offensive to remove it from the map of Europe.

For western countries which failed to understand the Russian dictators intentions, this now represents an existential crisis.

Putins forces are invading and attacking along multiple axes, by ground, air and cyber, from the north and east, and by ship from the Black Sea.

This is the largest military operation undertaken by Russia since 1945, and if we do not respond robustly and convincingly, the continent of Europe could be doomed to total war again.

If there is any good news to be taken from yesterdays events, it is that at least we now have clarity about what we are up against. Putins military objective appears to be far from limited to bringing Kyiv to heel.

During the run-up to the invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin hinted he might be satisfied with a modest military operation. But one day in, all the indications are that he is embarked upon a massive offensive to remove it from the map of Europe

An explosion rock the Melitopol air base in Ukraine as Russia began invading the country on Thursday morning

We now see it is probably nothing less than the obliteration of Ukraines sovereign institutions, and incorporation of the shattered remnants into an enlarged Russia.

Let me be clear: Putins territorial ambitions put every man, woman and child in our country at potential risk of facing a full-blown war with Russia.

I do not wish to spread alarm, but the current weakness of Europes conventional military capability increases the chance of a spiral towards nuclear war.

Putin has vastly expanded Russias Iskander ballistic missile programme, both in terms of payload and range.

Now Berlin could be reached from mobile launchers 330 miles away in the Russian city of Kaliningrad with nuclear-armed warheads.

This is the potentially devastating strategic consequence of our own complacency over the past 12 years or so.

In western Europe we are collectively paying the price for decades of intellectually lazy thinking based on the assumption that the era of easy peace would last forever.

Britain and France stood by in 1938 as Hitler invaded the Sudetenland. It was only when he went on to invade Poland that battle was joined. Pictured: Hitler greeted in Berlin after Munich 'victory'

We embraced an insane form of groupthink that persuaded us we could maintain international stability and our own security, even as we cut defence budgets to the bone.

And we cannot say we were not warned. Putin telegraphed his ambitions with the invasions of Georgia in 2008 and Crimea in 2014.

I warned of this in my book 2017 War with Russia, the scenario of which is being played out horrifyingly in front of our eyes.

From Ukraine we can expect, at the very least, mass casualties and incalculable numbers of refugees fleeing westwards towards Poland.

It is almost certainly lost now, like Czechoslovakia in 1938.

Then, Britain and France stood by as Hitler invaded the Sudetenland. It was only when he went on to invade Poland that battle was joined.

Ukraine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya (R) walks to his seat during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Ukraine in New York

The question now is: which country will play the role of Poland in actually triggering a continent-wide war?

To stop this happening, as a matter of critical urgency we must shore up Natos eastern flank in Poland, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, where Putin can be expected to test us next.

Remember, should so much as one Russian boot step into these Nato member states, we are treaty-bound to regard it as an attack on ourselves, and come to their defence.

Along with our Nato allies, Britain needs to prepare to send a Division  three Brigades  of at least 25,000 troops to the Baltics, complete with tanks, armoured vehicles and self-propelled artillery.

Our Army is now so diminished compared even to 20 years ago that it will be difficult to assemble so large a force, but we have no alternative.

There are plenty of allied airbases in the region so the RAF can deploy additional defensive and offensive air power, while the Royal Navy moves ships into the Baltic and Black seas.

We are not alone in having underinvested in defence. Many of our Nato allies have allowed their capability to be disastrously wound down too.

We need to set them an example by immediately announcing a British rearmament programme to repair some of the damage done by successive defence cuts.

General Sir Richard Shirreff, Nato's former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe between 2011 and 2014

For the Russians respect only strength, and deep down have contempt for those who seek to appease them.

And Vladimir Putin is an extreme example of the Russian stereotype. If we are to convince him that we mean business, we are going to have to get serious about sanctions, too.

Boris Johnsons half-hearted offering of sanctions on Wednesday was so feeble that it may even have emboldened Putin to bring the invasion forward.

How can Putin and his generals take us seriously if London is still awash with hot Russian money?

Putins outrageous multi-axis assault on Ukraine demands a multifaceted response from us, including sanctions that will do them serious damage.

The Prime Minister made some progress in that direction with the announcement of another swathe of measures yesterday.

But the starting point is a recognition that the defence of our realm does not start at the White Cliffs of Dover but in the forests of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
People from around the world have the shared stories of the times they found themselves stepping in to save someone who was moments away from becoming a victim of sexual assault.

Social media users posted their stories on confessions app Whisper, revealing how they took it upon themselves to help men and women in danger.

One bartender from Indian Trail in North Carolina recalled a time when he saw a man drug a girl's drink in front of him - so he decided he'd switch their drinks - and the man ended up drugging himself.

Another man from Ogmore Vale, in Wales, stopped a girl from getting raped when she was passed out drunk at a party by throwing his shoes at the men trying to attack her. Here, FEMAIL shares some from Whisper's list...

People from across the globe have taken to confessions app Whisper to reveal times they saved someone from being sexually assaulted. This bartender from Indian Trail in North Carolina recalled a time when he saw a man drug a girl's drink in front of him - so he decided he'd switch their drinks - and the man ended up drugging himself

A man from Brownsville, Texas, asked the confessions app community if he was wrong to defend a girl he saw was being sexually harrassed, after he got suspended for a day for punching the attacker's face and kicking him in his lower regions

An anonymous user from an undisclosed location recalled when they were at a house party to see a girl who was about to be raped, and now the pair are best friends

A man from Ogmore Vale, in Wales, stopped a girl from getting raped when she was passed out drunk at a party by throwing his shoes at the men trying to attack her

A man from Montana said when he was in high school, he witnessed a man put a date rape drug in a girl's drink - he called the police, and to this day, the culprit is still in prison

Someone from Belleville, Michigan, shared a screenshot of an Instagram post which told of a time where two teenage girls ran up to a man pretending to know who he was in order to get out of an awkward situation

A woman from Medford, Oregon, spoke about the importance of looking out for other women

This man had got into a physical altercation with a person who was raping someone, in San Antonio, Texas

A man from New York stopped a girl from being taken advantage of when he put her in a cab home - and was hounded by the man who was doing it in the first place

Someone from Sacramento, California, US stopped a sexual assault on a man, and the attacker was thankfully arrested by police

A woman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, recalled a time when the boyfriend of her friend intervened and got her home safe

When this man from Chicago, Illinois, was at a bar, he saw a man forcing a girl to kiss him, so he confronted the man - and the woman grabbed onto him instantly. She didn't let go until he left

A London man met his wife by saving her from a tricky situation, where he saw his friend taking advantage of her by getting her drunk




South Korea will pay out its first batch of compensation to its nationals who participated in U.S. military intelligence operations in North Korea before and during the Korean War, and their bereaved families, the defense ministry said Thursday.







On Wednesday, the ministry convened an internal review panel to make the decision applicable to 160 individuals, including 143 who worked for the Korea Liaison Office (KLO) and other units from 1948 to 1953.







The panel approved 1.57 billion won (US$1.31 million) in financial compensation to the people in line with a recent special act to honor their security contributions.







At that time, the U.S. military recruited them to glean on-the-ground information in North Korean regions as high-tech equipment, such as spy satellites and high-altitude drones, were not available at that time.







In 2007, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea advised the National Assembly and the military to introduce rules to recognize KLO veterans in 2007.







The number of individuals eligible for state compensation stands at around 18,000, according to the ministry. While only 3,200 of them are alive, families of the deceased can also apply for it.







"Considering most of the recipients are in their late 80s, we plan to quickly process it so that we can restore the honor and boost the pride of the people who have made special sacrifices for the country," the ministry said.







South Korea will review more applications accepted through October 2023.







The two Koreas technically remain at war as the 1950-53 war ended with an armistice and a peace treaty has never been signed. (Yonhap)


Iskra Lawrence has opened up about how she felt 'lost' and unsure of herself after learning Aerie didn't want to renew her modeling contract six months after she welcomed her first child.

The 31-year-old, who worked with the brand for seven years, reflected on how her life changed following the birth of her son in April 2020 in an essay for Today, saying she went from a 'model traveling the world' to a 'sleep-deprived zombie.'

Lawrence explained that she felt pressure to keep up with the demands of her social media community and return to work because she is the 'breadwinner' in her family, but then she didn't have a job to return to.

'Six months postpartum, I found out that Aerie didnt want to renew my modeling contract,' the British model wrote. 'I felt lost  not just in relation to what I would do to continue supporting my family, but also in terms of who I was. I wasnt modeling or traveling to events to speak about body acceptance.'

Iskra Lawrence, 31, opened up about how she learned Aerie wasn't going to renew her modeling contract six months after she gave birth in an essay for Today

Lawrence and her partner, Philip Payne, welcomed their son in April 2020 and relocated to Texas to raise their baby boy

Lawrence also wasn't living in New York anymore. She and her partner, Philip Payne, had relocated to his hometown in the suburbs of Texas to raise their son.

'I started to think I should just try getting back to "me"  and that "me" was a body-confident lingerie model,' she said. 'I started looking at my body and wondering if I felt confident enough.

'Then another thought dawned on me: Can I even do this? Im a mother now. What would people think? Would my child resent me posting lingerie pics in 10 years? What about my family-friendly neighborhood  will I embarrass myself if they all see me in my undies?'

After 18 years of modeling swimwear and lingerie, she questioned if she should even continue her career now that she was a mother.

Lawrence said that she loved being pregnant, but she turned into a 'sleep-deprived zombie' after her son was born

The British model (pictured modeling an Aerie swimsuit in October 2020) was feeling pressure to get back to work as her family's 'breadwinner' when she learned she was out of a job

'I thought, "Youre a mother now. Youll look desperate for attention and validation  its just not a good look,"' she recalled. 'I wanted to rediscover the part of me that wouldnt give a damn about parading around in my panties, or anyones opinions of me.'

Lawrence realized she needed to focus on self-care  'even if that was just a daily shower, putting lotion on, and getting dressed in clothes that werent sweatpants.'

She said getting ready in the morning and putting on stylish outfits helped her feel like a model again, and she was eventually ready to strike a pose in lingerie.

The mother of one took some selfies and posted them on social media for her millions of followers to see. She said she received a number of comments from other mothers who felt they had to 'switch off their sexuality' postpartum.

Lawrence said she questioned whether she should even continue working as a lingerie model because she was worried she would 'look desperate for attention'

In October, she shared side-by-side photos of herself to show how much her body has changed in six years, saying she has 'gained weight since the first pic but feels empowered'

The mother of one said she rediscovered her sexiness by focusing on self-care, including getting ready in the morning and putting on a stylish outfit

'I want them  and all moms  to know that you are the same person you were before you had a child, and that you can be whatever you want,' she concluded.

'Maybe youll never post a selfie at all  let alone in your undies  but you could, and it doesnt matter what anyone else has to say. You are the sum of all your parts, and even if some feel forgotten, left behind, or unrecognizable now, they always live on. I know that now.'

Lawrence revealed she would no longer be working as an Aerie spokeswoman in a lengthy Instagram post she shared in November, saying it was 'bittersweet.'

'Im forever grateful for all we did together and all of YOU who supported me. Im heartbroken I wont be on tour again and thats why I cried for quite some time when I got the news,' she wrote. 'It felt like I was losing the movement I helped create and all of you with it.

In November, Lawrence posted the modeling 'digitals' she took for her agency to show potential clients what she currently looks like

Lawrence has recently gone into business with herself, launching two different ventures: Self Funding, a customizable planner (pictured), and Saltair, a line of body wash

On Tuesday, Lawrence revealed on Instagram that she has her first lingerie shoot in two years this week, asking: 'Anyone think they can guess the brand'

'It also hurt my heart because I was still trying to navigate the pandemic as a first time mommy. So realising "going back to normal" wouldnt happen made me feel even more lost,' she added.

'Honestly thats why its taken nearly a year for me to even be able to talk about it BUT sometimes you need a door to close, so that you can open a new one.'

Lawrence has since gone into business with herself, launching not one but two different ventures: Self Funding, a customizable planner, and Saltair, a line of body wash.

'For the first time in my life Im launching my own brand, that Ive funded, and developed with no business partners or brands involved,' she wrote of starting Self Funding. 'I dont feel lost, I feel like Ive finally taken full control and this is just the beginning.

On Tuesday, Lawrence revealed on Instagram that she has her first lingerie shoot in two years this week, asking: 'Anyone think they can guess the brand.'
1 Hewi

Hewi (stands for hardly ever worn it) was set up by Sharon Wolter-Ferguson and her two daughters when a sell-off of clothes from a wardrobe clearout became a business.

It focuses mainly on high-end designers but you can also find High Street labels, such as Arket and Ghost. Sellers can pick the independent option  where you upload pictures and descriptions, then ship the items yourself  or VIP, where a courier picks up your items (for a fee) and HEWI handles the sale.

HEWI charges 18 per cent commission for independent sellers and 35 per cent to VIPs.

YOU COULD MAKE: Theres a plum-coloured Ghost dress for 51 (the seller would keep about 42 with an 18 per cent commission)  or a burgundy Louis Vuitton bag for 995 (you could earn 815).

2 The mulberry exchange

Handbags from British luxury brand Mulberry  such as the Bayswater and Alexa  are fashion icons. Now owners can return theirs for resale through The Mulberry Exchange.

Just take your bag into a store or request an assessment online. Youll be offered a quote  typically 25 per cent of the original price  if you have proof of purchase.

The bag will then be authenticated, appraised and repaired if necessary, using a library of leather and materials going back 35 years, before being sold on.

The good bit? You dont have to wait for your bag to be sold before getting payment. The less good bit? Youll be offered a Mulberry gift card, not a cash payout, meaning you might be better off reselling elsewhere.

YOU COULD MAKE: A Bayswater coral leather bag is selling for 695 (RRP 995). Youd get 248.75 in credit.

3 Vinted

Zara check blazer, 26 (RRP 79.99), vinted.co.uk

If you want to make money from High Street cast-offs, Vinted is the placeto do it. With a younger audience, theres a broad spread of popular brands at affordable prices. Vinted is free for sellers.

Instead, buyers pay a small payment protection fee, and the firm makes money through adverts. Its an unusual approach that saw the app valued at $4.5billion (3.3 billion) last year. To sell, youll need to download a free app, take photos of your item, add a description and name your price. You ship directly to the buyer, and once theyve received and approved it, youll be paid. Payments arrive as Vinted credit on the app.

You can spend them on Vinted, or transfer them to your bank account. If a buyer doesnt like an item, the seller can decide whether to offer a refund.

4 Selfridges

The new Resellfridges website from Selfridges currently only accepts designer handbags

The new Resellfridges website from Selfridges offers pre-loved pieces f rom the department stores archive, plus a curated selection from top vintage retailers such as Vestiaire Collective. If youre looking to sell, it currently only accepts designer handbags from a list of brands that includes Alexander McQueen, Celine and Louis Vuitton.

Upload a photo of your bag and you will learn within four days what credit you could earn. Next, arrange a free collection and Selfridges will do the rest. Once your bag has been verified, your credit will be put onto a Selfridges eGift card.

YOU COULD MAKE: Selfridges works with a team of experts to value your bag. The quote given will be a competitive trade price based on factors including brand, authenticity, condition and demand for a particular style.

5 Thrift+

Thrift+ gives credits to spend on Thrift+ or sends a John Lewis gift card, when the clothing you've sent sells

Launched in 2017, Thrift+ says it has saved 170,000 pieces of clothing from landfill and last year made 830,000 for charity.

You order a collection bag from the website, fill it with clothes and return it for free. The items are then checked and listed for sale. There is a 33 per cent commission fee, with a 5 minimum charge per listing.

When the clothing sells you are given credits to spend on Thrift+ or sent a John Lewis gift card. You can also give part or all to a good cause.

Fenwick, Farfetch, French Connection and Hush run a service with Thrift+ too.

YOU COULD MAKE: A Reiss coat, priced at 204.20, means its owner  or a chosen charity  will make 136 in credits.

6 My Wardrobe HQ

Peter Pilotto floral dress, 255 (RRP 850), mywardrobehq.com

My Wardrobe HQ is known for renting designer pieces for weddings and events  but you can also use it to sell your clothes. Operating on 40 per cent commission, MWHQ manages the whole process.

All you do is complete a form and add images of the items you wish to list, and it will collect them. All designer pieces are checked for authenticity and youre responsible for sending them in pristine condition  be warned that unsuitable items may be returned, and youll have to pay postage costs.

MWHQ lists more than 500 designer labels including Gucci, Prada and Valentino, plus High Street favourites Ghost, Kitri and Me+Em.

YOU COULD MAKE: If you sold a The Vampires Wife dress for 449.70 (RRP 1,499) you could earn 269.82. At the lower end of the market it has a Me+Em crinkle, Georgette belted jumpsuit to buy for 85 (RRP 195). The owner would earn 51.
Sarah Jessica Parker has taken a look back at some of her most memorable outfits over the years  and some that were made famous by her on-screen alter-ego, Carrie Bradshaw.

But while both the actress, 56, and the fictional character she plays have both worn their fair share of designer clothes and accessories over the years, Parker admitted that Carrie's blue Hermes Birkin bag was actually a fake.

The star made the shocking revelation in a new Vogue interview, released today, in which she says that costume designer Patricia Field had the knock-off made for the show.

Parker also shares her thoughts on some of her beloved and not-so-beloved looks over the years, from her controversial Prada ensemble at the 2001 SAG Awards to the wedding dress  and bird headdress  worn by Carrie in the Sex and the City movie.

'Carrie was a much more courageous dresser than I am,' she admits.

Sarah Jessica Parker has taken a look back at some of her most memorable outfits over the years - and some that were made famous by her on-screen alter-ego, Carrie Bradshaw

'I don't recognize this person,' she says of this 1987 look. 'Every single thing on me is from a vintage store, with the exception of whatever's in my hair, and apologies for that'

'The period at the end of the sentence is the peace necklace. She showed up in a lot. I mean, I didn't take her off,' she says

1987: Young Artists United 'Every single thing on me is from a vintage store, with the exception of whatever's in my hair, and apologies for that. I did it that day,' she says with a laugh. 'I'm sure there was a diffuser involved and some Tenax.

'I don't recognize this person. I don't understand the sunglasses in particular, I think they're awful on me. I think, once again, it's not the fault of the glasses. The earrings are a mystery to me. I don't know if I saw that in a movie from 1947?

'The period at the end of the sentence is the peace necklace. She showed up in a lot. I mean, I didn't take her off.'

'And I used to sign everything, like if somebody asked me for my signature, I always signed'  here, she pauses to laugh, embarrassed  'I always signed, "Wage peace, love Sarah Jessica." Anyway, I still have that necklace,' she adds.

'So this dress is a Donna Karan dress,' she says. 'I'm not making excuses, but like, I would never wear this dress ... But I am wearing this dress and I know that that's me and I can't pretend that that's anybody else'

1997: VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards

'So this dress is a Donna Karan dress,' she says. 'I'm not making excuses, but like, I would never wear this dress. I would never wear this dress. But I am wearing this dress and I know that that's me and I can't pretend that that's anybody else.

'It's a perfectly-constructed dress. The idea of it was amazing. It is Carrie in that moment  but even that, I don't think is entirely Carrie.'

'This dress is sort of like it's own universe and it kind of like moves around.

'And the shoes are probably Manolos, my guess. Typically,' she says.

SJP reveals that there were several of these tutus from the title credits of Sex and the City, and multiple people have them now

1998: Sex and the City opening credits

'A lot of people claim they have the tutu. I think Pat [Field] has one, Michael Patrick has one. We just used one, so my guess is that that sequence required a splash, that there were probably four, five, or six,' she says, adding that she probably has one as well.

'We didn't do a lot of takes. We rehearsed it, we timed it, as you do, you kind of get all the pieces together without adding the liquid  that's kind of how you do it,' she says, adding that they got it done in one or two takes.

'When you're doing a scene where you're getting splashed or you're falling into, say, a lake in Central Park, you have to find something that has multiples. But it can't just simply be multiples, it has to be artistically, sartorially, it has to fit a lot criteria.

'So my guess is Pat and I, as we always did, talked about a bunch of choices and at the end of the day, this is where we landed. Tank top, tutu, and heels,' she says.

SJP attended the 2000 Emmy Awards in a now-iconic feathered ballerina dress by Oscar de la Renta. 'I loved this. I think I've seen criticism of this  have fun, enjoy' she says

2000: Emmy Awards

SJP attended the Emmy Awards in a now-iconic feathered ballerina dress by Oscar de la Renta.

'I loved this. I think I've seen criticism of this  have fun, enjoy' she says.

'Mr. de la Renta made this for me,' she recalls. 'I love this dress and yes, I wouldn't wear feathers today.

'My favorite memory is himself  always so invested and always cared and always took care of details, and just always smelled good, looked good, knew how to be in a salon.'

She also notes that she wore Fred Leighton earrings 'which were such a big deal for me to borrow' and had her makeup done by Laura Mercier.

'Laura Mercier said to me, "24 hour guarantee" before I left,' she says. 'And I was like, she's right! It was hours and hours and hours later and my makeup was still, like, [perfect].

The star recalls how her Prada crop top and matching skirt was a hotly-debated ensemble at the 2001 SAG Awards, but she thinks publicly criticizing red carpet looks is rude and pointless

2001: SAG Awards

The star recalls how her Prada crop top and matching skirt was a hotly-debated ensemble at the 2001 SAG Awards  but she thinks publicly criticizing red carpet looks is rude and pointless.

'You get to borrow something you like, you think it speaks to you at the moment in a place at a time for an event, and you wear it, and maybe some people think you don't look amazing  and that's certainly their right,' she says.

'I think the difference is, we all walk out the door every single day. Most of us try to make a choice that makes us feel good, or like ourselves, or appropriate for where we're going, or who we're gonna be with.

'We don't walk up to each other and say things like, "Ugh, awful." So what's so funny to me about this is how much chatter it provokes. But it's just a thing, it's just an outfit that happened because a person liked it.

'So what's the point of the criticism? We're all just kind of making an attempt every day to offer ourselves up to another person,' she says.

In a shocking revelation, she reveals that this Hermes bag is a fake that costume designer Patricia Field got made for the show

What was important in that scene, she notes, was to hide her big pregnant belly

2002: on the set of Sex and the City

SJP notes that she was pregnant with her son during filming of this 2002 scene, during which she wore a green Juicy Couture dress.

'That is not a real Hermes bag, just so you know,' she says. 'Pat, like had a person. And she was like, "Do you want one? I could get you one." No, I don't really, I don't need one. But this isn't real.'

But what was important in that scene, she notes, was to hide her big pregnant belly.

'That bag had one job to do,' she says.

Looking back, she says that she also didn't get to dress up very much as herself while she was pregnant, because most of her time was spent filming.

'When I was in my own life pregnant, I mostly wore overalls,' she says.

'Carrie was a much more courageous dresser than I am. [She has a] much more fevered relationship with fashion, much more indulgent,' she says

2004: Sex and the City series finale

'This last shot of Sex and the City, I remember this day so well. I brought that scarf from home, Pat loved it. That shoe we wore a lot in a bunch of silhouettes, that's Manolo,' she recalls.

The actress also reveals that she didn't read the last scene in the script until she was on the way to set  and that was the first time she learned Big's given name was John.

'Carrie was a much more courageous dresser than I am. [She has a] much more fevered relationship with fashion, much more indulgent.

'I'm kind of much more of an observer most of the time, and then occasionally I get to dip in and participate.

'I wouldn't have been so brave, I wouldn't have shown so much. That's not a judgment, it's just different,' she says.

Parker says she loved her wedding dress from the movie 'so much' that she 'almost can't talk about it'

'It's been made clear to me that not everybody felt the same way about this dress. Which maybe makes me feel even more affection for it,' she says.

2008: Sex and the City movie

Parker says she loved her wedding dress from the movie 'so much' that she 'almost can't talk about it.'

'It's been made clear to me that not everybody felt the same way about this dress. Which maybe makes me feel even more affection for it,' she says.

The bird she wore in her hair, in particular, was a favorite, and she remembers 'ambushing' creator Michael Patrick King, who asked, 'Why is there a bird on your head?'

Parker imagines this is the kind of thing her character wore 'during the darkest days of the pandemic, when it didn't matter, and she had to run to the deli'

2021: And Just Like That

In an episode in the first season of And Just Like That, Carrie runs into her cool young neighbor while walking outside, talking on the phone, and smoking a cigarette.

It is certainly one of her least glamorous moments: She is in a pink gingham Batsheva dress and a blue cardigan, with three vintage scarves tied around her head and long pink gloves on her hands.

Parker imagines this is the kind of thing her character wore 'during the darkest days of the pandemic, when it didn't matter, and she had to run to the deli.'

'This was written because of one of the writer's own personal stories about when they were smoking, and trying not to be seen smoking, they put on a hoodie zipped all the way up, with the hood tied super tight around their face, and they wore Playtex kitchen dish gloves and big sunglasses because they didn't want to be seen by their neighbors,' she says.

Parker particularly loves this cover of Vogue for its December 2021 issue.

She says that when she first saw it, she showed it to her 12-year-old twin daughters, Marion and Tabitha, who 'gastped

2021: Vogue cover

Parker particularly loves this cover of Vogue for its December 2021 issue.

She says that when she first saw it, she showed it to her 12-year-old twin daughters, Marion and Tabitha, which she 'never' does.

'You know, magazines aren't as much a part of their life as might have been when I was their age,' she said.

'I pulled it out and both my daughters' hands went to their mouths and they were like, "Mama, you're on the cover of Vogue?"

'I didn't know that they were aware of Vogue. They live in New York, they walk to school every day, they see all the kiosks. They're in the world, of course they know,' she says.

'So that was very touching to me. I was so tickled by how it was so innocent and unknowing and not ruined,' she says.
A very talented German Shepherd is the talk of the town after painting an exquisite artwork on a $12 canvas from Kmart for her owner.

Trish, who lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland, was looking to change the artwork hanging above her fireplace when she decided to invest in the help of her homemade artist.

'I taped up the frame, whitewashed canvas, poured on some paint, covered it in two layers of cellophane, spread some peanut butter over it, and set miss Daisy to work,' Trish wrote on Facebook.

'She did a fabulous job for her first attempt!'

Trish, who lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland, was looking to change the artwork hanging above her fireplace when she decided to invest in the help of her homemade artist

The piece of art, which is a range of blue tones, excited Trish's followers who were keen to try the art-making scheme for themselves.

'Love it. Can I borrow someone's dog? I think my cats would get bored before it was finished,' one woman wrote.

'She is so proud of herself, she did an awesome job,' said another.

Trish responded: 'Miss Daisy would like to say a big thank you for all of your beautiful comments about her first artwork! I believe her newfound fame may have gone to her head. Please DO try this at home.'

'I taped up the frame, whitewashed canvas, poured on some paint, covered it in two layers of cellophane, spread some peanut butter over it, and set miss Daisy to work,' Trish wrote on Facebook

This is the artwork Trish coloured over to allow Daisy to complete her painting

But Daisy isn't the first amateur artist to make waves with their work.

Gold Coast grandma Helen Watson shared an image in November 2021 of the painting titled 'Fire On The Mountain' and said it was created by her seven-month-old granddaughter Billie.

Mum Georgia Watson, 29, told Daily Mail Australia she set up a canvas smeared with dollops of paint and covered in a plastic sheet for young Billie to wriggle on and create the magnificent artwork.

In a video the creative baby artist can be seen enjoying herself rolling around and looking at all the colours beneath her, without touching a single drop of paint.

The stunning piece was made for Helen's birthday and is now a precious keepsake.

Trish responded: 'Miss Daisy would like to say a big thank you for all of your beautiful comments about her first artwork! I believe her newfound fame may have gone to her head. Please DO try this at home'

Gold Coast grandma Helen Watson shared an image of beautiful abstract piece of artwork hung above her bed (pictured)

She revealed the painting titled 'Fire On The Mountain' was created by her seven-month-old granddaughter Billie (pictured)

And this isn't the first painting Billie has made. Georgia said she and young Billie wanted to make a memorable Father's Day gift for Billie's dad Brett, 32, so they started making the paintings

Mum Georgia Watson, 29, (right) told Daily Mail Australia she set up a canvas smeared with dollops of paint and covered in a plastic sheet for young Billie to wriggle on

And this isn't the first painting Billie has made.

Georgia said she and young Billie wanted to make a memorable Father's Day gift for Billie's dad Brett, 32.

'We tried to do the typical hand print on a card which was extremely difficult with a wriggly baby. So we decided something on a larger scale might be easier with a little less mess,' Georgia said.

'By using a canvas and letting Billie reach out for the colours she liked we set up outside on the grass and tipped paints all over the canvas then placed a plastic sheet over allowing Billie to move around the canvas.'

The painting turned into an incredible blue and white piece of art with shades of gold and black.

The The incredible red, black and orange artwork (pictured) looks like it was made by a professional artist

The stunning piece was made for Helen's (left) birthday and is now a precious keepsake

The idea is also a great DIY sensory play experience for young Billie who 'loved it so much'

'We are so proud of Billie's little creations. Every piece she does is original and different! She always loves the big reveal when we pull off the plastic sheet and see what work has been created,' she said.

The paintings take between 30 minutes to one hour to make depending on how long Billie likes to play on the canvas.

The idea is also a great DIY sensory play experience for young Billie who 'loved it so much'.

The paintings take between 30 minutes to one hour to make depending on how long Billie likes to play on the canvas

Georgia has created an Instagram page that she plans to use to showcase all of Billie's artworks.

After the images and video was shared online hundreds commented with words of praise in awe of the outcome.

'Beautiful that it has such sentimental value. She has a big future I think!!' one woman wrote.

'That's absolutely beautiful, well done bubba,' another said, a third added: 'What a beautiful idea and amazing outcome.'
A Colombian student who moved to Australia just one month ago has spilled the beans on the most 'bizarre' aspects of life Down Under she has encountered so far.

Elisa Giraldo, who is now based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, took to TikTok on Tuesday to decipher why Aussies walk on the left hand side of the road and call 'bell peppers' capsicum, but she was most confused by the introduction of carpeted flooring in living and dining rooms.

'This is something that, for the life of me, I cannot understand. Why? Why? I've inspected around 10 to 15 apartments and all of them have carpeted floors. Right next to the beach. Why?' she said.

Elisa Giraldo, who is now based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, took to TikTok on Tuesday to decipher why Aussies walk on the left hand side of the road and call 'bell peppers' capsicum

'I want to point out that I've been living here for a month and I'm living on the Gold Coast which I know if not the whole of Australia and that's not how all Australians behave or live.

'But these are thing from my experience, okay?'

One woman in the comments section identified herself as an Australian before saying: 'carpet is cheaper than tiles or floor boards'.

One woman in the comments section identified herself as an Australian before saying: 'carpet is cheaper than tiles or floor boards'

'Carpet because we have a huge wool industry and we love carpet. Love it, just love it,' said another.

Elisa continued the video by talking about the way Aussies drive on the opposite side of the road to Colombians.

'The first thing... you kind of come prepared for, like they drive on the left side of the road... and I'm not going to be driving anytime soon so that's fine,' she said.

'But they also walk on the left hand side of the road. So if someone is coming up to you on the sidewalk you have to move the left side... which is weird. Also, the escalators in the mall are on the left side. Weird.'

Elisa continued the video by talking about the way Aussies drive on the opposite side of the road to Colombians

Finally the young woman was perturbed by the use of the word 'capsicum' to describe a vegetable.

'The third thing is normal but I find it weird and it's the fact that they call bell peppers capsicums. Why not just call it bell pepper?' she said.

'Can somebody please explain to me why that is? I don't know if I'm dumb or what but why don't they just call it bell pepper?'

Interestingly 'capsicum' is the genus of the flowering plant and it is derived from the Greek word 'Kapto' meaning to bite or swallow.

'Bell pepper is more botanical slang,' one commenter pointed out.

Elisa plans to continue unearthing the differences between the two cultures while she studies and works in Queensland.
Anthony Albanese looks forward thinking, fit and confident in his latest photo shoot alongside his girlfriend of two years Jodie Haydon, professional image experts say.

The Labor leader, 58, posed up in a fitted white shirt, skinny grey chinos with a black belt and $129 Country Road gum sole sneakers at his Marrickville home for the March edition of the Women's Weekly.

Image consultant and personal stylist Imogen Lamport told FEMAIL the aspiring prime minister appeared 'ready for action' and prepared to take on a bigger role in the shoot, which saw him cosying up to a beaming Ms Haydon.

'He looks happy. Especially because he's a middle-aged white man... he looks much more forward thinking and it's a modern look. He looks like he's stepping into the future,' she said.

Anthony Albanese looks forward thinking, fit and confident in his latest photo shoot alongside his girlfriend of two years Jodie Haydon, professional image experts say

Anthony Albanese is pictured at home in Sydney with his girlfriend Jodie Haydon and dog Toto

Mr Albanese is hoping to become the next Prime Minister of Australia, with an election in May

Mr Albanese's choice of shoes were clever, in Ms Lamport's mind, because they show that he's agile, ready to move and 'not stuck in the past'.

'His trousers are on trend which gives him a more youthful rather than middle aged appearance.'

Meanwhile the pattern on the inside of the collar stand on his blue shirt tells the public he's modern, approachable and 'there may be more to him than meets the eye'.

'His belt and watch are still more classic and traditional which says he's professional, responsible and successful,' she continued.

Ms Lamport pointed to his posture as 'relaxed' and 'friendly', showcasing that he's a man of the people as he's not positioning himself as better than the reader.

The 58-year-old Labor leader, a craft beer fanatic, enjoyed his first night out with 43-year-old Jodie Haydon (pictured together) at the Young Henrys brewery in Newtown

What do Anthony Albanese's clothes tell us about the aspiring PM? His sporty shoes say he's ready to move, he's agile and not stuck in the past. His trousers are on trend which gives him a more youthful rather than middle-aged appearance. The pattern on the inside of the collar stand on his blue shirt says he's modern, approachable and there may be more to him than meets the eye. His belt and watch are still more classic and traditional which say he's professional, responsible and successful. Posture - it's relaxed and friendly - a man of the people (he's not positioning himself as better than the reader), his hands in the pockets but thumbs out says he's relaxed, comfortable and confident. Advertisement

'His hands in the pockets but thumbs out says he's comfortable and confident,' she said.

Personal brand expert Suzie Lightfoot agrees, suggesting that the first thing she instantly noticed about the Labor leader was his confidence in the images.

'I think he must have had a good rapport with the photographer to allow him to radiate his natural energy,' she told FEMAIL.

'Fashion and clothing choices can dress you up on the outside however, it's your energy and presence that will elevate your brand and image to the next level. So I think he has nailed it in that department.

She describes his choice of a slim white shirt as tactical because it's very fresh and 'pure' by nature.

'His stylist may have made a wise decision to portray Mr Albanese subconsciously to voters as the right man to lead the way for new beginnings post-pandemic,' she said.

The pair (pictured) met in early 2020 at a conference in Melbourne where Mr Albanese was speaking

Celebrity stylist Donny Galella said the pictures in Women's Weekly showed a stark contrast between Mr Albanese and Prime Minister Scott Morrison (centre) who typically opts for baggy chinos and RM Williams boots

'It gives a perception of a more youthful contemporary silhouette than Mr Morrison's usual baggy chinos and navy jacket.'

The jury is out, according to Ms Lightfoot, on Mr Albanese's sneakers, which while they are 'all the go now' can't necessarily beat 'the classic RM Williams the prime minister favours'.

Celebrity stylist Donny Galella said the pictures in Women's Weekly showed a stark contrast between Mr Albanese and Prime Minister Morrison.

'Comparing the two, Mr Albanese definitely has a much more tailored and stylish look, especially with the white shoes,' Mr Galella told FEMAIL.

'Albo is looking pretty stylish in the classic combo of a white shirt and well fitted chinos.

'His white trainers are a big trend at the moment and the blue stripe even matches Jodie's dress.'

The Opposition leader had a significant makeover last year, losing 15kg, investing in new suits and snapping up some $349 Byblos Black Havana spectacles (pictured)

The Opposition leader had a significant makeover last year, losing 15kg, investing in new suits and snapping up some $349 Byblos Black Havana spectacles.

The photos were taken as Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon conducted their first interview together just three months out from the looming election, where women's votes could prove decisive.

Mr Albanese revealed he wooed his new girlfriend with a date at a hipster brewery in Sydney's inner west.

The craft beer fanatic enjoyed his first night out with 43-year-old Jodie Haydon at the Young Henrys brewery in Newtown.

'We had what I thought would just be a drink at Young Henrys in Newtown, and we got on really well. That's how it started,' he told Women's Weekly.

The pair met in early 2020 at a conference in Melbourne where Mr Albanese was speaking.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese with his son Nathan (left) and partner Jodie Haydon in January at the National Press Club in Canberra

The Opposition leader asked the crowd if there were any fellow South Sydney fans present and finance worker Ms Haydon, who lives in his Grayndler electorate, shouted: 'Up the Rabbitohs'.

He later introduced himself and they decided to go for a drink when they were back in Sydney.

Mr Albanese, a father-of-one, had recently split from his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt after 19 years of marriage and 30 years together.

He said he was still 'emotionally bruised' from the sudden split which involved no third parties but came as a shock.

Ms Haydon, who has never been married or had children, said she wasn't looking for a relationship but realised she had fallen in love with Mr Albanese when he had a car crash in January 2021.

Mr Albanese attends the Australian premiere of Hamilton at Lyric Theatre last year with girlfriend Jodie

His Toyota was rammed by a Range Rover and he was rushed to hospital for X-rays but escaped serious injury.

Ms Haydon recalled arriving at the scene of the crash in Marrickville after a phone call and seeing her boyfriend's smashed-up car.

'I saw the mess of a car before I saw him and thought 'he couldn't survive this''. It was very scary, and in that moment, you realise just how much you love this person  the fear of losing them,' she said.

'As I jumped in the ambulance and saw Anthony, I knew then the depth of my feelings towards him.'

The interview is Ms Haydon's first and comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared on 60 Minutes with his wife Jenny and two daughters.

Analysts believe Mr Morrison's family is his 'secret weapon' in connecting with voters.



Mr Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt - the former NSW deputy premier. The potential future prime minister said he 'didn't see it coming' when Ms Tebbutt ended their marriage on New Year's Day 2019

Mr Albanese, who earns $390,820 a year, and the First State Super financial worker were first spotted kissing at an upmarket Sydney restaurant in June 2020.

It was eighteen months earlier on New Year's Day 2019, that the 58-year-old separated from his ex-wife.

The aspiring future prime minister said he 'didn't see it coming' when Ms Tebbutt abruptly ended their marriage.

'It was a really tough period and that's the truth and I've acknowledged that. I think part of going through a difficult period and coming out the other end is acknowledging that you're going through it,' he told ABC Radio.

'I found it very tough. The relationship was 30 years old.

'It's made for a difficult period. I certainly will always, always remember New Year's Eve and New Year's Day for that momentous event in my life,' he said.

'I needed to stop trying to understand it and just accept it and accept that it was a decision that had been made and she was moving on with her life in a different direction and I needed to do the same,' he said.

'You can tie yourself in knots trying to understand someone else's decisions and thought processes.'

Mr Albanese and Ms Tebbutt met in Young Labor during the late 1980s.

Nathan, the couple's only child, had just turned 18 and completed his HSC exams when Ms Tebbutt ended the relationship.

Mr Albanese declared his relationship with Nathan to be the strongest it's ever been in January 2020, as the pair were forced to rely on each other more than ever in their two-person household.
Kate Middleton has showcased her winning ways with children during her visit to Denmark, and appeared in her element yesterday as she went back to nature, surrounded by adorable youngsters.

A day after the Duchess of Cambridge, 40, said she was left constantly broody by her work with children, the mother-of-three split logs and went on a woodland ramble as she joined a group from a kindergarten forest school in Copenhagen.

Kate, who was on a two-day fact finding mission to Denmark with her Centre for Early Childhood, embraced the outdoor life that forms the backdrop to teaching for many infants there, who thrive on being given the freedom to play.

In a forest, the duchess  dressed for the bitterly cold but sunny conditions in 170 Blundstone boots, jeans, a polo-neck jumper and 209 Seeland jacket  took on the challenge of splitting a log after watching five-year-olds complete the task.

Appearing in her element when surrounded by the youngsters, a video of the royal sitting with the group in the open air appears to show one child say 'I love you' to Kate before she seemingly repeats the sentiment as they share a cuddle.

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The Duchess joined the kindergarten forest school group around the campfire and could be seen offering one young boy wearing a khaki onesie a huge hug

Kate (left) has showcased her winning ways with children during her visit to Denmark, and appeared in her element yesterday as she went back to nature, surrounded by adorable youngsters

Kate (pictured), who was on a two-day fact finding mission to Denmark with her Centre for Early Childhood, embraced the outdoor life that forms the backdrop to teaching for many infants there, who thrive on being given the freedom to play

On Tuesday, Kate admitted she felt 'broody' and joked that husband Prince William worries about her working with under-one-year-olds because she returns home wanting 'another one'.

She made the admission when speaking to parents with their babies at Copenhagen's Children's Museum during her first day of her two-day engagement.

She also joked that her children - Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six and Prince Louis, three - were 'very jealous' they weren't able to come along.

At the Children's Museum, Kate heard about the Understanding Your Baby research project which trains health visitors to help new parents as they begin to notice and interpret their babies' behavioural cues.

After meeting with two eight-month-old baby boys and their parents, she joked: 'It makes me very broody.

'William always worries about me meeting under one-year-olds. I come home saying, "let's have another one".'

The royal took time to speak with several of the children individually at the kindergarten yesterday

Kate watched on as young children gave wood chopping a go, before trying her hand at the task herself

The Duchess spoke with the children about their experiences at the forest school before taking part in a series of activities with the youngsters

A round of royal applause! The Duchess could be seen cheering for other children who had a go at chopping through the wood at the school

During yesterday's activities, teaching assistant Carla Bro, 21, told Kate how to sit and grip the hammer.

She took just three blows to split the log and was applauded for her efforts by Miss Bro, who said afterwards: She asked how we deal with risky play and how we keep things safe.

We have safety rules and we teach the children they should not be afraid of tasks but treat them with respect.

The duchess spoke to the children, one boy making her smile when he shouted out, Hello Kate. When another youngster stepped up to split a log, Kate told him: Youre so strong.

She joined other activities and went on a brief woodland walk. At the end of the event, a mindfulness session was held to relax the children.

Royal kinship: Looking remarkably similar in regal coats and with their brunette locks flowing, the Duchess of Cambridge, 40, and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 50, posed for official photos at Christian IX's Palace in Copenhagen yesterday

Earlier Kate had posed alongside Queen Margrethe II and Crown Princess Mary inside the palace, on the second day of her two-day visit to Denmark with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

The duchess sat with them in a circle around a fire, covered by a wooden canopy.

During her visit to the Forest Kindergarten, Kate heard about their approach to learning, which focuses on social and emotional development to help children build self-awareness, strengthen relationships with others and understand their value in society, rather than focusing on academic skills such as numeracy and literacy.

She also learned about the Danish use of nature and the outdoors in these settings, which is widely recognised as having huge benefits on children's mental health and well-being and is a concept which Kate has championed through her own work.

Later she changed out of her country casuals to visit a womens refuge with another future queen, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

On Tuesday, Kate (pictured) admitted she felt 'broody' and joked that husband Prince William worries about her working with under-one-year-olds because she returns home wanting 'another one'
The Coronation Street actor who played Les Battersby has recalled his panic after he was wrongly suspected of being the Yorkshire Ripper in a new documentary.

Bruce Jones, who starred in the ITV soap for ten years before his axe in 2007, became an unlikely suspect during Peter Sutcliffe's savage murdering spree in the 1970s, after stumbling upon the body of one of the serial killer's victims.

Jones, 69, had found the mutilated body of the Ripper's fifth victim, 20-year-old Jean Jordan, in 1977, in an allotment in Manchester, where he was working with a friend.

He spoke about the moment police questioned him following the discovery in last night's Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders; a brand new ITV documentary which links more than 20 unsolved murders and attempted murders to Sutcliffe for the first time.

The actor suggested he even questioned himself, explaining 'your mind plays tricks on you'.

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The Coronation Street actor who played Les Battersby (pictured) has recalled his panic after he was wrongly suspected of being the Yorkshire Ripper in a new documentary

Actor Bruce Jones became an unlikely suspect during Peter Sutcliffe's (pictured left) savage murdering spree in the 1970s, after stumbling upon the body of one of the serial killer's victims. Jones, 69, had found the mutilated body of the Ripper's fifth victim, 20-year-old Jean Jordan (pictured right), in 1977

Recalling the horrifying moment he found the body, he said: 'There was two of us, me and this older bloke who... managed to get an allotment which we did. We managed to acquire this big shed but it needed a brick base.

'I'll go and get the bricks for the base, I'll just.. big building plot over there, I'll go and get bricks and that.

'And it was on the way there, five times I'd gone, filled the barrow, come back. And the sixth time, there was this body. My mate came over, he couldnt look at it, he was being ill.

'I ran across the main road and phoned 999. I thought, "What do I do, do I go, do I stay?" The next minute, Id never seen so many police cars.'

Bruce also spoke about how he was questioned by police in connection with Jean Jordans murder after discovering her body.

He said: 'They asked me if I'd been to Yorkshire. I couldn't remember if I'd been to Yorkshire or not. "Where was I in Manchester on such and such a date?"

A composite of 12 of the 13 victims murdered by Sutcliffe. Victims are, from left to right: Wilma McCann, Joan Harrison, Emily Jackson, Irene Richardson, Patricia Atkinson, Jayne McDonald, Maureen Long, Jean Royle-Jordan, Yvonne Pearson, Helen Rykta, Vera Millward, Josephine Whittaker and Barbara Leach

Peter Sutcliffe (pictured), who murdered at least 13 women in the 1970s and 1980s, died in November 2020 at the age of 74 after reportedly refusing treatment for coronavirus

'I didn't know. [Police asked me] Why I had a hammer and big chisel and lump hammer in my wheelbarrow? That was to break the bricks up I needed for the base of the shed. Just question after question.

'Your mind does play tricks on you. It's like "Where was I? Had I been to Yorkshire? No, I've never been to Yorkshire." Right from the minute you find that body your mind is going faster than you can think.

'And no, no, no I wasn't there. I wasn't there... you know never been there. Never been there.

'And in the end, they come in and tell you, "Get dressed", and we'll run you home and that was it.'

Commenting on the new documentary, ITV said: 'Through a thorough re-examining of evidence in several cases, including interviews with victims relatives, many speaking on television for the first time, as well as leading experts, the series places these events within the timeline of Sutcliffes confirmed crimes and MO, and asks why he has never been considered a suspect.'

Jones (pictured) spoke about the moment police questioned him following the discovery in last night's Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders; a brand new ITV documentary which links more than 20 unsolved murders and attempted murders to Sutcliffe for the first time

Recalling the horrifying moment he found the body, he said: 'There was two of us, me and this older bloke who... managed to get an allotment which we did. We managed to acquire this big shed but it needed a brick base'

Sex worker Jean Jordan, who had moved from Scotland, was the Ripper's first victim in Manchester October 1, 1977.

He beat the young mother-of-two 11 times with a hammer in allotments next to Southern Cemetery, dumped her body and threw her bag, containing a brand new 5 note he gave her, into nearby shrubs.

Police found the bag and traced the serial number on the note back to the payroll of Yorkshire hauliers T and W H Clark, who employed Peter Sutcliffe, but when questioned he provided an alibi that he was at a party.

Despite interviewing Sutcliffe about the banknote three times, police discounted him as a suspect.

Eight days later, allotment holder Jones found Jean's body.

She had been decapitated, with her intestines wrapped around her waist. The post mortem showed that days after the murder, the killer had returned to mutilate Jean Jordans body further and drag it to a more open position.

Jones claims the ordeal led to his marriage to his first wife breaking down in 1982.

Jones (pictured on Coronation Street) was sacked in 2007 when he told fellow pub customers about the Tracy Barlow murder storyline

Jones told the Mirror in 2013: '[Sutcliffe] uncovered her, he was there that day, he'd hacked away at her. I lost my first marriage, my children.

'I lost everything because of that. It actually destroyed me to learn that people can do that to a human being. I had nightmares like you wouldn't believe.'

He later admitted he still suffers nightmares.

Jones was sacked in 2007 when he told fellow pub customers about the Tracy Barlow murder storyline.

In 2013, he opened up about his battle with depression which he says started in his twenties after he found Jean's body.

The father-of-four told ITV at the time: 'I actually found Jean Jordan the Yorkshire Ripper body who was so badly mutilated by the Ripper.

'I didn't work for a year and I'd sit on my own. I'd just go for a drink and try not to think about it and all those years ago from twenty years of age having that in my mind.

'I was working on an allotment and I'd gone over and there she was - a face in the bushes. I'd never spoke about it. I was ill for twelve month... and it just built up and built up.'

Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered at least 13 women in the 1970s and 1980s, died in November 2020 at the age of 74 after reportedly refusing treatment for coronavirus.

THE 13 MURDER VICTIMS OF THE YORKSHIRE RIPPER Wilma McCann Wilma McCann Age: 28 Killed on: October 30, 1975 A sex worker and mother of four, Sutcliffe battered Wilma McCann to death with a hammer and stabbed her in the neck, chest and stomach after picking her up in Leeds. He carried on life as normal with wife Sonia, and was to tell police: 'After that first time I developed and played up a hatred for prostitutes in order to justify within myself a reason why I had attacked and killed Wilma McCann.' Her body was found in Prince Phillip Playing Fields. Emily Jackson Emily Jackson Age: 42 Killed on: January 20, 1976 A part-time sex worker, Sutcliffe pretended his car wouldn't start when he picked her up and battered her twice with a hammer as she offered to help. He the dragged her body into a yard and used a screwdriver to viciously stab her a total of 52 times in the neck, breasts, lower abdomen and back. Her body was found on Manor Street in Leeds. Irene Richardson Irene Richardson Age: 28 Killed on: February 5, 1977 Another prostitute Sutcliffe picked up, he attacked her in Roundhay Park, Leeds, where they had stopped so she could go to the toilet. As she crouched down, the killer delivered three heavy blows to her head with a hammer, then he tore open her jacket and blouse and began to stab and slash her with his Stanley knife. Patricia Atkinson Patricia Atkinson Age: 32 Killed on: April 23, 1977 Sutcliffe's first victim in his home town of Bradford was another prostitute. He picked her up and took her to a flat in Oak Avenue, where he picked up a hammer and dealt four massive blows to the back of her head. He also stabbed her six times in the stomach with a knife and tried to do the same to her back, before throwing bed linen over the top of her body and leaving. Jayne MacDonald Jayne MacDonald Age: 16 Killed on: April 23, 1977 A shop assistant who had just left school, Jayne MacDonald was the first 'non-prostitute' victim and it was her death that saw the hunt for the killer draw national attention. Sutcliffe spotted her in the early hours of the morning in Leeds and followed her into an adventure playground, where he struck her with a hammer on the back of the head. After she fell down, he then dragged her, face down, into the play areas and stabbed her several times in the chest and back. Jean Jordan Jean Jordan Age: 20 Killed on: October 1, 1977 A young prostitute, Jean Jordan was the Ripper's first victim in Manchester. He beat her 11 times with a hammer in allotments next to Southern Cemetery, dumped her body and threw her bag, containing a brand new 5 note he gave her, into nearby shrubs. Police found the bag and traced the serial number on the note back to the payroll of Yorkshire hauliers T and W H Clark, who employed Peter Sutcliffe, but when questioned he provided an alibi that he was at a party. Yvonne Pearson Yvonne Pearson Age: 21 Killed on: January 21, 1978 A young prostitute, Sutcliffe took her to a piece of waste ground at the back of Drummond's mill in Bradford, where his father worked. There he hit her several times with a hammer. He pulled her body behind an old sofa, stuffed horsehair down her throat before kicking her in the head and jumping down on her chest. Helen Rytka Age: 18 Killed on: January 18, 1978 A teenage prostitute, Helen Rytka was picked up and driven to a timber yard in Great Northern Street, Huddersfield by the killer. There he beat her with a hammer several times but she remained alive until he grabbed a knife and stabbed her multiple times through the heart and lungs. Before leaving, he hid her body behind a stack of timber. Vera Millward Vera Millward Age: 40 Killed on: May 16, 1978 A prostitute living in a run-down council flat in Hulme, Manchester, Vera Millward was Sutcliffe's ninth victim. He took her Manchester Royal Infirmary where he attacked her with a hammer as soon as she got out the car. After killing her with the hammer blows, he then dragged her body to a spot by a fence and began to stab her with a knife. Josephine Whitaker Josephine Whitaker Age: 19 Killed on: April 4, 1979 A teenage building society clerk, Josephine Whitaker was approached by Sutcliffe in Savile Park, Halifax where they got chatting. He hit her from behind with a hammer and again as she lay on the ground before dragging her into the darkness after hearing voices. He then stabbed her 21 times with a screwdriver in the chest and stomach as well as in the leg. Her skull had been fractured from ear to ear. Barbara Leach Barbara Leach Age: 20 Killed on: September 20, 1979 Barbara Leach was a university student, about to start her third and final year in social psychology. He spotted her while driving in Bradford and opened the car door to get out as she was walking towards him. He attacked her with a hammer and dragged her into a back yard, before stabbing her with the same screwdriver that he had used on Josephine Whitaker. He then placed her body in a distorted jack-knife position behind a low wall into an area where dustbins were usually kept, covering her body with an old piece of carpet and some stones. Marguerite Walls Marguerite Walls Age: 47 Killed on: August 20, 1980 A civil servant who worked at the Department of Education and Science office in Pudsey, Marguerite Walls was the Ripper's twelfth victim. After spotting her in Leeds, he attacked her with a hammer blow, yelling 'filthy prostitute'. He then looped rope around her neck and dragged her into a garden when he would strangle her and strip her of all her clothing except her tights. He partially covered the body with grass cuttings and leaves before making his escape. Jacqueline Hill Jacqueline Hill Age: 20 Killed on: November 17, 1980 An English student at Leeds University, Jacqueline Hill had taken the bus home from a meeting with probation service workers where she had applied to become a volunteer. Sutcliffe spotted and followed her before delivering a blow to her head as she was passing an opening. Her body was discovered on a stretch of wasteland 100 yards from where she lived. She suffered four skull fractures and cuts to her head, a stab wound to her left breast and a stab wound to her right eye. Advertisement
A British mother living in Hong Kong has revealed how she has been separated from her 11-month-old daughter who tested positive for Covid in hospital due to strict rules that keep patients and their families apart.

Communications worker Laura, 32, and husband Nick, who did not provide their surname, brought daughter Ava to the Queen Mary Hospital on Monday after she developed a cough, fever and difficulty breathing.

When Ava tested positive and was moved to an intensive care unit, the couple were told they could not remain with their daughter because the hospital was at capacity. Strict rules also ban contact between Covid-19 patients and family members who do not have the virus.

'I was begging, crying, hysterical and screaming,' Laura told the South China Morning Post. 'I had a bit of a breakdown. This is so inhumane. I cannot leave her. She is 11 months old. I've never left her. It's so traumatic for us.'

The couple are now forced to communicate with their daughter over video calls. Ava must remain in hospital for at least a week and test negative before she will be allowed home.

The family's story has gone viral on Facebook and has been reported in local news outlets, sparking concerned discussions among other parents. Anecdotal reports suggest some are delaying taking sick children to hospital because they fear being separated.

A British mother living in Hong Kong has revealed how she has been separated from her 11-month-old daughter after she was admitted to hospital with Covid-19. The couple shared a heartbreaking video call with their daughter (left) as they cried down the phone

Laura, 32, who did not want to use her surname, and husband Nick brought their daughter Ava to the city's Queen Mary Hospital on Monday after she developed a cough, fever and difficulty breathing. Pictured, the family together

Three children have died in the past fortnight in Hong Kong after testing positive for Covid-19, including an 11-month-old girl.

Laura and Nick spoke to CNN and shared a recording of one of their FaceTime calls with Ava. In the video, the baby sobs into the phone as Nick and Laura fight back tears while trying to console her.

At one point Nick pleads with the nurse to comfort his daughter, saying: 'Nurse, just give her some comfort please.' The nurse appears to be wearing a full hazmat suit and face shield.

Laura told the AFP: 'She's 11 months, she's aware of her surroundings, separation anxiety is at an all-time high at this age, she was inconsolable, just crying "Mamma, Mamma".'

Doctors reportedly told the couple they could not wait anywhere in the hospital because they were close contacts of a patient with Covid-19.

A Hospital Authority spokesperson told CNN that as they had not tested positive it was 'not advisable' for Ava's parents to stay in the hospital's isolation facilities.

There is also an issue of space, with hospitals combating a surge in cases. But Laura said she simply wants to be close to her daughter.

Laura and Nick, pictured on a video call with CNN, are desperate to be reunited with Ava

'We're not asking for a spare bed at the hospital,' she said. 'I would stand next to her bed. I will sit on a chair next to her for the remaining five days. I just I need to be with her.'

The parents were told on Tuesday morning that their daughter was in a stable condition and ready to be discharged.

However Covid patients - even children - can only be sent home once they have received a negative test taken at least a week after first testing positive. It means Nick and Laura face another four days of agony without their daughter.

If one or both of them was to test positive for the virus, there is a chance the entire family could be reunited in a government-run quarantine camp.

Hong Kong's strict rules require all who test positive to be hospitalised or transferred to community isolation facilities.

There were 8,674 new infections and 24 deaths reported in Hong Kong on Wednesday, up from 6,211 infections and 32 deaths the previous day.

The city's testing, treatment and isolation capacity already stretched to the maximum. Photographs show overflow Covid patients on hospital beds on the street.

The city's testing, treatment and isolation capacity already stretched to the maximum. Photos show Covid patients on beds on the street

University of Hong Kong researchers predicted new infections could peak at 180,000 a day next month. Hong Kong has a population of 7.4million.

Officials are pursuing a 'dynamic zero COVID' strategy similar to mainland China, aiming to eradicate any outbreaks at all costs instead of trying to live with the virus.

Bars, gyms and other businesses are already closed, restaurants must shut at 6pm, and there is a ban on gatherings of more than two people.

From Thursday residents will have to show their vaccine record to access venues including supermarkets, malls and restaurants, wear masks for all outdoor exercise, and they will not be allowed to remove masks to eat or drink on public transport.

This week Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said that schools would break early for summer and resume the new year in August.

Parents reacted with dismay, saying they were concerned about their children's education and mental health.

University of Hong Kong researchers predicted new infections could peak at 180,000 a day next month. Hong Kong has a population of 7.4million. Pictured, outdoor beds in Hong Kong

'We are really at the limit,' Lau Ka-hin, chief manager for quality and standards of the Hospital Authority, an oversight department, told reporters.

In a statement to the South China Morning Post, the Hospital Authority said under current policy, staff would arrange for a parent and child who tested positive to stay in the same ward so long as the situation allowed.

'Considering that the parents of the baby patient were not tested positive to Covid-19, it is not advisable to stay in the hospitals isolation facilities.

'The hospital hopes the patients family members can understand the limitations of the arrangements and the space constraint under the current epidemic situation.

'The clinical team is trying their best to reserve as many beds as possible for the needy children.'
It was slammed by critics and ridiculed by viewers. Now Netflix's Princess Diana musical is tipped for yet another embarrassment: being named the worst film of the year.

Diana: The Musical, which centres around the love triangle between the princess, Charles and Camilla, has been nominated for nine Razzie Awards, which recognise the biggest film flops of the year, including worst picture, actress and actor.

British bookmakers William Hill has released odds putting the musical as the heavy favourite to win worst picture, beating other nominees Space Jam: A New Legacy, Karen, Infinite and The Woman in the Window.

Diana: The Musical was due to premiere on Broadway in 2020 but was delayed due to Covid. Last week a filmed version of the production premiered on Netflix, ahead of the show finally opening in New York later this year. Pictured, Jeanna de Waal as Diana

Star Jeanna de Waal, 30, was criticised for her performance, with Variety's Peter Debruge remarking on its lack of nuance. Pictured, with Roe Hartrampf as Prince Charles

Revealed: The 'embarrassing' lyrics that have left reviewers cringing Charles, cradling newborn: 'Darling, Im holding our son / So let me say, jolly well done.' Chorus of onlookers at a party thrown by Camilla (Erin Davie), crashed by her romantic rival: 'Its the Thrilla in Manilla / But with Diana and Camilla!' Diana being chased by paparazzi who chant: 'Better than a Guinness, better than a w**k / Snap a few pics, its money in the bank' Diana, cradling Harry: 'Harry, my ginger-haired son / Youll always be second to none.' A man dying of AIDS sings to Diana: 'I may be unwell, but Im handsome as hell.' Diana lamenting: 'Serves me right for marrying a Scorpio.' A miserable Diana singing: 'I could use a prince to save me from my prince.' At a concert with Prince Charles, Diana warbles: 'Alright, I'm no intellect/but maybe there's a discotheque/where the prince could hear Prince and we'd all get Funkadellic'. Shocking: A screenshot reveals one of the crass lines from Diana: The Musical Advertisement

Diana is also nominated for worst director (Christopher Ashley), actor (Roe Hartrampf), actress (Jeanna de Waal), supporting actor (Gareth Keegan), supporting actress (Erin Davie and Judy Kaye), screen couple ('any klutzy cast member and any lamely lyricized (or choreographed) musical number') and screenplay (script by Joe DiPietro, music and lyrics by DiPietro and David Bryan).

The Razzie winners will be announced on March 26, the day before the Oscars.

Diana: The Musical premiered on Broadway in November 2021, after being delayed by 18 months due to Covid. A filmed version premiered on Netflix in October.

It was met with scathing reviews and social media verdicts on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Evening Standard, The Times and the Chicago Tribune gave Diana: The Musical damning one-star reviews, while viewers have mocked the ridiculous songs - including a number where paparazzi sing 'better than a Guinness, better than a w**k/snap a few pics, its money in the bank' - on social media.

Commentators have called on Prince Harry, who has an estimated $100million deal with Netflix, to cut ties with the streaming giant over the 'degrading' and 'exploitative' depiction of his mother and the royal family.

MailOnline's Dan Wooton wrote: 'If he fails to speak out against such a horrendous depiction of his mother, then he is tacitly endorsing it.'

Star Jeanna de Waal, 30, was criticised for her performance, with Variety's Peter Debruge remarking on its lack of nuance, while others, including MailOnline's Dan Wootton, blasted the lack of accuracy. Pictured, Jeanna as Diana with Judy Kaye as the Queen

The show, created by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan (Bon Jovis keyboardist), stars Jeanna de Waal, as Princess Diana, Roe Hartrampf as Prince Charles, Judy Kaye as the Queen, and Erin Davie who 'turns Camilla Parker Bowles into the Wicked Witch of the West'.

At one point Diana sings how she 'wishes Charles was Elton John' before adding: 'Alright, I'm no intellect/but maybe there's a discotheque/where the prince could hear Prince and we'd all get Funkadellic'.

Later, she sings to her infant son: 'Harry my ginger-haired son / Youll always be second to none.'

One of the most heavily quoted lyrics comes from a scene in which Diana crashes one of Camilla's parties and scandalised guests sing about a 'Thrilla in Manilla with Diana and Camilla'.

As Vanity Fair's Richard Lawson notes, the lyrics are not 'meant to be silly and campy', despite how they might read on paper. 'They are just the stilted, embarrassingly serious ramblings of a show that has no interest in real humanity.'

de Waal, who has said it is a 'huge privilege' to play the princess, was criticised for the 'lack of nuance' within her performance, with several comparing it to Kristen Stewart's powerhouse take on the princess in upcoming film, Spencer.

Blunt: The show ends abruptly with Diana's car crash, just one scene after her divorce

Viewers have taken to Twitter to mock and criticise the musical, with several blasting the lyrics

Others have questioned the accuracy and tone of the musical, with Wootton writing: 'Diana: The Musical is the most offensive and degrading portrayal of the late Princess of Wales in fiction since her death in 1997  and in terms of accuracy it makes that other historically-derided Netflix series The Crown look like a royal encyclopaedia of truth.

'The lies about Di's life are egregious  from suggesting she used HIV patients for publicity to attacking Margaret Thatcher for her politics.'

The criticism was echoed by viewers on Twitter.

One tweeted: 'I just watched the first 20 minutes of Diana the musical to wind down after preview 2 and I am so tired I think I am hallucinating. Can people please confirm this is actually a thing because it is like a fever dream.'

Another posted: 'All you need to know about the Diana musical on Netflix is that it has a song that contains the lyrics its a thrilla in Manila with Diana and Camilla.'

A third added simply: 'Whoever decided to create Diana the Musical on Netflix made a HORRIBLE mistake Grimacing face #DianaTheMusical.'

The musical, directed by Tony award-winner Christopher Ashley, also features characters including royal butler Paul Burrell and biographer Andrew Morton, while James Hewitt is depicted as a 'bare-chested sex god'.

Here, FEMAIL offers a snapshot of what the critics had to say...

THE EVENING STANDARD

Rating:

Jessie Thompson writes: 'The whole thing feels like the result of someone who read Tina Browns The Diana Chronicles on a sunlounger, semi-p****d on margaritas while listening to Aerosmith. Actually, no, that makes it sound quite good...

'Camilla (Erin Davie) hangs around every scene like a ghost at the feast; the shows attitude to her and Charles is summed up in one hysterically unsubtle lyric - "hes a third rate Henry VIII and shes Godzilla".

'Worse still are the shlocky lyrics, which made me feel like I was being bludgeoned over the head by a commemorative crockery set.

'They go from the lamentable - "Feel the groove, even royals need to move" - to the nonsensical - "Hearts bend, break, burst and sever"... do they? Hearing the words "Jaaames Hewitttt" sung in the manner of Meatloaf made me honestly wonder if I was on acid.'

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Rating:

Michael Phillips writes: 'Diana: The Musical is a hunk of Wensleydale cheese now streaming on Netflix, and in this case the r in streaming is optional...

'Already "Diana: The Musical" has drawn slack-jawed quality comparisons to the film version of "Cats." But "Cats" was different  dubious material handled badly, a compilation of misjudgments and digital fur. This ones a matter of shoddy material staged efficiently and fluidly by director Christopher Ashley, aided by a solid cast of pros swimming upstream, trying hard not to mentally rewrite librettist and lyricist Joe DiPietros words with every stroke...

'Its tolerable, I suppose, if you dont have to listen to it. Unfortunately its a musical so you have to listen to it.'

THE TIMES

Rating:

Clive Davis writes: '[It] really does plumb new depths. DiPietro  whose new show, What's New Pussycat, opens at Birmingham Rep this month  has said he did not aim to be campy. Yet what else can you make of a venture that goes so absurdly over the top?

'Jeanna De Waal captures Dianas shy glance, but theres not much else she can do with a cardboard cut-out, while Judy Kayes portrayal of the Queen seems to be channelling Hyacinth Bucket. Roe Hartrampf makes a simpering Charles; Erin Davie turns Camilla Parker Bowles into the Wicked Witch of the West.

'When she and a vengeful Diana come face to face at a fancy dinner, you wouldnt be at all surprised if DiPietro and Bryan staged a bout of mud-wrestling. That said, they do give us James Hewitt as a bare-chested, jodphur-wearing sex god.'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Rating:

Marianka Swain writes: '"A fairy tale born in Hell." Thats the nuanced take on Princess Dianas marriage in this redundant soap opera-meets-rock opera, which would be in bad taste were it not so dull. It seems a bizarre choice for Netflix, which is premiering a filmed version of this new musical ahead of its Broadway opening in November  unless the intent is to make The Crown look even better by comparison.

'Unlike that garlanded drama, Diana: The Musical sprints from courtship to her death in under two hours, like a hyperactive Wikipedia page.

'Theres no time for thoughtful characterisation or dialogue; instead, everyone helpfully blurts out their current emotional state. Its the mood ring school of writing.'

THE GUARDIAN

Rating:

Stuart Heritage writes: 'What a genuinely bizarre work of art this is... You could stick a pin in almost every song and pull out a line that makes the whole endeavour feel like it was specifically created as a berserk prank against the world.

'My particular favourite is the moment when Diana looks into a crib and tenderly sings: "Harry, my ginger-haired son / Youll always be second to none."

'But others might prefer the part when the Queen belts out a song about Prince Charless inability to keep it in his pants, or the song that appears to be called A Thriller in Manilla with Camilla.'

THE i

Rating:

Andrzej Lukowski writes: 'Really, its not bad at all. Ultimately the only thing I was left slightly struggling with was the exact point: DiPietros central thesis is to portray Diana in a positive, uplifting light as a woman who overcame adversity to find and better herself: "I choose happiness, I choose a fresh new start" she sighs, radiantly, near the end.

'But if youre somebody who struggles to find the British monarchy especially interesting, theres maybe a sense of consequentiality missing here.

'Conversely, if you think her too-short life was a bitter tragedy, you may be taken aback by the largely upbeat mood. Still, its good-natured fun with a big heart, probably best enjoyed after a couple of white wine spritzers.'

VANITY FAIR

Richard Lawson writes: 'Diana is a shellacked lump of product born solely of cold, money-minded cynicism.

'The show, from writer Joe DiPietro and musician David Bryan (of Bon Jovi fame), positions itself as something revelatory, and is advertised as a peek behind the curtain to see what really happened when young Diana Spencer married Prince Charles. It does nothing of the sort. Anyone who has watched Netflixs The Crown or, I dont know, briefly skimmed a Wikipedia article will already know pretty much everything thats clumsily explicated in the musical...

'The musical claims to be telling this story so that we may better understand Diana, to see her as a person, not just an icon. But the production exists entirely to exploit her legacy, to crassly run us through a recitation of known events (and fashion moments) in order to extract more money out of the whole sorry circus.'

VARIETY

Peter Debruge writes: 'The one-dimensionality of this portrayal reveals how little we truly understood about the womans inner world. Gaps left by tabloids were filled in part by Andrew Mortons controversial biography, based largely on input from Diana herself  a process depicted here in the shows catchiest song, "The Words Came Pouring Out."

'But so many secrets remain unrevealed, and the rest relies heavily on speculation. Dianas divorce was considerably more complicated than Bryan and DiPietro make it out to be, and she dies abruptly one song later  not "Candle in the Wind," alas.

'Experiencing the musical on screen makes "Diana" feel all the more inadequate, since closeups call for a more nuanced performance than de Waal is prepared to give.'
By Carl Bildt





MUNICH  The world is not enduring a "Ukraine crisis," but rather a Russia crisis. So said Germany's new foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, at the most recent Munich Security Conference, which was dominated by the situation in Eastern Europe.



In fact, Russia's crisis goes even deeper than Baerbock probably meant. We are witnessing the latest installment in a longer process. Russia is trying to decide whether it is a nation-state or an aspiring empire, and until this fundamental question is resolved, conflicts like the one over Ukraine will continue in various forms.



On paper, the Soviet Union was a multinational federation of republics. In reality, Russians were solidly in command of a tightly controlled regime headed by the Communist Party. One reason for the Soviet collapse was that many of its constituent republics had become aspiring nation-states, or, as with the Baltic republics, sought to recover their independence. The single most important factor was Ukraine's December 1991 referendum, in which an overwhelming majority voted for independence. But then-Russian President Boris Yeltsin's behind-the-scenes efforts to assert Russia's own sovereignty were also important.



At the time, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was still struggling to preserve certain state structures, and he responded with hostility to the three Baltic republics' expressed aspirations. But he was undercut by Yeltsin, who had recognized the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania even before the Ukrainian referendum.



That was the start of today's Russia crisis, fueled by the conflict between building a modern state and economy, on one hand, and indulging imperial nostalgia, on the other. As a result, Russia's economic and political modernization has been hampered, and its neighbors' security has been in doubt.



The best way for Russia to guarantee its own security would be to foster friendly relations with its neighbors, so that they can feel secure and stable themselves. But it has not done that, and now a growing number of Ukrainians want to join NATO. Unrealistic as that seems, they recognize that their own national aspirations are directly threatened by Russian imperial revanchism.



In an infamous essay published last July, Russian President Vladimir Putin articulated his vision of a Great Slavic Empire, harking back to 19th-century czarist rule, rather than to the Soviet Union. Sensing an opportunity to promote that vision, he engineered the current crisis.



But Putin's machinations are nothing new. In 2014, he annexed Crimea and launched an incursion into eastern Ukraine's Donbas region because he wanted to prevent Ukraine from seeking closer ties with the European Union. Even though that would not have impaired Ukrainian cooperation with Russia or threatened Russian security, such developments ran counter to Putin's quasi-imperialist dream.



Putin took his fantasy to a new extreme in his recent speech announcing that Russia would recognize the independence of the two breakaway Donbas regions that it has backed since 2014. Putin openly questioned the existence of a Ukrainian nation and insisted that Ukraine is a "historically Russian land." Although there was a Kyivan Rus' state long before any Russia had appeared, Putin attributes the emergence of a Ukrainian state to Lenin and the Bolsheviks.



The irony of this history-driven strategy is that if one were to survey the Europe of a thousand years ago, there would be no Russia to speak of. Rudimentary Slavic state structures had begun to emerge in the region stretching from Novgorod to Kyiv, along the old trading routes between the Baltic and Black Seas. But Constantinople was the imperial metropole. What we now call Russia wouldn't take form until centuries later, following a gradual military expansion in different directions.



To ground imperial ambitions in old national myths is as dangerous in Russia's case as it is everywhere else. Europe can enjoy peace only if all the borders and boundaries that history has produced (usually through bloodshed) are fully respected. Russia ought to have learned to live harmoniously with its neighbors by now. Following the Sino-Soviet split, the Soviet Union had vast military forces stationed along its border with China, and violent conflict erupted for seven months in 1969. But the two countries de-escalated, and now both are better off for it.



To be sure, the road to establishing the same kind of relationship between Russia and Ukraine is much longer. Putin's behavior has understandably left Ukrainians skeptical of Russia, if not hostile toward it. Unless Russia refocuses on building its future solely within its own borders, the region will remain under a cloud of insecurity, ultimately to Russia's detriment.



I still remember a conversation I had decades ago with former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, a statesman well versed in European history. Discussing Luxembourg, he noted that Germany is secure because even its smallest neighbor sees it as a close friend. Germany has come to terms with its past. Russia has not. Until it does, all of Europe, but especially Russia itself, will continue to suffer.





Carl Bildt is a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden looked as stylish as ever as they attended the opening of a new interactive museum dedicated to Swedish DJ Avicii in Stockholm.

Brunette beauty Sofia, 37, arrived today at the exhibition's home of Space - which is a digital culture centre that bring the largest online communities together under one roof - with her husband, 42, with whom she shares three children.

Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, died by suicide during a holiday with friends in Oman on 20 April 2018, aged 28 - two years after stepping away from the spotlight.

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia had a good relationship with the DJ; he performed during their 2015 wedding reception and the royal couple attended a tribute concert to Avicii in 2019, where all proceeds went to charities supporting mental health awareness.

After the announcement of his death, the royal duo released a statement saying: We are grateful that we got to know him. He made our wedding unforgettable with his amazing music.

Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden (pictured together) looked as stylish as ever as they attended the opening of a new interactive museum dedicated to Swedish DJ Avicii in Stockholm

Brunette beauty Sofia (pictured), 37, arrived today at the exhibition's home of Space - which is a digital culture centre that bring the largest online communities together under one roof - with her husband, 42, with whom she shares three children

Avicii (pictured in 2013), whose real name was Tim Bergling, died by suicide during a holiday with friends in Oman on 20 April 2018, aged 28 - two years after stepping away from the spotlight

Arriving at the museum opening today, mother-of-three Sofia looked typically fashionable in an all-black ensemble.

She donned an elegant black jumpsuit, showcasing her svelte figure, which she teamed with a chunky matching belt.

Wearing a smattering of glamorous makeup - which included a bright pink lip - the princess kept her hair curly and down, while opting for a vibrant orange varnish on her nails.

Looking equally charming, Carl Philip sported a bright blue suit, paired with a striped tie and white shirt.

Sofia and Carl Philip share three children together - Prince Alexander, five, Prince Gabriel, four and Prince Julian, who was born last year.

The couple were pictured cutting the red ribbon to open the museum alongside Avicii's father Klas Bergling and the curator Ingmarie Halling.

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia (pictured) had a good relationship with the DJ

The DJ performed during their 2015 wedding reception and the royal couple (pictured) attended a tribute concert to Avicii in 2019, where all proceeds went to charities supporting mental health awareness

After the announcement of his death, the royal duo (pictured) released a statement saying: We are grateful that we got to know him. He made our wedding unforgettable with his amazing music.

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden inaugurate the Avicii Experience Interactive Museum with Avicii's father Klas Bergling

The tribute museum will pay homage to Avicii through photos, videos, memorabilia and previously unreleased music by the artist.

Wake Me Up artist Avicii shot to worldwide fame in 2011 with his song Levels yet he stopped touring in 2016 following a battle with alcohol and opioid addiction.

His prescription pain killer addiction stemmed from a then 22-year-old Avicii, being rushed to hospital in January 2012 after developing agonising pancreatitis - caused by excessive drinking and acne medication.

Doctors strongly advised he stay sober for at least six months and cut out junk food, otherwise his stomach would become inflamed again and not heal - leading to the possibility of suffering chronic pain for the rest of his life.

Arriving at the museum opening today, mother-of-three Sofia (pictured) looked typically fashionable in an all-black ensemble

The princess, left, donned an elegant black jumpsuit, showcasing her svelte figure, which she teamed with a chunky matching belt

The couple were pictured cutting the red ribbon to open the museum alongside Avicii's father Klas Bergling and the curator Ingmarie Halling

In 2015, after an intervention from his family, the star went to stay at the $13,400 per week Ibiza Calm rehab facility.

In April 2018, Avicii travelled with a friend to Oman, before which he messaged a pal discussing his ventures into meditation.

After battling against his demons, he turned to meditation, focusing heavily on the works of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - who teaches that one could reach the deepest state of consciousness, or enlightenment, and there would be no more suffering.

Wearing a smattering of glamorous makeup - which included a bright pink lip - the princess (second right) kept her hair curly and down, while opting for a vibrant orange varnish on her nails

Looking equally charming, Carl Philip (right) sported a bright blue suit, paired with a striped tie and white shirt

The tribute museum will pay homage to Avicii through photos, videos, memorabilia and previously unreleased music by the artist

Maharishi's teachings state this level of 'cosmic consciousness' could be achieved in five to eight years', yet Avicii wanted to reach this level quicker so was meditating for hours at a time - rather than the suggested 20 minutes.

On April 19, a fellow traveller Avicii had met on the trip contacted his father to express concern over the star's meditation practices.

He said the star was crying, not speaking, refusing to eat and sitting in the blistering sun. He later called Klas to tell him the star had taken his own life.
Lady Victoria Hervey appeared in good spirits, which is the first since her bizarre social media rants about the now notorious photo of Prince Andrew with accuser Virginia Giuffre.

The 44-year-old socialite, who previously dated the royal in the '90s, donned designer apparel including a Gucci belt and Chanel handbag as she stepped out in Beverly Hills today.

She appeared to have been shopping as she held a Neiman Marcus bag and a takeaway coffee while walking down the upscale boulevard.

The outing comes after Lady Victoria caused a social media frenzy with unfounded claims that the now notorious photo of Prince Andrew with sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre may have been edited.

Lady Victoria Hervey, 44, (pictured) was spotted for the first time since claiming damning photos of Prince Andrew and his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre were fake

Lady Victoria demonstrated her carefree sense of style in a leather jacket coordinated with black trainers, a grey t-shirt and denim jeans.

She styled her hair in relaxed waves and opted for her signature fresh faced make-up look.

Prince Andrew's ex-girlfriend was seen with her phone hanging out of her pocket as she walked through the boulevard smiling.

Lady Victoria recently left many of her 130,000 Instagram followers shocked after taking to the platform to rail against Virginia Giuffre.

She wrongly accused her of lying about when she attended Naomi Campbell's birthday party, and even contradicted herself by claiming photos of the event could be 'fake'.

Lady Victoria (pictured) donned designer apparel including a Gucci belt and Chanel bag as she shopped in Beverly Hills

The 44-year-old socialite and former 'It Girl', who is the daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol, has made a series of outlandish allegations in the last few weeks, including stating the notorious image of the Duke of York and Virginia, which was reportedly taken in March 2001 at Ghislaine Maxwell's London apartment, was faked.

Lady Victoria has claimed in recent weeks it was pieced together using a photo taken at Naomi Campbell's birthday party on board a yacht in St Tropez in May 2001, in which Virginia can be seen wearing the same white tank top with colourful patterned jeans.

However taking to Instagram last week, Victoria appeared to contradict herself by questioning the validity of those photos, saying: 'At this point I wouldn't be surprised if these photos are also fake because they only surfaced in 2019.'

In a separate story posted to Lady Victoria's page, the socialite wrote: 'Nothing adds up at all. It's the LIE that keeps on giving.'

Prince Andrew's ex-girlfriend Lady Victoria Hervey has now claimed photographs from Naomi Campbell's birthday party were 'faked' after previously saying they were used to create the notorious image of Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre (pictured)

The notorious snap with the Duke of York, which was reportedly taken in March 2001 at Ghislaine Maxwell 's London apartment, has been reproduced countless times around the world after Ms Giuffre - known before her marriage as Virginia Roberts - shared it with The Mail on Sunday in February 2011

In a series of Instagram stories posted to her page yesterday, the socialite said 'nothing added up' in the story of Prince Andrew and Virginia

Her comments were sparked after she claimed to have caught Virginia in another lie by claiming she had said she went to the opening of Nikki Beach in St Tropez where she met Naomi Campbell in 2001, when the club didn't open until 2002.

Posting a screengrab of a Google search for the year the club opened online, Victoria wrote: 'Not as Virginia stated she was there in 2001! As I was there and went to Naomi's birthday in 2002.'

She posted a second selfie video, saying into the camera: 'How is one at the opening of Nikki Beach in May 2001 when it didn't open until May 2002?'

However it appears Lady Victoria is mistaken with her dates. Virginia wrote about another encounter with Miss Campbell in a manuscript of her memoir, which was included in court documents, stating she met the model in 2002. They all attended the grand opening of the Nikki Beach Club in St Tropez where Miss Campbell was hosting her birthday in 2002.

Describing that evening's party, Virginia - then knowon by her married name Miss Roberts - said Miss Campbell was wearing a Dolce & Gabbana bikini top and a miniskirt.

Miss Roberts wrote: 'Ghislaine and Jeffrey kissed her cheeks and wished her a happy birthday and then I was introduced.' Later that night they went to the main birthday party where Miss Roberts was 'introduced to model after model and the rich men that followed around'.

Her latest comments were sparked after she claimed to have caught Virginia in another lie by claiming she had said she went to the opening of Nikki Beach in St Tropez where she met Naomi Campbell in 2001, when the club didn't open until 2002 (left and right, her Instagram stories)

Miss Roberts wrote: 'It was a fun bash, the entire crowd sang 'Happy Birthday' to Naomi and by the time we got back in the car to retreat for the night I was giddy from drinking and dancing all evening.' After that party Miss Roberts claimed that Epstein told her to have sex with a wealthy American businessman.

She claimed that she performed a sex act on that businessman 'just to shut him up' and that it lasted for 'two horrible minutes'.

Earlier this month, Lady Victoria repeated claims that the infamous photo of Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre was fake and identified the set of images from Naomi's party which she says were used to create the doctored photo.

Lady Victoria does not have a copy of the exact Virginia photo from St Tropez which she claims was used to fake the Prince Andrew image, and it has never been seen publicly. However, she did share a bizarre painted reproduction of the alleged image to Instagram earlier this month.

She added to her baffling claims by saying that an 'Irish guy' who was dating one of Epstein's victims in 2001 and also attended the boat party was used as a 'body double' for Prince Andrew in the 'fake' image.

It is unclear what she means by her latest claims, or whether she still maintains the images taken that night were later used to doctor the photo of Prince Andrew with Virginia.

Lady Victoria has been vocal about her thoughts on the case in recent weeks, and yesterday blasted Virginia as a 'scam artist' hours after it emerged Andrew and his accuser had reached out-of-court settlement in New York.

Lady Victoria had claimed in recent weeks photos taken at Naomi Campbell's birthday party on board a yacht in St Tropez in May 2001, in which Virginia can be seen wearing the same white tank top with colourful patterned jeans, were used to create the notorious photo

In recent weeks, the 44-year-old socialite has sensationally claimed that the notorious photo of Prince Andrew and Virginia was faked

Taking to Instagram yesterday, the 44-year-old socialite and former 'It Girl', who is the daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol, posted: 'She suddenly wanted to settle very fast when all the truth was coming out. Her lawyers must have panicked!'

Elsewhere on her Instagram page, Victoria wrote: 'The only thing she deserves is a prison cell full of rats.'

'Time to investigate her and that missing Thai kid called JoJo.'

It's unclear who Lady Victoria was referring to.

Meanwhile she cruelly posted a photograph of Virginia alongside the words 'scam artist', writing: 'If I aged like that I would probably want to sue GOD.'

Over the past few weeks, Lady Victoria has made a series of sensational claims about Virginia.

Her comments came after Virginia claimed to have lost the original print of the famous photo of her and Prince Andrew, which could have furthered the disgraced royal's argument that the image was doctored (pictured, Virginia in Perth, Australia, last week on February 8)

It was reported this week the Queen is to foot part of the bill for Prince Andrew's sexual abuse lawsuit, which could end up costing some 12 million (pictured, Andrew in Windsor last year)

THE TIMELINE OF THE INFAMOUS VIRGINIA GIUFFRE AND PRINCE ANDREW PHOTOGRAPH March 2001 - Infamous photograph of Virginia, Ghislaine and Prince Andrew is reportedly taken at Ghislaine's home in London May 2001 - Naomi Campbell hosted a boat party in the French Riviera with Jeffrey Epstein, Virginia, Ghislaine Maxwell all attending February 2011 - Virginia is approached by the Mail On Sunday while she was living a quiet life with her family on Australias Central Coast. She had been traced by journalist Sharon Churcher, who was investigating reports that the FBI was planning to reopen an investigation into the sexual exploitation of teenagers by Epstein. At first she was reluctant to talk, not least because she harboured fears that Epstein might try to kill her. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday at the time, she produced the picture of Andrew from a white envelope containing a collection of photos chronicling her teenage years and travels with Epstein to New Mexico and Paris. She explained that the picture with Andrew was taken at Ms Maxwells home after a visit to Tramp nightclub  a claim the Duke disputes. She claimed the photograph was taken in March 2001, two months before the boat party in St Tropez. She told Churcher at the meeting that she had sex with Andrew three times while a teenager, but for legal reasons the MoS could not publish her claims, which the Duke denies. The photographs are published by the Mail On Sunday November 2019 - Andrew hinted that the hand around her waist may not be his. Prince Andrew told BBC Newsnight: 'You can't prove whether or not that photograph is faked because it's a photograph of a photograph of a photograph.' 'It's very difficult to be able to prove it but I don't remember that photograph being taken 'That's me but whether that's my handI have simply no recollection of the photograph ever being taken.' December 2019 - Virginia told BBC Panorama that the photo is genuine and she gave the original to the FBI in 2011 February 2022 - Lady Victoria Hervey says victims of Epstein have told her the image was photoshopped by Virginia and Maria Farmer Advertisement

In an exclusive interview earlier this month, Lady Victoria told FEMAIL she has spoken to several victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who said they believe the image was edited by Virginia and Maria Farmer, another victim who worked as an 'artist-in-residence' for Epstein.

She said other victims had 'seen' Virginia and Maria photoshopping the image, before being 'bullied and silenced' by Virginia.

Lady Victoria said the pair had been in 'cahoots' for 20 years because they 'wanted to bring down the monarchy using Prince Andrew', adding that this was Epstein's intention too.

'I know this sounds pretty wild  Epstein told one survivor that he basically wanted to bring down the monarchy,' she said.

Meanwhile the socialite said she had passed on all of her findings to a member of Prince Andrew's legal team, adding: 'She's got everything, shes got it all. Shes got recordings and screenshots and everything.'

Virginia claims she was trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell and forced to have sex with the royal on three occasions when she was 17, claims Prince Andrew has strenuously denied.

Virginia has previously described in legal documents how she attended the party in St Tropez to celebrate Miss Campbell's 31st birthday in 2001.

Images from the party show Virginia in an off-white, strappy top which exposed her midriff and distinctive, multi-coloured trousers.

Meanwhile photographs also show Ghislaine from the night of the party wearing a blue knitted jumper with a knitted white and sequin skirt.

Lady Victoria Hervey had said that an image taken at Naomi Campbell's birthday in 2001 in St Tropez was used to 'fake' the Prince Andrew photo, pointing out that Virginia is wearing the same outfit in both (pictured)

Lady Victoria had claimed the women had edited Ghislaine's outfit to change the colour of her knitted top and to remove the sleeves (pictured, her outfit the night of the party)

Lady Victoria claimed a photograph of this unnamed man, who she said is Irish and was dating one of Epstein's victims at the time, was used as a body double for Prince Andrew

Lady Victoria originally claimed the image of Virginia was taken at the birthday boat party. The image has never been seen publicly but another of Epstein's victims has allegedly painted an image of what the original photograph would have looked like (pictured)

Lady Victoria said a photograph taken at the party shows Virginia leaning against the boat and holding her coat in one hand, and this is the image that was used to fake the photo with Prince Andrew.

HOW LADY VICTORIA HERVEY CLAIMED VIRGINIA AND MARIA PHOTOSHOPPED THE INFAMOUS IMAGE Lady Victoria claimed the photograph of Prince Andrew and Virginia was actually four images edited together by Virginia and Maria Farmer. She said 'four or five' victims watched as the two women edited the photograph Here FEMAIL breaks down her accusations... BACKGROUND Lady Victoria claimed the image was taken of an empty hallway at the Belgravia home of Andrews friend Ghislaine Maxwell. VIRGINIA GIUFFRE Lady Victoria claimed the image of Virginia was taken at Naomi Campbell's 2001 birthday boat party. She said the original photograph showed Virginia leaning against the side of the boat while holding her coat in her right hand. She also pointed to evidence of this as Virginia's left hand as 'looking weird' in the photograph. BOAT PARTY - Images show Virginia wearing an off-white, strappy top which exposed her midriff and distinctive, multi-coloured trousers. THE PHOTO - The photograph shows Virginia wearing the same outfit, with her arm around Prince Andrew. Lady Victoria said the image has been edited so that Prince Andrew is in front of Virginia's arm holding her coat. GHISLAINE MAXWELL BOAT PARTY - Images show Ghislaine wearing a baby blue knitted jumper with short sleeves and a high roll neck, a sequin skirt. THE PHOTO - The photograph show Ghislaine wearing a white knitted jumper vest with no sleeves with dark bottoms on. PRINCE ANDREW Lady Virginia claimed an 'Irish body double' was used in place of Prince Andrew in the photograph. She said the man was in a relationship with one of Epstein's victims at the time, and he was at the boat party as well. However she said she does not know if the image was taken at the boat party, or whether the unnamed Irish man was aware of the plot by Virginia. Having edited the man's body into the photograph with Virginia and Ghislaine, she then said Maria and Virginia had edited Prince Andrew's face onto his. She pointed to the man's hands as evidence it was not Prince Andrew. Advertisement

She believes one of the clearest signs that it has been edited is Virginia's hand, and she said it looks slightly odd because she was actually leaning against the side of the boat in the original photo

However, she does not have a copy of the alleged picture and it has never been seen publicly.

However, Lady Victoria went on to claim that an Epstein victim who 'saw' the alleged photo and witnessed it being edited by Virginia and Maria has recreated it.

She said: 'One of the girls is an artist and she drew a painting of the original photograph of Virginia on the boat holding her coat.'

It was this image that Lady Victoria shared to social media earlier this month, causing a stir with her bizarre claims.

Another victim of Epstein, Maria was the 'artist-in-residence' and receptionist at Epstein's New York office in 1995 after graduating from the New York Academy of Arts and handpicked by Epstein to work for him, who was also a college donor.

She was then abused by Epstein and Maxwell on his mentor, billionaire Les Wexner's estate in Ohio, and also ogled at by President Donald Trump, whom she claims visited Epstein at least three times while she worked there.

Lady Victoria said she was told be Epstein survivors that Ghislaine had taught Maria and Virginia how to photoshop images.

She said the victims then saw the duo editing the infamous photograph of the Duke with Virginia using images from the birthday party.

She said: 'The girls were there, I guess they all lived together you know.

'Everyone was aware  four or five of the survivors know that they [Maria and Virginia] did it and saw it.'

She said while the duo took a photograph of Ghislaine's empty home, editing in the image of Victoria holding her coat on the boat.

Lady Victoria claimed they then edited Ghislaine into the image, altering her outfit by changing the colour of her top and removing the sleeves.

Meanwhile she said Maria and Virginia used the body of an Irish man who had been dating one of the other victims at the time to act as a double for Prince Andrew.

She said the unnamed Irish man was in a relationship with one of Epstein's victims at the time, and he was at the boat party as well.

However she said she does not know if the image was taken at the boat party, or whether the unnamed Irish man was aware of the plot by Virginia.

Having edited the man's body into the photograph with Virginia and Ghislaine, she then said Maria and Virginia had edited Prince Andrew's face onto his.

She pointed to both Virginia and Andrew's hands as evidence the image had been doctored, adding: 'Her hand and his hand looked so freaking weird.'

She continued: 'They learnt how to do all of this editing by Ghislaine  I dont know if Ghislaine and Jeffrey were in on the fake photo.'

Meanwhile Lady Victoria also said there had 'never been a physical photo of that shot, it's all digital' and accused Virginia of telling 'different stories' about whether there was a copy.

When asked about why Virginia and Maria might have been motivated to edit the photograph, Lady Victoria referred to another message from a survivor.

She said: 'Another girl sent [me] this: "I'm the one that saw Virginia had the photo of Andrew photoshopped by Maria.

'They were conspiring to bring the monarchy down using Andrew."

Lady Victoria did not reveal which year the photograph had been edited in.

Her latest comments come as experts predicted It is 'inevitable' that Prince Andrew will be stripped of his counsellor of state role - the legal status allowing him to return to royal duties if the Queen is ill and other senior royals are also unwell or abroad.

Andrew is, for the time being, one of four counsellors of state who could step in temporarily to take the Queen's place on official duties if she is unable.

The other three are Charles, William and Harry  meaning two of the four current counsellors of state are no longer working Royals. This group will become even smaller when the Prince of Wales becomes king.

Dr Craig Prescott, an academic and expert in UK constitutional law, said it seemed 'inevitable' that Andrew will be removed after settling with Virginia Roberts Giuffre.

He told The Times: 'They could draft in Princess Anne or Prince Edward and specifically make them counsellors of state. There is a precedent for that, of a fashion, with the Queen Mother. In 1953 she was specifically made an extra counsellor. They may look to add the Duchess of Cambridge.'

While royal expert and historian Hugo Vickers said: 'If Prince Andrew is not taking part in royal life, then he shouldn't be taking part as a counsellor of state either.'

The counsellors of state roles are enshrined by the Regency Acts 1937-53. New legislation would be needed to cut Andrew from the list - or add more people.

But one thing certain to go is his freedom of the city of York awarded in 1987, 12 months after his marriage to Sarah Ferguson, when they became the Duke and Duchess of York.

Councillors in the city say they will revoke that title in a vote at the next full council meeting on March 24.

Lib Dem Darryl Smalley, the city's cabinet member for culture, leisure and communities, said: 'I hope councillors across all parties will support the motion to remove Prince Andrew's honorary freedom of the city of York. Buckingham Palace and the government must then act to remove his Duke of York title. We will be reaching out to MPs to raise our concerns and discuss any possible ways of ending Prince Andrew's connection to York'.

Yesterday, the 44-year-old went on to share what appeared to be an edited version of the photo in which Ghislaine could be seen standing alone (pictured)

Lady Victoria posted the accusations on her Instagram stories earlier this month and suggested the image actually showed an Irish man as a body double for Prince Andrew

Campaigners have demanded Prince Andrew still talk to the FBI over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

One lawyer representing Epstein victims accused the duke of hypocrisy for pledging to help sex abuse victims but refusing to cooperate with authorities investigating the sordid web spun by his late paedophile friend.

Gloria Allred said that duke's promise to tackle the 'evils of sex trafficking' as part of his settlement with Virginia Roberts, who brought the lawsuit under her married name Virginia Giuffre, should start by consenting to be interviewed by federal agents.

But a friend of the Duke insisted that there is no need now Ghislaine Maxwell has been found guilty.

'He could only be a witness to a current investigation. There has been no word from the FBI for almost two years', the insider told the Telegraph.

Sarah Ferguson was pictured in Windsor yesterday as a friend revealed Andrew is feeling 'relatively chipper' and 'relieved' after his mother the Queen 'personally' covered 2million of his 12m sex case pay off.

Fergie wore a glum expression as she sat in the back seat of her Range Rover while being driven through Windsor Great Park, where she still lives with the Duke of York at the Royal Lodge.

It came as one of Andrew's friends revealed his thoughts are now turning to the future and even a possible public role - despite this being a vanishingly unlikely prospect given his reputation will now be forever tarnished by his decision to settle.

The 61-year-old has previously shown himself impervious to public outrage over his behaviour, even reportedly considering his disastrous Newsnight interview as a success.

'He is feeling relatively chipper, under the circumstances,' a friend told the Telegraph, summing up his current state of mind. 'You can understand the level of personal relief involved.'

Earlier, royal aides had refused to say whether Andrew's settlement with Virginia Giuffre would be partly funded by the monarch, but she is understood to have agreed to help him, providing she was not linked to any personal payment to Miss Roberts.

Furthermore, despite growing pressure for him to be stripped of his titles, Andrew is expected to be allowed to remain as Queen's Counsellor of State and keep his dukedom and service rank of Vice-Admiral.

It came amid claims Andrew was offered a 'bridging loan' by Prince Charles and the Queen so his US lawyers could do a quick deal with Ms Roberts, now known by her married name Giuffre. The Duke of York's mother and older brother reportedly met last week before Charles wrote to his younger sibling urging him to 'see sense' and 'shut it down'.

It comes as politicians and campaigners have insisted on 'full transparency' over whether public money will be involved in the settlement.

Miss Roberts  who brought the lawsuit under her married name Giuffre  has alleged she was forced to have sex with the duke three times when she was 17 under the orders of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York agreed to an out-of-court settlement with Miss Roberts, now 38, on Tuesday, weeks after he had vowed to contest her rape claims at a public trial. In the settlement, there was no admission of liability by Andrew, who has always denied the specific allegations.

Sarah, the Duchess of York, was spotted being driven through Windsor Great Park. They are divorced but still live together at the Royal Lodge

Fergie - who was sitting in the back seat - wore a sombre expression, while Andrew himself was described as feeling 'relatively chipper'

Princess Beatrice was spotted walking in London last week, sporting a chic black ensemble, with a black tweed coat and over-the-knee boots

Demands for Buckingham Palace to reveal how Andrew will pay for his 12million sexual abuse lawsuit intensified last night after royal aides refused to say whether it will be partly funded by the Queen

Despite growing pressure for him to be stripped of his titles, Andrew is expected to be allowed to remain as Queen's Counsellor of State and keep his dukedom and service rank of Vice-Admiral

The Queen personally made a 2million to Virginia Roberts' charity as part of Prince Andrew's 12m settlement, according to reports

Now questions over Queen's bailout for Andrew reach PARLIAMENT: MPs will demand to know if public money was used to fund Duke's 12m settlement with Virginia Giuffre By Martin Robinson, Chief Reporter for MailOnline A Labour MP has said he intends to seek assurances in Parliament that public money will not be used to pay for the Duke of York's settlement with Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Andy McDonald said he would raise the issue when MPs return to Westminster next week following their half-term break. 'This is a person of very high profile involved in a case where his position of authority and privilege has been allegedly abused and it is an enormous sum of money,' he told BBC Newsnight. 'We don't know the precise figure but there is a risk that this will be at the public's expense so we need to have that resolved. We need to know exactly where this money is coming from. 'I am going to take the opportunity to raise this issue in Parliament because the issue isn't going to go away until people have that information and receive assurances that public money is not going to be used to in any way contribute to the settlement.' MailOnline understands that Mr McDonald will likely raise it with a minister at Cabinet Office questions in the Commons. Advertisement

Details of the deal were not made public but it is thought he has agreed to pay up to 12million, including a 'substantial donation' to Miss Roberts's charity in support of victims' rights.

Last night questions remained about how Andrew would fund the settlement. Proceeds from the sale of his 18million Verbier ski chalet had been earmarked as the most likely source but the deal has yet to go through.

Buckingham Palace refused to deny reports that the Queen would help fund the payout through her private Duchy of Lancaster Estate, which generated 23million last year.

One source suggested the Queen had made a charitable donation to avoid being seen as paying off a sex assault victim.

'She could not be seen to be making a payment to a victim of sexual assault, who accused her son of being an abuser,' the source told the Mirror.

'But a deal was structured in such a way to arrange a sizeable financial contribution to the settlement by way of a charitable donation instead.'

The Royal Family also receives part of its wealth from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant, which is given as a single payment every year by the Government. But that money is given to the Queen to cover the cost of the family's official duties and would not be used for personal needs.

Former minister Norman Baker last night called on the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee  which has previously looked into the Royal Family's income  to investigate the matter.

'If any public money is involved we have a right to know,' said the ex-Liberal Democrat MP. 'I don't think the public wants to see public money used to support the Duke of York.'

Ian Murray, Labour's Scotland spokesman, called for 'transparency about where the money's coming from'. He told BBC News: 'Prince Andrew has always maintained his innocence but will now not face a court of law to be able to determine whether that was true or not.' He added the case had left a 'nasty stain' on Prince Andrew and the Royal Family and 'full transparency in terms of the settlement may go a very, very small way in trying to resolve some of the damage they've created'.

Labour's spokesman for domestic violence and safeguarding Jess Phillips said 'it is perfectly reasonable for the public to be told if their money has played a part in this settlement'. She added: 'It would show a change of behaviour from the prince if he entered this phase with total openness and honesty.'

Prince Andrew has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who said she was sexually trafficked to the British royal by the financier Jeffrey Epstein when she was 17. The deal described in a court filing Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in New York avoids a trial that would have brought further embarrassment to the monarchy

Harriet Wistrich, of the Centre for Women's Justice, said the settlement showed even the most powerful men were not immune from being held to account.

She said: 'We congratulate Virginia Giuffre for her courage in bringing this claim and sticking with it despite the attacks on her character and credibility.

'It is, however, important that any funds that go towards the settlement come from Prince Andrew's personal wealth and are not indirectly paid for by the public.'

Dr Charlotte Proudman, a Cambridge University academic and barrister who specialises in cases of violence against women, said: 'Not a penny of public money should be spent on this settlement, which is effectively buying a victim's silence and buying Andrew's way out of a civil trial.'

Brad Edwards, Miss Roberts's former lawyer, said: 'This settlement is a testament to the resolve and credibility of Virginia Giuffre.'

Buckingham Palace and a spokesman for Prince Andrew declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Emily Maitlis claimed tonight that Andrew's statement within his out-of-court settlement appears to contradict the answers he gave in his now-infamous Newsnight interview.

The BBC broadcaster sat down with the Duke of York in Buckingham Palace in 2019 to discuss Miss Giuffre's claims that she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 under the orders of the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The prince strongly denied the claims throughout the interview, and continues to even after the agreement which was sensationally struck on Tuesday.

The discussion, in which Andrew made a series of claims - including insisting he couldn't have been with Miss Giuffre at the time because he was dining at Pizza Express in Woking, and that a medical condition left him unable to sweat - has since gained notoriety and is widely acknowledged to have embarrassed the royals.

Now Ms Maitlis has revealed her own thoughts following Tuesday's settlement, in which the Duke is set to pay a figure believed to be around 12m.

Emily Maitlis claimed tonight that Prince Andrew's statement within his out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre does not deal with the answers he gave in his now-infamous Newsnight interview

The BBC broadcaster sat down with the Duke of York in Buckingham Palace in 2019 to discuss Miss Giuffre's claims that she was forced to have sex with Andrew, allegations he continues to deny

Full statement from both parties in Andrew's case Here is the full text of the statement regarding the out of court settlement reached between the Duke of York and Virginia Giuffre. The statement was included in a letter submitted to US judge Lewis A Kaplan: 'Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew have reached an out of court settlement. The parties will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms Giuffre's receipt of the settlement (the sum of which is not being disclosed). Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights. 'Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms. Giuffre's character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks. It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. 'Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others. He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.' Advertisement

Writing for the BBC, she said: 'At the heart of the settlement is the biggest question of all: why is a Prince who told me he had 'no recollection of ever meeting this lady' now paying her what we understand to be upwards of 10m?

'I distinctly remember putting Virginia Giuffre's accusations to him directly: 'She says she met you in 2001, she dined with you, danced with you, you bought her drinks in Tramp nightclub and she went on to have sex with you in a house in Belgravia.'

'And I have the Prince's reply in front of me now. Three words only: 'It didn't happen.'

'There are only three possible explanations then for the settlement: either he was lying in that response - and remembered her well; or he genuinely had no recollection - and was adamant they hadn't met - only for his memory subsequently to be jogged; or that he maintains his innocence, but feels the weight of legal and public opinion against him now make settling the easier option, albeit without accepting any liability.'

Ms Maitlis went on to clarify that it was not her place to declare which was true, but pointed to the careful wording of the settlement statement, which she said 'put distance between an acknowledgement of Giuffre's pain - and any responsibility he may or may not have had for it'.

She also admitted she was 'journalistically disappointed' that the case, and the full story, will not be played out in court.

'There would have been huge satisfaction in the sense of an ending - any ending - that saw the prince make his legal defence so comprehensively,' she wrote.

It comes as calls intensified for the financial arrangements of Andrew's settlement to be revealed as Buckingham Palace again refused to say whether it could be partially funded by the Queen.

His mother is expected to foot some of the bill in a bid to draw a line under it before her much-anticipated Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer.

But there is anger at how the Queen, 95, has effectively been forced to bail out the 'disgraced' Duke, 61, whose modest pension from his time in the Royal Navy is now his only visible income - amid demands for the public to be told who is financing the deal.

Andrew has been dogged by questions over the source of his wealth for years, and is believed to have relied on handouts from the Queen, personal investments and bequests from relatives such as the Queen Mother.

Prince Andrew waves goodbye to a woman he let out the door at Jeffrey Epstein's New York home in 2010

The Duke of York pictured leaving the famous Chinawhite nightclub in London at around 2am in July 2000

Did emails about Ghislaine picture sink Andrew's case? By Daniel Bates in New York for the Daily Mail Before he settled out of court last night, Prince Andrew was set to be dealt a major blow in his US sex case thanks to Ghislaine Maxwell. A leaked email from the prince's friend and now convicted sex trafficker appeared to confirm the authenticity of an infamous picture of the duke standing with his arm around his accuser, Virginia Roberts. The photograph, said to be taken in Maxwell's London townhouse in 2001, had been questioned by Andrew and just this week his legal team had demanded Miss Roberts turn over the original. The duke's legal team had claimed it might be a fake, but an email obtained by the Daily Mail shows that even Maxwell, who appears in the background of the photo, believes it to be real. In the message, sent in 2015, Maxwell says: 'It looks real. I think it is.' On a dramatic day of developments yesterday, it was claimed that Miss Roberts had lost the original copy of the image. But that was disputed by her legal team, who said the hard copy was with the FBI and that Miss Roberts misplaced a CD containing a copy of the image. The photo was set to be a key piece of evidence in her claims for battery and infliction of emotional distress against Andrew, 61, which he had denied. The duke's lawyers had lined up an image expert to cast doubt on the veracity of the photo. If Miss Roberts had not produced the original, Andrew's team could have argued copies could not be admitted as evidence as they could not be properly tested. Not being able to rely on the photograph as proof they met would have put a sizeable dint in his accuser's case. But in an email exchange seen by the Mail, the picture was discussed by Maxwell and Epstein's former lawyer, Alan Dershowitz. On January 10, 2015, Mr Dershowitz wrote: 'Dear G. Do you know whether the photo of Andrew and virginia is real? You are in the background.' Eleven minutes later, Maxwell replied: 'It looks real. I think it is.' The timing of the exchange is significant because days earlier Miss Roberts claimed for the first time in court papers that she had been forced to have sex with both Andrew and Mr Dershowitz. The allegation was struck out by a judge who branded it 'impertinent'. But it caused panic for Andrew and in emails previously reported by the BBC, he contacted Maxwell at 5.50am on January 3, 2015. The duke wrote: 'Let me know when we can talk. Got some specific questions to ask you about Virginia Roberts.' Maxwell replied: 'Have some info. Call me when you have a moment.' Mr Dershowitz has vehemently denied having sex with Miss Roberts. Last year she dropped a battery allegation she filed against him after he claimed a civil settlement she signed with Epstein in 2009 gave him immunity. Miss Roberts is currently suing Mr Dershowitz for defamation, a case he is fighting. His lawyers did not respond to requests asking for comment. Advertisement

Graham Smith, from anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, insisted taxpayers 'deserve to know where the money is coming from for a settlement, which we must assume is in the millions, if not tens of millions'.

But the Queen's Communications Secretary, Donal McCabe, told MailOnline: 'We have never commented on the financial arrangements of The Duke's legal matters and will not be going forward.'

But there is anger at how the Queen has effectively been forced to bail out the 'disgraced' Duke of York, 61, whose modest pension from his time in the Royal Navy is now his only visible income - amid calls for the public to be told who is financing the deal.

Sources also pointed out while there will now be a 'period of silence' during the Jubilee celebrations when both parties will have to stick to the terms of yesterday's carefully-worded statement, Mrs Giuffre would then not be stopped from writing a lucrative book telling her story which could hit the shelves in time for Christmas.

Prince Charles was said to have been supported by the Queen in making it clear to Andrew that he had no choice but to settle with Mrs Giuffre, with one source telling MailOnline that Charles had 'had enough of the situation' and 'would have said to Andrew that he needed to get this sorted out as soon as possible'.

One insider told The Sun: 'Charles wrote to Andrew asking for him to 'see sense'. Charles and the Queen prepared a bridging loan so that Andrew's lawyers could confidently make the offer. This means it goes away before the deposition date on March 10 and crucially before the service of Thanksgiving for the Duke of Edinburgh, which Andrew will attend as a family member.'

Another senior Royal Household member told the Standard that Charles and the Queen 'could not countenance another disastrous appearance by the Duke of York, in light of his BBC interview', adding: 'Decisive action was needed. There was little choice. He had to see sense.'

While Andrew is thought to be holed up at his Royal Lodge home in Windsor today, on the other side of the world a box of beers and a bouquet of flowers were being delivered to Mrs Giuffre and her husband Robert's home in Perth, Australia.

And her father Sky Roberts told the Sun: 'I knew he would settle out of court. That was a complete bluff. I think Virginia will be happy.'

Meanwhile, despite the settlement, it is feared the scandal could still overshadow poignant Platinum Jubilee celebrations for the UK in the coming months.

Also today, the Metropolitan Police said they have no plans to reopen their own probe into Andrew despite calls for officers to re-examine evidence after the deal.

Royal author Angela Levin told Sky News today: 'I think that the Queen would have given him a big telling off and said 'I can't have this hanging over me for the rest of the year  I don't want you to spoil my Platinum Jubilee. I'm the only royal who's lasted 70 years on the throne, and you've got to sort it out'.'

She added: 'I admire the Queen hugely as everybody does, and I don't want it to spoil anything for her, but I still think this is hanging over the country and the Royal Family and is going to go right through to the end of the year and maybe into next year, and there's no real way of cutting it off.

'Obviously that (a ban on Mrs Giuffre saying anything) was something that they could have put in the agreement and they haven't, and so it implies that there's a lot she (Mrs Giuffre) wants to say that Andrew will not want to hear.'

The settlement, which was agreed between lawyers in a sensational development yesterday, comes just weeks after Andrew vowed to contest the rape claims by Mrs Giuffre, formerly known as Virginia Roberts, at a public trial.

Mrs Giuffre had alleged she was forced to have sex with the Duke three times when she was 17 under the orders of the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Only last month, she was given the go-ahead to sue Andrew for unspecified damages in a New York civil court.

But despite vowing to fight the claims and repeatedly protesting his innocence, the Prince yesterday agreed to pay a huge sum to settle the case before it ever reaches a jury.

The long and sordid saga that ended with royal outcast Andrew settling rape lawsuit: From meeting Epstein to being accused of raping his 'sex slave' and THAT Pizza Express alibi By Rory Tingle and James Robinson for MailOnline It has been more than two decades since Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein first crossed paths. That meeting would set in motion years of damaging allegations, embarrassing interviews and eventually a US lawsuit against the Queen's third son. Over the next 23 years, Epstein would go on to abuse and sex traffic young girls across the world on his private jet with his madame Ghislaine Maxwell - the woman who would introduce the financier to Prince Andrew - by his side. Though he would go on to take his own life in prison while awaiting trial for his sex trafficking crimes, and ultimately robbing his victims of justice, the fallout would continue for those around him. Maxwell would end up in a US prison, herself found guilty of sex trafficking for Epstein, while Prince Andrew would face accusations of sexual assault by one Epstein victim, Virginia Giuffre. Determined to clear his name, Prince Andrew would agree to a toe-curling BBC in which he claimed he couldn't have had sex with Ms Giuffre, because he was at Pizza Express at the time. But Giuffre would continue to pursue the royal, eventually launching a US civil case against him - which has now ended in a settlement. Here MailOnline takes a look at the sordid saga, from start to finish: 1999: Andrew first meets Epstein, reportedly introduced through his friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell. Andrew welcomes Epstein to the Queen's private Scottish retreat in Aberdeenshire. Andrew later says he sees Epstein 'infrequently', adding 'probably no more than only once or twice a year'. 2000: Andrew and Ms Maxwell are seen on holiday with Epstein at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Epstein and Ms Maxwell attend a party at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen to mark Andrew's 40th birthday, the Princess Royal's 50th, the Queen Mother's 100th and Princess Margaret's 70th. 2001: Virginia Roberts claims to have had sex with Andrew 'three times, including one orgy', with the first encounter allegedly taking place in Ms Maxwell's London townhouse after they met at the Tramp nightclub on March 10. Recalling the alleged meeting, Andrew was said to be 'sweating profusely'. Virginia Roberts claims to have had sex with Andrew 'three times, including one orgy', with the first encounter allegedly taking place in Ms Maxwell's London townhouse after they met at the Tramp nightclub on March 10. Recalling the alleged meeting, Andrew was said to be 'sweating profusely' The Duke would later claim in his infamous BBC interview that this could have never happened because he was at a children's party at a branch of Pizza Express in Woking. In the same interview he says he has a medical condition after being shot at during the Falklands War that left him 'unable to sweat' because Ms Roberts, who was 17 at the time, claimed that they danced together and he had been 'sweating profusely' Ms Roberts claims to have had sex with Andrew on two more occasions, at Epstein's New York home and at an 'orgy' on his private island in the Caribbean. 2008: Epstein admits prostituting minors and is sentenced to 18 months in prison. 2010: Epstein is released from jail. Andrew is photographed with the disgraced Epstein in New York's Central Park. Footage emerges years later, reportedly shot on December 6 2010, showing him inside Epstein's Manhattan mansion, from where he is seen looking out from a large door of the property waving a woman goodbye after Epstein leaves to get into a chauffeur-driven car. 2011: The duke quits his role as UK trade envoy after the fallout from the Central Park photos. 2015: Buckingham Palace denies Andrew has committed any impropriety after he is named in US court documents related to Epstein. A woman, later named in reports as Ms Roberts, alleges in papers filed in Florida that she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17, which is under the age of consent in the state. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Andrew, in his first public engagement since he was embroiled in the allegations, responds, saying: 'Firstly I think I must, and want, for the record, to refer to the events that have taken place in the last few weeks. I just wish to reiterate, and to reaffirm, the statements that have already been made on my behalf by Buckingham Palace.' In April the claims against Andrew are struck from US civil court records following a federal judge's ruling. Newly released legal documents show that Johanna Sjoberg, another alleged Epstein victim, claims Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside the US billionaire's Manhattan apartment in 2001. Buckingham Palace denies the allegations 2019: Newly released legal documents show that Johanna Sjoberg, another alleged Epstein victim, claims Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside the US billionaire's Manhattan apartment in 2001. Buckingham Palace says the allegations are 'categorically untrue'. Epstein is found dead in his jail cell on August 10, having killed himself after being charged with sex trafficking. Later that month a pilot on Epstein's private jet claims Andrew was a passenger on past flights with the financier and Ms Roberts. The Sun newspaper reported that David Rodgers said in a testimony released in August that Epstein, Andrew and the-then 17-year-old travelled to the US Virgin Islands on April 11 2001. Buckingham Palace describes the evidence statement as having 'a number of inconsistencies' and said that Andrew was on a different continent in some cases. Following Epstein's death, a statement from the palace says that Andrew is 'appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged crimes'. Breaking his silence on the issue for the first time since 2015, Andrew then releases a statement on August 24 saying: 'At no stage during the limited time I spent with him (Epstein) did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction.' On November 16, the prince gives a 'disastrous' BBC interview in which he speaks about his friendship with Epstein and addresses allegations of his own sexual conduct. On November 16, the prince gives a 'disastrous' BBC interview in which he speaks about his friendship with Epstein and addresses allegations of his own sexual conduct He faced a barrage of criticism following his television appearance, with the royal accused of a lack of empathy with Epstein's victims. During the interview, Andrew, questioned by Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis, twice stated his relationship with Epstein, who died in jail while facing sex trafficking charges, had some 'seriously beneficial outcomes', giving him the opportunity to meet people and prepare for a future role as a trade envoy. The royal maintained he did not recall meeting Ms Roberts and did not spend time with her at Tramp Nightclub in London on March 10 in 2001 after which she claims the pair first had sex. The duke denies sleeping with her on three separate occasions, saying the encounter in 2001 did not happen as he had taken his daughter Princess Beatrice to Pizza Express in Woking for a party, and they spent the rest of the day together. The duke denies sleeping with her on three separate occasions, saying the encounter in 2001 did not happen as he had taken his daughter Princess Beatrice to Pizza Express in Woking for a party, and they spent the rest of the day together. He also said a medical condition after being shot at during the Falklands War left him 'unable to sweat' because Ms Roberts, who was 17 at the time, claimed that they danced together and he had been 'sweating profusely'. The Duke of York said: 'I was with the children and I'd taken Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking for a party at I suppose sort of 4 or 5 in the afternoon. 'And then because the Duchess was away, we have a simple rule in the family that when one is away the other one is there. 'I was on terminal leave at the time from the Royal Navy so therefore I was at home.' However he continues to strongly deny any wrongdoing and claims he has never even met Ms Roberts, now a mother-of-three living in Australia who goes by her married name, Virginia Giuffre. Following the disastrous interview, which is widely panned, Prince Andrew announces in November that he will step back from frontline royal duties for the 'foreseeable future'. A number of companies with association to the prince step back. He says at the time he deeply sympathises with sex offender Epstein's victims and everyone who 'wants some form of closure'. 2020: With the Covid pandemic occupying much of the news and the minds of the British public, Prince Andrew has the chance to lie low, which he does, in Windsor Castle. Andrew hires Gary Bloxsome, a UK criminal defence solicitor, early in the year, just weeks after his car-crash Newsnight interview. Despite him lying low, talk continues to flow in newspapers like The Telegraph and The Times that he is planning a 'rebranding' and hopes to one day return to frontline royal duties. He is praised by one senior palace aide for not appearing in official wedding photographs at the marriage of his daughter Princess Beatrice to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. One said it shows a 'level of maturity' from Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew is praised by one senior palace aide for not appearing in official wedding photographs at the marriage of his daughter Princess Beatrice to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. One said it shows a 'level of maturity' from Prince Andrew However, despite attempting to keep a low-profile, the headlines continue for Prince Andrew. In February the US attorney for the Southern District of New York claims prosecutors and the FBI had repeatedly contacted the Duke of York's lawyers to follow up on his previous pledge that he was 'willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency'. In November, Lisa Bloom, who represents six of Epstein's alleged victims, cals on Andrew to submit to an interview with the FBI in their investigation into Ghislaine Maxwell. Sources close to Andrew say he is willing to speak to the FBI. 2021: In August, Virginia Giuffre files a lawsuit in the US against Andrew accusing him of sexual assault. In the civil case she alleges she had sex with Andrew and he was aware of her age. She also claims hat she was a victim of sex trafficking when she was forced to have sex with him in 2001. 'I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me. The powerful and the rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions,' she said in a statement via her lawyers in August that year. Andrew continues to vehemently denies the claim. He hires US defence attorney Andrew Brettler to represent him. He describes the lawsuit as 'baseless, non-viable, and possibly unlawful.' Initially there is some debate over whether Prince Andrew has received the lawsuit. His lawyers claim the royal has not been properly served. Giuffre's lawyers claim the legal papers were handed over to a Metropolitan police officer on duty at the main gates of Andrew's Windsor Great Park home on 27 August. David Boies, representing Giuffre, said the complaint had been 'delivered to the last known address of the defendant'. He added that the documents had also been sent 'by Royal Mail'. David Boies, representing Giuffre, said the complaint had been 'delivered to the last known address of the defendant'. He added that the documents had also been sent 'by Royal Mail' A previously secret 2009 settlement between Giuffre and Epstein is raised. Prince Andrew's lawyers claim the settlement protects the royal from Giuffre lawsuit. The judge agrees to unseal the agreement. Lawyers for the Duke of York also file a motion claiming Giuffre currently lives in Australia and so the court does not have jurisdiction to hold the lawsuit. But her lawyers argue the civil case was properly filed in Manhattan federal court because she is a citizen of Colorado and some of the sexual misconduct she alleges took place in the state of New York. Meanwhile, a jury in New York finds Epstein's former madame Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of sex-trafficking. The British socialist is also found guilty of conspiracy to entice individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, conspiracy to transport individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity; transportation of an individual under the age of 17 with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity; and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of individuals under the age of 18. A jury in New York finds Epstein's former madame Ghislaine Maxwell (pictured in a court sketch) guilty of sex-trafficking. On December 30, Giuffre hits back. Her legal team ask the prince's lawyers to prove he cannot sweat in a court filing. The request is made in relation to Prince Andrew's claims in his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview. In the filing, it says: 'If Prince Andrew truly has no documents concerning his communications with Maxwell or Epstein, his travel to Florida, New York, or various locations in London, his alleged medical inability to sweat, or anything that would support the alibis he gave during his BBC interview, then continuing with discovery will not be burdensome to him at all'. 2022: The 2009 agreement between Giuffre and Epstein is unsealed. It shows Giuffre settled with Epstein for $500,000. In the settlement, Giuffre is show to agree not to go after 'other potential defendants,' defined as 'second parties'. But it does not specifically name Prince Andrew. His legal team say he is included under 'other potential defendants' and ask the judge to throw out the case. Alongside attempting to use the Epstein agreement to shield Prince Andrew, his legal team claim Giuffre hadn't sufficiently alleged any violations of the New York Penal Code. They also argued that Giuffre's allegations would have been time-barred by the statute of limitations if not for the 2019 New York Child Victims Act, which they labeled 'unconstitutional' and that Giuffre's allegations in her complaint were not sufficiently detailed. But in a major blow to Prince Andrew case, a New York judge throws out his legal challenge to dismiss the lawsuit and rules it can go ahead. A day later, the Queen strips Andrew of a range of military affiliations and royal patronages after more than 150 veterans write to describe their 'upset and anger'. Advertisement

Nearly two-thirds of Britons believe Prince Andrew should lose his Duke of York title after settling US sex assault lawsuit, YouGov poll reveals as Palace says it has NO plans to strip him of it

Nearly two-thirds of Britons believe Prince Andrew should lose his Duke of York title after settling US sex assault lawsuit, a YouGov poll reveals.

The survey, of 2,658 adults in Great Britain today, found some 62 per cent felt he should lose the title, despite Buckingham Palace saying earlier it has no plans to strip him of it.

The poll also revealed 82 per cent of the public thought Andrew should continue to lay low and not return to royal duties any time soon.

A number of locals in the city of York told MailOnline their views today, with an overwhelming majority feeling he should lose the title.

Bernard Oglesbee, 74, said: 'He should be stripped off his title definitely. He must be be guilty, or why pay all that money out?'

Wife Val, also 74, stormed: 'He should be stripped of everything. I have never liked him. I always thought he was a waste of space.'

James Green, 65, said: 'He absolutely should be stripped of all his titles including Duke of York. I don't think there is any doubt he is guilty. He has put his foot in it good and proper and he only has himself to blame.'

Annie Wells, 85, who is disabled, said: 'It is a good job he is the Queen's son. He would be locked up if he was anyone else. The only good thing I can say about him is he did serve with honours in the Falklands. But if ever shows his face in York I will beat him with my stick.'

Josh Savage, 36, said: 'Nothing has been totally proved yet, one way or another, and he is the Queen's son. But I think he might lose the title anyway.'

York florist Richard Bothamley added: 'I think he will lose the title. It has obviously done him a lot of harm. The whole thing is fiasco. I am quite a patriotic person. So I am pleased for the queen the court case has been resolved.

'But I don't think he should keep the title. Who would want him? It is not just this woman it was the circle of people he was mixing with. He has done some wonderful work. But you can't tell me he did not know what was going on.'

It comes as a palace source today told MailOnline the situation regarding his remaining titles 'remained unchanged'.

They also include that of Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy and the role of Counsellor of State Today, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said any decisions on his military honorific 'rests obviously with the Palace'.

Earlier today, Cllr Darryl Smalley, Liberal Democrat executive member of City of York Council, joined Labour MP Rachael Maskell in demanding Andrew abandon his local links.

Fresh scrutiny has been placed on Prince Andrew's remaining military title - that of Vice Admiral in recognition of his service in the Navy

Mr Wallace was asked today if the Duke of York should be allowed to represent the military.

He told Sky News: 'Well I don't think he represents any of them at the moment,

'I think the Palace took a decision that those titles were to be removed from him, so I think he is effectively acting now as a private citizen in so far as both addressing the challenges and the allegations.

'There's been a, obviously, a payment and I think that is where he currently remains, that the decision on titles rests obviously with the Palace in the future, but I think it's been pretty clear that this settlement is a recognition that he wants to bring this to a close and also recognise as his statement says the suffering and the challenges that the victims have been through as a result of their allegations and their stand against the exploitation by [Jeffrey] Epstein.'

Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, has called on Andrew to withdraw his Duke of York title to 'show respect' for its people.

Cllr Darryl Smalley, Liberal Democrat executive member for culture, leisure & communities at City of York Council, agreed.

He told York Mix: 'Having been stripped of his military roles and royal patronages by the Queen, this should be the end of his direct link with our great city.

'York's unique connection to the Crown and the monarch is an important part of our city's legacy, history and a great source of pride.'

Today, Ben Wallace said any decisions on titles 'rests obviously with the Palace in the future'

Meanwhile, Ms Maskell welcomed the Duke of York's pledge to donate money to Mrs Giuffre's charity which supports victims' rights, but said his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein had caused 'deep hurt and embarrassment' to York residents.

The MP's calls comes after Prince Andrew today settled the sexual abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre after he agreed an undisclosed deal said to be worth 12million with his accuser without admitting her accusations.

Prince Andrew at York Racecourse to open the new weighing room in May 2015

The monarch is expected to foot part of the bill for her son's settlement in a bid to draw a line under it before her much-anticipated Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer.

But there is anger at how the Queen, 95, has effectively been forced to bail out the 'disgraced' Duke of York, 61, whose modest pension from his time in the Royal Navy is now his only visible income - amid calls for the public to be told who is financing the deal.

Sources also pointed out that while there will now be a 'period of silence' during the Jubilee celebrations when both parties will have to stick to the terms of yesterday's carefully-worded statement, Mrs Giuffre would then not be stopped from writing a lucrative book telling her story which could hit the shelves in time for Christmas.

Prince Charles was said to have been supported by the Queen in making it clear to Andrew that he had no choice but to settle with Mrs Giuffre, with one source telling MailOnline that Charles had 'had enough of the situation' and 'would have said to Andrew that he needed to get this sorted out as soon as possible'.

Rachael Maskell, who represents York Central, said the royal's relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein had caused 'deep hurt and embarrassment' to York residents

A senior Royal Household member told the Standard that Charles and the Queen 'could not countenance another disastrous appearance by the Duke of York, in light of his BBC interview', adding: 'Decisive action was needed. There was little choice. He had to see sense.'

While Andrew is thought to be holed up at his Royal Lodge home in Windsor today, on the other side of the world a box of beers and a bouquet of flowers were being delivered to Mrs Giuffre and her husband Robert's home in Perth, Australia.

And her father Sky Roberts told the Sun: 'I knew he would settle out of court. That was a complete bluff. I think Virginia will be happy.'

Meanwhile, despite the settlement, it is feared that the scandal could still overshadow poignant Platinum Jubilee celebrations for the UK in the coming months. Also today, the Metropolitan Police said they have no plans to reopen their own probe into Andrew despite calls for officers to re-examine evidence after the deal.

Royal author Angela Levin told Sky News today: 'I think that the Queen would have given him a big telling off and said 'I can't have this hanging over me for the rest of the year  I don't want you to spoil my Platinum Jubilee. I'm the only royal who's lasted 70 years on the throne, and you've got to sort it out'.'

She added: 'I admire the Queen hugely as everybody does, and I don't want it to spoil anything for her, but I still think this is hanging over the country and the Royal Family and is going to go right through to the end of the year and maybe into next year, and there's no real way of cutting it off.

'Obviously that (a ban on Mrs Giuffre saying anything) was something that they could have put in the agreement and they haven't, and so it implies that there's a lot she (Mrs Giuffre) wants to say that Andrew will not want to hear.'

The settlement, which was agreed between lawyers in a sensational development yesterday, comes just weeks after Andrew vowed to contest the rape claims by Mrs Giuffre, formerly known as Virginia Roberts, at a public trial.

Mrs Giuffre had alleged she was forced to have sex with the duke three times when she was 17 under the orders of the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein Only last month, she was given the go-ahead to sue Andrew for unspecified damages in a New York civil court. But despite vowing to fight the claims and repeatedly protesting his innocence, the prince yesterday agreed to pay a huge sum to settle the case before it ever reaches a jury.
Queen Letizia of Spain looked the picture of poise and elegance as she attended the opening of a contemporary art fair in Madrid.

The royal mother-of-two, 49, donned a navy pinstripe suit as she attended the opening of ARCO 2022 Contemporary Art Fair at Ifema in the country's capital city today.

Looking effortlessly stylish, art-lover Letizia teamed her statement ensemble with a pair of matching high heels.

Queen Letizia of Spain (pictured) looked the picture of poise and elegance as she attended the opening of a contemporary art fair in Madrid

The royal mother-of-two (pictured), 49, donned a navy pinstripe suit as she attended the opening of ARCO 2022 Contemporary Art Fair at Ifema in the country's capital city today

Showcasing her slender frame, the Spanish Queen's wrap suit featured cinched waist detailing, as well as sharp shoulders and a V-neckline.

Letting her ensemble do all the talking, Letizia opted to forgo most accessories apart from a pair of dainty golden earrings, which featured a green gem.

The royal, who is the wife of King Felipe, kept her hair scraped back and only sported a white face covering with her attire.

Looking effortlessly stylish, art-lover Letizia (pictured) teamed her statement ensemble with a pair of matching high heels

Showcasing her slender frame, the Spanish Queen's (pictured) wrap suit featured cinched waist detailing, as well as sharp shoulders and a V-neckline

Letting her ensemble do all the talking, Letizia (pictured) opted to forgo most accessories apart from a pair of dainty golden earrings, which featured a green gem

The royal (pictured), who is the wife of King Felipe, kept her hair scraped back and only sported a white face covering with her attire

The royal (pictured looking at the artwork) completed her outfit by opting for a classic makeup look, with just a dash of bronzer and a smokey eye

She completed her outfit by opting for a classic makeup look, with just a dash of bronzer and a smokey eye.

The event was hosted by ARCO Madrid, an international contemporary art fair in Spain that has been running since 1982.

It's been a busy week for the royal, who on Monday stepped out with King Felipe as he made his first public appearance since testing positive for coronavirus earlier this month.

The event was hosted by ARCO Madrid, an international contemporary art fair in Spain that has been running since 1982

It's been a busy week for the royal (pictured), who on Monday stepped out with King Felipe as he made his first public appearance since testing positive for coronavirus earlier this month

The mother-of-two (pictured) opted for a stylish black midi dress, which featured a ruffle detail and a skirt with a high leg slit across the thigh with matching accessories

The event was the inaugural gala held in the framework of celebrations for the 5th centenary of the death of the Spanish humanist Antonio de Nebrija. Pictured, Letizia at today's occasion

The Spanish royal, 54, cut a suave figure in a stylish black suit with a navy tie as he stepped out alongside his wife at Royal Theater in Madrid.

The mother-of-two opted for a stylish black midi dress, which featured a ruffle detail and a skirt with a high leg slit across the thigh with matching accessories.

The event was the inaugural gala held in the framework of celebrations for the 5th centenary of the death of the Spanish humanist Antonio de Nebrija.
She is usually the picture of regal poise.

But today Queen Maxima of the Netherlands found herself battling with an unruly umbrella as she was hit by strong winds in Amsterdam.

However the mother-of-three, 50, was able to keep her composure - and soon let the whole affair blow over.

Maxima wife was visiting the !Woon Foundation, which provides tenants and homeowners with advice, to discuss the housing market.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands found herself battling with an unruly umbrella as she was hit by strong winds in Amsterdam

The mother-of-three was meeting with tenants and homeowners at the !WOON Foundation in the capital

The Dutch monarch kept her composure and her good spirits, even as strong gusts of wind ruffled her blonde locks

Braving the storm, the Monarch arrived in Amsterdam in her usual good spirits.

She was wearing a check dress cinched at the waist which enhanced her slim figure.

The dress, which was midi-length, boasts long sleeves and an oversized bow at the collar.

Stylish Maxima paired it with eye-catching red leather boots that seem to be a new favourite and added matching leather gloves and a small clutch bag.

Her crimson earrings added a fun twist to her smart outfit.

Her windswept shoulder-length locks were styled in a straight blow-dry, and she was sporting a natural makeup.

A dash of bronzer gave her a healthy glow, and a trait of eyeliner brought the focus to her eyes.

With Maxima's usual attention to detail, her burgundy lipstick paired well with her boots and gloves.

Maxima paired her check dress, which was cinched at the waist with burgundy gloves, matching boots and a matching clutch bag

The mother-of-three put on an animated display during her meeting. Known for her attention to detail, her red nail polish matched her lipstick and her accessories

Maxima sported a dash of bronzer, and a trait of eyeliner which brought the focus to her hazelnut eyes

The royal sat down with tenants and homeowners to discuss the current Dutch housing market.

The !Woon Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that works to provide renters, buyers and homeowners about the realities of the market and energy performances.

Much like Citizens Advice in the UK, the foundation gives people advice on how to solve issues regarding the maintenance, rent and other environment-related concerns.

They also provide guidance on elderly living, energy savings and housing quality for all.

The mother-of-three listened carefully during her visit as she discussed the housing market with the other attendees

The Monarch sat down with renters, homeowners and landlords who have been working with !Woon

After her meeting, Maxima tried to open her umbrella in order to protect herself from the rain, however, the strong wind broke it, and she had to wrestle it into position.

She could count on the gentlemanly help of Evert Bartlema, Director of the !WOON Foundation, who held the umbrella while Maxima sorted it out.

Keeping her composure, the very relatable queen then got into her car, a gust of wind ruffling her blond locks one last time.
The royal family has released a schedule of of foreign tours for the Platinum Jubilee with Prince Edward and Princess Anne given major roles in a glimpse of the future of the slimmed down monarchy.

The spring of this year will see The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines while Princess Anne will visit Papua New Guinea.

Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Republic of Ireland, while The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will take a trip to Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas. .

William, 39, and Kate, 40, will tour the Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize. Pictured, in the Solomon Islands in 2012

It's one of the first signs of the new look monarchy, with Prince Andrew and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex previously making similar overseas trips.

The Queen, who no longer flies, would not have been expected to travel, but it's rare for Wessexes to do a high profile joint overseas tour that might have otherwise been handed to Harry and Meghan.

It's long been believed that Prince Charles will 'slim down' the monarchy when he becomes king to eight key members.

The trips to the Caribbean islands will see the senior royals on a charm offensive following in a bid to shore up support for the monarchy in the region.

In November, Prince Charles visited Barbados for a ceremony to mark its historic decision to remove the Queen as head of state.

The platinum jubilee tour in full The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Republic of Ireland from Wednesday 23rd to Friday 25th March 2022. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas from 19th to 26th March 2022. The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines from Friday 22nd to Monday 28th April 2022. The Princess Royal will visit Papua New Guinea from Monday 11th to Wednesday 13th April 2022. Advertisement

Other Commonwealth countries in the region, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Dominica, already have their own heads of state.

Last year, John Briceno, the Prime Minister of Belize, did not rule out his nation following suit, saying: 'We need to find what fits Belize best.' The last high-profile Royal visit to Belize - as well as the Bahamas and Jamaica - was made by Prince Harry in 2012 to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

William and Kate's will begin their royal tour in Belize where Their Royal Highnesses will visit historic Mayan sites and celebrate the rich culture of the Garifuna community as well as exploring the countrys biodiversity.

The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Jamaica where their visit will include engaging with the Jamaican Defence Force and celebrating the seminal legacy of Bob Marley and other ground-breaking Jamaican musicians alongside some of tomorrows stars.

William and Kate's visit will end in The Bahamas where they will spend time with communities across a number of islands and experience a world famous junkanoo parade.

The response to Covid-19 will also feature in The Duke and Duchess programme.

Their Royal Highnesses are keen to understand more about the impact that the pandemic has had across the Caribbean, and how communities have pulled together to respond to the challenges they have faced.

Throughout their visit, The Duke and Duchess will take the opportunity to commemorate Her Majestys Platinum Jubilee.

Their programme will also touch on a number of themes that are close to Their Royal Highnesses hearts and a key focus of their work with The Royal Foundation, including The Earthshot Prize, mental health and the importance of early childhood to lifelong outcomes.

The spring of this year will see The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines in a rare overseas tour for the queen's youngest son

Princess Anne will visit Papua New Guinea - it has previously been visited by the Queen, Anne and Prince Philip

As with previous overseas visits, The Duke and Duchess have asked that this tour allows them to meet as many local people as possible.

Over the course of their time in the Caribbean, Their Royal Highnesses will meet a wide variety of groups, including children, young people and families, frontline workers, service personnel, leaders from government, business and the charity sector as well as inspiring conservationists, and the early years workforce.

Their Royal Highnesses said in a statement they are very much looking forward to the visit, which will be their first joint official overseas tour since the onset of Covid-19 in 2020.

Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Republic of Ireland,

Prince Harry visited Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas in 2012 as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee tour, while Jamaica was also visited by The Princess Royal in 2015.

The announcement comes as the Queen was forced to postponed two more virtual audiences as she continues to suffer from the effects of coronavirus at Windsor Castle and concerns mount for the 95-year-old monarch's health.

The head of state, who tested positive on Sunday, also cancelled virtual engagements on Tuesday because she was not feeling well enough - but did hold her telephone audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday

She was due to hold two virtual audiences today, but these are no longer taking place. Fears for the nation's longest reigning sovereign have been heightened given her age, frailer appearance and recent hospital stay.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at about 10.40am this morning: 'The two virtual audiences that had previously been scheduled to take place today will now be rescheduled for a later date. Her Majesty is continuing with light duties. No other engagements are scheduled for this week.'

Her 'light duties' include working from her red boxes, sent to her every day and containing policy papers, Foreign Office telegrams, letters and other State papers which have to be read and sometimes approved and signed.
Former Princess Mako's 'commoner' husband Kei Komuro dressed comfortably as he attempted to pass the New York State Bar Exam on day two of the test - having failed his first try just months before his partner sensationally quit the Japanese royal family to start a new life with him in the US.

Mako, 30, who is the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and niece of reigning Emperor Naruhito, gave up her royal title to marry 'commoner' Komuro last October in a small civil ceremony.

The couple, who were engaged for eight years before tying the knot, have since moved to a one-bedroom apartment in New York, where Komuro works at New-Jersey based firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP.

Komuro first sat the New York State Bar Exam last July, three months before his wedding to Mako, however it was revealed in November that he had failed.

Now, he is making a second attempt at the qualification, with photographers catching him entering a testing center in New York City on Wednesday to sit the second half of the two-day exam, with the budding lawyer putting on a very casual display in a denim, button down shirt, baggy, navy trousers, and a pair of colorful Star Wars-themed Vans sneakers.

Former Princess Mako's 'commoner' husband Kei Komuro dressed comfortably as he attempted to pass the New York State Bar Exam on day two of the test on Wednesday

Photographers caught him entering the second day of the test in a denim, button down shirt, baggy, navy trousers, and a pair of colorful Star Wars-themed Vans sneakers

Komuro also showed off an edgy new look - with his normally cropped hair much longer and pulled back into a ponytail - while holding a coffee cup and wearing a white face mask

If Komuro felt more confident about his performance during his latest exam, he certainly didn't show it; the budding lawyer looked incredibly somber as he walked into the building.

Komuro also showed off an edgy new look - with his normally cropped hair much longer and pulled back into a ponytail - while holding a coffee cup and wearing a white face mask.

The casual ensemble and long hairstyle is a marked change from the black suit and tie that Komuro sported during his wedding to Mako four months ago.

The day before, Komuro was seen leaving the first part of the exam. This time, he donned almost the exact same outfit, but added a dark green Tommy Hilfiger puffer jacket to keep himself warm.

He also carried a black and white duffel bag over his shoulder as he strolled out of the testing center and waited for an Uber to arrive.

The casual ensemble and long hairstyle is a marked change from the black suit and tie that Komuro sported during his wedding to Mako four months ago

Komuro's Star Wars sneakers cost $170

The day before, Komuro was seen leaving the first part of the exam. This time, he donned almost the exact same outfit, but added a Tommy Hilfiger puffer jacket to keep himself warm

If Komuro (pictured on Tuesday) felt more confident about his performance during his latest exam, he didn't show it; the budding lawyer looked incredibly somber as he left the building

Komuro's latest attempt at the bar exam comes less than a year after he first sat the test in the July 2021, when he had the option to do the test remotely. This time around, no remote option was available to applicants.

As he did last year, Komuro will now face an agonizing wait of several months before he learns whether or not his second attempt at the exam was successful; typically, candidates who sit the test in February only receive their results in April, meaning that Komuro will not know whether he has passed or failed for two more months.

The results of the July 2021 exam were posted on the website of the New York State Board of Law Examiners last November. Komuro's name was not among the successful candidates.

According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, Komuro phoned lawyer Okuno Yoshihiko, the head of a firm in Japan where he previously worked, to tell him he failed the exam.

If he fails again, Komuro will have to wait until July of this year to re-take the exam, which is only offered twice a year.

He is able to take the test as many times as he likes until he passes - since New York State does not impose a restriction on the number of attempts a candidate can make.

Mako, 30, gave up her royal title to marry 'commoner' Komuro last October in a small civil ceremony after being engaged for eight years. They are pictured at the wedding

The lawyer has embraced a much more casual look since moving to New York and he has been growing his hair out, shying away from the cropped style he sported at his wedding (pictured)

Komuro was raised by his widowed mother, Kayo. His father died when he was still in elementary school. His jobs in Japan included working in a bank and a French restaurant.

He met Mako in 2013 when they were both studying at the International Christian University outside Tokyo.

The couple, both now 30, got 'unofficially engaged' in 2017, and planned to tie the knot in November 2018.

Initially, the news was greeted with delight in Japan, but then a scandal grew up when it was discovered that Kayo had not repaid a 4million yen ($35,000) loan from a former fiance, partly to pay her son's tuition.

That led critics to suggest Komuro was only marrying the princess for money or fame.

Komuro issued a 24-page explanation about the money - claiming it was a gift not a loan. Eventually, he said he would repay it, although it is not known whether the money has been returned.

But despite the turmoil Kei and Mako's love endured, in 2020, the former Princess begged the Japanese public to support her decision.

'We are irreplaceable to each other - someone to rely on during both happy and unhappy times,' she said, announcing the wedding would go ahead.

'So a marriage is a necessary choice for us to live while cherishing and protecting our feelings.'

Mako and Komuro (pictured in November) moved to New York City just a few weeks after they tied the knot, and they have since been adjusting to their new lives as 'commoners'

Komuro has not lived in Japan for three years - moving to New York shortly after their marriage was postponed for the first time.

He studied law at Fordham University in the Bronx and then landed a job clerking at Lowenstein Sandler in Manhattan, counseling companies and investors on venture capital financings, mergers, and acquisitions.

Only male members of the Japanese imperial family are allowed to marry 'commoners,' so Mako's decision to marry for love means a whole slew of new things for her.

For a start, she is no longer considered a princess - and even if the marriage ends in divorce, she can never return to the family.

For the first time in her life, she has a surname and will be known just as Mako Komuro.

She will also have to apply for a passport - royals don't need them - so she can move Stateside.

She can no longer live in the Imperial Palace, and any sons that the couple have will not be in the line of succession for the male-only emperorship.

That poses a potential problem for Japan - where there are now only three people allowed by the Imperial Household Law to succeed 61-year-old Emperor Naruhito - and one of those, his uncle Masohito, is 85.

The other two are Nauruhito's 55-year-old brother Akishino - Mako's father - and Mako's brother Hisahito, 15.
Model Lucky Blue Smith has announced the arrival of his third child, a little boy named Slim Easy Smith.

Lucky, 23, shared the baby news on January 8, two days after the birth, posting the first photo of his second child with his wife, Nara Aziza Smith.

Bit while congratulations poured in  especially from other models  so did the criticism, with countless commenters mocking the couple's name choice and accusing them of setting their son up for hard times.

Model Lucky Blue Smith has announced the arrival of his third child, a little boy named Slim Easy Smith.

Lucky, 23, shared the baby news on January 8, revealing the name to followers

He and his wife, Nara Aziza Smith, have shared several photos of the little one

The baby is their second together. Lucky has a third child from a previous relationship

'Y'all named the baby slip easy?? fr??' wrote one.

Another commented: 'Slim easy?? His middle name is easy?????

'Y'all really out here with these names man,' wrote a third, while a fourth snapped: 'What a stupid name. Congrats though.'

'I'm all for unique names but this... worst name I've ever seen,' wrote one more. 'Could've done better w the middle name at least. Nonetheless I hope nothing but love and health for the newly born.'

'This is what happens when you name your kids according to an aesthetic you want to achieve... not actually caring about the kid living with that name... it's bad,' said one more.

He shares Rumble with Nara (pictured), and Gravity Blue with former Miss Teen USA 2009 Stormi Henley

Commenters have made fun of the name, calling it 'stupid' and comparing it to a weight loss drink or Eminem's nickname, Slim Shady

Several criticized Lucky and Nara for putting a target on their baby's back for bullies in school.

'Congrats for the new baby but at this point yall are setting this baby up to be made fun of,' wrote one.

'Please tell me you did not call him [Slim Easy],' complained another. 'Parents like this are the reason why you put an easy targets on us for bullies,' said a second.

'You're gonna get your kid bullied for that name,' yet another chided.

'Why would you name your child that?!?!!' exclaimed another. 'It's like you want them to be bullied. Please reevaluate this decision, there are many beautiful unique names that won't doom your beautiful child.'

Nara is pictured with the baby boy last month. He was born January 6

Several criticized Lucky and Nara for putting a target on their baby's back for bullies in school

Slim Shady jokes also poured in as well, while one commenter said Slim Easy 'sounds like the Aldi version of a Slim Fast protein shake.'

Yet several weren't surprised, noting that Lucky's other children are named Gravity Blue and Rumble Honey.

He shares Rumble Honey with Nara, and Gravity Blue with former Miss Teen USA 2009 Stormi Henley.

Unusual names run in his family, too. Certainly, Lucky Blue is a unique name in itself  and the model has three sisters named Daisy Clementine, Pyper America, and Starlie Cheyenne.

Lucky also had a daughter with Nara named Rumble Honey (pictured)

The couple welcomed Rumble in October 2021

Nara is pictured with Rumble, whom Lucky called his 'special little princess'
Princess Charlene of Monaco has revealed she will be featuring in a manga comic set to be released on Friday.

The mother-of-two, 44, was admitted to an undisclosed treatment facility outside of Monaco in November, within days of her return to the principality following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa.

She has now revealed she agreed to take part in the project more than a year ago according to creator of Blitz adventure Cedric Biscay.

The wife of Prince Albert, 63, told the French newspaper Le Parisien she was 'immediately seduced' by the idea of participating in the sixth volume of the publication.

'I am really looking forward to the release of the sixth volume of Blitz , magnificently inspired by Garry Kasparov and designed by Daitaro Nishihara,' she said.

Princess Charlene of Monaco has revealed she will be featuring in a manga comic set to be released on Friday

'I was immediately seduced by the idea of participating in the Blitz adventure and I thank Cedric Biscay (writer and creator) for inviting me to discover the manga universe.'

The royal, who is recovering from 'exhaustion, both emotional and physical', hadn't spoken publicly since her twins birthday in December.

Across four pages of the comic, she is set to be portrayed giving a conference in the Monte Carlo casino and meeting two children who are awaiting a chess tournament.

Charlene didn't ask for any changes to be made to her elegant vignettes, according to Cedric, who thanked the Princess for collaborating, saying: 'A big 'thank you' to Princess Charlene for his presence in the manga.'

Prince Albert previously appeared in the comics, serving as the hero in the fourth edition of the digital comic released in June 2021.

The mother-of-two, 44, who was admitted to an undisclosed treatment facility outside of Monaco in November, agreed to take part in the project more than a year ago according to creator of Blitz adventure Cedric Biscay. She is pictured with her husband

The royal recently revealed Princess Charlene is 'doing much better'.

Speaking to local newspaper Monaco-Matin, Albert said: 'Princess Charlene is doing much better, and I hope she will be back in the principality very soon.'

His comment follows the most recent palace update, which described Charlene's recovery as 'continuing in a satisfying and very encouraging way'.

However the statement also added that her stay at the treatment facility would 'still take several weeks'.

Timeline: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene's 12 months apart January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter. It is unknown where the image was taken. May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene May 10 - Albert attends Monaco Gala Awards in Monaco without Charlene May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa June 1 - Prince Albert II, Jacques and Gabriella attend event at Oceanic Museum in Monaco June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip June 5- Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family and Albert and the twins in South Africa June 7 - Albert and the twins attend the World Rugby Sevens without Charlene June 17 - Prince Albert attends Red Cross Summer concert in Monte Carlo with his sister Princess Caroline of Hanover June 18 - Prince Albert appears alone Monte Carlo TV Festival June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. 'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement. July 3 - Albert appears with glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi at the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, July 27 - Prince Albert attends Olympics alone in Tokyo August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing' September 2 - She is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying' September 23 - Prince Albert attends the 2021 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health September 29 - Prince Albert is joined on the red carpet by actress Sharon Stone for a first look at the eagerly anticipated James Bond release September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole October 3 - Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare October 5 - Prince Albert attends Sportel Awards Ceremony in Monte Carlo with nephew Louis Ducruet October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home' October 8 - Princess undergoes surgery in South Africa November 8 - Charlene arrives back in Monaco. Prince Albert said within hours it became clear she was 'unwell' November 13 - Prince Albert attends Expo 2020 in Dubai without Princess Charlene Following his return from the trip, Prince Albert holds an intervention with Charlene's brothers and a sister-in-law in which Charlene 'confirmed' she would seek 'real medically framed treatment' outside of Monaco November 16 - Royal household confirms Princess Charlene will not attend National Day celebrations on November 19 - Prince Albert attends a Monaco Red Cross event without Princess Charlene November 17 - Prince Albert reveals Princess Charlene has left Monaco and is recovering in a secret location November 19 - Prince Albert reveals Charlene is in a treatment facility 'elsewhere in Europe' after a family intervention January 25 - Charlene celebrates her birthday alone outside of Monaco January 26 - Prince Albert is joined by his children and sister without Charlene at St Devote's Day Advertisement

Albert has remained vague as to the exact cause of Charlene's illness, although he has said she is suffering from 'emotional and physical exhaustion'.

The palace's recent statement mentioned Charlene is receiving 'follow-up dental care'.

In her hometown, she was treated for an ear and throat infection she contracted in May, following a sinus lift and bone graft procedure she'd undergone prior to her arrival in preparation for dental implants.

Charlene's recuperation was 'currently progressing satisfactorily and very encouragingly', the palace said in a statement in January.

But 'her recovery and follow-up dental care are expected to take several more weeks', it added.

A palace statement released on December 23 revealed Albert and the couple's children were planning to visit Charlene during the Christmas holidays, as well as asking for the family's privacy to be respected.

It added that the princess 'is recuperating in a satisfactory and reassuring manner, although it may take a few more months before her health has reached a full recovery.'

Princess Charlene met Prince Albert in 2000 during a swimming competition in Monaco and the pair married in 2011, before welcoming twins Gabriella and Jacques in 2014.

Charlene returned to her husband and twins Jacques and Gabriella in November following almost a year in South Africa.

While on a solo charity trip to the country, she contracted a severe sinus infection which prevented her from travelling. She subsequently needed surgery to treat the medical condition, which again delayed her return to Monaco.

In the weeks after her arrival, Charlene remained absent from public duties.

Albert later revealed the family reunion had gone 'pretty well' in the first few hours, but it then became 'pretty evident' that Charlene was 'unwell.'

He said the former Olympian 'realised she needed help', adding: 'She was overwhelmed and couldn't face official duties, life in general or even family life.'

Albert explained: 'I'm probably going to say this several times, but this has nothing to do with our relationship. I want to make that very clear. These are not problems within our relationship; not with the relationship between a husband and wife. It's of a different nature.'

He went on to tell a magazine her current state was a result of 'several factors which are private'.

Albert continued: 'She hadn't slept well in a number of days and she wasn't eating at all well. She has lost a lot of weight, which made her vulnerable to other potential ailments. A cold or the flu or God help us, COVID.'

He said it is 'not cancer-related or personal relationship issue' and later said she is suffering from 'exhaustion, both emotional and physical'.

He later confirmed Charlene has been admitted to a treatment facility for undisclosed medical issues, as she works through a period of ill health. The location of the facility was not confirmed, though several sources claim it is in Switzerland.

However friends of the princess spoke out to suggest the issues were more physical than Albert appeared to suggest.

Speaking to Page Six, a source described as the royal's friend said: 'It is unfair that she is being portrayed as having some kind of mental or emotional issue.

'We don't know why the palace is downplaying that she almost died in South Africa.'

The source explained the royal had a severe ear, nose and throat infection, which resulted in 'severe sinus and swallowing issues stemming from an earlier surgery'.

Elsewhere friends of Princess Charlene gave Tatler a rare insight into what the royal is really like, insisting that the former swimmer is a force to be reckoned with.

One source rubbished any public perception that Charlene is 'naive' and trapped in an unhappy marriage with Albert, saying: 'I don't for one second think she did not know what she was doing when she married him.'

But one warned the mother of Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, seven, is not the type to be blindly controlled by the Monaco royal household.

'Charlene is no Princess Di.' one said. 'She may come across as being extremely naive, but nothing could be further from the truth. She is very good at keeping her smarts under wraps.'

Doubts about the central relationship of Monaco's royal family are not new.

Several residents living in the narrow medieval alleys of Monaco Ville confirmed to MailOnline that before she left for South Africa Charlene was spending most of her time outside the Palace, living in a modest two-bedroom apartment above an old chocolate factory about 300m away, rather than in the 12th Century Palace itself.

'We often saw her outside the Palace and she would usually be alone or with a bodyguard,' said one source, 'but she was never with Albert - it was obvious she chose to spend most of her time in the apartment rather than the palace.'

Princess Charlene met Prince Albert in 2000 during a swimming competition in Monaco and the pair married in 2011, before welcoming twins Gabriella and Jacques in 2014.

Born in Rhodesia- a previously unrecongised state in Southern Africa colonised by the British, she relocated to South Africa aged 11.

She had a successful swimming career and went on to win three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1999 All Africa Games in Johannesburg, as well as representing South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and winning a silver medal in the 4  100 m medley relay in the latter competition.

However the pair's marriage has made numerous headlines over the years, with a third paternity suit emerging in December 2020.

Prince Albert, Princess Caroline of Hanover, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella of Monaco appear on the palace's balcony during the Sainte Devote Celebrations in Monaco on January 27, 2022

Soon afterwards Charlene infamously shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker. Months later she left for South Africa.

The allegations in December 2020 claimed that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene were already in a relationship.

He has also fathered two other children outside of wedlock. Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who is now 29 and the result of Albert's affair with an American estate agent, and Alexandre Coste, 18, whose mother is a former Togolese air hostess.

Both children were struck off Monaco's line of succession in return for vast financial settlements.
An Alabama doctor who was in the process of adopting a nine-year-old boy from Ukraine is desperately trying to rescue the orphan as war erupts between the country and Russia.

Dr. Christopher Jahraus, a radiation oncologist at Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster, said he wanted to adopt a child for a long time.

He and his wife, Gina, share five kids of their own, but he always felt like he could do more to help someone in need.

Through the organization Bridges of Faith, Christopher met Sashko last year - a nine year old orphan from Ukraine who had been abandoned by his alcoholic mother.

He was in the process of adopting the little boy when tensions began rising between the Ukraine and Russia.

The adoption process can take anywhere from six to nine months, but now, amid Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine, Christopher is determined to quickly bring Sashko back to the US.

An Alabama doctor who was in the process of adopting a nine-year-old boy from Ukraine is desperately trying to rescue the orphan as war erupts between the country and Russia

Through the organization Bridges of Faith, Dr. Christopher Jahraus and his wife, Gina, met Sashko - a nine-year-old orphan from Ukraine who was abandoned by his alcoholic mother

After Sashko spent a month with him in December, Christopher started the process of adopting the little boy - just as tensions began rising between the Ukraine and Russia

'Hes my kid,' he told local news outlet CBS 42. 'Just like any father, Im going to do anything to get him to safety.'

Christopher was inspired after Reverend Tom Benz of Bridges of Faith - an organization dedicated to helping Ukraine orphans get adopted - made a speech at his church in 2020.

'My wife was the one who said that we needed to go talk to him,' he recalled.

'How can you not want to do your part to save one kid from the misery that they would live through?'

In December, the organization flew several Ukranian kids to Alabama for a month-long foster program. That's when Christopher first met Sashko - and the two had an instant connection.

'When I saw him, I felt similar to the moment when I saw my child for the first time,' said Christopher.

Sashko - who never had a relationship with his father - had spent about a year in the orphanage before he met Christopher.

On the way home from the airport, Christopher was moved when Sashko offered up his gum to the other children in the car.

'Theres just this inherent goodness for him,' he explained.

Over their month together, Sashko began calling Christopher 'papa,' and told him he loved him.

Christopher explained to People that Sashko was wrongly labeled as 'mentally retarded' by the orphanage.

Since he had previously studied pediatrics in medical school, he said he was able to diagnose the child with attention-deficit disorder.

'If Sashko stays there [in Ukraine], he'll be wrongly labeled his entire life - and he will never be given the opportunities to thrive that he would if he's brought here,' he told them.

The adoption process can take up to nine months, but now, amid Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine, he is determined to bring Sashko home to safety

Christoper (pictured with his wife), along with Bridges of Faith, is working with attorneys and Congressional leaders in an attempt to get Sashko to America

Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine today, with missiles raining from the sky, tanks rolling across the border from Belarus, and masses of attack helicopters swarming on capital Kyiv after Russian leader Vladimir Putin personally gave the order to attack.

Ukrainian troops are fighting Russian forces for control of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, 60 miles north of the capital Kyiv, amid fears the battle could damage storage facilities holding nuclear waste sparking a fallout that could blanket Europe.

According to Reverend Tom, he believes all the kids from the orphanage are currently safe since they are in a 'rural setting.'

'Our country coordinator in Ukraine is a neighbor's basement, in a makeshift bomb shelter in Kyiv. As far as we know, the kids are all OK. They are in fairly rural settings,' he explained.

Back in 2013, Russian government passed the Dima Yakovlev Law, which banned Americans from adopting Russian children.

And now, Christopher is terrified that something similar will happen in Ukraine - which is why he is determined to get Sashko out immediately.

He, along with Bridges of Faith, is working with attorneys and Congressional leaders in an attempt to move Sashko and the other orphans to a neighboring country, like Poland, Hungary, or Romania, where they will then be able to fly to America.

Russia launched war on Ukraine today, with missiles raining from the sky, tanks rolling across the border from Belarus, and masses of attack helicopters swarming on capital Kyiv

Russian Mi-8 attack helicopters are pictured staging an assault on Gostomel air base, just on the outskirts of Kyiv, after Vladimir Putin launched an all-out attack on the country

Russian armored vehicles are pictured on roads near the Chernobyl plant, amid fears that damage to the facility could cause a radiation leak that would blanket Europe with fallout

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

'This is a crisis. We need to get these little kids over here,' Christopher said to CBS 42. 'Ultimately, we have the faith of Jesus Christ and we pray all the time for Sashko and the kids.

'The only way we can accept bad outcomes is through our faith, knowing that God has a bigger plan than what we can see.'

He explained to People that it was especially hard for him to watch the events unfold, since Sashko - who he said has a 'beautiful, loving, warm heart' - was just by his side last month.

'These kids just had visas a month ago. This shouldn't be a heavy lift but there are no embassies open in Ukraine and the one consular office that is open is not accepting travel requests right now,' he added.

'This is not about sanctions and political maneuverings. This is about little kids. It kills me to think that these little kids could fall under Russian rulers.'
Amanda Kloots has tested positive for COVID for the first time since the pandemic began, she revealed on Thursday - 20 months after her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero, died from coronavirus complications at the age of 41.

The Talk host, who is fully-vaccinated and boosted, took to Instagram today to share the news of her positive test, assuring her fans and followers that she is 'feeling completely normal', but adding that she will be absent from the CBS daytime show while she quarantines.

Amanda, 39, admitted that her positive test result came as a 'surprise', explaining that she tested negative just a few days ago, before flying back to Los Angeles from a vacation in Mexico.

'Unfortunately I tested positive for COVID and will be missing some days at work until my quarantine is over,' she wrote in an Instagram caption, which was accompanied by a publicity still of the TV host and her Talk co-stars.

'I am feeling completely normal now and feel very grateful for that. I am vaccinated and boosted which is very much putting me at ease.'

Fully-vaccinated and boosted The Talk host Amanda Kloots has tested positive for COVID, she revealed on Thursday. The 39-year-old is pictured on the daytime talk show on Tuesday

Amanda shared the news of her positive test result on Instagram, posting an image of herself and her co-stars while revealing she will be absent from the show while she quarantines

Although Amanda traveled internationally earlier in the week, she confirmed that she took every precaution when it came to testing, noting that she received a negative test before flying to Mexico, and had another negative result before returning home to LA.

The fitness instructor-turned-TV host assured her fans that she is 'feeling completely normal', while admitting that her COVID diagnosis came as a 'surprise'

'I recently got back from a trip to Mexico where I tested negative before I left and before I flew home so this was surprise this morning,' she continued.

'This is the first time Ive tested positive since the pandemic.'

The mother-of-one, whose son Elvis turned one just weeks before his father, Amanda's husband Nick, passed away in July 2020, noted that she plans to use her time in quarantine to 'start potty training' the toddler, before jokingly asking her followers for 'any advice'.

'I will hopefully be back to work soon but taking this time at home with Elvis to start potty training!!!!' she said. 'Wish me luck as I run after a naked toddler for the next three days. Any advice please leave below.'

This is the first time that Amanda has tested positive for COVID since the pandemic began in March 2020, during which time she made headlines around the world while documenting her husband's horrific struggle with the virus.

The news about Amanda's positive test comes 20 months after her Broadway star husband Nick Cordero died at age 41 from coronavirus complications

Amanda is now raising the couple's son, Elvis, as a single mom, and she said she plans to use her time in quarantine trying to potty train the toddler, who turns three in June

Broadway star Nick, whose on-stage credits included Rock of Ages and Waitress, spent 95 days in hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in late March 2020.

Amanda first revealed on March 31 that her husband was in intensive care at Cedars-Sinai in LA and was having a 'hard time breathing'. Days later, doctors confirmed Nick was suffering from coronavirus after being tested three times, having received negative results on the first two occasions.

Fitness instructor Amanda, who met Nick while working on Broadway as a dancer, was unable to be by her husband's bedside at the time because of coronavirus visitor restrictions.

During his months-long hospitalization, Amanda continued updating her followers on her husband's condition, revealing that his symptoms took a serious turn for the worse shortly after he was admitted to hospital, prompting doctors to place him on a ventilator.

The performer's health initially stabilized in the hospital, but on April 10, Amanda revealed that her husband was 'fighting for his life'.

In the hours that followed, Amanda was told that Nick needed to immediately undergo emergency surgery after the ventilator he was placed on to support his heart and lungs was found to be obstructing blood flow to his right leg.

The TV host recently returned from a pre-birthday getaway in Mexico, but she insisted that she tested negative for COVID before flying back to Los Angeles

Amanda spent several days in Cabo, Mexico, before returning to her hosting duties on The Talk earlier this week; she will skip the show for a few days while she quarantines however

Nick made it out of the surgery alive, however Amanda said at the time that he was 'struggling' and remained in a medically induced coma.

The following week, on April 18, the star had to have his right leg amputated after he began suffering from blood clots.

On April 24, Amanda shared that Nick has tested negative for COVID-19, but within hours doctors were forced to install a temporary pacemaker after he began experiencing irregular heartbeats.

The father-of-one then contracted a lung infection that spread into his bloodstream, causing septic shock, Amanda revealed. While admitted at hospital, Nick also endured numerous other complications, including two small strokes.

Nick passed away on July 5.

In the 20 months since his death, Amanda has continued to honor her husband, while documenting her life as a single mother to their son Elvis, who will turn three in June of this year.

Amanda's husband Nick passed away on July 5, 2020, after spending 95 days in hospital in Los Angeles battling COVID complications

Last month, she shared a video of her late husband feeding their son Elvis, which was taken in January 2020, while opening up about her ongoing grieving process.

'I think the most important lesson we learn in losing life is how to live life,' she wrote.

'Theres been a lot of loss recently and it really got me thinking about what death teaches us? What lessons can we learn? Maybe its a stage of grief Im passing through, I dont know, but Im in a phase of throwing caution to the wind!

'My one friend said to me, You dont have to label it! My other friend suggested, You should feel invincible! I love both of those ideas, feeling invincible with no labels attached!

'So it really got me thinking, How can I live everyday to the fullest? First off, stop stopping myself. Dont wait till tomorrow. Say YES. Be a little bit wild, or a lot wild! Be bold, take chances, go on the trip, do all the things I want to try even when I dont know what Im doing.

'Smile. Take control of my life. Create the life I want to live!!! CREATE the life I want to LIVE.'
Birth of mega-carrier should not lead to monopolistic harms



Korea's antitrust regulator has concluded that the nation's largest carrier acquiring the second-largest will cause no problems if the integrated airline fulfills certain conditions to prevent a monopoly. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said Tuesday that it conditionally approved the corporate combination in which Korean Air buys a 63.88 percent stake in Asiana Airlines. The market shares of the two carriers and an affiliated low-cost carrier (LCC) reach 48.9 percent in international routes and 62 percent in domestic routes.



A company that monopolizes flight routes may raise fares unilaterally to the detriment of consumers. So, the KFTC has attached conditions by requiring the two full-service carriers to return some takeoff and landing slots at airports and readjust flight licenses for 28 international and eight domestic routes if other airlines seek to operate on those routes over the next decade. It will also restrict the two airlines from hiking fares and prevent them from reducing the number of flight seats until they execute the corrective measures.



However, the government and the state-run Korea Development Bank set the stage for Korean Air to acquire Asiana. Controversy over government-directed acquisitions and preferential treatment will inevitably follow. The government needed to keep the deal from infringing on consumers' benefits while allowing smaller carriers to join the competition to secure flight routes. It was positive that the regulator had opened the way for LCCs to enter the routes monopolized by large carriers.



Now, the KFTC must see that the integrated company carries out those conditions faithfully. The aviation industry is a sector with severe ups and downs according to the fluctuating business climate. The integrated airline may call for changing conditions or disrupt market order by taking advantage of its dominant position. Already, trust in promises seems to be taken that there would be no reduction of Asiana's workforce. There are talks about the need for restructuring if the mega-carrier must return some routes. Not least because the government put taxpayers' money into the integrated airline, it should never neglect supervision and guidance on the company's management.




Ceremony is their first major Hollywood event since leaving the royal family, and will see them rub shoulders with host Anthony Anderson and dozens of A-listers

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend the NAACP Awards on Saturday where they will receive the prestigious President's Awards to mark their special achievement for 'distinguished public service'.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who live in Montecito, California, join the likes of Muhammad Ali, Rihanna, LeBron James, Bill Clinton and Venus and Serena Williams in picking up the top gong.

The ceremony is their first major Hollywood event since leaving the royal family, and will see them rub shoulders with host Anthony Anderson and dozens of A-listers.

'It's a true honour to be recognized by President Derrick Johnson and the NAACP, whose efforts to propel racial justice and civil rights are as vital today as they were nearly 115 years ago,' the couple said in a statement.

'We're proud to support the NAACP's work and to also partner with the organisation on the newly created annual NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, which will be bestowed to Dr. Safiya Noble as part of the 53rd NAACP Image Awards.'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend the NAACP Awards on Saturday where they will receive the prestigious President's Awards to mark their special achievement for 'distinguished public service'. They are pictured at the Salute To Freedom Gala at Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum on November

The ceremony will take place in the US on Sunday and is available to view on BET UK on My5 from Monday.

'We're thrilled to present this award to Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who together have heeded the call to social justice and have joined the struggle for equity both in the US and around the world,' said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP.

'Not only do they continue to lead by example, The Duke and Duchess have also decided to inspire the next generation of activists through the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, ensuring the support and recognition of generations of civil rights leaders to come.'

The NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, supported by Archewell Foundation and administered by the NAACP, is a newly created annual award that recognises leaders creating transformational changeat the intersection of social justice and technologyto advance civil and human rights.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who live in Montecito, California, join the likes of Muhammad Ali, Rihanna, LeBron James, Bill Clinton and Venus and Serena Williams in picking up the top gong.

The 2022 inaugural recipient of the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award is renowned author and scholar Dr. Safiya Noble, who has pioneered the study of how digital technologies intersect with culture, race, and gender and previously worked with Harry at the Aspen Institute Think Tank to tackle 'fake news'.

Who is Dr. Safiya Noble? Dr. Noble is an internet studies scholar and Professor of Gender Studies and African American Studies at UCLA where she serves as the Co-Founder and Faculty Director of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry (C2i2), which is a partner to Archewell Foundation. In 2021, she was recognised as a MacArthur Fellow for her ground-breaking work on algorithmic discrimination, which enabled her founding of Equity Engine, a non-profit committed to creating the conditions for Black women and women of color to thrive through access to education, investments, mentorship, and mutual aid. She is the author of a best-selling book on racist and sexist algorithmic bias in commercial search engines, entitled Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism (NYU Press), which has been widely-praised in scholarly and popular publications. 'At both the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry, and at the Equity Engine, we are working toward greater possibilities for vulnerable people,' said Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble. 'Digital civil rights and protections from harm on the internet are a crucial pathway to a more just world, and I am grateful for the support of the NAACP and Archewell Foundation for contributing to our efforts to create more compassionate and democratic societies where Black women and women of colour can thrive, too.' Advertisement

The NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award seeks to recognise long-term contributors to the digital rights space while also supporting a new generation of visionaries working to expand equity, including issues related to discrimination, misinformation, privacy, countering biases, limiting profiling and surveillance, improving transparency, increasing diversity in the tech sector, and more.

Each year, the honouree will be awarded a $100,000 (75,000) unrestricted stipend to be used to advance new work, expand leadership and expertise, or continue to make an impact in the field.

The awards will include a performance by Mary J. Blige and with appearances with Issa Rae, Kerry Washington, LL Cool J, Michael Strahan, Morgan Freeman, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Paula Patton, Questlove, Samuel L. Jackson, Simu Liu, Tiffany Haddish and Zendaya.

Harry and Meghan have previously spoken out of racial justice issues - including sharing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement while Meghan has discussed her experience of racism within the royal family.

In 2020, Prince Harry revealed his 'awakening' to the discrimination faced by black people after meeting his wife.

Meghan Markle has praised Black Lives Matter protests in America after the death of George Floyd as 'beautiful' - but said this only applied to 'peaceful protest' and admitted many people found them 'inflammatory'.

Speaking on Zoom to the Evening Standard, Harry also weighed in on Diversity's controversial BLM dance routine on Britain's Got Talent and said he was 'surprised' by the negative comments it had received.

In a separate article for the newspaper, the couple said: 'As long as structural racism exists, there will be generations of young people of colour who do not start their lives with the same equality of opportunity as their white peers. And for as long as that continues, untapped potential will never get to be realised.'

Asked for her thoughts on the BLM movement, Meghan acknowledged that it was a 'different movement' in the US from the one that in the UK.

'The impetus is from a place of recognising equality and if you just go back to its ground level, I don't think there's anything controversial about it,' she said.

'What has been inflammatory for a lot of people is when any version of the community becomes disruptive.

'But when it's just peaceful protest and when there's the intention of just wanting unity and wanting recognition of equality, then that's a beautiful thing

'While it has been challenging for a lot of people certainly having to make this reckoning of historical significance that has got people to the place that they are, that is uncomfortable for people and we recognize that. It's uncomfortable for us.'

She added: 'If we just focus on the uplift and the positivity while still acknowledging the past, that's how we reshape things and that shouldn't be inflammatory at all, that should be really exciting.'
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Nearly every state in America is making moves to lift remaining Covid-related mandates and usher in a 'return to normal' - despite the federal government's hesitancy to leave the pandemic behind

An analysis by CBS News finds that 49 U.S. states have either lifted or relaxed indoor mask mandates, or have set a date to do so in the near future. The lone holdout is Hawaii, the island state that has had the strictest mandates of anywhere in the country throughout the pandemic so far.

These decisions by both Democratic and Republican leaders around America come as cases decline basically everywhere. 49 states have recorded a decline in Covid cases over the past two weeks, with Maine being the lone outlier.

Nationwide, the United States is recording 79,668 cases per day - the first time the seven day average has dropped below 80,000 since November 29. Cases are down 38 percent over the past seven days, and down 90 percent from the Omicron fueled surge's mid-January peak of around 800,000 per day.

Last week, California Gov Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that his state - the most populous in America- will soon transition into treating COVID-19 as an endemic, moving on from the pandemic as the state marks two years since the first cases of the virus were detected in the U.S.

Hawaii is the only state in America that has not laid out plans to lift its indoor mask mandate in the coming weeks. Pictured: A man wears a mask on a beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, on April 28, 2020

Cases in California have dropped 80 percent over the past two weeks and only 24 of every 100,000 residents are testing positive for the virus daily.

'We are moving past the crisis phase into a phase where we will work to live with this virus,' Newsom said at a news conference announcing the 'Smarter' plan on Thursday.

'People are looking forward to turning the page,' he added. 'They also need to know we have their back, we're going to keep them safe, and we're going to stay on top of this.'

California is now the first U.S. state to declare the virus 'endemic', and the nations most populous state now joins a growing list that have begun to rollback mandates as cases continue to decline.

Newsome rolled back his states indoor mask mandate for vaccinated residents in mid-February, though he left options open for county and city level officials in the state to reapply mandates at their own discretion.

While nearly all blue states, like California, have lifted these mandates for a majority of indoor public spaces, masks are still required in many schools. School mask mandates are one of the most controversial policies in America at the moment, and some states like New York, Delaware and Maryland still requiring children to mask at school, with no end date set.

Federal leaders have been hesitant to lift mandates as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends universal masking in public schools and requires people to wear masks when traveling on planes and trains.

Officials opened the door to lifting restrictions soon during a press briefing last week, though. White House Covid response Coordinator Jeff Zients indicated that the federal government is already looking to life beyond Covid.

'As a result of all this progress and the tools we all have, we're moving toward a time when Covid isn't a crisis but is something we can protect against and treat,' Zients said.

'The president and our Covid team are actively planning for this future.'

'We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen,' Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, explained at last week's briefing.

'If and when we update our guidance, we will communicate that clearly. And it will be based on the data and the science.

In the UK, Thursday marks 'Freedom day', as all Covid related restrictions are now lifted from the nation after a miraculous turn around in recent months. The country was among the hardest struck in the world by the Omicron variant fueled surge at the end of last year, but - like the U.S. - cases quickly plummeted after peaking in January.

Now averaging only 40,000 cases per day, far below the peak of around 180,000 daily, officials are confident they can put the pandemic behind them.

A new threat may be around the corner, though. Officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) are warning global health leaders not to let their guard down as the Omicron 'stealth' variant spreads around the world.

The 'stealth' variant, or BA.2 as it is officially classified, is a lineage of the Omicron variant that lacks some key indicators that allows for it to be easily sequenced - hence the 'stealth' moniker. It is not believed to cause more severe infection than the original, BA.1, version of the variant, but it is around 30 percent more transmissible.

The WHO reports that 35 percent, or more than one of every three, global Covid cases are of the stealth variant. The lineage quickly took hold in Denmark and the UK last month, and stalled the plummeting of case numbers.

Most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the lineage still only makes up less than five percent of U.S. cases, while its predecessor - BA.1 - still makes up nearly every single new case in America.

Officials at the WHO say they are monitoring the situation, and looking at data from multiple countries to determine the potential threat level of the lineage.

'We're looking not only at how quickly those peaks go up, but how they come down,' Maria Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist at the WHO, said.

'And as the decline in cases occurswe also need to look at: Is there a slowing of that decline? Or will we start to see an increase again?'

American health officials, while also monitoring the situation, do not seem particularly worried about this new strain and are putting plans in place to move past the 'pandemic' phase of Covid.

Covid deaths are continuing to fall as well, giving U.S.-based health officials even more reason to feel comfortable with the current direction of the pandemic. Daily deaths have dropped 20 percent over the past week, with 1,782 Americans succumbing to the virus daily.
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent rollout of vaccines for the virus have been a financial goldmine for some major players in the pharmaceutical industry, including Moderna.

Stephane Bancel, CEO of the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company, said on an earnings call Thursday morning that it expects to bring in upwards of $19 billion in revenue this year off of sales of its COVID-19 vaccine alone.

The company produces the second most popular Covid vaccine in America, having been administered over 200 million times to fully vaccinate 75 million people.

More revenue streams are expected to come in the future as well, with an Omicron specific booster potentially being released in the coming weeks and Bancel told CNBC's Squawk Box that even more booster shots may be needed this fall.

Moderna projects $19 billion in revenue this year from sales of its COVID-19 vaccine alone. The company believes more shots will be needed this fall, and plans to rollout an Omicron-specific jab

Stephane Bancel (pictured), CEO of Moderna, said he expects the virus to transition from a pandemic to an endemic in the near future

The new projections announced Thursday are a $2 billion increase from figures reported by the company earlier this year.

Like other experts, Bancel expects Covid to transform away from a pandemic and into an endemic phase at some point this year.

'We believe there's a high probability that we're moving into an endemic setting,' Bancel said.

'We should still be cautious because as we've seen with delta, which came after alpha and was more virulent, [it] is always possible to get the more virulent variant of course.'

Keeping the virus under control will likely require regular, potentially annual booster shots, similar to a yearly flu shot many Americans already receive.

Bancel believes the next available Covid shot could become available during the fall, but said the U.S. government has not yet ordered a purchase of more jabs.

Moderna is also currently in Phase 2 of trials for its Omicron-tailored Covid jab. It is reportedly aiming to have the shot available to Americans late last month.

There may not be much uptake for the shot once it does come out, though, as Covid cases have cratered in recent weeks.

The nation is averaging under 80,000 Covid cases a day, a 40 percent drop over the past week and a 90 percent drop from the virus's peak in mid-January.

A fourth shot will likely be needed for Americans at some point, though. mRNA vaccines are very effective at preventing serious Covid infection, but efficacy wanes in a matter of months.

It is almost a guarantee that Americans that have already received Covid boosters will need a fourth shot at some point this year. Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla - a direct competitor to Moderna - have both said a fourth dose is on the way for months.

Moderna is also planning on combining its Covid shot with a flu and RSV vaccine to create one, universal, jab a person has to receive every year to protect from all common viral infections.

Earlier this week, the company announced that it had begun Phase 3 of trials for its RSV vaccine.

The company also hopes to expand eligibility of its Covid vaccine, which would boost its revenue as well.

Moderna's shot is currently only available to Americans aged 18 and older, while Pfizer's shot is authorized for children as young as five.

The company is gathering data for its shot in children as young as five, and is currently requesting the FDA to authorize the shot for those aged 12 to 17.

Regulators, not just in America but around the world, have concerns about the shot in younger people, though.

While Moderna's shot is safe and effective, young men under the age of 30 are at an increased risk of developing myocarditis from the shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a warning about mRNA shots in young people, and some Nordic nations like Sweden and Norway have restricted use of the Moderna shots in people under 30.
Children release a much lower volume of COVID-19 aerosol particles than adults, potentially reducing their ability to transmit the virus, a new study finds.

Researchers from the University of Berlin, in Germany, found that, on average, children release less Covid particles into the air, especially when they are breathing, speaking or singing.

Experts believe that people who release lower amounts of aerosol particles when speaking have smaller viral loads, which also means they do not spread the virus at the same level.

The findings have big implications on schools and other events and activities mainly populated by children, as Covid transmission may be less of a risk than expected - even when children are no using masks.

Researchers found that when children (orange) breath, speak or sing, the emit less Covid aerosol particles than adults (blue) do. Particle rates were similar when test subjects shouted, though

Some states like New York and Delaware still require children to wear face masks despite them facing little risk from the virus. The German study finds that they are likely transmitting the virus at lower rates as well. Pictured: A child wears a face mask and shield at the Lynwood, California, school on January 12

Researchers, who published their findings Wednesday in The Journal of the Royal Society, gathered data from 15 adults and 15 children for the study.

The children included 11 boys and four girls, all of which were between the ages of eight and ten years old.

All of the children, and all of the adults - which were aged between 23 and 64 - are a part of professional or semi-professional choirs.

They put each participant into an enclosed environment, and had each breath, speak, sing and shout before researchers would gather an measure particle emission and volume.

The researchers found that when breathing, speaking or singing, the child group was on average spreading a much lower rate of aerosols than the adult groups.

When shouting, though, similar viral loads were found in children and adults.

The actual implications of this study can not be fully determined, but it does seem to indicate that children have smaller viral loads than adults - and hence spread the virus at lower rates.

This would have far reaching implications on how the pandemic is treated going forward, especially in some U.S. schools where children are still required to wear masks.

Masks in schools have become one of the most controversial topics in America in recent weeks, with detractors saying the face-coverings hurt a child's ability to communicate with peers during key social development ages.

Many states have lifted their school mask mandates in recent weeks, as the Omicron-fueled COVID-19 surge has all but fully receded nationwide.

Some, though, still force children to wear face coverings in school despite lifting mask mandates in all other public places - like New York and Delaware.

Even when children do catch Covid, the risk that they face from the virus is especially small.

Young people are among the least likely demographics to contract or fall fatally ill from the disease, leading to questions why vaccine or mask mandates would be implemented on children in schools.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that children make up less than 0.1 percent of deaths from the virus since the pandemic began in early 2020.

A study performed last autumn by the researchers at the University of Utah - before the more mild Omicron variant arrived - found that half of pediatric Covid cases were asymptomatic.
HISTORY

A HANDFUL OF HEROES: RORKE'S DRIFT - FACTS, MYTHS AND LEGENDS

by Katie Stossel (Pen & Sword 19.99, 201pp)

While the 1964 film Zulu, with Michael Caine and Stanley Baker, may not rate as the all-time greatest with the critics, for many of us its a reliable old classic that we can watch again and again.

But how much is accurate, and does it really capture the spirit of that famous and dreadful day at Rorkes Drift, Natal Province, on January 22, 1879?

There have been many books about that small but unforgettable battle between a tiny British regiment and several thousand Zulu warriors. Nevertheless, author Katie Stossel gives us a fresh view, along with some previously overlooked bit-part players.

Katie Stossel has penned a new history book giving a fresh view of the Anglo-Zulu war. Pictured: Stanley Baker and Michael Caine in the 1964 film Zulu

The essentials are clearly stated: the Zulus, a proud warrior tribe just over the border from South Africa, were seen as a looming threat by the British High Commissioner to South Africa, Sir Bartle Frere.

Alarmed by their rising power, Frere wanted the tribe disarmed and incorporated into South Africa.

Their King Cetshwayo refused, and when a few Zulus crossed into Natal and beat to death two runaway women for adultery  their skulls smashed with knobkerries in accordance with established Zulu tradition  Frere had his casus belli. Five thousand British troops marched confidently into Zululand.

And so began the Anglo-Zulu war. When, days later, 1,300 British soldiers were famously slaughtered at Isandlwana, a triumphant army of Zulu warriors marched back across the border into British territory and descended on the small mission station of Rorkes Drift, defended by some 150 men. The Zulus numbered about 4,500.

The defenders of the little station, firing their beefy .452 Martini-Henry rifles and thrusting with their bayonets from behind their biscuit boxes and mealie bags, fought tenaciously. The fighting was so desperate that, at times, the Zulu attackers could grab the very barrels of the soldiers rifles poking through holes in the walls of the hospital building.

Contrary to the films depiction of murderously effective waves of volley fire, says Stossel, it seems the bayonets did most of the grim work, since surprisingly few cartridge cases have been found at the site.

Finally, after a day and a night of fighting and terrible losses, the Zulus pulled back disheartened. And when a British relief column appeared they fled in terror, having thought that British forces had been wiped out at Isandlwana and that these were ghost soldiers. Behind them lay just 17 British dead, and some 600 Zulus.

Oddly, for a battle in which the beleaguered force was outnumbered 40 to one but killed 20 attackers for every defender that died, some in the Army High Command opposed awarding VCs.

Katie Stossel claims the soldiers were a rough lot and paid a shilling a day when beer was a penny hapenny a pint. Pictured: 1964 film Zulu

The Victoria Cross denotes extreme devotion to duty or even self-sacrifice; the soldiers were simply there doing their job, and could not escape  they were rats in a trap, as one British General put it, and they fought as they had to.

But thanks to a combination of public adulation and the support of an admiring Queen Victoria, 11 VCs were awarded, along with four Distinguished Conduct medals.

For all the heroism displayed that day, Stossel shows that the soldiers were a rough lot, their archetypal squaddie humour unmistakable.

They referred to their grim rations of tinned meat as Harriet Lane, after a Whitechapel girl who had recently been murdered and, literally, chopped into small pieces.

But they werent treated royally themselves, paid a shilling a day when beer was a penny hapenny a pint: their daily wage was about 40 in modern purchasing power.

A HANDFUL OF HEROES: RORKE'S DRIFT - FACTS, MYTHS AND LEGENDS by Katie Stossel (Pen & Sword 19.99, 201pp)

There is new material regarding Sister Janet Wells, an extremely pretty nurse of only 19, who came out after the battle to care for the wounded soldiers and clearly cheered them up no end. A brisk, sensible girl, she quickly had the soldiers boiling up their water before drinking, and washing their underwear and shirts a little more often. Stomach bugs promptly subsided.

She also instructed the men suffering from athletes foot to pee in their boots every night. The urea would kill the fungus. To the soldiers it was a miraculous cure.

The afterlives of these Rorkes Drift heroes make sometimes sad reading.

Private William Jones VC ended up re-enacting the battle on stage for a living, working for Buffalo Bills Wild West Show in the 1880s. Poverty later forced him to pawn his VC. Private Robert Jones took to drink and shot himself in 1898.

Henry Hook  wrongly depicted in the film as a drunk and a coward  became a cloakroom attendant at the British Museum. And as Stossel shows, the film certainly has its inaccuracies.

Most famously, the soldiers were not in fact from the South Wales Borderers, and the magnificent scene where they sing Men of Harlech is creative licence. But Welsh pride need not be too dented: there still were plenty of Welshmen in the ranks  Jones and Parry and Williams  as well as men from Lancashire, the Midlands and London. They were a very mixed bunch.

And it remains a classic war film for its abiding sense, so well captured in the Duke of Wellingtons famous words: Next to a lost battle, nothing is so sad as a battle that has been won.

And how can you not love a film which had the mighty King Cetshwayo himself played by his own great-grandson, Mangosuthu Buthelezi?

Today that once embattled and blood-soaked storehouse where they fought so doggedly back in 1879 has been converted into a simple church for the local Zulu people.
LAST ONE AT THE PARTY by Bethany Clift (Hodder 8.99 368 pp)

LAST ONE AT THE PARTY

by Bethany Clift (Hodder 8.99 368 pp)

October 23, 2023. People begin to fall ill in the U.S. with a virus so deadly that it is nicknamed 6DM, because six days is the maximum survival time.

By November, the infection is in the UK. Amid the chaos, a woman surfaces from an epic hangover to find that she has immunity.

Her family succumb, along with the rest of the population. The streets are strewn with bodies, communications are down and, as far as she knows, she may be the lone survivor. With only a stray dog for company, Bethany Clifts heroine sets out on a perilous journey of self-discovery.

Ill-equipped for surviving the apocalypse (her plan is to get to Soho Farmhouse), she discovers unexpected resilience.

Clifts gripping dystopia is terrifying but edged with anarchic humour.

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FRIENDS AND ENEMIES by Barbara Amiel (Constable 10.99, 608 pp)

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES

by Barbara Amiel (Constable 10.99, 608 pp)

Were still here, writes Barbara Amiel at the end of her autobiography, whose dramatic highs and lows read like fiction. Born in Watford, her parents separated when she was eight and her mother took her and her sister to Canada.

She left home in her teens, but her wit and beauty brought her a career as a media star and entranced the newspaper baron Conrad Black. Her marriage to him catapulted her into a world of power-brokers, high society and haute couture: I have an extravagance that knows no bounds, she told Vogue.

The downfall was brutal: Conrad was sentenced to prison for fraud; the society friends fled and social Siberia ensued. Waspish, witty, often scandalous, bristling with old scores settled and swooning with romantic love, this is a furious, fascinating record of a life lived to the full.

TALL BONES

TALL BONES by Anna Bailey (Penguin 7.99, 352 pp)

by Anna Bailey (Penguin 7.99, 352 pp)

When teenager Abigail Blake goes missing from her small-town home, the townsfolk are not particularly surprised. Her father is a Vietnam veteran-turned- fundamentalist Christian who beats his wife and sons. A desultory police investigation follows her disappearance, but most assume she has run away.

Abigails best friend, Emma, is not convinced. Bullied for her Latina background and haunted by the mystery of her own fathers unexplained absence, Emma joins forces with a fellow outsider, Rat, a Romanian immigrant, to find out what has happened.

Their investigation will lead them into dangerous places, but also offer them a glimmer of hope. Anna Baileys debut novel peels back the layers of cruelty, prejudice and suffering that lie beneath the surface of an ordinary, God-fearing community.
Car maker Mini has suspended production at its Oxford car plant this week due to the global shortage of semiconductor chips, it has been confirmed.

Parent group BMW said the Cowley factory closed on Monday and will remain shut up to and including Friday.

It is not the first time the lack of supply of computer chips has halted assembly lines at the Oxford facility, with Mini forced to pause outputs for three days across April and May last year for the same issue.

Car maker Mini has suspended production at its Oxford factory this week due to the ongoing global shortage of semiconductor chips

Commenting on the suspension of production this week, BMW bosses said: 'We are monitoring the situation very closely and are in constant communication with our associates and suppliers.'

An official statement from the car maker added: 'Plant Swindon and Plant Hams Hall have also been affected however not exactly in the same way  a small number of shifts have been impacted in specific areas and this has been communicated locally to our associates.

'The BMW Group expects the supply situation for semiconductor components to remain difficult and cannot rule out the possibility of this impacting sales during the rest of the year.

'There may also be some impact on the availability of specific equipment, due to the semiconductor supply bottlenecks. Together with our retail partners, we aim to offer our customers viable, alternative equipment variants to continue to ensure a high degree of individualisation in our vehicles.'

The Cowley plant currently employs around 3,800 staff, though reports claim the closure during the week will be no impact to their pay.

Mini was the UK's third biggest car maker in 2021, producing 186,762 vehicles in total during the year. Only Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan build more motors in Britain than the iconic brand.

It is not the first time the lack of supply of computer chips has halted assembly lines at the Oxford facility, with Mini forced to pause outputs for three days across April and May last year for the same issue

The Cowley plant currently employs around 3,800 staff, though reports claim the closure during the week will be no impact to their pay

Prince Charles pictured during a visit to the Mini car factory in June last year

The site produces the Mini Hatch, including the Mini Electric, as well as the Clubman estate.

The shortage of semiconductor chips has affected all vehicle manufacturers, and has been blamed for limiting the industry's recovery from the pandemic.

It has also caused second-hand car prices to spiral in the last nine months.

Those unable to get their hands on a new Mini and have instead turned to the used market will find that a three-year-old petrol Cooper model with 30,000 miles on the clock will cost 37 per cent - or 4,055 - more than a year ago.

> Read our latest exclusive report on record second-hand car prices

The site produces the Mini Hatch, including the Mini Electric (pictured), as well as the Clubman estate
Appetite for venture capital trusts continues to grow, as investors flock to their generous tax breaks and the chance to back high-growth companies.

Venture capital trusts raise money from investors to invest in young, usually privately-owned companies that are not themselves listed on the stock market, or those with shares trading on the junior market Aim.

VCTs themselves are stock market listed and deliver much of their returns to investors through dividends, with some juicy tax breaks to encourage them to back fledgling companies and reflect the risk involved.

Over the last financial year VCTs which are part of the Venture Capital Trust Associations portfolio have delivered an average total return of 24 per cent.

Younger investors are becoming increasingly attracted to VCTs' generous tax breaks and the chance to invest in high growth startups

Traditionally, VCTs attracted older and wealthy investors encouraged to take advantage of the tax breaks by financial advisers, particularly to those focussed on more stable dividends.

However, rule changes shook up the VCT market and made trusts focus more on scale-up companies.

A period of good performance and interest in backing early stage businesses - fuelled by high profile tech-influenced growth success stories - means VCT managers have reported the demographic of investors has shifted in recent years, away from older, high net worth individuals to younger professionals.

Unicorn AIM VCTs 25million share offer reached full capacity after two weeks while Mobeus VCT, a generalist manager, hit its target in less than a day.

We look at the new kind of VCT investor and whether it might be the right investment for you.

Why invest in a VCT?

A big attraction of VCTs has long been the generous tax breaks they offer. Investors can claim up to 30 per cent income tax relief on the amount they have invested in a VCT, provided they hold the investment for at least five years.

The amount of income tax investors claim cannot exceed their amount of income tax due.

HOW TO INVEST IN VCTs VCTs raise funds periodically by issuing new shares through an offer for subscription. Investors can buy shares in new offers through a specialist broker like Wealth Club, or invest directly through an online discount broker or financial adviser. As VCTs are listed companies, investors can also buy shares on the open market through a broker. But it is vital to realise that second-hand VCT shares do not offer the same upfront income tax relief that is available with new shares. Investors can still take advantage of any tax-free income and growth. The maximum amount investors can invest in VCTs is 200,000 per tax year and the minimum depends on the VCT, but is usually around the 5,000 mark. VCT initial charges can be as much as 5 per cent, partly because they require more management than more mainstream investments.

VCTs also offer tax-free capital gains and tax-free dividends.

Aside from the tax benefits, VCTs also offer investors exposure to the UKs growing number of high-growth technology companies.

As an investment trust, when someone invests in a VCT they become a shareholder of the trust itself.

It means investors can get exposure to any investments the VCT makes after the investment, as well as the existing portfolio.

The UK is a leader in Europe for creating innovative start-ups and scale-ups but they are underrepresented in the main FTSE stock market indices.

Research by Wealth Club, a platform that offers investors the chance to invest in VCTs, shows that almost half of VCT investments are in businesses that have grown revenues by more than 25 per cent year on year.

This is in stark contrast to the UK main market, where just 5.9 per cent of companies have achieved growth.

Alex Davies, of Wealth Club, said:Whilst many UK main market companies have grappled with the headwinds brought on by the pandemic, many early-stage healthcare or tech-enabled businesses have thrived as changing consumer and business spending habits have favoured businesses that are taking full advantage of new technologies.

One investor, aged 34, who asked not to be named, said: I first made a VCT investment in 2015, and a strong flow of dividends from VCTs following successful exits has encouraged me to invest more over the years.

As a small private investor, VCTs provide the ability to invest in growth businesses that professional managers have carried out due diligence on and see significant potential in.

VCTs are a far more compelling investment opportunity than AIM shares where small private investors do not have the benefit of a professional money manager who can access more information and opportunities than a private investor.

'I also like the fact that my subscription money is used in the real economy to support jobs and create value.

Titan VCT backed serial entrepreneur Alex Chesterman's used car marketplace Cazoo which listed last year

There have been a number of successful UK company exits from VCTs in the past year.

Titan VCT backed Depop and Cazoo which both achieved valuations of more than $1billion in their respective exits, while Pembroke VCT, which primarily invests in consumer facing brands, had profitable exits from brands like Pasta Evangelists and Plenish.

While the success stories have been much publicised, investing in high-growth private companies comes with risk - and there are many investments that fall flat along the way.

This is why VCTs adaopt a portfolio approach, backing many risky companies on the basis that those that succeed can outweigh those that don't.

Much of the return from VCTs also comes from dividends and share prices can be relatively static, compared to the performance of stock market listed growth companies, and even fall below their quoted net asset value for prolonged periods.

Performance varies wildly across the sector. Some large VCTs have seen share prices jump between 20 and 30 per cent over five years, while others have plunged over 20 per cent.

Wealth Club clarifies that VCT investments are long-term and not for everyone. Prospective investors should be aware that they could wait years for investments to pay off and could lose their money on those that fail.

Investors need to be aware that VCTs come with relatively high charges compared to more standard investment trusts or funds. The tax benefits also come by investing directly into new shares, not from buying VCTs second hand on the market.

Are VCTs attracting a new type of investor?

Tax breaks mean VCTs have historically been the preserve of older, wealthier investors with a large number of trusts targeting stable, dividend-paying assets rather than high-growth companies.

But changes to VCT investment and limits on high earners pensions, mean they have become more mainstream and starting to attract a pool of new, younger investors, albeit often wealthy ones.

The average age of Wealth Clubs VCT investor is 57.6, with a quarter of clients between 50 and 60. However 28 per cent are between 20 and 50, suggesting a growing number of millennials are flocking to VCTs.

Wealth Clubs criteria for VCT investment is sophisticated investors or minimum 100,000 annual salary and/or investable assets of 250,000 or more, excluding their main residence and pension.

Alex Davies, founder of specialist VCT broker the Wealth Club

It means a large number of investors are headteachers, doctors, accountants and lawyers and not just high rolling City workers.

The typical investor invests only 15,000. They may well invest regularly, potentially, every year, or every other year, says David Hall, managing director of YFM Equity Partners and chair of the VCTA.

They are also adopting what Pembroke VCT CEO Andrew Wolfson calls a scatter gun approach and investing in a few VCTs at the same time.

Women hold an average of 2.4 VCTs, according to Wealth Club figures, while men hold 3.1.

Another investor, also aged 34, said: I started investing in VCTs four years ago and generally drip feed into one new VCT a year to derisk it. However, this year I have invested in four different VCT backed companies as I think they are a good mix of risk vs reward.

How to pick the right VCT for you

Broadly there are different types of VCT: generalist, Aim and specialist.

The most common is generalist VCTs, which invest in a wide range of small, usually private companies in a range of sectors. They focus on diversification across many early stage companies, which they will often then try to actively work with to help them grow and succeed.

Often VCTs will look to back established entrepreneurs and some target particular types of company or sectors.

Aim VCTs invest in new shares issued by Aim-listed companies and target tax-free growth as well as income. Because they are investing in listed firms, the price of these trusts can be more volatile, because the companies are constantly being valued by the stock market rather than assessed periodically, as with unlisted businesses.

However, there is more flexibility for them to enter or exit investments, because ordinary shares are more easily sold on the market.

There are also specialist VCTs which focus on just one sector, and the more rare hybrid trust like Baronsmead VCT which invests in both generalist and Aim companies.

Weve seen over the years a complementary return profile and complementary investment and divestment profiles, says Baronsmead manager Bevan Duncan.

It was evidenced if you looked immediately post the first national lockdown We had public markets reacting quite quickly and the drop in public markets in our portfolio was quite significant. But they recovered quicker too as the government started introducing different support initiatives.

The private equity portfolio was down less but took a little bit longer to recover. Those dynamics mean that the overall investor gets a more balanced, steady return.

What VCTs are on offer?

Baronsmead VCT, which targets a dividend of 7 per cent, is currently open to investment and has already raised 60.7million of the targeted 75million.

Wealth Clubs Davies says the diverse investment portfolio and relatively low minimum investment (3,000) means this could be a good starting place for investors looking to dip their toe in VCT investing for the first time.

Pembroke VCT, which targets a dividend of 3p per share is seeking 40million before its offer closes on 5 April.

Investors can receive tax-free dividends every month of the year Alex Davies, Wealth Club

Wealth Clubs Davies also highlights Albion VCTs, a well-established generalist VCT manager, which focuses on large business-to-business software companies and more mature asset-backed investments like renewable infrastructure and schools.

These more mature income generating asset help to underpin the dividend, and its this dividend which is Albions key differentiator.

'By spreading your investment across all six Albion VCTs (a minimum overall investment of 6,000) investors can receive tax-free dividends every month of the year, not guaranteed  potentially making this an attractive option for those looking to derive an income from their investments.
I purchased a house in November 2021, which I plan to completely demolish and rebuild.

It has been empty for three years and is severely fire damaged  to the extent that it does not even have a roof.

My problem relates to the gas and electric supplier for the house, Eon. It is claiming that I owe 371 for energy that I have not used.

Powerless: This reader has not been using electricity at the property he has bought as it is uninhabitable, but energy company Eon says he owes it 371

The power has not been used since the fire, which was in spring 2019, and will not be used again until the new house is built.

I have given Eon meter readings eight times and tried explaining the situation, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.

It has now added late payment fees to my bill and instructed debt collectors to recover it. Can you help? P.G, Lancashire

Helen Crane, This is Money, replies: Buying a home is said to be one of the most stressful experiences in life, let alone building your own  and this power supply predicament has only made it more so.

The home is totally uninhabitable in its current state, so you have not used any energy.

Quite the opposite  you would like your electric and gas supply to be disconnected so that you can safely get on with your renovations.

CRANE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Helen Crane tackle reader problems and shine the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk

But while you have not been using any energy in your home, you have expended plenty in your attempts to set things straight with Eon.

Despite sending in eight separate meter readings to try and prove that the utilities had not been used, you have felt powerless in your attempts to get this resolved.

Concerningly, Eon has now said it has instructed debt collectors to retrieve the cash.

You believe the bill may relate to energy used by the previous owners of the house, who sadly passed away.

But customers are not liable for energy bills incurred before they occupied a home, and that applies whether they are homeowners or renters.

According to Citizens' Advice, anyone who receives an energy bill on a new property that they don't believe they owe should get in touch with the supplier.

They should provide a copy of their tenancy agreement or mortgage contract to prove when they moved in, and ask the supplier to send them a new bill.

They should also provide a meter reading to check that the new bill is correct.

You have done all of the above, and yet the issue is still ongoing.

The reader provided meter readings for his uninhabited house eight times, but to no avail

I contacted Eon to find out what was going on.

A spokesperson for Eon said: 'We have apologised to [the customer] and have removed the incorrect charges from his account, and are arranging the disconnection and removal of his meters.'

They were not able to shine a light on quite why you were charged in the first place.

However, I am glad that this matter has been put to bed - although why it took our involvement is a mystery, given you'd done everything necessary to prove it wasn't your bill to pay. Good luck with the rebuild.

Spice of life: Kitchenware company T&G woodware offers customers a lifetime guarantee

Hit and miss: This week's naughty and nice list

Every week, I look at the companies who have fallen short when it comes to customer service, and those who have gone above and beyond.

Hit: Michele sent us an email peppered with praise for family-owned kitchenware company, T&G Woodware, based in Portishead near Bristol.

She is a seasoned customer of the firm, which designs and produces salt and pepper mills.

In particular, she wanted to give a shout-out to its lifetime guarantee, which means it will replace any mills where the mechanism breaks.

Michele said: 'I have had quite a few salt and pepper mills break on me over a number of years.

'T&G has always honoured its guarantee and replaced them, and been very helpful if I have spoken to them.'

It's always good to hear about salt-of-the-earth firms keeping their promises to customers.

Delivery drama: A reader says a television he sent using Parcelforce arrived broken

Miss: Reader Rifath wrote in to channel his anger about his recent experience sending a television in the post with Parcelforce.

He had sold the set on eBay for 370, and sent it in the post using a Parcelforce label that he bought online from Parcel2Go.

He sent it in its original packaging, so was confident it would arrive safely.

However, when it arrived at the buyer's home this series of events turned into something of a drama.

They sent him an image to show that it had been damaged in transit, and are now requesting a refund for the full purchase price.

The parcel looked as if it had taken a bashing, and the front and back of the screen had split apart in one of the corners.

But when Rifath contacted Parcelforce, it said it would not compensate him for the damage.

Damage: The image of the television that was sent by the buyer

I contacted Royal Mail, which owns Parcelforce, and it did not want to comment.

However, it did direct me to a page on its website which says that TVs are excluded from its compensation policy for items that reach their destination damaged.

Parcel carriers often refuse to offer compensation for items that are more susceptible to being broken.

This includes everything from televisions and computer monitors to jewellery, light bulbs and even cakes.

Rifath has told me that he doesn't agree with this policy, as he says it allows couriers to treat parcels as carelessly as they like, knowing that they will not be liable for any damage.

When it comes to getting the money back I'm afraid Parcelforce has not delivered for him this time, but perhaps this will serve as a cautionary tale to others.

If you sell items online and send them in the post, it is important to screen potential couriers carefully to find out their compensation policy.

Rifath has since told me that Parcels2Go viewed his case more sympathetically, and and has refunded him the postage cost.

While this is only a fraction of the total amount he has lost, hopefully it will provide a bit of comfort.
Russias invasion of Ukraine has sent global stock markets into freefall, while Brent crude oil prices have rocketed above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014.

The FTSE 100 index fell sharply and closed down 3.88 per cent or 291.17 points to 7,207.01 this afternoon, while the FTSE 250 index finished down 2.82 per cent or 587.08 points to 20,254.44.

In the US, the Dow Jones was down nearly 2 per cent, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down 1.15 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively. Asian markets also tumbled last night.

Lloyds bank saw a jump in profits last year, but it missed analyst consensus forecasts, as the lender laid out a fresh strategy under new CEO Charlie Nunn.

Lloyds reported pre-tax profits of 6.9billion for the calendar year, below the 7.2billion average of analyst forecasts and up from the 1.2billion profit in 2020.

Rolls-Royce expects to return to positive cash flow in 2022, the final year with Warren East at the helm, after it reported a better-than-expected reduction in its cash burn in 2021.

Outgoing East said the company had improved its financial and operational performance in 2021 and was now a more balanced business.

>If you are using our app or a third-party site click here to read Business Live
By Donald Kirk





The descent of Eastern Europe into war is like an excruciating movie in which you have to fear the worst.You can't believe that Russia's Vladimir Putin would have marshalled all those forces within shooting distance of Ukraine without planning to use them. You know you have to accept the tragic news that people will be killing one another across a corner of the region that few of us could have spotted on a map until all TV networks began showing us maps of where the Russians are likely to strike.Putin and his ministers and assorted flunkeys presented one distortion after another in what was described as a press conference in which they mouthed every rationale imaginable for going to war. The only relief came in the prospect of more dialogue as enunciated by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov while Putin looked on silently like a master approving the carefully rehearsed words of his loyal servants.It would be difficult to sort out all the nonsense they were talking about, but what sticks are repeated claims that the Ukraine forces, with the blessing of the 30 NATO nations led by the U.S., have been opening artillery and rifle fire across the line in the southeast into the Donbas region. The fact that this region was part of Ukraine until a few years ago is irrelevant. Now the Russians are saying it's divided between two "people's republics," Donetsk and Luhansk, and should even be recognized as independent countries.Putin gives the appearance of a beast of prey sizing up his next dinner before pouncing. It's hard to know why he wants to conquer a nation where millions died under the control of the former Soviet Union in the 1930s, but obviously plain and simple nationalism underlies the whole crisis.In that sense Putin bears comparison to Xi Jinping in China and Kim Jong-un in North Korea. Xi's burning ambition is to recover Taiwan, the island province that remained independent after the victory of Mao Zedong's Red Army in 1949. Kim Jong-un, of course, would like to atone for the failure of his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, to take over the South in the Korean War by uniting the Korean Peninsula under his rule.Both Xi and Kim would appear to have enough common sense not to risk wars in which millions would die. Xi cannot be sure the Americans and probably the Japanese would not rush to Taiwan's defense, repelling his forces in the Formosa or Taiwan Straits, and Kim has to worry about the Americans, again with the backing of Japan, turning back invasion of the South. Better to test-fire missiles and fabricate nuclear devices, Kim seems to believe, than to take chances on a war in which his regime might not survive.You have to hope Putin would also have that much common sense. The ultimate consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine could be a European or even another world war. The war might not reach those proportions right away, but expansion of the conflict would be likely when considering Russian ambitions.It's not just that the Russians are eager to pile up every pretext they can think of to cross the line into Ukraine. Bearing in mind that revenge and a return to the greatness of the Soviet Union in its finest hours would be a prime motive, Putin soon would want to recover other former satellites. They already have Belarus under dictator Alexander Lukashenko in their orbit, so much so that Russian troops have been training there above Ukraine's northern frontier.The Russians want more. How about Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania? They're ripe for the taking, on the Baltic, exposed to Russia with no other neighboring power to guarantee safety and permanent independence. Lithuania does share a brief common border with Poland, but Poland was divided between Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Soviet Union before those two evil tyrants went to war with one another in mid-1941. Poland, after the German surrender four years later, fell under Soviet rule.We should look at the expansion of the Soviet Union to encompass Eastern Europe, and much of Central Asia too, in terms of Russian nationalism rather than communism. Putin, by gnawing away at Ukraine, sees himself avenging the wrong of the breakup of the Soviet empire. Similarly, Kim Jong-un, as he threatens his enemies with nukes and missiles, dreams some day of leading a united Korea, avenging 35 years of Japanese colonial rule and the division of Korea by the U.S. and USSR after the Japanese surrenderDonald Kirk ( www.donaldkirk.com ) has been covering conflict in Asia for decades.
Shares in WPP have fallen sharply today despite the group's upbeat preliminary annual results and optimism about its financial fortunes in the year ahead.

The advertising group's latest financial update has been overshadowed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where WPP has around 200 staff.

Boss Mark Read said the group was 'very concerned' about he crisis in Ukraine, but maintained that WPP's revenue could still rise by around 5 per cent on a like-for-like basis this year.

Impact: Shares in WPP have fallen sharply today despite the group's upbeat preliminary annual results

Shares in the FTSE 100-listed group have dropped, and were down 12.11 per cent or 142.50p to 1,034.00p this afternoon.

WPP reported a pre-tax annual profit of 951million today, against a loss of 2.8billion in 2020.

Net revenue increased 12.1 per cent to 10.4billion on a like-for-like basis, representing its fastest organic growth in two decades.

WPP said its performance in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, technology and consumer packaged goods sectors had been particularly strong over the past year.

The London-based firm signed deals with Google and Coca-Cola in the last year and won work from clients like AstraZeneca, Sainsbury's and L'Oreal.

The group thinks advertising spend by companies will remain strong, despite mounting geopolitical uncertainty.

CEO Read said: 'It has been an outstanding year for WPP.

'Our top-line growth, driven by strong demand for our services in digital marketing, media, ecommerce and technology, has resulted in our fastest organic growth for over 20 years.

'As a result, we are two years ahead of our plan, hitting our 2023 revenue target in 2021.'

He added: 'We look forward to 2022 with confidence. We are guiding to strong top-line growth, improving profitability and continued investment in our people and services.'

The Martin Sorrell founded group, which employs more than 100,000 people, has been on a mission to turn its financial fortunes around after being hit hard the pandemic.

WPP said its turnaround plans were on track, and added that it had saved around 245million from across property procurement, improving IT and sharing certain services.
The most high-profile Black Lives Matter group in the nation spent almost a quarter of its donations in 2020 on consultants and lawyers, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) submitted a statement of its revenue and expenses for the year while applying for tax-exempt, nonprofit status in August 2020.

IRS documents obtained by DailyMail.com show the group blew $12.7million out of the $60million in donations it received following the outcry over George Floyd's death on 'professional fees.'

The costs refer to accountants, lawyers, consultants, and contractors utilized by the organization, which includes the high-powered law firm Hillary Clinton retained for her 2016 presidential campaign - where attorneys bill $750 an hour.

The foundation also planned to spend the same amount on professional fees in 2021, the documents, exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, show.

The figures come amid heightened scrutiny of the foundation, which famously grew into one of the largest international movements against racial injustice in mid-2020 and is now facing calls for financial transparency.

The leaders of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) could be held personally liable if they fail to disclose financial records about the charity's $60million in donations within the next 60 days (Pictured left to right: Co-founders Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi who are no longer involved with the organization)

BLM, which famously grew into one of the largest international movements against racial injustice in mid 2020, is now facing calls for transparency regarding the millions of dollars it received in donations

Earlier this month, the California Department of Justice threatened to hold BLMGNF's leaders personally accountable if they did not hand over information about its finances for the 2020 tax year.

The foundation was officially registered as a charity in December 2020, but it has not provided its latest tax return, and the 2019 filing includes a non-existent address.

In a financial report released in February 2021, BLMGNF confirmed it took in $90million throughout 2020, distributed grants to its partner organizations, and had $60million remaining in its accounts.

But charity auditors have since raised the alarm on BLMGNF's management of funds after it emerged that it hasn't had anyone in charge of its finances since co-founder Patrisse Cullors resigned last year.

It is not clear who is currently in charge of the activist group after all three of its founding members - Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi - left the organization.

Cullors - who was the only remaining co-founder and director - resigned last May when it emerged that she had spent $3.2million on a personal property empire.

The disclosure will add to the calls for greater transparency about BLMGNF as without a full accounting of how it spends its money, donors would never know what their donations are going towards.

BLMGNF filed IRS documents requesting to become a nonprofit in 2020 when millions of dollars in donations began pouring in after the police killing of George Floyd.

The paperwork was filed on August 28, 2020 and using IRS Form 1023, which organizations are required to submit when they want nonprofit status.

Documents obtained by DailyMail.com show BLM applied for tax-exempt status in August 2020 and were recognized as a nonprofit months later in December

The exemption, however, means BLMGNF will be subjected to regulatory oversight and be required to file Form 990 every year

There are few figures on the documents, but under financial data it states that the foundation had received $60million in donations by that point - they would later say the total haul for the year was $90million.

Under 'professional fees' it lists $12,706,366 for 2020 and predicted a similar sum, $12.7million, for 2021.

According to the IRS guidelines for the form: 'Professional fees are amounts charged by individuals and entities that aren't your employees.

'They include fees for professional fundraisers, accounting services, legal counsel, consulting services, contract management, or any independent contractors.'

It is unclear if questions over the expenditure is holding up the filing of paperwork by BLMGNF with the California Attorney General, which regulates nonprofits.

In a letter issued to the organization on January 31, the California Department of Justice said BLMGNF was in delinquent status 'for failing to submit required annual report(s)'.

'An organization that is delinquent, suspended or revoked is not in good standing and is prohibited from engaging in conduct for which registration is required, including soliciting or disbursing charitable funds,' the letter reads.

The DOJ requested a copy of BLM's annual registration renewal fee report and its 2020 IRS tax forms within two months time.

Under 'professional fees' in the organization's IRS Form 1023, BLMGNF listed $12,706,366 for 2020 and predicted a similar sum, $12.7million, on such costs for 2021

According to the Washington Examiner, which reported the story, the letter states that BLMGNF is prohibited from 'soliciting or disbursing' charitable funds until it submits paperwork for the 2020 year.

The letter says: 'Directors, trustees, officers and return preparers responsible for failure to timely file the above-described report(s) are personally liable for payment of all penalties, interest and other costs incurred to restore exempt status'.

Tory Russell, an activist from St Louis, Missouri, and co-founder of the International Black Freedom Alliance, was sharply critical of BLMGNF for spending so much on expenses.

Earlier this month it was reported BLMGNF hasn't had anyone in charge of its finances since co-founder and director Patrisse Cullors (pictured) resigned last May

He and Mike Brown Sr, the father of Mike Brown, the black 18-year-old who was shot dead in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014 by a white police officer and sparked a wave of protests around the US, said in March that they wanted to 'hold the foundation accountable.'

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Russell said the $12.7million BLMGNF spent on lawyers and consultants was over the top.

'It's the nonprofit industrial complex on steroids,' he said, comparing it to the military industrial complex and the alliance between a country's military and the defense industry that supplies it with weapons.

'It's a white supremacist model of doing movement work,' he claimed. Lawyers and consultants hired by BLMGNF were 'really NGO people inserted into the black power movement.'

He also does not buy the argument that Washington insiders were needed to achieve influence on a national scale.

'You're not the beast going to conquer another beast. You're the parasite riding the beast,' he said.

'They would not be able to have a conversation if they did not lie and say they're the people in the streets doing the protests and doing the marches.'

The IRS documents show that the power of attorney for BLMGNF lies with Ezra Reese and Sarah Mahmood, lawyers with Washington law firm Perkins Coie, where senior attorneys bill $750 an hour and up according to legal filings in one case from 2019.

Perkins Coie is the official counsel for the Democratic National Committee and represented Hillary Clinton in her failed 2016 presidential election.

Marc Elias, a Perkins Coie lawyer, retained research company Fusion GPS to start the research that led to the notorious dossier of claims against Donald Trump.

In a letter issued to BLM Monday, the California Department of Justice also accused the charity of failing to submit its annual financial reports and alleged it was in delinquent status

Reese served as general counsel for Pete for America, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign, and Democratic political action committee, Priorities USA.

On the IRS forms, Cullors is listed as the director of BLMGNF and Christman Bowers is named as the deputy executive director.

Bowers, who also goes by the name Shalomyah Bowers, runs Bowers Consulting and is a former Obama campaign staffer who has been close to Cullors for some time.

Divisions in the BLM movement erupted in November 2020 when ten local chapters severed ties with BLMGNF and published an open letter to the organization saying there was 'no acceptable internal process of accountability.'

Parents of black children and teens killed by police, including the mother of Tamir Rice and the father of Michael Brown, tore into Cullors and other foundation leaders for not giving money to grassroots organizers.

The foundation released an 'Impact Report' last February which showed that by the end of 2020 they had received $90million in donations.

BLMGNF said at the time that they were sharing the details in a bid to be more transparent - admitting that their structure and finances had previously been opaque.

The report claimed that $21.7million in grants had been disbursed to more than 33 organizations and 23 per cent of its total money had been given away, compared to a nonprofit industry average of five to eight per cent.

But that claim was disputed by the second letter from the 11 BLM chapters which said that 'not all of these funds have even been disbursed.'

The letter also accused the foundation of 'hoarding resources from our communities' and said that it was 'operating in ways that replicated the harm and exploitation of the nonprofit industrial complex'.

Then two months later, in April 2021, reports began emerging - provided by the National Legal and Policy Center - which showed Cullors had amassed a $3.2 million property empire.

Cullors owned four properties - three in the Los Angeles area and one outside of Atlanta - the researchers found.

Co-founder of the Greater New York chapter of Black Lives Matter Hawk Newsome, who has been a vocal critic of the organization's national branch, called for more transparency regarding BLMGNF's finances

Protesters demonstrate on June 2, 2020, during a Black Lives Matter protest in New York City

Many within BLM turned against Cullors, questioning where she had accumulated the money. Cullors has written two books, has a deal with YouTube, and signed a production deal with Warner Bros. in 2020 to develop programming 'for children, young adults and families.'

However, amid the furor she stood down and announced that two people were taking over as executive directors - Makani Themba and Monifa Bandele.

Yet Themba and Bandele in September said that they had never taken up the roles, following disagreements with leadership.

Hawk Newsome, the head of Black Lives Matter Greater New York City who has been a vocal critic of the organization's official national arm, said he wanted more transparency for BLMGNF.

'I just want people to have faith in the BLM movement and that's what transparency does,' he told DailyMail.com.

He claimed that the foundation had even accused him of being a 'GOP operative' because he ran his chapter independently and didn't ask them for any money.

Newsome said that his chapter had arguably had a bigger impact than BLMGNF because it had achieved real gains like overturning qualified immunity for police officers in New York.

'It's bulls**t,' he said. 'I've been arrested more than 10 times in the past few years and I was arrested for fighting with Trump supporters.

'BLM Greater New York is for the streets and these people are in offices criticizing us? It's ridiculous'.

BLMGNF did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Perkins Coie.
Lateral flow tests for Covid miss up to eight in ten infections, an analysis has claimed.

Birmingham University researchers used modelling based on real-world data to suggest the swabs were up to 10 times less effective at detecting the virus than official statistics suggest.

It bolsters the Government's decision to scrap free swabs from April 1, with ministers saying Omicron was mild enough for them to drop the measure.

But the axing of the scheme has already led to a high street pricing war over lateral flow kits, with Lloyds now marketing them for 1.89 each  25 per cent cheaper than the most expensive in Boots.

Lateral flows have formed the 'cornerstone' of Britain's testing strategy, with ministers spending more than 7billion on the devices so far.

There has been debate over their sensitivity, with studies warning they are worse at detecting Omicron when people are most infectious than with other variants.

Birmingham University researchers used modelling based on real-world data to suggest lateral flows were up to 10 times less effective at detecting the virus than official measures suggested (stock image)

University of Birmingham researchers looked at real-world data comparing Covid cases detected by lateral flows and more reliable PCRs in the same population.

They included 5,800 people who received both swabs during the UK's first mass testing pilot in Liverpool over November 2020.

Of these, 70 tested positive using lateral flow devices but 74 were found to have the virus by PCRs.

They also looked at 7,000 students tested with lateral flows at their university before going home for Christmas in 2020, which spotted two cases confirmed by PCRs.

A tenth of these students were also re-tested using PCRs, which revealed another four cases that had been missed.

How to do a rapid lateral flow test Rapid lateral flow tests are for people who do not have Covid symptoms, such as a high temperature, a cough or a loss or change to smell or taste. The tests give a quick result using a device similar to a pregnancy test. People with Covid symptoms should do a PCR test. Before doing a rapid lateral flow test the NHS advises: try not to eat, drink, smoke or vape 30 minutes before doing the test as this may affect the result

read the instructions carefully

clean the surface you're putting the test on

check nothing in the test kit is damaged or broken

start the test within 30 minutes of opening the test kit If your test requires a throat swab: open your mouth wide and rub the swab over your tonsils (or where they would have been)

avoid the end of the swab touching your teeth, tongue and gums

put the same swab inside your nose (about 2.5 cm up or until you feel some resistance) If your test requires a nose swab only: put the swab inside your nose (about 2.5 cm up) Completing the test: put the end of the swab into the tube so it's in the liquid

squeeze the liquid from the tube onto the test strip

check the waiting time in the instructions that came with your test kit

wait for the time shown in your test kit instructions

read your result

report your result on the Government website Advertisement

Modelling using these figures suggested lateral flows were missing 81 per cent of infections among students.

They also failed to spot 29 per cent of infections in mass testing schemes, and 20 per cent of cases when used at NHS testing sites.

For comparison, official estimates suggest they miss just 32 per cent, 10 per cent and eight per cent of cases in each respectively.

Government modelling is from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which based its estimates on the amount of virus someone is shedding when they take the test.

This differs from the University of Birmingham research, which used real-world data on positives detected by lateral flows compared to PCRs.

Experts previously warned lateral flows are likely to be less reliable when used by the public because people swabbing themselves at home are more likely to use the tests incorrectly.

Lateral flow test critic Professor Jonathan Deeks from the University of Birmingham led the study, alongside experts from Imperial College London and Oxford.

In the paper, they wrote: 'Until new generation LFTs are available that meet the regulatory performance requirements, negative test results from lateral flow tests cannot be relied on to exclude current infection.

'Policy makers need to ensure that the public are aware of the risks of being infectious despite testing negative.

'Tests (should not) be used in situations where the consequences of false negative results are considerable.'

Britain started rolling out lateral flow tests nationwide in April last year, saying everyone could order a pack of seven swabs twice a week.

Part of 'Operation Moonshot', it was a key moment in the pandemic with everyone now able to get tested and find out whether they were infected within 30 minutes.

The tests were rolled out in part to reach people that would normally have got tested for the virus.

But some experts raised concerns they could spread the virus further, by wrongly giving infected people the all-clear.

Ministers said this week that they would be abandoning free lateral flows and PCRs from April 1  which are currently costing 2billion a month.

Announcing the change, Boris Johnson argued it was possible because the Omicron variant was milder than other strains and that the cost was now difficult to justify.

But the move has triggered a battle on the high street, with LloydsPharmacy today revealing it will undercut rival chains Superdrug and Boots to offer Covid swabs for as little as 1.89 each.

Boots yesterday became the first retailer to announce it would sell lateral flow tests, offering the swabs from 2.50 each today.

Superdrug then this morning said it would sell the swabs at a lower price of 1.95 each, with a pack of five costing 9.79.

Now LloydsPharmacy, which has 1,500 stores dotted across Britain, has started to offer five tests for the price of 9.49 on its website.

Waitrose and other major retailers have started talks with the Government over supplying paid-for tests once the rule changes come into play and force millions who wish to continue testing to fork out for kits.

But politicians, health experts and patients' rights groups have all raised concerns the private sector could start cashing in on swabbing, arguing for a price cap to be put in place.

There are already cost limits in Spain, France and Portugal, with the Spanish Government setting a ceiling of just 2.45 per test. In France, people can pick up tests for as little as 1.
Elon Musk was so competitive that he emailed his staff a blunt message about an early business rival: 'KILL THEM DEAD. DIE. DIE. DIE'.

A new book reveals that Musk, 50, fired off the missive to staff at his online finance startup X.com which was engaged in a bitter fight with Confinity.

The hatred was mutual and at Confinity, co-founded by hedge fund billionaire and former Trump adviser Peter Thiel, they wrote on a staff member's birthday cake: 'Die X.com'

The two companies later merged and rebranded as PayPal where the hours and competition were so brutal 'it would make George R.R. Martin blush', referring to the creator of the bloody TV series Game of Thrones.

Staff pulled 36 hour shifts and slept under their desks, blasted out Salt 'N' Pepa's hit 'Push It' to stay awake and brought their infant children to work - on weekends.

Musk, whose all-consuming work ethic would later drive Tesla and SpaceX to success, had to cancel his honeymoon with his first wife in 2000 because he was so busy.

But when he rescheduled it for the Summer Olympics that September he couldn't leave work behind - and turned what should have been a romantic vacation into a fundraising trip.

The details are revealed in 'The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley', by award-winning author Jimmy Soni.

A new book describes Elon Musk's early days with his startup X.com, where staff worked 36 hour shifts and slept under their desks. Musk is pictured in 2004

Peter Thiel and Elon Musk were rivals until their two companies later merged and rebranded as PayPal where the hours and competition were brutal

The book details how PayPal rose from an idea in the heads of Musk and Thiel to a flotation on the stock market in 2002 which valued the company at less than $1bn.

Details about Elon Musk are revealed in 'The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley', by author Jimmy Soni

Now it is worth $122bn and the rise in its fortunes has been mirrored by that of Musk, now the richest man in the world with a personal fortune of $249bn.

'The Founders' gives a peek into a time long before such riches came Musk's way and describes how in his youth he referred to himself as 'Nerdmaster 3,000.'

Musk was born in South Africa and emigrated to Canada in the late 1980s before attending the University of Pennsylvania where he studied physics.

He was obsessed with computers and at the age of 13 he sold a coding project, a video game called Blastar in which players destroy an alien spaceship.

Desperate to get a job in Silicon Valley he once lurked around the lobby of Netscape, an early internet browser, but was 'too shy to talk to anyone.'

Musk said: 'It was pretty embarrassing. I was just sort of standing there trying to see if there was someone I could talk to and I was too scared to talk to anyone, so then I left.'

Musk founded his own company with his brother Kimbal and rented an office in Palo Alto, California, sleeping at the office and showering at the nearby YMCA.

They called it Zip2 and focused on boosting media companies' digital assets and building local city guides.

Incredibly in 1999, at the height of the dot com boom, they were bought for $307m by Compaq Computers. Musk took home $21m - he was 27.

But rather than live an easy life, Musk sank much of the money into X.com which he hoped to turn into an online financial services superstore, something which was revolutionary at the time.

Musk instituted a relentless work ethic where he would sleep at the office and drive his staff to do the same.

Over at Confinity, Thiel, now 54, pushed his staff just as hard.

Musk, whose all-consuming work ethic would later drive Tesla and SpaceX to success, had to cancel his 2000 honeymoon with his first wife Justine because he was so busy

The book reveals that Musk fired off aa message to staff at his online finance startup X.com, saying 'KILL THEM DEAD. DIE. DIE. DIE', which referred to rival Confinity

'The Founders' says that one engineer had so little time outside of the office that he kept driving his car even though he had ruined one tire and was using the spare on another.

Award-winning author Soni writes that competition was so brutal 'it would make George R.R. Martin blush', referring to the creator of the bloody TV series Game of Thrones

He drove on for three days before he finally got it fixed.

Soon X.com and Confinity found themselves eyeing each other up as serious rivals

As Musk described it: 'It was a race to see who could run out of money the fastest'.

During one staff member's birthday party at Confinity, he got a cake which said on it: 'Die X.com'

Confinity staff put up a banner which said: 'Memento Mori', which is Latin for: 'Remember you must die' to focus the attention of employees.

Over at X.com Musk had harsh words for his staff in an email about Confinity: 'KILL THEM DEAD. DIE. DIE. DIE'.

But the competition didn't last long and both sides soon realized that they had to merge or they would both die.

Once the agreement was complete they set about creating the company which they named PayPal.

Thiel had earlier rejected alternatives for the company including, Zapio, MoMo, Cachet and the bizarre eMoneyBeam.

At one point the company's office featured an indicator called the 'World Domination Index' to track the day's users.

There was an 'industrial-sized' cache of Tylenol to deal with headaches. Employees felt like they were working on a 'rocket ship' and said they felt like 'veterans of an intense military campaign', the book says.

PayPal employee Kim-Elisha Proctor recalled seeing sleeping bags under people's desks as she arrived for an interview.

Once she arrived she did the same. She said: 'I think I did a 36 hour stint.I actually slept in one of the conference rooms'.

Musk worked until 4am and got a few hours' sleep before employees who kept slightly more regular hours came in - at 6.30am.

According to 'The Founders', the amount of coffee consumed by PayPal staff was 'legendary'.

During a push to code something on the site they would blast Salt 'N' Pepa's 'Push It' to motivate staff.

To keep themselves amused they vaporized potatoes with PVC guns. One male employee brought his eight-month old daughter in to work on Saturdays and Sundays because he feared taking time off.

Fatigue led to 'heated email exchanges' and 'backbiting' and an atmosphere which 'The Founders' likens to Game of Thrones.

During the early days Musk worked until 4am and got a few hours' sleep before employees who kept slightly more regular hours came in - at 6.30am

The Tesla boss took home $21m after Zip2 was bought by by Compaq Computers. He was 27. But rather than live an easy life, Musk sank much of the money into X.com, which eventually led to him launching Tesla and Space X

Musk is now dating Australian actress Natasha Bassett who plays Elvis Presley's girlfriend Dixie Locke in the new biopic about The King

Early hires for PayPal were unconventional and included chess champions, puzzle champions and high school dropouts.

But with eccentric personality came eccentric habits and one engineer used to pull up his bare feet on his desk and remove toenail gunk 'in full view'.

Another hiccup along the way was when Musk flipped his $1m silver McLaren F1 car while Thiel was on board.

Neither of them were wearing seat belts but incredibly they escaped unharmed.

Musk said that the car flipped 'like a discus' and people who saw it happen 'thought we were going to die'.

The car survived but Musk faced a hefty repair bill - as he didn't bother to get it insured.

Musk's obsession with work meant that his January 2000 marriage to his longtime girlfriend Justine Wilson got off to a rocky start.

He had canceled his honeymoon due to 'company drama' and tried to make up for it by taking her to the Summer Olympics in Sydney that September.

Instead Musk - who is now dating Australian actress Natasha Bassett - decided to take the opportunity to meet with wealthy investors and do check-ins with staff abroad.

Justine Musk told her husband 'I am your wife, not your employee'. Musk shot back: 'If you were my employee, I would fire you'.

Musk says in the book: 'It was meant to be a belated honeymoon and fundraising trip'. Their marriage would, incredibly, last eight years and spawn five sons before they divorced in 2008.

Wilson later said she would tell Musk: 'I am your wife, not your employee'.

Musk shot back: 'If you were my employee, I would fire you'.

Musk's honeymoon provided Thiel and others with the 'perfect opportunity' to get rid of him as chief executive because they felt the company was going in the wrong direction.

After getting the votes from the board, Musk was informed and said to staff at the time that it 'made me so sad that words fail me.'

Two decades later Musk admits it was a 'well-executed coup' and claims it was 'slightly complimentary they would do it when I'm not there.'

He stayed on good terms with Thiel who helped finance the launch of SpaceX to the tune of $20m from his hedge fund.

Yet the episode helps to explain Musk's aversion to vacations as, to him, they are cursed.

Speaking to Danish TV in 2015, he said that he has only tried to take a week off twice.

The first time his Orbit Sciences rocket exploded and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic rocket exploded in the same week.

The second time one of Musk's own rockets exploded.

As Musk put it: 'Vacations will kill you.'
Consumers and energy workers will cop the brunt when Australia's biggest coal power plant shuts its doors in three years time, experts warn.

Electricity giant Origin Energy has announced the Eraring power station at Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney close in 2025 as part of plans to fast-track its exit from coal-fired generation.

NSW residents have been warned of the widespread ramifications of soaring power prices, more frequent power blackouts and the livelihoods of hundreds of energy sector workers in Hunter Region placed at risk.

The impact on power prices remains unclear but energy bills in Victoria soared by 16 per cent when the state's Hazelwood plant shut in 2017.

The Eraring power station (pictured) will close in mid-2025, seven years earlier than planned

Experts fear Eraring's early closure will result in 'third world-style' programs to manage consumer electricity usage.

That could possibly include 'smart' metres' turn customers' airconditioning off on hot days to reduce demand on the network, according to Frontier Economics co-founder Danny Price

'The system will absolutely be less reliable and power will be more expensive once Eraring closes,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'We are a modern economy, not a third world country - we shouldn't have to worry about whether we turn the power on or not.'

Up to 10,000 jobs in the Hunter electorate could be destroyed by a net zero emissions target, according to the Institute of Public Affairs.

The policy think tank's research also revealed the Eraring closure would have no impact on global temperatures and slash global emissions by less than 0.04 of one per cent.

Closure of the Eraring power plant will result in soaring electricity prices and more power blackouts (stock photo)

'IPA research has identified that close to 15 per cent of all jobs, around 10,000, in the electorate of Hunter could be destroyed by a net zero emissions target,' research director Daniel Wild told the publication.

'Sadly with 400 jobs at stake at the plant plus thousands more potentially in the supply chain, the Eraring announcement by Origin confirms this research.'

Sky News commentator Peta Credlin has called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to intervene.

'If Scott Morrison wants to show he's serious about keeping the lights on, he'd take steps to acquire the Eraring plant compulsorily (on just terms, of course) and keep it running until there's an alternative source of baseload power,' she wrote in her weekly column in The Australian.

Experts warn the livelihoods of hundreds of energy sector workers in NSW Hunter Region placed will be at risk (pictured, workers at the Liddell Power Station in Muswellbrook)

Peta Credlin, a Sky News commentator and Tony Abbott's former chief of staff, has called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to intervene in the energy market

'With the world entering the gravest security crisis in decades, the last thing we need is an indulgent frolic further weakening our power system.'

Eraring became fully operational in 1984 and is biggest of the 16 remaining coal-fired power plants supplying the national energy market.

The plant was originally due to be decommissioned in 2032.

Origin Energy boss Frank Calabria acknowledging the closure would be 'challenging' for hundreds of staff.

'The reality is the economics of coal-fired power stations are being put under increasing, unsustainable pressure by cleaner and lower-cost generation, including solar, wind and batteries,' he said.
Australia's east coast will have to battle through another day of solid rain before even a hint of sunshine appears, as police continue to search for a man whose motorcycle was found in floodwaters.

The 54-year-old man disappeared at Cedar Pocket near Gympie, two hours north of Brisbane in Queensland on Tuesday night.

The area was flooded after it received over 300mm of rain in a six-hour period, with conditions described as 'extremely horrific' by a police spokesperson.

'There's all likelihood that he didn't see the water and has become disabled or washed away,' Inspector Patrick Swindells from Queensland Police said.

On Wednesday morning a 63-year-old Belli Park woman was found dead inside a submerged vehicle west of Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast.

A car attempts to leave a flooded property near Belli Creek on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, where the body of a 60-year-old was found in a submerged car in a creek on Wednesday

Local flooding at Cooran on the Sunshine Coast. Parts of the area received up to 300mm on Tuesday evening

People in Sydney battle the big wet - there remains an 80-90 per cent of showers until next Wednesday in Sydney, though rainfall totals should begin to ease from Sunday

The relentless rain on the east coast of Australia will continue on Thursday and Friday, particularly along the Queensland coastline and in north-east NSW.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a general flood warning for south-east Queensland amid signs the weather system will intensify through Thursday and into Friday. Damaging winds are also expected.

'We are looking really closely up at the Northern Rivers and near the Queensland border where we are already seeing some thunderstorms and heavy rainfall accumulations,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Gabrielle Woodhouse said on Wednesday, warning of potential flash flooding and rising river levels.

'We're going to see these rainfall totals really start to build up.'

A car crosses a flood creek on the Sunshine Coast. The heavy rain will continue in parts of south-east Queensland across Thursday and Friday before easing over the weekend

Flood waters rising at the Kidd Bridge at Gympie, Queensland, two hours north of Brisbane, after more than 300mm of rain fell in six hours

Up to 200mm of rain is expected in some parts of the Gold Coast and northern NSW due to a slow-moving upper-level trough in the area.

Slow-moving storms could translate into more heavy rainfall for residents along the southern NSW coastline and the northern inland region, Ms Woodhouse said.

In the capital cities, there remains an 80 or 90 per cent of showers until next Wednesday in Sydney, though rainfall totals should begin to ease from Sunday.

Brisbane is expecting up to 200mm of rain or more across Thursday and Friday but while the showery conditions will continue, it should become brighter by Sunday when the day will be partly cloudy with a 70 per cent chance of 2-8mm of rain.

The should give way to partly cloudy days early next week with only a 60 per cent chance of rain and much smaller rainfall totals than experienced this week.

The trough bringing heavy, widespread rain to south-east Queensland and north-east NSW has produced totals of over 300mm in some areas

Slow-moving storms could translate into more heavy rainfall for residents along the southern NSW coastline and the northern inland region. Pictured: Pedestrians in Sydney during Wednesday's storm

Definite plans can be made for the weekend in Melbourne where Saturday and Sunday will be partly cloudy days, with a top temperature of 26C on both days.

The possibility of a shower is slightly higher on Sunday leading into a higher chance of rain on Monday and Tuesday as southerly winds bring changed conditions.

In Canberra there is a high chance of showers on Thursday and Friday, giving away to a cloudy weekend with maximums temperatures in the mid-20s and a medium chance of showers and storms.

Elsewhere, it will be fine in Adelaide with a top temperature of 29C on Saturday and Sunday, with very little chance of rain. That pattern should continue into the start of next week.

Hobart is cooler, with cloudy and partly cloudy days Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The maximum temperature will only reach 21C on both days of the weekend.

Perth's endless summer of 30C-plus days continues. There is zero chance of rain in the West Australian capital to go with a maximum of 33C on Saturday and 34C on Sunday.

The city had already broken the record for the most days over 40C in a summer, with 11 days over that mark since the start of December.

Darwin will see monsoonal showers and storms, as expected at this time of year, with up to 30mm of rain forecast for Friday and 25mm on Saturday. Maximum temperatures will be in the early 30s, reaching 33C on Sunday.
An ABC News weatherman has shared video of the harrowing moment he had two panic attacks on live television.

Nate Byrne, who formerly served in the Australian Navy before becoming a News Breakfast presenter, penned an essay on Thursday about his battle with anxiety.

During one attack while on air, Byrne said his colleague Lisa Millar thought he was having a stroke.

'It was absolutely terrifying, and completely reshaped my understanding of mental health,' Byrne in an article for the ABC website.

When Nate Byrne (pictured left) was having a panic attack live on ABC television, his co-presenter Lisa Millar (right) thought he was having a stroke

The first attack would not have been noticed by many viewers. It is only with hindsight that you can see telltale signs such as a hesitancy over words.

But his next broadcast a quarter hour later left no doubt about what was happening. Byrne seemed to be struggling to breathe, there was a catch in his voice and he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but where he was.

It was devastating to watch, and that 40 or so seconds literally changed his life.

'I was stood down for the rest of the day  News Breakfast co-host Madeleine Morris very tactfully told the audience that "the weatherman is under the weather"  so I gathered my things and went straight to the doctor,' Byrne said.

Breakfast show co-host Michael Rowland did the weather sections for the the rest of the program.

Anxiety had never previously been an issue for Byrne, even though high-stress situations were not unusual for him.

Nate Byrne (pictured) was having a panic attack live on ABC television in this picture

'But this time I wasn't a Naval Officer moments away from running a warship aground or standing in front of a stadium filled with 12,000 people hosting my first internationally-televised live event,' he said.

Byrne didn't understand what was going on, though he'd later find out it was diagnosable and manageable.

But on that first day, he thought his my career was over. 'My place of joy and purpose was now an existential hellhole, corrupted in a quarter of an hour,' he said.

Helpline contact numbers Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 Headspace 1800 650 890 QLife 1800 184 527 Advertisement

He sobbed as he grieved a loss he couldn't make any sense of.

His doctor identified it as a classic panic attack and prescribed a beta blocker which would help reduce his body's reactions and help him get through the stress.

Back on air that night, Byrne felt like his body was only recommending 'RUN!', rather than demanding it as had happened earlier.

The anxiety attacks continued every time he gave the forecast in the following weeks, but he learned ways to distract his brain, such as pressing his thumbnail into the side of a finger to give himself something else to focus on while his meteorologist auto-pilot instinct kicked in.

A psychologist helped to confirm there weren't any other contributing factors, though Byrne did not take their and initial advice to remove himself from the situation.

With professional help, he came to the conclusion that the first time he panicked it was because he was controlling my breathing so much that his brain wasn't getting the oxygen it needed.

Fifteen minutes later, with the second attack, his brain recognised the situation because he stands on the same spot at the same time every day and the same words pop up in the autocue.

So his brain sent his body into a panic and the stressed flight response kicked in hard.

Medication and retraining his brain over time helped him to cope and stay in control.

Medication and retraining his brain over time have helped Nate Byrne (pictured centre with ABC colleagues) to cope and stay in control

ABC weatherman Nate Byrne (pictured) spent 12 years in the Navy, but got his first panic attack live on television, not on a Navy ship

'We want our brain to react to danger, but it needs to get it right for that response to be useful,' Byrne said.

He weaned himself off the beta blockers within a couple of months later as the anxiety attacks lessened, but the danger had not entirely passed.

A year later, he had another major panic attack on air.

'This time I had the tools to quickly recover, but I had neglected to tell our new co-host Lisa Millar about my anxiety issues  it had been so long, I assumed it was no longer an issue,' Byrne recalled.

A long time later, he asked her what she thought was happening to him at that moment.

ABC News Breakfast co-host Lisa Millar (pictured) thought Nate Byrne was having a stroke the first time she saw him having a panic attack

'My first thought was "he's having a stroke, there's something wrong",' Millar told him.

This thought Byrne a valuable lesson  to ensure your support network knows you sometimes need assistance and how they can support you.

Byrne has had more panic attacks since then.

'On News Breakfast we've seen several people dealing with their anxiety on live television  interestingly, all men  and the team is quick to jump to action to make sure the show goes on without too much fuss, and that the person is safe and cared for,' he said.

His experience has changed his perspective on mental wellbeing.

'But talking about my anxiety and seeking treatment mean that it's something I can live with and manage.

'And it means I can keep doing the thing I love,' Byrne said.
A woman turned her kitchen into a mini fortress to trap a snake that had entered her home, before a snake catcher arrived to expertly remove the intruder.

When snake expert Stuart Mckenzie arrived at the Sunshine Coast home last Friday there were some towels blocking the gap at the pantry door, and an elongated seat, just in case the snake tried to make a slither for it.

'We received a call from a lady who spotted a dark-colored snake that was on the move through her kitchen, so she moved all of her pets out of the way and called us immediately. The snake decided to go under the door and into the pantry,' McKenzie said.

Red-bellied snake that caused havoc in Sunshine Coast home was finally freed in grassy area

'You've done well,' McKenzie said when he saw the Fort Knox set up. 'It's like you've done it before,' he said.

But she said she had to do all it took to protect her and her pets.

'No, I just thought of every conceivable thing because it did poke its head out once,' she told him.

She had become worried that the critter was after her guinea pig's food, which had slithered prime spot in the pantry.

Mr Mckenzie managed to find the serpent quickly and removed what turned out to be a baby red-bellied black snake that was nestled in a spot in her pantry, and safely returned it to a grassy area.

'We often ask clients to keep an eye on the snake until we arrive, and if it goes into a room or cupboard to isolate it in there by putting a towel under the door,' he said. 'This lady certainly blocked it in there, and created a fortress so it could not escape.'

Stuart McKenzie inspects Sunshine Coast woman's elaborate, Fort Knox defense against snake
A convicted sex offender on the run from the law was killed while trying to break into a Florida home on Wednesday after authorities say he shot and wounded a deputy during a traffic stop the previous night.

Deputies found Gregory Miedema, 33, dead at a Dixie County residence following a 10-hour manhunt, Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agent Mark Perez said during a news conference.

Taylor County Deputy Troy Anderson attempted to pull over Miedema at around 10pm on Tuesday on U.S. 19 and Miedema shot the deputy multiple times, officials said.

Anderson was airlifted to a Gainesville hospital in critical condition, suffering from injuries to his neck, jaw and hand, requiring reconstructive surgery. His condition has since been upgraded to stable.

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Fugitive Gregory Miedema, 33 (left), was found shot dead at a Dixie County, Florida, home on Wednesday, after breaking in and exchanging gunfire with the homeowner. Miedema was on the run after shooting Taylor County Deputy Troy Andersen (right)

Anderson was shot in the neck, jaw and hand after attempting to pull Miedema over on U.S. 19 on Tuesday night (pictured)

Here's video from the scene of the #TaylorCounty deputy shooting. As of 3am, still a very active scene, although FDLE's truck has now left. They have one lane of travel each direction in NB lanes. @WCTV pic.twitter.com/vDBuoA3laQ  Jacob Murphey (@jmurpheyWCTV) February 23, 2022

Vergil Morgan, Andersen's uncle, shared on Facebook early Thursday that his nephew is now able to squeeze the hands of his wife and sister, and give the thumbs up.

Miedema (pictured in what appears to be a screenshot from body camera footage) fled the scene of the shooting

Officials issued a Blue Alert shortly before midnight, informing the public that a law enforcement officer had been wounded on duty.

At 7.30am the following day, Miedema attempted to break into the Dixie County home, where he was confronted by an armed owner officials said.

Miedema was fatally wounded during an exchange of gunfire with the homeowner, who was also injured but was expected to recover.

Officials said they found multiple guns inside Miedema's car at the scene of the home invasion, reported WCTV.

It is unclear at this time whether the homeowner would face any charges in connection with the deadly shooting, but law enforcement officials appeared to justify his actions.

'When someone enters your home, you are the first line of defense,' Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler said during the press conference on Wednesday, WESH reported. 'He woke up this morning not expecting to go through this. But he was prepared and he gets to live this evening and embrace his loved ones.'

Deputy Andersen is pictured giving the thumbs up in the hospital after his condition was upgraded to stable

While serving in the US Army in 2011, Miedema was convicted of lewd or lascivious battery, and sentenced to 78 months in federal prison

FDLE Tallahassee Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez echoed Butler's words, saying that it is believed that Miedema intended to harm the homeowner, that that he defended himself from the intruder.

According to state records, Miedema was a registered sex offender in Lee County. While serving in the US Army in 2011, he was convicted of lewd or lascivious battery, intercourse with a victim 12 to 15 years old and one count of possession of child pornography.

He was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison followed by two months of probation.
The grieving fiancee of Sydney's first fatal shark attack victim in 60 years says she is the 'luckiest woman alive' to have met him in a heartbreaking tribute.

Jessie Ho's life changed forever on the afternoon of February 16 when her 'soulmate' Simon Nellist, 35, was mauled to death by a man-eating great white at Little Bay, in the city's east - just 100m from horrified beachgoers.

The Wolli Creek woman remained silent over the week following his death, taking to Facebook only to post a photo of them together by the water in 2019 - on the day Mr Nellist asked her to be his wife.

But on Wednesday night, Ms Ho penned an emotional tribute on a website dedicated to the British expat - describing him as 'one of a kind.'

Simon Nellist and Jessie Ho (pictured together) were supposed to get married in 2020

Simon Nellist (pictured on a motorcycle in Thailand) loved adventure and moved to Australia from England six years ago

'Simon is the love of my life and I am the luckiest woman alive to have met him,' she said.

'He was generous and selfless. He loved me, his family and his friends so fiercely.

'He is my soulmate, and was a wonderful son, brother, uncle and friend.'

Ms Ho explained she and Mr Nellist loved camping, hiking and scuba diving together, and that he found 'great solace' in nature.

The former RAF gunner believed deeply in ocean and marine conversation, and his father inspired him to delve into the world of nature and night-sky photography.

'He kept a special connection to his hometown Cornwall, and I cherish the time we spent there together with his family and friends,' Ms Ho wrote.

'Simon, the world is a little less bright without you.

'I'll be missing you until we meet again.'

Mr Nellist, who grew up in Cornwall, served two tours in Afghanistan before settling in Australia

British diving instructor Simon Nellist, 35, died just 100m from horrified beachgoers near Sydney

The pair were supposed to marry in 2020, but had to postpone until the middle of this year due to the pandemic.

Daily Mail Australia understands their wedding was scheduled to take place in a matter of weeks.

Mr Nellist's family said in a seperate tribute that 'Jessie made Simon so happy and complete'.

'They had so many plans for their future together,' they wrote, adding: 'Simon had a rare gift of instantly being able to connect with others, gaining their trust and respect.'

'We are very proud of everything Simon achieved and believed in, and how happy he had become. He will be missed terribly, and we love him dearly.'

Simon Nellist was going to marry 'the love of his life' Jessie Ho later this year (pictured together)

A close friend shared a post the former soldier wrote last year from one of Mr Nellist's two tours of Afghanistan while serving with the UK Royal Air Force

Loved ones created the website to encouraged other friends and family members to contribute memories they shared with Mr Nellist, or make a donation to his parents to help them with funeral expenses.

When Ms Ho shared the engagement photo on Monday, several friends came forward to make comments about their love story.

One friend said she loved the story of their engagement, and said she wasn't surprised that he popped the question.

'I love the story of the not-so-surprising surprise engagement,' she wrote. 'Simon was truly one of the good ones and I will miss him.'

Another said she admired the couple for persevering through a long-distance relationship.

'You guys were the love story that made me believe in long distance relationships and making each other grow in all the best ways,' she said. 'He'll be missed.'

Simon Nellist and his partner Jessie Ho pictured after a diving expedition off Queensland's Rainbow Beach last June before Sydney was plunged into lockdown

On Friday morning, a single red rose could be seen in a gate on the beach at Little Bay (pictured)

Over the weekend, heartbroken friends revealed the expat served two tours in Afghanistan before he met Ms Ho six years ago, and decided to settle in Australia.

His aunt Jacqui Seager, from Kent in southeast England, told MailOnline that he and Ms Ho are the same age and 'instantly hit it off'.

Two days after the tragedy, the 62-year-old said Mr Nellist's parents were 'in bits' over his death.

'They are beyond belief. They will never get through this  ever  as this is something you keep with you for life.

'I just feel so sorry for them. They are planning to get out there as soon as they can but need to sort visas out.

Mrs Seager stressed: 'Simon always loved the sea. He was always very close to it. He loved wildlife and the world. He had a real love affair with nature'

'Everyone was going to fly out there to see him get married but sadly it is now in much sadder circumstances.'

His death at Buchan Point on Wednesday forced authorities in Sydney to close several beaches, including the famous Bondi.

Special 'drum lines'  aquatic traps using baited hooks to lure and capture large sharks  were set up in the water. However, they are controversial because sharks have died in them. They also often catch other wildlife. Mr Nellist had hit out over their use in Sydney, saying they 'protect no one' and 'need to go'.

His death comes weeks before 'smart' drum lines were reportedly due to be installed which could have prevented the tragedy.

He was the first person to be killed by a shark in the area since the 1960s.
By Kim Sang-woo





The Ukraine crisis has not moved any closer to a diplomatic solution or a reduction of tensions on the Ukrainian-Russian border.



Russian officials have made clear that they are not interested in proposals focused on strategic stability or a moratorium on NATO membership for Ukraine, but rather want nothing short of the complete dismantling of Europe's post-Cold War security architecture and a rollback of international agreements governing states' right to self-determination, which the U.S. and its partners will never accept.



Meanwhile, despite assurances that Russia has no plans to "invade" Ukraine, its buildup of more than 130,000 troops and military equipment along the Ukrainian-Russian border has continued unabated.



President Joe Biden predicted that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would ultimately decide on some form of invasion or incursion. "Do I think he'll test the West, test the United States and NATO, as significantly as he can? Yes, I think he will," the president said at a press conference. "My guess is he will move in."



If diplomacy fails, what happens depends largely on how Putin decides he can best achieve his ultimate goals: crippling Ukrainian military capabilities, sowing turmoil in the Ukrainian government and ultimately turning Ukraine into a failed state  which would bring an end to Ukraine as an intractable adversary and a serious security challenge. Putin won't accept a thriving and prosperous democracy in the cradle of East Slavic civilization that could provide Russian citizens with an attractive framework for a democratic transition of their own.



During the standoff between Russia and the West over Ukraine, Chinese diplomatic rhetoric has been "firmly in Russia's corner," as The Washington Post put it. The relationship between Moscow and Beijing, for all intents and purposes, has now become what Putin described in December 2021: "the best it has been in history." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi went even further in July, saying: "Russia and China were not allies, but better than allies!"



On Feb. 4 in Beijing, just hours before the opening of the Winter Olympics, President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin proclaimed to the world the importance of their 38th personal meeting. They released a joint statement declaring that "a trend has emerged toward redistribution of power in the world"  namely toward them, and away from the United States and its democratic partners and allies.



The rough summary of the statement is: Russia and China are throwing in their lot with each other in an unprecedented manner in each other's regions and around the world.



Russia and China are not calling their partnership an alliance of the NATO variety: "The new inter-state relations between Russia and China are superior to the political and military alliance of the Cold War era. Friendship between the two states has no limits, and there are no 'forbidden' areas of cooperation."



The two sides are redefining the meaning of "democracy" to embrace their repressive authoritarian systems that censor the media, prohibit dissent, lock up political opponents and support like-minded authoritarian systems.



"Russia and China as world powers with rich cultural and historical heritage have longstanding traditions of democracy, which rely on millennia of experience in development, broad popular support and consideration of the needs and interests of citizens."



The two leaders believe they have the momentum  in a world where major liberal democracies have weakened, the U.S. is politically divided, and new technologies are empowering them to surveil and control their societies.



Without more aggressive and consistent pushback from Western democracies, expect more Chinese- Russian pushes forward. It would be a mistake to see the Ukrainian crisis as an isolated incident.



In this vein, the Biden administration has been working to assemble an international coalition to deliver a swift and effective economic response to a Russian invasion. In the face of this global threat, the U.S. has focused on its European allies who are directly involved with Ukraine.



But also, U.S. allies in Asia can play an important role in strengthening the sanctions regime.



Not only are they critical nodes in global economic networks that could be major battlegrounds in the struggle with Russia  particularly since the U.S. is considering applying export controls used against Huawei previously to deter Russia  but Japan and South Korea are also robust multi-party democracies.



As the Biden administration seeks to mobilize democracies to counter attempts by Russia, China and other authoritarian governments to undermine the rules-based international order, securing the active cooperation of South Korea and Japan would show that the right to self-government is what is at stake in Ukraine.



If Russia is able to undermine Ukraine's fragile democracy and escape serious consequences, it will set a troubling precedent that could ultimately upset Asia's democracies.



While the U.S. should not expect that South Korea and Japan will assume leadership roles in a global coalition to counter a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the principles at stake in Ukraine  national self-determination free from coercion, the durability of global norms against the use of force to seize territory and the prospect of authoritarianism on the march against the U.S.-led international rules-based order  are relevant to East Asia.



Most importantly, the participation of South Korea and Japan in a global response would increase its effectiveness and also signal that Asia's democracies are increasingly unwilling to compromise their principles for the sake of commercial advantages.



In retrospect, perhaps the biggest mistake Western strategists have made has been to separate the Chinese and Russian challenges to the post-Cold War international order, as distinct and only loosely related.



Some analysts argue that the "three-decade-old nightmare" has become reality as "Beijing and Moscow have ganged up on America."



But as Mark Twain might have pointed out, "Even if history rhymes from time to time it rarely if ever repeats itself!"





Kim Sang-woo (swkim54@hotmail.com) is a former lawmaker and is currently chairman of the East Asia Cultural Project. He is also a member of the board of directors at the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation.


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday he is revoking the wide-reaching emergency powers that put an end to the Freedom Convoy protest, but said an investigation into whether he was right to use it will not begin for two months.

Trudeau made the announcement after authorities ended the blockades at the borders and the occupation in Ottawa by truckers and others opposed to COVID-19 restrictions - with some police officers accused of beating innocent demonstrators.

The prime minister said the 'threat continues' but the acute emergency that included entrenched occupations has ended. His government invoked the powers last week and lawmakers affirmed the powers late Monday.

'The situation is no longer an emergency, therefore the federal government will be ending the use of the emergencies act,' Trudeau said. 'We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are sufficient.'

The Emergencies Act allows authorities to declare certain areas as no-go zones. It also allows police to freeze truckers' personal and corporate bank accounts and compel tow truck companies to haul away vehicles.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces the end of the Emergencies Act during a news conference, Wednesday

Police hang off a truck as authorities work to end a protest against COVID-19 measures that had grown into a broader anti-government demonstration

People walk toward Parliament Hill where earlier in the day police moved in on February 19

Protesters cheer for a truck leaving the area as police take action to put an end to a protest

Trudeau's government froze bank accounts and other assets during what leaders declared an 'emergency period' in Ottawa.

Among those targeted was a single mom on a minimum wage job who donated just $50, according to one local Conservative MP, sparking outrage over what critics of Trudeau claimed was authoritarian behavior. Thousands of protesters flooded the streets outside Parliament Hill and blockades that shut down border crossings into the U.S.

Also, there were reports of arrests of some of the truckers. A trucker arrested as police cracked down on Freedom Convoy protestors in Ottawa has told of the farcical way the Canadian capitals Keystone Kops tried to bring the weeks long demonstration to an end.

Even the officers themselves were complaining about how disorganized the whole operation was, Guy Meister told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

You could tell they were overwhelmed. They were as dumb as a bag of hammers, Meister, 53, said.

They wanted to take my booking photograph, but I had to wait for several minutes because they were having issues with the mug shot board. They first took my picture before they realized that it didnt have any numbers on the board I was holding.

What should have taken a few minutes turned into 20 minutes, all in the freezing cold.

Long-haul truck driver Guy Meister said Ottawa police who broke up the protests in the Canadian capital were as incompetent as the silent-movie Keystone Kops

Officers in full riot gear moved in Friday to break up the protests that had paralyzed Ottawa for weeks

Meister said he was zip tied outside in -5 degree Celsius (5 degree Fahrenheit) temperatures after he was arrested

An investigation into Trudeau's decision to invoke the law and what came after begins in 60 days, according to the CBC. Canadian Parliamentarians will launch a committee to oversee that review next week.

The trucker protest grew until it closed vital trade routes along the Canada-U.S. border and shut down key parts of the capital for more than three weeks. But all border blockades have now ended and the streets around the Canadian Parliament are quiet.

'We were very clear that the use of the emergencies act would be limited in time,' Trudeau said.

Trudeau had warned earlier this week there were some truckers just outside Ottawa who might be planning further blockades or occupations. His public safety minister also said there was an attempt to block a border crossing in British Columbia over the weekend.

The protests, which were first aimed at a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers but also encompassed fury over the range of COVID-19 restrictions and hatred of Trudeau, reflected the spread of disinformation in Canada and simmering populist and right-wing anger.

A graffitied image of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is seen as city employees clean up Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill

A vehicle is towed from Kent Street, as Canadian police worked to evict the last of the trucks and supporters occupying the downtown core

The self-styled Freedom Convoy shook Canadas reputation for civility, inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands and interrupted trade, causing economic damage on both sides of the border. Hundreds of trucks eventually occupied the streets around Parliament, a display that was part protest and part carnival.

For almost a week the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing, the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, was blocked. The crossing sees more than 25% of the trade between the two countries.

Authorities moved to reopen the border posts, but police in Ottawa did little but issue warnings until Friday, even as hundreds and sometimes thousands of protesters clogged the streets of the city and besieged Parliament Hill.

On Friday, authorities launched the largest police operation in Canadian history, arresting a string of Ottawa protesters and increasing that pressure on Saturday until the streets in front of Parliament were clear. Eventually, police arrested at least 191 people and towed away 79 vehicles. Many protesters retreated as the pressure increased.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said those who had their bank accounts frozen were 'influencers in the illegal protest in Ottawa, and owners and/or drivers of vehicles who did not want to leave the area.'

Workers reinforce a fence inside a protected zone around Parliament Hill

A flatbed removes a truck from the convoy after police cleared Wellington Street, previously occupied by the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa

The province of Ontario also announced it is ending its state of emergency but said the 'emergency tools provided to law enforcement will be maintained at this time as police continue to address ongoing activity on the ground.'

Those who block critical infrastructure face up to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.

The Canadian protest has inspired scores of truckers to begin their 11-day trek from California to the Beltway, a major highway encircling Washington DC, on Wednesday to protest COVID-19 vaccine and mandates in the US after the cavalcade raised more than $464,000 in donations.

The People's Convoy - comprised of more than two dozen 18-wheelers, along with about 50 pickups and recreational vehicles - has called on the federal government to end the National Emergency enacted at the start of the pandemic, arguing the threat posed by the coronavirus has now receded.

President Joe Biden extended the emergency - which was set to expire next week - last Friday. He did so after arguing that 'the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant risk to the public health and safety of the nation.'

The People's Convoy argues the 'government has forgotten its place' and seeks to advocate for all Americans impacted by unconstitutional restrictions. Around 25 separate convoys are expected to join the group in DC.

'This is for our freedoms, our human rights. Enough is enough,' trucker Ron Coleman, 61, of Reno, Nevada, said as he prepared to make the 2,500-mile journey.

'I think everybody's here for different reasons, but it all boils down to the same thing: Freedom and liberty,' echoed Shane Class, who had travelled from Idaho to join the rally. 'It's time for our government to start understanding that people want that freedom in the Constitution back.'

In response to the protest, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved a request from local DC government and the Capitol police to deploy 700 members of the National Guard to the capital city ahead of the convoy's arrival. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Guardsmen would not be armed, and will not be empowered to arrest people, but would be reporting wrongdoing to local police. Approximately 50 'large tactical vehicles' will also be stationed in the city 24 hours a day.

Biden, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Pentagon have been accused of overreacting to the convoy after it emerged 500 DC cops had been put on standby for violence.

People's Convoy organizers claim they do not intend to disrupt roads or bridges, like the Canadian protest did. However, some semi-truck drivers are already calling for widespread blockades, including Bob Bolus who on Monday vowed the Beltway and other roads in and out of DC will be shut down.

Bolus, who is leading a DC-bound convoy of about 25 semis from Pennsylvania, began his route Wednesday morning after suffering a more than two hour delay caused by a flat tire. He has not specified how they plan to block the Beltway but told WJLA: 'We're not going to cause a traffic problem any more than they live with every single day.'

Biden elected to extend the National Emergency despite calls from 70 House Republicans and Department of Health and Human Service Secretary Xavier Becerra urging him to end the declaration. The leaders cited access to vaccines, treatments and mental health impacts as reasons to let the order expire, as well as the fact that other nations have started transitioning out of pandemic restrictions.

'[The] fact is we have a government that tries to push us around,' trucker Mike Landis told the Los Angeles Times Tuesday when asked about the People's Convoy. 'At this moment, we are living without our Constitution. Our Constitution means nothing right now.'

The movement has attracted more than $464,000 in donations, according to the website, which organizers say will be used to reimburse fuel and other costs borne by participating truckers.

The Freedom Convoy sets off from the Adelanto Stadium in California on Wednesday afternoon

The two-dozen trailers are likely to be joined by other trucks as they make their way across the continental US

Supporters were seen waving flags as the convoy set off from Adelanto on Wednesday afternoon

Other protesters held up anti-censorship placards as the convoy began its intercontinental journey across the US

Scores of truckers began their 11-day trek from California to the Beltway, a major highway encircling Washington DC , on Wednesday in an effort to protest COVID-19 vaccine and mandates

People's Convoy participants embark on their cross-country journey to DC from Adelanto, California on Wednesday afternoon
The 32-year-old daughter of a former Kentucky senator was killed while her father was wounded in a shooting during a home invasion at the family mansion in the state.

Jordan Morgan, who lived part-time at the home in Richmond died while her father was taken to hospital, state police said.

Former state Rep. Wesley Morgan owns the home, according to the Madison County property valuation administrator's office and had previously been put up for sale by Morgan.

The 32-year-old daughter of Rep. Wesley Morgan, Jordan Morgan, was killed during a home invation

The incident unfolded at Morgan's $6.5million mansion in Richmond, Kentucky, pictured

Morgan confirmed to the Lexington Herald Leader that his daughter, Jordan had been killed. He also said that both he and his wife were 'shot up.'

Mr Morgan was taken to a hospital after the shooting but released back home later on Tuesday.

Several people were asleep at the home when someone or possibly a group of people entered the home and fired shots, police said. Morgan was able to return fire, police said.

The armed suspect then left the home and no other shots were fired.

Investigators were back at the scene Wednesday afternoon. Sgt.Robert Purdy, pictured, is appealing to the public for help

Former state Rep. Wesley Morgan, 71, was shot together with his wife after he exchanged gunfire with a home invader before dawn on Tuesday

Kentucky State Police said they received a call at 4:30am

Detectives were still in the 'very early stages, preliminary stages of the investigation,' Kentucky State Police Trooper Robert Purdy said and that a motive was not yet known.

'This isn't the kind of incident or situation that we see a whole lot of in Madison County,' he told NBC News.

'I know the family and it's a tragic loss for the community. As a dad myself, I can't imagine anything like that happening. Our hearts go out to them.'

Investigators were back at the scene Wednesday afternoon. Sgt. Purdy was appealing to the public for help.

'Frankly, we believe someone knows something and we would just like accurate information to follow up on,' he said.

The Madison County Coroner's Office confirmed that Morgan had been shot 'more than once.

Morgan served one term as a state representative for Richmond and Berea in Madison County.

While in office, Morgan, who owns several Kentucky liquor stores, was charged with illegally transporting alcohol across county lines.

To do so was illegal at the time without a transporter's license.

The home was said to be 'the most secure home on the market' and built to withstand an earthquake

A judge ultimately dropped the charges, after state law was changed.

Morgan went on to unsuccessfully challenge Senator Mitch McConnell in the state's Republican primary in 2020.

His daughter, Jordan Morgan had worked on Republican Matt Bevin's successful 2015 campaign for Kentucky governor and worked with him for a year-and-a-half afterwards as a member of his communications team.

In 2017, she left the world of politics to become as an assistant commonwealth's attorney prosecuting felonies, based in Boone County. She had recently joined the Reminger law office in Lexington.

'Reminger wishes to express its sincere condolences to the Morgan family,' the firm said in a statement. 'She was a pleasant colleague and a promising attorney. We are shocked and saddened at the circumstances surrounding her unfortunate death.'

Jordan had last been in the news in 2017 after receiving inappropriate text messages from one of four House Republicans involved in a secret sexual harassment settlement with another female staffer.

One message shown to The Courier Journal read 'You are like six foot tall with jet black hair and high heels and can probably find some way to persuade anyone about anything if force is needed lol.'

Morgan had listed his 14,300-square-foot six bedroom, seven bathroom mansion for sale last year. The property came complete with an underground, steel reinforced bunker

When the home was listed for sale it was advertised complete with a nuclear bunker and able to withstand nuclear attack and the strongest of earthquakes. Pictured, the food reserves

Morgan had listed his 14,300-square-foot six bedroom, seven bathroom mansion for sale last year.

It comes complete with a saltwater pool, steam sauna and heated floors set on 200 acres of lakefront property.

However, perhaps its most unusual feature is a 2,000-square-foot, fully stocked underground bunker set behind a huge steel and concrete door.

The $6.5million listing advertised the home as being able to withstand nuclear attack and the strongest of earthquakes with the bunker alone valued at $3 million.

'It was built by someone who wanted the ultimate fallout shelter. He wanted it to be very secure, and he wanted it to have things that none of the other ones had,' listing agent Marilyn Hoffman of Hoffman International Properties told Realtor.com. 'It's a nuclear, biological, and chemical fallout shelter.'

Zillow described the home as being 'the most secure home on the market in this country.'

'I just wanted someplace safe,' said Morgan at the time the home was on the market.
Piers Morgan has mocked Australia's rainy skies after arriving Down Under to party with News Corp media tycoon Lachlan Murdoch - and warned Aussies can 'never take the moral high ground' about British weather again.

The British TV host, 56, flew into Sydney on Monday night with Murdoch on his $90million private jet for an event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of News Corp-owned network Sky News Australia.

Morgan has signed a deal reportedly worth $95million with News Corp to continue his war against 'cancel culture' on a new show, which will be broadcast on Sky News in Australia and Fox in the US.

The former Daily Mail Australia editor-at-large was quick to poke fun at the rain that has caused widespread flooding in NSW and Queensland this week.

Piers Morgan flew into Australia on Monday night with News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch on his $90million private jet. The 56-year-old is pictured enjoying a cocktail during a refuelling stop in Hawaii

Morgan was quick to poke fun at the rain that has caused widespread flooding in NSW and Queensland this week

'No offence, Australia... but never take the high moral ground with UK summer weather again,' he wrote on Instagram next to Sydney's forecast for Thursday.

Morgan was referring to the UK's famously underwhelming summers, which often are washed out by rain despite forecasters predicting sunny skies.

Australia is known for its glorious summer weather but the forecast for the Harbour City showed a 90 per cent chance of lightning every day until Tuesday.

Meteorologists have warned downpours and storms are likely to continue across Queensland and NSW in the coming days, bringing danger of further flash flooding and rivers overflowing.

In south-east Queensland, the search is continuing for a motorcyclist who went missing during the height of flooding.

The 54-year-old man's motorcycle helmet was found near Gympie on Wednesday and there are fears he was swept away while trying to negotiate the deluge around Cedar Pocket.

The body of a 63-year-old woman was found submerged in a vehicle that had been swept into raging stormwaters west of Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday morning.

Lachlan Murdoch pictured with his wife Sarah. Morgan, 56, flew into Sydney on Monday night with Murdoch on his $90million private jet for an event to celebrate Sky News Australia's 25th anniversary

Latest star-signing Piers Morgan (pictured) joined his new boss for the flight and was spotted first off the jet ahead of starting his new show on Fox

News Corp chief Lachlan Murdoch (pictured) flew back into Australia with an entourage on his private jet

Up to 600mm of rain fell across the southeast during the day and at least another 300mm is expected on Thursday, with a raft of severe weather warnings issued.

Forecasters said NSW's northeast is likely to bear the brunt of the ongoing wet weather.

'We are looking really closely up at the Northern Rivers and near the Queensland border where we are already seeing some thunderstorms and heavy rainfall accumulations,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Gabrielle Woodhouse said on Wednesday, warning of potential flash flooding and rising river levels.

Meteorologists have warned downpours and storms are likely to continue across Queensland and NSW in the coming days. Pictured is a pedestrian walking in the rain in Sydney on Wednesday

The ferry terminal at Parramatta Wharf is seen almost submerged by water on Tuesday afternoon

Flooding along the Cooks River at Marrickville in Sydney's inner west on Tuesday

'We're going to see these rainfall totals really start to build up.'

Slow-moving storms could translate into more heavy rainfall for residents along the southern NSW coastline and the northern inland region, she said.

'It's a dynamic situation. The main thing is it's going to remain wet even though we will see the conditions ease off in the northeast on Friday,' Ms Woodhouse said, adding rainfall is likely to shift southwards over the weekend.

Weatherzone, a weather monitoring service, reiterated the prediction of 'wet and stormy weather' persisting 'into Thursday, Friday and possibly Saturday' across northeast NSW and southeast Queensland, due to a trough passing over the region.
A white teacher at a multi-racial San Diego elementary school has been suspended for using the N-word while reciting an iconic Harlem Renaissance poem about black author Countee Cullen's experience with racism as a child.

Amy Glancy, a fourth-grade teacher at High Tech Elementary School in Point Loma, read aloud the racial slur from the renowned poem 'Incident,' prompting two upset students to storm out of the classroom while others complained to the school's dean.

'I can't believe you did that!' one student said before leaving the room with another distraught peer, Glancy recounted to Los Angles Times columnist Sandy Banks.

'Ms. Glancy, you don't understand how hard it is to hear that word,' one student told Glancy after class, before complaining to the dean.

Glancy, who is in her first year teaching at High Tech Elementary School, told Banks that she decided against censoring the poem 'to demonstrate that the poet's words can evoke emotion  in this case, anger and sadness.'

Amy Glancy, a white San Diego elementary school teacher, has been suspended for using the N-word while reciting renowned Harlem Renaissance poem 'Incident.' She is pictured above with a group of her students

When she read the racial slur, two students stormed out of the class and others reported her to the school's dean. Countee Cullen's 'Incident,' published in 1925, describes his experience with racism as a child

She said that she didn't anticipate becoming at the center of a debate over whether young children should be exposed to harmful language, or other sensitive material, in an educational setting.

Countee Cullen's 'Incident,' published in 1925, describes a narrator visiting Baltimore at eight years old to see a 'Balitmorean' boy sticking out his tongue and calling the narrator the N-word.

The narrator writes about the impact the interaction had and how, despite spending seven months in the city, that's the memory that stood out the most.

'On Tuesday, a teacher at High Tech Elementary read a poem to students that included language that was upsetting to some students. We take these matters very seriously,' High Tech spokesperson Anthony Millican told the San Diego Union-Tribune in a statement,

Millican confirmed that Glancy was put on administrative leave following the incident and said the school 'is committed to making sure that school is a safe space for all of our students,' Millican added.

After seeing her students' reactions, Glancy apologized in an email to parents, seen by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

'I learned a tremendous lesson today while trying to teach your students about the mood and tone of poetry,' she wrote.

'The lesson was intended to demonstrate that the poet's words can evoke emotion  in this case, anger and sadness. Unfortunately, it triggered some very big emotions for the students that I did not anticipate,' she wrote.

High Tech Elementary School, in the San Diego Unified School District, is listed as having 64% minority enrolment by U.S. News  42.2% are Hispanic/Latino, 36% are white, 7.2% are Asian/Asian Pacific Islander, 6.7% are black or African American, 5.7% are of mixed ethnicities and 2.1% are Native American.

Michael Dominguez, the chair of San Diego Unified School District's ethnic studies committee, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he advises anyone who isn't black against using the N-word, even if it's in an educational context.

High Tech Elementary School, in the San Diego Unified School District, is listed as having 64% minority enrolment by U.S. News

The charter school put Glancy on administrative leave following the incident, saying that the school is 'committed to making sure that school is a safe space for all of our students'

'Words matter, and for anyone ... without context, without preparation, without framing and reflection to see one of those words or hear one of those words pop up in the context of literature can be really triggering, because it triggers this whole historical link of trauma, frustration and feeling of otherness,' Dominguez said.

'It requires training, it requires skill and it requires support, and we need to be providing our teachers with more of that, not surface-level stuff,' he said.

Francine Maxwell, chairperson of San Diego-based Black Men and Women United, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that she received calls from High tech Elementary School families about the incident.

'We have to acknowledge the trauma that was caused and what we can do to move past it and begin to heal,' she told the San Diego Union-Tribune. 'Given that it's Black History Month and things are amplified, we're looking at it as an opportunity to begin the dialogue that did not take place.'

Countee Cullen, born Countee LeRoy Porter, moved in with the pastor of Harlem's largest congregation, Reverend Frederick A. Cullen of the Salem Methodist Episcopal Church, beginning in 1918, after his paternal grandmother and guardian died.

He launched his poetry career at New York University before pursuing his Master's degree at Harvard University, where he published his first volume of poetry, 'Color,' according to his biography on Poetry Foundation.

Cullen was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship to write poetry in France in 1928 and married Nina Yolande DuBois, the daughter of famed civil rights activist W.E.B. DuBois. Cullen was discreetly bisexual and left his marriage by penning a letter confessing his love for men to his wife.

Glancy said she decided against censoring the poem 'to demonstrate that the poet's words can evoke emotion  in this case, anger and sadness'

He had a series of homosexual relationships before marrying Ida Mae Robertson in 1940, with whom he stayed with until his death in 1946.

Glancy, told Los Angeles Times columnist Sandy Banks that she wanted to 'elevate the voices of black poets' and chose Incident because of its focus on U.S. history 'from the non-white point of view.'

She added that, after students confronted her after class, she said she was sharing the poet's 'experience and his language, and it's not my job to censor that.'

Glancy told Banks that she regrets saying the word aloud.

'I'm trying to educate myself. I want to do better,' she told the writer.

'Where I struggle the most is that I'm pretty well educated and literate, and I read a lot of views that are different than mine. I seek out information, and still I had no clue. That is what's frightening to me,' she added.

Glancy's backlash comes amid an escalating debate about censorship of literature and what is appropriate and necessary to teach young children.

Last month, a Tennessee school board voted unanimously to remove Art Spiegelman's Maus, a graphic novel about Holocaust survivors, from its eighth-grade curriculum, citing a drawing of a nude woman, eight swear words and its 'not wise or healthy' content.

The McMinn County Board of Education voted 10-0 to remove 'Maus' by Art Spiegelman from the curriculum on January 10, despite educators arguing that the graphic novel is an 'anchor text' in eighth-grade English language arts instruction and the centerpiece of a months-long study of the Holocaust.
Nearly a quarter of a million immigrants were able to evade Border Patrol's detection crossing illegally into the U.S. since October 2021, a Homeland Security official told Fox News.

The approximately 220,000 undetected illegal entries come during months that are typically slower for border crossings and only include the known so-called 'gotaways'  meaning there are likely many more in the country illegally who could have evaded detection.

The figure also does not include the actual encounters the agency experienced at the southern border of those who turn themselves in or are caught.

Many migrants entering the U.S. over the last few years immediately turn themselves in to Border Patrol claiming asylum  and others are apprehended by the enforcement arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Pressure continues to mount on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to address the growing border crisis, but the administration repeatedly doubles-down on its action of addressing 'root causes' in Central American countries that lead to migration.

The numbers shared by the DHS official with Fox also only includes an estimate of gotaways spotted on cameras and sensors, as well as other detection methods, but were not apprehended. This means there could still be more in the country that evaded Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detection altogether.

A Homeland Security official told Fox News on Wednesday that approximately 220,000 illegal immigrants evaded Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detection since October  and this only includes those found by cameras and sensors

CBP encountered 153,941 migrants in January, it revealed last week. This is a dip from December when there were 179,219 encounters but is expected to increase going into warmer months

CBP announced last week that they encountered 153,941 migrants in January, a dip from December when there were 179,219 encounters. It also shows how the number of encounters drop in the colder, more inclement months.

A court filing revealed that 62,573 migrants were released into the U.S. in January.

In September 192,001 encounters and in July a several-year record high of 213,593 encounters in just that month.

In January 2021, there were 78,414 migrant encounters on CBP record  a more than 75,500 difference from this year.

The number of illegal migrants who evaded CBP detection is also likely higher this year than last and those crossings as well as apprehensions are likely to ramp up as Spring ensues.

Republicans have increasingly called for DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign or be fired for his handling of the southern border crisis as crossings continue to surge after a year of Biden's presidency.

The current administration continues to take moves to make it easier for migrants to enter the country and find a route toward citizenship  or at least release into the U.S. as they await asylum court dates.

Many migrants turn themselves into CBP claiming asylum or are caught by the enforcement arm of DHS

On Day One of his administration, Biden ended several Trump-era policies aimed at quelling illegal flow of migration at the southern border and addressing the crisis there. This included immediately halting construction of the border wall and ending the Migrant Protection Program (MPP), which is otherwise known as the Remain in Mexico Policy.

A federal court forced Biden to reinstate the policy last year.

MPP sends migrants back to Mexico after they cross into the U.S. and claim asylum as they await their hearings. Proponents of this policy claim this is more effective because if migrants claiming asylum are released into the U.S., many never show up for their court dates and remain illegally in the country.
The man who allegedly killed Australian teacher Shanae Brooke Edwards in Georgia claims the 'devil awoke' inside of him.

Detectives from Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Georgian citizen Rafael Mursakulov over the alleged murder of the 31-year-old Melbourne 'free spirit' in September.

On Wednesday, the accused killer - who has pleaded guilty in a Georgian court to robbery, but not to her murder - addressed Ms Brooke Edwards' family and his country as his trial drew to an end.

'I apologise to this country, to the people, to the family of that person,' Mursakulov said in his native tongue.

'This is a loss that you can not make up for. Just forgive me. No matter what the verdict is, I will not vote, I will not appeal, I will stand up to the end, I apologise.'

Tributes for the kind and adventurous Shanae Brooke Edwards have flooded social media since her alleged murder on July 30

The much-loved 'free spirit' was on a call to a friend in the US while trekking when she was heard shouting 'take your hands off me' - before the call cut out

Ms Brooke Edwards' final Instagram post, of her on a motorbike on July 29, was captioned 'Joy'

Ms Brooke Edwards was found with stab wounds near a narrow pedestrian trail in Mtatsminda Park in the eastern European country's capital of Tbilisi on July 31, a day after she went for a hike and never returned.

She had been on the phone to a friend in the United States and was heard shouting when she was attacked.

The Tbilisi City Court has heard Mursakulov's lawyers claim he was mentally ill when he attempted to rob the beloved teacher.

But, prosecutor Giorgi Kobuladze demanded Mursakulov be found guilty of premeditated murder.

'The accused stabbed Shanai Brook 13 times, five of them in the neck, which confirms the intent to kill. She was then stabbed with a knife, after which she was brutally killed. Then he hid the victim's body,' Mr Kobuladze reportedly told the court.

Georgian detectives further claim Mursakulov had told his brother and sister-in-law about about what allegedly happened after the robbery and threatened to kill their son if they said anything about the crime.

The verdict, which was expected this week, was postponed at the request of the prosecution to allow Ms Brooke Edwards' brother, who lives in Australia, to be in court at the time.

The court has heard Mursakulov claimed he could not recall in detail how or why he killed Ms Brooke Edwards.

It is a claim refuted by prosecutors, who claim although the killer had traces of psychotropic drugs in his system, knew what he was doing the time of the alleged murder.

Georgian citizen Rafael Mursakulov claims he has no memory of killing Shanae Brooke Edwards, but has apologised for his actions

Georgian police arrested Rafael Mursakulov after an investigation that went for near on 40 days

The body of Shanae Brooke Edwards was found discarded under bushes in the shadow of a popular amusement park.llegedly murdered in a robbery gone wrong

Shanae Brooke Edwards had travelled the world. She was killed after going for a hike

The court heard Mursakulov intended to burn Ms Brooke Edwards' corpse and had dragged her body to the edge of a gorge and covered it with leaves.

'He can not perceive how it happened. He has some mental problems, which does not exclude his admission,' Mr Kobuladze said.

'He himself can not describe in detail what caused all this. His explanation was that at that moment the greatest devil awoke in him, (which he) could not overcome.'

The trial has heard evidence from other witnesses who claimed the accused also attempted to pursue them in the vicinity of Mtatsminda Park, Georgian media reported.

Prosecutors have called on the court to impose a higher than usual sentence against the alleged killer.

Mursakulov faces between 16 to 20 years or life in prison if found guilty of premeditated murder and attempting to cover up the crime.

The death of Ms Brooke Edwards sent shockwaves throughout the Tbilisi community and Australia.

Police had created a composite sketch of the likely offender after interviewing 200 people, including friends, co-workers, neighbours and fellow hikers who were at Mtatsminda Park the day she was allegedly murdered.

After checking their whereabouts at the time of murder, police closed in on the alleged killer.

Searchers found this old and rusty shovel in the bushes in the area where Ms Brooke Edwards went missing.

The ferris wheel attraction in Mtatsminda Park would have been in view of Shanae Brooke Edwards when she was allegedly murdered

Police in Georgia search for Shanae Brooke Edwards in Mtatsminda Park. Her body was found a day after she went missing

LAST MOMENTS CAPTURED ON CCTV CCTV footage of Ms Brooke Edwards captured her final moments alive as she took off on her fateful hiking trip on July 30. Dressed in tight black yoga pants and a dark top, she was last seen leaving the Church of Mikhail of Tver for a hike up along Mtatsminda. Images clearly captured her carrying a green bag, which reportedly remains missing. It is understood Ms Brooke Edwards' mobile phone was found dumped in nearby bushland close to where her body had been found a day after she went missing. Police sources have told local media that contrary to earlier reports, no signs of sexual assault were found on her body. Advertisement

'As a result of complex and multifaceted investigative activities, the circle of the supposed offenders was reduced to a minimum, whereas, as a result of genetic examination report the identity of the offender was unequivocally confirmed,' detectives claimed at the time.

Word of Mursakulov's arrest over the killing was welcomed by terrified locals, who had set up a social media page to help protect women following Ms Brook Edwards' murder.

Shocked citizens had already set up a memorial to the murdered school teacher, with locals laying flowers at the site.

The body of Ms Brooke Edwards was found discarded under bushes in the shadow of a popular amusement park.

In the months since the horrific alleged murder, reports Ms Brooke Edwards had been raped have been revealed to be false.

As have reports of a supposed photofit of a young blonde male being passed around by detectives in the days following the crime.

A GoFundMe page was created to help the family of Ms Brooke Edwards return her body back to Australia had raised more than $20,000 in donations.

However, the Georgian government later stepped in and announced it would cover the transportation expenses of her body to Australia.

Shanae Brooke Edwards was killed in Georgia after going for a hike

A young Shanae Brooke Edwards (right) with her family

Shanae Brooke Edwards and her brother Tyson in happier times




An infuriated homeowner has launched a scathing attack on a delivery driver who flung a package at her front door before ringing the doorbell.

The woman posted footage of the frustrating moment to Reddit on Wednesday and quickly sparked a fiery debate over the actions of the Australia Post employee.

'Australia Post yeeting my delivery at my front door only to then go and ring my doorbell. Shitty response from them as well when I notified them,' she wrote.

In the footage, the driver is seen hurling the package at the woman's front door as he calls out 'parcel' to notify the occupants it has been delivered.

In the footage, the driver is seen hurling the package at the woman's front door (pictured) and calls out 'parcel' to notify the occupants it has been delivered

As a dog starts to bark inside the house the postie backs away to take a photo before ringing the doorbell and walking back to his van.

Reddit users were quick to share their thoughts in the comments with viewers divided over whether the behaviour should be expected or condemned.

'This dude is a knob and should be reprimanded as a minimum,' one wrote.

'Other than throwing the package, it's pretty standard at the moment,' another said.

'Keep in mind your item has probably experienced treatment a lot worse than that multiple times before it even got to the local depot.

'The reason they ring door bell last is to give themselves Max time to get back to the van before you can get to the door.'

As a dog starts to bark inside the house, the postie backs away to take a photo before ringing the doorbell (pictured) and walking back to his van

The woman posted footage (pictured) of the frustrating moment to Reddit on Wednesday and quickly sparked a fiery debate over the actions of the Australia Post employee

The woman replied to this comment and explained she didn't mind that the delivery driver had left before she arrived at the door.

'Just the throwing part that gets my goat, not necessary,' she explained.

'Absolutely chase them on this. That is absolute BS. No excuses,' a third shared.

'I mean what's done is done, but get them to make an assurance that he won't be throwing parcels around like that again.'

'I have and I got some really bullshit answers,' the woman replied to the commenter.

'I suspect it wont go any further with them hence the posting to social media. I need to get satisfaction somehow.'

The furious customer explained the package had contained a PS5 special edition of new video game Horizon Forbidden West.

'I work directly with clients, if I f*** up I am held accountable,' she said.

Reddit users were quick to share their thoughts on the video the comments with viewers divided over his behaviour (pictured, an Australia Post employee on the Gold Coast)

A user who claimed to work as a contractor for Australia Post suggested the woman put herself in the shoes of a postal worker put under immense pressure.

He revealed drivers were expected to drop packages in less than three minutes.

'Often times people hold you up by taking significant periods of time to get to the door, don't bother answering, not authorising safe drops and then complaining they had to pick it up from a post office later,' he explained.

'For anyone that wants to criticise them, go ahead, but walk a day in their shoes and you'll soon understand that not all the shi**y conduct is from one end.'

The woman agreed that while she didn't understand the demands on couriers the way the package was thrown was still unacceptable.

'Old mate walked up to the door after throwing the package on the ground, he saved no time by doing it in this manner,' she said.

'I'd just like to know that something was actually done. Their response gives me no assurance besides, we promise we will do something.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Australia Post for comment.

It comes just days after an Australia Post employee sparked a fiery debate by offering an excuse for why they sometimes leave collection cards rather than handing over the parcel (pictured, a postman delivers parcels in Brisbane)

It comes just days after an Australia Post employee sparked a fiery debate by offering an excuse for why they sometimes leave collection cards rather than handing over the parcel even if the recipient is at home.

The driver posted in an Australia Post Complaints Facebook group this week after discovering someone had complained about one of their drivers.

'So please note, we leave a card if there's a gate or dogs in the yard. We don't go into the yard due to safety concerns,' he said.

'Some complaints are so ridiculous - is he meant to get eaten by the dog?' the man asked of the group's 9,400 members on Friday, before the post was deleted.

An Australia Post spokesperson said getting bitten by a dog is far more common than people realise (stock image)

'I've had a card left even though I've been home and there was no knock on the door,' a group member replied, Yahoo! News reported.

'My driver apparently complained about my dog, which is behind a big gate, and all she did was bark - seriously?'

An Australia Post spokesperson said getting bitten by a dog is far more common than people realise.

'Safety is our number one priority at Australia Post but each year too many of our people are injured by unsecured dogs,' they said.

'Every workday last financial year at least three posties, drivers or delivery contractors were attacked by dogs when delivering letters and parcels in our community.'
Nadine Dorries yesterday ordered Ofcom to take timely and transparent action against Russia Today amid growing concerns it is spreading propaganda during the Ukraine crisis.

The Culture Secretary wrote to the broadcast regulator to raise concerns that the Kremlin-backed outfit could look to spread harmful disinformation in the UK.

But Boris Johnson rejected calls for an outright ban, saying it should be up to Ofcom to ban media organisations rather than politicians.

And RT responded provocatively last night, saying that the BBC should also be subject to a review by Ofcom over its state sponsorship.

In a letter to Melanie Dawes, the chief executive of Ofcom, Miss Dorries said the Russian government was conducting an aggressive disinformation campaign.

Ofcom is an independent body that has the power to fine RT or even revoke its licence to broadcast in the UK.

Pictured: Nadine Dorries wrote to the broadcast regulator over the Kremlin-backed channel Russia Today, raising concern the channel may spread propaganda during the Ukraine crisis

It has previously fined the broadcaster 200,000 for breaching impartiality rules over the 2018 Salisbury novichok poisoning.

Miss Dorries said RT was demonstrably part of Russias global disinformation campaign and said certain states sought to exploit and undermine the UKs media landscape.

She pointed to its editor-in-chief, who has previously referred to the broadcaster as an information weapon that can be deployed against the West. She said it was essential that the UK looked to limit Russias ability to spread propaganda.

She added that while she respected Ofcoms independence, it was essential that it kept RT under review.

But in the Commons yesterday, the Prime Minister rejected a call from Labour leader Keir Starmer for an outright ban on RT.

He said: We live in a democracy, Mr Speaker, and we live in a country that believes in free speech and I think its important that we should leave it up to Ofcom rather than to politicians to decide which media organisations to ban. Thats what Russia does.

It is understood Ofcom has no plans to expel RT and it has had fewer than 50 complaints

Sir Keir told the Commons that Vladimir Putins campaign of misinformation should be tackled.

RTs coverage of Ukraine has been from a pro-Russian perspective, with reports of celebrations in Luhansk and Donetsk after President Putin sent in tanks.

Ofcom said: All licensees must observe Ofcoms rules, including due accuracy and due impartiality.

'If broadcasters break those rules, we will not hesitate to step in. Given the seriousness of the Ukraine crisis, we will examine complaints about any broadcasters news coverage of this issue as a priority.

It is understood that the regulator has no plans to expel RT and it has had fewer than 50 complaints about its Ukraine output.

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday said it was unthinkable that her predecessor Alex Salmond still had a show on RT. She backed calls for Ofcom to revoke its broadcast licence.
Gladys Berejiklian's new job with telco giant Optus is off to a less than perfect start as it emerges she will likely be banned from lobbying her former NSW government colleagues.

The former state premier was appointed to the newly created Optus role of managing director, enterprise, business and institutional, two weeks ago.

Ms Berejiklian resigned as premier last October when it emerged she was under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

ICAC is investigating whether she breached the public trust as premier when allocating grant money while she was in an undisclosed relationship with disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire.

The corruption watchdog could release its report into the matter as soon as next week.

Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) is still awaiting the outcome of an ICAC investigation into her

One of the reasons she was hired by Optus is to help it to get more government contracts - last year Telstra won $100 million of NSW state government tenders, compared with the $11.2 million received by Optus.

But the Australian Financial Review reported that she will not now be allowed to contact ministers who formerly served under her due to the NSW Ministerial Code of Conduct, which was integrated into the ICAC Act in 2014.

The code of conduct says former NSW ministers must consult the state parliament's ethics adviser John Evans if, within 18 months of leaving office, they take a private sector role related to their duties over the previous two years.

As premier, Ms Berejiklian had a say in all portfolios within the state government.

Daily Mail Australia attempted to contact Mr Evans to clarify the situation but was unable to speak with him.

Ms Berejiklian would, however, be allowed to help Optus lobby for federal government work, where there is also much room for improvement, the AFR said.

ICAC is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian 1. Engaged in conduct between 2012 and 2018 that was 'liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct' by former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, with whom she was in a close personal relationship between 2015 and 2018 2. Exercised her official functions dishonestly or partially by refusing to exercise her duty to report any reasonable suspicions about Mr Maguire to the ICAC 3. Exercised any of her official functions partially in connection with two multimillion-dollar grants in Mr Maguire's electorate, to the Australian Clay Target Association Inc and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. Advertisement

In 2021, Telstra got 571 federal government contracts, while Optus got 85.

Telstra boss Andy Penn is prepared for a battle in any bids for government contracts.

'We have a very strong government and enterprise business  we just signed a major contract with the Defence Department  and have done a lot of work with the education departments across all the states,' he told the Australian Financial Review.

The work, one of 2500 contracts Telstra has won with Defence since 2004, is worth more than $1billion.

On Monday, October 12, 2020, Ms Berejiklian told an ICAC inquiry into former Liberal MP for Wagga Wagga Daryl Maguire that she had been in a secret 'close personal relationship' with him for years.

It seemed that no one beyond the couple knew about the clandestine affair.

No one but the ICAC investigators, who were tapping Mr Maguire's phone calls.

One of those recordings entered into evidence on the same day Ms Berejiklian admitted her relationship with Mr Maguire featured the pair discussing a business deal.

'I don't need to know about that bit,' the then premier of NSW said to her then partner.

It was revealed by ICAC last October that Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire had discussed getting married and having a child together.

An extraordinary tapped phone call was tendered into evidence of Ms Berejiklian telling Mr Maguire 'I'll throw money at Wagga, don't you worry about that'.

Ms Berejiklian was referring to her plans for the Wagga Wagga by-election, which was caused by Mr Maguire resigning after his evidence at an earlier corruption inquiry.

Gladys Berejiklian (pictured centre) and Daryl Maguire (left) had discussed getting married and having a child together

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian arrives at ICAC on October 29, 2021 in Sydney

Her choice of words was unfortunate. 'Don't you worry about that' was a favourite phrase of one of Australia's most controversial politicians, the late Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

He used it when he wanted to stop journalists asking tough questions.

It has been almost four months since Ms Berejiklian was in the witness box at the ICAC public hearings into her, and the watchdog could release its report into the matter as soon as next week.

If it argues the former premier breached the public's trust, her job with Optus could become one of the shortest corporate executive gigs Australia has ever seen.

Daily Mail Australia approached Optus for comment.
Even with the passage of time, one can imagine the anger with which Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson read on the front page of the Daily Mail of his clandestine peace mission to end the war in Vietnam in 1965.

Wilson's reckless despatch of Left-wing MP Harold Davies to the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, without telling the Americans, turned into a fiasco when the envoy was snubbed by Communist leader Ho Chi Minh.

Amid fury in Washington and mockery in Westminster, a humiliated Wilson set out to track down the source of the Mail's scoop, including having the home telephone of its journalist author tapped. But like his peace plan, Wilson's investigation was an abject failure.

With his jaunty carnation buttonhole  purchased fresh every morning from the flower stall run by Great Train robber Buster Edwards at Waterloo station  and impeccably cut suits, John Dickie, who has died aged 98, was, as former Foreign Secretary Lord (David) Owen observed, 'no ordinary journalist'.

He was admired and feared in equal measure for his extensive range of contacts in the highest echelons of government, diplomacy and security. But above all, he was trusted.

John Dickie (pictured with Margaret Thatcher in 1979), who has died aged 98, was, as former Foreign Secretary Lord (David) Owen observed, 'no ordinary journalist'

For 30 years, as the globetrotting diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Mail, he travelled with every Foreign Secretary, from Alec Douglas-Home to Douglas Hurd. But scoops were his stock-in-trade.

It was Dickie who, in 1969, revealed that there was a top-secret deal with the Russians for the exchange of the Krogers  the husband and wife members of the notorious 1950s Portland spy ring  for hapless Briton Gerald Brooke, who had been detained by the Soviets for handing out Bibles on the streets of Moscow.

For months, officials had denied any such negotiation was taking place and insisted that a prisoner exchange was against government policy.

When Dickie went to see the head of the Foreign Office, the senior civil servant confirmed his story but urged him not to publish because the Russians might renege if there was premature disclosure.

Before Dickie could get back to his Fleet Street office, the mandarin had telephoned the Mail's editor warning that Brooke's mother was unwell and reading of her son's plight might lead to a relapse.

The editor rebuffed the entreaty with the comment: 'If I withheld stories in case they affected a reader's health, I would be left with blank columns.'

Two years later, it was Dickie's exclusive story about a major security breach at the Ministry of Defence that led the front page of the first edition of the new, compact Daily Mail on May 3, 1971.

Under the headline 'Spy scandal in Britain's defence HQ', he reported that top officials had been targeted by a Soviet phone-tapping operation.

Dickie (pictured with his OBE in 1991) was admired and feared for his extensive range of contacts in the highest echelons of government and security. But above all, he was trusted

It was the first step on a trail that five months later was to lead to the expulsion of 105 Soviet agents from Britain, a move that marked the turning point in UK counter-espionage operations.

Dickie's genius in persuading people who held the secrets at the heart of Whitehall to spill the beans was matched only by his unshakeable belief in the public's right to know.

Perhaps nothing illustrated that more than his revelation in 1980 that Saudi Arabia was on the verge of breaking off diplomatic relations with Britain  and possibly suspending contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds  over the screening of the ITV film Death Of A Princess.

The scoop caused consternation at the Foreign Office, where it was seen as the biggest diplomatic row since the Suez crisis of the 1950s.

In his meticulously detailed despatch, Dickie disclosed that the Saudis were poised to ban oil exports to Britain over the screening of a docu-drama based on the public execution of beautiful Saudi princess Mishaal and her lover for adultery.

The resulting furore saw the British ambassador to Riyadh withdrawn, restrictions placed on visas for British businesses, and Concorde banned from Saudi airspace, making the London to Singapore route unprofitable.

Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington, who said he found the film 'deeply offensive' but defended its right to be shown, was  Dickie reported  so concerned at the consequences of the film he sent a personal message to the Saudi ruler King Khalid.

Years later, Carrington showed he harboured no ill-will towards the Mailman with a generous review of a book Dickie penned about the so-called special relationship between Britain and America.

In 1980, he revealed that Saudi Arabia was on the verge of breaking off diplomatic relations with Britain over the screening of the ITV film Death Of A Princess

John Dickie's life-long skill was to retain the companionship  and indeed affection  of many of the high-flying politicians and diplomats he met despite the fact that his despatches sometimes made difficult reading.

Geoffrey Howe, Foreign Secretary under Margaret Thatcher, became a close friend who was a guest at the Dickie family home in Oxshott, Surrey.

David Owen wrote of Dickie's 'personal panache' and spoke of his 'many good sources', while Francis Pym, also a Thatcher-era Foreign Secretary, described him as 'a distinctive figure' remembered for his 'crisp and penetrating questions'.

Such was his standing as the doyenne of his particular trade that he was always granted the privilege of asking the first question of foreign ministers and prime ministers.

On one occasion, travelling with Mrs Thatcher, the then Prime Minister turned to the man from the Daily Mail and said: 'I will just take a quickie from Mr Dickie because we are extremely short of time.'

This son of a Scottish stock- broker made his name in an era when there was no email nor mobile phones, no internet and no 24-hour rolling news.

This meant that reporters would cover events for 'tomorrow's newspaper' safe in the knowledge that the news would not have reached their readers before the paper appeared.

This was a period when 'off the record' briefings were not designed to conceal but to provide journalists such as John Dickie with sufficient information to properly understand the issue.

He was, always, informed. As a critic wrote of one of his knowledgeable books about diplomacy: 'He walks the walk and talks the talk. He knows his way around the Office (Foreign) and the Club (The Travellers). He has contacts and access.'

To the Financial Times, he was 'one of the last of the dying breed of Fleet Street prima donnas'. Perhaps, but he was also modest, with a shrewd and forensic intelligence.

For 30 years, as the diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Mail, he travelled with every Foreign Secretary, from Alec Douglas-Home to Douglas Hurd (pictured with Dickie in 1990)

Born in Glasgow in 1923 he was educated at Glasgow High School, whose alumni include prime ministers Bonar Law and Henry Campbell-Bannerman.

His education was interrupted by World War II and he joined the Army in 1942.

Commissioned a year later, he led gunners of the 79th Scottish Horse Regiment  part of the Royal Artillery  on to the D-Day beaches of Normandy.

When the war in Europe ended, he was transferred to Earl Mountbatten's staff in South East Asia where he served in Saigon, Jakarta and Singapore.

After being demobbed with the rank of Major, he resumed his studies, graduating with an honours degree in history from Glasgow University.

In 1949, he was one of two successful candidates out of 440 graduates who applied for a place on a journalism training scheme run by the Kemsley group, then owners of The Sunday Times.

A spell in Sheffield was followed by a move to Reuters news agency and then to the News Chronicle, where in 1955 he was appointed Commonwealth correspondent.

This was the age of 'decolonisation', when Britain was shedding its empire and Dickie's reputation for scoops began.

During a two-week period in 1959, Dickie secured a string of exclusives on plans for the independence of Cyprus.

Such was his prowess that two of the protagonists in the drama  the Greek premier and the Turkish foreign minister  both sent him messages of congratulations.

A year later, he was at the Mail and, for the next three decades, he provided compelling inside stories revolving around Britain's decline on the international stage in the 1960s through to its new-found influence under Mrs T in the 1980s.

It was Dickie's exclusive story about a major security breach at the Ministry of Defence that led the front page of the first edition of the new, compact Daily Mail on May 3, 1971

He retained something of an air of mystery when it came to his contacts in the security services.

On his way out to lunch with the then head of MI6, who at that time was not formally acknowledged, he was asked by a Mail executive who he was meeting. 'I cannot possibly tell you, he doesn't exist.'

Six months after his retirement in 1990, Dickie, who brought clarity and objectivity to the coverage of Britain's relations with the world, was awarded the OBE for services to journalism.

He swapped the daily deadlines of the newspaper for the world of books, writing a string of well-received works on diplomacy.

His memoirs were especially revealing about the behaviour of former Labour foreign secretary  and notorious drunk  George Brown.

He related the words of advice of Brown's principal private secretary to ambassadors: 'If you don't know it already, this man is an alcoholic. In the course of the next 48 hours he is bound to insult you, your wife and probably everyone on your embassy staff. But you just have to live with it.'

In 1949, Dickie married Inez White, a Scottish skating champion, and they celebrated 65 years of marriage before her death in 2014.

He is survived by their daughter Lorna, a maths teacher, and son Nigel, European director of corporate and government affairs for the Kraft Heinz company.
President Moon Jae-in, center, poses at Hyundai Heavy Industries' (HHI) shipyard in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, Thursday, along with participants in an agreement ceremony regarding cooperation for successful reopening of the shipyard. Yonhap



By Park Jae-hyuk



Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has decided to resume the operation of its shipyard on a 1.8 million square meters area of land in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, starting next January, six years after the shipbuilding industry recession caused its shutdown in 2017, the company said, Thursday.



The shipbuilder's latest decision has been mainly attributed to the recent global shipbuilding boom which enabled Korean shipbuilders to win orders of 17.5 million compensated gross tonnage (CGT) in 2021, up 113 percent from the previous year.



"We will inspect our facilities and equipment to create a safer workplace, making every effort to train workers," HHI CEO Han Young-seuk said in an agreement ceremony regarding the cooperation of the company and the central and local governments for a successful reopening of the shipyard. "After finishing preparatory works by the end of this year, we will hire 750 workers to produce 100,000 tons of blocks for large container ships annually, starting in 2023."



President Moon Jae-in also attended the event to welcome the shipyard's reopening, as he had promised to carry out policies to support its normalization, when he was running for president in early 2017.



"It is especially expected to play a major role in manufacturing eco-friendly vessels," he said. "Once the Gusan shipyard starts producing blocks for LNG- and LPG-fueled vessels, it will further increase our country's market share in manufacturing environment-friendly ships, where we have overwhelmed competitors."



Domestic shipbuilders clinched 64 percent of orders for eco-friendly vessels on the global market last year, up from 62 percent in 2020 and 57 percent in 2019, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.



Moon said that Korea aims to increase its global market share to 75 percent by 2030, improving core technologies for low-carbon vessels and bracing for the era of zero-carbon vessels, such as ships powered by hydrogen and ammonia.



The governments of North Jeolla Province and Gunsan vowed to finance HHI for the company to hire workers, support its subcontractors and operate buses to the shipyard.



They also plan to cover part of the shipbuilder's maritime logistics costs for three years.



The city's economy has suffered severe difficulties, following the shutdown of the shipyard in July 2017 and the closure of GM Korea's factory in February 2018.



In order to support the two companies' troubled subcontractors and discover new opportunities to create jobs, the central government has injected 3 trillion won ($2.5 billion) into the region over the past four years.



Considering that most of HHI's subcontractors have survived with the help of the injected funds, the government said it expects the shipbuilder to create synergy with them, once the company reopens its Gunsan shipyard.


A man has been charged with allegedly trying to run over four e-scooter riders in a terrifying road rage attack.

The 33-year-old Ford driver was arrested at his home in Craigieburn, on Melbourne's northern fringe, after a 10-day manhunt.

He is accused of veering towards the riders about midnight on February 13 as they travelled down St Kilda Road.

On Wednesday police arrested a 33-year-old man they allege was driving the yellow Ford (above) in an attack on four e-scooter riders in St Kilda earlier this month

CCTV footage shows the riders narrowly avoided being hit by the yellow Ford the first time it aimed at them.

One of them fled around a corner while others chased the car and shouted at the driver.

The driver then did several U-turns - and at one point drove on the wrong side of the road - to allegedly target the riders and further damage their e-scooters.

Police believe the road rage was caused by a confrontation an hour earlier between the riders and an unknown woman who was seen entering the yellow Ford.

The yellow Ford had narrowly missed hitting the four riders in the attack (above) earlier this month and had performed several U-turns to run over the e-scooters

While searching the 33-year-old man's house police seized the vehicle they alleged was used in the attack, and found ammunition, drugs, and, explosives.

He is due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday on 10 charges including reckless conduct endangering persons, unlicensed driving, cultivating cannabis and manufacturing an explosive device.

There have been no reports of the arrest of woman allegedly involved in the incident.
Modern slavery laws will be overhauled amid fears they have become a get out of jail free card for criminals, it can be revealed today.

Currently, anyone accused of committing an offence cannot be found guilty if they claim they were forced into it through slavery or exploitation.

And the number of suspects using this loophole is rocketing  prompting the move to shake up the law.

Modern slavery has become the de facto excuse in all kinds of criminal cases, a Government source said. Its also being deployed by lawyers in problematic immigration cases. We are seeing a lot more of it. We now expect the legislation to be reformed.

In an increasing number of cases, suspects arrested by police will claim they have been trafficked, exploited or forced to work in crime by gangs.

Currently, anyone accused of committing an offence cannot be found guilty if they claim they were forced into it through slavery or exploitation. Pictured: People marching against modern slavery in London in October 2017

Many claim they have been threatened into committing crime, forced to work as a prostitute or simply made to work for little or no pay. There was even a case last month in which a terrorist trial was thrown out due to a modern slavery claim.

The 16-year-old defendant  the youngest girl ever charged with a terror offence in the UK  claimed she had been sexually exploited and groomed online.

Last night a Government source said the current legislation from 2015  created by ex-prime minister Theresa May when she was home secretary  was becoming a big problem in criminal and immigration cases.

Potential victims of modern slavery are sent through the Home Offices National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

In 2020 there were 10,613 NRM referrals, up from 6,982 in 2018 and more than four times the figure from 2014.

The most recent figures  for January to September last year  showed there had been 9,393 cases during that period alone.

Last night a Government source said the current legislation from 2015  created by ex-prime minister Theresa May (pictured on February 11) when she was home secretary  was becoming a big problem in criminal and immigration cases

The total includes British nationals  one of the largest groups  as well as foreigners, and will include those who were genuine victims as well as suspected criminals.

However, figures obtained under freedom of information laws show some police forces have seen large increases in the number of suspected criminals who have been referred to the NRM.

Cambridgeshire police recorded 71 suspects were sent to the NRM process in 2020-21, up from just four in 2017-18. And Norfolk police recorded single digit totals each year from 2015 to 2017, but by 2020-21 it had risen to 35.
A Colorado Democrat running for Congress is attempting to drum up interest in his campaign against Republican firebrand and QAnon conspiracy supporter Lauren Boebert by releasing a video that sees its subjects rained down upon by feces.

Alex Walker, who calls himself a 'queer engineering nerd' is looking to take on the outspoken right-winger with a controversial campaign ad.

In the two-minute long video, the residents of Colorado are seen being bombarded with excrement falling from the sky.

It ends up covering everything from people's faces to children's teddy bears.

Colorado congressional candidate Alex Walker released a video that sees subjects being covered in feces falling from the sky, including children's toys

The two- minute long ad sees unsuspecting people crushed by poop

Walker then appears to introduce himself and picks up one of the stained toys.

'We are real Coloradans,' he says. 'We deserve a living wage, small government that actually works and freedom of choice. Instead, we have bull****.'

'Don't you ever wonder where it's all coming from?' Walker asks before the video shows the nameplate upon the desk of the incumbent and divisive Republican congresswoman.

'Colorado needs a bull, not a bullsh*****. I'm Alex Walker, and I approve the s*** out of this message,' he states.

Smaller pieces rain down on everyone including children and soft toys

'We are real Coloradans. We deserve a living wage, small government that actually works, and freedom of choice. Instead, we have bulls****,' Walker said in his video

On his campaign site, Walker for Colorado, the Democrat explains how he is a 'Colorado native, engineer, writer & small business owner.

'I'm a gay moderate who believes in small government, personal freedom & human rights. Groundbreaking,' he states.

'My policies are built on reason, not party nonsense. Some lean left. Some lean right. None of them involve sex cults or pizza,' he says as he takes a jab at one of the many debunked QAnon conspiracies that a Washington D.C. pedophile ring with famous affiliates was based out of a local pizza parlor.

'If you've over bottom-feeding racist morons like Lauren Boebert: welcome,' he writes.

'Don't you ever wonder where it's all coming from?' asks Walker, before cutting to a desk that shows it to be Rep. Lauren Boebert

A lookalike of Boebert then uses a firehose to spray more fecal matter around an office

Boebert is no stranger to controversy herself. She has only been in office one year but she has become a divisive national figure for her flirtations with conspiratorial conservative thinking

The announcement also cites Walker's business experience and the loss of his brother to suicide as reasons for his campaign.

'Part of why I'm running is to honor my brother and everyone left behind by elected officials who don't do their jobs,' the announcement said. 'I'm 100 percent committed to stopping Boebert from continuing her endless cycle of attacking people because of who they are or what they look like.'

Boebert is no stranger to controversy herself. She has only been in office one year but she has become a divisive national figure for her flirtations with conspiratorial conservative thinking, her provocative social media style and for picking fights with Democratic colleagues like Rep. Ilhan Omar.

The owner of a firearm-themed restaurant in the town of Rifle, Boebert has now drawn several other primary challengers aside from Walker.

Children's toys are seen being covered in poop during the two minute long political ad

People are also covered in brown liquid to emulate human excrement in the revolting advert

So far 10 other Democrats are already in the race, Walker makes 11.

The 11 Democratic candidates 'combined have less than 13 percent of the more than $2 million that Boebert has on hand, according to the most recent set of campaign finance reports. Some have yet to report any cash on hand at all,' reports the Denver Post.

Marina Zimmerman, a crane operator in the southwestern Colorado town of Arboles who's never run for office before is planning to run.

So too is State Senator Don Coram, who is far better known and has a decade-long track record of winning races in western Colorado.

Boebert is popular among conservative circles for her outspoken defense of gun rights and calling the January 6 riot committee a 'witch hunt'

'I've had people reach out to me that think, as I do, that the extreme left and the extreme right are getting notoriety and their voice isn't being heard,' Coram. 'I don't need notoriety, I'm just there to do the job.'

Boebert's reelection campaign had previously released a statement previewing how she's likely to run against Coram. 'Anyone who has looked at Don Coram's voting record knows he is a self-serving, super-woke social liberal who would have a far better chance of winning the Democrat nomination,' Boebert said in the statement.

Boebert won a surprise victory in the 2020 Republican primary against Rep. Scott Tipton. Even though then-President Donald Trump endorsed Tipton, Boebert argued she was the stronger Trump supporter.

Her win broke with tradition in a district that has historically valued can-do, bipartisan representatives over ideologues and firebrands.

But the district got several points more Republican due to boundary changes in Colorado's redistricting process last year.

While unaffiliated voters are allowed to cast ballots in the primary, it is likely to be an uphill battle challenging a politician as well-known and well-funded as Boebert, who's raked in millions in donations since arriving in Washington.
A top lawyer has vowed to hire a Chief Happiness Officer for his staff.

Jonathan Kewley has applied to be managing partner at the London office of Clifford Chance  one of Londons five leading magic circle international law firms.

As part of his pitch, he said he would bring in a Californian work environment and a four-day week to bring joy to staff.

As part of his pitch to be a managing partner, Jonathan Kewley said he would bring in a Californian work environment and a four-day week to bring joy to staff at Clifford Chance

Mr Kewley, a specialist in technology law, is up against the current managing partner Michael Bates, who hopes to keep his job for another four-year term.

Mr Bates said he wanted to restructure the companys pension scheme, The Lawyer website reported.

Clifford Chance is cutting gendered language from its legal documents by replacing pronouns such as she or he with they or them'.

Clifford Chance is one of the five magic circle international law firms and reported a global revenue last year of 1.83 billion, with full equity partners making a profit of 1.85million.

Newly qualified solicitors at Clifford Chance can earn starting salaries of more than 100,000, with many partners paid more than 1million per year.

But employees at some magic circle firms report high levels of stress and long working hours.

Clifford Chance declined to comment on the manifestoes but it is understood the decision on who gets the role will soon be decided by the global managing partner Matthew Layton in consultation with other partners.
A columnist has told Queenslanders opposed to daylight savings to 'get the hell out' of the Sunshine State.

Sky News host Peter Gleeson penned a piece for the Courier Mail detailing his desire for his state to wind its clocks forward an hour in summer.

Along with Western Australia and the Northern Territory, Queensland does not follow the practice favoured by their southern brethren.

Gleeson claimed daylight savings 'made perfect sense' for his state, and lashed out at anything who disagreed.

Along with Western Australia and the Northern Territory, Queensland does not wind forward their clocks come summer time. There have been recent calls for QLD to introduce daylight savings

Poll Should Queensland introduce daylight savings? Yes No Should Queensland introduce daylight savings? Yes 72 votes

No 95 votes Now share your opinion





'The fact that Queensland, one of the most progressive, modern and prosperous jurisdictions in the world, doesn't have daylight saving is criminal,' he wrote.

'It would put us on equal time zones as the southern states, but more importantly, give people an extra hour of daylight each evening during summer.'

'If you still are opposed to daylight saving, just get the hell out of the Sunshine State, once and for all.'

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner recently called for a 2024 referendum to introduce daylight savings, but the state government rejected the idea.

'We have listened to the people of Queensland who have previously said they do not want daylight savings,' Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said on Tuesday.

'We're just focused on growing our economy and dealing with our response to Covid.'

The last time Queenslanders were made to vote was in 1992 where the state was divided between the north and the south.

Sky News host Peter Gleeson penned a piece for the Courier Mail detailing his desire for his state to catch up to the rest of eastern Australia. He said those who didn't support daylight savings should 'get the hell out' of the state

In northern parts of the state, 77 per cent voted for no but 60 per cent of residents in the southeast voted for yes.

Mr Gleeson said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk not wanting to again divide the state with another ballot was 'rubbish'.

'We're already divided. North Queensland doesn't want a bar of the southeast anyway, so why should we worry about what they think,' he said.

'Queensland already has a reputation for being the capital of Australia's hillbilly politicians. The fact that we're an hour behind the other states just solidifies that perception that we're a little bit slower than the rest.'

Some business owners have also thrown their support around daylight savings, saying the time difference impacted their relationship with other states.

But others are against the idea.

Some have complained that scorching hot temperatures would make daylight savings difficult

MP Robbie Katter from Katter's Australian Party took it upon himself to start a petition urging the government not to introduce it because of the high temperatures in the north.

'South-east Queenslanders annually revisit their desire to introduce DST, despite the fact this would plunge the overwhelming geographic majority of Queenslanders into artificially-lengthened 'working days' characterized by an additional hour of oppressive heat and sunshine for a six-month period,' he wrote in the petition.

'It would also further erode livability in rural and regional communities, many of which already contend with 40-plus degree days throughout summer.'
Home abortions will be axed by the end of summer, despite health unions warning that getting rid of the 'pills by post' scheme would be 'devastating'.

When the Covid pandemic began, women seeking to terminate their pregnancy in the first 10 weeks were able to take pills at home  removing the need for them to see a clinician in person.

Ministers revealed today the scheme will expire at midnight on August 29.

England will then revert to pre-pandemic rules, which require women to take the first abortion pill in a clinic or hospital. They can take the second at home.

Announcing the move today, health minister Maggie Throup said it would ensure the 'wellbeing' and 'safety' of women.

Pro-life charities raised concerns that the scheme was allowing some women to be coerced into having an abortion and that the pills were being used beyond the ten-week limit.

But medical unions want ministers to make the 'essential change' to abortion rules permanent, saying it had slashed waiting times and allowed for earlier terminations which are safer.

They warned removing at home access to the pills, used by 2,000 women a week, would show a 'deep mistrust' of the public.

The method, relating to termination in the first ten weeks of pregnancy, is thought to be used by around 2,000 women a week (file photo)

Medical abortion  which can only be carried out up to 24 weeks of pregnancy  involves taking two different medicines. They are different to the 'morning after' pill.

Under pre-pandemic rules, women took the first pill to terminate a pregnancy at an abortion clinic or hospital under supervision from a clinician.

They were then able to take the second at home up to 48 hours later.

When the virus struck, however, ministers shifted to allowing both pills to be taken at home following a teleconsultation to ensure women still had access to the service.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN ABORTION RULES THIS YEAR? Home abortions were approved at the end of March 2020 by then Health Secretary Matt Hancock. The new rules allowed women within the first ten weeks of pregnancy to take the first pill at home following a teleconsultation with a clinician. This was applied in England, Scotland and Wales, but not in Northern Ireland which only started permitting abortions from 2020. But today the Government announced the rule would be ending in August, with women again required to go to clinics to get their first abortion pill. Health minister Maggie Throup said the move would ensure the 'wellbeing and safety' of women. Last night medical unions called for the change to be made permanent, saying it had sped up abortions and meant more could occur earlier which was safer. But some charities welcomed the end of the rule, saying it would ensure abortions were not taking place under duress or beyond the legal limit of 10 weeks with pills. Advertisement

But announcing this would be reversed by the end of August, Ms Throup said today: 'After careful consideration, the Government's view is that the provision of early medical abortion should return to pre-Covid arrangements.

'The wellbeing and safety of women requiring access to abortion services has been, and will continue to be, our first and foremost priority.'

She added: 'Thanks to the success and impact of the national vaccination and booster programme, we are in a very different position compared to the beginning of the pandemic.

'A short-term extension of the temporary approval will be made to enable a safe and reliable return to pre-pandemic arrangements and continued access to services.'

More than 30 medical groups had called for home abortions to be made permanent.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the British Medical Association, and others expressed their 'deep and urgent concern' in a letter to Boris Johnson yesterday.

They said scrapping the legislation would force women to turn to unregulated abortion pill providers.

They added the telemedicine system has created a more equitable and quick service, which is 'just as safe' and a 'more efficient' use of NHS resources.

The letter said: 'To remove this service, despite the scientific and medical support it carries, would indicate a deep mistrust of women and an institutional disregard for their reproductive rights.'

Ministers have taken a different view, however, with a Whitehall source telling the Daily Telegraph yesterday: 'As we move away from the measures we took to get through Covid, it's right that we make a safe return to the policy that was in place pre-pandemic.'

Anti-abortion charity Right to Life welcome the move today, saying it would ensure 'no more women are put at risk by the temporary provision'.

A spokeswoman said: 'By removing a routine in-person consultation that allows medical practitioners to certify gestation and recognise potential coercion or abuse, 'at-home' abortion has presented serious risks to women and girls in abusive situations.

'It has allowed severe complications to occur, as well as abortions beyond the legal limit.

'Abortion providers currently cannot ensure the pills are taken by the intended individual within the appropriate time frame.'

More than 125,000 women have accessed pills by post so far since rules were relaxed in April 2020.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'The current temporary measures were brought in at the start of the pandemic to allow eligible women to take both pills for early medical abortion - which goes up to 10 weeks of gestation - at home. We keep these provisions under review.'
An Australian man has been trapped in a nightmare never-ending cyber hack for two years that cost him his job, home, and whole identity.

Simon Edwards, 44, replaced all his devices multiple times, spent $10,000 on tech support and moved back in with his mother in a desperate effort to expel the intruder - all to no avail.

The hack was so widespread that his TV, car, security cameras, social media accounts, and even his tax return were taken over by a mysterious outsider.

He has to carry around a Commonwealth Victims Certificate to prove his identity and get help from government agencies and financial institutions.

Mr Edwards' nightmare started with a trip to an Apple store in Melbourne in late 2019 after his iPhone and laptop started behaving strangely.

Edwards estimates that he has lost $9,500 dollars and nearly lost another $10,000

His browsers were plagued with pop-ups, emails refused to send, and he received dozens of scam calls a week.

Tech staff told him the results of their analysis were inconclusive, but six months later called him back with a creepy discovery.

'Youre the child and theres a parent,' he was told, despite being a single man who lived alone.

The employee was referring to parental controls that were activated on his devices without his knowledge, locking him out of apps and monitoring his every move.

All of Mr Edwards' devices were linked through bluetooth, allowing the hacker to install a family sharing network with themselves as overlord.

The system is be used to share books and music or to set time limits on children's devices and restrict access to websites and applications.

His devices would lock him out of apps, the screens would shake and purchases he didn't recognise were made.

The 'screen mirroring' feature on his devices was also constantly turned on, streaming his laptop and phone screens to the invisible third party.

'This has completely ruined my life,' Mr Edwards told News Corp.

'Every shred of personal data is gone. I cant change my date of birth, he said. I cant claw back whats happened. I have to live with it.'

Edwards had to replace his email address, SIM and bank cards to try fix the problem

Mr Edwards fears the malware that allowed hackers into his IT came from a person he matched with on a dating app.

'I've always been the person to think the best of people but it's changed how I view everyone around me. It just takes one person with bad intentions to wreak so much havoc,' he said.

The breach allowed hackers into his internet accounts including access to his credit cards, social media, and tax returns.

Edwards estimates $9,500 was stolen and he nearly lost another $10,000, plus thousands more in costs dealing with the fallout.

Much worse was his life being turned upside-down with the hacker and the malware they implanted being so persistent he can't escape.

'I've done every different common sense thing you can think of, new phone, new email address, new SIM card, new credit card number, where there's no carry over.' he said.

Constantly plagued by problems, Mr Edwards quit his job last April and left Melbourne to move in with his mother in regional NSW.

Apple gave him just $300 in compensation and his problems have no end in sight.

Edwards was told a third party had gained access to his devices through the Apple 'family sharing' feature

Family sharing heightens access between family accounts. Even lost or stolen phones on family sharing allow the thief to potentially gain access to personal and sensitive information from other accounts including passwords and locations.

Mr Edwards case isn't the only one, other people have also experienced third parties accessing and controlling people's devices through initially exploiting family sharing access.

There are a couple ways that someone can put your devices under their restrictions through family sharing.

These include the user mistakenly approve a notification that gives the option to join someone's 'family', or if someone else (a 'family administrator') has your password, they can add you to their family.

You can make your Apple ID more secure by enabling the 'two-factor authentication' feature.

At least 5.3 million Australians were targeted by cybercrime in the past year, and spent 27 million hours dealing with it, according to the 2022 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report.
A prison officer is in a critical condition after he and a nurse were assaulted by an inmate at a hospital.

The incident occurred at the Prince of Wales Hospital while the officer was guarding the prisoner.

The inmate is now being transported to Goulburn Supermax.

The assault occurred at the hospital at 8.30am after which the male officer underwent emergency surgery.

A prison officer and a nurse were assaulted by a prisoner at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney on Thursday morning. The guard is currently in a critical but stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery

A prisoner from Long Bay Correctional Complex has been transported to Goulburn's high-security Supermax facility after a vicious assault on a prison officer and a nurse at Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital on Thursday morning

Corrective Services NSW told Daily Mail Australia the officer is now in a critical but stable conditions.

NSW Corrections Minister Geoff Lee described the assault as 'a terrible event'.

'On behalf of the government, I extend my sympathy to the officer and the nurse.'

It's understood both the prison officer and the inmate had arrived at the hospital from Long Bay Correctional Complex.

Commissioner Kevin Corcoran PSM said the work Corrective Services NSW officers do is often dangerous.

'Despite this, they turn up each day determined to keep the community safe. CSNSW is offering all available support to the officer and other staff.'

The Commissioner visited Prince of Wales Hospital this morning after this morning's incident and spoke with the medical director.
A former policeman who was busted snorting cocaine off his fiancee's breasts at his own birthday party will not spend time behind bars and now produces pornography on OnlyFans.

Ex-Queensland Police officer Zachary Samuel Maidment, 29, pleaded guilty to supplying dangerous drugs this week after he handed out lines of cocaine and ecstasy to party-goers at The Star on the Gold Coast in June 2020.

Covert surveillance footage caught Maidment snorting the drug off fiancee Tyana Hansen's chest and laying out a line for her on another woman's backside, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

The Southport District Court was told Maidment informed guests there would be 'titty lines' at the party and other drugs.

OnlyFans star Zachary Samuel Maidment, 29, was seen in covert surveillance footage snorting cocaine off fiancee Tyana Hansen's breasts at his birthday party in June, 2020 (pictured together)

Maidment avoided jail after pleading guilty to supplying dangerous drugs

He was hit with a 12 month suspended sentence. Maidment told the court he started dabbling in drugs to deal with the stress of working as a police officer, and to cope with the culture where those who ask for help are seen as 'weak' within the force.

His fiancee, who he makes explicit online content with, pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs in November 2020 and was fined $1,500.

Two other officers who were at the party pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs and were given good behaviour bonds.

Maidment's lawyer said he had stopped using drugs and was remorseful.

Maidment (pictured with Hanse) had told guests there would be 'titty lines' at the party and other drugs

The OnlyFans star reportedly now hopes to become a workplace health and safety officer.

Maidment and his girlfriend have been open about their OnlyFans content which they started together after splitting up - before later reuniting as a couple.

Hansen, a former Playboy and Maxim cover girl, already has a strong following on adult platform OnlyFans, where she claims to make a six-figure salary.

The adult entertainer earlier told the ABC the pair already made tens of thousands of dollars in their first 24 hours on the site, but OnlyFans takes a 20 per cent cut.

'When Zac was in the police, they controlled every aspect of his life, including what he posted to social media. So, doing this is a chance for both of us to be ourselves,' she said.
The U.S. has warned that a Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine could displace up to five million people, triggering one of the world's largest refugee crises.

A state of emergency was declared by the Ukrainian government and approved by parliament as 200,000 military reservists were called up, border zones were restricted and three million Ukrainians were told to leave Russia.

The whole country was placed on a war footing with Kiev acknowledging for the first time that an attack could now take place anywhere, at any time.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told a security council meeting in New York that a Russian invasion into eastern Ukraine could displace up to five million people.

She said an invasion could cause famine in other countries with a rise in bread prices expected given Russia and Ukraine produce around 30 per cent of wheat exports globally.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has warned that a Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine could displace up to five million people, triggering one of the world's largest refugee crises

Russian volunteers carry medical supplies to a warehouse in the city of Taganrog, close to the border of Ukraine, after Biden warned that blood is being moved to the frontlines in what is considered to be one of the final moves before an attack

She said: 'Russia's actions could cause a spike in food prices and lead to even more desperate hunger in places like Libya, Yemen and Lebanon.

'The tidal waves of suffering this war will cause are unthinkable.'

Her warning came before explosions were heard in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, mounting fears that shelling is underway.

Residents in the city, which is located in south eastern Ukraine, have been woken up by blasts 30 miles from the Russian border.

The explosions came hours after the U.S. warned the Ukrainian government that Putin's troops are 'ready to go now' with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with 80 per cent of Russian troops now assembled around the country in attack positions.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Wednesday night also said he expected Russia to invade Ukraine before the night is over.

'Everything seems in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine,' Blinken told NBC, adding he could not be precise about time or place.

In a significant move, Moscow-backed rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine asked Putin for military assistance in fending off Ukrainian 'aggression', fuelling fears the Russian strongman will use it as an excuse to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Many observers have suggested baseless and unfounded claims of Ukrainian military aggression to Moscow-backed separatist forces would form the pretext to a full-scale invasion.

U.S. President Joe Biden earlier today warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of an 'imminent' attack by Vladimir Putin's troops in the next 48 hours, just hours after Ukraine was hit by a 'massive' cyberattack targeting its government and banks.

Russian armored vehicles are loaded onto railway platforms at a railway station in the Rostov-on-Don region, not far from Russia-Ukraine border, on Wednesday

Putin has recognised two areas in eastern Ukraine as independent and authorised Russian troops to go in on 'peacekeeping' missions. Rebels already hold part of that territory (in red) but Putin has recognised a much-wider region (yellow) amid fears he will now try to seize it. There are also fears he is preparing to attack Kharkiv in Ukraine (green) after massing forces nearby

U.S. intelligence chiefs fear Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is at particular risk of being targeted in a Russian invasion as it is close to the Ukrainian-Russian border.

On Tuesday night, a huge military convoy of more than 100 trucks with soldiers were heading in the direction of the city.

On Wednesday, Vladimir Putin had given a sabre-rattling address to his troops to mark Defender of the Fatherland Day, praising their 'battle readiness' while saying he is assured that they will fight to defend Russian security interests - which he called 'non-negotiable'. Russia also evacuated staff from its Kiev embassy.

Ukraine's security agency claimed 45,000 plastic body bags have now been ordered to the Russian frontlines, giving the first hint of the amount lives Putin is willing to sacrifice to get what he wants - after Joe Biden said supplies of blood for transfusions have also been brought in.
Chinese FM meets co-chairs of intergovernmental negotiations on UNSC reform

Xinhua) 09:06, February 24, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani and Martin Bille Hermann, co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the United Nations Security Council Reform of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, through video link in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani and Martin Bille Hermann, co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the United Nations Security Council Reform of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, through video link Tuesday.

Wang said the Security Council is the core of the international collective security mechanism. In the current turbulent global environment, the Security Council needs to improve its capacity and efficiency through reform to better perform its duties entrusted by the UN Charter.

China has always supported the reasonable and necessary reform of the Security Council and has always made constructive efforts to this end, Wang added.

He said the reform of the Security Council should prioritize increasing the representation and voices of developing countries so that more countries, especially small and medium-sized ones, have more opportunities to participate in the decision-making of the Security Council. It is the original intention and the direction of the reform of the Security Council.

He stressed that the reform of the Security Council is a systematic project that requires a package solution striking a proper balance among five paramount issues involved in the reform.

In pushing through the reform, it's necessary to build consensus, adhere to the leadership of member states, reflect their agreement, and ensure that the results are acceptable to them. The status of intergovernmental negotiations as the main channel should be upheld, Wang said.

He expressed the hope that the two co-chairs, bearing in mind the long-term development of the UN and the common interests of all member states, will guide all parties to enhance their understanding of each other's positions to push forward the reform of the Security Council on the right course.

Al-Thani and Hermann, who are permanent representatives to the UN of Qatar and Denmark, respectively, appreciated China's efforts to safeguard multilateralism and strengthen the role of the UN. They extended congratulations on the successful Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

They said the reform of the Security Council is complex and sensitive, and they will continue to adhere to the leadership of member states, fully listen to their opinions, broaden consensus, and reduce differences. The co-chairs expressed readiness to strengthen communication and coordination with all member states, including China, to steadily advance the reform process of the Security Council.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani and Martin Bille Hermann, co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the United Nations Security Council Reform of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, through video link in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Korean carmakers fail to adapt to rapidly changing consumer tastes



By Kim Hyun-bin



Despite achieving success in the United States, Europe and other markets, Hyundai Motor and affiliate Kia continue to struggle in China, lagging behind their rivals in responding to rapidly-changing consumer tastes there, according to industry analysts, Thursday.



China's fanning of anti-Korea sentiment since 2017 when Korea deployed a U.S. anti-missile defense system has also made it difficult for the two automakers to expand in the world's second-largest economy, they said.



Hyundai sold 350,277 vehicles in China last year, down 20.4 percent from 2020. Last year, Kia sold 127,005 vehicles, which is half of what it sold a year before.



The two companies' sales in China have been declining almost every year since 2016. Hyundai Motor and Kia's 2016 sales volume stood at 1.14 million and 650,000 respectively, dropping two thirds in five years.



"In recent years, the Chinese automobile market has undergone rapid changes, amid fierce competition between manufacturers," a Hyundai Motor Group official said. "Beijing Hyundai is devising various strategic measures, and is trying to enhance the efficient operation of production."





Hyundai Motor Company's Chongqing plant in China / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
Russia has invaded Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin told the nation just before 6am on Thursday in Moscow - saying he was launching a 'special military operation' but was not intending on occupying the country.

As he was speaking, the United Nations Security Council was holding an emergency session, and urging Putin to pull back.

But it was too late.

Explosions were reported in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol in the early hours of Thursday, and unverified footage on social media showed flashpoints across the south of Ukraine.

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, urged Vladimir Putin to stop his tanks.

'If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart,' said Guterres.

'President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.'

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said that she had spoken to President Joe Biden minutes earlier, and he conveyed his firm support for Ukraine's government.

'A full scale invasion into Ukraine by Russia is imminent,' said Thomas-Greenfield.

'Tonight we are seeing Russia close airspace, move troops into Donbas.

'We ask Russia to stop. Send your troops back to their barracks and your planes back to their ports. Send your diplomats.'

Footage shared on social media showed housing estates in Mariupol - 50 miles from the Russian border - booming with the sound of what some reports said was shelling.

In Mykolaiv, 400 miles to the east of Mariupol, residents reported sounds of fierce exchanges of gunfire.

Anthony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, said on Wednesday night he expected Putin to invade overnight.

Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday night reported widespread cyber attacks on government institutions.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, is seen on Wednesday night addressing the Security Council

Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, urged Vladimir Putin to 'give peace a chance'

@POTUS is closely monitoring the developments in Ukraine and he will continue receiving regular updates from Jake Sullivan, his National Security Advisor. He also spoke with his UN Ambassador, Linda Thomas Greenfield before the UNSC meeting this evening.  Jen Psaki (@PressSec) February 24, 2022

The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Wednesday night

Putin is thought to be planning a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, having recognised two areas in the east of the country as independent earlier this week. Rebels already hold part of that territory (in dark red) but Putin has recognised a much-wider region (shaded red) amid fears he will now try to seize it

Anthony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, was asked on Wednesday night whether he expected Putin to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine overnight, and replied: 'I do'

Blinken was asked earlier on Wednesday by Lester Holt on NBC News on whether he thought there would be a full-scale invasion from Russia 'before this night is over'.

Blinken replied: 'I do. Unfortunately Russia has positioned its forces at the final point of readiness across Ukraine's borders - to the north, the east, the south.

'Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine.'

Blinken added: 'I can't put a date or an exact time on it, but everything is in place for Russia to move forward.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday night addressed the nation, saying that he had tried to contact Putin to discuss the situation, but Putin refused to take his call.

'I initiated a telephone call with the president of the Russian federation. Result: silence,' Zelensky said.

Zelensky said he wanted to address the Russian people - admitting that he knew the speech would not be shown in the country - but warning that the 'spark' for invasion could come at any time.

'You are told that this flame will liberate the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.

'You are told we are Nazis, but how can a people support Nazis that gave more than eight million lives for the victory over Nazism?'

Zelensky also rejected Moscow's claim that Ukraine was a threat to Russia.

'The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,' Zelensky said, adding that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

Zelensky added that there were now 200,000 Russian troops amassed near Ukraine's borders.

Zelensky said that the people of Russia were being lied to about Ukraine and urged them to help stop a possible war.

'Who can stop (the war)? People. These people are among you, I am sure,' he said.
Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican U.S. vice presidential candidate, plans to seek a new trial and have the judge disqualified after losing her defamation case against the New York Times.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan discussed Palin's plan at a hearing on Wednesday, and said he will issue a written opinion by March 1 explaining why he dismissed her case while jurors were deliberating.

He said he would speed up the opinion because of the 'fracas' surrounding the dismissal.

The unusual hearing came eight days after jurors rejected Palin's claim that the Times and former editorial page editor James Bennet defamed her in a June 2017 editorial.

A New York judge has tossed Sarah Palin's libel lawsuit against The New York Times because her lawyers failed to produce evidence of the newspaper had actual malice against her. Pictured: Palin talking to the media after the judge's ruling last Monday

US District Judge Jed Rakoff defended his decision to scrap the case due to Palin's legal team's failure to produce evidence that The Times acted with 'actual malice' when publishing factual inaccuracies about the ex-Alaska governor in a 2017 op-ed piece titled 'America's Lethal Politics'

The piece made the point linking a map circulated by Palin's political action committee and a 2011 mass shooting that gravely wounded US Rep. Gabby Giffords.

She claimed she was defamed by the erroneous editorial entitled 'America's Lethal Politics.'

That editorial incorrectly linked Palin to a mass shooting in 2011 where six people died and then-congresswoman Gabby Giffords was seriously wounded. It was corrected the morning after being published.

Throughout the trial The Times argued that its editors had made an honest mistake which was quickly corrected.

Clinton appointee Judge Ned Rakoff, pictured, said in an order last week that jurors knew before delivering their verdict against Palin earlier this month that he had ruled against her as a matter of law

A day before the jury verdict, Rakoff said he planned to dismiss Palin's case even if jurors found in her favor, because she had not shown that the Times acted with 'actual malice.'

Rakoff, 78, is considered a maverick known for tussling with Wall Street regulators and criticizing the U.S. sentencing regimes.

Rakoff did not tell jurors about his ruling, but several told his law clerk in routine post-trial discussions that they learned about it through 'push' notifications sent from news media to their cellphones.

In an order last week, Rakoff said jurors assured his clerk that the notifications did not affect their deliberations, which lasted about two days.

At Wednesday's hearing, Rakoff gave Palin's lawyers until March 15 to formally request that he reconsider his dismissal, set aside the jury verdict or grant a new trial, disqualify himself, allow them to interview jurors, and discuss whether he spoke to the media during the trial.

Court sketch shows a moody looking Palin sitting in court wearing a mask and looking at James Bennett, former editorial page editor of The New York Times, being embraced by his lawyers

'I had zero communications with the media during trial. None whatsoever,' Rakoff said. He said he talked with a reporter about the push notifications only after jurors ruled for the Times.

The newspaper has until March 29 to respond to Palin's expected motion.

If the verdict stands, Palin is expected to appeal.

Her case is widely seen as a test of New York Times v Sullivan, a landmark 1964 U.S. Supreme Court decision making it difficult for public figures to prove defamation.

To win, they must show that news media acted with actual malice in publishing false information, meaning they knew the information was false or had reckless disregard for the truth.

Two conservative Supreme Court justices, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, have suggested that the Sullivan precedent be reconsidered.

Judge Jed Rakoff is seen in court on Monday, as Palin looks on while he instructs the jury

Rakoff, an appointee of former Democratic President Bill Clinton, joined the federal bench in 1996 after working as a federal prosecutor and defense lawyer and is seen as a leading authority on securities laws and white-collar crime.

Among lawyers, he is known as a witty, hard-working judge who despite being having taking senior status, a form of semi-retirement for judges, has maintained an active court docket with a demanding trial schedule and high-profile cases.

Stephen Gillers, a professor at New York University School of Law and a friend of Rakoff's, called him an "intellectually independent" judge who trusts his instincts.

In one of his most high-profile rulings, Rakoff in 2002 declared the federal death penalty unconstitutional, saying it created "an undue risk of executing innocent people." He was later reversed on appeal.

Rakoff has said he issued that ruling even though earlier in his life he enthusiastically backed the death penalty, after his older brother was murdered in the Philippines, where the killer got a three-year sentence.

Palin is seen in court in Manhattan as the jury returned their verdict - despite the judge having thrown the case out the previous day

The iconoclastic judge has long been a critic of the federal sentencing guidelines used by judges to estimate a recommended prison term for defendants, blasting the "absurd" long sentences they generate for fraud defendants.

He has at times been a thorn in the side of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by helping fuel a debate over its longstanding practice of allowing defendants to settle civil charges without admitting wrongdoing.

In 2011, he refused to approve the SEC's $285 million financial crisis-related settlement with Citigroup Inc. Rakoff at the time said he had no way to know if the accord was in the public interest.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately concluded Rakoff abused his discretion. But by then, then-SEC Chair Mary Jo White had adopted a policy of requiring admissions in some, though not all, instances.
Clive Palmer has been rushed to hospital two days after cancelling a nationally televised speech because he was showing 'Covid symptoms', and just weeks after declaring he didn't need to be vaccinated as he was 'not in bad shape'.

Daily Mail Australia understands three ambulances were called to his home at Paradise Point in the Gold Coast's upmarket Sovereign Islands precinct, Queensland, earlier on Thursday.

Queensland Ambulance Service says one patient was picked up from a Paradise Point home and transported to hospital on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Palmer, whose United Australia Party is famously opposed to Covid vaccine mandates and lockdowns, was then transported to Pindara Private Hospital at Benowa.

The mining magnate cancelled a scheduled speech in Canberra on Tuesday. In a statement, the National Press Club said Mr Palmer was showing COVID-like symptoms and had been advised not to travel to Canberra.

It's understood he has been sick the past two days at home with 'flu-like symptoms'.

Businessman and political aspirant Clive Palmer has reportedly been rushed to hospital

Mr Palmer pictured with his wife, Anna. In January, the mining magnate claimed he did not need the jab because he's 'not in bad shape' and leads a 'healthy life'

One of Mr Palmer's multiple properties at Sovereign Islands on the Gold Coast, Queensland

In January, Mr Palmer claimed he did not need the jab because he's 'not in bad shape' and leads a 'healthy life'.

'I don't think I need a vaccination for Covid personally, I haven't caught it, I have a healthy life,' he said.

'I don't think I'm in bad shape. I think I look a lot more trim now than when I did when I was in Parliament.'

Mr Palmer's superyacht, which had been moored at Sydney Harbour while he attended a court case, has since jetted out to sea.

Clive Palmer seen leaving his yacht Nancy Jean during his recent trip to Sydney for a court case against West Australian Premier Mark McGowan

On Wednesday after he cancelled his appearance at the National Press Club, a spokesman for Mr Palmer told The Age that the mining magnate had contracted a virus but had tested negative for Covid-19.

Mr Palmer is the United Australia Party candidate for the Senate in Queensland. His party is seeking seats in the upper and lower house at the upcoming federal election.

Mr Palmer is seen addressing the protestors at 'The Worldwide Rally for Freedom' protest against mandatory vaccinations and lockdown measures in Brisbane in November 2021

In an interview with the ABC in November 2021, Mr Palmer claimed vaccination had not reduced sickness or death from Covid-19 in Australia

'Theres no data to support that in Australia,' he said.

Vaccination 'makes no difference from a public health context,' the billionaire claimed.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Palmer's spokesperson for comment.

This is a breaking news story. More to come....
A newborn could be the luckiest baby in Western Australia after a perfectly timed birth shattered one in 30 million odds.

Bodhi James Turner was born at St John of God Hospital in the Perth suburb of Murdoch on Tuesday, five days before his due date.

But it's the unique timing of his arrival that has left the now family-of-five stunned.

Bodhi James Turner (pictured) was born at St John of God Hospital in the Perth suburb of Murdoch on Tuesday on the 22nd of the second at 2.22 and 22 seconds

'Bodhi decided to arrive on the 22nd of the second at 2.22 and 22 seconds,' his mother Kylie Najjar told Nine News.

The unique date is a palindrome, which means it reads the same forwards and backwards

It is also an ambigram, where the date remains the same when its digits are reversed upside-down.

The once-in-a-lifetime lineup won't happen again for another 200 years.

Mathematician Professor Michael Small told the news outlet the chances of being born at that exact time were around one in 30million.

'It's about the same as giving birth to quads, being struck by lightning or being dealt a royal flush in poker,' he said.

The unusual calendar event, which was also dubbed 'Twosday' because it happened to fall on a Tuesday, sparked uproar on social media.

More than a decade ago we saw two Onesdays with 11.1.11 and 11.11.11.

Bodhi's were dad (pictured, left) and mum Kylie Najjar (pictured, right) were left stunned after the perfectly timed birth defied one in 30million odds

This century there have been 11 other months with similar patterns, such as 02.02.02 and 12.12.12.

In 11 years we'll be treated to Threesday (3.3.33) and Foursday another 11 years after that (4.4.44).

Aziz Inan, professor in electrical engineering at the University of Portland in Oregon, said he believed these unique dates had a 'magical power in terms of getting people's attention'.

His website lists 500 years' worth of palindromes spanning from the 19th century to the 23rd century.
Australians have fawned over Anthony Albanese's 'hot' new look as he tries to outdo his rival Scott Morrison in the pre-election fashion stakes.

The Labor leader, 58, turned heads as he posed in a fitted white shirt, skinny grey chinos and $129 Country Road gum sole sneakers for a Women's Weekly photoshoot with his girlfriend Jodie Haydon.

His dapper outfit clearly melted hearts among the magazine's readers, with hundreds of Aussies taking to social media on Thursday to profess their admiration for the potential future prime minister's new appearance.

'And I have my first crush on a politician,' one commenter wrote.

'Oh my Anthony Albanese - just yummy. I have a crush now,' wrote one fawning Twitter user.

Hundreds of Aussies have taken to social media on Thursday to profess their admiration for Labor leader Anthony Albanese's new appearance

'Hubba hubba hubba,' another said. 'You look amazing! Fighting fit and ready to run the country.'

'He looks pretty damn hot to me,' another said.

One meme showed an image of Mr Albanese's photoshoot next to a photo of the Australian prime minister standing in shorts, thongs and a suit jacket.

'Jenny [Mr Morrison's wife] I need you to go shopping,' the meme's caption said.

Celebrity stylist Donny Galella told Daily Mail Australia the magazine pictures showed a stark contrast between Mr Albanese and Mr Morrison - who typically opts for baggy chinos and RM Williams boots.

'Comparing the two, Mr Albanese definitely has a much more tailored and stylish look, especially with the white shoes,' Mr Galella told Daily Mail Australia.

'Albo is looking pretty stylish in the classic combo of a white shirt and well fitted chinos.

The Opposition leader had a significant makeover last year, losing 15kg and investing in new suits. He is pictured with his partner Jodie Haydon in March 2021

'His white trainers are a big trend at the moment and the blue stripe even matches Jodie's dress.'

The Opposition leader had a significant makeover last year, losing 15kg, investing in new suits and snapping up some $349 Byblos Black Havana spectacles.

The photos were taken as Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon conducted their first interview together just three months out from the looming election, where women's votes could prove decisive.

Mr Albanese revealed he wooed his new girlfriend with a date at a hipster brewery in Sydney's inner west.

Celebrity stylist Donny Galella said the pictures in Women's Weekly showed a stark contrast between Mr Albanese and Prime Minister Scott Morrison (centre) who typically opts for baggy chinos and RM Williams boots

The craft beer fanatic enjoyed his first night out with 43-year-old Jodie Haydon at the Young Henrys brewery in Newtown.

'We had what I thought would just be a drink at Young Henrys in Newtown, and we got on really well. That's how it started,' he told Women's Weekly.

The pair met in early 2020 at a conference in Melbourne where Mr Albanese was speaking.

The Opposition leader asked the crowd if there were any fellow South Sydney fans present and finance worker Ms Haydon, who lives in his Grayndler electorate, shouted: 'Up the Rabbitohs'.

He later introduced himself and they decided to go for a drink when they were back in Sydney.

Mr Albanese, a father-of-one, had recently split from his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt after 19 years of marriage and 30 years together.

He said he was still 'emotionally bruised' from the sudden split which involved no third parties but came as a shock.

Ms Haydon, who has never been married or had children, said she wasn't looking for a relationship but realised she had fallen in love with Mr Albanese when he had a car crash in January 2021.

In January 2021 Mr Albanese's car (pictured) was hit by a Range Rover but he escaped serious injury

His Toyota was rammed by a Range Rover and he was rushed to hospital for X-rays but escaped serious injury.

Ms Haydon recalled arriving at the scene of the crash in Marrickville after a phone call and seeing her boyfriend's smashed-up car.

'I saw the mess of a car before I saw him and thought 'he couldn't survive this''. It was very scary, and in that moment, you realise just how much you love this person  the fear of losing them,' she said.

'As I jumped in the ambulance and saw Anthony, I knew then the depth of my feelings towards him.'

The interview is Ms Haydon's first and comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared on 60 Minutes with his wife Jenny and two daughters.

Analysts believe Mr Morrison's family is his 'secret weapon' in connecting with voters.



Labor leader Anthony Albanese with his son Nathan (left) and partner Jodie Haydon in January at the National Press Club in Canberra

Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese (right) with mum Maryanne Ellery and son Nathan

Mr Albanese, who earns $390,820 a year, and the First State Super financial worker were first spotted kissing at an upmarket Sydney restaurant in June 2020.

It was eighteen months earlier on New Year's Day 2019, that the 58-year-old separated from his ex-wife.

The aspiring future prime minister said he 'didn't see it coming' when Ms Tebbutt abruptly ended their marriage.

'It was a really tough period and that's the truth and I've acknowledged that. I think part of going through a difficult period and coming out the other end is acknowledging that you're going through it,' he told ABC Radio.

Mr Albanese attends the Australian premiere of Hamilton at Lyric Theatre last year with girlfriend Jodie

'I found it very tough. The relationship was 30 years old.

'It's made for a difficult period. I certainly will always, always remember New Year's Eve and New Year's Day for that momentous event in my life,' he said.

'I needed to stop trying to understand it and just accept it and accept that it was a decision that had been made and she was moving on with her life in a different direction and I needed to do the same,' he said.

'You can tie yourself in knots trying to understand someone else's decisions and thought processes.'

Mr Albanese and Ms Tebbutt met in Young Labor during the late 1980s.

Nathan, the couple's only child, had just turned 18 and completed his HSC exams when Ms Tebbutt ended the relationship.

Mr Albanese declared his relationship with Nathan to be the strongest it's ever been in January 2020, as the pair were forced to rely on each other more than ever in their two-person household.

Mr Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt - the former NSW deputy premier. The potential future prime minister said he 'didn't see it coming' when Ms Tebbutt ended their marriage on New Year's Day 2019

The Labor leader was brought up by single mother Maryanne Ellery, who raised him in housing commission on a disability pension income.

'My story began in a council house in Camperdown,' he said.

'Just me and my mum. She wasn't well and it wasn't easy. But all things were possible.'

Ms Ellery was rushed to hospital on Mother's Day in 2002 after a brain aneurysm before dying two weeks later.

Mr Albanese has been open about her death and recently explained how he discovered something was wrong after flying to Sydney from Canberra to take Ms Ellery to a Mother's Day lunch.

'When I got to her home in Camperdown, I knew something wasn't right. The front door had been left open,' he wrote on Twitter.

Mr Albanese (left) told in 2021 how his mother Maryanne Ellery (right) had a brain aneurism on Mother's Day in 2002

Ms Ellery (pictured with Nathan) died on May 25 in 2002, two weeks after being hospitalised

'After decades of health problems, mum had a brain aneurysm, and was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Mum would spend two weeks in hospital before finally passing.'

His mother died on May 25 and in the two decades since Mr Albanese said he has visited her cemetery every Mother's Day to 'remember how much she sacrificed' for him.

'Mum always gave me unconditional love. And I feel very privileged to have had that,' he wrote.

Mr Albanese didn't meet his Italian father Carlo Albanese until 2009, and believed he was dead until he was 15-years-old.

Carlo died in 2014.

Mr Albanese is pictured campaigning for Medicare services in 1996 when he first joined parliament

Mr Albanese has been the leader of the opposition since 2019. and has held the federal seat of Grayndler, which covers the inner-western Sydney suburb he calls home, since March 1996.

He stripped down Labor's policy offering to give it the best chance of being elected, scrapping Bill Shorten's franking credits and negative gearing tax policies.

The strategy is to remain a small target to avoid attacks, and make this election a referendum on Mr Morrison's leadership and character.

Meanwhile, Mr Albanese has been at pains to point out that he stands for aspiration and will back everyday Aussies who work hard for their families.

'I stand for a strong economy. I stand for making sure that people can not get left behind, but also that they not get held back for opportunity. I stand for aspiration,' he told the Today show earlier this month.

Mr Albanese is pictured as a young man. He became a federal MP in 1996 aged 33

Asked by host Karl Stefanovic if he stood for 'inner-city lefties', Mr Albanese replied: 'Well, I stand for all Australians, Karl. And I'm comfortable sitting in a pub in Hewenden in North Queensland just as I am comfortable sitting around a boardroom talking about business.'

Drawing a line under his 'hard left' days, Mr Albanese said he is now focused 'on things that matter to Australians like jobs, wage growth, the crisis in aged care and the need for the revival of Australian manufacturing'.

'I'm very happy to stand by all of the policies that I have outlined ahead of the coming election because these are the policies a Labor government will implement if we are successful,' he said.

Albo's tribute to his late mother Mother's Day is such a special day, but for me and many others it's always a bit difficult. Mother's Day was the day my mum went to hospital and never came back. I remember it was a Sunday in autumn of 2002. I had just flown back to Sydney from Canberra to take my mum Maryanne and her sister Margaret out for Mother's Day lunch. When I got to her home in Camperdown, I knew something wasn't right. The front door had been left open. After decades of health problems, mum had a brain aneurism, and was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Mum would spend two weeks in hospital before finally passing. Over those two weeks, we said goodbye  twice. Both times she came through  she was a real fighter. On the third time, she didn't make it. Maryanne Albanese died on the 25th of May, 2002. Around every Mother's Day, I visit the cemetery where mum is and I remember how much she sacrificed for me. Mum had rheumatoid arthritis that crippled her joints and meant she couldn't work. She lived on a disability pension. Life wasn't easy, and her health made things even harder  but we got through because of her. We lived in council housing, which gave us a sense of security and stability. It was our home. She taught me how to save  and how to spend wisely  because every dollar had to count. She also taught me the most important lesson of all: the importance of leaving no one behind. Truth is, mum was left behind  by people who counted her out, and by governments who cut back support. The cutbacks that happened in mum's lifetime meant she had to justify the support she was receiving. When health funding was cut, the quality of mum's care was cut too. And when they tried to sell our council house, it felt like our home was being taken from us. I know the difference that governments can make on people's lives because I lived it. Mum lived it. It's what motivated me to get into politics. To help people. To make life better for people. To make sure no one is left behind. Mum always gave me unconditional love. And I feel very privileged to have had that. Mums really are special. A happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there. Advertisement
Former President Donald Trump has, for the second time in two days, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as 'smart' for his strategy in Ukraine as the Kremlin's 'special military operation' began.

Trump, speaking at a super PAC fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, spoke off the cuff about the impending military action Wednesday night.

The former president spoke about America's enemies during the crisis, saying: 'Now they laugh at us. Thats why you have Ukraine, thats why youre going to have China. Taiwan is next, and youre going to see the same kind of thing.'

Trump then again said that Vladimir Putin was 'smart,' as he had during interviews given on Tuesday.

'He's taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions, I'd say that's pretty smart. He's taking over a country - a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people - just walking right in. This never would have happened and I know him very well.

At Mar-a-Lago event, Trump says "Trump said Putin is smart. He's taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. I'd say that's pretty smart." pic.twitter.com/v4RkhqvCd3  danny (@dabbs346) February 24, 2022

Former President Donald Trump (onstage, center), speaking at a super PAC fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, spoke off the cuff about the impending military action Wednesday night

Trump again criticized President Joe Biden for his actions ahead of the crisis

Trump then again said that Vladimir Putin was 'smart,' as he had during interviews given on Tuesday

Trump on Tuesday praised Putin's move to declare the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine 'independent.'

'I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, "This is genius,"' Trump said. 'Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine - of Ukraine - Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful.'

'I said, "How smart is that?'" the former U.S. president continued. 'And he's gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That's the strongest peace force We could use that on our southern border. Thats the strongest peace force I've ever seen. There were more army tanks than Ive ever seen. Theyre gonna keep peace all right.'

'No, but think of it. Heres a guy whos very savvy,' Trump went on. 'I know him very well. Very, very, very well. Had I been in office, not even thinkable, this never would have happened.'

Trump added: 'But heres a guy that says, you know, "I'm gonna declare a big portion of Ukraine independent," he used the word 'independent' and 'were gonna go out and were gonna go in and were gonna help keep peace.' You gotta say thats pretty savvy. And you know what the response was from Biden? There was no response. They didnt have one for that. No, its very sad. Very sad.'

Trump also called Biden 'a man who has no concept of what he's doing.'

White House press secretary Jen Psaki hit back at Trump at Tuesday's press briefing.

'As a matter of policy, we try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy, which I believe is what happened there,' Psaki replied at the Tuesday briefing when asked to react to the comments Trump made earlier in the day.

She pointed to comments Trump reportedly made to G7 leaders in 2018, when the now former president said that Crimea, which was annexed by Russia after a 2014 invasion, was a part of Russia because everyone there spoke Russian.

And said that Trump had 'expressed an openness' to lifting sanctions on Russia for the 2014 invasion.

'So there's a bit of a different tactic, a bit of a different approach, and that's probably why President Biden and not his predecessor was able to rally the world and the global community in taking steps against Russia's aggression,' Psaki said.

Most Republicans have said they want to see Russia punished for what the White House is now calling an 'invasion' of Ukraine - after Putin announced Monday he would consider two Russia-backed separatist territories independent from Ukraine, and ordered troops there under the guise of 'peacekeeping functions.'

When asked if there were concerns comments like Trump's could lead to support of Ukraine becoming a more partisan issue among the American public, she pointed a finger at the Republican Party.

'You know, I think that is up to members of the Republican Party to make the decision, to make the determination,' she told DailyMail.com.

In a departure from the traditional hawk and dove roles of the two political parties - with Republicans historically more hawkish - Republicans were less inclined to want the U.S. to play a major role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict by 10 points

'There has been a long history, decades of history, which President Biden was a part of when he was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, of standing up to the efforts of any country to seize the territory of another country, standing up for efforts by the United States to rally global support against inappropriate and illegal actions by another country,' she continued. 'There's a long history of that not in a partisan way - in a partisan way.'

'And certainly that choice is up to Republicans to ... determine,' she added.

A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll that was released Wednesday showed that Americans had little appetite for the U.S. to play a major role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

But in a departure from the traditional hawk and dove roles of the two political parties - with Republicans historically more hawkish - Republicans were less inclined to want the U.S. to play a major role by 10 points.

The survey found that overall 26 per cent of American adults said they wanted the U.S. to play a major role - with 32 per cent of Democrats in that group and 22 per cent of Republicans.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced he was sanctioning the company building Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which Germany halted certification of Tuesday - a coordinated response to Russia's incursion into Ukraine.

'Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers,' the president said in a statement. 'These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.'

The president also warned, 'we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate.'

The State Department's spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday afternoon that Nord Stream 2 was 'an $11 billion prize investment that is now a hunk of steel, sitting at the bottom of the sea.'

At her Wednesday briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki wouldn't say if the project could be resurrected in the future.

'Well, not only did the chancellor of Germany announce it's not moving forward, we also announced additional sanctions and it's not moving forward right now, no,' she said to a question posed by NBC's Peter Alexander.

When he asked if it was done 'in perpetuity,' she answered, 'It's currently dead at the bottom of the sea Peter.'

President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced he was sanctioning the company building Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which Germany halted certification of Tuesday

Nord Stream 2 was completed in September and would have doubled the amount of Russian gas going into Germany

When White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked at Wednesday's briefing if Nord Stream 2 was done 'in perpetuity,' she answered, 'It's currently dead at the bottom of the sea'
Wednesday night's prime time viewing was interrupted across the eastern half of United States as Russian forces crossed the border into Ukraine.

The main television channels broke away from their regularly scheduled broadcasts to deliver breaking news.

Although many of the main news networks have their own rolling news channels either on cable or online, American audiences know that when their game shows, gossip programs and comedies are interrupted, the news is of the highest importance.

On the east coast, views to ABC were watching the sitcom The Connors when suddenly viewers were treated to World News Tonight's David Muir to deliver an ABC News Special Report.

World News Tonight's David Muir delivered an ABC News Special Report

Explosions heard in the distance before sunrise in Kyiv, Ukraine.



LATEST: https://t.co/Hq3CVT4l2t pic.twitter.com/87ZNAV2uf5  ABC News (@ABC) February 24, 2022

'Were hearing a series of explosions in Ukraine now,' said Muir as he showed video shot in Kiev during which several loud blasts could be heard at 5:33am, local time.

Muir explained how US intelligence officials knew that the operations would begin under cover of darkness and before sunrise before Ukrainian people were able to realize what was going on in their own country.

Muis also explained that explosions had also been heard in the eastern city of Kharkiv.

Over on CBS, Season 33 of reality game show The Amazing Race was well underway when the network was forced to break away to deliver news of the invasion.

Host of the CBS Evening News, Norah O'Donnell was back behind the anchor desk.

Host of the CBS Evening News, Norah O'Donnell was back behind the anchor desk delivering breaking news on Wednesday night

CBS News Charlie D'Agata told how there had been several loud noises in the last few minutes and appeared shaken initially

D'Agata kept looking around for any incoming missiles as he delivered a breaking news report

BREAKING: NATO says Russian attack has begun, moments after Vladimir Putin announced that he had "decided to conduct a special military operation https://t.co/xbaLe5wyFY pic.twitter.com/idAED4X37p  CBS News (@CBSNews) February 24, 2022

'This is a CBS News specials report. We are coming on the air because the war in Ukraine has begun just minutes after Vladimir Putin announce a special military operation Easter Ukraine, and that is where our reporter Charlie DAgata is.

D'Agata told how there had been several loud noises in the last few minutes and appeared shaken initially.

'We heard several loud explosions three to begin with followed by two more, he said.

A fighter jet suddenly flew overhead which took DAgata off guard as he looked around to see if there was anything he needed to be aware of.

DAgata appeared spooked by the sudden noise.

We had always been expecting something major to happen. We thought an invasion might begin with air strikes. We heard five explosions. Three, followed by two more, and whatever that was!' he said, referring to the aircraft that had just flown by.

NBC News Senior National Correspondent Tom Llamas appeared on television screens and crossed to former CNN Correspondent Erin McLaughlin, pictured, who was live in Kiev

NBC had reporters all over Ukraine and in Russia too with Richard Engel, Erin McLaughlin, Keir Simmons and Mtt McBradley providing full coverage

At NBC, the show Chicago Fire, which had already been off the air for the last few weeks because of the Beijing Winter Olympics, was back - but not for long.

NBC News Senior National Correspondent Tom Llamas appeared on television screens to inform viewers about breaking news of the invasion.

Llamas crossed to former CNN Correspondent Erin McLaughlin who set the scene from a balcony in Kiev for both NBC and MSNBC networks.

Twitter users watching all three of the main networks were unhappy that their favorite television shows had been pushed aside in order to present the 'Special Report'.

On the Fox News Channel, Laura Ingraham was reeling off various failed attempts at diplomacy while correspondent, Trey Yingst, could be seen wearing a protective helmet

SOUNDS OF WAR: Explosions heard in the background as Fox News' Foreign Correspondent @TreyYingst reports from the ground in Kyiv after Putin orders 'special military operation' in Ukraine. @IngrahamAngle pic.twitter.com/0MZNDD7IU6  Fox News (@FoxNews) February 24, 2022

On the Fox News Channel, Laura Ingraham was reeling off various failed attempts at diplomacy while Fox News' Foreign Correspondent, Trey Yingst, could be seen wearing a protective helmet.

'There was such a flurry of diplomatic activity. We had Blinken, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, all trying to talk some sense into Putin. All of it was summarily ignored,' she began before Yingst interrupted her.

'Did you hear those explosions behind me? Did you hear those explosions behind me? Kiev currently taking Russian fire right now!' he said.

No matter the news, Twitter users across the main terrestrial networks appears were upset their favorite shows had been cancelled.

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev reporting hearing blasts in the early hours of Thursday mornin

No matter the network, viewers were upset their favorite show had been shoved from the schedule by Russia's invasion of Ukraine

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev reported hearing blasts in the early hours of Thursday morning as Russia's invasion came into full view.

'I just heard a big bang right here behind me. I've never heard anything like it.'

Matthew Chance, Senior International correspondent for the network, said that he heard between seven and eight explosions.

Chance quickly put on his flak jacket and headgear while he continued to report from a balcony in the Ukrainian capital.

Chance did not want to take any chances and set about putting on his flak jacket and helmet

'There are big explosions taking place. I cant see them or explain what they are. but I will tell you the U.S has warned the Ukrainian authorities there could be air strikes and ground attacks as well around the country, including the capital.

'I don't know if thats whats occurring now but its a remarkable coincidence that the explosions come just minutes after Putin gave his speech,' Chance explained.

'This is the first time weve heard anything. It has been absolutely silent. This is the first time. It has to be more than just a coincidence.

'I think it's safe where I am. I have a flak jacket,' Chance remarked before ducking down to put on his protective gear.

Chance, located on a balcony in the Ukrainian capital quickly put on his protective headgear

Chance, who had been to the Ukrainian capital many times in recent years said he had 'never heard anything like it'

He suggested that the blasts he heard were still some distance away from the center.

'It was so quiet in Ukraine tonight up until those explosions,' Chance explained. 'What we thought was unthinkable until a few hours ago, is now underway.'

The blasts came within minutes of Putin saying Russia would conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

CNN's Chance said at first that it was not clear what the target was, however he later suggested that Russia was trying to disable Ukraine's airports and destroying airstrips, although he stressed that it was unconfirmed.

CNN's Matthew Chance in Kyiv: "I just heard a big bang right here behind me." Here's the video of the moment pic.twitter.com/prYeVlDvkn  Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 24, 2022

CNN: A WAR REPORTING VETERAN War reporting has been at the heart of CNN's coverage over the last 30 years. The first Gulf War, codenamed Operation Desert Storm which ran for six weeks during January and February 1991 was significant for many reasons including CNN's live reporting from a Baghdad hotel. At the time, new technologies, such as satellite technology, allowed for a new type of war coverage. For the first time, people all over the world were able to watch live pictures of missiles hitting their targets and fighters taking off from aircraft carriers. The use of night vision equipment also gave the reporting a futuristic spin which was said to resemble video game imagery and encourage the 'war drama'. The war was covered live since its beginnings by the three main American networks, as well as CNN which was only ten years old. CNN gained the most popularity for their coverage, and indeed its wartime coverage is often cited as one of the landmark events in the development of the network. CNN's Wolf Blitzer was safe at the Pentagon when the network's reporting of Operation Desert Storm began on January 16th 1991 CNN was the only 24hour coverage news network at the time. When war broke out the network was able to follow the events in Baghdad on a 24hour basis. Even when other American journalists were told their safety might be at risk, CNN reporters stayed behind after their producers had built up good relationships with government officials in Baghdad. During the first days of the bombing the CNN team was also able to report live via radio from their hotel suite in the Rashid Hotel, something no other network was able to do. Advertisement

About 300 miles away to the east, in Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, a steady stream of explosions were also heard where another CNN reporter, Clarissa Ward, CNNs Chief International Correspondent was located.

In a televised address early on Thursday morning, Putin said the action came in response to threats coming from Ukraine.

He added that Russia does not have a goal to occupy Ukraine, but said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian 'regime'.

Putin also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to 'consequences they have never seen'.

He accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining Nato and offer Moscow security guarantees.

He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a 'demilitarization' of Ukraine, adding that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

The announcement came just after airspace over all of Ukraine was shut down to civilian air traffic, and at the same time as an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was taking place.

On Wednesday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an emotional televised address in Russian following the approval of a 30-day state-of-emergency order handed the government sweeping powers in the interest of national security.

'The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace. But if we come under attack that threatens our freedom and lives of our people we will fight back,' he said, as he rejected Moscow's claim Ukraine is a threat to Russia.
A disgraced politician has pleaded guilty to beating his ex-wife throughout years of their abusive marriage.

Former Western Australian treasurer and Liberal leader Troy Buswell initially denied the allegations made by Melissa Hankinson, 46.

His case was due to resume in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning after a nine-month adjournment before Buswell indicated he would plead guilty to three of the six charges against him.

Former West Australian treasurer and Liberal leader Troy Buswell has pleaded guilty to physically assaulting his ex-wife throughout years of their marriage

Buswell initially denied the allegations made by his ex-wife Melissa Hankinson, 46 (right)

The 55-year-old admitted to two counts of aggravated common assault and one count of aggravated common assault occasioning bodily harm.

The other three charges were dropped.

Buswell infamously admitted to sniffing the chair of Liberal Party staffer Karry Smith in 2005.

He played the accusation off as a rumour for years before saying the events were 'accurate' in 2008.

Ms Hankinson said during the trial that the first attack was after an AFL game in 2015 where Buswell pushed her out the door, causing her to fall on her backside, having become angry she was smoking, the West Australian reported.

'The more he drank, the more nasty he would become,' she told the court.

Then on Valentine's Day the following year, Buswell smacked Ms Hankinson with a slotted spoon.

Buswell admitted to two counts of aggravated common assault and one count of aggravated common assault occasioning bodily harm

Just two weeks later, the pair were on their way home from a party when Buswell started kicking his wife in the taxi while wearing cowboy boots.

When they arrived at his mother's home where they were staying for the night, the former politician shoved Ms Hankinson in the face causing her to fall backwards.

He then repeatedly kicked her in her backside, legs, and ribs while she writhed in pain on the floor. They were married weeks later until they split in 2019.

Buswell's barrister earlier said Ms Hankinson's allegations were 'a vindictive act of revenge' and argued any bruises she suffered were from drunken falls.

The former Liberal leader will be sentenced in April and faces up to three years behind bars.
Dear citizens of Russia! Dear friends!

Today, I again consider it necessary to return to the tragic events taking place in the Donbass and the key issues of ensuring the security of Russia itself.

Let me start with what I said in my address of February 21 this year. We are talking about what causes us particular concern and anxiety, about those fundamental threats that year after year, step by step, are rudely and unceremoniously created by irresponsible politicians in the West in relation to our country. I mean the expansion of the NATO bloc to the east, bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

It is well known that for 30 years we have persistently and patiently tried to reach an agreement with the leading NATO countries on the principles of equal and indivisible security in Europe. In response to our proposals, we constantly faced either cynical deception and lies, or attempts to pressure and blackmail, while the North Atlantic Alliance, in the meantime, despite all our protests and concerns, is steadily expanding. The military machine is moving and, I repeat, is coming close to our borders.

Why is all this happening? Where does this impudent manner of speaking from the position of one's own exclusivity, infallibility and permissiveness come from? Where does the disdainful, disdainful attitude towards our interests and absolutely legitimate demands come from?

The answer is clear, everything is clear and obvious. The Soviet Union in the late 80s of the last century weakened, and then completely collapsed. The whole course of events that took place then is a good lesson for us today as well; it convincingly showed that the paralysis of power and will is the first step towards complete degradation and oblivion. As soon as we lost confidence in ourselves for some time, and that's it, the balance of power in the world turned out to be disturbed.

This has led to the fact that the previous treaties and agreements are no longer in effect. Persuasion and requests do not help. Everything that does not suit the hegemon, those in power, is declared archaic, obsolete, unnecessary. And vice versa: everything that seems beneficial to them is presented as the ultimate truth, pushed through at any cost, boorishly, by all means. Dissenters are broken through the knee.

What I am talking about now concerns not only Russia and not only us. This applies to the entire system of international relations, and sometimes even to the US allies themselves. After the collapse of the USSR, the redivision of the world actually began, and the norms of international law that had developed by that time - and the key, basic ones were adopted at the end of the Second World War and largely consolidated its results - began to interfere with those who declared themselves the winner in the Cold War .

Of course, in practical life, in international relations, in the rules for their regulation, it was necessary to take into account changes in the situation in the world and the balance of power itself. However, this should have been done professionally, smoothly, patiently, taking into account and respecting the interests of all countries and understanding our responsibility. But no - a state of euphoria from absolute superiority, a kind of modern form of absolutism, and even against the background of a low level of general culture and arrogance of those who prepared, adopted and pushed through decisions that were beneficial only for themselves. The situation began to develop according to a different scenario.

You don't have to look far for examples. First, without any sanction from the UN Security Council, they carried out a bloody military operation against Belgrade, using aircraft and missiles right in the very center of Europe. Several weeks of continuous bombing of civilian cities, on life-supporting infrastructure. We have to remind these facts, otherwise some Western colleagues do not like to remember those events, and when we talk about it, they prefer to point not to the norms of international law, but to the circumstances that they interpret as they see fit.

Then came the turn of Iraq, Libya, Syria. The illegitimate use of military force against Libya, the perversion of all decisions of the UN Security Council on the Libyan issue led to the complete destruction of the state, to the emergence of a huge hotbed of international terrorism, to the fact that the country plunged into a humanitarian catastrophe that has not stopped for many years. civil war. The tragedy, which doomed hundreds of thousands, millions of people not only in Libya, but throughout this region, gave rise to a massive migration exodus from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe.

A similar fate was prepared for Syria. The fighting of the Western coalition on the territory of this country without the consent of the Syrian government and the sanction of the UN Security Council is nothing but aggression, intervention.

However, a special place in this series is occupied, of course, by the invasion of Iraq, also without any legal grounds. As a pretext, they chose reliable information allegedly available to the United States about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. As proof of this, publicly, in front of the eyes of the whole world, the US Secretary of State shook some kind of test tube with white powder, assuring everyone that this is the chemical weapon being developed in Iraq. And then it turned out that all this was a hoax, a bluff: there are no chemical weapons in Iraq. Unbelievable, surprising, but the fact remains. There were lies at the highest state level and from the high rostrum of the UN. And as a result - huge casualties, destruction, an incredible surge of terrorism.

In general, one gets the impression that practically everywhere, in many regions of the world, where the West comes to establish its own order, the result is bloody, unhealed wounds, ulcers of international terrorism and extremism. All that I have said is the most egregious, but by no means the only examples of disregard for international law.

In this series, and promises to our country not to expand NATO by one inch to the east. I repeat - they deceived me, but in popular terms, they simply threw it away. Yes, you can often hear that politics is a dirty business. Perhaps, but not to the same extent, not to the same extent. After all, such cheating behavior contradicts not only the principles of international relations, but above all the generally recognized norms of morality and morality. Where is justice and truth here? Just a bunch of lies and hypocrisy.

By the way, American politicians, political scientists and journalists themselves write and talk about the fact that a real 'empire of lies' has been created inside the United States in recent years. It's hard to disagree with that - it's true. But do not be modest: the United States is still a great country, a system-forming power. All her satellites not only resignedly and dutifully assent, sing along to her for any reason, but also copy her behavior, enthusiastically accept the rules he proposes. Therefore, with good reason, we can confidently say that the entire so-called Western bloc, formed by the United States in its own image and likeness, all of it is the very 'empire of lies'.

As for our country, after the collapse of the USSR, with all the unprecedented openness of the new modern Russia, the readiness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners, and in the conditions of virtually unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to squeeze us, finish off and destroy us completely. This is exactly what happened in the 90s, in the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West most actively supported separatism and mercenary gangs in southern Russia. What sacrifices, what losses did all this cost us then, what trials did we have to go through before we finally broke the back of international terrorism in the Caucasus. We remember this and will never forget.

Yes, in fact, until recently, attempts have not stopped to use us in their own interests, destroy our traditional values and impose on us their pseudo-values that would corrode us, our people from the inside, those attitudes that they are already aggressively planting in their countries and which directly lead to degradation and degeneration, because they contradict the very nature of man. It won't happen, no one has ever done it. It won't work now either.

Despite everything, in December 2021, we nevertheless once again made an attempt to agree with the United States and its allies on the principles of ensuring security in Europe and on the non-expansion of NATO. Everything is in vain. The US position does not change. They do not consider it necessary to negotiate with Russia on this key issue for us, pursuing their own goals, they neglect our interests.

And of course, in this situation, we have a question: what to do next, what to expect? We know well from history how in the 1940s and early 1941s the Soviet Union tried in every possible way to prevent or at least delay the outbreak of war. To this end, among other things, he tried literally to the last not to provoke a potential aggressor, did not carry out or postponed the most necessary, obvious actions to prepare for repelling an inevitable attack. And those steps that were nevertheless taken in the end were catastrophically belated.

As a result, the country was not ready to fully meet the invasion of Nazi Germany, which attacked our Motherland on June 22, 1941 without declaring war. The enemy was stopped and then crushed, but at a colossal cost. An attempt to appease the aggressor on the eve of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be a mistake that cost our people dearly. In the very first months of hostilities, we lost huge, strategically important territories and millions of people. The second time we will not allow such a mistake, we have no right.

Those who claim world domination, publicly, with impunity and, I emphasize, without any reason, declare us, Russia, their enemy. Indeed, today they have great financial, scientific, technological and military capabilities. We are aware of this and objectively assess the threats constantly being addressed to us in the economic sphere, as well as our ability to resist this impudent and permanent blackmail. I repeat, we evaluate them without illusions, extremely realistically.

As for the military sphere, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of a significant part of its potential, is today one of the most powerful nuclear powers in the world and, moreover, has certain advantages in a number of the latest types of weapons. In this regard, no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to defeat and dire consequences for any potential aggressor.

At the same time, technologies, including defense technologies, are changing rapidly. Leadership in this area is passing and will continue to change hands, but the military development of the territories adjacent to our borders, if we allow it, will remain for decades to come, and maybe forever, and will create an ever-growing, absolutely unacceptable threat for Russia. .

Even now, as NATO expands to the east, the situation for our country is getting worse and more dangerous every year. Moreover, in recent days, the leadership of NATO has been openly talking about the need to accelerate, speed up the advancement of the Alliance's infrastructure to the borders of Russia. In other words, they are hardening their position. We can no longer just continue to observe what is happening. It would be absolutely irresponsible on our part.

Further expansion of the infrastructure of the North Atlantic Alliance, the military development of the territories of Ukraine that has begun is unacceptable for us. The point, of course, is not the NATO organization itself - it is only an instrument of US foreign policy. The problem is that in the territories adjacent to us, I will note, in our own historical territories, an 'anti-Russia' hostile to us is being created, which has been placed under complete external control, is intensively settled by the armed forces of NATO countries and is pumped up with the most modern weapons.

For the United States and its allies, this is the so-called policy of containment of Russia, obvious geopolitical dividends. And for our country, this is ultimately a matter of life and death, a matter of our historical future as a people. And this is not an exaggeration - it is true. This is a real threat not just to our interests, but to the very existence of our state, its sovereignty. This is the very red line that has been talked about many times. They passed her.

In this regard, and about the situation in the Donbass. We see that the forces that carried out a coup d'etat in Ukraine in 2014, seized power and are holding it with the help of, in fact, decorative electoral procedures, have finally abandoned the peaceful settlement of the conflict. For eight years, endlessly long eight years, we have done everything possible to resolve the situation by peaceful, political means. All in vain.

As I said in my previous address, one cannot look at what is happening there without compassion. It was simply impossible to endure all this. It was necessary to immediately stop this nightmare - the genocide against the millions of people living there, who rely only on Russia, hope only on us. It was these aspirations, feelings, pain of people that were for us the main motive for making a decision to recognize the people's republics of Donbass.

What I think is important to emphasize further. The leading NATO countries, in order to achieve their own goals, support extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine in everything, who, in turn, will never forgive the Crimeans and Sevastopol residents for their free choice - reunification with Russia.

They, of course, will climb into the Crimea, and just like in the Donbass, with a war, in order to kill, as punishers from the gangs of Ukrainian nationalists, Hitler's accomplices, killed defenseless people during the Great Patriotic War. They openly declare that they lay claim to a number of other Russian territories.

The entire course of events and analysis of incoming information shows that Russia's clash with these forces is inevitable. It is only a matter of time: they are getting ready, they are waiting for the right time. Now they also claim to possess nuclear weapons. We will not allow this to be done.

As I said earlier, after the collapse of the USSR, Russia accepted new geopolitical realities. We respect and will continue to treat all the newly formed countries in the post-Soviet space with respect. We respect and will continue to respect their sovereignty, and an example of this is the assistance we provided to Kazakhstan, which faced tragic events, with a challenge to its statehood and integrity. But Russia cannot feel safe, develop, exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of modern Ukraine.

Let me remind you that in 2000-2005 we gave a military rebuff to terrorists in the Caucasus, defended the integrity of our state, saved Russia. In 2014, they supported the Crimeans and Sevastopol residents. In 2015, the Armed Forces used to put a reliable barrier to the penetration of terrorists from Syria into Russia. We had no other way to protect ourselves.

The same thing is happening now. You and I simply have not been left with any other opportunity to protect Russia, our people, except for the one that we will be forced to use today. Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action. The people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help.

In this regard, in accordance with Article 51 of Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council of Russia and in pursuance of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance ratified by the Federal Assembly on February 22 this year with the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, I decided to conduct a special military operation .

Its goal is to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. And for this we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as bringing to justice those who committed numerous, bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force. At the same time, we hear that recently in the West there are more and more words that the documents signed by the Soviet totalitarian regime, which consolidate the results of the Second World War, should no longer be carried out. Well, what is the answer to this?

The results of the Second World War, as well as the sacrifices made by our people on the altar of victory over Nazism, are sacred. But this does not contradict the high values of human rights and freedoms, based on the realities that have developed today over all the post-war decades. It also does not cancel the right of nations to self-determination, enshrined in Article 1 of the UN Charter.

Let me remind you that neither during the creation of the USSR, nor after the Second World War, people living in certain territories that are part of modern Ukraine, no one ever asked how they themselves want to arrange their lives. Our policy is based on freedom, the freedom of choice for everyone to independently determine their own future and the future of their children. And we consider it important that this right - the right to choose - could be used by all the peoples living on the territory of today's Ukraine, by everyone who wants it.

In this regard, I appeal to the citizens of Ukraine. In 2014, Russia was obliged to protect the inhabitants of Crimea and Sevastopol from those whom you yourself call 'Nazis'. Crimeans and Sevastopol residents made their choice to be with their historical homeland, with Russia, and we supported this. I repeat, they simply could not do otherwise.

Today's events are not connected with the desire to infringe on the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. They are connected with the protection of Russia itself from those who took Ukraine hostage and are trying to use it against our country and its people.

I repeat, our actions are self-defense against the threats posed to us and from an even greater disaster than what is happening today. No matter how difficult it may be, I ask you to understand this and call for cooperation in order to turn this tragic page as soon as possible and move forward together, not to allow anyone to interfere in our affairs, in our relations, but to build them on our own, so that it creates the necessary conditions for overcoming all problems and, despite the presence of state borders, would strengthen us from the inside as a whole. I believe in this - in this is our future.

I should also appeal to the military personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine.

Dear comrades! Your fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers did not fight the Nazis, defending our common Motherland, so that today's neo-Nazis seized power in Ukraine. You took an oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, and not to the anti-people junta that plunders Ukraine and mocks these same people.

Don't follow her criminal orders. I urge you to lay down your weapons immediately and go home. Let me explain: all servicemen of the Ukrainian army who fulfill this requirement will be able to freely leave the combat zone and return to their families.

Once again, I insistently emphasize: all responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling on the territory of Ukraine.

Now a few important, very important words for those who may be tempted to intervene in ongoing events. Whoever tries to hinder us, and even more so to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history. We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made. I hope that I will be heard.

Dear citizens of Russia!

Well-being, the very existence of entire states and peoples, their success and viability always originate in the powerful root system of their culture and values, experience and traditions of their ancestors and, of course, directly depend on the ability to quickly adapt to a constantly changing life, on the cohesion of society, its readiness to consolidate, to gather together all the forces in order to move forward.

Forces are needed always - always, but strength can be of different quality. The policy of the 'empire of lies', which I spoke about at the beginning of my speech, is based primarily on brute, straightforward force. In such cases, we say: 'There is power, mind is not needed.'

And you and I know that real strength lies in justice and truth, which is on our side. And if this is so, then it is difficult to disagree with the fact that it is the strength and readiness to fight that underlie independence and sovereignty, are the necessary foundation on which you can only reliably build your future, build your home, your family, your homeland. .

Dear compatriots!

I am confident that the soldiers and officers of the Russian Armed Forces devoted to their country will professionally and courageously fulfill their duty. I have no doubt that all levels of government, specialists responsible for the stability of our economy, financial system, social sphere, heads of our companies and all Russian business will act in a coordinated and efficient manner. I count on a consolidated, patriotic position of all parliamentary parties and public forces.

Ultimately, as it has always been in history, the fate of Russia is in the reliable hands of our multinational people. And this means that the decisions made will be implemented, the goals set will be achieved, the security of our Motherland will be reliably guaranteed.

I believe in your support, in that invincible strength that our love for the Fatherland gives us.
A doctor has warned unvaccinated and middle aged Covid patients have a much higher risk profile than younger, vaccinated Australians, after Clive Palmer suffered a coronavirus scare.

Mining billionaire Mr Palmer, 67, was taken to a private hospital by ambulance from his home at Paradise Point in the Gold Coast's exclusive Sovereign Islands precinct on Thursday for a Covid test.

Wearing shorts and a face mask pulled under his nose, unvaccinated Mr Palmer was later seen leaving the hospital in a car being driven by his wife.

The mining magnate, who is hoping to return to federal parliament at the upcoming election, had been sick with 'flu-like symptoms' for at least two days.

He tested negative for Covid-19 earlier this week.

Speaking generally about Covid patients on Thursday, Australian National University epidemiologist Professor Peter Collignon said someone of Mr Palmer's vaccination status would automatically be much more susceptible to the virus.

'Someone who is unvaccinated has a ten-fold higher risk profile than someone who isn't,' Professor Collignon told Daily Mail Australia.

Clive Palmer pictured with his wife Anna. He was taken to hospital on Thursday but was later discharged after taking a test

Clive Palmer is seen leaving the Pindara Private Hospital on the Gold Coast on Thursday evening after being rushed by ambulance to take a Covid test

Mr Palmer left hospital and returned to his Gold Coast mansion with his wife Anna on Thursday (pictured)

A study released by the US Centre for Disease Control last year showed those who are fully-vaccinated are more than ten times less likely to be hospitalised or to die from the Delta variant of Covid.

The double-dosed were also five times less likely to be infected in the first place.

Professor Collignon would not comment specifically on Mr Palmer's case, with it unclear if he ever even had the virus. A spokesman for the billionaire said he was being taken to hospital for 'testing'.

He said someone of Mr Palmer's age group was at a much higher risk than someone in their 20s.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data published last week revealed the worst Covid death rate between March 2020 and January 31 of this year was among patients in their 80s - with those in their 70s the next worst-affected age group.

'There's lots of factors that play a role but age, medical conditions and vaccination status are the most important,' Professor Collignon said.

'Whichever way you look at it vaccination drastically reduces your chances of going to hospital or dying from the virus.'

Prof Collignon said underlying conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity are linked to worse outcomes.

'As a generalisation - the older you are and the more weight you have on you, the more important it is to get vaccinated.'

Mr Palmer is seen addressing the protestors at 'The Worldwide Rally for Freedom' protest against mandatory vaccinations and lockdown measures in Brisbane in November 2021

Mr Palmer speaks to someone on the phone as he gets into his car following a brief health scare

Prof. Collignon said the latest Omicron strain, despite being a milder variant than Delta, would still pose a serious risk to an unvaccinated person in their 60s.

Australian National University epidemiologist Professor Collignon said someone of Mr Palmer's vaccination status was much more susceptible to the virus

'Omicron generally causes milder disease but you're still at a substantial risk if you're unvaccinated,' Professor Collignon said.

'We can't be too specific about his case but if you're someone in your 60s and 70s and you're unvaccinated and have underlying medical conditions, you have ten to 20 times higher odds of going to hospital than someone in your age group who is vaccinated.

'All the evidence shows that.'

It's understood Mr Palmer has been sick for the past few days at home with 'flu-like symptoms'.

He cancelled a planned nationally televised address to the National Press Club on Tuesday, with organisers saying he had been advised not to come to Canberra due to his 'Covid-like' symptoms.

Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer was transported to Pindara Private Hospital at Benowa (pictured) after several ambulances were called to his home

One of Mr Palmer's multiple properties at Sovereign Islands on the Gold Coast, Queensland

Clive Palmer seen leaving his yacht Nancy Jean during his recent trip to Sydney for a court case against West Australian Premier Mark McGowan

In January, he claimed he did not need the jab and was looking 'trim'.

'I don't think I need a vaccination for Covid personally, I haven't caught it, I have a healthy life,' he said.

'I don't think I'm in bad shape. I think I look a lot more trim now than when I did when I was in Parliament.'

Mr Palmer's superyacht, which had been moored at Sydney Harbour while he attended a court case, has since sailed out to sea.

In an interview with the ABC in November 2021, Mr Palmer claimed vaccination had not reduced sickness or death from Covid-19 in Australia

'Theres no data to support that in Australia,' he said.

Vaccination 'makes no difference from a public health context,' the billionaire claimed.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Palmer's spokesperson for comment.
Militants of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic stand outside a military mobilization point in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine, Feb. 23. Reuters-Yonhap





Ukraine declared a state of emergency Wednesday after Moscow said separatists in the east had asked for help to repel "aggression," and as the United States stepped up efforts to deter an all-out invasion by imposing fresh sanctions.







Shelling has intensified in the east, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized two separatist regions as independent and ordered the deployment of what he called "peacekeepers" which the West says is the beginning of an invasion.







Convoys of military equipment, including nine tanks, moved towards eastern Ukraine's Donetsk from the direction of the Russian border, a Reuters witness reported.







But there was still no clear indication of whether Putin will launch a massed assault on Ukraine with the tens of thousands of troops he has gathered near the border.







A total of 80 percent of the troops assembled are in a position to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a senior U.S. defense official said.







The leaders of the two breakaway areas have sent Putin "a request to provide help to repel aggression from the armed forces of Ukraine," Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying Wednesday.







Photos of separate appeals from the heads of the two separatist areas were also posted by Tass.







"I am asking for help to repel the Ukrainian regime's military aggression against the population of the Donetsk People's Republic," said Denis Pushilin, who heads the region of Donetsk recognized as independent by Moscow.







Asked about the move, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said: "As we've said from the beginning, there are going to be a range of false flag operations that we have expected to  and laid out the playbook  to see.







"This is an example of it. That is suggesting that they feel under threat. By whom? The Ukrainians that the Russians are threatening to attack?"







Russia has consistently denied it plans to invade its neighbor.







The United States is imposing sanctions on the company in charge of building Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline by targeting the firm and its corporate officers.







"These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate," said U.S. President Joe Biden. (Reuters)


A jury has found three fired Minneapolis police officers guilty of violating George Floyd's civil rights resulting in his death on federal charges.

The jury's guilty verdicts came after two days of deliberations in the case against Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane. Federal civil rights violations that result in death are punishable by up to life in prison or even death, but those sentences are extremely rare, and federal sentencing guidelines suggest the officers will receive much less upon conviction.

The former officers are charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care when fellow Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into the 46-year-old black man's neck for 9 1/2 minutes.

Kueng and Thao were also found guilty of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin during the May 25, 2020, videotaped killing that triggered protests worldwide and a reexamination of racism and policing. Thao held back bystanders. Kueng and Lane helped restrain Floyd.

Lane, Kueng and Thao have been freed on bond until a separate trial in June on state charges alleging that they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter.

During the monthlong trial, prosecutors sought to show that the officers violated their training, including when they failed to move Floyd or give him CPR. Prosecutors argued that Floyd's condition was so serious that even bystanders without basic medical training could see he needed help.

The defense said their training was inadequate and that the officers deferred to Chauvin as the senior officer at the scene.

This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on June 3, 2020, shows, from left, former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. The former policer officers are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him. Judge Paul Magnuson abruptly recessed on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 after one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19

In this image from police body camera video shown as evidence in court, paramedics arrive as Minneapolis police officers, including Derick Chauvin, second from left, and J. Alexander Kueng restrain George Floyd in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020. Former police officers Tou Thao, Kueng and Thomas Lane are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him

Keung (pictured with Floyd) knelt on Floyd's back while Derek Chauvin, who pleaded guilty in December, knelt on his neck

Lane (right) held his legs and Thao (left) kept bystanders back during the altercation in 2020

Surveillance footage showed Lane and Kueng escorting Floyd into the police vehicle that day

The officers gathered around Floyd as Chauvin knelt on his neck

Tou Thao reacts to the verdict during his trial in the killing of George Floyd

J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane react to the verdict during their trial in the killing of George Floyd

Judge Paul Magnuson reads the verdict during the trial in the killing of George Floyd

Prosecutors told jurors during closing arguments that the three officers 'chose to do nothing' as Chauvin squeezed the life out of the 46-year-old black man. Defense attorneys countered that the officers were too inexperienced, werent trained properly and did not willfully violate Floyds rights.

A handful of protesters stood outside the courthouse Thursday morning holding large signs, including one mocking the officers that said, 'If I only had a brain, a heart, the nerve.' It was decorated with pictures of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion from 'The Wizard of Oz.'

All 12 members of the jury - eight women and four men - appear to be white, although the court has not released demographics such as race or age. A woman who appeared to be of Asian descent was excused Tuesday from the panel without explanation; a man who appears to be of Asian descent remains as an alternate if one of the current 12 cannot continue.

Lane is white, Kueng is black and Thao is Hmong American.

That is a sharp contrast to the jury that deliberated the state murder case against Chauvin. That jury was half white and half nonwhite.

FILE - In this image from police body camera video shown as evidence in court, Minneapolis police officers attempt to place George Floyd in a police vehicle, on May 25, 2020, outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis. Former police Officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him. (Minneapolis Police Department via AP, File)

FILE - This image from video shows Minneapolis Police Officers Thomas Lane, left and J. Alexander Kueng, right, escorting George Floyd, center, to a police vehicle outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020. The two and another former Minneapolis officers are on trial in February 2022, on federal civil rights charges in Floyd's death. All three are expected to testify. Kueng took the stand Wed. Feb. 16, 2022 in the trial. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File)

The federal jury pool was selected from throughout the state, which includes areas much more conservative and less diverse than the Minneapolis area from which Chauvins jury was drawn.

Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter, and later pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge.

Prosecutors sought to show during the monthlong trial that the officers violated their training, including when they failed to roll Floyd onto his side or give him CPR. They argued that Floyds condition was so serious that even bystanders without basic medical training could see he needed help.

George Floyd

But the defense said the Minneapolis Police Departments training was inadequate and that the officers deferred to Chauvin as the senior officer at the scene.

Chauvin and Thao went to the scene to help rookies Kueng and Lane after they responded to a call that Floyd used a counterfeit $20 bill at a corner store. Floyd struggled with officers as they tried to put him in a police SUV.

Thao watched bystanders and traffic as Kueng knelt on Floyds back and Lane held his legs.

The jurors are not sequestered - isolated from outside influences that could sway their opinion - which is sometimes done by having them stay in hotels during deliberations. They are allowed to watch videos from the scene and view other evidence as much as they want during deliberations.

The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously in March to pay an unprecedented $27million to settle a civil lawsuit from George Floyd's family over his death in police custody, even as a seventh juror was selected for former officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial.

Moments after the settlement vote, Council President Lisa Bender, who previously sparked controversy by calling for the city police department to be abolished in the wake of George Floyd's death, offered her condolences.

'I do want to, on behalf of the entire City Council, offer my deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd, his friends and all in our community who are mourning his loss,' the Democrat said in a statement.

In this image from a police body camera, bystanders, including Alyssa Funari, filming at left; Charles McMillan, center left in light colored shorts; Christopher Martin, center in gray, with hand on head; Donald Williams, center in shorts; Genevieve Hansen, filming, fourth from right; Darnella Frazier, filming, third from right, witness as then Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on George Floyd's neck for several minutes, killing Floyd on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis. Frazier, who recorded the widely seen video of Floyd's killing, began crying Monday, Feb. 14, as she started testifying in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers who are charged with violating the black man's civil rights, prompting the judge to take a quick, unexpected break

In this image from police body camera video shown as evidence in court, Minneapolis police Officers Thomas Lane, left, and J. Alexander Kueng, second from right, gather information as they take George Floyd into custody outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020. Former police Officers Tou Thao, Kueng and Lane are on trial in federal court accused of violating Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him
A Michigan judge on Thursday ordered the parents of 15-year-old school shooter Ethan Crumbley to stand trial on involuntary manslaughter charges.

Rochester Hills District Court Judge Julie Nicholson said following a two-day preliminary examination for Jennifer and James Crumbley that she found enough evidence to send their case to circuit court.

'If they had exercised reasonable care for their son, Hana , Tate, Madison, and Justin would still be here,' Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said, referring to the four slain Oxford High School students. 'It was a direct result of this gross negligence.'

The Crumbleys attorneys insisted the couple didnt know their son was planning the fatal attack at Oxford High School on November 30 that left four dead. They added that the couple didnt make the gun easy to find in their home.

But prosecutors told the court how the Crumbleys ignored their son's pleas for help when he told them he was seeing demons and hearing voices.

When the teen asked his father to take him to a therapist, James told him to 'suck it up' and gave him some pills, while Jennifer laughed at him, prosecutors said.

The Crumbleys are also accused of failing to intervene when Ethan showed signs of mental distress at home and at school, including talking about seeing ghosts, torturing birds and detailing a plan in his journal to rape and kill a female classmate. He also expressed his admiration for Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Dahmer, prosecutors revealed earlier this week.

In court on Thursday, prosecutors revealed that Ethan kept a 21-page notebook, in which he wrote about wanting to carry out 'the biggest school shooting in Michigan's history,' and that his first victim had to be 'a pretty girl with a future', reported The Detroit News.

James (left) and Jennifer Crumbley (right) were back in court for a preliminary examination, which concluded with a judge ordering them to stand trial on manslaughter charges in connection with their son's school shooting

Ethan Crumbley, pictured in court on Tuesday, is charged as an adult with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, terrorism and gun charges

The couple's defense team argued that they were not aware that their son was planning a school shooting because they were not privy to his text message exchanges with friends.

Ethan Crumbley is charged as an adult with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, terrorism and gun charges.

Defense attorneys on Thursday asked Oakland County sheriffs Detective Edward Wagrowski whether he thought Jennifer and James Crumbley were aware their son was planning the shooting.

Videos and texts between Ethan and his friend, Brady, in August show Ethan with a gun and inviting Brady to a gun range, said Shannon Smith, Jennifer Crumbley's attorney.

'The friend is saying things like `Nice. Now pull the trigger. jk, jk, jk,"' Smith told Wagrowski, who explained that 'jk' is shorthand for 'just kidding.'

'Ethan responds about how his dad left the gun out but Ethan knows gun safety so its no problem. And then he says: "Now, it's time to shoot up the school. JK JK JK JK,"' Smith said.

'This conversation existed between Ethan and his friend, but there is not any kind of conversation like this between Ethan and his mother or Ethan and his father?' Smith asked, to which Wagorwski responded "no."

Michigan school shooter, 15, asked about 'fan mail' in jail and has been getting donations and emails from female well-wishers Prosecutors said that months before the shooting, Ethan texted a friend, saying his parents ignored his pleas for help Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbely has been asking about 'fan mail' in jail and benefiting from the generosity of supporters who have been depositing excessive amounts money onto his commissary account. The 15-year-old is charged as an adult with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, terrorism and gun charges in the November 30 shooting at Oxford High School that killed four and injured seven others. At a hearing on Tuesday to determine whether Ethan should remain in the adult county jail, or be transferred to a juvenile facility, prosecutors said that he wrote in his journal about wanting to rape and kill a female classmate, and made other disturbing comments. 'He expressed delight in torturing a family of baby birds and he wrote about the joy he received in listening to them squeal as he killed them,' Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Markeisha D. Washington said. 'He spoke of his admiration for Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Dahmer, specifically stating when you die, you need to be remembered for a long time, doing something that would make people think of you until time ends.'" Last month, Crumbley's attorneys filed a notice of an insanity defense. Crumbley has been held at the county jail since December. Currently, he is lodged alone in a cell in the jail's clinic to keep him from seeing and hearing adult inmates. Defense attorneys have been urging for Crumbley to be moved to Children's Village. defense attorney Paulette Loftin said her client is 'completely isolated' at the adult jail. 'And for someone who has mental health issues, isolation is horrific.' Loftin conceded that Crumbley has access to a tablet, on which he has been receiving emails from mostly female well-wishers. 'These are individuals, mostly women, who have taken it upon themselves to message him and give him well wishes and message him extremely frequently,' she told the court. Oakland County Sheriff Captain Thomas Bida testified that since entering the jail in December, Crumbley's commissary account has become flush with cash from donors. Bida said that, compared to other inmates, the amount of money on Crumbley's account is 'pretty excessive.' Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Collins said Crumbley 'wants to be remembered' and while in jail asked how he would get 'fan mail' and 'hate mail.' 'He wants that notoriety," Collins said. Judge Kwame Rowe said Tuesday that he could have a written ruling by early next week on whether Crumbley will remain in the jail or be transferred to Children's Village. Advertisement

Ethan claimed his mom (pictured in foreground) 'laughed' at him when he told her that his father had told him to 'suck it up' when he came to him, asking him to take him to a therapist

James and Jennifer Crumbley are accused of making the gun used in the November 30 shooting at Oxford High School available to their son after ignoring multiple red flags

But prosecutors alluded to a disconnect between Ethan and his parents, including texts to his friend in which he talks about his 'dark side.'

'In a text on April 5, 2021, Ethan writes: "now my mom thinks I take drugs. Like she thinks the reason why I'm so mad and sad all the time is because I take drugs, and she doesn't worry about my mental health,"' assistant prosecutor Marc Keast said. 'And then he writes: "they make me feel like I'm the problem.

"My mom makes everyone feel like a piece of s***. I actually asked my dad to take me to the doctor the other day, and he just gave me some pills and said to "suck it up." My mom laughed when i told her,"' Keast read in court.

In another text message to a friend, Ethan said that his mother had nearly found a decapitated bird's head that he had been keeping in a jar under his bed.

'Holy s***, my mom almost found the bird head,' the teen allegedly wrote. 'Jesus Christ my heart is pounding.'

A day before the shooting, the school left a voicemail for Jennifer informing her that a teacher was concerned that Ethan had searched for ammunition online using his phone.

A sheriff's office computer crimes investigator testified during the first day of the couple's preliminary examination on February 8 that Jennifer later asked her son in a text if he 'at least' showed school officials a photo of the gun the parents gave Ethan as an early Christmas gift.

At a hearing on Tuesday to determine whether Ethan should remain at an adult jail, a prosecutor said he wrote in his journal about wanting to rape and kill a classmate

FILE - This undated combination of photos provided by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office shows James Crumbley, left, and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of Ethan Crumbley, a teenager accused of killing four students in a shooting at Oxford High School, in Michigan. The couple face a key hearing to determine if they will face trial. Attorneys for the Crumbleys have asked a judge to consider a postponement so they can further prepare. But there was no decision from the judge ahead of the hearing Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. (Oakland County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

Madisyn Baldwin, 17, (left) and Hana St Juliana, 14, (right) died in the shooting rampage at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit

On the morning of the shooting, Ethan's parents were summoned to the school and confronted with his drawings, which included a handgun, a bullet, a bloodied human figure and the words: 'the thoughts won't stop. Help me.' Authorities said the parents refused to take him home after the 13-minute meeting and were told to get him counseling.

The Crumbleys are jailed on $500,000 bond. The case against them is highly unusual because parents are rarely held criminally responsible for teens accused in mass school shootings.

The Crumbleys' attorneys have insisted the couple didn't know their son was homicidal and might be planning an attack, and didn't make the gun easy to find in their home.

Last month, Ethan Crumbley's attorneys filed a notice of an insanity defense.

He is lodged alone in a cell in the Oakland County Jail's clinic to keep him from seeing and hearing adult inmates. Defense attorneys want him moved to a juvenile facility, but prosecutors say he would pose a potential risk of harm to the safety of other juveniles.

While in jail, the 15-year-old has been receiving emails from random women, some of whom also have been depositing money on his commissary account.

The teen shooter was quoted as asking jail officials for his 'fan mail' and 'hate mail.'

An Oakland County Circuit Court judge said during a hearing for Ethan Crumbley on Tuesday that he expected to have a ruling by early next week on whether the teen will remain in the adult jail or be transferred to the county's Children's Village.
Thousands of flights have been cancelled and dozens of schools have been closed as a torrent of snow and ice continues to sweep across much of the US today.

Airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights, including at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, last night as the country deals with two winter storms this week.

Dozens of schools in Arkansas have also closed or switched to remote learning as another round of freezing rain prepares to hit the region today.

More than half an inch of ice could accumulate in parts of the Ozarks through Friday morning, while another area of freezing rain is expected to hit south-central Pennsylvania and western Maryland, the National Weather Service said.

Heavy snow is also expected in upstate New York and New England later this week, with more than six inches possible through Saturday morning.

It comes after the first storm, named Nancy by The Weather Channel, triggered widespread winter weather alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) across the Dakotas and The Great Lakes, extending to several upper-Midwest states.

Nancy was swiftly followed by Storm Oaklee which is now expected to bring further snow, ice, and freezing rain from parts of the West all the way to the Northeast by the end of the week.

Temperatures are also set to drop to 40 degrees in 24 hours as the country continues to deal with the weather whiplash.

The winter storm will bring snow and ice from the south through Thursday night, with heavy snow for the the northeast

Vehicles are seen during a heavy snowstorm on a highway in St. Paul, Minnesota, this week

A person walking in downtown Tulsa with the Holy Family Cathedral in the background on Wednesday

Motorists drive during a sleet storm in Tulsa as the country deals with two icy storms

By Wednesday night, DFW Airport, the biggest in the American Airlines network, and American had canceled 21 per cent of its flights, according to FlightAware tracking website.

Winter took a fleeting break in the Northeast on Wednesday, with temperatures soaring into the 60s before plunging within hours.

The warm spell sent people streaming outdoors, but it was bad news for ski areas and other winter sports.

'It's not exactly what you want to see in the middle of the busiest week of the year,' said Ethan Austin, spokesperson for the Sugarloaf ski area in Maine, which was busy because of school vacation week. But he was happy to hear snow was on the way.

The weather whiplash marked the second time in less than a week that there was to be a temperature swing of more than 40 degrees in 24 hours.

Earlier this week a Weather Channel warning read: 'Expect at least 6 inches of snowfall from portions of the Dakotas into much of Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin, northern Michigan and far northern Maine.

'Locally a foot or more of snow is possible in some areas.

'This includes the Twin Cities, where this longer-lived snowfall could lead to hazardous morning and afternoon commutes Monday and Tuesday.

'Some accumulations of freezing rain and/or sleet are also possible in parts of northern Iowa into southern Wisconsin, far northern Illinois, northern Lower Michigan and far northern New England.'

Storm Oaklee will spread snow and ice from the Southern Plains into parts of the Midwest and Northeast through Friday

More freezing rain or sleet will spread from northern and central Texas into the Ozarks and Ohio Valley on Thursday

By Friday this icy weather will arrive to the Northeast and the heaviest snow is expected across far northern Pennsylvania, much of New York state, with the exception of the lower Hudson Valley, eastward into much of New England

Snow will also fall in the middle and upper Mississippi valleys into the Great Lakes as Storm Oaklee makes its way through the US

John and Ann Wieczorek with Jing Jong and Kong their Chow Chows walk in the sleet around Swan Lake in Tulsa

Motorists navigate their way along an icy road in Tulsa amid the icy storms

The fresh winter storms represent yet more misery for millions of Americans who were battered by brutal weather systems late last week.

Alabama Power customers were without electricity on Thursday and Friday in the state amid tornadoes, while further north, 13,000 were without power in Tennessee; 14,000 in Kentucky; 16,000 in darkness in Ohio and 18,000 in Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, 40mph gusts in Illinois whipped up blizzards which caused a pile-up of more than 100 cars and trucks on Interstate 39 on Friday morning.

The gusts also saw hundreds of flights canceled at both O' Hare and Midway international airports.

More than 50 million Americans were placed under weather alerts towards the end of last week as heavy snow, sleet and icy conditions threatened huge swathes of the Midwest and Northeast.

The widespread warnings came just days after the Midwest was battered by blizzards that caused a huge pile up on Interstate 39 in Illinois thanks to Storm Michael.

This week the Weather Channel warned that icy and snowy conditions will impact areas from northern Texas into the mid-Mississippi Valley, with northern Texas and the Ohio valley expected to see heavy snow and sleet.

And by late Thursday or Thursday night, the wintry mess of snow and ice begin to spread across the Northeast, hammering areas of the country already reeling from the effects of storm Nancy.
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Daniel Andrews has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and vowed to light up Melbourne buildings in yellow and blue to match the Ukrainian flag.

The Victoria premier released a statement describing Vladimir Putin's military operation as an 'overt act of aggression by the Russian Federation' even though foreign policy is a federal government responsibility.

The statement was released while the Prime Minister, who was expected to address the media on Thursday evening, was in national security briefings.

Daniel Andrews has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and vowed to light up Melbourne buildings in yellow and blue to match the Ukrainian flag

The premier said: 'In a show of support for the people of Ukraine and their families and friends living in Victoria, tonight public buildings in Melbournes CBD will be lit up in blue and yellow.

'This overt act of aggression by the Russian Federation will cause harm and untold suffering to thousands, if not millions of people.

'This will be a distressing time for Victorian Ukrainian and Russian communities.

'We should always look to peaceful resolutions of conflicts, not violence and aggression.

'Lighting up public buildings in blue and yellow is just one small thing we can do to show our support as a government and a state.

'Whatever happens today, or in the days to come, we stand ready to support these communities.'

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said: 'The Victorian Liberals and Nationals condemn in the strongest terms the use of force and aggression against sovereign nations.

'We stand with our local Ukrainian community and all Victorians who value peace, democracy and the rule of law.

'The Victorian Liberals and Nationals will work together with the State Government to support to affected communities during this deeply challenging time.'

Earlier Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a 'special military operation' and saying he wants to 'demilitarize', not occupy, the country.

The Russian president told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home' as he declared war on Ukraine in an early morning address to the nation.

Putin said Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable'.

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev.

Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

Unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6am local time.

President Joe Biden was due to address the nation at noon on Thursday, and on Wednesday night he condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.' He was speaking to Ukraine's president.

Biden said in a statement: 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Biden said he will be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.

The developments came as:

Explosions were heard across Ukraine, with the capital Kiev coming under attack and the city's main airport appearing to be a target, as well as a nearby military base.

Reports said the port city of Odessa was coming under amphibious assault, while another Black Sea port city, Mariupol, was under fierce attack.

Military assaults appeared underway on Kharkiv in the far east of Ukraine.

Russia insisted in the early hours of Thursday that it was targeting military installations and avoiding populated areas.

Joe Biden was speaking to Ukraine's president in the early hours of Thursday, having earlier through his UN ambassador voiced his strong continued support for the country.

President Joe Biden, pictured on Wednesday, condemned Putin's invasion of Ukraine

An explosion is seen in the early hours of Thursday in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv

Kharkiv, with a population of 1.4 million, appeared to be under attack in the early hours of Thursday

Biden announced he will join G7 counterparts on Thursday morning, and will address the country later on Thursday to 'announce the further consequences the United States and its Allies and partners will impose on Russia.'

'We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine,' the statement added.

Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, tweeted early on Thursday: 'I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

'The UK and our allies will respond decisively.'

Within minutes of Putin's public address, explosions could be heard in the capital city of Kiev as well as the city of Kramatorsk in central Ukraine, and Odessa in the south.

Across Ukraine, cruise and ballistic missiles were destroying military infrastructure and strategically important facilities, according to unofficial Russian sources.

Mariupol, on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, appeared to be under fierce attack. Taking this strategic location would give the Donbas republics access to the sea.

The moment Ukraine and the rest of Europe had dreaded for months finally came shortly after 4.35am local time when huge explosions were heard in Kiev and other cities across the country.

Terrified citizens rushed to bomb shelters, though no air raid warnings sounded in the capital  only the frequent muffled crump of missile or air strikes breaking through the pre-dawn stillness.

In Kiev, people were sheltering in basements as the sounds of distant explosions became a constant backdrop.

Within an hour Russians special force and airborne troops were reported to be on the ground at Kiev's Boryspil Airport, amid fierce fighting.

A woman in the Ukrainian capital said: 'I was woken by a friend.

'I am in the centre of Kyiv.

'I hear the sound of distant explosions and ambulance sirens.'

A CNN reporter in Kiev reported hearing blasts live on air in the early hours of Thursday morning.

'I just heard a big bang right here behind me. I've never heard anything like it,' said Matthew Chance, senior international correspondent for the network.

Chance said that he heard between seven and eight explosions and quickly put on his flak jacket and headgear while he continued to report from a balcony in the Ukrainian capital.

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev reporting hearing blasts in the early hours of Thursday morning

Chance did not want to take any chances and set about putting on his flak jacket and helmet

'There are big explosions taking place. I cant see them or explain what they are.

'But I will tell you the U.S has warned the Ukrainian authorities there could be air strikes and ground attacks as well around the country, including the capital.

'I don't know if thats whats occurring now but its a remarkable coincidence that the explosions come just minutes after Putin gave his speech,' Chance explained.

'This is the first time weve heard anything. It has been absolutely silent. This is the first time. It has to be more than just a coincidence.

'I think it's safe where I am. I have a flak jacket,' Chance remarked before ducking down to put on his protective gear.

Chance, located on a balcony in the Ukrainian capital quickly put on his protective headgear

Chance, who had been to the Ukrainian capital many times in recent years said he had 'never heard anything like it'

He suggested that the blasts he heard in the Ukrainian capital but still some distance away from the center.

'It was so quiet in Ukraine tonight up until those explosions,' Chance explained.

The blasts came within minutes of Putin saying Russia would conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

Explosions could also be heard from Ukraine in the Russian city of Belgorod.

Putin told Russians: 'I have decided to conduct a special military operation. Russia cannot exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine.

'You and I have been left with no opportunity to protect our people other than the one we use today.'

It comes after explosions were also heard near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, as fears mounted that shelling is underway.

Residents in the city, which is located in south eastern Ukraine, have been woken up at 3.30am this morning by blasts 30 miles from the Russian border.

Video footage appeared to show clouds of smoke rising up into the night sky near Mariupol, but it was unconfirmed whether it was as a result of shelling.

Putin earlier this week said he wanted to take the major Azov Sea Port of Mariupol, which handles 50 per cent Ukraine's steel and mineral exports.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia's actions were a 'grave breach of international law' and that allies would meet to address the 'renewed aggression'.

He said on Twitter: 'I strongly condemn #Russia's reckless attack on #Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. This is a grave breach of international law & a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. #NATO Allies will meet to address Russia's renewed aggression.'

The British foreign secretary Liz Truss tweeted her condemnation of the attack just after 4am local time.

'I strongly condemn the appalling, unprovoked attack President Putin has launched on the people of Ukraine,' she said.

'We stand with Ukraine and we will work with our international partners to respond to this terrible act of aggression.'

The explosions come just hours after the U.S. warned the Ukrainian government that Putin's troops are 'ready to go now' with an invasion of Ukraine, with 80 per cent of Russian soldiers now assembled around the country in attack positions.
World leaders united in condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin in the early hours of the morning after Russian forces swarmed into Ukraine.

The Russian leader told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home,' as tanks rolled into major cities and troops parachuted in, while the first images of the invasion showed huge blasts lighting up the sky.

One leader called the invasion 'an unjustified barbarian act', others announced sanctions to 'weaken' Russia and some were clear in blaming Russia wholly for the death and violence to come.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz slammed the aggression not seen since World War II as an 'unjustified and flagrant breach of international law' and said Berlin would consult its partners in the G7, NATO and the EU.

'This is a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe,' he told Reuters.

The world 'will not forget this day of shame', Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. 'We will react together with our partners,' she said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: 'To the Ukrainian people, to President Zelensky, this evening, I reiterate our support, our attachment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,'

'In economic and financial matters, in terms of defensive equipment, France will continue to provide its support,' he added.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: 'I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps.'

'President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively,' he added.

US President Joe Biden warned 'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring.'

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg denounced Russia's 'reckless and unprovoked attack' on its neighbour, warning the invasion put 'countless' lives in jeopardy.

NATO announced it will hold a virtual summit on Friday on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as the alliance announced after an emergency meeting that 'additional steps' were being taken to protect member countries.

The European Union said it will hold Russia 'accountable' for its attack on Ukraine and is preparing fresh sanctions that will deal 'massive and severe consequences' to Moscow, the bloc's chiefs said.

'President Putin is responsible for bringing war back to Europe,' European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen said, adding that the EU would hold him 'accountable for that.'

'With this package, we will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to key technologies and markets,' she said in an emergency statement. 'We will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernise.'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday morning condemned Russia's attack as an 'unjustified and flagrant breach of international law'

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted his support for the Ukraine on Wednesday night

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg denounced Russia's 'reckless and unprovoked attack' on its neighbour, warning the invasion put 'countless' lives in jeopardy

'President Putin is responsible for bringing war back to Europe,' European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen said, adding that the EU would hold him 'accountable for that'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was 'appalled' by Vladimir Putin's attack

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday, as Russian troops launched an all-out attack on the country

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

As leaders across Asia and Europe scrambled to condemn the attack, explosions were heard in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. Nations around the world this week have also imposed a raft of new sanctions on Russia.

In a coordinated response to Russia's incursion into Ukraine, Germany halted certification of Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline on Tuesday after which President Joe Biden announced he was sanctioning the company building the pipeline.

US State Department's spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday afternoon that Nord Stream 2 was 'an $11 billion prize investment that is now a hunk of steel, sitting at the bottom of the sea.'

Germany is reliant on Russia as a main supplier of gas and the pipeline would have doubled the amount of gas flowing into the country.

But that and other sanctions were not enough to dissuade the Kremlin, that launched its assault on Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Scholz, whose country currently holds the presidency of the G7 forum, urged Moscow to stop its military operation 'immediately.'

He also spoke with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky to express Germany's 'full solidarity,' government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in a tweet.

'This attack will have severe political and economic consequences for Russia,' Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement.

Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres Guterres made a direct and personal plea to Putin after an emergency Security Council session, urging him to stop the attack 'in the name of humanity.'

'In the name of humanity, do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century,' he said. 'The conflict must stop now,' added the UN chief, who said it was the 'saddest day' of his tenure.

Moscow had massed more than 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders.

On Monday, Putin recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian forces there for what he called 'peacekeeping.'

Guterres at the U.N. disputed that, saying the troops were entering another country without its consent.

During the charged UN emergency meeting in New York, the Ukraine's ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya implored the council, chaired by Russia to 'do everything possible to stop the war'.

He demanded that Russia's ambassador relinquish his duties as chair. 'There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador,' the visibly emotional Kyslytsya said.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), of which Russia is also a member, said 'this attack on Ukraine puts the lives of millions of people at grave risk and is a gross breach of international law and Russia's commitments.'

The statement was issued by the OSCE's current chairman, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, and the organisation's secretary general, Helga Maria Schmid.

Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland, called for more sanctions on Russia. 'We must immediately respond to Russia's criminal aggression on Ukraine,' he tweeted.

'Europe and the free world has to stop Putin. Today's European Council should approve fiercest possible sanctions. Our support for Ukraine must be real,' he added.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala condemned the Russian attack as 'absolutely unjustified act of aggression against a sovereign state.' Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger called it 'an unjustified barbarian act.'

Czech President Milos Zeman, who had in the past promoted warm relations with Moscow, said on Thursday Russia's attack on Ukraine was 'crime against peace' and required a response through harsh sanctions including cutting the country from the SWIFT international payments system.

'It is time to reach for much tougher sanctions than those originally planned, by which I mean above all a sanction in the area of the so-called SWIFT,' Zeman said in a speech.

'It is needed to isolate a madman, not just defend against him by words, but by concrete measures.'

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi lashed Russia for its attack as 'unjustified and unjustifiable,' saying Europe and NATO were working on an immediate response.

'The Italian Government condemns Russia's attack on Ukraine. It is unjustified and unjustifiable. Italy is close to the Ukrainian people and institutions in this dramatic moment. We are working with European and NATO allies to respond immediately, with unity and determination,' Draghi said in a statement.

Ivan Korcok, the minister of foreign and European affairs of NATO-member Slovakia, tweeted: 'I strongly condemn direct military attack of Russia on our neighbour - #Ukraine. [Russia] grossly violates international law & the principles of the UN Charter. It represents a direct threat to European security,'

Russia's neighbor Finland also lambasted the attack, as Prime Minister Sanna Marin tweeted: 'I strongly condemn the military action Russia has taken in Ukraine.'

'The attack is a grave breach of international law and threatens the life of numerous civilians. Finland expresses its solid support to Ukraine and Ukrainians and we are looking for ways to increase this support' she added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid also condemned Russia's attack as 'a grave violation of the international order.'

Lapid told reporters on Thursday that Israel is prepared to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine and urged Israeli citizens to leave the country.

'Israel is a country well-versed in war. War is not the way to resolve conflicts,' he said, adding that there was still a chance for a negotiated solution.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Russia's military operation against Ukraine is unacceptable, calling on Moscow to immediately end the 'unjust and unlawful' move that threatens global security.

Ukrainian tanks are seen rolling into the port city of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, after Putin declared war against his neighbouring country

A huge explosion lights up the night sky in Sumy, eastern Ukraine, after a Russian airstrike hit what appears to be an ammo dump, while smoke and flames are also seen rising over Kherson, in the south near Crimea

Smoke rises over Chuhuiv military airfield in eastern Ukraine after a Russian airstrike aimed at taking out the air force

A wounded woman is seen as airstrike damages an apartment complex outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers ride in a military vehicle in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022

Vladimir Putin is pictured in the early hours of Thursday morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a 'special military operation'

The ambassadors of the 30-nation NATO alliance were to hold an emergency meeting early Thursday to discuss the Russian attack, with Stoltenberg expected to give a press conference afterwards, a NATO official said today.

'I strongly condemn Russia's reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives,' Stoltenberg said in a statement.

'Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country,' Stoltenberg said in a statement.

'This is a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. I call on Russia to cease its military action immediately and respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' he said.

Stoltenberg added: 'We stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time. NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend all allies.'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter: 'We strongly condemn Russia's unjustified attack on Ukraine.

'In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,' the said.

'We will hold the Kremlin accountable.'

EU leaders are to hold a snap summit late Thursday.

In a joint statement, von der Leyen and Michel said the summit will 'discuss the crisis and further restrictive measures' that 'will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its actions'.

The European Commission will outline to leaders the new sanctions, which will add to an initial round of sanctions imposed on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin recognised rebel-held parts of Ukraine as independent.

Von der Leyen and Michel said they expected the EU leaders 'will adopt them swiftly'.

'We are coordinating our response with our international partners, including NATO and G7 whose leaders will meet today (Thursday),' they said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it the 'strongest, the harshest package' ever considered.

'A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue,' Borrell said.

'This is not only the greatest violation of international law, it's a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence.

'It's costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.'

The foreign ministers of the Baltic states, once ruled from Moscow but now members of NATO and the European Union, called on Thursday to stop Russia's access to the SWIFT payment system and to provide Ukraine with weapons and ammunition.

The international community should 'impose the strongest possible sanctions on Russia, including disengaging Russia from SWIFT,' the three foreign ministers said in a joint statement.

British Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said new sanctions against Russia would be announced 'in waves', with further details released later on Thursday.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'This will be the largest and most severe economic sanctions passage Russia has ever seen.'

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said sanctions against Russia would become law Friday but would not take effect until the end of March.

The turmoil from the beginning of a long-feared act of aggression rippled from Europe to Asia.

Stock markets plunged, oil prices surged, and European aviation officials warned of a high risk to civilian aircraft over Ukraine, reminding air operators that 'this is now an active conflict zone.'

Across the pond, President Joe Biden released a statement after the attack began and said he would address the nation on Thursday.

'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,' Biden said in a statement Wednesday night.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted early Thursday morning: 'Canada condemns  in the strongest possible terms  Russia's egregious attack on Ukraine.'

'These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of Russia's obligations under international law and the Charter of the UN,' he added.

Meanwhile, some Americans lawmakers offered their support to Ukraine while others weighed in on their thoughts on what led to the invasion.

'California is standing with the people of Ukraine tonight. Russia is embarking on an unprovoked attack - an armed attempt to overthrow a sitting democracy. There must be consequences,' Gavin Newsom tweeted.

Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who drew ire for statements about the crisis, did not appear to condemn Russia and instead put the blame on President Joe Biden for the invasion.

'This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia's legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraine's becoming a member of NATO, which would mean US/NATO forces right on Russia's border,' she tweeted.

Former President Donald Trump was also quick to point fingers and place blame amid the devastating invasion.

Vladimir Putin has ordered an invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a 'special military operation' and saying he wants to 'demilitarize', not occupy, the country.

Trump, speaking to Fox's Laura Ingraham as the Kremlin's 'special military operation' began, claimed that the so-called 'Russia hoax' ruined his good relationships with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi, arguing he kept the two apart.

Ingraham asked Trump about the continuing closeness between Putin and Xi.

'Well, I had a good relationship with both,' he said. 'It was hurt by the Russia hoax. You see what happened with Durham and those reports and other reports including Mueller. It was just a made up hoax and it really hurt our country but despite the hoax, I had a good relationship and with president XI of China, other than the fact that I was tariff-ing and taxing the hell out of him.'

'As a young man growing up, I always heard that the worst thing that could happen is drive those two countries together. It really started with Obama and energy. He drove them together because one needed the energy and the other needed the money,' Trump added.

'He drove them together and Biden - I kept them apart - and Biden now it's a great love fest and that's a very bad thing and I think you can probably add Iran into it too.'

Trump argued he'd have used his good relationship with Putin to stop this from happening.

'Well, I know him very well. We had many, many times together. I got along with him fantastically despite the fact I shut down Nord Stream-2, nobody would've heard of Nord Stream 2 if it weren't for me. I am the one that shut it down.'

China, which has denounced sanctions against Russia, advised its citizens in Ukraine to stay home and place a Chinese flag in or on their vehicles if they need to travel long distances.

'Social order is chaotic and out of control, especially in the cities where at times of serious unrest, walking on the streets could make one a target of attack, traffic could be stopped at any time and venturing out creates the possibility of running into uncontrollable risks,' the notice said.

China has increasingly aligned its foreign policy with Russia to challenge the West, and has blamed the United States and its allies for provoking Moscow.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said said the time was needed to give 'opportunities for businesses that have had very legitimate operations and business interests in Russia and in the affected territories of Ukraine to be able to make changes to their arrangements.'

Morrison said that financial sanctions and travel bans that target eight members of the Russian Security Council will be a first batch of measures in response to Russian aggression toward Ukraine. Australia will also align with the U.S. and Britain by targeting two Russian banks.

'The reason we're doing this is there must be a price for the unprovoked, unlawful, unwarranted, unjustified attacks and threats and intimidation that has been imposed by Russia on Ukraine. This cannot be a consequence-free action by Vladimir Putin and the Russian regime,' Morrison said.

'We are putting all our effort into collecting the information and comprehending the situation,' Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said shortly after Putin's announcement.

'It's important and challenging to secure the safety of Japanese people (in Ukraine). After fully comprehending the situation, we will handle the case properly.'

Asked whether Taiwan would cooperate with the U.S. and like-minded countries to put export controls on semi-conductors and technology products that the self-ruled island is known for, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou said 'they were in close coordination' and would take the 'appropriate actions in response to help Ukraine and uphold the area's peace and stability.'

An explosion is seen in the early hours of Thursday in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv

Early Thursday morning, Ukraine's border force said that their posts in the north have come under attack from both Russian and Belarussian forces - a hugely significant development, meaning Russia is not acting alone, and is attacking from all sides.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarussian opposition, tweeted: 'We ask the international community to impose the strongest sanctions against Lukashenka & the Belarus regime as soon as possible.

'They are accomplices of Russia's brutal assault on Ukraine. It's evident that Lukashenka fully shares the responsibility for this unnecessary war.'

The Russian president early on Thursday told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home' as he declared war on Ukraine in an early morning address to the nation.

Putin said Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable'.

Ukraine's president declared martial law in the early hours of Thursday, in a video message to the people urging people to remain at home and stay strong. He said he had just spoken to Joe Biden.

'We are working. The army is working,' he said.

'Don't panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine.'

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev.

Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

More unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6am local time.

President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday, and on Wednesday night he condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.' He was speaking to Ukraine's president.

Biden said in a statement: 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Biden said he will be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.
An Australian war correspondent in Ukraine could not contain his terror as Russia invaded the nation, letting expletives rip on camera as missiles flew overhead.

Photojournalist Bryce Wilson was reporting from Kramatorsk on Thursday as President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation, with missiles seen flying over the capital of Kiev.

Russian tanks have crossed the Ukrainian border via Belarus, with hundreds of civilians reportedly already killed amid air strikes in Kharkiv, Mariupol and Dnipro.

Airlines have cancelled flights to and over Ukraine to protect passengers' safety as weapons begin to fill the sky across the region, with planes also brought to a halt in some parts of Russia.

As Wilson began to film his brief on the situation, he became caught up in the chaos as weapons started whizzing above him.

'Oh f***, that's a missile! That's a missile!' he yells.

Photojournalist Bryce Wilson (pictured) witnessed a Russian missile strike while reporting in Kramatorsk, in Ukraine's east, on Thursday

'That's a f***ing missile! Holy s***!.

'Ok. We've got to f***ing get inside. I can't f***ing believe that.'

The projectiles can be seen flying overhead and soaring towards buildings in the distance.

Footage of the documentary filmmaker's raw reaction to the unfolding war in Ukraine has gone viral online as people from around the world wished the Melbourne man and his crew safe keeping.

'Must be a terrifying experience. Prayers that he and his crew stay safe,' one woman tweeted.

Sharing the footage, ABC journalist Siobhan Heanue said Wilson, who has been based in Ukraine since 2015, was giving some 'uniquely Australian commentary' - in reference to his prolific use of profanities.

Wilson later updated his followers that he had made it out of harms way.

'Hypersonic missiles are being used to attack Kramatorsk. Im safe,' he tweeted.

'There is still shelling going on around here. Im taking care of my colleagues and myself. Situation is dynamic and dangerous. People are still going to work and acting like this isnt a war. I cant believe what is happening here. F***.'

Missile strikes have begun in Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in separatist-held regions in the country's southeast

There is still shelling going on around here. Im taking care of my colleagues and myself. Situation is dynamic and dangerous. People are still going to work and acting like this isnt a war. I cant believe what is happening here. Fuck.  Bryce Wilson (@brycewilsonAU) February 24, 2022

Mr Putin on Thursday ordered an invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a 'special military operation' and saying he wants to 'demilitarize', not occupy, the country.

Within hours, Ukraine's interior ministry said there had been hundreds of casualties, CNN reported - despite Russia insisting early Thursday morning that they were only attacking military installations, and were avoiding populated areas.

Ukraine's military said their air defenses shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter in the early hours of Thursday in the east of the country, near Kharkiv.

Ukraine's border force said that their posts in the north have come under attack from both Russian and Belorussian forces - a hugely significant development, meaning Russia is not acting alone, and is attacking from all sides.

The livestream video of the invasion from Belarus was taken at the Senkivka, Ukraine crossing with Veselovka, Belarus. The column was seen entering Ukraine around 6:48am local time, CNN reported.

A Ukrainian government spokesman confirmed that Russia had invaded over the Belarus border as well, only 120 miles from Kiev.

He said: 'The state border of Ukraine was attacked by troops from Russia and Belarus.

'At about 5am, the state border of Ukraine, in the area with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus.

'Attacks on border units, border patrols and checkpoints are carried out with the use of artillery, heavy equipment and small arms.

'This is happening within Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr regions.'

The government spokesman also said that Ukraine was attacked from Crimea.

An explosion is seen in the early hours of Thursday in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv

Australian journalist @brycewilson, who has been reporting from Ukraine for several years, giving some uniquely Australian commentary as he observes a missile over Donetsk. https://t.co/BFMygmxDqg  Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) February 24, 2022

'The work of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups is also recorded,' the spokesman continued.

'Depending on the situation on the border, border guards together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine are firing at the enemy.

'Information on injuries among border guards is being clarified.'

Hundreds of Ukrainians were killed in the onslaught, the interior ministry said, and videos on social media showed the scale of the invasion.

Five Russian jets and one helicopter were shot down over the east of the country, near Kharkiv, Ukraine's military said.

The Russian president early on Thursday told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home' as he declared war on Ukraine in an early morning address to the nation.

Putin said Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable'.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, declared martial law in the early hours of Thursday, in a video message to the people urging people to remain at home and stay strong. He said he had just spoken to Joe Biden.

Kharkiv, with a population of 1.4 million, appeared to be under attack in the early hours of Thursday

'We are working. The army is working,' he said.

'Don't panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine.'

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev.

Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

More unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6am local time.

President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday, and on Wednesday night he condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.' He was speaking to Ukraine's president.

Biden said in a statement: 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a video message early on Thursday and urged Ukrainians to stay at home, and remain calm, telling them to have faith in their country

Tanks can be seen, to the right of the image, rolling past a border post between Ukraine and Belarus in the early hours of Thursday

Biden said he will be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.

Biden announced he will join G7 counterparts on Thursday morning, and will address the country later on Thursday to 'announce the further consequences the United States and its Allies and partners will impose on Russia.'

'We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine,' the statement added.

Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, tweeted early on Thursday: 'I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

'The UK and our allies will respond decisively.'

Putin in his speech on Thursday told other countries not to get involved.

'To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside - if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history, he said in the television broadcast around 6am Moscow time.

Vladimir Putin is pictured in the early hours of Thursday morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a 'special military operation'

Metadata of Putin's declaration of war video shows it was recorded on Monday evening, but only broadcast early Thursday.

At the time, some Russian officials were denying any intention to invade.

The Russian armed forces are not inflicting any missile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow told RIA Novosti.

Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Ukrainian army were being disabled by high-precision weapons, they said.

Nothing threatens the civilian population of Ukraine, they claimed.

All flights cancelled at Russian airports in Krasnodar, Sochi, and Anapa, close to the Black Sea.

Rostov also reported cancelled flights.

Within minutes of Putin's public address, explosions could be heard in the capital city of Kiev as well as the city of Kramatorsk in central Ukraine, and Odessa in the south.

Across Ukraine, cruise and ballistic missiles were destroying military infrastructure and strategically important facilities, according to unofficial Russian sources.

Mariupol, on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, appeared to be under fierce attack. Taking this strategic location would give the Donbas republics access to the sea.

President Joe Biden, pictured on Wednesday, condemned Putin's invasion of Ukraine

The moment Ukraine and the rest of Europe had dreaded for months finally came shortly after 4.35am local time when huge explosions were heard in Kiev and other cities across the country.

Terrified citizens rushed to bomb shelters, though no air raid warnings sounded in the capital  only the frequent muffled crump of missile or air strikes breaking through the pre-dawn stillness.

In Kiev, people were sheltering in basements as the sounds of distant explosions became a constant backdrop.

Within an hour Russians special force and airborne troops were reported to be on the ground at Kiev's Boryspil Airport, amid fierce fighting.

A woman in the Ukrainian capital said: 'I was woken by a friend.

'I am in the centre of Kiev.

'I hear the sound of distant explosions and ambulance sirens.'

At 7.05am the first air raid sirens were heard in central Kiev.

It comes after explosions were also heard near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, as fears mounted that shelling is underway.

Residents in the city, which is located in south eastern Ukraine, have been woken up at 3.30am by blasts 30 miles from the Russian border.

Video footage appeared to show clouds of smoke rising up into the night sky near Mariupol, but it was unconfirmed whether it was as a result of shelling.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Australians have condemned Russia's invasion of its southwestern neighbour.

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations says Russia's decision to recognise the control of 'terrorist organisations' in Luhansk and Donetsk is provocative and dangerous.

'Such a step is another act of aggression against Ukraine, its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,' AFUO co-chair Stefan Romaniw said.

'It demonstrates Russia's decision to choose a path of global isolation and aggression against the international rules-based order.'

Mr Romaniw said resistance in Ukraine has grown since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and civil society remained strong.

'I have spoken today to Ukrainians in Odessa, and they have told me that on the street, at every intersection, in every building and every house, Putin will find resistance,' he said.

'We are ready to fight.'

Mr Romaniw also called for punitive and personal sanctions against the Russian president himself, just hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison formalised sanctions that targeted eight members of Russia's security council.

Mr Morrison was asked directly about sanctions targeting Mr Putin when he announced the sanctions on Wednesday, responding 'we will continue to ratchet this up over time'.

Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy said Australian Ukrainians such as himself were 'watching with horror at the invasion of a European democracy by the Putin dictatorship'.

'Sending love to my family in Kharkiv,' he tweeted.

Pictured: A tank of Russian armed forces fires during military exercises in the Leningrad Region earlier this month

Meanwhile, counselling is being offered to almost 200 students from the Ukraine and Russia studying at Australian universities.

Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said universities had acted quickly to identify and contact individual students as well as relevant student clubs and societies, to offer support and check on their well-being.

'As tensions in the region build, our universities are mindful of the increasing pressure this will place on our Ukrainian and Russian students both here in Australia and studying offshore,' Ms Thomson said.

Save the Children has warned that children will bear the brunt of any conflict with 40,000 children making up a large part of the 100,000 people who've been displaced in eastern Europe in recent days.

The organisation says any mass movement will put children in danger of hunger, cold and illness as well as losing limbs and their lives from explosive devices, with eastern Ukraine being 'one of the most mine-contaminated regions in the world'.

'Children are terrified - they wonder if their homes will be shelled, their friends hurt, their security and sense of normalcy lost,' Save the Children's eastern European director Irina Saghoyan said.

'This is an appalling situation. But more fighting isn't inevitable. Leaders must step up, in the interests of the region's most vulnerable, its children.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin wore the same outfit he wore two days ago during an unhinged speech claiming Russia created Ukraine in announcing his invasion on early Thursday morning, sparking concerns he had already taken the decision to unleash a war on Monday.

In a chilling warning to US President Biden and NATO to not intervene as the Kremlin launches a full-scale invasion to 'denazify' Ukraine, Putin could be seen wearing the same suit and red tie he wore on Monday to lay out his factually inaccurate version of Ukraine's history, saying essentially that it was always part of Russia.

In hindsight, Putin's attempts to rewrite history at his convenience, could be interpreted as evidence that he had already decided to invade Ukraine, and that he misled leaders in the West who pleaded with him for diplomacy.

Putin announced the invasion in a 5.50am speech Thursday to the Russian people, saying he wants to 'demilitarize' and 'de-Nazify' the neighboring country - not occupy it.

But within hours, Ukraine's interior ministry said there had been hundreds of casualties, CNN reported - despite Russia insisting early that they were only attacking military installations, and were avoiding populated areas.

It comes after explosions were heard near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, as fears mounted that shelling is underway.

Residents in the city, which is located in south eastern Ukraine, have been woken up at 3.30am this morning by blasts 30 miles from the Russian border.

Video footage appeared to show clouds of smoke rising up into the night sky near Mariupol, but it was unconfirmed whether it was as a result of shelling.

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev.

Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

Unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odesa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6am local time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wore the same outfit he wore two days ago (left on Monday) to announce his invasion of Ukraine on early Thursday morning (right on Thursday)

Explosions are seen in the early hours of Thursday in Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine

An explosion is seen in the early hours of Thursday in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv

Kharkiv, with a population of 1.4 million, appeared to be under attack in the early hours of Thursday

In his speech to the Russian public on Monday night, a sometimes sullen, sometimes angry-sounding Putin was dismissive of modern-day Ukraine, arguing that its creation as a sovereign state was a tragedy and an accident of communist leaders in the 20th century.

Acting as though there had never been a historical Ukraine until Soviet times, Putin blamed at times Vladimir Lenin, at times Stalin and at one point he saved scorn for the decision of Nikita Khrushchev to take Crimea from Russia in 1954 and award it to Ukraine.

As with all historical narratives, there were elements of truth in what Putin was saying. Ukrainians and Russians are related eastern Slavic peoples whose destinies have been both intertwined and separated throughout history.

The explosions on Thursday came just hours after the US warned the Ukrainian government that Putin's troops are 'ready to go now' with an invasion of Ukraine, with 80 per cent of Russian soldiers now assembled around the country in attack positions.

'To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside - if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history,' Putin said on a television broadcast.

On Monday, Putin had warned Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' as he said clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable'.

Ukraine's military said their air defenses shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter in the early hours of Thursday in the east of the country, near Kharkiv.

Ukraine's border force said that their posts in the north have come under attack from both Russian and Belorussian forces - a hugely significant development, meaning Russia is not acting alone, and is attacking from all sides.

The livestream video of the invasion from Belarus was taken at the Senkivka, Ukraine crossing with Veselovka, Belarus. The column was seen entering Ukraine around 6:48am local time, CNN reported.

A Ukrainian government spokesman confirmed that Russia had invaded over the Belarus border as well, only 120 miles from Kiev.

He said: 'The state border of Ukraine was attacked by troops from Russia and Belarus.

'At about 5am, the state border of Ukraine, in the area with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus.

'Attacks on border units, border patrols and checkpoints are carried out with the use of artillery, heavy equipment and small arms.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a video message early on Thursday and urged Ukrainians to stay at home, and remain calm, telling them to have faith in their country

'This is happening within Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr regions.'

The government spokesman also said that Ukraine was attacked from Crimea.

'The work of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups is also recorded,' the spokesman continued.

'Depending on the situation on the border, border guards together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine are firing at the enemy.

'Information on injuries among border guards is being clarified.'

The Russian president early on Thursday told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home' as he declared war on Ukraine in an early morning address to the nation.

Putin said Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable'.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, declared martial law in the early hours of Thursday, in a video message to the people urging people to remain at home and stay strong. He said he had just spoken to Joe Biden.

'We are working. The army is working,' he said.

'Don't panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine.

Tanks can be seen, to the right of the image, rolling past a border post between Ukraine and Belarus in the early hours of Thursday

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev.

Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

More unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6am local time.

President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday, and on Wednesday night he condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.' He was speaking to Ukraine's president.

Biden said in a statement: 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Biden said he will be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.

The developments came as:

Explosions were heard across Ukraine, with the capital Kiev coming under attack and the city's main airport appearing to be a target, as well as a nearby military base.

Reports said the port city of Odessa was coming under amphibious assault, while another Black Sea port city, Mariupol, was under fierce attack.

Military assaults appeared underway on Kharkiv in the far east of Ukraine.

Ukraine's government declared martial law and urged people to stay at home as the onslaught continues.

Russia insisted in the early hours of Thursday that it was targeting military installations and avoiding populated areas, but Ukraine said there had been hundreds of casualties.

Joe Biden was speaking to Ukraine's president in the early hours of Thursday, having earlier through his UN ambassador voiced his strong continued support for the country.

Vladimir Putin is pictured in the early hours of Thursday morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a 'special military operation'

President Joe Biden, pictured on Wednesday, condemned Putin's invasion of Ukraine

Footage shared on social media from Odessa appeared to show an amphibious assault

#BREAKING: #Russia Navy has he port of #Odessa in #Ukraine under attack. Also heavy artillery and rocket barrage by BM-21 & BM-27 MRLS of #Russian Army at #Ukrine Army positions in #Kramatorsk now pic.twitter.com/P3jpE2Cbcw  Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) February 24, 2022

CNN: Ukraine's Interior Ministry says there have already been hundreds of casualties pic.twitter.com/CNAPySQ4y2  philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 24, 2022

Biden announced he will join G7 counterparts on Thursday morning, and will address the country later on Thursday to 'announce the further consequences the United States and its Allies and partners will impose on Russia.'

'We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine,' the statement added.

Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, tweeted early on Thursday: 'I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

'The UK and our allies will respond decisively.'

Metadata of Putin's declaration of war video shows it was recorded on Monday evening, but only broadcast early Thursday.

At the time, some Russian officials were denying any intention to invade.

The Russian armed forces are not inflicting any missile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow told RIA Novosti.

Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Ukrainian army were being disabled by high-precision weapons, they said.

Nothing threatens the civilian population of Ukraine, they claimed.

All flights cancelled at Russian airports in Krasnodar, Sochi, and Anapa, close to the Black Sea.

Rostov also reported cancelled flights.

Within minutes of Putin's public address, explosions could be heard in the capital city of Kiev as well as the city of Kramatorsk in central Ukraine, and Odessa in the south.

Across Ukraine, cruise and ballistic missiles were destroying military infrastructure and strategically important facilities, according to unofficial Russian sources.

Mariupol, on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, appeared to be under fierce attack. Taking this strategic location would give the Donbas republics access to the sea.

The moment Ukraine and the rest of Europe had dreaded for months finally came shortly after 4.35am local time when huge explosions were heard in Kiev and other cities across the country.

Terrified citizens rushed to bomb shelters, though no air raid warnings sounded in the capital  only the frequent muffled crump of missile or air strikes breaking through the pre-dawn stillness.

In Kiev, people were sheltering in basements as the sounds of distant explosions became a constant backdrop.

Within an hour Russians special force and airborne troops were reported to be on the ground at Kiev's Boryspil Airport, amid fierce fighting.

A woman in the Ukrainian capital said: 'I was woken by a friend.

'I am in the centre of Kiev.

'I hear the sound of distant explosions and ambulance sirens.'

At 7.05am the first air raid sirens were heard in central Kiev.

A CNN reporter in Kiev reported hearing blasts live on air in the early hours of Thursday morning.

'I just heard a big bang right here behind me. I've never heard anything like it,' said Matthew Chance, senior international correspondent for the network.

Chance said that he heard between seven and eight explosions and quickly put on his flak jacket and headgear while he continued to report from a balcony in the Ukrainian capital.

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev reporting hearing blasts in the early hours of Thursday morning

Chance did not want to take any chances and set about putting on his flak jacket and helmet

'There are big explosions taking place. I can't see them or explain what they are.

'But I will tell you the U.S has warned the Ukrainian authorities there could be air strikes and ground attacks as well around the country, including the capital.

'I don't know if that's what's occurring now but it's a remarkable coincidence that the explosions come just minutes after Putin gave his speech,' Chance explained.

'This is the first time we've heard anything. It has been absolutely silent. This is the first time. It has to be more than just a coincidence.

'I think it's safe where I am. I have a flak jacket,' Chance remarked before ducking down to put on his protective gear.

Chance, located on a balcony in the Ukrainian capital quickly put on his protective headgear

Chance, who had been to the Ukrainian capital many times in recent years said he had 'never heard anything like it'

He suggested that the blasts he heard in the Ukrainian capital but still some distance away from the center.

'It was so quiet in Ukraine tonight up until those explosions,' Chance explained.

The blasts came within minutes of Putin saying Russia would conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

Explosions could also be heard from Ukraine in the Russian city of Belgorod.

Putin told Russians: 'I have decided to conduct a special military operation. Russia cannot exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine.

'You and I have been left with no opportunity to protect our people other than the one we use today.'

It comes after explosions were also heard near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, as fears mounted that shelling is underway.

Residents in the city, which is located in south eastern Ukraine, have been woken up at 3.30am this morning by blasts 30 miles from the Russian border.

Video footage appeared to show clouds of smoke rising up into the night sky near Mariupol, but it was unconfirmed whether it was as a result of shelling.

Putin earlier this week said he wanted to take the major Azov Sea Port of Mariupol, which handles 50 per cent Ukraine's steel and mineral exports.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia's actions were a 'grave breach of international law' and that allies would meet to address the 'renewed aggression'.

He said on Twitter: 'I strongly condemn #Russia's reckless attack on #Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. This is a grave breach of international law & a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. #NATO Allies will meet to address Russia's renewed aggression.'

The British foreign secretary Liz Truss tweeted her condemnation of the attack just after 4am local time.

'I strongly condemn the appalling, unprovoked attack President Putin has launched on the people of Ukraine,' she said.

'We stand with Ukraine and we will work with our international partners to respond to this terrible act of aggression.'

The explosions come just hours after the U.S. warned the Ukrainian government that Putin's troops are 'ready to go now' with an invasion of Ukraine, with 80 per cent of Russian soldiers now assembled around the country in attack positions.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken issued a further stark warning and said, hours before the invasion, that he believed Russia would invade before the night is over.

Russia on Wednesday afternoon issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) which closed the airspace along its northeastern border with Ukraine to all civilian air traffic.

Ukraine later said early on Thursday it had restricted civilian flights in its airspace due to 'potential hazard'.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed that the Ukrainian people will 'fight back' if Putin threatens their freedom and lives by launching a full-scale invasion.

President Zelenskyy made an emotional address to his nation after Moscow-backed rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine asked Putin for military assistance in fending off Ukrainian 'aggression'.

In an emotional televised address on Wednesday night, President Zelenskyy said: 'The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace.

'But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.'

The Ukrainian President said he had tried to call Putin this evening, but there was 'no answer, only silence', adding that Moscow now has around 200,000 soldiers by Ukraine's borders.

The United Nations Security Council quickly scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday night - the second in three days - at Ukraine's request.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the separatists' request 'a further escalation of the security situation.'

Footage shows smoke supposedly rising on the skyline after the blasts were heard near Mariupol, eastern Ukraine

Russian armored vehicles are loaded onto railway platforms at a railway station in the Rostov-on-Don region, not far from Russia-Ukraine border, on Wednesday

Putin has recognized two areas in eastern Ukraine as independent and authorized Russian troops to go in on 'peacekeeping' missions. Rebels already hold part of that territory (in red) but Putin has recognized a much-wider region (yellow)
Simpson also drove directly at a witness who filmed the carnage

Terrifying footage has emerged of a drunk driver deliberately using his vehicle as a weapon to crash into another car in an unprovoked road rage attack.

Ryan Simpson, 40, pleaded guilty to several offences in the Adelaide District Court on Wednesday, including acts likely to cause serious harm and driving with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.

The court heard Chloe Lyons, 23, was heading to breakfast on June 6 last year around 10am when she pulled out into traffic in front of Simpson.

An enraged Simpson reversed into Ms Lyons' car on Commercial Road at Seaford in Adelaide's south while she waited at a set of traffic lights.

Next he sped off in his ute, performed a U-turn, and then drove on the wrong side of the road back into Ms Lyons' SUV at about 50km an hour.

Chloe Lyons was tailgated, threatened and then rammed head-on by an out-of-control drunk driver in a savage road rage attack in Adelaide's south last June

Ms Lyons felt like a 'sitting duck' as an enraged Ryan Simpson smashed head on to her SUV in the shocking road rage attack on June 6, 2021

Mr Simpson (pictured, in his white ute) also drove directly at a witness who filmed the carnage in June last year

The shocking incident left Lyons a 'sitting duck' as she braced for the impact while stationary - and on the phone to her father.

The prosecutor described Simpson's conduct as 'outrageous, dangerous and malicious behaviour.

'It was sheer luck that no one was seriously injured or killed,' she said.

'This is a serious example of road rage, and the community needs to be protected from this sort of offending.'

Additionally, Simpson drove directly at a witness filming the incident, who moved at the last second to avoid being struck by his ute.

A contrite Simpson apologised to both victims, telling the court he was 'embarrassed and disgusted' by his behaviour.

'If I could go back and change what I did then I would...but unfortunately I cannot,' he said.

'I can't begin to imagine how badly my victims and their families felt on that morning and continue to feel after my absurd behaviour.'

Simpson was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder following the incident and was abusing alcohol at the time to mask mental health issues.

He has been remanded in custody since his arrest last June and will be sentenced in March.
The heartbroken parents of a popular teenager killed when his e-scooter collided with a car have revealed his final selfless act - donating his organs to save six other people.

Calym Gilbert, 13, and his friend were riding their e-scooters in Bulter in Perth's outer north on Saturday night when they collided with a Ford Ranger and were thrown off.

Both boys were seriously injured and rushed to hospital with Calym's parents being forced to make the gut-wrenching decision to switch off his life support.

His friend Luca, also 13, is understood to be in a stable condition and the Ford Ranger driver was unharmed.

Calym's parents have revealed they will donate his organs, reports 7News.

The selfless act will allow the teen to leave a legacy and save six other young lives.

Calym Gilbert (pictured) was riding his escooter in Perth's north on Saturday when he collided with a Ford Ranger

The 13-year-old's friends gathered at the spot at left notes and flowers for the teen (pictured)

Calym's friends have since gathered to at a makeshift memorial at the collision scene on the corner of Selacosa Ave and Marmion Ave leaving notes and flowers.

The 13-year-old has been described as a 'gentle soul who would do anything to help all of those around him' and 'full of life and love'.

'His internal light filled any room and left a lasting impression on all those that knew him,' relative Tyla Gilbert said on a GoFundMe she has organised to support Calym's parents.

'Calym's passing has left a massive impact on so many people and our community. He leaves behind his broken-hearted parents, as well as his sisters Roxane and Ashton and niece Aurora,' she said.

His parents have since urged others to wear a helmet when riding a bike or e-scooter.

'He is our baby boy, the love of my life,' his shattered mother Sandra said.

Calym attended Irene McCormack Catholic College where he was known as kind student with a talent for the performing arts.

Calym (pictured) has been described as a 'gentle soul' who would 'do anything to help those around him'
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Scott Morrison has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as 'brutal and unprovoked' and urged President Vladimir Putin to withdraw immediately as he announced further sanctions.

The Prime Minister said special forces from Russia were moving towards the Ukrainian capital of Kiev and tanks are 'rolling in all around their borders'.

He said there were 1,400 Australians in Ukraine and urged them to leave if safe to do so.

After building up troops since November, President Putin announced his invasion on Thursday morning, describing it as a 'special military operation' and saying he wants to 'demilitarise', not occupy, Ukraine.

Explosions are seen in the early hours of Thursday in Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, after Putin made his declaration

Within hours, Ukraine's interior ministry said there had been hundreds of casualties - despite Russia insisting early Thursday morning that they were only attacking military installations, and were avoiding populated areas.

Ukraine used to be part of the Soviet Union which collapsed in 1991 and President Putin wants to stop its pro-European government from joining the anti-Russian NATO alliance.

Prime Minister Morrison said Russia was wrong to call the move a 'special military operation'.

'They said this after months of aggression and intimidation,' he said.

'But I'll call it what it is. The Russian government launched a brutal invasion, unprovoked, on Ukraine, and should be condemned for doing so.

'Together with the international community, we are banding together in strong terms to condemn these outrageous acts in the strongest possible terms.

'The footage that is emerging of missile strikes, air-raid sirens, and reports of hundreds of casualties - as yet unconfirmed - are, sadly, not surprising given the events we've been witnessing for some time now, and have been warning about.

Scott Morrison has condemned Russia 's invasion of Ukraine as 'brutal and unprovoked' and urged President Vladimir Putin to withdraw immediately as he announced further sanctions

'But, even as these events continue to take place, we do call on the Russian government to withdraw and return Ukraine to a peaceful situation.'

Mr Morrison said the invasion was 'of great concern' to all Aussies, especially the 40,000 Australians of Ukrainian descent.

He announced the 'second stage' of sanctions would begin in line with Western allies. Last night the PM imposed a travel ban and financial restrictions on eight members of Russia's Security Council which come into effect at midnight.

Now sanctions will affect 25 more people including 'army commanders, deputy defence ministers and Russian mercenaries who have 'been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable invasion and for entities involved in the sale and development of military technology,' he said.

More than 300 members of the Russian Parliament who backed the invasion will also face sanctions.

The Prime Minister warned Russia may retaliate with cyber attacks on Australia but none had been launched so far. Australia is helping Ukraine with cyber experts but has ruled out sending troops.

Assistance Defence Minister Andrew Hastie said Australia has 'offensive cyber capabilities' but did not say if it would use them against Russia.

Putin has recognized two areas in eastern Ukraine as independent and authorized Russian troops to go in on 'peacekeeping' missions. Rebels already hold part of that territory (in red) but Putin has recognized a much-wider region (yellow)

Scott Morrison releases statement condemning Russia Australia joins our partners in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There is no justification for this aggression, whose cost will be borne by innocent Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin has fabricated a feeble pretext on which to invade. Russia's disinformation and propaganda has convinced no one. We call on Russia to cease its illegal and unprovoked actions, and to stop violating Ukraine's independence. Russia must reverse its breach of international law and of the UN Charter, and withdraw its military from Ukraine. We reiterate our staunch support for Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity  the bedrock principles of a rules-based world order. Russia's actions are of deep concern to Australians  especially those who have family and loved ones there. Australia will continue playing our part to ensure Russia pays the high price this invasion warrants. We will place financial sanctions on an additional 25 persons and four entities who have been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression. We will put restrictions on Australians investing in a further four financial institutions. We will be working with like-minded countries on further consequences for Russia. The Australian Government will continue working with our partners to keep Australians safe and defend our values and principles. Advertisement

Labor leader Anthony Albanese also condemned the invasion and said: 'Australia must stand united with our allies, in holding Russia to account.'

It came as Ukraine's military said its air defenses shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter in the early hours of Thursday in the east of the country, near Kharkiv.

The nation's border force said posts in the north have come under attack from both Russian and Belorussian forces - a hugely significant development, meaning Russia is not acting alone.

The livestream video of the invasion from Belarus was taken at the Senkivka, Ukraine crossing with Veselovka, Belarus. The column was seen entering Ukraine around 6:48am local time, CNN reported.

A Ukrainian government spokesman confirmed that Russia had invaded over the Belarus border as well, only 120 miles from Kiev.

He said: 'The state border of Ukraine was attacked by troops from Russia and Belarus.

An explosion is seen in the early hours of Thursday in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv as Russia began its offensive

Kharkiv, with a population of 1.4 million, appeared to be under attack in the early hours of Thursday

'At about 5am, the state border of Ukraine, in the area with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus.

'Attacks on border units, border patrols and checkpoints are carried out with the use of artillery, heavy equipment and small arms.

'This is happening within Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr regions.'

The government spokesman also said that Ukraine was attacked from Crimea.

'The work of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups is also recorded,' the spokesman continued.

'Depending on the situation on the border, border guards together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine are firing at the enemy.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a video message early on Thursday and urged Ukrainians to stay at home, and remain calm, telling them to have faith in their country

'Information on injuries among border guards is being clarified.'

The Russian president early on Thursday told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home' as he declared war on Ukraine in an early morning address to the nation.

Putin said Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable'.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, declared martial law in the early hours of Thursday, in a video message to the people urging people to remain at home and stay strong. He said he had just spoken to Joe Biden.

'We are working. The army is working,' he said.

'Don't panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine.'

Tanks can be seen, to the right of the image, rolling past a border post between Ukraine and Belarus in the early hours of Thursday

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev.

Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

More unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6am local time.

President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday, and on Wednesday night he condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.' He was speaking to Ukraine's president.

Biden said in a statement: 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Biden said he will be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.

The developments came as:

Explosions were heard across Ukraine, with the capital Kiev coming under attack and the city's main airport appearing to be a target, as well as a nearby military base.

Reports said the port city of Odessa was coming under amphibious assault, while another Black Sea port city, Mariupol, was under fierce attack.

Military assaults appeared underway on Kharkiv in the far east of Ukraine.

Ukraine's government declared martial law and urged people to stay at home as the onslaught continues.

Russia insisted in the early hours of Thursday that it was targeting military installations and avoiding populated areas, but Ukraine said there had been hundreds of casualties.

Joe Biden was speaking to Ukraine's president in the early hours of Thursday, having earlier through his UN ambassador voiced his strong continued support for the country.

Vladimir Putin is pictured in the early hours of Thursday morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a 'special military operation'

President Joe Biden, pictured on Wednesday, condemned Putin's invasion of Ukraine

Footage shared on social media from Odessa appeared to show an amphibious assault

#BREAKING: #Russia Navy has he port of #Odessa in #Ukraine under attack. Also heavy artillery and rocket barrage by BM-21 & BM-27 MRLS of #Russian Army at #Ukrine Army positions in #Kramatorsk now pic.twitter.com/P3jpE2Cbcw  Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) February 24, 2022

CNN: Ukraine's Interior Ministry says there have already been hundreds of casualties pic.twitter.com/CNAPySQ4y2  philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 24, 2022

Biden announced he will join G7 counterparts on Thursday morning, and will address the country later on Thursday to 'announce the further consequences the United States and its Allies and partners will impose on Russia.'

'We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine,' the statement added.

Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, tweeted early on Thursday: 'I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

'The UK and our allies will respond decisively.'

Metadata of Putin's declaration of war video shows it was recorded on Monday evening, but only broadcast early Thursday.

At the time, some Russian officials were denying any intention to invade.

The Russian armed forces are not inflicting any missile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow told RIA Novosti.

Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Ukrainian army were being disabled by high-precision weapons, they said.

Nothing threatens the civilian population of Ukraine, they claimed.

All flights cancelled at Russian airports in Krasnodar, Sochi, and Anapa, close to the Black Sea.

Rostov also reported cancelled flights.

Within minutes of Putin's public address, explosions could be heard in the capital city of Kiev as well as the city of Kramatorsk in central Ukraine, and Odessa in the south.

Across Ukraine, cruise and ballistic missiles were destroying military infrastructure and strategically important facilities, according to unofficial Russian sources.

Mariupol, on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, appeared to be under fierce attack. Taking this strategic location would give the Donbas republics access to the sea.

The moment Ukraine and the rest of Europe had dreaded for months finally came shortly after 4.35am local time when huge explosions were heard in Kiev and other cities across the country.

Terrified citizens rushed to bomb shelters, though no air raid warnings sounded in the capital  only the frequent muffled crump of missile or air strikes breaking through the pre-dawn stillness.

In Kiev, people were sheltering in basements as the sounds of distant explosions became a constant backdrop.

Within an hour Russians special force and airborne troops were reported to be on the ground at Kiev's Boryspil Airport, amid fierce fighting.

A woman in the Ukrainian capital said: 'I was woken by a friend.

'I am in the centre of Kiev.

'I hear the sound of distant explosions and ambulance sirens.'

At 7.05am the first air raid sirens were heard in central Kiev.

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev reporting hearing blasts in the early hours of Thursday morning

Chance, located on a balcony in the Ukrainian capital quickly put on his protective headgear

A CNN reporter in Kiev reported hearing blasts live on air in the early hours of Thursday morning.

'I just heard a big bang right here behind me. I've never heard anything like it,' said Matthew Chance, senior international correspondent for the network.

Chance said that he heard between seven and eight explosions and quickly put on his flak jacket and headgear while he continued to report from a balcony in the Ukrainian capital.

'There are big explosions taking place.

'I can't see them or explain what they are.

'But I will tell you the U.S has warned the Ukrainian authorities there could be air strikes and ground attacks as well around the country, including the capital.

'I don't know if that's what's occurring now but it's a remarkable coincidence that the explosions come just minutes after Putin gave his speech,' Chance explained.

'This is the first time we've heard anything. It has been absolutely silent.

'This is the first time. It has to be more than just a coincidence.

'I think it's safe where I am. I have a flak jacket,' Chance remarked, before ducking down to put on his protective gear.

He suggested that the blasts he heard in the Ukrainian capital were still some distance away from the center.

'It was so quiet in Ukraine tonight up until those explosions,' Chance explained.

The blasts came within minutes of Putin saying Russia would conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

Explosions could also be heard from Ukraine in the Russian city of Belgorod.

Putin told Russians: 'I have decided to conduct a special military operation.

'Russia cannot exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine.

'You and I have been left with no opportunity to protect our people other than the one we use today.'

It comes after explosions were also heard near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, as fears mounted that shelling is underway.

Residents in the city, which is located in south eastern Ukraine, have been woken up at 3.30am by blasts 30 miles from the Russian border.

Video footage appeared to show clouds of smoke rising up into the night sky near Mariupol, but it was unconfirmed whether it was as a result of shelling.

Putin earlier this week said he wanted to take the major Azov Sea Port of Mariupol, which handles 50 per cent Ukraine's steel and mineral exports.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia's actions were a 'grave breach of international law' and that allies would meet to address the 'renewed aggression'.

He said on Twitter: 'I strongly condemn #Russia's reckless attack on #Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. This is a grave breach of international law & a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. #NATO Allies will meet to address Russia's renewed aggression.'

The British foreign secretary Liz Truss tweeted her condemnation of the attack just after 4am local time.

'I strongly condemn the appalling, unprovoked attack President Putin has launched on the people of Ukraine,' she said.

'We stand with Ukraine and we will work with our international partners to respond to this terrible act of aggression.'

The explosions come just hours after the U.S. warned the Ukrainian government that Putin's troops are 'ready to go now' with an invasion of Ukraine, with 80 per cent of Russian soldiers now assembled around the country in attack positions.
European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders gives a press conference on the Just and Sustainable Economy Package with the European Commissioner for Internal Markets, not pictured, at the European Commission in Brussels, Feb. 23. EPA-Yonhap





The EU presented draft legislation Wednesday to force big companies to do due diligence on supply chains to ensure they do not breach human rights or environmental standards.







Those that fail to comply would face fines imposed by the EU member country they have business in.







EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said that while companies are concerned about their reputation, EU legislation is needed given the scope of the issues and to ensure "legal certainty" across the 27-nation bloc.







"This larger scale cannot be achieved with voluntary measures only. This proposal is necessary because we need to avoid fragmentation with different legislations in the different member states," Reynders said.







The legislation would only apply to big companies.







It would cover EU ones with more than 500 employees and 150 million euros in global turnover, or those in "high impact sectors" with more than 250 employees and 40 million euros in turnover.







It would also cover non-EU companies "active in the EU" with the same turnover thresholds "generated in the EU".







It would be incumbent on them to identify potential human rights or environmental problems in their value chains or subsidiaries, and to end or mitigate them.







Companies would need to issue communications on how they are meeting these requirements at least on an annual basis. And member states would have to designate an authority to ensure enforcement.







The proposed EU law reflects legislation already in place in France since 2017, and in preparation in several other member countries, including Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.







"The aim here is not to make investment more difficult, rather to make it possible for companies to better manage the risks that they face, including in other countries," Reynders said.







While the European Parliament has called for the measures to go further, notably by covering smaller companies, the proposal was generally welcomed.







It is "important for Europe and, with time, hopefully even for the world," said one center-left Dutch MEP, Lara Wolters.







"We have an internal market of 450 million consumers. And I think we need to use the leverage of that market to make a difference," she told AFP.







But another MEP, Anna Cavazzini of Germany, complained it "lacked ambition" and would exclude many companies in the agri-food and textiles sectors where labor rights violations proliferate.







Charles-Henri Boeringer, a lawyer at the firm Clifford Chance, said the commission had opted for a "more proportionate approach" than the one the parliament had argued for, one that tracked closely to French law. (AFP)


Clive Palmer has been spotted leaving hospital after being tested for Covid just weeks after declaring he didn't need to be vaccinated as he was 'not in bad shape'.

Daily Mail Australia understands three ambulances were called to his home at Paradise Point in the Gold Coast's upmarket Sovereign Islands precinct, Queensland, earlier on Thursday.

Queensland Ambulance Service said one patient was picked up from a Paradise Point home and transported to hospital on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Palmer, whose United Australia Party is famously opposed to Covid vaccine mandates and lockdowns, was then transported to Pindara Private Hospital at Benowa.

Clive Palmer is seen leaving the Pindara Private Hospital on the Gold Coast, on Thursday, February 24

The billionaire mining magnate was transported to Pindara Private Hospital at Benowa (pictured) after several ambulances were called to his home

Signs out the front of the facility warned visitors they would need to be fully-vaccinated with two TGA approved Covid vaccinations by December 17 to enter.

The billionaire looked off-colour as he walked out of the facility, wearing a face mask and white long-sleeved shirt.

Clutching his phone and keys, Mr Palmer walked to a nearby car and drove away from the centre.

He was later seen out the front of his mansion speaking to his wife Anna after arriving back home.

The health scare comes after the mining magnate cancelled a scheduled speech in Canberra on Tuesday.

In a statement, the National Press Club said Mr Palmer was showing Covid-like symptoms and had been advised not to travel to Canberra.

It's understood he has been sick the past two days at home with 'flu-like symptoms'.

Mr Palmer was discharged and returned to his Gold Coast mansion with his wife Anna (pictured)

Mr Palmer speaks to someone on the phone as he gets into his car following a brief health scare

One of Mr Palmer's multiple properties at Sovereign Islands on the Gold Coast, Queensland

Mr Palmer pictured with his wife, Anna. In January, the mining magnate claimed he did not need the jab because he's 'not in bad shape' and leads a 'healthy life'

In January, Mr Palmer claimed he did not need the jab because he's 'not in bad shape' and leads a 'healthy life'.

'I don't think I need a vaccination for Covid personally, I haven't caught it, I have a healthy life,' he said.

'I don't think I'm in bad shape. I think I look a lot more trim now than when I did when I was in Parliament.'

Mr Palmer's superyacht, which had been moored at Sydney Harbour while he attended a court case, has since jetted out to sea.

On Wednesday after he cancelled his appearance at the National Press Club, a spokesman for Mr Palmer told The Age that the mining magnate had contracted a virus but had tested negative for Covid-19.

Mr Palmer is the United Australia Party candidate for the Senate in Queensland. His party is seeking seats in the upper and lower house at the upcoming federal election.

In an interview with the ABC in November 2021, Mr Palmer claimed vaccination had not reduced sickness or death from Covid-19 in Australia

'Theres no data to support that in Australia,' he said.

Vaccination 'makes no difference from a public health context,' the billionaire claimed.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Palmer's spokesperson for comment.
Dear citizens of Russia! Dear friends!

Today, I again consider it necessary to return to the tragic events taking place in the Donbass and the key issues of ensuring the security of Russia itself.

Let me start with what I said in my address of February 21 this year. We are talking about what causes us particular concern and anxiety, about those fundamental threats that year after year, step by step, are rudely and unceremoniously created by irresponsible politicians in the West in relation to our country. I mean the expansion of the NATO bloc to the east, bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

It is well known that for 30 years we have persistently and patiently tried to reach an agreement with the leading NATO countries on the principles of equal and indivisible security in Europe. In response to our proposals, we constantly faced either cynical deception and lies, or attempts to pressure and blackmail, while the North Atlantic Alliance, in the meantime, despite all our protests and concerns, is steadily expanding. The military machine is moving and, I repeat, is coming close to our borders.

Why is all this happening? Where does this impudent manner of speaking from the position of one's own exclusivity, infallibility and permissiveness come from? Where does the disdainful, disdainful attitude towards our interests and absolutely legitimate demands come from?

The answer is clear, everything is clear and obvious. The Soviet Union in the late 80s of the last century weakened, and then completely collapsed. The whole course of events that took place then is a good lesson for us today as well; it convincingly showed that the paralysis of power and will is the first step towards complete degradation and oblivion. As soon as we lost confidence in ourselves for some time, and thats it, the balance of power in the world turned out to be disturbed.

This has led to the fact that the previous treaties and agreements are no longer in effect. Persuasion and requests do not help. Everything that does not suit the hegemon, those in power, is declared archaic, obsolete, unnecessary. And vice versa: everything that seems beneficial to them is presented as the ultimate truth, pushed through at any cost, boorishly, by all means. Dissenters are broken through the knee.

What I am talking about now concerns not only Russia and not only us. This applies to the entire system of international relations, and sometimes even to the US allies themselves. After the collapse of the USSR, the redivision of the world actually began, and the norms of international law that had developed by that time - and the key, basic ones were adopted at the end of the Second World War and largely consolidated its results - began to interfere with those who declared themselves the winner in the Cold War .

Of course, in practical life, in international relations, in the rules for their regulation, it was necessary to take into account changes in the situation in the world and the balance of power itself. However, this should have been done professionally, smoothly, patiently, taking into account and respecting the interests of all countries and understanding our responsibility. But no - a state of euphoria from absolute superiority, a kind of modern form of absolutism, and even against the background of a low level of general culture and arrogance of those who prepared, adopted and pushed through decisions that were beneficial only for themselves. The situation began to develop according to a different scenario.

You don't have to look far for examples. First, without any sanction from the UN Security Council, they carried out a bloody military operation against Belgrade, using aircraft and missiles right in the very center of Europe. Several weeks of continuous bombing of civilian cities, on life-supporting infrastructure. We have to remind these facts, otherwise some Western colleagues do not like to remember those events, and when we talk about it, they prefer to point not to the norms of international law, but to the circumstances that they interpret as they see fit.

Then came the turn of Iraq, Libya, Syria. The illegitimate use of military force against Libya, the perversion of all decisions of the UN Security Council on the Libyan issue led to the complete destruction of the state, to the emergence of a huge hotbed of international terrorism, to the fact that the country plunged into a humanitarian catastrophe that has not stopped for many years. civil war. The tragedy, which doomed hundreds of thousands, millions of people not only in Libya, but throughout this region, gave rise to a massive migration exodus from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe.

A similar fate was prepared for Syria. The fighting of the Western coalition on the territory of this country without the consent of the Syrian government and the sanction of the UN Security Council is nothing but aggression, intervention.

However, a special place in this series is occupied, of course, by the invasion of Iraq, also without any legal grounds. As a pretext, they chose reliable information allegedly available to the United States about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. As proof of this, publicly, in front of the eyes of the whole world, the US Secretary of State shook some kind of test tube with white powder, assuring everyone that this is the chemical weapon being developed in Iraq. And then it turned out that all this was a hoax, a bluff: there are no chemical weapons in Iraq. Unbelievable, surprising, but the fact remains. There were lies at the highest state level and from the high rostrum of the UN. And as a result - huge casualties, destruction, an incredible surge of terrorism.

In general, one gets the impression that practically everywhere, in many regions of the world, where the West comes to establish its own order, the result is bloody, unhealed wounds, ulcers of international terrorism and extremism. All that I have said is the most egregious, but by no means the only examples of disregard for international law.

In this series, and promises to our country not to expand NATO by one inch to the east. I repeat - they deceived me, but in popular terms, they simply threw it away. Yes, you can often hear that politics is a dirty business. Perhaps, but not to the same extent, not to the same extent. After all, such cheating behavior contradicts not only the principles of international relations, but above all the generally recognized norms of morality and morality. Where is justice and truth here? Just a bunch of lies and hypocrisy.

By the way, American politicians, political scientists and journalists themselves write and talk about the fact that a real empire of lies has been created inside the United States in recent years. It's hard to disagree with that - it's true. But do not be modest: the United States is still a great country, a system-forming power. All her satellites not only resignedly and dutifully assent, sing along to her for any reason, but also copy her behavior, enthusiastically accept the rules he proposes. Therefore, with good reason, we can confidently say that the entire so-called Western bloc, formed by the United States in its own image and likeness, all of it is the very empire of lies.

As for our country, after the collapse of the USSR, with all the unprecedented openness of the new modern Russia, the readiness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners, and in the conditions of virtually unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to squeeze us, finish off and destroy us completely. This is exactly what happened in the 90s, in the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West most actively supported separatism and mercenary gangs in southern Russia. What sacrifices, what losses did all this cost us then, what trials did we have to go through before we finally broke the back of international terrorism in the Caucasus. We remember this and will never forget.

Yes, in fact, until recently, attempts have not stopped to use us in their own interests, destroy our traditional values and impose on us their pseudo-values that would corrode us, our people from the inside, those attitudes that they are already aggressively planting in their countries and which directly lead to degradation and degeneration, because they contradict the very nature of man. It won't happen, no one has ever done it. It won't work now either.

Despite everything, in December 2021, we nevertheless once again made an attempt to agree with the United States and its allies on the principles of ensuring security in Europe and on the non-expansion of NATO. Everything is in vain. The US position does not change. They do not consider it necessary to negotiate with Russia on this key issue for us, pursuing their own goals, they neglect our interests.

And of course, in this situation, we have a question: what to do next, what to expect? We know well from history how in the 1940s and early 1941s the Soviet Union tried in every possible way to prevent or at least delay the outbreak of war. To this end, among other things, he tried literally to the last not to provoke a potential aggressor, did not carry out or postponed the most necessary, obvious actions to prepare for repelling an inevitable attack. And those steps that were nevertheless taken in the end were catastrophically belated.

As a result, the country was not ready to fully meet the invasion of Nazi Germany, which attacked our Motherland on June 22, 1941 without declaring war. The enemy was stopped and then crushed, but at a colossal cost. An attempt to appease the aggressor on the eve of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be a mistake that cost our people dearly. In the very first months of hostilities, we lost huge, strategically important territories and millions of people. The second time we will not allow such a mistake, we have no right.

Those who claim world domination, publicly, with impunity and, I emphasize, without any reason, declare us, Russia, their enemy. Indeed, today they have great financial, scientific, technological and military capabilities. We are aware of this and objectively assess the threats constantly being addressed to us in the economic sphere, as well as our ability to resist this impudent and permanent blackmail. I repeat, we evaluate them without illusions, extremely realistically.

As for the military sphere, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of a significant part of its potential, is today one of the most powerful nuclear powers in the world and, moreover, has certain advantages in a number of the latest types of weapons. In this regard, no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to defeat and dire consequences for any potential aggressor.

At the same time, technologies, including defense technologies, are changing rapidly. Leadership in this area is passing and will continue to change hands, but the military development of the territories adjacent to our borders, if we allow it, will remain for decades to come, and maybe forever, and will create an ever-growing, absolutely unacceptable threat for Russia. .

Even now, as NATO expands to the east, the situation for our country is getting worse and more dangerous every year. Moreover, in recent days, the leadership of NATO has been openly talking about the need to accelerate, speed up the advancement of the Alliance's infrastructure to the borders of Russia. In other words, they are hardening their position. We can no longer just continue to observe what is happening. It would be absolutely irresponsible on our part.

Further expansion of the infrastructure of the North Atlantic Alliance, the military development of the territories of Ukraine that has begun is unacceptable for us. The point, of course, is not the NATO organization itself - it is only an instrument of US foreign policy. The problem is that in the territories adjacent to us, I will note, in our own historical territories, an anti-Russia hostile to us is being created, which has been placed under complete external control, is intensively settled by the armed forces of NATO countries and is pumped up with the most modern weapons.

For the United States and its allies, this is the so-called policy of containment of Russia, obvious geopolitical dividends. And for our country, this is ultimately a matter of life and death, a matter of our historical future as a people. And this is not an exaggeration - it is true. This is a real threat not just to our interests, but to the very existence of our state, its sovereignty. This is the very red line that has been talked about many times. They passed her.

In this regard, and about the situation in the Donbass. We see that the forces that carried out a coup d'etat in Ukraine in 2014, seized power and are holding it with the help of, in fact, decorative electoral procedures, have finally abandoned the peaceful settlement of the conflict. For eight years, endlessly long eight years, we have done everything possible to resolve the situation by peaceful, political means. All in vain.

As I said in my previous address, one cannot look at what is happening there without compassion. It was simply impossible to endure all this. It was necessary to immediately stop this nightmare - the genocide against the millions of people living there, who rely only on Russia, hope only on us. It was these aspirations, feelings, pain of people that were for us the main motive for making a decision to recognize the people's republics of Donbass.

What I think is important to emphasize further. The leading NATO countries, in order to achieve their own goals, support extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine in everything, who, in turn, will never forgive the Crimeans and Sevastopol residents for their free choice - reunification with Russia.

They, of course, will climb into the Crimea, and just like in the Donbass, with a war, in order to kill, as punishers from the gangs of Ukrainian nationalists, Hitler's accomplices, killed defenseless people during the Great Patriotic War. They openly declare that they lay claim to a number of other Russian territories.

The entire course of events and analysis of incoming information shows that Russia's clash with these forces is inevitable. It is only a matter of time: they are getting ready, they are waiting for the right time. Now they also claim to possess nuclear weapons. We will not allow this to be done.

As I said earlier, after the collapse of the USSR, Russia accepted new geopolitical realities. We respect and will continue to treat all the newly formed countries in the post-Soviet space with respect. We respect and will continue to respect their sovereignty, and an example of this is the assistance we provided to Kazakhstan, which faced tragic events, with a challenge to its statehood and integrity. But Russia cannot feel safe, develop, exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of modern Ukraine.

Let me remind you that in 2000-2005 we gave a military rebuff to terrorists in the Caucasus, defended the integrity of our state, saved Russia. In 2014, they supported the Crimeans and Sevastopol residents. In 2015, the Armed Forces used to put a reliable barrier to the penetration of terrorists from Syria into Russia. We had no other way to protect ourselves.

The same thing is happening now. You and I simply have not been left with any other opportunity to protect Russia, our people, except for the one that we will be forced to use today. Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action. The people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help.

In this regard, in accordance with Article 51 of Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council of Russia and in pursuance of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance ratified by the Federal Assembly on February 22 this year with the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, I decided to conduct a special military operation .

Its goal is to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. And for this we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as bringing to justice those who committed numerous, bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force. At the same time, we hear that recently in the West there are more and more words that the documents signed by the Soviet totalitarian regime, which consolidate the results of the Second World War, should no longer be carried out. Well, what is the answer to this?

The results of the Second World War, as well as the sacrifices made by our people on the altar of victory over Nazism, are sacred. But this does not contradict the high values of human rights and freedoms, based on the realities that have developed today over all the post-war decades. It also does not cancel the right of nations to self-determination, enshrined in Article 1 of the UN Charter.

Let me remind you that neither during the creation of the USSR, nor after the Second World War, people living in certain territories that are part of modern Ukraine, no one ever asked how they themselves want to arrange their lives. Our policy is based on freedom, the freedom of choice for everyone to independently determine their own future and the future of their children. And we consider it important that this right - the right to choose - could be used by all the peoples living on the territory of today's Ukraine, by everyone who wants it.

In this regard, I appeal to the citizens of Ukraine. In 2014, Russia was obliged to protect the inhabitants of Crimea and Sevastopol from those whom you yourself call Nazis. Crimeans and Sevastopol residents made their choice to be with their historical homeland, with Russia, and we supported this. I repeat, they simply could not do otherwise.

Today's events are not connected with the desire to infringe on the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. They are connected with the protection of Russia itself from those who took Ukraine hostage and are trying to use it against our country and its people.

I repeat, our actions are self-defense against the threats posed to us and from an even greater disaster than what is happening today. No matter how difficult it may be, I ask you to understand this and call for cooperation in order to turn this tragic page as soon as possible and move forward together, not to allow anyone to interfere in our affairs, in our relations, but to build them on our own, so that it creates the necessary conditions for overcoming all problems and, despite the presence of state borders, would strengthen us from the inside as a whole. I believe in this - in this is our future.

I should also appeal to the military personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine.

Dear comrades! Your fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers did not fight the Nazis, defending our common Motherland, so that today's neo-Nazis seized power in Ukraine. You took an oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, and not to the anti-people junta that plunders Ukraine and mocks these same people.

Don't follow her criminal orders. I urge you to lay down your weapons immediately and go home. Let me explain: all servicemen of the Ukrainian army who fulfill this requirement will be able to freely leave the combat zone and return to their families.

Once again, I insistently emphasize: all responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling on the territory of Ukraine.

Now a few important, very important words for those who may be tempted to intervene in ongoing events. Whoever tries to hinder us, and even more so to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history. We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made. I hope that I will be heard.

Dear citizens of Russia!

Well-being, the very existence of entire states and peoples, their success and viability always originate in the powerful root system of their culture and values, experience and traditions of their ancestors and, of course, directly depend on the ability to quickly adapt to a constantly changing life, on the cohesion of society, its readiness to consolidate, to gather together all the forces in order to move forward.

Forces are needed always - always, but strength can be of different quality. The policy of the empire of lies, which I spoke about at the beginning of my speech, is based primarily on brute, straightforward force. In such cases, we say: "There is power, mind is not needed."

And you and I know that real strength lies in justice and truth, which is on our side. And if this is so, then it is difficult to disagree with the fact that it is the strength and readiness to fight that underlie independence and sovereignty, are the necessary foundation on which you can only reliably build your future, build your home, your family, your homeland. .

Dear compatriots!

I am confident that the soldiers and officers of the Russian Armed Forces devoted to their country will professionally and courageously fulfill their duty. I have no doubt that all levels of government, specialists responsible for the stability of our economy, financial system, social sphere, heads of our companies and all Russian business will act in a coordinated and efficient manner. I count on a consolidated, patriotic position of all parliamentary parties and public forces.

Ultimately, as it has always been in history, the fate of Russia is in the reliable hands of our multinational people. And this means that the decisions made will be implemented, the goals set will be achieved, the security of our Motherland will be reliably guaranteed.

I believe in your support, in that invincible strength that our love for the Fatherland gives us.
Toys 'R' Us is set for a return to the Great British High Street 'within months' after bosses signed a deal to bring the brand back to the UK.

The iconic retail chain went bust in 2018 and was forced to close hundreds of its stores across the UK after failing to attract new investment.

But the store's owners, Toys 'R' Us ANZ Limited, which has more than 900 physical stores in Australia and New Zealand, confirmed the brand would be returning to the UK in 2022.

The firm has signed a new 'long-term' licensing agreement which allows it to offer its good to UK-based customers both online and in-store, and high-profile buyers have been recruited.

The news means Toys 'R' Us could start selling toys and games again to British families in physical shops within months.

Toys 'R' Us is set for a return to the Great British High Street 'within months' after bosses signed a deal to bring the brand back to the UK

The Toys 'R' Us website has been revamped in recent months, and recruitment has 'ramped up', according to the Mirror.

Experienced buyers have been brought on board and include James Ford, who helped Debenhams toy arm, Katie Ellis, former Mothercare and Toys 'R' Us buyer and former Argos expert Lukasz Jasinski.

Toys R Us Australia chief executive Louis Mittoni, who is leading the UK launch, said: Im very excited to welcome over 100 years of retailing experience in our new team, who will lead the relaunch our iconic brand back into the UK market in the next few months.

'We have an amazing toy and baby buying team, which I believe is the best in the country.

With this team now in place, were hitting the ground running and have been reaching out to the supply base to see with whom we can align on this amazing journey.

The news means Toys 'R' Us could start selling toys and games again to British families in physical shops within months. [File image]

Toys 'R' Us first launched in the UK in 1985 and branded itself as the 'world's first toy supermarket'.

But the firm's UK arm was plunged into crisis in 2017 after its American parent company declared bankruptcy in the US and Canada.

Despite the prospect of rescue talks, the chain fell into administration in 2018, making thousands of employees redundant after closing all 100 of its UK stores.
The group behind the London Southeastern rail franchise is expected to pay more than 81million after admitting to 'serious failings' and owing the Government more than 25million in historic taxpayer funding.

Bosses at the Newcastle-based operator revealed they could pay back 51.3million for failures in running their rail service across London, Kent and parts of Sussex, which it lost in an extraordinary Government intervention last September.

On top of that, Go Ahead has put aside 30million for any possible future fines. 49.2million has already been repaid to Government, the company added.

The chief executive apologised for the problems, as the company identified 'serious errors' in the way the franchise was run and over the way it dealt with the Department for Transport.

New boss Christian Schreyer, who joined in November shortly after the franchise was lost, said he was 'optimistic' the issues over the franchise could be resolved soon.

He added: 'It's been a very challenging year for Go-Ahead and our shareholders, for which I apologise, on behalf of the board.'

Bosses at the Newcastle-based operator GoAhead revealed they could pay back 51.3million for failures in running their London Southeastern rail service across London, Kent and parts of Sussex, which it lost in an extraordinary Government intervention last September

New boss Christian Schreyer, who joined in November shortly after the franchise was lost, said he was 'optimistic' the issues over the franchise could be resolved soon.

Go Ahead was stripped from running London Southeastern services after the operator failed to declare more than 25million of historic taxpayer funding since October 2014 which should have been returned to the Government.

The DfT called this a 'significant breach of the franchise agreement, undermining trust', and it could now impose financial penalties under the Railways Act 1993.

The problem is thought to be focused on 'variable track access charges'. These relate to the High Speed 1 tracks - on which it operates services in and out of St Pancras - which are owned by a group of private investors.

Southeastern's agreement with the Government meant the DfT would pay the operator a fee, which it was then supposed to pay to HS1  and any excess would be returned to the DfT. But it appears this did not happen.

The issues are thought to have emerged during September talks between the operator and the DfT over a new contract.

The company has already apologised to the Government for the failings, which had led to the firm's shares being suspended from the London Stock Exchange in December as accountants needed more time to work out what impact the problems meant for the company.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said a DfT probe identified evidence that since October 2014 Southeastern has not declared more than 25million of historic taxpayer funding, which should have been returned. Pictured: Mr Shapps arriving at Downing Street on February 24

Southeastern's network runs across South East England, covering London, Kent, East Sussex and the High Speed 1 line

It lost the Southeastern franchise in October last year as a consequence of the way profit share payments and certain overpayments made by the Government department were handled.

At the time, Transport Secretary Mr Shapps said: 'There is clear, compelling and serious evidence that LSER (London & South Eastern Railway) have breached the trust that is absolutely fundamental to the success of our railways.

'When trust is broken, we will act decisively. The decision to take control of services makes unequivocally clear that we will not accept anything less from the private sector than a total commitment to their passengers and absolute transparency with taxpayer support.'

Bosses also highlighted that a further 21.3 million hit could be taken as part of the financial implications relating to the Southeastern franchise in relation to other negotiations with the Government.

A business review is now under way and is expected to report back in the next few weeks.

Elsewhere in the firm, which also runs regional buses, bosses said there had been a recovery in passenger numbers, although there was a temporary decline when the Omicron Covid variant emerged.

Regional bus volumes are currently at around 80% of pre-pandemic levels, it added.
President Vladimir Putin may have hinted to an invasion of Ukraine in July 2021 in a public letter declaring that 'true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia.'

The Russian leader, who today launched an all-out war on Ukraine with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and air, appeared to lay out the pretext for his invasion last year after being asked about Russian-Ukrainian relations.

In his stark warning penned last year, Putin described how 'Russians and Ukrainians were one people  a single whole' and said he was 'confident that true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia'.

The essay, entitled 'On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians', also noted that 'Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians were all descendants of Ancient Rus, which was the largest state in Europe'.

The open letter also described how the name 'Ukraine' emerged in written source from the 12th century, and could be traced back to the old Russian word 'okraina' before going on to say the word Ukrainian 'originally referred to frontier guards who protected the external borders'.

The public address, which now appear to be a red flag for his plans to invade, come as missiles and bombs today rained from the sky as tanks rolled across the border on eastern regions of Ukraine after Putin gave the order to attack.

The invasion marks the most concerted attempt to up-end world order since the end of the Cold War, and risks sparking the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the end of the Second World War.

President Vladimir Putin, who today launched a war on Ukraine, hinted to an invasion of Ukraine in July 2021 in an open letter

Last year the president wrote: 'I am confident that true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia. Our spiritual, human and civilizational ties formed for centuries and have their origins in the same sources, they have been hardened by common trials, achievements and victories.

'Our kinship has been transmitted from generation to generation. It is in the hearts and the memory of people living in modern Russia and Ukraine, in the blood ties that unite millions of our families. Together we have always been and will be many times stronger and more successful. For we are one people.

'Today, these words may be perceived by some people with hostility. They can be interpreted in many possible ways. Yet, many people will hear me.

'And I will say one thing  Russia has never been and will never be 'anti-Ukraine'. And what Ukraine will be  it is up to its citizens to decide.'

In his public address the Russian president claimed that Russia's historical enemies  Poland and Austria-Hungary  had crafted narratives to separate Russia and Ukraine and argued that 'there was no historical basis' for dividing the two countries.

The alarming note came less than two months after the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) passed a bill which guaranteed the human rights and basic freedoms the indigenous peoples of Ukraine established by international law and the constitution.

Under the new law, the indigenous peoples would be protected against actions aimed at: the elimination of their ethnicity, destruction of cultural values, 'deportation or forced displacement from the location of compact residence in any form,' the Russian news agency TASS reported.

But the definition meant that Russians could not be considered an indigenous people of Ukraine.

The initiative received harsh criticism from President Vladimir Putin who said in a televised interview that the bill did not comply with the norms of international humanitarian law.

It was also slammed by the Russian Orthodox Church who said the bill could 'undermine the stability and integrity of Ukraine'.

The bill came as Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was fighting for Crimea, which was invaded by Russian troops in 2014 and annexed from Ukraine, 'not on billboards but on all international platforms'.

Mr Zelenskyy said: 'For the first time since the occupation, we are fighting for Crimea not on billboards, but on all international platforms and meetings. Not by slogans, but by official documents. For the first time since 2014, the strategy of deoccupation and reintegration of Crimea has been developed and approved.

'The area is 27 thousand square kilometers. Larger than some countries in Europe and the world. But we are not fighting for hectares, we're fighting for people, for our citizens. And for the first time in history, we passed a law on indigenous peoples, which consolidated the status and rights of Crimean Tatars.'

Addressing the bill in his public letter last year Putin said: 'The current president introduced a bill on 'indigenous peoples' to the Rada.

Putin described how 'Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians were all descendants of Ancient Rus, which was the largest state in Europe' in his stark warning last year. Pictured: Putin during a meeting with APEC economic leaders in July 2021

The letter also came as President Joe Biden (pictured with Putin during a meeting in Geneva in June 2021) told his Russian counterpart that he would retaliate against Kremlin-linked hackers

Last year Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed confidence that Crimea would definitely return to Ukraine

'Only those who constitute an ethnic minority and do not have their own state entity outside Ukraine are recognized as indigenous. The law has been passed. New seeds of discord have been sown.

'And this is happening in a country, as I have already noted, that is very complex in terms of its territorial, national and linguistic composition, and its history of formation. '

The public warning also came as President Joe Biden told his Russian counterpart that he would retaliate against Kremlin-linked hackers.

In July last year, amid heightened tensions between the US and Russia after the Texas-based software company SolarWinds was hacked by Kremlin-backed cyber hackers Nobelium, Biden instructed the FBI to launch an investigation.

It came after another cyber attack by Kremlin-linked hackers hit the IT systems of up to one million companies across the world by breaching the systems of US-based software firm Kaseya.

Russian-linked hacking group REvil demanded $70 million in cryptocurrency to fix it.

Swedish grocery chain Coop was forced to close all 800 of its stores and said they would remain shut after its tills were affected.

The country's national rail operator and public broadcaster SVT were also affected.

In Germany, an unnamed IT services company told authorities several thousand of its customers were compromised.

Also among reported victims were two big Dutch IT services companies - VelzArt and Hoppenbrouwer Techniek.

Kaseya said just a few dozen of its customers were directly affected by the attack, but knock-on effects had brought down firms in 17 countries including US and the UK.

Just a month before, Biden held a bilateral meeting in Geneva warning President Putin to take action against hacking groups targeting the US from Russia.

He also gave Putin a list of 16 critical infrastructure entities that were 'off limits.'

Those entities included energy, water, health care, emergency, chemical, nuclear, communications, government, defense, food, commercial facilities, IT, transportation, dams, manufacturing and financial services.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine officially declared itself an independent state and proclaimed they would no longer follow the laws of the USSR.

However tensions between the two nations have escalated in recent years after the appointment of President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2019 following a landslide victory and his request to join NATO.

This month Mr Zelensky said he wanted a 'clear' timeframe for when Ukraine could join the NATO alliance.

'What can we do? We can continue forcefully supporting Ukraine and its defences. Present... clear, feasible timeframes for membership of the Alliance,' he said.

Earlier today troops parachuted down on eastern regions of Ukraine and explosions were seen across the country after Vladimir Putin gave the order to attack.

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

Earlier today black smoke was seen rising from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv after Russia launched an attack

Pictured: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy chairs an urgent meeting with the leadership of the government, representatives of the defence sector and the economic bloc, in Kiev on February 24

Ukrainian tanks rolling into the port city of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, after Putin declared war

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, an official said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment's notice.

Official figures put the death toll at 40, with 'dozens' wounded.

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed, before Moscow spoke of taking full control of the skies.

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all reported coming under attack, with blasts also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland.

Meanwhile pro-Russian rebel forces pushed out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot two Ukrainian jets out of the skies.

The port cities of Mariupol and Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval bases are located, were also attacked.

Volodymyr Zelensky, in an address to the nation on Thursday morning, said the history of Ukraine has now changed forever and that Russia is trying to 'destroy' the state. But he defiantly vowed to fight back, saying the military has already inflicted 'serious losses' on Russia in the early hours.

He called on Ukrainian citizens willing to defend their homeland to step forward, saying guns will be issued to anyone who wants one. He also asked for civilians to give blood to help wounded troops. And he asked world leaders to impose the 'harshest sanctions possible' on Putin.

It came after Putin gave an extraordinary address to the Russian nation - broadcast in the early hours during a UN meeting aimed at avoiding war - in which he declared a 'special military operation' to 'de-militarise' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine in what amounted to a outright declaration of war.
Ukrainians woke to the sound of missiles and air strikes as their worst fears were realised, with explosions in Kiev causing the ground to tremble and windows shake.

All across the country people ran to basement bomb shelters as Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade.

Shortly after 5am the crumps of explosions shook the windows of my hotel room as myself and MailOnline photographer Simon Ashton donned the body armour and helmets that have weighed us down, unused in their bag for the last month.

For an hour the night sky lit up in the distance to the north and east of the city as military targets were pounded by bombs, and we run to the basement for safety.

Braver - or perhaps more foolish - souls headed in the other direction to the 11th floor roof bar in the Intercontinental Hotel where many international media have based themselves.

Pictured: Remains of a Russian missile in Kyiv. It's reportedly the remains of an Kh-31-series air-to-surface missile. Most likely the Kh-31P or PD anti-radiation variant

A man stands next to the consequences of Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday

Pictured: An explosion is seen in the distance as Russian airstrikes hit Kiev

Nick Craven outside the Russian embassy where crosses have been planted by Ukrainians 'Russian occupiers', with one bearing a note in English: 'Welcome to hell'

At 6.36am there was by far the loudest explosion from our perspective, believed to be an air strike on a military airfield near Kyiv, which made the ground beneath our feet tremble.

By dawn there was an eerie calm as an overcast drizzly day began, broken only by the cheerful chimes of the bells of St Michael's golden domed Monastery across the square from the hotel at 7am.

At 7.05am the first air raid sirens rang out all across the city, though no blitz followed in the central area at least.

Surreally, even as the dreaded noise of the sirens rent the air, a steady stream of headlights could be seen driving into the city as commuters came in to start the day.

But the calm wasn't to last long as the full extent of the Russian invasion began to reveal itself, with troops attacking the border on three sides and air strikes right across the country, even as far west as Lviv, near the Polish border.

By 8am local time, queues of people were seen at bank ATMs in the city, perhaps the first sign of panic, following the introduction of a state of emergency across the country from midnight last night.

Police and soldiers stood on many of the street corners to keep order.

Traffic jams are seen as people leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022

Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on February 24, 2022

Pictured: A checkpoint of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in Kyiv region was shelled

Ukrainian soldiers ride in a military vehicle in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022

Long lines also formed at gas stations around the city, but with so many places being pounded from the air, it wasn't obvious where would be the safest place to flee to.

Having said that, although the streets were noticeably quieter than usual as the working day began, people were mostly calmly going about their business, perhaps still coming to terms with what might be next.

When I first arrived in this country a month ago, few Ukrainians took Putin's sabre-rattling seriously.

Most admitted that it was possible he might move into the Donbas to annexe the pro-Russian breakaway republics of Luhansk and Donetsk, but very few believed Russia would mount a full-scale invasion of their neighbour.

Yesterday evening, as I sat in a local restaurant with colleagues, the mood was sombre, and the streets of Kyiv quiet, following Russia's invasion of the Donbas two days earlier.

There had been two earlier occasions in the last few days when an invasion or air strikes were widely expected, but this time it felt decidedly more real.

With the multiple indicators cascading minute by minute, such as massive cyber attacks, the declaration of a state of emergency, Russia's NOTAM alert and closing airspace in eastern Ukraine, the dreaded moment seemed much closer.

Cars drive towards the exit of the city after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 24

Earlier in the day, we had visited the Russian Embassy, now deserted, where someone had planted wooden crosses to resemble gravestones, bearing the inscription 'Russian Occupiers'.

A scrawled note on one read simply 'Welcome to Hell', no doubt to signify that Ukrainian defenders will fight to the death over every inch of their violated homeland.

But however bravely those soldiers and reservists fight against Putin's invaders, no-one expects them to be able to resist the overwhelming might of the Russian military, now thought to number around 190,000 troops and clearly intent on regime change in Kyiv.

Ukraine will be no pushover, as the Kremlin planners have tacitly admitted with their construction of a field hospital, complete with blood supplies  and most tellingly, the provision of no fewer than 45,000 body bags for their troops.

The Ukrainians have already shown their resolve in holding the line against the rebel fighters of the Russian-backed breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, for eight years, but the forces now moving against them are of a different order.

Massively outnumbered and outgunned, the best the Ukrainians can now hope for might be to launch a guerrilla offensive against Putin's invaders and pray that the number of soldiers returning home in those body bags will eventually convince the Russian public of the utter madness of the slaughter being conducted in their name.
Almost three years after he vanished after a night out in Byron Bay, investigators have identified the last message ever sent by Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez - a text to a fellow traveller just six minutes before his phone stopped working.

The 18-year-old was last seen at 11pm on May 31, 2019, when he was ejected from the Cheeky Monkeys bar in town.

Police were alerted six days later, when he failed to return to his hostel and could not be found or contacted.

A large scale search was launched, with only a hat believed to belong to Theo located, and investigators have since been trying to track down the person who last spoke with the teen.

At an inquest into his disappearance on Thursday, counsel assisting the coroner James Herrington said a team had finally done that.

Fellow traveller Loic Spiess gave evidence via audio visual link that he and Theo had been communicating via WhatApp - an encrypted messaging app - in the days before he vanished in 2019.

The mysterious route Theo took to Cosy Corner, near Byron Bay Lighthouse, after he left Cheeky Monkey's nightclub on May 31, 2019

Sen Const Papworth and the search teams were instead forced to rely on paper maps and pens for the first two days of the search for missing backpacker Theo Hayez (pictured)

The pair - who had met in January that year - talked about meeting up soon, before Theo was due to leave Australia and return to Belgium, and about Byron Bay.

Theo's last message to Loic was sent at 12:56am on June 1, just six minutes before his phone mysteriously stopped working.

Loic's reply at 3:23pm the next day was sent but not delivered.

'That is now the last message that we're aware of that Theo sent to someone prior to 1:02am when phone activity ceases,' Mr Herrington told the inquest.

Loic was the last person to communicate with Theo and was also the last witness to appear at the inquest.

Also on Wednesday at the inquest, it emerged the NSW police officer who led the initial search for Mr Hayez (pictured) in Byron Bay was inexperienced and would have conducted the operation differently if given the chance

CCTV of Theo Hayez shows him at a Byron Bay bottle shop on May 31, 2019 - the night he went missing

He spoke highly of his friend, telling the inquest Theo was a clever, kind and responsible.

He has no memory of the teen drinking excessively, taking drugs, or going for walks at night.

'I think he was very responsible usually,' Loic said.

'And also I remember him being pretty physically fit as well.'

The inquest earlier on Thursday heard evidence of places the teen went on a steep headland below the town's famous lighthouse around midnight the day he disappeared.

Investigators have already aired evidence, gleaned from Google location data from his phone, showing Theo had spent seven minutes at a sporting field, before charting a route through the Arakwal National Park to the beach below the headland.

Breakthrough information sourced from a popular social media app could finally solve the mystery of missing backpacker Theo Hayez (pictured)

Telecommunications expert Professor Aruna Seneviratne analysed Theo's mobile phone data, finding it closely correlates with the Google data, but continues for an hour after the latter cut out.

It shows Theo's mobile connecting to two telephone towers several times between midnight and 1.02am on June 1, giving a snapshot of its location at those points in time.

The data is accurate with an error margin of 78 metres, Prof Seneviratne said.

He told the inquest he is 'highly confident' it showed the phone moving away from the telephone tower and up the headland towards the lighthouse.

A police officer completed the climb from the beach, up the headland and to the lighthouse with a phone similar to Theo's to provide another point of reference.

That phone connected to the same towers as Theo's had, and the location data was very similar to that of Theo's phone.

However, the exercise also enabled Prof Seneviratne to conclude 'with a high degree of confidence' that Theo's phone never reached the lighthouse.

Police this week also announced a $500,000 reward is on offer for information in his case (pictured, Theo and his girlfriend at the time)

Senior Constable Louis Papworth admitted he had only conducted two minor searches before the Belgian teen went missing in late May of 2019 (pictured, teams search the north flank of Byron Bay lighthouse for Theo Hayez)

The phone then stops transmitting data after 1.02am, before coming back online between 6.17am and 1.47pm, but Prof Seneviratne says the data from that period is weak and not as reliable.

Prof Seneviratne said he could not determine why the phone stopped transmitting for five hours.

The data does indicate, however, that Theo's phone did not end up in the ocean, as it wouldn't have kept transmitting, he said.

The current police theory is that Theo clambered up the beachside cliffs, dropped his phone, then fell and was swept out to sea, something his family says goes against the teen's sensible, risk-averse nature.

Counsel assisting the coroner and lawyers representing the police and the Hayez family will make submissions before State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan makes her findings.

Police this week also announced a $500,000 reward is on offer for information in his case.
As Russia's military swarmed across the border in the early hours of Thursday morning, questions were raised about whether Ukraine could mount a resistance.

President Vladimir Putin has the world's fifth largest active military at his disposal, which dwarfs that which is currently mobilising in the defence of Ukraine.

Moscow's 900,000 active military personnel means its forces are only smaller than those commanded by China, India, the United States and North Korea.

But Russia's defence spending per-capita is less than Britain, China and the US, and the Kremlin's forces do not possess the same cutting-edge technology, with much of its hardware dating back to the Soviet eta.

Nevertheless, in terms of manpower and weapons, the arithmetic looks grim for Ukraine. Its 196,600 personnel puts its military in 22nd place, but it is not just the number of active troops that the neighbours apart.

Ukrainian tanks are seen rolling into the port city of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, after Putin declared war in the early hours of Thursday

Ukrainian soldiers ride in a military vehicle in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022

A tank of Ukrainian forces moves as following Russia's military operation on February 24, 2022, in Chuhuiv town, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

Most military experts' estimates put the number of Russian troops near Russia's border with Ukraine in the days leading tot he invasion at more than 150,000.

Russia had also moved some troops to Belarus, north of Ukraine, for military drills.

Russia's army has about 280,000 personnel and its combined armed forces total about 900,000, while its 13,367 tanks outnumber Ukraine's by more than six to one, according to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The IISS also reports that Russia has 5,934 artillery units compared to Ukraine's 1,962, and 19,783 armoured military vehicles compared to Ukraine's 2,870.

The institute, which tracks the military capabilities of the world's nations, also shows Russia's dominance at sea and in the air.

According to their figures, Russia's air force boasts 165,000 personnel, 1,328 attack aircraft and at least 478 helicopters. Ukraine meanwhile has 35,000 air force personnel, 146 attack aircraft and 42 attack helicopters.

The disparity in Russia and Ukraine's navies paint a similar picture.

Russia has 150,000 navy personnel at its command compared to Ukraine's 15,000.

Putin's 74 warships and 51 submarines have meant Russia has been able to block Ukraine's routes to sea. Ukraine has just two warships and no submarines.

But while Russia easily outnumbers Ukraine's forces, some of its technology is not as advanced as that used by Western nations.

A number of vehicles that were seen massing in Ukraine's east before the full invasion was ordered were from the Soviet-era, although such hardware is unlikely to be used in the vanguard as Russia rolls into the country.

But while much of Russia's hardware is older than equivalents used by NATO countries, it also requires less supervision, and thus less people to man it.

Pictured: A dust cloud rises from the site of an explosion in Kiev as Russia launches its assault

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

An employee works at the gun counter of a tactical equipment shop on February 23 in Kyiv

Ukrainian firefighters try to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on February 24, 2022

People take part in a shooting training course at a shooting complex outside Lviv on February 22, 2022

A boy plays with a weapon as an instructor shows a Kalashnikov assault rifle while training members of a Ukrainian far-right group train, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022

Ukraine's prime minister said a decree recently signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy - on priority measures to strengthen the state's defence capabilities, increase the attractiveness of military service and the gradual transition to a professional army - would eventually bring Ukraine's armed forces to 361,000.

The efforts have meant Ukraine's military has been bolstered in recent years, and it is hoped they could go some way towards evening the odds.

Although Ukraine trebled its defence budget in real terms from 2010 to 2020, its total defence expenditure in 2020 amounted to only $4.3 billion, or one-tenth of Russia's.

Military analysts say Ukraine's anti-aircraft and anti-missile defences are weak, leaving it highly vulnerable to Russian strikes on its critical infrastructure - a tactic that is already being seen used by Moscow's forces on key sites.

They say Russia would also seek to use its superiority in electronic warfare to paralyse its adversary's command and control and cut off communications with units in the field.

Ukraine's forces have gained combat experience in the Donbass region in the east of the country, where they have been fighting Russia-backed separatists since 2014, and are highly motivated.

They also have short-range air defences and anti-tank weaponry, including U.S.-supplied Javelin missiles, which would help to slow any Russian advance.

Ukrainian troops are seen on the top of a tank heading into the city of Mariupol, near the occupied Donbass

Military vehicles are seen on a street on the outskirts of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine

Ukrainian army soldiers are seen on an armoured vehicle, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation, in eastern Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine

Many of Ukraine's generals come from the same USSR background as Russia's, and so understand the Kremlin's tactics - including using artillery fire to overwhelm.

But they also have old weaponry left over from the Soviet era.

Beyond the regular army, Ukraine has a determined volunteer territorial defence units and around 900,000 reservists.

Zelenskyy said Thursday the Ukrainian authorities will hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.

'The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian,' he said, urging all those who can defend the country to come to the Interior Ministry's assembly facilities.

Most adult males have at least basic military training, so Russia could find itself facing stubborn and protracted resistance if it tried to capture and hold onto territory.

But one area experts fear will see Ukraine overwhelmed in is air defence. Ukraine relies of modernised version of Soviet-era systems, such as the BUK launcher.

While they may be able to mount some defence, Ukraine's ground-to-air systems are short numbers, and will not protect the whole country.

The military challenge would be incomparably higher than in previous wars Russia has fought since the Soviet Union's collapse, including in breakaway Chechnya in the 1990s and against Georgia in 2008.

Western countries have stepped up arms deliveries to Ukraine, but Kyiv says it needs more. The United States has ruled out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine to fight.

Ukrainian army soldier are seen next to multiple launch missile systems, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation, in eastern Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine February 24, 2022

Smoke rise from an air defense base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022

The United States has provided more than $2.5 billion in military aid since 2014, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, coastal patrol boats, Humvees, sniper rifles, reconnaissance drones, radar systems, night vision and radio equipment.

Further supplies could include Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, small arms and boats.

Turkey has sold Kyiv several batches of Bayraktar TB2 drones, which it deployed against Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Britain supplied Ukraine with a reported 2,000 short-range anti-tank missiles in January and sent British specialists to deliver training. It has also provided Saxon armoured vehicles.

Estonia said it was sending Javelin anti-armour missiles and Latvia and Lithuania are providing Stinger missiles. The Czech Republic has said it plans to donate 152mm artillery ammunition.

Germany has previously ruled out arms deliveries to Ukraine but is co-financing a $6-million field hospital and providing training.

Russian troops launched a broad assault on Ukraine from three sides on Thursday, an attack that began with explosions before dawn in the capital Kyiv and other cities.

Ukraine's leadership said at least 40 people had been killed so far in what it called a 'full-scale war' targeting the country from the east, north and south.

In a televised address as the attack began, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would 'lead to consequences you have never seen in history.'

Ukrainians started fleeing some cities, and the Russian military claimed to have incapacitated all of Ukraine's air defenses and air bases within hours.

World leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine's democratically elected government and threaten the post-Cold War balance on the continent.
An Australian military strategist has revealed what he believes will happen next after Russia's invasion of Ukraine - and says Vladimir Putin is hellbent on taking over the country.

Russian troops launched a broad assault on Ukraine from three sides, an attack that began with explosions before dawn on Thursday in the capital Kiev and other cities.

Ukraine's leadership said at least 40 people had been killed so far in what it called a 'full-scale war' targeting the country from the east, north and south.

Ukrainians started fleeing some cities, and the Russian military claimed to have incapacitated all of Ukraines air defences and air bases within hours.

Malcolm Davies, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, disputed Putin's claims that he has 'no plans to occupy' the Ukraine.

Dr Davies said Russia will first seize regions in the nation's east.

Then, he expects, it will claim cities along the southern border until troops have encircled areas in the north-west.

'What we are seeing is the initial air and missile bombardment, lots of footage of cruise missiles hitting targets all over Ukraine, large artillery barrages coming off the Russia-held areas in the east, in the Donbass, in Luhansk, and Donetsk,' he told CNN.

Australian military strategist Malcolm Davies (pictured) has explained Russia's likely course of attack as it invades Ukraine

'I think the next step would be Russian forces in that area would expand their offensive into Ukrainian-held territory, that's where you're likely to see intense fighting,.'

Dr Davies said Russia would soon head for Kiev, the country's capital, and would likely use naval force at southern port city, Odessa.

'At the same time you're going to see Russian forces in Belarus advance south towards Kiev. I think that is a key area of access of advance that we need to focus on,' he said.

'The third area is the south around Mariupol and potentially an amphibious operation against Odessa.'

Given the extent of force demonstrated within the past 24 hours, Dr Davies said he does not buy Putin's claims that he only wants to de-militarise Ukraine and not occupy it.

'If he doesn't occupy the country and he withdraws, the Ukrainians will take back Russia's lost gains,' Dr Davies said.

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

'I think certainly he does intend to use overwhelming brute force to physically destroy the Ukrainian military through massive artillery, rocket barrages, and air power assaults and so forth.'

Dr Davies said wars are only won when parties successfully hold and seize ground, which makes it unlikely Russia would invade only to retreat to separatist-region Donbass, in the south-east.

'[Putin's] going for broke. He is really committing mass amounts of military force with the goal to dismember Ukraine and remove the democratically elected government and to put in place a regime that is loyal to Russia,' he said.

'I think he will occupy key parts of Ukraine, including potentially going into Kiev. I have no doubt he will try to alter territorial borders through brute force as well.'

Dr Davies said Putin would see an opportunity to build a land bridge along the south coast from Mariupol in the east all the way through to Odessa in the nation's west.

The strategist said the access route would allow Russian forces advancing in Ukraine's east to meet up with their troops based in Transnistria, Moldova, which would seal off Ukraine's entire southern line.

Footage shared on social media from Odessa appeared to show an amphibious assault

He said that would leave a rump Western Ukraine, around Lviv, where Ukranian forces would fight a war of insurgency of the army of occupation.

In the meantime, Dr Davies said smaller-military power Ukraine would fight as best as possible with its available resources before switching to insurgency and resistance once it is largely conquered.

'They [Ukraine] lack the overwhelming fire power of the Russian military today, they lack the air, missile, and electronic power and all of those capabilities,' he said.

'They will fight as best they can and will cause the Russians to pay a price then they will switch to insurgency -from the cities through the countryside - and try to reign the cost of any Russian occupation of Ukraine.'

Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions were seen across the country after Vladimir Putin gave the order to attack on Thursday.

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, and official said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment's notice. Official figures put the death toll at 40, with 'dozens' wounded. Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital.

Dr Davies said Russia would likely take control over Ukraine's entire southern line, cornering the north western region

This graphic shows the current position of Russian troops around Ukraine as armed forces invaded the country on Thursday

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed, before Moscow boasted of taking full control of the skies. Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Luhansk, Sumy and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all came under attack, while tanks battled on the outskirts of Kharkiv after paratroopers dropped in. Blasts were also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland.

Extraordinary video footage showed what appeared to be a Kalibur cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport. An apartment block in Kharkiv was also struck, causing civilian casualties including a young boy. Video also appeared to confirm cruise missiles had been launched by Russian troops stationed in Moldova.

Meanwhile pro-Russian rebel forces pushed out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot two Ukrainian jets out of the skies. The port cities of Mariupol and Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval bases are located, were also attacked. Russian tankers appeared to have blockaded the Kerch Strait, leading from the Back Sea to the Sea of Azov, cutting off Mariupol.

Volodymyr Zelensky, in an address to the nation on Thursday morning, said the history of Ukraine has now changed forever and that Russia has 'embarked on a path of evil'. But he defiantly vowed to fight back, saying the military has already inflicted 'serious losses' in the early hours.

He called on Ukrainian citizens willing to defend their homeland to step forward, saying guns will be issued to everyone who wants one. He also asked for civilians to give blood to help wounded troops. And he asked world leaders to impose the 'harshest sanctions possible' on Putin.

Vladimir Putin is pictured in the early hours of Thursday morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a 'special military operation'

It came after the Russian strongman gave an extraordinary address to the Russian nation - broadcast in the early hours during a UN meeting aimed at avoiding war - in which he declared a 'special military operation' to 'de-militarise' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine in what amounted to a outright declaration of war. The video appeared to have been pre-recorded, around the same time as Putin's Monday address recognising Donbass as independent.

Putin also issued a chilling warning to any country thinking of coming to Ukraine's aid, vowing 'consequences greater than any you have faced in history'. 'I hope I have been heard,' he said.

The mood on the ground in Ukraine was mixed. Some showed incredible resolve - heading to work via train and road even as the bombs dropped. Elderly women in the city of Kharkiv, under heavy attack, gathered in the street to pray. But for others, the sight of Russian attack was too much. Highways out of Kiev clogged with cars as people fled, while refugees began crossing the borders into Poland and Slovakia.

The invasion - a naked attempt to redraw the map of Europe by force - marks the most concerted attempt to up-end world order since the end of the Cold War, and risks sparking the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the end of the Second World War.

Underlining the gravity of the moment, Ukrainian Interior Ministry advisor Anton Herashchenko said: 'Starting today, the world has a new geopolitical reality. Either Ukraine and the world will stop the new Hitler now, or there will be a Third World War.'

Tanks can be seen, to the right of the image, rolling past a border post between Ukraine and Belarus in the early hours of Thursday

Western leaders lined up to condemn Russia's actions in the early hours, with security councils convened the world over to mount a response. Heavy sanctions are expected to follow, along with more shipments of military equipment to Ukraine - provided they can find a route in.

But NATO and the US have made it clear that no troops will be sent, leaving Ukraine's military - far the inferior of Russia - to hold off the assault alone. Few expect it to emerge victorious from what is almost certain to be a prolonged, bloody, and vicious war.

NATO efforts are instead expected to focus on stopping the war from spilling over into neighbouring countries. Poland, a member of the alliance, shares an extensive land border with Ukraine. The Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, also NATO members - will now fear a Russian assault.

Moldova, where some Russian ground troops are already based, is also at risk of falling to Putin. From there, he could strike out at Romania - another former Soviet state.

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and struck Boryspil Airport in Kiev. Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday, and on Wednesday night he condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.' He was speaking to Ukraine's president.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a video message early on Thursday and urged Ukrainians to stay at home, and remain calm, telling them to have faith in their country

Biden said in a statement: 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Biden said he will be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.

Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine - a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion.

He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia's demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees. He also claimed that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to 'demilitarize' it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

President Joe Biden, pictured on Wednesday, condemned Putin's invasion of Ukraine

Explosions are seen in the early hours of Thursday in Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine

Biden in a written statement condemned the 'unprovoked and unjustified attack,' and he promised that the U.S. and its allies would 'hold Russia accountable.' The president said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the assault as a 'full-scale invasion' and said Ukraine will 'defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.'

In the capital, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko advised residents to stay home unless they are involved in critical work and urged them to prepare go-bags with necessities and documents if they need to evacuate. An Associated Press photographer in Mariupol reported hearing explosions and seeing dozens of people with suitcases heading for their cars to leave the city.

'We are facing a war and horror. What could be worse?' 64-year-old Liudmila Gireyeva said in Kiev. She planned to head to the western city of Lviv and then to try to move to Poland to join her daughter. Putin 'will be damned by history, and Ukrainians are damning him.'

The Russian claims about knocking out Ukrainian air defenses and Ukrainian claims to have shot down several Russian aircraft could not immediately be verified. The Ukrainian air defense system and air force date back to the Soviet era and are dwarfed by Russia's massive air power and its inventory of precision weapons.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that 'there is no threat to civilian population.'
China could buy more Russian energy and lend Moscow cash to help Vladimir Putin weather the storm of sanctions imposed by the West over the Ukraine crisis, experts have predicted.

Mr Putin's decision to launch military action against Ukraine will result in the US, UK and other NATO allies rolling out more punitive measures against Russia.

Experts believe China is likely to help Russia 'behind the scenes', with the level of support from Beijing potentially becoming an 'influential factor in shaping an evolving crisis'.

However, China will need to 'walk a fine line' as it tries to avoid damaging its links to the West, with protecting trade likely to be a key priority.

China could buy more Russian energy and lend Moscow cash to help Vladimir Putin weather the storm of sanctions imposed by the West over the Ukraine crisis, experts have predicted

Mr Putin and President Xi Jinping issued a statement at the start of February which declared the 'friendship between the two States has no limits'

China and Russia have moved closer in recent years as both have faced rising tensions with the West.

Mr Putin visited Beijing at the beginning of February for the start of the Winter Olympics.

He and President Xi Jinping issued a statement at the time which declared the 'friendship between the two States has no limits'.

China backed Russia in opposing NATO expansion as the two nations accused the US, UK and others of adopting 'ideologized Cold War approaches' to international relations.

The statement committed the pair to strengthening foreign policy coordination and to defend common interests.

However, China has not publicly backed Russia over the Ukraine crisis, instead urging 'all parties' to 'exercise restraint'.

Beijing has said the situation in Ukraine is the 'result of many complex factors' and 'China always makes its own position, according to the merits of the matter itself'.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, China is unlikely to publicly support Mr Putin's actions but it is also unlikely to criticise the Russian President.

Experts believe China will help Russia as sanctions imposed by the West begin to bite.

That could mean Chinese banks lending money to Moscow and Beijing buying more Russian oil and gas.

Tom Rafferty, a Beijing-based analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit, told the Financial Times: 'The level of Chinese support for Russian actions could be an influential factor in shaping an evolving crisis.'

Jakub Jakobowski, a senior fellow with the China programme at the Eastern Studies Centre in Warsaw, told the newspaper: 'Unless the West puts a really tangible cost on China, China will still help Russia behind the scenes.'

However, many believe China will want to avoid damaging its economic interests which are linked to the West and that is likely to temper its support for Moscow.

Noah Barkin, an expert on Europe-China relations at US research firm Rhodium Group, told Bloomberg that Beijing 'will have to walk a fine line in this crisis'.

He said: 'It will want to avoid openly criticising Russia's actions in Ukraine, while affirming its support for the principles of territorial integrity and non-interference. The hotter the conflict in Ukraine gets, the more difficult it will be for Beijing to walk this line.'

China backed Russia in opposing NATO expansion as the two nations accused the US, UK and others of adopting 'ideologized Cold War approaches' to international relations

Meanwhile, Professor Steve Tsang, director at the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) China Institute, told the i newspaper that China is 'not keen to see a war over Ukraine, as it has strong economic and other ties with Ukraine'.

Rising tensions with the West are expected to quicken Russia's ongoing pivot to the East when it comes to selling its oil and gas.

Russian energy firms agreed new long-term supply deals with China at the start of February.

Gazprom signed its second long-term gas deal with China which will see the company deliver 10 billion cubic metres per year over a 25 year period via a new pipeline.

Russian gas supplies to China are reportedly set to hit 48 billion cubic metres a year but talks are ongoing over the development of a third route which would add another 50 billion cubic metres.

The oil company Rosneft agreed a deal to supply 100 million tonnes of crude oil to China within a decade, replacing an existing deal which is set to expire.

The expectation is that China's demand for Russian energy will now surge in the coming years while European demand is likely to fall.
Figurines with computers and smartphones are seen in front of the words "Cyber Attack," binary codes and the Ukrainian flag, in this illustration taken Feb. 15. Reuters-Yonhap





Ukraine's parliament and other government and banking websites were hit with another wave of distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks Wednesday, while cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.







Officials have long said they expect cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the incidents hew to a nearly two-decade-old Russian playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.







ESET Research Labs said it detected a new data-wiping piece of malware in Ukraine, Wednesday, on ''hundreds of machines in the country.'' It was not clear, however, how many networks were affected.







''With regards whether the malware was successful in its wiping capability, we assume that this indeed was the case and affected machines were wiped,'' ESET research chief Jean-Ian Boutin said in response to questions from The Associated Press.







Boutin would not name the targets ''to protect the victims, but these were large organizations that have been affected,'' he said, adding that while ESET was unable to say who was responsible, ''the attack appears to be related to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.''







Vikram Thakur, technical director at Symantec Threat Intelligence, said his outfit detected three organizations hit by the wiper malware  Ukrainian government contractors in Latvia and Lithuania and a financial institution in Ukraine.







All three had a ''close affiliation with the government of Ukraine,'' said Thakur, indicating the attacks were anything but randomly targeted. He said roughly 50 computers at the financial organization were impacted by the malware, some with data wipers.







''No comment,'' senior Ukrainian cyber defense official Victor Zhora said when asked about the ESET finding.







Boutin said the malware's timestamp indicates it was created in late December. He said it has only been seen in Ukraine.







''Russia likely has been planning this for months, so it is hard to say how many organizations or agencies have been back-doored in preparation for these attacks,'' said Chester Wisniewski, principal research scientist at the cybersecurity firm Sophos. He guessed the Kremlin intended with the malware to ''send the message that they have compromised a significant amount of Ukrainian infrastructure and these are just little morsels to show how ubiquitous their penetration is.''







Word of the wiper follows a mid-January attack that Ukrainian officials blamed on Russia in which the defacement of some 70 government websites was used to mask intrusions into government networks in which at least two servers were damaged with wiper malware masquerading as ransomware.







Thakur said it was too early to say if the malware attack discovered Wednesday was as serious as the variety that damaged servers in January.







gettyimagesbank





Cyberattacks have been a key tool of Russian aggression in Ukraine since before 2014, when the Kremlin annexed Crimea and hackers tried to thwart elections. They were also used against Estonia in 2007 and Georgia in 2008.







DDoS attacks are among the least impactful because they don't entail network intrusions. Such attacks barrage websites with junk traffic so they become unreachable.







The DDoS targets Wednesday included the defense and foreign ministries, the Council of Ministers and Privatbank, the country's largest commercial bank. Many of the same sites were similarly knocked offline Feb. 13 and 14 in DDoS attacks that the U.S. and U.K. governments quickly blamed on Russia's GRU military intelligence agency







Wednesday's DDoS attacks appeared less impactful than the earlier onslaught  with targeted sites soon reachable again  as emergency responders blunted them. Zhora's office, Ukraine's information protection agency, said responders switched to a different DDoS protection service provider.







Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at the network management firm Kentik Inc., recorded two attack waves each lasting more than an hour.







A spokesman for California-based Cloudflare, which provides services to some of the targeted sites, said DDoS attacks in Ukraine have been sporadic and on the rise in the past month but ''relatively modest compared to large DDoS attacks we've handled in the past.''







The West blames Russia's GRU for some of the most damaging cyberattacks on record, including a pair in 2015 and 2016 that briefly knocked out parts of Ukraine's power grid and the NotPetya ''wiper'' virus of 2017, which caused more than $10 billion of damage globally by infecting companies that do business in Ukraine with malware seeded through a tax preparation software update.







The wiper malware detected in Ukraine this year has so far been manually activated, as opposed to a worm like NotPetya, which can spread out of control across borders. (AP)


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The UK could soon be at war with Russia with British soldiers forced to 'man the ramparts' and fight Putin's forces on a new front in eastern Europe, a former British general warned today.

General Sir Richard Shirreff, ex-deputy supreme commander of Nato, has said Britain's first line of defence is now the border of former Soviet states who fear they could be next after the invasion of Ukraine.

He said: 'There is a possibility that we as a nation will soon be at war with Russia. We in this country must recognise that our security starts not on the white cliffs of Dover - it starts in the forests of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.'

Boris Johnson today warned Vladimir Putin has triggered a 'catastrophe for our continent' as he prepares to address the nation and unveil 'unprecedented' sanctions after Russia launched what appears to be a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sending troops, tanks and artillery into its neighbour from the north, south and east while bombarding cities, airports and military targets with missiles.

Sir Richard has said today's invasion must change Mr Johnson's 'mindset' - warning that he believes Putin is bent on restoring the USSR, which was split into 15 republics when it imploded in 1991.

Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, he was asked by Nick Robinson if Britons and their 'children and grandchildren' may be 'expected to fight' the Russians, and Sir Richard replied: 'Absolutely. If Russia puts one bootstep into Nato territory, we are all at war with Russia.

'Article 5 (of the Nato alliance) says an attack on one is an attack on all, so we need to change our mindset fundamentally, and that is why I say our defence starts in the UK on the frontiers of Nato.'

He added: 'It is very possible he might move into Nato countries and lead to war with thirty countries'. But he warned that Britain or Nato cannot deploy in Ukraine 'because that will precipitate a third world war'.

He went on: 'We need to look at our own security. We must really man the ramparts in eastern Europe as an alliance.

'We should mobilise the forces, such as we've got, as I'm afraid the cupboard is pretty bare after a decade-plus of cuts. Our government must be examining carefully what needs to be done to reinforce the East and send the most powerful signal that Nato is ready and willing to defend its territory'.

General Sir Richard Shirreff, ex-deputy supreme commander of Nato pictured with David Cameron in Iraq, has said Britain's first line of defence is now the border of former Soviet states who fear they could be Putin's next target such as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

Explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of this morning as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia began

Russia has invaded Ukraine from the north, south and east while firing in missiles all over the country

Sir Richard said that Putin will look to occupy Ukraine - and potentially look to other countries in the region.

Putin's chilling warning to the West: 'To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside - if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history' Russian Su-25 jets fly over Dnipro Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and gave a chilling warning to its allies in the West in an early Thursday morning address in Moscow. Explosions were heard in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, as Putin announced that Russia was launching a military attack on Ukraine. He has ignored the plea, going on TV to describe the invasion as a 'special military occupation' and said he wants to 'demilitarize' and 'de-Nazify', not occupy, the country. He told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home,' saying Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable.' 'The people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help  I decided to conduct a special military operation,' he said. 'As for the military sphere, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of a significant part of its nuclear potential, is today one of the most powerful nuclear powers. And moreover, it has certain advantages in a number of the latest types of weapons. In this regard, no one should have any doubt that a direct attack on Russia will lead to defeat and dire consequences for a potential aggressor'. Advertisement

He said: 'The Russians don't hang around. They'll look to establish overwhelming force so we have to assume the worst. There will be multiple attacks from different axes. This is a full blown military offensive to occupy Ukraine.

'There is no surprise and there is profound sadness and a sense of appalling horror at what is about to unfold for the people of Ukraine,' he said.

'And I think we have to assume that this is not Russia biting off a chunk of Ukraine - for example, establishing a land corridor in Crimea'.

The retired general said that Putin 'absolutely' wants to restore the Soviet Union.

He said: 'You only have to listen to what Putin has been saying since 2014. The most appropriate security settlement for Europe is a new Yalta. He sees Russia dominating eastern Europe as the Soviet Union did in communist time. This has been on the cards for some time - but the people who should have been listening have been ignoring it'.

Boris Johnson today warned that Vladimir Putin has 'chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction' in Ukraine as the West pushes for 'unprecedented' sanctions - and ministers suggested Moscow generals should mount a coup to stop the president's 'Tsarist fantasy'.

The PM chaired a COBRA meeting at 7.30am after the dramatic invasion overnight, and is pledging a 'decisive' response. He is expected to unveil more sanctions in a Commons statement later - with Russia's access to the financial markets and oligarchs in the crosshairs.

EU ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss more action after blacklisting 23 individuals the bloc say are involved in military aggression against Ukraine, taking key political decisions, or waging a 'disinformation war'. US president Joe Biden is also expected to announce more steps, after banning trade and investment in 'separatist' regions of Ukraine and cutting off Russian state banks.

In an extraordinary intervention this morning, Foreign Office minister James Cleverly suggested that Russian military commanders should step in to stop Mr Putin's 'catastrophically bad judgement call'.

Hinting at problems with Mr Putin's mental state after a series of rambling speeches littered with Soviet-era rhetoric, he said the president seemed to be acting 'increasingly in isolation' and 'illogically'.

Nato called Russia's invasion of Ukraine 'a grave violation of international law' as war broke out in Europe sparking the greatest threat to security and peace since the Second World War.

In a statement on Twitter, Mr Johnson - who is expected to make a statement to the Commons later - said: 'I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.'

Labour leader Keir Starmer piled pressure on the PM to ramp up sanctions on Russia, its businesses and its citizens.

'The hardest possible sanctions must be taken against all those linked to Putin. The influence of Russian money must be extricated from the U.K. Those who have for too long turned a blind eye to Russia's actions must reckon with their own consciences.'

However, experts believe Mr Putin will have priced in the damage from sanctions when making his decision to defy the international community.

It came after Russia launched what appears to be a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sending troops, tanks and artillery into five areas of the country despite the Kremlin claiming it was a 'special military operation' in only the eastern Donbas region.

Addressing the nation from the Kremlin this morning, Mr Putin said his plans 'don't include occupation of Ukrainian territory', insisting he was only trying 'to demilitarise' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine, and 'protect Donbas', adding: 'We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force'.

In a chilling threat to anyone in the West who may want to help the Ukrainian militarily, he said: 'To anyone who would consider interfering from outside: If you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All the relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me'.

As Britain responds to war in Europe:

Boris Johnson will set out a suite of super-sanctions to damage the Russian economy, its businesses and its oligarchs;

Britain's ambassador to Ukraine urged UK nationals to leave Ukraine immediately. Melinda Simmons wrote on Twitter: 'We advise GB nationals to leave Ukraine immediately if you judge that it is safe to do so from your location. Please call +380 44 490 3660 if you need assistance.' The UK Foreign Office has said people should not attempt to cross from Russia into Ukraine;

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he has instructed the UK Civil Aviation Authority to ensure airlines avoid Ukraine airspace 'to keep passengers and crew safe'. Wizz Air was due to operate flights to Luton from Kiev and Lviv on Thursday, but they were both cancelled;

Boris Johnson today declared that Putin has 'chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction' in Ukraine after launching a 'horrific attacks' on its neighbour

Smoke can be seen after an airstrike by Russian in Ivano Frankivsk, Ukraine, while tank columns entered Ukraine from Belarus this morning

The port of Ochakiv on the Black Sea this morning is on fire this morning

Boris Johnson said he was 'appalled' by the 'unprovoked attack' on a sovereign democratic European nation

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and aide Tim Barrow, arrive in Downing Street, London, for a COBRA meeting called by the Prime Minister

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps arrives in Downing Street having instructed the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure airlines avoid Ukraine airspace 'following the horrific events overnight'

Boris Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the early hours of this morning, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

The No 10 spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister said he was appalled by the unfolding events in Ukraine. The Ukrainian President updated the Prime Minister on the attacks taking place, and the Prime Minister said the West would not stand by as President Putin waged his campaign against the Ukrainian people.

'The Prime Minister said he hoped Ukraine could resist and that Ukraine and its people were in the thoughts of everyone in the United Kingdom people during this dark time.'

While Foreign Secretary Liz Truss 'strongly condemned' what she called an 'appalling, unprovoked attack' on Ukraine, vowing to 'respond to this terrible act of aggression'.

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly accused Vladimir Putin of trying to play out a 'fantasy' of 'recreating some kind of tsarist expansionist Russia'.

He told Sky News: 'Sadly, President Putin has been really clear in what he's trying to achieve. He is trying to recreate a Russian Empire in his mind, claim back places which he defines as Russia. But the international community recognises that these are individual sovereign states.

'Ukraine is not part of Russia and the fantasy that Vladimir Putin is trying to play out in recreating some kind of czarist expansionist Russia absolutely has to be stopped.

'We will continue working. We've been providing financial and military support to Ukraine for a number of years.

'Just yesterday, the Foreign Secretary announced an economic support package. There will, of course, be more support and we will be bringing forward, as I say, in close concert with our international friends and allies, an unprecedented sanctions response, co-ordinated sanctions response, to punish this appalling decision.'

'No one should forget this day,' Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, added - saying that Putin is trying to 'secure his legacy' with an act of 'naked aggression'. 'It will, but not the [legacy] that he wishes.'

Mr Wallace described Russia's actions as 'naked aggression against a democratic country' and said no one had been fooled by the Kremlin's 'false flags and fake narratives'.

'The Russian Federation has today further violated Ukrainian Sovereignty,' he said.

'Despite the efforts of the international communities, Russia has chosen conflict. No one has been fooled by the Kremlin's false flags and fake narratives.

'This is naked aggression against a democratic country which had dared to express a different aspiration than being a supine neighbour to Russia.

'No one should forget this day. Putin thinks this land grab is about securing his legacy - it will be, but not the one that he wishes.'

The invasion came hours after Britain's Defence Secretary said Vladimir Putin had gone 'full tonto' over the Ukraine crisis yesterday, as a former Nato chief suggested the Russian president may have 'gone crazy'.

In an extraordinary broadside, Ben Wallace mocked the Kremlin chief's judgment and warned that his former regiment could 'kick the backside' of Russian troops if required.

The Defence Secretary served as an officer in the Scots Guards before his political career and was decorated for gallantry in Northern Ireland in 1992.

Tonto is Spanish for stupid and 'going full tonto' is popular slang for taking stupidity to a higher level.

Speaking to British troops yesterday, Mr Wallace said: 'It is going to be a busy [British] Army. Unfortunately we've got a busy adversary in Putin who has gone full tonto. He is in an illogical and irrational frame of mind. The Scots Guards kicked the backside of Tsar Nicholas I in 1853 in Crimea  we can always do it again. Tsar Nicholas I made the same mistake Putin did... he had no friends, no alliances.'

Mr Wallace's remarks were echoed last night by former Nato Secretary General Anders Rasmussen. In an interview with ITV's Robert Peston, he said the Kremlin chief may have 'gone crazy' and had seemed 'unhinged' in recent television appearances. Mr Rasmussen said: 'Russian behaviour right now, it's not rational, so I wouldn't exclude the possibility Putin has gone crazy. And we saw how he humiliated his advisers. So I don't think we are confronted with a man who is thinking along rational lines.

'We should hit him hard economically, much harder than we have done already. Russia should be cut off from Western money. We should also reduce our dependence on imported Russian gas and we should step up our delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine.'

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said she condemns Russias `appalling, unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which has already caused injuries and deaths as missiles hit the country

Ms Truss has insisted 'nothing is off the table' if Russia attacks, which it did today

The choked roads of Kiev as people try to head west away from the capital amid fears Russia may try to take the capital

Mr Wallace made his comments in a room at the Horse Guards building in London which is dominated by a painting of the Battle of Inkerman, a major engagement during the Crimean War, which saw British troops fight alongside French soldiers to defeat Russia.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Wednesday suggested Tory donors could potentially be hit with sanctions if they have links to Mr Putin's regime.

She said she was ruling nothing out 'in terms of who we target' over the Ukraine crisis, as she faced calls for her party to hand back donated cash with Russian connections reportedly worth nearly 2 million.

She added in an earlier piece for The Times that Britain will 'use every lever at our disposal to stop (Putin) in his tracks'.

Ms Truss said: 'Nothing is off the table.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine is unprovoked and unjustifiable. His actions will have horrendous and tragic consequences that will echo throughout the world and throughout history.

'All those who believe in the triumph of democracy over dictatorship, good over evil, freedom over the jackboot of tyranny must now support the Ukrainian people. They have been cast onto the front line of a war, simply for existing.

'There can be no space for equivocation when faced with the evil that Putin has unleashed. His actions pose a grave threat to the international order on which we all depend.

'There will be dark days ahead. But Putin will learn the same lesson as Europe's tyrants of the last century: that the resolve of the world is harder than he imagines and the desire for liberty burns stronger than ever. The light will prevail.

'I know people in this country will be feeling worried and uncertain. I know that Ukrainians and Russians here in the UK will be worrying for friends and family back home. Our hearts are with them today.

'We must now match our rhetoric with action. We must urgently reinforce our Nato allies. The hardest possible sanctions must be taken against all those linked to Putin. The influence of Russian money must be extricated from the UK. And those who have for too long turned a blind eye to Russia's actions must reckon with their own consciences.'
Prince William made a trip to MI6 yesterday - just hours before Vladimir Putin launched a full invasion of Ukraine.

The Duke of Cambridge visited the Secret Intelligence Service in London on Wednesday morning, according to the Court Circular - an official record of past royal engagements.

While it was not publicised until today, the meeting is thought to have been long-planned.

However, no further details about the visit, including who he met and what was discussed, have been revealed.

Prince William made an unscheduled trip to MI6 yesterday - just hours before Vladimir Putin launched a full invasion of Ukraine

The Duke of Cambridge visited the Secret Intelligence Service in London on Wednesday morning, according to the Court Circular - an official record of past royal engagements

It came less than 24 hours before Russia launched all-out war on Ukraine with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air.

Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions were seen across the country after President Putin gave the order to attack.

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, Kiev said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment's notice.

It is not known whether the threat of war in Ukraine was discussed during the prince's visit to the headquarters.

The Court Circular also revealed a string of other engagements carried out by William, and his wife Kate, including a meeting on the Earthshot Prize - the award designed to incentivise change and help repair the planet - and phone calls to royals in Denmark.

It read: 'His Royal Highness, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, this afternoon held a Meeting at Kensington Palace on the Earthshot Prize.

'The Duchess of Cambridge, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, today carried out the following engagements in Copenhagen, Denmark.

'Her Royal Highness this morning visited Stenurten Forest Kindergarten, Ballerup.

'The Duchess of Cambridge later called upon The Queen of Denmark and The Crown Princess of Denmark at Amalienborg Palace.'

In 2019, William spent three weeks working with MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to learn how the UK's security and intelligence agencies work.

He said then: 'Spending time inside our security and intelligence agencies, understanding more about the vital contribution they make to our national security, was a truly humbling experience.

'These agencies are full of people from everyday backgrounds doing the most extraordinary work to keep us safe.'

It is not known whether the duke met the head of MI6, Richard Moore, known in Whitehall as C.

It is understood the visit had been in William's diary for a number of weeks.

William and Kate welcomed the President and First Lady of Ukraine to Buckingham Palace in October 2020 - their first audience since the start of the first Covid lockdown.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed the president and first lady of Ukraine to Buckingham Palace in October 2020

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his wife, Olena, were on a two-day visit to the UK

The Duke and Duchess entertained President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena in the opulent Throne Room.

The couples did not wear masks but observed social distancing and appeared in good spirits during the meeting, the first royal event to take place at Buckingham Palace in nearly six months.

William and Kate held the audience on behalf of the Queen, who stayed at Windsor Castle to carry out a limited number of engagements.

Kensington Palace declined to comment on the details of the MI6 meeting.
A female production line worker at car manufacturing firm Allied Vehicles has won a sex discrimination claim after a male colleague suggested she was having a sexual relationship with a married man.

Angela Smith, 48, quit her job after Stuart Getty made a 'demeaning' comment accusing her of showing favouritism to a co-worker because he claimed they were having a romantic relationship.

An employment tribunal heard her dignity was 'violated' when Mr Getty asked: 'You know he's married, don't you?'

Ms Smith, one of just two women out of more than 60 employees on the factory floor, was left upset by the comment and quit her role as a team leader on the production line because she felt she could no longer work there.

The mother, who had a partner and was angry at the false claim, has now been awarded 2,491 after successfully suing the production firm for harassment, sex discrimination and breach of contract for unequal pay.

The tribunal heard that Ms Smith worked for Allied Vehicles Ltd, the UK's leading supplier of adapted and special purpose vehicles, based in Glasgow.

The panel was told the culture was that of 'a typical manufacturing environment with jokes and people teasing each other', while the language used could be 'quite vulgar'.

On August 8, 2019, Mr Getty was irritated that Ms Smith had not dealt with his request for some tools, the tribunal heard.

Angela Smith, 48, quit her job at Allied Vehicles, the UK's leading supplier of adapted and special purpose vehicles, based in Glasgow (pictured)

He then thought she was showing favouritism towards their co-worker on the production line Stephen Geoghan, and so asked her the 'demeaning' question.

Ms Smith was upset and took this to be a suggestion that she and Mr Geoghan were involved in a romantic relationship.

She replied: 'I beg your pardon?'.

But Mr Getty replied in an 'angry' demeanour that 'I say it as I see it', the tribunal heard.

Ms Smith subsequently complained to colleagues and Mr Getty was called into the office by general manager Angela Horn.

Ms Horn was said to have told him 'you've been accusing Angela of sleeping with a married man', to which he 'shrugged and said "aye"'.

The manager then asked how he would feel if the same comment was said to his wife or daughter, before Mr Getty replied that he would 'need to be in receipt of all the facts.

He added: 'Maybe I should have chosen my words better.'

Two days later, Ms Smith filed a grievance station she would no longer be attending work as she could not 'foresee any acceptable outcome as I no longer feel safe working at Allied Vehicles.

The grievance was investigated by sales director Kevin McCafferty, but he concluded that she had not been unfairly treated by the firm.

He said: 'The comments were nothing more than a throwaway comment and there is no evidence to suggest any kind of discrimination, sexual or otherwise, occurred and he believed that Angela Horn acted swiftly to address the issues.'

Ms Smith decided to quit on October 6, 2019, having not returned to work.

Informing the firm, she said: 'I am disappointed at the conduct of Allied Vehicles and feel it would not be a safe working environment for myself to be in.

'Allied Vehicles have shown no support in this action and have made no effort to ensure my safety at work.

'Also the company values have not been displayed in the proceedings. I was discriminated against and unfairly treated in my time at Allied Vehicles and felt it necessary to bring this to light.'

The tribunal heard Ms Smith was one of just two women of more than 60 employees on the factory floor

However, the tribunal has ruled in her favour, stating that the comment was made to 'upset and demean' Ms Smith.

The panel, led by Employment Judge Susan Walker said: 'The clear implication of the comment was that [Ms Smith] and Stephen Geoghan had a romantic relationship that was closer than simply friends or that [she] would like to have such a relationship.

'The Tribunal considered that on the balance of probabilities, the comment was made to upset and demean [her] (albeit Mr Getty may have had no idea quite how upset she would become) and therefore to violate her dignity.'

Ms Smith was employed on an annual salary of 25,000 in June 2019, but was told after a three-month probation period that this would rise to 30,000.

This was despite other colleagues starting in the same role at 30,000, leading to the claim for unequal pay.

Ms Smith, who now works as an NHS receptionist, said following the tribunal: 'I was the only female working on the line. I have worked in factories before and I know what theyre like but this was different.

'I had a partner at the time as well. It goes back to that thing where a female and a male cant be seen together platonically in the workplace. I was really shocked he said that and it did upset me.

'I was delighted with the claims I won. it wasnt about the money, it was about the principle.'
A major Australian airline which almost folded in 2020 is undergoing a huge hiring bonanza as the international borders open, with some enticing benefits for new staff.

Virgin Australia is currently hiring hundreds of staff to fill jobs across the company including cabin crew, customer service, airport crew, flight dispatchers, managers, and maintenance.

The aviation hiring boom across Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne comes as the airline ramps up again after two years of border closures - in which it was forced to let thousands of workers go.

The airline's CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said after 703 days with no international flights the company is ready to get in the air again.

Virgin Australia staff (pictured at Brisbane Airport) are offered a generous package of benefits as the airline attempts to recruit hundreds of staff - after cutting thousands of jobs in the pandemic

'We've done a lot of hard work over the course of two years making sure we're a different company now,' Ms Hrdlicka told A Current Affair.

She said one of the main objectives of the new look airline was value for money.

'$69 fares are commonplace across our network and on happy hour days, which is Thursday between 4pm and 11pm, you can find $49 fares.'

Those who are lucky enough to be hired by Virgin are able to access some pretty nifty benefits including heavily discounted air travel for their entire family and a free $1,000 travel credit every year.

Up to six weeks of paid holidays, free airport parking, a provided uniform, on-site physio and the ability to earn Velocity Points while working are also included.

The job listings are available to view on the Virgin Australia website here.

Stay-at-home mum Jess said she has dreamed of a career in aviation and was happy to be training (pictured)

Virgin Australia is undergoing a hiring bonanza with hundreds of jobs on offer (pictured: pilots and air stewardesses at Adelaide Airport Virgin lounge opening in 2021)

Virgin Australia is the only airline in the country ever to have returned from voluntary administration.

Investment firm Bain Capital purchased the business in November 2020 with the intent to keep the flights going.

Ms Hrdlicka said the other major areas of focus for the revamped airline are safety and staff - with the first new batch of cabin crew already doing their safety training at the Sydney base.

The intensive course is six weeks of full time training where the crew are put through their paces.

Most of those in the first group of 21 are returning to Virgin or have previously worked at other airlines.

Safety is a priority with the trainees required to be experts in using the floatation devices and rafts (pictured)

The first group of new cabin crew are already doing their training at the Sydney base (pictured)

Christie, who is a stay-at-home mum, said the recruitment drive is the opportunity she's been waiting for.

'[The training] is like a military operation I've always wanted to do this and I'm pinching myself that I'm here finally,' she said.

Classmate Jess lost her job with an international airline in early 2020 and returned home to Australia.

She said getting the call from Virgin Australia was a 'relief'.

The airline employs a total of 2,000 workers in head office and another 4,000 frontline staff.
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Heartbreaking images from Ukraine have emerged showing a man weeping over the body of his father among the wreckage of a missile strike despite Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming he declared war to 'protect civilians' after ordering an all out invasion this morning.

Russia today launched simultaneous attacks from the south, east and north, by land and by air, killing at least 40 civilians by midday including a young boy in an apartment block in Kharkiv, Ukrainian authorities said.

Other civilians were also injured and some others are believed to have died in 203 attacks launched so far by Russian forces, the Ukrainian police said after tanks rolled across the border and troops parachuted down on eastern regions earlier today.

In the eastern Ukrainian town of Chuguiv, a son wept over the body of his father among the wreckage of a missile strike in a residential district. 'I told him to leave,' the man sobbed repeatedly, next to the twisted ruins of a car.

The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed it is not targeting cities or civilians and in a warped attempt to reassure Ukrainians said there 'no threat to the population' because Moscow's forces are using precision weapons.

But Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine have all reported coming under attack, with blasts also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland.

Pictures today showed the true face of the war with blood-covered civilians being helped to safety by emergency services following shelling and others with injuries to their heads, faces and arms being patched up by medics.

Extraordinary footage of the invasion was documented online with video of what appeared to be a cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport, in the west of Ukraine. Meanwhile Kiev's main international airport was hit in the first bombing of the city since World War II and air raid sirens sounded over the capital at the break of dawn.

In the eastern Ukrainian town of Chuguiv, a son wept over the body of his father among the wreckage of a missile strike in a residential district. 'I told him to leave,' the man sobbed repeatedly, next to the twisted ruins of a car'

Heartbreaking images from Ukraine have emerged showing bloodied civilians (pictured in Chuhuiv, eastern Ukraine) staggering through the streets despite Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming he declared war to 'protect civilians' after ordering an all out invasion this morning

Russia today launched simultaneous attacks from the south, east and north, by land and by air, killing at l east 40 civilians by midday including a young boy in an apartment block in Chuhuiv in Kharkiv, Ukrainian authorities said

Ukrainian security forces accompany a wounded man after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv, this morning

Emergency unit staff treat an injured man after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24

A wounded man is helped by Ukrainian security forces after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Kharkiv

A wounded woman is seen on the streets of Kharkiv in Ukraine after airstrikes hit an apartment complex

Wreckage of an X-31 missile in Kiev in Ukraine after airstrikes hit Ukraine when Putin declared war

Video filmed on the outskirts of Kharkiv, in the east of Ukraine, purports to show Ukrainian tanks engaged in a stand off with Russian forces who rolled over the border in the early hours

Plumes of smoke and fire rises into the air after Russian airstrikes hit Kiev this morning

A tank of Ukrainian forces moves as following Russia's military operation on February 24

'I woke up because of the sounds of bombing. I packed a bag and tried to escape,' said resident Maria Kashkoska, as she sheltered inside the Kyiv metro station.

Reports of explosions and air raid sirens came from as far west as Lviv and hundreds of casualties were reported by Ukraine's Interior Ministry as the country was placed under martial law.

An appalling video showed the moment a shell landed near a cyclist in Uman, Cherkassy region, central Ukraine.

Reports stated that at least one civilian was killed and five others wounded in the missile attack, which sparked an evacuation of the population within a 19 mile radius of the nearby military unit.

Another video shows Russian military vehicles marked 'Z' in Kherson. In recent days military vehicles with these markings have been seen in western Russia.

In his speech last night Putin said: 'In this regard, in accordance with Article 51 of Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council of Russia and in pursuance of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance ratified by the Federal Assembly on February 22 this year with the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, I decided to conduct a special military operation .

'Its goal is to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. And for this we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as bringing to justice those who committed numerous, bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.'

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by Ukraine because of the imminent threat of a Russian invasion, members still unaware of Putin's announcement appealed to him to stop an attack. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting, just before the announcement, telling Putin: 'Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.'

NATO Secretary-General Jen Stoltenberg issued a statement condemning 'Russia's reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.'

Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine - a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion.

He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia's demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees. He also claimed that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to 'demilitarize' it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

Putin is also warning other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action will lead to 'consequences they have never seen.'

This is the moment a passerby cyclist was hit by a shell as it missed its target in Uman in the Cherkassy region of Ukraine

It is thought the missile missed its target and landed accidentally in what appears to be a car park, where the rider was cycling this morning

Ukrainian firefighters arrive after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast

Ukrainian firefighters try to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

A blast in Sumy, eastern Ukraine, strikes what appears to be an arms depot which exploded, lighting up the night sky

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

A video showed more evidence of intense fighting in the suburbs of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city.

Oleksiy Arestovych, of the Tripartite Contact Group for the Peaceful Settlement of the Situation in Eastern Ukraine, told President Zelensky: 'Russian troops have crossed the Crimean Isthmus and are developing an offensive in two directions - to Militopol and Kherson.

'The military take up defensive positions in these areas and are preparing to stop the offensive.

'The most successful situation is in the Joint Forces Operations zone. All attacks there were repulsed, the line of defence was not broken through.

'Shchastie was repulsed, a lot of enemy equipment was hit. Near Kharkiv, fighting is going on 4-5 km north of the city.

'They destroyed 4 enemy tanks. Shot down 6 Russian planes. In the Chernihiv region, they advanced 5-10 km, but Kiev is reliably protected, fierce battles will await them.

'From the Ukrainian side - there are more than 40 dead. Mariupil is under the control of the Ukrainian army.'

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said as of 10.30am local time: 'In the Chernihiv region, we managed to stop the enemy.

'Difficult battles are being fought in the Kharkiv direction and in the area of the Joint Forces Operation, where the enemy has suffered losses in manpower and equipment.

'With the help of our troops, the cities of MARIUPOL and SCHASTIA have been returned to full control.

'At least 6 aircrafts, 2 helicopters and dozens of enemy armored vehicles were destroyed.

'The difficult situation in the Kherson direction, however, the defence forces of Ukraine are rebuffing the aggressor.'

Russia has dismissed as a 'complete lie' claims that any of its warplanes were lost.

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, sources said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment's notice. Official figures put the death toll at 7, with 19 unaccounted for.

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed, before Moscow boasted of taking full control of the skies.

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

CCTV cameras at Belarusian-Ukrainian checkpoint Senkovka-Veselovka capture at least four T-72B tanks, at least eight MT-LB tractors, and a Ural truck crossing the border

Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv

Ukrainian troops are seen on the top of a tank heading into the city of Mariupol, near the occupied Donbass

Ukrainian soldiers ride in a military vehicle in Mariupol, Ukraine

European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to hold the Kremlin accountable.

'In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,' they said on Twitter.

Even before Putin's announcement, dozens of nations imposed sanctions on Russia, further squeezing Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that 'Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage.'

The threat of war has already shredded Ukraine's economy and raised the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos.

Across Ukraine, cruise and ballistic missiles were destroying military infrastructure and strategically important facilities, according to unofficial Russian sources.

Mariupol, on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, appeared to be under fierce attack. Taking this strategic location would give the Donbas republics access to the sea.

The moment Ukraine and the rest of Europe had dreaded for months finally came shortly after 4.35am local time when huge explosions were heard in Kiev and other cities across the country.

Terrified citizens rushed to bomb shelters, though no air raid warnings sounded in the capital  only the frequent muffled crump of missile or air strikes breaking through the pre-dawn stillness.

In Kiev, people were sheltering in basements as the sounds of distant explosions became a constant backdrop.

Within an hour Russians special force and airborne troops were reported to be on the ground at Kiev's Boryspil Airport, amid fierce fighting.

A woman in the Ukrainian capital said: 'I was woken by a friend.

'I am in the centre of Kiev.

'I hear the sound of distant explosions and ambulance sirens.'

At 7.05am the first air raid sirens were heard in central Kiev.
BBC reporters put on flak jackets today after their live broadcast from a Kiev rooftop was interrupted by the sound of sirens blaring.

Clive Myrie and Lyse Doucet - wearing a black overcoat and red puffa jacket respectively - were detailing the latest developments from the Ukrainian capital, when the unmistakable droning could be heard in the background reverberating around the city.

Moments later, after the broadcast cut to the BBC studio in London's Broadcasting House, the pair reappeared on screen wearing blue flak jackets, worn as protection against bullets and shrapnel.

Myrie said: 'We heard the air raid sirens, we have put on our flak jackets. One wonders what the people of this city and indeed right across this country are now thinking.

'They prayed for peace and with all the diplomacy over the last few weeks and months, they hoped that would be the case. Now we are in a major conflict.'

Doucet, the BBC's chief international correspondent, replied: 'The siren has spoken.

'The siren spoke live in our broadcast and that siren, not only did it strike fear in the hearts of all the Ukrainians being told to stay at home today and some still bravely went to work.

'A siren telling them: 'Be careful, something even more dangerous could come'. But that siren was also heard across the UK and around the world.'

It was the second time a siren was heard live on the BBC today, after fellow reporter Nick Beake also had his broadcast interrupted by whirring alarms warning of more Russian missiles tearing towards Kiev.

Further evidence of the dramas of live reporting in Ukraine was provided overnight, when a CNN journalist was filmed in the early hours ducking for cover and strapping on protective gear of his own.

Clive Myrie and Lyse Doucet - wearing a black overcoat and red puffa jacket respectively - were detailing the latest developments from the Ukrainian capital, when the unmistakable droning could be heard in the background reverberating around the city

Moments later, after the broadcast cut to the BBC studio in London's Broadcasting House, the pair reappeared on screen wearing blue flak jackets, worn as protection against bullets and shrapnel

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev reporting hearing blasts in the early hours of Thursday morning

Nick Beake was detailing the latest developments from the Ukrainian capital when the unmistakable droning could be heard in the background reverberating around the city

As weapons rained from the sky and tanks rolled across the border, 'hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, officials said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an address to the nation on Thursday morning, said the history of Ukraine has now changed forever and that Russia has 'embarked on a path of evil' - comparing the Russian attack to Hitler's forces in World War Two.

But he vowed to fight back, saying the military has already inflicted 'serious losses' on Russia.

He called on all Ukrainian citizens willing to defend their homeland to step forward, saying guns will be issued to everyone who wants one. He also asked for civilians to give blood to help wounded troops.

But thousands of terrified locals in the capital were pictured scrambling to flee Kiev and move west as a series of attacks were launched by Russian troops.

In his report, Mr Beake said: The sirens have just started here in the capital, Kiev. Like so many people we were woken up by the sounds of explosions and people across the country are reporting the same thing.

'Russia claims it is targeting military installations but certainly many people in this country are extremely fearful because the invasion, the attack that Russia promised would never happen, has now started.

'The Ukrainian government is urging people to stay calm and is appealing to the international community to stop President Putin now.'

In the US, the main television channels broke away from their regularly scheduled broadcasts to deliver breaking news of Russian forces crossing the border into Ukraine.

On the east coast, ABC viewers were watching the sitcom The Connors when suddenly viewers were treated to World News Tonight's David Muir to deliver an ABC News Special Report.

'We're hearing a series of explosions in Ukraine now,' said Muir as he showed video shot in Kiev during which several loud blasts could be heard at 5:33am, local time.

Muir explained how US intelligence officials knew that the operations would begin under cover of darkness and before sunrise before Ukrainian people were able to realize what was going on in their own country.

Muis also explained that explosions had also been heard in the eastern city of Kharkiv.

Over on CBS, Season 33 of reality game show The Amazing Race was well underway when the network was forced to break away to deliver news of the invasion.

Host of the CBS Evening News, Norah O'Donnell was back behind the anchor desk.

World News Tonight's David Muir delivered an ABC News Special Report

Explosions heard in the distance before sunrise in Kyiv, Ukraine.



LATEST: https://t.co/Hq3CVT4l2t pic.twitter.com/87ZNAV2uf5  ABC News (@ABC) February 24, 2022

Host of the CBS Evening News, Norah O'Donnell was back behind the anchor desk delivering breaking news on Wednesday night

CBS News Charlie D'Agata told how there had been several loud noises in the last few minutes and appeared shaken initially

D'Agata kept looking around for any incoming missiles as he delivered a breaking news report

BREAKING: NATO says Russian attack has begun, moments after Vladimir Putin announced that he had "decided to conduct a special military operation https://t.co/xbaLe5wyFY pic.twitter.com/idAED4X37p  CBS News (@CBSNews) February 24, 2022

'This is a CBS News specials report. We are coming on the air because the war in Ukraine has begun just minutes after Vladimir Putin announce a special military operation Easter Ukraine, and that is where our reporter Charlie D'Agata is.

D'Agata told how there had been several loud noises in the last few minutes and appeared shaken initially.

'We heard several loud explosions three to begin with followed by two more,' he said.

A fighter jet suddenly flew overhead which took D'Agata off guard as he looked around to see if there was anything he needed to be aware of.

D'Agata appeared spooked by the sudden noise.

'We had always been expecting something major to happen. We thought an invasion might begin with air strikes. We heard five explosions. Three, followed by two more, and whatever that was!' he said, referring to the aircraft that had just flown by.

NBC News Senior National Correspondent Tom Llamas appeared on television screens and crossed to former CNN Correspondent Erin McLaughlin, pictured, who was live in Kiev

NBC had reporters all over Ukraine and in Russia too with Richard Engel, Erin McLaughlin, Keir Simmons and Mtt McBradley providing full coverage

At NBC, the show Chicago Fire, which had already been off the air for the last few weeks because of the Beijing Winter Olympics, was back - but not for long.

NBC News Senior National Correspondent Tom Llamas appeared on television screens to inform viewers about breaking news of the invasion.

Llamas crossed to former CNN Correspondent Erin McLaughlin who set the scene from a balcony in Kiev for both NBC and MSNBC networks.

Twitter users watching all three of the main networks were unhappy that their favorite television shows had been pushed aside in order to present the 'Special Report'.

On the Fox News Channel, Laura Ingraham was reeling off various failed attempts at diplomacy while correspondent, Trey Yingst, could be seen wearing a protective helmet

SOUNDS OF WAR: Explosions heard in the background as Fox News' Foreign Correspondent @TreyYingst reports from the ground in Kyiv after Putin orders 'special military operation' in Ukraine. @IngrahamAngle pic.twitter.com/0MZNDD7IU6  Fox News (@FoxNews) February 24, 2022

On the Fox News Channel, Laura Ingraham was reeling off various failed attempts at diplomacy while Fox News' Foreign Correspondent, Trey Yingst, could be seen wearing a protective helmet.

'There was such a flurry of diplomatic activity. We had Blinken, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, all trying to talk some sense into Putin. All of it was summarily ignored,' she began before Yingst interrupted her.

'Did you hear those explosions behind me? Did you hear those explosions behind me? Kiev currently taking Russian fire right now!' he said.

No matter the news, Twitter users across the main terrestrial networks appears were upset their favorite shows had been cancelled.

No matter the network, viewers were upset their favorite show had been shoved from the schedule by Russia's invasion of Ukraine

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev reported hearing blasts in the early hours of Thursday morning as Russia's invasion came into full view.

'I just heard a big bang right here behind me. I've never heard anything like it.'

Matthew Chance, Senior International correspondent for the network, said that he heard between seven and eight explosions.

Chance quickly put on his flak jacket and headgear while he continued to report from a balcony in the Ukrainian capital.

Chance did not want to take any chances and set about putting on his flak jacket and helmet

'There are big explosions taking place. I can't see them or explain what they are. but I will tell you the U.S has warned the Ukrainian authorities there could be air strikes and ground attacks as well around the country, including the capital.

'I don't know if that's what's occurring now but it's a remarkable coincidence that the explosions come just minutes after Putin gave his speech,' Chance explained.

'This is the first time we've heard anything. It has been absolutely silent. This is the first time. It has to be more than just a coincidence.

'I think it's safe where I am. I have a flak jacket,' Chance remarked before ducking down to put on his protective gear.

Chance, located on a balcony in the Ukrainian capital quickly put on his protective headgear

Chance, who had been to the Ukrainian capital many times in recent years said he had 'never heard anything like it'

He suggested that the blasts he heard were still some distance away from the center.

'It was so quiet in Ukraine tonight up until those explosions,' Chance explained. 'What we thought was unthinkable until a few hours ago, is now underway.'

The blasts came within minutes of Putin saying Russia would conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

CNN's Chance said at first that it was not clear what the target was, however he later suggested that Russia was trying to disable Ukraine's airports and destroying airstrips, although he stressed that it was unconfirmed.

CNN's Matthew Chance in Kyiv: "I just heard a big bang right here behind me." Here's the video of the moment pic.twitter.com/prYeVlDvkn  Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 24, 2022

CNN: A WAR REPORTING VETERAN War reporting has been at the heart of CNN's coverage over the last 30 years. The first Gulf War, codenamed Operation Desert Storm which ran for six weeks during January and February 1991 was significant for many reasons including CNN's live reporting from a Baghdad hotel. At the time, new technologies, such as satellite technology, allowed for a new type of war coverage. For the first time, people all over the world were able to watch live pictures of missiles hitting their targets and fighters taking off from aircraft carriers. The use of night vision equipment also gave the reporting a futuristic spin which was said to resemble video game imagery and encourage the 'war drama'. The war was covered live since its beginnings by the three main American networks, as well as CNN which was only ten years old. CNN gained the most popularity for their coverage, and indeed its wartime coverage is often cited as one of the landmark events in the development of the network. CNN's Wolf Blitzer was safe at the Pentagon when the network's reporting of Operation Desert Storm began on January 16th 1991 CNN was the only 24hour coverage news network at the time. When war broke out the network was able to follow the events in Baghdad on a 24hour basis. Even when other American journalists were told their safety might be at risk, CNN reporters stayed behind after their producers had built up good relationships with government officials in Baghdad. During the first days of the bombing the CNN team was also able to report live via radio from their hotel suite in the Rashid Hotel, something no other network was able to do. Advertisement

About 300 miles away to the east, in Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, a steady stream of explosions were also heard where another CNN reporter, Clarissa Ward, CNNs Chief International Correspondent was located.

In a televised address early on Thursday morning, Putin said the action came in response to threats coming from Ukraine.

He added that Russia does not have a goal to occupy Ukraine, but said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian 'regime'.

Putin also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to 'consequences they have never seen'.

He accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining Nato and offer Moscow security guarantees.

He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a 'demilitarization' of Ukraine, adding that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

The announcement came just after airspace over all of Ukraine was shut down to civilian air traffic, and at the same time as an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was taking place.

On Wednesday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an emotional televised address in Russian following the approval of a 30-day state-of-emergency order handed the government sweeping powers in the interest of national security.

'The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace. But if we come under attack that threatens our freedom and lives of our people we will fight back,' he said, as he rejected Moscow's claim Ukraine is a threat to Russia.
Boris Johnson was accused of 'encouraging' Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine today by imposing 'pathetic sanctions' that the Russian leader completely ignored.

The Prime Minister came under withering friendly fire this morning over 'weak' economic measures targeting cronies of the Kremlin autocrat before his tanks crossed the border.

Mr Johnson this week unveiled measures targeting just three people and five banks after Putin recognised two breakaway areas in Ukraine's east - and is preparing to introduce more now that a full-scale incursion is underway.

But less than a fortnight ago, Russia's ambassador to Sweden said that his boss 'doesn't give a s**t' about economic restrictions being put in place.

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'.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, a former soldier and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. told the BBC today: 'I'm afraid weak sanctions like the ones that were imposed on Monday just encourage others to believe we are weak because we're clearly not willing to do anything serious.

'So what that did, I'm afraid on Monday, was it didn't deter, but encouraged, because it gave the suggestion or made clear that we weren't wiling to do anything serious.

The Prime Minister came under withering friendly fire this morning over 'weak' economic measures targeting cronies of the Kremlin autocrat before his tanks crossed the border.

Tory Tom Tugendhat, a former soldier and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee: 'I'm afraid weak sanctions like the ones that were imposed on Monday just encourage others to believe we are weak because we're clearly not willing to do anything serious.'

Mr Johnson this week unveiled measures targeting just three people and five banks after Putin recognised two breakaway areas in Ukraine's east - and is preparing to introduce more now that a full-scale incursion is underway.

Russia has today launched all-out war on Ukraine with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air

'If we are going to do sanctions, as I say, we need to do them extremely hard and extremely early.'

He added: 'This is a vile act of war and an aggression which really cannot be tolerated by any party.'

Russia today launched all-out war on Ukraine with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air. Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions were seen across the country after Vladimir Putin gave the order to attack.

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, and official said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment's notice. Official figures put the death toll at 40, with 'dozens' wounded. Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed, before Moscow boasted of taking full control of the skies. Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all reported coming under attack, with blasts also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland. Extraordinary video footage showed what appeared to be a cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport, also in the west. An apartment block in Kharkiv was struck, causing civilian casualties.

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said he believes the UK's initial round of sanctions failed to deter Russia partly because Vladimir Putin is making decisions 'increasingly in isolation' and 'illogically'.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'What became evident in the days leading up to this invasion is that Vladimir Putin is increasingly isolated. That bizarre video of him berating his senior officials shows that he's making these decisions increasingly in isolation and illogically.

'And unfortunately I think that that is part of the reason why the initial round of international sanctions that (were) put in place by ourselves, by France, Germany, the US, Canada and others, didn't have the deterrent effect.'
Andrew Marr has vowed to 'ruffle feathers' with his brand new LBC show, telling would-be listeners looking for 'bland, safe, wearily predictable journalism' to 'look elsewhere.'

The former BBC titan's new slot - Tonight with Andrew Marr - will launch on March 7 at 6pm, it was revealed Thursday.

The broadcaster, 62, left the BBC in November last year after more than two decades with the corporation, later adding that he wanted to be able to 'write and say what I really think.'

He will soon be joined by two familiar faces following the shock defection of Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel - two of the BBC's biggest news stars - to Global earlier this week.

Speaking about his new show, which will air Mondays to Thursdays, Marr said today: 'I've always thought journalism is about breaking stories, ruffling feathers and having some fun on the way.

'My new LBC show, Tonight with Andrew Marr, is perfectly timed at 6pm - the end of busy political days - and stuffed with great guests, and will do just that.

'Anyone wanting bland, safe, wearily predictable journalism is strongly advised to look elsewhere.'

Andrew Marr's new show - Tonight with Andrew Marr - will launch on LBC on March 7 at 6pm, it was revealed Thursday. (Pictured: Andrew Marr)

BBC veterans and good friends Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel (pictured) are leaving the BBC to join Global, owners of LBC, where they will front a show and a podcast together

Global, which owns LBC, first poached Marr from the BBC in November.

He quit the Corporation after 21 years to front shows on LBC and Classic FM, and is thought to have significantly increased his pay of up to 339,999 in the move.

Marr's new weekday show will see him become the newest member of LBC's line-up, which includes Nick Ferrari, James O'Brien, Eddie Mair, Shelagh Fogarty, Iain Dale, Tom Swarbrick, David Lammy, Camilla Tominey and Matt Frei.

Tom Cheal, Managing Editor of LBC, said: 'I'm delighted to welcome Andrew to our brilliant line-up of presenters.

'Now with the freedom to share his views and broadcast in his own voice, Tonight with Andrew Marr will be packed with sharp opinion, insightful commentary and agenda-setting interviews, all delivered in Andrew's fast-paced, vivid style.

'At a time when LBC is celebrating record audiences, it promises to become another unmissable moment in our schedule.'

LBC has appointed Rob Burley as Executive Editor for the new programme.

Burley was previously Editor of BBC's Live Political programmes - including The Andrew Marr Show.

Also joining the new team is Matt Harris, who returns to LBC from Newsnight as Programme Editor.

Sopel and Maitlis have been at the BBC for decades and are on big money, 235,000 and 325,000 respectively but it is understood both will have secured a pay rise in their new roles

Tonight with Andrew Marr, will air Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 7pm, on LBC and will also be televised live on Global Player.

It comes after the BBC was thrown into disarray earlier this week when two of its biggest news stars - Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel - quit to co-present a show and podcast - also for LBC.

Both their former bosses are understood to have found out just hours before media group Global announced the deal.

The pair are now set to land a huge cash boost, with outgoing North America editor Mr Sopel thought to have nearly doubled his BBC pay of up to 234,999.

Newsnight presenter Miss Maitlis is also believed to have landed a hefty pay rise from her salary band of up to 329,999.

One source described the deal as an 'irresistible package'.

Recent departures have sparked talk of a 'brain drain' and 'exodus' at the corporation's news division.

BBC insiders last night said they believed Miss Maitlis, 51, who has been at the corporation since 2001, quit in part because she was 'frustrated' at being repeatedly 'ticked-off' by bosses over impartiality issues.

She was at the centre of a row in 2020 when the BBC decided she had breached impartiality rules in a monologue about Dominic Cummings's trip to Durham during lockdown.

Andrew Marr (pictured), 62, left the BBC in November last year after more than two decades with the corporation, later adding that he wanted to be able to 'write and say what I really think.'

In June, she was reprimanded for sharing a Twitter post by Piers Morgan about the pandemic that the corporation said was 'clearly controversial'.

A senior source said the pair's defection was 'extraordinary' particularly as Mr Sopel was the 'clear front-runner' to replace Laura Kuenssberg as political editor.

The role is seen as the most high-profile reporting job in British TV.

Mr Sopel, 62, has been at the BBC for nearly 40 years and recently moved back to the UK after leaving his post in the US.

He and Miss Maitlis are good friends and have co-hosted the hugely successful BBC podcast Americast. Details of their new podcast will be announced later in the year.

Global said the pair will also provide 'commentary and analysis' for LBC's website.

The announcement sent shockwaves through the BBC's news division.

One source said: 'You might say it's not that much fun any more at the BBC at that level and you might say there are lots of things going on outside, particularly at LBC.'

A senior BBC News insider said: 'I think... Emily Maitlis wants to have a freer hand and I think that Global will give her that.'
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Joe Biden was slammed for publicly absent over Ukraine last night as Russia launched an all-out war early this morning - and he is not expected to make an address for several more hours.

The President condemned Vladimir Putin's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack ' in a statement posted soon after war was declared at 11.43pm.

But after being accused of 'weakness' in the face of Russian aggression, he was urged to hit Russia and Vladimir Putin's inner circle with tougher sanctions 'as soon as possible'.

Biden was 'monitoring the situation' from the White House overnight but is yet to make a public address or an appearance and won't make an address until midday - 12 hours after war began.

Former President Donald Trump was scathing of Biden's response, telling Fox News in a wild interview that Biden was 'probably in bed right now' rather than monitoring developments.

Biden was most recently pictured on Tuesday, February 22 as he announced sanctions against Russia from the East Room of the White House.

Since declaring war at 4.43am local time, Russian forces have swept into Ukraine in simultaneous attacks from the south, east and north, with bombs raining down from the sky over the Donbas and Luhansk regions. The death toll on the Ukrainian side has hit at least 40, according to officials.

The Biden administration has faced sharp criticism for so far only sanctioning five Russian figures in Putin's inner circle and hitting only two Russian banks. Senator Ted Cruz describes the sanctions as 'appeasement that only increases the chances of military conflict.'

It is hoped however more significant sanctions could be agreed unilaterally when Biden holds an emergency meeting with G7 leaders later this morning.

Joe Biden was slammed for being missing in action over Ukraine last night as Russia launched an all-out war in the early hours - and the President is not expected to make an on-camera address for several more hours. Pictured: Biden in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday

Biden was 'monitoring the situation' from the White House overnight as explosions lit up the night sky over Kiev (pictured this morning) but is yet to make a public address or an appearance and won't make an address until midday - 12 hours after war began

A blast in Sumy, eastern Ukraine, strikes what appears to be an arms depot which exploded, lighting up the night sky

Russian forces have swept into Ukraine in simultaneous attacks from the south, east and north, with bombs raining down from the sky over the Donbas and Luhansk regions. Five Ukrainians have been killed. Pictured: A checkpoint of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in Kyiv region that was shelled

Pro-Russian rebel forces pushed out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot two Ukrainian jets out of the skies. The port cities of Mariupol and Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval bases are located, were also attacked. Pictured: Missile strike in Ivano Frankivsk, in Ukraine's west, as smoke and flames rise into the sky

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, and official said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment's notice. Official figures put the death toll at 40, with 'dozens' wounded

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

The President condemned Vladimir Putin's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack' on Ukraine in a statement soon after war was declared 11.43pm US time. He said 'the prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight'

What further sanctions can Biden impose? President Joe Biden has so far slapped sanctions on just two Russian banks, a handful of individuals and a firm involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, but is under pressure to go much further. On Tuesday, Biden took a direct hit at Vladimir Putin's inner circle by targeting five individuals with sanctions. They include Alex Bortnikov, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service, Putin's deputy chief of staff Sergey Keriyenko, and the CEO of Russian Promsvyazbank, the country's largest military bank. Biden said additionally that two Russian financial institutions, VTB and Russia's military bank, which hold around $80 billion in assets, will also face sanctions. He said Russia's sovereign debt will be sanctioned so Russia 'can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade its new debt on our markets, or European markets either.' The US then struck again on Wednesday, with sanctions on the firm building the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and its corporate officers. The Biden administration had made clear it was holding tougher financial penalties in reserve in case of just such a Russian invasion. But now that Russia has effectively declared war by invading Ukraine, all eyes are on Washington to see what measures it will take now. Possible next steps include sanctioning other Russian banks like Sberbank and VTB, barring US financial institutions from processing Russian transactions, and export bans on US and foreign-made goods. But following criticism of the ineffective sanctions packages delivered so far, it is hoped G7 leaders may work on a united set of punishments when they meet today. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that the UK, 'in concert with our allies,' would approve 'a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy.' The European Union has moved closer to a massive package of sanctions targeting both sectors of the Russian economy and individuals. It's unclear if Putin himself will be targeted. Another tough measure under consideration would effectively shut Russia out of much of the global financial system. This could even extend to SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). Advertisement

Nikki Haley, the former US Ambassador to the UN, said the Biden administration had failed to deliver on a promise of swift and severe sanctions.

'President Biden promised a swift and severe response. He did not deliver. Ukraine is a test of western resolve. Its not just about Putin. The Chinese communists and Iranian jihadists are watching too. Its a major leadership moment for Biden. So far, hes failing.'

She added that under Biden, US weakness over sanctions was 'teasing Russian aggression.'

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Tuesday that Putin will win in Ukraine because Biden had failed to mount a successful NATO deterrence effort.

The longtime GOP foreign policy operative told MSNBC that while Putin had wanted a second Trump term, he was getting just as much leeway under Biden's administration now.

'I think Putin was undoubtedly waiting for a second Trump term, but he's getting effectively almost what he would have expected then. This is going to be a victory for Russia,' Bolton said.

The White House on Tuesday slapped a first tranche of 'swift and severe costs' on Russia and promised of harsher measures to come.

Biden said two Russian financial institutions, VTB and Russia's military bank, will face sanctions. He also said Russia's sovereign debt will be sanctioned so Russia 'can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade its new debt on our markets, or European markets either.'

The administration also targeted five individuals from Putin's inner circle, including Alex Bortnikov, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service, Putin's deputy chief of staff Sergey Keriyenko, and the CEO of Russian Promsvyazbank, the country's largest military bank.

And on Wednesday the White House stepped up pressure by imposing sanctions on the firm building the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and its corporate officers, a move Biden had resisted for months.

But Biden is now under pressure from fellow Democrats and Republicans in Congress to crack down even harder on Moscow.

Democrat House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff told CNN that the administration should put in place 'the most severe sanctions as soon as possible,' including a permanent end to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline connecting Russia with Germany under the Baltic Sea.

Speaking before the outbreak of war yesterday he said: 'We have to make sure that if Putin goes forward with this invasion more fully ... that the costs to Putin and Russia are just crippling.'

Former President Donald Trump was scathing of Biden's response, telling Fox News in a wild interview that Biden was 'probably in bed right now' rather than monitoring developments

Trump tells Laura Ingraham that Putin didn't invade Ukraine during his administration for "a very good reason, and I'll explain that to you someday." pic.twitter.com/SzwXTw1O4A  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 24, 2022

The Biden administration has faced sharp criticism for only sanctioning five Russian figures in Putin's inner circle and hitting only two Russian banks. Senator Ted Cruz describes the sanctions as 'appeasement that only increases the chances of military conflict'

Joe Biden's full statement on the Russian invasion of Ukraine 'The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable. I will be monitoring the situation from the White House this evening and will continue to get regular updates from my national security team. Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security. We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.' Advertisement

Republican Senator Rob Portman demanded tough sanctions, rigid export controls and moves to increase military support to Ukraine and other allies, including Poland, Romania and the Baltic countries, in a statement after the Russian attacks.

Germany on Tuesday froze approvals for the pipeline, which has been built but was not yet in operation, amid concerns it could allow Moscow to weaponize energy supplies to Europe.

Possible next steps include sanctioning other Russian banks like Sberbank and VTB, barring US financial institutions from processing Russian transactions, and export bans on US and foreign-made goods.

Following the outbreak of war, former President Donald Trump slammed Biden's administration in a wild interview on Fox News, suggesting this wouldn't have happened under his administration and again making claims of a rigged election in 2020.

Trump, speaking to Fox's Laura Ingraham as the Kremlin's 'special military operation' began, claimed that the so-called 'Russia hoax' ruined his good relationships with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi, arguing he kept the two apart.

'This should have never happened. This would not have happened during my administration,' he said. 'In fact, some people are saying why didn't this take place over the last four years? It didn't for a very good reason and I'll explain that to you someday, but it wouldn't have taken place and it wouldn't have taken place right now.'

Ingraham then asked Trump what he thought of President Biden's approach, in which Ingraham said Biden was 'monitoring the situation' and then would talk to fellow G7 leaders Thursday.

'I don't think he's monitoring, I think he is probably sleeping right now,' Trump retorted. 'This is a terrible thing that should never have happened. I really believe that it was Afghanistan, when he looked at that horrible, weak pullout.'

Trump added that he believes Putin sees this as 'the weakness and the incompetence and the stupidity of [the Biden] administration.'

Trump on Tuesday praised Putin's decision to recognize the independence of two breakaway regions in Ukraine as 'genius.'

'Putin declares a big portion of Ukraine  Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful,' Trump told a conservative podcaster in an interview published Tuesday.

Chuhuiv military airfield in Kharkiv outskirts burns

Smoke rises over Chuhuiv military airfield in eastern Ukraine after a Russian airstrike aimed at taking out the air force

Ukrainian tanks are seen rolling into the port city of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, after Putin declared war

Military vehicles are seen on a street on the outskirts of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy chairs an urgent meeting with the leadership of the government, representatives of the defence sector and the economic bloc, in Kiev

Vladimir Putin is pictured in the early hours of Thursday morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a 'special military operation'

'I said, "How smart is that?" And he's gonna go in and be a peacekeeper... We could use that on our southern border.' Trump also said Putin was 'very savvy' in his tactics.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier today broke off Kyiv's diplomatic relations with Moscow in response to Russia's invasion of its Western-backed neighbour.

It marked the first rupture in ties since Russia and Ukraine became independent countries after the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.

'We broke off diplomatic relations with Russia,' Zelensky said in a video message.

Ukraine and Russia maintained ties throughout a complex history of relations that included two pro-Western revolutions in Kyiv in 2004 and 2014 that the Kremlin strongly opposed.

Analysts said Kyiv was keen to keep diplomatic channels with Moscow open because it needed to provide consular and other assistance to nearly three million Ukrainians living in Russia.

Zelensky's decision came hours after Putin launched an all-out offensive that included an air assault and ground invasions along Ukraine's northern and southern frontiers.
Ukrainians living in the UK are planning to return home to defend their country from Russia - as others prepare to protest at Downing Street to urge Boris Johnson to do more.

Putin's forces bombarded its neighbour just after 4am this morning with land and air attacks from the north, south and east.

It was a brutal realisation of what many Ukrainians had feared for the past eight years since Russian annexed the Crimea.

Now some of those living in the UK are preparing to return hone to defend their home country.

Flights are impossible so many are jetting to the nearest airport to the country before attempting to drive in across the borders.

Marta Mulyak, 39, the head of the London branch of Plast National Scout Organisation of Ukraine, told MailOnline: 'I have been up since 4am today, I woke up and felt anxious and then I saw the news and saw why.

'Some of my friends have said they will return to try and defend the country. They are not military people, the love for the country for Ukrainians is above all and they want to protect our country.

'The people that are trying to get over to Ukraine they are not sure how they will get there. I guess the only way is to drive from the closest airport.

Marta Mulyak, 39, said some Ukrainians in the UK were planning to return home to help

Petro Chymera, 32, and Olesya Khromeychuk, 38, said their prayers were with Ukraine

Ela Czuruk from the Ukraine outside the Russian Embassy. Russians and Ukrainians unite in protest outside the Russian Embassy in London over Putins attack on the Ukraine

Members of the Orthodox Church attend a demonstration outside Downing Street in support of Ukraine

People hold a banner and Ukrainian flags as they attend a demonstration in support of Ukraine, outside Downing Street

'Right now our main push is to co-ordinate out actions across the world. We believe in our regular army.

'There are a lot of people over there who have also joined local forces.

'We have been warning about Russia for eight years. If Russia isn't stopped now it will go further than Ukraine. Unfortunately history seems to be repeating itself.

'I am afraid if action is not taken now there will be consequences for the whole world.'

Wolodymyr Pawluk, 58, chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, told The Guardian some military veterans living in Britain were thinking of going back.

He said: 'In London, I can only say a handful have said that they will go back.

People attend a pro-Ukrainian demonstration on Whitehall, near Downing Street, earlier today

Two banners criticising the response to Russia were also held at Downing Street protest

Protesters gather during a rally against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in front of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

'There are many more that I've also heard will go, although I don't know them personally.'

Olesya Khromeychuk, 38, said: 'Just imagining what sort of bloodshed this is likely to cause is awful. I lost my brother, who was serving in the Ukrainian armed forces, at the frontline in 2017. Volodya was 42 when he was killed by shrapnel in the Luhansk region. He lived in western Europe but moved back to join up.'

Head of the Ukrainian Youth Association in Bradford Petro Chymera, 32, said some members of the local community were preparing contingency plans to help relatives in east Ukraine seek refuge in Western Europe and the UK.

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes this morning.

A Stop Putin protest is also due to start at Downing Street at midday today after action yesterday outside the Russian embassy.

Official figures put the death toll at 40, with 'dozens' wounded.

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed, before Moscow boasted of taking full control of the skies.

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Hundreds of people have already demonstrated against Russia's aggression against Ukraine outside the Russian embassy in London last night.

They held banner reading 'Putin hands off Ukraine', 'Putin kills' and 'Ukraine will never surrender' outside the embassy in Kensington.
Technician Beatriz Felipe performs weight control on an octopus at the Spanish Oceanography Institute IEO in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Feb. 4. Reuters-Yonhap





Spurred on by soaring demand for seafood, a Spanish company plans to open the first commercial octopus farm next year but as scientists discover more about the enigmatic animals some warn it could be an ethical and environmental disaster.







"This is a global milestone," said Roberto Romero, aquaculture director at Nueva Pescanova, the company pouring 65 million euros ($74 million) into the farm, which is pending environmental approval from local authorities.







At the company's research center in Galicia, northwest Spain, several octopuses silently propelled themselves around a shallow indoor tank.







Two technicians in waders plucked a mature specimen into a bucket for transfer to a new enclosure, with five other octopuses.







Building on decades of academic research, Nueva Pescanova beat rival companies in Mexico and Japan to perfect the conditions needed for industrial-scale breeding.







The commercial incentives for the farm, which is slated to produce 3,000 tons per year by 2026 for domestic and international food chains and generate hundreds of jobs on the island of Gran Canaria, are clear.







Between 2010 and 2019 the value of the global octopus trade ballooned to $2.72 billion from $1.30 billion, according to data from the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization, while landings only rose around 9 percent to 380,000 tons.







Several associations defending animal rights protest at the gates of the municipality of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the future construction of the largest octopus farm in the world that the company New Pescanova wants to build in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, Feb. 5. Reuters-Yonhap









However, previous efforts to farm octopus have struggled with high mortality, while attempts to breed wild-caught octopus ran into problems with aggression, cannibalism and self-mutilation.







David Chavarrias, the center's director, said optimizing tank conditions allowed the company to eliminate aggression and breed five generations in captivity.







"We have not found cannibalistic behavior in any of our cultures," he said.







But not everyone is convinced.







Since the 2020 documentary "My Octopus Teacher" captured the public imagination with its tale of a filmmaker's friendship with an octopus, concern for their wellbeing has grown.







Last year, researchers at the London School of Economics concluded from a review of 300 scientific studies that octopus were sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and happiness, and that high-welfare farming would be impossible.







Raul Garcia, who heads the WWF conservation organization's fisheries operations in Spain, agrees.







"Octopuses are extremely intelligent and extremely curious. And it's well known they are not happy in conditions of captivity," he told Reuters.







Any farming operation aiming for a high quality of life by approximating their natural habitat  solitary on the sea bed  would likely be too expensive to be profitable, he said.







European Union laws governing livestock welfare do not apply to invertebrates and although Spain is tightening up its animal protection legislation, octopuses are not set to be included.







Nueva Pescanova has not provided specific details on tank sizes, density, or feed, citing trade secrecy. It has said the animals are constantly monitored to ensure their wellbeing.







Chavarrias said more research was needed to determine if octopus were truly intelligent.







"We like to say that more than an intelligent animal, it is a responsive animal," he said "It has a certain capacity for resolve when faced with survival challenges."







Several associations defending animal rights protest at the gates of the municipality of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the future construction of the largest octopus farm in the world that the company New Pescanova wants to build, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, Feb. 5. Reuters-Yonhap









Despite increasing concern for animal rights, demand is booming, led by Italy, Korea, Japan and Spain, the world's biggest importer. Natural fishing grounds are feeling the strain.







"If we want to continue consuming octopus we have to look for an alternative ... because the fisheries have already reached their limit," said Eduardo Almansa, a scientist at Spain's Oceanography Institute, which developed the technology used by Nueva Pescanova.







"For now aquaculture is the only available option."







Half the seafood consumed by humans is farmed. The industry has traditionally pitched itself as a means of meeting consumer demand while alleviating pressure on fishing grounds, but ecologists say that obscures its true environmental toll.







Around a third of the global fish catch is used to feed other animals and rising demand for fishmeal for aquaculture is exacerbating stress on already depleted stocks, the WWF said.







Nueva Pescanova's Chavarrias said he recognized the concern around sustainability and stressed the company was researching the use of waste fish products and algae as alternative feed but said it was too early to discuss the results.







Some activists say the solution is much simpler: don't eat octopus.







"There's so many wonderful vegan alternatives out there now," said Carys Bennett of animal-rights group PETA. "We're urging everyone to protest against this farm."







The project is pending approval from the Canary Islands' environmental department.







Asked if the department would consider opposition from rights-groups, a spokesperson said "all required parameters would be taken into account."







Traditional octopus fishermen are also wary of the venture, worried it could push down prices and undermine their reputation for quality produce.







Pedro Luis Cervino Fernandez, 49, leaves the Galician port of Murgados at 5 a.m. every morning in search of octopus. He fears he will not be able to compete with industrial farming.







"Big companies just want to look after their bottom line ... they couldn't care less about small companies like us," he told Reuters on his small boat off the Galician coast.







A few hundred miles inland at La Casa Gallega, a Madrid restaurant specializing in pulpo a la gallega  seared octopus with boiled potatoes and plenty of paprika  staff were unimpressed by the prospect of farmed produce.







"I don't think it will ever be able to compete with Galician octopus," said head waiter Claudio Gandara. "It will be like other farmed fish ... the quality is never the same." (Reuters)


More than 150 senior Russian officials have signed an open letter condemning Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as 'an unprecedented atrocity' and warning of 'catastrophic consequences'.

The deputies said they were 'convinced' Russian citizens do not back the war and blamed Putin 'personally' for ordering troops into Ukraine in an attack 'for which there is no and cannot be justification'.

Putin in the early hours of today gave the order to attack, delivering an extraordinary address to the Russian nation in which he declared a 'special military operation' to 'de-militarise' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine in what amounted to a outright declaration of war.

Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions were seen across the country in the early hours and into the morning.

The letter urged Russians 'not to participate in the aggression' and called on citizens to speak out against the invasion because 'only massive popular condemnation can stop the war'.

Among the letter's signatories were Moscow deputies Elena Rusakova, Maxim Gongalsky, Andrey Morev, Elena Kotenochkina and Elena Filina as well as St Petersburg officials David Kuvaev and Polina Sizova and Veliky Novgorod deputy Anna Cherepanova.

It was a surprising step for Russian officials to speak out against Putin, who usually holds an iron grip on dissent and last week televised a meeting with Moscow's top security chiefs in which they appeared to be railroaded into backing his plans to invade Ukraine.

More than 145 Russian municipal officials have signed an open letter condemning Vladimir Putin's 'personal' invasion of Ukraine, describing it as 'an unprecedented atrocity for which there is no and cannot be justification'

Protesters took to the streets of Moscow on Thursday night. Police officers detain a woman during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Moscow on February 24, 2022

Police officers detain a man during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Moscow

CCTV cameras at Belarusian-Ukrainian checkpoint Senkovka-Veselovka capture at least four Russian T-72B tanks, at least eight MT-LB tractors, and a Ural truck crossing the border

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

A blast in Sumy, eastern Ukraine, strikes what appears to be an arms depot which exploded, lighting up the night sky

The letter, which described the signatories as those 'elected by the people', said they 'unreservedly condemn the attack of the Russian army on Ukraine'.

'This is an unprecedented atrocity for which there is no and cannot be justification. The decision to attack was made personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin. We are convinced that the citizens of Russia did not give him such a mandate.'

The letter warned of 'catastrophic consequences' - 'Thousands of people will die, be injured and maimed, cities dear to many Russians will be destroyed.'

It said Russia would face 'the condemnation of the world community' resulting in 'isolation, rising prices and poverty'.

'Hopes for a good life in Russia are crumbling before our eyes,' the letter added.

'We urge you not to participate in the aggression and not to approve of it. Please don't be silent: only massive popular condemnation can stop the war.'

It comes after heartbreaking images emerged from Ukraine showing bloodied civilians staggering through the streets of towns in the east of the country following Russian shelling in the early hours of today.

Other civilians were also injured and some others are believed to have died, though numbers of those hurt were not yet confirmed.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that 'there is no threat to civilian population.'

Yet Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all reported coming under attack, with blasts also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland.

Meanwhile pro-Russian rebel forces pushed out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and appalling video from Uman, Cherkassy region, central Ukraine, showed the moment a shell hit a cyclists riding by.

A wounded woman is seen on the streets of Kharkiv in Ukraine after airstrikes hit an apartment complex

An injured man stands by an emergency vehicle after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24

A wounded man is helped by Ukrainian security forces after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Kharkiv

Emergency unit staff treat an injured man after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24

Ukrainian security forces accompany a wounded man after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv, this morning

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an address to the nation on Thursday morning, said the history of Ukraine has now changed forever and that Russia has 'embarked on a path of evil' - comparing the Russian attack to Hitler's forces in World War Two. But he vowed to fight back, saying the military has already inflicted 'serious losses' on Russia.

He called on all Ukrainian citizens willing to defend their homeland to step forward, saying guns will be issued to everyone who wants one. He also asked for civilians to give blood to help wounded troops. And he asked world leaders to impose the 'harshest sanctions possible' on Putin.

Underlining the gravity of the moment, Ukrainian Interior Ministry advisor Anton Herashchenko said: 'Starting today, the world has a new geopolitical reality. Either Ukraine and the world will stop the new Hitler now, or there will be a Third World War.'

Western leaders lined up to condemn Russia's actions in the early hours, with security councils convened the world over to mount a response. Heavy sanctions are expected to follow, along with more shipments of military equipment to Ukraine - provided they can find a route in.

But NATO and the US have made it clear that no troops will be sent, leaving Ukraine's military - far the inferior of Russia - to hold off the assault alone. Few expect it to emerge victorious from what is almost certain to be a prolonged, bloody, and vicious war.
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The Queen is 'still a little under the weather but well on the road to recovery', a royal source said today after the 95-year-old monarch postponed two more virtual audiences as she continues to suffer the effects of Covid-19.

The head of state, who tested positive on Sunday, also cancelled virtual engagements on Tuesday because she was not feeling well enough - but did hold her telephone audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday.

Her Majesty was due to hold two virtual audiences today, but these are no longer taking place - and fears for the longest-reigning sovereign have been heightened given her age, frailer appearance and recent hospital stay.

But, as the Queen continues to rest at Windsor Castle, a royal source told MailOnline today that she was feeling better and the 'family are confident she will make a full recovery' - although she is being 'constantly monitored'.

The Queen has a run of high-profile engagements coming up  including in just a week's time when she is set to host the Diplomatic Reception on March 2, meeting hundreds of members of the Diplomatic Corps at Windsor.

The event has already been scaled back from tiara and white tie to lounge suit and cocktail dress, but the Palace has yet to say whether the Queen will still attend - with decisions on engagements being made very late this week.

The monarch is also due to go to the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14, and then the memorial service for her late husband Prince Philip, also at the Abbey in London, a fortnight later on March 29.

The royal source told MailOnline this afternoon: 'The Queen is still a little under the weather but is well on the road to recovery and the family are confident she will make a full recovery. However obviously no one is being complacent and she is being constantly monitored.'

It comes after a Buckingham Palace spokesman said this morning: 'The two virtual audiences that had previously been scheduled to take place today will now be rescheduled for a later date. Her Majesty is continuing with light duties. No other engagements are scheduled for this week.'

Her 'light duties' include working from her red boxes, sent to her every day and containing policy papers, Foreign Office telegrams, letters and other State papers which have to be read and sometimes approved and signed.

The Queen is said to have been suffering from 'mild cold-like symptoms', although her audience with the Prime Minister yesterday suggested the world's current oldest and longest-reigning monarch is not seriously unwell.

And a royal source claimed last night that the Queen's symptoms were now wearing off, telling The Sun: 'She's already getting over her Covid - it's amazing to think she's done it so quickly. That's why she's such an inspiration. Positive test on Sunday, meeting with the Prime Minister on Wednesday. Not bad for 95.'

Buckingham Palace has said it would not give a running commentary on the health of Elizabeth II, who celebrated her 70th anniversary of becoming Queen earlier this month. No other engagements are planned this week.

Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on February 16, which was four days before her positive Covid-19 test was announced

Yesterday evening, the Queen would have had much to discuss with Mr Johnson during their weekly telephone conversation - including how the UK Government are dealing with the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister is also embroiled in the partygate saga, with the Metropolitan Police investigating a dozen events, including as many as six which the PM reportedly attended.

Queen could strip Harry of key role: 'Counsellors of State' who can stand in for monarch should live in UK, MPs are told Prince Harry should not be eligible to stand in for the Queen as a Counsellor of State because he no longer resides in the country, a new parliamentary briefing paper reveals. But Prince Andrew could still stand in for his mother should she become incapacitated, despite having to step down from public duties and relinquish his HRH title because of the Epstein scandal. This week the House of Commons Library quietly published for the first time guidance on what arrangements can be put in place if a monarch is unable to perform their royal functions. It follows intense public debate about the roles of Dukes of Sussex and York as 'stand-ins' for the sovereign now they have both quit as working royals, particularly in light of the 95-year-old Queen's recent ill-health. The parliamentary briefing paper will increase pressure on Buckingham Palace to take legal steps to resolve the matter once and for all. There have been calls to appoint the next two senior royals in line to the throne  Prince Edward and Princess Anne  in their place. A Government source said: 'There's been a lot of noise about Harry and Andrew and their roles as Counsellors of State and it was felt important MPs had all the facts. It has nothing to do with Her Majesty being ill.' Advertisement

The Queen's advanced age, Covid diagnosis, frailer appearance and recent health scare mean her medical team will be keeping a close eye on her progress, but being well enough to speak to Mr Johnson will be taken as an encouraging sign.

It is understood the Queen previously also had a separate planned in-person audience in the diary for yesterday but this was cancelled on Monday in keeping with Covid isolation guidelines.

The nation's longest reigning monarch, who will have been triple vaccinated, recently spent more than three months resting, on doctors' orders.

In the autumn, she pulled out of attending the Cop26 climate change summit, the Festival of Remembrance and then the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph service due to a sprained back.

She also missed the Church of England's General Synod.

The Queen now regularly uses a walking stick and has been pictured looking frailer recently. She remarked during a Windsor Castle audience last week: 'Well, as you can see, I can't move.'

Mr Johnson is the 14th prime minister of the Queen's long reign.

The pair have held their weekly audiences - which follow Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons - by telephone for much of the pandemic, with the monarch usually seated in her Oak Room sitting room taking the call on an old-fashioned phone.

But Dominic Cummings - the former chief aide to No 10 - claimed Mr Johnson wanted to visit the Queen in person early during the pandemic despite Downing Street staff already falling ill with virus.

Mr Cummings alleged he had to convince Mr Johnson not to visit the monarch by warning about the potentially grave consequences.

Ultimately Mr Johnson and the Queen switched to holding phone discussions on March 18, 2020 as she prepared to socially distance at Windsor, ahead of the first lockdown.

Their first in-person meeting during the pandemic was not until 15 months later on June 23, 2021.

In a 1992 documentary filmed to mark her 40th year on the throne, the Queen gave her view on the importance of her meetings with her prime ministers.

A cameraman stands in front of Windsor Castle on Monday, a day after it was announced that the Queen had tested positive

Armed police stand guard in front of Windsor Castle on Monday where the Queen is still keeping up with official papers

'They unburden themselves or tell me what is going on or if they have any problems, and sometimes I can help in some way as well,' she said.

William visits MI6 ahead of Russia's invasion The Duke of Cambridge made a secret visit to MI6 - just hours before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine. Second in line to the throne William privately visited the Secret Intelligence Service, which deals with foreign intelligence and protects the UK from risks abroad, in London yesterday morning. The visit was not publicised and appeared only afterwards in the Court Circular. In 2019, William spent three weeks working with MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to learn about how the UK's security and intelligence agencies worked. He said then: 'Spending time inside our security and intelligence agencies, understanding more about the vital contribution they make to our national security, was a truly humbling experience. These agencies are full of people from everyday backgrounds doing the most extraordinary work to keep us safe.' It is not known whether the duke met with the head of MI6 Richard Moore, known in Whitehall as C. Advertisement

'They know I can be impartial and it is rather nice to feel one is a sponge. Occasionally one can put one's point of view and perhaps they have not seen it from that angle.'

As head of state, the Queen is politically neutral and acts on the advice of her Government in political matters, but her knowledge of politics is immense.

Throughout her reign, she has received weekly briefings from the prime minister of the day, and dozens of government documents pass across her desk every week for formal approval.

Nearly two years ago when the Covid-19 pandemic hit Britain, the Queen and her husband Prince Philip moved to Windsor in March 2020.

The couple, who were married for 73 years, self-isolated with a reduced number of household staff. Philip, 99, died in April 2021, and his funeral was held under strict coronavirus restrictions with the Queen forced to sit alone at St George's Chapel at Windsor.

Elizabeth II returned to official duties after his death and as restrictions were lifted, but she was forced to slow down on medical advice in October last year.

The palace was forced to confirm that she had an overnight stay in hospital after going in for unspecified tests - and since then her appearances have become rarer.

She held a public engagement at her Sandringham residence in Norfolk on February 5 for members of the local community and volunteer groups, on the eve of the anniversary of her accession to the throne in 1952.

Meanwhile, it was revealed today that the Duke of Cambridge made a secret visit to MI6 yesterday - just hours before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine.

Second in line to the throne William privately visited the Secret Intelligence Service, which deals with foreign intelligence and protects the UK from risks abroad, in London yesterday morning.
The brother of a Harry Potter actor stabbed to death outside a bar has named his firstborn son in honour of his killed sibling.

Rob Knox played Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and was pictured with stars including Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint during his time on the film.

His life was cut tragically short aged 18 in May 2008 when he was stabbed outside a bar in Sidcup, Southeast London, when he intervened in a fight to protect his younger brother Jamie.

But 14 years later, his brother Jamie, now 31, has had his first child and called him Rory Robert Knox in memory of his late brother.

The brother of Harry Potter actor Rob Knox - who was stabbed to death outside a bar - has named his firstborn son in honour of his killed sibling (Rob, left, is pictured with Daniel Radcliffe)

14 years later, Rob's brother Jamie, now 31, has had his first child (pictured) and called him Rory Robert Knox in memory of his late brother

He wrote of the birth on his public Instagram account, saying: '01.02.22 @ 9:32pm

'Rory Robert Knox came into the world and filled mine and Cathy's hearts with all the love in the universe.'

Pictures show him cradling the newborn to his chest in a towel and his partner Cathy Foster holding the tot not long after his birth.

Other images on Jamie's Instagram show how the couple were preparing for parenthood.

Jamie wrote of the birth on his public Instagram account, saying: '01.02.22 @ 9:32pm 'Rory Robert Knox came into the world and filled mine and Cathy's hearts with all the love in the universe'

Jamie and his stunning partner Cathy became engaged in December 2018 (pictured is Cathy showing off her ring after the proposal)

Rob Knox played Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and was pictured with stars including Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint (pictured together) during his time on the film

Announcing Cathy's pregnancy in August last year, Jamie posted a picture of her showing the first hint of a baby bump and said: 'So excited about the next stage in our lives welcoming this little one into the world.

'@cathyfoster33 your going to make an amazing mummy.'

They became engaged in December 2018.

Rob Knox was born to Colin and Sally Knox in 1989 and was a pupil at Beths Grammar School in Bexley.

He had been acting since the age of 11, with roles in The Bill and Channel 4's Trust Me, I'm a Teenager as well as the BBC comedy After You've Gone.

He'd also appeared as an extra in a number of shows and his first film was King Arthur in 2004.

But he won his first major breakthrough with the Harry Potter flick, where he was cast as Marcus Belby, a Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Rob is pictured with his Harry Potter co-stars: L-R: Michael Gambon, David Bradley and Jim Broadbent

He actually appeared posthumously in the film, the sixth installment in the series, which came out in 2009.

He had also signed on to appear in the final installment of the Harry Potter film series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, released in November 2010, with the second part in July 2011.

However his acting dreams were cut tragically short in the summer of 2008 when he died aged 18 following a fight outside the Metro Bar in Sidcup, South East London, on May 24, 2008, when he intervened to protect Jamie, then just 17, from a man armed with two kitchen knives.

Rob, front left, is pictured with his brother Jamie and their parents Sally and Colin when the kids were young

Karl Norman Bishop was found guilty of murder in March 2009 and received a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years to be served before parole was considered.

At the time, Warner Bros released a statement on the murder, saying: 'We are all shocked and saddened by this news and at this time our sympathies are with his family.'

In the wake of Rob's death, the Knox family set up the Rob Knox Foundation to campaign against knife crime.

Rob (left) is pictured on the set of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince with Freddie Stroma who played Cormac McLaggen

In 2019, Rob's dad Colin (left) said: 'For eight years I didn't stop crying on a daily basis and I've only sort of come to terms with it in the last two years'

An annual film festival is also held in his honour.

In 2019, Rob's dad Colin said: 'For eight years I didn't stop crying on a daily basis and I've only sort of come to terms with it in the last two years.

'It's very emotional, you can't do things normally.

'You have to create a new normal and that's what I live in now, my new normal.'
Dozens of flights are diverting their routes around Ukraine after airspace was closed following Russia's all-out invasion earlier this morning.

Rough estimates suggest an area as large as 1,000 miles wide is currently being avoided amid the ongoing conflict, with flights between the UK and the eastern European country suspended as a result.

Images from aviation website Flightradar24 show there are no civilian aircraft in Ukrainian airspace and very few over neighbouring Moldova and Belarus, where many Russian troops are positioned.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said earlier that airspace in those two countries, within 100 nautical miles of their borders with Ukraine, could also pose safety risks.

'In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft,' the agency said in a conflict zone bulletin.

'The presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a high risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels.'

Wizz Air cancelled its flights between Luton Airport and the Ukrainian cities of Kiev and Lviv on Thursday, before Ryanair and Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) - the other carriers which fly between the two countries - also suspended those routes.

Other journeys to global destinations are likely to be affected, with planes having to take sometimes lengthy diversions - however a number of the biggest airlines to operate flights out of the UK told MailOnline they are not impacted by the airspace closure.

It comes after the UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice to warn that British nationals in Ukraine 'should not expect increased consular support or help with evacuating'.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps imposed the ban - later reinforced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Thursday morning, tweeting that he made the decision 'following the horrific events overnight'.

Dozens of flights are diverting their routes around Ukraine after airspace was closed following Russia's all-out invasion earlier this morning

A graph shows how the number of flights to and from Ukraine has fluctuated over the last year

A graphic shows European military air movements around Ukraine today

Mr Shapps added: 'I've instructed @UK-CAA (the Civil Aviation Authority) to ensure airlines avoid Ukraine airspace to keep passengers and crew safe.

'We continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and work with our international partners to respond to this act of aggression.'

Ryanair said it has suspended its flights to and from Ukraine for 'at least the next 14 days' and has removed them from sale for 'at least the next four weeks until further information becomes available from EU safety agencies'.

It added: 'Ryanair remains committed to our services to/from Ukraine and we look forward to restoring flight services there as soon as it is safe to do so.

'We sincerely regret and apologise for these unprecedented disruptions and any inconvenience that they will inevitably cause to our Ukrainian customers.'

A Wizz Air spokeswoman said: 'The safety and security of our passengers and crew remains our number one priority and we hope normality will return to Ukraine soon.'

UIA said it 'takes all possible measures to ensure the safety of our passengers'.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: 'The safety and security of our customers and people always comes first.

'We continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and Russia extremely carefully following the escalation of conflict, with ongoing dynamic assessments of our flight routings based on the latest situation reports and always following the strict advice set out by the Department for Transport and other global regulators.'

'Virgin Atlantic services have avoided Ukrainian airspace for many years, going above and beyond official guidance, which is supplemented by our own risk assessments.

'This has included adjustments to our flight planning since December to further increase distance from the Ukraine-Russia border.'

The lack of flights will make it harder for British nationals to evacuate from Ukraine to the UK.

The Foreign Office updated its travel advice to state: 'Ukraine's airspace is closed. It is likely that commercial routes out of Ukraine will be severely disrupted and roads across Ukraine could be closed.'

It added: 'Russia's military action in Ukraine will severely affect the British Government's ability to provide consular assistance in Ukraine.

'British nationals should not expect increased consular support or help with evacuating in these circumstances.'

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

Russian Mi-8 attack helicopters stage an assault on Gostomel air base, just on the outskirts of Kiev, after Vladimir Putin launched an all-out attack on the country

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

Early morning airline traffic skirted the whole country in crowded corridors to the north and west.

An El Al flight from Tel Aviv to Toronto made a sudden U-turn out of Ukraine's airspace around the time of its closure, flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed.

A LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw to Kyiv also turned back to Warsaw around the same time.

Russia said today it had suspended domestic flights to and from several airports near its border with Ukraine, including Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar and Stavropol, until March 2.

Russia has also closed some airspace in the Rostov sector to 'in order to provide safety' for civil aviation flights, a notice to airmen showed.

Before Ukraine advised of the airspace curbs, Britain, Canada, France, Italy and the United States had told their airlines to avoid certain airspace above eastern Ukraine and Crimea, but stopped short of a total ban.

On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss urged Britons in the country to 'leave now via commercial routes while they are still available'.

Flights are continuing to operate over Russia, which is a route used by many services between the UK and Asia.

In July 2014, Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a missile launched from an area of Ukraine controlled by pro-Russia separatists, killing all 298 people on board.
Russia has today launched all-out war on Ukraine, using cruise missiles to strike targets across the country including military bases, ammo dumps and airports.

The missile being used is believed to be the Kalibr, a long-range cruise missile developed by Russia as a rival to the American-made Tomahawk.

Thirty feet long, weighing up to 2.3 tons and packing a 500kg high-explosive or thermonuclear warhead, the Kalibr is Russia's weapon of choice when it comes to launching precision strikes at range against enemy targets.

Developed in the 1990s and used in combat for the first time in 2015, the Kalibr can be launched by ships, submarines or ground troops - with jet-launched versions thought to be in production.

Nine metres long, weighing up to 2.3 tons and packing a 500kg high-explosive or thermonuclear warhead, the Kalibr is Russia's weapon of choice when it comes to launching precision strikes at range against enemy targets

Local residents filmed the Kalibr strike over Ukraine

The wreckage of a drone or cruise missile in Kiev, Ukraine, this morning

Like all cruise missiles, the Kalibr does not follow an arc from its launcher to its target - like ballistic missiles - but instead flies low and long, using a jet engine and small wings to guide itself to its target.

The low flight-path is designed to skirt under missile defence radar, making the Kalibr difficult to detect and shoot down.

Russia has also designed other systems into the Kalibr to make it even harder to stop.

The missile - which guides itself to its target using cameras and GPS - can also manoeuvre in flight, either to evade projectiles meant to shoot it down or to approach its target from unexpected angles.

The Chuhuiv military airfield in the outskirts of Kharkiv burns after airstrikes this morning

Odessa warehouse hit by a Russian missile after Putin declared war on Ukraine

Like all cruise missiles, the Kalibr does not follow an arc from its launcher to its target - like ballistic missiles - but instead flies low and long, using a jet engine and small wings to guide itself to its target

Cruising at Mach 0.8, it is also capable of accelerating to Mach 3 - three times the speed of sound - just before striking.

While the range of the missile varies depending on the variant, it has a theoretical maximum range of around 1,500 miles.

First used in combat in 2015, three Russian corvettes launched two dozen Kalibrs from the Caspian Sea through Iraqi and Iranian airspace at ISIS and Free Syrian Army targets in Syria, 1,000 miles away.

The missile was then used extensively throughout the war in Syria, where Russia backed the forces of dictator Basahr al-Assad, where it was launched by both ships and submarines - including ones submerged underwater.
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Vladimir Putin has cut off a vital shipping route used by Ukraine as his forces launched an all-out invasion of the country by land, sea and air.

Marine trackers show Russian tankers appear to be blockading the Kerch Strait, which links the Azov Sea with the Black Sea. The ships are currently at anchor, with a large number of foreign vessels unable to get through.

Ukraine's military has now suspended operations at its ports. Russia had earlier closed the Azov Sea to commercial vessels until further notice, but kept Russian ports in the Black Sea open.

This afternoon, Russian ships have attacked Snake Island, according to Ukraine's Interior Ministry. The island is ruled by Ukraine but sits just miles from the coast of NATO member Romania.

Russia and Ukraine are both major exporters of wheat and grain, and industry experts predict the war will prompt a rise in global food prices.

Russian ships blockade the Kerch Strait: Putin ordered Russian navy to conduct 'special anti-terror operation' in Azov Sea, shutting off a vital maritime trade route into Ukraine.

Marine trackers show Russian tankers appear to be blockading the Kerch Strait, which links the Azov Sea with the Black Sea. The ships are currently at anchor, with a large number of foreign vessels unable to get through

Ukraine's military has now suspended operations at its ports. Russia had earlier closed the Azov Sea to commercial vessels until further notice. Pictured is Russian ship heading to the sea of Azov earlier this week

Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown, told MailOnline: 'Russia and Ukraine make up 29% of wheat exports, 19% of exported corn and 80% of sunflower oil exports with Turkey and Egypt the largest importers from the region.

'Although the UK isn't among the main markets for these exports, our food prices are still likely to go up because fewer supplies from the region would hit global food prices, which will impact the cost of food supplied to the UK too.'

This afternoon, Russian ships attacked Snake Island, according to Ukraine's Interior Ministry. The barren, rocky island is ruled by Ukraine but sits just miles from the coast of NATO member Romania

One European grain trader said: 'The market is still struggling to get a clear picture about the actual military situation on the ground.

'The ports in the Azov and Black Sea so far seem not to have been damaged according to the initial shipping agency reports.

'The next stage which will have to be faced is any declarations of force majeure, if ships simply cannot be loaded and contracts cannot be fulfilled.'

The Kerch Strait is used by ships carrying grain, corn and sunflower oil from Ukrainian ports including Mariupol, which appears to be under fierce attack by Russian forces.

Today, a spokesman for Russia's Federal Agency for Maritime Transport confirmed it had suspended shipping in the Azov Strait, claiming it was 'in connection with the conduct of anti-terrorist activities'.

It came as the Kremlin claimed two Russian cargo ships had been hit by missiles - an assertion that could not be verified.

Meanwhile, a Turkish-owned ship was hit by a bomb off the coast of Odessa, Turkey's Maritime General Directorate said, adding there were no casualties and the ship was safely en route into Romanian waters.

The Kerch Strait is used by ships carrying grain, corn and sunflower oil from Ukrainian ports including Mariupol (pictured yesterday before the Russian invasion)

Preparing the defences: Ukrainian tanks are seen rolling into Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, after Putin declared war

Ukrainian troops are seen on the top of a tank heading into Mariupol, near the occupied Donbass region

Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, mainly ships its grain from ports in the Black Sea.

The Azov sea is home to shallow water ports of smaller capacity.

Maripol, the most important Ukrainian port in the Azov sea, mainly handles relatively small ships of between 3,000 to 10,000 tonnes deadweight.

The Azov sea ports mainly export wheat, barley and corn to Mediterranean importers like Turkey, Italy, Cyprus, Egypt and Lebanon.

'These countries would be compelled to seek alternative supplies if ships are stuck and cannot depart in the near future,' another European trader said.

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

Wheat prices in Chicago rose to the highest level in 9-1/2 years on Thursday as the conflict threatened to disrupt the flow of supplies from the region while European wheat futures climbed to a record peak.

Russia and Ukraine account for 29% of global wheat exports, 19% of world maize (corn) supplies, and 80% of world sunflower oil exports.

Russia produced 76 million tonnes of wheat last year and is expected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to export 35 million tonnes in the July-June season, 17% of the global total.

Russia supplies wheat to all the major global buyers. Turkey and Egypt are the largest importers.

Ukraine asked Turkey to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to the Russian ships, the Ukrainian ambassador to Ankara said earlier today.

There has been no reaction yet to Ankara's request.
Almost a dozen leftwing Labour MPs tonight withdrew their backing for a campaign criticising the UK and Nato over the invasion of Ukraine after being threatened with expulsion from the parliamentary party.

Eleven Corbynite backbenchers - plus ostracized former leader Jeremy Corbyn - signed a letter from the Stop The War Coalition accusing the UK of 'inflaming tensions' by arming Ukrainian troops and blaming Nato for provoking the autocratic Russian leader.

The letter saw them branded a ''a disgrace to the nation' today - as they belatedly and shamelessly turned on the Russian leader for pouring thousands of troops into Ukraine.

This afternoon the party leadership, which has backed Nato action and called for stronger action against Putin, told the group to withdraw their support or they would lose the Labour whip.

They all capitulated quickly, with a source saying: 'An hour after being told to, all these grandstanders have withdrawn their signatures. Let there be no doubt whose party this is now.'

The letter was signed by Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, Ian Lavery, Beth Winter, Zarah Sultana, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Apsana Begum, Mick Whitley, Tahir Ali, and Ian Mearns.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also signed the letter, as did MP Claudia Webbe, both of whom now sit as independents.

Eleven serving opposition MPs plus ostracized former leader Jeremy Corbyn (above) last week backed a Stop the War campaign (below) accusing the UK of 'aggressive posturing' and blaming Nato for provoking the autocratic Russian leader.

But many of them were quick out of the blocks this morning after thousands of Russian troops, tanks and aircraft mounted a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour.

Coventry South MP Zara Sultana said: 'Russia's invasion of Ukraine is deplorable. Putin must immediately withdraw Russian forces and cease his bombardment.'

Former shadow minister Richard Burgon, secretary of the hard Left Socialist Campaign Group, tweeted: Russia's invasion of Ukraine is utterly horrific. Russia must end this attack and withdraw its troops'

Their U-turn came after they were criticised by current Labour leader Keir Starmer. Demanding tough action against Russia he said: 'Those who have for too long turned a blind eye to Russia's actions must reckon with their own consciences.'

It demanded Nato 'call a halt to its eastward expansion' and urged 'the entire anti-war movement to unite on the basis of challenging the British government's aggressive posturing and direct its campaigning to that end above all'.

But many of them were quick out of the blocks this morning to attack the bloodshed after thousands of Russian troops, tanks and aircraft mounted a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour.

Tory MP Stuart Anderson  who sits on the defence select committee  said: 'This is a disgrace to the nation.

'I served in Bosnia and Kosovo and some of my friends didn't return. Nato is a defensive alliance and anyone who says otherwise is fuelling dangerous rhetoric.'

Their U-turn came after they were criticised by current Labour leader Keir Starmer. Demanding tough action against Russia he said: 'Those who have for too long turned a blind eye to Russia's actions must reckon with their own consciences.'

Days after berating the West, former shadow minister Richard Burgon, secretary of the hard Left Socialist Campaign Group, tweeted: 'Russia's invasion of Ukraine is utterly horrific. Russia must end this attack and withdraw its troops.

'As the UN General Secretary says ''President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia. This conflict must stop now.'''

And Coventry South MP Zara Sultana said: 'Russia's invasion of Ukraine is deplorable. Putin must immediately withdraw Russian forces and cease his bombardment.'

Hard Left celebs also signed, including prog rock musician Brian Eno , comedians Alexei Sayle and Myriam Margolyes, plus luvvy actor Sir Mark Rylance.

Defence Minister James Heappey told the Mail: 'Sir Keir Starmer has made clear he supports the Government's approach.

'I hope he'll be able to persuade his MPs and affiliated unions to remove their support from Stop The War's Nato-blaming campaign.'

Sir Keir served alongside several of the signatories during four years in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet and Red Wall MP Antony Higginbotham noted they include those the Labour MP 'thought fit to campaign for to become Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Chancellor'.

The youth wing of the Labour Party has taken the same anti-West line as the Corbynite MPs, writing on Twitter: 'We are especially concerned to see Keir Starmer pushing not only for further engagement with Nato, but celebrating it while attacking Stop The War and other pro-peace activists.'
A courageous Ukrainian doctor is leaving her three children behind to join the army as her country is attacked by Russia.

Dr Marta Yuzkiv joined Ukraine's army as a reservist in April last year as simmering tensions with Russia began to intensify, and has been undergoing weekly training in case war broke out.

After bombs and missiles rained over her nation on Thursday, the mother, who is based in the capital Kiev, is now preparing to leave her home and defend Ukraine on the front line.

'I need to go [start serving],' Dr Yuzkiv told Australia's A Current Affair.

'I won't allow them (Russia) to take our land and our freedom. They don't believe in our right to exist. We have to defend, and we will win.'

Ordinary Ukrainian citizens like Dr Yuzkiv have done military training in preparation for such an invasion by Russia (pictured, civilians are seen learning shooting skills in Lviv, Ukraine, on Thursday)

A Ukrainian military tank is seen burning after a Russian airstrike in Mariupol on Thursday

Dr Yuzkiv said she was packing to head to a base in Kiev, and would leave her children at home with the family's pets.

Her mother, friends, and eldest son - who no longer lives at home - will move in to help while she is away.

She is one of many ordinary Ukrainians who have heeded the call to arms from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who asked anyone with military experience to make themselves available.

The Ukrainian leader said weapons would be issued to anyone who asked for them.

Once Dr Yuzkiv arrives at the military base, she said commanders will instruct her and the other reservists on where they will be sent.

Training in territorial defence, Dr Yuzkiv has been taking lessons on how to defend her country every Saturday for the past 11 months.

On top of the weekly sessions, she also took additional gun courses and completed tactical medicine training.

Although the drills have prepared her, she still feels nervous.

'I'm really nervous, actually, because you still couldn't believe you are still here. It's unbelievable - 21st century - we are living in the middle of Europe somewhere and we are attacked,' she said.

Explosions are seen over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday morning after Russian missiles, gunfire, and bombs were dropped across the nation's east, north, and south

Dr Marta Yuzkiv (pictured) is joining the armed forces to fight against Russian's invasion of Ukraine

Dr Yuzkiv said around 53 per cent of Ukrainians were willing to take up arms to protect their country, with shelves across the nation stripped of guns and ammunition in the lead up to the invasion.

She said many civilians have been picking up courses on how to shoot and how to support others as paramedics.

Morally united, Dr Yuzkiv said Ukrainians would resist until the last Russian soldiers leave the country, although she admits that may take a long time due to their aggressor's superior military power.

Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, helicopters buzzed in and explosions were seen across the country after Vladimir Putin gave the order to attack on Thursday.

Servicemen are seen riding on a Russian military tank in the town of Armyansk, Crimea, on Thursday

Simultaneous attacks were launched on the south, east, and north by land and air, with one Ukrainian official saying 'hundreds' had been killed in early fighting, while another put the death toll at 40.

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital. Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed.

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part. Luhansk, Sumy and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine were also attacked.

Dr Yuzkiv said many Ukranians were ready to pick up arms and join the fight to defend their country. Pictured: Ukrainian tanks move into the city, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Mariupol

Blasts were also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland. Extraordinary video footage showed what appeared to be a Kalibur cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport. An apartment block in Kharkiv was also struck, causing civilian casualties including a young boy.

Video also appeared to confirm cruise missiles had been launched by Russian troops stationed in Moldova.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the 'brutal' and 'unprovoked' Russian invasion of Ukraine and announced another tranche of sanctions.

A further 25 Russians, including army commanders, deputy defence ministers and mercenaries responsible for the attacks will be sanctioned as will four additional financial institutions.

'We must ensure there is a cost for this violent, unacceptable, and egregious behaviour,' Mr Morrison said.

Footage shared on social media from Odessa appeared to show an amphibious assault

'There will be further waves of sanctions as we identify those responsible for these egregious acts, including moving on over 300 members of the Russian parliament.'

The prime minister denounced 'unilateral, hostile actions' by the Kremlin as he addressed reporters in Sydney hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine's Donbas region.

'The Russian government launched a brutal invasion - unprovoked - on Ukraine,' he said.

'Russia has chosen war.'

Mr Morrison again declined to elaborate on what technical military support Australia would engage in after ruling out troops on the ground.

'We are involved with our partners in these types of activities, but it wouldn't be appropriate for me to go into detail.'

He said there has been no change in the decision to not expel the Russian ambassador.

'But you can be in no doubt about the very stern messages that have been sent to the ambassador on behalf of the Australian government,' he said.

Explosions could be heard in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, and Russia's defence ministry has since said it was using 'high-precision weaponry' to target military infrastructure and air defences without risking the civilian population.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the 'brutal' and 'unprovoked' Russian invasion of Ukraine

There are reports of rocket attacks in the capital and military jets being targeted on the city's outskirts, with hundreds of casualties from the initial strike.

Ukraine has called the movement a full-scale invasion.

In an online video, President Zelenskyy declared martial law and said Russia was targeting military installations across the country.

Russian troops have also reportedly been joined by Belarusian troops, with clashes along Ukraine's northern border with Belarus.

Earlier in the day, Mr Morrison formally signed off on the first tranche of sanctions against Russia.

The sanctions, aimed at Russian banks and individuals of strategic and economic importance, will become law from Friday and come into effect at the end of March.

Mr Morrison said the sanctions would send a message about the cost of Russia's aggression.

'It's important that all countries engage in these sanctions against these individuals,' he said.

'It sends a very clear message. You sanction, support, benefit from this type of violence, then you will be isolated, you will be targeted.'

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says Mr Putin's decision marked a grave moment for humanity and joined the government's condemnation.

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

'This attack is wholly unprovoked and without justification. All Australians stand with the people of Ukraine, and are united in condemnation of Russia's shameful act of aggression,' he said.

'This is not just an attack on Ukraine, it is also a contemptuous attack on one of the core principles of the post-World War II order. Australia must stand united with our allies in holding Russia to account.'

Russia's ambassador hit back at the sanctions, accusing Australia of being indifferent to discrimination faced by Russian speakers.

In a statement, the embassy said the decision to recognise the Donetsk and Luhansk regions on humanitarian grounds was made to 'protect' civilians, including hundreds of thousands of Russian nationals.

But Mr Morrison said any suggestion from Russian ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky that Russian troops in Ukraine were peacekeepers was 'offensive' to legitimate peacekeeping forces.

'They're not peacekeepers, they're invaders. That's how we see it and we'll call it out. If they don't like it, that's tough.'

More than 180 Australian citizens in Ukraine have requested assistance to leave the country and an estimated 1400 Australians remain there.
Nearly two million Honda SUV's are being investigated after complaints from drivers that the vehicles brake for no reason, leading to multiple collisions.

U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints that the automatic emergency braking systems on more than 1.7 million newer Hondas- including 2017-2019 CR-V SUVs and 2018 and 2019 Accord sedans- are stopping the vehicles for no reason.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced its probe on Thursday after the agency says it has received 278 complaints of sudden braking without warning in the models.

One complain from a car owner in Fredericksburg, Virginia said in November 2019 two people were hurt when their 2018 CR-V came to a complete stop

According to the complaints, automatic emergency braking systems in 2018 and 2019 Honda Accord sedans (pictured) are stopping the vehicles for no reason

In some cases the owners complained of unexpected speed reductions that could have led to rear collisions, while in six cases owners told the agency the problem did lead to collisions with minor injuries.

One complaint came from an unidentified car owner in Fredericksburg, Virginia, who said in November 2019 two people were hurt when their 2018 CR-V came to a complete stop.

'While driving on an interstate with no vehicles or obstacles stopped in front of me, my car automatically braked hard,' the owner wrote. 'It came to a complete stop on the interstate, which resulted in me getting rear-ended.'

The agency's probe will look into exactly how many vehicles are affected and how bad the problem is. The investigation could lead to a recall.

Honda said the company will cooperate with the investigation and asked consumers who experience any problems to contact their dealership.

U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints into automatic emergency braking systems on more than 1.7 million newer Hondas

In February the agency began investigating 416,000 Tesla Models 3 and Y after receiving 354 complaints from owners about 'phantom braking'

The Honda probe is the second investigation of automated braking systems opened by NHTSA in the past week after the agency began investigating 416,000 Tesla Models 3 and Y after receiving 354 complaints from owners during the past nine months about 'phantom braking'

Teslas are equipped with partially automated driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control and 'Autopilot,' which allows them to automatically brake and steer within their lanes.

No crashes or injuries were reported.

It's the fourth formal investigation of Texas automaker in the past three years, and NHTSA is supervising 15 Tesla recalls since January of 2021.

While automatic emergency braking systems can stop crashes or slow vehicles if drivers are impaired or are not paying attention when something is in the way, they also can react to shadows, overpasses or other things that appear to be obstructions.

The systems, which are becoming more widespread, help prevent crashes or reduce their severity by applying the brakes for a driver.

The systems use cameras, radar and other sensors to see when a crash is imminent. They warn drivers to brake, and they brake vehicles automatically if the driver doesn't act quickly enough.

Consumer Reports found last December that more than 12 major automakers have equipped nearly all of their 2021 model year vehicles with the technology.

NHTSA also has started the regulatory process of requiring the systems for both heavy trucks and passenger vehicles.
Harvard University will revive research into psychedelic drugs sixty years after its former professor Timothy Leary was banished from academia for his investigations into them.

Academics at the university will investigate the world of psychedelic drugs amid increasing evidence that they could be an effective form of treatment for depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction and PTSD.

The move comes decades after Harvard psychologist Timothy Leary, who became known for his phrase 'turn on, tune in, drop out', was dismissed from the university for his controversial investigations into 'conscious expanding' drugs.

Jerry Rosenbaum, Harvard psychiatrist and director of Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics, said psychedelics were 'remarkably safe' and the discovery of their psycho active properties 'goes far back'.

Sixty years ago Timothy Leary (pictured) was banished from academia for his investigations into psychedelic drugs

Harvard University will now investigate the properties of the drugs amid increasing evidence that they could be an effective form of treatment for depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction and PTSD

He told the Ask a Harvard Professor podcast: 'There was a fair amount of research going on with LSD going into the sixties as a serious exploration of what it might mean for patients with psychiatric disorders.

'It was also explored as a model of psychosis, as a potential treatment for psychotic disorders and there is some recognition that it might play a role treating addictive disorders.

'Scientists in the early sixties were looking at these LSD related substances.'

The scientist went on to say: 'You should know these drugs are remarkably safe in the sense that they're not addictive.

'What they do is offer you an experience that you might prefer to the experience you have in daily life so people may have used them in protest or used them as an escape but they're really remarkably safe drugs as far as drugs that are accessible to people over the counter.

'Their ability to harm oneself or harm other people is remarkably low.

'Nonetheless despite their therapeutic potential that was being explored and their recreational use they became viewed as a threat to the government I guess at that point in time.

'There were some individuals who had bad experiences and were damaged in some ways by those experiences but the vast majority of youth was pretty benign.'

The university will now investigate the potential for these drugs to help with mental illnesses.

Mr Rosenbaum added: 'They're going to be developed and tested for really everything.'

The research comes after Dr Timothy Leary, who was deemed the godfather of the psychedelics in the 1960s, and fellow psychologist Richard Alpert began to explore the effects of psychotropic substances on the human mind in 1960.

Dr Leary, who received his PhD in psychology from Berkeley University and came to lecture at Harvard in 1959, and Dr Alpert began the Harvard Psilocybin Project.

The scientists looked at how psilocybin, a hallucinogen which naturally occurs in certain types of mushrooms, could affect the human mind.

At the time of their research at Harvard, neither LSD nor psilocybin were illegal substances in the US, but the experiment was seen as controversial and the scientists were critiqued for their unorthodox methods.

By 1962 staff at the university displayed their concerns about volunteers taking part in Leary and Alpert's research and challenged them.

Articles in the Harvard Crimson also accused the scientists of actively promoting the recreational use of the drugs.

Dr Leary, who was deemed the godfather of the psychedelic 1960s, began to explore the effects of psychotropic substances on the human mind in 1960

The scientist and fellow psychologist Richard Alpert began the Harvard Psilocybin Project. Pictured: Timothy Leary holding his fingers in a chanting position in 1967

Leary (pictured in 1966), whose catchphrase was 'turn on, tune in, drop out', was made an enemy of the state, specifically by President Nixon who claimed his advocacy of hallucinogenic drugs had 'killed more people than the Vietnam War'

In 1963, Alpert was dismissed from Harvard for administering psilocybin to an undergraduate student and Leary was also fired.

The dismissals of both scientists saw the Harvard Psilocybin Project came to an abrupt end.

Leary, whose catchprase was 'turn on, tune in, drop out', was made an enemy of the state, specifically by President Nixon's government who claimed his advocacy of hallucinogenic drugs had 'killed more people than the Vietnam War'.

In 1968, amid an increase those turning to LSD, the drug became illegal in the US.

That very same year Leary was arrested of marijuana possession and received a ten-year sentence in 1970.

But he soon collaborated with government agents and informed on friends in the left-wing underground to obtain an early release from prison, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation.

He continued to write books and appear as a lecturer and 'stand-up philosopher' after his release from prison and his extensive touring on the lecture circuit ensured him a comfortable lifestyle by the mid-1980s.

Leary continued to take drugs frequently in private, but stayed away from proselytizing psychedelics.

In January 1995, Leary was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer and died the following year.

In February 2021, Oregon officially became the first US state to decriminalize possession of all drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, LSD and oxycodone.

Backers of the ballot measure decriminalizing hard drugs hailed it as a revolutionary move for the United States, while a vocal minority of opponents - including two dozen district attorneys - decried the measure as reckless and said it could lead to an increase in drug use.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, near the Kremlin Wall, during the national celebrations of the 'Defender of the Fatherland Day' in Moscow, Feb. 23. AP-Yonhap



Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine, Thursday, claiming it was intended to protect civilians.



In a televised address, Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia doesn't have a goal to occupy Ukraine. He added that the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian ''regime.''



Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to ''consequences they have never seen.''



He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia's demands to stop Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a ''demilitarization'' of Ukraine.



Putin said all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.



There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Putin's remarks, but U.S. officials have repeatedly pledged to place overwhelming sanctions on the Russian economy and Putin's allies in retaliation for an invasion of Ukraine.





Russian armored vehicles are loaded onto railway transport platforms at a railway station in the Rostov-on-Don region of Russia, Feb. 23, not far from its border with Ukraine. AP-Yonhap



The Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance Wednesday to help fend off Ukrainian ''aggression,'' an announcement that immediately fueled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned.



A short time later, the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow's claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and said a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.



''The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,'' President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. ''But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.''



Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.



In an apparent reference to Putin's move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to ''maintain peace'' in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that ''this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.''



''Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything,'' he said.



He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that ''you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.''





A United Nations Security Council meeting on the Russia-Eastern Ukraine conflict takes place in the evening at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, Feb. 23. UPI-Yonhap



The United Nations Security Council quickly scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday night at Ukraine's request. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the separatists' request ''a further escalation of the security situation.''



Anxiety about an imminent Russian offensive against its neighbor soared after Putin recognized the separatist regions' independence Monday, endorsed the deployment of troops to the rebel territories and received parliamentary approval to use military force outside the country. The West responded with sanctions.



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rebel chiefs wrote to Putin, Wednesday, pleading with him to intervene after Ukrainian shelling caused civilian deaths and crippled vital infrastructure.



White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separatists' request for Russian help was an example of the sort of ''false-flag'' operation that the U.S. and its allies have expected Moscow to use as a pretense for war.









''So we'll continue to call out what we see as false-flag operations or efforts to spread misinformation about what the actual status is on the ground,'' she said.



Earlier in the day, Ukrainian lawmakers approved a decree that imposes a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday. The measure allows authorities to declare curfews and other restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations ''in the interests of national security and public order.''



The action reflected increasing concern among the Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended any Ukrainians who were there to leave immediately.



''For a long time, we refrained from declaring a state of emergency ... but today the situation has become more complicated,'' Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council head Oleksiy Danilov told Parliament, emphasizing that Moscow's efforts to destabilize Ukraine represented the main threat.



Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraine's borders was in an advanced state of readiness. ''They are ready to go right now,'' Kirby said.





A Ukrainian soldier talks with her comrades sitting in a shelter at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Feb. 23. AP-Yonhap
Official figures released for the first time today show 28,526 people arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel in small boats last year - more than 95 times higher than in 2018.

The Home Office statistics were higher than previously thought and compare with 8,466 people crossing the Channel in 2020, 1,843 in 2019 and just 299 in 2018.

Numbers arriving in the UK reached their highest peak in November 2021, when 6,971 small boats arrived in a single month.

November 27 also saw the greatest loss of life in the migrant crisis when 27 people tragically drowned in the English Channel after their dinghy collapsed, including seven women and three children.

Despite highlighting the dangers of crossing the 21-mile Dover Strait in unsuitable craft, migrants continued to arrive in high numbers throughout December.

The number of asylum claims made in the UK has also climbed to its highest in nearly two decades, while the backlog of cases waiting to be determined continues to soar.

There were 48,540 asylum applications - relating to 56,495 people - in the UK in 2021, up 63 per cent on the previous year and the highest for a calendar year since 2003.

Migrants pictured next to a boat which had crossed the English Channel at Dungeness, Kent, on November 24, with others helped ashore by a RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) lifeboat

Home Office data shows the meteoric rise of people crossing the English Channel last year, peaking dramatically in November and December

How many migrants have crossed the Channel from France to the UK since the start of the year? According to Home Office figures: January 4  66 January 10  96 January 12  30 January 13  271 January 14  118 January 15  197 January 18  168 January 20  25 January 23  87 January 24  67 January 25  183 January 26  39 February 12  11 Total so far: 1,358 migrants reported crossing in at least 46 boats Advertisement

Around 90 per cent of the people who made the Channel crossing last year were male, according to the Home Office data.

Three quarters of all arrivals were young men aged 18 to 39, with five per cent of arrivals men aged 40 and above.

Just seven per cent of those crossing the Channel were women. Around 12 per cent were children, of which 76 per cent were boys.

Some 30 per cent of the people arriving were Iranian nationals, 21 per cent were Iraqi, 11 per cent were Eritrean and 9 per cent were Syrian.

Iranians 'represented the vast majority' of small boat arrivals in 2018 (80 per cent) and 2019 (66 per cent). But a greater mix of nationalities have been recorded since 2020, the Home Office said.

Information on gender and nationality was not available for some arrivals.

There was an average of 28 people on board each boat in 2021 and crossings took place around two in every five days.

A total 1,034 small boats carrying multiple people were detected arriving in the UK in 2021, compared to 641 in 2020, 164 in 2019 and 43 in 2018.

The average number of people on board small boats last year was 'much higher' than in 2020, when there were 13. This is compared to 11 in 2019 and seven a year earlier.

Dr Peter William Walsh, senior researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said the reasons for the rise in small boat arrivals 'are not yet fully known' and it is 'hard to predict how the numbers will change... over time'.

Migrants arrive into the Port of Dover after being intercepted mid channel by the UK Border Force on January 10

He added: 'A large majority of people crossing the Channel in small boats claim asylum on being brought to the UK.

'Evidence from around the world suggests that changes in asylum applications are largely driven by developments well beyond UK policymakers' control, such as crises and violence in other countries.'

The Home Office document described small boat arrivals as a 'phenomenon that was rare prior to 2019 but has since increased sharply in number' and made clear this method of travel is only one of a number which could be used to reach the UK border and 'seek entry without permission'.

It added: 'It is not possible to know the exact size of the irregular population in the UK, nor the total number of people who enter the UK irregularly.'

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover on January 18

Immigration minister Kevin Foster said: 'This Government is fixing our country's approach to illegal entry to the UK and asylum by making the tough decisions to end the overt exploitation of our laws and UK taxpayers.

'We know there is no simple solution to this problem but our New Plan for Immigration will deliver the fair but firm system the British people have repeatedly voted for.'

The Government's Nationality and Borders Bill, which will make it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and introduce life sentences for those who facilitate illegal entry into the country, is currently going through Parliament.
There is only really one rule of warfare, and that is to get there first with the most troops. Everything else is detail. And that is exactly what Putin has done in Ukraine.

In the wee small hours of this morning the Russian military, aided by the forces of its client state Belarus, started their assault in the Donbas region. In a Russian version of the USA's infamous 'shock and awe' tactics of conflicts past, it began with an attack on Ukrainian air defence and communications systems, designed to incapacitate and disrupt and grant a free hand to the Russian airforce. It's exactly the same way the Gulf War started in 1991. I know, I was there.

What are Russian tactics likely to be now that battle has essentially been joined? They have long espoused the doctrine of what they call Deep Battle, which is basically a scaled-up version of the German blitzkrieg. In practice, following on from the establishment of air superiority  or at least air parity  and after crushing artillery bombardment, strong armoured columns crash through the enemy front line and drive deep into the enemy's rear, bypassing points of serious resistance. The aim is to disrupt, disorient, and dislocate, with the zenith of success being the encirclement and annihilation of enemy forces. A quick glance at Soviet operations in eastern Europe in 1944-45 provides the historical template.

This is what I think they will be seeking to do in Ukraine, and quickly, while opponents are stunned and slow to react. And when they do, Putin will have achieved all and more than he had hoped for,- and will be in a dominant position when it comes to the inevitable peace negotiations which will eventually bring hostilities to a halt.

Military expert Stuart Crawford says Putin and Russia will unleash a blitzkrieg on Ukraine

Ukrainian tanks move into the city, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized military

An armored column of Third Reich forces stream into Poland, igniting the war in Europe

The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service site damaged by shelling in Kyiv region this morning

The Russian attack is likely to have involved multiple aircraft including the Sukhoi Su-25, an armoured ground attack aircraft which is designed specifically to support ground troops. It has been around for three decades or so now, but updates have kept it relevant. There will also likely have been some Mig-29 multi-role attack aircraft plus attack helicopters, most notably their relatively new Mil MI-28 machine.

For deep attack they will have used missiles, probably the Kalibr air and sea launched land attack missile, their equivalent of the US Tomahawk. Suppression of Ukrainian border troops has probably been carried out by conventional artillery and multi-barreled rocket launchers like the BM 21 Grad.

How can Ukraine defend itself against such an onslaught? Sadly, the answer is with great difficulty. Outnumbered and outgunned, its options are limited. Personally, my advice would be not to try to defeat the Russians in open warfare, which is a hiding to nothing. If a stand is to be made, then probably the wide expanses of the Dniepr river is the most obvious natural obstacle, but that would mean the ceding of much territory.

Stuart Crawford was a regular officer in the Royal Tank Regiment for twenty years, retiring in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel

Joint operation of German dive bombers Ju-87 and tanks against polish positions at the Tucheler Heide in 1939

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

What is a Blitzkrieg? The name Blitzkrieg is a German word which translated means 'Lightning War'. It is used to describe a particularly aggressive form of warfare first used by the Nazis during their evil spread at the start of World War II. The tactic saw tanks combine with artillery and motorised infantry to hit a specific area to breach the traget's defences. In WWII the Luftwaffe would be on hand to give air support and take out anything that could be a threat to the advance. The Imperial War Museum says: 'Radio communications were the key to effective Blitzkrieg operations, enabling commanders to coordinate the advance and keep the enemy off balance. 'These techniques were used to great effect in 1939, when the Polish Army was destroyed in a series of encirclement battles. In May 1940 Hitler attacked France, his panzer divisions smashing through slow-moving French formations and cutting off the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk. 'Spectacular success was also achieved during the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 and large numbers of Soviet troops were captured.' Advertisement

However, modern armies fear having to fight in urban areas more than almost anything else. The damage such a tactic would cause to Ukraine's cities and towns should not be underestimated, nor should the civilian casualties which are bound to accrue, but urban conurbations suck up attacking forces and deny them many of the advantages that superior numbers and equipment afford them. The Russians will not wish to get involved in another Stalingrad or Berlin, and this factor may favour the defenders. It would not, however, be without great cost.

The only surprise here is that some people, including our own politicians, seem to be surprised by the events of last night. The truth is that the possibility, nay probability, of just such an attack has been flagged up by US and UK intelligence sources for months now, but their advice seems to have fallen on deaf ears. It's a classic case of collective cognitive dissonance.

In military circles the 'threat' is usually understood to comprise the elements of capability and intent. Russia's capability has never been in doubt, and the transparency offered by modern surveillance systems quickly confirmed the build up of troops in preparation for what we now know to be an invasion. All the elements were there  including the most important and significant logistic stockpiling of ammunition and medical supplies which usually precede military operations.

What was not so clear, however, was Putin's intent. The Russians have long been expert in the art of maskirovka, a doctrine covering a wide range of measures design to camouflage and deceive. Whilst concealing the hardware may prove difficult, Putin's courses of action have been deliberately ambiguous until it's too late for NATO and the West to react effectively.

As for NATO and the West, well, there's precious little that can be done. Delivery of weaponry and supplies may delay the outcome, and may delay it for long enough for the Russians to weary of conflict and seek peace, but that's about it. Politicians can wring their hands and express 'solidarity', but that really won't cut it. Nor can we Brits send in troops because we don't really have an army that's up to the task.

In the final analysis, the fate of Ukraine lies in the hands of its people, notwithstanding friendly words and encouragement from international allies. And they face a bleak immediate future.

Stuart Crawford was a regular officer in the Royal Tank Regiment for twenty years, retiring in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He now works as a defence and security consultant
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U.S. lawmakers of all political persuasions are lashing out at Vladimir Putin's decision to ignore warnings from the West and move forward with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine overnight.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called the Russian president's decision an 'evil, panicked move of weakness and will be his defining mistake.'

Politicians also warned Moscow that Ukraine will defend their sovereignty, with Murphy tweeting that 'the Ukrainian people will fight for as long as it takes' and Republican Senator Marco Rubio saying Ukraine 'will NEVER accept being ruled by Putin' and claiming 'men, women, children, the elderly' will 'maim & kill alot (sic) of Russians.'

Russia launched an all-out war on Ukraine Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air. Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, helicopters buzzed in and explosions were seen across the country after Putin gave the order to attack.

The attack continued into Thursday as a massive Russian helicopter assault launched on Hostomel, Ukraine and its vital Air Base just 9 miles northwest of Kyiv.

Michigan Republican Representative Peter Meijer said the 'tepid' response from the West 'emboldened' Putin to go forward with a full-scale invasion, claiming Washington and NATO's threat for sanctions was 'positive proof' that Moscow did not see this as real resistance. He also called for 'crippling sanctions'.

'He was willing to call the west's bluff,' Meijer told Fox & Friends on Thursday morning of Putin.

'Now is the time we have to be strong, united and unleash crippling economic and sanctions costs on Russia. We can no longer afford to be tepid or weak-willed here.'

Republican Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said that Putin is a 'KGB thug who understands no language except force,' while slamming the U.S. and western response so far.

The KGB was the main security agency for the Soviet Union from March 1954 until 1991.

House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Michael McCaul told CBS Mornings on Thursday: 'We haven't seen anything like this, really, since Hitler invaded Poland in World War II. I just hope this is not the beginning of World War III.'

He said the invasion and disregard for western warnings is a 'clear' sign that Putin 'wants the entire breadbasket of Russia back.'

Republicans and Democrats are condemning Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine overnight. An explosion lights up the night sky over Kyiv early Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

Flames and smoke rise from debris of a house outside Ukraine's capital of Kyiv on Thursday in the aftermath of Russian shelling following a barrage of air and missile strikes on Ukrainian facilities across the country

Ukrainian emergency personnel work at a crash site of a Military plane about 12 miles south of Kyiv on Thursday, February 24, 2022. A Ukrainian Military plane with 14 people aboard crashed Thursday and emergencies services are still working to 'determine how many people died'

Radar arrays and other equipment are shown damaged outside a Ukrainian military facility near Mariupol on Thursday morning after taking Russian firepower in the midst of its 'special military operation' in the country

'[Putin] was willing to call the west's bluff,' Representative Peter Meijer told Fox & Friends on Thursday morning. The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

Senator Marco Rubio tweeted that Ukraine 'will NEVER accept being ruled by Putin' and claiming 'men, women, children, the elderly' will 'maim & kill alot (sic) of Russians.' Pictured: A wounded woman emerges Thursday after an airstrike damages an apartment complex outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to defend from attacks on the Lugansk region on Thursday, February 24 after Putin's invasion has already killed dozens, injured hundreds and forced hundreds of others to flee

Damage to an apartment building in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region is seen in footage released by the Ukrainian National Guard

Ukrainian citizens carry suitcases after crossing the Ukrainian border into Medyka, Poland on Thursday following Russia's invasion overnight. U.S. lawmakers are demanding 'crippling sanctions' be placed on Putin for ignoring western warnings

U.S. troops from the 173rd Army Airborne Brigade arrive in Latvia on Thursday, February 24 to provide addition assistance in Eastern Europe as Russia launches a full-scale attack on Ukraine

McCaul and other Republican leaders on key House committees said the latest from Russia proves to the world the 'true evil' of Putin.

'The last few hours have laid bare for the world to witness the true evil that is Vladimir Putin,' McCaul, House Armed Services Ranking Member Mike Rogers and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Mike Turner wrote in a statement Wednesday night.

'Today, we stand resolute with the Ukrainian people and resolve to provide them with the tools they need to withstand and repel this unprovoked attack,' they added. 'Every drop of Ukrainian and Russian blood spilled in this conflict is on Putin's hands, and his alone.'

The group signaled there needs to be a much tougher U.S. response to Russia than there was in 2014, when Putin annexed Crimea.

'[W]e are committed to enacting the strongest possible sanctions and export controls to cripple Russia's ability to make war, punish its barbarity and relegate the Putin regime to the status of an international pariah. We cannot respond like we did in 2008 or 2014. The world must never forget or forgive this heinous act.'

President Joe Biden has faced criticism for not doing enough to combat Russian aggression since taking office last year.

The president met with the leaders of the G7 from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan on Thursday morning after he gathered his National Security Council in the Situation Room at the White House.

Also in the meeting with the presidents and prime ministers of each country was President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council Charles Michel and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the White House revealed.

An update to Biden's schedule shows he will deliver remarks on 'Russia's unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine' at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon in his first public appearance since the invasion.

Additional U.S. forces landed in Latvia Thursday morning from the 173rd Airborne Brigade  this comes after thousands of troops were already sent to Poland and Romania to bolster defenses in those regions amid the lead up to Russia's invasion.

Pictured: A Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship was forced to land in a filed outside Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday. According to Ukraine, six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed

A man stands in front of a Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship is seen in the field after a forced landing outside Kyiv Thursday, February 24, 2022

Senator Lindsey Graham says Putin is carrying out a 'war crime' and it's '[i]mperative that we continue to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons as well as good intelligence.'

'The world needs to condemn Putin's destruction of a neighboring democracy as a war crime,' the South Carolina Republican said.

'It's time to make this personal to Putin,' Graham said, adding that he should be punished by 'international law enforcement agencies' to seize Putin and his 'cronies' 'lavish apartments, fine art, yachts, and other material goods purchased through stealing the Russian people blind.'

Along with clashes on the ground, including confirmation that 40 Ukrainian troops were killed and dozens more injured, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indirectly exchanged war of words, as well  each slinging rhetoric accusing the other of being reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

'Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in #2WW years,' Zelensky tweeted Thursday morning Eastern Standard Time, but it was the afternoon in Ukraine already.

'As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history,' he continued, '[Russia] has embarked on a path of evil, but [Ukraine] is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian media: 'Ideally, Ukraine should be liberated, cleansed of Nazis, pro-Nazi people and ideologies.'

Ukrainian service members load debris of a rocket onto a truth in the aftermath of Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday

Republican Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said that Putin is a 'KGB thug who understands no language except force' as he called for more tough action from the U.S. and western allies. A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base in central Ukraine after coming under attack from Russia

A Ukrainian military tank is seen in center of Odessa, Ukraine on Thursday, February 24 after Russia launched its military operation in the country

There are now approximately 90,000 U.S. service members spread throughout Europe, with many relocating or deploying to the Eastern part of the continent to aid those counties that face risk with Russia invasion of Ukraine  but no U.S. troops were deployed directly to Ukraine

U.S. paratroopers step off a military plane landing in Latvia on Thursday

The first 40 soldiers from the 173rd arrived in Latvia on February 24  the morning after Russia launched its military offensive on Ukraine

Western politicians immediately responded Wednesday evening to the announcement of Russia's 'special military operation' in Ukraine with warnings to Putin.

'The Ukrainian people will fight for as long as it takes to secure their nation from this foreign tyrant, and the United States will stand with them in this fight,' Senator Murphy from Connecticut posted in a five-part Twitter thread.

'Tonight, the entire Post World War international order sits on a knife edge,' he added. 'If Putin does not pay a devastating price for this transgression, then our own security will soon be at risk.'

'We must be unceasingly in our assistance to the Ukrainian people. We must levy crippling sanctions on Russia. And we must cut off Putin and his cronies from the global economy. A strong, swift response is vital.'

Biden issued sanctions this week on Russian banks and oligarchs, as well as on the two regions in Eastern Ukraine that Putin declared independent republics on Monday. But Democratic and Republican lawmakers claim this isn't enough and are urging Biden to get tougher on Putin.

'[W]e must remember that Putin has plans for us too,' Murphy warned in his Twitter thread. 'He and his agents will use this crisis to try to divide Americans from each other and to separate America from our allies. In this, we must remain vigilant and united. This is not a moment for politics to trump security.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC's Lester Holt on Wednesday that 'if Russia continues to escalate, so will we.'

'At the end of the day, if that doesn't stop President Putin, we've made very clear along with all of our allies and partners that there will be massive consequences going forward, a price that Russia will have to pay for a long, long time,' he added.

Biden's administration, however, has repeatedly said that U.S. troops will not directly engage in combat in Ukraine and has ensured the safety of forces as they deploy to Eastern Europe.

Biden was slammed Wednesday and into Thursday morning for being publicly absent as developments unfolded in Ukraine Wednesday night as Russia launched an all-out war.

French President Emmanuel Macron shown on a virtual meeting Thursday morning with G7 leaders from the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan to discuss the situation in Ukraine after Russia invaded. Meeting came after Biden gathered his National Security Council earlier in the morning and will speak publicly at 1:30 p.m.

Biden condemned Putin's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack ' in a statement posted at 10:25 p.m., shortly after war was declared. But after being accused of 'weakness' in the face of Russian aggression, he was urged to hit Russia and Vladimir Putin's inner circle with tougher sanctions 'as soon as possible'.

The president was 'monitoring the situation' from the White House overnight, according to the Wednesday evening statement, but has yet to make a public address or an appearance and won't do so until midday - 12 hours after war began.

Former President Donald Trump was scathing of Biden's response, telling Fox News in a wild overnight interview that Biden was 'probably in bed right now' rather than monitoring developments.

Biden was most recently pictured on Tuesday, February 22 as he announced sanctions against Russia from the East Room of the White House.

Zelensky, in an address to the nation Thursday morning, said the history of Ukraine has now changed forever and that Russia has 'embarked on a path of evil'.

He compared the Russian attack to Hitler's forces in World War II, but vowed to fight back, saying the military has already inflicted 'serious losses' on Russia.

Pictured: Ukraine's port of Ochakiv in the Mykolaiv region was set ablaze from conflict following Russia's full-scale invasion on Thursday

The ruins of a state border guard service checkpoint in the Kyiv region is seen destroyed after it was shelled by Russian forces

The Ukrainian president called on all citizens willing to defend their homeland to step forward, saying guns will be issued to everyone who wants one and asked for civilians to give blood to help wounded troops.

He also asked world leaders to impose the 'harshest sanctions possible' on Putin.

It came after Putin gave an extraordinary address to Russia, broadcast in the early hours during a United Nations meeting aimed at avoiding war. During the remarks he declared a 'special military operation' to 'demilitarize' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine in what amounted to an outright declaration of war.

The video appeared to have been pre-recorded, around the same time as Putin's Monday address recognizing Donbass as independent.

Putin also issued a chilling warning to any country thinking of coming to Ukraine's aid, vowing 'consequences greater than any you have faced in history'.

'I hope I have been heard,' he said.

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west in Ukraine - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps and command posts including in the capital city of Kyiv.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed.

Alexander Lukashenko, dictatorial ruler of Belarus, is shown speaking to his generals on Thursday morning after his forces reportedly joined Russia's attack on Ukraine  though he denies it

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Luhansk, Sumy and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all came under attack, while tanks battled on the outskirts of Kharkiv after paratroopers dropped in.

Blasts were also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland where the U.S. has sent in paratroopers from the 82nd and 18th Airborne Corps.

In the southern city of Kherson, Ukrainian units were reportedly routed by Russian tanks rolling out of Crimea, which had arrived at the Dnieper River by mid-morning on Thursday.

Extraordinary video footage showed what appeared to be a Kalibur cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport. An apartment block in Kharkiv was also struck, causing civilian casualties including a young boy. Video also appeared to confirm cruise missiles had been launched by Russian troops stationed in Moldova.

Russian helicopters also staged an attack on Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Dnieper river, raising their flag over the plant shortly afterwards.

Meanwhile pro-Russian rebel forces pushed out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot two Ukrainian jets out of the skies. The port cities of Mariupol and Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval bases are located, were also attacked. Russian tankers appeared to have blockaded the Kerch Strait, leading from the Back Sea to the Sea of Azov, cutting off Mariupol.
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The first U.S. troops have arrived in Latvia, which shares a border directly with Russia, as NATO reinforces its eastern flank after Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine.

Early on Thursday, a small force of 40 troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, known as the Sky Soldiers, arrived in Latvia from their home base in Italy, the U.S. Embassy in Riga confirmed.

The deployment is part of a movement of 800 American troops and equipment into the Baltics - the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are all now part of the NATO alliance.

President Joe Biden has said that the movement is defensive in nature and that the U.S. has 'no intention of fighting Russia.'

Indeed, the small size of the Baltics deployment is strategically insignificant on a military level, but appears designed to reassure the NATO allies and serve as a 'tripwire' that assures an immediate U.S. military response to any aggression against the Baltic states.

Nevertheless, the deployment of U.S. troops to the Baltic states, which all share borders with Russia, is sure to infuriate Putin, who has long demanded that NATO withdraw allied forces from Eastern Europe.

Early Thursday, a small force of 40 troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, known as the Sky Soldiers, arrived in Latvia from their home base in Italy, the US Embassy in Riga confirmed

The deployment is part of a movement of 800 US troops and equipment into the Baltics -- the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which are all now part of the NATO alliance

Biden has said that the troop movement is defensive in nature and that the US has 'no intention of fighting Russia'

The pilot of an US military AH-64 Apache attack helicopter gives the thumbs up before taking-off in Romania. Five helicopters were being deployed from the NATO Multinational Brigade South-East, based in Craiova city, towards a base in Hungary

The Pentagon says the Baltics deployment is part of a broader shuffling of troops and equipment that will reinforce NATO allies close to the war in Ukraine and near Russia's border

Latvia's Ministry of Defense praised the U.S. troop deployment in a statement, saying that it demonstrates 'U.S. commitment to defend NATO allies and strengthen Latvia's defense capabilities.'

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said they 'condemn in the strongest possible way the open large scale Russian aggression against the independent, peaceful and democratic Ukraine.'

The Baltics foreign ministers called for the harshest possible sanctions against Russia, including severing its ties to the international banking system, and for the provision of arms and financial assistance to Ukraine.

Latvia's Foreign Minister ominously echoed the phrase that marked America's entry into World War II

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said in a tweet that February 24, 2022, is 'a date that will live in infamy,' ominously echoing the phrase that marked America's entry into World War II.

Latvia's Deputy Prime Minister Artis Pabriks said in an interview this week that if Latvia was not a member of NATO, 'we would be definitely now in the position of Ukraine, I can guarantee that.'

Biden announced the movement of U.S. troops into the Baltics on Tuesday, saying the forces will assist with border reinforcement on NATO's eastern flank and refugee processing, but will not intervene militarily in Ukraine, where Russia launched an all-out invasion early Thursday.

The 934th Airlift Wing of the U.S. Air Force arrives on the tarmac in Riga, Latvia on 24 February 2022

A U.S. Air force C-130H aircraft carrying U.S. service members is seen upon arrival at Riga International Airport

The United States committed to defend NATO allies and strengthen Latvia's defense capabilities following Russia's military operation in Ukraine. More than 300 US soldiers are planned to be transferred to Latvia

Biden has said that the movement of US troops is defensive in nature and that the US has 'no intention of fighting Russia'

U.S. service members stand on the tarmac of Riga International Airport as they arrive in Latvia on Thrusday

US Deputy Chief of Mission Ruta Elvikis greeted the US soldiers, who are part of a force of 800 deploying to the Baltics

US military personnel made the last check before the take-off of an US military Apache attack helicopter during a technical stop on the tarmac in Romania. The five helicopters were being deployed from the NATO Multinational Brigade South-East, based in Craiova city towards a base in Hungary

'I have authorized additional movements of U.S. forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic Allies  Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania,' said Biden.

'Let me be clear: These are totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia,' he added.

'We want to send an unmistakable message, though, that the United States, together with our Allies, will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO,' said Biden.

The Pentagon says the Baltics deployment is part of a broader shuffling of troops and equipment that will reinforce NATO allies close to the war in Ukraine and near Russia's border.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin approved the movement of up to eight F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Germany to operating locations on NATO's eastern flank.

Twenty AH-64 Apache attack helicopters will also deploy from Germany to the Baltic region, and 12 Apache helicopters will move from Greece to Poland.

'These additional personnel are being repositioned to reassure our NATO allies, deter any potential aggression against NATO member states, and train with host-nation forces,' DOD officials said in a written statement.

Two of the first 40 soldiers of the 173rd U.S. Army Airborne Brigade are seen in Riga after stepping off a military plane

U.S. service members stand on the tarmac of Riga International Airport as they arrive in Latvia on Thursday

US F-35 Lightning II aircraft prepare to land at the 86th Air Base, Romania on Thursday. Eight F-35 Lightning II aircraft are moving from Germany to operating locations on NATO's eastern flank

US Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft prepare to land at the 86th Air Base, Romania, on Thursday in an eastern deployment

All forces are under the command of Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters, the commander of U.S. European Command. Officials said the moves are temporary.

The Pentagon says these moves are the latest in a series designed to reassure the frontline states.

The United States has already sent 1,000 soldiers from a Stryker squadron from Germany to Romania.

An 82nd Airborne Division infantry brigade combat team of about 3,000 will be deployed from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Poland, joining the roughly 1,700 US troops already there.

Company-sized Stryker units will deploy to Hungary and Bulgaria. In addition, Defense Secretary Austin ordered 8,500 service members to a heightened state of readiness should NATO activate its Rapid Reaction Force.

Overall, there are about 90,000 U.S. service members currently based in Europe.

Russia's attack on Ukraine unfolded in the early morning hours of Thursday.

'What we are seeing are initial phases of a large-scale invasion,' a senior defense official told reporters in a briefing. 'How long, how far, we don't know.'

The official said a wave of more than 100 missiles of various types preceded the ground and air invasion. At least 75 Russian fixed wing aircraft participated in the initial onslaught.

Ukrainians appear to be actively resisting and fighting back against the invading forces, the official said.

Russia's attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

Attack helicopters are pictured flying over the Kiev region of Ukraine after dozens of Russian aircraft attacked the city

Ukrainian security forces accompany a wounded man after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv

Russia's attack on Ukraine sent shockwaves through the Baltic countries in particular, which are former Soviet states and likely targets for Putin's ambition to establish a buffer zone between NATO and Russia.

Lithuania's president declared a state of emergency, and Latvia suspended the broadcast licenses of several Russian TV stations accused of spreading disinformation and propaganda.

All three Baltic countries were seized and annexed by Joseph Stalin during World War II before gaining independence again with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

They joined NATO in 2004, putting themselves under the military protection of the U.S. and its Western allies. Ukraine is not part of NATO.

The escalating tensions preceding Thursday's attack brought back memories of mass deportations and oppression for residents of the Baltics.

'My grandparents were sent away to Siberia. My father was persecuted by the KGB. Now I live in a free democratic country, but it seems that nothing can be taken for granted,' Jaunius Kazlauskas, a 50-year-old teacher in Vilnius, Lithuanias capital, told The Associated Press.

Along with Poland, also a NATO member, the small Baltic countries have been among the loudest advocates for powerful sanctions against Moscow and NATO reinforcements on the alliance's eastern flank.

'The battle for Ukraine is a battle for Europe. If Putin is not stopped there, he will go further,' Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis warned last week in a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin.
The husband of the cinematographer shot and killed by Alec Baldwin blasted the actor for shifting blame and making himself sound like a victim, despite having been the one to pull the trigger.

'He said essentially he felt grief but no guilt. Almost sounds like he was the victim,' Matt Hutchins told TODAY in an interview that aired Thursday.

'And hearing him blame Halyna in the interview and shift responsibility to others and seeing him cry about it, I just feel like - are we really supposed to feel bad about you, Mr. Baldwin?'

Halyna Hutchins, 42, died on October 21 when a prop gun used in the film Rust was fired, shooting Hutchins in the chest.

Baldwin, 63, was told the gun he brandished was 'cold' - not loaded - and on December 3, he told ABC News that he did not feel guilty for her death, because he didn't believe he was responsible.

'Watching him, I just felt so angry,' said Matt Hutchins, Halyna's husband of 16 years.

'I was just so angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way and then to not accept any responsibility after having just described killing her.'

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Matt Hutchins, husband of Halyna Hutchins and father of their nine-year-old son Andros, blasted actor Alec Baldwin for shifting blame and making himself sound like a victim, despite having been the one to pull the trigger on the gun that killed his wife

Halyna Hutchins, 42, was shot and killed on set on October 21

Matt Hutchins, a Harvard-educated lawyer, told TODAY he felt that the majority of the blame lay with Baldwin.

Baldwin, in the December interview, said: 'Someone is responsible for what happened, and I can't say who that is, but it's not me.'

Matt Hutchins said Thursday: 'The idea that the person holding the gun and causing it to discharge is not responsible is absurd to me.

'But gun safety was not the only problem on that set. There were a number of industry standards that were not practiced and there's multiple responsible parties,' he added.

The widower, who has a nine-year-old son named Andros with his late wife, filed a wrongful death suit against Baldwin on February 15.

The suit, which alleges at least 15 safety practices were disregarded on the set, argues that a wider cost-cutting culture ultimately led to Halyna's death.

'The lawsuit [is] seeking to hold accountable the people who are responsible for Halyna's death, which was totally preventable,' Matt Hutchins said.

'In the end, you know, justice won't bring Halyna back, but maybe the memory of her can help keep people safe and prevent something like this from ever happening again.'

Baldwin's attorney has said any claims the actor was reckless are 'entirely false.'

Hutchins, a Harvard-educated lawyer, told Today he felt the majority of the blame lay with Alec Baldwin (pictured in December). The widower said: 'The idea that the person holding the gun and causing it to discharge is not responsible is absurd to me'

The widower (right), who has a nine-year-old son named Andros (left) with his late wife, filed a wrongful death suit against Baldwin on February 15. The suit, which alleges at least 15 safety practices were disregarded on the set, argues a wider cost cutting culture ultimately led to Halyna's death

Halyna Hutchins is shown on set with Alec Baldwin, who was also the executive producer of Rust, and the film's other stars - Josh Hopkins (left), Travis Fimmel (second from right) and Jensen Ackles (right)

Halyna Hutchins is pictured with her son, Andros

Alec Baldwin is spotted in New York Thursday morning after an interview with Matthew Hutchins aired on the Today Show

Matt Hutchins, who described his romance with Halyna as love at first sight, also shared the heartbreaking moment he learned of her passing.

'I remember the production team told me that Halyna had been shot, and my heart sank right away, completely inexplicable to me that it could have happened at that moment,' he recalled.

'When I got to the doctor and spoke with him and he detailed exactly what had happened and that she didn't survive, I mean, I was heartbroken. I knew that I had to tell my son right away when I saw him.'

Matt Hutchins said he knew he had to be 'very direct and blunt' with Andros about the incomprehensible loss of his mother. He recalled sitting him down and telling him she had died before the pair travelled to Santa Fe, where the movie was being filmed.

'When I saw him, just had to be very direct and blunt, because going to pick him up and go to the airport and go to Santa Fe, I didn't want him to think we were going to be seeing her and having fun together and getting his hopes up,' he said.

'I told him sitting together that his mother had been shot and died. And of course he didn't believe it right away. He didn't want to believe it.'

Matt Hutchins added: 'I think that that kind of news you just have to say multiple times so that it can be believed. And so he believed it, and we cried together then, every holiday - Christmas, New Year's, our anniversary, my birthday, Valentine's Day - I mean, every holiday is difficult without her and for me and Andros.'

Matt and Halyna had a whirlwind romance that resulted in 16 years of marriage.

'It was pretty magical,' he told TODAY, recalling how he traveled 2,000 miles to Halyna's home country of Ukraine to propose only three months after they met.

'I like to trust my intuition on matters of the heart, and I was like, well, I can just get on a train and go 2,000 miles and get there,' he said.

'That's what love does. Wow. It was along the way where I decided to propose and I got down on my knee and said let's get married.'

'This is way too fast for her, she said, "I don't know about this." So I had to convince her, and we met up and I gave her a ring.'

In addition to being the love of his life, Matt Hutchins remembers Halyna as a loving and devoted mother.

'She just felt that connection and just loved him so much,' he said of her relationship with Andros.

Hutchins and Halyna (pictured together) had a whirlwind romance that he described as 'magical' and love at first sight. They were married for 16 years

Matthew and Halyna Hutchins are pictured with their son Andros, aged nine

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is pictured filming with a camera in this undated photo

The cinematographer would call her son every night from the Rust movie set.

'They would get on video, you know, and she would just do everything she could as a mom to reassure him, you know, just give him kisses,' Matt Hutchins said. 'I think it helped him get to sleep every night knowing that she was thinking about him.'

The father noted how losing her was nothing they ever imagined.

'I feel like in life we expect certain things to happen. We expect the sun to raise. We expect the sun to set, and we expect our loved one to come home at night,' he said.

'We certainly expected her to come home and to be there with us in our new home.'

Although she is no longer with them, Matt Hutchins explained how people and organizations are keeping her memory alive.

The American Film Institute (AFI), where Halyna earned her graduate degree, has started a scholarship in her honor.

'AFI has been wonderful,' Matt Hutchins said. 'I also want her legacy as an artist to live. AFI has created the scholarship in her name, I think that's part of her legacy. You know, she would have been mentoring fellow female cinematographers as a guiding light for others.'

Additionally, Matt Hutchins said the family is 'pursuing justice every way we can,' which includes the civil lawsuit seeking responsibility for Halyna's 'totally preventable' death.

Alec Baldwin is seen returning to his New York apartment on Thursday, Feb. 24, after Hutchins' interview had aired on the TODAY Show

Alec Baldwin is seen on Wednesday in New York City with two of his children

Baldwin, seen on Wednesday, angered Hutchins with his claim that he felt no guilt for his wife's death

Hutchins met Baldwin in New Mexico shortly after the fatal shooting.

'Her husband comes to town, her husband Matthew,' Baldwin said in the December interview with ABC.

'And I met with him and their son. He was as kind as you could be. '

When asked what he said, Baldwin replied: 'I didn't know what to say. He hugged me and he goes, ''I suppose you and I are going to go through this together.'' And I thought, ''Well, not as much as you are.'''

Brian Panish, representing Matt Hutchins, said the Oscar-nominated actor and others named defendants are 'responsible for the safety on the set and whose reckless behavior in cost-cutting led to the senseless and tragic death of Halyna Hutchins.'

The suit also names the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, who has said that she loaded the antique Colt .45 revolver with what she believed were dummy rounds.

Gutierrez-Reed named crew member Seth Kenney, who supplied ammunition to the set, in her own suit, filed in January.

Gutierrez-Reed gave the gun to Dave Halls, an assistant director on the movie, who is also named in the Hutchins family's lawsuit.

The set of Rust, at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside of Santa Fe

She was shot just moments after the crew entered a church set to rehearse a scene (above)

The gun prepared by the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed (right), discharged in Baldwin's hands as it was aimed at Hutchins (left)

Halls told Baldwin the gun was 'cold.'

Gutierrez-Reed, in her suit, described the set of Rust as a 'rushed and chaotic atmosphere, (that) created a perfect storm for a safety incident.'

NBC News reported that 'multiple previous misfires' by the same prop gun that killed Hutchins caused multiple crew members to walk off the movie's set hours before the incident.

Lane Luper, who served as the film's A-camera first assistant, said he quit one day before the fatal shooting because employees were being overworked, COVID-safety was not being enforced properly, and gun safety was poor.

'I think with Rust, it was the perfect storm of the armorer, the assistant director, the culture that was on set, the rushing. It was everything,' he told Good Morning America about the events that led up to the fatal shooting.

'It wasn't just one individual. Everything had to fall into place for this one-in-a-trillion thing to happen.'

In his letter of resignation, Luper said there had been two accidental weapon discharges on set and one accidental sound-effects explosion that went off around the crew.

'There have been NO explanations as to what to expect for these shots. When anyone from production is asked we are usually met with the same answers about not having enough time to complete the day if we rehearse or that 'this is a 21 day shoot,'' Luper wrote in the letter.

He added that the crew grew exhausted of the long commutes from the set to their lodging, which for some more than two hours away.

'In my 10 years as a camera assistant I've never worked on a show that cares so little for the safety of its crew,' Luper said.

In a statement to Sky News, a spokesperson for the producers hit back at his claims, saying: 'Mr Luper's allegations around budget and safety are patently false, which is not surprising considering his job was to be a camera operator, and he had absolutely nothing to do with it or knowledge of safety protocols or budgets.

'As we continue to cooperate with all investigations, we are limited in what we can say,' the spokesperson continued.

'However, safety is always the number one priority.'

Baldwin insisted that he was unaware of any problems on set.

He was rehearsing a scene in which he pulls out his gun and, in an interview with ABC on December 2, said that he never pulled the trigger, but the gun went off anyway.

Hutchins, a 42-year-old cinematographer, was shot and killed. The director of the film, Joel Souza, was shot in the shoulder and survived.

It is unclear why it has taken so long for New Mexico police to seize Baldwin's phone.

The actor has insisted that he has fully cooperated with the investigation.

Baldwin on December 2 gave an emotional interview to ABC's George Stephanopoulos, in which he said he did not pull the trigger, and felt no guilt because he believed he had done nothing wrong.

The American Film Institute (AFI), where Halyna earned her graduate degree, has started a scholarship in her honor

Baldwin wept as he described accidentally shooting dead his cinematographer on the set of his film Rust during an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos

Baldwin speaks on the phone in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on October 21 after he was questioned about the shooting

'I let go of the hammer, bang. The gun goes off. Everyone is horrified. They're shocked. It's loud,' he said.

He told Stephanopoulos that he didn't know she'd died until hours later, at the end of his police interview when he was photographed in the sheriff's parking lot in Santa Fe.

He said that he has been told by people 'in the know' that it is 'highly unlikely' he'll face criminal charges.

'Someone is responsible for what happened, and I can't say who it is, but it's not me,' Baldwin told Stephanopoulos.

'Honest to God, if I thought I was responsible I might have killed myself. And I don't say that lightly.'

He also took a swipe at former President Donald Trump, his media foe who he impersonated on Saturday Night Live, for suggesting that he 'loaded the gun himself.'

'He said that I did it deliberately. Just when you think things can't get any more surreal, here's the president of the United States making a comment on this tragic situation.'

Baldwin described in detail for the first time the immediate aftermath of the accident on October 21.

He was filming a scene inside a church on the set of the movie when the gun was handed to him.

'She's getting me to position the gun - everything is at her direction. I draw the gun, to her marker. I'm not shooting to the camera lens, I'm shooting just off. In her direction. This was a completely incidental shot, that may not have ended up in the film.'

Baldwin says he cocked the gun, and was discussing with Hutchins how it looked on camera.

'I'm just showing. I go, 'How 'bout that? Does that work? You see that? Do you see that?' And then she goes, 'Yeah, that's good.'

'I let go of the hammer, bang. The gun goes off. Everyone is horrified. They're shocked. It's loud. They don't have their earplugs in.

Hutchins' October 19, 2021 Instagram post showed cast members and staffers, including Baldwin alongside Hutchins herself and armorer Gutierrez-Reed (circled left to right) on the set of Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Baldwin's version of on-set tragedy 'I'm just showing. I go, 'How 'bout that? Does that work? You see that? Do you see that?' 'And then she goes, 'Yeah, that's good.' 'I let go of the hammer, bang. The gun goes off. Everyone is horrified. They're shocked. It's loud. They don't have their earplugs in. 'No one was - the gun was supposed to be empty. I was told I was handed an empty gun. 'If they were cosmetic rounds, nothing with a charge at all, a flash round, nothing. 'She goes down, I thought to myself, 'Did she faint?' 'The notion that there was a live round in that gun did not dawn on me 'till probably 45 minutes to an hour later.' He added: 'Well, she's laying there and I go, 'Did she hit by wadding? Was there a blank?' 'I never pulled the trigger. No, no, no. You would never do that. 'The gun was supposed to be empty. I was told I was handed an empty gun. 'Nobody gave a f*** who you are any more until this. You see a lot of people with their phones now, in a coffee shop,' he said, showing them filming him. Advertisement

'No one was - the gun was supposed to be empty. I was told I was handed an empty gun. If they were cosmetic rounds, nothing with a charge at all, a flash round, nothing.

'She goes down, I thought to myself, 'Did she faint?' The notion that there was a live round in that gun did not dawn on me 'till probably 45 minutes to an hour later.'

He added: 'Well, she's laying there and I go, 'Did she hit by wadding? Was there a blank?' Sometimes those blank rounds have a wadding inside that packs, it's like a cloth that packs the gunpowder in. Sometimes wadding comes out, it can hit people, and it could feel like a little bit of a poke.

'But no one could understand. Did she have a heart attack? Because remember the idea that someone put a live bullet in the gun was not even in reality.'

'I never pulled the trigger. No, no, no. You would never do that.'

Halls, the assistant director who was watching, confirmed Baldwin's account, through his lawyer.

He said he stood over her for 'about 60 seconds' and was then ushered out.

'Was she conscious?' Stephanopoulos asked.

'My recollection is yes,' said Baldwin.

He said 'no one had any idea' there was live ammunition used until a police officer showed a photo of the shrapnel removed from Souza's arm.

He said then began 'the agony, insanity, that someone put a live bullet in the gun.

'She was laying there and she was there for a while.

'I was amazed at how long they didn't get her in a car or get her out, but they waited until a helicopter came,' he said.

'And by the time the helicopter took off with her we were literally all glued to that process outside.

'When she finally left, I don't know how long she was there for.

'She kept saying, she's stable, just as you disbelieve there was a live round in the gun, you disbelieve its going to be a fatal accident.

'At the end of my interview with the sheriff's department, they told me 'we regret to inform you she didn't make it,' they told me then and there.'

He added: 'That's when I went outside and called my wife.'
A 26-year-old driver filmed at 100mph on Snapchat drank up to SIX pints of cider before killing his workmate, a court heard yesterday.

Meirion Roberts, 26, was drinking at a work party in December 2020 before he drove his car into a telegraph pole, killing his colleague Lewis Morgan, 20, Swansea Crown Court was told.

The pair had decided to 'go for a spin' in Roberts' white Vauxhall Corsa when it veered off the road and flipped on its roof.

Mr Morgan suffered severe head trauma in the smash and died at the scene in the village of Blaenau, South Wales.

Lewis Morgan, 20, suffered severe head trauma in the smash and died at the scene in the village of Blaenau, South Wales.

A court heard Mr Roberts was earlier captured in Snapchat videos while he drank from a bottle of alcohol while driving.

The footage also included the car's speedometer which showed it was being driven at up to 100mph.

Mr Roberts from South Wales, admits causing death by careless driving but denies causing death by dangerous driving.

The court heard the pair worked together at Fine-Edge Construction Ltd before the crash in December 2020.

Company director Philip Jones said the firm had booked two tables at The Cottage Inn for a three hour stay.

He said he and his employees drank 'five or six pints with our food' - and added that Roberts drank cider.

Mr Jones said: 'Roberts and I were the last to leave. Roberts said his girlfriend was picking him up but she went to the wrong pub.

Meirion Roberts, who caused the death of his friend in a car crash said he "didn't feel drunk" before he got behind the wheel

'When I left he was on his phone and appeared to be sorting out his lift. I found out the next morning that Mr Morgan had died and that Roberts was driving.

'I have no idea how they came to be in that car - there was no reason for Roberts to be driving.

'If I had known he was even considering driving I would have taken the keys off him. It's really tragic news and it's had a massive effect on us all.'

Swansea Crown Court heard Mr Morgan had been captured on Snapchat videos after leaving the pub while he drank from a bottle of alcohol while driving.

The footage also included the car's speedometer which showed it was being driven at up to 100mph.

Colleague Llyr Williams said he received a Snapchat video from victim Mr Morgan after the work gathering.

He said it showed Mr Morgan as a front-seat passenger in a car which he believed was being driven by Roberts.

Mr Williams said: 'I had concerns that Roberts could have been drink-driving. However I didn't contact anyone to raise the alarm.

'Lewis looked like he was enjoying himself and he was good friends with Roberts.'

The court heard Roberts was spotted on CCTV after 8pm when he went into to a Bargain Booze store to buy alcohol.

The car was later seen 'speeding and swerving' in a 30mph zone through village streets before it flipped on its roof.

The court heard speed investigators estimated the car was travelling up to 48mph when it crashed.

The fatal crash on Penygroes Road in Blaenau, Carmarthenshire took place in December 2020

Roberts gave an alcohol reading of 54mg per 100ml of blood - the legal limit being 80 - more than five hours after the smash.

Dr Paul Williams, an expert in breath alcohol analysis, said that he calculated that Roberts' alcohol level would have been over the limit when the collision occurred.

Prosecutor Carina Hughes said: 'Roberts not only drove while under the influence of alcohol but drove while consuming alcohol. He drove at speed and at one point in excess of the speed limit for over a mile. At one point he drove at 100mph.

'He could not control his vehicle and that is why he was seen swerving on more than one occasion. The defendant fell far below what would be expected of a careful and competent driver.'

Roberts, of Ammanford, South Wales, admitted causing death by careless driving but denies causing death by dangerous driving.

The trial continues.
A mother is facing a murder trial over the death of her 11-week-old son who died from head injuries in an Essex flat as the father will also stand charged with cruelty and perverting the course of justice.

Eloddie Goncalves, 31, is accused of murdering her baby son Malik Goncalves in August 2020.

She is also charged with causing the death and cruelty to a child, both in relation to Malik, as well as counts of assaulting an emergency worker and perverting the course of justice.

The mother was not present during a plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court today, where no indication of plea was given.

Muritala Olaiya-Imam, Malik's 36-year-old father, appeared at the same court to plead not guilty to offences of allowing the death of his son, cruelty to a child and perverting the course of justice.

Both parents were remanded in custody ahead of a provisional trial date of November 21 later this year with a provisional trial estimate of five weeks.

Police and paramedics rushed to Joyners Field in Harlow, Essex at around 10am on August 19, 2020. Two-month-old boy, Malik Goncalves, was unconscious and not breathing and later died

Several police and ambulance vehicles were seen parked up in front of the high-rise block of flats while an air ambulance was also seen landing nearby in a field off of Rye Hill Road

Goncalves, of Harlow, Essex, and Olaiya-Imam, Western Avenue, Dagenham, will next appear before the court for a case management hearing set for June 20.

Police and paramedics rushed to Joyners Field in Harlow, Essex at around 10am on August 19, 2020 to reports of a baby boy falling ill at a property.

On arrival, they found a two-month-old boy, Malik Olayia, unconscious and not breathing.

Several police and ambulance vehicles were seen parked up in front of the high-rise block of flats while an air ambulance was also seen landing nearby in a field off of Rye Hill Road.

He was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow where he was sadly pronounced dead hours later.

Malik's provisional cause of death was subsequently given as 'head injuries pending further investigation'.
Russian launched total war on Ukraine today, with missiles raining from the sky, tanks rolling across the border from Belarus, and masses of paratroopers descending on eastern regions after Vladimir Putin personally gave the order to attack.

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops have already been killed in early clashes, Kyiv said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment's notice. Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital.

The first sign an invasion was imminent came at just before 12am Ukrainian time (10pm in the UK), when Russian-backed rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine issued a request for military assistance from Moscow in what is being widely seen as a 'False Flag' operation to justify Putin's decision to attack.

Moments later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a defiant message to the nation, vowing his countrymen would 'fight back' in the event of an invasion, telling Moscow: 'When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.'

A frenzied string of diplomatic manoeuvres, including an emergency UN Security Council meeting in New York, were not enough to dissuade Putin, who declared a 'special military operation' at around 3am Ukraine time.

At around 6am, Zelenskyy declared martial law in a video message filmed on his phone, urging his people 'not to panic' and promising: 'We will win over everybody because we are Ukraine.'

As Europe faced its worst military crisis for decades, here is how this morning's dramatic events unfolded, minute by minute. All times are shown first in Ukrainian time with the GMT equivalent following in brackets.

12:00am (10pm)

'We will fight back': Ukrainian president delivers emotional TV address

Volodymyr Zelenskyy vows the Ukrainian people will 'fight back' if Putin launches a full-scale invasion.

His comments follow a request by Moscow-backed rebel leaders in the east of the country for military assistance to fend off Ukrainian 'aggression' - considered by the West to be a 'false flag' to justify an invasion.

A solemn President Zelenskyy says: 'The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace.

'But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and the lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.'

The Ukrainian president says he tried to call Putin earlier in the evening, but there was 'no answer, only silence', adding that Moscow has around 200,000 soldiers by Ukraine's borders.

At Ukraine's request, the United Nations Security Council quickly schedules an emergency meeting - the second in three days.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba calls the separatists' request 'a further escalation of the security situation.'

Ukraine readies for conflict and enters a month-long state of emergency, effective at midnight.

3:30am (1:30GMT)

Explosions heard in strategically important port city of Mariupol

Residents in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol are woken up at 3.30am by the sound of explosions.

Video footage appears to show clouds of smoke rising up into the night sky nearby, but it is unconfirmed whether this is as a result of shelling.

Mariupol, located on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, handles 50 per cent Ukraine's steel and mineral exports.

Taking the strategic location would give the people's republics of Donbas access to the sea, and choke off a vital economic artery for Ukraine's legitimate government.

4:30am (2:30am GMT)

UN meeting where Ukraine's ambassador tells Russian counterpart: 'war criminals go straight to hell'

The UN Security Council holds an extraordinary emergency meeting in New York to try to dissuade Russia from sending troops into Ukraine.

During the charged session, Ukrainian ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya implores the council, chaired by Russia, to 'do everything possible to stop the war'.

He demands that Russia's ambassador relinquish his duties as chair.

'There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador,' a visibly emotional Kyslytsya says.

At a charged UN Security Council meeting, Ukrainian ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told his Russian counterpart: 'There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador'

Secretary General Antonio Guterres urges Putin to stop his tanks.

'If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart,' he says.

'President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.'

Mr Guterres says he is witnessing, 'the saddest moment in my tenure as Secretary General of the United Nations' and that Europe risks, 'the worst war since the beginning of the century'.

Afterwards, he warns Russian action would not only be 'devastating for Ukraine' and 'tragic' for Russia 'but with an impact we can not even foresee in relation to their consequences for the global economy.'

'In a moment when we are emerging from Covid and so many developing countries absolutely need to have space for the recovery, which would be very, very difficult with the high prices of oil, with the exports of wheat from Ukraine and with rising interest rates caused by instability in international markets,' he adds.

5am (3am GMT)

Putin's announces 'special military operation' and threatens West

Putin announces a 'special military operation' in eastern Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians.

In a televised address, Putin says the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine.

He claimed Russia wanted to 'de-Nazify, not occupy' Ukraine. Putin says the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian 'regime.'

Putin warns countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action will lead to 'consequences they have never seen.'

The strongman could be seen wearing the same suit and red tie he wore on Monday to lay out his factually inaccurate version of Ukraine's history, saying essentially that it was always part of Russia.

In hindsight, Putin's attempts to rewrite history at his convenience, could be interpreted as evidence that he had already decided to invade Ukraine, and that he misled leaders in the West who pleaded with him for diplomacy.

5:30am (3:30am GMT)

Explosions are heard in Kyiv just minutes after Putin's speech ends

Following the end of Putin's speech, explosions are reported in Kyiv, Odessa, Ukraine's third-largest city, as well as the city of Kramatorsk in the eastern Donetsk region.

A CNN reporter in Kyiv says: 'I just heard a big bang right here behind me. I've never heard anything like it.'

Matthew Chance, Senior International correspondent for the network, says he heard between seven and eight blasts.

Chance quickly put on his flak jacket and headgear while he continued to report from a balcony in the Ukrainian capital.

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv puts on a flak jacket as he hears explosions just after 5.30am

'There are big explosions taking place. I can't see them or explain what they are. but I will tell you the U.S has warned the Ukrainian authorities there could be air strikes and ground attacks as well around the country, including the capital.

'I don't know if that's what's occurring now but it's a remarkable coincidence that the explosions come just minutes after Putin gave his speech,' Chance explained.

'This is the first time we've heard anything. It has been absolutely silent. This is the first time. It has to be more than just a coincidence.

'I think it's safe where I am. I have a flak jacket,' Chance remarked before ducking down to put on his protective gear.

He suggested that the blasts he heard were still some distance away from the centre.

6am (4am GMT)

Ukrainian president declares martial law

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposes martial law and urges his people to stay at home and not panic as Russian troops pour into the country.

In a video message published shortly after the Kremlin began its attacks across Ukraine, Zelenskyy says Russia has carried out missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and border guards, and that explosions have been heard in many cities.

The Ukrainian President also says he had spoken by telephone to US President Joe Biden.

He pleads: 'Dear Ukrainian citizens, this morning President Putin announced a special military operation in Donbas. Russia conducted strikes on our military infrastructure and our border guards. There were blasts heard in many cities of Ukraine. We're introducing martial law on the whole territory of our country.

'A minute ago I had a conversation with President Biden. The US has already started uniting international support. Today each of you should keep calm. Stay at home if you can. We are working. The Army is working.

'The whole sector of defence and security is working. No panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will win over everybody because we are Ukraine.'

Paratroopers drop into Ukraine's second largest city as Russians launch multiple attacks

From around 6am and onwards

Footage appears to show masses of paratroopers landing in Kharkiv, Ukraine's largest city.

The US appeared to know an invasion was about to happen, according to ABC's Martha Raddatz.

She said she received a text from a senior Pentagon official three hours before the invasion saying: 'You are likely in the last few hours of peace on the European continent for a long time to come. Be careful.'

As violence spreads, Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, writes on Facebook that the Russian military have launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.

Later in the morning, five Russian jets are reportedly shot out of the sky over the Donbass before Moscow boasts of taking out all anti-aircraft defences, giving them control of the skies.

Ukrainian border guards say they have come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus - as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko throws his forces into the fight.

Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine are all reported as coming under attack, but blasts are also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland.

Extraordinary video footage shows what appears to be a cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport, also in the west.

Meanwhile pro-Russian rebel forces push out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot two Ukrainian jets out of the skies. The port city of Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval base is located, also comes under attack.
A California man hired multiple people calling themselves spellcasters online to hex his wife in hopes of making her stay in their troubled marriage days before she disappeared, investigators say.

Larry Millete, 40, is accused of killing Maya Millete, 39, who disappeared more than a year ago, on January 7, 2021.

Now a private investigator hired by Maya's family has discovered that Larry sent hundreds of emails to various online 'spellcasters... psychics, spirit-channeler, or white-light practitioners capable of energy work' before she vanished from their Chula Vista home.

Billy Littler, an ex-criminal defense investigator for the Navy, found evidence that Larry purchased a slew of 'spells' from the self-professed mystics - some which promised to get his wife to find him attractive again, and another to incapacitate her so she couldnt leave the house.

A shrine made my Larry Millete days before his wife Maya's disappearance on January 7, 2021. The California man is accused of murdering his wife and hiring spellcasters online to cast a spell on her to get her to stay in their troubled marriage

Millete had disappeared from her Chula Vista home on January 7, the same day she met with her divorce attorney as she had been dealing with marital problems with husband Larry Millete

'Please punish May (Maya) and incapacitate her enough so she can't leave the house,' Millete wrote to the spellcaster, before chillingly adding, 'It's time to take the gloves off.'

Another spell sought out after by Millete, according to Little, would 'enhance a person's love life, eliminate debt, or make a romantic partner remain faithful.'

On December 31, 2020, a week before Maya's disappearance, he allegedly emailed another charmer asking for a spell that would cast physical harm on his wife, who was scheduled to meet with a divorce attorney the day she vanished.

'Can you hex to have her hurt enough that she will have to depend on me or need my help?' Millete wrote, Little's report shows. 'She's only nice to me when she needs me or [is] sick. Thanks again. Maybe [an] accident or broken bone.'

Millete's penultimate request to a spellcaster came in the early hours of January 8 - the day after Maya, who has four kids with her husband, was last seen.

The message, sent just before 1.30am according to Little, saw Millete begging an online wizard once again to save his marriage, an hour after Maya's phone activity suddenly stopped, per Chula Vista police.

The next day, Millete abruptly asked for the hexes against his wife to be stopped, according to Little. No other messages came after.

Little, who also discovered a makeshift shrine made my Millete during his sprawling 1-month investigation into the mother-of-four's disappearance says the messages show that the couple had reached a breaking point in a marriage, spurring Millete to resort to unusual measures.

Larry Millete, who was arrested and charged in his wife's murder, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and illegal possession of an assault weapon on October 21

'There are people on the internet that'll sell you for five bucks, you know, how to make a spell that will get her to be attracted to you.  And that's what he tried to do,' Little said of his findings, revealing that Millete even left a glowing review for one of his hired hands.

'And he writes of this spellcaster,' Little told CBS 48 Hours' Jonathan Vigliotti earlier this weed: '"She is kind, professional and courteous. My casting has not yet manifested, but I'm really hoping and counting on it."'

'Leaving a review like one would leave on Yelp for a food order,' Vigliotti remarked.

'Like, it's an Uber ride.  Like, 'Oh, five stars. Good job spellcaster,' said Little during the televised interview.

Police and FBI agents are seen outside the Millete family home in Chula Vista on October 19

An FBI agent outside the garage of the Millete house on October 19

A missing poster for Maya Millete

Little then added: 'So, he's not quite as smart as he thinks he is. He doesn't realize that all of that stuff is pointing the finger at him.'

Millete was arrested was arrested on charges related to the murder of his wife in October.

Millete, who kept an extensive collection of rifles and guns in the couple's Chula Vista home, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and illegal possession of an assault weapon on October 21. A scheduled January court date for the suspected killer has been pushed back to later this year.

Investigators in the case revealed in California state court that Millete, in addition to contracting the spellcasters, allegedly searched 'poison hemlock' and researched poisonous plants online days before Maya's disappearance.

He also researched prescription strength sedatives, like Rohypnol, capable of quickly incapacitating those who ingest them.

'In December of 2020, Larry conducted a search entitled: 'my wife doesn't want me to touch her' and then searched for 'Flunitrazepan, Rohypnol, and diphenhydramine,'" cops wrote in Millete's arrest affidavit.

Prosecutors detail Maya Millete's disappearance DECEMBER 2020: Larry Millete is in contact with 'spell casters', and switches from asking for spells so his wife doesn't leave him to asking for spells so she is incapacitated in an accident, and is unable to leave him. JANUARY 7, 2021: Maya Millete telephones a divorce lawyer and makes an appointment for January 12. Larry, aware of the call, texts: 'I think she wants me to snap and I am shaking inside ready to snap.' 8:15pm: May sends her final message - a Facebook Messenger message to her family. 9:21pm: Larry takes a screenshot of how much cryptocurrency cash is in his account. 9:57pm: Surveillance cameras at a neighbor's house detect nine loud bangs. The FBI is unable to confirm whether they were gunshots. 10:34pm: Neighbors see the Millete children playing outside, which strikes them as unusual given the late hour. JANUARY 8, 2021, 5:58am: Larry is seen moving their Lexus so that the trunk is inside the garage and cannot be seen on surveillance cameras. 6:45am: Larry and their four-year-old son drive away, leaving the two older children home alone. He leaves his phone at home, and his boss and father call wanting to know where he is. 3:29pm: Larry switches the GPS on to get directions back to their Chula Vista home - a drive of 2.5 hours. 6pm: Larry and the four-year-old arrive home. 6:30pm: Maya's brother comes to the house to check on her, but can't see her. Larry says he was at work all day, then says actually he was at Solana Beach. Maya's sister Maricris calls the police. Advertisement

'These are central nervous system sedatives and depressants that could be used to incapacitate a person.'

Flunitrazepan is the generic name for Rohypnol - widely known as a 'date rape' drug that can quickly render a victim unconscious.

The couple had been having marital problems for the past year and Maya had indicated she wanted to leave the marriage.

Her friends had been aware of the 'toxic' problems facing the couple's marriage which was reportedly abusive.

The use of a safe house had been organized by Millete's friend for emergency use.

'I gave her an address that if she needed to go to, she could go to. She had just told me she was going to need to use that address,' her friend told Fox.

'I had given it to her in person, but I told her, Youre not taking the paper, youre not writing it down, Im not texting it to you.

'This is where you can go if you need to go. Memorize this address, and this is the code to get in.'

Millete previously told a friend that her husband had choked her to the point of unconsciousness and said in a text that she had told him she was filing for a divorce.

Millete's mother said in the weeks before her disappearance that her daughter needed access to the safety house. Other family members also noticed problems plaguing the couple's relationship.

'People get divorced all the time, and people have issues in their relationship all the time,' Maya's brother-in-law Richard Drouaillet said.

'It's kind of like, 'you guys need a break from each other', but I think Larry, he couldn't imagine himself without her, so something snapped in his head.'

Millete was worried about leaving them behind if she needed to get away from him, he said.

'She considered going somewhere and then having him served and even made a contingency plan to stay at a friends vacant condo, but Maya did not want to leave her kids,' prosecutors said in a filing, according to CBS8.

Prosecutors also produced footage from a neighbor's security camera appears to contain a series of gunshots, recorded at 10pm on the night Millete went missing.

Little, meanwhile claims there is audio recording of a 'fight' that occurred inside the Millete's house on January 7 that was "so loud it could be heard outside."

The fight was followed by ten gunshots, Little reported, though the CCTV recording only has eight audible gunshots.

'After that fight, there are six gunshots. Bang, ten-second pause, bang, ten-second pause, bang, bang, bang, bang, four more shots,' Little said.

The Millete couple shared three young children aged five, ten and 11

Authorities released this photo of Larry's stash of weapons and four passports. They say the haul includes two illegally-owned AR-15 rifles

Police described Millete in a court filing as having 'a frantic, desperate, unbalanced mindset coupled with violent and sometimes homicidal ideation'.

They said he was also suspected of trying to hire a hitman for $20,000 to kill a man he believed was having an affair with his wife. He also sent an email hours before his wife's disappearance saying he was going to 'snap', police said.

'I think she wants me to snap, and Im shaking inside ready to snap,' the email read, according to San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan.

According to the police department's press release, investigators have interviewed 87 people, written 67 search warrants, and followed up on more than 130 tips about Maya's possible location or reason for the disappearance.

Millete, meanwhile, contends his wife left him to start a new life.

The case has garnered national attention and coverage. Maya - who authorities say is dead - has yet to be found.

The FBI is currently overseeing a search, while family members continue to look as well.
British banks are bracing themselves for Russian cyber attacks, with the boss of Lloyds saying the business is on a 'heightened alert'.

Steps are being taken over fears Vladimir Putin will unleash his criminal network of hackers on the UK following his invasion of Ukraine this morning.

Preparation for potential attacks was discussed in a meeting between the government and banking industry leaders yesterday, Lloyds chief executive Charlie Nunn said.

He added that the firm was on 'heightened alert ... internally around our cyber risk controls and we've been focused on this for quite a while'.

British banks are bracing themselves for Russian cyber attacks, with the boss of Lloyds saying the business is on a 'heightened alert

Preparation for potential attacks was discussed in a meeting between the government and banking industry leaders yesterday, Lloyds chief executive Charlie Nunn (pictured) said

Guidance issued to UK businesses by National Cyber Security Centre Here is a series of actions recommended by officials at GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre: Check your system patching : Ensure your users' desktops, laptops and mobile devices are all patched, including third party software such as browsers and office productivity suites. If possible, turn on automatic updates.

Verify access controls : Ask staff to ensure that their passwords are unique to your business systems and are not shared across other, non-business systems.

Ensure defences are working : Ensure antivirus software is installed and regularly confirm that it is active on all systems and that signatures are updating correctly.

Logging and monitoring : Understand what logging you have in place, where logs are stored and for how long logs are retained. Monitor key logs and at a minimum monitor antivirus logs. If possible, ensure that your logs are kept for at least one month.

Review your backups : Confirm that your backups are running correctly. Perform test restorations from your backups to ensure that the restoration process is understood and familiar.

Incident plan : Ensure that the incident response plan contains clarity on who has the authority to make key decisions, especially out of normal office hours.

Check your internet footprint : Check that records of your external internet-facing footprint are correct and up to date. This includes things like which IP addresses your systems use on the internet or which domain names belong to your organisation.

Phishing response : Ensure that staff know how to report phishing emails. Ensure you have a process in place to deal with any reported phishing emails.

Third party access : If third party organisations have access to your IT networks or estate, make sure you have a comprehensive understanding of what level of privilege is extended into your systems, and to whom.

NCSC services : Check your CiSP account works so you can access and share information about the threat with other organisations and see updates from the NCSC.

Brief your wider organisation : Ensure that other teams understand the situation and the heightened threat. Getting buy-in from the rest of the business is crucial in being able to complete the actions described here. Advertisement

Earlier this week, GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) urged UK organisations to 'bolster their online defences' and warned that there has been an 'historical pattern of cyber attacks on Ukraine with international consequences'.

Ukrainian banking and government websites were last week briefly knocked offline by a spate of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks which the US and Britain said were carried out by Russian military hackers  something the Russians denied.

This prompted concerns that the same sort of attack could now be attempted in the UK.

DDoS attacks try to crash a website by bombarding it with superfluous requests at the same time - and this surge of simple requests overloads the servers, causing them to shut down.

In order to leverage the number of requests necessary, hackers will often resort to botnets  networks of computers brought under their control with malware.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also said the UK will launch retaliatory cyber attacks on Russia if it targets Britain's computer networks, and that 'offensive cyber capability' was being developed from a base in North West England.

It comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel warned over the weekend that the UK Government expects to see 'cyber attacks aimed at the West', while NCSC chief executive Lindy Cameron told of a 'heightened cyber threat'.

And in recent weeks the Financial Conduct Authority watchdog has written to the chief executives of UK banks warning them to brace for Russian-sponsored cyber attacks and to ensure their security systems are updated.

It comes as Europe's financial sector suffered heavy share price falls today, with U.S. banks set to follow suit, as it grappled to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Among initial measures, Allianz disclosed that it had frozen its Russian government bond exposure, while Deutsche Bank said it had contingency plans in place as U.S. and European officials warned of further sanctions on Russia.

Shares of leading banks plunged, with the banking sector down 7.3% in early afternoon, steeper than a 4.7% fall for the Euro Stoxx index.

Banks with significant operations in Russia were particularly hard hit. Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International was down 18.7% while Societe Generale lost 10.8%, though it said its Russian unit Rosbank continued to operate normally.

Shares in UniCredit fell 10.7% and triggered an automatic trading suspension, though the lender said its Russia 'exposures are highly covered'.

Top U.S. banks, including JPMorgan & Chase, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley, shed 3-5% in pre-market trade. That was a heavier fall than the broader market, where futures tracking the S&P were down 2.6%.

European banks are the world's most exposed to Russia - especially those in France, Italy and Spain, which far outstrip U.S. banks' exposure, data from the Bank for International Settlements shows.

German regulator BaFin said it was keeping a watchful eye on the crisis.

Steps are being taken over fears Vladimir Putin will unleash his criminal network of hackers on the UK following his invasion of Ukraine this morning

What is a DDoS attack and how does it work? DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service, which is a former of cyber attack. These attacks attempt to crash a website or online service by bombarding them with a torrent of superfluous requests at exactly the same time. The surge of simple requests overloads the servers, causing them to shut down. In order to leverage the number of requests necessary to crash a popular website or online service, hackers will often resort to botnets  networks of computers brought under their control with malware. Malware is distributed by tricking users into inadvertently downloading software, typically by tricking users into following a link in an email or agreeing to download a corrupted file. Last week, Ukrainian banking and government websites were briefly knocked offline by a spate of DDoS attacks which the US and Britain said were carried out by Russian military hackers. Russia rejected the allegations. Advertisement

European Union leaders will impose new sanctions on Russia, freezing its assets, halting access of its banks to the European financial market and targeting 'Kremlin interests' over its 'barbaric attack' on Ukraine, senior officials said today.

But in what will be a relief to Europe's banks, the European Union is unlikely at this stage to take steps to cut off Russia from the SWIFT global interbank payments system, several EU sources said.

Both Deutsche Bank and Allianz - two of Europe's most important financial businesses and both with operations in Russia - said they were ready to comply with sanctions.

Allianz, one of the world's biggest asset managers, said that the share of Russian government bonds in its portfolio was 'currently very low' and that it had recently implemented a freeze on those securities.

Deutsche Bank, like many lenders in recent years, has reduced its presence in Russia as sanctions on the country have expanded.

'We have contingency plans in place,' the bank said in a statement. A spokesperson declined to elaborate on the plans but said 'risks are well contained'.

While many bankers have played down the importance of Russia to their operations, the country is tightly linked to the European economy.

Russia is the European Union's fifth-largest trading partner, with a 5% share of trade, data shows. U.S. trade with Russia is less than 1% of its total.

Some of the region's top bankers have been more concerned about the potential secondary effects of the crisis.

The boss of HSBC, one of Europe's largest banks, this week said that 'wider contagion' for global markets was a concern, even if the bank's direct exposure was limited.

A number of Britain's largest banks have also been approached for comment.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a virtual meeting on securing critical mineral supply chains in the South Court Auditorium near the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 22. AFP-Yonhap



The United States and its allies will respond in a united and decisive way to "an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" on Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden said after blasts were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.



"President (Vladimir) Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said in a statement issued late Wednesday.



"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable."



Biden said he would announce further measures to be imposed on Russia by the United States and its allies Thursday.






World leaders and former officials has turned on 'insane' Vladimir Putin as a Foreign Office minister urged Russian generals to stage a coup to stop his 'Tsarist fantasy'.

FCDO minister James Cleverly said military chiefs know the Russian president is increasingly 'isolated' and 'illogical' as he tries to 'recreate a Russian Empire in his mind'.

And in a highly unusual step, he effectively appealed for them to stage a coup - saying 'they are in a position to stop this and we call on them to do so'.

James Cleverly (left) said military chiefs know Vladimir Putin (right) is increasingly 'isolated' and 'illogical' as he tries to 'recreate a Russian Empire in his mind'

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former Secretary-General of NATO, told ITV's Peston programme that Russia's current behaviour is not rational or logical.

Czech President Milos Zeman said it was a mistake that he once believed that Putin was not 'crazy enough' to attack Ukraine - calling the autocrat a 'madman'.

The extraordinary intervention came as ministers warned that Mr Putin looking increasingly unstable, after a bizarre address to the nation where he ranted at length about the Soviet Union's history.

Ukrainian MP Vadym Galaichuk echoed this during an interview on Sky News when he said: 'The Kremlin has just gone bonkers.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said yesterday that he appeared to have 'gone Tonto'.

One Cabinet minister told MailOnline earlier this week that the Russian premier might have been playing too much 'Call of Duty'.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former Secretary-General of NATO, told ITV's Peston programme that Russia's current behaviour is not rational or logical

Czech President Milos Zeman said it was a mistake that he once believed that Putin was not 'crazy enough' to attack Ukraine - calling the autocrat a 'madman'.

A column of army trucks passes a police post in the town of Armyansk, northern Crimea today

Boris Johnson today vowed to 'hobble' the Russian economy with a 'massive' package of sanctions as he insisted the West 'will not look away' from the invasion of Ukraine.

In speech from Downing Street, the PM said Vladimir Putin cannot be allowed to 'snuff out' freedom in Ukraine with an act of 'wanton and reckless aggression.

He said Mr Putin had 'unleashed war' on the continent and the West must respond to ensure the eventual 'failure' of his offensive 'diplomatically, politically, economically, and eventually, militarily'. In a hard message to Germany and Italy among others, Mr Johnson also called for countries to wean themselves off gas and oil supplies from Moscow.

'Today, in concert with our allies we will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy. And to that end, we must also collectively cease the dependence on Russian oil and gas that for too long has given Putin his grip on Western politics,' he said.

'Our mission is clear. Diplomatically, politically, economically, and eventually, militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure.'

During a round of interviews this morning, Mr Cleverly told Sky News: 'Ukraine is not part of Russia. The fantasy that President Putin is trying to play out  creating some kind of Tsarist expansionist Russia  absolutely has to be stopped.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said yesterday that he appeared to have 'gone Tonto'.

Boris Johnson today declared that Putin has 'chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction' in Ukraine after launching a 'horrific attacks' on its neighbour

Russia has invaded Ukraine from the north, south and east while firing in missiles all over the country

He added: 'The military leaders around Vladimir Putin, they must know that this is a catastrophically bad judgment call by Vadimir Putin.

'Ukraine is a huge country physically. I have no doubt the Ukrainian people will be ferocious in defence of their homelands.

'The military leaders must know that this will come at a huge cost  not just to Ukrainians but to Russians.

'They are in a position, even if Vladimir Putin won't, they are in a position to stop this and we call on them to do so.'

Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said he was against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine as he stood trial from prison after President Vladimir Putin launched an attack.

Alexei Navalny used an appearance at his trial for old fraud charges to condemn Putin's war in Ukraine (file photo)

'I am against this war,' Navalny was heard saying in a video of the in-prison trial published by independent news outlet Dozhd.

'This war between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed to cover up the theft from Russian citizens and divert their attention from problems that exist inside the country,' he said.

Wearing a prison uniform, Navalny said the war would 'lead to a huge number of victims, destroyed futures and the continuation of this line of impoverishment of the citizens of Russia.'

He is being tried inside the maximum security prison where he is held outside Moscow on fresh charges that could see his time behind bars extended by a decade.

His allies have said that the trial - which opened last week - has been purposefully timed to coincide with the Ukraine crisis.

Navalny has been behind bars for a year on old fraud charges, after surviving a poison attack he and the West blame on the Kremlin.
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President Joe Biden has been criticized after he stated outright that 'no one' expected sanctions that were imposed on Russia 'to prevent the invasion' of Ukraine.

He made the candid remarks during Thursday afternoon's press conference over the situation in Eastern Europe.

Reporters were quick to take the president to task over what appeared to be a changing stance on whether sanctions, economic or otherwise, were effective in any way.

'No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening,' Biden said in what was a complete reversal to what he had said previously.

'This could take time and we have to show resolve, so he knows what's coming and so the people of Russia know what he's brought on them, this is what this is all about.'

President Joe Biden condemned Vladimir Putin for his invasion of the Ukraine and announced a series of new sanctions on Russian financial insitutitions that he said will have a 'severe' effect on that nation's economy

Biden's position was counter to that of Vice President Kamala Harris' comments on Sunday who stated that the sanctions were aimed to be a deterrent. She is pictured at the White House on Thursday

Biden's position was counter to that of Vice President Kamala Harris' comments on Sunday who stated that the sanctions were aimed to be a deterrent.

'The purpose of the sanctions has always been and continues to be deterrence.'

It was a view echoed by national security advisor Jake Sullivan who also said 'sanctions are intended to deter.'

Other reporters brought up the apparent change when reporting on Biden's comments.

''On Feb. 11, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, said that 'the President believes that sanctions are intended to deter.' Today, @potus told us: 'No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening.' Those are basically the opposite of each other,' New York Times correspondent Michael D. Shear tweeted.

'I thought that was so interesting when President Biden said, 'No one expected sanctions to prevent anything.' Actually, that's exactly what his foreign policy team said again and again, and it's what his secretary of state said to me on Sunday,' CBS reporter Margaret Brennan said during a broadcast.

But columnist for the Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin, sprung to the president's defense suggesting the Putin's game plan would have been the name, no matter what Biden said.

'The WH press corps is either playing dumb or doesn't understand. Sanctions are not meant to deter (hence they did not fail); Putin was ALWAYS going to do this. They are to force Putin to curtail once the pain rises sufficiently or he risks destabilization at home,' Rubin tweeted.

'I thought that was so interesting when President Biden said, 'No one expected sanctions to prevent anything.' Actually, that's exactly what his foreign policy team said again and again, and it's what his secretary of state said to me on Sunday,' CBS reporter Margaret Brennan said during a broadcast on Thursday

New York Times correspondent Michael D. Shear tweeted that Biden had essentially reversed his stance on sanctions

Other reporters brought up this change when reporting on Biden's comments

Columnist for the Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin, sprung to the president's defense suggesting the Putin's game plan would have been the name, no matter what Biden said

During Thursday's statement, Biden condemned Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine and announced a series of new sanctions on Russian financial institutions that he said will have a 'severe' effect on the economy.

'Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences,' Biden said in remarks at the White House in response to Putin's invasion has so far killed at least 57 Ukrainians.

The president insisted he didn't underestimate the Russian leader and in a baffling moment conceded that 'no one expected' the earlier sanctions put on Russian financial institutions and Putin's inner circle to 'prevent anything from happening'.

He said Putin has further ambitions and wants to 're-establish the Soviet Union', but insisted he would not be sending American troops into Ukraine and has no plans to speak to the Russian leader on the phone.

Biden's speech, which was delayed twice on Thursday afternoon, came as The Kremlin seized control of Chernobyl nuclear power plant after a 'fierce' battle. Ukraine said the condition of the nuclear storage facilities are 'unknown', sparking fears of a radiation leak that could cause fallout in Europe.

During Thursday's statement, Biden condemned Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine and announced a series of new sanctions on Russian financial institutions that he said will have a 'severe' effect on the economy.

Video revealed Russian tanks and armored vehicles standing in front of the destroyed reactor 60 miles north of the capital Kyiv, which has been surrounded by Putin's forces and could fall in 96 hours.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken Thursday also issued a grim warning Thursday night saying: 'All evidence suggests that Russia intends to encircle and threaten Kyiv, and we believe Moscow has developed plans to inflict widespread human rights abuses  and potentially worse  on the Ukrainian people.'

'Now the entire world sees clearly what Putin and his Kremlin allies are really all about. This was never about a genuine security concern on their part. It was always about naked aggression,' the president said during his White House speech. 'America stands up to bullies,' he added. 'This is who we are.'

The Biden administration announced a new round of sanctions on Thursday that the president believes will hurt the Russian economy 'both immediately and over time' and will leave Moscow reeling for years.

He also said putting sanctions on Putin himself was 'on the table' but didn't answer a question as to why none were announced Thursday. As to why the U.S. keeps imposing them, the president argued sanctions would work with time.

'No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. It's going to take time. And we have to show resolve so he knows what's coming,' Biden noted. 'He is going to test the resolve of the West to see if we stay together.'

Top Biden officials, over the past few weeks, had argued the opposite - saying sanctions were meant to deter Russian aggression.

'The President believes that sanctions are intended to deter,' National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said at a February 11th press briefing at the White House.

And Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday: 'The purpose of the sanctions has always been and continues to be deterrence.'

But Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh said the U.S. didnt use its full arsenal of sanctions because of concerns it would end diplomatic conversations.

President Putin might have said, Look, these people are not serious about diplomacy, they're not engaging in a good faith effort to promote peace instead they're escalating, he said at the White House press briefing.

And that could provide a justification for him to escalate and invade. Secondly, he could look at it as a sunk cost. In other words, President Putin could think I've already paid the price, why dont I actually take what I paid for, which is Ukraine's freedom.

In other major developments in the hours since Putin's assault:

Global markets tanked off the back of the invasion, with Russia's ruble sliding to its lowest value ever and the price of oil shooting up to over $100 per barrel

EU will freeze Russian assets, halt access to financial market and target 'Kremlin interests'

The Treasury Department announced sanctions against 24 Belarusian individuals and entities, including the defense minister, due to their 'support for, and facilitation of' Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Central European countries started preparations to receive potentially hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the fighting in Ukraine

UN Security Council will discuss a resolution condemning the invasion

At least 57 people have died and 169 people have been injured, Ukrainian government says

The U.S. expelled the No. 2 diplomat at the Russian embassy in Washington, DC, in response to Russia expelling the second-ranking U.S. diplomat in Moscow earlier this year

European soccer's governing body stripped St. Petersburg, Russia, from hosting the Champions League final, the biggest club game of the year, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine

U.S. sending more military assets to Eastern Europe: Six F-35s will arrive in Estonia, Lithuania and Romania today  two to each country  the Pentagon said. Additionally, a group of attack helicopters 'are on their way,' a Pentagon official said, but noted there's been 'some weather issues' to get them to their locations

Russian armoured vehicles park on roads near the Chernobyl plant, amid fears that damage to the facility could cause a radiation leak that would blanket Europe with fallout

A Russian T-72 tank is pictured sitting in front of the main reactor at Chernobyl after Putin's forces seized it in a 'fierce' battle with the condition of nuclear storage facilities 'unknown'

This video screen grab shows soldiers of the 53rd Independent Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who have laid down their arms near the village of Petrovskoye, Donetsk Region

A night view of Kyiv as the mayor declared a curfew from 10pm to 7am

President Biden meets holds an emergency meeting with his National Security team in the Situation Room on Thursday morning in the midst of Vladimir Putin's terrifying invasion of Ukraine from all sides

French President Emmanuel Macron takes part in a video-conference of G7 leaders on Ukraine just hours after Putin launched an all-out assault and launched attacks from multiple fronts

Biden appears in the top left corner of the Zoom meeting after he released a late night statement condemning Putin's actions and vowing he would pay for the invasion of Ukraine

In this satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs PBC, smoke rises from the Chuhuiv Airbase outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Russian Mi-8 attack helicopters stage an assault on Gostomel air base, just on the outskirts of Kyiv, after Vladimir Putin launched an all-out attack on the country

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

An image captured near Kyiv shows what appears to be the wreckage of a downed Russian attack helicopter with a soldier parachuting out of it (to the left of the frame)

U.S. targets families close to Putin and major banking executives in latest round of sanctions The Treasury Department outlined details on the latest round of Russian officials and oligarchs targeted with sanctions: Families Close to Putin Elites close to Putin continue to leverage their proximity to the Russian President to pillage the Russian state, enrich themselves, and elevate their family members into some of the highest positions of power in the country at the expense of the Russian people. Sanctioned oligarchs and powerful Russian elites have used family members to move assets and to conceal their immense wealth. The following designations target influential Russians in Putins inner circle and in elite positions of power within the Russian state. Many of these individuals are believed to participate in, or benefit from, the Russian regimes kleptocracy, along with their family members. Many serve in leadership roles of companies designated or identified today. Sergei Sergeevich Ivanov, son of Sergei Borisovich Ivanov Sergei Borisovich Ivanov (Sergei B. Ivanov) is the Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology, and Transport. Sergei B. Ivanov is reportedly one of Putins closest allies and previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Deputy Prime Minister, and Defense Minister of Russia. He is also a permanent member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. Sergei B. Ivanov was previously designated in March 2014 for being an official of the GoR. Sergei Ivanovs son, Sergei Sergeevich Ivanov (Sergei S. Ivanov), is the current CEO of Russian state-owned diamond mining company Alrosa and a board member of Gazprombank. OFAC redesignated Sergei B. Ivanov and designated his son Sergei S. Ivanov pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of the GoR. Sergei S. Ivanov was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the spouse or adult child of Sergei B. Ivanov, a person whose property or interests in property are blocked for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR. Andrey Patrushev, son of Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev (Nikolai Patrushev) is the Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council and is reported to be a longtime close associate of Putin. Nikolai Patrushev was previously designated in April 2018 for being an official of the GoR. Patrushevs son, Andrey Patrushev, served in leadership roles at Gazprom Neft and is employed in Russias energy sector. OFAC redesignated Nikolai Patrushev and designated his son Andrey Patrushev pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of the GoR. Andrey Patrushev was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the spouse or adult child of Nikolai Patrushev, a person whose property or interests in property are blocked for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR. Ivan Igorevich Sechin, son of Igor Ivanovich Sechin Igor Ivanovich Sechin (Igor Sechin) is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chairman of the Management Board, and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rosneft, one of the worlds largest publicly traded oil companies. Igor Sechin was formerly the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation from 2008 until 2012 and is reportedly a close ally of Putin. Igor Sechin was previously designated in April 2014 pursuant to E.O. 13661 for being an official of the GoR. Igor Sechins son, Ivan Igorevich Sechin (Ivan Sechin), is reportedly a deputy head of a department at Rosneft. OFAC redesignated Igor Sechin pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR. Ivan Sechin was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the spouse or adult child of Igor Sechin, a person whose property or interests in property are blocked for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR. Financial Sector Elites Senior executives at state-owned banks, like Kremlin-linked elites, take advantage of their closeness to the Russian power vertical to advance the interests of the Russian state while maintaining an extravagant standard of living. Alexander Aleksandrovich Vedyakhin (Vedyakhin) is First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank. OFAC designated Vedyakhin pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR. Andrey Sergeyevich Puchkov (Puchkov) and Yuriy Alekseyevich Soloviev (Soloviev) are two high-ranking VTB Bank executives who work closely with VTB Bank chief executive Andrei Kostin, whom OFAC designated in April 2018 pursuant to E.O. 13661. Puchkov also has other business interests beyond VTB, including Moscow-based real estate companies Limited Liability Company Atlant S and Limited Liability Company Inspira Invest A. Solovievs wife, Galina Olegovna Ulyutina (Ulyutina), was previously implicated in a golden passport scheme. Advertisement

Meanwhile, Putin, in his own speech on Thursday, warned caution to 'anyone who tries to interfere with us.'

He also reminded the world that Russia 'remains one of the most powerful nuclear states' with 'a certain advantage in several cutting edge weapons.'

As part of its pressure campaign on the Kremlin, Biden said four more major banks in Russia would be subject to sanctions as will more Russian billionaires. The U.S. and its allies already targered some Russian financial insitutions and members of Putin's inner circle.

Biden emphasized the international community was backing this effort.

'We will limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds, and yen,' he said. 'Between our actions and those of our allies and partners, we estimate that we will cut off more than half of Russia's high-tech imports. We will strike a blow through their ability to modernize their military.'

Specifically, the United States targeted Russia's largest bank Sberbank, which holds nearly one-third of the overall Russian banking sector's assets, and fully sanctioned Russia's second largest bank VTB. Both institutions are now fully cut off from the U.S. financial system, which includes processing payments through the U.S. financial system.

The U.S. also cut off 13 major state-owned companies from raising money from the American market.

Families close to Putin were also targeted:

Sergei Sergeevich Ivanov, a senior Russian official who became friends with Putin when they were in the KGB together

Andrey Patrushev, a Russian business CEO and banking executive whose father Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev is the former head of Russia Federal Security Services

Ivan Igorevich Sechin, who works closely with his father Igor Ivanovich Sechin, a Russian oligarch who is considered Putin's de facto deputy

Russian financial executives were also targed:

Alexander Aleksandrovich Vedyakhin, the First Deputy Chairman of Executive Board of Sberbank;

Andrey Sergeyevich Puchkov and Yuriy Alekseyevich Soloviev, two high-ranking VTB Bank executives;

and Soloviev's wife Galina Olegovna Ulyutina

The sanctions notably did not target Russian energy companies, a major source of the nation's wealth. But Biden and his fellow leaders have expressed concern about energy prices particularly as the cold weather lingers.

We're not going to do anything which causes an unintended disruption to the flow of energy as the global economic recovery is still underway, he said. Our measures were not designed to disrupt in any way the current flow of energy from Russia to the world.

Biden also has been presented with a range of options for a cyber security attack on Russia that would hamper its ability to run the invasion. The options include cutting off Russia from the internet and shutting down the switches that control the railway system that is moving troops into position, NBC News reported.

The White House pushed back on the NBC report. Press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted: 'This report on cyber options being presented to @POTUS is off base and does not reflect what is actually being discussed in any shape or form.'

Ukraine, meanwhile, demanded Russia be kicked out of the SWIFT banking system. The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or SWIFT, is a cooperative of financial institutions formed in 1973. It acts as a secure messaging system that links more than 11,000 financial institutions in over 200 countries and territories, alerting banks when transactions are going to occur. To throw Russia out would cut the country off from most international transactions.

Biden ruled it out, however.

'Right now that's not the position Europe wishes to take,' Biden said. 'The sanctions we imposed exceed SWIFT.'

Biden also announced the deployment of more U.S. forces to NATO allies on the Eastern flank of Europe.

'The United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power,' he said.

The Pentagon approved deployment of 7,000 more U.S. troops to Germany amid Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the order of President Biden.

The Pentagon has now sent 14,000 U.S. troops to Germany and NATO's Eastern Flank since Russia's buildup started. And there are nearly 100,000 American troops in Europe overall.

Biden, in his remarks, reaffirmed there would be no U.S. boots on the ground in the Ukraine.

'Let me say it again. Our forces are not and will not be engaged in conflict with Russia and Ukraine. Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine but to defend our NATO allies and reassure those allies in the east,' he said.

Ahead of his speech, Biden met with G7 leaders on Thursday morning to discuss options and coordinate a severe economic and financial response to Putin's aggression.

The leaders of the seven industralized nations condemned Putin in a strongly-worded statement, saying the Russian president 're-introduced war to the European continent.'

'He has put himself on the wrong side of history,' the G7 leaders said of Putin after their Thursday morning meeting.

The virtual, closed-door meeting of G7 leaders - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - started at 9:17 a.m while shocking footage emerged of missiles hitting airports and military bases. The leaders concluded their conversation little more than an hour later, at 10:27 a.m.

As the meeting concluded, Ukrainian troops were fighting Russian forces for control of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, 60 miles north of the capital Kyiv, amid fears the battle could damage storage facilities holding nuclear waste sparking a fallout that could blanket Europe.

And the Pentagon said Russian forces are moving to decapitate the Ukrainian government and install their own.

'Our assessment is they have every intention of decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance,' a senior defense department official told reporters.

Biden started his day with a meeting of his National Security Council in the Situation Room at the White House as Russian helicopters swooped over Kiev and Putin launched an all-out attack from the north, south and east.

President Biden held a virtual meeting with G7 leaders, speaking from the Situation Room in the White House

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

Participants in Thursday G7 meeting on Russian invasion of Ukraine President Joe Biden of the United States Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada President Emmanuel Macron of France Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Council Charles Michel NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Advertisement

Elsewhere, Kyiv ordered civilians into bomb shelters and declared a curfew amid fears Russia is about to strike the Ukrainian capital as Kyiv's troops lost control of a key airfield around 15 miles away. Russian forces had attacked it with around two dozen attack helicopters earlier in the day, four of which are thought to have been shot down.

Some Republicans criticized Biden for not immediately addressing the nation on Wednesday night, after the first explosions were heard in Kyiv, which was around 10 p.m. ET in the United States and 6 a.m. in the Ukraine.

Former President Donald Trump was scathing of Biden's response, telling Fox News in a wild interview that Biden was 'probably in bed right now' rather than monitoring developments.

But White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president was being updated by Blinken, Defense Secretary Loyld Austin, Joint Chief Chairman General Mark Milley and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

'@POTUS was briefed on a secure call this evening by Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, Chairman Milley and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the ongoing attack on Ukraine by Russian military forces,' Psaki tweeted at 11:23 p.m.

Biden also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late Wednesday night, where he pledged American support.

'President Zelenskyy reached out to me tonight and we just finished speaking. I condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation,' Biden said in a statement on the conversation.

International condemnation of Russia's actions has been swift.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that the UK, in concert with our allies,' would approve 'a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy.'

The European Union has moved closer to a massive package of sanctions targeting both sectors of the Russian economy and individuals. It's unclear if Putin himself will be targeted.

EU ambassadors met in Brussels Thursday morning to hash out the response.

The European Union will 'make it as difficult as possible' for the Kremlin to pursue its 'aggressive actions' in Ukraine, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned.

She said the EU will 'hold Russia accountable for this outrageous violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.'

The U.S. has already issued a series of sanctions, targeting two Russian financial institutions, VTB and Russia's military bank.

Biden also said Russia's sovereign debt will be sanctioned so Russia 'can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade its new debt on our markets, or European markets either.'

Additionally, Biden went after Putin's inner circle, targetting wealthy Russians who are close to the Russian president: Alex Bortnikov, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service, Putin's deputy chief of staff Sergey Keriyenko, and the CEO of Russian Promsvyazbank, the country's largest military bank.

And on Wednesday the White House stepped up pressure by imposing sanctions on the firm building the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and its corporate officers, a move Biden had resisted for months.

Putin personally gave the order to attack around 5am, unleashing a salvo of rocket fire that American intelligence said involved more than 100 short and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles, and 75 bombers that targeted military sites including barracks, warehouses and airfields in order to knock out the country's military command structure.

'I have decided to conduct a special military operation... to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide... for the last eight years,' the Russian leader said.

Russia said the strikes destroyed 74 Ukrainian military ground facilities, 11 airfields, three command posts and 18 radar stations controlling Kiev's anti-aircraft batteries.

The Kremlin launched simultaneous attacks from south, east and north, by land and by air. Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, helicopters buzzed in and explosions were seen across the country after Putin gave the order to attack.

By midday Thursday, the skies over Kyiv swarmed with Russian attack helicopters which seized control of Gostomel air base.

Russian policemen detain a protestor during rally against entry of Russian troops into Ukraine in St. Petersburg, Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall on his way to a meeting with Russian businessmen at the Kremlin in Moscow

Footage shows smoke supposedly rising on the skyline after the blasts were heard near Mariupol, eastern Ukraine

Smoke rises over Chuhuiv military airfield in eastern Ukraine after a Russian airstrike aimed at taking out the air force

The President condemned Vladimir Putin's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack' on Ukraine in a statement soon after war was declared 11.43pm US time. He said 'the prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight'

Zelensky, in an address to the nation on Thursday morning, said the history of Ukraine has now changed forever and that Russia has 'embarked on a path of evil' - comparing the Russian attack to Hitler's forces in World War Two. But he vowed to fight back, saying the military has already inflicted 'serious losses' on Russia.

He called on all Ukrainian citizens willing to defend their homeland to step forward, saying guns will be issued to everyone who wants one. He also asked for civilians to give blood to help wounded troops. And he asked world leaders to impose the 'harshest sanctions possible' on Putin.

But Putin issued a chilling warning to any country thinking of coming to Ukraine's aid, vowing 'consequences greater than any you have faced in history'.

'I hope I have been heard,' he said.
An Italian boarding student killed himself at his elite $62,000-a-year boarding school after he was placed him in isolation as 'punishment' for suspected cheating, his heartbroken family say.

On Saturday, police responded to a call at the elite E.F. Academy in Westchester County, New York and found Claudio Mandia alone in a room dead from an apparent hanging, the Daily Beast reported.

The Italian 17-year-old, whose parents Elisabetta and Mauro Mandia run a successful frozen Italian pizza export firm called Fiad that generates $15 million in sales a year, attended the prestigious boarding school, which runs around $62,000 a year.

On Saturday police found 17-year-old Claudio Mandia (pictured) alone in a room at E.F. Academy in Westchester County, New York dead from an apparent hanging

E.F Academy did not confirm if Claudio had been placed in isolation as punishment but said the school prioritizes the health of foreign students

Claudio's parents Elisabetta and Mauro Mandia (pictured) run a successful frozen Italian pizza export firm called Fiad that generates $15 million in sales a year

Claudio, who planned to follow in his father's footsteps, was set to graduate from the school in May with an international baccalaureate degree.

His parents were informed of the tragic news about their son as soon as they touched down at JFK airport from Italy with their three daughters to celebrate their son's 18th birthday, Pietro Benesatto, Mandia's uncle in Italy, told The Daily Beast.

In a statement through their attorney, the family confirmed that the 17-year-old died from suicide and claimed that E.F. Academy placed him in isolation as a 'punishment' for suspected cheating.

'Claudio was a wonderful person and student and he couldn't wait for his family to come to New York from Italy to celebrate his eighteenth birthday,' the teen's family said in the statement.

Claudio planned to follow in his father's business foot steps. Mauro Mandia runs a frozen Italian pizza export firm called Fiad (pictured)

Claudio's uncle told The Daily Beast that his nephew's desperation seemed like 'a sudden illness' that was fueled by the stress from the alleged self-isolation forced on by the school.

In a statement to DailyMail.com the school did not confirm if Claudio had been placed in isolation as punishment but said the school prioritizes the health of foreign students and will be offering support to Claudio's family and counseling for students at the school

'We are deeply, deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Claudio Mandia,' a spokesperson for E.F. Academy said. 'Our thoughts are with his family and friends here in New York and back home in Italy. The safety of our school community is always our top priority. We have very strong policies and procedures in place regarding the health and wellbeing of the young people who are away from their home countries.'

The school said they are working with authorities as they continue their ongoing investigation into his death.

'Out of respect for the family and the grief they are experiencing following this unimaginable tragedy, as well as our ongoing support of the active police investigation,' the school said.

One Instagram tribute in Italian said Claudio's death should be a reminder to students to not let any failures in school define their worth.

'Failure can happen, never make a big deal out of it,' the person posted. 'Close your eyes, take a deep breath and move on. School performance doesn't define who you are, it is not Devine judgement, it wont make you unworthy of being loved. You are much more important than your mistakes.'

An Instagram tribute post to the teen said Claudio's death should be a reminder to students to not let any failures in school define their worth

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, call 1-800-273-8255.
Kentucky State Police are asking for the public's help finding a man believed to have killed a former Kentucky state lawmaker's daughter in a home invasion on Tuesday.

Authorities say Shannon Vince Gilday, 23, forced his way into former State Rep. C. Wesley Morgan's $6.5 million Richmond mansion at around 4am Tuesday armed with a rifle.

Once inside, police said, he shot and killed Morgan's daughter, Jordan Morgan, 32, while she was asleep. The Madison County Coroner's Office later confirmed that Jordan Morgan had been shot 'more than once'.

Gilday then allegedly 'confronted' Wesley Morgan, and the two exchanged gunfire before he fled in a white Toyota Corolla. Wesley Morgan and his wife, Jordan's stepmother, sustained injuries in the shooting and were taken to a local hospital, where they are recovering.

Police have now issued a warrant for Gilday's arrest as he remains on the run. He is charged with murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief, and two counts of attempted murder.

Authorities said on Thursday they had some clues about a possible motive behind the shooting, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports, but they cannot confirm anything until they capture the suspect.

They did, however, say that they do not believe Jordan was the intended target, according to Lex 18, as a preliminary investigation found no links between her and Gilday.

Shannon Vince Gilday, 23, remains on the loose after he allegedly shot and killed a lawyer in a home invasion early Tuesday

Jordan was shot multiple times in the home invasion early Tuesday morning and died on the scene

The incident unfolded at Morgan's $6.5million mansion in Richmond, Kentucky, pictured

Kentucky State Police have previously announced they received a call at 4:30am Tuesday about a shooting at Morgan's mansion.

At first, they were unsure how many suspects were involved in the home invasion and shooting, but after receiving an 'incredible tip' from outside the wealthy area, authorities now say Gilday, of Taylor Mill, Kentucky, forced his way into the mansion and opened fire.

He was seen on surveillance footage entering the home wearing either camouflage or 'tactical style' pants and a jacket, a dark-colored hoodie, gloves and a light-colored facemask, authorities announced at a news briefing Thursday.

They said he may have been injured in the gunfight with Wesley, authorities announced on Thursday, and is believed to be driving a white Toyota Corolla with minor damage to the front grill.

Gilday is described as being about six feet and about 167 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

He is considered 'armed and dangerous,' Kentucky State Police warned, and urged anyone on his whereabouts to call the Kentucky State Police Post 7 at (859) 623 - 2404.

Jordan Morgan, right, was shot and killed in a home invasion early Tuesday morning, and her father, former State Rep. C. Wesley Morgan, was wounded

Wesley said he is now recovering from his wounds but will never recover from the loss of his first-born daughter

On Wednesday, Wesley, 71, broke down in tears as he spoke about losing his daughter.

He told FOX 56 he is recovering well from the gunshot wounds, but will never recover emotionally from the loss of Jordan.

'I'm heartbroken,' he said as he audibly started crying. 'I can't understand why, and would give anything on this Earth if it would have been me rather than her.

'I'd much rather it'd been me.'

Wesley Morgan said he was with his daughter, watching an episode of 1883, a Western-style television drama series on Paramount+, just hours before the shooting.

'She got up, put her arm around me and said "I love you, Daddy," and I said "I love you, too,"' he recalled to the news station. 'And then she went to bed and that son of a b**** killed her.'

He added that his 'life will never be the same,' saying: 'Until the day I die, I will think of her, yes I will.'

Jordan, left, was described by friends and family as kind, loving and intelligent. She is pictured at the Kentucky Derby

Jordan's mother, meanwhile, said she had no enemies.

'She was absolutely a wonderful person and the smartest person I ever knew,' Lisa Foster told the Herald-Leader on Thursday.

'She was always doing for other people, so selfless, funny and like a breath of fresh air to be around.

'She was a momma's girl, and always told me every night and every morning she loved me,' Foster added. 'She had no enemies.'

Foster said Jordan would text her every night, saying 'I love you night, night,' and in the morning she would send her mother a message saying 'Good morning Muffin Mouse, I love you,' referencing one of her favorite childhood stories.

'And I would say 'Good morning sunshine, I love you have a blessed day.'

Jordan Morgan previously made headlines in 2017, when she publicly accused State Rep. Michael Meredith of sending her inappropriate text messages as part of a sexual harassment settlement involving four House Republicans.

She said at the time that she started receiving a number of messages from Meredith after she worked on Republican Matt Bevin's successful 2015 campaign for Kentucky governor and worked with him for a year-and-a-half afterwards as a member of his communications team.

Jordan accused State Rep. Michael Meredith (pictured) of sending her inappropriate text messages in 2017

Morgan met Meredith, she told the Courier-Journal, when she and the rest of Bevin's campaign staff were celebrating his victory.

She said Meredith's behavior was a 'little too friendly,' so she left the event. But afterwards, he sent her a message on Facebook saying: 'Where'd you go, beauty?'

Over the ensuing year and a half, she claimed, she received a number of messages from Meredith, including one that read: 'You are like six foot tall with jet black hair and high heels and can probably find some way to persuade anyone about anything if force is needed lol.'

None of the text messages was 'too extreme,' she said; they were 'just kind of flirty,' but they struck her as 'inappropriate,' particularly because Meredith was married and in elected office.

'He wasn't my boss, but he was in a position of authority,' she said. 'You don't want to make an enemy of a state representative, so you just laugh it off.'

Morgan said she only came forward with the inappropriate texts after it was revealed that four House Republicans were involved in a secret sexual harassment settlement with another female staffer.

The scandal cost former House Speaker Jeff Hoover and Meredith their leadership positions, but Meredith was reinstated as chairman of the House Local Government Committee one year later.

Jordan previously made headlines in 2017 when she publicly accused State Rep. Michael Meredith of sending her inappropriate text messages. She is seen here with her dad at her law school graduation

Jordan recently joined the Reminger law office in Lexington

Jordan, meanwhile, left the world of politics to become an assistant commonwealth's attorney prosecuting felonies, based in Boone County. She had recently joined the Reminger law office in Lexington.

'Reminger wishes to express its sincere condolences to the Morgan family,' the firm said in a statement. 'She was a pleasant colleague and a promising attorney. We are shocked and saddened at the circumstances surrounding her unfortunate death.'

Her Facebook profile was filled with memes, photos of her with friends and family, and photos of her small dog - Gucci.

Friends and family describe her as kind, loving and intelligent, with her niece, Hayleigh Burrows, who was only 11 years younger than Jordan, saying: 'She was just so great. Generous, selfless, funny, so funny, [and] loving.

'She's the queen of networking,' Burrows told Lex 18. 'If I ever needed to know anyone, she knew someone who could get me connected.'

Burrows said she decided to follow in Jordan's footsteps, pursuing a pre-law degree at the University of Kentucky, and is planning to take the LSAT this summer.

'She was always pushing me to do my best,' Burrows said of her aunt, whom she described as 'more of a best friend.'

She said she is upset that her aunt will not be around to meet any of her future boyfriends or attend her wedding, but, 'I firmly believe she's in a better place and happy. So that kind of helps me get through this.'

Wesley is well-known for his eccentricities after he listed his mansion for sale with an in-ground bunker

Wesley served one term as a state representative for Richmond and Berea in Madison County

Wesley, who served one term as a state representative for Richmond and Berea in Madison County, is also known for his quirks.

While in office, Wesley, who owns several Kentucky liquor stores, was charged with illegally transporting alcohol across county lines.

To do so was illegal at the time without a transporter's license.

A judge ultimately dropped the charges, after state law was changed.

He went on to unsuccessfully challenge Senator Mitch McConnell in the state's Republican primary in 2020.

The home was said to be 'the most secure home on the market' and built to withstand an earthquake

The 2,000-square foot, steel-enforced bunker itself is said to be worth $3 million

When the home was listed for sale it was advertised complete with a nuclear bunker and able to withstand nuclear attack and the strongest of earthquakes. Pictured, the food reserves

The bunker also includes an 'escape tunnel' to an undisclosed location

Last year, Wesley listed his 14,300-square-foot, six bedroom, seven bathroom mansion for sale.

It comes complete with a saltwater pool, steam sauna and heated floors set on 200 acres of lakefront property.

However, perhaps its most unusual feature is a 2,000-square-foot, fully stocked underground bunker set behind a huge steel and concrete door.

The $6.5million listing advertised the home as being able to withstand nuclear attack and the strongest of earthquakes with the bunker alone valued at $3 million.

Wesley started building the bunker more than a decade ago, following the election of President Barack Obama.

He said at the time that he 'could see the handwriting on the wall that Obama was trying to change our country into a socialist country,' and with hundreds of tons of chemical agents stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot, south of Richmond, he decided it would be wise to build a bunker.

'I saw the bad stuff that was going on in the world,' he told Kentucky.com last year. 'And I think there's a lot of bad stuff going on in the world right now.

'If we don't get our act together, we're gonna end up in a civil war.'

He said he and his wife, Lindsey, lived in the bunker - which can hold up to 30 people with separate bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room - for several years as construction on the house above was completed.

Zillow described the home as being 'the most secure home on the market in this country,' and it comes with an 'escape tunnel' to an undisclosed location.

'I just wanted someplace safe,' Wesley said when the home was on the market.
A 49-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Emma Caldwell who was found strangled in woods 17 years ago.

Ms Caldwell was last seen between 12.30am and 1.30am on April 5, 2005, on London Road, Glasgow and was reported missing by her family five days later.

The body of the 27-year-old, who had been working as a prostitute, was discovered in woods at Roberton, near Biggar, South Lanarkshire, a month later on May 8, 2005.

Police Scotland said a 49-year-old man was arrested on Thursday in connection with her death.

The force said he was arrested in the Glasgow area after 'significant inquiries' by detectives from Police Scotlands Major Investigation Team, the Scottish Police Authority and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Emma Caldwell, 27, was last seen in Glasgow in the early hours of April 5, 2005, before her body was found in woods in South Lanarkshire a month later, on May 8, 2005

CCTV still images of Emma Caldwell at a women's hostel in Inglefield Street, Govanhill, were issued in the days after she was reported missing

The unsolved case was reopened in 2015 following consideration by senior lawyers in the Crown Office and tireless campaigning by Ms Caldwells mother, Margaret Caldwell.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Graeme Mackie, said: 'Police Scotland officers have undertaken a significant amount of work re-investigating all the circumstances surrounding Emmas death following instruction from the Lord Advocate in 2015.

'This is a complex and challenging investigation and I would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts in getting us to this point of a man being arrested earlier today.

'Emmas family, in particular her mother Margaret, have shown incredible resilience and determination since her death in 2005 and I would like to pay tribute to that today.

'We have remained in close contact with them during this investigation and officers have updated Margaret on this significant development.

'The investigation into Emmas death continues and I would urge anyone with information, no matter how small or insignificant they might think it is, to please come forward and speak to us.

'As legal proceedings are now live we are unable to comment further.'

Police search woodland near Roberton in South Lanarkshire in 2017 after Police Scotland appealed for new information in relation to the disappearance of Ms Caldwell

Aamer Anwar, solicitor for the Caldwell family, said he and Margaret Caldwell met with prosecutors and Det Supt Mackie on Thursday.

He said Mrs Caldwell and her family are 'truly grateful' to the detectives at Police Scotland and Lord Advocate Dorothy Bains team who have worked 'tirelessly' to reinvestigate the case.

Mr Anwar added: 'I also wish to pay tribute to Margaret Caldwell, a mother who through the love of a child has never given up in her struggle for justice.'
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Ukrainian troops have shot down five Russian helicopters, destroyed dozens of tanks and captured dozens of troops in the first hours since Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to invade on Thursday morning.

Kyiv's military is far inferior to its Russian counterpart with an air defense system and air force dating back to the Soviet era.

But NATO and the US, despite deploying soldiers to neighbouring Romania in recent months, have made it clear that no troops will be sent and left the Ukrainian military to hold off the assault alone.

By Thursday afternoon, battles were ongoing in Kyiv, along the northern border with Belarus, in Luhansk and Donetsk in the east and around Kherson, the Dneiper River, and the port cities of Odessa and Mariupol in the south.

Few expect Ukraine to emerge victorious from what is almost certain to be a prolonged, bloody, and vicious war - but so far, Kyiv's forces have managed to inflict heavy losses on Putin's troops.

Here MailOnline takes a look at what losses Ukrainian forces have inflicted on Russia:

Few expect Ukraine to emerge victorious from what is almost certain to be a prolonged, bloody, and vicious war

At least 15 T-72 tanks were destroyed or damaged by the Ukrainian forces using the Javelin PTRK, an American anti-tank missile, nearly Glukhov in the country's east late this afternoon

Ukrainian forces have claimed to have shot out of the air at least four Russian KA-52 Alligator attack helicopters during a battle for Gostomel air base. A fifth helicopter (pictured) was forced to make an emergency landing at the field under heavy fire

An image captured near Kyiv shows what appears to be the wreckage of a downed Russian attack helicopter with a soldier parachuting out of it (to the left of the frame)

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts with bombs and missiles dropped on targets across the country in the early hours, followed by troop attacks from Crimea, the Donbass, Belgorod and Belarus as well as helicopter landings in Kyiv and at power plants on the Dnieper River. Chernobyl nuclear power plant has also fallen to Russian forces

Helicopters, jets and planes

Earlier on Thursday, Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot out of the air up to four Russian KA-52 Alligator attack helicopters during a battle for Gostomel air base.

A fifth helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing at the field under heavy fire.

Just after midday on Thursday, the skies over Kyiv swarmed with a squadron of 20 Russian helicopters which pounded the air base's runway.

But Ukrainian ground forces launched a fight-back, moving in to retake the air field as jets streaking over the city, shooting down the Russian helicopters.

A Russian helicopter is shot down somewhere over Kyiv (left), while the wreckage of what appears to be a jet falls from the skies near the capital (right)

The attack underlined just how close the invaders were to the capital. Soon after, the distant roar of fighter jets high above the city stoked another wave of panic.

The Ukrainians also reported their MiG jets shot down at least one Mi-8 helicopter.

Ukrainian forces also claimed to have shot down six Russian jets sky over the eastern Donbass region while another plane appeared to fall from the skies near the capital.

Shortly after 7pm GMT on Tuesday, Russia's defence ministry said a Russian Antonov An-26 transport plane carrying military equipment crashed in its southern Voronezh region near Ukraine, killing all crew members on board.

Five helicopters were downed or destroyed in the Gostomel region, including this one which was forced to make an emergency landing under heavy fire as Ukrainian forces retook the air field

'During a planned flight to transport military equipment, an An-26 aircraft of the Russian aerospace forces crashed,' the defence ministry said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.

'The crew died,' the statement said, without providing any details.

The defence ministry blamed equipment failure for the crash, which it said had not caused any destruction on the ground.

A defence ministry spokesman, speaking to AFP, confirmed the crash but declined to say how many crew members had been killed.

An-26 planes carry up to six crew members and up to 38 military personnel.

Overall, the Ukrainian armed forces claimed to have shot down five aircraft and six helicopters.

Tanks

Ukrainian forces destroyed dozens of Russian tanks along the eastern and northern borders by the end of the day on Thursday, adding two more and a fighting vehicle in Trohizbenko to the tally early on Friday.

According to the country's defence ministry, the figure was higher than 30 by the end of Thursday. They also claimed to have destroyed 'up to' 130 armoured combat vehicles.

Ukrainian forces put up a stiff resistance around Kharkiv where multiple Russian tanks and armoured vehicles were pictured destroyed - with bodies lying in the streets.

Later, another BMP fighting vehicle was captured, along with the crew of four Russian soldiers, in the same region in eastern Ukraine.

And around 2pm local time (12pm GMT) the Ukrainian military said troops had destroyed five armoured transport vehicles and a car during fighting at the Vistupovich-Rudnya border point between Ukraine and Belarus.

A further 15 T-72 tanks were destroyed or damaged by the Ukrainian forces using the Javelin PTRK, an American anti-tank missile, nearly Glukhov in the country's east late this afternoon.

In other incidents, tank-busting rocket launchers donated by Britain were said to have destroyed Russian tanks, while Javelin missiles gifted by Sweden destroyed a column of enemy vehicles.

A BMP fighting vehicle was captured, along with four Russian soldiers, during fighting near Kharkiv, in the east of Ukraine, on Thursday morning

Troops

Dozens of Russian troops have been captured by Ukrainian forces, officials said today.

Two, believed to be Rafik Rakhmankulov, 19 and Mgomd Mgomdov, 26, from Kizilyurt, were captured along with a cache of weapons and knives during fighting outside Kharkiv, in the east of Ukraine.

A further four Russian soldiers, the crew of a BMP fighting vehicle, were captured by Ukrainian forces near Luhansk on Thursday morning. They were pictured lying face-down with their jackets pulled over their heads after being captured by Kyiv's troops.

The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces later said his soldiers had captured the 74th brigade of motorcycle rifles, believed to be a reconnaissance platoon made up of 20 to 50 soldiers, had surrendered.

The announcement was posted with a picture of a man, thought to be the head of the brigade, with a bandaged arm and bloody uniform which appeared to say 'Russian Army'.

The body of a soldier, without insignia, who the Ukrainian military claim is a Russian army serviceman killed in fighting, lies on a road outside the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian forces detain servicemen of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic who were captured during the Thursday morning attack on the town of Schast'ye

The platoons commander is said to have claimed he only learned of the invasion on Wednesday and believed they were returning home.

Konstantin Buynichev allegedly said: Nobody thought that we were going to kill. We were not going to fight  we were collecting information.

Ukrainian service members were later seen detaining troops from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic after they were captured during an attack on the town of Schast'ye on Thursday morning.

Estimates of dead and injured were almost non-existent as of early afternoon but one Ukrainian official put the Russian death toll at around 50.

Servicemen from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic were captured by the Ukrainian military on Thursday morning, hours after Russia launched an invasion of the country

Ukrainian forces detain troops from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic on Thursday morning

The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces later said his soldiers had captured the entire 74th brigade of motorcycle rifles. The announcement was posted with a picture of a man with a bandaged arm and bloody uniform which appeared to say 'Russian Army'

Two Russian troops - believed to be Rafik Rakhmankulov, 19 (left) and Mgomd Mgomdov, 26, from Kizilyurt (right) - have been captured by Ukrainian forces in the country's east

Weapons and knives seized from two Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian units fighting around Kharkiv
Mayor Eric Adams is urging New Yorkers to get off Zoom and return to the office, calling the move 'crucial' to the city's culture and economy as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations stabilize from an early-January peak.

Adams, 61, says the current work-from-home policies at major companies across the Big Apple are unsustainable and will disproportionately impact low-income workers whose jobs can't be done remotely.

'In order for our economic - financial ecosystem, I should say - to function, we have to have human interaction,' Adams said at an economic development event at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Wednesday, according to Insider.

'It can't be done from home. And if we do that, then we're going to greatly impact low wage workers.'

He added: 'You can't stay home in your pajamas all day.'

Adams has chided major companies for extending their work-from-home policies during the Omicron surge since he took office at the start of the year.

Just 28 percent of workers are going into the office in the New York metro area, according to the Washington Post.

Vaccinated workers at Citigroup have been allowed to return to the office at least twice a week since September as part of a 'flexible, hybrid work model,' the company says.

Citigroup workers in the NYC region were asked to get ready to return to the office last week, the Post reports, while Wells Fargo said it was planning to bring workers back in mid-March.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams called on New Yorkers to return to the office at an event at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Wednesday, saying, 'You can't stay home in your pajamas all day'

Coronavirus case counts in the Big Apple have stabilized after the more contagious Omicron variant swept through the city in December and January

Cases throughout the US have also gone down from their pandemic peak in mid-January

Wells Fargo, Goldman Sacks and JPMorgan Chase did not immediately respond to questions about their policies from DailyMail.com.

The impact of COVID 19 in New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic during the first wave in the spring of 2020, has been felt in various ways. An increase in violent crime, which continues, was pinned on massive layoffs and a hobbled criminal justice system, as courts were burdened with social distancing guidelines that limited the number of hearings that could be held in a day.

At the same time, large office buildings in Manhattan sat empty as workers either worked from home or were told not to return altogether, affecting the smaller businesses around them - such as restaurants and retail stores - that relied on the steady foot traffic.

Some, including Mayor Adams, have called for an easing of COVID-19 restrictions as more data has revealed Omicron to be more contagious but not necessarily more lethal.

'We must get open, and let me tell you why,' Adams said in an appearance in Bloomberg TV last month.

'That accountant from a bank that sits in an office - it's not only him, it feeds our financial ecosystem. He goes to the cleaners and get his suits clean, he goes out to the restaurants, he brings in a business traveler, which is 70 percent of our hotel occupancy.'

On Wednesday, Adams, who was sworn in on January 1, appealed to the city's ethos as a cultural and economic hub as he decried remote work policies.

'That's not who we are as a city. You need to be out, cross-pollinating ideas, interacting with humans. It is crucial. We are social creatures, and we must socialize to get the energy we need as a city.'

The former police captain, 61, said he's met with 100 CEOs this week as part of scheduled meetings with big and small businesses, according to the Washington Post.

He said he used the meetings to persuade the companies to participate in his summer youth jobs expansion program and to get them to call their workers back to the office.

'Now is the time for us to get back,' Adams said during a press conference for his first budget presentation. 'I'm hoping within the next few weeks the CEOs map out a real plan of this is when you need to come back.

Major financial institutions like Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo allowed their workers to work from home as the year kicked off and the more contagious Omicron variant swept across the country, setting a record number of infections.

New York City went from a 7-day average of 86 hospitalizations on December 2 to 952 on January 2, before settling back down at 81 on February 14

Some, including Mayor Adams, have called for an easing of COVID-19 restrictions as more data has revealed Omicron to be more contagious but not necessarily more lethal.

In New York City, the 7-day average of COVID-19 infections went from 2,717 on December 2 to 43,017 on January 2, according to data from NYC Health.

That number declined to 1,218 cases by February 13.

Similarly, the city went from a 7-day average of 86 hospitalizations on December 2 to 952 on January 2, before settling back down at 81 on February 14.

As of January 1, there have been 276 instances of crime in NYC's subway system - up 65 percent compared to the same period last year

Economic recovery from the pandemic is just one issue that Adams, a Democrat, is faced with after he succeeded former Mayor Bill de Blasio on January 1.

Overall crime in the city is up by 46.5 percent, according to the latest data from the New York Police Department.

Felony assaults are up 18 percent and shootings are up nearly 37 percent.

Transit crimes, including subway pushings, are up 60.8 percent from this time last year.

A six-year-old boy was threatened by a man wielding a baton after the child accidentally kicked him on the subway on Tuesday - one day after Mayor Eric Adams' plan to combat crime and homelessness on the subways went into effect.

A six-year-old boy riding the subway with his mother (pictured walking home) accidentally kicked another passenger on the subway, at which point the man threatened him with a baton

The suspect in the attack on a Manhattan 4 train was arrested immediately following the ordeal on Tuesday

Adams announced his plan to improve safety aboard the city's subways on Friday after hundreds of random attacks on New Yorkers, and complaints about mentally ill homeless people threatening commuters and leaving drugs paraphernalia around.

The scheme, which officially began on Monday, involves sending more police into the subways to crack down on sleeping, littering, smoking, doing drugs or hanging out in the system.

Photos by DailyMail.com captured vagrants passed out on the New York City subway trains and platforms on Tuesday morning - one day after Mayor Eric Adams' plan to combat crime and homelessness on the subways went into effect

One homeless man sat slumped over his belongings in a crate while not wearing a shirt

It also includes changes that are supposed to connect more homeless people, many of whom have mentally illness, substance abuse problems or both, to mental-health services and permanent housing.

But within hours of the plan coming into effect, there were three serious attacks on the subway system; the one against the boy, a man who was attacked by a hatchet, and a woman who was slammed in the face by a metal bar.

On Tuesday, riders of the city's subway system were able to intervene and protect the child from the would-be attacker, who was later arrested.

And just the day before, Evelina Rivera, a 30-year-old chef, was struck by a homeless man wielding a metal pole on her way home from her shift.

Meanwhile, photos by DailyMail.com show vagrants were continuing to sleep on New York City subways and at platforms Tuesday morning, sprawled out on the subway seats in each of the five boroughs as they covered themselves with blankets and jackets as they tried to keep warm in the February weather.

Some appeared to be unconscious, not even moving as the subway reached its final stop and crews were cleaning the cars.
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As Vladimir Putin launched a bombing campaign of Ukraine that signaled the start of a full-blown invasion, scores of Republicans unloaded on the leader they saw as the villain: President Joe Biden.

'As we pray for the Ukrainian people, make no mistake: THIS is what happens when Americas enemies see a weak and incompetent @POTUS,' tweeted U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, adding the hashtag Bidenisafailure.

Some took their lead from former President Donald Trump's rambling appearance on Fox News on Wednesday night, when he claimed his good relationship with Putin would have prevented the invasion.

And hours later it was the recurring theme as conservatives gathered in Orlando, Florida, for the annual CPAC conference.

With the Republican foreign policy establishment focusing their condemnation on Putin, it suggested the issue of Russia is a new litmus test for conservatives - just like the January 6 violence and Trump's claims that he was cheated of the election.

'America's incompetent right now,' said CPAC's first speaker, TV host Ben Ferguson.

'America is a place right now that is not going to even understand how to organise the world to fight back against tyrants and dictators around the world. And that's why they're doing it right now.'

As Russian tanks moved through Crimea, and Russia began its bombardment of Ukraine, scores of Republicans trained their fire on President Joe Biden rather than Vladimir Putin accusing the US leader of weakness

The first speaker at the CPAC conservative gathering in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday gave a taste of things to come. 'America's incompetent right now,' said TV host Ben Ferguson as he warned that adversaries were taking advantage

Former President Trump called into Fox News on Wednesday to claim the attack would not have happened on his watch

Rep Scott Perry was among the Republicans who took to Twitter to blast Biden for Putin's aggression in Ukraine

Others warned that America's allies were watching what was unfolding and see American weakness on the world stage

A steady stream of Republicans tweeted their anger at Biden and warned that the country's enemies would be watching.

In a tweet, House Republicans said: 'President Bidens weakness on the world stage has emboldened our enemies. China, Iran, and North Korea are watching.'

For days, Tucker Carlson has been setting out the ground for questioning Biden's response on his highly-rated Fox News show. He has repeatedly asked why the US should side with Ukraine rather than Putin.

But not everyone was in lockstep.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who has been keen to demonstrate his close relationship with Trump, did not mention Biden at all in his comments.

'Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine is reckless and evil,' he said. 'The United States stands with the people of Ukraine and prays for their safety and resolve.'

Matt Schlapp, who heads the organization behind CPAC and a leading conservative voice, said the issue of Russia and Ukraine would be a key theme of the next four days.

He said there were differences between the party coalition has spread.

'You know, the Liz Cheney wing of the Republican Party. is becoming increasingly marginalized and discredited,' he told DailyMail.com. 'So that makes people go to different voices to try to say, okay, you know, if you're not a military expert, do you think we should use America's might, its treasure to intervene?

'And I would say I think most of the people here would actually listen to the case to protect Ukraine, but the president has to make it.

'He somehow has to transform from this guy reading cue cards in the middle of the day, to a president that's giving major primetime addresses, including press conferences, about what he thinks we should do.'

Recent polling suggests there is little support for a US role in the conflict.

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only 22% of Republicans think the U.S. should play a major role in the conflict, compared with 32% of Democrats.

A military column moves across the town of Armyansk, northern Crimea. Early on February 24, after invasion begins

People waiting for a Kiev bound train spread on a platform in Kostiantynivka, the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine

Republicans are also less to say they're very or extremely concerned that Russia's influence around the world poses a direct threat to the US.

That makes former Democratic presidential runner Tulsi Gabbard a fit for the lineup at CPAC.

She has been accused of cozying up to dictators and spreading Putin's propaganda by saying an invasion would not have happened if the West had addressed Russia's concerns about Ukraine joining NATO - even though the Russian president has also said Ukraine had not right to exist independently of Russia.

Rep Elise Stefanik, who won Cheney's position as the third most senior Republican in the House because of her backing for Trump, made clear where she stood.

'After just one year of a weak, feckless, and unfit President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief, the world is less safe,' she said.

'Rather than peace through strength, we are witnessing Joe Biden's foreign policy of war through weakness.'

But leading the way in condemning Biden was Trump, who told Fox News in a freewheeling interview that this wouldn't have happened under his administration and again making claims of a rigged election in 2020.

As explosions were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine, Trump called the scene a "terrible situation" and insisted Putin never would have moved on his watch.

'He sees the weakness and the incompetence and the stupidity of this administration. And as an American I'm angry about it and I'm saddened by it,' he said, calling into Laura Ingraham's Fox News show.

'It's a very sad thing for the world, for the country, and it's certainly very sad for a lot of people that are going to be needlessly killed.'

Ingraham asked Trump about the continuing closeness between Putin and Xi.

'Well, I had a good relationship with both,' he said. 'It was hurt by the Russia hoax. You see what happened with Durham and those reports and other reports including Mueller.

'It was just a made up hoax and it really hurt our country but despite the hoax, I had a good relationship and with president XI of China, other than the fact that I was tariff-ing and taxing the hell out of him.'

'As a young man growing up, I always heard that the worst thing that could happen is drive those two countries together. It really started with Obama and energy. He drove them together because one needed the energy and the other needed the money,' Trump added. 'He drove them together and Biden -- I kept them apart - and Biden now it's a great love fest and that's a very bad thing and I think you can probably add Iran into it too.'

Former President Donald Trump, speaking at a super PAC fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, spoke off the cuff about the impending military action Wednesday night

Trump spoke to Fox News' Laura Ingraham as the bombs went off in Kyiv

Trump then again said that Vladimir Putin was 'smart,' as he had during interviews given on Tuesday

Trump again criticized President Joe Biden for his actions ahead of the crisis

Trump said that, despite having good relationships with Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi (right), he 'kept them apart

Earlier in the interview, in which Trump spoke over the phone with Ingraham, Trump bemoaned that this was happening at all.

'This should have never happened. This would not have happened during my administration. In fact, some people are saying why didn't this take place over the last four years? It didn't for a very good reason and I'll explain that to you someday, but it wouldn't have taken place and it wouldn't have taken place right now. It's a sad thing for the world and the country and a lot of people that will be needlessly killed.'

Trump argued he'd have used his good relationship with Putin to stop this from happening.

'Well, I know him very well. We had many, many times together. I got along with him fantastically despite the fact I shut down Nord Stream-2, nobody would've heard of Nord Stream 2 if it weren't for me. I am the one that shut it down.'

He then went through a story about how he disagreed with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the strategy regarding Nord-Stream 2.

Trump then linked the invasion with the failed pullout from Afghanistan by the Biden administration in 2021.

'It's a terrible thing the way it started, I don't believe he wanted to do this initially,' Trump said. 'I think he wanted to do something and negotiate it and had got worse and worse. He saw the weakness and you know, it really started with the weakness in Afghanistan. The way they pulled out of Afghanistan. I really believe that's where he started thinking he could do this.'

Ingraham then asked Trump what he thought of President Biden's approach, in which Ingraham said Biden was 'monitoring the situation' and then would talk to fellow G7 leaders Thursday.

'I don't think he's monitoring, I think he is probably sleeping right now,' Trump retorted. 'This is a terrible thing that should never have happened. I really believe that it was Afghanistan, when he looked at that horrible, weak pullout.'

Earlier Thursday Trump, speaking at a super PAC fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, spoke off the cuff about the impending military action Wednesday night.

The former president spoke about America's enemies during the crisis, saying: 'Now they laugh at us. Thats why you have Ukraine, thats why youre going to have China. Taiwan is next, and youre going to see the same kind of thing.'

Trump then again said that Vladimir Putin was 'smart,' as he had during interviews given on Tuesday.

'He's taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions, I'd say that's pretty smart. He's taking over a country - a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people - just walking right in. This never would have happened and I know him very well.

At Mar-a-Lago event, Trump says "Trump said Putin is smart. He's taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. I'd say that's pretty smart." pic.twitter.com/v4RkhqvCd3  danny (@dabbs346) February 24, 2022

Trump on Tuesday praised Putin's move to declare the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine 'independent.'

'I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, "This is genius,"' Trump said. 'Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine - of Ukraine - Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful.'

'I said, "How smart is that?'" the former U.S. president continued. 'And he's gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That's the strongest peace force We could use that on our southern border. Thats the strongest peace force I've ever seen. There were more army tanks than Ive ever seen. Theyre gonna keep peace all right.'

'No, but think of it. Heres a guy whos very savvy,' Trump went on. 'I know him very well. Very, very, very well. Had I been in office, not even thinkable, this never would have happened.'

Trump added: 'But heres a guy that says, you know, "I'm gonna declare a big portion of Ukraine independent," he used the word 'independent' and 'were gonna go out and were gonna go in and were gonna help keep peace.' You gotta say thats pretty savvy. And you know what the response was from Biden? There was no response. They didnt have one for that. No, its very sad. Very sad.

Trump also called Biden 'a man who has no concept of what he's doing.'
Taiwan's air force scrambled its fighter planes on Thursday to warn away nine Chinese aircraft that entered its air defence zone on the day Russian invaded Ukraine.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained of regular similar missions by the Chinese air force over the last two years, though the aircraft do not get close to Taiwan itself.

The number of aircraft involved was well off the last large-scale incursion - 39 Chinese aircraft on January 23 - and since then, such fly-bys have been sporadic with far fewer aircraft.

The ministry said the latest mission involved eight Chinese J-16 fighters and one Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft, which flew over an area to the northeast of the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands at the top end of the South China Sea.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained of regular similar missions by the Chinese air force over the last two years, though the aircraft do not get close to Taiwan itself. Pictured: A J-16 fighter jet

The ministry said the latest mission involved eight Chinese J-16 fighters and one Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft (pictured)

Taiwanese fighters were sent up to warn the Chinese aircraft and air defence missiles were deployed to 'monitor the activities', the ministry said, using standard wording for how Taiwan describes its response.

Taiwan has been warily watching the Ukraine crisis, nervous that China may try to take advantage to move on the island.

While Taipei has not reported any unusual movements by Chinese forces, the government has increased its alert level.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and routinely condemns U.S. arms sales or other shows of support from Washington.

Speaking in Beijing earlier on Thursday when asked about the new U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei reiterated that Taiwan was a 'core issue' of China's and it would tolerate no foreign interference.

'We urge the U.S. side to recognise the high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, stop interfering in China's internal affairs and stop playing with fire on the Taiwan issue,' Tan said.

In the 12-page Indo-Pacific strategy overview issued earlier this month, the Biden administration vowed to commit more diplomatic and security resources to the region.

On Taiwan, Washington would work with partners inside and outside the region to maintain peace and stability in the strait dividing the island from China, it said.
NATO has ordered its commanders to prepare to defend allied territory after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, putting hundreds of warplanes and ships on alert.

The order to intensify military preparations to defend NATO territory comes after the alliance agreed to increase troop numbers on its eastern flank.

NATO's order came as world leaders decried the start of the invasion that could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine's democratically elected government and threaten the post-Cold War balance.

The alliance's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he had convened a virtual emergency summit of NATO's 30 nations for Friday.

The summit is set to include U.S. President Joe Biden, and they would be joined by the leaders of Sweden, Finland and European Union institutions.

NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (pictured on Thursday) said he had convened a virtual emergency summit of the NATO's 30 nations for Friday

Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday, confirming the worst fears of the West with the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two.

'Peace on our continent has been shattered,' Stoltenberg told a news conference. 'Russia is using force to try to rewrite history, and deny Ukraine its free and independent path.'

The activation of NATO's 'graduated response plans' is a rare step that Stoltenberg said underscored the gravity of a 'full-fledged invasion' of Ukraine, giving allied commanders greater scope for decision-making.

'This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion,' Stoltenberg said. 'Russia's unjustified, unprovoked attack on Ukraine is putting countless innocent lives at risk with air and missile attacks.'

Ukraine is not a member of the alliance and Stoltenberg said there were no NATO troops in the country. 'What we do is defensive,' he said.

But NATO is now set to step up its plans to deploy capabilities and forces, including the high combat-readiness NATO Response Force, to eastern European countries.

Ukrainian Military Forces servicemen block a road in the so-called government quarter in Kyiv on February 24, 2022 as Russia's ground forces invaded Ukraine from several directions today

A Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship is seen in the field after a forced landing outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia on Thursday unleashed a barrage of air and missile strikes on Ukrainian facilities across the country

Pictured: A map showing NATO's European allies. The eastern border of NATO runs down Ukraine's west, and in some cases - such as in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - borders Russia

NATO is also planning to create combat units in Romania and Bulgaria, and possibly Hungary and Slovakia - similar to those already set up in the Baltic states and Poland.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine appeared to galvanise support for such a step in Slovakia, with the Slovak government saying any new battlegroup plans would include Slovakia.

'The unit will be made from countries that are geographically close to us. It will be about several hundred soldiers which will come with equipment that we don't have and which will significantly increase our ability to defend our country,' Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said.

NATO had already reinforced its eastern flank facing Russia. President Vladimir Putin warned that any interference from other countries would lead to 'consequences you have never seen in history.'

European Union and NATO member Lithuania declared a state of emergency since the Baltic nation borders Russia's Kaliningrad region to the southwest and Russia's ally Belarus to the east.

NATO countries had 100 jets and 120 ships on high alert as a deterrent.

'Make no mistake: We will defend every ally against any attack on every inch of NATO territory,' said Stoltenberg.

US Army soldiers from 173rdAbnBde arrived in Latvia this morning, the first U.S. forces being re-positioned to the Baltics to bolster NATO's eastern flank

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen aid she would put to EU leaders late Thursday a proposal that would target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking access to key technologies and markets

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Stoltenberg both called the invasion a 'barbaric' attack on an independent nation that threatened 'the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order.'

The EU scheduled an emergency summit in Brussels.

But no one promised to move in militarily and defend Ukraine at the risk of touching off a bigger European war. Ukraine is not a NATO member, and the U.S. and its Western allies have said for weeks that they would not send troops into the country.

The goal instead is to make Moscow pay so high a price by other means that the Kremlin will change course.

'Our mission is clear: Diplomatically, politically, economically and eventually militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure,' said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Almost all of the world - but not China - condemned the attack and threatened to hit the Russian elites with, in the words of the EU president, 'massive and targeted sanctions.'

Von der Leyen said she would put to EU leaders late Thursday a proposal that would target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking access to key technologies and markets.

She said the sanctions, if approved, 'will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernize. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.'

'We want to cut off Russia's industry from the technologies desperately needed today to build the future,' von der Leyen said.

She said all Western powers are in lockstep on the crisis.

NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battle groups from Estonia and United Kingdom during military training at Central Training Area on February 8, 2022 in Lasna, Estonia

Canadian soldiers are pictured during a visit of Canada's Minister of Defence in Adazi, Latvia, on February 3, 2022

U.S. President Joe Biden already convened a morning meeting of his National Security Council in Washington to assess the situation.

Highlighting a widening rift in superpower relations, China stood alone in failing to condemn the attack and instead accused the United States and its allies of worsening the crisis.

China went further and approved imports of wheat from Russia, a move that could reduce the impact of Western sanctions. Russia, one of the biggest wheat producers, would be vulnerable if foreign markets were closed off.

In a clear defense of Moscow, China 'called on parties to respect others' legitimate security concerns.'

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that 'all parties should work for peace instead of escalating the tension or hyping up the possibility of war' - language China has consistently used to criticize the West in the crisis.

One thing was clear: Weeks of diplomatic cajoling, global crisscrossing of leaders and foreign ministers, and the threat of sanctions against Putin's inner circle had failed to persuade the Kremlin not to plunge Europe into one of its biggest crises since the end of the Cold War.

The turmoil set off by the attack rippled from Europe to Asia. Stock markets plunged, oil prices surged, and European aviation officials warned of the danger to civilian aircraft over Ukraine amid the fighting.

Oil prices climbed by more than $5 per barrel. Brent crude briefly jumped above $100 per barrel in London for the first time since 2014 over fears of a disruption of supplies from Russia, the No. 3 producer.

The possible repercussions extended well beyond economics and geopolitics.

The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worried that the crisis will further distract global attention from helping the world's least vaccinated continent fight COVID-19.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during an interaction with the media after a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine with Russia, in New York City, Feb. 23. Reuters-Yonhap



The head of the United Nations implored Russian President Vladimir Putin, Wednesday night, not to attack Ukraine and to ''give peace a chance,'' a plea made just minutes before Putin announced a military operation in that country.



The televised announcement came as U.N. Security Council members were pressing Russia to reverse course. The council had hastily gathered for an emergency meeting hours after Russia said rebels in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military assistance, an announcement that immediately fueled fears that Moscow was laying the groundwork for war.



''If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart: President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died,'' U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council.



Less than a half hour later, while members called on Russia to halt its confrontational moves, Putin announced a military operation that he said was meant to protect civilians. He warned other countries that any effort to interfere with the Russian operation would lead to ''consequences they have never seen.''



It wasn't immediately clear whether council members were aware of the development.



The council, where Russia holds the rotating presidency this month, was meeting just two days after another emergency session where other members expressed no support for Moscow's decision to recognize two rebel regions of Ukraine as independent and to order Russian troops there for ''peacekeeping.''



Council diplomats are now finalizing a draft of a resolution that would declare that Russia is violating the U.N. Charter, international law, and a 2015 council resolution on Ukraine, a diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. The resolution would urge Russia to come back into compliance immediately, the diplomat said.





Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, right, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, left, attend an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Ukraine in New York, Feb. 23. AFP-Yonhap




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Scores of truckers making an 11-day cross-country trek from California to Washington, D.C., in an effort to protest COVID-19 restrictions were forced to reroute their drive after being delayed due to inclement weather in Arizona.

The People's Convoy, reportedly comprised of two dozen semi-trucks and about 100 other vehicles, made its first stop in Kingman, Arizona, late Wednesday after being greeted with a crowd of sign-holding supporters.

Kris Young, who is the admin for the group's Facebook page, announced the delay early Thursday morning, citing 'weather conditions.' The convoy was headed to Lupton, Arizona.

Young later released an updated route, seemingly to avoid the poor conditions, and told supporters in Lupton to prepare for their arrival. The convoy is still expected to arrive in the city Friday, they are just taking different roads to get there.

'Line the over passes! Wave your flags! Get the kids arm pumping!' she wrote.

It is unclear what conditions the convoy met along the original route, as organizers did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment, however, a storm dropped about a foot of snow across parts of Arizona's High County Wednesday.

The National Weather Service had issued a winter storm warning spanning from Flagstaff to Show Low until 11 p.m. Wednesday. When the truckers arrived in Kingman, which is located about 150 miles east of Flagstaff, there wasn't any snow visible.

The People's Convoy, inspired by Canada's Freedom Convoy protest, has called on the federal government to end the National Emergency enacted at the start of the pandemic in 2020, arguing that the threat posed by the coronavirus has now receded. The group also seeks an end to 'unconstitutional' vaccine and mask requirements.

However, nearly every state in America has either lifted or relaxed indoor mask mandates, or has set a date to do so in the near future. The lone holdout is Hawaii, the island state that has had the strictest mandates of anywhere in the country throughout the pandemic. Additionally, only 19 states currently have vaccine mandates in effect - however the mandates do not apply to all individuals and their requirements vary by state.

'As an American and as a human on the planet Earth, you have the right to choose,' Peoples Convoy co-organizer Brian Brase told journalist Adi Guajardo Thursday morning. 'And that should be respected.'

'This ride is not about truckers, it's about America,' trucker Larry Horton, 49, who lives in Nevada, echoed in a Wednesday night interview with the Victorville Daily Press. 'I love America, but our freedoms will be stripped away if we don't stand up for our rights.'

Scores of truckers making an 11-day cross-country trek from California to Washington DC in an effort to protest COVID-19 restrictions were forced to reroute their drive after being delayed due to inclement weather in Arizona

Kris Young, who is the admin for the People's Convoy Facebook group, announced the delay early Thursday morning, citing 'weather conditions'. She later released the convoy's revised route and told supporters in Lupton, Arizona: 'Line the over passes! Wave your flags! Get the kids arm pumping!'

This map shows the route of the People's Convoy from California to Washington D.C.

The People's Convoy is expected to arrive in D.C. on March 5 where it will be joined by around 25 other truck cavalcades.

It follows Canada's Freedom Convoy, which included weeks of demonstrations and blockades that shut down border crossings into the U.S. Organizers claim they do not intend to disrupt roads or bridges, like the Canadian protest did.

However, some semi-truck drivers are already calling for widespread blockades. Trucker Bob Bolus - who is leading a group from Pennsylvania - vowed earlier this week that the Beltway and other roads in and out of D.C. will be shut down.

In response, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved a request from local D.C. government and the Capitol police to deploy 700 members of the National Guard to the capital city ahead of the convoy's arrival.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Guardsmen would not be armed, and will not be empowered to arrest people, but would be reporting wrongdoing to local police. Approximately 50 'large tactical vehicles' will also be stationed in the city 24 hours a day.

Kris Young published the new convoy route on Facebook after announcing the group had been delayed by weather conditions

While it is unclear what conditions the convoy met along the original route - as organizers did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment - a storm dropped about a foot of snow across parts of Arizona's high county Wednesday (Pictured: Snow in Flagstaff)

The People's Convoy held a rally in Kingman, Arizona, early Thursday morning, ahead of their now-delayed departure.

'The convoy yesterday was absolutely amazing,' one participant told the crowd. 'I did not expect to see all those people on overpasses and everything. It just totally blew me away to see that.'

Members of the crowd, interrupting the man with cheers, said 'America's spirit is alive' and 'we all got along!'

The group arrived in Kingman Wednesday night and were met with an outpour of support.

Video shared to Facebook shows bystanders cheering, waving and holding signs and American flags as the vehicles rolled through the town, horns blaring.

Young, on Facebook, applauded the outpour response: 'We want to thank every one of you for your support. The welcoming on the Arizona overpasses and at Great American Pizza yesterday was absolutely amazing!!'

She also thanked Crazy Fred's Truck Stop and Rebel Oil, both in Kingman, for donating 25,000 gallons of fuel to the convoy.

The shops allegedly brought the fuel to Great American Pizza and Sub, in Golden Valley, where the convoy was staying to fill their trucks.

The group - leaving from Adelanto, California - arrived in Kingman, Arizona Wednesday night and were met with an outpour of support

The People's Convoy held a rally in Kingman, Arizona early Thursday morning, ahead of their now-delayed departure. One convoy participant told the crowd: 'The convoy yesterday was absolutely amazing. I did not expect to see all those people on overpasses and everything. It just totally blew me away to see that.'

Posted by Allen Kelly on Wednesday, February 23, 2022

The small convoy of truckers departed Adelanto, California midday Wednesday after several hundred people rallied in a parking lot before the group of vehicles hit the road. It wasn't clear how many intended to go all the way to DC.

'To the truck drivers around the world: Now is your time to stand up. Now is your time to usher in a renaissance time of freedom,' truck driver and event organizer Brian Brase told the rally. 'Do not bow down.'

Convoy vehicles carried signs with slogans such as 'Legalize freedom' and 'Let them breathe.'

The movement has attracted more than $464,000 in donations, according to the website, which organizers say will be used to reimburse fuel and other costs borne by participating truckers.

It was one of several U.S. convoys organized online and modeled on the recent Canadian truckers' protests that shut down U.S.-Canadian border crossings and besieged the streets of the capital, Ottawa, for three weeks.

The convoys all have different starting points, departure dates and routes.

A statement issued by organizers of the Adelanto group called it 'The People's Convoy' and said it was multicultural and nonpartisan, although there were Trump flags at the rally.

The statement said 'COVID is well-in-hand now, and Americans need to get back to work in a free and unrestricted manner.'

It pledged a '100% safe, lawful and peaceful journey' that will 'terminate in the vicinity of the DC area, but will NOT be going into DC proper.'

Posted by Allen Kelly on Thursday, February 24, 2022

Arizonians wait for truckers to arrive as the People's Convoy rolls through their town on Wednesday. They are seen holding signs and American flags from what appears to be a highway overpass

Kevin Clark and his service dog Chip sit around a fire after the The People's Convoy stopped for the night on Wednesday at Great American Pizza and Sub, in Golden Valley, Arizona

Dan Davidson, of Ohio, sits in his cab after parking at Great American Pizza and Sub. Convoy organizers say Crazy Fred's Truck Stop and Rebel Oil, both in Kingman, donated 25,000 gallons of fuel to the convoy and delivered it to the drivers at Great American Pizza

Bob Bolus, who is leading a DC-bound convoy of about 25 semis from Pennsylvania, began his route Wednesday morning after suffering a more than two hour delay caused by a flat tire. Although he vowed to block the DC area Beltway, Bolus not specified how they plan to do so.

He told WJLA Wednesday: 'We're not going to cause a traffic problem any more than they live with every single day.'

'We're not going to camp there. Let me put it that way,' he added. 'We're not camping on the Beltway. We're gonna have our voices heard and let them understand this is only the tip of the iceberg.'

Bolus also said he is keeping his convoy out of the District, arguing he 'believes Maryland and Virginia follow due process more than the nation's capital.'

The trucker claims his convoy has been in contact with the California convoy: 'We have had dialogue. We've had conference calls and we're all on the same page. We're all for one thing: freedom and rights.'

'This is America/ You took our freedom, you took our rights, you gave it to the illegals. You took our freedom and our rights and turned them around and you gave it to the BLMs (Black Lives Matter protesters) to burn buildings and not get prosecuted. The laws don't apply to them.'

Bob Bolus, who is leading a DC-bound convoy of about 25 semis from Pennsylvania, began his route Wednesday morning. Although he vowed to block the DC area Beltway, Bolus not specified how they plan to do so. He is pictured driving out of Scranton on Wednesday

There are several U.S. convoys heading to DC this week. They all have different starting points, departure dates and routes (Pictured: Bob Bolus leading a convoy traveling from Pennsylvania)

The People's Convoy departed Adelanto, California midday Wednesday after several hundred people rallied in a parking lot before the group of vehicles hit the road

A group of supporters hold a sign that reads 'Land of the FREE because of the BRAVE' at the rally held in Adelanto, California before the People's Convoy departed Wednesday

Two men are seen at the Adelanto trucker rally on Wednesday

Moms for America announced Thursday that they plan to join the convoy to DC

The protest comes as average daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to fall in the U.S. and as nearly every state in America is making moves to lift remaining virus-related mandates and usher in a 'return to normal'.

An analysis by CBS News found that 49 U.S. states have either lifted or relaxed indoor mask mandates, or have set a date to do so in the near future.

These decisions by both Democratic and Republican leaders around America come as cases decline basically everywhere. 49 states have recorded a decline in Covid cases over the past two weeks, with Maine being the lone outlier.

Nationwide, the United States is recording 79,668 cases per day - the first time the seven day average has dropped below 80,000 since November 29.

Cases are down 38 percent over the past seven days, and down 90 percent from the Omicron fueled surge's mid-January peak of around 800,000 per day.

All U.S. states except Hawaii have either lifted or relaxed indoor mask mandates, or have set a date to do so in the near future. Nineteen states currently have vaccine mandates in effect

Nationwide, the United States is recording 79,668 cases per day - the first time the seven day average has dropped below 80,000 since November 29. Cases are down 38 percent over the past seven days, and down 90 percent from the Omicron fueled surge's mid-January peak of around 800,000 per day

Public health experts say they feel hopeful that more declines are ahead, but many federal leaders remain hesitant to lift mandates.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends universal masking in public schools and requires people to wear masks when traveling on planes and trains.

The World Health Organization also warned global health leaders not to let their guard down as the Omicron 'stealth' variant spreads around the world, arguing a new threat may be around the corner.

The 'stealth' variant, or BA.2 as it is officially classified, is a lineage of the Omicron variant that lacks some key indicators that allows for it to be easily sequenced - hence the 'stealth' moniker. It is not believed to cause more severe infection than the original, BA.1, version of the variant, but it is around 30 percent more transmissible.
White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates hammered former President Donald Trump for heaping praise for days on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'Two nauseating, fearful pigs who hate what America stands for and whose every action is driven by their their own weakness and insecurity, rubbing their snouts together and celebrating as innocent people lose their lives,' Bates tweeted from his official government account Thursday morning.

Bates shared an article about Trump telling a crowd at Mar-a-Lago Wednesday night - as Putin began his assault on Ukraine - that the Russian leader was 'pretty smart.'

Overnight Thursday, Russia launched a war on Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials already putting the death toll in the hundreds. By Thursday afternoon, the Ukrainian army was fighting Russians in nearly every part of the country - including Chernobyl, which could have widespread environmental repercussions.

White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates hammered former President Donald Trump (left) for heaping praise for days on Russian President Vladimir Putin (right)

Bates called Trump and Putin 'two nauseating fearful pigs' and said they were 'rubbing their snouts together and celebrating as innocent people lose their lives'

Deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates

The deadly assault didn't change Trump's mind on his posture on Russian and Ukraine.

'He's taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. I'd say that's pretty smart,' the ex-president said at his Florida resort, according to a recording obtained by The New York Times.

'He's taking over a country, really a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people, just walking right in,' Trump added.

Trump has made similar laudatory comments about Putin for days.

On Tuesday, Trump told podcaster Buck Sexton that he thought Putin declaring two sections of Ukraine 'independent' was 'genius.'

'I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius,'' Trump said. 'Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine - of Ukraine - Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful.'

'I said, "How smart is that?'" the former U.S. president continued. 'And he's gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That's the strongest peace force We could use that on our southern border. Thats the strongest peace force I've ever seen. There were more army tanks than Ive ever seen. Theyre gonna keep peace all right.'

'No, but think of it. Heres a guy whos very savvy,' Trump went on. 'I know him very well. Very, very, very well. Had I been in office, not even thinkable, this never would have happened.'

Ukrainian military vehicles move past Independence Square in central Kyiv as cities across the nation have been hit with what Ukrainian officials said were Russian missile strikes and artillery

Trump added: 'But heres a guy that says, you know, "I'm gonna declare a big portion of Ukraine independent," he used the word 'independent' and 'were gonna go out and were gonna go in and were gonna help keep peace.' You gotta say thats pretty savvy. And you know what the response was from Biden? There was no response. They didnt have one for that. No, its very sad. Very sad.'

Trump also called Biden 'a man who has no concept of what he's doing.'

Later Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki hit back at Trump.

'As a matter of policy, we try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy, which I believe is what happened there,' Psaki replied at the Tuesday briefing when asked to react to the comments Trump made earlier in the day.

She pointed to comments Trump reportedly made to G7 leaders in 2018, when the now former president said that Crimea, which was annexed by Russia after a 2014 invasion, was a part of Russia because everyone there spoke Russian.

And said that Trump had 'expressed an openness' to lifting sanctions on Russia for the 2014 invasion.

'So there's a bit of a different tactic, a bit of a different approach, and that's probably why President Biden and not his predecessor was able to rally the world and the global community in taking steps against Russia's aggression,' Psaki said.

When asked if there were concerns comments like Trump's could lead to support of Ukraine becoming a more partisan issue among the American public, she pointed a finger at the Republican Party.

'You know, I think that is up to members of the Republican Party to make the decision, to make the determination,' she told DailyMail.com.

'There has been a long history, decades of history, which President Biden was a part of when he was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, of standing up to the efforts of any country to seize the territory of another country, standing up for efforts by the United States to rally global support against inappropriate and illegal actions by another country,' she continued. 'There's a long history of that not in a partisan way - in a partisan way.'

'And certainly that choice is up to Republicans to ... determine,' she added.
A British Army corporal has been locked up for sexually assaulting a junior male soldier while telling him to imagine he was 'a girl from back home'.

Corporal Julian Henshaw led the younger, drunk private into woods while they were based in Germany, before pulling down his shorts and assaulting him, a court martial heard.

As his victim 'froze', Cpl Henshaw, 30, told him to think of a girl from back home and performed a sex act on him despite his protests.

Despite originally denying the offence and saying he was too drunk to remember anything, he pleaded guilty to sexual assault after his saliva was found on the victim's shorts, which he claimed was 'a great shock' because he was heterosexual.

At Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, Cpl Henshaw was dismissed from the military by Judge Advocate General Alan Large.

Corporal Julian Henshaw, pictured here at Bulford Military Court, has been jailed for sexually assaulting a junior male soldier

Cpl Henshaw, who served in world class armoured infantry unit the 1st Battalion, Mercian Regiment, will serve 14 months in the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester, Essex, and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

William Peters, prosecuting, told the court Cpl Henshaw and his victim served in the same platoon and were stationed in Sennelager, Germany, when troops were drinking heavily on a Friday night into the early hours of the next day.

He said: 'The private can't remember exactly why, perhaps to smoke, but at one point after heavy drinking he found himself outside on a path and he was approached by Cpl Henshaw who asked him to go for a walk.'

Mr Peters said the pair walked for about 10 minutes before reaching a 'dark' and 'unfamiliar' area in the woods near a medical block.

He added the pair were 'standing there and Cpl Henshaw knelt on the ground, pulled down the shorts the private was wearing' before sexually assaulting him.

'The private tried to resist and push him away but essentially he froze,' Mr Peters said.

The British Army soldier told his victim to imagine he was 'a girl from back home' during the incident. The sexual assault took place while he was stationed in Sennelager, Germany

The court heard when the private told Cpl Henshaw to stop he persisted and said 'stop calling me Henshaw' and to imagine he was a girl he knew from back home.

When the assault finished, Cpl Henshaw told the victim 'best not to tell anyone' about what happened and they walked back to the barracks together.

Mr Peters said the private was 'distressed, scared and shocked' and told fellow soldiers what had happened after they saw him crying.

Forensic scientists examined the shorts the private was wearing on the night of the attack and found Cpl Henshaw's saliva inside the front of them.

Cpl Henshaw denied the charges until his own forensic expert confirmed these findings, at which point he pleaded guilty in February this year.

The private said in a statement read in court he had nightmares about the attack. He said he felt 'fearful' and didn't know who to trust.

Andrew Stone, defending, said Cpl Henshaw was sent home immediately after the incident and had been 'building an entirely new life on civvy street' following more than seven years of service in the Army.

He has been living in Derby with his long-term partner Maria, who joined him in court.

A military court sentenced Cpl Henshaw to 14 months in a Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester, Essex. The hearing took place at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire, pictured here.

Mr Stone said: 'The difficulty Cpl Henshaw has had with this case was his drinking was to such a level that evening that he simply cannot remember doing anything that evening.

'He wanted it confirmed by his own expert because it was so incredibly out of character.

'All of his relationships have been heterosexual relationships so it came as a very great shock that he had been involved in this, that he instigated this. It took some understanding on his part and he wanted to be sure what he was pleading to.

'He does feel dreadful about what he has done. He bitterly regrets the idea that he could do that to somebody else.'

Judge Large, sentencing, said: 'You realised your options were limited and pleaded guilty about two weeks ago. The victim in this case had the stress of what must have been a difficult case hanging over him.

'This is out of character and it's had and will continue to have an effect on you and your partner.'
A family doctor will face a trial accused of giving a woman a cup of tea laced with his semen - after the victim discovered a suspicious substance at the bottom of the cup.

Dr Nicholas John Chapman appeared in the dock today to answer two counts of attempting to cause a woman aged 16 or over to engage in sexual activity without her consent.

Appearing before Recorder John Trevaskis, the 54-year-old South African entered not guilty pleas to both charges during the short hearing at Taunton Crown Court, which relate to two occasions in September last year.

Dr Nicholas John Chapman (left and right) appeared in the dock today to answer two counts of attempting to cause a woman aged 16 or over to engage in sexual activity without her consent

The GP remains suspended from his post at the 4,000-patient North Curry Health Centre in Taunton, Somerset (pictured)

A trial is expected to take place in the summer, however, an exact date has not yet been set by the court.

He was remanded on conditional bail, including an order not to contact his victim or other named witnesses directly or indirectly.

The GP remains suspended from his post at the 4,000-patient North Curry Health Centre in Taunton, Somerset.

At a previous hearing at Taunton Magistrates' Court, prosecutor Giles Tippett, said the victim discovered a substance at the bottom of her cup when she finished the drink given to her by the defendant.

He said the incident was reported to the police three days later and a laboratory test confirmed the substance was 'semen that related to the doctor'.

Dr Chapman was born in South Africa, where he qualified as a doctor at the University of Cape Town in 1993.

Nigel Yeo, defending, said 'all his community ties' are in the UK, while he lives with his partner and part-time with a child.
Police in Cleveland have launched a sex crimes investigation after they say a sex tape showing a teacher at an all-boys' high school was sent to more than 200 students this month.

According to a police report, on February 15, officers received a complaint from the principal at Ginn Academy concerning a sexually explicit video of a female teacher and her boyfriend that had been disseminated to students.

The teacher, who has not been named, told investigators that she had heard rumors that her personal video, which was stored on her cellphone, had been leaked and shared with students, but the educator denied sending the X-rated recording.

Police said the sex tape was AirDropped to students at Ginn Academy on February 7 along with four or five other videos, but it is believed that only one of the recordings contained X-rated material.

A female teacher at Cleveland's Ginn Academy has been suspended over her leaked sex tape that was sent in early February to more than 200 students

Authorities with the Cleveland Police Sex Crimes Unit said they believe a student accessed the teacher's unlocked phone and used the AirDrop function to send the sex tape to other iPhones in the vicinity, reported Cleveland 19.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District said the teacher has been removed from the school pending the outcome of the investigation.

The teacher is currently on paid leave.

'Our collective bargaining agreement with the district provides for a process that protects our members, the district, and students when accusations are made involving members,' the Cleveland Teachers Union said in a statement. 'We will work with our member and the district through this process.'

As of Thursday morning, no criminal charges have been filed in this case.

Ginn Academy is an all-boys' public high school in Cleveland that has 337 students (stock image)

Ken Trump, a local parent who runs a school safety consulting firm. told Fox 8 that even if the teacher did not personally send the video to students, it does not absolve her of blame.

'It makes you feel like you have a punch in the gut, especially when youre an authority figure and youre a role model around children,' he said. 'It doesnt matter how the video was shared. It shouldnt have been there and accessible to kids in any form in the first place.'

Ginn Academy is an all-boys' public high school in Cleveland. It opened its doors in 2007 and currently has 337 students.
A Metropolitan Police officer accused of rape has today been cleared of charges after prosecutors dropped the case against him.

PC Adam Zaman, 28, of Romford, east London, was alleged to have attacked the woman at the five star Andaz Hotel in Liverpool Street on October 24.

The officer, based with the East Area Command Unit, who was off-duty at the time, had always 'strenuously denied' the allegation.

Mr Zaman was suspended from his post with Scotland Yard, which he has held since 2016, and the matter was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

PC Adam Zaman, 28, has today been cleared of charges after prosecutors dropped the case against him

Pictured: The exterior of the Andaz Hotel in Liverpool Street in the City of London

PC Zaman denied the allegation and was due to stand trial, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence against him at a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Thursday.

CPS lawyers alleged at an earlier hearing that Pc Zaman had shown the woman his warrant card and told her he was an officer when he met her at a club in Romford before they travelled to the hotel together.

They also claimed the woman sent concerned texts to friends and British Transport Police during the journey, and that Pc Zaman showed his warrant card to hotel staff - who were concerned because the woman was intoxicated.

However, at a short hearing before Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb on Thursday, Pc Zaman was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Pc Zaman, who was released on bail in December, did not attend the hearing.

Alison Hunter QC, for the CPS, told the court that 'the prosecution have taken a decision to offer no further evidence in this case'.

She said she would not go into detailed evidence, but highlighted that the CPS had a duty to 'review all matters'.

Ms Hunter said there were matters of 'significant concern' that when 'objectively assessed' alongside representations from Pc Zaman meant that there was no longer a 'realistic' prospect of conviction.

The court heard that the complainant had been informed of her 'right to review' and Ms Hunter explained that the CPS's decision had been made at the 'highest levels'.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb formally entered a not guilty verdict to the charge of rape.

Pc Zaman's acquittal comes just two days after charges were dropped in another high-profile case, as four men accused over the shooting of black equal rights campaigner Sasha Johnson were cleared on Tuesday.
Emergency powers brought in to tackle Covid will be consigned to history, the Health Secretary assured MPs today.

Sajid Javid said he does not 'envisage' ever having to bring back provisions in the Coronavirus Act because Britain has made so much progress in the pandemic.

While most of the lockdown powers were ushered in under the Public Health Act, the Coronavirus Act gave Government further abilities to control the spread of the virus.

Mr Javid admitted some of them were 'quite draconian', including the power to detain people with mental health issues which were never used but expired 'very early on' in the pandemic.

Others included the power to prohibit large-scale events, close schools and arrest infected people not following isolation rules.

Mr Javid was defending the Act from accusations that elected MPs were unable to scrutinise controversial provisions before their introduction.

The vast majority of the Act's remaining provisions are now due to expire on March 24 as part of a sunset clause brought in when ministers rushed them through Parliament at the start of the pandemic in 2020.

When asked by MPs if a new Covid variant could prompt the return of the Act's provisions, Mr Javid said he could not 'envisage' ever having to do so because Britain has broad immunity against the virus and surveillance programmes to monitor its spread.

'Thankfully we have built huge and very significant defences over the past two years, the vaccinations the treatments we have today, the testing capabilities we have today including the ability to genomic sequence,' he said.

'It's a completely different picture that we have today than before.'

Health secretary Sajid Javid said he could not ever 'envisage' having to bring back the emergency Covid laws with the vast majority of the rules set to expire on 24 March

Dozens of commuters disembark a train at London King's Cross railway station at rush hour this morning, as England woke up to freedom

Boris Johnson hailed a new post-Covid era as he declared that self-isolation laws are being axed from tomorrow and free tests will go from April

Mr Javid made the comments while addressing the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Coronavirus Act ahead of its two-year anniversary.

Defending the Government's handling of introducing the laws, with some critics accusing No10 of steamrolling through parliamentary process, Mr Javid said ministers had to 'act quickly' in the early stages of the pandemic.

UK's faltering Covid wave continues to fizzle as daily cases plunge 26% in a week, deaths drop 18% and hospital admissions fall to below 1,000 for first time this year Britain's Covid wave is continuing to fizzle out with daily cases, deaths and hospitalisations all trending downwards, official data shows. There were another 39,656 infections recorded over the 24 hours to Wednesday, marking a fall of a quarter compared to last week, according to Government dashboard data. Daily cases have consistently fallen for more than three weeks in a row now, and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) weekly infection survey is mirroring that trend. There were also 164 Covid deaths registered today, down 17 per cent from last week. Latest hospital figures show another 970 admissions were recorded on February 19, which was the first time they have dipped below 1,000 so far this year. The last time there were three-digit daily Covid hospital admissions in the UK was in mid-December before the Omicron surge was felt in the NHS. A significant share of Covid admissions and deaths are now not primarily caused by the virus  the effect of the milder but much more infectious variant. The faltering drop in stats combined with the severed link between infection and severe disease has given ministers the confidence to start winding down the official dump of Covid statistics at weekends, with a view to scrapping the daily numbers completely by spring. It comes as the ONS survey  seen as the most trustworthy surveillance study  estimated England's cases fell for the second week in a row, dropping 13 per cent to the equivalent of one in 25 people being infected over the week to February 19. The survey  based on 100,000 random swabs  is set to continue once free testing ends in April, and is seen as the 'gold-standard' for monitoring the virus by ministers. Advertisement

But he accepted that ensuring Parliament can properly debate emergency legislation may be one of the 'lessons learned' from the crisis.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: 'At times, when it's come to announcements in Parliament, there is a view among some parliamentarians that actually it's almost been like peeping through the keyhole or shouting through the letterbox of Number 10 rather than participating in the decision-making process of such fundamental issues.'

However, Mr Javid insisted that parliamentary process had not been 'bypassed' entirely, with many provisions of the Act either expiring early on or being scrapped as a result of scrutiny from MPs.

He gave the example of 'quite draconian' powers to detain people with mental health issues which were never used but expired 'very early on' in the pandemic.

Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle questioned why ministers had legislated on some of the measures in the Act in the first place, given only 27 pandemic-related provisions out of more than 500 were used.

He said organisations including St John Ambulance had told the committee they found it 'detrimental' that some provisions, such as emergency volunteering leave, had not been triggered.

Mr Javid - who quit as Chancellor in February 2020 and returned to Government in mid-2021 as Health Secretary - said he 'wasn't involved in the drafting of the Bill'.

But defending the Cabinet, he said it was 'understandable for the time that this was put together at speed, in an emergency situation' with limited information about the virus.

Several of the original provisions imposed under the Act have already expired.

But the Government wants to make four remaining provisions, which it says have 'enabled innovations in the delivery of public services, permanent, Mr Javid confirmed.

It plans to seek approval from Parliament and see the laws come into force over the spring and summer.

Among them are provisions which have allowed virtual hearings to take place for court cases, and where Covid is suspected to be the cause of death, coroners in England and Wales have been able to hear an inquest without a jury.

These are due to expire within six months and will each require a final six-month extension to 'ensure there is no gap in the legislation that enables public service delivery'.

Mr Javid confirmed the Government will seek to make some of the measures permanent in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and the Judicial Review and Courts Bill.

The remaining 16 provisions of the Act which include measures such as the Covid statutory sick pay and employment and support allowance, are due to expire at midnight 24 March.

Meanwhile, public transport users in London will no longer be required to wear face masks after Transport for London dropped its ruling saying they were compulsory - but some commuters were still choosing to wear them this morning

All coronavirus laws in England including the legal requirement for people who test positive to isolate are ending today. The lifting of remaining restrictions on normal life come after Boris Johnson (pictured today, addressing the nation about Russia's invasion of Ukraine) unveiled his 'Living with Covid Plan' on on Monday, in which he insisted that vaccines and new treatments can be relied on to keep the public safe

When and where face masks should be worn Over the last two months, Covid restrictions have gradually been phased out in most public spaces in England, as the nation adapts to 'living with Covid'. But do you know which places are officially free from regulations and which aren't? Hospitals and GP surgeries NHS England says there are no plans to end rules for face masks in hospitals and GP surgeries. The Government states: 'You are required to wear a face covering on entering these healthcare settings and must keep it on until you leave unless you are exempt or have a reasonable excuse for removing it.' Care homes Care homes are another setting which the government insists face masks must still be worn by visitors. Crowded places There are no official rules for face coverings when out in public, but the Government recommends they be worn in crowded areas such as a busy shop or place of worship. Supermarkets There are no longer rules for wearing face coverings in supermarkets, but many big name retailers such as Tesco, Sainsburys, Lidl, Waitrose and John Lewis recommend they be used. Transport Rules for wearing face coverings on public transport in England officially came to an end today. Advertisement

Mr Javid's comments came as England woke up to freedom this morning after nearly two years of crippling on-off lockdowns as all emergency Covid laws introduced to tackle the pandemic ended at midnight.

Self-isolation rules for the infected are now officially over, masks are no longer necessary on public transport in London and NHS hospitals are finally being told to lift visiting restrictions.

Boris Johnson said England was exiting the 'grimmest years in our peacetime' when the PM unveiled his 'Living With Covid' strategy on Monday, with its high vaccination rates and life-saving new drugs allowing it become the freest country in Europe.

In sperate comments than those made to MPs today, Mr Javid branded said 'Freedom Day'  February 24, 2022 will go down in the history books  as an 'important' next step in a new phase of the pandemic.

But he urged people to remain 'sensible' in the next stage of the country's battle with Covid, warning that the virus 'is not done with us' with new and challenging variants expected to emerge.

Since Mr Johnson told the nation to 'stay home, protect the NHS, save lives' in a landmark Downing Street press conference on March 23, 2020, England has been through three blanket lockdowns, months of 'whack-a-mole'-style local restrictions and repeated school closures.

Even when draconian stay-at-home orders were lifted, face masks, routine swabbing, working from home and social distancing became the new normal.

From today, however, anyone who receives a positive Covid test will no longer be obliged to quarantine at home for five days by law  although advice to avoid others for five days remains. Routine contact tracing has also been axed, as has the 500 self-isolation payments.

Changes to statutory sick pay and employment support allowance designed to help people through the pandemic will end on March 24, when Britain embarks on another vaccine roll-out to give 8million elderly adults and over-12s with weakened immune systems a fourth jab.

NHS trusts are also being told to relax their visiting policies after it emerged some hospitals were still limiting non-Covid patients to just one visitor per day, sometimes for only half an hour.

And then in the final step in the Government's living with Covid strategy, free universal testing will end on April 1 and will instead be prioritised for the most vulnerable. High street pharmacies will sell rapid swabs for as little as 1.89.

Mr Javid told The Times today: 'We must never lose sight of the fact the rules and regulations we introduced were an extraordinary response to an extraordinary challenge, they were never intended to be the new normal.'

Isolation rules are not changing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where people will still have to legally isolate for five full days after testing positive or face fines.

Face masks are being phased out in the devolved nations over the next month but announcements have not been made about what will happen to free testing.

Universal free testing will be massively scaled back in England from April 1 and will instead be focused on the most vulnerable, who will be eligible for free swabs if they are symptomatic.

Asymptomatic testing will continue for social care staff in elderly care homes, to protect residents who are most at-risk of severe symptoms.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) statisticians estimated there were 2.1million infections on any given day in England in the week up to February 19, down 14 per cent on the 2.4million per day the week before

The news about the ending of all legal restrictions was heralded by Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured last week during a visit to a new research facility at Porton Down), although he struck a note of caution

The Scottish and Welsh first ministers have described Mr Johnson's approach to testing and isolation in England as 'reckless'.

But the Prime Minister has said that his plan will 'finally give people back their freedom' after 'one of the most difficult periods in our country's history'.

Mr Javid told The Times: 'This is an important day as we move from rules set by the Government to more personal responsibility.

'And although we might be done with Covid, Covid is not done with us. It is here to stay so please continue to be sensible as we move forward on the road to recovery.'

Transport for London was the last bastion of masks on public transport in England but the city's mayor Sadiq Khan has now dropped the requirement for coverings.

TFL announced coverings will stop being a condition of carriage following the 'shift in the Government's approach' towards living with coronavirus. It added that 'decreasing infection rates in London' were also a factor in its decision.

Despite the unlocking, an Ipsos survey of 1,000 people aged 16-75 found that 46 per cent of those polled believe that the Government is relaxing coronavirus restrictions too quickly, while 39 per cent believe it is about the right time.

The survey found that 49 per cent of people do not support the end of legal self-isolation for those testing positive for Covid, while 33 per cent of those polled do support the end of the legal requirement.

Almost four in 10 Britons surveyed said it is likely they will go to the shops (37 per cent) even if they have tested positive for Covid, and the same proportion of workers feel they would go into work if they were positive.

The survey found that 24 per cent said it is likely they would travel on public transport if they had tested positive, while 20 per cent said they would visit elderly relatives.

More than half of those polled (52 per cent) said it is likely that they would go for a walk outside if they had tested positive for the virus.

Just 29 per cent of those surveyed support the decision to no longer provide free Covid test kits.

Keiran Pedley, at Ipsos, said: 'While the public are divided on whether or not this is the right time for the Government to relax Covid restrictions, it's clear that the decision to stop providing free Covid tests to anyone who requests them is not a popular one.

'It is notable that British workers are split on whether they would go into work even after testing positive which may have implications for plans to get people back into offices.'

On Monday, England's chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty said people should still isolate if they have Covid-19 despite the legal requirement ending.

He said it is 'standard public health advice' as he warned that while rates are coming down it is 'still a very common infection'.

Mr Johnson acknowledged there is likely to be another variant that will 'cause us trouble', saying he did not want people to think 'there's some division between the gung ho politicians and the cautious, anxious scientists'.

He said: 'The most important thing is that - and I hope this is the big take-out from this - the sun is shining but we're keeping our umbrella.'

But the British Medical Association warned that the 'living with Covid' strategy 'fails to protect those at highest risk of harm from Covid-19, and neglects some of the most vulnerable people in society'.

Groups representing vulnerable individuals also sounded the alarm over the end to isolation laws, with the Scope disability equality charity saying it would usher in a life 'living with fear'.

Blood Cancer UK warned that the plan 'will cause huge anxiety among immunocompromised people and leave many of them feeling abandoned', while the MS Society said the scrapping of free universal testing is 'not only reckless but dangerous'.

Britain's Covid pandemic: The pivotal moments 2020 23 March  In an historic televised address, Boris Johnson announces a nationwide lockdown coming into effect on 26 March. All non-essential shops are required to close and public gatherings of more than two people are banned. Police are given new powers to enforce lockdown with fine. 26 March  The first 'Clap for Carers' event takes place across the UK at 18.00, applauding the NHS for their work during the pandemic. 27 March  Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock both test positive for Covid-19 as the virus rips through Westminster. Chris Whitty also starts self-isolating after suffering from Covid symptoms. 5 April  The Prime Minister is admitted to St Thomas' Hospital in London for 'precautionary' tests after his symptoms persisted for 10 days. Queen Elizabeth II makes a rare televised broadcast to the UK and the wider Commonwealth, thanking people for following the government's new Covid rules and telling the nation: 'If we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it'. 6 April  Boris Johnson moved to intensive care after his condition dramatically worsens. First Secretary of State Dominic Raab stands in as deputy. 16 April - 99-year-old war veteran Captain Tom Moore finishes walking 100 laps of his garden, eventually raising almost 33 million for NHS Charities Together. Dominic Raab announces a three-week extension of the nationwide lockdown. 29 April  The Daily Mail's new charity, Mail Force, flies in vital PPE worth over 1million for frontline hospital staff in dire need of equipment. 23 May - Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's chief political adviser, is revealed to have travelled 260 miles from London to Durham to self-isolate during lockdown. 26 May  In an extraordinary press conference in the Downing Street Rose Garden Dominic Cummings says he doesn't regret his lockdown-breaking journey to Durham amid calls for him to resign. 15 June  All non-essential retail opens in the UK, and places of worship open for private worship. Face coverings become mandatory on public transport. 4 July  Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers reopen as lockdown measures continue to ease in the UK. 14 September  Social gatherings of more than six are banned as Covid cases begin to rise across the country. 22 September  In a televised address Boris Johnson warns the nation 'the fight against Covid is by no means over' as he unveiled new restrictions including a 10pm curfew for pubs and 200 fines for those flouting rules. 14 October  A new three-tiered system of lockdowns comes into effect in the UK, rating areas in the country medium, high or very high. 31 October - Boris Johnson announces a second national lockdown for England to prevent a 'medical and moral disaster', lasting from 5 November to 2 December. 9 November - The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine is reported to be 90 per cent successful in preventing COVID-19. 23 November  The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is revealed to be 70 per cent effective. Boris Johnson confirms the previous three-tier system of COVID regulations will return once lockdown finishes on 2 December. 3 December  Britain becomes the first country in the world to approve a Covid vaccine, with the Pfizer/BioNTech arriving the following week. But Boris Johnson warns the public should not get 'carried away with over optimism'. 8 December - Margaret Keenan, 90, becomes the first person to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as the UK jab rollout begins. 14 December - Matt Hancock announces the discovery of a new variant of Covid that is spreading faster in some areas of the country. 19 December - Boris Johnson announces that London, the South East and East of England will go into new Tier 4 restrictions and Christmas bubbles will be scrapped in Tier 4 areas, effectively cancelling Christmas for millions of families. 2021 4 January  The country is plunged into a third national lockdown from 5 January, shutting all non-essential retail and schools. Brian Pinker, 82, becomes the first person to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. 2 February - Captain Sir Tom Moore dies aged 100 after testing positive for COVID-19. A study, suggests that a single dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine could lead to a 'substantial' fall in the spread of COVID, and is 76% effective in the 12 weeks before the second dose is given. 22 February  Boris Johnson reveals his roadmap out of the third national lockdown in England, with schools opening on 8 March and non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality opening from 12 April. 8 March  Step one of the unlocking sees schools allowed to reopen and people allowed to meet one other person outside once a day. The stay at home order remains in place. 29 March  The second part of step one allows people to leave their homes when they wish but they are advised to 'stay local'. Up to two people can meet indoors and up to six outdoors, including in private gardens. Open air sports facilities can reopen. 12 April  Non-essential shops are reopened and restaurants and pubs are allowed to offer outdoor service as part of step two of the unlocking. Many other outdoor venues also reopen, including zoos and theme parks. Self-contained holidays are permitted. 17 May  Step three of unlocking takes place. Social mixing rules are expanded to allow the rule of six indoors and up to 30 people to meet outdoors. Indoor venues can reopen, including cinemas, restaurants and pubs. Outdoor stadiums can seat up to 10,000 spectators. 14 June  Boris delays 'freedom day' by more than a month after a surge in cases of the Delta variant. The new date for the final unlocking is scheduled for July 19, which the PM says will buy the country time to vaccinate more people. 19 July  The final part of the roadmap out of lockdown sees most legal limits on social contact lifted, including the rule of six. Nightclubs are also able to open their doors for the first time in months. People are asked to 'gradually' to return to their desks as the WFH advice is softened. The 'one metre plus' rule on social distancing is lifted except in specific circumstances such as at the border and legal requirements to wear face coverings are ditched. 4 November  UK becomes first country to approve an antiviral that can slash the risk of severe Covid. Nearly half a million doses of molnupiravir, a pill that can be taken twice daily at home, are due for delivery from mid-November. 16 November  NHS begins Covid booster vaccine rollout campaign after approval from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Data shows protection from two doses starts to wane after six months. Elderly care-home residents are offered jabs first, moving down through the age cohorts to over-50s. Frontline health and social care workers and younger adults with underlying health conditions are also included in the rollout. 23 November: UK scientist sounds the alarm about 'horrific' new variant with 32 mutations on its spike protein - which is later named Omicron. The strain causes an explosion of cases in South Africa where it was first detected. 27 November  The first two cases of Omicron are announced in the UK as ministers impose a ban on swathes of southern Africa in an attempt to limit the importation of cases. 30 November  The booster vaccine rollout is expanded to all adults aged 18 and over to tackle Omicron. 8 December  Boris moves England to 'plan B' restrictions for winter as the Omicron variant is projected to send case rates to astronomical levels. Face masks become mandatory in most public indoor venues and NHS Covid Passes must be used to gain access to specific settings. People are asked to work from home when possible. 2022 January 27  The Omicron wave begins to settle a tidal wave of infections sent daily cases to more than 200,000 per day. Hospital pressure does not reach levels projected by expert advisers, with the booster rollout credited. England moves to 'plan A' which sees face coverings and NHS Covid passes scrapped. February 24  The Government's 'Living with Covid' is enacted, with all remaining restrictions ending. People who catch the virus no longer have to self-isolate, although they will still be advised to avoid others for five days. Advertisement

MATT HANCOCK: Freedom Day today has been hard won. Now we must resist the dangerous slide against liberty that Covid has left in its wake... Why should the Government express a view on where people work?

Nearly two years ago I asked Parliament to approve a set of laws more draconian than any in peacetime history.

Mostly when you pass a law you want it to be permanent. Not this time I didn't. And I am delighted that today those laws relating to Covid restrictions are finally being abolished, and our freedoms restored.

Hearing the Prime Minister in the House of Commons this week made me emotional. We should all be proud that Britain is the first major nation to come out of such restrictions.

It is testament not only to the huge project to develop, manufacture and distribute vaccines, but also to the enthusiasm with which people came forward to have them.

From the start of the pandemic, I believed vaccines would be the only way out  we had to suppress the virus until a vaccine could make us safe.

We started work on getting a jab in January 2020. I distinctly recall a meeting with Jonathan Van-Tam, then deputy chief medical officer, and the brilliant team of scientific advisers who told me that developing a vaccine usually takes five to ten years  but given the circumstances, they said, we could aim for 18 months.

I am delighted that today laws relating to Covid restrictions are finally being abolished, and our freedoms restored, says Matt Hancock (pictured in June 2021)

Because I believe in the power of science and human ingenuity, I set them the task of producing a vaccine by the next Christmas  in less than 12 months.

This was ambitious, but I knew that if we stripped back the bureaucracy, we could achieve it.

The team delivered magnificently, meaning we were the first country in the world to make use of a vaccine  and in every part of the UK.

I always said that once the vaccine was deployed we must 'cry freedom' and learn to live with Covid as we do flu. Due to the fastest vaccine rollout ever, today is that Freedom Day.

Covid is no longer a pandemic in the UK, it is instead endemic. It will always be around  we cannot see off a disease that spreads as easily as this does.

Some countries have tried, like China, but the result is that they are struggling with a semi-permanent state of lockdown.

In the UK, by contrast, we have been able to pass this point and get back to our cherished way of life.

Which is why it is time to end all of these intrusive Covid regulations.

In response to the Omicron variant of the virus, when some said we should lock down again, the Prime Minister appealed to everyone's sense of personal responsibility, trusting people to take action to help stop the spread of the virus and protect others.

The point is that where we can solve problems by relying on science and personal responsibility, not diktat, we should. It is the British way.

Now, why should the Government express a view on where people work, whether it is home or the office? Pictured: Commuters arrive at Waterloo station on February 2

Now we should apply that lesson to all remaining Covid regulations.

Airlines have records of who is flying and their addresses, so why do we need another piece of bureaucracy  the passenger locator form which travellers must fill in before entering the UK? If the problem is inflexible EU rules banning the modern use of data, we should tackle this.

And now the pandemic is over, why should the Government express a view on where people work, whether it is home or the office? It is for people, and their employers, to decide. I say 'cry freedom' on work-from-home, too.

I am a freedom-loving liberal Conservative. My parents had a small family business and I went into politics partly out of frustration at the red tape that held back their firm.

It is in the Conservative Party's DNA to allow businesses and entrepreneurs to flourish. The way we simplified rules to accelerate the vaccine shows the way.

I have a positive view of human nature and believe the more restrictions the state imposes on people, the more they crowd out the talent we need to unleash growth.

Decisions in the pandemic were a wrestle for me between my burning belief in freedom on the one hand, and a data-driven practical necessity to reduce transmission of the virus on the other.

In effect, the restrictions we had to impose were a necessary evil. But now the vaccine has replaced the need for regulation, we can get on with our lives.

Some will never agree with the decisions about restrictions that we made in the pandemic. I understand the differences in opinion.

What I would say is that in the face of an unprecedented global health crisis, we had a duty to protect lives and get us out of the pandemic as quickly as possible.

Without action, hundreds of thousands more would have died, and the NHS would have been overwhelmed.

My fervent belief is that people should be free to act as they choose, unless they harm others.

But in a pandemic, people can be harmed unwittingly. And as there was so little information about this virus, and the world had no cure for it, the only way we could protect lives was to ensure individuals didn't infect others. We did what we had to do.

I also understand why some people are now cautious about moving too quickly. Covid is a horrible disease. But the question for anyone opposing the lifting of restrictions is: if not now, when?

In Parliament this week, we had the contorted sight of the Labour Party clinging onto these restrictions, without any answer to that question.

We have seen the Opposition benches calling on the Government to keep mandated masks, keep passenger locator forms, keep working-from-home measures and keep self-isolation requirements.

Covid is no longer a pandemic in the UK. Some countries have tried, like China, but they are in a semi-permanent state of lockdown. Pictured: Beijing airport after the 2020 Winter Olympics

Even the most ardent supporter of lockdowns can see such measures must be temporary. We cannot wait until there is no Covid at all, as then we'd be waiting for ever.

Those on the Left always have an instinct for intrusion and bureaucracy. To give in to their demands to keep restrictions would be a slippery slope.

After all, it is the instinct of bureaucracies through the ages to accumulate power rather than give it away.

The liberal instinct of trusting the people is always harder when the pressure is for caution and regulations. Yet it is vital that freedom wins the day.

Around the world, a worrying consequence of Covid is more authoritarian interventions. We must resist this dangerous slide.

Just as every generation before us has had to do, we once again need to win the argument for liberty.

Some ask why this is so important, why government can't continue to make decisions for us.

The answer is simple: it is because people know what is best for them, not the state. It is the role of government to enable people to fly as high as their aspirations take them.

We must now make the most of our chances in this post-Brexit, post-pandemic world. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to tackle unnecessary red tape, and shape our country as an open, liberal democracy.

We must not forget that free enterprise and free trade are the drivers of prosperity. Now is the moment to make the most of them.

So, let's seize this moment and embrace Britain's natural love of freedom to create a dynamic country that will prosper as no other in the decades ahead.

Matt Hancock was Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, 2018-2021


Ukrainians in the UK have today revealed fears for their family members in their home country after being unable to reach them following Russia's invasion.

Phone lines and internet connections are said to be down in some areas, including in the eastern city of Kharkiv - which has seen some of the worst fighting since Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered troops over the border.

Ukrainians living in the UK say they have been desperately trying to contact loved ones in the eastern European country, but have so far been unable to reach them.

One devastated grandmother says she is 'haunted' by 'horror thoughts' at not being able to contact family in Ukraine.

Another, a mother-of-two, said her husband was stuck in Kiev this morning and heard the sound of exploding missiles.

It comes as Ukrainian troops continue to fight Russian forces in a number of locations, including near to the former nuclear power plant Chernobyl.

Meanwhile Kiev has ordered civilians to bomb shelters and declared a curfew amid fears Russia is about to strike the Ukrainian capital.

There is also fighting going on in Kharkiv, in the east, and southern Ukraine, where Russian troops are said to have moved north from annexed Crimea.

Safe in Lenton, Nottinghamshire, is Ukrainian Olena Berezhnyi, 56, who fears for the safety of her family members back in her home country.

Safe in Lenton, Nottinghamshire, is Ukrainian Olena Berezhnyi, 56, who fears for the safety of her family members back in her home country

Ukrainians living in the UK say they have desperately tried to contact loved ones still in the eastern European country, but have been unable to reach them. Pictured: Olena Berezhnyi's family in Ukraine

Oksana Mudriyk (pictured left), 44, who lives in Fulham with her two children says her husband Alex is currently stuck in Kyiv after returning to Ukraine for a family matter. 'It's a scary, shocking, heartbreaking, devastating tragedy,' she told MyLondon. Yaroslav Taranenko (pictured right), 40, has lived in London for over five years and has family in the south of Ukraine. He told MyLondon: 'The first thing I did was quickly check on my family and friends,' he said. 'They are all safe for now.'

It comes as Ukrainian troops are this afternoon fighting Russian forces for control of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, 60 miles north of the capital Kiev, amid fears the battle could damage storage facilities holding nuclear waste sparking a fallout that could blanket Europe. Pictured: A woman walks past the debris in the aftermath of Russian shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine

There is also fighting going on in Kharkiv, in the east, and southern Ukraine, where Russian troops are said to have moved north from annexed Crimea. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen sit atop armored personnel carriers driving on a road in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine

Ms Berezhnyi said she 'barely stay calm' thinking her children might have not survived the invasion, which began early this morning.

Her two sons and their families, including a six-year-old granddaughter, live in Derhachi, a small city in Kharkiv province, less than 40kilometres from the Russian border.

She has been trying to get in contact with them this morning February, but has had no success.

Ms Berezhnyi said: 'I do not know if they are still alive - I do not know what happened to them. I am just hoping that they managed to escape.'

UKRAINE LATEST Global markets tanked with Russia's ruble sliding to its lowest value ever

The price of oil shot up to over $100 per barrel

EU will freeze Russian assets, halt access to financial market and target 'Kremlin interests'

G7 called Putin a 'threat to global order' vowing 'severe and coordinated economic and financial sanctions'

Joe Biden is set to address the nation at 12.30pm Washington time

Boris Johnson called the invasion a 'catastrophe for our continent' and branded Putin a 'dictator'

China repeated calls for talks but refusing to criticize Russia's attack

Moldova declared a state of emergency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said invasion is 'heavy blow' to regional peace

NATO ambassadors scheduled an emergency meeting on Thursday

UN Security Council will discuss a resolution condemning the invasion

Ukraine demanded the world banish Russia from SWIFT banking system Advertisement

The cleaner said the last time she spoke to her 24-year-old son was yesterday morning

Ms Berezhnyi added: 'They told me that they are ready to fight - they are ready to do it for Ukraine.

'And now I am just scared and I can barely keep calm.'

Ms Berezhnyi came to Nottingham from Kharkiv in 2004 to care for her grandfather, who had cancer.

Ms Berezhnyi said: 'I was in shock when I saw my hometown Kharkiv.

'I was sleeping when all that happened - and now I do not know where my children are.

'I am stressed but I know I have to remain calm and keep working here because I have to make more money to send them to Ukraine and help my country.'

Meanwhile, Oksana Mudriyk, 44, who lives in Fulham with her two children says her husband Alex is currently stuck in Kyiv after returning to Ukraine for a family matter.

'It's a scary, shocking, heartbreaking, devastating tragedy,' she told MyLondon.

'My husband was woken up this morning by the missiles in Kyiv. Everybody could hear the bombing.'

She added: 'Obviously there is some emotional panic, but also anger and an understanding that we need to fight and defend our land because no one can do this for us.'

Yaroslav Taranenko, 40, has lived in London for over five years and has family in the south of Ukraine. He told MyLondon: 'The first thing I did was quickly check on my family and friends,' he said. 'They are all safe for now.'

Voicing his concerns that war in Ukraine would affect his ability to communicate with his family, he added: 'I'm in contact with them through my mobile, but I'm very worried in case there are going to be issues with mobile coverage. Then I have no means of contacting them.'

It comes as Ukrainians living in the UK say they are planning to return home to defend their country from Russia.

Flights are impossible so many are jetting to the nearest airport to the country before attempting to drive in across the borders.

Marta Mulyak, 39, the head of the London branch of Plast National Scout Organisation of Ukraine, told MailOnline: 'I have been up since 4am today, I woke up and felt anxious and then I saw the news and saw why.

'Some of my friends have said they will return to try and defend the country. They are not military people, the love for the country for Ukrainians is above all and they want to protect our country.

'The people that are trying to get over to Ukraine they are not sure how they will get there. I guess the only way is to drive from the closest airport.

Marta Mulyak, 39, said some Ukrainians in the UK were planning to return home to help

Petro Chymera, 32, and Olesya Khromeychuk, 38, said their prayers were with Ukraine

Ela Czuruk from the Ukraine outside the Russian Embassy. Russians and Ukrainians unite in protest outside the Russian Embassy in London over Putins attack on the Ukraine

Members of the Orthodox Church attend a demonstration outside Downing Street in support of Ukraine

People hold a banner and Ukrainian flags as they attend a demonstration in support of Ukraine, outside Downing Street

'Right now our main push is to co-ordinate out actions across the world. We believe in our regular army.

'There are a lot of people over there who have also joined local forces.

'We have been warning about Russia for eight years. If Russia isn't stopped now it will go further than Ukraine. Unfortunately history seems to be repeating itself.

'I am afraid if action is not taken now there will be consequences for the whole world.'

Wolodymyr Pawluk, 58, chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, told The Guardian some military veterans living in Britain were thinking of going back.

He said: 'In London, I can only say a handful have said that they will go back.

People attend a pro-Ukrainian demonstration on Whitehall, near Downing Street, earlier today

Two banners criticising the response to Russia were also held at Downing Street protest

Protesters gather during a rally against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in front of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

'There are many more that I've also heard will go, although I don't know them personally.'

Olesya Khromeychuk, 38, said: 'Just imagining what sort of bloodshed this is likely to cause is awful. I lost my brother, who was serving in the Ukrainian armed forces, at the frontline in 2017. Volodya was 42 when he was killed by shrapnel in the Luhansk region. He lived in western Europe but moved back to join up.'

Head of the Ukrainian Youth Association in Bradford Petro Chymera, 32, said some members of the local community were preparing contingency plans to help relatives in east Ukraine seek refuge in Western Europe and the UK.

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes this morning.

A Stop Putin protest is also due to start at Downing Street at midday today after action yesterday outside the Russian embassy.

Official figures put the death toll at 40, with 'dozens' wounded.

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed, before Moscow boasted of taking full control of the skies.

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Hundreds of people have already demonstrated against Russia's aggression against Ukraine outside the Russian embassy in London last night.

They held banner reading 'Putin hands off Ukraine', 'Putin kills' and 'Ukraine will never surrender' outside the embassy in Kensington.
Biden will speak to the nation at 12.30pm, shortly after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers an address

Italy said to want to protect its luxury goods while Belgium wants an exemption for diamonds

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen confirmed an asset freeze, a halt on Russian banks' access to financial markets and targeting 'Kremlin interests'

The President was slammed over a weak first 'tranche' of sanctions that were compared to 'appeasement'

Joe Biden said he wanted to push through 'united and decisive' sanctions

President Joe Biden has met with G7 allies to hammer out a 'united and decisive' raft of new sanctions to slam Russia with after it launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine.

The virtual, closed-door meeting for leaders to hash out a joint response to President Putin's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack' took place at 9am ET.

It is expected that the new sanctions could hit the largest Russian banks, bar financial institutions from completing transactions and enforce a ban on exports.

But diplomats have shared concerns that some European states are not putting on a united front - and are instead asking for carve-outs on luxury good ands even diamonds because of the economic consequences.

Before the G7 gathering, Biden first huddled with his National Security Council in the Situation Room, the White House said. He is expected to make a speech to the nation at 12.30pm.

For weeks, as Russia built up tens of thousands of troops and heavy weapons on Ukraine's border, Biden has led NATO and other European allies in trying to craft a package of what Washington says are 'unprecedented' sanctions as a deterrent.

President Joe Biden has met with G7 allies to hammer out a 'united and decisive' raft of new sanctions to slam Russia with after it launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine

The virtual, closed-door meeting for leaders to hash out a joint response to President Putin's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack' took place at 9am ET

For weeks, as Russia built up tens of thousands of troops and heavy weapons on Ukraine's border, Biden has led NATO and other European allies in trying to craft a package of what Washington says are 'unprecedented' sanctions as a deterrent against Vladimir Putin

Before the G7 gathering, Biden first huddled with his National Security Council in the Situation Room, the White House said. He is expected to make a speech to the nation at 12.30pm

Now that the deterrent has failed, the effort is likely to see rapid escalation to inflict real pain on Russia's already shaky economy.

'The United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable,' Biden said in his first comments late Wednesday in Washington, after Russian missiles began to rain down on Ukraine.

European Union leaders have already announced they will impose new sanctions on Russia, freezing its assets, halting its banks' access to European financial markets and targeting 'Kremlin interests'.

'We condemn this barbaric attack and the cynical arguments to justify it,' European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said. 'It is President Putin who is bringing war back to Europe.'

'With this package, we will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to technologies and markets that are key to Russia,' she added. 'We will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernise.'

Washington is expected to further hit the Russian banking sector, after sanctioning Promsvyazbank (pictured), the country's largest military bank, and VTB. The two institutions hold around $80 billion in assets

Biden has already announced he was imposing sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany - one of energy-rich Moscow's highest-profile geopolitical projects

The U.S. targeted with sanctions Alex Bortnikov, the head of Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (Russia's principal security agency); Putin's deputy chief of staff Sergey Keriyenko; and Promsvyazbank CEO Pyotr Fradkov

The US could block Russia from access to the US dollar, which dominates global financial transactions. The move to freeze transactions would be easier than targeting international banking service SWIFT, as US dollar transactions are ultimately cleared through the Federal Reserve or U.S. financial institutions

Russian assets in the EU would also be frozen and Russian banks' access to Europe's financial markets would be stopped.

Before the invasion however, European diplomats involved in talks over sanctions shared concerns of a much less united front in the EU.

Diplomats said that several EU members were concerned about other sectors of Russias economy that could be penalized.

Italy is said to have been pushing to leave the luxury goods industry untouched so that it could continue exporting fashion and other high-end products to Russia.

Belgium was seeking an exemption for its diamond industry.

Several EU countries are also highly dependent on Russian gas - just one of the ways it is limited in truly punishing Moscow without crippling its own economies.

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

Military vehicles are seen on a street on the outskirts of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine

Chuhuiv military airfield in Kharkiv outskirts burns

In the area of Glukhova, the Ukrainian military engaged a armoured column of 15 T-72 tanks with American Javelin missiles

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

President Biden however has been slammed by both Democrats and Republicans for not going harder on sanctioning Russia, and will be under pressure to fulfil his promise of 'swift and severe' punishments.

A set of US export controls would ban the sale of technology reliant on US software and equipment to Russian entities in certain critical sectors, hindering long-term economic growth.

'We're denying something to Russia that they need and they can't replace from anywhere else or produce at home,' a senior administration official said.

US officials have said the export controls would be implemented through a powerful policy tool known as the Foreign Direct Product Rule, which the Trump administration used to hobble China's Huawei Technologies Co.

Biden also held a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, saying afterwards that he had promised to 'provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.'

The US president noted that Zelensky had requested him to 'call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly' against Putin's 'flagrant aggression.'

On Tuesday, after Putin first announced he would send troops as 'peacekeepers' to two small areas already controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, Western countries swung into action with a first round of sanctions.

The US government joined European allies in imposing sanctions on two Russian banks, Moscow's sovereign debt, several oligarchs and other measures.

And on Wednesday, as the Russian invasion force became clearly primed to attack, Biden announced he was imposing sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany - one of energy-rich Moscow's highest-profile geopolitical projects.

Germany had earlier announced it would block the pipeline from opening for deliveries.




Russia's ground forces crossed into Ukraine from several directions, Thursday, according to the Ukrainian Border Guard Service, hours after President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a major offensive.







Russian tanks and other heavy equipment crossed the frontier in several northern regions, as well as from the Kremlin-annexed peninsula of Crimea in the south, the service said.







It said one of its servicemen died in a shelling attack along the Crimean border, the first officially confirmed military death of the Russian invasion.







Ukraine has suffered heavy casualties in its eight-year conflict with Russian-backed rebels in the separatist east, but has reported no fatalities along its southern border with Crimea for some years. (AFP)






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The city of Los Angeles is spending up to $837,000 on houses for its homeless as part of a $1.2billion project to home the region's sprawling homeless population.

Proposition HHH, which is intended to build housing for the estimated 41,000 homeless people in the city, has seen about 1,200 units, most of which are studio or one-bedroom apartments, completed since voters approved the spending in 2016.

Now, an audit has found 14 per cent of the units built exceeded $700,000 each, and one project in pre-development is estimated to cost almost $837,000 per unit.

The opulent complex, tabbed the Vermont Manchester, will boast 62 units designated for homeless applicants, as well as a slew of trendy shops, a 6,000-square-foot restaurant, and a pedestrian plaza, an outline for the project posted online by the company behind the complex reveals.

The opulent complex, tabbed the Vermont Manchester, will boast 62 units designated for homeless applicants, as well as a slew of trendy shops, a 6,000-square-foot restaurant, and a pedestrian plaza, an outline for the project posted online reveals

Built on 4.2 acres of land acquired by LA County through the use of eminent domain - when a government body seizes private property for public use through payment of compensation - the project will also consist of a boarding school and 180 affordable housing units

Built on 4.2 acres of land acquired by LA County through the use of eminent domain - when a government body seizes private property for public use through payment of compensation - the garish project will also consist of a college-preparatory boarding school and 180 affordable housing units, per the post by TCA Architecture.

According to the firm's website, the planned project - despite being unfinished - even took home an award for affordable housing, the PCBC Gold Nugget Merit Award for Best On-the-Boards Affordable Housing Community, last year.

The measure to fund the affordable housing units - of which there are 125 - was approved more than five years ago, in 2017, but so far just 65 have started construction, the city's audit reveals.

What's more, only 18 of those buildings have been completed and are ready for prospective tenants to move-in.

The revelation comes as city Controller Ron Galperin said the tally of units built so far was 'wholly inadequate' in the context of the homeless crisis.

Pictured here is FLOR 401 Lofts complex, located in the heart of LA's infamous Skid Row. It is one of the hundreds of units funded by Proposition HHH, a bill passed in 2016 to house the homeless. An audit filed by LA's controller discerned that the program's is moving too slowly while the costs of the units are inflated

The apartments, like this on in the FLOR 401 Lofts, include furniture and brand-new, renovated kitchens and other amenities. The controller's audit found that 14 percent of the complexes funded by the proposition are priced at more than $700,000

The program 'is still unable to meet the demands of the homelessness crisis,' Galperin said in a letter accompanying the 31-page report.

'Although Los Angeles has made some progress with Proposition HHH, it hasnt been enough,' Galperin, 58, said in a statement released with the report. 'The costs are too high and the pace is far too slow to address the tragedy on our streets.'

Galperin went on to say the pace of development was 'sluggish' while the cost of each unit continues to rise - in some cases to 'staggering heights.'

In a tweet, Democratic Mayor Eric Garcetti appeared to dispute any suggestion that the program - formally known by its title on the 2016 ballot, Proposition HHH - was off track.

The program 'is producing more units than promised, at a lower cost than expected,' Garcetti wrote.

Most of the planned 1,200 units are studios, like the ones pictured here at Skid Row's FLOR apartments, of which there are 98

The audit found that only 18 of these buildings have been completed - including the FLOR 401 Lofts, pictured here - and are ready for prospective tenants to move-in

'There are already 1,200 units online providing critical housing and services. And HHH will deliver over 10,300 units of supportive and affordable housing by 2026.'

John Maceri, chief executive of the People Concern, one of LA's largest nonprofits serving the homeless, agreed with the overall finding that the city needs to build housing faster and cheaper.

But he warned the program, while a step in the right direction, represents only a small fraction of the money needed to complete projects.

The solution, he said, is innovative financing, slashing red tape that slows projects and incentives for developers to aggregate funding to speed up construction.

Homeless encampment is pictured on a street on the west side of Los Angeles on Thursday. City officials passed Proposition HHH in hopes of cleaning up the city's streets by housing the homeless. However, the program, which took more than $1billion in city funds, has been largely unsuccessful, with only 16 of 165 completed over the course of five years

A homeless person sits on the ground Thursday near a camper that is part of homeless encampment in Los Angeles

A makeshift tent between a camper and a recreational vehicle as homeless encampments sprout all over Los Angeles

RVs, campers and school buses are parked along Jefferson Blvd. in Playa Vista section of LA on Thursday as part of homeless camp

Makeshift tents line street in Venice Beach on Thursday as homeless encampments plague popular neighborhood

A homeless person carries his belongings along Venice Beach on Thursday

Another encampment of RVs is parked under overpass for Highway 90 in LA on Thursday

'Housing has not kept pace with the urgency of the unsheltered homelessness crisis,' Maceri said.

The audit arrives at a time when homelessness is a dominant issue in the city's mayoral election, with a large field of candidates promising to do more on an issue that has placed Los Angeles in an unwelcome national spotlight.

Sagging tents, rusting RVs and makeshift structures used by homeless people have become familiar sights from Hollywood to Venice Beach and even in the shadow of City Hall.

Garcetti, who was nominated last year by President Joe Biden to become ambassador to India, is in the final year of his second term. He is barred by term limits from running for re-election.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, facing re-election this year, has budgeted record sums to combat homelessness that pervades all of the state's major cities and many smaller communities as well.

The state is providing roughly $12 billion on homelessness programs over two years.

Still, the government's inability to clear encampments from streets, parks and sidewalks has left voters angry and frustrated.

In the years since the bill was passed, homeless encampments have spread into virtually every neighborhood of the City of Angels, while the number of homeless has climbed to an estimated 41,000 people. Homeless people are pictured sitting on LA street Thursday

The city of Los Angeles is spending up to $837,000 to build each housing unit as part of Proposition HHH. Pictured: Los Angeles city council members Paul Krekorian walks past tents where people are living this month

Pictured: Members of Los Angeles council talks to a homeless man during a city-wide count this week.

What is Proposition HHH? In October 2015, the LA City Administrative Office submitted a report to the mayor and the City Council's Homelessness and Poverty Committee on the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city.

In 2016, voters in Los Angeles passed Proposition HHH which enabled city officials to spend $1.2 billion for the development of housing units for those who were homeless. The funding could also be used to build shelters. In order to find a funding source for the housing units, city officials worked with many public and private community stakeholders, including County leadership, United Way, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing. They set out plans tp build more than 10,00 units of supportive and affordable housing by 2026. Advertisement

In 2019, then-President Donald Trump threatened to intercede, though he never acted on the threat.

San Francisco's progressive mayor, London Breed, last month declared a state of emergency in the city's Tenderloin district after concerns about homelessness and open drug-peddling there.

In LA, the audit said the HHH project includes 8,091 housing units - most with connected services for mental health and substance abuse treatment - spread across 125 projects.

About 4,200 are in construction. Other funds outside the HHH program are being used for another 2,369 units.

The audit signaled that a fresh approach - and billions more in spending --- would be needed in the future.

'While future plans have not been finalized, building tens of thousands of additional units using the same model will likely cost billions of dollars and will take far too long to match the urgency of the ongoing homeless emergency,' the audit concluded.

It urged the city to 'find ways to scale up faster and cheaper projects.'

This month a Venice Beach community organization warned Los Angeles officials that they were liable for millions in payouts if the remaining homeless encampments were not cleared out, months after the city removed about 200 people from the boardwalk.

The Venice Stakeholders Association sent a letter to several city offices explaining that LA could face a number of expensive lawsuits if they failed to protect the safety of nearby residents.

Those who live in the area have complained about the garbage littering the boardwalk and the unchecked fires started by people camping outside.

Last January, a fire at a homeless tent near the beach spread to a vacant two-story building and completely destroyed it. It took 116 firefighters two hours to put it out.

The city cleared out about 200 people from the area over the summer, but the president of the Venice Stakeholders Association said about 70 people are still camping out overnight.

Residents argued that homelessness is the top problem facing the county, with 94 per cent of voters viewing it as a serious or very serious problem

A Venice Beach community organization warned LA city officials that they may face million-dollar lawsuits if the area near Venice Beach isn't kept clear of encampments. Pictured: The beach on June 29, 2021

Mark Ryavec, who leads the 11-year-old organization, told KABC: 'There's almost no police presence or fire department presence down here overnight.

'We're putting the city on notice, that, if there's loss of life, if there's a structure, they are clearly already negligent, and they already will face a huge settlement.'

There were 1,901 homeless people in the Venice area in 2020, according to the latest count conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

An audit has found 14 per cent of the units built exceeded $700,000 each, and one project cost almost $837,000 per unit. Pictured: Los Angeles city council member Paul Krekorian (left) participates in a homeless count this month

The program aims to deliver over 10,300 units of supportive and affordable housing by 2026. Pictured: Council members in Los Angeles city participate in a homeless count on February 22

Pictured: City councilmember Paul Krekorian (second from left) walks through the streets of Los Angeles

'It's illegal to camp on Venice Beach and we want that message established by enforcement of the rules that exist,' Ryavec added.

Ryavec's comments came as a poll conducted by The Los Angeles Times found in 10 Los Angeles residents cited the city's homelessness problem as a main cause for feeling unsafe in their communities, with one in five people saying they would consider moving to escape the problem.

Earlier this month a self-proclaimed' old-school junkie' who moved from Texas to San Francisco because 'it's f*****g easy' to be homeless there claimed he was being paid by the city government to live on the street.
A doctor facing allegations he inappropriately asked a Muslim woman to remove her veil is facing being struck off after he repeatedly criticised patients' lack of English speaking skills in their medical notes.

Dr Keith Wolverson, 55, faces being struck off after criticising the language ability of 15 patients in their medical notes from January to April 2018.

He is also facing claims he asked and caused a woman to remove her veil in May 2018, he says so he could hear what was wrong with her little girl.

Dr Wolverson is now subject of a tribunal to decide whether he can continue as a medical professional.

The Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service is investigating claims that he made comments about the language skills of other patients, is accused of providing false information about how he cared for those in hospital, and failed to safeguard a seven-month old baby who was a patient, among other complaints.

The General Medical Council has no specific guidelines on how to examine women wearing full-face veils.

Dr Keith Wolverson, 55, is accused of asking woman to remove her veil in surgery in May 2018

The Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service is also investigating claims that he made comments about the language skills of other patients

The comments Dr Wolverson wrote on patient notes included 'I do not understand a word these parents are saying!!!' and 'They need to learn better English!!'

He is also alleged to have written 'Mother has been here fro [sic] 5 years and speaks no English. Explained this to Mother as best that One could but is it Her duty to learn more ENGLISH*BEING HERE FOR 5 YEARS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS WRONG WITH Her Daughter, IS, FRANKLY, NOT GOOD ENOUGH.'

The tribunal relating to Dr Wolverson, who now works in a private Botox clinic in High Street in Melbourne, is being held in Manchester and is set to conclude on Friday, March 4.

The MPTS website, which lists tribunals across the country, said: 'The tribunal will inquire into the allegation that, on one or more occasions between January and April 2018, Dr Wolverson recorded inappropriate comments about English language skills in the medical records of several patients.

'It is also alleged that, on 22 March, 2018, he failed to take appropriate steps to safeguard a child and failed to record his actions relating to that child.

'It is alleged that on 13 May 2018, Dr Wolverson caused a patient to remove her veil, spoke to her in a hostile and/or intimidating manner and refused to communicate with her husband.

'During an interview about the matters set out above, it is alleged that Dr Wolverson made further inappropriate comments about patients and provided false information about his actions.'

Stoke-on-Trent Live reported in 2019 that the allegations saw Dr Wolverson, who qualified as a doctor in 1996, dropped by health firm Vocare from his job at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Dr Keith Wolverson, 55, faces being struck off if the allegations are proved against him

But in an interview in 2019, Dr Wolverson told the Daily Mail that he asked the patient to remove her veil 'in the same way I'd ask a motorcyclist to remove a crash helmet' and added that even if he was permitted to return to the NHS, he would be unlikely to do so.

Meanwhile, a change.org petition in support of Dr Wolverson attracted over 133,000 signatures before it closed.

The GMC offers no specific guidelines on how doctors should deal with women wearing full-face veils - though medical staff are obliged to remove them if a patient requests.

However, in a statement, the body told Stoke-on-Trent Live: 'Our guidance makes it clear that we expect to treat patients' beliefs and choice of religious dress with respect.

'If, having exhausted all possible communication approaches, a doctor cannot provide safe care without seeing a woman's face, they can sensitively explore whether she would be willing to remove her face covering.

'Should this cause her distress, the doctor will need to continue with other channels of communication.

'If a doctor follows this guidance and treats patients politely, honestly, and with sensitivity, then they have nothing to fear from being referred to the GMC.'

The findings of the tribunal will be released within 28 days of its conclusion.
Vladimir Putin's rumoured goddaughter and several leading Russian celebs have led a public outcry against their nation's invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian army was this afternoon fighting in almost every region of the country, battling the Russians for control of military bases, airports, cities and ports after an early-hours barrage of cruise missiles and guided bombs targeting ammo dumps and radar arrays.

By Thursday afternoon, battles were ongoing in Kiev, along the northern border with Belarus, in Luhansk and Donetsk in the east and around Kherson, the Dneiper River, and the port cities of Odessa and Mariupol in the south.

International condemnation for the Kremlin's actions have been widespread - and some of Russia's biggest celebrities have now joined in.

Many have shared black squares on their social media profiles, along with the hashtag no war.

Among those posting the black square was Ksenia Sobchak, a socialite and former Russian presidential candidate who is rumoured to be the goddaughter of Vladimir Putin. She has denied the rumours but previously admitted that he attended her baptism.

Posting today, she said: 'Today they woke me up at six in the morning with the words 'Ksyusha, the war has begun.'

'Not on our land, [but] with our people, yes.

'We, the Russians, will be dealing with the consequences of today for many years to come.'

Ksenia Sobchak, a TV personality and former presidential candidate, spoke out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine today

She is also rumoured to be the goddaughter of Vladimir Putin. She has denied the rumours but previously admitted that he attended her baptism

Posting today, she said: 'Today they woke me up at six in the morning with the words 'Ksyusha, the war has begun'. Not on our land, [but] with our people, yes. We, the Russians, will be dealing with the consequences of today for many years to come'

Other celebs to speak out including actress Anastasia Ivleeva, who has nearly 20 million Instagram followers. She posted a black square along with the phrase: 'No war'

Many have shared black squares on their social media profiles, along with the hashtag no war

TV presenter and actress Anastasia Ivleeva, who has nearly 20 million Instagram followers, also posted a black square, commenting: 'No war.'

Leading TV host Ivan Urgant also hit out at the situation, commenting: 'Fear and pain. NO to war.'

Former World Champion figure skater Evgenia Medvedev wrote: 'I hope this all ends as soon as possible, like a bad dream.'

Maxim Galkin, a popular comedian who is also married to Russian's biggest celeb, added: 'From early morning in touch with relatives and friends from Ukraine. Can't put into words how I feel! How is this possible? There can be no justification for war. No war.'

Actress Irina Starshenbaum wrote: 'How did we get to this point? Nothing justifies war and I have no words to express the pain and horror of this morning. Ukrainians, please forgive me for being helpless. We want an immediate end to these heinous acts.'

More than 150 senior Russian officials have signed an open letter condemning Putin's invasion of Ukraine as 'an unprecedented atrocity' and warning of 'catastrophic consequences'.

The deputies said they were 'convinced' Russian citizens do not back the war and blamed Putin 'personally' for ordering troops into Ukraine in an attack 'for which there is no and cannot be justification'.

Putin in the early hours of today gave the order to attack, delivering an extraordinary address to the Russian nation in which he declared a 'special military operation' to 'de-militarise' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine in what amounted to a outright declaration of war.

The letter urged Russians 'not to participate in the aggression' and called on citizens to speak out against the invasion because 'only massive popular condemnation can stop the war'.

Among the letter's signatories were Moscow deputies Elena Rusakova, Maxim Gongalsky, Andrey Morev, Elena Kotenochkina and Elena Filina as well as St Petersburg officials David Kuvaev and Polina Sizova and Veliky Novgorod deputy Anna Cherepanova.

Former World Champion figure skater Evgenia Medvedev wrote: 'I hope this all ends as soon as possible, like a bad dream'

The Olympic silver medalist was among several Russian celebs to speak against the war

Actress Irina Starshenbaum wrote: 'How did we get to this point? Nothing justifies war and I have no words to express the pain and horror of this morning. Ukrainians, please forgive me for being helpless. We want an immediate end to these heinous acts'

Russian actress Irina Starshenbaum also spoke out against the invasion of Ukraine today

Maxim Galkin, a popular comedian who is also married to Russian's biggest celeb, added: 'From early morning in touch with relatives and friends from Ukraine. Can't put into words how I feel! How is this possible? There can be no justification for war. No war'

It was a surprising step for Russian officials to speak out against Putin, who usually holds an iron grip on dissent and last week televised a meeting with Moscow's top security chiefs in which they appeared to be railroaded into backing his plans to invade Ukraine.

The letter, which described the signatories as those 'elected by the people', said they 'unreservedly condemn the attack of the Russian army on Ukraine'.

'This is an unprecedented atrocity for which there is no and cannot be justification. The decision to attack was made personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin. We are convinced that the citizens of Russia did not give him such a mandate.'

The letter warned of 'catastrophic consequences' - 'Thousands of people will die, be injured and maimed, cities dear to many Russians will be destroyed.'

It said Russia would face 'the condemnation of the world community' resulting in 'isolation, rising prices and poverty'.

'Hopes for a good life in Russia are crumbling before our eyes,' the letter added.

'We urge you not to participate in the aggression and not to approve of it. Please don't be silent: only massive popular condemnation can stop the war.'

It comes after heartbreaking images emerged from Ukraine showing bloodied civilians staggering through the streets of towns in the east of the country following Russian shelling in the early hours of today.

Other civilians were also injured and some others are believed to have died, though numbers of those hurt were not yet confirmed.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that 'there is no threat to civilian population.'

Yet Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all reported coming under attack, with blasts also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland.
Federal prosecutors have nabbed a trio of white supremacists who planned to attack power grids in a bizarre attempt to stoke racial division that included fentanyl-filled suicide necklaces and assault rifles.

Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of West Lafayette, Indiana; and 22-year-old Jackson Matthew Sawall of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty in a federal court Wednesday for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

The men began hatching the scheme in fall 2019, after Frost pitched the idea to Cook and others he'd met online. Within weeks, they'd recruited others to join them as Cook began circulating a book of recommended reading on neo-Nazism, the Justice Department said.

By the end of that year, Sawall - Cook's friend - joined on the scheme and began working to orchestrate it. The plan entailed each defendant being assigned individual substations throughout the US that they would attack with rifles, prosecutors said.

Three men pleaded guilty Wednesday to plotting an attack on US power grids in an attempt to stoke racial division. An electrical substation in San Francisco, California is pictured on January 26, 2022

As they discussed their plan, the men reveled about how their actions could cost the government millions and cause widespread unrest in affected regions. They also discussed how their attack could trigger a race war or another depression.

'These three defendants admitted to engaging in a disturbing plot, in furtherance of white supremacist ideology, to attack energy facilities in order to damage the economy and stoke division in our country,' said assistant attorney general for national security Matthew G. Olsen.

Timothy Langan of the FBI's counterterrorism division added that their motivations were driven by 'their adherence to racially or ethically motivated extremist views.'

Jackson Matthew Sawall of Oshkosh, Wisconsin and his co-conspirators are now facing 15 years behind jails for the planned scheme

Sawall took a fentanyl pill in an attempt to end his life after being pulled over by police

They began training for the attack in February 2020, when they met in Columbus, Ohio, and Frost equipped Cook with an AR-47, prosecutors said. Together, they headed to a shooting range to practice.

In another odd twist, Frost provided his co-conspirators with 'suicide necklaces' during their Ohio meeting. The men were instructed to ingest the fentanyl the necklaces contained after being nabbed by police.

Also in Columbus, the men spray painted a swastika flag under a park bridge captioned 'join the front.'

Before getting the chance to carry out other 'propaganda plans' in Ohio, they were pulled over during a traffic stop.

Their derailed plans prompted to Sawall to swallow his suicide pill, but he survived.

The co-conspirators face a maximum sentence of 15 years behind bars.
A suspected serial killer has been indicted for the murder of Lois Duncan's daughter nearly 33 years after she was shot in the head while driving home from a friend's house.

Paul Apodaca, 54, was officially indicted on Monday for the July 1989 murder of 18-year-old Kaitlyn Arquette after admitting to Albuquerque, New Mexico police officers that he was the man who killed her and two other young women in the late 1980s.

He was previously convicted in 1995 of raping his 14-year-old stepsister, and was arrested on a parole violation in July, when he allegedly confessed to the violent slayings as he spoke about his hatred for women and provided detectives with information that only the killer could have known.

Apodaca is now being charged with first-degree murder in Arquette's death, as he also faces charges for the deaths of University of New Mexico student Althea Oakley, 21, and Stella Gonzales, who was just 13 when she was shot and killed.

He has pleaded not guilty to at least one of the charges lobbied against him, according to KOAT, and now remains in custody at the Lea County Correctional Facility as he awaits trial for Oakeley and Gonzales' deaths.

Apodaca is due back in court on Friday for a detention hearing as his lawyer insists he is innocent of the murders and only gave the confession because he was intoxicated and not mentally well.

Paul Apodaca, 54, was officially indicted on Monday for the July 1989 murder of 18-year-old Kaitlyn Arquette

Arquette's mother, famed 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' author Lois Duncan spent years searching for justice in her daughter's death

Arquette's death made national news after famed 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' author Lois Duncan penned a nonfiction book about the mysterious slaying in 1992, entitled 'Who Killed My Daughter?' and hired a private investigator to look into the circumstances of her daughter's death.

Throughout the years, the family received several theories about Arquette's death, with some suspecting a so-called Vietnamese Mafia running car insurance scams was involved, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Two men were eventually indicted in her death, but the then-District Attorney dismissed the case without prejudice because the evidence was insufficient to prove that they were involved beyond a reasonable doubt.

But for years, the Journal reports, Arquette's family thought Apodaca might have been involved in her July 16, 1989 death.

Duncan wrote a nonfiction book about the mysterious slaying in 1992, entitled 'Who Killed My Daughter?'

Arquette was driving home that night after having dinner with a friend in the city's Old Town when she was shot twice in the head, causing her to drift between lanes and crash into a light pole.

Witnesses on the scene at the time described seeing a Volkswagen Beetle near the scene. It was driven by Apodaca, who was then 21.

During an ensuing investigation, Pat Carsito, who was hired by the family to investigate Arquette's death, said he had suspected Apodaca was involved.

Carsito told KOB 4 last year that he had actually visited Apodaca while he was serving 20 years in prison for raping his underage stepsister.

'He gave no hesitation that he was at the scene,' she said. 'He was again, pleasant [and] cooperative.'

However, Carsito noted, there were 'two times when he wasn't.'

The first was when she asked him who was with him at the time, to which he reportedly replied: 'What do you mean somebody was with me, who said somebody was with me? Nobody was with me.'

The only other time he was not 'pleasant and cooperative,' Carsito said, was when he asked: 'How did you find me?'

'They were interesting words to me, like you weren't supposed to find me.'

Now, Kaitlyn's sister, Kerry, told KRQE their mother is 'here,' 'looking down' after years of searching for justice in Kaitlyn's death. Duncan died in 2016.

Apodaca is also facing charges for the deaths of University of New Mexico student Althea Oakeley, 21, left, and Stella Gonzales, 13, right

Apodaca is also facing charges for the deaths of University of New Mexico student Althea Oakeley, 21, and Stella Gonzales, 13.

Authorities say Oakeley was his first reported victim, when she was walking home from a fraternity party on June 22, 1988 after having an argument with her boyfriend.

Apodaca reportedly told investigators that he was working as a security guard at the Technical Vocational Institute - now Central New Mexico Community College - that night when he saw Oakeley and began following her.

He said she smiled at him, and then he attacked her in the aftermath, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Just a few months later, on September 9, 1988, Gonzales was shot and killed when she was walking with a friend near Tingley Beach. According to police, 'the two girls were confronted by someone in a car' who 'fired shots' that struck Gonzales. She later died at a nearby hospital in south Albuquerque, Law and Crime reports.

Apodaca reportedly also admitted to authorities in July that he was driving by the girls when he shot her, according to KRQE.

He was ultimately arrested by University of New Mexico police in July 2021 on a parole violation as a registered sex offender, and shortly after he was taken into custody, police report, he confessed to killing the three young women and raping three others during the same time period.

One of those, from 1993, had been stuck in the rape kit backlog and had recently received a match through the CODIS DNA database. The case is now being being reopened.

Detectives said Apocada had information about the deaths that only the killer could have known.

'Paul Apdodaca is a serial killer in our view, and he picked his victims seemingly at random, but they all shared one trait: They were women,' Albuquerque Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock said when he announced the first of the charges against Apodaca in August.

'They were women in vulnerable circumstances at the time who were seemingly alone, and that was his only reason, opportunity and his own perceived hatred of females at the time.'

His attorney, Nicholas Hart, however, argues that Apodaca was intoxicated when he made the confession,

He released a statement on Tuesday saying: 'The District Attorney's Office has only been interested in litigating this case in the press because they know how incomplete and empty these investigations have been.

'So it is no surprise that another spurious indictment, surely to be followed by dubious and incorrect public statements, has been handed down.

'We look forward to show the court and a jury that Mr. Apodaca is not guilty of these allegations.'

Apodaca has yet to be officially charged in Arquette's murder, but in August, a grand jury indicted him for Oakeley's murder, and in August he was indicted for Oakley's slaying.
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While the world watched in horror on Thursday as war ripped through Ukraine, American actor Sean Penn was meeting with the country's president and attending government press briefings for part of a VICE documentary he is filming.

Drama-chasing Penn, 61 - who found himself in the cartel's firing line in 2016 after getting in touch with fugitive drug lord El Chapo - sat with his sunglasses on for the press briefing at the Ukrainian government offices on Thursday evening local time.

He then met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who posted a video of their meeting on his Instagram account. Their conversation was muted but Zelensky, a former comedian and actor himself, wrote in a caption: 'The more people know about the war in the Ukraine, the higher the likelihood of stopping Russia!'

Penn has been filming a documentary about escalating tensions in the region for months. He flew back to Kyiv earlier this week, before Putin invaded the country, but does not appear to be in any rush to leave.

The documentary is a VICE Studios production, 'in association with VICE World News and Endeavor Content,' according to a spokesman for the media company.

In a translated Facebook post, the Ukrainian government said it was grateful for Penn being there. He was lauded as being more courageous than Western leaders.

'An American actor and filmmaker, Oscar winner Sean Penn arrived to Ukraine. The director specially came to Kyiv to record all the events that are currently happening in Ukraine and to tell the world the truth about Russia's invasion of our country.

'Sean Penn is among those who support Ukraine in Ukraine today. Our country is grateful to him for such a show of courage and honesty.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Sean Penn on Thursday as war rips through Ukraine. Penn is filming a documentary for VICE. He posted beneath it: 'The more people know about the war in the Ukraine, the higher the likelihood of stopping Russia!'. Zelensky is a former actor and comedian himself

Actor and director Sean Penn attends a press briefing at the Presidential Office in Kyiv, Ukraine February 24, 2022 while Mikhail Podoliak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office adviser, speaks

Actor and director Sean Penn attends a press briefing at the Presidential Office in Kyiv, Ukraine February 24, 2022

Actor and director Sean Penn attends a press briefing at the Presidential Office in Kyiv, Ukraine February 24, 2022

Actor and director Sean Penn attends a press briefing at the Presidential Office in Kyiv, Ukraine February 24, 2022

In a translated Facebook post, the Ukrainian government said it was grateful for him being there. He was lauded as being more courageous than Western leaders.

Penn has been in the region since November last year, flying back and forth, to document the escalating tensions for VICE

Actor and director Sean Penn visits positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the frontline with Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk region in November last year

'This morning the director visited the Office of the President and visited the press briefing of the advisor of the head of the Office of the Head of State Mikhail Podolak and the Vice Prime Minister - the Minister of the Reintegration of temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine Irina Vere uk.

'He spoke to journalists, to our military, saw how we defend our country.

'Sean Penn demonstrates the courage that many others, especially western politicians lack.'

'The more such people, true friends of Ukraine, who support the fight for freedom, the sooner it will be possible to stop the massive attack on Russia,' a statement on the Ukrainian government's Facebook page read.

Earlier in the week, he was spotted out at dinners in Kyiv with other journalists.

Penn is settling in while thousands of others try desperately to flee the country.

Thousands of Ukrainians took shelter in underground subway stations to hide from the chaos while Americans stranded there boarded buses to flee to Poland or Romania.

Penn with Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Alexander Rodnyansky in Kyiv on Tuesday night, a day before the first bombs were dropped

Penn is pictured in Kyiv earlier this week with war reporter former U.S. Air Force special operations pilot Nolan Peterson (center) and columnist and editor Vladislav Davidzon

Taste for danger: Penn with El Chapo and Mexican actress Kate del Castillo in 2015, after El Chapo had broken out of prison

Penn prides himself for his journalism and activism.

He previously filmed his efforts in Haiti for a documentary called Citizen Penn, after a devastating earthquake shook the nation.

In 2016, he found himself caught up in the US investigation into fugitive drug lord El Chapo, after he made contact with him while working on a Rolling Stone article.

Mexican actress Kate del Castillo arranged for the men to meet, and later said she felt used by Penn.

She persuaded El Chapo to meet with Penn in 2015, after he had broken out of prison.

During the clandestine meeting, Penn sprang on her to ask Guzman if he could interview him for Rolling Stone.

'Suddenly, Sean starts saying, Tell him that I want to interview him for Rolling Stone magazine, Del Castillo told Gloria, Lili and Emily Estefan. I was just like, Wait, this was not on the script. ... I cannot do a face because [Guzman is] gonna notice that somethings wrong.

'Hes gonna pick up on it, and [Penn is] gonna be dead in just a blink of my eye,' she said in an interview with The Los Angeles Times later.

There was speculation that the pair's pursuit of El Chapo, whose real name is Joaquin Guzman, led to US authorities tracking him down and re-arresting him.
Unsealed court documents reveal 'Juror No.50' answered 'NO' on a questionnaire asking if they had been the victim of sexual abuse

A juror in Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking trial who admitted he was a victim of sexual abuse did not say so in a juror's questionnaire, unsealed court documents have revealed.

US District Judge Alison Nathan will now hold a rare post-verdict evidentiary hearing on March 8 to determine whether juror Scotty David failed to respond truthfully when he was screened for impartiality last year.

A copy of the first juror's questionnaire answers, filed publicly Thursday, showed a man identified in court papers only as 'Juror No. 50' checked the 'No' box to a question asking if he or a friend or family member had ever been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual assault.

The question said it 'includes actual or attempted sexual assault or other unwanted sexual advance, including by a stranger, acquaintance, supervisor, teacher, or family member.'

The juror's questionnaire was attached as an exhibit to the newly unsealed January 19 request for a new trial by Maxwell's lawyers.

David was one of the 12 men and women who convicted Maxwell on five of the six counts of sex trafficking in December following her three-week trial, during which she was portrayed as the chief recruiter of underage girls for financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse.

Prosecutors said she also sometimes joined in the abuse.

'Truthful answers from Juror No. 50 would have led the Court and the parties to probe much more deeply into his biases and prejudices, both known and unknown,' lawyers for Maxwell wrote in their request.

Judge Nathan said she has rejected a request by Maxwell's attorneys for a new trial, until she gathers more information.

Scotty David, one of the 12 men and women who convicted Ghislaine Maxwell on five of the six counts of sex trafficking in December, revealed he had told fellow jurors he was a victim of sexual abuse during deliberations

Maxwell, 60, remains incarcerated after she was convicted of sex trafficking, among other charges, during a December trial

Judge Alison Nathan, who presided over the Ghislaine Maxwell hearing, will question the juror at a March 8 public court hearing

The 60-year-old British socialite remains incarcerated as Federal Inmate number 02879-509 in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as she awaits sentencing. She is facing the likelihood of spending the rest of her life behind bars.

In interviews with news outlets following the verdict, David described a moment during the deliberations when he told fellow jurors that, like some of the victims of Epstein, he had been sexually abused as a child.

He also said he convinced other jurors that a victim's imperfect memory of sex abuse doesn't mean it didn't happen.

David told DailyMail.com in January that he had not revealed his history during jury selection because it had not been asked on the questionnaire.

When it was pointed out that question 48 of the 50 asked exactly that, he then claimed that he did not remember it, but had answered all questions 'honestly.'

He told The Independent that he found all the accusers to be credible, despite the defense's attacks on their stories and memories.

'They were all believable. Nothing they said felt to me like a lie,' he said.

Maxwell's lawyers said the juror answered other questions falsely, including one asking whether he'd ever been a crime victim.

In a February 2 submission unsealed Thursday, prosecutors said there was substantial reason to believe that any inaccuracy by the juror was 'an honest mistake, not a deliberate falsehood.'

Maxwell, who is said to have been Epstein's madam as well as his one-time girlfriend, is seen posing with the pedophile in evidence photos shown in court

Maxwell, 60, remains incarcerated after she was convicted of sex trafficking, among other charges, during a December trial

David added: 'I know what happened when I was sexually abused. I remember the color of the carpet, the walls. Some of it can be replayed like a video,' he said, and he explained this to fellow jurors.

'But I can't remember all the details, there are some things that run together.'

David said when he chose to share his own experience of sexual abuse the room 'went silent'.

Legal experts have since argued that the juror's history with sexual abuse could be used by Maxwell as grounds of appeal.

Judge Nathan said it was not easy for parties to obtain the kind of hearing she will conduct regarding the juror's conduct.

But the judge said she had concluded, and prosecutors had conceded, that the high standard required to stage a post-verdict evidentiary hearing was met 'as to whether Juror 50 failed to respond truthfully during the jury selection process to whether he was a victim of sexual abuse.'

In a court filing, Maxwell said that her sex trafficking conviction was a 'grievous wrong' because the jury was biased The filing comes hours ahead of an expected motion from the prosecution explaining why there should not be a retrial, as she is demanding

She said he had 'made several direct, unambiguous statements to multiple media outlets about his own experience that do not pertain to jury deliberations and that cast doubt on the accuracy of his responses during jury selection.'

She added: 'To be clear, the potential impropriety is not that someone with a history of sexual abuse may have served on the jury.

'Rather, it is the potential failure to respond truthfully to questions during the jury selection process that asked for that material information so that any potential bias could be explored.'

Potential jurors in Maxwell's case were asked to fill out a questionnaire asking: 'Have you or a friend or family member ever been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual assault?'

Nathan said in her order that the juror's questionnaire will be unsealed.

Meanwhile, a January 10 submission to the judge from a lawyer for the juror was unsealed Thursday.

In the letter, attorney Todd Spodek asked the judge to release to attorneys the written juror questionnaire that his client had filled out as the trial began.

Spodek said the juror does not recall answering questions during jury selection about his prior experience with sexual assault.

Spodek said David, identified in court documents as 'Juror 50,' wanted to protect his privacy rights and his right to avoid self-incrimination.

Maxwell has been behind bars since her July 2020 arrest. Epstein, 66, was arrested a year earlier on sex trafficking charges, but he took his life in a Manhattan federal lockup in August 2019.
A promising young actor who appeared on Coronation Street died after suffering a seizure while on holiday with friends in Costa Rica, an inquest has heard.

Joseph Owen Wandera, 27, from Salford, Manchester, died on January 16 this year just hours after calling his girlfriend and telling her he did not feel well, Rochdale Coroners' Court was told on Thursday.

The first day of the inquest heard how Joseph - described as a 'gentle and angelic soul' - had been staying at Villa Verde One, in Calle L Cruz, Tamarindo, and had attended a party the night of his death.

During the short opening, Coroner Julie Robertson heard from police coroner officer Kathy Dixon who confirmed Joseph's details.

Ms Dixon said: 'Whilst at a party, Joseph rang his girlfriend and explained that he did not feel well.

'He had lost sight in one eye and lost sensation in the left side of his body.

Joseph Owen Wandera (pictured), 27, from Salford, died on January 16 this year just hours after calling his girlfriend and telling her he did not feel well, Rochdale Coroners' Court was told on Thursday.

'He contacted a friend who picked him up and took him back to their apartment. Joseph went to sleep on the sofa.

'A few hours later, the friend found Joseph on the sofa having a seizure.

'Medics were called but they were unable to revive him and he sadly passed away.'

On Joseph's actor's profile, it was stated that he started out as part of the MaD Theatre Company, based in Monsall, where he performed at schools, theatres and festivals across Manchester.

He performed at the Manchester Fringe Festival in 2012, and had television roles in Scott & Bailey and Moving On.

He also featured in a pilot for BBC Comedy Showcase and appeared in two reconstructions for BBC's Inside Out.

In 2018, Joseph appeared on Coronation Street as a buyer interested in purchasing Eileen Grimshaw's car.

He also underwent training to teach drama workshops at DNA Acting Class for children and young adults.

Tributes have since poured in online from the promising star's family and friends.

DNA Acting Class described Joseph as a 'gentle and angelic soul'.

In a statement, the organisation wrote: 'One who transcended everyone's belief in themselves and embodied everything we stand for.

'He was an actor, an artist, a visionary, a brother, a son, a friend, a confidant, a gift and family.

'His artistry was met with an unparalleled charisma, elegant warmth and immense love for what he adored.

In 2018, Joseph appeared on Coronation Street as a buyer interested in purchasing Eileen Grimshaw's car (pictured)

'An abundance of skill, charm and a forever existent spark of magic when he performed.

'He adored his work and those around him just as much as his work and those around him adored him.'

Ashley Conway posted on a tribute page to Joseph on GoFundMe: 'As many, we can't believe all of this. Joe, he was truly too good for this earth.

'They say the good die young but you wouldn't have thought it would have ever been you. The wars you've been through in the last few years, you were undefeated.

'It's going to be a different world without you here. You made it a better place with your smile and pureee energy! You will be truly missed.'

The case will be reviewed in June, with a full inquest to be scheduled at a later date.
Surveillance video captured the shocking moment when a thief kneeled next to an elderly churchgoer and prayed with her while an accomplice went through her wallet, later using her credit cards on a $7,000 shopping spree at Sam's Club.

Linda Morrow, 78, arrived early for the 6.30pm service at Hilldale Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee on February 9.

The victim was sitting in the mostly empty pews when a younger woman with waist-long dreadlocks sat in front of her and started a conversation. Video shows her kneeling down next to the woman, holding her hands and bowing her head in prayer.

Meanwhile, an accomplice sitting behind Morrow rifles through Morrow's purse while she's distracted and fishes out her wallet. She empties it out, taking multiple cards and bills, and carefully places it back in the purse.

'I couldn't believe it,' Morrow told Inside Edition. 'I never in a million years thought about anything like that happening.'

Three of the four women involved in the theft were caught on video leaving a Sam's Club 'shortly after the theft,' according to the Clarksville Police Department. They reportedly spent $7,000 at the wholesale retailer.

Scroll down for video

A woman knelt down to pray with Linda Morrow, 78, at a Tennessee church on February 9

Another woman reached into Morrow's purse and rifled through her wallet, stealing credit cards and cash, while the sham prayer went on

'I couldnt believe it,' Morrow (left) told Inside Edition. 'I never in a million years thought about anything like that happening.' On the right, the church's pastor Larry Robertson

Three of the four women involved were later seen walking out of a Sam's Club, where they allegedly spent $7,000 on Morrow's cards

Police are still looking for the suspects and no arrests have been made.

Authorities say two of the four women involved approached Morrow at the church.

'After a short conversation, one of the females requested the victim pray with her,' Clarksville police wrote on Facebook. 'While they were praying, the second female rummaged through the victims purse and stole her wallet.'

Hilldale pastor Larry Robertson said the group of women arrived 50 minutes early, which he found odd, according to Fox Television Stations. They said they were visiting from another church, so he pointed them to the sanctuary for a pre-service prayer meeting.

'The taller girl with red dreadlocks (she called herself Jade) voiced the prayer while the other girl (who called herself Kesha) took the lady's wallet from her purse and removed cash and credit/gift cards,' Robertson said.

'When "Kesha" had finished, "Jade" finished the prayer. They excused themselves and exited the building.'

The incident happened at Hilldale Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee on February 9, about an hour before the 6.30pm service

Police are still searching for the suspects and no further information is known at this time

Morrow noticed her cards and cash were missing and alerted Robertson.

'I was sickened  and angry, to be honest,' he said.

Pastor Robertson said Morrow is doing well but feels 'violated.' He shared the story with the congregation when the service began less than an hour later.

'I'm mad, I'm ticked,' Robertson told his congregation. 'Keep your eye on your wallet, even at church, I guess.'

'People know that Christians are kind and trusting and the devil knows it too.'

Surveillance video from a Sam's Club shows three women leaving the store after spending $7,000, according to Inside Edition.

The Clarksville Police Department told DailyMail.com no further information is known at this time.
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Many aides to President Joe Biden felt from the get go sanctions would not scare Russian President Vladimir Putin into changing course and not invading Ukraine, despite U.S. officials spending hundreds of hours over five months debating and crafting the punishments.

More than a dozen current and former officials told Bloomberg, according to a Thursday report, that they have remained doubtful that sanctions would change Putin's behavior when it came to Ukraine.

Biden, however, tied Washington's hands for any other route after insisting last year that the U.S. would not send American forces to Ukraine to help defend them from Russian threats.

This caused the president's team to try and force a diplomatic path until last night Russia finally, inevitably launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine  including in the capital city of Kyiv.

Russia launched an all-out war on Ukraine Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air. Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, helicopters buzzed in and explosions were seen across the country after Putin gave the order to attack.

The attack continued into Thursday as a massive Russian helicopter assault launched on Hostomel, Ukraine and its vital Air Base just 9 miles northwest of Kyiv.

The president met with the leaders of the G7 from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan on Thursday morning after he gathered his National Security Council in the Situation Room at the White House. Also in the G7 meeting was the president of the European Commission, President of the European Council and the NATO Secretary General.

Biden will deliver remarks on 'Russia's unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine' at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon in his first public appearance since the invasion.

Biden announced Tuesday the 'first tranche' of sanctions, a modest action that has left Democrats and Republicans alike critical that the administration isn't being tough enough on Russia and Putin in the midst of waging war.

It also certainly did not deter Putin from making moves into Ukraine overnight.

Even after following up with additional measures, including sanctioning the company behind the Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline, there are still internal and congressional pushes for Biden to issue more 'crippling sanctions'.

Representative Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, emerged from a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) on Capitol Hill to call for more sanctions.

'Russia has begun an unprovoked, unjustified campaign against Ukraine with a full-on invasion. Civilians are being killed, Ukraine is mobilizing its opposition to the Russian invasion,' the Democratic California congressman told reporters. 'We must provide Ukraine with support to defend itself.'

'We also are going to need to, I think, dramatically escalate the sanctions that we place on Russia for this act of naked aggression by the Kremlin dictator,' Schiff added.

Aides to the president continue to flaunt upcoming heavier punishment, but Bloomberg notes that behind the scenes there's skepticism over the White House strategy thus far.

By ruling out military involvement, Biden now must rise to the task of proving that sanctions will suffice in deterring a major adversary, which it has not proven to be effective thus far.

There are some 90,000 U.S. troops in Europe already, many of whom have been repositioned or deployed to Eastern NATO ally countries to defend against growing aggression from the Kremlin.

Russia continues it's full-on attack of Ukraine on Thursday as a report emerged indicating President Joe Biden's aides knew and warned sanctions would not deter President Vladimir Putin from moving forward with invasion. A photo made available by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry shows burned Russian military vehicles near Hlukhiv of Sumy area, Ukraine on Thursday

President Biden met with his National Security Council in the White House Situation Room on Thursday morning after Russia waged war n Ukraine overnight. The president will speak at 1:30 p.m. to update the nation after the full-scale invasion

There are now approximately 90,000 U.S. service members spread throughout Europe, with many relocating or deploying to the Eastern part of the continent to aid those counties that face risk with Russia invasion of Ukraine  but no U.S. troops were deployed directly to Ukraine

Despite U.S. officials spending hundreds of hours over five months debating and crafting sanctions, at least a dozen current and former U.S. officials said they knew this would do little to deter Putin, but hands were tied after Biden ruled out military action from the U.S. in Ukraine. A man sits outside his destroyed building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Thursday

U.S. troops from the 173rd Army Airborne Brigade arrive in Latvia on Thursday, February 24 to provide addition assistance in Eastern Europe as Russia launches a full-scale attack on Ukraine

Evidence has suggested in the past that sanctions often fail to achieve their goals of deterrence, and in some cases has even shown to only further cement undesirable behavior from targeted parties.

'The tool of sanctions has become a tired tool,' former Trump era Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun told Bloomberg.

Biegum, a veteran of Republican administrations who helped formulate U.S. policy toward North Korea, added that Biden's team has no good options for countering Putin considering it has ruled out military action in Ukraine and sanctions are not working.

He claimed the use of sanctions 'has not seemed to significantly alter the behavior of any foreign party whose actions are of concern to the United States.'

A person familiar with the administration's thinking said there was an 'an air of inevitability hanging over' the prospect of a full Russian invasion over the last few months.

They added that despite that air, the thinking was still: 'We're damn sure going to try' to counter Putin's plans with sanctions.

Another senior administration official wasn't as pessimistic, claiming sanctions are only one part of Biden's efforts to deter an invasion. While claiming the administration remained 'clear-eyed' about the prospect of full invasion, the goal was to try and convince Putin that doing so would result in united opposition from western nations.

U.S. lawmakers of all political persuasions are lashing out at Putin for ignoring warnings from the West and moving forward with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine overnight and are calling for more action from Washington against Moscow.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called the Russian president's decision an 'evil, panicked move of weakness and will be his defining mistake.'

Politicians also warned Moscow that Ukraine will defend their sovereignty, with Murphy tweeting that 'the Ukrainian people will fight for as long as it takes' and Republican Senator Marco Rubio saying Ukraine 'will NEVER accept being ruled by Putin' and claiming 'men, women, children, the elderly' will 'maim & kill alot (sic) of Russians.'

Michigan Republican Representative Peter Meijer said the 'tepid' response from the West 'emboldened' Putin to go forward with a full-scale invasion, claiming Washington and NATO's threat for sanctions was 'positive proof' that Moscow did not see this as real resistance. He also called for 'crippling sanctions'.

'He was willing to call the west's bluff,' Meijer told Fox & Friends on Thursday morning of Putin.

'Now is the time we have to be strong, united and unleash crippling economic and sanctions costs on Russia. We can no longer afford to be tepid or weak-willed here.'

Republican Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said that Putin is a 'KGB thug who understands no language except force,' while slamming the U.S. and western response so far.

The KGB was the main security agency for the Soviet Union from March 1954 until 1991.

'[Putin] was willing to call the west's bluff,' Representative Peter Meijer told Fox & Friends on Thursday morning. The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

Republicans and Democrats are condemning Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine overnight. An explosion lights up the night sky over Kyiv early Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

Flames and smoke rise from debris of a house outside Ukraine's capital of Kyiv on Thursday in the aftermath of Russian shelling following a barrage of air and missile strikes on Ukrainian facilities across the country

Ukrainian emergency personnel work at a crash site of a Military plane about 12 miles south of Kyiv on Thursday, February 24, 2022. A Ukrainian Military plane with 14 people aboard crashed Thursday and emergencies services are still working to 'determine how many people died'

Senator Marco Rubio tweeted that Ukraine 'will NEVER accept being ruled by Putin' and claiming 'men, women, children, the elderly' will 'maim & kill alot (sic) of Russians.' Pictured: A wounded woman emerges Thursday after an airstrike damages an apartment complex outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to defend from attacks on the Lugansk region on Thursday, February 24 after Putin's invasion has already killed dozens, injured hundreds and forced hundreds of others to flee

Damage to an apartment building in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region is seen in footage released by the Ukrainian National Guard

Ukrainian citizens carry suitcases after crossing the Ukrainian border into Medyka, Poland on Thursday following Russia's invasion overnight. U.S. lawmakers are demanding 'crippling sanctions' be placed on Putin for ignoring western warnings

House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Michael McCaul told CBS Mornings on Thursday: 'We haven't seen anything like this, really, since Hitler invaded Poland in World War II. I just hope this is not the beginning of World War III.'

He said the invasion and disregard for western warnings is a 'clear' sign that Putin 'wants the entire breadbasket of Russia back.'

McCaul and other Republican leaders on key House committees said the latest from Russia proves to the world the 'true evil' of Putin.

'The last few hours have laid bare for the world to witness the true evil that is Vladimir Putin,' McCaul, House Armed Services Ranking Member Mike Rogers and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Mike Turner wrote in a statement Wednesday night.

'Today, we stand resolute with the Ukrainian people and resolve to provide them with the tools they need to withstand and repel this unprovoked attack,' they added. 'Every drop of Ukrainian and Russian blood spilled in this conflict is on Putin's hands, and his alone.'

The group signaled there needs to be a much tougher U.S. response to Russia than there was in 2014, when Putin annexed Crimea.

'[W]e are committed to enacting the strongest possible sanctions and export controls to cripple Russia's ability to make war, punish its barbarity and relegate the Putin regime to the status of an international pariah. We cannot respond like we did in 2008 or 2014. The world must never forget or forgive this heinous act.'

Biden has faced criticism for not doing enough to combat Russian aggression since taking office last year.

Additional U.S. forces landed in Latvia Thursday morning from the 173rd Airborne Brigade  this comes after thousands of troops were already sent to Poland and Romania to bolster defenses in those regions amid the lead up to Russia's invasion.

Pictured: A Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship was forced to land in a filed outside Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday. According to Ukraine, six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed

A man stands in front of a Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship is seen in the field after a forced landing outside Kyiv Thursday, February 24, 2022

Senator Lindsey Graham says Putin is carrying out a 'war crime' and it's '[i]mperative that we continue to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons as well as good intelligence.'

'The world needs to condemn Putin's destruction of a neighboring democracy as a war crime,' the South Carolina Republican said.

'It's time to make this personal to Putin,' Graham said, adding that he should be punished by 'international law enforcement agencies' to seize Putin and his 'cronies' 'lavish apartments, fine art, yachts, and other material goods purchased through stealing the Russian people blind.'

Along with clashes on the ground, including confirmation that 40 Ukrainian troops were killed and dozens more injured, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indirectly exchanged war of words, as well  each slinging rhetoric accusing the other of being reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

'Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in #2WW years,' Zelensky tweeted Thursday morning Eastern Standard Time, but it was the afternoon in Ukraine already.

'As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history,' he continued, '[Russia] has embarked on a path of evil, but [Ukraine] is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian media: 'Ideally, Ukraine should be liberated, cleansed of Nazis, pro-Nazi people and ideologies.'

Ukrainian service members load debris of a rocket onto a truth in the aftermath of Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday

Republican Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said that Putin is a 'KGB thug who understands no language except force' as he called for more tough action from the U.S. and western allies. A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base in central Ukraine after coming under attack from Russia

A Ukrainian military tank is seen in center of Odessa, Ukraine on Thursday, February 24 after Russia launched its military operation in the country

U.S. paratroopers step off a military plane landing in Latvia on Thursday

The first 40 soldiers from the 173rd arrived in Latvia on February 24  the morning after Russia launched its military offensive on Ukraine

Western politicians immediately responded Wednesday evening to the announcement of Russia's 'special military operation' in Ukraine with warnings to Putin.

'The Ukrainian people will fight for as long as it takes to secure their nation from this foreign tyrant, and the United States will stand with them in this fight,' Senator Murphy from Connecticut posted in a five-part Twitter thread.

'Tonight, the entire Post World War international order sits on a knife edge,' he added. 'If Putin does not pay a devastating price for this transgression, then our own security will soon be at risk.'

'We must be unceasingly in our assistance to the Ukrainian people. We must levy crippling sanctions on Russia. And we must cut off Putin and his cronies from the global economy. A strong, swift response is vital.'

Biden issued sanctions this week on Russian banks and oligarchs, as well as on the two regions in Eastern Ukraine that Putin declared independent republics on Monday. But Democratic and Republican lawmakers claim this isn't enough and are urging Biden to get tougher on Putin.

'[W]e must remember that Putin has plans for us too,' Murphy warned in his Twitter thread. 'He and his agents will use this crisis to try to divide Americans from each other and to separate America from our allies. In this, we must remain vigilant and united. This is not a moment for politics to trump security.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC's Lester Holt on Wednesday that 'if Russia continues to escalate, so will we.'

'At the end of the day, if that doesn't stop President Putin, we've made very clear along with all of our allies and partners that there will be massive consequences going forward, a price that Russia will have to pay for a long, long time,' he added.

Biden's administration, however, has repeatedly said that U.S. troops will not directly engage in combat in Ukraine and has ensured the safety of forces as they deploy to Eastern Europe.

Biden was slammed Wednesday and into Thursday morning for being publicly absent as developments unfolded in Ukraine Wednesday night as Russia launched an all-out war.

French President Emmanuel Macron shown on a virtual meeting Thursday morning with G7 leaders from the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan to discuss the situation in Ukraine after Russia invaded. Meeting came after Biden gathered his National Security Council earlier in the morning and will speak publicly at 12:30 p.m.

Biden condemned Putin's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack ' in a statement posted at 10:25 p.m., shortly after war was declared. But after being accused of 'weakness' in the face of Russian aggression, he was urged to hit Russia and Vladimir Putin's inner circle with tougher sanctions 'as soon as possible'.

The president was 'monitoring the situation' from the White House overnight, according to the Wednesday evening statement, but has yet to make a public address or an appearance and won't do so until midday - 12 hours after war began.

Former President Donald Trump was scathing of Biden's response, telling Fox News in a wild overnight interview that Biden was 'probably in bed right now' rather than monitoring developments.

Biden was most recently pictured on Tuesday, February 22 as he announced sanctions against Russia from the East Room of the White House.

Zelensky, in an address to the nation Thursday morning, said the history of Ukraine has now changed forever and that Russia has 'embarked on a path of evil'.

He compared the Russian attack to Hitler's forces in World War II, but vowed to fight back, saying the military has already inflicted 'serious losses' on Russia.

Pictured: Ukraine's port of Ochakiv in the Mykolaiv region was set ablaze from conflict following Russia's full-scale invasion on Thursday

The ruins of a state border guard service checkpoint in the Kyiv region is seen destroyed after it was shelled by Russian forces

The Ukrainian president called on all citizens willing to defend their homeland to step forward, saying guns will be issued to everyone who wants one and asked for civilians to give blood to help wounded troops.

He also asked world leaders to impose the 'harshest sanctions possible' on Putin.

It came after Putin gave an extraordinary address to Russia, broadcast in the early hours during a United Nations meeting aimed at avoiding war. During the remarks he declared a 'special military operation' to 'demilitarize' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine in what amounted to an outright declaration of war.

The video appeared to have been pre-recorded, around the same time as Putin's Monday address recognizing Donbass as independent.

Putin also issued a chilling warning to any country thinking of coming to Ukraine's aid, vowing 'consequences greater than any you have faced in history'.

'I hope I have been heard,' he said.

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west in Ukraine - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps and command posts including in the capital city of Kyiv.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed.

Alexander Lukashenko, dictatorial ruler of Belarus, is shown speaking to his generals on Thursday morning after his forces reportedly joined Russia's attack on Ukraine  though he denies it

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Luhansk, Sumy and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all came under attack, while tanks battled on the outskirts of Kharkiv after paratroopers dropped in.

Blasts were also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland where the U.S. has sent in paratroopers from the 82nd and 18th Airborne Corps.

In the southern city of Kherson, Ukrainian units were reportedly routed by Russian tanks rolling out of Crimea, which had arrived at the Dnieper River by mid-morning on Thursday.

Extraordinary video footage showed what appeared to be a Kalibur cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport. An apartment block in Kharkiv was also struck, causing civilian casualties including a young boy. Video also appeared to confirm cruise missiles had been launched by Russian troops stationed in Moldova.

Russian helicopters also staged an attack on Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Dnieper river, raising their flag over the plant shortly afterwards.

Meanwhile pro-Russian rebel forces pushed out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot two Ukrainian jets out of the skies. The port cities of Mariupol and Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval bases are located, were also attacked. Russian tankers appeared to have blockaded the Kerch Strait, leading from the Back Sea to the Sea of Azov, cutting off Mariupol.
Police officers inspect the remains of a missile that fell in the street, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Kyiv, Feb. 24. Reuters-Yonhap



Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine, Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to ''consequences you have never seen.''



Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine's democratically elected government and threaten the post-Cold War balance on the continent.



Ukrainians started fleeing some cities, and the Russian military claimed to have incapacitated all of Ukraine's air defenses and air bases within hours.



President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law, saying Russia had targeted Ukraine's military infrastructure. Ukrainians who had long braced for the prospect of an assault, while never knowing precisely when it would come, were urged to stay home and not to panic even as the Ukranian Border Guard Agency reported an artillery barrage by Russian troops from neighboring Belarus.



President Joe Biden pledged new sanctions to punish Russia for the aggression that the international community had expected for weeks but could not prevent through diplomacy.



Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia's demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees. He also claimed that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to ''demilitarize'' it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.



Biden in a written statement condemned the ''unprovoked and unjustified attack,'' and he promised that the U.S. and its allies would ''hold Russia accountable.'' The president said he planned to speak to Americans, Thursday (local time) after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced the same day.



Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the assault as a ''full-scale invasion'' and said Ukraine will ''defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.''



In the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko advised residents to stay home unless they were involved in critical work and urged them to prepare go-bags with necessities and documents if they need to evacuate. An Associated Press photographer in Mariupol reported hearing explosions and seeing dozens of people with suitcases heading for their cars to leave the city.



''We are facing a war and horror. What could be worse?'' 64-year-old Liudmila Gireyeva said in Kyiv. She planned to head to the western city of Lviv and then to try to move to Poland to join her daughter. Putin ''will be damned by history, and Ukrainians are damning him.''





A Russian military truck moves along a road in Russia's southern Rostov region, which borders the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Feb. 23. AFP-Yonhap



The Russian claims about knocking out Ukrainian air defenses and Ukrainian claims to have shot down several Russian aircraft could not immediately be verified. The Ukrainian air defense system and air force date back to the Soviet era and are dwarfed by Russia's massive air power and its inventory of precision weapons.



The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that ''there is no threat to the civilian population.''



Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, said on Facebook that the Russian military had launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.



After the initial explosions in Kyiv, people could be heard shouting in the streets. Then a sense of normality returned, with cars circulating and people walking in the streets as a pre-dawn commute appeared to start in relative calm.



The consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, upending geopolitical dynamics in Europe as well as affecting energy supplies in Europe and jolting global financial markets.




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Boris Johnson's ten point plan to hammer Putin One: An asset freeze will be imposed against all major Russian banks, including VTB, the second largest bank in Russia. Two: New laws will be published on Tuesday to ban all major Russian companies from being able to raise finance on UK markets. Three: A second wave of sanctions targeting more than 100 individuals and entities. Includes five more oligarchs and defence companies and their subsidiaries. They will be hit with asset freezes and travel bans for oligarchs. UK citizens will be banned from transacting with the targeted firms. Four: UK Government is looking to ban the ability of Aeroflot aircraft to land in the UK. Five: The UK will suspend all dual-use export licences to Russia. This relates to items which could be used for civilian purposes but also for military purposes. Such items could be electrical components which could be used in military computers or parts for military vehicles. Six: Legislation to prohibit a range of high tech exports to Russia, in alignment with similar measures being rolled out by the US. Will target items like semi-conductors and aircraft spare parts. Seven: Legislation will be brought forward to limit the amount of deposits that all Russian Nationals can hold in UK bank accounts. The UK is yet to define a limit but it will be designed to target wealthy individuals. Eight: UK will work with allies to shut Russia out of the Swift payment system which is one of the foundations of the global banking system. However, discussions remain ongoing with G7 allies on doing this amid reports of some opposition. Nine: The UK will extend the measures applied to Russia to also apply to Belarus. Ten: The Government will accelerate the timetable for bringing forward its Economic Crime Bill. This will contain new tougher measures to target kleptocrats who launder cash in London. The draft laws will be brought forward before the Easter recess. Advertisement

Boris Johnson has unveiled 'unprecedented' sanctions against Russian banks, firms and oligarchs as he vowed to cripple 'bloodstained aggressor' Vladimir Putin after the Ukraine invasion.

The PM announced 10 separate strands of measures to inflict 'significant' impact on Moscow's economy on Thursday - with officials saying they should knock several percentage points off its GDP.

Mr Johnson told MPs Mr Putin was flouting 'every principle of civilised behaviour' and will 'never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands' - even though Ukrainians are 'offering a fierce defence'. He insisted the world now saw the Russian president for what he is: 'A bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.'

The assets of all major Russian banks - including VTB - will be frozen, while new legislation will block the state and all the country's major firms from being able to raise money on London markets.

Mr Johnson pointed out that half Russia's trade is currently in dollars and sterling.

The government says over 100 people, entities and subsidiaries will be subject to sanctions, including defence giant Rostec. There will be travel bans and asset restrictions on five more named individuals - including Kirill Shamalov, Russia's youngest billionaire and previously married to Putin's daughter.

Sources swiped that they would no longer be able to shop in Harrods or send children to public schools, and had become 'essentially persona non grata in every major Western capital'.

Ministers intend to put a fixed limit on how much Russian nationals can have in accounts in the UK. Aeroflot planes will be immediately prevented from landing anywhere in Britain, while crucial defence exports of semi-conductors and aircraft spare parts will end.

The PM is also committing to shut Russia out of the SWIFT international financial messaging system, although that still has to be thrashed out with other Western powers. And the government is aiming to extend all the measures to Belarus, which has joined Russia in the invasion.

Mr Johnson said it was 'the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen'. Officials said the UK was taking a 'maximalist' approach to sanctions and would look to go further where possible. Some of the measures come in immediately, but others could take weeks and will need legislation.

A UK diplomatic source said in relation to the five oligarchs sanctioned: 'These are people who have international lifestyles.

'They come to Harrods to shop, they stay in our best hotels when they like, they send their children to our best public schools, and that is what's being stopped.

'So that these people are essentially persona non grata in every major Western European capital in the world. That really bites.'

The sanctions package was generally welcomed by Keir Starmer, while Theresa May said Russia needs to feel the 'cold wind of isolation'.

However, Russia has already shrugged off the action - with one Moscow ambassador swiping previously that Mr Putin could not 'give a 'sh**' about the punishments.

The statement to the Commons came after flurry of calls with fellow leaders, in which Mr Johnson said Europe faces a 'dark time' and told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that 'inaction or underreaction' by the West would have 'unthinkable consequences'.

He held virtual talks with Joe Biden and G7 leaders, after which they condemned the 'unprovoked and completely unjustified attack' on Ukraine as a 'serious violation' of international law.

Mr Johnson will lead another meeting of the Government's Cobra emergencies committee at 7.30pm and then hold a Cabinet meeting at 8.30pm.

The PM announced 10 separate strands of measures to inflict 'significant' impact on Moscow's economy - with officials saying they should knock several percentage points off its GDP

Boris Johnson declared that Putin has 'chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction' in Ukraine after launching a 'horrific attacks' on its neighbour

Russia has invaded Ukraine from the north, south and east while firing in missiles all over the country

Smoke can be seen after an airstrike by Russian in Ivano Frankivsk, Ukraine, while tank columns entered Ukraine from Belarus yesterday morning

The port of Ochakiv on the Black Sea is on fire

Boris Johnson said he was 'appalled' by the 'unprovoked attack' on a sovereign democratic European nation

Former Cabinet minister David Davis said Mr Putin has 'effectively declared war on the West', saying NATO should now 'provide air support to the Ukrainian army which may neutralise Putin's overwhelming armoured superiority'

Boris Johnson's address to the nation in full Shortly after 4 o'clock this morning I spoke to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine to offer the continued support of the UK, because our worst fears have now come true and all our warnings have proved tragically accurate. President Putin of Russia has unleashed war in our European continent. He has attacked a friendly country without any provocation and without any credible excuse. Innumerable missiles and bombs have been raining down on an entirely innocent population. A vast invasion is underway by land by sea and by air. And this is not in the infamous phrase some faraway country of which we know little. We have Ukrainian friends in this country; neighbours, co-workers. Ukraine is a country that for decades has enjoyed freedom and democracy and the right to choose its own destiny. We  and the world  cannot allow that freedom just to be snuffed out. We cannot and will not just look away. It is because we have been so alarmed in recent months at the Russian intimidation that the UK became one of the first countries in Europe to send defensive weaponry to help the Ukrainians. Other allies have now done the same and we will do what more we can in the days ahead. Today in concert with our allies we will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy. And to that end we must also collectively cease the dependence on Russian oil and gas that for too long has given Putin his grip on western politics. Our mission is clear. Diplomatically, politically, economically  and eventually, militarily  this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure. And so I say to the people of Russia, whose president has just authorised a tidal wave of violence against a fellow Slavic people. The parents of Russian soldiers who will lose their lives: I cannot believe this is being done in your name or that you really want the pariah status it will bring to the Putin regime And I say to the Ukrainians in this moment of agony: we are with you, we are praying for you and your families and we are on your side. And if the months ahead are grim, and the flame of freedom burns low, I know that it will blaze bright again in Ukraine. Because for all his bombs and tanks and missiles I don't believe that the Russian dictator will ever subdue the national feeling of the Ukrainians and their passionate belief that their country should be free. And I say to the British people, and all who have heard the threats from Putin against those who stand with Ukraine: we will of course do everything to keep our country safe. We are joined in our outrage by friends and allies around the world. We will work with them  for however long it takes  to ensure that the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine is restored. Because this act of wanton and reckless aggression is an attack not just on Ukraine. It is an attack on democracy and freedom in East Europe and around the world This crisis is about the right of a free, sovereign independent European people to choose their own future, and that is a right that the UK will always defend. Advertisement

Mr Johnson told the Commons that the G7 agreed to work in unity to 'maximise the economic price that Putin will pay for his aggression', saying that must include 'ending Europe's collective dependence on Russian oil and gas that has served to empower Putin for too long'.

He also said 'countries that together comprise about half the world economy are now engaged in maximising economic pressure on one that makes up a mere 2 per cent'.

'Overall we'll be imposing asset freezes on more than 100 new entities and individuals, on top of the hundreds we've already announced,' he said.

'This includes all the major manufacturers that support Putin's war machine.

'Furthermore, we're also banning Aeroflot from the UK.'

Mr Johnson said the Economic Crime Bill will include reforms to Companies House and a register of overseas property ownership, while a 'new dedicated kleptocracy cell' will be set up in the National Crime Agency.

He said: 'That means oligarchs in London will have nowhere to hide.

'I know that this House will have great interest in the potential of cutting Russia out from Swift. I can confirm, as I've always said, nothing is off the table.'

He said for these measures to be successful, it is 'vital' to have the 'unity of our partners' such as the G7 adding 'Russian investors are already delivering their verdict on the wisdom of Putin's actions.'

'So far today Russian stocks are down by as much 45 per cent, wiping 250billion dollars from their value.'

Mr Johnson said: 'We're taking new powers to target Russian finance in addition to the banks we've already sanctioned this week. Today in concert with the United States we are proposing a full asset freeze on VTB.'

He said the powers will allow the UK to 'totally to exclude Russian banks from the UK financial system' and stop them from accessing sterling and clearing payments through the UK. He said about half of Russia's trade is in dollars and sterling, and said the US is taking similar measures to the UK.

He said: 'These powers will also enable us to ban Russian state and private companies from raising funds in the UK, banning dealing with their securities and making loans to them.

'We will limit the amount of money that Russian nationals will be able to deposit in their UK bank accounts and sanctions will also be applied to Belarus for its role in the assault on Ukraine.'

Lady May said the House and country are 'united in our defence of democracy and our support for the Ukrainian people'.

She said: 'Vladimir Putin has initiated war in mainland Europe, the response must be unequivocal and absolutely clear.'

She asked the Prime Minister to confirm the Government is putting in place 'every possible economic sanction so that Russia feels absolutely the cold wind of isolation and the Russian people understand that Vladimir Putin has brought their state to a pariah state'.

Mr Johnson replied: 'She is absolutely right about what the Government is setting out to do and I do indeed believe that that will be the result for Putin and his cronies.'

In an address to the nation earlier, the PM said Vladimir Putin cannot be allowed to 'snuff out' freedom in Ukraine with an act of 'wanton and reckless aggression'.

He said Mr Putin had 'unleashed war' on the continent and the West must respond to ensure the eventual 'failure' of his offensive 'diplomatically, politically, economically, and eventually, militarily'. In a hard message to Germany and Italy among others, Mr Johnson also called for countries to wean themselves off gas and oil supplies from Moscow.

Who are the latest Russian oligarchs targeted by sanctions? Kirill Shamalov Russia's youngest billionaire, 39, who was married to Putin's daughter Katerina Tikhonova (pictured together below) for five years from 2013 to 2018, making him the former son-in-law of one of the world's worst dictators. Hi father Nickolai co-owns the Rossiya bank, which was sanctioned by the UK earlier this week. His fortunes began to skyrocket soon after his wedding to the presidents daughter, a competitive acrobatic dancer who helped oversee a $1.7 billion expansion of Moscow State University. Within 18 months, Kirill acquired a large chunk of shares in a major Russian oil and petrochemical processor called Sibur - a stake worth an estimated $2.85 billion in 2015. But he is believed to have lost half his wealth when they divorced in 2018. Petr Fradkov London-educated 43-year-old chairman and CEO of Promsvyazbank (PSB) bank. He is the son of Mikhail Fradkov, a former prime minister of Russia and former director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) He was made subject to US sanctions earlier this week by the US Treasury. 'Since 2018, Petr Fradkov has worked to transform PSB into a bank that services the defense industry and supports state defense contracts,' a spokesman said. 'In his role as chairman and CEO of PSB, Petr Fradkov has held working meetings with Putin and participated in roundtable discussions in international forums in which he forecasts the PSBs long-term strategic plans for supporting the Russian defense industry.' Fradkov is also the general director of the Russian Export Center. Denis Bortnikov Deputy president of Russian-state owned financial institution VTB Bank since 2017. His father Aleksandr Bortnikov, 70, has since 2008 been the director of Russia's intelligence service, the FSB - the successor to the KGB. Putin and Bortnikov senior both joined the then-KGB in St Petersburg in 1975, with Putin leaving as a lieutenant colonel in 1991 to enter politics, while Bortnikov remained inside and rose up the ranks. The elder Bortnikov is one of the infamous 'siloviki' - former and current state-security officers with personal ties to the Soviet-era KGB and its successor agencies, who serve as Putin's trusted henchmen. Yuri Slyusar President of Russias United Aircraft Corp and a former deputy trade minister. The UAC is a major Russian defence contractor which manufactures Mig and Sukhoi fighter jets among other products including passenger jets. Its majority shareholder is the Russian government. Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva Chief executive of Novikombank, a state-owned defence conglomerate. Advertisement

'Today, in concert with our allies we will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy. And to that end, we must also collectively cease the dependence on Russian oil and gas that for too long has given Putin his grip on Western politics,' he said.

'Our mission is clear. Diplomatically, politically, economically, and eventually, militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure.'

Openly branding Mr Putin a 'dictator', the premier admitted that the months ahead might be 'grim', but the 'flame of freedom' will 'blaze bright again in Ukraine'.

'For all his bombs and tanks and missiles I don't believe that the Russian dictator will ever subdue the national feeling of the Ukrainians and their passionate belief that their country should be free,' he added.

In an extraordinary intervention this morning, Foreign Office minister James Cleverly suggested that Russian military commanders should stage a coup to stop Mr Putin's 'catastrophically bad judgement call'.

Hinting at problems with Mr Putin's mental state after a series of rambling speeches littered with Soviet-era rhetoric, he said the president seemed to be acting 'increasingly in isolation' and 'illogically'.

NATO called Russia's invasion of Ukraine 'a grave violation of international law' as war broke out in Europe sparking the greatest threat to security and peace since the Second World War.

Despite Mr Johnson's tough language, he has faced heavy criticism from Tories for only imposing 'weak' sanctions immediately after the crisis escalated on Monday. When Russia recognised 'separatist' areas in eastern Ukraine and sent in 'peacekeepers' the UK targeted three wealthy 'cronies' of Mr Putin and five banks.

Former Cabinet minister David Davis said Mr Putin has 'effectively declared war on the West', and NATO should now 'provide air support to the Ukrainian army which may neutralise Putin's overwhelming armoured superiority'.

However, the government has made clear there is no prospect of a direct military response, stressing that the UK is 'providing military, defensive military capability'.

Experts believe Mr Putin will have priced in the damage from sanctions when making his decision to defy the international community.

It came after Russia launched what appears to be a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sending troops, tanks and artillery into five areas of the country despite the Kremlin claiming it was a 'special military operation' in only the eastern Donbas region.

Addressing the nation from the Kremlin this morning, Mr Putin said his plans 'don't include occupation of Ukrainian territory', insisting he was only trying 'to demilitarise' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine, and 'protect Donbas', adding: 'We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force'.

In a chilling threat to anyone in the West who may want to help the Ukrainian militarily, he said: 'To anyone who would consider interfering from outside: If you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All the relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me'.

Mr Johnson was woken in the early hours of the morning with news of the invasion, and called President Zelenskyy.

A No10 spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister said he was appalled by the unfolding events in Ukraine. The Ukrainian President updated the Prime Minister on the attacks taking place, and the Prime Minister said the West would not stand by as President Putin waged his campaign against the Ukrainian people.

'The Prime Minister said he hoped Ukraine could resist and that Ukraine and its people were in the thoughts of everyone in the United Kingdom people during this dark time.'

In an address to the Ukrainian people, Mr Zelenskyy said: 'We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.

'We will lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of territorial defence with weapons in hands.

'We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia. For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine.'

Mr Johnson joined a virtual summit of G7 leaders this afternoon, including Mr Biden, Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

MPs had called for action against 35 oligarchs identified by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as 'key enablers' of the 'kleptocracy' run by president Putin.

Others on the list, which was read out to parliament by Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, include Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, former Arsenal investor Alisher Usmanov, aluminium magnate Oleg Deripaska and Mr Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov - none of whom are subject to the latest sanctions.

Ms Patel has announced a concession on visas for Ukrainians, after saying earlier that officials are on watch for 'cyber attacks and disinformation' from Moscow.

She tweeted: 'Russia's unjustified and unjustifiable attack on a democratic sovereign nation makes this a dark day in Europe. The people of Ukraine have our unwavering support.

'As we monitor developments, we will be especially mindful of the potential for cyber attacks and disinformation emanating from Russia.

'Be in no doubt there is work ongoing across government 24/7 to maximise our resilience to any such attacks, which would be met with a suitably robust response.'

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly accused Vladimir Putin of trying to play out a 'fantasy' of 'recreating some kind of tsarist expansionist Russia'.

Ministers urge Russian generals to stage coup against Putin A Foreign Office minister has urged Moscow generals to step in to stop Vladimir Putin's 'Tsarist fantasy'. James Cleverly said the Russian president is trying to 'recreate a Russian Empire in his mind'. Mr Cleverly told Sky News: 'Ukraine is not part of Russia. The fantasy that President Putin is trying to play out  creating some kind of Tsarist expansionist Russia  absolutely has to be stopped. He added: 'The military leaders around Vladimir Putin, they must know that this is a catastrophically bad judgment call by Vadimir Putin. 'Ukraine is a huge country physically. I have no doubt the Ukrainian people will be ferocious in defence of their homelands. 'The military leaders must know that this will come at a huge cost  not just to Ukrainians but to Russians. 'They are in a position, even if Vladimir Putin won't, they are in a position to stop this and we call on them to do so.' Advertisement

He told Sky News: 'Sadly, President Putin has been really clear in what he's trying to achieve. He is trying to recreate a Russian Empire in his mind, claim back places which he defines as Russia. But the international community recognises that these are individual sovereign states.

'Ukraine is not part of Russia and the fantasy that Vladimir Putin is trying to play out in recreating some kind of czarist expansionist Russia absolutely has to be stopped.

'We will continue working. We've been providing financial and military support to Ukraine for a number of years.

'Just yesterday, the Foreign Secretary announced an economic support package.

'There will, of course, be more support and we will be bringing forward, as I say, in close concert with our international friends and allies, an unprecedented sanctions response, co-ordinated sanctions response, to punish this appalling decision.'

Mr Cleverly told Sky News: 'Ukraine is not part of Russia. The fantasy that President Putin is trying to play out  creating some kind of Tsarist expansionist Russia  absolutely has to be stopped.

He added: 'The military leaders around Vladimir Putin, they must know that this is a catastrophically bad judgment call by Vadimir Putin.

'Ukraine is a huge country physically. I have no doubt the Ukrainian people will be ferocious in defence of their homelands.

'The military leaders must know that this will come at a huge cost  not just to Ukrainians but to Russians.

'They are in a position, even if Vladimir Putin won't, they are in a position to stop this and we call on them to do so.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Mr Putin is trying to 'secure his legacy', predicting that it would not be the legacy 'that he wishes'.

Mr Wallace described Russia's actions as 'naked aggression against a democratic country' and said no one had been fooled by the Kremlin's 'false flags and fake narratives'.

Tories say 'pathetic' sanctions have 'encouraged' Putin Boris Johnson was accused of 'encouraging' Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine by imposing 'pathetic sanctions' that the Russian leader completely ignored. The Prime Minister came under withering friendly fire this morning over 'weak' economic measures targeting cronies of the Kremlin autocrat before his tanks crossed the border. Mr Johnson this week unveiled measures targeting just three people and five banks after Putin recognised two breakaway areas in Ukraine's east - and is preparing to introduce more now that a full-scale incursion is underway. But less than a fortnight ago, Russia's ambassador to Sweden said that his boss 'doesn't give a s**t' about economic restrictions being put in place. 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'. Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, a former soldier and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. told the BBC : 'I'm afraid weak sanctions like the ones that were imposed on Monday just encourage others to believe we are weak because we're clearly not willing to do anything serious. 'So what that did, I'm afraid on Monday, was it didn't deter, but encouraged, because it gave the suggestion or made clear that we weren't wiling to do anything serious. Advertisement

'The Russian Federation has today further violated Ukrainian Sovereignty,' he said.

'Despite the efforts of the international communities, Russia has chosen conflict. No one has been fooled by the Kremlin's false flags and fake narratives.

'This is naked aggression against a democratic country which had dared to express a different aspiration than being a supine neighbour to Russia.

'No one should forget this day. Putin thinks this land grab is about securing his legacy - it will be, but not the one that he wishes.'

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said any attack by Russia on an alliance member would be regarded as an attack on all.

Speaking at Nato headquarters in Brussels, Mr Stoltenberg said: 'Nato's core task is to protect and defend all allies. There must be no room for miscalculation or misunderstanding.

'An attack on one will be regarded as an attack on all. This is our collective security guarantee.'

He said Nato ambassadors had agreed to activate the alliance's defence plans, enabling it to deploy forces to where they are needed.

'This is a prudent and defensive step to protect and shield allied nations during this crisis,' he said.

He said there were more than 100 jets at high alert protecting alliance airspace with more than 120 ships at sea, from the High North to the Mediterranean.

'All this shows that our collective defence commitment  Article 5  is iron clad. We will continue to do everything that is necessary to shield the alliance from aggression,' he said.

Downing Street said the UK is increasing its 'air policing contribution' to Nato.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We are increasing our air policing contribution to Nato from RAF Akrotiri and the UK to help protect our Nato allies.

'So, two typhoons and a voyager for refuelling from the UK will support continuous Nato air policing over Poland's border with Ukraine  two typhoons and a voyager for refuelling from Akrotiri (will) also support continuous Nato air policing over Romania's border with Ukraine.

'So, this is a defensive capability designed to protect the airspace of our Nato allies  they will not operate in Ukrainian or Russian airspace.

'Just to emphasise, this isn't additional air support, this is the air support already committed to Nato doing additional activities.'

Earlier, Tory MP and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Tom Tugendhat criticised the UK Government for imposing 'weak' sanctions on Monday when Russia recognised the 'separatist' areas.

The Conservative MP told the BBC's Today programme that Mr Putin's actions could 'not be tolerated' by any party and must be met with 'extremely hard' penalties.

'I'm afraid weak sanctions like the ones that were imposed on Monday just encourage others to believe we are weak because we're clearly not willing to do anything serious,' he said.

'So what that did, I'm afraid on Monday, was it didn't deter, but encouraged, because it gave the suggestion or made clear that we weren't wiling to do anything serious.

'If we are going to do sanctions, as I say, we need to do them extremely hard and extremely early.'

Putin's chilling warning that Western intervention will mean 'consequences greater than any you have faced in history' Russian Su-25 jets fly over Dnipro Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and gave a chilling warning to its allies in the West in an early Thursday morning address in Moscow. Explosions were heard in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, as Putin announced that Russia was launching a military attack on Ukraine. He has ignored the plea, going on TV to describe the invasion as a 'special military occupation' and said he wants to 'demilitarize' and 'de-Nazify', not occupy, the country. He told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home,' saying Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable.' 'The people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help  I decided to conduct a special military operation,' he said. 'As for the military sphere, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of a significant part of its nuclear potential, is today one of the most powerful nuclear powers. And moreover, it has certain advantages in a number of the latest types of weapons. In this regard, no one should have any doubt that a direct attack on Russia will lead to defeat and dire consequences for a potential aggressor'. Advertisement

He added: 'This is a vile act of war and an aggression which really cannot be tolerated by any party.'

However, this evening Mr Tugendhat voiced support for the latest package.

Tory backbenchers also vented fury at Mr Putin, with Simon Hoare posting an image of his rambling speech with the comment: 'A Poundland wannabe Bond villain mumbles to the camera.'

Mr Davis was among a few Conservatives who suggested that Nato should intervene militarily.

The senior Tory MP tweeted: 'While we should continue to impose the most ferocious sanctions they are no longer a deterrent. They are a punishment. They will not stop him.

'If Nato does not act now, Ukraine will be defeated in a matter of days.

'Therefore if we do not provide military support, more than 40 million Ukrainians will go from living in a democracy to living under a brutal dictatorship.

'It is far too late to get boots on the ground but it is not too late to provide air support to the Ukrainian army which may neutralise Putin's overwhelming armoured superiority.

'If this is confined to the airspace over Ukraine, and is based on a request from President Zelenskyy, this should be perfectly legal under almost any interpretation of international law. It will also reduce the risk of escalation.'

Former minister Stephen Hammond said: 'I utterly condemn the unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin's forces.

'We must stand with Ukraine at this time of continental crisis & ensure Russian aggression does not go unpunished. We must work with our allies to impose tougher sanctions & a no fly zone.'

General Sir Richard Shirreff gave a stark warning that that Britain could soon be at war with Russia.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the retired Army officer said any incursion into Nato territory would bring Britain into direct involvement in the conflict.

'There is no surprise and there is profound sadness and a sense of appalling horror at what is about to unfold for the people of Ukraine,' he said.

'And I think we have to assume that this is not Russia biting off a chunk of Ukraine  for example, establishing a land corridor in Crimea  but a full-blown military offensive to occupy Ukraine.'

Sir Richard said it is 'entirely plausible' that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be aiming to revive the Soviet Union, adding that if Russia puts 'one bootstep' into Nato territory, the entire alliance will be at war.

Tory donor wife of ex-Putin minister condemns Ukraine invasion The Tory donor wife of a former Putin minister has condemned the invasion of Ukraine. Lubov Chernukhin, whose husband Vladimir move to the UK after being sacked, hit out at 'Russian military aggression'. Ms Chernukhin, a dual Russian-British citizen, has given significant sums to the Conservatives. The party has insisted that all donations are checked and properly declared, while ministers have stressed that not all Russian ex-pats are Putin cronies. 'It is truly horrifying to witness the situation unfolding in Ukraine and my heart goes out to the millions of innocent Ukrainians whose lives and freedoms are in danger and those who are forced to flee their homes,' Ms Chernukhin said. 'I would like to condemn all Russian military aggression in Ukraine in the strongest way possible. 'While such flagrant acts of war are shocking, one cannot say that there were no warning signs. Over the last two decades, Putin's despotic regime has degraded to Stalinesque persecution of the Russian people, brutally shutting down any political opposition or independent press and presiding over the catastrophic impoverishment of Russian citizens whilst Putin and his clique continue to enrich themselves at the expense of the Russian people. 'I support the UK government's decisive response to Russia's actions and I call for the strongest possible sanctions against Putin's regime and its enablers. I remain hopeful that the UK and its global allies will continue to stand up to the Kremlin and to protect Ukraine and its people, now engulfed in the horrors of war.' Advertisement

Asked whether Britain might be expected to take part directly in the current military confrontation, he said: 'Absolutely there is a possibility that we as a nation could be at war with Russia, because if Russia puts one bootstep across Nato territory, we are all at war with Russia. Every single one, every single member of the Nato alliance.

'Article 5 (of the Nato alliance) says an attack on one is an attack on all, so we need to change our mindset fundamentally, and that is why I say our defence starts in the UK on the frontiers of Nato.'

The invasion came hours after Mr Wallace said Mr Putin had gone 'full tonto' over the Ukraine crisis.

In an extraordinary broadside, Ben Wallace mocked the Kremlin chief's judgment and warned that his former regiment could 'kick the backside' of Russian troops if required.

The Defence Secretary served as an officer in the Scots Guards before his political career and was decorated for gallantry in Northern Ireland in 1992.

Tonto is Spanish for stupid and 'going full tonto' is popular slang for taking stupidity to a higher level.

Speaking to British troops yesterday, Mr Wallace said: 'It is going to be a busy [British] Army. Unfortunately we've got a busy adversary in Putin who has gone full tonto. He is in an illogical and irrational frame of mind. The Scots Guards kicked the backside of Tsar Nicholas I in 1853 in Crimea  we can always do it again. Tsar Nicholas I made the same mistake Putin did... he had no friends, no alliances.'

Mr Wallace's remarks were echoed last night by former Nato Secretary General Anders Rasmussen.

In an interview with ITV's Robert Peston, he said the Kremlin chief may have 'gone crazy' and had seemed 'unhinged' in recent television appearances.

Mr Rasmussen said: 'Russian behaviour right now, it's not rational, so I wouldn't exclude the possibility Putin has gone crazy. And we saw how he humiliated his advisers. So I don't think we are confronted with a man who is thinking along rational lines.

'We should hit him hard economically, much harder than we have done already.

'Russia should be cut off from Western money. We should also reduce our dependence on imported Russian gas and we should step up our delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine.'

Mr Wallace made his comments in a room at the Horse Guards building in London which is dominated by a painting of the Battle of Inkerman, a major engagement during the Crimean War, which saw British troops fight alongside French soldiers to defeat Russia.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (left) has said she condemns Russias `appalling, unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which has already caused injuries (right) and deaths as missiles hit the country

Ms Truss has insisted 'nothing is off the table' if Russia attacks, which it did

The choked roads of Kiev as people try to head west away from the capital amid fears Russia may try to take the capital

Russian troops seize Chernobyl after 'fierce' battle with condition of nuclear storage 'unknown' as bomb hits ship owned by NATO-member Turkey and Kiev sends citizens to shelters ahead of bombing

Russian forces have seized control of Chernobyl nuclear power plant after a 'fierce' battle with the condition of nuclear storage facilities 'unknown', Ukraine has said, sparking fears of a radiation leak that could cause fallout in Europe.

Video revealed Russian tanks and armoured vehicles standing in front of the destroyed reactor, which sits just 60 miles north of the capital Kiev.

Meanwhile Turkey reported that one of its ships had been hit by a 'bomb' off the coast of Odessa, where fighting is also going on. Turkey is a member of NATO, underlining fears that the war in Ukraine could quickly suck in other states and spark an all-out conflict in Europe.

Elsewhere, Kiev ordered civilians into bomb shelters and declared a curfew amid fears Russia is about to strike the Ukrainian capital as Kiev's troops lost control of a key airfield around 15 miles away. Russian forces had attacked it with around two dozen attack helicopters earlier in the day, four of which are thought to have been shot down.

'They are going to bomb Kyiv now. Authorities told us to hide in shelters,' a source in the city told MailOnline as authorities said a hospital had been hit, killing four people.

The Ukrainian army was this afternoon fighting in almost every region of the country, battling the Russians for control of military bases, airports, cities and ports from Kharkiv to Kiev, and Donetsk to Odessa.

It came after Vladimir Putin personally gave the order to attack around 5am, unleashing a salvo of rocket fire that American intelligence said involved more than 100 short and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles, and 75 bombers that targeted military sites including barracks, warehouses and airfields in order to knock out the country's military command structure.

Russia said the strikes destroyed 74 Ukrainian military ground facilities, 11 airfields, three command posts and 18 radar stations controlling Kiev's anti-aircraft batteries.

That was followed by attacks from Crimea in the south towards the city of Kherson, a northern advance from Belarus to Kiev, and an eastern advance from Belgorod towards Kharkiv where the heaviest fighting is going on.

American officials said this was merely an 'initial phase' of the attack, and that the majority of Russia's 190,000 troops at the front remain in reserve. The goal of the attack is to 'take key population centres' and 'decapitate the Ukrainian government', the officials added.

US intelligence could give no estimates of the dead or injured on either side, and updates from the ground were sparse to non-existent. One Ukrainian official said 'hundreds' had been killed in early fighting, while another put the death toll at 40 Ukrainians and 50 Russians - though that information was given early and not updated.

The port cities of Mariupol and Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval bases are located, were also attacked - though Odessa appeared to remain under Ukrainian control as of Thursday afternoon. Russian tankers blockaded the Kerch Strait, leading from the Back Sea to the Sea of Azov, cutting off Mariupol.

Volodymyr Zelensky, in an address to the nation on Thursday evening, described Russia as 'evil' and said Putin had attacked 'like a suicidal scoundrel... just as Fascist Germany did in World War II'.

'Ukraine will not surrender its freedom, whatever Moscow thinks,' he added. 'For Ukrainians independence and the right to live free on our land is the highest value.'

He had earlier called on all Ukrainian citizens willing to defend their homeland to step forward, saying guns will be issued to everyone who wants one. He also asked for civilians to give blood to help wounded troops. And he asked world leaders to impose the 'harshest sanctions possible' on Putin.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, addressing the nation at midday, said western allies are preparing a 'massive' package of sanctions against Russia and told the people of Ukraine: 'We cannot and will not just look away.' Johnson referred to Putin as a 'dictator' who would never 'subdue the national feeling of the Ukrainians'.

As the West prepared to cut off Russia financially, Vladimir Putin summoned his oligarchs to demand loyalty over his attack on Ukraine - perhaps fearing a rebellion from within after prominent Russian TV figures and celebrities spoke out to oppose the conflict.

Speaking in the Kremlin, he said that Russia had been 'forced' to take action over Ukraine and had 'no other choice' but to attack, saying the country remains 'part of the global economy' and that he 'will not hurt the system we belong to'. 'I want you to show solidarity with the government,' he told them.

A Russian T-72 tank is pictured sitting in front of the main reactor at Chernobyl after Putin's forces seized it in a 'fierce' battle with the condition of nuclear storage facilities 'unknown'

Russian armoured vehicles park on roads near the Chernobyl plant, amid fears that damage to the facility could cause a radiation leak that would blanket Europe with fallout

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts with bombs and missiles dropped on targets across the country in the early hours, followed by troop attacks from Crimea, the Donbass, Belgorod and Belarus as well as helicopter landings in Kiev and at power plants on the Dnieper River. Chernobyl nuclear power plant has also fallen to Russian forces

Russian Mi-8 attack helicopters stage an assault on Gostomel air base, just on the outskirts of Kiev, after Vladimir Putin launched an all-out attack on the country

Attack helicopters are pictured flying over the Kiev region of Ukraine after dozens of Russian aircraft attacked the city

An image captured near Kiev shows what appears to be the wreckage of a downed Russian attack helicopter with a soldier parachuting out of it (to the left of the frame)

A Russian helicopter is shot down somewhere over Kiev (left), while the wreckage of what appears to be a jet falls from the skies near the capital (right)

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish the remains of an Air Force transport plane shot down somewhere over the country

A Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship is seen in the field after a forced landing Kyiv, Ukraine

In the area of Glukhova, the Ukrainian military engaged a armoured column of 15 T-72 tanks with American Javelin missiles

A wounded woman is seen as airstrike damages an apartment complex outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian security forces accompany a wounded man after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv

Damage to an apartment building in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, is seen in footage released by the Ukrainian national guard

Chuhuiv military airfield in Kharkiv outskirts burns

Smoke rises over Chuhuiv military airfield in eastern Ukraine after a Russian airstrike aimed at taking out the air force

Russian soldiers raise a flag over the Kakhovka Hydroelectric plant after attacking it with helicopters

CCTV cameras at Belarusian-Ukrainian checkpoint Senkovka-Veselovka capture at least four T-72B tanks, at least eight MT-LB tractors, and a Ural truck crossing the border

Two Russian troops - believed to be Rafik Rakhmankulov, 19 (left) and Mgomd Mgomdov, 26, from Kizilyurt (right) - have been captured by Ukrainian forces in the country's east

Weapons and knives seized from two Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian units fighting around Kharkiv

The crew of a Russian BMP fighting vehicle are seen face-down with jackets pulled over their heads (left) after being captured by Ukrainian forces (their vehicle is pictured, right)

Vladimir Putin speaks to oligarchs at the Kremlin, demanding 'solidarity' from them over the attack on Ukraine - as Russian markets tank and the West prepares to cut the country off economically

Russian oligarchs line up to listen to Vladimir Putin speak as the Russian economy is hit by his decision to go to war

World leaders react to Russia's war on Ukraine RUSSIA PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN 'I have decided to conduct a special military operation... to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide... for the last eight years. 'And for this we will strive for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine. And to bring to court those who committed numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation.' UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELINSKIY 'Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in the WW2 years. 'As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.' NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JENS STOLTENBERG 'This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion... 'Peace on our continent has been shattered Russia is using force to try to rewrite history, and deny Ukraine its free and independent path... 'We have no plans to send NATO troops in Ukraine. What we do is defensive.' U.S PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering... 'I will be meeting with the leaders of the G7, and the United States and our allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia.' EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN 'President Putin is responsible for bringing war back to Europe... 'We will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to key technologies and markets. We will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernise.' 'In addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the EU and stop the access of Russian banks to the European financial market.' EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JOSEP BORRELL 'These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War. 'The EU will respond in the strongest possible terms and agree on the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented.' GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ 'Putin is bringing suffering and destruction to his direct neighbours, he is violating the sovereignty and borders of Ukraine. 'He is endangering the lives of countless innocent people (and)... the peace order on our continent. For all that there is no justification. This is Putin's war.' FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON 'France strongly condemns the decision of Russia to start a war with Ukraine. Russia must immediately put an end to its military operations.' BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON 'President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine... 'This is a catastrophe for our continent.' CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON HUA CHUNYING 'You are using a typical Western media question method of using the word invasion. 'China is closely monitoring the latest situation. We call on all sides to exercise restraint to prevent the situation from getting out of control.' GERMAN ARMY CHIEF LIEUTENANT GENERAL ALFONS MAIS 'In my 41th year of peace-time service, I would not have thought that I would have to experience a war. 'And the Bundeswehr, the army which I have the honour to command, is standing there more or less empty-handed. The options we can offer the government in support of the (NATO)alliance are extremely limited... 'We have all seen it coming but were not able to get through with our arguments to draw the consequences after (Russia's) annexation of Crimea. This does not feel good. I am fed up with it.' TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY 'This attack is a grave violation of international law and poses a serious threat to the security of our region and the world. 'We call on the Russian Federation to immediately end this unjust and unlawful act.' HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN 'With our EU and NATO allies, we condemn Russia's military attack.' PORTUGUESE PRIME MINISTER ANTONIO COSTA 'The answer to this crisis should be a diplomatic solution... NATO will not intervene or act in Ukraine. 'Ukrainian citizens who have family, friends and acquaintances here are welcome in Portugal.' ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER YAIR LAPID 'Russia's attack on Ukraine is a grave breach of international order. Israel condemns the attack.' RUSSIAN EX-OIL TYCOON AND ARCH KREMLIN CRITIC MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY 'It is Putin and his entourage who started the war in order to hold on to their power - not the Russian people. 'Unleashing a war of aggression and using the armed forces for personal gain signifies that a junta led by Putin has seized power in Russia.' EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK POLICYMAKER YANNIS STOURNARAS 'In my view it is going to have a short-term inflationary effect a that is prices will increase due to higher energy costs. 'But in the medium to long term I think that the consequences will be deflationary through adverse trade effects.' Advertisement

It came after the Russian strongman gave an extraordinary address to the Russian nation - broadcast in the early hours during a UN meeting aimed at avoiding war - in which he declared a 'special military operation' to 'de-militarise' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine in what amounted to a outright declaration of war. The video appeared to have been pre-recorded, around the same time as Putin's Monday address recognising Donbass as independent.

Putin also issued a chilling warning to any country thinking of coming to Ukraine's aid, vowing 'consequences greater than any you have faced in history'. 'I hope I have been heard,' he said.

The mood on the ground in Ukraine was mixed. Some showed incredible resolve - heading to work via train and road even as the bombs dropped. Elderly women in the city of Kharkiv, under heavy attack, gathered in the street to pray. But for others, the sight of Russian attack was too much. Highways out of Kiev clogged with cars as people fled, while refugees began crossing the borders into Poland and Slovakia.

The invasion - a naked attempt to redraw the map of Europe by force - marks the most concerted attempt to up-end world order since the end of the Cold War, and risks sparking the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the end of the Second World War.

Underlining the gravity of the moment, Ukrainian Interior Ministry advisor Anton Herashchenko said: 'Starting today, the world has a new geopolitical reality. Either Ukraine and the world will stop the new Hitler now, or there will be a Third World War.'

Western leaders lined up to condemn Russia's actions in the early hours, with security councils convened the world over to mount a response. Heavy sanctions are expected to follow, along with more shipments of military equipment to Ukraine - provided they can find a route in.

But NATO and the US have made it clear that no troops will be sent, leaving Ukraine's military - far the inferior of Russia - to hold off the assault alone. Few expect it to emerge victorious from what is almost certain to be a prolonged, bloody, and vicious war.

NATO is expected to focus its efforts on stopping the war from spilling over into neighbouring countries. Poland, a member of the alliance, shares an extensive land border with Ukraine. The Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, also NATO members - will now fear a Russian assault.

The alliance began moving its forces early Thursday, putting 100 warplanes on high alert in Europe whole moving more troops to the Baltics.

Moldova, where some Russian ground troops are already based, is also at risk of falling to Putin. From there, he could strike out at Romania - another former Soviet state.

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and struck Boryspil Airport in Kiev. Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday, and on Wednesday night he condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.' He was speaking to Ukraine's president.

Biden said in a statement: 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Biden said he will be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.

Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine - a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion.

He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia's demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees. He also claimed that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to 'demilitarize' it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

Biden in a written statement condemned the 'unprovoked and unjustified attack,' and he promised that the U.S. and its allies would 'hold Russia accountable.' The president said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the assault as a 'full-scale invasion' and said Ukraine will 'defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.'

In the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko advised residents to stay home unless they are involved in critical work and urged them to prepare go-bags with necessities and documents if they need to evacuate. An Associated Press photographer in Mariupol reported hearing explosions and seeing dozens of people with suitcases heading for their cars to leave the city.

'We are facing a war and horror. What could be worse?' 64-year-old Liudmila Gireyeva said in Kyiv. She planned to head to the western city of Lviv and then to try to move to Poland to join her daughter. Putin 'will be damned by history, and Ukrainians are damning him.'

The Russian claims about knocking out Ukrainian air defenses and Ukrainian claims to have shot down several Russian aircraft could not immediately be verified. The Ukrainian air defense system and air force date back to the Soviet era and are dwarfed by Russia's massive air power and its inventory of precision weapons.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that 'there is no threat to civilian population.'

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, said on Facebook that the Russian military had launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.

Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, tweeted early on Thursday: 'I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

'The UK and our allies will respond decisively.'

Putin in his speech on Thursday told other countries not to get involved.

'To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside - if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history,' he said in the television broadcast around 6am Moscow time.

The consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, upending geopolitical dynamics in Europe as well as affecting energy supplies in Europe and jolting global financial markets.
The Government is trying to block the BBC from airing a programme which would identify a 'dangerous extremist and misogynist' who is allegedly an MI5 agent.

Attorney General Suella Braverman is seeking an injunction to stop the broadcast, which would name a man who has allegedly abused two women and is a covert human intelligence source.

Mr Justice Chamberlain said it is in the interests of open justice for parts of a hearing about the injunction, due to take place at the High Court in London next week, to be held in public, in a written ruling today.

Attorney General Suella Braverman (pictured) is seeking an injunction to stop the broadcaster from airing the programme

Giving a summary of the case, the judge said the programme is to include allegations about X, including that he is a 'dangerous extremist and misogynist who physically and psychologically abused two former female partners'.

The judge added it will also be alleged 'that X is also a covert human intelligence source - variously referred to as a "Chis" or an "agent" - for the Security Service ('MI5'), that X told one of these women that he worked for MI5 in order to terrorise and control her, and that MI5 should have known about X's behaviour and realised that it was inappropriate to use him as a Chis'.

Ms Braverman has made clear there would be no issue with a broadcast making the allegations about X's conduct or dangerousness without identifying him as an alleged MI5 agent, the judge said.

He added that on her end there is no objection to a broadcast making allegations about MI5's use and management of agents without identifying X or any other person.

The Attorney General's stance is that she can neither confirm nor deny whether X is or was a Chis, other than in closed proceedings - hearings behind closed doors with security-cleared lawyers called special advocates representing the BBC's interests - the judge said.

He added: 'She submits, however, that, irrespective of the truth of the allegation, the BBC's proposed broadcast would involve a breach of confidence or false confidence, create a real and immediate risk to the life, safety and private life of X, and damage the public interest and national security.'

Last week, lawyers representing Ms Braverman asked for the rest of the hearing, other than the closed proceedings, to be held 'wholly or substantially' in private - with members of the press and public unable to attend.

But, in a brief summary on Tuesday, Mr Justice Chamberlain said he had concluded that part of the hearing can go ahead in public, with care taken so the identity of the alleged spy is not revealed.

The Attorney General's stance is that she can neither confirm nor deny whether X is or was a Chis, other than in closed proceeding. Pictured, the MI5 building

He said: 'The Attorney has not convinced me that there is a sufficiently compelling reason for departing from the principle that "open" proceedings take place in public.

'This means that, when the hearing takes place, the public will be informed about many of the important aspects of this case, apart from the identity of X.'

In his full ruling, the judge said the story was first reported by the Daily Telegraph in January, which quoted an 'unnamed source'.

There was no evidence to dispel the inference that the source referred to in the piece was a government source, the judge added, after receiving a witness statement from a government lawyer.

He also said: 'Whether that person was acting with authority, and if so whose authority, is not a matter on which any reliable conclusion can be drawn at this stage.

'But the evidence...certainly does not establish that the statement was made "without authority" if that phrase is to be given any meaningful content.

'These conclusions are relevant to the Attorney's application for privacy in two ways.

'First, the fact that a government source, whether acting with or without authority, appears to have briefed the press about this case has an impact on the extent to which it is "necessary to sit in private to secure the proper administration of justice".

'It would in principle be unfair to allow one party to put its own "spin" on a case without allowing the other party to put before the public even the basic factual elements of its defence.

'Second, leaving aside any question of authority, the fact remains that the information, including the quotations and reporting from the "source", is now in the public domain.

'As I have said, after the "exclusive" article in the Daily Telegraph, the content of that article was very widely reported in other press and media outlets.

The Government is trying to block the BBC from broadcasting a story which would identify a 'dangerous extremist and misogynist' who is allegedly an MI5 agent. Pictured, BBC HQ

'The question of damage to national security which might flow from a broadcast about X's conduct which does not identify X has to be considered against that background.'

When the judge gives his ruling on the injunction, there will be both an open judgment which will be made public, and a closed judgment which will be seen only by the Attorney General's legal team and the special advocates.

The full hearing relating to the interim injunction is due to be heard on March 1 and 2, and part of the proceedings will be conducted under a closed procedure, while other parts will be open to the public.
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London's 'smallest flat', which is just 75sq ft and has a built-in bed squeezed in above the microwave, has sold for 40,000 more than its 90,000 asking price at auction.

The tiny studio apartment in Clapton, east London, was put up for online auction on February 15 with bids starting at 50,000. It sold last Wednesday at 4pm for 90,000, 20 per cent over the expected sale price of 75,000.

The flat is located on the first floor of a Victorian terraced house and consists of a studio living space with a built-in bed, with a microwave underneath it, a fold-out table, cupboards, shelves and a tiny cooking space.

There are no hobs in the flat, but it does come with a separate wet room equipped with a toilet sink, shower and heated towel rail.

A tiny studio apartment (interior pictured) in Clapton, east London, was put up for online auction on February 15 with bids starting at 50,000. It sold last Wednesday at 4pm for 90,000, 20 per cent over the expected sale price of 75,000

The flat is located on the first floor of a Victorian terraced house and it comes with a separate wet room equipped with a toilet sink, shower and heated towel rail

The property consists of a studio living space with a built-in bed, with a microwave underneath it, a fold-out table, cupboards, shelves and a tiny cooking space. There are no hobs

A number of investors were attracted to bidding for the east London property due to the potential for rental return, as the studio is expected to provide 10 per cent a year rental yield.

The flat, which has 994 years remaining on the lease, is currently being let out for 800 a month, or 9,6000 per annum, making it one of London's higher yielding rental properties.

A mortgage on the property was ruled out due to the flat's size, which meant that only cash buyers could bid for the home through My Auction. It is not yet known what the winning bidder plans to do with the property.

Stuart Collar-Brown, director of My Auction, described the flat as 'highly functional' and said it was a 'sound investment.

He said: 'This property has attracted a significant level of attention, largely from buy to let investors who recognised the substantial return potential.

'The flat might be small, but its highly functional and with such disparity of good quality stock in the rental market and the number of potential tenants, properties like this don't hang around for long.

The property on Saratoga Road (exterior pictured) is within walking distance from the cafes, bars and restaurants on Chatsworth Road and Lower Clapton Road

The flat, which has 994 years remaining on the lease, is currently being let out for 800 a month, making it one of London's higher yielding rental properties. Pictured: The bed is built in above the microwave, cupboards, shelves and drawers

A mortgage on the property was ruled out due to the flat's size, which meant that only cash buyers could bid for the home through My Auction. Pictured: The separate wet room consists of a toilet and sink directly next to the shower

'We can never predict how much a property will go for at auction but we knew this one would attract a lot of attention.

'Regardless of how the auction winner plans to use it, it's a really sound investment - money in property is always going to be better than money in the bank.'

The property on Saratoga Road is within walking distance from the cafes, bars and restaurants on Chatsworth Road and Lower Clapton Road.

The tiny property is located between Homerton, Hackney Downs and Overground stations and is located close to Homerton University Hospital. Hackney Marshes, South Millfields Recreation Ground and Millfields Park are also nearby.

History has shown that small spaces are as in demand as their bigger counterparts in London.

In January, a tiny one-bed flat went on the market for the 'mad' price of 430,000 - despite being so small it looks like a shed.

In 2019, a 9.1 sq metre flat in Hackney, east London, sold for about 200,000 and a year later, a 7.3sq metre studio in Kensington and Chelsea also sold for about 200,000.
A Long Island man was fatally shot in the back of the head overnight last week on the Long Island Railroad (LIRR).

Yusef Staine, 20, of West Babylon, was killed around 1.45am on February 16 at the Ronkonkoma station, just minutes before the train was supposed to depart to New York Penn Station.

Staine was traveling with the man who shot him, a law enforcement source told the New York Post. They rode from Wyandanch to Penn Station and back to Ronkonkoma, the end of the line. The shooting happened while the train was out of service and Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) employees prepared to send it back toward Manhattan.

The unidentified man fled the train moments after shooting Staine. There were two to three other passengers on the train at the time, but they did not appear in security footage to be on the same car as the two men.

'Id like to stress this is not a random event. No other passengers were in danger,' Suffolk County Lieutenant Kevin Beyrer told reporters at a press conference.

Neither man paid their fare and they didn't have money on them.

Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting and believe it was an isolated incident. There were no other injuries or fatalities. Police also said there was 'no indication' that the shooting was gang-related.

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Yusef Staine, 20, of West Babylon, Long Island, was fatally shot at the Ronkonkoma station around 1.45am on February 16, just minutes before the train was supposed to depart to New York Penn Station

The unidentified man pulled a gun out of his pocket and shot Staine in the back of the head

The pair were reportedly traveling together and police do not believe the shooting was gang-related. Both men are suspected of being homeless, as neither reportedly had money on them and they dodged paying the fare for the train

The Ronkonkoma train was delayed until around 3.15am that morning as policed investigated the scene.

The MTA Police and Suffolk County are conducting a joint investigation.

Staine's mother Pamela Usher wrote a tribute post on Facebook for her son. She wrote: '[Facebook] friends and family, the hardest post I ever had to make in my life! My son Yusef Staine, 20 years old, was brutally murdered last week Wednesday on the Long Island Railroad.'

She also begged anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers.

A funeral service for Staine will be at Hollywood Baptist Church in Amityville on Friday and will begin at 9am. Staine will be buried in North Babylon Cemetery, his mother said.

DailyMail.com has attempted to contact the Suffolk County Police Department.

Long Island's neighbor New York City has been experiencing an enormous wave in crime, especially transit crimes, which are up 65 per cent and are also run by the MTA.

A recent survey from the MTA also reported that half of Bronx bus passengers, and an increasing number from Staten Island, are fare-dodging and riding for free - costing the MTA $65million in three months for the bus system alone. Fare evasion also cost the agency $41million for the subway for the months of October through December.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, 61, recently announced a subway safety plan, which includes attacking fare evasion, getting homeless people off the subways at night, and upping public safety in the stations and trains.

Adams, a onetime transit police officer who took office last month and recently deemed the subway unsafe, said Friday that allowing people to live on subways is 'cruel and inhumane' to them and unfair to other riders and transit workers.

'No more just doing whatever you want,' Adams said at a news conference at a Lower Manhattan subway station. 'Those days are over. Swipe your MetroCard, ride the system, get off at your destination. That's what this administration is saying.'

'People tell me about their fear of using the system,' Adams said on Friday. 'And we're going to ensure that fear is not New York's reality.'

The 20-year-old's death is being investigated by the Suffolk County Police Department and the MTA Police

A funeral service will be held on Friday at Hollywood Baptist Church

The plan, which is deemed essential to New York City's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, also includes changes that are supposed to connect more homeless people, many of whom have mental illness, substance abuse problems or both, to mental health services and permanent housing.

Adams's plan involves sending more police, mental health clinicians and social service outreach workers into the subways. Levy said Monday that a 'phased-in' implementation was beginning.

The plan notes that more than 1,000 homeless people who use the subways for shelter need help, not handcuffs, but said police will have a zero-tolerance policy. They will crackdown on sleeping, littering, smoking, doing drugs or hanging out in the system. It calls for clearing all passengers out of trains at the ends of their lines, an approach that has waxed and waned over the years.

The incident took place at the Ronkonkoma LIRR station (pictured)

The MTA, which runs the subways, 'knows that there are people in the subway system who need help and must and will be helped. But they can't stay in the subway system,' spokesperson Aaron Donovan said Monday.

Five transit incidents occurred on Sunday alone, with a 31-year-old man being stabbed and a 46-year-old being stabbed multiple times in an other incident.

New York City's subway carried more than 5million riders on an average weekday before the coronavirus pandemic; the weekday average is now about three million.
Republicans have torn into 'despicable' former Secretary of State John Kerry for saying he hopes Vladimir Putin will still help fight climate change just before Russian fighter jets, troops and tanks rolled into Ukraine in an all-out invasion.

President Biden's climate envoy said frozen Russian land is 'thawing', Putin's 'infrastructure' is 'at risk' and urged the Russian tyrant to 'help us to stay on track with respect to what we need to do for the climate.

'I'm concerned about Ukraine because of the people of Ukraine and because of the principles that are at risk, in terms of international law and trying to change boundaries of international law by force,' Kerry, President Biden's special envoy for climate said in an interview with BBC Arabic.

The clip surfaced just hours after Russian forces moved into Ukraine from the north, south and east and unleashed devastation on Ukraine. The interview was filmed on Monday, just before the all-out assault.

On Thursday afternoon, Russian forces fought for control of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, 60 miles north of the capital Kiev, amid fears the battle could damage storage facilities holding nuclear waste sparking a fallout that could blanket Europe.

Republicans have torn into 'despicable' former Secretary of State John Kerry for saying he hopes Vladimir Putin will still help fight climate changes as Russian fighter jets, troops and tanks rolled into Ukraine in an all-out invasion

'I thought we lived in a world that had said no to that kind of activity. And I hope diplomacy will win,' Kerry added.

Kerry was asked how 'concerned' he was about the conflict's effect on climate change.

'I am very concerned about Ukraine because of the people of Ukraine and the principles that are at risk in terms of international law and trying to change boundaries of international law by force. I thought we lived in a world that said no to that kind of activity, and I hope diplomacy will win.

'But it could have a profound negative impact on the climate obviously. You have a war and obviously you're going to have maximum emissions consequences to the  but equally importantly, you're going to lose people's focus, you're going to lose certainly big country attention because they will be diverted and I think it could have a damaging impact, he continued.

'So, you know, I think hopefully President Putin would realize that in the northern part of his country, they used to live on 66 percent of the nation that was over frozen land'.

'Now it's thawing, and his infrastructure is at risk,' he added. 'And the people of Russia are at risk. And so I hope President Putin will help us to stay on track with respect to what we need to do for the climate.'

Members of the GOP were quick to jump on the timing of Kerry's comments.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz said: 'As war breaks out in Europe & casualties mount, a terrifying look into the ALWAYS politicized priorities of the Biden-Harris administration.'

A wounded woman is seen as airstrike damages an apartment complex outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Republican Senator Ted Cruz said: 'As war breaks out in Europe & casualties mount, a terrifying look into the ALWAYS politicized priorities of the Biden-Harris administration'

Republican Rep. August Pfluger of Texas said: 'Putin is killing innocent Ukrainians and John Kerry is asking him to stay 'on track' for the climate? Despicable'

Republican Rep. August Pfluger of Texas said: 'Putin is killing innocent Ukrainians and John Kerry is asking him to stay 'on track' for the climate? Despicable.

'Russian energy is some of the worst for the environment. The Biden Admin climate religion has made our world less safe.'

Kerry asserted that the focus on climate change was still important during the vicious standoff between Ukraine and Russia earlier this week.

Egypt will host the COP27 climate conference in November and Kerry said the task for this year was to bring more countries on board to set ambitious climate goals as well as implementing pledges made at COP26 in Glasgow.

'We meet this morning in Egypt well aware of other tensions in the world, understanding that there are lives and principles at stake in what is happening with respect to Ukraine today,' Kerry told reporters after meeting Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

'But that does not change the reality of what is happening every day with respect to our climate. That is a national, international security threat to all of us.'

Egypt and the United States have created a working group to set priorities for COP27 and to support Egypt's energy transition, Shoukry and Kerry said.

Elsewhere Kiev ordered civilians to go to bomb shelters and declared a curfew amid fears Russia is about to strike the Ukrainian capital as Kiev's troops lost control of a key airfield around 15 miles away. Russian forces had attacked it with around two dozen attack helicopters earlier in the day, four of which are thought to have been shot down.

'They are going to bomb Kyiv now. Authorities told us to hide in shelters,' a source in the city told MailOnline as authorities said a hospital had been hit, killing four people.

The Ukrainian army was this afternoon fighting in almost every region of the country, battling the Russians for control of military bases, airports, cities and ports from Kharkiv to Kiev, and Donetsk to Odessa.

It came after Vladimir Putin personally gave the order to attack around 5am, unleashing a salvo of rocket fire that American intelligence said involved more than 100 short and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles, and 75 bombers that targeted military sites including barracks, warehouses and airfields in order to knock out the country's military command structure.

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

Russian Mi-8 attack helicopters stage an assault on Gostomel air base, just on the outskirts of Kiev, after Vladimir Putin launched an all-out attack on the country

A Russian helicopter is shot down somewhere over Kiev (left), while the wreckage of what appears to be a jet falls from the skies near the capital (right)

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called his Sunshine State the 'citadel of freedom' that President Joe Biden 'hates' - and called out Canada and Australia for their 'authoritarian rule' over COVID restrictions.

DeSantis got a raucous reaction when he welcomed crowds Thursday afternoon to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando - relocated to Florida last year for being more permissive during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Republican, who is being eyed as a top 2024 presidential contender, mocked Biden's first year in office declaring that the Democrat has had the 'worst year of any president since the 1800s.'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called his Sunshine State the 'citadel of freedom' that President Joe Biden 'hates' - and called out Canada and Australia for their 'authoritarian rule' over COVID restrictions

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis welcomed Conservative Political Action Conference attendees to the Sunshine State Thursday afternoon, throwing out ballcaps as he came onstage

DeSantis spoke at the same time Biden was addressing the crisis in Ukraine from the White House, creating a split-screen moment.

The Florida governor didn't touch on the unfolding Russian attack on Ukraine.

Instead he called out other Western nations for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

'I really believe had Florida not led the way this country could look like Canada or Australia,' DeSantis said.

'There are people that look to FLorida as the citadel of freedom, who are chafing under authoritarian rule all across the world,' he continued.

The governor then read a portion of a letter from a 'Samuel from Australia.'

Quoting Samuel, DeSantis said, '"There isn't much hope right now here, and many of us are fearful of what our leaders have in store forus. I look to you and your great state of Florida for hope during this dark time, thank you for standing up for us."'

'And we have done that - Canadians are writing in, Australia, Europe, you name it,' DeSantis said. 'And I think they understand what the stakes are and they look to us for what protecting freedoms a lot means.'

DeSantis has pushed back on the federal government's push to have workers vaccinated and for there to be masking in public schools.

'There's one fella that just hates Florida and his name is Joe Biden,' DeSantis said. 'He's always criticizing us. Always trying to take potshots at Florida.'

It's usually White House press secretary Jen Psaki calling out DeSantis, doing so a number of times from the podium.

In January she called him 'crazy' after he tried to fight a Food and Drug Administration decision to pull two COVID-19 antibody treatments that the agency deemed ineffective.

'Let's just take a step back here just to realize how crazy this is,' she told reporters, adding he was 'advocating for treatments that don't work.'

DeSantis told the crowd he took a political risk to ensure people can do what they want amid the pandemic.

'And we did it when it wasn't popular, we did it when we were taking fire. And we did it because my duty is to stand up and protect the freedoms and the jobs of the people I represent,' he said. And if that puts me in political jeopardy, so be it.'

While a pariah to Biden, DeSantis' laissez faire COVID policies were applauded during former President Donald Trump's administration - with former Vice President Mike Pence traveling to Florida several times in the spring of 2020 to tout its 'reopening.'

DeSantis didn't say much about Trump - with reports suggesting the ex-president has grumbled about the Florida governor's ascension - though he did brush up against the so-called 'big lie.'

He touted Florida's own election infrastructure in 2020 while noting that 'there were a lot of shenanigans in other parts of the country.'

Trump, who relocated to Palm Beach, Florida after leaving office, will descend to CPAC Saturday night - with the ex-president being given a primetime speaking slot.
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney criticized Presidents Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Barack Obama for their 'tepid' reponse to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he said lit the way for Russia's overnight attack on Ukraine.

'Putin's impunity predictably follows our tepid response to his previous horrors in Georgia and Crimea, our naive efforts at a one-sided "reset," and the shortsightedness of "America First,"' the Utah Republican said in a statement. 'The "80s called" and we didn't answer.'

Romney warned that 'history shows that a tyrant's appetite for conquest is never satiated.'

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney criticized Presidents Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Barack Obama for their 'tepid' reponse to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he said lit the way for Russia's overnight attack on Ukraine

'Putin's impunity predictably follows our tepid response to his previous horrors in Georgia and Crimea, our naive efforts at a one-sided "reset," and the shortsightedness of "America First,"' Romney said referencing policies of the Obama and Trump administrations

During the 2012 presidential campaign, when Romney was the Republican nominee, trying to rob Obama of a second term, he said that Russia was the U.S.'s 'No. 1 geopolitical foe,' a comment that was ridiculed at the time.

But now the governor-turned-senator's warning looks prescient.

In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Georgia in 2008, the Obama administration attempted a 'reset' with the Cold War rival.

Less than two months into the Obama administation, then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov with a red 'reset' button to drive the point home.

But in 2014, still under Obama's watch, Russia annexed Crimea - part of Ukraine.

Trump labeled his foreign policy 'America First' and spent his four years in office criticizing the NATO alliance, which was formed to counterbalance the former Soviet Union.

This week Trump has complimented Putin's strategy of declaring two portions of Ukraine 'independent' - potentially causing a rift in the Republican Party, as other members in the run-up to the attack on Ukraine urged Biden to take a heavier hand against Putin.

Romney, Trump's biggest GOP antagonist in the U.S. Senate, compared Putin's moves this week to those of Nazi Germany.

'Putin's Ukraine invasion is the first time in 80 years that a great power has moved to conquer a sovereign nation,' Romney said. 'It is without justification, without provocation and without honor.'

He added that the 'peril of again looking away from Putin's tyranny falls not just on the people of the nations he has violated, it falls on America as well.'

'America and our allies must answer the call to protect freedom by subjecting Putin and Russia to the harshest economic penalties, by expelling them from global institutions, and by committing ourselves to the expansion and modernization of our national defense,' Romney said.
Judge ruled there were 'no details to cast doubt' that Wisniewski is Krajewski

Double murderer Krajewski escaped from a jail in Poland more than 15 years ago

After his conviction, it was revealed evidence suggests he is Sylwester Krajewski

He was convicted of murder and was jailed for life with minimum of 35 years

A man who murdered a retired policeman on a canal towpath has been exposed as a convicted double murderer who escaped from prison in Poland 16 years ago.

Daniel Wisniewski, 50, battered ex-police officer Clive Porter, 63, to death in an unprovoked attack in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on April 26 last year.

He was convicted of murder on Tuesday but after the jury returned its verdict, it was revealed that fingerprint and palm-print evidence suggests Wisniewski is actually double murderer Sylwester Krajewski.

Krajewski has been on the run for more than 15 years after escaping from jail in Poland in 2005, and is subject to an Interpol red notice, Reading Crown Court heard.

After a trial of issue hearing, Mr Justice Turner ruled that there were 'no details to cast doubt' that Wisniewski is Krajewski, saying he would be sentenced on the basis that he is the double murderer.

He said: 'There were no details to cast doubt that they [the defendant and Krajewski] are not the same person.

'He will be sentenced on the basis that he is Krajewski, and his murder of Mr Porter was his third such offence.'

Daniel Wisniewski (pictured), 50, battered ex-police officer Clive Porter, 63, to death in an unprovoked attack in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on April 26 last year

On Thursday, Krajewski was jailed for life with a minimum of 35 years for killing waterway worker Mr Porter.

During the trial of issue, Mr Justice Turner heard how fingerprint and palm-print evidence given to Thames Valley Police by Interpol and Polish authorities matched 56 of Krajewski's fingerprint characteristics, with no mismatches detected by forensic experts.

Speaking about Krajewski's double murder, a prosecutor told the court Krajewski and an accomplice savaged a married couple in a forest using sticks and a gas firearm, beating the husband to death before suffocating the wife with the stick.

Krajewski, who was impersonating a police officer using a fake ID, and his accomplice then abandoned the bodies, stealing belongings and covering their tracks.

The judge heard that the attack came in a bid to defraud the couple out of a red Ford Sierra.

During a three-week trial for Mr Porter's murder, a jury heard that Krajewski took exception to Mr Porter placing a penalty ticket on someone else's narrowboat because it did not have a mooring licence.

The jury was told Mr Porter spent his retirement patrolling the Grand Union Canal, volunteering for the Canal and Rivers Trust and picking up any boats which were being used without licences.

Mr Porter, who had retired from Hertfordshire Police ten years before, had taken up the job because of his love of the outdoors.

Krajewski was on his own narrowboat, The Captain Golden Heart, at a lock on the Grand Union Canal when he spotted Mr Porter posting a notice on the nearby 'Frosty Jack' boat.

Jury members were told he became angry and stormed off of his boat, before photographing Mr Porter.

On Thursday, Krajewski was jailed for life with a minimum of 35 years for killing waterway worker Mr Porter (pictured)

A verbal confrontation between Mr Porter and Krajewski led to the defendent battering the ex-policeman to death, leaving him face-down in a water-filled ditch on the canal bank in Aylesbury.

Paramedics pulled Mr Porter out of the water and worked to save his life, but he was pronounced dead soon after.

Krajewski, who fled the scene shortly afterwards, was found by a police helicopter crew hiding underneath a trailer on his partner's land nearby and was arrested.

The Polish national, who sat in the dock listening to an interpreter throughout proceedings, denied that he murdered grandfather Mr Porter.

He instead claimed he tried to save him after he was being attacked by a pair of unknown men, who he claimed came from the Frosty Jack.

In a victim impact statement, Sharon Porter, Mr Porter's widowed wife, said: 'When my granddaughter was told her grandad had died she want to know why. How do you tell a four-year-old that someone killed him?

'In the end we told her that we don't really know, which is sort of true as we haven't had an exact cause of death and we certainly do not understand why anyone would want to kill such a quiet, kind, gentle man who was just doing his job.'

The court heard that Krajewski attempted to delay court proceedings by sacking his defence counsel on three occasions, the last being on the day of his sentencing for Mr Porter's murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Shearwood, senior investigating officer for the major crime unit of Thames Valley Police, described Krajewski as a 'controlling individual' and a 'dangerous offender'.

He said: 'Clearly this is my opinion, but I think Krajewski is a controlling individual and he has tried to make this trial all about him.

'There has been no consideration to Clive's family and no remorse shown whatsoever.

'Clive was married to Sharon - they were childhood sweethearts and life partners. This evil individual has taken that away from Sharon and she will never see Clive again.

'I'm very satisfied we've been able to catch and convict such a dangerous offender but of course, it is something Sharon will have to live with for the rest of her life.

'Krajewski is subject to a European arrest warrant, known as a red notice, and he's been wanted for a considerable period of time.

'I'm sure Poland would like to have him back in their prisons at some point. He's 50 years old and now we've added that sentence on, so he is likely to die in prison.'

After the jury returned its verdict, it emerged that fingerprint evidence suggests Wisniewski (pictured being arrested last year) is actually double murderer Sylwester Krajewski

Speaking about Mr Porter's death, prosecutor Ross Cohen said: 'This was a wholly unprovoked and cold-blooded attack, by a serial killer who absconded from prison, on a man who was just doing his job.'

Defending, Tana Marie Adkin QC told the judge that the defendant did not use any weapons and there was no evidence to suggest the murder was planned.

She also told the judge that the defendant continues to protest his innocence, and continues to deny that he is anyone other than Daniel Wisniewski.

She told the judge: 'This defendant has been a model prisoner and has provided evidence confirming he has been a model prisoner.'

Sentencing, the High Court judge said: 'You had a long-standing grudge with the Canal and Rivers Trust and thought you were not getting enough value for money. You thought not enough was being done to look after the towpaths.

'You became obsessed and you became infuriated when you saw Mr Porter. You started to take no less than 13 photos of him as he went about his business. Mr Porter was a mild-mannered man who shied away from confrontation.

'You began to harangue Mr Porter with such ferocity you began to attract the attention of others.

'You worked yourself up into such a frenzy you punched him with a blow so powerful that it was enough to cause a whiplash injury.

'Mr Porter ended up in a water-filled ditch. This was when you decided that he would have to die.

Krajewski, who was living in Birmingham but is now of no fixed abode, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 35 years being served before be can be considered for parole.

He will remain on licence for the rest of his life.
Priti Patel today announced Ukrainians who have work, study or visiting visas in the UK will have their stays extended to ensure they are not forced to go home amid the Russian invasion.

The Home Secretary said the visa concession will 'provide certainty to our Ukrainian friends and colleagues living, working and studying in the UK'.

Ms Patel said Britain will continue to 'stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine' after Vladimir Putin launched military action against his neighbour.

The move means Ukrainians with a valid visa in the UK will have their visa temporarily extended or they will be able to switch onto an alternative visa route.

Priti Patel today announced Ukrainians who have work, study or visiting visas in the UK will have their stays extended to ensure they are not forced to go home amid the Russian invasion

The Home Secretary said the the visa concession will 'provide certainty to our Ukrainian friends and colleagues living, working and studying in the UK'. Ukrainian protests are pictured today outside Downing Street

Ms Patel said in a statement issued this evening: 'We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine amid this unprovoked and antidemocratic act of Russian aggression.

'I have immediately ordered changes to our visa policy to provide certainty to our Ukrainian friends and colleagues living, working and studying in the UK.'

The concessions mean that Ukrainian nationals on an existing points-based visa route will be able to extend their stay.

Those on an existing visitor visa will be able to switch onto a points-based route without having to leave the country.

Those on a visitor visa can also apply under the family route for further leave to remain even if they do not meet the immigration status requirement, provided they hit the threshold for exceptional circumstances.

Ukrainians on a seasonal worker visa will have their stays in the UK extended to December 31.

The Home Office move on visas comes after the Government stepped up its efforts to help British nationals and their families in Ukraine.

It has temporarily waived application fees for people who are eligible under the 'Family Migration' route.

Ms Patel slammed Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as an 'unprovoked and antidemocratic act of Russian aggression'

Ukraine-related visa applications are also being fast-tracked through a 24/7 helpline.

Dependents of British nationals in Ukraine can apply for a visa at a temporary location in the city of Lviv.

They can also do so by visiting an application centre in the surrounding countries of Poland, Moldova, Romania and Hungary.

Meanwhile, passport applications from British nationals in Ukraine are being prioritised by Her Majesty's Passport Service to ensure they are able to travel as quickly as possible.
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Mothers and young children have been waving farewell to their loved ones they are forced to leave behind as 100,000 people flee Ukraine amid the chaos caused by Russia's invasion.

The UN Refugee Agency said 100,000 people have so far been forced to flee their homes with thousands leaving the country.

UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said: 'We believe that some 100,000 people must have already left their homes and may be displaced inside the country, and several thousand have crossed international borders.'

Heart-rending pictures show women holding their babies and kissing their partners goodbye before boarding a bus out of Kiev on Thursday.

Many men are required to stay in the country as their loved ones flee after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a decree to start conscripting reservists aged 18-60 from Wednesday, the day before Russia's invasion began.

One father, 28-year-old Vlad, could be seen handing his two-year-old son to mother Tatiana, 26, as she departed the capital city that has been hit by airstrikes and swarmed by enemy forces.

The images come as terrified Ukrainians are left scrambling for fuel, queuing for hours outside cash machines and piling into trains and cars in an attempt to flee.

Petrol stations started rationing the amount each driver could buy while huge lines formed outside ATMs across the country despite bombs dropping.

Meanwhile Uber's service was down across the nine cities it operated in but Bolt and Uklon services remained live to taxi people away from the war.

Citizens started panic buying earlier on Thursday as banks, shops and gas stations started to empty when locals learned of the overnight invasion.

Traffic was gridlocked on the main roads out of the capital despite calls for people to stay at home - with some bursting into tears as they made it to safety over the border with Poland.

But the city centres were ghost towns as martial law was imposed, apart from some cars whizzing past on their way out and tanks, military figures and some citizens who have taken up arms.

Russian troops swept into Ukraine in early morning raids on Thursday as President Vladimir Putin gave the green light for his forces to launch a 'special military operation'.

He warned other countries any attempt to interfere would lead to 'consequences you have never seen' but was met with international condemnation, sanctions and was compared to Adolf Hitler by some.

Vlad, a 28-year-old father hands his son Danya, two, to his mother Tatiana, 26, as they say goodbye before she leaves Kiev, at a bus station, Ukraine, on Thursday

A couple kiss goodbye before the woman boards a bus out of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday. The images come as terrified Ukrainians are left scrambling for fuel, queuing for hours outside cash machines and piling into trains and cars to flee

A woman holds her baby inside a bus as they leave Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday amid the chaos caused by Russia's invasion

A woman holds her baby as she gets on a bus leaving Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday. Traffic was gridlocked on the main roads out of the capital despite calls for people to stay at home

A couple speaks with each other at a metro station in Kyiv early on February 24, 2022

Locals queue at an ATM in Lviv, Ukraine, as they desperately empty their accounts as the Rusisan invasion kicked off this morning

Desperate Ukrainians stand outside a local shop as they try to buy groceries as the crisis bites the country. Pictured: Kiev

Across the 332-mile long Polish frontier, Warsaw has said it will open nine reception centres to welcome civilians fleeing the Russian advance.

Poland's interior minister Mariusz Kaminski said: 'There will certainly be a wave of refugees arriving in our country.'

He added that Poland would take in 'as many as there will be at our borders'.

The centres would offer arrival meals and medical care, and a place to rest and receive information.

The head of the Polish border guard, Tomasz Praga, said Thursday there had been an 'increase' in the number of people seeking to cross the Poland-Ukraine border in both directions, but added the situation was stable.

Around 29,000 people had crossed the border in both directions over the past 24 hours, including 15,000 coming to Poland, Praga said earlier Thursday.

Groups of refugees have been crossing the frontier between Ukraine and Poland following Russian invasion

Poland is establishing nine centres for refugees along its 332-mile frontier with Ukraine as civilians flee westward

These people are walking across the Dorohusk border crossing into Poland just hours after the Russian invasion began

People wait at the Ukranian side of the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, as seen from Medyka, Poland, February 24, 2022

At the Dorohusk border crossing in eastern Poland, AFP journalists saw cars with Ukrainian flags on their dashboards entering the EU country.

One woman with a young child in the passenger seat drove by with one hand on the steering wheel and the other wiping away tears from her face.

Next to a small shop, people with plastic bags stood waiting for transport back to Ukraine, saying they wanted to return to support their families.

The UN warned Thursday that Russia's invasion of Ukraine would have 'devastating' humanitarian consequences and urged neighbouring countries to keep borders open to those fleeing the violence.

Filippo Grandi, head of the UN's refugee agency said: 'We are gravely concerned about the fast-deteriorating situation and ongoing military action in Ukraine.'

People stand in line outside a grocery store in Kiev, Ukraine, as Russian troops entered the country early on Thursday morning

Residents queue at an ATM in Lviv after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine

Cars line up at a gas station in Kiev, Ukraine, on Thursday morning as Russian troops entered the country

Desperate locals queue well out of the store at a bank in the Ukrainian city of Lviv in the west of the country on Thursday morning

People and children walk at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine

A man looks at his phone while a woman holds her child in her arms as she sits at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine

People walk at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine

Huge queues formed leaving Kiev on Thursday morning as locals fled west and away from the looming Russian forces

Vehicles line up next to a gas station in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, on Thursday morning as they tried to escape the city

Inhabitants of Kyiv leave the city following pre-offensive missile strikes of the Russian armed forces

People wait at the Ukranian side of the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine

The invasion quickly sparked fuel rationing as Ukrainian petrol stations began restricting the amount sold to customers in any one transaction.

Authorities said they had to prioritise petrol and diesel for civil and military forces as well as critical infrastructure services.

Uber, which has operated in Ukraine since 2016, also stopped working, with the Kiev office saying in a statement: 'Currently, travel with Uber in this region is not available.'

The app also showed no trips were available in Lviv, Kharkiv and Odesa, with the latter two facing down Russian forces since overnight.

Interfax-Ukraine was told: 'Due to growing geopolitical tensions and recent events, we have decided to temporarily suspend the program.

'The security of all application users is our top priority. We continue to monitor the circumstances and hope that this is a temporary situation.'

Meanwhile locals in Kiev, Lviv and Mariupol formed huge queues stretching out of goods stores despite the threat from enemy artillery overhead.

Pictures and videos from today showed horrendous queuing for groceries, fuel and money as desperate Ukrainians headed to stores amid mass panic buying across the country.

Buyers flocked to grab goods while they still can in Kiev, Lviv and Mariupol as Russian forces loomed in the east of the country.

Hundreds stood outside the facilities as they waited to empty them of stock with some embracing each other as they ready themselves for the enclosing conflict.

Others slowly streamed out of the cities on the gridlocked roads as they headed west and away from the Russian bombs and forces.

From the early hours the main road out of Kiev in the direction of the border with Poland was blocked up with a huge traffic jam while the other side of the road was almost empty.

Some cars were spotted turning off the street to try their luck at a different way out of the capital as vehicles remained at a stand still.

Civil defence sirens wailed on the grey and drizzly morning but the city's main street Khreshchatyk was a mixture of anxiety and normalcy.

The hotel where many journalists stayed ordered an evacuation within 30 minutes. Upon checkout, the desk clerk asked: 'Did you have anything from the mini-bar?'

Guests hurriedly loaded their hastily packed luggage into cars, while passers-by walked dogs and occasionally waved at acquaintances. Some had been awakened by the sound of explosions on the city's fringes.

Ukrainians fleeing a Russian invasion have started trickling into Poland, with dozens arriving at the normally quiet Medyka crossing on Thursday, some carrying luggage and accompanied by children.

Officials in European Union countries bordering Ukraine, including Romania and Slovakia, said there was no big influx of refugees for now, but local media and witnesses said foot traffic was increasing.

Alexander Bazhanov fled his home in eastern Ukraine with his wife and young child, taking only what they could carry and walking the final part of their journey into Poland.

The 34-year-old technical manager from Mariupol, 113 km (70 miles) from Donetsk, decided to cross into Poland when he learned the war had started from a colleague.

'I don't have any feelings other than that I am very scared,' Bazhanov said at the pedestrian border crossing, about 400 km from Warsaw. 'I will visit my father in Spain but I don't have any money and I don't know how I will do that.'

Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east.

Kharkiv train station: hundreds of people are queuing to buy tickets and flee eastern Ukraine

Ukrainians fleeing a Russian invasion have started trickling into Poland, with dozens arriving at the normally quiet Medyka crossing on Thursday, some carrying luggage and accompanied by children

Guests hurriedly loaded their hastily packed luggage into cars, while passers-by walked dogs and occasionally waved at acquaintances. Some had been awakened by the sound of explosions on the city's fringes. Pictured: An ATM in Donetsk

People wait in line to use a bank machine on Thursday morning in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, amid the invasion from Russia

Girls hold their mobile phone as they take refuge in a metro station in Kiev this morning

Central European nations that share a border with Ukraine have for weeks braced for an expected flood of refugees searching for sanctuary within the European Union.

The Medyka crossing is largely used by people going shopping across the border or travelling for work. Lines to enter the town grew in the morning. Some people said they feared Russia could push far into Ukraine.

'Everybody thought western Ukraine was safe because it was close to EU and NATO nations,' said Maria Palys, 44, who was travelling with her family and that of her brother. 'It seems like it is not the right protection.'

Russia has demanded an end to NATO's eastward expansion and Putin repeated his position that Ukrainian membership of the U.S.-led military alliance would be unacceptable.

Putin said he had authorised military action after Russia had been left with no choice but to defend itself against what he said were threats from modern Ukraine, a democratic state of 44 million people.

News of the invasion spurred Olga Pavlusik and her boyfriend Bohdan Begey to rush to the border, leaving their dog at home in their town in western Ukraine. They have no destination in mind. 'Anywhere safe will be fine,' she told Reuters. (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Bryan Woolston Kacper Pempel and Leon Malherb, Writing by Michael Kahn, Editing by Janet Lawrence)

The mayor of Boryspil, the suburb where the capital's main airport lies, said some of the explosions were due to the shooting down of drones of unidentified origin.

'I'm not scared at the moment, maybe I'll be scared later,' said Maxim Prudskoi, a resident standing on Khreshchatyk.

In Mariupol, the Azov Sea port city that many fear will be the first major target because of its strategic importance and valuable heavy industry, there were similar scenes of fear.

People waited at bus stops, seemingly on their way to work, while others hastened to their cars to leave the city that is only about 10 miles from the front line with the Donetsk People's Republic.

As the morning progressed in Kiev, alarm rose, with long lines of cars at petrol stations and others heading away from the city.

The city's extensive subway system was declared free for all users and scores of people huddled with luggage in corridors, appearing uncertain where to travel to but comforted by the protection of being underground.

People embrace outside a metro station in Kiev this morning after Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday

Residents were seen traveling to work even as air raid sirens were heard

Cars head towards the exit of the city after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine

A woman wipes her eyes as she sits on the floor of a metro station in Kiev this morning with a suitcase and cat carrier

A young boy walks through a metro station in Kiev with a cat carrier after air raid sirens rang out in downtown Kiev this morning

Ukrainians this morning burst into tears as they escaped the Russians and flocked over the border into Poland, but were scathing of 'evil' Putin who they feel masterminded the ruin of their country.

One woman told Sky News: 'Our Ukraine heritage and to see this happening to the country is just devastating. I just can't believe someone would be so evil.'

A man said: 'I'm just trying to make something good for my family nad hoping that we will be safe.' One woman added: 'Russia needs to pay all the economic consequences.'

They left behind ghost towns as the city centres and squares - which were usually teaming with commuters in the mornings - were empty.

Kiev's main square had few cars, vans and lorries whizzing past and even fewer pedestrians out as St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery's rang out a lonely tone.

The main presence on the streets were Ukrainian military forces as the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law. Some defiant Ukrainians answered his call to arms by clearing out gun shops in Kiev.



One reservist told the Today programme he was 'prepared to die' to protect his fellow countrymen from 'Russian occupation', raising the prospect of brutal close-quarters street fighting that could see many civilians killed.

At a gun shop in Kiev, a manager buying cartridges said he will use his Soviet-era weapon which he bought in 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea to protect 'my family, my house, my country' from 'Putin's guys'.

A woman whose husband was buying a revolver said she would use the gun if confronted by Russian troops, added: 'It's not the only weapon we've got, we're just buying a new one to add to the stocks.'

The shop owner, who sells Kalashnikovs, said: 'In the gun shop, we are now very busy. There are very many people who want to buy guns and there are many people who want to buy cartridges.

'We have cartridges, but not many, not enough. Every day, many many cartridges have been bought. We have (been really full).'

Employees work at the gun counter of a tactical equipment shop in Kiev on February 23, 2022

Reservist Anton Lytvyn packs his equipment at his house in Kiev after he was called up to active duty on February 23, 2022

An employee at the gun counter of a tactical equipment shop in Kiev on February 23, 2022

Some cars were seen driving to the city's exits after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine

It came as Russian troops launched their wide-ranging attack on Ukraine as Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries not to intervene.

Ukraine's leadership said at least 40 people had been killed as of Thursday morning in what it called a 'full-scale war' targeting the country from the east, north and south.

In response, Nato envoys agreed to beef up air, land and air forces on the alliance's eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian border guards released footage of what they said were Russian military vehicles moving in, and big explosions were heard in Kiev, Kharkiv in the east and Odesa in the west.

As the Russian military claimed to have wiped out Ukraine's entire air defences in a matter of hours, Ukrainians fled some cities and European authorities declared Ukrainian air space an active conflict zone.

World leaders condemned the start of a long-anticipated invasion with far-reaching consequences, as global financial markets plunged and oil prices soared.

Russia's actions could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine's democratically elected government and upend geopolitics and Europe's post-Cold War security balance.

Ukrainian President Zelensky cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraine's military infrastructure.

People walk in a subway to get a train as they leave the city of Kiev

People queue at an ATM in Mariupol after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine

A man named Alexander (right) reassures his son as the family takes refuge in a metro station in Kyiv

People wait at a bus station to go to western parts of the country, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine

People queue for fuel at a gas station in Sievierodonetsk, the Luhansk region

Residents of the capital are leaving the city

Women use their phone as they wait with bags and suitcases near Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station in Kiev this morning

Traffic jams block the roads in Kiev as residents rush to leave the city after air raid sirens rang out when Putin began his military operation against Ukraine

People line up to withdraw money at a cash dispenser in Kyiv in the morning of February 24

Ukrainians who had long braced for the prospect of an assault were urged to stay home and not to panic even as Ukrainian authorities reported artillery barrages and air strikes on targets around the country.

An adviser to Ukraine's president, Oleksii Arestovich, said about 40 people have been killed so far in the Russian attack and several dozen wounded.

He did not specify whether the casualties included civilians. Mr Zelensky said at a briefing: 'The Ukrainian military is waging hard battles, repelling attacks in Donbas and other regions in the east, north and south.'

He said the Ukrainian authorities will hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.

After weeks of denying plans to invade, Mr Putin justified his actions in an overnight televised address, asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine - a false claim the US had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion.

He accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demands to prevent Ukraine from joining Nato and for security guarantees.

He also claimed that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to 'demilitarise' it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

The attacks came first from the air, but later Ukrainian border guards released security camera footage on Thursday showing a line of Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraine's government-held territory from Russian-annexed Crimea.

People wait at a bus station to go to western parts of the country, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine

Cars stand in a long line near a gas station as they wait to fuel up

People, some carrying bags and suitcases, walk at a metro station in Kyiv early on February 24

Ukrainians wave flags in Maidan Square, where the revolution that ousted the country's last pro-Russian government was overthrown, setting it on a path to closer ties with the West

Volodymyr Zelensky called for the celebrations to coincide with the rumoured date of a Russian attack, saying that Ukrainians are united by a desire to live in peace

US President Joe Biden in a written statement condemned the 'unprovoked and unjustified attack', and he promised that the US and its allies would 'hold Russia accountable'.

The president said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the assault as a 'full-scale invasion' and said Ukraine will 'defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.'

In the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko advised residents to stay home unless they are involved in critical work and urged them to prepare go-bags with necessities and documents if they need to evacuate.

Witnesses in Mariupol reported hearing explosions and seeing dozens of people with suitcases heading for their cars to leave the city.

'We are facing a war and horror. What could be worse?' 64-year-old Liudmila Gireyeva said in Kyiv. She planned to head to the western city of Lviv and then to try to move to Poland to join her daughter.

The Russian claims about knocking out Ukrainian air defences and Ukrainian claims to have shot down several Russian aircraft could not immediately be verified.

The Ukrainian air defence system and air force date back to the Soviet era and are dwarfed by Russia's massive air power and its inventory of precision weapons.

The Russian Defence Ministry said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that 'there is no threat to civilian population'.

Mr Zelensky urged global leaders to provide defence assistance to Ukraine and help protect its airspace from the 'aggressor'.

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base, in central Ukraine, as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

A blast in Sumy, eastern Ukraine, strikes what appears to be an arms depot which exploded, lighting up the night sky

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency told air operators of a high risk to civilian aircraft over Ukraine, reminding air operators that 'this is now an active conflict zone'.

The consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions on Russia started reverberating throughout the world.

World stock markets plunged and oil prices surged by nearly six dollars per barrel. Market benchmarks tumbled in Europe and Asia and US futures were sharply lower.

Brent crude oil jumped to over 100 dollars per barrel on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies. The ruble sank.

Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Mr Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle, saying, 'whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.'

In a stark reminder of Russia's nuclear power, Mr Putin warned that 'no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor'.

Though the US on Tuesday announced the repositioning of forces around the Baltics, Mr Biden has said he will not send in troops to fight Russia.

Mr Putin's announcement came just hours after the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow's claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate, last-minute plea for peace.

A wounded woman is seen as airstrike damages an apartment complex outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian security forces accompany a wounded man after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv

'The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,' Mr Zelensky said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens.

'But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.'

Mr Zelensky said he asked to arrange a call with Mr Putin late on Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by Ukraine because of the imminent threat of a Russian invasion, members still unaware of Mr Putin's announcement appealed to him to stop an attack.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting, just before the announcement, telling Mr Putin: 'Give peace a chance.'

European Council president Charles Michel and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen promised to hold the Kremlin accountable.

'In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,' they said on Twitter.

Even before Mr Putin's announcement, dozens of nations imposed sanctions on Russia, further squeezing Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that 'Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimise the damage'.
South Africa: Cabinet commends officers for intercepting Rosettenville suspects

Cabinet has, at its meeting in Cape Town on Wednesday, commended the multi-disciplinary team of law enforcement agencies that intercepted a gang of heavily armed suspects in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, on Monday.

The operation was led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Crime Intelligence Unit.

The gang was suspected of planning to commit a cash-in-transit robbery.

Ten suspects were arrested and eight were fatally shot following an exchange of gunfire with the police.

The suspects were found in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, explosives and hijacked vehicles. An investigation is underway to establish the origins of the weapons.

Cabinet has wished the police officer who was injured during the shootout a speedy recovery, Cabinet said in a statement.

It reiterated the clarion call to the public to continue working closely with law enforcement agencies in ensuring the safety of communities.

The 10 suspects appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Wednesday and are facing charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of explosives, possession of hijacked vehicles and conspiracy to commit a cash-in-transit heist.

They are allegedly part of at least 25 suspects, who were accosted during a Crime Intelligence-led operation, where their alleged plans to commit a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery were intercepted by a multi-disciplinary team led by the National CIT Task Team.

No room for racism

Meanwhile, Cabinet condemned the recent disturbing incidents of racism in some schools, saying this is inconsistent with the values enshrined in the countrys Constitution.

Cabinet reiterated that racism will not be tolerated in a democratic society, which is still healing from the scars of apartheid.

It urged all schools to tackle racism by exposing it whenever it rears its ugly head, so that it can be dealt with speedily.

Cabinet called on parents and teachers to put the interests of learners first, and to work together in building a non-racial and non-sexist society.

Recently, pupils at Hoerskool Jan Viljoen in Randfontein claimed there was racism at the school and that their teachers were not doing anything about it.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Beijing reports 8 new local COVID-19 cases

Xinhua) 09:22, February 24, 2022

A staff member receives express delivery items and food orders for residents at a residential compound in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. Beijing reported eight locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said Wednesday. The cases are from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Chaoyang District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District and Xicheng District, according to a press briefing held by the municipal government. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Beijing reported eight locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said Wednesday.

The cases are from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Chaoyang District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District and Xicheng District, according to a press briefing held by the municipal government.

Liu Xiaofeng, deputy director of the Beijing center for disease prevention and control, urged those who have been to the places visited by the new cases and have received notifications from the Health Kit mini-program to immediately report to communities and implement epidemic control measures.

Such measures include quarantine in designated places or at home, nucleic acid testing and health monitoring, said Liu.

A staff member delivers daily necessities for residents of a residential compound in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. Beijing reported eight locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said Wednesday. The cases are from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Chaoyang District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District and Xicheng District, according to a press briefing held by the municipal government. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A staff member arranges a pick-up area for express delivery items at a residential compound in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. Beijing reported eight locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said Wednesday. The cases are from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Chaoyang District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District and Xicheng District, according to a press briefing held by the municipal government. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A staff member arranges a pick-up area for express delivery items at a residential compound in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. Beijing reported eight locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said Wednesday. The cases are from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Chaoyang District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District and Xicheng District, according to a press briefing held by the municipal government. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A food delivery courier delivers orders made by residents outside a residential compound in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. Beijing reported eight locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said Wednesday. The cases are from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Chaoyang District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District and Xicheng District, according to a press briefing held by the municipal government. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Medical workers take swab samples from residents for COVID-19 tests at a residential compound in Chaoyang District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. Beijing reported eight locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said Wednesday. The cases are from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Chaoyang District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District and Xicheng District, according to a press briefing held by the municipal government. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

Staff members carry daily necessities ordered by residents at a residential compound in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. Beijing reported eight locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said Wednesday. The cases are from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Chaoyang District, Tongzhou District, Shunyi District and Xicheng District, according to a press briefing held by the municipal government. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
A handout photo made available by the Latvian Defence Ministry shows the first 40 soldiers of the 173rd U.S. Army Airborne Brigade after stepping off a military plane in Latvia, Thursday. The United States committed to defend NATO allies and strengthen Latvia's defense capabilities following Russia's military operation in Ukraine. EPA-Yonhap



NATO has agreed to beef up its land, sea and air forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military offensive in Ukraine.



NATO ambassadors said in a statement after emergency talks Thursday that "we have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies."






General Sir Patrick Sanders has been appointed the new head of the British Army.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed that the Queen has approved his new appointment as the Chief of the General Staff.

Sir Patrick, 55, said he is 'deeply honoured' by the appointment  which will see him take over from General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith from June 2022.

Sir Patrick was commissioned into The Royal Green Jackets in 1986 and spent his early career at Regimental Duty in Germany, Norway and the UK

Sir Patrick noted his posting comes 'at such a pivotal time for the future of the British Army'.

He said: 'The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder that the world is becoming increasingly dangerous and uncertain with war on land coming to Europe for the first time in decades.

'The British Army will play its part in defending the UK and our allies as we have for centuries.'

He was commissioned into The Royal Green Jackets in 1986 and spent his early career at Regimental Duty in Germany, Norway and the UK.

He has commanded at company, battalion, brigade, and divisional level, including on operations in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

His staff appointments have all been in operational and strategic roles.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed that the Queen has approved his new appointment as the Chief of the General Staff

These have included Brigade Chief of Staff, Directing Staff at the Joint Staff College and working as policy/military adviser for the Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq in 2003 to 2004.

Other roles have included time as the Chief of Defence Staff's Liaison Officer to the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as the Head Operations (Military) and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Operations) in the Ministry of Defence.

He was promoted to General in May 2019 and went on to take over the Commander Joint Forces Command, where he managed the organisation's move to Strategic Command.

Mr Wallace described him as 'an exceptional military leader'.

Mr Wallace said: 'General Sanders takes up his new role at a critically important time for the British Army and at a pivotal time for the organisation and management of our land forces as we witness the unprovoked attack by Russian forces across sovereign Ukraine.

'I have every confidence in his leadership and I wish him well in this endeavour.'

He pointed out that as the current Commander of UK Strategic Command, Sir Patrick has played a key role in the developing and shaping of the UK Government's Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper 'by reflecting the new and emerging threats posed by cyber and 'greyzone' warfare'.

He added that his leadership has reinforced how the UK Armed Forces must work across all sectors 'to ensure we meet the challenges of future conflicts in these regions'.
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Countries around the world have been lighting up their buildings in Ukraine's flag colours to show their solidarity as Russian forces have seized control of Chernobyl nuclear power plant after a 'fierce' battle.

Berlin's Brandenburg Gate was illuminated with stripes of yellow and blue, as was the front of 10 Downing Street in London and Flinders Train Station in Melbourne, Australia as other nations have similar plans in place to show their support.

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy has also been lit up after Italy's Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities of Italy Dario Franceschini tweeted about it earlier today.

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy today, with the colours of the Ukrainian flag illuminated on the historic landmark following Putin's invasion

Brandenburg Gate is seen lit up in the colours of Ukrainian flag during an anti-war protest, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Berlin, Germany

The front of 10 Downing Street, the residence of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is light up blue and yellow in an expression of solidarity with Ukraine

The Brandenburg Gate is illuminated in the colours of Ukraine during a solidarity demonstration following the Russian invasion into the Ukraine

Germany's capital lit up the gate yesterday, as Ukraine declared a state of emergency and told its citizens in Russia to flee, while Moscow began evacuating its Kyiv embassy as fears rise of a Russian military onslaught.

Berlin, which represented the front line during the Cold War until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, was sending a clear signal for a free and sovereign Ukraine, said its government.

In a statement, Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey said: 'We are showing our solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the many Berliners with Ukrainian roots but also with the many Russians who want peace in Russia and Ukraine.

'They all want nothing more than an end to the escalation and a peaceful settlement to this threatening conflict,' she added.

In Paris, authorities lit City Hall, seat of the mayor and local administration, in the same colors to also show their support.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, also a candidate in France's upcoming presidential election, yesterday said that 'once again, the spectre of war looms on Europe's doorstep.'

Rome's Colosseum has been lit up in yellow and blue to show support and solidarity with the invaded Ukraine today, as the conflict continues to escalate

Berlin, which represented the front line during the Cold War until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, was sending a clear signal for a free and sovereign Ukraine, said its government

Berlin's Brandenburg Gate was illuminated with stripes of yellow and blue, as was the front of 10 Downing Street (pictured) in London, Flinders Train Station in Melbourne, Australia as other nations have similar plans in place to show their support

Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia was seen lit up in yellow and blue to show solidarity with Ukraine today as Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion continues

The Triumphal Arch at the Jubelpark, Parc du Cinquantenaire, in Belgium, Brussels was similarly illuminated.

Liverpool has also shown its support as the city's St George's Hall had the Ukrainian flag projected on it and raised the country's flag too.

In a statement, Liverpool mayor Joanne Anderson said: 'This morning's news that Russia has invaded Ukraine is deeply disturbing.

'This is a very dark day which could easily become a defining one of the 21st century.

'I hope and pray all Western nations remain calm, clear and resolute in their support of Ukraine and its people.

'For all the Ukrainians who have made Liverpool their home, this is a deeply troubling time, we will do what we can to support you.

'There are no winners in war. We must now strain every sinew to convince President Putin of that fact.'

The Triumphal Arch at the Jubelpark - Parc du Cinquantenaire, in Brussels, Belgium has been lit up with the colours of the Ukrainian flag

The Ukrainian national colours are seen projected on 10 Downing Street to show solidarity and unity with Ukraine in London today as news of the conflicts unfolds

Liverpool's historic St George's Hall is illuminated in yellow and blue in support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine today

The flag of Ukraine is flown from the roof of Liverpool's historic St George's Hall in support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine

A general view of Flinders Street Station as it is lit in yellow and blue in Melbourne on February 24, 2022, as other public buildings around the world were similarly projected to show support

The flag colours of Ukraine are projected on the Flinders Train Station in a move to show solidarity with Ukraine in Melbourne, Australia on February 24, 2022

Belgium's triumphal arch at the Jubelpark - Parc du Cinquantenaire, in Brussels, was lit up with Ukraine's national colours in a move to show support

St George's Hall in Liverpool is lit up in yellow and blue in an expression of solidarity with Ukraine following Russia's invasion, as the city's mayor made a statement calling today a 'very dark day'

Paris City Hall lights up in the colours of the Ukraine flag, in support of the Ukrainian people, following Russia's decision to recognise separatists and send troops to their aid, in Paris, France

The assets of all major Russian banks - including VTB - will be frozen, while new legislation will block the state and all the country's major firms from being able to raise money on London markets. Pictured, Number 10 lit up

Pictured, Flinders Train Station in Melbourne. Italy's Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities of Italy Dario Franceschini has also tweeted that 'tonight the #Colosseum will be illuminated in yellow and blue, the colours of the Ukrainian flag'

Protests have also broken out around the world, with demonstrators calling for Putin to end the invasion and for other states to implement harsher sanctions.

Hundreds, many of whom are Ukrainian national stood outside Downing Street today, clad in the nation's yellow and blue, the Guardian reported, while Putin cracked down on Russians protesting for peace.

Rarely seen protests against Russian president Vladimir Putin broke out in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, as the global outcry against the Russian strongman grew louder.

Pictures showed officers physically picking up protesters and dragging them away from the demonstrations, which are rare in the authoritarian country which does not tolerate dissent against the Kremlin.

Earlier today Boris Johnson unveiled 'unprecedented' sanctions against Russian banks, firms and oligarchs as he vowed to cripple 'bloodstained aggressor' Vladimir Putin after the Ukraine invasion.

The PM announced 10 separate strands of measures to inflict 'significant' impact on Moscow's economy - with officials saying they should knock several percentage points off its GDP.

Mr Johnson told MPs Mr Putin was flouting 'every principle of civilised behaviour' and will 'never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands' - even though Ukrainians are 'offering a fierce defence'.

He insisted the world now saw the Russian president for what he is: 'A bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.'

The assets of all major Russian banks - including VTB - will be frozen, while new legislation will block the state and all the country's major firms from being able to raise money on London markets.

Video today revealed Russian tanks and armoured vehicles standing in front of the destroyed reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which sits just 60 miles north of the capital Kyiv.

Meanwhile Turkey reported that one of its ships had been hit by a 'bomb' off the coast of Odessa, where fighting is also going on.

Turkey is a member of NATO, underlining fears that the war in Ukraine could quickly suck in other states and spark an all-out conflict in Europe.

Elsewhere, Kyiv ordered civilians into bomb shelters and declared a curfew amid concerns Russia is about to strike the capital as Ukrainian troops lost control of a key airfield around 15 miles away. Russian forces had attacked it with around two dozen attack helicopters earlier in the day, four of which are thought to have been shot down.

'They are going to bomb Kyiv now. Authorities told us to hide in shelters,' a source in the city told MailOnline as authorities said a hospital had been hit, killing four people.

The Ukrainian army was this afternoon fighting in almost every region of the country, battling the Russians for control of military bases, airports, cities and ports from Kharkiv to Kyiv, and Donetsk to Odessa.

It came after Vladimir Putin personally gave the order to attack around 5am, unleashing a salvo of rocket fire that American intelligence said involved more than 100 short and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles, and 75 bombers that targeted military sites including barracks, warehouses and airfields in order to knock out the country's military command structure.
A brave Ukrainian woman voiced the outrage of her nation today as she confronted heavily armed Russian soldiers and demanded to know what they were doing in her country.

The woman shouted at two of the invaders: 'What the f*** are you doing in our land?' while one of the embarrassed soldiers in Henichesk, a port city on the sea of Azov, tried to calm her.

She walked away, then called back: 'You should put sunflower seeds in your pockets so that they will grow on Ukranian land after you die.'

On Twitter, she was hailed for her courage, with one admirer commenting: 'The bravery is amazing! Thank you! We stand with you!'

A woman shouted at two of the invaders: 'What the f*** are you doing in our land?' while one of the embarrassed soldiers in Henichesk, a port city on the sea of Azov, tried to calm her

Fierce fighting raged in parts of the city tonight.

The incident came as protesters in Moscow voiced their support for Ukraine as they chanted 'there is no war' outside Pushkinskaya Metro station in the Russian capital.

Rarely seen protests against Russian president Vladimir Putin broke out in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, as the global outcry against the Russian strongman grew louder.

Posting a video of the rally on Facebook, Ukrainian government advisor Anton Herashchenko added: 'Ukrainians! Call, write to your friends and acquaintances in Russia  ask them to tell everyone that Russian soldiers are now dying in Ukraine  sons, brothers, fathers!'

Russian police have detained almost 1,400 people at anti-war protests across Russia after President Vladimir Putin sent troops to invade Ukraine, an independent monitor said Thursday.

"More than 1,391 people have already been detained in 51 cities," said OVD-Info, which tracks arrests at opposition rallies.

More than 700 people have been detained in Moscow and over 340 people in the second-largest city Saint Petersburg, the monitor said.

Pictures showed officers physically picking up protesters and dragging them away from the demonstrations, which are rare in the authoritarian country which does not tolerate dissent against the Kremlin.

The incident came as protesters in Moscow voiced their support for Ukraine as they chanted 'there is no war' outside Pushkinskaya Metro station in the Russian capital (pictured)

Police officers detain a woman during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Moscow on February 24, 2022

MOSCOW: A person carries a banner during an anti-war protest, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Moscow, Russia February 24, 2022

MOSCOW: Police officers detain a man during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Moscow on February 24, 2022

MOSCOW: Police officers drag a protester towards a police van in Moscow on Thursday night amid anti-war demonstrations

Earlier, a Russian opposition activist who called for anti-war protests told Reuters that she had been detained by police.

'I was detained on my way out of the house,' Marina Litvinovich, the Moscow-based activist, wrote on Telegram. She confirmed her detention separately in a message to Reuters.

Litvinovich called on Russians earlier to gather in protest in various Russian cities on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, peers heard that the Russian people 'don't deserve' President Vladimir Putin as their leader.

As the Lords were updated on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Labour's Lord Robertson of Port Ellen said: 'I am sure I wasn't the only one who woke up this morning to listen to the news who wasn't reminded of that day, that similar day in 1968, when we woke up to hear the news that Soviet tanks had crushed out the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.

The former Nato secretary-general added: 'In May of 2002 when I chaired the Nato-Russia summit with President Putin as an equal member around that table I thought that finally I had exorcised the ghosts of 1968.

'I stood only hours later on a platform at the press conference standing beside President Putin when he said these words - 'Ukraine is an independent sovereign nation state and it will choose its own path to peace and security'.

More than 150 senior Russian officials signed an open letter condemning Putin's (pictured) invasion as 'an unprecedented atrocity' and warning of 'catastrophic consequences'

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts with bombs and missiles dropped on targets across the country in the early hours, followed by troop attacks from Crimea, the Donbass, Belgorod and Belarus as well as helicopter landings in Kiev and at power plants on the Dnieper River. Chernobyl nuclear power plant has also fallen to Russian forces

WARSAW: Demonstrators take part in the protest against Russia's agression on Ukraine, in front of Russian embassy in Warsaw, on February 24

BERLIN: People take part in an anti-war protest at Brandenburg Gate, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, Germany February 24, 2022. Protests have broken out across Europe as the global outcry against Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine grows louder amid the unfolding deadly crisis

'Now remarkably the same man says that Ukraine does not exist, it is a state that does not deserve to be a state, that it's democracy will be crushed again.

'The leader of the Russian people - to whom we owe so much for our own liberty today - has been led by somebody who is taking his country down the road to pariah status. The Russian people don't deserve that.'

Government minister Baroness Evans of Bowes Park agreed with Lord Roberston, and said President Putin was 'never serious' about diplomacy.

Earlier today, more than 150 senior Russian officials signed an open letter condemning Putin's invasion as 'an unprecedented atrocity' and warning of 'catastrophic consequences'.

The deputies said they were 'convinced' Russian citizens do not back the war and blamed Putin 'personally' for ordering troops into Ukraine in an attack 'for which there is no and cannot be justification'.

Across Europe and the rest of the world, anti-war activists took to their own streets and gathered outside Russian embassies including those in London, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, Oslo, Riga, as well as further afield in Tokyo, making their voices heard. Sydney also saw furious protesters calling for an end to the conflict.

Demonstrations were held overnight before war was declared by Russia, and continued into Thursday as Russian tanks rolled towards Kiev.

SAINT PETERSBURG: Armoured police gather in a square near demonstrators during an anti-war protest on Thursday night

SAINT PETERSBURG: Riot police are seen during an unsanctioned anti-war protest

NEW YORK: A women becomes emotional while waving a Ukrainian flag at a Stand With Ukraine Rally in Times Square on February 24

VILNIUS: Demonstrators take part in a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in front of Russia's embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk

There have been reports of intense fighting and casualties on both sides.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday also called on Ukrainian to 'go out' and 'protest against this war', after urging Russians to do the same earlier this week in a bid to prevent the invasion.

'We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia. For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine,' he said today.

Meanwhile, Russian forces seized control of Chernobyl nuclear power plant after a 'fierce' battle, with the condition of nuclear storage facilities 'unknown', sparking fears of a radiation leak that could cause fallout in Europe.

Video revealed Russian tanks and armoured vehicles standing in front of the destroyed reactor, which sits just 60 miles north of the capital Kiev.

Elsewhere, Kiev ordered civilians into bomb shelters and declared a curfew amid concerns Russia is about to strike the capital as Ukrainian troops lost control of a key airfield around 15 miles away.

Russian forces had attacked it with around two dozen attack helicopters earlier in the day, four of which are thought to have been shot down.

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region

Ukrainian tanks are seen rolling into the port city of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, after Putin declared war

A wounded woman is seen as airstrike damages an apartment complex outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian security forces accompany a wounded man after an airstrike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv

'They are going to bomb Kyiv now. Authorities told us to hide in shelters,' a source in the city told MailOnline as authorities said a hospital had been hit, killing four people.

The Ukrainian army was this afternoon fighting in almost every region of the country, battling the Russians for control of military bases, airports, cities and ports from Kharkiv to Kiev, and Donetsk to Odessa.

It came after Vladimir Putin personally gave the order to attack around 5am, unleashing a salvo of rocket fire that American intelligence said involved more than 100 short and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles, and 75 bombers that targeted military sites including barracks, warehouses and airfields in order to knock out the country's military command structure.

Russia said the strikes destroyed 74 Ukrainian military ground facilities, 11 airfields, three command posts and 18 radar stations controlling Kiev's anti-aircraft batteries.

That was followed by attacks from Crimea in the south towards the city of Kherson, a northern advance from Belarus to Kiev, and an eastern advance from Belgorod towards Kharkiv where the heaviest fighting is going on.
The Department of Transport will ban Russian commercial and civilian aircraft from UK airspace from midnight.

In a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) published by the Department of Transport, all aircraft 'owned, chartered or operated by a person connected with Russia' will be banned from UK air space from midnight.

The ban includes airspace over the UK's territorial seas - although it will not prevent jets flying outside the 12-mile territorial limit.

Russian owned aircraft will be banned from UK airspace from midnight until May 23, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced

The Department of Transport has banned all Russian aircraft from UK airspace from midnight until 11.59pm on May 23

According to the NOTAM - which will affect aircraft owned or chartered by oligarchs or commercial passenger jets such as those owned by Russian flag carrier Aeroflot.

The ban will start at midnight and will continue until 11.59pm on May 23.

The Civil Aviation Authority told MailOnline: 'Following the announcement by the Prime Minister in Parliament today, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the foreign carrier permit held by Aeroflot Russia Airlines (Aeroflot) until further notice.

'This means that Aeroflot will not be permitted to operate flights to or from the United Kingdom until further notice.'

MailOnline has approached the Department of Transport for a comment.
The chair of Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry was suspended on Wednesday as he apologized for tweeting a 'racist and sexist' comment describing a dark-skinned model as 'a freak of nature.'

Jeffery Lieberman had replied to a tweet on Monday falsely referring to Sudanese model Nyakim Gatwech, 29, as 'the Guinness Book of World Records holder for person with the darkest skin on Earth' - something Guinness does not track.

'Whether a work of art or freak of nature she's a beautiful sight to behold,' Lieberman tweeted about Gatwech, who is known as the 'Queen of Dark.'

Following backlash over the comment, Lieberman deleted the tweet and posted an apology, saying 'My sincere apologies for any offense taken and indiscretions. Living and learning.'

He then emailed colleagues on Tuesday, saying he was 'deeply ashamed' over the tweets and the 'racist and sexist' remark, the New York Times reported.

'An apology from me to the Black community, to women, and to all of you is not enough,' Lieberman wrote in the email. 'I've hurt many, and I am beginning to understand the work ahead to make needed personal changes and over time to regain your trust.'

In a statement, Columbia University said Lieberman was suspended from his role as not only chair of the Department of Psychiatry, but also removed as Psychiatrist-in-Chief at New York Presbyterian Hospital on Wednesday. The university said the decision was final.

Lieberman had replied to a tweet on Monday falsely referring to Sudanese Model Nyakim Gatwech as 'the Guinness Book of World Records' for person with the darkest skin on Earth

Jeffery Lieberman, chair of Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry, was suspended on Wednesday after he made a 'racist and sexist' comment about a dark-skinned Sudanese model

Nyakim Gatwech, 29, is a Sudanese model known as 'Queen of Dark.' She is pictured attending a fashion show in California on July 24

Lieberman also resigned from his role as executive director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute on Tuesday, with the new acting director, Thomas Smith, denouncing Lieberman's actions.

'We condemn the racism and sexism reflected in Dr. Lieberman's tweet and acknowledge and share the hurt, sadness, confusion, and distressing emotions you may be feeling,' Smith said in a statement.

Gatwech said Lieberman's tweet has brought negative attention to her, saying she's repeatedly had to battle claims that she has the darkest skin in the world.

'Unfortunately, I believe this has been impacting my Instagram account negatively,' she wrote on Instagram about the issue.

'I have worked really hard to build my page and use it as platform to promote self acceptance, body positivity, and of course, my brand partnerships, but it's about self love above anything else.

'I don't buy followers, and to those who believe otherwise, I do not need to manufacture lies for likes... I love my dark skin and my nickname 'Queen of Dark,' but I've never said I'm the darkest person on earth.'

Lieberman deleted the tweet following the backlash and apologized for 'any offense taken'

Gatwech said Lieberman's tweet has brought negative attention to her. She said she has worked hard on her modeling career and likes her nickname, 'Queen of Dark'

Gatwech responded to Lieberman's tweet on her Instagram page

Lieberman's comments received heavy criticism prior to his suspension as many called out the doctor for his crude comment and called on him to be fired.

Dr. Daniel Block, a fellow psychiatrist, tweeted that Lieberman's comments were bad enough on their own, but were made even worse given his prestigious position.

'It's unconscionable that anyone would post that anywhere - it is nothing but hurtful and propagates racism,' Block wrote. 'That it was a psychiatrist in such a position of power and authority makes it that much worse. An apology is no longer enough - that is just words.'

A Twitter user with the handle Nicole Luongo agreed that it was alarming for someone in Lieberman's position to make those comments.

'That he is a psychiatrist is extremely important here,' Lungo wrote. 'Had he expressed these views during an appointment, any reaction that wasn't demure, measured, and polite would be pathologized.

'He has power by virtue of his profession to diagnosis and, in so doing, control the narrative.'

Another Twitter user with the name Ashley wrote, 'if yall don't fire that man,' as she tagged Columbia University's Psychiatry Department.

Lieberman's tweet received backlash on Twitter as many called it inappropriate and called on him to be fired from Columbia University

Jeremy Vandiver, another Twitter user, also criticized the apology Lieberman had posted, point out, 'He only apologized for 'any offense taken,' not his actual comment.'

Another Twitter user with the handle name Erica was also critical of Lieberman, writing, 'He has no business being a chair OR teaching students. And I told the acting dean as much earlier today.'

Robert Klitzman, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia whose worked for decades with Lieberman, told the Times this was an 'unfortunate' episode, adding that it 'really highlights how deep and pervasive some of our own unconscious biases can be.'

'I think that this incident speaks to the need to be ever vigilant in our awareness of our own unconscious biases,' Klitzman said.
A Camp Pendleton Senior Marine Corps leader, who led a team of 47,000, was let go because of officials' 'loss of trust' in his abilities to perform the job.

Sgt. Major Terrance Whitcomb was relieved of his duties as a senior enlisted leader of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton in California on Wednesday by Lieutenant General George Smith.

The military cited his sudden departure 'due to loss of trust and confidence in his abilities to fulfill his assigned duties.' It is unclear what Whitcomb's duties included or what he did to create mistrust. 'Loss of trust and confidence' can include a wide variety of causes.

The military also did not mention who would take over Whitcomb's role.

Whitcomb, who was a 'distinguished graduate' of Class 1957 of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, was in charge of a quarter of the Marine Corps' active duty service.

Sergeant Major Terrance Whitcomb was relieved of his duties as a senior enlisted leader of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton in California

He joined the Marines in 1993 and assumed his current rank as Sergeant Major in November 2011, serving both at Camp Pendleton and in the United Arabs Emirates. He took over as Sergeant Major of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in September 2021.

First Marine Expeditionary Force is the largest force in the Marine Corps and has a long history of combat deployment. It is based at Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar-based 3rd Marine Air Wing. It includes the West Coast air-ground task force and is made up of Marines and sailors.

He also served as a drill instructor, an administrative chief and a personnel clerk throughout his 29-year career, and he was deployed to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and 2007. He was deployed as part of the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force to the Middle East between 2016 and 2018.

Whitcomb (right, with previous Commanding General Robert Castellvi) won many awards during his 29-year career, including the Meritorious Service Medal - the third most prestigious award given by the Department of Defense

The military cited that he was fired 'due to loss of trust and confidence in his abilities to fulfill his assigned duties.' It is unclear what his duties included and what led to the firing

Throughout his almost 30-year career, he won the Meritorious Service Medal, which is the third most prestigious award presented by the Department of Defense; the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal - an award presented to servicemen who performed an exceptional act - which he won four times; and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, which is awarded for combat or noncombative achievement that is exceptional for Lieutenant Commander or higher. He won that three times.

DailyMail.com has contacted Camp Pendleton and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force for comment.

Lieutenant General George Smith (pictured) relieved Whitcomb of his duties on Wednesday

Earlier this month, police found the body of Sara Celeste Otero, 28, at the bottom of a cliff in a remote part of Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California.

Officers said they noticed her vehicle abandoned in a rest stop near Camp Pendleton on February 8, spokeswoman Jennifer Atenza said.

The medical examiner has yet to rule on the exact cause of death but foul play is not suspected.

She had struggled with depression and had a history of drug abuse, but was sober during the last two years.

Otero had told her stepfather she was going to a local gym on January 28 to meet a friend, but FOX News reports, the friend was unaware of any such plans and Otero never arrived.
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President Joe Biden on Thursday warned Vladimir Putin that U.S. forces will defend NATO territory if he broadens his assault beyond Ukraine, and said he was ordering more troops to Europe.

Soon after he spoke the Pentagon said 7000 extra personnel and hardware were being deployed to Germany.

In a White House speech, Biden slapped a new round of sanctions on Russia and promised that Putin's country would bear the consequences of his aggression against Ukraine.

He said American forces would not engage with Russian troops in Ukraine.

'Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO allies and reassure those allies in the east,' he said.

'As I made crystal clear, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power.'

In a question-and-answer session with reporters, he was asked if that meant American soldiers would fight if Russia attacked NATO territory.

'If he did move into NATO countries we will be involved,' he said. 'We will be involved.'

President Joe Biden ordered more troops to Europe on Thursday and warned Russia US forces will defend NATO territory

kraine's government in Kyiv reported mounting casualties as Russian forces attack from the east, north and south

Russian tanks move across the town of Armyansk, northern Crimea, after Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine

A Russian T-72 tank is pictured sitting in front of the main reactor at Chernobyl after Putin's forces seized it in a 'fierce' battle with the condition of nuclear storage facilities 'unknown'

He delivered his remarks as Ukraine's government in Kyiv reported mounting casualties as Russian forces attack from the east, north and south.

Authorities said they had given away 10,000 rifles as part of the resistance to Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukrainians to take up arms in self defense.

'We are giving away weapons and we will continue doing so to anyone who will ask for it in order to protect our sovereignty,' he said in televised remarks. 'Our future depends on each and every citizen.'

Ukrainian officials said their forces had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the world's worst nuclear disaster.

'Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won't give up its freedom,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted.

Biden also held a virtual meeting with the leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Italy and Japan, as well as figures from the European Union and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

In other major developments in the hours since Putin's assault:

Russian troops seized Chernobyl after fierce battle, raising fears about radioactive material being disturbed

Ukraine's Health Minister Oleh Lyashko said 57 people had been killed and 169 wounded on Thursday

Global markets tanked off the back of the invasion, with the price of oil shooting up to over $100 per barrel

EU will freeze Russian assets, halt access to financial market and target 'Kremlin interests'

Central European countries started preparations to receive potentially hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the fighting in Ukraine

UN Security Council will discuss a resolution condemning the invasion

Ukraine demanded the world banish Russia from SWIFT banking system

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russian's aggression against Ukraine constituted 'the most serious attack on peace, on stability in Europe for decades'

A Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship is seen in the field after a forced landing Kyiv, Ukraine

In the area of Glukhova, the Ukrainian military engaged an armored column of 15 T-72 tanks with American Javelin missiles

A Ukrainian military tank takes up a defensive position near Potemkin Stairs in the center of Odessa

World leaders react to Russia's war on Ukraine RUSSIA PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN 'I have decided to conduct a special military operation... to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide... for the last eight years. 'And for this we will strive for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine. And to bring to court those who committed numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation.' UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELINSKIY 'Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in the WW2 years. 'As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.' NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JENS STOLTENBERG 'This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion... 'Peace on our continent has been shattered Russia is using force to try to rewrite history, and deny Ukraine its free and independent path... 'We have no plans to send NATO troops in Ukraine. What we do is defensive.' U.S PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering... 'I will be meeting with the leaders of the G7, and the United States and our allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia.' EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN 'President Putin is responsible for bringing war back to Europe... 'We will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to key technologies and markets. We will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernise.' 'In addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the EU and stop the access of Russian banks to the European financial market.' EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JOSEP BORRELL 'These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War. 'The EU will respond in the strongest possible terms and agree on the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented.' GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ 'Putin is bringing suffering and destruction to his direct neighbours, he is violating the sovereignty and borders of Ukraine. 'He is endangering the lives of countless innocent people (and)... the peace order on our continent. For all that there is no justification. This is Putin's war.' FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON 'France strongly condemns the decision of Russia to start a war with Ukraine. Russia must immediately put an end to its military operations.' BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON 'President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine... 'This is a catastrophe for our continent.' Advertisement

'Now I'm authorizing additional US force capabilities to deploy to Germany as part of NATO's response, including some the US-based forces that the Department of Defence placed on standby weeks ago,' said Biden.

Moments later a Pentagon official briefed journalists that the secretary of defense had ordered the deployment of 7,000 US service members to Europe. It will comprise an armored brigade, said the official.

Biden also said the U.S. was working with other nations on releasing oil from the global strategic reserves in order to control prices.

The cost of a barrel of the international crude benchmark Brent shot above $105 after Russia, one of the world's top oil producers, launched its assault.

'We are actively working with countries around the world to elevate collective release from the strategic petroleum reserves of major energy-consuming countries,' Biden said.

'The United States will release additional barrels of oil as conditions warrant.'

Biden acknowledged that Americans were already hurting from inflation.

'I will do everything in my power to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump,' he said.

'This is critical to me.

'But this aggression cannot go on answered. If it did, the consequences for America would be much worse.

'America stands up to bullies we stand up for freedom. This is who we are.'

The invasion - a naked attempt to redraw the map of Europe by force - marks the most concerted attempt to up-end world order since the end of the Cold War, and risks sparking the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the end of the Second World War.

Underlining the gravity of the moment, Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko said: 'Starting today, the world has a new geopolitical reality. Either Ukraine and the world will stop the new Hitler now, or there will be a Third World War.'

Western leaders lined up to condemn Russia's actions in the early hours, with security councils convened the world over to mount a response. Heavy sanctions followed and more shipments of military equipment to Ukraine are expected - provided they can find a route in.

But NATO and the US have made it clear that no troops will be sent, leaving Ukraine's military - far the inferior of Russia - to hold off the assault alone.

Few expect it to emerge victorious from what is almost certain to be a prolonged, bloody, and vicious war.

NATO is expected to focus its efforts on stopping the war from spilling over into neighbouring countries. Poland, a member of the alliance, shares an extensive land border with Ukraine. The Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, also NATO members - will now fear a Russian assault.

The alliance began moving its forces early Thursday, putting 100 warplanes on high alert in Europe whole moving more troops to the Baltics.

Moldova, where some Russian ground troops are already based, is also at risk of falling to Putin. From there, he could strike out at Romania - another former Soviet state.

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and struck Boryspil Airport in Kiev. Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine - a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion.

He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia's demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees. He also claimed Russia did not intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to 'demilitarize' it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that 'there is no threat to civilian population.'
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More than 2,000 flights have been canceled across the US as a winter storm makes its way Northeast and is predicted to produce up to six inches of snow by Friday.

On Thursday more than 110 million Americans were under weather alerts for a winter storm that is set to bring dangerous ice to the South and Midwest on Thursday before dumping a combination of heavy snow, wintry mix and rain in the Northeast.

Through Thursday evening, ice and sleet will continue for the southern Plains and the Mississippi Valley as snow is forecasted to increase in coverage and intensity across the Midwest and the southern Great Lakes, while heavy rain with some isolated strong storms will roll across the Southeast, NBC News reported.

A man takes his pup for a walk on Thursday morning in Albuquerque after a winter storm dumped a coat of overnight snow in the area

A fresh layer of now is seen in Mother Neff State Park in Moody, Texas on Thursday as a winter storm moves through the South and Midwest

A woman doesn't let a winter storm stop her from getting a run in New Mexico on Thursday morning after the area received a coat of overnight snow

The normally sunny Flagstaff, Arizona sees some snowfall on Wednesday after the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning yesterday

The Historic San Felipe de Neri in Old Town in New Mexico is seen with a fresh coat of overnight snow on Thursday morning as a winter storm makes its way across the US

Ice accumulations of over 0.25 inches are likely from the Red River Valley of Texas through the Ozarks and southeast Missouri, according to the Weather Prediction Center.

To prepare for the storm the Electric Reliability Council of Texas warned of tight grid conditions and some Texas school districts in Texas canceled classes due to hazardous driving conditions, CNN reported.

Thousands of flights, mostly out of Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport, have also been cancelled and delayed.

By Thursday afternoon, 2,020 flights entering, leaving and traveling within the U.S. have been canceled, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com.

As the storm shifts east overnight it is forecast to bring up to 12-18 inches of snow in parts of New England, along with a mix of snow, ice and rain for points to the south along the I-95 corridor, Accuweather reported.

A map of projected snowfall as a winter storm makes its way to the Northeast on Thursday

The storm is forecast to bring up to 12-18 inches of snow in parts of New England, along with a mix of snow, ice and rain for points to the south along the I-95

A massive snowstorm is forecast to make its way Northeast late Thursday, bringing heavy snow and a wintry mix and rain

'Heavy snow is expected across Upstate New York and New England on Friday when snow rates will likely eclipse 1'/hr at times. Dangerous travel is likely,' the weather service tweeted.

The Northeast is largely expected to be dry on Thursday, with a light mixture of rain and sleet expected to spread eastward across northern Maryland and Virginia and along the southern tier of Pennsylvania Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday night, most of central and southern Pennsylvania through central New Jersey will have sleet and freezing rain.

New York City is forecasted to see about 2.5 inches of snow that is expected to being around midnight on Thursday, as well as sleet and freezing rain will spread over the New York metro area between late Thursday and Friday afternoon.

'A gradual transition to rain will then take place into Friday morning. However, roads and sidewalks are likely to still be slippery especially over the northern and western suburbs and in parts of central Long Island, where the wintry mix is likely to linger for a time,' AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Sadvary said.

The bad weather even forced The People's Convoy, heading to Washington DC to protest COVID mask and vaccine mandates, to reroute

By Thursday afternoon, 2,020 flights entering, leaving and traveling within the U.S. have been canceled, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com

On Thursday morning Kris Young, who is the admin for the group's Facebook page, announced the delay on its way to Lupton, Arizona, citing 'weather conditions.'

Young later released an updated route, seemingly to avoid the poor conditions, and told supporters in Lupton to prepare for their arrival. The convoy is still expected to arrive in the city Friday, they are just taking different roads to get there.

'Line the over passes! Wave your flags! Get the kids arm pumping!' she wrote.

It is unclear what conditions the convoy met along the original route, as organizers did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment, however, a storm dropped about a foot of snow across parts of Arizona's High County Wednesday.

The National Weather Service had issued a winter storm warning spanning from Flagstaff to Show Low until 11 p.m. Wednesday. When the truckers arrived in Kingman, which is located about 150 miles east of Flagstaff, there wasn't any snow visible.

The People's Convoy made it's way down Hwy 395 on Wednesday before they were forced to revise its cross-country route on Thursday due to inclement weather in Arizona
Moscow's ambassador to the UK was berated by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who told him the invasion of Ukraine had made Russia an 'international pariah' that would suffer vast costs.

Ms Truss was understood to have kicked out Andrei Kelin after he repeated the Kremlin's propaganda during what was characterised as a 'very grumpy meeting' on Tuesday.

The Foreign Office said Ms Truss told Mr Kelin to expect 'severe sanctions' against Russia as she accused the country he represents of having 'repeatedly lied'.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, pictured, summoned the Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin to Whitehall after he had previously claimed that Moscow had no plans to invade Ukraine

Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin, pictured, was warned that Russia must expect 'a long, protracted conflict that would inflict a huge human, economic and political cost' on Moscow and officials in the Kremlin

Ms Truss told Mr Kelin that his government had 'repeatedly lied' and described the invasion of Ukraine as 'unprovoked aggression'

Mr Kelin had been summoned to Whitehall for a dressing down for the second time in a week after the Kremlin began an assault on Ukraine that is feared will amount to an all-out invasion.

According to a Foreign Office statement, Ms Truss told him that Russia must expect a 'long, protracted conflict that would inflict a huge human, economic and political cost on the Russian government'.

'The Foreign Secretary said the Russian government had repeatedly lied about having no plans to invade Ukraine, and its unprovoked aggression had made it an international pariah,' it added.

'She condemned Russia's outrageous attack on Ukraine as a clear breach of international law.

'She reiterated there would be severe sanctions in retribution for the invasion, which will inflict pain on the Russian economy and those closely associated with the Kremlin.'

A Foreign Office source went further in characterising it as a 'very grumpy meeting'.

'Liz kicked him out after he started spouting the Kremlin's incredulous propaganda lines,' the source said.

'She said the international community will stand by Ukraine and that Russia has made itself an international pariah.'

Ms Truss's war of words continued at a virtual meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

She is understood to have said: 'Today, the Russian government has shown that they lied to the world.'
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, Monday, to outline the Government's new long-term COVID-19 plan. AP-Yonhap



As Prime Minister Boris Johnson moves to confront Moscow over its Ukraine invasion, he stands accused of leaving the financial back door wide open by ignoring a "sewer" of Russian money coursing through Britain.



Johnson on Wednesday confirmed another delay to an "economic crime" bill, which he says will eventually dismantle the "Matryoshka doll" hiding the ownership of U.K. companies and properties by Russian oligarchs.






A retired police SWAT commander on trial for fatally shooting a 43-year-old father for texting inside a Florida movie theater in 2014 claims he was 'defenseless' and feared he was about to be attacked by a person he said was 'out of control' and 'looked like a monster.'

Curtis Reeves, 79, testified in court Thursday that he shot Chad Oulson on January 13, 2014 out of fear after Oulson started 'yelling a lot of profanities and threats' and had thrown a cellphone and popcorn at him. Reeves had confronted Oulson about his cellphone use during the movie previews.

'I am looking up at this guy and [he] looked like a monster,' Reeves told the courtroom. 'I was completely defenseless. I have never encountered someone exhibiting that amount of uncontrolled anger and rage.'

He added: 'I didn't want to shoot anybody. I came to the theater with my family to see a movie.'

Reeves claims he shot Oulson during the matinee showing of Mark Wahlberg's Lone Survivor in self-defense. He faces a potential life sentence if convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Testifying in Pasco County - located north of Tampa - on Thursday, Reeves said he fired his .380 handgun because he believed he had no other choice, saying his seated position, his then-71 years and his poor health made it impossible to defend himself with his hands.

Retired police SWAT commander testified in Pasco County, Florida Thursday that he shot Cha Oulson in 2014 because he was 'defenseless' and feared he was about to be attacked by a person who was 'out of control' and 'looked like a monster'

Reeves shot Oulson (pictured with his wife, Nicole, and their daughter) after the former cop confronted the young father about using his cellphone in the theater

Reeves recounted the incident, alleging Oulson - a younger, fitter man - was cursing at him and about to attack him.

'The F-word seemed to be his primary vocabulary,' Reeves said Thursday while under questioning by his attorney Richard Escobar. The elderly man alleged Oulson used the word as a part of a threat to beat him.

'He [was] very volatile and active. He [was] trying to come over the seats,' he stated.

The former cop claimed the victim's widow, Nicole Oulson, appeared to be trying to hold her husband back, but Oulson appeared ready to strike.

'He was so much above me and so full of rage ... that he was going to strike me with all the strength that he could put together. I figured this was the end of the line for me,' Reeves said.

He claimed Oulson was out of control, forcing the encounter to reach a point where he had 'no other choice' but to reach for his gun and shoot the man.

'I've never been in that kind of position before,' Reeves argued.

'When he stood up, I'm sitting down in a completely defenseless position. I'm looking up at this guy, and he is looking like a monster. He exhibited explosive behavior, both verbally and physically. I had seen his wife try to control him.'

'He was a threat,' the defendant added. 'He was a threat who was very close to me.'

Reeves claimed he felt trapped and had tried to lean away from Oulson, but was unsuccessful.

'At some point, I made the decision, I had no alternative,' he explained. 'In my opinion, he is completely out of control. He is not settling down.'

Reeves said he fired his .380 handgun in the theater (pictured) because he believed he had no other choice, saying his seated position, his then-71 years and his poor health made it impossible to defend himself with his hands

'He was so much above me and so full of rage ... that he was going to strike me with all the strength that he could put together. I figured this was the end of the line for me,' Reeves recalled to the courtroom Thursday. 'At some point, I made the decision, I had no alternative'

Prosecutor Scott Rosenwasser started his cross-examination by asking Reeves if he killed Oulson out of rage or 'blind fury.'

'No sir, I killed him out of fear,' the defendant replied.

He then proceeded to argue that Reeves was not as debilitated as he claimed, pointing out that shortly before the shooting he had gone on an archery hunting trip where he had to walk uphill and climb 10 feet up a tree to enter a stand.

The state also questioned how Reeves expected a jury to believe he had been struck by Oulson despite having no marks on his body.

'You're testifying that six-foot-four Chad Oulson is full of rage, is virtually on top of you, and he punches you or hits you hard with a cellphone - so much so that you're dazed - yet you easily bruise, but there's not a single mark on your face. That's what you want this jury to believe?' Rosenwasser asked.

'Yes I do,' Reeves replied, adding that Oulson knocked his glasses askew.

Rosenwasser spent significant time with Reeves going through security video of the shooting, trying to show that the reflection Reeves saw just before shooting was light bouncing off reflective material on his own shoe.

He told Reeves there was no indication on the video that Oulson threw his cellphone at Reeves, who responded that he did.

'No one can answer that but me,' Reeves insisted.

Rosenwasser also claimed the attack was not visible on the video.

'It was a perception on my part. I was scared,' the defendant answered. 'This guy was completely out of control, didn't seem to be acting rational. I was so scared until I was not sure exactly where he was, but I knew he was attacking me.'

'Your perception is an attack that never occurred?' Rosenwasser hit back.

Reeves answered: 'That would be a misstatement to say it never occurred.'

The prosecutor also questioned Reeves about comments he made the night of the shooting where he allegedly claimed to be 'second-guessing' whether or not Oulson actually hit him.

'Yes sir, Ive been second-guessing it for the last eight years,' Reeves told the courtroom. 'Anybody thats involved in something like that and they dont second-guess it has gotta be nuts.'

'I second-guessed every step of that encounter,' he added.

Prosecutor Scott Rosenwasser spent significant time with Reeves going through security video (pictured) of the shooting, trying to show that the reflection Reeves saw just before shooting was light bouncing off reflective material on his own shoe

The prosecutor told Reeves there was no indication on the video that Oulson threw his cellphone at Reeves, who responded that he did. 'No one can answer that but me,' Reeves said

Rosenwasser did, however, get Reeves to concede that someone cannot shoot another person who had simply thrown a harmless item at them and that he had rejected his wife's suggestion that they move away from the Oulsons.

Reeves claims he and his wife, Vivian, had arrived at the theater early and were sitting in the back row in the middle. Their son, now a Tampa police officer, was supposed to meet them and the Oulsons were sitting one row in front of them, slightly to Reeves' right.

He alleged that as the previews began, he asked Oulson politely to put down his cellphone because it was shining in his eyes. He testified that Oulson cursed at him and refused.

Turning periodically to face the jury, as police officers are trained to do when testifying, Reeves said he was not angry, but decided to head to the lobby and report Oulson to the manager.

After he returned to his seat, he said Oulson glared at him and seemed to be speaking loudly to his wife or the audience in general. Reeves said he tried to 'diffuse the situation' by telling Oulson that if he had known he would put his phone away, he would not have gone to the manager.

He said he turned away, but when he looked back Oulson had stood up, he saw a reflection and his vision went fuzzy as something hit him in the glasses, knocking them askew. He didn't think Oulson was close enough to reach him - he said Oulson threw his cellphone, which was found on the floor near Reeves.

After the alleged cursing and threats, Reeves pulled his gun from his pocket and fired once, striking Oulson in the chest. He died in the theater. Reeves also struck Nicole's ring finger.

He was arrested after sheriff's deputies arrived to the theater.

'At some point, I made the decision, I had no alternative,' Reeves explained to the court. 'In my opinion, he is completely out of control. He is not settling down'

Oulson's widow, Nicole Oulson (pictured), glared at Reeves throughout his testimony, rocking slightly back and forth. She testified earlier she never heard her husband curse at Reeves

Oulson's widow, Nicole Oulson, glared at Reeves throughout his testimony, rocking slightly back and forth. She testified earlier she never heard her husband curse at Reeves.

She said Reeves had started the argument by ordering her husband put away his cellphone as he checked on their 22-month-old daughter at daycare.

Another witness testified that after firing the shot, Reeves had muttered, 'throw popcorn in my face.'

Reeves is facing a potential life sentence if convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The trial, expected to last about three weeks, is being heard by a jury of four men and two women with four alternates.

The case has been delayed for years as Reeves sought protection under Florida's 'stand your ground' law that allows use of deadly force in the face of mortal danger or fear of serious injury. Reeves has been on house arrest during most of that time, tethered to a GPS-tracking ankle monitor.

A judge ruled against him, but Reeves appealed. Lawmakers meanwhile changed the law to shift the burden of proof to prosecutors, but the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the changes didn't affect cases such as Reeves' retroactively.
The Labour MP for Sunderland Central Julie Elliott was told she was 'historically wrong, factually wrong and morally wrong' to make the comparison between Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the situation in Israel and Palestine.

Ms Elliott insisted international law was 'as relevant' in both situations as she pressed the Government to consider recognising the state of Palestine alongside Israel in pursuit of a two-state solution to the conflict in the region.

She told MPs: 'My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people. Quite rightly we talk about international law. In fact I listened to the minister (Amanda Milling) only a few minutes ago and the vital importance of the sovereignty of states. Yet when Palestinians hear that - how must they feel?'

The Labour MP for Sunderland Central Julie Elliott was told she was 'historically wrong, factually wrong and morally wrong' to make the comparison between Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the situation in Israel and Palestine

Conservative former work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb intervened to describe her comparison as 'historically wrong, factually wrong and morally wrong', and added that it did 'a huge disservice not just to the people of Ukraine but also to the people of Palestine and the people of Israel as well, who face a unique situation and set of challenges'.

Ms Elliott replied: 'What I was talking about was the upholding of international law which your own minister talked about a few minutes ago and the right of upholding international law is as relevant in Ukraine as it is in Palestine.'

She called for a 'complete and total ban of illegal Israeli settlements' in the West Bank and said that recognising Palestine was the 'bare minimum' of what the UK should do as part of a two-state solution to the conflict.

Co-sponsoring the calls to recognise Palestinian statehood, SNP MP Philippa Whitford said: 'After 55 years of occupation, 15 years of Gaza blockade, and the ongoing annexation of the West Bank, the two-state solution is simply becoming unviable unless there is a reversal of current Israeli policy.'

Ms Elliott insisted international law was 'as relevant' in both situations as she pressed the Government to consider recognising the state of Palestine alongside Israel in pursuit of a two-state solution to the conflict in the region. Palestinian supporters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLFP) are seen holding flags during a rally in Gaza city in February

Dr Whitford (Central Ayrshire) said: 'Palestinians face constant harassment and obstruction. Their homes are demolished while settlements are relentlessly expanded, in what is de facto annexation and conquest by concrete.'

However, Conservative MP Scott Benton said the motion 'asks the UK Government to undermine its commitment to the peace process by predetermining the outcome of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians'.

The MP for Blackpool South said recognition is not 'merely an empty gesture' and said supporting the motion 'gives a greenlight to the intransigence of the Palestinian Authority and the terrorism of Hamas in Gaza by suggesting that the current policies of Palestinian leadership befit a sovereign state, which they clearly do not.'

He said: 'A peaceful Palestinian state is in Israel's best interest and important for its long-term security, but we must be clear that the biggest obstacle to peace is Hamas, whose stated aim to wipe Israel and the Jewish people off the face of the earth.'

Foreign Office minister Amanda Milling said the UK will recognise a permanent Palestinian state 'at a time when it best serves the objective of peace'.

She told the Commons: 'We firmly believe that a just and lasting solution delivering peace for both Israelis and Palestinians is long overdue. We also believe that the best way to make progress towards this is through negotiations between both sides, which take account of the their legitimate concerns.'
Vladimir Putin admitted he 'never thinks of Australia' years before Scott Morrison imposed further sanctions against Russia for launching an invasion in Ukraine.

The Russian president made the brutal admission while visiting Australia during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2007.

Australian economist Tim Harcourt took to Twitter on Thursday to reveal he had asked Putin for his first impressions of the country.

'What do you think of Australia?' he asked. 'Is it what you expected?'

Mr Harcourt tweeted he received a very blunt and surprising response from the visiting president.

'I never think of Australia,' Mr Putin responded.

His comment about the country did not appear to phase then-prime minister John Howard as he went on to sign a uranium deal following the APEC summit. At the time, Mr Putin agreed to buy Australian uranium to use for its nuclear reactors.

His thoughts about Australia have come to light after Mr Morrison condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as 'brutal and unprovoked' and imposed further sanctions.

The Russian president made the brutal admission while visiting Australia during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2007 (pictured, Putin with then-prime minister John Howard at the 2007 APEC summit)

Vladimir Putin admitted he 'never thinks of Australia' years before Scott Morrison imposed further sanctions against Russia for launching an invasion in Ukraine (pictured, destroyed vehicle and debris in Mariupol, Ukraine)

His thoughts about Australia have come to light after Mr Morrison condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as 'brutal and unprovoked' and imposed further sanctions

Australian economist Tim Harcourt took to Twitter on Thursday to reveal he had asked Putin for his first impressions of the country

The Prime Minister said special forces from Russia were moving towards the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, and tanks are 'rolling in all around their borders'.

He said there were 1,400 Australians in Ukraine and urged them to leave if safe to do so.

After building up troops since November, President Putin announced his invasion on Thursday morning, describing it as a 'special military operation' and saying he wants to 'demilitarise', not occupy, Ukraine.

Within hours, Ukraine's interior ministry said there had been hundreds of casualties - despite Russia insisting early Thursday morning that they were only attacking military installations, and were avoiding populated areas.

Ukraine used to be part of the Soviet Union which collapsed in 1991, and President Putin wants to stop its pro-European government from joining the anti-Russian NATO alliance.

Prime Minister Morrison said Russia was wrong to call the move a 'special military operation'.

'They said this after months of aggression and intimidation,' he said.

'But I'll call it what it is. The Russian government launched a brutal invasion, unprovoked, on Ukraine, and should be condemned for doing so.

'Together with the international community, we are banding together in strong terms to condemn these outrageous acts in the strongest possible terms.

'The footage that is emerging of missile strikes, air-raid sirens, and reports of hundreds of casualties - as yet unconfirmed - are, sadly, not surprising given the events we've been witnessing for some time now, and have been warning about.

After building up troops since November, President Putin announced his invasion on Thursday morning, describing it as a 'special military operation' and saying he wants to 'demilitarise', not occupy, Ukraine (pictured, Ukrainians shelter in Pushkinskaya underground station in Kharkiv)

Explosions are seen in the early hours of Thursday in Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, after Putin made his declaration

'But, even as these events continue to take place, we do call on the Russian government to withdraw and return Ukraine to a peaceful situation.'

Mr Morrison said the invasion was 'of great concern' to all Aussies, especially the 40,000 Australians of Ukrainian descent.

He announced the 'second stage' of sanctions would begin in line with Western allies. On Wednesday night, the PM imposed a travel ban and financial restrictions on eight members of Russia's Security Council which come into effect at midnight.

Now sanctions will affect 25 more people including 'army commanders, deputy defence ministers and Russian mercenaries who have 'been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable invasion and for entities involved in the sale and development of military technology,' he said.

More than 300 members of the Russian Parliament who backed the invasion will also face sanctions.

The Prime Minister warned Russia may retaliate with cyber attacks on Australia but none had been launched so far. Australia is helping Ukraine with cyber experts but has ruled out sending troops.

Assistance Defence Minister Andrew Hastie said Australia has 'offensive cyber capabilities' but did not say if it would use them against Russia.

Putin has recognized two areas in eastern Ukraine as independent and authorized Russian troops to go in on 'peacekeeping' missions. Rebels already hold part of that territory (in red) but Putin has recognized a much-wider region (yellow)

Scott Morrison releases statement condemning Russia Australia joins our partners in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There is no justification for this aggression, whose cost will be borne by innocent Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin has fabricated a feeble pretext on which to invade. Russia's disinformation and propaganda has convinced no one. We call on Russia to cease its illegal and unprovoked actions, and to stop violating Ukraine's independence. Russia must reverse its breach of international law and of the UN Charter, and withdraw its military from Ukraine. We reiterate our staunch support for Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity  the bedrock principles of a rules-based world order. Russia's actions are of deep concern to Australians  especially those who have family and loved ones there. Australia will continue playing our part to ensure Russia pays the high price this invasion warrants. We will place financial sanctions on an additional 25 persons and four entities who have been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression. We will put restrictions on Australians investing in a further four financial institutions. We will be working with like-minded countries on further consequences for Russia. The Australian Government will continue working with our partners to keep Australians safe and defend our values and principles. Advertisement

Labor leader Anthony Albanese also condemned the invasion and said: 'Australia must stand united with our allies, in holding Russia to account.'

It came as Ukraine's military said its air defenses shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter in the early hours of Thursday in the east of the country, near Kharkiv.

The nation's border force said posts in the north have come under attack from both Russian and Belorussian forces - a hugely significant development, meaning Russia is not acting alone.

The livestream video of the invasion from Belarus was taken at the Senkivka, Ukraine crossing with Veselovka, Belarus. The column was seen entering Ukraine around 6:48am local time, CNN reported.

A Ukrainian government spokesman confirmed that Russia had invaded over the Belarus border as well, only 120 miles from Kiev.

He said: 'The state border of Ukraine was attacked by troops from Russia and Belarus.

An explosion is seen in the early hours of Thursday in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv as Russia began its offensive

Kharkiv, with a population of 1.4 million, appeared to be under attack in the early hours of Thursday

'At about 5am, the state border of Ukraine, in the area with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus.

'Attacks on border units, border patrols and checkpoints are carried out with the use of artillery, heavy equipment and small arms.

'This is happening within Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr regions.'

The government spokesman also said that Ukraine was attacked from Crimea.

'The work of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups is also recorded,' the spokesman continued.

'Depending on the situation on the border, border guards together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine are firing at the enemy.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a video message early on Thursday and urged Ukrainians to stay at home, and remain calm, telling them to have faith in their country

'Information on injuries among border guards is being clarified.'

The Russian president early on Thursday told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home' as he declared war on Ukraine in an early morning address to the nation.

Putin said Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable'.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, declared martial law in the early hours of Thursday, in a video message to the people urging people to remain at home and stay strong. He said he had just spoken to Joe Biden.

'We are working. The army is working,' he said.

'Don't panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine.'

Tanks can be seen, to the right of the image, rolling past a border post between Ukraine and Belarus in the early hours of Thursday

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev.

Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

More unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6am local time.

President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday, and on Wednesday night he condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.' He was speaking to Ukraine's president.

Biden said in a statement: 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Biden said he will be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.

The developments came as:

Explosions were heard across Ukraine, with the capital Kiev coming under attack and the city's main airport appearing to be a target, as well as a nearby military base.

Reports said the port city of Odessa was coming under amphibious assault, while another Black Sea port city, Mariupol, was under fierce attack.

Military assaults appeared underway on Kharkiv in the far east of Ukraine.

Ukraine's government declared martial law and urged people to stay at home as the onslaught continues.

Russia insisted in the early hours of Thursday that it was targeting military installations and avoiding populated areas, but Ukraine said there had been hundreds of casualties.

Joe Biden was speaking to Ukraine's president in the early hours of Thursday, having earlier through his UN ambassador voiced his strong continued support for the country.

Vladimir Putin is pictured in the early hours of Thursday morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a 'special military operation'

President Joe Biden, pictured on Wednesday, condemned Putin's invasion of Ukraine

Footage shared on social media from Odessa appeared to show an amphibious assault

#BREAKING: #Russia Navy has he port of #Odessa in #Ukraine under attack. Also heavy artillery and rocket barrage by BM-21 & BM-27 MRLS of #Russian Army at #Ukrine Army positions in #Kramatorsk now pic.twitter.com/P3jpE2Cbcw  Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) February 24, 2022

CNN: Ukraine's Interior Ministry says there have already been hundreds of casualties pic.twitter.com/CNAPySQ4y2  philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 24, 2022

Biden announced he will join G7 counterparts on Thursday morning, and will address the country later on Thursday to 'announce the further consequences the United States and its Allies and partners will impose on Russia.'

'We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine,' the statement added.

Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, tweeted early on Thursday: 'I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

'The UK and our allies will respond decisively.'

Metadata of Putin's declaration of war video shows it was recorded on Monday evening, but only broadcast early Thursday.

At the time, some Russian officials were denying any intention to invade.

The Russian armed forces are not inflicting any missile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow told RIA Novosti.

Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Ukrainian army were being disabled by high-precision weapons, they said.

Nothing threatens the civilian population of Ukraine, they claimed.

All flights cancelled at Russian airports in Krasnodar, Sochi, and Anapa, close to the Black Sea.

Rostov also reported cancelled flights.

Within minutes of Putin's public address, explosions could be heard in the capital city of Kiev as well as the city of Kramatorsk in central Ukraine, and Odessa in the south.

Across Ukraine, cruise and ballistic missiles were destroying military infrastructure and strategically important facilities, according to unofficial Russian sources.

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev reporting hearing blasts in the early hours of Thursday morning

Mariupol, on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, appeared to be under fierce attack. Taking this strategic location would give the Donbas republics access to the sea.

The moment Ukraine and the rest of Europe had dreaded for months finally came shortly after 4.35am local time when huge explosions were heard in Kiev and other cities across the country.

Terrified citizens rushed to bomb shelters, though no air raid warnings sounded in the capital  only the frequent muffled crump of missile or air strikes breaking through the pre-dawn stillness.

In Kiev, people were sheltering in basements as the sounds of distant explosions became a constant backdrop.

Within an hour Russians special force and airborne troops were reported to be on the ground at Kiev's Boryspil Airport, amid fierce fighting.

A woman in the Ukrainian capital said: 'I was woken by a friend.

'I am in the centre of Kiev.

'I hear the sound of distant explosions and ambulance sirens.'

At 7.05am the first air raid sirens were heard in central Kiev.

Chance, located on a balcony in the Ukrainian capital quickly put on his protective headgear

A CNN reporter in Kiev reported hearing blasts live on air in the early hours of Thursday morning.

'I just heard a big bang right here behind me. I've never heard anything like it,' said Matthew Chance, senior international correspondent for the network.

Chance said that he heard between seven and eight explosions and quickly put on his flak jacket and headgear while he continued to report from a balcony in the Ukrainian capital.

'There are big explosions taking place.

'I can't see them or explain what they are.

'But I will tell you the U.S has warned the Ukrainian authorities there could be air strikes and ground attacks as well around the country, including the capital.

'I don't know if that's what's occurring now but it's a remarkable coincidence that the explosions come just minutes after Putin gave his speech,' Chance explained.

'This is the first time we've heard anything. It has been absolutely silent.

'This is the first time. It has to be more than just a coincidence.

'I think it's safe where I am. I have a flak jacket,' Chance remarked, before ducking down to put on his protective gear.

He suggested that the blasts he heard in the Ukrainian capital were still some distance away from the center.

'It was so quiet in Ukraine tonight up until those explosions,' Chance explained.

The blasts came within minutes of Putin saying Russia would conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

Explosions could also be heard from Ukraine in the Russian city of Belgorod.

Putin told Russians: 'I have decided to conduct a special military operation.

'Russia cannot exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine.

'You and I have been left with no opportunity to protect our people other than the one we use today.'

It comes after explosions were also heard near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, as fears mounted that shelling is underway.

Residents in the city, which is located in south eastern Ukraine, have been woken up at 3.30am by blasts 30 miles from the Russian border.

Video footage appeared to show clouds of smoke rising up into the night sky near Mariupol, but it was unconfirmed whether it was as a result of shelling.

Putin earlier this week said he wanted to take the major Azov Sea Port of Mariupol, which handles 50 per cent Ukraine's steel and mineral exports.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia's actions were a 'grave breach of international law' and that allies would meet to address the 'renewed aggression'.

He said on Twitter: 'I strongly condemn #Russia's reckless attack on #Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. This is a grave breach of international law & a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. #NATO Allies will meet to address Russia's renewed aggression.'

The British foreign secretary Liz Truss tweeted her condemnation of the attack just after 4am local time.

'I strongly condemn the appalling, unprovoked attack President Putin has launched on the people of Ukraine,' she said.

'We stand with Ukraine and we will work with our international partners to respond to this terrible act of aggression.'

The explosions come just hours after the U.S. warned the Ukrainian government that Putin's troops are 'ready to go now' with an invasion of Ukraine, with 80 per cent of Russian soldiers now assembled around the country in attack positions.
Russia's youngest billionaire once married to Putin's daughter, the chairman of a bank with links to the Salisbury novichok poisoning and the son of the President's long-serving spy chief are among those now facing UK sanctions.

The government says over 100 people, entities and subsidiaries will be subject to sanctions, including defence giant Rostec.

There will be travel bans and asset restrictions on five more named individuals - including Kirill Shamalov, Petr Fradkov, Denis Bortnikov, Yuri Slyusar and Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva.

The sanctions were implemented in a 10-strand package of measures designed to inflict 'significant' impact on Moscow's economy - with officials saying they should knock several percentage points off its GDP.

Boris Johnson told MPs that Putin was flouting 'every principle of civilised behaviour' and will 'never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands' - even though Ukrainians are 'offering a fierce defence'.

He insisted the world now saw the Russian president for what he is: 'A bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.'

The assets of all major Russian banks - including VTB - will be frozen, while new legislation will block the state and all the country's major firms from being able to raise money on London markets.

Compiled below is a detailed list of the five oligarchs targeted by Mr Johnson's 'largest and most severe' sanctions against Russia.

Kirill Shamalov

Russia's youngest billionaire, 39, was married to Putin's daughter Katerina Tikhonova (both pictured above, at their wedding) for five years from 2013 to 2018

Russia's youngest billionaire, 39, was married to Putin's daughter Katerina Tikhonova for five years from 2013 to 2018, making him the President's former son-in-law.

The photographs from Shamalov and Katerina's three-day nuptials at the Igora ski resort in Russia in 2013 break Putin's taboo over never revealing details of his family life.

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny branded the deal a '$380 million wedding gift', intimating high level corruption.

Kirill's father Nickolai co-owns the Rossiya bank, which was sanctioned by the UK earlier this week.

His fortunes began to skyrocket soon after his wedding to the presidents daughter, a competitive acrobatic dancer who helped oversee a $1.7billion expansion of Moscow State University.

Within 18 months, Kirill acquired a large chunk of shares in a major Russian oil and petrochemical processor called Sibur - a stake worth an estimated $2.85billion in 2015.

But he is believed to have lost half his wealth when they divorced in 2018.

Petr Fradkov

Petr Fradkov, 43, is the son of Mikhail Fradkov, a former prime minister of Russia and former director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)

London-educated 43-year-old chairman and CEO of Promsvyazbank (PSB) bank.

He is the son of Mikhail Fradkov, a former prime minister of Russia and former director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

He was made subject to US sanctions earlier this week by the US Treasury.

'Since 2018, Petr Fradkov has worked to transform PSB into a bank that services the defense industry and supports state defense contracts,' a spokesman said.

'In his role as chairman and CEO of PSB, Petr Fradkov has held working meetings with Putin and participated in roundtable discussions in international forums in which he forecasts the PSBs long-term strategic plans for supporting the Russian defense industry.'

Fradkov is also the general director of the Russian Export Center.

Petr Fradkov's bank, PSB, was also sanctioned.

The state-owned bank - nationalized in 2018 - is Russia's eighth largest financial institution.

Denis Bortnikov

Denis Bortnikov's father Aleksandr has since 2008 been the director of Russia's intelligence service, the FSB - the successor to the KGB

Deputy president of Russian-state owned financial institution VTB Bank since 2017.

His father Aleksandr Bortnikov, 70, has since 2008 been the director of Russia's intelligence service, the FSB - the successor to the KGB.

Putin and Bortnikov senior both joined the then-KGB in St Petersburg in 1975, with Putin leaving as a lieutenant colonel in 1991 to enter politics, while Bortnikov remained inside and rose up the ranks.

The elder Bortnikov is one of the infamous 'siloviki' - former and current state-security officers with personal ties to the Soviet-era KGB and its successor agencies, who serve as Putin's trusted henchmen.

The Foreign Office said: 'Bortnikov is the son of Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) which was responsible for the poisoning of political activist Alexey Navalny in August 2020 with a banned chemical agent from the Novichok group.'

Yuri Slyusar

Between 2011-2013, Yuri Slyusar was a member of the Board of Directors of Irkut Corporation, which produced helicopters

President of Russias United Aircraft Corp and a former deputy trade minister.

Between 2011-2013, Yuri was a member of the Board of Directors of Irkut Corporation, which produced helicopters.

The UAC is a major Russian defence contractor which manufactures Mig and Sukhoi fighter jets among other products including passenger jets.

Its majority shareholder is the Russian government.

Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva

Born in Moscow in February 1977, Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva studied world economy at the Russian State University for the Humanities and graduated in 1999

Chief executive of Novikombank, a state-owned defence conglomerate.

Born in Moscow in February 1977, she studied world economy at the Russian State University for the Humanities and graduated in 1999.

She went on to work in the financial sphere before becoming chairwoman at Novikombank in 2016.
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The U.S. expelled from Washington this month Russia's second-ranking diplomat in the U.S., Minister Counselor Sergey Trepelkov, a State Department official revealed to the Associated Press on Thursday.

The expulsion is unrelated to Russia's invasion of Ukraine overnight, and is part of a long-running dispute between Washington and Moscow over embassy staffing. The move does come, however, at the height of tensions between the two nations after Vladimir Putin ignored western warnings and launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine.

Trepelkov is No. 2 under Ambassador Anatoly Antonov. His expulsion comes after Russia expelled Deputy Chief of Mission Bart Gorman from Moscow earlier this month.

The State Department official said the expulsion is 'a direct response to the unprovoked Russian expulsion of our deputy chief of mission' and said the move couldn't 'go without a response.'

No formal announcement of the expulsion has been made.

The tit-for-tat battle comes as diplomacy between two states is at a post-Cold War low.

Tensions in embassy staffing started in January 2017 when the Obama administration ordered several Russian diplomatic missions in the U.S. to end and expelled numerous diplomats over MMoscow's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Russia responded with reciprocal measures and the situation has since escalated.

Relations with the adversary are also at a high as Russia refused to heed warnings from the west over sanctions if they invaded Ukraine, which happened overnight.

The U.S., according to the State Department official, is still committed to maintaining diplomatic contacts in Russia and the U.S. in order 'to facilitate communication between our governments.'

Biden announced more sanctions on Russian financial institutions, claiming it will have a 'severe' effect on that nation's economy.

'Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences,' Biden said during remarks at the White House Thursday afternoon.

'He has much larger ambitions than Ukraine. He wants to re-establish the former Soviet Union. That is what this is about,' the president said in accusing Putin of empire building.

He said he had no plans to speak with Putin and claimed he does not underestimate the leader.

Biden's speech was delayed twice on Thursday afternoon as Russian forces made their way swiftly across the Ukraine.

'Now the entire world sees clearly what Putin and his Kremlin allies are really all about. This was never about a genuine security concern on their part. It was always about naked aggression,' the president continued.

He said putting sanctions on Putin himself was 'on the table' but refused to say why he was not already issuing direct sanctions on the aggressor.

The U.S. booted Russia No. 2 diplomat in Washington, D.C., a State Department official said Thursday after Russia expelled the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow earlier this month

The expulsion of Minister Counselor Sergey Trepelkov comes during a tit-for-tat between Washington and Moscow over embassy staffing and is unrelated to the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine  but does come at a time when tensions are at the highest since the Cold War

The U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow Bart Gorman (pictured front) was expelled from Russia earlier this month. Here he leaves the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow on April 21, 2021

Many aides to President Biden felt from the get go sanctions would not scare Russian President Vladimir Putin into changing course and not invading Ukraine , despite U.S. officials spending hundreds of hours over five months debating and crafting the punishments.

More than a dozen current and former officials told Bloomberg, according to a Thursday report, that they have remained doubtful that sanctions would change Putin's behavior when it came to Ukraine.

Biden, however, tied Washington's hands for any other route after insisting last year that the U.S. would not send American forces to Ukraine to help defend them from Russian threats.

This caused the president's team to try and force a diplomatic path until last night Russia finally, inevitably launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine  including in the capital city of Kyiv.

Russia launched an all-out war on Ukraine Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air. Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, helicopters buzzed in and explosions were seen across the country after Putin gave the order to attack.

The attack continued into Thursday as a massive Russian helicopter assault launched on Hostomel, Ukraine and its vital Air Base just 9 miles northwest of Kyiv.

The president met with the leaders of the G7 from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan on Thursday morning after he gathered his National Security Council in the Situation Room at the White House. Also in the G7 meeting was the president of the European Commission, President of the European Council and the NATO Secretary General.

Biden delivered remarks on 'Russia's unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine' starting around 1:45 p.m. Thursday afternoon in his first public appearance since the invasion.

Biden announced Tuesday the 'first tranche' of sanctions, a modest action that has left Democrats and Republicans alike critical that the administration isn't being tough enough on Russia and Putin in the midst of waging war.

It also certainly did not deter Putin from making moves into Ukraine overnight.

Even after following up with additional measures, including sanctioning the company behind the Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline, there are still internal and congressional pushes for Biden to issue more 'crippling sanctions'.

Representative Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, emerged from a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) on Capitol Hill to call for more sanctions.

'Russia has begun an unprovoked, unjustified campaign against Ukraine with a full-on invasion. Civilians are being killed, Ukraine is mobilizing its opposition to the Russian invasion,' the Democratic California congressman told reporters. 'We must provide Ukraine with support to defend itself.'

'We also are going to need to, I think, dramatically escalate the sanctions that we place on Russia for this act of naked aggression by the Kremlin dictator,' Schiff added.

Aides to the president continue to flaunt upcoming heavier punishment, but Bloomberg notes that behind the scenes there's skepticism over the White House strategy thus far.

By ruling out military involvement, Biden now must rise to the task of proving that sanctions will suffice in deterring a major adversary, which it has not proven to be effective thus far.

There are some 90,000 U.S. troops in Europe already, many of whom have been repositioned or deployed to Eastern NATO ally countries to defend against growing aggression from the Kremlin.

Russia continues it's full-on attack of Ukraine on Thursday as a report emerged indicating President Joe Biden's aides knew and warned sanctions would not deter President Vladimir Putin from moving forward with invasion. A photo made available by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry shows burned Russian military vehicles near Hlukhiv of Sumy area, Ukraine on Thursday

President Biden met with his National Security Council in the White House Situation Room on Thursday morning after Russia waged war n Ukraine overnight

There are now approximately 90,000 U.S. service members spread throughout Europe, with many relocating or deploying to the Eastern part of the continent to aid those counties that face risk with Russia invasion of Ukraine  but no U.S. troops were deployed directly to Ukraine

Despite U.S. officials spending hundreds of hours over five months debating and crafting sanctions, at least a dozen current and former U.S. officials said they knew this would do little to deter Putin, but hands were tied after Biden ruled out military action from the U.S. in Ukraine. A man sits outside his destroyed building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Thursday

U.S. troops from the 173rd Army Airborne Brigade arrive in Latvia on Thursday, February 24 to provide addition assistance in Eastern Europe as Russia launches a full-scale attack on Ukraine

Evidence has suggested in the past that sanctions often fail to achieve their goals of deterrence, and in some cases has even shown to only further cement undesirable behavior from targeted parties.

'The tool of sanctions has become a tired tool,' former Trump era Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun told Bloomberg.

Biegum, a veteran of Republican administrations who helped formulate U.S. policy toward North Korea, added that Biden's team has no good options for countering Putin considering it has ruled out military action in Ukraine and sanctions are not working.

He claimed the use of sanctions 'has not seemed to significantly alter the behavior of any foreign party whose actions are of concern to the United States.'

A person familiar with the administration's thinking said there was an 'an air of inevitability hanging over' the prospect of a full Russian invasion over the last few months.

They added that despite that air, the thinking was still: 'We're damn sure going to try' to counter Putin's plans with sanctions.

Another senior administration official wasn't as pessimistic, claiming sanctions are only one part of Biden's efforts to deter an invasion. While claiming the administration remained 'clear-eyed' about the prospect of full invasion, the goal was to try and convince Putin that doing so would result in united opposition from western nations.

U.S. lawmakers of all political persuasions are lashing out at Putin for ignoring warnings from the West and moving forward with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine overnight and are calling for more action from Washington against Moscow.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called the Russian president's decision an 'evil, panicked move of weakness and will be his defining mistake.'

Politicians also warned Moscow that Ukraine will defend their sovereignty, with Murphy tweeting that 'the Ukrainian people will fight for as long as it takes' and Republican Senator Marco Rubio saying Ukraine 'will NEVER accept being ruled by Putin' and claiming 'men, women, children, the elderly' will 'maim & kill alot (sic) of Russians.'

Michigan Republican Representative Peter Meijer said the 'tepid' response from the West 'emboldened' Putin to go forward with a full-scale invasion, claiming Washington and NATO's threat for sanctions was 'positive proof' that Moscow did not see this as real resistance. He also called for 'crippling sanctions'.

'He was willing to call the west's bluff,' Meijer told Fox & Friends on Thursday morning of Putin.

'Now is the time we have to be strong, united and unleash crippling economic and sanctions costs on Russia. We can no longer afford to be tepid or weak-willed here.'

Republican Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said that Putin is a 'KGB thug who understands no language except force,' while slamming the U.S. and western response so far.

The KGB was the main security agency for the Soviet Union from March 1954 until 1991.

'[Putin] was willing to call the west's bluff,' Representative Peter Meijer told Fox & Friends on Thursday morning. The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

Republicans and Democrats are condemning Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine overnight. An explosion lights up the night sky over Kyiv early Thursday, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine from north, south and east with bombs, cruise missiles and rockets raining from the skies

Flames and smoke rise from debris of a house outside Ukraine's capital of Kyiv on Thursday in the aftermath of Russian shelling following a barrage of air and missile strikes on Ukrainian facilities across the country

Ukrainian emergency personnel work at a crash site of a Military plane about 12 miles south of Kyiv on Thursday, February 24, 2022. A Ukrainian Military plane with 14 people aboard crashed Thursday and emergencies services are still working to 'determine how many people died'

Senator Marco Rubio tweeted that Ukraine 'will NEVER accept being ruled by Putin' and claiming 'men, women, children, the elderly' will 'maim & kill alot (sic) of Russians.' Pictured: A wounded woman emerges Thursday after an airstrike damages an apartment complex outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to defend from attacks on the Lugansk region on Thursday, February 24 after Putin's invasion has already killed dozens, injured hundreds and forced hundreds of others to flee

Damage to an apartment building in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region is seen in footage released by the Ukrainian National Guard

Ukrainian citizens carry suitcases after crossing the Ukrainian border into Medyka, Poland on Thursday following Russia's invasion overnight. U.S. lawmakers are demanding 'crippling sanctions' be placed on Putin for ignoring western warnings

House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Michael McCaul told CBS Mornings on Thursday: 'We haven't seen anything like this, really, since Hitler invaded Poland in World War II. I just hope this is not the beginning of World War III.'

He said the invasion and disregard for western warnings is a 'clear' sign that Putin 'wants the entire breadbasket of Russia back.'

McCaul and other Republican leaders on key House committees said the latest from Russia proves to the world the 'true evil' of Putin.

'The last few hours have laid bare for the world to witness the true evil that is Vladimir Putin,' McCaul, House Armed Services Ranking Member Mike Rogers and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Mike Turner wrote in a statement Wednesday night.

'Today, we stand resolute with the Ukrainian people and resolve to provide them with the tools they need to withstand and repel this unprovoked attack,' they added. 'Every drop of Ukrainian and Russian blood spilled in this conflict is on Putin's hands, and his alone.'

The group signaled there needs to be a much tougher U.S. response to Russia than there was in 2014, when Putin annexed Crimea.

'[W]e are committed to enacting the strongest possible sanctions and export controls to cripple Russia's ability to make war, punish its barbarity and relegate the Putin regime to the status of an international pariah. We cannot respond like we did in 2008 or 2014. The world must never forget or forgive this heinous act.'

Biden has faced criticism for not doing enough to combat Russian aggression since taking office last year.

Additional U.S. forces landed in Latvia Thursday morning from the 173rd Airborne Brigade  this comes after thousands of troops were already sent to Poland and Romania to bolster defenses in those regions amid the lead up to Russia's invasion.

Pictured: A Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship was forced to land in a filed outside Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday. According to Ukraine, six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed

A man stands in front of a Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship is seen in the field after a forced landing outside Kyiv Thursday, February 24, 2022

Senator Lindsey Graham says Putin is carrying out a 'war crime' and it's '[i]mperative that we continue to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons as well as good intelligence.'

'The world needs to condemn Putin's destruction of a neighboring democracy as a war crime,' the South Carolina Republican said.

'It's time to make this personal to Putin,' Graham said, adding that he should be punished by 'international law enforcement agencies' to seize Putin and his 'cronies' 'lavish apartments, fine art, yachts, and other material goods purchased through stealing the Russian people blind.'

Along with clashes on the ground, including confirmation that 40 Ukrainian troops were killed and dozens more injured, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indirectly exchanged war of words, as well  each slinging rhetoric accusing the other of being reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

'Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in #2WW years,' Zelensky tweeted Thursday morning Eastern Standard Time, but it was the afternoon in Ukraine already.

'As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history,' he continued, '[Russia] has embarked on a path of evil, but [Ukraine] is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian media: 'Ideally, Ukraine should be liberated, cleansed of Nazis, pro-Nazi people and ideologies.'

Ukrainian service members load debris of a rocket onto a truth in the aftermath of Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday

Republican Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said that Putin is a 'KGB thug who understands no language except force' as he called for more tough action from the U.S. and western allies. A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base in central Ukraine after coming under attack from Russia

A Ukrainian military tank is seen in center of Odessa, Ukraine on Thursday, February 24 after Russia launched its military operation in the country

U.S. paratroopers step off a military plane landing in Latvia on Thursday

The first 40 soldiers from the 173rd arrived in Latvia on February 24  the morning after Russia launched its military offensive on Ukraine

Western politicians immediately responded Wednesday evening to the announcement of Russia's 'special military operation' in Ukraine with warnings to Putin.

'The Ukrainian people will fight for as long as it takes to secure their nation from this foreign tyrant, and the United States will stand with them in this fight,' Senator Murphy from Connecticut posted in a five-part Twitter thread.

'Tonight, the entire Post World War international order sits on a knife edge,' he added. 'If Putin does not pay a devastating price for this transgression, then our own security will soon be at risk.'

'We must be unceasingly in our assistance to the Ukrainian people. We must levy crippling sanctions on Russia. And we must cut off Putin and his cronies from the global economy. A strong, swift response is vital.'

Biden issued sanctions this week on Russian banks and oligarchs, as well as on the two regions in Eastern Ukraine that Putin declared independent republics on Monday. But Democratic and Republican lawmakers claim this isn't enough and are urging Biden to get tougher on Putin.

'[W]e must remember that Putin has plans for us too,' Murphy warned in his Twitter thread. 'He and his agents will use this crisis to try to divide Americans from each other and to separate America from our allies. In this, we must remain vigilant and united. This is not a moment for politics to trump security.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC's Lester Holt on Wednesday that 'if Russia continues to escalate, so will we.'

'At the end of the day, if that doesn't stop President Putin, we've made very clear along with all of our allies and partners that there will be massive consequences going forward, a price that Russia will have to pay for a long, long time,' he added.

Biden's administration, however, has repeatedly said that U.S. troops will not directly engage in combat in Ukraine and has ensured the safety of forces as they deploy to Eastern Europe.

Biden was slammed Wednesday and into Thursday morning for being publicly absent as developments unfolded in Ukraine Wednesday night as Russia launched an all-out war.

French President Emmanuel Macron shown on a virtual meeting Thursday morning with G7 leaders from the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan to discuss the situation in Ukraine after Russia invaded. Meeting came after Biden gathered his National Security Council earlier in the morning and will speak publicly at 12:30 p.m.

Biden condemned Putin's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack ' in a statement posted at 10:25 p.m., shortly after war was declared. But after being accused of 'weakness' in the face of Russian aggression, he was urged to hit Russia and Vladimir Putin's inner circle with tougher sanctions 'as soon as possible'.

The president was 'monitoring the situation' from the White House overnight, according to the Wednesday evening statement, but has yet to make a public address or an appearance and won't do so until midday - 12 hours after war began.

Former President Donald Trump was scathing of Biden's response, telling Fox News in a wild overnight interview that Biden was 'probably in bed right now' rather than monitoring developments.

Biden was most recently pictured on Tuesday, February 22 as he announced sanctions against Russia from the East Room of the White House.

Zelensky, in an address to the nation Thursday morning, said the history of Ukraine has now changed forever and that Russia has 'embarked on a path of evil'.

He compared the Russian attack to Hitler's forces in World War II, but vowed to fight back, saying the military has already inflicted 'serious losses' on Russia.

Pictured: Ukraine's port of Ochakiv in the Mykolaiv region was set ablaze from conflict following Russia's full-scale invasion on Thursday

The ruins of a state border guard service checkpoint in the Kyiv region is seen destroyed after it was shelled by Russian forces

The Ukrainian president called on all citizens willing to defend their homeland to step forward, saying guns will be issued to everyone who wants one and asked for civilians to give blood to help wounded troops.

He also asked world leaders to impose the 'harshest sanctions possible' on Putin.

It came after Putin gave an extraordinary address to Russia, broadcast in the early hours during a United Nations meeting aimed at avoiding war. During the remarks he declared a 'special military operation' to 'demilitarize' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine in what amounted to an outright declaration of war.

The video appeared to have been pre-recorded, around the same time as Putin's Monday address recognizing Donbass as independent.

Putin also issued a chilling warning to any country thinking of coming to Ukraine's aid, vowing 'consequences greater than any you have faced in history'.

'I hope I have been heard,' he said.

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west in Ukraine - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps and command posts including in the capital city of Kyiv.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed.

Alexander Lukashenko, dictatorial ruler of Belarus, is shown speaking to his generals on Thursday morning after his forces reportedly joined Russia's attack on Ukraine  though he denies it

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Luhansk, Sumy and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all came under attack, while tanks battled on the outskirts of Kharkiv after paratroopers dropped in.

Blasts were also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland where the U.S. has sent in paratroopers from the 82nd and 18th Airborne Corps.

In the southern city of Kherson, Ukrainian units were reportedly routed by Russian tanks rolling out of Crimea, which had arrived at the Dnieper River by mid-morning on Thursday.

Extraordinary video footage showed what appeared to be a Kalibur cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport. An apartment block in Kharkiv was also struck, causing civilian casualties including a young boy. Video also appeared to confirm cruise missiles had been launched by Russian troops stationed in Moldova.

Russian helicopters also staged an attack on Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Dnieper river, raising their flag over the plant shortly afterwards.

Meanwhile pro-Russian rebel forces pushed out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot two Ukrainian jets out of the skies. The port cities of Mariupol and Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval bases are located, were also attacked. Russian tankers appeared to have blockaded the Kerch Strait, leading from the Back Sea to the Sea of Azov, cutting off Mariupol.
President Joe Biden has announced punishing sanctions against a handful of elite Russian oligarchs as part of his package of measures seeking to penalize Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian elites targeted by Thursday's round of sanctions are either from prominent families close to Putin himself or powerful leaders in the country's financial sector, the administration said.

They will now be subject to 'full blocking sanctions' meaning they are cut off from the U.S. financial system, any assets they hold in the United States are frozen, and they are barred from entering the U.S.

'This action includes individuals who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian state, and have elevated their family members into some of the highest position of powers in the country,' the White House said in a statement.

'It also includes financial figures who sit atop Russias largest financial institutions and are responsible for providing the resources necessary to support Putins invasion of Ukraine,' the statement added.

President Joe Biden has announced punishing sanctions against a handful of elite Russian oligarchs as part of his package of measures punishing the invasion of Ukraine

Putin himself has not yet been targeted with individual sanctions, and his wealth, whatever it may be, is so well hidden that it's unclear whether sanctions would have any impact

Putin himself has not yet been targeted with individual sanctions - a step that would be extraordinary but which Biden says remains 'on the table.'

However, it's unclear whether individual sanctions against Putin himself would have any significant impact, because the Russian leader's wealth remains a complete enigma and out of the reach of U.S. enforcement.

Putin is rumored to have a personal fortune of hundreds of billions, possibly making him the richest man in the world, but it has never been confirmed. Forbes recently called it 'the most elusive riddle in wealth hunting.'

Here are the Russians that Biden has named for individual sanctions:

Sergei Borisovich Ivanov and his son Sergei Sergeevich Ivanov

The Treasury Department names the Ivanovs as a family 'close to Putin.'

'Elites close to Putin continue to leverage their proximity to the Russian President to pillage the Russian state, enrich themselves, and elevate their family members into some of the highest positions of power in the country at the expense of the Russian people,' the department said in a statement.

Sergei B. Ivanov is Russia's Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology, and Transport.

Sergei B. Ivanov is Russia's Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology, and Transport

His son, Sergei S. Ivanov, is the current CEO of Russian state-owned diamond mining company Alrosa and a board member of Gazprombank

He is reportedly one of Putins closest allies, and previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Deputy Prime Minister, and Defense Minister of Russia.

He is also a permanent member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Sergei B. Ivanov has been close to Putin since before the Russian leader took power, working as his deputy when Putin led the FSB, the successor security agency to the Soviet KGB.

After Putin took power in 1999, the elder Ivanov has served in a variety of government roles, including as Russia's Minister of Defense.

His son, Sergei S. Ivanov, is the current CEO of Russian state-owned diamond mining company Alrosa and a board member of Gazprombank.

While the elder Ivanov has been previously targeted by U.S. sanctions, the latest round re-designates him and adds his son.

Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev and his son Andrey Patrushev

Nikolai Patrushev is the Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council and is reported to be a longtime close associate of Putin.

He succeeded Putin as Director of the Russian FSB, leading the security agency from 1999 to 2008.

The Treasury Department lists the Patrushev family as another 'close to Putin' and says: 'Many of these individuals are believed to participate in, or benefit from, the Russian regimes kleptocracy, along with their family members.'

Nikolai Patrushev is the Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council and is reported to be a longtime close associate of Putin

Patrushevs son, Andrey Patrushev, served in leadership roles at Gazprom Neft and is employed in Russias energy sector

Patrushevs son, Andrey Patrushev, served in leadership roles at Gazprom Neft and is employed in Russias energy sector.

Andrey Patrushev was born in 1981 in Leningrad, according to a Gazprom bio.

From 2013 to 2015, he was Deputy CEO for Capital Construction of Gazprom Dobycha Shelf Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk LLC.

He also worked as Member of the Management Board, Deputy CEO for the Development of Offshore Projects of Gazprom Neft PJSC.

Igor Ivanovich Sechin and his son Ivan Igorevich Sechin

Igor Sechin is CEO, Chairman of the Management Board, and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rosneft, one of the worlds largest publicly traded oil companies.

He was formerly the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation from 2008 until 2012 and is reportedly a close ally of Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin walks with Chief Executive of oil producer Rosneft Igor Sechin as they visit Konevsky Monastery on Konevets Island in Leningrad last year

Igor Sechin is CEO, Chairman of the Management Board, and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of oil company Rosneft

He had had ties to Putin since the 1994, when Putin was first deputy mayor of St. Petersburg and Sechin served as his chief of staff.

Since then, Sechin has followed Putin throughout his career, serving in a variety of roles in the Russian government.

His son Ivan Sechin was born in 1989 and graduated from the Lomonosov business school at Moscow State University.

Ivan Sechin is believed to work closely with his father at Rosneft, where he is reportedly a deputy head of department.

Andrey Sergeyevich Puchkov, Yuriy Alekseyevich Soloviev, and his wife Galina Olegovna Ulyutina

Andrey Sergeyevich Puchkov (left) and Yuriy Alekseyevich Soloviev (right) are two high-ranking VTB Bank executives who work closely with VTB Bank chief executive Andrei Kostin, who has previously been sanctioned

Puchkov and Soloviev are two high-ranking VTB Bank executives who work closely with VTB Bank chief executive Andrei Kostin, who has previously been sanctioned.

Puchkov also has other business interests beyond VTB, including Moscow-based real estate companies Limited Liability Company Atlant S and Limited Liability Company Inspira Invest A.

Solovievs wife, Galina Olegovna Ulyutina, was previously implicated in a 'golden passport' scheme, according to the Treasury Department.

Alexander Aleksandrovich Vedyakhin

The Treasury Department designates Vedyakhin as a 'financial sector elite.'

Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of SberBank

'Senior executives at state-owned banks, like Kremlin-linked elites, take advantage of their closeness to the Russian power vertical to advance the interests of the Russian state while maintaining an extravagant standard of living,' the department said in a statement.

Vedyakhin is First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank.

He was born in 1977 in Volograd, and in the past decade has completed advanced courses at Stanford and MIT in the United States.
Rishi Sunak has received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police in its investigation into the partygate saga.

The Chancellor previously confirmed he was at one of the events subject to Metropolitan Police inquiries - a birthday celebration held by Downing Street staff and Mr Johnson's wife Carrie for the Prime Minister on June 19, 2020.

Police officers investigating the scandal were reportedly handed a photo from the event showing Mr Johnson holding a can of beer while standing next to Mr Sunak in the Downing Street Cabinet Room as he toasts towards the camera, according to the Mirror.

Mr Sunak insisted he had been present at the Cabinet Room for a routine meeting to discuss the pandemic situation on the day in question.

It is understood the Chancellor has not yet responded to the questionnaire, but has seven days to return it, as requested by officers to avoid being fined 100.

Rishi Sunak has received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police in its investigation into the partygate saga

The Chancellor previously confirmed he was at one of the events subject to Metropolitan Police inquiries - a birthday celebration held by Downing Street staff and Mr Johnson's wife Carrie for the Prime Minister on June 19, 2020. The Mirror reported police were handed a picture of Mr Johnson holding a beer while next to Mr Sunak (simulated picture)

Mr Sunak's questionnaire comes nearly two weeks after No 10 confirmed Boris Johnson had returned his own form to the police.

A leak of one of the questionnaires to ITV news raised the prospect he had become the first Prime Minister to be questioned under police caution.

The Met is looking into 12 alleged gatherings held across Whitehall and Downing Street on eight dates during coronavirus restrictions under Operation Hillman.

Earlier this month, Mr Sunak appeared to suggest he was not expecting to receive a form to complete.

Asked on Sky News on February 11 whether he expected to receive a form, he replied: 'No... well, I don't know.'

He said at the time he did not believe he had broken any Covid rules.

When previously asked about the allegations, Mr Sunak said he went to the Cabinet Room as he had for '100, 200, God knows how many other Covid meetings'.

The Metropolitan Police is understood to have sent questionnaires to 88 people, including Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak, about gatherings that may have breached lockdown rules.

Civil servant Sue Gray  whose inquiry into parties found failures of leadership and judgment  is also said to have passed 300 photos to police.

Earlier this week, Scotland Yard confirmed a police officer interrupted a Downing Street Christmas party on December 18, 2020, when revellers accidentally set off an alarm.

Deputy Met commissioner Sir Stephen House said detectives investigating the parties are speaking to that officer.

The Metropolitan Police is understood to have sent questionnaires to 88 people, including Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak, about gatherings that may have breached lockdown rules

Sir Stephen said: One officer was involved in responding with a civilian custodian, who works for No 10, to a silent alarm we believe had been pressed in error. That officer was spoken to by Sue Gray and will be spoken to by ourselves.

The revelation led to questions over why the officer did not intervene if they had witnessed a potentially illegal gathering.

But Sir Stephen said officers guarding Downing Street were there to prevent attacks rather than monitor gatherings at No 10.

Armed officers do not routinely walk through the Cabinet Office or No 10, he added.

Sir Stephen revealed the probe into parties was expected to conclude in weeks rather than months. New questionnaires would be sent out if more suspects emerged.

The questionnaire is a written statement under caution, Scotland Yard has confirmed, making Mr Johnson the first British Prime Minister to be subjected to this level of police scrutiny.
A suspected smuggler and four undocumented migrants were taken into custody following a crash in New Mexico, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

US agents attempted to pull over the driver of the van in Santa Teresa on Wednesday morning for a routine inspection.

But the driver, a Mexican national, raced away.

U.S. Border Patrol confirmed to DailyMail.com that four Mexican migrants involved in a smuggling van crash in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, on Wednesday morning have been expelled to Mexico

CBP said border agents in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, suspected the van was being used to smuggle migrants Wednesday morning and ordered the driver to stop before he fled and then crashed

The driver eventually crashed and got stuck between a set of boulders near the base of a stainless steel structure on a roundabout.

Border agents arrived at the scene, which was in Santa Teresa on the border with Mexico, and did not find anyone inside the van, but they searched the neighborhood and arrested all five people. The road where they crashed is 17 minutes away from the nearest border crossing.

'After questioning by agents, it was determined that one of the individuals was the driver of the crashed vehicle and the other four were migrants involved in the smuggling scheme,' CBP said in a statement.

The driver was in custody and faces charges for migrant smuggling. The migrants, all natives from Mexico, were transported to the Santa Teresa Station facility, in accordance with federal immigration guidelines.

Each of them was expelled to Mexico under Title 42 public health order, CBP confirmed to DailyMail.com.

All four of the Mexican migrants who were being smuggled in the van were expelled to Mexico

The policy was enacted by former Republican President Donald Trump's administration and allows CBP to return migrants to Mexico under a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public health order because of the health risk of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Biden's administration has continued enforcing the law, but now ensures that unaccompanied children are not subjected to it.

Southwestern border data released by CBP last Friday showed 78,486 were expelled to Mexico in January.

CBP data for the southwestern border released last Friday showed that encounters with migrants stopped along the southern border for unlawful entry declined by 14% in January, when 153,941 interdictions were reported by Border Patrol agents in comparison with 179,219 in December 2021.
Peter Dutton has blasted Chinese President Xi Jinping as the one man who could reign in 'madman' Vladimir Putin as Russia invades Ukraine.

During a series of interviews on Friday, the Defence Minister hammered the Chinese leader for failing to exert pressure on Putin.

President Putin launched a large scale invasion on Thursday, describing it as a 'special military operation' to - in his words - 'denazify' Ukraine.

Mr Dutton described the scenes in the Ukraine as terrifying and called on the rest of the world to combine as one to condemn and put pressure on Putin through sanctions.

Peter Dutton has called on Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured) to exert pressure on Vladimir Putin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine

He warned there will be tragic consequences in Ukraine in the coming weeks unless President Xi intervenes.

'That's the human reality of the action of a president that will not and has not listened to the rest of the world,' he told the Today Show.

Mr Dutton also described Mr Putin as a dangerous madman in a separate interview with Kyle and Jackie O.

'We're dealing with someone here who is a madman, no question, so the world has to be disproportionate,' he said.

'The Ukrainians unfortunately are right in eye of the storm now and President Xi is the one person who can put pressure and get him to reverse this dreadful mess.'

He warned there will be economic consequences for the rest of the world.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton (pictured) said Chinese President Xi Jinping needs to reign in Vladimir Putin. Putin's Russia is economically dependent on China

'There will be economic consequences for the rest of the world, but this is a very uncertain period in which we're living and the world has stood united against the action of President Putin, except for the Chinese government. That's completely unacceptable,' Mr Dutton said.

When asked why more isn't being done to help Ukraine , Mr Dutton said the rest of the world doesn't want to tensions to escalate into a nuclear war.

'There can be forces sent in and then you would be saying, "Why have we entered into a nuclear war?' he said.

A Russian tank opens fire during military exercises recently, ahead of the invasion of Ukraine

'We've offered, with the rest of the world, very strong sanctions against Putin. There's one leader in the world frankly who can exert pressure on President Putin. That is President Xi.

'China and Russia have entered into this frankly unholy alliance and President Xi has a lot of power he can exert over President Putin.

'He has chosen not to do that. The world should observe that very closely.'

Mr Dutton confirmed in a later interview Australia has no plans to send troops to Ukraine.

What Putin REALLY thinks about Australia: Russian leader's brutal response to journalist's question years before Russia went to war with Ukraine

By Aidan Wondracz and Charlie Moore for Daily Mail Australia

Vladimir Putin admitted he 'never thinks of Australia' years before Scott Morrison imposed further sanctions against Russia for launching an invasion in Ukraine.

The Russian president made the brutal admission while visiting Australia during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2007.

Australian economist Tim Harcourt took to Twitter on Thursday to reveal he had asked Putin for his first impressions of the country.

'What do you think of Australia?' he asked. 'Is it what you expected?'

Mr Harcourt tweeted he received a very blunt and surprising response from the visiting president.

'I never think of Australia,' Mr Putin responded.

His comment about the country did not appear to phase then-prime minister John Howard as he went on to sign a uranium deal following the APEC summit. At the time, Mr Putin agreed to buy Australian uranium to use for its nuclear reactors.

His thoughts about Australia have come to light after Mr Morrison condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as 'brutal and unprovoked' and imposed further sanctions.

The Russian president made the brutal admission while visiting Australia during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2007 (pictured, Putin with then-prime minister John Howard at the 2007 APEC summit)

Vladimir Putin admitted he 'never thinks of Australia' years before Scott Morrison imposed further sanctions against Russia for launching an invasion in Ukraine (pictured, destroyed vehicle and debris in Mariupol, Ukraine)

His thoughts about Australia have come to light after Mr Morrison condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as 'brutal and unprovoked' and imposed further sanctions

Australian economist Tim Harcourt took to Twitter on Thursday to reveal he had asked Putin for his first impressions of the country

The Prime Minister said special forces from Russia were moving towards the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, and tanks are 'rolling in all around their borders'.

He said there were 1,400 Australians in Ukraine and urged them to leave if safe to do so.

After building up troops since November, President Putin announced his invasion on Thursday morning, describing it as a 'special military operation' and saying he wants to 'demilitarise', not occupy, Ukraine.

Within hours, Ukraine's interior ministry said there had been hundreds of casualties - despite Russia insisting early Thursday morning that they were only attacking military installations, and were avoiding populated areas.

Ukraine used to be part of the Soviet Union which collapsed in 1991, and President Putin wants to stop its pro-European government from joining the anti-Russian NATO alliance.

Prime Minister Morrison said Russia was wrong to call the move a 'special military operation'.

'They said this after months of aggression and intimidation,' he said.

'But I'll call it what it is. The Russian government launched a brutal invasion, unprovoked, on Ukraine, and should be condemned for doing so.

'Together with the international community, we are banding together in strong terms to condemn these outrageous acts in the strongest possible terms.

'The footage that is emerging of missile strikes, air-raid sirens, and reports of hundreds of casualties - as yet unconfirmed - are, sadly, not surprising given the events we've been witnessing for some time now, and have been warning about.

After building up troops since November, President Putin announced his invasion on Thursday morning, describing it as a 'special military operation' and saying he wants to 'demilitarise', not occupy, Ukraine (pictured, Ukrainians shelter in Pushkinskaya underground station in Kharkiv)

Explosions are seen in the early hours of Thursday in Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, after Putin made his declaration

'But, even as these events continue to take place, we do call on the Russian government to withdraw and return Ukraine to a peaceful situation.'

Mr Morrison said the invasion was 'of great concern' to all Aussies, especially the 40,000 Australians of Ukrainian descent.

He announced the 'second stage' of sanctions would begin in line with Western allies. On Wednesday night, the PM imposed a travel ban and financial restrictions on eight members of Russia's Security Council which come into effect at midnight.

Now sanctions will affect 25 more people including 'army commanders, deputy defence ministers and Russian mercenaries who have 'been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable invasion and for entities involved in the sale and development of military technology,' he said.

More than 300 members of the Russian Parliament who backed the invasion will also face sanctions.

The Prime Minister warned Russia may retaliate with cyber attacks on Australia but none had been launched so far. Australia is helping Ukraine with cyber experts but has ruled out sending troops.

Assistance Defence Minister Andrew Hastie said Australia has 'offensive cyber capabilities' but did not say if it would use them against Russia.

Putin has recognized two areas in eastern Ukraine as independent and authorized Russian troops to go in on 'peacekeeping' missions. Rebels already hold part of that territory (in red) but Putin has recognized a much-wider region (yellow)

Scott Morrison releases statement condemning Russia Australia joins our partners in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There is no justification for this aggression, whose cost will be borne by innocent Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin has fabricated a feeble pretext on which to invade. Russia's disinformation and propaganda has convinced no one. We call on Russia to cease its illegal and unprovoked actions, and to stop violating Ukraine's independence. Russia must reverse its breach of international law and of the UN Charter, and withdraw its military from Ukraine. We reiterate our staunch support for Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity  the bedrock principles of a rules-based world order. Russia's actions are of deep concern to Australians  especially those who have family and loved ones there. Australia will continue playing our part to ensure Russia pays the high price this invasion warrants. We will place financial sanctions on an additional 25 persons and four entities who have been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression. We will put restrictions on Australians investing in a further four financial institutions. We will be working with like-minded countries on further consequences for Russia. The Australian Government will continue working with our partners to keep Australians safe and defend our values and principles. Advertisement

Labor leader Anthony Albanese also condemned the invasion and said: 'Australia must stand united with our allies, in holding Russia to account.'

It came as Ukraine's military said its air defenses shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter in the early hours of Thursday in the east of the country, near Kharkiv.

The nation's border force said posts in the north have come under attack from both Russian and Belorussian forces - a hugely significant development, meaning Russia is not acting alone.

The livestream video of the invasion from Belarus was taken at the Senkivka, Ukraine crossing with Veselovka, Belarus. The column was seen entering Ukraine around 6:48am local time, CNN reported.

A Ukrainian government spokesman confirmed that Russia had invaded over the Belarus border as well, only 120 miles from Kiev.

He said: 'The state border of Ukraine was attacked by troops from Russia and Belarus.

An explosion is seen in the early hours of Thursday in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv as Russia began its offensive

Kharkiv, with a population of 1.4 million, appeared to be under attack in the early hours of Thursday

'At about 5am, the state border of Ukraine, in the area with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus.

'Attacks on border units, border patrols and checkpoints are carried out with the use of artillery, heavy equipment and small arms.

'This is happening within Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr regions.'

The government spokesman also said that Ukraine was attacked from Crimea.

'The work of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups is also recorded,' the spokesman continued.

'Depending on the situation on the border, border guards together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine are firing at the enemy.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a video message early on Thursday and urged Ukrainians to stay at home, and remain calm, telling them to have faith in their country

'Information on injuries among border guards is being clarified.'

The Russian president early on Thursday told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home' as he declared war on Ukraine in an early morning address to the nation.

Putin said Russia could not exist with a 'constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine' and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was 'inevitable'.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, declared martial law in the early hours of Thursday, in a video message to the people urging people to remain at home and stay strong. He said he had just spoken to Joe Biden.

'We are working. The army is working,' he said.

'Don't panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine.'

Tanks can be seen, to the right of the image, rolling past a border post between Ukraine and Belarus in the early hours of Thursday

Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev.

Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.

More unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6am local time.

President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday, and on Wednesday night he condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.' He was speaking to Ukraine's president.

Biden said in a statement: 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

'Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'

Biden said he will be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.

The developments came as:

Explosions were heard across Ukraine, with the capital Kiev coming under attack and the city's main airport appearing to be a target, as well as a nearby military base.

Reports said the port city of Odessa was coming under amphibious assault, while another Black Sea port city, Mariupol, was under fierce attack.

Military assaults appeared underway on Kharkiv in the far east of Ukraine.

Ukraine's government declared martial law and urged people to stay at home as the onslaught continues.

Russia insisted in the early hours of Thursday that it was targeting military installations and avoiding populated areas, but Ukraine said there had been hundreds of casualties.

Joe Biden was speaking to Ukraine's president in the early hours of Thursday, having earlier through his UN ambassador voiced his strong continued support for the country.

Vladimir Putin is pictured in the early hours of Thursday morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a 'special military operation'

President Joe Biden, pictured on Wednesday, condemned Putin's invasion of Ukraine

Footage shared on social media from Odessa appeared to show an amphibious assault

#BREAKING: #Russia Navy has he port of #Odessa in #Ukraine under attack. Also heavy artillery and rocket barrage by BM-21 & BM-27 MRLS of #Russian Army at #Ukrine Army positions in #Kramatorsk now pic.twitter.com/P3jpE2Cbcw  Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) February 24, 2022

CNN: Ukraine's Interior Ministry says there have already been hundreds of casualties pic.twitter.com/CNAPySQ4y2  philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 24, 2022

Biden announced he will join G7 counterparts on Thursday morning, and will address the country later on Thursday to 'announce the further consequences the United States and its Allies and partners will impose on Russia.'

'We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine,' the statement added.

Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, tweeted early on Thursday: 'I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

'The UK and our allies will respond decisively.'

Metadata of Putin's declaration of war video shows it was recorded on Monday evening, but only broadcast early Thursday.

At the time, some Russian officials were denying any intention to invade.

The Russian armed forces are not inflicting any missile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow told RIA Novosti.

Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Ukrainian army were being disabled by high-precision weapons, they said.

Nothing threatens the civilian population of Ukraine, they claimed.

All flights cancelled at Russian airports in Krasnodar, Sochi, and Anapa, close to the Black Sea.

Rostov also reported cancelled flights.

Within minutes of Putin's public address, explosions could be heard in the capital city of Kiev as well as the city of Kramatorsk in central Ukraine, and Odessa in the south.

Across Ukraine, cruise and ballistic missiles were destroying military infrastructure and strategically important facilities, according to unofficial Russian sources.

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev reporting hearing blasts in the early hours of Thursday morning

Mariupol, on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, appeared to be under fierce attack. Taking this strategic location would give the Donbas republics access to the sea.

The moment Ukraine and the rest of Europe had dreaded for months finally came shortly after 4.35am local time when huge explosions were heard in Kiev and other cities across the country.

Terrified citizens rushed to bomb shelters, though no air raid warnings sounded in the capital  only the frequent muffled crump of missile or air strikes breaking through the pre-dawn stillness.

In Kiev, people were sheltering in basements as the sounds of distant explosions became a constant backdrop.

Within an hour Russians special force and airborne troops were reported to be on the ground at Kiev's Boryspil Airport, amid fierce fighting.

A woman in the Ukrainian capital said: 'I was woken by a friend.

'I am in the centre of Kiev.

'I hear the sound of distant explosions and ambulance sirens.'

At 7.05am the first air raid sirens were heard in central Kiev.

Chance, located on a balcony in the Ukrainian capital quickly put on his protective headgear

A CNN reporter in Kiev reported hearing blasts live on air in the early hours of Thursday morning.

'I just heard a big bang right here behind me. I've never heard anything like it,' said Matthew Chance, senior international correspondent for the network.

Chance said that he heard between seven and eight explosions and quickly put on his flak jacket and headgear while he continued to report from a balcony in the Ukrainian capital.

'There are big explosions taking place.

'I can't see them or explain what they are.

'But I will tell you the U.S has warned the Ukrainian authorities there could be air strikes and ground attacks as well around the country, including the capital.

'I don't know if that's what's occurring now but it's a remarkable coincidence that the explosions come just minutes after Putin gave his speech,' Chance explained.

'This is the first time we've heard anything. It has been absolutely silent.

'This is the first time. It has to be more than just a coincidence.

'I think it's safe where I am. I have a flak jacket,' Chance remarked, before ducking down to put on his protective gear.

He suggested that the blasts he heard in the Ukrainian capital were still some distance away from the center.

'It was so quiet in Ukraine tonight up until those explosions,' Chance explained.

The blasts came within minutes of Putin saying Russia would conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

Explosions could also be heard from Ukraine in the Russian city of Belgorod.

Putin told Russians: 'I have decided to conduct a special military operation.

'Russia cannot exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine.

'You and I have been left with no opportunity to protect our people other than the one we use today.'

It comes after explosions were also heard near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, as fears mounted that shelling is underway.

Residents in the city, which is located in south eastern Ukraine, have been woken up at 3.30am by blasts 30 miles from the Russian border.

Video footage appeared to show clouds of smoke rising up into the night sky near Mariupol, but it was unconfirmed whether it was as a result of shelling.

Putin earlier this week said he wanted to take the major Azov Sea Port of Mariupol, which handles 50 per cent Ukraine's steel and mineral exports.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia's actions were a 'grave breach of international law' and that allies would meet to address the 'renewed aggression'.

He said on Twitter: 'I strongly condemn #Russia's reckless attack on #Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. This is a grave breach of international law & a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. #NATO Allies will meet to address Russia's renewed aggression.'

The British foreign secretary Liz Truss tweeted her condemnation of the attack just after 4am local time.

'I strongly condemn the appalling, unprovoked attack President Putin has launched on the people of Ukraine,' she said.

'We stand with Ukraine and we will work with our international partners to respond to this terrible act of aggression.'

The explosions come just hours after the U.S. warned the Ukrainian government that Putin's troops are 'ready to go now' with an invasion of Ukraine, with 80 per cent of Russian soldiers now assembled around the country in attack positions.
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Among Russia's war arsenal in Ukraine are a series of mobile crematoriums that are designed to disintegrate the bodies of dead soldiers and civilians and hide the true scale of war, it was claimed on Thursday as Putin advanced with his assault on Ukraine.

The crematoriums have been deployed along with tanks and war jets for years, and a video of them was posted online in 2013. That footage resurfaced on Thursday with a grim new poignance now that all-out war has been declared. The exterior of the trucks looks like regular vehicles, but they contain hidden incinerators.

Western defense experts say they may be used to incinerate the bodies of soldiers in an effort of hiding the true death toll of the war.

'If I was a soldier and knew that my generals had so little faith in me that they followed me around the battlefield with a mobile crematorium, or I was the mother or father of a son, potentially deployed into a combat zone, and my government thought that the way to cover up losses was a mobile crematorium, Id be deeply, deeply worried,' British Defence Minister Ben Wallace told The Daily Telegraph on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia has claimed many of Putin's young soldiers now fighting in Ukraine were tricked into enlisting and told they were heading to the border for practice drills before being sent into bloody conflict.

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This image taken from a 2013 video of the 'mobile crematoriums' shows how the incinerator hidden within the truck opens up to dispose of soldiers' bodies. These crematoriums are among the vehicles that are thought to be following Russian troops around in an effort to hide the true scale of war

Young Russian soldiers who were captured by Ukrainian forces on Thursday after war broke out with dawn airstrikes

The committee is non-governmental and was formed in 1989. On Thursday, they released a statement saying many of the young men who enlisted in the army were tricked into doing so, then beaten if they tried to back out.

Russian President Vladimir Putin unapologetically launched war on Thursday and warned the West not to interfere

'We've had a flurry of calls from scared mothers all over Russia. They are crying, they dont know if their children are alive or healthy,' Andrei Kurochkin, the deputy chairman of the group, told Russian site Takie Del.

'If there is a war, then professionals should deal with it, not untrained green guys,' he said, adding it was a 'complete catastrophe' to have soldiers fighting a war 'under duress.'

The young men were told they were going to the border for drills, then had their contracts changed to signal that they were there for conflict.

'They are switching entire regiments to contract [soldiers,] although the guys did not submit any formal requests for this, and took no such initiative.

UKRAINE LATEST Global markets tanked with Russia's ruble sliding to its lowest value ever

The price of oil shot up to over $100 per barrel

EU will freeze Russian assets, halt access to financial market and target 'Kremlin interests'

G7 called Putin a 'threat to global order' vowing 'severe and coordinated economic and financial sanctions'

Joe Biden announced new sanctions targeting Russian banks, exports and military

Russia's largest bank Sberbank will be severed from the US financial system, and full sanctions are imposed on four other financial institutions

Boris Johnson called the invasion a 'catastrophe for our continent' and branded Putin a 'dictator'

China repeated calls for talks but refusing to criticize Russia's attack

Moldova declared a state of emergency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said invasion is 'heavy blow' to regional peace

NATO ambassadors scheduled an emergency meeting on Thursday

UN Security Council will discuss a resolution condemning the invasion

Ukraine demanded the world banish Russia from SWIFT banking system Advertisement

'There are instances of physical violence, and beatings of those who refuse to become contract soldiers. And after that its completely unknown [what happens to them], because they take away their phones.

The group is now preparing to file a formal complaint with the Chief Military Prosecutors Office.

Photos of some of the soldiers emerged on Thursday as they were captured by Ukrainian forces. Many were extremely young-looking men.

Terrifying videos from Ukraine show tanks rolling through Chernobyl while shelling rings out in Sumy, near the border with Russia.

Ukrainians spent the night sheltering in subway stations, unable to get out on packed roads and trains, while hiding from airstrikes.

It remains unclear if more are on their way. Ukraine has vowed to fight back with all its might.

Troops are already closing in on the seat of Ukrainian power after taking control of the strategic Chernobyl nuclear power plant Thursday, and will seize it within 96 hours, bringing a 'new Iron Curtain' down on Europe, Volodymyr Zelensky warned.

Officials said Vladimir Putin plans to encircle Ukrainian forces in Kyiv and force them to either surrender or be destroyed, and the leadership of Ukraine will then fall in a week.

A former senior U.S. intelligence officer told Newsweek: 'After the air and artillery end and the ground war really starts, I think Kyiv falls in just a few days.

'The military may last slightly longer but this isn't going to last long.'

A source close to the Ukrainian government said they agreed that Kyiv will be surrounded within 96 hours but believed the government will stay strong and not collapse.

In a bid to thwart the imminent capture of the city, Emmanuel Macron spoke to Vladimir Putin tonight, who gave the French leader an 'exhaustive' explanation of his justification for war.

The Kremlin said the call took place at Macron's initiative, and he and Putin agreed to stay in contact.

President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to give any civilian who wants one a weapon.

President Joe Biden on Thursday condemned Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine and announced a series of new sanctions on Russian financial institutions that he said will have a 'severe' effect on the economy.

A Russian T-72 tank is pictured sitting in front of the main reactor at Chernobyl after Putin's forces seized it in a 'fierce' battle with the condition of nuclear storage facilities 'unknown'

Russian armoured vehicles park on roads near the Chernobyl plant, amid fears that damage to the facility could cause a radiation leak that would blanket Europe with fallout

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts with bombs and missiles dropped on targets across the country in the early hours, followed by troop attacks from Crimea, the Donbass, Belgorod and Belarus as well as helicopter landings in Kyiv and at power plants on the Dnieper River. Chernobyl nuclear power plant has also fallen to Russian forces

Russian Mi-8 attack helicopters stage an assault on Gostomel air base, just on the outskirts of Kyiv, after Vladimir Putin launched an all-out attack on the country

The State Department is telling citizens to fend for themselves. 'The US government will not be able to evacuate US citizens from Ukraine,' an announcement on the website reads today

President Biden addressed the nation on Thursday afternoon. He promised to impose strict sanctions on Russia but said nothing of any kind of evacuation plans. Earlier this month, he said Americans in Ukraine had to get themselves out of the country

'Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences,' Biden said in remarks at the White House in response to Putin's invasion has so far killed at least 57 Ukrainians.

The president insisted he didn't underestimate the Russian leader and in a baffling moment conceded that 'no one expected' the earlier sanctions put on Russian financial institutions and Putin's inner circle to 'prevent anything from happening'.

He said Putin has further ambitions and wants to 're-establish the Soviet Union', but insisted he would not be sending American troops into Ukraine and has no plans to speak to the Russian leader on the phone.

Biden's speech, which was delayed twice on Thursday afternoon, came as The Kremlin seized control of Chernobyl nuclear power plant after a 'fierce' battle. Ukraine said the condition of the nuclear storage facilities are 'unknown', sparking fears of a radiation leak that could cause fallout in Europe.

Video revealed Russian tanks and armored vehicles standing in front of the destroyed reactor 60 miles north of the capital Kyiv, which has been surrounded by Putin's forces and could fall in 96 hours.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken Thursday also issued a grim warning Thursday night saying: 'All evidence suggests that Russia intends to encircle and threaten Kyiv, and we believe Moscow has developed plans to inflict widespread human rights abuses  and potentially worse  on the Ukrainian people.'

'Now the entire world sees clearly what Putin and his Kremlin allies are really all about.

'This was never about a genuine security concern on their part. It was always about naked aggression,' the president said during his White House speech. 'America stands up to bullies,' he added. 'This is who we are.'




Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in the Baltic country in response to Russia's military attack on Ukraine.







The Baltic country's parliament was expected to approve the measure in an extraordinary session later on Thursday.







The measure, in effect until March 10, allows for a more flexible use of state reserve funds and increased border protection, giving border guards greater authorities to stop and search individuals and vehicles in border areas.







NATO member Lithuania borders Russia's Kaliningrad region to the southwest, Belarus to the east, Latvia to the north and Poland to the south. (AP)


NSW has ditched its face mask mandate in most settings while Victoria will follow suit scrapping the unpopular rule at midnight.

Masks are no longer required in NSW shops, but will remain compulsory in key areas including public transport and hospitals, in a move welcomed by those fighting to revive the state's city centres.

'From Friday masks are off,' NSW premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Thursday. 'We will see a significant return back to the CBD and that will be positive.'

The protective face covering will also be scrapped in Victoria from 11.59pm on Friday.

Mr Perrottet said the government was working on a plan to encourage workers back into offices, and with the City of Sydney on initiatives to 'breathe life back into the city'.

Masks are no longer required in NSW shops, but will remain compulsory in key areas including public transport and hospitals, in a move welcomed by those fighting to revive the state's city centres

Mr Perrottet said the government was working on a plan to encourage workers back into offices, and with the City of Sydney on initiatives to 'breathe life back into the city'

Committee for Sydney deputy CEO Ehssan Veiszadeh said, 'We think the easing of mask mandates will be a gamechanger for the CBD'.

'With Friday's easing of the mask mandate, we think people will start to increase their days in the office,' he said.

'That's what our CBDs desperately need and we strongly welcome it.'

Mr Perrottet encouraged public servants to return to the office after meeting with department heads on Monday.

The highly anticipated easing of restrictions will be followed up next week with high school students and staff no longer required to wear masks from Monday.

Parents will be allowed back on school campuses, year groups will be able to mix freely and assemblies and school camps return.

Staff and students will no longer be required to undertake twice-weekly rapid antigen tests, unless they have symptoms.

Masks will still be required to visit prisons, at indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people, at airports and on planes, as well as at aged and disability care facilities.

The lifting of the mask mandate that has marked life during the pandemic comes as a National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance study published on Thursday recommended 'the need for the public health measures, including wearing masks indoors'.

NSW on Thursday recorded 8271 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths. More than 52 per cent of the state's residents aged 16 and older have received a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

When masks are no longer required in most places in Victoria from 11.59pm Friday, it's likely most people will breathe easier.

The mask mandate has been in place in some form since July 2020, but will soon only be required in limited situations, such as on public transport, taxis, and in airports and hospitals.

When masks are no longer required in most places in Victoria from 11.59pm Friday, it's likely most people will breathe easier

When you have to wear a face mask NSW NSW has ditched the face mask mandate in most settings. Masks are no longer required in shops or hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants. They will remain compulsory in key areas including: - Airports - Public hospitals or private health facilities - Residential care facilities or hostels - Indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people - Public transport and public transport waiting areas (including in taxis and rideshare services) - A domestic commercial aircraft (including when the aircraft is flying above NSW) Victoria From 11.59pm Friday, face masks will only be mandated in certain industries. Residents will still need to wear them on public transport, in taxis, and in airports and hospitals. Some groups of workers will also have to keep wearing masks, including hospitality and retail workers, people who work in primary schools and early childhood centres, and justice and correctional facility staff. High school students will also be allowed to ditch their masks, but primary school students in grades three to six will still have to wear them for now. Advertisement

Some groups of workers will also have to keep wearing masks, including hospitality and retail workers, people who work in primary schools and early childhood centres, and justice and correctional facility staff.

High school students will also be allowed to ditch their masks, but primary school students in grades three to six will still have to wear them for now.

That's due in part to the lower vaccination rate in children aged five to 11 which stands at 54.5 per cent having had at least one dose.

That's compared to a double-jab rate of 93.9 per cent for Victorians aged 12 and above.

People who have contracted Covid-19 and their close contacts will also have to wear masks outside their homes.

Also from midnight Friday, people are no longer being told to work from home.

The state's remaining restrictions on elective surgery will soon lift on Monday, with both public and private hospitals able to resume all surgery.
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They are heartbreaking scenes we hoped wed never see in Europe again.

Huddled together on numbered benches, fear and apprehension in their eyes, these are the children of the Donetsk region being led through drills as war exploded across Ukraine.

In images which brought back memories of the Blitz, the primary school pupils were led down in single file into an underground bomb shelter as they prepared for an assault from Vladimir Putins forces.

Too small to climb on to the shelters ledges themselves, many of the children from the Number One school in the city of Druzhkivka had to be hoisted up by adults.

Huddled together on numbered benches, fear and apprehension in their eyes, these are the children of the Donetsk region being led through drills as war exploded across Ukraine

There they hunkered down, their arms curled around their knees, awaiting their fate. They are scenes likely to become only more common following yesterdays full-scale invasion.

Air raid drills at the school normally take place twice a year, according to the BBC which captured the footage. But there was an extra, emergency exercise on Wednesday.

In Kharkiv  the countrys second largest city  children learned about bulletproof vests and explosives. They also practised evacuation drills and first aid which defence specialist Oleksandr Shevchuk said would help prevent children getting injured, or, God forbid, death.

He added: We let them try on our uniforms, bulletproof vests and helmets. Show them what explosive items can be, so that they can become aware of situations that may happen to them.

Four metro stations in Kyiv are also being transformed into air raid shelters as the capital braces itself for violence once again.

In images which brought back memories of the Blitz, the primary school pupils were led down in single file into an underground bomb shelter as they prepared for an assault from Vladimir Putins forces

There they hunkered down, their arms curled around their knees, awaiting their fate. They are scenes likely to become only more common following yesterdays full-scale invasion

Too small to climb on to the shelters ledges themselves, many of the children from the Number One school in the city of Druzhkivka had to be hoisted up by adults
Minister will be told to withdraw their departments from Stonewalls diversity scheme, it has emerged.

A number of departments have signed up to the controversial 5,000-a-year programme to receive advice on how to create an inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans staff.

The charity then ranks organisations on how well they are deemed to treat their LGBT workers.

But some departments have withdrawn from the diversity champions programme over fears that the charity advises members to rewrite their policies to reflect its agenda on trans rights.

Minister will be told to withdraw their departments from Stonewalls controversial 5,000-a-year diversity programme

This month it emerged the House of Lords has pulled out of the scheme, following the BBC and the Cabinet Office.

Guidance from the Cabinet Office, published yesterday, states that ministries should no longer engage with external assurance and benchmarking organisations'- unless an exception is granted by the permanent secretary.

Instead they should bring such schemes in-house.

A government source said that would mean departments will be expected to pull out of the Stonewall scheme.

The strategy recognises the civil service is out of touch with the British public it works for, the source said.

This is the first serious attempt by the Government to get Whitehall to change course by cutting out the wokery, ending the reliance of dodgy diversity schemes and getting more jobs outside of the London metropolitan bubble.

Last year Liz Truss, in her position as equalities minister, told officials she believed departments should leave the scheme because it was not value for money.

But since she became Foreign Secretary she has not implemented the change in her department.

The new instruction came in a document called the civil service diversity and inclusion strategy, 2022 to 2025.

Guidance from the Cabinet Office states that ministries should no longer engage with external assurance and benchmarking organisations'

A spokesman said: To ensure value for taxpayer money and to reduce spends on consultancy, the civil service will become less reliant on external organisations for its diversity advice and policy. Procedures will also be tightened up... to make sure political views do not influence civil service advice on diversity and inclusion policies and actions.

In May Stonewalls chief executive Nancy Kelley claimed gender critical beliefs  the belief that a persons biological sex cannot be changed  were akin to anti-Semitism.
As Russia forges ahead with its deadly invasion of Ukraine, Republicans eviscerated President Biden for admitting he knew Vladimir Putin would launch the attack even with U.S. sanctions and for failing to sanction the Russian leader personally.

'The Biden administration continues to miss the moment,' Sen. Lindsey Graham wrote on Twitter. 'Putin and his inner circle live large all over the world. It is past time for democracies to bring him to account. Not giving clarity to Putin about what would happen if he invaded Ukraine was a mistake.'

'Not going after him personally is an even bigger mistake,' the South Carolina Republican wrote on Twitter.

Biden announced a slew of new sanctions on Thursday, but left the Russian leader's personal assets out of it. He said that sanctions on Putin were 'on the table' but did not answer a question as to why he hadn't been included in Thursday's round of financial restrictions.

Rep. Tony Gonzalez, R-Texas, said that without a strong response, Russia's attack on Ukraine would embolden China to make similar moves with Taiwan.

'Today Ukraine, tomorrow Taiwan. As Americans, we stand on the side of freedom. Ukraine deserves our full support in their fight for democracy against Russias unjustified attacks so that other bad actors dont follow suit.'

In a baffling moment of Biden's Thursday address, the president said he always knew his sanctions would do nothing to halt Putin's attack, despite his administration repeatedly insisting that the sanctions were dangled over Putin's head to deter him from attacking.

Biden announced a slew of new sanctions on Thursday, but left the Russian leader's personal assets out of it

'No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. It's going to take time. And we have to show resolve so he knows what's coming,' Biden noted. 'He is going to test the resolve of the West to see if we stay together.'

'President Biden says he knew for MONTHS that Russia was planning to attack Ukraine and still made no strong move to prevent them from doing so,' Rep. Lisa McClain wrote on Twitter.

And while Republicans set their sights on the U.S. president's failures, Biden went after Putin.

'Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences,' Biden said in remarks at the White House.

The commander-in-chief said that Putin not only wants to conquer Ukraine but has ambitions to fully restore the old Soviet Union.

'He has much larger ambitions than Ukraine. He wants to re-establish the former Soviet Union. That is what this is about,' the president said.

As Vladimir Putin launched a bombing campaign of Ukraine that signaled the start of a full-blown invasion, scores of Republicans unloaded on the leader they saw as the villain: President Joe Biden.

'As we pray for the Ukrainian people, make no mistake: THIS is what happens when Americas enemies see a weak and incompetent @POTUS,' tweeted U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, adding the hashtag Bidenisafailure.

Some took their lead from former President Donald Trump's rambling appearance on Fox News on Wednesday night, when he claimed his good relationship with Putin would have prevented the invasion.

And hours later it was the recurring theme as conservatives gathered in Orlando, Florida, for the annual CPAC conference.

With the Republican foreign policy establishment focusing their condemnation on Putin, it suggested the issue of Russia is a new litmus test for conservatives - just like the January 6 violence and Trump's claims that he was cheated of the election.

'America's incompetent right now,' said CPAC's first speaker, TV host Ben Ferguson.

'America is a place right now that is not going to even understand how to organise the world to fight back against tyrants and dictators around the world. And that's why they're doing it right now.'

As Russian tanks moved through Crimea, and Russia began its bombardment of Ukraine, scores of Republicans trained their fire on President Joe Biden rather than Vladimir Putin accusing the US leader of weakness

The first speaker at the CPAC conservative gathering in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday gave a taste of things to come. 'America's incompetent right now,' said TV host Ben Ferguson as he warned that adversaries were taking advantage

Former President Trump called into Fox News on Wednesday to claim the attack would not have happened on his watch

Rep Scott Perry was among the Republicans who took to Twitter to blast Biden for Putin's aggression in Ukraine

Others warned that America's allies were watching what was unfolding and see American weakness on the world stage

A steady stream of Republicans tweeted their anger at Biden and warned that the country's enemies would be watching.

In a tweet, House Republicans said: 'President Bidens weakness on the world stage has emboldened our enemies. China, Iran, and North Korea are watching.'

For days, Tucker Carlson has been setting out the ground for questioning Biden's response on his highly-rated Fox News show. He has repeatedly asked why the US should side with Ukraine rather than Putin.

But not everyone was in lockstep.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who has been keen to demonstrate his close relationship with Trump, did not mention Biden at all in his comments.

'Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine is reckless and evil,' he said. 'The United States stands with the people of Ukraine and prays for their safety and resolve.'

Matt Schlapp, who heads the organization behind CPAC and a leading conservative voice, said the issue of Russia and Ukraine would be a key theme of the next four days.

He said there were differences between the party coalition has spread.

'You know, the Liz Cheney wing of the Republican Party is becoming increasingly marginalized and discredited,' he told DailyMail.com. 'So that makes people go to different voices to try to say, okay, you know, if you're not a military expert, do you think we should use America's might, its treasure to intervene?

'And I would say I think most of the people here would actually listen to the case to protect Ukraine, but the president has to make it.

'He somehow has to transform from this guy reading cue cards in the middle of the day, to a president that's giving major primetime addresses, including press conferences, about what he thinks we should do.'

Recent polling suggests there is little support for a US role in the conflict.

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only 22% of Republicans think the U.S. should play a major role in the conflict, compared with 32% of Democrats.

A military column moves across the town of Armyansk, northern Crimea. Early on February 24, after invasion begins

People waiting for a Kiev bound train spread on a platform in Kostiantynivka, the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine

Republicans are also less likely to say they're very or extremely concerned that Russia's influence around the world poses a direct threat to the US.

That makes former Democratic presidential runner Tulsi Gabbard a fit for the lineup at CPAC.

She has been accused of cozying up to dictators and spreading Putin's propaganda by saying an invasion would not have happened if the West had addressed Russia's concerns about Ukraine joining NATO - even though the Russian president has also said Ukraine had not right to exist independently of Russia.

Rep Elise Stefanik, who won Cheney's position as the third most senior Republican in the House because of her backing for Trump, made clear where she stood.

'After just one year of a weak, feckless, and unfit President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief, the world is less safe,' she said.

'Rather than peace through strength, we are witnessing Joe Biden's foreign policy of war through weakness.'

But leading the way in condemning Biden was Trump, who told Fox News in a freewheeling interview that this wouldn't have happened under his administration and again making claims of a rigged election in 2020.

As explosions were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine, Trump called the scene a "terrible situation" and insisted Putin never would have moved on his watch.

'He sees the weakness and the incompetence and the stupidity of this administration. And as an American I'm angry about it and I'm saddened by it,' he said, calling into Laura Ingraham's Fox News show.

'It's a very sad thing for the world, for the country, and it's certainly very sad for a lot of people that are going to be needlessly killed.'

Ingraham asked Trump about the continuing closeness between Putin and Xi.

'Well, I had a good relationship with both,' he said. 'It was hurt by the Russia hoax. You see what happened with Durham and those reports and other reports including Mueller.

'It was just a made up hoax and it really hurt our country but despite the hoax, I had a good relationship and with president XI of China, other than the fact that I was tariff-ing and taxing the hell out of him.'

'As a young man growing up, I always heard that the worst thing that could happen is drive those two countries together. It really started with Obama and energy. He drove them together because one needed the energy and the other needed the money,' Trump added. 'He drove them together and Biden -- I kept them apart - and Biden now it's a great love fest and that's a very bad thing and I think you can probably add Iran into it too.'

Former President Donald Trump, speaking at a super PAC fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, spoke off the cuff about the impending military action Wednesday night

Trump spoke to Fox News' Laura Ingraham as the bombs went off in Kyiv

Trump then again said that Vladimir Putin was 'smart,' as he had during interviews given on Tuesday

Trump again criticized President Joe Biden for his actions ahead of the crisis

Trump said that, despite having good relationships with Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi (right), he 'kept them apart

Earlier in the interview, in which Trump spoke over the phone with Ingraham, Trump bemoaned that this was happening at all.

'This should have never happened. This would not have happened during my administration. In fact, some people are saying why didn't this take place over the last four years? It didn't for a very good reason and I'll explain that to you someday, but it wouldn't have taken place and it wouldn't have taken place right now. It's a sad thing for the world and the country and a lot of people that will be needlessly killed.'

Trump argued he'd have used his good relationship with Putin to stop this from happening.

'Well, I know him very well. We had many, many times together. I got along with him fantastically despite the fact I shut down Nord Stream-2, nobody would've heard of Nord Stream 2 if it weren't for me. I am the one that shut it down.'

He then went through a story about how he disagreed with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the strategy regarding Nord-Stream 2.

Trump then linked the invasion with the failed pullout from Afghanistan by the Biden administration in 2021.

'It's a terrible thing the way it started, I don't believe he wanted to do this initially,' Trump said. 'I think he wanted to do something and negotiate it and had got worse and worse. He saw the weakness and you know, it really started with the weakness in Afghanistan. The way they pulled out of Afghanistan. I really believe that's where he started thinking he could do this.'

Ingraham then asked Trump what he thought of President Biden's approach, in which Ingraham said Biden was 'monitoring the situation' and then would talk to fellow G7 leaders Thursday.

'I don't think he's monitoring, I think he is probably sleeping right now,' Trump retorted. 'This is a terrible thing that should never have happened. I really believe that it was Afghanistan, when he looked at that horrible, weak pullout.'

Earlier Thursday Trump, speaking at a super PAC fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, spoke off the cuff about the impending military action Wednesday night.

The former president spoke about America's enemies during the crisis, saying: 'Now they laugh at us. Thats why you have Ukraine, thats why youre going to have China. Taiwan is next, and youre going to see the same kind of thing.'

Trump then again said that Vladimir Putin was 'smart,' as he had during interviews given on Tuesday.

'He's taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions, I'd say that's pretty smart. He's taking over a country - a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people - just walking right in. This never would have happened and I know him very well.

At Mar-a-Lago event, Trump says "Trump said Putin is smart. He's taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. I'd say that's pretty smart." pic.twitter.com/v4RkhqvCd3  danny (@dabbs346) February 24, 2022

Trump on Tuesday praised Putin's move to declare the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine 'independent.'

'I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, "This is genius,"' Trump said. 'Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine - of Ukraine - Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful.'

'I said, "How smart is that?'" the former U.S. president continued. 'And he's gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That's the strongest peace force We could use that on our southern border. Thats the strongest peace force I've ever seen. There were more army tanks than Ive ever seen. Theyre gonna keep peace all right.'

'No, but think of it. Heres a guy whos very savvy,' Trump went on. 'I know him very well. Very, very, very well. Had I been in office, not even thinkable, this never would have happened.'

Trump added: 'But heres a guy that says, you know, "I'm gonna declare a big portion of Ukraine independent," he used the word 'independent' and 'were gonna go out and were gonna go in and were gonna help keep peace.' You gotta say thats pretty savvy. And you know what the response was from Biden? There was no response. They didnt have one for that. No, its very sad. Very sad.

Trump also called Biden 'a man who has no concept of what he's doing.'
Russian generals should stage a coup against Vladimir Putin to halt the war in Ukraine, a Foreign Office minister suggested yesterday.

James Cleverly accused him of pursuing the murderous fantasy of restoring the Russian empire.

The minister, who has responsibility for Russian policy, appeared to urge forces chiefs to rise up against their president. The military leaders around Vladimir Putin must know this is a catastrophically bad judgment call... that this will come at a huge cost. They are in a position to stop this and we call on them to do so.

Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has not been welcomed wildly at home with thousands of people risking extreme punishment by protesting against the military action

Some within Vladimir Putin's circle have suggested that the president has gone 'completely crazy' with his claims Ukraine is an 'invented country' during his 'unhinged' public address

But is this a realistic prospect? As the world reacted with shock and revulsion, what do ordinary Russians think of their leaders snap decision to send in the tanks?

Some, including even senior members of the Putin machine, have responded with disbelief and incomprehension. During his unhinged speech this week declaring Ukraine to be an invented country, one senior editor at a Kremlin-controlled TV station texted me in alarm to say that the boss had gone completely crazy.

A Russian diplomat Ive known for 20 years messaged me on Signal  a secure app he believes is safe from the eyes of his bosses  to say that Putin had led us far, far out into a stormy ocean.

Make no mistake, there is deep apprehension in Russia over what has happened. Partially, of course, because the prospect of the toughest round yet of Western sanctions has sent the economy into a tailspin.

The rouble nosedived yesterday, while the crash in the Russian stock market wiped out more than $250billion in asset values. The countrys largest lender, Sberbank, at one point lost a staggering 57 per cent, and oil giant Rosneft plunged as much as 58 per cent.

Predictably, the Kremlin propaganda machine has gone into full attack mode, reheating cliches about the Kyiv government being run by fascists and Nazis, which were invented in the run-up to Putins annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Putins most venomous TV attack dog led his nightly news programme with false stories of an ongoing genocide against the Russian-speaking population of Eastern Ukraine.

James Cleverly accused Vladimir Putin of pursuing the murderous fantasy of restoring the Russian empire

Snap polls suggest that 50 per cent of the public support a full invasion, and many older TV viewers may be truly convinced by the propaganda. I remember the War  lots of Russian people are ready to fight fascism, says Ludmilla Scherbakova, 87, the mother of a Moscow friend.

But the young are a different story. Polls in December found that 66 per cent of Russians under 25  the people who will be expected to actually fight an all-out war - had a positive attitude towards Ukraine.

Protests are a rare sight in this authoritarian nation but anti-war campaigners broke cover yesterday in more than 40 cities, including Moscow and St Petersburg - only to be subjected to a merciless crackdown.

Police detained almost 1,400 people in 51 locations, an independent monitor said yesterday.

Police detained almost 1,400 people in 51 locations, an independent monitor said yesterday

Moscows boulevards were filled with busloads of police to prevent more gatherings, and the Kremlin has introduced full, Soviet-style media censorship threatening to inflict crippling fines on any media outlet, including on the internet, for spreading disinformation that contradicted the party line.

Even the countrys actors have been told to toe the party line and are banned from making any comment from the stage. Makar Zaporozhsky, of the Mayakovsky Theatre, said on Instagram orders from the Ministry of Culture have made it clear that any negative commentary will be regarded as treason.

Putin is clearly hoping for a patriotic electoral lift similar to the one he enjoyed after he annexed Crimea. Prior to that his popularity ratings were in the doldrums, although afterwards they soared.

The all-out attack on Ukraine, however, could have the opposite effect. Unlike the Kremlins earlier adventure, he will have no shiny new imperial bauble to show off at the end of it all. Crimea is a well-loved vacation spot for millions of Russians, with an overwhelmingly Russian population. Donbas,  the area in eastern Ukraine that Putin has recognised as a separate state  is a war-ravaged post industrial rust-belt region. Only 35 per cent of its population even identified themselves as Russian in the last census.

But the real test will come when body bags start coming home, and when sanctions really start to bite.

The battle for Russian hearts and minds has been called a struggle between the TV and the refrigerator. One appliance tells the Russian populace they are citizens of a great and victorious nation while the other tells them they are starving as the plummeting rouble robs them of food.

By uniting the West in support of Ukraine, Putin has also managed to undermine Russias only real strategic lever over Europe  its gas supplies. Following Germanys decision to halt certification of the 11billion Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the showpiece of Putins energy supremacy is just an expensive piece of metal on the Baltic seabed.

Europe and the UK will now scramble to find alternatives to Putins toxic energy supplies. Hes cut off the branch hes sitting on.

The twin pillars of Putins power  a huge propaganda operation and a terrifying machine of state repression  will probably quell murmurings of discontent from the people. But the other losers of will be members of his own elite, who stand to forfeit their homes and the money they have stashed abroad.

Putins court is made up of two groups  the ones with the guns and the ones with the money. It is hawkish, gun-toting former KGB officers known as siloviki who have pushed for this war, and won.

Putin is clearly hoping for a patriotic electoral lift similar to the one he enjoyed after he annexed Crimea. Prior to that his popularity ratings were in the doldrums, although afterwards they soared

They were the ones at Putins bizarre Security Council meeting this week who parroted the bosss line with the greatest gusto. But officials who actually run the economy and have contact with the outside world  Putins prime minister and his foreign minister, for instance  were visibly more sheepish.

Most sceptical of all was Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russias Foreign Intelligence Service, who got a public dressing-down for fluffing his lines when he appeared to give only lukewarm support for the decision to recognise two breakaway republics. These realists will soon come to see Putins impetuous attack has devastated the economy and undermined the whole regimes credibility.

For 22 years, Putin has kept an iron grip on power by ruthlessly dividing the West, eliminating opponents at home and keeping a careful balance on competing interests in the Kremlin court itself.

But by blundering into a bloody campaign that will beggar his country and shake the foundations of his own popularity, hes gone from being a strong leader to a dangerous liability.

Ousting him wont be easy. But many members of his inner circle may soon come to see that their increasingly unhinged boss is damaging their interests  as well as Russias  rather than protecting them.
Barack Obama has become the latest former president to condemn Vladimir Putin's deadly attack on Ukraine.

Obama, who was president when Russia occupied Crimea in 2014, issued a blistering statement Thursday after Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of his east European neighbor in a 'brazen attack on the people of Ukraine.'

'The consequences of Russia's reckless actions extend beyond Ukraine's borders,' Obama said. 'This illegal invasion in the heart of Europe also threatens the foundation of the international order and security.

'For some time now, we have seen the forces of division and authoritarianism make headway around the world, mounting an assault on the ideals of democracy, rule of law, equality, individual liberty, freedom of expression and worship, and self-determination. Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows where these dangerous trends can lead - and why they cannot be left unchallenged.'

He said he and wife Michele will pray for 'all those who will bear the cost of a senseless war'.

Former president Barack Obama issued a blistering statement Thursday as Russia began fighting with Ukraine over control of the east European country. The 43rd president called it 'brazen attack on the people of Ukraine' that could yield worldwide consequences

'The consequences of Russia's reckless actions extend beyond Ukraine's borders,' Obama said. 'This illegal invasion in the heart of Europe also threatens the foundation of the international order and security'

The 43rd president has had a fraught relationship with Putin was often criticized for being too soft on Russia during his time in office.

Obama's top national security official James Clapper said this week that he wished his administration would have done more to punish Russia for annexing the Crimea in 2014.

When asked whether the White House should have come down harder on Putin at the time, the former director of national intelligence told Fox News: 'Oh, yes, I do. I wish we as an administration had been more aggressive in 2014.'

Clapper also warned that Russia has become 'more emboldened than it was eight years ago' when it invaded Crimea.

As of Thursday afternoon, dozens of people were reported dead following the first day of conflict. Ukrainian servicemen are pictured next to a destroyed Russian armored vehicle outsie Kharkiv on February 24, 2022

James Clapper, who served Obama as a top national security official, warned that Russia has become 'more emboldened than it was eight years ago' when it invaded Crimea

During a January Senate hearing, Biden's pick for assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs also blasted the Obama White House's response to the Crimean takeover.

Celeste Wallander, an under-secretary under Obama, said: 'I believe that our response in 2014 was too slow and too incremental.

'And it's confirmed by the lessons that I learned, and that I believe others in the national security community learned, to better address Russia's ongoing aggression.'

She added that, in retrospect, 'it would have been appropriate and necessary to provide' weapons to Ukraine.

Her criticism, though directed at Obama's White House, reflects on Biden as his Vice President who had taken an interest in Ukraine among other unappetizing foreign-policy tasks.

Obama in his statement called upon others to join him in 'loudly and clearly' condemning Russia.

'And every American, regardless of party, should support President Biden's efforts, in coordination with our closest allies, to impose hard-hitting sanctions on Russia - sanctions that impose a real price on Russia's autocratic elites,' he said.

'There may be some economic consequences to such sanctions, given Russia's significant role in world energy markets. But that's the price we should be willing to pay to take a stand on the side of freedom.'

Also Thursday, former President George W. Bush issued a scathing statement condemning Putin for what he called the 'gravest security crisis' in Europe since World War II.

Russian President Vladamir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine this week in a move that was widely condemned by world leaders

He said he and wife Michele will pray for all those who will bear the cost of a senseless war'.

Putin's land and air attack on the sovereign Slavic state elicited global outrage, fueling comparisons to Nazi Germany's invasion into its neighbors in the mid-20th century.

Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Thursday that 'we haven't seen anything like this since Hitler invaded Poland.'

As of Thursday afternoon, dozens were killed and it was reported that Kiev's troops had lost control of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, the site of an infamous nuclear meltdown, where a severe enough Russian attack could trigger a radiation cloud across Europe.

Images of rockets hitting apartments and Ukrainian civilians fleeing in bumper-to-bumper traffic and praying in public squares followed reports of Russian missiles targeting the Ukrainian government's military bases and airports.

'Russias attack on Ukraine constitutes the gravest security crisis on the European continent since World War II,' Bush said in a statement. 'I join the international community in condemning Vladimir Putins unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.'

Donald Trump's takeaway from the attempted takeover varied drastically as he praised Putin's strategic approach, which began by entering separatist-occupied regions.

'I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, "This is genius,"' Trump said Tuesday during an interview with conservative podcaster Buck Sexton. 'Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine - of Ukraine - Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful.'

'I said, "How smart is that?'" the former U.S. president continued. 'And hes gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. Thats the strongest peace force We could use that on our southern border. Thats the strongest peace force Ive ever seen. There were more army tanks than Ive ever seen. Theyre gonna keep peace all right.'
Donald Trump's policy of energy independence kept Vladimir Putin in check, according to the former president's Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland, who said on Thursday that President Joe Biden should have sanctioned Russia's oil and gas industry in the wake of his invasion of Ukraine.

McFarland said she had deliberately chosen to wear yellow - one of the colors of the Ukrainian flag - when she appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida.

After scores of Republicans accused Biden of weakness in failing to prevent Putin's attack, McFarland said Trump's energy policies had helped rein in Russian aggression.

'If oil is at $40 a barrel, which it was when President Trump left office, the Russians are broke,' she said.

'They can't afford to go to war. War is expensive.'

K.T. McFarland, deputy national security adviser at the Trump White House for four months, said the former president's energy independence policy had kept Putin check

McFarland said that oil was at $40 a barrel when Trump left office. But since then it had risen steeply, filling Vladimir Putin's coffers and funding his war machine

In this handout photo taken from video released by Ukrainian Police Department Press Service, Military helicopters apparently Russian, fly over the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine

In the area of Glukhova, the Ukrainian military engaged a armoured column of 15 T-72 tanks with American Javelin missiles

Moscow - the world's biggest supplier of natural gas and one of biggest oil producers - could only 'play big' on the world stage if energy prices were high, she said.

Biden, she claimed, immediately reversed Trump policies.

'So he immediately shut down the American energy industry oil and natural gas, the energy that we were exporting to other countries that stopped as well what happened the price of oil went sky high,' she said.

'Vladimir Putin is rich he gets to choose when to invade.'

McFarland was deputy national security adviser for the first four months of the Trump administration.

She initially served under Mike Flynn, and was asked to step down after he was fired for failing to disclose conversations with the Russian ambassador to Washington.

She said Biden's sanctions would not hit Putin where it hurt - the oil and gas industry.

Her words added flesh to Republican cries that Biden was to blame - but Democrats countered saying that Trump's cozy relationship with Putin meant he would not have reined him in.

She spoke as Ukrainian forces battled Russian invaders on three sides after Moscow launched an assault by land, sea and air, prompting tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

Republicans lined up to accuse Biden of weakness.

'As we pray for the Ukrainian people, make no mistake: THIS is what happens when Americas enemies see a weak and incompetent @POTUS,' tweeted U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, adding the hashtag Bidenisafailure.

House Republicans said: 'President Bidens weakness on the world stage has emboldened our enemies. China, Iran, and North Korea are watching.'

Matt Schlapp, who heads the organization behind CPAC and a leading conservative voice, said the issue of Russia and Ukraine would be a key theme of the next four days.

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts with bombs and missiles dropped on targets across the country in the early hours, followed by troop attacks from Crimea, the Donbass, Belgorod and Belarus as well as helicopter landings in Kiev and at power plants on the Dnieper River. Chernobyl nuclear power plant has also fallen to Russian forces

A Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship is seen in the field after a forced landing Kyiv, Ukraine

He said there were differences between the party coalition has spread.

'You know, the Liz Cheney wing of the Republican Party. is becoming increasingly marginalized and discredited,' he told DailyMail.com. 'So that makes people go to different voices to try to say, okay, you know, if you're not a military expert, do you think we should use America's might, its treasure to intervene?

'And I would say I think most of the people here would actually listen to the case to protect Ukraine, but the president has to make it.

'He somehow has to transform from this guy reading cue cards in the middle of the day, to a president that's giving major primetime addresses, including press conferences, about what he thinks we should do.'

Recent polling suggests there is little support for a US role in the conflict.

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only 22% of Republicans think the U.S. should play a major role in the conflict, compared with 32% of Democrats.
Emmanuel Macron has called Vladimir Putin to 'demand an immediate halt' to Russian military operations in Ukraine, the Elysee Palace said on Thursday.

The French President has emerged as the West's point man in speaking with Putin, as part of diplomatic efforts to keep open a channel of dialogue.

As he attended at EU summit in Brussels, the Elysee said: 'After having spoken with the Ukrainian president, and in coordination with him, the president (Macron) called Vladimir Putin to demand the immediate halt of Russian military operations, noting that Russia risked massive sanctions.'

The account by Macron's aides contrasted with that given by the Kremlin, which said only that the two leaders had a 'serious and frank exchange of views' about Ukraine.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin gave an 'exhaustive' explanation to Macron of the reasons he ordered his forces into his pro-Western neighbour.

It added that the call took place at Macron's initiative, and he and Putin agreed to stay in contact.

Emmanuel Macron (pictured in Brussels on Thursday) has emerged as the West's point man in speaking with Putin, as part of diplomatic efforts to keep open a channel of dialogue

The account by Macron's aides contrasted with that given by the Kremlin, which said only that the two leaders had a 'serious and frank exchange of views' about Ukraine. Pictured: Putin entering a hall on his way to a meeting with Russian businessmen on Thursday

Earlier on Thursday, the French president told his nation: 'We will respond without weakness to this act of war'.

He added that the Russian attack on Ukraine marked a 'turning point in the history of Europe and our country' that would have 'deep and lasting consequences for our lives'.

At the EU summit, Macron and other leaders swiftly agreed a new, 'severe' package of sanctions against Russia for its actions.

According to a summit declaration, 'these sanctions cover the financial sector, the energy and transport sectors, dual-use goods as well as export and export financing' of Russia, visas and adding more Russian individuals to the EU's travel ban and asset freeze list.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has hit Russia with the 'largest and most severe' package of sanctions it has ever faced to punish 'blood-stained aggressor' Putin for invading Ukraine.

The Prime Minister extended punitive measures on Thursday to hit five further oligarchs, including the Russian President's former son-in-law, and to target more than 100 businesses and individuals.

Mr Johnson said he was sanctioning 'all the major manufacturers that support Putin's war machine', will ban Aeroflot from touching down planes in the UK and will freeze the assets of all major Russian banks, including immediately against VTB.

His second barrage of measures designed to 'hobble the Russian economy' and punish Moscow's ally Belarus came as the Kremlin hit Ukraine with a wide-ranging attack, targeting cities and bases with air strikes.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has hit Russia with the 'largest and most severe' package of sanctions it has ever faced to punish 'blood-stained aggressor' Putin for invading Ukraine

'Putin will stand condemned in the eyes of the world and of history. He will never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands,' the Prime Minister told the Commons.

'Now we see him for what he is - a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.'

Mr Johnson said the measures are 'the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen', but vowed to go further.

'We will continue on a remorseless mission to squeeze Russia from the global economy piece by piece, day by day and week by week,' he told MPs.

He detailed the measures after speaking to G7 leaders including US President Joe Biden to discuss how to tackle the war unfurling in Europe as they work to act in tandem.

They were seeking to pile pressure on Mr Putin after he launched the all-out attack in the early hours which the West feared had been coming for weeks.
President Putin's 'Blitzkrieg' approach to the invasion of Ukraine has seen Russian troops capture vital strategic hubs and spread across the country at lightning speed. But what might happen next? MARK ALMOND, Director of the Crisis Research Institute, Oxford, runs through the options.

1. A SUDDEN WITHDRAWAL

Vladimir Putin likes to surprise his opponents. Given the speed and scale of the Russian invasion, what could be more shocking than a sudden halt to hostilities and a pulling back of troops?

If Putin decides that his ruthless punitive action has achieved his main goals of forcing Ukraine to bow to his demands and humiliating Nato, then his army just might stage a 'triumphant' march home.

Such a surprise retreat could head off the worst of proposed Western economic sanctions  and allow Putin to portray himself as a 'peacemaker'.

Likelihood: A vain hope.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks about authorising a special military operation in Ukraine's Donbass region during a special televised address today

2. UKRAINE IS OVERRUN

The effectiveness of the Russian bombing and the speed of its tank advances suggest that this war will be over in days. Indeed, US sources fear Kyiv could fall as early as Sunday.

The Russian army and officers of the FSB  the new KGB  could soon be fanning out across the country to hunt down those who spoke out against Russia's ambitions pre-invasion.

And while only a small percentage of Ukrainians may be prepared to collaborate with a massive military presence, a puppet government could be installed in Kyiv.

Meanwhile, millions of Ukrainians would be allowed to flee into the EU  the simplest way of ridding the country of potential rebels.

Likelihood: The most probable outcome.

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kyiv, in Ukraine, in the early hours of Thursday as Russia invades

3. UKRAINE FIGHTS BACK

Russia's early triumphs could prove illusory. In 1941, the Nazis rapidly overran Ukraine but were soon undermined by massive partisan resistance.

The Ukrainian government's distribution of firearms and shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons could mean that Russian troops will increasingly find themselves ambushed deep inside occupied territory.

And significant Russian casualties could erode acceptance of the war back home.

Burned Russian AP near of Hlukhiv of Sumy area, in Ukraine today, as Russian troops entered the country

The sight of body bags being returned during the Afghan War of the 1980s aroused widespread discontent and helped erode the stability of the Soviet Union, although Russian forces today deploy mobile crematoria.

Putin may have started this war at a time of his own choosing, but calling a halt to it may prove to be more problematic.

Likelihood: High. Kyiv has been distributing weapons to any citizen who requests one.

4. RUSSIA PUSHES ON BEYOND UKRAINE

If Putin decides he is on a roll, his army could move on to the weak, neutral ex-Soviet states that border Russia (Moldova, Georgia and the central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).

Last month, Russia's airborne troops staged a dry-run for Ukraine when they flew into Kazakhstan to 'stabilise' it following riots over energy price rises.

That successful operation set a precedent.

The Kremlin might well take the view that Nato will not interfere with any Russian military absorption of these defenceless states.

Russian peacekeepers of Collective Security Treaty Organization leaving a Russian military plane after withdrawing its troops from Kazakhstan, last month

Indeed, all the indications are that the leaders of Western nations will restrict their retaliation to imposing sanctions as long as Russian aggression is confined to the non-Nato ex-Soviet republics.

Quite quickly, Putin could create a vast new Russian Empire, while the West will have effectively retreated to the borders of the EU. This would lead to a dangerous new Cold War.

And let's not forget China.

China's president Xi Jinping might see Moscow's swift recovery of ex-Soviet territory as a spur to invade Taiwan. At the very least, China's navy and airforce might try to strangle that island's trade.

Likelihood: Given Putin's imperial ambitions, remains a real possibility.

5. NUCLEAR CLASH WITH THE WEST

During the Cold War both Washington and Moscow agreed that it would be MAD  a suicidal path to Mutually Assured Destruction.

But Putin openly threatened to use nuclear weapons in his speech announcing the invasion of Ukraine yesterday morning.

What if he is sufficiently emboldened by the collapse of Ukraine's Western-trained and equipped army to engage those Eastern European Nato members that he regards as a 'soft targets'?

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launching during a training launch as part of the Grom-2022 Strategic Deterrence Force exercise at an undefined location in Russia this month

The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, for example.

That could trigger Nato's Article 5, which requires all members of the alliance to go to the aid of a member country that is attacked.

In such a circumstance, Putin could move from nuclear blackmail to deploying Iskander missiles against his Nato neighbours.

Even that terrifying scenario cannot be discounted now.

Likelihood: Slim, but it can't be ruled out entirely.
The European Union faced an angry backlash last night after frustrating British efforts to kick Russia out of the world's biggest financial payments system.

In a call with G7 leaders yesterday, Boris Johnson pressed the case for suspending Russia from Swift, which is used to conduct about half of its international trade.

But the move was kicked into the long grass because of opposition from a number of EU countries.

Ukraine yesterday urged the West to trigger the move, with foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba warning that those who refused would have 'blood on their hands'.

In a call with G7 leaders yesterday, Boris Johnson pressed the case for suspending Russia from Swift, which is used to conduct about half of its international trade

Downing Street yesterday declined to comment on which countries had opposed the move.

But Joe Biden last night indicated the opposition had come from EU states. Asked whether Russia should be cut off from Swift, the US President said: 'It is always an option but right now that's not a position that the rest of Europe wishes to take.'

The Belgian-based Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (Swift) is a mechanism for making secure payments overseas and is widely used in international trade.

Mr Johnson is said to see Russia's suspension from Swift as an essential step in ensuring the Putin regime feels maximum economic pain for its invasion of Ukraine.

'The PM is very keen on this  he's pushing it very hard,' said one source.

The PM's official spokesman later confirmed that Mr Johnson had formally put the issue on the table at the G7 meeting, but said there had been only 'agreement that we ought to talk more about it'.

But Joe Biden last night indicated the opposition had come from EU states. Asked whether Russia should be cut off from Swift, the US President said: 'It is always an option but right now that's not a position that the rest of Europe wishes to take'

Diplomatic sources said Germany and Italy were the main opponents. Officials said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that neither he nor the wider EU would support the move at this stage.

Diplomatic sources said opposition from Germany and Italy meant that a Swift ban would not be included in EU sanctions to be published today, despite some eastern European member states such as Lithuania pushing hard for it.

During a call with Mr Scholz this week, the PM warned him that 'Western inaction or underreaction would have unthinkable consequences'.

European concerns are said to centre on potential damage to their own economies if they are unable to buy Russian gas using the system. But ex-Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick said the crisis was now so serious that countries had to accept sacrifices to punish Russia.

Mr Jenrick told the Daily Mail: 'Suspending Russia from Swift is the single most effective, immediate act available to inflict serious harm on their financial system. Whilst Russia has developed alternatives, they are not the same, and there would be major dislocation.

'The UK appears to be arguing the case with our allies, which is hugely welcome, but sadly some nations are putting their short-term financial interests first. Russia is relying on such weakness, we need to go hard now or the cost will only increase.'

US-British financier Bill Browder, who once described himself as 'Vladimir Putin's number one enemy', yesterday said the suspension would knock Russia 'back to the dark ages'.

Mr Kuleba was even more outspoken, tweeting: 'Everyone who now doubts whether Russia should be banned from Swift has to understand that the blood of innocent Ukrainian men, women and children will be on their hands too.'

But some nations are said to be worried that the ban could lead to an even worse outcome, such as driving Russia into the arms of Chinese payment systems.
While most of us tend to store our apples in a fruit bowl, a new study suggests that we should really be keeping them in the fridge.

Food charity Wrap has revealed that many fruits and vegetables can be eaten up to 10 weeks after their 'best before' dates if they're refrigerated.

'Loose apples last longer when refrigerated (4C/7.2F), almost 70 days longer compared to ambient conditions,' Wrap wrote in its report.

While most of us tend to store our apples in a fruit bowl, a new study suggests that we should really be keeping them in the fridge

Why you should NEVER stores potatoes in the fridge While Wrap advises keeping apples, broccoli and cucumber in the fridge, experts have strongly advised keeping potatoes in there too. Uncooked potatoes are best kept somewhere cool and dry, but don't keep them in the fridge,' NI Direct explained. 'Putting potatoes in the fridge can increase the amount of sugar they contain, and lead to higher levels of a chemical called acrylamide when the potatoes are baked, fried or roasted at high temperatures.' Advertisement

In the study, Wrap looked at the effects of storing various fruits and vegetables at ambient conditions or in the fridge.

It found that storing cucumber and broccoli at optimal fridge temperature (4C/7.2F) gave significantly more life (15 days) compared to a sub-optimal fridge temperature (9C/16.2F).

Meanwhile, keeping apples in the fridge extended their life by a whopping 70 days.

'If people stored more fresh produce in the fridge and maintained their fridge temperature below 5C (9F), fruit and vegetables would stay fresher for longer and people would have much longer to use what they purchase,' Wrap added.

Wrap is also urging UK retailers to sell fresh uncut fruit and vegetables without best before dates or plastic packaging.

Wrap's recommendations follow an 18-month study into five commonly wasted items  apples, bananas, broccoli, cucumber and potatoes  stored in the original packaging and loose, and at different temperatures.

The charity found that selling the five loose and removing best before dates could result in a combined yearly saving of around 100,000 tonnes of household food waste, more than 10,300 tonnes of plastic and 130,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

The report found that storing cucumber and broccoli at optimal fridge temperature (4C/7.2F) gave significantly more life compared to a sub-optimal fridge temperature (9C/16.2F)

While most supermarkets already sold some items loose, the new research presented compelling evidence for significantly increasing the practice across a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Wrap said it had shared its findings and recommendations with the UK's largest food retailers but acknowledged that implementing them was 'likely to take time'.

Wrap chief executive Marcus Gover said: 'This important research could be a game-changer in the fight against food waste and plastic pollution. We have demystified the relationship between wasted food, plastic packaging, date labels and food storage.

Wrap is also urging UK retailers to sell fresh uncut fruit and vegetables without best before dates or plastic packaging

'While packaging is important and often carries out a critical role to protect food, we have proven that plastic packaging doesn't necessarily prolong the life of uncut fresh produce. It can in fact increase food waste in this case.

'We have shown the massive potential to save good food from being thrown away by removing date labels.

'We are all living with the reality of the climate emergency and the rising cost of living. This new clarity could not be more timely.

'We need retailers to step up and follow our recommendations so we can achieve real progress in tackling food waste and plastic pollution. This helps save the planet and us money at the same time  a real win-win.'

Food Standards Agency chairwoman Susan Jebb said businesses must make sure the right date label is applied to their products  and only when required  to help consumers make informed choices and reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses.

She said: 'A Best Before date is about quality which means the food will be safe to eat after this date, even if it may not be at its best.

'Business should display Use By dates for food like meat products and ready to eat salads which could be unsafe if left for too long.

'Date labels are important  not only for cutting down on food waste  but for keeping us safe too.'

Wrap also published an updated list of key plastic items for UK Plastics Pact members to remove as far as possible by the end of 2022 alongside the fresh produce packaging, including plastic wrapping for multi-sales of tins, bottles, and cartons, PVC cling film, non-compostable fruit and veg stickers, non-compostable tea and coffee bags and single serving plastic sachets in restaurants.
Served in a simmering pot with a selection of dunkable ingredients, cheese fondue is without a doubt one of the most popular dishes among cheese lovers around the world.

Now, the famous Swiss dish can be prepared, stirred up and served by a robot chef.

A Swiss team has been working away on Bouebot, the robotic creation putting a futuristic twist on an Alpine tradition.

The robot, which cost up to 240,000 ($325,000) to develop, is set to make its grand debut at the Paris International Agricultural Show, one of the world's major food production trade fairs, which begins this weekend.

A Swiss team has been working away on Bouebot, the robotic creation putting a futuristic twist on an Alpine tradition

The robot, which cost up to 240,000 ($325,000) to develop, is set to make its grand debut at the Paris International Agricultural Show, one of the world's major food production trade fairs, which begins this weekend

How does the Bouebot work? Pivoting on six different axes, Bouebot swings into action. It glugs the right amount of white wine into the 'caquelon' pot, then places it under the cheese grater. The classic fondue mix is called a half-and-half - an even amount of Vacherin Fribourgeois and Gruyere cheese. The project's technical manager Ludovic Aymon, using his control pad, manoeuvres the robot arm down towards each cheese triangle, which is lifted up by creating a vacuum on the top. After shearing off the rind on a circular blade, it starts swiping the underside down the grater. Back on the heater, Bouebot does some vigorous figure-of-eight stirring as the cheese melts, then wipes off the spoon and sprinkles in some pepper. It then picks up a metal spike, pierces a piece of bread, swipes it around the caquelon before placing it in a holder for fondue-lovers to try before the gooey cheese drips down. Advertisement

The bot is being developed by a team at Workshop 4.0, based in Sierre.

Workshop 4.0 co-director Nicolas Fontaine, 30, said Bouebot had been nearly two years in the making.

'We wanted to do a... project that combined innovation with Swiss tradition, and fondue was the perfect choice,' he told AFP.

'For the Swiss, fondue is emblematic. It's something very emotional too because it's part of our identity, our know-how.

'Fondue is something convivial... it's a nice opportunity to draw people in to talk about robotics and how it can be used.'

Bouebot is named after the bouebos: teenage boys who spent the summer up in the mountain chalets, helping herdsmen while they took care of making cheese.

Pivoting on six different axes, Bouebot swings into action.

It glugs the right amount of white wine into the 'caquelon' pot, then places it under the cheese grater.

The classic fondue mix is called a half-and-half - an even amount of Vacherin Fribourgeois and Gruyere cheese.

The project's technical manager Ludovic Aymon, using his control pad, manoeuvres the robot arm down towards each cheese triangle, which is lifted up by creating a vacuum on the top.

After shearing off the rind on a circular blade, it starts swiping the underside down the grater.

Back on the heater, Bouebot does some vigorous figure-of-eight stirring as the cheese melts, then wipes off the spoon and sprinkles in some pepper.

It then picks up a metal spike, pierces a piece of bread, swipes it around the caquelon before placing it in a holder for fondue-lovers to try before the gooey cheese drips down.

Aymon said the biggest challenge was to get a precision mechanical robot to cope with imprecise organic material.

The cheese wedges are not perfectly flat, nor the same height, while Vacherin is much softer than Gruyere.

The project's technical manager Ludovic Aymon, using his control pad, manoeuvres the robot arm down towards each cheese triangle, which is lifted up by creating a vacuum on the top

The robot can pick up a metal spike, pierce a piece of bread, swipe it around the caquelon and place place it in a holder for fondue-lovers to try before the gooey cheese drips down

However, there is no chance of the traditional duo being changed for more robot-friendly cheeses - not if the creators wants to stay alive, jokes Aymon.

With each run-through, Aymon spots tiny modifications to make, requiring yet more slabs from the cheese-stuffed fridge

When seeing Bouebot at work, some onlookers are thrilled by the future possibilities for such technology, while others worry about machines encroaching into the human sphere.

'The effect I find the most interesting is fear... that fear of being replaced by something more powerful,' Aymon told AFP.

'Robotics should not be to the detriment of human beings. It should help humans.

'It could help someone cook in the future. It shows that it could be done, for people who can't do it themselves.'

With each run-through, Aymon spots tiny modifications to make, requiring yet more slabs from the cheese-stuffed fridge.

'I can't just work with a 3D simulation, like I could with lots of industrial processes. I have to do real tests,' the 35-year-old said.

And with every fondue made, the end result must be eaten quickly.

'I think I'll never be sick of fondue, but there are times when I just can't stand the smell of cheese in here any longer,' Aymon said.
Honey bees suffer a gruesome and rather bizarre death during intense heatwaves, new research finds.

When male worker bees, or drones, die from shock such as being too hot, they convulse, forcing them to ejaculate, and an internal penis-equivalent about the size of the bees own abdomen exits their body.

Following intense heatwaves in British Columbia, which triggered the undignified death, researchers have experimented with various methods to keep the bees cool.

They say a simple polystyrene cover could help chill beehives during heatwaves, which appear to be getting more intense under climate change.

This could prevent swarms of dead drone bees spread over the ground, looking as if they 'had literally exploded from the inside out', and in turn boost honey yields.

Male honey bees have a phallus the size of their abdomen that bursts from their body and spontaneously ejaculates upon heat stress

A dead drone honey bee. Unlike a female worker, a drone's only role is to mate with an unfertilized queen

HONEY BEE WORKERS AND DRONES The queen is mother of all the bees in hive, responsible for laying all the eggs that will become female worker bees and male drones. She lives her life inside the hive, attended by worker bees who groom and feed her. Bee colonies produce worker bees in preparation for 'swarming', the process by which a single colony splits into two if enough resources are available to sustain a new hive. Half of the bees follow their old queen, while the other half stay behind and rear a new one. Beginning in May, drones will be born and eventually mate with the young queens. Queens mate with multiple males, between 10 and 20 drones. If they have inadequate mates their colonies will have less genetic diversity, which would make them less resistant to disease and other stressors. Beekeepers don't only sell honey - they also rear honey bee queens to sell to other keepers use to replenish their stocks. 'Queens sell for $45 or more,' Dr McAfee said. 'Each queen that wasn't able to mate is lost income, and there are only so many queens you can produce in a year.' Advertisement

It's already known that rising temperatures caused by climate change will require species to adapt to survive, but as it stands honey bees are needing a little help from keepers to withstand heat shock.

'When drones die from shock, they spontaneously ejaculate,' said Dr Alison McAfee, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

'They have this elaborate endophallus that comes out and is about the size of their own abdomen. It's pretty extreme.'

Dr McAfee is in contact with a network of honey producers and beekeepers across British Columbia, including Emily Huxter, a beekeeper in the city of Armstrong.

In the midst of British Columbia's 2021 summer heatwave, Huxter began noticing dozens of dead drones on the ground.

She took photos and emailed them to Dr McAfee, who then got in touch with other beekeepers around the province who were witnessing the same mass die-off.

Usually, the inside of a honey bee colony is a stable environment that maintains a temperature of around 95F (35C).

Huxter's bees should have been able to cope with warm weather, but the heatwave pushed them to the brink, leading to a 'drone apocalypse'.

'We know that after six hours at 42 degrees [107F], half of drones will die of heat stress,' Dr McAfee said.

'The more sensitive ones start to perish at two, or three hours. That's a temperature they shouldn't normally experience, but we were seeing drones getting stressed to the point of death.'

After the first severe heatwave, Dr McAfee and Huxter designed experiments to test hive insulation materials, attempting to protect the hives and drones from a predicted second, smaller heatwave.

Close-up of dead male worker bees, known as drones, which may be even better indicators of environmental changes than queen bees

The queen is mother of all the bees in hive, responsible for laying all the eggs that will become female worker bees and male drones. She lives her life inside the hive, attended by worker bees who groom and feed her. Pictured, queen cells featuring developing queens

HOW DO HONEYBEES MAKE A QUEEN? Honeybees make a queen by treating a normal youngster in a unique way, causing it to develop into a queen rather than a worker. They start by building a special, larger cell, and filling it with a substance called 'royal jelly'. This is a combination of water, sugars and proteins that appears milky in colour, secreted from glands in the heads of worker bees. A youngster is then plucked from its cell and placed into the unique cell with the royal jelly, which it consumes. It is also denied pollen and honey to aide its development, which is fed to normal workers. Advertisement

'The other major problem that some beekeepers saw was that half of their "nucs", which are small starter colonies, died off during the first heatwave,' Dr McAfee said.

'That's a massive die off and tells me we need to find better ways of protecting bees.'

Huxter installed temperature loggers to measure temperature changes inside a honey bee colony every 10 minutes and outfitted 18 colonies with two different types of insulation.

Six colonies were provided with a two-inch thick piece of Styrofoam to act as a simple shield at the top of the beehive, which gets most of the radiant heat from the sun.

Huxter came up with another method of stabilising temperatures  a feeder full of sugar syrup to act as a bee cooling station.

'Bees will naturally go find water to bring back to the hive and fan it with their wings to cool down, which achieves evaporative cooling much like we do when we sweat,' Huxter said.

'Giving them syrup nearby should let them do the same thing, and the sugar in it motivates them to take it down faster.'

The two-person team looked at 18 colonies  six serving as controls, six with Styrofoam insulation, and six fed with light syrup.

Styrofoam hives (back) and syrup hives (front). These two methods could allieviate heat stress in worker honey bees

Hives with Styrofoam lids were about 6.75F (3.75C) cooler than control hives, while the hives fed syrup were 1.98F (1.1C) cooler.

The Styrofoam acted as a stabiliser  nighttime lows and daytime highs were both less extreme.

Dr McAfee thinks beekeepers should consider using Styrofoam lids all the time since they protect bees from the heat in the summer, as well as the cold in the winter.

Dr Alison McAfee is pictured here holding live research bees. McAfee maintains contact with a network of honey producers and beekeepers across British Columbia

One of the positive outcomes of the massive heatwave of 2021 is that it drew Dr McAfee's attention to drones in the first place.

She now believes drones may be even better indicators of environmental changes than queen bees.

'Drones have the advantage that they are very sensitive and easy to see. If drones are dying, it's much easier to study them than to take a queen from a colony to perform tests. It's also more conducive to citizen science efforts,' she said.

The team's study was a practical experiment and is yet to be detailed in a peer-reviewed paper.

Back in 2020, UBC researchers identified five proteins in honey bee queens that can indicate whether they have experienced heat shock.
Scientists have created the 'world's largest family tree' that links around 27 million people around the world  both living and dead.

Developed at the University of Oxford, the new genealogical network reveals how individuals across the world are related to each other in 'unprecedented detail'.

Taking the form of a scientific method, research paper and video, it effectively goes back in time to show where human populations lived, and when.

The very earliest ancestors, which pre-date Homo sapiens, trace back in time to a geographic location that is in modern Sudan, likely over one million years ago.

This image visualises inferred human ancestral lineages over time and space. Each line represents an ancestor-descendant relationship in our 'inferred genealogy of modern and ancient genomes'. The width of a line corresponds to how many times the relationship is observed, and lines are coloured on the basis of the estimated age of the ancestor

WHAT IS A GENOME? Your genome is the instructions for making and maintaining you. It is written in a chemical code called DNA. All living things  plants, bacteria, viruses and animals  have a genome. Your genome is all 3.2 billion letters of your DNA. It contains around 20,000 genes. Genes are the instructions for making the proteins our bodies are built of  from the keratin in hair and fingernails to the antibody proteins that fight infection. Source: Genomics England Advertisement

The project has been published today in the journal Science by researchers from the University of Oxfords Big Data Institute.

'We have basically built a huge family tree, a genealogy for all of humanity that models as exactly as we can the history that generated all the genetic variation we find in humans today,' said study author and evolutionary geneticist Dr Yan Wong.

'This genealogy allows us to see how every persons genetic sequence relates to every other, along all the points of the genome.

'While humans are the focus of this study, the method is valid for most living things; from orangutans to bacteria. It could be particularly beneficial in medical genetics, in separating out true associations between genetic regions and diseases from spurious connections arising from our shared ancestral history.

The past two decades have seen extraordinary advancements in human genetic research, generating genomic data for hundreds of thousands of individuals, including from thousands of prehistoric people.

This raises the possibility of tracing the origins of human genetic diversity to produce a complete map of how individuals across the world are related to each other, according to the team.

Two-dimensional histograms showing the geographical location of ancestral lineages at six time points. 1 kya is an abbreviation for a thousand years ago

THE FAMILY TREE Since individual genomic regions are only inherited from one parent, either the mother or the father, the ancestry of each point on the genome can be thought of as a tree. The set of trees, known as a 'tree sequence' or 'ancestral recombination graph', links genetic regions back through time to ancestors where the genetic variation first appeared. Advertisement

Until now, researchers struggled to work out a way to combine genome sequences from many different databases and developing algorithms to handle data of this size.

However, the new method can easily combine data from multiple sources and scale to accommodate millions of genome sequences.

The study integrated data on modern and ancient human genomes from eight different databases and included a total of 3,609 individual genome sequences from 215 populations.

The ancient genomes included samples found across the world with ages ranging from 1,000s to over 100,000 years.

'Essentially, we are reconstructing the genomes of our ancestors and using them to form a vast network of relationships,' said lead author Dr Anthony Wilder Wohns, now a postdoctoral researcher at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

'We can then estimate when and where these ancestors lived. The power of our approach is that it makes very few assumptions about the underlying data and can also include both modern and ancient DNA samples.'

Around 2,000 years ago, humans were well spread around the globe, save for much of North America, Oceania and other locations

But more than 300,000 years ago, humans were more centred in Africa, the animation shows

The algorithms predicted where common ancestors must be present in the evolutionary trees to explain the patterns of genetic variation. The resulting network contained almost 27 million ancestors.

After adding location data on these sample genomes, the authors used the network to estimate where the predicted common ancestors had lived.

The results successfully recaptured key events in human evolutionary history, including the migration out of Africa.

The very earliest ancestors the team identified were 'very likely' Homo erectus, an extinct species of archaic human, that trace back in time to a geographic location that is in modern Sudan.

Dr Yan Wong and Dr Wohns said in a joint statement: 'These ancestors lived up to and over one million years ago  which is much older than current estimates for the age of modern humans (c. 250,000 to 300,000 years ago)  so bits our of genome have been inherited from individuals that we wouldn't recognise as modern humans, but who most likely lived in northeast Africa.

'Its very likely that these very old ancestors were Homo erectus, but we cannot be sure of their identity or of their location without extremely ancient DNA.

'One important conclusion from our work is that the people we often label as representing "the cradle of humanity" themselves had ancestors further back in time, whose descendants are still among us today.'
Mark Hughes has made a shock return to football as manager of Bradford City.

The Manchester United legend and former Manchester City, Stoke and Southampton boss, has signed a two-year deal with the League Two side in a move he admitted would surprise people.

Only six men have taken charge of more matches in the Premier League than 58-year-old Hughes, who also played for Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Bradford City unveiled Mark Hughes as manager on a two-and-a-half year deal on Thursday

Hughes celebrates a win at Old Trafford while Manchester City manager in 2009

However, the Welshman is understood to have emailed the 15th-placed Yorkshire side on Monday to express his interest.

Officials acted swiftly and after face-to-face meetings and a video call with Bradfords German ownership he met players on Thursday morning before his arrival was announced.

I am really pleased to be here and am looking forward to the role, and the job in hand. It has been an exciting few days, said Hughes, who replaces sacked Derek Adams.

It is maybe a little bit of a surprise that I have come in, but do not be put off by that! I am here for a reason: to make Bradford City a team people want to come and watch - and are proud to watch.

The supporters come in their numbers, and that is the thing I have missed since being out of management. I am looking forward to the matchday, getting that adrenaline flowing and interacting with the crowd.

Hughes scored 163 goals across two spells as a Manchester United player in the 80s and 90s

Certainly, from now until the end of the year, we just want to finish strongly and see where that takes us. We want to move the club and everybody with it forward, and hope we can have the success everyone wants.

Bradford chief executive officer Ryan Sparks called it one of the most significant appointments in the club's history.

He added: His record and stature in the game speaks for itself, and he has achieved a great deal. To have him in our dugout is representative of the club's ambition and desire to be successful.

Bradford boast by far the highest average attendances in the fourth tier and were in the Premier League in 2001. However, they have underachieved for a long time and are currently 10 points from the play-offs with 13 matches to play.
Rafael Nadal extended his winning run in 2022 to 12 matches in his best start to a season in his career, dismissing American Stefan Kozlov 6-0, 6-3 in Acapulco on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion, a three-time winner in the coastal resort town, arrived in Mexico having won an Australian Open tune-up event and the hardcourt major in Melbourne last month after missing a chunk of 2021 with a foot problem.

Kozlov, who was the Spaniard's practice partner on Monday when he was called in as a last-minute replacement for injured Frenchman Maxime Cressy in the main draw, had no answer in this one-sided contest.

Rafael Nadal is enjoying the best start to a season in his career after a 12th straight victory

The Australian Open champion bulldozed his way into the quarter-finals of the Mexican Open

American Stefan Kozlov, Nadal's practice partner, offered very little resistance to lose 6-0, 6-3

Barring a brief period in the second set when he converted his only break point chance on the night, Kozlov was no match for Nadal whose previous best start of 11-0 in 2014 ended with a defeat to Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open final.

Next up for the 35-year-old will be another American in 39th-ranked Tommy Paul with a potential semi-final clash against world No 2 Daniil Medvedev, who he defeated in the Australian Open final last month from two sets down.

'It's always important to win as quick as possible but the most important thing is to win,' Nadal said after his victory in an hour and 16 minutes in hot and humid conditions.

Nadal's win takes him past his record of 11 consecutive victories to start the 2014 season

'It's a little bit of a strange match. Kozlov has a different style than most other players, so you need to be very careful.

'Sometimes you are able to win points in a row, but then if you start to play at his rhythm, it's very difficult because he has great control from the baseline and he's very smart.

'Tonight has been straight sets, that's great news, and I'll try to be ready for tomorrow again against a tough opponent.'

Medvedev earlier crushed Pablo Andujar 6-1, 6-2 and put himself three wins away from victory at the tournament and rising to the world No 1 ranking, leapfrogging Novak Djokovic, for the first time.

Medvedev pretended like he might serve underhand on match point but instead thumped his seventh ace, eliciting a smile from the 68th-ranked Spaniard who played well but who could not break down the Russian's firm defense.

Medvedev will next face Japanese qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka and a title on Sunday for the Russian will guarantee his ascent to the world No 1 ranking, replacing Djokovic.

There was a mutual respect between the two players at the net at the end of the Acapulco tie

World No 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas also wasted little time in dispatching American qualifier J.J. Wolf, the French Open finalist sprinting to a 6-1, 6-0 win in just 47 minutes in the last match of the evening on the main showcourt.

It was the 23-year-old Greek's fastest completed win in his career and he will next meet 59th-ranked American Marcos Giron, who earlier defeated Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, for a place in the semi-finals.

'I would say I was patiently attacking. I wasn't going for too much, but I also wasn't going for too little,' Tsitsipas reflected.

'It felt great out there. It felt like I could control the points from both sides of the court and I felt very much in control throughout the entire match.

'I felt like my serve was working when I needed it. I just felt very comfortable with every single stroke and every single decision I had to make.'
Joe Hildebrand has mocked a former Bachelor star for trying to get free meals from a a restaurant.

Sasha Zhuravlyova, 36, sent an email to a new Melbourne bar requesting 'dinner and drinks in exchange for social media love', The Sun Herald reported on Sunday.

The former Studio 10 presenter said he seriously doubted her claims she made the request to try to 'support a new business'.

Mocked: Joe Hildebrand (pictured) has mocked an influencer for trying to get 'free dinner and drinks' from a Melbourne bar despite having fewer Instagram followers than he does

'This was clearly a very serious request, after all Zhuravlyova is so prone to starvation as she once ate a rose on national television, and yet the bar apparently turned down her generous offer to eat their food and drink their booze,' he in a column penned for the Courier Mail, the.

'This is all the more perplexing given that Zhuravlyova was only trying to help them... [But] it appears to have opted for the more traditional form of support of customers actually paying for their meals with the local currency.'

Joe went on to question Sasha's title as an influencer because she only has 7500 Instagram followers.

'But the real question in all this is how is Zhuravlyova even considered an Instagram influencer in the first place? She has fewer followers than me.'

Busted: Sasha Zhuravlyova (pictured) sent an email to a new Melbourne bar requesting 'dinner and drinks in exchange for social media love', The Sun Herald reported on Sunday

In her email, Sasha requested 'dinner and drinks in exchange for social media love' for herself and her friend, Miss Universe Australia contestant Daria Varlamova.

The reality TV star, who made her mark on Richie Strahan's season of The Bachelor in 2016 when she chomped down on a flower during a rose ceremony, said she was trying to 'support a new business'.

'I wanted to support new businesses that's opening up in Melbourne and hopefully drive bigger foot traffic, given there is industry constraints helping spread the word would be only an advantage to the restaurant,' she told the publication.

Exposed: The reality TV star, who made her mark on Richie Strahan's season of The Bachelor in 2016 when she chomped down on a flower during a rose ceremony, said she was trying to 'support a new business'. Pictured Sasha and her friend Miss Universe Australia contestant Daria Varlamova (left)

The Russian-born bombshell is considered a 'micro-influencer' because she has 7,500 Instagram followers.

She previously explained that her memorable rose-eating moment on The Bachelor had a simple explanation.

'Not many people know how many hours we'd been shooting the first day and how hard it was,' Sasha shared with TV Week magazine.

'That first rose ceremony lasted for many, many hours and it was very hot.

'Then I realised that the roses do have a little bit of sugar sprinkled on them so I thought maybe I'll have a little bit of a sugar hit and nibble on some of the rose petals,' she continued.
Daisy Edgar-Jones caught the eye as she arrived for the photocall of her latest film, Fresh, in London on Wednesday.

The Normal People star, who plays the character Noa in the movie, stunned in a three-piece cream suit.

Daisy, 23, flashed her abs in a tiny triangle bra which she teamed with silk wide leg trousers and a structured blazer.

So chic: Daisy Edgar-Jones caught the eye as she arrived for the photocall of her latest film, Fresh, in London on Wednesday

Keeping her look fresh, the actress opted for a dewy and natural makeup look for the event in the capital. Daisy's brunette locks, meanwhile, had a tousled wave.

Daisy opted for minimal accessories, keeping the look clean and simple - as she showed off her slender figure.

Fresh, which also features Captain America's Sebastian Stan, is Daisy's latest leading lady role - set to release in the UK on March 4.

Glowing: The 23-year-old opted for a dewy and natural makeup look for the event

Gorgeous: Daisy, 23, flashed her abs in a tiny triangle bra which she teamed with silk wide leg trousers and a structured blazer

She's got style: The Normal People star, who plays the character Noa in the movie, stunned in a three-piece cream suit

The thriller centres on the horrors of modern dating, with Daisy's character, Noa, having to get used to some of her new boyfriend's unusual appetites.

Daisy shot to fame in 2020 after starring alongside Paul Mescal in the BAFTA winning series Normal People.

The beauty recently admitted to feeling slightly lonely in her newfound fame, as the series became a household hit during lockdown.

Fresh: Daisy's new thriller centres on the horrors of modern dating, with her character, Noa, having to get used to some of her new boyfriend's unusual appetites

New release: Fresh, which also features Captain America's Sebastian Stan, is Daisy's latest leading lady role - set to release in the UK on March 4

Brunette beauty: The star's brunette locks had a tousled wave while she added a slick of eye-liner to her make-up

'It was a very lonely experience in many ways because we weren't able to share the joys of certain things, but it was obviously amazing,' she said.

Daisy is next set to star in a new series about the Latter Day Saint (LDS) movement, alongside Andrew Garfield.

The drama, titled Under the Banner of Heaven, is based on Jon Krakauers non-fiction bestseller - with a release date still to be announced.

Normal People is available exclusively on Stan in Australia.

Tones: The actress showed off her incredible figure in the elegant look
Married At First Sight star Daniel Holmes vowed he would never get the Covid-19 vaccine just weeks before he was forced to get the jab because of an on-set mandate.

Endemol Shine, the production company behind the Channel Nine show, required all cast and crew to be fully vaccinated during filming in Sydney late last year.

But about a month before entering the experiment as an intruder, Holmes, 31, had shared a fiery Facebook post claiming he would never get the Covid shot because it took away his 'freedoms'.

Change of plans: Married At First Sight star Daniel Holmes vowed he would never get the Covid-19 vaccine just weeks before he was forced to get the jab because of an on-set mandate

'They're gonna have to tie me down before I get vaccinated,' the Brisbane-based bodybuilder wrote in the now-deleted post on September 25.

'Not because I don't believe in it, but because they're taking away my freedoms if I don't. It's the oldest rule in the book of sales. Get the prospect saying yes and they're easier to convert,' he added.

But as soon as Holmes was cast on Married At First Sight in October, he promptly agreed to get both Covid-19 jabs.

Outspoken: About a month before entering the experiment as an intruder, Holmes, 31, shared a Facebook post claiming he would never get the Covid shot because it took away his 'freedoms

No jab, no fame! However, as soon as Holmes was cast on Married At First Sight in October, he promptly agreed to get both Covid-19 jabs

Safety first: Endemol Shine, the production company behind the Channel Nine show, required all cast and crew to be fully vaccinated during filming in Sydney late last year

Holmes and his co-stars were also required to undergo mandatory Covid tests every 48 hours, and wear masks when the cameras weren't rolling.

For the safety of all cast and crew, participants were accompanied by minders during filming breaks.

This included when going out for their hourly exercise and running errands.

Newlyweds: Holmes married Jessica Seracino (left) on Tuesday's episode of MAFS Australia

Safety first: Holmes and his co-stars were required to undergo mandatory Covid tests every 48 hours, and wear masks when the cameras weren't rolling. Pictured: Al Perkins and Sam Moitzi

For the first time, the show's cast and crew were also chauffeured around in black-tinted luxury cars rather than catching taxis and Ubers.

Each couple was assigned a designated driver and no ride-sharing was allowed.

Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine and 9Now
Radio presenter Chrissie Swan has finally confirmed her split from her partner-of-15-years, Chris Saville, following months of speculation.

The 48-year-old addressed the break-up during a wide-ranging interview with The Australian Women's Weekly, which hit newsstands on Thursday.

Chrissie said that despite ending their romantic relationship, the former couple still live together as they co-parent their three children.

It's over! Radio presenter Chrissie Swan (left) has finally confirmed her split from her partner-of-15-years, Chris Saville (right), following months of speculation

Chrissie also said they'd never once had a fight in 15 years and they remain 'very good friends' who 'like each other very much'.

'We still live together. We talk all the time. So it's not really that different,' Chrissie explained.

The Nova 100 host said they will be 'together forever' as a family unit.

'We still live together. We talk all the time': Chrissie said that despite ending their romantic relationship, the former couple still live together as they co-parent their three children

'We are both so family-orientated and we are 100 per cent committed to those kids,' she continued.

'We are a really great unit, the five of us together, so it's a great set-up and a good scenario for all of us.'

The Herald Sun reported in December the couple had split after 15 years together, but were still living under the same roof.

Dedicated co-parents: The Nova 100 host said they will be 'together forever' as a family unit

Pressures: Although the pair never married, Chrissie revealed in 2016 their son Leo had been pressuring them to tie the knot

'It's not conventional but it works for them,' a friend said, before adding: 'They've never been happier.'

Chrissie and carpenter Chris are parents to sons Leo, 13, and Kit, 10, and daughter Peggy, eight.

Although the pair never married, Chrissie revealed in 2016 their son Leo had been pressuring them to tie the knot.

'You'd think it would be our parents pressuring us, but it's him,' she told TV Week.

Health kick: Chrissie transformed herself after quitting alcohol in 2020 and focusing on fitness

Go girl! She also turned to meditation and daily 10km walks to improve her physical and mental health during Melbourne's 112-day lockdown. (Pictured before and after her weight loss)

About the same time, she told Today Extra: 'He goes to a school where all the parents are married. But me and my fella never got around to it.'

Chrissie transformed her body after quitting alcohol in 2020 and focusing on fitness.

The media personality gave up alcohol almost two years ago and turned to meditation and walking during Melbourne's gruelling 112-day lockdown.
Married At First Sight brides Domenica Calarco and Jessica Seracino went head-to-head during Wednesday night's dinner party.

And now Dom, 28, has taken another swipe at the 27-year-old Melbourne-based florist and accused her of being on the show for fame.

'I just think she was there to have fun with the girls and have wine at dinner,' she told WHO Magazine on Thursday

Brides at war! Married At First Sight bride Domenica Calarco (left) says Jessica Seracino (right) isn't on the show 'for the right reasons'

'I don't think she was actually invested in getting to know [Daniel Holmes].'

Domenica told the publication that she didn't like Jess's 'vibe' from the get-go.

'I just got this vibe from her immediately,' she said.

'I just thought that she had this real smugness to her, that she knows better and that she thinks it's my way or the highway.'

'I just think she was there to have fun with the girls and have wine at dinner,' she told WHO Magazine on Thursday

'She was coming in here thinking that she knew better when it's like, ''Hey mate, you've been here two minutes and we've been here three weeks so just take a seat".'

Wednesday night's Dinner Party descended into chaos when Domenica called Jess a 'petulant child' who believed she was 'too good' for her husband.

It came after Domenica grilled Jess about her relationship with Daniel just moments after they'd met at Wednesday night's dinner party.

Work for it: 'Jessica thinks she deserves her perfect relationship on a silver platter. That's not how it works mate,' Domenica said. Pictured, Jessica with Daniel

'Jessica thinks she deserves her perfect relationship on a silver platter. That's not how it works, mate,' Domenica vented to producers.

'She has absolutely no respect for Daniel,' she continued, before adding: 'Jess' blatantly just actually putting him down.

'She's just, like, on a high horse thinking that she's too good to be in this relationship.'

Not impressed: 'She has absolutely no respect for Daniel,' Domenica said, before adding: 'Jess' blatantly just actually putting him down'

Sitting at the dinner table alongside Jess, Domenica asked: 'Are you going to, like, actually give this thing a try or is it just...?'

'I'm just so going over this conversation,' an annoyed Jessica yelled across the room.

'All I'm hearing from you. It literally sounds like childish behaviour,' Domenica barked in response.

Domenica then advised Jess to give Daniel a chance and 'actually be real', but Jess wasn't having any of it.

Nosey: 'Are you going to like actually give this thing a try or is it just...?' Domenica asked. 'I'm just so going over this conversation,' an annoyed Jessica yelled

The Melbourne-based florist instead stood up decided to move seats.

Speaking to producers, a fiery Jess said: 'Did I miss something? Is she the fourth expert? Because apparently she is.'

'She needs to butt the f**k out,' she snapped, before adding: 'Domenica. She tires me. She's boring. I'm done with that b***h.'

Daniel admitted it was a 'relief' that Domenica and several other cast mates saw his perspective.

Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine
Justin Hemmes may be one of Australia's richest men, but many Aussies don't know how to correctly pronounce the hospitality mogul's name.

The Merivale CEO's surname is often incorrectly pronounced 'Hems', but according to the company it is actually 'Hem-ez' with two syllables.

The misconception about his surname was mentioned during a news bulletin on The Kyle and Jackie O Show earlier this week.

Have you been saying it wrong? Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes' (left) surname is often incorrectly pronounced 'Hems', but the company says it is actually 'Hem-ez' with two syllables

Newsreader Brooklyn Ross said Hemmes' name the correct way, prompting co-hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson to say it should be 'Hems'.

However, Ross insisted he was simply following the pronunciation used by Merivale's corporate communications team.

Indeed, a YouTube video uploaded by Merivale in August 2017 shows the emcee of a business event opening a talk with: 'Please welcome, Justin Hemmes [Hem-ez].'

Unfortunately, 'Hemmes' is still regularly mispronounced as 'Hems' on TV and radio.

Common mistake: 'Hemmes' is still regularly mispronounced as 'Hems' on TV and radio. The billionaire hotelier is pictured here with his girlfriend, model Madeline Holtznagel, at the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 30

It comes after the billionaire hotelier sold his waterfront home in Pittwater, Sydney, for a whopping $5.5million.

The 49-year-old offloaded the Morning Bay retreat in December, reported The Sunday Telegraph.

Hemmes bought the home five years ago for $2.75million when he purchased the nearby Newport Arms, a historic hotel located on the shores of Pittwater.

Sold! It comes after Hemmes sold his waterfront home in Pittwater, Sydney, for $5.5million

The chic weekender has three bedrooms and a large open-plan living area, perfectly suited for entertaining.

The stunning property also features sweeping waterfront and bushland views, and includes a boathouse and a workshop.

In October, Hemmes revealed his ambitious plan to save Sydney's nightlife after the crushing blows of the Covid pandemic.

Retreat: Hemmes bought the home five years ago for $2.75million when he purchased the nearby Newport Arms, a historic hotel located on the shores of Pittwater

What a view: The chic weekender has three bedrooms and a large open-plan living area, perfectly suited for entertaining

Sweeping: The stunning property also features sweeping waterfront and bushland views, and includes a boathouse and a workshop

He told The Daily Telegraph how his company snapped up six new venues prior to the city's extended lockdown.

'We kept all our construction jobs going during lockdown,' he said. 'We've got three, no, four new venues opening soon.

'Actually there's more, we've been supercharged for about a month now.'

Hemmes, who owns The Ivy, also plans on bringing back dancing to the city.

Empire building: In October, Hemmes revealed his ambitious plan to save Sydney's nightlife after the crushing blows of the Covid pandemic. Pictured: The Ivy precinct in Sydney's CBD

'Just before our last lockdown we had the clubs trading at full tilt and I'd never seen so much joy to be dancing,' he said.

'I think there will be a huge revival on dance floors,' he added. 'Dancing is tribal. It's innate in our DNA makeup.'

Hemmes' takeover isn't just in the city, as he also recently bought iconic Byron Bay dive bar Cheeky Monkeys for $13.5million.

Changes: 'I think there will be a huge revival on dance floors,' he added. 'Dancing is tribal. It's innate in our DNA makeup.' Pictured: Totti's restaurant in Bondi (pictured)

Hemmes' family fortune is worth about $1.06billion.

His property portfolio includes the Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills, the Queen Victoria Hotel in Enmore, and Bondi's Royal Hotel.

Hemmes also recently bought his ex-partner Kate Fowler a $7.5million mansion Dover Heights, which is one of Sydney's most exclusive suburbs.
Sharon Stone announced that she had officiated a wedding with a post that was shared to her Instagram on Wednesday.

The 63-year-old actress uploaded a photo that showed her saying a few words to the happy couple at a picturesque ceremony that was held on a beach.

'Lucky me: I got to marry two lovely people today,' captioned Stone, followed by a heart emoji.

Honor: Sharon Stone announced that she had officiated a wedding with a post that was shared to her Instagram on Wednesday

Stone opted for an all-white outfit during the ceremony that included a sizable overcoat that kept her comfortable in the coastal breeze.

The Casino actress also donned a jacket with matching pants and a button-up shirt for the wedding.

Her lovely blonde hair was cut short and flowed freely as she spoke to the happy couple.

The performer accessorized with a single rose that was pinned to the left side of her top.

Beautiful: The 63-year-old actress uploaded a photo that showed her saying a few words to the happy couple at a picturesque ceremony that was held on a beach

Stone's appearance at the ceremony occurred not long after it was revealed that she would be starring in an adaptation of Lisa Barr's soon-to-be-published novel Woman on Fire.

The actress' participation in the project was revealed by Deadline, who also noted that she would serve as one of its producers.

The project is centered on a journalist who becomes embroiled in a scandal related to a Nazi-looted art piece that could potentially become deadly.

The media outlet noted that the forthcoming book would force readers to 'question where the line should be drawn between the pursuit of justice and the hunt for revenge.'

Working hard: Stone's appearance at the ceremony occurred not long after it was revealed that she would be starring in an adaptation of Lisa Barr's soon-to-be-published novel Woman on Fire; she is seen in 2021

While a release date for the forthcoming project has not been released, Woman on Fire is set to make its public debut on March 1st.

Stone also promoted the upcoming film with a post that was shared to her Instagram account earlier this week, and she added a single heart emoji in her caption.

It was also revealed that the performer had accepted a role in the forthcoming second season of the Kaley Cuoco-led comedy-mystery series The Flight Attendant.

According to Deadline, the actress will portray Lisa Bowden, the estranged mother of the show's main character, Cassie.

Staying busy: It was also revealed that the performer had accepted a role in the forthcoming second season of the Kaley Cuoco-led comedy-mystery series The Flight Attendant; she is seen earlier this month

While the first season of the program covered the relationship between its lead and her deceased father, its new run of episodes is set to focus on her mother-centered issues.

Other new additions to the cast include performers such as Margaret Cho, Alanna Ubach and Shohreh Aghdashloo.

Cuoco later shared a shot of her spending a bit of quality time with Stone to her Instagram account last month.

The performer also wrote a short message in her post's caption where she referred to the show's new cast member as her 'mom.'

The second season of The Flight Attendant is set to premiere later this year.
Emily Ratajkowski is celebrating four years of marriage with her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard.

The Blurred Lines star, 30, marked their anniversary on Wednesday with a slew of intimate photos taken on their wedding day.

From their first kisses as husband and wife to silly moments behind the scenes with friends, fans got to relive Emily's special day in a slew of photos posted to her Instagram Stories.

'4 years!' Emily Ratajkowski is celebrating four years of marriage with her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard

'4 years!' Emily wrote in a photo of her embracing Sebastian from behind along with an emoji of two interlocked gold rings.

The next photo showed Sebastian goofing around in his pale blue suit in front of their friends, all of whom were dressed for the occasion in their suits.

The series also showed the couple sharing a kiss at the altar.

Emily flung her arms around Sebastian's neck as they kissed inside the courthouse wedding venue.

Man and wife! The photos included a shot of Emily embracing her new husband from behind

Newlywed bliss! The couple couldn't have looked any happier as they posed by the NYC skyline

Another kissing photo showed the couple sharing a smooch as Sebastian held her hand.

The wedding photos also included their friend and social media sensation Joshua Ostrovsky, aka The Fat Jewish, who was among the guests in attendance.

Joshua wore a white Planned Parenthood sweat suit as he posed beside the newlyweds with a friend holding him from behind.

Just married! Emily locked lips with her new husband as he held her hand

Strike a pose! Joshua wore a white Planned Parenthood sweat suit as he posed beside the newlyweds with a friend holding him from behind

Ratajkowski and Bear-McClard were first linked in 2018, when they were seen kissing during an outing in Los Angeles.

The model shocked many when she announced that the couple tied the knot during a courthouse ceremony in New York, after having a friendship for years prior to dating.

She made the news public through a post on Instagram following the civil ceremony that was attended by a few close friends.

They now share a son named Sylvester, who will be celebrating his first birthday next month.

Behind the scenes! Sebastian appeared to be goofing off in front of their friends
Late 16 & Pregnant star Jordan Cashmyer's cause of death has been revealed over a month after her untimely passing at the age of 26.

Cashmyer died from 'fentanyl, despropionyl fentanyl and cocaine intoxication,' as confirmed by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for the Maryland Department of Health to UsWeekly.

It is unclear whether or not Cashmyer's overdose was intentional or accidental, so the manner of death is 'undetermined.'

Cause of death: Late 16 & Pregnant star Jordan Cashmyer's cause of death has been revealed over a month after her untimely passing at the age of 26

Cashmyer, who struggled with addiction and had previously attempted suicide, died on January 15, leaving behind an orphaned baby daughter, Lyla, and her first child, Genevieve, whose birth she documented on the MTV reality series in 2014.

Her death came just four months after her fiance and the father of her six-month-old daughter died.

Cashmyer's family were the first to confirm her cause of death of January 28 by revealing that she'd lost her battle with 'addiction.'

Family described the mother-of-two's struggles with addiction as a 'plague', while pleading for donations to help fund her funeral expenses and to help with the care of her now-orphaned baby daughter.

Cause: Cashmyer died from 'fentanyl, despropionyl fentanyl and cocaine intoxication,' as confirmed by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for the Maryland Department of Health to UsWeekly. It is unclear whether or not Cashmyer's overdose was intentional or accidental, so the manner of death is 'undetermined'

Cashmyer, from Baltimore, Maryland, welcomed Lyla, her second daughter and her first child with late fiance Michael Schaffer, in June 2021.

On a GoFundMe page set up by Cashmyer's grieving father Dennis, the family paid tribute to the late reality star, writing: 'Jordan was always so full of life and full of personality. She had a way of always making those around her laugh and smile, and her smile was truly contagious.'

Speaking about her cause of death, the family wrote: 'Addiction plagues many families, and our family was not immune to it... Lyla lost her father to addiction at two months [and] now her mother at six months.'

The family then spoke out about their grief over the 'grim outcome' that Lyla will 'never get to make memories with her mother or father', adding that the infant is now in the care of Cashmyer's parents - who are asking for donations to help provide for the little girl's future.

'Our family has to now not only put our daughter to rest but navigate through starting over with an infant who has lost both her parents in her six months of life,' the family continued.

RIP: Cashmyer, who struggled with addiction and had previously attempted suicide, died on January 15, leaving behind an orphaned baby daughter, Lyla, and her first child, Genevieve, whose birth she documented on the MTV reality series in 2014

Tragic: The mother-of-two was engaged to be married to Schaffer, with whom she shared daughter Lyla (pictured together), when he died at the age of 30

Donations: On a GoFundMe page set up by Cashmyer's family, they asked for donations to help fund her funeral and to provide for Lyla's future; the baby is currently in the care of her grandparents

'Please help our family cover the costs of Jordan's memorial and start a fund for Lyla's future. We did not foresee starting back over, and all that comes along with that.'

In a Facebook post shared on January 24, Dennis revealed that his daughter's body had been lying at the State Medical Examiners for nine days in the wake of her death because they had not been able to organize the funeral, writing: 'I am asking for the community that has surrounded myself, Jordan and my family to help us through this horrific chapter in our lives.

'Please if you are able to help, we would forever be grateful. If you are unable to donate, I would ask of you just to share this and how Jordan, Lyla, or myself have touched your individual lives, I would greatly appreciate it.

'We are navigating uncharted territory, and each step has been extremely challenging and painful. Our daughter is still being held at the State Medical Examiners. It's been nine days now, so we have not been able to finalize her final resting, and let her go In peace.

Exposure: Cashmyer rose to prominence in 2014 when she appeared on the MTV reality series alongside her then-boyfriend Derek Taylor, with whom she shared her first-born child

Split: The couple split up shortly after Genevieve's birth on March 7, 2014. It is thought that their daughter is currently in the care of her father

Struggles: Following the birth of her first daughter, Cashmyer struggled with postpartum depression and she later revealed that she had attempted suicide

'We pray that we soon will be able to do so and finally properly mourn the loss of our daughter. Rest In Peace my baby girl.

On the GoFundMe, the Cashmyers also paid tribute to Lyla, describing her as their 'greatest joy and addition' and their 'saving grace during this difficult time'.

It is thought that Cashmyer's older daughter, Evie, is in the care of her ex-boyfriend Derek.

Cashmyer's family first shared the news of her death on January 16, with dad Dennis confirming on Facebook that his daughter had died on the previous day.

'Last night I received a call no parent ever wants,' he wrote. 'Our hearts are truly broken. No parent should ever have to go through losing a child, EVER.'

Cashmyer's death came almost eight years after she rose to prominence while featuring on the MTV reality series 16 & Pregnant alongside her then-boyfriend Derek Taylor and their daughter Genevieve 'Evie' Shae Taylor.

The reality star's life was troubled; she admitted herself to a rehab facility in June 2016 at age 21 after she injured herself in a drunken stupor, TMZ reported at the time.

An insider for the gossip site claimed that the incident - which left her with a concussion and black eye -made the reality star realize it was time to 'get her life together.'

During her time on the hit show, crews documented the Baltimore, Maryland native's struggles after she became pregnant while dating Taylor.

Grieving: Cashymer's father Dennis shared the news of her death on Facebook in an emotional January 16 post, one day after she passed away

The couple became homeless during the pregnancy after Cashmyer's parents kicked her out of the family home and Taylor refused to get a job.

The couple split following their baby's March 7, 2014 birth, and Cashmyer later revealed that she suffered from postpartum depression and attempted suicide.

She shared in a post to her official Facebook page in November of that year that 'there wasn't much of a reason to live anymore,' Radar.com reported.

'I have been struggling with a lot of different things emotionally since I had Genevieve,' she wrote.

'I was diagnosed with post partum depression and was on medication for a little while for it, but I never followed up with my appointment My mood wouldn't stay stable for very long, I was extremely impulsive, couldn't focus, the smallest things would set me off, and my anxiety got worse, as did my depression and OCD.'

She added that she was given new medication that helped turn her mood around.

'I feel like my normal self; happy, smiling, talkative and thinking clearly Things really are looking up and I am set on having the best possible future for my daughter and I.'

Years later, she walked back the ordeal and claimed she was actually hospitalized for an accidental overdose.

Care: Dennis revealed that his granddaughter Lyla is now being cared for by himself and his wife (pictured)

'I was depressed due to the issues that were going on in my life at the time and was using drugs and drinking,' she tweeted.

'A family member decided to tell the hospital that I attempted an overdose because they believed that would get the proper treatment I needed.'

A person who answered her father's business phone Sunday said he was not ready to openly speak about his daughter.

Cashmyer celebrated one-year of sobriety last January, and welcomed her second daughter Lyla with Schaffer last June.

But her attempts at getting her life back on track hit a bump last September 9, when Shaffer died.
Lauren Graham took to Twitter on Tuesday to apologize for getting fans excited about a Gilmore Girls reunion that isn't actually coming.

Earlier this week, the actress, 54, accidentally sparked speculation after retweeting a clip from the show and adding a cryptic emoji.

'Sweet Peoples: sorry for any confusion,' she tweeted out. 'I retweeted that clip because I thought it was fun but I have nothing @GilmoreGirls related to announce except that I continue to be bad at the internet and I continue to love you all.'

Walking things back: Lauren Graham didn't mean to get fans excited for a Gilmore Girls reunion (pictured 2020)

The day before before her apology, the Parenthood star reshared a clip from the fourth season of the hit television show.

It showed Graham's character holding up two phones when her friend Luke, played by Scott Patterson, tells her that her food is ready.

She then jokingly tells Luke she's talking to her 'other two personalities.'

My bad guys: The actress, 54, took to Twitter on Tuesday to apologize for getting fans excited about Gilmore Girls content that isn't actually coming

Retweet: The day before before her apology, the Parenthood star reshared a clip from the fourth season of the hit television show

The Because I Said So actress captioned the tweet with a nerd emoji and the 'how were feeling today' message that was part of the original tweet.

The retweet quickly sparked the imaginations of hopeful fans who wanted to know if she was foreshadowing an upcoming announcement.

Graham played the main role of Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls from 2000 to 2007 for more than 150 episodes.

Major force on the show: Graham played the main role of Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls from 2000 to 2007 for more than 150 episodes (pictured 2020)

Teen drama: The show centers around a mother-daughter relationship in Connecticut from the daughter's early time in high school through her college years

She reprised her role for the 2016 miniseries that updated fans on where the characters were at after the series ended.

The show centers around a mother-daughter relationship in Connecticut from the daughter's early time in high school through her college years.

The show starred Graham, Patterson, Alexis Bledel and Melissa McCarthy in one of her first big roles.
Pete Davidson has deleted his Instagram after seemingly throwing shade to his girlfriend Kim Kardashian's estranged husband Kanye West on the app.

The move comes a week after surprising fans with his return to the platform following a four-year hiatus, which the SNL star previously left to protect his mental health in 2018.

As of Wednesday afternoon, whenever fans search for his page, they are directed to the 'Sorry, this page isn't available' screen.

Going off grid: Pete Davidson has deleted his Instagram after seemingly throwing shade to his girlfriend Kim Kardashian's ex Kanye West on the app

Before shutting down his account, the 28-year-old actor made one post to his feed, which was a clip from Martin Scorseses film The King of Comedy.

In the scene, Robert De Niro states: 'Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime.'

Many believed Davidson was a not-so-subtle dig to West, 44, who called him a 'd***head' over social media attack last week.

He's gone: The move comes a week after surprising fans with his return to the platform following a four-year hiatus, which the SNL star previously left to protect his mental health in 2018

Deleted? As of Wednesday afternoon, whenever fans search for his page, they are directed to the 'Sorry, this page isn't available' screen

Subtle shade: Before shutting down his account, the 28-year-old actor made one post to his feed, which was a clip from Martin Scorseses film The King of Comedy

The rapper also vowed that Davidson would never meet the children West shares with Kardashian, despite the fact that the comedian has been in a relationship with the reality star, 41, since October.

In another shock attack, West dredged up entirely unfounded rumors that Davidson once engaged in revenge porn by sharing intimate photos of himself and ex-fiancee Ariana Grande to the late rapper Mac Miller.

West shared a screenshot of the text he sent Davidson that read'...you as a man I'd never get in the way of your children. That's a promise. How you guys go about raising your kids is your business and not mine. I do hope [some] day I can meet them and we can all be friends.'

'My account is not hacked': 22-time Grammy winner Kanye 'Ye' West called Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson, the boyfriend of his estranged wife Kim Kardashian, a 'd***head' and shared a screengrab of his private text to him on Sunday

The 28-year-old comedian had texted the 44-year-old rapper-designer: '...you as a man I'd never get in the way of your children. That's a promise. How you guys go about raising your kids is your business and not mine. I do hope [some] day I can meet them and we can all be friends'

Kanye - who suffers from bipolar disorder - shared a pantsless snap of Pete (R) with his friend Machine Gun Kelly (L) captioned: 'No you will never meet my children'

West - who suffers from bipolar disorder - shared a pantsless snap of Pete with his friend Machine Gun Kelly captioned: 'No you will never meet my children.'

He also shared a screengrab of an internet rumour that claimed Ariana Grande sent photos of the pair to her ex Mac Miller before his 2018 death. West captioned the shot: 'no comment.'

The separated father-of-four also seemed outraged that Davidson - who's in the process of lasering off all 100 of his tattoos - once had his 'hero' Hillary Clinton inked on his calf.

'No comment': West shared a rumor that two-time Grammy winner Ariana Grande ended her four-month engagement to Davidson over him allegedly sending intimate photos of the pair to her ex Mac Miller before his 2018 death

'Thank god for free speech': The separated father-of-four seemed especially outraged that the Staten Island native - who's in the process of lasering off all 100 of his tattoos - once had his 'hero' Hillary Clinton inked on his calf

'When I tag people I'm just putting together the web. There are a group of people who run media and the election. Thank god for free speech,' claimed Kanye, who ran for president in 2020.

'Look at this d***head. I wonder if Instagram gonna shut down my page for dissing [Hillary] Clinton's ex boyfriend.'

West added: 'Y'all seen that tattoo but if I speak up then I'm crazy. I told you not going to use that one no more when a garbage man goes to work he gonna smell like trash but it's time to take the trash out the house...You can Google the Hillary thing I'm not making this s*** up.'

Kanye continued: 'Look at this d***head. I wonder if Instagram gonna shut down my page for dissing [Hillary] Clinton's ex boyfriend'

The Atlanta-born hip-hop star's ex began dating Pete after she hosted the NBC sketch show on October 9.

Meanwhile, Kanye has been canoodling with Kim Kardashian lookalike Chaney Jones and Uncut Gems alum Julia Fox, who he split from earlier this month.

Kim amicably filed for divorce from West a year ago after six years of marriage and four children - daughter North, 8; son Saint, 6; daughter Chicago, 4; and son Psalm, 2.
Jessica Seracino has responded to her villainous portrayal on Married At First Sight.

The Melbourne florist, 27, received plenty of criticism on Tuesday after she clashed with her 'husband' Daniel Holmes, 31, on their wedding day.

Tensions boiled over after Jessica accused Daniel of throwing a 'tantrum' over a joke she'd made about wearing trackpants to her 'real wedding' in the future.

'I'm actually a lovely person!' Married At First Sight intruder Jessica Seracino, 27, (pictured) has revealed the real reason why she called 'husband' Daniel Holmes a 'little b***h' on the show

Jessica raised eyebrows yet again at Wednesday's dinner party when she admitted to calling Daniel a 'little b***h' for being 'too emotional'.

Desperate to clear her name, a tearful Jessica called into The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Thursday morning to tell her side of the story.

Jessica admitted she'd never watched Married At First Sight before joining the experiment, and wasn't prepared for the drama.

Newlyweds at war: The Melbourne florist (right) received plenty of criticism on Tuesday after she clashed with her husband Daniel Holmes (left) on their wedding day

'Things were so different to what they are and I'm just extremely upset because it's such a misrepresentation of who I am,' she said.

Jessica insisted she was actually a 'very lovely' person despite being portrayed as an 'absolute b***h' on MAFS.

She also explained why she really called Daniel a 'little b***h', claiming it had nothing to do with him being 'too emotional'.

'I said, "If you don't have the balls to say something to me, don't be a little b***h"': Jessica said she was actually a 'lovely' person, before sharing the real reason she called Dan a 'little b***h'

Jessica said she was frustrated that Daniel would vent to producers about her, rather than speak to her directly.

'I said [to him], "If you don't have the balls to say something to me, don't be a little b***h,"' she explained.

Jessica also claimed she and Daniel were actually on good terms, and that producers had edited out scenes of the pair hugging and apologising to each other.

Outburst: Jessica said she was frustrated that Daniel would vent to producers about her, rather than speaking to her directly

'[Daniel and I] don't hate each other. We were mismatched; it wasn't a great pair,' she told radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson.

'I don't blame people for giving me backlash, [but] it didn't go down that way at all.'

Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine and 9Now
As one of the wealthy investors on Dragons' Den, Julie Meyer used to tell budding entrepreneurs: 'I'm out!', if she didn't want to plough any cash into their projects.

Now, she seems to have said the same to a High Court judge as she failed to attend a hearing last week. And the court has just issued a warrant for the American's arrest.

The venture capitalist, 55, was handed a six-month suspended sentence for contempt of court earlier this month after she failed to hand over financial documents and repeatedly failed to attend hearings over unpaid fees to the Queen's solicitors, Farrer & Co.

Meyer, who was awarded an honorary MBE in 2011 and advised David Cameron's government, claimed she was unable to travel to court from her home in Switzerland due to having the eye condition conjunctivitis and being unjabbed.

Julie Meyer (pictured above), 55, claimed she was unable to travel to court from her home in Switzerland due to having the eye condition conjunctivitis and being unjabbed

But it was ruled that her medical evidence was not grounds to avoid attending the court hearings in person. She was said to owe almost 200,000 to Farrers, which represented her in a court case in Malta.

The High Court heard she failed to pay Farrer partner Julian Pike 197,000, claiming the firm had provided a poor standard of service, which had been worth about 50,000.

It is understood the warrant for her arrest was issued after she failed to attend a court hearing on Valentine's Day. When Meyer was handed a suspended sentence, Mr Justice Kerr said she had shown herself 'to be a selfish and untrustworthy person'.

The judge said: 'I am satisfied there is every prospect that the defendant will continue to flout orders of the court unless coerced into obeying them.'

The High Court (file photo) heard she failed to pay Farrer partner Julian Pike 197,000, claiming the firm provided a poor standard of service, which had been worth about 50,000

He added that some of the evidence filed on Meyer's behalf sought to show her as 'too important for the courts of England and Wales to take precedent over her other interests'.

Meyer said: 'Farrer & Co has abused their privileged position as 'the Queen's lawyers'.'

She claimed the firm had 'avoided any normal scrutiny of invoices' and its 'approach has been to harass me and my firm'.

Dame Edna pals with her little possum again

On stage he's the flamboyant, lilac-haired Sydney housewife Dame Edna Everage. Out of costume, Barry Humphries finds family can be no laughing matter.

He's admitted he fell out with his son, fine-art dealer and journalist Oscar Humphries, who had been left damaged by the breakdown of the Australian comedian's third marriage, to artist Diane Millstead.

'I think Oscar was feeling a bit hard done by, but we're very good friends now,' says Humphries, 88. 'There had been moments when he felt scarred, I think, after his mother and I separated.' Oscar said in 2017 he was dropping his famous surname because he was so angry.

Sophie savours the sweet taste of home

For her 26th birthday, the Northampton-born actress was presented with a spectacular British-themed, five-tier cake, featuring Union flags, the London skyline, the Queen's guards and even an iced plate of bangers and mash

Sophie Turner, who played Sansa Stark in the sex and dragons drama, gave birth to her first child, Willa, in 2020

Game Of Thrones star Sophie Turner moved to California after marrying American pop star Joe Jonas, but she is still keen on a taste of home.

For her 26th birthday, the Northampton-born actress was presented with a spectacular British-themed, five-tier cake, featuring Union flags, the London skyline, the Queen's guards and even an iced plate of bangers and mash. Turner, who played Sansa Stark in the sex and dragons drama, gave birth to her first child, Willa, in 2020.

She has admitted disliking the superficiality of LA, saying: 'I have a lot of friends who were brought up in the UK like me [who] are working in LA as actors. They're stuck in this place where everyone is so far up your a**e.'

Waitrose's announcement that it's to start selling potato 'milk' has left the quintessentially middle-class comedian Jack Whitehall bewildered.

'We've got enough milks now,' he declares. 'I went to buy a coffee recently near to where I live in London. They said: 'Ok, sir, what kind of milk would you like?

'We've got coconut milk, almond milk, hazelnut milk, cashew milk, macadamia nut milk, oat milk, rice milk, hemp milk, soy milk.

'You can have it from a bean, from a pulse, from a grain, from an oat, from flax, from a leaf, from a seed, from a tree.'

Alice Temperley held a lavish party at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge

Alice is a survivor

The Duchess of Cambridge's favourite bohemian designer, Alice Temperley, whose business went into administration last year, is determined to celebrate its survival.

Alice held a lavish party at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge this week, where she marked the 22nd anniversary of Temperley London with friends including top model Laura Bailey.

'It's time to raise a toast to the first 22 years of Temperley London and everything still to come,' says Temperley, 46, whose firm faced unpaid debts of 31 million before winning fresh investment.

This will scarcely help Cambridge University's appeal to teenagers from poorer backgrounds. I hear students working at Corpus Christi College's May Ball were told to deposit an insurance cheque of 160 as 'a guarantee of good behaviour'.

That's more than the 95 most would expect to earn for toiling the whole evening. After I contacted the college, it said it would no longer be requiring deposits from student workers.

Cheers! Here's to Pelly good plonk

Like Prince Harry, 'court jester' Guy Pelly, 40, moved to the U.S. to live with his American wife, and he's now produced his first wine at their vineyard

Prince Harry tends to look miserable in snaps these days, but his old friend Guy Pelly has reason to raise a glass.

Like Harry, 'court jester' Pelly, 40, moved to the U.S. to live with his American wife, and he's now produced his first wine at their vineyard. 'It was a big moment after three years of hard work,' he tells me. 'It was a great vintage with near perfect weather and for young vines we couldn't be happier with how it turned out.'

Pelly, who is Prince Louis's godfather, lives with Holiday Inn heiress Elizabeth Wilson, and their three daughters, at Merrie Mill Farm, Virginia. 'We'll be bottling next month.' Chin-chin!

Prince Andrew's biographer Nigel Cawthorne has come up with a way for the former Falklands helicopter pilot to regain public support: 'He should volunteer for the frontline in Ukraine right now.'

What could possibly go wrong...
Filmmaker Adam McKay opened up about the end of his partnership with comedian Will Ferrell back in November, though now he has revealed even more details.

The 53-year-old director had been working with Ferrell for 25 years when their partnership came to an end over casting in McKay's new HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, debuting March 3.

McKay revealed in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter that it was his failure to reach out to Ferrell before casting their longtime friend John C. Reilly that ended the partnership and friendship.

Opening up: Filmmaker Adam McKay opened up about the end of his partnership with comedian Will Ferrell back in November, though now he has revealed even more details

Old partners: The 53-year-old director had been working with Ferrell for 25 years when their partnership came to an end over casting in McKay's new HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, debuting March 3

Ferrell, who went to school at USC and was a massive Los Angeles Lakers fan, was said to have really wanted the role of Lakers owner Jerry Buss.

When McKay got the pilot script from creators Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, he ended up tapping Michael Shannon to play Dr. Buss.

McKay and Shannon had known each other for over 25 years, with his wife Shira Piven having worked with the actor back in Chicago.

Huge fan: Ferrell, who went to school at USC and was a massive Los Angeles Lakers fan, was said to have really wanted the role of Lakers owner Jerry Buss

Real Dr. Buss: When McKay got the pilot script from creators Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, he ended up tapping Michael Shannon to play Dr. Buss

McKay said that, 'Will was good with it,' regarding Shannon's casting, though Shannon was having trouble with the role.

'It really bugged Michael that we were breaking the fourth wall,' McKay said of the format where the actor speaks directly into the camera/to the viewer.

'He kept saying, "I dont like this. It throws me. Im having a hard time,"' McKay added, with Shannon ultimately dropping out of the project just a week before the pilot was set to shoot.

Bugged: 'It really bugged Michael that we were breaking the fourth wall,' McKay said of the format where the actor speaks directly into the camera/to the viewer

Shannon also dropped out shortly after McKay and Ferrell dissolved their Gary Sanchez Productions Company in 2019, with McKay taking Winning Time to his new company, Hyperobject Industries.

McKay needed someone to step in and play Dr. Buss, and instead of going to Ferrell, he went to his Step Brothers co-star John C. Reilly.

'I told him, "Were in a weird spot here, but Im directing the pilot and I think youd destroy this,"' McKay said, adding he gave Reilly just 48 hours to decide.

Dissolved: Shannon also dropped out shortly after McKay and Ferrell dissolved their Gary Sanchez Productions Company in 2019, with McKay taking Winning Time to his new company, Hyperobject Industries.

Reilly said it would take him just two hours to read the pilot script and sign on for the role, but before he did that, he reached out to Ferrell, which essentially marked the end of Ferrell and McKay's partnership and friendship.

'It was at this weird moment where Will and I werent exactly hugging each other, even though there was nothing that terrible, and he called Will and said, "Hey, McKay just came to me with this." And Will was very hurt that I wasnt the one to call him, and I should have. I f***ed up,' McKay explained.

Reilly would only add, 'Will is one of my best friends, Adam is one of my best friends, I was delighted to get the job and thats all I really have to say.'

Hours: Reilly said it would take him just two hours to read the pilot script and sign on for the role, but before he did that, he reached out to Ferrell, which essentially marked the end of Ferrell and McKay's partnership and friendship

Hurt: 'It was at this weird moment where Will and I werent exactly hugging each other, even though there was nothing that terrible, and he called Will and said, "Hey, McKay just came to me with this." And Will was very hurt that I wasnt the one to call him, and I should have. I f***ed up,' McKay explained

John adds: Reilly would only add, 'Will is one of my best friends, Adam is one of my best friends, I was delighted to get the job and thats all I really have to say'

Ferrell first discussed the split back in October, when promoting his Apple series The Shrink Next Door, though he didn't mention anything about Winning Time.

'Adam was like, "I want to do this, and this, and this"; he wanted growth and a sphere of influence, and I was just like, "I dont know, that sounds like a lot that I have to keep track of,"' Ferrell said.

'To me, the potential of seeing a billboard, and being like: "Oh, were producing that?" I dont know.  At the end of the day, we just have different amounts of bandwidth,' he added.

Will's side: Ferrell first discussed the split back in October, when promoting his Apple series The Shrink Next Door, though he didn't mention anything about Winning Time
Leonardo DiCaprio has expanded his green portfolio with an investment in the startup company Wildtype that creates cell-cultivated sushi-grade salmon.

The San Francisco-based company announced Wednesday that DiCaprio, 47, joined as an investor in Wildtype's $100 million Series B round.

The Oscar-winning actor and environmentalist also took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce his investment.

Green portfolio: Leonardo DiCaprio, shown last December in New York City, has expanded his green portfolio with an investment in the startup company Wildtype that creates cell-cultivated sushi-grade salmon

'Wild fish populations are threatened more than ever before. I'm pleased to be an investor in @wildtypefoods, the clear leader in cultivated seafood, which will give us the chance to protect our oceans while creating the cleanest seafood on the planet,' DiCaprio tweeted for his roughly 19.5 million followers.

The Series B round also included investments from Robert Downey Jr.'s FootPrint Coalition, Bezos Expeditions, Singaporean state holding company Temasek and the Minnesota-based family-owned food giant Cargill.

'Wildtype will surely transform our food system with its incredible salmon,' DiCaprio added in a statement announcing the Series B funding.

Wildtype creates sushi-grade salmon using cultivated Pacific salmon cells that are grown in cultivators similar to those used in breweries. The salmon cells grow within a plant-based scaffolding structure that helps to create its shape and protein fibrosity.

Sushi grade: A Wildtype salmon nigiri is shown

Clear leader: 'Wild fish populations are threatened more than ever before. I'm pleased to be an investor in @wildtypefoods, the clear leader in cultivated seafood, which will give us the chance to protect our oceans while creating the cleanest seafood on the planet,' DiCaprio tweeted for his roughly 19.5 million followers

The San Francisco startup was co-founded by Justin Kolbeck and Arye Elfenbein with a mission to create the cleanest, most sustainable seafood on the planet. Wildtype is expecting to launch its product in fine-dining partner restaurants after its cultivated salmon gains regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

It was the second eco-friendly investment announcement by DiCaprio in as many days as he tweeted on Tuesday about his investment in Telmont Champagne.

'From protecting biodiversity on its land, to using 100% renewable electricity, @maisontelmont is determined to radically lower its environmental footprint. Proud to join as an investor in Champagne Telmont,' DiCaprio tweeted.

San Francisco start-up: The San Francisco startup was co-founded by Justin Kolbeck and Arye Elfenbein with a mission to create the cleanest, most sustainable seafood on the planet

No bones: Wildtype creates sushi-grade salmon using cultivated Pacific salmon cells that are grown in cultivators similar to those used in breweries

The Telmont Champagne House was founded in 1912 in the wake of the Champagne Riots by local winegrower Henri Lhopital, according to a release announcing the investment.

Champagne Telmont has remained familial with fourth generation Bertrand Lhopital currently serving as cellar master and head of viticulture.

'Champagne Telmont, together with its partner wine-growers, has set its sights on producing 100 percent organic champagne, ensuring a completely sustainable production lifecycle in the coming years,' DiCaprio said in a statement released Tuesday by Champagne Telmont.

Twitter announcements: It was the second eco-friendly investment announcement by DiCaprio, shown in February 2020 in Hollywood, in as many days as he tweeted on Tuesday about his investment in Telmont Champagne

The actor's investment was lauded by Champagne Telmont as an endorsement of their approach.

'Leonardo DiCaprio's decision to become a shareholder sends Telmont a strong message of support that will encourage us as we carry out our ambitious plans. We share the same convictions and the same commitment to protecting the environment,' said Ludovic du Plessis, chairman & shareholder of Champagne Telmont in a statement.

The Remy Cointreau group purchased a majority share of Champagne Telmont in October 2020 after identifying with its eco-friendly values.

Strong message: 'Leonardo DiCaprio's decision to become a shareholder sends Telmont a strong message of support that will encourage us as we carry out our ambitious plans. We share the same convictions and the same commitment to protecting the environment,' said Ludovic du Plessis, chairman & shareholder of Champagne Telmont in a statement

Champagne Telmont has a goal of converting its entire vineyard to 100 percent organic agriculture by 2025 and to help its partner growers reach full conversion of their vines by 2031.

DiCaprio has become a staunch supporter of environmentalism and focused recently on environmental documentaries while also investing in multiple eco-friendly projects.

He was an executive producer of Virunga, Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Project, The Ivory Game and Catching The Sun.

Actor and environmentalist: DiCaprio, shown last November with Prince Charles and Stella McCartney at the UN Climate Change Conference, has become a staunch supporter of environmentalism and focused recently on environmental documentaries while also investing in multiple eco-friendly projects

He also produced, hosted and narrated the 2016 documentary Before The Flood about climate change and narrated the 2019 global warming documentary Ice On Fire.

DiCaprio has a starring role in the apocalyptic black comedy Don't Look Up with the catastrophic impact of a humanity-destroying comet serving as an allegory for climate change.

Don't Look Up received four Academy Awards nominations, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders

Rating:

Mega Mansion Hunters

Rating:

They always go for the obvious suspects, that's what is so frustrating. In any line-up, it's never the obscure ones who get picked.

This criticism could often apply to coppers on murder investigations, but I'm talking about the telly producers. This year is bringing a surfeit of true crime documentaries plodding over well-trodden ground.

Earlier this week saw a retelling of the hunt for the Moors Murderers  a story that still sickens us today but one with little fresh evidence to be examined.

Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders made a convincing case that Peter Sutcliffe (pictured in 1983), convicted in 1981 of murdering 13 women, was responsible for more deaths

Next month brings a three-part report on the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham. That awful crime has been repeatedly raked over in the past 20 years.

Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders (ITV) made a convincing case that Peter Sutcliffe, convicted in 1981 of murdering 13 women and attacking seven more, was responsible for more deaths.

But this programme, the first of two, failed to do much more than comb through the archives and point to historic murders.

Five other victims during the early 1970s were identified, including nanny Carolyn Allen, whose remains were found months after she disappeared in 1974. It is now thought Sutcliffe lured her into his car.

Though the Ripper was not quizzed about any attacks prior to 1975, police records show he was arrested years earlier, when just 23 and working as a grave digger.

He was given a police caution, for beating a woman unconscious with a stone in a sock.

But this programme failed to do much more than comb through the archives and point to historic murders. Pictured: Police search for Wilma McCann, the Yorkshire Ripper's first victim

No detectives from the era were available to explain how he was allowed to go free.

Crucially, there was no police comment either on the failure to reopen cases throughout the decades when Sutcliffe was behind bars. He died in 2020.

We were left to piece together the mistakes ourselves. It's obvious that, before national computer systems, county forces were reluctant to co-operate  hampered by mutual suspicion and rivalry.

Sceptical that the killings were the work of a serial killer, detectives looked for individual culprits. They found two, who both served long sentences for crimes they did not commit.

One was a proven stalker, the other made a false confession. It's hard to argue that their arrests were not the result of blatant police incompetence.

With no presenter, and wordy captions that appeared on screen too briefly, it was left to journalist Julie Bindel to make the most incisive criticism.

Until the murder of 16-year-old supermarket worker Jane MacDonald, all Sutcliffe's confirmed victims were sex workers.

It took her killing to galvanise the investigation, 'as if everything that happened before was perfectly fine and reasonable,' Bindel said.

There cannot be anything more superficial on telly than Mega Mansion Hunters, about a London firm of estate agents who go door-to-door looking for million-pound homes to sell

That could have been the starting point for a much more trenchant and probing account. Instead, it seemed determined to remain superficial.

There cannot be anything more superficial currently on telly than Mega Mansion Hunters (C4), about a London firm of permatanned estate agents who go door-to-door looking for million-pound homes to sell.

What they lack in professional skills and respectability, they make up for with naked greed. Every job is assessed in terms of the commission it could bring.

Just when you think you're seeing the very worst of modern British culture, along comes a character with genuine charm.

Trainee salesman Andrew, 24, admitted with a grin that his brogue was 'very absurd'. Half Filipino and half English, he grew up with an Irish family in Scotland.

He never stopped smiling. That doesn't cost millions, and it goes a long way.
Priyanka Chopra has hit back at Rosie O'Donnell after the comedian mistakenly claimed she was the daughter of self-help guru Deepak Chopra.

Rosie, 59, posted an apology video on TikTok where she revealed that the awkward encounter took place with Priyanka, 39, and her husband Nick Jonas at Nobu restaurant in Malibu, California.

However, Priyanka was left unimpressed with the comedian's seemingly sarcastic apology where she first said sorry to husband Nick, 29, and then referred to the actress as, 'the Chopra wife.'

Speaking up: Priyanka Chopra broke her silence about an awkward encounter she recently shared with Rosie O'Donnell; she is seen in 2021

Rosie said: 'Nick Jonas, I apologize and to the Chopra wife, I apologize too.'

Priyanka then responded to Rosie without naming her in a Wednesday Instagram Story.

'I have never taken myself so seriously to think everyone would know who I am, or my work for that matter,' she said.

The Matrix: Resurrections star then made it clear she was unimpressed with how Rosie did not appear to take the misunderstanding seriously.

'But if you wanted to make a public apology for a very awkward private encounter, I think probably best to take the time to google my name before doing it or even try to reach out directly,' she continued.

Expressing her feelings: Chopra responded to O'Donnell without referring to her by name through a message that was shared to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, and she began by expressing that she did not expect to be immediately recognized by the general public

Chopra added: 'We ALL deserve to be respected for our unique individuality and not to be referred to as 'someone' or 'wife' especially in a sincere apology.'

The performer went on to express that she would like to see future generations of people become more mindful of diversity-related issues.

'If we can learn to respect our differences in an authentic way, the world we our children in, will be amazing,' she wrote.

Chopra concluded by writing that her last name was more common than many people would think.

'As I've said before, not all Chopra's are related to the great Deepak, just as not all Smith's are related to the legendary Will Smith,' she wrote.

O'Donnell previously took to TikTok Sunday and explained how she and her party, including her son and his girlfriend, and friend Fran Drescher, were seated next to the couple at the luxe restaurant, which is a popular haunt for celebs.

She noted that she had 'always assumed' Priyanka was the daughter of the famed author and said as much when she was socializing with her.

The latest: O'Donnell apologized to Chopra and Nick Jonas, 29, for a verbal flub she made while running into the celeb couple at Nobu Malibu

'So when I said, 'Hi, Nick Jonas. You were great in Kingdom,' and [to Priyanka,] 'Hi, I know your dad.' She goes, 'You do? Who's my dad?' And I'm like, 'Deepak.' She's like, 'No, and Chopra is a common name.' I felt so embarrassed.'

O'Donnell continued, 'Nick Jonas, I apologize and to the Chopra wife, I apologize too.'

O'Donnell caught flak from TikTok users in the comment thread for calling Priyanka 'the Chopra wife,' which O'Donnell led to make another video on Monday apologizing for the botch.

'So I'm reading the comments about my [exchange with] Nick Jonas and his wife, Priyanka Chopra, who I mistakenly thought was Deepak's daughter,' O'Donnell said.

The celebrity couple was snapped last November at The Fashion Awards in London

The talk show host detailed the embarrassing faux pas on the social media site

The entertainer said, 'Sorry, sometimes I f*** up. I did at Nobu'

O'Donnell said that while 'people thought that [Priyanka] was rude' in her response, 'She wasn't rude, it was just awkward.

'I'm sure she gets sick of that. I'm sure I'm not the only one. According to the comments, a lot of people thought that too but she's apparently a very well-known actress and more famous than him, people were saying. So I'm sure it felt weird to her, to begin with.'

O'Donnell continued, 'Anyway, Priyanka is her name. Priyanka - I hope I'm pronouncing that right.

'I just want to apologize to her and to everyone who thought that it was really inappropriate of me. Sorry, sometimes I f*** up. I did at Nobu.'

The Quantico actress and Jonas, who wed in 2018, became parents last month in welcoming a baby via surrogate

Priyanka's father Dr. Ashok Chopra died in June 2013 following a cancer battle.

The Quantico actress and Jonas, who wed in 2018, became parents last month in welcoming a baby via surrogate.

'We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate,' both said on Instagram in announcing the big news. 'We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family.'
Controversial NRL player Josh Dugan has just scored big with a $2.1million sale for his beautiful home in Sydney's Sutherland Shire.

Domain reports that the price tag on the recently renovated two-storey four-bedroom Gymea Bay house is well above the suburbs median of $1.874m.

Purchased by Dugan in 2016 for $1.22m, the sale will likely net the former Sharks star a cool million.

Big Score: NRL star Josh Dugan's beautiful Gymea Bay home in Sydney's Sutherland Shire with the spectacular renovation seen from the backyard, recently sold for $2.2m netting the controversial player a $1m win!

His final contract with Cronulla was worth $850,000.

With its open plan layout, the property has a bright airy atmosphere and includes two bathrooms and a granny flat which could also be used as studio space.

Dugan made some home improvements in his six years at the southern suburb address, a sought after postcode in the last decade.

The two-storey home in the sought after south Sydney suburb features a granny flat (seen here in the background) and an open plan giving the property a light, airy atmosphere

The 31-year-old former Australia and State of Origin star ended his career in unflattering headlines last year after being axed by Cronulla for biosecurity breaches.

Already off contract and struggling for game time, the last breach all but sealed the 31-year-old's fate after 13 seasons and 215 NRL games.

One of the best ball-running fullbacks in the NRL when at his peak at Canberra and St George Illawarra, Dugan played 12 State of Origins for NSW and as many Tests for Australia.

Josh Dugan ended his days on the field in 2021 with controversial headlines

Almost from the start of his career with the Canberra Raiders Dugan had a 'bad boy' image.

After his early forced retirement Dugan told followers on social media he was looking forward to running his own business and doing community work.

In January the Daily Telegraph reported Dugan was working on the south coast of New South Wales as a concreter.

Street view: Dugan bought the beautifully renovated cottage in 2016 for $1.2m and over six years made some home improvements
Abbie Chatfield has revealed the horrific death threats she's received after appearing on The Bachelor.

During her HIT Network radio show Hot Nights with Abbie Chatfield on Wednesday, the former Bachelor star opened up about the constant trolling and death threats she receives online.

'Every nice thing that happens to me, I get swamped with trolls like when I got to host the afterparty for Love Island, I had thousands of messages saying I didn't deserve it, I have no qualifications, I have no skills,' she said.

Trolls: Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has revealed the horrific death threats she's received following her appearance on The Bachelor

Abbie continued: 'And I get death threats like once a month and they send me my address. I can't sleep at my place unless Konrad is there.'

It comes after Abbie sparked debate over the correct way to eat a KitKat chocolate bar.

During her radio show on Tuesday, her executive producer Max Corstorphan called her out for chomping into the block 'like a monster'.

'Every nice thing that happens to me, I get swamped with trolls like when I got to host the afterparty for Love Island, I had thousands of messages saying I didn't deserve it, I have no qualifications, I have no skills,' she said on her HIT radio show

'Half of the team is really unhappy with something that you've done and I think most people will be very unhappy when they find out what it is,' Max said.

'What have I done Maxi?' Abbie asked.

'I take you back to the weekend where you're posting stories in the car. Having a nice time. Having a nice break. Maybe a break for a KitKat.'

Debate: It comes after Abbie sparked debate over the correct way to eat a KitKat chocolate bar

Max then called Abbie out for biting into the whole bar rather than breaking off the fingers.

'The poor people that are watching your stories, their eyes are assaulted by you not snapping off a singular finger from the KitKat and nibbling on it like one should.'

He continued: 'Like the monster that you are, you just munch munch munch, eating into four fingers at a time.'

'You eat Kit Kat like a monster!'
Selina Chhaur and Cody Bromley appear to have gotten their relationship back on track after they were spotted out in Sydney together.

The Married At First Sight couple was seen wearing matching ensembles when they enjoyed an outing in the city together on October 25, in a telling clue they make it through this week's commitment ceremony.

Selina, 32, stepped out in a white miniskirt, which she paired with a pale lavender sweatshirt with puff sleeves.

Out and about: Selina Chhaur and Cody Bromley appear to have gotten their relationship back on track after they were spotted out in Sydney together after filming this week's commitment ceremony

The hairdresser wore a pair of black cat-eye sunglasses tucked into the front of her sweatshirt and rounded out her ensemble with white sneakers.

Meanwhile, Cody, 30, opted for a pair of white shorts, which he teamed with a short-sleeve purple and black striped button-up shirt.

Like Selina, he also stepped out in a pair of white sneakers, with both wearing matching black face masks.

Perfect match: The Married At First Sight couple was seen wearing matching ensembles when they enjoyed an outing in the city

Skirting the issue: Selina, 32, stepped out in a white miniskirt, which she paired with a pale lavender sweatshirt with puff sleeves

The MAFS couple stuck close to one another, walking alongside each other as they made their way down the street.

It comes after Cody sensationally admitted he wasn't attracted to Selina because of her Asian ethnicity.

The personal trainer blindsided his bride when he confessed she wasn't his type during an honesty challenge.

Controversial: It comes after Cody sensationally admitted he wasn't attracted to Selina because of her Asian ethnicity

Same but different: Cody, 30, opted for a pair of white shorts, which he teamed with a short-sleeve purple and black striped button-up shirt

Paired together: Like Selina, Cody also stepped out in a pair of white sneakers, with both wearing matching black face masks

'It came as a massive shock to me and it was really upsetting. Sadly, he did judge the book by its cover,' the hairdresser told Who magazine.

Selina, whose parents are Chinese and Cambodian, said she was disappointed the swim coach 'didn't make the effort, as much as I was making, to get to know me further'.

But she is ultimately glad she asked the question about her ethnicity, no matter how painful the answer.

Walking around: The MAFS couple stuck close to one another, walking alongside each other as they made their way down the street

Harsh: While he insisted her ethnicity was 'not a big deal', Cody admitted that 'Selina typically isn't my type'

'I hope people can see how hard it was for me to ask that question. It did take a lot so I'm very proud of myself,' she said.

While he insisted her ethnicity was 'not a big deal', Cody admitted that 'Selina typically isn't my type'.

'I do usually go for that blonde, surfy look, that's just what I'm magnetised towards and what I've always gone for on the northern beaches,' he confessed.

'I'm not racist by any means, but it's not something I'm familiar with. To be honest the short answer is it probably did,' Cody said of Selina's Asian ethnicity

'Is the lack of interest, attraction and affection due to my nationality and look?' Selina nervously asked her groom

'I do usually go for that blonde, surfy look, that's just what I'm magnetised towards and what I've always gone for on the northern beaches,' he confessed

But they were able to overcome their issues, with Selina later revealing that she and Cody had consummated their relationship.

'We got back from the dinner party, Cody and I both realised we were in a really good place and, like, comforted each other,' she smiled, adding: 'We had sex.'

Meanwhile, Cody said their relationship had completely changed course as he acknowledged their difficult start.

'After we consummated the marriage it sort of feels like we're on track now,' he revealed.
She's a mother of two with a third child on the way.

And Nicky Hilton had that pregnancy glow as she stepped out for dinner at the celebrity hotspot Craig's in West Hollywood on Wednesday.

The fashion designer and entrepreneur, 38, highlighted her baby bump in a black minidress for her night out.

Glowing: Nicky Hilton had that pregnancy glow as she stepped out for dinner at the celebrity hotspot Craig's in West Hollywood on Wednesday

Hilton matched her body-hugging minidress with a pair of black heels and and covered up for the walk from her car into the restaurant in a brown teddy coat.

She also added an extra touch or two of volume to her long blonde tresses, which fell and flowed all over her shoulders in loose waves.

The New York City native accessorized with a gorgeous black purse and a single silver necklace

Chic maternity: The fashion designer and entrepreneur, 38, highlighted her baby bump in a black minidress for her night out

Keeping warm: Hilton covered up for the walk into the restaurant in a brown teddy coat

The expectant mom went public with her third pregnancy with husband and financier James Rothschild last month.

The couple are expected to welcome their child in the summer of 2022. The sex of the baby is still unknown, even to the expectant mother and father.

She has opted to continue on with a family tradition of keeping the gender a surprise until birth, according to a report from E! News.

Growing family: The expectant mom went public with her third pregnancy with husband James Rothschild last month

Keeping it a surprise: The mother of two has opted to continue her mother's tradition and not know her baby's gender ahead of time

Hilton and Rothschild, who were married in the summer of 2015 at Kensington Palace, are already parents to daughters Lily-Grace, five, and Theodora 'Teddy', four,

'I love everything about being a mom,' Hilton said in an interview with The Tot after the arrival of her first baby girl.

'I love everything about being a mom, she says. I love waking up and seeing her little face every day. I love walking around our neighborhood with her. I love cuddling her and feeding her and just seeing where the day takes us.'

'Rewarding: I love everything about being a mom,' Hilton previously said
Fans will get to learn a lot more about Michelle Obama, Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt in Showtime's The First Lady, with the producers teasing possibilities for future seasons.

The first season will feature 'interweaving stories' illuminating the White House lives of Obama (Viola Davis), Ford (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Roosevelt (Anderson), debuting April 17.

While promoting the series, showrunner Cathy Shulman and director Susanne Bier teased future seasons could showcase Hillary Clinton, Melania Trump and Jackie Kennedy.

Future seasons: Fans will get to learn a lot more about Michelle Obama, Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt in Showtime's The First Lady, with the producers teasing possibilities for future seasons

Michelle: The first season will feature 'interweaving stories' illuminating the White House lives of Obama (Viola Davis), Ford (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Roosevelt (Anderson), debuting April 17

Maybe Melania: While promoting the series, showrunner Cathy Shulman and director Susanne Bier teased future seasons could showcase Hillary Clinton, Melania Trump and Jackie Kennedy

Schulman and Bier, who directs the pilot episode, were promoting the series at the Television Critics Association winter tour, when they were asked what other First Lady's they would be interested in depicting.

'I would be very intrigued to depict Hillary Clinton because I think that her position was so complicated I think that would be incredibly interesting,' Bier said.

Schulman chimed in, 'If we could figure out a way to do Jackie Kennedy that didnt tell the same old story againparticularly the latter part of her life Im fascinated by that.'

Others: Schulman and Bier, who directs the pilot episode, were promoting the series at the Television Critics Association winter tour, when they were asked what other First Lady's they would be interested in depicting

Intrigued: 'I would be very intrigued to depict Hillary Clinton because I think that her position was so complicated I think that would be incredibly interesting,' Bier said

Jackie: Schulman chimed in, 'If we could figure out a way to do Jackie Kennedy that didnt tell the same old story againparticularly the latter part of her life Im fascinated by that'

The executive producers were asked if there were any possibility for a Melania Trump season, which they said they'd have to discuss further.

'I think the series could do with a fun season, so lets talk about that,' Bier said to Shulman.

Anderson was also on the TCA panel and added, 'I think the hope is that theres going to be future seasons so theyll have the opportunity to have more First Ladies represented. So maybe not just four but maybe 104.'

Melania: The executive producers were asked if there were any possibility for a Melania Trump season, which they said they'd have to discuss further.

Gillian: Anderson was also on the TCA panel and added, 'I think the hope is that theres going to be future seasons so theyll have the opportunity to have more First Ladies represented. So maybe not just four but maybe 104'

Shulman also mentioned Edith Wilson, the wife of Woodrow Wilson, calling her life, 'fascinating,' because, 'not only did she run the country, nobody knew she was running the country.'

She added that she's 'obsessing' over George Washington's wife Martha Washington, because she's, 'intrigued about how it all began.

Other first ladies that were mentioned during the TCA panel are James Madison's wife Dolly Madison and Jimmy Carter's wife Rosalynn Carter.

Michelle as Betty: Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford in The First Lady

The series is described as, 'a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.'

'In the government's East Wing, many of history's most impactful and world-changing decisions have been hidden from view, made by America's charismatic, complex and dynamic First Ladies,' the description adds.

'The series will peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives of three unique, enigmatic women and their families, tracing their journeys to Washington, dipping into their pasts and following them beyond the White House into their greatest moments,' the description concludes.

Women: The series is described as, 'a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House'
Last year she settled down into country life in the NSW Southern Highlands.

But Samantha Armytage made a trip to Sydney this week, and was seen stepping out wearing a very expensive accessory on her wrist.

The former Sunrise co-host, 45, wore a Cartier Tank Must watch valued at an eye-watering $3950.

The finer things in life: Samantha Armytage made a trip to Sydney this week, and was seen stepping out wearing a very expensive accessory on her wrist

The timepiece is actually the second-cheapest Cartier women's watch, with only a slightly smaller version costing $150 less.

The watch boasts a steel case, beaded crown set with a synthetic cabochon-shaped spinel, silvered dial, blued-steel sword-shaped hands, black grained calfskin strap and a steel ardillon buckle.

Samantha also dazzled in a black dress with white spots, and wore her blonde tresses loose and flowing for the outing.

Not skimping: The former Sunrise co-host, 45, wore a Cartier Tank Must watch valued at an eye-watering $3950

Magic in monochrome: Samantha also dazzled in a black dress with white spots, and wore her blonde tresses loose and flowing for the outing

The former Sunrise star also carried a tan handbag and a bunch of pink roses as she left her rainy day catch up.

Also on Thursday, Sam attended an exclusive event, 'Everything's Coming Up (French) Rose, in Vaucluse.

Sam and guests were taken on a journey of premium rose wines just launched at Dan Murphy's from the houses of Lucile, Mirabeau, Miraval (Brad Pitts wine) and Prestige DAdimant.

Social: Also on Thursday, Sam attended an exclusive event, 'Everything's Coming Up (French) Rose, in Vaucluse (pictured)

Primped to perfection: Sam changed into a gorgeous navy asymmetrical frock that cinched in at her waist, which she teamed with gold stiletto heels and coordinating glamorous jewellery

Launch: Sam and guests were taken on a journey of premium rose wines just launched at Dan Murphy's from the houses of Lucile, Mirabeau, Miraval (Brad Pitts wine) and Prestige DAdimant

Sam changed into a gorgeous navy asymmetrical frock that cinched in at her waist, which she teamed with gold stiletto heels and coordinating glamorous jewellery.

The outing comes after Armytage enjoyed a mini-break to Hyams Beach on the weekend.

Sam shared a number of photos relaxing on the beach with her husband Richard and her beloved dog Banjo.

Flower power: The former Sunrise star also carried a tan handbag and a bunch of pink roses as she left her rainy day catch up

Getaway: Sam enjoyed an idyllic getaway to Hyams Beach with husband Richard Lavender (both pictured) at the weekend

Sam and Richard looked to be in a good mood as she soaked up the sun at the picturesque spot on the coast.

The TV veteran captioned the gallery of images, 'Bliss'.

Sam recently spoke about how she doesn't have any plans for children saying she is 'a bit past that'.

The former Sunrise presenter spoke about her family plans during a rare personal interview on The Kyle and Jackie O Show last week.

Relaxing: Sam shared a number of photos of her relaxing on the beach with her husband Richard and her beloved dog Banjo

Armytage was on the program to promote her podcast Something to Talk About.

Sandilands, 50, then asked if starting a family was something Armytage had ever considered, and she told him she was 'a bit past that' at her age.

The Channel Seven personality said it 'was on my radar' at one stage in her life 'but it just hasn't happened'.

Picturesque: Sam and Richard looked to be in a good mood as she soaked-up the sun at the picturesque spot on the coast

She added: 'You have to just redirect your path.'

Despite having no children of her own, Armytage said she cherished being an aunt to her sister's kids.

She also spoke of her idyllic country life in the NSW Southern Highlands, where she lives on a farm with her husband, Richard Lavender.

Family plans: Sam (pictured in December 2019) has revealed she once hoped to have children, but admits she is now 'a bit past that' at the age of 45

Armytage has been enjoying a quieter life in the countryside since quitting Sunrise in March last year.

She tied the knot with Lavender, a successful equestrian businessman, at his home in Bowral on New Year's Eve in 2020.

Lavender has two adult daughters, Sasha and Grace, with whom Armytage is close.
Priyanka Chopra gave fans a look into her day-to-day life by uploading a 'photo dump' to Instagram on Wednesday.

Notably, the 39-year-old actress appeared to give her followers a peek at the nursery her and husband Nick Jonas set-up for their baby daughter.

As revealed exclusively by DailyMail.com in January, the couple's first child was born via surrogate and arrived at 27 weeks at a Southern California hospital outside LA.

Day in the life: Priyanka Chopra gave fans a look into her day-to-day life by uploading a 'photo dump' to Instagram on Wednesday

She will remain in hospital until she is healthy enough to return home with her parents, a source close to the couple said.

Though it's unclear if their little girl has been cleared to go home, Chopra and Jonas have a nursery decorated and ready for her arrival.

There were several stuffed animals, including a fluffy rabbit and a patchwork bear, sat atop a white dresser.

There was also a gold statue positioned next to the stuffed toys.

Nursery? Notably, the 39-year-old actress appeared to give her followers a peek at the nursery her and husband Nick Jonas set-up for their baby daughter

New parents: As revealed exclusively by DailyMail.com in January, the couple's first child was born via surrogate and arrived at 27 weeks at a Southern California hospital outside LA. She will remain in hospital until she is healthy enough to return home with her parents, a source close to the couple said; Chopra and Jonas pictured in 2021

Chopra's first photo was a self-portrait she'd taken as she lounged on the couch in a bright red 'Indian Space Research Organisation' shirt.

She had a pair of AirPods in her ears and her brunette hair was worn down for the shot.

A trio of images featured in the slideshow appeared to be from a recent date night Chopra and Jonas enjoyed in Los Angeles.

Date night: A trio of images featured in the slideshow appeared to be from a recent date night Chopra and Jonas enjoyed in Los Angeles

Decked out: She included a selfie of the couple posing closely at sunset, while another gave her fans a look at her patterned shirt and aviator shades

She included a selfie of the couple posing closely at sunset, while another gave her fans a look at her patterned shirt and aviator shades.

Chopra also showed off one of the delicious appetizers they dined on, which happened to be a plate of cheesy fries.

Last but not least, the Quantico star showed some love for their family's adorable rescue dogs.

Yummy: Chopra also showed off one of the delicious appetizers they dined on, which happened to be a plate of cheesy fries

Puppy love: Last but not least, the Quantico star showed some love for their family's adorable rescue dogs

They were captured sitting near one another on the floor as they chewed on their chew toys.

Earlier in the day, Chopra broke her silence about an awkward encounter she recently shared with Rosie O'Donnell.

The performer had a run-in with the comedian, 59, at Nobu restaurant in Malibu, where she was mistaken for the daughter of author Deepak Chopra.

The comedian later made a public apology through a video that was shared to her TikTok account following the incident, and she was widely criticized for her choice of words in the clip.

Speaking up: Earlier in the day, Chopra broke her silence about an awkward encounter she recently shared with Rosie O'Donnell; she is seen in 2021

Chopra responded to O'Donnell without referring to her by name through a message that was shared to her Instagram Story, and she began by expressing that she did not expect to be immediately recognized by the general public.

'I have never taken myself so seriously to think everyone would know who I am, or my work for that matter,' she said.

She then appeared to respond to the comedian's video and offered a bit of criticism regarding her perceived shortcomings.

'But if you wanted to make a public apology for a very awkward private encounter, I think probably best to take the time to google my name before doing it or even try to reach out directly,' she continued.

Expressing her feelings: Chopra responded to O'Donnell without referring to her by name through a message that was shared to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, and she began by expressing that she did not expect to be immediately recognized by the general public

Chopra added: 'We ALL deserve to be respected for our unique individuality and not to be referred to as 'someone' or 'wife' especially in a sincere apology.'

The performer went on to express that she would like to see future generations of people become more mindful of diversity-related issues.

'If we can learn to respect our differences in an authentic way, the world we our children in, will be amazing,' she wrote.

Chopra concluded by writing that her last name was more common than many people would think.

Not unexpected: Chopra concluded by writing that her last name was more common than many people would think; she is seen in 2021

'As I've said before, not all Chopra's are related to the great Deepak, just as not all Smith's are related to the legendary Will Smith,' she wrote.

O'Donnell previously took to TikTok Sunday and explained how she and her party, including her son and his girlfriend, and friend Fran Drescher, were seated next to the couple at the luxe restaurant, which is a popular haunt for celebs.

She noted that she had 'always assumed' Priyanka, 39, was the daughter of the famed author and said as much when she was socializing with her.

The latest: O'Donnell apologized to Chopra and Nick Jonas, 29, for a verbal flub she made while running into the celeb couple at Nobu Malibu

'So when I said, 'Hi, Nick Jonas. You were great in Kingdom,' and [to Priyanka,] 'Hi, I know your dad.' She goes, 'You do? Who's my dad?' And I'm like, 'Deepak.' She's like, 'No, and Chopra is a common name.' I felt so embarrassed.'

O'Donnell continued, 'Nick Jonas, I apologize and to the Chopra wife, I apologize too.'

O'Donnell caught flak from TikTok users in the comment thread for calling Priyanka 'the Chopra wife,' which O'Donnell led to make another video on Monday apologizing for the botch.

'So I'm reading the comments about my [exchange with] Nick Jonas and his wife, Priyanka Chopra, who I mistakenly thought was Deepak's daughter,' O'Donnell said.

The celebrity couple was snapped last November at The Fashion Awards in London

The talk show host detailed the embarrassing faux pas on the social media site

The entertainer said, 'Sorry, sometimes I f*** up. I did at Nobu'

O'Donnell said that while 'people thought that [Priyanka] was rude' in her response, 'She wasn't rude, it was just awkward.

'I'm sure she gets sick of that. I'm sure I'm not the only one. According to the comments, a lot of people thought that too but she's apparently a very well-known actress and more famous than him, people were saying. So I'm sure it felt weird to her, to begin with.'

O'Donnell continued, 'Anyway, Priyanka is her name. Priyanka - I hope I'm pronouncing that right.

'I just want to apologize to her and to everyone who thought that it was really inappropriate of me. Sorry, sometimes I f*** up. I did at Nobu.'

The Quantico actress and Jonas, who wed in 2018, became parents last month in welcoming a baby via surrogate

Priyanka's father Dr. Ashok Chopra died in June 2013 following a cancer battle.

The Quantico actress and Jonas, who wed in 2018, became parents last month in welcoming a baby via surrogate.

'We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate,' both said on Instagram in announcing the big news. 'We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family.'
Lara Flynn Boyle looked glamorous as she was seen on a rare public outing at Craig's restaurant in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The Twin Peaks star, 51, slipped into a orange fringed jacket and flared jeans as she smiled for the camera on her dinner date.

She wore her brunette locks in soft waves and accessorised with a snakeskin-print handbag.

There she is: Lara Flynn Boyle looked glamorous as she was seen on a rare public outing at Craig's restaurant in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The actress wore her cowboy-inspired jacket over a chic black top and wore a sparkling emerald pendant necklace.

Lara was last pictured back in May 2021 as she ran errands in LA.

Back in June last year, she gave a rare interview, as she geared up to release her first film in over five years.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Boyle - who was promoting the action drama Death in Texas - shoots down the interviewer's suggestion that it could be considered a comeback role, saying: 'I never went anywhere.'

Outing: The Twin Peaks star, 51, slipped into a orange fringed jacket and flared jeans as she smiled for the camera on her dinner date

Best known for her role as Donna Hayward in the '90s cult television series Twin Peaks, Boyle gave a refreshingly frank interview, saying that she wasn't afraid 'to look like s***' in the new film.

'It was a commitment to myself to go in with no vanity,' she says of the part. 'I was like, "Look, I'm going to look like s****. Make me look even crappier than I already would." It was selfishly, again, it was like being back in acting class.'

The actress is rumoured to have had plastic surgery over the years, often spotted out with a dramatically different look to how she is remembered on screen.

But the star says: 'I'm an actress so it's a stretch to become that selfless. [Laughs] Hello! I know! We love attention. But I was like, "Let's be raw and absolutely 100 percent not self-involved." It was a little bit of work to be that mindless and focus completely on another human being.'

Classic: Boyle is best known best known for her role as Donna Hayward in the '90s cult television series Twin Peaks (pictured above with stars Sherilyn Fenn and James Marshall

Born in Iowa, Lara moved to California to work as a child actress in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day off.

She then went on to appear in Amerika in 1987 then Dead Poets Society in 1989.

She became famous when she landed the role of Donna Hayward in Twin Peaks from 1990 until 1991.

In the 1990s she appeared in several movies including Threesome, Afterglow, then returned to TV with The Practice in 1997.

In 2002 she had luck in movies again opposite Will Smith in Men In Black II then went on to work in Huff.

But in 2005 she was back to TV with Las Vegas with Josh Duhamel and Molly Sims. In 2009 she was in Baby On Board then later in Life Is Hot In Cracktown.

Her love life has had its ups and downs. Boyle was in a relationship with Twin Peaks costar Kyle MacLachlan from 1990 to 1992.

She wed John Patrick Dee III in 1996, and divorced two years later.

Later, Boyle dated A Few Good Men actor Nicholson, who is 33 years her senior. They went public with their romance at the 1999 Emmys, and remained together until the end of 2000.

And she was linked to Just Shoot Me actor David Spade.

Boyle has been married to real estate investor Donald Ray Thomas II since 2006
They've been soaking up the sun on a fun family getaway.

And Alessandra Ambrosio and her beau Richard Lee appeared to be more loved-up than ever as they frolicked on the beach during their sunny getaway to St Barts on Wednesday.

The model, 40, offered a glimpse of her svelte physique in a plunging zig-zag kaftan as she posed up a storm on the sand.

Together: Alessandra Ambrosio and her beau Richard Lee appeared to be more loved-up than ever as they frolicked on the beach during their sunny getaway to St Barts on Wednesday

Alessandra was the picture of happiness as she shared the cheeky smooch with beau Richard while they strolled along the beach.

The pair appeared to be enjoying a photo shoot of their own as they soaked up the sunshine together.

Richard cut a casual figure in a red t-shirt and black swimming shorts as he headed out to the ocean with Alessandra.

Stunning: The model, 40, offered a glimpse of her svelte physique in a zig-zag kaftan as she posed up a storm on the sand

Beaming: Alessandra was the picture of happiness as she shared the cheeky smooch with beau Richard while they strolled along the beach

Looking good! The pair appeared to be enjoying a photo shoot of their own as they soaked up the sunshine together

Sensational: The Victoria's Secret star covered her bikini-clad figure in a colourful kaftan with an eye-catching zig-zag print

The Victoria's Secret star covered her bikini-clad figure in a colourful kaftan with an eye-catching zig-zag print.

Alessandra shares her two children Anja, 13, and Noah, nine, with her ex fiance Jamie Mazur, whom she dated from 2005 to 2018.

The former Victoria's Secret beauty seems to be forever on vacation, hitting the Caribbean island only weeks after her lengthy New Year's break in her native Brazil.

Posing up a storm: The pair appeared to be enjoying a photo shoot of their own as they soaked up the sunshine together

Chatting: After posing for the loved-up images, Alessandra was seen chatting with her male pals on the beach

Laid-back: Richard cut a casual figure in a red t-shirt and black swimming shorts as he headed out to the ocean with Alessandra

Loved-up: Alessandra is now with Lee. The pair have been romantically linked since February 2021 after they were captured going on numerous dates together in Los Angeles

Alessandra is now with Lee. The pair have been romantically linked since February 2021 after they were captured going on numerous dates together in Los Angeles.

The happy couple recently spent time in the model's native Brazil, with Richard referring to Alessandra as his official 'tour guide' on Instagram.

Prior to Richard, the supermodel was romantically linked to designer Nicolo Oddi but the pair appear to have split up sometime before December 2020.

Jetting off: The happy couple recently spent time in the model's native Brazil, with Richard referring to Alessandra as his official 'tour guide' on Instagram

Rumours: Prior to Richard, the supermodel (pictured with her pal) was romantically linked to designer Nicolo Oddi but the pair appear to have split up sometime before December 2020

Alessandra launched GAL Floripa in 2019 alongside her sister Aline Ambrosio and friend Gisele Coria, intending to 'inspire women to embrace their femininity with a holistic approach.'

The brand's name symbolizes the friendship between the three women and the location their swimwear brand was inspired by: Florianopolis - nicknamed Floripa.

'Growing up in Brazil, Gisele, Aline and I spent most of our summers together by the beach, immersed in the natural beauty of Florianopolis, known as "The Magic Island", and spending almost every moment of the day in our swimwear,' Alessandra explained in the mission statement of her brand.

'It makes sense that swimwear became like a second skin,' she added.

The Brazilian-American fashion designer and businesswoman has been very hands-on in advertising her brand, and she is often featured in its promotional materials.

Business mogul: Alessandra launched GAL Floripa in 2019, intending to 'inspire women to embrace their femininity with a holistic approach'

Important: The brand's name symbolises the friendship between the three women and the location their swimwear brand was inspired by: Florianopolis - nicknamed Floripa
Nadia Bartel gave onlookers more than they bargained for when she stripped down for an outdoor photo shoot in Melbourne on Thursday.

The 36-year-old ex-AFL WAG was seen pulling out a variety of model moves as she posed for tanning company Spray Aus at Williamstown Beach.

With little shelter available, Nadia was forced to strip off outside, giving onlookers a glimpse of her body as she changed into a variety of ensembles.

Oops: Nadia Bartel gave onlookers more than they bargained for when she stripped down for an outdoor photo shoot in Melbourne on Thursday

At one stage, Nadia stooped over and pulled on a pair of bronze bikini briefs over a cream G-string, which she wore to maintain some modesty.

She also wore a cream cardigan, with an assistant keeping watch as Nadia changed outfits for the photo shoot.

As she changed her top, Nadia stepped into some bushes and turned her back in an effort to shield her bare breasts.

Working it: The 36-year-old ex-AFL WAG was seen pulling out a variety of model moves as she posed for tanning company Spray Aus at Williamstown Beach

A shirtless jogger couldn't resist taking in the photo shoot as he ran by, with Nadia appearing unfazed by the attention.

Changing into a brown snakeskin print sundress with strategic cut-outs, Nadia held a cream-coloured sheet behind her as she posed for a series of ethereal photos.

The dress left little to the imagination with its thigh-high split and plunging neckline, with the fashion designer posing seductively.

Feeling shy: As she changed her top, Nadia stepped into some bushes and turned her back in an effort to shield her bare breasts

Revealing: The dress left little to the imagination with its thigh-high split and plunging neckline, with the fashion designer posing seductively

Ready for her close-up: Changing into a brown snakeskin print sundress with strategic cut-outs, Nadia held a cream-coloured sheet behind her as she posed for a series of ethereal photos

Nadia suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction with the split shifted over her left leg, revealing her underwear.

Seemingly oblivious, Nadia continued to pose, tucking her long blonde hair behind her ears as she stood in front of the sheet.

The fashion designer extended her arms as a photographer set up the next shot, with a team of assistants standing nearby.

Camera-ready: At one stage, Nadia put her hands to her hips and stared off into the distance, while bending one leg

Something in the hair: Seemingly oblivious to the wardrobe mishap, Nadia continued to pose, tucking her long blonde hair behind her ears as she stood in front of the sheet

Wings: The fashion designer extended her arms as a photographer set up the next shot, with a team of assistants standing nearby

Another shot saw Nadia seated on the ground, with the cardigan hanging loosely off one of her shoulders.

She rested against what appeared to be an ottoman, with her bare legs tucked underneath her.

For one photo, Nadia leant back against the sheet, which had been hung up as a backdrop.

Joking around: Nadia appeared to have enjoyed herself during the photo shoot, and was seen laughing on the makeshift set

Cold shoulder: Another shot saw Nadia seated on the ground, with her cardigan hanging loosely off one of her shoulders

Legging it: She rested against what appeared to be an ottoman, with her bare legs tucked underneath her

Nadia appeared to have enjoyed herself during the photo shoot, and was seen laughing on the makeshift set.

The Henne designer was joined by her longtime friend and business partner, Ellie Pearson, who co-owns Spray Aus.

Ellie helped her friend cover up in between photos, draping a cosy-looking black robe over Nadia's shoulders.

Trouble: Nadia and three other women were issued with Penalty Infringement Notices for breaching lockdown back in September

'Four women have been issued with Penalty Infringement Notices following a gathering at a Richmond address in contravention of the Chief Health Officer's restrictions,' a Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia at the time

'The monetary penalty for each Penalty Infringement Notice is $5,452. A fifth woman at the address was not charged as she was complying with CHO employment restrictions,' a Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia at the time

An appreciative Nadia smiled as Ellie handed her the robe, while clutching her mobile phone in one hand.

Ellie famously uploaded video footage of Nadia breaching Victoria's Covid lockdown by hosting a gathering, where she snorted a line of white powder.

Nadia and three other women were issued with Penalty Infringement Notices for breaching lockdown back in September.

Totally beige: Nadia looked all warm and cuddly as she modelled on the grass

Helping hand: The Henne designer was joined by her longtime friend and business partner, Ellie Pearson, who co-owns Spray Aus

'Four women have been issued with Penalty Infringement Notices following a gathering at a Richmond address in contravention of the Chief Health Officer's restrictions. The incident occurred at a private address on Thursday, September 2, at 4pm,' a Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

'A 36-year-old Windsor woman, a 32-year-old Richmond woman, a 33-year-old Pascoe Vale woman and a 35-year-old Strathmore woman have all been issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice for failing to comply with requirements in relation to a private or public gathering.

'The monetary penalty for each Penalty Infringement Notice is $5,452. A fifth woman at the address was not charged as she was complying with CHO employment restrictions.'

'To my family and friends, my business partners and the public health workers trying to keep us all safe, I am embarrassed and remorseful. I am truly and deeply sorry. I hope I can earn your forgiveness and, in time, your trust,' Nadia wrote on Instagram after her lockdown scandal

Slipping up: Nadia suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction with the split shifted over her left leg, revealing her underwear

Sorry: Nadia later apologised for flouting Melbourne's lockdown by hosting the illegal gathering at which she snorted a line of white powder

Nadia later apologised for flouting Melbourne's lockdown by hosting the illegal gathering at which she snorted a line of white powder.

She wrote on Instagram shortly afterwards: 'Hi everyone, I have let you all down by my actions. I take full responsibility and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure I make better choices in future.

'To my family and friends, my business partners and the public health workers trying to keep us all safe, I am embarrassed and remorseful. I am truly and deeply sorry. I hope I can earn your forgiveness and, in time, your trust.'

Enjoying the view: A shirtless jogger couldn't resist taking in the photo shoot as he ran by, with Nadia appearing unfazed by the attention

Busted: She was recorded snorting the powder off a $1.50 Kmart plate in a video mistakenly shared to Instagram by Ellie

Mistake: Ellie had meant to send the video to her sister, but due to a cracked phone screen posted it on social media by accident and didn't delete it until 10 minutes later

She was recorded snorting the powder off a $1.50 Kmart plate in a video mistakenly shared to Instagram by Ellie.

Ellie had meant to send the video to her sister, but due to a cracked phone screen posted it on social media by accident and didn't delete it until 10 minutes later.

But that was enough time for one of Nadia's 'frenemies' - an enemy who falsely poses as a friend - to download it and send the damning footage to media outlets.

Hanging around: For one photo, Nadia leant back against the sheet, which had been hung up as a backdrop

Forwarded: It was enough time for one of Nadia's 'frenemies' - an enemy who falsely poses as a friend - to download it and send the damning footage to media outlets

Losing business: In the aftermath of the scandal, Nadia was dropped by one of her sponsors, vitamin brand JSHealth, for 'not sharing the company's values'

In the aftermath of the scandal, Nadia was dropped by one of her sponsors, vitamin brand JSHealth, for 'not sharing the company's values'.

Meanwhile, lingerie brand Fine Lines appears to have distanced itself from its one-time ambassador in the wake of the scandal.

Nadia also faced trolling on social media, partly for flouting the lockdown but also for snorting the powder off a cheap Kmart plate.
She was ever the professional as she stormed the Max Mara runway.

Yet Gigi Hadid showed off her fun side as she larked around with fans after leaving the Milan Fashion Week show.

The model, 25, happily posed for snaps with crowds gathered outside while clutching a bouquet of flowers that had been given to her by fans.

Blooming lovely: Gigi Hadid clutched a bouquet of flowers as she leaves the Max Mara MFW show in eye-catching bandana print trousers

Snap happy: The model, 25, happily posed for snaps with crowds gathered outside while clutching a bouquet of flowers that had been given to her by fans

The supermodel, turned heads in a pair of eye catching green bandana print trousers complete with matching trainers.

A simple alabaster sweater and black over shirt to contrast the print completed the look, and the star tied her long blonde hair back in a relaxed braid.

Waving to cameras, the mum of Khai Hadid Malik, 17 month old, who she shares with former boyfriend Zayn Malik, hid her face behind a mask and chic tortoise shell sunglasses.

Gigi's sister Bella, 25, was also seen leaving the building clad in a white vest and black courdroy mini skirt.

Chirpy: Gigi's fans were delighted as she came over for a photograph with them

High spirits: The model was seen waving at fans as she made her way through the crowd

Mobbed: Gigi's presence attracted plenty of attention as she made her way down the street

Shady lady: Gigi donned a pair of Dior shades and wrapped a jacket over her shoulders

Posing up a storm: Gigi pulled her best poses as fans watched over her

Loving life: Gigi beamed as she headed home from the show

Stylish: Gigi's sister Bella, 25, was also seen leaving the building clad in a white vest and black courdroy mini skirt

Two's company: Bella left the show alongside boyfriend Marc Kalman

Gigi, who has worked many times with the Italian brand, modelled a long black wool coat over a floor length padded dress.

The blonde beauty strutted her stuff in the unique outfit, complete with a cowl neck and zip detail. Simple make up, a nude lip, her hair scarped back tightly from her face.

Despite her trademark intense look as she made her way down the runway, Gigi couldn't help but then smile for the cameras.

Strutting her stuff: Gigi, who has worked many times with the Italian brand Max Mara, modelled a long black wool coat over a floor length padded dress before closing the show

Supermodel good looks: The blonde beauty strutted her stuff in the unique outfit, complete with a cowl neck and zip detail.

Strutting her stuff: This comes as the model announced last month a surprise career change, as she takes on her first big TV presenting role

This comes as the Guess model announced last month a surprise career change, as she takes on her first big TV presenting role.

The star announced that she would be joining friend and Queer Eye star, Tan France, 38, to present Netflix's Next In Fashion's second season, replacing Alexa Chung, 38.

Despite the show originally being cancelled after just one season, the streaming service took to twitter to make the surprise announcement.

Green with envy: Gigi looked effortlessly stylish as she arrived at the show earlier in the day

All masked up: The mum of Khai Hadid Malik, 17 month old, who she shares with former boyfriend Zayn Malik, hid her face hidden behind a mask and chic tortoise shell sunglasses

"Next in fashion is coming back - this season with @TanFrance's co host will be the iconic @GigiHadid!".

The show where budding fashion designers compete for the grand prize, won't be Gigi's first time. The star was a guest judge on similar reality show Project Runway.

While there has been no official statement on why Chung won't return, Tan is over joyed by his new co host. Writing on twitter "Can't wait to work with my love @gigihadid".

Firm friends: Gigi and friend and Queer Eye star Tan France announced they were to present Netflix show First In Fashion together
Christine Quinn looked typically stylish as she attended a glitzy Frida Mom event held at Kathy Hilton's estate in LA on Wednesday.

The Selling Sunset star, 33, exuded elegance in a strapless blue, white and pink floral dress, which cinched in at her toned waist and teased a glimpse of her cleavage.

The dress flared out into a layered tulle skirt and was paired with pink stiletto heels.

Wow: Christine Quinn looked typically stylish as she attended a glitzy Frida Mom event held at Kathy Hilton's estate in LA on Wednesday

The beauty layered up in a pink fluffy coat and she accessorised with a candyfloss hued handbag.

Her tresses were styled sleek and straight and she sported a rich palette of make-up.

Christine is married to retired tech entrepreneur Christian Richard with whom she welcomed a baby son called Christian last May.

Just as Christine finished filming a season of Selling Sunset her water broke and she had an emergency cesarean.

Chic: The Selling Sunset star, 33, exuded elegance in a strapless blue, white and pink floral dress, which cinched in at her toned waist and teased a glimpse of her cleavage

Group: The star posed with Meghan Trainor, Cassie and Sharna Burgess

Shortly afterward she joked to People: 'Let's just say he was born with good taste. He has a closet filled with designer outfits that I cannot wait to dress him in!'

However she recently gave an interview to ET Canada where she frankly discussed having postpartum depression on the set of Selling Sunset.

To make matters worse, the show was edited to hide her pregnancy and Christine had to cope with blowback from viewers as a result.

They edited me from you know, the boobs up so I got a lot of backlash on social media saying: 'I can't believe you're doing yoga two weeks after giving birth after having an emergency C-section,'' she said.

'My process was not easy by any means and on TV, they make it look easy. But I was I was struggling in real life. I really was.'

Meanwhile she said she was treated in an 'extremely hurtful' way by her co-stars despite being 'absolutely' open with them and the producers about her troubles.

'They make fun of the fact of me being late in the show. 'Oh, Christine's late. Oh, Christine's late,'' she told the outlet.

'And it's because I was literally having panic attacks and I was worried about my pregnancy and something going wrong because every time I was working, I was walking into work. It was a lion's den and these girls were pitted against me. And it was really, really difficult.'
She has been soaking up the sunshine with fiance Matthew Sarsfield and their thirteen-month-old son Noah in Dubai for almost two weeks.

And Charlotte Dawson showed off her incredible figure in a stunning playsuit on Wednesday as she continued to fill her followers in on her holiday fun.

The TV star, 29, looked nothing short of sensational in the short bustier styled ensemble as she posed for snaps, showcasing her recent three stone weight loss.

Impressive: Charlotte Dawson showed off her incredible figure in a stunning playsuit on Wednesday as she continued to fill her followers with envy on her getaway

Charlotte looked flawless in the flattering frilly coral number which showed off her ample cleavage and toned legs.

She styled the figure-hugging piece with a pair of gold wedges that elevated her already impressively long legs, and wore her brunette locks in a blown out style.

She donned a full face of make-up as she posed confidently while toting her belongings in a classic quilted Chanel shoulder bag.

Vacation: Charlotte has been soaking up the sunshine with fiance Matthew Sarsfield and their thirteen-month-old son Noah in Dubai for almost two weeks

Charlotte has been keeping her 1.3 million followers up to date on her lavish holiday ever since she touched down in the UAE.

Adding to her latest album, she shared some intimate shots of her fiance Matthew and son Noah, along with some girlfriends who made an appearance on her impressive grid.

Captioning her latest post, Charlotte described just how much she loved the sunshine destination.

Wow: The TV star, 29, looked nothing short of sensational in the short bustier styled ensemble

She wrote: 'I just love it here.. especially the chuffin brunches!!!

'Bloody chuffin hell, had a ball on Saturday at the @familybrunchdubai @intothejungledubai at @palazzoversacedubai was such a perfect day & Noah loved it.

'Best day for families, loads to do for the kids & the adults can get drunk winner winner chuffin chicken dinner.

'Thank you @djchriswright for a beltin day.'

I'm lovin' it! Captioning her latest post, Charlotte described just how much she loved the sunshine destination.

Amazing: Charlotte looked flawless in the flattering frilly coral number which showed off her ample cleavage and toned legs after losing three stone

We are family: Adding to her latest album, she shared some intimate shots of her fiance Matthew and their thirteen-month-old son Noah

BFF: She shared some shots with her girlfriends who made an appearance on her impressive grid

Stunners: Charlotte has been keeping her 1.3 million followers up to date on her lavish holiday ever since she touched down in the UAE

Happy: The 14-month-old was on his best behaviour during the trip

Cute: Charlotte's son Noah appeared to be loving his first family holiday

On Sunday, the reality star shared two side-by-side clips, one from when she had lost a stone and the other taken recently.

Charlotte showed off her impressive postpartum figure in a neon bikini and a pink cowboy hat.

The daughter of late comedy legend Les Dawson who has been updating fans regularly online with a slew of before and after images showcasing her incredible transformation.

fun: Charlotte took to her Instagram account on Sunday to show off her impressive post-baby weight loss

In her post, the reality star larks about while dancing to Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun while promoting her recently-launched fitness platform.

Opening up about how why she chooses to a giggle over the gym, the brunette beauty posted:

'Yee Haa! Who fancies a hoedown with Chazza?!

Giggle: The daughter of late comedy legend Les Dawson who has been updating fans regularly online with a slew of before and after images showcasing her incredible transformation

'You can saddle up and get sweateh doing fun dancey routines like this country one on my beltin Belleh Blaster fitness plan.

'By the way dont be fooled, this isnt a Before and After - that video on the left was filmed when Id already lost over a stone of timber.

'So it was about half way through my journey to health.

Journey: Opening up about how why she chooses to a giggle over the gym, the brunette beauty penned an honest post

'Id have had to sit down after a minute when I started but honestly for someone who hates working out like me this was a Godsend because it was a real laff so it didnt ever feel like hard work.

'Whats not to like about that ffs?!

'Have a jig about, have a giggle while you jiggle and burn off some belleh jelleh!

'If you fancy it, dont forget our 50% OFF SALE ends tomorrow so grab it while you can my darlings. You know you want to! Just CLICK the LINK in my BIO.'
Alice Evans was seen heading out to a drive-through ATM in Los Angeles on Tuesday, after requesting full custody of her daughters from ex Ioan Gruffudd.

The actress, 53, jumped behind the wheel of her car before heading out alone, days after sharing a rambling Instagram video apologising to her followers for being absent from her video-sharing website Cameo.

It comes after Alice requested full custody of her children with Ioan Gruffudd, from whom he split in 2021, just days after he filed for a restraining order against her.

Out and about: Alice Evans was seen heading out to a drive-through ATM in Los Angeles on Tuesday, after requesting full custody of her daughters from ex Ioan Gruffudd

Alice was makeup free as she climbed into her car to pick up some cash from the ATM machine.

Just days earlier the star took to social media to issue a rambling apology for being absent on video-sharing website Cameo.

Alice explained to her 846,000 followers that she put Cameo requests on hold after giving herself an 'embarrassing' black eye after 'flying across my backyard and landing my head on the steps'.

Going on a ride: The actress jumped behind the wheel of her car before heading out alone, after her ex Ioan filed a restraining order against her

Where are you going? Alice was makeup free as she climbed into her car to pick up some cash from the ATM machine

Apology: Taking to Instagram on Monday, Alice Evans issued a rambling apology for being absent on Cameo after giving herself an 'embarrassing' black eye

In the video, Alice could be seen rocking a blue and white top worn over a black bikini and completed her look with red lipstick and shades.

She said: 'Hello there! I'm going to make a shortest Alice Evans video in the world. I want to apologise to everybody for my Cameo lack of appearances and your requests expiring. I love doing it.'

She explained: 'I had a rather embarrassing black eye, which the story is quite funny... I did fly across my back yard onto the step and landed with my head on the step...

'Anyway, sorry I said I wouldn't ramble. In the comments some people are saying "enough of the red lipstick." I know! The red lipstick drives me insane, but my teeth are green for three years of not seeing a dentist...

Alice added: 'My Cameo is going to be up and running again this afternoon. I'm going to catch up. If your request expired and you don't hate me by now, please request another one and I promise you I'll do the bestest, bestest, bestest ever.'

Explanation: The actress, 53, took to Instagram on Monday to post a video to tell her fans that her account would 'be up and running again this afternoon'

Ouch: Alice previously showed off her painful looking black eye

Alongside the video, Alice penned: 'Shortest video didnt quite happen. BUT my Cameo will be back up and running this afternoon!

'Didnt quite explain in the video but red lipstick makes your teeth look less tea-stained. I have those really porous teeth that turn the color of almost anything you eat. And I drink four cups of tea a day at least..'

She continued: '(Crest Whitestrips are a marvelous stop-gap though, now Im on the subject) My wonderful dentist is Rachel Marmor. DMD she is not only the best but also the kindest.

'Love to you all and PLEASE dont take it personally if your Cameo request ran out. ( They actually froze my account this morning because I had gotten so behind. I felt like I was in detention or something. Thank you Cameo for giving me the kick up the rear end I badly needed! )'

Lippy: In the video, Alice could be seen rocking a blue and white top worn over a black bikini and completed her look with red lipstick and shades

It comes after Alice requested full custody of her children with Ioan Gruffudd.

Just days after Ioan, 48, filed a restraining order against his estranged wife she applied for legal and physical custody of their daughters Ella, 12 and Elsie, eight.

In court documents obtained by People, the actress asked that visitation rights be granted to Ioan.

Escalating: Alice is requesting custody of her daughters Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, with her estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd... after he filed a restraining order

She is also requesting 'spousal support, termination of the court's ability to award spousal support to Gruffudd, and for her attorney fees to be paid by her estranged husband', while citing 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split.

The 102 Dalmatians star has asked the court to determine the rights to their family home in Los Angeles.

Alice and Ioan's representatives have been contacted for comment by MailOnline.

It comes after the actress laid into his new girlfriend Bianca Wallace in a series of abusive texts, calling her a 'vixen' and telling him she has 'your nuts stuck in her veneers' - according to a bombshell court filing.

Happier times: Just days after Ioan, 48, filed a restraining order against her, 53, Alice applied for legal and physical custody of their daughters Ella, 12 (left) and Elsie, eight (right)

Shock: The 102 Dalmatians star has asked the court to determine the rights to their family home in Los Angeles (L-R: Elsie and Ella)

The Welsh actor submitted 113 pages of abusive text messages, emails and social media posts as he applied for a restraining order against his ex on Tuesday, claiming she threatened to do to him 'what Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp' and paint him as a drug-addicted abuser.

Ioan had been married to Alice for 14 years before he filed for divorce in March.

Their messy split centres around his new relationship with Bianca. Ioan was seen sporting a cap with the letter 'B' on it on Wednesday, in a possible show of support for his girlfriend.

In his court filing, Ioan claims he told Alice he wanted out of the marriage in August 2020 and since then, she has harassed him with hundreds of unanswered text messages, abusive emails and social media posts - many of which he included in the filing.

Back then: In court documents, the actress asked that visitation rights be granted to Ioan

'If you throw me out of the house, I will call all the tabloids in the UK. There is NO going back now though. I just think you should know what you've gotten yourself into. You think you have a bad reputation now? Lol! You think once it's over I will stop talking? I am going to dedicate the rest of my life to spreading awareness of what you have done,' she said in one text.

She went on to allege that he'd told her of times castmates bought cocaine, and that he never gave her sexual pleasure. 'Your face and body now look hideous to me. I am starting on dating apps...,' one text read, while in another she writes: 'I have no idea why the hell I fell in love with you.'

At other times she appears apologetic, writing: 'I'm sorry I sent ranting texts last night, I'll try really hard not to do it any more.' But the messages quickly revert again to being abusive, but then quickly flips back to insulting him.

In a written statement, Ioan claims she verbally threatened to tell the media he had abused her and do 'what Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp'.

Family drama: She is also requesting 'spousal support, termination of the court's ability to award spousal support to Gruffudd'

'Alice told me verbally multiple times that she would do to me what Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp.

'Alice threatened to tell people I had abused her and our daughters; she threatened to call the police on me if I did not comply with her demands; she threatened to tell people I am a drug addict and put me in prison; she threatened to write a fake diary that reflected an abused victim, and to have the diary published; and she threatened to destroy my mother.

'Alice told me she would win, and everyone would believe her over me,' Gruffudd said.

In her response in court, Alice said she had 'never threatened' him with slanderous statements or harassed him. Her representatives have not responded to requests for comment about the texts and emails contained in the lawsuit.

New woman: Ioan had been married to Alice for 14 years before he filed for divorce in March. Their messy split centres around his new relationship with Bianca Wallace (pictured)

In the declaration, Ioan goes on to claim Alice had already made 'false and harassing' posts about him on social media', as well as sending 'hundreds' of abusive emails, texts and video calls.

Dozens of messages were included in the court documents, in which Alice appeared to criticize the star for not working.

'It' embarrassing now that everybody is telling me you are done. That nobody wants to [employ] you. That Dom West is at the top of the lists because he 'did the right thing'. And by the way it doesn't matter what is really going on in the relationship, for god's sake. It's about appearances. Jesus Christ think of Cary grant and Rock Hudson.

'Why on EARTH do you think Tom Cruise and John Travolta went to such extents? I'm increasingly angry that you have sabotaged your career. Insanely angry. I GAVE UP my career for this.

Bombshell: Texts from Alice to Ioan include many about their kids, custody agreements and her ranting about other portions of their lives

At odds: In her court filing, Alice said she that had never 'threatened or harassed' Ioan. Her attorneys and reps have not commented on the texts that were submitted

'And you throw it away because you feel a stronger connection to [your parents] than you do to your own brethren? It's just o confusing. . . You KNOW your Mum is a mental case. Why on earth do you want to give up everything we've established for the sake of somebody who doesn't even love you?'

She added: 'Your face and body now look hideous to me. I am starting on dating apps ( not had the balls to actually go live yet) because I want to find a man who really loves me after being deprived of that for 20 whole years.

'I am convinced I still have time, and my personality will shine through. I have no idea why the hell I fell in love with you. Biggest mistake if my life. ( except for the kids)'

The actor claimed she had also turned on his new girlfriend, Bianca, such as by publishing private information about her.

He continued: 'It was extremely upsetting and stressful for me to continuously receive these types of hostile and aggressive text messages from Alice. On July 22, 2021, I blocked Alice's phone number on my phone.'

Serious: Alice is also requesting 'for her attorney fees to be paid by her estranged husband', while citing 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split

One of the examples appeared to show Alice saying: 'Dude your film with Bianca is the most embarrassing thing I have EVER seen in Deadline. . . You have left a family you were providing for. You had SPECIFICALLY asked this loving family to wait for you while you worked abroad. We did.

'Then you met the most psychopathic succubus ever minnow to man, and fell for her. even Prince Harry... whatever. No NO NO NO nO.

'Find some financing then make whatever film you want. But don't take away everything you have because some vixen has your nuts between her veneers. PS: There is already betting on how long until she leaves you! PROPER BETTING! Now THAT'S famous.'

Alice rejected all the claims made by Ioan in the restraining order application.

She wrote: 'I believe that Petitioner is filing this request merely as a ploy to gain some sort of advantage over me in our divorce proceedings.

Eek! It comes after she laid into his new girlfriend in a series of abusive texts, calling her a 'vixen' and telling him she has 'your nuts stuck in her veneers' - according to a bombshell court filing (Alice and Ioan pictured in 2016)

Hollywood carcrash: Amber Heard publicly accused Johnny Depp of beating her and emotionally abusing her during their marriage (pictured in 2015)

'As Petitioner has not seen our children for over 8 months, I believe he is trying to set some type of record that I am a horrible mother.'

Alice and Ioan confirmed their split in a series of furious tweets posted in January 2021.

She has since documented every toxic turn in their subsequent divorce proceedings across social media, and repeatedly slated him for being in a relationship with Bianca Wallace.

Gruffudd and Alice's lawyers are due in court on March 11 for a hearing on the restraining order.
ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus claimed he was having sex 'four times a week' with Lina, his wife of 41 years  just months before announcing their split, MailOnline can reveal.

The music superstar's shock break-up with Lena, 73, was confirmed via a joint statement yesterday, much to the disbelief of the legendary group's fans.

But Bjorn hinted the pair clashed while quarantining in Sweden during a rare insight into their marriage, which included his boast about his sexual prowess.

Asked 'how often he has sex?', the Swede responded: 'I'm 75 and I can't manage more than four times a week.'

Insight: ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus claimed he was having sex 'four times a week' with Lina, his wife of 41 years  just months before announcing their split, MailOnline can reveal (pictured in 2014)

But when quizzed on his 'most annoying habit', Bjorn replied: 'If you ask my wife, it would probably be my habit of walking around in a bathrobe all day long during our corona self-isolation.'

Bjorn, now 76 and worth an estimated 233million, made the admission to the Guardian 20 months before the couple, who share two daughters Emma, 40, and Anna, 35, confirmed their separation.

The pair isolated in their home on a private island in Djursholm, a district of Stockholm, Sweden, and had to be extra vigilant due to Lena's long-running battle with cancer.

The former music journalist was diagnosed with lymphatic leukaemia in 2003 and the initial prognoses sparked huge concern, fearing the former music journalist may only have 'years to live.'

Separating: The music superstar's shock break-up with Lena was confirmed via a joint statement yesterday, much to the disbelief of the legendary group's fans (pictured in 2005)

Throwback: Bjorn and Lena insist they intend to remain 'close friends' but did not confirm whether or not they will divorce, which could spark a squabble over Bjorn's huge wealth (pictured in 2008)

But thankfully her illness is slow and non-aggressive, making it more likely she will 'die of something else.'

Speaking about life in isolation in April 2020, Bjorn said: 'My wife wears rubber gloves and a face mask when she goes to the shop close by, and she keeps her distance to others. That's all we do.

'Sometimes our children and grandchildren come to visit, but then we stay on the porch.'

Their break-up also comes just months after ABBA released their first new music in four decades, Voyage, which sparked Bjorn's reunion with his ex-wife and band-mate Agnetha Faltskog.

Reunion: Their split comes months after ABBA released their first new music in four decades, Voyage, which sparked Bjorn's reunion with his ex-wife and band-mate Agnetha Faltskog

The former couple, who have two children Linda, 48, and Peter, 44, married in 1971 but split eight years later at the height of ABBA's fame.

Speaking in September 2019, Bjorn admitted the band's comeback had 'strengthened the bond' between them, likewise band-mates Benny Anderson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who were also previously married.

Bjorn began dating Lena shortly after his split with Agnetha, meeting at a New Year's Eve party held by Benny and Anni-Frid, causing his bandmate much distress.

However, their relationship outlasted Bjorn and Agnetha's by over three decades.

Bjorn and Lena insist they intend to remain 'close friends' but did not confirm in their statement whether or not they will divorce, which could spark a squabble over Bjorn's huge wealth.

The joint statement read: 'After many wonderful and eventful years, we have decided to go our separate ways.

'We remain close friends and will continue to celebrate our grandchildren's birthdays and other family holidays together.'
He's just received his second Oscar nomination.

And Benedict Cumberbatch couldn't look happier as he attended a private screening of his new Netflix film The Power of the Dog at London's Soho House Wednesday night.

The actor who stars alongside Kristen Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee, has been nominated for Best Actor for his role in the movie.

Oscar Buzz: Benedict Cumberbatch couldn't look happier as he attended a private screening of his new movie The Power Of The Dog in London's Soho House on Wednesday night

The Sherlock actor cut a casual figure in a navy wool suit, checked shirt and grey jumper with picture detail for the screening.

In the psychological drama Benedict plays a secretive and cruel rancher who's brother brings home his new wife and her son to the families 1920s Montana ranch.

The Power Of The Dog landed nominations for Best Actress, Achievement in Sound, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Best Actor, Director and Best Picture.

Benedict chatted to the audience before the screening alongside the evening's host Novelist Anthony Horowitz.

Hollywood heartthrob: The actor who stars along side Kristen Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee, has been nominated for best actor for his role in the movie

Chatting away: Benedict chatted to the host of the evening at The Soho House novelist Anthony Horowitz

Star Power: Benedict spoke to the small audience before the screening of his new Netflix movie began

Jane Campion, the movie's director is the first woman to ever be nominated twice for Best Director, following her nod for 1993's The Piano. Last year, Chloe Zhao became the second woman to ever win the award.

The actor was previously nominated back in 2014 for his role in the war time movie The Imitation Game, only to lose to Eddie Redmayne for as Stephen Hawkins in The Theory Of Everything.

The movies awards buzz comes after the star recently made headlines when he questioned why Netflix only showed the movie in cinemas for two weeks before it was streamed online.



Movie magic: In the movie Benedict plays a secretive and cruel rancher who's brother brings home his new wife and her son to the families 1920s Montana ranch

He told Vanity Fair 'If I'm in the belly of the beast, then surely I can start asking questions of it.'

Prior to its cinematic release, the Jane Campion directed Western psychological film had screened exclusively at film festivals around in September, including the Venice International Film Festival, London Film Festival and other prestigious festivals including Toronto, Zurich and Montclair.

He went on to give a public message for Netflix bosses, stating: 'This is for Scott [Stuber] and Ted [Sarandos] and everyone who runs Netflix: Could you not afford to have a longer theatrical release?'

The Doctor Strange star then reflected: 'Maybe not. I don't know. I'm positioning this as a question publicly in Vanity Fair. I haven't actually had this conversation with them, but I would and I will.'
Days after her ex-husband Brad Pitt filed a lawsuit against her for selling her share of a jointly owned estate and winery to a Russian businessman, Angelina Jolie was in need of a reset.

The 46-year-old A-list actress took to Instagram on Thursday morning to share a sweet snap of herself smiling alongside 15-year-old daughter Shiloh in Cambodia.

Jolie grinned from ear-to-ear as she gazed down and placed her hand over her heart and explained in the caption that being around the people in the Southeast Asian nation always picks up her spirits.

Bonding time: Angelina Jolie took to Instagram on Thursday morning to share a sweet snap of herself smiling alongside 15-year-old daughter Shiloh in Cambodia

She wrote to her 12.3million followers: 'A few days in Cambodia among the warm local people, and I feel my soul is recovering. This has always been a special country for me and our family.'

Jolie's family has strong ties to the country as she adopted eldest child Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, 20, from the country and even founded a non-profit charity organization dedicated to environmental security, improving health, and creating peace and stability in all communities in his name called the Maddox Jolie-Pitt (MJP) Foundation.

She also shared an image of herself during a meeting with men in both business and military attire and also addressed the image in the caption as she wrote: 'Happy to be reunited with friends and colleagues at MJP Foundation in Samlot district.

The 46-year-old star also shared an image of herself during a meeting with men in both business and military attire and also addressed the image in the caption as she wrote: 'Happy to be reunited with friends and colleagues at MJP Foundation in Samlot district'

She wrote to her 12.3million followers: 'A few days in Cambodia among the warm local people, and I feel my soul is recovering. This has always been a special country for me and our family'

'The entirely local team runs programs for health and education and conservation. I spent some time with forest rangers discussing land encroachment, poaching and mapping patrol routes.'

Angelina first witnessed the effects of the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Cambodia while filming 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

She later bought a home in the country in 2003 in order to connect son Maddox with his heritage in an area which had become infiltrated with poachers and threatened endangered species so she purchased it and turned it into a wildlife reserve paving the way for the MJP foundation.

In recognition of her conservation efforts King Norodom Sihamoni awarded her Cambodian citizenship on July 31, 2005.

Family: Jolie was joined by her children, Shiloh, Zahara, Vivienne, Maddox, and Knox at the London premiere of Eternals at the BFI IMAX Waterloo in London back in October

Her Instagram post comes days after ex-husband Pitt, 58, filed a lawsuit against Jolie after she offloaded her share of the French estate Chateau Miraval the Correns, France winery to Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler.

Shefler is the owner of S.P.I. Group which produces and sells more than 300 brands of alcohol including Stolichnaya vodka and he has a net worth of around $2.5 billion, according to Forbes.

Brad said in court documents he and Jolie initially purchased the winery in 2008 for $28.4 million, at which time she put down about 40 percent of the funding (about $11.36 million).

At war: Brad Pitt, 58, is suing his ex-wife Jolie for selling her share of a jointly owned estate and winery to a Russian businessman

Pitt said in court docs that he and Jolie initially purchased the winery in 2008 (pictured in 2008) for $28.4 million

Brad now wants a judge to order Angelina to undo the deal after Tenute del Mondo, controlled by Yuri, with court documents claiming she completed the sale of her 50 percent stake 'without his knowledge'.

Jolie sold her share to Russian businessman Yuri Shefler (pictured), who is the owner of S.P.I. Group which produces and sells over 300 alcohol brands including Stolichnaya vodka

The Fight Club actor told the court he and Jolie had agreed they would not sell off their interest in the winery without the consent of the other party.

He said he put far more work and funding into the winery to make it profitable, and by 2013 she hadn't matched his efforts on either front.

In court documents filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, and obtained by the New York Post's Page Six column, reads: 'Jolie consummated the purported sale without Pitt's knowledge, denying Pitt the consent right she owed him and the right of first refusal her business entity owed his.

'She sold her interest with the knowledge and intention that Shefler and his affiliates would seek to control the business to which Pitt had devoted himself and to undermine Pitt's investment in Miraval.'

Jolie informed the court that she intended to sell her share of the winery in July of 2021, Brad said in legal documents, adding in September of 2021 he consented to letting the Lara Croft actress seek out a buyer who he would have approval rights on.

At the time, her firm and her former husband's own Bongo LLC were equal shareholders in a Luxembourg company that had ownership interests in the Chateau Miraval estate in France, and a winery business branded as SNC Miraval Provence.

Pitt told the court Shefler's involvement has been detrimental to his ability to efficiently run the winery, which is located in Correns, France

The actor told the court he learned in October of 2021 Jolie had sold her share to Shefler's organization, and did not seek his approval or the deal or disclose the terms to him, against what they had previously agreed to.

The former couple produced their feted 2014 Miraval Rose wine at the winery

He also said Shefler's involvement has been detrimental to his ability to efficiently run the winery.

In the suit, his team argues: 'The purported sale deprives Pitt of his right to enjoy his private home and to oversee the business he developed from scratch.'

A source close to Brad told TMZ his ex-wife disregarded 'her legal and ethical obligations' in selling her share to Shefler, and 'in doing so, she has violated the rights of the only person who poured money and sweat equity into the success of the business by purporting to sell both the business and family home to a third-party competitor.'

Angelina 'is seeking a return on an investment she did not make and profits she did not earn,' the insider said.

The former Hollywood couple, who wed in 2014 and split in 2016, have been entangled in the legal system amid battles on multiple issues over the past five years-plus.

Last May, Brad was awarded joint custody of their minor children, Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15, and Vivienne and Knox, 13. They are also parents to Maddox, 20.

Brad and Angelina met and by their own admission 'fell in love' while filming Mr and Mrs Smith in the summer of 2004 while he was still married to Jennifer Aniston.

After a controversial start, they quickly became Hollywood's golden power couple and quickly grew their family.

They eventually married in 2014 at their Chateau Miraval in France in front of all six of their children.

But by August 2016, their high-profile romance had collapse and Angelina filed for divorce and requested primary custody of their children, marking the beginning of the long and ugly legal war.

In 2019, Pitt revealed that he turned to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) after his split from Angelina because his drinking had got out of control.
She revealed earlier this month that she is expecting her first child with husband Riyad Mahrez.

And Taylor Ward looked nothing short of sensational as she attended the launch of Primark's new denim collection at their London showroom on Thursday.

The model cut a casual figure for the outing as she donned a black top along with a light blue pair of jeans.

Radiant: Taylor Ward looked nothing short of sensational as she attended the launch of Primark's new denim collection at their London showroom on Thursday

Taylor also wore a black blazer which she paired with a dark grey printed handbag and black and white trainers.

Wearing her blonde locks in a poker straight style, the star completed her look with a pair of gold earrings.

Also in attendance at the event was Helen Flanagan who looked radiant in a black blouse with a blue floral print.

The former Coronation Street star also wore a pair of black trousers and added height to her frame with blue heels.

Outfit: The model cut a casual figure for the outing as she donned a black top along with a light blue pair of jeans

Looking good: Wearing her blonde locks in a poker straight style, the star completed her look with gold earrings (pictured with Joanna Chimonides, left, and Kady McDermott, right)

Helen posed for a snap alongside Georgia May Foote who opted for a double denim look with a blue jacket and matching jeans.

The actress also sported a dark grey sleeveless top which she paired with open-toed heels and a light blue handbag.

Also wearing a pair of hoop earrings, Georgia let her brunette tresses fall loose down her shoulders.

Lisa Snowden cut a trendy figure for the event in a white blouse with a floral print which she wore with dark blue jeans.

Fashion: Also in attendance at the event was Helen Flanagan who looked radiant in a black blouse with a blue floral print

Stunning: Georgia May Foote opted for a double denim look with a blue jacket and matching jeans

Pose: The former Coronation Street star also wore a pair of black trousers and added height to her frame with blue heels

Sensational: Lisa Snowden cut a trendy figure for the event in a white blouse with a floral print

The former Britain's Next Top Model host also donned a black coat along with a matching pair of boots.

Joanna Chimonides showcased her incredible figure in a black crop top which she paired with matching jeans.

The reality star wrapped in a black blazer and completed her outfit with a matching bag and white trainers.

Rounding out the attendees was Kady McDerrmott who donned a denim jacket along with a matching mini skirt.

Pals: Helen styled her blonde locks into a sleek updo for the event

Beauty: Rounding out the attendees was Kady McDerrmott who donned a denim jacket along with a matching mini skirt

Pals: Kady appeared in good spirits as she caught up with fellow Love Islander Joanna Chimonides

On trend: Joanna showcased her incredible figure in a black crop top which she paired with matching jeans

Pose: Kady added to her outfit with a black top and matching tights

Adding height to her frame with a pair of black boots, the former Love Island star also wore matching tights and a black top.

Earlier this month, Taylor took to Instagram to share her and Riyad's happy baby news from the Maldives, sharing a snap of them on the beach holding up a string of ultrasound pictures, while Riyad cradled Taylor's baby bump.

Taylor, who is the daughter of Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Dawn Ward, showed off her blossoming bump in a white swimsuit, as she beamed from ear to ear.

Captioning the joyous photo, Taylor sweetly wrote: 'Where life begins and love never ends..'

All smiles: The former Britain's Next Top Model host also donned a black coat along with a matching pair of boots

It comes after it was announced last month that Taylor 'secretly married' Riyad late last year after he previously proposed in July with a 400,000 engagement ring.

The couple wed at a Muslim ceremony known as the Nikah and signed a contract to ensure they were legally married under Islamic law, The Sun reports.

Taylor confirmed she had married Riyad in an Instagram Story posted in January, revealing the couple were now planning another ceremony in the UK to make their marriage legal back home.

The sportsman popped the question during the couple's luxury summer trip to Mykonos with their family and friends.
Stacey Solomon has replaced Tom Allen as host of Bake Off: The Professionals.

The TV personality will co-host with The Great British Bake Off's Liam Charles, while judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden will also be returning.

Speaking about her new role in an Instagram video, the Loose Women star, 32, quipped that she just 'eats cake all day'.

New role: Stacey Solomon will host Bake Off: The Professionals with Liam Charles (2R) while judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden will also be returning

She revealed: 'I was so excited when they asked. It's been so much fun, everyone is so lovely.

'I just count them in, say "ready steady go" and then I just eat cake all day! It's such a cool job. I love it so much and I'm just so excited. I can't wait to film the rest of it and I can't wait for you to see it.'

She penned: 'I honestly can't believe it. Love you all so so much I don't think I'd get the chance to do any of these amazing things without your support and kindness so THANK YOU for being the best insta family anyone could wish for [sic]'.

Moving on: Stacey's new role comes after Tom Allen stepped down the show following three years as host with the comedian saying he 'couldn't think of a better' replacement

The official Bake Off Twitter account announced the news alongside a picture of the new line-up.

They captioned the snap: 'Choux la la! We're chuffed to announce that @StaceySolomon will be joining @LiamCBakes, @BenoitBlin_MCA and @Cherish_Finden for the next series of Bake Off: The Professionals. Welcome to the petit fours-ome, Stacey! #GBBO.'

Stacey's new role comes after Tom stepped down the show following three years as host.

Great job! Speaking about her new role in an Instagram video, the Loose Women star, 32, quipped that she just 'eats cake all day'

Speaking about his exit, Tom said: 'Ive had the best time co-hosting The Professionals down in Sussex with my wonderful friend Liam but now is the time to move on.

'Stacey Solomon you are going to be absolutely amazing I cant think of anyone better to be doing it!

'It was my first tv presenting job back in 2018 and it has taught me so much - thanks to the amazing team with whom Ive loved working, all the incredible chefs and most of all Benoit, Cherish and of course the brilliant Liam. Have a great series you guys!! X'

Bake Off: The Professionals sees six teams from top hotels, restaurants and small businesses who battle it out for their place in the competition. The series will air later this year on Channel 4.
Beloved impersonator Donny Davis 'may have died as a result of foul play' according to a new police report, which was obtained by TMZ.

On Tuesday, the comedian - who frequently appeared on Chelsea Handler's show Chelsea Lately and was beloved by Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus - was found dead inside a room at the Resorts World hotel.

New details about Davis' death, according to Las Vegas police, reveal he reportedly hung out at Dawg House bar around 1 a.m. with another man and two women.

Shock death: Beloved comedian Donny Davis 'may have died as a result of foul play' on Tuesday according to a new police report, obtained by TMZ

The group reportedly later headed to get drinks at the Flamingo, before returning to his hotel at Resort World around 2:30 a.m.

One of the women, according to TMZ, said Davis was denied alcohol at their final destination as he was 'too intoxicated.'

Still, Davis and his male acquaintance are said to have gone back to the star's room at 3:30 a.m, where they stayed for nearly an hour.

Rest in peace: Davis, who passed at 43, was beloved by Britney Spears, Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus

When they returned, at 5 a.m., they detected Davis' hands looking pale and turning purple as he sat in a chair.

One of the women claimed his hands were 'freezing' and Davis was no longer breathing, which prompted them to call security, who phoned 911.

Authorities responded to the hotel on the south end of the strip just after 6 a.m., according to a local 8 News Now report.

What happened? New details about Davis' death, according to Las Vegas police, reveal he was reportedly hung out at Dawg House bar around 1 a.m. with another man and two women; seen in 2018

He was declared dead just after 7 a.m at Sunrise Hospital.

As for why investigators are suspecting foul play, the cops noted in the police report that the man refused to speak to them without a lawyer and they have had trouble getting in touch with those in the room with Davis.

Davis was known for his hilarious impersonations on the comedy circuit, including playing a 'Mini-Trump' version of Donald Trump, and was also working on a podcast series with Kelly Osbourne and longtime friend Jeff Beacher.

Beacher told DailyMail.com: 'Today I didn't just lose a friend. I lost a dream , a brother, a best friend. Donny was not just a loyal loving best friend. I literally trusted him with everything from my life to my business and everything in between. Donny was an Angel.

Beacher told TMZ : 'Donny broke barriers in the little people community and was an inspiration to his peers. He will be missed terribly but his legacy and the impact he had on those who loved him will live on forever'

'A magical being who spread love and laughter to anyone in his presence I would always tell people he wasn't from this planet. He loved loving and he loved making everyone happy.

'He was the best, best friend, producer and performer I knew and every will know. My love, condolences and prayers go out to anyone that knows him and or loves him like me and to all his friend and family. Donny you will be more missed then you can imagine. I'll cherish our 20 years god gave me with you as my Ride or die and the 100,00s of people you touched with your magical love and fun you gifted people with.

'The planet was a better place with you on it. I will continue our dream and win awards for our documentary and continue to push equality for everyone in your honor. I love you Donny. You're the best.

Friends forever: Ryan Phillippe took to Instagram with a host of photos to memorialize his 'dynamo' friend who had 'more confidence than I could ever hope to have'

Buddies: Comedian Jeffrey Ross wrote that Donny was a complete 'rock star' in a hilarious tribute shared on Instagram

Ryan Phillippe took to Instagram with a host of photos to memorialize his 'dynamo' friend who had 'more confidence than I could ever hope to have.'

He wrote: 'It was impossible to be around him without having a good time. His energy was boundless and he got everything he could out of life with the time he had here. A good lesson for us all. Miss you already, bud. Rest In Peace and wreak some havoc in heaven. You're unforgettable.'

Comedian Jeffrey Ross wrote that Donny was a complete 'rock star' in a hilarious tribute shared on Instagram as he wrote: 'I'm gonna miss my beautiful generous friend. My condolences to his family and his big brother Jeff Beacher.

Never a dull moment: His celebrity roster of friends seemed endless with snaps shared of wild nights out with the hottest stars in town, including Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato

Just another day: Donny had fun with Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner

Nicky Hilton commented, 'We lost a legend' as sister Paris added a heart emoji under Jeffrey's post.

Donny's celebrity roster of friends seemed endless with snaps shared of wild nights out with the hottest stars in town, including Nick and Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner, Demi Lovato and Paris Hilton.

While Davis found fame on stage, he also appeared in the 2013 flick Pain & Gain with Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie, and also in Tommy Chong's 2017 comedy It's Gawd!
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Kanye West's newest love interest Chaney Jones was every inch the Kim Kardashian clone as she hit the beaches of Miami on Wednesday.

The influencer was practically twinning with Kim as she frolicked in the waves wearing a very cheeky swimsuit and pair of massive neon tint sunglasses.

She wore her wet raven hair slicked back as she emerged from the water, her backside on full display thanks to her thong bathing suit.

Double take! Kanye West's newest love interest Chaney Jones was every inch the Kim Kardashian clone as she hit the beaches of Miami on Wednesday

Chaney left very little to the imagination as she basked in the sunshine wearing her revealing bathing suit.

Aside from her fabulous body, the suit showcased her many tattoos, including a rose inking on her hip.

She waded thigh-deep into the water with her friend, cooling down and running her hands atop her hair as she chatted with her pal.

The raven haired beauty eventually emerged with droplets of sea water cascading down her body.

Kim clone! Chaney (left) wore a black swimsuit that seemed to be inspired by Kanye West's ex Kim (pictured right in a January 2022 Instagram post)

Twinning: Chaney (left) wore a revealing thong just like Kim (right)

Inked! The revealing suit showcased Chaney's many tattoos, including a rose on her hip

Even after splashing around in the water, Chaney looked incredible with her hair perfectly slicked back and her pink lips looking glossy in the sunshine.

She appeared calm and collected as she strode onto the sand after her rejuvenating dip in the sea.

Chaney, an Instagram model and influencer, is said to be Kanye's new love interest after he recently ended things with Uncut Gems actress Julia Fox.

Beach babe! Jones put on a head-turning display as she strode about the beach barefoot

Cheeky! The thong bathing suit put Jones' backside on full display

This is not the first time Chaney has taken a page from the Kim style book.

The 44-year-old rapper's new muse Chaney looked strikingly similar to his estranged wife, as she was seen leaving backstage from his album listening party on Tuesday.

Dressed in a white leather jumpsuit and big shades with dark long locks, passers-by will have been forgiven for thinking it could have been Kim, 41.

Girl time! Chaney enjoyed a dip in the ocean with a female friend

Picture perfect! Despite having just splashed around in the water, Chaney looked incredible with her hair perfectly slicked back and her pink lips looking glossy in the sunshine

Kim - who attended his last album event in a show of support for her ex - is currently in Milan for fashion week.

She recently unfollowed Kanye on Instagram after her posted several troublesome posts about their post-split issues, including private messages from Kim.

Their children North, eight, and Saint, six, were at the show with their father.

Interestingly, Chaney was dressed and styled in a similar fashion to how Kim appeared when she attended Kanye's Donda album event in Atlanta, Georgia, last year.

Matters of the heart: Chaney, an Instagram model and influencer, is said to be Kanye's new love interest after he recently ended things with Uncut Gems actress Julia Fox

Inked! Chaney also had several tattoos inscribed by her rib cage

Kicking back! The influencer prepared to enjoy the sunshine from her lounge chair

Seeing double? Chaney was dressed and styled in a similar fashion to how Kim appeared when she attended Kanye's Donda album event in Atlanta, Georgia, last year (pictured left)

At that event, while Kim and Kanye were still being civil to one another, Kim was dressed in a red leather jumpsuit, with the brunette locks styled down.

This comes after Kim begged a judge to declare her single and revealed she had been suffering from 'emotional distress' as a result of Kanye's social media antics.

In new documents obtained by TMZ, filed a week after Kanye submitted docs opposing her request to be legally single, Kim stated, 'I very much desire to be divorced.'

Shady lady! She also wore a pair of sunglasses very similar to ones Kim previously rocked

She told a judge she had requested Kanye keep their separation private 'but he has not done so'.

'Kanye has been putting a lot of misinformation regarding our private matters and co-parenting on social media which has created emotional distress,' she says in the new documents.

Indeed, the drama between Kim and Kanye has been playing out publicly on social media in recent days, where the rapper has been posting screenshots of text messages sent to him from his ex and gone to war with her new boyfriend Pete Davidson.

He previously said Kim was putting their daughter North West on TikTok 'against his will', accused her of 'kidnapping' their eight-year-old, and claimed she had accused him of 'putting a hit out on her'.

Hip huggers! Chaney also rocked a high-cut bathing suit like one Kim had worn

Kanye has also asked to keep Kim from transferring assets out of any trust - a request Kim has fired back at due to their existing prenup, which already keeps their trusts and assets separate.

In order to continue running her businesses, Kim needs to access her trust.

Kanye's lawyers have also recognized the validity of the prenup in the documents.

Kim also said Kanye's attorneys have admitted to struggling to get through to him.

Kanye's lawyers wrote to Kim's attorney in October 2021 as they attempted to explain the prenup to the rapper and admitted to having 'challenges' communicating with him.

'But as you also know, we face challenges in communicating with our client - and the validity of the prenup (with all of its related legal implications) is a heavy issue to broach,' they wrote.

Kim also double downs on her request to be declared legally single, writing, 'While I wish our marriage would have succeeded, I have come to the realization that there is no way to repair our marriage. Kanye does not agree but at least it appears that he has come to the realization that I want to end our marriage, even if he does not.'

'I can begin the healing process and so that our family can begin the healing process and move forward in this new chapter in our lives,' she adds of needing to be single.
Sharon Stone was in high spirits as she arrived in Milan for Fashion Week.

The actress, 63, smiled widely and flashed a peace sign as she touched down at the airport on Thursday.

Sharon looked incredible as she opted for a practical all black ensemble for her travels and a pair of statement trainers.

High spirits: Sharon Stone, 63, caught the eye in an all black ensemble and statement trainers as she arrived in Milan on Thursday

Sharon rolled up the sleeves on her turtle neck jumper as she added a pair of flared yoga trousers with a drawstring waist for her comfortable airport attire.

The screen siren accessorised with a pair of huge silver hoop earrings and added a shimmery pink lipstick.

To complete her outfit she added a pop of colour with a pair of chunky white trainers with bold multi coloured detailing that paid tribute to Milan in a hand drawn font.

Relaxed: Sharon rolled up the sleeves on her turtle neck jumper as she added a pair of flared yoga trousers with a drawstring waist for her comfortable airport attire

Stylish: To complete her outfit she added a pop of colour with a pair of chunky white trainers with bold multi coloured detailing that paid tribute to Milan in a hand drawn font

Sharon's trip comes as it was revealed she would be starring in an adaptation of Lisa Barr's soon-to-be-published novel Woman on Fire.

The actress' participation in the project was revealed by Deadline, who also noted that she would serve as one of its producers.

The project is centred on a journalist who becomes embroiled in a scandal related to a Nazi-looted art piece that could potentially become deadly.

The media outlet noted the forthcoming book would force readers to 'question where the line should be drawn between the pursuit of justice and the hunt for revenge.'

While a release date for the forthcoming project has not been released, Woman on Fire is set to make its public debut on March 1st.

Sharon promoted the upcoming film with a post that was shared to her Instagram account earlier this week, and she added a single heart emoji in her caption.
Actor Michael Madsen, 64, was arrested on Wednesday night at his Malibu home shortly after 9pm Pacific time for trespassing at another property, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department tells DailyMail.com.

The disheveled looking actor was photographed being led from his home in handcuffs by police who then escorted him to a local hospital before transferring him to the police station.

His arrest comes just a month after his 26-year-old son Hudson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In custody: Actor Michael Madsen, 64, was arrested on Wednesday night at his Malibu home for trespassing shortly after 9pm Pacific time, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Police say that a local unnamed property owner attempted to make a citizen's arrest for trespassing and phoned authorities on Wednesday evening.

Cops responded to a 'call for service' where they were told that the owner of the property wished to press charges against the Kill Bill star.

Madsen was then seen at his home being picked up by uniformed officers and escorted to a police vehicle.

Looking worse for the wear, the actor wore baggy jeans, a denim jacket and a partially unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt.

Trouble with the law: Madsen reportedly spent two hours at West Hills Hospital before police brought him into the station

The story: An unnamed property owner attempted to make a citizens arrest after Madsen was allegedly seen trespassing on Wednesday evening

Citizen's arrest: The property owner phoned police and wanted to press charges, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department told DailyMail.com

Disheveled: Madsen was then seen at his home being picked up by uniformed officers and escorted to a police vehicle

He reportedly spent two hours at West Hills Hospital before police brought him into the station.

He was given a $500 citation for a misdemeanor, according to his booking documents, and released shortly before 7am on Thursday.

It is unclear if Madsen was under the influence at the time.

In 2019, the actor was axed from a $100,000 role in movie Confessions of a Serial Killer after crashing his Land Rover into a pole and subsequently being arrested for DUI. He was later sentenced to four days in jail.

In cuffs: He was given a $500 citation for a misdemeanor according to his booking documents and released shortly before 7am on Thursday

Rough night: Looking worse for the wear, the actor wore baggy jeans, a denim jacket and a partially unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt

Questions: It is unclear if Madsen was under the influence at the time

On screen: A frequent collaborator of Quentin Tarantino, Madsen has starred in films like 1993's Reservoir Dogs (left) and 2003's Kill Bill (right)

In 2012 he was also arrested for DUI after driving erratically, but struck a plea deal that involved attending AA meetings in lieu of more severe punishment.

However after Madsen failed to his court ordered Alcoholics Anonymous meetings his probation was revoked.

His most recent arrest comes just a month after the tragic death of Michael's 26-year-old son Hudson who died from suicide.

Tragedy: His arrest comes just a month after his 26-year-old son Hudson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound (pictured with his son in 2011)

'I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy  my last text from him was "I love you dad,"' Madsen told the Los Angeles Times at the time

'I didn't see any signs of depression. It's so tragic and sad. I'm just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened.'

Do more: The actor has requested a full investigation done by the military into his son's passing

'I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy  my last text from him was "I love you dad,"' he told the Los Angeles Times. 'I didn't see any signs of depression. It's so tragic and sad. I'm just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened.'

Madsen said his son's marriage was 'going strong' and he had recently completed his first tour in the U.S. Army. Hudson was a sergeant stationed in Hawaii.

'He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family. He was looking towards his future, so it's mind blowing. I just can't grasp what happened.'

Now Madsen has requested a full investigation done by the military. The actor thinks 'the officers and rank and file were shaming' Hudson for wanting therapy. He believes this stopped him from seeking help for mental health issues he had been keeping to himself.
Former Married at First Sight star Booka Nile has left the Perth metalcore band Make Them Suffer, the remaining band members announced on Thursday.

Nile, 32, joined the band in 2017 as a keyboardist and clean vocalist, and toured with them in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

'Booka Nile's time as a member of Make Them Suffer has come to an end,' read a statement signed by vocalist Sean Harmanis, guitarist Nick McLernon, drummer Jordan Mather and bassist Jaya Amurao Jeffery.

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Exit: Former Married At First Sight star Booka Nile (pictured in June last year) has left the Perth metalcore band Make Them Suffer, the remaining band members announced on Thursday

'Unfortunately we are unable to comment any further on the matter.'

Nile thanked her former bandmates for the 'memories' in an Instagram post on Thursday night, adding: 'It's been real, y'all. I'm excited for the next chapter.'

Hours later she shared another post in which she promised to 'properly' explain her exit from Make Them Suffer at a later date.

'My DMs [direct messages] are overflowing right now with people asking why I've left Make Them Suffer,' she began.

Exit: Nile, 32, (pictured filming MAFS in Sydney in October 2020) had joined the band in 2017 as a keyboardist and clean vocalist, and toured with the group in the U.S., Canada and Europe

Statement: 'Booka Nile's time as a member of Make Then Suffer has come to an end,' read a statement from vocalist Sean Harmanis, guitarist Nick McLernon, drummer Jordan Mather and bassist Jaya Amurao Jeffery. 'We are unable to comment any further on the matter,' they added

Gratitude: Nile thanked her former bandmates for the 'memories' in an Instagram post on Thursday night, adding: 'It's been real, y'all. I'm excited for the next chapter'

Coming soon: Hours later she shared another post in which she promised to 'properly' explain her exit from Make Them Suffer at a later date

Fan service: Nile reposted several Instagram tributes from fans of the band on Thursday

'I know you haven't been given a proper explanation, so I just want to say that I will release a proper statement and explanation over the next week or so.

'I'm super busy and exhausted from my crazy work life, but it's important to me that those who have supported me so much over the years are given a proper, in-depth explanation of why I've left the band.

'So I promise you all I will explain soon.'

She concluded: 'In the meantime, I'd like to just thank you for the love you are all sending me in the wake of this news. It has warmed my heart.'

Metal: Nile is pictured left with the other members of Make Them Suffer

Melodic: She gave the metalcore band a melodic edge with clean vocals and keyboard parts

Nile was partnered with electrician and psychology student Brett Helling on Nine's Married At First Sight last year, but they split before the final vows.

Helling later said the pair had 'tunnel vision' while on the show, and realised their relationship wouldn't last in the outside world.

'Booka and I were hanging out one day and we were just having a chat about life and all kinds of things. I think we both just came to the realisation that it wasn't something we wanted to pursue outside of the experiment,' he said.

She was later romantically linked to tattooed musician Corey Freear after they were spotted holding hands in Perth.

Case of the ex: Nile was partnered with electrician and psychology student Brett Helling (right) on Nine's Married At First Sight last year, but they split before the final vows
The parents of Walking Dead actress Alicia Witt froze to death in their home, according to the state medical examiner.

The cause of death for Robert H. Witt and Diane Witt has been officially listed as 'probable cardiac dysrhythmia' due to exposure to the cold.

The Telegram and Gazette reported the news after obtaining death certificates for Robert, 87, and Diane, 75, which revealed their causes of death two months after their bodies were found inside their run-down home in Massachusetts.

In addition, Robert's certificate indicated he had 'history of coronary artery disease, hypertension and multiple myeloma.'

The dates of their deaths were noted as December 20, 2021, which was also the day their bodies were found in their home. Neighbors said their home did not have a working heating system for some time.

Walking Dead actress Alicia Witt's parents, whom were found dead inside their run-down home in Massachusetts in December 2021, died of exposure to the cold

The previous night had been the coldest of that month as temperatures going as low as 15 degrees, according to The Telegram and Gazette, citing the National Weather Service.

Witt broke her silence last month following the shocking death of her parents, revealing that they refused her help and hadn't let her inside for 'over a decade.'

'It still doesnt feel real,' the redheaded actress, 46, began her Facebook post as she opened up about the death of her parents Robert and Diane.

The star's parents reportedly died from hypothermia a month ago after their heat went out in their 'dilapidated' home, but Witt said it wasn't because she didn't offer to help.

'My parents were not penniless,' she wrote on Facebook. 'They were fiercely stubborn, beautifully original souls, and with that, they made choices - choices that I couldnt talk them out of.

'I did help them, in all the ways I could - in all the ways they would let me.

'I had no idea that their heat had gone out. I will never understand how or why they made the choice not to tell me this, not to let me help them with this. My heart is broken,' she wrote.

They did not take her help: She also noted that her parents were not 'penniless' and she had tried several times to help them out but they would not let her. And she shared that she had not been in their house for 10 years

Witt in hit horror television series The Walking Dead for season six

Alicia said that she 'struggled' and as much as she helped, 'what else could I have done,' she said.

'Short of petitioning the court system for taking control of two otherwise very sharp, very independent, very capable adults. They were a united, intertwined, indivisible force, determined to do things their own way. knowing they had each other - battling them the way I would have had to in order to do this truly felt like it would have destroyed them,' noted Witt.

She explained that she 'begged, cried, tried to reason with them, tried to convince them to let me help them move - but every time, they became furious with me, telling me I had no right to tell them how to live their lives and that they had it all under control.'

Witt added: 'It was not for a lack of trying on my part, or the part of other people who loved them.'

The star said that a detective had told her over the phone that her parents were found dead after she had placed a welfare call when she became concerned she had not heard back from them.

A relative found the bodies at their 'dilapidated' home in Worcester (pictured). One of the parents was said to have been clad in a coat indoors

Witt also shared that she had not been allowed in their house for 'well over 10 years' and didn't know bad it had gotten.

The elderly couple were suspected to have died from hypothermia - a dangerous drop in body temperature caused by prolonged exposure to cold - after one of them was found with a coat on. But their health had been in decline for a while as her father Robert Witt, 87, was fighting cancer and her mother Diane Witt, 75, had Parkinson's Disease.

'She was a frail little thing, a good wind would blow her away,' the neighbor told the Boston 25.

The couple was found in their home a day before Christmas when temperatures were hitting the teens at night.

Authorities said the Witts' were found without any signs of trauma, but a space heater was found inside the home that needed repairs and that their furnace was malfunctioning, according to the Telegram and Gazette.

Police, alongside an unidentified relative, checked on the couple around December 24. The relative had reportedly told authorities that they had loaned the couple a space heater after their furnace went out a week prior.

In addition, no obvious signs of trauma were found on the bodies, and no traces of poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide were detected during a subsequent inspection.

'There were no signs of foul play. It is under investigation,' police said after the bodies were found in the Sussex Lane home.

The 'reclusive' couple reportedly kept to themselves and hadn't been often seen by neighbors. The neighbors also said the couple rarely answered the door.

'In the last four years we haven't seen them at all,' the neighbor told the Telegram and Gazette.

The neighbor also said the Witts' have been having heating problems since 2018 and had declined an offer to fix it and saw 'someone from the State' dropping off food weekly to the couple, the Telegram and Gazette reported.

Court records also showed that the couple didn't have cable, a television, or a computer in their home.

A neighbor did say that Alicia was involved in her parent's lives, and whenever she would be in the area, she would send a car to pick them up. When one of the actress' films was on TV, Robert and Diane would come over to the neighbor's house to watch it because 'they didn't have a color TV,' she said.

Authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of death. An autopsy was conducted.

Witt also shared several throwback photos and kind words about her parents.

'They were brilliant educators, deeply kind, curious, intuitive, wise, young at heart, funny - there will never be enough adjectives to describe them,' she said of her parents.

Witt also turned her attention to the stories that have come out.

'The circumstances around my parents sudden passings have become fodder for press, and there are some misconceptions rolling around - understandably so,' she wrote.

'This is very delicate for me to write because I'm wanting to honor their privacy, which they held so tightly.

Heart is broken: 'It still doesnt feel real,' the redheaded actress began her Facebook note

'Theres an awful irony in the fact that, because of the very lengths they went to in order to protect their privacy in life - that privacy has been stripped away in death.'

She said she never imagined she would have to talk about this publicly - much less, amidst overwhelming floods of grief.

She then shared that even if she could have had a crystal ball and looked into the future, and if she could have said to them you are going to break my heart and the hearts of all who love you with a worst-case-scenario ending if you dont let us help you - she thinks they still would have made the same choices.

She found out on the phone: 'Its been a month since I got scared, not having heard back from them, and called to have them checked on. Waiting, phone in hand, praying fervently that the next call would be from them, angry I'd gotten someone else involved. Knowing as soon as I heard the detectives voice on the other line that they were gone'

Her note then said she knew she would never hear the voices of her parents again and she would look for them in a 'breeze, in a song, in a dream'

They were not well: The elderly couple were suspected to have died from hypothermia as one of them had a coat on. But their health had been in decline for a while as her father Robert Witt, 87, was fighting cancer and her mother Diane Witt, 75, had Parkinson's Disease

'They werent willing to make different ones,' she said.

Alicia said that her last words to her parents were 'I love you.'

'That part was simple; never in doubt. They loved me so. I loved them so,' she ended her Facebook note, which was also partially shared on Instagram.

They were that way: She then delved into the circumstances of their personal lives. 'My parents were not penniless. they were fiercely stubborn, beautifully original souls, and with that, they made choices - choices that I couldnt talk them out of. I did help them, in all the ways i could - in all the ways they would let me,' she noted

Also in her note said she knew she would never hear the voices of her parents again and she would look for them in a 'breeze, in a song, in a dream.'

Alicia added that she was 'deeply grateful for the gift of having been able to quietly travel to Worcester earlier this month for a beautiful service and burial, to mourn and to celebrate them in total privacy.'

And she said that she would be forever be indebted to Mercadante Funeral Home for going to great lengths to make this possible.

'Thank you, also, to all those who have reached out with your memories about my parents.,' said the Sopranos star.

Alicia added that she was 'deeply grateful for the gift of having been able to quietly travel to Worcester earlier this month for a beautiful service and burial, to mourn and to celebrate them in total privacy'

And she said that she would be forever be indebted to Mercadante Funeral Home for going to great lengths to make this possible. 'Thank you, also, to all those who have reached out with your memories about my parents.,' said the Sopranos star

When they were found, it was noted that their house was 'dilapidated' and that they had not fixed their furnace. Alicia said that she 'struggles' and as much as she helped, 'what else could I have done,' she asked

The couple (pictured) had been described by a neighbor as having been ill for 'some time,' and were using a space heater to heat their home after experiencing 'furnace problems'

Witt with her father, Robert Witt, 87, (left) and mother, Diane Witt, 75, (right)

The couple had lived in Worcester, about 50 miles east of Boston, for decades, according to reports.

Their daughter began her career at the age of eight after being discovered by David Lynch, who cast her in his version of the sci-fi classic Dune in 1984 and an episode of Twin Peaks.

Witt went on to appear in a number of hit television series, including the Sopranos, Two and a Half Men, The Walking Dead, and Orange is the New Black.

Witt is also a pianist and made her stage debut in Los Angeles in 2001.
Real Housewives Of Orange County alum Vicki Gunvalson thinks she found her dream man, whose identity she is keeping under wraps for now.

With the help of a match maker, the 59-year-old former Bravo star revealed on Access Hollywood's Housewives Nightcap that her new boyfriend is 'incredible.'

'I am so excited,' Gunvalson gushed of her mystery beau, from Texas, that she claims has everything she has ever wanted in a partner.

Smitten: Real Housewives of Orange County's Vicki Gunvalson thinks she found her dream man, who's identity she is keeping under wraps for now

She explained: 'I manifested him. He has everything [on the list] but one [thing]. Including wearing cowboy boots and loving country-western music. He doesn't have a boat.'

The mother-of-two also said he is 'the first man that has ever really treated' her 'to anything.'

She also raved that he often tells her 'you're not paying for that' and 'is frickin' incredible.'

Beaming: With the help of a match maker, the 59-year-old reality star revealed on Access Hollywood's Housewives Nightcap that her new boyfriend is 'incredible'

'I am so excited,' Gunvalson gushed of her mystery beau, from Texas that she claims has everything she's ever wanted in a partner

In September, Gunvalson confirmed the end of her engagement to Steve Lodge in a somber Instagram post after more than five years together.

The reality television veteran shared an inspirational quote with the news of their relationship, which was documented for years on Real Housewives of Orange County.

'This is what appeared for today's 'Vibe of the day' pretty appropriate for what I'm going through,' she wrote. 'It's taken me a day to be able to make a statement after the press started writing about Steve and I. Yes, the rumors are true. The time has come for Steve and I to move forward or move on and we are . moving on.

Moving on: Last year, Gunvalson confirmed the end of her engagement to Steve Lodge in a somber Instagram post after five years together

'There is no fault with either person, we are just going in different directions. I wish him the best life has to offer and to be happy, and he has wished the same for me.

'I gave it my all, but sometimes the 'ALL' isn't enough.'

Sources told E! News that the couple initially split in June before reconciling, but couldn't make things work as they were 'living separately' for some time.

Tough: The reality television veteran shared an inspirational quote with the news she broke off her two-year engagement, which was documented through the years on Real Housewives of Orange County

'This is what appeared for today's 'Vibe of the day' pretty appropriate for what I'm going through,' she wrote

'Steve and Vicki had been living separately for much of the pandemic,' a source said before noting that 'Steve had been living like he was a single man in Puerto Vallarta, while Vicki was in the U.S.'

The pair first met in 2016 at a Boys & Girls Club charity event in Anaheim, Calif. which was filmed for Bravo cameras.

He later popped the question in April 2019 and they celebrated with a cowboy-themed party at the Coto Valley Country Club just east of Laguna Beach.

In the past: Gunvalson and Steve Lodge first met in 2016 at a Boys & Girls Club charity event in Anaheim, Calif. which was filmed for Bravo cameras; seen in 2019

'Sometimes, I think you just have to find out for yourself what's right,' Vicki said at the time. 'I'm at a good place but I like being married. I'm a marriage girl.'

The RHOC matriarch served as the longest running castmember of the franchise since it premiered on Bravo in 2006, but was demoted to a friend role for season 14 before ultimately leaving the show.

Her 20-year marriage and subsequent divorce to Don Gunvalson was a major storyline through the years.

During an appearance on the Behind The Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast earlier this year, Vicki blamed her divorce on reality television.

Bride-to-be: The RHOC matriarch served as the longest running castmember of the franchise since it premiered on Bravo in 2006, but was demoted to a friend role for season 14 before ultimately leaving the show

'I did everything right, except falling prey to divorce,' she said. 'I mean, I think that hindsight, um, I know for a fact that if I wasn't on a reality show, I wouldn't have been divorced.'

Following her divorce with Donn, she dated Brooks Ayers, who she filed a lawsuit against in 2019 accusing him of not paying her back money she loaned him in 2011.

She said on the podcast: 'Then I got taken for a ride by Brooks and he owes me over $300,000. And then I was in a block of lawsuits.'

Gunvalson caught major controversy from the women beginning in Season 10 while dating Brooks Ayers who lied about having cancer and later admitted to forging medical documents.
FEBRUARY 24, 2022, THURSDAY, is a date to remember. An Air India flight headed to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine from New Delhi to repatriate Indian nationals made a U-turn before even reaching the borders of Ukraine. An Israeli flight slated to fly over Ukraines airspace also made a sharp U-turn.

#AI1947, which was to have been the second of three special repatriation flights for Indians in Ukraine, has just turned around. The flight had been continuing west for some time after Ukraine closed its airspace to commercial traffic. https://t.co/2iT6iP0g6v pic.twitter.com/HjbuLnk9gv  Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 24, 2022

For the past few days, very few airliners were actually flying over Ukraine, reminiscent of the almost empty airspace shown by flight tracking platform, Flightradar24. Only some unmanned spy planes belonging to the US and the NATO forces were seen circling above Ukraines airspace. Now, none of the civilian airliners are flying over Ukraine.

Ukraine and surrounding airspace now compared to same day of the week and time last month. Live airspace: https://t.co/7q0uRZk9r0 pic.twitter.com/K4JEKCWPUV  Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 24, 2022

Ukraine finally closed off its airspace to all civilian carriers, weeks after it set aside funds to keep the airspace open. NATO and Ukrainian officials have said that Russia has declared war. And Russian missile strikes were reported in Ukraine's capital Kyiv and other cities, not just limited to the rebel-held areas in the east.

However, Ukraines airspace closure has been years in the making and is not just a consequence of the recent conflict.

WHY IS UKRAINES AIRSPACE AVOIDED?

Flightradar24 shows no flights in Ukraine's airspace.

It began before 2014, and definitely cemented the avoidance of Ukraines airspace after 2014.

2014 is a year the world remembers as some ghastly events that occurred related to Ukraine. It is the year the world also paid the consequences for. Russia had started annexing Crimea, a southern peninsula, then part of sovereign Ukraine. At the same time, Russia also reportedly backed separatist and pro-Russian rebel groups in eastern Ukraine and helped them push the Ukraine forces back. Now, it is the same two regions where Russian troops have been deployed.

During this conflict, there was one more massive casualty.

298 innocent people of various nationalities were shot down and fell to their burning death in eastern Ukraine. This is the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Or, MH17, as the cursed flight was called.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was a passenger plane flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. It did not have any stops in Ukraine, but its flight route flew over Ukraine, including the conflict region of eastern Ukraine, over the border of Ukraine and Russia. However, when it reached eastern Ukraine, at the altitude of 33,000 feet, it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

The passenger aircraft broke into three parts and crashed into the ground at various locations in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

WHO SHOT DOWN THE PLANE? An investigation revealed that pro-Russian groups in eastern Ukraine shot down the plane. It was also reported that the missile - Buk 9M83 surface-to-air missile  was loaned by the Russian military to the rebel groups, and was returned soon after. However, Russia to this day denies allegations that it was involved in shooting down the passenger plane.

Four people, three former Russian agents, were charged with downing the plane.

Before the incident in 2014, a few other Ukrainian military aircraft were also shot down.

WHY WAS THE MALAYSIAN PLANE FLYING OVER THE CONFLICT ZONE? Back then, local authorities had cleared planes through the eastern Ukrainian airspace as long as they stayed above 32,000 feet. And the Malaysian plane was flying well into the stipulated safe flying zone.

Debris from the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. File Photo: Getty Images

During the day the Malaysian plane was shot down, several other flights were flying nearby or were scheduled to fly through the same zone, including an Air India flight. However, things as we know now did not turn out to be so great.

Since then, most airliners have avoided either the entire Ukrainian airspace or the eastern Ukrainian airspace. Even before the downing of the plane, airliners were avoiding the airspace. However, such decisions are often costly, and economy airliners do not prefer the longer routes.

In hindsight, Russia had managed to alienate Ukraine from the rest of the world by launching attacks or supporting attacks through its airspace and deeming it unsafe. For Ukraine, this must have meant a loss in state revenue as airliners usually pay governments to fly into a countrys airspace.

A toy recovered from the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. File Photo: Getty Images

It also meant that there were very few airliners willing to take passengers to Ukraine. Airliners and carrier planes are not obligated to keep a destination connected to the rest of the world. And Ukraine was made to pay the price by Russia.

The world should take note of such tactics used by countries as other countries with aspirations such as Russias can also take a leaf from its playbook. India doesnt need to look too far to find which country could find that inspiration. Taiwan is already keeping an eye out.

To read more about India's stance on the Russia Ukraine conflict, click here.
The 2022 Jacob Lawrence legacy resident, Lauren Williams, could see the knowledge and passion that curator and director, Emily Zimmerman, had for the gallery. Along with increasing the Jacob Lawrence Gallerys endowment, getting the gallery Working Artists and the Greater Economy (W.A.G.E.) 
As many Connecticut school districts prepare to lift mask mandates on Monday, the latest state figures show cases among students and staff have reached some of the lowest levels this academic year.

The latest state data released Thursday showed there were more than 800 fewer COVID cases among students and staff in Connecticut schools in the past week.

The state reported 513 infections among students in the past week, a decline of more than 700 cases. For teachers and staff, there were 123 infections, a decline of roughly 120 cases, figures show.

Infections among teachers and staff have been steadily declining since a peak the first full week back after the Christmas holiday, state figures show.

Similarly, infections and hospitalizations have dropped to levels not seen since before the omicron variant arrived in Connecticut. On Thursday, Connecticut reported a positivity rate of 3.99 percent with 458 COVID infections found among 11,467 tests. Hospitalizations fell by a net of seven patients for a total of 248. The state reported there were 119 COVID deaths in the past week.

As of Monday, school districts will have independent discretion to require masks for teachers and students after the state lifts its broad requirement. Many districts have opted to make masks optional starting Monday, but several have decided to extend the requirement for several weeks until they make a final decision.

The state Department of Public Health issued an order late Wednesday, a formal document that laid out Connecticuts masking policy, that drew some confusion with language that said: Based upon the public health conditions in the state at this time, the use of an appropriate face-covering is required as set forth below.

However, the memo makes clear that masks are only required in schools on or after Feb. 28 if they are mandated by the school district, or the local governing bodies of those districts.

DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani maintains the authority to issue broad mask requirements in schools, child care centers, health care facilities and shelters depending on COVID conditions until June 30, according to Chris Boyle, a DPH spokesperson. But local school districts have been given the authority to otherwise set their own mask rules.

Its part of a narrative that has been continually created by this administration that has only brought confusion, fear and frustration on local school districts, House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora , R-Branford, said Wednesday.

In anticipation of the broad mask mandate ending, DPH released new COVID guidance for schools, including promoting vaccination, isolation for symptomatic students and staff, and urging parents to report cases to school officials.

The guidance also suggested that school districts continue to support students and staff who elect to wear masks in school, even when not required to do so.

When there are outbreaks within schools, DPH suggested districts prepare to institute temporary mask mandates depending on several factors, including the level of transmission.

Juthani, who was fully appointed Thursday as commissioner of DPH, defended the decision to lift the broad school mask mandate next week.

I have had schools writing to me who are 90-, 100-percent vaccinated, you know, and they dont feel that the same rules should apply to them as other schools.

And other schools who may not have the same vaccination rate, but for their own set of reasons, for their populace, feel that they should not have to do certain things, she added. And then other groups have said, you know what, we have polled our parents and they want to keep the masks on. I have heard all variations on this.

Juthani said state officials carefully selected the date when the broad mask mandate would end and considered factors like the Presidents Day holiday this week and at-home tests becoming available for all students.

It was a very thought-out process, with lots of meetings and lots of different outreach to different groups, she said. We tried to take that into account as much as we could into the final decision that came out.

During Juthanis appointment hearing Thursday, state Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, a member of the executive and legislative nominations committee, asked what data supported the Feb. 28 date.

There were some people who would say it should be longer, Juthani said. And there are people who say it should be shorter. Right? Were trying to identify the relatively safe time when people can make this decision and it can be a local decision. When you have a 24-percent positivity rate that has gone down to a 3-percent positivity rate, that is the right trajectory. All the metrics that we had are going in the right direction. They are continuing to go in the right direction. And thats all that went into this decision making.

Staff writers Liz Hardaway and Ken Dixon contributed to this story.
The application window opened Thursday for Connecticut retailers who want to participate in the recreational and medical cannabis markets.

The state plans to license two general applicants and two social equity applicants as hybrid retailers.

The application window for the lottery is open for 90 days and will close May 25.

Social equity status is determined by income and residency. The state has established its Social Equity Council, a group thats charged with ensuring those who were most impacted by the war on drugs benefit from the recreational market.

Medical dispensaries that are already licensed and want to add recreational sales will not be subject to the lottery system. They also will be required to maintain their medical programs.

READ MORE: What you need to know about Connecticuts recreational pot licensing process

READ MORE: Legal weed in CT: Your questions answered

Application windows for other types of cannabis businesses started opening early in February. Open application windows include retailers, delivery services and micro-cultivators, among other business types.

Other application windows are set to open on a rolling basis through March.

Applications are available online. Those with questions can email dcp.cannabis@ct.gov.

Recreational cannabis in Connecticut was legalized during the 2021 legislative session. Retail sales are expected to begin by the end of this year.
This year, June 27 will mark the 150th Anniversary of the birth of one of Daytons most important and beloved citizens, Mr. Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Paul Laurence Dunbar Sculpture Committee Announces Plans to Honor Dayton Poet

Dayton community invited to help make the sculpture a reality!

This year, June 27 will mark the 150th Anniversary of the birth of one of Daytons most important and beloved citizens, Mr. Paul Laurence Dunbar, who was an acclaimed American poet, novelist and lyricist. Dunbar was born and died in Dayton and was the first African American who was able to support himself with his writing, as well as being the first African American poet to receive an international reputation.

Dunbar will be honored and immortalized with a life-size bronze sculpture, which will welcome visitors at the entrance plaza of the Dayton Metro Librarys new West-Dayton Branch. The efforts to raise the funds required to commission the sculpture are being led by a group of community volunteers chaired by internationally known American artist Willis Bing Davis and the Honorable Judge Walter Rice. Committee members include Tim Kambitsch, Brady Kress, J. Thomas Maultsby, the Honorable Mayor Jeffrey J. Mimms, Jr., Michael R. Roediger and Jenell R. Ross. The Committee officially announced the public efforts to raise funds for the project at yesterdays, February 23, City of Dayton Commissioners meeting.

How can the Community Support:

Partnering with The Dayton Foundation, the Paul Laurence Dunbar Statue Fund has been established. Gifts can be made on The Dayton Foundations website at daytonfoundation.org indicating the Paul Laurence Dunbar Statue Fund #8590. Checks may also be made out to The Dayton Foundation and sent to 1401 S. Main St, #100, Dayton, OH 45409. Please also reference Fund #8590.

Dunbar was born in Dayton on June 27, 1872, to two formerly enslaved parents from Kentucky. He died in Dayton on February 9, 1906, at the early age of 33.

He began showing literary promise while still in high school in Dayton, where he lived with his widowed mother. The only African American in his class, he became class president and class poet. By 1889, two years before he graduated, he had already published poems in the Dayton Herald and worked as editor of the short-lived Dayton Tattler, a Black newspaper published by classmate Orville Wright.

Dunbar aspired to a career in law, but his mothers financial situation precluded his university education. He consequently sought employment with various Dayton businesses, including newspapers, only to be rejected because of his race. He finally settled for work as an elevator operator, a job that allowed him time to continue writing. At this time, Dunbar produced articles, short stories, and poems, including several in the dialect style that later earned him fame.

In 1892 Dunbar was invited by one of his former teachers to address the Western Association of Writers, then convening in Dayton at what is now known as the Victoria Theatre. At the meeting, Dunbar befriended James Newton Matthews, who subsequently praised Dunbars work in a letter to an Illinois newspaper. Matthewss letter was eventually reprinted by newspapers throughout the country, bringing Dunbar recognition outside Dayton. Dunbar remains nationally known as one of the finest American poets.

About the Artist:

Ed Hamilton has been commissioned to create the life-size sculpture of Dunbar. Hamilton was born in 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio and is a resident of Louisville, Kentucky. Hamilton is a graduate of the Louisville School of Art, class of 1969. While working on his certification to teach in the public school system, Ed met the late Sculptor, Barney Bright, whom he worked for as an apprentice and built a lasting friendship with while he continued his quest to have his own sculpting studio.

In 2000, he received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Spalding University. In 2001 he was inducted into the Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians, sponsored by the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights. In 2004, he received two Honorary Doctor of Arts Degrees from the University of Louisville and an Honorary Doctor of Arts Degree from Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

In 2001 Hamilton was one of four jurors that selected the winning design for the Patriots Peace Memorial placed in Louisville, Kentucky, and in 2005 Hamilton was one of eight jurors for the International Andrew Young Memorial in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Hamilton has sculpted many works, including Spirit of Freedom, a National Memorial in the District of Columbia which achieved worldwide acclaim. The statue is a tribute to the Colored Soldiers and Sailors of the Civil War and stands at 10th and U Streets NW in Washington D.C. It was dedicated on July 18, 1998.

Other public memorials of note include a memorial plaque in honor of Dr. Thomas Clark, a Kentucky Historian, which resides in the lobby of the Frankfort Historical Center in Frankfort, Kentucky; and the Vic Hellard, Jr. Memorial Plaque installed in the State Capital building in Frankfort, Kentucky; and the Tree of Life Menorah on the exterior wall of The Temple in Louisville, Kentucky, a collaborative work with C. Robert Markert, artist, sculptor and friend.

In May of 2004, a life-size frontier family sculpture titled Migration to the West was installed in the lobby of the new Frazier Historical Arms Museum, in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

The Abraham Lincoln Memorial at Waterfront Plaza was done at the behest of the Downtown Development Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky and was dedicated in 2009.

Hamilton was honored to be selected to create a Christmas Tree Ornament for First Lady Laura Bushs Christmas Tree at the White House 2008.

In 2006, Hamilton published his book, The Birth of an Artist, a Journey of Discovery, published by Evanston Publishing of Chicago Spectrum Press.
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HK's budget bolsters efforts to control virus

By LI BINGCUN in Hong Kong (China Daily) 09:24, February 24, 2022

A staff member registers information for citizens who are going to take COVID-19 vaccines at a vaccination center in Hong Kong, Feb 22, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region unveiled on Wednesday its HK$170 billion ($21.8 billion) budget, with a large chunk allocated to combating the COVID-19 outbreak, and funding for long-term initiatives to boost the city's economy and shore up its strengths in line with the nation's development.

The budget measures were announced as the city's daily infections hit a new high of 8,674 cases, taking the total number of infections to 75,248.

Delivering the 2022-2023 budget, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said Hong Kong's overall economy saw a recovery in 2021 with growth of 6.4 percent. However, with the fifth wave of COVID rampaging in Hong Kong, he expects this year's growth will be limited to 2 to 3.5 percent.

To quickly control the pandemic soon, Chan pledged to channel more HK$67.5 billion for anti-pandemic efforts, including HK$22 billion to strengthen testing and support the Hospital Authority, and HK$12 billion to build medical and other facilities.

The government also doubled the amount of its digital consumption voucher to HK$10,000, which is expected to benefit about 6.6 million residents. Other relief measures involve tax deductions, personal loan guarantees, support for e-learning for students from grassroots families, and creation of temporary jobs.

The government also designated substantial funds for industry development and land provision.

It plans to set up a HK$5 billion fund to invest in technology enterprises and projects, and earmarked HK$10 billion to boost lifestyle and health-related technology.

Another HK$5 billion will be used to explore investment opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

A total of HK$100 billion will be set aside to expedite infrastructure works in the city's Northern Metropolis, a border area prioritized in the government's development strategy.

Henry Ho Kin-chung, founder and chairman of the One Country Two Systems Youth Forum, said the tax deductions for renters and the increase in the consumption voucher amount will help ease the burden on people and help lift the economy amid the pandemic.

However, he cautioned the benefits may not be fully enjoyed if the outbreak gets out of control and urged the government to act more resolutely to rein in the virus, especially in implementing its planned universal testing.

On Tuesday, the HKSAR government announced that all residents must have three mandatory tests in March to detect infections in the community. Those who refuse to receive the tests will be punished.

A survey taken on Tuesday and released by the Bauhinia Institute showed that over 70 percent of people interviewed supported the government in carrying out universal testing as soon as possible.

Andie Chiu, a 30-year-old bank clerk, said that the mass testing is a more "active" strategy than the current restricted testing. She believes mass testing will detect the sources of infection in time and better contain the transmission of the virus.

Chen Shumancontributed to this story.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
There are more than 300 Andhra natives in Ukraine either at work or doing studies there. (Representational Image/ PTI)

Visakhapatanam: Soon after India joined other countries to have repatriation of its citizens from Ukraine in view of the tense situation there, many Telugu families wanting to return home from there have expressed concern over the high cost of airfare.

The issue was raised with the Andhra Pradesh non-resident Telugu society (APNRTS), an entity of AP government. The society opened a control room with phone numbers to help the relatives here to connect with the families in the conflict zone.

There are more than 300 Andhra natives in Ukraine either at work or doing studies there. Some 69 of them including 45 males shared their contact details with the society so far.

While 13 of these are from Guntur, Krishna has 10, Visakhapatnam 9, East Godavari 7, Kadapa and Prakasam 6 each, Chittoor 5, West Godavari 3, Nellore 2 and Vizianagaram 1 persons there.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a functionary at APNRTS said, None of the students returned home so far as per our information. Most of those who were registered with us have raised the problem of high airfare from Ukraine to India. The normal airfare is around Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per passenger, but it has reached more than Rs 1 lakh.

He said that the agency has immediately brought the issue to the notice of the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, as also the Union external affairs minister through the AP government.

Civil aviation ministry sources said a reason behind the steep rise in airfare was that flights would have to fly with empty seats on one way from India to Ukraine.

Speaking to DC from Ukraine, Telugu student Ajith said, Most of the students are readying to leave for home. I am also coming to India. The situation here is cool on Wednesday, but we dont know what will happen the next day.

Vaikuntha Rao, a resident at Kurmannapalem in the city said, "My son Kushal Sai is studying MBBS in Ukraine. We suggested that he come back to Vizag. He is coming on February 25."

Andhra People in Ukraine, who registered with AP government as on Wednesday

Guntur-13

Krishna-10

Vizag -9

East Godavari - 7

Kadapa - 6

Prakasam -6

Kurnool- 5

Chittoor- 5

West Godavari - 3

Nellore - 2

Vizianagaram -1

Total - 69
Students leave after they were not allowed to attend classes while wearing Hijab, at Dr G Shankar Government Women's First Grade College in Udupi. (Photo: PTI)

Udupi: The six girls of Government Womens PU College in Udupi, who were denied entry with Hijab, have asked the government to postpone the practical exams till the High Court gives its final judgment.

As these six girls were not allowed entry to the college with Hijab (about two months ago), they had approached the High Court. The hearing is in progress.

Today the girls approached the DDPU and later spoke to the media. Of the six students, four are from the science stream(One is from the first year and three from the 2nd year).

We want the government to postpone the practical exams. We cannot enter the class without a hijab. The court is hearing the case and until the final judgment is pronounced, the government should postpone the practical exams. Today we also approached the DDPU who received our memorandum and assured us to speak to the PU Board, Almas told reporters.

She also said that the postponement will not create a problem for others as they will get more time to study.

When asked about their studies in the last two months, the girls said that they are into self-study.

We are facing mental harassment and receiving unknown calls. So we are unable to concentrate on our studies. Our portion is also incomplete. We cannot do it on our own as science practical needs lab materials, she said.

She added that the college had online classes when it was closed and the girls had attended them.

Another girl Alia Assadi said that they faced problems after their details like address and phone number were leaked.

We are getting abusive calls so we are not using phones. Also, a representative of a channel had come with a hidden camera and showed our family members without meaningless headlines. The government should immediately take action against those who violated our privacy. Similarly, the hotel owned by the father of our friend was attacked and her brother assaulted. This is our fight. Our family members should not be dragged into this. The government should take immediate action, she added.

The girls are sad that the Muslim girls in many institutions throughout Karnataka are made to stand outside.

We hope the court order comes at the earliest on our behalf and all the problems are solved, they added.
HYDERABAD: Privilege and ethics branch of Lok Sabha secretariat on Wednesday issued notice to the editor of Namasthe Telangana, a Telugu daily newspaper owned by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leaders. Deputy secretary Bala Guru G. issued the notice and asked the editor to give clarification to the Lok Sabha Speaker over a complaint of 'breach of privilege' and 'contempt of the house' against the daily.

BJP leaders led by its state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar complained to the minister of parliamentary affairs Pralhad Joshi against Namasthe Telangana, Telangana Today, an English daily and T News channel for misusing the freedom of expression. The newspapers and television channel owned by the ruling TRS leaders were targeting their political opponents and others in Telangana state, they said.

False news covered in the TRS media was creating confusion among people, they alleged. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments on the formation of Telangana state were also misinterpreted by the TRS media, they alleged. They urged the union minister to initiate action against the media house for misusing the freedom of expression.

They said the TRS government was misappropriating its power and crores of rupees of public money was being paid to the media house for advertisements. Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind, MLA Etala Rajender, BJP national vice president D.K. Aruna, former MP A.P. Jithender Reddy, former Legislative Council chairman Swamy Goud, former minister Chandrasekhar, former MLC N. Ramchander Rao, former MLA N.V.S.S. Prabhakar and others among the delegation.
Hyderabad: Lavishing praise on India for its exemplary role in containing the Covid-19 pandemic, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates stressed on the importance of building new capacities for equitable health to ensure that the world is prepared when the next pandemic strikes.

In a fireside chat with industries minister K.T. Rama Rao during the two-day BioAsia 2022 conference here on Thursday, Gates said India stood out in creating vaccines with global partners and also in its vaccine coverage. He highlighted the need to build upon the capacity in India as a reserve for future pandemics.

India did two things that stand out -- creating great vaccines with global partners, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and getting those vaccines out. Indias vaccine coverage is very impressive, much better than most rich countries. That is quite phenomenal, he said.

He said that there is a global need to spend more on research and development and infectious diseases. Infectious diseases are quite modest when compared to cancer or a heart or neurological disease, and yet, this pandemic is a reminder that we have to do a better job on those too.

Gates said that the opportunities for innovators are all over in India and it should be seen as an opportunity to improve everyone's health. He mentioned that his upcoming book will focus on the lessons learnt from the pandemic and the significance of funding the private sector and academia to build better diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines and research.

Despite accelerated biological innovation across categories, including in antiviral drugs and antibodies, it is the quality and the costs that should be taken care of before the next pandemic hits -- in the backdrop of the looming backlog of routine immunization, he cautioned.

Responding to Raos observation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) being a sustainable development problem, Gates said The international health metrics attribute 1.3 million deaths to microbial resistance. We see AMR for pneumonia, typhoid, and pregnant women closer to delivery.

Gates added, What we need to do is develop better antibiotics to attack these diseases with new small molecules, drugs, or in some cases antibodies.

On opportunities for Telangana to work in tandem with Gates Foundation, he indicated that they look forward to partnering with Indian players who blend innovation and affordable gene therapy. The beauty of the Indian ecosystem is that it not only goes after innovation but also goes after the cost issues.

On the next big technology in health, Gates picked the idea of diagnosing with digital tools.

I think sensors to check the health and using artificial intelligence as a viable preventative tool. Digital tools bring a lot of challenges like privacy, but they all are solvable.
Police officials at the site of the incident. (Photo: Twitter)

Coimbatore: One person was injured when a motorcycle-borne gang hurled a petrol bomb at a crowd gathered outside a cinema hall screening actor Ajith Kumar-starrer 'Valimai' here early on Thursday.

The incident occurred at around 4.30 AM, when Naveen Kumar was erecting a flex board of the star in front of the theatre complex in Gandhipuram area here when the duo came on a bike and threw the petrol bomb at him before fleeing, police said.

Kumar sustained minor injuries in the explosion, which caused tense moments in the area, they said.

Police suspect rivalry between fans of the actor over erecting banners as motive behind the crime.

Security has been beefed up in front of other theaters in the city following the incident.

Investigation is underway, they added.

Valimai, directed by H Vinoth and featuring Bollywood actors Huma Qureshi and Janhvi Kapoor among others released worldwide today.
Washington claims that a new spectre is haunting the world: Russias Vladimir Putin, who early Thursday ordered his military columns into hapless Ukraine. Explosions have been heard in its capital Kyiv and several Ukrainian cities. The global order, democracy and world peace are under threat and the West is determined to prevent this from happening. Or so goes the narrative.

What exactly is up in Ukraine? On the face of it, its about two enclaves within that country  Lugansk and Donetsk oblasts, or provinces, which are collectively known as the Donbas where ethnic Russians are in a majority and wish to separate from Ukraine.

These areas have seen fighting in the past eight years in which thousands have been killed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has put his foot in it by declaring the two regions to be independent entities: the Lugansk Peoples Republic and the Donetsk Peoples Republic. He has signed friendship treaties with them and pledged to help them. Worse, on Thursday, he ordered his military into the Donbas ostensibly in response to a call for help.

I have decided to conduct a special military operation, President Putin said early Thursday, in response to increased Ukrainian aggression in the Donbas. Russian troops, amassed at Ukraines border as a deterrent against possible Ukrainian military action in these enclaves, have been ordered to go in to protect these areas.

The Ukrainian government reacted by imposing a state of emergency, authorising its citizens to carry arms and appealing to the United Nations to stop Russian aggression. Its President, Volodymyr Zelensky, had till recently ruled out military conflict: We believe that there will be no large-scale war against Ukraine, and there wont be a wide escalation from the side of the Russian Federation.

There is more to the whole fracas than just a bunch of unhappy ethnic Russians stuck in a country where they dont want to be. The Ukraine crisis involves three sets of issues, the first related to principles: Is it acceptable to change national boundaries by force as Russia has for all practical purposes effected? For status quo-ist powers like India, forcible alteration of national boundaries is abhorrent, especially as its two key adversaries China and Pakistan have for decades been attempting to do just that. Sadly, ethical standards rarely deter the powerful or determine the course of history.

Russia, however, is hardly an exception as the Western powers are trying to make it appear. The West has been altering national boundaries, invading sovereign states and breaking up nations for over a century now. Much of Africa and large parts of Asia are the result of some pretty nasty cut and paste jobs. India too has suffered the imperialist scalpel.

In recent times, the former Yugoslavia was the target of major national re-engineering by the West whose support ensured the balkanisation of that country while a helpless and enraged Russia watched on. Yugoslavia was systematically cut up and when the Serbs resisted, Nato moved in to complete the process of dismemberment.

In other words, while Moscows argument that large parts of Russia were wrongly incorporated into Ukraine may sound much like Chinas claim that it has been short-changed in Taiwan, Arunachal, Ladakh and other parts, its not unique or entirely without historical precedent. The question ultimately is whether a nation can actually pull it off and escape the consequences of its actions  which brings us to the second question: why exactly is the West and Washington in particular so agitated by the plight of the powers in Kyiv? After all, they were not similarly concerned when Syrias President Bashar al-Assad sought help at a time his country was being overrun by Islamists hordes committing abominable excesses against his people. Nor did Washington even rap its ally Turkey on the knuckles for repeatedly attacking Kurdish areas to kill as many Kurds as possible. The list goes on and on. So why this immense outpouring of Western solidarity with Kyiv?

The answer lies in history: the Cold War never really ended entirely in the sense that the USSRs demise didnt mean the end of hostilities with Russia. There are many in America who point to Russias massive nuclear arsenal, its powerful military and its pugnacious President Vladimir Putin as enduring challenges.

Russia in recent times has thwarted the US in several areas. Regime change as in Iraq and Libya was averted in Assads Syria only because the Russians stepped in with their military to protect the regime. Moscow also successfully blocked Washingtons inroads into the Central Asian republics and in recent times sided with China in its skirmishes with the Western powers.

Washington is also deeply concerned about Europes growing reliance on Russian energy supplies. The Nord Stream-2 Baltic Sea gas pipeline, that would double the flow of Russian gas to Germany, has been particularly contentious. This $11 billion project was completed last year but has not been put to use yet due to US objections and European hesitation. Now, Germany has said Russias actions in Ukraine have forced it to reject the project. But that could be temporary.

The bigger picture is that the Cold War mentality hasnt fully gone away. President Putin is hardly a paragon of democracy but no one would fault him for putting his countrys interests first. The fact that Washington has not succeeded in completely grinding Russia into the ground is in part due to Mr Putin, who is demonised in the West as a fascist, Russian jingoist and a dangerous geopolitical upstart.

What Mr Putin has been trying to do in his part of the world is what the Western powers continue to do in theirs: define and dominate their spheres of influence. As one writer noted, Russia did not grudge the US for turning both the Atlantic and Pacific into American lakes, or protecting its interests in the Americas and Europe. Nato, on the other hand, has been consistently moving eastwards.

In Ukraine, Mr Putin has thrown down the gauntlet and warned against any further Western advance into its area of core influence. Significantly, he also warned Ukraine against joining Nato. Now, whether he is right or wrong in doing so is a philosophical question.

Nobel laureate Joseph Rotblat, one of the brains behind the atom bomb, had once said: The Cold War is over but Cold War thinking survives. We were told a world war was prevented by the existence of nuclear weapons. Now were told nuclear weapons prevent all kinds of wars.

The world hasnt changed much since he made those remarks 27 years ago. The imperatives of a bygone era still rule our world.
A flame is seen from an area near the Dnieper river in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (AP)

MOSCOW: More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers and around 10 civilians died in the first hours of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Thursday.

"I know that more than 40 have been killed and several dozen wounded. I am aware of nearly 10 civilian losses," presidential administration aide Oleksiy Arestovych told reporters.

Russia's ground forces invaded Ukraine from several directions on Thursday, encircling the country within hours of President Vladimir Putin announcing his decision to launch an assault.

Heavy Russian tanks and other equipment crossed the frontier in a string of northern regions as well as from the Kremlin-annexed peninsula of Crimea in the south.

They were also advancing into the Western-backed government's territory along the eastern front, where a separatist insurgency has claimed more than 14,000 lives since 2014.

Ukraine's confirmed military death toll reached five a few hours after Putin launched the invasion.

But there were reports of major clashes across large parts of the vast eastern European country and the death toll seemed likely to climb throughout the day.

Ukraine claimed to have killed around 50 "Russian occupiers" while taking back control of the eastern frontline town of Shchastya.

AFP could not independently confirm the claim.

Although Ukraine has been riven by conflict in the east, which has forced some 1.5 million from their homes, it had reported no fatalities along its southern border with Crimea for some years.

But the border guard service reported some of the heaviest fighting near Crimea, where the servicemen died in Russian missile and helicopter attacks.

Russia has heavily fortified its positions on the peninsula, where it has had military bases since its takeover in 2014.

After holding a series of emergency calls with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Ukraine's leader Voldymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of the top military brass.

Zelensky "gave orders to inflict maximum losses against the aggressor," Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Valeriy Zaluzhny, said.

Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said Ukraine's forces were "waging heavy combat" and repelling Russian advances in some parts.

Kyiv airport bombed

Ukrainian officials said Russia was primarily targeting military infrastructure and silos, hitting a string of air fields.

These included Boryspil airport in Kyiv, the armed forces said.

Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian traffic. Tracking websites showed no civilian airliners within the country's airspace on Thursday.

The invasion was also staged from several positions in Belarus, where Russian armed forces have been holding massive military drills this months involving an estimated 30,000 troops.

But Belarus strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko said his forces were "not taking part in this operation".

Ukraine also claimed it had downed six Russian planes, a helicopter, and destroyed four tanks.

Moscow did not confirm suffering any casualties or other military losses.

In Ukraine's east, where AFP reporters heard violent explosions in several towns along the front, Russian-backed forces took control of several villages that had been under the government's control.

But Ukraine's armed forces claimed it had won back some areas in a counteroffensive.

Putin this week authorised sending "peacekeepers" into the rebel provinces, after recognising their independence on Monday.
Facebook's pledge to tackle falsehoods about global warming came under scrutiny on Wednesday as a study found the social media giant failed to flag up half of the posts that promote climate change denial.

The report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a London-based nonprofit, comes as Facebook's parent Meta has faced mounting criticism for its role in helping spread misinformation on the issue.

Here are some facts about climate change denial on social media and how it is tackled.

Also Read | At metaverse event, Meta's Zuckerberg unveils work to improve how humans chat to AI

What does the report say?

In February last year, Facebook, now known as Meta, said it would add labels to some posts about climate change to direct users to a new Climate Science Center, a hub set up to provide reliable information on the topic.

The CCDH said an analysis of 184 posts, published between May 2021 and January 2022 and pushing articles featuring climate denial content, revealed 50.5% did not have any labels.

The posts analysed were published by 10 news outlets that CCDH say are the most popular spreaders of climate falsehoods on the social media platform.

Meta said that during the timeframe of the report, it hadn't completely rolled out its labelling program, something it said "very likely impacted the results".

"We combat climate change misinformation by connecting people to reliable information in many languages from leading organizations through our Climate Science Center," the firm said in a statement, adding that it also worked with a global network of independent fact-checkers to review and rate content.

Also Read | Out with the Facebookers, in with the Metamates

Why does it matter?

Studies have suggested that in the United States, in particular, attitudes towards climate change are often driven by personal politics, with those on the right more predisposed to disbelieve that man-made emissions are warming the planet.

Researchers say that exposure to misinformation helps entrench such beliefs.

"People have a bias for the status quo. They don't want things to change," said Stephan Lewandowsky, a cognitive psychology professor at the University of Bristol in Britain.

"When people hear something scary about climate change ... many will be predisposed to dismiss it simply because it means a massive change and they're just afraid of that."

Moreover, misinformation creates confusion which can breed inaction at the very time when emissions urgently need cutting, said Kathie Treen, a University of Exeter researcher.

Also Read | Religious leaders call on Zuckerberg to scrap Instagram Kids plans

How are social media firms tackling the problem?

Social media giants have chosen different lines of attack.

Google has banned ads on content that contradicts scientific consensus on climate change on YouTube and its other services.

Facebook has launched its climate science information centre to elevate credible sources and added labels to climate change posts driving readers towards it.

Twitter has adopted a similar strategy, creating "hubs of credible, authoritative information", while Tik Tok says it removes misinformation and has introduced banners warning users about unsubstantiated content.

What do the critics say?

While the CCDH report points to patchy implementation, experts say the measures are anyway too meek, citing the much stronger tools deployed over Covid-19 and hate speech.

Also Read | Blackmailed on Instagram, man kills self in Bengaluru

Facebook information labels, for example, only appear in some countries. They warn readers about misleading content with messages that suggest they go "see how the average temperature in your area is changing. Explore climate change info".

While there is some evidence that labels can reduce sharing of misinformation, there are concerns that many users could ignore or simply fail to notice them, said Treen, whose research focuses on climate misinformation online.

Facebook also generally does not remove misinformation in posts unless it determines they pose imminent real-world harm, as it did for falsehoods around COVID-19. It also exempts opinion articles and politicians from its fact-checking system. "By failing to do even the bare minimum to address the spread of climate denial information, Meta is exacerbating the climate crisis," CCDH's head Imran Ahmed said in a statement.

Are there any other options?

Social media firms have a wide set of tools available to tackle misinformation - but no silver bullet said Treen.

These include detecting malicious accounts then either restricting or banning them.

Algorithms can also be tweaked to give less prominence to misleading content - but given computers' limited understanding of context and nuance, this is prone to errors, she said.

Also Read | Instagram brings new subscriptions feature to help creators earn more

Corrections can also be effective, but have to come from a reliable source and, in some cases, risk making some readers more fervently believe the original information, Treen added.

Labels can also be used more aggressively and put on top of misleading content rather than over or below, making it harder to access, said Lewandowsky.

Teaching people how to spot misinformation, encouraging them to stop and think about what they read and to critically evaluate it is also helpful - and can be done online, through games or prompts, said Treen.

But some of this needs to happen in the real world, added Lewandowsky. "We have to educate people at better discerning quality information. That starts in school," he said by phone.

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IKEA announced the appointment of Susanne Pulverer as its new and first woman Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) for its India business on Thursday.

Susanne takes over from the outgoing India CEO Peter Betzel, who will move on to his next assignment within the IKEA group.

Also Read | Ikea plans mega presence in Delhi to boost growth

Prior to her role as IKEA India CEO and CSO, Susanne Pulverer held the position of Group Business Risk and Compliance Manager at the Ingka group (IKEAs parent organisation).

Susanne, in her last role in India, led market development for Delhi NCR, where she also drove the sustainability agenda and local community initiatives to IKEAs aim of becoming a climate-positive business by 2030.

Commenting on her appointment, Susanne Pulverer, CEO & CSO IKEA India, said, "We shall continue our journey to further expand and establish IKEA as a meaningful, loved, and trusted brand in the country keeping our long-term 2030 commitments in focus.

Also Read | IKEA expects supply woes to spill into 2022

Outgoing CEO & CSO IKEA India, Peter Betzel said, I am extremely happy to leave the baton in the capable hands of Susanne. I am confident that she will lead our strong value-based India team to make the IKEA vision a reality for the many people.

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With Ayodhya set to face its first election after the construction of Ram temple began, a high-voltage campaign is being witnessed in the holy city which is revolving around 'ram' rather than 'kaam (work)'.

The BJP has gone into an overdrive to assert the fact that it is responsible for the Ram temple construction while the opposition is driving home the point that the temple is being built on Supreme Court orders. Top BJP leaders who have campaigned in Ayodhya are underlining the fact that the temple construction was possible only because of the Modi government.

They claim to have ushered in an era of 'Ram Rajya' and cite the 'Deepotsav' programme as an example. BJP MLA Ved Prakash Gupta, is a local businessman. He is seeking re-election in the name of 'Ram'. "For five years, he was never there for us and now he wants us to vote for him because of Ram," says Ramnesh Tripathi, a local businessman.

Gupta hopes to ride high on the wave of Ram and is claiming credit for temple construction. He is confident of his victory and says that the holy city is witnessing world-class development which will put it on the global map.

Also Read  Angry farmers release stray cattle at Adityanath rally ground in UP

Some of his over-enthusiastic supporters even started distributing packets of 'Ram Raj' - soil from the temple construction site-but were later stopped. Since 1991, the BJP has lost Ayodhya Sadar seat only once in 2012 when Tej Narain Pandey of Samajwadi Party had defeated its candidate, Lallu Singh.

Pandey is again the SP candidate from here and his narrative revolves around 'kaam' rather than 'Ram'. "Ram belongs to everyone and is not the copyright of the BJP. The way for the construction of the temple was cleared by the Supreme Court and not the BJP government. I am banking on the work done by the Akhilesh government and no one can deny it," says Pandey.

Pandey, a former student leader, is trying to cash in on the local resentment prevailing due to the proposed demolition of hundreds of shops and houses for road widening. He is also banking on the support of 62,000 Brahmin voters and 37,000 Yadav voters to give him a head start.

The BSP has fielded Ravi Maurya and the Congress candidate is Rita Maurya. Both are first-timers in the election and hope to get the advantage of their party votes. Ayodhya goes to polls on March 3.

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US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the "world will hold Russia accountable" over its attack against Ukraine that he warned will cause "catastrophic loss of life."

In a statement issued shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of military operations in Ukraine, Biden said he would address the US public Thursday to outline the "consequences" for Russia, calling the attack "unprovoked and unjustified."

The US president was due to join a virtual, closed-doors meeting of G7 leadersBritain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Statesat 7.30 pm Thursday. The White House said his remarks to the public would come in early afternoon in Washington.

On Tuesday, the US government joined European allies in imposing sanctions on two Russian banks, Moscow's sovereign debt, several oligarchs and other measures.

Also Read  Russia's Putin announces 'military operation' in Ukraine

On Wednesday, Biden announced he was imposing sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany -- one of energy-rich Moscow's highest-profile energy and geopolitical projects. Germany had earlier announced it would block the project from proceeding.

US officials said that any escalation by Russia in Ukraine -- which has now occurred -- would be met with ever tougher sanctions that could target bigger banks, more oligarchs and a halt to exports of high-tech equipment.

"The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said.

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable."

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The Russian defence ministry said Thursday it was targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure with precision weapons after President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation against the country.

"Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, and aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being disabled with high-precision weapons," the defence ministry said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.

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Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday, the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two and confirmation of the worst fears of the West.

Russian missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders into the eastern Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, and landing by sea at the cities of Odessa and Mariupol in the south.

Explosions could be heard before dawn in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Gunfire rattled out near the main airport and sirens blared across the city.

A resident of Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv, the closest big city to the Russian border, said windows in apartment blocks were shaking from constant blasts. The city was gripped by panic as people tried to flee, said the resident, who asked not to be identified.

Ukraine's President Volodymur Zelenskiy said Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's aim was to destroy his state.

Also Read  Ukraine's parliament approves state of emergency

"Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.

"This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now."

At least eight people had been killed and nine were wounded by the Russian shelling, an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs said.

Putin declared in a televised address that he had ordered "a special military operation" to protect people, including Russian citizens who had been subjected to "genocide" in Ukraine, an accusation the West has long described as absurd propaganda.

"And for this we will strive for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine," Putin said. "Russia cannot feel safe, develop, and exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of modern Ukraine...All responsibility for bloodshed will be on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine."

Ukraine, a democratic country of 44 million people with more than 1,000 years of history, is the biggest country in Europe by area after Russia itself. It voted overwhelmingly for independence from Moscow after the fall of the Soviet Union and says it aims to join NATO and the European Union.

Putin, who denied for months that he was planning an invasion, has called Ukraine an artificial creation carved from Russia by enemies, a characterisation Ukrainians call shocking and false.

US President Joe Biden said his prayers were with the people of Ukraine "as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack", while promising tough sanctions in response.

He would be meeting with G7 leaders, he said.

Also Read  UN Security Council to vote on resolution condemning Russia

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell also promised the toughest financial sanctions the bloc had ever imposed.

"These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War," Borrell said.

The full scope of the Russian military operation was not immediately clear but Putin said: "Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything by force."

Speaking as the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting in New York, Putin said he had ordered Russian forces to protect the people and appealed to the Ukrainian military to lay down their arms.

Zelenskiy appealed to world leaders to impose all possible sanctions on Russia, including on Putin.

Three hours after Putin gave his order, Russia's defence ministry said it had taken out military infrastructure at Ukrainian air bases and degraded its air defences, Russian media reported.

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported that military command centres in Kyiv and the city of Kharkiv in the northeast had been struck by missiles, while Russian troops had landed in the southern port cities of Odessa and Mariupol.

A Reuters witness later heard three loud blasts in Mariupol. Russian-backed separatists in the east later said they had captured two towns, the RIA news agency reported. There was no immediate comment by authorities in Ukraine.

Russia announced it was shutting all shipping in the Azov Sea. Russia controls the strait leading into the sea where Ukraine has ports including Mariupol.

Hours before the invasion began, the separatists issued a plea to Moscow for help to stop alleged Ukrainian aggression - claims the United States dismissed as Russian propaganda.

Global stocks and US bond yields dived, while the dollar and gold rocketed higher after Putin's address. Brent oil surged past $100/barrel for the first time since 2014.

Also Read  'Major war in Europe' could be started by Russia soon: Ukraine President

'Decisive way'

Queues of people waited to withdraw money and buy supplies of food and water in Kyiv. Traffic was jammed going west out of the city towards the Polish border. Western countries have been preparing for the likelihood of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing an assault.

Biden, who has ruled out putting US troops on the ground in Ukraine, said Putin had chosen a premeditated war that would bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way," said Biden, who spoke to Zelenskiy by telephone.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Russia's action while NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO allies would meet to tackle the consequences of Russia's "reckless and unprovoked attack".

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking after the Security Council meeting, made a last-minute plea to Putin to stop the war "in the name of humanity".

China, which signed a friendship treaty with Russia three weeks ago, reiterated a call for all parties to exercise restraint and rejected a description of Russia's action as an invasion.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Putin had chosen "the path of bloodshed and destruction".

Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian flights citing a high risk to safety, while Europe's aviation regulator warned against the hazards to flying in bordering areas of Russia and Belarus

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From Russia's massing of soldiers along the border in November to Vladimir Putin announcing a military operation, here is a timeline of months of tensions around Ukraine:

On November 10, 2021, Washington reports unusual Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian border.

On November 28, Ukraine says Russia is massing nearly 92,000 troops for an offensive at the end of January or early February.

Moscow denies this and accuses Kyiv of a military build-up of its own, demanding "legal guarantees" that it will never join NATO.

On December 7, US President Joe Biden threatens Russian counterpart Putin with "strong economic and other measures" if he invades Ukraine.

Also read: Russia's Putin announces 'military operation' in Ukraine

Ten days later, Moscow puts forward proposals to limit US and NATO influence on former Soviet states.

On January 17, Russian troops begin arriving in ex-Soviet Belarus for military drills, which Moscow says are aimed at "thwarting external aggression".

Two days later, Washington announces an extra $200 million in security aid to Kyiv.

On January 24, NATO puts troops on standby and sends ships and fighter jets to bolster Europe's eastern defences.

The next day, Moscow begins military exercises involving some 6,000 troops and at least 60 fighter jets in southern Russia near Ukraine and in Moscow-annexed Crimea.

On January 26, Washington refuses to shut the NATO door on Ukraine and the alliance says many of Moscow's security demands are "unrealistic".

The United States says it believes Putin "is going to use military force between now and the middle of February".

The next day, China warns that Russia's security concerns should be "taken seriously".

On January 28, Putin says the West has ignored "Russia's fundamental concerns" on NATO's expansion and has "strike weapons systems near Russia's borders".

On February 2, the United States sends 3,000 troops to fortify NATO forces in eastern Europe.

Also Read  Russias moves in Ukraine unsettle energy companies and prices

Russia and Belarus begin 10 days of military manoeuvres on February 10.

On February 15, Moscow says some of its forces are returning to their bases. But NATO sees no sign of a withdrawal and Washington claims Russia is in fact sending reinforcements.

On February 17, shellfire intensifies all along the frontline of the two Russian-backed enclaves in eastern Ukraine.

A day later, the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk separatist regions say they are evacuating residents to Russia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accuses Moscow of "false provocations" to justify further "aggression" against Ukraine.

On February 19, Ukraine says two of its soldiers died in attacks on the frontline with Russian-backed separatists.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposes a meeting with Putin, as Moscow test-fires nuclear-capable missiles.

Russia is "on the brink" of invading Ukraine, Washington says.

Also Read  Russia-Ukraine conflict could hurt sunflower oil imports

France and Germany call on their nationals to leave Ukraine.

On February 21, France says that Putin and Biden have agreed in principle to a summit.

But the White House is notably cautious and the Kremlin says it is too early.

The Russian military says it has killed five "saboteurs" who crossed into Russia from Ukraine. Ukraine denies the claims.

In a televised address on February 22, Putin recognises the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. The EU vows sanctions.

Putin orders Russian troops into separatist areas in eastern Ukraine on a "peacekeeping" mission.

Several hours later during an emergency Security Council session, the UN and most of its members denounce the Russian decisions.

Washington says it will slap new sanctions on Russia.

Also read: Biden says 'world will hold Russia accountable' over Ukraine attack

The EU will also adopt sanctions, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says.

Moscow says Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is still ready for talks with Blinken, whom he is scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday.

On Thursday, Putin announces a military operation in Ukraine in a surprise television address.

He calls on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms, claiming he wants a "demilitarisation" of the former Soviet state but not its occupation.

Explosions are heard soon after in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine.

Putin's announcement prompts outrage from Biden, who warns of a "catastrophic loss of life".

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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday he was appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and has spoken to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to discuss next steps.

"President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine," Johnson said in a tweet.
China, a close ally of Russia, on Thursday reacted guardedly to President Vladimir Putins "special military operation" in Ukraine, calling on all parties to exercise restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control.

In a televised address, Putin said Russia's move to launch a military operation in Ukraine came in response to threats emanating from the neighbouring country. He also warned other countries that if they attempted to interfere with the Russian military operation they would see "consequences they have never seen".

Responding to questions on Putins order to send troops to the Donbas region and whether Beijing considers it an invasion and violation of the UN Charter, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, I would like to say that China is closely following the situation in Ukraine.

We call on all parties to exercise restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control, she told a media briefing here.

To a question on whether Putins move violated Ukraines sovereignty, she said, This issue has complex historical background and merits. What we say is the interplay of complex factors.

Earlier at the United Nations, China called on all parties involved in the Ukrainian issue to exercise restraint and avoid taking any action that may aggravate tensions.

Also read: Maintain calm, remain safe wherever you are: Indian embassy in Ukraine to Indians

"In the current context, all parties concerned should exercise restraint, and avoid taking any action that may aggravate tensions," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the plenary meeting of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

However, it is not clear whether Zhang made the statement after Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians.

Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognising "the Lugansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states. China has remained silent on the announcement.

"China has been paying attention to the evolving situation in Ukraine. China's position on safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states has been consistent. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld," Xinhua quoted Zhang as saying at the UNGA meeting in New York.

Zhang pointed out that at the same time, "we note that the issue of Ukraine is rooted in a complex web of historical and present factors. An interplay of those factors has driven the situation to this point. In the current context, all parties concerned should exercise restraint, and avoid taking any action that may aggravate tensions".

China calls on all parties to recognise the importance of implementing the principle of indivisible security, to continue to engage in dialogue and consultation, and to seek reasonable solutions that address each other's concerns through peaceful means on the basis of equality and mutual respect, the ambassador said.

"We welcome and encourage all efforts aimed at facilitating a diplomatic solution," Zhang said.

China on Wednesday had also urged all parties to stay calm and find a solution to the Ukraine issue through negotiations.

"Under the current circumstances, the door to a peaceful solution of the Ukraine issue has not been completely closed," Hua had told a media briefing in Beijing.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the Russian side has repeatedly stated that it has no intention of waging war against Ukraine and stands ready to hold dialogues with relevant parties on Ukraine's accession to NATO.

Hua said China hopes relevant parties remain calm and rational, and commit themselves to peacefully resolving relevant issues through negotiation in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

China will continue to promote peace talks in its own way, and it welcomes and encourages all efforts that would contribute to a diplomatic settlement, she said.

"The United States must not harm the legitimate rights and interests of China and other countries when dealing with the Ukraine issue and relations with Russia," Hua said.

Responding to a query on the recently announced America's sanctions against Moscow for its actions toward Ukraine, she denounced the US move, saying, "Sanctions are never fundamentally effective means to solve problems, and China always opposes all illegal unilateral sanctions."

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Airspace over all of Ukraine has been shut to civilian air traffic, according to a notice posted to air crews early Thursday.

A commercial flight tracking website shows that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 from Tel Aviv to Toronto turned abruptly out of Ukrainian airspace before detouring over Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

The only other aircraft tracked over Ukraine is a US RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned surveillance plane that began flying westward out of Ukraine after Russia put in place flight restrictions over Ukrainian territory.

United Nations: The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday night at the request of Ukraine, which says there is an immediate threat of a Russian invasion.

Also Read  Biden says 'world will hold Russia accountable' over Ukraine attack

The meeting comes two days after the 15-member council held an emergency open meeting also requested by Ukraine. That session saw no support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of independence for two separatist areas in Ukraine's east and his announcement that Russian troops would be heading there to keep the peace.

The meeting Wednesday night comes as council diplomats are finalizing a draft resolution that they say would make clear that Russia is violating the UN Charter, international law and a 2015 council resolution endorsing the Minsk agreements aimed at restoring peace in eastern Ukraine.

They say the resolution would urge Russia to get back into compliance immediately.

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Wednesday made a personal appeal to Vladimir Putin to not attack Ukraine, minutes before the Russian president announced a military operation against its ex-Soviet neighbour.

"President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine, give peace a chance, too many people have already died," Guterres said during the second emergency Security Council meeting in three days over the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

As world leaders one after another urged Russia to stand down, Putin made a surprise speech on Russian TV, announcing he had "made the decision of a military operation."

Warnings of a possible Russian invasion had mounted over weeks, as Moscow massed troops on Ukraine's borders and earlier this week recognized the independence of two breakaway eastern Ukraine regions.

Also Read  Russia's Putin announces 'military operation' in Ukraine

Putin's announcement came after the Kremlin said rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military help against Kyiv.

Speaking after Guterres, UN Under-Secretary for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, said Wednesday there were reports of "large-scale military buildup and military columns moving towards Ukraine" and that Russia had "shut airspace" to civilian aircraft along the border between the two countries.

The UN could not verify the reports, she added.

The US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield made a similar appeal to the Russian president.

"Send your troops and your tanks and your planes back to their barracks and hangars and send your diplomats to the negotiating table," she said.

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The Kremlin said rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance Wednesday to help fend off Ukrainian aggression, an announcement that immediately fuelled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned about.

In an emotional late-night address to his nation, the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow's claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and lamented that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives. The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Russian, hours after declaring a nationwide state of emergency. But if an attack threatens lives and freedom, "we will fight back.

Zelenskyy said he tried to call Russian President Vladimir Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin remained silent.

Anxiety about an imminent Russian offensive against its neighbour soared after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the separatist regions' independence, and the West responded with sanctions.

Also Read  UN Security Council to vote on resolution condemning Russia

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rebel chiefs wrote to Putin, pleading with him to intervene after Ukrainian shelling caused civilian deaths and crippled vital infrastructure.

The separatists' appeal comes after Putin sanctioned the deployment of troops to the rebel territories to help maintain peace and the parliament granted him permission to use military force outside the country.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separatists' request for Russian help was an example of the sort of false-flag operation that the US and its allies have expected Moscow to use as a pretence for war. "So we'll continue to call out what we see as false-flag operations or efforts to spread misinformation about what the actual status is on the ground, she said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the country requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council. He called the separatists' request a further escalation of the security situation.

In Ukraine, lawmakers approved President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decree that imposes the state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday. The measure allows authorities to impose curfews and restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations in the interests of national security and public order.

Also Read  Tokyo shares open lower on Russia-Ukraine tensions

The action reflected increasing concern among Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended that any Ukrainians who are there leave immediately. For a long time, we refrained from declaring a state of emergency... but today the situation has become more complicated, National Security and Defense Council head Oleksiy Danilov told parliament, emphasising that Moscow's efforts to destabilise Ukraine represented the main threat.

Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly voiced concern that pro-Russian groups inside the country could try to destabilize it, including a pro-Moscow political party represented in parliament.

The introduction of the state of emergency follows Putin's move Monday to recognize the independence of rebel regions in eastern Ukraine, where a nearly eight-year conflict has killed over 14,000 people.

Russia on Wednesday evacuated its embassy in Kyiv as hopes for a diplomatic way out of a new, potentially devastating war in Europe waned. The US and key European allies accused Moscow of crossing a red line Tuesday in rolling over Ukraine's border into a separatist eastern region known as the Donbas, with some calling it an invasion.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraine's borders is in an advanced state of readiness. They are ready to go right now, Kirby said.

The latest images released by the Maxar satellite image company show Russian troops and military equipment deployed within 10 miles of the Ukrainian border and less than 50 miles from Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv.

In response to Russia's action, President Joe Biden allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the company's CEO. Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers, Biden said in a statement. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate.

Also Read  Ukraine's parliament approves state of emergency

Germany said Tuesday it was indefinitely suspending the project, after Biden charged that Putin had launched the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine by sending troops into the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.

Biden waived sanctions last year against Nord Stream 2 AG, when the project was almost completed, in return for an agreement from Germany to take action against Russia if it used gas as a weapon or attacked Ukraine.

Putin said Tuesday he hadn't yet sent any Russian troops into the rebel regions contrary to Western claims, and Donetsk rebel leader Denis Pushilin insisted Wednesday there were no Russian troops in the region even though a local council member claimed the previous day they had moved in.

Ukrainian Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said a wave of denial-of-service attacks targeted official websites and some banks Wednesday. The attack knocked offline the sites of the parliament, cabinet and Foreign Ministry and caused interruptions or delays to the sites of the defence and interior ministry, which controls the police.

Many of the same sites were similarly knocked offline in attacks last week that the US and UK governments quickly blamed on Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. Wednesday's attacks appeared to have less impact than the earlier onslaught, with targeted sites soon reachable again.

In other developments, Kyiv recalled its ambassador to Russia and considered breaking all diplomatic ties with Moscow; dozens of nations further squeezed Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets; the US repositioned additional troops to NATO's eastern flank bordering Russia, and the top US diplomat cancelled a meeting with his Russian counterpart.

Already, the threat of war has shredded Ukraine's economy and raised the spectre of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos.

Even as the conflict took a new, dangerous turn, leaders warned it could still get worse. Putin has yet to unleash the force of the 150,000 troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, while Biden held back on even tougher sanctions that could cause economic turmoil for Russia but said they would go ahead if there is further aggression.

European Union sanctions against Russia took effect, targeting several companies along with 351 Russian lawmakers, who voted for a motion urging Putin to recognize the rebel regions, and 27 senior government officials, business executives and top military officers.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage.

Also Read  'Major war in Europe' could be started by Russia soon: Ukraine President

In Ukraine's east, violence spiked again. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and six more were injured after rebel shelling, the Ukrainian military said. Separatist officials reported several explosions on their territory overnight and three civilian deaths.

Facing a barrage of criticism at the 193-member United Nations General Assembly, Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia warned Ukraine that Russia will monitor the cease-fire in the east and emphasised that no one intends to go softly, softly with any violators.

A new military adventure by Kyiv might cost the whole of Ukraine very dearly, he warned ominously.

After weeks of rising tensions, Putin's steps this week dramatically raised the stakes. He recognised the independence of those separatist regions, a move he said extends even to the large parts of the territories now held by Ukrainian forces, and had parliament grant him authority to use military force outside the country.

Putin laid out three conditions that he said could end the stand-off, urging Kyiv to recognise Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, to renounce its bid to join NATO and to partially demilitarize. Ukraine long has rejected such demands.

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An adviser to Ukraine's president says about 40 people have been killed so far in the Russian attack on the country.

Oleksii Arestovich, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that several dozen people have been wounded.

He didn't specify whether the casualties included civilians.

Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian authorities will hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.

The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian, he said, urging all those who can defend the country to come to the Interior Ministry's assembly facilities.



Ankara: Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey has called on the NATO member country to close its airspace and to shut down the straits at the entrance of the Black Sea to Russian ships.

We are calling for the airspace, Bosporus and Dardanelles straits to be closed, Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told reporters on Thursday. We have conveyed our relevant demand to the Turkish side. At the same time, we want sanctions imposed on the Russian side.

A 1936 convention gives Turkey control over the straits connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, and allows it to limit the passage of warships during wartime or if Turkey is threatened.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened an emergency security meeting to discuss the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Turkey, which enjoys close relations with both Ukraine and Russia, had been pressing for a diplomatic solution to the tensions.



Kyiv: A Ukrainian presidential adviser says that Russian forces have launched an attack on Ukraine from the north, east and south.

The adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the Ukrainian military is fighting hard.

Podolyak said Thursday that "our army is fighting back inflicting significant losses to the enemy. He said that there have been civilian casualties, but didn't give details.

He said that Ukraine now needs a greater and very specific support from the world  military-technical, financial as well as tough sanctions against Russia, he said.

Another adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia has targeted air bases and various other military infrastructure.

Oleksii Arestovich said the Russian strike hasn't achieved its goal to rout the country's military. He said that we suffered casualties, but they aren't significant, adding that the Russian strikes haven't eroded the combat capability of the Ukrainian military.

He said that the Russian troops moved up to 5 km (about 3 miles) deep into the Ukrainian territory in the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions, and, possibly in other areas.

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Kyiv's envoy to New Delhi expressed disappointment as India continued to tread cautiously on the issue of conflict over Ukraine and refrained from condemning Russia for launching a military operation against the East European nation early on Thursday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar received calls from British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell Fontelles, who apparently nudged New Delhi to strongly condemn Russia's military offensive against Ukraine. New Delhi, however, continued with its cautious approach. Jaishankar called the situation in Ukraine as 'grave', but refrained from condemning Russia.

Just hours before Russia launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine, India reiterated at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council that it was in favour of urgent de-escalation of tension and sustained and focused diplomatic efforts to bridge divergent interests. I would like to underline that the legitimate security interests of all parties should be fully taken into account, T S Tirumurti, New Delhi's envoy to the UN, told the Security Council, adding: Situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis.

Also Read: Ukraine cuts diplomatic ties with Russia

But after Russia announced the launch of military operations in Ukraine, New Delhi did not condemn the move.

Igor Polikha, Kyiv's envoy to New Delhi, said that Ukraine was deeply dissatisfied by the stand India took ever since Russia started military build-up around the East European nation.

India should be much more actively engaged, given the privileged relation India has with Russia. Not just for our safety, but for your own citizen's safety too, we need the intervention of India, Polikha told journalists at the Embassy of Ukraine in New Delhi.

He called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

You have a privileged, strategic relationship with Russia. If Modi ji speaks to Putin (Russian President), we are hopeful he will respond, Ukraine's ambassador to India said.

New Delhi has been finding it increasingly difficult to maintain the delicate balance between its ties with Moscow and Washington D.C. after the US-Russia tension escalated over Ukraine.

Though the Modi government has been speaking out against Chinas aggression along its disputed boundary with India, it refrained from siding with the US and abstained from voting against Russia on the issue of Ukraine at the UNSC on January 31.

Even as the US has been trying to draw a parallel between China's belligerence against India and other nations in the Indo-Pacific region and Russia's military build-up around Ukraine, New Delhi last week rejected the argument, saying the situations in the two regions have not been analogous.

New Delhi, however, closely monitored Putin's meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Moscow. Russia has since long been the largest supplier of military hardware to India and has been maintaining a low-key defence cooperation with Pakistan. But with the changes in the geopolitical landscape and New Delhis growing ties with Washington DC after the landmark India-US civil nuclear agreement of 2008, Moscow, too, responded to Islamabads overtures to improve bilateral relations.

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Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in the Baltic country in response to Russia's military attack on Ukraine.

The Baltic country's parliament was expected to approve the measure in an extraordinary session later on Thursday.

The measure, in effect until March 10, allows for a more flexible use of state reserve funds and increased border protection, giving border guards greater authorities to stop and search individuals and vehicles in border areas.

NATO member Lithuania borders Russia's Kaliningrad region to the southwest, Belarus to the east, Latvia to the north and Poland to the south.

World leaders expressed a raw outrage shrouded by an impotence to immediately come to the aid of Ukraine to avoid a major war in Europe, condemning Russia's attack on its neighbour as the European Union and others promised unprecedented sanctions to hit the Kremlin.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it a barbaric attack on an independent nation that also targeted the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order.

The EU will hold an emergency summit in Brussels, where NATO is also meeting after Poland and the Baltic nations bordering Russia and Ukraine called for an urgent session.

But no one promised to move in militarily and defend Ukraine as it could touch off a major European war, but NATO did decide to beef up its Eastern flank facing Russia.

President Vladimir Putin warned anyone listening that any interference would lead to consequences you have never seen in history.

Von der Leyen said that it's President Putin who's bringing war back to Europe.

So instead, most of the world  but not China  condemned and threatened to hit the Russian elites with, in the words of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the strongest package, the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented.

A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbour country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue, Borrell said.

This is not only the greatest violation of international law, it's a violation of the basic principles of human coexistence. It's costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.

Von der Leyen said the massive and targeted sanctions she will put to EU leaders will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia.

She said the sanctions, if approved, will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernise.

And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.

Like the first package of sanctions that were imposed when Russia recognised the two breakaway eastern Ukrainian republics, von der Leyen said all Western powers were walking in lockstep.

We are closely aligned with our partners and allies the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, but also, for example, Japan and Australia, she said.

The NATO alliance agreed at emergency talks early Thursday to bolster its land, sea and air forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia.

We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies, NATO ambassadors said in a statement.

And highlighting a widening rift in superpower relations, China stood alone in failing to condemn the attack and instead accused the United States and its allies of worsening the crisis.

And it put its friendship in practice Thursday by approving imports of wheat from Russia, a move that could help to reduce the impact of possible increased Western sanctions. Russia is one of the biggest wheat producers but would be vulnerable if foreign markets block shipments.

In a clear defense of Moscow, China called on parties to respect others' legitimate security concerns.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that all parties should work for peace instead of escalating the tension or hyping up the possibility of war, in language China has consistently used to criticize the West in the crisis.

Those parties who were busy condemning others; what have they done Have they persuaded others? Hua said.

One thing was clear  weeks of diplomatic cajoling, global crisscrossing of leaders and foreign ministers, and the threat of sanctions against Putin's inner circle had failed to persuade the Kremlin to take one of the most significant measures in Europe since the end of the Cold War.

Overall, more sanctions appear the only option for the foreseeable future. And from South Korea to Australia to Europe, governments were lining up to oppose Putin.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who had labored until the last minute for a diplomatic solution, said France firmly condemns Russia's decision to wage war, and promised support for Ukraine.

The turmoil from the beginning of a long-feared act of aggression rippled from Europe to Asia.

Stock markets plunged, oil prices surged, and European aviation officials warned of a high risk to civilian aircraft over Ukraine, reminding air operators that this is now an active conflict zone.

Russia's attack and uncertainty about the intensity of the Western response sent stocks tumbling and oil prices surging by more than $5 per barrel.

Market benchmarks in Europe and Asia fell by as much as 4%, while Brent crude oil briefly jumped above $100 per barrel in London for the first time since 2014 on unease about possible disruption of supplies from Russia, the No. 3 producer.

In New York, the UN Security Council held an extraordinary emergency meeting meant to dissuade Russia from sending troops into Ukraine.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' plea to give peace a chance came just as Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on Russian TV to announce the military operation.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. Moscow had massed more than 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders.

On Monday, Putin recognised the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian forces there for what he called peacekeeping.

To avoid international civilian casualties, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft and that the presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a HIGH risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes.

Africa highlighted the global impact and diplomatic reach of the attack.

Few African nations have issued responses to the crisis but the director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention openly worried that global attention will now shift even further from helping the world's least vaccinated continent respond to COVID-19.

The conflict in Ukraine definitely will draw attention, political attention, towards that crisis, John Nkengasong said.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Russia could start "a major war in Europe" in the coming days and urged Russians to oppose the attack.

In an address aired shortly after midnight Zelensky said Russia could invade Ukraine "any day now" and, addressing the Russian people, said whether that happens "depends on you."

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In the first Indian casualty in the war in Ukraine, a medical student from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city on March 1, even as the government said that all Indians have left Kyiv and roped in the Air Force to speed up the evacuation process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting, his fourth in the last 48 hours on Ukraine, as India asked envoys of Russia and Ukraine to ensure "urgent safe passage" to all Indian nationals stuck in Kharkiv and other conflict zones. Stay tuned on DH for latest updates.
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.

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British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Thursday she had summoned the Russian ambassador to explain Moscow's actions in Ukraine after Russian forces invaded the country by land, air and sea.

"I have summoned the Russian ambassador to meet me and explain Russias illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. We will be imposing severe sanctions and rallying countries in support of Ukraine," Truss said on Twitter.

I have summoned the Russian ambassador to meet me and explain Russias illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. We will be imposing severe sanctions and rallying countries in support of Ukraine.  Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 24, 2022

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Ukraine's president says his country has cut diplomatic ties with Russia after it was attacked.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the decision to rupture ties with Moscow on Thursday after it launched a massive air and missile attack on its neighbour and Russian forces were seen rolling into Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials say the country's military is fighting back and asked for Western defense assistance.
A Ukrainian military plane was shot down on Thursday and five people were killed, Ukrainian police and the state emergency service said, as its armed forces sought to defend against a massive Russian military operation.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two.

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The United States and Albania will soon submit their draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, seeking to condemn Russia for its recent Ukraine actions, diplomatic sources said Wednesday.

"It's almost finalised," a European diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous, told AFP.

"I hope we can move to action in the next hours or days," he added.

The Security Council will convene later Wednesday night for its second emergency session in three days over the crisis.

Also Read | 'Major war in Europe' could be started by Russia soon: Ukraine President

Another diplomat, who also asked for anonymity, said she hoped the resolution would benefit from a favourable "momentum" at the UN, where a large majority of nations Wednesday condemned Russia's actions during an hours-long General Assembly meeting.

The draft text of the resolution, obtained by AFP, would have the Security Council officially condemn Russia's decision to recognize two breakaway regions in Ukraine as an independent.

It would also reaffirm the Council's "commitment to the sovereignty (and) independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."

The resolution will first go to the 15-member Council, where it is certain to fail due to Russia's veto power.

It could then be submitted to the full UN General Assembly, where no country holds a veto, but Assembly resolutions are non-binding.

Also Read | Images show new deployments near Ukraine-Russia border: Maxar

"The goal is to have the largest possible majority," the European diplomat said.

A similar scenario played out after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

In the Security Council, China -- which also holds a veto -- abstained, and 13 other members voted for the resolution.

Russia submitted a veto.

The resolution was then submitted to the General Assembly, where it passed 100-11, with other member nations abstaining or sitting out the vote.

According to the European diplomat, the difference this time is a "question of magnitude," with a "risk of major conflict, major war."

"The worst-case scenario is the one of a kind of World War II military operation which would, of course, generate a lot of civilian victims," he explained.

One UN ambassador currently sitting on the Security Council, who also spoke under anonymity, told AFP that the "stakes are the same" and "we'll have the same thing as in 2014."

The US and Albanian representatives to the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Ukraine's parliament imposed a national state of emergency on Wednesday aimed at helping to forge a response to the threat of a Russian invasion.

The measure was overwhelmingly approved on the same day that Moscow began to evacuate its Kyiv embassy and Washington stepped up its warnings about the chances of an all-out Russian attack.

"The situation is difficult but remains completely under our control," Ukraine's security and defence council secretary Oleksiy Danilov told lawmakers ahead of the vote.

Also Read | Biden announces sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline

The state of emergency allows Ukraine's regional governments to adopt heightened security measures that range from tighter ID and vehicle checks to more stringent policing.

They apply to all parts of Ukraine except for two Russian-backed eastern separatist regions where a deadly insurgency has killed more than 14,000 people in the past two years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's recognition of the eastern provinces' independence on Monday sharply ramped up fears of an imminent war.

Putin has signed decrees allowing the deployment of Russian "peacekeeping" forces into rebel territories to back up the independence claims.

Also Read | US says Russian forces near Ukraine 'ready to go'

The Russian leader said on Tuesday that his decision to send in the troops will "depend on the situation on the ground".

But Russian state television has been filled with allegations from rebel leaders in the past few days accusing Ukrainian soldiers of launching deadly and unprovoked attacks against civilians.

Ukraine firmly denies the allegations.

The rapidly escalating tensions have forced US officials to ramp up their warning about the threat of an imminent attack from at least 150,000 Russian forces believed to have encircled Ukraine.

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The United States said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "as ready as he can be" for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with nearly 100 per cent of the necessary military forces already in place.

"We assess today that he is near 100 per cent of all the forces that we anticipated that he would move in. He is dang near at 100 per cent," a US defence official told reporters on grounds of anonymity.

Also Read | UN warns of dire global impact of a Russian invasion of Ukraine

The official said that 80 per cent of the estimated 150,000-plus Russian forces along the Ukraine border are in "ready positions": spread out in attack formation within a few kilometres of the frontier.

"He is as ready as he can be," the official said. "Whether they actually go or not is really up to Mr Putin ... They could go at any hour now."

While US President Joe Biden said Tuesday the invasion is "beginning," administration officials say that does not yet have evidence that Russian forces have crossed the border into Ukraine.

"We still cannot confirm that Russian military forces have moved in the Donbas areas," the defence official said.

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Hari Bhushan Thakur, Bihar BJP MLA on Thursday, demanded withdrawal of voting rights of members of Muslim community. He was reacting to a comment of AIMIM leader Akhtarul Imam who said that the government should give rights to Muslim community as per its population.

"When our country had achieved Independence in 1947, Muslim community was given a piece of land in the form of Pakistan. They should have gone there. We do not want them in this country," Thakur said.

"They (Muslims) are increasing population and want to make India a Muslim state. Muslim leaders have agenda to make every country an Islamic state. We cannot allow that to happen. Hence we have demanded from the government the withdrawal of voting rights from them and make them second class citizens," Thakur said.

Thakur further said that they are considered minorities in the country. "I would say that the term called minority used for Muslim community is a mockery of the constitution. They are not minorities. Their population is continuously increasing," he said.

Earlier, Akhtarul Imam had claimed that he and other members of the AIMIM will not sing the national song Vande Mataram at any public platforms especially in Bihar Assembly and Legislative Council.

As per the tradition, Bihar Vidhan Sabha sessions start or end with the national anthem (Jana Gana Mana) and national song (Vande Mataram).

Imam said he has an objection to singing Vande Mataram.

"I have no objection to singing the national anthem but I do have an objection to saying or singing Vande Mataram (National Song). Instead of Vande Mataram, I would happily say "Madar-e-Watan"," Iman said.

"Vande Mataram gives an impression of worshipping a piece of land and other things which in Islam, is not allowed. Hence, we refuse to sing it on any platform. The NDA government is in majority in Bihar. They can take the decision to withdraw the national song from Vidhan Sabha proceedings. They should respect every caste and religion to showcase India's democracy," Imam said.

"Vidhan Sabha speaker Vijay Sinha has made it mandatory for every member to sing the national anthem and national song in both the houses. Those who will not follow it, the speaker should terminate their membership of the house. The attitude of AIMIM leaders is an insult to our country. Why do they have an objection to singing the national song?" Thakur said.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday declared that compassionate appointment to a man cannot be denied on the ground of being son of the second wife of a deceased employee as it would violate fundamental rights of the applicant and go against the dignity of his family.

A three-judge bench presided over by Justice U U Lalit said a policy denying such an appointment would be discriminatory and violative of Article 16(2) of the Constitution.

The court said the policy cannot discriminate against a person only on the ground of descent by classifying children of the deceased employee as legitimate and illegitimate and recognising only the right of 'legitimate descendant'.

"The scheme and the rules of compassionate appointment cannot violate the mandate of Article 14 of the Constitution. Once Section 16 of the Hindu Marriage Act regards a child born from a marriage entered into while the earlier marriage is subsisting to be legitimate, it would violate Article 14 if the policy or rule excludes such a child from seeking the benefit of compassionate appointment," the court said.

The bench, also comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and P S Narasimha, allowed an appeal filed by Mukesh Kumar against the Patna High Court's judgement which had rejected his claim for compassionate appointment in Railways for being son of the second wife of deceased Jagdish Harijan.

The bench relied upon a previous judgement in the case of Union of India Vs V K Tripathi (2019) wherein it was held that a child of a second wife of an employee could not be denied compassionate appointment on that ground alone.

Justice Narasimha, who authored the judgement, said the circular created two categories between one class, and it has no nexus to the objects sought to be achieved.

"Once the law has deemed them (children born out of second marriage) legitimate, it would be impermissible to exclude them from being considered under the policy. Exclusion of one class of legitimate children would fail to meet the test of nexus with the object, and it would defeat the purpose of ensuring the dignity of the family of the deceased employee," the court said.

The court also pointed out the compassionate appointment is an exception to the constitutional guarantee under Article 16, so a policy for compassionate appointment must be consistent with the mandate of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

"That is to say, a policy for compassionate appointment, which has the force of law, must not discriminate on any of the grounds mentioned in Article 16(2), including that of descent. In this regard, descent must be understood to encompass the familial origins of a person. Familial origins include the validity of the marriage of the parents of a claimant of compassionate appointment and the claimants legitimacy as their child," it said.

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India is planning to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine through Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovak Republic, which share land borders with the East European nation that came under attack by Russia on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought Russian President Vladimir Putin's assistance in evacuating the citizens of India stranded in Ukraine. Modi told Putin during a phone call that New Delhi attached the highest priority to the safe exit of Indians from Ukraine and their return to India.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also likely to talk to Foreign Ministers of Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Slovak Republic to facilitate the transit of students and other Indians stranded in Ukraine through other neighbouring East European countries.

Also Read | Russia invasion 'not irreversible,' UN chief says, pledges $20 mn aid

Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security in New Delhi to review the evacuation of Indians stranded in Ukraine. He asked the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safe return of all Indians from Ukraine.

India's diplomatic missions in Poland, Hungary, Romania and the Slovak Republic already sent teams of officials to the land borders of the respective countries with Ukraine to facilitate evacuation and transit of the stranded citizens of the country.

Ukraine has closed its air space in the wake of the launch of military operations by Russia. But the Indian Air Force was asked to remain ready to send transport aircraft to Poland, Slovak Republic, Romania and Hungary to airlift Indians who would arrive in those countries from Ukraine.

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India has asked its citizens stranded in Ukraine to reach out to the embassy for evacuation and also has issued helpline numbers. The announcement was made after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine.

In an advisory to all the Indian nationals in Ukraine, the embassy said: "This is to inform all Indian nationals in Ukraine that since the Ukrainian airspace has been closed the schedule for special flights stands cancelled."

@IndiainUkraine issues a fresh advisory for all Indian Nationals/Students in Ukraine. Alternative arrangements are being made for evacuation of our citizens.  Additional 24*7 helplines: +38 0997300428

+38 0997300483

+38 0933980327

+38 0635917881

+38 0935046170 pic.twitter.com/95EHCPSOKy  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) February 24, 2022

The embassy further stated that alternative arrangements were being made for evacuation of the Indian nationals.

The embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalised, so that the Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country, said an official.

"Please carry your passports and necessary documents on your person at all times. You are advised to follow Embassy website and social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) posts for updates on this regard."

The Embassy issued helpline numbers which are +38 0997300483, +38 0997300428, +38 0933980327, +38 0635917881 and +38 0935046170.

India had started planes to evacuate citizens living in Ukraine since the war-like situation emerged. A special flight landed in Delhi earlier carrying 182 Indians.

But, an Air India flight scheduled to evacuate on Thursday was forced to return to Delhi this morning after the eastern European country closed its airspace.

Over 20,000 Indian citizens are in Ukraine as the crisis with Russia escalated rapidly over the past week.

Now, the Indian government's immediate priority is to evacuate these people but the closure of Ukrainian airspace makes this a challenging proposition.

India had told the Security Council: "The situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis. If not handled carefully, it may undermine security."

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The Centre on Thursday said Indian passengers from Ukraine can return via Qatar, with aviation industry experts stating that civilian flights will restart from Ukraine only when its airspace opens.

Currently 20,000 Indians, mostly students, are stranded in Ukraine.

Since the Ukrainian airspace is closed due to the Russian military offensive, it is currently not clear how they are to travel from Ukraine to Qatar to take Qatar-India flights, which are operating normally.

The authorities of the eastern European country issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) Thursday morning stating that civilian flights within Ukraine "are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation".

The Indian Embassy in Qatar said on Twitter, "Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed passengers traveling from Ukraine to travel by transit under India-Qatar bilateral air bubble arrangement."

Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed passengers traveling from Ukraine to travel by transit under India- Qatar bilateral air bubble arrangement.  India in Qatar (@IndEmbDoha) February 24, 2022

This means that the passengers coming from Ukraine to Qatar will be able to board flights operating between Qatar and India.

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In the wake of the Russian offensive against Ukraine, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Thursday that India is making alternative arrangements for the safe evacuation of Indians stranded in the Eastern European nation as its airspace was closed.

Amid concerns expressed by the near and dear ones of the people stranded in Ukraine, Muraleedharan said the Central government will ensure the safety of over 18,000 Indians including students stranded there and asked them to follow the instructions of the Indian Embassy in Kyiv.

Also Read: Indians in Ukraine advised to find bomb shelters if air sirens are heard

"No need to panic...The Central Government is with you...An alternative plan is being prepared to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine. We are looking for other ways as the airspace of that country has been closed," the Minister told reporters.

He said the details of the mission will be made available soon. Earlier in the day, an Air India plane that took off for Kyiv in Ukraine on Thursday morning to bring back Indians from the eastern European nation returned to Delhi due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace amid the Russian military offensive.

The Minister's statement also came amid opposition criticism against the Central government for not making arrangements in time to bring the Indians in Ukraine back and accused it of "turning away its face" on its nationals in this difficult time.

Attacking the government for not acting despite repeated warnings, the Congress asked why it had not made arrangements in time to bring 20,000 Indians in Ukraine back home safely. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "turning away its face in every difficult situation...And remaining silent has become a habit of the Modi government. Our 20,000 Indian youth in Ukraine are forced to grapple with fear, apprehension and life-threatening situations."

"Why were arrangements not made in time to bring them safely? Is this the 'self-reliant' mission," Surjewala tweeted.

      ..

              20,000   #Ukraine  ,                       ?   ''   ?  Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 24, 2022

Concerned about the safety of thousands of Malayalis, especially students, trapped in Ukraine amidst the Russian military offensive against that country, the state of Kerala has also urged the Centre to protect them and make necessary arrangements for their return.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other officials on Thursday evening to discuss the economic impact of Russia-Ukraine crisis and ways to mitigate the impact of rising crude oil prices, a government source told Reuters.

Russian forces fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine and landed troops on its coast on Thursday, officials and media said, after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation.

Earlier, the Indian embassy in Ukraine said that special flights arranged to head to Kyiv to pick up Indian nationals were cancelled as the country's airspace was closed.

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As many as 200 Kashmiri students are stranded in Ukraine after Russia invaded the neighboring country. J&K administration is making efforts to bring back the stranded students at the earliest.

Officials said that J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has asked the administration to start the process to bring back the stranded students in Ukraine on a fast track basis. We are in touch with Ukraine Embassy officials and will ensure all Kashmiri students are safely brought back, they said.

Also read: Maintain calm, remain safe wherever you are: Indian embassy in Ukraine to Indians

Back home, the families of the stranded students are worried as they fear the situation will get worse in Ukraine in the coming days. Our wards are staying put in their accommodations as of now. They told us that the college authorities have asked them to keep calm and stay inside, said a parent, whose son is studying MBBS in Ukraine.

Aijaz Ahmed, a resident of uptown Srinagar, whose son is studying in Ukraine, said he lost contact with him and he is worried over the situation. Parents of students studying in Ukraine have decided to assemble at Press Enclave in Srinagar to demand for the safe return of Kashmiri students, he said.

Nasir Khuehami, spokesperson of the J&K Students' Association national said that 180 to 200 Kashmiri students are studying in universities and colleges of Ukraine. They are stuck there after the Russian Army launched a massive military operation there, he said.

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At a time Governor's role is under scanner, the CPI(M) has asked Opposition-ruled states to remain vigilant in checking any encroachment on the rights of the elected state government and the legislature, as there is scope for any reforms under the Narendra Modi government on the role of Raj Bhavans.

In an editorial in its mouthpiece 'People's Democracy', it also said the state legislatures can amend the concerned laws and statutes, like the University Acts, to ensure that the Governor does not exceed the norms laid out.

The remarks came as the CPI(M)-led government in Kerala wrote to the Centre amendments to the constitution to give powers to the state governments in the appointment or recall of Governors.

The Governors' appointments have been "done in a brazen fashion to serve the needs" of the BJP after the Modi government came to power in 2014, the CPI(M) said. "Some of the Governors have an RSS background and others are politicians who are all the more compliant to the Centre's wishes in order to be in the good books" of the BJP, it said.

"The question is not some misstep by a particular Governor or another. There is a deeper malaise. The present Constitutional provision regarding appointment of the governor makes that person a nominee of the central government. This inevitably makes the post of the Governor purely as a representative of the centre," it said.

As long as the appointing authority is the Centre, it said, the proposals to select Governors who have an eminent record in public service, or, non-politicians have no meaning. In fact, it said experience shows that having a non-politician like a retired bureaucrat, in many cases, has been worse since a retired bureaucrat is totally beholden to the centre for his sinecure.

That is why the Srinagar Conclave of opposition parties on Centre-State relations held in 1983 had suggested that the governor should be appointed by the president on the basis of the panel forwarded by the state government concerned, the editorial recalled.

Also read: Relief for Pinarayi Vijayan as Kerala HC upholds appointment of Kannur varsity VC

There is "no scope" under Modi government "for any reform in the process of appointment of the Governor and his functions. "What can be done is for the opposition state governments to be vigilant in checking any encroachment on the rights of the elected state government and the legislature," it said.

On Governors, the CPI(M) cited the instance of Kerala's Arif Mohammad Khan taking "egregious positions which do not conform to the Constitutional norms" -- Khan had initially refused to sign on to the address to the Assembly but relented at the last stage. It also referred to Khan's stand on appointment of Vice Chancellors as "controversial".

"The reappointment of the vice chancellor of the Kannur University, an order he had signed and later expressed some misgivings about, has now been cleared by the Kerala High Court as valid," it said.

The editorial said that Governors in other non-BJP ruled states were also "acting brazenly and in a partisan fashion" and referred to West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who regularly tweets against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the state government. He has sought to give directions to officials over the heads of the elected state government, it said.

In Maharashtra, the governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has sat over the recommendations for twelve nominees to the state legislative council proposed by the state government.

Koshiyari has sought to deal with the Vice Chancellors on his own accord utilising his status of Chancellor, the CPI(M) said adding Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has also been directly dealing with Vice Chancellors and had returned the legislation on NEET passed unanimously by the Assembly.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear on February 25 a plea by BJP leaders against the Calcutta High Court's order allowing the State Election Commissioner to take a decision on deployment of central paramilitary forces in 108 West Bengal municipalities for polls on February 27.

Senior advocate P S Patwalia, appearing for BJP leaders Mousumi Roy and Pratap Banerjee, made a mention of the plea before a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana for urgent hearing.

He submitted that the High Court had left the decision on the state election commission (SEC).

Also Read: Satish Poonia apologises for his remarks comparing state budget with dark-skinned bride

To this, the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli, said, "We are now addressing the issue of governance. This is for the election commission to decide.

The counsel, however, pointed out that a bench led by Justice D Y Chandrachud had earlier heard the matter connected with Tripura municipal elections and passed orders on deployment of central forces.

He sought an urgent hearing in the matter on Friday as the polls are scheduled on Sunday.

The bench, finally, agreed to list the matter on February 25.

In December 2021, the top court had declined to entertain a plea by the BJP seeking a direction to the West Bengal government, state election panel and other functionaries, to come up with an action plan, including deployment of sufficient central police forces, for a free and fair municipal polls in Kolkata.

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Kerala Assembly was disrupted on Thursday as the Opposition shouted slogans and raised a banner covering the Speaker's view after they were denied permission to discuss the gold and dollar smuggling case involving UAE consulate officials and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's former secretary.

Speaker M B Rajesh denied permission to the adjournment motion notice given by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) maintaining that the matter was pending before the court.

The Opposition MLAs trooped to the well of the house shouting slogans that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his government was afraid of discussing the case and called on the CM to shed his silence over the matter.

Even as the Speaker repeatedly asked the Opposition MLAs to remove the banner, the Opposition did not concede. Tense moments prevailed as the ruling front MLAs also advanced towards the well of the house. Subsequently, the Speaker left the house.

Later, the Speaker held talks with the Chief Minister and Opposition leader in his chamber and resumed the house after about 30 minutes.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan subsequently made a call for boycotting the house for the day alleging that the Opposition's rights were being denied.

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In a rare gesture, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu on Thursday observed the 74th birth anniversary of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa by deputing two senior officials to garland her statue here.

Mahesan Kasirajan, Secretary, Tamil Development & Information Department, and V P Jeyaseelan, Director of Information and Public Relations, paid respects to Jayalalithaa by garlanding her statue installed at the Dr J Jayalalithaa complex on Kamarajar Salai here.

The two officials also showered flower petals on the portrait of the late leader. The move came after the government led by Chief Minister M K Stalin decided to observe the birth and death anniversaries of Jayalalithaa, who ruled Tamil Nadus political landscape for three decades.

The government also received appreciation on social media for the matured political courtesy shown by Stalin to a leader from the principal opposition party. Though bonhomie between ruling and opposition leaders is a common sight in other states, it wasnt the case when Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi dominated the political scene.

In fact, it was Stalin and his predecessor Edappadi K Palaniswami who ushered in a healthy political culture in the state which had witnessed only acrimony between the treasury and opposition benches. Stalin visited Jayalalithaa in October 2016 when Jayalalithaa was hospitalized and paid respects to her following her death in December 2016.

In February 2018, Palaniswami welcomed Stalin, then Leader of Opposition, in his chambers at the Secretariat and led his cabinet colleagues in paying respects to DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi when he died in August the same year.

Stalin reciprocated the gesture when he drove to Palaniswamis residence here following his mothers death.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy has offered all possible support to the Ministry of External Affairs in repatriating the Andhra students stranded in Ukraine.

The war situation in Ukraine intensified after Russia began a full-scale invasion of the eastern European nation on Thursday.

Though numbers are not clear, several students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are pursuing various educational and professional courses in Ukraine.

I would like to bring to your notice that in view of the current uncertainties and tensions in Ukraine, several Indian nationals, especially students studying in various colleges there, have sought assistance from the AP government to return home safely, Reddy said in his letter to the Minister of External affairs S Jaishankar.

Also read: Indian passengers from Ukraine can return via Qatar, says govt

After the advise of the Indian Embassy in Ukraine to leave the country temporarily, the AP officials are in constant communication with the students from the state to provide necessary support and assistance. They are also taking updates from the MEA and the embassy on the evolving situation.

I request the concerned MEA officials to reach out to the Resident Commissioner AP Bhavan in New Delhi or my office (in Amaravati) for any assistance and support required for repatriating students belonging to AP, Reddy said in his letter on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay said that they are communicating with the MEA for the safe return of the state's students other citizens. A help desk has been set up by the party, Bandi said while appealing to the students and parents not to worry.

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The family members cleaned her dirt ridden white coat to a glistening white and painted her with blue stripes, applied a red tilak on her forehead. Covering her back with a red net chundari, the women performed several rituals, offered her special food and prayed for her good health and a healthy baby.

The ceremony proceeded with merrymaking amid bouts of laughter and curiosity as the rituals were familiar for all except for the mother for whom the baby shower had been organised.

It was, in a first, a baby shower of Halari donkey, an indigenous breed found in a few districts of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. With a total population of 439, Halari donkeys are on the verge of extinction.

"In order to create awareness to conserve this particular breed of donkeys, a group of Maldharis (pastoral community) organised a baby shower of a pregnant Halari donkey. We assisted them to hold this event so that we can educate people to conserve them from dying," said Ramesh Bhatti from Sahjeevan, a Bhuj-based NGO which works for the pastoral community.

He said that about 100 pastoralists had gathered in Upleta, Rajkot district with 33 pregnant donkeys. Among them, the 'best donkey', named Dhori, was identified. "We decorated Dhori and performed the rituals exactly the way we do with women in our family. We did it to create awareness to keep this breed alive," said Punabhai Bharwad, whose family owns eight donkeys including Dhori. He said that eight-year-old Dhori is pregnant for the first time.

Halari donkeys are very much a part of the Maldharis community who live a nomadic life and use them as pack animals. Few years ago, these donkeys were recognised as "distinct" by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Haryana. They are white in colour and are taller and stronger than normal donkeys.

Bhatti told DH that the population of these donkeys was 1,200 back in 2014, which was reduced to 662 in 2020. He said that male donkeys are sold at a price ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000, which are mainly used in remote hilly areas for goods transportation. Bhatti said that Halari donkey's milk is also said to be one of the most expensive in the world which can go up to Rs 1000 for its medicinal values.

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and various other state ministers sat on a dharna here on Thursday to protest against the arrest of their cabinet colleague Nawab Malik by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.

NCP leader Pawar, whose party shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress in the state as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), was the first to reach the protest site close to Mahatma Gandhi's statue near the state secretariat Mantralaya. He was later joined by State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil, Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Minister of State for Tourism Aditi Tatkare (all NCP leaders), Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar, PWD Minister Ashok Chavan, Sports Minister Sunil Kedar, Textiles Minister Aslam Sheikh and MoS for Home Satej Patil (all from Congress).

Also Read  Nawab Maliks resignation 'out of question', says MVA

NCP MP Supriya Sule and state women's commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar were also present. After the protest began at 10 am, no senior Shiv Sena leader was seen for about an hour. Later, state Industries Minister Subhash Desai, who belongs to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, joined the protest. State Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray and Shiv Sena's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut are currently in Uttar Pradesh for the Assembly elections campaigning.

Talking to reporters, Thorat claimed that central probe agencies were being being used to silence political opponents. "This is unfortunate and a black chapter in the country's history," the Congress leader said. Jayant Patil, who is also the state NCP chief, said the allegations against Malik are "baseless". Malik will respond to all the allegations of terror links against him in the court, he said. The BJP's "attempt to overthrow the MVA government" has not been successful yet.

"The action against the serving cabinet minister is part of such a move," he claimed. Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande, who also joined the protest, claimed that for the past 27 months, the BJP has been trying to destablise the MVA government which has performed well. Malik (62), the state minority affairs minister and NCP's chief spokesperson, was arrested on Wednesday after being questioned for about five hours at the ED's office in south Mumbai's Ballard Estate area. He was later produced before special judge R N Rokade, who remanded him in the ED custody till March 3.

The agency said the money laundering probe was linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides. Malik was on Wednesday produced in a special PMLA court where the probe agency claimed the NCP leader was "actively" involved in "terror funding". After a meeting of top leaders of the ruling MVA on Wednesday evening, a senior NCP leader said there is no question of taking the resignation of Malik since he has not committed anything wrong.

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After Nawab Maliks arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, his family on Thursday said that the Maharashtra minister and NCP chief spokesperson would fight it out.

The action against Malik is totally illegal. It is wrong and done with a political motive, said Maliks brother Kaptan Malik, who had also been summoned by the ED.

My brother is a fighter and he would fight it out, said Maliks sister Sayeeda Khan.

"Some superheroes don't wear capes. They are called Dad, tweeted Maliks daughter Nilofar Malik Khan.

Malik has four children Sana Malik Shaikh, Nilofar Malik Khan, Aamir Malik and Faraz Malik.

It was Nilofars husband Sameer who was arrested by the NCB in a drugs case, after which Malik launched a broadside against the federal anti-drug agency and its then Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede.

Malik timed the attack on NCB and ED and other central agencies after Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan was arrested by the NCB.

When my husband was in jail, I fought as a wife. Now my father is in jail, I will fight as a daughter, Nilofar said.

Nilofar said that the case against Malik is completely fabricated and he was targeted as he was exposing the central agencies like ED and NCB. The case is politically motivated, she said that the entire Malik family, NCP and the MVA government have supported her father.

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The war in Ukraine has intensified after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised, on February 21, the two breakaway Republics, Donetsk and Luhansk, in eastern Ukraine and ordered his troops to enter there for "peacekeeping duties".

Heavy shelling has spread to key cities of Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv. The response of US President Joe Biden announcing new sanctions on February 22 on the two Russian financial

institutions, its sovereign debt and five Russian elites have been weak. Biden is under considerable pressure from the US Congress and others to provide urgently needed military supplies and other support to the pro-West government in Ukraine.

Putin's demands that Ukraine and other former Soviet states should never be admitted into the NATO, and its troop deployment rolled back from Eastern and Central Europe to 1997 positions have been rejected by the US. Putin has announced a "special military operation for demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine (implying that the Nazis now occupy Ukraine). He wants to have a decisive influence on the Ukrainian government, a demand not acceptable to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has stated that Ukraine would fight back. According to some polls, more than 60 per cent of the Ukrainian people want a closer association with the West than Russia.

Also Read  Sensex down by over 1,600 as Russia 'invades' Ukraine

Putin has chosen the timing of this confrontation carefully after preparing his country for it over several years. The US is occupied with an all-encompassing rivalry with China. Crude oil and gas (Russia's main exports) prices are high. Russia has accumulated $630 billion of foreign exchange reserves and has achieved self-sufficiency in food production. Putin has devoted more expenditure to modernise his military, reduced Russia's external debt to 25 per cent of its GDP and diversified his trade partners, reducing dependence on Europe. The sanctions imposed by the US and Europe do not pose an immediate risk to Putin as the US is unlikely to hit Russia's energy exports or exclude her from the Swift clearing system. That would threaten billions of dollars in payments to the Russian creditors in Austria, France, the Netherlands and other European countries.

Putin's aggression challenges the US-led security architecture in Europe. He has called America-led West an "empire of lies", stating that Russia tried to reach an agreement with the NATO countries for 30 years on "equal and indivisible security in Europe", but was met with only "cynical lies and blackmail" from them. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the NATO outreach to much of Eastern Europe, the Americans had started believing that a much weakened Russia would never have the power to disturb the US-led political order. A few years back, in 2014, US President Barack Obama had called Russia a "regional power". Most European countries had subcontracted their security to the US, rejoicing the newly obtained peace and prosperity. Now all those hopes appear untenable.

The US is again faced with the spectre of two fronts war for which it is hardly equipped. Its defence expenditure during the last decade declined by about 10 per cent whereas that of Europe increased by a mere 14.4 per cent. In contrast, that of Russia went up by 30 per cent, and China's more than doubled. US President Biden had stated earlier that he would not send the American troops to fight for Ukraine though it would provide arms, economic and other support to her. Putin saw this statement as a sign of Biden's continuing weakness, ambivalence and lack of commitment to the security of Eastern Europe.

Also Read  Russia's Putin announces 'military operation' in Ukraine

President Putin is a Soviet nostalgist and wants to resurrect Russia's old sphere of influence. He has stated that modern Ukraine was created entirely by communist Russia after the 1917 revolution, and the Ukraine government has now taken a hostile stance towards her. Putin is willing to progressively escalate and destabilise Ukraine till it accepts Russia's demands.

He believes that the US would not go for a full-scale war with Russia, which is its peer in military terms and would ultimately ask the Ukraine government to accept Russia's main demands. It is unclear if the US and Europe would gather the resolve to go to war for Ukraine. The smaller countries near Russia, such as Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Poland are worried whether Putin would stop at Ukraine or go beyond to resurrect his old East European empire. They are asking the NATO countries to deploy more troops in their countries.

The US-Russia rivalry is already causing concern to its Asian allies and partners, who are worried that the US would now not project a strong response to counter China's continued aggression in East Asia, particularly the Taiwan Strait. China is happy at the turn of events and is quietly watching the Western response and analysing how it could learn from the Russian playbook in confronting the US in East China.

The above conflict poses multiple difficulties for India. Russia has been India's traditional security partner and provided about 60 per cent of India's military equipment, including newer generations of weaponry and technologies which no other country offered her. Given China's continuing belligerence against India with the deployment of more than 50,000 troops and hi-tech weapons on its northern borders, India can hardly ignore its security needs. India is an important part of the Quad (with the US, Japan and Australia), which is playing an important role in resisting China's aggression and hegemony in the Indo-Pacific region. India also can't ignore the violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and other countries in the region.

The continuing confrontation between the US and Russia will have a damaging impact on the global politics and economy complicating the resolution of several global problems and regional conflicts in East Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, augmenting energy prices and of other commodities and harming international trade. It is India's hope that the parties to this conflict will agree to de-escalate the situation and pursue a negotiated solution, which meets the legitimate interests of all countries.

(Yogesh Gupta is a former ambassador)
With a year left for the Assembly election, the hijab controversy and the Shivamogga violence have become tools to set the political agenda in the state.

Much is at stake for political parties involved as these incidents could tip electoral equations, polarising voters.

The Shivamogga incident where a Bajrang Dal activist was killed has elicited sharp criticism from BJP supporters themselves. Several Hindutva activists have taken to social media to demand why the ruling party, espousing the Hindutva ideology, failed to protect one of its activists.

Also Read | Students should follow uniform prescribed by schools, colleges: Karnataka HC on hijab row

BJP leaders who spoke to DH said they were caught off-guard. "The murder taking place in Shivamogga, where our organisation is very strong, is a setback," a party leader said. Unless the government takes action against the culprits immediately, the party cadre will be disillusioned, he worried.

In an attempt to quell discontent, BJP leaders have been quick in issuing statements blaming "radical Islam."

However, this setback is temporary. For, both the Shivamogga incident and the hijab row will help the BJP consolidate its votes ahead of the Assembly polls. "Notice how common citizens are coming forward to pool in funds for Harsha's family. This is nothing but a consolidation of Hindu society. The criticism on social media will fizzle out soon. In the longer run, this will work in BJP's favour," a party source said.

Also Read | 63 communal clashes in 3 years, zero convictions in Karnataka: Govt data

While college students sporting saffron shawls and protesting in front of their institutions might appear trivial at the outset, this, too, is an advantage BJP. "By wearing saffron shawls, the younger generation is now part of the voter base. These first-time voters will remain with us for the next few decades," the source added.

Meanwhile, the communal polarisation has made Congress wary. With the BJP riding on a highly emotional issue, Congress is hard-pressed to find an alternative narrative. "The only way for Congress is to counter the propaganda by taking the BJP head-on," a Congress leader said. There has to be a deeper reach out programme for this. The Congress also needs to step up its IT infrastructure, a strong asset of the BJP, he added.

A section of the Congress is wary of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) eating into its Muslim vote base.

"It doesn't work that way," Akram Hassan, national media committee member of the SDPI, said. "Unlike Kerala where there are constituencies with 80% Muslims, Karnataka does not have any constituency where a party can bank on votes from only one community. We won't benefit anyway from polarisation."

Watch the latest DH Videos here:
Derry, NH (03038)

Today

Periods of rain. High 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Derry Feis is celebrating its 100th birthday this Easter. To mark the special occasion, the Derry Now is publishing a series of articles titled: Mo thuras go Fheis Dhoire Cholmcille 2022.

Today, Gearoid O Dochartaigh, who is adjudicating this year's An Teanga competitions, describes his personal journey to Derry Feis 2022.

Like many of the young people taking part, Feis Dhoire Cholmcille, 2022 is Gearoid's first experience of the iconic cultural event, and he is reassuring competitors they do not need to be nervous.

The born and bred Derry man, who is a teaching assistant at Dublin City University, said: Don't be nervous at all. To even enter the competitions is brilliant because taking part in Derry Feis is a good learning experience in itself. Don't be nervous because we are all in this together. I just want to see your pride in speaking Irish in the different competitions. I want to hear what you will do.

Gearoid's family, father, Gerry, mother, Siobhan (nee O Hagan), brother, Daniel, and sister, Treasa, are from Hazelbank.

A past pupil of St Brigid's Primary School, Carnhill, he began learning Irish when he went to St Columb's College.

Gearoid recalled: I did not come from an Irish-speaking background. I was the youngest in the family and the first one who got the opportunity to learn Irish.

I did it mainly as a way to honour my parents but, within the first two or three weeks at St Columb's, I just thought, 'I am on to something here'. Picture an 11 year old, going on 12 year old, thinking, 'This is absolutely class' and I could do nothing but get As and A*s from first year to GCSE.

Irish was the one subject I actually enjoyed at school, to the point where, during my parent-teacher meeting in fourth year, my father was given warnings by every other teacher to tell me to start concentrating on their subjects.

The only teacher to actually give me rave reviews was my Irish teacher, Ms Patrice McConnell. It got to the point I had to be scolded almost into concentrating on my other subjects. I won the best GCSE Irish for my year and then a joint languages award for AS Level as well, smiled Gearoid.

Gearoid went on to study A' Level Irish at Thornhill, whilst also having regular Irish conversation classes in St Columb's with popular gaeilgeoir, Gearalt O Mianain.

Following his graduation from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in Celtic Theology and Modern Irish, Gearoid got a first in his masters degree in Scriobh agus Cumarsaid na Gaeilge from University College Dublin.

I have never been involved in Feis Dhoire Cholmcille before, said Gearoid. I always associated it with Irish dancing. Like many young people in Derry and beyond, this year will be my first experience of the event.

I am very excited about having been asked to adjudicate An Teanga because it is actually my first big interaction with Irish speakers in Derry, young people. It will be nice to see what the future is going to hold for the Irish language within Derry City itself.

I am glad it is only now I have been asked to adjudicate because I am at a very good stage with the language, where I feel I can be a good help to the young people. This is a very exciting prospect and I am really really thankful for it.

I would say to competitors to take their time. There is no need to rush and if you need a breather, that is grand. Please do not worry, said Gearoid.

Turning to the special An Teanga centenary competition  primary and post-primary entries welcome - a 300-word manifesto for the Irish language in the next 100 years, Gearoid said competitors could think about how they wanted to see the Irish language when Feis Dhoire Cholmcille was celebrating its bicentenary.

He added: Specifically, who should be speaking Irish and what way will the country be then?

What will we be doing with the Irish language in 2122 that we can't do right now? How can Irish be good for the country? Do you think Irish could unite the country? Could it make people happier, do you think?

I would just like to encourage young Irish speakers to come along and have fun. I look forward to meeting you and speaking Irish, said Gearoid.

Anyone interested in entering any of the An Teanga competitions at Derry Feis can contact: Kathleen McGlinchey on: 028 7126 8528 or Miceal-Piaras O Ceallaigh: 0044 7999497103 or email: teangafeisdhoire@gmail.com.

All information on Feis Dhoire Cholmcille can be read at: www.derryfeis.com or on the Derry Feis Facebook page.

RECOMMENDED ARTICLE
So, it has started. Russian forces have unleashed a massive attack on Ukraine. In the early hours of the morning, in a short televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation at dawn. Within minutes of the broadcast, at about 5am Ukrainian time, explosions were heard near major Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kiev.

In previous weeks, Putin built up an estimated 190,000 troops close to Ukraines borders, while European leaders shuttled between Kiev and Moscow, seeking a diplomatic solution. But one does not mobilise such a huge number of troops, tanks and guns just in order to dance a diplomatic minuet.



In the immediate fog of war, with only scraps of information at our disposal, it is impossible to give an accurate appraisal of the military situation. But the scope of the Russian attack appears to be massive. To cite one report:

"Ukraines interior ministry reported that the country was under attack from cruise and ballistic missiles, with Russia appearing to target infrastructure near major cities such as Kiev, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Dnipro. "Explosions from artillery rockets lit up the night sky as shelling began near Mariupol, as videos showed. A senior adviser to Ukraines interior ministry said that it appeared Russian troops may soon move on Kharkiv, which is about 20 miles from the border. Locals in Kiev sought safety in bomb shelters as explosions were heard outside the city."

And another:

"Some of the first explosions after Putin announced the operation were heard near Kramatorsk, the headquarters of the Ukrainian armys operations centre near the Russian-controlled territories in south-east Ukraine. Explosions were also reported at military headquarters, and at military warehouses."

There have also been reports of an amphibious assault on the key port city of Mariupol and ground forces moving in from Belarus, Crimea and from Russia. The Russian military claimed it was not targeting population centres. High-precision weapons are disabling the military infrastructure, air defence facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Ukrainian army, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement carried by state-owned news agency Ria Novosti.

Putins speech

The stage for the offensive was set on Wednesday night, after the leaders of the two Russian-controlled territories in east Ukraine sent an official request to Moscow for military aid to help repel the aggression of the Ukrainian armed forces in order to avoid civilian casualties and a humanitarian catastrophe in the Donbas.

An examination of Putins speech from this morning tells us something about his aims and intentions. Every war must have some justification and, in this case, Putin mentioned: A hostile anti-Russia is being created on our historic lands.

Putins speech was really a declaration of war, but he studiously avoided mentioning it / Image: kremlin.ru

This claim is constantly rubbished by the West as mere propaganda. How can poor little Ukraine pose a threat to Russia? they snort. That is of course, a question that is supposed to answer itself. On its own, clearly Ukraine does not represent much of a threat. But as part of an imperialist military bloc led by the United States, planted on Russias doorstep, it most certainly would.

At the heart of the present dispute is, therefore, Ukraines future membership of NATO. Guaranteeing against this was a central Russian demand, which has been repeatedly refused by Washington  a refusal that was all the more absurd because the West acknowledges that Ukraine does not meet the minimum requirements for NATO membership at this point in time. It is not quite clear whether acceptance of this demand would, in itself, have prevented an invasion. But continually rejecting it out of hand made it inevitable.

The second requirement in any war is to gain the element of surprise and to put the blame on the other side. In this case, it was the shelling of the Donbas region. But that has gone on uninterruptedly for some years.

However, the immediate excuse is really a secondary consideration, since once the war becomes necessary, any excuse can be found. And as far as the element of surprise is concerned, that has been achieved very effectively, with the active assistance of messrs Biden and Johnson. They have behaved like the little boy who cried Wolf! so often that, when the wolf finally appeared at the door, nobody believed him.

Putins speech was really a declaration of war, but he studiously avoided mentioning it. This man, who is the nearest thing I know to an Egyptian Sphinx, likes to keep everyone guessing. We have taken the decision to conduct a special military operation, he said, without even hinting on just how special it would be.

And what would be the aim of this special military operation? He claimed it was for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine. We do not intend to occupy Ukraine, he said, but at the same time, he had a warning for other nations who might be tempted to get involved:



To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside: if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me, he said.

A fairly clear message, I think.

Can Ukraine resist?

The immediate reaction of the Kiev government was words of defiance:

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, said Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

President Volodymyr Zelensky used a video address to appeal to the Russian public for help after an attempt to speak to Putin was unsuccessful. Do Russians want wars? I would very much like to answer this question. But the answer is up to you, he said.

He also vowed to defend the country, saying: If someone attempts to take away our land, our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. By attacking, you will see our faces, not our backs, but our faces.

He announced that martial law was now being imposed across all of Ukraine.

No panic. We're strong. We're ready for anything. We'll defeat everyone, because we are Ukraine, the Ukrainian leader said. Ahead of Russia's attack, he had made a last-ditch attempt to avert war, warning that Russia could start a major war in Europe and urging Russian citizens to oppose it.

Brave words! But this is just so much empty bravado. The Ukrainian army is in disarray, being taken hopelessly off guard by the suddenness of the attack. In any case, it was in no position to resist the might of the Russian army. The moment the West announced that it did not intend to send troops to defend Ukraine, the matter was settled in advance.

The assertion that there is no panic in the capital is belied by television pictures that show long lines of cars fleeing Kiev.

From the very start, the Kiev government has been a picture of helplessness. By stubbornly insisting on its right to join NATO  a clear provocation to Moscow  it threw itself unto the arms of the West as its only hope for survival. That was a very foolish mistake.

For all their public displays of bravado, the imperialists have not the slightest interest in the people of Ukraine. They are regarded as mere pawns in a cynical game of Great Power politics.

The Russian military claimed that all of Ukraines aviation bases were disabled in the barrage of missiles that began the Russian invasion. Smoke has been seen rising from near major airfields outside of Kharkiv and other cities in the east, and as far west as Ivano-Frankivsk, which is nearer to the border with Poland.

Thursdays attack was preceded by a massive, continuous cyber-attack that targeted Ukraines ministries and banks, a form of hybrid warfare to sow confusion.

There have also been reports indicating that Russian forces have entered Ukraine, claiming that Ukraines border forces are not putting up any resistance to Russian units.

In a recent Facebook post, Dmitri Kovalevich a commentator based in Kiev paints a picture of Ukrainian forces in disarray:

Unconfirmed messages on the Ukrainian web suggest that some 70 percent of recent western arms supplies for Ukraine were destroyed directly on arms depots. Our military is lamenting the fact that the depots were run by officers who turned out to be Russian agents, and simply blew them up. Update: all Turkish Bayractar drones were also destroyed right on the air fields. "Donetsk rebels seized the city of Marioupol. Almost no resistance there from Ukraines army  they just walked into the city. "Missiles that hit Ukraines military bases in Odessa were launched by underwater submarines. Reportedly, Ukraines border control checkpoints were captured in the Sumy region [north-east Ukraine]. Russian marines landed in Odessa region. Kiev anti-aircraft base was hit by ballistic missiles  within an hour Ukraine lost almost all its anti-aircraft systems. Mass fire from rocket-launchers along the entire frontline in Donbass. A Russian military column crossed the border in the Kharkov region. People from various regions of Ukraine report loud explosions, which happened simultaneously in Odessa, Kiev, Kramatorsk, Marioupol, Kharkov and Dnipro-city. This looks like large, timed explosives, detonated at once throughout the country. US intelligence drones left the airspace over Ukraine. Update: explosions hitting Ukraine's arms depots. Airspace over Ukraine is completely closed. Some jets flying to Kiev were ordered to turn back.

It is clear that these reports, based on confused and partial information during the heat of the fighting, must be treated with some caution. But if only half of this is true, it shows that the Russians made sure that the military capabilities of Ukraines defences were destroyed, or at least severely impaired, before the invasion started.

It also paints a picture of demoralisation and lack of motivation in at least part of the Ukrainian forces, which contradicts the picture that has been peddled by western propaganda. Russia now has every incentive to move as fast as possible to seize the capital.

Military analysts have said they expect that Putin would send his forces in order to capture or surround Kiev. US Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senates select committee on intelligence, claims that Russias airborne forces are attempting to take control of the airport in Kiev to fly in forces to occupy the city.

There were reports on Thursday evening on Russian state media that airborne troops had captured the airport in Boryspil near Kiev. Whether these reports are true or false, it is only a matter of time before the Ukrainian capital is in Russian hands. The war will then, to all intents and purposes, be over.

Shock and horror

Western leaders have fallen over themselves in their haste to condemn the invasion, which, if we are to believe them, will lead to something approaching Armageddon, with millions (sic!) of people killed and a bloody all-European war threatening the very existence of human civilization as we know it.

Joe Biden issued a written statement saying:

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Biden said. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable. I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

We will hold the Kremlin accountable, wrote Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU Commission, which had announced new sanctions against Moscow just hours before the attack.

Biden and co. never had the slightest intention of providing military support to Kiev. Their only contribution to the present crisis was a never-ending series of bellicose statements / Image: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

All of these fine, defiant words are contrasted with the fact that Biden and co. never had the slightest intention of providing military support to Kiev. Their only contribution to the present crisis was a never-ending series of bellicose statements, accompanied by dire threats of severe (but unspecified) consequences that would allegedly follow a Russian attack. These remarks, backed up by an obstinate intransigence to even consider Russias demands, helped to make an invasion inevitable.

In short, all these ladies and gentlemen were quite prepared to fight to the last drop of the blood  specifically, that of the Ukrainians.

Even more despicable was the rabid ranting that was coming out of London. If incendiary speeches could win wars, the stupid rhetoric delivered on the floor of the House of Commons would have had the Russian army scurrying back to barracks as fast as their boots could carry them.

The UK and our allies will respond decisively, growled Prime Minister Boris Johnson, more to impress his own Tory backbenchers, who have attacked him for his timid response to the man in the Kremlin.

Unfortunately, the historical record tells us that wars have never been won by words. Putin must have had a good laugh at this circus that passes for a parliament. That is, if he paid any attention to it at all, which we doubt very much.

And what are we to say about Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer? The most earnest desire of this right-wing Blairite is to make the Labour Party look as similar to the Tories as possible. His dream is to see it waving the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes instead of the Red Flag.

So, it was no surprise to see him enthusiastically competing with Boris Johnson to prove who was the most ferocious enemy of Russia and the most ardent supporter of NATO.

The pot should not call the kettle black

All these words stink of hypocrisy. Where was the chorus of condemnation when the Americans and their allies (read: lackeys) launched a criminal and bloody war against Iraq? And what about their lying propaganda about non-existent weapons of mass destruction, that were supposed to be proved by fake documents, and served as a cynical cover for an act of blatant aggression against a sovereign state?

That disgusting act  as well as the equally criminal invasion of Afghanistan and the imperialist rape of Syria  led to the deaths of at least one million people. But why let the facts ruin a good story?

Parading on TV for the world to see, in their tailor-made suits and polished smiles, the western leaders are made to appear as the voice of reason and humanism. But scratch that surface, and you will find nothing but filth. There is no force on earth as reactionary and as drenched in blood as US imperialism and its puppets in the west.

The United Nations

As always, when war breaks out, our ears are suddenly assailed by a strange noise. It strongly resembles the bleating of frightened sheep, but in fact it is the Voice of Sanity, the True Voice of Humanity, or so we are led to believe.

I refer to the bleating of the pacifists: those pleasant, well-meaning souls who inform us that peace is good and war is bad. But wars have never been halted by sentimental appeals to decency and common sense. On the contrary, common sense tells us that throughout the ages, all serious matters have always been resolved by force of arms.

One of the most remarkable features of pacifists is their seemingly endless capacity for self-deception. They eagerly cling to each and any speech by a leader fervently declaring his or her attachment to peace. Or this or that empty resolution passed by a government or institution repeating the same banal sentiments. A naive belief in the efficacy of such things make the pacifists useful dupes of the warmongers, since they lull people into a false sense of security.

Such speeches and resolutions merely serve as a convenient smokescreen to conceal the real, aggressive intentions that lie behind them. And the biggest fraud of all is the comically misnamed United Nations. This body was set up following the Second World War, supposedly to prevent new wars in the future.

And every time there is a danger of war, the pacifists and left reformists call on the UN to intervene. That is a stupid illusion and a deception of the people.

This is not the place to repeat the sorry history of that institution. Suffice it to say that the UN has never prevented any war, and has in fact been involved in more than one, as the case of Korea shows.

Between 1945 and 1989 there have been more than 300 wars internationally. Since WW2 and until today, the United States alone has waged 30 major military operations. The United Nations had no impact whatsoever on any of these events.

And today is no different. At the very time when Putins words were being broadcast, the UN security council was holding an emergency session, chaired by Russia itself, which holds the rotating presidency.

It was begun by the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, who made a direct appeal: President Putin  stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.

But no sooner had these words left his lips, the first detonations were being reported. The final epitaph on the grave of pacifism and the United Nations can be left to the Bible: crying peace, peace, when there is no peace. (Jeremiah, 6: 14)

Lenin once said that capitalism is horror without end. It is a system with war and reactionary national chauvinism baked into its foundations, as a part of the international competition for markets and spheres of influence. How many millions of workers and poor have been marched onto the battlefields and sacrificed in the name of the nation, which is merely another word for the interests of the capitalist class?

As long as capitalism remains, war will remain a permanent feature, and there can be no talk of united nations, just like there can be no talk of a united nation. The only unity that is possible is international class unity.

It is the task of Marxists and socialists to expose the illusion that the interests of the workers and poor can be reconciled with those of the ruling class. The only way to fight war is to fight against the system which causes war.

What now?

While it is too early to say that the war is over, nobody can doubt that the Russians will achieve all their declared objectives in a very short time. It is not easy to determine the precise mood of the Ukrainian people. In any case, it will be different in the eastern region, where there are many Russian speakers; and the western part, which has always been more inclined to nationalism.

But the prevailing mood will be one of despair, pessimism and, above all, war-weariness and a strong desire for peace and some kind of stability. This may provide Putin the basis for setting up a pro-Russian government in Kiev.

While it is too early to say that the war is over, nobody can doubt that the Russians will achieve all their declared objectives in a very short time / Image: Igor Rudenko, Wikimedia Commons

It seems to me that a man like Poroshenko might fit the bill nicely as a replacement for Zelensky. True, he has made some very sharp speeches lately, condemning Putin. But that was to be expected, and behind the scenes, negotiations will be taking place, the outcome of which may yet surprise everyone. But that is just my guess

Obviously, the question of Ukrainian membership of NATO will be off the agenda. Under the declared banner of denazification, there will be a purge of right-wing and ultra-nationalist organisations.

It is self-evident that the Russian occupying forces will want to rid themselves of actual or potential enemies, and this will certainly include the fascist and ultra-nationalist armed militias.

When Putin says he does not intend to occupy Ukraine, there is no reason to doubt his word. To be more accurate, he will not occupy it for long. That would be too difficult and very expensive.

No. He will withdraw, having made his point. And that is to show both to the Ukrainians and the rest of the world that Russia is not to be trifled with, that NATOs expansion to the east must stop, that Ukraine and Georgia must never join it and that NATO must not place large concentrations of forces near Russias borders or hold provocative manoeuvres in the vicinity.

He keeps repeating that he is open to negotiate, and that is also the case. But he will now be negotiating from a position that is far stronger than before. He will press his demand for the removal of medium-range nuclear weapons from Eastern Europe and the effective reinstatement of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, which, you will recall, was unilaterally ditched by Mr. Trump.

Before withdrawing, just to make things absolutely clear, he may well pocket a few more pieces of Ukrainian territory, namely by expanding the newly recognised Peoples Republics to include the whole of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

That, by the way, would be a purely defensive move, designed to create a buffer zone on Russias southern border. That would underline the impotence of Ukraine and remove it altogether from the list of possible future threats to Russias security  which was exactly what Putin did in the case of Georgia.

Incidentally, on re-reading what I wrote at that time, I think it fits the present situation very well, so I will quote it here:

Yes, we recognise the right of the people of Georgia to self-determination, but not unconditionally. We do not defend their right to oppress other small nations, such as the Ossetians and the Abkhazians. Do we defend the right of the Abkhazian and Ossetians to self-determination? Yes, we do. But what kind of self-determination is it that depends entirely on subsidies from Moscow and allows itself to be used as the small change in the diplomatic intrigues of the latter to subvert and oppress the Georgians? In what way does this further the cause of socialism and the working class? In no way! This kind of self-determination is a fraud and a lie. It is merely a convenient smokescreen to disguise the ambitions and greed of a larger power, namely Russia, which wants to take back its old possessions in the Caucasus. The absorption of these peoples into Russia will give them about the same self-determination as that enjoyed by the Chechens  that is, none at all, just as there is no real self-determination in North Ossetia, Dagestan, or any other region in Russia. On the basis of capitalism no lasting solution can be found for the national question, whether in the Caucasus, the Balkans or the Middle East. Any attempt to solve the national question on the basis of capitalism can only lead to new wars, terrorism, ethnic cleansing and new waves of refugees, in a vicious spiral of violence and oppression. The question of the right to return for all refugees can never be solved on a capitalist basis. It would inevitably mean increased competition for scarce resources, jobs, houses, medical assistance, education, and other services. If there are not enough jobs and houses for all, it would inevitably fuel the fires of national or religious tensions. Partial reforms will not solve the problem. A root-and-branch solution is necessary. One cannot cure cancer with an aspirin!

If we replace the word Georgia with Ukraine, and the Russian-speaking people of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions for the Ossetians and the Abkhazians, it fits like a glove. There is really nothing more to add to it.

The US will likely announce new sanctions against Russia on Monday, using tools to punish Russian banks and its larger financial system that Washington had so far held in reserve.

The sanctions imposed by the West will do nothing to alter Russias position, since Putin has taken steps to drastically reduce Russias dependence on the West. True, as an immediate reaction to the invasion, the Russian ruble fell to a record-low level since 2016, and trading was halted on the Russian stock market. But those effects will only be temporary. On the other hand, if sanctions lead to the cutting off of Russian gas supplies to Europe, it would have catastrophic effects and we would then expect a further rise in food and fuel prices.

What attitude should we take?

The present situation has inevitably been met by an intensified barrage of propaganda in the prostitute media. The aim of this is not at all to promote the interests and well-being of the people of Ukraine. On the contrary, their interests have been cynically sacrificed on the altar of imperialism.

It is imperative that we maintain a firm class position and do not allow ourselves to be dragged along by the lying imperialist propaganda machine.

Do we support Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchy whose interests he backs? No, Putin is no friend of the working class, either in Russia, Ukraine or anywhere else. The invasion of Ukraine is merely a continuation of his own cynical and reactionary agenda.

But that is not the question we should ask ourselves at this time. The question is: can we in any shape or form appear to be in the same camp as US and British imperialism? Can we associate ourselves, directly or indirectly with NATO, that reactionary imperialist gang? Or with Boris Johnson and the war-monger Liz Truss, or that Blairite traitor Starmer?

It is the task of the Russian working class to deal with Putin. Our fight is against imperialism, NATO and our own reactionary Tory government and those miserable so-called Labour leaders who are its partners in crime. As Lenin always insisted: the main enemy is at home. It is high time we reminded ourselves of that fact.

London, 24 February, 2022
A local council committee has recommended a 50,000 programme to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee be ratified at the next full council meeting.

Among Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's plans to mark the monarch's 70 years on the British throne is the planting of 16,000 trees on two locations within the Borough.

The trees will be planted at Letterloan Landfill site and Camus Tourist Amenity at a cost of 5,000 to the Council, with 28,000 funding secured from the Department of Agriculture, Enrivonment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

A number of keepsakes are also planned, with a certificate and comissioned teddy bear to be presented to newborn babies in June 2022.

Civic keepsakes will also be given to couples celebrating their Platinum Wedding Anniversary, while those celebrating their 70th birthday will also have it marked by Council.

2,000 will be spent delivering vintage tea dances for senior citizens in May, while a number of creative workshops and historical talks will also be held.

Limavady councillor Aaron Callan welcomed the plans and said it was important to link local events to activities being run nationally.

It's good to see engagement from a wide range of departments in the Council on this. I think the lessons learned from the centenary have been good, he told the Committee.

The Platinum Jubilee is a big event in the history of our nation. We have the extended bank holiday in June as part of that and tying into national events, as well as our own, will be key going forward.

Would it be possible to include wording that we will link in with the Queen's green canopy project? It's only semantics, but it's good that we link into the national level.

It's key the Council promotes that project and reaches out to ensure that project is taken up by local schools. I think it's a good project that helps the environment and engages people in a positive way.

The planned Causeway International Air Show  which has proved the subject of heated discussions between councillors in recent months  has been earmarked as the 'key signature event' by Council.

Councillors at last week's Leisure and Development Committee recommended the plans for ratification at the next full council meeting.
Pupils from Rainey Endowed School overcame tough competition from 15 other schools from across the North to win the 2022 NI Schools Business Challenge.

The coveted schools award took place in association with Henderson Group, BDO Northern Ireland and Queens Management School.

Further supported by CCEA, the competition displayed the young talent of our future business leaders.

The NI Business Challenge supports CCEAs A level Business Studies qualification, facilitating the development of pupils business skills and knowledge with a competitive edge.

This years event took place at Queens Management School, Riddel Hall with the winning team from Rainey Endowed School in Magherafelt being represented by Sara Henderson, Lewis Boyle, Shay Shiels and Mary Payne.

Nigel Harra, Senior Partner at BDO Northern Ireland said: Our local business community has a significant impact on our local economy, through jobs, investment and innovation and it is vital that we continue to grow this offering and attract our young talent towards business leadership.

The calibre of this years competition was exceptional, and I hope many of the students that took part today see their futures in business.

This challenge not only provides a real-life project with the obstacles and constraints that come alongside it, but it allows honest expert feedback on all areas of their submission.

This will allow them to continue to develop their business acumen beyond their A-level exams.

Billy Moore, Group Finance Director at Henderson Group added: After meeting the students taking part in the challenge, I can confidently say Northern Irelands business future is in very good hands.

These young minds are confident in their values and critical in their thinking, showing leadership skills in abundance.

Congratulations to Rainey, they are very deserving of their win and I know they will go far within our business community here in the future, Mr Moore added.

Pupils from Rainey Endowed School developed and presented a business strategy to their peers and a judging panel made up of senior business experts from BDO NI, Henderson Group, CCEA and Queens.

Professor Ciaran Connolly, Queens Management School added: It was fantastic to have A-level pupils back in Queen's Management School again.

"The quality of the presentations was extremely high and a testament to the talent and commitment of each of the teams, especially in these difficult and disruptive times.

I would like to thank the teachers for encouraging their pupils to participate and supporting this event.

A key element of the NI Business Challenge is that it supports CCEAs A level Business Studies, and Education Manager at CCEA, Jill Armer added: This is a fantastic day out for A level business students with the opportunity to compete with and against their peers and showcase their business knowledge in a boardroom scenario.

Its also a great way to find out more about potential courses at Queens and meet with professionals from the world of business.

Alongside bragging rights, the winners received VIP tickets for a Belfast Giants game, 500 for their school and a bespoke trophy.
After a two year hiatus from physical exhibitions due to Covid-19 restrictions, Portstewart based artist Adrian Margey originally from Kilrea, is looking forward to his return to the exhibition circuit with a major solo exhibition running at Titanic Hotel Belfast from Friday, February 25 to Sunday, February 27.

During lockdown, Margeys series of online home-schooling tutorials and popular virtual exhibitions filmed in his Portstewart home earned him a large following on social media but the artist is now eager to return to in-person events.

This eclectic come back exhibition at Titanic Hotel will showcase a wide variety of the artists enigmatic work. From large-scale canvases in his bold contemporary style to smaller, impressionistic works using naturalistic colours, collectors and art lovers are in for a visual treat.

Depictions of Belfast, North Coast, Glens of Antrim and the Mournes have inspired much of this new collection. Representations of traditional Irish musicians and dancers add another layer to this enticing collection.

Im extremely excited to re-launch physical in-person exhibitions again. This exhibition is a celebration of the landscape and natural beauty of Northern Ireland," said Adrian.

"I think as a result of lockdowns when many were unable to visit favourite beauty spots, there is a wider appreciation for the great outdoors and Im hopeful that my new collection will resonate with visitors on that level.

"Drawing Office One at Titanic Hotel floods with natural northern light and lends itself perfectly to showcasing my diverse new collection. I will be on hand throughout the course of the exhibition to discuss the work on show.

The exhibition is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department for Communities through the Creative Individuals Recovery Programme.

Opening times as follows: Friday, February 25: 6pm  9pm / Saturday, February 26: 11am  8pm & Sunday, February 27: 11am  6pm. Admission is free.

For more information telephone Margeys Portrush studio on 07841593762 or visit www.adrianmargey.com.
St Eugene's Cathedral Hall was the venue for the 'Cathedral Voices' sessions, which has brought people together every Thursday to enjoy singing and craic.

The project, overseen by the St Eugene's Cathedral Derry Diocese, is led by music facilitator Margarette McNamee, who explained the underlying principles of the project. She said: "We wanted to create an environment where people with dementia are treated with respect, as adults rather than children.

"It's said listening is the first ability you get and the last you ever lose, so from that perspective music is the perfect medium for people with this condition.

"Music taps into so many things. Songs from the past instantly summon up memory and reminiscing, and the vocal exercises we do can also improve cognitive skills  music is the unspoken communicator that all of us can understand."

The singing club is not just for those affected by dementia, but for older members of the community who have been impacted by the devastating social isolation brought about by the Covid pandemic over the last two years.

Margarette said: It was an opportunity to bring people back out again. There is a great social aspect to the club; the people that come here know this is a safe, confidential space where they can talk freely about anything and where they can also have a bit of craic.

This is a singing club, but theres always a lot of laughter too - its not a good session if there hasnt been a debate on which mince makes the best stew!

Brothers Brian and Michael Walker have been regular attenders since the club started up last November.

Brian said: Weve been singing all our lives, either in the feis or in choirs.

"This club is great and it gets you out of the house. Singing would be the main attraction, but the craic is always good too."

"Margarette is very enthusiastic and makes it very enjoyable, added Brians brother Michael. She is aware of the different capabilities and is able to reach out to everyone."

Sadly, the curtain came down on this pilot scheme last Thursday, but Emmet Thompson, pastoral coordinator of St Eugenes and Long Tower, said he was hopeful Cathedral Voices would return in the near future.

He said: It has been a huge success. We've had a healthy attendance at all the sessions and the feedback from those taking part has been so positive. Music and singing brings people together in so many different ways.

The pandemic has been hugely challenging, not only to those living with dementia but to older people in general, so it has been really lovely to see people getting together again and enjoying the vital social interaction that was denied to them for so long.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our funders, the Public Health Agency and CLEAR, whose support has made this project possible.

"Fingers crossed we will be in a position to get this fantastic project going again soon.
Nerve Centre, producers of Our Place in Space, are seeking volunteers to take up a range of positions when the major new installation comes to Derry in April.

Our Place in Space, part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, is an epic scale model of the solar system designed by artist and childrens author Oliver Jeffers, incorporating a 10km three-dimensional sculpture trail in Northern Ireland and Cambridge, an interactive AR app, and major learning and events programmes.

The Our Place in Space sculpture trail will open to the public at Bay Road Park and the River Foyle from 22 April to 22 May and is free and accessible to everyone.

Executive Producer at the Nerve Centre, David Lewis says: We really want as many people as possible to become involved in Our Place in Space not just to enhance the experience for others but to have an unforgettable experience themselves.

"We have a variety of volunteering positions available across lots of different areas in each of the places where the Sculpture Trail will exhibit with commitment requiring as little as two hours a week.

Volunteering positions include Local Legends to help welcome and inform visitors, Backpack Heroes to support school and community group tours of the interactive planetary experience, and Green Team to take on litter picks and clean-ups before and after the trail is installed.

Those interested in becoming a volunteer guardian for Our Place in Space should email p.larkin@nervecentre.org.

From creating a star to writing a symphony for the universe, inventing a new form of transport, building a Minecraft planet or connecting with space watchers around the globe, Our Place in Space invites participants to consider how we might better share and protect our planet in future.

It brings our solar system down to Earth and sends us soaring into the stars to find new perspectives and reconsider what it means to live life on Earth.

Our Place in Space has been designed by artist and childrens author Oliver Jeffers with support from leading astrophysicist Professor Stephen Smartt, and features music by award-winning sound artist Die Hexen.

From April 2022, the trail will travel from Derry to Divis and the Black Mountain, Belfast and to the Ulster Transport Museum and North Down Coastal Path in Northern Ireland, as well as a riverside location in Cambridge.

The Our Place in Space app will be available on Apple and Android devices and will allow users across the world to take a walk through our solar system, experiencing the planets in augmented reality and considering 10,000 years of human history. Users will collect space souvenirs, including characters from the world of Oliver Jeffers, as well as launching a personalised star into space.

Oliver Jeffers says: For centuries, weve defined ourselves by who we are and who were not. Which side we choose, on what ground we stand, who and what we fight for.

"A human story, that lives merely in human minds. But with distance comes perspective  and what happens to our perspective on everything when we look back at Earth from space?

"Our Place in Space is a playful experiment that asks: What is the difference between us and them? Which side are we on, and if we look back at ourselves from vastness of outer space  alone on our tiny planet, the only one that can harbour life  should there be any sides at all?

Our Place in Space is one of 10 major creative projects commissioned by UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, a celebration of creativity taking place across the UK in 2022, designed to reach millions and bring people together.

It features free large-scale events, installations and globally accessible digital experiences in the UKs most ambitious showcase of creative collaboration.

Martin Green CBE, Chief Creative Officer of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK saysOur Place is a fabulous collision between art, science and tech, with the opportunity to experience something really huge  our solar system  right here on earth.

"Whats more, its a wonderful opportunity to explore our beautiful landscapes with family and friends, as you discover more about the planets that in galactic terms are our neighbours.

Our Place in Space is produced by Nerve Centre Collective, led by arts organisation the Nerve Centre and commissioned by UNBOXED with Belfast City Council.

The collaboration behind the project includes the Astrophysics Research Centre at Queens University Belfast, National Museums NI, NI Science Festival, Big Motive, Taunt, Microsoft, Jeffers & Son, Dumbworld, Live Music Now, Little Inventors, Cambridge University, the National Trust and Urban Scale Interventions.

UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK is funded and supported by the four governments of the UK and is commissioned and delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council, Creative Wales and EventScotland.

Listings information

Our Place in Space

Bay Road Park and River Foyle, Derry-Londonderry: 22 April  22 May 2022

Divis & Black Mountain, Belfast: 11 June  10 July 2022

Midsommer Common and River Cam, Cambridge: 30 July  29 August 2022

Ulster Transport Museum and North Down Coastal Path: 17 September  16 October 2022

info@ourplaceinspace.earth

https://www.ourplaceinspace.earth/
Holistic Heroes: Lighting designers use efficiency and modeling

When it comes to holistic building design solutions, lighting design is often the best place to implement aggressive energy efficiency measures.



By LAUREN MACLEOD, RACHEL FITZGERALD and VANNESSA PEDERSON

Stantec

MacLeod

Fitzgerald

Pederson

We dont think of ourselves as superheroes. But sometimes, thats the underlying job description for a lighting designer.

How so?

When it comes to holistic building design solutions, lighting design is often the best place to implement aggressive energy efficiency measures  its our chance to be the hero. Code compliance (the villain) frequently limits what the building envelope and HVAC design can offer. Lighting is where to get the most savings. Both the lighting power density and control sequencing factor into the savings.

Traditional energy codes focus on lighting power density and controls in a prescriptive manner. However, more and more jurisdictions are replacing these requirements with performance-based energy modeling simulations.

Thats why our lighting design and sustainability teams are like The Avengers of building design. (Independently, were strong. Together, were almost unstoppable.)

Our lighting team and sustainability team work together closely. We share insights gained from energy modeling best practices and use them on all projects, whether an energy model is being provided or not. Using those details for each project results in lower lighting power densities and beautiful design.

Basically, a holistic approach makes us stronger designers and results in less energy use.

In looking at a snapshot of 60-plus projects over the past five years, our lighting design team has produced designs that are on average 35% better than code-mandated performance (2015 codes or newer). These projects perform well from an energy standpoint, and many are award winners for providing lighting-design solutions that focus on occupancy comfort and spatial experience.

Photograph by Chris Barrett [enlarge] In the adaptive reuse of the Chicago Post Office, the design team was challenged to make interior spaces that lack daylight still feel bright and vibrant. Continuous linear wall-washer highlights feature murals and define neighborhoods.





Photograph by Frank Ooms [enlarge] Lighting throughout Denver Waters campus was designed to support dark skies and limit light pollution with fully shielded fixtures that create a safe environment for after-hours use.





SCENE 1: SETTING AN EXAMPLE

Take, for example, our work for Denver Water. A recently completed renovation of its historic 35-acre campus included eight buildings. One was a new 186,000-square-foot administration building.

The complex embodies environmental stewardship at every level, applying sustainable and biophilic design principles. It received multiple LEED certifications, including LEED Platinum for the admin building. The design supports Denver Water should it choose to pursue WELL Building and Net Zero Energy certification. Its clear that Denver Water wants to set an example of sustainability and workplace wellness.

With both LEED and WELL standards to balance, the campus lighting systems were designed for productivity, user comfort, and energy efficiency, adding to the ebb and flow of the architectural elements. The building form maximizes daylight and views. The lighting controls include perimeter and skylight daylight harvesting, occupancy sensors, local dimming, and task tuning. The admin buildings lighting load is 0.53 watts per square foot  36% better than is required by local code and the entire campus is 39% better. Using task lights to enhance ambient lighting reduce overall usage.

SCENE 2: BIOPHILIC DESIGN

Similarly, during tenant improvement work for Delta Dentals new 55,000-square-foot office space, our team focused on both performance and reinforcing the strong biophilic design.

The daylighting strategy was the driving force on this project. In fact, Delta Dentals system is programmed to give it double its floor plate depth of daylight-harvesting penetration per what code minimum dictates. Welcoming, bright offices and conference rooms feature glass walls that create transparency and allow light to penetrate between spaces. Occupancy controls and manual dimming give Deltas team the flexibility to customize its lighting experience to meet a variety of needs.

To augment the daylight, we used several lighting forms and layers to create warmth and visual interest. Higher wattage doesnt necessarily equate to a bright-feeling space (or a comfortable space, for that matter). We worked closely with the interior design team to optimize the feeling of light in every space.

Our efforts resulted in a lighting load that is 45% better than required, yet the spaces are comfortable. The design flows seamlessly into the overall interior design aesthetic.

Photograph by David Lauer [enlarge] Open office work spaces are highlighted with specialty lighting elements, adding warmth and visual interest at Delta Dental in Denver.





Photograph by David Lauer [enlarge] Electric light complements the daylit space at the new Delta Dental office.





SCENE 3: AN EFFICIENT HQ

One of our biggest lighting design challenges came with the adaptive reuse of Chicagos historic Post Office building. Transforming this massive 130,000-square-foot floorplate into a welcoming, modern corporate office required an incredible level of collaboration with the interior design team and creativity on the part of our lighting designers. Adaptive reuse for energy efficiency is a challenge in even the best of circumstances, but the size and layout of this project took those challenges to a new level. The huge building didnt allow us to add daylight. So instead, we used electric light to enhance the space.

From the start, we knew the walls would be essential to our strategy. We used them to reflect light back into the space and create a sense of brightness that would make the interior spaces feel as light as the daylit perimeter. But continuous linear lighting quickly eats up an energy budget, so we also needed to be strategic about where we used it.

The design team created a concept inspired by Chicagos local neighborhoods. Each area is defined by wall murals and furnishings, including decorative luminaires, that reflect that area of the city. Linear lighting is focused on the vibrant murals. Where there were no murals or accents, walls were finished white to reflect light back into the space.

Lighting in open office and meeting rooms was thoughtfully placed to provide the highest output on desktops. Lower levels in-between modulated the light over large areas by reducing light levels in areas without visual tasks, like hallways and circulation areas. By selecting decorative fixtures with screw-base sockets, we found LED lamps that still met the clients strict standards.

Ultimately our efforts resulted in a lighting load of 0.38 watts per square foot, 53% better than required while illuminating the space in an exciting, energetic way that was perfect for our corporate clients needs.

HOLISTIC HEROES

Each of these projects was approached with the performance of the whole space in mind. It was essential that the team consider the unique needs of each client to achieve the perfect balance of sustainability, wellness, and ambiance.

Doing that, we could exceed energy efficiency expectations, create the best-possible work environment, and wear our superhero capes one more time.

Lauren MacLeod is a principal in Stantecs Seattle office; Rachel Fitzgerald is a principal and the lighting discipline lead for Stantec; and Vannessa Pederson is a senior lighting designer at Stantec.





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Harrisonburg, VA (22801)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 78F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 51F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Dozens of Ukrainians gathered outside the Dail on Thursday to express their anger at the Russian assault on their country.

The crowd chanted, waved Ukrainian flags and carried placards attacking the full-scale invasion launched by Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Irish politicians joined the protesters over the course of the afternoon, including deputy premier Leo Varadkar and chairman of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee Charlie Flanagan.

Inside the Irish parliament, politicians spent much of Thursday reacting to the crisis in eastern Europe.

The Government, which has announced a visa waiver for Ukrainians trying to enter Ireland, was urged to do all it can to support the country.

Ada Pungas, who lives in Balbriggan in Co Dublin, said that her family were still in Ukraine.

She said that people at home were trying not to panic.

Panic has worked for Putin.

Thats what he wants, she said.

We pray for our army and we trust our army.



Members of An Garda at the entrance to the Embassy of Russia (Brian Lawless/PA)

She said that the entire world needs to support Ukraine against actions of Russian and Mr Putin.

If he cracks Ukraine, he will never stop.

His goal is to destroy all of Europe.

Drivers beeped horns in expressions of support for the protesters, which grew in size in the early afternoon.

Protesters said that they would stay outside the parliament all day.

The entrance to the Russian Embassy on the south side of Dublin was splashed with red paint on Thursday morning, as news broke of the Russian attack.

Olga Popova, who is from Russia, joined the demonstration in Dublin city centre.

I think that Russia has made a big mistake, to kill Ukrainian people.

Russia doesnt need any Ukrainian territory.

They need to solve their own problems.

We dont need to have war in this good country.
Duncan, OK (73533)

Today

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High near 70F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Louth Senator Erin McGreehan has called on more to be done to tackle the practise of energy dumping and instead use that energy to tackle fuel poverty.

Senator McGreehan was questioning Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ossian Smyth in the Seanad yesterday.

Addressing the Seanad, Senator McGreehan said:

We are in the midst of an energy crisis.

Families are suffering from energy poverty, as outlined as recently as last week by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

We are also in the midst of a climate crisis, but we have ambitious plans underpinned by the climate action plan and our commitments under COP26.

This is a complex issue.

From one perspective, it is about the complexity involved in ensuring the stability of the energy grid across the island of Ireland.

On the other hand, wasting energy is a moral issue.

Hundreds of millions of euros worth of energy are dumped in Ireland instead of being used to tackle energy poverty.

As individuals, we all know that we should not waste electricity or other forms of energy because it will cost us in our pockets and is bad for the environment.

When I first heard of the scale of renewable energy that was being dumped in Ireland, I thought it was immoral, given that hundreds of thousands of families were in energy poverty.

I recognise that there are technical and electricity grid-based challenges that need to be addressed, but if there is political and regulatory will, it can be achieved.

This is where EnergyCloud comes in.

It is a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to create solutions and divert to Irish homes surplus renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted, with a primary focus on those households in fuel poverty."

Senator McGreehan further highlighted the financial cost of energy dumping:

Regarding the renewable energy that is being dumped, I examined the potential retail cost to consumers and what it could cost families in fuel poverty.

According to EirGrid, 1,448 GWh of zero-carbon energy from wind generation was dumped in 2020.

This was equivalent to 11.4% of the total available wind energy.

Based on Electric Ireland's 24-hour standard rate of 21.2 cent per KWh, the 1,448 GWh of dumped energy cost families more than 305 million, excluding VAT.

The Minister of State will agree that this is immoral.

It is likely that the 2021 and 2022 figures will be even higher.

In less than four years, more than 1 billion in energy will have been dumped.

The Senator added that Infrastructure was already in place that could help divert energy towards heating water.

Last year, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, launched the first phase of EnergyCloud, which involved a project with Cluid Housing.

The goal of this initial phase is to reduce renewable energy wastage and divert energy towards the social good of heating water in fuel-poor homes.

At the launch, the Minister stated that the simplicity of the project's approach was that it could utilise the existing infrastructure in the home, such as hot water tanks, to receive surplus renewable energy at a time when it was not needed on the grid.

The use of existing infrastructure in the home reduces the capital expenditure required for this project and allows organisations like Cluid to upgrade their properties quickly in order to avail of surplus renewable energy.

Through our local authorities and AHBs, the State can play a leading role in helping to use surplus renewable energy while tackling energy poverty and ensuring that there is no waste.

However, as I mentioned, 305 million worth of retail value is being dumped annually.

The redeployment of renewable energy to heat hot water in homes could also displace significant volumes of CO2 and avoid millions of euro in carbon penalties to Ireland.

Crucially, that can be done now as that technology is in place.

We just need the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to work with the State to make it happen.

We are not being told the value of what is being dumped.

While all the people are having to make stark choices about their own homes, the State is sleeping on this dumping.

There is an opportunity to engage with EnergyCloud to explore the solutions available, to use this energy in social housing homes and to reduce the impact of fuel poverty.

The Government needs to sit down with all the participants in this process and decide if we should continue to dump 100% renewable energy that could be used to address fuel poverty. Where there is a will, there is always a way.

In reply, Deputy Ossian Smyth acknowledged that such a system could help alleviate energy dumping and noted that a number of trial projects are currently underway.
Dundalk TD Ruairi O Murchu has urged the government to speed up the review of visa requirements for Irish people and their families in Ukraine after he was contacted by a businessman from North Louth.

The Sinn Fein TD says he has been in touch with Brendan Murphy from Omeath, who runs a business in Kyiv, over the last number of days as efforts continue to try to get Irish peoples families out of the war-threatened country.

Last week, the Department of Justice said it was reviewing administrative arrangements for visas so that Irish citizens and their family members in Ukraine can leave with minimum red tape.

Ukrainians cannot enter the State without a visa, the department of justice has said all visa applications will be looked at as quickly and as humanely as possible.

Deputy O Murchu says the problem lies in the fact that Irish citizens who are in Ukraine with their families cannot get them straight to Ireland, despite being told by the Department of Foreign Affairs to leave immediately.

Deputy O Murchu said: 

Mr Murphy, who lives in Kyiv, received an email on Friday night from the Irish Ambassador in Ukraine.

Irish people were told to leave as soon as you can and that consular assistance may not be available to them if the situation deteriorates.

But those with Ukrainian partners or children would have to travel out via a Schengen country, where Ukrainians can arrive visa-free, such as Prague or Warsaw.

There is no timeline as to when the visas would be processed.

It could be days or weeks, we just dont know.

There are new, temporary visa arrangements in place now for British citizens to get back to Britain, and the government here needs to do everything possible to ensure that people like Mr Murphy and his family can leave and come straight back to Ireland.

I have raised this issue with the Minister for Justice personally last week and handed her Mr Murphys letter and have spoken to officials from Foreign Affairs at the EU Affairs Committee and will continue to liaise with Mr Murphy in order to get the visa situation streamlined.

I have forwarded them the latest correspondence from him over the weekend.

This is an incredibly serious issue for Mr Murphy and his family, as well as others in this position.

The government needs to deliver for them as soon as possible.
The five stores across Louth and their 120 employees raised 16,000 for Jigsaw in 2021 and donated 6,000 meals to local communities through FoodCloud.

And Lidl Ireland said it is delighted to announce it is extending its charity partnership with Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health in Ireland, for a further two years.

As part of the new partnership the retailer has pledged to raise 2.5 million for Jigsaw who provide free confidential professional support to young people aged 12-25, in 14 centres across Ireland.

To date, Lidl Ireland have raised over 1.8 million for the charity and have committed to raise an additional 700,000 by the end of the partnership in 2024.

This level of support has seen awareness of Jigsaw rise from 14% pre-partnership to 61% by December 2021, a period which saw a 33% increase in young people accessing Jigsaws services.

Lidl have partnered with Jigsaw since 2018 and previously extended its partnership with the charity to account for the impact of COVID-19 on youth mental health.

In addition to the charity work the retailer does with Jigsaw, Lidl Ireland also works with FoodCloud, whose mission is to redistribute surplus food to charities, and last year, Lidl stores in Louth donated 6,000 meals to charities in the local communities.

J.P. Scally, CEO at Lidl Ireland, said: We are delighted to be extending our partnership with Jigsaw, who do such great work for youth mental health and wellbeing in Ireland.

"We are very proud of the teams in Louth and all theyve done for our chosen charity and in food donations last year.

"At Lidl, it is important to us that we are supporting causes and charities that our colleagues are invested in and care about and it was with their input and feedback that we decided that an extension of our partnership with Jigsaw was where we wanted to keep our focus.

Dr Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw said: We are so genuinely delighted that Lidl have selected to extend our partnership for a further two years.

"This is a clear demonstration of their ongoing commitment to working with us to change the conversation on youth mental health in Ireland."
The Eurovision Song Contest has said it plans to welcome acts from both Russia and Ukraine in May despite Vladimir Putins ongoing invasion.

Organisers described the competition as a non-political cultural event and appeared to dismiss suggestions Russias attack on its neighbour would result in the country being banned for 2022.

The 66th edition of the annual competition is due to take in Turin after Italian rock band Maneskin triumphed during the 2021 contest.

It comes after the European Union and others condemned the Russian invasion and promised tough sanctions to hit the Kremlin.

A statement from the contest, which is produced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), said: The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political cultural event which unites nations and celebrates diversity through music.

It's official! Kalush Orchestra will represent Ukraine at #Eurovision 2022!  Find out more about the band at https://t.co/8ppA7om1Py! pic.twitter.com/K0TUId48ZS  Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) February 22, 2022

The EBUs public broadcaster members in both Russia and Ukraine have committed to participating in this years event in Turin and we are currently planning to welcome artists from both countries to perform in May.

We of course will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Last week, the act chosen to represent Ukraine in Turin withdrew from representing her country after facing scrutiny over a reported 2015 visit to Russia-occupied Crimea.

Alina Pash had been chosen in a televised national selection show and was due to perform her song Shadows Of Forgotten Ancestors, but pulled out after details of the trip emerged.

People who enter the territory via Russia are considered by Ukraine to have illegally crossed the border. There is no suggestion Pash entered Crimea from Russia.

She was replaced by rap group Kalush Orchestra with the song Stefania.

Russia has not yet announced its act.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alina Pash (@alinapash)

Eurovision has often reflected geopolitical tensions and conflict between Russia and Ukraine has played out at the event in previous years.

In 2017, Julia Samoylova was chosen to represent Russia in the annual singing competition, which took place in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

She was blocked from the country because she had reportedly toured Crimea without entering it through the border with the Ukrainian mainland.

Russian television station Channel One then announced it would not broadcast the contest or take part.

Possible solutions that were suggested by the EBU included Samoylova performing by satellite from Russia or for her to be replaced by a contestant who could legally travel to Ukraine. Channel One reportedly rejected both options.


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Global Times online petition demands US return money to Afghans

(Global Times) 10:48, February 24, 2022

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Click here to sign the joint letter demanding the US to return life-saving money to Afghans.

After the US released a plan to unfreeze money from Afghanistan's central bank but use it for the US' needs, the international community was outraged.

In response, the Global Times launched an online petition on Wednesday demanding that the US return the life-saving money to Afghans unconditionally.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order unfreezing $7 billion in Afghan funds held in the US to distribute the money as the US sees fit. Half of the assets will be used to compensate victims of the September 11 attacks while the other half will be used to set up a trust fund "for the benefit of the Afghan people." The move has not only triggered strong indignation in Afghanistan, but also caused an uproar in the international community.

Some Western media even called such move as "adding insult to injury."

This is a savage behavior from the world's most powerful country, publicly robbing the assets of the world's most impoverished country, the Global Times' joint letter said.

The letter said that the US has no right to arbitrarily deal with other countries' overseas assets, whether by "freezing" the assets or carving them up, as such actions lack legal basis and are extremely unethical.

The right thing to do, according to Li Haidong, a professor from the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, is for the US to hand back the money to Afghanistan after the new government is completely formed and recognized by international society. Instead, the US decided to dispose of Afghanistan people's money, which is "very American," said Li.

Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies in Lanzhou University, told the Global Times that he believes the US should hand out the money to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan first. "Many victims of 9/11 would also feel embarrassed to take the money," said Zhu.

Expressing their ire, a number of Afghans held protests on Monday, local media reported.

Seven billion dollars means nothing to the US, which probably can be used to build three B-2 bombers. Yet for the people in Afghanistan, the money is urgently needed. It is live-saving. More than half of the Afghan population is facing starvation and millions of children have died from malnutrition and have no access to medical care. The country's education and social services are on the verge of collapse.

"More than any other country, the US, as the culprit of such chaos in Afghanistan, shoulders primary responsibility to save Afghans. According to statistics, 30,000 civilians were killed during the Afghan war and approximately 11 million became refugees. Instead of offering a helping hand, the US is stealing money from Afghans. How brutal it is!"

We strongly condemn the US' robbery of Afghan assets. We hope you will join us and sign this joint letter to demand that the US unconditionally return what belongs to Afghans, and tackle the unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Afghans are suffering, and they need their money, the letter urged.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that without the consent of the Afghan people, the US willfully disposes of assets that belong to the Afghan people, even keeping them as its own.

This is no different from the conduct of bandits. This latest example has once again laid bare that the "rules-based order" the US claims to champion is not the kind of rules and order to defend the weak and uphold justice, but to maintain its own hegemony, Wang said.

As the culprit of the Afghan crisis, the US should not exacerbate the suffering of the Afghan people. It should unfreeze their assets, lift unilateral sanctions on Afghanistan as soon as possible, and assume its due responsibility to ease the humanitarian crisis in the country, according to Wang.

We demand US to return life-saving money to people of Afghanistan! Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
In a press communique the ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was monitoring the situation in Ukraine after the action taken by the Russian Army and advise the members of the mauritian community to exercise vigilance and to contactthe Mauritian Embassy in Moscou to register themselves.

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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting Moroccos reform agenda for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) through technical assistance aimed at developing and implementing a state ownership policy. The policy will provide a basis on which the country can enhance the efficiency, governance and transparency of SOEs.

The EBRD and Moroccos Ministry of Economy and Finance have signed a grant agreement to fund a technical assistance package that will support the Ministrys Department of Public Enterprises and Privatisation (DEPP) in setting up the new state assets agency and implementing the countrys state ownership policy.

The technical assistance will also include targeted measures that will benefit three SOEs  the Office National des Aeroports (ONDA), Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM) and Office National de l'Electricite et de l'Eau Potable (ONEE)  by strengthening aspects of their operations.

In 2020, the EBRD provided a 300 million financing package to ONDA, ADM and ONEE to boost their resilience and to support vital infrastructure services in Morocco.

Sue Barrett, Director, Head of Infrastructure for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said: We are pleased to support the development and adoption of a state ownership policy in Morocco, a pioneering project in the southern and eastern Mediterranean region. Moving forward with the structural reform of SOEs is key to unlocking the growth potential of Moroccos economy, promoting private-sector participation through public-private partnerships and ensuring a level playing field.

Antoine Salle de Chou, EBRD Director, Head of Morocco, said: This initiative is a key pillar in the Banks work with Morocco and will provide invaluable support for the government in its efforts to reform the SOE sector. This support is provided as part of a solidarity package in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and represents a significant milestone in the EBRDs cooperation with Morocco.

The technical assistance will leverage the far-reaching reforms of the SOE sector that were launched in July 2020. The reforms aimed to overcome weaknesses that have hindered the development of the SOE sector and been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The grant agreement was signed following a meeting between Odile Renaud-Basso, EBRD President, and Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance of Morocco, during the sixth European Union - African Union summit, held in Brussels on 17 and 18 February 2022.

Morocco is a founding member of the EBRD and became a country of operations in 2012. To date, the EBRD has invested more than 3.2 billion in Morocco through 80 projects.
WATCH LIVESTREAM

Heads of governments of six Western Balkans countries to attend event in London

Focus on foreign direct investment, regional and international economic integration

2022 project pipeline focuses on green infrastructure, renewables and small businesses

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will host the government heads of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia at its Western Balkans Investment Summit 2022 on Monday 28 February.

The event will be held in a hybrid online and physical format. The interactive discussion between the heads of governments and EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso will be live-streamed. Investors will be able to join the interactive Prime Ministers Session online.

The summit will be attended by: Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of Serbia; Dimitar Kovacevski, Prime Minister of North Macedonia; Zdravko Krivokapic, Prime Minister of Montenegro; Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo; Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania; Zoran Tegeltija, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the EBRD.

The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi , will also address the summit.

The panel will be broadcast live via the Kaltura platform, which will appear on a dedicated page on ebrd.com. In the event of any technical difficulties, the back-up live stream will be available on YouTube. Translation to and from Albanian, Macedonian, Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian will be provided via the Interactio app.

This is the fifth EBRD summit of its kind; the inaugural Western Balkans Summit, which brought together all the regions prime ministers for the first time, took place at the EBRD in February 2014. The aim of the summit is to highlight investment and business opportunities and to promote regional connectivity.

The EBRD in the Western Balkans

The Western Balkans is a priority region for the EBRD, the largest institutional investor in the region, with more than 15 billion invested to date.

Having invested 1.046 billion in 2021, the EBRD has already identified investment opportunities of the same amount for 2022, and expects to increase the pipeline further. This comprises, among other things, projects supporting the green energy transition, regional connectivity and environmental infrastructure, as well as financing for the private sector, both directly and through credit lines and risk sharing with local commercial banks.

Albania: the EBRD invested 201 million in 2021, with total commitments of 1.8 billion. A recent collaboration with the EU and the government of Albania provided support to tourism and agribusiness.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: the EBRD invested 140 million in 2021, with total commitments of 2.8 billion. Recently the Bank financed energy efficiency in buildings with the EU and signed new funding for the digitalisation and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

North Macedonia: the EBRD invested 134 million in 2021, with total commitments of 2.23 billion. The Bank introduced the Risk Sharing Facility with a local bank as a new product in the country. A new model of cooperation with the UN on green financing will be piloted in the country in 2022, with government support.

Kosovo: the EBRD invested 50 million in 2021, with total commitments of 583 million. The EBRD has just adopted a new Country Strategy for Kosovo and supported female entrepreneurs with the EU and other donors.

Montenegro: the EBRD invested 22 million in 2021, with total commitments of 703 million. Recently, the EBRD supported a comprehensive review of broadband infrastructure development in Montenegro, with technical assistance funded by the EU via the Western Balkans Investment Fund (WBIF).

Serbia: the EBRD invested 499 million in 2021, with total commitments of 7.2 billion. Most recently, the EBRD and Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) provided 150 million for solid waste management.

The EBRD is actively engaged in areas of policy and regulatory reform, helping countries to develop and implement ambitious decarbonisation strategies, strengthen the business climate and governance of state-owned enterprises, create more inclusive economies, and accelerate the digital transition of the region. In the most recent example, the Bank helped the stock exchange of North Macedonia develop guidelines for environmental, social and governance reporting of listed companies.

The Bank also backs regional and cross-border projects. One example of innovative financing is the recent investment in an equity fund which will provide equity financing to early-stage technology companies in the Western Balkans, Croatia and Slovenia.

Construction started on the electricity interconnector between North Macedonia and Albania, supported also by the EU grant under the Western Balkans Investment Framework.
Eligibility with DNSH principle

Sustainability proofing: For projects above  10 million of project costs, it requires the application of the Commission's technical guidance on sustainability proofing for the InvestEU Fund in the dimensions of climate and environment.

List of excluded activities*

 Activities and assets related to fossil fuels, including downstream use;

 Activities and assets under the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks;

 Activities and assets related to waste landfills, incinerators and mechanical biological treatment plants; and

 Activities and assets where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment.

Verification of legal compliance: Requires the verification of legal compliance with the relevant EU and national environmental legislation of the projects for all transactions.

* in exceptional cases, subject to stringent conditions these activities might still be eligible.
CARRIGALINE will not be hosting a St Patricks Day parade this year, as the timeframe for planning and organising such a big family event was deemed too tight.

Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath told colleagues and council officials at the recent Carrigaline Municipal District Meeting: Carrigaline is not hosting a St Patricks Day parade this year.

As a committee, we decided not to proceed this year as the timeframe was too tight.

Mr McGrath said that the organisers of the St Patricks Day parade in Carrigaline intend to be back with a bang next year with a parade once again.

We do intend to be back with a bang in 2023, he said.

It is regrettable, but when things opened up, the timeframe was too tight to organise the necessary things such as barriers and all other organisational issues.

St Patricks Day parades are currently being organised in many towns throughout Cork once again following a hiatus due to the Covid pandemic.

The annual celebration of Irelands patron saint had moved online over the last two years as the country battled the pandemic.

Cork City Council has confirmed its intention to host a physical parade, with plans afoot for a mega celebration.

The St Patricks Day parade in Cork City will take place on the traditional route at 1pm on March 17.

Cork City Council said it has received a very positive response from groups to participate in the parade.
IRELANDS hospitality sector is yet again facing almost insurmountable challenges as pubs, restaurants, hotels and other outlets throughout the country emerge shaken but standing from the most tumultuous period for Irelands hospitality in living memory. The businesses that have managed to stay afloat are now experiencing serious staffing shortages  particularly in the positions of chefs, kitchen porters, and front of house staff. The list is endless really.

The numbers required in terms of the workforce are simply not here at the moment, so like many growing and successful economies, we must look overseas to fill the gap. But this is an immediate problem and as it stands the solution i.e., the work visa process, is cumbersome and slow. It needs to change  and thankfully its not a difficult fix.

In short, Ireland is going to need 10,000 visas processed in the next 9 months to deal with the crisis.

Arduous and Lengthy Visa Process

If a person who is qualified as a chef wants to come from abroad to work, they are required to have a job offer before they arrive, and if they are granted a visa, it will only allow them to work for one employer. The recruitment specialists are calling on the Government to adopt the Australian visa model, which allows people to work for multiple employers.

We recently secured visas from Korean workers to come and work in the Irish hospitality sector, but it took almost six months and came at major cost to the employer. This system is not going to cut the mustard in the current climate.

The Government needs to fast track the process and reducing the cost of permits, or at making permits transferable. Something akin to a 1- or 2-year visa is what we need which allows skilled workers to work for more than just one employer. If we dont do something, restaurants will close, standards will drop, which will have a knock-on impact our international reputation as a high-quality tourist destination. There is also the very imminent threat of higher levels of burn out in an already demanding work environment.

Excel Recruitment contend that the visa process needs immediate attention, followed swiftly by changes to the work eligibly for overseas students currently studying in Ireland.

Ireland is currently home to thousands of students from abroad, many of whom are eager to work. However, their Stamp 2 visa model only allows them to work for 20 hours for 7 months of the year and for 40 hrs for just 5 months. These students could also contribute in a big way to solving our staff shortages  if only our visa system facilitated this.

The Kitchen Porter Crisis

The Kitchen Porter crisis is mirroring the existing Chef crisis as Brexit, the pandemic, and an image problem, specific to the role itself, have all led to restaurants struggling to fill these jobs.

The Chef crisis continues unabated, but the big question of the moment is where are all the kitchen porters?  the reply is simple  theyve understandably moved sector during the pandemic and are not coming back!

As with front of house, we simply do not have the people coming into the country that we used to.

In addition to this, those finishing school or in college are no longer attracted to roles in the hospitality sector, many of whom had been receiving the PUP payment over the last 2 years and have no desire to go back into an industry that has had such a stop-start existence over the same period.

The imperative at the moment, however, is to get candidates through to fill the vacancies so that, on the one hand, workers can secure fulfilling, well-paid employment in Ireland and, on the other, so that the industry can begin to recover and regain some of the momentum lost over the worst of the restrictions. Changes to the visa process in the short-term will certainly go some of the way to alleviating the crisis.

Excel Recruitment is an award-winning recruitment company specialising in the retail, hospitality, healthcare, industrial and administrative sectors since 2002.
Russias invasion of Ukraine may have effectively killed a controversial fossil-fuel project.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced sanctions against the company and CEO behind the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany after the Russian government recognized two separatist territories in Ukraine as independent.

Through his actions, President (Vladimir) Putin has provided the world with an overwhelming incentive to move away from Russian gas and to other forms of energy, President Biden wrote in a statement announcing the sanctions.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was supposed to move natural gas across 1,230-kilometers (approximately 764 miles) from Russia to Germany, as CNN International climate editor Angela Dewan wrote. It was already controversial for both geopolitical and climate reasons. European leaders worried Russia could turn off the flow of gas as a form of political pressure, and it would have spewed 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, not counting inevitable methane leaks.

A pipeline map at the Nord Stream 2 natural gas receiving station in Lubmin, Germany. Stefan Sauer / picture alliance via Getty Images

Geopolitics took the lead this week, however, as Putin announced Monday he would recognize two breakaway territories in the Ukraine, DW reported. This raised fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Putin immediately ordered troops to the territories.

In response, Germany said Tuesday it would suspend its approval for the pipeline that would have doubled the gas flow from Russia to Germany, Reuters reported. The next day, Biden announced sanctions on pipeline-owner Nord Stream 2 AG company and its CEO Matthias Warnig. The company is a Swiss-owned entity whose parent company is the Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom. Warnig is German.

The Biden administration had been opposed to the pipeline before, but did not want to sour relations with Germany by taking official action, CNN reported. Germanys action Tuesday gave the administration permission to act. Deputy National Economic Council Director Daleep Singh told POLITICO that the U.S. and German governments had worked together to ensure that the pipeline will not become operational.

Dewan wrote that the fallout from Putins Ukraine invasion could kill the pipeline for good.

Whether or not Germany officially scraps Nord Stream 2 in the long term, Russias actions in Ukraine make the project politically dead, she wrote.

The decision leads to the hope that Europe will invest in more renewable energy instead.

The alternative to importing fossil fuels is the building up of autonomous energy sources at a national and EU level, Carbon-Free Europe executive director Suzana Carp told The Independent.

However, University of Reading climate scientist Dr. Ella Gilbert warned that there was a possibility Europe would turn towards dirtier fuels like coal or shale gas instead.

I hope theres this diversification of energy supply and we invest in renewable technologies because if we dont were moving backwards, she told The Independent. Its really a no-brainer for any government with any form of foresight.
The U.S. is holding its largest offshore wind sale yet off the coast of New York and New Jersey.

The sale, which launched Wednesday, marks the first offshore renewable energy sale under the Biden administration and consisted of nearly half a million acres of the New York Bight between Long Island and New Jersey, The Independent reported.

These waters are hot, Timothy Fox, vice president of energy-research company ClearView Energy Partners, told Bloomberg. We expect high bids, potentially the highest on record.

Foxs prediction proved correct on Wednesday, when the lease sale generated a record $1.5 billion in bids, Reuters reported. Thats more than the previous offshore-wind-auction record of $405 million set in 2018. Its also more than recent offshore oil and gas lease sales. For example, at a controversial sale for drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico last year, fossil-fuel companies paid $192 million. The wind auction will continue Thursday.

Developing offshore wind power is part of President Joe Bidens plan to decarbonize the U.S. electricity sector by 2035 in order to address the climate crisis. As part of this goal, the administration has pledged to install 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity by 2030, enough to power 10 million homes. The energy generated by the 488,201 acres currently on offer would be enough to power almost two million homes, the administration said.

The auction also includes stipulations to promote jobs in the U.S., according to The Independent. These include incentives for sourcing items like blades and turbines domestically as well as agreements to make sure the new developments are built by unionized workers.

The governments of New York and New Jersey also support the development of wind power off their coasts.

Here in New York, we are already living with the effects of climate change through extreme weather that pose a direct threat to our way of life, New York Governor Kathy Hochul told The Independent. We must chart an ambitious path toward a cleaner energy economy now more than ever, and todays milestone further highlights New Yorks commitment to reaching its offshore wind goals.

Both states have promised to install more than 16 GW of offshore wind by 2035, according to Reuters.

A total of 14 companies participated in Wednesdays auction, and the largest single bid was for $410 million.

Currently, the U.S. only has offshore wind farms off two locations: Rhode Island and Virginia. Two additional installations have been approved, including one off Massachusetts, which is the first that will be to commercial scale, according to The Independent.

However, the Interior Department has concrete plans for six more lease sales by 2025. These will be off California, off the Carolinas, off Oregon, in the Central Atlantic, in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Gulf of Maine.

This is the beginning. Martha Kammoun, a lawyer at the Bracewell LLP law firm that advises wind companies, told Bloomberg.
The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) reminds employers that the obligation to contribute to PRGF is applicable as from the month of January 2022. The due date for the submission of the PRGF return and payment of the PRGF contribution for the month of January 2022 is 28 February 2022.

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One of the initial reasons social distancing guidelines were put in place was to allow the healthcare system to adapt to a surge in patients since there was a critical shortage of beds, ventilators and personal protective equipment. In fact, masks that were designed for single-use were reused for an entire week in some hospitals.

Now, five months into the pandemic, health care workers are raising the same concern. They are facing a shortage of masks, gowns, face shields and gloves, as The Washington Post reported. Were five months into this and there are still shortages of gowns, hair covers, shoe covers, masks, N95 masks, said Deborah Burger, president of National Nurses United, who cited results from a survey of the unions members, as The Associated Press reported. Theyre being doled out, and were still being told to reuse them. In a survey of 23,000 registered nurses, National Nurses United found 85 percent were asked to reuse masks designed for single use, according to The Washington Post.

The new shortage is not just affecting urban hospitals like it did in March. The rising demand for protective gear is now plaguing a broad range of health care facilities across the country, from urgent cares to doctors offices to nursing homes. Several major medical associations said this was a preventable problem that would have required swift and aggressive action from the federal government in the early days of the pandemic, according to The New York Times. If the government had aggressively procured and distributed critical supplies, this shortage could have been avoided. A lot people thought once the alarm was sounded back in March surely the federal government would fix this, but that hasnt happened, said Burger to The Washington Post She, like many health-care workers, blamed the Trump administration for the lack of equipment. She pointed out that the administration has insisted the responsibility falls to state and local officials, with the federal government playing only a supporting role. In a letter to Congress last week, the health department in DuPage County, Illinois, near Chicago, said all its hospitals are reusing protective gear in ways that were not originally intended and are probably less safe than the optimal use of PPE, as The Associated Press reported.

Neurologists, cardiologists and cancer specialists around the country have been unable to reopen their offices in recent weeks, leaving many patients without care, according to a letter from American Medical Association to the the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress. We have kids living with grapefruit-sized abscesses for over three months who cant eat or drink and theres nothing we can do for them because we cant get P.P.E., said Kay Kennel, the chief officer of Lubbock Kids Dental, to The New York Times. Her clinic serves low-income families in Texas and has a list of 50 children awaiting emergency surgery. Its been just horrible, and given the growing number of infections here, Im afraid things are going to get worse.

Rear Adm. John Polowczyk, who is in charge of coronavirus-related supplies for the White House, told Congress last week that more than one-fourth of the states have less than a 30-day supply. It would seem like in less than 30 days, were going to have a real crisis, said Rep. Bill Foster, an Illinois Democrat, as The Associated Press reported. That prompted the American Medical Association to write a letter to the White House, asking it to invoke the Defense Protection Act to require American manufacturers to increase supplies of N95 masks and gowns, as The Washington Post reported. Former Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday that he would use that law to boost domestic protection of medical gear if elected.
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With Russia's attack on Ukraine having begun less than 24 hours ago, a first wave of refugees has also been produced. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have chosen to flee the country via the borders with Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova. All indications are that if the conflict goes on for long, the influx of people will increase in these countries and a humanitarian drama will begin. Government sources in these countries bordering Ukraine have indicated that there is currently no massive influx of refugees, but local media and eyewitnesses have warned that foot traffic is on the rise. Alexander Bazhanov walked with his wife and son across the Polish border crossing, with only a few bags containing their belongings. He told Reuters that he wanted to go to Spain, where his father lives. On the border with Slovakia, on the other hand, there are hundreds of cars and vans waiting to cross the border.

Germany will provide support to Poland and other Eastern European countries that will have to receive the refugees, and is prepared for all scenarios, interior minister Nancy Faeser said. Prior to the Russian invasion, German media quoted estimates that between 200,000 and one million Ukrainians could flee to the European Union as a result of the war. Poland is ready to accept migrants and has prepared hospitals and a train to transport Ukrainians in case of injuries, according to the government. The German municipalities association has called on the federal government to involve the local councils in the reception of Ukrainian refugees, and asserted that Germany must prepare quickly. "We can't wait till they start arriving. And most importantly, keep in mind that they won't just be staying here for three weeks," Gerd Landsberg, the organization's general manager, told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. The mayor of Berlin, Franziska Giffey, announced that the German capital is offering to host refugees. Moldova is also preparing for the reception of refugees, and 4,000 people entered this Thursday afternoon. "The first Ukrainian citizens are arriving in Moldova, with more than 4,000 border crossings today. The government has deployed temporary location centres near Palanca and Ocnita. Our borders are open to Ukrainian citizens who need transit or a place to safely stay," said Moldovan president Maia Sandu.
Dave Hinson, right, stands near an ambulance in New York City during his month-long stint working as a first responder in the city.
Allentown City Council postponed a vote on American Rescue Plan funding for the Little Lehigh Public housing project, a decision that Mayor Matt Tuerk said could torpedo the project.

Some council members said they did not want to authorize more ARPA spending until a formal process to dole out the rest of the money is agreed upon.

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This is about a process and a lack thereof, council member Ce Ce Gerlach said at last weeks council meeting. We cannot have certain organizations have the ability to jump ahead and receive ARPA funding when we dont even have a process in place.

Council had a special committee meeting Wednesday after controversy last week over a proposal to grant $2.7 million in American Rescue Plan funding to the Little Lehigh public housing project in Center City.

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Tuerk urged council to act quickly on the resolution because the housing authority risks losing some funding sources if the authority does not secure the ARPA dollars.

You may table it, but you will torpedo the project and send a significant amount of dollars back to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority which we will never see here in Allentown again, Tuerk said.

Dan Farrell, executive director of the Allentown Housing Authority, said the authority needs to close on the Little Lehigh construction project by the end of March or they risk losing some of their funding sources. The $2.7 million the authority is asking for will enable them to close on the project.

The project is a nearly $26 million revitalization to the Little Lehigh public housing project first built in the early 1970s. The authority wants to demolish 56 apartment units and rebuild 50 new ones.

A report from the Allentown housing authority said that the buildings have endured significant wear and tear, which is why a renovation is needed. Farrell said that the Little Lehigh units lack air conditioning and are not ADA compliant.

The housing authority first proposed the project in September 2020, and estimated then the cost would be $19.1 million.

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The costs have just continued to escalate, and thats made it very difficult to actually be closing on this deal, Farrell said.

At this weeks committee meeting, council met to discuss the citys proposed process to grant American Rescue Plan funding to nonprofits and other organizations, but did not make any formal decisions before tabling the Little Lehigh funding proposal.

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The city plans to allow nonprofits and other organizations who qualify to apply for an unspecified amount of funding, and is looking to open up applications by the end of March.

Allentown Chief Operating Officer Leonard Lightner said the application process for ARP funding will mirror the citys process for granting Community Development Block Grants, a city program funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to help build affordable housing.

Allentown has already designated around $20.5 million in American Rescue Plan funding for capital projects such as storm sewer improvements, roof replacements and water main replacements.

Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at 610-820-6681 and liweber@mcall.com.
Emporia, VA (23847)

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Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 86F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Cherry Lee Ward Yeager age 87 of Athens died Monday at Athens Limestone Hospital. Mrs. Yeager was born October 21, 1934 in Giles County Tennessee. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church Athens where she sang in the chrior, and was active in the WMU. Mrs. Yeager was a Red Cross vol
With Amazon's Staten Island warehouse facing a vote to unionize next month, police have arrested labor organizer Christian Smalls at the facility for allegedly trespassing, Reuters has reported. Two other individuals that reportedly worked at the facility were also arrested, and Smalls was charged with resisting arrest and trespassing.

A former employee, Smalls said that he was "literally a visitor" delivering food to other employees, and that Amazon was trying to "increase the intimidation factor" via his arrest. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel told Reuters that Smalls "has repeatedly trespassed despite multiple warnings."

The three arrests were captured on video by Motherboard, which reported that the NYPD handcuffed the organizers who wore bright red shirts with the slogans "Amazon Labor Union." Smalls was fired in March 2020 after he led a protest outside the warehouse demanding better safety and health protections.

A vote to unionize the Staten Island facility is set to start on March 25th, and a successful one would make it the first union Amazon warehouse. Another vote is set to be counted next month from the same Alabama warehouse that voted against unionizing.

After the first Alabama vote, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) organizing it accused Amazon of violating the National Labor Relations Act. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) agreed and ordered a second vote in early February, with counting to start on March 28th.
Google delayed its employees' return to office a few times over the past year, but it looks like the tech giant is truly gearing up to welcome workers back this time. According to CNBC, the company is easing some of its COVID-related mandates as part of those efforts, including relaxing its vaccine requirements for employees.

CNBC reported back in December that Google will place employees who don't comply with its vaccine mandate by January 18th on leave unless they secure a valid medical or religious exemption. The report also said that those employees will eventually be fired if they continue refusing to be inoculated against the virus. Google spokesperson Lora Lee Erickson told the news organization that the company dropped the requirement last month, though they refused to discuss the reason behind the decision.

Based on an email from Google Real Estate and Workplace Services VP David Radcliffe that CNBC has obtained, the company is also dropping its testing requirements that also applied to vaccinated employees. It's lifting its mask and social distancing requirements for vaccinated employees, with the exception of its offices in Santa Clara County where its Mountain View headquarters are located, as well. That said, unvaccinated employees must still be approved to work in offices, and they'll still have to wear masks and get regularly tested if they're coming in.

On top of easing up its COVID mandates, Google is also reopening its amenities for employees, including its fitness centers with massages, full shuttle service, more places to eat, as well as lounges and music rooms. Erickson told CNBC:

"We're giving employees who welcome the chance to come into the office the option to do that wherever we safely can, while allowing those who aren't ready to keep working from home. Based on current conditions in the Bay Area, we're pleased that our employees who choose to come in now have the ability to access more onsite spaces and services to work and connect with colleagues."

Google still doesn't have an exact date for its return to office, but Radcliffe's note reportedly said that the company will begin its 30-day transition to its hybrid work week plan if conditions continue to improve. Under the plan, employees will be required to physically come into the company's offices at least thrice a week.
Nikola is "laser-focused on delivering vehicles and generating revenue," according to CEO Mark Russell. To help it reach those goals, the embattled company is preparing to ramp up production of the battery-electric Tre semi-truck. Russell said Nikola expects to start "series production of the Tre BEV on March 21." The company plans to deliver up to 500 production Tre BEVs this year, starting in the second quarter.

It delivered the first two Tre BEVs to a port trucking company in California in December as part of a three-month pilot. It says the trucks have logged more than 4,500 miles between them and hauled multiple loads per day. One completed a 204-mile trip on a single charge. Anheuser-Busch, meanwhile, is testing two fuel-cell electric variants of the Tre.

Nikola says its Coolidge, Arizona plant currently has a production capacity of 2,500 trucks per year. Work is underway on an expansion that would increase the capacity to up to 20,000 trucks per annum. Work on Phase 2 of the facility should be completed in early 2023. Meanwhile, Nikola's plant in Ulm, Germany is currently capable of producing 2,000 trucks per year, though that figure is expandable to 10,000 trucks.

In its latest earnings report , the company touched on some of the controversies that have plagued it over the last few years. It reached an agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in December to settle civil charges that it defrauded investors. The company is paying a $125 million civil penalty over two years. Nikola is seeking reimbursement from founder Trevor Milton for costs and damages it incurred in connection with government and regulatory investigations.
Nintendo is about to buy its second close ally in as many years. Eurogamer reports Nintendo is acquiring SRD, one of its longest-serving game development partners. SRD has worked with Nintendo since the NES era, and more recently helped with Switch hits like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. In that light, it's almost surprising Nintendo hadn't bought SRD sooner.

The purchases is expected to close on April 1st. Nintendo didn't say how much it paid for SRD, but the development house will become a wholly-owned subsidiary. The company bought Luigi's Mansion creator Next Level Games in January 2021.

This isn't as aggressive a move as Microsoft's Activision Blizzard buyout or Sony's acquisition of Bungie. Not that Nintendo is concerned, mind you. Company president Shuntaro Furukawa recently said investors shouldn't expect purchases of studios that lack "Nintendo DNA," and the Switch is still a hot seller. Nintendo just isn't in a rush to snap up developers, and this appears to be largely focused on securing partners while the company is flush with cash.
Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM CDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas, including the following counties, in Oklahoma, Alfalfa, Atoka, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Noble, Oklahoma, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Stephens and Tillman. In northern Texas, Archer, Clay, Wichita and Wilbarger. * WHEN...From 6 AM CDT this morning through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Showers and thunderstorms will develop Wednesday morning over a broad swath of the watch area. Another round of rain and thunderstorms is expected later in the afternoon and will last much of Wednesday night before ending Thursday morning. Storm total amounts of 2 to 5 inches are expected. Given recent rainfall, these additional amounts may cause flooding. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
The Balkans are known for their ethnic and religious diversity, as a result of imperial legacies and the regions geographic location, and religion plays a central role in society and politics. According to a study conducted in 2018, around 60% of those polled in the Balkans defined themselves as religious, with this reaching 80% in Kosovo and North Macedonia. That compares to 30-40% in continental Europe, excluding Italy. Long deprived of political and economic power, Muslim communities in the Balkans have been targeted by outside Muslim-majority countries that are vying for leadership over their co-religionists, who comprise 25% of the regions population. The struggle reflects a competition over who  and in what manner  should act as the patron of Muslims across the globe, including the Balkans.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have been the main competitors in this regional race. These three countries are very different in terms of their historical footprint, economic and political presence, and local networks. What they share, however, is the use of Islam to exert soft power, through both formal and informal channels. Islam has been utilized for centuries as a source of power in foreign policy, but there remains significant uncertainty over how Islamic countries view religion as means for exerting soft power. This strategy has emerged only recently, in the last two decades or so, and the Balkans appear to be a new arena for competition between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. It is thus interesting to see how they are seeking to wield influence, how regional actors respond to their overtures, and whether these three countries are meeting their objectives in the region.

TURKEY: A CONTROVERSIAL BUT IMPORTANT ACTOR - We invited Turkey into our country in the 1990s for them to provide services to the Muslims in our country. We thought we could prevent the Wahhabi and Salafi movements in this way. But starting in the early 2000s, we have been struggling with the political Islam coming from Turkey. This statement by Mihail Ivanov, an advisor for minority affairs for former Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev, reflects significant ambivalence toward Turkey. In the 1990s, after being invited by Balkan governments, Turkey entered the region buoyed by the shared Ottoman legacy and profiting from the end of the Cold War. The Diyanet, Turkeys Directorate of Religious Affairs, opened offices in Bulgaria, Albania, and North Macedonia. It also began constructing mosques and sent clergy and training imams to key countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo. Thus, Turkey regained some influence in a region it had withdrawn from with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century.

In spite of these initiatives, the domestic political instability and economic crises of the 1990s prevented Turkey from fully capitalizing on its presence. But the rise to power of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2002 brought about changes, as it introduced a program based on the European Union and free market principles, conveying the message that Islam and democracy were fully compatible. Despite this promising start, the subsequent authoritarian turn of the AKPs leader, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, particularly after 2016, put Islam at the center of Turkish policy. This was due to three factors and has had a major impact on the Balkans. First, Erdo?an wanted to use his influence in the Balkans and among its Muslims in domestic politics. Second, Erdo?an used economic means to gain influence that he was unable to establish directly. The third reason for Turkish activism in the religious sphere is that Turkey has faced competition from Saudi Arabia and, to a lesser degree, Iran. These two states have also sought to project influence in the region through religious and cultural connections.

SAUDI ARABIA: GROWING RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE THROUGH ECONOMIC POWER -

Although Saudi Arabias interest in the Balkans has increased only recently, it began to engage in the region in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War. The Gulf monarchy became significant to Balkan Muslims because of the Hajj, especially when students and clergy started to travel to Saudi Arabia in the mid-1990s and established a strong link. That is what compelled Turkey to take a more competitive stance, as it considered Southeast Europe its own turf. Saudi Arabia also expanded its presence and gained respect among Muslims because of the assistance it provided during the Bosnian War. Then starting in the 1990s, the Saudis began promoting their version of Islam. Although Sufi Islam is more prominent in the Balkans, the Gulf monarchy and its purist reading of religion made some inroads, especially among the youth. But Wahhabisms spread has put authorities on alert in several countries. For example, Serbia has been trying to limit its influence in the Sandzak, a historical geo-political region in Serbia and Montenegro. In other countries, Wahhabi educational institutes and mosques generally maintain discreet operations. In 2015-16, around the time of the terrorist attacks in Paris, there was a vigorous debate in Bosnia regarding the reintegration of the Wahabbis, often living in segregation, into the mainstream Muslim community. As with Turkeys activities in the region, local Muslim communities and elites have varied and ambivalent feelings about Saudi Arabias religious activities.

IRAN: EXPORTING ISLAM VIA TRANSNATIONAL NETWORKS - Like Saudi Arabia, Iran is a relative latecomer to the Balkans and has neither the historical connections nor the economic presence that Turkey enjoys. The fact that the great majority of Balkan Muslims are Sunni (of the Hanafi strand prevalent in Turkey) also limits the appeal of Tehrans brand of Shia Islam. Still, there are heterodox communities, such as the Bektashis and Alevis (Kizilbash), that have been more receptive to Iranian influence. In addition, the Islamic Republic became actively involved by taking advantage of political dynamics and events in the region. Much like the Sunni monarchies, Iran took on a prominent role during the Bosnian War. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly sent several tons of arms to Bosnian government forces and its advisors and trainers also helped to build a military intelligence directorate for the Sarajevo-led army. Then the Dayton Accords terminating the war and establishing an international U.N. protectorate made Iran less relevant to Bosniak political elites.

From the mid-1990s onwards, Iran shifted its focus to civil society and religion. In 1996, after Western powers demanded that the Bosnian authority expel Iranian advisors and security operatives, Tehran established the Ibn Sina Institute. Its main activity is the publication of academic and popular non-fiction books in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, including the works of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while it also sought to cultivate ties with the Faculty of Islamic Studies at the University of Sarajevo. Still, these inroads have not translated into political clout, and Iran lags behind Turkey and Saudi Arabia in terms of influence. In addition to Bosnia, Albania has also been a focus of Irans soft power operations. The revival of religiosity in the 1990s, and specifically of Bektashism, after the downfall of the atheist communist regime, provided an opening to Muslim powers, including Iran. In 1995, Tehran organized the Saadi Shirazi foundation for the promotion of Iranian-Albanian cultural relations. Working in tandem with the Iranian embassy, the foundation developed links to prominent intellectuals and opinion makers. By mid-2000s, Iranian influence had spread through a network of civil society organizations and even gained access to public broadcasters.

To be sure, Irans charm offensive has faced limits. Strong pro-Western groups in Albania as well as Kosovo have always favored engagement with the US and the EU. Iran also adamantly refuses to recognize the independence of Kosovo. In addition, as a gesture to the U.S. government, in 2013 Tirana accepted to host the Peoples Mujahedin (Mujahedin e-Khalq, MEK), a controversial Iranian resistance group opposed to the government in Tehran. Tehran viewed the MEK as US proxies and part of a plan for regime change in Iran floated by members of the Trump team. Thus, Albania became an arena in the standoff between the West and Iran, in addition to the three-way race between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the Islamic Republic for influence over the regions Muslims.

In short, the strategies and tactics of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran in the Balkans show that the soft in religious soft power should be taken with a grain of salt, as these countries export and exploit faith in the name of power. Secondly, the external deployment of religion is an extension of the states very identity and domestic structures. Factors such as the character of the leader, the governmental organization, and state capacity affect the ability of the state to project influence over the religious domain. This situation suggests that states cannot use religion as a one-dimensional tool of soft power. Furthermore, countries such as Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia behave differently in their projection of religious soft power due to their own history, roles, and normative positions in the global system more generally and in the Balkans specifically, but they seem to elicit similar perceptions from individuals in the region: suspicion and ambivalence.

Competing over Islam: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran in the Balkans  Policy Analysis by Dimitar Bechev and Ahmet Erdi Ozturk  Middle East Institute.

(The Policy Analysis can be downloaded here:

https://www.mei.edu/publications/competing-over-islam-turkey-saudi-arabia-and-iran-balkans)
The state Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Allentowns appeal of a lower court decision that the administrative arm of Phoebe Ministries is not subject to the citys business privilege tax.

The one-page order effectively upholds a Commonwealth Court ruling in August that the city cannot tax nonprofits for their revenue-generating activities in the city.

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Phoebe Services, which provides support for the Phoebe network of senior homes, challenged the citys 2018 business privilege tax bill for nearly $235,000 on revenue earned over the previous decade. A Lehigh County judge ruled in Phoebes favor, finding that the organization did not conduct business to make a profit, but rather to reduce costs for Phoebe Ministries. The city appealed in Commonwealth Court and lost.

A three-judge panel upheld the Lehigh County Court decision, as it did earlier in 2021 in a similar case over the citys attempt to collect a $700,000 tax bill from Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. In the Phoebe Services case, the courts decision was published, meaning it is binding on future Commonwealth Court and county court decisions.

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Five Allentown nonprofits challenged the citys attempt to collect the tax on revenue going back to 2007. Collectively the organizations were assessed about $2.3 million. The city collects about $8 million a year in business privilege tax. A city spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Morning Call reporter Peter Hall can be reached at 610-820-6581 or peter.hall@mcall.com.
Thursday, February 24, 2022

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves symptoms, brains microstructure and functionality in veterans with treatment resistant post-traumatic stress disorder: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial

CONCLUSION: HBOT improved symptoms, brain microstructure and functionality in veterans with treatment resistant PTSD.

Dr Shai Efrati and his team at the Sagol Center in Tel Aviv have released their newest report on PTSD. Heres a short writeup. The study is available here.

By Ryan Saavedra Feb 23, 2022 DailyWire.com

A Tel Aviv University-led research study reportedly found that oxygen therapy can dramatically reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and was so successful that half of those who underwent the therapy were no longer deemed to have PTSD at the conclusion of the treatment regimen.

The study was based on use of hyperbaric oxygen chambers by 18 IDF veterans with post-trauma, The Times of Israel reported. Hyperbaric oxygen is not currently used for any significant PTSD treatments, and the scientists who conducted the study say it could open a new avenue to help people battling the disorder.

Weve started in this research to treat PTSD in a way that seeks to effect on actual physical changes in the brain, Dr. Keren Doenyas-Barak, part of the team behind the study, told The Times of Israel. This approach doesnt rely on psychological tools. Its biological, not psychological, so it represents something fresh.

The report said that Doenyas-Barak indicated that the test subjects showed significant improvement in both reported symptoms that are used to diagnose the illness and in brain scans. According to the diagnostic scale, by the end of the therapy course, half of those treated were no longer considered to have PTSD, the report added. The therapy is thought to work by increasing the plasticity of the brain, which enables wounds in the brain tissue to heal.

The Jerusalem Post reported: The patients for the study were men ages 25-60 with combat-associated PTSD that had lasted for at least four years. They arrived at the study through referrals by their psychiatrist or psychotherapist or applied after seeing advertisements that were posted in social media groups. They were then filtered according to requirements posed in a questionnaire until the researchers had a group that fit their requirements.

After being selected, the patients were put through a series of examinations and then split randomly into treatment and control groups. The patients in the treatment group continued with their therapy from before the study and were given 60 daily sessions of HBOT five days a week. The patients in the control group continued with their therapy but did not undergo HBOT.

After three months, the patients underwent a series of tests to determine whether they had improved. The HBOT group showed significant improvements over the control group in multiple tests.

Today we understand that treatment-resistant PTSD is caused by a biological wound in brain tissues, which obstructs attempts at psychological and psychiatric treatments, Professor Shai Efrati, who participated in leading the research, said. With the new HBOT protocols, we can activate mechanisms that repair the wounded brain tissue. The treatment induces reactivation and proliferation of stem cells, as well as generation of new blood vessels and increased brain activity, ultimately restoring the functionality of the wounded tissues. Our study paves the way to a better understanding of the connection between mind and body.

The information provided by TreatNOW.org does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied, are being made.
The former head of the Texas power grid testified in court Wednesday that he was following the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott when he ordered wholesale power prices to stay at the maximum price cap for days on end during last years winter storm and blackout, running up billions of dollars in bills for power companies.

Bill Magness, the former CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said even as power plants were starting come back online, former Public Utility Commission Chair DeAnn Walker told him that Abbott wanted them to do whatever necessary to prevent further rotating blackouts that left millions of Texans without power.

She told me the governor had conveyed to her if we emerged from rotating outages it was imperative they not resume, Magness testified. We needed to do what we needed to do to make it happen.

Last year the governors spokesman, Mark Miner, said Abbott was not involved in any way in the decision to keep wholesale electricity prices at the maximum of $9,000 per megawatt hour  more than 150 times normal prices. He described a decision to send an aide to ERCOTs operations center in the middle of the crisis as based on the feeling the grid operator was spewing disinformation.

Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Brett Coomer, MBO / Associated Press (Photos by Houston Chronicle staff photographers)

On ExpressNews.com: All-night ERCOT meeting raises questions about Abbotts role in power pricing debacle

As Texans would expect, Governor Abbott instructed everyone involved that they must do what was needed to keep the power on and to prevent the loss of life, Miner said in an email Wednesday. This is the same instruction Governor Abbott gave to the PUC and ERCOT (during a cold snap) earlier this year: Do what needs to be done to keep the power on.

The decision to keep power prices at the maximum cap is now at the center of a bankruptcy trial waged by the Waco-based electric co-op Brazos Electric. Brazos contends that decision was made recklessly, adding up to a $1.9 billion power bill from ERCOT that forced the co-op into bankruptcy.

It did nothing at all to cause more generation to come online, said Lino Mendiola, one of the attorneys representing Brazos. It was an attempted remedy that didnt solve any of the problems caused by the winter storm.

Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer (Photos by Houston Chronicle staff photographers)

The original order to raise power prices to the cap was made by the Public Utility Commission on Feb. 15. The aim was to provide incentives to get power plants back online and encourage large power users such as factories and petrochemical plants to stay offline. Even as power plants were starting to come back online on Feb. 17, ERCOT elected to keep prices at the cap another 32 hours, a decision that the Texas Independent Market Monitor criticized in a report last year as having exceeded the mandate of the Commission.

This decision resulted in $16 billion in additional costs to ERCOTs market, wrote Carrie Bivens, director of ERCOTs Independent Market Monitor.

When several of CPS Energys power plants either seized up or stopped functioning properly during the long cold snap, the city-owned utility spent about $300 million for power on the ERCOT market. In March, CPS sued ERCOT, challenging its bill.

The Fourth Court of Appeals dismissed CPS lawsuit on procedural grounds in December. At the time, CPS said it was determining next steps to continue the legal fight against the grid operator, including possibly appealing to the Texas Supreme Court.

Now Abbott is facing questions about his own responsibility in the handling of last years blackout. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke has made the crisis, which contributed to the deaths of some 200 people, a focal point of his campaign to unseat Abbott in this Novembers election, recently touring Texas on a keeping the lights on road trip.

ORourke released a statement Wednesday about Magness testimony, claiming Abbott had, once again put the profits of his donors over the people of this state.

Abbott screwed us, and hell continue to screw us until we vote him out, ORourke said.

Magness, who was fired last year, has long defended his actions and those of other ERCOT officials as necessary to keep the grid from slipping into a total blackout that could have taken weeks or months from which to recover.

But in testimony in federal bankruptcy court in Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday, he explained in detail how Walker had come to ERCOTs operations center in the middle of the crisis and relayed to him Abbotts demand that rotating blackouts come to an end.

Magness said he agreed that continued blackouts were still a risk, explaining that the system was far from secure even as power plants started to come back online on Feb. 17. Some generators were still going offline because of cold or natural gas supply issues, and ERCOT officials feared that large power users might resume operations and consume crucial power reserves if wholesale electricity prices returned to normal market conditions,

We were still seeing 40,000 megawatts of outages. At the peak we had 52,000 megawatts but 40,000 is still a lot, Magness said. We saw the potential for load shed coming again.

At one point during his testimony Wednesday, Magness described how problems were at risk of cascading if outages resumed, explaining that water plants relying on backup generation would have soon run out of fuel.

And I dont know what else, he said.

The judge overseeing the trial, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones, responded, Youre looking into the unknown.

I dont think anyone would say you were not trying to do the right thing, he said.

Staff writer Diego Mendoza-Moyers contributed to this report.

james.osborne@chron.com
San Antonio firefighters have been battling a two-alarm fire after a blaze broke out at a historic downtown building late Wednesday night, Fire Chief Charles Hood said.

Crews were called to 500 Urban Loop, near Cesar Chavez Boulevard at about 11 p.m. for a fire that started in the vacant two-story building. When they arrived, they found heavy fire and smoke.
This article is co-published and co-reported with Military Times, an independent news organization reporting on issues important to the U.S. military.

When asked in January what they liked about their deployment to the Texas-Mexico border, members of the Texas Air National Guard had few nice things to say.

I hate it here, one respondent said in an anonymous survey about the involuntary mission with no set end date that has taken as many as 10,000 troops away from their civilian lives and families.

Another, asked for general feedback, simply posted four middle- finger emojis.

Frustration, anxiety and anger prevailed in the survey responses obtained by the The Texas Tribune and the Military Times. The survey includes responses from nearly 250 members of Task Force South, one of six units that fall under the umbrella of Operation Lone Star  Gov. Greg Abbotts unprecedentedly large attempt to secure the border with Guard members and state troopers.

On ExpressNews.com: On the border, chasing delays in pay and fewer migrants, some Texas guardsmen are losing faith

Im wasting time watching the grass grow at my [observation] point [along the border], while my civilian job is dying on the vine, one Guardsman wrote in response to another question. IF my job still exists when I return, I will have a giant hole to dig out of.

Another member, whose husband travels for work, said theyve had to pay an extra $2,000 each month for a nanny to watch their kids.

Yet another worried about the future of a strained marriage after having to leave his wife and new baby behind.

The survey responses provide the clearest insights yet into the simmering dissatisfaction among troops stationed at the border. The survey was distributed before the Tribune and Military Times published an investigation earlier this month detailing problems with the mission that included hasty mobilization, alarming morale issues, meager living conditions, delays in payment and the perception by troops that the mission was politically motivated to score reelection points for Abbott. Those findings have been consistently denied or downplayed by Texas officials.

Nearly 250 members of the unit  around half its troop strength  completed the survey between Jan. 5-10, according to the source who provided the survey results. The source is not being named because they were not authorized to share the survey.

Task Force South largely consists of Texas Air National Guard members under the 432nd Air Expeditionary Group. Those troops work in the Brownsville area of southernmost Texas and most are living in hotels during the deployment  the best living conditions among the thousands of Texas troops at the border.

On ExpressNews.com: Abbotts border wall is a chain-link fence, built by soldiers in a community tired of political games

The obtained data is from five free-response questions that asked airmen to list positives and negatives about the mission, offer feedback on benefits and off-duty restrictions and weigh in on Operation Lone Star in general. An analysis of the responses by the Tribune and Military Times found:

 More than half expressed skepticism or frustration with Operation Lone Star and how senior leaders planned, executed and communicated about the mission.

 Nearly 30% vented about the mobilization's length, haste or involuntary nature in their answers.

 About 30% said the most difficult part of Operation Lone Star was the deployments impact on their civilian lives, including lost wages, disrupted families and interrupted careers and educations.

 More than 1 in 5 either offered no substantive feedback on what they like most about Operation Lone Star or said they disliked everything about the mission.

 Almost 3 out of 4 airmen said they wanted better state benefits. Troops on state active-duty missions like Operation Lone Star dont get benefits common to federal deployments like tax exemptions, retirement credit, Veterans Affairs disability coverage for injuries or education benefits like GI Bill credit or the Hazlewood Act, which is a Texas education benefit that gives free tuition to veterans who served on active-duty missions.

It wasnt all bad though. While the feedback was overwhelmingly negative, there were a few members who said they were happy with the pay (when it comes on time, some specified) and around 2 in 5 said they appreciated the camaraderie among the troops.

When reached for comment, Texas Military Department spokesperson Col. Rita Holton said the agency consistently seek[s] opportunities to recognize service members, instill esprit de corps, and solicit feedback in order to continue improving morale across the board.

Surveys are an important, yet confidential, method in doing so, Holton said. She also said the benefits disparity is an unavoidable consequence of the mission being done under state active-duty authority.

Holton said the surveys [allow] leadership teams to proactively address problems, but the source who provided the survey results said task force leadership initially didnt respond to the results or communicate a plan to address the complaints troops made. Internal leadership meetings focused on the positives that people seem to like their [colleagues], Mexican food in the area, etc., the source said.

On ExpressNews.com: Gov. Abbott signs $1.8B border security bill as Haitian migrant crisis escalates

But seven hours after the Tribune and Military Times submitted questions to the agency asking what it had done to address the troops concerns, Brig. Gen. Monie Ulis, the operations commander, signed a policy memo relaxing the off-duty curfew, alcohol restrictions and distance limits on off-duty travel. Leaders communicating the changes to the troops said they were the result of members feedback in surveys  despite the surveys being completed more than a month ago.

The agency refused to provide the results of a similar survey sent to all Operation Lone Star troops on Jan. 3. State military officials are trying to block a public information request from Military Times and the Tribune for that information, claiming that releasing the results would put troops at risk and have a chilling effect on future survey participation.

Lives left behind

The responses illustrate the personal consequences of the short-notice, involuntary activation.

Most state active-duty missions are short-term emergency responses, such as the Texas Guards response to the 2021 winter storm or hurricanes in recent years. But Operation Lone Star is different  thousands of troops have been there involuntarily since last fall, and theyre likely to be there until theyre replaced with a fresh wave of troops this fall, according to planning documents.

What strategic or tactical thought has there been toward the impact of [Operation Lone Star] on the morale and retention of the Guard? one member asked. I had [nine days] notice to leave my wife and baby during an immensely stressful point in our marriage.

Another echoed his concerns.

On ExpressNews.com: Dallas man pleads guilty to assaulting Border Patrol agent during vehicle pursuit

[I had] 10 days to try and find a substitute who could manage my classes at work, make plans to keep my house in shape, prepare my family mentally and emotionally, and of course, pack myself, the airman said. Troops who dont report for the involuntary mission could be arrested, Texas officials have acknowledged.

Many of the troops on the mission arrived immediately following federal deployments and a separate state mobilization to help with hurricane relief in Texas and Louisiana, one airman said. Now, major life milestones are still on hold.

Myself and others have been gone for what will be a year and a half  with mere days in between, another airman said. Weddings, home builds and starting [a] family have been put off for the time being, and [this mission] is grinding down what little resolve we have left.

The mission has halted schooling and day jobs as well. One airman said they were taking a pay cut from their civilian job, and the Texas Guards hardship bonus pay wasnt enough to make up their salary.

We were rushed down here from our homes and families just to sit around for a month waiting on training [and] equipment (most of which we are still waiting on), without the proper infrastructure to support such a [massive] mobilization, the airman said.

A college student bemoaned that the mission had delayed their graduation  and worried they may have to restart my nursing program all over again even [though] I was supposed to graduate in December 2022.

And one health care worker, exasperated that the Guard had indefinitely plucked them from their job amid the coronavirus pandemic, argued they were lied to about the duration.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas lawmakers deplore mistreatment of National Guardsmen sent to border duty

Whether or not you agree with the politics and morals of [Operation Lone Star], the best thing you could do to improve morale would be to shorten [deployments], the member said. Ive spoken to very few people who plan on continuing their service in the Texas [National Guard], much less staying on [the border] any longer than they have to. Send people home.

Meanwhile, problems stemming from the missions rapid expansion are alienating even the troops who support Abbotts approach to securing the border.

One Guard member who reported enjoying working in the field to catch migrants also decried leaderships lack of answers [and an] unknown date to return to family and civilian career.

People [quit] school, [their] jobs, [their] relationships all because of the stress of not knowing when they can pick it back up or plan to start again, the airman explained. Its unrealistic for the younger [airmen].

Another service member, who thinks the operation isnt tough enough on migrants, also demanded that senior leaders also pay us correctly and give us actual [health] insurance.

Other troops resented feeling like a number or a political pawn in Abbotts 2022 reelection campaign. Abbott is facing multiple challengers from his right in the Republican primary on March 1 who have criticized him for not being tough enough on the border.

Many of the missions critics have condemned its scale as a political ploy, despite record migration at the border.

Members feel like political [pawns] and do not feel like their [issues] are being heard, said one airman.

Another decried how the mission feels like being used for a political agenda.

Most of us signed up to help Texas in times of need like hurricanes, the Guard member said. This doesnt feel like we are helping any Texans besides the governor and his ability to say he has activated the [Guard] to the border.

Flagging morale

The missions shortcomings could exacerbate a deepening morale crisis in the Texas Guard.

I support the mission and overall am glad to be part of it, one Guard member said. But morale issues are becoming critical and will get worse unless dramatic action is taken to get ahead of it.

Following a string of suicides linked to the mission, theres fear of future self-harm by members.

Im concerned with having members drinking without limits, knowing they have personal firearms [with them] and mental health struggles, one airman explained. With limited  access to mental health providers, and the rise in suicides on the Army side [of the mission], I feel we are doing nothing to prevent suicides coming to the 432nd.

That airman called Operation Lone Star a huge disappointment.

I never imagined members of the military would be treated so poorly[,] and I plan to leave the Air Guard after this because of how myself and others around me have been treated, the member said.

Some respondents praised the effort and said theyd stay on as long as they could, despite the murky timeline and living with roommates or without a full kitchen. But more airmen indicated in the survey that Operation Lone Star will be their final mission in the Texas National Guard.

Military Times and the Tribune previously reported a recent trend of low retention numbers for the states Army Guard, while more troops leave critical fields like cyber warfare for the Air Guard as well.

Some are burnt out by the onslaught of missions and activations in recent years, from pandemic response to assistance in severe weather. Others worry their civilian lives have suffered too much.

According to one service member, multiple airmen had just returned from basic or technical training or a deployment, only to be pointed to the Mexico border during their first Guard drill back home.

Were going to lose a lot of good [airmen], they said. Why are we doing that to our members?!?!?!?

Multiple people are bracing themselves to rebuild progress theyve lost at their regular jobs when they return from the border. One airman, who called Operation Lone Star a political mess between the federal and state government now plans to separate from the Guard when their contract expires in 2023 after losing most of their clients from their civilian job.

[Operation Lone Star] cares more about numbers than the impact on individuals and their families, said one. It does greater harm to our members than good by putting their families and own lives at risk for an unclear mission.

Another said they hope other states learn from the missions troubles.

We are disposable in the eyes of top leaders, from the governor on down, declared the service member. The leadership failures of this mission will be a case study for military leaders for years to come.

Jose Luis Martinez contributed to this report.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. The original article can be found here.
The chief of police in Castroville is on administrative leave as city officials investigate allegations that he used the N-word while at the scene of a homicide.

Chief Brian Jackson is on leave pending the outcome of the investigation, Castroville Mayor Darrin Schroeder said Tuesday evening during a City Council meeting.

An interim chief of police has been appointed in the meantime, Schroeder said during the meeting.

Jackson allegedly used the racial slur while at a crime scene Feb. 5 at U.S. Highway 90 and Houston Street; multiple area law enforcement agencies were at the scene.

We dont take this lightly, Schroeder said previously. Discrimination and racism is a huge problem in our country and the world, and it cant be a problem in Castroville.

The slur was reportedly used at least three times in front of a Medina County sheriffs deputy equipped with a body-worn camera, a source told KSAT.

Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown overheard the language used in the footage and alerted the city, he told the news station.

The City Council broke for executive session prior for some time prior to announcing the decision Tuesday evening to place Jackson on leave. Schroeder had said previously that most of the actions regarding Jackson could not be discussed publicly because they related to personnel matters, but that they would discuss as much as they were legally able to in public.

Schroeder said that the city is investigating the allegation and proceeding with due process toward Jackson, and that action cannot be taken without any proof.

The city has requested any kind of video footage and information from the Sheriffs Office that would substantiate the allegation, Schroeder said.

We believe in all human rights, Schroeder said in a statement. So we will not discipline simply on rumors or hearsay, but we will act decisively if we determine guilt of discrimination.

The mayor has said that Jackson, who previously was a lieutenant in the department, has worked hard to develop trust with the community during his time as chief and did not have a history of discrimination.

JBeltran@express-news.net
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First lady Jill Biden came to San Antonio on Wednesday to push a goal as ambitious as Americas 1960s quest to put astronauts on the moon  to reduce the cancer death rate by at least 50 percent over the next quarter century.

Biden toured UT Health San Antonios Mays Cancer Center, escorted by Dr. Ned Sharpless, director of the National Cancer Institute, and Mayor Ron Nirenberg. At a listening session focused on addressing cancer health disparities in the Latino community, she spoke of cancers personal impact on her life.

President Joe Bidens son, Beau Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015 after a battle that began two years earlier at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

We were fortunate, when our son got cancer, we had access to the best health care in the world. We had access to trials, we had access to different kinds of therapies and we tried everything, said Jill Biden, his stepmother. And its true, you hear that word cancer and you just shut down.

Cancer rates for Latinos across the nation have been projected to rise, and the work takes on added significance in San Antonio, where 64 percent of the population is Latino.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

The tour was geared to the Biden administration's Cancer Moonshot initiative and included a visit to the Mays Centers Infusion Center, where patients receive treatment as part of clinical trials. Biden also talked with Jeanette Sanchez, a community health worker at UT Health San Antonio, and Rainee Miller, a breast cancer patient at the center.

The listening session featuring experts from around the country, moderated by Dr. Amelie Ramirez, a professor and chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences and associate director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the center.

Biden later toured a child development center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland as part of a daylong stop in the Alamo City, her fourth trip to Texas since becoming first lady.

On ExpressNews.com: First lady visits wounded troops. She calls BAMC facility 'an example of how communities step up'

Many in San Antonio might think heart disease and diabetes are the biggest killers among Latinos, but cancer is actually No. 1, and Latinos and African Americans are underrepresented in cancer drug trials, researchers say.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

That problem led to the launch of a campaign that hopes to recruit 20 percent of patients at the Mays Cancer Center from San Antonio and the region for a variety of cancer studies  a goal that would double participation in 2020.

UT Health San Antonio is spearheading a joint national study, Avanzando Caminos or Leading Pathways, that will track 3,000 survivors in the Alamo City and Miami for six years and examine the social, cultural, behavioral, biological and medical influences that affect their quality of life.

The study got underway here in May and involves Ramirez and Frank J. Penedo of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami.

Those interested in joining the study should email caminos@uthscsa.edu or visit the website salud.to/survivorstudy.

On ExpressNews.com: Ethnic groups are underrepresented in cancer drug development. San Antonio researchers are trying to change that

Ramirez said Latinos face disparities in access to care, screening, clinical trials, risk factors, mortality and quality of life  all of which were worsened by COVID-19.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

Weve done studies from the Health Science Center Institute for Health Promotion Research where we have documented that our Latino population in South Texas has higher liver cancer rates than the rest of Texas, than other Latinos nationwide, she said, adding that no one can explain why.

Were researching that, Ramirez said. It could be reasons for obesity and diabetes, it could be (Hepatitis) C, people not being vaccinated. Theres a number of probabilities but we dont have a clear answer. And usually when this disease is diagnosed, its pretty lethal.

The morning Biden came to town, Ramirez had convened the 2022 Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos Conference, a biennial event here that began in 2018 and runs through Friday. It is expected to draw 200 researchers, oncologists, physicians, community leaders and students at the Westin Riverwalk downtown.

Thanks to progress in cancer therapeutics, diagnostics, and patient care, as well as lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, the Biden administration said its ambitious goals for cutting the cancer death rate and to better life for the survivors are achievable.

The administration noted that the age-adjusted death rate from cancer has fallen by about 25 percent over the first 20 years of this century  meaning that more people are surviving cancer and living longer after being diagnosed.

Treatments have been developed that target specific mutations in lung and skin cancer, as well as leukemia, among others. Innovative therapies now use the human immune system to detect and kill cancer cells, having an impact in some types of skin and blood cancers.

Vaccines have been created that prevent the cause of as many as seven kinds of cancer.

The Bidens have described the Cancer Moonshot as personal. Jill Biden became an advocate for cancer education and prevention in 1993, when four friends were diagnosed with breast cancer. That year, she started the Biden Breast Health Initiative to educate Delaware high school girls about the importance of cancer prevention.

Many years later, Beau Biden fell ill with glioblastoma, a typically malignant tumor.

Ramirez believes the administrations goals are realistic, but adds a caveat.

I think its realistic if we can get people in for early screening so that we can really help them at that early stage, she said. And what were seeing in Latinos is that theyre being diagnosed at Stage 4, late stages of cancer where we have few therapeutics available for them.

The reasons include lack of culturally tailored information on why coming in for screening is important, she said.

You know our community has some of the lowest health insurance rates compared to other population groups, so getting access to care is another critical point.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

One of those at the listening session, Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vazquez, a University of Puerto Rico professor and two-time cancer survivor, said she had great resources as a patient, including her own family.

Others, however, are not so fortunate.

Were never going to advance the science if we dont open this for the patients, and Im passionate about that, she said.

Nirenberg, sitting next to Biden, said physicians and researchers in San Antonio were doing wonderful work, but added, The foundational challenge is equity, getting access to hard-to-reach populations.

Texans, and San Antonio residents in particular, he said, have high rates of uninsured, so we are, as a community, trying to attack poverty from a number of different angles.

Biden stressed the need to improve outreach to rural areas and the critical work of early detection, a key to successfully intervening in an illness.

A big part of this is education. We have to get the word out that people have to get screened, and early detection and where their cancer centers are and who their patient advocates are, Biden continued. Our administration is working every single day because we know that it affects all Americans.

Her most recently visit to Texas was in November to tour a pediatric COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston. She traveled to Houston and Dallas in June and visited Houston a year ago with her husband after Winter Storm Uri left millions in Texas without power and water.

Jill Bidens last visit to San Antonio was in 2019, to deliver remarks at a Junior League luncheon. She toured Brooke Army Medical Center and the nearby Warrior and Family Support Center in 2011.

sigc@express-news.net
A fifth suspect in a shootout that killed two people including a bystander, who was watching TV in his North Side home, has been charged with capital murder as deadly shootings continue throughout the city this week.

The case is one of three double-fatal shootings to hit San Antonio in quick succession over the holiday weekend. Those six deaths, along with two other slayings since, come amid a rise in homicides here and nationwide.

Jerry Ortiz, 17, was identified as a fifth person involved in the North Side shootout; San Antonio police said he turned himself in Wednesday.

Jacob Beltran /Express-News

Ortiz was mostly quiet as reporters asked questions while he was taken to a police vehicle Wednesday afternoon at Public Safety Headquarters downtown.

But he did say, I love you mom, I love you dad, when asked whether he had anything to say to his family.

Officer Sarai Nemeses, a police spokeswoman, said Ortiz was charged with capital murder after he spoke with a detective.

The deadly shootout occurred about 2:30 p.m. Monday at a gas station in the 800 block of West Mariposa Drive.

Christopher James Mejia, 14, and Enrique Bocanegra, 66, were killed as a result of the shootout. Bocanegra was a bystander who was sitting in his home nearby watching TV when a stray bullet struck and killed him.

The first suspect arrested in the case was 21-year-old Oscar Martinez III. A 17-year-old injured in the shootout and taken to a hospital in critical condition also remains to be booked by proxy, San Antonio police said. Two other juvenile males, too, were charged with capital murder, but their identities were not made public because they are being tried as juveniles.

Police Chief William McManus has said a man approached an SUV in the gas station, at which point Mejia allegedly exited the passenger side and began shooting. Mejia died at the scene during the shootout.

Police did not elaborate Wednesday on further details of the shootout, including what type of weapons were used or whose bullet struck Bocanegra. The shooting remains under investigation, police said.

East Side slaying

Tuesday evening on the East Side, a 29-year-old man was shot and killed at a shopping plaza near Highland Elementary School.

Officers were alerted to 1818 S. New Braunfels Ave. just before 5 p.m. for a shooting. Police arrived and found the man with a gunshot wound.

He was taken to an area hospital, where he died.

Witnesses told police the victim was arguing with a 34-year-old man when the latter pulled out a pistol and shot the former. Police did not say why the two were arguing.

The 34-year-old was taken to police headquarters for questioning. It was unclear Wednesday evening whether any charge will be filed.

Slaying near the Pearl

Tuesday night near the Pearl, a man was shot and killed, and San Antonio police are searching for a suspect.

Officers were called to the area of Pearl Parkway and Broadway about 8:30 p.m. for a shooting. There, they found a car full of people attempting to take a man to the hospital.

The man, 22, was suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was reported that the shooting occurred elsewhere, but officers were unable to locate the crime scene.

Weekend slayings

The string of killings began this weekend with the deaths of two people who were slain at a Northwest Side apartment Sunday.

Michael Vincent Burger, 20, is charged with capital murder in the deaths of his parents, according to San Antonio police.

Noreen Burger, 58, was identified Wednesday by the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office. She died as as result of multiple gunshot wounds, the medical examiners office said. Her death was ruled a homicide. Both she and William Bill Burger were identified Monday by Spring Branch ISD officials as victims of the slaying.

Chief McManus said an officer overheard gunfire from the deadly incident about 12:15 p.m. and went to investigate at an apartment in the 3800 block of Parkdale. Burger was holding a rifle and a shotgun when he was confronted by the investigating officer, who fired a few rounds his direction but did not hit him.

Burger was arrested at the scene and remains jailed as of Wednesday with bail set at $50,0000.

In a separate incident, a man and woman were found dead Monday morning in what police said was an apparent murder-suicide on the West Side. Officials said 50-year-old Gavino Daniel Rios and 41-year-old Juanne Sandoval were found with gunshot wounds inside a home in the 100 block of Enrique Avenue.

The case remained under investigation as of Wednesday. Details as to what led to the incident were not immediately available.

Homicides in San Antonio increased more than 20 percent last year  after increasing more than 20 percent the year before. In 2019, San Antonio police reported 105 homicides. The number was 130 in 2020. And last year brought the highest number of homicides over the past 10 years: 160.

The local trend reflects a national one. Homicides nationwide increased significantly in 2020, to 9,630, according to the FBI. In 2019, 6,977 homicides were reported to the FBIs National Incident-Based Reporting System. The number for 2021 isnt available yet.

Staff writer Anna Bauman contributed to this story.
When members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests meet, the discussion centers on trauma and recovery.

And whats said is held in strict confidence.

Patti Koo, who leads the San Antonio-New Braunfels chapter, says a recent meeting was different.

The peer support group  which meets on the first Tuesday and third Wednesday of every month (virtually during the pandemic)  engaged in a wider discussion than usual. It touched on a fresh Catholic Church controversy involving baptisms in which priests mistakenly used the word we, rather than I.

The church has said such baptisms are not valid and that those who received them technically are not Catholics.

At the SNAP meeting, this set off a discussion about ontological issues, the philosophical, metaphysical, even supernatural powers assigned to a priest the moment hes ordained.

Think turning bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus.

The baptism imbroglio is reverberating through the church and may for some time, as hundreds, perhaps thousands, of invalid baptisms are uncovered.

The defective baptisms were performed in several states over several decades by several priests and at least one deacon.

Instead of saying, I baptize you in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit, the priests substituted we.

The problem is that in the eyes of the church, we implies that the community is the source of grace in baptism. I signifies that Jesus is working through the priest or deacon who performs the sacrament.

That one word makes baptism a linchpin for other sacraments, including communion, confirmation, marriage and, for priests, ordination.

When one priest watched a video of his own baptism and heard the word we, he notified church authorities. He was re-baptized and had to perform his sacraments all over again, including ordination.

From the churchs perspective, the primacy of I over we is inviolate and longstanding. The Vatican reaffirmed it in a 2020 document.

The issue emerged anew when someone sitting in the pews at St. Gregory Catholic Church in Phoenix heard the Rev. Andres Arango make the fateful error during a baptism. Church leaders investigated and determined last month that Arango had bungled innumerable baptisms over 20 years in Phoenix and at parishes in San Diego and Brazil.

Arango apologized and resigned as pastor of St. Gregory. Some parishioners want him reinstated and have filled a spreadsheet with his good works.

My family includes a lot of lapsed Catholics. They love the rituals of the church. They pray and believe. But the churchs history and abuses of power have left an imprint.

It has made them open to other faiths.

One of our familys most recent weddings was held at Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church. It was packed.

Pastor Tom Heger, now retired, asked the couple to face the congregation. All of us took part in the ceremony. It was beautiful.

At another wedding in the late 1980s or early 1990s, my late brother and I received communion at Metropolitan Community Church, which has been on the forefront of LGBTQ rights.

Mass was said by a former priest. Perhaps he knew we were in crisis. My brother already had been diagnosed with HIV.

When we stepped forward, the former priest stretched out his arms, drew us both close and prayed for us.

It was the most meaningful communion Ive ever received.

Ive attended meaningful services in the Catholic Church, none as powerful as those presided over by the late Father Eddie Bernal or as richly celebrated as those led by retired Father David Garcia.

Survivors of priest sexual abuse read every news report about the Catholic Church through a singular prism.

For them, rules about baptisms dont register as merely wrong. They evoke memories of the real crimes committed by priests against children and others, and of the churchs coverup, which was even worse.

SNAP isnt alone in believing the church has yet to atone in full. It maintains that lists of credibly accused priests released by the church in 2019 remain incomplete.

In this context, we vs. I seems a trivial issue. It makes a big church look small and out of touch. Perhaps thats whats registering among members of the faithful who see we in a totally different light.

We doesnt exclude their Jesus. It simply includes everyone who stands with the people of the church to welcome a new life in baptism.

Around the country, hundreds of Catholics have yet to respond to requests from dioceses that they be baptized again and reperform other sacraments.

It might have been better to declare the baptisms in question flawed but still valid. After all, throughout its history, the church has used other forms of baptism.

Perhaps its not just SNAP members who see a church hierarchy concerned mainly with wielding power.

Koo said several members of the group sighed when they talked about it at their recent meeting.

Then someone expressed it in terms that resonated with others: This is so insulting to God.

eayala@express-news.net
The Texas Supreme Court on Thursday heard arguments over a narrow challenge to the states abortion ban, one of the few remaining disputes after the U.S. Supreme Court authorized the historic crackdown in December.

The question before the court is over the role that state licensing officials, including members of the medical, pharmacy and nursing boards, play in enforcing the law. The statute, known as Senate Bill 8, prohibits abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and delegates enforcement to private citizens.

Both the state and abortion rights proponents say the officials should be prohibited from enforcing the law, but the state argues that point is already made clearly in its text. Eight of the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices disagreed, saying in a December ruling that officials may or must take enforcement actions against clinics that violate the law.

Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone said Thursday that they got it wrong.

If a state official revoked a doctors license as a consequence of violating S.B. 8, any ordinary individual would describe that as enforcement, he told the Texas justices.

It was not immediately clear how the Texas court would rule, though neither outcome would be especially helpful to abortion providers.

RELATED: U.S. Supreme Court leaves Texas 6-week abortion ban in effect but allows some challenges to law

If it allows the case to move forward, providers would be shielded from disciplinary action but still subject to citizen-led litigation, the most crippling part of the law.

As of March 1, most Texans will have been without abortion access for six months, said Marc Hearron, a lawyer for providers. That is because the United States Supreme Court has repeatedly refused to step in and protect it.

Thursdays arguments were originally before a federal appeals court, which punted it to the state Supreme Court in a move that critics say is designed to run out the clock while the U.S. Supreme Court considers dismantling abortion protections altogether. All three courts are led by conservatives.

The federal high court is expected to rule in the coming months on whether to roll back or overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that established a right to abortion until fetal viability, or about 23 weeks of pregnancy.

Abortion access has plummeted in Texas since the law took effect on Sept. 1, with women fleeing to other states for the procedure or trying to abort their pregnancies on their own. Reported abortions fell by half in September from the same period a year earlier, according to data analyzed by the Texas Policy Evaluation Project.

Planned Parenthood says its clinics in surrounding states saw a nearly eightfold increase in Texas patients at the end of last year, compared with the same period a year earlier. Kathaleen Pittman, the clinic administrator at Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, La., said more than 60 percent of its patients are now coming from Texas, up from 15 percent before SB 8.

The staff is exhausted, the phone calls are nonstop, she said Thursday. We are seeing women who are crying because they cant understand how anybody could have so much control over their lives.

Abortion rights proponents have repeatedly warned that the law will impact marginalized and low-income communities most, where it is harder to travel to neighboring states or cross immigration checkpoints.

Today, the justice system has once again failed the people of Texas, said Rep. Donna Howard, an Austin Democrat who chairs the Womens House Caucus. Every day Senate Bill 8 is allowed to remain in effect is another day Texans live with fewer Constitutional protections than other Americans.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
Drought elsewhere helps

The old joke in agricultural marketing is "What is the cure for high prices? High prices." The longer high prices stick around, the more customers look for substitutes or alternative (and cheaper) suppliers. But when those other suppliers are having issues with supplies themselves, those higher prices can stay around for a good time longer. That is the situation seemingly setting up in the crop markets. US crop prices have been high and our international customers have been looking for alternatives, but the search is getting harder as the drought in South America is limiting those alternative supplies coming from there.

Traders have been tracking the USDA projections for South American crops over the past few months. Each month, those projections move a bit lower. The February update provided some additional downward movement on South American production, roughly in line with the private trade expectations. Tables 1 and 2 show the latest global estimates. For corn, the general picture is for increased global production, but the growth from South America is being reduced by the drought. As the table displays, comparing the year-over-year numbers (the far right column), most places in the world are growing more corn. Only Serbia and India are projected to have less corn production this year. Increased corn plantings, especially in Brazil, had led expectations of sizable leaps in corn production in South America. But the drought conditions have lowered those expectations in both the January and February updates from USDA.

The global soybean situation is different. In prior months, the story was similar to corn. Global production was increasing, as was South American production. But the February update finally revealed the South American drought likely has had a major impact. With the latest cuts to South American crop expectations, Brazil and Argentina are both set to bring in smaller crops than last year and that will bring global production down for the first time in several years. In November, the projections were for Argentina to have 51 million tons of soybeans and Brazil to have 144 million tons. Over the past few months, those targets have slid to 45 million tons for Argentina and 134 million tons for Brazil. That is an 11.8% decline for Argentina and 7% decline for Brazil.

Those expected tighter global supplies have supported and lifted both crops, with soybeans leading the charge. Smaller crops out of South America should open up additional opportunities for US crop exports, partially offsetting the export losses from the higher prices. So that will be the next part of the story to watch, the export sales movement over the next few months. Figures 1 and 2 show the export sales pace currently and compare it across the past few years. In both graphs, the blue line shows the sales pattern for the 2019 crop, when trade policy and tariffs dominated the export discussion. The green line shows the pattern for the 2020 crop, which bounced higher due to trade deals (USMCA and Phase 1) and buying surges stimulated by viruses (African Swine Fever and COVID). The red line shows the sales for 2021 thus far and the black line displays the five-year average pattern for export sales.

The export sales patterns for both crops were fairly similar in 2019 and 2020. Both crops were hurt by the tariffs and bounced back with the trade agreements. The 2020 marketing year turned out to be the best export year, in terms of bushels, for both crops.

Those trade similarities seem to have faded away for the 2021 marketing year. Soybeans has fallen back to the five-year average pattern, as current sales are roughly 500 million bushels below last years pace. USDAs current export projection suggests soybeans will continue to track along the five-year average. And the projected shortfall in South American production does open up the possibility of stronger sales in the back half of the marketing year. China will likely be the linchpin to how exports progress. Current US sales to China are running roughly 350 million bushels below last year.

For corn, export sales for 2021 have been able to maintain a better pace, but have still slipped behind last year. It was around this time last year that China made several large purchases of corn, leading to the record export year. With the weaker South American crops, we'll be looking for some additional Chinese purchases again. Based on the five-year average pattern, we tend to have an additional 600 million bushels in export sales during the remainder of the marketing year. That pace would be in line with USDAs projection of 2.425 billion bushels. It would be approximately 325 million bushels below last years export level, but the higher prices offset the bushel reduction. Compared to last year, the largest sales declines have been in China and Japan. The drought losses in South America will likely push those countries to take another look at US corn.

For 2021-22 season-average prices, USDA held firm with corn at $5.45 per bushel, but raised soybeans to $13 per bushel, a 40-cent increase. The futures markets have been more optimistic over the past few weeks and the February update did nothing to dampen that enthusiasm. As the markets closed on February 9, corn futures pointed to a 2021-22 season-average price in the $5.80 range, with soybean futures indicating $13.50. The futures price strength extends to the 2022 and 2023 marketing years as well, with corn futures north of $5 and soybean futures above $12.50 well into 2024. So, while input costs have soared over the past several months, crop prices have remained strong enough to cover those costs and provide profit opportunities. The situation reminds me a lot of the 2013 marketing year, when we began the year with strong prices and profit windows, but we ended the year with lower prices and challenging returns. While I hope we do not repeat that, it is a good reminder that now is a great time to put a marketing plan in place to capture and protect the healthy returns the markets are offering. As 2013 showed, those returns can disappear as quickly as they appeared.

For more ag market outlook, see this months video.

Chad E. Hart, extension economist, 515-294-9911, chart@iastate.edu
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge smiles during a Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, news conference at the Boys & Girls Club in the city. Fudge was in town to promote the need for more affordable housing. (Rick Kintzel/Morning Call)

Record-breaking home prices, surging rents and rising homelessness have the nations top housing official traveling the country to call for more money to cure the intractable problems.

During a visit Thursday to Easton, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge urged the Senate to back more housing investment under the Biden administrations Build Back Better plan.

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What I do know from traveling all over the country is there is no place for someone making minimum wage who can afford a two-bedroom apartment, Fudge said during remarks in front of about two dozen people at a media event at the Boys & Girls Club of Easton.

We should be ashamed of where we are as it relates to housing, she said, noting America needs to provide about 4 million more homes and find shelter for an estimated 500,000 homeless people.

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Fudge appeared with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th District; Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., and other local and state officials at the club, a focal point of the 10-year-old Neston Heights affordable housing development in the citys South Side.

President Joe Bidens Build Back Better proposal is a $1.75 trillion package that includes $150 billion for affordable housing. Of that, Fudge said, about $60 billion is targeted at improving public housing stock.

Most public housing is about 50 years old, and weve not invested in it, she said.

The House of Representatives approved Bidens measure, but it stalled in the Senate.

At Neston Heights, a former decrepit, crime-ridden neighborhood known as the Delaware Terrace Public Housing Complex was razed and replaced thanks to about $47 million in federal money, according to Gene Pambianchi, executive director of the Easton Housing Authority.

Today, Neston Heights is about a four-square block area of nearly 100 properties, about 40 of which are designated for senior citizens, Pambianchi said. The units comprise rentals and owner-occupied homes. All residents pay typically about 30% of their income toward the housing there.

[ This situation is a crime: Lehigh Valley renters struggle to find, keep affordable housing as prices spike ]

Its a stellar example of transforming a neighborhood, officials said, but the affordable housing crisis, as well as homelessness, has grown worse over the past 10 years. In the year since Biden named Fudge HUD secretary, the median price for a house in the U.S. has climbed nearly 20%, while the mean price of a rental unit has jumped roughly 14%, according to a recent article in Time profiling Fudge and the agency.

Fudge said she thinks things could become worse if the government doesnt act.

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If we dont start to put more housing on the market now, the supply is going to woefully not meet the demand, she said after the event. And prices will keep going up.

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Fudge, who stood at a lectern with a HUD logo, and American and Easton flags behind her, said Neston Heights is worth replicating. We need this everyplace in the United States, said Fudge, who was sworn in March 10 as HUD secretary.

Wild, who voted in favor of Build Back Better, said affordable housing was the chief topic during a town hall Wednesday evening in Allentown with Mayor Matt Tuerk. She said Allentown has the highest rent-to-income ratio in the country (she did not have a specific figure) calling it mind boggling in an era of staggering rents around the country.

Panto, who grew up in Delaware Terrace, said with rental rates in the city starting at $1,500, officials are steering people toward home ownership, noting it is a way to increase generational wealth.

People dont think they can own a home; they can, Fudge said, adding the Biden bill also sets aside funding for down payment assistance.

Easton was chosen for Fudges visit, because, she said, the community is doing good things; theyre moving in the right direction.

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And its a good model to say to people, Look, you can do it. 

Morning Call journalist Anthony Salamone can be reached at asalamone@mcall.com.


Ryanair is continuing to grow its presence out of its base in Zagreb, with Croatia Airlines beginning to feel the effects of competing directly against Europes largest carrier. The budget airline, which launched operations out the Croatian capital just seven months ago, plans to maintain 22.1% of Zagreb Airports total capacity this year, with just three aircraft and half a million seats. Additional growth in operations is likely as the airline continues to add routes out of Zagreb with three new destinations already scheduled for the coming months. The airlines annual share of seats from the Croatian capital is now just seventeen points behind the national carrier, which will stand at 39%. Changes remain possible as Croatia Airlines may begin restoring some of the destinations it suspended during the coronavirus pandemic, although, so far, only one of ten suspended routes is to be restored. Ryanair is continuing to grow its presence out of its base in Zagreb, with Croatia Airlines beginning to feel the effects of competing directly against Europes largest carrier. The budget airline, which launched operations out the Croatian capital just seven months ago, plans to maintain 22.1% of Zagreb Airports total capacity this year, with just three aircraft and half a million seats. Additional growth in operations is likely as the airline continues to add routes out of Zagreb with three new destinations already scheduled for the coming months. The airlines annual share of seats from the Croatian capital is now just seventeen points behind the national carrier, which will stand at 39%. Changes remain possible as Croatia Airlines may begin restoring some of the destinations it suspended during the coronavirus pandemic, although, so far, only one of ten suspended routes is to be restored.

Croatia Airlines is feeling particular pressure on its Dublin and Rome operations, which are proving to be Ryanairs most successful out of its Zagreb base. According to the Croatia Aviation portal, Ryanairs average cabin load factor on its Rome service over the past three months has exceeded 80% on the Airbus A320 aircraft. On the other hand, Croatia Airlines maintains flights to Italys capital via Split with a Dash 8 turboprop. The Croatian carrier has also been forced to temporarily suspend flights to Dublin due to reduced demand, with services scheduled to resume on March 31. In contrast, Ryanair is currently maintaining four weekly flights between the two cities.

Ryanairs presence in Zagreb is also expected to be felt on Croatia Airlines' finances. Last years results are due to be published by the end of the month, with the carrier noting it will continue to streamline operations and reduce costs in 2022. Ryanair recently said, Croatia Airlines is a distinguished carrier, but it has lost touch with the development of air travel in Croatia, particularly from Zagreb. We do not see them as a competitor because even on the routes we both operate on we fly to different airports. Ryanair will change travel habits in Zagreb and encourage locals to travel more by air. The fact of the matter is that Croatia Airlines has not achieved growth and profit in the past four years. Last year Ryanair submitted an appeal to the EU General Court against the European Commissions decision to approve coronavirus aid provided by the Croatian government to the national airline. A court is expected to rule on the matter this year.




For the most part, calls to the soil and water conservation district offices are pleasant. They are typically farmers with questions about a project, nature lovers calling about tree or fish sales, someone with questions about an upcoming program, and the occasional person looking to pay his water bill (sorry, thats not us). But several times a year we receive the phone call that we dread  a livestock manure pollution complaint.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has the authority over livestock pollution complaints through Ohio Revised Code Chapter 939. Through a cooperative agreement, SWCDs act as their agents to investigate and provide landowner assistance.

The complete law and procedures can be found online at the Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Soil and Water Conservation. As you can imagine, its quite lengthy and your eyes will glaze over if I get into too much detail.

The bottom line is this: If any livestock manure gets into waters of the state (this includes roadside ditches), it is a violation of the pollution abatement law and subject to the associated penalties.

Im a grizzled veteran around here and have seen many pollution complaints over the years. I grew up on a farm, and I know that stuff happens. I believe that farmers do not want to intentionally send pollution downstream, and I know managing livestock manure is not an easy task by any stretch.

Causes of complaints

Two scenarios leading to pollution complaints have repeated themselves over the years. The first is equipment or storage failure. Pumps dont work, the automatic shut-off was overridden, or a hose broke while no one was watching. Sometimes the storage itself fails and the problem must be pinpointed, which is not an easy task.

Second, pollution incidents occur because a farmer does not have enough storage capacity to haul manure when field conditions are good, so he is forced to haul on wet or frozen and snow-covered fields. This is the case of our latest complaint.

Snow is always going to melt and depending on the rate, slope of the field and buffer area, the likelihood of manure entering a stream is high. No matter the reason for the failure, the operator is liable for the incident and subject to fines from any agency involved, which in addition to the Ohio Department of Agriculture may include the Ohio Division of Wildlife, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Fines of $15,000-$20,000 are not unheard of.

Best defense

Being proactive in the management of livestock manure is the best defense against a pollution complaint. Not changing livestock manure handling and expecting different results is just setting yourself up for failure.

Your local soil and water conservation district or natural resources conservation service office can assist with nutrient management planning. This will include an emergency plan identifying immediate temporary practices and phone numbers to call in the event of a spill.

Something as simple as constructing straw bale barriers around inlets, creating diversions or using pumps to oxygenate the stream show good faith effort to rectify the situation. Contacting your local SWCD office immediately when you have a spill instead of having a neighbor report it is a very good idea.

Complaints about agricultural pollution in Ohio can be reported to the division of soil and water conservation at 614-265-6610 or your local SWCD. Instead of answering the phone and hearing the dreaded pollution complaint, wed love to talk to farmers about manure management plans.
COLUMBUS  The Ohio Wildlife Council received proposals for the 2022-23 white-tailed deer hunting season Feb. 9 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.

If approved, deer hunting bag limits will increase in 18 counties in September 2022. The 2022-23 deer hunting dates are similar to last season. As in years past, only one antlered deer may be harvested, regardless of where or how it is taken, and a hunter cannot exceed a county bag limit.

The proposed deer hunting season dates for 2022-23 include the following:

 Deer archery: Sept. 24-Feb. 5, 2023

 Youth deer gun: Nov. 19-20

 Deer gun: Nov. 28-Dec. 4; Dec. 17-18

 Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 7-10, 2023.

Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Deer bag limit increases are designed to slow herd growth and provide additional hunting opportunities. Deer bag limits were proposed to be increased in 18 counties.

Three counties are proposed to increase to two deer (from one deer): Clinton, Fayette and Pickaway. Fifteen counties are proposed to increase to three deer (from two deer): Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Mercer, Miami, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Preble, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, and Washington. A proposed bag limit map is available at wildohio.gov.

Chronic wasting disease

The proposals also included separate deer hunting regulations in an expanded chronic wasting disease surveillance area in Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties.

A disease surveillance area was established following the discovery in 2020 of two CWD-positive deer in Wyandot County. Further testing revealed eight more CWD-positive deer in 2021.

The division of wildlife has proposed additional measures to increase the deer harvest, decrease the possibility of disease transmission, and limit the spread of CWD in Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties.

Proposed deer seasons in the disease surveillance area include a longer archery season that opens Sept. 1, and an early gun season during three days in early October.

 Deer archery: Sept. 1-Feb. 5, 2023

 Early deer gun: Oct. 8-10

 Youth deer gun: Nov. 19-20

 Deer gun: Nov. 28-Dec. 4; Dec. 17-18, 2022.

 Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 7-10, 2023.

Public land deer hunting restrictions are proposed to be removed at Big Island, Andreoff and Wyandot wildlife areas. Public land restrictions were previously removed at Killdeer Plains and Lake La Su An wildlife areas.

Wild turkey hunting

Ohios wild turkey hunting seasons for 2023 were also proposed to the Ohio Wildlife Council. These proposed dates maintain a 30-day spring turkey season in the south zone and northeast zone, with opening days on Saturdays.

The proposed 2023 spring turkey dates are as follows:

 Youth season: April 15-16, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

 South zone: April 22-April 30, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to noon. May 1-21, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

 Northeast zone: April 29-May 7, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to noon. May 8-28, 2023, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

The fall 2022 wild turkey season was proposed to be reduced by three weeks during the January meeting of the Ohio Wildlife Council. The proposed dates are Oct. 15-Nov. 13.

Endangered and threatened

Every five years, the division of wildlife reviews and updates the species listed as endangered, threatened, extirpated, species of concern and special interest. This year, 58 different species listings were proposed to be changed, added or removed from the endangered and threatened species list.

A complete list of proposed species is available at wildohio.gov.

Three fish species, the alligator gar, blacknose shiner and longhead darter were proposed to be downgraded to endangered from extirpated.

Many updates to dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies were proposed following years of thorough citizen science reporting. Two crayfish species, the blue crayfish, and the crawzilla crawdad, were added to the list after previously unknown populations of both species were discovered in Ohio.

General hunting proposals

It was proposed to remove the requirement that a crossbow have traverse limbs and a stock that is at least 25 inches long. A shoulder-mount stock will still be required under this proposal. This will update the definition of a crossbow to allow newer designs that are shorter and have differing limb configurations.

It was also proposed to remove the restrictions for carrying a concealed firearm while hunting. Under this proposal, a person may carry and hunt with a legally concealed firearm.

Individuals interested in providing comments are asked to call 614-265-6304 at least two days prior to the meeting to register. All comments are required to be 3 minutes or less. Everyone who would like to comment on division of wildlife proposals can do so online at wildohio.gov until March 16. A statewide hearing on all proposed rules will be held March 24 at 9 a.m. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.
Dear Editor:

The village of Lagrange posted a legal notice in the Chronicle Telegram, Sunday, Feb. 13 for the sale of property they have owned for 65 years. In 1956, the village took the property by eminent domain from a farmer for a water supply for the village.

The farmer told the village: I will give you water rights for the next 99 years, please dont take my land.

The farmer continued to fight the seizure of his land. The village did indeed take the land by eminent domain and paid the farmer $14,000 for 32 acres. The farmer refused the money, and it is currently held by the Lorain County treasurer.

In 1990, the village needed to spend $1 million on the water treatment plant and infrastructure to meet EPA standards, and the water supply was no longer sufficient to support the villages growth. At that time the village stopped using the property, entered into an agreement to purchase water from Rural Lorain County Water Authority and has had no need of the property since.

The farmer and his family continued to try to get the land back. The village has now put the property up for sale by sealed bid. Everything the village has done is considered legal.

This story has been told hundreds of times over the past 30 years. At the end of the story, the question is always asked: So the farmer got his land back, right? No, he didnt.

In 1924, the city of Manhattan Beach, California condemned a beachfront property and seized it through eminent domain. The property was eventually transferred to the state of California and then to the county. In September 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that allows the property to be returned to the descendants.

I suggest Mayor Strauss follow Gov. Newsoms example and do the same righting of the wrong. Eminent domain may be legal, but there is a difference between what is legal and what is just and ethical.

Marilyn Teeple

Lagrange Township
Guinness is undertaking a three-year farm-based programme to roll out regenerative agriculture pilots across the Republic of Ireland.

The programme intends to highlight opportunities for reducing the carbon emissions of barley production within Ireland.

According to Guinness, the key outcomes are expected to include improvements in soil health and its carbon sequestration potential, as well as enhanced biodiversity.

In the first phase in 2022, the programme will begin with at least 40 farms across spring and winter barley sowing.

As the pilot develops, the drink manufacturer says many more farmers will be engaged to take part in the programme.

A network of partners has been assembled to shape the design of this pilot, including technical partners and local Irish agronomists.

Guinness will work in collaboration with Irish farmers and suppliers including Boortmalt, Glanbia and Comex McKinnon, to understand the most effective regenerative practices.

Walter Furlong Junior, one of the farmers involved in the pilot commented: "The great thing about regenerative agriculture is the simplicity of the approach.

"Its not a complicated process - it works in harmony with nature whilst providing a commercial benefit for farmers.

"We already use regenerative agricultural practices and have seen a marked improvement in the quality of the soil on our farm. It is a highly effective approach that leads to much better outcomes.

Ireland's Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue said: "It is welcome that one of Irelands most iconic brands is taking a strong leadership position on farming and the environment.

"I look forward to the roll-out of the programme and continued engagement with Guinness on its progress.
Part of Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County, was closed due to a crash Wednesday evening, state police said.

The 6:15 p.m. rollover crash occurred at Hill Road, in the 6900 block of Route 873, which is closed in both directions, state police spokesperson Nathan Branosky posted on Twitter. The road was reopened a short time later.

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No further details were immediately available.

Route 873 at Hill Road, Washington Twp., Lehigh Co. is closed in both directions for a rollover motor vehicle crash. @wfmztraffic @mcall @lehighvalley @LehighAlerts pic.twitter.com/osgMr0CNc9  Trooper Branosky (@PSPTroopMPIO) February 23, 2022

Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com.
Minette Batters has been re-elected to lead the NFU for a further two years, with Tom Bradshaw elected as the union's deputy president.

The Wiltshire farmer will lead the NFUs officeholder team, where she will continue to represent more than 46,000 farmers across England and Wales.

She will serve as president for a further two years, alongside Essex farmer Tom Bradshaw as the union's new deputy president and David Exwood as vice president.

This will be her third term as NFU president. Mrs Batters said of her re-election: Im truly honoured to lead the NFU at such a crucial time for British food and farming.

"My focus in the coming years, as we enter a new era for British agriculture, will be to ensure a bright and resilient British farming sector that continues to provide the nation with high-quality, climate-friendly, affordable food for generations to come.

I have a vision of a sustainable and resilient food industry with a new economic model which ensures a fair return from supply chains and drives profit back into the land, enabling us to maximise the potential for sustainable food production and environmental delivery on farms."

She added: There remain significant challenges facing our sector that need to be addressed.

"I will continue to work with government to ensure they back British farming in trade deals, urgently address the industry-wide labour crisis, help tackle rural crime, and develop domestic policy that enables farmers to produce sustainable food alongside caring for the environment and working towards net zero."

Tom Bradshaw, elected deputy president, said he was 'proud' to represent the industry as NFU vice president over the past two years.

He said: Our sector is going through some of the biggest changes in 70 years and we must focus on turning this change into opportunity.

"We are currently farming in a challenging and uncertain business environment and its important we receive fair returns in the supply chain so we can continue to produce fantastic food for the nation and boost our social, economic and environmental contribution.

NFU vice president David Exwood, who farms in West Sussex, said: Im incredibly proud and grateful to have the chance to represent Britains farmers as part of the officeholder team.

For me, the next two years are about creating new opportunities for profitable food production alongside net zero and biodiversity enhancement.

"I look forward to working with Minette and Tom to help steer the sector through changes to domestic farming policy and grasp the opportunities that come our way.
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Candidates for the 7th Congressional District, which covers the Lehigh Valley, are eager to kick their campaigns into high gear, after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court approved a new map of congressional districts Wednesday.

The Democratic-majority state Supreme Court in a 4-3 decision picked a map that had been proposed by a group of Democratic-aligned voters who sued last year in an effort to get the court involved.

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Its unlikely to create a big shift in the makeup of the congressional delegation, as the state goes from 18 to 17 seats, to account for relatively stagnant population growth in census findings over the past decade, particularly in rural white areas predominantly represented by Republicans.

However, the seat held by Democratic Rep. Susan Wild is expected to be one of the most contested in the state. The district closely resembles the current version in the new map, but adds conservative Carbon County. Wild is being challenged by two Republican business owners: Lisa Scheller, who lost to Wild in 2020, and Kevin Dellicker.

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If you look at the final product, either a Democrat or a Republican could find things they dont like, said Chris Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. But on the whole, this map is a fairly solid one that largely creates districts mirroring the political landscape of the state. There are safe Republican and safe Democratic districts. And there are a number of very competitive seats including the 7th District here in the Lehigh Valley.

What to know about the new 7th District

District 7s demographic change between the previous and current maps shows a nearly 6% increase in white voters, from 415,659 to 440,493, and a 2.6% increase in voters overall, from 590,711 to 606,167, based on census figures.

They also show a 0.07% increase in multiracial residents, a 3.7% decrease in Latinos, a 5.4% decrease in Asians and a 12.5% decrease in Blacks.

This leaves whites at 72.7% of the voting population, with Latinos being the largest voting block of color at 16.2% (98,047 residents). Blacks are at 5.1% (31,120), Asians at 3.1% (18,833) and multiracial residents at 2.4% (14,411).

What the candidates are saying

Wild was at a town hall Wednesday night in Allentown.

Asked for her reaction to the states new congressional maps, she said that every community fundamentally has the same issues and shell keep working on those issues, adding that she will meet with Carbon County voters to learn about their specific concerns. She didnt specifically address her reelection prospects.

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Scheller downplayed the role the new borders would have in the election.

The district lines do not change the fact that this race will be a referendum between the failed policies championed by Susan Wild and the common-sense conservative values championed by Lisa Scheller, campaign manager Pierce Frauenheim said in a Wednesday email on Schellers behalf.

Dellicker blasted the process that arrived at the map, but was pleased with the new district.

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I think its appalling that it takes the Supreme Court to make a ruling on a map like this when its supposed to be decided by the legislature, but we have to get to work and we have to have an election, Dellicker said. Were anxious to get the petition process started and filings complete so we can have a primary election on time.

Dellicker said he was happy the map keeps Lehigh and Northampton counties intact while keeping southern Monroe County in the district and adding Carbon County.

This map makes sure were going to have uniform representation for the Lehigh Valley, which is very important, he said. It makes the district much more competitive for Republicans. Ultimately, however the districts are drawn has always been out of my control. Im just happy for the opportunity to compete in the Republican primary and eventually the general election.

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Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber contributed to this story.

Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com.
Alia Bhatt has replied to Arjun Kapoor's photo teasing her when he was visiting the Taj Mahal with her boyfriend, actor Ranbir Kapoor. Alia blushed and dubbed Arjun a "cartoon" in a recent interview, and she also mentioned Ranbir.

Arjun Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt recently visited Agra for filmmaker Luv Ranjan's wedding. Arjun and Ranbir went to the monument together, minus Alia, during their tour.



Alia blushed when questioned about Ranbir's Taj Mahal photo and if the pair plans to visit it anytime soon by news agency ANI. She remarked, "Hahaha... Arjun is a cartoon. Ranbir is back now...Currently, there are no plans of visiting the Taj Mahal...but ya I really like that picture. It's a sweet one."



Arjun recently posted a photo on Instagram teasing Alia. "When Ranbir Kapoor the artist emerged inspired by the Taj + Me..." he captioned a photo. "Haha, finally you both saw the Taj." Rakul Preet Singh remarked in response. "@rakulpreet ya he saw it with me first instead of going with Alia (laughing emoji)," Arjun replied.

Alia and Ranbir have been dating for quite some time now. During the filming of their first production together, Brahmastra, they fell in love. Amitabh Bachchan, Akkineni Nagarjuna, and Mouni Roy star in the film directed by Ayan Mukerji.



Fox Star Studios, Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, Prime Focus, and Starlight Pictures produced the Brahmastra trilogy. On September 9, 2022, the first instalment of the film will be released. The second and third instalments of 'Brahmastra' will be released in 2024 and 2026, respectively.



Alia recently answered concerns about her marriage to Ranbir Kapoor in an interview with India Today. She stated, "I find that it goes from irritating to sweet to irritating because I dont need to talk about when Im getting married. Am I asking you about when youre getting married? But, then it also goes to sweetness, because people are curious and Im like, Chalo now we are public personalities, so the curiosity will be there. But every time I cant have the same response - Main batati hu jab bhi hoga (I'll let you know when it happens). I cant be bothered to have those correct responses anymore."

Alia is presently anticipating the release of Gangubai Kathiawadi, which is set to hit theatres this Friday. Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed the film, which also stars Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, and Shantanu Maheshwari.
OSAKA, Japan, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global pharma major, Lupin Limited (Lupin) announced today changes to its executive team with Dr. Fabrice Egros assuming responsibilities for Global Corporate Development as President, Corporate Development and Growth Markets. Dr. Egros takes over the Corporate Development role from Alan Butcher departing from the Company on February 28, 2022. Dr. Egros will lead the development and execution of the Company's inorganic growth strategy, including mergers and acquisitions, business development, in-licensing arrangements, and related matters. He will continue to lead business in LATAM and Asia regions in this new role.

"We are very pleased to announce Fabrice taking over responsibilities for Corporate Development in addition to the Growth Markets business. With Fabrice's leadership and demonstrated success in growing Lupin's business through both organic and inorganic initiatives, we are well positioned to deliver on our growth aspirations. We thank Alan for his contribution to our organization and wish him well for the future," said Vinita Gupta, CEO, Lupin.

For the past over six years, Dr. Egros has played an integral role in Lupin, leading businesses across both Growth and Developed markets. His extensive cross-border experience as well as successful experience with acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and partnerships will be an asset to Lupin in this new role.

About Lupin

Lupin is an innovation-led transnational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Mumbai, India. The Company develops and commercializes a wide range of branded and generic formulations, biotechnology products, and APIs in over 100 markets in the U.S., India, South Africa, and across the Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), Europe, and the Middle East regions.

The Company enjoys a leadership position in the cardiovascular, anti-diabetic, and respiratory segments and has a significant presence in the anti-infective, gastro-intestinal (GI), central nervous system (CNS), and women's health areas. Lupin is the third-largest pharmaceutical company in the U.S. by prescriptions. The company invested 9.6% of its revenue in research and development in FY21.

Lupin has 15 manufacturing sites, 7 research centers, more than 20,000 professionals working globally, and has been consistently recognized as a 'Great Place to Work' in the Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals sector.

Please visit www.lupin.com for more information.

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LupinGlobal|LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lupin

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For further information:

Shweta Munjal

Vice President & Global Head - Corporate Communications

Email: shwetamunjal@lupin.com

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https://www.fujitsu.com/global/microsite/mwc-2022/



CO2 emission reduction of the entire system using this vRAN

TOKYO, Feb 24, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced that it has successfully developed new software virtualized radio access network (vRAN)(1) technology with support for 5G Standalone (SA) and will offer it for verification by telecommunications carriers from March 2022. By leveraging Fujitsu's AI and quantum-inspired "Digital Annealer"(2) technologies to optimize computing resources, the newly developed vRAN technology addresses one of the key challenges of conventional vRANs, delivering high-performance with low-energy consumption. Fujitsu estimates that this approach offers the potential to reduce overall system CO2 emissions by 50% or more compared to conventional base station systems by 2025, while offering users high-quality, stable communications.Moving forward, Fujitsu plans to deploy this vRAN technology globally, offering robust and innovative support to telecommunications carriers working to reduce their carbon footprint, and ultimately contribute to the realization of a more sustainable society. Learn more about this at MWC Barcelona 2022 at Fujitsu's Booth 2G60 from February 28, 2022 to March 3, 2022.BackgroundIn recent years, advances including performance improvements in general-purpose CPUs and the virtualization of wireless signal processing and control technology (telecom function) have opened an exciting wide range of new possibilities for technological innovation in communications, including the appearance of vRAN technology. The introduction of vRANs composed of general-purpose servers, which don't require the costly development of specialized hardware, is currently drawing attention as an attractive alternative to conventional base stations.Despite their promise, existing vRAN technology continues to face barriers to wider adoption. For instance, vRANs that are not configured with dedicated equipment tend to have lower performance efficiency than conventional base stations. To maintain the same performance, more hardware must be built in, resulting in higher environmental loads in areas like power consumption. In terms of stability and redundancy, there have also been cases in which conventional vRANs cannot sufficiently guarantee carrier-grade communication quality.Features of Fujitsu's vRANFujitsu's new vRAN technology supports 5G SA and conforms to O-RAN specifications, while leveraging the following proprietary technologies to successfully solve some of the challenges surrounding conventional vRANs. By optimizing the entire 5G wireless network and reducing the amount of equipment and power consumption, Fujitsu's vRAN offers the potential to contribute to significant reductions in the total CO2 emissions throughout carriers' 5G wireless systems.1. Fujitsu's customization approach for high-performance, high-capacity communicationsImproved software control methods for high performance and capacity in communications. Increase communication speed and communication coverage area from two to four times.2. Dynamic resource allocation technologyFujitsu has developed its own dynamic resource allocation technology that reduces excess resources and power consumption by making it possible to flexibly adjust the computing resources of servers needed for operations according to the usage status (traffic volume) of base stations, which varies with region and time of day. By linking the RAN intelligent control unit (RIC)(3), and SMO(4) which orchestrates and manages the entire network, with this technology, mobile phone users' movements and application usage are estimated and optimal resource allocation is achieved.3. Automatic cell re-design technologyIn addition to using AI to predict future traffic fluctuations, this system leverages Fujitsu's quantum-inspired Digital Annealer computing technology to enable optimal allocation of computing resources by rapidly solving problems that are difficult to solve with today's general-purpose computers. By using the superior combinatorial optimization capabilities of the Digital Annealer, it is possible to derive the optimal connection destinations from the various combinations of radio units (RU) and vRANs (Central Unit / Distributed Unit) in environments where radio waves from many base stations overlap.Future plansIn March 2022, Fujitsu will begin providing software that runs on general-purpose servers for carrier verification, and will support various types of verification, including field testing. By the end of fiscal 2022, Fujitsu plans to start offering this technology as a service on a global basis, with the aim of expanding it to the commercial service networks of each carrier. Its goal is to reduce total CO2 emissions by 50% or more by 2025, compared to conventional base station systems, by successively updating software functions and further improving technologies to reduce environmental impact.(1) virtualized radio access network (vRAN): A virtualized base station created using specialized base station control function-enabling software hosted on a general-purpose server.(2) Digital Annealer: Fujitsu's domain-specific computer architecture specializes in solving combinatorial optimization problems that are difficult to solve with general-purpose computers because of the huge computational complexity.(3) RAN Intelligent Control Unit (RIC): A RAN control unit that can optimize wireless resource management and automate operations.(4) SMO: An abbreviation for Service Management and Orchestration. A framework that integrates network-wide orchestration (configuration, automating build) and management functions.(5) The technology for this product utilizes part of the results of the "Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information Communication Systems (c1)": "Development of Technology to Enhance the Performance of a Virtualized Base Station Control Unit" of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress held a press conference on the "Regulations of Guangdong Province on China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City" on February 23. Relevant officials answered questions from media reporters.

The Regulations, adopted at the 39th session of the 13th Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress on January 16, 2022, will come into force on March 1 this year, providing strong guidance and guarantee for the accelerated construction and development of the Knowledge City, strengthening the legalized business environment, and exerting its advantages and roles in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Located in the northern part of Huangpu District, Guangzhou city, the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City has a total planned area of 232 square kilometers and is a national-level bilateral cooperation project between China and Singapore and a high-level science and innovation carrier in the Greater Bay Area.

The foundation of the Knowledge City project was officially laid in June 2010. And in July 2016, the Knowledge City became the only comprehensive reform pilot area for the utilization and protection of intellectual property rights approved by the State Council. High-level research institutes such as Xidian University and top talent teams led by 24 academicians including Shi Yigong and Wang Xiaodong were introduced, high-end scientific and technological innovation platforms such as China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, gathered, and a free port of international talents, put into operation. The construction of high-end technology innovation platforms such as the National University of Singapore Innovation Research Institute and major technological infrastructure such as the large-scale scientific device for aircraft tire dynamics were accelerated, and the brand of Singapore enterprises' first choice in China, ever more famous.

Head of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress said that, it is necessary to promote the construction and development of the Knowledge City through legislation as it was upgraded to a national-level bilateral cooperation project in November 2018. The Regulations were initiated with great attention from the provincial party committee and the provincial government. The drafting with the joint efforts of the provincial, municipal and district-level, ensured that the project approval, the submission for deliberation, and the approval by voting were completed within the same year.

According to the "Overall Development Plan (2020-2035) of China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City" approved by the State Council in August 2020, the Regulations make provisions for technological innovation and intellectual property rights protection, knowledge-intensive industry development and talent support, opening-up and cooperation and other aspects. Specific regulations were also made on empowering the Knowledge City Administrative Committee, which fully reflects the strategy of building the Knowledge City into a new highland for knowledge creation, a free port for international talents, a source of innovation in the Greater Bay Area, and a demonstration area for openness and cooperation.

Head of the Knowledge City Administrative Committee said that, the Knowledge City will fully utilize the empowerment of the Regulations, overcome difficulties and forge ahead bravely, explore new paths and accumulate new experiences on pilot projects, and better serve the Belt & Road Initiative and the high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area. The Knowledge City strives to demonstrate responsibility in building a new development pattern, and be at the forefront of the new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects.
LONDON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Storage Summit, the leading energy storage event, returns on 23-24 February, 2022 in the UK. Sungrow, the summit's platinum sponsor, shares insights through informative sessions, and explores possibilities on policy, supply constraints, financing, technical innovations with participants, tapping the value of energy storage with the goal of carbon neutrality.

Energy storage is a vital path in tackling the volatility and intermittence of proliferating renewable energy. This is critical to facilitating a quick and smooth transition to a low-carbon future. As a key industry player, what does Sungrow contribute to energy storage and the environment?

Dr. James Li, Head of Sungrow's Technical Energy Storage System, introduces some of the key technology trends which shape energy storage development, and presented a speech with the topic of "How Does Sungrow Energy Storage System Provide Support to Zero-Emission Low Carbon Footprint" to demonstrate the competitiveness of Sungrow in the energy storage arena.

"An experienced supplier like Sungrow with multi-gigawatt hour global deployments of the energy storage system (ESS) can advise the customer at the design phase about potential pitfalls. Sungrow will continue to focus on continuous system improvements, for example, to become increasingly reliable, safe and more economical," elaborates Li in the presentation.

"Safety is the major concern among the global uptake of energy storage technology," Li adds. Sungrow adopts the comprehensive design concepts from predicting the potential risk to minimizing the impact of the occurred danger, and safeguards every cell in a three-tier BMS system with supervisory controls. The Company's patented tried and tested technology shows the world that energy storage can be a safe, reliable and sustainable solution to ensure grid reliability amidst demanding market operating conditions.

Having been pioneering in the renewable energy market for over 25 years, Sungrow has thought about future-proofed product innovations in a considered way. Last year, the Company rolled out its new liquid cooled ESS, enabling cells to have a more uniform temperature throughout the system while using less input energy, stopping overheating, maintaining safety, minimizing degradation and enabling higher performance. The innovation has achieved good responses: Sungrow inked a 430MWh project in Israel and a 136.24MWh project in Thailand, both containing the latest liquid cooled ESS.

The experience sharing was not only at the summit but also at the project site. As Sungrow has a profound track record of providing systems and services and boasts some major success stories globally, the Company arranged the site tour to one of its landmark projects, the high profile 100MW/100MWh ESS project at Minety in Wiltshire, for partners during the summit, sharing the credible and profitable reference which benefits upcoming stakeholders and market players. The plant is reported as Europe's largest ESS project and well meets UK's dynamic containment requirement with the support of Sungrow ESS.

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd ("Sungrow") is the world's most bankable inverter brand with over 224 GW installed worldwide as of December 2021. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters, with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 25-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 150 countries. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com.

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GURUGRAM, India, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shipsy, a leading SaaS-based smart logistics management platform provider, has raised USD 25 million in a Series B round co-led by A91 Partners and Z3 Partners along with existing investors Info Edge and Sequoia Capital India's Surge.

The funding will enable Shipsy to continue growing its stronghold in the Middle East, India and Southeast Asian markets while accelerating global expansion into Europe and the US. Shipsy will also use the funds to drive rapid technological innovation with a greater focus on enhancing logistics sustainability and its AI, ML and Blockchain capabilities.

"We are thrilled to partner with seasoned investors with a common vision to transform the global logistics industry technology. Their continued support strengthens our mission of enabling customers to achieve sustainable business and logistics excellence. It takes us closer to our goal of becoming the de-facto logistics operating system globally," says Soham Chokshi, CEO and Co-Founder Shipsy.

Shipsy's technology-first approach has enabled them to build customer trust and loyalty, a key factor driving investments.

"Shipsy's technology offering enables them to be the single partner of choice for enterprises who are transforming their logistics operations. Large category leading customers have been thrilled at the impact of Shipsy in their operations. We look forward to partnering with them as they become a leader in logistics software," says Kaushik Anand, Partner at A91 Partners

Shipsy's continuous focus on enabling businesses to provide customer transparency, flexibility and convenience has been a critical reason behind its growth.

"Shipsy is building a comprehensive customer-first SaaS company servicing a critical need in shipping, freight and the entire global supply chain. Shipsy's addressable market has quadrupled post-COVID. We are excited to partner with Soham, Dhruv, Harsh and team as they build Shipsy into a world-class software company," Gautam Patel, Managing Partner, Z3Partners.

Commenting on Shipsy's growth, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge, highlighted the immense potential the company holds.

"We have been backing Shipsy from a very early stage. We are delighted to see them growing rapidly over the past couple of years. They have demonstrated significant impact on the supply chain and logistics industry. We believe in their mission and foresee them becoming one of the largest global logistics SaaS ventures that's built in India," says Bikhchandani.

This round comes on the back of Shipsy having raised a Series A funding of USD 6 million in 2020 led by Sequoia Capital India's Surge and Info Edge. In 2021, to support a growing customer base in the Middle East, Shipsy established its regional HQs in Dubai and, more recently, in Indonesia for its Southeast Asian customers. The company also recorded a growth rate of 2.5x in its ARR and grew its customer base by 75% last year.

Shipsy Media Team

media@shipsy.io

+91-9867999866

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THE SQLI GROUP ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF THIERRY MILEO AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SQLI FRANCE

The SQLI Group, a major player in digital experience in Europe, has appointed Thierry Mileo as Managing Director, France. As such, Thierry Mileo is a member of the Executive Committee and reports directly to Philippe Donche-Gay, President and CEO of the Group.

MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE in LEADING GROUPS withIN THE DIGITAL SECTOR

A graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique (a prestigious French public institution of higher education and research) and the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Techniques Avancees (the select French graduate school of engineering known as ENSTA), Thierry holds a Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of California and an MBA from INSEAD. He began his career with the French public administration, at the Delegation generale pour l'Armement (the French General Delegation for Armaments), followed by a period in ministerial cabinets before joining Bouygues Telecom as Director of Strategy and External Affairs in 1994.

After having created and worked as Managing Director of FirstMark Communications France in 1999, he joined Ingenico where he managed the European zone, then Atos Origin as Vice President in charge of the Telecommunications and Media market. After 6 years with IBM Global Business Services as Executive Partner, leader of the Telecommunications-Media-Energy sector, he joined Accenture France in 2016 as Executive Director of the Resources sector, leader of the Utilities industry and global key accounts.

ONE MISSION: ACCELERATE SQLI'S TRANSFORMATION IN FRANCE

In a context of market recovery after the pandemic, Thierry's mission will be to accelerate the transformation of SQLI in France and strengthen its position in the digital experience market.

Thierry Mileo says: "I'm joining SQLI with enthusiasm. The Group is ideally positioned in the growth markets of digital experience platforms (DXPs), e-Commerce and digital transformation of companies. It meets the challenges of large groups and mid-sized companies, in terms of deployment of unified multi-channel experiences with their customers, the general public (B2C), business professionals (B2B), as well as their employees. Our expertise in France, Europe and Morocco is widely recognized in the market.

Philippe Donche-Gay adds: "I am happy to welcome Thierry to SQLI. His extensive experience, developed at the best companies within our sector and in particular his experience in the development of large accounts, will contribute to the success of our business. I am convinced that this reinforcement of SQLI's governance in France will allow us to achieve the growth and profitability objectives we have set for ourselves.

About SQLI Digital Experience: Founded in 1990, SQLI Digital Experience is a European digital services company that defines, builds and grows the digital business value of international A-brands.

Technical and creative thinkers, their teams are committed to delivering meaningful and engaging experiences by leveraging technologies, methodologies, skills and creativity to get closer to the customer or user and capture their attention. They design, develop and deploy solid and high-performing architectures that improve business agility, increase efficiencies and facilitate business growth.

Their 2,100 employees are located in 13 countries: France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, The United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Morocco, Mauritius and Dubai. In 2021, the SQLI Group achieved revenue of 225m.

SQLI has been listed on Euronext Paris (SQI) since 21 July 2000

https://www.sqli.com

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Regulatory News:

Sopra Steria Group (SOP, Euronext Paris [Compartment A] ISIN: FR0000050809) today announced the launch of We Share 2022, a new employee share ownership plan. Its subscription period will run from 28 March to 13 April 2022.

We Share 2022 is being offered to approximately 96% of Sopra Steria Group employees, in 14 countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom1. At 31 December 2021, holdings managed on behalf of Group employees2 represented 5.8% of the share capital and 7.8% of voting rights, positioning Sopra Steria as one of the leading listed French companies when it comes to employee share ownership. Adding the registered shares held directly by the Group's current and former employees, these percentages currently amount to 9% of the capital and 12% of the voting rights.

This new plan is in keeping with Sopra Steria's continuing aim to give employees the opportunity to share in the success of the Group's business strategy and performance over the long term. "This plan expresses a major ambition", said Pierre Pasquier, Chairman of Sopra Steria Group's Board of Directors. "It helps recognise employees' commitment to Sopra Steria and reaffirms our aim of being an independent Group, combining our entrepreneurial DNA with our collective force."

The Board of Directors decided on 12 January 2022 to implement this new employee share ownership plan by adopting the same features as the previous plans, given their success. The plan involves the transfer of existing shares.

Under We Share 2022, employees will receive an employer contribution corresponding to one free share per share acquired, with the individual employee contribution limited to 3,000. Depending on their country of residence, employees will be able to acquire Sopra Steria shares either through an employee mutual investment fund (FCPE) or directly.

The purchase price will be equal to the average of weighted average prices for Sopra Steria shares on the Euronext Paris market over the 20 trading days preceding the date of the decision by the Chief Executive Officer, scheduled for 25 March 2022, setting this purchase price as well as the start date for the subscription period.

The plan is limited to a total of 200,000 shares: 100,000 shares purchased by employees and 100,000 matching free shares granted as the employer contribution. If subscriptions by employees exceed this overall limit, the share purchase order amounts will be reduced according to a capping method, i.e. starting with the highest purchase order amounts, by successive iterations, until a level is reached at which the total number of available shares can be distributed. According to the provisional timetable, the settlement-delivery of shares will occur on 5 May 2022.

About Sopra Steria

Sopra Steria, a European Tech leader recognised for its consulting, digital services and software development, helps its clients drive their digital transformation to obtain tangible and sustainable benefits. It provides end-to-end solutions to make large companies and organisations more competitive by combining in-depth knowledge of a wide range of business sectors and innovative technologies with a fully collaborative approach. Sopra Steria places people at the heart of everything it does and is committed to making the most of digital technology to build a positive future for its clients. With 47,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, the Group generated revenue of 4.7 billion in 2021.

The world is how we shape it.

Sopra Steria Group (SOP) is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment A) ISIN: FR0000050809

For more information, please visit our website www.soprasteria.com

1 Including employees eligible for the Share Incentive Plan (SIP) in the United Kingdom.

2 Holdings managed on behalf of employees include shares held through employee mutual investment funds (FCPEs), SIPs and UK trusts.

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Contacts:

Investor Relations

Olivier Psaume

olivier.psaume@soprasteria.com

+33 (0)1 40 67 68 16

Press Relations

Caroline Simon (Image 7)

caroline.simon@image7.fr

+33 (0)1 53 70 74 65


WIESBADEN (dpa-AFX) - Aareal Bank AG (AAALF.PK), a service provider for real estate industry including financing, on Thursday reported a turnaround to profit for the full year, amidst a rise in net interest income.



The Wiesbaden-headquartered firm reported a consolidated net income of 68 million euros or earnings per ordinary share of 0.89 euros, compared with a loss of 69 million euros or 1.50 euros loss per ordinary share, reported for the year 2020.



The German lender recorded an operating profit of 155 million euros as against an operating loss of 75 million euros, reported for a year ago.



Net interest income of the financial firm moved up by 17 percent, to 597 million euros, compared with the year ended on December 31, 2021.



Loss allowance for the year on the other hand, moved down by 61 percent, to 133 million euros, on year-on-year basis.



The company said it will propose to pay a dividend totaling 1.60 euros per share.



Looking ahead, for the fiscal 2022, Aareal Bank Group expects its consolidated operating profit to be in the range of 210 million euros - 250 million euros.



For the current fiscal, it also projects its earnings per share to be in the range of 2 euros - 2.50 euros.







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AAREAL BANK-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
Parishioners gathered at St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Allentown on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, to pray for peace after the Russian invasion of Ukraine overnight. The Rev. Richard Jendras, pastor of the church, says he fears the war will cause great bloodshed as Ukrainians mount heavy resistance to the invaders. (Monica Cabrera / The Morning Call)

The foreboding of months had turned to stark sorrow Thursday among the parishioners of St. Marys Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Allentown, a building of such soul-stunning beauty it seemed indecent to speak of war there.

But what else was there to talk about? Russian tanks and missiles had roared to life overnight, and now Ukraine, where the people of St. Marys have deep roots across the generations, was again beset by terror and turmoil.

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Ukraine has gone through this once or twice before, said the pastor, the Rev. Richard Jendras, offering a wry bit of understatement as he recounted the sacking of the capital city of Kyiv in 1169 and other upheavals of that star-crossed land over centuries.

Ukraine became independent with the collapse of the Soviet Union. In a 1991 referendum, its people overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to remain with Russia. Russian leader Vladimir Putin, however, rejects the idea of an independent Ukraine. Indeed, he contends it isnt even a nation, but merely the western part of the Russian motherland.

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Ukrainians point out that when their ancestors were building cathedrals, Moscow was still a backwater settlement  the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv tweeted a meme to that effect  but this has made no difference to Putin.

You cant believe a word he says, said Jendras, who was astonished as Putin earlier this week claimed modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, or, to be more precise, by Bolshevik, Communist Russia.

For weeks, the Lehigh Valleys Ukrainian community watched in dismay and trepidation as Putin built his forces up along the borders, and as diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions failed one after another. Parishioners at St. Marys, along with other Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic churches, held services to pray for peace.

For St. Marys parishioner Nik Fartuch, a retired economic professor from Whitehall Township, the invasion proved troubling in a particular way. In the 1970s, he was a lieutenant colonel in the Army, stationed in Germany during some of the coldest years of the Cold War.

I thought my service, and service of all the other Americans, may have stopped this kind of thing, he said. This is basically an attack on democracy.

An especially dangerous one, too, he added, foreseeing the possibility that Putins naked aggression could lead him to trespass into NATO territory and spark a wider war. Even if it doesnt, Ukraine has a far stronger army than it did eight years ago when Putin invaded and annexed Crimea, so Fartuch expects a protracted and devastating conflict. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are going to be slaughtered, he said.

To what end? Many observers believe Putin wants to reconstitute the Soviet Union.

Hes like Hitler, I think, said parishioner Richard Bodnar of Easton, the grandson of Ukrainian immigrants on his fathers side. He still thinks its the old times. He wants to go back to the old ways. Hes nuts.

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Nik Fartuch, parishioner at St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Allentown, prays for peace after the Russian invasion of Ukraine overnight. "This is basically an attack on democracy," he says. (Monica Cabrera / The Morning Call)

Jendras, pastor of St. Marys since 2019, said he spoke to members of his extended family in the western part of Ukraine in the hours after the invasion began. They were on the way to gas their cars but planned to remain in their homes for the time being.

Poland is saying theyll take refugees, but theyre going to put them in refugee camps, Jendras said. Are they better off in a Polish refugee camp or better off at home?

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Jendras said he is particularly worried for the leaders of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, especially after reports that the Russians have created a kill list of people targeted for imprisonment or death.

Im worried the bishops are going to get a bullet in the head, he said. You know theyll come for the hierarchs. Maybe we need to get them over here for safekeeping.

Among the many icons decorating St. Marys, one, balanced on a stand at the front of the church, is new. It is a depiction of the Virgin Mary with her arms raised in prayer.

The original, a mosaic on the sanctuary wall of St. Sophia Church in Kyiv, is known as Mary of the Immovable Wall because it has survived fires and other calamities over the centuries.

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The popular legend is that as long as she has her hands up over Kyiv, there will always be a Ukraine, Jendras said.

Will anything stop Putin? Perhaps faith, said parishioner Alex Mackiewicz, pausing from his self-assigned morning task of polishing the brass rails in the churchs choir loft.

Hes of the Orthodox faith, Mackiewicz said. And we all answer to a higher power.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Anglo American plc (AAUKY.PK, AAL.L), on Thursday, reported an upsurge in full-year 2021 profit, reflecting higher revenues, thanks to strong demand and prices for many products as economies recouped lost ground, spurred by government stimulus. Profit attributable to equity shareholders of the company was US$8.56 billion compared to US$2.09 billion last year. Basic earnings soared 310% to US$6.93 per share from US$1.69 per share earned a year ago. Group underlying earnings rose to US$8.9 billion from US$3.1 billion last year, driven by the significantly higher underlying EBITDA, partly offset by a corresponding increase in income tax expense and earnings attributable to non-controlling interests. Basic underlying earnings amounted to US$7.22 per share, a jump of 185% from the previous year's US$2.53 per share. Revenue for the year 2021 increased 63% to US$41.6 billion from US$25.4 billion generated in the same period of last year. Looking ahead, long term sustaining capital expenditure is expected to be about $3.0 billion per annum, excluding life-extension projects. 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.
HEERLEN, Netherlands, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal DSM, a global purpose-led science-based company, announces that European Union (EU) member states approved the marketing of the methane-reducing feed additive for dairy cows, Bovaer, in the EU. After inclusion in the EU registry, expected in the coming weeks, it is the first time a feed additive authorised in the EU for environmental benefits can be marketed. This marks a significant milestone for DSM, paving the way for Bovaer to revolutionize the dairy market.

Methane has a global warming potential 28 times greater than carbon dioxide, which is why reducing methane emissions was identified at COP26 as one of the most significant short-term means of tackling climate change. More than 100 governments pledged to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030, as part of the Global Methane Pledge, launched by the EU and the US.

Bovaer will contribute to the greening of the EU's agriculture, and to the objectives of the Farm to Fork Strategy. As stated in the European Commission's confirmation of approval, the innovative feed additive is safe for use without impacting the quality of dairy products and is the first of its kind to be available within the EU which can reduce methane emissions. The Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, said in the EU press release: "Innovation is key for a successful shift towards a more sustainable food system. The EU continues to lead the way in ensuring food safety while adapting to new technologies that can make food production more sustainable. Cutting farming-related methane emissions is key in our fight against climate change and today's approval is a very telling example of what we can achieve through new agricultural innovations."

The dairy industry has an important role to play as enteric methane from dairy cows is responsible for up to 60% of the global greenhouse gas emissions from milk production. DSM's ruminant feed additive Bovaer consistently reduces these methane emissions by around 30%. EU market authorization therefore represents a ground-breaking step toward more sustainable milk production, giving farmers, dairy companies and retailers a trusted and safe product with proven efficacy that will substantially lower dairy's carbon footprint. And ultimately it enables the consumer to purchase sustainable dairy.

Bovaer is the result of a decade of scientific research, including more than 50 peer-reviewed studies published in independent scientific journals and 48 on-farm trials in 14 countries across 4 continents. DSM has entered into partnerships with several major dairy companies to prepare for the implementation of Bovaer at large scale. These preparations will contribute to Bovaer's smooth incorporation into existing farming practices and ensure its impact can be felt as soon as possible. DSM has also already begun engineering works for a large-scale Bovaer plant at DSM's manufacturing site in Dalry, Scotland.

Geraldine Matchett, Co-CEO DSM, commented: "Bovaer has the power to truly revolutionize the global dairy industry. We are extremely proud that, after a decade of research, trials, and value chain collaboration, its potential has been recognized with this historic market approval."

Dimitri de Vreeze, Co-CEO DSM, added: "There is no time to lose when it comes to tackling climate change, and Bovaer is scientifically proven as an effective solution to the immense challenge of methane emissions in animal farming. We look forward to introducing Bovaer to the European market where we know farmers and dairy companies share our eagerness to act. This solution enables us to work together to offer consumers dairy products with a greatly reduced climate impact."

DSM has launched a series of quantifiable commitments aimed at addressing urgent societal and environmental challenges linked to how the world produces and consumes food. DSM's Food System Commitments including a double-digit reduction of on-farm livestock emissions by 2030. The market introduction of Bovaer is a major step toward delivering on this commitment as well as the strategic initiative of DSM's Animal Nutrition & Health business group, We Make It Possible, with its mission to lead a robust and achievable worldwide transformation in sustainable animal protein production.

About Bovaer

Bovaer is a feed additive for cows researched and developed by DSM over 10 years. Just a quarter-teaspoon of Bovaer per cow per day consistently reduces enteric methane emissions by approximately 30% for dairy cows and even higher percentages (up to 90%) for beef cows. This feed additive takes effect straight away and therefore contributes to a significant and immediate reduction of the environmental footprint of meat and dairy products. Bovaer is the most extensively studied and scientifically proven solution to the challenge of burped methane to date.

DSM

Royal DSM is a global, purpose-led company in Health, Nutrition & Bioscience, applying science to improve the health of people, animals and the planet. DSM's purpose is to create brighter lives for all. DSM's products and solutions address some of the world's biggest challenges while simultaneously creating economic, environmental and societal value for all its stakeholders - customers, employees, shareholders, and society at large. The company was founded in 1902 and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.

Or find us on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DSMcompany

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DSM

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/3108

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/dsmcompany

For more information

DSM Media Relations Gareth Mead tel. +31 (0) 45 5782420 email media.contacts@dsm.com DSM Investor Relations Dave Huizing tel. +31 (0) 45 5782864 email investor.relations@dsm.com

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to DSM's future (financial) performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of DSM and information currently available to the company. DSM cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. DSM has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is leading.

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HondaJet Elite S

GREENSBORO, N.C., Feb 24, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Aircraft Company announced today that in 2021, the HondaJet was the most delivered aircraft in its class for the fifth consecutive year, based on data provided by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). During 2021, Honda Aircraft Company delivered 37 aircraft to customers globally."I am humbled and honored that the HondaJet continues to be selected by our owners and operators as we expand our global fleet," said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. "Being the best-selling aircraft in our class for five consecutive years is a reflection of the Honda Aircraft team's commitment to offering our customers a product of the highest performance, quality, and our maturity as a leader in the aviation industry. We will continue to bring new value to the industry and provide superior service and support to customers."Honda Aircraft Company celebrated several milestones recently, including delivery of the 200th HondaJet in late December. The worldwide HondaJet fleet also surpassed 100,000 flight hours in January.Additionally, the FAA recently awarded Honda Aircraft Company with the "Diamond level AMT employer award," the highest level in the William (Bill) O'Brien Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards program, in recognition of the skill and professionalism of Honda Aircraft's maintenance technicians. Since the beginning of HondaJet deliveries to customers in December 2015, Honda Aircraft Company has led the aviation industry with innovation and technology, while bringing the same high standard of service and support to every customer. The HondaJet also continues to demonstrate its industry-leading dispatch reliability.During 2021, Honda Aircraft Company continued development with two major announcements: the HondaJet Elite S, honored with a "Top Flight Award" as best new business jet from Aviation International News, and the HondaJet 2600 Concept, Honda Aircraft's proposal for the next generation of business jet. Meanwhile, the global presence of the HondaJet further increased when it received Thailand type certification, marking 14 countries with HondaJet certification. Honda Aircraft Company's sales and service footprint now spans North America, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, India, Japan and Russia.Watch 2021 recap video here: https://youtu.be/eqtF8y59FVcAbout the HondaJet Elite SThe HondaJet Elite S is the fastest, farthest and highest-flying plane in its class. The HondaJet Elite S incorporates Honda Aircraft's many technological innovations, including the unique Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration, Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) nose and wing, and composite fuselage. The aircraft is also powered by the GE Honda Aero Engines HF120. All of these advancements contribute to the aircraft's superior performance, unparalleled efficiency and maximized fuselage space, making the aircraft's cabin the largest in its class. The HondaJet Elite S cabin features a full service galley, a private lavatory with optional belted seat and an industry-first Bongiovi sound system. The aircraft sets the standard in safety and human-machine interface technology with an ergonomically designed cockpit and highly customized Garmin G3000 avionics suite.Honda Aircraft continues to be committed to improving lives through personal mobility, while living in a sustainable society. The HondaJet Elite S remains significantly more fuel efficient and emits less greenhouse gas than all other similarly sized twin-engine business jets. Certified for single pilot operations, the HondaJet Elite S continues to live up to the company's reputation for superior performance, efficiency, quality, and value.About Honda Aircraft CompanyHonda Aircraft Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Founded in 2006, Honda Aircraft's world headquarters is located in North Carolina, the birthplace of aviation. The challenging spirit upon which Soichiro Honda founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is alive today as Honda Aircraft fulfills one of Honda's longstanding dreams to advance human mobility skyward.For more information, visit www.HondaJet.com.Source: HondaCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Rolls Royce Holdings plc (RYCEF.PK, RR.L, RYCEY.PK) posted fiscal year underlying operating profit of 414 million pounds compared to a loss of 2.01 billion pounds, prior year. The prior year underlying result included 1.3 billion pounds of one-off charges mostly related to the impact of COVID-19 on Civil Aerospace. Underlying profit per share was 0.11 pence compared to a loss of 67.48 pence. Underlying revenue from continuing operations was 10.9 billion pounds, compared to 11.4 billion pounds, previous year. The Group noted that the return to profit reflects the higher gross profit in the year partly offset by lower contribution from JVs and associates. Fiscal year loss before tax narrowed to 294 million pounds from a loss of 2.80 billion pounds, prior year. Profit per share from continuing operations was 1.47 pence compared to a loss of 51.81 pence. For the year ended 31 December 2021, statutory revenue was 11.2 billion pounds, 2% lower compared with 2020 driven by a decline in Civil Aerospace revenue, due to lower OE deliveries and shop visit volumes. For 2022, the Group expects low-to-mid-single digit revenue growth and expects operating profit margin to be broadly unchanged. The Group expects to generate modestly positive free cash flow in 2022, seasonally weighted towards the second half of the year. Rolls-Royce also announced that Warren East, Chief Executive, has decided to step down at the end of 2022. The Board will now launch an extensive search for his successor. 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.
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.
Alpha Blue Ocean, a family office founded by Pierre Vannineuse, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sebastien Bearez as Chief Financial Officer.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220223005832/en/

Sebastien Bearez CFO Alpha Blue Ocean. (Photo: Alpha Blue Ocean)

Sebastien Bearez takes over, with immediate effect, the administrative and financial management of the family office. He will also be in charge of risk management within the Alpha Blue Ocean Group.

With Master's degrees in computer engineering, business, and two Masters degrees in law (financial law and wealth management), Sebastien is currently completing a thesis with a view to obtaining a doctorate.

Beyond a brilliant academic career, Sebastien Bearez has worked for various large companies in the field of consulting and finance. He began his career at Grant Thornton as an Audit and Management Consultant. After a stint at Deloitte, he joined the BNP Paribas Group as Global CIB Risk Officer.

In 2017, he became Legal Consultant R&D and Financing at F-Iniciativas, a position that confirmed his appetite for and skills in innovation. After having been Secretary General of BJ Invest for the last two years, Sebastien joined the Alpha Blue Ocean teams' Dubai office.

Amine Nedjai, CEO of Alpha Blue Ocean: "We are very pleased to welcome Sebastien to our team. His background, determination and skills in financial analysis and innovation are all assets that will be highly valuable as we continue to develop and accelerate the business".

Sebastien Bearez, CFO of Alpha Blue Ocean: "It was a very easy decision to join Alpha Blue Ocean. There are many exciting innovation and societal challenges that need to be addressed over the coming months and years and Alpha Blue Ocean is in a good place to address them, particularly with its financing DNA being resolutely turned towards medical innovation and the energies of the future! There will be many exciting projects and I am thrilled to be involved."

For any additional information or to request an interview with an Alpha Blue Ocean executive, do not hesitate to contact the press service: pr@abo.co

Created in 2017, Alpha Blue Ocean is a pioneer in alternative finance providing innovative financing solutions in Europe, particularly in the medical innovation sector. In 4 years, the Group, founded by Pierre Vannineuse has executed more than 1.5 billion in financial commitments, 60% of which has been in the Health Innovation segments.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220223005832/en/

Contacts:

PRESS CONTACTS

Rajae Elantari +971 58 539 7678 r.elantari@abo.co

Samuel Botton 06 84 79 99 61 sbotton@stepconseil.com
Acquisition builds on ambitions to grow the number of North American companies in MBH whilst strengthening the Group's Engineering vertical and adding a further GBP0.5m in revenue and GBP0.1m in EBIT.

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / MBH Corporation plc (MBH), a diversified investment holding company, has today announced it has agreed to the terms for the acquisition of BEP Engineering Services, based in British Columbia, Canada. As the latest acquisition as part of its growth plans and subject to regulatory approval, BEP Engineering Services will become an integral part of MBH's Engineering Vertical.

With this acquisition the MBH portfolio now stands at 28 companies across 8 industry sectors and 6 countries. This is MBH's first acquisition in Canada.

BEP Engineering Services is a general contractor of mill engineering and industrial design based in British Columbia, Canada. Established 41 years ago in 1981, the company has expanded into a successful multi-disciplined mill engineering firm that is dedicated to bringing high quality designs and plant modifications to a discerning client base. Services include providing design, detailing and certification services, which covers the creation of new operations and the upgrading and modification of existing plants.

BEP Engineering partners with organisations in the sawmill, re-man, plywood, planermill, veneer and shake producing industries, while also providing engineer certification services which covers mechanical, civil/structural, electrical, dust collection and geotechnical areas. The company has been supplying and installing high quality pre-engineered metal buildings and tension fabric buildings for clients by designing building layouts to cover mechanical equipment in its most efficient flow arrangement.

BEP's unaudited revenue for the full year ended 30 November 2021 is approximately GBP0.5m. The total consideration for the acquisition of BEP will be approximately GBP0.5m to GBP0.7m which will be settled by way of convertible notes which will convert at the one year anniversary from completion date into MBH shares at the lower of the 30 day volume weighted price preceding the conversion date or EUR0.35c per share.

Bernie Pahlke, CEO, BEP Engineering commented: "The opportunity for us to become part of an international group brings with it new possibilities and a high-level of excitement within our skilled team. Over the years we have built our reputation on quality and market leading services and we're confident that becoming part of MBH will allow us to take our service offering and reach to even greater levels.

Callum Laing, CEO, MBH Corporation Plc, said: "The Board of MBH and our Principals are very pleased to welcome BEP Engineering Services to the Group, with their intricate knowledge of mill engineering & industrial design in North America. With more than four decades of experience, Bernie Pahlke and his team also have a great network of other businesses that could be a good fit with MBH in the future."

Bond Programme and Number of Shares on Issue

MBH has utilised approximately EUR34m of its bond programme leaving a balance of EUR16m to be utilised if required.

The number of shares issued at the date of this release is 100.3 million. Approximately 65% of MBH shares are owned by the Principals in the Group. To further support the company, several of the Group Principals are engaged in repeat monthly purchases of shares on-market for themselves or part of employee share ownership programs.

About BEP Engineering Services

Established in 1981 in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, BEP Engineering Services is a general contractor of mill engineering and industrial design. The company provides design, detailing and certification services for new operations as well as the upgrading and modification of existing plants. BEP provides a full range of mechanical/mill, civil/structural and electrical engineering services, with expertise encompassing sawmill, re-man, plywood, planermill, veneer projects and power plants. The company also has the ability to provide related electrical and control services.

www.bepengineering.com

About MBH

MBH Corporation plc (M8H:GR) is a diversified investment holding company, listed on the Frankfurt and Dusseldorf Stock Exchanges and the OTCQX in New York (MBHCF). The company acquires small to medium enterprises across multiple geographies and sectors that are well established, profitable and looking to scale. By leveraging the Agglomeration strategy, MBH Corporation plc is able to create substantial shareholder value through the consistent and accretive acquisition of excellent companies.

www.mbhcorporation.com

Contacts for IR and media enquiries:

MBH Corporation PLC, Charlotte Williams, charlotte@unity-group.com , +44 (0) 770 396 3953

FMG, PR company, Jacqualine Chan, jaccyy@gmail.com

SOURCE: MBH Corporation Plc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690248/MBH-Corporation-PLC-Expands-into-Canada-Through-Acquisition-of-BEP-Engineering-Services
OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - U.K.'s Genus plc (GNS), a animal genetics company, on Thursday said PIC, its global porcine genetics business has entered into definitive agreements with Olymel LP, a Canadian agri-food company, for provision of genetic products and services for C$25 million. PIC has acquired all intellectual property in Olymel's elite porcine genetics. They have also entered into an exclusive long-term genetics collaboration agreement, whereby PIC would supply elite germplasm and manage the ongoing genetic improvement of Olymel's AlphaGene genetics. PIC would use its proprietary genetics, technologies and services to accelerate genetic gain consistent with Olymel's strategic genetic goals. Olymel would continue to distribute the AlphaGene genetics through its internal multiplication program and to its independent producer herds in Canada. The collaboration combines PIC's expertise in porcine genetic improvement with Olymel's leading porcine production facilities, enabling Olymel's customers to benefit from improved AlphaGene health, efficiency and breakthrough technologies. The deal with Olymel, the largest porcine producer in Canada with capacity for over 185,000 pigs per week is expected to expand PIC's footprint in the Canadian porcine genetics market and would allow both parties to better serve pork producers across Canada. Shares of Genus plc are currently trading at 2939.27 pounds, down 222.73 pounds or 7.04 percent from previous close. 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.
FLORENCE, Italy, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than 4 years, PQE Group has been involved in spreading its culture of social responsibility all over the world, realizing amazing projects where employees are directly involved.

For this reason, the company's management has decided to found an internal CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Committee, which shall provide guidance on all charitable and volunteering activities, monitoring compliance with internal Policy, commitments, and applicable CSR provisions.

It will be composed of the CSR Board and an operative team: employees from the various PQE Group offices, who, through collaboration with local associations, carry out projects to achieve the ESG objectives that the company has set: Clean Water and Sanitation, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well-being, and Reduced Inequalities.

At the end of every financial year, the CSR Committee is in charge of drafting an Annual Action Plan on all activities for the following year, and these cost proposals will be included in the Budget process. The CSR Board will approve the Annual Action Plan together with Budget approval.

This operation has a dual purpose: to directly or indirectly get involved in programs that benefit the communities in & around its units/offices/Regional/Work Centers and locations, with a view to enhancing the quality of life and economic well-being of the local community. The second purpose is to generate, through its CSR initiatives, community goodwill towards employees and help reinforce a positive and socially responsible image of PQE Group as a corporate entity.

The CSR Committee will be regulated by an internal CSR Policy, which encompasses the company's philosophy for carrying out socially useful activities/projects and programs for welfare and sustainability, and development of community at large, preferably in its areas of operation.

"Nowadays companies have the right influence and tools to engage society and promote key values for a better version of ourselves," says Thomas Carganico CSR BoD. "Leading by example, quality, and excellence have been the characteristics of PQE Group since 1998, and today we want to push our efforts even further to be that change we all wish to see in the world."

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$50m of equity from the UK's development finance institution, CDC Group, soon to be renamed British International Investment

of equity from the UK's development finance institution, CDC Group, soon to be renamed British International Investment $20m of equity from the Norwegian investment fund for developing countries, Norfund; and

of equity from the Norwegian investment fund for developing countries, Norfund; and $20m of senior debt from U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the United States Government's DFI

LONDON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AgDevCo, the specialist investor in early-stage African agribusinesses, today announced a $90m package of new funding from the CDC Group, Norfund and DFC which will allow AgDevCo to continue to grow its investment activities in agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa1. This is in addition to the announcement of supplementary funding of up to $5.4m from CDC, Norfund and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for AgDevCo's integrated technical assistance facility.

Established in 2009, AgDevCo's vision is a thriving commercial African agriculture sector that benefits people, economies and the environment. The organisation contributes to this goal by providing investment capital and technical assistance to grow sustainable and impactful businesses across the agricultural value chain. In doing so, it aims to promote resilience, gender equality and the production of better-quality, more nutritious food.

This new funding builds on the original endowment funding provided by the UK government2 which helped establish AgDevCo over the past decade. This endowment has provided capital to agribusinesses that have directly created or sustained more than 15,000 jobs and to work with 750,000 smallholder farmers to help increase their income and improve their resilience to climate change. It has also allowed AgDevCo to build a capability and track record to the point where it can secure external investment capital.

In welcoming the investment, Keith Palmer, AgDevCo's founder and Chairman, said, "Securing investment from CDC, Norfund and DFC is a major milestone in AgDevCo's history. It is a strong endorsement of AgDevCo's team and our strategy. We are excited that our vision is shared by our new funders, who recognise the important contribution that AgDevCo investments can make to productivity, sustainability and inclusivity in Africa. Their funding marks the beginning of a partnership in which AgDevCo will use its sector specialism, drawing on our new funders' networks and resources, to increase the number of impactful investments in African agriculture."

UK Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford, said, "I am proud to see how AgDevCo's investing has boosted sustainable agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa over the past 10 years, including deepening impact on smallholder farmers and SMEs. This new investment will bring continued growth, by enabling agribusiness SMEs to expand, improve farmer incomes, create new jobs and strengthen climate resilience across Africa."

Tenbite Ermias, CDC's Managing Director for Africa, said, "This investment reinforces our long-term commitment to investing in key sectors in Africa including agriculture, which is critical for creating jobs, promoting gender equality and supporting people to build a better life for themselves and their families. Furthermore, it reflects our continued focus on climate finance which is central to our new strategy over the next five-year period, to support emerging economies that are most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate emergency."

Ellen Cathrine Rasmussen, Executive Vice President of Scalable Enterprises in Norfund, said, "Norfund is very pleased to partner with AgDevCo to deliver on our joint mission: to create jobs and improve lives by investing in businesses that drive sustainable development. A thriving commercial African agriculture sector is vital for economic growth and job creation. More than half of Sub-Saharan Africa's population work in agriculture, yet Africa does not produce enough food to feed the continent. The investment in AgDevCo will create jobs, increase food production, improve climate change resilience and promote gender equality. The AgDevCo team's skills, networks and achievements are impressive - and we look forward to working with them."

Algene Sajery, DFC's Vice President of External Affairs and Head of Global Gender Equity Initiatives, said, "DFC is thrilled to support AgDevCo with a $20 million loan to bring additional capital to smallholder farmers and agricultural businesses in Africa, promoting food security for lower-income communities across the continent. DFC's loan, alongside financing from our partner DFIs, will enable AgDevCo to link more farmers to markets and create jobs for underserved populations, with a focus on women farmers."

Additional information about AgDevCo, CDC Group, Norfund, FCDO and DFC can be found here.

1 Equity funding subject to competition approvals and debt funding subject to contract

2 UKAID through DFID initially and then FCDO

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1753521/AgDevCo.jpg

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HARRISBURG  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision on Wednesday broke a partisan deadlock over a new map of congressional districts by selecting boundaries that broadly adhere to the outlines of current districts.

The decision came after an order earlier this month suspending the primary election calendar, adding to the already large amount of uncertainty for state voters during a year when federal and state legislative seats and the governors office will be on the line.

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Much of the uncertainty is tied to the once-a-decade processes of congressional and legislative redistricting, which happen when new U.S. census data becomes available. The 2020 data was delayed by the pandemic, meaning the redistricting work started later than usual.

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So, where do we stand, less than three months away from the May 17 primary?

How will the Supreme Courts decision affect Lehigh Valley races?

It potentially could have a big effect on the Lehigh Valley. Democrat Susan Wild represents the 7th District, which encompasses Lehigh, Northampton and part of Monroe counties. But the map approved by the Supreme Court brings more conservative Carbon County into the 7th, putting more pressure on Wild to get reelected.

Will the May 17 primary election date be changed?

The Supreme Court left the May 17 primary date intact for congressional races and statewide contests. However, the court suspended the primary election calendar for state legislative candidates, because new state House and Senate district maps are being challenged in court.

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When can candidates gather signatures they need to get on the ballot?

The court ruled that candidates can start Friday and get signatures until March 15.

Why did the Supreme Court get involved?

The court ended up with the decision after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature could not agree on a plan for congressional districts. The court has selected boundaries twice before in the last three decades, and its decision is expected to be the final word, although a federal court challenge by Republicans is pending.

How does the new map break down?

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The new map provides eight Republican-leaning districts, six Democratic-leaning districts and three closely divided districts, according to an analysis by FiveThirtyEight, a website that focuses on opinion poll analysis, politics and sports.

That appears to be relatively closely balanced. Is everyone happy now?

Of course not. Democrats applauded the map, which had been proposed by a group of Democratic Party-aligned voters who sued last year to get the court involved. Wolf said he was pleased with the decision.

It is a fair map that will result in a congressional delegation mirroring the citizenry of Pennsylvania, Wolf wrote.

Pennsylvanias national Republican committee member, Andrew Reilly, said it was unfortunate that the court majority chose a map that combines two safe Republican districts into one, makes a suburban Pittsburgh seat friendlier for Democrats and was represented in part by the firm of a partisan Democratic Party-aligned lawyer.

What two safe Republican districts were made into one?

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The new map lumps two Republican incumbents  Glenn Thompson and Keller  into a sprawling northern 15th District across the top of the state. However, instead of challenging Thompson in the 15th, Keller said Wednesday that he will run in the new 9th District next door, where incumbent Dan Meuser lives.

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Thompson is the incumbent in the current 15th district. Keller represents the 12th district, but those districts were combined into the 15th, which includes Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson, Armstrong, Clarion, Warren, Forest, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Union and Snyder, and parts of Indiana, Venango and Lycoming counties.

Some Republicans had hoped Meuser would move over to challenge Scranton-area Democrat Matt Cartwright in the Republican-leaning 8th District, whose boundary is a few blocks from Meusers Luzerne County home.

But Meuser told the AP that it makes more sense for him to run in the 9th District, which contains 72% of his existing district and includes Schuylkill County and part of Berks County.

The congressional districts were decided but when will the state House and Senate maps become final?

The Feb. 4 vote on a final plan for state House and Senate maps by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission set in motion a 30-day clock for the filing of court challenges.

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At least two have been filed, including one by House Republican leader Kerry Benninghoff of Centre County, who said he believes it will take at least until the second or third week of March for the court to issue its decisions.

The Associated Press and Morning Call Capitol correspondent Ford Turner contributed to this story.
A web platform which provides quick analysis, diagnosis, and treatment for minor dermatological afflictions

LONDON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dermago virtual dermatology platform, a Canadian-based pioneer in asynchronous telemedicine*, is partnering with Dr. Magnus Lynch, a leading Harley Street dermatologist and medtech entrepreneur, to offer teleconsultations to patients across Great Britain - ensuring dermatology patients will no longer have to endure long waiting times for an appointment. Patients will be able to access personalized and patient-centric analysis, diagnosis, and treatment of minor skin complaints at the click of a button or via their mobile phones, all from the comfort of their home within 24 hours or 7 days.

SIGNIFICANT NHS WAITING TIMES

Dermago is a concept developed by two Canadian dermatologists seeking to improve accessibility to dermatology services. It's designed to also help relieve strain on the healthcare system, while also providing access to patients living in remote areas. According to the British Medical Association , there are now over six million people waiting for NHS care. Demand for treatment outstripped capacity even before COVID-19, so it is no surprise that backlogs and longer waiting times for patients have increased. In a study conducted by NHS England last year, Dermatology was one of the services that was being heavily affected.

"There is strong demand for dermatology services in Britain due in part to a limited number of dermatologists, especially outside major urban centres," said Dr. Marc- Andre Dore, co-founder of Dermago and a professional dermatologist by training. "Our innovative technology and the new partnership between Dermago and Dr. Lynch will provide broader access to user-friendly virtual consultations to a greater number of people and therefore make life easier for both patients and specialists."

"Skin conditions are extremely common, often having a major impact on patients' physical and psychological health, yet many patients find it hard to get an appointment with a dermatologist due to long waiting lists and the relatively high cost of traditional private dermatology consultations. Asynchronous telemedicine has the potential to provide convenient and affordable treatment for straightforward skin complaints. This approach has been pioneered by Dermago in Canada and I look forward to working together with Dr Dore and the team to develop this technology in Britain," said Dr. Magnus Lynch, Consultant Dermatologist.

Nearly 20,000 Canadian patients have used Dermago's platform to see a dermatologist since the company was founded, nearly half of them in the past year alone. The company's growth prospects in the British market, which is almost twice the size of Canada's, are therefore highly promising. It will be the first time that this approach of asynchronous telemedicine technology will be implemented in Britain.

AN INCREASING FOCUS ON THE SECURITY OF PATIENT DATA

Dermago patients create a secure personal medical file, in which they provide all their details. Precise instructions are then provided to ensure high-quality photos are submitted by the patient to assist the dermatologist to make an accurate diagnosis. Based on the patient's decision for a 24 hour or 7-day diagnosis after submitting their case, a consultant dermatologist will review the information and photographs and provide a medical opinion. If a prescription is needed, it can be sent directly to the patient's home.

The Dermago solution is powered by Oro Health , a technology which facilitates communications between patients and dermatologists that are as secure as if they took place in person in a doctor's office. The entire process is compliant with the strictest GDPR information standards.

The fast-track service available through the web-portal, allowing users to obtain a diagnosis in less than 24 hours, is offered at the introductory price of 129. The basic 7-day service is priced at 79.

For more information visit www.dermago.co.uk .

ABOUT DERMAGO

Founded in Quebec in 2017, Dermago is the first 100% virtual clinic that offers patients fast, direct, and safe access to a dermatologist for the treatment of minor skin conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea, loss of hair and psoriasis. The Company is the brainchild of Dr. Marc-Andre Dore and Dr. Emilie Bourgeault, two dermatologists who seek to improve access to care for Canadian patients. The service, which is backed by a team of seven recognized dermatologists, is available in all Canadian provinces, except Saskatchewan, and in Great Britain.

*Asynchronous telemedicine, unlike conventional telemedicine, does not require appointments to be made between the patient and the doctor. The exchanges are continuous and flexible via instant messaging, at the convenience of both parties. This greatly facilitates time management for all who are involved in the process.

SOURCE:

dermago | dermago.ca | Facebook | Instagram

MEDIA CONTACT: Darren Cottom, darrencottom@btconnect.com, C 07713 652216

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Global orders worth USD 2.5 billion last year, and 1/3 of it was driven by cutting-edge automotive lamps, demonstrating global competitiveness.

High value-added products including matrix beam headlights won a massive order from a global automaker.

To spur development of an intelligent headlamp connected to ADAS and a next-generation lamp system that displays road info.

Will diversify its portfolio of products that have won global orders by expanding the body responsible for global customers and customized customer service.

SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Mobis is expanding export of a high value-added product, automotive lamps, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a negative effect on the global market. Hyundai Mobis aims to win more deals from global automakers with a differentiated strategy for building a competitive advantage by developing cutting-edge lamp technology for future mobility.

On 24th, Hyundai Mobis announced that it has logged over KRW 1 trillion (approx. USD 830 million) worth of orders from global automakers just in the automotive lighting sector, which has been driven by diversifying the customer base in the global market, including customers such as a European automaker and new EV makers.

Last year, Hyundai Mobis won global deals worth USD 2.5 billion (approx. KRW 3 trillion) with an extensive product portfolio ranging from core parts to electronic units. About one third of the exports consisted of lamps, high value-added products.

Hyundai Mobis has demonstrated its global competitiveness in state-of-the-art automotive lamps as it has expanded orders to include multiple global automakers. Notably, most of the orders were for high value-added products, such as matrix beam headlights and high-performance rear lamps.

This was all made possible thanks to Hyundai Mobis' technical prowess, which has reached a global level. Indeed, the company is enhancing its brand power by being the first to develop Advanced Adaptive Driving Beam (AADB), which works in sync with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and HLED, which integrates the tail and the stop light in a single LED with only 5.5mm thickness, thus taking the lead with next-generation lighting technology.

Hyundai Mobis is also strengthening its competitiveness in the global automotive lighting market with its development of next-generation lamp technology. Starting with new challenges in the latest lamp technology, such as lamps that work with ADAS, a slimmer and differentiated design, together with controller integration, the company will continue to focus on developing high-end products that reflect the elements that are specialized in future mobility.

Leading examples are the development of the HD head lamp system that shows road information and a digital lamp system. These systems are centered around realizing a lamp technology that enables the driver to communicate through lamps and are expected to preempt future trends towards autonomous driving.

In addition, Hyundai Mobis will deliver differentiated lamp technologies, such as grille lighting dedicated to EVs and comprehensive control of various lamp signals.

Axel Maschka, Executive Vice President and Head of Global OE Sales at Hyundai Mobis said, "We plan to further bolster our competitiveness through our global technological capabilities and reliable quality in our wide-ranging product portfolio including lamps. Our goal for this year is to win USD 37 billion (KRW 4.4 trillion) in orders from global automakers in total."

Hyundai Mobis will enhance its Key Account Management (KAM), which are focused on four global bases in Europe, North America, China, and India. This is to allow the company to respond to global customers in real time and offer services customized to individual customers throughout the product development process. Through this, Hyundai Mobis will diversify its contract winning product portfolio and establish an organic partnership.

About Hyundai MOBIS

Hyundai Mobis is the global no.7 global automotive supplier, with annual sales of nearly $30 billion USD. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Seoul, Korea.

Hyundai Mobis aims to become a lifelong technology partner for vehicles and people. The company has outstanding expertise in sensors, sensor fusion in ECUs and software development for safety control. The company's products also include various components for electrification, brakes, chassis and suspension, steering, airbags, lighting and automotive electronics.

Hyundai Mobis currently employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. With the R&D headquarter in Korea, Mobis operates 4 technology centers in Germany, China, India and the United States.

For more information, please visit the website at http://mobis.co.kr/

Media Contact

Jihyun Han: jihyun.han@mobis.co.kr

Choon Kee Hwang: ckhwang@mobis.co.kr

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GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of development, GAC MOTOR's local dealership partner Mutawa Alkazi has invested in upgrades to their two large Kuwait showrooms. They installed an IDCC project that supports more personalized service for local customers.

IDCC Sales: Upgraded Service

The IDCC project is a comprehensive framework for managing leads, ensuring easy and prompt storage of personal information and personalized service. It dramatically improves customer experience, with the dual positive effect of building a good brand image and generating more sales.

With the careful management of the Mutawa Alkazi company, the IDCC program is helping to create a new sales ecosystem and build GAC MOTOR into a robust and reliable Chinese brand.

A Key Market

2021 was a milestone year for China and Kuwait, marking the 50th anniversary of officially establishing diplomatic relations. It was also the 8th year of business operations in Kuwait for GAC MOTOR.

At the All New GS4 and All New GA6 launch event in 2021, GAC MOTOR General Manager Mr. Zeng Hebin asserted that "Kuwait is one of the important markets for GAC MOTOR in the Middle East."

In combination with a commercial place on the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, the release of the models marks a considerable step up in brand visibility and an increase in regional brand power.

Upgraded Service for a Better Customer Experience

Service concepts are at the core of the GAC MOTOR Kuwait growth model. The flagship AL Rai showroom, reopened in 2022, is built with GAC MOTOR's new VI overseas standards. They display a high-end brand image and provide high-quality, personalized service.

Upgraded Models, Cutting Edge Technology

The All NewGS4 GEversion and All New GA6 GT version have arrived in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. They are now available for sale in standard and high configurations

The All New GS4 GE version comes with 12.3-inch dual screens, 15W wireless phone charging, and an oxygen bar air purifier. The All New GA6 GT version is now available with full coverage L2 autonomous driving and a huge panoramic sunroof that fills the cabin with light, creating a comfortable driving environment.

GAC MOTOR Kuwait is poised for years of healthy development, building from this strong service foundation with technologically advanced models ready for release.

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MWC Barcelona 2022 is in Barcelona from February 28 - March 3

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The following event roundup from Cision PR Newswire is a list of featured exhibitors for MWC Barcelona 2022, the world's largest and most influential connectivity event, which takes place from February 28 - March 3 at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain.

MWC Barcelona 2022 press kits, news releases and photos are available on the Official Online Press Office, managed by Cision PR Newswire: https://mwc.vporoom.com/

MWC Barcelona 2022 press kits on the Official Online Press Office

Business France

Booths 5B41 and 5B61

Press Kit: mwc.vporoom.com/BusinessFrance

Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France. It promotes France's companies, business image and nationwide attractiveness as an investment location, and also runs the VIE international internship program. Business France has 1,500 employees, both in France and in 58 countries throughout the world, who work with a network of partners. Business France has given private partners responsibility for supporting French SMEs and mid-size companies in Belgium, Hungary, Morocco, Norway, the Philippines and Singapore.

CCww

Booth 7A5

Press Kit: mwc.vporoom.com/CCww

30+ years experience of 3GPP embedded cellular protocol-stack development, licensing, bespoke firmware design, system integration and support including GCF conformance testing,CCww is proud to have supplied IP to leading mobile communications organisations with more than 3.5 Billion devices using CCww IP.

Currently licensing our Release-14 NB-IoT UE protocol-stack. PHY, AS, and NAS are light on memory and processor resources and ready for integration/ customisation with baseband/ radio or pre-integrated with partner baseband.

Working towards 3GPP Release-17 for NB-IoT over satellite, for UE and eNB.

Visit us at MWC Barcelona, 28 Feb - 3 Mar @ Hall 7, stand/ booth 7A5.

Parallel Wireless

Booth 5C61

Press Kit: mwc.vporoom.com/ParallelWireless

Parallel Wireless is the only U.S.-based company challenging the world's legacy vendors with the industry's only unified ALL-G (5G/4G/3G/2G) software-enabled OpenRAN solution. Its cloud-native network software reimagines network economics for global mobile operators in both coverage and capacity deployments, while also paving the way to 5G. The company is engaged with 50+ leading operators worldwide. Parallel Wireless's innovation and excellence in multi-technology, open virtualized RAN solutions have been recognized with 65+ industry awards. For more information, visit: parallelwireless.com. Connect with Parallel Wireless on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Sequans Communications

Booth 5H40

Press Kit: mwc.vporoom.com/Sequans

Sequans Communications S.A. is a leading developer and supplier of cellular IoT connectivity solutions, providing chips and modules for 5G/4G massive and broadband IoT. For 5G/4G massive IoT applications, Sequans provides a comprehensive product portfolio based on its flagship Monarch LTE-M/NB-IoT and Calliope Cat 1 chip platforms, featuring industry-leading low power consumption, a large set of integrated functionalities, and global deployment capability. For 5G/4G broadband IoT applications, Sequans offers a product portfolio based on its Cassiopeia Cat 4/Cat 6 4G and high-end Taurus 5G chip platforms, optimized for low-cost residential, enterprise, and industrial applications. Founded in 2003, Sequans is based in Paris, France with additional offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, Hong Kong, Singapore, Finland, Taiwan, South Korea, and China. Visit Sequans online at sequans.com, and follow us on Twitter and Linked-In.

Tecnotree Corporation

Booth 5E75

Press Kit: mwc.vporoom.com/Tecnotree

For more information, visit tecnotree.com.

The above press kits will continue to be updated throughout the show. Please check back during MWC Barcelona 2022 for the latest news.

About Cision

As a global leader in PR, IR, marketing and social media management technology and intelligence, Cision helps brands and organizations to identify, connect and engage with customers and stakeholders to drive business results. Through a suite of IR services, PR Newswire helps companies meet their communications and disclosure needs. A network of over 1.1 billion influencers, in-depth monitoring, analytics and its Brandwatch and Falcon.io social media platforms headline a premier suite of solutions. Cision has offices in 24 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA and APAC. For more information about Cision's award-winning solutions, including its next-gen Cision Communications Cloud, visit www.cision.com and follow @Cision on Twitter.

If you have questions about Cision PR Newswire's event services, or if you would like to offer feedback on this exhibitor profile roundup, please email the Cision PR Newswire VPO events team at sales@vpoinc.com.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices climbed on Thursday, with Brent finally surging above $100 per barrel for the first time in last seven years after Russia's president Vladimir Putin launched a military invasion of Ukraine. Benchmark Brent crude futures traded up 8.3 percent at $101.86 a barrel in European trade, the first time the international benchmark has crossed the $100 threshold since 2014. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 8.7 percent at $100.42 a barrel. The oil price surge came as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine to defend separatists in the east of the country, called the Donbas region. Analysts expect continued volatility in the near term as the United States and its allies calibrate and announce their response to this escalation. U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.S. will coordinate with NATO allies to ensure a strong, united response to Russia' military action in Ukraine. Earlier today, large explosions were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa. The Moscow Exchange suspended trading on all markets shortly after the rouble plunged to its lowest since early 2016. 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 OPPO Find X5 Pro Revolutionises Videography with 4K Ultra Night Video Powered by MariSilicon X Imaging NPU

DUSSELDORF, Germany, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OPPO has today introduced its cutting-edge new flagship Find X5 Series, raising the bar on smartphone imaging and premium design. The new series is packed with industry-leading features to empower consumers to be their true selves and express their individuality on their terms. The Find X5 Series boasts a futuristic aesthetic that achieves clean, modern sophistication and world-first imaging experiences, including a dedicated imaging Neural Processing Unit developed by OPPO, MariSilicon X, which overcomes smartphone video capture's greatest challenge - night-time recording. Complimented with an incomparable dual flagship IMX766 camera system, unrivalled performance, ultra-fast 5G connectivity, and incredible SUPERVOOC TM Flash Charging technology.

"Find X5 Series elevates the Find X series to a whole new level of beauty - both aesthetic and in terms of capabilities, redrawing the boundaries of the mobile experience across design, imaging, battery technology and performance. It builds on the core DNA that made the Find X3 Series a hit with consumers and critics alike," said William Liu, President of Global Marketing at OPPO.

4K Ultra Night Video and Captivating Photography

Night video presents a major challenge for smartphones, so OPPO has designed a dedicated imaging NPU, MariSilicon X, to bring the night to life, without sacrificing colour.

Based on a 6-nanometer process crafted for top-tier imaging performance, the MariSilicon X packs the most powerful AI computing power available today. The result is a four times improvement in perceived night video resolution, less grain and superior colour reproduction, making 4K Ultra Night Video possible for the first time on an Android smartphone, with each frame as clean as a still photo.

OPPO's MariSilicon X is just one key element of Find X5 Pro's advanced imaging system. The wide and ultra-wide angle cameras both feature Sony's advanced 50MP IMX766 flagship sensors, with a sensor size of 1/1.56", 2um large pixel size after binning.

The wide-angle camera also features a first-of-its-kind Five-axis OIS system, which improves with every use to counter handshake, reduce noise and sharpen scenes.

With superior 4K Ultra Night Video capturing across wide and ultra-wide cameras, the Find X5 Series boasts the best wide and ultra-wide imaging quality across both stills and videos in the industry.

What's more, Find X5 Pro comes with an upgraded front camera, which is an intelligent 32MP shooter that captures details in brilliant clarity also thanks to the MariSilicon X Imaging NPU. This allows boosted dynamic range and true-to-life textures that will make selfies pop. In addition, it is enabling AON - Always ON so your screen knows when to stay lit and you can use air gestures to navigate apps.

To help further realise OPPO's vision of professional camera experiences, Find X5 series is the first OPPO smartphone series to incorporate the best of Hasselblad software - Hasselblad Camera for Mobile - to enhance and finetune the beautiful and natural colours of your photography.

Futuristic Design with Premium Look and Feel

Building on the design innovations of the Find X series, the expertly curated Find X5 Pro features a spacecraft-inspired curved body using only the most high-end materials. The ultra-hard, true ceramic back of Find X5 Pro is available in Ceramic White and Glaze Black to reflect its clean, modern sophistication at its finest. This seamless ceramic back panel blends beauty and durability, taking over 168 hours to create and is of course splash, water and dust resistant with a IP68 rating.

Find X5 Pro's display is just as impressive, featuring a 6.7-inch ultra-clear curved AMOLED screen. With a WQHD+ resolution, and 100% P3 colour gamut coverage, Find X5 Pro's 10-bit screen displays more than 1 billion colours, creating smooth tonal and colour gradations, displaying the full depth and range of even the most subtle shifts in colour.

Find X5 Pro also boosts display performance with the first multi-brightness colour calibration of its kind, creating colours that are consistent, whether you're looking at the screen under dim artificial light or under a bright summer sky.

Most Powerful OPPO Flagship to Date

Powered by the latest-generation, multicore Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, Find X5 Pro is supercharged to handle even the most demanding games and applications.

OPPO has doubled down on efforts to boost battery life on Find X5 Pro and level-up power management. The large, 5000mAh dual-cell battery reflects a capacity increase of more than 11 per cent over Find X3 Pro, so you can relax knowing your phone will be ready to go when you need it.

With the support of enhanced 80W SUPERVOOC TM Flash-charging technology, Find X5 Pro can be charged from close to empty to 50 per cent in just 12 minutes, and with 50W AIRVOOC TM, it powers up to 100 per cent wirelessly in just 47 minutes.

ColorOS 12.1: Intelligent and Secure

OPPO's human-centric interface, ColorOS 12.1 is its most beautiful, intuitive and personal experience ever. Combining with Google's Android 12 operating system, it delivers incredible experiences and class-leading privacy features, while maintaining full access to the Google Play Store and its 3 million+ apps.

Introducing OPPO Find X5 and Find X5 Lite

OPPO Find X5 and Find X5 Lite also joined the Find X5 series today, bringing powerful performance and stunning design to a wide range of audience.

The Find X5 has an understated, yet ultra-premium finish, with frosted, matte glass and fingerprint-resistant chassis. Available in Black or White, the fine grain of this 90% frosted texture creates a beautiful, almost silky lustre that plays with light and feels incredible in the hand.

Find X5 also includes the outstanding dual IMX766 camera system, powered by MariSilicon X imaging NPU, a 6.5" 120Hz billion-colour display, support for 80W SUPERVOOC TM charging, 30W AIRVOOC TM wireless charging and more.

With the Find X5 Lite, users can express their authentic selves through professional portraits thanks to its outstanding camera configuration and AI-enhanced imaging features. The Find X5 Lite is the portrait expert capable of capturing DSLR-like portraits through features like Portrait Mode, Bokeh Flare Portrait Video, and more.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone Smiley Face in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find X and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO provides its users with the ColorOS and internet services including OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 50 countries and regions with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

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Contact:

Jiatong Li

T: +49 15238850933

E: jiatong.li@oppo.com
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Demand for dried fruits is mainly driven by increasing need for convenience and ready-to-eat food products. Manufacturers of dried fruits are making efforts to offer easy-to-use formats to gain increased customer attention. This factor can be associated with the demand growth of dried fruits packed in small sachets, especially in regions such as Asia Pacific, where customers prefer buying small quantity of dried fruits based on their requirement. This had led to increased sales of handy dried fruits that can be carried around.

Manufacturers such as Berrifine A/S pay utmost importance to packaging in order to maintain the quality of the product along with shelf life.

With efforts of manufacturers in offering convenience, quality, and high-shelf stability, demand of dried fruits is expected to witness positive growth over the coming years.

Dried fruits are increasingly being used as ingredients in snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, festivals, and special occasions, as they are less processed. This preserves the inherent wholesomeness of the fresh fruits from which they are created, and offer a fair value when compared to fresh, frozen, and canned fruits. Dried fruits come in a range of shapes and sizes, including whole, half, and diced, which offer limitless creativity to food manufacturers for using them in different cuisines.

Request for sample copy of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/32279

The popularity associated with the nutrition and health benefits of dried fruits is captivating the attention of food manufacturers who are longing to offer fruit flavor to customers. Increasing demand from food manufacturers for incorporating natural ingredients in their cuisines, which has increased shelf life, is further expected to soar the use of dried fruits in the food and beverage industry.

 Breakfast cereal manufacturers such as Kellogg's, A & V 2000 Inc., etc., are including dried fruits and nuts in their products in order to enhance nutrient content as well as flavor.

As per detailed industry analysis by Persistence Market Research, the global dried fruits market is projected to expand at 5.5% CAGR through 2032.

Key Takeaways from Market Study

Potential growth for the market of dried fruits is shown by East Asia , South Asia , and Latin America , with predicted value CAGRs of 7.5%, 6.7%, and 6.2, respectively for 2022 to 2032.

, , and , with predicted value CAGRs of 7.5%, 6.7%, and 6.2, respectively for 2022 to 2032. Europe and East Asia , together, hold more than 50% value share in the global market for dried fruits.

and , together, hold more than 50% value share in the global market for dried fruits. On the basis of end use, the food & beverage sector holds an approximate value share of 69.1%.

Global consumption of dried fruits is expected to be 2,927,997 tons in 2022.

On the basis of nature, conventional dried fruits are expected to be valued at US$ 9,633.7 Mn in 2022.

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"Key producers of dried fruits would be able to gain considerable profits by targeting the foodservice and F&B industry. Usage of dried fruits in various households has also risen over the years due to the ongoing trend of home cooking," says a Persistence Market Research analyst.

Competitive Landscape

Manufacturers of dried fruits are majorly focusing on product development and expansion of their processing facilities through the introduction of latest machinery. They are also emphasizing on offering certified products to customers through quality system control in order to increase their brand value.

In 2020, Woodland Foods announced plans to expand its sales and marketing reach in Mexico . The expansion would open the entire Woodland Foods catalogue to Mexico and the Caribbean for serving the industrial, foodservice, and retail markets.

. The expansion would open the entire Woodland Foods catalogue to and the for serving the industrial, foodservice, and retail markets. Berrifine A/S works closely with accredited organic control agencies to make sure that its suppliers comply with all the required industry requirements and standards. The company values effective traceability so as to offer steady delivery of uniform and high-quality products.

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Explore More Valuable Insights

Persistence Market Research, in its new report, offers an impartial analysis of the global dried fruits market, presenting historical data (2017-2021) and estimation statistics for the forecast period of 2022-2032.

The study offers compelling insights based on type (apples, mangoes, strawberries, cranberries, oranges, apricots, pineapples, blueberries, cherries, blackcurrant, grapes, figs, prunes), nature (organic, conventional), form (whole/pieces, powder), end use (food & beverages, foodservice, retail/household), and distribution channel (business to business, business to consumers), across seven major regions of the world.

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Related Reports:

Dried Fruits and Edible Nuts Market

Frozen Fruits Market

About Persistence Market Research:

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Persistence Market Research is always way ahead of its time. In other words, it tables market solutions by stepping into the companies'/clients' shoes much before they themselves have a sneak pick into the market. The pro-active approach followed by experts at Persistence Market Research helps companies/clients lay their hands on techno-commercial insights beforehand, so that the subsequent course of action could be simplified on their part.

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BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- S TL [NSE: STLTECH], an industry-leading integrator of digital networks, will be demonstrating its vision for a new era of 5G-powered networks at Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona next week.

STL is showcasing its range of solutions that will be based on secure, open interfaces, with the ability to work across new-age 'All-in 5G' 5G networks that will be converged (combination of optical and wireless), and operate across multiple bands. Alongside wireless products, the suite will also include STL's latest optical fibre, virtualisation, network deployment, and software solutions. These new capabilities together form a part of STL's All-in 5G offerings that will allow network builders and operators to seamlessly and cost-effectively deploy next-generation 5G digital networks.

STL's All-in 5G showcase exhibited at MWC22 is across these four key areas, critical for 5G deployment:

Wireless:

Garuda : New open and virtualized indoor 5G solution for enterprises

: New open and virtualized indoor 5G solution for enterprises Firebird : New multi-band macro O-RAN compliant radio units (O-RUs) for wide area 5G coverage

: New multi-band macro O-RAN compliant radio units (O-RUs) for wide area 5G coverage RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) : A cloud-native component for near real-time monitoring and optimization of RAN

: A cloud-native component for near real-time monitoring and optimization of RAN Programmable FTTx : Cloud virtualized wireless access solution for fibre networks

Optical Networking:

Celesta : A high-density optical fibre cable; and Stellar Optical Fibre : the world's first universal A2 optical fibre

A high-density optical fibre cable; and the world's first universal A2 optical fibre Opto Bolt and Opto Blaze : Pre-connectorised optical networking solutions for secure fibre termination and distribution

Network Deployment:

LEAD 360o : A Hyperscale network deployment solution for faster and more efficient 5G rollouts

Software:

Enterprise Marketplace : A telco-focussed integrated marketplace platform to connect service providers, customers, and partners

: A telco-focussed integrated marketplace platform to connect service providers, customers, and partners dWiFi : A digital Wi-Fi solution to manage and monetise Wi-Fi, while offering superior user experience

Ankit Agarwal, Managing Director, STL, comments:

"As the world's biggest mobile communications event, Mobile World Congress serves as the ideal platform for us to unveil our 'All-in 5G' range of new products. Our new offering brings together technologies and innovations that will allow new, faster and highly scalable 5G network build-outs around the world. This reflects STL's goal of building digital networks that combine wireless and optical technologies built on secure, fully programmable, open source interfaces. We look forward to engaging with the industry in Barcelona and advancing on our purpose of transforming billions of lives through digital networks."

Please visit STL at Mobile World Congress 2022 at Hall 2, stand 2E18.

About STL

STL is a leading integrator of digital networks providing All-in 5G solutions. Our capabilities across wireless connectivity, optical networking, software, and services, place us amongst the top 5G RAN vendors by Gartner. These capabilities are built on open-source and converged architectures helping telcos, cloud companies, citizen networks, and large enterprises deliver next-gen experiences to their customers. STL partners with service providers globally in achieving a green and sustainable digital future in alignment with UN SDG goals.

STL has a strong global presence in India, Italy, the UK, the US, China, and Brazil. Read more, Contact us.

stl.tech |Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2022) - Cabral Gold Inc. (TSXV: CBR) (OTC: CBGZF) ("Cabral" or the "Company") is pleased to provide preliminary metallurgical results for the MG gold-in-oxide mineralization and assay results from six diamond-drill holes testing the MG gold deposit, and within the Cuiu Cuiu gold district in northern Brazil.

Highlights are as follows:

Preliminary metallurgical results on the MG blanket material conducted at Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (KCA) are highly encouraging. Results from bottle-roll tests of seven samples of various grades and oxide material types returned up to 97% gold recoveries over 48 hours

DDH257 intersected 6.0m @ 8.6 g/t gold at the primary MG gold deposit from 179.4m depth, including 1.5m @ 32.6 g/t gold from 181.8m depth. This drill result further defines the high-grade zone within the primary MG gold deposit, extending the central MG high-grade zone 100m further west than previously known

DDH256 intersected 7.3m @ 1.3 g/t gold from 199.1m depth including 1.4m @ 4.9 g/t gold from 205.0m depth

DDH259 intersected 32.7m of 0.4 g/t gold from surface in the gold-in-oxide blanket which overlies the primary MG gold deposit

Alan Carter, Cabral's President and CEO commented, "The preliminary metallurgical test results (bottle-roll tests) from unconsolidated material which comprises the gold-in-oxide blanket at MG are highly encouraging, and indicate gold recoveries of up to 97% after 48 hours. The next step is to subject the samples to column leach tests, and those results should be available during May. The drill results from the underlying primary MG deposit continue to outline a central high-grade core to the primary hard-rock MG gold deposit with the mineralized zones all open at depth".

Preliminary Metallurgical Results: MG gold-in-oxide blanket

Following the initial discovery of the MG gold-in-oxide blanket in early 2021 (see press release dated April 15, 2021) the blanket grew significantly over the course of the year as a result of an aggressive focused RC drill program. By the end of the year, the blanket was estimated to have a surface footprint of 40 hectares, and is still open in several directions. The blanket extends from surface to depths of up to 60m (see press release January 6, 2022).

In late December 2021 Cabral shipped a total of 400kg of mineralized oxide material from MG to KCA to conduct heap-leach metallurgical testing. This material was collected from five diamond-drill holes, which were specifically designed to extract representative samples of oxidized mineralization for a heap-leach testing program (see press release December 9, 2021).

The initial test was a 48-hour cyanide bottle-roll leach test. Core samples from the five diamond-drill holes were subdivided into seven categories based on grade and weathered rock type, including a higher grade and lower grade sample from each of soil, transported colluvial blanket and in-situ saprolite basement. A single lower-grade sample of mineralized lake clays, estimated to represent less than 2% of the weathered cover sequence, was also tested.

KCA conducted assays on two aliquots of each sample to determine an average head grade, and then back calculated the head grade from extracted gold and tailings grade following 48-hour bottle-roll tests (Table 1). The latter is a larger sample and should be more representative of the actual head grade. Assays of average gold head grades for the individual bottle-roll samples range from 0.123 to 2.308 ppm, while the calculated head grades range from 0.276 to 2.366 ppm.

Bottle roll tests of all six of the soil, colluvium blanket and basement saprolite samples had recoveries exceeding 90% regardless of grade, whilst the seventh sample of lake clays had slightly lower recoveries at 81%. (Table 1, Figure 1). The best recoveries were from the higher grade saprolite basement sample (97%) and the higher grade soil sample (96%). Cyanide and lime consumption is considered reasonable. Silver recoveries, also shown on Figure 1, are considered unimportant and are not discussed herein (silver grades are typically low at Cuiu Cuiu: silver grades range from just 0.31 to 9.6 ppm in the samples).

The preliminary gold metallurgical results are highly encouraging. Cabral is now moving towards the next stages of the heap-leach metallurgical test work.

A single composite of the seven samples will now be blended in the approximate proportions that occur within the MG blanket-oxide deposit. The next stage of test work will focus on this composite sample. It will comprise: 1) preliminary agglomeration test work, 2) compact permeability test work, and finally 3) a 60-day column leach test. Results from this work, including the column leach tests are expected to be available in late May 2022.

The flat-lying gold-in-oxide blanket mineralization lies directly above the MG basement gold deposit. As it was not recognized until early 2021, the blanket was largely considered waste in resource estimates. Recognition of the blanket should result in lower strip ratios. While traditional processing will be required for the unweather hard-rock basement mineralization, if heap leach processing of soft, near-surface, oxidized mineralization proves viable, implementation would significantly lower initial capital investment and should significantly reduce processing costs. This should also result in lower cut-off grades for the surface mineralization, thereby increasing contained ounces. In general, adoption of heap-leach processing has the potential to significantly improve the economics for any deposit that is ultimately developed at Cuiu Cuiu.





Figure 1: Histogram of gold and silver extraction over 48 hours in cyanide bottle-roll leach tests for seven MG samples

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Table 1: Summary of cyanide bottle-roll leach tests for seven MG samples

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MG Diamond-Drill Results

Assay results were returned on six diamond-drill holes (DDH243, DDH244, DDH245, DDH256, DDH257 and DDH259) recently completed in the central part of the MG gold deposit (Figure 2).





Figure 2: Map showing the outline of the primary MG gold deposit (in yellow) and the interpreted outline of the overlying mineralized oxide blanket. The location of recently completed diamond drill holes (DDH243, DDH244, DDH245, DDH256, DDH257 and DDH259) are also shown

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DDH257 was drilled on section E553510 (Figure 3, Table 2) and intersected a broad alteration zone returning 12.0m @ 4.4 g/t gold from 173.4m depth. Within the broader zone was a highly altered interval of 6.0m @ 8.6 g/t, which included a particularly high-grade zone with abundant quartz veining that returned 1.5m @ 32.6 g/t gold from 181.8m depth.

Hole DDH257 intersected the same mineralized structure which was encountered in historic hole CC51. It returned 33.7m @ 0.57 g/t gold, within which was a more strongly altered interval of 9.7m @ 1.45 g/t gold, including 2.5m @ 2.8 g/t gold.

The main basement zone on Section E553510 is still open at depth. More importantly, the high-grade gold mineralization encountered in DDH257, is 100m west of Section E55610, which was the previous western limit of the known high-grade mineralization in the core area of the MG basement deposit (see press releases June 8, 2021 and January 20, 2020). This could potentially increase the strike length of this high-grade core zone by 50% within the primary deposit at MG.





Figure 3: Cross-section on line E553510 at MG through the primary MG gold deposit and the overlying gold-in-oxide blanket showing the location of DDH257 which intersected 6m @ 8.6 g/t gold including 1.5m @ 32.6 g/t gold. Note that mineralized zone is open at depth

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DDH256 was drilled on section E553430 (Figure 4, Table 2) and intersected 7.3m @ 1.3 g/t gold from 199.1m depth including 1.4m @ 4.9 g/t gold from 205.0m depth. This hole intersected the same mineralized zone that was intersected in hole CC66 (9.8m @ 1.8 g/t gold), but the intersection in DDH256 is 60m below the intercept in CC66. The mineralized zone remains open at depth. DDH243 was drilled on the same section, it encountered 9.4m @ 0.3 g/t in the blanket, and a deeper footwall zone that returned 8.6m @ 0.8 g/t (Table 2, Figure 4). It did not, however, return any significant values from the up-dip projection of the main zone, suggesting the zone may pinch out towards surface.





Figure 4: Cross-section through the primary MG gold deposit and the overlying gold-in-oxide blanket showing the location of DDH256 which intersected 7.3m @ 1.3 g/t gold including 1.4m @ 4.9 g/t gold. Note that the mineralized zone is open at depth

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DDH259 was a short hole drilled on section E553570, 60m east of DDH 257. It intersected 32.7m of 0.4 g/t gold from surface (Table 2) within the gold-in-oxide blanket which overlies the primary MG gold deposit. The depth of transported saprolite was deeper than expected in DDH259, extending to 74m downhole. As a result, the hole was drilled, within the transported saprolite, above the projection of main zone, and did not encounter any significant basement mineralization. A deeper hole, DDH271, was collared further to the north, and drilled directly below DDH259. It was designed to test for the presence of the main zone within the basement below the transported saprolite. It encountered significant alteration and quartz veining where expected (Photo 1). Assays for DDH271 are pending.





Photo 1: Drill core displaying quartz veining and alteration encountered in DDH271 - assays are pending.

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DDH244 and DDH245 were drilled further to the west, on section E553310 and 553395, respectively. Historic drilling in this area was wide spaced. Both holes returned a number of intriguing lower grade intervals (Table 2) that are worthy of follow-up drilling.

Drill Hole Weathering Mineralized Zone From to Width Grade # m m m g/t gold DDH243 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 9.4 9.4 0.3 Fresh Rock 84.0 85.0 1.0 0.2 88.0 89.0 1.0 0.2 104.0 105.0 1.0 0.5 165.2 173.8 8.6 0.8 incl. 170.5 171.5 1.0 3.7 EOH 225.3 DDH244 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 11.5 11.5 0.4 Fresh Rock 41.2 80.8 39.6 0.4 116.5 125.0 8.5 0.3 EOH 200.2 DDH245 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 5.0 5.0 0.2 Fresh Rock 81.1 99.5 18.4 0.5 126.6 127.7 1.1 3.4 156.0 173.6 17.6 0.4 incl. 157.0 161.0 4.0 0.9 EOH 243.2 DDH256 Fresh Rock 103.7 106.2 2.5 0.8 199.1 206.4 7.3 1.3 Incl. 205.0 206.4 1.4 4.9 EOH 310.6 DDH257 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 11.8 11.8 0.2 105.0 109.1 4.1 0.5 173.4 185.4 12.0 4.4 Incl. 181.8 183.3 1.5 32.6 221.5 222.2 0.7 1.8 289.6 291.4 1.8 1.8 EOH 328.7 DDH259 Oxide/Saprolite Blanket 0.0 32.7 32.7 0.4 107.3 110.8 3.5 0.3 EOH 130.9

Table 2: Table showing drill results for recently completed diamond-drill holes DDH243, DDH244, DDH245, DDH256, DDH257 and DDH259 at MG

Drilling and Trenching Update

Results are currently pending on a further six diamond-drill holes at MG including DDH271 (Photo 1), and drilling is continuing.

Results are also currently pending on five diamond-drill holes at Central and drilling is continuing.

In addition to the extensive diamond-drilling program that is in progress at Central, RC drilling aimed at further defining the extent of the gold-in-oxide blanket material is also in progress. Results are currently pending on 21 RC drill holes at Central.

Diamond-drilling continues at the recently discovered mineralized zone in basement granitic rocks at the PDM target located 2.5km NW of Central (see press release dated January 12, 2022). Results on seven diamond drill holes are currently pending.

Diamond drilling is also ongoing at the MG gold deposit, located 5km SE of Central. Results from six holes are pending, including DDH271 (Photo 1).

Following recent results from surface trenches at Machichie including 5m @ 8.3 g/t gold (see press release dated February 2, 2022), a series of additional trenches are currently being developed. Results are currently pending on three additional trenches totaling 252m.

About Cabral Gold Inc.

The Company is a junior resource company engaged in the identification, exploration and development of mineral properties, with a primary focus on gold properties located in Brazil. The Company has a 100% interest in the Cuiu Cuiu gold district located in the Tapajos Region, within the state of Para in northern Brazil. Two gold deposits have so far been defined at Cuiu Cuiu and contain 43-101 compliant Indicated resources of 5.9Mt @ 0.90 g/t (200,000 oz) and Inferred resources of 19.5Mt @ 1.24 g/t (800,000 oz).

The Tapajos Gold Province is the site of the largest gold rush in Brazil's history producing an estimated 30 to 50 million ounces of placer gold between 1978 and 1995. Cuiu Cuiu was the largest area of placer workings in the Tapajos and produced an estimated 2Moz of placer gold historically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

"Alan Carter"

President and Chief Executive Officer

Cabral Gold Inc.

Tel: 604.676.5660

Guillermo Hughes, MAusIMM and FAIG., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words "will", "expected" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. This news release contains forward-looking statements and assumptions pertaining to the following: strategic plans and future operations, and results of exploration. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct.

Notes

Gold analysis has been conducted by SGS method FAA505 (fire assay of 50g charge), with higher grade samples checked by FAA525. Analytical quality is monitored by certified references and blanks. Until dispatch, samples are stored under the supervision the Company's exploration office. The samples are couriered to the assay laboratory using a commercial contractor. Pulps are returned to the Company and archived. Drill holes results are quoted as down-hole length weighted intersections.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2022) - Moneta Gold Inc. (TSX: ME) (OTCQX: MEAUF) (XETRA: MOP) ("Moneta") is pleased to announce the final assay results from twelve (12) previously partially announced and six (6) new drill holes at Windjammer Central, from the Golden Highway area of the Tower Gold project, located 100 kilometres ("km") east of Timmins, Ontario. The drilling was part of the 2020/2021 72,500 metre ("m") program in 130 drill holes designed to test extensions of the current mineral resource estimate of 4.0 million ("M") ounces indicated gold and 4.4M ounces inferred gold (see February 24, 2021 press release) on the Tower Gold project. Additional holes and assays from this drill program remain pending.

This drilling successfully intersected gold mineralization over a strike length of 1,500 m and a width of 300 m to the north of the Windjammer South open pit gold resource within the Windjammer Central area. Today's results confirm significant extensions of gold mineralization to the current gold resource at Windjammer South both within and as extensions to the current economic open pit.

Highlights from the drilling include:

MGH21-242 intersected 279.50 m @ 0.55 grams per tonne "g/t" gold "Au", including 68.00 m @ 0.96 g/t Au, including 1.00 m @ 5.66 g/t Au and 1.00 m @ 5.84 g/t Au, and 23.30 m @ 1.27 g/t Au including 1.00 m @ 18.10 g/t Au

MGH21-259 intersected 167.00 m @ 0.79 g/t Au, including 72.10 m @ 1.07 g/t Au, including 1.00 m @ 5.57 g/t Au and 1.00 m @ 4.74 g/t Au

MGH21-259 intersected 60.00 m @ 1.03 g/t Au, including 1.10 m @ 5.97 g/t Au, and 12.30 m @ 2.57 g/t Au, including 3.00 m @ 8.26 g/t Au, including 1.50 m @ 15.30 g/t Au

MGH21-263 intersected 126.00 m @ 0.63 g/t Au, including 56.00 m @ 1.09 g/t Au, including 2.00 m @ 6.79 g/t Au

MGH21-263 intersected 116.00 m @ 0.60 g/t Au, including 42.00 m @ 0.82 g/t Au, including 22.00 m @ 1.10 g/t Au, including 2.00 m @ 3.47 g/t Au

MGH21-267 intersected 33.00 m @ 0.66 g/t Au, including 12.00 m @ 1.16 g/t Au, including 4.00 m @ 2.22 g/t Au

MGH21-264 intersected 63.25 m @ 0.53 g/t Au, including 14.00 m @ 0.83 g/t Au, including 2.00 m @ 1.14 g/t Au

MGH21-242 intersected 50.90 m @ 0.50 g/t Au, including 3.00 m @ 1.92 g/t Au, including 1.00 m @ 4.00 g/t Au

Gary O'Connor, Moneta's Chief Executive Officer commented, "These latest drill results, in an untested area of Windjammer Central, have confirmed significant gold mineralization in an area not previously drill tested and beyond the current gold resources and this discovery has the potential to fundamentally increase the economics of the open pit. The Windjammer Central exploration drilling program was testing for gold mineralization over a large area located within the current economic open pit at Windjammer South, north of the regional Banded Iron Formation. This discovery has the potential to significantly improve the economics of the Windjammer open pit. We look forward to releasing the remaining outstanding drill results when they become available and updating the mineral resource estimate for the Tower Gold project in the first half of 2022."

The latest assay results from the Windjammer Central resource expansion drill program include the remaining assay results from twelve (12) previously partially announced drill holes, and six (6) new drill holes for a total of 2,235.0 m. The drill program was conducted to test a large area to the north of the Windjammer South resource, within the economic open pit in an area with little historical drilling. The Windjammer South open pit gold deposit currently hosts 1.10 Moz gold at a grade of 0.84 g/t gold in indicated resources and 1.03 Moz at a grade of 1.10 g/t gold in the inferred category at a cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t gold ( see December 10, 2020 press release). Full assays from an additional 20 drill holes for 8,202 m from the 55 and Garrcon areas from the drill program remain pending.









Figure 1: Tower Gold Project: General Location Map

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Table 1: Windjammer Central: Selected Significant Drill Results

Hole From To Length Au Gram metres (#) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g x m) MGH21-242 293.50 573.00 279.50 0.55 153.7 includes 315.00 383.00 68.00 0.96 65.3 includes 315.00 352.00 37.00 1.22 45.1 includes 317.00 318.00 1.00 3.57 3.6 and 328.00 329.00 1.00 5.66 5.7 and 343.00 344.00 1.00 3.25 3.3 and 348.00 352.00 4.00 2.47 9.9 includes 351.00 352.00 1.00 5.84 5.8 and 357.00 383.00 26.00 0.66 17.2 and 412.50 435.80 23.30 1.27 29.6 includes 434.80 435.80 1.00 18.10 18.1 MGH21-242 653.00 703.90 50.90 0.50 25.5 includes 693.00 696.00 3.00 1.92 5.8 includes 693.00 694.00 1.00 4.00 4.0 MGH21-243 138.50 156.50 18.00 0.36 6.5 MGH21-243 210.00 255.00 45.00 0.41 18.5 includes 218.00 232.50 14.50 0.62 9.0 includes 225.00 226.50 1.50 1.33 2.0 MGH21-243 277.50 306.00 28.50 0.43 12.3 includes 293.00 306.00 13.00 0.76 9.9 includes 293.00 294.00 1.00 2.11 2.1 and 305.00 306.00 1.00 3.41 3.4 MGH21-244 572.00 599.50 27.50 0.39 10.7 includes 589.00 599.50 10.50 0.65 6.8 includes 599.00 599.50 0.50 3.24 1.6 MGH21-247 64.00 84.30 20.30 0.30 6.1 includes 77.00 84.30 7.30 0.49 3.6 includes 80.00 81.00 1.00 2.03 2.0 MGH21-247 105.00 131.55 26.55 0.63 16.7 includes 125.00 131.55 6.55 1.76 11.5 includes 130.30 131.55 1.25 5.18 6.5 MGH21-247 143.00 172.50 29.50 0.43 12.7 includes 154.00 157.15 3.15 1.53 4.8 includes 156.00 157.15 1.15 3.10 3.6 MGH21-247 178.50 230.00 51.50 0.29 14.9 includes 184.00 216.00 32.00 0.35 11.2 includes 192.00 197.40 5.40 2.24 12.1 MGH21-247 285.00 329.50 44.50 0.21 9.3 includes 306.00 322.50 16.50 0.32 5.3 MGH21-247 339.00 383.10 44.10 0.39 17.2 includes 353.00 379.00 26.00 0.47 12.2 includes 378.00 379.00 1.00 1.85 1.9 MGH21-251 82.50 91.50 9.00 0.51 4.6 includes 90.00 91.50 1.50 1.24 1.9 MGH21-256 81.59 89.00 7.41 0.48 3.6 includes 81.59 82.68 1.09 2.13 2.3 MGH21-256 229.50 250.50 21.00 0.44 9.2 includes 247.50 249.00 1.50 1.73 2.6 MGH21-256 304.50 336.50 32.00 0.57 18.2 includes 304.50 306.00 1.50 6.86 10.3 includes 327.50 336.50 9.00 0.64 5.8 MGH21-256 354.86 370.50 15.64 0.48 7.5 includes 354.86 363.00 8.14 0.67 5.5 MGH21-259 301.00 361.00 60.00 1.03 61.8 includes 320.00 329.00 9.00 1.59 14.3 includes 321.00 322.10 1.10 5.97 6.6 and 335.70 348.00 12.30 2.57 31.6 includes 345.00 348.00 3.00 8.26 24.8 includes 345.00 346.50 1.50 15.30 23.0 MGH21-259 385.00 552.00 167.00 0.79 131.9 includes 388.90 461.00 72.10 1.07 77.1 includes 388.90 393.00 4.10 2.59 10.6 includes 391.00 392.00 1.00 5.57 5.6 and 435.00 437.10 2.10 2.46 5.2 and 452.00 453.00 1.00 3.20 3.2 and 487.00 496.15 9.15 1.83 16.7 includes 490.00 491.00 1.00 4.74 4.7 MGH21-263 66.00 80.00 14.00 0.45 6.3 MGH21-263 104.00 220.00 116.00 0.60 69.6 includes 114.00 156.00 42.00 0.82 34.4 includes 134.00 156.00 22.00 1.10 24.2 includes 134.00 138.00 4.00 2.58 10.3 includes 136.00 138.00 2.00 3.47 6.9 MGH21-263 320.00 446.00 126.00 0.63 79.4 includes 346.00 402.00 56.00 1.09 61.0 includes 356.00 374.00 18.00 1.55 27.9 includes 368.00 374.00 6.00 2.94 17.6 includes 368.00 370.00 2.00 6.79 13.6 MGH21-264 438.00 501.25 63.25 0.53 33.5 includes 463.00 477.00 14.00 0.83 11.6 includes 463.00 465.00 2.00 1.14 2.3 MGH21-267 66.00 85.00 19.00 0.56 10.6 includes 68.70 78.00 9.30 0.82 7.6 includes 68.70 70.00 1.30 2.00 2.6 MGH21-267 101.00 134.00 33.00 0.66 21.8 includes 103.00 115.00 12.00 1.16 13.9 Includes 103.00 107.00 4.00 2.22 8.9 MGH21-267 270.00 300.00 30.00 0.31 9.3 includes 270.00 290.00 20.00 0.37 7.4 includes 278.00 290.00 12.00 0.46 5.5 MGH21-268 207.00 242.00 35.00 0.40 14.0 includes 215.00 238.00 23.00 0.50 11.5 includes 230.00 238.00 8.00 0.74 5.9 includes 236.00 238.00 2.00 1.78 3.6 MGH21-268 247.00 274.00 27.00 0.42 11.3 includes 261.00 274.00 13.00 0.69 9.0 includes 272.00 274.00 2.00 3.23 6.5

*Previously partially released. Note: Intercepts are calculated using a 0.20 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 3m internal dilution and no top cap applied. Drill intercepts are not true widths, are reported as drill widths, and are estimated to be 80% to 95% of true width.









Figure 2: Windjammer Central Drill Program: Drill Hole Location Map

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Discussion of Drill Results

Drilling was targeting Timiskaming age clastic sediment hosted gold mineralized stacked quartz veins north of the Windjammer South resource in the Windjammer Central area located immediately north of the regional Banded Iron Formation "A" ("BIF A") unit and south of previous drilling. The drilling was testing a large area within the Windjammer economic open pit in an area not previously drill tested and not currently in any resource category. The Windjammer South deposit occurs as the largest open pit gold resource of the Tower Gold project. Previous results from the first drill holes from the Windjammer Central area were released in the January 26, 2022 press release ME PR-03/2022 (see January 26, 2022 press release) and returned the following significant results;

MGH21-244 intersected 162.65 m @ 0.64 g/t Au, including 30.00 m @ 0.91 g/t Au, 6.00 m @ 1.58 g/t Au, and 3.00 m @ 2.19 g/t Au

MGH21-263 intersected 108.00 m @ 0.70 g/t Au, including 18.00 m @ 1.55 g/t Au, including 2.00 m @ 6.79 g/t Au

MGH21-259 intersected 96.00 m @ 0.64 g/t Au, including 23.15 m @ 1.09 g/t Au, including 3.00 m @ 2.96 g/t Au

MGH21-237 intersected 5.00 m @ 3.01 g/t Au, including 1.00 m @ 14.80 g/t Au

MGH21-237 intersected 105.00 m @ 0.42 g/t Au, including 87.00 m @ 0.50 g/t Au

MGH21-263 intersected 46.00 m @ 0.44 g/t Au, including 22.00 m @ 0.53 g/t Au, including 2.00 m @ 1.15 g/t Au

MGH21-244 intersected 37.00 m @ 0.47 g/t Au, including 12.00 m @ 0.94 g/t Au, including 2.00 m @ 2.03 g/t Au and 2.00 m @ 2.02 g/t Au

Drill results from the current program at Windjammer Central confirmed the occurrence of generally shallow west dipping stacked quartz vein sets and associated ankerite-albite-sericite-pyrite alteration haloes in large step-outs beyond the current gold resource and south of previous drilling at Windjammer Central. The latest assay results confirmed gold mineralization over an area 1,500 m long, 300 m wide, and down to depths of over 400 m.

Table 3: New Drill Hole Details: Windjammer Central

Hole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Inclination Depth (#) (mE) (mN) (masl) () () (m) MGH21-252 572800 5370755 352 80 -60 402.0 MGH21-255 572900 5370764 351 80 -60 435.0 MGH21-256 573005 5370780 339 85 -60 378.0 MGH21-257 572698 5370740 353 85 -60 417.0 MGH21-267 572184 5370565 331 85 -60 534.0 MGH21-268 572385 5370630 338 85 -60 450.0











Figure 3: Windjammer Central Drilling- Cross Section

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

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QA/QC Procedures

Drill core is oriented and cut with half sent to AGAT Laboratories Inc. (AGAT) for drying and crushing to -2 mm, with a 1.00 kg split pulverized to -75 m (200#). AGAT is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. A 50 g charge is Fire Assayed and analyzed using an AAS finish for Gold. Samples above 10.00 g/t Au are analyzed by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish and selected samples with visible gold or high-grade mineralization are assayed by Metallic Screen Fire Assay on a 1.00 kg sample. Moneta inserts independent certified reference material and blanks with the samples and assays routine pulp repeats and coarse reject sample duplicates, as well as completing routine third-party check assays at Activation Laboratories Ltd. Randall Salo, P.Geo. is a qualified person under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this press release.

About Moneta Gold

Moneta is a Canadian based gold exploration company focussed on advancing its 100% wholly owned Tower Gold project, which currently hosts a gold mineral resource estimate of 4.0M ounces indicated and 4.4M ounces inferred. The Company's 2020/2021 drill program was designed to test extensions of mineralization and expand the current mineral resource. An updated mineral resource estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment study encompassing the entire Tower Gold project will be announced in the first half of 2022. Moneta is committed to creating shareholder value through the strategic allocation of capital and a focus on the current resource expansion drilling program, while conducting all business activities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Gary V. O'Connor, CEO

416-357-3319

Linda Armstrong, Investor Relations

647-456-9223

The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com. For further information on the Company, please visit our website at www.monetagold.com or email us at info@monetagold.com.

This news release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, collectively "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to information with respect to the future performance of the business, its operations and financial performance and condition such as the Company's drilling program and the timing and results thereof; further steps that might be taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19; the impact of COVID-19 related disruptions in relation to the Corporation's business operations including upon its employees, suppliers, facilities and other stakeholders; uncertainties and risk that have arisen and may arise in relation to travel, and other financial market and social impacts from COVID-19 and responses to COVID 19. and the ability of the Company to finance and carry out its anticipated goals and objectives.

Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114628
A man was fatally shot Thursday morning at Big Woodys, a bar and restaurant at 1302 Hanover Ave. (Stephanie Sigafoos/The Morning Call)

A man is charged with fatally shooting another man early Thursday at an Allentown bar, city police said.

Loron Irving, 46, of Allentown, is charged with criminal homicide and prohibited possession of a gun in the 2:37 a.m. shooting of Anthony Rodgers, 42, also of Allentown, at Big Woodys bar at 1302 Hanover Ave., according to district court records.

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According to a news release from the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office, police arrived and found Rodgers dead in the parking lot. Video surveillance showed Irving and Rodgers involved in a dispute. The investigation determined Irving pulled out a handgun and shot Rodgers, then fled on foot, the release said.

Irving was arraigned Thursday night by district judge Michael DAmore and placed in Lehigh County Jail without bail. Rodgers was pronounced dead at 3:42 a.m. and his death ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroners Office.

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City police, along with the Lehigh County district attorneys office Homicide Task Force and the Lehigh County coroners office, are investigating.

Big Woodys staff declined to comment.

This is the third homicide in Allentown this year.

Vincent Bynum, 36, was fatally shot Feb. 10 on the 500 block of West Allen Street. Ronny Del Rosario, 24, died Jan. 30 after being shot on the 1700 block of South Fourth Street. Both men were city residents.

On Monday, gunfire at crowded Cedar Beach sent parents and children scrambling for safety. No one was injured, but the incident led Mayor Matt Tuerk and police Chief Charles Roca to make public statements about the violence rattling the city. Both said the police department needs to add officers, and that community cooperation is crucial to combating violence.

Community involvement was key to an arrest in the Cedar Beach incident, officials said. Tips led officials to Carlos Medina, 25, of Coplay, who was charged with assault, reckless endangerment, a firearms violation and other offenses.

Morning Call reporter Molly Bilinski can be reached at mbilinski@mcall.com.
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / Quebec Precious Metals Corporation ("QPM" or the "Company") (TSXV:QPM), (OTCQB:CJCFF), (FSE:YXEP) is pleased to report the results from a new induced polarization ("IP") survey (the "2021 IP") on the Company's 100% owned Sakami project (see Figures 1 and 2 ).

Highlights

IP anomalies over 2.5 km along strike south of the La Pointe deposit that are associated with an interpreted large size intrusive body; and

New drill targets identified while other targets continue to be drilled currently.

Normand Champigny, QPM's Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We have expanded significantly the known volume of mineralization and are encouraged by the interpreted large intrusive body. The 2021 IP results indicate that the La Pointe Extension deposit continues to the south over a target area similar in size to the deposit that we are currently drilling based on the 2020 IP results."

The 2021 IP (92 line-km) outlined new drilling targets along strike and south of the La Pointe Extension deposit. Drill targets are outlined by the integration of the 2021 IP results with historical IP survey results, high-resolution heliborne magnetic data and interpreted structural features. There is a good spatial correlation between the known gold mineralization on surface and in drill holes and the IP anomalies at the La Pointe and La Pointe Extension deposits. This correlation assists management in identifying high priority targets over the 2021 area south of the La Pointe Extension deposit.

The Company earlier had defined the La Pointe Extension deposit over a strike length of 3,750 m and to a minimum depth of 400 m with an estimated true thickness of 39 m (see press release of June 9, 2021) up to 75 m in the central part of the deposit. As a result of the 2021 IP, additional drill targets have been identified along strike of the deposit and QPM plans to test them in 2022.

In addition to carrying out the 2021 IP, last month QPM resumed drilling as part of the 10,000-metre program that began in 2021 (see press release of November 2, 2021). The goal of this drilling is to expand the La Pointe Extension deposit to support the Company's maiden mineral resource estimate. The Company expects that resource estimate will be available in the third quarter of this year The initial results of the winter drilling campaign, delayed by longer turnaround times at the third-party labs, are expected shortly.

About the induced polarization method

IP is a geophysical method that injects electrical current into the ground through electrodes and measures the voltage response. The measurements are used to determine the chargeability of the hosting metallic minerals, particularly sulphide minerals, and the resistivity of the bedrock. A higher concentration of chargeable material will generally produce a stronger response. The method is used to detect disseminated sulphide minerals (such as pyrite present at the La Pointe Extension deposit) in resistive environments and associated with gold mineralization.

Geosig Inc. (based in Quebec City) conducted the 2021 IP using a pole-dipole array along 100-metre spaced lines with readings every 25 m (n=1 to 8). Processing and interpretation of the geophysical data was performed by Inter Geophysique Inc. (based in Rosemere).

The Sakami Project

The Sakami Project provides the Company with a controlling position over a 23-km long segment of a favourable geological contact and comprises 281 claims (142 km2). It is located 570 km north of Val d'Or, Quebec, 120 km east of the municipality of Wemindji, 90 km from the Eleonore gold mine and 47 km northeast of the paved James Bay Road. Good infrastructure, including major access roads, a hydro-powered electric grid and airports, are present in the region. Drilling can be carried out throughout the year.

Qualified Person

Normand Champigny, Eng., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Qualified Person under NI 43- 101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects, has prepared and approved the technical content of this release.

About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

QPM is a gold explorer with a large land position in the highly prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. QPM's flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPM's goal is to rapidly explore the Sakami project and advance to the mineral resource estimate stage.

For more information, please contact:

Normand Champigny

Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: 514 979-4746

|Email: nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward -looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue", and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation statements regarding plans, strategies and objectives of management, anticipated production or construction commencement dates and expected costs or production output.

Forward-looking statements inherently involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of resources or reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which the entity operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation.

Forward-looking statements are based on the entity and its management's good faith assumptions relating to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect business and operations in the future. There are no assurances that the assumptions on which forward-looking statements are based will prove to be correct, or that the business or operations will not be affected in any material manner by these or other factors not foreseen or foreseeable by the entity or management or beyond the entity's control.

Although there have been attempts to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actual results, performance, achievements or events not to be anticipated, estimated or intended, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of the entity. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this release are given as at the date of issue only. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant stock exchange listing rules, in providing this information the entity does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward-looking statements or to advise of any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690225/Quebec-Precious-Metals-Identifies-Drill-Targets-Over-25-km-Along-Strike-From-the-La-Pointe-Extension-Gold-Deposit
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. (TSXV:SM)(OTCQB:SMDRF) ("Sierra Madre" or the "Company") ") is pleased to announce that it has received a permit from SEMARNAT, the Mexican federal environmental permitting agency, authorizing the use of 30 drill pads within the La Tigra Project. Multiple exploration holes can be drilled and offset from each permitted pad. In addition, the Company has entered into formal surface rights exploration agreements with Ejidal Santa Maria Picachos; the surface owners at La Tigra, that allows for the commencement of the drilling program.

Luis Saenz, Director of Exploration and Development for Sierra Madre states, "I am very pleased at the progress that has been made at the La Tigra project. We began work on the project in July, 2021 and have rapidly moved it to a drill ready stage. The successful mapping, trenching and underground surveying programs have defined high quality drill targets and I am looking forward to the commencement of drilling."

La Tigra Environmental, Community, and Social Programs

The company is delighted to report on its ongoing Environmental, Community, and Social programs. At the time Sierra Madre began work at La Tigra, there was no school building available for the children in the La Tigra project area. The company has since funded the re-opening of the El Jejito Elementary School and hired a full-time teacher for the children within the community.

Restoring the El Jejito school building

The project site also lacked rudimentary sanitation facilities and the community water storage facility had fallen into disrepair. Rehabilitation of the water cistern previously used to store fresh water has been completed. The company has begun construction of enclosed latrines at each of the family houses in the La Tigra project area. Further environmentally friendly options for obtaining and storing potable water are currently being investigated.

About Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. is a mineral exploration company, currently focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of the Tepic and La Tigra Properties in Nayarit, Mexico. The Company has an experienced management team with a proven track record of wealth creation in Mexico through project discovery, advancement, and monetization. Sierra Madre's key objective is to advance exploration on the Tepic and La Tigra Properties to determine whether they contain commercially exploitable deposits of precious or base metals.

On behalf of the board of directors of Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd.,

"Alexander Langer"

Alexander Langer

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Contact:

investor@sierramadregoldandsilver.com

Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Best Practice

Sierra Madre is committed to best practice standards for all exploration and sampling activities. The Company's exploration programs have been conducted following CIM Exploration Best Practice Guidelines which are incorporated by reference in NI 43-101. Analytical quality assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates into the sample strings. Samples are placed in sealed bags and shipped directly to Bureau Veritas Lab located in Durango, Mexico for 30 gram gold fire assay and multi-element analyses by acid digestion.

Qualified Person

Mr. Gregory Smith, P. Geo, Director of Sierra Madre, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the technical data and information contained in this news release. Mr. Smith has verified the technical and scientific data disclosed herein.

Cautionary Note

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect plans for the La Tigra property, including the prospect of preparing a technical report containing a mineral resource estimate. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including, but not limited to, the risk that the La Tigra Property may not yield the results expected and the general risk factors related to exploration and development as are set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's final long form non-offering prospectus dated March 31, 2021 available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

SOURCE: Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690186/Sierra-Madre-Announces-Receipt-of-Drilling-Permit-and-Formal-Surface-Agreements-with-Local-Ejido-at-the-La-Tigra-Project-Nayarit-Mexico


MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - President Joe Biden said the United States as well as its allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.



Biden has scheduled a virtual meeting with G7 Leaders at 9 a.m ET Thursday to discuss the ongoing situation with regard to Russia and Ukraine.



Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen will attend the meeting.



The President said that after the meeting he will address the nation 'to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security.'



Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called Russia's invasion of Ukraine 'brutal' and 'unprovoked,' while announcing new sanctions on 25 more individuals and four financial institutions.



British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce more sanctions against Russia later on Thursday.



The European Union said Putin has brought war back to Europe and is preparing a 'massive and strategic' package of sanctions on Russia.



In a statement following the attack by Russian military forces, Biden said, 'President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.'



The U.S. President said he will be monitoring the situation from the White House and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team. 'We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance.'



Immediately after Russian state television unexpectedly broadcast an address by President Vladimir Putin in the early hours of Thursday, Russian forces crossed the border from multiple directions and launched a major military assault on Ukraine with reports of missile strikes and explosions in major cities, including capital Kiev.



The attack is focused on Ukrainian military targets, sparing civilian areas, reports say.



Based on reports, casualties have been on the rise.



Moscow denied Ukraine's claim that it has shot down Russian aircraft.



Putin said he was launching a 'special military operation' in response to request for help by the breakaway Ukrainian region of Donbas.



He urged Ukrainian soldiers in the eastern region to lay down weapons and return to their homes. The Russian leader warned that Moscow's response will be 'instant' if anyone tries to take on Russia.



Ukraine's Foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia of starting a full-scale war.



Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, he urged member states to use all available means to protect Ukraine and deter Russia.



Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law across the country.



Ukrainian state air traffic services closed the country's airspace in the wake of the attack.



'These are among the darkest hours for Europe since the end of World War II,' EU High Representative Josep Borrell told reporters.



French President Emmanuel Macron called on Russia to immediately halt military operations in Ukraine.



NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the bloc stands with Ukraine at this terrible time, and will do all it takes to defend all allies.



Global stock markets opened sharply lower on Thursday.



Brent crude oil crossed $100 per barrel for the first time since 2014.







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COEUR D'ALENE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / Timberline Resources Corporation (OTCQB:TLRS); (TSXV:TBR) ("Timberline" or the "Company") announced today initial results from the second phase of the 2021 drilling program at its 100%-controlled Eureka Project in Nevada. The Company recently completed the 6,536-meter (m) program initiated in July 2021. These results are from six reverse circulation (RC) holes, comprising approximately 1,410m, and partial results from two core holes. These holes are from the Water Well Zone (WWZ), which lies immediately east of the Lookout Mountain gold resource (See Figure 1).

The most significant new gold intercepts in these holes include:

22.9m at 6.11 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 140.8m depth in BHSE-220C, including 12.2m at 8.92 g/t gold from 151.5m depth;

from 140.8m depth in BHSE-220C, including from 151.5m depth; 10.7m at 2.96 g/t gold from 229.2m depth in BHSE-211C;

from 229.2m depth in BHSE-211C; 22.9m at 1.11 g/t gold from 219.5m depth in BHSE-198; and

from 219.5m depth in BHSE-198; and 6.10m at 2.85 g/t gold from 161.5m depth in BHSE-204.

Patrick Highsmith, Timberline's President and CEO commented, "This new drilling in the Water Well Zone has returned the best hole to date in this area, and one of the best holes on the Eureka Project. As we have progressed northward, we have not only encountered richer and thicker gold mineralization, but the target horizon is also much shallower than we have previously seen. It appears as though core drilling is providing much better information than reverse circulation on the geology and gold content. We are currently making plans to twin more RC holes at the Water Well Zone with core holes."

Drill holes BHSE-204, 205, and 220C were all drilled from the same pad. This location is the farthest north drill site to date at the WWZ, representing a step out of 134m northeast from BHSE-195 (see Company news release dated October 27, 2021). Initial drilling in this area by RC holes BHSE-204 and 205 intercepted carbonaceous jasperoid (silica altered) with notable pyrite and orpiment (arsenic sulfide mineral), all of which are often associated with gold in Carlin-type deposits. The mineralized interval also occurred much shallower than expected. Based on these favorable indications, the Company elected to expedite the assays in these two holes and announce the partial results before receipt of assays above and below the interval of interest.

Comparative Results from Core and RC Drilling

Diamond core drilling may be demonstrating significantly higher grade from mineralized intervals than reverse circulation drilling.

Much of the drilling in the WWZ has encountered significant groundwater inflow during drilling. While groundwater is common in exploration drilling, it can affect sample quality in RC drilling. Fine grained material may be washed away during the drilling and sampling process, and drill cuttings may be washed into the hole from higher up. Either circumstance could result in under-reporting of gold grades when sampling with RC drilling beneath the water table. Core drilling is generally regarded as superior to RC drilling for the quality of both assays and geological information, but it is also much more costly. As previously reported in October 2021, Timberline directed more core drilling into the WWZ during this program to evaluate the reliability of gold grades and increase the confidence of geological interpretations.

Based on the favorable geology and initial indications from the first two holes in the area, BHSE-220C was designed as a core "twin" of BHSE-205. That is, it was collared as close as practical to the RC hole and drilled in parallel to compare the results between the two drilling methods. The core hole encountered similar carbonaceous silicified sedimentary rock with pyrite, orpiment, and realgar (arsenic sulfide mineral). The backlog of assays at the major labs is substantial, so the Company elected to expedite the samples from the visibly mineralized section of the core hole. This means that there are still assays pending above and below this interval, but these assays have been certified as complete by ALS Global.

As shown in Table 1, the results from the mineralized zone in the core hole twin are markedly different from the RC results. The average gold grade in the core samples is substantially higher than reported from the RC samples. In fact, all the individual samples assayed through the mineralized interval returned higher gold values from the drill core than the RC cuttings.

Table 1 - Comparison of Average Mineralized Intervals in Twinned* Drill Holes

Hole Type Inclination () From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Gold (g/t) BHSE-205 RC -90 138.7 175.3 36.6 1.06 BHSE-220C Core -90 140.8 163.7 22.9** 6.11 * - Drill holes collared approximately 2 meters apart from same drill pad ** - Assayed interval ends in the core hole with 7.56 g/t Au, but additional assays are pending.

This phenomenon is well known in the gold exploration industry, as anecdotal reports and some comprehensive studies have demonstrated higher gold grades from core drilling when comparing with twin RC drill holes. The discrepancy reported here is higher than expected, but this result is from only one pair of twin holes. This result suggests that the recent RC drilling in the WWZ may have underestimated the actual gold grade.

The Timberline team is not yet drawing conclusions from these data as results are awaited for several more core holes in the WWZ. Analysis and interpretation of the data will be ongoing as final results come in from the 2021 drill campaign. The Company is also planning to twin several more RC drill holes in the WWZ during the 2022 drill program.

Geological Information from the New Drilling

The WWZ is a downdip and northward lateral extension of the Lookout Mountain mineralization that was discovered by Timberline in 2015 (see Company news release dated February 14, 2015). Prior to this phase of drilling, Timberline has intercepted the zone nine times, but two of the holes were at the margins or in a fault-attenuated interval.

The WWZ has been a focus of considerable work since 2020 because the gold grades are higher than the Lookout Mountain Resource, including a high-grade intercept from drill hole BHSE-187 reported in January 7, 2021. Seven holes passed through the entire thickness of the WWZ host horizon. In those holes, the zone averaged 18.9m thick with an average gold grade of 2.22 g/t. There were several intervals within those holes ranging from 3 to 7.7m thick in which the gold grade was higher than 4.5 g/t (see Company news release dated October 27, 2021).

The WWZ occupies a favorable horizon at the basal contact of the Dunderberg Shale with the Hamburg Dolomite. At this horizon, Timberline geologists have noted significant multi-staged collapse brecciation that likely accounts for the development of porosity and permeability. The mineralizing fluids exploited this horizon, evidenced by associated intense silicification, sulfidation, and carbonaceous replacement. The resulting jasperoid contains abundant fine sooty pyrite and oftentimes, the arsenic sulfide minerals orpiment and realgar.

The new drilling indicates that the favorable jasperoid stratigraphic section of the WWZ continues well to the north from previous drilling and that it trends closer towards the ground surface in the northerly direction. It is also clear that the zone is cut by numerous faults that may explain the variable depths and thickness of the key formations and contacts. Faults may also affect the fluid pathways through the host rock, so these structures could explain the thicker and higher-grade mineralization encountered in holes such as BHSE-204, 205, 211C, and 220C.

Four (4) of the RC holes (BHSE-198, 199, 200 and 203) tested the margin of the existing resource area in an eastward transition zone towards higher-grade mineralization recognized in previous drilling of the WWZ (Figure 1). Each hole intersected gold mineralization within mixed black pyritic and carbonaceous jasperoid, as best highlighted by BHSE-198 and 199. The shallow intervals reported from BHSE-199 and 200 also contained oxide mineralization.

Table 2 - Summary of Significant Drill Intercepts in the Water Well Zone (Cutoff Grade 0.2 g/t)

Hole Type Azimuth Inclination From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Gold (g/t) BHSE-198 RC 295 -80 155.4 161.5 6.1 0.50 219.5 242.3 22.9 1.11 BHSE-199 0 -90 0.0 24.4 24.4 0.41 275.8 285.0 9.2 0.64 BHSE-200 0 -90 0.0 9.1 9.1 0.34 BHSE-203 259.1 263.7 4.6 0.40 BHSE-204 270 -65 161.5 167.6 6.1 2.85 including 161.5 164.6 3.1 4.88 BHSE-205 0 -90 138.7 175.3 36.6 1.06 BHSE-211C Core 0 -90 229.2 239.9 10.7 2.96 including 229.2 232.3 3.1 6.26 BHSE-220C Core 0 -90 140.8 163.7 22.9 6.11* including 151.5 163.7 12.2 8.92* including 154.4 157.6 3.2 12.75* * - Width & average grade of these intervals may increase, pending receipt of additional assays.

Timberline expects analysis of the remaining approximately 1,700 samples to be released systematically by ALS Global in multiple batches over the next 6 weeks. In addition, multi-element analysis is underway on approximately 25% of the samples and is expected to assist in vectoring towards additional gold mineralization.

Sampling Methodology, Chain of Custody, Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Collection of reverse circulation samples was completed under the supervision of a Company representative. Personnel from Timberline or the drilling contractors transported the samples to Timberline's secure Eureka facility, from which the samples were picked up by personnel from ALS USA Inc. (ALS) for sample preparation in Elko, Nevada or Tucson, Arizona. Quality control was monitored by the insertion of numerous blind certified standard reference materials, field duplicates, and blanks into each sample shipment. Drill samples were assayed by ALS for gold by fire assay of a 30-gram charge with an AA or ICP-ES finish (ALS code Au-AA23). The overlimits for gold samples assaying above 10 g/t were determined by a 30-gram fire assay with gravimetric finish. In addition, gold mineralized samples were submitted for multi-element analysis (33 elements) by four-acid digestion and ICP-ES determination (code ME-ICP61).

Steven Osterberg, Ph.D., P.G., Timberline's Vice President Exploration, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this release. Dr. Osterberg is not independent of the Company as he is an officer.

About Timberline Resources

Timberline Resources Corporation is focused on delivering high-grade Carlin-Type gold discoveries at its district-scale Eureka Project in Nevada. The Eureka Property includes the historic Lookout Mountain and Windfall mines in a total property position of approximately 24 square miles (62 square kilometers). The Lookout Mountain Resource was reported in compliance with Canadian NI 43-101 in an Updated Technical Report on the Lookout Mountain Project by Mine Development Associates, Effective March 1, 2013, filed on SEDAR April 12, 2013 (see Cautionary Note to US Investors below).

Resource Category Tonnage (million short tons) Grade (oz/ton) Grade (grams/tonne) Contained Au (troy oz) Measured 3.04 0.035 1.2 106,000 Indicated 25.90 0.016 0.6 402,000 Inferred 11.71 0.012 0.41 141,000

The Company is also operator of the Paiute Joint Venture Project with Nevada Gold Mines in the Battle Mountain District. These properties lie on the prolific Battle Mountain-Eureka gold trend. Timberline also controls the Seven Troughs Project in northern Nevada, which is one of the state's highest-grade former gold producers. Timberline controls over 43 square miles (111 square kilometers) of mineral rights in Nevada. Detailed maps and mineral resources estimates for the Eureka Project and NI 43-101 technical reports for its projects may be viewed at http://timberlineresources.co/.

Timberline is listed on the OTCQB where it trades under the symbol "TLRS" and on the TSX Venture Exchange where it trades under the symbol "TBR".

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Patrick Highsmith"

President and CEO

Tel: 208-664-4859

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors: The terms "mineral resource," "measured mineral resource," "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource," as used on Timberline's website and in its news releases are Canadian mining terms that are defined in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). These Canadian terms are not defined terms under United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC by U.S. registered companies. The SEC permits U.S. companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. Accordingly, note that information describing the Company's "mineral resources" is not directly comparable to information made public by U.S. companies subject to reporting requirements under U.S. securities laws. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in the Company's Form 10-K which may be secured from the Company, or online at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Forward-looking Statements: Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the advancement of projects, the footprint and continuity of mineralization, the growth of resources, and exploration potential. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "upcoming," "plan," "target", "intend", "growth opportunity" and "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to Timberline Resources Corporation, its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to risks involving forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in the Company's business and other factors, including risk factors discussed in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Timberline Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690224/Timberlines-New-Drilling-Returns-Higher-Grade-Gold-at-the-Eureka-Project-Nevada
Standard software container provides Sequans customers with the fastest go-to-production track, with budget and design time cut by up to half



Demo of MICROEJ VEE (the Edge container) for Monarch 2 at MWC 2022

PARIS and BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2022, has been ported to Sequans' Monarch 2 platform, bringing significant benefits to Sequans' IoT customers. Benefits include a fast go-to-production track, which reduces development time and cost, and easy porting of non-cellular application types to cellular using Sequans' Monarch 2 technology.

"The proven MicroEJ development environment allows for fast development of IoT applications on our cellular IoT Monarch chip and module and will benefit our customers across many market segments," said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO. "With MicroEJ, we provide our customers a standard software container that enables them to capitalize on existing and future software development with an ease-of-use comparable to developing APPs on smartphones."

MICROEJ VEE is a standard container for virtualization (Java code) that allows developers to:

Capitalize on software assets: Developers can reuse and duplicate the software on several devices while guaranteeing optimal security and integrating new features without disrupting the design of new IoT products.

Developers can reuse and duplicate the software on several devices while guaranteeing optimal security and integrating new features without disrupting the design of new IoT products. Simulation: MICROEJ VEE comes with its Virtual Device counterpart for desktop environments, enabling engineers to design and qualify their specifications on the virtual Monarch 2 based device, ahead of hardware design based on Sequans' Monarch 2 platform.

MICROEJ VEE comes with its Virtual Device counterpart for desktop environments, enabling engineers to design and qualify their specifications on the virtual Monarch 2 based device, ahead of hardware design based on Sequans' Monarch 2 platform. Deliver a low power solution: MICROEJ VEE leverages Monarch 2 low power features set, with a software friendly power mode framework that optimally adjusts power consumption.

MICROEJ VEE leverages Monarch 2 low power features set, with a software friendly power mode framework that optimally adjusts power consumption. Fast go-to-production: MICROEJ VEE application container enables products to be designed up to three times faster, significantly accelerating time-to-market by enabling several teams to work in parallel with clear interfaces between the various skills. This allows teams to work in parallel to "divide-and-conquer" and massively reduce the complexity of an embedded hardware and software IoT device.

"Our collaboration with Sequans, the leader in cellular IoT, promises great benefits to the electronic ecosystem," said Dr. Fred Rivard, MicroEJ CEO. "With our comprehensive MICROEJ VEE edge container integrated in Monarch 2, the world's most secure and advanced LTE-M/NB-IoT connectivity solution, device makers and developers anywhere in the world have a complete solution to create or adapt cost effective and useful devices, fast."

Leveraging Monarch 2's embedded application MCU, the Sequans/MicroEJ collaboration contributes to a more sustainable IoT environment with fewer components, enabling easier supply chain management within the current context of component shortages. Typical applications that can make the best use of the MICROEJ VEE application development environment include smart utility meters, appliances, wearables, and industrial IoT devices.

Monarch 2 GM02S is the world's only cellular IoT module with a certified Common Criteria EAL5+ secure enclave for integrated SIMweb page.

Sequans and MicroEJ are demonstrating the new integrated solution at MWC 2022 in Barcelona, February 28-March 3. Visit Sequans in hall 5, stand 5H40.

About MicroEJ

MicroEJ is a leading developer and supplier of standard software containers for embedded and IoT devices. MicroEJ is focused on providing device manufacturers with secure products in markets where software applications require high performance, compact size, energy efficiency, and cost-effective development. Today, over 100 million flagship MICROEJ VEE have been sold, and chosen by many enterprises to design their electronic product applications in a large variety of industries, including smart home, wearables, healthcare, industrial automation, retail, telecommunications, smart city, building automation, transportation, etc.

For more info: Press Kit- www.microej.com



About Sequans

Sequans Communications S.A., and follow us on Twitterand Linked-In

Java is Sun Microsystems' trademark for a technology for developing application software and deploying it in cross-platform, networked environments. When it is used in this site without adding the "" symbol, it includes implementations of the technology by companies other than Sun. Java, all Java-based marks and all related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc, in the United States and other Countries.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f588143-85ac-4622-b29d-a47764f8d726
The first company in the world to give independent traders the power of A.I. for their home computers captures the attention of Benzinga  and traders around the world!

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / Vantagepoint A.I., LLC has been helping traders in over 160 countries trade smarter with its patented, predictive artificial intelligence forecasts for more than 35 years. The company's founder, Louis Mendelsohn, and its president, Lane Mendelsohn, are dedicated to the notion that traders should be empowered to make better trading decisions with artificial intelligence. With up to 87.4% proven accuracy, VantagePoint software creates predictive forecasts up to three days in advance. Traders can make data-driven decisions about their trades with confidence.

Daniel Santiago, Vantagepoint A.I.'s VP of Strategic Engagement, was a recent guest on Benzinga's streaming network in a four-part series about the company's history, its unique forecasting, and its patented Global Intermarket Analysis.

"I love sharing with traders about our groundbreaking software and seeing the look of relief in their eyes when they realize how intuitive and fast our patented A.I. is!" says Santiago. "The opportunity to share it with an even wider audience through Benzinga is thrilling - every day we hear from traders about how our software is changing lives, we can't wait to help even more people."

The Benzinga interview timing is perfect given the current financial climate. VantagePoint was created in times of extreme volatility, and it continues to help independent traders navigate the rocky markets.

To see Vantagepoint in action, traders can attend a free, live training to learn how to trade with artificial intelligence in just one class. Further, with just two clicks of a mouse, traders have access to patented Global Intermarket Analysis which stack-ranks the top 31 markets affecting the price action of the market they are trading.

Watch an episode of the VantagePoint/Benzinga series on the Vantagepoint A.I. YouTube Channel .

About Vantagepoint AI, LLC. Vantagepoint AI software forecasts Stocks, Futures, Forex, and ETFs with proven accuracy of up to 87.4%. Using patented Neural Network processes, VantagePoint's artificial intelligence predict changes in market trend direction up to three days in advance, giving traders insight into optimal times to make their trades. Family owned, Vantagepoint employs over 90 team members and is actively committed to giving back in the Tampa Bay community including regularly donating a portion of revenue to Shriners Hospitals for Children and The Children's Cancer Center.

Contact Information:

Lisa Moretti, lisam@vantagepointsoftware.com

SOURCE: VantagePoint Software

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690185/Vantagepoint-AI-Featured-on-Benzinga
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / Gratomic Inc. ("Gratomic", "GRAT" or the "Company") (TSXV:GRAT)(OTCQX:CBULF)(FSE:CB82) announces that it has been selected by the 2022 TSX Venture 50 program as one of the top 10 performing mining stocks on the TSX Venture Exchange, ranking in third place. The Exchange currently hosts over 1,600 companies, including more than 240 mining companies, which highlights the significance of this achievement for the Company.

Companies selected by the TSX Venture 50, tend to be actively traded in the market, experience tremendous growth, and offer excellent returns to their shareholders and stakeholders. Over the past several months, Gratomic has maintained a stable share price and continues to deliver on fundamental Company achievements as developments unfold. The Company experienced a 306% share price appreciation and 681% Market Cap growth over 2021.

Please click the link below to view Gratomic's TSX Venture 50 video

https://share.vidyard.com/watch/ZxFvL5aGitz1KtZf6bTmEK

"Gratomic has experienced a tremendous 2021 and we are proud to have our hard work recognized by this esteemed award," stated Arno Brand CEO & President, "We look forward to a very busy and productive 2022 and maximized returns for our valued shareholders."

About the TSX Venture 50

TSX Venture 50TM is an annual ranking of the top performers of the past year on TSX Venture Exchange, the world-leading capital formation platform for early-stage growth Companies.

Each year, 10 companies are selected from five key sectors, based on their performance across three equally weighted criteria - market cap growth, share price appreciation, and trading and liquidity. The TSX Venture 50TM program shines a light on their successes and contributions to driving growth in the Canadian economy, creating jobs, and building shareholder value.

Representatives from the 2022 TSX Venture 50TM companies will join Loui Anastasopoulos, President, Capital Formation and Enterprise Marketing Officer, TMX Group, to virtually open the market at 9:30 a.m. ET on February 24, 2022, to celebrate this achievement.

For more information visit: www.tsx.com/venture50.

About Gratomic

Gratomic is a multinational company with projects in Namibia, Brazil, and Canada. The Company is focused on becoming a leading global graphite supplier and aims to secure a strong position in the EV (Electric Vehicle) battery supply chain. With the continued development of its flagship Aukam project and further exploration on the Company's Capim Grosso property, Gratomic sets itself apart by seeking out unique top-quality assets around the world. True to its roots, the Company will continue to explore graphite opportunities displaying potential for development.

Large quantities of high-quality vein graphite have been shipped for testing to confirm its viability as an anode material. Gratomic is confident that the test results will provide a unique competitive advantage in its desired target markets. The Company will continue to update the public on the status of these tests and will provide results as soon as they become available.

The Company has formed a collaboration agreement with Forge Nano. With its patented ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) coating, this cooperation with Forge Nano is a key element to support Gratomic's strategies towards the value-added phases of production of graphite for anode applications, namely micronization, spheronization and coating, making Gratomic graphite a preferred choice for use in lithium-ion batteries.

For more information: visit the website at www.gratomic.ca or contact:

Arno Brand at abrand@gratomic.ca or (416) 561- 4095

Subscribe at gratomic.ca/contact/ to be added to our email list.

For Marketing and Media information, please email: info@gratomic.ca

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com)

SOURCE: Gratomic Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690182/Gratomic-Inc-Ranked-Among-Top-Performing-Mining-Companies-by-the-TSX-Venture-50TM-for-2022
RED BANK, N.J., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SlyceData today announced that it has launched an intelligent financial data wrangling and analytics platform Powered by Snowflake . This solution from SlyceData and Snowflake , the Data Cloud company, can enable investment researchers to seamlessly explore and extract their various financial data sources across vendors - dramatically accelerating investment idea generation.

Snowflake's Data Cloud provides clients access to a wide variety of data sources with its single, integrated platform. SlyceData's technology is Powered by Snowflake , which is a technology program which accelerates the ability of companies and application developers to deliver differentiated applications. SlyceData leverages Snowflake's performance and flexibility to enable clients to combine their various financial data sources seamlessly, meaning they can use data more efficiently to discover insights and drive portfolio returns.

SlyceData and Snowflake solve the time consuming yet crucial problem of preparing research-ready data for investment analysis, enabling clients to utilize more sources and discover new insights. According to a recent HBR article, data scientists spend 80% of their time preparing data, and only 20% analyzing it - a dynamic SlyceData intends to flip.

"Access to a vast range of data in research-ready form is crucial for our organization's success," said Mike Bauer, VP of Equity Investment Management Technology at AllianceBernstein. "SlyceData and Snowflake are building technology to dramatically simplify the work of data delivery and wrangling, and we're very excited to see the value it should bring."

"We're delighted to work with Snowflake to provide customers with ready-to-use data at their fingertips," said Chris Harrison, CEO of SlyceData. "Our mission is to empower customers to get the most out of their data, to drive performance."

To find out how you can better leverage your financial data, visit https://www.slycedata.com/ or check out SlyceData on the Powered by Snowflake Partner Directory at https://www.snowflake.com/powered-by/slycedata/ .

About SlyceData Corporation

Headquartered in New Jersey, SlyceData provides data solutions to financial services firms, to accelerate their investment research process. Its suite of tools was developed hand-in-hand with industry partners to fit seamlessly into investors' workflows. Its team has deep expertise in data engineering and the investment management industry. SlyceData helps firms leverage the abundance of available data sources to deliver insights.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1753723/SlyceData_Logo.jpg
CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / IIOT-OXYS Inc. (OTC PINK:ITOX) announces the execution of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with a strategic European medical device Equipment-as-a-Service (Eaas) start-up.

"This company has developed and deployed a medical device EaaS IIoT software and hardware system that enables the 'servitization' of medical device OEMs products to a hospital or other healthcare facility. This allows an industry's OEMs to sell their products as an 'outcome as a service' rather than a one-off sale,' Cliff Emmons, CEO of IIOT-OXYS stated.

The company's innovative leader, a technologist and serial entrepreneur, is a subject matter expert (SME) in AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning, IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), blockchain and edge computing. Through his leadership, the company has secured non-dilutive funding to successfully execute Proof of Concepts (POCs) for several EU companies.

This NDA is the first step of the engagement process with this strategic partner. The company's leader is excited to engage IIOT-OXYS given the medical device industry experience and expertise of IIOT-OYXS's leadership team.

This recent development continues IIOT-OXYS' drive to push into new sectors. This specific partnership is structured to support the company's interest in expanding into the U.S. medical device EaaS market, starting with the greater Boston area. The potential LOI would include guidelines for potential revenue and profit-sharing models in exchange for business development efforts and financing options. There is also a collaborative dimension where IIOT-OXYS's advanced AI and machine learning algorithms could be integrated into the company's EaaS offerings.

"This NDA is one of several that IIOT-OXYS has signed since the beginning of 2021 to negotiate LOIs to expand current target markets (smart manufacturing and structural health monitoring) and open new markets (like EaaS) to our advanced AI & machine learning algorithms," stated Emmons. "Our future revenue stream will be generated by both inorganic and organic growth. We are excited the leader of this company saw our capabilities and experience in medical devices as well as our core strengths in AI and machine learning as a strong potential strategic partner to open the U.S. market to their complimentary products and services.

"The EaaS global in 2019 was $22 billion USD and is projected to grow at 35% CAGR and reach $131 billion USD by 2025. IIOT-OXYS has been an effective strategic partner to Aingura IIoT, S.L., and we welcome additional complimentary strategic partnerships to help fuel our growth and capture our share of this growing market. We expect negotiations to lead to agreements that will in turn lead to new business in due time."

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Management's current views about future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' or 'believes.' Our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and events to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect us include, without limitation, the loss of major customers, our failure to obtain new contracts, our inability to patent products or processes, our infringement of patents held by others, our inability to finance our business and the other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release. We undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About IIOT-OXYS Inc.

IIOT-OXYS Inc. (OTC PINKL:ITOX) is a technology company at the intersection of IIoT, AI & Machine Learning, Edge Computing and Manufacturing Operations. We provide actionable mission-critical insights for the Medical/Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Defense, and Structural Health, and other industries. IIOT-OXYS's edge computing open-source hardware and proprietary ML algorithms employ our Minimally Invasive Load Monitoring (MILM) technology to simply gather data and gain insights to monitor, scope, move from preventive to predictive maintenance, and even optimize development and manufacturing processes. For additional information visit www.OxysCorp.com.

CONTACT:

Clifford L. Emmons

CEO

IIOT-OXYS Inc.

Contact@OxysCorp.com

www.OxysCorp.com

SOURCE: IIOT-OXYS, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690220/IIOT-OXYS-Inc-Signs-NDA-with-European-Medical-Device-Equipment-as-a-Service-Start-Up
Tom Schutz will lead sales and growth for Ascential Digital Commerce, a promotion from his previous role as Global Chief Revenue Officer at Edge by Ascential

Ascential plc (LSE: ASCL.L), the specialist information, analytics and eCommerce optimization company, today announced that Edge by Ascential Global Chief Revenue Officer Tom Schutz is stepping into the role of Chief Revenue Officer for Ascential Digital Commerce. In his new role, Schutz will oversee sales and revenue for all of Digital Commerce, Ascential's business segment focused on helping brands and digital marketplaces win by optimizing and accelerating their digital commerce performance both in the U.S. and globally.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220223006361/en/

Tom Schutz, Chief Revenue Officer for Ascential Digital Commerce (Photo: Business Wire)

"With our prediction that over 40% of global retail sales will occur online by 2026, brands globally are turning to Ascential Digital Commerce to solve all their eCommerce growth challenges and needs," said Duncan Painter, Chief Executive Officer of Ascential. "As we continue to invest in and grow our eCommerce solutions, Tom will help to accelerate the growth of our Digital Commerce business. He's been a huge asset for Edge by Ascential, and we look forward to bringing his expertise and proven track record to a broader Digital Commerce role."

Most recently, Schutz was Global Chief Revenue Officer at Edge by Ascential, where he helped the company shift to a unified customer-centric, customer-first view, while also creating solutions around emerging needs and expertise that has solidified Edge by Ascential's position in the market as an indispensable strategic partner to consumer brands. During this time at Edge by Ascential, Schutz was able to drive client growth to an all-time high.

Prior, Schutz was Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing Strategy, North America at Experian, where he designed and executed transformational strategy to drive market expansion across all businesses. He aligned marketing and sales execution to accelerate revenue in new markets with new products and solutions, while improving sales execution productivity and efficiency. During this time, he served as a key member of the North American executive leadership team that oversaw six business units with 800-plus sales staff, generating nine figures in revenue.

"As digital commerce becomes the primary channel of consumer choice, Ascential's Digital Commerce business sits in a unique position to accelerate brands' growth by providing them with the eCommerce analytics and optimization technology solutions needed to succeed in the marketplace," said Schutz. "I look forward to expanding my role and working with the Digital Commerce team to grow revenue and bring our solutions to a broader market."

About Ascential:

Ascential delivers specialist information, analytics and eCommerce optimization platforms to the world's leading consumer brands and their ecosystems. Our world-class businesses improve performance and solve problems for our customers by delivering immediately actionable information combined with visionary, longer-term thinking across Digital Commerce, Product Design and Marketing. We also serve customers across Retail Financial Services. With more than 2,500 employees across five continents, we combine local expertise with a global footprint for clients in over 120 countries. Ascential is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220223006361/en/

Contacts:

Brent Bucci

PR for Ascential, SamsonPR

brent@samsonpr.com
Evidence of US monitoring 45 countries, regions exposed by Chinese cybersecurity experts for the 1st time

By Cao Siqi (Global Times) 10:53, February 24, 2022

An elite hacking group under the US National Security Agency (NSA) was found to have been creating an advanced and covert backdoor which has been used to monitor 45 countries and regions for over a decade, the Global Times learned from a Beijing-based cybersecurity lab exclusively on Wednesday.

Experts from Qi An Pangu lab said on Wednesday they have declassified the full technical details and organizational links of "Telescreen" (Bvp47), a top-of-the-line backdoor created by Equation - an elite hacking group affiliated with the NSA.

This is the first time that Chinese cybersecurity experts have publicly exposed the complete chain of technical evidence about the advanced persistent threat (APT) attack launched by Equation.

Experts from the lab told the Global Times that the "Telescreen" has been raging around the world for more than a decade, infiltrating 45 countries and regions including China, Russia, Japan, Germany, Spain and Italy, and involving 287 important institutional targets. Japan, though a victim itself, has also been used as a springboard to launch attacks on targets in other countries and regions.

PRISM scandal link

A backdoor is one type of APT attacks in cyberspace. It refers to a way to bypass security controls to gain access to the network system, similar to a cyber virus.

According to a report released by the Qi An Pangu lab, in 2013, researchers from the lab extracted a suspected backdoor by complex encryption during their investigation into a victim computer host in China. After successfully breaking the backdoor program, researchers identified it as a top backdoor program used for APT attacks.

However, further investigation was impeded as it requested a private key to activate the remote control function of the backdoor.

In 2016, the Shadow Brokers, a well-known hacking group, claimed to have hacked into Equation and it released a large number of the organization's hacking tools and data in two years.

Researchers from Pangu lab then found files suspected to contain private keys from the files published by Shadow Brokers, which happened to be the only asymmetric encryption private key that could activate the backdoor, and further directly control the backdoor remotely.

"It can be concluded that Bvp47 is a hacking tool belonging to Equation," the lab report said.

Through a further probe, researchers found that multiple programs and attack manuals disclosed by Shadow Brokers matched the unique identifiers used in the operating manuals of the NSA's cyberattack platform, which were exposed by former CIA analyst Edward Snowden in the 2013 PRISM scandal.

Given that the US government has charged Snowden with three counts of "unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified intelligence," it is clear that the documents released by Shadow Brokers are NSA documents. This is sufficient evidence that Equation is part of the NSA, and that Bvp47 is the NSA's top backdoor, the report said.

Researchers at the lab gave Bvp47 a code name, Telescreen Operation. A telescreen is a device imagined by British writer George Orwell in his novel 1984, which can be used to remotely monitor people or organizations, and grasp the information at the hackers' will.

Good at hiding, hard to track

"Backdoors allow hackers to peer into an organization's internal network, almost as if they had installed a telescreen in the targets' houses and kept all secrets in their hands," Han Zhengguang, founder of Pangu lab, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

According to Han, compared with APT attacks, the Telescreen Operation features high technical complexity, architecture flexibility and high strength of analysis and forensics countermeasures, which allow hackers to obtain data and information very easily.

Analysis finds that the Telescreen Operation backdoor could allow hackers to attack operation systems including Linux, AIX, Solaris and SUN, and the backdoor has been active for over 10 years.

"The 'best' thing about this backdoor is that it's extremely hidden and good at self-destructing. Before the victim is aware of the danger, the information is leaked, and it's hard to trace after that," Han said.

According to Han, the backdoor has been deployed in at least 64 targets covering basic core data departments of communication, top universities and military-related departments in China.

"The backdoor has also attacked 287 goals in more than 45 countries and regions, including Russia, Japan, Spain, Germany, and Italy. Japan, as a victim, was also used as a springboard to attack other countries, covering their prestigious universities, research institutions, communications companies and government departments," Han said.

For a long time, there have been voices supporting the West to portray the Chinese government and military as hackers. Chinese cybersecurity experts pointed out that these false allegations have political motives - hype China's so-called cyber threat and stigmatizing China to conceal the fact that the US itself, the main implementer of the PRISM program, is the world's largest cyberattacker, secrets stealer and the veritable "matrix," like in the movies.

The Telescreen Operation is not US' first large-scale cyberattack, nor will be its last. The global APT attacks are increasingly frequent with a wider range of targets, causing greater harm and being more concealed, and China is one of the largest victims, Han said.

Experts also called on governments and industrial chains around the world to work together to effectively deal with threats and safeguard cybersecurity.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
BHighly Effective Against Spider Mites, Molds and Mildews; Plant-Based Formula of Strictly Food-Grade Ingredients Shows its Power, Including Capacity to Act as a Repellant

FLOWER MOUND, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / Black Bird Biotech, Inc. (OTC:BBBT), manufacturer of plant-based MiteXstreamTM biopesticide, today announced that British Columbia laboratory Botanical Research in Motion (BRIM) had delivered its Efficacy Testing Report on BBBT's MiteXstreamTM.

The Report was authored by Dr. Fawzia Afreen, who, in addition to holding three international patents, publishing over 40 articles in peer-reviewed international journals and publishing two books, possesses nearly 20 years of experience in plant horticulture, plant tissue culture, and plant production.

The Report, entitled "MiteXstreamTM - a new, safe, environmentally friendly and the most effective biopesticide for controlling pests in Cannabis", details the extensive testing procedures undertaken and ends with the following summary assessment:

"To summarize, the major findings of the study are: MiteXstream biopesticide can be a safe alternative of chemical pesticides and to achieve the maximum benefit the use of full-strength full strength concentration without any addition of surfactant is recommended. It can effectively control or eradicate the spider mites and powdery mildew as well as work as a preventative measure when applied at the appropriate dose, time, and stage. The use of MiteXstream is not limited to Cannabis it can be used to control pest infestation in a wide range of plants."

"This report shows MiteXstreamTM to be precisely what we have maintained: the capacities of MiteXstreamTM are capable of saving literally billions annually in lost crops," said Fabian Deneault, developer of MiteXstreamTM and President of BBBT. "The full report will be posted on our website early next week."

For news and updates, shareholders, prospective investors, and prospective business partners are encouraged to follow Black Bird Biotech on Twitter: BBBT Twitter or our Facebook page: Black Bird Biotech Facebook. Also visit BBBT's corporate website, https://blackbirdbiotech.com, for additional information about the company.

About BBBT

Black Bird Biotech is positioned to exploit market segments with powerful, re-imagined biotech products. Its EPA-registered biopesticide, MiteXstreamTM, eradicates mites and similar pests, including spider mites (a lethal pest in cannabis, grapes, hops, coffee, strawberries, and many other agricultural crops), and eliminates molds and mildews. MiteXstreamTM is a pesticide, but it is not a poison - it's a pesticide re-imagined. The MiteXstreamTM Edge: use through the day of harvest without concern for residual "pesticide" violations, including in-state cannabis testing. MiteXstreamTM is the foundational element of the company that carries vast potential worldwide as a highly effective, safe, and extremely cost-effective replacement for many traditional "poisonous" pesticides.

Forward Looking Statements

This current press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, any products sold or cash flow from operations.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with distribution and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

Eric Newlan

Vice President

833-223-4204

eric@newlanpllc.com

www.blackbirdbiotech.com

SOURCE: Black Bird Biotech, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690266/Black-Bird-Biotech-Announces-MiteXstreamTM-Biopesticide-Efficacy-Report-Findings
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2022) - Nicola Mining Inc. (TSXV: NIM) (FSE: HLI), (the "Company" or "Nicola") is pleased to announce that it has completed a second shipment of 196 tonnes (175 dry metric tonnes) of gold and silver concentrate to Ocean Partners UK Limited1 ("Ocean Partners"). The tonnage is the single largest shipment of concentrate shipped to port, to date. The material shipped contained an approximate 92 grams gold / tonne and 562 grams silver per tonne.

As announced in the December 22, 2021, its Mill Site, which is located between Merritt and Spences Bridge, was not adversely affected by recent southern BC flooding. The highway that connects the region, Highway 8, was, however, severely damaged and is currently undergoing extensive repairs. As part of its commitment to the environment and local communities, the Company submitted a Notice of Departure ("NoD") for the extraction and processing of rock at the New Craigmont Project to the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation ("EMLI"). Upon approval, the Company hopes to work with First Nations and contractors by providing much needed riprap for infrastructure repairs.

Qualified Person

Kevin Wells, P.Geo, a consulting geologist to the Company, is the independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About Nicola Mining

Nicola Mining Inc. is a junior mining company listed on the TSX Venture and Frankfurt Exchanges that maintains a 100% owned mill and tailings facility, located near Merritt, British Columbia. It has signed Mining and Milling Profit Share Agreements with high grade gold projects. Nicola's fully-permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes.

The Company owns 100% of the New Craigmont Project, a high-grade copper property, which covers an area of 10,913 hectares along the southern end of the Guichon Batholith and is adjacent to Teck Resources Ltd.'s Highland Valley Copper, Canada's largest copper mine. The Company also owns 100% of the Treasure Mountain Property, consisting of 30 mineral tenures covering 513 hectares (ha) and a mining lease covering 335 ha.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Peter Espig"

Peter Espig

CEO & Director

For additional information

Contact: Peter Espig

Phone: (778) 385-1213

Email: info@nicolamining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the impact of the ongoing drill program and results on the Company, the possible economics of the project and the Company's understanding of the project; the development potential and timetable of the project; the estimation of mineral resources; realization of mineral resource estimates. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "continue", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "will", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions and other important facts that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances, or achievements of Nicola to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Nicola will operate in the future. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances, or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, amongst others, currency fluctuations, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Nicola to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: there being no assurance that the exploration program will result in expanded mineral resources; risks and uncertainties inherent to mineral resource estimates.

1 Ocean Partners operates in a number of countries, including Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Peru, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States, and retains agency representation in Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, India, Japan, South Africa, South Korea. The Company maintains a strong global network of relationships and contacts in the base metal mining and smelting sector.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114675


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The TJX Companies Inc. is recalling about 7,900 units of Festive Lights Hanukkah Menorahs for potential risk of fire, a statement by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) showed.



The company said the resin and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) menorahs can burn or catch fire when holding lit candles, posing a fire hazard.



The company has already received three reports in the U.S. of the menorahs burning or catching on fire when holding lit candles. However, there have been no reports of injuries related to the use of the recalled menorahs.



The recall involves resin and MDF menorahs with inserts for nine candles that were sold in the following shapes: llama, brontosaurus, stegosaurus, T-rex, castle, rainbow, rainbow platform and emojis. The menorahs were sold with a white hangtag with an image of a blue and silver menorah and the following text: 'FESTIVE LIGHTS HANUKKAH MENORAH.'



The menorahs were manufactured in China and imported in to the U.S. by Framingham, Massachusetts-based The TJX Companies. They were sold at Marshalls, HomeGoods and Homesense stores across the U.S. from November 2021 through January 2022 for between $8 and $15.



The company has advised consumers to immediately stop using the recalled menorahs and return them to any Marshalls, HomeGoods, or Homesense stores for their choice of either a full refund or a refund in the form of a store gift card.



Meanwhile, consumers can also contact TJX for instructions to submit photographic proof of appropriate disposal to receive either a full refund or refund in the form of a store gift card.



In mid-August, TJX had recalled about 4,300 units of counter stools due to potential fall and injury hazards as they can break or collapse.



In early May, TJX had also recalled about 82,500 units of outdoor wooden folding chairs as the chairs can break, posing fall and injury hazards to the user.







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Press Release

Atos and Nokia join forces to enhance businesses' digital applicationswith full private 4/5G networksservices

Paris, France - February,24, 2022 - Atos and Nokia today announce a global partnership to provide businesses with market leading 4/5G private wireless networking solutions along with associated digital services and to work together to develop further innovative services. This partnership will help enterprises reach enhanced operational efficiency while enabling new ways of working.

Hosted either on Atos or Nokia servers, the joint offering brings together the two leaders in cloud & edge computing capabilities to accompany businesses in their digitalization journey towards 4.0 industry. The collaboration leverages Nokia Digital Automation CloudAIcomputer visionplatform, reinforced through the recent acquisition of the AI pioneer Ipsotek and its unparalleled IP and software capabilities.

Clients can benefit from a cloud-based industrial wireless connectivity solution with concrete digital applications to improve their daily tasks, with already available applications such as big data mining and video analytics. Railway companies could for example rely on Nokia's mission critical communication capabilities and Atos' Edge, AIand Computer vision portfolio- recently reinforced with the acquisition ofIpsotek- to provide a first-class frictionless experience to travelers with crowd and queue management and to secure operations with perimeter protection such as on a level crossing or railway tracks.

Together, Atos and Nokia will also explore new market opportunities with the co-development of innovative use cases and solutions around private 4.9G/LTE & 5G networks. The unique Ipsotek'VISuite - a software layer of Atos Computer Vision Platform which efficiently and automatically generates real-time alerts and Nokia4/5Gprivate wirelessnetworkingsolutionsfor industries,will pave the way to many new applications for industries and businesses in sectors such as energy, transport, manufacturing, smart cities, petrol filling stations or even sport venues.

"As our clients are going through their digital transformation, private 5G networks are a key accelerator for their businesses and we want to ensure they get the most advanced digital services on the market. As global leader in digital transformation, with deep expertise insystem integration,Atos plays an essential role in co-developing innovative use caseswith CSP for real-time businesses.For Atos, this partnership comes as a steppingstone in its longstanding relationship with Nokia and is yet another example of the innovation strategy the Group is deploying in terms of digital communications." said Jean-Philippe Poirault, Head of Telecom, Media & Technology at Atos

"Enterprisesneed the right technology to power the next phase of their digitalization journey. This partnership with Atos will unlock new capabilities to help businesses in array of sectors such as energy, transportation, and manufacturing, to increase efficiency and productivity to improve outcomes at a global scale. Sectors undergoing rapid innovation to meet changing demand, such as renewable energy, will benefit from the high performance, security, and reliabilityof Nokia MX Industrial Edge - powered by the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC)- in combination withwhat Atos' AI computer vision platform delivers. This new offering as part of our ongoing relationship with Atos underscores our commitment to enabling and accelerating transformation of business processes on the path to Industry 4.0." said Chris Johnson, Head, Global Enterprise Business, Nokia.

Atos is participating in the Mobile World Congress, from February 28 to March 3, 2022. Find out more here on its dedicated pageand discuss with Atos experts face-o-face on booth #2C32. More information about Atos' solutions for media and telecommunications:

https://atos.net/en/industries/telecommunications

***

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 107,000 employees and annual revenue of over  11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 71 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on Euronext Paris and included in the CAC 40 ESG and Next 20 Paris Stock indexes.

The purpose of Atosis to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Contact

Constance Arnoux | constance.arnoux@atos.net| +33 6 44 12 16 35

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.



As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.



Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world.

Media Inquiries:

Nokia Communications

Email: press.services@nokia.com

Attachment
The "Pet Grooming Products Market Forecast to 2028 COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Pet Type, Product Type, and Distribution Channel" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The pet grooming products market is projected to reach US$ 28,216.11 million by 2028 from US$ 16,099.78 million in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2021 to 2028.

The growing adoption of domestic animals as companions in many countries is contributing to the increased spending on pet products, including pet grooming products. People are spending more on the well-being of their pets as they treat them as their family members. Thus, an increased rate of pet adoption will drive the growth of the pet grooming product market in the coming years.

Based on distribution channel, the pet grooming products market is segmented into supermarkets and hypermarkets, specialty stores, online retail, and others. In 2020, the specialty stores segment accounted for the largest revenue share. The market growth of this segment is ascribed to the availability of specific products under one roof, pleasant store atmosphere, and skilled store staff availability that helps the customer choose the right product for their pets.

In 2020, Europe held the largest revenue share of the global pet grooming products market. According to the National Association of Pet-Food and Pet-Care Companies, Italy has a pet population of ~60.2 million; almost 3 out of every 10 Italian families have one pet at least. The pet population in the country comprises 7 million dogs and 7.3 million cats. Due to this large pet population in this region, the demand for pet grooming products is expected to increase. Furthermore, the increasing presence of pet grooming parlors and the growing preference for online shopping would drive the demand for pet grooming products in the coming years.

Reasons to Buy

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global pet grooming products market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long-term strategies.

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth the market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to the application.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Increase in Pet Adoption

Increased penetration of E-Commerce

Restraints

Lack of Awareness Related to Pet Grooming Products

Opportunities

Growing demand for organic and eco-friendly pet products

Future Trends

Product Innovation

Companies Mentioned

Ancol Pet Products Limited

Beaphar

Wahl Clipper

The Hartz Mountain Corporation

Johnson's Veterinary Products Ltd

Earthwhile Endeavors, Inc.

Coastal Pet Products, Inc.

Nexderma

Glo-Marr Pet Products

Resco Pet Products

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/w5239a

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220224005818/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After reporting sharp increases in U.S. new home sales over the two previous months, the Commerce Department released a report on Thursday showing new home sales pulled back by much more than expected in the month of January.



The Commerce Department said new home sales tumbled by 4.5 percent to an annual rate of 801,000 in January after spiking by 12.0 percent to an upwardly revised rate of 839,000 in December.



Economists had expected new home sales to dip by 0.6 percent to an annual rate of 806,000 from the 811,000 originally reported for the previous month.



The much bigger than expected decrease came after new home sales reached their highest annual rate since last March.



The sharp pullback came as new home sales in the South plunged by 7.4 percent to an annual rate of 438,000 in January.



New home sales in the Northeast also plummeted by 10.7 percent to a rate of 25,000 and new home sales in the Midwest slumped by 3.7 percent to a rate of 78,000.



Helping to limit the downside, the report showed new home sales in the West jumped by 1.2 percent to a rate of 260,000.



The Commerce Department also said the median sales price of new houses sold in January was $423,300, up 7.0 percent from $395,500 in December and up 13.4 percent from $373,200 a year ago.



The estimate of new houses for sale at the end of January was 406,000, representing 6.1 months of supply at the current sales rate.



'We expect new home sales to lose more momentum as we move further into 2022,' said Nancy Vanden Houten, Lead US Economist at Oxford Economics. 'Demand should remain strong, but high home prices and the recent spike in mortgage rates will price many buyers out of the market.'



Last Friday, the National Association of Realtors released a separate report showing existing home sales unexpectedly surged in the month of January.



NAR said existing home sales spiked 6.7 percent to an annual rate of 6.50 million in January after tumbling 3.8 percent to a revised rate of 6.09 million in December.



The substantial rebound surprised economists, who had expected existing home sales to slump by 1.3 percent to a rate of 6.10 million from the 6.18 million originally reported for the previous month.



With the unexpected jump, existing home sales reached their highest annual rate since hitting 6.65 million in January of 2021.







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CLEVELAND, OH / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / Mace Security International, Inc. (OTCQX:MACE), a globally recognized leader in personal safety products, was featured nationally on Fox News' Cavuto: Coast to Coast for its role in providing community and family safety through individual empowerment.

Sanjay Singh, Mace's Chairman and CEO, shared on the Cavuto show the company's focus on providing a heightened awareness surrounding personal safety. "People want to feel safe and be able to protect themselves, said Mr. Singh. "We are a mission-based company founded on empowerment of families and individuals for personal safety." The company strives to educate the public by offering suggested safety measures on its website and YouTube channel.

In response to recent personal attacks, the company donated Mace pepper spray products to Soar Over Hate, a New York City-based non-profit organization providing care and protection to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the AAPI community. Mr. Singh added, "Providing these units to those in need, speaks to our overall mission of keeping our communities safe."

To view the news segment that aired on Fox News, follow the attached link.

Mace Chairman and CEO Sanjay Singh on Fox News' Cavuto: Coast to Coast

About Mace Security International, Inc.

Mace Security International, Inc. (MACE) is a globally recognized leader in personal safety and security. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the company has spent more than 40 years designing and manufacturing consumer and tactical products for personal defense and security under its world-renowned Mace Brand - the original trusted brand of defense spray products. The company also offers aerosol defense sprays and tactical products for law enforcement and security professionals worldwide through its Mace Take Down brand, KUROS! Brand personal safety products, Vigilant Brand alarms, and Tornado Brand pepper spray and stun guns. MACE distributes and supports Mace Brand products through mass market retailers, wholesale distributors, independent dealers, Amazon.com, Mace.com, and other channels. For more information, visit www.mace.com.

Mace Security International distributes and supports its products and services through mass-market retailers, wholesale distributors, independent dealers, e-commerce channels and through its website, www.Mace.com. For more information, please visit www.mace.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words or phrases "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "projected," "intend to" or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks, known and unknown, and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic conditions, dependence on management, our ability to compete with competitors, dilution to shareholders, and limited capital resources.

Contact:

Mike Weisbarth

Chief Financial Officer

mweisbarth@mace.com

SOURCE: MACE SECURITY INTERNATIONAL INC.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690282/Maces-Sanjay-Singh-on-Fox-Business-Live-with-Neil-Cavuto
Dallas-Based ActivePure Sponsors the Event and Offers Attendees a Chance to See ActivePure Uses at Fair Park

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / The global leader in 24/7 continuous air purification, ActivePure, announces its partnership with the National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers (NABIE) 2022 Conference as the event's lead education sponsor. ActivePure Chief Medical and Science Advisor Deborah Birx, M.D., and Chief Commercial Officer Amy Carenza are the featured speakers. ActivePure's keynote speech, Workplace Wellness & Safety: COVID-19 Update & Mitigation Best Practices, will highlight COVID-19's state of affairs along with layered approaches to protect those returning to the office and those who conduct business or gather in workplaces and other indoor environments. A special interactive outing will follow the presentation to Dallas' Fair Park to see firsthand the power of ActivePure installations throughout the location. Dallas-based ActivePure will also provide freestanding Mid-Range Blaster units powered by ActivePure to be used throughout the conference. The NABIE 2022 Conference is Feb. 25-27 at The Joule Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

Since its founding in 1989, NABIE has established high standards for building and home inspection engineers by setting precedents and advocating for members across the United States. 2022 marks a new start for NABIE as a nonprofit organization with a brand and website refresh revealed at the conference.

"It is an honor for ActivePure to take such an important role at the NABIE 2022 conference. Dr. Birx is one of the nation's highest-ranking infectious disease experts and world-renowned global health officials. Coupled with Amy Carenza's global business experience, the pair is the perfect choice for NABIE's 2022 conference keynote," said Joe Urso, CEO of ActivePure. "ActivePure works closely with building and residential engineers to provide mitigation measures against air and surface contaminants and indoor spread."

Birx and Carenza's keynote will highlight how ActivePure's unique active technology seeks and reduces airborne and surface pathogens to inactivate viruses in the air, including SARS-CoV-2. The presentation will kick off the opening day luncheon at noon on Feb. 25 as Carenza leads the in-person discussion and Birx co-presents virtually.

After the presentation, NABIE 2022 attendees can participate in an interactive learning opportunity to see ActivePure in action at Dallas' Fair Park. In 2021, air and surface purification devices powered by ActivePure were installed throughout the interiors of Fair Park - home to the State Fair of Texas, Cotton Bowl stadium, museums and performance venues - to provide active, automated, and 24/7 surface and air disinfection. The outing will begin at 1:30 p.m. as guests travel to Fair Park, just three miles from the conference.

ActivePure Technology meets the highest safety and environmental standards for air and surface disinfection, with more than 100 products available for proactive, continuous air purification in commercial and residential applications. Thousands of venues and buildings worldwide use products powered by ActivePure to mitigate and reduce transmission of bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

"ActivePure's installation throughout Fair Park has been one of our most exciting partnerships, and we are eager to take NABIE guests on a tour of the facilities to learn how engineers can use devices powered by ActivePure in commercial and residential projects," said Urso.

For more information on ActivePure, please visit ActivePure.com, or call 888-217-4316.

ABOUT ACTIVEPURE:

Privately held ActivePure has been the global leader in active, continuous surface and air disinfection systems for health care and educational institutions, commercial and public facilities, hospitality and residential applications since 1924. Patented ActivePure Technology has been proven in independent university and laboratory testing to control and neutralize indoor contaminants effectively. It is the only product in its class recognized by the Space Foundation as Certified Space Technology and inducted in the Space Foundation Hall of Fame. The ActivePure Medical Guardian is registered and cleared as an FDA Class II Medical Device. ActivePure was developed for use in the space program and has since evolved for use in commercial and consumer products used to reduce exposure to pathogens, including RNA and DNA viruses, bacteria and molds, by up to 99.9% in the air and on surfaces. For more information, please visit ActivePure.com or call (888) 217-4316.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jo Trizila, TrizCom PR on Behalf of ActivePure

Email: Jo@TrizCom.com

Office: 972-247-1369

Cell/Text: 214-232-0078

Or

Tonie Auer, TrizCom PR on Behalf of ActivePure

Email: Tonie@TrizCom.com

Office: 972-247-1369

Cell/Text: 817-925-2013

SOURCE: ActivePure Technology

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690301/View-ActivePure-Installations-in-Action-at-the-NABIE-2022-Conference
Lincotek's new investment boosts its surface preparation and finishing capabilities for orthopedic OEM customers

Global contract manufacturer Lincotek is announcing today that it has closed the acquisition of a majority stake in Danco Medical from Danco Anodizing (Warsaw, IN), strengthening the Medical Division of the group. The scope of the transaction comprises all the service activities focused on metal surface finishing for the medical marketand includes the ISO-13485 certified facility in Warsaw, Indiana.

Established in the US in 1971 in California and 2001 in Indiana, Danco Medical (Warsaw, IN) offers complete, one-stop-shop surface preparation and finishing solutions and a wide range of product identification methods to medical orthopedic device companies. It is also the leader in Aluminum and Titanium Anodizing and offers services comprising ChemFilm, Electropolishing, Passivation Processes and Low Friction Chrome coating. Latest innovative developments include unique deep image graphics for cases and trays and HAnano Surface Treatments.

Lincotek Medical is a leader in offering orthopedic device companies fully integrated supply chain solutions, including device engineering; casting; forging; additive manufacturing; precision machining; plasma spray, calcium phosphate and physical vapor deposition coatings; as well as electrochemical treatments and final packaging.

The move will expand the already comprehensive set of capabilities of Lincotek in the medical field, increasing the company's manufacturing footprint by one plant (around 35,000 sq ft and 150 employees) giving the company an even more competitive edge in a wide range of projects.

Lincotek Medical and Danco Medical will form a strong and synergistic partnership to offer OEMs a unique combination of services, addressing any needs of orthopedic customers around technical depth and process mastery, offering the highest levels of quality and reliability, optimized lead times and best-in-class customer service. The agreement will increase Lincotek's presence in the US, providing customers an even more integrated and unique approach and allowing OEMs to stay focused on their core business.

"This is a perfect match between the two companies," saysWinfried Schaller, the CEO of Lincotek Group, "as we are able to offer a 360-degree service around all possible needs of the global orthopedic device industry. We believe that this will generate a unique platform for the industry, which is addressing major needs around supply chain simplification and lead-time reductions. Effectively offering all supply chain steps from one source."

Danco is well known for its ability to maintain quality requirements, to meet short deadlines, and to retain detailed records for long-term traceability. The company will remain as an independent unit inside the Lincotek Medical structure. The former owners and the management, will run the company as before, to ensure that the quality and service levels are maintained.

"With Danco Medical joining the Lincotek Group, it will strengthen our growth strategies by creating a fully integrated portfolio that will support our customer needs and expectations," says Ross Tiamson, CEO of Danco Medical. "Our company values are aligned, and are well established Danco Medical looks forward to this next chapter."

Advisors

Lincotek has been advised by Cozen O'Connor for the contractual, legal and labour aspects, in the person of the Partner Christian Moretti and of the Associate Beatrice Bottini, in conjunction with Deloitte Legal in the person of the Partner Massimo Zamorani. While the Tax Financial workstream has been handled by Funaro&Co in the persons of the Partner Mindy Piatoff Daynes, the Principal Matteo Cazzoletti and the Director Alexander Contreras.

Danco Medical has been advised by Allen Matkins for the contractual and legal aspects, in the person of the Partner Matthew Ertman. The Tax Financial consultation has been handled by "HW LLP" in the persons of the Partner Louis Hamel and his associate Brian Blackmore.

About Lincotek

Lincotek, headquartered in Rubbiano, Parma Italy, is a global contract manufacturer for services in niche markets including Industrial Gas Turbines, Aviation and Medical Device applications, as well as a leading manufacturer of industrial coating equipment and one of the most respected producers in the Additive Manufacturing field. The Group is family-owned and has more than 1,300 employees located in 16 production facilities across Europe, North America and Asia.

About Danco Medical

Headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, USA, DANCO Medical has been meeting the needs of medical device companies for technically superior surface preparation and finishing, providing titanium and aluminum anodizing of machined parts, implants, instruments and devices, as well as electropolishing, passivation and LFCC. Well known for its ability to maintain quality requirements, to meet short deadlines and to retain detailed records, Danco Medical with around 150 employees, maintains its facility in Warsaw to ISO 13485 certification standards.

For more information, please visit lincotek.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220224005015/en/

Contacts:

Media contact:

Francesca Pedrotti

marketing@lincotek.com

+39 345 6203212
Consolidated revenue in 2021 including the firstmonth of activity from IRIS Pharma: 675K

Cash position of 7.9 million as of December 31, 2021

Continued repositioning of natural bio-HDL in renal diseases and expansion to ophthalmology

Regulatory News:

ABIONYX Pharma (FR0012616852 ABNX PEA PME eligible), a new generation biotech company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapies for patients, today provides an update on its business and cash position for Q4 2021.

Selected financial information (IFRS)

M 2021 Revenue from ABIONYX Pharma (12 months) 0.03 Revenue from IRIS Pharma (1 month) 0.64 Total revenue 0.67 Other revenue 0.04 Total revenue and other revenue 0.71 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 7.93

ABIONYX Pharma is recording its first consolidated revenue for the fiscal year 2021 since the acquisition of IRIS Pharma. Given the date of acquisition, the company recorded only a single month of revenue from preclinical contract research activity in ophthalmology, specifically from December 2021. Activities dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapies, aimed at improving the lives of patients, generated minor revenue of 26K during the entire fiscal year 2021.

The company recalls that beyond a cash position of nearly 8 million and the funding of phase 2a with CBVF, an Italian consortium, no dilutive financial instruments have been put in place.

In terms of development activities for CER-001, the last quarter of 2021 was very intense and marked by the continuation of the Phase 2a clinical study, called RACERS, to prevent acute kidney injury in high-risk septic patients, in partnership with the University of Bari, as well as the start of the first preclinical studies of CER-001 in ophthalmology with IRIS Pharma.

In addition, the company has received new Compassionate Access Authorization (CAA) requests for bio-HDL (CER-001) from several hospitals around the world.

These activities, as well as the clinical and preclinical results obtained over the past two years, mark the successful repositioning of CER-001 in the field of severe kidney diseases, which has not seen a breakthrough innovation for a long time. The company continues to await the first clinical results from RACERS and further preclinical results.

Next financial press release: Annual Results, April 28th 2022

About ABIONYX Pharma

ABIONYX Pharma is a new generation biotech company that aims to contribute to health through innovative therapies in indications where there is no effective or existing treatment, even the rarest ones. Thanks to its partners in research, medicine, biopharmaceuticals and shareholding, the company innovates on a daily basis to propose drugs for the treatment of renal and ophthalmological diseases, or new HDL vectors used for targeted drug delivery.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220224005808/en/

Contacts:

NewCap

Investor relations

Louis-Victor Delouvrier

abionyx@newcap.eu

+33 (0)1 44 71 98 53

NewCap

Media relations

Arthur Rouille

abionyx@newcap.eu

+33 (0)1 44 71 00 15
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / CMC Metals Ltd. (TSX-V:CMB) (Frankfurt:ZM5P) (OTC PINK:CMCXF) ("CMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Hardrock Diamond Drilling Ltd. ("Hardrock") based in Penticton British Columbia with an operations base in Whitehorse, Yukon. The contract provides for up to 5,000 meters of drilling to be completed at its flagship Silver Hart Project targeting high grade silver-lead-zinc carbonate replacement ("CRD") style deposits.

Mr. John Bossio, Chairman noted, "We are very glad to have secured Hardrock to support our 2022 exploration program. This was a critical component to our program planning that has now been concluded."

Qualified Person

Kevin Brewer, a registered professional geoscientist, is the Company's President and CEO, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101). He has given his approval of the technical information pertaining reported herein. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological reporting, geophysical investigations, environmental and baseline studies, engineering studies, metallurgical testing, assaying and all other technical data.

About CMC Metals Ltd.

CMC Metals Ltd. is a growth stage exploration company focused on opportunities for high grade polymetallic deposits in Yukon, British Columbia and Newfoundland. Our polymetallic silver-lead-zinc CRD prospects include the Silver Hart Deposit and Blue Heaven claims (the "Silver Hart Project") and Rancheria South, Amy and Silverknife claims (the "Rancheria South Project"). Our polymetallic projects with potential for copper-silver-gold and other metals include Logjam (Yukon), Bridal Veil, Terra Nova and Rodney Pond all of which are in Newfoundland.

On behalf of the Board:

"John Bossio"

John Bossio, Chairman

CMC METALS LTD.

For Further Information and Investor Inquiries:

Kevin Brewer, P. Geo., MBA, B.Sc. (Hons), Dip. Mine Eng.

President, CEO and Director

Tel: (604) 670-0019

kbrewer80@hotmail.com

Suite 615-800 West Pender St.

Vancouver, BC

V6C 2V6

To be added to CMC's news distribution list, please send an email to info@cmcmetals.ca or contact Mr. Kevin Brewer at 604-670-0019.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

"This news release may contain certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, statements that address the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles and exploitation activities and developments. In this release disclosure regarding the potential to undertake future exploration work comprise forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks, including the ability of the Company to raise the funds necessary to fund its projects, to carry out the work and, accordingly, may not occur as described herein or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, the impact of the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic crisis and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for information on these and other risk factors, available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation."

SOURCE: CMC Metals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690308/CMC-Signs-Drill-Contract-for-Its-Silver-Hart-Project-Yukon
Lancashire Holdings Limited

(the "Company")

Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them

The Company announces that, on 23 February 2022, Alex Maloney, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, exercised 183,905 Restricted Share Awards ("RSS awards") granted as nil-cost options over the Company's common shares of US$0.50 each. These RSS awards were granted under the LHL Restricted Share Scheme Performance Awards and Bonus Deferral Plan.

Mr. Maloney sold 86,673 of the resulting shares at the price shown below to cover the tax, national insurance and fees arising as a result of the exercise and retained the balance of 97,232 shares. The exercise was satisfied using existing shares in issue held by the Lancashire Holdings Limited Employee Benefit Trust.

Following this transaction, Mr. Maloney has an interest in the Company of 884,802 common shares (which includes 155,722 shares held via a connected person), representing 0.3626%.

The notification made in accordance with the requirements of UK MAR, provides further detail:

1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name Alex Maloney 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer b) Initial notification/Amendment Initial notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Lancashire Holdings Limited b) LEI 5493002UNUYXLHOWF752 4(i) Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument

Identification code Common Shares of US$0.50 each



ISIN: BMG5361W1047 b) Nature of the transaction Acquisition of shares on exercise of 183,905 Restricted Share Awards ("RSS awards") granted as nil-cost options over common shares of US$0.50 each. These RSS awards were granted under the LHL Restricted Share Scheme Performance Awards and Bonus Deferral Plan. c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) nil 183,905 shares acquired on exercise of RSS awards d) Aggregated information

Aggregate Volume

Price

183,905

Nil e) Date of the transaction 2022-02-23 f) Place of the transaction (XLON) London Stock Exchange - Regulated Market 4(ii) Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument

Identification code Common Shares of US$0.50 each



ISIN: BMG5361W1047 b) Nature of the transaction Sale of 86,673 shares to cover tax liabilities and fees on exercise of 183,905 Restricted Share Awards ("RSS awards") granted as nil-cost options over common shares of US$0.50 each c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) 4.9921 86,673 shares sold to cover tax liabilities d) Aggregated information

Aggregate Volume

Aggregate Price

86,673

 432,680.28 e) Date of the transaction 2022-02-23 f) Place of the transaction (XLON) London Stock Exchange - Regulated Market

Name of authorised official of issuer for making notification
- Company won bid after proposing lowest tariff in competitive tender

- US$108 million Nukus wind project is the first renewable energy project governed by new PPP law

-First wind project in Karakalpakstan, in Northwestern Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ACWA Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation, desalinated water and green hydrogen plants worldwide, today broke ground on the 100MW Nukus wind project, in a formal ceremony attended by H.E. Shavket Mirziyoyev, President, Republic of Uzbekistan; H.E. Yousef Saleh Algahrah Al-Otaibi, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, and senior officials from the Uzbek government.

The ground-breaking comes less than two months after binding project agreements were signed with the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and JSC National Electric Grid (NEGU), the off taker. With an estimated total investment of US$108 million, the project is in the Karatau district, Karakalpakstan region, in the North-western part of the country. It is expected to reach financial close by Q3 2022.

The Uzbek government has plans to diversify the country's energy mix and is targeting 8 GW of solar and wind capacity by 2026. The Nukus wind project marks the republic's first open, competitive tender in the wind energy sector. ACWA Power won the bid after proposing a tariff of US 2.5695 cents/kwh, which was the lowest in a tender process that included 11 other bidders.

Mr. Alisher Sultanov, Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan, said: "Uzbekistan has been working closely with the IFIs to open up the country's power sector to private investment and to help us reach our goal of 25% of energy consumption deriving from renewable sources by 2026. We have a huge variety of projects underway, and already completed. It is my great pleasure to update audiences on our progress. Uzbekistan is committed to policy goals to improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy's share of the country's energy mix."

Commenting on the occasion, Mohammad A. Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power said, "Laying the cornerstone of the Nukus plant comes shortly after the signing of the official purchase agreements is as an affirmation to supporting the ambitious vision of the leadership of the Republic of Uzbekistan to enhance the potential of the Uzbek energy sector. At ACWA Power, we are honoured to add this pioneering project to our portfolio, especially for its precedence and leadership in more than one aspect in the energy sector of the Republic of Uzbekistan. On this occasion, I can only express my gratitude to the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, our partners in the private sector and the Uzbeks for their support in achieving this important achievement. As we look together towards the future, we assert our commitment to implementing this project in accordance with the highest standards of quality, safety and security, and achieving the desired positive impact on the economy and society."

The project will comprise of Wind Turbine Generators (WTG) using advanced design and technical features. Each WTG will have a capacity of generating more than 5 MW of electricity, which demonstrates ACWA Power's ability to keep optimising design together with manufacturers for continuous innovation. Furthermore, ACWA Power will also endeavour to give local advisory, manufacturing, and manpower firms an opportunity to participate in the project.

The Nukus wind project is ACWA Power's fourth facility in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The company's in-country portfolio also includes a combined cycle gas turbine plant, and two wind projects. When this project achieves commercial operation in 2024, it will contribute 1.25% to Uzbekistan's overall renewable energy goals. Additionally, the facility is expected to power 120,000 Uzbek households and offset 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

About ACWA Power

ACWA Power (TADAWUL:2082) is a developer, investor and operator of power generation, desalinated water and green hydrogen production plants. Registered and established in 2004 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ACWA Power employs about 3,500 people and is currently present in 12 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. ACWA Power's portfolio includes 64 assets with an investment value of SAR 252 billion(USD 67.1), producing 42.6 GW of power and 6.4 million m3/day of desalinated water delivered on a bulk basis to address the needs of state utilities and industries on long term, off-taker contracts under utility services outsourcing and Public-Private-Partnership models.

ACWA Power's mission is to deliver electricity and desalinated water reliably and responsibly at a low cost, thereby contributing effectively to the sustainable, social and economic development of communities.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1753968/Nukus_Ground_Breaking.jpg
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2022) - Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO) (OTC Pink: NNOMF) (FSE: LBMB) ("Nano One") is a clean technology company with a patented low carbon intensity process (the "One-Pot Process") for the production of low cost, high-performance cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries and is pleased to provide a brief corporate update.

"We are in a growth phase," said Nano One Executive Chair, Mr. Paul Matysek, "and putting capital to work driving change and commercialization paths, with a world class team, ground breaking patented technology, and global collaborators. As battery ecosystems emerge in North America and Europe, we are addressing a number of opportunities to leapfrog existing markets with cost-effective, resilient, and environmentally differentiated solutions for a net-zero future."

Well Capitalized Deep Pipeline Nano One is well capitalized with over C$50 million in treasury, government support and a multi-year runway to execute on growth, technology and commercialization. Nano One has a growing list of active collaborators, including 10 auto OEMs, battery suppliers, cathode makers and miners, and approximately 20 other evaluation programs. Growth Mode Thought Leadership Nano One growth has tripled facilities and doubled staff to 60+ adding deep cathode experience in senior roles to support technical, commercialization and supply chain development in North America, Europe and emerging battery markets. Nano One continues to lead where the industry must go, with carbon, water and environmental foot print reduction, sulfate-free NMC, practical LFP for the world, cobalt-free manganese-rich LNMO, single crystal durability enhancements and a culture of continuous innovation. One-Pot Platform Technology Market Opportunity Nano One is enabling nickel-rich (NMC), iron-rich (LFP) and manganese-rich (LNMO) cathodes made from lower cost and lower environmental footprint battery metals (M2CAM). Technology for the TWh world. BNEF1 2021 outlook projects 4,800 GWh globally by 2035 (27% NMCA, 22% LFP, 19% LMR-NMC, 16% LNMO, 14% other) at scales that require transformative technologies like Nano One's to eliminate unsustainable by-products and waste.



(1) BloombergNEF, Lithium-Ion Batteries: State of the Industry 2021, September 21, 2021

###

About Nano One

Nano One Materials Corp. (Nano One) is a clean technology company with a patented, scalable and low carbon intensity industrial process for the low-cost production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode materials. The technology is applicable to electric vehicle, energy storage, consumer electronic and next generation batteries in the global push for a zero-emission future. Nano One's One-Pot process, its coated nanocrystal materials and its Metal to Cathode Active Material (M2CAM) technologies address fundamental performance needs and supply chain constraints while reducing costs and carbon footprint. Nano One has received funding from various government programs and the current "Scaling of Advanced Battery Materials Project" is supported by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund of the Province of British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.nanoone.ca

Company Contact:

Paul Guedes

info@nanoone.ca

(604) 420-2041

Media Contact:

Chelsea Nolan

Antenna Group for Nano One

nanoone@antennagroup.com

(646) 854-8721

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the execution of the Company's business strategy and plans which are contingent on the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', 'target', 'goal', 'potential' or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made are not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including but not limited to: any future collaborations that may happen with OEM's or others, the Company's ability to achieve its stated goals, the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents and other risk factors as identified in Nano One's MD&A and its Annual Information Form dated March 15, 2021, both for the year ended December 31, 2020, and in recent securities filings for the Companies which are available at www.sedar.com. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114741
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 24, 2022 / Fury Gold Mines Limited (TSX:FURY)(NYSE American:FURY) ("Fury" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Fury will be participating at the upcoming BMO Global Metals & Mining Conference to be held in-person from February 27th to March 2nd, 2022. Tim Clark, CEO and Director will present on Wednesday, March 2nd at 8:45am ET, which will focus on the advancement of the Eau Claire high-grade gold project located in Quebec. The conference presentation will be available on the Fury website at www.furygoldmines.com.

The BMO Capital Markets Global Metals & Mining Conference connects mining companies with institutional funds, private equity groups, family offices and sector analysts. For more information on this conference visit https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/industries/global-metals-mining/.

About Fury Gold Mines

Fury Gold Mines Limited is a Canadian-focused exploration company positioned in two prolific mining regions across the country. Led by a management team and board of directors with proven success in financing and advancing exploration assets, Fury intends to grow its multi-million-ounce gold platform through rigorous project evaluation and exploration excellence. Fury is committed to upholding the highest industry standards for corporate governance, environmental stewardship, community engagement and sustainable mining. For more information on Fury Gold Mines, visit www.furygoldmines.com .

Additional Cautionary Language

No regulatory organization has approved the contents hereof.

For further information on Fury Gold Mines Limited, please contact:

Salisha Ilyas, VP, Investor Relations

Tel: (778) 729-0600

Email: info@furygoldmines.com

Website: www.furygoldmines.com

SOURCE: Fury Gold Mines Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690334/Fury-to-Present-at-Upcoming-BMO-Global-Metals-Mining-Conference
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2022) - Dynasty Gold Corp. (TSXV: DYG) (FSE: D5G1) (OTC Pink: DGDCF) ("Dynasty" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a review of all available exploration data has now been completed and planning is underway for the 2022 exploration program at its Thundercloud gold property in the Archean Manitou-Stormy Lakes Greenstone belt in northwestern Ontario, 47 kilometers southeast of Dryden.

The initial work will involve a detailed, high resolution, drone-supported airborne magnetic survey over the Pelham and West Contact areas. The new survey will be extended to cover the northeast portion of the Thundercloud Porphyry Intrusive where previous soil and rock sampling returned significant gold values but with only minimum follow-up. The unexplored western portion of the Pelham gabbro area will also be included to look for possible extensions to the mineralized structures at Pelham.

The Pelham zone hosts an inferred resource of 182,000 ounces gold, see Dynasty Gold press release dated January 4, 2022. Trenching in the West Contact Zone by Teck Resources Limited in 2007 returned 8.02 g/t over 39 meters. The mineralization was further extended by 30 meters at 3.03 g/t to the south, and 7 meters at 2 g/t to the north, through Dynasty's recent chip and trench sampling program. Based on the data review of previous drilling and surface work, the grid line directions for the new drone survey needs to be modified from an older ground survey to properly define the geometry of the two known mineralized zones and their related structures.

The program will commence as soon as the ground situation permits. The drone survey will involve closer spaced flight lines with improved orientations, which should enhance the resolution of the gabbro geometry at Pelham. The gabbros preferentially contain more magnetite and pyrrhotite than the host rocks, which should enable better definition of the gabbros with modern technology. The new survey data is expected to assist in better defining structural and magnetic units related to the Pelham mineralization and interpreting the structural relationship between the Pelham and West Contact mineralization. It will also provide new data for locating the sites for a more comprehensive drill program to extend the resources at Pelham, and to design an initial drill program in the West Contact Zone to test targets where previous surface sampling returned high gold values in the area.

About Dynasty Gold Corp.

Dynasty Gold Corp. is a Canadian exploration company currently focused on gold exploration in North America with projects located in a greenstone belt in Ontario and in the Midas gold camp in Nevada. The Company is currently advancing its Thundercloud gold deposit which contains 182,000 oz gold. The 43-101 Mineral Resource report and related press release with details on the resource are available on the Company's website and were filed on www.sedar.com. The 100% owned Golden Repeat gold project in the Midas gold camp in Elko County, Nevada, is surrounded by a number of large-scale operating mines. In addition, Dynasty owns a 70% interest in the Hatu Qi2 gold mine in the Tien Shan Gold belt, Xinjiang, China, with which it is in legal dispute with Xinjiang Non-Ferrous Industrial Metals Group and its subsidiary Western Region Gold Co. Ltd. For more information, please visit the Company's website www.dynastygoldcorp.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DYNASTY GOLD CORP.

"Ivy Chong"

_________________________________

Ivy Chong, President & CEO

For additional information please contact:

Vancouver Office:

Ivy Chong

Phone: 604.633.2100. Email: ichong@dynastygoldcorp.com

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114744
MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Responding to the all-out invasion of Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden has announced additional economic sanctions against Russia. Biden said the 'devastating' package of sanctions will 'impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time.' 'We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize a long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies,' Biden said from the East Room of the White House. The president said the new sanctions will limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen, stop Russia's ability to finance and grow their military and impair their ability to compete in high-tech 21st century economy. The U.S. will also sanction additional major Russian banks, which Biden said would freeze 'every asset they have in America.' The new package does not include cutting Russia off from SWIFT, a global network that connects financial institutions around the world, or direct sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, although Biden said sanctions against Putin are still 'on the table.' Biden said the U.S. is also taking steps to defend NATO allies, particularly in the east, but stressed U.S. forces will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine. 'It's going to take time and we have to show resolve, so [Putin] knows what is coming,' Biden said. 'So the people of Russia know what he's brought on them. That's what this is all about.' Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE/ February 24, 2022 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with QuestEx, Brascan Gold, Vejii Holdings, Aldebaran Resources, Nextech AR, Gran Tierra Energy, K9 Gold Corp, and Rover Metals on their latest news.

The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.

QuestEx (TSXV:QEX) shares drill results from the Inel Prospect

QuestEx (QEX) has announced another round of drill and prospecting results from the Inel Gold Prospect in B.C. All three drill holes testing the AK Zone intersected mineralized breccia and returned significant gold values. CEO Joseph Mullin sat down with Shoran Devi to highlight the drill results.

For the full interview with Joseph Mullin and to learn more about QuestEx's drill results, click here.

Brascan (CSE:BRAS) closes private placement financing

Brascan Gold (BRAS) has completed its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $478,050.00. Proceeds will be used for exploration expenditures and working capital and to acquire and explore additional gold properties in Brazil and Newfoundland. Balbir Johal, Director & CEO sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss the financing.

For the full interview with Balbir Johal and to learn more about Brascan Gold's financing, click here.

Vejii Holdings (CSE:VEJI) announces record revenues for January

Vejii Holdings has reported record unaudited consolidated revenues of approximately $513K for January 2022. This represents a 1,158 per cent growth YoY. Kory Zelickson, CEO of Vejii sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the results.

For the full interview with Kory Zelickson and to learn more about Vejii Holding's results, click here.

Aldebaran Resources (TSXV:ALDE) discovers new high-grade gold zone at the Altar Copper-Gold Project

Aldebaran Resources (ALDE) has discovered a new high-grade gold zone at the Altar copper-gold project. The company believes that the Altar project has the potential to host high-grade copper and copper-gold mineralization. John E. Black, CEO of Aldebaran sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss the discovery.

For the full interview with Aldebaran Resources and to learn more about Aldebaran Resources' discovery, click here.

Nextech AR Solutions (CSE:NTAR) (OTCQB:NEXCF) continues to see strong demand for its ARitize 3D and Metaverse suite

Nextech AR (NTAR) is pleased to announce the signing of multiple 3D model AR ecommerce deals across a number of industries. This mass adoption of Nextech's ARitize 3D and Metaverse Suite technology shows that the ecommerce space is embracing 3D models and metaverse products. CEO Even Gappelberg joined Shoran Devi to discuss what's driving the demand for 3D models and metaverse products.

For the full interview with Evan Gappelberg and to learn more about Nextech AR's metaverse products, click here.

Gran Tierra Energy (TSX:GTE) announces Q4 2021 & year-end results

Gran Tierra Energy (GTE) has announced Q4 2021 and year-end results. CEO Gary Guidry sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss the company's results. Gran Tierra Energy is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties.

For the full interview with Gary Guidry and to learn more about Gran Tierra's Q4 results, click here.

K9 (TSXV:KNC) announces additional drilling results from Stony Lake Project

K9 Gold Corp. (KNC) has discovered additional potential gold mineralization at its Stony Lake project in central Newfoundland. The company is planning to increase drilling to 20,000 metres. Director & Chief Geologist Chris Healey sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss the results.

For the full interview with Chris Healey and to learn more about K9 Gold Corp's results, click here.

Rover Metals (TSXV:ROVR) acquires Tobin Gold Project

Rover Metals (ROVR) has acquired 100 per cent of the Tobin Gold Project in northern Nevada. The Tobin Gold Project consists of 68 claims totalling 1,405 acres. Judson Culter, CEO of Rover Metals sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss the news.

For the full interview with Judson Culter and to learn more about Rover Metals' acquisition, click here.

Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

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DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities and/or commodities and/or commodity futures contracts in certain underlying companies mentioned in this site and which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. In such instances, Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees will use all reasonable efforts to avoid engaging in activities that would lead to conflicts of interest and Market Herald and/or its affiliates will use all reasonable efforts to comply with conflicts of interest disclosures and regulations to minimize any conflict. All the information on this document and/or the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

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themarketherald.ca

SOURCE: The Market Herald

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690340/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-Interviews-with-QuestEx-Brascan-Gold-Vejii-Holdings-Aldebaran-Resources-Nextech-AR-Gran-Tierra-Energy-K9-Gold-Corp-and-Rover-Metals
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures settled moderately higher on Thursday with traders weighing the possible impact on global supplies following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Oil prices rose sharply earlier in the day after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a war on Ukraine and launched a full-scale invasion. Russia is the world's second-largest producer of natural gas and one of the world's largest oil-producing nations. However, data showing an increase in U.S. crude supplies in the week ended February 18th dragged down oil prices from higher levels. U.S. President Joe Biden, who has vowed steep sanctions against Russia for its Ukraine invasion, said the United States is working with oil producers to secure global energy supplies. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for April ended up by $0.71 or about 0.8% at $92.81 a barrel, climbing down from a high of $100.54 a barrel. Brent crude futures climbed above $105 a barrel before paring gains. Data released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) today showed U.S. crude stockpiles rose sharply, while gasoline and distillate inventories fell last week. The data said crude inventories in the U.S. increased by 4.5 million barrels last week to 416 million barrels. The increase was substantially bigger than the expected rise of 400,000 barrels. The data also said crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, storage hub and delivery point for U.S. crude futures dropped by 2 million barrels to 23.8 million barrels in the week, hitting the lowest level since September 18. The EIA data said U.S. gasoline stocks fell by about 600,000 barrels last week, less than an expected drop of about 1.4 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles dropped by 600,000 barrels, less than an expected fall of 1.8 million barrels. 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.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As Russian troops are crossing the border into sovereign and peaceful Ukraine, as border posts and military installations all throughout the country are coming under attack, war has returned to Europe.

Early reports of casualties remind us, just like in 2014, that this is no longer an exercise in diplomatic posturing and sabre-rattling. Right now, Ukrainians and Russians are dying - brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. They are paying the price for the ambitions of an authoritarian ruler who is callous and calculating about the damage he is inflicting on Ukraine, but also seems woefully unaware of the impact of his actions on Russia and the Russian people. He and his inner circle should know that this invasion will not solidify Russian control over Ukraine. It may well weaken Putin's hold on power.

To be perfectly clear, this war is Putin's war, and his choice alone. It's a unilateral, unprovoked act of aggression that must not only be condemned in the strongest terms, but met with the strongest of responses. The full range of sanctions must be imposed, and Ukraine deserves the full support of the global community.

Much has been written about the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which led Ukraine to give up its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal in exchange for Russia's guarantee of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Putin's disdain and disregard for the Memorandum have been plain to see. But if international agreements are to have any meaning, if the universal rule of law is worth aspiring to, all of us must stand up and confront this threat. Peace and prosperity cannot exist without cooperation and commitments. The alternative is Putin's world - a corrupt dystopia benefitting the few, built on coercive control, on constant fear, and injustice.

I feel for the millions of Ukrainians now having to live under the threat of imminent attacks. I feel for those who have already lost loved ones in the early hours of this invasion. Just two days ago, I spoke to Ukrainian President Zelensky about the situation in his country, and he raised the idea of a peace concert, to build bridges and bring people together. Instead, he and his country are under attack.

But I also wonder how ordinary Russians, people young and old, trying to get by and live their lives in peace and dignity, feel about the situation Putin has placed them in. Between Kaliningrad and Vladivostok, between Moscow and Omsk, people must watch this crisis unfold with a mixture of anxiety and fear. They stand nothing to gain from Putin's aggression, but are at real risk of losing even more than they already lost when their country's riches were carved up by those in power.

It doesn't take much for people to realise when they've been taken for a ride, and once Russian casualties start to mount, once crippling sanctions hit the Russian economy, the wonderful and resilient Russian people may realise that they deserve better, if they haven't known that already. However, Putin may not be defeated by sanctions alone. That can only be achieved by the people.

As many have pointed out, the West does of course have its own history of unjustified wars. But this is not the moment for whataboutism. Two wrongs don't make a right. This is the moment for all of us to call for an end to the aggression and the bloodshed, to stand up for freedom and self-determination, for sovereignty and independence, and against the spectre of totalitarianism once again rearing its ugly head over Europe and the world.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2022) - Contango ORE Inc (NYSE American: CTGO) is pleased to announce that the company will be presenting at Red Cloud's 2022 Very Pre-PDAC Mining Showcase. We invite our shareholders and all interested parties to join us there.

Contango is uniquely positioned as a junior exploration and development company by owning a 30% interest in the Manh Choh project in Alaska in partnership with Kinross. The joint venture plans to send ore from Manh Choh to Kinross' Fort Knox milling operation outside of Fairbanks, Alaska thereby eliminating the need to build, capitalize, and permit a new operation. Contango's share of production will average 66,000 GEO (gold equivalent ounces) per year starting in 2024 with AISC of $750/oz. Permitting was initiated on Manh Choh in 2021, a Feasibility study is underway and expected to be complete in 2022 with construction beginning in 2023, and production in 2024. Contango was recently uplisted to the NYSE American Exchange (NYSE American: CTGO) providing greater exposure to the public markets and uniquely positioned for growth. Contango owns 100% of the Lucky Shot Project and three other large acreage land positions outside of the joint venture, all with significant gold exploration potential. Lucky Shot represents an exciting opportunity for the Company to expand its gold resources and plans are currently underway to explore and develop a sizable resource at Lucky Shot.

The annual conference will be a virtual event this year and will take place from March 2-4, 2022.

Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President & CEO will be presenting on March 3rd at 1:40 PM Eastern Standard time.

For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://www.redcloudfs.com/prepdac2022/.

We look forward to seeing you there.

For further information:

Contango ORE Inc

Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse

713-877-1311

rickvann@contangoore.com

www.contangoore.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114756
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2022) - OBSIDIAN ENERGY LTD. (TSX: OBE) (NYSE AMERICAN: OBE) ("Obsidian Energy", the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") announces that it has filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities its audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 and related Management's Discussion and Analysis. Obsidian Energy has also filed its Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2021, which includes the disclosure and reports relating to reserves data and other oil and gas information required pursuant to National Instrument 51-101. Obsidian Energy's Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to its rules and regulations.

Copies of these documents may be obtained electronically via www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml (for the Form 40-F) or through Obsidian Energy's website at www.obsidianenergy.com. Hard copies of Obsidian Energy's audited Consolidated Financial Statements and related MD&A are also available upon request, free of charge, by contacting our Investor Relations group or by requesting them through our website.

CONTACT

OBSIDIAN ENERGY

Suite 200, 207 - 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3

Phone: 403-777-2500

Toll Free: 1-866-693-2707

Website: www.obsidianenergy.com;

Investor Relations:

Toll Free: 1-888-770-2633

E-mail: investor.relations@obsidianenergy.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114682
Brunt Workwear, a Boston, MA-based work boot and apparel brand, raised $20M in Series B funding.

The round was led by Stripes, with participation from On Running, Reformation, Erewhon, Califia Farms, TF Cornerstone, Suffolk Technologies, and Bolt.

The company intends to use the funds to increase inventory, grow the team, invest in additional product development, and expand retail channels beyond the digital storefront.

Led by CEO Eric Girouard, Brunt is a modern work boot and apparel brand designed for todays construction workers and tradespeople. Its mission is to serve the population of more than 17 million workers in the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair industries in the United States alone.

In 2021, six months after launch, the brand added clothing and accessories to its assortment to complement its collection of work boots with work jackets and additional pant styles.

Prior to launching Brunt, Girouard spent more than a decade working in the e-commerce and direct-to-consumer space at startups including Rue La La, M.Gemi, and Trade Coffee.

FinSMEs

24/02/2022
Once signed up, most igaming websites require you to fund your account in order to play for real money.

Back in the day, this was a complex task but thats different today. Today, depositing funds is an extremely straightforward and simple process.

There are slight variations between sites. However, most websites will guide you through the entire process.

Online casinos now offer a multitude of ways to deposit your money. Some are restricted to bank deposits only while others allow you to withdraw your earnings back to your bank.

Needless to say, the ability to deposit money quickly and safely is crucial for every casino player out there. The growth in fintech over the years has helped drastically.

The industry has been on an unmatched upward trend over the past few years. From digital currencies to marketplace lending, there is fast-paced development everywhere.

The world of fintech is largely driven by non-bank entities in the form of newer, emerging startups. This is because they face fewer restrictions than traditional banks do.

What is Boku?

In recent times, Boku has been the most sought-after option by gamblers as a medium for deposits at various online casinos. It is now ranked as the best method of payment in the UK, with many choosing to pay with Boku at online casinos and other gambling providers.

They have kept growing since their inception and have now introduced mobile payments to a fair share of casinos.

A vast majority of players have benefitted from Boku significantly. The key reason for this is that it does not require one to own a bank account or credit card.

This is ideal for players who wish to keep their sensitive banking details a secret when playing online. As a result, more and more gambling sites have taken measures to support Boku payments.

Boku is by no way limited to just online gambling-related transactions.

Boku can be used for a range of different purposes such as online shopping and virtual purchases. However, the website or platform must be compatible with Boku transactions.

With more and more online casinos accepting Boku payments, players can opt to make deposits easily with no hassle.

Once a deposit is made, all games are available to be used with no restrictions. It is easy to see why Boku is such a hit among casino players.

There is one thing to note though. Some casinos tend to have transaction limits for Boku users.

Since casinos that do this are All British Casino, Yeti Casino, and Hyper Casino. This may prove to be an obstacle for big budget players, making Boku less than ideal in such cases.

Interested in using Boku next time you are playing? Here are its top benefits!

Free of charge transactions

This is one of Bokus main benefits. Unlike credit cards and e-wallets, it is a completely free option for all gamers.

This means that no fee will be charged from the amount you choose to deposit. If you deposit $10, only $10 will be taken out of your account. Thats it!

In addition, the deposit and withdrawal process is as simple as it gets. It has been actively designed to make every online players life easier.

Does not require a bank account

Almost every online payment method mandates using an official bank account. This includes PayPal and all other credit cards.

While these are done to keep users safe, it is understandable that some customers are reluctant to share it.

Players who wish to keep their personal bank details and online gambling separate have always found it difficult to do so. However, Boku has provided a solution for such cases.

To use Boku, all you require is your smartphone and phone number.

This way you can take advantage of all the casino options Boku has to offer. However, you will not have to reveal your bank account or any other banking information for that matter.
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Man accused in 1991 kidnapping, attempted murder returned to Galveston County

STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Galveston County Sheriffs Office Lt. Tommy Hansen speaks during a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, about the extradition of Luis Majano Calderon to Galveston County from El Salvador. Calderon is accused of slashing a woman and leaving her near dead along Interstate 45 in 1991. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Galveston County Sheriffs Office Lt. Tommy Hansen, front right, and members of the sheriffs office warrant division escort Luis Majano Calderon, left, to the the county jail Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Calderon was rearrested after 30 years on the run in connection to a 1991 Galveston County case. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Luis Majano Calderon, accused of slashing a woman and leaving her near dead along Interstate 45 in 1991, is led into the Galveston County Jail by Galveston County Sheriffs Office Lt. Tommy Hansen and members of the sheriffs office warrant division Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Calderon was arrested in El Salvador in 2020. Luis Majano Calderon STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset, left, listens as FBI supervisor and Special Agent Richard Rennison speaks during a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, about the extradition of Luis Majano Calderon to Galveston County from El Salvador. Calderon is accused of slashing a woman and leaving her near dead along Interstate 45 in 1991.

GALVESTON

Thirty years after Luis Calderon left Galveston County amid accusations hed attacked his former girlfriend with a knife and left her bleeding beside a highway, he was back in the county jail.

Calderon, 56, was flown Tuesday evening into Bush Intercontinental Airport and then driven to the Galveston County Jail, where he was charged with kidnapping and attempted murder, according to police.

The charges are related to an attack on a woman who was found bleeding beside Interstate 45 in July 1991.

Calderons rearrest was the work of 30 years of dogged police work, officials with the Galveston County Sheriffs Office said Wednesday.

We couldnt allow ourselves to breathe until he was actually on the plane, said Lt. Tommy Hansen, a retired sheriffs office investigator who now works for the agency on a part-time basis investigating cold cases and was credited with the work of finding and arresting Calderon.

Calderon in 2020 was arrested in El Salvador in connection to a kidnapping and attempted murder of his former girlfriend. Hes accused of slashing her with a knife and then leaving her near dead under the Holland Road overpass in Texas City on July 5, 1991.

The woman survived and named Calderon as her attacker, police said. But after he initially was booked on kidnapping and attempted murder charges, he was released on bond and left the country, police said.

Calderons bond initially was set at $70,000 on the two charges. On Wednesday morning, 212th District Court Judge Patricia Grady increased his bond amount to $1 million at the request of county prosecutors. Calderon still was in custody at the county jail on Wednesday afternoon.

Federal law enforcement and immigration authorities also had placed a hold on Calderon, according to jail records.

During a press conference Wednesday, authorities said they were pleased with Calderons extradition but said they were withholding details about his capture and other matters because of his pending prosecution.

Calderon was confirmed to be in El Salvador in 2019, Hansen said. It took a year to convince Salvadoran authorities to take Calderon into custody, Hansen said.

That had to do with a whole lot of red tape on both sides, he said.

Local authorities learned that Calderon was to be transferred about two weeks ago, Hansen said.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is credited with contacting Salvadoran authorities to help move his extradition along, Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset said.

Getting people extradited often is a tall task that takes a lot of work from a lot of people, said FBI Special Agent Richard Rennison, who supervises the local FBI office.

The bureau, the Justice Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. State Department and Interpol also were involved in Calderons transfer.

In a statement, Cruz said Calderons delivery to the United States was a testament to the importance of Americas bilateral and regional partnerships.

This sends a clear message to any fugitives of the law: You will be brought to justice, Cruz said.
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Benton County officials are considering whether to extend the mask mandate locally, even as state officials plan to quash the rule as early as March 20.

Benton County's indoor masking order expires March 31. The Board of Commissioners, acting in its role as the Board of Health, is weighing whether to let the order expire, extend it, or cancel it ahead of schedule, according to April Holland, Benton County public health administrator.

The board could attach triggering metrics for any of those choices, she added.

I dont know if theyre going to move to keep or extend the local masking order, Holland said. But upcoming guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Oregon Health Authority should help illuminate the path.

For its part, the state has set the number 400 as a guide: 400 or fewer hospitalizations statewide means the omicron surge is over, or at least manageable, and residents may take off the masks indoors. At first, OHA officials didn't expect to hit that number until the end of March, but the latest news says it could come as soon as March 20.

The federal mask mandate for public transportation expires after March 18.

Benton County, by the numbers

Here's where the county is at with the pandemic: COVID-19 cases, while still relatively high, continue dropping in Benton County, according to Holland.

At the Board of Commissioner meeting Tuesday, Feb. 22, Holland said Benton County saw 233 COVID-19 cases this past week, down 60% from 574 the week prior.

Positivity rate statistics werent available yet due to the Monday holiday, but Holland said they should be a bit lower than the 11.5% reported last week.

The case rate in Benton County has dropped to 244 per 100,000, a significant decline from the 1,708 per 100,000 case rate recorded the week of Jan. 9.

For Benton County Public Health, there are no established criteria that would trigger a mask mandate. Rather, officials rely on integrating various data to make decisions that adjust to changing pandemic conditions. Holland said a lesson was learned that relying on one or two metrics is insufficient.

We may see that OHA or CDC comes up with a system by which they can predict the pandemic weather, as it were, to help us guide our activities, Holland said. As yet, that does not exist.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

All eyes on schools

With potential changes to pandemic guidelines expected soon from the CDC, Holland said the county may offer specific guidance for K-12 schools as well as early learning programs, long-term care facilities, and other places where people with different risk levels congregate. She added Public Health has a strong relationship with local schools.

The schools want to ensure that students and staff are as safe and healthy as they possibly can, so we work together in those efforts, she said.

Benton County has a plentiful stock of vaccines, according to Holland. She said therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies and antivirals are also available through the hospital system and pharmacies, and while supplies are somewhat limited, the treatments are being used and the stock is expected to increase in coming months.

Public Health is tracking vaccination statuses. To date, 72% of the county population has completed a primary vaccine series and 66% of those eligible have had a booster. Nearly 24% are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. In the past 90 days, 45.4% of reported COVID-19 cases were among people who completed the primary vaccination series, while 54.6% of reported cases were either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.

What about natural immunity?

In terms of infection-derived or so-called natural immunity, Holland said with the delta variant and far more so with omicron, the protection was less effective against severe illness and death than what vaccination provided. She said there is a lot of emerging information regarding both forms of immunity, but there are questions about the longevity of protection from either.

Theres little argument that both vaccination and infection provide immunity, Holland said. The point of vaccination, however, is to introduce that immunity without having to go through an infection that could possibly result in severe illness, death, or transmission to others.

The good news, Holland said, is the pandemic is entering a unique period in which there have been a lot of infections as well as high vaccination numbers, which together are likely to provide a high level of overall protection for some time.

We cant say how long, but this burn through nature of omicron  as evidenced by its sharp peak up and down  is likely to result in a time of lower susceptibility for our communities, provided something new doesnt come along, she said.

She added that vaccination-derived immunity appears to be more stable than natural immunity.

Another pandemic lesson is not declaring victory before the fight is over. Holland said looking to the future means considering additional mutations of the coronavirus that could lead to more surges of cases. It also means planning for possible need to revive or extend masking rules.

Cody Mann covers Benton County and the cities of Corvallis and Philomath. He can be contacted at 541-812-6113 or Cody.Mann@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @News_Mann_.

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Gillette, WY (82718)

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Showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 51F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Partly cloudy skies. Low 38F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
New ACM TechBrief Spotlights Privacy, Ethics Problems with Facial Recognition Technology

February 2022 by The Association for Computing Machinerys global Technology Policy Council (ACM TPC)

The Association for Computing Machinerys global Technology Policy Council (ACM TPC) released ACM TechBrief: Facial Recognition, a concise overview of an increasingly-used application which relies heavily on artificial intelligence. The brief includes a primer on facial recognition, key statistics about its growth and use, as well as important policy implications.

This latest edition highlights that the use of AI-driven facial recognition is increasing despite its fundamental limitations, creating profound ethical and privacy concerns. The TechBriefs By the Numbers chart puts key statistics about its growth and use in high relief. For example, well over 80 million Americans (nearly 25% of the nations population) now live in jurisdictions that have banned or heavily restricted the use of facial recognition systems largely due to privacy and civil liberties concerns.

A key concern outlined by the ACM TPC is that bias (including racial and gender bias) is both pervasive and profound in facial recognition systems. The TechBrief cites several research studies demonstrating that errors often fall disproportionately on minority populations, particularly people of color.

"This is an urgent moment, explains Dr. Joshua A. Kroll, an Assistant Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and lead author of the ACM TechBrief. Articles about facial recognition have been all over the news lately and some of the worlds leading companies are fundamentally rethinking whether or not to use the technology. But the publics understanding of the technology, as well as why it is controversial, is vague. The ACM Technology Policy Council developed this overview to familiarize people with the basics of facial recognition, as well as why many computing professionals are concerned about its potential negative impacts. We hope this TechBrief helps frame a public discussion of facial recognition and prevents people from being harmed by these technologies.

Another key concern raised in the TechBrief is the issue of privacy. The ACM TPC points out that anywhere there is a camera, individuals potentially may be identified and tracked. It therefore can be almost impossible to avoid this without avoiding public spaces. Moreover, many commercial systems are developed using facial recognition imagery gathered without the knowledge or consent of those depicted. In one recent example, the State of Texas announced that it is suing Meta for misusing facial recognition data.

This new TechBrief complements a 2020 statement issued by the Association for Computing Machinerys US Technology Policy Committee (ACM USTPC), which urged an immediate suspension of the private and governmental use of facial recognition technologies, added James Hendler, Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Chair of the ACM TPC. In theory, the deployment of facial recognition technologies could offer societal benefits. But, in practice, unregulated facial recognition use has the potential to cause harm to the fundamental human and legal rights of individuals in areas including privacy, employment, justice and personal liberty. We hope that by providing people with an accessible overview of facial recognition technology they will understand why it must be carefully regulated before it is even more widely adopted.

This TechBrief is the second in a series of short technical bulletins by ACM TPC that present scientifically-grounded perspectives on the impact of specific developments or applications of technology. Designed to complement ACMs activities in the policy arena, TechBriefs aim to inform policymakers and others about the nature and implications of information technologies. The first ACM TechBrief in the series focused on climate change. Topics under consideration for future issues include election security, smart cities, and encryption.
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MONTREAL, Feb. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier (TSX: BBD.B) will hold a virtual Investor Day on February 24, 2022.



On February 24, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., EST, Bombardier will hold a virtual Investor Day to provide an update on its five-year strategic plan as outlined in March 2021. Eric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier, Bart Demosky, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Services and Support, and Corporate Strategy, will outline the progress made on the four key pillars of Bombardiers 2025 plan and provide an update on the steps ahead. A Q&A period for analysts will follow the presentations.

All the information on how to watch the live webcast of the event or dial in to the Q&A session is available on this webpage.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing and servicing the world's most exceptional business jets. Bombardiers Challenger and Global aircraft families are renowned for their cutting-edge innovation, cabin design, performance and reliability. Bombardier has a worldwide fleet of approximately 5,000 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals. Bombardier aircraft are also trusted around the world in special-mission roles.

Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Bombardier operates aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The companys robust customer support network includes facilities in strategic locations in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the UAE, Singapore, China and an Australian facility opening in 2022.

For corporate news and information, including Bombardiers Environmental, Social and Governance report, visit bombardier.com. Learn more about Bombardiers industry-leading products and customer service network at businessaircraft.bombardier.com. Follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

News and information is available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. Visit the Bombardier Business Aircraft website for more information on our industry-leading products and services.

Bombardier, Challenger and Global are trademarks of Bombardier Inc.

For Information

Tinca Stokojnik Prouvost

Communications

Bombardier

T: +1-514-240-0356
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) (Teck) announced today that three additional independent directors have been appointed to the Board. Mr. Masaru Tani was appointed effective December 17, 2021 and Mr. Paul Schiodtz and Ms. Sarah Strunk have been appointed effective February 23, 2022.



Masaru Tani has held various positions with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. since 1984 and is currently Qualified Executive of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd and the President of Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. and based in Vancouver. He replaced Mr. Eiichi Fukuda, who retired effective December 2, 2021. Teck would like to thank Mr. Fukuda for his many contributions during his years of service on the Board.

Sarah Strunk is Chair of the Board of Directors of the law firm Fennemore Craig, where she has represented numerous clients in the mining and natural resource industry over the past three decades. She practices business and finance law, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, international sales contracts, and exploration projects. Ms. Strunk was previously Corporate Counsel to the copper and molybdenum division of Cyprus Amax Minerals Company. She has served on the Board of the Arizona Mining Association and was a trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. Ms. Strunk is based in Coronado, California.

Paul Schiodtz is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Asociacion Chilena de Seguridad, the largest worker health and safety organization in Chile. He has worked as an executive in the forestry, methanol and mining industries in Chile, the United States and Canada. He is a council member of the Sociedad de Fomento Fabril and the former Chair of the Chile-Canada Chamber of Commerce and the Chilean Chemical Industry Association. Mr. Schiodtz is based in Santiago, Chile.

About Teck

As one of Canadas leading mining companies, Teck is committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, zinc, and steelmaking coal, as well as investments in energy assets. Copper, zinc and high-quality steelmaking coal are required for the transition to a low-carbon world. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Tecks shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TECK. Learn more about Teck at www.teck.com or follow @TeckResources .

Investor Contact:

Fraser Phillips

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Strategic Analysis

604.699.4621

fraser.phillips@teck.com

Media Contact:

Chris Stannell

Public Relations Manager

604.699.4368

chris.stannell@teck.com
SINGAPORE, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) will host a Virtual Open house for prospective students and parents on 5 March 2022, from 10 am to 5 pm. While MDIS has taken on an online format for its annual Open House, the well-established Private Education Institution remains committed to offering prospective students and parents an interactive experience.

Highlights at the MDIS E-Open House 2022

Besides education rebates, waiver of application fees, and a live campus tour, the E-Open House will also feature insightful dialogues with faculty and staff members about education choices and pathways. Guest speakers will also join the E-Open House live - to speak on industry trends related to Life Sciences and Nutrition Sciences, providing participants with insights into the future and growth of the industry. Prospective students and parents will also benefit from real-time live chats with education consultants, who can provide advice and support to help students identify their strengths, interests and specialisation. The one-day online Open House will be helpful for students who have just collected their O-levels and A-levels results earlier this year.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a shift in how lessons are being taught. As Singapore's oldest not-for-profit professional institute for lifelong learning, MDIS has adapted and learned. Our lessons incorporate technology, elevating both the learning and teaching experience. In addition, our strong team of academic staff provides good support to our students by encouraging questions and interacting virtually. No matter how things may have changed, our team will always remain committed to helping our students achieve their educational goals," said Dr Tham Yieng Wei, Dean, Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS).

Partnering with renowned universities in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, MDIS offers internationally-accredited courses, including UK direct Honours qualifications in over 10 disciplines (Business and Management, Engineering, Fashion and Jewellery Design, Health and Nursing, Information Technology, Languages and Education, Life Sciences, Media and Communications, Psychology, Tourism and Hospitality, and Safety and Environmental Management) and 70 programmes from Preparatory Courses, Diploma, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree and Doctorate.

The MDIS E-Open House 2022 will take place on 5 March 2022, from 10 am onwards.

For more information on the MDIS E-Open House 2022, please visit: https://www.mdis.edu.sg/e-open-house-march-2022

For more information on MDIS, please visit: www.mdis.edu.sg

Media Contact

Jesline Wong: Jesline_wongmn@mdis.edu.sg

Gena See: Gena_seegm@mdis.edu.sg

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Image 1: Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) E-Open House 2022





Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) E-Open house, happening on 5 March 2022, 10 am to 5 pm.









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Pune, India, Feb. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Power Plant Boiler Market is anticipated to rise during the projected period due to the increasing demand for electricity in the industrial and commercial sectors. Fortune Business Insights provides this information in a report titled, "Power Plant Boiler Market, 2021-2028". As per the report, the power plant boiler market size was USD 19.41 billion in 2020. The market size is anticipated to grow from USD 20.21 billion in 2021 to USD 29.32 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period.

Request to Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/power-plant-boiler-market-100773

A boiler is utilized in power plants for producing high pressured steam which enables generating electricity. The power plant boilers consume energy from various fuels such as coal, nuclear, natural gas, and other pulverized fuel which are capable to be converted into steam. Rising developments in industrial and commercial businesses are likely to bolster market growth in the coming years.

COVID-19 Impact:

Restricted Supply Chains to Affect Production Rate of Organizations

The widespread coronavirus has affected various industries globally due to restricted supply and halted manufacturing units. The government has imposed stringent restrictions on supply chain management as well as the migration of people. Also, due to these restrictions, the import/export activities were halted which affected the manufacturing and production rate of the companies. Furthermore, social distancing norms and regulations on workforce management have affected productivity which resulted to hamper the profitability of the organizations.

To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market, please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/power-plant-boiler-market-100773

Segments:

By technology, the market is trifurcated into subcritical, supercritical, and ultra-supercritical.

Based on the fuel type, the market is segregated into coal, nuclear, gas, and oil.

On the basis of capacity, the market is divided into below 400 MW, 400-800 MW, and above 800 MW.

Finally, by region, the market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Report Coverage:

The report provides factual information regarding market development and advancements in recent years. The key developments include strategies such as partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, and alliances. Furthermore, business development practices such as innovation, product development, and market segmentation are highlighted in the report. Drivers and restraints affecting the market growth are given further to assess market growth potential. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on market expansion is elaborated in the report further.

Drivers & Restraints:

Rising Industrialization to Propel Market Growth

The market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period owing to the rising industrialization and commercialization. Rising demand for industrial development in developing countries is likely to boost the market. Replacing aging power plants and upgrading technologies is expected to bolster market expansion in segmented regions. Also, government support for redevelopment and refurbishment of the power plants allows key players to invest in the market. These factors are likely to ensure power plant boiler market growth during the projected period.

However, high capital investments initially may hinder market growth in the forecast period.

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Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific Dominates Market Due to Growing Industrialization

Asia Pacific holds the most prominent global power plant boiler market share during the forecast period where the region stood at USD 13.36 billion in 2020. Rapid urbanization and industrialization in developing countries are likely to propel market growth in the coming years.

Middle East & Africa holds the second-largest global market share owing to the demand for uninterrupted power supply in industrial application. Increasing investment in power generation and power plant construction is expected to drive the market.

Competitive Landscape:

Strategic Alliances Allows Key Players to Expand Business Reach

The presence of key players in the market encourages the organization to apply various business development strategies that focus on increasing productivity and profitability. These strategies are partnerships, alliances, mergers, and acquisitions. Key players in the market focus on implementing innovation and developing product portfolios. These strategies allow key players to expand their business reach globally.

August 2021: AWG Wuppertal and Martin GmbH signed the contract for the replacement of boiler line 15 at the Wuppertal waste-to-energy plant. The scope of supply includes full construction of the new combustion and boiler systems for line 15 boiler along with the associated equipment.

Quick Buy  Power Plant Boiler Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100773

Companies Profiled in Power Plant Boiler Market:

General Electric (U.S.)

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprise (U.S.)

Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (Japan)

Siemens AG (Germany)

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (South Korea)

Dongfang Electric Corporation (China)

IHI Corporation (Japan)

John Wood Group (U.K.)

Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (India)

Thermax (India)

Andritz Group (Austria)

Sumitomo Heavy Industries (Japan)

Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Emerging Trends  For Major Countries Latest Technological Advancement Regulatory Landscape Porters Five Forces Analysis

Qualitative Analysis  Impact of COVID-19 Impact of COVID-19 on the Power Plant Boiler Market Steps Taken by the Government to Overcome the Impact Key Developments in the Industry in Response to COVID-19 Potential Opportunities and Challenges due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Global Power Plant Boiler Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Fuel Type Coal Gas Oil Nuclear Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Technology Subcritical Supercritical Ultra-supercritical Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Capacity Upto 400 MW 400 MW - 800 MW Above 800 MW Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued..

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About Us:

Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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Manchester, United Kingdom , Feb. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Baby Woolf Coin, which is based entirely on the term "Implementation of Free-learning Access," aims to provide a community of learners with an application where they can learn about a variety of topics such as Online Marketing, Game and Development, Coding for Children, Music, and Arts, English Literacy, Handicraft Making, Graphics Designing, Blockchain, and Financial Literacy. Furthermore, this platform functions as a bridge that connects people with similar fields and interests to develop friendships and develop feelings toward others.

The platform is now working on a one-of-a-kind NFT collection that depicts the (8) live generations of humans from 1992 to 2022. These generations include the 'Lost Generations' or the people during World War I; The 'Greatest Generations' or those who live during World War II and Great Depression; The 'Silent Generations' or known as 'The Lucky Few' who were born during 1928 to 1945; The 'Baby Boomers' during 1946 to 1964; 'Generation X or Gen X' between 1965 to 1980; 'Millennials or Gen Y' from 1981 to 1996; 'Generation Z or Zoomers' spanning from 1997 to 2012; and the 'Generation Alpha or Gen Alpha' who were born entirely on the 21st Century. These eight living generations engaged in an environment that was very distinct from what other present living generations have experienced, particularly during the early days of free online learning.

Elliot Masie once said: "We need to bring learning to people instead of people to learning."

What makes Baby Woolf coin unique is its existence of NFT, which is much more than owning a digital art piece on Binance Smart Chain. More than 20,000 unique and non-identical NFT masterpieces are available on the platform. Get paid with 2% of the royalties earned for each masterpiece that a user holds. The Eight (8) living generations, Cyborgs, the 'Immortals,' and the last two 'Exceptional collections are all part of NFT's collection. If a user owns at least two NFTs from any prior collection, he or she will receive free NFTs on collections 4 and 5.

In addition, Baby Woolf coin will offer a new segment called Giveaways. During the minting and after-sale dates, users on the platform will participate in the special prizes program. Holders of the NFT collection will receive 40 percent of the profit generated by CyborgShop. Ownership of collections 1 and 2 entitles users to a reserve of twenty (20) quadrillion tokens, distributed to all holders over the next five years.

The function of NFTs does not end there. The collection will seek cooperation with a well-known brand to raise the bar. Following that, the NFTs will be turned into wearable fashion products such as apparel and footwear. Furthermore, by partnering with the top animation channels on YouTube, these collections will establish an animation series. A total of 5% of the revenues from the animation series will be shared among all NFT holders, while 10% of the profits will be shared among the Immortal NFT collection holders", and the remaining 5% will be used to buy back and burn Baby Woolf coins. In the end, a total of US$300,000 will be returned to the NFT community.

The platform's goal is furthered via providing US$28,000 to a charity chosen by its holders, as well as NFT Merch Shops, Mystery Boxes giveaways, a play-to-earn game, and the metaverse.

Baby Woolf Coin is a platform or community built on the foundations of loyalty, strong family bonds, communication, education, understanding, and intellect. The project is a meme token that gives people of different ages and ethnicities the ability to express themselves. To further the initiative, it wants to remain a token that leads and encourages individuals to take advantage of free online learning opportunities available to anybody in the world.

Users willing to be a part of the Baby Woolf Coin community can join its Telegram. Moreover, to remain updated, please follow Baby Woolf Coin on Facebook or visit the website here for more information.

Website: https://www.babywoolf.com/
Toronto, Canada , Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Outlier Solutions Inc. doing business as Outlier Compliance Group, a consultancy specializing in compliance solutions for reporting entities ranging from banks to dealers in virtual currencies (like bitcoin) to real estate firms, is one of the first to offer compliance services in the metaverse. Outlier will be joining as one of the professional service providers setting up shop in conjunction with Grinhaus Law Firm, a leading Canadian law firm in Blockchain regulatory advisory, and DGM Financial Group, a prominent Trust and corporate services office which helps structure crypto businesses offshore, in Decentraland, to service clients globally and through the metaverse.

Visitors to Decentraland will now be able to visit Outliers office, and book meetings with one of the team members. Visitors can discuss their Canadian compliance needs on topics such as Canadian anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), privacy, and regulatory compliance management. Virtual spaces include traditional offices and a fountain (and of course, meetings can also be requested in person and via more traditional virtual meeting software). The Decentraland office is located at -39, 121, in the same neighbourhood as Decentraland University.

The world, actual and virtual, is evolving rapidly, said Outliers Founder and CEO, Amber D. Scott. Its important to understand what shape that evolution is taking, and no better way to learn than to be involved directly. She adds, It just makes sense that in order to be good advisors to companies operating in the metaverse, we would be there too.

Image: Scotts avatar in Decentraland checks out the new virtual office space.

Founder of Grinhaus Law Firm, Aaron Grinhaus, stated, we are pleased to welcome Outlier Solutions Inc. and complement our line up of professional services to help people and businesses navigate the gray areas and legitimize the existence of the metaverse.

Decentraland, with its 800,000+ residents and $54B in transactions, is also home to a wide array of companies and institutions from academia to crypto companies to fashion. This represents an opportunity to strategically grow Outliers presence as well as participate in the booming growth and creation in the metaverse.

Please direct media inquiries to decentraland@outliercanada.com.

About Outlier Solutions Inc.

Outlier Solutions Inc. dba Outlier Compliance Group is a Canadian consulting firm, founded in August of 2013, which is focused on developing compliance solutions for reporting entities. Outliers areas of expertise include anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), privacy, and regulatory compliance.

For further information please visit https://www.outliercanada.com

About Grinhaus Law Firm

Grinhaus Law Firm was established in 2012 and is a business, tax and regulatory-focused firm with niche expertise in Blockchain and Smart Contract law.

For further information please visit https://grinhauslaw.ca

About DGM Financial Group

DGM Financial Group is a global financial services firm that provides Trust Administration, Corporate Services, Management Services to insurance and non-insurance companies, Family Office, Director Services, and is a Listing Sponsor on the Barbados Stock Exchange.

For further information please visit https://dgmfinancialgroup.com/

About Decentraland

Decentraland is the first fully decentralized virtual world. Powered by DAO, which owns the most important smart contracts and assets of Decentraland. Decentraland is a software running on Ethereum that seeks to incentivize a global network of users to operate a shared virtual world. Decentraland users can buy and sell digital real estate, while exploring, interacting and playing games within this virtual world.

For further information please visit https://decentraland.org

Disclaimer: This article does not offer to sell, solicit any offer to buy, or recommend any security or any other product or service. Moreover, nothing contained in this article should be construed as any recommendation. Readers are encouraged to do their own research.

Media Contacts: please email decentraland@outliercanada.com
The Annual General Meeting of Iceland Seafood International hf will be held on Thursday 17 March 2022 at 4pm at Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Suurlandsbraut 2, 108 Reykjavik, Iceland. The meeting will be in Icelandic and will be webcasted live, a link will be published on the Company's website www.icelandseafood.com/investors before the meeting starts. Recording will also be available after the meeting on the Company's website.

Enclosed is the notice to convene the Annual General Meeting, proposed agenda and proposed resolutions for the Annual General Meeting.









Attachments
Photo taken on Feb. 16, 2022 shows contemporary visual artist Jonathan Kabeya with one of his paintings in Lusaka, Zambia. Jonathan Kabeya, a contemporary visual artist has come up with a series of paintings under the banner "Behind the mask."

"Wearing of facemasks has become a part of our daily lives. That is the reason why there is a facemask in most of my pieces about COVID-19," Kabeya pointed out.

The 24-year-old explained that he was compelled to come up with the paintings to encourage people to share thoughts and experiences about the pandemic so as to enable communities to devise better responses.(Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua)

by Lillian Banda

LUSAKA, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Art is said to be one of the most compelling ways of communicating ideas and experiences.

It is for this reason that an artist based in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, is using paintings to tell stories about how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting African societies.

Jonathan Kabeya, a contemporary visual artist has come up with a series of paintings under the banner "Behind the mask."

"Wearing of facemasks has become a part of our daily lives. That is the reason why there is a facemask in most of my pieces about COVID-19," Kabeya pointed out.

The 24-year-old explained that he was compelled to come up with the paintings to encourage people to share thoughts and experiences about the pandemic so as to enable communities to devise better responses.

Kabeya, who hails from Lubumbashi City in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a firm believer in contemporary African art and its ability to transform communities for the better. He is currently studying English language at a college in Lusaka.

Kabeya recently held a weeklong solo art exhibition under the theme "Behind the mask" in Lusaka, where he showcased all the 12 pieces of his work on the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The rationale behind the exhibition was to afford the public an opportunity to learn through art, how the COVID-19 crisis has presented not only challenges but also great opportunities for societal growth," explained Kabeya.

He expressed happiness at the turnout and the support received from the general public during and after the exhibition, adding that a lot of people continue to demonstrate interest in buying his art pieces on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the issues tackled through Kabeya's artworks is violence against women and girls, a phenomenon that has become more pronounced amid the pandemic in many countries.

"It is sad to note that some men are hiding behind facemasks and attacking women and girls. Victims are left to suffer in silence, as they are not able to identify perpetrators. I hope governments act quickly to end this kind of violence," he said.

Kabeya's paintings also bring out issues of indiscriminate disposal of facemasks, a situation that poses a lot of danger to society. He noted that in as much as the facemasks are meant to protect from COVID-19, they can be a health hazard if not properly disposed of.

There is also a painting depicting the importance of education in containing the COVID-19 crisis and one that shows how African people are using local remedies to manage the pandemic, among others.

"The COVID-19 crisis has shown that African societies are resilient and capable of surviving difficult times. This can be seen from the ingenious coping mechanisms adopted by a number of African communities," Kabeya observed.


Pune, India, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global automated border control system market size is set to grow due to the adoption of biometric verification of passenger identity. The growing demand for monitoring multiple parallel e-Gates and adoption of biometric verification are the reliable factors driving the market. Fortune Business InsightsTM has presented this information in its upcoming report titled, Automated Border Control System Market, 2022-2029. Additionally, the rising security concerns across the globe and enhanced traveler convenience in the border crossing process are expected to favor the sector in the coming times.

COVID-19 Impact -

COVID-19 is a global health catastrophe that has struck every sector, and its long-term consequences are projected to impact industry growth over the predicted period. Travel restrictions enforced by governments worldwide to control the spread of the virus are mostly to blame for the market's diminishing growth. Furthermore, the coronavirus's extraordinary economic crisis has pushed countries, particularly poor countries, to prioritize their spending, which is expected to hinder future investments in this industry. In the short run, these variables will produce unfavorable conditions for this market.

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Segmentation -

On the basis of type, the automated border control system market is fragmented into two types: ABC e-Gate and ABC kiosk. Additionally, the market is divided into three categories based on the component: hardware, software, and services. On the basis of application, the market is divided into three categories: airport, land port, and seaport. Geographically, the market is divided into four regions: Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World.

Report Coverage -



The report highlights information on the automated border control system and different segments.

The report showcases a detailed overview of the markets state.

The report offers an in-depth narrative of the COVID-19 impact on the market.

The report states that the increased need for accuracy in the border crossing procedure can be met through IoT devices.

The report highlights the demand for digital automation in port facilities is growing.

Drivers & Restraints -

Globally Rising Security Concerns to Augment Market Growth

Rising security concerns, improved traveler convenience in the border crossing process, and an increasing requirement for automation across all port facilities are the primary drivers of the ABC market's growth. The airport holds the highest share of the ABC market out of all the key applications. Due to the increased passenger traffic around the world, the need for ABC in airports is rising. The growing passenger traffic at airports is mostly due to increased travel and tourism activities as well as global economic development.

The ABC e-gate has the largest proportion of the automated border control market among solution types. The increasing demand for automation, as well as increased passenger traffic, can be attributable to this expansion. Although, an anticipated downside to the scenario can be the large capital required to build the infrastructure automated border control system.

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/automated-border-control-system-market-105207

Regional Insights -

North America to Lead the Market During Forecast Period

North America is predicted to lead global automated border control system market share during the projection period, owing to the presence of important players such as Securiport, BioLink Solutions, Rockwell Collins, Cross Match Technologies, and others.

Additionally, Asia Pacific is estimated to capture a significant automated border control system share of the market amidst the forecast interval. The market's expansion can be linked to China's and India's increased investments in airport infrastructure. China's government is putting a greater emphasis on airport security by requiring a high level of passport verification to confirm travel papers. The government of India, on the other hand, is driving the automated border control system market growth by carefully enforcing the background check process for registered tourists.

Europe is also witnessing tremendous market expansion. The demand for border clearance showcases from the aviation industries of the U.K. and Germany is linked to this growth.

During the predicted period, the Rest of the World, on the other hand, experienced tremendous growth. The increased need for the automated border control system in South America, Africa, and the Middle East will lend a hand in improving the airports operating efficiency and expansion.

Competitive Landscape -



Key Players Adopt Inorganic and Organic Strategies to Capture Maximum Growth

There are multiple significant competitors in the oxygenators market that are fairly competitive. In 2016, Vision-Box (Portugal) was the market leader in the global automated border control sector. Intelligent security, electronic identity management solutions, and automated biometric-enabled systems are among the company's security solutions. For authenticity and protection, the organization also provides identity and automated border management solutions, biometrics, and official IDs. To grow its share of the ABC market, the company employs both organic and inorganic growth techniques.

For example, in 2017, the company introduced the Orchestra framework for biometric border control and inked a framework agreement to modernize Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. In addition, the company's excellent brand image has aided its expansion in the automated border control system. Furthermore, the automated border control system is expected to benefit from the implementation of IoT technologies in border-crossing processes as well as an increase in international passenger traffic around the globe.

Key Industry Development -

January 2021: The automated border control system was installed at the Tallinn Airport and the Narva Road Border Crossing to improve the border crossing procedure. The goal of this contract was to improve Tallinn airport's operational efficiency.

January 2020: In France, Idemia and Sopra Steria signed a deal to provide a new biometric border control system. To improve border control operations, the Idemia firm provided a standard border control system underpinned by biometric technologies.

List of Key Players Covered in this Research Report:

Accenture (Republic of Ireland)

BioLink Solutions (U.S.)

Cominfosec (U.S.)

Cross Match Technologies (U.S.)

Gemalto (Netherlands)

IER SAS (France)

International Security Technology (U.S.)

Vision-Box (Portugal)

Inquire Before Buying This Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/automated-border-control-system-market-105207

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Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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New York, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Floating Solar Panels Industry" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06031587/?utm_source=GNW

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Global Floating Solar Panels Market to Reach 4.8 Thousand MW by the Year 2026



Floating solar panels or floating photovoltaics (FPV), which are also known as floatovoltaics, are solar panels that are mounted on a structure floating on a water body, typically a lake or a reservoir. FPVs float on water and an embedded solar tracker follows the sun`s movement and place the solar panel to increase the time of exposure to sunlight and enhance the complete efficiency of the FPV system. Moreover, floatovoltaics allow low maintenance and management costs and remove the requirement for costly land areas, which considerably decreases the cost of generating solar power and frees up the land. The water-based PV systems are beneficial in several aspects such as reduced algae growth and evaporation. Floatovoltaics additionally reduce PV`s operating temperature and costs of generating solar energy. As the water bodies are generally government-owned, it is easy to obtain permits for water bodies compared to land. Furthermore, FPVs provide shade assisting the algae to bloom and reducing water evaporation, and although power generation on individual sites is not equal to ground mounts, the FPVs are suitable for the cities having a limited roof or land space.



Global Floating Solar Panels market is projected to register significant growth over the near-to-long term. The market, estimated at 1.6 Thousand MW in 2021 is projected to reach 4.8 Thousand MW by 2026, registering a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.7% over the analysis period. Asia-Pacific represents the largest regional market for Floating Solar Panels, accounting for an estimated 62.2% share of the global total in 2020. The market, estimated at 771.6 MW in 2021 is projected to reach 2.7 Thousand MW by 2026. China is expected to spearhead growth and emerge as the fastest growing regional market with a CAGR of 59.4% over the analysis period. The market is expected to progress steadily to evolve as a major regional market for Floating Solar Panels, supported by various factors conducive to healthy growth.



Advantages related to setting up FPV panel plants in comparison with traditional plants are anticipated to boost the FPV panels` market growth. Shifting preference towards renewable energy resources such as solar and wind for power generation, rise in investments for renewable resources of energy, and various government initiatives to encourage solar energy are the prime factors driving the FPV panels` market growth. Generally, 1 MW of FPV plant covers water bodies of nearly 7 to 10 hectares, conserves water of 15 MI, and generates electricity of 1500 MWh. However, the FPV panels` overall cost is much high compared to the stationary solar panels, which is estimated to be the key factor hindering the FPV panels` market growth. Additionally, increased demand for energy, rising solar installers` networks, and decreased prices of FPV technology are estimated to augment the growth of the FPV panels` market.



Demand for FPV panels will also be supported by the fact that FPV panels` installation doesn`t require colossal land areas and the FPV projects are cost-efficient. FPV panel projects are possible to set up on unused water bodies, which are anticipated to be the prime driving factor for the FPV panels` market growth. Countries like India, China, Germany, the USA, and Japan emerged as solar powerhouses, and the growing solar energy-based electricity production, in turn, boosted the market growth of FPV panels. The US has over 24,000 water bodies that are manmade which are anticipated to be useful in FPV development, as man-Made water bodies are easy to manage and have infrastructure and roads in place. The untapped regions` exploration such as Russia and Azerbaijan for growth, too, is estimated to benefit the FPV panels` market. The offshore segment based on location dominates the FPV panels` global market and is anticipated to continue dominating in years to come. However, forceful water currents and tides are estimated to cause issues or damage the FPV panels. Furthermore, high construction and maintenance costs of seawater plants are estimated to cause the inland segment to observe increased growth. The Netherlands is the epicenter of inland FPVs and GroenLeven owns a huge FPV farm in Europe promising a steady income for people willing to rent the locations that have the ability to host FPVs.

Select Competitors (Total 43 Featured) -

Ciel & Terre international

GCL-SI

Hanwha Group.

JA SOLAR Technology Co.,Ltd.

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

KYOCERA Corporation

LONGi Solar

Ocean Sun AS

QuantSolar

SUNGROW

Swimsol GmbH

Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd.

Topper Floating Solar PV Mounting Manufacturer Co. Ltd.

Trina Solar

Vikram Solar Limited







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06031587/?utm_source=GNW



I. METHODOLOGY



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW

The Race Between the Virus & Vaccines Intensifies. Amidst this

Chaotic Battle, Where is the World Economy Headed?

Progress on Vaccinations: Why Should Businesses Care?

With IMFs Upward Revision of Global GDP Forecasts, Most

Companies are Bullish about an Economic Comeback Despite a

Continuing Pandemic

A Strong Yet Exceedingly Patchy & Uncertain Recovery Shaped by

New Variants Comes Into Play: World Economic Growth

Projections (Real GDP, Annual % Change) for 2020 through 2022

Easing Unemployment Levels in 2021 Although Moderate Will

Infuse Hope for Industries Reliant on Consumer Discretionary

Incomes: Global Number of Unemployed People (In Million) for

Years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022

How the Clean Technologies Industry is Impacted by the Pandemic &

Whats the New Normal?

Global Clean Technologies Market Reset & Trajectory - Growth

Outlook (In %) for Years 2019 through 2025

A Green Recovery is On the Agenda for Most Countries Worldwide:

The New Normal in Global Clean Technologies Market by Major

Geographies Analyzed by Annual % Growth for Years 2019

through 2025

COVID-19 Sharpens the Focus on the Environment

Whats In-Store for Renewable Resources?

Recommendations for the Power & Energy Sector in the Post-

Pandemic Era

Floating Solar Panels - Global Key Competitors Percentage

Market Share in 2022 (E)

Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for

Players Worldwide in 2022 (E)

Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) Systems: A Prelude

An Introduction to Floating Solar Panels

History and the Future

Floating PVs: More Advantages over Land-Based Systems

Global Market Prospects & Outlook

Analysis by Type

World Floating Solar Panels Market by Type (2021 & 2027):

Percentage Breakdown of Demand for Stationary, and Tracking

Regional Analysis

World Floating Solar Panels Market - Geographic Regions Ranked

by CAGR (Volume) for 2020-2027: China, Asia-Pacific, Europe,

USA, and Rest of World

Asia: The Juggernaut

Japan: The Leader in Floating Solar Power Generation

China Launches the Worlds Biggest Floating Solar Plant

India Commissions the Countrys Largest Floating Solar Power Plant

Thailands ?Largest Project is Up and Running

The US Solar Power Industry Looking Up To FPVs

Competitive Scenario

Recent Market Activity



2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Floating Solar Panels Technology: Highly Efficient than Land

Based Solar Plants

Environmental Concerns and Floating Solar

Domestic Targets for Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Select

Regions/Countries

Global CO2 Emissions: Percentage Breakdown of Volume Emissions

by Fuel Type (2015, 2020, 2040 & 2050)

Significance of Floating Solar Power Plants in Cooling Down

Lakes in the face of Climate Change

Floating Solar Panels and the Use of Reservoirs and Manmade

Water Bodies

Floating Solar System Plays Pivotal Role in Cleaning Water

Offshore Floating Solar: A Potential Solar Energy Generation

Medium in High Seas

Growing Focus on Renewable Energy: A Strong Growth Driver

Government Boost to Solar Energy Adoption to Spur Market Momentum

Global Investments (US$ Billion) in Renewable Energy by Source:

2018

Leading Countries with Renewable Energy as % of Total Energy

Targets for Electricity Production from Renewable Energy

Sources in Select Countries

Estimated Global Power Generation Infrastructure Requirement:

(in US$ Billion) for China, India, Latin America, and North

America over the Period 2010-2030

Robust Demand for Electricity Closer to the Point of

Consumption Drives Proliferation of FPVs

Projected Global Demand for Electricity (MWh): 2015, 2020,

2025, 2030 & 2035

Global Primary Energy Consumption (Billion toe): Growth

Trajectory for the Period 1990-2040

Global Energy Consumption (Billion toe) by Country/Region:

(1995, 2017 and 2040): Breakdown for USA, China, India, Russia,

Brazil, EU, Middle East and Rest of World

Microgrids and Distributed Generation Transform Electricity

Management Forever

Global Distributed Generation Capacity in Microgrids by Type:

(2021): Percentage Breakdown of Capacity Installations for

Diesel Generators, Fuel cells, Natural Gas Generators, Small

Wind Turbines, Solar PV Systems, and Others

Distributed Generation Complemented with FPVs: Futuristic

Enabler of Smart Cities

Number of Smart Cities Worldwide by Geographic Region (2025E)

Favorable Demographic and Urbanization Trends Strengthens

Market Prospects

World Population by Geographic Region (2000-2050) (in Millions)

Rapid Urbanization: A Mega Growth Driver for Floating Solar Panels

World Population Urbanization Rate (%) by Region/Country: 2016 &

2040

Challenges and Issues

Challenges Faced by Designers of Floating Solar Panels

Installation of Floating PVs versus Other Photovoltaic Systems



4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

Table 1: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Floating Solar Panels by Geographic Region - USA, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for Years 2020 through 2027 and

% CAGR



Table 2: World 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar Panels by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for

USA, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World Markets for

Years 2021 & 2027



Table 3: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Stationary by Geographic Region - USA, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific and Rest of World Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Demand in MW for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 4: World 7-Year Perspective for Stationary by Geographic

Region - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for USA, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World for Years 2021 & 2027



Table 5: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Tracking by Geographic Region - USA, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific and Rest of World Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Demand in MW for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 6: World 7-Year Perspective for Tracking by Geographic

Region - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for USA, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World for Years 2021 & 2027



III. MARKET ANALYSIS



UNITED STATES

Floating Solar Panels Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in the United States for 2022 (E)

Table 7: USA Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 8: USA 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar Panels by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for Stationary and

Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



CHINA

Floating Solar Panels Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in China for 2022 (E)

Table 9: China Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 10: China 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar Panels by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for Stationary and

Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



EUROPE

Floating Solar Panels Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in Europe for 2022 (E)

Table 11: Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Floating Solar Panels by Geographic Region - Netherlands and

Rest of Europe Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Demand

in MW for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 12: Europe 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar Panels

by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand

for Netherlands and Rest of Europe Markets for Years 2021 &

2027



Table 13: Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 14: Europe 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar Panels

by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for Stationary

and Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



NETHERLANDS

Table 15: Netherlands Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 16: Netherlands 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar

Panels by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for

Stationary and Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



REST OF EUROPE

Table 17: Rest of Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 18: Rest of Europe 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar

Panels by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for

Stationary and Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



ASIA-PACIFIC

Floating Solar Panels Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in Asia-Pacific for 2022 (E)

Table 19: Asia-Pacific Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Floating Solar Panels by Geographic Region - India, South

Korea, Taiwan and Rest of Asia-Pacific Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for Years 2020 through 2027 and

% CAGR



Table 20: Asia-Pacific 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar

Panels by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Volume

Demand for India, South Korea, Taiwan and Rest of Asia-Pacific

Markets for Years 2021 & 2027



Table 21: Asia-Pacific Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 22: Asia-Pacific 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar

Panels by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for

Stationary and Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



INDIA

Floating Solar Panels Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in India for 2022 (E)

Table 23: India Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 24: India 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar Panels by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for Stationary and

Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



SOUTH KOREA

Table 25: South Korea Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 26: South Korea 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar

Panels by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for

Stationary and Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



TAIWAN

Table 27: Taiwan Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 28: Taiwan 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar Panels

by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for Stationary

and Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 29: Rest of Asia-Pacific Recent Past, Current & Future

Analysis for Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and

Tracking - Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 30: Rest of Asia-Pacific 7-Year Perspective for Floating

Solar Panels by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand

for Stationary and Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



REST OF WORLD

Table 31: Rest of World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Floating Solar Panels by Type - Stationary and Tracking -

Independent Analysis of Annual Demand in MW for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 32: Rest of World 7-Year Perspective for Floating Solar

Panels by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Volume Demand for

Stationary and Tracking for the Years 2021 & 2027



IV. COMPETITION

Total Companies Profiled: 43

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06031587/?utm_source=GNW



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__________________________
New York, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Disposable Protective Clothing Industry" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06031376/?utm_source=GNW

-Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

-Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

-Complimentary updates for one year



Global Disposable Protective Clothing Market to Reach $8.2 Billion by 2026



Disposable protective clothing represents special clothing that is intended to safeguard workers from hazardous workplace conditions and extreme environmental factors. Also sometimes referred to as personal protective equipment (PPE), the clothing protects the body from contaminants, dirt, pollution, infection and hazardous chemicals. Designed for single-use only, these products are disposed of as solid waste or recycled after use. Disposable protective clothing is intended for short-term protection and convenience, and encompasses numerous items that protect a worker from head to toe, including respiratory masks, hard hats, overalls, suits, gloves and helmets. These items are made using non-woven materials and play an important role in reducing the risk of worker injury and leading to associated cost savings. Disposable protective clothing is generally made of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester and certain other materials with enhanced safety ratings. These products are extensively used in a number of industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, oil & gas, construction, mining and defense & public safety. Medical professionals often rely on protective clothing like disposable gloves for minimizing the risk of infection and contamination. While scientists and researchers use laboratory coats, law enforcement agencies use ballistic vests for effective protection.



Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Disposable Protective Clothing estimated at US$4.2 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$8.2 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 11.1% over the analysis period. Polyethylene, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 11.9% CAGR to reach US$3.6 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Polypropylene segment is readjusted to a revised 11.4% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 25.1% share of the global Disposable Protective Clothing market.



The U.S. Market is Estimated at $1.8 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $1.2 Billion by 2026



The Disposable Protective Clothing market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.8 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 31.39% share in the global market. China, the world second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$1.2 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 14.6% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 7.6% and 10.4% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 8.3% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$1.3 Billion by the close of the analysis period.



The market is witnessing strong influence of a number of factors including COVID-19, technological advances, volatile macroeconomic scenario and international trade conditions. While substantial demand from the healthcare and foodservice industries is boosting revenues, depressing conditions in traditionally strong domains including oil & gas and mining are dampening profitability. The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting a large number of companies to comply with stringent safety standards. In addition, entities are focusing on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace safety guidelines to avoid consequences and costs associated with non-compliance. On the other hand, the PPE is market is receiving strong contribution from the protective clothing segment that covers garments mainly used in healthcare and heavy industries. The protective clothing segment is led by flame-retardant and heat-resistant garments along with clothing intended to protect users from hazardous chemicals. Moreover, industrial units are increasingly adopting coveralls for enhanced protection from cuts and splashes on shop floors. Protective clothing like chemical-resistant jackets is extensively used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical applications. Rising demand across these end-use industries coupled with ongoing product innovations are poised to push sales, while mounting competition is eroding margins. The market growth is anticipated to be further bolstered by availability of advanced protective clothing with inbuilt sensors for monitoring body temperature or strong and flexible thermoplastic-coated protective gloves. New smart clothing along with sophisticated wearable technology is expected to redefine employee safety. Smart clothing capable of detecting chemicals, gas, heat and other hazardous conditions to alert users for taking appropriate measures is garnering increasing attention in process industries including metals, chemicals and oil & gas. In addition, continued strong demand for protective clothing from the semiconductors, healthcare and pharmaceuticals industries is poised to further boost overall growth of the PPE market.



Polyester Segment to Reach $1.5 Billion by 2026



In the global Polyester segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 9.6% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$626.2 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$1.2 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$167.5 Million by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 12.5% CAGR through the analysis period.

Select Competitors (Total 101 Featured) -

3M Company

Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd.

Ansell Ltd.

ASATEX AG

Bennett Safetywear Ltd.

Bulwark FR

Cardinal Health, Inc.

Cellucap Manufacturing Co.

Delta Plus Group

Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA

DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Honeywell International, Inc.

International Enviroguard

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Lakeland Industries Inc.

Life Science Products Inc.

UVEX ARBEITSSCHUTZ GmbH







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06031376/?utm_source=GNW



I. METHODOLOGY



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Looming Global Recession: 2020

Marked as a Year of Disruption & Transformation

World Economic Growth Projections (Real GDP, Annual % Change)

for 2020 through 2022

COVID-19 Makes PPEs Popular

PPE Adoption Trends Driven by Innovation

PPE Demand from Major Users to Face Mixed Response

Online PPE Sales See Major Jump

Pandemic Leads to Supply Shortages

The Importance of PPEs in Healthcare Settings

Proper Donning & Doffing of PPE Holds Critical Relevance for

Mitigating COVID-19 Infection Risk

Protective Clothing: The Star Performer in Personal Protective

Equipment Market

Reuse amid COVID-19-led Supply Shortages

Pros & Cons of Reusable Medical Protective Clothing

COVID-19 Outbreak Boosts Demand for Anti-Viral Fabrics

Disposable Medical Protective Clothing: The Impact on Climate &

Health

Disposable Protective Clothing - Global Key Competitors

Percentage Market Share in 2022 (E)

An Introduction to Disposable Protective Clothing

Global Disposable Protective Clothing Market by Application:

(2021): Percentage Breakdown of Sales for Chemical, Thermal,

Biological / Radiation, Mechanical, and Other Applications

Difference between Disposable Protective Clothing and Ordinary

Workwear

Alternatives to Disposable Protective Clothing

Focus Shifts to Healthcare Fabric

Fibers Used in Healthcare or Hygiene Products

Disposable Vs Non-Disposable Drapes and Gowns

Categorization of Select Protective Clothing by Function

Percentage of Disposable Garments vis-a-vis Reusable Garments

in End-Use Industries

Protective Clothing: European Directive

Global Market Prospects & Outlook

Analysis by Material

Global Disposable Protective Clothing Market by Material Type

(2021 & 2027): Percentage Breakdown of Sales for Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester, and Other Material Types

Analysis by End-Use

Global Disposable Protective Clothing Market by End-Use Sector

(2021 & 2027): Percentage Breakdown of Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare, and Other

End-Uses

Regional Analysis: North America Maintains Principal Position

while Asia-Pacific to Report Fast Growth

World Disposable Protective Clothing Market (2021 & 2027):

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for Developed and Developing

Regions

World Disposable Protective Clothing Market: Geographic Regions

Ranked by Value CAGR for 2020-2027: China, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East, Africa, USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan

Competitive Scenario: Players Eye on Product Development &

Innovation to Survive in Increasingly Competitive Disposable

Protective Clothing Market

Recent Market Activity

Select Global Brands

Disposable Chemical Protective Clothing Competitor Market Share

Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2020E

US Market for Industrial Thermal Clothing (2020): Percentage

Breakdown of Market Revenue by Product Type

US Personal Protective Clothing Market Share (in %) by Company:

2020E

Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for

Players Worldwide in 2022 (E)



2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Innovations & Improvements Augment Disposable Protective

Clothing Market

Lightweight and Breathable Designs Make a Cut

New Resistant Material R&D Encourages Market Prospects

Flame Retardant Protective Clothing Set to Make Gains

Uptrend in the Protective Clothing Sector Generates Parallel

Opportunities for Disposable Protective Clothing

Key Trends in the Protective Clothing Domain

Workplace Safety Requirements Spur Demand

Annual Workplace and Work Related Fatalities (in Thousands) by

Region

Unique Antimicrobial Coatings Augment Protective Clothing

Functionality

Healthcare: Prominent End-Use Sector

Emphasis on Effective Infection Control Spurs Demand in

Healthcare Settings

Increasing Healthcare Expenditure to Foster Market Growth

World Healthcare Expenditure (In US$ Billion) for the Years

2017, 2019, 2021 & 2023

Per Capita Healthcare Expenditure (in $) by Select Countries

for 2018

COVID-19 Stirs the Demand for Disposable Protective Clothing in

Healthcare Applications

Manufacturing Sector to Remain an Important Consumer

Established Use Case in Oil & Gas Sector Augurs Well

Global Oil & Gas E&P Industry Spending (in US$ Billion) for

2015-2021

Construction Industry: Developments Focus on Improving Worker

Safety

EXHIBIT : World Construction Industry (in US$ Trillion) for the

Years 2017, 2019 & 2022

Global Value of Megacity Construction Projects (US$ Billion) in

2019



4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

Table 1: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Geographic Region - USA,

Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual

Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 2: World Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 3: World 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value

Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific,

Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets for Years 2012,

2021 & 2027



Table 4: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Polyethylene by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 5: World Historic Review for Polyethylene by Geographic

Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 6: World 15-Year Perspective for Polyethylene by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 7: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Polypropylene by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 8: World Historic Review for Polypropylene by Geographic

Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 9: World 15-Year Perspective for Polypropylene by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 10: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Polyester by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 11: World Historic Review for Polyester by Geographic

Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 12: World 15-Year Perspective for Polyester by Geographic

Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada,

Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East

and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 13: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Other Material Types by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan,

China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and

Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 14: World Historic Review for Other Material Types by

Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 15: World 15-Year Perspective for Other Material Types by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 16: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Manufacturing by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 17: World Historic Review for Manufacturing by Geographic

Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 18: World 15-Year Perspective for Manufacturing by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 19: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Oil &

Gas by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 20: World Historic Review for Oil & Gas by Geographic

Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 21: World 15-Year Perspective for Oil & Gas by Geographic

Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada,

Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East

and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 22: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Construction by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 23: World Historic Review for Construction by Geographic

Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 24: World 15-Year Perspective for Construction by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 25: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Healthcare by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 26: World Historic Review for Healthcare by Geographic

Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 27: World 15-Year Perspective for Healthcare by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 28: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Other End-Uses by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan,

China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and

Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 29: World Historic Review for Other End-Uses by

Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 30: World 15-Year Perspective for Other End-Uses by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



III. MARKET ANALYSIS



UNITED STATES

Disposable Protective Clothing Market Presence - Strong/Active/

Niche/Trivial - Key Competitors in the United States for 2022

(E)

Table 31: USA Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 32: USA Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 33: USA 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 34: USA Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 35: USA Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 36: USA 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



CANADA

Table 37: Canada Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 38: Canada Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 39: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 40: Canada Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 41: Canada Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 42: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



JAPAN

Disposable Protective Clothing Market Presence - Strong/Active/

Niche/Trivial - Key Competitors in Japan for 2022 (E)

Table 43: Japan Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 44: Japan Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 45: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 46: Japan Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 47: Japan Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 48: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



CHINA

Disposable Protective Clothing Market Presence - Strong/Active/

Niche/Trivial - Key Competitors in China for 2022 (E)

Table 49: China Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 50: China Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 51: China 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 52: China Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 53: China Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 54: China 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



EUROPE

Disposable Protective Clothing Market Presence - Strong/Active/

Niche/Trivial - Key Competitors in Europe for 2022 (E)

Table 55: Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Geographic Region - France,

Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 56: Europe Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK,

Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 57: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value

Sales for France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of

Europe Markets for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 58: Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 59: Europe Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 60: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 61: Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 62: Europe Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 63: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



FRANCE

Disposable Protective Clothing Market Presence - Strong/Active/

Niche/Trivial - Key Competitors in France for 2022 (E)

Table 64: France Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 65: France Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 66: France 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 67: France Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 68: France Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 69: France 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



GERMANY

Disposable Protective Clothing Market Presence - Strong/Active/

Niche/Trivial - Key Competitors in Germany for 2022 (E)

Table 70: Germany Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 71: Germany Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 72: Germany 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 73: Germany Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 74: Germany Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 75: Germany 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



ITALY

Table 76: Italy Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 77: Italy Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 78: Italy 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 79: Italy Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 80: Italy Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 81: Italy 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



UNITED KINGDOM

Disposable Protective Clothing Market Presence - Strong/Active/

Niche/Trivial - Key Competitors in the United Kingdom for

2022 (E)

Table 82: UK Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 83: UK Historic Review for Disposable Protective Clothing

by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and

Other Material Types Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual

Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 84: UK 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 85: UK Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 86: UK Historic Review for Disposable Protective Clothing

by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare

and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual

Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 87: UK 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



SPAIN

Table 88: Spain Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 89: Spain Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 90: Spain 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 91: Spain Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 92: Spain Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 93: Spain 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



RUSSIA

Table 94: Russia Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 95: Russia Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene, Polypropylene,

Polyester and Other Material Types Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 96: Russia 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material

Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 97: Russia Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil &

Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other End-Uses -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 98: Russia Historic Review for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction,

Healthcare and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 99: Russia 15-Year Perspective for Disposable Protective

Clothing by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other

End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



REST OF EUROPE

Table 100: Rest of Europe Recent Past, Current & Future

Analysis for Disposable Protective Clothing by Material Type -

Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the

Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 101: Rest of Europe Historic Review for Disposable

Protective Clothing by Material Type - Polyethylene,

Polypropylene, Polyester and Other Material Types Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 102: Rest of Europe 15-Year Perspective for Disposable

Protective Clothing by Material Type - Percentage Breakdown of

Value Sales for Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester and

Other Material Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 103: Rest of Europe Recent Past, Current & Future

Analysis for Disposable Protective Clothing by End-Use -

Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Construction, Healthcare and Other



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__________________________
Dublin, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Diamond like Carbon Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global diamond like carbon market is expected to grow from US$ 1,521.70 million in 2021 to US$ 2,248.80 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2021 to 2028.



DLC coating is most widely used in the automotive industry for various parts such as bearings, valves, gears, cams, and shafts. Further, the rising demand for two-wheelers, primarily in Asia Pacific, is expected to substantially impact the growth of the automotive industry. The demand for surgical instruments has grown rapidly in the healthcare industry, mainly due to the growth of the medical industry. Some of the common medical devices that use diamond like carbon are prosthetic devices, cardiovascular implants, surgical tools, and dental implants, among others. Thus, the growing demand for DLC-coated automotive parts and medical devices is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.



Based on type insight, the diamond like carbon market is segmented into pure DLC and mixed DLC. The pure DLC segment accounted for a larger market share in 2020. The pure DLC coating is preferably used in automotive and medical industries, owing to its high hardness, high insulation, high wear resistance, low friction coefficient, high chemical stability, high anti-burning properties, and high biocompatibility properties. Based on application, the diamond like carbon market is segmented into drill bits and milling cutters, dies and molds, saws and blades, inserts, and others. The drilling bits and milling cutters segment is expected to grow, owing to an extremely hard coating that helps enhance the tool life and ensures a more controlled wear process.



The diamond like carbon market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Countries in Asia Pacific such as China, India, Australia, and Japan have many manufacturing industries, augmenting the demand for DLC coating, thereby propelling the market growth. The DLC coating is used in the automotive industry to reduce automobile engines' fuel consumption by reducing friction and pump components to prevent seizure. The increasing government initiatives in the automotive industry are fueling the market growth. For instance, India's Automotive Mission Plan FAME-II focuses on providing government support to its growing automotive sector and component manufacturing industry. Thus, the booming growth prospects in countries such as China, Japan, and India is one of the key factors fueling the growth of the diamond like carbon market.



The key players operating in the global diamond-like carbon market include IBC Coatings Technologies, LTD.; Oerlikon Groups, Inc.; Richter Precision Inc.; Norseld Pty Ltd; Bunty LLC; Wallwork Heat Treatment Ltd; Micromatter Technologies Inc.; HEF Group; IHI Ionbond Ag; and Dynasil Corporation.



Reasons to Buy

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the diamond like carbon market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long-term strategies.

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth the market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology



4. Diamond Like Carbon Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.3 Expert Opinion

4.4 Ecosystem Analysis

4.4.1 Raw Material

4.4.2 Manufacturing/Processing:

4.4.3 Distributors:

4.4.4 End Users:



5. Diamond Like Carbon Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Growing Demand from the Automobile Sector

5.1.2 Rising Demand for Medical Devices

5.2 Restraints

5.2.1 Increasing Raw Material Costs

5.3 Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Increasing Investments in In-House Manufacturing of Medical Devices

5.4 Future Trend

5.4.1 Increasing Demand for Manufacturing Machineries

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Diamond Like Carbon - Global Market Analysis

6.1 Diamond Like Carbon Market Overview

6.2 Diamond Like Carbon Market -Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

6.3 Market Positioning - Diamond Like Carbon Market Players



7. Diamond Like Carbon Market Analysis - By Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Diamond Like Carbon Market, By Type (2020 and 2028)

7.3 Pure DLC

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Pure DLC: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

7.4 Mixed DLC

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Mixed DLC: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)



8. Diamond Like Carbon Market Analysis - By Application

8.1 Overview

8.2 Diamond Like Carbon Market, By Application (2020 and 2028)

8.3 Drill Bits and Milling Cutters

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Drill Bits and Milling Cutters: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

8.4 Saws and Blades

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Saws and Blades: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

8.5 Dies and Molds

8.5.1 Overview

8.5.2 Dies and Molds: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

8.6 Inserts

8.6.1 Overview

8.6.2 Inserts: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

8.7 Others

8.7.1 Overview

8.7.2 Others: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)



9. Diamond Like Carbon Market Analysis - By End Use

9.1 Overview

9.2 Diamond Like Carbon Market, By End Use (2020 and 2028)

9.3 Automotive

9.3.1 Overview

9.3.2 Automotive: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

9.4 Medical

9.4.1 Overview

9.4.2 Medical: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

9.5 Packaging

9.5.1 Overview

9.5.2 Packaging: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

9.6 Electronics

9.6.1 Overview

9.6.2 Electronics: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

9.7 Cosmetics

9.7.1 Overview

9.7.2 Cosmetics: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)

9.8 Others

9.8.1 Overview

9.8.2 Others: Diamond Like Carbon Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Mn)



10. Diamond Like Carbon Market - Geographic Analysis



11. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Diamond like Carbon Market

11.1 Overview

11.2 North America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.3 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.4 Asia-Pacific: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.5 Middle East and Africa: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.6 South and Central America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic



12. Industry Landscape

12.1 Product & Service Launch

12.2 Business Planning and Strategy



13. Company Profiles

13.1 IBC Coatings Technologies, LTD.

13.1.1 Key Facts

13.1.2 Business Description

13.1.3 Products and Services

13.1.4 Financial Overview

13.1.5 SWOT Analysis

13.1.6 Key Developments

13.2 Oerlikon Groups, Inc.

13.2.1 Key Facts

13.2.2 Business Description

13.2.3 Products and Services

13.2.4 Financial Overview

13.2.5 SWOT Analysis

13.2.6 Key Developments

13.3 Richter Precision Inc.

13.3.1 Key Facts

13.3.2 Business Description

13.3.3 Products and Services

13.3.4 Financial Overview

13.3.5 SWOT Analysis

13.3.6 Key Developments

13.4 Norseld Pty Ltd

13.4.1 Key Facts

13.4.2 Business Description

13.4.3 Products and Services

13.4.4 Financial Overview

13.4.5 SWOT Analysis

13.4.6 Key Developments

13.5 Bunty LLC

13.5.1 Key Facts

13.5.2 Business Description

13.5.3 Products and Services

13.5.4 Financial Overview

13.5.5 SWOT Analysis

13.5.6 Key Developments

13.6 Wallwork Heat Treatment Ltd

13.6.1 Key Facts

13.6.2 Business Description

13.6.3 Products and Services

13.6.4 Financial Overview

13.6.5 SWOT Analysis

13.6.6 Key Developments

13.7 Micromatter Technologies Inc.

13.7.1 Key Facts

13.7.2 Business Description

13.7.3 Products and Services

13.7.4 Financial Overview

13.7.5 SWOT Analysis

13.7.6 Key Developments

13.8 HEF Group

13.8.1 Key Facts

13.8.2 Business Description

13.8.3 Products and Services

13.8.4 Financial Overview

13.8.5 SWOT Analysis

13.8.6 Key Developments

13.9 IHI Ionbond Ag

13.9.1 Key Facts

13.9.2 Business Description

13.9.3 Products and Services

13.9.4 Financial Overview

13.9.5 SWOT Analysis

13.9.6 Key Developments

13.10 Dynasil Corporation

13.10.1 Key Facts

13.10.2 Business Description

13.10.3 Products and Services

13.10.4 Financial Overview

13.10.5 SWOT Analysis

13.10.6 Key Developments



14. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ry8gab

Attachment
CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FourKites , the worlds leading real-time supply chain visibility platform , today introduced several powerful new capabilities aimed at helping international shippers identify and mitigate the risks and costs associated with runaway demurrage and detention (D&D) fees. FourKites new demurrage and detention capabilities help shippers more quickly and proactively identify potential D&D fees; prioritize exceptions according to likely business impact; and proactively adjust carriers, lanes or other factors as necessary.



Port congestion, vessel delays, and incorrect or incomplete documentation are common challenges for ocean shippers. Unprecedented global container shortages, port closures, natural disasters, COVID-19 and other recent incidents have exacerbated these issues. D&D fees have reached thousands of dollars per container per day and millions of dollars in annual transportation costs for many shippers, recently prompting the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to consider new regulations to reign in ocean carrier billing practices.

FourKites new demurrage and detention product suite is available as part of the companys Dynamic Ocean  platform , which includes precise end-to-end freight tracking, the industrys most accurate predictive ETAs, international document management and booking functionality. The new capabilities include:

Exception dashboards, notifications and alerts that monitor and track containers that are likely to incur D&D fees based on real-time rerouting alerts and dwell time data for all ocean shipments. Using these real-time dashboards, customers can prioritize the containers that are currently accumulating fees, or that are at risk of doing so.

that monitor and track containers that are likely to incur D&D fees based on real-time rerouting alerts and dwell time data for all ocean shipments. Using these real-time dashboards, customers can prioritize the containers that are currently accumulating fees, or that are at risk of doing so. Analytics dashboards that scrutinize performance trends by lane, carrier, stop and other factors to pinpoint systemic problem areas.

that scrutinize performance trends by lane, carrier, stop and other factors to pinpoint systemic problem areas. Ability to monetize the potential (and actual) financial impacts of demurrage and detention fees on your transportation costs, enabling you to prioritize the most costly cargo.

of demurrage and detention fees on your transportation costs, enabling you to prioritize the most costly cargo. A digital document hub to manage essential international shipping documents accurately and on time, with powerful collaboration tools and easily customizable workflows, alerts and notifications to mitigate shipping delays and unnecessary D&D fees.

"Detention and demurrage fees have become a scourge for shippers, and when piled on top of rising transportation expenses, can make profit margins plummet," said Chris Stauber, vice president of products and international solutions at FourKites. "Attacking D&D fees requires a true end-to-end visibility solution that combines document visibility, yard visibility and robust notifications and alerting so shippers can mitigate fees before they occur. Thats Dynamic Ocean in a nutshell."

FourKites Dynamic Ocean platform addresses the full spectrum of ocean shipping issues through advanced document management and collaboration features; state-of-the-art real-time tracking capabilities, including predictive ETAs that are 20% to 40% more accurate than carrier-generated ETAs; and comprehensive multimodal visibility from port to door, including the yard, so shippers can identify and manage the root causes of escalating fees.

Momentum builds for FourKites in international ocean shipping

Within the context of ongoing volatility and rising costs in ocean shipping, FourKites has experienced dramatic growth in its ocean business since it introduced its state-of-the-art Dynamic Ocean platform .

Over the last 12 months, ocean volume tracked on the FourKites platform has increased 232%, while ocean customers have increased nearly 4X over the same period, including Cardinal Health, Arizona Tile, LyondellBasell, McCain Foods, Roehm, Rove Concepts and Yamaha Motors. Dynamic Ocean covers 98% of global ocean shipments, 100% of terminals in North America, and the majority of terminals in Europe and Australia/New Zealand.

FourKites automated reporting and tracking for ocean provides more accurate and real-time data, which allows Canfor to respond to customer inquiries quicker with up-to-date information on our upcoming shipments that would have otherwise had to be manually tracked, said Bob Hayes, Vice President of Global Supply Chain at Canfor.

FourKites to address D&D best practices at TPMTech

FourKites General Manager of International Products, Steve Dowse, will participate in a panel discussion at TPMTech on Friday, February 25, focused on how technology can resolve the D&D challenge to make cargo flow more efficiently and expedite container returns, especially during critical high-volume periods.

About FourKites

FourKites is the #1 supply chain visibility platform in the world, extending visibility beyond transportation into yards, warehouses, stores and beyond. Tracking more than 2.5 million shipments daily across road, rail, ocean, air, parcel and courier, and reaching 176 countries, FourKites combines real-time data and powerful machine learning to help companies digitize their end-to-end supply chains. More than 1,000 of the worlds most recognized brands  including 9 of the top-10 CPG and 18 of the top-20 food and beverage companies  trust FourKites to transform their business and create more agile, efficient and sustainable supply chains. To learn more, visit https://www.fourkites.com/ .

Media Contact:

Marianna Vyridi

Big Valley Marketing for FourKites

(650) 468-3263

mvyridi@bigvalley.co

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/273fb1a2-6267-4c7c-8ef6-f36ec8531661
Dublin, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Metrology Services Market (2021-2026) by Service, Product, Application, Geography, Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Metrology Services Market is estimated to be USD 654.39 Mn in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 957.07 Mn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.9%.



Market Dynamics

Key factors such as the increasing necessity of achieving high quality and expanding aerospace and defense industries are the primary reason for driving the market's growth. Gradual increase in demand for manufacturing, power generation and automotive applications and increasing awareness about security are providing growth opportunities to the market.



However, factors such as the high risk of data breaches and complexity are likely to restrain the market growth. Moreover, cyber attack is the key challenge in the market.



Market Segmentation

The Global Metrology Services Market is segmented further based on Service, Product, Application, and Geography.

By Service, the market is segmented into 3D Measurement, Product Quality Optimization, Quality Control and Inspection, Reverse Engineering, and Others.

By Product, the market is classified as Coordinate Measuring Machines, and Optical Digitizers & Scanners.

By Application, the market is classified as Automotive, Aerospace, Industrial, Power Generation, and Others.

By Geography, America is projected to lead the market.

Company Profiles

Some of the companies covered in this report are Quality Vision International, Nikon Metrology, Renishaw, Carl Zeiss, Mitutoyo, Hexagon, Metrology Services, etc.



Countries Studied

America (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Rest of Americas)

Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe)

Middle-East and Africa (Egypt, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Rest of MEA)

Asia-Pacific (Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.

Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Metrology Services Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Influencers

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Increasing Demand from Industrial and Power Generation Applications

4.1.2 Increasing Necessity Of Achieving High Quality and Adoption of CAD/CAM

4.1.3 Lack of Applicability of Existing Measuring Equipment

4.1.4 Expansion Of Automotive Industries

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 Design Complexity

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Increasing Awareness about Security

4.3.2 Growing Demand for 3D Metrology Services

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Lack of Trained Machine Operators

4.4.2 Cyber Attacks and Data Breach



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Regulatory Scenario

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



1. Global Metrology Services Market, By Service

2. Introduction

3. 3D Measurement

4. Product Quality Optimization

5. Quality Control and Inspection

6. Reverse Engineering

7. Others (After-Sales Services, Virtual Simulation)



6 Global Metrology Services Market, By Product

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Coordinate Measuring Machines

6.2.1 Gantry Machines

6.2.2 Bridge Machines

6.2.3 Articulated Arm Machines

6.2.4 Horizontal Arm Machines

6.3 Optical Digitizers and Scanners

6.3.1 3D Laser Scanners

6.3.2 White Light Scanners

6.3.3 Laser Trackers



7 Global Metrology Services Market, By Application

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Automotive

7.3 Aerospace

7.4 Industrial

7.5 Power Generation

7.6 Others



8 Global Metrology Services Market, By Geography

9 Competitive Landscape

9.1 Competitive Quadrant

9.2 Market Share Analysis

9.3 Strategic Initiatives

9.3.1 M&A and Investments

9.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

9.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



10 Company Profiles

10.1 Absolute Metrology Services

10.2 AMETEK

10.3 Atlas Copco

10.4 Carl Zeiss

10.5 Dimensional Metrology Services

10.6 East Coast Metrology

10.7 Exact Metrology

10.8 FARO Technologies

10.9 Hexagon

10.10 Intertek

10.11 Metalock Engineering

10.12 Metrology Services

10.13 Mitutoyo

10.14 Nikon Metrology

10.15 Optical Metrology Services

10.16 Precision Optical

10.17 Quality Vision International

10.18 Renishaw

10.19 Rice Lake Weighing System

10.20 Roberts Metrology Services

10.21 Verus Metrology

10.22 Verus Precision



11 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s5nbnw

Attachment
Dublin, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market (2021-2026) by Component, Type, Navigation Technology, Battery Type, Application, Industry, Geography, Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market is estimated to be USD 2.31 Bn in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 3.62 Bn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.4%.



Market Dynamics

Key factors such as the rapid growth of E-commerce and the need for automation in maritime applications for improvement drive market growth. The rise in demand for automation and increase in safety, accuracy, and productivity provide growth opportunities to the market. In addition, AGVs reduce labor costs from a long-term perspective in warehouses in many ways.



However, factors such as high investment cost and lack of flexibility are likely to restrain the market growth. Moreover, the availability of alternative autonomous mobile robots is a major challenge in the market.



Company Profiles

Some of the companies covered in this report are Savant Automation, Dematic, DF Automation & Robotics, E&K Automation, JBT, Kollmorgen, Konecranes, etc.



Countries Studied

America (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Rest of Americas)

Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe)

Middle-East and Africa (Egypt, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Rest of MEA)

Asia-Pacific (Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.

Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the Industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the Industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Influencers

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Rapid Growth of E-commerce and Mass Production

4.1.2 Increasing Safety Precautions and Regulations in Workplace

4.1.3 Demand for Automation and Material Handling Processes Across Industries

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 High Initial Investment Costs

4.2.2 Lack of Flexibility and Obstacle Resistance

4.2.3 Availability of Autonomous Mobile Robot

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Rise in demand for automation by SMEs

4.3.2 Adoption of 4.0 Technologies

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Low Labour Cost in Emerging and Developing Countries



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Regulatory Scenario

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market, By Components

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Software

6.3 Hardware

6.4 Services



7 Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market, By Type

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Automated Guided Carts

7.3 Forklift AGVs

7.4 Towing AGVs

7.5 Unit Load Handlers

7.6 Heavy Burden Carriers

7.7 Others



8 Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market, By Navigation Technology

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Magnetic Guidance

8.3 Laser Guidance

8.4 Vision Guidance

8.5 Optical Tape Guidance

8.6 Inductive Guidance

8.7 Others



9 Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market, By Battery Type

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Lead

9.3 Lithium Ion

9.4 Nickel Based

9.5 Others



10 Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market, By Application

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Raw Material Handling

10.3 Work in Process Movement

10.4 Pallet Handling

10.5 Finished Product Handling

10.6 Hazardous Materials Handling

10.7 Others



11 Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market, By Industry

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Automotive

11.3 Healthcare

11.4 Manufacturing

11.5 Logistics

11.6 Retail & E-commerce

11.7 Food & Beverages

11.8 Paper & Printing

11.9 Chemical

11.10 Aviation

11.11 Others



12 Global Automated Guided Vehicle Market, By Geography



13 Competitive Landscape

13.1 Competitive Quadrant

13.2 Market Share Analysis

13.3 Strategic Initiatives

13.3.1 M&A and Investments

13.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

13.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



14 Company Profiles

14.1 DF Automation & Robotics

14.2 E&K Automation

14.3 JBT

14.4 Daifuku

14.5 Dematic

14.6 Eckhart

14.7 Irwin Car

14.8 Jungheinrich

14.9 Kollmorgen

14.10 Konecranes

14.11 KUKA

14.12 Lodige Industries

14.13 Murata Machinery

14.14 Oceaneering International

14.15 Savant Automation

14.16 Scaglia Indeva

14.17 Schaefer Systems International

14.18 Scott

14.19 Siemens

14.20 Toyota

14.21 VDL

14.22 WEWO Techmotion



15 Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vcc3ga

Attachment
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LG Electronics selected medZERO as one of its "First 50" startups for its large-scale Mission for the Future competition targeting new developments within the areas of Connected Health, Energizing Mobility, Smart Lifestyle, The Metaverse and Innovation for Impact.

The Portland-based startup was chosen this month from more than 1,300 candidates to begin work with the LG NOVA team.

It's another endorsement for medZERO, an employer-sponsored financial wellness platform that provides employees a smarter solution to pay for healthcare. In December, the company secured $5.7 million in seed funding from Silicon Valley venture capital firm True Ventures, Village Global and angel investors.

Since garnering funding, medZERO has enrolled new customers, as well as partnered with a national lender and a loan management company.

Through medZERO, employees' out-of-pocket medical expenses become installment payments with no interest or fees repaid through automatic payroll deductions. The overarching goal of the company is to make healthcare more accessible and affordable through a nimble fintech solution.

"We are one part of a solution to a growing problem," said co-founder Craig Froude, who has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. He co-founded WellMed, Inc., a market-leading company that created technology-enabled health management programs and benefit decision support solutions for large employers and health insurers that was sold to WebMD.

Two-thirds of all U.S. bankruptcies stem from medical debt, and one-quarter of all U.S. credit card debt is medical, according to nonprofit RIP Medical Debt. Groundbreaking research from Stanford economist Neale Mahoney indicates Americans are saddled with at least $140 billion in outstanding medical debt. Hospitals typically only collect 50 percent of their receivables owed by patients and nearly $50 billion in unpaid medical expenses were written off last year alone.

"Clearly this situation isn't working for anyone, and frankly it's unsustainable and a threat to the long-term financial viability of our healthcare system," Froude said. "We believe offering solutions to fix this broken system is an opportunity to tackle one of the most important challenges of our time."

It was medZERO's ability to provide an innovative solution that helped capture LG NOVA's interest. The "First 50" group represents innovations in industries that will have the most immediate impact on society now and in the future. Equipped with access to LG's global experience, mentorship and capital, the startups will collaborate with LG NOVA's incubation team to create a proposal for a joint enterprise with the goal of further advancement.

"These companies represent the top of the diverse pool of innovative ideas and companies who applied to our Mission for the Future challenge to address the challenges facing our community," said LG NOVA head Dr. Sokwoo Rhee, senior vice president for innovation at LG Electronics. "In these companies, we see great potential opportunities to explore transformative changes that will take our commitment of innovating for a better life into the next phase."

The first big theme for LG in this space is connected health, with a particular focus on healthcare to meet people's wellness needs at healthcare facilities, in their homes or through services.

"Helping employees navigate complex and often overwhelming bureaucracy and tap into tools that offer substantial savings, tax benefits and educational aspects creates a healthier system for everyone," Froude said.

Media Contact:

Traci Williams

traci@medzero.com

503-747-9261

About LG NOVA

LG NOVA, the North American Innovation Center for global innovation leader LG Electronics is a team focused on bringing innovation from the outside to LG. LG NOVA is based in Santa Clara, Calif. The center's mission is to build, nurture and grow innovations that impact the future. Learn more about LG NOVA at www.lgnova.com.

About medZERO

medZero, based in Portland, Ore., is a fintech company designed to make healthcare accessible, affordable and equitable. The employer-sponsored financial wellness platform offers zero interest financing enabling employees to get care now and pay over time, ensuring medically related out of pocket costs are covered which leads to happier, healthier and more productive employees. medZERO is led by an experienced executive team and backed by industry leading investors. Learn more at medzero.com.

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Pune, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Part 1 : Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Market

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Commercial Aircraft Engine Market size is estimated to be worth USD million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD million by 2028 with a CAGR of % during the review period. Fully considering the economic change by this health crisis, Turboprop accounting for % of the Commercial Aircraft Engine global market in 2021, is projected to value USD million by 2028, growing at a revised % CAGR in the post-COVID-19 period. While Commercial Aircraft segment is altered to an % CAGR throughout this forecast period.

China Commercial Aircraft Engine market size is valued at USD million in 2021, while the US and Europe Commercial Aircraft Engine are USD million and USD million, severally. The proportion of the US is % in 2021, while China and Europe are % and % respectively, and it is predicted that China proportion will reach % in 2028, trailing a CAGR of % through the analysis period. Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia are noteworthy markets in Asia, with CAGR %, %, and % respectively for the next 6-year period. As for the Europe Commercial Aircraft Engine landscape, Germany is projected to reach USD million by 2028 trailing a CAGR of % over the forecast period.

Final Report will add the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on this industry.

Get a Sample Copy of the Commercial Aircraft Engine Market Research Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/request-sample/20282285

The global key manufacturers of Commercial Aircraft Engine include General Electric Company, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, Honeywell International Inc., United Technologies Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Division Snecma S.A, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, United Technologies Corporation, Safran and The Boeing Company, etc. In 2021, the global top five players have a share approximately % in terms of revenue.

In terms of production side, this report researches the Commercial Aircraft Engine capacity, production, growth rate, market share by manufacturers and by region (region level and country level), from 2017 to 2022, and forecast to 2028.

The Commercial Aircraft Engine market is segmented on the basis of type, application, usage. The Commercial Aircraft Engine market is segmented as below:

By type:

- Turboprop

- Turbofan

- Turboshaft

- Piston Engine

By application:

- Commercial Aircraft

- Personal Aircraft

By usage:

- single use

- multiple uses

Inquire more and share questions if any before the purchase on this report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/20282285

The research covers the current Commercial Aircraft Engine size of the market and its growth rates based on 6-year records with company outline of Key players/Manufacturers:

General Electric Company

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited

Honeywell International Inc.

United Technologies Corporation

Pratt & Whitney Division Snecma S.A

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

United Technologies Corporation

Safran

The Boeing Company

International Aero Engines AG

Engine Alliance LLC

Extron Inc.

MTU Aero Engines AG

Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share and growth Rate of Commercial Aircraft Engine in these regions, from 2017 to 2028, covering

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)

Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

Some of the key questions answered in this report:

What is the global (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) sales value, production value, consumption value, import and export of Commercial Aircraft Engine?

Who are the global key manufacturers of the Commercial Aircraft Engine Industry? How is their operating situation (capacity, production, sales, price, cost, gross, and revenue)?

What are the Commercial Aircraft Engine market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Commercial Aircraft Engine Industry?

Which application/end-user or product type may seek incremental growth prospects? What is the market share of each type and application?

What focused approach and constraints are holding the Commercial Aircraft Engine market?

What are the different sales, marketing, and distribution channels in the global industry?

What are the upstream raw materials and manufacturing equipment of Commercial Aircraft Engine along with the manufacturing process of Commercial Aircraft Engine?

What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Commercial Aircraft Engine market?

Economic impact on the Commercial Aircraft Engine industry and development trend of the Commercial Aircraft Engine industry.

What are the market opportunities, market risk, and market overview of the Commercial Aircraft Engine market?

What are the key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges of the Commercial Aircraft Engine market, and how they are expected to impact the market?

What is the Commercial Aircraft Engine market size at the regional and country-level?

Get a Sample Copy of the Commercial Aircraft Engine Market Research Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/request-sample/20282285

Our research analysts will help you to get customized details for your report, which can be modified in terms of a specific region, application or any statistical details. In addition, we are always willing to comply with the study, which triangulated with your own data to make the market research more comprehensive in your perspective.

Major Points from Table of Contents of Commercial Aircraft Engine Market Research Report 2022

1 Study Coverage

1.1 Commercial Aircraft Engine Product Introduction

1.2 Market by Type

1.2.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Market Size by Type, 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028

1.2.2 Turboprop

1.2.3 Turbofan

1.2.4 Turboshaft

1.2.5 Piston Engine

1.3 Market by Application

1.3.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Market Size by Application, 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028

1.3.2 Commercial Aircraft

1.3.3 Personal Aircraft

1.3.4 Others

1.4 Study Objectives

1.5 Years Considered

2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Production

2.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Production Capacity (2017-2028)

2.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Production by Region: 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028

2.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Production by Region

2.3.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Historic Production by Region (2017-2022)

2.3.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Forecasted Production by Region (2023-2028)

2.4 North America

2.5 Europe

2.6 China

2.7 Japan

2.8 South Korea

2.9 India

3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales in Volume & Value Estimates and Forecasts

3.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales Estimates and Forecasts 2017-2028

3.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue Estimates and Forecasts 2017-2028

3.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue by Region: 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028

3.4 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales by Region

3.4.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales by Region (2017-2022)

3.4.2 Global Sales Commercial Aircraft Engine by Region (2023-2028)

3.5 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue by Region

3.5.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue by Region (2017-2022)

3.5.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue by Region (2023-2028)

3.6 North America

3.7 Europe

3.8 Asia-Pacific

3.9 Latin America

3.10 Middle East & Africa

4 Competition by Manufactures

4.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Production Capacity by Manufacturers

4.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales by Manufacturers

4.2.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales by Manufacturers (2017-2022)

4.2.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales Market Share by Manufacturers (2017-2022)

4.2.3 Global Top 10 and Top 5 Largest Manufacturers of Commercial Aircraft Engine in 2021

4.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue by Manufacturers

4.3.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue by Manufacturers (2017-2022)

4.3.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2017-2022)

4.3.3 Global Top 10 and Top 5 Companies by Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue in 2021

4.4 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales Price by Manufacturers

4.5 Analysis of Competitive Landscape

4.5.1 Manufacturers Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)

4.5.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3)

4.5.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Manufacturers Geographical Distribution

4.6 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans

5 Market Size by Type

5.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales by Type

5.1.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Historical Sales by Type (2017-2022)

5.1.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Forecasted Sales by Type (2023-2028)

5.1.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales Market Share by Type (2017-2028)

5.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue by Type

5.2.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Historical Revenue by Type (2017-2022)

5.2.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Forecasted Revenue by Type (2023-2028)

5.2.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue Market Share by Type (2017-2028)

5.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Price by Type

5.3.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Price by Type (2017-2022)

5.3.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Price Forecast by Type (2023-2028)

6 Market Size by Application

6.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales by Application

6.1.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Historical Sales by Application (2017-2022)

6.1.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Forecasted Sales by Application (2023-2028)

6.1.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Sales Market Share by Application (2017-2028)

6.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue by Application

6.2.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Historical Revenue by Application (2017-2022)

6.2.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Forecasted Revenue by Application (2023-2028)

6.2.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Revenue Market Share by Application (2017-2028)

6.3 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Price by Application

6.3.1 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Price by Application (2017-2022)

6.3.2 Global Commercial Aircraft Engine Price Forecast by Application (2023-2028)

Purchase this report (Price 4900 USD for a single-user license) - https://www.360marketupdates.com/purchase/20282285

Part 2 : Global Military Aircraft Engines Market

As the global economy mends, the 2021 growth of Military Aircraft Engines Market will have significant change from previous year. According to our researcher latest study, the global Military Aircraft Engines market size is USD million in 2022 from USD million in 2021, with a change of % between 2021 and 2022. The global Military Aircraft Engines market size will reach USD million in 2028, growing at a CAGR of % over the analysis period.

The United States Military Aircraft Engines market is expected at value of USD million in 2021 and grow at approximately % CAGR during review period. China constitutes a % market for the global Military Aircraft Engines market, reaching USD million by the year 2028. As for the Europe Military Aircraft Engines landscape, Germany is projected to reach USD million by 2028 trailing a CAGR of % over the forecast period. In APAC, the growth rates of other notable markets (Japan and South Korea) are projected to be at % and % respectively for the next 5-year period.

Get a Sample Copy of the Military Aircraft Engines Market Research Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/request-sample/20261988

Global main Military Aircraft Engines players cover GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and Safran Aircraft Engines, etc. In terms of revenue, the global largest two companies occupy a share nearly % in 2021.

The research covers the current Military Aircraft Engines size of the market and its growth rates based on 6-year records with company outline of Key players/Manufacturers:

GE Aviation

Pratt & Whitney

Rolls Royce

Safran Aircraft Engines

Klimov

MTU Aero Engines

ITP

United Technologies Corporation

Textron, Inc

Honeywell International

Engine Alliance LLC

CFM International SA

The Military Aircraft Engines market is segmented on the basis of type, application, usage, end user, and end user. The Commercial Aircraft Engine market is segmented as below:

By Types:

Jet Engines

Turbine Engines

By Applications:

Fighter Aircraft

Transport Aircraft

Helicopters

Enquire for Discount on this report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/20261988

Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share and growth Rate of Commercial Aircraft Engine in these regions, from 2017 to 2028, covering

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)

Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

Our research analysts will help you to get customized details for your report, which can be modified in terms of a specific region, application or any statistical details. In addition, we are always willing to comply with the study, which triangulated with your own data to make the market research more comprehensive in your perspective.

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About Us:

Market is changing rapidly with the ongoing expansion of the industry. Advancement in the technology has provided todays businesses with multifaceted advantages resulting in daily economic shifts. Thus, it is very important for a company to comprehend the patterns of the market movements in order to strategize better. An efficient strategy offers the companies with a head start in planning and an edge over the competitors. 360 Market Updates is the credible source for gaining the market reports that will provide you with the lead your business needs.
Dublin, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Military Protective Eye-Wear Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type and End User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The military protective eyewear market was valued at US$ 110.48 million in 2021 and is expected to reach US$ 166.65 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2021 to 2028.

Military protective Eyewear systems help military, paramilitary forces, and law enforcement officers defend their eyesight from ballistic, laser, radiological, and NBC threats. The demand for such equipment has increased dramatically in recent years due to increased military exercises and operations. Also, due to the increased potential of attacks by extremist and terrorist organizations using mines, bombs, and NBC or radioactive agents, there are increasing investments in developing protective Eyewear systems for military, paramilitary, and police personnel, which drives the growth of the military protective Eyewear market.

Moreover, the modern army's increasing requirement to operate at night and in low-light settings has resulted in considerable advancements in night vision systems. Night vision devices are essential equipment for a soldier during a war. Therefore, tremendous effort has been invested in research and development. As a result, various technologies have been developed, allowing for the use of a wide range of military night vision systems. Hence, advancements and contraction in night vision technologies would drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Military Protective Eyewear Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken several industries. The unprecedented growth in the spread of the virus has urged governments worldwide to impose strict restrictions on vehicles and human movement. The US has the highest military expenditure across the world that makes this country largest market for military technologies. In addition, the military technology manufacturers observed a drop in deliveries for new defense technologies, cancelation or rescheduling of military orders and delivery, and labor shortage, which hampered their businesses and ability to deliver substantial volumes of new products to the customers. The increase in order backlogs and orders along with disrupted supply chain led to a decline in the revenues of the military protective Eyewear market.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways

3. Research Methodology



4. Military Protective Eye-wear Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.2.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers:

4.2.1.1 Buyer Concentration is Moderately Growing

4.2.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers:

4.2.2.1 Weak suppliers bargaining power

4.2.3 Threats to Substitutes:

4.2.3.1 No Substitutes

4.2.4 Threats of New Entrants:

4.2.4.1 Established Players Capture the Maximum Market

4.2.5 Degree of Competition:

4.2.5.1 Well Established Players with Balanced Financial Status

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis

4.4 Expert Opinion



5. Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 High Demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

5.1.2 Advancement and Contraction in Night Vision Technologies

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 High Cost Associated with Military Protective Eye-wear

5.3 Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Emergence of Laser Protection Eye-wear

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Technological Advancements in Military Protective Eye-wear

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Global Market Analysis

6.1 Global Military Protective Eye-wear Market Overview

6.2 Global Military Protective Eye-wear Market Forecast And Analysis

6.3 Market Positioning- Top Five Players



7. Military Protective Eye-wear Market Analysis - By Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Military Protective Eye-wear Market, by Type (2020 and 2028)

7.3 Safety Eye-wear

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Safety Eye-wear: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

7.4 Ballistic protection eye-wear

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Ballistic Protection Eye-wear: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

7.5 Laser protection eye-wear

7.5.1 Overview

7.5.2 Laser Protection Eye-wear: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



8. Military Protective Eye-wear Market - By End User

8.1 Overview

8.2 Military Protective Eye-wear, by End User (2020 and 2028)

8.3 Paramilitary Forces

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Paramilitary Forces: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

8.4 Armed Troops

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Armed Troops: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



9. Global Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Geographic Analysis



10. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Military Protective Eye-wear Market

10.1 Overview

10.2 North America

10.3 Europe

10.4 Asia-Pacific

10.5 Middle East and Africa

10.6 South America



11. Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Industry Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Market Initiative

11.3 New Product Launch

11.4 Merger and Acquisition



12. Company Profiles

12.1 Blueye Tactical Eye-wear

12.1.1 Key Facts

12.1.2 Business Description

12.1.3 Products and Services

12.1.4 Financial Overview

12.1.5 SWOT Analysis

12.1.6 Key Developments

12.2 Bolle Safety

12.2.1 Key Facts

12.2.2 Business Description

12.2.3 Products and Services

12.2.4 Financial Overview

12.2.5 SWOT Analysis

12.2.6 Key Developments

12.3 Gentex Corporation

12.3.1 Key Facts

12.3.2 Business Description

12.3.3 Products and Services

12.3.4 Financial Overview

12.3.5 SWOT Analysis

12.3.6 Key Developments

12.4 Eye Safety Systems, Inc. (ESS)

12.4.1 Key Facts

12.4.2 Business Description

12.4.3 Products and Services

12.4.4 Financial Overview

12.4.5 SWOT Analysis

12.4.6 Key Developments

12.5 PERRIQUEST DEFENSE RESEARCH ENTERPRISES

12.5.1 Key Facts

12.5.2 Business Description

12.5.3 Products and Services

12.5.4 Financial Overview

12.5.5 SWOT Analysis

12.5.6 Key Developments

12.6 Revision Military LTD

12.6.1 Key Facts

12.6.2 Business Description

12.6.3 Products and Services

12.6.4 Financial Overview

12.6.5 SWOT Analysis

12.6.6 Key Developments

12.7 Rochester Optical

12.7.1 Key Facts

12.7.2 Business Description

12.7.3 Products and Services

12.7.4 Financial Overview

12.7.5 SWOT Analysis

12.7.6 Key Developments

12.8 Shalon Chemical Industries Ltd.

12.8.1 Key Facts

12.8.2 Business Description

12.8.3 Products and Services

12.8.4 Financial Overview

12.8.5 SWOT Analysis

12.8.6 Key Developments

12.9 Smith Optics

12.9.1 Key Facts

12.9.2 Business Description

12.9.3 Products and Services

12.9.4 Financial Overview

12.9.5 SWOT Analysis

12.9.6 Key Developments

12.10 Wiley X Inc.

12.10.1 Key Facts

12.10.2 Business Description

12.10.3 Products and Services

12.10.4 Financial Overview

12.10.5 SWOT Analysis

12.10.6 Key Developments



13. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qx2hol

Attachment
MOSCOW, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin held telephone conversations with leaders of several countries, the Kremlin said Thursday.

Putin had a telephone conversation with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, explaining how the situation around Ukraine is evolving.

Raisi expressed understanding with respect to Russia's security concerns caused by the destabilizing actions of the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Issues relating to the diplomatic efforts to preserve and fully implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program were reviewed, the Kremlin said, adding that it was noted that reaching a final agreement on the JCPOA would contribute to regional stability and security.

Putin also briefed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Moscow's stance on the Ukraine issue.

"When discussing the situation, Putin outlined his fundamental assessments of Kiev's aggressive actions against the civilian population of Donbass, as well as about Kiev's many years of destructive policy aimed at breaking the Minsk agreements," the Kremlin said.

Modi thanked Putin for the clarification and asked for assistance in ensuring the security of Indian citizens currently in Ukraine.

Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron also discussed the situation in Ukraine during a phone conversation.

According to the Kremlin, both sides had a "serious and frank" exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine.

The Kremlin added that Putin gave "comprehensive explanations of the reasons and circumstances for the decision to conduct a special military operation."

Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in the Donbass region, and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack. 
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meeting with a provider on a regular basis is associated with increased chronic disease recognition and treatment, improved patient-reported outcomes and lower cost. And yet, according to 2021 data from RANDS, 12.5% of people report reduced access to basic checkups.



One Medical and Irrational Labs partnered to rethink a seamless digital experience for new One Medical members to help close that gap. The goal was to increase preventative care by making it easier for members to connect with a provider right when they sign up for membership.

The Irrational Labs team, in collaboration with One Medical, conducted a rigorous controlled experiment that sought to evaluate the effect of changing the onboarding flow for One Medical members who have their membership sponsored by their employer.

The new onboarding process offered One Medical members an immediate opportunity to connect with a provider. It suggested appointment times that a recommended provider could meet with them. If the member was not available at those suggested times, the member had the ability to see more times available and choose a future date for the appointment.

The result: small changes to the One Medical onboarding experience for new employer-sponsored members drove a 20% increase in bookings relative to the control. The increase in bookings signifies an interest in and intention to get medical care.

The Lesson? Make it easy

How digital experiences are designed makes all the difference. When members dont see a time that meets their needs, it takes them 4x longer to book, compared to when they immediately see a time that works for their schedule.



And speed isnt the only thing that changes when people are exposed to too much choice. Too much choice can also delay decision-making. People who picked a time from the available list of appointments were 2.5x more likely to continue with the booking process compared to people who needed to hunt for available times. Making it easy matters in healthcare and it can be the difference between getting care and not getting care.

One Medical believes talking with a doctor should be simple. You shouldnt have to work for your healthcare. We always analyze every single step to make sure our members get the best care possible, in the shortest amount of time. -- Anjali Johnson, VP of Product, One Medical.

One Medical offers access to telehealth services, allowing people to take an appointment from the comfort of their home. In this experiment, over 50% of new members booked a Remote Visit option for a same-day video visit, a 67% lift compared to the control. This signals that where/how appointments are offered matters. Members are more inclined to engage with healthcare when access is made easy.

Patient decision-making and behavior play an increasingly critical role in every aspect of health. According to the CDC , up to 40% of premature deaths in the United States could be prevented and the leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and unintentional injuries. Everyone has the intention to be healthy, but our actions dont always align.

One Medical and Irrational Labs recognize the need to accelerate the development of behavioral solutions to drive health outcomes. This partnership brings together deep skills in behavior change to help support patients through successful healthcare engagement.

A scientific approach to health decisions and behavior is critical to solving the major health crises facing our country, said Richard Mathera, Director of Health for Irrational Labs. Were thrilled about this work with One Medical, who shares our vision of healthcare rooted in behavioral science and is well positioned to implement innovative solutions that will reach hundreds of thousands across the country.

The Irrational Labs and One Medical collaboration focused on providing members with an enhanced healthcare experience and driving improved outcomes. By strengthening preventative care, One Medical and Irrational Labs aim to improve the foundational health of patients to support longer and healthier lives.

Supporting assets

People in the control condition would go straight to the One Medical homepage after verifying email and answering some basic questions. People in the experimental condition would get the chance to immediately book.

A representative concept of the control condition is available at this link: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9c5fdd14-7e42-4c1b-8be4-8d382aa4ce99

A representative concept of the experimental condition is available at this link: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/897fcecf-d8a6-49e7-b1c7-340f4706bb7a

About One Medical

One Medical is a membership-based and technology-powered primary care platform with seamless digital health and inviting in-office care, convenient to where people work, shop, live, and click. Our vision is to delight millions of members with better health and better care while reducing costs. Our mission is to transform health care for all through our human-centered, technology-powered model. Headquartered in San Francisco, 1Life Healthcare, Inc. is the administrative and managerial services company for the affiliated One Medical physician owned professional corporations that deliver medical services in-office and virtually. 1Life and the One Medical entities do business under the One Medical brand.

About Irrational Labs

Irrational Labs is one of the top behavioral science firms in the U.S., primarily serving the financial and health sectors. The team uses behavioral economics insights to design, build and research solutions to product and organizational design problems. Irrational Labs was co-founded by Dan Ariely , professor, author and behavioral economist, and Kristen Berman , a renowned applied behavioral scientist.

Irrational Labs has worked with Microsoft, The World Food Programme, The World Bank, Intuit, Lyft, Fidelity, Aetna, and many other companies to change behavior for the better. Irrational Labs has run over 50 experiments to drive organizational and human behavior metrics and has trained hundreds of people inside big and small organizations.

Media Contact

Richard Mathera

Irrational Labs

richard@irrationallabs.com
Dublin, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Pneumatic Conveying System Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global pneumatic conveying system market reached a value of US$ 28.4 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach a value of US$ 40.5 Billion by 2027 exhibiting a CAGR of 5.80% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



A pneumatic conveying system provides a cost-effective way to handle and transfer dry bulk materials without damage using pressure differential and gas flow. It consists of a receiver, feed device, conveying pipeline, material introduction point, and gas flow movement device. It is widely used in various types of process plants to transport materials between different storage locations. Nowadays, various dense phase pneumatic conveying systems are available across the globe that significantly reduces the risk of material degradation and wear.



Pneumatic Conveying System Market Trends:

Pneumatic conveying systems are utilized in food processing plants to transport powdered and granular food ingredients like flour, sugar, milk, wheat, coffee, grains, salt, and spices. This, along with the growing consumption of processed food products due to busy working schedules and inflating income levels, represents one of the key factors positively influencing the application of pneumatic conveying systems in the food and beverage (F&B) industry. Moreover, pneumatic conveying systems are employed in the pharmaceutical industry to deliver delicate materials, such as tablet granulations, active ingredients, finished tablets, and a wide variety of excipients.

This, in confluence with the escalating need for drugs and medications on account of the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and easy access to healthcare services, is contributing to the market growth. Apart from this, due to the fine powdering nature of titanium dioxide, pneumatic conveying systems are gaining traction over manual conveying methods that are ineffective, expensive, and time-consuming. In addition, the increasing usage of titanium dioxide in the production of paint, inks, plastics, textiles, and ceramics is impelling the market growth. Furthermore, market players are developing innovative pneumatic conveying processes and components to meet increasing customer demands for larger product capacities, greater product variability, and longer conveying distances. This is projected to impel the market growth.



Key Market Segmentation:

The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global pneumatic conveying system market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2022-2027. Our report has categorized the market based on technology, operation and end user.



Breakup by Technology:

Positive Pressure Conveying

Vacuum Pressure Conveying

Combination Conveying

Breakup by Operation:

Dilute-phase Conveying

Dense-phase Conveying

Breakup by End User:

Food

Pharmaceuticals

Rubber and Plastics

Ceramic

Mining

Others

Breakup by Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Atlas Copco AB, AZO GmbH + Co. KG, Cyclonaire Corporation, Dynamic Air Inc., Flexicon Corporation, Gericke AG, Hillenbrand Inc., Macawber Engineering Inc., Nilfisk Group, Nol-Tec Systems Inc., Palamatic Process, Schenck Process Holding GmbH and VAC-U-MAX.



Key Questions Answered in this Report:

How has the global pneumatic conveying system market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global pneumatic conveying system market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the technology?

What is the breakup of the market based on the operation?

What is the breakup of the market based on the end user?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global pneumatic conveying system market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology

3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Pneumatic Conveying System Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Technology

6.1 Positive Pressure Conveying

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Vacuum Pressure Conveying

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Combination Conveying

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Operation

7.1 Dilute-phase Conveying

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Dense-phase Conveying

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by End User

8.1 Food

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Pharmaceuticals

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 Rubber and Plastics

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast

8.4 Ceramic

8.4.1 Market Trends

8.4.2 Market Forecast

8.5 Mining

8.5.1 Market Trends

8.5.2 Market Forecast

8.6 Others

8.6.1 Market Trends

8.6.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Region

10 SWOT Analysis



11 Value Chain Analysis



12 Porters Five Forces Analysis



13 Price Analysis



14 Competitive Landscape

14.1 Market Structure

14.2 Key Players

14.3 Profiles of Key Players

14.3.1 Atlas Copco AB

14.3.1.1 Company Overview

14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.1.3 Financials

14.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.2 AZO GmbH + Co. KG

14.3.2.1 Company Overview

14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.3 Cyclonaire Corporation

14.3.3.1 Company Overview

14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.4 Dynamic Air Inc.

14.3.4.1 Company Overview

14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.5 Flexicon Corporation

14.3.5.1 Company Overview

14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.6 Gericke AG

14.3.6.1 Company Overview

14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.7 Hillenbrand Inc.

14.3.7.1 Company Overview

14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.7.3 Financials

14.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.8 Macawber Engineering Inc.

14.3.8.1 Company Overview

14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9 Nilfisk Group

14.3.9.1 Company Overview

14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9.3 Financials

14.3.10 Nol-Tec Systems Inc.

14.3.10.1 Company Overview

14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.11 Palamatic Process

14.3.11.1 Company Overview

14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.12 Schenck Process Holding GmbH

14.3.12.1 Company Overview

14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.13 VAC-U-MAX

14.3.13.1 Company Overview

14.3.13.2 Product Portfolio

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/c0slcd

Attachment
WHITEHORSE, Yukon, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Victoria Gold Corp. (TSX-VGCX) (Victoria or the Company) is pleased to report the analytical results from the 2020/21 Eagle Deep exploration program. The program was conducted starting in late 2020 and ran through to May 2021 and comprised of nine (9) holes for a total of 6,103 meters of diamond drilling with 3,956 samples processed and analyzed. On average, the holes were to a depth of 800 meters.



Highlights of the 2020/21 Eagle Deep exploration program include:

DG21-993C:

443.6m @ 0.64 g/t Au from 24.4m

including: 175.0m @ 1.22 g/t Au from 148.0m

DG21-997C:

110.9m @ 0.72 g/t Au from 201.6m

and: 50.0m @ 0.79 g/t Au from 394.0m

DG21-1000C:

352.0m @ 0.51 g/t Au from 61.0m

including: 126.0m @ 0.80 g/t Au from 278.0m

"The Eagle Deep drilling below the Eagle Deposit clearly demonstrates potential to significantly extend the currently defined gold Resource Estimate at depth from the existing pit, commented John McConnell, President and CEO of Victoria. While the current drilling is not of sufficient density to define resources or reserves, there is potential to add multi-million ounces and extend the mine life.

Table 1: Summary of 2020/21 Eagle Deep Exploration Drilling Results

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m)* Gold

(g/t) DG20-992C 146.5 166.4 19.9 0.82 and 484.7 663.9 179.1 0.40 including 498.6 526.6 28.0 0.76 and including 571.8 620.0 48.2 0.52 DG21-993C 24.4 468.0 443.6 0.64 including 148.0 323.0 175.0 1.22 and including 216.3 323.0 106.7 1.72 and including 435.5 460.0 24.5 0.63 DG21-997C 79.0 187.5 108.5 0.41 including 79.0 100.8 21.8 0.64 and 196.0 444.0 248.0 0.56 including 201.6 312.5 110.9 0.72 and including 394.0 444.0 50.0 0.79 and 545.1 553.0 7.9 1.06 DG21-998C 246.0 387.0 141.0 0.50 including 354.0 375.0 21.0 1.53 DG21-999C 558.0 560.0 2.0 2.37 DG21-1000C 61.0 413.0 352.0 0.51 including 96.0 104.0 8.0 1.88 and 212.0 235.0 23.0 0.60 and 278.0 404.0 126.0 0.80 DG21-1001C 19.0 21.0 2.0 3.25 and 212.0 243.0 31.0 0.82 DG21-1002C 73.3 287.0 213.7 0.44 including 221.8 287.0 65.2 0.79 and 338.0 361.0 23.0 0.40 and 445.0 447.0 2.0 2.88 and 487.0 752.0 265.0 0.42 including 487.0 546.0 59.0 0.73 and including 640.0 684.0 44.0 0.61 DG21-1003C 73.2 77.6 4.4 2.27 and 203.3 229.8 26.6 0.40 including 225.7 229.8 4.1 0.99

* Intersection lengths represent approximately 90% of estimated apparent true thickness.

Note: Drillholes DG21-994C, DG21-995C and CG21-996C were geotechnical holes and did not form part of the near Eagle drilling program.

Historically, there has been only limited drilling to test the vertical extent of mineralization at Eagle; with the notable exception of a four-hole deep-drilling campaign in 2017. Each of these 2017 drillholes intercepted long intervals of gold mineralization; including multiple intervals of greater than 1 g/t Au.

Highlighted results from 2017 Eagle Deep drillholes* include:

DG17-930C:

607.8m @ 0.56 g/t Au from 47.2m

including: 120.0m @ 0.95 g/t Au from 50.0m

and including: 40.2m @ 1.33 g/t Au from 362.3m



DG17-937C:

122.3m @ 0.71 g/t Au from 476.6m

including: 44.3m @ 0.93 g/t Au from 551.1m

DG17-922C:

624.1m @ 0.50 g/t Au from 0 to 624.1m

including: 371.1m @ 0.65 g/t Au from 185.9m

including 37.2m @ 1.27 g/t Au from 249.8m

and including: 38.8m @ 1.20 g/t Au from 468.3m

DG17-910C:

423.0m @ 0.59 g/t Au from 221.0m

including: 161.4m @ 0.91 g/t Au from 482.6m

and including: 25.5m @ 1.97 g/t Au from 612.5m



*see Company News releases dated October 23 and 30, 2017

Analytical Method

All exploration drill core from the Near Eagle 2021 program was analyzed at SGS Canada Inc. of Burnaby, B.C. utilizing the GE_ICP40Q12, 34-element analytical package with GE_FAA50V5 50-gram fire assay with gravimetric finish for gold on all samples. All core samples were split at Victoria's exploration facilities and shipped to SGS Canada Inc.'s Whitehorse preparation facility. There, samples were sorted and crushed to appropriate particle size (coarse crush) and representatively split to a smaller size (250 grams) for shipment to SGS Canada Inc.'s Burnaby analytical laboratory facilities. A comprehensive system of standards, blanks and field duplicates was implemented for the 2021 exploration campaign and is monitored as chemical assay data become available.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul D. Gray, P.Geo., as the Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About the Dublin Gulch Property

Victoria Gold's 100%-owned Dublin Gulch gold property (the Property) is situated in central Yukon Territory, Canada, approximately 375 kilometers north of the capital city of Whitehorse, and approximately 85 kilometers from the town of Mayo. The Property is accessible by road year round, and is located within Yukon Energy's electrical grid.

The Property covers an area of approximately 555 square kilometers, and is the site of the Company's Eagle and Olive Gold Deposits. The Eagle Gold Mine is Yukon's newest operating gold mine. The Eagle and Olive deposits include Proven and Probable Reserves of 3.3 million ounces of gold from 155 million tonnes of ore with a grade of 0.65 grams of gold per tonne, as outlined in a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Mine dated December 3, 2019. The Mineral Resource under National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) for the Eagle and Olive deposits has been estimated to host 227 million tonnes averaging 0.67 grams of gold per tonne, containing 4.7 million ounces of gold in the "Measured and Indicated" category, inclusive of Proven and Probable Reserves, and a further 28 million tonnes averaging 0.65 grams of gold per tonne, containing 0.6 million ounces of gold in the "Inferred" category.

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Except for statements of historical fact relating to Victoria, information contained herein constitutes forward-looking information, including any information related to Victoria's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as plan, expect, budget, target, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may, will, could or should occur, and includes any guidance and forecasts set out herein (including, but not limited to, production and operational guidance of the Corporation). In order to give such forward-looking information, the Corporation has made certain assumptions about its business, operations, the economy and the mineral exploration industry in general, in particular in light of the impact of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease (COVID-19) on each of the foregoing. In this respect, the Corporation has assumed that production levels will remain consistent with managements expectations, contracted parties provide goods and services on agreed timeframes, equipment works as anticipated, required regulatory approvals are received, no unusual geological or technical problems occur, no material adverse change in the price of gold occurs and no significant events occur outside of the Corporation's normal course of business. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made, and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information. These factors include the impact of general business and economic conditions, risks related to COVID-19 on the Company, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, anticipated metal production, fluctuating metal prices, currency exchange rates, estimated ore grades, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in accounting policies, changes in Victoria's corporate resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, changes in development and production time frames, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainty of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, higher prices for fuel, steel, power, labour and other consumables contributing to higher costs and general risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, final pricing for metal sales, unanticipated results of future studies, seasonality and unanticipated weather changes, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, requirements for additional capital, permitting time lines, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage and timing and possible outcomes of pending litigation and labour disputes, risks related to remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure, fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations. Although Victoria has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding Victoria's expected financial and operational performance and Victoria's plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. All forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof, as the case may be, and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management of the Corporation as at the date hereof. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information contained herein and the documents incorporated by reference herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

For Further Information Contact:

John McConnell

President & CEO

Victoria Gold Corp

Tel: 604-696-6605

ceo@vgcx.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/04bee45a-c971-4a8d-ba14-8ff0bcabdd4f
Detroit, Michigan, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., (OTCPK:AITX), today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD) has signed Apex3 Systems, LLC as a new authorized dealer, and has received an order for a ROSA security robot from this new dealer. Apex3 Systems is considered by some as the Chicago areas top-tier systems integrator.



RADs ROSA along with RAD Light My Way looks like a perfect complement to our existing offerings, said Michael Potter, CPP, President of Apex3 Systems. We are very excited to be able to present these solutions to our clients throughout Illinois and expect that many of these opportunities will materialize very soon.

With the addition of this new authorized dealer, RADs dealer network has expanded to 32, covering the US, Canada, and the European Union.

Over the past few months RAD has experienced a substantial uptick in channel partner inquiries bringing with them immediately closable sales opportunities, said Steve Reinharz, CEO of AITX. Apex3 Systems sought us out and were aware of how our solutions will benefit their clients. I sense that weve hit a critical mass in our exposure. And with the launch activities that we have planned for RAD Light My Way about to be released, RADs momentum should accelerate even greater, Reinharz added.

ROSA is a compact, self-contained, security and communication solution that can be deployed in about 15 minutes. Like other RAD solutions, it only requires power as it includes all necessary communications hardware. ROSAs AI-driven security analytics include human and vehicle detection, license plate recognition, responsive digital signage and audio messaging, and complete integration with RADs software suite notification and response library. Two-way communication is optimized for cellular, including live video from ROSAs dual high-resolution, full-color, always-on cameras.

RAD Light My Way offers property management and campus security professionals a new and better way to address security. A first of its kind, the solution puts the power of security in the hands of employees, faculty, and students through the combination of affordable, smart, interactive technology, a mobile app, and live remote monitoring and response services. The facility management industry has taken notice. RAD Light My Way is the winner of the 2021 Best Workplace Experience Award, part of CBREs annual Supplier Innovation Challenge.

Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD) is a high-tech start-up that delivers robotics and artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex security challenges, and fuel new business ideas at reduced costs. RAD developed its advanced security robot technology from the ground up including circuit board design, and base code development. This allows RAD to have complete control over all design elements, performance, quality, and the users experience of all security robots whether SCOT, ROSA, Wally, Wally HSO, AVA, ROAMEO, or RAD Light My Way. Read about how RAD is reinventing the security services industry by downloading the Autonomous Remote Services Industry Manifesto.

About Apex3 Systems, LLC

Apex3 Systems is an integrator of security solutions offering a complete spectrum of services including design, installation, maintenance, training, and consultation. Whether a single location, campus environment or multi-building property, Apex3 Systems has the solution to address your security concerns. Apex3 Systems differentiates itself by working diligently with customers providing best of breed customer service, while implementing secure intelligent solutions. For more information, please visit apex3systems.com

CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions to provide for its obligations, to provide working capital needs from operating revenues, to obtain additional financing needed for any future acquisitions, to meet competitive challenges and technological changes, to meet business and financial goals including projections and forecasts, and other risks. Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement(s) and/or to confirm the statement(s) to actual results or changes in Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions expectations.

About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX)

AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and fuel new business ideas. Through its next-generation robotic product offerings, AITXs RAD, RAD-M and RAD-G companies help organizations streamline operations, increase ROI, and strengthen business. AITX technology improves the simplicity and economics of patrolling and guard services and allows experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks. Customers augment the capabilities of existing staffs and gain higher levels of situational awareness, all at drastically reduced cost. AITX solutions are well suited for use in multiple industries such as enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare. To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai, www.r adsecurity .com and www.radlightmyway.com, or follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @ SteveReinharz .

###
Alberta, Canada, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Each year hundreds of thousands of people search for privacy screen options for decks across North America. Sunbelly Privacy Screens are the newest option to hit the market, offering completely unique, modern styles that reflect today's design sensibilities and maintenance-free lifestyles.

Sunbelly Privacy Screens offer the ideal balance of privacy and style, with six modern screen designs in both black and bronze with a variety of opacity levels. The panels can be flipped upside down or rotated 180 degrees, allowing customers to create custom combinations.

"The desire for privacy screens has increased over the last two years, with people spending more time at home and making better use of their own outdoor spaces," says Sunbelly co-founder, Dustin Wilson. "As a team of product designers and exterior specialists, we knew we could make something new that truly offered what our customers wanted: beauty, ease and, of course, privacy."

Whether it's for the design aesthetic, protection from peering neighbours, or anything in between, Sunbelly Privacy Screens has the solution. Their six profiles, in order from lowest to highest privacy, are:

Planks

Parallel

Cinder Block

Honeycomb

High Tide

Blurred Lines

Each screen profile is made using 100% powder-coated aluminum, which requires zero maintenance and will last a lifetime with no rust or decay. The metal privacy screen panels and posts are extremely easy to install.

Sunbelly Privacy Screens can be purchased through a number of dealers and distributors across North America. Dealers and distributors interested in selling Sunbelly can reach out at the contact info below.

About Sunbelly Privacy Screens

The Sunbelly team consists of product designers, exterior specialists, and former contractors who wanted to bring better outdoor privacy options to their customers. They created a new metal privacy screen option that balances beauty, versatility, durability, and ease of install and continue to find new ways to innovate in the exterior design market.

Contact:

Dustin Wilson

hello@sunbelly.com

sunbelly.com

Related Images











Image 1: Sunbelly Privacy Screens





The Planks Profile in Black.









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CHAR Technologies Ltd. (CHAR or Company) (YES  TSXV) announces it has been selected to the TSX Venture 50 as a top performer in the Clean Technology and Life Sciences industry. The TSX Venture 50 is a ranking of the top performers on the TSX Venture Exchange over the past year in five industry sectors. Companies selected for 2021s TSX Venture 50 have demonstrated their ability to access capital for growth and scale up their business for success.



During 2021, CHAR made significant progress with the following projects and milestones:

Closed $6 million private placement. Received 1,000 tonne biocoal order from major Canadian steel company. Signed an agreement with Hitachi Zosen Inova for California high temperature pyrolysis (HTP) anaerobic digestate to green hydrogen project. Began upgrades to existing HTP facility to produce renewable natural gas (RNG). Signed an exclusive technology licensing agreement with CHAR's principal kiln technology supplier, Anergy, a global waste transformation leader. Commenced surveying and geotechnical testing at the proposed site of its woody biomass to RNG HTP project in Kirkland Lake, Ont.

Building on 2021s strong growth CHAR announced an additional HTP system at an existing biomass cogeneration facility in Saint-Felicien, Quebec. This system will leverage existing biomass handling and processing equipment operated for the Centre de Valorisation de la Biomasse du Domaine-du-Roy ("CVB"), a public-private consortium between the local municipality (the MRC du Domaine-du-Roy), the Societe de Cogeneration de Saint-Felicien (SCSF, owned by Greenleaf Power) and CharTech Solutions (Char's 100-per-cent wholly owned subsidiary).

We are pleased to be recognized by the TSX Venture Exchange as a top performer in the Clean Technology space, said Andrew White, CHARs CEO. This year has really seen our development projects accelerate, and really gaining market traction in our key growth verticals of biocarbon and biocoal, renewable natural gas, and anaerobic digestate management to produce green hydrogen. In 2022, we will see delivery on projects as we continue to solidify our market leading position.

About CHAR

CHAR Technologies Ltd. is a cleantech development and services company, specializing in organic waste pyrolysis and biocarbon development, custom equipment for industrial air and water treatment, and providing services in environmental management, site investigation and remediation, engineering, environmental compliance and resource efficiency.

For further information , please contact :

Andrew White Mark Korol Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer CHAR Technologies Ltd. CHAR Technologies Ltd. E: andrew.white@chartechnologies.com E: m.korol@chartechnologies.com T: 866 521-3654 Website: www.chartechnologies.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (forward-looking statements) about CHAR and is business and operations. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", proposed, earmarked, "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to CHAR, are intended to identify forward-looking information. Such statements reflect CHARs current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to CHAR, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those risk factors discussed or referred to in CHARs disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada, including the Management Discussion & Analysis dated January 27, 2021 and available under CHARs profile on www.sedar.com. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, CHAR does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and CHAR undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More choice, more access, more control  this years most relevant brands enable consumers to have personalized experiences and connect with people from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Prophet, the global consultancy, announced the results of its seventh Prophet Brand Relevance Index (BRI), a ranking of the most relevant brands based on consumer feedback.



The top 10 most relevant brands of 2022 are:

1. Apple 6. Instant Pot 2. Peloton 7. PlayStation 3. Spotify 8. Fitbit 4. Bose 9. TED 5. Android 10. USAA

Brand relevance correlates with growth and value for investors. While the most relevant brands in the BRI make up 1% of S&P 500 constituents, they represent 10% of the indexs $17 trillion value. The top 50 BRI brands experience 133% higher revenue growth than other S&P 500 companies.

After two years in pandemic mode, enabling consumers to engage with others even while isolated is a big priority, according to the BRI. The biggest brands  Apple, Peloton, Spotify, Bose, Android  are tech fueled, can be personalized and help people connect human-to-human without leaving the house. They provide opportunities for people to become part of communities with passionate individuals who have shared interests whether it is swapping their favorite Instant Pot recipes, playing PlayStation with fellow gamers or competing against friends to see who can track the most steps on their Fitbit.

Brands that enable self-improvement and wellness also performed well in the ranking. Calm made a huge debut, ranking 15th in this years BRI. TED, the popular keynote series bringing education and life lessons in an easy digestible form, ranked 9th on the list and Teladoc Health, enabling users to stay on top of their health, made it into the top 25.

Whether its a wearable health tracker providing customers with personalized workout challenges and goals or a streaming service enabling users to create the perfect playlist, brands that put consumers in charge of how and when they engage win across the board, said Marisa Mulvihill, partner and head of brand and activation at Prophet. Even as the pandemic subsides, preferences for user-led engagement are not going away. To stay relevant with consumers, brands will have to think about how they can put their customers in the driver seat and deliver personalized and customized experiences.

Prophet surveyed more than 13,500 individuals about more than 293 brands across 27 categories. The BRI ranks brands according to how relentlessly relevant they are to consumers. This year a new pattern of relevance emerged: Brands are finding success in our new normal by connecting with us as humansby appealing to the head and the heart. The brands that appeal primarily to our heads are problem solvers. These ruthlessly pragmatic, pervasively innovative brands fuel the current need for self-reliance and DIY confidence. While brands that speak to the heart are customer-obsessed and distinctively inspired  turning consumers into fans, loyalists and collectors.

Emerging from homes into the world

For the second year in a row, the top 25 brands strongly represent an aspect of home life. From Amazon to Costco, Instant Pot to Dyson, LEGO to Marvel, all can be seen as supporting players in the pandemic reality where the household is at the center of everyones world.

But there are signs that consumers are ready to come out of hibernation. Sephora (32) and Ulta (53) rose in relevance from the previous year. Planet Fitness (26) and Crossfit (48) were both ranked in the top 50 indicating a desire to return to in-person exercise experiences. Hospitality brand Hilton (58) jumped up the rankings and Ritz Carlton (81) made an impressive debut on the list signaling that people are ready to see the world again.

How to become a staple in peoples day to day lives

The top brands that consumers cant imagine living without are relentlessly relevant. They are equal parts head and heart  solving everyday problems while making consumers feel delight and joy.

Scott Davis, Prophet chief growth officer added, People are always changing, which means relevance is a moving target. Our Index includes frontrunners and underdogs, as these companies were able to read cultural phenomena like DIY, self-help, and pandemic exhaustion, and address these trends with their products and services.

The most relevant brands provide a must-have service while delivering unforgettable experiences that make us feel alive.

About Prophet



Prophet is a consultancy that helps clients unlock uncommon growth by developing new business models, reimagining brands and experiences, driving demand and customer engagement and empowering people to transform their organizations. The largest privately-owned firm of its kind, Prophet brings a unique blend of creative and strategy to identify paths to purposeful, transformative and sustainable growth.

Based in San Francisco, with 14 global offices and more than 500 strategists, data analysts, marketers, digital experts and creatives, Prophet has worked with the worlds most successful companies, including AXA, CVS Health, The Home Depot, Samsung, T-Mobile, and UBS, partnering with them from ideation to in-market execution. Prophet.com

Media contact:

Eliese Haerle

e_haerle@prophet.com
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Golden Tag Resources Ltd. (Golden Tag or the "Company") (TSX.V: GOG) (OTCQB: GTAGF) is pleased to announce that due to strong investor demand for the non-brokered private placement previously announced on January 20, 2022, the Company has agreed to increase the size of the private placement by up to 5,000,000 Units, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,250,000 (the Offering). Together with the first tranche, which closed on February 8, 2022, up to 13,000,000 Units may be issued under the Offering at a price of $0.25 per Unit.



Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (Common Share) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a Warrant). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of C$0.40 for 24 months following the closing of the Upsized Offering. The Warrants will contain an acceleration provision whereby if the closing price of the Common Shares on the Exchange is $0.70 or more for 10 consecutive trading days the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants.

In connection with the Upsized Offering, the Company may pay finders fees in cash or securities, or a combination of both, as permitted by the policies of the Exchange.

The securities issued and issuable pursuant to the Upsized Offering will be subject to a four month and one day hold period. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Upsized Offering to fund advancement of the Companys 100% owned San Diego Project, in Durango Mexico, and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Upsized Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the completion of documentation and the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable securities regulatory authorities.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to persons in the United States absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Golden Tag Resources

Golden Tag Resources Ltd. is a junior exploration company exploring for high-grade silver deposits. The Company holds a 100% interest, subject to a 2% NSR, in the San Diego property in Durango State, Mexico. The San Diego property is located within the prolific Velardena Mining District, the site of several mines having produced silver, zinc, lead, and gold over the past century. For more information regarding the San Diego property please visit our website at www.goldentag.ca.

For additional information, please contact:

Greg McKenzie, President & CEO

Ph: 416-504-2024

greg.mckenzie@goldentag.ca

www.goldentag.ca

Cautionary Statement:

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of the phrase forward-looking information in the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 51-102  Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated completion of the Upsized Offering, the amounts expected to be raised in the Upsized Offering, the use of proceeds, and the advancement of the Companys San Diego Project. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the ability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inability of the Company to budget and manage its liquidity in light of the failure to obtain additional financing; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Pursuant to the Notice of 3 February 2022, an Extraordinary General Meeting of Ensurge Micropower ASA (the "Company") was held today, 24 February 2022. All proposed resolutions were approved by the shareholders. The minutes from the Meeting are attached and will also be made available on the Companys website.

For further information, please contact:

Stale Bjrnstad - Investor Relations

E-mail: stale.bjornstad@ensurge.com

Phone: +47 99 16 76 72

Kevin Barber - Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: kevin.barber@ensurge.com

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

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Toronto, Ontario, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lift&Co. Expo, Canadas no. 1 cannabis conference and trade show, returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, May 12-15, 2022, delivering expert insights and education, as well as the ultimate in business-building networking, and an expo floor showcasing hundreds of products, services, and cannabis industry innovations.

All this, plus the uniquely irresistible experience that keeps thousands of cannabis producers, growers, investors, movers, shakers and trailblazers buzzing  to the tune of 15 million-plus social media impressions (and counting).

Each year, we lead with the quality, value and uniqueness of our industry education, says Barry Smith, Lift&Co. Expo Content Director. For Toronto 22, Im eager to reveal new consumer and patient products and therapies. Plus, our brand-new stage called The Dome is designed for interviews focused on game-changing issues.

Lift&Co. Expo Toronto 2022 includes:

Lift Cannabis Business Conference | May 12

| May 12 CannaVest North Investment Forum | May 13-14

| May 13-14 Lift&Co. Expo | May 13  15

| May 13  15 Industry Days | May 13  14

| May 13  14 Consumer Day | May 15

Always full of surprises, the event has plenty of new in store for 22:

Leading-Edge Education | Up-to-the-minute intelligence on world markets, critical industry shifts, next-gen innovations, regulations, profitability and much more

| Up-to-the-minute intelligence on world markets, critical industry shifts, next-gen innovations, regulations, profitability and much more Industry Stage & The Dome | Joining the Well&Good Stage, two new areas will showcase leading expert speakers and panels.

| Joining the Well&Good Stage, two new areas will showcase leading expert speakers and panels. Budtenders Masterclasses | Discover Canadas top cannabis training certification for uber aficionados and haute sommeliers.

| Discover Canadas top cannabis training certification for uber aficionados and haute sommeliers. Industry Days | Now two full days of networking and learning are dedicated exclusively to members of the cannabis industry

| Now two full days of networking and learning are dedicated exclusively to members of the cannabis industry CannaVest North Investment Forum | The esteemed conferences Canadian debut, connecting cannabis companies seeking capital with accredited investors

| The esteemed conferences Canadian debut, connecting cannabis companies seeking capital with accredited investors Top Deal-Makers Marketplace | Key destination for leaders from Canadas top LPs, retailers, labs, suppliers, and more, to connect and form strategic alliances

| Key destination for leaders from Canadas top LPs, retailers, labs, suppliers, and more, to connect and form strategic alliances 420 Receptions | Mix, mingle and make connections right on the Expo Floor

| Mix, mingle and make connections right on the Expo Floor Lift&Co. Expo Ambassador Board | Featuring 20+ influencers, insiders, and cannabis industry innovators

In addition, new and returning favourite Lift&Co. Expo partners and exhibitors will include Platinum Partner Futurola, Silver Partner BIS Solutions, Presenting Partner JMCC, and exhibitors Indiva, Hawthorne, Dutchie, Canapa/Paxiom, FedEx and more.

As Torontos must-go show readies to welcome thousands from across Canada and North America, the team behind the scenes hints at an experience to remember.

The Canadian cannabis market is projected to reach $4.8B in sales in 2022, says Shawn Pierce, President of MCI Events. Were serious about providing education and facilitating the connections that will drive the future of this booming industry. But we dont take ourselves too seriously, and thats what makes the Lift&Co. Expo experience so unique.

Visit liftexpo.ca for more information on Lift&Co. Expo Toronto 2022, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, May 12-15, 2022. Visit Lift&Co. Expo on Flickr and Instagram to peek exclusive pics, and preview more exhibitors, speakers, and sponsors in weeks to come.

Plus, Save The Date for Lift&Co. Expos return to Vancouver, January 12  14, 2023!

ABOUT MCI

MCI is the global leader in engaging and activating audiences. Our business is founded on a simple human insight: When people come together, magic happens. Since 1987, we have been bringing people together through inspiring meetings, events, congresses and associations or community management. MCI helps organizations harness the power of community by applying our strategic engagement and activation solutions to build unforgettable online and offline experiences that foster change, inspire, educate, and enhance business performance. MCI is an independently owned company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and boasts a global presence with 2,500+ professionals in 61 offices and 31 countries, who work with clients across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, India, and the Middle East. Visit us at wearemci.com or Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook.

ABOUT MVP EDUCATION, LLC

MVP Education, LLC is an equity investor who partners with associations, event owners and license owners to accelerate the growth, innovation, and impact of your events.

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Chinas three major telecom operators added a total of 28.1m 5G users in Jan

(Global Times) 11:08, February 24, 2022

5G Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

Statistics from China's three major telecom operators show the number of users adopting 5G data packages kept soaring in January, with the three carriers adding a total of 28.1 million users in the month, key to laying the foundation for the next-generation internet technology to achieve efficiencies of scale soon.

China Mobile's 5G users hit 401.27 million as of January, rising from 387 million at the end of 2021, according to an announcement the carrier filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) on Monday.

Current levels of 5G adoption accounted for 41.7 percent of all China Mobile users, according to calculations done by the Global Times.

China Telecom, another major carrier, said the number of its 5G users grew by 8.26 million in January to 196.06 million.

China Unicom added 5.57 million 5G users in January. The total number of 5G users linked to the carrier hit 160 million, accounting for roughly half of the company's total user base.

Although some people may have multiple accounts with different carriers, the latest statistics show the technology is gaining more popularity among Chinese users.

"There is rising demand among users to adopt 5G, as most newly launched smartphones in 2021 and 2022 were 5G devices. There isn't a problem for 5G users at China Mobile to account for 60-70 percent [of its total users]," Ma Jihua, a veteran telecommunications industry analyst, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

In November 2021, an official from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said that the number of China's 5G users stood at 450 million, accounting for more than 80 percent of the estimated global user base.

Ma said this showed China's leading position in the global landscape of 5G applications.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Graham Allison, a professor of government at Harvard University, said in a recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that "America is far behind in almost every dimension of 5G while other nations - including China - race ahead."

According to the MIIT, nearly 1.43 million 5G base stations had been rolled out in the country by the end of 2021, forming the world's largest 5G network and accounting for over 60 percent of the number of global 5G base stations. The ministry said that there are about 10 5G base stations for every 10,000 people in China in 2021, double the level at the end of 2020.

"As the 5G development enters a new stage, a goal for Chinese carriers is to cover the network of rural China Another task is to introduce more applications of 5G," Ma said, noting a new government project called "eastern data western calculation" to store and process more digital data in China's western provinces would help.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
A juror who convicted Ghislaine Maxwell failed to share that he was a victim of childhood sexual abuse when asked during jury selection, court papers unsealed Thursday confirmed.

The revelation came on the same day Manhattan Federal Court Judge Alison Nathan ruled that the 35-year-old juror, Scotty David, should be questioned publicly about his truthfulness at the start of the trial.

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Nathan found Davids statements to media cast doubt on the accuracy of his responses during jury selection. Both the prosecution and the defense requested an inquiry.

To be clear, the potential impropriety is not that someone with a history of sexual abuse may have served on the jury. Rather, it is the potential failure to respond truthfully to questions during the jury selection process that asked for that material information so that any potential bias could be explored, reads Nathans order.

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David was among the first of hundreds of New Yorkers surveyed to sit on the high-profile case. A scanned copy of his questionnaire  which the court did not permit him to see until its unsealing  shows he checked no when asked if he had ever been abused.

Ghislaine Maxwell (Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)

Have you or a friend or family member ever been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual assault? asks the 48th question on the survey.

This includes actual or attempted sexual assault or other unwanted sexual advance, including by a stranger, acquaintance, supervisor, teacher, or family member.

Davids answer contradicted what he told reporters after he found Maxwell guilty of enticing and transporting teenage girls for sex with Jeffrey Epstein.

He shared in interviews that his fellow jurors were skeptical of some of the testifying victims memories, until he opened up about his own experience.

Ghislaine Maxwell trial juror Scotty David's questionnaire. (Court filings)

I know what happened when I was sexually abused. I remember the [color] of the carpet, the walls. Some of it can be replayed like a video, David told the UK-based outlet The Independent.

David later told Reuters he flew through the paperwork and did not recall question 48. An intentionally false statement on a juror questionnaire could rise to the level of perjury.

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The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers urged Nathan to grant Maxwell a new trial.

The court should not allow any juror to thwart its screening process by giving inaccurate answers and thereby create such a grave potential, realized in this case, for depriving the defendant of her right to a fair trial. A new trial is required.

FILE - The main jury panel sits in the jury box waiting to be dismissed after deliberating during Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking trial, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 in New York. (Elizabeth Williams/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. >

Screenshots of Davids online activity, revealed in court papers, show he tweeted at Annie Farmer  one of four women who testified about being abused by Maxwell  and later tried to delete it. He has since deleted his Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts.

Thanks for being brave enough to stand up and share your experience. Your story was critical in how we reached our verdict in that jury room. Thanks for sharing my story, wrote David to Farmer.

Maxwells lawyers said they would have sought to strike David from the jury pool had he shared his abuse experience from the outset.

This was unfair and prejudicial to Ms. Maxwell, and it all would have been avoided if Juror No. 50 had told the truth during voir dire. But he didnt, reads the filing by Jeffrey Pagliuca.

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Had Juror No. 50 told the truth, he would have been challenged, and excluded, for cause.

Nathan rejected Maxwells motion for a new trial Thursday based solely on the interviews, as David wasnt under oath. He will be when hes questioned on March 8. The judge denied another motion from Maxwell seeking a broader inquest focused on a second juror they allege also omitted their personal experience with sexual abuse.

Maxwell, 60, was convicted on Dec. 29 for being serial pedophile Epsteins chief enabler from 1994 to 2004. She remains in federal lockup at the Metropolitan Detention Complex in Brooklyn.
HOUSTON, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Texas-based company SRS Distribution Inc., a leader in the building products distribution industry, has announced its sponsorship of the upcoming series of trade shows, ExpoContratista. The events will occur in Dallas (July 16-17), and Houston (Oct. 22-23).

SRS Distributor's Latino Marketing & Sales Program Manager, Julissa Chavez, says this is the second year of their sponsorship but the first to sponsor all two city events; last year they sponsored the Houston Expo. She says their interest evolved after 2019, when "we saw the trend [of a burgeoning Hispanic construction industry grow] from just the people doing the labor, to 'let's open our own business.'"

"This is the second year SRS Distribution DBA Southern Shingles participates as a sponsor of ExpoContratista and the first time we will sponsor all two city events. After successfully sponsoring the Houston Expo in 2019, we have seen a growing trend in the construction industry, from contractors to people starting up their businesses", said Julissa Chavez, Latino Marketing Program and Sales Manager.

With Hispanics and Latinos slated to dominate not only Texas but the United States in the coming years, their financial power will only continue to grow. ExpoContratista is capitalizing on this - the 2021 Texas state census showed that just under 40 percent of residents were of Hispanic/Latino descent.

Chavez says, "We want to establish a partnership with Expo Contratista to develop educational opportunities and support events that tailor to the Latino Construction workers in America. The SRS para Latinos program is definitely leading the way for the roofing industry; no other national roofing distributor has anything like our program, and we will continue the momentum by continuing to develop our vendor partnerships within the industry."

"SRS Distributors does this by analyzing the needs of their Spanish-speaking roofing contractors. The SRS para Latinos program will continue to offer resources, education, and solutions that help support roofing contractors in their businesses," she says.

To achieve this, SRS Distribution is constantly analyzing the needs of their Spanish-speaking roofing contractors. "Our SRS para Latinos program will continue to offer resources, education, and solutions that help support roofing contractors in their businesses."

Sergio Terreros, president of Hispanic Marketing Agency and Co-Founder at National Hispanic Contractors Association, says: "The SRS Distribution partnership will bring unmeasurable resources to our Hispanic roofing audience, and we are thrilled to have such a leader in the roofing industry on board."

Testimonials from past events accentuate the benefits of the expos, with one attendee saying, "I had a great experience and met a lot of people, plenty of people that didn't know about us now know about us." (Martin's Hardware).

Contractors and construction industry workers alike will convene at the two Texas locations, enjoying talks and seminars, networking, and informal discussions in an upbeat, casual atmosphere.

ExpoContratista will punctuate the momentum of Hispanic construction industry growth, while also fostering new ideas for the future. After all, the need for development is a major impetus of Hispanic immigration, not just in Texas but in the entire country.

Chavez adds that in carving out a niche in the Hispanic market, they are fostering an environment where Spanish-speaker contractors feel more comfortable, acknowledged, and eager to participate. "Our mission is to support to Latinos in construction, and if people want to put us in the category of "preferred distribution partner in the market", that's kind of our sweet spot."

Follow ExpoContratista on social media - Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Media Contact

Sergio Terreros

media@11-11media.com

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Washington, D.C., Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As public sector workers report increased financial challenges in the wake of the ongoing pandemic, a new series of financial wellness case studies provides state and local government employers with key learnings and promising practices to help workers reduce debt, save for retirement, and reach other financial goals. This research comes as state and local employers struggle to attract and retain employees amid the Great Resignation.

Case Studies of Innovative Public Sector Employee Financial Wellness Programs highlights the results of five jurisdictions that participated in a one-year initiative that awarded $1.4 million in grants to 24 jurisdictions to establish or improve public employee financial wellness programs. This research is part of a MissionSquare Research Institute collaboration with the International Public Management Association For Human Resources (IPMA-HR) and the National Association of State Treasurers Foundation (NASTF), with the support of the Wells Fargo Foundation.

These five case studies highlight a range of approaches states and localities have taken, or could take, in implementing effective financial wellness programs for their employees, said Joshua Franzel, Ph.D., MissionSquare Research Institute Managing Director. They are offered at a time when many public employees are under financial pressure and are considering jobs changes in the wake of the pandemic. Implementing meaningful financial wellness programs can be a key tool for public employers as they focus on developing a productive workforce that is financially secure.

Read the financial wellness case studies. Register for a webinar on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at 2:00 PM ET for a review of key practitioner-oriented takeaways from the case studies and the financial wellness grant initiative.

The case studies provide ideas, advice, and networking opportunities for other state and local governments interested in establishing or strengthening employee financial wellness programs. Each case study offers a summary of the jurisdictions approach, outcomes, lessons learned, and future plans. The five case studies include:

Central Carolina Community College, North Carolina

Milwaukee County Transit System

Pennsylvania Treasury

San Diego County Water Authority

Wisconsin Strong - Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds and Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions

Recent research indicates the many state and local employees are worried about their personal finances and financial decisions, and they are experiencing burnout. Research also finds few public employers currently offer financial wellness programs, yet employees want these programs and believe they are important.

The case studies follow a series of Financial Wellness Fact Sheets, which also are available on an interactive map. The partnership included the development of a financial wellness toolkit that includes reference materials and guides on hosting virtual and in-person financial wellness conferences/meetings; a customizable speakers financial wellness toolkit; and a census of existing state financial wellness and education programs. All of these materials are available here.

MissionSquare Research Institute promotes excellence in state and local government and other public service organizations to attract and retain talented employees. The organization identifies leading practices and conducts research on retirement plans, health and wellness benefits, workforce demographics and skill set needs, labor force development, and topics facing the not-for-profit industry and education sector. MissionSquare Research Institute brings together leaders and respected researchers. More information and access to research and publications are available here.

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RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North Carolina-headquartered First Citizens Bank continues to be recognized as a leader in small business and middle market banking, receiving a total of 22 Greenwich Excellence and Brand Awards for 2021.



These awards place First Citizens among the top tier of business banks in the nation and are a testament to the quality and depth of services we provide our customers, said Patrick Noble, business services executive for First Citizens Bank. For 124 years weve worked alongside our business clients, building strong, mutual relationships and helping them grow and manage their money. These honors signify the great confidence they place in us, and were extremely proud to be recognized by those we serve.

First Citizens garnered 22 awards 17 wins in the Small Business Banking category (13 national and four regional) and five (two national and three regional) in the Middle Market Banking category.

The Greenwich Awards show our commitment to helping customers achieve financial success and security that has endured throughout the years, said Brendan Chambers, middle market executive for First Citizens Bank. With First Citizens integrated and personal approach to middle market banking, our clients know they can count on us for objective guidance, expertise and trusted advice along with high-quality services tailored for their business.

17 Small Business Banking Awards (13 National / Four Regional)

2021 National Small Business Banking Awards:

Best Brand - Trust

Best Brand - Ease of Doing Business

Best Brand - Values Long-Term Relationships

Overall Satisfaction

Overall Satisfaction with RM (Relationship Manager)

RM (Relationship Manager) Proactively Provides Advice

Industry Understanding

Likelihood to Recommend

Cash Management - Customer Service

Cash Management - Ease of Product Implementation

Cash Management - Making Commercial Payments Easier

Cash Management - Overall Satisfaction

Cash Management - Product Capabilities



2021 Regional Small Business Banking Awards (of four regions in the U.S.):

Overall Satisfaction - South region

Likelihood to Recommend - South region

RM (Relationship Manager) Proactively Provides Advice - South region

Cash Management - Overall Satisfaction - South region

Five Middle Market Banking Awards (Two National / Three Regional)

2021 National Middle Market Banking Awards:

Likelihood to Recommend

Overall Satisfaction

2021 Regional Middle Market Banking Awards (of four regions in the U.S.):

Likelihood to Recommend - South region

Cash Management - Overall Satisfaction - South region

Overall Satisfaction - South region



About the Greenwich Excellence Awards

Coalition Greenwich is the leading global provider of data, analytics and insights to the nancial services industry. For 2021 honors, Coalition Greenwich evaluated the small business banking and middle market platforms of more than 500 banks. Of these, only 24 have the distinctive quality required to win a Greenwich Excellence Award for small business; 28 for middle market. Awards in the small business category are based on nearly 13,000 interviews with businesses with sales of $1-10 million across the country. Awards in the middle market category are based on nearly 10,000 interviews with businesses with sales of $10500 million across the country.

About First Citizens Bank

First Citizens Bank helps personal, business, commercial and wealth clients build financial strength that lasts. As the largest family-controlled bank in the United States, First Citizens is continuing a unique legacy of strength, stability and long-term thinking that has spanned generations. Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., First Citizens also operates a nationwide direct bank and a network of more than 600 branches in 22 states. Industry specialists bring a depth of expertise that helps businesses and individuals meet their specific goals at every stage of their financial journey. First Citizens Bank brings together personal service and powerful tools to help customers do more with their money  and make more of their future. Visit firstcitizens.com. First Citizens Bank. Forever First
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stroud Resources Ltd. (TSXV:SDR) (Stroud or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has begun its Phase 2 diamond drilling program on its Santo Domingo Silver Property (Santo Domingo or the Property), located in Hostotipaquillo Region of Jalisco, Mexico. A 3,500 m program is planned for this phase of drilling, targeting the newly discovered Zopilote Vein (previously New Vein), the Guadalupe Vein and the La Raya Vein on which there is a current National Instrument 43-101 mineral resource estimate (see Stroud news releases dated 20 November 2017).



In its 2021 Phase 1 diamond drilling program, the Company completed 7,702.55 metres in 21 completed diamond drill holes and 383 metres in 5 abandoned holes. (Table 1; Figure 1). Assay results received to date are summarized in Table 2, with the results from 6 drill holes pending. Parameters for the 21 drill holes completed in 2021 are available on the Company website (www.stroudsilver.com).

The Phase 1 drilling program was successful in exploring the extent of known vein system-hosted silver mineralization on the Property and identified additional silver mineralized zones and vein systems such as Zopilote, which appear to strike parallel to the existing La Raya and Guadalupe silver vein systems (Figure 1).

The Companys current Drilling Permit covers 13 drill pads (drill setups) located across the Property. A second drilling permit will be submitted seeking additional drill pad locations to facilitate further delineation of the three known mineralized vein systems and other exploration targets.

Table 1. Summary of 2021 Phase 1 diamond drilling on the Santo Domingo Silver Project, Mexico.

Drill Hole UTM_mE UTM_mN Elevation (m) Az Dip Length (m) Hole Type Vein System Status SD-21-46 606383.07 2334194.03 1150.58 -50 230 308.50 Exploration Guadalupe Completed SD-21-47 606383.07 2334194.03 1150.58 -65 230 350.00 Exploration Guadalupe Completed SD-21-48 606383.07 2334194.03 1150.58 -80 230 375.00 Exploration Guadalupe Completed SD-21-49 606386.23 2334189.21 1151.26 -65 50 333.00 Exploration La Raya FW Completed SD-21-50 606785.16 2334205.80 984.54 -52 298 237.00 Delineation La Raya Completed SD-21-51 606438.24 2334460.73 1036.04 -40 222 58.30 Exploration Guadalupe Abandoned SD-21-52 606785.16 2334205.80 984.54 -64 279 225.00 Delineation La Raya Completed SD-21-53 606496.37 2334188.22 1143.33 -55 230 384.00 Exploration Guadalupe Completed SD-21-54 606496.37 2334188.22 1143.33 -65 230 324.00 Exploration Guadalupe Completed SD-21-56 606496.37 2334188.22 1143.33 -85 230 292.50 Exploration Guadalupe Completed SD-21-57 606438.24 2334460.73 1036.04 -72 230 317.30 Exploration Guadalupe Completed SD-21-58 606209.14 2334152.99 1128.46 -40 240 353.00 Exploration Zopilote Completed SD-21-68 606505.88 2334473.86 1025.02 -50 230 55.50 Exploration Guadalupe Abandoned SD-21-68A 606505.88 2334473.86 1025.02 -55 230 405.00 Exploration Guadalupe Completed SD-21-69 606523.85 2334431.34 1044.53 -50 230 183.00 Exploration Guadalupe Completed SD-21-70 606523.85 2334431.34 1044.53 -50 230 69.00 Exploration Guadalupe Abandoned SD-21-71 606618.46 2334416.30 991.20 -50 230 296.50 Delineation La Raya Completed SD-21-72 606441.38 2334206.86 1146.00 -65 230 99.00 Exploration Guadalupe Abandoned SD-21-73 606498.41 2334181.92 1143.64 -65 50 423.00 Exploration La Raya FW Completed SD-21-74 606441.38 2334206.86 1146.00 -65 50 403.00 Exploration La Raya FW Completed SD-21-75 606785.16 2334205.80 984.54 -50 285 330.00 Delineation La Raya Completed SD-21-80 606070.17 2334155.96 1159.49 -50 230 534.00 Exploration Zopilote Completed SD-21-81 606070.17 2334155.96 1159.49 -70 230 540.00 Exploration Zopilote Completed SD-21-82 606070.17 2334155.96 1159.49 -65 50 537.00 Exploration Zopilote Completed SD-21-83 606121.65 2334009.35 1152.00 -50 230 100.95 Exploration Zopilote Abandoned SD-21-84 606327.13 2334143.84 1165.92 -55 230 552.00 Exploration Zopilote Completed

Table 2. Summary of results from Phase 1 drill core assays received to date.

Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Length (m)1 Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AgEq (g/t)2 Vein System SD-21-46 148.15 149.30 1.15 0.43 53.10 85.35 Guadalupe W and 160.80 162.70 1.90 0.73 101.79 156.42 Guadalupe W and 236.30 236.70 0.40 2.17 243.00 405.75 Guadalupe W SD-21-49 87.00 89.15 2.15 0.32 70.20 94.20 Guadalupe SD-21-49 103.45 105.00 1.55 0.01 624.00 624.75 Guadalupe SD-21-49 131.05 133.75 2.70 0.13 42.77 52.29 Guadalupe SD-21-50 10.65 21.00 10.35 1.22 138.48 229.88 La Raya HW incl. 12.00 13.40 1.40 3.91 209.00 502.25 La Raya HW incl. 13.40 14.80 1.40 0.97 336.00 408.75 La Raya HW and 119.25 122.35 3.10 0.40 56.38 86.72 La Raya SD-21-51 24.00 42.00 18.00 0.13 109.39 119.06 La Raya incl. 27.00 30.00 3.00 0.18 308.00 321.50 La Raya incl. 36.00 40.30 4.30 0.14 145.00 155.50 La Raya SD-21-51 44.50 51.00 6.50 0.12 51.33 60.16 La Raya incl. 44.50 48.00 3.50 0.15 80.50 91.75 La Raya SD-21-51 57.00 58.50 1.50 0.09 44.70 51.45 La Raya SD-21-52 10.80 25.90 15.10 1.11 112.67 195.76 La Raya incl. 10.80 21.30 10.50 1.36 137.52 239.88 La Raya incl. 18.50 19.90 1.40 3.07 130.00 360.25 La Raya SD-21-52 53.10 54.95 1.85 0.18 67.60 81.10 La Raya SD-21-52 77.95 84.70 6.75 0.21 35.33 51.24 La Raya incl. 77.95 79.30 1.35 0.76 54.90 111.90 La Raya SD-21-52 100.50 109.25 8.75 0.53 137.75 177.48 La Raya incl. 100.50 105.80 5.30 0.83 213.90 276.40 La Raya SD-21-52 113.95 114.25 0.30 0.37 81.70 109.45 La Raya SD-21-52 121.25 122.65 1.40 0.05 26.50 30.25 La Raya SD-21-52 132.85 134.20 1.35 0.16 71.30 83.30 La Raya SD-21-57 6.00 10.55 4.55 0.50 138.19 175.75 La Raya SD-21-57 12.60 13.25 0.65 0.18 50.40 63.90 La Raya SD-21-57 14.60 20.70 6.10 1.05 197.38 276.34 La Raya incl. 14.60 17.65 3.05 2.02 362.00 513.50 La Raya SD-21-57 183.35 184.40 1.05 0.04 64.70 67.70 Guadalupe SD-21-57 197.05 204.95 7.90 0.31 35.12 58.55 Guadalupe incl. 200.50 203.40 2.90 0.63 61.52 108.52 Guadalupe SD-21-57 213.70 217.10 3.40 0.92 67.35 136.63 Guadalupe incl. 213.70 214.85 1.15 1.72 102.00 231.00 Guadalupe SD-21-57 233.10 243.10 10.00 0.07 53.16 58.71 Guadalupe incl. 233.10 241.10 8.00 0.08 56.95 63.14 Guadalupe SD-21-57 259.60 260.80 1.20 0.26 45.25 64.94 Guadalupe SD-21-58 265.30 267.05 1.75 0.32 32.40 56.40 Zopilote SD-21-58 279.30 283.65 4.35 0.35 33.40 60.01 Zopilote incl. 282.60 283.65 1.05 1.03 96.10 173.35 Zopilote SD-21-58 291.60 293.35 1.75 0.33 39.20 63.95 Zopilote SD-21-68A no significant assays SD-21-69 97.30 98.30 1.00 0.16 37.50 49.50 La Raya and 99.40 101.60 2.20 0.12 36.30 45.30 La Raya and 109.55 110.70 1.15 0.21 111.00 126.75 La Raya FW and 128.55 129.70 1.15 0.18 39.70 53.20 La Raya FW and 138.45 139.65 1.20 0.17 25.80 38.55 La Raya FW SD-21-69 148.10 161.35 13.25 1.05 80.86 159.98 Guadalupe E incl. 152.90 158.90 6.00 1.45 122.18 230.78 Guadalupe E incl. 152.90 154.10 1.20 2.76 171.00 378.00 Guadalupe E SD-21-69 165.25 166.45 1.20 0.07 51.00 56.25 Guadalupe E and 170.15 172.65 2.50 0.08 127.05 133.05 Guadalupe E SD-21-71 8.40 12.60 4.20 0.15 31.80 43.05 La Raya SD-21-71 16.80 41.00 24.20 0.31 201.14 224.10 La Raya incl. 19.00 37.30 18.30 0.34 248.57 273.81 La Raya incl. 21.40 22.45 1.05 0.48 582.00 618.00 La Raya incl. 26.70 27.80 1.10 0.25 557.00 575.75 La Raya incl. 31.20 34.60 3.40 0.20 206.00 221.00 La Raya SD-21-71 108.50 120.65 12.15 0.30 60.58 83.09 La Raya incl. 109.60 110.70 1.10 1.16 140.00 227.00 La Raya incl. 119.50 120.65 1.15 0.34 101.00 126.50 La Raya SD-21-71 275.10 276.35 1.25 0.51 34.90 73.15 Guadalupe SD-21-73 no significant assays SD-21-75 65.10 68.55 3.45 1.31 71.07 169.07 La Raya incl. 65.10 66.25 1.15 0.54 103.00 143.50 La Raya SD-21-75 69.70 72.00 2.30 0.28 44.15 64.78 La Raya SD-21-75 75.15 77.55 2.40 1.81 48.13 183.78 La Raya SD-21-75 80.25 99.80 19.55 1.31 76.50 174.53 La Raya incl. 81.65 82.65 1.00 2.17 114.00 276.75 La Raya incl. 86.80 87.85 1.05 1.03 120.00 197.25 La Raya incl. 91.45 93.55 2.10 0.55 111.50 152.38 La Raya incl. 95.75 97.10 1.35 0.85 169.00 232.75 La Raya SD-21-80 264.00 264.35 0.35 0.51 24.80 63.05 Zopilote Zn SD-21-81 172.60 173.40 0.80 0.22 63.20 79.70 Zopilote HW SD-21-81 175.15 185.10 9.95 1.51 258.42 371.60 Zopilote incl. 176.05 181.10 5.05 2.05 391.53 545.14 Zopilote incl. 176.05 177.05 1.00 4.71 834.00 1,187.25 Zopilote incl. 184.20 185.10 0.90 3.17 319.00 556.75 Zopilote SD-21-81 198.70 201.60 2.90 0.48 148.14 184.26 Zopilote FW incl. 200.80 201.60 0.80 0.63 198.00 245.25 Zopilote FW SD-21-81 295.85 297.95 2.10 0.19 38.40 52.65 Zopilote Zn SD-21-82 247.80 248.95 1.15 0.54 37.90 78.40 Zopilote HW SD-21-84 330.70 332.25 1.55 0.14 50.80 61.30 Zopilote HW

1drill core lengths are not true widths and are reported as core intervals.

2AqEq calculated using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1 and assuming recoveries of 100%.

A map accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7b843717-312b-4042-a2c4-c6cba75b58c4

Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo.), President and a Director of Stroud, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.

About Stroud Resources Ltd.

Stroud Resources is a TSXV listed company (TSXV:SDR) focused on the exploration and development of its Santo Domingo epithermal silver project in central Mexico.

For more information, please visit www.stroudsilver.com or contact Mirsad Jakubovic, Chief Financial Officer, Stroud Resources Ltd., Tel: 1-416-888-8731, mirsad@cpamba.ca.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of the drill results, geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Companys expectations or projections.
SANTA ANA, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new analysis from Polygon Research and Homeownership Council of America shows the states with the largest and smallest homeownership gaps by race and ethnicity compared to the statewide rate.

Homeownership is the most significant driver of wealth. Ensuring equal access to it remains crucial to economic stability. The gap between Black and White homeownership rates is nearly the same today as in the 1970s when the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Equal Credit Opportunity Acts (ECOA) were enacted. Another Federal law, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), enacted in 1977 to encourage banks to invest in low-income communities, has not brought more parity to homeownership in race and ethnicity.

This information helps organizations like the Homeownership Council of America (HCA) focus a lens on areas of greatest need in the nation. HCA is a Santa Ana, CA-based national nonprofit dedicated to delivering better credit access in America's underserved communities. HCA has been working to establish Special Purpose Credit Programs with nonprofit and corporate mortgage lenders. Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs) are described under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act statute. According to HUD, SPCPs are special lending programs that allow lenders and other groups to direct financial aid to groups historically locked out of homeownership, helping to reduce the racial and ethnic gap in homeownership.

"The need to fill the gap is especially pressing in a time when home costs are rising, and the supply is not keeping pace with the demand. Ensuring communities of color attain homeownership as soon as possible provides them with the most equity gain," said Gabe del Rio, CEO and President of Homeownership Council of America. "We are prioritizing our work in Special Purpose Credit Programs based on this information. We want to share it widely with the industry so others can establish SPCP programs as well."

The data analysis was prepared by Polygon Research, a Washington, DC-based mortgage data science company focused on providing data analytics consulting services and leveraging open data. Polygon Research serves leading housing and real estate finance stakeholders with multiple market intel apps addressing every aspect of a mortgage transaction.

Polygon Research used their product CensusVision, which compiles information from the 2019 one-year American Community Survey (ACS). Polygon's methodology compares race and ethnicity with the state's overall homeownership rate at the household level.

Lyubomira Buresch, Polygon Research's Founder and CEO, explains the analysis' methodology, "Our approach was to look at homeownership levels by race and ethnicity within each state and to compare this with the state's overall homeownership rate. This information gives us a snapshot of the balance between renting and owning for each group regardless of the size of that group within a state. We believe this is an important starting point for stakeholders who are working to change this balance."

Where does your state rank? https://homeownershipcouncil.org/racial-homeownership-gap

###

Press Contacts

Homeownership Council of America

Gabe del Rio

(202) 577-6751

gdr@homeownershipcouncil.org

Polygon Research

Lyubomira Buresch

(202) 844-2720

lburesch@polygonresearch.com

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Heat map showing states by black homeownership rates









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LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Healthcare is hard. And, when it comes to HCC Risk Adjustment, obstacles like inefficiencies & inaccuracies often crop up. And not to mention the failed audit reports and other legal implications relating to repaying the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Healthcare for approximately 110 million Americans is provided by the U.S. government through value-based care programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA exchange. These programs rely on a system called risk adjustment. Around the world, every health care system is struggling with rising costs and uneven quality despite the hard work. It's time for a fundamentally new strategy.

There was a time when "risk" used to be an interdiction among business leaders - something to be totally circumvented. But risks are a necessary part of moving the business forward. The whole cognition for risk is to innovate faster, and one needs to experience failure to do it, but in a way that leads to a new understanding to measure opportunity with the same yardstick that measures the risk involved.

Originating knowledge and understanding through science accoutres us to find solutions to today's acute economic, social and environmental defiance Indicators and statistics take into account the broad range of country-specific contexts. In this milieu, a solid and comprehensive knowledge sharing on the latest and greatest advancements in Healthcare with Science and Technology is crucial.

There is great optimism that the application of artificial intelligence (AI) can provide considerable improvements in all the genres of healthcare from diagnostics to treatment. AI is ready to support healthcare personnel with a variety of functionalities from administrative workflow to clinical documentation and patient outreach, risk adjustment, proper HCC coding as well as specialized support such as in image analysis, medical device automation, and patient monitoring.

At RAAPID, "The risk-taking belief" begins with a commitment to meeting every customer's needs while promoting the safety and wellness of millions worldwide. "We are reimagining risk adjustment for healthcare, insurance, and technology businesses," says Chetan Parikh - Founder & President RAAPID.

Raapid.ai has developed its state-of-the-art NLP (Natural Language Processing) technology that runs on top of Deep Learning algorithms. To establish a complete, accurate RAF for patients, all health conditions need to be accurately identified, addressed, and documented annually via claims submitted to the government for reimbursement.

RAAPID helps organizations ace reimbursement calculations and risk adjustment scores. The patented technology has been trained across millions of real clinical charts and delivers accurate outcomes. This AI-powered Risk Adjustment Software ensures you don't miss out on HCC codes or RAF scoring opportunities.

Risk adjustment is critical for insurance Companies as risk-bearing entities take a fixed fee for covering the future cost of care for their members, before they know the actual costs, proper calculation is done once the state or the federal government overseeing the program receives all the diagnoses for all the members in the calendar year. Risk adjustment is a methodology where insurance companies participating in specific programs get their payments for managing the healthcare needs of their members based on diagnosis and a risk adjustment health plan relies on the accurate and consistent submission of all conditions each year. Risk adjustment modifies payments to all insurers based on an expectation of what the patient's care will cost.

Traditional risk adjustment just isn't efficient. Coders comb through thousands of pages of patient charts and look for documented chronic conditions. But this isn't the most effective or efficient process. Data completeness and quality are the biggest implementation challenges. As, without analytics, they do not know how their risk adjustment process is performing overall and identify ways to improve as an organization.

Making this transformation is not a single step but an overarching strategy. RAAPID calls it the "Risk-Taking Belief", as RAAPID combines the latest advances in machine learning, AI, natural language processing, data science, and data engineering with deep clinical and biomedical expertise to build the tools that allow health systems, to become fast, effective and error-free.

"With a comprehensive workforce of over 500 members who are industry veterans, based out of Louisville, Kentucky, RAAPID's pedigree is built upon Trust, tech competence, stability, and Tech Innovation," says Chetan.

www.raapid.ai

For a media-related query, reach out to

Suparna Das Gupta

suparna@raapid.ai

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Pune, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Final Report will add the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. "

Global Fungicide Market is a comprehensive research that provides information regarding Fungicide market size, trends, growth, cost structure, capacity, revenue, and forecast for 2027. This report also includes the overall study of the Fungicide Market share with all its aspects influencing the growth of the market. This report is exhaustive quantitative analyses of the Fungicide industry and provides data for making strategies to increase Fungicide market growth and effectiveness. The report further investigates and assesses the current landscape of the ever-evolving business sector and the present and future effects of COVID-19 on the Fungicide market.

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About Fungicide Market:

Fungicides are biocidal chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores.They are usually procuced as a spray or dust and extensively used in agriculture, industry, they are important tools for managing diseases in many crops.

Global Fungicide key players include Syngenta, UPL, FMC, BASF, Bayer, etc. Global top five manufacturers hold a share about 40%.

United States is the largest market, with a share about 35%, followed by Europe and China, both have a share over 40 percent.

In terms of product, Azoxystrobin is the largest segment, with a share over 10%. And in terms of application, the largest application is Grain crops, followed by Fruit and vegetable crops.



Market Analysis and Insights: Global and China Fungicide Market

This report focuses on global and China Fungicide market.

In 2020, the global Fungicide market size was US$ 12260 million and it is expected to reach US$ 14540 million by the end of 2027, with a CAGR of 2.5% during 2021-2027.

The Major Players in the Fungicide Market include:

Syngenta

UPL

FMC

BASF

Bayer

Nufarm

Pioneer (Dupont)

Sumitomo Chemical

Dow AgroSciences

Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI)

Indofil

Adama Agricultural Solutions

Arysta LifeScience

Forward International

IQV Agro

SipcamAdvan

Gowan

Isagro

Summit Agro USA

Everris (ICL)

Certis USA

Acme Organics Private

Rotam

Sinochem

Limin Chemical

Shuangji Chemical

Jiangxi Heyi

Lier Chemical

Jiangsu Flag Chemical Industry

Jiangsu Frey Agrochemicals

TO UNDERSTAND HOW COVID-19 IMPACT IS COVERED IN THIS REPORT

The report proves to be an effective tool that players can use to gain a competitive edge over their competitors and ensure lasting success in the global Fungicide market. All of the findings, data, and information provided in the report are validated and revalidated with the help of trustworthy sources. The analysts who have authored the report took a unique and industry-best research and analysis approach for an in-depth study of the global Fungicide market.

Based on product type, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share, and growth rate of each type, primarily split into:

Azoxystrobin

Pyraclostrobin

Mancozeb

Trifloxystrobin

Prothioconazole

Copper fungicides

Epoxiconazole

Tebuconazole

Metalaxyl

Cyproconazole

Based on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share, and growth rate for each application, including:

Grain Crops

Economic Crops

Fruit and Vegetable Crops

Other

With industry-standard accuracy in analysis and high data integrity, the report makes a brilliant attempt to unveil key opportunities available in the global Fungicide market to help players in achieving a strong market position. Buyers of the report can access verified and reliable market forecasts, including those for the overall size of the global Fungicide market in terms of revenue.

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The report analysis by geography highlights the consumption of the product/service within the region also indicating the factors that are affecting the market within each region.

The report provides opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Fungicide Industry.

The report indicates the region and segment that's expected to witness the fastest growth.

The competitive landscape includes the market ranking of the main players, along with new product launches, partnerships, business expansions, and acquisitions.

The report provides extensive company profiles comprising of company overview, company insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis for the main market players.

The report gives the present and future market outlook of the industry regarding recent developments, growth opportunities, drivers, challenges, and restraints of both emerging and developed regions.

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Some of the key questions answered in this report:

What will the market growth rate, growth momentum, or acceleration market carry during the forecast period?

Which are the key factors driving the Fungicide market?

What was the size of the emerging Fungicide market by value?

What will be the size of the emerging Fungicide market in 2027?

Which region is expected to hold the highest market share in the Fungicide market?

What trends, challenges, and barriers will impact the development and sizing of the Global Fungicide market?

What are the sales volume, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of the Fungicide market?

Global Fungicide Market providing information such as company profiles, product picture, and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue, and contact information. Upstream raw materials and instrumentation and downstream demand analysis are additionally dispensed. The Global Fungicide market development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally, the feasibility of the latest investment projects is assessed and overall analysis conclusions are offered.

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Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2016-2020

2016-2020 Base Year: 2020

2020 Estimated Year: 2021

2021 Fungicide Market Forecast Period: 2021-2027

With tables and figures helping analyze worldwide Global Fungicide market trends, this research provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.

Some Points from TOC:

1 Study Coverage

1.1 Fungicide Product Introduction

1.2 Market by Type

1.2.1 Global Fungicide Market Size Growth Rate by Type

1.3 Market by Application

1.3.1 Global Fungicide Market Size Growth Rate by Application

1.4 Study Objectives

1.5 Years Considered



2 Executive Summary

2.1 Global Fungicide Market Size, Estimates and Forecasts

2.1.1 Global Fungicide Revenue 2016-2027

2.1.2 Global Fungicide Sales 2016-2027

2.2 Global Fungicide, Market Size by Region: 2016 VS 2021 VS 2027

2.3 Fungicide Historical Market Size by Region (2016-2021)

2.3.1 Global Fungicide Retrospective Market Scenario in Sales by Region: 2016-2021

2.3.2 Global Fungicide Retrospective Market Scenario in Revenue by Region: 2016-2021

2.4 Fungicide Market Estimates and Projections by Region (2022-2027)

2.4.1 Global Fungicide Sales Forecast by Region (2022-2027)

2.4.2 Global Fungicide Revenue Forecast by Region (2022-2027)



3 Global Fungicide Competitor Landscape by Players

3.1 Global Top Fungicide Manufacturers by Sales

3.1.1 Global Fungicide Sales by Manufacturer (2016-2021)

3.1.2 Global Fungicide Sales Market Share by Manufacturer (2016-2021)

3.2 Global Top Fungicide Manufacturers by Revenue

3.2.1 Key Fungicide Manufacturers Covered: Ranking by Revenue

3.2.2 Global Fungicide Revenue by Manufacturers (2016-2021)

3.2.3 Global Fungicide Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2016-2021)

3.2.4 Global Fungicide Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI) (2016-2021)

3.2.5 Global Top 10 and Top 5 Companies by Fungicide Revenue in 2020

3.2.6 Global Fungicide Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3)

3.3 Global Fungicide Price by Manufacturers

3.4 Global Fungicide Manufacturing Base Distribution, Product Types

3.4.1 Fungicide Manufacturers Manufacturing Base Distribution, Headquarters

3.4.2 Manufacturers Fungicide Product Type

3.4.3 Date of International Manufacturers Enter into Fungicide Market

3.5 Manufacturers Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans



4 Breakdown Data by Type (2016-2027)

4.1 Global Fungicide Market Size by Type (2016-2021)

4.1.1 Global Fungicide Sales by Type (2016-2021)

4.1.2 Global Fungicide Revenue by Type (2016-2021)

4.1.3 Fungicide Average Selling Price (ASP) by Type (2016-2021)

4.2 Global Fungicide Market Size Forecast by Type (2022-2027)

4.2.1 Global Fungicide Sales Forecast by Type (2022-2027)

4.2.2 Global Fungicide Revenue Forecast by Type (2022-2027)

4.2.3 Fungicide Average Selling Price (ASP) Forecast by Type (2022-2027)



5 Breakdown Data by Application (2016-2027)

5.1 Global Fungicide Market Size by Application (2016-2021)

5.1.1 Global Fungicide Sales by Application (2016-2021)

5.1.2 Global Fungicide Revenue by Application (2016-2021)

5.1.3 Fungicide Price by Application (2016-2021)

5.2 Fungicide Market Size Forecast by Application (2022-2027)

5.2.1 Global Fungicide Sales Forecast by Application (2022-2027)

5.2.2 Global Fungicide Revenue Forecast by Application (2022-2027)

5.2.3 Global Fungicide Price Forecast by Application (2022-2027)



7 North America

8 Asia Pacific

9 Europe

10 Latin America

11 Middle East and Africa

12 Company Profiles

13 Market Opportunities, Challenges, Risks and Influences Factors Analysis

14 Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis

15 Research Findings and Conclusion

16 Appendix

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Market is changing rapidly with the ongoing expansion of the industry. Advancement in technology has provided todays businesses with multifaceted advantages resulting in daily economic shifts. Thus, it is very important for a company to comprehend the patterns of market movements in order to strategize better. An efficient strategy offers the companies a head start in planning and an edge over the competitors. Industry Research is a credible source for gaining market reports that will provide you with the lead your business needs.
CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Theres something different in the air. Sensei Cloud, Carestream Dentals Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is introducing new features that help dentists elevate their practices and provide better, more efficient patient care.

Dentistry is changing rapidly, partly due to needs created by the pandemic and partly due to the pace at which technology is advancing, Helmut Domagalski, senior director of product management, global DPMS, Carestream Dental, said. Fortunately, a SaaS like Sensei Cloud means we can continuously roll out updates in response to new research, trends and patient demands.

Soft Tissue Charting

More and more, top professionals are encouraging oral cancer screenings and the new Soft Tissue Chart lets doctors keep detailed records of all findings with notes and condition labels on an anatomical chart. As oral cancer screening becomes increasingly important and the related documentation considered standard of care, keeping track in a patients clinical record can help increase early detection and lead to successful treatment.

Customizable Questionnaires

Business is picking back up after nearly two years of patients putting off appointments. Which means, practices are processing more new patients. Custom questionnaires in Sensei Cloud let practices create unique digital forms that walk practice staff through the documentation of any data using a variety of prompts, controls and stock answers. Practice staff can even record medical history in the patient chart as a questionnaire as a simple way to avoid repetitive data entry, as well as an easy way to review the data later.

Lightbar

With more patients returning to the practice, its essential to efficiently move them through the office. The new Lightbar feature in Sensei Cloud aids with patient flow and time management by moving patients smoothly through their appointment. A convenient Seated Queue flyout bar shows when the patient was seated; time and chair of their scheduled appointment; provider names for the appointment; and appointment type. Seated Queue also lets team members direct doctors to the right patient to keep the appointment on schedule. When its time for the doctor, theres no need to leave the patient: Call the Doctor lets the clinician know when an operatory is ready for them without either team member or doctor searching around the practice.

Sensei Cloud acts as a trusted guide for practices, offering powerful imaging, practice management, clinical workflows and intuitive design into one platform. Its built on feedback from real practices and because its 100% cloud based offers anytime, anywhere access to clinical data and business performance metrics and analytics.

The SaaS is part of the larger Sensei platform, introduced in late 2020. Since then, Carestream Dental has launched other cloud-based Sensei products, like Sensei Scheduler Views, Patient Manager and Patient Forms. The Sensei platform also allows Carestream Dental to elevate its other on-premise and hosted softwareOrthoTrac, PracticWorks, SoftDent and WinOMScloser and closer to cloud functionality with continuous rolling updates.

But while these services are powered by Sensei Cloud, meaning they were designed to plugin to a virtual cloud environment since their launch, Carestream Dentals existing software will be elevated by the Sensei product line including the launch of Sensei Imaging, a true cloud-based imaging solution, bringing users closer and closer to working in the cloud with each update over the coming years.

To learn more about Sensei Cloud, or any product from the Sensei platform, visit https://bit.ly/CSDCMW. Or stop by the Carestream Dental booth at the Chicago Dental Societys Midwinter Meeting, #3812, Feb. 24-26, 2022.

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About Carestream Dental

Carestream Dental is committed to transforming dentistry, simplifying technology and changing lives. In this pursuit, we focus on providing the latest in high-quality scanning technology, the smartest chairside systems, the most intuitive practice management software, incredibly accurate imaging software and the data intelligence that helps continually refine patient outcomes. And we offer these solutions for the full range of dental and oral health professionals. For more information please visit carestreamdental.com.

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Washington, DC, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Childrens Health Defense (CHD) announced yesterday it will be covering The Peoples Convoy as truckers and other protesters travel across the U.S. towards the Washington, DC area in a peaceful protest of unconstitutional mandates and government overreach. Claire Dooley and Ariana Victor with CHD.TVs news team will be broadcasting alongside the truckers with daily updates and interviews of the protesters and breaking news as it happens along the route.

After witnessing the extreme bias of mainstream media in covering the Canadian convoy over the past month, CHD decided to step in to offer people a truthful accounting of the progress of The Peoples Convoy here in the U.S., said CHD president and general counsel Mary Holland. Characterizing people who disagree with government edicts, no matter how tyrannical, as terrorists has become the norm in most media today. CHD provides an alternative to such serious distortion of facts.

Kicked off yesterday in Adelanto, California, the convoy participants held a rally featuring speakers including researcher Paul Alexander, PhD and Pierre Kory, MD with the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance before heading to Arizona for day two of the event. In his remarks to the estimated 600 people who joined the convoy in Adelanto as either participants or in support of the effort, Dr. Kory said, Im here to speak truth and data and science. Weve been subject to policies that have no scientific basis. These policies are failing.

The convoy plans to arrive in the DC area before President Bidens March 1 State of the Union address. We hope that President Biden will listen to what the truckers have to say, said Holland. They represent the millions of American citizens who want to exercise their First Amendment rights and their right to informed consent.

Viewers can keep up with the progress of the convoy and get route updates by tuning into CHD.TV each weekday morning at 10:00 a.m. ET for updates from Ms. Dooley, Ms. Victor and CHD Grassroots Organizer Michael Kane, reporting from New York.

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Children's Health Defense is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to end childhood health epidemics by working aggressively to eliminate harmful exposures, hold those responsible accountable, and establish safeguards to prevent future harm. For more information, visit Children's Health Defense.org.
Healdsburg, CA, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rodney Strong Wine Estates, one of Sonoma Countys essential wineries, first established in 1959, announced that Justin Seidenfeld has been named Senior Vice President of Winemaking and Winegrowing. Justin is the fourth head winemaker in the long history of Rodney Strong Vineyards following the eponymous Rod Strong, Richard Arrowood, and Winemaker Emeritus Rick Sayre. Seidenfeld succeeded Sayre as Director of Winemaking in 2018 and has been instrumental in making Rodney Strong a leader in sustainability, innovation, and world-class wines. His responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of the winerys commitment to sustainable viticulture, winemaking, vineyard operations, and production.

The family-owned Rodney Strong Wine Estates includes Rodney Strong Vineyards, Davis Bynum Wines, ROWEN Wine Company, Upshot, and Knotty Vines. Seidenfeld helped created the Upshot brand, which features his considerable skill at blending. He assisted in the development and planting of the famed Cooley Ranch Vineyard, and the line of ROWEN Wines that come exclusively from that high elevation vineyard. Justins indefatigability and passion for innovation make him the perfect leader for the future of Rodney Strong Wine Estates.

My passion is all about the connections that wine creates, Justin explains. The connection you feel with the earth where the grapes are grown, the connection we feel at the winery with the people who enjoy our wines, and the connections that the joy of wine creates between the family and friends who share each bottle at their dinner table.

Justins contributions to Rodney Strong over the past eleven years have been enormous, and his promotion is very well deserved, states Rodney Strong Proprietor Tom Klein. Justin's passion and knowledge of wine will help lead Rodney Strong to new heights in exploring Sonoma Countys greatest vineyards in the years to come.

About Rodney Strong Wine Estates

Rodney Strong Wine Estates is a family-owned wine company that includes Rodney Strong Vineyards, Davis Bynum Wines, Knotty Vines, Upshot Wines, and ROWEN Wine Company. Rodney Strong sustainably farms eleven estate vineyards and produces wines from Sonoma Countys finest appellations. The winery was founded in 1959 by Sonoma County pioneer Rod Strong as the 13th bonded winery in the county. For over 30 years, RSWE has flourished under the leadership of the Klein Family, 4th generation California farmers. The Klein family is committed to protecting and preserving the environment in both the vineyards and at the winery through sustainable and innovative practices. Rodney Strong Vineyards is a family of passionate people committed to crafting premium wines, meaningful experiences, and sustainable leadership in Sonoma County.

Learn more at www.RodneyStrong.com

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The family of late-Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson will receive $1.15 million dollars in a settlement with the doctor who treated the cancer-afflicted prosecutor before his 2016 death, the Daily News has learned.

Thompsons widow, Lu-Shawn Thompson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2018 on behalf of her husband, claiming his entirely preventable passing was due to the failure of Dr. Arthur Kornbluth to timely diagnose his colorectal cancer, which ultimately spread to his brain and the rest of his body.

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Lu-Shawn Bendow Thompson speaks during a press conference where she announced the donation of her late husband Kenneth Thompson's suits to Metropolitan Black Bar Association. (Barry Williams /for New York Daily News)

More than four years later, the family has settled for more than $1 million in Brooklyn Surrogates Court with Kornbluth, according to court papers. A judge approved the settlement on Jan. 3.

It doesnt bring him back and its not enough, Lu-Shawn Thompson told the Daily News. I dont think any dollar amount will ever be enough. But this is one piece of my life thats over with. I can move on from this now.

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But I dont think you can print everything I really want to say, she added.

Just under $850,000 of the funds secured in the settlement will go to Lu-Shawn Thompson and the couples two teenage children, while more than $250,000 will go to their lawyer, Jordan Merson, according to court papers.

Kornbluth is affiliated with Mount Sinai Health System.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

Thompson, who died at age 50, took over the Brooklyn DAs Office in 2014 after mounting a successful primary challenge against longtime DA Charles Hynes.

Brooklyns first Black top prosecutor, Thompson moved his office to stop prosecuting low-level marijuana arrests and also reinvigorated the boroughs conviction review unit, which helped exonerate 21 people while he was the DA.

Ken Thompson poses for the Daily News on Sept. 25, 2013. (Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

Before he was elected district attorney, Thompson worked as a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn and was part of the team that prosecuted former NYPD Office Justin Volpe for the 1997 beating and sexual torture of Abner Louima in the 70th Precinct stationhouse.

Thompson served as the DA until Oct. 4, 2016, when he announced he was battling cancer. Just five days later, he was dead.

He did everything his doctors asked of him and yet he died because his doctors did not comport with accepted medical practice, Lu-Shawn Thompsons attorneys wrote in the 2018 suit. Thompson was abruptly and unexpectedly taken from all of us and today, his family seeks redress for what they have lost.

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Thompson named his chief assistant, Eric Gonzalez, as acting DA. Gonzalez has led the office since.

Kornbluths attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Winston-Salem, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winston-Salem, North Carolina -

Winston-Salem, NC .- Redbox+ is announcing its now expanding into the Winston-Salem area and is offering roll-off dumpster rentals and portable restrooms in a variety of sizes. Americans are spending more time than ever on waste removal, whether its at a construction site, or in their own driveway, especially if theyre also required to rent portable restrooms.

The Portable Sanitation Association International reported that construction companies waste at thousands of dollars a day on toilet time based on poor restroom placement. Construction companies and contractors in Winston-Salem are no different.

For over 30 years, Redbox+ has offered roll-off containers and portable restrooms to thousands of construction sites across the United States. Founder Jeff Matejka realized the need for efficiency and organization in constructions sites and created the combo restroom and roll-off dumpster to increase convenience and savings for customers.

Today, Redbox+ has a national presence throughout North America and the interest in the Redbox+ concept continues to grow. Redbox+ offers its services to roofers, remodelers, home builders, window and siding specialists, water and fire remediation firms, and commercial contractors.

Based in Omaha, but with an executive team from all over the U.S. Redbox+ is expanding quickly throughout the country wherever their decades of experience in high-quality waste removal services are needed. Redbox+ has opened several new locations in the past couple of months alone, and now theyre here to help Winston-Salem.

Redbox+ respects that most customers have time and project deadlines, which is why the company has streamlined its rental process to a simple phone call. Customers need only provide the size dumpster required, when theyd like the unit delivered, and where to place the unit on their job site. In most cases, Redbox+ can deliver the dumpster within 24 hours.

Once customers are finished with the dumpster, a Redbox+ representative will arrive to pick up the container by the end of the next business day. Redbox+ can also empty a dumpster mid-project and return the container so customers can finish jobs on a deadline.

Redbox+ offers three standard dumpster sizes: 30 yard, Elite 20 yard with an attached portable restroom, and Elite 30 yard with an attached portable restroom.

https://youtu.be/l0Imz713OAE

The Redbox+ Winston-Salem team is ready to answer waste removal needs in the Winston-Salem area, pledging superior customer service through excellent communication, response time, and quality service.

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For more information about redbox+ Dumpster Rental Winston-Salem, contact the company here:



redbox+ Dumpster Rental Winston-Salem

Pete Marsden

+13367152824

triadsales@redboxplus.com

1105 Fairchild Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, United States
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vida Capital, Inc. (Vida), a portfolio company of RedBird Capital Partners and Reverence Capital Partners, today announced that David Gussmann has joined the firm as Senior Managing Director, Head of Direct Lending. Mr. Gussmann will be based in New York and report to Blair Wallace, President and Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Mr. Gussmann will lead the origination and structuring of the firms debt investment opportunities.



Vida continues to build an investment team of credit and risk experts who are helping to sustain our position as a provider of uncorrelated investment strategies, said Mr. Wallace. Direct lending has become an important aspect of this mission, particularly given the stable return characteristics of the strategy. We are thrilled for David to join Vida and look forward to seeing how his years of experience in middle-market loan assets can strategically grow the firms direct lending business.

Commenting on his new role, Mr. Gussmann added, This is an opportune time to join Vida, as its recognized variety of investment opportunities continue to make strides across the marketplace. I am eager to join such an experienced team and to work together to provide thoughtful and creative insight not only within Vidas established areas of business, but also throughout prospective areas of expansion.

Mr. Gussmann joins Vida with over 30 years of experience across investments, structured credit and specialty finance. He most recently worked at Quiet Capital, where he served as a Founding Credit Partner, providing capital to innovative venture-backed companies. Prior to this, he was Senior Managing Director at Amherst Advisory & Management, where he employed activist litigation strategies to produce above-market non-correlated returns. Mr. Gussmann has also held leadership positions at Fannie Mae and LoanPerformance. Mr. Gussmann graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in Economics, and from the Northwestern University JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management with an M.B.A. in Finance, Strategy and Organizational Behavior.

About Vida Capital

Vida Capital, Inc. is the largest vertically integrated platform in the life settlements space with $3.5 billion in assets under management across the different closed-end and open-end funds. Vida has three primary business lines including life settlement funds, a life settlement provider, and insurance linked securities funds. Vida is the largest independent life settlements manager in the space and the third largest overall. Further, Vidas wholly owned subsidiary, Magna Life Settlements, Inc., has been in the top group of secondary market purchasers over the past three years. For more information visit www.vidacapitalinc.com.

Media Contacts

For Vida Capital:

Stephen Kirkwood

512-744-1040

For RedBird Capital Partners:

Dan Gagnier

Gagnier Communications

646-569-5897

For Reverence Capital Partners:

Steven Lipin

Gladstone Place Partners

212-230-5930
OTTAWA, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, released the following statement:



The world is watching with horror as Russia launches an unjustified attack on Ukraine and its people. Canadas unions condemn this unprovoked act of aggression and stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine who now face violence, hardship and an uncertain future.

Russias military assault will mean a terrible loss of life and will destabilize the lives of people throughout the region. Reverberations will be felt around the world.

We are concerned about civilian casualties and a massive displacement of people trying to flee the violence. As essential public services are disrupted and civil infrastructure destroyed, the urgent need for humanitarian assistance grows. It is vital that international agencies are allowed access so they can provide humanitarian assistance to the people affected.

We call on Canadas government to open our countrys doors to those fleeing the conflict, including through visa-free access for Ukrainians, and provide substantial humanitarian aid to these victims of Russian hostility.

We further urge our government to work with like-minded multilateral organizations to press Russia to end hostilities, adhere to international human rights obligations and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. The international community must stand united in the cause of peace for a free and sovereign Ukraine.

This attack reminds us again of the dangers posed by tyrants and autocrats to all of us who value democracy. Ukrainians are now once again being called on to defend their right to self-determination. Canadas unions stand in solidarity with Ukrainian workers and families who want peace.

Canadas unions also reach out in solidarity to our nations proud Ukrainian-Canadian community, who fear today for the safety of family and friends tragically caught up in Russias armed confrontation.

Contact:

Canadian Labour Congress

T: 613-521-3400

www.canadianlabour.ca
English French

TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlantic Canadians now have more opportunities to escape to paradise this winter with Sunwing. Amid easing border measures beginning on February 28, 2022, the tour operator has moved quickly to meet the demand of customers in the Maritimes and expanded its flight service from Halifax to the popular vacation destination of Varadero. Beginning in March, Sunwing will be offering East Coast residents with another convenient weekly flight on Thursdays starting on March 10, 2022 until April 28, 2022.



As the only Atlantic Canada gateway offering flights to Cuba this winter, were thrilled to be introducing another flight from Halifax to Varadero for our customers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to enjoy, commented Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. As a Canadian favourite and easy entry destination, were seeing pent-up customer demand for vacations to Varadero with increasingly limited availability for the duration of winter, so now is the time to book. With flexible change policies, medical coverage and this new convenient flight option from Halifax, were excited to help our Maritimes customers make the most of this season and enjoy a seamless vacation experience under our wing.

In addition to weekly flights on Thursdays, Maritimes customers can benefit from existing flight service to Varadero on Saturdays until April 30, 2022.

The return of Thursdays weekly direct flight is another step forward for the tour operators excited return to Cuba and a positive sign of Canadians growing eagerness to travel. With easing travel restrictions, now is a prime opportunity for Atlantic Canada residents to take advantage of expanded flight service from Halifax and plan their dream winter vacation from the gateway at a great price.

With a wide range of vacation packages designed for every travel style and budget and the flexibility to change their plans anytime with no fees* up to seven days before departure, customers can return to this Canadian favourite with confidence. Comprehensive travel insurance options, including emergency COVID-19 medical coverage and quarantine expenses are also available for as little as $4 a day.

*Customers can change their travel dates, destination or resort up to seven days prior to departure. Terms & Conditions apply.

About Sunwing

The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid.

For more information:

Melanie Anne Filipp

Director, Corporate Communications & Media Relations

Sunwing Travel Group

1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f315fb04-889f-4fc5-ae80-8f107fb75c66
LAFAYETTE, Ind., Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wabash (NYSE:WNC), the innovation leader of engineered solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, today announced participation in two upcoming investor conferences.



Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mike Pettit will host private investor meetings during the JP Morgan Global High Yield and Leveraged Finance Conference on February 28, 2022, in Miami, Fla.

President and Chief Executive Officer Brent Yeagy will present at the Raymond James 43rd Annual Institutional Investors Conference at 10:25 a.m. ET on March 7, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. To access the live or archived webcast, visit the Investor Relations section of Wabashs website at www.ir.onewabash.com.

About Wabash

As the innovation leader of engineered solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, Wabash (NYSE:WNC) is Changing How the World Reaches You. Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, the companys mission is to enable customers to succeed with breakthrough ideas and solutions that help them move everything from first to final mile. Wabash designs and manufactures a diverse range of products, including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, platform trailers, tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade equipment. Learn more at www.onewabash.com.

Media Contact:

Dana Stelsel

Director, Communications

(765) 771-5766

dana.stelsel@onewabash.com



Investor Relations:

Ryan Reed

Director, Corporate Development & Investor Relations

(765) 490-5664

ryan.reed@onewabash.com
Shenzhen, China, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On February 19th, BYD Yuan Plus (named ATTO 3 in Australia), the first A-class SUV built upon BYDs e-platform 3.0, was jointly launched in China and Australia and began pre-sales in Australia. Two models of ATTO 3 would enter the Australian market with the official guide prices ranging from 44,990 to 47,990 AUD.

The launch ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD Company Limited, Mr. Lu Tian, General Manager of Dynasty Net Sales Division, BYD Auto, Mr. Michele Jauch-Paganetti, BYD Global Interior Design Director, Mr. He Chong, the Olympic Champion, Mr. Murray Davis, Trade and Investment Commissioner - Great China, New South Wales Government, and Mr. Luke Todd, Director of EVDirect, BYDs Australian partner.







Atto3

In the Australian market, Yuan Plus is named ATTO 3. ATTO is inspired by the Attosecond, the smallest time scale unit in physics, which means ATTO 3 is speedy, energetic, and dynamic.

ATTO 3 is the first SUV built on BYDs e-platform 3.0, specially designed for high-performance electric vehicles with four significant advantages: intelligence, efficiency, safety, and aesthetics.



The e-platform 3.0 improves EV safety and battery performance as well as optimizes the driving experience. It creates a new generation of smart electric vehicles that are more efficient and safer. Concurrently, ATTO 3 is also specially configured with the BYD auto applications for the Australian market.



Embodying BYDs new design language, ATTO 3 is the first SUV featuring the sporty-themed interior designed by BYD Global Interior Design Director, Mr. Michele Jauch-Paganetti, exhibiting the senses of passion and energy for the customers.







Mr. Michele Jauch-Paganetti, BYD Global Interior Design Director

BYDs revolutionary Blade Battery technology comes as a standard in ATTO 3, offering drivers industry-leading safety levels as well as an extended single-charge range capability. Launched by BYD in 2020, Blade Battery is the only battery that successfully passes the nail penetration test, the most rigorous way to test the thermal runaway of batteries. Also, the space utilization of the Blade Battery pack increases by over 50%, compared with that of conventional lithium iron phosphate block batteries, resulting in significant improvements in energy efficiency and range.

Mr. Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD Company Limited, said, 2022 will see the accelerated evolution of new energy vehicles and a new start for BYDs development in the Australian market. This year, BYD will introduce several new energy passenger vehicles to the Australian market.



ATTO 3 will bring a new travel experience to all consumers with its gorgeous design and high-standard quality, said Mr. Lu Tian, General Manager of Dynasty Net Sales Division, BYD Auto.



He Chong, the Olympic Champion, said, I am impressed by the trendy appearance, the sporty-themed interior, as well as the power of ATTO 3, all especially designed for sport-lovers like me.



The special guest, Mr. Murray Davis, Trade and Investment Commissioner - Great China, New South Wales Government, considered that carbon emission reduction is the goal of all countries, and to this common objective, BYDs new energy vehicles and technologies have made significant contributions.







Mr. Murray Davis, Trade and Investment Commissioner - Great China, New South Wales Government

Mr. Luke Todd, Director of EVDirect, strongly believed that ATTO 3 would be warmly welcomed by the Australian public.







About BYD

BYD (Build Your Dreams) is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. BYD now has four industries including Auto, Electronics, New Energy, and Rail Transit. Since its foundation in 1995, the company quickly developed solid expertise in rechargeable batteries and became a relentless advocate of sustainable development, successfully expanding its renewable energy solutions globally with operations in over 70 countries and regions. Its creation of a Zero Emissions Energy Solution, comprising affordable solar power generation, reliable energy storage, and cutting-edge electrified transportation, has made it an industry leader in the energy and transportation sectors. BYD is a Warren Buffet-backed company and is listed both on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. More information on the company can be found at http://www.byd.com
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FCB today announced the promotions of Bella Patel to Global Chief Talent Officer and Mark Jungwirth to Global Chief Financial Officer. Patel and Jungwirth have both been with the agency in North America for more than a decade and take on their roles as part of the agencys succession plan that saw former Global Chief Talent Officer Cindy Augustine move to McCann Worldgroup and Global CFO Carmine Battista move to a new role within IPG that will be announced soon. Both Patel and Jungwirth will report directly to recently announced Global Chair and Global Chief Creative Officer Susan Credle and Global CEO Tyler Turnbull.



Patel joined FCB in 2006 and has led the Human Resources practice since 2011. Under her leadership as Chief Talent Officer, FCB Chicago has attracted and fostered top talent that has helped fuel its recent business and creative resurgence. In the last year alone, the agency welcomed over 280 new faces with its most diverse new-hire class ever and raised its inclusion focus to have a greater impact on the culture of FCBs largest and founding office. Prior to joining FCB, Patel worked as part of the human resources team at Raytheon Polar Services Companys Antarctic program, as well as at Hyatt Hotels. As FCBs Global Chief Talent Officer, Patel will partner with talent leads across the networks offices to further fuel the agencys culture of inclusion and its talent above all else approach to recruitment and retention.

At FCB, we believe our creative product is fueled by diversity, data and technology. As Global Chief Talent Officer, Bella will continue to make sure we honor that belief. Having led talent initiatives in our largest office for the last decade, Bella is well prepared to take on this important role. I cannot wait to see her impact as we look to attract and retain new generations of FCB talent with diverse and inspiring perspectives, said Credle.

Commenting on her appointment, Patel shared, As a talent champion and believer that inclusivity drives greater creativity, Ive always thrived on building diverse teams that are passionate about our industry. Im looking forward to stepping into this global role to partner with transformational leaders like Susan and Tyler who believe talent is one of our greatest assets.

Joining Patel on FCBs Global Leadership Team is Mark Jungwirth, who, after two years serving as the agencys North America CFO, moves into the Global CFO role. Jungwirth joined FCB in 2010 to lead the agencys finances and operations in Chicago, where he quickly rose to become its Chief Financial and Technology Officer. He has been a driving force in the reorganization and operational impact of the FCB network and has influenced the networks corporate strategy and resource investment as an operational lead, overseeing IT, project management and office services, initially for Chicago and then for all operations across North America. Prior to his 11 years with FCB, Mark earned his CPA with Ernst & Young before joining IPG and spending 13 years working at agencies across the company including Campbell-Ewald and McCann Worldgroup. In his new global role, Jungwirth expands his partnership with all offices across FCB to continue to help drive new growth and operational efficiency and excellence for the network.

Mark is an incredibly talented person and leader who gets the value of creativity and the growth it drives for our clients and for our business. He is a true strategic partner who has helped ensure our business operations are run in a way that serves the creative product and has found new ways to monetize the value that product and our people deliver for clients. I know he will do the same for our global network, commented Turnbull.

In my time with FCB, Ive been on the front lines of proving that creativity is an economic multiplier. I could not be more excited to do the same for us at the global level. Im looking forward to working closely with Susan, Tyler and our offices across FCB to further hone our focus on growth, efficiency and investment to help us better unleash creativity and drive measurable results for our clients, said Jungwirth.

Patel and Jungwirth have already been working closely with their teams and predecessors to ensure a smooth and efficient transition as their new remits began in Q1 of this year.

These promotions come on the heels of FCB underscoring its commitment to creativity through top succession moves announced earlier this month. Susan Credle expanded her remit as Global CCO to include Global Chair and Tyler Turnbull stepped into the Global CEO role. Named Cannes Lions 2020/2021 Global Creative Network of the Year, FCB has experienced incredible momentum that has helped it become one of the most successful and awarded creative networks in the world.

About FCB

FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding) is a global, award-winning and integrated marketing communications company with a heritage of creativity and success dating from 1873. Named Cannes Lions 2020/2021 Global Creative Network of the Year, Adweek 2020 Global Agency of the Year, 2020 Ad Age A-List and the #1 Global Network on The Good Report 2020, FCB focuses on creating Never Finished campaign ideas that have the power to transform brands, businesses and communities. With more than 8,000 people in 109 operations in 80 countries, the company is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG). Visit fcb.com or follow @FCBglobal on Instagram and Twitter and FCB Global on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Melanie Mitchem

+1 917 902 0998

Melanie.Mitchem@fcb.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0633906e-9cd9-46ad-86cb-5583360f4da7
SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts' Sacramento Campus joins the Children's Receiving Home (CRH) to continue the partnership, providing literal and metaphorical `building blocks.'

Gurnick's Sacramento campus recently reached out to CRH's Danielle McGarrity, Development Director, to continue a partnership between the two organizations set in motion last year. "We aim to continue delivering on our promises to work with the Sacramento youth in building and securing a better future. We cannot forget to give grace towards everyone affected by this Pandemic, including our children," explains Abraham Cicchetti, campus director. As an in-kind donation, large Lego-like equipment or children's building structures were offered to CRH before the holiday season. McGarrity was thrilled and instantly knew how to use the formations.

More than play structures, the equipment represents a vision cast last May during Sacramento's annual Big Day of Giving, Mr. Cicchetti, and his dedicated staff. While offering funding and mentorship at the agency's Sacramento headquarters, Cichetti also held out a neighborly hand on behalf of the Academy. Cicchetti spoke of an alliancea space for children to think about something else, be mentored, learn about healthcare, and have fun.

Donation of transportation

Thinking of children and their mental health given the current global situation

Building stimulates creative thinking

Building blocks to a better future

"The Children's Receiving Home of Sacramento plays a unique role for the Sacramento area's survivors of abuse and neglect. We provide total care for all aspects of the injuries suffered and use play therapy to encourage them to open up and share their stories," says Catarina Juan Fishman, Ph.D., clinical director. "These blocks are a tremendous recreational as well as a therapy tool for our clinical team. They will be great for all of our kids, and especially those who need help in the fine and gross motor skill areas."

Founded in 1944, through a cooperative effort of the Junior League of Sacramento and the Rotary Club of Sacramento, CRH has risen to meet the specific needs for over 76 years.1

# # #

Press contact: Cindy R. Chamberlin, Gurnick Academy SEO/corporate writer. cchamberlin@gurnick.edu

Gurnick Academy is a private academy offering quality allied health, imaging, and nursing programs operating six campuses in California with locations in San Mateo, Modesto, Fresno, Concord, Sacramento, and Van Nuys.



Citation:

1 n.d. "What We Do and Who We Are." Children's Receiving Home of Sacramento. (Accessed May 5, 2021.)

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Forde, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EarlyBirds.io the company who has developed a unique open innovation ecosystem platform has proven this is the fastest way for early adopter companies to solve their business and technical challenges and for innovators to bring their new solutions to market.

The companys open innovation ecosystem platform has established a reputation for helping businesses and innovators succeed in these aspects because of the diverse set of industries it works across. This even includes areas quickly becoming mainstream like climate change because of the role innovative technologies will play in this rapidly emerging sector. To help countries and organizations meet climate change targets and compliance requirements, EarlyBirds has released a world-leading Innovation Map for Net Zero using the power of its open innovation ecosystem platform.

A bulletin titled Technology and The UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) that was released by the organization specifically stated that We cannot address climate change without technology. This important bulletin discussed how technology will play a significant role as countries establish rules pursuant to the Paris Agreement which seeks to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Once climate targets have been set, countries and companies will need to quantify, reduce and monitor their emissions; something that can be complex, time-consuming, and open to errors. UNFCCC members highlighted in the bulletin that selecting the right technologies can help businesses simplify the process and also make it more efficient, transparent, and effective.

The company co-founder and CEO, Kris Poria, says thats where their world leading EarlyBirds Innovation Map for Net Zero can play an important role. Their Net Zero Innovation Map follows an approach developed by EarlyBirds where technology topics are broken down into related themes and sub-themes. This Innovation Map is designed to support any organisation with the uptake of technology to achieve Net-Zero goals and further reduce greenhouse gas production. The unique Net Zero Innovation Map is dynamically populated with relevant technologies drawn from over 4 million global startups, scaleups, and mature innovators required for climate change adaption and mitigation. He says, in addition to that, the themes and sub-themes for the Net Zero Innovation map were adapted from the Taxonomy of Climate Change Technology created by the outstanding work of the UNEP DTU Partnership between the United Nations Environment Collaboration Centre (UNEP), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the Green Technology Centre (GTC), Seoul, Korea.

This Taxonomy was created in support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) who, as previously stated, firmly believes innovative and new technologies are the key solutions needed to respond to climate change. This new EarlyBirds Innovation Map for Net Zero can help companies select the right technologies and comply with climate control mandates or become a leader in this field can be seen here at https://earlybirds.io/open_innovation_maps#Net%20Zero.

Poria went on to state the EarlyBirds Net Zero Innovation Map is an interactive map that displays all the relevant technology innovators associated with NetZero in themes (Categories) or sub-themes (Technology Scope). It follows the UNEP DTU and GTC classification approach including technologies needed to enable climate change adoption, Green House Gas mitigation, and the multi-disciplinary technology convergence category. By clicking on a theme or sub-theme the results are displayed in an interactive dashboard that can be filtered by business and financial maturity, and location. The themes can also be searched by keywords when looking for a specific capability. Additional EarlyBirds platform functionality is available to support innovation projects, curation of solutions, and to create an innovation pipeline.

Jeff Penrose co-founder and COO of EarlyBirds went on to add they are proud of the fact their open innovation ecosystem platform can be adopted in many ways to help society tackle such key issues as climate change. He stated the team at EarlyBirds will continue to be a company known for focusing on much more than just its bottom line as we will strive to come up with even more new ways where their open innovation ecosystem platform can be used to benefit society as a whole. More on this subject can be seen on the company website here at https://earlybirds.io/en/early_adopter.

###

For more information about EarlyBirds, contact the company here:



EarlyBirds

Mr Kris Poria and Mr Jeff Penrose

+61 401 287 060

support@earlybirds.io

FORDE SUITE 10, LEVEL 1, 26 FRANCIS FORDE BOULEVARD, FORDE, ACT 2914
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Becoming partly cloudy after some evening rain. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
The wife of a Brooklyn playwright fatally stabbed in 2017 was plunged into a suicidal depression after the slay, but the 20-year sentence given to his killer Wednesday will help her finally move on with her life, she told the Daily News.

Its been five long years for us, said Christina Carroll, who was walking with her husband, George Carroll, on Aug. 18, 2017, on Monitor St. in Greenpoint near McGolrick Park when he was knifed to death by Gary Correa, 24, after a brief fight.

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We have to live our lives. We can finally close the book on the trial, Christina Carroll said.

Gary Correa (Jesse Ward/for New York Daily News)

Correa, who was with two other men, used an 8-to-10-inch blade to kill George Carroll, 42, after the two had a quick exchange about 9:30 p.m. The Texas-born Brooklyn resident made eye contact with Correa, throwing the then-19-year-old into a rage.

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What are you looking at? snapped Correa before he and the two others attacked Carroll, according to his wife.

George Carroll and his widow, Christina Carroll. George was murdered in Greenpoint in 2017. (Courtesy of Christina Carroll)

Correa ran off to his Dodge Durango, which was parked on the street, grabbed his military-style blade and stabbed Carroll once in the chest in an unprovoked attack, prosecutors said.

Our last conversation that fateful night was about our future as a couple,  George would always say, these were our golden years, said Christina Carroll at Correas sentencing. These past few years have been really dark days for me, where I was suicidal.

George Carroll and his widow, Christina Carroll. George was murdered in Greenpoint in 2017. (Courtesy of Christina Carroll)

The couples future was snatched away from her in an instant, and the whole community of Brooklyn lost a kind soul, friends recalled.

He was our beloved friend. George was devoted, faithful, open. He was a positive force for good, said Laura Leale. Our hearts are busted.

Carroll biked every morning to the Carmelite nun monastery in Highland Park, where he attended Mass, and worked as a volunteer handyman, Leale recalled.

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He would pick up garbage, paint, run errands for them. He lived a life of service, she said. Since George is gone, weve lost so much. The sisters are moving. They cant be there without him.

He had moved from Texas in 2001 to study acting at the William Esper Studio and had appeared in independent films. The Carrolls were married in 2012.

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Correa, who was convicted of manslaughter at a trial in January, apologized for the crime Wednesday and insisted he never meant to kill.

George Carroll and his widow, Christina Carroll. George was murdered in Greenpoint in 2017. (Courtesy of Christina Carroll)

Im sorry for my stupid decisions.  I never meant to kill anyone that night, he said. I never denied the fact I was involved. The only thing I denied was the charge of murder because I did not intentionally kill anyone.

I wholeheartedly regret the decision I made, he said.

But Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully found that Correa had not fully accepted responsibility for his role, saying his apology to the Carroll family was a token gesture of remorse, as she sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

He made a conscious, premeditated decision to walk away from that fight and go get a deadly weapon to use it against Mr. Carroll, Tully said.
MANSFIELD [mdash] Patricia Ann Thursby-Daniels, 77, of Mansfield, Texas, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, died Sunday April 10, at Mansfield Hospital in Mansfield, Texas. She was born May 30, 1944, in Elkhart, Indiana, to Robert James and Opal Mae (Allison) Thursby. On Feb. 14, 1965, she marrie
A Columbia University professor was suspended after posting a controversial tweet that referred to a dark-skinned model as a freak of nature, school officials said.

Jeffrey Lieberman, who chairs Columbias psychiatry department, was suspended effective immediately after the insensitive post, which was condemned within the university and across the psychiatric community.

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Liebermans comments were about Nyakim Gatwech, a Sudanese model who has gained international fame as a dark-skinned model with a large following on Instagram. Her fans refer to her as Queen of the Dark.

(Shutterstock)

Lieberman was responding to another message about the model that called Gatwech the most beautiful among the black beauties and made a wildly false claim that she was in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the darkest skin ever seen.

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Whether a work of art or freak of nature shes a beautiful sight to behold, Lieberman wrote on Monday.

The tweet drew a strong negative reaction from readers who condemned it as sexist and racist.

South Sudanese model Nyakim Gatwech attends the 2019 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on November 11, 2019 in New York City. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Among the detractors was Columbia University, which denounced the tweet in a letter to staff.

We condemn the racism and sexism reflected in Dr. Liebermans tweet and acknowledge and share the hurt, sadness, confusion and distressing emotions you may be feeling, Thomas Smith, the psychiatry departments new acting director, said in the email.

A university spokesman confirmed that Lieberman had been suspended.

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Lieberman apologized for the tweet in a note to his colleagues.

An apology from me to the Black community, to women, and to all of you is not enough, Lieberman wrote in an email. Ive hurt many, and I am beginning to understand the work ahead to make needed personal changes and over time to regain your trust.

Liebermans account has been removed.

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But the offending tweet was reposted by Gatwech herself, who said Liebermans comment was hurting her brand.

Unfortunately, I believe this has been impacting my @instagram account negatively, Gatwech wrote on Instagram. I have worked really hard to build my page and use it as a platform to promote self acceptance, body positivity, and of course, my brand partnerships, but its about self love above anything else.

She also shot down the Guinness World Record talk.

Although weve denied it to multiple fact-checkers, clearly its still floating around even after @guinnessworldrecords stated that it does NOT monitor skin tones, she wrote. I cant imagine its even possible to know whos the lightest or darkest person on the planet!
Thousands of emotional protesters, chanting Hands off Ukraine! as they marched through Manhattan, assembled Thursday outside Russias United Nations Mission to condemn the Putin regimes invasion of their beloved homeland.

My heart is so heavy, said a weeping Stasia Shevechenko, 33, one of many misty marchers in the crowd that walked to E. 67th St. from Times Square. I hurt today. We all hurt today.

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Some carried signs denouncing the Russian attack and President Vladimir Putin as they stood outside the mission, where blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags were unfurled or wrapped around protesters on a windy day.

The marchers continued to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza outside the United Nations to make their voices heard once more.

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Save Ukraine, save the world! shouted demonstrator Greg Petrov, 27. Just our families, our people, are in danger now. Thats how it starts. Soon it will be your family, her family, his family. No one is safe if Putin continues.

One protester raised a homemade message reading Quit Putin your hands on Ukraine, while another sign simply called for prayers on behalf of the nation.

Mary Chamulak-Oszustowicz, 52, recounted her unsuccessful attempts to reach family members in Ukraine after Russia unleashed its wide-ranging offensive on their overmatched nation, which gained independence in 1991.

Protest outside the Russian Mission to the United Nations in Manhattan Thursday. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News)

I have not been able to reach them, said the protester, who was raised in the Lower East Sides Little Ukraine after her parents immigrated. I have hope, and pray they are OK. The fact is that Ukraine is an independent country, a freedom-loving country. We were invaded by a terrorist regime, and we need support.

At least my father lived long enough to see an independent Ukraine.

Ukrainian-Americans were not the only ones to join the protest.

We are devastated and very against what is going on, said Natasha Boiko, 23, who is from Russia. Its a big tragedy, and its a big shame and were not going to wash this shame for a long time. Its a disaster for everyone.

I dont know anyone who is in support of this, she added. Its a huge tragedy.

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Many in New Yorks Ukrainian population of about 150,000 people were stunned but hardly shocked Thursday as Putin attacked cities and military bases in their homeland with air strikes and shelling.

Its both not a surprise and a surprise, said Andrij Dobriansky, co-chair of the United Ukrainian American Association of New York. Were just trying to process things.

Dobriansky was up late visiting Zoom rooms created to contact Ukrainian residents for a first-hand account of the ongoing attacks. The Ukrainians were committed to fighting back, he said, adding theyll bring carloads of groceries for the people on the front lines.

Demonstrators protest in support of Ukraine in Times Square Thursday. (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Oleaksandr Matsuka, 65, a former United Nations civil servant, said the current situation in Ukraine is beyond belief.

More serious that we can even imagine, said the Butler, N.J., resident. It is an absolutely unprovoked attack. It is full-scale war ... [Putin] is absolutely insane.

East Villager Iryna Kurowyckyj said she was speaking Thursday with a friend who lives outside Kyiv when their conversation was interrupted.

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She said, I just heard shooting, recounted Kurowyckyj. What can we do? Every child should be shooting [back]. We had World War I and World War II. This is the beginning of World War III.

The East Village, as well as Brooklyns Brighton Beach, are home to the citys largest Ukrainian populations. Maria Shust, director of the Ukrainian Museum in Manhattan, was distraught that the nations independence could disappear after 31 years.

They really have made such progress, she said. They really have been building up a democratic country, and for this to be the end of that is quite sad. ... Its really hard to believe. Its almost unthinkable that someone would be able to do something like this.

Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn offered a prayer for peace at morning Mass in Prospect Heights.

On the left is Taras Topolia, the frontman for Ukrainian rock band Antytila. He and others are pictured at the Territorial Defense Enlisting Center in Ukraine. (Obtained by Daily News)

We join with our Holy Father, we join with people all around the world, as much of us woke to the shocking news, not necessarily surprising, but the shocking news of the invasion of Ukraine, said Brennan. We pray indeed for the people of Ukraine. We pray for people ... here in Brooklyn from the Ukrainian community.

Dobriansky called for additional significant sanctions against the Putin regime.

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He doesnt care about the Russian planes that have been shot down, he said. He doesnt care about his people. Ukrainians will be at funerals tonight for their friends who have been killed.
One subway rider attacked another with a metal pipe during an argument that started on a Manhattan subway Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The victim, whos in his 20s, squabbled with his attacker on a J train as it approached a subway station at Delancey and Essex Sts. about 5:20 p.m., cops said.

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Police patrol the Essex Street subway platform of the J train where a person was assaulted Wednesday. (Sam Costanza/for New York Daily News)

The attacker, whos believed to be 29 years old, clobbered the victim with a pipe, then fled the train, cops said.

Medics took the victim to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.

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Police have made no arrests in the attack.
A young man was shot in the leg as he stepped out of his Queens apartment in an alarming caught-on-video ambush, police said Wednesday.

The 19-year-old victim was leaving his apartment on Seagirt Ave. at Beach 8th St. in Far Rockaway about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday when the shooter emerged from another door in the building, stepped around a corner and shot him.

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NYPD released a photo of a person wanted in a shooting at Seagirt Ave. and Beach 8th St. on Tuesday. (DCPI)

Video shows the victim falling to the ground as the shooter ran back to where hed emerged and escaped.

Medics took the victim to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition.

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Police describe the shooter as a man in his mid-30s with a dark complexion and black hair, wearing a blue hooded jacket, brown pants and brown boots.

Cops ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
The newest beer coming out of Hog River Brewing Co.'s Hartford taproom is a "juicy" New England IPA, fruited with peach and Cara Cara oranges. It also has particular significance for the women of Connecticut's brewing industry.

Driven by a shared desire to empower and uplift women in beer, three female brewery owners came together to craft the collaboration beer, which they named "Bombshell." It's a partnership between Joy Braddock of Hog River, Heather Wilson of Hop Culture Farms & Brew Co. in Colchester and Alisa Bowens-Mercado of Rhythm Brewing Co. in New Haven.

The beer was released during a special event at Hog River on March 5, in the first week of Women's History Month. Proceeds from sales will be donated to the CT Pink Boots Society Scholarship for Women in Brewing, which supports women enrolling in Sacred Heart University's Brewing Science Certificate Program.

The Bombshell IPA was available on draft and in cans at Hog River and Hop Culture's taprooms, and will be distributed along with other Rhythm beers at select retail outlets. The release event at Hog River featured more than a dozen female vendors in the taproom, along with live music.

Winter Caplanson/ CT Food & Farm

As female brewery owners, Braddock, Wilson and Bowens-Mercado face the challenges of a male-dominated industry, and Bowens-Mercado is one of just a few Black female owners in the United States. When they gathered in Hartford to brew the beer, they sat together and had long, candid discussions about their experiences, Braddock said.

"It was unlike any other conversation I've ever had with any other peer in the industry, to date," she said. "I've never been surrounded by two other female owners. It was honestwe could relate in a different way to each other. It was really refreshing."

They chose "Bombshell" for the name to signal that women will be making a splash, Bowens-Mercado said. "We're letting folks know, 'Don't underestimate women in the industry."

The 'reckoning' in craft beer

A man is literally talking to me like a dog right now, Brienne Allan posted on her Instagram story last May. Frustrated by her experiences in the industry, Allan, a production manager at Massachusetts' Notch Brewing, asked women in beer to share their own stories: the sexism, harassment, racism and general misogynistic behavior they'd experienced in their professional settings.

The response was swift, and overwhelming. Thousands of women reached out to Allan on Instagram, describing demeaning remarks about their knowledge levels or physical strength, assumptions about their roles in the industry, pervasive cultures of sexual harassment  and even sexual violence.

The movement, which Braddock called a "reckoning," also hit home in Connecticut. Women writing to Allan accused an employee at South Windsor's Connecticut Valley Brewing Co. of sexual harassment. The employee was fired, and the brewery's owners issued a statement denouncing his behavior and affirming a commitment to training and education.

Courtesy of Joy Braddock / Hog River Brewing Co.

None of it came as a shock to Connecticut's female leaders in beer. Braddock said she was "sickened and saddened, although not surprised" to hear about sexual harassment and abuse in the industry.

She and her husband, Ben, opened the brewery in 2016, and she says people rarely assume she's an owner, or that she's just "the brewer's wife" helping out. She says she and her female staff members will sometimes get "tested" on their craft beer knowledge, as if customers don't trust they know what they're talking about.

"It's just a very different treatment, as compared to if Ben goes behind the bar, and it's instant respect...that conversation starts without him having to prove himself," she said.

Bowens-Mercado opened Rhythm in 2018. "I think when we hit the scene, we were the fourth [Black female-owned brewery] in the country," she said. "I don't take that lightly. When you have numbers like that, then you know there's work to be done."

Before she even "made a drop of beer," she said, she researched the industry for more than four years, understanding that she would need to be equipped with as much knowledge as possible to be taken seriously.

"People are going to quiz you; they're going to think you don't know anything about the industry," she said. "And I knew, getting into the business as an African-American female, that the assumption was going to be, 'What the heck does she know about beer?'"

Winter Caplanson/ CT Food & Farm

Wilson co-owns Hop Culture with her husband, Sam, and she's the head brewer at their Colchester farm brewery. People are sometimes surprised that she's at the helm of the operation, and she's also had her knowledge challenged. But she's trying to break down stereotypes, she said.

"That only challenges me to level up and become better," she said. "I don't want to become the best female brewer. I want to be the best brewer. Every time I'm challenged with that, I just continue to learn and try to grow my craft."

The future of women in brewing

Sacred Heart's brewing science certificate is the first of its kind in Connecticut, according to the university. The curriculum includes classes in sanitation and safety, introduction to brewing ingredients, sensory analysis and beer service, craft beverage brewing and operations and management.The early courses will qualify students for the Cicerone Certified Beer Server exam and the ServSafe Alcohol exam.

The Connecticut brewery owners said they're thrilled to be involved in contributing to the scholarship, which was established in 2021 by Bloomfield's Back East Brewing Company and the Connecticut Chapter of the Pink Boots Society as a way to help "increase opportunities for females in a male-dominated industry."

Winter Caplanson/ CT Food & Farm

Braddock said she believes the brewing science education and associated internships will help more women move into "decision-making roles" in the beer industry. (Bowens-Mercado currently has an intern at Rhythm who's a student in the program, calling her "an up-and-coming star in the beer world.")

Wilson, a mother of three daughters, said it's a "big passion" of hers to get more women involved in the production side of brewing.

"We believe that increasing access to knowledge and information and education will give women the chance to step into some of these bigger roles on the production side, and [becoming] owners and brewers themselves," she said.

Braddock said her "heart was full" after the event. "It was such a positive energy between the customers and vendors who were there," she said. "I think because everyone was there with an intention to support the cause, it just permeated the whole space."

The goal was to have visibility, Braddock said. "To actually see people come through the door and say, 'Yes, I want to see more women in the industry,' that's what I wanted to see, and that's what really feels good."

While the release was a success, Braddock said she, Wilson and Bowens-Mercado are already asking, "What's next?"

"We've got to capture the momentum, which we're feeling, and just keep going with it," she said.

Elsewhere in Connecticut, Stratford's Athletic Brewing is releasing the 2022 edition of "Trailblazer," a Helles-style non-alcoholic beer, in celebration of Women's History Month. One hundred percent of the profits will be donated to multiple non-profit organizations such as Pink Boots Society, Ladies Who Launch, the Womens International Beer Summit and other organizations that inspire women to join the craft beer community.
If you are a current subscriber to our print product, you can have access to the website and E-Edition for free. You will need the account number from your most recent print invoice. Call us at (931) 592-2781 if you do not have it.
HMD forced to pull most of its smartphones out of Germany over a patent dispute

It seems that HMD Global has been forced to pull most of its smartphones out of the German and Swiss markets, leaving only the two newly announced models  the Nokia G21 and G11. What happened?

The company is being sued by VoiceAgeEVS LLC (VAEVS) over patents related to VoLTE and the Enhanced Voice Service standard that it is based on. VAEVS applied for a sales ban in December and for now courts are siding with it.

Heading over to the Nokia Germany and Nokia Switzerland sites we see only the G21 and G11 and no mention of 2021 phones or older. Something is afoot in France, Italy, Spain and even HMDs home country of Finland as well. In those countries only the G21 is available to buy (but older models are still listed, unlike in Germany and Switzerland). The X20, X10 and others are available in the UK, however.



Nokia Germany's smartphone page is looking quite barren

Its not clear how long that will last as the lawsuit wasnt filed in just Germany. Here is a statement from HMD Global (machine translated):

HMD is a defendant in a number of lawsuits filed by VoiceAgeEVS LLC (VAEVS) in various jurisdictions, including Germany. We are disappointed with the completion of the VoiceAge enforcement proceedings in Germany in December and have lodged a complaint. In the meantime, we have ensured that none of the devices offered and distributed in Germany support EVS, commented HMD Global on the situation in Germany.

VAEVS has sued other companies over its Enhanced Voice Services patents, including Apple, Lenovo and TCL in 2020. Those companies settled out of court, but it looks like HMD is liking its chances of winning the court battle.

Source 1 (in German) | Source 2 (in Finnish) | Source 3 (in German)
Motorola Edge Plus 2022 is the US variant of the Edge 30 Pro

Earlier today, Motorola announced its Edge 30 Pro flagship which is based on the China-exclusive Edge X30 but we are also getting a US-exclusive Motorola Edge Plus 2022. This device brings nearly identical hardware to the international Edge 30 Pro but offers slower 30W charging compared to the Edge 30 Pros 68W speeds. Carrier unlocked Edge Plus 2022 devices will offer C-ban compatible sub-6Ghz 5G connectivity while Verizon models will do mmWave. The rest of the key specs are identical to the Edge 30 Pro.

You still get a 6.7-inch FHD+ P-OLED screen with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate. Qualcomms latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip sits at the helm aided by 8/12GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. The camera department features a 50MP main sensor alongside a 50MP ultrawide snapper and a 2MP depth helper. The selfie shooter brings a 60MP sensor housed in the centered punch-hole cutout. Motorola is also selling a Smart Stylus accessory if youre the type of person that likes to jot down notes or draw on your phone.

You get Android 12 on the software side with Motorolas MyUX interface on top and the Ready For platform for connecting external monitors a la Samsung DeX. Motorola is guaranteeing two years of Android OS updates.



Motorola Edge Plus 2022 in Cosmos Blue and Stardust White

Motorola Edge Plus 2022 comes in Cosmos Blue and Stardust White colors and retails for $999 though you can get a $100 discount on pre-orders. You can register your interest on Motos US website and expect to see the device in Version, Boost Mobile, and Republic Wireless stores too.
South Korean outlet ZDnet is now reporting that a whopping 1.02 million Samsung Galaxy S22 series units have been pre-ordered locally. That number is on pace for a new record with 300,000 units being booked on the first day of the campaign.

Samsungs Galaxy S8 series launched back in 2017 actually managed 1.4 million pre-orders but accomplished so in an eleven-day pre-order period while the S22 series did so in just seven. The Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 were also close to the 1 million pre-orders mark but failed to reach that record setting number last year.

Samsungs new Galaxy S22 Ultra accounted for 60% of total pre-orders. The Korean news outlet suggest many long-time Galaxy Note users upgraded to the S22 Ultra. Open sales of the Galaxy S22 series in South Korea start tomorrow, February 25. It will be interesting to see how Samsung handles logistics and how that will affect shipping times.

Source (in Korean)
The Expert RAW app that gives you further control over the cameras of the Galaxy S21 Ultra is now available for the S22 family as well. Also, it's now officially out of beta. However, the new stable release is only available for the Galaxy S22 phones, at least for now.

The app itself supports Linear DNG 16-bit raw output and grants full control over all of the camera, including the HDR function. It's important to note that only Android 12 Samsung devices will get official non-beta support for the app in the future.

Samsung says the stable version of the app will arrive to the Galaxy S21 Ultra on March 7 while the Z Fold3 will get it sometime in April. The Galaxy S20 Ultra, Note20 Ultra and the Z Fold2 owners will have to wait a little bit more, but no longer than the first half of this year.

Via
March your way to beautiful sceneries with Guam Boonie Stompers Inc. next month! The groups March hikes range from medium to very difficult, but they will not be without their rewards.

Hikers should provide their own transportation and children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Note that weather conditions can make the hikes more difficult than described.

No reservations are required. To join, meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot behind Chamorro Village in Hagatna.

The cost is $5 for hikers over 17. If you complete 10 hikes, you get a free Boonie Stomp T-shirt.

For more information, go to facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc or call 671-787-4238.

March 5: Manunu Valley/Fouha Point, difficult, 4 hours for 3 miles

Hike the Manunu Falls and enjoy the views overlooking Cetti Bay at Fouha Point and explore the Manunu Valley in southern Guam.

Hikers should bring 3 quarts of water, electrolytes, hiking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, lunch and a camera.

Special conditions: Sword grass, steep slopes, little shade and possible mud.

March 12: Pagat Coast/Cave, medium, 4 hours for 3 miles

Descend the cliff and through the limestone forest to explore and enjoy the ocean arch for jumping and swimming. Explore an ancient CHamoru village and swim in the underground fresh water pool.

Hikers should bring 3 quarts of water, electrolytes, clothes, hiking shoes, snorkel gear, gloves, insect repellent, sunscreen, lunch and a camera.

Special conditions: Stretches of steep trail, walking in cave water and rough limestone rocks.

March 19: Attilong Acho to Stella Bay, difficult, 4 hours for 3 miles

Hike down the narrow and open ridge, then over two huge black rock hills while overseeing amazing views along the way. Then, head over to Stella Bay for swimming and snorkeling.

Hikers should bring 3 quarts of water, electrolytes, hiking shoes, swimsuit, snorkel gear, gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent, lunch and a camera.

Special conditions: Very steep slopes, sword grass and little shade.

March 26: Mount Sasalaguan to Mount Finacresta, very very difficult, 5 hours for 4 miles

Climb and enjoy the outstanding views of Guams southeastern mountains as you climb steep uphill climbs and high sword grass.

Hikers should bring 4 quarts of water, electrolytes, hiking shoes, gloves, sunscreen, lunch and a camera.

Special conditions: Sword grass, little shade, steep climbs and a hard hike.
The gunman who shot a city Sanitation Department worker during a wild fight on a Hells Kitchen street surrendered to police, cops said Wednesday.

Elijah Tracey, 20, faces attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon charges for his role in the chaotic Feb. 10 confrontation  sparked when his brother, Andrew, threatened to shoot the apartment windows of the victims teenage daughter, prosecutors allege.

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The episode unfolded in the young womans apartment, prosecutors said. Andrew Tracey, who was dating the teen, threatened to shoot out the windows, according to a criminal complaint.

NYPD officers and detectives investigate a shooting at 515 W. 52nd St. on Feb. 10 in Manhattan. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

The teen called her dad, who headed over to W. 52nd St. near 10th Ave. to help, while Andrew Tracey called Elijah, prosecutors said. The argument spilled out onto the street, and Elijah Tracey started to punch the girl, according to prosecutors.

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Her dad showed up, and battled with Andrew Tracey, quickly getting the better of him, prosecutors said.

Andrew Tracey ran to his car, pulling a gun out of the trunk, prosecutors said. He chambered a round, and Elijah Tracey took the gun from his brother and opened fire three times, striking the girls dad in the head.

Andrew Tracey then stole the girls fathers car, crashed it around the corner, and hopped into his brothers car and took off.

Police arrested Andrew Tracey the next day, charging him with attempted murder. City correction records show he paid his $100,000 bail on Feb. 14.

Elijah Tracey awaits arraignment in Manhattan criminal court.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine brings more uncertainty and hinders efforts to return to life as we used to know it, said University of Guam economics professor Roseann Jones.

It just doesnt add to growing back stability for travel and tourism, Jones said. Our other element of our economy is the military and we are a strong military presence in the region. That also creates some anxiety for many of the families here about the whole disruption of the geopolitical scene.

The Associated Press reported that Asian stock markets plunged and oil prices increased after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced Russian military action in Ukraine.

Putin said he was launching a special military operation in eastern Ukraine.

Impact

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said the only impact the Ukraine conflict might have on Guam would be at the pump, with the continued increase of oil prices affecting the cost of gas.

We do not trade with Russia or Ukraine, the governor said.

It is too early to say how the conflict between Russia and Ukraine might impact Guam tourism, according to Guam Visitors Bureau Vice President Gerry Perez, who said pandemic recovery protocols in Guams tourist markets continue to have the biggest impact on the travel industry.

Personally, I think it may impact fuel prices and the cost of air fares, Perez said.

Tourism

The Ukraine conflict wasnt mentioned during Thursdays GVB board meeting, where board members instead focused on the costs associated with bringing tourists back to Guam.

They discussed the budgets for airline incentives and for free COVID testing for tourists.

The governor recently provided $6.5 million to GVB for projects to support tourism and for Liberation Day fireworks and drone shows.

The outlook for the Japan market is expected to improve at the beginning of March, according to GVB, when the nation reduces its arrival quarantine to three days, allowing returning travelers to quarantine at home and to use public transportation to get there from the airport.

As far as tourists traveling again, its gonna take several months, according to Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association President Mary Rhodes, who said the Ukraine conflict likely will have the biggest impact on prices.

Any type of global impact to the economy is going to have a detrimental effect, she said. People are still trying to get out of a global pandemic and theres supply issues and increases in pricing due to supply issues.  We dont know what President Biden is going to do with regard to sanctions, which affect Guam and the shipping industry and commodities.

Rhodes said Guam needs to promote itself as a safe tourist destination on U.S. soil with a military presence, only a few hours away from home. Its the same back to basics message that allowed tourism to rebound from past setbacks, she said.
Flora Santipas was working the graveyard shift Wednesday night at the Mangilao Mobil and getting ready to give a customer his change at 11:47 p.m.

I just heard a huge boom, like a huge bang behind me, the 20-year-old cashier said.

The ground and building shook for about three seconds, Santipas said.

After hustling the customer out of the gas station for safety, she found the source of the noise: an apparent explosion at Oriental Kitchen, about 200 yards south of the gas station on Route 10.

All I saw was fire and the glass all over  the road, she said. There (were) a lot of people on the sidewalk, just holding out their phones, talking, yelling, stuff like that.

She called 911 and was told the fire had been reported and emergency responders were on their way. Amid the chaos, she saw someone who went out of his way to help other drivers on Route 10 avoid the mayhem.

There was one specific man I give props,  because he got out of his vehicle and he stopped all the cars from going to that direction. He was like just moving them away and then he was telling people not to go close.  He had the courage to come out when something like that happened, Santipas said.

Response

Neighbors in the surrounding area reported the explosion to the Guam Fire Department. The fire was under control at 11:56 p.m., according to GFD spokesman firefighter Kevin Reilly.

An investigation into the cause of the fire followed. GFD personnel started surveying the scene at 8 a.m. Thursday, Reilly said.

At 9:30 a.m., three investigators wearing hard hats were walking through the debris around the restaurant. The entrance to the parking lot was blocked off by fire vehicles and the restaurant was cordoned off.

They will stay as long as it takes, looking for evidence to help formulate the cause and origin, said Reilly, who added it was undetermined whether the explosion caused the fire.

Very grateful

Mangilao Mayor Allan Ungacta was on scene Thursday morning and said he was concerned when he first heard about the explosion.

Were very fortunate, the surrounding neighbors. As you can see, nobodys injured and were very grateful nobody was hurt during the process, Ungacta said.

Oriental Kitchen has been here since back in the mid-80s and up into the 90s. Its been a staple and one of the landmarks. I remember coming here as a kid, he said.

Were saddened to see Oriental Kitchen like this, but we hope to build them back into the community again.
Michael Lujan Bevacqua is an author, artist, activist and the curator for The Guam Museum.
A 24-year-old woman died Thursday after a man slit her throat in a Bronx apartment and then cut his own throat in a bloody suicide attempt, police said.

Cops responding to a 911 call for an assault in progress found Denise Caamano bleeding from a deep cut to her throat at about 7 a.m. inside the fifth-floor apartment they shared on Arthur Ave. near E. 180th St. in Crotona.

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Police on the scene on Arthur Ave. near E. 180th St. in Crotona. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

Israel Flores, 27, was lying near her in a bedroom, and his throat was also slit, cops said. A bloody boxcutter lay nearby.

Medics rushed both victims to St. Barnabas Hospital, where Caamano died.

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Cops responding to a 911 call for an assault in progress found the woman bleeding from a deep cut to her throat inside the fifth-floor apartment on Arthur Ave. near E. 180th St. in Crotona. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

Flores was expected to survive. He faces charges of murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon, said police.

Cops believe Flores slit Caamanos throat and then his own.




Haiti - Environment : Cancellation of all badges of BSAP agents





Alarmed by the reported repetitions of inappropriate behavior by some of its agents of the Environmental Surveillance Corps (CSE), behavior which risks creating confusion about the real attributions guaranteed by the Decree of January 26, 2006 on environmental management, the Minister of the Environment James Cadet, informs that it has been decided "the cancellation of all badges issued to all agents of the Protected Areas Surveillance Brigade (BSAP) for appropriate screening and examination of each of the agents in view of making the arrangements as of right."



To this end, an Internal Control Commission will be set up shortly to facilitate the application of this provision.



In addition, Minister Cadet takes the opportunity to inform the population that reforms will soon be initiated at the CSE for new measures regarding the environmental monitoring of our coast, the urban environment, sand and quarries and Protected Areas in the country.



Furthermore, the Minister reiterates his desire to prevent such behavior that is detrimental to peace and public security.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31728-icihaiti-alert-false-recruitments-of-bsap-agents.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #706





GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022:

Epidemiological situation:



Thursday February 24, 2022 the number of people infected worldwide with the Covid-19 coronavirus and its variants since the start of the pandemic (March 11, 2020) amounts to 430,377,163 cases (+2,020,551 in 24 hours ), the day before (+1,827,034)



Number of countries infected: 221



*Healings: 359,024,538 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+2,602,559 in 24 hours), the day before (+2,675,543)

*Deaths: 5,938,043 people died of Covid-19 worldwide (+11,777 in 24 hours), the day before (+11,021)

*Active cases (less deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 65,414,582 cases (-593,785 in 24 hours), the day before (-864,530)



Average cure rate in the world: 83.42% (+)



Average mortality rate in the world: 1.37% (-)



World: Number of daily confirmed cases





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 10.69 billion doses of vaccine injected (+20 million doses injected in 24 hours. Updated February 24, 2022 (latest data available).



HAITI:

Epidemiological situation:

According to the Ministry of Public Health, +12 new in 24 hours of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of February 20, 2022 (latest partial data available) for a total of 30,299 confirmed cases throughout the national territory (48.7% women and 51.3% men), since the first case (March 19, 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html ). Previous update (+27 cases on February 19, 2022).



Heals: 25,185 (+5)



Cure rate: 83.12% (-)



Deaths: 820 deaths (+1 Nippes) ()



Death rate: 2.70% (=)



5th Wave (Omicron Dominant):

Total of the 5th wave (starting December 27, 2021) amounts to 4,304 confirmed cases and 54 deaths



Haiti: Active Cases Trend: (less recoveries and deaths)





(Day-1)



Screening since the start of the pandemic: 178,094 tests (+912 in 24 hours) since March 19, 2020, latest data available. Note that the very small number of people screened every day at the national level out of a population estimated at 11.6 million citizens, does not statistically allow us to make a representative estimate of the situation in Haiti, which translates into a < B>number of daily confirmed cases largely underestimated.



TOP 5 of the most affected municipalities in the West (2022):

Delmas: 721 (+1); Petion-ville 610 (+0); Port au Prince 400 (+1); Tabarre 276 (+1); 219(+1)



Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020):

West: 2022: 2,467 cases; (2021: 9.890); (2020: 6,945 cases)

North: 2022: 261 cases; (2021: 664); (2020: 677 cases)

Center: 2022: 211 cases; (2021: 1.001); (2020: 508 cases)

Artibonitis: 2022: 157 cases; (2021: 855); (2020: 593 cases)

Northeast: 2022: 146 cases; (2021: 404); (2020: 314 cases)

Southeast: 2022: 219 cases; (2021: 768); (2020: 274 cases)

South: 2022: 209 cases; (2021: 891); (2020: 262 cases)

North West: 2022: 241 cases; (2021: 383); (2020: 229 cases)

Grand'Anse: 2022: 132 cases; (2021: 861); (2020: 176 cases)

Nippes: 2022: 31 cases; (2021: 249) (2020: 149 cases)



Cumulative deaths by department (2022-2021):

West: 292 deaths (2020: 104 deaths)

North: 53 deaths (2020: 34 deaths)

Center: 74 deaths (2020: 13 deaths)

Artibonite: 39 deaths (2020: 39 deaths)

North East: 7 deaths (2020: 6 deaths)

South: 51 deaths (2020: 6 deaths)

Southeast: 14 deaths (2020: 9 deaths)

North West: 15 deaths (2020: 12 deaths)

Grand'Anse: 7 deaths (2020: 13 deaths)

Nippes: 27 deaths (2020: 5 deaths)



Distribution of deaths by age (since the start of the epidemic):

0-9 years: 15 deaths

10-19 years: 10 deaths

20-29 years: 29 deaths

30-39 years: 54 deaths

40-49 years: 78 deaths

50-59 years: 133 deaths

60-69 years: 186 deaths (+1)

70-79 years: 181 deaths

80 years and over: 134 deaths



Vaccination:

150,734 Haitians (1.29% of the population) +920 in 24 hours have received a 1st dose of vaccine since July 16, 2021, date of the first injection through 149 open vaccination centers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html and 100,126 Haitians are fully vaccinated (2 doses, 0.86% of the population) +889 in 24h. Update February 15, 2022 latest information available (source MSPP).



List of the 149 Vaccination Centers open in Haiti (and hours) by department:

(updated October 20, 2021, latest information available)

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html



DIASPORA:

Epidemiological situation:



USA:

*Cases since the first case (February 29, 2020): 80,372,404 cases (+101,841 in 24 hours), the day before (+125,281)

*Healings: 52,453,562 healings (+253,733 in 24 hours), the day before (+270,585)

National Cure Rate: 65.26% (+)

*Deaths: 966,530 deaths (+3,159 in 24 hours), the day before (+3,214)

National mortality rate: 1.20% (=)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 26,952,312 (-155,051 in 24 hours), the day before (-148,518)

Tests: 944,126,758 last data available.



USA: Number of daily confirmed cases





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 551.52 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection in the United States (+250,000 doses in 24 hours). Update February 23, 2022 (latest data available).



DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 573,458 cases (+422 in 24 hours) the day before (+306). First case (March 1, 2020)

Healings: 567,227 healings (+1,139), the day before (+447)

National Cure Rate: 98.91% (+)

Deaths: 4,363 deaths (+3 in 48 hours), the day before (+3)

Death rate: 0.76% (=)

Positivity rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 6.56% (+)

Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 1,868 cases (-280 in 24 hours) the day before (-144)



Dominican Republic: Trend of active cases: (minus recoveries and deaths)





(Day-1)



TOP 5 Provinces with the most new cases in the last 24 hours:

National District: +91 new cases in 24 hours (-2 compared to the previous day)

MonsenorNouel: +91 new cases in 24 hours ()

Santiago: +57 new cases in 24 hours (+38 compared to the day before)

Santo Domingo: +56 new cases in 24 hours (-47 compared to the previous day)



Tests (since the 1st case): 3,093,792 tests (+6,251 in 24 hours), the day before (+6,637)



Vaccination: 15.22 million doses of vaccine injected since February 16, 2021, date of the first injection in the Dominican Republic (+10,000 doses injected in 24 hours). Update February 23, 2022 (latest data available).



QUEBEC:

Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 915,762 (+1,861 in 24 hours), previous (+1,438)

Healings: 882,577 people (+1,829 in 24 hours), previous (+2,305)

Cure rate: 96.37% (=)

Deaths: 13,903 deaths (+17 in 24 hours), previous (+30)

Death rate: 1.51% (=)

Active cases: (excluding death and recovery) 19,282 cases (+15 in 24 hours), previous (-897)



Quebec: Confirmed case trend:







Test: 16,621,162 people tested since the first case (+20,306 in 24 hours)



Vaccination: 18,341,739 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+15,030 doses in 24 hours), latest data available - MSSS as of February 22, 2022)



FRANCE:

*Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 22,468,239 cases (+66,833 cases in 24 hours), previous (+ 97,382)

*Healings: 20,009,852 healings (+274,139 in 24h), previous (+310,749)

National Cure Rate: 89.05% (+)

Deaths: 137,489 deaths (+213 in 24 hours), previous (+603 in 48 hours)

Death rate: 0.61% (=)

Active Cases: 2,320,898 (-207,519 in 24h), previous (-217,981)

Test: 243,529,298 (last data available February 17, 2022)



France: Number of daily confirmed cases:





(day 1)



Vaccination: 140.66 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+150,000 doses injected in 24 hours. Update February 23, 2022 (latest data available)



Previous bulletin: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36031-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-705.html



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30165-haiti-flash-first-case-of-covid-19-in-the-dominican-republic.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Shooting between fishermen, 4 dead

Wednesday in "Dlo Boche" first communal section of Limonade (North Dept.) two armed groups qualified as fishermen by witnesses, clashed causing at least 4 deaths. One of the two groups accused the other of ransomers...



USA : Donation of 60 vehicles to the PNH

On Wednesday the US authorities donated 60 vehicles to the National Police of Haiti (PNH). These vehicles will allow the police institution to strengthen its operational mobility. Frantz Elbe the Acting Director General of the PNH is committed to respecting the principles of use of these vehicles within the framework of the agreement with the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section" (INL)



A priest of Haitian origin Bishop of Charleston

On Tuesday, February 22, Pope Francis appointed Haitian-born priest Jacques Fabre, 66, Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina in the United States who will be consecrated and installed on April 29, 2022.



Fuel : Public Transit Subsidy

Prime Minister Henry intends to keep his promise to subsidize petroleum products for public transport. The fuel card that will allow public transport drivers to pay for fuel at a lower cost will be available at the end of February promised Ricardin Saint Jean, the Minister of Commerce.



Granting of student loans

On Wednesday morning, Governor Jean Baden Dubois, Council member Ms. Myrtho Rene, and BRH executives met with Minister of National Education Nesmy Manigat, around several projects including that relating to the granting of loans to students for vocational training.



Control of African swine fever

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is committed to continuing its support to the Government of Haiti to eradicate African swine fever. 34 outbreaks were detected and 96 pigs tested positive in 7 departments. Only the departments of Nippes, Center and North are currently spared.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2022/02/23 | Source

Actors Choi Won-young, Son Yeo-eun, Choi Dae-chul and Han Chae-ah will work together in "Gold Spoon".

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MBC's new drama "Gold Spoon" announced on the 22nd that Choi Won-young, Son Yeo-eun, Choi Dae-chul and Han Chae-ah have confirmed their appearance.

"Gold Spoon" is based on Naver Webtoon of the same name. It is an adventure of a boy who stumbles across a magical golden spoon that allows him to switch with the rich parents of another boy. The drama throws the question if it's possible to change money and family and which of the two could be close to happiness starring Yook Sung-jae, Lee Jong-won-I, Jung Chae-yeon, and Yeonwoo.

Choi Won-young plays Hwang Hyeon-do, the father of Hwang Tae-yong (Lee Jong-won-I). Hwang Hyeon-do is the chairman of Doshin Group, who is fair, rational and cool-headed in everything, but he will do anything for money.

Son Yeo-eun plays the role of Hwang Tae-yong's stepmother, Seo Yeong-shin. Seo Yeong-shin married Hwang Hyeon-do politically only for money, but suffers a setback in their plan to become the wife of the Doshin Group because of her son Hwang Tae-yong and husband Hwang Hyeon-do.

Choi Dae-chul plays Lee Cheol, the father of Lee Seung-cheon (Yook Sung-jae), in the drama. Lee Cheol is a cartoonist in a former cartoon store that provides space for money where one can borrow comic books or read them in person, and is currently a prospective webtoon writer who has not been able to start. He wants to revive his reputation of a cartoonist as a young man and succeed as a webtoon writer to better provide for his family.

Han Chae-ah plays Lee Seung-cheon's mother, Jin Seon-hye, and works with Choi Dae-chul. Jin Seon-hye married Lee Cheol, a young man who was pure and passionate, but is now taking care of her son with extraordinary brains to help him achieve his dreams.

"Gold Spoon" is a follow-up to "Doctor Lawyer" and will air in the second half of this year.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2022/02/23

The release of the melodrama film "Serve the People" marks the first time in nine years that director Jang Cheol-soo has seen the release of a film. His last project was "Secretly and Greatly" in 2013, a big hit with Kim Soo-hyun in the leading role based on the webtoon of the same title, with some melodramatic elements of its own. Now with "Serve the People" director Jang Cheol-soo adapts the famous satire of the same name by the Chinese author Yan Lianke.

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In a recent interview Jang Cheol-soo said he didn't think it would take this long for him to come back. But he noted that making movies isn't a solo project, and that he had to make a lot of effort and show his determination of will to get the help he needed to make filming of "Serve the People" happen. Still, he felt that the nearly ten year break was helpful for his vision, as it allowed him to look at "Serve the People" from a completely fresh perspective relative to his past reputation.

The original novel of "Serve the People" was published in 2005. Jang Cheol-soo finished his script adapting the project in 2011, but had to stop work on it when he received an offer to direct "Secretly and Greatly" that same year. In 2014, Jang Cheol-soo was able to get Yeon Woo-jin to sign on to the project, but the absence of a production company willing to fund the project made it difficult to finance the film.

Nevertheless, Jang Cheol-soo concedes that his work on the high profile "Secretly and Greatly" certainly improved his prospects. Jang Cheol-soo said that "Serve the People" seemed like an impossible movie to film due to its risque content. Still, seven years after first meeting with Yeon Woo-jin, filming finally began and Jang Cheol-soo that they all did their best in regards to the content of the story. "Serve the People" was released in South Korean theaters on February 23rd.

Written by William Schwartz
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Published on 2022/02/23 | Source

The script reading for tvN's new drama "The Killer's Shopping List" has been unveiled.

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"The Killer's Shopping List" is a super (market) comic investigation drama in which the market owner, cashier and district police officer deduce receipts as clues to mysterious murders occurring in ordinary neighborhoods. It is based on a short novel of the same name. Director Lee Eon-hee and writer Han Ji-wan-I are working together. Lee Kwang-soo, Seolhyun and Jin Hee-kyung will appear.

The released photos of the script reading of the "The Killer's Shopping List" shows director Lee Eon-hee and writer Han Ji-wan-I, as well as major cast members such as Lee Kwang-soo, Seolhyun and Jin Hee-kyung. Lee Kwang-soo plays the role of Ahn Dae-seong, an informal super brain that protects the supermarket. With excellent observation and extraordinary memory hidden by ordinary visuals, he is expected to start digging into mysterious murder cases through receipts, revealing the truth that no one could have expected.

Seolhyun, who plays the role of Do Ah-hee, a 20-year-old Dae-seong lover who protects the neighborhood, going through an acting transformation. We look forward to the character chemistry of Do Ah-hee and Ahn Dae-seong. Jin Hee-kyung transforms into a superior super boss Han Myeong-sook who protects her family. She shows easy-going and cool charm and a strong aspect.

The characters and people around the mart in charge of each corner are also interesting. Shin Sung-woo is Dae-seong's father Ahn Yeong-choon, Jang Won-young is Oh Cheon-won, Moon Hee-kyung is Yang Soon, the chairman of the apartment women's association, Kim Mi-hwa-I as Gong San, and Park Ji-bin as Fish will appear.

Lee Kwang-soo said, "I personally have high expectations for this drama that I have not seen so far". Seolhyun said, "I'm excited and having fun filming. I hope the actors' tight breathing, atmosphere, and energy will be delivered well, she said. Jin Hee-kyung said, "It includes a pleasant and tense thriller, so viewers will enjoy watching it".

The script reading scene, which perfectly harmonized the tense script that cannot be relieved for a moment with the acting of the actors performing vividly, was more than expected, the production team said.

"The Killer's Shopping List" is scheduled to premiere in April 2022.
Published on 2022/02/24 | Source

New poster and stills added for the upcoming Korean movie "In Our Prime" (2020)

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Directed by Park Dong-hoon

With Choi Min-sik, Kim Dong-hwi-I, Park Byung-eun, Park Hae-joon, Jo Yun-seo, Ro Jong-hyun,...

Also known as "A Mathematician in Wonderland"

Synopsis

Special classes of math between two outcasts: a genius mathematician with a hidden past and a needy student given up on math.

Ji-woo (Kim Dong-hwi-I), an outcast in a prestigious private high school, does not fit in due to different social backgrounds than his well-to-do classmates. One day, he meets Hak-seong (Choi Min-sik), the school's security guard who is actually a mathematical genius defected from North Korea, now living with his past shut away. Ji-woo asks Hak-seong to teach him math, and although reluctant at first, Hak-seong eventually agrees to. Finding each other in their most difficult times, Ji-woo and Hak-seong open up to one another during their special math lessons, but their friendship is at risk when Ji-woo is framed for an incident in school, and Hak-seong is faced with people prying on his past.

Release date in Korea : 2022/03/09
Scott Peterson, the California man convicted of killing his wife and unborn child in 2002, could be headed for a new trial.

Beginning Friday, an evidence hearing will be held surrounding the actions of Juror 7, a woman named Richelle Nice. Petersons defense team claims Nice lied in her juror questionnaire before the 2004 trial and was biased against Peterson because she was a victim of domestic violence.

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Scott Peterson is escorted by police officers on March 17, 2005. (JUSTIN SULLIVAN/AP)

Nices boyfriend beat her in 2001 while she was pregnant, and in 2000 she sought a restraining order against an ex-boyfriends girlfriend while pregnant with a different child, according to Petersons lawyers.

Laci Peterson, 27, was pregnant with a child she planned to name Conner when she disappeared on Christmas Eve in 2002.

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Prosecutors said Scott killed Laci and dumped her body in San Francisco Bay. Her body washed ashore four months later. Scott Peterson was convicted in 2004 and given the death penalty in 2005. In December 2021, his sentence was changed to life in prison.

Richelle Nice on Dec. 13, 2004. (Lou Dematteis/AP)

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

But Petersons actions arent under the microscope in the upcoming hearing, which is expected to last a week. Instead, defense attorneys will grill Nice, whose bright red hair led the media to call her Strawberry Shortcake during the trial.

Justin Falconer, another juror who was dismissed mid-trial, has claimed that Nice badly wanted to get on the panel and that she passed on an excuse to leave due to financial hardship. Falconer also said he wouldve acquitted Peterson.

If Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo rules that Nice was biased against Peterson, she could order a new trial.

Earlier this month, Nice said she would invoke her Fifth Amendment rights unless granted immunity from possible perjury charges. Nice was given that immunity by Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager.

In addition to Nices history as a domestic violence victim, Petersons lawyers said theyll focus on her post-trial comments and a book deal she was part of with six other jurors. Nice and Peterson also reportedly exchanged more than two dozen letters after he was jailed.

Im not anticipating bombshells or any surprises about what shes going to say, Nices attorney Geoffrey Carr said, adding that his clients only obligation at this point is to tell the stone bloody truth.

With News Wire Services
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Editor: Today I had coffee with the man who will probably be my candidate for US C
Page Content

 KAILUA  There is no loss in choosing Kaiapuni, exclaims Pahonu Coleman, a freshman at Kailua High School in Windward Oahu. No loss, only opportunity."

This school year Kailua High joins 21 other public schools that host the Departments Hawaiian Language Immersion Program, Ka Papahana Kaiapuni  or Kaiapuni for short. Students in Kaiapuni not only speak primarily in olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language) when in school, but also study a reworked curriculum that aligns with a Hawaiian cultural perspective.



The new program is led by Kalae Akioka, a veteran teacher who worked at Windward Community College under a grant focused on Early College for Kaiapuni before responding to the Department's request to help lead the effort at Kailua High. She emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between teaching her students through the Hawaiian lens and preparing them for life after Kaiapuni.

As [our students] get older, its important for them to have access to a diversity of perspectives and experiences to prepare them for their futures, says Akioka. Not only do they have to figure out how to navigate what is Hawaiian and what is Western in the world, but also in themselves. Its a conversation we need to have.



Students in Kailua's first Kaiapuni cohort express that, in less than a year, the program has helped them begin to heal generational traumas and challenge the narrative that olelo Hawaii is not relevant in todays society.

One of the many student-led projects that have come out of this program is a Hawaiian Word of the Week video series that can be found on the schools Instagram page in honor of February being Hawaiian Language Month.



Closer to home

Establishing Kaiapuni in Kailua made the program significantly more available to interested students and families, especially on the Windward side. Before the addition of this campus, only two schools on Oahu offered Kaiapuni for high school grades  Kahuku High and Intermediate and Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Anuenue, a K-12 campus in Palolo Valley  making the immersion option challenging to access for many students. There are approximately 2,200 HIDOE students enrolled in Kaiapuni programs statewide.



I really wanted to go to a Kaiapuni high school but there were none, at least not close to where I live, said Kailua High sophomore Kilinahe Naluai.

Naluai, who was enrolled in Kaiapuni from grades K-8, left HIDOE in her first year of high school. When she learned that Kailua High School was opening a Kaiapuni program, she immediately returned.

Its great to watch this program grow because, before, it was like we went to Kaiapuni all our lives and then in high school, it just stopped, Naluai shared. So when I heard they were making a Kaiapuni in Kailua, I was excited.

The future of Kaiapuni

Akioka wears many hats when running Kailuas Kaiapuni program. This is the life of every immersion teacher. You have to teach all of these different subject areas, she shares when discussing her numerous responsibilities.



In addition to teaching a variety of subjects, Akioka rebuilds all of her teaching materials or starts from scratch for each class so that they fit Kaiapuni standards. Her students recognize the time and effort she spends in order to keep their program running.



Were so thankful for Kumu Kalae, Coleman says. Because were the first [Kaiapuni class in Kailua], teachers have to be curriculum developers. On top of that, translating is more than just changing the words from English to Hawaiian  theres perspective and other things to consider. She does a lot of hard work.



In recognition of this effort, Hawaiian language immersion programs are a high-need area eligible for the Department's teacher pay differential.



Alongside her dedication, Akioka attributes the successful establishment of the new Kaiapuni program to Kailua High Principal Stacey Oshio, Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami, and the staff in the Office of Hawaiian Education (OHE) for the roles they played in gathering resources.



Advocates of Kaiapuni are always looking to grow the program and bring ike (knowledge) to a wider population of students. Expanding to Kailua High was a step in the right direction, and there is a need for more qualified teachers.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a teacher and joining the Kaiapuni ohana, consider applying by filling out an application.


A military source told SANA agency, which is affiliated with Damascus government, "At around 1:10 a.m. today, Thursday, Israel carried out an air attack with rockets from north of Sea of Galilee, targeting some points in the vicinity of Damascus city, and the air defense forces confronted the missiles and shot down most of them."

Added "The attack led to the death of 3 soldiers and some material losses."

Yesterday, Israel carried out a missile attack on a number of points in Qunaytra city, causing some material damage.

Sh-S

ANHA
This came in an exclusive interview conducted by our agency with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh, David Babayab, during his talk about the necessity of removing the name of the PKK from the "terror list". Babayab stressed that Turkey is pursuing a policy of genocide against the Kurds and views them as terrorist organizations, and criticized international inaction in putting an end to Turkish support for terrorism.

The following is the text of the interview:

1. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, Kurds, Armenians and Arabs have been killed by successive Turkish regimes amid regional and international silence. Instead of punishing Turkey, the international community is punishing peoples who yearn for freedom by including the PKK on its "terror list". In your opinion, how did this policy affect the rights of the Kurdish people?

The Turkish state has been activity persuading the police of genocide towards different ethnic and religious groups since late 19th century. As the result of this genocidal policy the first genocide in the history of humanity-the Genocide of Armenians was carried out in 1915. The Turkish state also committed the Genocide of Greek, Yazidis, Assyrian people as the result of which millions were brutally killed, millions were forcefully displaced and deported. The Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Yazidis were deprived of their historical homeland, their property, material and non-material wealth was looted and destroyed.

The Kurdish people have been also the target of Turkish genocidal policy for decades. The Kurds also suffered great losses, persecution inhumane treatment. The Kurds are the largest nation in the world who do not have the independent statehood.

The Turkish state has not changed its genocidal policy and aims, it is persistently straggling to prevent international recognition of the above-mentioned genocides which equals committing genocide in political, legal and moral spheres. Following this logic Turkey is labeling different organizations and individuals who are straggling for the rights and freedoms of their people as terrorists.

2. Turkey uses chemical weapons against the Kurds on the one hand, attacks the Kurds, Arabs, and Armenians, occupies their lands and deserts them, and brings about demographic change in their areas on the one hand, and throws Kurdish politicians in Turkey into prisons. Is this not terrorism?

Of course, this is terrorism but in its most dangerous manifestation - it is the state terrorism.

3.The Kurds are fighting for their legitimate rights, and Turkey supports the Al-Nusra Front, ISIS and other terrorist organizations. Which should be put on the terrorism list, Turkey or the PKK?

As it was mentioned, in the case of Turkey we have a state sponsored terrorism policy and within this framework Ankara has established very close ties with various terrorist and extremist organizations. The people of Artsakh faced this in 2020 during the war unleashed by Azerbaijan with direct participation of Turkey and thousands of terrorist militants who were brought to the region by Turkey. Among them there were representatives of ISIS and other terrorist groups. This kind of symbiosis poses a great threat to the regional and global peace and stability. The International community must react properly to this. Unfortunately, we do not see this kind of response. Unwillingness or inability to respond is pregnant with unpredictable consequences. The world has a quite limited time to elaborate and apply appropriate strategy. If this does not happen then it will be too late and will generate terrible outcomes.

4.The Kurds are fighting for their legitimate rights, and Turkey supports the Al-Nusra Front, ISIS and other terrorist organizations. Which should be put on the terrorism list, Turkey or the PKK?

As far as I know the PKK has been recognized as terrorist organization only by several states and organizations. Some countries even rejected the recognition of PKK as terrorist organization. The problem here is not PKK itself but the policy of Ankara against the Kurdish people. This policy is a genocidal one and recognition of various Kurdish organizations as terrorist organizations is nothing else than continuing the state policy of persecution and genocide towards the Kurdish people.

5.There are intellectuals and analysts in the Middle East and the world who assert that achieving peace in the Middle East can be achieved by removing the name of the PKK from the "terror list". How do you read these reviews?

As I mentioned the problem is not any particular organization, the core issue is the policy towards a particular nation. Restoring justice and ensuring stable peace in the region and within Turkey could be achieved only after substantial changes of Turkish state-building philosophy, recognition of the equality of different national and religious groups in a Turkey, renunciation from genocidal policy and discrimination. The problem is not the Turkish people itself. There are not good or bad people, but there are dangerous and bad states. The Turkish state is exactly such kind of state.

A, G.Sh

ANHA
On the initiative of the Democratic Green Party and the Council of Martyrs' Families in Qamishlo, today they will plant 121 trees in the shrine of the martyr Dalil Sarukhan, under the slogan "121 trees for the memory of the heroes of the epic of the People's Hammer" 09:30 (photos and video attached).

The Council of Martyrs Families in Qamishlo recalls the February martyrs, in the shrine of the martyr Dalil Sarukhan, 13:00 (attached with pictures and videos).

The Kurdish Language Foundation in Derik district is organizing a celebration on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day, at 10:00 (photos and videos are attached).

Teachers in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Kurdish language teachers explained that the Kurdish people have suffered a lot in terms of learning in their mother tongue; As a result of the practices of the Turkish state and the Damascus government. They affirmed that all components in the region have the right to learn in their mother tongue. (photos and video attached).

Two administrations in the Womens House affirmed that the only salvation for the oppressed people is to fight the peoples revolutionary war and defend existence, saying, We can thwart all the conspiracies being hatched against us with our determination and solidarity with each other of our different affiliations. (photos and video attached).

The escalation of Turkish attacks and bombardment on Ain Issa district during the past two months has caused martyrs and heavy material losses, while the Gire Spi district council criticized the silence of the Russian guarantor and the international community regarding these attacks. (photos and video attached).

Dialogue

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh, David Babayan affirmed that the Turkish state practices a policy of state terrorism against all components, ethnicities and religions in the region, and pointed out that Turkish support for terrorism poses a threat to global security and peace, and stressed that Turkey views all Kurdish organizations as "terrorist" because Its policy is based on genocide. (Pictures attached).

Politics

Sanharib Barsoum stressed the need for Russia to turn its words into actions, and to involve the Syrian Democratic Council in the political process in Syria, indicating that Russia's restriction of the Autonomous Administration project to the Kurds only is a manipulation of the facts on the ground. (photos and video attached).

Analyze

Syria is one of the countries that will be affected by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, as new developments may occur in the Syrian crisis. Therefore, Syria closely follows Russia's steps, and hastened to recognize Donbass, whose independence Putin recognized.

A

ANHA
China vows measures to hike soybean output in bid to bolster food security

By Li Xuanmin (Global Times) 11:12, February 24, 2022

Soybeans are harvested in Heilongjiang province. File photo: Xinhua

China will take multiple measures this year to increase the output of soybeans and other oilseeds, such as improving subsidies for farmers, actively guiding farmers in Northeast China - a main production base - to plant more soybeans, and promoting soybean-corn intercropping technology, agricultural officials said on Wednesday, after this year's No.1 central document prioritized ensuring food security.

With a self-sufficiency rate of less than 20 percent, soybeans are one of the few grains for which China relies heavily on imports. Industry observers said that it's urgent for the world's second-largest economy to tackle this persisting issue, both to safeguard food security and address vulnerabilities at a time when the global pandemic, fractured global supply chains and rising geopolitical tensions are weighing on China's trade ties.

China will strive to make edible oil bottles "filled up with as much homegrown oil as possible" and the country is determined to address structural issues and beef up the domestic production of soybeans and oilseeds, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian said during a press briefing of the State Council, China's cabinet, on Wednesday, stressing that the country aims for "a significant rise" in self-sufficiency of soybeans and other oilseeds within five to 10 years.

The press briefing was focused on the No.1 central document released on Tuesday night. The annual agricultural and rural policy blueprint includes detailed efforts to expand the output of soybeans and other oilseeds, which industry insiders said would be key to "firmly holding the bottom line of guaranteeing China's grain security," one of the main goals of the policy document.

According to Tang, authorities will improve subsidies for soybean and corn producers, and support the proper rotation between soybeans and corn in Northeast China to encourage farmers to plant more soybeans in spring sowing.

China will also encourage farmers in Northeast China to plant soybeans on arable land that's unsuitable for rice.

Another measure is to actively facilitate soybean-corn intercropping, which refers to planting two lines of corn and four lines of soybeans on farmland that ensures both stable corn and soybean output.

This technology to date has been tried on 7 million mu (466,700 hectares) of farmland, and Tang said it will be further applied this year in suitable areas of the Huang-Huai-Hai region, Southwest and Northwest China. Accompanying services in seeds, machinery and financing will be strengthened.

Jiao Shanwei, editor-in-chief of industry news website cngrain.com, told the Global Times on Wednesday that "a critical moment has come for Chinese authorities to increase financial and technological aid, otherwise the market will deviate further and endanger China's food security."

In 2021, China's total soybean planting area was 126 million mu, down 22 million mu from 2020, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.

Jiao said that the decline was mostly due to farmers' preference for corn, which is more lucrative and has a high level of mechanization. Also, the market price of soybeans fluctuated due to foreign players' pricing power, further affecting Chinese farmers' willingness.

Li Guoxiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that given soaring global agricultural prices, it is necessary for China to reduce reliance on soybean imports, which account for over 80 percent of the supply.

On the one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered global supply chains, posing potential issues of supply suspensions that could last for months. On the other hand, as geopolitical tensions heat up, China's high demand for soybeans may risk handing external forces a bargaining chip that could be used against China, analysts said.

China is the world's largest soybean importer and consumer. In 2021, China imported more than 90 million tons of soybeans, and the volume in 2020 was over 100 million tons, customs data showed. Major sources of imports are the US, Brazil and Argentina.

Observers also suggested that China should increase research and development input in soybean seeding and planting.

"In terms of soybean yield per mu, China is 100 grams lower than the US," so technological breakthroughs can help, Jiao said.

It is expected that the soybean planting area in China will reach 160 million mu, with an output of 23 million tons, according to the 14th Five-year plan (2021-25) issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
President Biden lambasted Russia and Vladimir Putin in a statement Wednesday night as Russian forces attacked Ukraine.

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces, Biden said in a statement.

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President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring.

President Joe Biden speaks about Ukraine in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)

The long-rumored Russian invasion kicked off early Thursday morning Ukrainian time, with Putin claiming that Russia was somehow under threat from the much smaller nation that, unlike Russia, does not have nuclear weapons.

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Biden has said he wont send U.S. troops into Ukraine, but soldiers have been stationed in a few nearby countries. He added late Wednesday that he will meet with other world leaders and address Americans directly on Thursday.

I will be monitoring the situation from the White House this evening and will continue to get regular updates from my national security team, the president said in his statement. We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.
After midnight, Israel launched a missile attack on the vicinity of Damascus, and the SANA news agency, speaking on behalf of the Damascus Government, said that the bombing led to the death of 3 soldiers.

For its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the bombing targeted "sites and warehouses belonging to groups loyal to Iran in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport."

He pointed out that one of the missiles targeted an air defense system within the area extending between al-Kiswah and Sayyida Zainab, south of the capital, Damascus, while the Damascus Government's air defenses tried to confront the bombing and the area witnessed violent explosions against the background, while the remnants of a missile fell during operations to confront an area in Deir Salman within Ghouta. Eastern.

According to the Syrian Observatory, the Israeli bombing resulted in the killing of 6 people, two of the Damascus government forces, and 4 of the groups loyal to Iran, suggesting that the death toll will rise because of the critically wounded.

The Israeli bombing also caused the destruction of arms and ammunition depots in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport.

T/S

ANHA
Cawthorn, Beach-Ferrara lead, Edwards gaining in campaign cash

While North Carolinas congressional map for this years election remains in litigation, the candidates have been out on the trail raising campaign money.

Should he decide to return to the 11th Congressional District instead of moving east into what is now rated a less Republican-leaning district, incumbent Madison Cawthorn will bring a big war chest to the fight. After it rejected legislative and congressional maps drawn by the General Assembly, the state Supreme Court ordered the Legislature complete new maps by Feb. 18 and ordered filing to be reopened Thursday of this week.

Year-end campaign finance reports show Cawthorn leading all candidates in the district in fundraising, although he has spent most of the cash he raised. Reports show that the Hendersonville resident and first-term congressman raised $2.79 million, spent $2.6 million and had $282,000 in cash on Dec. 31. Of the total, $683,611 came from retirees and $75,241 from real estate brokers, followed by farming, health care and business services. Sixty percent of the take, or $1.7 million, came from donors giving $200 or less while 33 percent came from larger donors and $12,000 came from PACs, according to the campaign finance tracking site Opensecrets.org.

Chuck Edwards, who is leaving his state Senate seat to run for Congress, reported that he raised $335,175, including $250,000 he loaned his campaign. Edwards seems to have cornered the market among Henderson Countys most reliable Republican donors, including car dealers, oil jobbers and developers. Edwards reported that his campaign had $328,527 in cash on Dec. 31.

"It's evident that our campaign is getting a lot of attention and building momentum," he said. His campaign kickoff last week "was probably a more substantial effort than the two weeks in the report you're looking at. With the holidays in there, there was little time to call on folks and ask for their support."

His fundraising is advancing because donors "can see that I have a clear conservative voting record, I've shown my work ethic in the Legislature and folks want to get behind a winner," he said. He said he doesn't know whether Cawthorn will reverse his decision to move to a newly redrawn district west of Charlotte but he took a veiled shot at the right-wing lightning rod.

"Folks there is one clear choice for Congress running in this district  one that's got a proven track record, one with in-depth business knowledge, the one that has an established conservative voting record and doesn't have just words to say to the voters. I can back it up with record."

Edwards says there's no truth to the suggestion from one of his opponents that he has tried to persuade other Republican candidates to withdraw.

"Nothing of the sort," he said. "All of us have had conversations with each other on our sincerity about carrying through with the race. I'm not trying to make any kind of a deal."

On the Democratic side, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, the Buncombe County commissioner, United Church of Christ minister and LGBTQ activist, raked in an impressive haul of $1,179,063. She had spent $774,591 and had $404,473 cash on hand, reports showed.

Other campaign finance totals reported in the year-end filings:

 Josh Remillard, D, raised $330,643, spent $297,130 and had $33,513 cash on hand.

 Eric Gash, D, raised $318,319, spent $233,131 and had $85,188 cash on hand.

 Katie Dean, D, raised $54,576, spent $34,340 and had $20,236 cash on hand.

 Jan Carey, D, raised $52,883, spent $35,644 and had $13,347 cash on hand.

 Ken McKim, R, raised $250,677, spent $2,222 and had $248,455 cash on hand.

 Eric Batchelor, R, raised $35,253, spent $35,253 and had $0 cash on hand.

 Michele Woodhouse, R, raised $22,329, spent $2,431 and had $19,898 cash on hand.

 Rod Honeycutt, R, raised $11,930, spent $3,883 and had $8,547 cash on hand.

 Wendy Nevarez, R, raised $5,810, spent $3,479 and had $2,331 cash on hand.

 Matthew Burril, R, raised $375, spent $13 and had $362 cash on hand.

 David Coatney, Libertarian, raised $5,690, spent $3,102 and had $2,588 cash on hand.




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A 4-year-old boy was killed when dogs attacked him in a Houston suburb on Wednesday, according to police.

Cops were called to a dog fight in Baytown around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, local NBC affiliate KPRC reported. When officers arrived, they discovered the child suffering from serious injuries and an adult who was also injured in the incident.

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The boy, whose identity has not been released, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to KPRC.

The injured adult, who lived in the Baytown home about 20 miles east of downtown Houston, was not hospitalized, police said. Investigators said the adult was injured while trying to help the boy.

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Cops did not identify the dogs owners and did not say if anyone was arrested in connection with the reported dog fight. Police also did not identify the breed of the dogs, but did say animal control officers arrived and took them away.
Greenville, TX (75401)

Today

Foggy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 84F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 67F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we've all known individuals who have done more than their share to help their neighbors and communities with food, comfort, care, companionship and dozens of other needs. If you know of such a person, you can nominate them to be featured in our upcoming H
Elon Musk and his brother are under investigation by federal regulators on suspicion of insider trading, according to a report.

The Securities and Exchange Commission investigation is about a tweet Musk sent in November 2021, in which he asked his followers if he should sell Tesla stock, the Wall Street Journal reported.

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Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition March 9, 2020, in Washington. (Susan Walsh/AP)

One day before the tweet, Musks brother Kimbal Musk sold 88,500 Tesla shares worth $108 million, according to the Journal. Musks followers said he should sell, and he did. Teslas stock tumbled after the tweet.

Kimbal Musk also sits on Teslas board of directors. Usually, he trades Tesla stock on a predetermined plan that shields him from insider trading allegations, the Journal reported. But Kimbals big trade on the day before Elons tweet was not part of that plan, according to the SEC.

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Its not the first time that Elon Musk and federal regulators have gone head-to-head over the oddball CEOs tweets.

In August 2018, Musk claimed he might turn Tesla into a private company and had the money to do so. Because such a move would result in a massive payout to investors, Teslas stock quickly soared.

The SEC investigated Musk and determined that the tweet counted as fraud. The case was settled shortly afterward, resulting in a $20 million fine for Musk personally and a $20 million fine for Tesla as a company. Musk also agreed to temporarily step down as Tesla chairman.

Musks net worth is estimated at more than $225 billion, so the $20 million fine was the equivalent of about $10.82 to an average person.

Musk responded by flaming the SEC in yet another tweet: Just want to (say) that the Shortseller Enrichment Commission is doing incredible work. And the name change is so on point! He still wasnt over it two years later, tweeting: SEC, three letter acronym, middle word is Elons.

As of Thursday evening, Musk had not tweeted about the latest reported investigation. Last week, he complained about what he called the regulators unrelenting investigation of himself and Tesla.
A New Jersey evangelical minister and Orthodox Jew walk into Congress . It sounds like the beginning of a quirky joke, but in fact its how we developed a close, warm friendship. Years ago, for a number of years in a row, we participated together in the annual Christians United for Israel Washington Summit. Shawn Hyland of Bayville, N.J., served as the CUFI New Jersey state coordinator. As such, he coordinated an annual day of meetings to lobby New Jerseys congressional and senatorial representatives on issues related to and in support of Israel. Hyland always provided the final bri...
The parents of an accused Michigan school shooter will face trial on involuntary manslaughter charges.

Jennifer and James Crumbley, whose son Ethan allegedly shot up his Michigan high school last year and killed four students, must stand trial for making the gun available to the teen and for failing to intervene when he showed signs of mental distress.

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Rochester Hills District Court Judge Julie Nicholson ordered the trial Thursday, saying she had found sufficient evidence to have them tried in circuit court.

Jennifer and James Crumbley appear in court for a preliminary examination on involuntary manslaughter charges in Rochester Hills, Mich., on Feb. 8. (Paul Sancya/AP)

Ethan Crumbley, 15, is being charged as an adult with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, terrorism and gun violations for allegedly opening fire at Oxford High School, about 30 miles north of Detroit, on Nov. 30. Six other students and a teacher were wounded in addition to those killed.

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The 9-mm. handgun was an early Christmas present to their boy, prosecutors have said.

They testified to this again on Thursday at the preliminary examination for the pair, as did school counselor Shawn Hopkins, who said he tried to convince the parents to get their son immediate mental health support. When Jennifer Crumbley refused on the grounds that she had to return to work, Hopkins was stuck, he testified.

I didnt want Ethan to be alone at home, Hopkins said

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

The Crumbleys broke down crying in court after hearing an excerpt from their sons journal, the Detroit Free Press reported.

I hope my parents can forgive me for what I do, he allegedly wrote, even as he blamed his parents for his actions. I will cause the biggest school shooting in Michigans history. I will kill everyone I f------ see. I have fully mentally lost it after fighting my dark side. My parents wont help me.

The school had called the couple on the morning of the shooting and shown drawings that included a handgun near where he had scrawled, The thoughts wont stop. Help me.

Ethans attorneys have filed for an insanity defense. His parents said they had no idea Ethan was planning an attack and insisted they had not made the gun easily accessible.

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Still pending is a ruling on whether Ethan will remain in the adult jail or be moved to a juvenile facility. Judge Kwame Rowe said he will rule on that next week.

With News Wire Services
The extended Feldstein family, including Alan and Felice at the bottom right, in an undated photograph.

(JTA) - Felice Jacobs and Alan Feldstein could have tied the knot in Phoenix, where they met and where his mother worked at the local Reform synagogue. Or they could have held their wedding on the U.S. Army base in Austria where Alan was stationed at the time.

Instead, they chose the Eagle's Nest, the Nazis' former mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps - a location that, as far as anyone knew, had never before hosted a Jewish wedding.

"We got married there because my husband wanted to thumb his nose at Hitler," Felice Feldstein recalled last week.

Taking place just 10 years after Hitler's...
(JTA) - Steven Spielberg's remake of "West Side Story" drew seven Oscar nominations Tuesday, including best picture and best director.

Spielberg's best-director nomination makes the Jewish Hollywood legend one of only four filmmakers in history to ever be nominated at least eight times for best director. (Two of the others are also Jewish; the third is Martin Scorsese.) He has won the award twice before, for "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan." With this nomination, Spielberg also makes history as the only director to have ever been nominated for the award across six different deca...
(JNS) - Jewish producer and director Ivan Reitman died in his sleep on Saturday night at his home in Montecito, Calif., at the age of 75, his family told The Associated Press.

"Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life," his three children said in a joint statement. "We take comfort that his work as a filmmaker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world. While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always."

Reitman was born in 1946 in Kom...
(JTA) When Rabbi Larry Sernovitz was asked to deliver the morning devotion to the Georgia state legislature, he came armed with an ancient alarm: A shofar, the rams horn blown in synagogues during the high holy days.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Sernovitz made history Tuesday when he blew a shofar in the legislature, a first for the state legislature  and, according to Howard Mortman, an author who has tracked rabbinical benedictions in legislatures, probably the first in any U.S. legislature.

Sernovitz, the rabbi of Kol Emeth in Marietta in Atlantas suburbs, d...
(JNS)  In a video conversation with Jewish leaders and community members last week, White House liaison to the Jewish community Chanan Weissman spoke about the tense moments and actions he took last month when an armed assailant held four congregants hostage, including the rabbi, at Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, leading to a nearly 11-hour standoff with authorities.

The moderator of the Feb. 7 event, Jeremy Burton, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, asked Weissman what it was like to be the Jewish liaison when new...
(JNS) - The southern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel chose a new leader in recent weeks that cements its continued role in the Israeli government.

Sheikh Safwat Frij, who previously served as deputy head of the movement and based in Kafr Qasim, was elected over Sheikh Muhammad Salameh Hassan, a religious authority in the movement. He has publicly used harsh rhetoric, saying, "The people of Palestine are united from the river to the sea until the occupation disappears entirely."

Frij takes a softer approach and is seen as a power center behind Mansour Abbas, the head of the movemen...
WASHINGTON (JTA) - Julie Platt is a one-time banker who has become a leader in promoting Jewish education and helping to rescue Jewish camping from the ravages of the pandemic. Now, she's about to make history as the second woman to chair one of the largest Jewish fundraising powerhouses in the United States, the Jewish Federations of North America.

She's also musical star Ben Platt's mom.

The JFNA on Tuesday said that Platt would assume the leadership of the umbrella body for Jewish federations, which in 2019 brought in $270 million.

The release noted that Platt has chaired the Los Angeles...
A protester stands outside Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2020. On Jan. 18, 2022, the Ann Arbor City Council formally condemned the weekly protests, which had been going on for 18 years.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (JTA)  In the latest twist in the long-running legal saga over a small group of protesters who have gathered weekly outside a Michigan synagogue for the past 18 years, a judge has ruled that Jewish worshippers who lost a lawsuit against the protesters must pay them more than $150,000 in legal fees.

U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Roberts ruled on Jan. 25 that the two plaintiffs - including one who is a Holocaust survivor - and their lead attorney who had sued the group of five protesters in 2019 had filed a frivolous lawsuit against "peaceful protesters." Therefore...
St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society presents a teaching among the most under-told stories in history  the Jewish history of St. Augustine. This important event shares the story of the Jewish people in the New World.

The event is open to the community and is free. Register online via jcajax.org or call 904-730-2100, ext. 233.

...
(JNS)  We are together in the fight against terror posed by Iran and its nuclear development, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday at the Knesset.

Iran is a threat to the world, said Pelosi, who is heading a delegation of high-level members of Congress. Israels proximity to Iran is a threat to us all and the responsibility of all of us.

Pelosi was greeted by Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy, who said: The strategic alliance between Israel and the United States has proven that we know how to stand together, shoulder to shoulder,...
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Floridas House of Representatives passed the states so-called Dont Say Gay bill in a 69-47 vote on Thursday afternoon.

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Critics say the bill  which prohibits school districts from encouraging classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students  will lead to an erasure of LGBTQ identity, history and culture.

Floridas Dont Say Gay bill reflects yet another attempt to censor discussions in schools about people and issues that conservative legislatures disfavor, under the guise of parental rights, Shayna Medley, a staff attorney with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, told the Daily News after the vote.

Transgender youth in particular are bearing the brunt of lawmakers cruelty, as the passage of the Florida bill comes at the height of nationwide threats to gender-affirming health care and participation in school sports for trans young people, she added.

A closer look at the vote count. pic.twitter.com/Gx5nhqL7tx  Rep. Anna V. Eskamani  (@AnnaForFlorida) February 24, 2022

Amit Paley, CEO and executive director of The Trevor Project, told The News in a statement that Lawmakers should be supporting LGBTQ students and their families and encouraging schools to be inclusive, not pitting parents against teachers and erasing the LGBTQ community from public education.

When lawmakers treat LGBTQ topics as taboo and brand our community as unfit for the classroom, it only adds to the existing stigma and discrimination, which puts LGBTQ young people at greater risk for bullying, depression, and suicide, he added.

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A sign opposing the 'Don't Say Gay' bill in Florida. (Rick Wilson/AP)

Rep. Joe Harding, the Republican who first introduced the legislation on Jan. 11, has maintained that the legislation will not prohibit discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in schools.

But late last week, Harding proposed an amendment that would also require schools to out students to their families within six weeks of learning that kids identify as LGBTQ. On Tuesday he withdrew the amendment, saying that its message was not about outing a student.

Just before the final vote on Thursday, state Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando, strongly refuted Hardings argument.

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This bill is indeed homophobic and transphobic, bigoted and discriminatory. It feeds into a lie that kids become gay or trans from inclusive schools and that being LGBTQ+ is dangerous and/or perverted, she said.

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Two young House pages just approached me on the floor and discreetly thanked me for defending LGBTQ youth. One student told me they were in tears during my debate.



To all LGBTQ youth- we see you, you're loved and your lives are worth fighting for! #SayGay #PROTECTTRANSYOUTH  pic.twitter.com/SVoejYtvpp  Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) February 24, 2022

The bill now heads to the Florida Senate. If signed into law, it would go into effect on July. 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis has suggested that he supports the legislation.
WASHINGTON (JTA)  Less than a week after the Jewish Federations of North America removed hot button items such as addressing gun violence and defending LGBTQ rights from their annual priorities list, the umbrella group added them back into a subsequent and more detailed policy document.

The JFNAs Working Public Policy Agenda, released late Friday, includes more than a hundred words on gun violence prevention. It encourages Congress to double funding for research into the causes of gun violence and calls for increased funding for the enforcement of existing gun laws and background chec...
Every Shabbat Beth Israel Congregation members must see these protesters outside their synagogue.

(JNS) - A Jewish man from Ann Arbor, Mich., is hoping that the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether anti-Jewish protesters outside a local synagogue on Shabbat morning violate his right to freely practice religion.

"I think Jews have to stand up for themselves against people who are obviously Jew-haters," says Marvin Gerber. "People of Beth Israel have the right to be free from harassment."

The case stems from weekly anti-Israel and anti-Jewish protests led by Henry Herskovitz in front of Beth Israel Congregation. Every Saturday morning for 18 years, the protesters have gathered outside...
(JNS)  In an interview published on Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides again used his phony assertion that he is trying not to do things to agitate people as a pretext for boycotting (not visiting) Jewish communities in the lawful and historic Jewish heartland of Judea and Samaria where more than 500,000 or almost 10 percent of Israels Jews live. The only people who are not agitated by Nides boycott are the terrorist dictatorship of the Palestinian regime, Israel-haters and Jew-haters and extremist leftists. Yet his very act of boycotting and n...
(JNS)  According to an old Israeli quip, the way to remove 500 Canadians from a swimming pool at closing time is to whisper, Everybody out of the water, please.

The implication is both clear and amusing to each group. Israelis are famous for and proud of being disobedient and unruly; Canadians are considered and view themselves as well-mannered and orderly.

But the joke, apparently, is on all concerned, now that the latters truckers have entered the picture. These guys arent exiting the proverbial premises with a subservient bow. On the contrary, theyre not only conducting...
Vote for your favorite businesses and professionals in greater Haverhill -- health clubs, hair salons, restaurants and many more. Simply fill in your choices and submit your ballot by Friday, June 25.

Vote here
Three former Minneapolis police officers were convicted Thursday of violating George Floyds civil rights by denying him medical care.

Thomas Lane, 38; Tou Thao, 36, and J. Alexander Kueng, 28, were found guilty of depriving Floyd of medical care as former officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into the Black mans neck for 9 minutes two years ago..

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Thao and Lane were also found guilty of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin, by a St. Paul, Minn. federal jury.

The men chose to do nothing to help a handcuffed Floyd, 46, as he lay on the ground dying, prosecutors said.

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U.S. assistant attorney Manda Sertich urged the jury to convict the three men for not following their training and helping Floyd, who was clearly in distress.

No one did a thing to help, Sertich said.

A human being, someones son, father, friend, significant other, George Perry Floyd Jr. died a slow and torturous death ... underneath their knees, handcuffed, unarmed, not resisting in broad daylight on a public street, Sertich said.

During the month-long trial, prosecutors tried to demonstrate that the cops violated their police training when they failed to roll Floyd onto his side or give him CPR.

The jury heard that bystanders without basic medical training could see that he needed assistance.

The convictions are a reminder that all sworn law enforcement officers have a duty to help, said Acting United States Attorney Charles Kovats.

These officers had a moral responsibility, a legal obligation and a duty to intervene, and by failing to do so, they committed a crime, Kovats said.

This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on June 3, 2020, shows, from left, former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. (AP)

Kueng and Lane responded to a call that Floyd passed a counterfeit bill at a store on May 25, 2020. Thao and their senior officer, Chauvin, later arrived to assist the two rookie cops.

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What happened next shook the nation.

Floyds murder under Chauvins knee, as he pleaded for his life, and said he couldnt breathe, was caught on video and went viral, sparking months of anti-police brutality protests around the world.

The three cops defense claimed the Minneapolis Police Departments training was inadequate. And the officers testified that they deferred to Chauvin as he was the most senior officer.

Chauvin, 45, was convicted last year of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison.

He pleaded guilty in December to depriving Floyd of his civil rights.. He faces between 20 and 25 more years in prison on the federal charges.

A jury of eight women and four men deliberated for more than 12 hours Wednesday and Thursday, as protesters held signs outside the crowded courthouse.

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The three former officers each face up to life in prison. Their state trial on charges of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter is slated for June.

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George Floyds family said the jurys decision underscore the need for police departments to expand programs that encourage officers to stop their colleagues from using excessive force.

These officers tried to devise any excuse that could let them wash the blood from their hands, but following these verdicts Georges blood will forever stain them, the family said in a statement.

After the verdicts were read, Floyds brother, Philonise Floyd, said, This is something we want everybody to remember: If you kill somebody, youre going to get time.

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A registered sex offender accused of shooting a Florida sheriffs deputy during a routine traffic stop was shot and killed Wednesday by a home owner whose house he allegedly broke into.

A Blue Alert, issued when a police officer is shot or killed, was called off Wednesday morning for Gregory Ryan Miedema, 33, hours after he allegedly shot Taylor County Deputy Troy Anderson around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 19 between Tallahassee and Gainesville.

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Anderson was airlifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville in critical condition and is now stable, according to officials.

Miedema fled the scene, launching a 10-hour manhunt that ended in Dixie County.

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There, Miedema allegedly broke into a home and was met by the homeowner, who shot him.

Gregory Mediema (Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement)

Miedema was found dead near the same car listed in the Blue Alert, along with multiple guns, according to police.

The homeowner was hospitalized with minor injuries and has since been released.

I truly believe he had an evil mindset and his thought process was to kill and destroy innocent people, Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler said of Miedema at a press conference Wednesday. Fortunately, he did not succeed in that.

Miedema was convicted of one count of lewd or lascivious battery, intercourse with a victim 12 to 15 years old and one count of possession of child pornography in 2011 while serving in the U.S. Army, according to police. He was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison.
Suspected Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley has asked how he can access his fan mail, according to the prosecutor arguing he should remain in custody before his trial.

He asked in jail, How do I get my fan mail? How do I get my hate mail? He wants that notoriety, assistant Oakland County prosecutor Kelly Collins said in court Tuesday.

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Ethan Crumbley attends a hearing at Oakland County circuit court in Pontiac, Mich., on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, over the teen's placement as he awaits trial. (David Guralnick/AP)

Crumbley is charged with terrorism and first-degree murder in the Nov. 20, 2021, shootings at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit, which left four students dead and six students and a teacher injured.

Crumbley has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers are reportedly preparing an insanity defense.

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During Tuesdays hearing in Oakland County circuit court, the defense requested Crumbley, 15, be transferred to a youth detention facility in Pontiac, a nearby suburb in Michigan.

FILE - This booking photo released by the Oakland County, Mich., Sheriff's Office shows Ethan Crumbley, who is charged as an adult with murder and terrorism for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured more at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich. (AP)

According to Crumbleys lawyers, it is impossible for their client to be out of sight and sound of adult inmates at the Oakland County Jail, which violates a federal statute on juvenile detainment.

The defense said the conditions at the jail are affecting Crumbleys already-fragile mental health.

This is someone who was having a mental health crisis and no one did a thing, attorney Paulette Loftin said. He had no one in his corner to get the help that he desperately needed.

He is completely isolated. Isolation is horrific.

Loftin also pointed to his parents actions, including reportedly not letting Crumbley see a therapist, and buying the gun allegedly used in the shooting.

The prosecution, however, claims Crumbley has welcomed his notoriety, sending a message to one supporter via a tablet, encouraging them to watch him on TV during his hearing.

FILE - Memorial items are shown on the sign of Oxford High School in Oxford, Mich., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Paul Sancya/AP)

Crumbley also allegedly outlined a plan to stalk and rape a classmate and wrote in a journal about his desire to survive the shooting so he could see the suffering that occurred afterward.

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He wants to be remembered, Collins said. His actions were not impulsive. They were calculated, rehearsed, and well thought out.

Oakland County circuit judge Kwame Rowe said he would release a written decision next week.

Ethan Crumbley is led away from the courtroom after a placement hearing at Oakland County circuit court in Pontiac, Mich., on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (David Guralnick/AP)

Heather Calcaterra, a manager at Childrens Village, the facility Crumbleys attorney wants him to be transferred to, testified that there were a number of concerns with the idea.

Weve never had a situation like this involving a school shooting, she said. I have concerns about the trauma impact on other young people. ... This is a devastating situation and we dont know what his presence in our classrooms  how that may trigger or impact other young people.

I would also be concerned about his safety, Calcaterra said.

An official from the Oakland County Jail testified that Crumbley has access to a tablet to play games or take educational courses, can watch TV and read books sees a mental health professional once a week.

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Jennifer and James Crumbley, his parents who were charged with manslaughter after briefly going on the run, are also being held at the jail.
The announcement signals Hyatt's continued brand growth in London and confidence in the United Kingdom as a top travel destination.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Blackfriars Hotels Limited for Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars. Anticipated to open in July 2022, the Hyatt Regency hotel will join nine additional Hyatt-branded properties in London, marking another milestone in Hyatt's ambitious brand growth strategy for the U.K. in one of London's busiest districts.

With global corporations, businesses and law firms calling the surrounding area 'home,' Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars will be intuitively designed with productivity in mind, allowing guests to seamlessly transition between work and play. Conveniently located within close proximity of Blackfriars underground station, the hotel will offer travelers flexibility and the ability to stay connected during their time in London. Guests will also find many cultural hotspots within walking distance, including the dynamic South Bank area, St Paul's Cathedral and Shakespeare's Globe theater.

Currently in the stages of an extensive refurbishment program, Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars was a former palace and is a historically protected grade II listed building. The property will feature an all-day New York style bistro, and a specialty Chinese restaurant. The design, while respecting the building's rich history, aims to delight and exceed the expectations of the modern-day traveler. The hotel will boast a stylish cocktail bar, with a large outdoor space, featuring modern arrangements designed to encourage guests to gather. In addition, the hotel will also offer meeting spaces and a fitness center. Visitors of the hotel will be invited to experience the juxtaposition of a calm oasis in the heart of the city, overlooking the River Thames.

Hotel website
The St. Regis London is Expected to Open in 2023, Bringing its Glamorous Spirit and Beloved Traditions to the Heart of Mayfair.

Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed a management agreement with Cola Holdings and The Westbury Hotel Limited to bring the storied St. Regis brand to the well-heeled area of Mayfair, London. Combining timeless glamour with a vanguard spirit, this highly anticipated signing will bring the brand's signature Butler Service, celebrated rituals, and rich heritage to one of London's most alluring neighbourhoods.

Solidifying St. Regis' position as a global leader in luxury, The St. Regis London is expected to welcome its first guests in 2023, offering a highly personalised guest experience on the corner of Bond Street and Conduit Street that will blend the brand's modern glamour with the best of British style and service.

The St. Regis brand continues to expand its renowned global portfolio by adding this highly sought-after address in Mayfair. Plans call for an extensive $122 million dollar (90 million pound) redevelopment and transformation of the former Westbury Mayfair Hotel, with the addition of an eighth floor. The hotel, which is expected to open with 196 elegant rooms and suites, will be designed by Peter Newman-Earp of Morrison Design with interiors by Richmond International. Furthermore, the property is set to receive an extension to the rear of the hotel, creating enhanced public areas, along with renovations to the facade of the building and the drop-off area outside of the main entrance. Design plans include a signature restaurant, speakeasy jazz bar, fitness centre and spa.

The St. Regis London will honour the building's heritage by retaining the iconic Polo Bar, originally designed for the Phipps family of America, avid polo players and creators of the Westbury Hotel in New York and London, and where guests will be able to enjoy a local twist on the Bloody Mary, St. Regis' signature cocktail. The renovation will seamlessly blend high-design with the celebrated hallmarks of St. Regis Hotels, including exquisite experiences, avant-garde style, and anticipatory service.

Hotel website
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore is pleased to welcome Mr Philipp C. Knuepfer as the new General Manager. A German national, Mr Knuepfer brings with him almost two decades of luxury hospitality experience. Prior to his current appointment, he helmed Mandarin Oriental, Boston as General Manager where he was instrumental in spearheading the most extensive renovation in the hotel's history, including the development of new Food & Beverage and Wellness concepts, successfully positioning the property as one of the finest hotels in North America.

Mr Knuepfer is no stranger to Singapore having previously served at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore as Executive Assistant Manager from 2008 to 2012. "It is indeed a great pleasure to return to Mandarin Oriental, Singapore and this beautiful city we call home. I look forward to the exciting journey working with my colleagues to elevate the Group's flagship hotel in Singapore to greater heights, enhancing the bespoke guest experiences and expanding our World of Fans," said Mr Knuepfer. Mr Knuepfer began his career with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in 2002 and held several senior positions with the Group in Honolulu, Kuala Lumpur, Chiang Mai, Singapore, Taipei and Washington D.C..
Key Takeaways

More than 75,000 jobs are supported by short-term rentals in the Copper State.

Airbnb and Expedia Group are releasing a new report  The Economic Impact of Short-Term Rentals in Arizona  by Rounds Consulting Group, Inc. (RCG). This new report was commissioned by Airbnb and Expedia Group to better understand how short-term rentals support cities, towns and the state. The study finds that short-term rentals are an integral part of the Arizona economy, with visitor spending lifting up local businesses, creating jobs, driving growth and generating significant tax revenue.

Key findings include:

Short-term rentals supported more than 75,000 jobs in Arizona in 2021, exceeding the total jobs supported by the states educational services industry, which employed approximately 71,400 individuals in 2021.

The total labor income produced by visitor spending due to short-term rental activity was $2.8 billion in 2021, with a total economic output of $6.6 billion from guests spending. This is nearly equivalent to the level of economic activity generated by the agriculture and mining industries in Arizona combined.

In 2021, short-term rental visitor spending generated more than $500 million in state and local tax revenue from transient occupancy taxes as well as employee and business-derived taxes. These tax dollars support essential services, such as public safety, education, parks, roads,and infrastructure.

Travel on short-term rental platforms generated nearly $6.6 billion for Arizonas economy through guest spending in 2021. In total, short-term rental tourism activity led to the collection and remittance of more than $500 million in vital state and local tax revenue last year.

Travel has changed, and Airbnb is on the forefront of this revolution, helping many people benefit from the opportunities created by tourism right in their own communities, said John Choi, public policy manager for Airbnb. We are proud to see the extent of the role that Airbnb Hosts play in Arizonas economy, from bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue to supporting tens of thousands of jobs. Airbnb looks forward to continuing to boost local economies across Arizona by empowering residents to supplement their income by sharing their homes and working with elected officials on sensible policies.

Vacation rentals have been a valuable part of Arizonas tourism economy for generations. This report shines an important light on the role vacation rentals play in the lives of so many local homeowners, small businesses, and communities, said Ashley Hodgini, Arizona Public Policy lead for Expedia Group. Every day across Arizona responsible hosts welcome traveling families, drive revenue to local businesses, contribute critical tax dollars to the states budget, and support 75,000 jobs. We look forward to continuing our efforts to bring stakeholders together to achieve fair and effective policy solutions.

This study confirms what our members have long known: the short-term rental industry provides substantial direct and indirect economic benefit to Arizonas economy, said Linda Curry, a Mesa Host and Leadership Committee Member of Arizonans for Responsible Tourism. The data clearly shows that the tourism landscape has shifted, and short-term rentals are now woven into the fabric of our society as the preferred, mainstream lodging for our visitors. We look forward to working with legislators on common-sense, effective legislation that works for all Arizonans.

About Arizonans for Responsible Tourism

Arizonans for Responsible Tourisma grassroots organization of over 1,300 short-term rental owners, managers, service providers, and supporterssupports fair, common-sense legislation to manage short-term rentals throughout our communities. Towns and cities across Arizona already have the authority, and duty, to regulate short-term rentals. While some in our state seek to go back in time to a patchwork of overregulation, we seek a realistic, fact-based compromise that is a win-win for all.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere through its global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, Expedia Group helps people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. The company provides industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Expedia Group is made up of four pillars: Expedia Services, focused on the groups platform and technical strategy; Expedia Marketplace, centered on product and technology offerings across the organization; Expedia Brands, housing all our consumer brands; and Expedia for Business, consisting of business-to-business solutions and relationships throughout the travel ecosystem. The Expedia Group family of brands includes: Expedia, Hotels.com, Expedia Partner Solutions, Vrbo, Egencia, trivago, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, Wotif, ebookers, CheapTickets, Expedia Group Media Solutions, Expedia Local Expert, CarRentals.com, and Expedia Cruises.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals across over 220 countries and regions. Travel on Airbnb keeps more of the financial benefits of tourism with the people and places that make it happen. Airbnb has generated billions of dollars in earnings for Hosts, most of whom are individuals listing the homes in which they live. Among Hosts who report their gender, more than half are women, and one in five employed Hosts are either teachers or healthcare workers. Travel on Airbnb also has generated more than $4 billion in tax revenue around the world. Airbnb has helped advance more than 1,000 regulatory frameworks for short-term rentals, including in 80% of our top 200 geographies. In late 2020, to support our continued expansion and diversification, we launched the City Portal to provide governments with a one-stop shop that supports data sharing and compliance with local registration rules. We continue to invest in innovations and tools to support our ongoing work with governments around the world to advance travel that best serves communities.

About Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc."s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org"s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.

Airbnb Press

Airbnb Press Office

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Quicktext, the hospitality leader in AI and Big data, announces a new partnership with Ennismore, the Lifestyle division of Accor Hotels.

Founded in Paris in 2017 by Daniel Doppler and Benjamin Devisme, Quicktext offers hotels revolutionary artificial intelligence, structured data, and big data solutions dedicated to the hospitality industry in 76 countries. In 2021, Quicktext provided more than $139 million of booking requests to all its clients and was awarded as AI and big data company of the year for hospitality at the Premium Travel Awards in Shenzen China.

Ennismore is an innovative operator with a global portfolio comprising 14 global hotel and co-working brands, and a diverse collection of restaurants & bars including Mama Shelter, Jo&Joe, Tribe, 21C Museum Hotels, 25hours, Delano, Gleneagles, Hyde, Mondrian, Morgans Originals, SLS, SO/, The Hoxton and Working From.

Accor/Ennismore chose Quicktext not only for the integration of their Conversational AI, but also to benefit from the derivative features of AI such as enriching the hotels CRM, feeding the call centers, optimizing SEO with AI-powered snippets, and the dynamic web powered by big data solution offering a quality personalized experience for customers.

Quicktext will help our brands improve the guest digital experience and will contribute to our objective of a seamless and integrated journey both before and during the stay. We firmly believe AI will be one of the keys to automating redundant low-value tasks and providing additional services while maintaining a guest-centric and people-first approach, Valentin Babilliot, Head of Digital & Distribution.

About Ennismore

Ennismore is a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart.

In 2021, Ennismore formed a joint venture with Accor, which holds a majority shareholding.

Contact Press: Helene Gille: [email protected]

About Quicktext

Quicktext was founded in 2017 by Daniel C. Doppler and Benjamin Devisme. More than 75 employees form its teams in 10 offices around the world.

Europe: London, Paris, Barcelona, Prague

Americas: New York, Mexico, Punta Cana,

Asia and Oceania: Guangzhou, Bangkok, Melbourne.

To date, more than 1400 hotels in 76 countries are already using Quicktext and Velma, its AI.

For further information, book a demo:

Book a Demo

Cristiano Morelli

Director of Sales & Business Development
Winning strategies, a Revenue Manager's advice

In challenging times, can we learn something from Revenue Management experts? In this webinar we will highlight the best Revenue Management strategies for hotels. Especially during the past two years we have been forced to review our pricing strategies and have to be more creative. We have asked industry specialists to give us their insights and statistics.

How to avoid a price war when the market has an unpredictable pricing strategy

Ethics within Revenue Management. Can we really price as much (or little) as we want to?

Can Automation help us to be more effective in an understaffed world?

Is it possible to forecast? What is the best way to go about?

Which pricing strategies have worked the best during the past two years?

What have we learned for future references?

Speakers:

Revenue Forum is an initiative that first started in 2008 in Stockholm by Annemarie Gubanski, Revenue & Distribution expert and founder of Taktikon AB. Taktikon is one of Scandinavia's leading Revenue Management and Distribution consultancies, with head office in Stockholm, Sweden.

This webinar is hosted by Taktikon AB

For more information please contact Annemarie Gubanski
This year taxpayers will be confronted with a number of major changes to tax laws as they prepare their 2021 federal income tax returns. In the past two years, Congress passed tax legislation to address the impact of coronavirus pandemic on household finances and the broader economy, and the measures enacted could significantly affect the refunds that taxpayers receive, or the amount they owe.

In an interview, Kathy Ploch, a certified public accountant and tax expert with the Houston firm of Durio & Korpal, explained some of these changes and outlined what taxpayers should consider in preparing their 2021 returns. Ploch, who is in her 38th tax season as a tax preparer, became a certified public accountant in 1999. She has prepared all types of tax returns, including returns for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, estates and trusts.

She is a former president of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Houston Chapter (TX CPA Houston) and remains an active member of the society, serving on numerous boards and committees at the local state and national levels. For more than 20 years, Ploch has donated her time to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, an IRS-backed program dedicated to helping low-income people file their federal income tax returns.

Q. What changes to the tax laws will have the biggest effect on 2021 returns?

More Information When to expect your refund - and how to get it fast If you submit your tax return electronically and without errors, taxpayers should expect to see their refund within 21 days of when they file, so long as they choose direct deposit. The exact timeline, however, depends on how you file and how you want your refund paid out. Here's an estimate of what you can expect: One to three weeks, for those who e-file with direct deposit; Three weeks, for those who paper file with direct deposit; and Six to eight weeks, for those who e-file or paper file with a refund check in the mail. Important to note, the IRS cannot legally issue any child tax credit or earned income tax credit refunds before mid-February - a legal requirement designed to prevent the agency from paying out any fraudulent refunds. Last year, the average tax refund topped $2,800, the agency said. Bankrate.com See More Collapse

A. The biggest changes are some of the credits. The first one is the child tax credit. For 2021, its increased from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of 6 and $3,000 for children under the age of 18. Those who are up to 17 years old are now covered. The new law gave an advanced tax credit for one-half of the credit amount in the second half of 2021. Then, when you file your 2021 return, you will receive the remainder of the child tax credit amount.

Q. What impact will pandemic-related tax legislation have on 2021 returns?

A: The main thing is probably with respect to the child tax credit. Raising the amount of the credit is definitely putting a lot more money in an individuals pockets.

In other changes, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) increased, only for 2021, the amount of exclusion from employer-provided dependent care from $5,000 to $10,500. ARPA also expanded, only for 2021, the minimum age to qualify for the earned income credit (EIC) without a qualifying child, by reducing it from 25 to 19, except for specified students who must be at least age 24 at the end of the year.

Economic stimulus payments, those were really helpful for 2020 and 2021 for those people that were able to get them. The one in 2021 was $1,400 for each person. That could be the individual, and if they have children, its another $1,400 for each child, plus $1,400 for the spouse. Its putting a lot of money into the pockets of people that really need it.

On HoustonChronicle.com: New child tax credits pull Houstonians from the brink of financial ruin

Unfortunately, in 2021, anybody who was getting unemployment (benefits), that unemployment is all taxable. During 2020, the rules said for the first $10,200 you didnt have to pay tax on. Unfortunately, that was just for 2020.

Q. How should taxpayers account for any stimulus money they received in 2021?

A: The Economic Impact Payments third round came in March/April 2021. The amount was up to $1,400 for a single person, $2,800 for married filing jointly, plus $1,400 for each qualifying dependent. The age of the dependent didnt matter.

Its not taxable income. But, if you received it, you should have received a letter from the IRS, stating that this is how much you got. On your tax return, theyll be a section that asks, Did you get it?

If you did not get it, theyre going to give you that $1,400 as part of your refund.

Q. What else will change for taxpayers filing their 2021 return?

A. Charitable contributions. You can deduct up to $300 for single filers and $600 for filers who are married filing jointly this year. In 2020, it was only $300 for all filing statuses. This is available for those who dont have enough to itemize their deductions.

The standard deduction for single filers is $12,550, for married filing jointly $25,100 and for head of household is $18,800. This must be cash contributions only. You must have a written acknowledgement from the charity if you have a contribution of $250 or more.

Q. What are the different options for filing a 2021 tax return?

A: Many taxpayers can file their taxes for free. The IRS has what they call Free File, and you can go on the IRS website to find out more information. This is done through partnerships with various software companies. Its generally for individuals with an adjusted gross income of $73,000 or less. Other people will go out and buy TurboTax or some other software for a reasonable price and prepare their return that way.

Those taxpayers with income of $58,000 or less can also get their return filed for free with the Neighborhood Tax Centers program through BakerRipley. (For information, contact the Baker Ripley Tax Center, 6500 Rookin Street, Suite C-101 Houston, TX 77074, (713) 273-3755. Or go online to bakerripley.org/services/baker-ripley-tax-center.)

There are IRS trained volunteers and the centers are open various days and hours throughout the Houston area.

Q. What are the advantages/disadvantage of filing online vs. hiring an expert to prepare a return?

A: Being a paid preparer for 38 years now, I would advise that if taxpayers just have a very simple return, such as a W-2 or maybe just interest and dividends, they are just fine doing their taxes on their own. But if you have a business or more complicated issues, then its better to hire an expert to prepare your return.

Although Ive never used TurboTax, most people enter their information by being asked various questions by the software. If you dont understand the question, you can answer it wrong.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Tomlinson: Underfunded IRS lets tax evaders escape, costs taxpayers billions

Good preparers will be up to date on all the latest tax laws, and they can also help with tax and retirement planning for the future. On the IRS website, they have a page called Choosing a Paid Tax Preparer. Its very helpful.

You can also contact TX CPA Houston and they have a referral service that could assist in finding a CPA.

Q. What are the most common mistakes that taxpayers make in filing their returns?

A: The ones that Ive seen most often are:
The City Council approved two of Mayor Adams top appointments Thursday, paving the way for him to install a new corporation counsel and Department of Investigation head.

The Council voted unanimously in consenting to one of Adams picks  Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix  and was nearly unanimous in its approval of, Jocelyn Strauber, the new Department of Investigation commissioner. Councilman Charles Barron abstained in that vote.

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(far left) Eric Adams is sworn in as the 110th Mayor of New York City in Times Square in Manhattan, New York by (far right) Judge Sylvia Hinds-Radix on Saturday, January 1, 2022. (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

These are incredibly important roles, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said Thursday.

Before being approved as corporation counsel, Hinds-Radix served as an associate justice in the state appellate division. She began her career as a lawyer for DC 37, the politically powerful union that represents city workers. In her new role, shell serve as the citys lead attorney and head the citys Law Department, which boasts a staff of about 1,000 lawyers.

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Last week, she fielded several questions from the Councils Rules Committee centered on how she might react in certain legal scenarios. In one, posed by the committee chairman, Councilman Keith Powers, she was faced with the dilemma of how shed handle a legal challenge to a law the Council enacted through overriding a mayoral veto.

Attorneys know that there is a presumption of validity of a law, she said at the committees hearing last Thursday. If its a valid law, the corporation counsel should defend it.

Strauber was a partner at the powerful Skadden Arps law firm and served as a prosecutor at the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of New York. As DOI head, she has the power to investigate the mayors administration as well as all of the agencies that fall under it.

During last weeks Rules Committee hearing, she also testified before Council members and expressed her hope that she would be able to work in partnership with them.

As a former prosecutor, I fully appreciate that independence empowers an investigative agency to follow the facts wherever they may lead and to do so fairly and impartially, she said. This Council also can direct DOI to undertake investigations and plays its own vitally important oversight role with respect to city agencies, and I hope, if confirmed, to work in partnership with you.

Mayor Adams thanked the Council for approving his nominees and for recognizing the tremendous talent and experience he said they would bring to their posts.

I made a commitment that our administration will be guided by the values of accountability, transparency, and fidelity to the highest ethical standards, he said in a written statement. I look forward to working with these two individuals to ensure we live up to that commitment.
When Verizon switched on new, mid-band frequencies for its 5G service, it couldnt happen a moment too soon. The wireless carriers lower-band 5G signals arent much faster than 4G, and its superhyped, high-frequency service has technical limitations and is far from ubiquitous.

But the new C-band capability, lit up in late January after settling flight-safety issues with the Federal Aviation Administration, requires that Verizon customers have phones that can work with it. And despite 5G having been around for a while, those devices were few and far between.

With the launch last month of Verizons latest Galaxy S22 smartphones, the universe of C-band-capable phones has expanded. Two handsets I was sent for review, the S22+ and the S22 Ultra, are both C-band compatible. And the S22+ model is set up to work on Verizons network. Last week, I reviewed the Ultra, and much of what I said about that phone  which is really a Galaxy Note in Galaxy S clothing  applies to the S22+. The latter is smaller, with no S-Pen stylus and only one telephoto camera. Its also a lot cheaper, starting at $999.

This week, I want to focus on the Verizon C-band angle of the S22+. Does this new frequency let Verizon catch up to T-Mobile, whose 5G service has been running circles around both Verizon and AT&T? T-Mobile got access to a different - but still zippy - mid-band spectrum in its acquisition of Sprint, and has been using those airwaves to its advantage.

First, some background about 5G and how the three major U.S. carriers have deployed it.

As Ive written in the past, 5G has three distinct layers of wireless frequencies.

Theres sub-6, a lower part of the radio spectrum that can travel far and penetrate barriers well, but often isnt much faster than 4G LTE.

Mid-band has better range and decent penetration, and is much faster.

And then theres millimeter wave, or mmWave, which is incredibly fast but cant travel far or pass through walls or even dense foliage. When you hear hype about blistering 5G speeds, its mmWave thats being touted.

Both AT&T and Verizon cast their initial lot with mmWave. They also launched a sub-6 flavor of 5G, but it was in some cases slower than 4G. The two spent tens of billions of dollars on an auction that ended in 2021 for C-band spectrum, which bridges the high- and low-frequency services.

(AT&T is in the same boat as Verizon, hoping that C-band will give it a competitive boost. But its been more conservative about its rollout, with Houston only one of eight cities getting it. I dont have a C-band-capable AT&T phone yet; Ill look at their implementation in a future column.)

Houston is one of the cities where Verizon has fired up its C-band service; the carrier says its available to more than 100 million people across the country. Houston is a unique market for Verizon, because it has been aggressive in expanding the footprint here of mmWave. Ours was the first city in which Verizon stood up its 5G Home service, which wirelessly competes with broadband providers like Comcast and AT&T. Verizon has leveraged that expansion for its mobile service.

Chronicle screen shot / Chronicle screen shot

Location, location, location

Based on the testing Ive done since receiving the S22+ in early February, if you have a C-band-capable Verizon phone you will see a noticeable improvement in 5G speeds - if you are in the right location. However, if youre getting speeds much better than its sub-6 5G service, or even 4G LTE, you wont see anything on the device indicating whether youre using C-band or mmWave.

Thats because, as a Verizon spokesperson told me, the company wants to tag both faster categories of 5G as Ultrawideband, the moniker it has been using for mmWave. When connected to either C-band or mmWave, youll see a top-of-screen 5G UW icon. She said 4G LTE is a collection of different frequencies which arent broken out, and thats also how Verizon wants to frame its 5G service.

You will, however, be able to tell the difference based on where you are and the actual speed youre seeing.

In driving around Houston, Ive clocked speeds as fast 3.5 gigabits per second. For comparison, thats more than three times as fast as Comcasts and AT&Ts 1-Gbps, top-speed, home-internet offering. Thats a mmWave speed test result, and I got it sitting in the parking lot at the Kroger at West Gray and Woodhead. Its exceptional; speeds of 2 Gbps to 2.5 Gbps are more typical of mmWave.

Upload speeds with mmWave varied greatly, from as low as 14 Mbps to as fast as 257 Mbps.

But you usually see that outside, at intersections or in neighborhoods where Verizon has expanded its service. You wont see it, however, sitting inside a home in those neighborhoods, or inside that Kroger, because mmWave cant pass through walls. (And exactly what youd do with a 3.5-Gbps download speed in a grocery store parking lot is, for now, a mystery.)

C-band is also impressive but much slower than mmWave. Its closer to fast home-broadband speeds between 700 Mbps to a little over 1 Gbps. It slows somewhat indoors, closer to 300 Mbps to 500 Mbps, according to Verizon, depending on the location and how far inside a building you are. Upload speeds were disappointing, usually in the single to mid-teens in Mbps.

But Verizons C-band is relatively hard to find. I came across it occasionally in travels around town, but its definitely a work in progress. Verizons coverage map for Houston shows a big chunk of it east of downtown, but the spokesperson I talked to wouldnt go into detail on the strategy of its early deployment locations. Expect that area to grow as the year goes on.

One of the issues with 5G on Verizon and AT&T is that early adopters who bought 5G smartphones have devices that cant take advantage of these new, mid-band frequencies. Theyre stuck with pokey sub-6 connections, or stumbling across a mmWave tower. Besides the new Galaxy S22 line, C-band capable phones include last years S21 devices; Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 phones; the Galaxy A13; Apples iPhone 12 and 13 lines. The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro work on AT&Ts C-band, and a software update is coming that will enable it on Verizons.

Speed envy

This begs the question: If you bought 5G hardware early, is it worth replacing a phone sooner than you normally might to get these speeds?

If youre a Verizon customer whose day-to-day smartphone use would be helped by faster speeds, then Id say yes. As a T-Mobile user with a mid-band-capable iPhone 13 Pro Max, I can tell you that the experience is excellent. I get mid-band speeds between 300 Mbps and 700 Mbps when out and about, and the spots where Im seeing that performance are more numerous every week.

Verizon and AT&T customers no longer need to suffer speed envy, with the right phone.

dsilverman@outlook.com

twitter.com/dsilverman
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas does not have sovereign immunity from all lawsuits and the Texas Public Utility Commission does not have exclusive jurisdiction over all claims against ERCOT, according to a ruling by an appeals court ruling this week.

The 12-to-1 decision Wednesday by the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas was widely anticipated because it could have ramifications in hundreds of lawsuits pending in Houston courts stemming from the deadly winter storm in 2021 in which ERCOT is a defendant.

In the ruling, judges cleared the path for Panda Power Funds to pursue hundreds of millions of dollars in damage claims in state court against ERCOT. Panda claims that ERCOT committed fraud, negligent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty when it published intentionally inaccurate reports in 2011 and 2012 that projected a serious and long-term scarcity of power supply.

As a result of ERCOTs allegedly false market data, Panda invested $2.2 billion to build three new power plants  operations that have not generated the revenue that ERCOT predicted.

ERCOT lawyers have made two arguments in defense: It is a government-created agency and has sovereign immunity from such lawsuits and any claims against it must be taken to the PUC first.

The courts opinion conflicts with a decision in December by the San Antonio appeals court, which ruled in a case between CPS Energy and ERCOT that a pervasive regulatory scheme provides the PUC with exclusive jurisdiction over complaints against ERCOT.

IN COURT: Ex-ERCOT chief says Abbott directed blackouts to stop before decision to run up billions in bills

The Fifth Court opinion, authored by Justice Erin Nowell, also reverses a decision the same court made in 2018 that ERCOT has sovereign immunity.

To date, the supreme court has not extended sovereign immunity to a purely private entity neither chartered nor created by the state, and this court will not create new precedent by extending sovereign immunity to ERCOT, Nowell wrote. ERCOT is not entitled to sovereign immunity and the legislature did not grant exclusive jurisdiction over Pandas claims to the PUC. To the extent we previously held otherwise, that holding is in error.

Although ERCOT argues it has the power to make binding law, which it calls the quintessential sovereign power, the applicable statutes do not support this argument, the court ruled.

Justice David Schenck dissented, but there is no record of a written dissent.

Lawyers on both sides say the case is now headed to the Texas Supreme Court.

The issue of ERCOTs sovereign immunity is critical in more than 200 individual wrongful death, personal injury and property damage lawsuits brought by victims of the winter storm that name ERCOT among defendants. Those cases have been consolidated before a judge in Houston.

This is a huge win for both Texas consumers and businesses whose lives and livelihoods were so drastically impacted by the actions and inactions of ERCOT, said Houston trial lawyer Derek Potts, who represents dozens of victims of the storm. It is safe to say that more litigation against ERCOT is coming.

Ben Mesches, an appellate partner at Haynes and Boone and lawyer for Panda, said he is pleased with the appeals courts decision and look forward to presenting our case on the merits in the trial court  where Pandas claims have always belonged.

The Dallas appeals court notes that the Texas Supreme Court, since the intial Panda I decision it issued in 2018, has issued three opinions analyzing and applying either the doctrine of sovereign immunity or governmental immunity.

One of those decisions in 2020 stated, Though we have contemplated it, we have yet to extend sovereign immunity to a purely private entity  one neither created nor chartered by the government  even when that entity performs some governmental functions.

That decision alone, the Dallas justices said Wednesday, was enough to change its mind.

For a longer version of this article, please visit TexasLawbook.net.
Cooper Neill, Bloomberg / Bloomberg

Chevron Corp. has enlisted a third party to inspect wells in Texas and Colorado as the oil giant works on eliminating methane emissions, the company said Wednesday in a statement.

It will be a pilot project with Project Canary, a Denver company that tracks environmental data for energy companies through a certification process, Chevron said. The company aims to certify its environmental performance in the Permian Basin in Texas and the DJ Basin in Colorado.
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Chileno Bay, one of Los Cabos most beautiful beach resorts, is hosting a chef series to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Comal, the Auberge hotels signature restaurant. Taste of Auberge: Baja Lab Kitchen will bring renowned Latin American chefs to the resort for special events.

Wouldnt you love to have these chefs cook a private meal in your villas kitchen? Daniela Soto-Innes, former Houstonian and the youngest to be voted Worlds Best Female Chef; Virgilio Martinez of Central in Lima, Peru; Lele Cristobal of Buenos Aires Cafe San Juan; and Maribel Aldaco of La Mari, Mexico City, are among the heavy-hitters.
Houston businessman and law professor Tony Chase and his wife, Dina Alsowayel, have committed $1 million to the University of Texas School of Architecture to honor Chases father, the schools first Black graduate and the states first licensed Black architect.

The donation will create two permanent endowments to improve the representation of Blacks in architecture schools and among the ranks of working architects.

My mom passed away almost exactly a year ago, so this, really, is meant to honor both of their lives and legacies. My hope is that it provides an opportunity for lots of deserving kids, Tony Chase said. They were a unit. They really were. It would be impossible for me to honor him without honoring her.

The John S. Chase Family Endowed Graduate Fellowship will be used to recruit graduates from historically Black colleges and universities and increase the number of Black architects. Then, the John S. Chase Family Endowed Professorship in Architecture, will help recruit and keep faculty members and support their research.

Throughout his life and as reflected in his built works, John Chase was a connector and a community-builder, said Michelle Addington, dean of the School of Architecture. Not only did Chase design spaces that brought people together, but he used his pioneering position to create opportunities for others.

John S. Chase enrolled at UT in 1950, just two days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Sweatt v. Painter case opened white college campuses to Black students. He was the first Black student to enroll in UTs architecture school and was its first Black graduate in 1952.

In his long career, he designed some 300 structures, homes, schools, churches and other buildings. His own modern home in Riverside Terrace in Houstons Third Ward, was the subject of a 2020 book by UT architecture professor David Heymann, a Houston native. Even now, his life and career are the subject of another book under way by Tara Dudley, an assistant professor at UT.

Chase was 87 years old when he died in 2012. His wife, Drucie, died in early 2021 at the age of 89. The couple had three children, Tony, daughter Saundria Chase Gray and another son, John S. Chase III, who died a few years ago.

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After graduation from UT, Chases story is that of the ultimate underdog.

No existing architecture firm would hire him because he was Black, so Chase taught technical drawing at Texas Southern University, opening his own firm after convincing the state that it should let him sit for licensing exams without the required experience working for an architecture firm because he simply couldnt get it.

Houston architects Howard Barnstone and Robert Morris did help him get work in his early days, and architectural engineer David Baer signed off on his architectural plans.

Once he was established, Chases Houston practice flourished and Chase was a starchitect in the Black community.

He had a hand in the design of Toyota Center and renovations of the Astrodome, and designed the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the Martin Luther King Jr. School of Communications at Texas Southern University. He designed Texas first Black bank, Riverside National Bank (now Unity Bank) and Booker T. Washington High School in Houston.

He was a smart marketer, making himself known to Black churches all over the region, hoping for future commissions. Tony Chase tells the story of how for the first 15 years of his life, he and his family seemingly attended a different Black church every Sunday, even though their home church was the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, a house of worship formed by former slaves in 1866, in the months after emancipation.

John Chases firm became the launchpad for a generation of Black architects, too, allowing them a place to get the professional experience needed for state licensing that he couldnt get.

The apprenticeship requirement  has been used to exclude some people and my dad was able to navigate it with the help of some architects who had good hearts and were people of good will, Tony Chase said. My dad never forgot that and paid attention to up-and-coming architecture students throughout his career, minorities and non-minorities.

diane.cowen@chron.com
Nancy Perry, owner of BIG Power Yoga in Montrose, doesnt just rely on her yoga practice inside the four walls of her studio.

When her daughter was born prematurely and spent four and half months in the neonatal intensive care unit, she remembers each day having to steady herself using the yoga practice she teaches her students.

There were times  where Im just like, is she going to make it? That practice of having the embodied choice of what do I want to focus on? How can I use my body and my breath to restore myself to be clear? said Perry. Then also, knowing deeply no matter what happens, were going to be OK.

Perrys studio is currently in the middle of a six-week intensive program called Transform, where attendees go on their own journey of self-discovery and inquiry.

Each week theres a new theme to focus on during the yoga classes, and members can also attend a weekly meeting on Fridays. About 500 people are participating in the program virtually, in Houston, or at the BIG Power Yoga studio in Denver. During the first meeting in late January, the theme was possibility.

STRESS RELIEVER: Feeling anxious? Journaling might help.

Possibility has nothing to do with things being easy, said Perry. Its actually the most useful when things are challenging.

During the class, Perry described firsthand how she channeled her words at the start of the pandemic, when her daughter, who has hydrocephalus, which is excess fluid on the brain, had to have her fourth emergency surgery.

Her daughter was discharged from the hospital and came back for a follow-up appointment in February 2020. It was then that Perry was advised, Keep her away from germs. Dont let her get sick. The next month, everyone was doing the same thing because of COVID-19.

During the meeting at the studio in Montrose, others, including myself, had to share with a partner at different points what they hoped to get out of this program and also what they were learning as the meeting progressed.

Some class members said they wanted to be more present, to enjoy, participate in self-care or get comfortable with being uncomfortable. At the end of the meeting, Perry had the class reflect on a series of questions centered on the theme possibility to answer in a journal.

I found myself really resonating with the theme as I answered the questions in my reporters notebook. What Perry said about possibility still being accessible during challenging moments really stuck with me.

The last two years of the pandemic have been some of the most wearisome for us all. For me, stepping into January, and honestly any new year, Im always walking in with hesitance, wondering what good and bad await.

However, I realized as I journaled that I was looking at the possibility of 2022 with the wrong eyes. What possibilities could unfold even in the midst of challenge?

For Perry, she described how BIG Power Yoga studio, which opened in 2012, has had to evolve since the pandemic. During 2020, the studio shut down for six and a half months and only offered virtual classes before reopening in October 2020. They had to close one of the Houston studios during the pandemic. About a year ago, they also began to offer BIG at Home, which allows people to tune into yoga classes virtually from all over  not just Denver or Houston, where the studios are located.

MORE FROM RENEW: Can yoga cure your COVID stress?

Theres so many ways I look back to before the pandemic, and Im like, I wish this never happened, Perry said. But also BIG has grown so much as an organization. Ive grown so much as a person through needing to navigate the challenges. Theres been so much positive change.

After the meeting earlier that morning, I attended a hot yoga class at the studio.

Im someone who has regularly practiced yoga since 2017, but there are seasons when I can go weeks without stepping onto my yoga mat. Walking into the yoga room, I already felt intimidated because I hadnt practiced yoga with others in a studio since early 2020. Also, Im someone who does a lot of room-temperature yoga. Hot yoga for me is a different ball game.

Perry told me the theme of possibility would carry over into the yoga class with different poses, like heart openers and backbends. Throughout the class, as I pressed into some of these poses, I felt grounded and calm. Even though sweat was pouring from my body, I tried my best to really lean into the poses tied to the possibility theme.

At the end of the class, Perry led us through a series of backbends. As I did my last backbend, I felt a release, like I was letting go of any toxic and negative energy building up in my body.

After the class, a couple of mats over from me, Stephanie Jordan, who had been my partner during the meeting earlier that morning, said she felt energized and invigorated.

Jordan, 39, started attending BIG Power Yoga classes four years ago.

I walk away (feeling) very powerful, she said. That Im the only (one) standing in my way.

Brooke Lewis is a Houston-based freelance writer.
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While many historically Black neighborhoods and wards are well known in Houston's metro area, some of Houston's history is rooted in lesser-known suburban towns that have been around for decades or even longer. They cropped up in the suburbs after slavery ended in 1865, and several of these towns still exist near Houston today.

Here are 10 historically Black neighborhoods, cities and towns that are important parts of Houston's history. Even though all of these towns started in the suburbs, a few have since been annexed.

Ames

Ames is a small, majority-Black town located about 45 miles from Downtown Houston in Liberty County. Although it was incorporated in 1972, the town has a documented history that dates back to before the Civil War, according to the city of Ames' website.

Even though the town had a population of only 25 in 1930, Ames has grown to an estimated 937 residents and about 75 percent are Black, according to U.S. Census data. The town is named after a foreman who was helping build the Texas and New Orleans Railroad

Jerry Baker/For the Chronicle

Barrett Station

Barrett Station, which is located near Crosby, was founded by Harrison Barrett. Barrett had one of the largest holdings in Harris County to be acquired by a formerly enslaved person, according to the Texas State Historical Association.After slavery ended, Barrett gathered as many of his relatives as he could find and built a sawmill, coffee mill and established schools, churches and family farms.

Today, Barrett is a census designated place that is home to more than 5,000 people and 2,344 are Black.

Bordersville

This town was formed when many Black Americans were pushed out of Humble in 1927 after the sawmill closed, leaving many jobless. Edgar Borders opened a mill nearby, hired many of the residents and allowed them to settle on his land. Bordersville was annexed by Houston in 1965, but city officials did not provide services, such as plumbing and running water, according to the Humble Tribune. The land is now an unincorporated portion of Harris County.

Kendelton

Kendelton is a majority-minority city located west of Sugar Land in Fort Bend County. The town is named after William E. Kendall, who sold parts of his plantation to formerly enslaved people in the late 1800s, according to the TSHA. The former freedsman town is also home to a large park that houses the museum and cemetery. It is home to about 343 residents, according to the U.S. Census.

Tony Gaines Tony Gaines The Amos Cemetary is located in Khorville

Hufsmith and Kohrville

Kohrville and Hufsmith were Black towns in northwest Houston near Tomball that were created in the 1870s by people who were formerly enslaved in Alabama. What remains of the towns are two cemeteries, Amos and Kohrville, and the street Hufsmith-Kohrville Road, according to texasescapes.com. Kohrville is named after the town's first postmaster Paul Kohrmann. It was home to a cotton gin, a general store and a sawmill in the early 1900s, according to the TSHA. The population was about 50.

Meanwhile Hufsmith was a little bit larger. It was a small railroad town populated by Black residents that was established in 1872. By 1914, the town had a post office, four general stores and a cotton gin. A school was also established on land donated by Anderson King, who was formerly enslaved.

McNair

This Baytown-area former town was created in the 1920s. McNair, which was located near the railroad tracks, was annexed by Baytown in the 1960s, according to the Texas Freedom Colonies Project. By the 1980s the suburb featured six churches, a school and a railroad station, according to TFCP.

Thompsons

This small town near Richmond has less than 200 residents, according to the U.S. Census. It was formed in the early 1800s before the Texas Revolution. In the early 1900s, Thompsons added more Black residents because it was surrounded by former plantations, according to the TSHA.

While Thompsons was home to nearly 300 residents in the 1890s, the population began to decrease in the early 1900s, when local businesses featured a gin, general store and two saloons, according to Texasescapes.com.Thompsons had three Black schools and one white school.

Courtesy of the Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice Prairie View A&M University Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Prairie View sits on the land that was once a plantation

Prairie View

The city is better known than others on this list because of the historically Black college with the same name, Prairie View A&M. Prairie View was the first state-supported Black Americans, according to their website. About 6,700 of the 8,184 residents are Black, according to U.S. Census data.

Although the city was incorporated in 1969, when the first mayor W. D. Thompson was elected mayor, the area has a long history in the region. The land the city and college inhabits was once a plantation. Prairie View was formed after the state set aside property for a segregated college for African Americans. The first post office was established in 1892 when the area was home to about 300 residents and a general store, according to the African American Heritage Atlas.

Carlos Antonio Rios/Houston Chronicle Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Tamina is located in Montgomery County

Tamina

Tamina is located east of The Woodlands and south of Conroe. The historically Black neighborhood is named after Tammany Hall, New York, according to the TSHA. It was established in the 1800s after freedmen helped build the nearby a railroad. The city is still working to get services like sewage that are provided to most of its neighbors.

Riceville

Riceville was a farming community located near Bray's Bayou before it was annexed in the late 1960s. The church that served as a place that held the community together, Riceville Mount Olive Baptist, is still active today after it opened more than a century ago in 1889, according to the church website.

Correction: Tamina is located east of The Woodlands.

chris.shelton@chron.com
Antonia Reyes, 19, is in police custody for fatally stabbing her sister Yasmin Reyes, 20, the Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office reported in a Monday news release.

On Feb. 4, 2022, about 4:53 p.m., Sheriffs Office deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 8000 block of Garland Path Bend in Richmond.
When his friendship with a known felon came to light recently, Mayor Adams defended himself  and his friend.

Adams cast his relationship with businessman Zhan Johnny Petrosyants as innocuous and dismissed the idea that his pal should be discarded forever because he and his twin brother, Robert, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause the filing of false currency transaction reports in 2014.

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But while his relationship with Adams may be social in nature, the Daily News has learned that Johnny Petrosyants and his brother have ties to a key player in the mayors inner circle that may extend beyond camaraderie.

From left to right: then-Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams, Howard Fensterman and Frank Carone in an undated photo. (Harbor Group Communications, Inc.)

Court records unearthed by The News reveal a connection between the Petrosyants brothers and a business that was controlled by Frank Carone, Adams chief of staff and longtime political confidant. A log of emails submitted as part of a federal lawsuit in Brooklyn shows more than a dozen communications about the business between Carone, the Petrosyants twins and others  all of which were exchanged years after the brothers guilty pleas.

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In an eyebrow-raising twist, Carones venture, which allegedly advanced money to doctors who had filed no-fault medical insurance claims, was in the same general arena of business in which federal authorities said the Petrosyants brothers were involved.

After the Petrosyants twins February 2014 guilty pleas to felony charges stemming from an investigation of their no-fault insurance business, Robert was sentenced to six months in prison while Johnny got five years probation, community service and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

The optics of spending time with a known felon could be a problem for Carone  and by extension, the mayor.

Since being tapped as Adams chief of staff last month, Carone says he has divested all his business interests or placed them in a blind trust.

Carone, who served as a partner at the Abrams Fensterman law firm for over a decade before his City Hall appointment, has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to no-fault insurance claims.

Mayor Adams (left) holds a cabinet meeting at City Hall on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. Pictured at right is Frank Carone. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

He was subpoenaed in September to produce records in a federal lawsuit that alleges racketeering and was brought by Geico against a group of medical providers that Carone, his former law partner, Howard Fensterman, and his son, Jordan Fensterman, have provided funding for via a set of corporate entities they control.

Geicos case, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court in September 2020 and first reported by Bloomberg News, centers on allegations that the medical providers, spearheaded by New Jersey Dr. Alexandr Zaitsev, fraudulently billed the insurance giant for more than $4.5 million in no-fault claims.

According to Geico, Carone and the Fenstermans advanced cash to Zaitsev and the others in exchange for collecting interest upon reimbursement after the no-fault claims were paid out. The insurance company also alleges that Zaitsev used Carone and the Fenstermans funding entities as a means of facilitating and concealing his ownership in the clinics accused of submitting phony claims.

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Subpoenas to Carone and the Fenstermans demanded they fork over records related to the companies they used to bankroll the advanced funding and requested that the three attorneys provide all communications between themselves, Zaitsev and other members of the funding companies that pertain to the operation and management of the entities.

In response, Carone and the Fenstermans in December submitted a previously unreported list of identifying records responsive to the request, but they never actually sent over any of those records, saying they were all shielded by attorney-client privilege.

While the records themselves arent public, the list reveals that the Petrosyants brothers exchanged at least 16 emails about business operations, amounts billed, books and records, claims intake, advances to provider, loans and other details about the funding companies.

New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams and Johnny Petrosyants (far right) attend Adams' election night party at Zero Bond in Manhattan on Nov. 2, 2021. (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Haute Living)

The oldest email where the Petrosyants brothers were looped in dates back to June 2018  well after their guilty pleas, the list shows. The most recent exchange between the Petrosyants brothers, Carone and Jordan Fensterman took place Sept. 24, 2020, and focused on business operation, according to the list.

Besides the brief content descriptions, the email log does not divulge specifics about the communications involving the Petrosyants twins, and Geico has not named the brothers in their court filings.

But a health care vendor who said hes had dealings with one of the brothers told The News that he was approached about a no-fault insurance business opportunity in 2019 by Carone, Johnny Petrosyants, Jordan Fensterman and Daniel Kandhorov, a businessman listed in corporate records as a co-owner of the funding companies identified by Geico.

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The vendor, who only agreed to speak on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, said the proposal stipulated that Carone and the others would prepay him before filing no-fault claims with insurance companies. He would then reimburse them, with interest, once the claims were approved. The vendor said he was also asked to invest in the funding companies.

He rejected the deal, saying that the pre-payment structure struck him as odd.

Frank Carone, chief of staff for Mayor Adams.

Max Young, a spokesman for Adams, insisted that Carone and the Petrosyants brothers are only friends and not in business together when asked about it in January.

When posed with followup questions this month about that relationship in light of the court records, Adams spokesman Fabien Levy doubled down, saying Carone was not in businesses with the Petrosyants  but also conceded their email exchanges had a business element to them.

They recommended several clients to Carone, Levy said of the Petrosyants brothers. The emails involved discussions over one client that turned out to be problematic.

Levy, who did not elaborate on what made the client problematic, added that the no-fault funding companies Carone once controlled did not issue loans or collect interest but merely advanced cash with the expectation that if a medical vendor won a disputed claim, theyd get their money back plus anything awarded in addition to the initial cash advance.

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Levy suggested that Carones no-fault business interest stemmed from his work with Abrams Fensterman, noting that the firm represented small medical practices defending themselves against a large insurance company.

The Petrosyants brothers did not return requests for comment via their attorney. Lawyers for Geico did not respond to multiple messages, either.

Its not clear which emails featuring the Petrosyants brothers may become public in their entirety in light of the privilege invocation. Still, Geicos attorneys filed a letter in court earlier this month saying they had reached an agreement with Carone and the Fenstermans about handing over records.

Johnny Petrosyants, pictured left in 2013, and his twin brother Robert, pictured right at New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams' celebration party at Zero Bond in Manhattan, New York on Nov. 2, 2021. (Monica Schipper/FilmMagic)

Last week, Geicos lawyers submitted another letter saying they had received the records they wanted from Carone and the Fenstermans  and wrote that the material raised issues necessitating they conduct a sworn interview with Zaitsev, the New Jersey doctor accused of being at the center of the alleged racketeering scheme.

While theres no indication he knows about Johnny Petrosyants possible connection to Carone, Adams has been tight with both men for years.

Carone, who served as the counsel for the Kings County Democratic Party, has been one of Adams most trusted political advisers since his days in the state Senate and helped him get elected Brooklyn borough president in 2014.

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Johnny Petrosyants, meanwhile, is someone Adams counts as a friend. Since taking office, Adams has been spotted numerous times with the Petrosyants brothers at Manhattan hotspots like Zero Bond, a members-only nightclub in NoHo.

In addition to the Geico headache, the CHC Surgical Center, a health care company Carone co-owned before coming to City Hall, is embroiled in messy court disputes with landlords and business associates, as first reported in The News in January.

When asked earlier this month if he knew of Carones legal entanglements before appointing him chief of staff, Adams responded that he doesnt discuss private conversations.

Im going to hire the best people to do the job in government, Adams said. He is one of the best people to serve as chief of staff.
A man was fatally shot Wednesday night during an altercation with his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend at a southeast Houston home, authorities said.

The man came to his ex-girlfriend's house at the 5500 block of Groveton Street about 11 p.m. and tried to enter the residence, according to HPD Lt. Ronnie Willkens.

"There was another male there that evidently is a new boyfriend that is dating the girl. He got into a confrontation with the old boyfriend," Willkens said. "The new boyfriend had a pistol and shots were fired. The old boyfriend was shot in the abdomen and head and died on the scene."

Houston police on Thursday identified the dead man as 38-year-old Carlos M. Terrick.

More on HoustonChronicle.com: Brownsville activist accused of defacing Elon Musk-funded mural blasts mayor for Facebook mugshot

The new boyfriend left the scene and police are urging him to surrender, Willkens added.

"We know who he is. He needs to just come talk to homicide so we can get it all resolved," he said.

Anyone with any information on the incident is encouraged to call HPD's Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

No other information is available at this time.

Joel.Umanzor@chron.com
OnScene.Tv

A woman was fatally shot Wednesday night outside of an apartment complex in Houston's Northside area, police said.

The woman, who appeared to be in her 20s, was walking with a friend near the 300 block of Rosamond Street, when a white van or smaller SUV approached her about 11:30 p.m., said Lt. Ronnie Willkens of the Houston Police Department. She had just left a convenience store and was returning to the apartment complex.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo lowered Harris County's COVID-19 threat level to "significant" Thursday, signaling the city is emerging from the worst of the omicron wave as infection rates plummet.

Harris County has met all four metrics needed to lower its threat level from red, its highest level indicating "severe risk," to orange, the second-highest possible threat level. Under orange, officials still recommend that residents minimize all unnecessary contact and avoid large gatherings to stem the spread of the virus.

"The omicron wave hit Harris County very, very hard," Hidalgo said in a statement. "In fact, only now have our hospitalization rates dropped to levels that don't immediately threaten the capacity of our healthcare system."

Amid mounting evidence of omicrons decreased prevalence citywide, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner dropped the mask requirement Thursday afternoon for most city employees and visitors to municipal buildings. In a letter to city employees, the mayor also scrapped temperature checks at city buildings. Unvaccinated staffers are encouraged, but not required, to wear masks, Turner said.

Harris County's threat level is calibrated using the 14-day trend of new cases and COVID hospitalizations. Both have been decreasing for several weeks.

TRACKING COVID: Interactive maps, charts show spread of virus across Houston, rest of Texas

The two other metrics that were keeping the county in red  ICU capacity and new cases per 100,000  have improved in recent days, leading to the downgrade Thursday. The overall percentage of COVID patients in the ICU fell to the countys threshold of 15 percent, and the seven-day rate of new cases per 100,000 people declined to 83, well below the county's goal of 100.

Hidalgo encouraged residents to get vaccinated to avoid another "dangerous" COVID spike.

"While we're moving in the right direction, there are no guarantees we won't see another wave in the future," Hidalgo said.

nora.mishanec@chron.com
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The city of Houston has filed a nuisance lawsuit against a Third Ward nightclub where five people were shot last week, requesting the district court issue a temporary injunction to close the business.

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the filing of the lawsuit against Spiveys Uptown at Wednesday's city council session during discussions on the upswing of crime in the city and his $44 million One Safe Houston plan to address it.

"We said that we would be more aggressive in filing lawsuits against convenience stores, bars and clubs where there are repeated incidents of violence which have taken place," Turner said. He said the city legal department filed a lawsuit after city leaders met with community members Monday in Third Ward and promised action. "We said we were going to do it and we have done it."

If won, the injuction against operations at Spiveys would last for a year as stated under Texas law, according to Arturo Michel, Houston city attorney.

More on HoustonChronicle.com: Houston-area educators possible victims of deadly domestic violence shooting in San Antonio

Last Thursday, five men  including the location's security guard  were shot during an altercation that began inside the bar and spilled outside to the parking lot.

The lawsuit alleges the Spivey's location at 3000 Blodgett Street near Ennis has become a common nuisance due to the establishment's failure to "make reasonable attempts to abate such criminal activity," according to court documents. Spiveys and the property owner, the suit says, allow aggravated assaults and shootings to habitually occur on the premises.

Crime statistics for the business was not available on Wednesday.

The Quarter Note, LLC  which owns and operates Spivey's  was also named in the lawsuit. It was issued a mixed beverage permit by the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission that has since expired, according to the suit.

Eric Spivey, owner of the establishment, said Wednesdayhe was not made aware of the lawsuit and had no knowledge of it.

We did everything in our power to protect our staff and our patrons, Spivey said.

More from Joel Umanzor: 4-year-old child dies after attacked by dogs in Baytown

For Sharon Evans-Brooks, community leader in Third Ward, the lawsuit is a good step forward in holding businesses accountable. She said, however, that the city needs to examine its policies on occupancy permits for businesses to operate in the historic residential neighborhood.

We believe that the occupancy permits that are granted to these entities that exist within our community have been rubberstamped, Evans-Brooks said, adding bars and clubs in the area have been granted permits without adequate parking on their property for their patrons. Bars are not new to our neighborhood. We are not upset about that. The point is, the city is not following the citys own rules. The math doesnt add up.

Evans-Brooks said she hopes the mayors office and city permitting officials critically examine upcoming permits which can help alleviate some of the issues in the neighborhood.

Would it abate everything? No. But what it would do is say you cant open up a bar in a neighborhood that has exemplified excellence for the past 50 years, she said. I know our city doesnt have zoning and is pro-business, I get all that, but what is happening is residents are on the losing end of that deal. Business shouldnt trump home owners.

Turner also said Wednesday that councilmembers will soon consider an ordinance requiring businesses to have up-to-date cameras facing the street so that law enforcement can access clear surveillance of violent incidents. The creation of the ordinance is also part of the One Safe Houston plan.

joel.umanzor@chron.com
This article was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. It is co-published and co-reported with Military Times, an independent news organization reporting on issues important to the U.S. military.

When asked in January what they liked about their deployment to the Texas-Mexico border, members of the Texas Air National Guard had few nice things to say.

I hate it here, one respondent said in an anonymous survey about the involuntary mission with no set end date that has taken as many as 10,000 troops away from their civilian lives and families.

Another, asked for general feedback, simply posted four middle- finger emojis.

Frustration, anxiety and anger prevailed in the survey responses obtained by the The Texas Tribune and the Military Times. The survey includes responses from nearly 250 members of Task Force South, one of six units that fall under the umbrella of Operation Lone Star  Gov. Greg Abbotts unprecedentedly large attempt to secure the border with Guard members and state troopers.

Im wasting time watching the grass grow at my [observation] point [along the border], while my civilian job is dying on the vine, one Guardsman wrote in response to another question. IF my job still exists when I return, I will have a giant hole to dig out of.

Another member, whose husband travels for work, said theyve had to pay an extra $2,000 each month for a nanny to watch their kids. Yet another worried about the future of a strained marriage after having to leave his wife and new baby behind.

The survey responses provide the clearest insights yet into the simmering dissatisfaction among troops stationed at the border. The survey was distributed before the Tribune and Military Times published an investigation earlier this month detailing problems with the mission that included hasty mobilization, alarming morale issues, meager living conditions, delays in payment and the perception by troops that the mission was politically motivated to score reelection points for Abbott. Those findings have been consistently denied or downplayed by Texas officials.

Nearly 250 members of the unit  around half its troop strength  completed the survey between Jan. 5-10, according to the source who provided the survey results. The source is not being named because they were not authorized to share the survey.

Task Force South largely consists of Texas Air National Guard members under the 432nd Air Expeditionary Group. Those troops work in the Brownsville area of southernmost Texas and most are living in hotels during the deployment  the best living conditions among the thousands of Texas troops at the border.

The obtained data is from five free-response questions that asked airmen to list positives and negatives about the mission, offer feedback on benefits and off-duty restrictions and weigh in on Operation Lone Star in general. An analysis of the responses by the Tribune and Military Times found:

More than half expressed skepticism or frustration with Operation Lone Star and how senior leaders planned, executed and communicated about the mission.

Nearly 30% vented about the mobilization's length, haste or involuntary nature in their answers.

About 30% said the most difficult part of Operation Lone Star was the deployments impact on their civilian lives, including lost wages, disrupted families and interrupted careers and educations.

More than 1 in 5 either offered no substantive feedback on what they like most about Operation Lone Star or said they disliked everything about the mission.

Almost 3 out of 4 airmen said they wanted better state benefits. Troops on state active-duty missions like Operation Lone Star dont get benefits common to federal deployments like tax exemptions, retirement credit, Veterans Affairs disability coverage for injuries or education benefits like GI Bill credit or the Hazlewood Act, which is a Texas education benefit that gives free tuition to veterans who served on active-duty missions.

It wasnt all bad though. While the feedback was overwhelmingly negative, there were a few members who said they were happy with the pay (when it comes on time, some specified) and around 2 in 5 said they appreciated the camaraderie among the troops.

When reached for comment, Texas Military Department spokesperson Col. Rita Holton said the agency consistently seek[s] opportunities to recognize service members, instill esprit de corps, and solicit feedback in order to continue improving morale across the board.

Surveys are an important, yet confidential, method in doing so, Holton said. She also said the benefits disparity is an unavoidable consequence of the mission being done under state active-duty authority.

Holton said the surveys [allow] leadership teams to proactively address problems, but the source who provided the survey results said task force leadership initially didnt respond to the results or communicate a plan to address the complaints troops made. Internal leadership meetings focused on the positives that people seem to like their [colleagues], Mexican food in the area, etc., the source said.

But seven hours after the Tribune and Military Times submitted questions to the agency asking what it had done to address the troops concerns, Brig. Gen. Monie Ulis, the operations commander, signed a policy memo relaxing the off-duty curfew, alcohol restrictions and distance limits on off-duty travel. Leaders communicating the changes to the troops said they were the result of members feedback in surveys  despite the surveys being completed more than a month ago.

The agency refused to provide the results of a similar survey sent to all Operation Lone Star troops on Jan. 3. State military officials are trying to block a public information request from Military Times and the Tribune for that information, claiming that releasing the results would put troops at risk and have a chilling effect on future survey participation.

Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

Lives left behind

The responses illustrate the personal consequences of the short-notice, involuntary activation.

Most state active-duty missions are short-term emergency responses, such as the Texas Guards response to the 2021 winter storm or hurricanes in recent years. But Operation Lone Star is different  thousands of troops have been there involuntarily since last fall, and theyre likely to be there until theyre replaced with a fresh wave of troops this fall, according to planning documents.

What strategic or tactical thought has there been toward the impact of [Operation Lone Star] on the morale and retention of the Guard? one member asked. I had [nine days] notice to leave my wife and baby during an immensely stressful point in our marriage.

Another echoed his concerns.

[I had] 10 days to try and find a substitute who could manage my classes at work, make plans to keep my house in shape, prepare my family mentally and emotionally, and of course, pack myself, the airman said. Troops who dont report for the involuntary mission could be arrested, Texas officials have acknowledged.

Many of the troops on the mission arrived immediately following federal deployments and a separate state mobilization to help with hurricane relief in Texas and Louisiana, one airman said. Now, major life milestones are still on hold.

Myself and others have been gone for what will be a year and a half  with mere days in between, another airman said. Weddings, home builds and starting [a] family have been put off for the time being, and [this mission] is grinding down what little resolve we have left.

The mission has halted schooling and day jobs as well. One airman said they were taking a pay cut from their civilian job, and the Texas Guards hardship bonus pay wasnt enough to make up their salary.

We were rushed down here from our homes and families just to sit around for a month waiting on training [and] equipment (most of which we are still waiting on), without the proper infrastructure to support such a [massive] mobilization, the airman said.

A college student bemoaned that the mission had delayed their graduation  and worried they may have to restart my nursing program all over again even [though] I was supposed to graduate in December 2022.

And one health care worker, exasperated that the Guard had indefinitely plucked them from their job amid the coronavirus pandemic, argued they were lied to about the duration.

Whether or not you agree with the politics and morals of [Operation Lone Star], the best thing you could do to improve morale would be to shorten [deployments], the member said. Ive spoken to very few people who plan on continuing their service in the Texas [National Guard], much less staying on [the border] any longer than they have to. Send people home.

Meanwhile, problems stemming from the missions rapid expansion are alienating even the troops who support Abbotts approach to securing the border.

One Guard member who reported enjoying working in the field to catch migrants also decried leaderships lack of answers [and an] unknown date to return to family and civilian career.

People [quit] school, [their] jobs, [their] relationships all because of the stress of not knowing when they can pick it back up or plan to start again, the airman explained. Its unrealistic for the younger [airmen].

Another service member, who thinks the operation isnt tough enough on migrants, also demanded that senior leaders also pay us correctly and give us actual [health] insurance.

Other troops resented feeling like a number or a political pawn in Abbotts 2022 reelection campaign. Abbott is facing multiple challengers from his right in the Republican primary on March 1 who have criticized him for not being tough enough on the border. Many of the missions critics have condemned its scale as a political ploy, despite record migration at the border.

Members feel like political [pawns] and do not feel like their [issues] are being heard, said one airman.

Another decried how the mission feels like being used for a political agenda.

Most of us signed up to help Texas in times of need like hurricanes, the Guard member said. This doesnt feel like we are helping any Texans besides the governor and his ability to say he has activated the [Guard] to the border.

Flagging morale

The missions shortcomings could exacerbate a deepening morale crisis in the Texas Guard.

I support the mission and overall am glad to be part of it, one Guard member said. But morale issues are becoming critical and will get worse unless dramatic action is taken to get ahead of it.

Following a string of suicides linked to the mission, theres fear of future self-harm by members.

Im concerned with having members drinking without limits, knowing they have personal firearms [with them] and mental health struggles, one airman explained. With limited  access to mental health providers, and the rise in suicides on the Army side [of the mission], I feel we are doing nothing to prevent suicides coming to the 432nd.

That airman called Operation Lone Star a huge disappointment.

I never imagined members of the military would be treated so poorly[,] and I plan to leave the Air Guard after this because of how myself and others around me have been treated, the member said.

Some respondents praised the effort and said theyd stay on as long as they could, despite the murky timeline and living with roommates or without a full kitchen. But more airmen indicated in the survey that Operation Lone Star will be their final mission in the Texas National Guard.

Military Times and the Tribune previously reported a recent trend of low retention numbers for the states Army Guard, while more troops leave critical fields like cyber warfare for the Air Guard as well.

Some are burnt out by the onslaught of missions and activations in recent years, from pandemic response to assistance in severe weather. Others worry their civilian lives have suffered too much.

According to one service member, multiple airmen had just returned from basic or technical training or a deployment, only to be pointed to the Mexico border during their first Guard drill back home.

Were going to lose a lot of good [airmen], they said. Why are we doing that to our members?!?!?!?

Multiple people are bracing themselves to rebuild progress theyve lost at their regular jobs when they return from the border. One airman, who called Operation Lone Star a political mess between the federal and state government now plans to separate from the Guard when their contract expires in 2023 after losing most of their clients from their civilian job.

[Operation Lone Star] cares more about numbers than the impact on individuals and their families, said one. It does greater harm to our members than good by putting their families and own lives at risk for an unclear mission.

Another said they hope other states learn from the missions troubles.

We are disposable in the eyes of top leaders, from the governor on down, declared the service member. The leadership failures of this mission will be a case study for military leaders for years to come.

Jose Luis Martinez contributed to this report.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Texas comes up as a topic of discussion in the Kremlin more often than one might expect.

During a news conference in December, Russian President Vladimir Putin evoked the Lone Star State to defend his countrys annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Mexico and the U.S. never had territorial disputes? Who did California used to belong to? And Texas? Although few people question that Texas is part of the United States, Putin said that most countries still recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine.

This war is an escalation from Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014 and partial occupation of eastern Ukraine that it has maintained, though denied, ever since. After massing an estimated 190,000 troops around three sides of Ukraine, Putin moved to recognize Russian-backed separatist regions  the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics  and green-lit military action abroad. And now, Russia has brought a full-fledged war of aggression to the European continent.

Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Demonstrators protest the military attack by Russia on Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Houston. The peaceful protest supporting the people of Ukraine took place on the corner of Westheimer Road and Post Oak Blvd. Photos by Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle

One of Putins main justifications for military action should give us particular pause. In an hour-long speech recently, he made a factually inaccurate historical argument claiming that Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin invented Ukraine and that the country has no right to exist within its internationally recognized borders. Russian state media have aired maps of Ukraine cut into pieces that it labeled as gifts from Russian czars and Soviet rulers.

But hes wrong. Ukraine has its own rich national history that dates back more than 1,100 years. It has its own language, culture and traditions, not to mention its own national security interests. Putin expressed bitterness in his speech that Ukrainians in recent years have toppled statues of Lenin in avowed acts of decommunization. He then issued what was clearly intended as a threat to Ukraines territorial integrity: You want decommunization? Very well, this suits us just fine. But why stop halfway? We are ready to show what real decommunizations would mean for Ukraine.

If Putin truly believes this version of history, and there are many indications that he does, then he sees the annexation of further Ukrainian territory as the correction of a historical wrong. Under that rationale, Spain, France and Mexico would each be justified in launching wars to reclaim Texas. To most, this proposition sounds absurd on its face. And it is. But as residents of a state whose iconography commemorates a history of sovereignty under six different flags, Texans are in a unique position to appreciate the grim implications of its logic.

Ukrainians are facing this distorted logic backed by the full force of the Russian military. Texans should be appalled that a world leader is weaponizing false historical grievances to deny self-determination to the people of an independent country. Putin is trying to use this narrative to sell this war  mostly to his own people but also to the international community. We must reject that it has any basis in reality. There is much for us to read and learn from to help us in that endeavor.

It is too soon to say how or when this war will end. There is a significant bipartisan consensus behind strong sanctions against Russia, although they are unlikely to change the situation on the ground. In reality, there is not much that most of us can practically do. But we can and must educate ourselves so that no one can ever use the abuse of history as justification for bloodshed.

Rebecca Adeline Johnston is a doctoral candidate in the Department of History at the University of Texas at Austin.
Aerial view of breathtaking Kanas Nature Reserve in NW China's Xinjiang

People's Daily Online) 13:46, February 24, 2022

Snow-capped mountains and rime-worn birch forests extend across the scenic land of Kanas, a national nature reserve located in Altay Prefecture, at the northernmost tip of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Bathed in sunlight, gleaming ripples ruffle the reflection of Kanas' vast scenery, adding rhythms to the pristine and sublime winter wonderland. Click here and appreciate a mysterious and breathtaking view of Kanas.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Responding to Russias full-scale military blitz of Ukraine on Thursday, alarmed New York leaders said freedom had fallen under attack and voiced solidarity with the states vibrant Ukrainian community.

New York City is home to the largest Ukrainian population in America and our city stands with them, Mayor Adams said on Twitter, as Russian tanks rolled through Ukraine and explosions rattled its cities. The unprovoked and unjustified invasion of their homeland is an assault on freedom.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams (left) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (right) (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

The West had warned for days of the dreaded Russian attack on Ukraine, a democratic nation of 44 million people that declared independence in 1991. And the conflict appeared to be taking a brutal form, with more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers already reported dead.

An attack on any democracy is an attack on every democracy, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the No. 5 House Democrat, said in a statement. Led by President Biden, the United States and the international community will stand strongly behind Ukraine.

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In 2017, New York City was home to more than 66,000 Ukrainian immigrants, according to a comptrollers report. And a much larger web of New Yorkers of Ukrainian descent lives in the five boroughs.

Neighborhoods like Manhattans East Village and Brooklyns Brighton Beach burst with shops hawking pierogi and Ukrainian borscht. Residents feared the worst ahead of the invasion, which was planned by an aggrieved President Vladimir Putin apparently eager to conquer a neighbor that was long part of the Soviet Union.

Ukrainian New Yorkers reeled on Thursday, and some took to the citys streets with flags and signs supporting their beleaguered homeland.

[ NYCs Ukranian population reeling after Russian attack on their homeland ]

Our hearts go out to all the residents of that country that is now under siege, Gov. Hochul said in a news briefing in suburban Valhalla on Thursday morning.

The governor described her pride in New Yorks Ukrainian community, and acknowledged the fear that many feel as Russia threatens to spark the largest European conflict since World War II. Were concerned, Hochul said. And our support is with President Biden as he manages through this crisis.

City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Ukrainian-American business owner who represents Brighton Beach, said she watched with horror as disturbing scenes of war beamed out of Ukraine overnight.

A damaged Ukrainian military facility in the aftermath of Russian shelling outside Mariupol, Ukraine on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Weve seen this playbook before from Vladimir Putin, and we know what follows: torture, arbitrary detention, forced disappearances, and numerous human rights violations, Vernikov said.

There are 150,000 Ukrainian Americans here in New York City, and we are all glued to the news today, watching as ballistic missiles fly over the streets that we once played on as children, Vernikov, a Republican, added.

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City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, whose district includes the East Village, issued a statement describing Ukraine as a beautiful nation deserving of sustained independence and peace.

There is no room for anything but unequivocal condemnation of this senseless violence, added Rivera, a Democrat. Glory to Ukraine.

And Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, chairwoman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, said in a statement that Americans are living through a defining moment in time.

Let us live on the right side of history, she said in the statement. We stand by Ukraine. We condemn the flagrant defiance of both international law and Ukraines territorial sovereignty by Putin.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, praised Ukrainians as tough and resilient and said he knows they will fight fiercely for their homeland.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) (Andrew Harnik/AP)

The United States stands with the people of Ukraine and our NATO allies and partners, Schumer told reporters in lower Manhattan while calling for unity in the U.S. response. Ukraine is familiar with Russian attempts to strangle it, and like in the past, they will continue to fight back.

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Revulsion at the Russian action is broadly shared by Americans across the partisan divide, despite some differences about the American sanctions response, and a running commentary from former President Donald Trump, who has at turns criticized Biden and praised Putins savvy.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 191 Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit a tire shop in Lviv, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2022. Russian missiles hit the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Monday, killing at least six people, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow's troops stepped up strikes on infrastructure in preparation for an all-out assault on the east. (Mykola Tys/AP)

Still, many Republicans and some Democrats urged Biden to move faster to make Putin pay. Vernikov decried weak leadership in Washington.

Schumer promised that American leadership will punish the Kremlin. And later on Thursday, Biden unleashed a fresh round of sanctions that significantly escalated the costs to the Russian government.

Together with our allies, Schumer said, the United States will ensure that Putin suffers the consequences of his illegal actions.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seldom misses a chance to highlight his work on an issue guaranteed to draw bipartisan attention: fighting human trafficking in a state that is No. 2 in the nation for reported cases.

Over his two-term tenure, hes appeared in a public service announcement with actor Matthew McConaughey, aired re-election campaign ads on the subject in 2018, and participated in dozens of panels, speaking events and TV interviews, including a roundtable discussion with then-President Donald Trump in McAllen.

I started a human trafficking unit my first year in office. And I did it because  largely because of the border, Paxton told Trump in January 2019. We have the second-highest human trafficking rate in the country. Over 300,000 people are victims of that crime every year. Thats the research. Houston is the worst city in America. And so were addressing that.

Over the next two state budget cycles, the second-term Republican convinced state lawmakers to more than quadruple the human trafficking units annual funding, which went from about $740,000 in 2019 to more than $3 million by 2022.

Yet despite that infusion of cash, the units progress slowed to a crawl in the last two years, a Hearst Newspapers analysis found.

Paxtons office did not secure a single human trafficking conviction or deferred adjudication in 2020 and produced four in 2021, down from 10 in 2018. Two of the four cases closed in 2021 resulted in convictions, and two resulted in deferred adjudications, a form of probation that gives defendants a chance to avoid a criminal conviction on their record.

Over the same time, it lost its most experienced attorneys, including the top prosecutor, who was known statewide for her expertise.

This came even as the number of contacts to the National Trafficking Hotline from Texas spiked amid the pandemic and online recruiting by traffickers increased by 22 percent, according to the Polaris Project, which operates the hotline.

Statewide data, which is likely to undercount trafficking cases, shows the number of arrests by local authorities in 2020 increased by 12 percent.

RELATED: Paxtons $2.2M voter fraud unit closed three cases in 2021

The unit has shown signs of rebounding, opening a record 24 cases last year, but the two-year lapse in convictions casts doubt on Paxtons claim that hes aggressively tackled an issue that has long plagued Houston and Texas.

The attorney generals office did not respond to questions about the low caseload or high turnover. Instead, it issued a statement emphasizing that the agency lacks the jurisdiction to take up cases on its own and can prosecute only when local district attorneys request assistance.

Attorney General Paxton has no higher priority than ending modern-day slavery, and our team is working tirelessly to prosecute these vicious, evil criminals, spokesman Alejandro Garcia said.

He said the office had tallied 42 convictions for human trafficking offenses, in contradiction to the offices own data, obtained through an open records request, that shows a total of 31. He did not respond to multiple requests for clarification.

The dip in convictions is prompting concern from Democratic and Republican state lawmakers alike.

Based on the numbers provided, the number of convictions are disappointing, Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, a former prosecutor and judge as well as chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a written statement in response to questions from Hearst Newspapers.

With limitations on prosecutions due to the pandemic and current law only allowing the Office of the Attorney General to assist in the prosecution when the local district attorney requests assistance, there are definitely obstacles to overcome if the number of prosecutions is to increase.

While the pandemic has delayed court cases, the abrupt halt in productivity cannot be pinned on just that, according to interviews with eight former employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of professional repercussions.

Without a coherent vision

New leaders in January 2020 demanded the team turn its focus away from hosting training sessions on how to spot and prosecute human trafficking, interviews and documents show. Instead, staffers say they were pressured to do whatever it took to raise the number of prosecutions.

But the former employees say those training sessions, slashed from 87 in 2019 to a combined 56 over the next two years, were case generators in themselves. Frustration followed over the new directive and the way it was carried out, and at least five members of the unit left the agency in 2020; two of the members had not yet hit the one-year mark.

The (Human Trafficking) Section has been left blinded and has a trajectory towards becoming a statewide agency who has the resources, but not the output, to effect change in eradicating human trafficking in the State of Texas, wrote one employee in an exit memo obtained by Hearst Newspapers.

Without a coherent vision and the subject matter expertise to drive the vision, the vast amount of resources legislatively granted to the agency will not have the lasting impact in the field of trafficking and in the lives of the most vulnerable victims in Texas.

RELATED: A sex trafficking survivor from Katy visited the White House. Heres her story.

Nine more employees would depart in 2021, for a total of at least 14 over two years.

The agencys effectiveness is also being questioned on the campaign trail as Paxton faces his toughest re-election test yet. Paxton has three serious Republican primary challengers in Land Commissioner George P. Bush, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert and former Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman. All have made issue of Paxtons long-standing indictment on felony securities fraud charges and an ongoing FBI investigation of allegations by his former aides that he used his office to benefit a friend and campaign donor  both cases in which Paxton has denied wrongdoing.

Bush, the top-polling competitor, has seized on Paxtons record on human trafficking, attacking him over statewide numbers that show more cases have been dismissed than resolved. On this issue as well as border security, Bush has said Paxton lacks the relationships with local district attorneys necessary to raise prosecutions.

I dont think theres a sense of urgency in the current structure, Bush said in an interview. They dont have a leader thats inspiring confidence, thats expanding their authorities and leveraging the platform of one of the most powerful offices in the land to elevate this issue.

Garcia, the attorney general spokesman, noted that Paxtons office was involved in a high-profile 2018 case that shut down Backpage.com, a Dallas-based adult site linked to prostitution and sex trafficking.

The investigation involved a number of agencies, including the U.S. Justice Department and the California attorney generals office.

As for complaints about the training, Garcia said the agency trained over 5,000 law enforcement officers, prosecutors, business leaders and community members in 2021.

Leadership changes

In August 2018, the attorney generals office asked the Legislature for a historic expansion of the human trafficking team: an additional $2.8 million over the next two years to fund 13 full-time employees.

Not only did the Legislature grant that request, it also approved an extra $3.1 million in annual funding for 2022 and 2023, enough to cover the salaries of 33 full-time employees, an all-time high.

But at the same time, the departure of the units leader had left it in turmoil.

In December 2019, Kirsta Melton, the prosecutor who led the team since its inception, left the office. Prior to joining the state, Melton had worked on trafficking cases for a decade at the Bexar County district attorneys office, where she had helped establish a human trafficking unit.

Immediately after Melton left the state agency, former employees said, it became clear that Mark Penley, deputy attorney general for criminal justice, and then-associate deputy Angela Goodwin had a very different vision in mind.

At a meeting in January, Penley and Goodwin informed the team that prosecutions would be the top priority and training efforts needed to take a back seat. Program specialists who were previously focused on training and policy work were converted into administrative support staff for lawyers.

The shift in priorities came as a shock to many who were accustomed to the units role as a resource for groups statewide in providing education and awareness materials and programming.

The unit had provided training events for a broad cross-section of groups, from judges, prosecutors and law enforcement to medical professionals, bank tellers and school faculty to children aging out of foster care who are at increased risk of falling victim to trafficking. It had trained more than 25,000 people at more than 300 in-person training sessions as of 2019.

Also, in 2018, employees produced a documentary-style video titled Be The One that is widely used across the state and has been viewed in almost every state and 131 countries.

Contrary to stereotypes, most traffickers use psychological means of control, not physical restraints or bondage. This means that victims often interact with people throughout their day who have the potential to notice a trafficking red flag that could end up saving their lives.

Tonya Stafford, a human trafficking survivor and founder of Its Going To Be OK, a Dallas-based nonprofit that connects survivors with supportive services, said training and prosecution have to go hand in hand.

We dont need to take the focus off training because training helps, and training is whats getting the traffickers put in jail, Stafford said.

Penley, who would later that year become one of seven whistleblowers who reported Paxton to federal law enforcement authorities for allegedly abusing the power of his office, declined to comment.

In a February 2020 meeting, Penley told the team he wanted to have a serious conversation about how employees were questioning his approach.

He explained that the new vision was one that he brought and that was also passed down to him by executive leadership, according to an account of the meeting detailed in a memo to the agency ombudsman obtained by Hearst Newspapers.

Melton had been told about the new vision and chose to leave, the memo described Penley as saying, but she was not fired or forced out, and she and others had left voluntarily, he said.

At least seven employees, including three assistant attorneys general, hired between 2019 and 2021 would leave the office in less than a years time.

Some former employees who spoke to Hearst Newspapers said they grew frustrated with a lack of work.

One said they worked on just a handful of cases during their time at the attorney generals office  significantly fewer than they expected when they took the job.

Another staffer who was involved with prosecution work during the offices slowdown said they decided to leave the unit after five months went by without a single case assignment.

It was uncomfortable for me to get paid with not doing work, and that department is full of people, right? said the staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. So you have a lot of people being paid, and Im not sure what for.

Disappointing outcomes

State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, and Huffman, the Houston Republican, have been at the forefront of leveraging state resources to fight human trafficking.

They have authored a number of anti-human trafficking bills during their tenures, including one last year that made Texas the first state to make buying sex a felony. They also had pushed for increased funding for the attorney generals prosecution unit.

Huffman had in 2019 sought to help Paxton expand the offices jurisdiction. A bill she filed  and that Paxton, in an unusual move, had come to the Texas Capitol to promote  would have given his office the ability to prosecute when district attorneys could not or would not.

A bipartisan coalition of district attorneys pushed back hard against the effort, largely viewing it as a power grab, and the bill was eventually withdrawn by its House author.

Meanwhile, the unit has continued to expand, and it gained five attorneys from October 2020 to October 2021 for a total of seven criminal prosecutors and one civil one, its largest team to date.

Last year, attorneys opened a record 24 cases, compared with six in 2020 and seven in 2019. However, the unit now has nearly twice as many prosecutors on staff as in 2018, when they filed 19 cases.

State Rep. Ann Johnson, a Houston Democrat who is the former chief human trafficking prosecutor in Harris County, said the cases are extremely complicated and can take a long time to resolve.

If youre trying to investigate and prosecute these cases, it is as hard as doing child abuse, domestic violence and organized crime all in one, she said. These are not simple prosecutions. They are really hard prosecutions.

On top, the pool of lawyer talent is small, albeit growing, Johnson said, because of the states longtime focus on prosecuting trafficking victims. Only within the last 10 years has it started to shift its focus to prosecuting the buyers and sellers, she said.

Still, she said, the low conviction numbers raise questions.

Those numbers are devastatingly disappointing given the probable number of victims we have in Texas, she said. Those numbers are not what Id expect with a robust investment in a statewide agency with one of the bigger trafficking problems in the nation.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
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Billionaires from around the nation are trying to influence the Republican primary for governor in Texas.

While Gov. Greg Abbott has raised and spent vastly more than his top GOP primary opponents Allen West and Don Huffines, all can count billionaires among their biggest backers  funneling millions of dollars into the race.

Just since the start of 2021, Abbott has spent $32 million on his bid for a record-tying 3rd four-year term in office, according to campaign finance reports made public on Wednesday. Abbott has spent his money on television ads, mailers, staff, and traveling the state, among other things. And he still had nearly $50 million in his campaign account headed into the March 1 election.

Huffines, a former state senator and commercial real estate developer, has spent $14.6 million on his campaign and reported just $650,000 remaining for the final stretch of campaign. West, the former Texas Republican Party chairman has spent $2 million in his campaign and reported $104,000 in the bank.

While Abbott, a former judge and attorney, is heavily favored to win re-election, West and Huffines have built insurgent campaigns that have heavily criticized Abbotts handling of the pandemic and the Texas border. Both have said Abbott was too heavy-handed in shutting down businesses and allowing mask mandates early in the pandemic. And both say theyd be more aggressive on the Texas border, even as Abbott has dispatched 10,000 members of the National Guard to deter people from crossing into Texas.

While all the candidates rely heavily on well-heeled donors, they are trying to shift attention to small-dollar donors as evidence of more widespread support.

Governor Abbotts campaign continues to reach new supporters all throughout Texas, said Abbott campaign manager Kim Snyder. Weve seen excitement for him grow in areas that are not traditional Republican strongholds, positioning us well for the campaign to come.

While the campaign is touting new supporters, Abbott is relying heavily on longtime allies to fund his 2022 campaign. No donor has been more important to the Wichita Falls native than Texas oil mogul S. Javaid Anwar of Midland, who has given Abbott more than $2 million in donations just since the start of 2019, when Abbott began his re-election effort. That money has included nearly $100,000 of in-kind contributions including airplane expenses to help Abbott.

KNOW THE CANDIDATES: Houston Chronicle voter guide / San Antonio Express-News voter guide

Abbott has pulled in more than $1.4 million from Dallas tycoon Kenny Troutt, a retired telecom executive and thoroughbred horse farm owner; and $1 million from Michael and Mary Porter, wealthy California transplants who have bought up property in Gillespie County in the Texas Hill Country. Other major donors who have given at least $500,000 to Abbott for his reelection include Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, California real estate billionaire and part Lakers owner Ed Roskie, Jr. and Houstons Hilcorp Energy Corp. founder Jeffery Hildebrand and his wife Melinda.

Huffines borrows $5M for campaign

While West and Huffines have raised far less money, both can county billionaires as key to their campaigns. Huffines biggest donor has been Defend Texas Liberty, a political action committee funded largely by Midlands Tim and Terri Dunn. The PAC has given Huffines $3.2 million and the Dunns have given another $200,000 directly to his campaign.

Dunn is the CEO of CrownQuest, an oil and gas company in Midland and a major backer of Empower Texans, a conservative advocacy group that has frequently clashed with Abbott and other Texas Republicans who they deem not conservative enough.

Huffines, a Dallas native who spent four years in the Texas Senate, is also leaning heavily on his own wealthy family for campaign support. More than $2.4 million has come from members of the Huffines family, including $2.2 million from his twin brother Phillip Huffines.

Don Huffines has also taken out $5 million in loans to support his campaign.

West may trail in fundraising, but has has major backing from one of the national GOPs biggest donors in Richard Uihlein, founder of Wisconsin-based shipping firm Uline. Uihlein has given out more than $50 million in campaign donations to Republican causes just for the 2022 election cycle and has in the past been a major supporter of Texas Republicans including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

Uihlein, who lives in Illinois, has given West over $225,000 for his campaign. Only Louisiana resident Greg Mosing, who has ties to a wealthy oil industry family, has helped West more, covering more than $300,000 in travel expenses through in-kind donations.

Like Abbott, West was more focused on donations from small donors. On Tuesday he took to social media to thank more than 26,000 donors.

I am so deeply appreciative of each one of you who has supported our campaign, West said on Twitter. The grassroots boots on the ground are the heart and soul of this campaign and you have our thanks!

West, an Army veteran, is a former member of Congress from Florida who moved to Garland after he lost his re-election in 2012.

During the campaign, West has acknowledged he cant spend as much as others in the race, but is convinced his nonstop appearances at Republican group meetings and other in-person events can overcome Abbotts financial advantage.

The last day of early voting in the GOP primary is Friday and election day is Tuesday.

ORourke pulls $10k each from over 100 donors

Meanwhile, Democrat Beto ORourke is facing his own primary challenge in his bid for governor. But unlike Abbott, none of ORourkes challlengers has spent more than $10,000.

ORourke has spent almost $6.5 million on his campaign since he jumped into the race in November and is holding onto almost $6.8 million heading into the primary election.

Among ORourkes biggest donors are personal injury law group Williams Hart Boundas Easterby LLP in Houston and Scott Freeman, owner of Archer Systems, a legal services company that specializes in legal settlement services. Each has given $100,000.

Over 100 donors have given ORourke at least $10,000 or more.

Like Abbott, the ORourke campaign focused more on small donors in hailing their campaign fundraising efforts. In a statement to reporters late Tuesday, they noted that ORourkes average contribution was $43.
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WASHINGTON  Texas Republicans are so far not following the lead of former President Donald Trump and right-wing commentators like Fox News host Tucker Carlson when it comes to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Trump has praised Vladimir Putin as savvy and genius for sending troops into Ukraine, saying in a recent interview: We could use that on our southern border. Thats the strongest peace force Ive ever seen. There were more army tanks than Ive ever seen. Theyre gonna keep peace all right.

Carlson has defended Putin on his Fox News show, saying hating Putin has become the central purpose of Americas foreign policy.

It may be worth asking yourself, since it is getting pretty serious: What is this really about? Why do I hate Putin so much? Carlson said Tuesday. Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him?

BACKGROUND: Ted Cruz forces uncomfortable Democratic vote on Russian pipeline sanctions

In a rare break with the former president, Texas Republicans have virtually unanimously condemned Putin as they have called for a strong U.S. response to the invasion.

Putin has tried to get away with as much as he can, and it would be naive to think that he will stop at Ukraine, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said in a statement. Ukraine is on the front line of a crisis, but the security of Europe is also in question.

This is about Americas credibility and that of our friends and allies around the world and our willingness to stand up for our values and defend our freedoms, Cornyn said. If the U.S. fails to support Ukraine, other authoritarian movements like those in China and Iran will take note.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted that he was following news of Putins further invasion of Ukraine with enormous concern and anger.

The U.S. will stand with our Ukrainian allies, continue to provide them with arms to defend themselves, and work to counter Putin and hold accountable those responsible for this aggression, Cruz said.

Even as they didnt follow Trump in praising Putin, Texas Republicans agreed with the former presidents assertion that the invasion wouldnt have happened if he were still in office.

We are watching in real-time a world without strong American leadership, U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, a Woodville Republican, said in a statement. After seeing how our Commander in Chief has responded to this widely predicted crisis thus far, we should all continue praying not only for Ukraine but for the future of our country, and frankly, the entire world.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Cruz blamed President Joe Biden for declining to enforce sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, which Trump signed when he was in office. Germany took steps this week to suspend the pipeline.

Bidens weakness, both in general and his surrender on Nord Stream 2, undeniably facilitated Putins invasion of Ukraine, Cruz tweeted.

U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson on Wednesday renewed calls for Biden to undergo a cognitive test, telling Fox News: "Every time he gets up and talks to the American people, it's not just the American people that are watching him speak, it's the whole world, and that's part of what the problem is here.

"He looks tired, he looks weak, he looks confused, he's incoherent, and it sends a message of weakness all over the world, and they're seizing up on that, the Amarillo Republican said.

Texas Republicans piled on Putin on Thursday.

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the invasion has laid bare for the world to witness the true evil that is Vladimir Putin.

He called for the strongest possible sanctions and export controls to cripple Russias ability to make war, punish its barbarity and relegate the Putin regime to the status of an international pariah.

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Houston Republican, called the invasion barbaric behavior.

I hope Vladimir Putin fails and suffers immense losses, Crenshaw tweeted. Praying that Ukrainians fight like hell and overcome this. May God be with the innocent people of Ukraine.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a San Antonio Republican, in a statement called for the U.S. to tap into our cyber expertise and economic sanctions before further destruction occurs.

The only thing Putin understands is raw political power, Gonzales said. We shouldnt negotiate with an unreliable actor that launches unprovoked attacks and continues to be an enemy of peace. When America stands firm, the world is a safer place.

Cayla Harris contributed reporting from Austin.

ben.wermund@chron.com
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President Biden on Thursday ratcheted up economic sanctions on Russia over its vicious assault on Ukraine, promising to cut off four of Russias largest banks from the U.S. financial system, and pledging to turn President Vladimir Putin into a global outcast.

In remarks that carried the verbal trimmings of the Cold War, Biden said Putins military aims extend beyond Ukraine to a reconstitution of the Soviet Union. He said the U.S. had corralled a coalition of allies that represent more than half the global economy to strike jointly at the Russian financial system.

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Putins aggression against Ukraine will end up costing Russia dearly economically and strategically, Biden said in a speech from the East Room of the White House. Putin will be a pariah on the international stage. Any nation that countenances Russias naked aggression against Ukraine will be stained by association.

President Joe Biden speaks about the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Brandon/AP)

The president outlined the new penalties as Russia staged a ferocious multi-front assault on its democratic neighbor, an attack that Biden had warned was imminent for days, but that nonetheless stunned the globe with its brazenness. Explosions rippled through Ukrainian cities including the capital, Kyiv, and Russian tanks rolled across the countrys north.

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The Pentagon said the battle was closing in on Kyiv, with fighting less than 20 miles from the center of the city. North of Kyiv, near the border with Belarus, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was seized by Russian troops, as was Hostomel Airport, a cargo airport near the capital, according to reports.

Describing a cold day for Russia, Biden accused Putin of pursuing empire by any means necessary, and promised that the economic response by the U.S. and its Western allies would generate long-term damage to the Russian economy while limiting collateral financial damage at home. The sanctions did not hit Putin directly.

Damaged radar arrays and other equipment are seen at a Ukrainian military facility outside Mariupol, Ukraine, on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Sergei Grits/AP)

Biden said he was attempting to avoid major disruptions to the global gas market, but asked Americans to buckle up for some economic pain at places like gas stations.

I know this is hard, and that Americans are already hurting, the president said. But this aggression cannot go unanswered. If it did, the consequences for America would be much worse. America stands up to bullies. We stand up for freedom. This is who we are.

The new economic penalties will strangle Russias ability to use American dollars, euros, British pounds and Japanese yen, Biden said, adding that the U.S. was targeting Russian financial institutions with around $1 trillion in assets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in Moscow, Russia on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP)

The president said he had no plans to talk to Putin and that there was a complete rupture in Americas relationship with Russia. He brushed off a threat from the Kremlin that seemed to suggest it would consider ordering a nuclear strike if it faces interference in its attempts to gobble up Ukraine. He said he had no idea what Putin is threatening.

Biden has ruled out sending American troops into Ukraine, wary of a direct conflict with Russia. But he said that the U.S. was authorizing additional troop deployments in Germany and that America would be involved if Russia ultimately advances beyond Ukraine and invades a NATO member.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 191 Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit a tire shop in Lviv, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2022. Russian missiles hit the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Monday, killing at least six people, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow's troops stepped up strikes on infrastructure in preparation for an all-out assault on the east. (Mykola Tys/AP)

This is a dangerous moment for all of Europe, for the freedom around the world, Biden said. Putin has committed an assault on the very principles that uphold the global peace. But now the entire world sees clearly what Putin and his Kremlin allies are all about.

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Americas complete sanctions package now touches Russias 10 largest financial institutions, and will batter Russias industrial sector, the White House said. The Pentagon, meanwhile, was expected to send 7,000 more troops to Europe.

Putin chose this war, Biden said. Now he and his country will bear the consequences.
Songwriters to protest at Spotify LA office: music creators livelihoods hang in the balance

Songwriter advocacy group The 100 Percenters is planning a peaceful protest in Los Angeles on Monday in support of better royalty rates for music creators from Spotify and other streaming platforms.

The songwriters group explains why they are organizing the Spotify protest:

Songwriters are currently paid less than a penny per stream. This should be illegal. The majority of song streaming revenue (billions per year), goes to major labels and artists, while songwriters struggle to live.

Spotify is fighting a proposed 44% pay increase for songwriters at a Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) trial in April; a ruthless battleground, where many music creators livelihoods hang in the balance.

Date: Monday, 2/28 Time: 12PM  4PM PST

Location: Spotify US 9200 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069

The group is also using the event as a fundraiser. Youll find more info here.

Bruce Houghton is Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown which acquired both publications in 2019. He is the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music.

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Former President George W. Bush condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a historic disaster and called for Americans to stand united in the face of strongman Vladimir Putins aggression.

Russias attack on Ukraine constitutes the gravest security crisis on the European continent since World War II, Bush said in a statement on Thursday issued from his home in Dallas.

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Former President George W. Bush (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Bush said he backs the international effort to push back against Russias unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

He also called for all Americans to stand firm as the West defended Ukraine.

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The American government and people must stand united with the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people as they seek their freedom and right to choose their own future, Bush said.

Bush took dead aim at Putin, calling him a bully who must be stopped.

We cannot tolerate the authoritarian bullying and danger that Putin poses, Bush said.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 191 Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit a tire shop in Lviv, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2022. Russian missiles hit the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Monday, killing at least six people, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow's troops stepped up strikes on infrastructure in preparation for an all-out assault on the east. (Mykola Tys/AP)

The statement amounted to an effort to unite as broad a swath of the American political world behind the effort to confront Russia.

Establishment Republican leaders have responded to the crisis with President Bidens efforts to back Ukraine and confront Russia.

But former President Trump, the partys de facto leader, has praised Putin as a genius and repeated his euphemistic description of the Russian invading force as peacekeepers.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a chorus of Democratic support for President Biden on Wednesday while denouncing the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Making a speech on Capitol Hill, she vowed that the U.S. will remain united with allies as Western leaders continue to impose sanctions against Vladimir Putins government while ensuring political and financial support for Ukraine

The influential Democratic lawmaker compared Putins seizure of two breakaway eastern Ukrainian provinces to the Nazi occupation of its neighbors before World War II.

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This is the Sudetenland. We cannot ignore what Putin is doing, said Pelosi (D-Calif.), referring to the Czech region that Hitler took over. You cannot take it any lighter than what it is: a total assault on democracy.

President Joe Biden (left) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. (right) (Alex Brandon/AP)

Pelosi was in Germany last week for the Munich Security Conference with NATO leaders, members of the U.S. Congress, and the mayor of Ukraines capital, Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko.

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There will be a price to pay for Vladimir Putin, she said, flanked by her fellow California Democratic House members, including Reps. Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell and Barbara Lee.

She praised Biden for quickly responding to Putins invasion by imposing the first tranche of sanctions, and warned of more to come.

This is about Vladimir Putins desire for his own personal and national aggrandizement at the expense of his neighbor, Schiff said.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 191 Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit a tire shop in Lviv, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2022. Russian missiles hit the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Monday, killing at least six people, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow's troops stepped up strikes on infrastructure in preparation for an all-out assault on the east. (Mykola Tys/AP)

Lee, a progressive peace advocate who was the only lawmaker to vote in 2001 against authorizing the ill-fated U.S. war in Afghanistan, reiterated that she would oppose American military involvement in Ukraine. But she backed widespread assistance to the country and boasted that $1 billion in humanitarian aid is ready to roll.

Swalwell stressed the need for Americans to avoid taking Putins bait and to stay united across the political spectrum in the face of Russian aggression.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a longtime champion of NATO, spoke highly of the Western alliance this week, but some within his party are gravitating away from that traditional Republican position and toward former President Donald Trumps views.

McConnell said he wants to see Biden impose the toughest possible sanctions.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Congress should impose sanctions from hell on Putin and his regime when lawmakers return to work next week.

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The Senate has bipartisan support for a robust sanctions package but decided to shelve a vote as the White House pursued its own strategy.
Hospitals balking at bill that aims to prevent burnout during worker shortages, but allege itll hinder care
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) Thursday denounced Russias invasion of Ukraine and called for a swift and severe response.

I am horrified by Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, which endangers the lives of innocent civilians, disregards international law, and could create a major humanitarian crisis in Europe, Maloney said.

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Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) (JOSHUA ROBERTS/AP)

The powerful chair of the House Oversight Committee blamed the Russian strongman for starting the conflict and called on the world to hold him accountable.

Putin personally provoked this war despite numerous opportunities to seek a diplomatic solution and avoid conflict, Maloney said. He bears full responsibility for the bloody consequences about to unfold.

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Maloneys statement echoed the remarks of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats. They have backed President Bidens efforts to unify Americans behind the effort to confront Russia and lead the global response to the invasion.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 191 Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit a tire shop in Lviv, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2022. Russian missiles hit the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Monday, killing at least six people, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow's troops stepped up strikes on infrastructure in preparation for an all-out assault on the east. (Mykola Tys/AP)

Thanks to President Bidens leadership, the response to Russias aggression from the United States and our allies will be swift and severe, Maloney said.

Both Democrats and mainstream Republicans alike have predominantly expressed outrage at the invasion, although some hawkish GOP leaders suggested Biden should have taken more decisive action against Russia earlier in the crisis.
Lincoln County aligns with Grant, Chelan and Douglas counties in its decision to ban local income taxes
An array of assistance will be available to the victims of COVID in Othello this Saturday
Attacks to press freedom and democracy continue to escalate in Myanmar, with two prominent writers and a student activist sentenced under an amendment to the Myanmars Penal code. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemn the juntas continued censorship and quashing of critical reportage and calls on the international community to do more to protect the livelihoods and safety of journalists in Myanmar.

On February 22, Maung Tha Cho and Htin Lin Oo, two anti-junta writers, were sentenced to two and three years in prison respectively under Section 505(a) of the Myanmar Penal Code. Section 5050(A), an amendment introduced by the military junta, criminalises the circulation of any information with the intent to defame government employees.

Maung Tha Cho was sentenced to two years for an article he wrote eight years ago, while Htin Lin Oo was charged after sharing an anti-junta video on his social media page.

The writers were arrested on February 1, 2021, the day of Myanmars military coup and were placed in Insein Prison, where they have been detained for more than a year.

This is not the first time a journalist has been charged under Section 505(A). In February 2022, the IFJ reported the sentencing of Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) reporter Aung Kyaw, and freelance reporter Ko Zaw Zaw, who were the first journalists to be sentenced to two years in prison under Section 505(a).

Student activist Yin Myat Noe Oo was also given a three-year prison sentence for incitement at a court inside Insein Prison last week. The student was arrested in Yangon in April 2021 after putting up posters that criticised the junta.

According to the University Students Union Alumni Force (USUAF) who are in contact with detainees inside Insein Prison, inmates facing political charges have been tortured by prison authorities and denied medical treatment for their injuries.

On February 22, the United Nations human rights expert on Myanmar, Thomas Andrews, said that Russia, China and Serbia were providing arms assistance, including fighter jets, to the military junta. These weapons were supplied with full knowledge that they would be used to attack civilians, said Andrews.

The three sentencings come during a period of increasing restrictions on press freedom in Myanmar, one year on from the military takeover. According to Reporting ASEAN, at least 121 journalists and media workers have been arrested since the beginning of the military coup, with 47 currently detained as of February 9, 2022. At least 40 of the arrested journalists were charged with violating Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.

In December 2021, Ko Soe Naing, a freelance photojournalist, died in custody after being arrested by military forces for covering silent protests by opponents of the coup. Naing was the first journalist confirmed to have died in custody since the coup.

The IFJ said: Journalists and media workers have suffered intensely throughout the first year of Myanmars military coup, actively persecuted and silenced for doing their jobs. The IFJ calls for the release of all detained media workers, including Maung Tha Cho and Htin Lin Oo, and strongly condemns the juntas continued censorship and suppression of press and civilian freedoms. The IFJ urges the international community to heighten efforts to protect and support media workers and journalists working under the coup.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the long-feared attack on Ukraine early Thursday, promising any countries that interfere with consequences they have never seen.

As Putin blustered before dawn, blasts were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other cities throughout the nation  and President Biden promised the Russian rogue could be in for some hell of his own, ripping him for launching an unprovoked invasion on his much-smaller neighbor.

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The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. Biden said in a statement. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

FILE - President Joe Biden (Alex Brandon/AP)

Putin, a KGB colonel in the former Soviet Union, has been building up troops along Ukraines border for weeks. He has seemingly been looking for an excuse for his military land grab, and came up with a flimsy reason this week. He recognized two separatist areas of Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk, and sent in peacekeeping forces to those areas.

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On Thursday morning, Putin ordered the invasion, calling it a special military operation.

But as explosions echoed, Ukraine officials described the Russian aggression for what it really was.

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, tweeted Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Feb. 11, 2022. (Alexei Nikolsky/AP)

CNN reported that the Ukrainian interior ministry is reporting hundreds of casualties from Russias first missile strikes.

The attack came hours after Ukraines president pleaded for peace.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, an emotional President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, speaking in Russian. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Russian military tanks and armored vehicles advance in Donetsk, Ukraine on February 24, 2022. (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

On Wednesday night, Ukraines ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, issued a desperate plea to the Security Council and all countries to stop Russias invasion of his nation, as the sounds of explosions echoed through the night in Kyiv and rattled an anxious world.

Today, the entire membership of the United Nations is under attack, Kyslytsya said in an emergency meeting at UN headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war.

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U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked John Lennon, urging Putin to give peace a chance.

Putin chose war instead.

The Russian leader urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home.

He also warned other nations to stay out of the way.

I have a few words for those who could feel tempted to interfere with ongoing developments, he said. Whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.

Russian military tanks and armored vehicles advance in Donetsk, Ukraine on February 24, 2022. (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

As the world reacted with revulsion, financial marked recoiled. Asian stock markets plunged and oil prices spiked after word of the attack got out. Markets in Tokyo and Seoul fell 2% and Hong Kong and Sydney lost more than 3% early Thursday.

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Oil prices jumped nearly $3 per barrel on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies.

Ukraines was hit by cyberattacks as well as military ones. The nations parliament and other government and banking websites were hit with cyberstrikes Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.

A Ukrainian serviceman stands at his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Early Thursday, Ukrainian airspace was shut down to civilian air traffic. A flight-tracking site showed that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 flying from Tel Aviv to Toronto made a quick turn out of Ukrainian airspace before detouring over Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

Biden and U.S. allies have been hitting Russia with economic sanctions. Even before the attack began, dozens of nations imposed sanctions on Russia, putting pressure on that nations oligarchs and financial institutions.

Biden OKd sanctions to proceed against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the companys CEO.

Germany announced earlier this week it is suspending the project in response to the expected invasion. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.

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A Ukrainian serviceman walks to his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

President Biden will address the American people on Thursday to update them on the crisis.

Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security, Biden said.

We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.

With Tim Balk and News Wire Services
As reports of a series of explosions throughout Ukraine, intensified fighting on the front lines and Russian troops advancing in to Ukraine hit the news the federations offered their solidarity to their affiliates the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU) and the National Union of Journalists (NUJU) , backing their call for journalists to strive to uphold ethical and professional standards in the face of a rise in disinformation.

The IFJ and EFJ join their Ukrainian affiliates IMTUU and NUJU in warning media against the spreading misinformation on the situation and called for the safety of journalists reporting in the field. They have started putting in place protocols to support their members on the ground. NUJU has launched a hotline and announced the setting of a committee to support journalists.

Sergiy Tomilenko, NUJU President said: "The safety of hundreds of journalists at the frontlines, the safety of media workers across the country is our top priority. A special committee for monitoring and responding to the situation has been created by our Union, we are trying to work effectively in the current military aggression of Russia. We develop solidarity and mutual assistance, we are grateful to journalists from all over the world for your solidarity and words of support to Ukrainians in these terrible days."

Serhiy Shturkhetskyy, IMTUU President said: "Ukrainian journalists risk their lives to tell the truth... We urge them to follow safety rules. We urge foreign journalists to use verified sources of information. Our hearts today are with Ukrainian and foreign journalists who report the truth in this difficult time."

The IFJ and EFJ have highlighted the risks for journalists' safety, surveillance and interference with their communications as well as restrictions on their movements to and from the targeted areas.

The IFJ has issued a list of precautions that should be followed by journalists reporting in Ukraine, including the securing of contact protocols, securing stories filing from the field, and travel safety.
Getting people back to the office won't be easy.

After testing out remote work for the past couple of years, many people would like to keep their flexible hours and continue to work from home. A new survey from PwC published February 16, 2022, found that roughly six in 10 U.S. workers say their jobs can mainly be done from home. Among those working remotely, 61 percent say they don't go into the workplace by choice, the survey found, even though only 38 percent say their office is either closed or unavailable to them.

How you communicate expectations about getting back to the office is crucial. Doing so harshly could lead to mass resignations during a tight labor shortage. Here are four ways to encourage employees to come back:

1. Note the social and career benefits

Before the pandemic, the office was a place for work, and home was a place for socialization. But with remote work, the office now offers a crucial place where people can socialize, and leaders should take advantage of that, notes Adam Galinsky, professor of leadership and ethics management at Columbia Business School.

"You want to have different tasks that are done in those two different locations, and are for people to recognize the benefits of those tasks," he says. For example, it's much harder to mentor people and give them the nuances and skills they need to develop career-wise when they're remote. So when people are in the office, senior management should prioritize time with junior employees and vice versa, and make those mentorship opportunities clear.

Also consider offering perks that bring people together. If you offer free lunch, make sure it's in a place and at a time where people can have some sort of interaction. You can also schedule team-building events or happy hours, so more people are incentivized to come into the office on certain days if office hours are flexible.

2. Have empathy

The single best thing you can do as a leader is to try to communicate that you understand the mental space that people are in, notes Galinsky. Before you do anything else, recognize and articulate the tension that exists in a situation, and that you're open to having discussions with anyone who may have concerns about the transition back to work. Next, make it clear that you get why people want to stay at home--it's safer, it's easier, and it's cheaper--before acknowledging the benefits of coming in to work, such as connecting and collaborating with others in real time.

3. Broadcast safety and flexibility

As of late, politicians are working toward a post-Covid world by turning the attention of public policy toward prevention and containment, as opposed to lockdowns and mandates. Last week, more than 70 House Republicans signed a letter to the White House asking to end the designation of Covid-19 as a public health emergency because of the accessibility of vaccines and effective treatments. The state of California also announced publicly on February 18 a strategy to transition to an endemic.

Downgrading the pandemic's status would be good news for businesses looking to get employees back to the office, as it shows an obvious rationale that people can get together safely. Though employees should know that this is a transition and that things aren't going to go back to pre-pandemic schedules. Transitioning to an endemic also doesn't mean disregarding company policies, and leaders should emphasize that safety measures will remain, especially through periods of high transmission.

"You have to publicly acknowledge that we live in a new hybrid reality and everything won't change overnight," says Galinsky.

4. Show your work
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.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said this week that President Biden would likely "make a decision about any cancellation of student debt before the conclusion" of a pause on student loans, set to expire late this summer. The news comes with roughly six months left until the midterm elections and as prominent Democrat politicians like Elizabeth Warren increased calls this week for the President to do more to ease the student debt crisis in the country. Do you believe President Biden should cancel all student debt and pass the costs onto taxpayers? Why or why not? Let us know in this week's poll question below.

You voted:
CRISIL Ratings Limited has issued its rating on total bank facilities rated Rs250 crore of Asahi India Glass Limited on February 22, 2022. The long-term rating has been assigned at CRISIL A+/Stable and short-term rating at CRISIL A1.At around 11.02 am, Asahi India Glass Ltd was trading at Rs458.45 per piece down by Rs21.7 or 4.52% from its previous closing of Rs480.15 per piece on the BSE.The ratings reflect the healthy business profile marked by AISs established market position in the auto and architectural glass segments and established clientele, strong operating efficiency, comfortable financial profile, and the extensive industry experience of the promoters including technical and business support from AGC Inc (AGC; rated A-/Stable/A-2 by S&P Global).""These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to inherent cyclicality in the end-user industry along with project risk associated with large proposed capital expenditure (capex) plan and volatility in fuel prices, company shared CRISILs rating rationale on Wednesday.AIS has a dominant market share (74% share) in the auto glass passenger vehicle segment with healthy share of business with most passenger vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The 18% market share and established presence in architectural glass has led.to a healthy 7.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the segment over the last 5 years.It further added, the company has moderate revenue diversity between auto glass (56% revenue contribution) and architectural glass (44%). AISs presence in automotive aftermarket sales (20%) lends further diversity and pricing flexibility. Supported by strong market position and technological edge due to association with AGC Inc., operating margin remained healthy at 17- 20% over the last five years.In fiscal 2022, AIS is expected to show strong year-on-year revenue growth of over 25%, though on a relatively low base, and increase its sales to over Rs3,000 crore driven by recovery in demand from OEMs and increase in price realisations in the architectural glass segment. Sustained improvement in demand from OEMs and increasing usage of glass in construction is likely to result in strong revenue growth in the medium term.Profitability in the current fiscal is expected to improve to over 20% with increase in scale and higher realisation in float glass segment. As a result, AIS is expected to generate net cash accrual of Rs450-550 crore over the medium term. The operating margin of architectural glass segment has improved over the last three fiscals with increase in price realisations of float glass. Over the last two years, float glass has benefitted from the anti-dumping duty levied on glass imported from Malaysia in December 2020 (for a period of five years) along with reduced imports from China on account of the decarbonisation drive taken by the country. This has resulted in improved demand-supply dynamics in favour of domestic float glass manufacturers with no significant additional float glass capacity expected to come in till 2024.Financial risk profile remains healthy in fiscal 2022 supported by adequate liquidity in the form of unutilised bank lines of over Rs250 crore and comfortable capital structure. Debt protection metrics to remain comfortable in the medium term with increase in profitability despite large proposed capital expenditure (capex) to be incurred over fiscals 2023-2025 which is currently undergoing feasibility study and pending for approval. Debt metrics such as interest coverage ratio is likely to improve to ~6 times in fiscal 2022 from 3.5 times the previous year.AIS is actively pursuing on plans to incur a capex of Rs1,500 crore for greenfield and brownfield capacity expansion over the next three fiscals to be funded through debt and internal accrual. With healthy cash accrual of Rs500-550 crore per annum over the next three fiscals, gearing should remain below 1 time as on March 31, 2022, and improve gradually thereafter as debt is repaid progressively. Any higher than-expected capex or steep moderation in credit metrics on account of slowdown in the end-user industry, will remain a rating sensitivity factor. AIS gets strong financial flexibility due to continued support of promoters in AGC Inc and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL; 'CRISIL AAA/Stable) with strong credit profile.
On Wednesday, SEBI imposed a monetary fine on Varun Beverages  employee for violating the norms of insider trading. The order is owing to the investigation carried out by the market regulator between January 2017- April 2018.Varun Beverages remained in a dim tone today post the regulators decision to impose fines on the companys employees. It ducked nearly 4% and was trading at Rs888.20 against its previous closing of Rs924.80.The market regulator, SEBI, identified that Bagga Rajinder Jeet Singh had not complied with the provisions of Prohibition of Insider Trading norms as he failed to make required disclosures regarding the two transactions carried out by him while serving the company.As the companys employee, he was required to make certain disclosures to the firm for each of those transaction within a period of two working days.Disclosure requirements triggered as Singh dealt in transactions for value exceeding Rs10 lakh, However, he failed to disclose the facts to the regulator. Consequently, SEBI imposed a fine of Rs3 lakh on Singh.
In its press release today, Wipro Limited , a leading global information technology, consulting, and business process services company, today announced that it will be hiring more than 500 new professionals over the next fiscal year to support its growth in delivering cloud solutions to clients.The company will be hiring throughout Brazil, especially in the Northeast regionmainly the capitals Recife, Fortalezaas well as in Natal - Curitiba, Brasilia, and cities in the countryside of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states, among other locations, for a range of roles from IT and engineering to consulting business development and operations.Our employees are the true drivers of our remarkable growth in Brazil, and our ongoing success is intrinsically linked to their happiness. We are committed to creating a culture that puts our people at the center of our business and empowers them to realize their full potential. As we continue our growth and serve some of the most prominent firms in Brazil, we look forward to welcoming our new cohort of colleagues to join us on this exciting journey, said Douglas Silva, Vice President and Country Head, Brazil, Wipro Limited.Wipros hiring goals are reflective of the company's strong growth in the Brazilian market driven by the human cloud concept, which helps organizations attract new talent and foster growth in a hybrid work environment.As the concept of full-time office gets replaced with one that is more flexible and more accommodating to the lifestyle choices made by todays digital workforce, Wipro is increasing investments in its cloud capabilities to help customers achieve their business goals in this new world of hybrid work.Wipro continues to support a people-first talent strategy, which aims to foster an equitable, flexible and compassionate work environment. The investments Wipro has been making in its HR practices and its employees earned Wipro a Top Employer 2022 certification in Brazil from the Top Employers Institute.Wipro Ltd ended at Rs536.85 down by Rs30.55 or 5.38% from its previous closing of Rs567.40 on the BSE.
Indiana, PA (15701)

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The missile fragment pierced the ceiling of Mikhail Shcherbakovs apartment in Kharkiv. In an instant, Ukrainians found that war, after weeks of warnings, had hit home.

I heard noise and woke up. I realized it sounded like artillery, Shcherbakov said. He jumped from the couch and ran to wake his mother, and something exploded behind him.

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The missile left a nearby computer and teacup shrouded with dust, instant artifacts of Europes latest war.

At dawn on Thursday, Ukrainians uneasy efforts at normality were shattered. Smoke rose from cities, even well away from the countrys disputed eastern border. A morning commute turned into lines of cars waiting at fuel stations or fleeing from the gray and drizzly capital, Kyiv. People with luggage took shelter in the subway, unsure of where to go.

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A woman with her daughter waits for a train as they try to leave at the Kyiv train station, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

Some panicked immediately. Others clung to routine, with irritation.

Im not afraid. Im going to work. The only unusual thing is that you cant find a taxi in Kyiv, one resident complained, even as air raid sirens wailed.

Many seemed unsure of know how to react. Kyivs main street, Khreshchatyk, rippled with anxiety as people checked their phones. Some walked their dogs or waved at friends.

Im not scared at the moment. Maybe Ill be scared later, resident Maxim Prudskoi said.

The hotel where many Associated Press journalists stayed ordered an evacuation within 30 minutes. During the hurried checkout, the friendly desk clerk asked: Did you have anything from the mini-bar?

People wait for public transportation as they try to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/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. >

In Mariupol, the Azov Sea port city that many fear will be the first major target because of its strategic importance, AP journalists saw similar confused scenes of routine and fear.

Some residents waited at bus stops, seemingly on their way to work, while others rushed to leave the city that is only about 15 kilometers (less than 10 miles) from the front line with the Donetsk Peoples Republic, one of two separatist-held areas recognized by Russian President Vladimir Putin as independent this week in a prelude to the invasion.

As the day progressed, alarm across Ukraine rose. People crowded grocery stores and ATMs, seeking supplies and cash. In Kharkiv, worried residents inspected fragments of military equipment strewn across a childrens playground.

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Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko called on the citys 3 million people to stay indoors unless they worked in critical sectors and said everyone should prepare go-bags with necessities such as medicine and documents.

Cars line up waiting to get gasoline outside a gas station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

For weeks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had tried to moderate expectations of aggression by Russia, even as warnings by the United States became more urgent. Zelenskyy argued that panic would lead to societal destabilization that could be as much of a tactical advantage for Russia as the estimated 150,000 troops that had massed on Ukraines borders.

On Thursday, as the president imposed martial law, Ukrainians realized with a jolt that everything might change.

I feel panic, scared and excited. I dont know who I should ask for help, said Kyiv resident Elizaveta Melnik. We didnt believe this situation would come.
Indigenous-directed documentary premieres at Big Sky film festival in Montana

By Dan Ninham. Special to Indian Country Today

An Indigenous-made documentary about three women fighting to honor their missing and murdered relatives will premiere Tuesday, Feb. 22, at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana....
How a Shoddy Environmental Review Could Cause a Catastrophic Oil Spill in Wisconsin February 24, 2022



By Bala Sivaraman. Earth Justice Media Associate. Wisconsins inadequate environmental analysis of Enbridges rushed, and haphazard Line 5 pipeline reroute does grave injustice to frontline Tribal communities. Wisconsin environmental regulat...





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Designed to stifle Native American votes

Leaders of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Spirit Lake Nation sent a letter to the governor and other state lawmakers urging them to rethink the proposed legislative map for North Dakota.

All citizens deserve to have their voices heard...
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an invasion into Ukraine today morning; ever since the announcement, explosives can be heard, and smoke is seen coming from sites across the country.

AP

In order to seek India's intervention to de-escalate the turmoil, Ukrainian Ambassador Igor Polikha addressed the media, urging Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.

He cited Mahabharata and urged the Indian Prime Minister to pursue diplomacy with President Putin and help Ukraine get out of this devastating situation.

Igor Polikha said: Some attacks happened on the outskirts of the capital. Some attacks happened deep inside the territory of Ukraine. We are getting the first information about casualties among our soldiers and among the civilian population.



CNN

Emphasising India's role at this point, he said: India had qualified in diplomacy through Kautilya, Chanakya several thousand years ago when Europe had no civilization. India is an influential global player and for many years, was the leader of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which was created at the time of the cold war.



The Ukrainian diplomat added: At present, we are pleading for political assistance from India. Modiji is one of the most powerful leaders of the world and has a special partnership with Russia.

#WATCH | Delhi: Dr Igor Polikha, Ambassador of Ukraine to India seeks Government of India's intervention amid #RussiaUkraineConflict; urges PM Narendra Modi to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. pic.twitter.com/L1b48I42DN  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

He mentioned Prime Minister Modi's relationship with President Putin and said, I don't know how many world leaders Putin would pay heed to, but due to the rapport Modi ji shares, I am hopeful that the Russian President would at least consider his words. We are expecting for much more favourable attitude from the Indian government."



AFP

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A student almost burned down his university after making homemade rocket fuel on a dormitory stove, which resulted in the concoction suddenly exploding in a massive 'fireball'.

The incident took place at Brigham Young University in Utah, U.S., on February 20th February.

BYU Police Department

The DIY experiment gone wrong set off fire alarms and sprinklers at Heritage Halls around 4:30 pm on Sunday, flooding parts of the building, ABC4 Utah reported. Soon, campus police and the Provo Fire Department rushed to the scene.



The flames from the explosion had engulfed the walls and ceiling around the stove and the intense heat tripped the fire sprinkler system. Firefighters quickly secured the scene and were able to put out the remnants from the fire, BYU police wrote in a statement.

Firefighters were able to quickly contain the flames, but the dorm sustained water damage.

Fortunately, No one was injured in the blast, but at least 22 students were displaced as a result, the report said. The university said it would help those without beds find housing in the meantime.

"Please keep your experiments in the lab and supervised by trained professionals," read a Facebook post by BYU police.

The ingredients used to make rocket propellant were common items bought at the store, according to local authorities.

A spokesperson for BYU police, Jeff Long, told KUTV that this was one of the more unusual fires the department had responded to on campus. A burned pop tart is probably one of our number one calls as far as fire response in that building, Long told the station.



BYU Police Department

Authorities said it was unclear what the motive behind creating the fuel was, adding that they have to wait until our investigation is done to release more information about the 22-year-old responsible.



It is clear that this situation could have been much worse and we are grateful that no one was injured, BYU police said in an update Monday. We urge students to be aware of circumstances around them and consider how their actions have the potential to affect not just themselves, but others as well.



BYU said it was finding alternative housing for those impacted by the incident.

Police have not yet been able to determine how much it will cost to fix the damage, CNN reported.

At this time, no charges have been filed against the student.



For the latest from trending, click here.


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Ukraines ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, issued a desperate plea to the Security Council and all countries to stop Russias invasion of his nation, as the sounds of explosions echoed through the night in Kyiv and rattled an anxious world.

It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war, Kyslytsya said in an emergency meeting at U.N. headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war.

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The state of the situation in Kyiv was shaky late Wednesday  early in the morning in Ukraine  but it seemed a long-dreaded Russian assault on its peaceful western neighbor had commenced.

In this image made from UNTV video, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya speaks during an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting at U.N. headquarters, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (AP)

In a video released just before dawn in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin of Russia said he had launched a special military operation. He said that attempts to halt the operation from other nations would lead to consequences they have never seen.

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President Biden, who had warned of a bloody attack on Kyiv for days, issued a statement saying that the prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack.

Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Biden said in the statement. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.
A lawyer for a woman who accused former President Donald Trump of raping her in the mid-1990s and then filed a defamation lawsuit against him said o Tuesday that she will not seek to depose Trump prior to trial because it would cause unnecessary delay, but added that a DNA sample was still being sought.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan first made the revelation in Manhattan federal court during a pretrial hearing before explaining the decision to reporters outside the court as her client, E. Jean Carroll, stood by her side.

A deposition, Kaplan said, would inevitably result in an inordinate amount of delay.

We want the case to go forward, she said.

Attorney Alina Habba, who represented Trump at the hearing, said outside court that she had not previously heard that Carrolls lawyers did not want a deposition, a proceeding in which lawyers in civil cases question likely witnesses under oath prior to trial.

Its surprising, Habba said.

As for a DNA sample, Habba said: None has been demanded.

Kaplan, though, said the DNA sample had been requested after the case was first filed in state court, and the demand still exists after it was moved to federal court.

She said she would be more than perfectly happy to wait to interview Trump at trial, which she estimated could occur in as little as six months, after some near-term legal obstacles are cleared.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people alleging sexual assault, but Carroll has consented to being named in the media.

She told reporters outside court that she was looking forward to the trial on behalf of all women who have been grabbed and groped, assaulted and raped by men in power and are silenced.

And we are looking to bring justice, at least in this one case, against a powerful man, she said.

Carroll said she would never settle, never.

This is about principle. Its about a powerful man assaulting and raping a woman and then getting away with it. Thats not right, she said.

Carroll in a June 2019 book said Trump raped her in the mid-1990s in an upscale Manhattan department store.

The book excerpt prompted Trump to deny the allegations and question Carrolls credibility and motivations in a statement from his White House press office, comments in an Oval Office interview and statements to the media as he boarded a helicopter for Camp David.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule eventually on Trumps request that the United States take his place as the defendant in the lawsuit. The U.S. Justice Department has asserted that Trump cannot be held personally liable for crude and disrespectful remarks he made about Carroll because his remarks were made as he was carrying out his duties as president.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who presided over Tuesdays hearing, ruled last October that Trump cannot use a law protecting federal employees from being sued individually for things they do within the scope of their employment.

He also has rejected a request by Trumps attorneys that the progression of the lawsuit, including depositions, be delayed until the 2nd Circuit rules on whether Trump can be replaced as the defendant.

On Tuesday, the judge seemed to have little patience for arguments by Trumps lawyers saying that Trump should be able to countersue Carroll under a law sometimes used to challenge defamation lawsuits that unfairly make claims.

I question whether you have the right to do what you want to do, he said, noting that the lawyers were seeking to countersue more than a year after the case was filed.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits USA
New Hampshire has reached a $25 million settlement with agrochemical giant Monsanto over what the state says has been widespread PCB pollution in waterways and other state-owned property, the attorney generals office said Tuesday.

The state alleges that the contamination over nearly 50 years from Monsanto and two spinoff companies, Solutia and Pharmacia, polluted 104 waterways in the state that required numerous fish advisories. It also alleged that the PCB contamination is much more widespread than previously thought, and that the companies knew of the dangers but failed to warn the public.

New Hampshire has a long and proud tradition of protecting our precious natural resources, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. As an environmental engineer, I spent many years cleaning up PCB contamination, and I know firsthand the costs these efforts can place on individuals and communities. We are holding polluters accountable.

Sununu said the settlement ensured the state would have the financial resources necessary to remedy the harm that PCBs have caused to our environment.

PCBs are toxic industrial chemicals, now banned, that have accumulated in plants, fish, birds and people for decades. PCBs were used in many industrial and commercial applications, including in paint, coolants, sealants and hydraulic fluids.

Monsanto, based in St. Louis, produced them from 1935 until 1977, two years before they were banned by Congress.

German pharmaceutical and chemical company Bayer, which bought Monsanto in 2018, said in the settlement agreement that it did not admit to any allegations in the complaint, nor any wrongdoing nor any violations of the law.

We have reached an agreement with the Attorney General of New Hampshire that will resolve all of the states claims regarding PCBs and result in the dismissal of the states case, and contains no admission of liability by the company, Bayer said in a statement, claiming that it never manufactured, used, or disposed of PCBs near or in New Hampshire waterways.

Citing internal documents, the state says companies continued selling PCB mixtures even though they knew the compounds would lead to contamination of human food (particularly fish), the killing of some marine species (shrimp), and the possible extinction of several species of fish-eating birds.

The state said that PCBs have fouled about 81 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean and 46 other water bodies, including stretches of the Souhegan River and Squam Lake, where PCBs have been linked to a reduction in the loon population and found in the states seal population.

Testing in Squam Lake, the third largest in the state, found 160 PCB substances in fish in concentrations over 20 parts per billion. The state also found PCBs in loon eggs at the lake at over 10,000 parts per billion.

As a result, stronger advisories against eating fish have been issued for some waterways.

Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states related to PCB contamination. Two years ago, Monsanto agreed to pay $95 million over PCB contamination in the state of Washington. Also, the company announced a $650 million settlement with several California cities along with communities in Washington, Maryland and Oregon. Lawsuits have been filed in Maryland and Delaware.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pollution New Hampshire
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has sided with an insurer seeking subrogation for payments it made to an injured worker before it was determined the insurer was not obligated to make the payments.

The states highest court (6-0) adopted an exception to the general prohibition against an insurer subrogating against an insured in cases where the risk is one the insurer did not insure. In so doing, it reversed an opinion by the statewide appeals court, Commonwealth Court, that upheld the general prohibition without any exception.

The case involved a worker, Robert Arlet, who was injured when he slipped and fell on an icy sidewalk on the premises of his employer, Flagship Niagara League, a nonprofit that manages the U.S. Brig Niagara and its homeport, the Erie Maritime Museum.

The employer had a commercial hull policy from Acadia Insurance Co. that covered damages caused by the Brig Niagara and for Jones Act protection and indemnity coverage for the 17 crewmembers of the Brig Niagara. The Jones Act provides enhanced protection to seamen and allows them to sue an employer for negligence and to recover for workplace injuries. Once an individual is found to be covered by federal maritime law, the state workers compensation law is preempted.

Acadia paid benefits under its policys maintenance and cure provision, which concerns the vessel owners obligation to provide food, lodging, and medical services to a seaman injured while serving the ship. Acadia paid the benefits to Arlet in accordance with the Jones Act, pending a determination of whether he should in fact be covered under the policy. There were questions about whether Arlet qualified as either a crewmember or a seaman and whether the two terms were interchangeable. The insurer paid maintenance of $50.00 per day for 92 days plus $42,133.36 in medical expenses.

Arlets employer Brig Niagara also had purchased workers compensation insurance from the State Workers Insurance Fund (SWIF) but SWIF said that policy had lapsed at the time of Arlets injury.

On February 8, 2013, Arlett filed a claim for the state workers compensation benefits effective March 9, 2011. His employer, Brig Niagara, took the position that Arlets remedy was exclusively governed by the Jones Act, and furthermore that he had fully recovered from his injury by May 12, 2011.

The case reached the state appeals court after workers compensation courts differed over Arlets status. A state workers compensation judge ruled Arlet was a seaman covered exclusively under the Jones Act and therefore ineligible for workers compensation benefits. The judge reasoned that the term member of the crew as used in the commercial hull policy, and the term seaman as used in the Jones Act, were synonymous.

Arlet appealed and the Workers Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) reversed, reasoning that, as a land-based employee, Arlet did not meet the definition of seaman under the Jones Act and was, therefore, entitled to pursue his workers compensation claim. Arlet was awarded total disability benefits at a weekly rate of $411.75 from March 8, 2011 to August 19, 2011.

Also, the WCAB went further and ruled that because the employer s workers compensation insurance policy had lapsed at the time of claimants injury, the employer would be responsible for payment of the amount of the award that exceeded the benefits paid under the commercial hull policy, being net uncompensated wage loss of $5,046.71.

Additionally, the workers compensation court held that Acadia was not entitled to subrogation because it had correctly paid claimant under its commercial hull policy, and that, if the employer failed to pay, the insurer must pay the benefits, with leave to later pursue reimbursement from employer.

On appeal in 2020, the Commonwealth Court agreed Arlet was not a seaman and/or crewmember and thus was not entitled to benefits under Acadias policy. It also affirmed that it is well settled that an insurer cannot subrogate against its own insured.

Thus the Supreme Court was asked whether the Commonwealth Court erred when it affirmed the WCABs finding that Acadia did not have a right to subrogation for benefits paid to a claimant under a Jones Act policy of insurance, despite the Commonwealth Courts initial holding that claimant was not a seaman and/or crewmember entitled to the benefits that the insurer should not have paid him.

Acadia argued that the authority relied upon by the Commonwealth Court involves factual circumstances that are materially distinct from the Arlet case, specifically that the subrogation sought in this case is for payments made on a risk against which the insurer did not insure. The lower courts determinations established that the claimant was not a member of the crew, that the term crewmember is interchangeable with the term seaman for Jones Act interpretation and application, and the Jones Act and workers compensation act remedies are mutually exclusive. Therefore, it was established that the claimant is entitled to benefits under the state workers compensation act but not under the Jones Act. The insurer added that the Commonwealth Court has recognized a statutory right of subrogation by non-responsible insurance companies under the Workers Compensation Act.

The Supreme Court decided the insurer was correct that this case has a critical distinguishing fact from other cases that applied the general rule on insurer subrogation against an insured. Unlike in the previous cases, this insurers policy was found not to cover the claimants injury and the insurer, therefore, had not contracted to assume the risk of the claimants injury.

In the opinion. written by Associated Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy, the high court declared:

As a matter of first impression for this Court, we conclude that the no-coverage exception to the general equitable rule precluding an insurer from pursuing subrogation against its insured comports with the purposes and public policy supporting the rule and hereby adopt it as the law of this Commonwealth. For example, the conflict of interest perceived to be present when an insurer seeks subrogation from an insured for a covered loss is not implicated where the loss is found not to be covered.

Chief Justice Max Baer and Justices Debra Todd, Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht joined the opinion.

Topics Carriers Workers' Compensation Pennsylvania
Nigeria alleged JPMorgan Chase & Co. ignored overwhelming evidence of fraud and stark warnings from its own compliance staff as it kicked off a London trial over transfers to a former oil minister accused of corruption.

JPMorgan acted negligently in transferring some $875 million between 2011 to 2013 from escrow accounts to Dan Etete, who had been convicted of money laundering, Nigerias lawyers said Wednesday. They cited an email by JPMorgans senior country official saying the matter had gone right to the top of the firm.

The bank says the claim is baseless and that Nigeria hasnt proved that a fraud was even perpetrated.

The six-week trial will examine the extent of a banks duty of care toward clients, and whether the firm should have halted payments even if that meant overriding assurances from government officials. JPMorgan says that Nigerias claim would mean that its bankers were expected to know that the transfers were fraudulent.

Nigerias current government says a contract awarded by one of its predecessors to explore the deep waters off the Gulf of Guinea, alongside a series of later agreements, was corrupt.

Such arrangements allowing for the payments to Etete and his firm Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd. over the oil field didnt just pardon the disgraced oil minister, Nigerias lawyer Roger Masefield told the court. It was positively rewarding on a spectacular scale a brazen act of corrupt self dealing.

The west African nation is seeking damages of around $1.7 billion including interest.

European and Nigerian courts have been raking over the purchase by Eni SpA and Royal Dutch Shell Plc of the oil license in Africas largest crude producer a decade ago. While the energy giants were recently acquitted of corruption charges in Milan in a decision prosecutors are appealing, Nigerias government is continuing to seek compensation from JPMorgan.

JPMorgan fell short of what should be expected of a reasonable and honest banker throughout the two-year period of the payments, Masefield said. Some of the first tranche of transfers in 2011 were laundered through shell companies and converted to cash through Nigerian bureaux de changes, he said.

By 2013, the glaring warning signs were even more obvious, the government has alleged. JPMorgans own compliance team spoke of the great risk of corruption if the bank continued to process the payments, according to a Nigerian filing prepared for the trial.

Several Cronies

In a memo prepared just before the 2013 transfer, officials said that proceeds from the sale of the oil rights ended up in accounts of several cronies and business associates of Nigerian government officials.

The issues around Etete had gone right to the top of the firm, Oluwatosin Adewuyi, JPMorgans senior country officer for Nigeria wrote in an email in July of that year.

Around the same time, Matt Zames, then-JPMorgans chief operating officer and one of the banks most senior officials, was briefed by legal on the transfers, according to an email disclosed in Nigerias filing. Compliance officials also prepared information ahead of a meeting with the executive showing that funds associated with the transfers were subject to alleged corruption issues.

Zames, whos no longer at the bank and isnt accused of wrongdoing, didnt immediately respond to an email sent outside of business hours.

Its still uncertain who made or signed off on the decision to pay, and who pressed the button in the end, Nigerias lawyer, Masefield, said.

It was then only after the last of the funds were processed, that JPMorgan declared a significant anti-money laundering event, according to the Nigerian filing. Etete and Malabu were then placed on a list of people who the investment bank couldnt do work with.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Fraud Energy Oil Gas
Rede Dor said on Wednesday it has agreed to acquire insurer SulAmerica Seguros in a 13 billion-real ($2.6 billion) deal combining Brazils largest hospital network with one of the countrys major independent insurance companies.

The purchase extends a trend for consolidation in the Brazilian healthcare sector, with Rede Dor being one of the most active companies in M&A in recent years. Shares in Sulamerica jumped 25% in the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, while Rede Dor rose 8.8%.

According to securities filings from both companies, SulAmerica will be absorbed by Rede Dor and its shareholders will receive new Rede Dor common shares equivalent to a 13.5% stake in the combined company.

The exchange ratio of the deal is based on the closing price of SulAmericas shares on Feb. 18 plus a 49.3% premium, around 38.44 reais per share. At this price, SulAmerica is valued at 13 billion reais.

The insurers shareholders will receive 0.25610 new shares in Rede Dor for each Sulamerica share.

For Rede Dor, the acquisition would give access to a base of more than 2.3 million beneficiaries, said Leo Monteiro, an analyst at Ativa Investimentos.

For SulAmerica, the deal would increase the appeal of its health plans, and could potentially reduce its claims ratio, he added.

Rede Dor will take control over the companies currently controlled, directly or indirectly, by SulAmerica, including Sulamerica Investimentos, one of the leading independent asset management entities in the country with 46 billion reais under management, according to its website.

The two companies said in filings that the move is based on strategic pillars focused on the expansion and alignment of their health ecosystems.

The transaction needs to be approved by shareholders and several Brazilian regulators.

($1 = 5.0097 reais)

(Reporting by Aluisio Alves and Peter Frontini; editing by Richard Pullin and Kenneth Maxwell)

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Carriers
Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian flights on Thursday after Russia launched a land, sea and air invasion of its neighbor, while Europes aviation regulator warned about hazards to flying in bordering regions.

Moldova, southwest of Ukraine, also closed its airspace, while Belarus to the north said civilian flights could no longer fly over part of its territory after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the military operation.

More Airlines Avoiding Ukraine Airspace Amid Insurance Issues

Ukraine State Air Traffic Services Enterprise said on its website that the countrys airspace was closed to civilian flights from 0045 GMT on Thursday. Air traffic services were suspended.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said airspace in Russia and Belarus within 100 nautical miles of their borders with Ukraine could also pose safety risks.

In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft, the agency said in a conflict zone bulletin.

The presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a high risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels.

The aviation industry has taken heightened notice of the risks conflicts pose to civil aviation since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, when fighting in the region flared.

EASA said Russias defense ministry had sent Ukraine an urgent message warning of a high risk to flight safety, due to the use of weapons and military equipment from 0045 GMT, and asked Ukraines air traffic control to stop flights.

Websites, which before the escalation had shown intelligence-gathering flights over or near Ukraine as the West showcased support by transmitting detectable signals in recent weeks, showed empty space on Thursday as aircraft left and Ukraine was declared a conflict zone.

Early morning airline traffic skirted the whole country in crowded corridors to the north and west.

An El Al flight from Tel Aviv to Toronto made a sudden U-turn out of Ukraines airspace around the time of its closure, flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed. A LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw to Kyiv turned back.

Safe Airspace, set up to provide safety and conflict zone information after the downing of MH17, had hours earlier raised its risk level over Ukraine to do not fly.

It warned of the potential for a cyberattack on Ukraines air traffic control.

Russia said on Thursday it had suspended domestic flights to and from several airports near its border with Ukraine, including Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar and Stavropol, until March 2.

Russia closed some airspace in the Rostov sector in order to provide safety for civil flights, according to a notice to air crew, known as a NOTAM.

Before Ukraines announcement, Britain, Canada, France, Italy and the United States told their airlines to avoid certain airspace above eastern Ukraine and Crimea but stopped short of a total ban.

London-listed budget carrier Wizz Air said it was halting operations out of Ukraine in an announcement released after Ukraine shut its airspace. Germanys Lufthansa LHAG.DE and KLM suspended flights days earlier.

Two Ukrainian airlines said last week they had faced problems securing insurance for some flights, as foreign carriers began avoiding the airspace amid Russias military build up on the border.

(Reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney, Tim Hepher in Paris, Kate Holton and Guy Faulconbridge in London, Maria Kiselyova in Moscow and Alexander Tanas in Chisinau; editing by Clarence Fernandez, Edmund Blair and Mark Potter)

Topics Russia Aviation Ukraine
Beazley Hires Two for Cyber Services

Insurer Beazley announced two senior leadership hires to its global Cyber Services team. Russ Cohen has been appointed head of U.S. Cyber Services, and Bala Larson has been promoted to head of Client Experience. Cohen will oversee risk management and incident response functions in the U.S., while Larson will work on delivering services to cyber clients.

Cohen has been involved in cyber losses and business interruption for over 25 years, most recently at Chubb, where he helped deliver cyber threat insights to customers and played a role in the companys enhanced incident response and loss mitigation service offerings. He has served as vice president of Cyber Services at Chubb since 2015, and before that as an enterprise security architect.

Larson joined Beazley in 2007 as a middle market specialty lines underwriter. Currently she manages the Northwest region while also underwriting strategic large accounts for the regions top broker partners, She will transfer her experience to heading up Client Experience. Her experience also includes work as a broker at Marsh.

Cohen will be based in Philadelphia, while Larson will be based out of Beazleys San Francisco office.

Parametrix Insurance Appoints Hiscoxs Wong as Head of Insurance

New York-based Parametrix Insurance, a provider of cloud downtime insurance, reports it appointed Hiscox veteran Rick Wong as head of insurance. Wong will lead the Parametrix team focusing on broker relations and the development of the broker channel.

An insurance industry executive of 18 years, Wong has held underwriting, broker relations, and leadership roles at Hiscox USA for the last 13 years.

Downtime insurance covers financial losses for businesses when outages of the cloud or e-commerce platforms occur. The Parametrix platform automates risk assessment, provides quotes, and delivers payments within days.

Burns & Wilcox Expands U.S. Cannabis Team With Scheurle as National Product Leader

Wholesale broker Burns & Wilcox announced the addition of Jason Scheurle as national product leader, Cannabis.

In his new role Scheurle is responsible for developing and expanding the companys business portfolio of cannabis products nationwide. His role includes partnering with teams across the companys network to leverage market opportunities. H

Based in Philadelphia, Scheurle reports to Jodie Kaufman Davis, who is managing director, Burns & Wilcox Canada.

Scheurle joins Burns & Wilcox after serving as Head of Cannabis Underwriting at Huckleberry, a digital provider of small business insurance. Previously he spent six years at Hudson as a senior underwriter, where he specialized in excess and surplus lines business for binding and middle markets, including cannabis. Prior to that experience, he spent more than a decade at United States Liability Insurance (USLI) with a focus in personal, commercial and liquor liability.

Burns & Wilcox is a long-time cannabis broker in Canada and was first-to-market with package solutions for the recreational cannabis market in that country. Burns & Wilcox sees this experience providing momentum for its stateside plans, especially given the industrys market growth in the U.S. totaling a worth of $61 billion.

Topics Cyber USA Agencies Cannabis Chubb
Elon Musk generates a near-constant barrage of news headlines because of his tweets. Its a lot to keep up with.

Last week, he posted a Hitler meme, only to delete it hours later. On Wednesday, Musk claimed hes been building a case against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which he accused of starting a fight with him that he will finish. The SEC likely would beg to differ with this retelling and point to Musks August 2018 tweets about taking Tesla private, which the agency alleged amounted to securities fraud.

But ignore the tweets. Look instead at the litigation Tesla is facing. Writing about tweets is easy compared to following all the filings in countless dockets in numerous courtrooms. Heres a quick sample of legal matters, by topic:

Autopilot

Teslas driver-assistance system is part of several cases involving fatal crashes.

Litigation is ongoing in the case of Walter Huang, the Apple employee who died after his Model X crashed on Highway 101 in Silicon Valley in 2018. The family of Jeremy Banner, whose car crashed into a tractor trailer in Florida in 2019, also is suing; the case is slated to go to trial in the fall.

Dennis and Jenna Monet were driving across the country in a Model 3 in 2019 when they hit a parked fire truck on an Indiana highway. Jenna Monet died, while Dennis survived and is suing Tesla in federal court in San Francisco. The crash is one of 12 that led to the defect investigation the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started in August.

Racial discrimination

Last fall, a federal jury in San Francisco awarded Owen Diaz, a former contract worker at Teslas Fremont plant, $137 million in a racial discrimination case. Tesla has appealed the decision, and the presiding judge, William Orrick, has signaled hell shrink the award.

A California agency sued Tesla in Alameda County Superior Court this month, alleging rampant racism against Black workers at the Fremont plant and other facilities throughout the state.

Several other lawsuits alleging discrimination have been filed: Kaylen Barker, a former contract worker at Teslas factory in Lathrop, alleges a white coworker struck her with a hot grinding tool while calling her the n-word. Another case was filed on Feb. 18 by Marc Cage. He alleges that virtually every restroom in Teslas Fremont facility contained writings or carvings of racist symbols or slurs, including swastikas and prominent displays of the n-word.

Shareholder suits

The trial in the shareholder lawsuit over Teslas 2016 acquisition of SolarCity wrapped up in January; at closing arguments, Judge Joseph Slights of Delaware Chancery Court said he would rule in about three months, before he retires.

A shareholder suit over those going-private tweets Musk sent in 2018 is scheduled for trial in federal court in San Francisco in May. And another shareholder lawsuit about Musks unprecedented compensation plan will be going to trial in Delaware in the fall.

The SEC

The agency reached settlements with Musk and Tesla in September 2018. Earlier this month, Tesla disclosed in a regulatory filing that on Nov. 16, the SEC sent a subpoena seeking information about the companys governance processes and compliance with the settlements.

Alex Spiro, Musks outside counsel, wrote in a letter last week to the judge overseeing the case that the SEC was targeting Musk with unrelenting investigation because of Musks outspoken criticism of the government. The SEC responded with a denial. Early this week, Spiro, a partner at the law firm Quinn Emanuel, filed a new letter, ratcheting up the rhetoric and accusing the SEC of leaking details about its probe.

Read more: Musk Keeps Poking the Bear Who Wanted to Ban Him From Tesla

While all this is a lot to keep track of, investors are paying attention.

New Yorks state retirement fund has filed a shareholder resolution calling on Tesla to disclose the total number and aggregate dollar amount of disputes settled by the company related to abuse, harassment or discrimination. This and any other pressure from investors related to legal disputes bears watching.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation Tesla
Two of the 19 Austin police officers indicted for their actions during 2020 protests over racial injustice were involved in cases that the city paid millions of dollars to settle, according to documents made public Feb. 22

The release of the documents by the Travis County District Attorneys office was the first time details including names of the officers charged were made public since prosecutors announced last week that a grand jury had decided the officers should face first-degree felonies. Grand juries do their work in private.

All of the officers are charged with aggravated assault by a public servant over the injuries of a total of 10 people.

The charges rank among the most indictments i n a single police department in the U.S. over tactics used by officers during the widespread protests after the killing of George Floyd. That came days after Austin City Council members voted to approve a total of $10 million in settlements for two people injured by police in the protests.

Attorneys Douglas OConnell and Ken Ervin, who represent eight of the indicted officers, said that the police departments internal affairs division investigated their clients and cleared them of wrongdoing in the same actions for which theyre now criminally charged.

Two officers are charged in the shooting of Justin Howell, a then-20-year-old college student who police said was shot in the head unintentionally, leading to a skull fracture and brain damage. One of those officers is also accused of shooting Anthony Evans, whose injuries required extensive surgery in his jaw. If both settlements are accepted, Howell will receive $8 million from the city of Austin _ one of the largest settlements in cases connected to late May 2020 protests _ while Evans will receive $2 million.

A spokesperson for the Travis County District Attorneys office, Ismael Martinez, declined to comment on the indictments.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement
Three Dallas firefighters severely injured from an apartment natural gas explosion are suing the apartment complex owner and the buildings gas supplier for $100,000,000.

According to a lawsuit filed in Dallas County district court, the firefighters were responding to a carbon monoxide leak call at Highland Hills Apartments in Oak Cliff on September 29, 2021 when a sudden natural gas explosion occurred, causing catastrophic injuries and severe burns to all three firefighters. The lawsuit alleges claims for negligence, premises liability, and gross negligence against Mountain Creek Apts., LP, Odin Properties, Odin Management and the complexs gas supplier, Atmos Energy Corporation.

A severed gas line was actively leaking natural gas when plaintiffs Christopher Gadomski, Ronald Hall, Pauline Perez arrived Highland Hills unit 129. An investigation concluded that the gas leak inside the unit was likely caused by a bullet from a domestic violence incident on the property hours before the explosion.

At the time of the explosion, Perez was inside the unit to determine if anyone had suffered injuries, while Hall and Gadomski were outside with apartment management.

As a result of the explosion, Perez sustained second-and third-degree burns to her hands, arms, legs, her ears, and her face, Hall suffered extensive second-and third-degree burns to 40% of his body including his face, head, arms, and legs, and Gadomski suffered numerous second-and third-degree burns, as well as extensive broken bones in both legs.

According to the lawsuit, Texas Railroad Commission investigated the explosion and determined that Odin Properties and Mountain Creek Apts., L.P. operated an unregistered natural gas master meter system that failed to meet minimum federal and state standards. Moreover, the plaintiffs allege Atmos was unaware of the unregistered master meter system it supplied. Atmos made prior repairs to the apartments gas system after leak reports, including leaks created by prior gunshots on premises.

The lawsuit alleges that Atmos failed to ensure that Mountain Creek and Odins master meter system was registered with the State of Texas or complied with the minimum state and federal requirements.

Atmos knew the inherent risks of a natural gas explosion, affirmatively made repairs to Mountain Creek and Odins unregistered master meter gas system in response to numerous leaks, and failed to require Mountain Creek and Odin to implement their own safety and emergency measures for addressing leaks, law firm Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner wrote.

Topics Lawsuits
About 14 years ago, we started hearing about a credit crunch and U.S. subprime crisis  but these labels did not begin to capture the essence of the global meltdown now known as the Great Recession. A similar diminishment is happening with the Ukraine Crisis: Hard as it is to believe, we have an even bigger problem, and its name is Vladimir Putin.

The war Putin has launched against Ukraine undermines  and in an extreme scenario may even erase  the independence of one of the largest countries to emerge from the wreckage of the Soviet Union. This is an assault on a central tenet of the global post-World War II order: the inviolability of borders recognized by the United Nations.

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This civilizing idea was not always adhered to, obviously: Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 and Putin himself invaded Ukraines Crimea Peninsula in 2014. But generally, major powers did not simply gobble up other countries via military invasions. An invasion of Ukraine, if not forcefully repulsed, would constitute a major statement that jungle rules are back.

Incredibly, though, this violation of a fundamental principle of global order would not be the worst of it.

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An unsentimental survey of Putins actions and statements in his two decades of rule strongly suggests that he is strategically dedicated to undoing the collapse of the Soviet Empire, which in 2005 he described as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the (20th) century. It was a statement that people heard while choosing not to listen.

Undoing that supposed catastrophe would be about more than restoring to Russia an empire of its former dominions, though this surely is a motivating factor. It would also be about reestablishing the global relevance of the Soviet way.

Contrary to popular belief, the USSR was not, in its later years, much concerned with the utopian economic philosophies collectively known as communism. I traveled all over the USSR and Warsaw Pact as a young reporter for the Associated Press; lets just say the workers did not control the means of production.

No, it was something else. The Soviet empire was the opposite of an egalitarian society. It was a highly stratified system that was about control as opposed to ownership, where several levels of grasping, cynical nomenklatura controlled everything worth controlling. Membership in these elites was a function of connections and loyalty. It was a kleptocratic dictatorship where the most craven brand of politics determined the ruling class (even more than in capitalism).

Putins catastrophe can be summed up in the sweet delusion of U.S. historian Francis Fukuyamas End of History idea: that the principles of liberal democracy had prevailed so completely in the war of ideas that debate was no longer possible.

That notion also animated that part of the fancifully named Bush Doctrine that sought to justify the 43rd presidents war on terror by casting it as a crusade for democratic values. Freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation, he then declared.

Anyone doubting that these notions are anathema to Putin might consult the Russian leaders 2019 interview with the Financial Times in which he praised the rise of populism in democratic countries, said multiculturalism was no longer tenable, and argued that the liberal idea has become obsolete since it has come into conflict with the interests of the overwhelming majority of the population.

To clarify for the American reader: Putin is using liberal in the global sense. It is not about the Squad or Bernie Sanders but about a rules-based order, equality under the law, freedom of speech and assembly, protection of minority rights, checks and balances and separation of powers. It is, in short, about the animating principles of the American Republic.

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This idea of the Russian Empire as a global power dedicated to the illiberal idea is why he sent his bot battalions to help bring about the election in the United States of a mega-disruptor like Donald Trump. It is why he helps conspiracists and xenophobes wherever they may roam  in France, Hungary, among the Brexit crowd in Britain. It is why hes happy to prop up dictators like Bashar Assad in Damascus.

It is why he has no problem violating the norms of international conduct with bizarre assassination plots in foreign lands (and in his own). It is why he is shameless about setting up a fake democracy in which he claims a popular mandate despite the oppressing (or jailing) of the opposition, courts that are captive and media that is cowed (or wholly owned).

It is also why without compunction he invents fake news that will be presented as real by the pliant and fearful domestic media. Lies, in this meta-mindset, are more important than the outcomes they promote. They are critical in the very fact of their untruth because the detested liberal system depends on fact-based dialectic and reason. It is not for nothing that the three principles of George Orwells 1984 dystopia were war is peace, freedom is slavery ignorance is strength.

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The Ukraine Crisis can go any number of ways. Putin could gamble on a true total occupation despite the terrible price it will exact on Russia too; he could suffice with smaller incursions and occupations of the kind already visible in the countrys south and east; he might even back down a little after the first shots across the bow and keep fomenting mayhem via Russian insurgents in places like Donbas. Either way, he will invent a victory narrative that will probably involve the Western hints, already audible, that Ukraine joining NATO is not really in the cards.

Whichever way the Ukraine Crisis goes, the Putin Crisis will go on. It is clear that he enjoys messing with the West (perhaps the sole manifestation of a Putin sense of humor). He surely savors seeing stock markets tumble, making NATO look impotent, and casting himself as The Decider.

Embittered people all over the world will admire his bullying ways and smirking disdain for a liberal order that they feel has let them down. I have seen this in Cairo and Jerusalem, among Euroskeptics in Europe, and in the U.S. among acolytes of Trump, who was recently heard from calling Putin a genius.

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When Samuel Huntington argued in his 1996 The Clash of Civilizations that the modern conflict was between a liberal democratic West and societies that rejected that worldview, this was widely understood to refer to the Islamic world. Putin is showing us that there is indeed such a clash, but the illiberal side is much broader.

The more he wins, the more the illiberal sentiment spreads around the world and also seeps into the West. Along with Chinas alternative model for growth without freedom, it constitutes a major assault on the fact-driven, rules-based world order that the United States has championed.

While Putin is an agent of global damage, he is also a despot who needs to avoid a Moscow version of the Bastille. Rare is the political figure who can pull off such global disruption while being a petty tyrant at home.

Perry is the former London-based Europe/Africa editor and Cairo-based Middle East editor of the Associated Press. He is managing partner of the New York-based communications firm Thunder11.
Hundreds of flights were canceled Wednesday at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport as parts of Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas braced for an ice storm making its way into the Southern Plains.

More than half an inch of ice could accumulate in parts of the Ozarks through Friday morning, the National Weather Service said.

Airlines had canceled more than 1,000 flights by Wednesday morning. More than half of them were at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, where temperatures dipped below freezing and crews began treating runways overnight, according to airport spokesman Brian Brooks.

DFW Airport is the biggest in the American Airlines network, and American had canceled 8% of its flights by midmorning, according to tracking service FlightAware.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Aviation
A lawyers email and voice mail were enough to settle a claim dispute and bar further litigation, despite a petitioners contention that thousands of dollars in damages were left unrepaired, the West Virginia Supreme Court said in siding with Allstate Insurance.

The high court upheld a West Virginia trial court that enforced a settlement agreement between Allstate and a tenant in a rental property where pipes had frozen and burst in 2018. The justices also upheld the trial courts order barring an amended complaint or new complaint by renter Rex Donahue.

We conclude that that the record evidence was overwhelming that petitioner agreed that, in consideration for Allstates payment to Mammoth (a restoration firm) for the performance of water mitigation services , petitioner would dismiss his third-party complaint against Allstate and will dismiss and drop any suit against Allstate involving that claim on the home and the lost property, the Supreme Courts Feb. 18 opinion reads.

The property in Ona, West Virginia, was unoccupied when the pipes burst and flooded part of the home in early 2018. Donahue filed a claim under the landlords package policy, but Allstate denied the claim, asserting that a policy exclusion barred coverage for damages caused by failure to maintain adequate heat in the residence.

The opinion does not make it clear who hired Mammoth Restoration and Cleaning to perform mitigation services and repairs, but the firm filed suit in July 2018 against the tenant, seeking $6,300 for its work. Donahue then filed a third-party complaint against Allstate, arguing it was the insurer that hired the contractor and that Allstate had a duty to cover the cost.

A year later, after Allstate negotiated with Donahues attorney, the insurer believed it had reached a settlement agreement  to pay Mammoth $5,000 if Donahue would retire all claims against Allstate. It sent an email to that effect to Donahues lawyer. The lawyer, Steven Cook, of Barboursville, responded in email and voice mail that his client had agreed to the settlement.

But Donahue never signed the agreement. By November that year, Allstate asked the trial court to enforce the settlement. Donahue responded that he had agreed only to settle the contractors demand, but did not agree to release all other claims against Allstate. The home had sustained more than $54,000 in damages from the burst pipes, he argued. The court opinion does not go into why Donahue may have changed his mind or if he had failed to understand the proposed settlement agreement.

The circuit court dismissed the renters concerns and granted Allstates motion to enforce the settlement. Donahue appealed, but the Supreme Court agreed that the email and voice mail from his lawyer showed that Donahues assent was unequivocal, and that was enough to settle the issue.

We, therefore, conclude that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in determining that there was a meeting of the minds regarding the terms of the settlement agreement between petitioner and Allstate and that the settlement agreement must be enforced, the opinion, written by Chief Justice John Hutchison said.

Top photo: Courtesy, West Virginia Supreme Court and WV Public Broadcasting.

Topics Virginia
The Florida House of Representatives Commerce Committee passed no fewer than five bills Wednesday that could affect property and casualty insurance, from allowing surplus lines carriers to be based in Florida, to encouraging more take-outs of Citizens Property Insurance policies.

House Bill 951 would, for the first time, allow Florida-based surplus lines insurers to sell surplus policies in Florida. A similar bill has met with little opposition in the Senate, but HB 951 ran into some unexpected criticism in the House committee.

The bills sponsor, Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Bradenton, and other supporters have said the measure would help Floridas increasingly distressed property insurance market by giving commercial property owners and homeowners more companies to choose from. But Hillary Cassel, an attorney with the Florida Policyholders Cooperative, pointed out that because surplus lines are not subject to the same Florida regulations as domestic P/C carriers are, many of them require policyholders to settle disputes through arbitration in out-of-state venues.

This is going to provide an avenue for carriers in the state to open up a separate book of business, which is great, considering the state of the marketplace, Cassel said. But we want to make sure that there are some additional consumer protections so that homeowners and business owners in this state arent forced to resolve a dispute out of the state of Florida and allow other states laws to apply.

Rep. Michael Grieco, D-Miami, agreed, quoting social media memes about other issues. I dont know why we would want to New York our Florida,' he said.

Rep. Charles Clemons, R-Cross City, said that in light of the insurance crisis in the state, most policyholders would understand the caveats, especially since some people may not be able to find insurance otherwise.

The committee voted overwhelmingly to approve the bill.

HB 1307, also by Rep. Gregory, would make a number of changes to the way Citizens, the state-backed insurer of last resort, does business. For starters, the bill would make Citizens policyholders ineligible for renewal if other insurers offered premiums that are only slightly higher  starting at 5% higher in 2023 and climbing to 20% by 2026.

The original bill would have stiffened the requirements that Citizens officers and board members have insurance industry experience, but that was removed in an amendment to the bill Wednesday.

HB 1307 also would require state regulators to approve the method Citizens uses to value dwelling replacement costs; would increase a surcharge placed on policies as the number of policies grows. The number of Citizens policyholders is on track to top 1 million by years end, as other insurers withdraw from the market and Citizens premiums remain lower than other carriers in many cases. That puts taxpayers at risk if major disasters hit the state.

Lawmakers and others have advocated for ways to reduce the corporations exposure. The surcharge would help discourage policyholders by increasing to 25% of the premium if Citizens reaches 1.5 million policyholders, according to the bill.

Gregory warned that without the changes, Citizens could soon become the insurer, not of last resort, but of only resort for most Floridians.

HB 749, by Clemons, would increase penalties for unlicensed public adjusters who violate the law; would require home and auto warranty firms to provide their full business name and license number; will allow digital driver licenses and will require that electronic driver information include insurance coverage info; and would notify drivers of lapses in coverage.

The bill also would let the Department of Financial Services fine insurers up to $2,000 per day if they fail to comply with investigations of insurance fraud.

Floridas chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, applauded the passage of the bill, which now goes to the House floor.

HB 503, also by Gregory, would make changes to a number of programs. These include modifications to when a collateral-protection insurance policy is eligible for Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund coverage; allows Citizens to insure some condominiums through commercial wind-only policies; and allows smaller construction companies to avoid annual audits by workers compensation insurers.

HB 837 would divert some money from the catastrophe fund to be used for hurricane preparedness, home wind-mitigation improvements, shelter construction and other projects.

The committee approval means that most of the bills will now head to the House floor for a vote. Similar bills are making their way through Senate committees. Lawmakers have until March 11, the last day of the 2022 session.

Topics Carriers Legislation Florida Fraud
Insurers for an engineering firm overseeing major repairs at the collapsed Surfside condominium and for a law firm that advised the condo association have agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by survivors and families of the tragedy that killed 98 people last summer.

The Becker law firm, widely known for its work to help condo associations oppose condo law reform efforts, and Morabito Consulting, an engineering firm that performed a structural analysis on the Champlain Towers South, will pay an undisclosed amount, the Miami Herald reported.

Attorneys for the families credited a mediator and lawyers for the insurance companies with working out the settlement.

Families and survivors of the June 24 collapse had charged that Morabito, while citing major repairs needed in a 2018 report, failed to warn residents about imminent danger. The repairs, postponed by the condo association, were estimated to cost $15 million, and had just begun when part of the high-rise building crumbled, according to news reports.

Morabito officials denied that the Maryland-based firm was responsible for the collapse of the 12-story, building, saying its work was consistent with the highest industry standards.

But we also firmly believe that the families who have suffered from this tragedy deserve compensation so that they may focus on healing, the firm said, according to the Herald. We therefore applaud the settlement reached by our insurers to resolve these difficult issues fairly and expeditiously.

Morabitos insurance companies, National Fire Insurance Co. of Hartford and Continental Casualty Co., initially refused to pay on the engineering firms policies, arguing that the losses were caused by the engineers negligence. Morabito sued the carriers.

An insurer for the Becker law firms $10 million professional liability policy, Allied World Surplus Lines, also balked at paying out. Allied earlier this month asked a federal court to clear it of any coverage responsibility. The insurer argued that a policy exclusion bars coverage for law firm actions that result in bodily injury or destruction of property.

By this week, though, the differences appeared to have been resolved.

We are pleased that this matter is coming to a close and that our insurance carriers decided to resolve the case in a manner that we hope will help bring closure to the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy, the Becker firm said in a statement. We are in the process of finalizing the settlement details, which is expected to take several weeks.

The Fort Lauderdale law firm, formerly known as Becker & Poliakoff, helped write parts of Floridas statutes that have empowered associations and, critics charge, have allowed building owners to avoid making badly needed repairs through the years. While Becker had represented the Champlain Towers association, it also had a responsibility and duty to warn about the imminent nature of the damage and the extreme risk to the residents and occupants of CTS (the towers) posed by the structural damage, according to the lawsuit, the Herald reported.

Photo: This aerial photo shows part of the 12-story oceanfront Champlain Towers South Condo that collapsed early Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. (Amy Beth Bennett /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Topics Carriers Condominium
The Minister for Finance says he is "gravely concerned" about the human cost of war in Ukraine and the economic impact on Ireland.

A host of nations in the West have already imposed sanctions on Russia for ordering troops into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. The US, UK, Australia and Germany and the EU have all hit the country with sanctions.

Paschal Donohoe said the independent sovereign state of Ukraine is being undermined by Russia's military action.

Mr Donohoe said he recognised the impact the reality of war could have on Ireland and Europe from the point of view of security and on the economy.

He acknowledged there were consequences for rising costs but said the Government had already put in place measures worth 1.5bn to respond to difficulties facing people due to increased energy prices.

"My first concern is the concern for security on our continent, the future prospect of democracy and the ability of independent governments to make their own decisions.

"And then, of course, alongside that, is a recognition that the prospect or the reality of a war would, of course, have an effect on growth and the economic performance of Ireland and Europe."

The Minister for Finance said that he was gravely concerned at the prospect of war taking place in Europe, that an independent sovereign state was being undermined by military action. Picture: Collins Photos

Mr Donohoe reiterated that the government will not be providing more supplementary funding for energy bills should prices rise due to sanctions on Russian oil.

"The next point before revising those measures will be the budget in October," he said.

"Of course, I appreciate the consequences and the difficulties that many do face at the moment with rising cost of energy and what that means, but overall, the government has now put in place 1.5bn worth of measures between our budgets and what we announced a couple of weeks ago will respond to the difficulties that we know many are facing."

Ireland currently has a national debt of early 230bn, but the Finance Minister says the government has managed to grow public spending and bring in measures that will help.

We're already borrowing. We have a very high level of public debt for a country of our scale. It is also worth remembering the growth we have in the economy.

"What we will be doing is reviewing where we stand across the European Union in a meeting of finance ministers that will be taking place on Friday.

"It's best that we do that in a unified and a coordinated way across Europe," he told RTE's Morning Ireland.

"I think it's very understandable for companies that are involved in sectors that have particular links with either EU exports or imports that come from Russia, are of course concerned about what war or sanctions could mean.

"If you look at where our economy stands overall, our exports to Russia are approximately 1% of our national income. Our imports from Russia are approximately 0.5% of our national income.

"But inside that 0.5%, there are sectors that do have a little bit more reliance on Russia than other sectors, but it's understandable that they would raise concerns regarding what could happen, but we are making these decisions inside the context of the security and the ability of states to determine their own future being threatened by unacceptable and illegal behaviour and Ireland does need to be part of the response to that."

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland has warned that Russian military action in the eastern states of Donetsk and Luhansk was a bad sign for Ukraine and all of democracy.

Larysa Gerasko told Newstalk Breakfast that Ukraine was ready to defend our country.

Russia had already occupied part of their country when it entered Crimea, she said, and their recent actions were an invasion of our sovereign state.

Ukraine had not deployed troops to Donetsk and Luhansk, she said, as they wanted a diplomatic and peaceful resolution.
Irish man Brendan Murphy this morning fled the Ukrainian capital with his family as Russian forces moved into Kyiv.

There are 70 Irish citizens currently in Ukraine who have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs, according to a Government update this lunchtime.

Mr Murphy has reacted critically to the Irish Government announcement of a visa waiver scheme, which he says has come too late given the security situation.

It's not safe to go anywhere, people may be going to the countryside just to be out of the cities, but nobody really knows a safe place. And if you look at the map of bombing currently, it's every single city in the country.

"Wherever you go, every road that you may consider would be a bombing route. So you need to settle down and not go crazy. And then when things become clearer, see what corridors may or may not exist, if any exist at all, he said.

Mr Murphy said he was quite upset earlier this morning, thinking about how if the visa issue had been resolved earlier, they could have taken a flight home and been having a cup of tea in Ireland, at home with the heating on, in five hours.

Although he feels the visa waiver could have come earlier, Mr Murphy said its only really too late when people are dead. He said for his family, and for others in similar situations trying to flee Ukraine, there are only three things they can do:

First of all, calm ourselves. I'm not calm at the minute, but I will be. The second thing is to be disciplined and follow what people are asking us to do. And then the third thing is to live long enough to come home.

The family are currently on the outskirts of Kyiv, having fled the city centre this morning when they woke up to the sounds of bombing, missiles and war planes flying overhead.

Mr Murphy has spent the last 20 years travelling between Ireland and Ukraine for business. His wife Marina is Ukrainian, and although they have a home in Ireland, they had settled in Ukraine for the last two years over the pandemic, to be near Marinas 80-year-old mother, her daughter, and her three-year-old granddaughter.

Mr Murphy has been critical of the Irish Government for failing to make travel from Ukraine to Ireland visa-free, and was part of a group who wrote to Justice Minister Helen McEntee to tackle the issue over a week ago.

Until Thursday, Ireland was the only EU state which applied visa restrictions on Ukrainians. Because of this, Mr Murphy was not able to bring his family to Ireland, and away from tensions which have been building in Ukraine for some time.

Brendan Murphy and his family in Ukraine.

As Russian troops launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday morning, Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced that all visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens would be waived.

Every city in is being attacked by missiles, rockets and fighter planes, bombers and everything else that Putin has at his disposal, said Mr Murphy.

It was a bit like going to the Ploughing Championship, you know, I packed everybody in the car, the dog and everything, you name it, he said.

It took me four hours to get 40km to the edge of Ukraine. It was difficult because you saw people with their possessions in bin bags, people sombre and sad, some people determined, some people with children looking scared and some people crying. And you're thinking, okay, we'll be okay. But when you hear the news that today they ordered the visa waiver, you would feel sick, he added.

'Closely monitoring' situation

Officials from the Department of Affairs remain in direct and ongoing contact with Irish citizens in Ukraine who have registered online.

"The safety and security of Irish citizens and their dependents in Ukraine is our priority," a statement said.

Officials said they are "closely monitoring" the situation in Ukraine and are advising all Irish citizens currently in Ukraine to shelter in a secure place, given the security situation there.

However, citizens should consider leaving Ukraine if they judge it safe to do so, depending on their location and prevailing circumstances, the Department stressed.

It confirmed that as a result of the invasion, Ukrainian airspace has been closed. It is likely that overland routes out of Ukraine will be severely disrupted and the road network and border crossings may face backlogs or closures at short notice, it said.

The Departments travel advice has information for neighbouring countries that people may be planning to travel to, or through.
Ireland stands with Ukraine "in its darkest hour", the Taoiseach says.

Speaking in Brussels ahead of an urgently-organised meeting of EU leaders, Micheal Martin said that Ireland will be providing an initial 10m humanitarian fund.

"We will also stand ready to do whatever else we can to assist the Ukrainian people in their hour of need."

Mr Martin said that Ireland will support whatever measures the EU deems fit against Russia, including expulsion from the SWIFT banking arrangement. He said sanctions had to reflect the seriousness of Russia's incursion and "weaken its industrial base and ability to wage war".

However, Mr Martin was unequivocal that Ireland will not support or recognise any government installed in Kyiv by Vladimir Putin.

"No. Absolutely not. We support the democratically-elected government of Ukraine. We believe fundamentally in the principles of the UN charter which have been violated by Russia.

"We believe in peaceful solution to disputes. We think of the Ukrainian people in the line of fire and of the young people who will die because of Russian aggression, unnecessarily and in no way is this justifiable."

Mr Martin said that this was a situation he "did not want to be in" and that he and his EU colleagues condemned Russia's actions today. He said it was clear that Russia was "intent on a military assault on the Ukrainian people".

Earlier, the government admitted that sanctions on Russia may only have a limited impact.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has admitted there is a great deal of pessimism that sanctions on Russia will have any impact, but doing nothing is not an option.

He said in the light of the very serious developments overnight, the EU will move forward with a second even more wide-ranging sanctions package this evening.

A special meeting of the European Council has been called for this evening and the Taoiseach is attending. Ireland's general partners in the European Union will adopt the most severe package of sanctions that Europe has ever considered, he said.

Mr Coveney said sanctions will not be cost-free for this country or other EU member states, but we are left with little choice on foot of Russia's behaviour. He said the role that Ireland will play here will not be a neutral one.

We are a neutral state. We are militarily non-aligned, he said.

But when we see the continent that we have helped to build in terms of political stability over many decades, being threatened in a way that is now happening, coming from Russia by illegally invading their neighbour, we need to stand up and ensure that we are part of resisting that negative change on our continent.

Ireland will be very much part of a collective EU effort, he said. I've been in politics for 25 years. I'm not sure I have ever seen anything that has united the EU in the way that this issue is currently uniting European countries, countries that have very different relationships with Russia, he said.

He said that we will take the necessary actions, even if they are painful ones for the EU, in order to stand up to what we are seeing happening to our eastern neighbours. He added that Ireland is among a number of EU member states who responded with an offer of medical supplies.

Today the government is working on a further package from Ireland to support the people of Ukraine and the Taoiseach will be in a position to announce this later on this evening, he said.

To those seeking refuge in Ukraine, Mr Coveney called on people to only escape if they are safe to do so. Our embassy is no longer operating in Kiev and our staff and other staff are transferring to a safe place as we speak, he said.

To the Ukraine population in Ireland, he said Irish hearts are breaking with them as we stand with them today.

We had hoped to avoid this war. We had in fact pleaded with Russia to pull back from the brink through multiple diplomatic efforts. Those hopes and pleas were ignored and instead we see illegality, aggression and killing, he said.

Mr Coveney said he is working with Justice Minister Helen McEntee to put a structure and system in place that will allow Ukrainian citizens in Ireland bring their families from Ukraine to Ireland.

If they judge that that's necessary for safety reasons, we will ensure that that system works and is streamlined. Likewise, for Irish citizens who are in Ukraine who of course want to bring their families with them home who may not be Irish nationals, we will also ensure that we have a process in place that will allow them to do that quickly and without impediments, he added.
Actor Michael Madsen was arrested Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Madsen, 64, was cited for an unspecified violation and released about nine hours after he was detained, according to online police records. His bail was set at $500.

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The Reservoir Dogs actor was reportedly disheveled when he was detained. His representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

Madsens son, Hudson, died by suicide in late January. The medical examiner said Hudson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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In this file photo, Michael Madsen arrives at the Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Madsen was similarly cited and released in December 2021, according to Los Angeles County records. The incident was not widely reported at the time, and the reason for that citation was also not specified.

In May 2019, Madsen was ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings ahead of his arraignment on a DUI charge. He was eventually sentenced to four days in jail and five years of probation.

Madsen spoke shortly after his sons death about his struggle to comprehend it.

I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy - my last text from him was I love you dad, he said. I didnt see any signs of depression. Its so tragic and sad. Im just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened.
PEOPLE get angry about cars and bikes, dont they?

I say that because in recent weeks, Ive mentioned cars and bikes and when I do the response has been ... jagged? Unhinged?

A hypercaffeinated version of cranky?

Well, well get back to that in due course. Just waiting to hear back about my application for the witness protection programme.

One lesson learned  this is being said very gingerly  is that in many instances of conflict related to the above groups, we have a tension between personal responsibility and the good of the collective.

There are two ways of putting this lesson to work: To accept that people who cant agree on how to use the roads cant agree on anything, or the exact opposite.

By that, I mean trusting that people in Cork have a greater and wider interest than mere one-upmanship  that theyre interested in improving the city for everyone.

This brings me to a subset of critics: The odd person who points out to your columnist that Henry Fords sharp observation of a century ago still stands: Anyone can complain.

The unspoken corollary is that not everyone can be constructive.

Accordingly, I invite people to do as I did one evening last week and cast the net wide to see if there are pointers and hints to be found about improving the city.

Not broad-based multibillion-euro development projects, vast infrastructural changes  if you thought cyclists and drivers disagreed, check out how those are received  but small, achievable changes.

Free, preferably, but low-cost at the very least.

One great resource for same? Curbed.com, which began as a website largely focused on the citys architecture and design, according to its own description  the city in question being New York  before Vox Media took it over.

Its interest in architecture and design, as well as other aspects of urban life, means it also points to interesting organisations and movements whose work could be easily applied to Cork.

Take depave.org  an organisation that transforms over-paved places, creates resilient community green spaces, promotes workforce development and education, and advocates for policy change to undo manifestations of systemic racism.

Dead space in Cork city

The amount of dead space within Cork  a few square metres of waste tarmacadam here, an unused concrete half-yard there  would benefit from a similar movement here, surely.

Or what about another organisation, walkyourcity.org, which specialises in providing custom signs for neighbourhoods  but with a specific, helpful twist.

The signs carry messages such as its a two-minute walk to the library from here or the shop is a four-minute walk in this direction.

Its used in cities in the States from West Virginia to New Mexico: of course, it could work here.

Not all the initiatives pushed by Curbed even need that much material. One of their other suggestions is to simply document your street and area with photographs and stories.

That idea drives a thousand Facebook groups; the nagging sense that the shop you imagined occupying that particular location was not, in fact, the one you remember, but something completely different. But what?

Nowadays we all have the mechanism in our pocket to memorialise those fleeing shop-fronts.

Fishing the phone out and taking a snap freezes it forever; when you consider the effort needed in the not-so-distant past to take a picture its hardly surprising so few survive the streetscapes we grew up with.

Curbed has more to offer: it tells us about a Brooklyn organisation called DoTank, which upcycles discarded pallets into street furniture they set up on empty sidewalks, reclaiming the corner for the public.

(This sounds far trendier, if a little less threatening, with DoTanks own description: chairbombing.)

Curbed lauds groups in the States which are painting electricity boxes  as has been done all over Cork with entertaining art works from the PROC and Mad About Cork Picture: Ethel Crowley

Theres a role for council employees in Curbeds list of suggestions, which shares the initiative begun by the city of Charlotte in the US: Between October 2015 and June 2016, 150 City of Charlotte employees took 10 minutes each week to engage one person in the community in conversation about how we can make Charlotte better.

Could this be done in Cork? Of course, it could.

My favourite, though, has to be the Scape Town Branch Commons project in Lexington.

Scape is a landscape architecture firm and its work in Lexington involved creating a linear network of public space along the 2.5-mile path of the historic Town Branch creek in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

Once a waste canal, sewer, and water conduit for the city, the buried stream channel of Town Branch is an opportunity to reconnect the city with its Bluegrass identity and build a legacy public space network.

Rather than introducing a single daylit stream channel into the city fabric, the design uses the local limestone (karst) geology as inspiration for a series of pools, pockets, water windows, and stream channels that brings water into the public realm.

This is an undertaking on a different level to those mentioned earlier, one which needs the full co-operation and commitment of the municipal authority, but the boldness of the vision is staggering.

(Side note: It was recognised as such when the projects principal designer, Scape founder Kate Orff, was duly awarded a MacArthur Genius grant.)

Here a project in far-off Kentucky resonates far closer to home, and not just because the centre of Cork is floating above a soggy base. But because such a waterway already exists.

Kudos here to the pal who pointed to the unobtrusive entrance at the water line on Merchants Quay, the one leading into darkness beneath the city.

Hidden city waterway

This is a waterway that winds its way through to the South Channel on the other side of the central island (a small prize to the person who can identify where it emerges on that side).

Legend has it someone has to make a journey through that waterway at least once a year because of the debris which can end up there.

I leave it to your imaginations to conjure the sights, sounds, and in particular the smells, to be encountered as that person navigates a kayak through the narrow space.

But flip that around. Imagine  as in Lexington  if there were a series of pools, pockets, water windows, and stream channels that brings water into the public realm cutting diagonally across the city?

Its not as if some of the Curbed suggestions havent already been done. Take the cinema in the open air (which we saw in Windmill Road in the city during the pandemic) or the outstanding work being done in putting parklets around the city.

Curbed lauds groups in the States which are painting electricity boxes  as has been done all over Cork  not to mention the alleys being networked into shady cafes a la Grafton St, just off Oliver Plunkett St.

The natural inclination is to see the green of faraway hills when our own are green enough to begin with.

Credit where its due: there are groups in Cork working hard to make the city a better place for all of us, and theres always room for more ideas to help with that work.
Tesco Click+Collect is helping one Dublin family to make the most of their time  and their budget.

Doug Lappin and his family live in Terenure. He and his wife met while studying law and today have four children ranging in ages from 10 to one.

Both work full-time, Lappin as a solicitor working in insurance claims and his wife Amanda is a solicitor in a law firm. Like many people, their week is a hybrid of home and office-based work. Life is pretty full on right now but smart working helps them to achieve their best possible work-life balance.

I do four days from home and one in the office, while my wife is in the office more. I tend to start at 6am and Ill finish work at 5pm, while she gets up later but tends to work in the evenings, he explains.

What with school and child minders to get to, and after-school activities and play dates to organise, smart shopping is essential too.

Tescos Click+Collect has helped the couple establish a shopping routine that works best for their family. We generally do one big shop a month with Tesco online, which costs around 300, and then wed do a smaller shop once a week for things we need, explains Lappin.

"Tesco have installed new collection points you drive into and there is a QR code on your parking bay", explains Lappin of the collection process.

The couples big monthly shop takes place right after pay day. We will bulk buy all our detergents and all our meats, for example. Well get maybe 18 chicken fillets and put them in the freezer. We started doing our big shop online before the pandemic and had it delivered. Its too big for us to manage on our own at this stage, he says.

The big benefit of online is the time it saves you but there are other advantages too. For example, as you shop online you see what you are spending. Theres a tally figure at the side, so you know exactly how much you are spending as you go, he explains.

Hes not nearly as likely to pick up impulse purchases online as he is in store and, whats more, with online, theres no pester power either. The kids dont know youre shopping, he smiles.

During the pandemic the couple switched from Tesco Home Delivery to Tesco Click+Collect.

The Tesco delivery drivers are super friendly and we used to have the craic with them but as more and more people were booking deliveries as a result of the pandemic, sometimes we found we couldnt get a delivery slot for goods as quickly as we wanted, so we decided to do Click+Collect instead, says Lappin.

With it, he goes online to do his big grocery shop as normal, but instead of delivery, opts for the Click+Collect service.

Its great. You get a one- or a two-hour slot for your grocery collection so youre not nailed down to an exact time, you have flexibility, he says.

You drive to the special Click+Collect parking bay at your store during your time slot. Depending on your collection store theres either a staff member in a van who will bring your shopping to your car, or recently Tesco have installed new collection points you drive into and there is a QR code on your parking bay. You take a picture of it with your phone  its on the drivers side, so you dont have to get out, and that links you through to the guys in store. You key your name and car reg into your phone and they come out, maybe two or three minutes later, with your trolley, he explains.

The goods come out in blue crates, the same as the delivery van uses. You can purchase bags with your order but I brought my own. Youre in and out in about five or six minutes.

Lappin brings his won bags, helping to cut down on waste.

Its really easy to register for the service and it stores your bank card details, so you dont have to keep putting those in. It also holds your shopping list from before, so you can simply update it to get all the goods you regularly buy automatically. It will also remind you of things you might have forgotten based on your previous shop, which is handy, he says.

Its easy to navigate through the site too.

Its laid out in categories similar to supermarket aisles, so youll find cleaning products, or fresh produce, or sweets and confectionary, all grouped together. I find its actually much easier to not buy sweets and confectionary online than it is in the store, which is good, he adds.

The variety of goods available is the same as in store and, as happens in store, if a particular item youre looking for is out of stock, the system will suggest an equivalent substitute  which you dont have to take, of course. Equally, if on the rare occasion something happens, like cracked eggs or a bruised apple, they just credit your account, no bother, he explains.

Lappin is particularly impressed by the emphasis Tesco Online puts on long sell buy dates too. With things like yogurts or fresh foods that are time sensitive, you dont want them to go out of date before you get a chance to eat them, he says.

One of the new collection points Tesco has installed.

With Tesco Online that doesnt happen as they select goods that are the freshest and have the longest use by dates just like you would yourself if you were shopping in store. Thats really handy with multipack buys in particular because it means they wont go out of date before you get to eat them. Now that he has tried Tesco Click+Collect, hes sold on it.

Timewise its a lot quicker and budget wise, its a lot easier to manage. You know exactly how much youre spending as you go, rather than finding out at a cash register. Also, for us, shopping online this way means we can organise meal plans better too, which frees up even more time.

Discover more about Tesco Click+Collect - tesco.ie/clickandcollect
Russian forces have seized control of the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier stated that Ukrainian forces had engaged Russian troops at various locations around the more than 2,500 square kilometre containment zone around the plant.

"Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the #Chornobyl_NPP," Mr Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.

"Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. Reported this to @SwedishPM.This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe."

Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the #Chornobyl_NPP. Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. Reported this to @SwedishPM. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.    (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2022

However, it now appears as though the site is under Russian control, with an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, confirming the news this evening.

"It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians," he said.

"This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today."

Another Ukrainian official said told the PA that Russian shelling hit a radioactive waste repository and an increase in radiation levels was reported.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press that Ukrainian authorities did not know the current condition of the facilities at Chernobyl, the site of the worlds worst nuclear disaster.

After the absolutely senseless attack of the Russians in this direction, it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe, he said.

There are also unconfirmed reports that staff at the facility have been taken hostage.

The site of the plant lies 130 kilometres north of the capital Kyiv.

A 'full-scale war'

Meanwhile, battles between Ukrainian and Russian troops are raging across the country.

Russia has launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.

Ukraines government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a full-scale war that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout has already reverberated around the world.

In unleashing Moscows most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, President Vladimir Putin deflected global condemnation and cascading new sanctions  and chillingly referred to his countrys nuclear arsenal.

He threatened any foreign country attempting to interfere with consequences you have never seen.

Large explosions were heard in Kyiv capital and in other cities, and people massed in train stations and took to roads, as the government said the former Soviet republic was seeing a long-anticipated invasion from the east, north and south.

The chief of the Nato alliance said the brutal act of war shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders who decried the attack, which could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraines democratically elected government and upend the post-Cold War security order.

The conflict was already shaking global financial markets  stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Condemnation rained down not only from the US and Europe, but from South Korea, Australia and beyond  and many governments readied new sanctions.

Even friendly leaders such as Hungarys Viktor Orban sought to distance themselves from Mr Putin.

President Zelenskyy cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law.

As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history, he tweeted.

A Ukrainian soldier stands next to a military vehicle on a road in Kramatosrk, eastern Ukraine (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom.

His adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said: A full-scale war in Europe has begun.  Russia is not only attacking Ukraine, but the rules of normal life in the modern world.

While some nervous Europeans speculated about a possible new world war, the US and its Nato partners have so far shown no indication they would join in a war against Russia.

They instead mobilised troops and equipment around Ukraines western flank  as Ukraine pleaded for defence assistance and help protecting its airspace.

In Washington, President Joe Biden convened a meeting of the National Security Council on Thursday to discuss Ukraine as the US prepares new sanctions.

Biden administration officials have signalled that two of the measures they were considering most strongly include hitting Russias biggest banks and slapping on new export controls meant to starve Russias industries and military of US semiconductors and other high-tech components.

People stand next to fragments of military equipment on the street in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine (Andrew Marienko/AP)

The attacks came first from the air.

Later Ukrainian authorities described ground invasions in multiple regions, and border guards released footage showing a line of Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraines government-held territory.

European authorities declared the countrys airspace an active conflict zone.

It lies 130 kilometres north of the capital Kyiv.

People attend a pro-Ukraine protest rally in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany (Michael Sohn/AP)

After weeks of denying plans to invade, Mr Putin launched the operation on a country that has increasingly tilted towards the democratic West and away from Moscows sway.

The autocratic leader made clear earlier this week that he sees no reason for Ukraine to exist, raising fears of possible broader conflict in the vast space that the Soviet Union once ruled.

Mr Putin denied plans to occupy Ukraine, but his ultimate goals remain hazy.

Ukrainians who had long braced for the prospect of an assault were urged to shelter in place and not to panic despite the dire warnings.

We are facing a war and horror. What could be worse? 64-year-old Liudmila Gireyeva said in Kyiv.

She planned to flee the city and try to eventually get to Poland to join her daughter.

Mr Putin will be damned by history, and Ukrainians are damning him, she said.

Smoke rises from an air defence base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

With social media amplifying a torrent of military claims and counter-claims, it was difficult to determine exactly what was happening on the ground.

Ukraines military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said his troops were fighting Russian forces just seven kilometres (four miles) from the capital  in Hostomel, which is home to the Antonov aircraft maker and has a runway that is long enough to handle even the biggest cargo planes.

Russian officials said separatist forces backed by Russia in the east have taken a new strip of territory from Ukrainian forces, but have not acknowledged ground troops elsewhere in the country.

Associated Press reporters saw or confirmed explosions in the capital, in Mariupol on the Azov Sea, Kharkiv in the east and beyond.

AP confirmed video showing Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukrainian-held territory in the north from Belarus and from Russian-annexed Crimea in the south.

Russian and Ukrainian authorities made competing claims about damage they had inflicted.

Russias Defence Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities and drones, and confirmed the loss of a Su-25 attack jet, blaming it on pilot error.

It said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that there is no threat to the civilian population.

Ukraines armed forces said they shot down multiple Russian aircraft.

They reported at least 40 soldiers dead, and said a military plane carrying 14 people crashed south of Kyiv.

Polands military increased its readiness level, and Lithuania and Moldova moved towards doing the same.

Border crossings increased from Ukraine to Poland, which has prepared centres for refugees.

Mr Putin justified his actions in an overnight televised address, asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the US had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion.

He accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russias demands to prevent Ukraine from joining Nato and for security guarantees.

The consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions on Russia reverberated throughout the world.

World stock markets plunged and oil prices on both sides of the Atlantic surged towards or above 100 dollars per barrel over unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies, while the rouble sank.

Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Mr Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle.

In a reminder of Russias nuclear power, he warned that no-one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.

Among Mr Putins pledges was to denazify Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: PA

The Second World War looms large in Russia, after the Soviet Union suffered more deaths than any country while fighting Adolf Hitlers forces.

Kremlin propaganda paints members of Ukrainian right-wing groups as neo-Nazis, exploiting their admiration for Second World War-era Ukrainian nationalist leaders who sided with the Nazis.

Ukraine is now led by a Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust and angrily dismissed the Russian claims.

Mr Putins announcement came just hours after the Ukrainian president rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate, last-minute plea for peace.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, Mr Zelensky said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens.

Mr Zelensky said he asked to arrange a call with Mr Putin late on Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

The attack began even as the UN Security Council was meeting to hold off an invasion.

Members still unaware of Mr Putins announcement of the operation appealed to him to stand down.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres opened the emergency meeting, telling Mr Putin: Give peace a chance.

But hours later, Natos Jens Stoltenberg indicated it was too late: Peace on our continent has been shattered.
Burma Cambodian, Malaysian PMs Call on Myanmar Junta to Implement ASEAN Consensus

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (left) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen hold talks in Phnom Penh on Feb. 24, 2022. / Office of Cambodian PM / Twitter

The Cambodian and Malaysian prime ministers called for the timely and effective implementation of ASEANs Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar during a meeting in Phnom Penh on Thursday, the two countries said in a joint statement.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob met with his counterpart Hun Sen to cap a two-day visit to Cambodia, the current holder of the rotating chair of ASEAN, of which Malaysia and Myanmar are also members.

According to the statement, the two leaders underscored the critical importance of ensuring the effective and timely implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, which was reached at a summit of ASEAN leaders in April last year. The consensus calls for an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and the facilitation of dialogue between all parties to the conflict, mediated by the regional blocs special envoy, among other steps. Myanmars military seized power from the countrys democratically elected government on Feb. 1 last year, detaining its civilian leadership and launching a brutal crackdown on dissent that has killed more than 1,500 mostly peaceful opponents while also sparking an armed resistance movement.

Senior leaders of Myanmars military junta have been barred from recent ASEAN meetings over the regimes failure to implement the consensus.

According to Thursdays statement, at the meeting Malaysia expressed full support for the work of the ASEAN Chairs Special Envoy on Myanmar and looks forward to the first visit to Myanmar by the envoy, a post currently held by Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.

As ASEAN chair, Hun Sen has been criticized for unilaterally deciding to travel to Naypyitaw last month to meet with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, a move seen by many as conferring legitimacy on the regime. Kuala Lumpur has been among those critics; Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said recently that the Cambodian leader should have consulted with other ASEAN leaders before traveling to Naypyitaw. According to the Associated Press, Hun Sen responded that Malaysias foreign minister should not be arrogant and disrespectful of the ASEAN chair.

At Thursdays meeting, Ismail also raised the issue of the hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Rohingya Muslims, displaced from Myanmars Rakhine State by the Myanmar militarys clearance operations in 2017. Over 700,000 people fled Myanmar during the crisis and are still sheltering in neighboring Bangladesh. According to the statement, Ismail reiterated the importance of addressing the root causes of the conflict and their repatriation in a voluntary, safe and dignified manner.



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Burma Junta Bombs Kill Two Civilians in Lower Myanmar

A resident of Dawkami Village injured by junta bombing on February 23. / Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF)

Two civilians were killed and four injured on Wednesday afternoon when junta jets bombed villages in southeast Myanmars Kayah State.

Myanmar military jets bombed Dawkami and Silidon villages in Kayahs Demoso Township, according to a statement from the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force.

Banya, the director of the Karenni Human Rights Group, told The Irrawaddy that this is not the first time that junta airstrikes have killed and injured civilians in villages and refugee camps. He accused the military regime of committing crimes against humanity.

It feels like the junta is conducting ethnic cleansing by destroying whole towns and villages, said Banya, who asked to be identified by only one of his names.

Dawkami and Silidon villages each have fewer than 100 households and each village is also sheltering around 100 refugees.

The two villages are about three miles from Nan Mei Khon, where fierce clashes between regime forces and resistance groups are taking place.

The fighting is very intense today and the junta is using excessive force with heavy weapons, armored cars, artillery and airstrikes because many junta soldiers have been killed during the last eight days of fighting, said Loikaws Peoples Defense Force in a statement.

Fighting broke out again in Demoso on February 16 when two junta armored cars and over 1,000 regime soldiers entered Heigh Kwee Dam and War Yi Phu Pha Lai Village near the town of Moebye.

On January 17, junta jets bombed refugee camps in Shikibuu Village in Kayahs Hpruso Township, killing two women and a man.

Over 170,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in Kayah State, with clashes taking place almost daily in Demoso and Pekon townships, according to the Karenni Human Rights Group, which is assisting the refugees.



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Myanmar Rohingya Genocide Case Is Legitimate, Gambia Tells UNs Top Court

Cobra Gold Military Exercise Kicks Off in Thailand Without Myanmar
Burma Myanmar Junta Threatens to Disband Two Major Parties After They Refuse to Submit Financial Records

NLD supporters celebrate in Mandalay on Nov. 9, 2020, after initial counts at polling stations indicated the party was headed for a victory in Myanmars general election held the previous day. / The Irrawaddy

The Myanmar junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) has threatened two major political parties that won majorities in the 2020 general election with disbandment if they do not comply with its order to submit their financial accounts for inspection by March 9.

In a letter to their chairpersons dated Feb. 8, the UEC instructed the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and two other parties to appear before it on Feb. 14 to verify their financial accounts and expenses.

Neither the NLD nor the SNLD showed up, however, prompting the UEC to issue its warning on Feb. 23.

The NLD and the SNLD won majorities in the Union Parliament and Shan State Parliament, respectively, in the 2020 vote. The SNLD also came third in the nationwide parliamentary vote.

On Feb. 26 last year, the NLD released a statement saying it does not recognize the new election commission appointed by the junta and that its announcements are illegal.

NLD chairperson and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since she was detained by the military hours before last years Feb. 1 military coup.

Sai Kyaw Nyunt, joint secretary of the SNLD, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday the party would accept a request from the UEC to visit the partys main headquarters and audit its financial accounts. However, he said, We didnt commit any [wrongdoing], so we dont need to go there [to the UEC] and be investigated.

In written replies to questions from pro-junta media, the UEC said if the parties failed to comply with its instruction, they would face legal action under Section 24 (c), (d) and (e) of the Registration of Political Parties Law. Violations of these provisions of the law carry potential punishments of a three-year suspension, having their operations halted, and disbandment, respectively.

An NLD source told The Irrawaddy the party rejected the UECs call, as the junta had already arrested almost the entire party leadership.

U Kyaw Htwe, a spokesman for the NLDs Central Work Committee, said the decision on whether to submit the partys financial accounts for inspection would ultimately be made the Central Executive Committee members.

Our party leaders who have been detained must be released immediately. Besides, [the UEC] needs to be a body that is legal to inspect financial accounts. This UEC was appointed by the military council; they have no right to scrutinize political parties.

Political parties with popular support in Myanmar are at risk of being dissolved before the juntas planned election in August next year.

U Khin Maung Myint, a lawyer, said that despite the UECs claim that it is acting in accordance with the law, the order that parties submit their accounts for financial audit is not a fair demand at this time, given that some parties leaders are detained or imprisoned, or have fled to avoid arrest by junta forces.

The intent [of the move] is to suspend or dissolve the parties, as the current [political] situation does not favor financial inspection of parties, he said.

Myanmar has 92 registered political parties. About half of them are proxy parties for the military, including the Union Solidarity and Development Party.

The junta-appointed UEC has scrutinized the financial accounts of more than 70 parties. As of Feb. 9, it had checked the accounts of 67 political parties. At least six more showed up at the UEC to be inspected last week and this week.



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Burma Myanmar Rohingya Genocide Case Is Legitimate, Gambia Tells UNs Top Court

Delegations representing the Myanmar junta and Gambia appear before the World Court during a public hearing in the genocide case against Myanmar on Feb. 21, 2022. / ICJ

Gambia insisted on Wednesday on the legitimacy of its allegations, brought before the UNs top court, that the Myanmar military committed genocide against Rohingya Muslims, after the Buddhist nations ruling junta tried to get them dismissed.

Gambia dragged Myanmar before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2019, accusing it of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority following a bloody 2017 military crackdown.

We seek to protect not only the rights of the Rohingya, but our own rights as a state party to the genocide convention, Gambias attorney general, Dawda Jallow, told the court.

They were doing that by holding Myanmar to its obligation not to commit genocide, not to incite genocide and to prevent unpunished genocide, he added.

These violations of the genocide convention are a stain on our collective conscience and it would be irresponsible to pretend that it is not our business, the Gambian lawyer told judges.

In court on Monday, Myanmar struck out at Gambia for having brought the case before the Hague-based ICJ, set up after World War II to rule in disputes between countries.

Its lawyers accused Gambia of not acting as a country in its own right, but as a proxy for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a 57-member body set up in 1969 to represent global Muslim interests.

Long-running proceedings

Jallow dismissed that argument.

This is very much a dispute between The Gambia and Myanmar, he said.

We make it our business when we, as civilized nations committed ourselves to the pact under the 1948 Genocide Convention, Jallow added.

When the case opened in December 2019, Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi personally represented her country at the ICJ, but she was ousted as civilian leader in a military coup last year.

The Nobel peace laureate, who faced criticism from rights groups for her involvement in the case, is now under house arrest and on trial by the same generals she defended in The Hague.

Around 850,000 Rohingya from Myanmar are languishing in camps in neighboring Bangladesh while another 600,000 Rohingya remain in Myanmars southwestern Rakhine state.

Gambias lawyers, quoting recent human rights organization reports, said the Rohingya remained vulnerable.

The Rohingya remain at grave risk of mass atrocity crimes, lawyer Paul S. Reichler warned the court.

The Rohingya case at the ICJ has been complicated by the coup that ousted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her civilian government, triggering mass protests and a bloody military crackdown.

More than 1,500 civilians have been killed, according to a local monitoring group.

The ICJ made a provisional order in January 2020 that Myanmar must take all measures to prevent the alleged genocide of the Rohingya while the years-long proceedings are under way.

But the European Union on Monday heaped more sanctions on Myanmar officials, saying it was deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence in Myanmar and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional implications.

The bloc added 22 junta officials, bring to 65 the number of individuals on the sanctions list, and added four companies tied to the regime, making 10 overall.

Among those targeted were the ministers for investment, industry and information, officials at the election commission and senior members of the military.

The ICJ judges must now decide whether the court has the jurisdiction to hear the case. If so the case could still take several years.

Decisions by its judges are final and cannot be appealed, although the court has limited means of enforcing them.



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Trinity, TX (77320)

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Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Villager popularizes ethnic folk songs sung atop terraced rice fields of SW Chinas Yunnan

People's Daily Online) 14:49, February 24, 2022

Singing traditional folk songs while working in the fields, the people of the Hani ethnic group have turned terraced rice fields into a massive stage to showcase their praises for the spirit of labor and daily life.

Chen Xiniang (first from right) performs Hani polyphonic folk songs with fellow villagers. (People's Daily Online/Lei Yang)

Hani polyphonic folk music, a national intangible cultural heritage, has been passed down for generations through word of mouth by the Hani people in several villages of Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province.

Chen Xiniang, a national-level inheritor of the Hani polyphonic folk music, has been committing himself to popularizing the art form.

Chen, now 57 years old, started to learn Hani polyphonic folk songs when he was young, and has mastered techniques at a high level, including singing and playing various musical instruments.

Over the past years, Chen has performed Hani polyphonic folk songs at home and abroad. So far, two of Chens students have become provincial-level inheritors of Hani polyphonic folk songs and four have become prefecture-level inheritors.

Under the influence of their father, Chens son and daughter have also engaged in the protection of the intangible cultural heritage.

I am always ready to teach Hani polyphonic folk songs to more people as long as they are interested in the music, Chen said, hoping that the Hani songs can be kept alive among future generations.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Another royal rumble could be on the horizon.

Prince Harry submitted a libel claim Wednesday against Associated Newspapers Limited, the company that publishes British tabloids the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, according to the BBC.

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Its unclear which article or articles Harrys claim is about, but the BBC reports its believed to be in response to a piece published by the Mail on Sunday.

Prince Harry (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

The newspaper publisher has not publicly responded to the libel claim, which was filed at the British High Court.

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Wednesdays filing comes less than three months after a London court sided with Harrys wife, Meghan Markle, in her legal battle with Associated Newspapers.

Meghan sued the company in 2019 after it published parts of a letter she wrote to her father. A High Court judge said publishing the excerpts was manifestly excessive and hence unlawful last February, and an appeals court backed that decision in December.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

This is a victory not just for me, but for anyone who has ever felt scared to stand up for whats right, Meghan said at the time.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 51 In this Sept. 16, 1984 photo, Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana leave St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, with their new baby, Prince Harry, who was born on Sept. 15. (AP)

She was ordered to receive one British pound, or about $1.30, from the company in a symbolic gesture.

Meghan, 40, and Harry, 37, stepped down from their senior royal duties in 2020 and have since moved to Southern California. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, the royal couple said the scrutiny of the British media took a toll on them.

Harry has also been engaged in a court struggle after being denied the option to pay for police protection when he visits the United Kingdom.

The royal has contended he doesnt feel safe bringing his two children to the U.K. without protection, while the British government argues people arent allowed to pay police for the private service.

It goes without saying that he does want to come back to see family and friends and to continue to support the charities that are so close to his heart, Harrys lawyer, Shaheed Fatima, said last Friday at the High Court in London. Most of all, this is and always will be, his home.

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COMPANY NEWS: Leading advisory and technology solutions provider Atturra today announced its results for the six months to 31 December 2021. The company reported that continued strong organic growth and contributions from acquired businesses drove a 44% increase in revenue to $61.9 million compared to the prior corresponding period (pcp).

Result key highlights

 First-half revenue up 44% on prior corresponding period (pcp) to $61.9 million

 Underlying EBIT up 139% to $6.4 million, EBIT up 68% to $5.5 million

 40% uplift in net profit after tax to $3.4 million

 Acquisition of Kettering on track to complete 1 March

 Strong growth in defence, local government businesses

 Healthy balance sheet as at period end; $37.2 million cash at hand, net debt $5.8 million

Consolidated earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) were up 68% to $5.5m while underlying EBIT* increased by 139% to $6.4 million for the half. The company reported a consolidated (statutory) net profit after tax of $3.4 million for the half, up 40% on the pcp.

Atturra commenced trading on the ASX on 22 December last year.

The December half result reflected strong client growth, particularly in the key defence and local government sectors, and the benefits of a diversified technology partnership strategy.

Atturra chief executive officer Stephen Kowal said "The first-half result is very pleasing, especially in the context of having completed an IPO towards the end of the half. The growth and momentum in the business shows not only that our strategy is the right one for the company, but that the team is successfully executing. The team deserves credit for delivering this result in an uncertain and disrupted external environment and amid IPO preparations."

A key pillar of Atturra's commercial strategy is a focus on partnerships offering reach into both high- growth software markets (such as Boomi, Smartsheet and Microsoft) and specialist markets in which Atturra can become the dominant provider (such as webMethods and QAD).

From a vertical industry standpoint Atturra has sought to strengthen its foothold in industries either with high barriers to entry, notably Defence, or that lack a clear market leader and therefore offer an opening for Atturra to dominate, such as local government. In the latter category Atturra has rapidly emerged as a leading service provider of choice, with more than 100 councils signed as clients by the end of the December half.

Operational highlights

Mentum Systems, acquired by Atturra in August 2021 for its specialist capability in decisions-support systems and data science, was successfully integrated as Atturra Management Control Systems during the half.

The newly acquired Mentum Systems contributed $2.3 million to the company's first-half revenue result, with the remainder of the $18.9 million revenue uplift for the period attributed to prior-year acquisitions ($8.3 million) and organic growth ($8.9 million), offset by a divestment of $0.6 million.

Atturra signed new technology partnerships during the half with Snowflake, Okta, Apigee (part of Google Cloud) and Infor, for which Atturra is now the leading pathway services provider in Australia. Atturra is now the sole consulting partner in Australia for cloud scheduling and timetabling platform Semestry.

The strength of Atturra's portfolio of partnerships is evident in its winning two partner awards for Boomi and another for Smartsheet during the period.

The company signed more than 45 new clients across multiple industries in the first half and expanded its Defence industry footprint to span nine of 16 services and groups designated by the Department of Defence. Atturra's advisory arm strengthened its activity in line with the Department's recently announced sovereign industry capability priorities, many of which align closely with Atturra's technology capabilities.

With lengthy procurement cycles and onerous security requirements making for long retention rates in Defence contracting Atturra is well positioned for sustained revenue growth from this sector.

The company's balance sheet as at 31 December was strong, with a cash position of $37.2 million and net debt of $5.8 million.

Update on Kettering acquisition

Atturra remains on track to complete its acquisition of ERP implementation business Kettering Professional Services by 1 March, with most conditions precedent now satisfied.

Based in Brisbane, Kettering specialises in ERP solutions for the manufacturing sector. The acquisition positions Atturra as the market leader in QAD ERP solutions in Australia, boosts its base of manufacturer clients to above 50 and presents cross-selling opportunities for other Atturra business and advisory lines.

Subject to reviews on revenue recognition Kettering is anticipated to add incremental revenue of $1.6 million and EBIT of $0.18 million to the FY22 full-year result.

Outlook

Atturra said that it anticipated revenue in the range of $127 million to $130 million for the full year, with the range affected primarily by the revenue recognition of software deals.

Underlying EBIT is expected to be in the range of $11.7 million to $12.3 million, depending on the speed of planned investments and the start date of planned new hires.

The revenue and EBIT forecasts include the anticipated part-year contribution of the Kettering business.

Atturra reiterated its long-term target of achieving sustainable EBIT growth of around 9% while continuing to invest in the growth of the business.

Kowal said "We expect the momentum established in the first half to continue through to the end of the full year. The strong recent performance gives us the ability to accelerate investment in growth, specifically training capability and executive talent across sales, technology and other key areas.

"We will also be investing in an expanded managed-service capability, which will support recurring revenue from FY23, while strengthening employee engagement to consolidate Atturra's position as an employer of choice in a competitive talent market.

"With a strong balance sheet, we have the capital flexibility to consider strategic acquisitions that align with our existing business platform.

"It's an exciting time for Atturra. We're confident that the foundation is in place for Atturra to continue to take a leading role in Australia's technology services and advisory sector."

Underlying EBIT is as per financial statements and excludes IPO expenses, share-based payments and government grants.

About Atturra

Atturra is a leading ASX-listed technology services business. Atturra is a leader in designing, implementing, and maintaining IT solutions for many of Australia's largest private and public entities. Atturra offers consulting, IT services and technology solutions to accelerate digital transformation in the growing Australian IT services market, with an estimated spend of $37.0 billion in 2021.

Further information can be found on the company's website atturra.com or by contacting Atturra via email investorrelations@atturra.com.
COMPANY NEWS: Nitro Software, a global document productivity software company driving digital transformation in organisations around the world, today releases its Appendix 4E, audited financial statements and results for the year ended 31 December 2021, and is pleased to provide the following update on its financial and operating performance.

FY2021 highlights

 Annual recurring revenue (ARR) excluding Connective at 31 December 2021 was US$40.1 million, an increase of 41% compared to 31 December 2020, in line with guidance. ARR at 31 December 2021 including Connective was US$46.2 million, representing a 62% increase year-over-year.

 FY2021 revenue excluding Connective of US$50.7 million, an increase of 26% compared to FY2020, at the top end of the upgraded guidance range. FY2021 revenue including connective of US$50.9 million.

 FY2021 operating Ebitda loss excluding connective was US$7.4M, and including Connective was US$7.6 million, in line with the upgraded guidance range.

 Exceeded one million active subscription PDF licences, reaching 1.1 million at year-end.

 Executed 2.2 million Nitro Sign eSignature requests excluding connective eSignatures, up 102% compared to FY2020, and more than 22 million eSignature requests including connective.

 Successfully completed a A$140 million capital raise through the combination of an institutional placement and a retail entitlement offer.

 Successfully completed the 70.0 million acquisition of Connective, which closed on 20 December 2021.

 Cash and cash equivalents of US$48.2 million including Connective as at 31 December 2021 with no debt

FY2021 was the most dynamic year in Nitros history, with the achievement of a number of major strategic milestones, including a successful capital raising and our biggest and most important acquisition to date  Connective. The addition of Connectives market-leading capabilities and the earlier acquisition of PDFpen  delivering native Mac and iOS capabilities  means Nitro can now serve virtually any customer need in PDF productivity and eSigning. With these acquisitions, Nitro has cemented its status as a global document productivity and eSign SaaS platform, said Nitro co-founder and CEO Sam Chandler.

FY2021 was the year in which we exceeded US$50 million of revenue, with a strong sales trajectory in the final quarter and the momentum continuing into the new year. Nitros mission for the coming year is to continue this momentum and to build on the strategic milestones and successes of FY2021 by scaling the Nitro Productivity Platform. This will involve fully integratingconnectives best-of-breed technologies  a process now well underway  and using Nitros proven go-to-market network to upsell and cross-sell Nitro and Connective products to a combined 13,000+ Business Customer3 base. We will remain focused on customer acquisition, retention and expansion, as well as responding to competition at a time when customers are signaling their dissatisfaction with legacy providers and increasingly demanding one vendor who, like Nitro today, can offer multiple solutions, said Chandler.

FY2021 performance

A strong focus on customer acquisition, expansion and retention delivered ARR excluding Connective at 31 December 2021 of US$40.1 million, an increase of 41% compared to 31 December 2020 and in line with guidance reaffirmed in October 2021 of US$39 million - US$42 million. ARR at 31 December 2021 including Connective was US$46.2 million, representing a 62% increase year-over-year.

Total revenue in FY2021 excluding Connective was US$50.7 million, at the top end of the upgraded guidance of US$49 million - US$51 million provided in October 2021. Including the contribution from Connective, FY2021 revenue was US$50.9 million.

Nitros transition to a SaaS business model continues with subscription revenue in FY2021 comprising 66% of total revenue  and 71% in Q4  compared to 53% for FY2020. The transition to subscription in the dominant Business sales channel was effectively completed in FY2021, with 87% of revenue in FY2021 generated from subscription contracts.

Key operating successes in FY2021 include a doubling of Nitro Sign eSignature requests to 2.2 million, and a substantial increase to 22 million eSignatures in total including Connective. More than three billion documents were opened in Nitro PDF Pro in FY2021, and Nitro surpassed the milestone of 1 million PDF subscription licences, ending the year at 1.1 million.

FY2021 was a year of significant investment in Nitros go-to-market engine to drive future revenue growth and research and development (R&D) initiatives to deliver further enhancements to the Nitro Productivity Platform.

 FY2021 sales and marketing (S&M) expense amounted to US$29.4 million, representing 58% of revenue  a 45% increase from FY2020, reflecting significant investments in Nitros go-to-market initiatives as ARR and subscription revenue scale.

 FY2021 R&D expense totalled $13.5 million, representing 27% of revenue  a 44% increase from FY2020, primarily driven by headcount, reflecting Nitros commitment to innovation and evolution of its Productivity Platform.

 FY2021 general and administrative (G&A) expense was US$11.6 million  a 25% increase from FY2020 and steady at 23% of revenue, as Nitro pursues economies of scale in supporting functions.

FY2021 operating Ebitda loss was US$7.4 million excluding Connective, and US$7.6 million including Connective, in line with the upgraded guidance of a loss of US$7.5 million  US$8 million provided in January 2022. Reflecting Nitros strong revenue performance and managements continued focus on cost-efficiency, the operating Ebitda loss for FY2021 was significantly lower than the guidance range of US$11 million  US$13 million provided at the beginning of FY2021.

In Q4 20201, Nitro successfully completed a A$140.0 million capital raise through the combination of an institutional placement and a retail entitlement offer to fund the acquisition of Connective. Nitros cash balance of US$48.2 million at 31 December 2021 provides the Company with the financial flexibility to pursue continued growth opportunities.

Connective acquisition

On 20 December 2021, Nitro completed the 70 million acquisition of Connective NV, Belgiums leading eSign SaaS business. Connectives business focuses on serving the eSign needs of enterprise and government customers that require high levels of trust, security and regulatory compliance, while also offering expansive electronic identity (eID) support and a powerful document workflow automation solution.

The integration of Connective is well underway, with Connectives market-leading products already available to be sold into Nitros customer base. In addition to upsell and cross-sell opportunities across the combined customer base of over 13,000 business customers, Nitro believes the expanded product suite delivered by the Connective acquisition will drive substantial opportunities in the fast-growing US$17 billion global SaaS eSign market as organisations around the world increasingly demand high-trust and highly secure eSign and workflow solutions. Nitro expects sales of Connective products to Nitro customers to deliver annualised run-rate revenue synergies of ~US$2.5 million by the end of FY2022.

Board update

On 8 February 2022, Nitro announced the appointment of former DocuSign chief human resources officer Peter Navin as a new independent non-executive director, effective immediately, marking a key milestone in the Companys Board renewal process. US-based Navin is a proven strategic human resources leader with over 30 years of experience driving business performance in high-growth, global organisations. Navin will also serve as chair of the boards remuneration and nomination committee.

In September 2021, Nitro announced the appointment of Craig Scroggie as an independent non-executive director. With more than 25 years of experience in the ICT industry, Scroggie is recognised as one of Australias most successful technology executives and brings valuable skills and expertise to help guide the Company through its next stage of growth.

FY2022 outlook

In FY2022, Nitro will continue to focus on delivering its platform product strategy, driving increased adoption of the companys PDF productivity, eSigning and analytics solutions across new and existing customers in its enterprise, mid-market and SMB segments.

Nitros total addressable market in PDF productivity and eSigning is vast and supported by strong structural tailwinds and workplace changes accelerated by Covid-19, particularly the shift to remote and digital work. Nitro estimates the total addressable market at US$28 billion, comprising the US$11 billion PDF productivity market and the US$17 billion eSign market. With the acquisition of Connective, Nitro has a clear competitive advantage and an opportunity to capture a bigger share of this market.

Given the scale of the market opportunity and the company's multiple growth levers, Nitro will continue to make strategic investments in FY2022, primarily focused on the scaling and integration of Connective into Nitros business, developing features relevant to its customers and scaling its go-to-market engine. Nitro will also continue to explore other targeted investments, including potential acquisitions, to build capability and scale, and further cement its position as a global leader in eSigning and document productivity.

The company provides the following guidance for FY2022:

 Ending ARR between US$64 million and US$68 million;

 Revenue between US$65 million and US$69 million; and

 Operating Ebitda loss between US$18 million and US$21 million.
GUEST INTERVIEW: With passwords and traditional two-factor authentication no longer as secure as it once was, Yubico's evolving YubiKeys have been the next-gen answer, with the new YubiKey Bio now another step above in delivering an ever more secure environment, Geoff Schomburgk joined us again at iTWireTV to explain this and plenty more.

Yubico. Right on the home page, Yubico helps "Protect the digital you". The company bills itself as "Inventors of strong authentication for the modern web, enabling one security key to protect any number of services with a simple touch," with the YubiKey being "The only authentication technology proven to stop account takeovers at scale," and "Loved by the worlds largest brands and millions of users."

I've personally been using some YubiKey 5 series models for quite a while to protect my Gmail account, and while I've left some backup authentication methods on, I haven't had to use any of those backup methods since Yubikeys entered my life. You still need to enter your username and password when setting up Gmail on a new device, and you're asked to plug the key in, tap the gold contacts, and you're in.

Of course, there's the NFC-enabled YubiKey in either USB-A or USB-C configurations, and the new YubiKey Bio, which is hardware-based biometric authentication with "a new user experience," showing how Yubikeys have continued evolving into the widest range of products yet, and with support for hundreds of products, services, and applications that work with YubiKey, Yubico has transformed itself into a security powerhouse while transforming the security of its customers and their customers.

Just as bad actors are constantly evolving, so too is the security community, whose products and services work ever more smoothly together to proactively defend the security landscape as much as possible, as those bad actors are certainly very active, with zero-days discovered on a regular basis, password and other databases breached and leaked, with account takeovers and phishing emails still arriving in inboxes, while virus-laden SMS messages pester us nowadays, too.

The security battle is ongoing and never-ending, but there are steps you can take to harden your security, from using a paid password manager to cloud and physical backups, from Internet-security software with anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-ransomware, using a VPN, always ensuring your smartphone, tablet, PC, Mac, smart TV, smart device, browser, and other software is up-to-date.

Updates are supposed to be automatic, but check your devices - an update is likely awaiting you on at least one of those devices - so it's always good to check, and to not delay updates to operating systems, as they usually contain security fixes that close zero-day vulnerabilities that leave you vulnerable until you update.

A YubiKey can't protect your OS from zero-days, nor make sure your operating systems and devices are updated, nor whether your backup has completed or if it can be successfully restored, but it can protect your login and account from being compromised for a wide range of the aforementioned products, services and applications, and given that is one huge way that bad actors get into systems via compromised user credentials, having a physical security key is certainly essential for business users - but home users can definitely use them too, and enjoy the same protections.

You can also read Yubicos top information security recommendations for 2022 at its blog, which is great information for enterprise, companies and organisations of all sizes. Yubico's great blog is here, too, which is where that security article is located.

In the video interview below, we also talk about another article from the blog, titled "A Day in the Life: Dispelling the Myths of Mobile Authentication," which explains why traditional methods of 2FA aren't as secure as they once were, and how they are being hacked.

So, with that bit of commentary from me above, and some links to Yubico content, let's take a look at my video interview with Geoff Schomburgk which discusses this and more, with Geoff recently promoted to Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ), which is embedded immediately below, after which is a summary of the topics we spoke about.

Here's a summary of the topics we spoke about:

I started by introducing Geoff, welcoming him back to iTWireTV and congratulating him on his recent promotion. Geoff then shared what Yubico has been up to in the first weeks of 2022, and how the new Yubikey Bio has been received by existing users wanting to upgrade, and new users too.





We then spoke about the myths of mobile authentication, which I explain many people would associate with an app on your phone that generates a code you need to type in as part of the log in process, which Yubico is calling legacy MFA.





Geoff explained the dangers associated with mobile authentication as opposed to a hardware key, with SMS and One Time Password methods of authentication just aren't secure enough anymore, with mobile authentication apps an issue, too. We also looked at how many businesses in Australia are still using legacy MFA.





I then wanted to know if there was an average timeframe for an organisation to deploy Yubikeys to employees, noting of course that it depends on the organisation, and whether Yubico helps with security audits, and how Yubico responds when a company approaches the company for help.





We talked about the delayed Tech in Gov conference that was meant to take place in early February, but which was postponed due to Omicron, with Yubico set to have both a stand and for Geoff to be a speaker at the conference, and Geoff confirmed Yubico will be at Tech in Gov when it returns in May and that they'll have both a stand and will be presenting.





Geoff then shared any interesting Australian or global customer success stories of note from recent times that really stood out, after which Geoff shared his thoughts on Yubico's evolution over the next couple of years, and what authentication methods might be like in the future, and whether this might involve biometric identification via brainwaves or some other new biometric method, or whether it was all top secret.





Geoff then shared his final message to iTWireTV viewers and iTWire readers, and to Yubico's current and future customers.

So, please watch the video interview with Geoff Schomburgk above to learn more!
Hitachi Vantara has promoted Adrian Johnson, formerly ANZ vice president and managing director, to the role of vice president of the company's digital infrastructure business unit in APAC.

"Over Adrian's 2.5 years of service leading Australia and New Zealand for Hitachi Vantara, he has demonstrated a passion for growth, a customer-first mindset, and a commitment to creating the right culture for our people," said Hitachi Vantara digital infrastructure business unit president Mark Ablett.

"I am confident that Adrian is the right leader to drive APAC's business growth."

Before joining Hitachi Vantara in 2019, Johnson was ANZ general manager at Liferay.

He previously worked as APJ managing director of Code 42 Software, APJ general manager of storage and data management solutions at Dell, and ANZ general manager at Fuji Xerox (now Fujifilm Business Innovation).

Johnson began his career in the Royal Australian Navy.

He holds a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Wollongong and a master's degree in business and technology from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Johnson is also a volunteer at the Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club.

"I am looking forward to working with experienced and customer-focused colleagues across the Asia Pacific region, as well as Hitachi Vantara's ecosystem of partners and distributors, to maximise the insights our APAC customers gain from their data, and to support their data driven initiatives with cloud smart, hybrid cloud solutions," he said.
Communications infrastructure provider BAI Communications has appointed Shanti Thomas to the role of CFO of its Australian operations.

"Shanti has been a part of the BAI business for a long time, and she exemplifies the spirit and dedication of our entire organisation," said BAI Australia CEO Peter Lambourne.

"Over her many years and roles with BAI, she has been a respected leader and has continuously demonstrated the immense value that her exceptional capability and extensive knowledge bring to the business.

"She has been instrumental in the significant growth of BAI globally and I am delighted to have her join the Australian business, where she will support the ongoing expansion of the business locally."

Thomas has been with BAI for more than a decade, most recently as group finance director.

She previously worked as financial accounting manager at News Digital Media, and as an auditor with KPMG.

Thomas holds a bachelor of business degree from the University of Technology Sydney, and is a chartered accountant.

"BAI is leading the way in a very exciting and fast evolving industry," she said.

"The company's extensive and proud operating history in Australia has played a fundamental role in shaping the way BAI partners and works with customers globally, underpinning its growth.

"I am extremely excited to be joining the BAI Australia team and I look forward to supporting the ongoing expansion of the business here locally".

Thomas will take up her new role on 1 March 2022.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is encouraging organisations "to urgently adopt an enhanced cyber security position. Organisations should act now and follow ACSCs advice to improve their cyber security resilience in light of the heightened threat environment."

The cyber cold war which various countries and organisations have been waging with each other over the past few decades has slowly grown ever warmer over the last twenty years as technology and connectivity has dramatically improved, and now that Russia's self-described peacekeeping "special operations" in Ukraine has begun, the cyber cold war is expected to warm up faster than ever, with cyber attacks already promised by Russia in response.

In addition, given there is opportunity created in chaos, cyber criminals are likely to be even more active than their already heightened activity during the last two years of COVID chaos, making the World Wild Web the wildest it has ever been, seemingly rife with zero-day vulnerabilities.

These zero-days are discovered by determined threat actors, which the entire tech community often seems to be playing catch up with. That said, security companies make legitimate breakthroughs and with software vendors themselves also presumably very motivated these days to write software as securely as possible, and then to continue upgrading that security while ever more proactively looking for vulnerabilities in their code.

Bug bug bounties are also paid by OS and software developers to security researchers, users or anyone that finds and reports new vulnerabilities, allowing them to be fixed before they can be actively exploited.

Many of the recent iOS and iPadoS 14 and 15 dot point updates have been to patch zero-day vulnerabilties that were being actively exploited, necessitating the urgency of the update to arrive from Apple, and the urgency of you applying it to your devices, among a wide range of security meausres organisations need to take, as described below.

Thus, the ACSC's warning earlier this week that organsiations enhance their cyber security posture, and with an alert status of "HIGH", it's beyond past time to take action. The ACSC offers the Essential Eight steps listed in more detail below, and clearly, they're the minimum organisatons need to do to secure their operations, their data and themselves.

The ACSC also links to similar information from the US, UK, NZ and Canada, to prepare for and better defend against threat actors in any country, whether small, large or nation state, because the cyber cold war has already been happening for years, and all the chaos in the world is digitally accelerating cyber attacks, too.

So, below is a re-print of the rest of the ACSC cyber security bulletin, which you can also read at the ACSC website here, and which ends with a link to additional actions you can take, with a more technical explanation.

Here's the ACSC info:

Background / What has happened?

There has been a historical pattern of cyber attacks against Ukraine that have had international consequences. Malicious cyber activity could impact Australian organisations through unintended disruption or uncontained malicious cyber activities.

While the ACSC is not aware of any current or specific threats to Australian organisations, adopting an enhanced cyber security posture and increased monitoring for threats will help to reduce the impacts to Australian organisations.

Mitigation / How do I stay secure?

The ACSC recommends that organisations urgently adopt an enhanced cyber security posture. This should include reviewing and enhancing detection, mitigation, and response measures.

Organisations should ensure that logging and detection systems in their environment are fully updated and functioning and apply additional monitoring of their networks where required.

Organisations should also assess their preparedness to respond to any cyber security incidents, and should review incident response and business continuity plans. The ACSC has published Cyber Incident Response Plan  Guidance & Template to assist organisations to produce an incident response plan.

The ACSC strongly recommends organisations implement the Essential Eight mitigation strategies from the ACSCs Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents as a baseline. This baseline, known as the Essential Eight, makes it much harder for adversaries to compromise systems. The Essential Eight mitigation strategies are:

Australian organisations may also wish to review the following publications from partner agencies:

US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): CISA Insights: Implement Cybersecurity Measures Now to Protect Against Potential Critical Threats

UK National Cyber Security Centre: NCSC advises organisations to act following Russias further violation of Ukraines territorial integrity

NZ National Cyber Security Centre: General Security Advisory: Understanding and preparing for cyber threats relating to tensions between Russia and Ukraine

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS): Cyber threat bulletin: Cyber Centre urges Canadian critical infrastructure operators to raise awareness and take mitigations against known Russian-backed cyber threat activity.

Assistance / Where can I go for help?

The ACSC is monitoring the situation and is able to provide assistance or advice as required. Organisations that have been impacted or require assistance can contact the ACSC via 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371).

Here is the link the ACSC provides to additional, more technically detailed information:

2022-02: Australian organisations should urgently adopt an enhanced cyber security posture
The husband of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer killed on the set of Rust last year, said he is so angry with Alec Baldwin and that the actors account of the shooting was absurd.

The idea that the person holding the gun and causing it to discharge is not responsible is absurd to me, Matt Hutchins told the Today shows Hoda Kotb in an interview that will air Thursday morning.

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Baldwin, 63, was that person holding the gun when it fired a fatal shot into Hutchins, 42, on Oct. 21 on Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico.

Halyna Hutchins (left) with her husband, Matthew, and their son Andros.

In a December interview, Baldwin claimed that he never pulled the trigger of the gun and said he didnt feel responsible for the shooting. Matt Hutchins didnt enjoy that interview.

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Watching him I just felt so angry, he told Kotb. I was just so angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way and then to not accept any responsibility after having just described killing her.

Matt Hutchins sued Baldwin and other Rust producers last week. The wrongful-death lawsuit says Baldwin and others acted recklessly on set, while Baldwin himself committed reckless discharge of a deadly weapon, which is a criminal offense in the state of New Mexico.

Baldwin has said multiple times, including in the December interview, that he doesnt expect to be charged with a crime.

Someone is responsible for what happened, Baldwin said. And I cant say who that is, but I know its not me.

No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins. In addition to Matt Hutchins suit, Baldwin and other producers face three other civil suits from other Rust crew members.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
George Lucas is one of history's most financially successful filmmakers responsible for the Star Wars franchise and Indiana Jones, he has been nominated for four Academy Awards for his work. The multi billionaire, visionary, film director, producer, screenwriter, and entrepreneur turns  Click for more.
Instead of Take Your Child to Work Day, a TV reporter had a Mom Drives By Your Work Day, and his cringing embarrassment was caught on video and went viral this week.

The camera was rolling when Myles Harris, standing in front of traffic Saturday by a Roosters Wings location in Columbus, Ohio, saw a familiar vehicle approach.

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Harris, a multimedia journalist who grew up in the city and joined ABC News affiliate WSYX last year, was mid-sentence during his report when he stopped and threw up his hands in frustration.

Thats my mom, hold on, he told the camera operator.

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A moment later, his mother, Sandi, rolls into the frame in a black SUV with the window rolled down, leans over and shouts, Hi baby!

Harris coworker, DeAngelo Byrd  also a college friend  can be heard cackling with delight as the reporter admonishes his surprise visitor.

Im trying to work right now and youre over there calling my phone Harris tells her, then briefly introduces her to Byrd. Now dont be holding up traffic, because youve got cars behind you.

Hi DeAngelo! Sandi shouts, apparently unruffled by her sons annoyance, then blows a kiss as she drives away.

Cameraman Byrd is convulsing with laughter by this point.

When you record the best moment of 2022, Byrd captioned the short clip when he posted it to Instagram on Wednesday.

Harris had also posted the video to his Instagram on Sunday. As of Thursday, it has had over 830,000 views.

After the video went viral, Good Morning America brought Harris on Thursday morning to discuss his internet fame. During the segment, his mom crashed the party again as the shows producers brought Sandi on, surprising her son.

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In the end, Harris decided to embrace the moment, even creating a hashtag for social media.

On Thursday, he posted a photo of himself with his mother over the caption Far from normal work day. Wouldnt be able to do it without my best friend #hibaby

Sandi said she had no idea her moment of motherly exuberance would become such a sensation.

I just was checking on my son. Thats all I was doing, said Sandi, who lives about 5 minutes away and was out running an errand when she saw the news vehicle.

And I had no idea DeAngelo was hitting the record button, she said from a conference room of the Fox affiliate station, where Byrd filmed the trio to discuss the viral video.

She joked that Byrd was sneaky.

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I cant be trusted, Byrd said with a laugh.
Johnson City, TN (37604)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this morning, mainly cloudy during the afternoon with a few showers. High around 75F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Winter Park named Timothy Volkerson as the new police department chief, who will lead the agency of about 75 officers.

Commissioners unanimously confirmed Volkersons hiring Wednesday night at their regular meeting. Volkerson, 43, replaces Michael Deal, who resigned last month after his arrest on a domestic violence charge, which was later dropped.

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Volkerson has served about 21 years with the Winter Park Police Department, most recently as a division chief, a role that required supervision of various units. As police chief, he will be paid $145,000 annually.

Winter Park Police Chief Timothy Volkerson.

He was not available for an interview, but wrote on his resume that he has worked with personnel from every division within the police department, as well as members from other divisions within the city, to achieve positive outcomes for criminal cases, critical incidents, training and special events.

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Volkersons first day as top cop in Winter Park is Monday and he will be sworn in at a later date.

Volkersons tenure begins as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Daniel Knight by a WPPD officer last weekend during his nieces wedding reception at the citys event center. The department and Knights family disagree on what happened the night of the shooting.

lgarza@orlandosentinel.com
Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms during the morning. Cloudy with rain arriving this afternoon. High near 60F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 58F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
A Florida congressional candidate apologized to an officer after threatening to ruin their career during a traffic stop.

A congressional candidate from the Sarasota area, Martin Hyde issued the apology Wednesday, WFLA reported.

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The officers body camera captured the incident of pulling Hyde over on Valentines Day.

The video shows the female officer explaining to Hyde that she pulled him over for speeding and texting while driving, WFLA reported.

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Hyde asked the officer, You know who I am, right? and threatened to call the police chief.

He also asked the officer if her Russian immigration status is the reason she talk[s] to people like this?

Read the full report on wfla.com.
The University of South Florida chapter of Pi Kappa Phi is accused of antisemitism after drawing a swastika on the head of a Jewish pledge.

Many students at multiple events saw the drawn swastika on the pledges head, according to a press release from the university.

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Additionally, a fraternity member allegedly made several antisemitic posts, including one stating, Hitler did nothing wrong lol.

These allegations are deeply disturbing. Six million Jews, and millions of others, died as a result of the Holocaust, and to minimize that is an insult to all the victims and survivors, Interim Executive Director of The Florida Holocaust Museum Erin Blankenship said in a statement regarding the incident.

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USF is officially investigating the event, WTSP reported on Thursday.

USFs Student Conduct and Ethical Development are looking into four reported instances, including the drawn swastika and antisemitic posts. Both fraternity and sorority organizations supposedly involved released statements denouncing the allegations and are cooperating with USF officials, WTSP reported.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

Pi Kappa Phi released several statements on Instagram under the username @usfsigmakappa regarding the incident.

The first statement posted on Feb. 12 includes an introduction stating the members of Sigma Kappa Lambda Zeta...do not tolerate racism, and work to make this an inclusive environment for everyone. The account apologized on behalf of our chapter for the incident that occurred involving one of our members this past week. The statement said they sanctioned and suspended the member allegedly responsible and promised, we will do better; we will be better.

In a second statement posted Tuesday, the account said they received new information absolving our sister from all accusations. saying they received physical documentation that the entirety of the post was fabricated.

As USF continues their investigation, Blankenship said the Florida Holocaust Museum is working with the Jewish organizations to educate students so they will learn why these actions are so highly problematic.

Orlando is no stranger to antisemitism demonstrations.

Three members of the National Socialist Movement, including the leader of a neo-nazi group, were arrested for an attack at an Orlando demonstration on the final weekend of January.

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Kissimmee-based leader Burt Colucci and Joshua Terrell of Indiana were charged with battery evidencing prejudice after video showed the two attacking a Jewish man who confronted them as they shouted antisemitic slurs by Alafaya Trail and Waterford Lakes Parkway.
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A former elementary school substitute teacher in Pasco County was arrested on charges of molesting two students, the Pasco Sheriffs Office said Wednesday.

Richard Berrios was charged with lewd & lascivious molestation.

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He worked at James M. Marlowe Elementary School in New Port Richey, WTSP-Channel 10 reported.

The mother of one of the alleged victims told WTSP that Berrios touched her daughter inappropriately on December 13 and then again the next day. She said Berrios was subbing in gym class.

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Pasco County Schools says Berrios worked as a substitute for less than two months, Fox News 13 reported.

We are very disappointed. As soon as the students came forward with the allegations, Mr. Berrios was inactivated as a sub and we reported it to law enforcement, the school district said in a statement. We appreciate the Pasco Sheriffs Offices thorough investigation, which resulted in the arrest today, and we applaud the brave students for coming forward. Though we have no indications that there are other victims, we join the Sheriffs Office in urging parents to come forward if they believe their student may have been victimized by Mr. Berrios.

The sheriffs office said it does not believe there are additional victims.

However, anyone with further information is asked to call the PSO Crime Tips Line 1-800-706-2488 or submit a tip online at http://PascoSheriff.com/tips.
02/23/2022





by Buffy Lockette

In honor of Womens History Month, JSU has organized its second annual womens history essay and art contest for all ages, genders and viewpoints. The competition is divided into four categories, based on grade level, as follows:

Elementary School Drawing Contest: Grades 1-4

Open to residents of Calhoun County of any gender who attend traditional or home school.

Draw a colorful picture on a letter sized piece of paper of a noteworthy, innovative woman you see as a hero. Use pictorial references to the womans accomplishments. For example, a drawing of Mae Jemison might include a picture of a rocket. Include a sentence naming the woman and describing her accomplishments (parents may help with this part). Email to WHM.EssayContest@jsu.edu by March 1 or mail to the following address with a postmark by February 25: JSU, Houston Cole Library, ATTN: Karlie Johnson, 700 Pelham Rd. N., Jacksonville, AL 36265. Each picture must be accompanied by an information and consent form, available online or by emailing jgross@jsu.edu.

Middle School Essay Contest: Grades 5-8

Open to residents of Calhoun County of any gender who attend traditional or home school.

Write a grammatically correct 500-600 word essay about an empowered or strong woman. What traits does she have? How does she use those traits to make the world a better place for all people? The five paragraph essay format is suggested but not required. Email to WHM.EssayContest@jsu.edu by March 1 or mail to the following address with a postmark by February 25: JSU, Houston Cole Library, ATTN: Karlie Johnson, 700 Pelham Rd. N., Jacksonville, AL 36265. Each essay must be accompanied by an information and consent form, available online or by emailing jgross@jsu.edu.

High School Essay Contest: Grades 9-12

Open to residents of Calhoun County of any gender who attend traditional or home school.

Write a grammatically correct 750-850 word essay about a woman who dared to be different. What kind of struggles did she face? What did she accomplish? How does she empower and inspire other people? Different can be defined as a person of diverse traits and backgrounds  personal, social, cultural, psychological, physical, professional, political, gender, religious, linguistic, ethnic, etc. The five paragraph essay format is suggested but not required. Email to WHM.EssayContest@jsu.edu by March 1 or mail to the following address with a postmark by February 25: JSU, Houston Cole Library, ATTN: Karlie Johnson, 700 Pelham Rd. N., Jacksonville, AL 36265. Each essay must be accompanied by an information and consent form, available online or by emailing jgross@jsu.edu.

College Essay Contest: Undergraduate

Open to current undergraduate students enrolled at Jacksonville State University.

Write a grammatically correct, 1000-1200 word essay on the meaning of feminism. How do you understand its goals and strategies? Do you consider yourself to be a feminist? Why or why not? How has feminism changed our society? The five paragraph essay format is suggested but not required. Email to WHM.EssayContest@jsu.edu by March 1 or mail to the following address with a postmark by February 25: JSU, Houston Cole Library, ATTN: Karlie Johnson, 700 Pelham Rd. N., Jacksonville, AL 36265. Each essay must be accompanied by an information and consent form, available online or by emailing jgross@jsu.edu.

The contest will be judged by a panel of JSU faculty and staff, which will select one winner in each category. Winners will be announced at the universitys Womens History Month Celebration on March 10. Each winning entry will receive a monetary prize and be published in The Anniston Star. For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Gross at jgross@jsu.edu.
Today, conflict resolution efforts are facing one of the most challenging climates since the end of World War II. Civil wars and insurgencies have proliferated around the globe and violent extremism continues to rise despite more than twenty years of global efforts to combat terrorism. The past decade especially has witnessed grave violations of international humanitarian law and massive human atrocities, with perpetrators feeling an increased sense of impunity.

At the same time, the world is passing through a period of inconclusive wars. Long-gone is the era of clear victory and defeat. Also, while interstate wars have declined, intrastate armed conflicts have sharply risen. Although disputes between countries persist  and the current conflict regarding Ukraine is a reminder of their global dangers  they are generally less likely to escalate to interstate wars. Meanwhile grey zone warfare and cross-border meddling are ascending.

While the last centurys great wars resulted in setting international rules to regulate conduct during conflicts, and significantly advanced international law (especially IHL), international norms around conflict  and the institutions meant to face them, particularly the UN Security Council  have fallen devastatingly short in resolving conflicts. This trend could deepen in the context of the evolving great-power competition.

A reframing effort of such norms is overdue. The world needs a legal instrument to aim at encouraging and supporting peace negotiations for the peaceful settlement of internal armed conflicts.

The Middle East: Nexus of the Worlds Challenges

The Middle East has the dubious distinction of hosting some of the worlds most persistent and dire conflicts and crises. It is home to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one of the most enduring struggles. The UN Secretary General declared the situation in Yemen to be the worlds worst humanitarian crisis with 80% of the countrys population in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. Meanwhile, Syria has by far the largest forcibly displaced population worldwide: 6.6 million refugees and more than 6 million internally displaced people, constituting around half the Syrian population. The conflict in Libya is characterised by a weak government, a constellation of militias, and a political class in which many are not only backed by foreign governments but also divided across ideological and tribal lines. Meanwhile, Tunisia, Sudan, Lebanon, Algeria, and Iraq are facing varying degrees of instability and civil strife. The Iranian nuclear file and Iranian policies are also a source of major tension and instability in the region.

Today, not a single conflict in the Middle East is on a solid path towards a political solution. A series of UN peace envoys have come and gone to no avail, while several of the parties involved continue to pay lip service to political settlements but act in a manner more consistent with a military solution. The polarisation witnessed in the region, with different countries supporting opposing parties in conflicts, is making it exceedingly difficult to achieve political settlements.

There are also fears that international and regional fatigue may result in a situation whereby the main players would be satisfied with transforming many of these conflicts into never-ending low intensity conflicts with dire implications for the future of regional stability.

Furthermore, in the wake of the first wave of the Arab revolutions that started in 2010 in Tunisia, followed by Egypt, Syria, and Yemen, there were countries in the region that supported these revolutions and others that considered them a great threat to their own stability. A second wave erupted with similar complications. Despite Lebanon and Iraq witnessing up close the near-total destruction of Syria, the Lebanese and Iraqi people still launched their own wide-scale protests. Similarly, the Sudanese and the Algerians took to the streets, undeterred by the neighbouring chaos in Libya and the challenges facing Egypt. This may not be the end: the outbreak of a third wave of revolutions should not be excluded.

The absence of justice, rule of law and good governance help explain these public uprisings. For the most part, and with few exceptions, the region has been moving in the wrong direction. This is the case in almost every area  from conflict resolution to democracy, human rights, social cohesion, and economic and social development  and there are no signals that this trend is going to be meaningfully reversed in the foreseeable future.

International Rules for Peace Negotiation

One of the initiatives that can partly help the region in dealing with the absence of rule of law in conflict resolution is the Peace Treaty Initiative, the aim of which is to bring about a unique multilateral treaty on peace negotiations. Already there is an indicative text of the treaty, which is now the subject of an inclusive consultation process involving governments, multilateral organisations, academia, faith-based entities, NGOs and think tanks from around the world.

The guiding motivation and premise behind the text is that the international system needs a set of rules and legal instruments to incentivise and support conflicting parties and other relevant actors toward accepting negotiations as a critical means to achieving peace in intrastate conflicts and prevent the prolongation of suffering and atrocities before they become protracted conflicts.

The indicative text does not impose negotiations on states, neither does it reduce the flexibility or confidentiality that negotiating parties require. Indeed, the parties maintain control over all decisions, including the content of any accord.

The participation of non-state armed groups in negotiations may result in some form of recognition. However, the indicative text does not confer any form of legitimacy on them or alter their legal status. Instead, it provides a support mechanism and a system for the validation of the key choices made by the negotiating parties  for example, through conferring a presumption of conformity with international law if a peace agreement meets certain criteria.

The indicative text is only a starting point and even as it undergoes changes it will never constitute a silver bullet for conflict resolution. Visionary leadership and political will, for example, are almost always a necessary ingredient in achieving a peaceful settlement of conflicts. But advancing the Peace Treaty Initiative is a much-needed undertaking.

The global picture of conflict resolution is rather gloomy, especially in the Middle East. Priority should be given to new ideas for terminating endless wars and conflicts and ending the suffering of tens of millions of people. The external shock of Covid-19 should have provided the motivation and heightened the urgency to explore every possible avenue to end conflicts, but unfortunately has not. If leaders do not deliver on the hope for peace, stability, and development, this not only will feed extremism, but will result in the eruption of one violent upheaval after another.

The advancement of international criminal law, despite the challenges faced, has been a positive development. It owes its success to European leadership. There is hope that the Peace Treaty Initiative could lead to a dialogue on how international law can go further and contribute to resolving conflict in a more effective manner. Modest as this may be, the initiative is a constructive first step in the right direction on the long road to advance rule of law in conflict resolution.

Recommended reading Mark Freeman: how you can negotiate justice and peace
British war crimes police have arrested a suspect in connection with the 2000 murder of high-profile Sri Lankan journalist Mylvaganam Nimalrajan during the countrys brutal civil war, they said on Thursday.

Officers from Londons Metropolitan Police War Crimes team arrested a 48-year-old man in Northamptonshire, central England, on Tuesday and subsequently released him under investigation, a statement said.

Police appealed to members of the Sri Lankan community for any information that might assist the investigation into the murder of Nimalrajan, who was killed by unidentified gunmen at his home in October 2000.

Nimalrajan was a Tamil journalist based in the northern Jaffna peninsula who reported for various news organisations, including the BBC, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

He was one of the few sources of independent news from Jaffna, a strife-torn area where journalists were rarely allowed free access during the 37-year conflict, the CPJ said.

This is a significant update in what is a sensitive, complex investigation, said the Mets Richard Smith.

More than 100,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the Sri Lankan civil war pitting the Tamil minority against the Sinhalese majority, which ended in 2009.

International rights groups and UN estimates place the number of Tamil civilians killed by government forces in the final months of war at about 40,000, a figure disputed by Colombo.

Under the UKs no safe haven policy, British police can investigate anyone who may fall under the UKs jurisdiction and who is suspected of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide or torture anywhere in the world.
Here are the latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine:

 Putin announces operation 

Russian President Vladimir Putin appears on television to announce the attack on Ukraine shortly before 6:00 am (0300 GMT).

He says the military operation is to defend separatists in the east from genocide and warns the West of horrible consequences if it interferes.

 Full-scale invasion 

As airstrikes and artillery pummel the country, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accuses Putin of launching a full-scale invasion.

 Russians close on Kyiv 

Russian ground forces cross into Ukraine from several directions. They break through into the region north of Kyiv, attacking Ukrainian positions with Grad missiles.

 Battle for airbase 

An airbase on the northern outskirts of Kyiv falls to the Russians after dozens of attack helicopters take part in the assault.

 Fighting at Chernobyl 

Ukraine says its troops are fighting to keep control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which melted down with catastrophic consequences in 1986.

 Massive casualty numbers 

With dozens dead, including many civilians, the Red Cross says it fears massive casualty numbers.

 Airbases, defences destroyed 

Russia says its military has destroyed more than 70 military targets, including 11 airfields in Ukraine.

 Territorial gains 

The Russian army says Moscow-backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine are advance and gaining territory.

 Crime against humanity 

The Polish chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation Europe, which includes Russia, accuses Moscow of a crime against humanity in invading Ukraine.

 Decapitate Ukraine 

The Russians intend to decapitate the Ukraines government and install a new leadership allied to Moscow, a senior US defence official claims.

 China understands 

Beijing tells Russias foreign minister it understands Moscows reasonable concerns on security issues in Ukraine.

 Martial law 

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky declares martial law as a curfew is declared in Kyiv.

 Maximum losses 

The head of the Ukrainian military says Zelensky has ordered him to repel the Russian invasion and to inflict maximum losses.

 Polish refugee centres 

Poland is opening nine reception centres along its border with Ukraine to prepare for an influx of refugees.

 Belarus not taking part 

Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko says his military is not taking part in the invasion, but France condemns him for allowing his country to be the launchpad of the attack on Ukraine.

 Ban Russia from banking system 

Ukraine calls on Russian banks to be excluded from the international SWIFT financial transfer network, as the West considers how to ramp up sanctions on Moscow.

 Moscow arrests anti-war protesters 

Dozens of Russian anti-war protesters are arrested in Moscow and St Petersburg despite a warning that they would be prosecuted if they took to the streets.

 Olympics blast Russia 

The International Olympic Committee harshly criticise Russia for violating the Olympic Truce for the Beijing Games.

 Lithuania emergency 

EU and NATO member Lithuania  the nearest of the Baltic states to Ukraine  says it will impose a state of emergency after the Russian attack.

 Oil prices soar 

Oil prices soar past $105 for the first time in more than seven years after Putin announces the invasion.

 Record wheat prices 

European wheat prices also hit a record high with Ukraine one of the worlds biggest grain producers.

 European stocks slump 

European stocks slump after similar falls in Asia, with the London market falling three percent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing air strikes and ordering ground troops across the border in fighting that Ukrainian authorities said left dozens of people dead.

The attack triggered Western warnings of unprecedented sanctions against Russia as NATO, EU and G7 leaders condemned the invasion and vowed to hold Moscow accountable.

Weeks of intense diplomacy failed to deter Putin, who massed over 150,000 troops on Ukraines borders in what the West said was the biggest military build-up in Europe since World War II.

I have decided to proceed with a special military operation, Putin said in a televised address before dawn on Thursday.

Shortly afterwards, the first bombardments were heard in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, and several other cities, according to AFP correspondents.

Russian air strikes hit military installations across the country as ground forces moved in from the north, south and east, forcing many Ukrainians to flee their homes to the sounds of bombing.

Olena Kurilo was among 20 wounded after a blast sent shards of glass from her windows into her face in the eastern Ukrainian town of Chuguiv.

Never, under any conditions will I submit to Putin. It is better to die, the 52-year-old teacher said, her face swathed in bandages.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there was now a new iron curtain between Russia and the rest of the world, like in the Cold War.

US President Joe Biden vowed to hold Russia accountable and G7 leaders said Putin was on the wrong side of history after a virtual summit.

This crisis is a serious threat to the rules-based international order, with ramifications well beyond Europe, the G7 leaders said in a statement.

Biden was expected to give a speech at 1730 GMT.

 Attack on Chernobyl 

Across Ukraine, at least 68 people were killed, including both soldiers and civilians, according to an AFP tally from Ukrainian official sources.

Air raid sirens sounded over Kyiv at the break of dawn after the citys main airport was hit in the first bombing of the city since World War II.

The city declared an overnight curfew but said underground stations would remain open throughout the to serve as bomb shelters.

Ukraine said that Russian forces had managed to capture an airfield near Kyiv and fighting was also raging around Chernobyl in northern Ukraine  the site of a nuclear disaster.

Russian occupying forces are trying to take over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Our soldiers are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 does not happen again, Zelensky wrote on Twitter.

He called the attack on Chernobyl  a vast area that has been abandoned since the disaster because of continued high levels of radioactivity  a declaration of war on all of Europe.

In the deadliest single strike reported by Ukrainian authorities, 18 people were killed at a military base near the Black Sea port of Odessa.

Ukraines emergency services also said a military plane with 14 people on board crashed south of Kyiv and that they were determining how many people died.

As the assault began, Zelensky declared martial law and accused Russia of acting like Nazi Germany  but asked people not to panic and promised victory.

Ukrainian forces said they had killed around 50 Russian occupiers while repulsing an attack on a town on the frontline with Moscow-backed rebels, a toll that could not immediately be confirmed by AFP.

 Feel sorry for everyone 

In the eastern Ukrainian town of Chuguiv, a son wept over the body of his father among the wreckage of a missile strike in a residential district.

I told him to leave, the man said repeatedly, sobbing next to the twisted ruins of a car.

On the Russian side of the border, in Pokrovskoye, there was an eerie calm and no sign of the soldiers who had filled the village on Wednesday.

Anastasia Yashonkova came out of a store where she bought small toys and a lemonade for her four-year-old son.

This is really scary, said the 30-year-old. I feel sorry for everyone.

 Significant economic risk 

Russias defence ministry said it had destroyed over 70 military targets, including 11 airfields.

Ukraine said Russian tanks and heavy equipment crossed the border in several northern regions, in the east as well as from the Kremlin-annexed peninsula of Crimea in the south.

The fighting spooked global financial markets, with stocks plunging and oil prices soaring past $100.

European wheat prices also hit a record high on expectations of lower supplies as Ukraine and Russia are two of the worlds biggest producers.

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said the fighting carried significant economic risk for the world.

 Harshest sanctions 

In his televised address, Putin justified the assault as a defence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk republics in eastern Ukraine.

The Kremlin earlier said the leaders of the two separatist territories had asked Moscow for military help against Kyiv after Putin recognised their independence on Monday.

A conflict between the separatists and government forces has dragged on since 2014, killing more than 14,000 people on both sides.

Putins aim is to end the existence of Ukraine as it was yesterday, said Tatyana Stanovaya, a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Moscow Center.

I cannot see anything that would stop Russia now.

In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Russia would be hit with the harshest sanctions the European Union has ever imposed.

The OSCEs acting chairman, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, said the invasion was a crime against humanity.

NATO said it had activated defence plans for allied countries but alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said there were no plans to send NATO forces into Ukraine.

Russia has long demanded that Ukraine be forbidden from ever joining NATO and that US troops pull out from Eastern Europe.

The Russian invasion rattled eastern NATO members once dominated by Moscow, with several calling for a strong response from the military alliance.

Poland said it would open nine reception centres along its border with Ukraine in anticipation of an influx of refugees.

In the Baltics, Lithuania declared a national emergency and Latvia banned three Russian TV channels that were broadcasting in the country, saying they posted a threat to national security.

Demonstrators took to the streets of European capitals to condemn Russia but a small anti-war protest in Moscow was quickly shut down by police and dozens of people were detained.

burs-dt/gw
KYIV, Ukraine  Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen.

Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government.

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U.S. President Joe Biden pledged new sanctions meant to punish Russia for an act of aggression that the international community had for weeks anticipated but could not prevent through diplomacy.

Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees, and credulously claimed that Russia doesnt intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to demilitarize it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

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Biden in a written statement condemned the unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine and he promised the U.S. and its allies will hold Russia accountable. Biden said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday.

Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the action as a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a war of aggression, adding, Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

The Russian military said it has struck Ukrainian air bases and other military assets and hasnt targeted populated areas. The Russian Defense Ministry statement said the military is using precision weapons to target Ukrainian air bases, air defense assets and other military infrastructure. It claimed that there is no threat to civilian population.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraines interior minister, said on Facebook that the Russian military has launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.

After the initial explosions in Kyiv, people could be heard shouting in the streets. But then a sense of normality returned, with cars circulating and people walking in the streets as a pre-dawn commute appeared to be starting in relative calm.

Beyond casualties that could overwhelm Ukraines government, the consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions levied on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, affecting energy supplies in Europe, jolting global financial markets and threatening the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

Asian stock markets plunged and oil prices surged after the military action got underway. Earlier, Wall Streets benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.8% to an eight-month low after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked for military assistance

Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle, saying, whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.

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Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home.

In a stark reminder of Russias nuclear power, Putin warned that no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor. He emphasized that Russia is one of the most potent nuclear powers and also has a certain edge in a range of state-of-the-art weapons.

Though the U.S. on Tuesday announced the repositioning of forces around the Baltics, Biden has said he will not send in troops to fight Russia.

Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian aggression, an announcement that the White House said was a false flag operation by Moscow to offer up a pretext for an invasion.

Putins announcement came just hours after the Ukrainian president rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate, last-minute plea for peace.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

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Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

In an apparent reference to Putins move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.

Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything, he said.

He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.

At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called by Ukraine because of the imminent threat of a Russian invasion, members still unaware of Putins announcement appealed to him to stop an attack. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting, just before the announcement, telling Putin: Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.

NATO Secretary-General Jen Stoltenberg issued a statement saying he strongly condemns Russias reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.

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Anxiety about an imminent Russian offensive soared after Putin recognized the separatist regions independence on Monday, endorsed the deployment of troops to the rebel territories and received parliamentary approval to use military force outside the country. The West responded with sanctions.

Late Wednesday, Ukrainian lawmakers approved a decree that imposes a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday. The measure allows authorities to declare curfews and other restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations in the interests of national security and public order.

The action reflected increasing concern among Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended that any Ukrainians who are there leave immediately.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Wednesday the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraines borders is in an advanced state of readiness. They are ready to go right now, Kirby said.

Early Thursday, airspace over all of Ukraine was shut down to civilian air traffic, according to a notice to airmen. A commercial flight tracking website showed that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 flying from Tel Aviv to Toronto turned abruptly out of Ukrainian airspace before detouring over Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. The only other aircraft tracked over Ukraine was a U.S. RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned surveillance plane, which began flying westward early Thursday after Russia put in place flight restrictions over Ukrainian territory.

Another wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks hit Ukraines parliament and other government and banking websites on Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.

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Officials have long said they expect cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the incidents hew to a nearly two-decade-old Russian playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.

Even before Putins announcement, dozens of nations imposed sanctions on Russia, further squeezing Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

Biden allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the companys CEO.

Germany said Tuesday that it was indefinitely suspending the project, after Biden charged that Putin had launched the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine by sending troops into the separatist regions. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.

Even before the Russian military attack on Ukraine began, the threat of war had shredded Ukraines economy and raised the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos.

European Union sanctions against Russia took effect, targeting several companies along with 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for a motion urging Putin to recognize the rebel regions and 27 senior government officials, business executives and top military officers.

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The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage.

___

Karmanau and Heintz reported from Kyiv. Angela Charlton in Paris; Frank Jordans in Berlin; Lorne Cook in Brussels, Frank Bajak in Boston, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.
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Jared Nally, EIC of the The Indian Leader at Haskell Indian Nations University, had a lawsuit against the university settled.
In "Rookie Cops" episodes 9 and 10, Wi Seung Hyun (Kang Daniel), Kim Tak (Lee Shin Young), Go Eun Gang (Chae Soo Bin) and their squad members experience troubles outside the university.

'Rookie Cops' Episode 9: Wi Seung Hyun Meets Go Eun Gang's Family

During the weekend, Wi Seung Hyun was supposed to go on a date with Go Eun Gang, but he was invited by his seniors to drink since it was their free time. He promised to be back immediately and eat Tteokbokki with her.

DRUNK SEUNGHYUN IS THE CUTEST I SWEAR #RookieCopspic.twitter.com/zF6Eme8DZr    ~ wivengers   (@farhah_alisa) February 23, 2022

Eun Gang then decided to go home because she had been waiting for hours. She went outside to buy food.

She was then surprised to see the intoxicated Wi Seung Hyun sitting in front of their house. Though he was late, he bought a Tteokbokki for her and she enjoyed eating outside while he was asleep.

Since she didn't know where he lives, she let her stay in her room for the night.

The next morning, when Eun Gang was helping Seung Hyun to escape the house, he was caught by her father and was then interrogated during their meal.

Though it was not the kind of scenario he wanted to meet Eun Gang's parents, Seung Hyun was nonetheless happy to meet them.

love how tak just being so blunt about him liking ari  and the way he's confused when ari said he's being obvious about his feeling hahahaha but bro you're really slow for not realizing ari's feeling #RookieCops #RookieCopsEp9 pic.twitter.com/mR1nX6rBat  liy  (@kimyoungdaes) February 23, 2022

Meanwhile, Shin Ah Ri (Cheon Young Min) confronted Kim Tak and asked why he cared to give her strawberries. His actions confused her so she took the chance to talk to him.

At that moment Kim Tak finally confessed and told Ah Ri that he likes her. Cha Yu Gon also found out Ki Han Na's (Park Yoo Na) connection to Kang Nam Gi (Hyun Woo Sung).

'Rookie Cops' Episode 10: Freshmen Catch the Culprit Behind the Online Fraud

Ju Young (Min Do Hee) asked help from Bumju (Kim Woo Seok) and Daeil (Park Sung Joon) to look for the culprit behind the scam she experienced online. She was determined due to the lecture they had with Professor Cha Yu Gon (Kim Sang Ho).

Fortunately, after two days of checking every convenience store in the countryside, they were able to trace the guy sending the empty parcels to customers. But they had bigger problems. The guy named Lee Sehyun was a victim of manipulation and he just followed what the gang members told him to.

Eun Gang wanted to help and so Ju Young, Daeil, Bumju, and Wi Seung Hyun helped her find the gang behind the fraud. They failed at first but when Eun Gang was already assigned to a police station together with Kim Tak and Seung Hyun to do training, she once again began searching for evidence that might help Lee Sehyun.

Unexpectedly, Kim Tak met an old lady who happened to be Lee Sehyun's grandmother. He told Eun Gang and they started to search for Sehyun.

Them.. Their chemistry this duo.. I really like it how they work everything together



They looks soo hot while fighting #RookieCopsEp9 #RookieCopsEp10 #RookieCops #KANGDANIELpic.twitter.com/ReceJdTPrQ   (@withdramas) February 23, 2022

Fortunately, after fights and car chasing, they were able to catch the gang members and saved the kid. They even received incentives from their officers, which they shared with their friends.

Thoughts about "Rookie Cops" episodes 9 and 10? Tell us in the comments!

Follow KDramastars for more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity updates.

Kdramastars owns this recap.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Yoo Yeon Seok goes global with his forthcoming suspense-crime thriller movie "Vanishing: Unsolved Case," where he portrays a meticulous detective.

Read to know more about his new character.

Yoo Yeon Seok Stars in 'Vanishing: Unsolved Case' With Hollywood Actress Olga Kurylenko

Following the success of his drama "Hospital Playlist" where he played as Ahn Jung Won, a professor of pediatric surgery, Yoo Yeon Seok breaks into a new career path in his forthcoming movie "Vanishing: Unsolved Case." Here, he transforms into a detective named Jin Ho.

"Vanishing: Unsolved Case" is a suspense-crime thriller that takes place when an unidentified body that overturned the Republic of Korea was discovered, and a joint investigation between Jin Ho and international forensic scientist Alice (Olga Kurylenko) in charge of the case faced the shocking incident.

The "Mr. Sunshine" actor, who boasts a wide spectrum of acting regardless of field and genre and shows perfect character synchronization in each work, will take a new challenge by becoming a meticulous detective, who digs into unprecedented unknown cases with sharp intuition and fierce tenacity.

Yoo Yeon Seok will charismatically portray Jin Ho, a brilliant detective who tracks a big criminal organization after chasing a clue to the incident. He is expected to increase the tension in the film and capture attention with his brilliant acting skills.

'Vanishing: Unsolved Case' to Premiere in March

In "Vanishing: Unsolved Case," the "Dr. Romantic" star spoke three languages fluently to enhance the character's completeness.

The movie was filmed and produced through collaboration of domestic and foreign production teams. It is slated to debut in March.

Hollywood actress and "Bond" girl Olga Kurylenko is also said to have established a great chemistry with the Korean superstar in the movie.

Further, director Deniderkour, who is in charge of the film, praised Yoo Yeon Seok, saying, "I cast Yoo Yeon Seok because of his acting skills. And he is a very good actor.

Meanwhile, Yoo Yeon Seok is gearing to make a return on the small screen with Netflix's original series "Suriname," which is set for worldwide release this year. He is also in talks to join Park Min Young in a new romance drama.

What are your thoughts about Yoo Yeon Seok's role in his upcoming film "Vanishing: Unsolved Case"? Share your comments with us!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins.
"All of Us Are Dead" star Yoon Chan Young revealed his most favorite items as he graced Elle Korea. Over the publication's YouTube channel, the rising star brought items that hold a special meaning to him.

Yoon Chan Young's Revelation

During the interview with the Elle Korea team, the 20-year-old actor expressed his gratitude towards Song Yoon Ah.

In the video, Yoon Chan Young revealed that the award-winning actress gave him a special gift to commemorate his milestone.

According to the "All of Us Are Dead," star Song Yoon Ah gifted him a blue Cartier Santos Dumont watch that retails for a whopping 5.1 million won or around 4,200 USD.

The actor explained that it is his favorite watch because it was given to him by his senior when he graduated from high school and passed the university entrance test.

Moreover, he shared that he named the luxury watch "Carpe Diem" to remind him to focus on the present and seize the moment.

To recall, Yoon Chan Young and Song Yoon Ah appeared in the 2014 melodrama "Mama," where the actress portrayed the single mom Han Seung Hee.

In the MBC series, he took on the role of Seung Hee's eldest Han Geu Roo.

Interestingly, Yoon Chan Young revealed that the actress was like a "mom" on the set and treated him as if he was truly her son.

Song Yoon Ah Congratulates Yoon Chan Young on 'All of Us Are Dead' Major Success

The same goes for the 48-year-old beauty who showed how proud he is of Yoon Chan Young's achievement.

On February 3, the "Secret Mother" star shared a photo of the rising star together with a heartfelt message.

She mentioned how he grew up to be an outstanding actor and recalled her working experience with the rising star during their "Mama" production.

Lastly, Song Yoon Ah promised to support and cheer him on his future endeavors.

Touched by the senior actress' message, Yoon Chan Young replied saying "thank you for giving me so much strength."

The 20-year-old actor made his debut in 2013 after starring with the young Yeon Woo Jin in "When A Man's in Love."

He then starred in his first-ever main role in "Pluto Squad," alongside Kim Ji Min, "Racket Boys" star Tang Jung Sang and more.

However, it was the Netflix series "All of Us Are Dead" where Yoon Chan Young catapulted his fame, gaining popularity not just in South Korea but worldwide.

Yoon Chan Young's New Kdrama

After the triumphant premiere of the 12-episode series, the 20-year-old star is set to headline a new series.

Yoon Chan Young's new drama will be the upcoming teenage noir series "Juvenile Delinquency," which stars Yang Seo Hyun and Han Se Jin.

"Juvenile Delinquency'' release date is scheduled on March 25 through streaming service, Seezn.

KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Following the success of his raunchy, romantic-comedy film with Girls' Generation Seohyun, "Love and Leashes" actor Lee Jun Young and his agency deliver saddening news.

Lee Jun Young To Undergo Quarantine After Testing Positive for COVID-19

"Love and Leashes" actor Lee Jun Young tested positive for COVID-19.

On February 24, Lee Jun Young's agency, Jflex, disclosed the actor's current state.

According to their statement, Lee Jun Young used a self-test kit ahead of his schedule on the afternoon last Tuesday, February 22, which tested positive.

In the following day, he immediately underwent PCR testing and received final positive results on the afternoon of February 23.

Lee Jun Young has received his two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and is not exhibiting any particular symptoms. But in order to ensure everyone's safety, the actor is taking necessary measures in line with the health guidelines by control authorities.

In addition, Lee Jun Young is receiving immediate treatment while in home quarantine. The agency promised to put the actor's health first and said, "We will do everything to help Lee Jun Young recover as soon as possible. We sincerely apologize for causing concern to many people."

Let's wish Lee Jun Young a speedy recovery!

Lee Jun Young Upcoming Dramas, Activities, More

After the success of his drama "Let Me Be Your Knight" and frisky film Netflix "Love and Leashes" with Girls' Generation Seohyun, Lee Jun Young is now gearing up for his forthcoming film "Brave Citizen."

The Park Jin Pyo-directed film stars Lee Jun Young and Shin Hye Sun. The drama stars Lee Jun Young as a Han Soo Gang, a high school student who is known for his notorious mischievousness.

On the other hand, Shin Hye Sun transforms into So Shi Min, a homeroom teacher who once dreamed of becoming a boxer.

"Brave Citizen" centers around the story of a determined teacher and a troublemaker who unexpectedly grows a fond connection with one another.

The upcoming film is based on the 2016 web comic of the same name, written by Kim Jung Hyun.

"Brave Citizen" began filming in December of 2021. Once the cast and production unit finish filming, they will proceed to post-production for finalization.

Lee Jun Young and Shin Hye Sun's romance comedy film "Brave Citizen" is scheduled to air in the second half of 2022.

Are you excited for Lee Jun Young and Shin Hye Sun's first ever project together? Share your thoughts about the pairing on the comments below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Ukainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the press in the town of Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on April 4, 2022. (Ronaldo Schemidt/Getty-AFP)

WARSAW, Poland  Russian troops launched a broad, three-pronged assault on Ukraine that opened with air and missile strikes on Ukrainian military facilities and included ground troops invading from Crimea.

Ukraines leadership called a full-scale war aimed at destroying a Western-looking democracy intent on escaping Moscows orbit. The health minister said 57 Ukrainians have been killed as a result of the Russian invasion and 169 more were wounded.

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As Ukrainian forces fought back and civilians piled into trains and cars to flee, the U.S. and European leaders rushed to respond, if not directly in Ukraine, with strong financial sanctions to punish Russia. NATO moved to strengthen its eastern flank.

Here are the things to know about the conflict over Ukraine and the security crisis in Eastern Europe:

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Putin makes his move

In a televised address as the attack began, Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists have been fighting for almost eight years.

The U.S. had predicted Putin would falsely claim that the rebel-held regions were under attack to justify an invasion.

The Russian leader warned other countries that any attempt to interfere in Ukraine would lead to consequences you have never seen in history  a dark threat implying Russia was prepared to use its nuclear weapons.

Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demands to block Ukraine from ever joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

Putin said Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine but plans to demilitarize it. He urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home. Soon after his address, explosions were heard in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa.

Russias Defense Ministry reported hours later that the Russian military has destroyed 74 Ukrainian military facilities, including 11 air bases.

The West reacts quickly

World leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraines democratically elected government and threaten the post-Cold War balance.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Russias attack a brutal act of war and said Moscow had shattered peace on the European continent.

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U.S. President Joe Biden said Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

In Lithuania, a small Baltic nation and NATO member that borders Russias Kaliningrad region to the southwest, Belarus to the east, Latvia to the north and Poland to the south. President Gitanas Nauseda signed a decree declaring a state of emergency. The countrys parliament was expected to approve the measure later in the day.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Putin has unleashed war in our European continent and Britain cannot and will not just look away.

Our mission is clear: diplomatically, politically, economically and eventually militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure, Johnson said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sharply condemned Russias attack, calling it a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said: This Russian invasion stands to put at risk the basic principle of international order that forbids one-sided action of force in an attempt to change the status quo.

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Ukraines president urges calm

Residents of Ukraines capital, Kyiv, could be heard shouting in the streets when the first explosions sounded.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a video statement declaring martial law. He told Ukrainians that the United States was gathering international support to respond to Russia. He urged residents to remain calm and to stay at home.

Zelenskyy had repeatedly appealed to Putin in recent days to pursue a diplomatic path instead of taking military action. He urged world leaders Thursday to provide defense assistance and help protect Ukraines airspace.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a presidential adviser, said fighting was taking place Thursday along practically the entire perimeter of the countrys border.

The head of the U.N. refugee agency called on neighboring countries to keep their borders open for Ukrainians fleeing the fighting.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi pointed to reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety.

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He said his agency had stepped up its operations and capacity in both Ukraine and its neighbors.

World markets fall

World stock markets plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Beyond its human toll, the conflict looks set to send prices spiraling even higher at gasoline pumps and grocery stores around the world.

Russia and Ukraine are major producers not only of energy products but also grains and various other commodities. War could upend global supplies, as could sanctions brought by the United States and other allies.

When will the West impose more sanctions?

Ukraines forces are no match for Moscows military might, so Kyiv is counting on other countries to hit Russia hard  with sanctions.

Biden on Wednesday allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the companys CEO.

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Biden waived sanctions last year when the project was almost completed, in return for an agreement from Germany to take action against Russia if it used gas as a weapon or attacked Ukraine. Germany said Tuesday it was indefinitely suspending the pipeline.

Biden said more sanctions would be announced on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the European Union planned the strongest, the harshest package ever, to be considered at a summit on Thursday, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue, Borrell said.

This is not only the greatest violation of international law, its a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence. Its costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.

What sanctions were under U.S. consideration if Russia invaded?

The Biden administration had made clear it was holding tough financial penalties in reserve in case of just such a Russian invasion.

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The U.S. hasnt specified just what measures it will take now, although administration officials have made clear that all-out sanctions against Russias major banks are among the likely options. So are export limits that would deny Russia U.S. high tech for its industries and military.

Another tough measure under consideration would effectively shut Russia out of much of the global financial system.

Chinas support for Russia

Chinas customs agency on Thursday approved imports of wheat from all regions of Russia, a move that could help to reduce the impact of possible Western sanctions.

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Chinas populous market is a growth area for other farm goods suppliers, but Beijing had barred imports until now from Russias main wheat-growing areas due to concern about possible fungus and other contamination.

Russia is one of the biggest wheat producers, but its exports would be vulnerable if its foreign markets block shipments in response to its attack on Ukraine.

Thursdays announcement said Russia would take all measures to prevent contamination by wheat smut fungus and would suspend exports to China if it was found.

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Ukraine sees more cyberattacks

The websites of Ukraines defense, foreign and interior ministries were unreachable or painfully slow to load Thursday morning after a punishing wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks as Russia struck at its neighbor.

In addition to DDoS attacks on Wednesday, cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware, some in neighboring Latvia and Lithuania.

Officials had long expected cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion.

Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report.
A person crosses Wellington St. inside the restricted area, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Ottawa. Ottawa police say they will continue to hold a perimeter around downtown as they try to maintain peace and order in the capital without the extra powers afforded them under the Emergencies Act.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Kelowna city councillors will stay two nights at the Hotel Marriott Pinnacle Hotel in Vancouver, shown here, as they tour a variety of recreation centres and urban redevelopment projects. The tour will help them make decisions in Kelowna concerning the old Tolko mill site and a proposed rebuilding of the Parkinson rec centre, councillors say.
Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 are less than half what they were at the peak of the Omicron wave but B.C is not in "a race" against other provinces to drop pandemic health orders, Health Minister Adrian Dix said Tuesday.
Daniel Sora, a Ukrainian-Canadian living in Kelowna, speaks to media Thursday afternoon before the start of a rally outside Kelowna City Hall held to show support for Ukraine as the country tries to fend off a Russian invasion.
Oviedos newest park was created with a larger purpose: Its designed to protect the citys watersheds that carry rainwater to local creeks, rivers and streams.

Solary Park is a pond circled by a boardwalk, similar to Center Lake at the Oviedo on the Park development. Located along Franklin Street, Solary Park features a 6-acre retention pond surrounded by a recreational area packed with native plants and animals.

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According to the parks website, the pond treats stormwater runoff before it flows into nearby Sweetwater Creek and Lake Jesup, while plants act as a filtration system, providing the pond more protection from litter and other harmful substances.

Signs detail the parks contribution to city water conservation efforts.

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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection provided about $1.4 million worth of grants to the development of Solary Park, which opened on February 4, 2022. This park sign shows the partnership between the City and the FDEP in building the park. (Katrina Cabansay / Orlando Sentinel)

Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek said that she hopes the park, which opened Feb. 4, demonstrates the importance of protecting the citys watersheds.

You can do stormwater in a way that is environmentally very impactful, Sladek said. It doesnt take a whole lot more than creativity to get it to happen.

According to a city report, plans for Solary Park began in 2014 with the project initially involving only the creation of the Oviedo Regional Stormwater Pond, which was an expansion of the existing Franklin Street pond. In 2018, the Oviedo City Council revised the project, adding a park to the treatment pond to give residents a place to recreate and gather and to spur redevelopment of the Oviedo Historic Downtown Area.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection gave Oviedo $1.4 million in grants to help fund the project. City and Seminole County sales tax were contributed, bringing the project cost to about $4.8 million, according to city documents.

The park provides water treatment to the surrounding 23 acres of commercial area. Its also home to American beautyberries and sandhill cranes, and its a place where residents can learn about the significance of water conservation. The park also has access to the Florida Trail, a federally recognized trail that spans the length of the state.

Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. >

The park was named after Solary Wharf, which was a prominent area on Lake Jesup where early Oviedo residents arrived on steamships in the 19th century, according to a city resolution.

The parks grand opening on Feb. 4 allowed for residents to explore the area and hear from city officials, who spoke about the importance of the park. Local restaurants provided free food for the event and representatives from the Florida Trail Association and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection were present.

Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek prepares to cut the ribbon with other city leaders at Solary Parks February 4, 2022 grand opening. The event also featured free food and a sunset stroll along the boardwalk. (Katrina Cabansay / Orlando Sentinel)

Oviedo resident Jacquie Currie said after coming to the grand opening, she plans to return to the park frequently.

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Its really pretty and peaceful, Currie said. Theres only one road that has cars, and I can bring my kids after we go to the library.

Sladek said the park serves the community in more ways than just treating stormwater runoff.

The whole thing is a playground, Sladek said. A nature playground with no actual official equipment.

This story is part of a partnership between the Sentinel and UCFs Nicholson School of Communication and Media.
The widow of a 23-year veteran of the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department, whose husband died of COVID-19 late last year, is fighting to have his death classified as occurring in the line of duty.

Cpl. Christopher Basina, who was a supervisor at the Kenosha County Detention Center, 4777 88th Ave., died Oct. 8. Basina, 55, was the first member of the department to die of the virus during the pandemic.

Attorney Kevin Martin of the Oak Creek-based Martin Law Office, S.C., is representing Cheryl Basina, Christopher Basinas wife of nearly three decades and the administrator of his estate.

We have filed a notice of claim, which is a precursor to the civil suit, Martin said.

Notice of claim served

Martin said there are much-needed statutory provisions for wage continuation and health insurance benefits available to the spouse of someone who died in the line of duty, among other things.

Martin said Cheryl Basinas attorneys reached out to the county prior to filing the notice of claim and received a response through the countys workers compensation carrier stating that because the physician who they consulted with was not provided enough information, they could not conclude that Christopher Basinas death was in the line of duty.

The physician offered a report stating that she (the physician) does not have enough information in order to determine whether the exposure occurred while he was at work, Martin said. Therefore, she concluded that she was not able to determine whether it occurred at work.

Rather than providing the work comp carriers infectious disease physician with the information that she was requesting, they (the county) just concluded that his exposure was not in the line of duty.

Martin continued: When the physician you retain is asking for more information in order to arrive at a decision, why not provide that physician with the information he or she is asking for?

Cases at facility had increased

According to the notice of claim, served on Feb. 2, there was an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases both with the staff and inmates at the detention center when Christopher Basina was working there.

Among his duties, according to Martin, Basina was responsible for conducting roll call, rounding to each dorm, talking with guards and inmates, performing administrative tasks and administering nasal COVID-testing swabs to inmates.

Such tasks resulted in Basina being exposed for more than 15 minutes to individuals infected with COVID-19 in close proximity. Basina was required to wear a KN95 mask at work, but the inmates were not, according to Martin.

Basina worked 12-hour days at the Kenosha County Detention Center on Sept. 10, 11, 12, 15 and 16 in 2021. He tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 20 after coming down with symptoms on Sept 19, according to the notice of claim served to the county earlier this month. He died less than three weeks later.

Basinas primary care physician authored a letter stating he died from complications associated with the coronavirus as a result of workplace exposure. Martin said that whether or not Basina was vaccinated probably had no impact on his exposure ... (and also) had little impact with regard to his ability to acquire the infection.

In other words, his vaccination status should not be a factor in any claims.

Because it happened in the workplace, we do not look to the employee to determine whether the employee was at fault, Martin said. Thats not the work-comp system.

Martin said under state law, the county has 120 days from the date it was served to respond.

Exceptional hardship

Martin said Cheryl Basina is facing exceptional financial hardship.

She now has to pay for COBRA benefits in order to keep her health insurance coverage, Martin said. Dealing with the loss of your husband is difficult enough. Dealing with the loss of your husband who was just doing his job on behalf of the county is even harder.

To have the county turn its back on you in a way that can cause you financial hardship is just throwing salt on the wound.

Martin said Cheryl Basina prefers to to have all communications go through him at the moment.

Martin also said that under Wisconsin statutes, the county must continue to pay health insurance premiums for the surviving spouse of an officer who dies in the line of duty. Jailers under direction of a sheriff are considered law enforcement officers.

Under the Protecting Americas First Responders Act of 2020, passed by the U.S. Congress and cited in the notice, a general presumption that COVID-19 or related complications suffered by a public safety officer constitutes a personal injury sustained in the line of duty.

County responds

Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser said that he is only vaguely familiar with the matter and said he cant comment at this time.

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth could not be reached for comment.

Kenosha County deeply feels the loss of Corrections Corporal Chris Basina, a long-time and respected employee, and we offer our condolences to his family and loved ones who are understandably grieving, Kenosha Corporation Counsel Joseph Cardamone III said in an emailed statement.

Cardamone said there has not yet been a final determination on whether the death was in the line of duty.

The county was only recently served with a notice of circumstances, generally a step taken prior to the filing of a claim, Cardamone said. The notice will be reviewed under the appropriate process so that in the event a claim is filed, it can be appropriately and fairly evaluated and addressed.

In response to a question about whether details into the investigation were provided to the infectious disease expert who could help determine cause, Cardamone replied: It is my understanding that the countys third-party workers compensation administrator provided all relevant and available information to medical experts evaluating this case.

Kenosha County Supervisor Zach Rodriguez has drafted a resolution to recognize Basinas death as in the line of duty.

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The subject of "Shackled" will tell her story of faith in Christ at a speaking engagement next month at Bellevue Baptist in Owensboro.
Native Americans protest lithium mine on sacred soil

Xinhua) 15:43, February 24, 2022

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Three Native American tribes in the western United States are up in arms against a disputed mining venture being implemented by Lithium Americas Corporations, which was fast-tracked by the previous U.S. administration without proper consultation with the local tribes.

TRIBES UNITED AGAINST MINE

The Winnemucca Indian Colony of Nevada filed a motion on Friday seeking to join the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, also in Nevada, and the Burns Paiute Tribe in Oregon to litigate against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the mining company on the grounds that the government had failed to consult with the tribes as legally required and the proposed lithium mine near Nevada-Oregon border would despoil sacred sites that are culturally significant to them.

"To build that Thacker Pass lithium mine on lands held sacred to Colony members would be like raping the earth and their culture," said Judy Rojo, chair of the Winnemucca Indian Colony, in a court filing.

The land in question is the site of a historically recorded massacre of 31-70 tribe members in 1865 by federal soldiers, which is still felt as an open wound by Native Americans, who call the place as "Peehee Mu'huh," meaning "rotten moon" in English.

According to the tribes, Peehee Mu'huh was named so because their ancestors were massacred there while the tribes' hunters were away. When the hunters returned, they found their loved ones murdered, unburied and rotting in a part of the Thacker Pass area shaped like a moon.

The BLM claimed that it did consult with the Winnemucca Indian Colony, while the latter hotly denies the assertion.

"Under BLM's own definition of consultation, BLM never engaged in, or even initiated, consultation with the Colony, whose ancestors traveled through, hunted and gathered in, camped in, and were massacred in Thacker Pass, before issuing the Thacker Pass Record of Decision," which approved the lithium mine in early 2021, the tribe stated in its filing.

COURT DENIED NATIVES' REQUEST

The excavation on sacred native lands was allowed to proceed when a federal judge denied the tribes' request to halt digging temporarily.

U.S. District Judge Miranda Du, presiding over the case, commented that when a case is likely to affect cultural or religious sites, the National Historic Preservation Act grants tribes consultation rights but does not give them the rights over the land itself.

However, to Daranda Hinkey, a 23-year-old member of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe in northern Nevada, said "tribal culture and religion is directly tied to the land."

"The environmental impacts from the Thacker Pass lithium mine are cultural impacts," Hinkey told This Is Reno, a local news website in Nevada. "Everything from our traditions to our religion to our oral history is tied to the land."

Next steps to block the mining project are being considered, such as appealing the court's decision or taking political actions to occupy the site in protest.

"The fact that our judge denied our injunction potentially means that we are going to have to go down a path of nonviolent direct action," said Hinkey, also the secretary of People of Red Mountain, a group formed by her tribe to oppose the mining project.

TO PRESERVE TRIBES' WAY OF LIFE

Till now, Winnemucca tribal members make a pilgrimage to Thacker Pass each year to perform their important "Sundance" ceremony, a sacred prayer dance lasting for 10 days.

"The ceremony carries the promise of healing through a demanding process of purification, sacrifice and prayer," Rojo told Nevada Current news website last week.

"The Sundance is a way of life for our members, a way of reaching through seven generations back and forward for betterment," she wrote in the filing, contending that mining, pollution and industrial development on their sacred land would harm their way of life, as lithium mines have done to indigenous communities in South America.

Other groups argued that the proposed Thacker Pass mine could also potentially destroy many habitats for local flora and fauna species and give off carbon emissions on a massive scale that would accelerate biodiversity loss, particularly for the most vulnerable species.

The negative impacts on the climate, environment and community have also led American farmers and ranchers to oppose the lithium mine, who believe the mine will harm their local communities.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland "keep paying lip service to tribal rights and respect for Native Americans," said Will Falk, attorney for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and co-founder of Protect Thacker Pass, a grassroots collective resisting the Thacker Pass Lithium.

"Well, now three federally recognized tribes are saying that BLM Winnemucca did not respect tribal rights. It's time that BLM halts this project so the tribes can be heard," he told the Last Real Indian, an independent news group supporting Indians' rights.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Protesters march from Lake Eola in Orlando to the Orange County Courthouse for a "March Against Gun Violence" on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, days after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the killing of Trayvon Martin. (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel)

When Trayvon Martin was shot dead in a Sanford townhouse complex a decade ago, Samuel Sinyangwe was 3,000 miles away studying political science at Stanford University. But the details of the 17-year-olds last moments transported Sinyangwe back to his days living in Orlando.

In middle school, a bus would drop him off each afternoon and he would walk the final mile to his College Park home. Every day, he would stop at a 7-Eleven and hed often grab an Arizona drink and a bag of Skittles  the same purchase Trayvon made the night he was killed.

Seeing how Trayvon Martin was murdered under similar circumstances and then his killer was acquitted, it hit me very close to home, Sinyangwe said. It was very personal. It felt like that could have been me. It could have been my little brother. It could be so many people who look like me.

Trayvons killing by George Zimmerman in February 2012 launched a new generation of activists like Sinyangwe who have brought international attention to racial injustice and prompted a reckoning with the toll of police violence. But with each bit of progress has come abuse, threats and mental anguish that have fractured friendships and tested their resolve.

As the details of the case gripped America, the hurt and outrage spread from coast to coast and suburban Sanford to Washington D.C. At the White House, President Barack Obama called the death a tragedy and said, If I had a son, hed look like Trayvon.

A man holds up a package of Skittles candy as he stands with other demonstrators wearing hoodie sweatshirts on the steps of New York City Hall, March 28, 2012, amid national outrage over Trayvon Martin's killing in Sanford. (MIKE SEGAR/Reuters)

In Tallahassee, students formed the Dream Defenders, which eventually became the largest organized group of young activists in the state, with chapters in Tallahassee, Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando, Pensacola, Broward County and Miami. In the weeks following Trayvons death they marched from Daytona Beach to Sanford calling for Zimmermans arrest.

In California, Patrisse Cullors wrote the simple declaration that Black Lives Matter on Facebook for the first time, using it as a hashtag while declaring that black bodies will no longer be sacrificed for the rest of the worlds enlightenment.

In the 10 years since Trayvon was killed, that hashtag became a rallying cry, first in Ferguson, Missouri, following Mike Browns death and after countless other Black people were killed across the nation. In 2020, it became a global movement bringing millions into the streets after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyds neck until it killed him.

But before the global uprising, Sinyangwe saw himself in Trayvon. Others saw their sons, brothers, nephews and friends.

That powerful feeling of personal connection to Trayvon in death is why the case lingers in the minds of so many, said attorney Natalie Jackson, who represented Trayvons family alongside attorney Benjamin Crump.

I think thats why it captured the nation, and when I say the nation, I mean it captured Black America, Jackson said. Trayvon Martin, he could have been my son. I think thats why the case didnt go away and it remains in the memory of people because Trayvon Martin was like any of our children.

Dream Defenders members hold their arms high as they chant for Trayvon Martin while blocking the entrance to the Sanford Police Department on Monday, April 9, 2012. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel)

Incredibly taxing work

Even before Trayvon died, Sinyangwe was already interested in studying race because of the ways he felt his skin color made him a target as a student in Orange County, where he was often one of a few Black children in mostly white classrooms.

In that environment, despite his good grades, he said infractions for which white classmates saw mild discipline  or none at all  meant serious punishment for him, including suspension.

It was a path that could have sent him toward prison instead of one of the most prestigious universities in the country, he said.

He graduated from Stanford in 2012 and took a job as a data scientist studying educational outcomes by race. He wanted to use data to help school districts across the nation confront the biases that can lead to harsher punishments for Black students.

But when Zimmerman was acquitted in 2013 and Mike Brown was killed a year later by a police officer in Missouri, he knew he needed to shift from education inequity to tracking police killings.

It made it clear that if we cant live, we cant learn, he said.

As protests raged in Ferguson, Sinyangwe found a home among activists. His contribution, he thought, would be data. As he started to study police killings, he found that federal statistics, which relied on law enforcement agencies voluntarily sharing information, gravely underestimated how often officers kill people.

He went on to create the most comprehensive police-killing tracker in the nation with the help of media reports and thousands of public records requests to hundreds of police agencies. Having accurate data, he said, was the only way to know if the progressive policies he supported could really work.

Along with activist DeRay Mckesson, he used the data to launch Campaign Zero, an organization aimed at ending police killings. The group is perhaps best known for its 8 Cant Wait campaign, launched after Floyds 2020 killing, which urged police agencies to adopt policies aimed at curtailing violence, including banning chokeholds and requiring de-escalation.

Its incredibly taxing, Sinyangwe said of the data collection work. ... You have to read story after story of people who look like me who were just going about their lives, like walking down the street, the police stop them for no reason and they end up getting killed.

Deray McKesson, co-founder of Campaign Zero, joins civil rights leaders for a meeting with President Barack Obama in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)

External threats, internal tensions

Then the personal attacks started: Someone called in a bomb threat at a venue when Sinyangwe was scheduled to speak, forcing an evacuation. He got countless death threats. Extremists shared his home address in white supremacist chat rooms and talked about how they wanted to find and kill him.

During the wave of protests that followed Floyds killing, activists who led marches in cities across the country also faced physical danger, including from police in the form of tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets and from counter-protesters and would-be vigilantes.

Then there was the internal turmoil inside activist circles.

Some of activists that I had collaborated with for quite some time and worked on projects with, now I no longer talk to, said Sinyangwe, who is no longer affiliated with Campaign Zero and has a new organization called Police Scorecard, which evaluates law enforcement agencies based on metrics including violence, racial bias and accountability.

Other organizations have seen similar shakeups. All three founders of Black Lives Matter have left the organization. In Floridas Dream Defenders, co-founder and longtime leader Phillip Agnew left the organization.

Though these exits  particularly the recent exit from Black Lives Matter by Cullors, the groups founder  have garnered attention, Florida A&M University history Professor Darius Young said disagreements among activists have always been a part of civil rights movements. If more than one person attempts to be a guiding voice in an organization, disagreements are bound to happen, he said.

Unfortunately, because of the social media age, a lot of the issues that typically happened behind the scenes in organizations... [are] being played out on this national stage, Young said. There was always disagreement in all of these Black movements and all of these freedom struggles.

Francis Oliver, a longtime Sanford activist who marched in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 70s and still attends rallies, defended young demonstrators who are often criticized when their ideological differences become national news.

Even in the 60s you had different opinions about the activists, she said. Look at Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King said turn the other cheek but Stokely Carmichael said, Burn, baby, burn. But it as all part of the same goal that had to be met.

That included speaking out against lynching and pushing for integration and voting rights.

So there is no difference, she said. You have people that feel like the activists we got today are too aggressive. They are not more aggressive than they were in the 60s. ... I was a child of the 60s. I did march in the 60s. I did lay in the street. I was tear-gassed in the 60s. We got tear-gassed, drug to jail, everything else. I dont see much difference.

Trayvon Martin's brother Jahvaris Fulton, his mother Sybrina Fulton, and his father, Tracy Martin lead a peace walk at Ives Estate Park in Miami to continue calling for change on what would have been Trayvons 27th birthday, Saturday, February 5 2022. (Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Id rather have Trayvon here

As the activists who found a calling to their work in Trayvons death have had to deal with the hardships that come with their fight, from white nationalist threats to police crackdowns on protests, Trayvons family has had to balance their personal turmoil with the far-reaching impact of his story.

On Feb. 5, which would have been Trayvons 27th birthday, his family held a peace walk and rally at a Miami park near Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, where Trayvon was a student. His mother Sybrina Fulton wiped away tears as a crowd of more than 200 marched behind her, Trayvons father Tracy Martin and his younger brother Jahvaris Fulton.

As they walked the crowd chanted, We are Trayvon Martin.

For Tracy Martin, the cases legacy is a constant reminder of what hes lost.

What Trayvon did in death, many people would never accomplish if they lived 1,000 years, Martin said. I wont say that Im proud that his name is a beacon of hope for half the county. Id rather have Trayvon here with me than for everybody to know his name. Im glad that his name galvanized the county but you have to understand that ... my family suffered a huge loss.

His sacrifice benefitted the fabric of America. It didnt benefit Tracy Martin and his family.

In becoming a martyr of the new civil rights movement, Trayvon was robbed of becoming the young man he should be today, his father said.

This wasnt a child that was lost and wandering astray and didnt have a clue as to what he wanted to do in life, Martin said. This was my son. He was cheated out of his life. He was cheated out of years and years of life.

A sea of protesters tote signs bearing Trayvon Martin's face during a march on March 31, 2012, in Sanford, Fla. The teenager's visage became a symbol for a new civil rights movement that began after his death, but for his family is also a constant reminder of their loss. (Julie Fletcher/AP)

After years of therapy, Martin can finally talk about his son without crying. He does sometimes wonder if Trayvon would be married or have children of his own by now, if he were still here, or if his childhood interest in planes would have led to a career in aviation.

I try not to rack my brain saying, I wonder if Trayvon would have done this, Martin said. To me, thats really kind of punishing yourself, trying to think of what he could have been. Thats for God to determine what he would have been. I just know the qualities that were instilled in him through us.

Despite the extreme grief, like the activists who have marched and worked in Trayvons name, his family has had to find comfort in small ways over the past decade. Martin said he is grateful his sons story that their fight has empowered other families to fight for  and sometimes achieve  justice when their loved ones are killed.

For Sinyangwe, the wins propel him forward even as his work continues to face threats.

While police killings have stayed constant nationally  about 1,100 each year  he has watched numbers fall in areas that have implemented reforms like decriminalizing minor drug possession offenses, for example.

One of the things that keeps me hopeful and keeps me engaged in this is that there are places that are making substantial progress, he said. There are cities, there are regions, there are areas that are doing things that are substantially reducing the number of people who are killed or harmed by police, or incarcerated. And I think that gives me some hope that not only is change possible but that there are communities that are successfully holding their elected officials accountable...

And thats still happening, despite all of the backlash, despite all of the danger and the risk.

dstennett@orlandosentinel.com
EUGENE, Ore.  Edward Blake, a former paramedic with Eugene-Springfield Fire, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for rape and first-degree sodomy.

A jury reached a guilty verdict for the two charges on January 31. He was acquitted of a second count of rape and a second count of first-degree sodomy. The charges were related to one victim, and the trial lasted five days.

Blake will also serve 11 years and 8 months of supervised release following his prison sentence. He must also register as a sex offender.

In September, 2019, a Springfield woman reported that she had been drugged and sexually assaulted by a man she met online who she believed to be a paramedic, according to Lane County District Attorney Patricia Perlow.

Evidence led officers with the Springfield Police Department to arrest Blake, and by late October that year, two other women came forward saying that Blake had forced himself on them after injecting them with controlled substances.

Perlow said the State dismissed charges related to the first victim who came forward in order to move ahead with a trial related to charges involving the second woman.

At trial, evidence showed that Blake obtained fentanyl, ketamine, and morphine among other drugs through his work as a paramedic, which he used to commit the reported crimes, Perlow said.

The District Attorney appreciates the courage it took for this victim to come forward, under the circumstances, and to testify related to her experiences with Blake, Perlow said.
EUGENE, Ore. -- It was a sleepless night for many with loved ones in Ukraine, with some watching the invasion unfold from the Eugene area.
Today, the Florida House will vote on the proposed Dont Say Gay legislation, one of two corrosive legislative proposals quickly becoming national embarrassments for Florida.

Many of our readers have shrugged the anti-gay bill off as something that doesnt really affect them  they might not have children in school, or they may not feel strongly enough about LGBTQ+ or racial issues to take a strong stand, though surveys have repeatedly shown that the vast majority of Floridians support civil rights for people despite their sexual identity or race. And they might not be troubled by a similarly divisive bill, the so-called Stop WOKE Act, that would punish educators and businesses for efforts to combat racism and provide relevant history lessons.

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But all Floridians could suffer if these bills become law  in ways they may not have imagined. And theyre running out of time to speak up.

They can start by taking a look at national coverage of the Dont Say Gay and Stop WOKE bills. This states reputation is growing more sullied by the day, as out-of-state news outlets train their attention on Gov. Ron DeSantis attempts to turn this state into a flaming backdrop for his own ambition, and lawmakers seeming willingness to do his bidding.

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A pair of ads from Equality Florida demonstrate the impact of the so-called "Hate Slate" of legislation being considered in Florida's 2022 legislative session. This is a screenshot of the ad urging defeat of the bill that would ban discussion of the impact of racism on modern life. - Original Credit: Youtube/Equality Florida (Courtesy photo)

DeSantis has made it clear that he doesnt care who gets scorched in his bid to rally former President Donald Trumps supporters. But hes not the one who will have to sweep up the ashes.

The damage could be extensive. This week, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a Democrat who once served in the Florida Senate, told the Sentinel that he knows of two big economic prospects that are having doubts about relocating to Central Florida because of the hateful rhetoric flowing from Tallahassee. The reluctance makes sense. Corporations have long seen Floridas year-round sun and family-friendly atmosphere as a selling point when recruiting talented employees. But many people  especially young parents with children  are going to balk at relocating to a state whose leaders exploit archaic prejudice for political gain.

Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine  another former lawmaker and a Republican  agrees about the damage that the current ideologically driven madness is doing to the states reputation, and the potential backlash. The more that Republicans focus on divisive ideology, the more energy Democrats devote to pushing back, he says. In the long run, neither side is focused on the overall health of the states populace and economy.

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION - Florida State Representative Smith (HD 49) speaks at a press conference at the Florida state capital, hosted by Equality Florida, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the Human Rights Campaign in opposition of HB 1577 (Don't Say Gay bill) on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. (Rick Wilson/AP Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation) (Rick Wilson/AP)

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

We suspect business leaders across the state share the same concerns, but have been reluctant to speak up due to a long-standing alliance with the state GOP.

Yet some of the states biggest employers  including AT&T, Darden Restaurants, Raymond James, Florida Blue, Winn-Dixie and Wells Fargo  are members of Florida Competes, formed to support a federal anti-discrimination law that would protect LGBTQ+ workers. Another group, Freedom for All Americans, released a letter earlier this month signed by a broad coalition of Florida-based chambers of commerce that makes the same point: Its essential to our state economy that all employees, customers, and visitors  and their families  feel safe and welcome in Florida, it said.

Clearly, businesses understand how perilous the Legislatures current course could be for Floridas economy. They  along with all Floridians who care about their states future  must speak up about the ruinous, hateful rhetoric spewed by the extremists driving the agenda in the Legislature.

They should target Republicans who have always seemed rational, concerned for all their constituents and focused on creating a business-friendly climate. These lawmakers have resisted efforts to show up on the front lines of the culture war, but have been willing to vote in support of GOP leadership because theyre worried about angering DeSantis or derailing their own legislative efforts.

These lawmakers should understand that there will be a price tag attached to their cowardly refusal to stand up for constituents of all ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations. You can make that clear to them by contacting your lawmakers through myfloridahouse.gov and flsenate.gov.

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Of course, this isnt just a matter of dollars and cents. The policies engrossed in the two bigoted bills could do real harm to millions of families across the state, as evidenced by a stirring pair of advertisements broadcast this week by Equality Florida. These people dont deserve the hatred that DeSantis and his minions are stirring up. But even if their anguish and humiliation dont move rational lawmakers and business leaders to say enough, the inevitable backlash to the states economy and reputation should. And times running out.

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio, Jay Reddick and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com.
Looking to update your home? Watch the KHQ Spring Home Design Guide featuring the areas top home improvement businesses on Sat, May 7 at 4:30pm on KHQ. And click here to win a $500 VISA gift card, courtesy of our presenting partner - VPC Electric!
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Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) is encouraging people from Kilkenny who have an innovative idea to solve a particular social problem to be the change you seek by applying for a place on its Ideas Academy  aimed at those with an early-stage idea to solve a social problem or Impact Programme  aimed at high-potential social entrepreneurs looking to grow the impact of their organisation.



SEIs vision is an Ireland where people solve every social problem, and its mission is to find people with solutions to these problems and support them on every step of their journey. Since its foundation in 2004, SEI has supported more than 500 social entrepreneurs all around Ireland who have directly impacted the lives of millions of people and contributed significantly to creating employment opportunities.



Commenting on the national call for applications, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Tim Griffiths said: Every day, in every community across Ireland, we see people stepping up with solutions to solve social problems, taking action and being the change they wish to see. We call these people social entrepreneurs, and at SEI, were looking to find and support even more of them in Kilkenny.



Were encouraging anyone with even the seed of an idea to create positive change, or anyone who needs help to take their solution to the next level, to apply to SEI for support on your journey.



SEIs Ideas Academy has up to 45 places available for people with innovative early-stage ideas to solve social problems. The three-month programme will be delivered online in 2022 and will provide participants with the support and direction they need as they take the first steps from idea to action, sparking a new generation of social entrepreneurs. Participants will be supported to clearly articulate, refine and progress their solution, to build skills and accelerate learning in core areas of importance to social entrepreneurs, and to move from idea to action. Participants also have the opportunity to pitch for a portion of a 40,000 seed fund at the end of the programme to pilot their idea,



Social Entrepreneurs Irelands prestigious Impact Programme, aimed at high-potential social entrepreneurs has up to five places and 100,000 in unrestricted funding available in 2022. Awardees will join a nine-month accelerator programme, where they will receive mentorship, training, and consultancy in areas such as leadership development, fundraising, governance, strategic planning, and communications.. Awardees each receive 20,000 in direct funding, pro-bono support from partner organisations and access to a network of fellow social entrepreneurs and business experts.



Social Entrepreneurs Ireland will host an informative Spark Session event for potential applicants on Monday, 7th March at 1pm. The event will outline the supports available through the two programmes. On the eve of International Womens Day, attendees will hear from two SEI alumni  Madeleine Murray, co-founder of Change by Degrees and Sinead Ryan, founder of Little Fitness. SEI staff and alumni will be on hand to answer questions about the application process over the course of 90 minutes. Registration for the Spark Session is available HERE.



DCC plc, the international sales, marketing and support services group, is the flagship supporter of Social Entrepreneurs Irelands national call for applications.



Commenting, Chief Executive of DCC plc, Donal Murphy said: At DCC, our purpose is to enable people and businesses to grow and progress. As proud supporters of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland for more than a decade, we passionately believe in the creativity and courage of social entrepreneurs and have seen first-hand the incredible supports provided through SEIs Ideas Academy and the Impact Programme and the difference SEI alumni make across Ireland. We would encourage all budding and ambitious change-makers to apply to SEI today.



Applications for the Ideas Academy and Impact Programme are open until midnight on Tuesday, April 5. Interested candidates can apply or find out more at www.socialentrepreneurs.ie.
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One of the most important roles for a community is ensuring a safe, nurturing environment for its children. This is something that cannot be dictated by a government; its a result of the compassion and care of families, friends, neighbors, schools, nonprofit organizations and businesses.

In Orlando, together weve been able to create a city that is committed to working to help children thrive not only during their formative years, but also prepare for successful futures. Making sure they feel protected, accepted and valued is a big part of our work. Thats why we cannot take lightly the potential impact of dangerous rhetoric and even hateful legislation aimed at silencing LGBTQ+ students and families in Florida.

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I want every member of Orlandos LGBTQ+ community, including the young residents who need our support now more than ever, to know that in our city you are loved, you are valued, and you are also seen and heard. Orlandos collective unity, love, and compassion  as well as the example that were setting for other cities around the state and the nation  will not be suppressed.

Our community will continue to celebrate our diversity while putting equity and inclusion at the forefront of all that we do. Orlando will still be a place that encourages all residents to be their authentic selves.

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Adolescence isnt an easy time, especially for LGBTQ+ children, who studies show are four times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their straight peers. Thats why we will continue to ensure that City of Orlando youth programs are welcoming for all residents. Our Orlando Youth Empowerment Summit, a partnership the Zebra Coalition, will keep growing to create a safe place for LGBTQ+ youth to express themselves, learn, share, and make connections. And we must make sure that all residents learn about LGBTQ+ history, including the Pulse tragedy, which disproportionately impacted our regions LGBTQ+, Latinx, Black, and other communities of color.

The City of Orlando is continuing to take action to help create an inclusive community for all. I hope that all residents  including LGBTQ+ students  are proud to see the Progress Pride and Transgender Pride flags flying at City Hall during Pride Month and Transgender Awareness Week. Weve also added the LGBTQ+ community as a core part of our Community Investment Program, which provides millions of dollars in grant funding to nonprofit groups making an impact in Orlando.

Collectively, we must work to make sure that LGBTQ+ children and families are not isolated. The City of Orlando can also do its part to share some of our successful initiatives, like our LGBTQ+ liaisons at City Hall and the Orlando Police Department, with other communities.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Commissioner Patty Sheehan wave during the Come Out With Pride Festival and Parade in downtown Orlando on Saturday, October 12, 2019. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Our community knows all too well the horrific impact caused by hatred. We wont be idle while repulsive rhetoric and legislation is aimed at LGBTQ+ residents. We will stand with the leadership of Orlandos LGBTQ+ community as they continue to engage with state lawmakers, hear the concerns of those impacted, and work to find a path forward that is inclusive of all voices.

Buddy Dyer is the mayor of Orlando, first elected in 2003.
Walz on Russian invasion: 'The world must unite and respond to this attack on democracy'
Iowa Gov. Reynolds on Russia: 'I ask Iowans to join me in prayer for Ukraine and peace in the world'
Roaches scurrying. Screams in the night. Living in a room the size of an elevator. No social contact. This is what children in solitary confinement face. They hear cockroaches scurry by their bed at night when the lights go off. There is no silence in the night because all they hear are the screams of others in solitary and the banging on the walls and doors. The pleading of children to have their voices heard, to have their mental health issues realized, to get the social interaction they need.

This was Catherine Jones reality. Catherine was imprisoned at 13 years old and was housed in an adult prison in Florida where she was placed in solitary confinement. Of the 16 years and 8 months that Catherine served in prison, about 5 years of it was spent in solitary confinement. During her time in solitary, she witnessed other children dealing with their mental health issues alone and experienced her friend, 13-year-old Cautia Spencer, committing suicide.

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Olivia Ingram was born and raised in Orlando and is a second-year law student at Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee. - Original Credit: Courtesy photo (Courtesy photo)

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, on any given day the Florida Department of Corrections holds 10% of its population in solitary confinement, more than two times the national average. Of this population are children who are housed in adult prisons. Children in Florida who are serving sentences as adults are placed in confinement and isolated for 20 or more hours a day.

The Florida Department of Corrections has no limit on the amount of time that youth can be in isolation for and how often those youth can be isolated alone. House Bill 765, sponsored by Representative Michele Rayner, and Senate Bill 1934 sponsored by Senator Annette Taddeo seek to prohibit the Florida Department of Corrections from placing children in solitary confinement. Both bills provide limitations on the duration of cell confinements and guidelines for documentation if a youth is placed in confinement.

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Children, due to their development, are at a higher risk of experiencing adverse reactions to solitary confinement. These include memory loss, agitation, aggression, chronic depression, and hallucinations. Human rights organizations have condemned placing youth in solitary confinement due to these inhumane effects that solitary has on children and how it stunts their development. Even a few hours of isolation can cause higher levels of anxiety, depression, and paranoia.

Most children in adult prison are isolated for days at a time and do not have the luxury of having a phone, a roommate, or even a book to distract them from their long periods of isolation. Further, those who are otherwise mentally healthy are at an increased risk of developing a mental illness after being put in solitary confinement.

Facilities often use solitary confinement to protect individuals such as children who are placed in adult prisons, it is used as a punishment tactic, and it is also used to protect the safety of staff. But placing children in solitary confinement proves to be more detrimental than beneficial. Solitary confinement does not lead to safer prisons. Colorado saw a reduction in assaults on its staff when it reduced its use of solitary confinement by 85%. Solitary confinement does not lead to safer communities. Studies show that when those who have been in solitary return to their communities, they are more likely to commit crimes than those who have not been in solitary.

Additionally, solitary confinement is also used as a punishment. But minority youth are punished at higher rates than their white peers due to being placed in solitary confinement more often than their white peers, showing that the practice has a disproportionate effect on youths of color. On May 3, 2019, of the 26 children that were in solitary confinement, 61% were either Black or Hispanic.

Play your part in protecting our children by calling your local representative and senator and expressing support for HB 765 and SB 1934.

Olivia Ingram was born and raised in Orlando and is a second-year law student at Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee.
Jasper, TX (75951)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Floridas controversial bill that would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy will affect women well beyond the states borders.

Patients come to Florida from the Caribbean Islands and Latin America to get abortions, mostly because the procedures are not legal in their countries, womens health clinics report. In the Caribbean, home to a patchwork of regulatory jurisdictions, Jamaica, the Bahamas and British Virgin Islands consider abortion a felony.

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We get a lot of women from the islands ... this group of women the abortion law affects, its not a small percent, said Joan Weinstein, director of East Cypress Womens Center in Fort Lauderdale. They come here because they have family here, they have a place to stay.

The vast majority of women in the Latin American region also lack access to legal abortions, although Argentina and Mexico have recently decriminalized the procedure.

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At the Miramar Womens Center, nestled in a town with an estimated 123,000 residents who are Caribbean-American, doctors provide abortions and maternal health to dozens of Jamaican women each month. Administrator Elena Senises says a portion of those women will no longer be eligible if Floridas proposed abortion law goes into effect.

[ RELATED: Heres who Floridas 15-week abortion ban will affect ]

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

A bill that would prevent abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy includes no exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking. The only exclusions are if a mothers life is in danger or the fetus has fatal abnormalities, and both exceptions have to be approved by two doctors.

I feel like people are quick to judge but they dont know the circumstances these women are in, Senises said. Getting to 15 weeks without knowing can happen because people miscalculate.

Traveling to Florida for a legal abortion comes with a large number of obstacles that could result in a race against the clock. It can take weeks to get passports and visas.

In the Caribbean, some islands are so tiny that they may not have abortion clinics even if the procedure is legal, and by the time women collect the funds and documents to come to Florida they can easily pass 15 weeks of gestation, Florida clinic directors say.

[ RELATED: Florida poised to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy ]

Miami-Dade, with its diverse population, has women arriving at its abortion clinics from countries such as Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Suriname, which all have blanket prohibitions on abortion, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Floridas Agency for Health Care Administration collects data on abortions in Florida and reports about 11,200 in the last three years were women from outside the state. The agency said it does not break out how many of those are from outside the country.

As the state of Florida moves toward banning abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy, a public opinion poll released Tuesday shows most voters oppose the new restrictions. If the bill passes through the Senate as is, it will head to Gov. Ron DeSantis desk. The governor has previously voiced support for the proposed legislation.
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Uncle Jim poses for photos during CPAC at the Rosen Shingle Creek and Westgate Resort in Orlando on Friday, February 25, 2022. (Tomas Diniz Santos/Orlando Sentinel) (Tomas Diniz Santos)

Declaring that Florida has defeated Fauci-ism and condemning the scientific and technical elite, Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked off CPAC in Orlando on Thursday, where some of Americas most prominent conservatives have gathered for four days of schmoozing and speeches.

We need people all over the country to be willing to put on that full armor of God to stand firm against the left, DeSantis said. I can tell you this: in Florida, we will be standing our ground. We will be holding that line. We are not going to back down. We have only begun to fight.

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One thing the Republican governor did not mention was Russias attack on Ukraine, despite speaking at the same time President Biden addressed the nation about the crisis.

The governor is not the most high-profile speaker scheduled at the Conservative Political Action Conference held at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort, however. Former President Donald Trump is returning to Orlando for its second year of CPAC on Saturday.

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tosses hats into the crowd as he takes the stage at the 2022 CPAC conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, February 24, 2022. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

DeSantis was preceded on stage by his own hype video. The governor also threw caps into the cheering crowd.

His speech contained much of his rhetoric over the last year, calling Florida the freest state in the U.S. for its lack of COVID restrictions and anti-vaccine mandate policies. The pandemic has killed 69,000 Floridians and infected millions more.

DeSantis said the state prevented a Fauci-ist utopia, referring to Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and added, had Florida not led the way, this country would look like Canada or Australia. He cited the two countries as examples of nations chafing under authoritarian rule all across the world.

DeSantis earned a win in Tallahassee shortly before his speech, with the House passing his anti-woke bill, which would prohibit teachings and training that make people feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress for past wrongs committed by others of their race, color, sex or national origin.

Major institutions in our country have become infected with this woke virus, DeSantis said.

DeSantis also cited his banning of sanctuary cities in Florida, despite there being no sanctuary cities at the time; his controversial election law, despite having praised the states process in 2020; and his attempt to ban critical race theory in K-12 schools, where it has not been taught.

DeSantis said Biden just hates Florida, claiming the president was trying to take our medication, a reference to the Food and Drug Administration dropping two antibody treatments for COVID-19 that he championed, even though the drugmakers themselves conceded they are ineffective against omicron.

DeSantis brought life to CPAC, said Francis Piliere, of Virginia, moments after the governors remarks. Piliere is attending his fourth CPAC gathering, along with his sister Margaret Bogardus of St. Petersburg.

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The two credited DeSantis for not mandating masks in Florida as COVID-19 raged throughout the past two years, and not bowing to pressure to impose stricter rules to contain the virus.

Ive had visitors come down from up North and theyre so amazed they can walk around and be free and not be pressured to conform, she said.

But Bogardus said shes not eager for DeSantis to pursue higher office, as news reports and rumors have swirled about his White House ambitions, even as Trump has hinted he might run again in 2024.

Hes young, so hes got a couple more years. I think [DeSantis] can go in 2028, she said. We want him here in Florida for as long as we can keep him.

John England, a South Carolinian with a home in Orlando, said he wanted DeSantis over Trump in 2024.

Trumps a businessman, and he was a good president, but he didnt hold his words, England said. Which I like, but the American public doesnt like.  I think DeSantis should run.

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England said Trumps comments in the last few days praising Putin as savvy and genius for his attack on Ukraine were an example of Trumps liabilities.

Trumps a New York businessman, England said. Hes brash, he just damn New York.  The flyover states want somebody more calm and dont want the businessman they say they want.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

While there was no giant golden statue of Trump this year  artist Tommy Zegans Super Trump statue was held up in customs  the resorts hallways were filled with conservative broadcasters from the mainstream to the fringe.

On stage before DeSantis, radio host Charlie Kirk said he wanted an extinction event for the woke left. He also got applause for proclaiming, the southern border matters a lot more than the Ukraine border  [and] cities 5,000 miles away and places you cant find on a map.

The group Republican Accountability Project says it will place more than 100 billboards around Central Florida to counterprogram CPAC in Orlando. Pictured are several mockups of what the billboards will look like. (Republican Accountability Project)

In advance of CPAC, an anti-Trump group called the Republican Accountability Project announced it was placing more than 100 billboards all around Central Florida to try and counter-program the conference.

I wouldnt recognize todays GOP. Reagan wouldnt either, reads one billboard quoting Nancy, a former Republican from Colorado.

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CPAC, normally held in the Washington, D.C., area, moved to Orlando for the first time last year after Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan imposed COVID restrictions.

Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union which holds CPAC, said Thursday he was told by Hogan that holding CPAC amid the pandemic would kill people.

He said he responded, Ill be damned if were going to have a panic over this virus, and immediately decided to bring the event to Florida.
Biden said that he planned to speak to the American people on Thursday and would announce "further consequences" that the US and its allies planned to impose on Russia over "this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security."
Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol speaks during a virtual press conference, Thursday. Courtesy of the Ministry of Health and Welfare



Still long way to go as daily infections stay above 170,000 for 2nd day



By Lee Hyo-jin



The Korean government may adopt a pandemic exit plan after the Omicron wave peaks, which it believes will come in mid-March, revising quarantine measures toward a phased return to normalcy, according to Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol, Thursday.



"Experts predict that the current wave will reach its peak in mid-March, after which, as seen in other countries, the number of infections will begin to fall," Kwon said during a virtual press conference.



"And if the virus situation at that time is deemed manageable within our medical capacity, we will review revising our social distancing measures," he added.



Kwon said that, though there is still a long way to go, the government is in the initial stage of drawing up a detailed roadmap for an exit from the pandemic, based on which, the country would move into a new phase where the coronavirus is managed like an endemic disease.






TALLAHASSEE  Gov. Ron DeSantis attempts to strip the state licenses of shelters that house unaccompanied immigrant children will have no effect on their federal funding and the shelters themselves cannot be shut down, officials in Washington say.

The Biden administration sent a letter Tuesday to DeSantis general counsel, Ryan Newman, that also said the state does not have the authority to punish the providers if their licenses lapse and they continue to offer services to unaccompanied immigrant children. It was signed by Mark Greenberg, a deputy general counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Currently, 17 shelters provide housing and other services, such as medical care and education, to children who arrive in the country without parents. The children are placed in shelters by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement while their immigration status is being processed.

The Florida shelters received about $66 million in federal funds last year, according to documents provided by the state Department of Children and Families.

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DeSantis in January told the Biden administration that Florida no longer wishes to be involved in the federal governments UAC (Unaccompanied Alien Children) resettlement program.

The governor directed the Department of Children and Families to stop issuing or renewing licenses to providers that shelter unaccompanied immigrant children.

The issue of unaccompanied immigrant children has become one of the 2022 legislative sessions most contentious topics. Some faith and business leaders are aligning with immigrant-advocacy groups to oppose the approach taken by DeSantis and other GOP leaders.

In Tuesdays letter, Greenberg said that under the U.S. Constitutions Supremacy Clause, Florida cannot take action against federal contractors for activities that are expressly authorized by federal law.

Florida cannot take any action against those grantees based on their activities on behalf of the federal government, Greenberg wrote.

The letter might offer some assurance to Florida providers, but the issue is far from settled.

If the state chooses not to license us and then the federal supremacy (clause) takes over and were allowed to continue to operate, I dont see that it would present a problem for us in servicing the children, said Peter Routsis-Arroyo, CEO of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Miami.

Routsis-Arroyo said he hoped Tuesdays letter from HHS resolved the matter, but Im not sure.

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Nobodys quite sure. I know theres still some sort of communications that are taking place. It remains to be seen, he said.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Catholic Charities shelter is licensed by the state to house 81 children but, due to COVID-19, is home to about 50 children under age 18, Routsis-Arroyo said.

DeSantis has used the issue of unaccompanied children to drum up support among his conservative base of supporters.

The governor held a news conference this month with Cuban-American supporters in Miami. DeSantis, who was joined by people who participated in the Pedro Pan operation that relocated more than 14,000 Cuban children to the U.S. in the 1960s, blasted President Joe Biden for what the governor called a crisis at the countrys Mexican border.

To equate what is going on in the Southern border  to Operation Pedro Pan is actually disgusting, DeSantis said on Feb. 7.

Catholic Archbishop Thomas Wenski days later held a news conference where he was joined by Pedro Pan participants who blasted DeSantis approach.

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Wenski called the governors order and the Miami event political theater and a new low in the zero-sum politics in our divisive times.

Children are children, and no child should be deemed disgusting, especially by a public servant, Wenski said during a Feb. 10 news conference at the Archdiocese of Miamis pastoral center.
Refugees from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic rest at the temporary accommodation center in Taganrog in the Rostov region of Russia, Feb. 22. Yonhap





As Ukraine braces for a feared Russian invasion, its EU member neighbors are making preparations for a possible influx of hundreds of thousands or even millions of refugees fleeing military action.







Poland, which has a lengthy border with Ukraine and is already home to an estimated 1.5 million of its citizens, has expressed steadfast support for the country to its east and a willingness to help.







"Poland is preparing for various scenarios in connection with the tense situation," the interior ministry told AFP on Wednesday.







But even before this week's developments, which saw Russia recognize rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine as independent and the West hit back with sanctions, contingency plans for a potential humanitarian crisis were already in the works.







"The interior ministry has for some time now been taking steps to prepare us for a wave of even a million people," Polish Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik said last month.







Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has since created a working group to set out the logistical, transport, medical and educational needs that would be required to host an influx of Ukrainian refugees.







"We are prepared to welcome children and teens to Polish schools and students to Polish universities," Education Minister Przemyslaw Czarnek said Wednesday.







After talks with Warsaw, Tuesday, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told AFP that "Poland is quite well prepared to welcome a lot of Ukrainians if necessary."







She said the European Commission stood ready to provide economic support to Poland if needed, as well as assistance from the EU Agency for Asylum, Europol and the EU's border control agency Frontex.







Refugees from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic at a temporary accommodation center in Taganrog in the Rostov region of Russia, Feb. 22. Yonhap









Slovakia, which also borders western Ukraine, said it too was prepared to do its part.







"We have plans ready for possible refugee pressure on the Slovak-Ukrainian border," Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said on Tuesday.







Interior Minister Roman Mikulec told reporters there were four refugee camps that could accommodate Ukrainians seeking asylum.







"If the situation requires it, we can also use the existing accommodation facilities of the ministry of the interior and other ministries," he said.







Romania, which is among Europe's poorest countries, said it did not expect many Ukrainians to flee there, but added that it was ready to take in half a million refugees.







"This is the figure for which we are prepared," Defense Minister Vasile Dancu told reporters Tuesday.







Romania could set up reception centers, particularly in large towns along its 650-kilometre-long (400 miles) border with Ukraine, Dancu said.







"Tents, beds, blankets, heating systems  that can all be gathered and installed in under 12 hours," said Alexandru Moldovan, the prefect of Suceava county in the north.











Even Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban is known for his hard stance on migration, appeared prepared to welcome refugees.







"In the event of a war, hundreds of thousands, even millions, of refugees would arrive from Ukraine and fundamentally redraw the political and economic situation in Hungary," he said earlier this month.







"We are working for peace, but of course the designated state bodies have begun preparations."







On Tuesday, Hungary announced that it would deploy troops to its border with Ukraine for purposes of both security and humanitarian aid.







"We cannot allow any acts of war in western Ukraine to drift into the territory of Hungary," Defense Minister Tibor Benko said Wednesday.







"And if refugees arrive, they must be accommodated and provided with care."







The U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday that for now it was not seeing any increased movements outside Ukraine's eastern regions but "the situation does remain unpredictable".







"We do stand ready to support efforts by governments and other stakeholders to protect refugees and find solutions for people who are displaced in case there are any movements," spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo told reporters.







But a leading foreign aid organization, the Norwegian Refugee Council, warned earlier this month that were the conflict to escalate and displace millions, humanitarian groups would struggle to meet even a fraction of needs.







"It would be so utterly insane to launch upon the world another cataclysmic war," Secretary General Jan Egeland said at the time. (AFP)


The intersection of U.S. 33, State Road 5 and U.S. 6 in Ligonier. The city has 240 acres of land annexed behind the Speedway where they hope to attract commercial development to the property. The city was in talks with grocery chain Aldi, but the deal to bring a store to Ligonier fell through after Aldi determined the city wasnt large enough to accommodate a location.
(The Center Square)  The Indiana Senate education committee amended House Bill 1134 to require schools to get permission of parents before asking their children to complete surveys in school  surveys often done by outside companies that have come under fire from parent groups for asking personal questions about a childs habits, thoughts and feelings.

The bill has become known as the bill to address parents concerns with Critical Race Theory in schools, but it also contains several other sections, including the one dealing with student surveys.

The amendment offered by the Senate sponsor of the bill Sen. Linda Rogers, R- Granger, which passed the committee, says that schools need a hard opt-in by the parent in order to collect survey information from students that identify the individual students.

Jennifer Hendrix, a mother of four children who lives in Carmel, said she and other concerned parents met with senators recently and asked this language be included.

Ideally, I would think that they wouldnt do them at all, she says of schools and surveys.

Hendrix says she became concerned about the surveys that were being given to her children in school after hearing about some of the questions being asked, and not knowing how the information would be used.

She asked school administrators to see surveys, but they refused.

We couldnt see the questions because they said it was proprietary, she said.

She was assured by the principal that when the survey results were stored, they wouldnt show information that would personally identify a particular student. But she said her son told her he entered his student identification number to take the survey. When Hendrix contacted the outside company that does the surveys, Panorama, she said it confirmed this, saying all students enter student identification numbers and survey results are stored with these numbers.

They did not tell the truth about the personal information that would be collected, Hendrix says of the school.

HB 1134, as amended, would change that.

The bill now says a school corporation or school may only record, collect and maintain responses to an analysis, evaluation or survey in a way that identifies an individual student if the parent provides written consent.

It also says schools must make instructional materials available for inspection by parents and includes in this definition materials related to surveys and also instruction on human sexuality.

It removes an exception for surveys related to academic instruction that had been in the bill and says students shall not be required to participate in a survey that directly reveals or attempts to affect the students attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs or feelings on a wide range of issues, including sexual behavior or attitudes" without the prior written consent of a parent.

Rogers amendment puts back certain things that were in the bill as it passed the House, including specifying that schools may not enter into contracts with any person or company to provide services or training related to a belief that one sex, race, ethnicity, color, religion or national origin is superior or inferior, or that anyone should be treated differently because of any of these things or made to feel responsible for actions committed in the past related to them.

The amendment also adds to the current state education law on "good citizenship instruction," saying schools must add instruction that stresses the importance of understanding how the ideals and values expressed or enumerated in the Constitution of the United States and the economic and political institutions of the United States have contributed toward human advancement, prosperity, scientific inquiry and well-being and also the importance of individual rights, freedoms, and political suffrage.

It does not, however, restore some provisions of the bill that were taken out by senators last week, such as the requirement that school corporations form curriculum advisory committees that include parents, and the requirement teachers post the curriculum for the class to an online portal at the start of the school year. It also did not restore the complaint procedure that would have allowed families to hold schools and school corporations legally responsible for violations of the act.

The bill will now advance to the full Senate, where it is expected to get a vote next week. The last day of the session for House bills to be voted on by the Senate is March 1.
TALLAHASSEE  The Florida House signed off on culture war measures Thursday backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that seek to combat woke ideology and limit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

State legislators passed legislation dubbed by opponents the dont say gay bill, along with a bill touted as the Stop Woke Act by DeSantis. The Florida Senate will take up the controversial proposals next.

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Seven GOP legislators broke ranks with their party and joined Democrats in opposition of the dont say gay bill, including Reps. Chip LaMarca of Broward County and Rep. Rene Plasencia of Orlando.

The measure (HB 1557), approved in a 69-47 vote, greatly limits instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

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Specifically, it states, Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.

The anti-woke measure (HB 7) bans schools from teaching and businesses from conducting training exercises that state an individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. It passed in a 74-41 vote.

Supporters said the bills are needed to empower parents in their childrens education and protect students and employees from being made to feel guilty about past historical wrongs they played no part in.

Our parents do know best, said Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers. They dont turn over their rights and they dont turn over their love for their child when they send their child to school.

Democratic opponents painted the anti-woke proposal as a politically motivated effort to penalize teachers who tell the truth about Americas racist past. They called the dont say gay bill transphobic and homophobic.

Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said he wore a rainbow ribbon upside down because Floridas LGBTQ community is in distress.

The dont say gay bill is called dont say gay because it erases the identities and existence of LGBTQ students, their families and our history, said Smith, who is gay.

The anti-woke bill also would prohibit teachings and training that make people feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress for past wrongs committed by others of their race, color, sex or national origin. It bars teaching that members of one race, color, sex, or national origin are morally superior.

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Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Supporters said the measure would ensure that children and employees arent made to feel guilty for historical events they werent personally involved in and that all races are viewed equally.

It is extremely, extremely important for our children to know our history  the bad parts and the good parts but to know that their lives are not responsible for that history, said Rep. Ralph Massullo, R-Lecanto.

Rep. Bryan Avila, the bills sponsor, singled out corporate training that he says tells employees to be less white and less privileged and less oppressive. He referenced Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Lockheed Martin, American Express and other large companies.

Democrats said the bill would discourage teachers from giving honest history lessons and open businesses to lawsuits from employees who feel uncomfortable during diversity training.

This bill is a joke, said state Rep. Travaris McCurdy, D-Orlando. We fight against mask mandates, yet we want to mandate masking history.

DeSantis, a candidate for reelection this year and widely seen as a presidential contender in 2024, has made culture war issues, such as the teaching of critical race theory, a key part of his election pitch to conservative voters. The House votes came as DeSantis addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando.

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sswisher@orlandosentinel.com
A legal representative has shared an update on former April Hyunjoo's lawsuits, which were filed by her former bandmates and former agency DSP Media.

Read on to know more.

Police Drop Defamation Lawsuits Against Former April Hyunjoo - Here's Why

Although April has disbanded, the dispute between the members and Lee Hyunjoo has not yet ended. The conflict between them has been running for over a year now since a netizen claiming to be Hyunjoo's brother alleged that Lee was bullied by her former bandmates.

As a result of his claim, the April members and DSP Media filed several lawsuits against Hyunjoo, her younger brother, and her friends for spreading false rumors on various online communities. They have previously denied the bullying allegation and asserted that they are actually the victims.

ALSO READ: Former April Chaewon Leaves DSP Media Days After Updating Fans on Hyunjoo Lawsuit

On Feb. 23, Lee's legal representative revealed the latest happenings about the matter. They said that all seven defamation lawsuits filed against former April Hyunjoo and party have all been dropped by police without charges.

Police came to this decision after concluding that it is hard to prove that the content posted online by Hyunjoo and her party consisted of "false rumors" with "malicious intentions."

The legal presentative added that any malicious comments or false speculations surrounding Lee's case will be met with strict legal consequences.

In June of last year, police also dropped the defamation charges against the younger brother of former April Hyunjoo. They explained that he had no intention to slander the girl group and that he only wrote the post out of frustration to bring out the truth.

The police also concluded that Lee did experience bullying within the group, given that the "Tumblr incident" and "shoes incident" did occur and that the content of her younger brother's post cannot be considered false as the details are related to the events that took place while Hyunjoo was still promoting as an April member.

As of press time, DSP Media and the former April members have not released a statement to respond to the decision of the police dropping their lawsuits.

What are your thoughts on the issue? Tell us in the comments below!

Lee Hyunjoo Criticized Following Announcement of April's Disbandment

In other news, Lee Hyunjoo reaps a lot of criticism after DSP Media announced that April will disband.

This past Jan. 28, DSP Media issued a statement to officially announce April's disbandment. The agency said that they had a long period of discussion and debate with the members and have come to an agreement to go their separate ways.

On Feb. 13, former April member Chaewon revealed that she has left DSP Media. She is the first band member to announce her departure from the agency. It is believed that the other members are still signed with the label.

Following the announcement of April's disbandment, many netizens bombarded Hyunjoo's social media account with criticism. It appears like they think the reason for the group's disbandment is the bullying allegation.

Some of the comments are "Hyunjoo ruined the lives of 6 people," "I hope all the disappointment of these people will return to you as misfortune," "Hyunjoo are you happy now? The people who were with you ended up like this," and more.

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Mhaliya Scott
DAY6 Wonpil just announced he would enlist in the military much earlier than expected. The band member also left a touching message for MyDays ahead of his service.

DAY6 Wonpil To Enlist in the Military

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, DAY6 Wonpil held a Naver V Live broadcast, where he made the surprise announcement to MyDays. He said he would be kicking off his military service on March 28.

DAY6 Wonpil also revealed he would be going the navy route because this is the only option available where he could start early. Further, he explained he wants his military service to be over as soon as possible so that he could reunite with the other DAY6 members.

DAY6 Wonpil Says He'll Miss MyDays

While addressing MyDays, Wonpil also broke down in tears while telling them that he would miss his fans.

In fact, one of the things that he's dreading the most is not being able to talk to MyDays for 20 months while he's in service. At the same time, Wonpil also consoled the fans who were emotional because of his announcement.

He told them that 20 months would come by so quickly. And when completes his military service, he would come back a better person and artist for MyDays.

DAY6 Wonpil also said that he's excited to make new music and perform live for MyDays once he and his group members are done with their service.

DAY6 Members are Still Serving in the Military

DAY6 Sungjin will return from his military service in September.

In January 2022, DAY6 Dowoon also announced his decision to enlist in the military much earlier than originally scheduled.

DAY6 Young K enlisted in the military in October 2021. This means that Wonpil is the only DAY6 member that has yet to enlist.

While DAY6 members are in the military, they cannot release new music or record new songs. But after completing their service, they can either go on break while waiting for the other group members to be released.

There are also instances wherein certain K-pop idols use the time to create their solo music.

The typical duration for a K-pop idol's military service is 18 months. This means that DAY6 Wonpil will serve an extra two months because the navy requires 20 months of service.

However, since he will be starting his military service much earlier than expected, he will still be able to return to the outside world much sooner.

K-pop Idols Recognized by the MMA

In December 2020, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) in South Korea named three K-pop idols that showed exemplary behavior and dedication during their 18-month stint.

The MMA praised SHINee Minho for his service in the Marine Corps.

BTOB Sungjae took part in the military band, and he received recognition after he took part in MMA's "Proud Military" challenge alongside EXO D.O.

2PM Chansung served as an assistant instructor for the 5th Infantry Division in Yeoncheon.

While he was in service, he reportedly donated $46,000 to the Hope Bridge Disaster Release Administration.

READ MORE HERE: A.C.E Leader Jun Enlists for Mandatory Military Service

Camille Heimbrod wrote this.

KpopStarz owns this article.
Breonna Taylor's mother doesn't believe the trial of a former Louisville, Kentucky, police officer involved in the botched raid that left her daughter dead will lead to justice, but she'll be there anyway.
(The Center Square)  The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up a challenge to Maines COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers.

The lawsuit, filed in August by the Florida-based Liberty Council on behalf of more than 2,000 Maine health care workers, alleges that the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is violating federal law by requiring vaccinations for health care workers without allowing a religious exemption for those who object.

On Tuesday, the justices rejected the group's motion to present oral arguments in the case without comment, per the high court's practice. The high court has rejected two previous requests for injunctions against the vaccine rules.

An executive order signed by Gov. Janet Mills, which went into effect in October, requires health care workers in the state to be fully vaccinated against the virus. The requirement includes health care workers in nursing homes and other long term care facilities, firefighters, emergency medical service and dental workers.

Only medical exemptions are allowed, not religious or philosophical.

The Mills administration said the rules, which were enacted during a surge of COVID-19 cases last year, are needed to prevent further outbreaks.

The vaccine mandate is backed by the Maine Medical Association and Maine Hospital Association and several other health care groups, which say it will protect public health.

But the Liberty Counsel argued that religious objections to the vaccines must be allowed under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the First Amendment.

"Many people hold sincere religious beliefs against taking any vaccines, or taking those derived from aborted fetal cell lines, or taking those sold by companies that profit from the sale of vaccines and other products derived from abortion," the group's lawyers wrote in court filings.

The Supreme Court's decision not to take up the Maine case follows it's rejection of President Joe Biden's proposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal health care workers and a similar mandate for large companies. Maine was not one of the states that joined those legal challenges.
UNITED STATES - So far, dozens have been killed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This comes after Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered military action on Ukraine. Putin claims he doesn't want to occupy Ukraine, but instead wants the country to not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, since he sees it as a direct threat to Russia.

Thursday morning, President Joe Biden announced additional sanctions and new limitations on what can be exported to Russia. The president said this will impose severe costs on the Russian economy, "both immediately and over time."

Biden said the impact is already settling in.

"Weve already seen the impact of our actions on the Russian currency  the ruble  which early today hit its weakest level ever," the president tweeted. "The Russian stock market plunged today. And the Russian governments borrowing rate spiked above 15 percent."

U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released a statement Thursday morning saying, in part, "I join in strongly condemning Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and unlawful invasion of Ukraine. We must unite around our shared values of liberty and democracy in the face of his blatant power grab against the people of Ukraine and their nation's sovereignty. Freedom must prevail."

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) responded, saying in part, "Ukraine is a proud and sovereign nation. Vladimir Putin ignored Ukrainians decision to live in a democracy and be free. Instead, Putin chose this war. His invasion of Ukraine marks another very dark moment in the history of Europe."

Last Updated: Feb. 24 at 3 p.m.

The U.S. Department of State issued a security alert to American citizens in Ukraine, telling them to seek cover and prepare to shelter in place, according to NBC News.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Wednesday night:

The Russian military said its knocked out Ukraine's air defense assets and air bases. According to the Associated Press, the Russian Defense Ministry said the Russian strikes have "suppressed air defense means of the Ukrainian military." There hasn't been confirmation of this from Ukraine yet.

The Ukrainian military said its shot down five Russian planes. However, Russia's defense ministry denies that claim.

Last Updated: Feb. 23 at 10:45 p.m.

President Joe Biden will meet with G7 leaders on Thursday. During that meeting, the president said the United States and its allies will impose even more "severe" sanctions on Russia.

"We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," Biden tweeted.

Biden said Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reached out to him Wednesday night.

Biden said Zelenskyy asked him to "call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin's flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine."

Last Updated: Feb. 23 at 9:30 p.m.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared martial law, but is urging citizens to not panic as Russia launches military strikes. Right now, it's not clear what restrictions will be in place under the martial law order.

Russian military said it has only targeted Ukrainian air bases and other military assets, not populated areas.

Shortly before this was announced, President Joe Biden spoke to Zelenskyy, according to NBC News' Chief White House Correspondent Peter Alexander.

These updates come after Russia started to invade Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address Wednesday, said he doesn't want to occupy Ukraine. Instead, he wants the country to not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Last Updated: Feb. 23 at 9:15 p.m.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has officially begun, Ukraine's interior ministry told The New York Times. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation Wednesday evening.

The New York Times translated a tweet from the Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, which said Putin started a full-scale "war of aggression" against Ukraine. The tweet goes on to say Ukraine will defend itself and win, adding that the world "must act and stop Putin."

President Joe Biden posted on Twitter, saying: "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable."

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) responded to the invasion on Twitter.

Last Updated: Feb. 23 at 8:35 p.m.

President Joe Biden responded to Russia's announcement of a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

Last Updated: Feb. 23 at 7:45 p.m.

KYIV, Ukraine - Russia's President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Wednesday, claiming that it's intended to protect civilians, the AP reported.

During a televised address, Putin said this comes in response to threats from Ukraine. He also said Russia doesn't want to occupy the country. Putin said any countries that attempt to interfere with the military operation would lead to "consequences they have never seen."

Earlier in the day Wednesday, news broke about about key Ukrainian government websites being down, following cyberattacks. Websites about foreign affairs, infrastructure, education and others were impacted. In a second hack, that happened hours before, a data-wiping tool was found on hundreds of computers in Ukraine. Right now, it's not clear who's responsible for the having incidents.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
TUCSON (KVOA) - The Tucson Rodeo Parade has only been canceled twice in its 97-year history, during World War II and last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, organizers say rain or shine, there will be a parade Thursday.

The Rodeo Parade Committee says it expects more than 150,000 spectators for the 97th Annual Tucson Rodeo Parade. It's the largest single-day spectator event in Arizona.

If you plan to head on down, don't forget to dress warmly!

The parade will start at 9 a.m. on Ajo Way, a half-mile west of Park Avenue. Here's a list of road closures.

Beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, the following roads are scheduled to CLOSE for the @TucsonRodeo Parade: Sixth Ave, Irvington to Ajo Irvington Rd, Sixth Ave to Park Ajo Way, Sixth Ave to Park Park Ave, Ajo to IrvingtonMore info: https://t.co/x7AsquYjlC pic.twitter.com/9oemBJpsBK  Tucson Department of Transportation & Mobility (@Tucson_DTM) February 22, 2022

The following streets will close to vehicular travel:

Sixth Avenue from Irvington Road to Ajo Way will close at 7 a.m. Irvington Road from Sixth Avenue to Park Avenue will close at 7 a.m. Ajo Way from Sixth Avenue to Park Avenue will close at 8 a.m. Park Avenue from Ajo Way to Irvington Road will close at 8:30 a.m.

Westbound Ajo Way will remain open until 8 a.m. to accommodate VA Hospital staff, patients and visitors.

All streets are scheduled to reopen once the parade concludes, at approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday.

For more information about the Rodeo Parade, visit tucsonrodeoparade.com.
A 500-million-dollar business! America's state-sponsored anti-China propaganda

16:55, February 24, 2022 By Qing Ming ( People's Daily Online

Photo taken on Nov. 19, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

500 million dollars. That's the sum of money the US congress planned to allocate to churn out negative news coverage on China. First reported by American Prospect on Feb. 9, the bill was stuffed into the China-centered America COMPETES Act that just got passed by the US House of Representatives earlier this month. A majority of the half-billion-dollar fund will go to the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a state-run media service that oversees Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe (RFE), and Radio Free Asia (RFA), which have a record of "blurring the line between objective news coverage and pro-American propaganda," the article wrote.

The malicious plan constitutes a flagrant departure from the principles of "media independence" and "media objectivity" that are self-proclaimed by many in the US. It is tantamount to state-sponsored propaganda, which the superpower has borrowedalong with other dishonorable tactics, e.g., setting up a spy mission center targeting Chinafrom previous approaches adopted during the Cold War era.

[Related Reading: CIA's new China mission center takes a page from America's cold war playbook ]

As early as 1946, a bulk of 19 million dollars was appropriated by the US Congress to offset the Soviet Union's "misrepresentation of the United States." Two years later, Congress passed the SmithMundt Act and earmarked 30 million dollars to "promote a better understanding of the United States in other countries." In 1953, a specific propaganda institutionthe United States Information Agency (USIA)was established to counter Soviet Union influence while seeding American values, which Dwight Eisenhower, then American president, described as "aspirations for freedom, progress, and peace."

Meanwhile, RFE and VOA, the driving forces of America's propaganda machine, continued to extend their antennas behind the Iron Curtain. While both RFE and VOA purported to tell the "truth" to the world in an objective manner, they in practice "created an aura of American infallibility in which all of its opponents [were] portrayed as evil and grasping," as wrote Ralph A. Uttaro in his essay The Voices of America in International Radio Propaganda. Throughout their operation during the Cold War, RFE and VOA had repeatedly crossed the line between information and incitement (for example, RFE's broadcasts ahead of the Hungarian revolution in 1956 was viewed by many as encouraging citizens to revolt) and allowed the US government to heavily manipulate and fund their broadcasts, especially during the McCarthy era.

The arrival of the 500-million-dollar bill to direct disinformation against China suggests that the US is preparing to reopen its Cold War toolbox to wage yet another propaganda campaign. Under the disguise of the "free press" and "objective reporting," the US is now eyeing a chance to sponsor its media squads to re-enact their role as an instigator rather than as a reporter. The concepts of journalistic credibility and independent reporting inlaid in the motto of American outlets like VOA couldn't be more ill-founded and satirical with the passage of such a propaganda bill. Anyone in the US who advocates for objectivity and neutrality in journalism should feel embarrassed.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Liang Jun)
Fifth graders! Get those colored pencils out and start drawing for a chance at $300 dollars!

To celebrate Drinking Water Week May 1-7, fifth grade students from throughout Missouri are invited to participate in an annual poster contest sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Section of the American Water Works Association.

The contests theme is There when you need it. Water resources are often taken for granted, yet they play a vital role in our daily lives. A drought or depleted water source can threaten a community's future. A safe, reliable water supply creates jobs, attracts industry and investments, and provides for citizens health and welfare, ranging from disease prevention to fire suppression.

Contest entries must be postmarked or submitted electronically by April 1, 2022. Each entry should include the students name, teachers name and schools name, address and telephone. Students should also sign the front of the artwork. The artwork can be no larger than 11 by 17 inches or a 3 MB pdf. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners: $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place. The winners will be featured on the departments website and social media platforms.

Entries will be judged on three criteria: originality, concept execution and the posters relation to public water supplies. The poster should illustrate how tap water is essential to our daily lives and is there when we need it. Entries may be drawn, colored, painted or created electronically. Entries will not be returned.

Mail entries to: Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Directors Office  LCSOB-4E, Attn: Tisha Holden, P.O. Box, 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176. Submit electronic entries as a pdf to socialmedia (at) dnr.mo.gov. For more information, call 573-526-1837 or visit dnr.mo.gov/water/get-involved/drinking-water-week.
RACINE  A longtime friend of Racine firefighter Christopher Lalor has been accused of killing him before fleeing the state and then killing himself, according to law enforcement.

Lalor, 50, was found dead in his home Sunday, but was likely killed Friday, court documents indicate.

Peter James Lui, 51, of the 4000 block of Marquette Drive, was charged Wednesday with first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon, which carries with it a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.

On Wednesday, the Racine Police Department reported that it was contacted by law enforcement officers in Jacksonville, Florida, who had found a subject matching the description of Peter Lui who was located deceased by means of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The RPD reports that Peter Luis remains have been positively identified, although the investigation is still considered ongoing. No indication was given of when Lui arrived in Florida or of when exactly he died.

Court documents indicate Lui and Lalor had been friends and previously had been roommates.

No motive is known. The criminal complaint said that Lalors mother, who found her sons body, did not know a reason someone would kill him.

Investigation

Lui does not appear to have a criminal record. He previously lived in Nevada and Hawaii.

The criminal complaint alleges that Lui fled the state after fatally shooting Lalor in Lalors basement, heading south into Illinois on Interstate 90/94 in an orange 2005 Honda Element after 1 a.m. Saturday.

The investigation began after Lalors mother found his body near his basement bar in his home on Pinehurst Avenue. She went to his home Sunday after he did not reply to a text the day before, which she said was alarming, according to the complaint; there was no sign of forced entry, and Lalors mother had a key to the home.

Lalors mother told police that she last spoke with her son on Friday morning.

The Racine Police Department reported that five fired 9mm casings were found near Lalors body, but no firearm was found.

Upon reviewing surveillance video from a neighbors home, police said they saw an orange SUV (believed to be Luis Honda) in the neighborhood at 3:33 p.m., and then again between 6:35 and 7:35 p.m. Friday.

Neighbors told police that Lalor had mentioned he was planning to meet his friend Pete at a pub at 4 p.m. Friday.

Since October, Lui had been living in the 4000 block of Marquette Drive. Police said they were told he lives alone. Upon searching Luis apartment, police reported it was clear that Lui had left in a hurry, taking many of his belongings with him. A suitcase was out and partially packed. In the apartment, there were numerous guns and significant amounts of ammunition. Officers believe that based on the cases and accessories, two guns were not accounted for: a 9mm handgun and a larger 9mm gun. The casings found at the scene were all 9mm casings.

Luis phone was found near the intersection of Charles Street and Three Mile Road, police said. The criminal complaint noted that the recovery of this phone indicates ... that Lui may be fleeing, and has abandoned his phone so as to not be tracked.

No photographs of Lui have been provided by law enforcement.

Facebook

Luis Facebook page was updated after he allegedly killed Lalor. At 7:50 p.m. Friday, his cover photo was changed to a black-and-white image of a bird on a branch backlit by the moon with the following words overlaid: Do not go gentle into that good night.

That phrase is the name of a 1947 poem by Dylan Thomas. The meaning of the poem is debated by critics, but it is understood to be on the topic of death.

One minute after his Facebook cover photo was changed, the profile picture was changed to what appears to be a drawing of a Viking in a winged helmet set over a pair of axes overlaid with the words: That which does not kill me should run.
While leaders of other Democratic-leaning cities have refused, officials of Kenosha city government were deposed by investigators for the partisan probe into the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin

Wednesday afternoon Kenosha City Administrator John Morrissey confirmed in an email that he appeared pursuant to a legislative subpoena issued by Speaker Robin Vos at 9 a.m. on Feb. 16. Morrissey continued, saying that an Assistant City Attorney and an attorney working for the special counsel spoke (and) after their discussion, no questions were asked of me.

It was not revealed what they discussed.

We continue to work on obtaining and providing documents as requested by the special counsels (sic) office, Morrisseys email concluded.

Michael Gableman, the former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice leading the taxpayer-funded probe, has repeatedly complimented Kenosha for being more cooperative than the rest of states five most-populous cities: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and Racine.

Gableman has called for the mayors of Racine, Madison and Green Bay  among others  to be jailed for refusing to comply with his subpoenas, which were signed by Vos, R-Rochester.

The full list of those deposed by Gableman and his associates is unknown. Some of the subpoenas have been made public, but Vos said he has signed dozens the public does not know about  possibly more than 100.

Racine Mayor Cory Mason and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway both said they would be willing to testify, but only in public, not behind closed doors as Gableman has demanded.

Mason and Rhodes-Conway have criticized Gableman and his supporters for conducting their work in secret and elevating claims that the 2020 election was stolen, for which there isnt evidence, even though Gableman stated in November 2020, without offering proof, that your elected leaders have allowed unelected bureaucrats at the Wisconsin Elections Commission to steal our vote.

Vos and Gableman have repeatedly claimed that working in secret would prevent the spread of misinformation about the probe.

Documents published by the nonprofit watchdog American Oversight, received via open records request and after a court battle, show that a deposition of Kenosha officials had been scheduled to be held in November. But its unclear if that deposition occurred then or later.

Racine officials had been scheduled to be deposed on Valentines Day, but the citys (Racines) administration made the decision not to send anyone to be interviewed by the Gableman investigation, Racine City Attorney Scott Letteney said in an email.

Kenosha, Racine, Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee have been targeted by Gablemans probe as those five cities received the lions share of private donations to Wisconsin municipalities prior to the 2020 election. Courts have repeatedly affirmed the legality of those donations from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, which was funded by Priscilla Chan and her husband, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Wisconsins elected officials from both sides are condemning Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Marine veteran who represents northeastern Wisconsin, called Putin a KGB thug. Gov. Tony Evers said he and his wife are praying for the children whose lives have been upended.

While there was general unity, a few Republicans  including Gallagher and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany  criticized President Joe Bidens administration for not acting more forcefully to deter the Russians.

It is the largest invasion of any European nation since World War II. Dozens, if not more than a hundred or hundreds of both civilians and soldiers, are already dead.

U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis.:

Vladimir Putins unprovoked and unjust attack on the people of Ukraine must be condemned and met with severe consequences. Putin cannot be allowed to profit from his evil and ruthless actions. As the people of Ukraine strive for democracy and freedom, they need to know America stands with them.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.:

Putin has violated international law, invading a sovereign and democratic nation that wants peace and independence. Putins aggression has been met with sanctions, and his violent attack against Ukraine should be met with stronger sanctions, including a full set of punishing financial, technology, and military sanctions. I stand with the Ukrainian people and I believe we need to continue standing strong with our European allies and NATO by providing them the support they need to hold Putin accountable for the largest invasion of Europe since World War II.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.:

Weakness tempts tyrants and totalitarians to seek more power. People who only want to live in peace suffer the consequences. Ultimately, there is only one group of people responsible for the tragedies unfolding  Vladimir Putin and his cronies. They have stolen wealth from the Russian people, destabilized and done great harm to their European neighbors, and now theyve crossed another line that will yield untold horrors. Europe must act with strength and resolve to prevent risking a wider conflict, and the U.S. must support our NATO allies and freedom-loving people in this moment of extreme peril.

Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat:

(First lady) Kathy and I are praying for the Ukrainian people, including the millions of kids, whose lives have been upended by Russias unprovoked invasion. I join leaders across the world in condemning this attack on Ukraines sovereignty and support efforts to hold Russia accountable.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., a Racine native:

I strongly condemn Russias decision to invade Ukraine. This decision is even more troubling when you consider the robust diplomatic efforts by the Biden Administration and the international community conducted in the past weeks to prevent such a calamitous outcome and to prevent this crisis from escalating.

No one will lose more than the people of Ukraine and my heart goes out to them. The United States and its partners and allies must remain unified as they consider options for responding to Russias dangerous escalation and for providing support to the people of Ukraine and those displaced from their homeland.

U.S. Rep. Gallagher, R-Wis.:

Vladimir Putin is a KGB thug who understands no language except force. He has brought war to Europe because he believes he will secure a quick and decisive victory. Our task is to ensure that he is disappointed, by aiding the Ukrainians who are taking up arms to defend their homeland and imposing economic costs now, not after the inevitable humanitarian disaster. Unfortunately, throughout this crisisas during the Afghanistan fiasco  the Biden Administration has demonstrated little urgency, creativity, or willingness to admit errors and adapt. The president must change course, or our deterrent posture will continue to collapse, chaos will continue to spread, and eventually no one will trust Americas promises or fear American power.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis.:

What Vladimir Putin is doing is wrong and should be condemned by the entire world.

The events now unfolding in Ukraine are a direct result of failed Biden administration policies that have made Americans poorer while enriching the Putin regime.

Since day one, President Biden has strangled American energy producers  weakening us at home, emboldening our adversaries abroad, and making the world much less safe. We are now seeing the consequences of those policies in real time. Weakness leads to war.

Restoring American credibility and respect on the world stage starts with getting our own house in order. It is way past time for President Biden to reverse course on his destructive domestic policies so that America can once again negotiate from a position of strength.

U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis.: These unprovoked attacks by President Putin must be met with severe consequences. The U.S. must move swiftly to pass a comprehensive sanctions package that cripples Putin and his oligarchs. I stand with the Ukrainian people in their fight against tyranny.

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis.: My prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they face an unprovoked attack from Russian military forces. This week Im in London for meetings with officials from the UK government and members of the British Parliament about this aggression, focusing on coordination of sanctions. Now is the time for the United States and our allies to stand united in condemning Putins unjustified actions towards Ukraine and hold Russia accountable. I couldnt be more pleased with the level of cooperation and coordination that we are receiving from our British and European allies.
Conservatives on Wisconsins natural resources board have approved weakened regulations for toxic "forever chemicals" in public water supplies but killed a rule to limit them in groundwater, which one in four residents with private wells rely on for drinking water.

In the face of widespread public support, the Natural Resources Board voted 3-3 with one abstention Wednesday to reject rules to limit certain fluorinated compounds known as PFAS in groundwater.

The board later voted to approve weakened PFAS standards for public drinking water, which apply to municipal systems, trailer parks, schools and other institutions where people get drinking water on a regular basis.

The vote scraps two and a half years of work by the Department of Natural Resources to set groundwater standards for contaminants found in wells across the state, including in Madison.

The synthetic chemicals, which do not break down naturally, have been linked to health problems including low birth weight, cancer and liver disease, and have been shown to make vaccines less effective.

After heated debate, members appointed by former Gov. Scott Walker sided with industry lobbyists who questioned the science put forward by state health officials and the DNRs economic impact estimates.

Theres been a lot of negativity toward chemicals -- theyre bad -- spoken here today, said Bill Bruins. If we pass this rule its like biting the hand that feeds us.

Board member Fred Prehn said he didnt believe the proposed groundwater rule met statutory requirements.

Im a rules follower, said Prehn, who has refused to step down since his term ended in May as Republicans in the Senate have denied a confirmation hearing for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers nominee to replace him.

Terry Hilgenberg, who abstained without explanation, said he didn't trust the Department of Health Services scientists.

I dont want to be COVIDed here, Hilgenberg said, citing variances in local public health guidelines. When I come to the Peoples Republic of Madison, I have to wear a mask, and it's ridiculous. ... I dont have trust in the DHS.

Hilgenberg also said he didnt believe the DNRs economic impact statement based on a conversation with a northeast Wisconsin well digger.

That prompted a rebuke from DNR Secretary Preston Cole.

Youre not going to take us on and say somehow you believe it to be true because you talked to a guy, Cole said. Listen to yourself.

DNR staff later pointed out that Hilgenberg had conflated the cost estimates for private and municipal wells.

Chair Greg Kazmierski tried unsuccessfully to amend the proposed groundwater standard to the Environmental Protection Agencys existing health advisory, which is 3.5 times higher than the DNRs proposed standard.

The board later voted 6-1 to reject the DNRs proposed 20 parts per trillion standard for public drinking water supplies and instead adopt the EPAs 70 ppt guideline. Recently released EPA documents show negative health effects can occur at less than 1 ppt.

Environmental advocates accused the board of playing political games and ignoring science.

As a result, more Wisconsinites will be unnecessarily exposed to toxic chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, impairment of the immune system and other diseases, said Tony Wilkin Gibart, executive director of Midwest Environmental Advocates.

That rule will now require approval by Evers and the GOP-controlled Legislature's rules committee.

Mike Mikalsen, an aide to committee co-chair Sen. Steve Nass, said Nass still needs to review the final versions before reaching any conclusions but the changes made by the board "improve the chances" of legislative approval.

Critical reception

The board received dozens of public comments in support of the standards and heard pleas from local leaders in cities with contaminated water supplies.

Peshtigo town chair Cindy Boyle broke down in tears as she described her communitys plight and her own battle with cancer.

For four and a half years I have been fighting every single day to set PFOA/PFOS standards, Boyle said. Im not embarrassed. Im exhausted. Im pissed off. Our community needs and deserves protection.

Lee Donahue, a supervisor in the La Crosse County town of Campbell, described how residents unknowingly drank contaminated well water for years.

Its like a ticking time bomb, Donahue said. You know its in your body and you cant get it out. You seek a safe alternative drinking water source, and you pray for enforceable water standards.

Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg, who earlier this month revealed that all six of the citys wells have PFAS concentrations above the proposed standard -- but below the levels adopted -- said the lack of regulations has left local governments in the worst form of regulatory limbo.

The public trust is shattered, she said. Municipalities cant shoulder the burdens of doing the right thing by ourselves. Please dont punt.

Prehn, a Wausau dentist, accused Rosenberg of creating hysteria and psychosis.

The bottom line is its a forever chemical and youre never going to remove all of it, he said. You want an instant fix to a problem thats been around for generations.

Proposed rules

Developed over the past two years with input from industry and environmental groups as well as hundreds of concerned citizens, the proposed rules targeted just two of the most extensively studied compounds, PFOS and PFOA.

If approved by the Legislature, the new rules on groundwater would have enabled the DNR to force polluters to clean up spills or face fines if concentrations exceed the standards. The proposed rule also included new or adjusted standards for 20 additional contaminants, including hexavalent chromium.

All told, the DNR estimated it would have cost the states businesses and local governments about $6 million per year to comply with the new regulations, while Wisconsin residents could save hundreds of millions of dollars each year in avoided health care costs associated with low birth weight and high blood pressure attributed to PFAS.

The proposed drinking water standards are similar to those adopted by Illinois but less restrictive than those in Minnesota and Michigan, which have also adopted surface water standards.

Scott Manley, a lobbyist for Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, argued the rules are unlawful because the DNR underestimated the costs of compliance and state law prohibits combined standards for more than one substance.

Other industry representatives urged the board to delay regulation until the EPA establishes federal standards, which they warned will likely be more stringent than the DNRs.

The EPA in January decided to establish federal drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, though such regulations would not be in place until 2026.

Were comparing human health with corporate profits, said Peshtigo supervisor Kayla Furton. If corporate profits were removed from this equation there would be no opposition.

The board later voted unanimously to adopt the DNRs recommended limits for PFOA and PFOS in surface waters.

The rule limits PFOS, which tends to accumulate in fish, at 8 ppt except in waters that cannot naturally support fish or feed other fisheries. The limit for PFOA is 20 ppt in waters that supply drinking water and 95 ppt elsewhere, which the DNR said is a safe level for swimmers.

Permit holders would have more than seven years to come into compliance with the rule, which the DNR estimates will result in about $2.1 million in added costs for about 48 businesses, primarily paper mills, metal finishers, chemical manufacturers and commercial laundries.

In addition, the DNR estimates 23 municipal wastewater treatment plants would need to add filtration to comply with the standards.
LANCASTER, Pa.  When Dylan Heagy looks across his pastures, he envisions the trees that could someday be planted there.

Heagy isnt planning to turn his Westmoreland County farm into a forest. He just wants to plant enough apples, chestnuts or hickories to supplement his income.

The crop-producing trees would also protect his cattle from summer heat stress and improve growing conditions for his forages.

Youre strategically planting trees and bushes that are going to also be providing a yield, Heagy said.

Heagy is pursuing agroforestry, a set of practices that integrate trees into a crop or livestock production system.

The term covers everything from growing ginseng in the woods to grazing cows in a pasture studded with saw timber.

Agroforestry intensifies production and can improve the environment. Supporters have made small but notable advancements in Pennsylvania over the past few years.

Still, agroforestry has been held back by complex management, slow economic returns, and a lack of information about how to do it profitably.

At Country Sunrise Creamery in Myerstown, Nelson Martin is getting into silvopasture  Heagys type of agroforestry that combines trees, forages and livestock.

Martin wants to provide shade and wind protection for his dairy cattle, but he also wants to grow his number of income streams so that multiple family members can stay involved in the operation.

I have nine children, and Im not going to buy a farm for each one, he said during a Feb. 11 session at Pasa Sustainable Agricultures annual conference.

Supporters say agroforestry just makes ecological sense in Pennsylvania, which was once part of a vast forest that covered eastern North America.

If forests are well adapted to the state, the thinking goes, maybe farms can benefit from being forestlike.

Few places in Pennsylvania would seem to have more potential to expand agroforestry than Lancaster County. Lancaster leads the state in agricultural production but is second to last for forest cover.

Were No. 1 here, but it has come at a huge cost for trees, said Lamonte Garber, watershed restoration coordinator at the Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale.

Signs of Progress

In the Mid-Atlantic, riparian buffers are the most familiar type of agroforestry, and they show why farmers might expand into other tree-related practices.

Buffers are plantings of trees and shrubs along streams that stabilize the banks, and improve habitat for both land and aquatic wildlife. But they are best known as a robust and cost-effective way to cut nutrient runoff.

As a result, buffers have been heavily promoted as part of the Chesapeake Bay cleanup.

In 2016, Pennsylvania pledged to add 95,000 acres of buffers in the next decade, a time frame that lines up with the deadline for its bay commitments.

By 2020, Lancaster County  one of the top buffer counties in the watershed  had almost 1,900 acres in place, according to the Chesapeake Riparian Forest Buffer Network.

Still, buffers are an example, and not the only one, of the federal government giving agroforesters not quite everything theyd like.

USDAs Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is one of the biggest funders of riparian buffers. It provides money for planting and technical advice, and then it pays rent to the landowner for keeping the land in the program.

What CREP doesnt do is allow harvesting of any kind in the buffer, which limits a farms revenue opportunities.

To fill that gap, Pennsylvanias Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has promoted multifunctional buffers for the past six years.

In these buffers, the zone closest to the stream is left largely untouched, while berries, floriculture crops like pussy willow, and perennials such as switchgrass can be harvested in adjacent areas.

But even multifunctional buffers can be too small to produce a commercial quantity of a crop, said Audrey Epp Schmidt, business development director at Propagate Ventures, a company that is looking to scale agroforestry.

To make it a feasible farm enterprise, an agroforestry planting will likely have to be designed and managed as an operation in itself.

In Montgomery County, Schmidt is working with a landowner who wants to expand a small existing buffer into the wet field near the creek, which isnt good for much but hay.

The farmer plans to replace the forage with a marketable amount of elderberries, one of the most appealing riparian buffer plants.

We do not have enough domestic production of elderberry for how much demand there is. Theres a lot of importing, Schmidt said. Major opportunity, especially as folks are so excited about local production.

Garber includes elderberries in nearly every buffer he works with, but what type of agroforestry works best on a given farm ultimately depends on the landowners goals.

Plantings, he said, can provide specialty crops, syrup, bee habitat, a deer hunting paradise, or just a beautiful landscape.

Silvopasture: Why

If riparian buffers are Pennsylvanias most common form of agroforestry, silvopasture is the practice best positioned for a jump in popularity.

Silvopasture involves grazing livestock in a grassland with trees, so its not tied to a stream corridor.

And silvopasture is particularly versatile, accommodating any type of livestock and capable of producing timber and a range of tree crops.

Though the term silvopasture sounds newfangled, the concept has a long and global history, said Austin Unruh, a consultant who is pioneering silvopasture in southeastern Pennsylvania.

For centuries, Spanish farmers have run cattle, sheep and hogs on the dehesa  a grassland dotted with oaks that produce acorns for the livestock, as well as cork.

In Latin America, some farmers plant trees and shrubs as browse, which keeps animals from nibbling near the ground where tropical parasites thrive.

In the United States, silvopasture is most associated with pine plantations, which are intensively managed timber operations predominantly in the South.

Its a means of getting more than one income from the same acreage, Unruh said, and youre also able to get a shorter-term income, a shorter-term revenue from your livestock  rather than just waiting 20, 30 years for your pine to mature.

Silvopasture can be created in two ways  by putting livestock in existing woods, or by adding rows of trees to a pasture.

Unruh and most other advocates prefer the pasture-first method because its simpler  and because livestock, especially pigs, can brutalize woodland ecosystems.

The problem with beginning from pasture is the trees start small and take some time to provide benefits.

Harrison Rhodes, of Rising Locust Farm in Manheim, is eager for his silvopasture trees to grow big enough to provide summer shade for his cattle. He estimates that will be six to eight years from planting.

Rhodes has a small operation and doesnt want to drive on his pasture, so currently he moves his shade structure through the paddocks by hand.

I cant wait until I stop doing that, he said.

In the meantime, Rhodes has noticed that the trees are big enough to shade some of the pasture by the time they are are three or four years old.

In the summer, cool-season grasses tend to grow better with 30% to 50% shade than when they are out in the open, Unruh said.

Tim Sauder, of Fiddle Creek Dairy in Quarryville, is implementing silvopasture in part to offset purchased feed.

His cows love the leaves and branches of willow, black locust and especially mulberry, he said.

Rhodes figures tree debris also feeds soil microbes, which is part of his ecological vision for the farm.

I want to work and live in a beautiful environment my whole life, Rhodes said. Theres all these new birds coming to our farm because of the trees, and that kind of stuff really keeps me going when the farming isnt so fun.

Silvopasture: How

To start a silvopasture operation, the farm obviously needs to get some trees.

Rhodes and Martin, the Myerstown farmer, started out buying trees on their own but have since found financial assistance.

Stroud and other organizations provide a lot of trees to farms, often at no cost.

That aid comes in handy for farmers, who otherwise might be stuck buying cheap trees with an iffy survival rate, or sturdy but pricey nursery stock.

Trees are expensive things to make mistakes with, Martin said.

Unruh plants trees that are 2 to 3 feet tall. Silvopasture uses fast-growing tree species, but the plantings still take about five years to show benefits, he said.

While the trees are small, they are vulnerable to voles, which can kill trees by girdling the trunk.

Garber keeps voles at bay by surrounding the tree tube with 2A modified gravel, a type of stone used as a base for patios and driveways.

That isnt enough to protect the saplings from livestock, which can ruin the trees by trampling, eating or rubbing against them.

Martin, Rhodes and Sauder are part of a Chesapeake Bay Foundation research project that is looking at that problem.

Since 2020, the group has been studying combinations of plastic tree shelters, wire tree cages, electric fencing and barbed wire to protect the trees.

The group is measuring tree survival, tree height, soil health and cost, said Molly Cheatum, the Bay Foundations restoration manager in Pennsylvania.

The project still has a year and a half to go, so final results arent available.

But a 2013-2016 case study at Dickinson College Farm offers some insights.

The Dickinson study, which involved USDA and other partners, had some success with tree cages made with posts and wire-mesh fencing. But each cage took three people 20 minutes to build, and the structures didnt always stop a determined Angus.

The researchers also used temporary electric fencing to protect trees in paddocks that were being grazed. The tactic worked, but it wasted some of the pasture space.

Some types of tree protection are better than others, but it might be hard to find a setup that is effective while also quick and inexpensive.

Federal Funding  Or Not

Indeed, very little about starting a silvopasture operation is quick or inexpensive. After the upfront investment in trees and fencing, the farmer will have to rely on producing livestock for years until the trees generate much thats marketable.

That plod to profitability can be a big hurdle for cash-strapped farmers just trying to make the next loan payment.

We have a very thin margin of survival. You can only do a few mistakes and youre out, Martin said.

Cost-share funding from USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service would ease farmers burden.

The agency already offers support in Pennsylvania for other agroforestry practices, such as alley cropping, riparian buffers and windbreak establishment.

NRCS offers support for silvopasture in most parts of the country as well. But in the Northeast, only four states  Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey  are on board.

Pennsylvania NRCS evaluated silvopasture some years ago but determined that the practice led to too much erosion on steep slopes and damage from livestock rubbing against trees.

We found that the animals were really degrading the resource rather than enhancing it, said Denise Coleman, NRCS state conservationist in Pennsylvania.

Coleman also cited concerns about compaction in preferred shady resting areas. And given the risk of livestock damage, she said the five years of an average NRCS contract isnt long enough to be sure the trees will survive.

Its not a practice that is for everyone, Coleman said. To maintain and handle silvopasture, you have to be a very, very good manager. Youre in the top 5%.

When NRCS puts out a standard, it should be achievable by more like 80% of farmers, she said.

Approving a standard for an NRCS practice, which allows the agency to offer funding for it, is not a casual process.

The standard is based on research, goes through a public comment period, and is published in the Federal Register.

Still, the lack of government aid in Pennsylvania has frustrated Heagy, the farmer who wants to develop silvopasture in Westmoreland County.

Heagy said hes familiar with the criticism that silvopasture is poorly suited to Northern deciduous forests. But he thinks the opposite, saying that forests are the natural tendency of the region.

Like many silvopasture enthusiasts, Heagy plans to plant trees in a pasture rather modify a woodlot.

Thats the simple workaround that other people have done, he said.

The farm he rents has few trees, so he would have little choice anyway.

Heagy isnt alone in his frustration.

Sara Nicholas, Pasas policy specialist, is working on a request for Pennsylvania NRCS to open the door to silvopasture. She plans to exclude the problematic animals-in-the-woods scenario and concentrate on adding trees to pasture.

Its very difficult to get people really excited about a practice and not have the funding to deliver it, Nicholas said.

Pasa is already using NRCS funding to study alley cropping, a type of agroforestry that puts other crops, rather than livestock, between rows of trees.

Silvopasture as Business

Another evolving way to fund silvopasture is to bypass the government and use private money.

Schmidt, from Propagate Ventures, is laying the foundation for commercial agroforestry investment in Pennsylvania and the Hudson Valley of New York.

Her company uses mapping software to design agroforestry projects to fit the landscape and bring in revenue.

The program accounts for environmental factors  like topography, weather and insect pressure  and projected markets for the products planned for the farm.

The farmer can tinker with the planting layout to gauge the profitability of different combinations of enterprises, and weather scenarios can be adjusted based on a landowners risk tolerance. All of Propagates designs build in biodiversity strips as a pest management best practice.

The software allows landowners to balance near-term gains from fruit or livestock with long-term investments such as nuts or timber.

To help farmers understand what they are getting into, the program also provides a list of tasks that come with the chosen crops.

Im going to use the example of grazers. They may have never pruned a tree before, Schmidt said.

The market for carbon credits is not developed enough for Propagate to assign dollar values to a farms chosen practices, but the company does estimate how much carbon the system could sequester.

Environmental friendliness could be a big selling point for silvopasture and related practices in the near future.

Pastures with trees sequester five to 10 times as much carbon as treeless ones, according to Project Drawdown, a climate solutions organization.

Propagates initial analysis of a farm takes three to five months and costs $3,000.

Farmers could use this detailed documentation to support a loan application from a traditional lender.

Propagate is also working to line up conservation-minded investors who understand the long-term nature of agroforestry.

Eventually the company could package projects from multiple regions into a portfolio. The strategy would manage investors risk while helping farmers launch new enterprises.

That is a way to flip the script in terms of not just relying on philanthropic and government funding for getting trees on farms, Schmidt said.
Siddharthnagar (Uttar Pradesh), February 24 (ANI): Ahead of the fifth phase of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, former Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray's grandson Aaditya Thackrey will convey his party's ideology to the people later on Thursday here in Siddharthnagar district.

Serving Minister of Tourism and Environment in Maharashtra government, the 32-year-old leader will start his campaigning for Shiv Sena by seeking support for party candidate Raju Srivastava, who is contesting from 306-Dumariyaganj Assembly constituency in Siddharthnagar district.

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Aaditya Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, will address a public rally here around 11 am in Dumariyaganj, a town, and tehsil of Siddharthnagar district in eastern Uttar Pradesh located on the bank of the river Rapti, 30 km south of the Nepal border.

Aaditya Thackrey will later move to the 265-Koraon Assembly constituency in Prayagraj district to address another rally in the evening.

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President of Yuva Sena, a youth wing of Shiv Sena, Aaditya Thackrey will be accompanied by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, who had announced earlier this month that Shiv Sena will contest on 50-100 seats in the state and that it will not be a part of any alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

Raut had also said that "we have ideological differences with Samajwadi Party but we want a change in the state (Uttar Pradesh) now".

"We have been working in UP for a long time but did not contest the elections because we did not want to harm BJP earlier," Raut said earlier.

Uttar Pradesh, which has 403 assembly seats, is having seven-phase elections of which four rounds have already concluded. The four-round of voting was held on February 10, 14, 20, and 23. The fifth phase of polling will take place on February 27, and the remaining two phases on March 3 and March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kochi, Feb 24 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on actor Dileep's plea opposing further probe in the 2017 actress assault case.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: PM Narendra Modi Slams Opposition Parties Over Job Promises, Says 'Yogi Adityanath Govt Gave 5 Lakh Jobs in 5 Years'.

The high court reserved its judgement after hearing arguments on behalf of the actor, the victim and the prosecution during this week, except on Wednesday.

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The actor, represented by senior advocate B Raman Pillai and advocates Philip T Varghese and Thomas T Varghese, has contended that the further investigation was a "sham" and an attempt to further delay the trial of the case.

Dileep has also contended that further investigation in that case was not permissible as a final report had been filed in November 2017, charges were framed in January 2020 and only one prosecution witness -- one of the investigating officers -- remained to be examined.

He has further said, in his plea, that the entire thing was pre-planned between the investigating officer and director Balachandra Kumar who recently made some startling revelations against Dileep in the actress assault case through the media.

Kumar had also alleged that there was evidence including digital ones to prove that the actor had influenced the witnesses.

The actor has claimed in his plea that prior permission of the trial court was required for carrying out any further probe.

Opposing his plea, the police -- represented by Director General of Prosecution (DGP) T A Shaji and Additional Public Prosecutor P Narayanan -- has told the court that there was no legal bar or impediment in carrying out further investigation in the 2017 actress assault case merely because the trial was at its fag end and added that no prior permission was required for it.

The prosecution said that the further probe can be carried out anytime before delivery of verdict, if any fresh material or evidence comes to light.

The DGP also argued that there was no pre-planning between the investigating officer and Kumar and there was no connection between them till the time the latter made his revelation.

The victim, who was allowed to be a part of the proceedings by the court, also supported the prosecution's decision to carry out further probe saying she wants a fair trial and the truth behind the incident needs to be revealed.

The actress-victim, who has worked in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, was abducted and allegedly molested in her car for two hours by some persons who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017 and later escaped in a busy area. The entire act was filmed by those persons to blackmail the actress.

There are 10 accused in the 2017 case and police have arrested seven. Dileep was arrested subsequently and released on bail.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 24 (ANI): Maharashtra BJP will hold a state-wide protest on Thursday to demand the resignation of state Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik.

Malik has been remanded to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till March 3 in a money laundering case.

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Commenting on it, Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis alleged that Nawab Malik purchased land worth crores with the help of the underworld.

"After a detailed investigation in this matter, the ED court has sentenced him (Nawab Malik) to ED custody until March 3. If politicians will be in direct contact with the underworld, then ED will have to do such investigations. All political parties should support this," he said.

Also Read | ED Confiscated Rs 18,000 Crore from Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Centre Tells Supreme Court.

Further, he claimed that terror funding of Dawood Ibrahim was done inside India through such deals.

Taking a jibe at Malik, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar said, "Nawab benaqaab ho gaya (Nawab Malik is exposed)" and questioned the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

"When the central investigating agencies are investigating the matter in the interest of the nation, why are the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party, instead of taking the legal route, indulging in pressurising these agencies? Why are they defaming them?" he asked.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya took a dig at Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and in a tweet said, "It seems Thackeray Sarkar decided to allow #NawabMalik to attend Cabinet Meetings from Jail may be 'Virtually'."

The Special PMLA court in Mumbai on Wednesday sent Nawab Malik to Enforcement Directorate custody till March 3 in connection with Dawood Ibrahim's money laundering case.

Last week, the ED on Tuesday conducted raids at the residence of Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar in Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case.

Searches were carried out by the ED at several places linked to people associated with the underworld in Mumbai, informed sources said on Tuesday.

The ED had also conducted searches at 10 different locations related to late Haseena Parkar, sister of Dawood Ibrahim, in Nagpada.

The agency had also questioned Dawood's nephew and Parkar's son Alishah Parkar and Chota Shakeel's henchman Salim Qureshi aka Salim Fruits. (ANI)

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Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], February 24 (ANI): Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thursday said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is taking steps to bring back about 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine.

Addressing a media in Thrissur, the Union Minister said the Central government's aim is to ensure the safety of all Indians and for that all measures are being planned.

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"MEA is taking steps to bring back about 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine. The central government will ensure the safety of all Indians," said MoS Muraleedharan.

Amid the closure of Ukrainian airspace, the Indian embassy in Kiev has said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine.

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The information was conveyed through an advisory that comes in the backdrop of Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

The embassy said the schedule for special flights has been cancelled due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace.

"At the time when there was a war threat itself, we tried to put more flights in service and bring back those willing to come back. But since the air space in Ukraine has been closed, we have stopped the measures to bring back Indians via flights. We are planning alternative measures to bring back Indians. Ministry of External Affairs has decided to send more diplomats to this area to help the Indian embassy," he added.

He further urged students and parents not to panic as the Central government will be able to ensure the safety of Indians.

"I spoke to Malayali students in Ukraine on phone. Indian students in the southern areas of Ukraine have told us that they are getting food, water and power. Students and parents should not panic. Our government has brought back Indians even from places like Iraq. The central government will be able to ensure the safety of Indians, there is no doubt about that. The control room has been expanded, more telephone numbers have been given," he said.

Meanwhile, leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 24 (ANI): Launching a scathing attack on Samajwadi Party for raising the issue of alleged discrepancies in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said as soon as they start blaming EVMs, understand that the "Pariwarwadi" party's game is over.

"With the fourth phase of polls, Pariwarwadi parties have started abusing the EVM. For those who wait for exit polls, I would like to tell them not to do so. As soon as they start blaming EVMs, understand that the Pariwarwadi party's game is over," said PM Modi while addressing a rally in Prayagraj.

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Further slamming the Opposition parties for raising objections when the state government in 2018 changed the name of 'Allahabad' to 'Prayagraj', PM Modi said, "those who even hate the name Prayagraj, what development work will they do for this city?"

"Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies have worked continuously for five years in Prayagraj. BJP's double engine government has changed the politics of the country as well as of UP," he said.

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Earlier on Sunday, Samajwadi Party took to Twitter to raise alleged discrepancies in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) stating that the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) issued a slip of the BJP as the voter cast his vote to the former.

"BJP's slip is coming out after pressing the button of Samajwadi Party at booth number 121 of Bhognipur 208 assembly of Kanpur rural. The Election Commission should take cognizance for ensuring smooth and fair voting," SP tweeted in Hindi.

Prime Minister Modi's Prayagraj rally comes ahead of the fifth phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh on February 27.

Uttar Pradesh, which has 403 assembly seats, is having seven-phase elections of which four rounds have already concluded. The four-round of voting was organized on February 10, 14, 20, and 23.

Voting on the seats of the last two phases will be on March 3 and March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Agartala (Tripura) [India], February 24 (ANI): The Tripura High Court on Tuesday passed an order banning slaughtering of animals in public places and also directed Agartala Municipal Corporation Authorities to arrange for makeshift facilities where the slaughtering of animals for human consumption would be carried out till the proposed slaughterhouse starts functioning.

The High Court Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty expressed its concerns over the quality of meat being sold in the markets and directed the government agencies like the Department of Animal Husbandry and Pollution Control Board for consistent monitoring.

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Earlier, the court had called for a physical appearance of Agartala Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sailesh Kumar Yadav to the High Court on Tuesday. A five-page order was passed after hearing Yadav's submissions.

Yadav informed the Court that the tendering process for setting up a fully equipped slaughterhouse in the RK Nagar area is underway. "Within 18 months of the tendering the construction works of the project are expected to end," he said

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After going through his submission, the Court said, "The AMC should prepare a long term plan for not only setting up the abattoir/slaughterhouse but also for ensuring the disposal of garbage in an appropriate scientific manner (which we are told is an additional feature of the slaughterhouse for which tender has been floated). All authorities including the local police authorities are hereby directed to render all necessary assistance to the AMC for enforcing and/or assisting in carrying out its duties."

According to the AMC authorities, there are a total of 139 meat selling shops that are licensed. "If more people apply for licenses the same shall be considered and disposed of at an early date so that people are not deprived of essential needs."

"Inspection must be carried out of all licensed premises and in particular attention should be kept that hygienic conditions are being maintained within the licensed premises. The sale of meat products should not be allowed in public places and/or streets. AMC shall consider providing locations where slaughter can be carried out till the slaughterhouse is made operational and such locations be appraised to the licensee concerned. Appropriate bins should also be provided to all licensee where they can collect all waste material for disposal through the AMC disposal system," the Court order reads, prohibiting the sale of meat in public places.

On the quality of meat, the Court Order says, "AMC is also directed to seek the assistance of the Veterinary Department to post few of their officials who shall be given the authority to certify the quality of meat or meat products that are being made available for public sale. This Court is conscious that this certification is likely to take some time and consequently these directions shall be implemented within 6(six) months from today. The pollution control authority shall also carry out necessary steps to assist the Municipal authorities in maintaining sanitation and hygiene of all these areas. We also direct the AMC along with the Health officials to visit all the hospitals and/or nursing homes to find out the method of disposal of polluting materials generated from the hospitals."

The Court also underscored the matter of scientific disposal of the wastes and maintained that if required separate sewerage treatment plants would be established to make sure that the water sources do not get affected by the garbage produced from slaughtering.

"AMC shall also consider the need for additional resources and/or location for setting up of additional sewage treatment plants to meet the needs of the entire expanding city. Obviously, the object behind it would be to try and reduce and/or stop the flow of untreated water into the rivers or rivulets around the town. In this respect, the directions shall be carried out by the AMC and we hope and trust that all agencies including the police authorities, the pollution control authorities as well as the persons who are operating the Government hospitals as well as private nursing homes provide all necessary assistance in this regard."

The Court also passed necessary directions to the Finance department for the completion of the said projects on a priority basis. The Forest and Urban Development departments are also directed to play their part.

The High Court was hearing a PIL filed by litigant Ankan Tilak Paul. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Activists of Congress' students wing NSUI staged a protest in front of the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, demanding safe return of the Indian students stranded in Ukraine.

Panic erupted in several cities of the eastern European nation after Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an early morning address, announced a military operation against the country. Thousands of Indian students are stranded there. According to estimates, over 15,000 Indians are currently staying in Ukraine.

Also Read | Russian Soldiers Sent Flirty Messages to Ukrainian Women on Dating App: Report.

NSUI national president Neeraj Kundan said there is a war-like situation in Ukraine since the last 10 days, and the parents of these students are appealing to the government for help.

"There are about 20,000 youths working and studying in Ukraine. The students are already burdened with huge loans and now, during this tough situation, airlines are charging Rs 80,000 to 1 lakh to bring them back," he said.

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In a statement, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) said the activists held protests outside the foreign ministry demanding safe return of the students.

Meanwhile, the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) also urged the government to communicate and coordinate with students and make necessary arrangements for their security.

"The reports of thousands of Indian students helplessly stranded in Ukraine are very disturbing. It's the responsibility of the Indian government to ensure safety of these students during the ongoing conflict in the region," SIO president Mohammad Salman Ahmad said.

"Efforts should be made to provide special flights to bring these students back home," he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI): Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday slammed the Centre for not making timely arrangements to bring back the Indian students stuck in Ukraine.

He charged that maintaining silence on such issues has become a habit of the Modi government.

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"Turning your face away in every difficult time.. and keeping silence has become a habit of the Modi government. Our 20,000 Indian youth in Ukraine are forced to grapple with fear, apprehension and life-threatening situations. Why didn't you make arrangements to bring them safely in time? Is this the 'self-reliant' mission?," said Surjewala in a tweet.

Earlier on Thursday, a special Air India flight had returned from mid-air as Ukraine airspace got closed.

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Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) on Thursday landed at the Delhi airport at around 7:45 am carrying 182 Indian nationals, mostly students.

Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several airlines are operating special flights, including Air India, to bring back Indian nationals safely. (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 24 (PTI) The Russia-Ukraine conflict would have nil or negligible impact on India's foreign trade, and the crisis may give domestic exporters an opportunity to ship more wheat in the global markets, sources said on Thursday.

India's central pool stood at 24.2 million tonnes, twice more than the buffer and strategic needs, they said.

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More than a quarter of the world's wheat export comes from Russia and Ukraine.

Russia is the world's largest exporter of wheat, accounting for more than 18 per cent of international exports.

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In 2019, Russia and Ukraine together exported more than a quarter (25.4 per cent) of the world's wheat.

Egypt, Turkey and Bangladesh bought more than half of Russia's wheat, they said.

Egypt is the world's biggest importer of wheat. It spends more than USD 4 billion annually to feed its population of over 100 million. Russia and Ukraine cover more than 70 per cent of Egypt's imported wheat demand.

Turkey is also a big spender on Russian and Ukrainian wheat with 74 per cent of its imports worth USD 1.6 billion coming from those two countries in 2019.

"The crisis in Ukraine may give India an opportunity to export more wheat, provided we ship out more, as our central pool stood at 24.2 million tonnes, twice more than the buffer and strategic needs," the sources added.

India's biggest item of import from Ukraine is animal and vegetable fats and oils.

"But, the the current situation will not adversely impact India's trade position as the share of this commodity out of India's total imports of this item from across the world stands at only 10 per cent," one of the sources said.

Top-five countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of wheat include Russia (USD 7.9 billion), United States (USD 6.32 billion), Canada (USD 6.3 billion), France (USD 4.5 billion) and Ukraine (3.6 billion).

Total exports to Russia is USD 2 billion and to Ukraine USD 0.5 billion, which is less than even one per cent of India's total exports. "The way Indian exports have been diversified and the speed at which they are growing, the impact is negligible or almost nil," the sources said.

India import around USD 7 billion from Russia and USD 2 billion from Ukraine. The main product of imports from Russia is oil and there are enough other substitute sources available to fill in that, the sources said.

"The economy and India's foreign trade has become resilient enough to absorb the impact of such events of global significance without much attrition," they added. HRS hrs

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Raipur, Feb 24 (PTI) South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a flagship arm of Coal India Ltd (CIL), has surpassed the last year's coal dispatch figure by transporting 139 million tonnes (MT) of the dry fuel so far in the current financial year.

The largest coal-producing company had dispatched 138.8 MT in the last financial year 2020-21. The figure reported as on February 23 surpassed the last year's cumulative dispatch, despite 36 days still remaining for the closure of the current fiscal 2021-22.

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Going by the stride, SECL is all set to record the highest-ever coal dispatch in the current financial year. The Bilaspur-headquartered miner had provided 14 per cent more coal to the consumers as compared to last year.

Compared to the previous year, the company had supplied 25 per cent more coal to the power companies to facilitate sufficient stock, said SECL spokesperson, elaborating that rake loading registered a 13.4 per cent surge compared to last year.

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In another major leap forward, the company has liquidated 20 MT of its pithead stock, added the spokesperson.

The company's Chairman and Managing Director Prem Sagar Mishra and the board of directors congratulated the SECL Collective, and thanked labour and workers' unions besides railways, Chhattisgarh government and other stakeholders for their support. HRS hrs

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, February 24: US President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on the Russian military actions in Ukraine on Thursday, the White House announced. Biden's first public comment on the Russian attack is scheduled to be delivered from the East Room of the White House at 11 pm IST (12:30 pm EST), according to the White House.

The presidential comment could come after his virtual consultations with the leaders of G-7 countries, a grouping of seven major advanced nations including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Three of them  US, UK and France -- are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Ukrainian Military Attack Two Civilian Ships in Azov Using Missiles.

According to a White House official, Biden and G-7 leaders were discussing their joint response to President Putin's unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine. Also Read | Russia-Ukriane Conflict: NATO Says 'Russia Will Pay a Very Heavy Economic and Political Price'.

Earlier, Biden convened a meeting of the National Security Council in the morning in the Situation Room to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, said a White House official.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
United Nations, Feb 24 (AP) Diplomats from dozens of countries took the floor at the United Nations on Wednesday to deplore Russia's actions toward Ukraine and make eleventh hour pleas for diplomacy as fears of a new war in Europe grew.

Russia and ally Syria defended Moscow's decision to recognise two separatist regions of Ukraine as independent and to order Russian troops there for peacekeeping.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: EU Sanctions 351 Russian Lawmakers in Response to Recognition of Donetsk, Luhansk.

But even China, which usually takes Moscow's side at the UN, spoke up for the world body's longstanding principle of respecting countries' sovereignty and internationally recognised borders.

Meeting a day after Western powers and some other countries imposed new sanctions on Russia, the 193-member General Assembly didn't take any collective action. But the comments from nearly 70 nations, with more scheduled for Monday, represented the broadest forum of global sentiment since the crisis dramatically escalated this week.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: European Union Sanctions Against Russia Come Into Force.

Countries from Guatemala to Turkey to Japan condemned Russia's embrace of the separatist regions' independence claims or voiced support for Ukraine.

Ukraine, you're not alone, Bulgarian Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva said.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield exhorted countries to get off the sidelines.

There is no middle ground here. Calling for both sides to de-escalate only gives Russia a pass. Russia is the aggressor here, she said.

Thomas-Greenfield warned that the confrontation could spiral into a refugee crisis, estimating that as 5 million people could be displaced and could make food prices spike in developing countries where Ukraine supplies wheat.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun didn't mention Russia by name, but he stressed Beijing's position on safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and upholding the UN charter.

Echoing a narrative being broadcast to Russians at home, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia portrayed his country as responding to the plight of beleaguered people in the breakaway areas. Russia claims Ukraine is engaging in violence and oppression, which Ukraine denies.

We urge you today to focus on reining in Kyiv, Nebenzia said.

Syria stuck up for Russia and accused the West of using the assembly to pressure Moscow.

The Ukrainian crisis was created by the Western states, led by the United States, to divide people and to undermine Russian security, Ambassador Bassam al-Sabbagh said, condemning the attempts to offend Russia.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba implored countries to use tough economic sanctions, strong messages and active diplomacy to get Russia to back off. A lackluster response would jeopardize not only Ukraine but the concept of international law and global security, he warned.

"We need to use this last chance for action and stop Russia where it is, Kuleba said.

Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in 2014, and pro-Russia rebels have since been fighting Ukrainian forces in the eastern areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. More than 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

After weeks of rising tension as Moscow massed over 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the two regions' independence and ordered Russian forces there as what he called peacekeepers."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres disputed that, saying they are troops entering another country without its consent.

Our world is facing a moment of peril, Guterres told the assembly. He said Russia's actions violate Ukraine's sovereignty and are inconsistent with the UN charter. (AP)

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Paris [France], February 24 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Wednesday (local time) chaired a meeting of Indian ambassadors to EU countries and appreciated their commitment to assist Indian diaspora during the Covid period.

Taking to Twitter," Chaired a meeting of our EU Ambassadors in Paris today. A comprehensive discussion on issues currently faced by Indian foreign policy. Appreciated the strong commitment of all our Embassies to assist Indians and our diaspora during the Covid period."

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: EU Sanctions 351 Russian Lawmakers in Response to Recognition of Donetsk, Luhansk.

Notably, the External Affairs Minister arrived in Paris on Sunday on a three-day trip after paying a two-day visit to Germany.

On the first day of his visit to Paris, Jaishankar held extensive talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian covering a range of bilateral and global issues including the situation in Afghanistan and the Ukraine crisis.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: European Union Sanctions Against Russia Come Into Force.

Furthermore, during his address at the French Institute of International Relations on the theme of 'How India sees France', the Minister said, ''Through the tumult of our times, India's relations with France have continued to move forward on a steady and clear course. It is a relationship that has been free from sudden shifts and surprises that we sometimes see in other cases.''

Jaishankar also called on the French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday where he conveyed him Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings. In a tweet, Jaishankar said that the discussions reflected the ''full spirit'' of the strategic partnership between the two countries and that both sides will cooperate closely in the Indo-Pacific.

''Delighted to call on President @EmmanuelMacron of France. Conveyed greetings of PM @narendramodi. Our discussions reflected the full spirit of our strategic partnership. We will cooperate closely in the Indo-Pacific,'' Jaishankar tweeted. (ANI)

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Kiev [Ukraine], February 24 (ANI): Amid Russian military operations in Ukraine, the Indian Embassy in Kiev on Thursday urged the Ukrainian Government for the safety and security of Indian students in the country.

In a letter to Andriy Borysovych Yermak, Head of the Office of President of Ukraine, Kiev, the Embassy Indian Embassy informed that 15,000 Indian students are stranded in Ukraine in various regions.

Also Read | Ukraine Calls on the European Union To Urgently Provide Air-Defence, Anti-Missile Systems.

"Embassy of India in Kyiv presents its compliments to the office of the President of Ukraine and has the honour to inform that over 15,000 Indian students are stranded in Ukraine in various regions. The Embassy of India would be grateful if their safety and security be ensured and they will be allowed to remain wherever they are. Arrangements for essential amenities like food and water for their survival may be provided to them. Their safety and security are of paramount concern to the Embassy of India and all necessary steps be taken to ensure that," it said.

It further said that the Embassy of India in Kiev takes this opportunity to renew to the office of the President of Ukraine, the assurances of its highest consideration.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: 'I Don't Know How Much Longer My Country Will Exist', Says Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Indian Embassy in Kiev had organized safe premises nearby for Indian students in Ukraine who turned up outside the Embassy and no one is currently stranded outside the Embassy, said sources.

The Embassy of India in Ukraine accommodated more than 200 Indian students at a school near the Embassy in Kiev.

Partha Satpathy, Ambassador of India in Ukraine, said that the Embassy of India in Kiev will continue to operate till every Indian is evacuated.

"The Embassy of India in Kiev continues to operate round the clock 24X7. Today morning we woke up with the news that Kiev is under attack, the whole of Ukraine is under attack. This has generated a lot of anxiety, uncertainty, and created tension. I would like to assure all of you that the Embassy of India continues to operate around the clock looking out for the safety and security of Indians here," he said.

He further urged people to stay calm, level-headed and take necessary safety and precautions.

The tensions between the two nations escalated after Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Putin on Thursday morning said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)

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New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the release of four members of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) who were arrested in the capital, Bangui, earlier this week, his spokesperson said on Wednesday
Detroit, Feb 24 (AP) Ford is recalling nearly a quarter-million heavy duty pickup trucks in the US because the drive shafts can fracture and cause a loss of power.

The recall covers certain F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickups from the 2017 through 2022 model years. The trucks have gasoline engines and aluminum drive shafts.

Also Read | Russia-Ukriane Conflict: NATO Says 'Russia Will Pay a Very Heavy Economic and Political Price'.

Ford says in documents posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that heat and noise insulators below the body can loosen, and touch the drive shaft. The shaft can fracture, causing a power loss, or loss of control if it hits the ground.

Failures also could let the trucks roll if they are stopped and the parking brake isn't on.

Also Read | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Likens Russian Attack to Nazi Invasion.

Dealers will inspect the drive shafts and repair them if necessary, and properly attach the insulators. Owners will be notified by letter starting April 4.

Ford's F-Series pickup trucks for years have been the top-selling vehicles in the U.S. (AP)

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Moscow [Russia], February 24 (ANI): The heads of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to offer help "amid aggression from the Ukrainian Armed Forces".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said, "Written requests have come through for Russian President Vladimir Putin from Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the Lugansk People's Republic, and Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic," he said. "The heads of those republics on behalf of themselves and their peoples express their gratitude to the Russian president for the recognition of their states," reported TASS News Agency.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: EU Sanctions 351 Russian Lawmakers in Response to Recognition of Donetsk, Luhansk.

This comes at a time when Russia has recognized the independence of Ukraine breakaway regions following which Biden has imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed its support to Ukraine.

"Their appeals emphasize that amid the deteriorating situation and threats from Kiev, the republics' citizens are currently forced to flee their homes, and their evacuation to Russia is ongoing. Amid the continuing military aggression by Ukraine's Armed Forces, the republics are experiencing the destruction of civil and industrial infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and kindergartens, and worst of all, the deaths of the civilian population, including children," Peskov said, quoting the letters.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: European Union Sanctions Against Russia Come Into Force.

"Kiev is continuing its military buildup along the line of disengagement, simultaneously receiving comprehensive support, including military ones, from the United States and other Western states. The Kiev regime is determined to resolve the conflict by force," the letters to Putin say, reported the news agency.

"In view of the above, amid the current situation and in order to prevent civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster, the two republics' heads ask the Russian president to help in repelling the aggression of the Ukrainian armed forces and formations, in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of the friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaties between Russia and the republics," Peskov added. (ANI)

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A military vehicle is seen on a street on the outskirts of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine February 23, 2022. (Photo Credit: REUTERS)

New Delhi, February 24: India is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine, sources said on Thursday as the situation continues to escalate near the Ukrainian border after Russia launched its military operations in the Donbas region.

"Focus is on safety and security of Indians, particularly students. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) control room is being expanded and made operational on a 24x7 basis," the sources added.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Twitter Blocks Several Accounts of Researchers Sharing Footage and Other Information About Russian Invasion.

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Also Read | India Warns of Major Crisis as Russia Starts Special Military Operations in Ukraine, Says TS Tirumurti.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has introduced martial law, urging citizens to remain calm amid Russia's military operations.

In a brief video address, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed that he spoke with US President Biden and Washington has already started mobilizing international support.

Moreover, Ukraine has closed the airspace for civilian aircraft "due to the high risk of aviation safety."

The Indian embassy in Ukraine said the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain. "Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit."

Expressing concern over ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, India on Thursday said that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis which may undermine the peace and security of the region.

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti reiterated India's call for immediate de-escalation of tensions.

"The situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis. We express our deep concern over the developments, which if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region," he said.

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St Paul, Feb 24 (AP) The judge overseeing the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights ordered Wednesday that the names of the jurors be sealed for at least 10 years.

US District Judge Paul Magnuson said in his order that the court assured prospective jurors for the trial of J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao that their personal information would be kept confidential. The judge said federal law allows him to do so in the interests of justice and that this is clearly such a case.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: EU Sanctions 351 Russian Lawmakers in Response to Recognition of Donetsk, Luhansk.

The significant public attention this trial has generated, combined with the Court's assurances to prospective jurors that the information would not be released, mandate such sealing, Magnuson wrote in the order issued around five hours after jury deliberations began. Such sealing does not prevent any juror from speaking publicly about his or her service, but merely protects the sensitive personal information all jurors provided and makes public disclosure of any juror's identity that juror's choice.

Kueng, Lane and Thao are charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee to the Black man's neck for 9 1/2 minutes while Floyd was handcuffed, facedown. Kueng and Thao are also charged with failing to intervene to stop Chauvin in the May 25, 2020, videotaped killing that sparked protests around the world as part of a reckoning over racial injustice.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: European Union Sanctions Against Russia Come Into Force.

After Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter charges in state court in April, the judge in the case initially ordered jurors' names sealed for at least 180 days, citing concerns for jurors' safety and privacy.

However, Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill relented in November in response to a request by The Associated Press and a coalition of other news organizations. Cahill said Minnesota law presumes that jurors' names will be made public unless there is a strong reason not to do so.

The case against Kueng, Lane and Thao is in federal court. Magnuson cited case law as saying that while there's a common-law right of access to judicial records, it's not absolute and must be balanced against other interests.

Alan Tuerkheimer, a Chicago-based jury consultant, said judges have a lot of leeway and he has heard of instances where judges have sealed jurors' names indefinitely.

In Mafia cases or cases involving gangs, there's a much greater sensitivity to keeping jurors anonymous," Tuerkheimer said. "In a case like this, I don't see that this rises to that level.

Tom Heffelfinger, a former U.S. attorney in Minnesota, said jurors at Chauvin's trial did express concerns about their safety. He said Magnuson wants the jurors to focus on the case  and not be worried about what might happen based on the decision they make.

He is a federal judge and he does have a very large degree of discretion on managing these cases as long as it's not in violation of the law or doesn't harm the parties' rights, he said. (AP)

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Kyiv, Feb 24 (AP) NATO's secretary-general says Russia has launched war on Ukraine and shattered peace on the European continent.

Jens Stoltenberg called for a summit of NATO alliance leaders for Friday.

Also Read | Russia Says Ukraine's Air Defence Destroyed After Airports, Runways Across the Country Rocked by Explosions.

Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling. Ukraine's government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border and accused Moscow of unleashing a full-scale war. (AP)

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Islamabad, Feb 24 (PTI) A Pakistani court here on Thursday sentenced to death the scion of a prominent industrialist family, the main accused in the high-profile murder case of Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former Pakistani diplomat, who was killed last year after she refused to marry him.

The Sessions Court in Islamabad convicted Zahir Jaffer on the charges of premediated murder of Mukadam.

Also Read | Russia Says Ukraine's Air Defence Destroyed After Airports, Runways Across the Country Rocked by Explosions.

Mukadam, 27, was Jaffer's friend who was enraged when she apparently refused to marry him.

Noor's beheaded body was found at the residence of Jaffer on July 20, 2021.

Also Read | 'Russia's Military Operation Is Blatant Aggression, Have Caused Civilian Casualties', Says Ukrainian Envoy to India Igor Polikha.

On the complaint of the victim's father former ambassador Shaukat Mukadam, the police registered an first information report against Jaffer and arrested him under the charges of premeditated murder, the website of Aaj TV, a Pakistani news channel reported.

On Thursday, Additional Sessions Judge Ata Rabbani announced the verdict he had reserved on Tuesday on the completion of the case, convicting Zahir under Section 302 of the Pakistani Penal Code.

However, the court acquitted Zahir's father Zakir Jaffer, mother Asmat Adamjee and his personal cook but awarded 10 years jail to each of his servants Iftikhar and Jameel. They were co-accused in the case.

The judge also acquitted employees of TherapyWorks, an organisation dealing with addicts, which was contacted by Zahir's father to deal with his son when reportedly he was behaving wildly after committing the crime.

The murder last year had shocked the residents of Islamabad and many people asked if the scion of Jaffer Brothers conglomerate of industries, who was also a US citizen, would be brought to justice.

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New York [US], February 24 (ANI): Expressing concern over ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, India on Thursday said that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis which may undermine the peace and security of the region.

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti made this statement in the backdrop of Russia ordering troops into Ukraine's breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukraine requested an urgent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Meet after Heads of these regions asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for help.

Also Read | Ahmad Massoud and Taliban Agree to Not Fight Until Next Round of Talks.

Reiterating India's call for immediate de-escalation of tensions, Tirumurti said, "The situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis. We express our deep concern over the developments, which if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region."

"We call for immediate de-escalation and refraining from any further action that could contribute to a worsening of the situation. We call on all parties to exert greater efforts to bridge divergent interests," he said, adding that the legitimate security interests of all parties should be taken into account.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis Latest Updates: UN Chief Asks Putin to Stop Troops From Invasion; Here Are Latest Developments.

Emphasizing the need for all sides to maintain peace and security by exercising restraint, Tirumurti said that the solution lies in sustained diplomatic dialogue between the concerned parties.

He further informed that India is facilitating the return of all Indian nationals, including students residing in different parts of Ukraine.

In a major development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a special "military operation" to protect Donbas, the separatist-held region in eastern Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday.

Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize the country.

Notably, Putin recognized the independence of the Ukraine breakaway regions following which Biden imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed the US' support to Ukraine.

Putin after his announcement also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine's breakaway regions.

Following this, the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, on Wednesday approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions amid the escalating situation at the country's borders. (ANI)

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Moscow, February 24: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that Russia was left with no other choice than military operations in Ukraine, reported Sputnik.

Putin on Thursday morning said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Also Read | Ukraine Calls on the European Union To Urgently Provide Air-Defence, Anti-Missile Systems.

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: 'I Don't Know How Much Longer My Country Will Exist', Says Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The tensions between the two nations escalated after Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities escalating the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Expressing his disappointments over UN Chief Antonio Guterres's statement on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday said that Guterres statements were amenable to West's pressure and were at odds with his status and powers under the UN Charter.

"To our great regret, @antonioguterres has proved amenable to the West's pressure and he made a number of statements on the developments in eastern Ukraine, which are at odds with his status and powers under the UN Charter," tweeted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

He made the remarks during talks with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in Moscow. "All these years, the UN Secretary-General should have demanded that Kiev implement Minsk Agreements, primarily by developing a dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk, which is clearly set out in the Minsk Package of Measures and UNSC Resolution 2202," added MoFA Russia.

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United Nations, Feb 24 (PTI) United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has made a direct and strong appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop his troops from attacking Ukraine and "give peace a chance".

Guterres addressed an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine late Wednesday night, the second meeting this week and the fourth since January 31 as tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine. Earlier in the day, the UN chief had addressed the UN General Assembly meeting on Ukraine.

Also Read | Ahmad Massoud and Taliban Agree to Not Fight Until Next Round of Talks.

I want to reaffirm what I expressed this morning in the meeting in the General Assembly, but of course it would not make any sense to bother you reading again the same text that I am sure you are all aware of, Guterres said in his brief off-the-cuff remarks at the Security Council meeting requested by Ukraine.

In between, during the day, a number of events took place...But simultaneously, today was full of rumours and indications that an offensive against Ukraine was imminent. In the recent past, there were several situations with similar indications, similar rumours. And I never believed in them, convinced that nothing serious would happen. I was wrong. And I would like not to be wrong again today.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis Latest Updates: UN Chief Asks Putin to Stop Troops From Invasion; Here Are Latest Developments.

So, if indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart: President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died, he said.

The UN chief's appeal came before President Putin, in a televised address, on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians.

Putin said Russia's move came in response to threats emanating from Ukraine. He also warned other countries that if they attempted to interfere with the Russian military operation they would see consequences they have never seen.

Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Council that it cannot be predicted exactly what will happen in the coming hours and days in Ukraine.

What is clear is the unacceptably high cost  in human suffering and destruction  of an escalation. The people of Ukraine want peace. I am certain the people of Russia want peace. We must do everything in our power to ensure that peace prevails, she said.

DiCarlo said that earlier in the day, the so-called authorities of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics requested military assistance from Russia. The Ukrainian authorities declared a nationwide state of emergency and announced other related defense and security measures, including the mobilisation of reservists.

This evening, different media are reporting of an ongoing large-scale military buildup and military columns moving towards Ukraine. The Russian Federation has also reportedly shut airspace to civilian aircraft near the border with Ukraine, she said.

DiCarlo said while the UN cannot verify any of these reports, if these developments were confirmed, "they would greatly aggravate an already extremely dangerous situation.

Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that Ukraine requested the urgent meeting of the Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance, which is a further escalation of the security situation".

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UK [England], February 24 (ANI): The UK and its allies will respond decisively to Russia's "unprovoked" attack on Ukraine, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday.

Taking to his Twitter handle, Johnson said that he is appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the next steps.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Explosions Rock Ukraine, Air Space Shut, Heres All You Need to Know.

"President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively," he stated.

This tweet comes soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special "military operation to protect Donbas" in eastern Ukraine.

Also Read | Ukrainian Govt Websites Hit by Cyberattacks Amid Russias Military Operation.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations has appealed to its members to "stop the war" at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

"It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war," Ukrainian envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya was quoted as saying by CNN during the meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

However, defending Russia's decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

"The root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself, who for many years was sabotaging its obligations under the (Minsk agreement)," said Nebenzya.(ANI)

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Kinshasa, DRC (PANA) - The United Nations will work together with the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as other partners, in ensuring security in the eastern part of the country, said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UNs top peacekeeping official
Kiev [Ukraine], February 24 (ANI): The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have claimed to have shot down five Russian aircraft and a helicopter, media reports said on Thursday.

However, the Russian military has denied the claims, the TASS news agency reported.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine 'War': Twitter Says it Mistakenly Took Down Accounts Posting on Russian Invasion.

"Message from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ... 5 planes and a helicopter of the aggressors were shot down in the area of the Armed Forces today," the Defence of Ukraine said in a tweet in Ukrainian.

Leaders from a number of counties, including the UK, US, Canada and European Union, have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Twitter Blocks Several Accounts of Researchers Sharing Footage and Other Information About Russian Invasion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukrainian cities are under strikes from Russia.

"Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," Kuleba tweeted.

In another tweet, Kuleba said the world must act immediately.

"Future of Europe and the world is at stake. To-do list: Devastating sanctions on Russia NOW, including SWIFT. Fully isolate Russia by all means, in all formats. Weapons, equipment for Ukraine. Financial assistance. Humanitarian assistance," he said.

Russia has defended its actions in Ukraine, saying "the root of today's crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine. (ANI)

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Washington [US], February 24 (ANI): The United States ambassador at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday, said that the Ukrainian crisis may lead to the worst refugee crisis in the world today, with some 5 million people possibly displaced.

"If Russia continues down this path, it could, according to our estimates, create a new refugee crisis, one of the largest facing the world today, with as many as 5 million more people displaced by Russia's war of choice and putting pressure on Ukraine's neighbors," Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: EU Sanctions 351 Russian Lawmakers in Response to Recognition of Donetsk, Luhansk.

"Has Russia headed these calls [for diplomacy]? No. Instead, it has responded with additional actions to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty, including mass disinformation, which we just heard again today, cyberattacks, and efforts to create a 'false flag' pretext," Thomas-Greenfield said adding, "Colleagues, there is no middle ground. Calling for both sides to deescalate only gives Russia a pass. Russia is the aggressor here."

During the meeting, Thomas-Greenfield once again said that "Russia's aggression not only threatens all of Ukraine, but every member state and the UN itself."

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: European Union Sanctions Against Russia Come Into Force.

Moreover, she reiterated US' stand on Ukraine saying, "The United States rejects that firmly. This is 2022. We're not going back to an era of empires and colonies - or to the USSR or the Soviet Union. We have moved forward," Thomas-Greenfield said.

"Colleagues now is not the time to sit on the sidelines. Now is the time to get off of the sidelines. Let us show Russia that it is isolated and alone in its aggressive actions. Let us stand fully behind the principles of sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity for Ukraine, and for all member states," she added. (ANI)

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Kiev [Ukraine], February 24 (ANI): Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) on Thursday announced the suspension of scheduled and charter flights to/from Ukraine due to the closure of its airspace for civilian airspace users until 23:59 pm (Kiev time).

UIA maintains and will maintain liaison with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, read Ukraine International Airlines statement.

Also Read | Russia Says Ukraine's Air Defence Destroyed After Airports, Runways Across the Country Rocked by Explosions.

The statement advised all passengers and citizens of Ukraine who are abroad and planning to return to Ukraine.

They must register on the state website of the State Registration of Ukrainian Citizens. Registered citizens will be provided with information about flights to these points and to points of arrival in Ukraine, added the statement.

Also Read | 'Russia's Military Operation Is Blatant Aggression, Have Caused Civilian Casualties', Says Ukrainian Envoy to India Igor Polikha.

The advisory also noted that all current information on the further status of flights will be posted on the official UIA website.

"Passengers of cancelled flights will be informed by e-mail or phone, which are specified in the reservation. Passengers, please, check the availability of relevant contact information at Ukraine International Airlines - e-mail, individual mobile phone number," said UIA statement.

The UIA team further reiterated to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of passengers.

Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kiev [Ukraine], February 24 (ANI): Ukraine has requested an urgent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Meet after Heads of the Ukraine breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, have asked the Russian President Vladimir Putin for help.

Taking to Twitter, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba said, "Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance which is a further escalation of the security situation."

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: EU Sanctions 351 Russian Lawmakers in Response to Recognition of Donetsk, Luhansk.

Apart from Kuleba, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell Fontelles, said that request for assistance from DPR, LPR breakaway regions is a "very dangerous additional step" that would put thousands of lives at risk.

Borrell in a tweet said, "The request for assistance by Moscow from the so-called DPR/LPR breakaway regions announces a very dangerous additional step against #Ukraine's sovereignty that would put thousands of lives at risk. The EU strongly urges #Russia to refrain from any further escalatory actions."

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: European Union Sanctions Against Russia Come Into Force.

This comes at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the Ukraine breakaway regions following which Biden imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed US' support to Ukraine.

Putin after his announcement also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine's breakaway regions.

In another key development, the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, on Wednesday approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions amid the escalating situation at the country's borders. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kabul [Afghanistan], February 24 (ANI): The Western countries run the risk of legitimising the Talban by holding talks with it even though the outfit has trampled basic human rights and indulged in violence, said a media report.

Since returning to power in mid-August last year, the Taliban for the first time held three day talks with the representatives of the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, France, EU in a meeting hosted by Norway in Oslo.

Also Read | Russia-Ukriane Conflict: NATO Says 'Russia Will Pay a Very Heavy Economic and Political Price'.

Recently, led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban held their first official talks with the Western world. The 15-member all-male delegation arrived in the Norwegian capital Oslo in a plane chartered by the Norwegian government. Also in the delegation was Anas Haqqani of the Haqqani network, reported a Canada-based think tank, International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS).

The main goal with which the Taliban went for the talks was to get recognition and to persuade to unfreeze the USD 10 billion Afghan money that was frozen by US and other western countries after Taliban took control over Afghanistan.

Also Read | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Likens Russian Attack to Nazi Invasion.

Afghanistan is facing worse humanitarian crisis with no international aid. Ravaged by severe droughts, the country is going through a worse hunger crisis affecting 55 per cent of Afghan population according to the United Nations.

Unemployment is at its peak and government officials have not been paid their salaries for many months now. Taliban was circulating the idea that it was a meeting called by the western nations to recognise and legitimise the Afghan government under the Taliban rule, a Canada-based think tank reported.

According to the think tank, the Taliban has to be made answerable for the atrocities committed in the past, and also the continuing human rights violations.

Peace in Afghanistan is only possible when constitutional safeguards are in place to protect the rights of women and ethnic minorities. Is the Taliban ready to do this? Going by the recent attacks on women in particular it looks nowhere close to this. So, engaging with Taliban currently would only mean de facto recognising it and this would not be in the best interest of an ordinary Afghan citizen, IFFRAS reported.

Just after Norway visit, Taliban officials landed in Geneva to seek humanitarian aid. Hosting Taliban in Oslo and then in Geneva is a disfavour to the Afghan women.

"Taliban brutality is as clear as a day to the whole world to see, so why would the western nations continue to hobnob first in Norway and then in Geneva? Normalising relations with the Taliban would only embolden them to brazenly carry forward the tyranny, which has become important characteristic of their rule," a Canada-based think tank questioned.

The people of Afghanistan deserve better from the western nations. The humanitarian aid can also be made available to the Afghan people without giving legitimacy to Taliban. The aid can be made available by adopting or recognising parallel structures for the disbursement of humanitarian aid by totally bypassing the Taliban, IFFRAS reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mad Max: Fury Road actress Charlize Theron said that she "didn't feel safe" after a huge row with co-star Tom Hardy during filming for the 2015 blockbuster. The 46-year-old actress has apologised "profusely" for their infamous on-set rows while shooting the 2015 post-apocalyptic blockbuster - which they have both opened up about in the past - and she admitted their behaviour was "not a conducive working environment", reports femalefirst.co.uk. Tom Holland Reveals One of the Three Spider-Man Actors Wore a Fake Ass in Spider-Man No Way Home.

In Kyle Buchanan's new book 'Blood, Sweat Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road' - as quoted by USA Today - she said: "It was like two parents in the front of the car. "We were either fighting or we were icing each other - I don't know which one is worse - and (our co-stars) had to deal with it in the back. It was horrible! It was not a conducive working environment I apologise profusely." Oppenheimer: First Look at Cillian Murphy as the Theoretical Physicist From Christopher Nolans Biopic Revealed! (View Pic).

Camera operator Mark Goellnicht recalled a moment Tom, 44, showed up three hours late to filming, with Charlize branding him "disrespectful" and demanding he paid the huge fine. He added: "He charged up to her and said, 'What did you say to me?' He was quite aggressive. "She really felt threatened, and that was the turning point, because then she said, 'I want someone as protection.' She then had a producer that was assigned to be with her all the time."

Theron described producer Doug Mitchell as "a man forgiving another man", and said she wanted a woman in a position of power to "maybe equalise" some of the tension. She said: "It got to a place where it was kind of out of hand, and there was a sense that maybe sending a woman producer down could maybe equalise some of it. "A lot of what I felt was coming my way from Doug was  oh, [screw] it. I'll just say it. It was a man forgiving another man for really bad behavior, and I didn't feel safe."

Producer Denise Di Novi was called in to help, but Tom branded the idea Charlize was "intimidated" by him as "b*******". He said: "Charlize is an intense woman. Very intense, actually. In a good way. I mean, look at her in 'Monster' - that's not somebody walking in the park. "You don't just summon up that kind of authenticity without bringing a tremendous wealth of artistic ability. She's a very serious actor. So, I don't see why she would ever be intimidated by me or in any way feel frightened. I think that was more b*******."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 24, 2022 02:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Washington [US], February 24: Congratulations are in order as actor Jennifer Lawrence has been blessed with her first child with husband Cooke Maroney. According to public records obtained by TMZ on Wednesday, the Oscar-winning actor has welcomed her baby in Los Angeles County. The exact date she gave birth -- and the sex of the baby -- are unknown. Jennifer Lawrence Flaunts Her Baby Bump Posing Alongside Co-Star Leonardo DiCaprio at Don't Look Up Premiere.

This is Lawrence's first child with her husband, art gallery owner Cooke Maroney, whom she married at the famed Belcourt of Newport mansion in Rhode Island in October 2019. Page Six broke the news of Lawrence and Maroney's relationship in June 2018 The couple confirmed they were expecting September 2021.

During a December 2021 visit to 'The Late Show', a pregnant Lawrence joked that she spent much of her three-year hiatus from acting between the sheets. That same month, she returned to the public eye, walking the red carpet for the 'Don't Look Up' premiere. Dont Look Up: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Evans, Meryl Streep-Starrer To Release on December 22, 2021 on Netflix  Reports.

The couple currently has a home in Manhattan, but have been seen house-hunting throughout New York, perhaps seeking a larger unit for their expanding family. They also have a home in Beverly Hills.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh, February 24: Facing charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia was on Thursday sent to judicial custody till March 8 by a trial court in Mohali near here after he surrendered following directions of the Supreme Court.

The brother-in-law of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, Majithia, who was sent to the Ropar jail during his judicial custody, applied for regular bail and his bail plea will come up for hearing on Friday. SAD MLA And Former Punjab Minister Bikram Majithia Booked in Drugs Case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli had directed Majithia to surrender before the trial court after the Punjab Assembly polls on February 20. His interim bail had ended on Wednesday night.

Majithia was in the fray for the February 20 assembly polls from Amritsar (East). In a 49-page FIR filed by the state police Crime Branch at the Mohali police station, the SAD leader has been booked under sections 25, 27A and 29 of the NDPS Act.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 24, 2022 08:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Kabul, Feb 24: Supporters of Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the Resistance Front against the Taliban, and Taliban representatives held their first meeting in the centre of Islamic Republic of Afghanisation's Parwan province to seek an alternative to fighting.

The Resistance Front delegation comprised of 12 people led by Almas Zahid, a former Mujahideen Commander, and the six-member Taliban delegation was led by Mohammad Mohsin Hashimi, the Taliban's Deputy Leader of Intelligence. The meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon.

A representative of the Resistance Front, Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, wrote on his Facebook page that both sides agreed to not attack each other until the second round of negotiations is held, TOLO news was reported as saying. Taliban's Acting FM Amir Khan Muttaqi Meets Ahmad Massoud in Iran.

The representatives met for three hours and then returned to their respective sides to share the discussed issues with their leaders.

"After three hours of discussion, it was decided that both delegations will share the message with their leadership and resume the negotiations to reach a durable peace in the country. It was also decided that the parties should not attack each other until the second round of negotiations," wrote Ezedyar.

A member of the Taliban delegation, meanwhile, said the Taliban wanted to discuss the issue of Panjshir, but Massoud's supporters wanted to discuss the structure of the future government. Thus the negotiations had no tangible outcome, he said.

"The Panjshir delegation was more focused on the overall structure of the governance system. Since there were big differences between the two sides' demands, both sides decided to take the messages to their leaders," said Anamullah Samangani, a member of the cultural commission of the Taliban.

The negotiations followed both sides' threatening to use military force.

"The discussions will bear results in the coming days. If the discussions have no results and they use another option (military), we will do the same," said Noorullah Noori, a member of the Taliban's political office.

"We are still waiting for the outcome of the negotiations. Despite this, we have all the military preparations as well," said Hamid Saifi, a member of the Resistance Front.

Ahmad Massoud in a recent interview with the BBC said that if an inclusive and acceptable government for all is not established, Afghanistan will be isolated both politically and economically.

"We are negotiating with the Taliban. So far, several countries like Canada has said it will not recognise an exclusive government. If that happens the people will continue to suffer," Massoud said.

The Taliban has said they will form an inclusive government, but the terms have still not been clearly defined.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 24, 2022 08:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, February 24: The Ukrainian military has damaged two civilian ships in the Sea of Azov using missiles, Russian security service FSB said on Thursday, RT reported. The attack reportedly injured one person and caused a fire onboard one of the ships. The border guard division of the FSB's Krasnodar branch identified the ships as oiler 'SGV-Flot' and general cargo ship 'Seraphim Sarovskiy'.

The 'SGV-Flot' was the one that was hit. It said the injury sustained by a crew member was "serious", but the fire was extinguished. Both attacks came from the port city of Mariupol, the FSB claimed, the report said. Russia-Ukraine Crisis Live Updates: Russian Helicopters Attack Airport in Hostomel Near Kyiv; US Calls Russia To Cease Invasion.

Russian maritime traffic authorities had earlier banned all travel in the Sea of Azov due to the country's ongoing military operation in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the operation was necessary to "demilitarise" and "denazify" the country.

He claimed that Russia had to act due to a growing threat to its national security posed by NATO's presence in Ukraine, and to stop attacks by Ukrainian troops against the separatist regions in the east, which Moscow recognised as sovereign states on Monday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 24, 2022 07:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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New Delhi, February 24: Russia on Thursday launched all-out war on Ukraine with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air, Daily Mail reported. Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions were seen across the country after Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to attack, the report said.

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, and official said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment's notice. Official figures put the death toll at 40, with 'dozens' wounded. Cruise missiles, guided bombs and Grad rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital, the report said. EU to Hit Russia With Harshest Sanctions Over Barbaric Attack on Ukraine.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed, before Moscow boasted of taking full control of the skies, the report said.

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Luhansk, Sumy, and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all came under attack, while tanks battled on the outskirts of Kharkiv after paratroopers dropped in. Blasts were also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland.

Extraordinary video footage showed what appeared to be a Kalibur cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport. An apartment block in Kharkiv was also struck, causing civilian casualties including a young boy. Video also appeared to confirm cruise missiles had been launched by Russian troops stationed in Moldova, Daily Mail reported.

Meanwhile pro-Russian rebel forces pushed out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot two Ukrainian jets out of the skies. The port cities of Mariupol and Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval bases are located, were also attacked. Russian tankers appeared to have blockaded the Kerch Strait, leading from the Back Sea to the Sea of Azov, cutting off Mariupol.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 24, 2022 05:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The Brazil police announced that they had found a human hand and three packets of human placenta allegedly been shipped from a university in Brazil to a fashion designer in Singapore.

Amazonas State University in Brazil was raided on February 22, with police discovering that the organs were preserved by an anatomy professor, according to a Newsweek report.

Police in Brazil released a statement claiming that the anatomy lab in the university "performed the extraction of body fluids."

The state university was also part of the process of plastination, which is a process wherein fluids are replaced with plastics such as silicon and epoxy to preserve body parts.

The professor who preserved the organs is now under investigation.

A federal police officer in Brazil has confirmed that the organs bound for Singapore had already left Brazilian shores, according to a Vice World News report.

However, it is not clear whether the package containing human organs has been intercepted yet.

The university released a statement saying that the state university complied with the court order and determined the opening of the investigation to prove the facts and responsibilities.

READ NEXT: Brazil: Mining Firms Eyeing to Expand to Protected Indigenous Lands in Amazon Rainforest

Arnold Putra

The fashion design involved in the trafficking of human organs was identified as Arnold Putra.

Putra has made the headlines in 2020 when he sold a handbag made of bones from a human spine.

The handbag is a $5,000 one-off piece, which first went on sale in 2016. The bag was a basket-style handbag with a handle Formed with what appears to be a human spinal cord.

Experts noted that they believe the human spinal cord was real, according to an Insider report.

On Putra's Instagram account @byarnoldputra, he detailed his fashion line. The posts also featured the spine bag, which has also been marketed for sale on some fashion sites.

The post was captioned with a description that the bag was made of an "entire child's spine who osteoporosis."

The fashion designer said that the account was run by someone else and that he had "contributed." However, he did not confirm whether the spine really belonged to a child.

Two child osteopaths saw the pictures and confirmed it was a real human spine, but they did not agree whether it belonged to a child.

Putra said that his process of procuring the human organs does not involve him traveling to places at all.

He then said that the spine was medically sourced from "Canada with papers."

Human Organs Trafficking in Brazil

The buying and selling of human organs equate to a state crime punishable by law in Brazil.

In 2011, three Brazilian doctors were charged with murder and jailed for killing patients at an upscale private clinic in Sao Paulo.

Four patients were killed by the removal of their organs. Prosecutors said that they were used for transplants at an expensive private clinic, according to an NBC News report.

The Brazilian doctors were identified as Rui Sacramento, Pedro Torrecillas, and Mariano Fiore Junior to 17 years and six months each in prison.

Sacramento and Torrecillas were charged with murder after they removed both kidneys from the patients and prepared the human organs for transport.

Meanwhile, Fiore, a neurosurgeon, was charged as an accomplice for incorrectly declaring the patients to be brain dead and allowing the harvest of their organs.

READ MORE: Parts of Amazon Rainforest in Brazil Are Being Illegally Offered for Sale on Facebook Marketplace

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by Mary Webber

WATCH: Undercover video of human organ traders - from BBC News






Kyle Rittenhouse has announced to sue media companies and individuals, including Lebron James and Whoopi Goldberg, for the negative coverage of him.

Rittenhouse is the Illinois teen acquitted of all charges in the fatal shooting of two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He traveled to Kenosha with an assault-style rifle and subsequently shot and killed two protesters in 2020, according to a Yahoo News report.

Rittenhouse said that he and his team have introduced the Media Accountability Project to fundraise and take media companies, as well as individuals, to court over what he said were lies they said about him.

Rittenhouse cited Goldberg, saying that the The View host called him a murderer after he was acquitted by a jury.

He also mentioned Cenk Uygur from The Young Turks, saying that Uygur also called him a murderer before the verdict and continued to call him even after.

Prosecutors said he flashed a white power sign at a bar while out on bail. Some have also accused Rittenhouse of being a white supremacist.

Rittenhouse said he plans to file a lawsuit on anyone who made claims that he is a white supremacist.

READ NEXT: Kyle Rittenhouse Accuses Pres. Joe Biden of 'Defamation' Over 'White Supremacist' Label, Says He's Contemplating Suing

Kyle Rittenhouse Suing Media Companies and Individuals

Critics have suggested that Rittenhouse may not have a case to sue people who still call him "murderer" as it is still considered opinion under the law, according to a Newsweek report.

Adrienne Lawrence, an attorney and a host on The Young Turks media network, tweeted regarding Rittenhouse's plan to sue.

She tweeted that one can be a murderer factually despite being legally acquitted. She added that an "acquittal doesn't really change that one murdered another."

Did someone call Rittenhouse a convicted murderer?



Because, to my knowledge, you can be a murderer factually, even if youre legally acquitted. An acquittal doesnt really change that one murdered another. https://t.co/GbqCZTpRqn  Adrienne Lawrence, Esq. (@AdrienneLaw) February 22, 2022

Edward Snowden also joined the discussion about Rittenhouse's intended legal move.

"A free press can be good or bad, but without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad."



As someone called worse things by bigger names, lawsuits against newspapers over hurt feelingsand even false claimsare not the answer. Won't fix people, but will harm rights. https://t.co/fGJPq4pJA8  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 22, 2022

Snowden is an American former computer intelligence consultant who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency in 2013.

The NSA whistleblower said that he has been called worse things. He added that lawsuits against false claims will not be the answer.

Rittenhouse said that he will also be making Lebron James accountable, too, according to a TMZ report.

The NBA star mockingly tweeted a clip of Rittenhouse.

What tears????? I didnt see one. Man knock it off! That boy ate some lemon heads before walking into court.  https://t.co/LKwYssIUmD  LeBron James (@KingJames) November 11, 2021

Kyle Rittenhouse Case

In November, a jury found Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts in his murder trial connected to the shootings of three people during unrest in Kenosha.

The jury of 12 had deliberated for three full days without reaching a decision, according to an NBC Chicago news report.

Defense Attorney Mark Richards said at the time that to say that they were relieved "would be a gross misunderstanding."

Richards added that Rittenhouse is on his way home and has felt a huge sense of relief for what the jury did.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Thomas Binger said that the state is "disappointed with the verdict." However, he added that it must be respected.

Rittenhouse said during the trial that he acted in self-defense, while the prosecution argued that he instigated the deaths.

The jury was reported to be "overwhelmingly white," with prospective jurors not asked to identify their race during the selection process.

In addition, the court did not provide a racial breakdown.

READ MORE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Press Secretary Welcomes Kyle Rittenhouse and Family's Visit to the State

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Kyle Rittenhouse plans to sue Whoopi Goldberg, others for 'lies' about him - from WISN 12 News






DoorDash, the largest food delivery company in the U.S., announced a partnership with Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, UnidosUS.

The joint project - dubbed Caminos, Spanish for "paths" - will provide a financial empowerment program, grants to broaden food access, support for civic engagement programs, and immigration education for the industry's largely-Latino workforce, The Hill reported.

These issues directly impact the Hispanic and Latino communities nationwide, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Katherine Rodriguez, senior manager of Federal Public Engagement at DoorDash, the company's mission to empower local economies animates everything they do to support Dashers, communities, and merchants.

The food delivery firm said they would support the Hispanic and Latino communities by providing restaurateurs grants and training through its Main Street Strong Accelerator, a seven-course curriculum that provides restaurant owners with immersive education to help their businesses.

DoorDash will also translate its Restaurant University series into Spanish and make other materials for capacity-building available.

UnidosUS and DoorDash will invest $1.1 million to train employees in 10 cities, including Houston, Miami, Chicago, San Diego, and San Francisco.

UnidosUS, DoorDash Collab Provides Latino Workers With 21st-Century Job Skills

Janet Murguia, UnidosUS president and CEO, believes that everyone "deserves an opportunity to succeed at their workplace."

That is why Murguia, together with UnidosUS, is thrilled about the new DoorDash collaboration, which will provide Latino workers with the skills they need "to succeed in the jobs of the 21st century."

"Thanks to DoorDash's major new support, we can put even more people, families, and communities on the path to greater financial stability and prosperity," the UnidosUS president said.

Because of the structural and institutional racism that precedes the economic crisis, Black and Latino Americans have been affected the hardest.

Nine months after the labor market bottomed out, Black and Hispanic or Latino Americans still accounted for the greater share of job losses, with unemployment rates of 9.2 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively, compared to 5.7 percent for whites, according to the January 2021 Employment Situation Summary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

READ NEXT: Travel in Brazil Amid Pandemic: Here Are Things You Should Be Aware of Before Visiting the Latin American Country

Latino-Owned Businesses Tend to Remain Small Due to Variety of Issues

Historically, Hispanic and Latino communities have lacked financial and entrepreneurial know-how, despite having higher levels of entrepreneurship than the general population.

According to Stanford University research on Latino enterprises, one out of every four new businesses is currently Latino-owned. However, Hispanics make up just under one-fifth of the country's population.

Despite this, the same study discovered that Latino-owned micro-businesses are more likely to remain small due to a range of factors, such as limited access to capital and increased personal financial risk.

According to Rodriguez, DoorDash is committed to assisting marginalized communities through earning opportunities and initiatives like Caminos.

Both UnidosUS and DoorDash previously had food insecurity and nutrition programs, called Comprando Rico y Sano and Project DASH, respectively. The company said these programs would be incorporated into the new joint project.

Rodriguez noted that the UnidosUS, a leader in the Hispanic community on issues ranging from health and education to immigration, "has made a positive difference in the lives of many and DoorDash is honored to partner with UnidosUS to continue that work."

READ MORE: Argentina: 5 Traditional Foods You Have to Try to Get a Taste of Argentine Culture

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: DashPass Pup - DoorDash Commercial - From DoorDash
President Joe Biden has released a statement after Russia's President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" in the region of Donbas in eastern Ukraine.

In a statement early Thursday morning, Biden condemned Russia's action. The president called it an "unprovoked and unjustified attack" on Ukraine.

"The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces," Biden noted.

According to Joe Biden, Putin "has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering." The president further noted that Russia alone will be responsible "for the death and destruction this attack will bring."

Joe Biden said the United States, its allies, and partners would address the matter "in a united and decisive way." He noted that he was monitoring the situation from the White House and will meet with the other G7 leaders on Thursday morning.

The president added that he would soon announce "further consequences" imposed on Russia by the U.S. and its allies, CNN reported.

"The world will hold Russia accountable," Biden noted.

British Ambassador to the United Nations Barbara Woodward said Russia has been "holding a gun to Ukraine's head for months," adding that they asked Russia repeatedly to avoid war.

"Now, President [Vladimir] Putin's finger is on the trigger... The world is calling for peace but Russia is not listening," Woodward noted during a special UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday night.

She said the United Kingdom and its partners "have been clear that there will be consequences for Russia's actions." She added that they fully support the U.S.' call for a UN Security Council resolution.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the UN, called on Russia to stop, return to its borders, and send its diplomats to the negotiating table, ABC News reported.

READ NEXT: Pres. Joe Biden Smirks, Picks Teeth After Reporter Asks if He 'Underestimated' Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Russia President Vladimir Putin's Statement Before Joe Biden Reacted

In his speech aired on national television early Thursday, Vladimir Putin announced military action in Donbas, the area containing the separatist-held regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which Russia's president recognized as independent on Monday.

Putin said their plans were not to occupy Ukraine, and they "do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone." He urged Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms and go home.

Putin warned that all responsibility for any potential bloodshed will be on the conscience of the Ukrainian government and said he was confident that Russian service members would fulfill their duty.

He also warned the international community of "consequences they have never seen" if they interfere, Al Jazeera reported.

Putin maintained his position that Ukrainian membership in Nato was unacceptable, adding that Russia had no choice but to defend itself against threats arising from its neighbor to the west.

Vladimir Putin said Russia's military operation aims to ensure a "demilitarization" of Ukraine. Shortly after Putin's televised address, explosions were heard outside Kyiv, and heavy clashes were reported in several major cities in Ukraine.

Ukraine said at least eight people had already been killed and nine others wounded by Russia's shelling. In a statement carried out by Russian news agencies, Russia's defense ministry claimed its air raids on Ukraine were not targeting its cities and posed no threat to civilians.

The ministry noted that it was targeting Ukrainian "military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, and aviation of the Armed Forces" with high-precision weapons.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said its forces are countering the Russian offensive "with dignity," and inflicting losses on the troops from Moscow.

Joe Biden Talks to Ukraine President Before He Declares Martial Law

Joe Biden has already spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the phone late Wednesday or soon after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine.

In a statement, Biden said he told Zelenskyy he "condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces."

The president noted that he briefed the Ukrainian president on the steps they were taking "to rally international condemnation."

Biden added that Zelenskyy asked him "to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin's flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine."

Zelenskyy has declared martial law in Ukraine as Russian forces started military operations early Thursday, ABC News reported. In a statement, Zelenskyy said Russia has launched an "unjustified, false and cynical invasion."

"There are strikes on military and other important defense facilities, attacked border units, the situation in the Donbas has degraded," Zelenskyy noted.

He said the Armed Forces and the state's special and law enforcement agencies were on alert while the National Security and Defense Council works "in an emergency mode."

Zelenskyy told the "civilian citizens of Ukraine" to stay at home and warn their loved ones about the situation.

"Take care of those who need help. All thoughts and prayers with our soldiers," he added.

Martial law permits military authorities to temporarily take over government functions, normally at a time of emergency.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Called Russian President Vladimir Putin "Pretty Savvy" Over Move On Ukraine; Pres. Joe Biden Imposes New Sanctions

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Joe Biden Condemns Russia's 'Unprovoked And Unjustified Attack' On Ukraine - From MSNBC






Matthew Hutchins, the husband of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, said he was "angry" about how Alec Baldwin spoke about his wife's death.

Matthew made his comments during an interview with the "TODAY" show that will be aired in full on Thursday. In the preview of the interview, Matthew blamed his wife's death on Baldwin and industry standards that "were not practiced" on set.

He said he was angry at the actor's failure to take responsibility for his wife's death, The Daily Mail reported. He noted that watching Baldwin talking about the death of his wife for 16 years in his recent ABC News interview made him furious.

"I was just so angry to see him talk about her [Halyna Hutchins] death so publicly in such a detailed way and then to not accept any responsibility after having just described killing her," Matthew noted.

In the December 3 interview, Baldwin told ABC News he never pulled the trigger on the prop gun that killed Halyna. The actor said he was following Halyna's instructions to point the gun at her without knowing there was live ammunition in the gun.

Baldwin noted that he had been told the gun was "cold," or it contained no live ammunition, as he pointed the gun at the cinematographer as directed as she prepared to film a scene.

Baldwin said he then cocked the gun, let go of the hammer, and that's when the firearm went off. The actor further noted that "someone is responsible for what happened, and I can't say who that is, but it's not me."

Matthew said Baldwin made it sound like he was the victim and even blamed Halyna in the interview and then shifted responsibility to others before he cried about it.

Matthew, a Harvard-educated lawyer, noted that it was absurd that the person holding the gun and causing it to discharge was not responsible for her wife's death.

The cinematographer's husband added that gun safety was not the only problem on the "Rust" set. He said a number of industry standards were not practiced, and there were multiple responsible parties.

READ NEXT: Halyna Hutchins Death: Alec Baldwin, 'Rust' Producers Sued for Wrongful Death

'Rust' Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' Family Files Lawsuit Against Alec Baldwin

Matthew Hutchins' comments came days after his family sued Alec Baldwin and other "Rust" crew members for wrongful death. The lawsuit was filed in Santa Fe County in New Mexico, where the fatal "Rust" shooting happened last October.

Lawyers for Hutchins' family earlier said Alec Baldwin and the movie producers' "reckless conduct and cost-cutting measures" led to Halyna Hutchins' death.

The lawsuit noted that the actor had a duty to learn gun safety rules, self-check the specific revolver, never point the gun at a person, and keep his finger away from the trigger until he's ready to shoot.

According to the lawsuit, part of the cost-cutting was hiring the new armorer in the film industry, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, also named a defendant.

The lawsuit said Gutierrez-Reed, whose job involved managing all the firearms and ensuring they were safely handled, had a duty to prevent live ammunition from infiltrating the "Rust" production and provide a reasonably safe production set environment.

Aside from announcing the lawsuit, the lawyers for Hutchins' family also showed a nearly 10-minute animated video that showed the moment Baldwin accidentally shot Hutchins on the "Rust" set.

"I think it's clear what happened. He had the gun, he says he pulled the hammer back, it fired, and she was killed... We don't think this was caused by any defect in the weapon," lawyer Brian Panish said.

The Hutchins' family lawsuit is one of four legal claims filed against Alec Baldwin and "Rust" producers.

The Death of Halyna Hutchins During 'Rust' Shooting

Halyna Hutchins died on October 21 after Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun on the set of the Western feature film in New Mexico.

Police said deputies were dispatched to the film set at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe after receiving an emergency call about the accidental shooting on the set.

Halyna was transported via helicopter to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she died from her injuries. Aside from Halyna, "Rust" director Joel Souza was also injured and hospitalized but survived. Investigators are still investigating the incident.

No one has been arrested or charged as the investigation continues on how the tragic shooting occurred.

READ MORE: Alec Baldwin Says He Has Nothing to Hide and Feels 'No' Guilt Over Fatal Shooting of Halyna Hutchins on 'Rust' Set

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Husband of Cinematographer Killed in 'Rust' Shooting Breaks Silence - From Inside Edition
Another weekend of bloodshed hit Mexico's Colima State as the Jalisco cartel, and Los Mezcales cartel continued to fight for control of territory.

According to Daily Star, several deaths were reported in Coloma as violent attacks and executions continued amid the two Mexican drug cartels' turf war.

One of the notable deaths recorded included the discovery of a corpse inside a plastic garbage bag. The waste disposal bag with the human body was found outside a home in Villa de Alvarez in Colima last weekend.

Hours after the discovery, shootouts reportedly occurred in a nearby neighborhood of Juan Jose Rios, where gunmen opened fire out of a car window.

One man was reportedly killed, and another was injured and rushed to a hospital. The man sustained multiple wounds over various parts of his body, including chest, abdomen, right arm, and collarbone.

Another shootout broke out in Villa de Alvarez that resulted in a man being shot in the head. On the evening of February 13, Coloma saw a Molotov cocktail thrown at a truck, causing the vehicle to explode.

That same night, another man in the Alfredo V Bonfil neighborhood in Villa de Alvarez was reportedly injured from flying shrapnel after armed men on a motorcycle opened fire at him.

Colima is commonly used as a drug smuggling route to the United States.

READ NEXT: Jalisco Cartel Official 'Don Carlos' Who Receives Direct Orders From Boss 'El Mencho' Arrested in Mexico

Jalisco Cartel Expands Threat to Other State in Mexico

Colima is not the only Jalisco cartel-plagued state. The Daily Star reported that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel or Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) have issued a warning to Governor Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla of Mexico's state of Michoacan.

In a video, alleged members of the Jalisco cartel told Bedolla that they were "coming after everyone," and asked him to disarm "fake Self Defence Forces" and the rival gang "Los Viagras," who are allied with United Cartels.

The Jalisco Cartel accused the governor of not fulfilling his agreement to disarm self-defense groups and rivals as they pose in the video holding firearms.

The cartel also claimed that the state government was receiving money from their rivals and blamed officials for ruining Michoacan.

"Stop supporting them by sending the government to attack us. And we can take care of the rest... This also goes out to all the mayors supporting these f***ing thieves, and who won't get with the program. Do your jobs and don't receive money from them," the CJNG members said in the video translated by Borderland Beat.

For this reason, the Jalisco cartel said the state "is now full of homicides, robberies, kidnappings, extortions, and fee collections."

"Mr. Governor don't support these scumbags anymore... Don't forget the arrangement you had with us. Get back to doing your job and start cleaning your name and state," the CJNG noted.

The Jalisco Cartel in Mexico

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is considered one of Mexico's most dangerous and powerful drug cartels. It is allegedly involved in mass graves, kidnappings, acid baths, and video recording beheadings.

The Jalisco cartel had risen to power after Mexican security forces killed former Sinaloa cartel capo Ignacio Coronel in July 2010.

Two groups fought for control of the drug trafficking in Jalisco state upon Coronel's death. The Torcidos and La Resistencia were the two factions that fought.

The Torcidos now became the Jalisco cartel and rose as the successors to the Sinaloan cap's network in the region, according to an InsightCrime report.

Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera is currently leading the Jalisco cartel. The U.S. government has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest as he continues to evade capture. Mexico, on the other hand, has offered a reward of 30 million pesos or US$1.6 million.

READ MORE: Mexico: Drug Cartel CJNG Adopts Brutal Tactics From Middle East Terrorists | Here's What They Added to Their Arsenal

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: On the Front Line With Mexico's Warring Cartels - From VICE News
The death toll from floods and mudslides that swept through the mountain city of Petropolis in Brazil has surpassed 200, authorities said on Wednesday.

Authorities continue to search and recover bodies more than a week after the torrential rain. Rio de Janeiro police said a total of 204 bodies had already been recovered, and 188 had been identified as of Wednesday.

Rescue workers and residents searching for their missing relatives continued to dig through mountains of mud and rubble that mainly hit poor hillside communities, which Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said looked like it had been through a "war."

According to CNA, the number of missing people currently stands at around 51. However, the number is expected to decrease as bodies are identified and families reunited.

After dumping a month's worth of rain in a few hours that started February 15, more than 850 people were being housed in emergency shelters as their homes were damaged or destroyed.

Police said 33 children were among those killed in the February 15 deluge that turned streets in the picturesque tourist town north of Rio de Janeiro into violent rivers, with the water taking cars, trees, and soil along with it, Al Jazeera reported.

The disaster is now among the deadliest in the Imperial City's history. It served as a bitter reminder of 2011 for many Petropolis residents, as similar mudslides killed more than 900 people in the region, making it the worst natural disaster in Brazil's history.

Residents Continue to Search for Missing Loved Ones in Brazil's Petropolis City

Standing on the mountain of mud and wreckage that used to be his sister's house, Anderson Mota Barreiros, 37, joined the small army of volunteers digging through the sludge for their missing loved ones after fatal landslides struck.

Barreiros, who searched in the poor hillside neighborhood of Alto da Serra where the huge landslide engulfed dozens of houses, claimed that her sister is still missing together with her own family.

As the tragedy unfolded, many residents ran into the floodwaters and debris and looked for their family, friends, and neighbors.

Among the collapsed structures in the Morro da Oficina region, a part of Alto da Serra was Alexandro Conde's screen printing workshop, where his 18-year-old son Kaique, his brother Ivan, and his close friend Thiago were working.

"When I arrived, I saw this. Then it was just a scream of pain because I knew that my son and my brother were there," Conde told the Associated Press.

There is bitter anger for many residents in Alto da Serra over the tragedy and the length of the time it takes for official rescue operations to locate the missing persons.

Officials are waging a huge clean-up operation to clear the mud, rubble, and stranded vehicles scattered around Petropolis, the city of 300,000 people that was the 19th-century summer capital of the Brazilian empire.

READ NEXT: Brazil Mudslide Disaster: Pres. Jair Bolsonaro Visits Petropolis, Says Destruction Looks Like War Zone

Pope Francis Expressed Sorrows for Landslide Victims in Brazil

On Sunday, Pope Francis conveyed his condolences and prayed for the repose of the deceased following his Angelus prayer at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican.

The Pope expressed his solidarity with those affected by natural disasters recently, mentioning Petropolis and Madagascar, ravaged by a series of cyclones.

"May the Lord receive the victims in his peace, console their relatives and support those who come to their aid," the Pope said.

At least 236 individuals have died in severe storms in Brazil in the past three months. According to experts, climate change increases the frequency and intensifies extreme rainfall.

READ MORE: NBA All-Star Game 2022: LeBron James Shoots Game-Winning Point, Leading All-Star Team to Victory for Five Consecutive Years

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Bolsonaro Surveys Damage as Brazil Mudslides Death Toll Climbs - From Al Jazeera English
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Afghans face immigration challenges

Contributed photo Chippewa Falls attorney Sahar Mahmoud Taman, who headed the legal clinic working on immigration status with Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy, now is addressing those same issues with evacuees in Eau Claire. Taman

EAU CLAIRE  Now that eight Afghan refugees have resettled in Eau Claire, they hope to find housing, improve their English skills and land jobs.

But looming over their desire to meet those basic needs is one of the largest challenges of their transition to life in the United States: immigration status.

The Afghan refugees in Eau Claire are among 76,000 spread across the U.S. who must successfully navigate a complex immigration system or risk being sent back to the country they fled after the August withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan ended a 20-year presence.

Many of them are very worried because the application is complex and the burden of proof is very high, said Sahar Mahmoud Taman, a private attorney from Chippewa Falls who led the legal clinic for Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy and now is heading the effort to provide immigration assistance to the evacuees in Eau Claire.

Though most of the refugees are in the United States because their previous work aiding the U.S. military, government or contractors put them at risk of persecution by the Taliban who took control of Afghanistan, their path to legal permanent residency is not automatic.

Even though it seems so clear, you have the burden of proving that you really were fleeing for your life, Taman said. You have to prove that you personally were persecuted or will be persecuted if you return.

Deadlines add to the pressure facing evacuees. They must apply for asylum within a year of their arrival  already six months ago for most of the Afghans  and then hope to be granted legal permanent residency after that. The U.S. government completed the relocation of Afghan refugees from eight military bases to communities across the country last week.

Making matters more difficult, all of this must take place within a U.S. asylum system that already is enormously backlogged and plagued by a shortage of asylum officers and immigration attorneys, Taman said.

In the meantime, the federal government is frantically seeking to train more asylum officers in time to meet the surge in demand created by the influx of Afghan refugees.

It is an overwhelmed U.S. government entity, Taman said.

Some advocates have urged Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow evacuees to apply for permanent residency directly, bypassing the asylum program, but that has yet to happen.

The State Bar of Wisconsin has sought to address the shortage of immigration attorneys by launching a statewide recruiting effort to find practicing and retired attorneys willing to provide pro bono legal help to refugees and also by arranging training sessions to educate other attorneys on immigration law so they would be able to pitch in.

Such efforts are intended to solve a basic math problem that threatens the legal status of the roughly 800 Afghan refugees who have been resettled in Wisconsin over the last couple of months: There are more Afghan refugees than there are immigration lawyers available to help, said Jeff Brown, pro bono program manager for the State Bar of Wisconsin.

The goal, Brown said, is for the volunteer lawyers to help with this surge of new clients who need help fairly quickly to adjust their legal status in the country. The State Bar will cover some out-of-pocket expenses and liability insurance for the volunteers.

In Eau Claire, Taman and other volunteer lawyers in the Chippewa Valley didnt waste any time getting a start on providing legal assistance to the citys new refugees, the first of whom arrived just last week.

Because of Sahars experience, were really fortunate to have her and a couple other people in the area to get this process going, said Bea Evans, a leader of the local interfaith volunteer group Welcoming New Neighbors that is partnering with Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan to co-sponsor the individuals placed in Eau Claire.

Meetings with the Afghans, who entered the country under a status called humanitarian parole, focused on immigration issues were set to begin this week.

I dont think the general public realizes the challenge and uncertainty of not knowing if theyll be able to stay here if theyll have the right immigration status, Evans said.

The fastest option for refugees to gain legal permanent residency is to be approved for a special immigrant visa, Taman said, but that program requires people to provide paperwork veryifying their employment with an organization affiliated with the U.S. government and a letter of recommendation from a supervisor.

In many cases, thats easy to get, but in some cases because it was so long ago, its been hard, Taman said, noting that some people didnt have time to collect paperwork during their chaotic evacuation and others had their documents destroyed.

Through it all, Taman said, many of the refugees are extraordinarily worried about the safety of family members left behind in Afghanistan  some of whom are in hiding and forced to move from place to place to stay hidden from the Taliban.

The ultimate goal for most refugees, after they are granted asylum or an SIV, is to have their families join them in America to start a new life together, Taman said.
Portland, TN (37148)

Today

Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 71F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
A MAN charged with the murder of teacher Ashling Murphy has been further remanded in custody pending formal directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Jozef Puska, 31, with an address of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, was initially remanded in custody on January 19.

He is accused of killing the 23-year-old primary school teacher who was attacked while out running along the Grand Canal near Tullamore on January 12.

The Slovakian national faced his fourth hearing at Cloverhill District Court today. (Wednesday)

Mr Puska appeared before Judge Cephas Power via video link.

Dressed in a grey tracksuit, he listened with the help of an interpreter and spoke only to give his name and to say he could see and hear the proceedings.

Court Garda sergeant Olwyn Murphy told Judge Power, "directions are still outstanding".

She explained gardai sent the investigation file to the State solicitor and the DPP in Dublin on February 18. A four-week remand was sought.

Defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght submitted that the case "is only going one way". He asked the judge to refuse jurisdiction at this stage and adjourn the case for a book of evidence to be completed.

The court sergeant pointed out that there was no time limit, and she asked the judge to adjourn for formal directions from the DPP first and a book of evidence after that.

Judge Power noted the nature of the charge and indicated he would put the case back for four weeks.

However, Mr Lysaght said his client would only consent to a two-week remand. He also asked for the directions to be expedited, adding that the DPP has been involved from day one.

The sergeant said the DPP gave "ordinary directions" on day one, and now formal directions were required.

The judge noted the volume and complexity of the case and remanded Mr Puska in continuing custody to appear again on March 9.

Detective Sergeant David Scahill gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution at Mr Puskas first hearing on January 19.

Detective Sergeant Scahill had said that when asked if he had anything to say in response to the charge, the accused replied: "No".

The High Court only can consider a bail application in a murder case.
William Seale - Ballyfin

The death took place on Wednesday, February 23 of William Seale of Clonagown, Ballyfin.



After a long illness borne bravely, in the tender care of the owners and staff of Ballard Lodge Nursing Home. Sadly missed by his sister Catherine, brother Peter, his aunt Chris, nephew, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces, extended family and friends.

Reposing in Keegans Funeral Home, 1 Dublin Road, Portlaoise from 6pm to 7pm on Friday, 25th February. Removal on Saturday morning arriving at St. Fintans Church, Ballyfin for 11am Mass and burial immediately afterwards in the New Cemetery, Ballyfin.

The family thank you for your understanding at this difficult time. Government Covid guidelines still to be observed. Those attending funeral are requested to wear masks and refrain from handshaking.



John Joe Maher - Clonad and Ballyroan

The death took place on Tuesday, February 22 of John Joe Maher of Clonad and formerly of Chapel Street, Ballyroan.

In the care of his daughter Mary at home. Peacefully after a short illness. Dearly beloved dad to Mary son-in-law John and granddaughter Eimear. Predeceased by his wife Eileen and sister Breda (McGrath), Newtown, Ballyroan .Deeply regretted by Mary, John, Eimear, niece Marie and sister-in-law Teresa.

Reposing in St. Fintan's Church, Raheen from 3pm to 5pm on Thursday with rosary at 5pm. Funeral mass in St. Fintan's Church, Raheen on Friday at 12 noon followed by interment in St. Fintan's Cemetery. Those attending the funeral are kindly asked to wear a face mask and refrain from shaking hands.

Phil Conroy - Camross

The death took place on Tuesday, February 22 of Phil Conroy (nee Leahy) of Derrycarrow, Camross, and formerly Roundwood, Mountrath.

At her home, surrounded by her loving family. Predeceased by her beloved husband John. Sadly missed by her loving sons, daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, sisters-in-law, Anna (Matthews), Mary (Dunne) and Phil (Leahy), extended family, relatives, great neighbours and friends.

Removal this Wednesday evening to St. Fergals Church Camross, arriving for 7.30pm. Funeral Mass on Thursday morning at 11am followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Phils Requiem Mass will be live streamed on the Camross Community Pastoral Council Facebook page.

The family thank you for your understanding at this difficult time. Government Covid guidelines still to be observed. Those attending the funeral are requested to wear masks and refrain from handshaking.

Alice McEvoy - Stradbally

The death took place on Tuesday, February 22 of Alice McEvoy (nee Tobin) of Dysart, Stradbally.



Beloved wife of the late Patrick and much loved mother of Margaret, Kathleen (Guckidvan), Caroline, Robert and Bernard. Deeply regretted by her loving family, son in law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends.

Reposing at Keegans Funeral Home tomorrow Wednesday between 5 and 6pm. Removal to St Peter & Paul's Church on Thursday for 12 noon requiem Mass followed by private interment please.

Evelyn Shore - Portlaoise

The death took place on Tuesday, February 22 of Evelyn Shore (nee Cole) of Old Knockmay, Togher, Portlaoise.



Peacefully, in the loving care of the matron and staff at the Droimnin Nursing Home, Stradbally, in her 104th year. Predeceased by her husband John and son Robin. Sadly missed by her loving son Gordon, brother Alan, daughters in law Hilary and Marguerite, 6 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Evelyn's Funeral Service will take place this Thursday afternoon (Feb. 24th.) in St. Peter's Church, Portlaoise (Eircode R32 A7PK) at 3pm, with burial immediately afterwards in the adjoining churchyard (current Covid 19 restrictions apply i.e. wearing face masks and refrain from handshaking).

Kevin O'Neill - Portarlington

The death took place on Monday, February 21 of Kevin O'Neill of Kilnacourt Woods, Portarlington.

Deeply regretted by his loving partner Alison, family Fintan, Johnaton, Marian, Christopher, Casey, Jessie and Karlymae, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends.

Reposing at his residence on Thursday from 4pm (for family and close friends) with Rosary at 8pm. Removal on Friday at 9am arriving St Michael's Church, Portarlington for Requiem Mass at 10am. Funeral afterwards to St Michael's Cemetery, Portarlington.

Due to Covid 19 restrictions please wear facemasks and no handshaking while attending the funeral.

Kevin's Requiem Mass will be streamed live on

https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/st-michaels-church-portarlington

Maura Loughlin - Portlaoise

The death took place on Monday, February 21 of Maura Loughlin (nee Keenan) of St. Brigid's Place, Portlaoise.



Peacefully at St James' Hospital, Dublin. Predeceased by her son Paul and granddaughter Ciara. Deeply regretted by her loving husband John, sons John, Ken and Alan, daughter Yvonne, grandchildren, daughters in law, son in law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.

Reposing at her residence on Thursday, February 24th, from 4pm with rosary recital at 8pm. Removal on Friday at 11.30am to arrive at SS Peter and Paul's Church for 12 noon requiem Mass. Interment afterwards in SS Peter and Paul's Cemetary, Portlaoise. May be viewed on https://www.portlaoiseparish.ie/webcam/.

The family thank you for your understanding at this difficult time. Government Covid guidelines still to be observed. Those attending funeral are requested to wear masks and refrain from handshaking.

Tommy McDonald - Stradbally

The death took place on Monday, February 21 of Tommy McDonald of Kyle, Stradbally.



Predeceased by his wife Nan. Deeply regretted by his loving family and a large circle of friends.

Reposing at his residence on Tuesday, 22nd February, from 4pm. (Please wear face masks and adhere to social distancing). Removal at 7pm on Wednesday evening to arrive at St. Michael's Church, Timahoe, for prayers at 7.30pm. Requiem Mass will be held at 11am on Thursday morning, 24th February. Burial afterwards in Timahoe Cemetery.

Lillian Cruickshank - Stradbally

The death took place on Saturday, February 19 of Lillian Cruickshank of Droimnin Nursing Home, Stradbally.

Peacefully in the loving care of the management and staff of Droimnin Nursing Home, Stradbally. Sadly missed by her daughter Roberta (South Africa) and her grandchildren Geraldine (Waterford), Bradley (Carlow) and James (Portlaoise).

Lillian's cremation service will take place in Newlands Cross crematorium at 1pm on Thursday, 24th of February. The cremation service can be viewed on https://www.dctrust.ie/location/newlands-cross/chapel-webstream.html

Current covid restrictions apply. Please wear face masks in crematorium please.
A young Laois girl has done a very kind deed for three charities that mean a lot to her and her family.

Aoife Holland, 10, is from Cullohill where she is in 4th class with Miss Phelan at St Tigherneach's National School.

The youngest of six children of farmers David and Martina Holland, Aoife got it into her head to have her beautiful waist length brown hair cut off, after reading in the Leinster Express about another little girl from Portlaoise who did it for charity.

Aoife spoke to us to explain why she wanted to do her good deed.

"I decided to do it because my granddad had cancer and I know that people lose their hair from cancer. I sent it to the Rapunzel Foundation," she said.

Her big sister Orla set up a Gofundme page for Aoife, and people donated generously, raising a huge sum, 3,800.

It will be divided between the Irish Cancer Society, The Childrens Heart Centre and Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, who helped another member of the family.

Her dad David explains.

"Her oldest brother Kevin was cared for in the hospital two or three times. He received the very best of care and made a lot of friends there in all the staff, who put him at ease in a very worrying time for all the family.

He contracted Kawasaki disease which causes aneurysms. He had to have a double heart bypass at the age of 14. He is 20 and flying it now.

"My wife's father Leo Kelly from Monasterevin passed with cancer before Aoife was born, and he received great support from the Irish Cancer Society's palliative care team. This is an invaluable service.

"We are very proud of Aoife, that she took the initiative. She is very mature for her years. Our family and friends and neighbours all donated and we thank them," her father said.

Aoife had planned to have her hair chopped on her birthday last July but with Covid restrictions it could not be done until November. Claire Ann Alley in the Catwalk hairdressers in Durrow did the honours, taking good care of Aoife with kindness and professionalism, the family said. Aoife now has a sleek new bob style.

"I got 16 inches cut off. It feels good. Sometimes my long hair had got caught in my clothes, and it's quicker to wash now. But hopefully it will grow long again.

"Thanks to everyone who donated, I only expected to raise 1,000. The money is going to a good cause. I'd like to thank my mam and dad and family for helping me, and thank The Catwalk and everyone who donated," Aoife said.

She will be making a formal cheque presentation to the charities in the coming month.
Britain's royal family will visit Ireland as part of a world tour to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be among those carrying out overseas trips this spring to mark the monarchs 70 years on the throne.

Among the tours will be a visit by heir to the throne Charles with Camilla to the Republic of Ireland from March 23 to 25.

In this #PlatinumJubilee year, members of The Royal Family will undertake a series of Royal Tours this spring: @ClarenceHouse will visit @KensingtonRoyal will visit The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit The Princess Royal will visit  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 24, 2022

William and Kate will travel to the Caribbean, touring Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas from March 19 to 26.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines from April 22 to 28, and the Princess Royal will visit Papua New Guinea from April 11 to 13.

Britain's Queen, who currently has Covid, reached her Platinum Jubilee on February 6, becoming the first British monarch in history to do so.

She called time on her overseas travel a number of years ago, leaving the duties to other family members.

Jubilee tours abroad have long been carried out in celebration of Queen Elizabeth's milestone anniversaries.
The death has occurred of William (Billy) Collins

Clogheen, Monasterevin, Kildare



Peacefully, at the Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. Loving husband of the late Aggie. Deeply regretted by his niece Maria and her husband Derek and their family Ciara, Michaela and Jack, nephew David and his partner Angela, brother Dinny and all his nieces, nephews, extended family, friends, neighbours and former work colleagues.

Rest In Peace

"A Life so beautiful lived deserves to be beautifully remembered.

Please join us to mourn the passing of our Beloved Billy"

Reposing at Maher's Chapel of Rest, Portarlington, on Friday evening from 6pm with rosary at 8pm. Removal on Saturday morning at 10.10am (travelling via his residence and the Drawbridge) arriving St Peter and Paul's Church, Monasterevin, for Requiem Mass at 11am. Funeral afterwards to St Evin's Cemetery, Monasterevin. Please adhere to Covid 19 guidelines regarding wearing face masks and handshaking.

Billy's Requiem Mass will be streamed live on http://www.monasterevinparish.ie/. You can leave your condolences on the online Condolence Book below. The family would like to thank you for your help and understanding at this sad and difficult time.

The death has occurred of Margaret (Peggy) Doyle (nee O'Leary)

Graysland, Athy, Kildare / New Ross, Wexford



Margaret (Peggy) Doyle, late of Graysland, Athy, formerly of Ballinacoola, New Ross and Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, passed peacefully in the loving care of her family and the wonderful care of the staff of Our Ladys Ward, St. Vincents Hospital, Athy. Predeceased by her husband Michael. Deeply regretted by her loving sons Michael and Matt, daughters Anne, Elizabeth and Helen, grandchildren Carla and Jack, brother John, daughter-in-law Marian, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.

Reposing at her residence from 4pm until 8pm on Friday, 25th February. Removal by Thompson Funeral Directors on Saturday morning, 26th February, at 10.30am to arrive at St. Michael's Parish Church, Athy for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in St. Michael's New Cemetery, Athy. The Funeral Mass will be live streamed and can be viewed by clicking on the following link Athy Parish Webcam.

House private Saturday morning please.

Please follow government guidelines with regards to social distancing and mask wearing. Those who would have liked to attend Peggys funeral, but to due to restrictions cannot, may leave a personal message for the family on the condolence page below. The family thank you for your co-operation, understanding and support during this sensitive time.

Family flowers only please, donations, if desired, to the Patients Comfort Fund, St. Vincents Hospital, Athy.

The death has occurred of James Arthur O'CALLAGHAN

Hazelmere, Naas, Kildare / Mallow, Cork



Peacefully, after a long illness, at Naas Hospital. Formerly of Twopothouse, Mallow, Co. Cork. Beloved husband of Helen Bowen O'Callaghan, father to James, Fiona and the late Keith. Sadly missed by his loving wife and family, sisters Ellen and Esther, daughter-in-law Bernadette, grandchildren Corey, Stephanie, Jamie, Jason, Darragh, Leigha and Kayleigh, great-grandchildren Kyle and Caiden, brothers-in-law Norman and Ben, nieces, nephews, wonderful neighbours and a large circle of friends.

"May James Rest In Peace"

Reposing at The George Mullins Funeral Home, Kilcullen Road, Naas (W91 CD0K) on Thursday from 4pm to 7pm. Funeral on Friday with Mass at 11am in The Church of The Irish Martyrs, Ballycane, Naas (W91 K6CT) and afterwards to arrive for a service at 1pm in Newland's Cross Crematorium (D24 EP830).

Family flowers only please. Donation, if desired, to The Friends of St. Brigid's Hospice, The Curragh at https://friendsofstbrigidshospice.ie/ways-to-donate/

The death has occurred of Maureen Bright

Old Greenfield, Maynooth, Kildare / Rathfarnham, Dublin



Bright, Maureen, Old Greenfield, Maynooth, Co. Kildare and late of Rathfarnham, Dublin, February 21st 2022, peacefully at Blackrock Clinic. Deeply regretted by her loving brothers George, Niall, Ollie, Brendan and Kerry, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Rest In Peace

Reposing at her brother Ollie's residence in Leinster Cottages, Maynooth on Wednesday from 2pm. Removal on Thursday morning at 11am to arrive at St. Mary's Church, Maynooth for 11:30am funeral mass, followed by burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Kilcock.

The Funeral Mass can be viewed on Thursday at 11:30am by clicking on the following link : https://www.churchservices.tv/maynoothparish

Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors accept no responsibility for any live webcam interruptions or issues.

For all enquiries, please contact Oliver Reilly Ltd. Funeral Directors on (045) 868230.
Lidl Ireland said it is extending its charity partnership with Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health in Ireland, for a further two years.

In 2021, the ten stores, its Regional Distribution Centre in Newsbridge and its 520 employees across Kildare raised 17,000 for Jigsaw. As part of the new partnership the retailer has pledged to raise 2.5 million for Jigsaw who provide free confidential professional support to young people aged 12-25, in 14 centres across Ireland.

To date, Lidl Ireland have raised over 1.8 million for the charity and have committed to raise an additional 700,000 by the end of the partnership in 2024.

Lidl have partnered with Jigsaw since 2018 and previously extended its partnership with the charity to account for the impact of COVID-19 on youth mental health.

The focus for the future partnership with Jigsaw will be the development, promotion and roll out of One Good Community a 2-year, community-led, five-step wellbeing programme for villages, towns and cities across Ireland. Lidl has a network of Jigsaw Heroes across its stores who are key ambassadors for Jigsaw and play an important role in the charitys One Good programmes.

J.P. Scally, CEO at Lidl Ireland, said: We are delighted to be extending our partnership with Jigsaw, who do such great work for youth mental health and wellbeing in Ireland. We are very proud of the teams in Kildare and all theyve done for our chosen charity and in food donations last year. At Lidl, it is important to us that we are supporting causes and charities that our colleagues are invested in and care about and it was with their input and feedback that we decided that an extension of our partnership with Jigsaw was where we wanted to keep our focus. While the data tells us, we are seeing increased awareness of mental health difficulties in our youth, more needs to be done. We want to empower all Irish adults to support the young people in their lives, through One Good Adult, Club or Community, and encourage young people themselves to seek help when and where they need to most.

Dr Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw said: We are so genuinely delighted that Lidl have selected to extend our partnership for a further two years. This is a clear demonstration of their ongoing commitment to working with us to change the conversation on youth mental health in Ireland. Without the commitment of community partners like Lidl, we simply cannot continue to deliver the vital mental health supports and services our young people, their families and communities deserve. We look forward to continuing our work with Lidl, their staff and customers in helping us all better value and better support our young peoples mental health
The Taoiseach has condemned outrageous actions of Russia in Ukraine and promised harsh new sanctions from the EU.

In a specially convened press conference at Government Buildings, Micheal Martin called the actions of Russia an outrageous and moral breach of the most fundamental and basic principles of international law.

He said the EU would introduce severe sanctions against Russian leaders.

Our thoughts must be with the innocent people of Ukraine at this, their most difficult hour.

We stand with them.

He said Europe was dealing with the most grave security situation it has faced in decades, with repercussions for global security and the world economy.

It cannot and it will not go unanswered.

President Putin and those who support him will be held accountable.

This evening, I will join with our partners in the European Union in Brussels to adopt the most severe package of sanctions we have ever considered.

They will be aimed to hit Putin and his henchmen where it hurts the most.

EU sanctions will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy, blocking access to markets and to technologies.

Assets in the EU will be frozen.

They will have impacts in the EU, including in Ireland, and I will work with fellow leaders to support those hit hardest.

This aggression by Russia will cause untold hardship and tragedy for the Government and people of Ukraine who have shown remarkable resilience and resolve.

We will not be found wanting in offering them the humanitarian support they will need.



Taoiseach Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Martin paid tribute to two Irish diplomats working in Kyiv and said that the Government was maintaining close contact with Irish citizens in Ukraine.

He said that their safety is paramount.

Mr Martin also said that the Ireland can especially understand the plight of Ukrainians.

As a small country in particular, todays use of brute force in pursuit of a warped perception of national interest is a serious affront, he said.

Taking questions from reporters, Mr Martin said that he expected to find unity in Brussels over the necessary response.

He said that sanctions should not be incremental and needed to be immediate.

Mr Martin said that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Justice were working together to start the process of waiving the visas requirements for all Ukrainian citizens entering Ireland.

There will be a significant migration issue arising from these attacks. We will have to play our part in helping those who will have to flee Ukraine.

He said that any military response from the western countries was not something to be lightly considered.

The economic sanctions and dealing with this in a different way from the military route is the most effective one to protect the lives of people across Europe.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney earlier told RTE radio: We are not going to go to war with Russia, militarily.

I think the response in terms of sanctions will be very direct and very hard-hitting, and that means that the EU is also going to suffer as a result of those sanctions because undoubtedly therell be counter-sanctions from Russia.

He indicated that it appears the time for diplomacy is now over.

This is an illegal act of aggression by Russia, Mr Coveney said.

They are lying to themselves and lying to the world about their justification for it.

Russia has launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them.Rocket attacks & explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly. @dfatirl  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 24, 2022

Mr Coveney said it is not only an attack on Ukraine, but on the whole of Europe.

It is also in many ways an attack on the kind of Europe we have built together, collectively, since World War Two.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has urged all remaining Irish citizens in Ukraine to seek shelter in a secure place.

It advised citizens not to move around the country in the coming hours and to follow the advice of local authorities.

Mr Coveney said two Irish families are currently in Ukraine for surrogacy services and that Irish officials are working with them.

The minister also confirmed that the Irish diplomatic team in Kyiv have moved to a safe place.

Lets not forget what President Putin has done and said over the last number of hours is not only to start a war with Ukraine through a broad invasion, not just of the regions in the east of Ukraine but the country as a whole.

But hes also warned any country that intervenes and helps Ukraine, he has also threatened them very likely.

We are seeing a language that we simply have not seen in many, many decades in Europe of aggression and of potential brutality, Mr Coveney said.

He predicted a united response from the European Union and said that Ireland cannot remain politically neutral on such an issue.

I think you will see extraordinary unity today from the European Union.

Yes, Ireland is a neutral country.

Were militarily non-aligned.

But we are certainly not neutral on an issue like this, when there is blatant aggression happening on the continent of Europe.

I utterly condemn Russias indefensible attack on the sovereign people of Ukraine. Our first thoughts are with them. We will work with the EU & UN to hold Putin and his regime accountable. Russia will pay a high price for this outrageous act of aggression. We stand with Ukraine.  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 24, 2022

Appearing on RTE radio, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland said the international community needs to be very vocal and very strong now.

Larysa Gerasko said: Im so emotional. Im really shocked.

My parents live with 150 kilometres from the northern border of Ukraine and theyre shocked.

We want to believe in the peaceful settlement and that Putin will stop on this point in Ukraine, and return to the roundtable of the negotiations, and all the international community has to be very vocal and very strong now.
The Corn Mill Theatre Groups new play is inspired by the murder of Doctor Muldoon.

A scandalous incident happened in south Leitrim in the early 1920s.

The young unmarried housekeeper working in the parochial house in Aughavas became pregnant. The child was born in Holles Street Hospital in Dublin and shortly afterwards Doctor Paddy Muldoon, the local doctor, was shot dead in Mohill.



This scandal was the inspiration for writing the play The Door On The Left, according to Killian McGuinness, the author.

But McGuinness emphasises that the play is not an historically accurate account of what led to Dr. Muldoons murder nor do the characters in the play accurately represent the actual people who got caught up in these events.

There are six characters in the play: Mary Browne, the main character, is a nineteen-year-old girl who has just secured a job as the local curates new housekeeper. She is proud and delighted to get a job in the parochial house as it gives me and my family a sense of importance.



Lizzie OBaoel, the previous housekeeper, still likes to know whats going on and regularly calls in to chat to Mary. Lizzie is good at keeping an eye on things.

Charlie Riley, a simpleton, deifies Fr Johnston. I likes doing the jobs for you Father. He is referred to as the priests little helper.



Brona McGourty, a mother of three, expecting her fourth child, runs an organisation to help girls who get into trouble.

Father Edward Johnson is the local curate who has hired Mary as his housekeeper.

He has quite an influence in the local area, both as a curate and also as head of the local Sinn Fein organisation.

Finally, we have Dr Philip McGourty who is Bronaghs husband. They returned to the area from Wales, where he was working for five years.

The play deals with the interactions of these six characters, and the consequences of those interactions, over a period of a year.

The Door On The Left runs in the Corn Mill Theatre in Carrigallen this week, February the 24th, 25th and 26th and also on March 3rd, 4th, 5th. The play starts at 8pm each night. Doors open at 7.30pm.

Booking on 087 2570263 and bookings@cornmilltheatre.com.



The play will also tour local Drama Festivals for a chance at competing at the One Act Drama Festival.

The cast includes: Candy Fitzgibbon, Maura McGuinness, Philip McIntyre, Taragh Donohoe, Derek OReilly and Brian OReilly.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Governments National Broadband Plan (NBP), is calling on primary school students to take part in its new Imagine the Future competition. Nearly 700 primary schools across in the Intervention Area of the NBP are eligible to take part. Principals can register and find out more about the Imagine the Future competition, by visiting NBIschools.ie . The closing date to submit entries for the competition is the 25th of March.

Students participating in NBIs new art, design and imagination competition will have a chance to win a Promethean ActivPanel - a state of the art interactive flat panel display for their school, as well as a number of other individual student prizes for county and national competition winners.

The Imagine the Future competition will highlight and delve into how students perceive the principle of high-speed fibre broadband and the potential opportunities that arise from it.

Students will be asked to create a piece of art responding to the simple statement, Imagine the Future. Entries can take a variety of forms, including a sculpture, a photo, a painting, a song, a short movie or even a dance  making it as accessible as possible for students to participate.

Entries can focus on the following themes:

Transportation of the future

School of the future

Home of the future

Workplace of the future

Hospital of the future

Community of the future



The competition will go through three phases: a school, county and national phase. Winners from each school will progress to the county phase, where a panel of judges selected by NBI will decide who will represent their county at the final national phase and be in with a chance to win an ActivPanel. As the connected hub of the modern classroom, the Promethean ActivPanel creates powerful digital learning experiences which are further enhanced through internet access.

Samantha Ecock, Territory Manager - Ireland, from global education technology company, Promethean, will be helping to judge the competition, with the winner currently due to will be announced in May of this year.

Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer of National Broadband Ireland, said: NBI is delighted to have launched the Imagine the Future competition for primary schools in the NBP intervention area, and we are inviting schools from across the country that are in the intervention area of the National Broadband Plan to take part. The aim of the competition is to give young people the opportunity to imagine the endless possibilities and opportunities afforded to them through access to high speed broadband. I would like to thank all of the schools that are taking part in the competition and I wish all of the students the best of luck in their projects.

National Broadband Ireland is actively working across the country to design and build the new high-speed, Fibre-to-the-Home network, which will connect over 1.1 million people and over 554,000 premises in the projects Intervention Area.
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GARDAI are appealing to farmers across Limerick to take measures to deter criminals from targeting their premises.

While thefts and burglaries can occur at farms at any time of the year, official statistics suggest there is an increase at this time of year.

Sergeant Ber Leetch, divisional crime prevention officer, says there are simple things that farmers can do.

"Restrict access to your yard, install gates and fix them to a sturdy concrete or metal posts and keep them locked. Land boundaries if they are either fencing, hedges or walls should be robust, well maintained and checked regularly for breaches," she said.

she said.

Farmers are also being encouraged to consider installing an alarm and CCTV in vulnerable areas and in outhouses on their farms that cannot be seen from the farmhouse.

"Sensor lights are a great deterrent to any trespassers at night," added Sgt Leetch who stressed that trespasser should not be confronted.

"It is important to speak to the people trespassing but do not confront them. You are only asking them if they are OK, maybe they are lost but do not put yourself in any danger. However, note how many there are, their height, age and what

they are wearing. Then leave them, ring your local garda station and report them" said Sgt Leetch.
WILLIE ODea says he is not unduly worried at the prospect of a Sinn Fein government after the next general election.

Fianna Fails standard-bearer in the city has often spoken out against Sinn Fein, and was forced to resign from the Cabinet in 2010 after a libel case which saw him pay 100,000 after wrongly linking Maurice Quinlivan to a brothel.

Mr ODea  who has marked his fourth decade in the Dail  does not believe its a given that the opposition will be the largest party next time out.

It comes despite opinion polls showing a consistent lead for Mary Lou McDonalds charges.

It doesnt worry me unduly, because there is a long way to go until the next election. Things can change very dramatically even at the last minute as they did the last time. Regardless of what Sinn Fein say, there is no way they will implement some of the policies they talk about if they were in government. They would wreck the economy, and they wouldnt want to be facing the electorate having done that.

Mr ODea said while he initially supported Fianna Fails confidence-and-supply deal with Fine Gael after the 2016 election, he feels the party should have left sooner.

There was no economic crisis, at the time. There was no particular reason to delay. Historians will look back on that period, and wonder, what were Fianna Fail at? Why did they jeopardise themselves electorally when there was no compelling reason thats ever been pointed out, he said.

Instead, the 2020 election saw Fianna Fail return only one seat ahead of Sinn Fein, with Mr ODea losing his polltopper crown to Mr Quinlivan. It was a far cry from his 2007 zenith when he had the second highest vote in the country, only behind Brian Cowen.

Then, he had two running mates. Now, he thinks candidate selection should be left until the last minute.

One thing we learnt at the last election was candidate selection too early can do more harm than good. Two strong candidates can cancel each other out, and you both lose a seat. This happened in a number of constituencies, he concluded.
THE saga of a long-derelict site in Limerick's suburbs has taken another twist after An Bord Pleanala rejected plans for a 60m development.

As part of multi-million euro proposals to develop the Parkway Valley lands - idle since 2008- Singaporean investment vehicle Novelty Icav had sought permission to develop a massive residential and commercial development.

In September 2020, Limerick City and County Council approved the scheme, which could have created 150 new construction jobs. Novelty Icav ultimately said its proposed office accommodation could house 1,000 staff.

However, An Bord Pleanala has moved to overturn this verdict following an appeal from Environmental Trust Ireland, and the developer itself.

The project would have featured 245 bedrooms across a range of blocks, varying in height from three to 14 storeys.

Of these, the plans provided for 122 duplex units and 123 apartments. Some 76 one-bed units are planned, 127 two-bed units, and 42 three-bed units.

Four office blocks were planned, over basement parking providing 12,262 square metres.

A 152 bedroom, four storey hotel was also to form part of the mammoth development, alongside a filling station, and a community building which will rise up three-storeys.

This complex would have provided a creche and a multi-use games area, while a public park will also form part of the scheme.

But in its decision, An Bord Pleanala homed in on what it described as "substandard accommodation", pointing out that in particular because the high-rise apartment block would have to have its upper windows sealed to maintain an acceptable internal noise environment.

The board also suggested the developer failed to provide "sufficient active ground floor uses or forms of enlivenment to the proposed provision of an internal road network which would constitute a car dominated layout."

"It's considered that this development would seriously injure the amenities of the prospective occupants of the development, especially future residents and would militate against the provision of a high quality urban design with an attractive pedestrian and green transport environment," its report adds.

While Novelty Icav appealed against the permission on the basis of the development levies it would be liable for, Environmental Trust Ireland - headed by solicitor Michelle Hayes - did so on the basis of feeling the build-to-rent accommodation provided was "not fit for purpose."

The group had raised concerns there had been a lack of meaningful public participation about environmental aspects of the project as well as impact on wildlife in the area. On top of this, there were fears the 14-storey tower would become an eyesore, while residents would be subject to major noise and traffic pollution.

Ms Hayes said: "I have been seeking to draw attention to the serious social policy and housing issues raised by build to rent developments promoted by investor funds as financial assets with high rent yields making home ownership a luxury few can afford. These developments are unsustainable in the long run, condemn people to sub-standard accommodation at enormous rents making them unable to save for a deposit to buy their own home. These developments also distort the existing rental market inflating prices with resulting unaffordability."

Writing on Twitter, Mayor Daniel Butler stated the refusal is "very disappointing".

"Incredibly frustrating to see this derelict site languish on our main city entry point," he added.

The site, beside the Parkway Retail Park has a storied history.

A symbol of Limerick's supposed ambition during the boom years of the 2000s, it was projected to be home to a 100m site including a cinema, shopping centre and even an ice-rink.

However, come the 2008 economic meltdown, activity stopped on site as Liam Carroll's Zoe Group collapsed.

The cranes and concrete shell of the building remained idle in the sky until 2020 when the council ordered the current site owners to clear the site completely.

Between-times, Belfast developer Suneil Sharma - who once planned to open a "shopping mecca" on land off Patrick Street - switched his focus to the Dublin Road site, and sought permission for a new shopping centre.

At its heart would have been Limerick's first branch of Marks and Spencer. However, these plans were rejected due to new policies in place which prevented large-scale retail outside the city's core.

It's unclear what the developer's next move will be.

The Limerick Leader has contacted Novelty Icav for comment.
Cardiac disease remains one of the most common causes of death. In the last decade cardiac pathology has undergone a revolution, particularly in the fields of genetics and imaging. One of the leading experts in the field, is Professor Mary Sheppard of the Department of Cardiovascular Pathology at St George's University of London.

Professor Sheppard, formerly a student at St Catherines Convent in Newcastle West, will next month launch a new book called Practical Cardiac Pathology 3e. The book is a combined atlas and text that is designed to assist pathologists in identifying the range of cardiovascular conditions that are found in both diagnostic and autopsy work.

While born in Cork, Professor Sheppard credits the Limerick Convent with giving her an "excellent all round education"

"I did medicine at University College Cork and went to London after obtaining a Wellcome Fellowship to pursue postgraduate training and an academic career in 1981. I became a hospital consultant in 1986 specialising in lung and heart disease. Since then I have worked both national and internationally, obtaining a Fogharty Fellowship to work at the National Institute of Health in USA in 1996"

The author, who has been Professor and head of Department of Cardiovascular Pathology at St Georges Medical School London since 2010, was made medical alumnus of the year from her old Alma Mater UCC in 2016.

If all of that was not impressive enough, she was made an honorary Professor in University of Copenhagen and Monash University, Melbourne Australia.

Having published several books on heart disease, this latest instalment will be available from March 1, with a book launch at Royal Society of Medicine London on that night.

"My book deals with heart disease which is the biggest killer in the developed world. My research is particularly in sudden cardiac death and its prevention. There has been some tragic cases in West Limerick in the past few years. With a UK Charity called Cardiac Risk in the Young, we have developed a national programme which is now involving family screening and genetic testing funded by the NHS. I am on the Board which is leading this national initiative which families have been campaigning for many years. It would be wonderful to have a similar programme in Ireland." admitted Professor Sheppard.

According to the Journal of Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology - "The book includes numerous color photographs of the highest quality illustrating both macroscopic and histological findings which support the understanding of the reader and can be useful in daily routine forensic practice. It straddles the fields of both clinical cardiac pathology and forensic cardiac pathology and is of value for both groups of experts"

And what of her Limerick roots? "I met a Limerick man, from Feoghanagh, James Long in London and we married in Newcastle West in 1984. We regularly came back to Limerick as both families lived in the area. We have four children all of whom come regularly with us to Limerick. Our eldest son married in Limerick in 2018 and we now have our first grandson born in 2020.

The family also purchased the former Courtney Arms Hotel and rebuilt and developed it as Longcourt House Hotel which opened in 2017, a well established business in the town.

"My classmates from the town and surrounding county from the Convent meet regularly and we are organising the first general reunion of St Catherine Convent at The Hotel on June 4 2022 . All of my teachers are alive and well and we are looking forward to meeting them after many years." Professsor Sheppard concluded.
MANAGEMENT at Rusal Alumina in Aughinish are to hold meetings with government amid economic sanctions set to be imposed on Russia.

The Russian bauxite producer employs 460 staff in West Limerick, with scores of others reliant on the firm for their employment.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces this morning means heavy economic sanctions against the Vladimir Putin government are certain. And this has led to fears of the future of local workers.

Local TD and Minister of State Niall Collins said: "I have spoken to the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste around the importance of Aughinish to Limerick and the Mid-West region, as a very large direct and indirect employer. Aughinish have been in regular contact with the Taoiseach and his office."

He said he has also been in regular dialogue with management of the firm.

"It's important when sanctions are being imposed, that the effect of those sanctions do not impact jobs in Ireland and Limerick," he said, "I know this week, management are meeting the Tanaiste and Trade Minister Leo Varadkar and the Green Party leader Eamon Ryan."

"I've written to them to state how important it is to have support in place for Aughinish, like we have had to do previously when America placed sanctions," Mr Collins added.

Stephen Lavelle of Siptu, which represents the majority of workers in Rusal added: "We are monitoring the situation closely. We do have a good working relationship with management, and if there is any change to the circumstances of our members, we will be looking to engage with them around that."

Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Daniel Butler has expressed his solidarity with the people of Ukraine at what he said is a "very difficult and harrowing time" for them.

Solidarity with the people of #Ukraine in this dark day for democracy.



In particular I want to offer the support of my Mayoral Office to any Ukrainians living in #Limerick pic.twitter.com/UnLTv6zoVJ  Cllr Daniel Butler, Mayor of Limerick (@DanielButlerFG) February 24, 2022

"The reality is starting to hit all of us, that we are looking at the biggest military movement since World War II. We have Ukrainian people living with us in the region, and I'd like to offer them my support and solidarity and the support of my office if there is any assistance needed. I'm sure at the moment, they are busy contacting family members at home to see they are safe," the mayor said.

He added through his office, he can link people up with the Department of Foreign Affairs, acknowledging people are scrambling to access information at the moment.

"Europe needs to take very strong measures, both economic and possibly military against the Russians. This is a very serious event. It could be one of the most serious events in our lifetimes," he warned.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs says it's closely monitoring the situation in the Ukraine with its European Union and other international partners.

"We are advising all Irish citizens currently in Ukraine to shelter in a secure place, given the security situation there. However, citizens should consider leaving Ukraine if they judge it safe to do so, depending on their location and prevailing circumstances," a spokesperson added.

However, airspace over the country has been closed, with overland routes out of the Ukraine seriously disrupted.

The Department has pledged to issue regular updates on the @dfatirl Twitter account as the situation develops.

Information is also available at www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/ukraine/

Any Irish citizen requiring emergency consular assistance should contact a dedicated telephone line, 01-6131700, which has now been set up at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Are you from Limerick and in the Ukraine at the moment? If so, get in touch with us at news@limerickleader.ie.
Randox Grand National hope Enjoy DAllen has been bought by JP McManus but will stay with trainer Ciaran Murphy.

The eight-year-old was third to shock winner Freewheelin Dylan in last seasons Irish National and has run with great credit in two big handicaps this term.

He was third to School Boy Hours in the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas and was not disgraced back over hurdles behind Good Time Jonny at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Its huge for us that we could recommend a horse of this calibre to Mr McManus and that he will stay in training here at Charlestown, said Murphy.

Hes in good order after his latest run over hurdles at Leopardstown and the plan is to keep him fresh and go straight to Aintree.

He ran a cracker in the Paddy Power at Christmas and its now all about getting him to Aintree in good form.

Enjoy DAllen is as low as 12-1 for the Aintree spectacular.
A LOCAL musician who saved up enough money after years of busking on the streets of Limerick has released a brand-new single.

Thomondgate born Chris Ward (22) first picked up a guitar at the age of 13, and after trying out a few one-on-one lessons, decided to teach himself over YouTube.

I was just worried about making mistakes and had a better time learning by myself, he told the Limerick Leader.

By his first summer, practicing endlessly day on day, the Thomond Community College graduate began to perfect his craft and took to the city streets to try his hand at busking.

Setting a time and date to settle the anxiety, Chris was overwhelmed and blown away by the response of people on O Connell Street in Limerick, and even pocketed 13 in his first hour.

Since then the audio engineering and music production student has busked all over Dublin and Galway, but admitted Limerick remains his firm favourite, when taking his tunes to the streets.

I am so grateful to the Limerick community and have even thanked them as part of my new single Colder, which was the result of all those interactions I had with people while busking, he said.

Colder was written in the space of 10 mins before Chris was due to record a different song demo in a studio in Cork, having felt inspired after picking up a brand-new guitar.

It tells the story of a relationship falling apart. Its about the simple degradation and the subtle things such as resentment and water under the bridge, he stated.

Now available on all major streaming platforms, Chris hopes to take his new single to local airwaves and has even been in contact with independent radio stations throughout the world.

I will always remember that this project was put together because of the Limerick people, he said.

Check out Colder and Chris Ward Music here.
LIMERICK rapper Strange Boy performed his song Sorrow on The Tommy Tiernan Show, RTE 1, over the weekend, backed by band members Sean OMeara on guitar, Dermot Sheedy on bodhran, Ted Kelly on banjo, and Conor Crimmins on flute. If you were lucky enough to catch the performance, youll know just how good it was!

Blown away by the posted response to the show, Strange Boy tweeted: Thank you @Tommedian for having me was a pleasure listening to each guest tell their story. Am only delighted to have had the chance to perform my song for you all. Big love to everyone supporting me, yere legends.

The song sorrow features on Strange Boys debut album Holy/Unholy released last year. The album sees the young Caherdavin man combine Hip-Hop and Irish traditional music, old and new cultural influences. It is poetry in motion, powerful and enchanting - like a new age Irish druid. Its rap, and storytelling to the sounds and rhythm of our Celtic heartbeat.

Strange Boy presents his full set of skills in 10 astonishing tracks which detail his personal story, a story that is unique, but relatable for many other young Irish people. The album features guest appearances from fellow Limerick rapper Hazey Haze, Strange Boys brother Sean McNally Kelly, and Grammy-winning star Moya Brennan. The music was composed and produced by Enda Gallery in Kilfenora, Co. Clare during lockdown.

When I was working on this album and when Enda (Gallery) was brewing up the beats for me, I got a sort of anxious feeling like I wasnt going to be able to do the concept we had justice. It was also the worst possible time for me to write an album as there was a lot of suffering going on within my family.

Eventually though, through me being at mental rock bottom, the album revealed itself and the entire thing was writing within a month or two. I wouldnt say Im proud of it, Id say Im proud despite it. Theres nothing honourable or romantic about being in a bad place so Im just glad that this album is finished. Regardless of whoever likes it or doesnt its 100% my experience and theres not much else to it. Just another one in a long line of humans talking about some sh*t that happened. Thats all, said Strange Boy.

WATCH THIS SPACE, and let's celebrate Strange Boy , Limerick!



Use your Cupla Focal this Seachtain na Gaeilge!

Seachtain na Gaeilge returns from March 1-17.

Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia is an international Irish language festival and one of the biggest celebrations of our native language and culture. This year the festival will be celebrating its 120th year as it has been organised by Conradh na Gaeilge since 1902. The 2022 Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia Ambassadors are Cormac O hEadhra, Sene Naopu agus Seaghan O Suilleabhain.

Seaghan O Suilleabhain, better known as The Kerry Cowboy is a TikTok and Instagram influencer. His viral videos celebrate the Irish language and have millions of hits all over the world. Cormac O hEadhra is co-presenter of RTE Radio One's Drivetime (with Sarah Mc Inerney) he says, He said he believes the language will flourish in urban areas but without planning and government investment in the Gaeltacht, those areas are in danger. And Sene Naopu, a native of New Zealand who plays rugby for Ireland's rugby union said she has become passionate about the language since she moved here and understands the importance of keeping a native language alive! For a full list of Seachtain na Gaeilge events visit SNAG.ie! Bigi linn!

TO DO

PAINTCLUB AT HOUSE LIMERICK

Paintclub returns to HOUSE Limerick this Thursday night.

All painting materials provided, and a free drink! For more details follow @houselimerick on social media.

TO LISTEN

PADDY HANNA  NEWYORK SIDEWALK

A beautiful new Irish release to add to your playlist. It sounds like a sunny day!

TO SEE

WILD YOUTH @ DOLANS

Rounding off the success of an impressive string of singles, Irish pop connoisseurs Wild Youth reveal their much-anticipated sophomore EP Forever Girl. This is a gig worth getting to!
Ireland has promised very direct and very hard-hitting sanctions against Russia, after the latest attack on Ukraine.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin condemned the action by Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney told RTE radio: We are not going to go to war with Russia, militarily.

I think the response in terms of sanctions will be very direct and very hard-hitting, and that means that the EU is also going to suffer as a result of those sanctions because undoubtedly therell be counter-sanctions from Russia.

He indicated that it appears the time for diplomacy is now over.

This is an illegal act of aggression by Russia, Mr Coveney said.

They are lying to themselves and lying to the world about their justification for it.

Russia has launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them.Rocket attacks & explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly. @dfatirl  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 24, 2022

Mr Coveney said it is not only an attack on Ukraine, but on the whole of Europe.

It is also in many ways an attack on the kind of Europe we have built together, collectively, since World War Two.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has urged all remaining Irish citizens in Ukraine to seek shelter in a secure place.

It advised citizens not to move around the country in the coming hours and to follow the advice of local authorities.

Mr Coveney said two Irish families are currently in Ukraine for surrogacy services and that Irish officials are working with them.

The minister also confirmed that the Irish diplomatic team in Kyiv have moved to a safe place.

Lets not forget what President Putin has done and said over the last number of hours is not only to start a war with Ukraine through a broad invasion, not just of the regions in the east of Ukraine but the country as a whole.

But hes also warned any country that intervenes and helps Ukraine, he has also threatened them very likely. We are seeing a language that we simply have not seen in many, many decades in Europe of aggression and of potential brutality, Mr Coveney said.

He predicted a united response from the European Union and said that Ireland cannot remain politically neutral on such an issue.

I think you will see extraordinary unity today from the European Union.

Yes, Ireland is a neutral country. Were militarily non-aligned. But we are certainly not neutral on an issue like this, when there is blatant aggression happening on the continent of Europe.

I utterly condemn Russias indefensible attack on the sovereign people of Ukraine. Our first thoughts are with them. We will work with the EU & UN to hold Putin and his regime accountable. Russia will pay a high price for this outrageous act of aggression. We stand with Ukraine.  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 24, 2022

Earlier, the Irish premier tweeted: I utterly condemn Russias indefensible attack on the sovereign people of Ukraine.

Our first thoughts are with them. We will work with the EU & UN to hold Putin and his regime accountable.

Russia will pay a high price for this outrageous act of aggression. We stand with Ukraine, Mr Martin said.

Appearing on RTE radio, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland said the international community needs to be very vocal and very strong now.

Larysa Gerasko said: Im so emotional. Im really shocked. My parents live with 150 kilometres from the northern border of Ukraine and theyre shocked.

We want to believe in the peaceful settlement and that Putin will stop on this point in Ukraine, and return to the roundtable of the negotiations, and all the international community has to be very vocal and very strong now.
Thank you!

As our thanks for being a loyal subscriber, you have been upgraded to our premium service AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE! You'll enjoy AD-FREE access to our site as long as you are a paid subscriber. ENJOY!
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan landed in Moscow late on Wednesday on a two-day visit as Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine on Thursday in what appeared to be the start of war in Europe over Russia's demands for an end to NATO's eastward expansion.

Shortly after Putin spoke in a special televised address on Russian state TV, explosions could be heard in the pre-dawn quiet of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Gunfire rattled near the capital's main airport, the Interfax news agency said.

As a response to Moscow's actions, several Western nations hit Russia with fresh sanctions for its military deployment into parts of eastern Ukraine.

Imran Khan's ill-timed visit, the first such trip by a Pakistani PM in 23 years, aims to push for the construction of a long-delayed, multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline to be built in collaboration with Russian companies.

The Pakistan Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit and discuss issues concerning economic cooperation.

Earlier, Pakistani media reports had said that Moscow and Islamabad were in talks to finalise a plan for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit this year.

A Pakistani newspaper said Putin's visit was under discussion for the last two years but could not materialise because of several reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Moscow also wants that there must be "big-ticket projects" that the Russian president would announce.

Before Imran Khan's departure, a Pakistani geopolitical analyst had pointed out that the visit did not come at a suitable time.

Analyst and Balochistan politician Jan Achakzai noted that Russia didn't seek Pakistan's support, nor did the US stop Pakistan from going to Moscow. He also said that Russia is not going to give Pakistan anything because Moscow losing India for the sake of Islamabad's support is not an option.

The Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Delhi on Wednesday stressed that Imran Khan's visit to Moscow would in no way affect relations between India and Russia.

Addressing an online briefing in New Delhi, he also welcomed India's stand at the Security Council on the ongoing developments in Ukraine.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
World leaders today reacted strongly to Russian President Vladimir Putin launching military operations in Ukraine . In a special televised address, Putin announced a "special military operation in Ukraine".

Here is how the world leaders reacted to Russia declaring war on Ukraine:

US President Joe Biden

"The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces," the US president said. "The world will hold Russia accountable," he declared.

UN chief Antonio Guterres

Guterres made a direct and personal plea to Russian President Vladimir Putin after an emergency Security Council session, urging him to stop the attack "in the name of humanity."

"In the name of humanity, do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century," he said.

NATO head Jens Stoltenberg

The attack "puts at risk countless civilian lives," Stoltenberg said in a statement, describing it as a "grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

"I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President (Volodymyr) Zelensky to discuss next steps," the British leader tweeted.

EU chiefs

"In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives," European Union chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel said on Twitter. "We will hold the Kremlin accountable."

Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Russia faced "unprecedented isolation" and would be hit with the "harshest sanctions" the EU has ever imposed.

"This is not a question of blocs. This is not a question of diplomatic power games. It's a matter of life and death. It is about the future of our global community," he said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

The German leader lashed out at an "unscrupulous act" by Putin and spoke to Zelensky to express his country's "full solidarity."

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned the world "will not forget this day of shame."

"This attack will have severe political and economic consequences for Russia," Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said.

French President Emmanuel Macron

"Russia must immediately put an end to its military operations," Macron wrote on Twitter, saying Russia had made the decision to "wage war" on Ukraine.

"France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands by Ukrainians and is working with its partners and allies to end the war," he added.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

"These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of Russia's obligations under international law and the Charter of the UN," Trudeau said in a statement.

China

"China is closely watching the latest situation, and we call on all parties to maintain restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing.

-With agency inputs




BY DREW HINSHAW | UPDATED FEB 24, 2022 07:46 AM EST

Jens Stoltenberg says It will be a new Europe after invasion that has given alliance a new unity of purpose

NATOs chief called Russias attack on Ukraine a brutal act of war" and said he would convene a summit of alliance leaders Friday following an activation of alliance defense plans.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described Russias assault as a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion" that represents a blatant violation of international law."

He said leaders of NATOs 30 member countries would gather virtually on Friday to discuss the way forward following Russias military assault. NATO partners Finland and Sweden will join the summit, as will European Union leaders, he said.

Mr. Stoltenberg said NATO on Thursday activated its defense plans, a previously established set of guidelines that give military commanders additional authority to deploy forces where needed, within specified limits, and enables the alliance to move forces more quickly.

Mr. Stoltenberg said the activation was designed to ensure that the conflict in Ukraine doesnt spill into NATO countries. About one-third of NATO countries share a land border with Russia or its close ally Belarus, or face Russia across the Black Sea.

The NATO chief declined to say if the alliance had ever previously activated such defense plans.

Russias attack on Ukraine, which since 2008 has had an invitation to potentially join NATO, has breathed new life into the alliance. Created in the ashes of World War II to square off with Moscow, the U.S.-led military grouping has since the Cold Wars end in 1991 struggled for a clear mission.

Now members have rallied around a shared assessment that after a quarter-century of relative peace, Europes security can no longer be taken for granted.

There will be a new reality," Mr. Stoltenberg said. It will be a new Europe after the invasion we saw today."

In response to Moscows recently increasing aggression toward Ukraine, the U.S. and allies have already been beefing up their military presence in NATO countries near Russia. Mr. Stoltenberg said those efforts would now increase.

The support means that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has justified his campaign against Ukraine partly as a response to NATOs encroachment of Russias borders, faces an escalation of allied forces next to Belarus, which Russia is slowly subsuming, and Ukraine, which it now aims to dominate.

Its ironic that what Putin didnt want to see is a stronger NATO on his flank," said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit to Poland last week. And thats exactly what he will see going forward."

Spanish and French warships are cycling through the Black Sea. A flow of new arms sales is under way, with Washington selling sophisticated Abrams tanks and F-35 jet fighters to Poland and giving allies in Eastern Europe the green light to sell U.S.-made Javelin antitank missiles to Ukraine.

Just months ago, the alliance was stung by a chaotic defeat in Afghanistan, having spent 20 years trying to rout the Taliban and build up the Afghan army. NATO was mulling a jumbled set of priorities, from combating Islamist terrorists to containing Chinas rise, while a fringe of right-wing and Moscow-friendly leaders from Hungary or the Czech Republic pushed for the alliance to tackle illegal migration.

For now, those voices have been drowned out, as NATO focuses squarely on the risk of conflict spilling over from the war on its doorstep. Talk of the alliance playing a greater role assisting Americas rivalry with Beijing has been put on holda point of frustration for Washington, where officials have lamented the time and attention spent shoring up the security of Europe, instead of enlisting the blocs help against China.

France, whose President Emmanuel Macron once pushed for a true, European army" that could fight with or without U.S. help, has softened that rhetoric.

All the same, NATOs renewed unity could prove short-lived, if the conflict ends quicklyor runs long enough to inflict painful disruptions to the Russian gas that Europe depends on. In Central Europe, suspicion runs deep that Western allies dont have the stomach for a long struggle against Russia, especially if it hits consumers gas bills.

In a poll published this month, only 35% of Germans deemed defending Ukraines sovereignty worth the risk of an economic downturn; 38% considered it wasnt worth the risk, according to the European Council on Foreign Relations, which conducted the survey. In France, just 31% of people felt it was worth the risk, with 41% opposed.

For years, successive U.S. administrations fretted that Washingtons biggest allies in Europe had grown complacent over 30 years since the Cold Wars end, reluctant to spend on their own defense and accustomed to life under the U.S. security umbrella. European allies doubted whether NATO had a clear and relevant purpose.

What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO," Mr. Macron said in a 2019 interview.

European leaders had been frustrated with Washington after last years retreat from Afghanistan, which came nearly two decades after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that prompted the first and only use of NATOs collective-defense clause. NATOs 2011 air campaign that helped topple Libyas Moammar Gadhafi set off a refugee crisis that energized nationalist leaders in Europe who have been persistent gadflies for NATOfrom French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Washington and Berlin had been at odds over Germanys reluctance to raise military spending, cut imports of Russian natural gas and join the U.S.s hardening stance on China.

For the moment, the conflict in Ukraine buries those disagreements and offers a chance to find common cause.

Germany has halted Nord Stream 2, its gas pipeline with Russiaand military spending across the alliance is rising. The invasion of Ukraine is likely to accelerate that trend. Hawkish views on Russia, once concentrated in Europes east, have gained ground in Berlin and Paris.

The military confrontation changes things in a pretty fundamental way," said Ivo Daalder, U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2009 to 2013. I think its the wake-up call that war is not just something that happens far away but its something that happens in our neighborhood."

Mr. Daalder predicted that NATO members would rally behind efforts to cut European reliance on Russian gas. I bet that Nord Stream 2 will never have Russian gas flowing through it," he said.

That said, the alliance, which does much of its work through decisions that require unanimity, still has marginal leaders who have tried to thwart NATOs support for Ukraine, such as Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, who has demanded Croatia remain apart from any conflict with Russia.

NATOs Mr. Stoltenberg is set to leave this year, with no clear candidate primed to succeed him. Frances Mr. Macron faces presidential elections this spring, potentially influencing his stance in the alliance. Next year, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who has made his country a more active member of the alliance, is set to leave office, creating uncertainty around Italys posture.

The longer the war drags on, with attendant sanctions and potential disruptions of trade and energy flows, the deeper that toll on Europes economy will be, said Kristi Raik, director of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute.

As the situation grows worse, the question becomes more difficult for European societies, in terms of how far we are willing to go in supporting Ukraine, especially as it means more costs for ourselves," she said. We dont know how enduring this unity is. If things get really ugly and violent there will be costs for European societies for pushing back on Russia."
NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which was formed in 1949 in the aftermath of World War II and at the outset of the Cold War .

After the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, Germany was occupied by the victorious Allied powers, inclduing the U.S., U.K., France and the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union blocked Allied access to parts of Berlin in 1948, Germany was split into two separate nations: the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. The U.S., Canada and ten European nations responded by signing the North Atlantic Treaty, in response to the perceived threat from the Soviet Union.

Article 5 of the treaty states that NATO members will respond collectively to an attack against any other member. "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all," it reads, according to the official NATO website. Participating countries are not obligated to respond with military force, but can choose to support other members with political, economic or other forms of aid.

August 29, 1949, President Harry S. Truman (1884 - 1972) signing the North Atlantic Treaty which marked the beginning of NATO (Image credit: Getty Images / MPI)

NATO's mission

"NATO's essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means," the Brussels-based group's website states.

But the group's embrace of military action is unambiguous: "If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military capacity needed to undertake crisis-management operations."

NATO has also expressed a commitment to "democratic values" and the sharing of resources that will enhance the defense and security of member nations by preventing conflict, according to the U.S. Mission to NATO .

NATO members

There are currently 30 member states in NATO. The 12 original members from 1949 are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.

According to the organization's website, any European state is able to join the group, providing it further the "principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.

In 2004, one year after NATO took command of the coalition of nations fighting in Afghanistan, another set of countries joined: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. In 2009, Albania and Croatia gained membership.

French soldiers take part in a major drill as part of NATO's "enhanced forward presence" (EFP) deployment in Poland and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. (Image credit: Getty Images / Alain Jocard)

Besides its member nations, NATO has strategic partnerships with other countries through its "Membership Action Plan," which offers assistance and advice to nations seeking membership in NATO. Four countries are currently trying to join NATO through those plans: Georgia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Macedonian Republic.

The 30 member states are (with the year they joined).

Belgium (1949)

Canada (1949)

Denmark (1949)

France (1949)

Iceland (1949)

Italy (1949)

Luxembourg (1949)

Netherlands (1949)

Norway (1949)

Portugal (1949)

The United Kingdom (1949)

The United States (1949)

Greece (1952)

Turkey (1952)

Germany (1955)

Spain (1982)

Czech Republic (1999)

Hungary (1999)

Poland (1999)

Bulgaria (2004)

Estonia (2004)

Latvia (2004)

Lithuania (2004)

Romania (2004)

Slovakia (2004)

Slovenia (2004)

Albania (2009)

Croatia (2009)

Montenegro (2017)

North Macedonia (2020)

In 2006 it was agreed that each member state commit 2 per cent of their GDP to defense spending, in order to uphold their treaty obligations towards one another in the event one is attacked. However, very few member states have met this spending level, while the U.S. spends as much as 3.6 per cent on defence, according to Time Magazine .

NATO organization

The member nations of NATO are represented by a delegation, each with one presiding "permanent representative" who is generally a seasoned diplomat or military officer. These representatives form the North Atlantic Council, the primary administrative body within NATO.

The chair of the North Atlantic Council and the overall director of NATO is the Secretary General, who is appointed by consensus of NATO members. The Secretary General usually serves a term of four years, though that term may be extended.

The leader of NATO's military operations is the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, who has typically been an American military leader (the Secretary General has typically been a European).

The current NATO Secretary General is Jens Stoltenberg, the former prime minister of Norway and UN Special Envoy, according to the official NATO website.

NATO action

In the years following the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, NATO's mission has shifted somewhat in response.

In the Balkan conflicts that occurred in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s, NATO troops performed their first wartime actions, which included shooting down Bosnian aircraft, bombing campaigns and other airstrikes. NATO forces still maintain a presence of around 3,500 troops in Kosovo.

There was also a NATO response to the Iraqi invasion of neighboring Kuwait in 1991, which triggered the first Gulf War. However this mission, named Operation Anchor Guard, was largely to observe and help support any offensive against member state Turkey.

A U.S. soldier of the NATO peace implementation force (IFOR) stands guard on top of his Bradley fighting vehicle on Jan. 1, 1996 near the northern Bosnian city of Srebrenik. (Image credit: Getty Images / Odd Andersen)

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, NATO troops were called into action to fulfill the group's charter. In 2003, NATO assumed control of military operations in the anti-terrorist occupation of Afghanistan, leading the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) until Jan 1, 2015.

NATO forces have also been active in anti-piracy efforts off the east coast of Africa, and in the 2011 civil war in Libya.

After the annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea by Russia, NATO played a role in managing the diplomatic crisis. Alhough neither Russia nor Ukraine are members of NATO, Russia's president Vladimir Putin did express an interest in joining the alliance, the Guardian reported. The prospect of Ukraine joining the alliance is strongly opposed by Russia, has been cited as a major cause of the crisis in February 2022, which threatened to begin a war between the two nations, according to the New York Times.

Additional reading

The U.S. Office of the Historian has a thorough history of NATO, while the non-profit institution Brookings has a in-depth article on NATO's role in the Bosnian conflict, written by Ivo H. Daalder, a former U.S. Ambassador to NATO.
A man fired shots at a young male believing he was the one who had tried to burglarize his vehicle in the Lakeside Subdivision, according to Laredo police.

Juan Abel Rodriguez, 43, was recently served with an arrest warrant charging him with deadly conduct, discharge of a firearm. Webb County Jail records show he is out on bond.

The case dates back to Jan. 17. At about 12:08 a.m., a woman called police saying that someone had shot at her 19-year-old son in the Lakeside Subdivision. The 19-year-old stated he was alone in his white 2012 Toyota Tacoma when the incident occurred. He stated he was driving home from his girlfriends house in the 300 block of Emerald Lake when he stopped on the side of the road to change the song on his cellphone.

Then, a white sport utility vehicle parked in front of him. A woman exited the passenger seat and began walking toward the complainants vehicle. Not knowing who she was, the complainant drove around her and proceeded toward Bob Bullock Loop. As the complainant passed up the SUV, the driver fired two shots at the Tacoma. Police said the Tacoma had two bullet holes near the passenger side door. A bullet fragment was recovered from the Tacoma, states an arrest affidavit.

Prior to the incident, authorities discovered that the Tacoma had been reported as a suspicious vehicle at about 11:35 p.m. The caller was a woman from the 300 block of Lake Powell. She stated that two juveniles were prowling in their driveway and appeared to be ready to burglarize their vehicles. But the supposed suspects fled after they were seen. Police met with the woman and her husband, who was identified as Rodriguez.

They stated that while driving around looking for the supposed prowlers, they came across a male in a white pickup. When the woman exited the vehicle to make contact with the male, he drove away quickly. She added that the driver looked like he had just been caught doing something illegal and was now trying to flee, states the affidavit. Thats why the woman and Rodriguez believed the driver was linked to the alleged burglars. They took a picture of the vehicles license plate before it fled.

Police discovered the plates belonged to the complainants Tacoma. Rodriguez told police he carries a handgun for protection but denied shooting at the Tacoma. Rodriguez and his wife voluntarily handed over a black semi automatic 9mm Taurus. The wife also denied that Rodriguez shot at the Tacoma. She added that they were simply trying to investigate their burglary and question the driver, states the affidavit.

Meanwhile, the complainant denied being in the area of Lake Powell, where the supposed attempted burglary had occurred. During the course of the investigation, police would confirm that he was not involved in the illicit activity alleged by Rodriguez and his wife.
Courtesy /Overland Partners

In strategic meetings during late 2021 with United States Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, U.S. Consul General for Nuevo Laredo Deanna Kim, and Mexico Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma, and political and business leaders from the South Texas region and Mexican state of Tamaulipas, members sought ideas that would positively impact local economies, stimulate trade, and enhance tourism, while also celebrating the symbiotic relationship between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo and the river they share. Together, they developed the idea of a binational border park along the banks of the United States side of the Rio Grande River, and the Mexican side of the Rio Bravo.

Overland Partners with local associate Able City, were unanimously chosen by Laredo City Council and members of the Binational Working Group, a public-private consortium, to conceptualize this binational river park project. On February 18, a site plan for the 6.3-mile tract, aerial renderings, and eye level perspectives for a one-mile developed stretch was presented to the Mayors and city leadership of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, the Governor of Tamaulipas, United States Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, U.S. Consul General for Nuevo Laredo Deanna Kim, along with the Binational Working Group and community and business leaders.
Etilaat--e-Rooz (translated by RAWA), February 20, 2022

The Taliban's Ministry of Guidance, Hajj and Endowments has banned "establishment of educational circles in residential houses" by literacy institutes and banned adult women from teaching in "religious schools located in mosques."

The Taliban Ministry of Guidance, Hajj and Endowments recently announced this in a letter to a number of literacy institutes in Kabul and the provinces. The letter also emphasizes that girls and boys can not study in a mixed class.

The ministry has also banned teaching of "adult girls" by male teachers and adult boys by female teachers.

On the other hand, the letter of the Ministry of Guidance, Hajj and Endowments of the Taliban emphasizes that male delegations can not visit female schools and female delegations can not visit male schools.

In another letter, the ministry called on literacy and charitable organizations to refrain from distributing aid without consulting and involving the Taliban.

However, officials at literacy and philanthropic institutions say the move by the Taliban has posed serious challenges to their activities.

The director of one of the institutions told the daily Etilaat-e-Rooz that the Taliban consider girls over the age of eight to be adults, and that the group will ban girls from education under the group's orders to ban male teachers from teaching adult women.

He added that in most of the areas supported by the literacy institute, there are vital literacy classes in residential houses, and the Taliban's orders are blocking these classes.

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, girls above the sixth grade were barred from attending school. Also, public universities were not open to male and female students, and female employees were housed in government offices.

The Taliban's restrictions on girls' education and women's work have sparked widespread protests.

The Taliban have also imposed restrictions on women's social freedoms; Among other things, they must observe the hijab, and they must also accompany the "religious Muharram" on long journeys.
United ISD announced they are continuing with remote instruction until further notice due to the ongoing water outage. Because of the City of Laredos uncertainty on the timeline as to when water service will be restored to affected areas, UISD has no concrete answers for reopening campuses at the moment, they stated.

The 22 schools affected by the water outage and will remain with online instruction are Freedom Elementary, Zaffirini Elementary, Cuellar Elementary, Bonnie Garcia Elementary, Killam Elementary, Ruiz Elementary, Salinas Elementary, Perez Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Veterans Memorial Elementary, Prada Elementary, Arndt Elementary, Centeno Elementary, Gonzalez Middle, Perales Middle, United South Middle, Los Obispos Middle School, Lamar Bruni Vergara Middle School, United South High School, United South 9th Grade Campus, Lyndon B. Johnson High School, and Lyndon B. Johnson 9th Grade Campus.

Grab and Go meals are still being offered at all affected UISD campuses. The District announced they will deploy its fleet of WiFi buses to provide internet services to students in outlying areas. These buses will be at the same locations where they were previously stationed during the school closures for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The District does not take this decision lightly, as we have done our utmost to provide learning through these trying years while seeing to the wellbeing and safety of our students and employees. UISD stated, Unfortunately, the current situation, with the Citys broken water lines and no clear timetable of when repairs will be complete and if the water will be safe to use, leaves us with no other alternative.

Superintendent of Schools Mr. David H. Gonzalez is scheduled to address the community later today in a video statement posted through social media.

Laredo ISD informed they will continue with remote instruction for Thursday February 24. Students must prepare for remote instruction if they attend Milton, Ryan, Ligarde, Zachary, Kawas, Santo Nino, Heights, Tarver, and Gallego Elementary Schools; Cigarroa, Memorial, and Lamar Middle Schools; Nixon and Cigarroa High Schools; and Lara Academy and Trevino Magnet School.

Grab and Go Breakfast and Lunch meals can be picked up at these campuses from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Lara Academy can pick up their meals at Nixon High School or Trevino Magnet School.

"The District will continue monitoring all schools regarding this situation and notify parents of any other changes in our schedules. All remaining Laredo ISD schools will be open for in-person instruction tomorrow." They informed.
(CNN) -- US President Joe Biden condemned an "unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" in a statement Wednesday evening following explosions in Ukraine.

Putin announces a military operation in the Donbas region of Ukraine Putin urged Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms and go home, saying all responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the Ukrainian government.

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said. "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable."

Shortly before explosions began in Ukraine, Russian President Vladmir Putin called for Ukraine's "demilitarization" in televised remarks announcing a military operation.

Biden said that he planned to speak to the American people on Thursday and would announce "further consequences" that the US and its allies planned to impose on Russia over "this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security."

"We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance," Biden said.

This story is breaking and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire

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President Biden speaks during a virtual event on mineral supply chains in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.
South Africa: Cabinet welcomes 2022 Budget Speech

Cabinet has welcomed the 2022 National Budget tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, saying it demonstrates governments commitment to fiscal discipline.

The budget demonstrates governments commitment to fiscal discipline and consistent economic management, and its cherished objective of funding critical priorities that provide socio-economic support to vulnerable South Africans, Cabient said on a statement on Thursday.

The budget, the executive said, put some flesh to the commitments made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered on 10 February.

Godongwana tabled the budget in the Good Hope Chamber, Parliament, on Wednesday.

Cabinet said the far-reaching interventions announced in the budget are geared towards creating a conducive environment for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Meanwhile, Cluster Ministers will be holding post-SONA media briefings to elaborate on governments Programme of Action for the year ahead and beyond, as outlined by President Ramaphosa in SONA.

These media briefings highlight governments commitment to implement the priorities aimed at improving the lives of the people by, among other things, creating favourable conditions to create much-needed jobs, Cabinet said.

Later this afternoon, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) will host a media briefing of the Social Protection, Community and Human Development Cluster.

Ministries in this cluster include Transport, Higher Education and Training, Health, Basic Education, Labour and Social Development, among others.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Construction on the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project has proceeded at full capacity so that it can open to navigation at the end of December, the builders said.

The project which diverts water from the Yangtze River in the south of the province to the Huaihe River in the north is designed to improve urban and rural water supply, develop the shipping industry, irrigate farmland and better the ecological environment of Chaohu Lake and the Huaihe River.

"The land of Anhui province rises from south to north, so we need the help of hubs along the route to move water from the Yangtze River to the Huaihe River in the north," said Hong Houbing, who works with the Hefei Office of Construction Management of the project.

Eight hubs have been built, some of which will lift the water from the Yangtze River and let it climb mountains before reaching the destination, according to Hong.

At Shushan Hub, located in Hefei, capital of Anhui, the Yangtze River water will be lifted by 12.7 meters, Hong said.

Navigation locks will also play an important role upon completion. They function as elevators for passing ships.

The lock at Shushan Hub is 280 meters long, 23 meters wide and 5.2 meters deep. It will make free passage of four 1,000-ton or three 2,000-ton cargo ships at a time, Hong said.

The project is one of the 172 major water conservancy projects announced by the State Council, Chinas cabinet.




Etilaat-e-Rooz (translated by RAWA), February 23, 2022

On Monday night, Feb.21,2022, Taliban forces opened fire on a vehicles carrying three people in the Bakrabad area in central Herat city. Mahboob Shah, a former Herat police officer, was killed by Taliban insurgents along with two civilians. The Taliban displayed their bodies in several parts of Herat city.

Photographs of the incident on social media show that the Taliban have dealt harshly with them. In one photo, the brain of victim was pulled out of his head, and then the Taliban hung his body from a crane in a part of Herat city.

After firing on the three men, Taliban fighters told locals that they intended to kidnap a gold trader, and that is why they prevented the kidnapping. But the Taliban did not provide any information about the gold trader or how the accused tried to kidnap him.

Taliban fighters think by firing directly on suspects, hanging them and displaying their bodies in the city want to give a lesson to others.

Shoot the former officer

Mahbubshah is one of the former government police officers. A relative of hers told the daily Etilaat-e-Rooz that Mahboubshah had graduated from a six-month criminal course in the Turkish city of Sivas. "He has never kidnapped."

Mahbubshah was a trained police officer in the former government and served as the Ghorian police supply chief during the Taliban's takeover of Herat districts.

One of Mahbubshah's aides told the daily Etilaat-e-Rooz that Mahbubshah had special skills in supplying supplies in difficult war zones and was performing his duties "properly" as a police officer in the police command.

Mahbub Shah was engaged to a woman before the fall of the government and planned to get married soon. He was a law and political science student at a private university in Herat.

The identities of the two killed by the Taliban are unknown, but popular sources told the daily that the two were civilians and had not served in the former government.

The Taliban are thought to have asked the families of the three not to be interviewed by the media.

Field Court

Earlier this month, the Taliban hanged the bodies of four people for the first time this year on charges of kidnapping in crowded parts of Herat city, and since then the bodies of several people accused of kidnapping have been displayed in Herat.

However, some residents of Herat believe that such actions have not been effective in curbing kidnapping and have caused more panic among the people.

Mohammad Osman is 35 years old and criticizes the Taliban for firing on people accused of kidnapping. "Anyone who kills the Taliban is said to have been a kidnapper," he told the daily Etilaat-e-Rooz. Accused people should not be killed like this. "If anyone kidnaps, they should be arrested and brought to justice."

He urges the Taliban to prevent field trials from taking place.
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Man who sued for $5 billion over 1998 criminal case back to try again
Tipperary comedy duo and new 2FM radio presenters, the 2 Johnnies, have been forced to apologise after being called out for 'sexist' material on their separate podcast and social media channels.

Johnny McMahon and Johnny O'Brien issued the apology after Holly Cairns TD claimed some of their content was "virulently sexist."

Longford man forced to quit job over housing crisis A struggling Longford man has been forced to quit his job because his income narrowly exceeds the levels required to qualify for State housing supports, a meeting of Longford County Council was told last Wednesday.

The Social Democrats Deputy was quoted in Thursday's Irish Independent to condemn the inclusion of sexist slogans from car stickers which were included in teaser clips for the duo's new RTE 2FM show, Drive It, which started this week.

The video has since been deleted but made reference to slogans the pair shared with the thousands of listeners to their separate podcast series. The comments or content was not aired at any stage on 2FM.

In a recent podcast episode, they jokingly read the slogans, which included, Workin the land and droppin* the hand; Tyres are like women, no good unless they are squealing and Shes not a princess, shes a sl*t." The pictures of the stickers were sent to the 2 Johnnies podcast before being read aloud and shared by Johnny Smacks and Johnny B.

Sexist comments, in which women are objectified and demeaned, are incredibly insidious and contribute to a toxic culture in which women feel unsafe. Dressing these remarks up as banter or jokes does nothing to dull their damaging impact, Deputy Cairns remarked.

In response on Thursday afternoon, they released an apology via social media. Laura Fox is filling in for their 2FM slot on Thursday from 3pm to 6pm. It was due to be their fourth show since launching on Monday. 2FM bosses are understood to be "reviewing the matter."

A number of their followers on Facebook responded in support for the comic duo.

One said: "It's not your opinions of women it's just a few stickers! Half of your fanbase is women and if they were offended they wouldnt still be listening!"

Another female user also appeared to make light of the controversy: "Why would you apologise. Jesus who could be offended by laughing at bumper stickers. Madness! Some of the funniest content Ive seen, to be honest. Dont worry about the snowflakes."

The 2 Johnnies podcast is the most listened to in the country and 2FM bosses have said they brought them onboard for their "incredible chemistry and content." They have also featured in a number of shows on RTE television, including a series in America last year.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Central Statistics Office (CSO) analysis of deaths website RIP.ie revealed the mortality trends associated with Covid-19 in real-time.

The experimental analysis on Measuring Mortality Using Public Data Sources looks at the period from October 2019 up to the end of December 2021 using death notices placed on the website www.RIP.ie to monitor trends in mortality in Ireland.

Longford man forced to quit job over housing crisis A struggling Longford man has been forced to quit his job because his income narrowly exceeds the levels required to qualify for State housing supports, a meeting of Longford County Council was told last Wednesday.

Based on the analysis of thousands of death notices, the total excess mortality for 2020 and 2021 in Ireland is estimated at 3,533. This is the number of death notices above and beyond normal circumstances.

The monthly analysis of excess mortality shows two significant peaks: in April 2020 (39% above average) and January/February 2021 (21% and 18% above average).

A less pronounced, but extended excess, was observed between July and November 2021, ranging between 10% and 16% above average before falling to 5% in December.

Commenting on the results, Statistician, Rob Kelly, said: "Since the end of March 2020, the CSO has been using the website RIP.ie to keep track of death notices. Death notices as far back as 01 October 2019 were analysed, to include the last month before the first global cases of COVID-19 were notified. The analysis has now been updated to end of December 2021 providing two full calendar years for analysis (2020 and 2021). The Death Events Publishing Service (DEPS) of the General Register Office (GRO) has been monitored in tandem, to validate the volumes of death notices published.

"Due to the Irish custom of holding funerals within two to three days following death, these notices are usually placed in a fast and efficient manner, providing a valuable crowd-sourced means of tracking deaths. The notices are placed close to 'real time'. We found that the average length of time between date of death and publication is about 1.1 days. In comparison, the statutory time limit for the registrations of deaths in the State is three months."

He continued: "The analysis conducted for October 2019 to December 2021 shows some important trends. Most notable are the increases in death notices in April 2020 and in January and February 2021 when compared to recent years. The number of death notices increased to 3,528 in April 2020 from 2,881 in March 2020.

"In comparison, the average number of deaths for April for the years 2016 - 2019 was 2,536, according to official month of occurrence mortality statistics as measured by the CSO. A total of 3,965 and 3,178 death notices were recorded in January and February 2021 respectively while the average number of deaths was 3,286 for January and 2,685 for February for the years 2016-2019 (again according to the official month of occurrence mortality statistics)."

The CSO conducted further analysis of death notices to provide estimates for excess mortality.

"This assumes that, in the absence of COVID-19 deaths, mortality would have been similar to the average as measured over previous years (2016 to 2019). Analysis of more than 75,000 death notices for the period January 2020 - December 2021 provides an estimate for excess mortality of 3,533," Rob Kelly concluded.
A pony with severely overgrown hooves was cared for at the ISPCAs National Animal Centre in Longford with a midlands man since pleading guilty in court to animal cruelty.

Eugene Cleary with an address at Derrinclare, Shinrone, Co Offaly pleaded guilty to animal cruelty at Nenagh District Court on February 10.

He was fined 1,000 and ordered to pay 750 in costs.

The case originated in January 2021, when a black pony was seized with severely overgrown hooves from a field near Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary.

The pony, named Nash by rescuers, was transported to the ISPCAs National Animal Centre in Longford for urgent farrier treatment and a veterinary examination.

Enquiries by ISPCA Animal Inspector Emma Carroll identified Mr Cleary as the owner but he initially claimed that he had never seen the pony before. The following day, the defendant admitted ownership of the pony. He claimed that he had a farrier tend the ponys hooves every six months but, there had been a delay due to Covid and his farrier being ill.

X-ray results confirmed that Nash had chronic laminitic changes but, in ISPCA care, he received regular farrier treatment and made an excellent recovery. He is now enjoying life in his new home.

Chief Inspector Conor Dowling said, it is sad and unacceptable that Nash had to suffer needlessly due to the lack of basic equine knowledge and understanding of his owners. Thanks to a vigilant member of the public for contacting the ISPCA to highlight this issue, we were able to alleviate his pain and prevent further suffering. Nash now has a far better quality of life in his new home where he is loved and cared for.

Regular hoof trimming by a qualified farrier is recommended every six to eight weeks, which would identify any issues and correct hoof problems.

Irish Water slammed as raw sewage seeps from manholes in Longford estate Irish Water have been branded a "disgrace" and "not fit for purpose" following revelations raw sewage is seeping from manholes in a Longford housing estate out onto a main road.

If you suspect that an animal is suffering from cruelty, neglect or abuse, please report your concerns in confidence to the ISPCA on 0818 515 515, email helpline@ispca.ie or report online here.

The ISPCA relies on public donations to continue our vital work rescuing, rehabilitating and responsibly rehoming hundreds of vulnerable animals that desperately need our help.

If you would like to help the ISPCA continue this vital work, rescuing Irelands most vulnerable animals, please if you can, make a kind donation here to help the animals that are suffering now.
This coming Friday, 25 February has been designated as a national day to celebrate reading and to encourage everyone, young and old, to pledge to take some time to relax and experience the pleasure, joy and enlightenment you can get from reading.

The aim is to celebrate reading and all the benefits it can have for wellbeing and enjoyment.

Many have found that books are a great source of inspiration and means of escape, especially during the pandemic. Readers can travel to exciting places and have some wonderful adventures, all while sitting at home in the comfort of an armchair.

Libraries all over Ireland have teamed up with publishers, booksellers, authors, book clubs and others for the campaign which is part of the government Healthy Ireland programme. A number of well-known campaign ambassadors are on board to help promote the campaign, including Marian Keyes, Joe Duffy, Colm Toibin, Rick OShea, Liz Nugent and more. Find out what reading means to them and why they support the campaign at www.irelandreads.ie.

Libraries throughout Longford are taking part in Ireland Reads, on Friday, 25 February 2022. Drop into your local library in Longford, Ballymahon, Lanesboro, Granard, Edgeworthstown or Drumlish and the library staff will be delighted to talk to you about reading or give you some help in choosing a book. Throughout the day there will be storytelling, quizzes and displays of top authors for children in branches.

A poetry reading for adults with highly acclaimed and well-known Edgeworthstown poet Dr Philip Brady will take place in the new Edgeworthstown Community Library at 3pm.

At 5.30pm, Longford Library will host the launch of Longford Memories: a book of interviews and photographs with thirty older Longford people which was compiled by photojournalist Brian Farrell last year. The book will be launched by Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Peggy Nolan.

Cllr Nolan said, I am really looking forward to meeting all of those inspiring people who were interviewed and photographed for the book on Ireland Reads Day. This book is a great read and I know it has already been read and enjoyed by Longford people all over the world.

Chief Executive of Longford County Council Paddy Mahon said, Ireland Reads day is a wonderful opportunity for people to visit their local libraries and experience the service first hand, hopefully picking up a new reading habit along the way.

Coordinator of Ireland Reads in Longford Fiona Cooney said, We would like to encourage as many people in Longford as possible to sign up and take the pledge to read, by logging on to www.irelandreads.ie.

You can set yourself a challenge by deciding how much time you want to read, enter your favourite type of book and get some good book recommendations.

There are more than 1,500 recommendations from librarians all around the country for all interests and reading levels.

Why not drop into your local library to find out about all thats happening for Ireland Reads on Friday, 25 February or log onto www.irelandreads.ie to take the pledge to squeeze in a read.
Ireland has branded the Russian military assault on Ukraine as a murderous act of aggression.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said a strong response was needed from the international community.

Irish Water slammed as raw sewage seeps from manholes in Longford estate Irish Water have been branded a "disgrace" and "not fit for purpose" following revelations raw sewage is seeping from manholes in a Longford housing estate out onto a main road.

Mr Coveneys comment come as the Department of Foreign Affairs urged all remaining Irish citizens in Ukraine to seek shelter in a secure place.

It advised citizens not to move around the country in the coming hours and to follow the advice of local authorities.

Russia has launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them.Rocket attacks & explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly. @dfatirl  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 24, 2022

Mr Coveney said Irelands diplomatic team in Kyiv had moved to a safe place.

In a series of tweets on Thursday morning, the minister said: Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them.

Rocket attacks & explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly.

Our thoughts & prayers are with the innocent people of Ukraine, as families wake up to shocking Russian attacks.

Russian leaders are lying to their own people to justify this illegal aggression. We utterly condemn Russia for this act of unjustifiable war in the heart of Europe.

He added: Our diplomatic team in Kyiv has moved to a safe place and we stay in close contact with them. We are working with EU colleagues to ensure their safety.

At the emergency UN Security Council meeting Ireland condemned the decision of Russia to launch a military operation and called on UNSC members to assume their responsibility and to speak out in the strongest possible terms about this act of aggression.
The Irish Foreign Ministry has issued "urgent" consular advice regarding the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, all Irish citizens currently present in Ukraine are being advised to shelter in a secure place.

The call comes following military action taken by Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who this morning (Thursday February 24) televised an address as attacks began in Ukraine.

President Putin warned other countries against any attempt to interfere, stating it would lead to "consequences you have never seen in history".

In a statement, the Irish Foreign Ministry said, "Do not move around the country in the coming hours. Please follow the advice of local authorities."

 Urgent consular advice regarding Ukraine.



All Irish citizens in Ukraine should shelter in a secure place. Do not move around the country in the coming hours. Please follow the advice of local authorities.



We will post regular updates on @dfatirl as the situation develops.  Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) February 24, 2022

They confirmed updates will be posted on the department's Twitter page as the situation develops.

The move by Putin, which has reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities, has been condemned by nations all across Europe, as well as the United States.

Ukranian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed the attack and stated on Twitter: "Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in [World War 2] years. As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. [Russia] has embarked on a path of evil, but [Ukraine] is defending itself and won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks."

Our thoughts & prayers are with the innocent people of Ukraine, as families wake up to shocking Russian attacks. Russian leaders are lying to their own people to justify this illegal aggression.

We utterly condemn Russia for this act of unjustifiable war in the heart of Europe.  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 24, 2022

Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, confirmed Ireland's diplomatic team in Kyiv has moved to a safe place.

He called Russia's attack "a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state".

He stated: "Russia has launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them. Rocket attacks and explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly."
Local News, Health & Wellness

By Chris Boyle Published: February 24 2022

Blakeman announced the dome of the Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola will be lit red to raise awareness for National Heart Health Month.

Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman joined Dr. Richard Shlofmitz, EMMY Award-Winning Actress and New York Times Best Seller Susan Lucci, Comptroller Elaine Phillips, Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip, Legislator John Giuffre, and Legislator Thomas McKevitt to honor and celebrate February as Heart Health Awareness month.

County Executive Blakeman announced the dome of the Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola will be lit red to raise awareness for National Heart Health Month, reminding residents to put their health first and utilize the great doctors we have here in Nassau County.

New York Times Best Seller Susan Lucci won the EMMY Award for Best Actress in May of 1999 and currently serves as the National Ambassador for the Go Red For Womens Movement with the American Heart Association. Back in 2018, Luccis life forever changed when she found out she had two blocked arteries and needed the surgical placement of stents, and just last year Lucci underwent a second heart procedure.

While heart disease is the leading killer in Nassau County, we have one of the lowest percentages of deaths by population in New York. County Executive Blakeman said. We have some of the best medical facilities in the Nation right here in Nassau County, but residents cant be complacent. Lighting the Executive Building red for National Heart Health Month will serve as a reminder for residents to schedule a checkup, and seek help should they feel out of the ordinary. Blakeman concluded.

 I think it is wonderful that we are calling attention to heart health and literally shining light on Heart Disease in Nassau County. EMMY Award-Winning Actress and New York Times Best Seller Susan Lucci said. Being the National Ambassador for the American Heart Association Go Red For Women Movement, I have learned that heart disease is the number one killer of women. More than all cancers combined. She continued  Every 80 seconds 1 woman loses her life to Heart Disease, I commend County Executive Blakeman for helping to shine light on that.

County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman then introduced renowned Cardiologist, Richard A. Shlofmitz MD, FACC, Chairman of Cardiology at St. Francis Hospital, an internationally recognized center for Heart Health. Dr. Shlofmitz performs over 1,000 coronary interventions annually; he has been serving residents of Nassau at St. Francis Hospital since 1987, and he is responsible for saving Susan Luccis life.

Heart Disease, the treatment of Heart Disease is important that patients recognize their symptoms. Dr. Richard A. Shlofmitz said. The key is to listen to your symptoms, if you are having exertional symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath, dont ignore it. Early detection is critical in coronary artery disease Dr. Richard A. Shlofmitz concluded.
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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 SATURDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Mississippi River At Red River Landing. * WHEN...Until Saturday evening. * 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 8:00 PM CDT Tuesday the stage was 49.9 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage early Saturday, May 7 and continue falling to 38.5 feet Tuesday, May 31. - 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 &&
Jefferson, GA (30549)

Today

Thunderstorms, some locally heavy this morning, then partly cloudy during the afternoon hours. High around 85F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Good news for British residents living and driving in Spain. UK driving licences will now continue to be valid until April 30 as talks between the British and Spanish authorities continue, the British Embassy said in a statement:

"Following the British Ambassadors message last week we are pleased to let you know that yesterday the Spanish Government confirmed an extension of the current grace period for the recognition of UK driving licences (https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/.../refc20220222).

That means that those of you who were living in Spain before 1 January 2021 can continue to drive in Spain with your valid UK driving licence until 30 April 2022.

If you moved to Spain after 1 January 2021, your licence will be recognised for six months from the date your obtained residence, or until 30 April 2022, whichever is later.

For those of you who registered your intention to exchange your licence with the DGT before 30 December 2020, but have not yet done so, you have until 30 April to request an appointment.

As the Ambassador said, negotiations are continuing and we are committed to reaching a long-term agreement with Spain to enable UK licence holders to exchange their licences without taking a test.

However, we recognise that this two-month extension is not as long as we would have liked and does not resolve the ongoing uncertainty as negotiations continue.

Therefore, if it is essential for you to drive, you may not want to wait for the outcome of the ongoing negotiations and you may decide to apply for a Spanish driving licence now.

https://sede.dgt.gob.es/.../permiso-conducir/index.shtml

This involves taking both a practical and theory test. You can find out more about the process on the DGT site, where the information is also available in English.


Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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Grant G. Bentley, 41, is accused of striking this elderly woman in the Walmart parking lot on Northside Drive on Jan. 10. He tried to lift her up, failed and then dropped her on her head.
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U.S. Congressmen Jack Bergman and John Moolenaar, and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow addressed Russia's attack and invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending troops and tanks from multiple directions in a move that could rewrite the world's geopolitical landscape. Ukraines government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.

President Vladimir Putin ignored global condemnation and cascading new sanctions as he unleashed the largest ground war in Europe in decades, and chillingly referred to his countrys nuclear arsenal. He threatened any country trying to interfere with consequences you have never seen.

Bergman (MI-01) said the events unfolding in Urkraine are an "absolute tragedy and an act of war against the Ukrainian people."

Putin is an out-of-touch bully dictator  but he recognizes Americas weak presidential leadership," he said. "President Biden needs to step up, show strength and lead the world in a unified economic and diplomatic effort to isolate Russia through sanctions and providing the resources needed to protect allies in Ukraine and throughout Europe."

European Union leaders have agreed to impose sanctions against Russia that will have massive and severe consequences.

During an emergency summit Thursday to condemn the invasion of Ukraine, the 27 member countries' leaders approved punitive measures against Russias financial, energy and transport sectors and restrictions on exports and financing. They also added more Russian individuals to its earlier sanctions list.

Moving in lockstep with other major allies, the U.S. imposed sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs and announced export controls aimed at starving Russias industries and military of U.S. semiconductors and other high-tech products.

Biden, for now, held off imposing some of the most severe sanctions, including cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, which allows for the transfers of money from bank to bank around the globe, or targeting Russias energy sector. Ukraine's president called for Russia to be cast out of SWIFT, but the the U.S. has expressed concern about the potential damage to European economies.

Bergman, who currently represents Michigan's 1st District which includes Manistee County, offered his thoughts on how the U.S. should respond.

Let me be clear, Ive fought in combat, Ive been responsible for Marines in combat, Ive talked to my Marines parents after their kids were killed in combat," said Bergman. "Those seeking to rush into boots-on-the-ground involvement in a centuries-old war between Russia and Ukraine are wrong and misguided. We must seek strong leadership and real diplomatic action to deter Putin and his cronies.

Moolenaar (MI-04) announced his support Thursday for the NYET Act, which would impose severe sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin's government. It would sanction Russian financial banks, businesses and Russias Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

In addition, the bill would ban the sale of U.S. made semiconductors to Russia and support weapons financing for Ukraine so it can buy additional arms to defend itself. Finally, the legislation would specifically boost funding for the State Departments efforts to counter Russian propaganda in eastern Europe.

"We must impose severe sanctions on Russia as soon as possible, and the NYET Act will make that happen. I am supporting this legislation because it is a smart, targeted approach that will hurt Russian financial institutions and the powerful people who prop up Vladimir Putins government, said Moolenaar. It will also block U.S. exports of semiconductor chips to Russia. We need those chips here to support our economy and manufacturing. Finally, there are more than 39,000 Ukrainian-Americans in Michigan, and I am praying for them and their families. Putins invasion will cause massive destruction and endanger their loved ones. I stand ready to work across the aisle in Congress to pass sanctions on Russia and support Ukraine diplomatically during this dark hour.

Moolenaar also made the following statement Monday about Russias attack on Ukraine:

Vladimir Putin is attacking Ukraine to oppress the free people who live there and to take their country from them. The consequences for this invasion must be swift and I stand ready to support harsh sanctions on Putin and his officials for this attack. The Biden Administration must not be weak and it must act with determined resolve to enforce sanctions. Finally, it must do everything it can to get every American citizen out of harms way as quickly as possible.

Stabenow, one of Michigan's two U.S. senators, issued a statement on Thursday condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

I share the horror of the many Ukrainian-Americans in Michigan of this brutal, unprovoked, and unjustified attack by President Putin on the people of Ukraine. America will stand strong with all of our allies to do everything we can to protect their freedom and independence and save lives," Stabenow said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mankato, MN (56001)

Today

Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 61F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low 43F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Damaged radar arrays and other equipment is seen at Ukrainian military facility outside Mariupol, Ukraine.

Damaged radar arrays and other equipment is seen at Ukrainian military facility outside Mariupol, Ukraine. Sergei Grits AP

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused shockwaves around the world, with Vladimir Putin moving his troops into the neighbouring country in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Throughout the day there have been explosions in Ukraine, as Russia looks to flex its muscles in terms of its armed forces.

How big is the Russian army?

The Russian military has 900,000 active-duty military personnel, which makes it the fourth biggest largest military on the planet, while there are as many as two million reserve forces.

Russia is listed as having more than 4,000 aircraft and 1,500 helicopters, while they are also reported to have 13,000 tanks, 27,000 armoured fighting vehicles and nearly 6,000 self-propelled guns for artillery.

In terms of the country's power at sea, the Russian navy has 600 ships, including one aircraft carrier, 15 destroyers and 63 submarines.

How big is the Ukrainian army?

Ukraine's armed forces consists of 361,000 troops, which is the second largest in the region after the Russian Armed Forces.

Able Ukrainian citizens have been encouraged to sign up following Russia's invasion of the country, as the country's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has introduced martial law.

"To everyone in the Russian Federation who has not lost their conscience, it's time to come out with protests against the war with Ukraine," said Zelenskiy.

"I talked to [US president Joe] Biden, [UK prime minister] Johnson, [president of the European Council] Charles Michel, [Polish president Andrzej] Duda, [Lithuanian president Gitanas] Nauseda.

"We started putting together an anti-Putin coalition. I have already urged global leaders to slam Putin with all possible sanctions, offer large-scale defence support and close the airspace over Ukraine for the aggressor. Together we must save Ukraine, save the democratic world, and we will do it."

Ukraine's troops have eight years of experience fighting Russia and its separatist allies.
In the XXI century, there are still people in power positions that believe in the forceful expansion of territories.

Last night, Russia began a military movement into Ukraine using Hitler's playbook.

Before World War II officially began, Hitler demanded self-determination for all German-speaking people living in Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Hitler recognized those territories as Sudentenland, the historical German name for the northern, southern, and western areas of former Czechoslovakia which were inhabited primarily by Sudeten Germans, forgetting the independence of those lands.

Putin's actions imitate the Nazi Germany invasion. He wants to restore the former empire, beginning with the Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, located in easter Ukraine.

After Hitler's declaration, the Studeten Nazi Party called for the union with Germany, and the riots began.

Hitler used the actions of the Studeten Nazi Party to absorb the Czech territory with the pretext of Studeten Germans being persecuted by the Czechs.

In a public address, Putin called Ukraine "a colony" that is oppressing Russian speakers. Putin questioned the legitimacy of his leader -who was elected democratically-.

In 1939,Hitler claimed the Sudetenland territory at the Munich Conference. Western leaders, including Neville Chamberlain, agreed to annex the territories in exchange for peace.

Germany celebrated the resolution by sending the troops into the territory as a parade.

Meanwhile, Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine. The head of the Kremlin seeks a "peacekeeping" operation in Ukraine.

In 1994, Russia signed an international agreement committing to "respect the independence, the sovereignty, and the existing borders of Ukraine."

In 1919, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for starting the war and imposed harsh penalties in terms of loss of territory, massive reparations payments, and demilitarization.

It was not the same. However, both treaties were written to keep the peace among territories. Both were violated less than 30 years later.
Espanola, NM (87532)

Today

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High near 65F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 37F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
All aboard for a journey into big flavours and idiosyncratic spirits, as we take a ride on the Norwest Europe Express with That Boutique-y Whisky Company. A whole load of whiskies from Austria, Germany, France, and Scandinavia will be arriving at Master of Malt any day now. Heres a little preview of what to expect.

UPDATE: the whiskies are now available, right here!

Whisky from non-traditional countries, so-called world whisky, has come on massively in the last 10 years. And yet in a globalised economy where materials, knowledge and equipment can travel, there is a danger that far-flung bottlings may end up tasting pretty similar. After all, many new distilleries make very Scotchy-type spirits using stills from Forsyths, Scottish malted barley, Scottish know-how and age in familiar casks.

Well, if youre worried about whisky becoming homogenous, then you need to take a ride on the Norwest Europe Express. That Boutique-y Whisky Company has rounded up a bunch of idiosyncratic bottlings from northern Europe and Scandinavia. Starting in Brittany, the journey goes through Germany and Switzerland and into Austria. Then it heads north into Scandinavia with great whiskies from Finland, Sweden, and Denmark.

Be warned, theres some pretty wild stuff here. In fact, because one is made from buckwheat, its not even technically whisky according to European regulations. But nothing will prepare you for Borgen whisky from Austria, a whisky so smoky it makes Ardbeg taste like Glenkinchie. Be afraid, be very afraid. A small cabal of peatheads, however, will love it. Me, my favourites were the Kyro Malted Rye from Finland and Fary Lochan from Denmark. Let us know what you think below or on social.

Right heres a rundown of what weve got:

This one should come with a warning like heavy metal CDs used to have in the 80s. It comes from a small family-run distillery in Austria. They use heavily peated malt. Nothing wrong with that but they retain the husks and include them in fermentation. Basically, every bit of smoke goes into your whisky. Its aged in French Limousin oak and bottled at 60.2% ABV.

Nose: Acetone, rubber and burnt clutch. Smells like something that shouldnt be drunk.

Palate: Crickey! It tastes like it smells. My God.

Finish: Mercifully, it does finish at some point.

This is not allowed to be called whisky in Europe because its made from buckwheat which isnt a real grain, its a pseudo-grain. Its apparently even harder to work than rye. This is made at Brittanys Distillerie Des Menhirs. Yes, like in Asterix. The family have been distilling cider since 1921 but moved into whisky or pseudo whisky in 2002. Its aged in Limousin oak and bottled at 47.9% ABV.

Nose: Cumin on the nose, with sweet ginger and malt, plus grassy notes, vanilla, apple and oaty cereal.

Palate: Creamy, light-bodied, smooth, almost single-grain like whisky.

Finish: Creamy vanilla and a little spicy ginger.

Were heading to Southern Jutland for our next whisky. It was founded by Jens-Erik Jorgensen in 2009. He died in 2016, but its still run by his family. This is aged in sherry wood before bottling at 60.2% ABV. This was a great favourite of mine.

Nose: Tobacco, smoke, dried fruit, pungent spices and a little dark chocolate.

Palate: Super spicy like rye bread, peppery, malty-sweet chocolate notes with big maraschino cherry fruit and some grippy wood tannin.

Finish: That dark cherry note really lingers.

The Finns have taken to rye whisky in a big way. From the Helsinki distillery, this is a 6-year-old rye whisky distilled from 70% malted rye, and 30% malted barley mashbill. Its been matured for the full term in a new charred, (char level 3) American oak cask. The countrys cold climate means that this matures slowly so despite the age and the new casks, theres no danger of it getting woody. Its bottled at 58.9% ABV.

Nose: Spicy, malty rye bread with menthol and tobacco.

Palate: Super aromatic, chilli peppers, with strong cereal notes and touch of salt.

Finish: Creamy delicious cereal and spice.

A distillery that probably needs no introduction to Master of Malt customers. But heres a short one anyway: Kyro was founded in 2014 and since then rye whiskey has become its calling card. It uses 100% malted Finnish rye. Fermentation times are long, around six days, and ageing takes place in a mixture of ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks. This example is bottled at 53.1% ABV. I absolutely loved it.

Nose: Super aromatic, rye bread, malty, you can really smell the cereal.

Palate: Wow! Sensationally spicy, with Szechuan pepper, then the cereal comes in and its like biting into a piece of alcoholic rye bread. It tastes so alive and full of malty goodness.

Finish: Dark and roasty, like a pint of porter with a shot of espresso in it.

Were heading to Hunnebostrand in Sweden to the Smogen distillery for our next whisky. This 8-year-old was fully matured in a first-fill bourbon barrel, and weve bottled this at natural cask strength, 60.3% ABV.

Nose: Apple and pears, clear clean fruit with gentle wood fire and a touch of bacon.

Palate: Vanilla and apple, with light bonfires, seaweed and black pepper. Lovely balance between fruit and smoke.

Finish: Gentle wafts of smoke.

Next stop is Bavaria for the Slyrs Distillery. This is a 3-year-old single malt that has been treated to some pretty severe cask ageing. The team uses an American oak cask with the heaviest char available, also known as Crocodile Toast as the inside of the cask is charred so deep that it resembles the cracked skin of a crocodile. It was bottled at 52.6% ABV.

Nose: Big cherries, and cherrywood, aromatic with spicy rye-like notes, toffee and muscovado sugar.

Palate: Creamy and peppery, smooth, with chocolate and toffee and clove spiciness.

Finish: Sweet and spicy.

Were back in Finland now heading to the famous Teerenpeli distillery. The name means flirtation but also black grouse, apparently. Yeah, it can get pretty complicated in Finland. The malted barley is local. The ageing is pretty local too as it takes plylace in old sea containers which are exposed to temperatures between -35C to +30C. This particular batch was aged in re-coopered American oak ex-bourbon hogshead before bottling at 55.5% ABV.

Nose: Super fruity, apples, lemons, with vanilla, toffee and cream.

Palate: Peppery and then sweet like banana custard, very light smoke.

Finish: Distant wafts of smoke and custard creams.

Highglen is a one-man band. The man being local character Lord Gunter Sommer who makes whisky in Switzerland near the border with Italy. Highglen is an appropriate name as the distillerys altitude is twice that of Ben Nevis. He ages the whisky in his own special 100-litre casks made from ex-bourbon staves, and ex-sherry heads.

Tasting notes from TBWC:

Nose: Deliciously complex! Aromas of coffee, light honey on toasted rye bread, dark chocolate, and hints of pine needles and linseed oil.

Palate: Hints of liquorice, dried apricots, creamy vanilla caramel, coffee, and cocoa, alongside a charred wood smoke note. Love this!

These are limited edition whiskies. When theyre gone, theyre gone.
Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of Arkansas and Oklahoma, including the following counties, in Arkansas, Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Madison, Sebastian and Washington AR. In Oklahoma, Adair, Cherokee, Choctaw, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Haskell, Latimer, Le Flore, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington OK. * WHEN...Through Thursday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff will likely result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, especially in areas that have already received heavy rainfall over the past few days. Several main-stem rivers could go into flood. A few locations could see significant flash flooding. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are expected today through Thursday afternoon with the potential for very heavy rainfall. Widespread 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected with locally higher amounts of 5 to 6 inches. The heavier rain will begin to shift east of far southeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas Thursday afternoon. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
By SA Commercial Prop News

Brazil, Russia, India and China all form the Brics organisation along with South Africa, and the bank serves as a collective pot for all member states.



SA's prayers may have been answered as BRICS Bank plans to lend R11 billion to Eskom Holdings which could alleviate some of the pressure on the countrys electricity grid.

With Eskom given a lifeline by the Brics backed New Development Bank, it should go a long way to alleviating the power utility's financial burden.

The Bank plans to lend as much as R11 billion to Eskom for infrastructure projects this year as the ailing power utility battles to keep power supply steady.

Eskom, which on Wednesday entered a seventh day of controlled power cuts, is contending with operational and financial challenges, threatening the productivity of Africas most-industrialized economy.

ALSO READ: The Global Lift & Escalator Expo comes to South Africa

The government is considering various interventions to turn the company around, including a $4.8 billion bailout over three years and splitting the organization into three parts to help contain costs.

The NDB, back by the BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is in talks with the government about loans that could alleviate some of the pressure on the countrys electricity grid, the lenders president, K.V. Kamath, said by phone.

The development institution is rolling out a $180 million loan to Eskom to build transmission lines and is considering two further projects in 2019, he said. The first is a $480 million loan that will pay for retrofitting flue-gas desulfurization equipment to make the Medupi power plant compliant with new environmental standards. The second is a further $300 million facility to improve the countrys battery-storage capacity, Kamath said.

ALSO READ: Click here if you need reasonable modern Office Space

Power is now a critical element in South Africas infrastructure and at this point in time it is imperative that we work with the government in alleviating this problem, Kamath said. Medupi will have about 4,800 megawatts of installed capacity once completed.

The plan to split Eskom into generation, transmission and distribution units is heartening, Kamath said. We are equally clear that this wont happen overnight, so there is always a need to extend a hand during the transitioning process and thats what we are doing.

The funding planned for Eskom will make up most of the $900 million the NDB will extend in South Africa in 2019. By the end of the year, the lender will have roughly $2.4 billion of loans in the country, Kamath said. Eskom didnt respond to requests for comment.

ALSO READ: Sandton grows apace with R3bn Skyscraper

The NDB was started in 2015 to support sustainable infrastructure projects across its emerging-market members. The Shanghai-based bank will have extended $7.5 billion to $8 billion across its members by the end of year, bringing its total to assistance to BRICS nations to about $15 billion.

Earlier this month, South Africas energy regulator, Nersa, granted Eskom average power price increases that were far below what the utility had asked for, saying it aimed to balance the interests of the company and the public.

Eskom was granted a 9.4% tariff hike for this year along with an increase of 8.1% for 2020 followed by 5.2% the following year.
Amid Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Bollywood Arshad Warsi took to Twitter and shared a video meme from his 2006 cult comedy Golmaal: Fun Unlimited.

Explaining the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Arshad tweeted, Self explanatory Golmaal was way ahead of its time.

The video features a scene from the film where Sharman Joshi, Arshad Warsi and Ajay Devgn are walking towards Rimi Sen unaware of the Vasoolis presence on their way.

In the video, Sharman is labelled as America, Arshad as Ukraine, Ajay as Germany and Mukesh Tiwaris Vasooli as Russia.

The video ends with Germany and America backing out while Ukraine is ambushed by Russia.

 Instagram/Arshad Warsi

Watch the meme below:



Self explanatory Golmaal was way ahead of its time. pic.twitter.com/2vhvhHPskA  Arshad Warsi (@ArshadWarsi) February 24, 2022

Soon after Arshad shared the meme, many of his fans and followers found it hilarious, while there were others who called him insensitive and asked him to delete the tweet.



One user wrote, This is not right sir Bhaut log marenge is war mai , majak se hat k sochiye. Another tweeted, As much as I respect you as an artist, trying to make fun of a war situation is a little insensitive to my taste sir.

One fan responded, i hope you think about how theres people that are actually in a warzone rn while youre giggling and making jokes abt this.

One user asked him to educate himself before making fun of a dangerous situation, This is not funny. Just because you're in safe zone that doesn't mean you'll make fun of the f**king ww. This is so insensitive. People are ding. Educate yourself before making fun of the situation!!!!

 Instagram/Arshad Warsi

Check out the tweets below:



This is not right sir

Bhaut log marenge is war mai , majak se hat k sochiye  Garv Kori (@GarvKoli) February 24, 2022

I dont think its time for a meme! Lives at stake.  Syed Maheboob (@Maheboobsyed092) February 24, 2022

As much as I respect you as an artist, trying to make fun of a war situation is a little insensitive to my taste sir.  CURRY for Goat PG (@amanBBP) February 24, 2022

This is not funny man there was no need for this now.  Binu Abraham (@abrahambi94) February 24, 2022

this is not right time to do this sir...war is a very dangerous situation...we should not make fun of  Mayank Gupta (@mayankguptaown1) February 24, 2022

how insensitive one can be?  Kyrylo #PrayForUkraine (@haryyaanvi) February 24, 2022

This is shameful @ArshadWarsi, you should delete this tweet immediately and ask for an apology. People are dying and a country's sovereignty is in danger, this is not a subject to meme about. Absolutely rubbish https://t.co/Tnuq1Ir4Px  Vikram Mahendra (@ElRealesVikram) February 24, 2022

This is not funny. Just because you're in safe zone that doesn't mean you'll make fun of the fucking ww. This is so insensitive. People are ding. Educate yourself before making fun of the situation!!!! https://t.co/8pMibk0aCy  swati | ltwt  (@zicaruswallss) February 24, 2022

i hope you think about how theres people that are actually in a warzone rn while youre giggling and making jokes abt this https://t.co/yAG9rT6HAz  shivani. (@stfushiii) February 24, 2022

bhai log marr rahe hai idhar hazaaro ke hisaab se tumhe comedy ki padi hai https://t.co/QqB0UOqQSu  . (@kohoeli) February 24, 2022

With all due respect it doesnt suit you sharing such memes for a country who is into real war is not cool at all. This is something which has the potential to drag the whole world into a war. I hope understand https://t.co/GCNshQnwUX  Aarush Ak (@iamaarushak) February 24, 2022

@ArshadWarsi Bhai video dekh ke, Putin aap pe humla na kar de :P  Jeet (@jeet158) February 24, 2022

This isnt the first time Arshad Warsi has received flak for his tweet.

Back in 2020, he had shared a Munna Bhai MBBS meme amid the coronavirus scare and was termed racist for it.

 Instagram/Arshad Warsi

In 2019, he was accused of hurting religious sentiments after which he had apologised.


A Memorial Service of Christian Burial will begin at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements. Mrs. Cobb, 68, of Meridian, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022, at Bedford Care Ce
The Centre on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that 66.91 per cent of the total loss caused to various banks -- due to fraud committed by fugitives Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi -- has been returned back to them by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, submitted before a bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar that "timely attachment of proceeds of crime has led to attachment of assets worth of Rs 19,111.20 crore out of total fraud of Rs 22,585.83 crore by three fugitive offenders namely Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi".

"The proceeds of crime of Rs 98,368 crore were identified and attached under Section 5 of the PMLA out of which, proceeds of crime of Rs 55,899 crore has been confirmed by Adjudicating Authority and substantial part of attached proceeds of crime are still under adjudication by the Adjudicating Authority. In addition to this, proceeds of crime of Rs. 853.16 crore has already been confiscated to the Central Government under the orders of the competent court."

"Out of the attached proceeds of crime from these 3 individuals, assets of Rs 15,113.91 crore has already been returned back to public sector banks by the ED u/s 8(7) PMLA through the order of the Court and assets worth Rs 335.06 crore has been confiscated to the Government of India i.e. 66.91 per cent of total loss to the banks in these 3 cases has been returned back to them by the ED."

Mehta also submitted it is pertinent to mention that the SBI has already recovered cash of Rs 7,975.27 crore by selling a part of assets returned to it by the ED and the process of liquidation of other restituted assets by the banks is continuing.

The Centre added that the investigation in 57 cases of terror and Maoist financing has resulted in identification of proceeds of crime of Rs 1,249 crore and attachment of proceeds of crime of Rs 982 crore (256 properties) and filing of 37 prosecution complaints and conviction of two terrorists under PMLA.

"The attachment of proceeds of crime include properties of Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed (UN designated terrorist), Syed Salahuddin (Head of Hijbul Mujahideen) and Iqbal Mirchi (involved in Mumbai blasts and international narcotics smuggler) also," Mehta said.

Mehta said PMLA is a new law which came into force on July 1, 2005, and the process of filing of prosecution complaint started mainly from 2012 and 2013. He added till date, prosecution complaint has been filed in 930 cases which are under different stages of trial as on date 21 persons have been convicted under the PMLA. "In last 17 years, 4,850 cases have been taken up for investigation under the PMLA. The investigation in these offences were carried out by using investigative tools as provided under the PMLA including 2,883 searches and arresting 313 persons," he saida.

On Wednesday, Mehta submitted before the bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and C.T. Ravikumar, that the ED only arrested 313 people under the Act in the last 20 years.

The top court is hearing 242 petitions challenging some provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) including the stringent bail conditions and arrest of people without supply of ECIR (equivalent to FIR).

Over the past few weeks, a battery of senior advocates, including Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Mukul Rohatgi, Sidharth Luthra, Amit Desai, and others have made submissions before the top court on various aspects related to potential misuse of PMLA provisions introduced by way of amendments to the Act.

The law has been criticised on various aspects: stringent bail conditions, non-communication of grounds of arrest, arrest of persons without supply of ECIR (akin to FIR), broad definitions of money laundering and proceeds of crime, and statements given by accused during investigation made admissible as evidence during trial.
The Karnataka government will on Thursday submit crucial information regarding the Campus Front of India (CFI) and threats to teachers before the full bench of the High Court hearing batch of petitions submitted on the hijab row.

After the teachers's counsel S.S. Naganand drew the special three-judge bench's attention on the role Campus Front of India (CFI) played in bringing out the controversy to the fore, Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi had sought more information on the body. "Do you have any information about this organisation? How did this agitation erupt all of a sudden? We direct the government to share the information," the bench said.

Responding to it, Advocate General (AG) Prabhuling Navadgi said that they do have some information which will be placed before the court in the form of a report or in a sealed cover.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had earlier alleged that girls are being trained for hijab row. The ruling BJP Ministers have been repeatedly talking about involvement of CFI, in the controversy.

The government will also submit information about threats faced by the teachers of the Udupi Pre-University Girl's College, from where the hijab row started.

The court would commence hearing in the case on Thursday noon. The special bench has also asked the counsels to complete submissions by this weekend besides asking those who have completed their arguments to make their written submissions at the earliest.

The hijab row which started by six students of Udupi Pre-University Girl's College soon spread across the state. The students refusing to attend classes without hijab are maintaining that they will wait until the final verdict is given. Despite the interim order issued by the court banning both hijab and saffron shawls inside the classrooms, the students are resorting to agitation across the state forcing the state to enforce prohibitory orders in the surrounding areas of colleges.

Now, the state is probing whether the murder of Bajrang Dal activist in Shivamogga has any connection with the controversy.

The special bench is hearing the matter on a day-to-today basis.
Two juveniles have been charged with felony second-degree burglary, a Class C felony, for allegedly breaking into a home and causing thousands of dollars in damage.

County Attorney Claud Porter said the juveniles, ages 8 and 10 years old, were charged to create a path for the homeowner to seek restitution from the juveniles parents without the juveniles actually being convicted.

City police charged the juveniles Sunday.

The names of juveniles are kept confidential, according to state law. The juveniles were cited and not arrested.

Porter said officers called me one night and said, there are two boys who got into a house next door and literally destroyed the home,  Porter said.

Porter said he told the officers to charge the juveniles.

Porter said there is no scenario in which the juveniles could end up with a felony record.

He could refer the case to the Court Designated Worker office, with the intention of later dismissing the charges.

There is no age of criminal responsibility in Kentucky, so a child of a very young age can be charged with criminal offenses. Bills that would raise the age of criminal responsibility have been proposed in Frankfort, but have not passed.

Porter, whose office handles juvenile criminal cases, said Wednesday that he does not intend to bring the juveniles before a judge on the charges. But the charges in this case could assist the homeowner who suffered damages.

A parent can be responsible for the intentional property damage of a juvenile, he said.

State law, specifically KRS 405.025, says the parent of an unemancipated minor can be liable for damages, if a judgment has been rendered against the minor.

You have to sue the minor and name the parent, Porter said.

Once the CDWs office prepares the complaint, Porter said he will review it to determine if there is probable cause to proceed against the juveniles. If so, Porter said he could dismiss the case, but that the finding of probable cause could help the homeowner in filing a civil lawsuit against the juveniles and their parents.

Normally, I dont tell (officers) to charge them at all, Porter said. I dont know what else to do to get it to the point where (KRS 405.025) works.

Porter said he has previously charged juveniles as a way to get them needed services through the court system.

We have charged 11-year-olds with sexual offenses, he said, but that was to get them into treatment.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
The city of Island is continuing to see more growth with new businesses and will soon welcome another one to add to the list.

Island Cycle Workz, a family business that specializes in antique vintage restoration of motorcycles and custom builds, will make its debut in Island at their new 5,000 square-foot location of 500 Adams Ave. (Kentucky Highway 431) with a 1,400 square-foot showroom along with on-staff mechanics on hand to help out folks looking for service this coming fall.

The business, owned by Island resident and local construction company and rental business owner Roy Warner, has been in the family for four generations and a collective 13 years under their belt.

Warner, 58, began construction for the new establishment in January, while he houses 30 motorcycles in a large 2,400 square-foot garage directly across the street that he has personally ridden and has worked on; ranging from Harley Davidsons and Indians of a variety of colors, engines and types from multiple years between the 1940s to the 2020s and from places such as Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and South Dakota.

Ive been working on (them) for most of my life as a hobby, Warner said.

Warner grew up around motorcycles during his upbringing in Central City and particularly had a fondness for Indians bikes, such as the 1939 Indian Four that his father rode.

Warner added that his father was a motorcycle enthusiast.

We lived on a dead-end street, and we would ride up and down on the dead-end street until he (taught) me to ride it by myself, (when) I was about 13 years old, Warner said.

Warner rode with his father throughout his childhood before eventually buying his first bike, a 1965 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide when he was 15 for $350 in 1979, which he earned by mowing grass.

It was a Harley, and it was available, Warner said. Harleys were not readily available (then). Those motorcycles (did) not come up for sale very often . It was a lot of money for me.

Though the bike didnt run, Warner and his father, who worked as a diesel mechanic, got the bike ready for the road that fall and couldnt wait to ride.

Those motorcycles were not off-road friendly and they (werent) winter friendly, Warner said. It was a real challenge. I would heat it up with a kerosene heater for it to start. You know, you improvise.

After moving his family from Rockport in Ohio County to Island in 2008, Warner continued to work on bikes and eventually had a business running out of the garage as a buy-sell-repair shop, selling over 80 motorcycles through eBay.

The decision to build an official facility that would be open to the public was due to Warners son Dustin Warner, 34, and Warners grandson Jamie (J-Bird) Bullock, 18, wanting to be more involved; both will come on board as staff technicians when they open.

Me, my son and grandson got together and wanted to do something, Warner said. My sons an engineer and he wanted to do something different, so we decided to do this. Weve always rode together, all three of us and a lot of other guys.

Along with their motorcycle experience, they also pride themselves on their customer service and rapport.

We take pride in our craftsmanship, and we treat each customer like family, Warner said. ... Were hoping to do really well on our service. And the sales, were hoping that (they) pick up.

Even though the family will now venture to take the hobby more seriously, Warner cannot deny the love he has for motorcycles and why he is moving forward with this new venture in his life.

The freedom of the open road  thats it. I love to ride, and I like to keep my telephone home, Warner laughed. ...The construction industrys been fabulous. Ive really done well. Ive worked a lot, really long hours seven days a week, months at a time without a day off. Its just time to slow down. Its going to be one of those type deals where were gonna have a showroom and all the old fellows that come in and talk and (well) sell a motorcycle and everything ought to be good.

Once the grand opening takes place, Warner assures that people can expect quality service and knowledgeable and personable salespeople from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information and updates regarding the official opening, contact Warner 270-977-6781 or email at roywarnercontractor@icloud.com.
Judge-Executive Curtis Dame is seeking guidance and suggestions regarding improvements for county roads during the upcoming year.

Dame has attempted to reach the public through in-person means, which is required by Kentucky revised statutes, in the past but to no avail.

We want people to know while Im here, I value their opinions because we got the county (and) especially the road department in good financial shape to tackle a lot of these issues.

Dame said that he still plans to hold a forum this year per KRS requirements but is also keen on getting the communitys opinions of where the county stands by putting out a free five-question survey that is accessible to the public.

I want the opinions because it helps me in the long run to fix problems that might be bottleneck issues , Dame said. And in doing so, it can help us alleviate these long term, quality of life issues.

The survey, which keeps participants anonymous, asks what part of the county a person lives in by magisterial districts, specific county roads that they believe needs attention, how long someone has lived at their current address, projects near residence regarding roadways, utilities or drainage and a question that ranks each persons opinion on how to use the countys remaining special-use coal funds for either infrastructure (water, roads, sewer, rural internet), economic development (business development tools, job creation, business retention), parks and recreation and tourism between one to four.

As of Friday, Dame said that he has received 55 responses out of roughly over 9,000 residents that reside in the county, with most responses coming from people that reside in the eastern part of the county by about 8%.

Dame said that the responses have been able to give him insight on areas that may need to be addressed and noted that he started to see more people participating in the survey after the county received some heavy rainfall events last week, with one person reporting that a certain road has a berm beside a ditch that causes flooding.

Other responses included widening certain entryways and fixing potholes while others have been more specific regarding the need for culverts and other materials, which helps Dame feel that the survey is serving its purpose.

...People realize that were trying to solve the problems, Dame said.

Once Dame receives new responses, he sends the results to the road department so they are made aware of the residents concerns.

Dame notes that his inquiry and survey are only to address county roads and that he is not seeking suggestions regarding city streets, state highways or apartment areas.

When asking people how long they have resided at their current address and area, Dame notes that 29% of respondents claimed to have lived at their residences between a period of 10 to 25 years.

The reason why thats important is I just want to know if these are people are coming in that are looking at it (through) a lens of moving from somewhere else and these are issues that maybe are newer, Dame said. I can take those responses and break them out and correlate them based on that response.

Projects that Dame mentioned that residents were seeking improvements on included paving (58%), road grading for gravel roads (9%) along with mowing and tree trimming while 16 respondents chose other and put type out their personal responses.

As of Friday, Dame reported that 67% of respondents chose to use the special-use coal funds for infrastructure needs, which Dame said is in line with the county assessment that was conducted by Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky through the University of Kentucky in October regarding economic competitiveness, economic development projects, workforce growth and economic, physical and social characteristics.

The survey has been very helpful because, especially on the question of what road (they) on (shows us) what we need to look at, Dame said.

Dame said that the county is actively working on projects, such as using $50,000 of emergency funds awarded by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to replace a bridge on Stringer Road in Sacramento and are currently working with the Kentucky Soybean Board regarding innovative bridge projects.

Some areas of concern that Dame personally observes is the size of the roads and draining, especially after heavy rainfalls even though the latter concerns both the county and state.

If you want to talk about the true long-term problem is that with us being a heavy ag county, our roads are too small for the trucks and the equipment that travel on them, Dame said. ...The issues that I see long-term are the width of the roads and drainage, because  we havent been able to maintain the drainage work we need to.

With these potential projects, Dame said his goal is to spend between 2 to 8% more in order to do meaningful structural upgrades.

...If its a county road, were going to do that if we have the funds to do it, Dame said. But lets fix it right the first time (so) we dont have to come back and do it again.

The survey to submit comments and recommendations for future road projects can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/CountyRoadNeeds.

For more information or questions, contact the Judge-Executives office at 270-273-3213.
The Caregivers Support Group of Owensboro-Daviess County is celebrating its 20th year of providing a supportive space for grandparents, relatives and other caregivers of children who are placed in custody outside of their homes of origin.

The group helps provide information and resource networking for caregivers, according to Amanda Hirtz, youth service center coordinator for Owensboro Innovation Middle School who coordinates the support group.

The group also offers peer support for both caregivers and the children involved.

Not only does the support group offer attendees a chance to share resources and hear from local experts regarding topics related to caring for children, Hirtz said, but it also provides a community for the individuals and the children they are caring for.

This group is so important to our community because they need this, she said. They need to be able to come together to share stories, to share resources.

Hirtz said the group provides invaluable relationships and a support network for caregivers and children to know they are not alone and share experiences and information with one another.

The fact that the group has kept going for 20 years, she said, is a testament to how much it is needed and valued by those participating in it.

Hirtz said she was a freshman in high school when the group was developed by her mother, who was then the family resource coordinator.

Even then, she said she was involved with the group, volunteering her time to help provide child care services while caregivers met and listened to presentations from guest speakers.

I was very thankful it was something I could continue, she said. Its a program thats very near and dear to my heart and a lot of the caregivers.

There are caregivers, according to Hirtz, that have been participating in the support group for more than a decade.

The service, she said, is very much needed.

Currently, she said there are 109 students enrolled throughout Owensboro Public Schools who have a grandparent listed as their primary caregiver.

The group is not just open to OPS students. Hirtz said anyone in Daviess County who is a primary caregiver for a child and not their biological parent is welcome to attend.

The group meets the last Thursday of each month. The next one will be hosted Thursday.

Anyone interested in more information can reach out to Hirtz by email at amanda.hirtz@owensboro.kyschools.us.

Christie Netherton, cnetherton@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7360
Officials with the Owensboro Riverport Authority hope to award a construction bid soon for a low-water dock at the facility.

When complete, the riverport will have a low-water and a high-water dock. They will be able to operate simultaneously in normal conditions, while the high-water dock will continue operations if the low dock is flooded.

Riverport president Brian Wright gave the agencys board of directors an update on the project Wednesday. Wright said the agency sent out a request for proposals and received four bids. The bids are under review, and the selected company will be awarded soon.

Next week at the latest, the bid will be awarded, Wright said after the meeting.

The proposed dock will reach into the river at the mooring line for barges, so cargo will be unloaded off the barge more efficiently than at the high-water dock, Wright said.

Because the high-water dock is above barge level in normal conditions, heavy equipment is needed to unload barges, Wright said.

The proposed dock will sit right next to the barges, he said. Having two docks will allow for simultaneous unloading of barges.

We are increasing our river loading and unloading capacity, Wright said.

Board members approved increasing the budget to $2.5 million for the boat dock. Wright told board members he anticipates the cost being in the $2 million range.

The pieces of the dock will be prefabricated.

The timeline to be completed is by the end of June, Wright said.

In other business, board members discussed plans to expand Kentucky 131 from the riverport entrance at Rinaldo Road to U.S. 60.

The riverport has received $11.5 million in grants for the project, with the rest of the balance coming from local matching funds.

The project would widen Kentucky 131 to three lanes and put in sidewalks from U.S. 60 to Medley Road. A curve of the highway near On Time Fab will be straightened, and the roadway between the straightened section and Rinaldo Road will be widened to a super two highway with three-foot shoulders on each side.

This particular project has been on the list at least since the early 2000s, Wright said.

The grant funds have to be expended by 2025, but the goal is to award construction bids this year, he said.

I dont see the (2025) timeline to be an issue, Wright said, but I want to be early and not push the limit.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
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President Xi Jinping has underlined the need for China and African countries to strengthen unity and cooperation to cope with risks and challenges for common development, calling for joint building of a higher-level China-Africa community with a shared future. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Wednesday in a message congratulating the inauguration of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania on behalf of the CPC and himself. The leadership school is a joint effort of six liberation movements from the Southern African Development Community that are now governing parties. The aim is to serve southern Africa in training leadership skills and political principles, with the goal of strengthening unity and cooperation in liberating African economies. China has provided support for construction of the project. The six liberation movement parties are Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi, the African National Congress of South Africa, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola, the South West Africa People's Organization of Namibia, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the Mozambique Liberation Front. Xi said in the message that over the years, the six parties have united and led their peoples in national independence, construction and development and have won people's strong support. The school will provide an important platform for strengthening the six parties and raising their governing capacity, and will also help them better lead their countries in realizing national development to benefit their peoples, he added. Noting the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Xi said that China and Africa need stronger unity and cooperation more than ever to deal with challenges, advance their common development and enhance people's well-being. The CPC stands ready to take the inauguration of the school as an opportunity to bolster exchanges and mutual learning with the political parties of African countries in governance experience, support each other in pursuing the development path suited to their national conditions, and intensify pragmatic cooperation in various fields, Xi said. The leadership school is named in honor of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the late founding president and former chairperson of the Frontline States, an anti-apartheid coalition of African countries that included Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, from the 1960s to the early 1990s.


India has asked its citizens stranded in Ukraine to reach out to the embassy for evacuation and also has issued helpline numbers. The announcement was made after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine.

In an advisory to all the Indian nationals in Ukraine, the embassy said: "This is to inform all Indian nationals in Ukraine that since the Ukrainian airspace has been closed the schedule for special flights stands cancelled."

The embassy further stated that alternative arrangements were being made for evacuation of the Indian nationals.

The embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalised, so that the Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country, said an official.

"Please carry your passports and necessary documents on your person at all times. You are advised to follow Embassy website and social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) posts for updates on this regard."

The Embassy issued helpline numbers which are +38 0997300483, +38 0997300428, +38 0933980327, +38 0635917881 and +38 0935046170.

India had started planes to evacuate citizens living in Ukraine since the war-like situation emerged. A special flight landed in Delhi earlier carrying 182 Indians.

But, an Air India flight scheduled to evacuate on Thursday was forced to return to Delhi this morning after the eastern European country closed its airspace.

Over 20,000 Indian citizens are in Ukraine as the crisis with Russia escalated rapidly over the past week.

Now, the Indian government's immediate priority is to evacuate these people but the closure of Ukrainian airspace makes this a challenging proposition.

India had told the Security Council: "The situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis. If not handled carefully, it may undermine security."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 4, 2022

Contact: press@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Joins New Michigan Central Innovation Announcement

State plans to align more than $126 million in new and existing investments, programming, and resources to support the 30-acre campus that is expected to hold 5,000 workers

DETROIT, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer today joined Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Google Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to announce a new partnership to activate the Michigan Central Innovation District in an effort to attract and retain highly skilled talent and high-growth companies while supporting the development of neighboring neighborhoods. This new district, anchored by the iconic Michigan Central Train Station, will serve as a globally recognized hub for talent, mobility innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, affordable housing, small business opportunities and community engagement.

"Ford is an American icon that has left its mark on Michigan - and the world - for over 100 years, and we are proud to partner with Ford and other Founding Members at Michigan Central to shape the next century of transportation solutions while reducing emissions and accelerating electrification," said Governor Whitmer. "By embracing a whole-of-government approach in our collaboration with Michigan Central and the city of Detroit, we are writing the playbook for a new kind of partnership that keeps Michigan at the forefront of mobility for generations to come. Together, we can continue growing Michigan's economy, putting Michiganders first, and win the next century of auto manufacturing and technology development."

As part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ford, the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit, the state plans to align more than $126 million in new and existing investments, programming, and resources to support the goals of the district. This pledge involves the cross-departmental collaboration between the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

The City of Detroit and its Administration will provide resources for a new real-world testing site within the district, called the 'transportation innovation zone'. This site will make it possible for mobility-focused companies to fast-track the safe piloting and deployment of new transportation solutions.

Since 2018, Ford has invested $740 million in the 30-acre campus in Corktown that is expected to hold 5,000 workers, with at least 2,500 of those jobs being non-Ford employees.

"Only a few short years ago, I announced Ford's investment in Detroit because I believed in a vision that reimagined the iconic Michigan Central train station and surrounding area as a place of possibility again," said Bill Ford, Executive Chair, Ford Motor Company. "Today's announcements reflect our commitment to that vision, attracting the best and the brightest to come together to solve some of the world's toughest challenges. The arrival of Google as a founding partner is exactly the kind of investment and progress I knew was possible to revitalize our hometown. And I could not be more pleased that the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan are also joining us in this ambitious effort. I know it is only the beginning of what we can achieve together."

Under the MOU, the partnership will focus on four key pillars:

Economic Development : The state of Michigan, coordinated by the OFME, will support the launch and growth of programs in the district that create conditions for high-skill job creation, startup company growth, risk capital, technology commercialization and other economic opportunities.

Workforce Development : LEO will provide world-class training, post-secondary adult education and career readiness resources in the district, including a potential physical space to host apprentice programs, employer-led collaboratives, the Going Pro Talent Fund and more, to prepare local workers for high-tech jobs in mobility and other emerging fields.

Community Development : MSHDA will promote housing and community development and civic engagement in a way that ties industry growth and innovation with neighborhood vitality and inclusiveness both in and around the Innovation District. MDOT will also assist in making roadways near the district more accessible and usable by all modes of transportation.

Transportation Innovation Zone : The Michigan Central Innovation District will be designated as an Innovation Zone by the city of Detroit for the development, pilot, and deployment of mobility technologies and solutions in real-world environments to support surrounding neighborhoods.

"Just a few years ago, this train station was our city's international symbol of abandonment," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. "Now, it's the symbol of our city's resurgence and soon will anchor this new innovation district, developed by Ford, where innovators from around the world will create the future of mobility. For more than a century, Detroit has been the leader in automotive innovation and today marks a major step forward in keeping Detroit at the forefront of mobility innovation for the next century."

Google will also be joining Ford as a Founding Member of the Innovation District, where it will leverage the assets of the district to collaborate on new products and services that will define the future of mobility. As founding members, Google and Ford will also help mentor entrepreneurs and local businesses, as well as develop the workforce in Detroit.

"We're proud to join Ford as a Founding Member at Michigan Central," said Ruth Porat, Chief Financial Officer, Google. "This partnership will expand our work in Michigan and help a substantial number of people gain the skills and tools they need to succeed. By offering digital skills training, mentoring to high schoolers learning to code, and Google Cloud technology for Michigan Central projects and research on the future of mobility, we look forward to contributing to Michigan Central's mission and all it will accomplish."

Today's announcement builds on years of investment from Ford within southeast Michigan, cementing its commitment to testing, developing, and deploying future mobility solutions from the state. Ford has remained committed to electrifying the future of mobility in Michigan, having announced Ford Ion Park, its new global battery center of excellence, in Romulus, as well as its plans to invest $250 million and create 450 more jobs across three of its Michigan facilities over the past year alone.

The Michigan Central Innovation District is also a key partner in a new study with MDOT, OFME, Michigan Aeronautics Commission, the Province of Ontario and others to explore the feasibility of creating commercial drone testing corridors. And the district recently partnered with Electreon, Next Energy, and Jacobs Engineering Group?to win MDOT and OFME's request for proposal to make Michigan the first state in the U.S. to implement a?public wireless?EV charging system.?The project will include dynamic and stationary wireless EV charging?along a 1-mile corridor, which will be hosted by and live within the district.

"I, like many, had relatives that first entered Michigan through Detroit and Michigan Central Train Station. They were looking for a better life and a more inclusive community. By activating Michigan Central Innovation District, we are honoring the inspiring history of this place, which so many Michiganders share," said Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan. "And by investing in new mobility solutions and entrepreneurial resources within this district, we are creating a global platform that can drive high-tech job creation and community empowerment."

###
BIG RAPIDS  With residents still trying to thaw from the icy blanket that has draped itself across the region since Monday night's storm, school districts have been forced to call off classes Tuesday, as well as Wednesday.

While having a snow day is typically a joyous occasion for the student, the decision-making process of closing school is slightly more strenuous.

As explained by Big Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Tim Haist, there is no strict set of guidelines that state whether-or-not school should be closed for the day.

We look at several different factors, Haist said. We start by looking at several different weather forecasts. We also have school personnel check multiple areas of the district.

Haist went on to say that there is an open line of communication with neighboring school districts, as many of their respective bus routes border one another.

Reed City Superintendent Michael Sweet said the ideal situation on any given snow day is for the districts to come to a collective choice.

It always feels like things go over better when people are seeing similar conditions, and then make a similar decision, Sweet said.

Typically, a decision is made by 5 a.m., after road conditions are surveyed across the region.

Morley Stanwood Community Schools Superintendent Roger Cole said it is somewhat uncommon for this surveying to take place the night before a potential cancellation day.

Last nights cancellation in advance was an oddity; we typically dont do that, Cole said.

Michigan school districts are permitted six snow days per academic year, but may petition for an additional three days should they go beyond six closures.

Big Rapids has had to close a total of nine times this year, but not all of these instances came via the weather.

You get that forgiven time, and its not just for weather, Haist said. We had an illness day, and then we took a day because of a threat, and that counts towards those days of total time.

Haist said BRPS plans to request the additional three days of forgiveness and hopes for some flexibility, given the unique circumstances of some closings

As it stands, Reed City has had six snow or ice-related closures thus far, on top of one day earlier in the year when sickness caused a one-day shutdown.

Cole was able to confirm that Morley Stanwood has gone over the six-day limit this year.
MANISTEE COUNTY  For Manistee County's amateur radio enthusiasts radio communications are more than a hobby  its members also volunteer their services as backup communication in case of a catastrophic event in the area.

But the enthusiasts using a particular radio tower in the Manistee National Forest may end up with a new $1,400 fee if a new fee system rule is put in place by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Agency.

Mike Machen, Manistee County emergency manager, reported at the countys public safety committee meeting this month that the Manistee amateur radio club had received a letter from the U.S. Forest Service about the new possible fee for having communications equipment on a Forest Service tower.

The West Michigan Repeater Association holds the license for the Manistee Amateur Radio Operators Club which currently uses a radio tower that is less than 250 feet away from the Udell Fire Tower near Wellston.

They brought that (information) to me and Ive been working with (911 Director Jim) Espvik to try to figure out a way to make sure that we dont lose this service, Machen relayed to the committee.

While Machen said there hasnt been a big need for the clubs volunteer services in an emergency capacity yet, that could change in an extreme situation.

However, Id hate for this group to disband and us to need them one day and not have them, he said.

Brian Gutowski, Manistee County sheriff, was also in attendance at the meeting and offered information on the topic.

He said the amateur radio operators, often called ham operators, dont get much of the spotlight and they are typically working in the background.

The technology is older technology for the most part, Gutowski said. The thing is, our modern radio systems are really, really technology dependent and if we lose one part of that the ham operators in the exercises Ive done with them  theyre able to transmit from Manistee County all the way down to Lansing utilizing that tower site.

He said if something significant were to happen, this ability to communicate longer distances would come into play and the county would at least be able to communicate with the state capitol to alert state leaders to an emergency situation.

Machen and Espvik said they are looking into potential alternate communications tower sites if needed.

BROADER IMPACTS

The Manistee radio club isnt alone in possibly needing to pay a fee as the Forest Service proposal is for all entities using communications systems in any national forest.

Wade Muehlhof, Forest Service deputy national press officer, said in an emailed response to the News Advocate that the original public comment period on the proposed rule was 60 days.



Muehlhof said the proposed rule was published on Dec. 21. It would charge an "annual programmatic administrative fee for new and existing communications use authorizations" in order to cover the costs of managing the Forest Service's communications use program.

Muehlhof further clarified that the proposed fee would not be charged for towers but the management of the program.



The Forest Service administers more than 3,700 communications use authorizations at 1,367 communications sites and more than 400 authorizations for fiber optic cable," Muehlhof explained.



The comment period for the fees ended on Tuesday and closed with 1,350 page views and at least 638 comments in the document on the Forest Service website.

However, the U.S. Forest Service plans to extend the period by adding an additional 30 days. According to a document posted to the FederalRegister.gov website, the comment period is expected to resume on March 1. Once the comment period begins, comments can be made online at federalregister.gov.

In December, the American Radio Relay League said in a post on its website that it plans to vigorously oppose the imposition of the proposed fees on amateur radio.



Ed Hude, Michigan state government liaison for the American Radio Relay League, said he was contacted by amateur radio members in the area concerned about the Wellston tower fee.



Someone in the amateur radio community up there sent some inquiries wanting to make us aware that this was taking place, Hude said. They said that originally they were allowed to be on the tower at no charge because of the volunteer services they would provide.



He said he asked Rick Mark of the West Michigan Repeater Association if the tower was strictly used by the Forest Service.



And he said no, its on an elevated space. Theres a commercial company out of Traverse City thats on it. Theres the amateur radio antenna and then theres also the radio system antenna on that tower called the Dial A Ride on that tower too and they operate off of that, Hude said.



Hude said he also spoke with leadership at Manistee County Dial A Ride who were not aware of receiving a note about a potential fee.



Dial A Ride could not be reached for comment and clarification on the matter as of Thursday afternoon.



One concern raised by Hude is that he felt there should be more communication between the Forest Service and local governments, like Manistee County, that could have to pay for potential fees.



When asked if there are plans for any meetings with local government entities to present information or have a public meeting on the topic, Muehlhof said the Forest Service does not have plans to hold public meetings regarding the proposed rule.



In the next stages of the proposed rule, Muehlhof said the U.S. Forest Service will consider the comments when developing a final rule.



The Forest Service will respond to timely comments on the proposed rule in the Federal Register notice for the final rule. We encourage all interested parties to submit timely comments on the proposed rule, including holders of a communications use authorization, Muehlhof said.
Cassandra Day / Hearst Connecticut Media

MIDDLETOWN  In anticipation of the snowstorm, Mayor Ben Florsheim has declared a parking ban on all city streets effective Thursday at 10 p.m.

In the event motorists need alternative, off-street parking, they may park in the following municipal parking lots without charge, according to a press release: Melilli Plaza (250 spaces), Broad Street/Kidcity lot (100 spaces), Broad Street/Russell Library (30 spaces), Kings Avenue (20 spaces); and Dingwall Drive (90 spaces), the latter of which is accessed from deKoven Drive.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday lashed out at the government for the apathy shown towards students residing in Ukraine.

Speaking to IANS during campaigning at Maskanwa in Uttar Pradesh, she said, "government should show the might to bring back the stranded students. They should have done it earlier. It was clear that something was going on in that country, but the government should act now as not only the students, but parents and family members are also worried."

India has asked its citizens stranded in Ukraine to reach out to the embassy for evacuation and also has issued helpline numbers. The announcement was made after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday launched a military operation in Ukraine.

In an advisory to all the Indian nationals in Ukraine, the embassy said: "This is to inform all Indian nationals in Ukraine that since the Ukrainian airspace has been closed the schedule for special flights stands cancelled."

The embassy further stated that alternative arrangements were being made for evacuation of the Indian nationals.

The embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalised, so that the Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country, said an official.
BRIDGEPORT  The school district could host an anti-racism training session for elected officials and other leaders, according to a tentative plan passed by a school board committee on Tuesday night.

Bridgeport Generation Now, in partnership with the New Orleans-based Peoples Institute for Survival and Beyond, is organizing a free, 2.5-day training for board and city council members and others as space permits. Led by three national trainers, the workshop accommodates 40 participants this round. Participation is subsidized through a foundation-funded grant.

The plan is to hold the workshop at school facilities on April 1 through April 3, pending full board approval.

(Participants) get to self-examine and understand how we have all been racialized in this country, Gemeem Davis, vice president and co-director of Bridgeport Generation Now, said of the program. How we might be carrying harmful ways of being into our lives and our work and our society right now, and how we can organize together to change that.

Schools across Connecticut have focused on social justice issues in different ways  through curricula, trainings and committees  and to varying reception. While Guilford received national attention this fall for parent backlash to its social justice and equity initiatives, a recent poll of Connecticut residents showed strong support for teaching about racial injustice in public schools, though that favorable outlook waned when the term critical race theory was used.

Bridgeport Generation Now estimated that 130 people have gone through its programs since 2017, while the Peoples Institute for Survival and Beyond has trained in the millions in social justice work. The organizers hope to grow those numbers and include more people from the public schools if others are interested.

Were always open to doing more trainings, so that is an option for going forward, Davis said, dependent on funding.

According to the group, past participants have been inspired to learn more and take conversations back to their families, communities and workplaces about racism and its pervasiveness in America.

The best thing about the workshop is only people who want to be there come, said Callie Heilmann, co-founder and president of Bridgeport Generation Now. This isnt a training that HR (organized). This is something that you want to do for your own soul and your own community, and that makes all the difference.

The organizers noted that though they do not collect quantitative impact data, the workshop could shape the kinds of policies attendees introduce and changes that come.

This committee sometimes gets frustrating because a lot of things were doing, we wont see in our lifetime, said Joseph Sokolovic, who heads the committee. Were building bridges to the future, so the people who come after us can benefit.

Sokolovic restarted the diversity, equity and inclusion committee after a long hiatus last month. The committee chair said that the task force, which has met five times since its creation in October 2020, will get back to work under his leadership.

We may not see the benefits, said Sokolovic. But its there.
COLCHESTER  The family of James Stone Jr.  killed in 2018  asked the public to come forward with any information during a tearful statement read by his mother at a Thursday press conference with state officials.

Gathered outside the Connecticut State Police Troop K barracks in Colchester, Stones mother, father, sister and his mothers boyfriend stood alongside state police detectives, New London States Attorney Paul Narducci and Inspector Michael Hurley to discuss Stones case.

Stone, who was 36 at the time, was found dead with gunshot wounds in his trailer on Stanavage Road on the Golden Hill Paugussett Reservation in Colchester on May 18, 2018. Authorities said Stones death hit not only his family hard, but also the entire Colchester community.

Last month, the governors office and Narducci announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for Stones death. State police also said last month that its investigators were intensifying efforts and vigorously pursuing all leads around the clock for the case.

We cannot emphasize enough how important a role the public plays, Connecticut State Police Sgt. Dawn Pagan said. You may be thinking about it and thinking you have this small bit of information. ... It could be that one tiny bit of information that could really crack open a case.

Detective David Bennett, the lead investigator on the case for the state polices Eastern District Major Crimes Squad, said Stone wasnt living in the trailer at the time of his death.

Bennett said while Stone had lived at the trailer on the reservation in the past, investigators believe he had returned that day to retrieve personal belongings. No one else was living there at the time. Authorities would not say whether investigators believe Stone mightve been killed by an individual or individuals who knew him and knew he would be returning to the trailer for his items. Officials, citing the ongoing investigation, said they did not want to speculate.

Investigative leads have been developed, Bennett said, adding that new leads came in recently after social media posts by law enforcement and the addition of a reward. We will be following every lead that comes in to the state police.

Through tears, Bambi Stone  James Stone Jr.s mother  pleaded with the public to come forward with any information.

My family seeks swift justice for this senseless murder of our loving son and brother, Jimmy, she said. Jimmy was a kind, loving person that did not deserve to die the way that he did. We are devastated by this loss. We will never forget and never get over the loss of Jimmy. Jimmy lived a peaceful and productive life and is missed every single moment of every day.

Jenny Stone, the victims sister, said her family has put a lot of faith in the detectives investigating the case, adding that investigators have been keeping them updated.

Bennett said investigators have looked at many different angles over the years, including video surveillance in the area to track Stones movements leading up to his death.

During Thursdays news conference, Bennett said there was no footage at the trailer to show a possible suspect or suspects. He said investigators have used cellphone data to pinpoint people who couldve been there and to rule out others who were not there.

Bennett said authorities have dealt with some complications in the case, citing a small group of friends at the time of his death and the homicide happening in such a rural area.

Since the start of the investigation, Bennett said investigators have interviewed close to 100 people for the case.

Narducci said officials hope the $25,000 reward will spur people to come forward with more information that will help lead us to be able to solve this.
Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media

A jury in New Haven found a former Meriden gang member guilty of murder Wednesday, the states Division of Criminal Justice announced.

The verdict stems from an incident that took place the morning of June 21, 2020. Prosecutors said that Trevor Outlaw, 35, of Meriden, and an accomplice discovered a rival gang member, 24-year-old Giovanni Rodriguez, was at the Comfort Inn & Suites hotel on East Main Street, according to the state agency.
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Connecticuts congressional delegation on Thursday condemned the Russian attacks on the Ukraine and supported President Joe Bidens initial sanctions to force the invaders to face strict economic consequences.

The courage of Ukrainians fighting for their homeland should be matched by even stronger, crippling sanctions by America and its allies, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said after the presidents afternoon announcement and brief news conference. Blumenthal said the United States should now be persuading allies to deny Russia access to the SWIFT world financial system.

Vladimir Putin has violated core principles that uphold global peace and security, seeking to change the borders of a sovereign country by force and attacking the post-World War II global order, Blumenthal said in a statement. This attack on Ukraine, a western democracy, is a direct threat to the national and economic security of the United States. We have already seen a jump in gas prices and turmoil in the stock market due to Putins actions. If he is succeeds, we can expect the United States to face not only a pacing threat from China, but also an expansionist Russia that once again desires to dominate the former Soviet Republics along with wide swaths of Europe and the Middle East.

The Associated Press reported that the multi-front invasion began in the predawn hours Thursday with Russian troops and war planes hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling. Civilians piled into trains and cars to flee the country.

Ukraines government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a full-scale war that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout already reverberated around the world.

In unleashing Moscows most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Russian President Vladimir Putin deflected global condemnation and cascading new sanctions  and chillingly referred to his countrys nuclear arsenal. He threatened any foreign country attempting to interfere with consequences you have never seen.

Putin will come to regret the panicked decision he made to invade Ukraine, said U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who called the decision a defining mistake for Putin in a tweet Thursday morning.

I applaud the president's decision to exact a heavy price on the Russian government and economy, and the fact that he did this together with our allies makes the blow more impactful. I will be working with my colleagues in Congress in a bipartisan way to provide continued assistance to Ukraine in its hour of need  as well as taking steps to reassure our vulnerable eastern flank NATO allies.

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, said Putins decision will bring terrible consequences for him and his supporters.

By invading Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has chosen to violate international law and ignore the warnings of the United States, NATO, and the community of free nations, Himes said. This decision will bring terrible consequences for him and his supporters in the form of sanctions and other crippling measures. He should immediately withdraw all troops or risk an escalation in consequences that will not end well for him or his regime.

More than 21,000 Connecticut residents claim Ukrainian ancestry or were born there, according to a recent estimate by The Ukrainian Weekly, a publication of The Ukrainian National Association, a fraternal organization. About 1.1 million people nationwide claim Ukrainian ancestry.

Gov. Ned Lamont, back from a weeklong trip to Israel promoting Connecticut business and economic development, called the invasion abhorrent.

I condemn the unjustified, unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lamont said after President Biden announced sweeping sanctions, including the freezing of Russian bank accounts. The people of Connecticut stand in solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine and pray for their safety as they endure this assault on their freedom. I commend President Biden for leading the free world in sanctioning and punishing Russia for their aggression against a sovereign, democratic, and peaceful nation.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
More than a dozen residents of military housing near Honolulu have filed claims against the Navy, alleging they were sickened as a result of fuel contamination to the drinking water supply near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Fifteen military family members and civilian tenants submitted paperwork under the Federal Tort Claims Act seeking compensation for health issues they say are related to consuming the tainted water, the result of a fuel spill at a Navy storage facility last November.

The claims, which represent the first step in a lawsuit against the federal government, allege that the Navy failed to disclose the November spill, as well as an earlier spill last May.

Read Next: Thousands of Veterans May See Disability Deadline Waived as Supreme Court Takes Up Case

When the families sought medical treatment from the service for symptoms possibly related to consuming petroleum products, military providers "failed to run the standard toxicology labs to test liver function, kidney function and complete blood count," the families lawyers wrote in their filing.

As a result, some of the families continue to have symptoms of fuel ingestion and are at risk for conditions such as leukemia, immune disorders, kidney disease, heart conditions, gastrointestinal problems and neurological effects, according to their legal representatives.

"What a rare occurrence in history, that the same person that poisoned you is also the entity that is supposed to be caring for you," said Kristina Baehr, an attorney with Just Well Law in Austin, Texas.

Families living in military communities served by a Navy-managed water system near Honolulu began reporting Nov. 28 that their tap water smelled of gasoline and had an oily sheen.

Tests later revealed that wells in the system had been contaminated with jet fuel or had traces of diesel, the result of spills at the service's Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, used to store supplies to power the Navy's Pacific Fleet.

As a result, residents of entire neighborhoods were sent to hotels or given the chance to stay in their homes, relying on water hauled in by trucks.

But while the Navy established protocols and services to provide family assistance, attorneys say that care has fallen short, especially the medical treatment provided.

"It is our clients who evacuated the island who have received appropriate care from civilian providers," wrote Just Well Law attorneys and representatives of the Hosoda Law Group, Honolulu, in a letter to Vice Adm. Darse Crandall in the Navy's Office of the Judge Advocate.

In the letter, the attorneys said their clients experienced symptoms such as abdominal pain, rashes, memory loss, seizures, thyroid conditions, eye irritation, headaches and lethargy, and are at risk for long-term health consequences.

"We are demanding that they at least get a basic level of care," Baehr said. "And we are asking for medical monitoring as part of our claims -- monetary compensation for medical monitoring so they can be seen by civilian providers."

Active-duty military personnel are barred from suing the Department of Defense for injuries considered incidental to military service. But under a law passed in 2019, they may file claims for medical malpractice.

Military families and civilians are free to sue the federal government under the Federal Tort Claim Act for harm or negligence that results in an injury to them.

According to the law, the Navy has six months from the filing to settle on an amount and pay out claims, according to Baehr. If the Navy doesn't respond, claimants will file a lawsuit, she said.

Rear Adm. Charlie Brown, the Navy's chief of information, said in a statement Wednesday that the service had "no comment regarding any potential future legal actions."

Some affected families already have filed a potential class-action suit against the private companies that manage military housing in Honolulu. That suit alleges that the companies failed to warn tenants of the risks that the Red Hill facility posed to their drinking water supply.

The Navy is not named in that suit, which has been filed against Ohana Military Communities and Hunt HM Property Management, as well as Island Palm Communities and Hickam Communities, both operated by Lendlease.

Baehr, who is not involved in the suit against the housing companies, said her clients have faced difficulties with the private management companies, some of which are demanding money from tenants who want to break their leases or who have refused to pay rent since they have not been living in their homes or lack access to fresh water.

"I have three clients that in the last few days have received bills for tens of thousands of dollars," Baehr said.

She added that she remains hopeful the Navy will settle with all families affected by the contamination, given that Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said the service plans to take responsibility for the issue.

"This is what the Federal Tort Claims Act was designed for. You were harmed by the negligence of a federal agency, and you can file a claim against the federal agency," Baehr said.

Baehr and attorney Lyle Hosoda will host a town hall meeting Thursday to discuss the legal options available to military family members and civilians affected by the contamination.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: What Lies Beneath: Vets Worry Polluted Base Made Them Ill
Taiwanese fighters scrambled Thursday to intercept and warn off nine Chinese warplanes that penetrated the island's declared air defense zone, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The intercepts occurred after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen "condemned Russia's violation of the sovereignty of Ukraine" and ordered her country's military to boost readiness and increase vigilance over the Taiwan Strait, moves announced in a Facebook post as tensions mounted in the region over concerns that Beijing might seek to take advantage of the U.S. focus on war in Europe.

The Defense Ministry said the Chinese aircraft consisted of eight J-16 strike fighters and one Y-8 maritime patrol aircraft; they turned back following warnings from the Taiwanese interceptors.

Read Next: Russia Attacks Ukraine as Defiant Putin Warns US, NATO

The ministry also said air defense systems were alerted to "monitor activities," which has become almost routine in response to frequent Chinese probes of Taiwan's airspace.

The U.S. is aware of the latest report of Chinese aircraft approaching Taiwan and remains concerned about "provocative military action near Taiwan" that could lead to conflict, a Pentagon spokesman told Fox News.

Leading up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Western leaders warned that President Vladimir Putin's apparent determination to restore Moscow's dominance over Ukraine could embolden China to take action against Taiwan, which China regards as sovereign territory.

On Sunday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "If Ukraine is endangered, the shock will echo around the world. And those echoes will be heard in east Asia -- will be heard in Taiwan."

Earlier this month, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a joint statement at the Winter Olympics in Beijing shoring up "strategic cooperation" between the two powers and affirming that Taiwan is part of China.

China signaled Thursday that it will continue to support Russia by announcing a deal to buy Russian wheat in an apparent effort to cushion the economic blow from U.S. and European sanctions.

But the invasion of Ukraine and violation of its sovereignty pose a policy dilemma for China, which has repeatedly blasted any moves by the U.S. or others to support Taiwan as a violation of its own sovereignty.

Chinese officials also sought to profess neutrality over Ukraine by calling for a peaceful settlement, while avoiding any criticism of Putin.

"The Ukraine issue has a very complicated historical background. It has evolved to the present situation due to the joint action of various factors," Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying said while reading from a script at a Beijing news conference Thursday.

Hua repeatedly sidestepped questions on whether Russia's actions violated Ukraine's sovereignty and said that "the legitimate security concerns of all parties should be respected and addressed."

At a news conference Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby sought to contrast China's policy on Taiwan with support for Putin, who announced Tuesday that Moscow was recognizing the independence of two separatist movements in Ukraine's Donbas region.

"I will point you back to the February 4 statement that Xi and Putin put out, which certainly we took as tacit approval for what Mr. Putin is doing," Kirby said. "We wonder, can it really be the Chinese policy now to support separatist movements over the sovereignty of nation states? That's an interesting twist, isn't it?"

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: Sorting Fact, Disinformation After Russian Attack on Ukraine
OICC China Lake Commanding Officer Capt. Laurie Scott delivered closing remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony held February 16 at the site of the Range Control Complex on Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, which officially marked the beginning of the fourteenth military construction project of the $2.7B Military Construction and Restoration and Modernization Earthquake Recovery Program.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the current situation in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Thursday, terming India as a "concerned party" in the conflict.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to Russian President Putin on the prevailing crisis," the Foreign Secretary said in a media briefing here on Thursday night.

He also said that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken to a number of ministers from European Union and those from neighbouring countries, which will help in the evacuation of stranded Indian nationals from Ukraine.

About being a stakeholder, the Foreign Secretary stated, "We are in touch with all. Whatever we do will be in the interest of our people."

He further said, "We have been in touch with all the parties, both as a member of UNSC, and as a country with stakes in that region where Indian nationals are stuck."

The official said that 4,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Ambassador to Ukraine, Partha Satpathy, said the situation is highly tense and very uncertain, which of course is causing a lot of anxiety.

Satpathy said, "I am reaching out to you from Kiev. Today early morning, we all woke up with the news that Ukraine is under attack. The air space is closed, railway schedules are in flux and roads are crammed."

Satpathy requested everyone to stay calm and face the situation with fortitude.

The Embassy continues to remain open and operate in Kiev, Satpathy added.

He urged Indian nationals to stay put wherever they are, in their familiar locations.

"Those who are in transit, please return to your familiar places of habitation. Those who are stranded here in Kiev, please get in touch with your friends and colleagues in Kiev, universities and other community members, so that you can temporarily lodge there," he said.

The Ambassador said, "We have already reached out to the Indian diaspora and have requested them to assist you to the best of their abilities."
Capt. Brian Hogan, commodore, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) Eight, renders a salute to sideboys as he departs his commands reestablishment ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk Friday, Feb. 18.
Norfolk, VA (23510)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms becoming likely this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 88F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 62F. WSW winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Nigerian Televangelist, Apostle Johnson Suleman has showered praises on Ghana's Gospel heavyweight, Empress Gifty.

The man of God who is the Senior Pastor and general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International expressed his excitement at the ministration of the "Eye Woaa " hitmaker.

Empress Gifty on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, graced the day two of the Mighty Turnaround 2022 Crusade in ACCRA, Ghana With Apostle Johnson Suleman.

The gospel music dynamo led the patrons of the crusade to the throne of God with an awe-inspiring performance that received many commendations from many people.

Amongst them was Apostle Johnson Suleman who described Empress Gifty's performance as special ministration.

Currently, Empress Gifty's Eye Woaa single is topping charts and making airwaves in the country ahead of her The Resurrection Effect Concert this year.

Click to watch Empress Gifty's Eye Woaa
The Importers and Exporters Association is appealing to government to increase the newly announced discount to be applied to the benchmark values for the importation of vehicles from 10 percent to 20 percent.

The appeal comes after the government's announcement of a new 30 percent discount on the benchmark values of all imported goods and a 10 percent discount for vehicles from the initial discount of 50 percent and 30 percent respectively.

Samson Assaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, said I made it clear to the minister that if you can bring them to 20 percent, that wouldn't be bad or 40 or 30 percent for general cargo.

I don't know whether after our submission if the government will come up with a report and if they will push it up to 20 or 15 percent on vehicles, Mr. Awingobit said to Citi News.

He further expressed concern that the change in policy could spark smuggling.

We have to treat it cautiously. We don't want a situation where people will start smuggling goods through the borders. We want everybody to bring goods from the port.

The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), however, said it will do further checks to see how beneficial the development is.

We need to simulate this 30 percent within our cost structure to determine whether it is competitive, so we are engaging government in this discussion, its president, Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, said to Citi News.

It needs to be simulated within the various cost structures of the various sectors of our domain. That is when you know whether the figures coming out are sustainable.

Meanwhile, the President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng, expressed satisfaction with the compromise in the implementation of the policy but said The government should have given us a reasonable discount, not reversing the whole 50 percent.

We cannot be entrenched all the time, and we cannot have it all, so we are very grateful to the government for this gesture.

---Citi Newsroom
French lawmakers have voted to extend the deadline before which a woman can get an abortion from 12 to 14 weeks in one last reform before presidential elections in April.

The reformed law was tabled after a number of pregnancy termination centers were closed throughout France. It was also necessitated by lack of medical professionals who can perform the procedure in France's so-called 'medical deserts'.

The bill was first put to lawmakers in October 2020 by Albane Gaillot, then a member of President Emmanuel Macron's Republique en Marche (REM) party. Parliamentary head Christophe Castaner, also of REM, pushed for its passage.

Macron himself has not been a big proponent of its passing, but said last year that he would respect the freedom of parliamentarians.

When an idea is good, it is neither right nor left," Gaillot told French news agency AFP.

The text had backing from Socialist opposition MP Marie-Noelle Battistel, who said that 2,000 women would be forced to go abroad every year to have an abortion after exceeding the legal time limits in France.

For her, by extending the period to 14 weeks, very young, vulnerable women without access to health information, who do not have means of transport, or have been victims of sexual violence will benefit for the new law.

Midwives will also be able practice pregnancy termination as well. The bill initially allowed doctors to opt out of performing the procedure due to a clause that would allow them to follow their beliefs on abortion, but that was eliminated before the final draft.

The law angered activists of Alliance Vita, an international group against abortion and the right to commit suicide, who tried to influence the Senate and National Assembly in an effort to make the bill fail.

Overall, in a recent poll, French citizens remain overwhelmingly in favor of the right to abortion. Abortion laws are being challenged across Europe, especially in eastern countries

In the majority of European countries, medical practitioners can perform pregnancy terminations only up to 12 weeks.
23.02.2022 LISTEN

Dear H.E President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Bawumia,

Covid-19 Health And Sanitation & Pollution Levies: Allocate Funds To Hire And Train Environmental Health Workforce In Response To Covid-19 And Other Environmental Health Challenges In Ghana

The Health Sector Environmental Health Practitioners AssociationGhana (HeSEHPAG), is a registered professional Association for Environmental Health Officers practicing under the Ministry of Health (MOH) and its Agencies, and are regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) in accordance with the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857).

The HeSEHPAG represents Environmental Health Professionals working under the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ghana Health Service (GHS), Teaching Hospitals (THs), Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Faith-Based and Quasi Health Facilities across the country. HeSEHPAG is the professions strongest advocate for excellence in the practice of Environmental Health as it delivers on its mission to build, sustain, and empower an effective Environmental Health Workforce.

HeSEHPAG applauds your Excellency the Presidents efforts in its introduction of the COVID-19 Health and Sanitation and Pollution Levies to adequately mitigate the burden of the pandemic on the economy and the public health workforce as well as on sanitation infrastructure. For example, the proposed establishment of fourteen (14) medical waste treatment facilities across the country to effectively manage COVID-19 infectious wastes as well as carry out fumigation and disinfection of public places including, airports, markets, schools, hospitals, offices etc. by Government.

ESTABLISH MORE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AND UPGRADE EXISTING SCHOOLS OF HYGIENE (SOHS) TO DEGREE AWARDING TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

On behalf of the largest Preventive Public Health Workforce, however, we request that the Environmental Health Profession be identified by name in the plans and funds that would be accrued from the Levies aforementioned to Hire and Train Environmental Health Professionals at MOH/GHS/THs, Public and Private Institutions/Facilities, Industries/Firms and the Establishment of more Environmental Health Training Institutions (Upgrade current Schools of Hygiene to a Degree awarding institutions) and empower other Universities/Colleges to run professional Environmental Health programmes at Degree, Masters and Ph.D. levels respectively, to strengthen and modernize the preventive public health workforce in their readiness to handle emergent pandemics.

Environmental Health Professionals are critical public servants who mainly work at the Port of Entry (POE), Hospitals, Institutions, Industries, Waste Management Companies and Local Authorities. They mediate some of the most intimate parts of our lives; our food, water, and air. Regretfully, they are often overlooked when investments in public health are made.

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) have been essential in delivering public health services during the pandemic. Environmental Health Practitioners at the Port of Entry (Port Health), Hospitals and Local Health Departments (Metropolitan, Municipal and District AssembliesMMDAs) were actively engaged in COVID-19 response and recovery. For instance, EHPs across the country were at the post because they fall under the essential services under the National Labour Act and further exempted by the President's directives in the COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown as Environmental Health and Sanitation Activities/Services. Their efforts on COVID-19 were key in safely reopening and restoring the economy.

Environmental Health Practitioners roles and duties in this pandemic were:

Healthcare wastes management especially management of highly infectious waste like wastes from COVID- 19 patients, treatment centers and holding facilities. Ensuring safe and hygienic practices which are important for quality health outcomes. Promoting hygiene practices like hand hygiene, cough etiquette and environmental cleaning which are essential to breaking the chain of transmissions at the community and other places of human engagements. Current and terminal disinfection of homes and wards including vehicles and ambulances and articles of a COVID-19 patients and dead bodies. Safe burial of COVID-19 dead bodies/corpses. Training of other health staff on waste segregation, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and handling of the COVID 19 dead bodies. Public education on the preventive measures of COVID-19 and other preventable disease conditions such as cholera and diarrhoeal diseases. Inspection and enforcement of hygiene at all public and private health facilities to ensure personal and environmental hygiene standards. Preparation of quarantine areas to meet basic hygiene and safety standards. Contact tracing and monitoring to prevent spread of the disease. Overseeing operations at public mortuaries where COVID-19 bodies are kept and supervision of private ones.

However, the Hiring and Training of Environmental Health Practitioners will be necessary to ensure the safe reopening of this nations businesses and the economy in the current and future outbreaks. The public health community needs a robust Environmental Health workforce to ensure that food is safe to eat, water safe to drink, and the environment is safe and healthful for this nation. Public health cannot operate, nor the economy reopens and thrives, without an adequately trained, registered and certified Environmental Health workforce.

On the Presidents the plan to invest and modernize the public health workforce by providing 88 Hospitals and other Health Infrastructure to expand healthcare, must include Environmental Health. Both present and future public health departments will need Environmental Health Practitioners to perform/carry out Environmental Health Services.

Without acknowledging the largest segment of Preventive Public Health Workers and the services they provide means that the State, MOH and its Agencies as well as Local Health Departments (MMDAs) will never achieve the goals sought by this effort. Environmental Health is critical to ensuring a strong public health workforce both now and in the future.

ESTABLISH A NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SANITATION RESEARCH CENTRE (NEHSRC) UNDER MINISTRY OF HEALTH (MOH) POST COVID-19 ERA

To this end, we are calling on the President to allocate a significant percentage of the funds from the COVID-19 Health and Sanitation and Pollution Levies to immediately support the Establishment of a National Environmental Health and Sanitation Research Centre ( NEHSRC ) under Ministry of Health ( MOH ) in Ghana Post COVID-19 Era.

We strongly believe and are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that, the NEHSRC will help MOH and its Agencies, Environmental Health Professionals/Practitioners (EHPs) and other interested Actors in the Environmental Health and Sanitation and Public Health Sectors to conduct scientific research and projects to determine the impact of the COVID-19 on Human Health, Environment, Occupational Health, Food Hygiene and Safety, Port Health Services and other specialized areas of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Sector that are of much importance and concern during this COVD-19 era.

Moreover, the NEHSRC among its duties will carry out comprehensive assessment of various categories and classification of wastes in Ghana that has been generated during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the determinants of COVID-19 spread, the adherence and compliance of the prescribed Environmental Health and Hygiene measures and protocols by community members, where and who needs handwashing and sanitary facilities to ensure effective practicing of hand washing could be discovered to help curtail the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated health and environmental implications as the cases continue to spike.

Finally, HeSEHPAG supports the plan to establish Centre of Infectious Diseases with the caveat that it recognizes Environmental Health as part of the public health workforce. WHO/CDC recognizes Environmental Health and will further do through the proposed National Environmental Health and Sanitation Research Centre (NEHRC). Without this, your Excellency, the Presidents effort will be unable to build a new public health workforce that addresses the needs of the nation if the Environmental Health workforce is ignored.

HeSEHPAG strongly encourages the Hiring and Training of Environmental Health Practitioners with the establishment of more Environmental Health Training Institutions. This workforce has suffered from a decline in practitioners in MOH and Local Health Departments (MMDAs) for so many years with lack of posting of qualified graduates ranging from ten (10) years upon completion of their programme of study in professional Environmental Health from the Schools of Hygiene (SOH), even though Environmental Health Services are performed and needed in virtually every Health Department, from the smallest rural to the largest Urban Departments.

These Practitioners inspect food service establishments, ensure public and private drinking water is safe, and perform building and housing inspections. They inspect homes for hazards, ensure indoor air is clean, and that vectors and vermin such as mosquitoes are controlled.

By disregarding the Environmental Health workforce, the H.E Akufo-Addo-Bawumia plan to support the development of the next generation of public health leaders will neglect a critical part of the workforce responsible for Environmental Public Health who are the backbone of quality health and well-being. As these Health Professionals were affectionately called Tankas/Samansaman in the olden days.

As the Presidency seeks to work with leaders from across the public health community, HeSEHPAG recommends that this includes leaders from the Environmental Health community. Being part of this effort will acknowledge the value provided by the Environmental Health workforce, while ensuring that this effort achieves the maximum success for the State, MOH/GHS and Local Public Health (MMDAs) workforce, as well as your Administration.

HeSEHPAG supports this effort and wants to see it succeed yet has doubts to its success if the largest preventive Sector of the Public Health (Environmental Health Officers) workforce is not included.

HeSEHPAG looks forward to working with your Administration on this effort and regard.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

DOREEN DANSO (M.Sc., MAHPC, MCIEH-UK)

NATIONAL PRESIDENT

+233 (0) 244215670

[email protected] / [email protected]

Cc:

The Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin

Speaker of Parliament, Parliament of Ghana, Parliament House, Accra

Dr. Nsiah Asare

The Presidential Advisor on Health, Office of the President, Jubilee House, Accra

Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (MP)

The Minister of Health, MOH, Accra

Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, MSWR, Accra
24.02.2022 LISTEN

General Secretary hopeful of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) Lawyer Justin Frimpong Kodua has called for unity ahead of the Partys upcoming internal elections.

The NPP is preparing to elect its new polling station executives and electoral area coordinators which will pave way for the election of constituency, regional and national executives to steer the affairs of the party for election 2024.

In a statement, Lawyer Frimpong Kodua extended his well wishes to all aspirants and advised them to be cautious of their actions and utterances in order not to threaten the unity of the party.

As the processes has just begun, we must go about the internal elections devoid of malice, rancour, name-calling, derogatory and vituperative comments, personal attacks, unjustifiable allegations and all such unseemly conduct which has the tendency to divide us and threaten the unity and cohesion in the party, part of the statement read.

He appealed to the aspirants to eschew behaviours which may be detrimental to the party during the main campaign in 2024.

Let us be conscious of the fact that this is an intra-party contest and when it is all over, we will need each and everyone onboard to deliver victory for our dear party in the 2024 general elections.

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) opened nominations for the election of polling station executives and electoral area coordinators from February 19 to 21, 2022.

The party, in a memo signed by the Director of Research and Elections, Mr Evans Nimako, dated February 14, 2022, said: I have been directed by the General Secretary to inform you that pursuant to the directives given by the National Council toward the conduct of Polling Station and Area Coordinators elections across the country from the 19th of February to 5th March 2022."

Read the full statement below:

LAWYER JUSTIN FRIMPONG KODUA (JFK) WISHES ALL ASPIRANTS GOOD LUCK

I salute you, Fellow Patriots!

It is my greatest pleasure and privilege to extend my warm wishes and sincere commendation to all and sundry, particularly our hardworking and dedicated Party executives, party members and sympathizers across the country.

As the processes has just begun, we must go about the internal elections devoid of malice, rancour, name-calling, derogatory and vituperative comments, personal attacks, unjustifiable allegations and all such unseemly conduct which has the tendency to divide us and threaten the unity and cohesion in the party.

Let us be conscious of the fact that this is intra-party contest and when it is all over, we will need each and everyone onboard to deliver victory for our dear party in the 2024 general elections.

Once again, I extend my kind regards to all aspirants and wish them well in the upcoming internal elections.

May God bless our homeland Ghana, and the New Patriotic Party, and above all, bless every Ghanaian.

Thank you!

LAWYER JUSTIN FRIMPONG KODUA (JFK)

NPP GENERAL SECRETARY HOPEFUL
24.02.2022 LISTEN

The Weija Traditional Council is demanding compensation from government over the siting of the Weija Dam on its land.

The Traditional Council says 44 years after their forefathers gave the government over 50,000 acres of land for the construction of the dam, they are yet to receive any compensation.

At a press conference to pour out their frustrations to the government over delays in the payments of compensations to the Weija Traditional Council, the chiefs and people of Weija expressed their disappointment at the government for the delays.

According to them, their forefathers gave the land to the government for the construction of the Weija dam, which has been serving the needs of many Ghanaians across the length and breadth of the country for over forty-four years.

They indicated that during the time of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and late President John Evans Atta Mills, they made several attempts to draw the attention of the government, but it yielded no result.

The Traditional Council however wants the government to speed up processes for the compensations to be paid to its rightful owners.

Here is the Dzaasetse of Weija, Nii Danyinase I, speaking to Citi News about the development.

Our town has become overpopulated and the inhabitants do not have places to lay their heads. They should show us the boundaries for us to know our no-go area. We are by this also appealing to the government to give us a portion of the land to give our inhabitants places to live.

Quite apart from these challenges, the traditional council also denied reports that it has given portions of the buffer zone to developers for sand-winning activities, threatening the very existence of the dam.

According to them, the Weija Community has overgrown and there is the need for government to release portions of the over 50,000-acre land aside from the buffer zone to traditional authorities for development.

---citinewsroom
Nii Moi Thompson, a former National Development Planning Commission Director-General, believes the Akufo-Addo government is shying away from IMF support because of possible scrutiny of COVID-19 expenditure.

Speaking on The Point of View, he said he viewed the push for the e-levy as a last gap measure from the government after mismanaging COVID-19 funds.

It is simply mind-boggling the amount of money we have had before COVID and during COVID, he said.

The IMF and the World Bank provide Ghana with $1 billion and $230 million respectively to assist with tackling the pandemic.

Mr. Thompson now expects strict conditions if the government should turn to IMF support.

They [IMF] are now lurking in the shadows waiting for us to go to them and the number of conditions that they are likely to put on the table, that is probably why our government is reluctant to go.

As an example, he said the IMF may decide to scrutinise Ghanas use of money meant to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

If they were to go to the IMF, the IMF is going to insist on auditing COVID expenditures because they won't come and give you money without looking at what you did wrong.

They may even insist that it be an outside audit company because of the way we treated the previous Auditor General, Mr. Thompson added.

---citinewsroom
Indian Air Force is ready to airlift nationals stranded in Ukraine, along with commercial aircraft, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Thursday, adding India is in touch with both Russia and Ukraine as a "stakeholder".

"Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with the Ministry of Defence. We have told them that we will need provisions for airlift. In that case, the IAF can go along with commercial aircraft... All options are on the table," said Shringla.

He also said that India's topmost priority is safety and security of Indian nationals and their evacuation.

The Foreign Secretary stated that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken to his Polish, Romanian, Hungarian, and Slovakian counterparts for setting up a camp at border areas for evacuation of stranded Indian nationals.

He also stated that flight options are available through Dubai and Istanbul and that the Indian Embassy continues to be operational in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the ongoing crisis in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin and stated that the differences between Russia and the NATO ' title=' NATO '>NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue.

The Russian President briefed Modi about the recent developments regarding Ukraine, while Modi appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.

The Prime Minister also sensitised the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India.
Methodist cleric Rev. Emmanuel Asante has explained that he spoke on national issues during the Mahama administration because he had locus as the Chairman of the National Peace Council.

As such, he said every comment he made, at that time, was not in his individual capacity.

I wasnt speaking in my capacity as a Ghanaian then [during the Mahama administration], he told popular NDC serial caller Appiah Stadium, who recently confronted the man God at a funeral ground and accused him of hypocrisy, owing to his silence on national issues under the Akufo-Addo administration.

Rev Prof Asante then clarified: Im not [Rev Dr] Asante-Antwi, as his interlocutor and accuser had mistaken him for.

The confrontation, which was captured on video, first showed Appiah Stadium walking to Rev Prof Asante, exchanging pleasantries with him and then nicely inquiring from the cleric about why he had suddenly lost his voice on national issues now that Mr Mahama was no longer the president of Ghana.

Rev Prof Asante managed to put on a smile while explaining to the politician that he no more had the platform of the National Peace Council to do so.

Appiah Stadium then asked Rev Prof Asante if he was no more a Ghanaian, as well.

He then pointed out to the cleric that the cost of a one-hour flight of President Akufo-Addo alone can build a whole school block, contrasting that with the situation under former President John Mahama, who, he said, never embarked on such luxurious trips.

He followed up by asking the man of God: Are you sure you are not a hypocrite?

A riled Rev Prof Asante then parried the hypocrisy charge levelled against him, saying: Im not a hypocrite, and then lunged at Appiah Stadium thus: Youre the hypocrite, explaining: So far as you do your bidding, I will not do your kind of politics.

The recriminations continued between the two men, with each of them aggressively pointing accusing fingers at the other, as they parted company amidst a dispersing crowd of mourners at a funeral ground.

Appiah Stadium told the Rev Prof Asante that God would, one day, question him on his silence, to which the cleric retorted: God will judge you more than me, adding angrily: He [God] will cut off your head.

Appiah Stadium would have the last word, responding: He [God] will slash your stomach; liar!

Video Credit: Facebook/Class91.3FM

Picture credit: Ghana UN

---Classfmonline.com
Her tiny mouth is constantly open, trying to suck in air.

Adama Assan is four months old, but tips the scales at a pitiful 3.3 kilograms (7.3 pounds) -- not even the average weight at birth of a typical newborn in Europe.

"Normally, a baby of her age would weigh six kilos," said Ousmane Ahmat Mahamat, a supervisor nurse at a ward in a hospital in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, that specialises in infant malnutrition.

In respiratory distress, the scrawny baby is in intensive care, with a breathing tube inserted through a tiny nostril.

Her 18-year-old mother, Zara Issa, sits by helplessly and watches.

"I've been here for four days, watching over her," Issa says.

In the same unit, run by a Senegal-based NGO called ALIMA, 10-month-old Alkhatir Djimiet is also intubated.

He has matchstick-like arms and ribs that stick out: he weighs only 4.5 kilograms, when it should be seven or eight for a healthy infant of his age.

"He is fighting to survive -- he's in a virtual coma," said Ahmat Mahamat, putting the child's file down.

Hunger crisis

These children are among the growing numbers of infants suffering from malnutrition in Chad, a landlocked Sahel country that according to UN figures is the third poorest nation in the world.

In 2021, Chad ranked 113 out of 116 nations on the "Global Hunger Index" -- a peer-reviewed tool compiled by European NGOs designed to estimate calorie needs.

UNICEF estimates that of Chad's population of 15 million, around 5.5 million, including 2.7 million children, will need humanitarian assistance this year.

The cause: a security crisis that has forced farming families to leave their fields, overlapping with extreme weather events and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those factors are amplified by grinding poverty. Forty-two percent of the population live below the poverty line.

The country ranks third in the world for child mortality, after Nigeria and Somalia, according to the World Bank.

With a death rate of 110 per thousand, more than one child in 10 fails to survive to the age of five.

Wasting away

ALIMA -- the Alliance for International Medical Action -- works in N'Djamena with a local charity called Alerte Sante (Health Alert).

A security crisis has forced farming families to leave their fields, overlapping with extreme weather and the Covid-19 pandemic. By Amaury HAUCHARD AFP

It reckons that several hundred thousand children in Chad aged between six and 59 months have "severe acute malnutrition", a medical determination that uses the circumference of the mid-upper arm as a benchmark.

In this phase of malnutrition, the body consumes muscle tissue to provide energy, and the child literally wastes away.

"We are looking after 27 children right now -- that's 10 more than at the same time last year," said Ahmat Mahamat. "We're looking at a disastrous situation."

The unit lacks funds and urgently needs Plumpy'Nut, a French-made peanut-based energy paste provided by international donors that is used to treat severe, acute malnutrition.

No child is ever turned away, though.

In 2019, a surge of admissions meant that staff had at times three children per bed.

So far this year, the unit, located at the Chad-China Friendship Hospital, has admitted 118 children.

They stay for between five and seven days, getting specialist care with intravenous feeding and round-the-clock monitoring.

The survival rate is high -- 94 percent -- but the figure for treatment in locations outside the capital, while unknown, is likely to be lower.

Can't afford food

Many of the problems are exemplified by a 25-year-old mother, Haoua Abdoulaye, whose six-month-old son weighs just six kilograms.

"I don't have enough money to feed him," says Abdoulaye, a market seller, the floppy doll-like child in her arms.

Chad. By AFP

"I lost my first child because of malnutrition, but I don't have the means to give him anything other than breast milk."

Clarisse Bakadah Allaira, a midwife and trained nutritionist, explains that Abdoulaye herself is malnourished and that her breast milk does not provide enough nutrients.

Allaira says the price of staple foods had shot up recently, leaving poor families unable to buy food, or the right kinds of food for good health.

"Last year, a kilo of beans cost 1,000 CFA francs ($1.7, 1.5 euros) -- today, it's 1,500 francs, and the same thing has happened to cooking oil," she says.

Desperate to treat a sick child, the poorest families often buy fake medicines from a market stall, as they lack the funds to buy the genuine product, she says.
The two police officers, whose actions contributed to the death one person, while six others sustained injuries in Lamashegu in the Northern Region, are expected to appear before court today.

The officers allegedly shot into an unregistered Toyota Camry, and triggered a clash between the officers and the youth of the area. Six police officers were interdicted by the Ghana Police Service following the incident.

The two who will be arraigned have been charged with causing harm.

The two are General Corporal Samson Kweku Darfour and Corporal Monney Koranteng.

Specifically, General Corporal Darfour is said to have shot into the unregistered Toyota Camry while Corporal Koranteng allegedly made derogatory comments on social media against the Lamashegu Chief and the people.

According to reports, a 24-year-old man was chased and shot by a police officer after he ignored instruction from officers.

The incident angered youth in the area, who burned tyres in protest of the action of the officers.

Six police officers were interdicted following the incident, and Police in a statement said a team of investigators had been dispatched to the area, led by the Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Personnel from the Police Professional Standards Bureau were also been detailed alongside the CID team to look at professional standard-related issues of the incident.

---citinewsroom
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has launched a military operation in Ukraine with explosions heard across the country. Kyiv's foreign minister has warned of a "full-scale invasion" as Europe and the US condemn the attacks as "unjustifiable".

Weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine.

Speaking in a live television announcement on Wednesday, Putin said: "I have made the decision [to launch] a military operation," that triggered immediate condemnation from Western leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron has slammed Russia's military strikes in Ukraine and has called on Moscow to end them immediately.

In a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Macron reiterated "his support for Ukraine and his commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country."

Worst case scenario for Ukraine

Shortly after Putin's announcement, explosions were reported in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and several other cities.

Ukrainian border guards reported being under attack along the Russian and Belarusian frontiers.

President Zelensky has declared martial law and said Russia was attacking his country's "military infrastructure", but urged citizens not to panic and vowed victory.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's foreign minister said the worst-case scenario was playing out.

"Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes," Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

"This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now."

Within a few hours of Putin's speech, Russia's defence ministry said it had neutralised Ukrainian military airbases and its air defence systems.

In his televised address, Putin justified the operation by claiming the government was overseeing a "genocide" in the east of the country.

The Kremlin had earlier said rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military help against Kyiv.

European, NATO and G7 to hold emergency summit

Meanwhile, the European Union has said will hold Russia "accountable" for its attack on Ukraine and is preparing fresh sanctions that will deal "massive and severe consequences" to Moscow.

This Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel each wrote on Twitter: "We strongly condemn Russia's unjustified attack on Ukraine."

EU leaders are to hold a snap summit late Thursday.

In a joint statement, von der Leyen and Michel said the summit will "discuss the crisis and further restrictive measures" that "will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its actions".

"We are coordinating our response with our international partners, including NATO and G7 whose leaders will meet today [Thursday]," they added.

Biden's vows to hold Putin accountable

Across the Atlantic, US President Joe Biden - who had for weeks sought to lead a Western alliance to deter Putin from invading Ukraine - spoke with Zelenskyy after the Russian operation began to vow US "support" and "assistance".

Biden condemned the "unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces," and urged world leaders to speak out against Putin's "flagrant aggression".

He also vowed Russia would be held accountable.

Putin 'protecting' pro-Russians from Ukraine's 'Nazis'

Moscow's excuse for the military operation was given when the Kremlin said the separatist leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk had sent separate letters to Putin, asking him to "help them repel Ukraine's aggression", often likened to "Nazism" according to Kremlin propaganda.

Their reported appeals came after Putin recognised their independence and signed friendship treaties with them that include defence deals.

The United Nations Security Council had met late Wednesday for its second emergency session in three days over the crisis, with a personal plea from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres coinciding with Putin's announcement.

"President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia," Guterres said.

"In the name of humanity, do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century."
A Professor at the University of Ghana Ransford Gyampo has said he will continue to fight for better conditions for university lecturers in the country irrespective of the consequences he may face.

According to him, the condition of lecturers in Ghana is not the best hence, the call on government to act in dealing with the situation.

Speaking on the New Day show on TV3 with Johnnie Hughes on Wednesday, February 23, he said when his attention was drawn to the fact that continuing to strike by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) will amount to contempt following the court order stopping the strike that Leadership is about sacrifice, people died and people lost their lives, blood was spilt so if people died and you will go to jail for three months, so be it.

He further indicated that the labour agitation is not intended to make the government unpopular. Rather, he said it is to ensure that government meets their legitimate demand.

Any time you make a demand or a claim then they want to look at it with some partisan lenses. Alll of a sudden they say you are NDC, sometimes they say you are NPP , it doesnt make sense to me.

I am Ransford Gyampo. When NDC was there we took them on. NPP is in power and we have legitimate demands and the fact that it is a certain party in power does not mean that all of a sudden our needs have been met.

so those saying you are making the government unpopular  it is not our desire to make anybody feel discomfort, our desire is that 114per cent of the basic salary of a lecturer is around 1400.

Meanwhile, at an emergency meeting at the campus of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), UTAG's National Executive Committee (NEC) decided to suspend the strike for two weeks for negotiations to resume.

This was after the Labour Division of the Accra High Court granted an interlocutory injunction application filed against the strike by UTAG by the National Labour Commission (NLC).

---3news.com
The Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi has said evacuating Ghanaian students from Ukraine at this point is too early following the war between country and Russia.

Ukraines military says about 50 Russian forces have been killed and six warplanes destroyed amid fighting in the countrys east.

Speaking to Joy News, Dr Adomako Kissi has said it will be better to wait for steps world leaders would take before the thoughts of any evacuation.

With regards to our students coming back at this point I think it might be a bit too early and thats just my thinking. I think we should hang in there and see what the world authorities would do, he stated.

He indicated that, when other countries start to evacuate their students then there will be a window for Ghana to do same in Ukraine if need be.

He added that the question about evacuation should be posed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Ministry on the way forward on the matter

His words come just some hours after the National Union of Ghanaian Students (NUGS) appealed to government to evacuate students stranded in Ukraine as a result of attacks by Russia.

The union asked government to deploy the same evacuation method used during the peak of covid-19 to evacuate Ghanaian students studying in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, some Ghanaian students have already landed in Ghana from Ukraine as a result of the attack. According to them, other foreign nationals have heard from their leaders, but with the silence of Ghana, they had to make their own choice to return.
The Environment Manager of Newmont Ahafo North Project, Abena Acheampomaa Ankoma, has assured the five host communities within the companys operational area that adequate steps are being taken to manage any potential impact of the mine on the environment.

To this end, the company has put in place a robust environmental monitoring regime which is an improvement over what pertains to its Ahafo South operations in the Asutifi North District.

She mentioned sediment and erosion control, water management, air quality management, waste management, reclamation and closure plans as some of the key activities that would be undertaken as it begins the construction phase of its Ahafo North project in no time.

Madam Acheampomaa Ankoma was addressing a days workshop in Sunyani for media practitioners on the companys Ahafo North project in Tano North, Ahafo region as part of the companys stakeholder engagement process.

Ahafo North Project

The project is a wholly-owned Newmont Project located near Sunyani, about 380 kilometers northwest of the capital city of Accra, and about 50 kilometers north of the current Ahafo South operations.

The Ahafo North project is part of the main Ahafo mining lease and the overall lease was part of the Normandy Mining acquisition in 2002.

The project consists of seven mineralized areas, 3.35 million ounces of reserves and a further 0.95 million ounces of resources.

With Yamfo, Susuanso, Terchire, Adrobaa and Afrisipakrom as the host communities, Newmonts Board of Directors approved $750 to $850 million in July last year toward the development of the project.

Extra vigilance

The Environment Manager of the Project, Madam Acheampomaa Ankoma, noted that effective mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that no hazardous waste or chemical gets into the environment.

She said unlike the Water Storage Facility (WSF), also called water dam, at Ahafo South which is single-fenced with metal, the Ahafo North WSF will be doubled-fenced with metal and thorny materials to prevent possible trespassing into the facility by community people.

Socio-economic benefits

The Director of Communications and External Relations, Agbeko Kwame Azumah, enumerated some of the socio-economic benefits of the presence of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited to both the local and the national economy, especially in the area of job creation.

He said benefits accruing out of the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF) have been enhanced, which apparently translates into more funding opportunities for the host communities to undertake various development projects.

The Social Responsibility Manager of the Ahafo North Project, Marfo Oduro Kwarteng, briefed the media about the general overview of the project, stakeholder engagement, land access, highway diversion and the influx of people into the area as a result of the project.

The Ahafo Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Jackson Adiyaa Nyantakyi and Mr. Stevens Korshi Agbo of the Minerals Commission also took turns to address the participants.
Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin has supported calls for deeper cooperation and intelligence sharing between Ghana and its development partners.

He said such a move will help arrest the many political uncertainties and insecurity within the West African sub-region as there were many examples of well-established democracies with governance style that inspire hope and confidence.

The Speaker was addressing the French Ambassador to Ghana, Anne Sophie Ave during a courtesy call on him in Parliament today.

Mr. Bagbin further called for the removal of the bottlenecks that inhibit the study of French language among citizens.

Ghana, he said is surrounded by French speaking countries yet the conscious effort to push the study among Ghanaians still remain marginally low.

The French Ambassador Anne Sophie Ave for her part commended Speaker Bagbin for bringing his many years experience to bear in presiding over the unique nature of the 8th parliament despite the many attendant challenges.

Ghana, she said will continue to receive the requisite support through cooperation to ensure that the country does not become a breeding ground for terrorist activities within the sub-region.

She expressed the readiness of the French Embassy in Ghana to regularly engage with the relevant committees of parliament to dialogue on mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu who expressed worry over the instability sweeping through the Sahel region also charged the French government to do more to fight corruption and curb the illicit transfer of funds into offshore accounts.

---Classfmonline.com
Oil prices have slipped past $100 (74) a barrel after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a special military operation in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine.

The price of Brent crude hit $102.30 a barrel at one point, the highest level for more than seven years.

Russia is the second biggest exporter of crude oil, and is also the worlds largest natural gas exporter.

Stock markets fell, with the UKs FTSE 100 index opening down more than 2.6%.

Earlier, stocks in Asia and had fallen sharply, while the Moscow Exchange suspended trading shortly after the rouble plunged to its lowest since early 2016.

The price of gold  which is considered a haven asset in times of uncertainty  rose 2%.

Tina Teng, an analyst at CMC Markets, said: We could see [oil] prices keeping the momentum.

Most of the oil and gas that the UK imports does not come from Russia, but it would nonetheless be affected by a rise in global prices.

Sanctions moves

In response to Russias military action, European Union leaders said they would put more sanctions in place on Russia.

The European Council said it would impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its actions.

The US and EU had already imposed a series of sanctions in response to Mr Putins actions against Ukraine.

The UK has frozen the assets of five banks and three Russian billionaires, who have also been hit with travel bans.

On Tuesday, Boris Johnson said these sanctions were a first barrage and could be extended.

However, Yeap Jun Rong, a market strategist at IG, said: The moves by Russia suggest economic sanctions are not having any significant impact in holding off aggression.

With retaliation measures coming from Western powers soon, it seems that the situation may show no signs of easing, he added.

The US increased also increased pressure on Russia on Wednesday by imposing penalties on the Russian firm behind the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and its corporate officers.

Nord Stream 2 is a 1,200km pipeline under the Baltic Sea, which is designed to take gas from the Russian coast near St Petersburg to Lubmin in Germany.

On Tuesday, Germany froze final approval for the pipeline, which has been built but is not in operation.

BBC
The Bono East Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) located at Kintampo can now boast of a state-of-the-art IT data centre, which is well-furnished with modern ICT equipment meant to enhance the operations of the service.

At a colourful ceremony to officially hand over the facility to the GIS, the Regional Minister, Kwasi Adu-Gyan, observed that it is no longer prudent to only rely on the presence of security agents at border posts for the purposes of monitoring and keeping surveillance.

He said considering the sophisticated methods being adopted by criminals to outwit immigration officers, it was incumbent to adopt technology and new approaches that could swiftly respond and deal with deviants across borders and elsewhere.

He urged security services to take advantage of the current digital platforms to share resources in intelligence gathering and also advised the public to volunteer information about suspected characters in the region to the security agencies.

He finally thanked the Kintampo Municipal Assembly for putting up such edifice to augment government's efforts of decentralization. He commended the NPP government and the Comptroller General, Lawyer Kwame Asuah-Takyi for spreading their offices across the various assemblies in the country.

ACI Enock Abrokwa Annor, the Bono East Regional Commander for the Ghana Immigration Service disclosed that the office is a multi-purpose facility that will serve all purposes of the service.

He observed that activities of terrorism in the region cannot be under-estimated and there was the need to equip the officers with such facilities.

The Kintampo Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Isaac Baffoe Ameyaw, commended personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service in the area for the professionalism with which they have conducted themselves so far in the area.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin announced "special military operations" in Ukraine even as the UN Security Council was meeting in a late-night emergency session, India warned of a looming major crisis.

India's Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti told the Council on Wednesday night that "the situation is in danger of spiraling into a major crisis. We express our deep concern over the developments, which if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region".

Calling for "immediate de-escalation", he expressed "regret that the calls of the international community to give time to the recent initiatives undertaken by parties to diffuse tensions were not heeded to".

The carefully constructed 166-word statement did not once mention Russia by name.

Tirumurti said that about 20,000 Indians, many of them students, were in Ukraine and India was facilitating their return.

While on Wednesday night the Council was hearing condemnation by many members of Russia's threat of war, news trickled in that Putin had ordered the special operation and demanded that Ukrainians lay down arms -- a virtual call to surrender.

There were reports of explosions in Ukrainian capital Kiev where Thursday dawn was breaking and of Russian troops entering the country.

Speaking to reporters after the Council session, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "This is the saddest moment in my tenure as Secretary-General of the UN."

In an emotional appeal to Putin, he said: "In the name of humanity bring your troops back to Russia. In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century, with consequences not only devastating for Ukraine, not only tragic for the Russian Federation, but with an impact we cannot even foresee."

If there is a "generalised war", he said, "it is difficult to forecast how dramatic it will be in the number of people who will die, in the number of people who will be displaced, in the number of people who will lose hope in relation to the future".

Briefing the Council, Under-Secretary-General Roemary DiCarlo said: "This evening, different media are reporting of an ongoing large-scale military buildup and military columns moving towards Ukraine. The Russian Federation has also reportedly shut airspace to civilian aircraft near the border with Ukraine."

US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the scenario outlined by the US -- and which Russia had ridiculed -- was unfolding in Ukraine.

"This is a grave emergency, the council will need to act and we will put a resolution on the table tomorrow. As President (Joe) Biden said tonight, Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction," she said.

The resolution would pose a dilemma for India caught between its old friendship with Russia and the burgeoning ties with the US and West.

At a Council meeting in January on Ukraine, India abstained on a procedural vote on the agenda proposed by the West.

As a practical matter political reality, both the Russian recognition of the independence of the two Ukrainian breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, and sending troops into its neighbour set dangerous precedents for crises that India faces.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is also making overtures to Russia with a Moscow visit scheduled this week.

Stronger sanctions that Biden and the Western countries impose unilaterally without a Council OK could seriously affect India, which depends on Russia for a sizeable part of its weaponry.

There is no chance of a resolution condemning Russia and/or imposing sanctions passing in the Council because of the veto power Russia has as a permanent member, but it will be symbolic and be a roll call of the 15 members' loyalties.

The vote of China, a veto-wieldng permanent member of the Council will be watched closely.

At the Council meeting, China's Permanent Representative Zhang Jun did not come out in full support of Russia despite President Xi Jinping and Putin issuing a joint statement this month affirming a relationship that "has no limits".

Zhang said: "China's position is safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states has been consistent. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld."

Yet for China, a Russian takeover of Ukraine could provide a precedent, if not a cover, for a move against Taiwan.

Most of the countries directly criticised Russia's actions in Ukraine, and none came to its defence.

Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenza asserted that the operation in Ukraine was not to occupy the country but was limited to "protect" the people of the two regions.

Nebenza said that Putin "says that the occupation of Ukraine is not in our plans. The aim of a special operation is to protect the people who for over eight years have been suffering genocide from the Kiev regime, and for this we will deem him to demilitarize and 'de-genocide' Ukraine".

He asserted that refugees were flowing into Russia from Donetsk and Luhansk regions and that 2,000 cases of ceasefire violations had been recorded on Wednesday, including 1,500 explosions.

The General Assembly began taking up the Ukraine issue Wednesday morning.

Guterres issued a rare rebuke of Russia saying that it was violating UN principles by recognising Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent countries.
It is no more a secret in Ghana; as women are constantly been sexually harassed in the workplace and bosses demand sex from ladies or applicants before being employed.

The fact is because they own the business or directors to companies, it is easier to use their advantages as an employer to force many female job seekers to sleep with them.

Managers and directors are aware of how difficult to find a job in Ghana; therefore, many of them prey on applicants, considering date invitations.

In a country where nothing is done without the exchange of hands, women that cant endure the suffering any longer in job searching often submit to their will.

This is one of the reasons some married women continue having relationships with their bosses in Ghana, just to keep their jobs for the welfare of their families.

Its really sad but this is the reality in Ghana, as desperate female employees continue to satisfy their bosses sexually.

In Antwerp, I met a lady in an African shop and the story she told me is what I am about to share. According to her, even though she was born in Belgium, one of her goals is to settle and work in Ghana.

Women have continuously become sexual prey to their bosses in many companies and offices throughout Ghana. Photo credit: bigstartraining.com

She said Africa faces many challenges because after studying in foreign countries, many Africans dont go back to the Dark Continent for various reasons, including, the lack of clean drinking water, electricity, insecurity, and economic issues.

She asked, if everyone after studying will live in America, Belgium, Holland, Germany, etc; and wouldnt return to make their own countries better, how do we expect Africa to grow?

Ghana has everything it takes to be a great country, however; it will be better as well if we go back home to help the government build the country," she said.

While she was speaking to me, I was about to ask her when is she ready to go to Ghana? It was that moment she told me after getting her master's in the judiciary, she settled in Ghana for one and half years looking for a job despite how easy to get a job in Belgium or any foreign country.

According to her after one-half years in Ghana, she has to return to Belgium because everywhere she went looking for a job, bosses want to date her first before giving her that job.

I have heard of such things going on in Africa and other places, also a few places in Europe but I had no idea of experiencing it.

I dont understand, why in my country of birth, I will get any job Im looking for with a better salary and nobody will ever demand something like that from me but in Ghana, I have to sleep with the boss before I get the job? I was shocked, she added.

After her bitter job search experience in Ghana, the lady returns and now working in Belgium, hoping she will never make any attempt to look for a job in Ghana again.

After listening to her story, I feel embarrassed because I wasnt expecting her to tell me this.

Many times, women that often become victims of sexual harassment keep quiet because they are either scared that when they report to the authorities, their lives will be in danger, nobody will believe them or their chances of getting another job will be blocked, thus; the suffer in silence.

Who am I to judge men if presidents cant even avoid temptations? However, every man has the power of spirit to resist temptation. If you havent found one yet, search for it through the holy books.
The vice president of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Dr. Pascal Kpodo has said more public universities will vote against the temporary suspension of the strike action announced by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Association.

He said the current situation can only be salvaged if the employer engages with the negotiation team to resolve all matters.

More institutions are going to vote to reject the decision. However, the situation can only be salvaged if the employer engages with the negotiation team to resolve the matter by the time the matter runs out, he said to Joy News today Thursday.

He added that government had failed to honour agreements signed in the past leaving some members of the union always in doubt.

However, he stated that the employer must honour the current process in order to gain the trust of members of UTAG to forestall future strikes.

After the NEC of UTAG called off its strike action, two member institutions, the University of Ghana, Legon and the University of Education, Winneba voted against the decision to suspend the strike.

Although the rest are yet to communicate their stance, out of the 15 public universities, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) are the only schools that have so far announced the resumption of lectures.

GIJ gave a one week lecture schedule pending feedback UTAG expects from the employer.
A commission created by the junta that seized power in Burkina Faso last month has proposed a 30-month transition period before the country returns to constitutional rule, military and government sources said Thursday.

The commission "proposes a 30-month transition led" by junta leader Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, a military source told AFP.

It also suggests "the establishment of a small government and legislative body" with a maximum of 20 and 50 members respectively, the military source told AFP.

The proposal was confirmed by a source close to the presidency, who said that "inclusive general elections" would be held after the transition period.

One of the poorest and most volatile countries in the world, the landlocked Sahel state was rocked by the ouster on January 24 of its elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

Soldiers angered at his handling of a bloody six-year-old jihadist insurgency took control.

Damiba, 41, was sworn in on February 16 as president, head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces for an interim period -- a key issue that remains undefined.

Burkina became the third nation in West Africa, after Mali and Guinea, to suffer a mililtary takeover in less than 18 months.

Mali and Guinea have been hit with tough sanctions by the region's bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), for delays in returning to civilian rule.

Burkina, like those countries, has been suspended from ECOWAS activities.

But so far it has escaped wider punishment, following talks with envoys who reported on a positive tone from the junta.

Timetable question

The bloc has called on the junta to establish a "reasonable" timetable "for returning to constitutional order" -- a term that implies the military's withdrawal from political life and the holding of democratic elections.

The commission's report, a draft charter and agenda for the transition were handed to Damiba on Wednesday, but their contents have not been made public.

The source close to the presidency said the report will be put to the junta and to a group gathering political parties, trade unions and civil society.

The 15-member commission which drew up the package included legal experts, sociologists, economists and military officers.

Burkina Faso. By AFP

The panel's head, Mariame Ouattara, said its work was "inspired by directives given by the junta."

She said that the commission had added a proposed "charter of values to support the rebuilding" of the country.

After receiving the report, Damiba thanked the commission for its "commitment" and said the panel had worked "on an unpaid basis and in total independence," his office said.

The junta, which calls itself the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR), says its priority is "security."

Since the first jihadist attacks in 2015, more than 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP tally, while the country's emergencies agency says more than 1.5 million people have fled their homes.

Kabore was arrested and remains under house arrest, despite international calls for his release.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked all Ghanaian students and other Ghanaians in Ukraine to seek shelter in their homes or in government places of shelter.

In a tweet sighted by Modern Ghana News today, the ministry stated that over one thousand Ghanaian students were stranded in Ukraine as a result of the attack on the country by Russia.

The ministry said it was gravely concerned about the safety and security of the over one thousand Ghanaians love there.

Subsequently, the ministry has said it is engaging authorities and diplomatic missions as well as an honorary consul to deliberate on further measures.

Find tweet here

Meanwhile, airports in Ukraine have been shut leaving stranded students wondering how Ghanaian officials would evacuate them.
A Tamale circuit court has granted bail to General Corporal Samson Kweku Darfour, the police officer who was involved in the Lamashegu shooting incident that resulted in the death of one person and injuries to at least eight others.

The case has been adjourned to March 23, 2020.

The accused who pleaded not guilty has been granted bail to the tune of GH10,000 with two sureties.

During the hearing today, Thursday, February 24, 2022, the prosecution amended the facts which were presented in the first hearing.

The prosecution in reading the fact of the case indicated that the accused was the leader of the team detailed to monitor crime along the stadium forest road and while on duty, the victim who was driving an unregistered Toyota Camry upon seeing the police team made a U-turn and sped off.

The accused, seeing that, jumped into the police vehicle and gave the victim a hot chase to the Lamashegu chiefs palace, where he shot into the car through the backdoor. The bullet then hit and lodged in the right hip of the occupant of the vehicle.

Lawyer for the defendant, however, argued that the facts presented were inaccurate and that, the accused acted professionally in accordance with his work and told the court to give them ample time to provide adequate facts to counter that of the prosecution.

The lawyer further pleaded with the court to grant the defendant bail while he prepares strong facts to defend his client.

---Citinewsroom
24.02.2022 LISTEN

Two targeted intelligence-led operations conducted at Tema Community 25 and Dansoman on February 21, 2022, led to the retrieval of some weapons and ammunition, the Police has said.

The operation at Tema Community 25 led to the arrest of suspect Abdul Razak, aged 46 years, for possessing a firearm without lawful authority.

A search conducted on him at his hideout led to the retrieval of an AK47 assault rifle, 90 rounds of live AK47 ammunition, 4 rounds of 17mm ammunition, a machete and a rubber pistol.

Suspects Hamza Yakubu and Mubarak Yakubu were also arrested at Dansoman.

A search conducted on them led to the retrieval of one pump action gun and a pistol.

All three suspects have since been put before the court.

We shall continue to conduct targeted intelligence-led operations to clamp down on criminals and also ensure illegal weapons are retrieved from the society, the Police said in a statement.

The law enforcement agency urged people with information on criminal elements within their communities to report to the police for action.

---Classfmonline.com
Mr Dickson Yaw Agyeman, the Operations Manager at the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission has warned of looming natural disaster in Accra if encroachment of Ramsar sites are not halted and degraded areas restored.

Each of the five Ramsar sites is unique and plays a critical role in that ecology. Aside from providing ecosystem services, being a home to biodiversity, some serve as the 'shock absorbers' of their respective areas by absorbing flood water, he noted.

Ramsar sites are wetlands set aside for conservation because of their international importance according to set criteria and managed to provide maximum benefits to the local communities living within and around the area.

There are five designated coastal wetlands in Ghana. They are Keta Lagoon Complex, Songhor, Sakumo, Densu Delta and Muni Lagoon.

Mr Agyeman, told the Ghana News Agency that if the infrastructural development at Sakumono Ramsar Site for instance was not stopped, many homes and offices would wash away due to rain run-off from parts of Ashaiman.

He said major among the threats to wetlands was political interference over the years in the work of the officials designated to protect the areas.

Out of the five wetlands, he said the Sakumono Ramsar site was the only one that had been formally acquired by the State and compensation paid, due to its importance.

He said, however, more than 75 per cent of the total area had been encroached.

Any management measure you want to take is foiled by the political class. Some of the key politicians who should have helped the Commission protect the wetlands have compromised their positions. Because of that the law is there but it cannot bite, he said.

As a country, we decided to forget about the wetlands by giving it out for development and suffer the consequences. Remember it is the vulnerable in society who will suffer the most. There will be so much to lose if the right steps are not taken, he added.

Mr Agyeman said sometimes, officers were afraid to discharge their duties due to threats, adding that, Wetlands serve everyone so its protection must be the concern of all, not only Wildlife Division.

He noted that one other challenge in managing wetlands was the massive pollution of the area through waste disposal and channeling of waste water to the sites.

He said though the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary Ramsar Site in the Ashanti Region was supplying potable water to residents in the Kumasi metropolis, the site was under severe pressure from growing human settlements, intensive farming and pollution.

As a country, we should have increased the number of wetlands from six to 15. This will have earned the country so much money through carbon credit, reduce high levels of pollution, create jobs, boost local fishing economy, address rural and urban migration, he said.

Mr Agyeman noted that the carbon sequestration, a method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change could earn the country billions of dollars and it might not need to borrow from outside.

He said the Wildlife Division had commenced a campaign to plant more mangrove in a bid to restore some of the areas that had been degraded.

About 75 per cent of the earth's land areas are degraded; wetlands have been hit hardest, with 87 per cent lost globally in the last 300 years  according to Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Lands that have either become deserts, are polluted, or have been deforested and converted to agricultural production are also the main causes of species extinctions.

If the trend continues, 95 percent of the earth's land areas could become degraded by 2050. That would potentially force hundreds of millions of people to migrate as food production would collapse in many places, the report said.

GNA
African faith leaders have been urged to resort to their various religions and reflect over their common humanity in order to find a lasting solution to African suffering.

This was the general message reiterated by various speakers at the opening ceremony of a international symposium on interfaith dialogue currently underway in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan.

The three-day event, which is being jointly organized by the King Mohammed Foundation of African Oulema (Islamic Scholars) and the Higher Council for Imams, Mosques, and Islamic Affairs (COSIM) is under the theme:  The eternal message of religions. Its being attended by about 600 leaders of various faith groups including leading members of the king Mohammed foundation of African Oulema from 34 countries on the continent.

In his opening remarks,

The General Secretary of the King Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema, Sidi Mohammed Rifqi called on African Muslim scholars and other faith groups to reflect on the human weakness taking root in the African societies by consolidating the divine elements in the lives of various faith groups - in order to unravel the reasons for the endless suffering on the continent and find a lasting solution to them.

Dr. Rifqi observed that Africa is a relatively young continent full promise and hope, but plagued by trauma, suffering and conflict - adding that there is the need to carry the word of God and give substance to the merciful virtues which guarantees happiness to humanity.

A cross section of leaders of various faith groups at the opening ceremony of the symposium

On the need for inter-faith dialogue, he asserted that regardless of our different approaches to analyzing African societies, we cannot understand them without envisioning the culture of dialogue and fraternal solidarity as a way of co-existence.

Dialogue and fraternal solidarity among all Africans are, above all, a state of mind. It is a way of living by talking to one another, and by inventing ways to understand and help one another. Therefore, this involves a fraternal language, to be invented and endlessly reinvented, he reiterated.

Reflecting on Africas glorious past, Dr. Rifqi said  we live in a community of African history, which has always been characterized by a never-ending process of cultural enrichment.- adding that the Kingdom of Morocco, has under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI - managed to promote spiritual peace, tolerance, dialogue and solidarity - along with Cote dIvoire and other African countries.

On his part, the Representative of the Ivorian President, Abdulrahman Sissay, commended the King Mohammed Foundation of African Oulemas efforts in promoting moderate and tolerant Islam - asserting that this is a wake up call for the Ivorian government to rise up against violent extremism in some parts of the country.

He emphasized that the presence of the countrys Minister for National Reconciliation indicates the commitment of his government towards consolidating the foundation of mutual co-existence among different faith groups.

The president of the Cote d Ivoire branch of the foundation, Shiekh Mustapha Sonta said the foundation is seeking to strengthen means of enhancing peaceful co-existence with other religions even as it expresses its worry about the global state of affairs which mainly affects the image of Islam and Muslims - while commending the We are all Believers declaration of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

On his part, the President of COSIM, Shiekh Ousmane Diaketi thanked other religious groups for their participation while asserting that the choice of Abidjan as the host of this symposium reinforces the countrys renowned image as the capital for inter-religious dialogue - which is a good choice for entire Africa.

Main speakers at the podium The President of the Local Oulema Council of Beni Mellal, Dr. Said Chabar, who represented the Secretary General of the Higher Oulema Council of Morocco, observed that All prophets called for peace, security, brotherhood, love, loyalty, cooperation and guidance towards lofty morals - adding that the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Morrocco back in 2019 strengthened Moroccos position as a leading advocate for interfaith dialogue.

For a comprehensive approach towards a lasting solution to religious radicalization, religious stereotypes and prejudice, the meeting has been structured into five main thematic areas such as the role of:

the family and the school, the Ivorian and African civil society, training and sensitization of religious leaders, religions, communication and preaching, as well as public authorities and religious stakeholders in facing up to the phenomenon of radicalization and violent religious extremism.

At the end of the symposium, a binding document to be known as - The Abidjan Declaration will be issued to serve as the road map in implementing the various recommendation emanating from the five thematic sessions.

The King Mohammed Foundation of African Oulema is a grouping of African Muslim scholars from 34 countries established in 2015 - by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco with the main aim of uniting and consolidating the efforts of African Muslim scholars to promote moderate Islamic principles of tolerance, peace and inter-religious dialogue.

By Alhassan Y. Al-Waiz, Special Correspondent
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Aowin Constituency, Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi has urged the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to cut down on what it described as profligate spending.

Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi called on government to abandon the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy) in order to save Ghanaians from additional hardship the levy comes with.

Already, Ghanaians are saddled with many taxes resulting in the increase in petroleum products, high tariffs, increase in prices of goods and service, increase in the cost of living etc. Even when Ghanaians have almost unanimously kicked against the introduction of the obnoxious e-levy, the Akufo Addo/Bawumia administration is bent on using all means possible to force it down their throats, Hon. Oscar Ofori Larbi exclusively told Kwaku Dawuro on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM.

He continued, In the midst of all these, there is no conscionable person in this government to counsel the President and his Cabinet that they must sacrifice by cutting down their profligate spending and bring economic respite for the poor people across the country who live in strenuous conditions.

According to him, No leader who has the interest of his people at heart, will seek to impose a 1.75%, soon to be a 1.5% levy on the savings of the already suffering people. This is NOT a TAX  It is Plain thievery in the league of the PDS scandal and the likes.
The Prison authority has assured judges and all other stakeholders that the accidental discharge of a firearm by a prison officer is being investigated.

A statement issued by the Prison Administration on Thursday February 24 said In the early hours of Wednesday, 23rd February, 2022, the criminal court 5 of the Accra law court complex witnessed an unfortunate incident of an accidental discharge of firearm by a prison officer, thereby injuring his foot in the process.

The affected officer is receiving treatment at the police hospital and is in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Prisons Service has commenced preliminary investigations to unravel the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident. The Prisons Administration wishes to assure the general public and all stakeholders, especially the judges and all clients of the law courts of our commitment to promoting public safety. Proactive precautionary measures have thus been put in place to forestall the recurrence of such an unfortunate incident.

Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah is also investigating the same matter.

A statement issued by Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo, Judicial Secretary on behalf of the Chief Justice said this is the first time such an incident has occurred hence has caused fear and panic.

The statement indicated that investigations are underway into the incident.

This is the first time such an incident has occurred within the courts thus likely to cause fear and panic. However, the general public is informed that thorough investigations are underway while security measures are being put in place to avoid recurrence, the statement said.

A gunshot was accidentally fired in an Accra High Court on Wednesday, February 23. The situation brought proceedings at the Criminal Court 5 to an abrupt end.

The shooting occurred from the weapon of a prison warden who was guarding a suspect, according to reports.

The officer was badly injured and had been rushed to the court clinic for medical attention.

The presiding judge at Criminal Court 5, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo suspended proceedings and reportedly, ran away for her dear life.

---3news.com


Five Russian planes and one helicopter have been shot down in Ukraine's Luhansk region, the country's military claimed on Thursday. Luhansk is one of the separatist regions in Ukraine that was recognised as independent by Russia earlier this week. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed Ukrainian air defences have been 'neutralised'. As per reports, Russia launched artillery attack along Ukraine's northern border with Russia and Belarus. Ukrainian forces were returning fire.




24.02.2022 LISTEN

The founder of the Prophetic Hill Chapel Prophet Nigel Gaisie has condemned government for using the Ghana Police Service to intimidate citizens instead of concentrating on fixing the economy.

This follows an invitation by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service to the Founder of the Prophetic Hill Chapel to answer questions with regards to his 31 December 2021 Umuofia prophecies.

The Prophetic Hill Chapel founder is expected to report to the CID headquarters on Monday, 28 February 2022.

According to the founder, the country is going through hard times, yet government is more focused on using the state's security to further worsen the plight of citizens.

The Prophetic Hill Chapel founder noted that he will respect and honour the invitation by the Police, however, the service cannot stop the prophetic ministry from moving on, as they cannot control things of the spirit.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, 24 February 2022, the founder of the Prophetic Hill Chapel wrote: I have been invited to the Police CID Over Some Prophetic Utterances, they Claim I Have Made!! As a responsible citizen and one who believes in rule of law, I will respect the invitation of the Police service but the Police MUST NO, RESPECTIVELY THUS THEY CAN NOT GAG THE PROPHETIC, THEY CAN NOT CONTROL THINGS OF THE SPIRIT AND UTTERANCES MADE BEHIND THE PULPIT OF GOD, OUR GOD SHOULD NOT AND MUST NOT BE INTERPRETED WITH CARNAL LEARNED MIND....

He continued that: In Nation Building, the role of the church, the prophetic cannot be DENIED OR DISRESPECTED. Moreso, when the prophets have not said or done anything which is against the spirit and latter of the common law...LET OPPRESSIVE RULE COME TO AN END, LET GOD JESUS CHRIST ARISE.

He added: ALREADY, Times are EXTREMELY HARD, INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING YOUR CITIZENS, YOU ARE RATHER DISCOURAGING US BY USING STATE ACTOR'S AND APPARATUS.

Ahead of 31 December 2021, the Police had cautioned pastors across the country against prophecies that can cause fear and panic among the citizenry.

However, the founder of the Prophetic Hill Chapel went ahead to prophesy to what he referred to as the country of Umuofia.

--- classfmonline.com
The Member of Parliament for Salaga-South Constituency, Hajia Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, has supported sixty-nine (69) students with a scholarship package worth seventy-two thousand, one hundred and two Ghana Cedis (GHC 72,102.00) to further their education in various tertiary institutions in Ghana.

The 69 beneficiaries comprised of 22 Females and 47 Males who are currently pursuing various courses in public universities and colleges of education in Ghana.

The money (cash), was presented to the beneficiaries on Monday, February 21, 2022 at the East Gonja Municipal Assembly in the presence of parents and guardians.

In her remarks during a short ceremony to hand over the money to the beneficiaries, Hajia Zuwera, said the initiative forms part of her efforts to improve education and human resource development in the area.

She noted that education and human resources development was a top most priority to her, and pledge to do more in other areas such as health, transportation, water and sanitation among others.

"I place priority on education and human capital development, it is for this reason that I make a commitment towards supporting education in the constituency. I am committed to continue prioritizing education and to make support systems available so you can attain your academic goals," she stated

The MP advised students in the constituency to take their education serious since they are future leaders.

She also urged parents to invest in their wards' education so that they can become responsible citizens in the near future.

Alhaji Adam Kawurbi, a representative of the East Gonja Municipal Director of Education, commended Hajia Zuwera for the kind gesture, and encouraged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the support to excel in their studies.

On behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive, the Presiding Member of the East Gonja Municipal Assembly, Mr Mohammed Nurudeen Jaarah, noted that the gesture by the MP was the first in history, and thanked her for the move.

"This is the first time we are seeing an MP mobilizing tertiary students together with their parents and presenting scholarship support," hon. Jaarah noted.

Mr Jaarah also appealed to other MPs to follow in the footsteps of the MP to help promote education and the general wellbeing of their constituents.
According to The Better Africa report, the failure rate for startups on the African continent from 2010 to 2018 was at 54.20% on average, with Ghana (73.91%) and Nigeria (61.05%) with some of the highest failure rates.

The report acknowledges that there are multiple contributing factors to why businesses fail and recommend the need for more support to improve the fortunes of startups and the continent at large.

It is for this reason that Code Management Group (CMG), an investment firm in London is opening offices in Nigeria and Ghana to bridge the knowledge and funding gap for African start-ups.

As part of stirring up the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the sub region, CMG has initiated a dynamic-speakers-series event which brings businesses in the diaspora to engage with their counterparts in Ghana and Nigeria.

The most recent engagement featured William Adoasi, CEO of luxury watch brand, Vitae London engaging with entrepreneurs in Accra. The interaction was moderated by Dentaa Amoateng, CEO of Grow Unite Build Africa (GUBA).

The experience was an intimate conversation between moderator, Dentaa, William and the audience, where Adoasi answered questions and vulnerably shared business lessons and mindset-shifting advice.

William urged African entrepreneurs to consider collaboration and intention whilst building their businesses. When discussing team building, he advised that teams should be built with intention, sharing that he achieves efficiency by structuring his team around his weakest areas. He also encouraged start-ups to work together instead of working solo, in efforts to better position themselves for business opportunities on the continent.

The Africa Development Bank further affirms Adoasi's point that entrepreneurs are the solution to the future of the continent. A 2021 white paper released by the Bank recommended that entrepreneurship must be at the heart of efforts to transform Africas economic prospects.

Ghana, like the rest of Africa, is ready for a huge transformation that depends on collaboration. The African ExportImport (Afrexim) Bank in a 2020 report revealed that Africas recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has not been as resilient as that of the Western and Asian economies. However, it is believed that a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem could enhance recovery.

Advising on business growth, William shared that hed rather have a smaller percentage of a bigger pie than have a larger percentage of a small pie. This is one-way entrepreneurs can think about scaling their companies, he added.

Vitae London is a publicly owned company with shareholders and runs on a social enterprise business format, where a portion of a sale of each watch contributes to educating a child in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Entrepreneurs from Ghana and Nigeria, industry stakeholders and diaspora returnees packed out the space and got to interact with both Dentaa and William throughout the evening.

When asked what he thinks the future of Ghana will look like, Adoasi professed, There are cities yet to be birthed, urging startups to take their solutions seriously and to make their mistakes their biggest strengths and not see them as a failure.

Africa is the future of markets. According to the United Nations, by 2050, 25% of the worlds population will be in Africa; a proof that local businesses will be a key part of the continents growth trajectory.

For start-ups to be better positioned, Adoasi expressed, Data is key, encouraging African entrepreneurs to literally go to market to understand the environment, the customers and their desires. This process generates valuable data that can foster true business development, Adoasi stressed.

Vitaes social entrepreneurship format is an example of how African businesses can meet the needs of societies.

The event series is one of many solutions CMG will offer in Ghana and will continue its roll out throughout the year. On March 5, 2022, CMG will begin its inaugural four-month incubator in partnership with the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Accra, Ghana and then Lagos, Nigeria.

The incubator will focus on building start-ups into investment ready companies, in efforts to generate global business opportunities for start-ups and international investors.
With Malawian farmers still reeling from tropical storms that devastated crops and livelihoods in recent weeks, Norways Minister of International Development and the President of the UNs International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will visit the country to meet its leaders and small-scale farmers to discuss the impacts of climate change, and ways to build resilience.

Extreme weather events have increased globally and have recently wreaked destruction in Malawi  and it is the small-scale farmers who are feeling the brunt of it. My urgent call is to step up investments in adaptation and resilience to ensure that climate change does not deepen hunger and poverty, said Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD, ahead of the visit.

Food security is a main priority in Norways development policy because it is essential to fight inequality, poverty and hunger, said Anne Beathe Tvinneriem, Norways Minister of International Development. IFADs projects and programmes enable small-scale farmers and fishermen to produce enough, safe and healthy food in climate-smart ways. Therefore, I am looking forward to a joint field visit with President Gilbert Houngbo to IFAD projects in Malawi. Norway will strengthen our partnership with IFAD and will top-up our core contribution significantly for 2022-24.

Arriving on 27 February for a three-day visit, Tvinneriem and Houngbo will meet with Malawis President Lazarus Chakwera, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lobin Lowe, and the Minister of Finance and Economy, Sosten Alfred Gwengwe, to discuss investments in climate change resilience to achieve zero hunger and poverty targets in the country by 2030.

They will then travel to an IFAD-supported project to discuss the challenges of climate change and COVID-19 directly with small-scale farmers, particularly women, to see how targeted investments have built their resilience and boosted their food security, nutrition and gender equality. While in the country, they will also meet Rudolf Schwenk, United Nations Resident Coordinator ad interim, the United Nations Country team, development partners and Farmers Organizations representatives working in Malawi.

Malawi is a relatively small country with an estimated population of about 19 million people, 83 percent of whom live in rural areas. Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, accounting for almost a quarter of Malawi's GDP. However, many small-scale farmers battle to earn a decent living, with 70 percent of the countrys population living below the poverty line of US$1.90 per day.

With improved processing technologies and farming methods, small-scale farmers can feed a growing population while restoring degraded ecosystems and reducing agriculture's carbon footprint. When they have access to weather forecasting information and disaster preparedness, they are more resilient to severe climate events, such as the tropical storms that resulted in a declaration of a state of emergency in the country last month. This requires increased investments in small-scale farmers, who are often the poorest and most marginalized rural people.

Since 1981, IFAD has financed 14 rural development programmes and projects in Malawi at a total cost of $653.67 million, with an IFAD investment of US$ 350.48 million. This has directly benefited more than 2 million rural households.

--- IFAD Newsroom
The Supreme Court will on March 9 determine whether a deputy speaker presiding over the business of Parliament can be counted for the purposes of quorum, or can vote on a matter before the House while still presiding.

This comes at a time there seem to be growing incoherence in the decisions of Speaker Alban Bagbin and his First Deputy, Joseph Osei-Owusu.

On November 30, last year, Mr. Osei-Owusu who is also the elected Member of Parliament for Bekwai (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, presided over an NPP-sided House to overturn an earlier vote of the House rejecting Government's 2022 Budget.

The Bekwai MP, though presiding over the business of the House on the occasion, counted himself for the purposes of taking what turned out to be a controversial vote.

This vote effectively overturned the earlier vote which had been taken by an NDC-sided House, conducted by Speaker Bagbin on November 26.

The other side of the House had on the two occasions boycotted the House over concerns they had voiced out.

Then on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu in another move, ruled dismissing a motion that had already been admitted by Speaker Bagbin for a bi-partisan Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into Government's COVID-19 Expenditure.

A lawyer cum law lecturer, Justice Abdulai subsequent to the November 30, 2021 clash between Speaker Bagbin and his First Deputy, invited the Supreme Court to pronounce as unconstitutional, Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu's action of counting himself for the purposes of quorum.

He argued in the context of articles 102 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution that the Deputy Speaker was not permitted to count himself for the purposes of quorum, since he had neither an original nor a casting vote as Speaker presiding.

The crucial decision will be given by Justices Jones Dotse as Court President, Nene Amegatcher, Prof. Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson, Clemence Honyenuga and Yoni Kulendi.

---citinewsroom
24.02.2022 LISTEN

The Volta Development Forum (VDF), an advocacy group wants Ho Airport to be renamed to honor the memory of the late Dzifa Attivor, a former Transport Minister who helped realize the project.

Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjesen, Executive President of the Forum, in a tribute at the burial of the former Minister at her hometown of Abutia Teti in the Volta Region, said the Ho Airport- the base of the Region's air travel infrastructure, was a fitting edifice to the memory of Madam Attivor.

The late Attivor was minister from 2013 to 2016, during a significant upgrade of the nation's port infrastructures.

Dr. Kludjesen said the VDF recognized the role of the late Minister in planting an aviation hub in the Volta Region and promised to lead efforts to have the yet to be commissioned airport in her name.

All we want to tell you, Auntie Dzifa is that you are not gone, you are still alive with us. We know that it's your effort that built the famous and only Ho Airport that may in the future become the Regional Airport for the West African Region.

We therefore wish to say that we at VDF, we are going to make everything possible and today lay a motion on the table, which we will be moving to ensure that the Ho Airport is named after you, either today, in the near future, or it will before so that we can immortalize a Voltarian in Ghana for the Good effort that has been done, he said.

Former President John Dramani Mahama, under whose tenure Madam Attivor was appointed Minister, credited her with the footwork of all major port development at the time, and which included the expansion of both sea and airports and the commissioning of new ones.

The late Attivor, who died age 65, became a founding member and a vice presidents of the VDF, which had secured for itself the main advocate for the development of the Region through collaborative efforts.

The VDF had declared the Volta Region a billion dollar economy and had various committees working to develop all developmental prospects.

The forum also supported initiatives such as the 2021 Volta Fair and joined advocacy that led to the operationalisation of Ho Airport.

GNA
24.02.2022 LISTEN

Astute communicator and activist of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Harruna Rafik, has declared his intention to contest for the first (1st) vice chairmanship position of the party in the Okaikwei Central constituency of the Greater Accra region.

In a telephone interview with Modern Ghana News' Savannah Regional Correspondent, Alhaji Rafik indicated that his decision is centered on a popular request by high standing members and sympathizers of the party in the Okaikwei Central constituency.

According to him, he has what it takes to propel the agenda of the party including consolidating the gains made by the party in the last five years aimed at breaking the "eight years jinx".

Alhaji Rafik who is a Principal Administrative Assistant at the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences at the University of Ghana, Korlebu campus, said his track record in terms of leadership qualities is second to none which will help him contribute his quota to the course of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

"I promise to bring my numerous leadership skills, experience, and network to bear on the fortunes of the constituency and people when given the nod ", he indicated.

According to Alhaji Rafik, he has played several roles to promote and enhance the image of the NPP at all levels, using the media and other platforms to propagate the message of NPP as a party.

He also indicated that voting results driven people like his caliber into office will augment the party's vision of bringing development to the door steps of the citizenry.

He therefore thanked the party's elders and well-wishers in the Okaikwei Central constituency for the level of support and confidence reposed in him to be their first (1st) vice chairman.

Brief Profile of Alhaji Harruna Rafik

Alhaji Harruna Rafik is a Principal Administrative Assistant at the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences at the University of Ghana, Korlebu campus.

He is currently the chairman of the Senior Staff Association, University of Ghana, at the Korlebu Local chapter.

He served as a member of the Young Professionals Network of the NPP and has contributed immensely towards the activities of the YPN including support to some three constituencies in the 2020 general elections.

Alhaji Rafik also served as an assistant secretary for the Tertiary Students Confederacy of the NPP (TESCON) when he was a student at the now Tamale Technical University.

He is an astute and a prolific communicator and has represented the party on many media outlets to promote and defend the NPP and its record in governance.

He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts Degree in Brands and Communication Management. He also holds a BSC Degree in Management Studies from the University of Cape Coast and also an HND Certificate in Secretaryship and Management from the Tamale Technical University.

Also worth noting is that, Alhaji Harruna Rafik serves as a member of the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences Appointments and Promotions Committee as well as a member of the Advisory Board which is the highest decision making body of the College in Korlebu.
Russian President Vladimir Putin propelled a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with blasts heard over the nation and its foreign minister caution a "full-scale attack" was underway. Russia has attacked Ukraine in what might be the begin of war in Europe over Russia's requests for an end to NATO's eastbound expansion.

Roots of the Conflict

While there had been tensions between Russia and Ukraine, a previous Soviet republic, for a long time, the circumstance started getting out of control in early 2021. In January last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy encouraged US President Joe Biden to let Ukraine join NATO.

This rankled Russia, which begun sending troops close its Ukraine border for "preparing works out" in spring last year and expanded it amid autumn. By December, the US started hyping up the deployment of the Russian troops and President Biden cautioned of serious sanctions in case Russia attacked Ukraine.

Russia has requested that the West gives a legitimately authoritative guarantee that NATO will not hold any military movement in eastern Europe and Ukraine. Vladimir Putin claims Ukraine may be a puppet of the West and was never a legitimate state besides.

Typically not the first time tensions between Russia and Ukraine has come to a boiling point. Russia had attacked Ukraine in 2014 when rebels supported by President Putin had seized huge swathes of eastern Ukraine and have battled Ukraine's armed force since at that point. At that time, Russia had added Crimea.

As a previous Soviet republic Ukraine has profound social and cultural ties with Russia, and Russian is broadly talked there, but ever since Russia attacked in 2014 those relations has frayed.

Russia attacked Ukraine when its pro-Russian president was removed in early 2014. The war within the east has since claimed more than 14,000 lives.

Russia and Ukraine had signed the Minsk peace agreement to end the outfitted strife in east Ukraine, including the Donbas region. But as the struggle has proceeded, Russia says it is sending "peacekeepers" to the region where the strife is brewing. The West calls it a smokescreen by Moscow to occupy autonomous region.

The new tension between Russia and Ukraine, which moreover borders the European Union, has repercussions for the EU. And that's why the EU, most of who are NATO signatories have joined the US in declaring sanctions, against Russian entities.

Just weeks back, French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Moscow to conversation to President Putin to decrease tensions.

India has called for a diplomatic way out of the current emergency between Russia and Ukraine.

By Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Hersi, 2022

Mohamed is political and foreign policy analyst and economic development scholar in East Africa. Founder and Executive Director of Save the Environment. Alumni of Addis Ababa University. He got M.A in Development Studies from Southeast University in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The Chief of Oblieman in the Ga West Municipality, His Majesty Nii Ayitey Anumle Oyanka I has lambasted an alleged imposter Mustafa Ofoli Quaye who claims to be the head of the Tackie Oblie family for duping him an amount of Gh 4,000 in 2014.

King Oyanka hinted that the self-acclaimed head of the family came to him to request the money to be used to perform traditional rituals to appoint as the head of the family for Abola Piam.

He noted that somewhere in 2014 in a family meeting at Dansoman Russia, a suburb of Accra, a 6-panel family invited him to discuss matters of development for the Abola Piam Royal House and then requested money from him to be used for resolving a few leadership issues in the family after the death of Atta Adu Tackie Oblie former head of the said Tackie Oblie family.

"I have been taking care of the Abola Piam family members when I took the mantle and was installed to lead them both young and old. I founded, registered and launched the Abola Piam Royal Council, one of the families in the Ga State. The royal council can boost of having Executive Board of Directors, Land Committee, Traditional Affairs Committee, Finance Committee, Legal Committee and the Women Affairs Committee".

King Oyanka added that the 27 member committee is chaired by himself and legally registered. "Nobody had the mandate or power to dissolve it. I took about 7 fishermen from Abola Piam and installed them as sub-chiefs to represent some villages. These developments are evidenced in news publications and TV news broadcasting".

Nii Oyanka noted that he formed the council because of issues surrounding Ga-Dangbe traditional areas to help put to rest the many chieftaincy and land-related disputes in order to aid the development of Ga communities.

After so many years of uncertainty and arguments of who is chief and who is not, who owns the land and who does not, we as a royal house have decided that it would be appropriate to form a council and different committees under the said council to oversee the resolution of the issues surrounding Ga-Dangbe traditional areas, especially issues under the Abola Piam royal jurisdiction, Nii Oyanka I explained.

Nii Oyanka added that he has also accomplished the same feat in establishing another Royal Council in Akyem Bosome Traditional Area of Anamase. He added that being a great royal descendant of the powerful Amazons Royal Warriors of The Benin Kingdom which ruled all the way to some part of the then Gold Coast Present Day Ghana. He sees it as one of his destiny mission and responsibility to champion the course of Traditional Development in Africa.

"There are several bigger and greater international positions which are higher and bigger than this local Councils and that he won't tolerate some fools and illiterates who want to tarnish his image by publishing false news and making false allegations against him. I have been. Civtek International Corporation West Africa Advisor 09/2017 to date A world-class global enterprise that is headquartered in America.

"I also serve as the West African Chief Executive Officer for the World Human Rights Council which has its headquarters in India. Am also Chairman of Council of International Chambers of Commerce for West for which I have gone on to establish African Founder for West and Ghana," he intimated.

King Oyanka warned that he does not like engaging in brawls. "If you are ready to tarnish my image because u are paid to write nonsense about something which is not true, be ready to use the saved money for spiritual battles that will befall you."
24.02.2022 LISTEN

In investigating the recent past of the National Unity Party (NUP), one might become perplexed by the dirt surrounding its leader, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, that has helped propel the party and its leader to political fame.

For instance, the Norbert Mao documents released a few days ago, could potentially become a touchstone for broader conversations about the manipulation of the multiparty system by those in power to create their own opposition.

According to official accounts, NUP, formerly called National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party (NURP), was registered in 2004, a month before FDC was registered as a party. But according to the document released by Mao, it shows that NUP was registered on 28th August 2019. So, which NUP was exactly registered? Did the Electoral Commission (EC) register two political parties by the same names, and is that legally feasible?

On 14 July 2020, Kyagulanyi assumed leadership of the party, according to EC records. Officially, the name of the party was changed to NUP on 22 July 2020. So, which party did the EC register in 2019? Who are the state operatives, as Mao called them, that are behind that certificate of 2019 signed by the Secretary of the EC? What constitution was exactly forwarded to the EC, and was due process and diligence followed?

The master official narrative by the EC and NUP repressed unsettling questions that have been hanging over Kyagulanyi and his party. Around 2020, some people went to court to settle this, but Judge Musa Sekana ruled in favour of Kyagulanyi basing on technicalities, not the evidence presented.

The troubling admission by former NUP leaders that there was no quorum when Kyagulanyi was sworn in as the new party president at Kakiiri in 2020, should have taken precedence over technicalities, I think. The petitioners wanted court to order EC to de-gazette the change of the NURP party name that appears in the General Notice No. 838 of 2019, de-register NUP and reinstate NURP as the legally recognised party name.

The defence of open lies by NUP lawyers/ politicians in courts of law confirms that human beings are inherently unreliable agents of revolutionary change. You can only trust yourself to change Uganda, but not anybody to change Uganda for you.

Lawyer Male Mabilizi, now in prison, has been one of those that have tried to challenge several illegalities associated with Bobi Wine, but every time he got close, the state prosecutor (Director of Public Prosecutions, and State Attorney) took over the cases, and the end is all but predictable, i,e. not guilty. All of Mabilizis cases against Kyagulanyi end up being taken over by the DPP with the exception of the one accusing him of having acquired a driving permit unlawfully.

Basically, court cases against Kyagulanyi not only demonstrate that there is a rule of law versus the rule of man in Uganda, but there is manipulation of the law by the powerful to save whoever they want. It seems the law and man are mortal enemies in the struggle for survival of a politician, history and the fate of the nation.

Resolving questions of law necessarily implies resolving even more fundamental questions about human subjectivity and the proper role of opposition leaders in an authoritarian rule: namely, what is the function of individual legal accountability in an ostensibly whole and ordered society? Or, to put a sharper point on it, what is the relationship between individual human beings and that collective subjectivity.

For instance, Bobi clearly obtained registration by false pretence at a university, and hes clearly being protected by the state, but where do you draw a line as a supporter when it comes to such a leader? Do you continue supporting him because you desperately want change, or you drop him for the sake of strengthening our moral values?
Ukraine was under siege on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was invading in what he termed a "special military operation", sending in tanks from the northern border with Belarus in a combined Russian-Belarussian offensive, and launching attacks from the east and south, including on the capital Kiev, a Daily Mail report said.

Hundreds of Ukrainians were killed in the onslaught, the Daily Mail quoted the Interior Ministry in Kiev as saying, and videos on social media showed the scale of the invasion.

Five Russian jets and one helicopter were shot down over the east of the country, near Kharkiv, Ukraine's military said.

In his announcement on early Thursday morning, Putin insisted that Russia was only attacking military installations, and were avoiding populated areas. But Ukraine's officials said there had already been heavy casualties.

Ukraine's border force said that their posts in the north have come under attack from both Russian and Belarussian forces - a hugely significant development, meaning Russia is not acting alone, and is attacking from all sides, the Daily Mail reported.

The livestream video of the invasion from Belarus was taken at the Senkivka, Ukraine crossing with Veselovka, Belarus. The column was seen entering Ukraine at 6.48 a.m., CNN reported.

A Ukrainian government spokesman confirmed that Russia had invaded over the Belarus border as well, only 120 miles from Kiev.

He said: "The state border of Ukraine was attacked by troops from Russia and Belarus. At about 5a.m., the state border of Ukraine, in the area with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus."
A group of market women known as Gbiniji Market Women Association at Damongo in the West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region, have conveyed words of appreciation to the MP for Damongo constituency, Lawyer Abu Jinapor for his kind gesture and contribution towards their development.

In a statement issued and copied to Modern Ghana News' Savannah Regional Correspondent, they indicated that the lawmaker has exceptionally demonstrated he has their welfare and development at heart.

"He has supported us with capital to cushion our businesses, lightened the Damongo everyday and weekly market with street lights", part of their statement revealed.

According to them, what triggered joy and happiness in their hearts is the MP's proactiveness in awarding the Damongo weekly on contract to be reconstructed to befit regional market status.

They added that Abu Jinapor is a game changer in the history of politics in the Damongo constituency.

"What he has broken our heart with are his lobbying skills that have seen to it that the Kurabaso market otherwise known as the Saturday market is been awarded to contract to be constructed".

They continued, "He specifically brought in Madam Naa Torshie, the administrator of Common Fund to Damongo to cut sod for the construction of the market, a project when completed will be of immense help to all market women in Damongo."

According to them, they can not thank him enough for all he has been doing for them saying that he is indeed a blessing from God to the entirety of Savannah Region.
The Speaker of Ghanas Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has rubbished reports suggesting that he has granted underfire Dome Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo permission to be absent from the house.

The MP has been absent from Parliament, leaving the Majority in the house stranded in their strong determination to pass the controversial E-levy.

This week, there have been claims that before absenting herself, Sarah Adwoa Safo asked permission from the Speaker of Parliament.

In Parliament today, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin reacted that he has not said anywhere that he has granted the Dome Kwabenya MP permission to be away from Parliament.

It is important I defuse some fake news which is being circulated that I granted interview to say that Honourable Adwoa Safo received permission from me to absent herself from parliament on health grounds. I want it to be known by all that I have not granted any such interview anywhere, I have not said anything like that anywhere, the Speaker of Parliament said.

Speaker Alban Bagbin continued, The votes and proceedings of the house are so loud that she is absent without permission for all those days. That is the votes and proceedings of the House, it is not the speaker who determines who is present and who is absent, no. The votes and proceedings will capture those who are present, those who are absent, and those who are absent with permission.

Amid her absence from Parliament, there are now growing speculations that Sarah Adwoa Safo is deliberately staying away to sabotage the ruling New Patriotic Party for not heeding to her demand.
Member of Parliament for Effutu Alexander Afenyo-Markin has said the Russia-Ukraine war will affect Ghanas economy and, thus, the more reason to pass the E-levy to enable the government raise revenue to sustain social interventions in the country.

According to him, the call to evacuate Ghanaians in Ukraine will come at a cost to the state and put more burden on the already scarce resources hence the need to look at innovative ways to generate revenue, i.e. E-levy.

Mr Afenyo-Markin believes the Russia-Ukraine war will affect import and export as well as the cedi because businesses will no longer be able to import from Europe, grow and pay their taxes which will ultimately affect the countrys economy.

In his view, the passage of the E-levy in these abnormal times is the best way to raise revenue for the countrys development.

Speaking on the floor of parliament on Thursday, 24 February 2022, the deputy majority leader said: Mr Speaker, the call to evacuate Ghanaian citizens from Ukraine will come at a cost, no European country will evacuate our citizens for us, NATO will not do that

Theres going to be pressure on the limited resources that we have and as a nation, Ghanaian businesses who are supposed to do well to pay taxes, they are going to suffer, their businesses will not do well the way they expect.

Their projections will be affected that is the reality and I must bring this to the attention of all of us so that any policy that will be brought will be seen in that lightif [sic] you are talking about e-levy this is the more important reason why we even need it.

We should congregate around it and find a way of generating revenue as a country to save the situation because we are not in normal times, he added.

He said this was not the time for partisan politics but the time for the Majority and Minority to work together.

E-levy is a proposed 1.75 per cent tax on all electronic transactions.
Author: John Egbeazien Oshodi

24.02.2022 LISTEN

Psychological conditioning from Russia is recently in the process of teaching, influencing, and affecting leaders in Africa who will then respond in a manner like the ways of Russia.

Observational learning is occurring through some African countries observing the behaviors of Putins Russian leadership and imitating his ways even if there is no full-scale reinforcement at the time, as western values continue to slowly show in African settings.

Psychologically, learning is the process by which new knowledge, behaviors, attitudes, and ideas are acquired by individuals, institutions, and even society.

In. On October 24, 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted dozens of African heads from over 40 nations, including Nigeria, and it is possible that some of this learning will occur both unconsciously and consciously.

Behaviorally, under Putins leadership influence and teaching some leaders in Africa are learning to cling to power indefinitely, even when many of them have institutions modeled after western democracies.

African leaders are learning from Putin, who recently signed a law enabling him to stay in power until 2036. African leaders are learning from Putin, who, like Joseph Stalin, has caused untold misery to the Russian people.

Some African leaders are deeply conditioned by Putins style and habits of cronyism, corruption, repression of domestic opponents and free speech, and use of police and military aggression on citizens.

From Putin, African leaders will learn from a tyrant who attacked Americas democracy in 2016 through interference in U.S. elections.

In a psychological way, Putin is strengthening economic aid and military tool supplies in Africa. As such, these actions will serve as behavioral modifiers, reinforcers, and punishers. Putin is now able to influence, reward, and punish African nations should their leaders not behave in accordance with his teachings and ways.

Conditional learning due to association between African leaders and Putin, who is known for being more intolerant of civil society organizations and open media, have disdain for the rule of law, journalists, social media, and mismanagement of elections, manages a weak economy marked with extortion, kickbacks, and bribery, is modeled by African leadership.

Putins behaviors of armed aggression toward Ukraine because of Ukraines stand on sovereignty and self-determination by openly declaring bloodshed and destruction, are seen in Nigeria under Buharis administration regarding the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whose agitations for self-determination and independence have led to the Buhari-led government's being accused of killing hundreds of members of IPOB.

The mind of Putin is filled with egotism, vengeance, control, ill-discipline, disagreeableness, angst, and grandiosity, resulting in behaviors in the manner of autocrats, dictators, and tyrants, which are not ways of building a strong and healthy democracy, nor ways of gaining the trust of the African people.

Progress toward developed democracies in Africa has been exceedingly slow and, as a result, Putins behavior and ways are no way for potential and present African leaders to actualize democracy.

John Egbeazien Oshodi, who was born in Uromi, Edo State in Nigeria, is an American based Police/Prison Scientist and Forensic/Clinical/Legal Psychologist. A government consultant on matters of forensic-clinical adult/child psychological services in the USA; Chief Educator and Clinician at the Transatlantic Enrichment and Refresher Institute, an Online Lifelong Center for Personal, Professional, and Career Development. He is a former Interim Associate Dean/Assistant Professor at Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African Settings In 2011, he introduced State-of-the-Art Forensic Psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C and Nasarawa State University, where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. Currently, a Virtual Behavioral Leadership Professor at ISCOM University, Republic of Benin. Founder of the proposed Transatlantic Egbeazien Open University (TEU) of Values and Ethics, a digital project of Truth, Ethics, and Openness. Founder of Psychoafricalytic Psychology. Over forty academic publications and creations, at least 200 public opinion pieces on African issues, and various books have been written by him. He specializes in psycho-prescriptive writings regarding African institutional and governance issues.

Prof. Oshodi wrote in via [email protected]
24.02.2022 LISTEN

Ghanas Honorary Consul to Ukraine, Dr. Albert Kitcher says at the moment, it is impossible for Ghanaians in Ukraine to be evacuated back home.

In the midst of the tension between Russia and Ukraine that has resulted in the former attacking the latter, Ghanaian students away in Ukraine are pleading to be evacuated.

Speaking to TV3 in an interview on Wednesday, Dr. Albert Kitcher has justified why evacuation is currently not on the table.

According to the Ghana Honorary Consul to Ukraine, airports have been shut down in the European country hence it is impossible to carry out an evacuation.

Where we are now if we have everything we cannot evacuate because the Airspace of Ukraine is currently shut. What can be done is if we identify any areas that prove to be problematic or people will be vulnerable there, to relocate them or evacuate them to a safer place, Dr. Albert Kitcher shared.

He continued, We had all these in plan knowing this will develop, so already, the Mission and the Ministry were working on the modalities to get the students out.

If there will be any evacuation it will be an evacuation to a safer place. We ourselves are looking at the situation, as it is now, if a place is so close to the Russian border we will want people to move from there. I had a communication also from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ukraine and they advise that people stay calm.

Dr. Albert Kitcher further assured that the Ghanaian community is safe in Ukraine despite the attack early in the morning.

Currently, a state of emergency has been declared in Ukraine with the government putting in measures to protect the people.
Alice Seeley Harris, a British missionary stationed in the Congo Free State in the 1800s - 1900s, took photographs of the inhuman treatments, which the Congo people were subjected to under King Leopold II of Belgium from 1884 to 1908. According to information from Wikipedia and other sources, Leopold felt that the African country was his personal property and that the African people were his subjects. They were forced to work in the rubber plantation and the resources from their labor were sent to Belgium, thus creating development and more wealth in Belgium while causing underdevelopment and extreme poverty and suffering in Congo. The foundation of this behavior was the thinking that the Congolese were culturally inferior to the Belgium people and therefore the Congolese must be ruled and suppressed.

This philosophy was not only exercised by Leopold and his associates, but also by other European countries or the Western World. It became the justification for colonialism.

African countries and people were considered and used as properties of the colonial powers. There was no consideration to the value, justice, and human rights of the Africans, though the colonizers projected to the world that they were to help better the lives of the Africans. In fact, as Wikipedia further states, "Leopold's colony was founded on humanity and that it would improve the lives of Congolese people. In Congo, as in other African colonies, European education, religion, technology, and medicine were all used as justification for the spread of colonization. They also helped to mask, or make more palatable, the economic interests that drove European empire-building including the theft of land, labor, and resources for profit".

In the photo of this article, the Alice Seeley Harris Archive shows that in West Africa, Kru boys or children were used to working on a ship. This practice would certainly amount to child labor, a human rights violation. Harris' pictures were used by anti-slavery advocates to bring attention to human abuse and "the racial thinking that underpinned it". Though Kru served as sailors in the Royal Navy during World War II, they were men hired following labor laws. Slavery was outlawed.

But slavery and human abuse were not carried out only by Whites, but also by Blacks. For instance, in Liberia in the 1920s, native African people, including children, were forcibly sent to Fernando Po, a Spanish colony in Equatorial Guinea for plantation labor. They were mistreated like slaves. Before and after the 1920s, native rights were generally abused in Liberia. Sadly, the perpetrators were Americo-Liberians, former Black American slaves who landed in Liberia two hundred years ago in January 1822. Like the Whites, the settlers felt that the natives were inferior and should be devalued, ruled, and mistreated. The settlers, a minority group of less than 10% of the population, ruled Liberia for over 140 years from 1822 to 1980. The natives were excluded in the forming of the government in 1847 and were not considered citizens of Liberia until 1912. Though they gained citizenship, they were not allowed to vote until 1946. These were colonial behaviors and the practice of human degradation, man inhumanity to man. But some natives, in collaboration with the settlers to gain social status, behaved like the Americo-Liberians. Further, the Congos and settlers from the West Indies joined the Americo-Liberians in ruling the country. Data suggests that over 90% of the combined settlers were illiterate. The Congos were re-captured African slaves from the Niger-Congo delta comprising present Nigeria, Niger, and Togo. They were sent to Liberia from the mid-1820s to the 1860s.

Like slavery, the fundamental principle of the Americo-Liberians was the notion that they were superior over the natives and hence the suppression and mistreatment. As newcomers, they failed to consider their experience as former slaves in America to embrace the Africans as their brothers and sisters to live together as one. Instead, they saw an opportunity to become masters like their previous owners. Their behaviors devalued some natives to feel inferior and to want to become Americo-Liberians.

The Liberian government this January and February celebrated the bicentennial of the coming of the settlers. Certainly, their coming helped stop the slave trade in Liberia and helped ameliorate tribal disputes. Moreover, Liberia is the first and the oldest Black Republic in Africa. She assisted in the independence of other African countries under colonization. She helped found the Organization of African Unity, OAU. These are noble accomplishments, which deserve stating. While in the celebration the government focused on the achievements of the arrival of the settlers, it failed to also mention the behaviors of the newcomers relative to the natives. It appeared that the administration intentionally did not mention the problems which the settlers had caused and which had resulted in the underdevelopment of Liberia. Balancing the story would have made the occasion credible and would help the government achieve its development goal.

However, the government saw the occasion as an opportunity to improve US-Liberia relations for assistance and for the development of trades and tourism in Liberia. The government invited some US officials to come to Liberia for the occasion. American President Joseph Biden sent a delegation to the celebration. The government may have thought that giving a balanced presentation of the coming of the settlers would discourage others. The Liberian government apparently hoped that African Americans in the US would historically view and consider Liberia as their second home in Africa. This too would enhance tourism and US investments in Liberia. Also, Diaspora Liberians who are nationalized American citizens supported the occasion to gain more government support in their quest for dual citizenship in Liberia. Though the Liberian people during the 2020 referendum overwhelmingly rejected dual citizenship, the group is pressuring the Liberian legislatures to overturn the will of the people. Meanwhile, telling the story partially could defeat the government's objectives.

Truth-telling does not only show honesty but also demonstrates sincerity in the true pursuit of assistance and reconciliation for national unity and peace. It would also educate the younger generation of Liberia of the truth of the coming of the former Americans. Hiding the truth and keeping people in the dark is a behavior of slavery. During slavery in America, the slaves were denied education for the fear that by gaining knowledge, the slaves would fight for freedom. That behavior benefited the slave masters. The slaves were their property. Slavery provided free labor and made the masters wealthy. The slaves were considered less than a human and were not viewed as American citizens. Through the American Colonization Society (ACS), the American government assisted in sending free slaves to Africa. Upon their eventual settlement in Liberia, the ex-slaves separated themselves from the African natives and called themselves Americo-Liberians to distinguish them from the aborigine population.

As stated earlier, the Congos and other immigrants joined the Americo-Liberians in functioning as the ruling class in Liberia. Like the American settlers, the ACS brought the Congos to Liberia but put them under the tutelage of the Americo-Liberians. Unfortunately, the American settlers viewed the Congos as inferior and treated them as servants. Here was another indication of man's inhumanity to man: rather than both settler groups working together, one group felt superior over the other and according to history, mistreated the "inferior". Here also, the view of superiority could not be based on culture and education. As pointed out before, the Americo-Liberians were former slaves who were deprived of education in America and who were at the periphery of the American culture and society. Thus superiority was a function of prejudice, a predisposition. It was this kind of feeling that gave rise to the enslavement and colonization of Blacks by Whites.

Meanwhile, the Congos felt superior over the native Liberians. That feeling was based on the Congos association with the Americo-Liberians. Both groups were settled and sponsored by the ACS. The foundation of this feeling was Race, Whites vs. Blacks, the base of slavery and colonization. The American settlers viewed that they were superior because they were from the White man's country America. The same would be true if dual citizenship is allowed in Liberia. Liberians with dual citizenship would feel superior over the local Liberians.

Former colonial masters and institutions have acknowledged their role in slavery and colonization, and many have apologized. That realization and openness have helped past colonial countries in their development. The truth about Liberian history must be told. The government has an obligation in this regard. Compromising the truth for any reason would create a state of mental slavery and underdevelopment.

Whether the Weah administration knows it or not, many American decision-makers know of the behaviors of the ex-slaves in Liberia. So there is no need to hide the truth. For example, in September 1976, Liberian former President William Tolbert in the US addressed the joint houses of Congress. While the members of Congress were waiting for Tolbert to arrive, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and Speaker of the House Carl Albert had a conversation over an open microphone discussing the settlers. News and recording of the conversation went viral nationally. The conversation went as follows.

ALBERT: Are there many Liberians that are mulattoes? There are?

ROCKEFELLER: Most are strictly blacks.

ALBERT: Real black huh?

ROCKEFELLER: But they've got a class systemthe blacks that went 'back to Liberia and took on all the characteristics of the Southern whites. And they treated the local blacks.

ALBERT: They never let the local blacks get in on anything?

ROCKEFELLER: Oh, no. They've 'lightly changed their speech, but only slightly.

In short, many Americans know the history of Liberia; so, the Liberian government must tell and balance the historical truth of the country.
Russia has been branded a pariah for invading Ukraine, but in the remote Central African Republic, the country has fans -- supporters who say its paramilitaries "saved" their war-torn country.

Beneath a statue of Russian fighters protecting a woman and her children, civilians joined a military tribute in Bangui on Wednesday to thank Russians who 14 months ago helped prevent a takeover by armed rebels.

The "Russian monument," as the people of the capital call it, stands in a square of reddish clay earth near the university.

About a hundred people of all ages waved Russian and CAR flags before troops from an elite unit and figures close to the government.

Some held up banners and signs proclaiming "Central Africans with Russia" and even "Russia will save the Donbass from war" -- a reference to the Ukrainian territory that President Vladimir Putin cited as justification for Thursday's attack.

Air support: A Russian-made MI-17 helicopter marked with a red star, pictured near Bangui on January 10 2021. By FLORENT VERGNES AFP

In December 2020, as elections loomed, a coalition of armed groups advanced on Bangui, prompting President Faustin Archange Touadera to appeal to the Kremlin for help under bilateral accords.

Russia sent hundreds of paramilitaries to the deeply poor and landlocked country, where they joined others who had been present for three years. Rwanda also sent a military contingent.

Central African Republic. By AFP

In a few months, with Russian backing, the CAR's ill-equipped and poorly-trained army drove back rebels who had occupied two-thirds of the CAR's territory.

Today, government forces have regained control over the major cities -- the immediate crisis is over, although the threat of violence remains.

The rebels have scattered into the countryside, where they launch attacks on the security forces and civilians.

'Wagner' controversy

Russia describes its personnel as "unarmed instructors," but the UN and France -- CAR's colonial power and traditional ally -- say they are from Wagner, a private and unaccountable security firm.

A woman lays flowers at the base of the 'Russian monument' in Bangui. By Carol VALADE AFP

The help has come at a cost, for the operatives have been accused of extrajudicial killings and other abuses.

Last year, a group of UN experts denounced abuses committed against civilians by the CAR armed forces and their Russian allies.

And on Tuesday, France and the United States alleged at the UN Security Council on Tuesday that Wagner "mercenaries" killed dozens of civilians last month.

In July 2018, three Russian journalists investigating Wagner's activities in the CAR were ambushed and killed.

'Real peace'

Inaugurated by Touadera with great fanfare in December as a "tribute to the Russian armed forces and fighters," the statue bears no inscription.

"The Russians have always been there on our side," claimed Yefi Kezza, a member of Touadera's United Hearts Movement (MCU) and also of the National Galaxy Platform, which organised the tribute and vilifies France and the UN.

"The Russians came and did a remarkable job to liberate the Central African people," added Blaise-Didacien Kossimatchi, another member of the National Galaxy Platform.

Several demonstrators sported T-shirts stamped "I am Wagner," identifying with the controversial security firm which supports the Kremlin's interests -- with deniability.

Soldiers of the 6th Territorial Infantry Battalion, an elite unit of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), snapped to attention for the CAR national anthem.

A man at the 'Russian Monument' offers his support to Vladimir Putin's policy in Ukraine. By Carol VALADE AFP

Their commander laid a wreath at the foot of the statue in hommage to the "Defenders of the Fatherland."

None of the Russian paramilitaries or diplomats who usually attend such events was to be seen, however.

"The peace that the FACA and the Russians have brought us is truly the peace of God," announced one speaker at the microphone, rousing cheers from the crowd.

"What interests us is to have real peace," said Nelson Ezechiel Yangelema, a first-year student in the faculty of science.

"The Russians must still give the CAR a helping hand."
24.02.2022 LISTEN

IMANI  the Center for Policy & Education  is inviting early-stage researchers and aspirants (PhD Fellows and Non-PhD Fellows) to indicate their interest in an upcoming internship program to support an initiative called the Big Bang.

The Big Ideas for Ghana Beyond Aid & Against Negative Growth initiative shall explore creative means to keep the spotlight on chronic and structural economic and policymaking challenges. In the nearly two decades IMANI has been operating in Ghana, blending accessible research with high-powered advocacy, we have witnessed persistent cycles of strong confidence in Ghanas future abruptly cut short by gloomy economic downturns.

During the good years, everyone forgets about fiscal prudence and either move on to something else or joins the chorus of celebration as sod after sod are cut to outdoor grand projects. Soon the bad years return and the joyful ones become mute or move on whilst naysayers move center-stage. This endless boom-bust cycle must end, and it falls on civil society and well-meaning, non-partisan, Ghanaians to take a bold stand to keep important matters constantly in the limelight.

There are thus two main focuses of the Big Bang research-driven advocacy program:

Hold the current President, and his government, to the Ghana Beyond Aid promise by evaluating how flagship projects like 1D1F, One Village One Dam, One Constituency One Million Dollars, Free SHS and Planting for Food & Jobs have truly fared , away from the heated partisan squabbles. Billions of dollars of capital investment and recurrent expenditure have flowed into these flagship promises but to date little has been done to determine if they are truly moving Ghana towards self-sufficiency. Today, as we lament the closure of the international capital markets to Ghana, we have the perfect opportunity to ask: Ghana Beyond Aid, so how far?

, away from the heated partisan squabbles. Billions of dollars of capital investment and recurrent expenditure have flowed into these flagship promises but to date little has been done to determine if they are truly moving Ghana towards self-sufficiency. Today, as we lament the closure of the international capital markets to Ghana, we have the perfect opportunity to ask: Ghana Beyond Aid, so how far? Popularise the concept of Negative Growth as it applies uniquely and specifically to Ghanas situation. In 2000, Ghana had a GDP of $5 billion. Today, that number is about $65 billion. That is a thirteen-fold growth. Yet, many of the problems of underdevelopment like youth unemployment, poor shelter, disability-adjusted life expectancy and environmental decay seem to be worsening, or at best not improving anywhere near the rate of GDP growth. Part of the reason is that adjusted for population growth, biodiversity loss and other HDI factors, the 5.1% of annualized growth rate experienced over the last five years may indeed be negative. How do we truly track transformational improvement in our governance, lives and social relations?

At IMANI, we believe that how our government is investing our resources to achieve transformational growth is the abiding question of these times and we need help to do a better job of tracking and monitoring. We also need help to better frame our contributions to the problem-solving. We believe that talented and passionate people from all around the world would enjoy working with us over a period of 6, 9 or 12 months to craft this Big Bang project. If this prospect appeals to you, please send us:

Your CV

A short cover letter indicating how long you can commit to the initiative, whether you will require a stipend and how much, whether you would be based in Ghana or overseas during the period and when you can start

An essay between 1000 and 3000 words commenting on any aspect of the Big Bang Agenda

(Optional) A video monologue of between 5 and 15 minutes of yourself critiquing the logic behind the Big Bang Agenda

Email Address for all enquiries: [email protected]

If you would like to donate or partner us on this project, please send an email to [email protected]
Geneva - We are extremely worried about the escalation of military action in Ukraine and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

We reiterate the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres call for an immediate cessation in hostilities and the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Eight years of conflict in Ukraine have displaced over 1.4 million people who now rely on assistance to meet their daily needs. This escalation will only deepen the humanitarian needs and compound the suffering of millions of families.

IOM, alongside the United Nations and the humanitarian community, is committed to staying and delivering vital assistance to the people of Ukraine and stands ready to respond to the emerging humanitarian needs in the country and the region, in close coordination with governments and partners.

We will continue to operate in a neutral and impartial manner, prioritizing the humanitarian imperative.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye has said the excessive use of herbal medication is increasing the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Ghana.

The prevalence rate of chronic kidney diseases in Ghana is estimated at 13.3 percent.

Speaking at the commissioning of a Renal Dialysis Center at the Eastern Regional Hospital by management of the hospital in collaboration with the family of the late Dr. George Fredua Ofori-Atta and BDAC Ghana Foundation, Dr. Ofori Boadu who spoke on behalf of Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye called on the public to also observe optimal kidney health.

Anecdotal evidence has implicated excessive usage of herbal medications in the rising cases of chronic renal diseases in our part of the world.

If you enter the next available drinking spot now, you will find an uncountable number of bitters, aphrodisiacs, many of which are nephrotoxic, he added.

Some patients commended the management for the establishment of the center.

They further called on the government to assist with the cost of the dialysis procedure.

I used to travel from Koforidua to Accra twice every week but since the renal unit was established in Koforidua in June 2020, life has been made easier. We appreciate the government for this step.

All that we need now is for the government to assist us with the logistics needed for dialysis as well as help reduce the cost of the procedure.

---citinewsroom
With Russian President Valadimir Putin on Thursday announcing military operation against Ukraine, the Indian students in Ukraine have been advised not to go out of their homes and carry cash.

An Indian student in Ukraine's Ternopil city, Aman Gupta (name changed) told IANS: "When we woke up in the morning, we heard the sounds of sirens. The situation is not what it was before. The government has asked us not to go out from home. Some of my friend's have booked flight. They have gone to Kiev and are returning to Ternopil as the attacks took place just three km away form Kiev airport. In view of the emerging situation, the university held online classes today."

"Students here are in panic and parents are calling constantly. Some of my friends are at the Indian embassy after they were evacuated from the airport. My seniors and some organisations have asked us to keep cash in hand and hoard as much ration as possible," he further said.

In the wake of the conflict, around 242 Indian students returned to India and reached the Indira Gandhi International airport late on Tuesday night.

India has started bringing back its nationals from Ukraine and nearby areas and has pressed Boeing Dreamliner B-787 aircraft into service.
Dr. Donald Agumenu, Peace Ambassador and Leadership expert, has called on the government to come out with an evacuation strategy for Ghanaians in Ukraine in time.

Speaking few hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared military action on Ukraine, Dr. Agumenu observed that the lives of Ghanaian students, nurses, doctors, and artisans in Ukraine were at stake and must be saved with resolute action.

We have our people there. Government must move without delay with a full-scale evacuation plan. A lot more Ghanaian student are there. A few of them started sending desperate messages back home. We must rescue them, Dr. Agumenu stated.

The Peace Ambassador, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said it was likely citizens would be caught in line of the conflict and must be rescued.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, speaking on national television said, I have taken the decision to carry out a special military operation. Its goal will be to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kyiv regime.

For this, we will aim for demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.

Dr. Agumenu said an open conflict would have dire consequences for the world's economy and peacebuilding efforts, and as such global leaders ought to act.

As Putin attacks Ukraine over traditional diplomacy at the height of diplomatic sanctions from global powers, leaders at this material moment must be thinking beyond the normal diplomatic strategy to prevent further escalation, he said.

Dr. Agumenu observed that: Continuous provocations may trigger a horrendous climate for global peace and security. The complexities within that axis, the interest of Russia against that of US and NATO is something we must carefully watch in the interest of humanity.

The statement said global leaders must at this crucial moment make critical efforts to de-escalate the situation, adding that any attempt from these major military powers to show extra force may undermine a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

It said global leaders must entrench the interest of humanity over that of superpower struggle and military strength to prevent further stress caused by global economic hardships and public health complexities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked Ghanaians in Ukraine to stay at home while efforts were made to ensure their safety.

GNA
North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

24.02.2022 LISTEN

A Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has urged the government to explore bilateral partnerships with other countries to evacuate Ghanaians in troubled Ukraine to safety.

The European country earlier today was attacked by Russia with reports that lives have been lost.

In the midst of the uncertainty of what could transpire between Russia and Ukraine in the coming days, North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the government should immediately make a move to evacuate Ghanaians to safety.

I urge Government to expeditiously explore bilateral partnerships with countries already on the ground with superior logistics and advanced escape mechanisms, considering that Ghana does not have a resident diplomatic mission in Ukraine and our oversight embassy in Berne, Switzerland has practical challenges, so as to ensure that our Ghanaian compatriots in harms way are whisked to safety, parts of a statement from the MP posted on Facebook read.

The North Tongu MP stresses that with escalating hostilities and indications that a catastrophic deterioration appears inevitable, it is now expedient for the government to quickly intervene to save Ghanaian lives.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa insists that just asking students to seek their own shelter in these petrifying circumstances cannot be considered helpful by any stretch of the imagination.

Read the full statement from the North Tongu MP below:

Our thoughts and prayers are with Ghanaian students and all other Ghanaians resident in Ukraine.

The National Union of Ghana Students in Ukraine informs me they have 959 registered members that is a significant number that must command our special and urgent attention. There are in addition to our students, some estimated 500 Ghanaians in Ukraine.

With escalating hostilities and indications that a catastrophic deterioration appears inevitable, it is now expedient for the Ghanaian government to quickly intervene to save Ghanaian lives. Asking our students to seek their own shelter in these petrifying circumstances cannot be considered helpful by any stretch of imagination.

I urge Government to expeditiously explore bilateral partnerships with countries already on the ground with superior logistics and advanced escape mechanisms, considering that Ghana does not have a resident diplomatic mission in Ukraine and our oversight embassy in Berne, Switzerland has practical challenges, so as to ensure that our Ghanaian compatriots in harms way are whisked to safety.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has called for the swift evacuation of Ghanaians studying in Ukraine.

We should ensure the swift evacuation of Ghanaian students in Ukraine. This we must do to assure the students and their parents that they are Ghanaians and that they deserve our support. This is a matter of urgent public importance, the Minority leader stated while speaking in Parliament on Thursday, 24 February 2022.

According to the Minority leader, government must make available funding to ensure the smooth evacuation of Ghanaian students from Ukraine.

Mr Iddrisu said: I am indulging you to look at the matter because the Minister of Finance needs to make monies readily available to the Foreign Minister. The situation in Ukraine is very worrying, with imminent war.

---classfmonline.com
The Reverend Fred Barnacle Dadson, Vice President of the Ghana Evangelical Society (GES), an interdenominational Christian Fellowship, says Ghana will face the wrath of God if its leaders and people do not repent from their bad ways and seek the Lord.

He said God had revealed to the Fellowship to warn the leaders and people of Ghana to turn away from their sins and seek Him to prevent his imminent wrath.

Reverend Dadson made this known when he addressed the press on the revelation the Fellowship had received from God, dubbed Ghana faces the wrath and fury of God in judgement without repentance.

He said the Lord revealed to them in the words: I have gathered and chosen a people from far and near for my inheritance. And what do I see, filth, squalor, ingrate, degeneration, corruption, sin, wickedness and evil. A people who do not seek to know my will concerning their land. My hand is ready. I shall sweep through the land from north to south, east to west.

I need a people who shall call upon my name in righteousness, a people who shall depend on my blood and my fire, even the fire of the Holy Spirit to sweep through the land. For if you do not sweep the land, the land shall be engulfed with my fire and in my fury.

He said the Lord had declared the land of Ghana as sick and needed deliverance and healing, adding that, Only the Lord God Jehovah, the Mighty One of Israel (and Ghana) can deliver and heal us.

Rev Dadson said the Lord expected the executive and legislative arms of government to seek the good of the people whom they served and not themselves, and the judiciary to uphold justice and fairness in their judgements.

He said the media, the fourth estate of the realm, should be circumspect in their reporting and not report on issues that would bring division and chaos.

Rev Dadson said Ghana was not just any ordinary country, but one chosen by God, so its leaders and citizens should walk in the order of the Lord.

Mr Roland Affail Money, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, reiterated the call on media practitioners to be professional and circumspect in their reportage.

He said the caution was a wake-up call to the media to ensure that they walked not only in the fear of God but did their work in the highest degree of professionalism.

We should ensure that at all times we are on the sides of rectitude and have the moral locus before we can hold others to check. Our failure to exercise our constitutional mandate of holding people in positions to account can cause disaster for this nation, he added.

GNA
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu has charged the government to as a matter of urgency, take necessary steps to ensure the safety of Ghanaian students in Ukraine.

Following Russias attack on Ukraine today, Ghanaians in the European country including students are fearing for their lives.

Early in the afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a statement on Twitter noting that the government of Ghana is concerned about the situation in Ukraine.

The post in full reads, The Government of Ghana is gravely concerned about the security and safety of our over 1000 students and other Ghanaians in Ukraine and has asked them to shelter in place in their homes or in government places of shelter, as we engage the authorities, our relevant diplomatic missions and our honorary consul on further measures.

With the situation in Ukraine escalating amid fears that this could result in a major European war, Haruna Iddrisu has called on the government to immediately evacuate Ghanaian students in the troubled country.

I mentioned this matter to the speaker that I wanted to invoke Order 72, to raise the matter of urgent public importance, which is to call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for the Interior, Minister for Finance to work together to take urgent steps to ensure the safety of Ghanaian students in Ukraine, and to work towards the immediate evacuation of Ghanaian students, those studying in Ukraine, the Tamale South MP said on the floor of Parliament.

Haruna Iddrisu continued, This, we must do to assure the students and their parents that they are Ghanaian and they deserve our support. So it is a matter of urgent public importance because the Minister of Finance must make money readily available to the Foreign Minister. The situation in Ukraine is very worrying.

At the moment, the government is unable to evacuate Ghanaians in Ukraine due to the closure of airports.
The Board of Directors of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has expressed deep concerns about the apparent relapse of democratic governance and the deterioration of media freedom conditions in the West Africa region.

At its recent meeting on February 16, 2022, the Board noted that the recent coup detats in some countries in the region have very serious implications for democratic governance as well as the promotion and protection of human rights in the region. The concerns of the Board follow military takeovers in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, and a recent attempted coup in Guinea Bissau.

The apprehension of the Board also comes at a time when there is increasing public concern about a growing atmosphere of state repression against free speech and expression. It also comes at a time when there is an escalation of media rights violations in the form of physical attacks on journalists and media organisations, the application of arcane laws to effect the arrest and criminal prosecution of journalists in nearly all countries in the region.

The Board, therefore, called on the regional inter-governmental body, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the international community, to take immediate steps to help stabilise and advance democratic governance in the region.

The board recommended that, as a matter of urgency, ECOWAS member states should jointly deploy their defence resources to fight against terrorists and fundamentalists groups in the Sahel region to help improve security and humanitarian conditions in the Sahel parts of the region in particular and in the entire region.

These, among other concerns, were contained in a seven-point resolution adopted by the Board after its meeting.

Below is the seven-point resolution adopted by the Board:

Resolution by the Board of Directors of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) at its Meeting held on February 16, 2022.

On February 16, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) held a virtual meeting to review the organisations work for 2021 and approve the workplan of the organisation for 2022.

The meeting also focused on discussing a number of major issues affecting the regional context including the spate of democratic recession in the region, declining press freedom and freedom of expression conditions, and the general governance and human rights context in the region.

The meeting, which was presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, Ms. Sophie Ly Sow of Senegal, unanimously adopted and issued this seven-point resolution.

The Board is deeply concerned about the increasing spate of Coup detats in the region and the serious implications for democratic governance in the region. In the light of this unfortunate development, the Board urges ECOWAS to take urgent appropriate steps to deal with the underlining factors that set the tone for the military takeovers. The Board also adds its voice to calls for the military leaders in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, to speed up processes for the return to democratic rule in the respective countries. The Board also notes with concern, the growing levels of insecurity and humanitarian crisis in many parts of the region and especially in the Sahel parts of the region, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions. In the light of the challenge, the Board calls for swift and robust action on the part of ECOWAS to deal with the crisis. The Board is of the view that given the scale and severity of the activities of terrorist groups in the Sahel region in particular and the region as a whole, no single country can effectively deal with the situation. The Board, therefore, calls on ECOWAS to, as a matter of urgency, adopt a resolution that will allow member states to pull together their defence resource and deploy a multi-national (ECOWAS) military operation against terrorist groups operating in the region. To further enhance and consolidate democratic governance in the region, the Board urges all leaders in the region to respect constitutional term limits and avoid the practice of amending constitutions in order to seek to govern beyond two terms. The Board further admonishes leaders in the region to endeavour to promote and protect the socio-economic and political rights of citizens; fight against corruption, and ensure fair and equitable distribution of national resources. The Board expresses sadness about the deterioration of media freedom, freedom of expression and the continuous shrinking of civic space in the region, which has been exacerbated by the sudden and rampant application of laws that criminalise speech and media offences. In view of this development and its severe implications for democratic governance in the region, states in the region are urged to avoid the criminalisation of expression. States in the region are also urged to decriminalise old pieces of legislation that criminalise speech and media offences. In the light of the deterioration of media freedom and freedom of expression conditions in the region, the Board notes with profound sadness, the very weak state of national journalism associations in many countries in the region. It calls on the leadership of the various national associations of journalists to take steps to strengthen their respective associations to be able to effectively champion and support press freedom and freedom of expression advocacy in the respective countries. The Board is also deeply saddened by the fact that increasingly, a few countries in the region that served as champions for media freedom and free expression, are ceasing their leadership role on those issues, and calls for the resurgence of regional leadership on media freedom and freedom of expression issues. In this regard, the Board welcomes recent commitments by a number of governments around the World to re-energise efforts under the auspices of the Global Media Freedom Coalition, to promote media freedom and safety of journalists around the world.

---Media Foundation For West Africa
Adjenim Boateng Adjei

24.02.2022 LISTEN

The High Court in Accra has thrown out an application filed by a former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, to set aside findings of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) against him in the Contracts For Sale scandal.

The former CEO had wanted the court to issue an order of certiorari to quash CHRAJs ruling on grounds that it breached the rules of natural justice; however, the court presided over by Justice Elfreda Amy Dankyi ruled otherwise.

Mr Adjei argued that he was not given a fair hearing by CHRAJ in the case in which he was found guilty of conflict of interest in the award of government projects.

In the said report, CHRAJ found overwhelming evidence to show that Mr Adjei put himself in several positions where his personal interest in Talent Discovery Limited (TDL) and other companies conflicted with the performance of the functions of his office as CEO and Board Member of PPA, therefore, contravening article 284 of the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Adjei who served as the CEO of PPA between March 2017 and August 2019, was suspended from office and his appointment was subsequently terminated on October 30, 2021 by the President after an expose conducted by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.

Background

The former PPA CEO was caught in compromising positions in an investigative piece put together by freelance journalist, Manasseh Awuni Azure in 2019.

In the investigative piece, a company known as Talent Discovery Limited (TDL), owned by Mr. Adjei, was found to be getting government contracts through restricted tendering and selling those contracts to others for profit.

The President referred the corruption aspects of the case to the Office of the Special Prosecutor to probe, and that of conflict of interest was handed to CHRAJ.

CHRAJ after investigating Mr. Adjei found him guilty of conflict of interest in the performance of his duties after sidestepping procurement procedures for personal gains.

CHRAJ had said the money accrued in Mr. Adjei accounts since assuming office in 2017 stood at GHS 14.8 million from his four Dollar and Euro accounts held at two banks.

According to CHRAJ, Mr. Adjei could not satisfactorily explain the source of the large volumes of excess wealth that passed through his bank accounts between March 2017 and August 2019.

---citinewsroom
Speaker Alban Bagbin has told Members of Parliament that information available to him indicate that if something is not done in the next three months, government may not be able to pay salaries of workers.

He has therefore urged the lawmakers to show leadership.

Honourable members, the information at my disposal, this is not something to discourage the committees from doing their work, if something is not done within the next three months government may not even be able to pay salaries. So we have to take leadership, we have to do a lot of things with this the House is accordingly adjourned to Friday, he said in Parliament on Thursday February 24.

As part of proceedings in Parliament on Thursday, Deputy Majority Leader Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed concerns over the possible effect of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on Ghana's economy.

In his view, the conflict is going to have an impact on import and also the strength of the local currency, the cedi.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament the Effutu lawmaker said As a businessman, I am worried. I am concerned knowing that the value chain is going to be affected, imports will cost, duties will cost and if you look at what is happening to the cedi, now dollar is moving around a certain figure.

This is about an international catastrophe which is affecting mother Ghana and the need for us to take away the politics and now have a new way of thinking to support our government. My Speaker, the call to evacuate Ghanaian citizens from Ukraine will come at a cost, no European country will evacuate our citizens for us, NATO will not do that, America will not do that.

There is going to be pressure on the limited resources that we have and as a nation, Ghanaian businesses who are supposed to do well to pay taxes they are going to suffer, their businesses will not do well the way they expect, their projection will be affected, that is the reality and I must bring this to the attention of all of us so that any policy that will be brought will be seen in that light.

Of course Honourable Minority leader, you have not spoken into the mic but if you are talking about the E-levy, this is the more important reason why we need it. If you are talking about the E-levy, that was the next point I was getting to, that we should engage around it and find a way of generating revenue as a country to save the situation. Because we are not in normal times, Haruna Iddrisu couldn't have raised this matter at a better time than now. This is a patriotic call from him.

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu asked the government to take immediate steps to evacuate Ghanaian students from Ukraine following the crisis with Russia.

He said there is the need to assure the students and their parents that they have the support of the Government of Ghana and all Ghanaians.

I mentioned this matter to the speaker that I wanted to invoke Order 72, to raise the matter of urgent public importance, which is to call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for the Interior, Minister for Finance to work together to take urgent steps to ensure the safety of of Ghanaian students in Ukraine, and to work towards the immediate evacuation of Ghanaian students, those studying in Ukraine.

This, we must do to assure the students and their parents that they are Ghanaian and they deserve our support. So it is a matter of urgent public importance because the Minister of Finance must make money readily available to the Foreign Minister.

The situation in Ukraine is very worrying, the Tamale South Member of Parliament said on the floor of the House.

The Government of Ghana had expressed concerns about the safety of Ghanaian students in Ukraine following the crisis with Russia.

In series of tweets, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said The Government of Ghana is gravely concerned about the security and safety of our over 1000 students and other Ghanaians in Ukraine and has asked them to shelter in place in their homes or in government places of shelter, as we engage the authorities, our relevant diplomatic missions and our honorary consul on further measures.

Meanwhile, Ghana's Honorary Consul to Ukraine, Dr. Albert Kitcher has said it is not possible to evacuate Ghanaian students and Ghanaians in general from Ukraine at the moment following the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

He said the airspace of Ukraine has been shut hence, air travels are not possible.

Alternatively, he said, Ghanaians living close to the Russian borders will need to relocate to safer locations in Ukraine.

Speaking on the mid day news on TV3 Thursday February 24, Dr Kitcher said The Ghanaian community is safe despite the early morning issue we all woke up to. As of last night, there was a state of emergency which was declared and because of that I sent messages to them.

So, I will say that our people are safe and I have spoken with some even this morning.

He added Where we are now, if we have everything we cannot evacuate because the Airspace of Ukraine is currently shut. What can be done is, if we identify any areas that prove to be problematic or people will be vulnerable there, to relocate them or evacuate them to a safer place.

We had all these in plan knowing this will develop, so already, the Mission and the Ministry was working on the modalities to get the students out .

If there will be any evacuation it will be an evacuation to safer place. We ourselves are looking at the situation, as it is now, if a place is so close to the Russian border we will want people to move from there. I had a communication also from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ukraine and they advise that people stay calm.

Although Ghanaian students in Ukraine have said they are safe in the interim, they have asked the Government of Ghana to prioritize evacuating them from that country due to the crisis with Russia.

President of the Ukraine Chapter of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) , Dr Phillip Bobie Ansah also told TV3's Komla Adom on the Mid day news on Thursday February 24 that absolutely, we are all safe as we speak now.

Regarding the plea for them to be evacuated, he said we have heard responses from the embassies.

---3news.com
William Ato Essien, former Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Capital Bank has denied taking GHC200 million dishonestly out of the GHC620 million liquidity support given to Capital Bank.

Essien explained that he was not a management member of the Bank, not a signatory, and not part of the day-to-day operations of the Bank.

I have no access to the treasury of the Bank, he added.

Essien, who was continuing his cross-examination by Mrs Evelyn Keelson, Chief State Attorney, indicated that he did not get any personal benefit from the liquidity support and that his personal bank account could attest to that.

The accused said it was factually incorrect that the GHC200 million cedis he took from the Bank's liquidity support made the Capital Bank insolvent.

It is factually incorrect because I am standing trial for GHC130 million and GHC27.5 million cedis.

He said from the total of the GHC157.5, he legitimately earned GHC27.5 as Finder's fee.

According to him, since he legitimately earned the GHC 27.5 he had the right to use same the way he pleased.

He denied that the money he allegedly used for his personal gains was also used in setting up Sovereign Bank and a company known as Ocean Spring.

Essien said in his witness statement before the court that, the Board of the defunct Capital Bank duly approved the payment of GHC27.5million cedis as his Finder's Fee.

He said he found money to cater for the Bank's financial challenges and was paid for the services he rendered.

Question: Do you have any appointment letter from the Bank to support the claim that you were the Transaction Officer?

Answer: An oral agreement is as good as a written agreement. I have been looking for money for the Bank at the time I stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer. The Bank had never refused the money I found for it. I was contracted to find money and have done that since the year 2012.

Question: I am putting it to you that the GHC27.5 million was used under the guise of paying Bank of Ghana officials who facilitated the disbursement of the GHC620miilion.

Answer: No, my Lord. I was paid my finders commission, and, in that respect, approvals were duly given by the Board in recognition of the successful achievement of the receipt of the GHC620million. This transaction was not the first time I had found money from a government institution for the Bank.

Question: The first tranche of liquidity support was requested by Rev Fitzgerald Odonkor, the then Managing Director and Daniel Diapah, a manager.

Answer: It is factually inaccurate.

Question: Your response clearly shows that you did not play any role in the acquisition of the liquidity support.

Answer: That is not correct. I acted as the Transaction Advisor.

Questions: The contradictory answers you have given on record clearly shows that you were not the transaction adviser for the liquidity support.

Answer: We requested for GHC300 million from Band of Ghana, but we were given GHC150 million. With the second tranche, we requested for GHC450million, but we were given GHC300 million and in the third tranche,

we requested for GHC450 million, but we were given GHC170 million.

The court presided over by Mr Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, a Court of Appeal Judge, sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, adjourned the matter to March 3.

This is to enable Essien to call his defence witness, one Dr Isaac Nyame.

Essien and two others are standing trial in the GHC620 million offered to Capital Bank by the Bank of Ghana as liquidity support.

The two are Fitzgerald Odonkor, the former Managing Director of Capital Bank and Tettey Nettey of MC

Management Service, a company owned by Essien.

They are being held for allegedly conniving and stealing GHC620 liquidity support offered by the Bank of Ghana to defunct Capital Bank.

The accused persons have denied the offences and are on bail.

GNA
Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has noted that in the midst of the tension between Ukraine and Russia, Ghana needs as much revenue as it can get to cushion the economy.

Speaking on the floor of parliament, the Effutu constituency Member of Parliament expressed worry over the worrying tension between the two European countries.

As a businessman, I am worried. I am concerned knowing that the value chain is going to be affected, imports will cost, duties will cost and if you look at what is happening to the cedi, now dollar is moving around a certain figure.

This is about an international catastrophe which is affecting mother Ghana and the need for us to take away the politics and now have a new way of thinking to support our government. Mr Speaker, the call to evacuate Ghanaian citizens from Ukraine will come at a cost, no European country will evacuate our citizens for us, NATO will not do that, America will not do that, Afenyo-Markin said.

The MP who belongs to the Majority side in Parliament further stressed that in the midst of all this, it has become clear that the country needs the E-Levy to support its limited resources.

There is going to be pressure on the limited resources that we have. As a nation, Ghanaian businesses who are supposed to do well to pay taxes they are going to suffer, their businesses will not do well the way they expect, their projections will be affected, that is the reality and I must bring this to the attention of all of us so that any policy that will be brought will be seen in that light.

Of course Honourable Minority leader, you have not spoken into the mic but if you are talking about the E-levy, this is the more important reason why we need it. If you are talking about the E-levy, that was the next point I was getting to, that we should engage around it and find a way of generating revenue as a country to save the situation because we are not in normal times. Haruna Iddrisu couldnt have raised this matter at a better time than now. This is a patriotic call from him, Afenyo-Markin told Parliament.

The Minority just like the Majority in Parliament is worried about the situation in Ukraine.

Uncertain of what Russia may do in the coming days, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has called on the government to explore every available avenue to evacuate Ghanaian students in Ukraine to safety.

I mentioned this matter to the speaker that I wanted to invoke Order 72, to raise the matter of urgent public importance, which is to call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for the Interior, Minister for Finance to work together to take urgent steps to ensure the safety of Ghanaian students in Ukraine, and to work towards the immediate evacuation of Ghanaian students, those studying in Ukraine, the Tamale South MP said on the floor of Parliament.

Haruna Iddrisu continued, This, we must do to assure the students and their parents that they are Ghanaian and they deserve our support. So it is a matter of urgent public importance because the Minister of Finance must make money readily available to the Foreign Minister. The situation in Ukraine is very worrying.
A well-prepared online disinformation campaign on various social media platforms changed the whole narrative around the escalated Russia-Ukraine tensions, aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to go to war over claims to protect the people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Ukrainian regime for eight years", reports said.

A report in France24 has detailed how days after the Kremlin slammed Western "hysteria" over the Russian military buildup around Ukraine, the messaging from Moscow changed, following Putin's decision to recognise the pro-Russian, self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine.

The disinformation posts were first circulated in pro-Russian groups mostly on the encrypted messaging service Telegram, and then relayed by the state and pro-Kremlin media organisations to the world.

"Over the past few days, Russian state media has insisted that Putin has ordered troops on a apeacekeeping' mission into eastern Ukraine to prevent what the Russian leader has called a agenocide' of Russian-speakers by the government in Kiev," the report mentioned.

Some of the disinformation examples were a photo of an alleged Ukrainian armoured vehicle on Russian territory, a video of Ukrainian troops on an "invasion" mission infiltrating Russia, and another clip supposedly showing Ukrainian or Polish "saboteurs" trying to blow up Russian tanks.

Fact-checkers have exposed such fake videos and images being posted by Russians on social media platforms.

"The video of soldiers 'speaking Polish' and trying to sabotage Russian tanks was dissected to reveal a montage of video and audio pieces," Eliot Higgins, founder of investigative site Bellingcat, was quoted as saying.

Some of the footage was shot in early February, while editors added footage and sound from a video shot during a Finnish military exercise in 2010.

"The image of an alleged Ukrainian armored vehicle supposedly advancing into Russian territory was also promptly and effectively debunked," the report said.

The Soviet-era vehicle in the photo does not belong to the Ukrainian arsenal, according to investigators at Oryx, an open-source platform.

Another claim that a shell fired from Ukrainian territory destroyed a Russian outpost on the border was supported by video by the FSB, one of Russia's key intelligence services, according to the report.

The Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) analysed the video and found that the closest Ukrainian positions" are located more than 37 kilometres from the impact zone.

"We find this 'incident' to be yet another in a string of poorly staged pretexts for a possible operation against Ukraine," CIT said in a tweet.

It's not the first time that Putin has used the term "genocide" in Ukraine's context.

"This is what he had already done in 2014 before launching the invasion of Crimea," Stefan Meister, a specialist in Russian security and disinformation at the German Council on Foreign Relations, was quoted as saying.
ASA Savings and Loans Company Limited has donated several food items and toiletries to Christ Faith Foster Home to support the orphanage in Accra.

The kind gesture is part of the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) according to Joana K. Odei-Larbi who is the Area Manager for ASA Savings and Loans in the Taifa Area.

From an amount of GHS10,000 spent by ASA Savings and Loans in this endeavour, it has managed to donate food items such as beans, gari, and maize to the orphanage.

The company also presented other items to the Christ Faith Foster Home such as vegetables, provisions, and some toiletries.

Madam Joana K. Odei-Larbi notes that the gesture is to help in providing some of the immediate needs of the home which can help put them on a path to a healthier and more successful future for a better community.

She explained that the negative effect of Covid-19 on the economy has affected every aspect of life and the company thought it right to visit the home to put a smile on the faces of the children.

The Taifa Area manager of ASA Savings and Loans added that her outfit is confident the gesture will, in the long run, break the cycle of poverty in households, families, and in society, to help better the lives of people and in sustaining communities.

The latest CSR program is not only organized in Adenta Business Center but across other operational areas of Asa Savings and Loans Limited.
24.02.2022 LISTEN

Russia has begun a large-scale military attack on Ukraine, its southern neighbour, on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

There are reports of attacks on Ukrainian military infrastructure across the country, and Russian convoys entering from all directions.

In a televised speech at 05:55 Moscow time (02:55 GMT), Mr. Putin announced a military operation in Ukraines eastern Donbas region. This area is home to many Russian-speaking Ukrainians. Parts of it has been occupied and run by Russian-backed rebels since 2014.

Mr. Putin said Russia was intervening as an act of self-defence. Russia did not want to occupy Ukraine, he said, but would demilitarise and de-Nazify the country.

He urged Ukrainian soldiers in the combat zone to lay down their weapons and go home and warned Ukraine that it would be blamed for any bloodshed.

But clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces were inevitable and only a question of time, Mr. Putin said.

And he added that any intervention from outside powers to resist the Russian attack would be met with an instant response and the aggressor would be destroyed.

An international Diplomatic Consultant with so much experience on national and international issues, Farouk AlWahab reacting to the impasse between the two nations on the Happy Morning Show (HMS) with Samuel Eshun, said Russia is just calling the bluff of America and Europe.

---happyghana.com
24.02.2022 LISTEN

Today, February 24 marks exactly eleven years that Nana Agyenim Boateng I ascended on the throne as the Chief of Amoaman, a community in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region.

He expresses much gratitude to the almighty God for a successful year as a traditional ruler.

Over 11 years, he indicated that God has done a lot for him, especially given him long life, wisdom and above all exposing him to the world as one of the greatest traditional rulers.

Nana Agyenim Boating I received an International Honorary Fellowship Award at the School of Business Auditorium of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) by George Fox University, USA.

Nana Agyenim Boateng I is also the Managing Director of Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) in Ghana.

He indicated that as the chief of Amoaman he resourced and constructed the New Amoaman DA School at the cost of GH1 million during his first year on the throne.

Nana Agyenim Boating I, stated at the first year on his throne that developing Amoaman is his utmost priority of which he has delivered on alot of his promises.

According to him, his eleventh year on the throne has seen the construction of a modern infusion plant, valued at a cost of $11million at Amoaman to help provide jobs for the unemployed and energetic youth.

To serve the northern sector of the country after its completion, Nana Agyenim Boateng made it known that the company which would be christened 'Northern Ghana Infusion Company' would open the area to the rest of the country.

He added that works have also started on the construction of a modern police station, a spacious market and hospital at Amoaman to help make life comfortable for his people.

Nana Agyenim Boateng has been encouraging people colleague chiefs to lead the crusade to ensure the smooth development of their areas to make their people, including women and children's lives better.

He noted that government cannot develop the country alone, hence the strongest need for influential people like chiefs and other affluents in society to play roles to transform the society.
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) operating in the Bono East Region as of the end of 2021 has attained 96 percent of active membership of its expected regional coverage.

This percentage covers clients with valid active membership, 106 are clients who are able to renew their membership through the mobile platform, 128 are registered vulnerable people who have been role on the scheme to access health.

Mr George Opong Danquah Regional Director of the scheme disclosed this during the regional end of year review on Tuesday at Techiman, the Bono East Regional capital to attest to the scheme's preparedness to provide quality services to its clients.

According to Mr Danquah, the scheme has achieved its target for that year and efforts were been made to ensure it covers all well-meaning Ghanaians. Any country without good health systems stands of losing its sovereignty," he added.

Mr Danquah noted that the end of year review would create the platform to collect the lapses during the year 2021 and forge the way forward in improving and providing good health systems among others.

He commended stakeholders including government for providing the necessary logistics that aided the scheme to achieve its targets in time.

He said among the things government provided was paying of claims to the service providers which use to be a major challenge derailing the efforts of the scheme to grow.

The Regional Director encouraged clients and the general public to channel its grievances about the scheme its district and regional offices for redress adding that the scheme would not hesitate to prosecute any service provider who may indulge in extortion of clients through outrageous charges.

He said the scheme was meant for all and that there is the need to protect it so that it could sustain its operations and perform its constitutional mandate.

Mr Kwesi Alhassan in charge of regional operations in a presentation on the operations of the scheme said it has covered all sections of the region. He added that plans were far advanced to reach out to new areas that were not reachable.

Mr Alhassan disclosed that due to the commuted nature of staff the scheme came 5th out of 16 regions in active membership.

He said regional statistics indicate that Atebubu district scheme covers 57.3%, Kintampo north 77.3%, Kintampo South 75.7%, the rest are Nkoransa District 77.3%, Pru 60.1, Sene 44..2%, and Techiman 77.4% respectively.

Mr Alhassan mentioned that the region has a total district population of 1,203,400 and achieved a membership of 8,23,789 with annual targets of 848,406.
As part of this year's independence anniversary of Ghana, the Effutu Municipal Assembly led by Hon Alhaji Zubairu Kassim has initiated programs to celebrate the occasion.

Effutu, which has earned the acronym "The Gateway to the Central Region" is noted for its peace and uniqueness.

The Assembly is therefore urging all and sundry to join the Effutu Train to celebrate the anniversary in a grand style under the theme: "Working together and Bouncing back together."

The Central Region will host this year's event slated for 6th March, 2022 with the rest of the other regions and MMDAs also expected to hold separate events to mark the event.

Meanwhile, the Effutu Municipality has slated Saturday, 26th February, 2022 for a massive clean-up exercise at the Winneba Junction, Winneba central market, Copa junction down to Nkwantanan areas.

Islamic prayers has also been scheduled on 4th March, 2022 at the Winneba Central mosque with the thanksgiving service also expected to be held at the Winneba Catholic church on 13th March, 2022.
I have received a copy of the recent press release by the honourable minister of lands and natural resources. This press release follows the submission of a report by the 3-member committee chaired by the former Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission. Their mandate was to investigate the explosion that had occurred at Bogo-Appiate. The 3-member committee and the minerals commission are yet to provide copies of their full reports for public access. I have read the press release with all the contents well understood, however there are few things I want to bring to the fore for further consideration, if indeed we want to do the right things as a nation. My aim for writing this opinion piece revolves around three dominant themes that I have gleaned from the said press release. The themes include:

Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) and the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L. I 2177)

The sector ministers role in the explosion

The fine imposed on Maxam

Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) and the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L. I 2177)

The press release disclosed that companies engaged in mining explosive businesses are by law mandated to register with the minerals commission and obtain all required permits and licenses.

The law states that the conveyance, storage, possession, manufacture, and use of explosives for mining, quarrying and civil works, as well as substances used for the manufacture of explosives are governed by law, particularly, the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) and the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L. I 2177).

In addition, the report showed that Maxamthe company at the centre of the recent explosion had breached regulatory laws governing the manufacture, storage, and transportation of explosives for mining and civil works. The question is how was Maxam able to violate both the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) and Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L. I 2177) devoid of any detection and continued to operate with impunity until this unfortunate explosion? This development goes to show the lack of oversight by officials delegated to inspect company licenses for compliance management. My view is Maxam would have continued with their operations with contempt for the health, safety, security, and prudent management of the environment in which they operate, if not for this unavoidable explosion.

This incident is happening during a period where Ghanas economy is in deep stagnation. And this occurrence might affect the already pressured environment, hindering governments effort in managing our economy optimally. The blame for the cause of this explosion must fall on all the institutions and persons responsible for checking compliance systems of companies engaged in mine explosives to ensure that they are adhering to regulations as pertains to mining activities in Ghana. An independent body must investigate them. And if it is determined that they violated their duty of care. And made an error of judgement about their inspection tasks, which led to the explosion, to face the consequences of their action.

The sector ministers role in the explosion

It is not surprising that we have allowed the person under whose administration the incident occurred to investigate himself. History has shown that many instances like this have occurred. Hence, if we are experiencing same during our current dispensation, then perhaps no one might have the moral right to query such abuse of power. Until we hold our public officials liable for their actions and inactions, we will continue to expose our already burdened mining communities to these avoidable accidents that come to worsen their already perilous economic circumstances.

The minister revealed in the press release that I as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and therefore the overseer of activities in the sector have imposed an administrative fine....

This statement shows an acknowledgement of his national responsibility for all mining operations in the country. That said, I believe the honourable thing for the minister to do is to resign from his position. I make the call for his resignation based on two key reasons.

The first one is his lack of and/or failure to perform his oversight responsibility as the sector minister for mining operations in the country. Second, his dearth of oversight obligation had precipitated this unfortunate tragedy, resulting in death of community members. The sector minister stepping down from his position would not only be a moral justification on his part to do so. However, it will also provide him the opportunity to show leadership and respect to the victims and survivors of the incident. We are in an era where it is appropriate for everyone, including public officeholders, to own up and be accountable for their actions and failure to act. We will watch and see how things will transpire.

The fine imposed on Maxam

Imposing a fine on Maxam is in the right direction and will serve as a deterrent to other companies that display disregard for the rules and regulations governing mine explosives activities in the country. The measures instituted by the ministry for Maxam to comply with as a condition for renewing their business permit will strengthen the mechanism for regular inspection of their facilities for the storage, transport, and supply of explosives. Regardless of these penalties, the harm and trauma this explosion has caused to families and friends and the community at large will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

I hope that the Six million United States Dollars (USD$6,000,000) that Maxam would pay to the government over 18 months will yield positive development outcomes. I am interested in the support for victims and survivors of the explosion, as I did not come across any mention of provisions for them in the press statement. Setting up a foundation run by independent and trusted professionals to provide livelihood and educational opportunities for the families would not be a bad idea. I propose that 10% of the fine to be allocated to the said foundation as seed money to support the victims and survivors families. The rest could be used for further development of the sector, including regular in-service trainings for ministry officials in the areas of health, security, safety, and environment to promote and enhance their work.

According to the press announcement, the measures instituted by the ministry of lands and natural resources for Maxam to comply with are an attempt to ensure that they perform all mining and mine support services in a safe environment without danger to life and/or property. The sector minister has established a ministerial committee of inquiry under the leadership of Prof. Richard Amankwah to:

undertake a general review of the health and safety regime in the mining industry

review the existing laws, regulations and guidelines on health and safety standards in the mining industry

inquire into any matter relating to health and safety in the mining industry and

make recommendations to government for legislative, policy and other reforms it may deem fit

While it is important to review the existing health, safety, and security protocols in the mining industry, these procedural processes were long overdue and did not warrant an accident of this nature to occur before we perform these tasks. We must, as a nation, be proactive in the exercise of our responsibilities in every sector of the economy to allow for better economic outcomes.

Conclusion

I support the fine imposed on Maxam and the measures instituted by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for compliance. However, we must learn and reflect on this incident and try every means to ensure that it never occurs, not only in the mining sector, but in every single sector of the Ghanaian economy.

God bless our homeland, Ghana, and make our nation great.

Shadrack Keddey

Canberra
Authorities in Sierra Leone should stop harassing journalist Solomon Maada Joe and allow him to work without intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.

On February 7, Joe, the head of news at the privately owned Radio Bo KISS 104 FM, was arrested by police while at the local station in the southern region of Bo answering a summons over allegations that the journalist had threatened Alhaji Mohamed Jalloh, a local businessman, according to Joe, who spoke to CPJ by phone, and a report by a privately owned news website Sierraloaded. Officers told Joe that Jalloh felt threatened when the journalist discussed Jallohs alleged debt to another businessman during the February 2 edition of Dr. Owl, his weekly program at Radio Bo KISS 104 FM.

Officers took Joes statement and drove the journalist in Jallohs private vehicle to the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in the capital, Freetown, where they seized Joes two phones and detained him until the following morning, he told CPJ. Joes phones were returned upon his release, and he said they were still locked and switched off, but he could not tell whether the officers had accessed them.

Sierra Leonean authorities must cease their harassment and attempted intimidation of journalist Solomon Maada Joe and ensure that he is able to work freely, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, from New York. This arrest, which should never have happened, speaks volumes about the use of state security agents by the powerful against the press in Sierra Leone.

Joes calls and text messages asking Jalloh for comment ahead of the February 2 program went unanswered, he told CPJ, adding that after he was arrested, Jalloh told Joe that the businessman only responded to calls and text messages from saved contacts. Jalloh did not answer CPJs calls and text messages seeking comment and further information.

After Joe was released on February 8, police officers told the journalist to retract the comments made about Jallohs alleged debt, according to Joe and a report by privately owned Politico SL. Joe has not retracted his reporting and, as of February 24, has not heard from police or Jalloh, the journalist told CPJ.

A Bo regional police spokesperson, Mohamed Bobson Senu, told CPJ on February 7 that the complaint against the journalist was criminal because it related to an allegation of a threat to kill, but that he could not speak further on the matter because the complaint was made in Freetown, which is outside the Bo region.

CPJs calls and text messages to Sierra Leonean national police spokesperson, Brima Kamara, seeking further information went unanswered.
Amid the thickening Ashneer Grover-BharatPe saga, Chairman of the board of directors Rajnish Kumar said on Wednesday that Grover is only spreading lies and there is no substance in his allegations of the probe being biased.

BharatPe co-founder and Managing Director Grover, in a latest letter sent to the company addressing Kumar and co-founder Bhavik Koladiya, alleged that the internal governance review was biased.

"Ashneer Grover's allegations of the probe being biased hold no merit. No one ever questioned my integrity ever in my entire career and everyone knows about my credibility.

"I am not quitting the BharatPe Board," Kumar, who has served as SBI Chairman, told IANS.

The company had earlier responded to Grover's letter, saying: "You have been indulging in spreading false and accusatory information about the senior management of the company to the family members and/or spouses of the said members of the senior management."

"Such abhorrent conduct on your part is completely unwarranted, and the company takes strong objection to the same. You are again called upon to cease and desist from spreading false and inflammatory content about the members of the senior management of the company. Your conduct in this regard is completely unbecoming of a managing director of the company," BharatPe had said.

The full-stack fintech platform BharatPe on Wednesday confirmed it has terminated the services of Madhuri Jain Grover, the wife of Grover, for alleged financial irregularities during her tenure.

The internal probe found misappropriation of funds during her time at the fintech platform. Madhuri Jain was head of controls at BharatPe.

"We can confirm that the services of Madhuri Jain Grover have been terminated in accordance with the terms of her employment agreement," the company said in a statement.

Sources earlier told IANS that Madhuri Jain's contract has been terminated and the reasons for this are "misappropriation of funds and authorisation of inflated bills during her tenure".

Later in the day, Madhuri Jain posted an audio clip on Twitter where Ashneer Grover and Koladiya were allegedly heard talking about a meeting between them, including Kumar, that ended with abusive words.

In the audio clip, Grover accused Koladiya of leaking probe information to the media, a charge Koladiya has earlier denied.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
This part of the explainer series deals with undoubtedly one of the best provisions in the Code of Criminal Procedure [CrPC] which keeps a check and maintains a balance between the arbitrary exercise of power by the police and the right of an accused person.

The relief of default bail is different from bail obtained in normal course under Sections 437 438 and 439 of the CrPC. Default bail, as the term indicates, is granted on the default of the police or investigating agency to file its report/complaint within a specific prescribed period of time. The same shall be dealt with in detail in this explainer.

Custody

For an effective understanding of default bail, it is necessary to know that according to Section 57 of the CrPC, any person arrested by the Police without warrant cannot, under any circumstances, be kept in custody of the police beyond the period of 24 hours, unless a special order authorising the detention is obtained by the police from a Magistrates Court.

Keeping the aforesaid provision in the backdrop, when it appears that the accusation against a person arrested and detained by the police is well founded, and investigation of the said offence cannot be completed within 24 hours, then it is mandatory for the Investigating Officer (not below the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police) or the Officer In-Charge of the Police Station, in any event, to forthwith forward the accused person, along with the record of the case maintained in the Station Diary of the Police Station, accompanied by an application known as Remand Application giving brief details of the offence alleged against the accused person and stating reasons for seeking custody of the accused person, to the nearest Judicial Magistrate or, in the event a Judicial Magistrate is not available, before an Executive Magistrate upon whom powers of a Judicial Magistrate or Metropolitan Magistrate have been conferred, in order to obtain authorization for further detention.

The Judicial Magistrate may or may not have jurisdiction to conduct a trial for the offence in question; however, that does not hinder with their power to authorise further detention of the accused person beyond the period of first 24 hours after the arrest of the accused person.

Once the accused person is produced before a Judicial Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate, as the case may be, such Magistrate is then authorized to peruse the case papers, consider the investigation conducted and the gravity of the offence alleged, among other things, and then authorise detention.

The custody may be of the following two types:

 Police Custody, which is where an accused is lodged in a lock-up generally in the police station itself. (The stay is not as bad as in prison; however, the accused is prone to be tortured at the hands of the police)

 Judicial Custody, which is where an accused is lodged in prison. (The stay is a terrible experience in view of the overcrowding of jails; however, there is no question of torture at the hands of the police. Yet, the possibility of the accused being tortured by the other inmates cannot be ruled out since the accused shares his cell with other persons who may or may not have been arrested for the same offence).

The following table lays out the types of custodies that can be prescribed by magistrates for different categories of offences:

Therefore, it can be seen, that under no circumstances can an accused person be subjected to police custody for more than 15 days overall. It is vital to note that the said overall period of 15 days is available during the first 15 days ONLY, from the date of first production of the accused person before a Magistrate. The Magistrate is at liberty to grant 15 days of police custody at once, or one day of police custody 15 times; however, under no circumstances can police custody be granted after the expiry of the first 15 days.

Also, it is not as a matter of right that the police can claim the allotted 15 days of custody. If the police intends to seek custody of the accused, cogent reasons must be mentioned in the remand application and on every such subsequent occasion (before the expiry of 15 days), when the police seek custody of the accused, progress in the investigation must be mentioned in the remand application; in the absence of the same, no custody by law can be granted to the police. Without there being any specific provision under a statute specifically amending this section to that effect, once the initial period of 15 days lapses, the accused person cannot under any circumstances be subjected to police custody in respect of that particular offence, even if during the period of the first 15 days, the police are unable to obtain custody of the accused for any reasons whatsoever; for instance, if the accused, by way of a medical emergency, is admitted at a hospital for the entire duration of the first 15 days after their production before the Magistrate, then too after their discharge, the police is not permitted to seek their custody.

Unfortunately, despite there being several judgments by the Supreme Court on this point, there are instances when the police submit identical remand applications on every occasion seeking custody of the accused without showing any progress in the investigation, and the Magistrate mechanically extends the custody of the accused with the police.

The provision serves two purposes: one is to allot sufficient time to the police officers to conduct investigation and interrogation with the accused person, to record confessions, effect recoveries from the accused person, if any, and so on, and at the same time, to ensure that the accused is not kept in the custody of police perpetually, leaving them at the whims and fancies of the police. Further, police custody can be granted by a Magistrate only when the accused person is physically produced before the Magistrate. This is one more safeguard to ensure that during the time accused was granted police custody, they were not subjected to torture at the hands of the police.

It must be noted that as a matter of practice, every accused is produced before a Magistrate for the first time and every subsequent time from police custody after they are examined by a Medical Practitioner attached to a Government Hospital. The report of such Medical Practitioner giving details of the physical and mental condition of the accused is then produced before the Magistrate for his perusal. Thus, the Magistrate is in a position to prima facie analyse whether the accused was subjected to torture, from the observations recorded by the medical practitioner. In the event on perusal of the medical report, prima facie evidence of assault is available, like fresh marks of injury or broken bone, then submissions on behalf of the accused can be advanced for not granting/extending police custody, and the Magistrate is dutybound to record the same in their order.

The order of a Magistrate subjecting an accused to police custody has to be a reasoned order, and a copy of the said reasoned order must be forwarded to the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Once the accused is lodged in judicial custody, they shall remain in judicial custody till the investigation is completed, that is, till the police/investigating agency files its report. However, the police/investigating agency is not permitted to take an eternity to complete investigation. Therefore, Section 167 of CrPC has made a provision to release the accused person on bail if the investigation is not completed within a period of 90 days in respect of an offence punishable with imprisonment of more than 10 years, and where investigation is not completed within a period of 60 days in respect of an offence punishable with imprisonment equal to or less than 10 years.

Exceptions in special statutes

The time limit prescribed for completion of investigation varies in certain statutes wherein section 167 of CrPC is amended to that effect.

For offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 [NDPS Act], the time limit prescribed for completion of investigation is provided under Section 36A(4) therein.

Section 36A(4) prescribes that when an offence under the NDPS Act pertains to recovery of commercial quantity of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, or pertains to offences punishable under Sections 19 24 or 27A of the Act, then the time limit prescribed for the investigating agency to complete the investigation and submit its report is 180 days.

Further, this section also gives power to the court to extend the said period of 180 days up to one year, provided the public prosecutor submits his report indicating progress in the investigation, and also stating specific reasons for keeping the accused in custody beyond 180 days.

However, for any other offence under the NDPS Act, apart from the ones mentioned above, the time limit shall be governed according to the CrPC, and since no other offence under the Act is punishable with imprisonment for more than ten years, the time limit to complete investigation and submit report would be 60 days only. No extension of time is permitted in these cases.

Section 43D of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 [UAPA] amends section 167 of the CrPC to the effect that initial period of 15 days of police Custody is extended up to 30 days, and irrespective of the punishment prescribed for the offence alleged, the time limit to complete investigation and file report under the UAPA is 90 days.

Similar to the NDPS Act, even under the UAPA, if the investigation is not completed within the period of 90 days as prescribed under section 43D, the public prosecutor can submit their report indicating progress in the investigation and also stating specific reasons for keeping the accused in custody beyond 90 days. Then, the court is empowered to extend the said period up to 180 days.

Recently, lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, facing charges for offences under the UAPA Act, was released on default bail by the Bombay High Court.

However, the public prosecutor filing their report cannot arbitrarily extend the time limit under any of the special statues which prescribe for an extended time limit to complete investigation. The following parameters are to be complied with:

1. a)The report of the Public Prosecutor must be independent of the report of Investigating Officer, if any.

2. b)Independent analysis and application of mind by the Public Prosecutor must be seen from their report, and it must not be a mere repetition of the remand report.

3. c)The report of the public prosecutor must disclose progress in the investigation and specific reasons must be attributed against each of the accused persons to detain them in custody beyond the statutory period.

4. d)Further, it is also mandatory that the said report of the public prosecutor be served upon the accused person, and the accused person has a right to be heard before any order of extension is passed by the Court.

If any of the aforesaid parameters are not complied with, then the prosecution is not entitled for any extension of time, and if any order granting extension is passed, then the same is illegal and liable to be quashed. This can be done by filing an application under Section 482 of the CrPC before the concerned High Court.

In the event time is extended under a special statue by a period of certain days, then the right to default bail shall accrue in favour of the accused on expiry of the said extended period of time if report/complaint is not filed till then.

Accused is entitled to bail if report not filed within prescribed time

The right to be released on bail under section 167 of CrPC has been termed as an indefeasible right by the Supreme Court time and again through its various orders and judgments. This means that if the police report of the investigating agency is not filed within the prescribed time limit, then irrespective of the gravity of the offence or nature of accusation alleged against the accused, the accused person has a right to be released on bail, and the question as to why the chargesheet could not be filed within the prescribed time is immaterial.

It is worth noting that the prescribed period of 60 days or 90 days or 180 days, as the case may be, is to be calculated from the first day of production of the accused before the Magistrate, that is, the first day of remand, and not from the date of arrest of the accused person.

(Advait Tamhankar is an advocate practicing criminal law across courts and legal fora in Mumbai, Thane.)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, which the authorities in Kiev have described as a "full-scale invasion".

Donbas comprises the rebel regions of Luhansk and Donetsk which were declared as independent states earlier this week by the Russian leader which led to widespread condemnation and sanctions against Moscow.

In a televised speech to the nation on Thursday morning, Putin said Russia did not plan to occupy Ukraine, but warned that Moscow's response would be "instant" if anyone tries to take on Russia, the BBC reported.

He said that the Ukrainian people would be able "to choose freely" who runs the country and reiterated that his country's actions were in "self-defence".

The Russian leader urged the Ukrainian soldiers who are facing off Russian-backed rebels to lay down weapons and return to their homes. He also told them that their "fathers and grandfathers did not fight so they could help neo-Nazis".

Putin added that clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces were "inevitable" and "only a question of time".

Immediately after Putin made the announcement, there were explosions heard in Kiev and also across Ukraine, including towns in the east, like Kramatorsk, close to areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists, said the BBC.

The Russian President's declaration came at the same time as the UN Security Council in an emergency meeting was imploring him to stop pushing more troops towards Ukraine.

In his appeal, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked Putin to stop the Russian troops from attacking Ukraine and to "give peace a chance" as "too many people have already died.

Meanwhile in Kiev, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba said that Putin has launched a "full-scale invasion of Ukraine".

Taking to Twitter shortly after the announcement, he said: "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression.

"Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now."

In a last ditch appeal before Putin made the announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia could start "a major war in Europe" and urged Russian citizens to oppose it.

Zelensky said Russia had almost 200,000 troops and thousands of combat vehicles on Ukraine's borders, the BBC reported.

Condemning Putin's latest move as "unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces", US President Joe Biden said that the Russian leader has "chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering".

In a statement released by the White House, Biden said: "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the US and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way.

"The world will hold Russia accountable."

In a tweet, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg strongly condemned Russia's "reckless attack" on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives.

"This is a grave breach of international law & a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. NATO Allies will meet to address Russia's renewed aggression."

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's meeting with Russian President Putin ' title=' Vladimir Putin '>Vladimir Putin has started in Moscow, Dawn reported.

Imran Khan, who is on a two-day visit to Moscow, will exchange views on international and regional issues during his meeting with Putin, according to Radio Pakistan.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss bilateral relations, especially cooperation in the energy sector.

Before the meeting, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who is part of Khan's delegation in Moscow, confirmed that the Pakistan premier was on his way to meet President Putin, debunking "speculation" regarding the premier's visit being cut short amid Ukraine-Russia tensions.

Sharing the update on Twitter, Chaudhry said after the meeting between both leaders, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Valentinovich Novak would call on PM Imran and the delegation accompanying him at the hotel where they are staying.

In a tweet, the information minister said the premier's "visit is proceeding and PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule", Dawn reported.
HELENA, Mont. -- Since achieving statehood in 1889, Montana has been home to hundreds of mayors. But Helena's Wilmot Collins stands alone as the first and only African American mayor in the history of the state.

Collins' journey from being a homeless wanderer in Liberia to sitting behind the mayor's desk in Helena was not an easy one. In 1994, Collins came to Montana as a refugee after years of war and unrest that tore apart his home country.

"I'm not kidding you, things were so bad in Liberia, we would see people walking down the streets, dying of starvation, or dying of stray bullets," Collins said. "It was terrible."

It was actually his wife, a former Montana exchange student and prospective Carroll College scholar, who got the idea to head stateside.

Collins got his start in Helena as a teacher before spending years with the National Guard and Navy Reserve. Politics weren't even on his mind until son told him to run for mayor.

"He said, 'Why don't you get into politics?'" Collins said. "I said, 'Whoa, keep me out of that. I don't know anything about politics. I'm not going to get involved with that.'"

But Collins took his son's advice, ran a campaign in 2017, and won the election, becoming the very first African American mayor in the state of Montana--though Collins didn't even know it.

"I called my son and said, 'Did we just make history?'" Collins said. "He said, 'Yeah, dad.' I said, 'What history did we make?' He said, 'Dad, you're the first African American mayor in Montana's history.'"

And in his first term as mayor, Collins is proud of accomplishments that platform ran on, such as funding the fire department and providing affordable housing opportunities. But he also knows there's more work to do. As a role model for future generations, his philosophy is that being being the state's first Black mayor is no reason to rest on your laurels.

"Don't let that historical aspect get to your head," Collins said. "Go do the job, or they'll kick you out. The hype of the historical aspect is over with. You've got to work. You've got to deliver."
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The purpose of the legislative session is for priority bills to become law. Thousands of bills are introduced; this year, 293 bills became law. Its hard to keep up with them all, so heres a brief rundown of major bills that became lawand bills that did not.
Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attends a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Through joint efforts from compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, China's national reunification must be and will surely be realized, noted a mainland spokesperson Wednesday.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a press conference when replying to a media query about opinions on promoting national reunification voiced recently by scholars.

Ma said that first and foremost, resolving the Taiwan question and achieving China's complete reunification is an aspiration shared by all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation and is essential to realizing national rejuvenation.

Second, "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" are the fundamental guideline for seeking a solution to the Taiwan question and are the best approach to realizing national reunification. He added that national reunification by peaceful means best serves the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, including compatriots in Taiwan.

Ma reiterated that, on the basis of the one-China principle, the mainland is ready to engage in broad exchanges of views with all parties, groups, and individuals in Taiwan regarding political issues between the two sides and the promotion of peaceful reunification, in order to forge social consensus and advance political negotiations.

Third, China's Constitution, Anti-Secession Law and other related legal documents have made detailed stipulations on resolving the Taiwan question and promoting national reunification, Ma said.

Noting that the Anti-Secession Law has effectively deterred separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" and helped ensure peace and stability across the Strait, Ma said the mainland will work with the greatest sincerity and exert utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification.

"However, should separatist forces continue to provoke us, force our hand or even cross the red line, we will have to take resolute measures," Ma added.


Ukraine is calling on the European Union and its member states to urgently provide air-defence and anti-missile systems, as well as use "all means" to jam Russian satellite signals, The Guardian reported. In a list of requests sent to the EU leaders ahead of an emergency summit on Thursday night in Brussels, Ukraine also calls for the "fiercest restriction measures against Belarus, which directly supported (the) Russian full-scale invasion", the report said. The paper, drafted by Ukrainian diplomats in Brussels and seen by the Guardian, also calls for ending software licenses for military and civilian equipment in Russia and Belarus, blocking or interfering with Russian satellite navigation systems in the air, over the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, using all means to block the Russian satellite navigation system Glonass, including jamming its signal over the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Belarus and Ukrainian airspace. As well as an appeal to end "business as usual" with Russia, Kyiv wants the EU to open its emergency aid system (the civil protection mechanism) to Ukrainians, The Guardian reported.




February 12, 2007

Russia Is Back!

With Putin's speech at the Munich Security Policy conference, Russia is back.

One wonders what took it so long. Yes, the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the catastrophic neoliberal privatization of the Yeltzin years had taken their toll. But under Putin the oligarchs were finally told to behave and rule of law was restored. Increasing commodity prices allowed paying off Russia's international debt.

Still during the recent years little could be seen of Russia's international aura. Western financed NGOs stage managed one color revolution after the other. The EU swallowed the economic realm and in its steps, and against all past promises, NATO followed.

Now Russia said "'nuff". The last drop in the bucket were the U.S. plans to install parts of its missile defense system in eastern Europe. This neither makes sense to protect Europe, nor is it geographically relevant against (nonexistent) missiles from Iran or North Korea. The only plausible reason for these new weapons is to break the Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) balance that protected against a nuclear exchange during the cold war.

This and the accusations of human rights violations and autocratic behavior, of the U.S. imperialists and Abu Ghraib torturers, brought Russia back to the international scene.

Putin made clear that from now on, the rules are different and further unilateral behavior of the U.S. will not be condoned:

[W]hat is a unipolar world? However one might embellish this term, at the end of the day it refers to one type of situation, namely one centre of authority, one centre of force, one centre of decision-making.

It is world in which there is one master, one sovereign. And at the end of the day this is pernicious not only for all those within this system, but also for the sovereign itself because it destroys itself from within. And this certainly has nothing in common with democracy. Because, as you know, democracy is the power of the majority in light of the interests and opinions of the minority. Incidentally, Russia  we  are constantly being taught about democracy. But for some reason those who teach us do not want to learn themselves. I consider that the unipolar model is not only unacceptable but also impossible in todays world. And this is not only because if there was individual leadership in todays  and precisely in todays  world, then the military, political and economic resources would not suffice. What is even more important is that the model itself is flawed because at its basis there is and can be no moral foundations for modern civilisation.

[...]

In conclusion I would like to note the following. We very often  and personally, I very often  hear appeals by our partners, including our European partners, to the effect that Russia should play an increasingly active role in world affairs. In connection with this I would allow myself to make one small remark. It is hardly necessary to incite us to do so. Russia is a country with a history that spans more than a thousand years and has practically always used the privilege to carry out an independent foreign policy. We are not going to change this tradition today. At the same time, we are well aware of how the world has changed and we have a realistic sense of our own opportunities and potential. And of course we would like to interact with responsible and independent partners with whom we could work together in constructing a fair and democratic world order that would ensure security and prosperity not only for a select few, but for all. This new assertiveness has immediate influence on possible Kosovo solutions, on the war on Iran and any roadmap non-steps in Palestine.

I for one welcome this development and hope especially that European countries will again recognize where their real interests are.

PS: I recommend to read the speech in full. It's good.

Posted by b on February 12, 2007 at 18:59 UTC | Permalink

Comments
February 24, 2022

Disarming Ukraine - Day 1

On February 15 Professor John J. Mearsheimer gave a talk (video) about the Ukraine crisis. He starts out (at 3min) by explaining who has caused it:

The United States, mainly, and its allies are responsible for this crisis.

I recommend to watch it in full.

Like me and many other analysts Mearsheimer did not expect that a Russian move into the Ukraine would happen. Why the Russian government finally decided to take that step is not clear to me. I believe that Zelensky's lose talk about acquiring nuclear weapons for the Ukraine was one of the decisive factors. Who told Zelensky to come up with that?

The Russian operation started with a volley of cruise missiles that destroyed air defense radars and missiles, military airports, ammunition depots and some military harbor. The followed ground attacks by armored forces from Belarus southward, form Russia westward and from Crimea northward. These progressed well though some tanks got destroyed by anti-tank missile fire. The ground moves have air cover and heavy artillery moving up behind them.

This map does not show the progress of the operation but a likely operational plan the Russian military might have.

The plan seems to be to a. take Kiev, b. encircle the 60,000 strong Ukrainian force that was preparing to attack Donbas c. take the coast.

A large fleet of helicopter with Russian parachuter took the Antonov / Hostomel airport some 20 miles from Kiev. They did not even bother with CNN filming them. A fleet of transport planes from Russia will soon land there and deliver more forces.

The nuclear reactors at Chernobyl have been secured by Russian troops.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claims Russian aircraft have destroyed, 83 ground targets, 2 Ukrainian Su-27s, 2 Su-24s, 1 helicopter, 4 Bayraktar TB-2 drones. One Ukrainian Su-27 has landed in Romania. The pilot was probably not interested in getting killed.

The Ukrainian air-defenses, airforce, navy, most large command and control elements and depots have ceased to exist. The moral of its ground troops will be generally low though some of the Nazi battalions may still be willing to fight.

It is not know yet how far the attack from the north has reached towards Kiev. The attack from Russian mainland is currently fighting around Kharkiv, the Ukraine's second biggest city. The most successful attack was from Crimea as it has progressed significantly. The canal which provides water to Crimea and had since 2014 been blocked by the Ukraine has been liberated. Dnieper water is again flowing to the island.

Russia has so far only committed a relatively small ground force. More troops will follow when the first echelons make more progress. Russia has held back from using ballistic missiles and only used cruise missiles. That is probably a message to the 'west' that Russia could escalate if needed. There has also been little use so far of Russia's electronic warfare elements. Internet and telephone are working in all of the Ukraine except for Kharkiv which seems to have Internet problems.

The Russian stock market is down but gold, oil and gas are up and Russia has so far lost zero money.

The U.S. is pushing its European 'allies' to commit economic suicide by sanctioning everything Russia. The U.S. should be more careful. Its is one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil and its aircraft industry depends on titanium from Russia. Russia surely knows who is trying to hurt it the most and it surely knows how, and has the means to, hurt back.

Posted by b on February 24, 2022 at 18:32 UTC | Permalink

Comments

next page 
February 24, 2022

Disarming Ukraine

The military of Russia has launched an operation to disarm, and possibly regime change, the Ukraine.

I do understand why Russia is doing this - it is either attack now or defend itself later with way more casualties and the danger of total defeat.

I had hoped though that it would find other methods to protect Russia from further NATO aggression.

In 2014 the U.S. instigated regime change in Kiev and has since controlled the Ukrainian government. It has build up the Ukraine as a base to strangle Russia economically and militarily.

During the last two centuries Russia had to defend itself, with horrific casualties, against two huge invasions from the west. It is understandable that it does not want to repeat that experience.

It is difficult to discern what the planed end state of this operation is. Where is this going to stop?

Looking at this map I believe that the most advantageous end state for Russia would be the creation of a new independent country, call it Novorussiya, on the land east of the Dnieper and south along the coast that holds a majority ethnic Russian population and that, in 1922, had been attached to the Ukraine by Lenin. That state would be politically, culturally and militarily aligned with Russia.

This would eliminate Ukrainian access to the Black Sea and create a land bridge towards the Moldavian breakaway Transnistria which is under Russian protection.

The rest of the Ukraine would be a land confined, mostly agricultural state, disarmed and too poor to be build up to a new threat to Russia anytime soon. Politically it would be dominated by fascists from Galicia which would then become a major problem for the European Union.

Thanks to Stalin's additions to the Ukraine three countries, Poland, Hungary and Romania, have claims to certain areas in the Ukraine's western regions. If they want to snatch those up again it is now probably the best time to do so. Despite being part of NATO, which likely would not support such moves, those three will have domestic policy difficulties to withstand the urge.

I hope for a sharp but short fight which destroys the Ukraine's military capabilities but causes as little casualties and other damages as possible.

It is sad that NATO countries, including mine, did not have the courage to make the necessary concessions to prevent this from happening.

Update:

Putin's speech last night (English version) explains why this is happening.

Posted by b on February 24, 2022 at 7:16 UTC | Permalink

Comments

next page 
February 24, 2022

Russia Is Back! (Repost from Feb 12, 2007)

This is a re-post of a piece originally published on February 12, 2007.

---

With Putin's speech at the Munich Security Policy conference, Russia is back.

One wonders what took it so long. Yes, the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the catastrophic neoliberal privatization of the Yeltzin years had taken their toll. But under Putin the oligarchs were finally told to behave and rule of law was restored. Increasing commodity prices allowed paying off Russia's international debt.

Still during the recent years little could be seen of Russia's international aura. Western financed NGOs stage managed one color revolution after the other. The EU swallowed the economic realm and in its steps, and against all past promises, NATO followed.

Now Russia said "'nuff". The last drop in the bucket were the U.S. plans to install parts of its missile defense system in eastern Europe. This neither makes sense to protect Europe, nor is it geographically relevant against (nonexistent) missiles from Iran or North Korea. The only plausible reason for these new weapons is to break the Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) balance that protected against a nuclear exchange during the cold war.

This and the accusations of human rights violations and autocratic behavior, of the U.S. imperialists and Abu Ghraib torturers, brought Russia back to the international scene.

Putin made clear that from now on, the rules are different and further unilateral behavior of the U.S. will not be condoned:

[W]hat is a unipolar world? However one might embellish this term, at the end of the day it refers to one type of situation, namely one centre of authority, one centre of force, one centre of decision-making.

It is world in which there is one master, one sovereign. And at the end of the day this is pernicious not only for all those within this system, but also for the sovereign itself because it destroys itself from within. And this certainly has nothing in common with democracy. Because, as you know, democracy is the power of the majority in light of the interests and opinions of the minority. Incidentally, Russia  we  are constantly being taught about democracy. But for some reason those who teach us do not want to learn themselves. I consider that the unipolar model is not only unacceptable but also impossible in todays world. And this is not only because if there was individual leadership in todays  and precisely in todays  world, then the military, political and economic resources would not suffice. What is even more important is that the model itself is flawed because at its basis there is and can be no moral foundations for modern civilisation.

[...]

In conclusion I would like to note the following. We very often  and personally, I very often  hear appeals by our partners, including our European partners, to the effect that Russia should play an increasingly active role in world affairs. In connection with this I would allow myself to make one small remark. It is hardly necessary to incite us to do so. Russia is a country with a history that spans more than a thousand years and has practically always used the privilege to carry out an independent foreign policy. We are not going to change this tradition today. At the same time, we are well aware of how the world has changed and we have a realistic sense of our own opportunities and potential. And of course we would like to interact with responsible and independent partners with whom we could work together in constructing a fair and democratic world order that would ensure security and prosperity not only for a select few, but for all.

This new assertiveness has immediate influence on possible Kosovo solutions, on the war on Iran and any roadmap non-steps in Palestine.

I for one welcome this development and hope especially that European countries will again recognize where their real interests are.

PS: I recommend to read the speech in full. It's good.

Posted by b on February 24, 2022 at 12:18 UTC | Permalink

Comments

next page 
The fate of Ukraine is looking increasingly uncertain as Russia launches a series of strikes across the country, President Volodymyr Zelensky has apparently told his Austrian counterpart, RT reported.

The Ukraine President apparently warned that the Eastern European nation may not be able to withstand the offensive by Moscow's armed forces.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer shared details of his telephonic conversation with Zelensky. According to Vienna's leader, Zelensky told him, "I don't know how much longer my country will exist", RT reported.

Nehammer added that Austria "is not indifferent to breaches of international law," promising that it helps wherever it can.

The remarks come after the leaders of the newly recognized Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics formally requested military assistance from Moscow to combat what they claimed was a spike in "Ukrainian aggression."

Hours later, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the use of force for an offensive in the Donbass.

Within moments of the televised address, rounds of explosions hit sites across the country, including military installations and airfields. Blasts also struck around major cities, including the capital Kiev.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba issued a statement in which he asserted that Moscow "has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine."

Western officials had been warning for months that Moscow's armed forces were building up at the Ukrainian border ahead of an invasion. Until Thursday morning, Russia had denied that it planned to attack, and insisted its intervention in the Donbass would be defensive.
This stock photo shows workmen installing drain lines. Perhaps this scene will be reenacted in Norman Park soon. A $5.5 million grant announced Tuesday will allow the small Colquitt County town to replace almost two miles of sewer pipe and make multiple other improvements to both its water and wastewater systems.
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Five Midland startups received checks for $100,000 for winning the Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge (MEC).

The challenge hosted an awards ceremony and check presentation Tuesday evening at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center Rea-Greathouse Recital Hall. Midland AF, The Birth Center, Magrym Consulting, Inc., Lo. St. Books and TyPickle Pickles were winners of the challenge this year.

University of Texas Permian Basin Assistant Professor of Management Ryan Peckham said 124 businesses signed up for the orientation and challenge this year. The year, the challenge was created there were seven participants.

We had 124 businesses sign up for the orientation with 45 that officially registered for the challenge, Peckham said. It is a six-month commitment where business owners are coming to classes and talking about different business principles like accounting, legal, marketing and other aspects.

The business owners then submitted a fact sheet about what their business is about. Out of the 45, 18 businesses were selected to move on. Then, 10 were eliminated, leaving eight business owners to make presentations at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center Rea-Greathouse Recital Hall for the chance to win $100,000 for their business. Out of the eight, five local startups were selected to win $100,000 each. Four judges decided which businesses advanced throughout the challenge.

Peckham said over the past five years, the businesses that have won the challenge have grossed more than $7 million in taxable revenue and theyve created or retained more than 60 full-time positions and more than 20 part-time positions.

One of the things, Im most proud of is that some of the winners tonight are business owners who have participated previously but didnt win, Peckham said. They went back and they worked on their business, business plans and came back to try again.

Midland AFs Stacy Livingston said her business was born after moving to Midland three years ago. She determined there was a want for community while centralizing resources online.

I had a hard time figuring out what was happening here, she said. It started as an opportunity to seek out the cool stuff that Midland had to offer that wasnt online. I met a lot of amazing business owners and made a lot of friendships and connections.

She added that she entered MEC two years ago before really knowing what the business was but she said she is happy she came back to do the challenge again.

Courtney Luoma is a certified Nurse Midwife and driving force behind The Birth Center. She was accompanied by Laura Smith, who will be The Birth Center manager.

We are going to open a state-of-the-art birthing facility on Michigan Avenue across from Midland Memorial Hosptial, Luoma said. Theres been a need in our community for a birth center for a long time since the old one closed about five years ago. Birth centers are a standard amenity across cities in Texas.

She added that currently women in Midland can either give birth at home or at the hospital. Some decide to drive to Lubbock to give birth at a birth center.

We actually are losing business in our community for women who are traveling to have the birth experience they want, she said.

Magrym Consulting, Inc., was founded by principal Claudis Sanchez Czyzewska and project manager Erica Hart with a desire to serve the engineering industry. The business is a consulting and civil engineering design firm that offers services to the produced water industry in Midland and southeast New Mexico.

Weve been around for about three years, Hart said. We are looking to expand our market into helping with municipalities here in the area.

Lo. St. Books (https://www.mrt.com/insider/article/Small-Bites-Lo-St-Books-owners-continue-big-16231720.php), a bookstore, wine bar and restaurant, opened in May of 2021 at the Micro Market. Owners Hannah and Seth Streun and Lauren and Bryan Johnston were winners of the MEC award.

Were bringing a little bit more life to downtown and just expanding the community down there, Lauren Johnston said.

TyPickle Pickles business partners Tyler Brawley and Christopher Morales submitted their wholesale pickle business to the challenge this year.

Weve had the company for about two years, Brawley said. What we do is we make pickles. We are going to be providing for businesses, for restaurants, for retail at wholesale. We hope to get into our own retail at some point as well.

MEC was launched in 2017 with the support and collaboration of Midland Development Corp, University of Texas Permian Basin Small Business Development Center, local government and businesses. The entrepreneurial challenge is a business competition but also an opportunity for collaborators and leaders trying to find the best ways to support emerging businesses. The MEC wants to further diversify the economy, which is heavily reliant upon the oil and gas industry, by supporting homegrown businesses.

The Buzz

--Sharkeys Cuts for Kids will expand into Midland. Sharkey's Cuts for Kids is going in at Texas Pride Plaza, 4425 West Wadley Ave., suite 120. A Sharkey's Cuts for Kids opened in Odessa in 2019 by Midlander Lacy Altenhofen. She told the Reporter-Telegram back in 2019 that she had plans to expand the franchise into Midland in the near future.

-- Lo. St. Market by Micro Market has announced two upcoming markets. The markets will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 5 and April 2. The markets are currently taking vendor applications.
Incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott raised $3.8 million between Jan. 21 and Feb. 19, outraising Democratic challenger Beto ORourke, according to the latest campaign finance reports. ORourke raised about $3 million in the latest filing period.

While Abbott raised more money, ORourkes fundraising came from more donors, according to a fundraising email from ORourkes campaign. The Democrat received more than 68,900 donations compared to Abbotts 25,000, the email said.

Despite this, the Abbott campaign feels as if their support is strong and broad-based.

Momentum for Governor Abbotts campaign continues to build from every corner of Texas. As we approach Primary Night, our fundraising continues to keep pace, said Kim Snyder, Texans for Greg Abbott campaign manager, in a press release.

Abbotts donations include nearly 5,000 first-time donors, the release said. The governor has about $50 million cash on hand.

Governor Abbotts campaign continues to reach new supporters all throughout Texas, Snyder said in the release. Weve seen excitement for him grow in areas that are not traditional Republican strongholds, positioning us well for the campaign to come.

ORourke has $6.8 million cash on hand, the latest finance report shows.

While Abbott and ORourke are both facing challengers in their respective primaries, both candidates are leading their parties in the latest poll from the Dallas Morning News and University of Texas at Tyler. The poll also shows Abbott holding a seven point lead over ORourke in a matchup between the two candidates.
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

A new $842.2 million fund will provide grants for Texas homeowners who have fallen behind on mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance and homeowner association fees. The Texas Homeowners Assistance Fund, run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Under the program, Texas homeowners who experienced hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic can receive up to $40,000 for past due mortgage payments and up to $25,000 for past due insurance, property tax and HOA fees. A pilot phase is currently open for residents of Hidalgo County or those who have their mortgage serviced by HomeLoanServ.
Residents of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, said on Thursday that windows in apartment blocks were shaking from constant blasts as the Ukrainian military and Russian forces exchanged shellfire, BBC reported.

Clashes have also been taking place around the capital Kiev in the north and the Black Sea port cities of Odesa and Mariupol in the south, the report said.

Air strikes from Russia have been carried out on Ukrainian military bases and airports, with fierce fighting reported around a key airport near Kiev.

The Ukrainian military claims to have shot down at least six Russian aircraft, while Russia claims to have destroyed more than 70 military targets in Ukraine, BBC reported.

Many Ukrainians are seeking shelter or trying to leave larger cities around the country, including thousands seen fleeing Kiev.

Soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, videos and images claiming to be from the conflict zones began trending on major social networks.

While there are many genuine footage, some viral clips racking up hundreds of thousands of views show events from past conflicts or old military exercises. Many of these seem to coming from users posting content without checking, BBC reported.

The BBC has seen videos of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine war, the 2011 Libyan war and the 2020 Beirut explosions going viral.

In one example, a former Ukrainian ambassador to the US tweeted a video which he claimed was taken in Mariupol, but a version of the same clip was uploaded on TikTok weeks ago, apparently showing a lightning hitting a power station, the report said.

Another viral video claiming to show Russian military paratroopers landing in Ukraine first appeared online in 2016, BBC reported.
Muskogee, OK (74401)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 67F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
President Joe Biden provides an update on Russia and Ukraine during remarks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 22, 2022.
Ukrainian service members take part in tactical drills at a training ground in an unknown location in Ukraine, in this handout picture released Feb. 22, 2022.
OPINION | The 4-H Marianas empowers CNMI youth to become leaders in the community
Using the Framing Camera (FC) and the Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR) aboard NASAs Dawn spacecraft, planetary researchers have spotted bright brine residues and organics in the Urvara basin, one of the largest impact structures on the dwarf planet Ceres. The results strengthen the hypothesis that Ceres is and has been a geologically active world even in recent epochs, with salts and organic-rich material playing a major role in its evolution.

At 940 km (584 miles) in diameter, Ceres is the largest object in the main asteroid belt, orbiting the Sun at a mean distance of 2.8 AU.

This dwarf planet is a survivor of the earliest period of Solar System formation and thus detailed knowledge about its interior provides fundamental insights into the formation and evolution of volatile-rich planetary embryos that originated within the protoplanetary disk.

Findings of NASAs Dawn mission suggest that Ceres interior consists of a thin lag deposit (regolith) layer, an icy crust containing an ancient ocean, a relict brine layer at the crust-mantle transition, and a dry lower mantle.

The 170-km- (106-mile) wide Urvara basin is the third-largest impact feature on Ceres.

The impact that formed it about 250 million years ago is thought to have revealed material from depths of up to 50 km (31 miles).

In general, Urvaras morphology is consistent with a complex, medium-aged impact crater, exhibiting a preserved ejecta blanket to its west, said Dr. Andreas Nathues, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, and his colleagues.

The basin exhibits a sharply defined continuous crater wall with vast terraces, caused by post-impact inward slumping, in its south, while a steep single scarp defines the northern and north-eastern rim.

The wall shows a significant height variation. The sharpness of the northern wall gradually declines towards the east, allowing it to be overtopped by smooth material.

The origin of this material is important, since it is one of the major geologic units on Ceres, and is younger than the crater.

In their study, the authors analyzed high-resolution imaging data of the Urvara basin collected by the FC and VIR instruments onboard NASAs Dawn orbiter.

Our analysis reveals that different areas of the crater have very different ages, said Dr. Nico Schmedemann, a researcher with the Institut fur Planetologie at the WWU Munster.

The age difference is up to 100 million years. This suggests that processes were at work that lasted long after the crater was actually formed.

In the Urvara basin, the researchers detected meter-scale concentrated exposures of bright material (salts) along the craters upper central ridge, which originate from an enormous depth, possibly from a deep-seated brine or salt reservoir.

In this resurfaced area, one floor scarp shows a granular flow pattern of bright material, showing spectra consistent with the presence of organic material.

The origin and formation of organics on Ceres remain interesting open questions that have important implications for the overall geologic history of Ceres as well as potential links to astrobiology and habitability, said Dr. Guneshwar Thangjam, a researcher in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Indias National Institute of Science Education and Research.

The organics in Urvara basin differ from the organic rich areas in the northern hemisphere Ernutet crater and will help us to answer these questions.

Overall, the Urvara crater presents us with a decidedly complex picture that we do not yet fully understand and that leaves room for two interpretations, Dr. Nathues said.

For example, the impact that formed Urvara crater could have transported salts from the interior of the dwarf planet to the surface.

However, some evidence suggests that a salty brine was involved instead, rising up from the interior and initiating further processes.

Whether the brine reached the surface or merely accumulated just below it is unclear.

The findings appear in the journal Nature Communications.

_____

A. Nathues et al. 2022. Brine residues and organics in the Urvara basin on Ceres. Nat Commun 13, 927; doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-28570-8
Editor

Zaldy Dandan is the recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com
Wanted and facing 40 outstanding warrants for failure to appear, a former North Carolina police chief was arrested in Loris in the early hours Thursday after he was reported missing days before, authorities said.

William Anthony Spivey, 36, a former Chadbourn police chief, is in custody at J. Reuben Long Detention Center after Horry County Police Department officers found him submerged in a creek behind an apartment building on Watson Heritage Road in the Loris area after 12 a.m. Thursday, records state.

After locating Spivey, officers told him to exit the water with his hands up, a police report states. As he came onto a dry wooded area, he attempted to resist arrest and yelled that he would have to shoot as he reached for his waist area, police said. He was handcuffed and later booked into the detention center just after 1 a.m. Thursday, online records state.

Spivey was reported missing Monday after he didnt return from a fishing trip on the Lumber River in Columbus County, which led to an extensive water search by multiple local and state agencies, HCPD said.

According to the Columbus County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina Wildlife officers were contacted due to reports of an abandoned boat in the Lumber River near the Sandhills Hunting Club. Wildlife officers found a truck at a boat landing with people nearby. The bystanders told officers Spivey was last seen driving the truck and the abandoned boat.

During the search, investigators spoke with Spivey's friends and family, who described the incident as a possible suicide, CCSO said, adding handwritten letters were collected at the scene and a .22 caliber rifle with a discharged round inside was found. "Investigators quickly concluded that the evidence collected did not support a suicide scenario," a release from the CCSO states.

On Wednesday, warrants for failure to appear to superior court were issued for Spivey and he was labeled as missing and wanted, authorities said. Spivey currently has 40 outstanding warrants for failure to appear, totaling a bond of $1 million.
Allegations made in a lawsuit filed by the former spokeswoman for the Horry County School district are troublesome.

Teal Britton, who worked for HCS from 1993 until her termination in 2020, filed the wrongful termination suit in Horry County last week.

In her lawsuit, Britton contends that she drew the ire of top HCS officials because she released records about the districts controversial school construction program in response to S.C. Freedom of Information Act requests.

I recall the situation clearly.

Our reporters were trying to get information about a deal the school district made with Firstfloor K-12 Solutions to build five new schools. The schools were supposed to generate more energy than they used.

Almost from the start, the deal rose a lot of questions.

For example, FirstFloor was not originally chosen for the work in 2013.

Later, members of the school board and a district legal counsel met to discuss a plan to build energy positive schools.

In 2014, the late school board chairman Joe DeFeo invited Firstfloor CEO Robbie Ferris to pitch his proposal for the schools.

This led to the schools district abandoning the original request for proposals despite the advice of former HCS Superintendent Cindy Elsberry and a consultant paid to review planning for the new schools.

A new request for proposal was issued and the guidelines seemed suspiously tailored to meet the specifications suggested by First Floor.

Britton contends FirstFloor actually contributed to the drafting of the request for quotation.

Getting information from the school district during the time discussions took place for the FirstFloor schools was often difficult and frustrating.

Under DeFeos leadership, the school district attempted to stonewall the press.

To her credit, Britton did comply with Freedom of Information Act requests as required. Sometimes we didnt get the information as completely as we would have liked.
Can the West Come to its Senses or Does the West Have any Sense to Come to?

by Paul Craig Roberts

Three days ago I wrote Today the World Has Changed. The Kremlin recognized the Russian territories that Lenin had folded into the Ukraine as independent states and gave the Ukrainian Nazis an ultimatum to cease its attacks on the Donbass Russians. The Russian Armed Forces were issued orders to ensure provision of peace on the territory of the independent republics.

Unfortunately, the dumbshit Ukrainians didnt hear and neither did the dumbshits in Washington. Instead of avoiding conflict, the dumbasses provoked one, and it arrived this morning. What a collection of fools the Western World is.

The Ukrainian attacks on Donbass did not stop. According to some reports they intensified. If the Ukrainian Nazis thought that Russia was going to ask for more negotiations, they learned differently as this morning news reveals.

In a televised address President Putin announced this morning a military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.

As it is impossible to learn anything factual from the fake news Western media, I will do my best to tell you what is happening.

As far as I can tell, at this time of writing there are no Russian troops involved. Russian troops dont even seem to have been sent to the territory of the republics. Using precision weapons the Russian military has disabled Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities, air defenses, military airfields and aircraft. Putin has announced that Ukrainian soldiers who lay down their arms will not be attacked. Tass reports that Ukrainian troops are leaving their positions in large numbers, dropping their weapons. Clearly, the Ukrainian soldiers have more sense than their leaders.

The West, of course, is screaming its impotent accusations, but the barrage of Western media lies will have no effect on the outcome. If the Western World had any intelligent leaders, what would they conclude? They would conclude that the days of baiting the bear are over. As I have reported for some time, Russia has had enough of the Wests lies, deceptions, insults, and provocations. Henceforth, when Russia tells them something, they would do well to turn their ears on. Putin has said that Russia will not permit Ukraine to develop nuclear weapons, and he has said that Russia will not tolerate US/NATO bases on her borders. The US and NATO had better believe it.

Putin said Russia has no intention to occupy Ukraine. Russia does not want Ukraine, but Russia will not permit the continued militarization of the country by the US and NATO or the Ukrainian attacks on the Donbass Russians. The West had better understand this.

The US and Germany have declared that no troops will be sent, a hopeful sign that sanity might return to the West.
State Sen. Thomas Cullerton resigned from office Wednesday, shortly before his lawyer revealed in court that hes planning to plead guilty in a federal embezzlement case alleging he took a do-nothing job with the Teamsters union.

Cullerton, 52, a Democrat from Villa Park, was charged in 2019 in an indictment alleging he pocketed almost $275,000 in salary and benefits from the Teamsters union despite doing little or no work.

The case against Cullerton, who had remained in office and is free on bond, originally was supposed to go to trial this week but was postponed in part by a COVID-19-related backlog of cases. Meanwhile, both sides continued to work behind the scenes on a potential deal.

In advance of a status hearing in the case on Wednesday, Cullerton sent a letter to Tim Anderson, secretary of the Senate, confirming his resignation from the body.

Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, and Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods were copied on the letter, which consisted of only two sentences.

This document shall serve as my letter of resignation as an Illinois state senator, the letter read.

Less than an hour later, during a telephone status hearing before U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman, Cullertons lawyer, Dan Collins, announced that theyd reached a plea deal with prosecutors and a trial date will not be necessary in this case.

Gettleman set a change of plea hearing for March 8.

Cullertons appearance was waived for the brief hearing. He could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

The indictment filed against Cullerton in August 2019 alleges 39 counts of embezzlement and one count each of conspiracy and making false statements.

According to the indictment, then-Teamsters boss John Coli conspired with Cullerton in 2013 to give the newly elected senator a do-nothing job with the clout-heavy union. Over the next three years, the two ignored complaints from supervisors when Cullerton failed to even show up for work, according to the charges.

In all, Cullerton was accused of fraudulently obtaining $188,320 in salary, bonuses and cellphone and vehicle allowances from the Teamsters between 2013 and 2016, as well as $64,068 in health and pension contributions.

The charges against Cullerton came three days after Coli pleaded guilty to extortion charges and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. According to his plea agreement, Coli extorted a total of $325,000 from Alex Pissios, president of Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the West Side, by threatening a union work stoppage.

Colis sentencing has been delayed until after his cooperation against Cullerton was complete.

Cullerton, who previously was village president of Villa Park, is a distant cousin of former Senate President John Cullerton. He was first elected to the state Senate in 2012.

Democratic leaders in Cullertons district, which stretches from Villa Park to Bartlett, will appoint a replacement to fill out the remainder of Cullertons term, which expires in January. Along with every other seat in the Senate, Cullertons is up for election in November under a new legislative district map, with the districts boundaries shifting farther east and south.

Cullertons indictment was the first in a cascade of federal criminal cases brought against state politicians, including charges against two of his former colleagues in the senate, Martin Sandoval and Terry Link, as well as indictments against former state Reps. Luis Arroyo, Annazette Collins and Edward Acevedo.

A graduate of Loyola Academy in Wilmette and an Army veteran, Cullerton was elected a Villa Park trustee in 2005 and was village president from 2009 to 2013. He worked as a truck driver for Hostess.

In 2008, Cullerton challenged incumbent Republican state Sen. Carole Pankau of Itasca, only to be removed from the ballot because he had voted in the Republican primary that election cycle, before the Democrats tapped him to run.

He won his Senate seat in the 2012 election after district lines were drawn following the 2010 census. As a senator, he was best known for helping to lead a legislative inquiry into the deadly 2015 outbreak of Legionnaires disease at an aging state veterans home in downstate Quincy, which became a major issue for then Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Cullerton sponsored legislation requiring taxing bodies to notify the public if they enter into a severance agreement with an employee who has been accused of sexual assault, as well as measures regulating lead levels in drinking water and speeding up the government consolidation process. He was outspoken on the issue of noise and pollution at OHare International Airport.

At the time he pleaded not guilty to the charges in August 2019, a spokeswoman for Cullerton issued a statement saying he would continue to fight these untrue allegations in court until his name is cleared. His attorney at the time, John Theis, blamed Coli for alleging  false claims  to avoid being punished himself.

Cullertons campaign fund has reported spending $110,000 on legal fees since April 2019, when subpoenas for his Senate records were made public.

Resisting prior calls for his resignation, Cullerton gave up chairmanship of the Senate Labor Committee after his indictment, but became chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, maintaining an annual stipend of more than $10,000 for leading a committee on top of his legislative salary of roughly $70,000.

In all, Cullerton has been paid more than $200,000 out of the state coffers since he was indicted, according to the comptrollers office. Cullerton chose not to participate in the retirement system for legislators and therefore will not receive a state pension.
As we strive to create a more perfect union, it seems that with no sense of irony, more people seem to be raising the bar on acceptable imperfection.

For example, among those who are resisting a COVID-19 vaccine, one of the common refrains is, Why take it? We were promised that the vaccine would protect us, yet now even those who are fully vaccinated and boosted are not immune from the variants that continue to pop up.

In other words, unless and until the vaccines are 100% effective under all circumstances, this large segment of our population would favor the perfect over the good. Yet no medical intervention has ever achieved 100% effectiveness, nor will it ever.

Then we have those who continue to deny the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Here again, the only acceptable standard seems to be absolute perfection. Admittedly, most elections seem to have some irregularities, intended or not. This was the case in 2020, too, but there is no great need to be alarmed. The critical issue would be if any of these irregularities, even those produced by outright fraud, would have been widespread enough to change the actual election outcome. After all, thats the purpose of an election  determining who won or lost.

To date, with over 60 court cases nationwide, and several recounts and forensic audits that have been conducted, no credible evidence has been presented that would meet this standard. Continuing to pose questions whether the process in any particular state was less than perfect only raises the standard beyond where its always been, while also sowing unwarranted doubts about whether any future election outcome can be considered legitimate unless the underlying process can be proven to be 100% perfect.

That brings us to the brave new world of cancel culture. With itchy fingers poised on their smartphones, millions of people are ever ready to dig up an errant post or picture of a celebrity or politician from long ago. By creating an online gotcha moment, its not too difficult to paint the perpetrator as a bad person worthy of social scorn, maybe even banishment. In other words, anyone who falls below a 100% perfection standard may be fair game for having a reputation stained or livelihood threatened.

My point here isnt that we should lower our collective standards of excellence as a way to diffuse polarization across the ideological spectrum. Rather, we must recognize that in much of life, the 100% test is not the one that we should be applying.

Perfection may be our highest aspiration, but moving toward it doesnt mean rejecting its application where perfection will never be possible or desirable.

As the voices grow louder, lets pause to reflect on whether the perfection pretext is an unnecessary source for the rising wave of resistance and anger thats now all too apparent.
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In a move reminiscent of Adolf Hitlers need for Lebensraum, Russian President Vladimir Putin is exhibiting an egomaniacal desire to regain the glory of the vast empire of the Soviet Union. Theres little else to explain his actions.

Putin controls executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. He also controls television, print, and online media. Hes the undisputed dictator of the economy to whatever extent he chooses.

Whats left for him? He now wants a Soviet-style dictatorship, the one that he wept for the day the wall fell in Berlin where he was based as a KGB leader, that has him surrounded by Russian puppets.

In 2014, he invaded Ukraines easternmost region.

He also manipulated a public referendum in Crimea that allegedly resulted in 97 percent of residents voting in favor of secession from Ukraine.

He likely envisioned a total collapse of Ukraines government, but when that did not happen, he settled on installing local leaders in the regions he gained.

What he seems to be up to now is merely the continuation of his initial effort in Ukraine in the hopes that it ends with a fawning, obedient government in Kyiv  and then onto the next conquest.

One limiting factor, hence the need to move quickly, is that taking over NATO members would prove a bridge too far even for Putin. Ukraines possible membership in NATO would almost permanently make invasion far too painful.

It is not at all assured that Ukraine is likely to gain membership in NATO. No matter, the possibility alone is enough to drive this action. (Ukraines leadership does indeed aspire to NATO membership).

We should note that Ukraine poses no independent threat to Russia. Ukraine has not acted in any way that indicates military, economic or other actions against Russia. This entire affair is a Putin invention.

Putin is also in need of ego-stroking and taking action that would adversely affect the relative respect of NATO nations, especially the U.S. of course, would boost his delusional need for increased power.

It remains to be seen what kind of response the West, and again, especially the U.S., would offer should Russia invade. But, in no case would such a move engender marked advancement of Putins image abroad. He would face widespread disdain from almost all nations, save China, a nation also led by a tyrannical regime. It is possible he does not care.

Major exercises in Belarus could clearly lead to a Russian invasion of Ukraine and that movement is the quickest, shortest route to Kyiv.

Troops from Russia proper are available in the northeast and could pour in as follow-on forces in an endless stream. Forces based in the aforementioned Crimea are available from the south. Ships in the Black Sea can attack without hope of being repelled by Ukraine.

At least 130,000 Russian forces in the area stand at the ready, and there are many more that could be moved to Ukraine with ease.

The U.S. has said an attack is coming. The announcement was likely an attempt to thwart a false-flag attack that Russia would use to precipitate an attack (see Hitlers use of fake Polish troops used to stage an attack that led to an invasion and ultimately draw the world into a calamitous war).

That is where things stand.

What would Putin do after an invasion, assuming a quick victory and occupation (although a quick win is not assured)?

His likely aim is not to move Ukraine immediately into the fold of Russia.

He would want to install his kind of leaders in Kyiv and throughout the country and then slowly withdraw all but a small contingent of Russian troops. His goal is control, not direct ownership. We have seen this scenario before.

Putin has the clear advantage of location, military might available, and the secure knowledge of the already stated limits by the west (i.e. no troops to support Ukraine) on what can happen. Whether he believes economic or diplomatic sanctions or if he believes their potential impact on his country is unknown.

No attack is inevitable, but the world watches as a tyrant readies his force.
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(Bloomberg) -- U.S. President Joe Biden promised to impose severe sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and will spell out the economic penalties in a public address scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

The question is how far he and allies will to go to punish President Vladimir Putin. Possible measures include cutting Russias top banks from the financial system and imposing sanctions on Putin himself. Kicking Russia out of the messaging system used for financial transactions called Swift would be the most extreme step.

U.S. officials have said all options are on the table. Thursday morning Biden convened his National Security Council to discuss the latest developments, according to a White House official. He also met virtually with Group of Seven leaders for more than an hour to discuss a package of more far-reaching sanctions. He is set to speak on the issue Thursday, which can be viewed below.

Late Wednesday, Biden condemned the attack as unprovoked and unjustified and spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy by telephone.

President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, the American president said in a statement overnight. The United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way.

Russian military vehicles have moved in the northern region that includes Ukraines capital, officials there said, after tanks were reported rolling in from Crimea to the south. A senior Russian lawmaker said Moscow aims to ensure a pro-Moscow government, pushing out U.S. influence.

News of the invasion came as the UN Security Council was meeting in emergency session on the crisis. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the council would vote on a resolution condemning Moscows actions on Thursday. As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia can veto that resolution.

Biden is set to outline the punishments after discussing the unfolding crisis with other G-7 leaders on a morning call that a White House official said got under way shortly after 9 a.m. in Washington.

The U.K, has been the most aligned with the U.S. on Russia. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in a televised address in London, that the West will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed to hobble the Russian economy.

Biden said Zelenskiy asked him to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putins flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine.

Zelenskiy said in a speech to his nation on Thursday morning that, the U.S. has started to prepare international support. He imposed martial law across the country, as his government warned Russian forces were attacking cities and urged citizens to hide in shelters to avoid missile attacks on Kyiv.

Earlier Wednesday, the White House sanctioned the builder of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and its corporate leadership. That came on top of a sanctions package announced Tuesday following Putins recognition of breakaway territories in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine as independent states.

Putin announced in a televised speech early Thursday that he had decided to order a special military operation to protect Donbas, saying the U.S. had crossed the Kremlins red line by expanding NATO in Eastern Europe. In the speech, Putin said Russia didnt plan to occupy Ukraine but accused the U.S. of refusing to negotiate on Russias security demands.

Zelenskiy said Russia attacked our military infrastructure and our border guarders and urged people to stay calm and stay at home if possible. We are working. The army is working.

Biden said he would coordinate with NATO allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the alliance. The U.S. earlier this month sent 3,000 troops to central Europe but the White House has said it has no intention to deploy them in Ukraine.

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Pixabay

Calling all business owners! Do you worry about tax season? Filing your taxes each year can be overwhelming, especially with all the changes made recently.

You don't want to experience any tax issues as a small business owner. Errors can delay the filing of your tax returns, and are a major cause of tax audits.

But there are ways to avoid these issues, and one way to do so is by hiring a tax attorney. A tax attorney can guide you through tax issues before any arise.

Hiring a tax attorney is one of the best things you can do. Read on to learn ten vital ways a tax attorney can help your business needs.



1. Time Is Money

As a business owner, you know that time is valuable. And when it comes to your tax obligations, the saying time is money feels very relevant.

Setting time aside to do your taxes might not be an option, and trying to learn the new IRS regulations and laws can be a deal-breaker.

If you hire a tax attorney, you'll have a professional on your side who can help you sift through the code. This will help you save time, leaving you more hours to focus on your business.



2. Dealing With State And Local Taxes

On top of federal taxes, you must deal with state and local taxes. These can get tricky.

Several factors will determine how much your business must pay on state and local taxes. If you're a new business owner, this can feel overwhelming.

The activities your business takes part in can determine how much you must pay in taxes. Where they take place also plays a role.

Does your business conduct sales outside its home base? If this is the case, your business might face complex tax calculations.

The same applies to doing business outside of the state where your business is located. These are aspects a tax attorney can handle for you.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Nathan Lambrecht / Nathan Lambrecht/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Courtesy, U.S. COAST GUARD DISTRICT 8 Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Photo submitted by David Quincy Sr. / Photo submitted by David Quincy Sr. Show More Show Less 5 of 5









A company working to dismantle a decommissioned oil rig that caught fire on Thursday has confirmed that all crew members are safe and uninjured.

PH Steel General Counsel Jeff Lewis told The Enterprise on Thursday afternoon that the fire was under control. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter assisted in rescuing the crew members, who were aboard the rig that he said stands at least 300 feet in the air, Lewis said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with the Russian people late Wednesday to stop their leadership from sending troops across the border and into his country, recording an emotional video appeal that underscored the close ties between the two nations and warned of the despair that would come from a needless war.

Zelensky, speaking in Russian, said Moscow had approved the movement of nearly 200,000 troops into Ukrainian territory, along with thousands of armored vehicles lined up at the border. He said an incursion risked becoming "the start of a big war on the European continent."

"You are being told this is a plan to free the people of Ukraine," Zelensky said. "But the Ukrainian people are free."

His words appealing for peace stood in sharp contrast to a speech delivered Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who delved into Russian history to undermine the notion of Ukraine as an independent nation. He also launched a barrage of accusations against the government in Kyiv that were widely seen as a prelude to an invasion.

By turns wrenching and defiant, Zelensky sought to break through the wall of state-controlled Russian newscasts that have depicted Ukraine as a nation run by Nazis threatening Moscow, though he conceded that his words probably wouldn't be shown on Russian television.

"The Ukraine on your news and Ukraine in real life are two completely different countries - and the main difference is ours is real," Zelensky said. "You are told that we are Nazis. How could a people that lost more than 8 million people in the fight against Nazism support Nazism?

"How could I be a Nazi?" said Zelensky, who is Jewish, noting that his grandfather spent the entire war as a Soviet soldier but died in an independent Ukraine.

Zelensky said Russians are being told that he is preparing an offensive to retake separatist territory in the Donbas region and "bomb it without questions." But, he asked, who he would be attacking?

"Luhansk? The house where my best friend's mother lives? The place where the father of my best friend is buried?" Zelensky said.

"This is our land. This is our history. What are you fighting for and with whom?" he said. "Many of you have been to Ukraine. Many of you have relatives in Ukraine. Some have studied in Ukrainian universities. Some have made friends with Ukrainians. You know our character. You know our people. You know our principles."

"The people of Ukraine want peace," he said. "The government of Ukraine wants peace."

For weeks, Zelensky has complained that the U.S. government has been overly alarmist in warning about the possibility of a large-scale Russian war against Ukraine, damaging the country's economy in the process.

But on Wednesday, his tone had transformed into that of a leader worried for a people who stand alone against the might of the Russian military despite planeloads of Western weapons and aid.

He warned Russians that if their military invades Ukraine, his nation would defend itself.

"We know for sure we do not need a war - not a cold one, not a hot one, not a hybrid one," he said. "But if these forces attack us, if you attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. Not attack - defend. And in attacking, you are going to see our faces. Not our backs, our faces."

Zelensky spent much of the address warning about the costs of war, which Ukrainian territory has seen more than most.

"War is a grave tragedy, and that tragedy has a great cost in all senses of the word," Zelensky said. "People lose money, reputations, quality of life, freedom . . . but most of all people lose their loved ones . . . They lose themselves."

The Ukrainian leader, who played the president on television before securing the job in real life, described armed conflict as consisting of "pain, dirt, blood, death." He warned Russians that thousands or tens of thousands of people could die, which wouldn't leave anyone with the sort of security guarantees the Kremlin has been seeking.

"War takes away guarantees for everyone," he said. "No one will have any kind of guarantees of security. And who will suffer from that the most? People. Who doesn't want that the most? People. Who could not allow that? People. Are those people among you? For sure."

Zelensky expressed hope that the leadership of Russia would listen to the Russian people, even if it wouldn't listen to him. He said he placed a phone call to Putin on Wednesday but received only silence.

"I know that my address to you won't be shown on Russian television, but the citizens of Russia should see it," Zelensky said. "They should know the truth. And the truth is that this needs to stop before it's too late. And if the leadership of Russia doesn't want to sit down at the table with us for the sake of peace, maybe they will sit down at the table with you. Do Russians want war? I would like to answer that question, but the answer depends only on you."
B Kay Richter

Latinos studying journalism and communications across all fields in the San Antonio area have more time to gain financial support for their education. The San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists has extended its deadline for applicants to apply for a scholarship to Monday, February 28, according to a press release.

This will allow more time for graduating seniors enrolling in college, current undergraduate and graduate students within journalism, communications or public relations programs full time to apply.
A 139-year-old abandoned downtown San Antonio building was well on its way to earning historic designation. Yet the historic building suffered critical damage in a fire that engulfed the structure on the night of Wednesday, February 23.

San Antonio Fire Department responded to a two-alarm fire at 500 Urban Loop near Cesar Chavez around 11:08 p.m. on Wednesday, according to preliminary reports. When firefighters arrived at the historical building, it was covered in heavy smoke and flames.

RELATED: South Padre Island restaurant deemed total loss after fire

Fire Chief Charles Hood said firefighters were sent in to do an initial search of the building, but found no one inside. SAFD pulled firefighters out and called a second alarm as the backside of the building burned and eventually collapsed. SAFD investigators were still at the scene as the morning of Thursday, February 24.

Courtesy of Ken Branca

The building was built in 1883 and was home to prominent San Antonio figure Fannie Porter, who ran a brothel out of the building until 1912. Rev. J. W. Shaw, the bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, bought the property in 1912 and sold it to the Carmelite Sisters of the Carmel of Divine Heart of Jesus in 1918.

The Carmelite Sisters then sold the property to Father Flanagan's Boys Home of San Antonio in 1990, later known as Boys Town. It operated out of the building until Boys Town closed its Texas properties in 2017.

Google Street View

A local development group, led by Bill Miller Bar-B-Q heir, Douglas Miller, had hoped to demolish the two-story structure to clear the way for a planned eight-story tower at that location. Westside groups advocated for historic designation of the building in August 2021.

That designation was still awaiting final approval from the Historic Design and Review Commission at the time of Wednesday's fire.

Office of Historic Preservation spokesperson Ximena Copa-Wiggins says she couldn't recall an incident where a building on its way to historic designation caught fire. She says building officials will probably step in to inspect the building and determine if it is structurally safe and not in any danger of further collapse.

"If it is that dangerous, then there will probably be a demolition process," Copa-Wiggins says. "If not, then they will probably secure it as best as they can and then work with OHP to see what the next steps are."
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Protesters in the United States, inspired by the self-styled "Freedom Convoy" that occupied downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks, headed out from Southern California on Wednesday for a cross-country trip to the Washington, D.C. region. At the same time, a Scranton, Pa., owner of a trucking company said he planned to lead his own group of vehicles to the Beltway on Wednesday afternoon.

But as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, a convoy did not appear to materialize on the Beltway. Dustin Sternbeck, a D.C. police spokesman, said the department has a "heightened posture" on highway entry points in the District of Columbia as part of its response to possible convoys blocking roadways.

These "convoys" are part of a disorganized constellation of protesters planning to target the D.C. region in demonstrations against vaccine mandates. Extremism researchers said the protesters' grievances reflect broader right-wing culture resentments that take the form of spreading falsehoods about the 2020 election results, doubting the effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccine, repeating human trafficking myths and complaining about school curriculums.

Local and federal officials are gearing up for whatever these protests may bring.

Although the U.S. Supreme Court blocked President Joe Biden's vaccination requirement for large employers and many states have rolled back pandemic-related restrictions, the anti-mandate rally cry is gathering online support.

The self-proclaimed "People's Convoy," leaving from a parking lot outside Adelanto Stadium northeast of Los Angeles on Wednesday, plans to arrive in the D.C. Beltway area March 5. The group said in a news release that it will "terminate in the vicinity of the DC area, but will NOT be going into DC proper."

It's unclear what the convoy will do if and when it arrives or how long it stay.

Photos and videos on social media from the "People's Convoy" send-off showed 18-wheelers, flatbeds and other vehicles stationed on a road and hundreds of people cheering and waving American flags. The convoy appeared smaller than organizers were hoping. Although hundreds of vehicles joined the convoy as it left, there were fewer than 40 big rigs, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The group's cover photo of its Facebook page, which has more than 162,000 members, includes the American flag, a bald eagle and the Constitution.

Brian Brase, a "People's Convoy" organizer, acknowledged the Supreme Court ruling, blocking Biden's vaccine mandate for large employers, but said the group is demanding more from the White House and Congress.

Another Biden administration vaccine mandate for millions of federal employees was blocked by a federal judge in Texas, and the Justice Department has filed an appeal. The U.S. military has also fired active-duty members who declined the vaccines. Brase specifically mentioned federal workers and military personnel in his anti-mandate demands, which also include ending the declaration of a national emergency concerning the coronavirus and demanding congressional hearings and investigations into the pandemic.

"Where did the coronavirus originate from? How did it get out? Who was behind lockdowns exactly? The vaccine, ya know, the speedy trials, there's a lot of things that come into play. We just want transparency and some investigation from the congressional level to be taken to find origins of how we've gotten to where we are today," Brase said.

Brase, who is unvaccinated, cast doubt on the 2020 presidential election results, saying he did not know whether Biden won. "I don't know," he said. "I don't know the facts."

"Whether we make it there or not, I believe the message will get out," he said of the plans to lead the convoy.

Extremism researchers say that even after pandemic restrictions are loosened and the country emerges from the public health crisis, many people mobilized by the anti-mandate movement will pivot to another cause.

"If this was really about mandates, would they be mobilizing at the same time those very mandates are getting lifted?" said Sara Aniano, a Monmouth University graduate student studying the social media rhetoric of far-right conspiracy theories and misinformation. "There's an undertone that isn't really as subtle as people think."

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D. C., was briefed by U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger on Wednesday afternoon and said the possibility of erecting a temporary fence around the Capitol complex remains on the table but that no decision had been made.

One organizer has requested to hold a rally on March 1 with "hopefully 1,000-3,000" attendees at the Sylvan Theater, the public theater on the Washington Monument grounds, in "support of convoys in Canada," according to a permit application submitted to the National Park Service. That is part of another group self-dubbed the "Freedom Convoy USA" that aims to arrive in D.C. by March 1, when Biden is expected to give his State of the Union address at 9 p.m.

Local and federal agencies are still preparing for possible traffic disruptions from the varying plans for convoy spinoffs in the United States. Hundreds of D.C. National Guard personnel and 50 large tactical units are also authorized to assist with traffic control during expected First Amendment demonstrations, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, R, tweeted that he spoke with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R, on Wednesday "as part of our ongoing coordination in response to planned trucker convoys."

There is uncertainty, Norton said, about the scope of expected disruptions.

"It looks like they are learning from Canada," she said of the police. "They believe they've had time to prepare. While there could be major disruptions, they are prepared for that. Already there is some indication we won't see anything like what Canada saw."

She said Manger did not describe any credible security threats for now, though did describe some of the people supposedly planning to come to Washington as members of extremist groups, some of whom could be armed.

"There's a lot of chatter - disrupting the State of the Union, etcetera - but none of that looks like anything at this point but chatter," Norton said, describing Manger's assessment.

She said that if Capitol Police decide it will be necessary to block off the Capitol complex, police are prepared to pick up members of Congress at prearranged locations and escort them to the Capitol safely, particularly if any attempts to disrupt the State of the Union address are possible.

Still, she said the California convoy appears disorganized, noting it isn't mobilizing people around a specific issue like the hordes of people in Canada who rallied against pandemic mandates.

"They're not coalescing around a specific issue the way they did in Canada around the coronavirus, which may be good news for the District," Norton said.

Corinne Geller, a spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, said Wednesday the agency's position has not changed in the past day, noting that the agency "continues to monitor the situation and to communicate with our National Capital Region local, state and federal partners. This is standard practice anytime the potential exists for a significant protest that could disrupt the safe and efficient flow of traffic on Virginia highways."

Authorities typically use large trucks to block roads during demonstrations. In some cases on Wednesday, D.C. police were paired with Department of Public Works trucks.

The Virginia Trucking Association, which represents about 300 trucking companies or suppliers headquartered or operating throughout Virginia, is against vaccine mandates, but does not support any demonstrations that would block roads or access to "normal, everyday travel," nor any protests that would disrupt supply chains.

"While certainly everyone has their right to have their voice heard and register their grievances . . . we don't have a vaccine mandate in the United States," said Dale Bennett, the group's president and CEO. "Frankly, we do not support anything that would provide disruption."
Courtesy of the Diaz Family

When Katia Diaz and her husband, Peter Diaz, showed up for their weekly obstetrician appointment on Tuesday, February 22, they didn't expect that they'd be the parents of a San Antonio "Twosday" baby. The couple are the new parents of Victoria Diaz, born on 2-22-22 at 2:22 in operation room 2, two weeks early.

The new mom says her OBGYN Neera Bhatia noticed her amniotic fluid was low during her weekly check-in. Katia's due date was March 8, but the doctor recommended a cesarean delivery to alleviate any possible stress on the baby. When the doctor checked her schedule with her medical assistant, she noticed a 2 p.m. availability. She shared the idea with Katia to try having the 2:22 Twosday baby. Katia says the plan worked perfectly.
Courtesy of Cameron County Fire Marshal

The South Padre Island Fire Department fought a fire at a popular restaurant on one of its piers.

Firefighters responded to reports of a strange smell at around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23 and arrived at 1 Padre Boulevard to find restaurant Pier 19 covered in flames, according to a news release. The fire was eventually contained and no one was inside the building at the time of the fire, reports KRGV.
Yves here. Im in no position to verify the underlying data, but the fact that both Moderna and Pfizer stocks are markedly down says investors regard these concerns about vaccine liability as serious.

A lawyer buddy thinks that even if this take on the frequency of bad side effect is spot on, Pfizer and Moderna still might get off the hook on product liability in the US. However, shareholders would have them dead to rights on securities fraud, for not disclosing to investors the information they had about serious vaccine side effects and the impact that could have on willingness to get boosted. In addition, foreign countries that also gave liability waivers are not as likely to be forgiving as the US. We could see a Boeing 737 Max replay, of foreign regulators lowering the boom and the US position eventually becoming untenable.

The plural of anecdote is not data, but consider this from IM Doc:

I will report what I am hearing as recently as yesterday. An ex-Covid-vaccine company executive. There are lots of detonations getting ready to happen. The life insurance companies and many Wall Street firms who feel they have been defrauded are the ones getting the cannons ready to fire. My understanding is the liability is actually not the adverse events as such. They have liability waivers for that. It is for fraud. Once fraud is proven, the liability wavers go poof. Apparently, there are people lining up with hands open willing to sell all kinds of damning documents. We were apparently not alone with the something is wrong take from the earliest paper. The incident with the testing centers being accused of fraud by employees, the subsequent bmj paper about that, the two vaccinologists resigning from FDA, and now the latest CDC admissions and presenting papers for FOIA with everything redacted  all are taking a toll. apparently, the play here is the insurance companies and hedge funds screwed by disastrous Moderna and biontech share prices are taking the lead for the fraud to be shown. Then they will sue these companies for damages. I asked the guy if he thought it would work. His response Pfizer certainly does.

In the meantime, as alluded to above, this sort of thing does not inspire confidence:

By Raul Ilargi Meijer, editor at Automatic Earth. Originally published at Automatic Earth

Justus R. Hope, MD, at Desert Review has a long article up on the views of former Blackrock exec, hedge funder, investment adviser Edward Dowd, along with a neverending list of podcasts. To which I will add a few at the bottom of this article. Weve seen a few Dowd videos lately, but nothing like this. He should be on Joe Rogan ASAP.

The entire thing is so complete, devastating, shocking, that I dont know what else to do than give you some quotes. It very much feels like the end of mRNA, and of the FDA in its present shape, because they -the government itself- are deeply complicit in outright investor fraud. Wall Street (multiple brokerage houses) is finding this out, Moderna stock is already down 70%, and thats just the start.

mRNA vaccines are killing and maiming people: ..no matter the effort, one cannot hide the bodies  and the bodies are piling up.

Good luck with your vaxx mandates.

Pfizer & Moderna Investors Run for the Exits

Wall Street investors are dumping their Moderna and Pfizer stock faster than the world can drop the mandates. Moderna is down 70 percent from its high, while Pfizer is off 19 percent. Former Blackrock Executive and investment adviser Edward Dowd calls for Moderna to go to zero and Pfizer to end under ten dollars per share.

How is this possible given that Pfizer now enjoys record earnings per share and a market capitalization of some $270 billion, making it the 29th largest corporation globally? With nothing but profits in sight for the Pharmaceutical giant, what could be the problem?

[..] For the skeptics, consider that Pfizer stock lost $20 billion in market capitalization on February 8, 2022, when their record earnings fell short of more optimistic expectations. Also consider that Modernas stock is down some 70 percent from its high of $484 on August 9, 2021, wiping out almost $ 140 billion in investment. Dowd predicts Moderna will drop to zero with bankruptcy as fraud related to concealing the COVID vaccine dangers surfaces, and he predicts Pfizer will become a sub-ten-dollar stock. Dowd explains that the smart money has already left Moderna and will soon be exiting Pfizer.

Dowd foresees an avalanche of lawsuits coming as the insurance industry continues to uncover the legions of mounting deaths coming from the complications of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Dowd teamed up with an insurance industry analyst and researched the life insurance claims. They found that since OneAmerica shocked the world by announcing a 40% rise in non-COVID deaths in younger working-class employees, multiple other insurance companies worldwide have seen the same thing  massive rises in non-COVID deaths. And the evidence inescapably points to the vaccines as the cause.

Meanwhile, the funeral company stocks have outperformed the S&P. Funeral Home companies are growth stocks. They had a great year in 2021 compared to 2020, and they outperformed the S&P 500. The peer group of Funeral Home stocks was up 40 plus percent while the S&P was up 26 percent  and they started accelerating price-wise in 2021 during the roll-out of the vaccines  You dont need to be a rocket scientist to connect the dots here.

Other insurance companies have reported the same or worse death numbers as OneAmerica. For example, Unum Insurance is up 36%, Lincoln National plus 57%, Prudential plus 41%, Reinsurance Group of America plus 21%, Hartford plus 32%, Met Life plus 24%, and Aegon  which is a Dutch insurer  saw in their US arm plus 57% in the 4th quarter  in the 3rd quarter they saw a 258% increase in death claims.

They raised (mortality) expectations 300,000 for 2022 over 2021 due to COVID plus indirect COVID, which I think we know what thats code for They (Aegon) did a $1.4 billion reinsurance deal with Wilton Reinsurancewhat they were reinsuring were high face amount individual policies from 1 million to 10 million (So) I think there is an asymmetric information situation going on in the insurance industry where some people have figured out somethings going on. They are off-loading their risk  they are not going to say what it is as they dont want that information to get out as they unload the risk..

Someone is going to be the bag holder here. And Dowd is confident it wont be the insurance industry. A court in France has already held that a life insurance company cannot be held liable for a death because of the mRNA vaccine. But that does not explain how mRNA manufacturers can be held responsible for an emergency product they were told was liability-free. Arent the vaccine manufacturers immunized from lawsuits? After all, they were granted EUA, the specialized Emergency Use Authorization, which means they cannot be held legally accountable for deaths or adverse effects stemming from the experimental vaccines.

The idea is that no company  upon government request  should have to pay for unforeseen complications resulting from an emergency product that they released to the world out of their goodness of the hearts, with the best of intentions. Right? Wrong  not when your company accomplishes this through deceit, also known as fraud. Fraud undoes all these protections. If a company or person intentionally deceives another to profit, we have fraud. If Pfizers data showed increased all-cause mortality and hid this to motivate people to take the vaccine while claiming it was safe, then fraud exists.

Under common law, the required elements to prove fraud amount to: #1. A materially false statement or purposeful failure to state or release material facts which non-disclosure makes other statements misleading. #2. The false statement is made to induce Plaintiff to act. #3. The Plaintiff relied upon the false statement, and the injury resulted from this reliance. #4. Damages include a punitive award as a punishment that serves as a public example to discourage any future similar fraud. Punitive damages are generally proportional to the Defendants assets.

Dowd has been researching the COVID-19 vaccines and what he considers obvious evidence of knowing concealment of the actual risks of death  and he points to the Herculean efforts of Pfizer with FDA in withholding their data despite legal challenges to release it. He likens the FDA today to the rating agencies during the Mortgage Crisis. FDA is the trusted third party, just like the rating agencies were. And a lot of doctors in this country, a lot of local governments are placing their trust in the FDA which gets 50 percent of its budget from large cap pharma. It wasnt any one personI think they overlooked thingsAn all-cause mortality end-point should have stopped this thing in its tracks  and it didnt.

There were more deaths in the vaxxed group than in the unvaxxed. Dowd assumes fraud based upon the FDA backing Pfizer in not releasing their data. He believes this is a knowing attempt to conceal the deaths. When one party enters into a contractand fraud was occurring when they entered into that contract, and the other party did not know that  the contract is void and null. Theres no indemnity if this can be proven, and I think it will be. Pfizer got blanket immunity with EUA. If fraud occurred, to my mind and what Im seeing from their refusal to release the data  if there is fraud and it comes out  and we need whistleblowers  and its looking more apparent that this product is deadly  fraud eviscerates all contracts  thats case law. So you go down the daisy chain, and thats liability  thats bankruptcy for Moderna, definitely Pfizer.

Dowd remarks that no matter the effort, one cannot hide the bodies  and the bodies are piling up. He notes that the deaths skyrocketed after the vaccine rollout when they should have dropped. And the deaths are what distinguished the 2021-2022 vaccine scandal as far worse than what happened with Enron. People are dying and being maimed. This is a fraud that goes beyond the paleWe have the VAERS dataWe have the DoD leakAnd now we have the insurance company results and the funeral home resultsWe dont need to think too hard about thisDeaths should have gone down after the vaccines rolled out. This is the most egregious fraud in history of the nation  and its globalPfizers involved, and they committed fraud, Dowd explained.

[..] Dowd emphasized that he is not short on Pfizer or Moderna stock. He explained that he does not profit from their share prices dropping. He also points out that his predictions are not the cause of the steep declines as these occurred before he came out with this analysis. Let me make a point here. The mainstream media may ignore this. Wall Street is not.

[..] Edward Dowd cautions those who continue to slumber, If you are long these two stocks, you are long mandates, you are long government control, and you are long the selling of your freedoms. Let us get everyone on board the freedom train.

More Dowd.

Multiple Brokerage Houses Now Investigate MRNA Jabs

EXCLUSIVE: Wall Street Taps Pfizer Whistleblower to Help Probe Alarming Details of Fraud During VAX Clinical Trials; Former Blackrocks Edward Dowd Drops More Bombs as ***MULTIPLE*** Brokerage Houses Now Investigate MRNA Jabs






It takes courage to stick your neck out on Russia at a time like this:

This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russias legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraines becoming a member of NATO, which would mean US/NATO forces right on Russias border  Tulsi Gabbard  (@TulsiGabbard) February 24, 2022

Gabbard is correct: the West did not have to wind up at this juncture with Russia over Ukraine. But surprisingly, some key press outlets are kinda-sorta acknowledging that the quick Russian movement of soldiers and equipment into the Donbass falls into one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter terrain. This is the lead item from the New York Times daily e-mail summary:

This is remarkably measured for a house organ of the military-intel state. Well turn to Putins statements on Russias intentions soon, since some of the more, erm, ambitious ones seem to have been overlooked. However, the flip side is that that if you accept the precedent that the US used in Kosovo, its hard to depict Russia sending its military into Donbass as an invasion when it was invited in.1

Mind you, additional actions by Russia beyond what are very narrowly necessary to defend and assist the people of Donbass can be depicted as aggression against Ukraine. Here Putin appears to be trying to tread a fine line. As we have said repeatedly, Putin does not have any interest in conquering Ukraine. However, he also wants Ukraine no longer to serve as a staging ground for US/NATO operations against Russia. How to achieve the latter end is not at all obvious.

From Putins speech of February 24:

Those who aspire to global dominance have publicly designated Russia as their enemy. They did so with impunity. Make no mistake, they had no reason to act this way.. Even now, with NATOs eastward expansion the situation for Russia has been becoming worse and more dangerous by the year. Moreover, these past days NATO leadership has been blunt in its statements that they need to accelerate and step up efforts to bring the alliances infrastructure closer to Russias borders. In other words, they have been toughening their position. We cannot stay idle and passively observe these developments. This would be an absolutely irresponsible thing to do for us. The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by the Kiev regime. To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation. It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force.

If you read the address, it is far more sharp-edged than Putins speech when he recognized the breakaway republics and the press conference shortly afterwards. It also confirmed our reading that the immediate trigger was Ukrainian president Zelensky rejecting the Minsk Protocol. That was the template that Russia had pressured the Donbass to accept and Germany and France had also signed.

Putin was caustic about the US dismissiveness about Russias concerns and interests. He also gave a warning:

Putin has warned that if other countries interfere with Russias attack on Ukraine, they will be met with consequences that you have never experienced in your history. pic.twitter.com/ryXQz20p0U  Kevork Almassian (@KevorkAlmassian) February 24, 2022

However, lets return to the issue that weve flagged repeatedly. Putin made clear that he regards the West hardening its line about arming Ukraine as an existential threat to Russia. Zelensky threatened to develop nuclear weapons:

2 of 3 The US gave the orders to Zelensky to threaten the development of nuclear missiles. That is what brought this to a head. The US knew that was going to happen and wanted it to happen. They are leading Putin around as in a dog collar.  Pepe Escobar (@RealPepeEscobar) February 22, 2022

And as Putin set forth in some detail, Ukraine already has so many of the necessary nuclear capabilities that the last steps are within reach.2

But how does Putin square the circle? Its one thing to send men and materiel into Donbass, rout the members of the Ukrainian military that are there, and engage in border operations (sorties, back and forth shelling, and so forth). This could be very nasty but would fall within the confines of being asked to assist Donbass.

But then we have Putins intent to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. I presume for the latter he means the removal of the neo-Nazis from the government. This sounds a lot like regime change Russia style.

On Tuesday, after recognizing the separatist republics but before moving troops in, Putin in his press conference said he hoped to resolve the conflict via negotiations and presented Minsk again as a solution. But his demilitarize and denazify alternative at a very minimum require strikes on Ukraine bases and equipment installations. Theres plenty of precedent for trying to damage a countrys war-making capacity without an occupation. For instance, our napalming of Vietnam and Cambodia was partly as a weapon of terror but also to defoliate, so as to expose movements of North Vietnamese units.

For instance, this is what John Helmer though denazify could amount to:

A limited denazification campaign would involve the roundup of everyone who was involved in the burning of the House of Unions in Odessa and several war crimes of the so-called Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) of 2014.Then Russian redeployment to the DPR and LPR, and war crimes trials there. Even guessing about that arouses more questions than it solves.

While this sounds like a bridge way too far, it also appears there isnt a great deal of European enthusiasm even for the wet-noodle-lashing level sanctions the US proposed as of the day before the um, incursion. From Colonel Smithers via e-mail:

A former colleague now at the European Banking Federation in Brussels advised the following this morning on sanctions: Banking: Opposed by Austria, France, Germany and Italy. France exposed directly and via Italy. Energy: Opposed by most member states. Luxury goods: Opposed by France and Italy. France exposed directly and via Italy. Diamonds: Opposed by Belgium and the Netherlands. Railway infrastructure: Opposed by France and Italy.

And this is simply remarkable:

Zelensky called HIM?!  so Biden didnt have the DECENCY to pick up the phone to call the President of a country NATO convinced to give up its Nuclear Arsenal promising it would be protected by Europe and US. ? Wow. What a leader. What an ally. What a guy. https://t.co/vPSa1QaztT  Trish Regan (@trish_regan) February 24, 2022

Having said that, the US is really really really unhappy about Crimea now being part of Russia. The US might attempt to Do Something about that. Ukraine has already asked Turkey to close the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus straits to Russian warships. Its not clear if Turkey will comply.

The Saker continues to be too triumphal in his tone, but he did make the correct call in predicting hostilities would escalate quickly. His observations about Western options:

I have been saying it for a long while already: there is no US policy left, all thats left is chaos, corruption, gross incompetence, maniacal delusion of still being the planets Sheriff combined with a rather comical belief that the US can scare Russia into submission In fact, the US has announced that there will be no Putin Biden meeting and no Lavrov Blinken meeting either. I am sure that both Putin and Lavrov are sobbing in abject fear and total despair There is a good chance that all this will end up with a full severance of diplomatic relations between Russia and the USA (along with a few EU Tabakis a la UK). Furthermore, to show the determination of the US led free West the US is sending a few hundred extra troops to the Latvia. And some helicopters from Italy to Poland. And if that was not terrifying enough, Canadas Trudeau is also sending a few hundred extra Canadian troops to the Baltics. At this pace, in a few weeks NATO might have a combined regiment safely tucked away somewhere in Poland or the Baltics, while knowing full well that Russia will never use any force against the 3B simply because Russia has exactly zero interest in, or desire for, them or their lands. In fact, these statlets are as much in freefall as Banderastan, why should Russia want them? As for Poland, the more neutral ground between them and Russia, the better for Russia. In history both Russia and Germany have tried to manage Poland, now it is the time for the USA to give it a shot. I wish both the Poles and the US Americans a lot of fun  amusez-vous bien! (though it is still better to have to administer the Polish colony than the Ukie one. The truth is that even if all the Ukraines neighbors simply and magically were allowed to take all the Ukrainian territory they want, a lot would be left unclaimed (most of the central and northern part). That how bad a shithole country 404 has become Maybe somebody will just fence them in and feed them like in a zoo? Again, Putin said that he fully intends to disarm the Ukraine, at least from all her heavy weapons. Since the Ukies wont give them up, I see only one way to achieve this: disarm them by force.

As former British civil servant David wrote:

I really think its NATO thats going to suffer the most: indeed, I think that is probably the wider strategic objective. Who, after all, wants to be a member of a military alliance that is reduced to hand-waving and threatening economic sanctions? Whats it even for? The CEE nations never, I think, realistically, expected NATO partners to commit suicide for them, but they must have hoped that some actual reaction to Russian threats in the future was possible, beyond banning the export of Louis Vuitton handbags, or whatever is finally decided. Some of us have been talking about the military decline of NATO for years, but most people were stuck in the Cold War mindset, and didnt listen. if you think about it, this might be Bin Ladens final revenge. So here are the Russians, who have a serious conventional land-based military capability, saying, OK, thats our backyard, and if you dont like it, eff off. I rather think well have little choice but to eff off. What this is going to do to the Policy Blob in Washington I cant even begin to imagine. Heads must be exploding. I wonder if what I just said about NATO doesnt equally apply to the EU. I can imagine a common political position of horrified hand-waving in the short term. But what comes afterwards? Time passes quickly for some of us, and I just realised its more than thirty years now since the Common Foreign and Security Policy was established, as well as some kind of a common security policy and the distant perspective of common defence. So little has actually happened that its hardly worth mentioning, and the problem remains what it always was: the lack of a common strategic understanding and strategic priorities. So what have the last thirty years actually accomplished? What have small states in eastern Europe actually gained? Might they not have been better advised to join the Russian sphere of influence? At least the Russians have a serious military capability. I rather think this is the first day of the Post-Post-Cold War era.

Update 9:00 AM EST: Russia is taking the aggressive version of its promise to demilitarize Ukraine, and quickly too. It has moved men and troops in on three fronts. I have to admit I thought Russia be more surgical and rely more on an air war, but Putin did make a warning in his speech yesterday that Lambert picked up on and I should have too:

Of course, this situation begs a question: what next, what are we to expect? If history is any guide, we know that in 1940 and early 1941 the Soviet Union went to great lengths to prevent war or at least delay its outbreak. To this end, the USSR sought not to provoke the potential aggressor until the very end by refraining or postponing the most urgent and obvious preparations it had to make to defend itself from an imminent attack. When it finally acted, it was too late. As a result, the country was not prepared to counter the invasion by Nazi Germany, which attacked our Motherland on June 22, 1941, without declaring war. The country stopped the enemy and went on to defeat it, but this came at a tremendous cost. The attempt to appease the aggressor ahead of the Great Patriotic War proved to be a mistake which came at a high cost for our people. In the first months after the hostilities broke out, we lost vast territories of strategic importance, as well as millions of lives. We will not make this mistake the second time. We have no right to do so.

Now the question is what will Russia do? I still dont think Russia intends to occupy Ukraine. Being an occupier is costly and earns you the hatred of the subject population, which also creates risks back at home. And Ukraine is a mess, poor governance structures, tons of corruption. Nation building isnt a great project either in general and in particular in countries that were pre-existing basket cases.

The least bad outcome would be to get Ukraine to sue for peace. Another option might be for referenda (some territories in the east would probably follow Donbass and want to be independent). But what becomes of the more European West? Putin wants a denazified government, which I believe would require the exodus of 10-15% of current officials.

Best take so far, hoisted from comments below:

analyticalobserver

February 24, 2022 at 8:41 am

The Telegram channel of colonelcassad is in Russian and is comprised of real time updates. Google Translate does a good job. It looks to me the intent is to seize most of Ukraine, disarm it, throw the luckier members of the Azov battalion in a gulag, and then carve the territory up on a regional basis via referenda leaving a rump Galician state centered on Lviv for the EU to handle. Size of army notwithstanding the Ukrainian armed forces are disintegrating and especially Eastern and Southern Regions see the 2014 Kyiv regime as illegitimate. In fact I highly doubt most Ukrainians want to fight for a puppet state run by and for oligarchs. It appears that the credible threat by Zelensky to develop nuclear weapons was the deciding factor; hope all the back slaps from Munich were worth such tough talk. A German chancellor making light of genocide claims in the Donbas was also clarifying for any waverers in the Russian leadership. The major risk now is one of the mentally deficient NATO leaders deciding to activate some real military support. Praying this does not happen but especially the British establishment seems deranged. Special forces are no doubt on the move and aim to interfere and sow chaos in some manner. The Western public opinion seems to be either not our fight  if blue collar  or exterminate the Russian untermenschen  if PMC. Domino theory is the spectre animating concern in elite circles. Gorbachev and Yeltsin have a lot to answer for. Remember the citizens of the USSR were not in favour of its dissolution- by a supermajority in nearly all Republics.

____

1 From Putins speech of February 24:

The peoples republics of Donbass have asked Russia for help. In this context, in accordance with Article 51 (Chapter VII) of the UN Charter, with permission of Russias Federation Council, and in execution of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lugansk Peoples Republic, ratified by the Federal Assembly on February 22, I made a decision to carry out a special military operation.

2 From Putins February 22 press conference:
Yves here. Its way too easy for the middle aged and older to view the prospect of higher seas levels affecting them as too remote in time to affect them. The reality is it wont take much change at all, in combination with higher storm surges, to affect not just residences but also critical operations, like chemical plants near the mouth of the Mississippi.

This article explains why uncertainty about Antartica makes it hard to forecast how quickly bad outcomes could materialize.

By Kristen Pope. Originally published at Yale Climate Connections

As the Earths climate warms, sea levels are rising, threatening to swallow coastlines and flood low-lying cities. Scientists are working to understand how much and how quickly seas could rise in coming decades  and Antarctica is one wild card.

Here are some of scientists most important findings from 2021 about the changes occurring in and around the worlds coldest continent.

What Happens if Antarctica Melts?

More than 97% of Antarctica is covered in ice. With a depth of up to three miles, the continents 6 million cubic miles of ice contain 70% of Earths fresh water. If all of that ice melted, the worlds oceans would rise by 200 feet (61 meters), enough to inundate Tokyo, New York City, Shanghai, and other cities.

How much the Earths average temperature rises is one of the main factors that will determine how Antarctic melting plays out. The climate has already warmed by roughly 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 1800s.

A 2021 study published in the journal Nature found that ice loss would likely continue at a pace similar to current patterns as long as the world does not rise more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) above pre-industrial levels.

However, if the temperature rises 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 F) or more, the papers authors found the rate of loss would rise to an order of magnitude faster than today.

Scientists use models to estimate how much the sea would rise under different scenarios. In 2021, researchers published a paper in Science Advances noting that previous estimates of impacts may be far too low. Earlier studies of the vast West Antarctic Ice Sheet had estimated that its collapse would cause global sea levels to rise by about 3.2 meters (10.5 feet). But in the new study, researchers said the collapse could actually cause the ocean to rise by an additional meter.

One-Third of Antarctic Ice Shelves Could Collapse

(Image credit: Kelvinsong / CC BY-SA 3.0)

The fate of Antarcticas massive ice shelves will also play a role in determining future sea-level rise. These shelves of ice jut out from Antarcticas coastline, floating into the ocean. Importantly, they hold back the enormous glaciers that flow from the continents massive interior ice sheets toward the ocean.

If the Earths temperature were to rise to 4 degrees Celsius (7.2 F) above pre-industrial levels, a third of Antarcticas ice shelves could become destabilized and would be at risk of collapse, according to an April 2021 paper in Geophysical Research Letters. About 193,000 square miles (500,000 square kilometers) of these ice shelves  an area slightly smaller than California and South Carolina combined  could fail. The effect of ice shelf collapse, the researchers said, would be akin to pulling a cork out of a large bottle, speeding the movement of ice into the ocean.

Some ice shelves are already melting rapidly. The George VI Ice Shelf is the second-largest ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula, the northernmost region of mainland Antarctica. Scientists reported that 2019-2020 was a record-breaking melt year, with the most widespread melt theyd seen there, though they did note they had seen longer melting seasons for the peninsula as a whole before.

Thwaites: the Doomsday Glacier

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Perhaps the most talked-about Antarctic ice story of 2021 was the potential fate of Thwaites Glacier, popularly dubbed the Doomsday Glacier. This massive body of ice, larger than the state of Florida, is located on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

In December 2021, scientists announced that cracks in the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf signaled that this ice shelf  which is holding back large parts of the Thwaites Glacier  could fail in as soon as five years. Without the ice shelf to stabilize it, the glacier could speed up its flow into the ocean. If the entire glacier melted, sea levels around the world would eventually rise about 25 inches (63.5 centimeters).

Pine Island Glacier Thins, Getz Region Loses Ice

Pine Island Glacier, which contains 180 trillion tons of ice, has been thinning for decades. And between the 1990s to 2009, the glaciers flow toward the ocean accelerated from around 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) per year to approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) per year, staying toward the higher end of that range for around a decade. And its movement continues to speed up: Researchers published a 2021 paper in Science Advances showing that from 2017 to 2020, the rate of flow increased by around 12%.

The Getz region in West Antarctica is also showing signs of speeding up. One studypublished in Nature Communications found that most glaciers in the region were accelerating. Between 1994 and 2018, the glaciers in this region lost about 315 metric gigatons of ice.

Parker Ice Tongue Collapsed in 2020

Ice tongues are distinctive features that protrude from a glacier and can stick out far into the ocean. Normally, sea ice that is attached to land helps stabilize them and protect them from the oceans waves and currents. However, when sea ice disappears, the ice tongues are more vulnerable to collapse.

In March 2020, the nearly 16-square-mile (41-square-kilometer) Parker Ice Tongue fully collapsed into the western Ross Sea. In December 2021, scientists published a paper in Geophysical Research Letters detailing their findings about the event. While the authors believe that calving likely occurred on and off for many centuries in the region, this loss was massive  and unusual. The authors wrote, A complete ice tongue collapse for these otherwise stable glaciological landmarks along the Victoria Land Coast is previously unrecorded.

It Could Rain More Often in Antarctica

Antarctica isnt known for rainy days. The continents high plateau very (very!) rarely gets rain. The northwestern Antarctica peninsula is the continents rainiest region, with around 50 days of rain each year.

But a 2021 study in Geophysical Research Letters found the continents rainfall could increase 240% by the turn of the century. The researchers also forecast more intense storms.

Liquid precipitation could cause big problems and lead to faster ice melt, especially as the insulating snow on top of the ice melts, making the ice more vulnerable.

Rain also is a threat to wildlife like penguins. Young penguin chicks are coated with downy feathers that are not rainproof. Wet chicks can freeze, especially in stormy and windy weather.

And rain is already causing problems for penguin colonies. During the 2013-2014 season, one Adelie penguin colony with about 20,000 breeding pairs failed to produce a single surviving chick. Scientists believe rain was one of the factors involved.

Melting Ice in Antarctica Could Cause Ecosystem-Wide Effects

Melting ice also changes the composition of the ocean itself. To study how the water is changing, scientists affixed data loggers to 14 seals near Pine Island Glacier, using the seals  and other methods  to gather data, including water temperature and salinity. Their results, published in Communications: Earth and Environment, suggest that when warmer meltwater rises to the top of the ocean, it can make it harder for sea ice to form, causing areas of open water. Warmer water on the surface can also lead to other ecosystem impacts.

As scientists continue to study Antarctic ice, we will learn more about how this wild card may affect life, not only on the Seventh Continent, but all around the world.
(Natural News) New research funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation aims to develop a needle-less vaccine that can spread like a virus rather than have to be injected, leaving no way for anyone to remain unvaccinated.

The goal is to create a vaccine that people catch without their consent, and without the need for any injections. The vaccine would be passed from one person to the next like a cold, in other words.

A paper on the subject claims that contagious vaccines will be slightly less deadly than traditional injections, but not non-lethal: they can still kill.

Some people will die who would otherwise have lived, though fewer people die overall, it further explains. The other issue is there is no consent (for vaccination) from the majority of patients.

Those in support of the concept say it is no different than artificial water fluoridation, which involves mass-medicating of the general public with a drug that supposedly prevents tooth decay.

Like fluoridated water, needle-less vaccines would be administered by force using methods that leave people unable to opt-out.

Nobody is asked whether they give consent, even those who disagree with it, says Prof. Dominic Wilkinson, a medical ethics specialist at the University of Oxford who apparently supports the idea.

Instead, we entrust elected officials to examine the likely health benefits and make decisions based on the evidence. I dont think that there is anything intrinsically different when it comes to the idea of self-spreading vaccines.

Self-spreading vaccines could easily be turned into bioweapons, warns scientist

All of this is music to the ears of Bill Gates, who has been working diligently for decades to force-vaccinate the entire planet through any means possible.

Gates has long promoted any and all vaccines, including Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) injections which he intends to pair up with subcutaneous quantum dot technology. This concept has parallels with the Mark of the Beast concept outlined in the biblical texts.

Such a self-spreading weapon may prove uncontrollable and irreversible, warns Dr. Filippa Lentzos, a senior lecturer in science and international security at Kings College London.

Lentzos says that unleashing self-spreading vaccines would make it possible for hijackers to turn them into biological weapons, assuming they are not already biological weapons to begin with.

Prof. Jim Bull, an infectious diseases expert at University of Idaho who monitors developments in transmissible vaccines, has said that it still remains unclear whether or not self-spreading vaccines are even possible.

The big hurdle right now is knowing whether we can make them, he is quoted as saying.

The Department of Health and Social Care at Bulls school told Good Health that no trial for any self-spreading vaccine would take place without undergoing stringent regulatory and ethics approval.

Uh huh, sure.

If he did do this  I doubt this is true  I will go after him myself, wrote one reader at Newspunch referring to Gates.

I dont doubt this at all, responded another. Just remember, Gates is one who also once was a big fan of massive world depopulation.

Someone else wondered at the ease with which monsters like Gates just continue to unveil death device after death device, all cloaked as things that supposedly help to save lives.

Let me put it this way: I am sure the elites would love to make a bug that will cause harm to others without fail, but God made the human body with an awesome, powerful immune system that is a very hard nut to crack if your body gets what it needs nutrition-wise, said another person offering a glimmer of hope.

The latest news about Bill Gates and his vaccine endeavors can be found at Evil.news.

Sources for this article include:

Newspunch.com

NaturalNews.com
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 by: Mike Adams Tags: awakening , Collapse , consciousness , depopulation , freedom , Globalism , government , Liberty , Tyranny , tyrants This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author

(Natural News) One of the most important realizations emerging from the fake Ottawa police (many of whom turned out to be UN troops with no legal authority whatsoever) is that the globalist cabal doesnt have enough people to carry out their tyranny. They have to recruit mercenaries from other regions and pay them to brutalize the local people under tyrannical authoritarianism.

In a way, this is actually good news since it reveals how thin the globalists ranks are when it comes to finding minions who will carry out their nefarious plans to crush dissent and enslave humanity. It turns out that most people wont go along with pure evil once they finally recognize it.

So the globalists are relying on tricks to project their asserted power via psychological terrorism and financial terrorism tactics, hoping to intimidate the masses through fear. Through these tricks, they are able to appear to be much larger and more powerful than they actually are. The weak-minded are easily fooled by these tricks, but the strong and courageous individuals in the world see right through it. They realize the tyrants are much like the Wizard of Oz, pulling levers behind a curtain and hoping they can project their illusions long enough to trick the masses into committing vaccine suicide. (The fake news media is a big part of this illusion projection effort, of course, and those who are gullible enough to believe the fake news will be intimidated into inaction.)

But thanks to the consciousness grenade that has now been unleashed across the world, people are waking up like never before. Even Canadians are getting red-pilled faster than we ever thought possible as the once-popular delusion of their liberal, progressive democracy has been shattered in mere days. Thanks to Justin Castro Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland the Nazi, Canada has become the North Korea of North America.

The people are far stronger than the globalists, and tyrants are terrified of the mass awakening taking place now

Global tyrants like Trudeau are terrified of the mass awakening thats accelerating. The more coercion, violence and outright terrorism that governments unleash against their own citizens  such as Canada stealing bank funds from innocent, peaceful protesters  the more quickly the realization spreads that governments are now the terrorists of the world.

The most dangerous institution in the country in which you live is probably your own government. This is true whether you live in America, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and so on. They have all turned to terrorism and tyranny to try to crush dissent and achieve mass extermination milestones directed by depopulation globalists.

On the positive side, once the critical mass of awakening is achieved, the globalist cabal will be outnumbered 1000 to 1 by informed, courageous, pro-liberty citizens of the world who will dismantle the global prison planet grid and remove the tyrants from power.

Once that happens, amazing things will take place such as the release of suppressed technology that has kept humanity enslaved for centuries. (Free energy tech, for example, and advanced medical / healing technologies.)

The future of the human race is a future without centralized governments, fiat currencies, Big Pharma monopolies and corrupt government enforcers such as the FBI or RCMP. Its a future of local, grassroots power combined with the decentralization of everything: Food, money, medicine, government, knowledge, tech and more.

We the People no longer need centralized governments to rule over us. They are obsolete. And they are dangerous to us all.

To try to trap humanity in chaos and despair, the globalists are right now planning on unleashing false flag cyber attacks against the US financial infrastructure, power grid and telecommunications systems. This was just confirmed earlier today by Americas top Homeland Security official, Mayorkas. He warned these attacks would come from Russia, but we know they are actually set to be unleashed by the black hat deep state actors, acting as domestic terrorists in order to crush America while blaming Russia for the emergency.

This is a time to be prepared for anything, but dont lose sight of the fact that these acts of deep state desperation are signs of weakness, not strength. The global deep state cabal is going to be disassembled and eradicated from planet Earth. Its just a question of how much death and suffering humanity will have to endure along the path to that outcome.

Listen to my full Situation Update podcast for more details today:

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(Natural News) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed reports that an American Airlines pilot saw an unidentified flying object (UFO) flying over New Mexico on February 21, 2021.

In a statement, the FBI said it was aware of the reported incident but would not confirm or deny if it was investigating the event.

American Airlines Flight 2292, which was flying between Cincinnati and Phoenix, had a close call with a UFO at around 1:20 p.m. local time. The pilot called Albuquerque air traffic control to ask for information on the strange sighting and was heard asking if they had targets up in the air.

We just had something just go over the top of us. I hate to say this but it looked like a long cylindrical object that almost looked like a cruise missile type of thing moving really fast right over the top of us, the pilot said in an audio clip of the radio transmission.

According to flight data, the Airbus 302 was flying at 406 miles per hour at the time. It was not far from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico but the Department of Defense said no tests or launches were directed on that day

The UFO mystery got deep when AA affirmed the cockpit recording came from its passenger jet aircraft and told reporters to talk to the FBI for more details.

According to UFO hunters, this was one of the latest in a string of bizarre events involving passenger jets.

While American Airlines initially played down the report, a company spokesperson verified the incident in a statement. Following a debrief with our Flight Crew and additional information received we can confirm this radio transmission was from American Airlines Flight 2292 on Feb. 21, the spokesperson said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on the other hand, said in a statement that air traffic controllers did not see any object in the area on their radarscopes. (Related: FAA mystified by blue UFO that disappeared into the sea in Hawaii.)

The sighting, however, instantly became one of the most important UFO encounters of 2021 as it was one of various sparks that saw experts press for more transparency from the United States government about investigations on alien life.

Pilots reporting UFO sightings could lose their jobs

In September last year, anonymous pilots in a Daily Star exclusive came forward claiming that they could lose their jobs for reporting sightings of UFOs despite many being seen before.

According to a pilot, airline bosses are so opposed to extraterrestrial claims that a fellow worker was told to receive therapy after reporting a UFO incident.

When someone says UFO everyone thinks they are referring to aliens but that is not always the case, especially with the surge in drone activity, another pilot told the Daily Star.

Most pilots will use phrases like unidentified traffic or aerial phenomena. No one wants to say UFO. If you say UFO people think you are either drunk, on drugs or nuts.

According to another pilot, many airline pilots and military pilots have had encounters at altitude with UFOs over many decades and before the internet.

Encounters are reported internally and amongst colleagues and seldom reach the media. When you are fortunate to be a close witness, it is really quite serious stuff. There are advantages in having an office window at 37,000 feet, the pilot said.

More related articles:

Air Force veterans speak up about their extraordinary UFO encounters.

Pilot video, FAA interview reveal strange encounter with unidentified aircraft over Atlantic City.

JetBlue pilot captures footage of shape-shifting UFO.

Defense department confirms leaked video of pyramid-shaped UFOs captured by the Navy.

Watch the video below to know more about pilot encounters with UFOs.

This video is from the channel TheOutThereChannel on Brighteon.com.

Follow UFOs.news to know more about UFOs and other unknown objects.

Sources include:

DailyStar.co.uk

TheSun.co.uk.
(Natural News) Last week Instagram notified me that a viral post I had published was fact checked by a group called The Healthy Indian Project. My mother is from Bombay, and I did lose 40lbs last year, but I didnt think they had created an entire unit just for me. So, I decided to find out who this group is. My findings are bemusing.

(Article by Raheem J. Kassam republished from RaheemKassam.Substack.com)

The Healthy Indian Project (THIP) appears to have started as a fitness and lifestyle site in 2018. Its CEO  Sudipta Sengupta  is a life-long marketing consultant from a small city (Gurgaon, Haryana) in India.

The group is a member of the high-profile Poynter network called the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), though a two separate audits of its membership reveal concerns about non-partisanship, transparency, and the organizations finances with a particular focus on a grant from the U.S.-based search engine Google:

The applicant has shared proof of its status as a legally registered company. It has provided a balance sheet that indicates that the funding comes from its directors. They have mentioned a grant from Google this does not reflect in the balance sheet, we do not know if it accounts for more than 5% of the revenue. The balance sheet does not reflect any income or expenses.  IFCN assessor Surekha Deepak.

The network was added to Facebooks fact-checking program  which includes Instagram  in the summer of 2021.

The B.S. Fact-Check.

Heres the context behind this investigation.

On February 6th, I shared a screenshot of a Paul Hsieh article from Forbes:

Originally entitled, Could A Morality Pill Help Stop The Covid-19 Pandemic? the August 30th 2020 article discussed the widespread administration of psychoactive drugs that could provide moral enhancement that would make people more likely to adhere to social norms such as wearing masks and adhering to social distancing guidelines.

In other words, Huxleys Soma.

My highlighting of the article and its contents even garnered a retweet from current media bad boy Joe Rogan, causing author Hsieh and outlet Forbes to both alter the headline and attach an amendment to the article insisting that Hsieh was not in favor of the morality pill.

But whether or not the author was in favor of the pill was not the point of my posts. I couldnt care less what Hsiehs position on the matter is. I care about the fact this is being discussed, or developed. Spreading the word was a way to warn people about this pill, not the opinion of some radiologist with 2,000 Twitter followers.

Regardless, the fact check article of my post is headlined: Fact Check: Does Forbes article suggest the morality pill to stop the COVID-19 pandemic?

Again, to be clear, nowhere did I claim Forbes suggested the morality pill to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fact check now counts as a violation against my Facebook and Instagram pages, affecting reach and potentially leading to the removal of my pages from those platforms. Worse still, the fact check obfuscates the truth about this so-called morality pill, i.e. that it is actually a real discussion taking place in academic and scientific circles.

Who?

The review of my posts was performed by someone who isnt even listed on the staffing page for THIP: Dr. Shikha Shiromani.

There is scant information about anyone by that name online, and there is no headshot nor significant biography for the author on the THIP website.

This shady publishing practice, coupled with another assessment from the IFCN, raises questions as to whether or not people like Dr. Shiromani even exist.

In May 2020 IFCN assessor Kanchan Kaur wrote of THIP:

The applicant has shared proof of its status as a legally registered company. It has provided a balance sheet that indicates that the funding comes from its directors. However, in the balance sheet, it does not show an expenses toward staff salaries and the like. Perhaps an explanation is in order.

In fact, a lot of THIPs online presence gives the feel of a chop-shop of people who may or may not exist. Even the so-called Editorial Team is a slipshod web page with half names, missing images, and biographies for just four people.

CEO Sudipta Sengupta is listed, then a person simply called Nishant is listed as the sites Executive Editor.

Nishant is alleged to be a seasoned journalist with over 18 years of experience, but even a cursory glance at his LinkedIn page shows no such history. Instead, Nishant himself claims to have worked for something called NewsX for one year, the Millenium Post for less than a year, and THIP for two years and five months. Hardly the 18 years of journalistic experience THIP claims:

But even if Nishant just forgot about his previous 14 years of experience, the inconsistencies are not limited to the sites Executive Editor.

Next on the list is another faceless, one-name profile of someone called Geetika.

Geetika Veti does have a surname in her LinkedIn bio, which reveals she has been a public relations writer for the Accenture corporation for 10 years, and a Sub Editor for the Economic Times for 19 months. Again, hardly a journalistic titan.

Fourth on the THIP list is Smita Anand, an English teacher and copywriter. And it gets even stranger after her.

Satish Srivastava has no picture, and is simply described as having over 10 years of experience working as a professional in multiple industries including events and training. No LinkedIn bio is linked for Srivastava.

The one-named Niranjan is oddly described as a technocrat by educational background and a content lover from heart.

Finally, Dilpreet Kaur Virk is vaguely described as a multi-talented professional with 18 years of experience in handling various roles in the corporate sector.

In other words, none of the THIP Editorial Team are actually reporters with any credibility. Nor do they appear to be subject matter experts in the topics fact-checked by THIP, which include healthcare, COVID-19, current affairs, and politics. More to the point: the politics of nations half-way across the planet from THIPs oddly-located headquarters.

Where?

It gets stranger, still.

While a number of THIP staff list New Delhi as their place of origin or residence, the official THIP address is listed as nearly 1,000 miles away in West Bengal, near Calcutta and Indias eastern border with Bangladesh.

Two addresses exist for THIP, the most frequent being listed as No: 95 Dwarik Jungle Road, Bhadrakali in a district by the name of Hoogly.

There isnt a Google StreetView available, and no images of the THIP office. But the pictures of the surrounding neighborhood dont fill me with confidence about the operation.

Another big question remains: who is funding this chop shop in the slums of India, in order to fact check accredited Western journalists?

How?

This bring us to the how. As usual, the culprits appear to be the same Big Tech barons who often freely wield the banhammer this side of the planet: Google.

THIPs 2020 balance sheet reveals cash on hand roughly equivalent to $1,300 USD. While a $200 USD a month salary goes a decent way in a place like Hoogly, $1,300 doesnt seem quite enough to run a reputable fact-checking operation accredited by Poynter. And that was in THIPs second year of operations.

Then, something happened.

The 2021 balance sheet reveals a far healthier ?2,310,383 (Indian rupees) in revenue, equivalent to about $31,000 USD.

While thats hardly a lot for a Silicon Valley giant like Google, it would certainly pay for an office and a handful of staff in India for a year or more.

Indeed the THIP Funding web page reveals that Google is almost their only source of income:

On August 2020, THIP Media received a grant of USD 31,800 from YouTube (via the Google News Initiative) through Fact Checking Development Fund. The grant was given towards THIP Medias project of building Short Video Facts. You can read about the grant here. The grant amount constitute [sic] the major part of THIP Medias earning for the financial year.

It turns out YouTube, via the Google News initiative, distributed $1,000,000 in 2020/21 to 22 different programs from around the world. This grant included THIP alongside better known outlets such as USA Today ($38,400), Le Monde ($50,000), and the Washington Post ($50,000).

WTF?

While evidently strange enough in and of itself, this Google-backed censorship program in an Indian slum has at least one more bizarre approach to transparency and fact-checking, as laid out on their Editorial Policy page.

THIP admits, despite being a fact checking service, that it does NOT change the ratings of articles if the facts change. Here is how they justify it:

Medical Science is a constantly changing field with researches happening across multiple genres in multiple locations. Hence we accept that every piece of information is subject to change. We make active efforts to periodically review every piece of information and keep them updated. Last update date is mentioned on every article. However, when a new research finding changes the result of an old fact check article, we DO NOT change the rating of the article keeping the time context in mind. We add an extra paragraph below the article, wherever possible, to update readers about the new findings.

This practice can actively skew search engine results on critical topics related to health. In fact, Google appears to be funding a practice that could corrupt the integrity of its own search engines results, with the above refusal to alter or remove factually incorrect articles in a satisfactory manner.

In conclusion: theres a handful of people (some of whom may not even exist) in a small town in India, being given grants by Google to censor news and social media posts in America and the Western world. Theyre used by Facebook and Instagram as reliable actors, and frankly, Im not sure any of them have any real journalistic experience or accreditation. Weird.

Read more at: RaheemKassam.Substack.com
(Natural News) A South African physician explained that severe disease caused by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is an allergic reaction to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Port Edward-based Dr. Shankara Chetty added that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and steroids are effective treatments for this COVID-triggered allergic reaction.

Chetty gave his testimony on Feb. 13, during the third day of the hearing convened by the Peoples Court of Public Opinion. Given his background in genetics, advanced biology, microbiology and biochemistry, the doctor voiced concerns about various aspects of the pandemic response.

With the controversy around HCQ, the PCR test being used as a diagnostic tool [and] the word that there is asymptomatic spread, I had a very healthy suspicion for what I was being told. So with the knowledge that I had, I decided that Im going to take this on, Chetty told German attorney Dr. Reiner Fuellmich.

During the first wave of COVID-19 in his country, the physician noticed that in a small subset of patients, they became breathless exactly eight days after developing a sore throat. Given that the two phases of illness were not related whatsoever, Chetty deduced that the second illness was an allergic reaction to the spike protein. (Related: COVID-19 vaccines will kill people while making their underlying conditions appear to be the cause, prominent doctor warns.)

The same pattern of symptoms manifesting after eight days was also present during the second and third waves of COVID-19 in South Africa, despite patients having different symptoms. He prescribed steroids for those who developed signs of an allergic reaction on the eighth day.

I started patients promptly on steroids. Those that returned on the eighth day with breathlessness were started on a course of steroids. By the third or fourth day, they all showed good signs of recovery, he said.

Chetty espouses HCQ as an effective COVID-19 treatment

The South African doctor related to Fuellmich how he took on COVID-19 in his homeland.

I needed to get myself a toolbox in preparation for this. So when I looked at this, the first drug that came to mind was HCQ. Its been used for decades and it has a broad antiviral effect. If I had to look at something that will curtail the spread of a virus, I would look at that as my mainstay treatment, said Chetty.

He managed to buy substantial stocks of HCQ  before the South African government removed all stocks of the drug from pharmacies there. With the HCQ prepared, Chetty assured his patients that he would help them.

But very quickly, I noticed that [medical journals] published [articles] about the toxicity of HCQ and its cardiac manifestations. And I thought, This is nonsense. Ive been treating patients with HCQ for many years and in higher doses for some, and Ive never had a side effect with it.

The studies he mentioned that disparaged HCQ as a COVID-19 treatment were eventually retracted from the Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine. The authors of the aforementioned studies cited concerns about data integrity as the reason for retracting their paper. According to MDedge, one of the co-authors refused to divulge data about the study  which led to the other researchers requesting that the study be pulled out.

Chetty clarified that he did not just simply prescribe HCQ to anyone who says they have COVID-19. I reserved it for those patients in those first days that had, what I thought, was the high viral load. Those that had severe body aches and pains and high fevers, I would give HCQ to. I saw within a day or two that Id managed to break that fever and get them on the way to recovery.

In response to a question by attorney Dexter L-J Ryneveldt about his treatment success rate, Chetty mentioned that he has not hospitalized or recommended putting oxygen on any patient out of the more than 10,000 he has seen physically.

There were four deaths in my practice, but [these] were because of an overabundance of caution by family members who wanted those patients hospitalized. When those patients were put in [the] hospital, the doctors there refused to collaborate with me. My treatment was stopped, they were put onto hospital protocols and those were the only four deaths that Ive had.

More related stories:

Dr. Robert Malone: FDA, BARDA blocked the use of HCQ as a Covid treatment.

Nurse Erin Olszewski: HCQ and zinc better treatments for Covid  Brighteon.TV.

Doctor who developed HCQ protocol has now successfully treated thousands of COVID-19 patients.

Watch Dr. Shankara Chetty explain his COVID-19 treatment protocol below.

This video is from the 2Corinthians211 channel on Brighteon.com.

SpikeProtein.news has more about the dangers associated with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

Sources include:

DailyExpose.co.uk

MDedge.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The Washington Post has always been a CIA asset. The CIA used the Washington Post to orchestrate the Watergate narrative used to drive President Nixon out of office.

(Article by Paul Craig Roberts republished from PaulCraigRoberts.org)

The CIA wanted Nixon gone, because Nixon was threatening the military/security complexs budget and power by making arms control agreements with the Soviets and by opening to China. The CIA was afraid to assassinate Nixon because of the suspicion it was under for assassinating President Kennedy and Senator Kennedy. So the CIA used the Washington Post to assassinate Nixon politically.

The entire history of the Washington Post is one of fake news. The latest fake news from the disinformation sheet claims that the Russian troop pullback is a deliberate ruse to mislead the United States and other world powers about Russias planned invasion of Ukraine. Anonymous US intelligence sources (the CIA) are cited as the source. https://www.rt.com/russia/549818-washington-believes-moscow-plotting-invasion/

First of all, the Russian troops were part of an exercise, not an invasion plan. But push this fact aside and ask yourself what is the point of Russia concealing its plans? If Russia wants to invade Ukraine, no one on earth can do anything whatsoever about it. So why hide it? Indeed, with satellites overhead a force concentrated for invasion cannot be hidden. The presstitute who wrote the story and the CIA that dictated it are thinking in WW II terms when modern surveillance capabilities did not exist.

Ask yourself also why Russia needs to create a false flag attack in order to justify invading Ukraine. If Russia wants Ukraine, Russia has plenty of up front reasons. One is to prevent Ukraine from being a NATO member and hosting US missile bases on Russias border. Another is that Ukraine is part of Russia and had been for 300 years until the Americans broke it off from Russia when Russia was too weak to do anything about it. Another reason is that Ukraine has violated the Minsk Agreement and continues to attack the Russian population in the Donbass region.

In actual fact, Russia doesnt need any excuse, because no one can stop them.

Also ask yourself what is the point of an excuse. No matter how good it is, Washington and NATO would not believe it. The excuse would do no good and serve no purpose. In fact an excuse would be worse than no excuse, because the excuse would simply result in the endless refutation of the excuse.

If I were Putin and I wanted Ukraine, I would just take it. I would say, you Americans took Iraq and Libya. The Israelis stole Palestine. Im taking Ukraine.

The real question is one the presstitutes will never address. Does all the focus on an imagined Russian invasion of Ukraine serve to direct attention away from the 150,000 Ukrainian troops on the Donbass border as Ukraine prepares to invade the Donetsk and Lugansk republics that broke away from Ukraine and are in the process of evacuating citizens to Russia in anticipation of a Ukrainian invasion?

The United States does not have a media. It has a propaganda service for the military/security complex, the pharmaceutical industry, and the global elite. It is impossible to wring one word of truth out of the US media.

Read more at: PaulCraigRoberts.org
(Natural News) With the exception of Mexico, North America is currently in a state of totalitarian martial law.

Justin Trudeau of Canada and Joe Biden of the United States have both decided to extend their respective nations Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) emergency declarations, blaming the ongoing trucker protests for this decision.

Update: Trudeau has now reversed himself and revoked emergency powers after liberal members of parliament revolted against him and threatened to defy him publicly. Original story continues below

Despite previously promising to not extend it, Trudeau announced that the Emergencies Act he recently invoked will not be rescinded, even though the Ottawa protests are beginning to disperse and move elsewhere.

Trudeau claims that the protesters and their big, scary trucks might return, which necessitates him continuing to tyrannize Canadians with his martial law invocation and all that it entails.

This state of emergency is not over, Trudeau claimed in a public announcement. There continues to be real concerns about the coming days. But we will continue to evaluate every single day whether or not it is time.

We will re-evaluate every single day, but right now, when the situation is still of people prepositioning, people being out there indicating that they are ready to blockade, to continue their illegal occupations, to disrupt Canadians lives, we feel that this measure needs to remain in place, he added. We hope to only keep it in place for a number more days.

Bidens extension of Trumps national emergency declaration could be the final nail in Americas coffin

In America, Biden did the exact same thing using the exact same excuse.

In an announcement, Biden explained that the national emergency declaration, which was first enacted in March 2020 by then-President Donald Trump due to the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic, will need to be extended beyond March 1.

Trumps initial declaration of a national emergency unlocked access to $50 billion in federal aid, which we now know was squandered on things like face masks and testing kits from China.

That declaration would have expired on its own, had Biden not informed Congress about his decision to renew it indefinitely.

There remains a need to continue this national emergency, Bidens handlers wrote in a letter to Congress.

That letter rambled on about the alleged deaths of more than 900,000 Americans due to covid, and also emphasized the alleged need for the fully capacity of the federal government to be unleashed at this time.

House Republicans had earlier urged Biden to end the emergency declaration and return America back to normal now that covid is no longer an issue. They emphasized that in two years since Trump first declared a national emergency, there has been significant economic and social disruptions.

So many Americans have lost their businesses and jobs, the letter added about what Trumps declaration did. Far too many children have been left behind in school.

Biden could have rectified this, but instead he has chosen to continue with it. The result, warns Republicans, will be that some state and local governments will continue to impose failed, restrictive policies because it sends the message that the country is still in a crisis that requires emergency powers.

So far, states and local municipalities seem to be going in the opposite direction of what Biden is doing, including blue states. New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Delaware, Massachusetts and New York, for instance, have all dropped their statewide mask mandates.

Many U.S. cities that imposed covid vaccine passports are also scrapping those, including Boston, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Seattle.

Some are speculating that this is all just a stunt by Democrats to avoid losing control of these blue states and cities as we head into the 2022 midterm elections.

The latest plandemic-related news can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

NationalFile.com

RebelNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A whistleblower revealed to Del Bigtree of The HighWire that hospitals get bonuses for every patient infected with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Tennessee resident AJ DePriest said some hospitals are even paid almost half a million dollars for every admitted COVID-19 patient.

DePriest, who hails from Wilson County, told Bigtree that hospitals in her home state get $166,000 for every hospitalized COVID-19 patient. This trend is not only limited to Tennessee hospitals as DePriest presented documents showing other states having larger payouts for every COVID-19 admission.

Nebraska is getting $379,000 per COVID patient in the hospital; West Virginia, $471,000 [and] North Dakota, $339,000, said Bigtree.

According to DePriest, hospitals have to follow the COVID-19 treatment protocol set by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in order to be eligible for the money. It all leads back to those NIH protocols. In those protocols, the only approved drugs for use in hospitals for COVID start with remdesivir, said DePriest.

She added that aside from admissions, hospitals are also paid for COVID-related procedures they do on patients. They get $39,000 for every COVID patient on a ventilator. Plus, theres a 20 percent bonus add-on  which is a weird thing to call something  when youre murdering people using the remdesivir and the ventilator.

DePriest added that hospitals are likewise hugely paid for administering polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. She explained: Hospitals get paid a fortune just on these faulty PCR tests. They get the test for free, [but the] government pays every time they administer a test. They pay for every positive test [and] every test that results in a hospitalization. So [hospitals] make a fortune just off the faulty test alone. (Related: Ann Vandersteel slams hospitals profiting from COVID-19 pandemic  Brighteon.TV.)

The whistleblower pointed her fingers at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for driving this money in a murderous scheme. The CMS is responsible for that. Theyve got their hands, all their fingerprints are everywhere, all over extra payments to hospitals for killing people.

Remdesivir key pillar of hospitals COVID-19 death protocol

The reason why other countries dont have the death rates we do is because the U.S., for the whole year [of] 2021, was the only country that was allowed to use remdesivir. To date, weve lost about 20,880 people in Tennessee in hospitals. These people arent dying at home from COVID; theyre dying in our hospitals, DePriest said.

Bigtree agreed, saying: For the first time in history, early treatment is not the answer. [Hospitals say] go home, get more sick, then come back to us when your lips are blue. We put you on a ventilator [and] we give you remdesivir.'

This remdesivir shuts down your kidneys, which will cause your lungs to be filled with water. Now [they] say youre dying of pneumonia, its actually a side effect of remdesivir. Perfect line of deaths of everybody walking into hospitals. Well done.

Texas-based chiropractor and Brighteon.TV host Dr. Bryan Ardis also cited the role of remdesivir in hospitals COVID-19 death protocols. During a September 2021 appearance on The Matrixxx Grooove Show, he revealed that the antiviral medication formed part of an ICU cocktail alongside the anti-inflammatory dexamethasone and the antibiotic vancomycin.

These three drugs combined can cause the kidneys of COVID-19 patients to fail. When you cause acute kidney failure with drugs that theyre using in ICUs while they have an intravenous drip that is putting water into their body  their abdomen, heart and lungs eventually fill up with water, Ardis told program hosts Jeffrey InTheMatrixxx Pedersen and Shannon ShadyGrooove Townsend.

According to the chiropractor, the resulting accumulation of water in the lungs is then wrongly diagnosed as COVID pneumonia. He explained: [Hospitals] are misdiagnosing that as COVID pneumonia that you continue to hear  [when] its actually pulmonary edema.

More related stories:

Dr. Syed Haider tells Dr. Bryan Ardis: I wont recommend remdesivir as COVID-19 treatment  Brighteon.TV.

Stew Peters calls on Florida Gov. DeSantis to VETO bill legalizing hospital homicide.

The dangers of remdesivir to treat COVID-19 patients in hospitals  Brighteon.TV.

Stew Peters slams medical violence in the hospital system  Brighteon.TV.

Watch the conversation between AJ DePriest and The HighWire host Del Bigtree about hospitals murder for money schemes below.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

HospitalHomicide.com has more stories about hospitals murdering COVID-19 patients for huge payouts.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com 1

Brighteon.com 2
(Natural News) President Joe Biden announced that he will be extending the national emergency status that former President Donald Trump declared in March 2020 due to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Biden said that there remains a need to continue the national emergency, noting that over 900,000 people have perished from the disease and that it is essential to continue to combat and respond to it with the full capacity and capability of the federal government.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant risk to the public health and safety of the Nation. For this reason, the national emergency declared on March 13, 2020, and beginning March 1, 2020, must continue in effect beyond March 1, 2022, Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people age 65 and older represent nearly 75 percent of all COVID-related deaths from the beginning of the outbreak through February 13, 2022. The CDC also reported that 95 percent of the COVID deaths listed other conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and Alzheimers disease.

The emergency status of the pandemic would have been automatically terminated on March 1 unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary of its declaration, the president sent a notice to Congress stating it is to continue beyond its anniversary date.

The decision came even as a wave of coronavirus cases receded in the U.S., leading to many states and localities easing their pandemic restrictions. (Related: Government instilled fear in people to make them wear masks during COVID pandemic.)

Some states already dropping mask and vaccine mandates

Bidens move is at odds with the decision of some of his allies to start repealing mask and vaccine mandates. The state of New York already dropped its mask and vaccine mandates for most businesses on February 10, although they remain in schools, prisons, daycare centers and medical facilities.

New Yorks state health commissioner also confirmed that the booster shot mandate for healthcare workers will no longer be enforced. This decision was made in response to the fact that many workers refused the boosters, making it impossible for the states healthcare system to function normally with the requirement in place.

Democrat-run cities Philadelphia, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Boston, which attempted to implement vaccine passport systems, withdrew them in less than 60 days.

Republican Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas suggested that the national emergency extension is being used to push the liberal agenda.

In a tweet, he said that Biden cant give up his authoritarian chokehold, adding that he needs an excuse for unsolicited mail-in ballots for upcoming midterm elections to justify his reckless and irresponsible spending of your childrens and grandchildrens future. (Related: Wheels of freedom: American truckers set to launch Peoples Convoy against Bidens tyrannical COVID mandates.)

Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, meanwhile, introduced legislation to revoke the presidents power under the National Emergencies Act. Marshall, who is also a medical doctor, said that there needs to be a new approach to the disease as people learn to live with the virus.

More related stories:

Biden using national emergency to allow corrupt feds to rig the 2022 midterm elections.

Emergency update from Adams  Bidens promised winter of severe illness and death is coming true, and here are the states that will see the highest death rates.

Biden regime plans to continue pursuing COVID-19 vaccine mandate for businesses despite Supreme Court ban.

Supreme Court sides with continued mask tyranny on airplanes.

FDA executive officer on hidden camera reveals future COVID policy: Biden wants to inoculate as many people as possiblehave to get an annual shot.

Watch the video below to learn more about the COVID-19 national emergency status.

This video is from the Kim Osbl  Copenhagen Denmark channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

WhiteHouse.gov

StraitsTimes.com

RepublicWorld.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been withholding large swaths of data from the general public.

According to a New York Times report, the CDC has been collecting detailed COVID-19 hospitalization data for the past year, which is broken down by age, race and vaccination status. The agency kept most of the data under wraps for fear of misinterpretation.

Based on COVID-19 hospitalization records, the CDC published the first significant data on the effectiveness of the boosters in adults younger than 65. However, the agency left out the numbers for a huge portion of the population, from ages 18 to 49, which is the group that could benefit least from the extra shots. (Related: Based on latest CDC data, the Wuhan coronavirus poses virtually no death risk whatsoever for people under the age of 50.)

The CDC is only releasing information that fits the narrative that it wants to convey.

More than just misrepresenting booster shots, a lot of the withheld information could have helped both the state and local governments make proper health decisions. The agency only publishing a small fraction of the data it has collected is irresponsible, as much of the withheld information could have helped state and local health officials in bringing the virus under control.

Detailed information on hospitalization by age and race could have helped health officials identify the populations at highest risk, while information on hospitalizations and deaths by age and vaccination status could have better assessed whether or not healthy adults need booster shots.

CDC refuses to release data over fear of misinformation

Kristen Nordlund, a spokesperson for the CDC, said the agency has been slow to release data because at the end of the day, its not yet ready for prime time. She also said that the agencys priority when gathering data is to ensure that it is accurate and actionable. (Related: CDC data show kids most likely have herd immunity from coronavirus, but vaccine trials still ongoing anyway.)

Further, Nordlund said that they are hiding valuable data from the public because they believe that these data might be misinterpreted.

Dr. Daniel Jernigan, the deputy director for public health science and surveillance, said that the pandemic exposed the fact that data systems at the CDC are outmoded and are unable to handle large volumes of data, and that scientists are still trying to modernize the systems.

We want better, faster data that can lead to decision making and actions at all levels of public health, that can help us eliminate the lag in data that has held us back, Jernigan said.

Samuel Scarpino, the managing director of pathogen surveillance at the Rockefeller Foundations Pandemic Prevention Institute, also said that the CDC is a political organization as much as it is for public health.

The steps that it takes to get something like this released are often well outside of the control of many of the scientists that work at the CDC, he said.

More related stories:

How the CDC is manipulating data to prop-up vaccine effectiveness.

BOMBSHELL: Johns-Hopkins researcher says CDC data show COVID-19 has NO effect on percentage of death in older people and has NOT increased number of U.S. deaths.

CDC admits it withheld data from public to avoid spurring VACCINE HESITANCY.

CDC sued for hiding COVID vaccine safety data.

Scientific fraud: Drs. Robert Malone, Ryan Cole react to CDC hiding data.

Watch the video below about the CDC getting caught hiding troves of data about COVID hospitalizations.

You can get more information on The Willow channel at Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

NYTimes.com
(Natural News) The Church needs to develop its own infrastructure if it wants to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth.

David Paxton, filling in for regular host Dr. Alan Keyes, discussed the matter with guests Rick Hidalgo and Randy Conway during the February 21 episode of Lets Talk America show on Brighteon.TV.

The vlogger/podcaster Hidalgo said the Church, or Ecclesia, has zero infrastructure, while the Babylon, or world system, has all the infrastructure.

The Church has zero infrastructure. In fact, most of the buildings are actually owned by some kind of a 501C3 corporation and actually owes allegiance to Babylon. So we realized that we have zero infrastructure, and we have got to start developing Ecclesia infrastructure. We need Ecclesia power companies, we need Ecclesia hospitals, we need Ecclesia banks, Hidalgo said.

So we need Ecclesia everything from top to bottom, we need to utilize our agency as ecclesia to do all of it.

Hidalgo noted that the world system has all the infrastructure like hospitals, enforcement agencies, energy companies and other things with the Babylon imprint on it.

Conway noted there is no reason for the Church to not have an infrastructure. The poet-writer added the Ecclesia needs to occupy or take ground of the infrastructure and stop standing on the sidelines and watch the corporate system take control of it.

Church has taken politics out of the pulpit

He also mentioned that the Church has taken politics out of the pulpit and believed the lies about the separation of Church and State.

Weve taken politics out of the pulpit. And there is no religious test in the Constitution. There is no separation and the Church is more guilty of the separation than the political realm, Conway explained.

We took politics out of the pulpit. And it wasnt the government that did it. It was the Church that did it. The Bible is replete from Genesis to Revelation with the Kingdom terms and Kingdom language and that is government language and military language which are part of a government. And talking about ambassadors and the agencies, these are all government terms that have been taken out of the Church.

Paxton agreed and pointed out that the Church has complained of Christians getting involved in politics and then wonder why the politicians they elected are not making godly decisions. (Related: Pastor Brandon Burden: The Church has to reengage back into culture  Brighteon.TV.)

Its because you wouldnt let the Christians run into politics. And we just need to take over and take it back, Paxton said.

Choice between the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of darkness

Paxton and his guests also talked about the concept of two kingdoms  the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of darkness  which are battling for the allegiance of people.

Conway said a person has the choice to serve between these two kingdoms, and the kingdom choice that a person makes is imperative for ones house. The former worship leader and businessman said Christians are called to be the Kingdom warriors who expose the works of the Kingdom of darkness.

He added that throughout human history, there has always been conflict between these two kingdoms and it is expressed over and over in todays society. The poet-author also said people need to be aware of these two kingdoms and their law forms.

Hidalgo, on the other hand, pointed out that people must be able to recognize the playbook that is being used by the Deep State, Cabal and Babylon or the Babylonian system, which has always existed throughout history. He cited how the ancient Israelites biological property was captured in Egypt and how the whole birth registration process came and captured the biological property of Americans.

Paxton said Christians need to retake ownership of the property that has been taken away by the Kingdom of Babylon or the world system, which is under Satans dominion, and put it under the Kingdom of God.

More related stories:

Book author Vishal Mangalwadi: Church should be at the center of education.

With globalist puppets in control of every Western nation, brace yourself for their next diabolical move: The weaponization of food.

Pastor Todd Coconato tells Doug Billings: The Great Awakening is happening RIGHT NOW in America  Brighteon.TV.

Church leaders warn that vaccine passports are most dangerous policy proposal ever made.

Watch the full Feb. 21 episode of Lets Talk America below. Lets Talk America airs every weekday at 1-3 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Read more stories like this at DivinityNow.org.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

C2KReport.com 1

C2KReport.com 2
(Natural News) Thanks to the advent of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines under Operation Warp Speed, the number-five leading cause of death in the United States is on the rise.

Compared to seasonal flu shots, the risk of stroke following injection with a Fauci Flu shot (or two, or three) is 11,361 percent higher, the latest data from VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) shows.

An investigation has found that per number of doses administered, stroke is about 115 times more likely to be suffered as an adverse reaction compared to the risk post-flu shot.

Between December 2020 and Feb. 11, 2022, a total of 4,543 adverse event reports involving a stroke were entered into VAERS. Recognizing that VAERS captures as little as one percent of all adverse events, the true number of strokes caused by China Flu shots is likely much higher.

Comparatively, a look at VAERS during the same timeframe reveals just 122 adverse event reports involving strokes for seasonal flu shots. This is how the comparison was made.

Taking these numbers at face value, you could assume that the Covid-19 injections have proven to be 37 times more likely to cause a stroke than the Flu vaccines, reports the Daily Expose.

However, if you did make this claim you would probably be told that this is normal because many more people have received a Covid-19 injection. But unfortunately, both of these claims are wrong.

Are covid injections the most dangerous vaccine ever?

It turns out that three times more flu shots have been administered in the United States over the past 13 years than covid injections. For every 14,101,639 doses administered, the investigation found, there was at least one case of stroke.

For Fauci Flu shots, comparatively, it is one stroke per 121,340, which is a much higher rate of illness. (Related: Fauci Flu shots are also causing massively high rates of myocarditis in the fully vaccinated.)

This means the Covid-19 injections are 115 times / 11,361% more likely to cause the recipient to suffer a stroke than the flu vaccines, the Expose explains.

These numbers absolutely destroy any statement made by the authorities that the Covid-19 injections are completely safe, just like official U.K. Government data destroys any statement made by the authorities that the Covid-19 injections are extremely effective.

There are many other nasty adverse effects associated with covid injections that have similarly sent risk numbers soaring. It is almost as if these shots were designed to kill because that is exactly what they are doing.

Dr. Shankara Chetty has been giving testimony at the Grand Jury Proceeding by the Peoples Court of Public Opinion, revealing that the spike proteins inside the jabs are causing severe allergic reactions in people, resulting in serious illness.

His research has concluded that severe illness supposedly caused by covid is actually an anaphylactic reaction to said spike proteins.

I investigate everything, and I make sure that I fall back on the knowledge Ive gained in those years of tertiary education and dont really believe things too easily.

With the controversy around hydroxychloroquine, with the PCR test being used as a diagnostic tool, with the word that there is asymptomatic spread, I had a very healthy suspicion for what I was being told. So, with the knowledge that I had, I decided that Im going to take this [Covid] on.

Dr. Chetty is one of the brave souls who is administering things like hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and ivermectin to his patients, in defiance of the governments orders. But if it can save even one life from the devastating impact of these spike proteins and the diseases they cause, including stroke, then it is all worth it.

The latest news about Fauci Flu shots can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

DailyExpose.uk

NaturalNews.com

DailyExpose.uk
(Natural News) We are getting word directly from sources in Kiev that the Russian assault on Ukraine was carried out with surprising scale and coordination. Most Ukrainian citizens were taken completely by surprise, which is why many were not prepared with sufficient fuel to flee Kiev.

Putins forces invaded from 3 directions, with tanks rolling into Ukraine from Belarus on the North, followed by paratroopers and amphibious assaults on Odessa and Mariupol.

Ground forces moved in from Crimea to the south, and into the Donbass region on the southeast tip of Ukraine, bordering Russia.

US Sen. Marco Rubio describes the developments as follows:

 establishing air superiority via targeted surgical strikes

 a pincer movement to trap Ukrainian forces in the east & cut them off from #Kyiv

 finally attempt to decapitate Ukrainian govt by targeting govt buildings,leaders & command & control systems

Map of Russian missile strikes against Ukrainian targets. All military airports are apparently destroyed pic.twitter.com/Q0wY7diVst  Dmitri Alperovitch (@DAlperovitch) February 24, 2022

Putins plan appears to be the full decapitation of the Ukrainian government in Kiev

It now appears likely that Putin is planning on occupying Kiev and toppling the current Ukrainian government, which Putin describes as a Nazi regime. It is noteworthy that the political leadership of Ukraine has been heavily in bed with the Clintons and the Bidens over the years, fully engaged in money laundering, bribery and corruption. Then again, that seems to be present in every nation, since nearly all governments of the world are evil and destructive. There is no innocent government, though there are many innocent civilians who want nothing to do with all this violence.

Sen. Rubio also tweeted, #Russias airborne forces are attempting to take control of the airport in #Kyiv to they can fly in forces to occupy the capitol city. This appears to be accurate from what we know so far.

Sources in Kiev tell us they have nowhere to run

From our sources in Kiev:

All routes out of the city of Kiev are blocked.

There are no train tickets available. Fuel supplies are extremely limited.

Putin is attacking Ukraine from all sides: Belarus, Crimea, Donbas, plus paratrooper and amphibious attacks on the ports.

Many banks are offline, ATMs are not functioning.

Here are some videos of events unfolding:

Full Situation Update podcast covering this and much more:

Brighteon.com/33ac30a5-f0ac-4f6b-bb08-8934d1c82ba8

Find more information-packaged podcasts each day, along with special reports and emergency updates, at:

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(Natural News) Aluminum and nickel prices spiked after Russia moved troops to two areas in Ukraine and declared them as independent regions. Aluminum prices, which were at $3,270 per ton on February 21, jumped 3.67 percent to around $3,390 the following day. Meanwhile, nickel, which was trading at $24.350 per ton, jumped 3.9 percent to $25,300 on the same dates.

Prices of aluminum have increased 20 percent, while nickel is up by 22.7 percent since the beginning of the year. The London Metal Exchange (LME) also broke through 13-year highs in aluminum, while nickel is at its highest since August 2011.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated on February 21 after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraines pro-Moscow regions, Luhansk and Donetsk, as independent states. This came after the leaders of the said areas requested Putin to recognize their independence from Ukraine. The Russian president then ordered troops into the region for peacekeeping.

Washington was not happy with the decision, calling the move nonsense and accusing Moscow of creating a pretext for war. Russia has now amassed over 150,000 troops near its border with Ukraine, and while several western countries are expected to put sanctions on Russia, the move is expected to add upward pressure on metal prices.

Russia, which is a major producer of aluminum, produced 3.7 million metric tons last year, making up 5.44 percent of the global production of around 68 million metric tons. The country also creates roughly 10 percent of the global nickel supply.

John Meyer, an analyst with broker SP Angel, said that the metals market will react to a Russian invasion of Ukraine. China will buy Russian aluminum and other metals in defiance of EU and US sanctions but there will still be shortages of specific grades in all regions, he added. (Related: Biden ratioed for feckless responses to bold Russian moves to build up forces along the border with Ukraine.)

The supply for these metals is also concerning. According to the International Aluminum Institute, the global output of aluminum declined 4.5 percent year-on-year in January. Aluminum stocks at the LME is at 788,425 tons on January 31, and this is 44.8 percent less than the 1,428,175 tons at the end of January last year. Meanwhile, nickel stocks during the same period have fallen 64 percent  from 248,856 tons to 89,364 tons.

Premiums for cash aluminum over a three-month contract were put at $45.30 per ton, while nickel was at $522 per ton, indicating that there is a shortage in supply.

Kunal Sawhney, chief executive at research firm Kalkine, said that aluminum prices are likely to hover higher in the near- to medium-term. However, things may calm down once President Joe Biden and Putin come to an agreement on Ukraine. By then, prices will be decided not by supply, but by demand forces.

Other products could also suffer as tensions rise

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has contributed to the increase in prices over a number of commodities in the past few weeks. With Russia being a major producer not only of nickel and aluminum but of oil, natural gas, palladium and wheat; and Ukraine being a major corn and wheat exporter, not to mention an important transit route for natural-gas flows to Europe, more products could increase their prices in the coming weeks.

The U.S. and global benchmark oil prices have seen their highest levels since September 2014, and according to energy markets analyst Marshall Steeves, global inventories have already been tightening even before the latest developments in Ukraine.

Further mentions and ratcheting up in troops could also support additional gains, although it remains to be seen how far the situation could deteriorate. (Related: Rising gas prices to hit $7 a gallon if crude oil cost spikes and tension between Russia and Ukraine escalates.)

On February 22, Germany also took steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia. For natural gas, the U.S. forecast that it is nominally supportive with temperatures expected to trend below normal.

Platinum and palladium prices have also rallied since the beginning of 2022 and their price increase is expected to continue if the Ukraine situation deteriorates further. The most active April platinum contract added $9.20, trading nearly 12 percent higher year-to-date.

Russia and Ukraine account for almost one of every three bushels of global wheat exports. They also account for almost one out of every five bushels of global corn exports. While fears of export disruptions are supporting the prices so far, there has been no actual disruption of exports or of offers to export wheat and corn from the Black Sea yet, which keeps the prices from moving even higher.

More related stories:

Russia-Ukraine crisis will put even more strain on the global food supply, driving up prices of wheat and corn around the world.

Putin declares two Ukraine regions independent republics, sends in peacekeeping troops.

Russia recognizes breakaway republics of Ukraine as U.S. tries to exploit the region for global war.

Western media is literally peddling Neo-Nazi propaganda to prompt war between Russia and Ukraine.

Russias red line: Moscow not about to allow Ukraine to join NATO as World War III hangs in the balance.

Watch the video below to learn more about the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine.

This video is from the American Media Periscope channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow WWIII.news for more updates related to conflicts between countries around the world.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

MarketWatch.com
(Natural News) A cohort of the worlds top scientists is calling on the gain of function research that led to the creation of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) to be banned worldwide.

Because it has the potential for the extinction of large portions of the world population, gain of function research needs to be strictly prohibited everywhere, say 48 scientists who signed a formal declaration on the matter.

Ongoing gain of function research on viruses like MERS and Ebola threatens to unleash another plandemic, they say, especially since no biotechnology laboratory in the world is safe enough to fully contain them at all times, the declaration states.

The declarations opening paragraph addresses the fact that true scientists and researchers have a moral and ethical duty to serve the welfare of humanity, and to pursue the truth at all costs. They also have a responsibility to properly communicate their knowledge to the public.

With that said, the signatories want the world to know that gain of function research is a major threat to human existence.

Through what is generally understood as gain-of-function research, naturally occurring viruses are artificially adapted through changes in gene sequence to facilitate their entry into human cells, either via direct gene editing or simply via accelerated evolution in a process called passaging, the letter states.

This creates an enormous potential for a human pandemic, which responsible scientists and researchers have repeatedly pointed out over the past decade. In recent years, such research has been conducted on various highly dangerous pathogens such as avian influenza viruses and SARS-type coronaviruses. Much of this work has been done as part of publicly funded research projects.

Gain of function research should not be happening anywhere

Despite everything that has been learned about the dangers of such research, it continues on not just MERS and Ebola but also Nipah viruses, the signatories warn. Mad scientists are still manipulating these and other viruses with gain of function, even though it could lead to a mass extinction.

Unfortunately, no biotechnology laboratory in the world is safe enough to guarantee that such enhanced viruses will not escape, especially given the functions that may be purposely or accidentally gained and which are often difficult to predict, the letter goes on to state.

A catastrophic biosecurity breach with such viruses could be fatal for a substantial proportion of the world population, especially if the transmissibility of highly dangerous viruses via the human respiratory tract is facilitated by genetic modification or some other means.

While a certain level of freedom is to be afforded to the field of science and research, governments need to recognize that gain of function research should not be included within the realm of what is considered acceptable, the letter continues.

The risk of unleashing another global plandemic is simply too great, and could be the straw that breaks the camels back in terms of the global economic order.

The risk of a global pandemic associated with this extreme type of research and the potential for the extinction of large portions of the world population is simply not tolerable and never should have been, the signatories say.

Additionally, we demand that such termination be supervised and continuously monitored by an independent international regulatory agency.

Regardless of a nations structure, every leader needs to ensure that science is executed responsibly, and that their scientific endeavors truly do aim to benefit humanity, not hurt it.

Human beings have learned to intervene in the basic molecular building blocks of nature; this creates many opportunities to preserve lives, but also new ways to terminate them accidentally, the declaration concludes. Let us take this responsibility seriously before it is too late.

More related news about the plandemic can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A Member of Parliament belonging to the Conservative Party of Canada said Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus primary goal is to acquire power, not restore order in Ottawa.

(Article by Matt Lamb republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

On Monday Pierre Poilievre released a video entitled The Real Emergency is Government Overreach and urged viewers to reject continued use of the Emergencies Act. The House of Commons voted on Monday night to confirm and maintain its current use. Trudeau invoked it on February 14.

While Trudeau said he needs the powers, which include the ability to freeze the financial assets of Freedom Convoy truckers and their supporters, to end the anti-COVID jab mandate blockades, Poilievre said the truckers are no longer blocking the streets of downtown Ottawa.

So, with things being so peaceful, peaceful enough for me to stand right in the middle of this street, what is the real agenda in giving government these extraordinary powers? the Conservative MP for Carleton asked.

The agenda, of course, is the same as that Justin Trudeau has had from the beginning of the pandemic, and that is to use crises and fear to take more power for himself, he said.

Powers neither he nor any other politician has any business deploying on a peaceful citizenry.

Poilievre, who is running for leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, said he will oppose the bill and, if elected Prime Minister, will make sure such abuses of power never repeat themselves.

He said Canada should go in the opposite direction and pursue freedom from COVID mandates and restrictions.

What we really should do is remove other restrictions, get rid of vaccine mandates and allow our businesses and our workers to get back to their lives, the MP said.

Canadians feel like theyve lost control of their lives. Its time that we gave them back, and lets work together to make Canada the freest country in the world.
BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the America COMPETES Act, appropriating 500 million U.S. dollars for news coverage to malign China. The move makes people wonder how the self-styled "beacon of press freedom" dares to openly manipulate media in an attempt to squeeze China out of what it calls a "Great Power Competition."

The bill, passed earlier this month as an industrial policy plan for semiconductor production and supply chain resilience, will direct funding to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, a U.S. media service, as well as local outlets and programs to produce journalism that is critical of China, particularly the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

From the Spanish-American War and World War I to the Cold War, the Gulf War and the Iraq War, U.S. propaganda has been omnipresent. These days, Washington's disinformation campaign against Beijing is reminiscent of its playbook during the Cold War, when it denigrated the Soviet Union through mass media, stoked hysteria over the "Communist Threat" and boycotted the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics.

Last year, Zimbabwe's The Herald newspaper revealed that local journalists were allegedly offered 1,000 U.S. dollars by a proxy of the U.S. embassy for each anti-China story they wrote to portray Chinese businesses based there as unethical, reckless and harmful to local communities.

"Out of sheer jealousy, envy and pique, Western countries have begun a spirited campaign against Chinese investments in Zimbabwe using a phalanx of corrupt media, paid activists and civil society organizations," The Herald wrote.

Not coincidentally, in September 2021, Javier Garcia, then head of the Beijing office of Spain's EFE News Agency, announced his decision to leave journalism because "the embarrassing information war against China has taken a good dose of my enthusiasm for this profession."

This time, the bill claims U.S.-funded media coverage would be "independent." Considering the news reports are sponsored by Washington with the precise aims of crowding out Chinese investment in developing countries and smearing China's projects, the claim is nonsense.

"If the government is setting out ahead of time in legislation what the conclusion and the point of coverage is going to be, that doesn't really qualify as genuine journalism," Tobita Chow, the director of Justice is Global, a U.S. advocacy group, was quoted by the American Prospect magazine, as saying.

By spreading misinformation and disinformation in traditional and social media, Washington is trying to enclose audiences at home and abroad into echo chambers built on its Cold War mindset. Nonetheless, its old playbook no longer applies in today's world, where truth and multipolarity prevail over lies and hegemonism.

Obsessed with meddling in the internal affairs of other countries, the United States has failed to understand why Chinese businesses and investment overseas continue to thrive: Because China has always upheld the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits when partnering with other countries and abstains from internal interference.

Meanwhile, suppose Washington does hope to create some competitive advantage for its foreign investment. In that case, it should provide mutually beneficial loans to developing countries instead of narrowly focusing on its own interests and pouring money into shaming China.

Between the infrastructure plan proposed by China and the versions by the United States and the European Union, many low- and middle-income countries prefer Chinese investment, since rich countries, which see developing countries as high risk plus low reward, often impose onerous conditions that delay project implementation and increase costs, according to a recent article in The Diplomat magazine.

China's approach is different: It speaks up for developing countries and thus obtains their support.

In the wake of increasing rhetoric against China, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa reiterated that investments from the Asian country are most welcome.

Additionally, in the State of Southeast Asia 2020 Survey by Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, which interviewed some 1,300 respondents from the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China's activities were given the nod by the majority of respondents from seven of the 10 regional countries.

By funding journalism as a political tool, Washington has turned itself into the greatest enemy of press freedom, and its propaganda is set to proliferate in the coming years. Just don't buy any of it. Enditem

(Xinhua reporters Cao Kai and Zhang Yuliang in Harare also contributed to this story.)
London, 23, Febr 2022 (SPS) - The British Foreign Office reiterated its position on the question of Western Sahara and the peaceful solution of the conflict between the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco within the framework of the United Nations, a solution that guarantees the Saharawi people the exercise of their right to self-determination.

This position was reaffirmed during the reception of a delegation from the POLISARIO, headed by Minister delegate to Europe and the European Union, Mr. Ubbi Bucharaya, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Commonwealth and Development.

The Saharawi delegation briefed the British officials on the latest developments related to the conflict in Western Sahara, in light of the resumption of the war following the violation of the ceasefire by the Moroccan occupation army in the El- Guergarat, and following the appointment of the new Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General and his recent visit to the region. SPS

125/090/TRA
Ants live in large groups organized according to the division of very specific tasks. This is a phenomenon that biologists call "sociality."

There are three "casts," each with a different role.

The queen of the colony lays eggs, the male ants (drones) fertilizes them, and the worker bees take care each of their offspring, searching for food and build their nests.

The complexity of ant colonial association is observed not only in actions but also in form. Thus, a winged female takes on the role of queen, and a wingless, sterile female takes on the duty of a worker.

Cretaceous amber with ant pupa found for the first time

According to Earth, a new study led by the University of Jena in Germany inspecting fossils enclosed by amber showed a potentiality of a communal way of life in the early Cretaceous (145 to 100 BC, 5 million times).

During their work, biologists scrutinized four fossils surrounded by amber.

These were three adult female wingless ants and an incompletely developed pupa, the first ant pupa ever found in Cretaceous amber.

"With the help of microcomputer tomographic images, we were able to confirm that the soft parts of the insects were very well preserved," explained by Brendon E. Budinot via EurekAlert. He is currently working on a Humboldt research at the University of Jena.

"For instance, we were suitable to examine the exact framework of the brain and side muscle filaments and compare the four preparations in detail."

Read more: Ants: Our Saviors from Climate Change?

Newfound information on the ant evolution

Research on four fossil ants has provided scientists with a wealth of information available at high-resolution image processing facilities.

Boudinot gained new insights into the development of the internal structure of fossil insects and elucidate the relationships between fossil species and those that are currently alive.

For example, there are questions on how did two different female forms of ants--the queen and the worker--evolve; did the feathers degenerate first before giving birth; did the onset of infertility lead to feather loss, or did both developments occur at the same time?

Thanks to new discoveries and methods, scientists were soon able to answer such questions about the evolution of ants.

In the field of sociobiology, there are also questions of related new research, for instance, the emergence of sociality.

Thus, fossils give the first significant proof of collaborative action from the Cretaceous.

These ants took care of the children together, foraged together, and had different queen and worker castes.

Among modern ants and their close relatives, scientists have confirmed that ants' special social systems evolved sometime in the early Cretaceous, around the time of dinosaurs.

Importance of ants in the environment

According to the paper entitled "Ant biodiversity and its relationship to ecosystem functioning," ants are an important component of the ecosystem because they not only make up the majority of animal biomass, but also act as ecosystem engineers.

The biodiversity of ants is incredibly high, and these organisms are very sensitive to human influences and clearly reduce their abundance.

However, it is not clear how such disruptions affect the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.

Ants are important in underground processes due to their effects on plants, microorganisms, and other soil organisms that change the physical and chemical environment.

Also read: These Ants Are Natural-Born Heroes
Africa's oldest human DNA revealed why our ancient African ancestors 20,000 years ago stopped traveling long distances to search for their potential mate which started 50,000 years ago. Instead, several DNA samples showed long-distance mate seekers just stayed within their region.

The excavation of the oldest DNA samples from various ancient human groups in Africa indicates that either socio-cultural or natural phenomena may be the cause behind the sudden shift in migration patterns relating to population reproduction.

A shift from continental to regional travel for copulation, the new discovery helped archaeologists to explain the reason behind the appearance of various toolmaking objects, stones, and other cultural behaviors across Africa starting 50,000 years ago.

Shift in Migration

In a new study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, Feb. 23, archaeologists explored the probable causes of why our ancient African ancestors stopped long-distance mating around 20,000 years ago, a practice that started 30,000 years earlier.

The study highlighted the change of pattern among ancient Africans from traveling long distances across Africa into staying only within their respective regions of what is now comprised of North Africa and West Africa, East Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa.

Based on the study, long-distance mate seekers, including hunter-gatherers and herders, eventually refrained from traveling outside their home regions and shifted to finding partners for copulation within the confinements of their regional homes.

Also read: Oldest Human Skull in Laos Sheds Light on Earliest Migration from Africa

Potential Cultural and Climate Shift Factors

According to Science News, the study's co-author Jessica Thompson, a bioarcheologist at Yale University, stated there may be both cultural or climate-related factors on the reasons why ancient Africans preferred to stay home rather than continue their long-trekked journeys.

Thompson reportedly claimed that the people may have stayed home due to the last ice age at that time since the climate shift might have resulted in the decline of animals and plants essential for survival during long-distance travel.

In terms of cultural aspects, Thompson postulated the ancient long-distance mate seekers preferred to choose a partner within their own social and cultural circles-with whom they have a variety of similarities. Meanwhile, migrants with a different background from far regions were less selected.

Archaeological Excavation and DNA Sampling

Thompson and the archeologists from the study were able to determine the shift of pattern concerning long-distance mating through the collection of Africa's oldest human DNA of Homo sapiens-who have inhabited the African continent during the Stone Age, according to the study.

They collected ancient DNA samples from several ancient individuals in the continent who lived approximately between 18,000 and 5,000 years ago. The excavation also led to the possibility that an unknown human population in Africa may also have contributed to today's modern Africans.

The archaeologists were able to create a genetic map that the ancient DNA belong to three present African groups, including the Mbuti hunter-gatherers in central Africa, Dinka farmers and herders in northeastern Africa, and San hunter-gatherers from southern Africa, as per Science News.

During a drastic climate change 300,000 years ago, H. sapiens evolved and thrived in Africa-where they developed various skills in the areas of toolmaking, hunting, and socio-cultural interactions, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Related article: Egypt May be the Key to Human Migration Out of Africa
A piece of Mars, plenty of the celestial body that splashed a tranquil English village, and a dog kennel punctured by an item that fell from the air. All three pieces will be auctioned off at Christie's in London on Wednesday as part of its yearly purchase of remarkable and unique space debris.

Treasures in the auction website are estimated to cost well over 2m or approximately 2.7 million dollar.

Most Valuable Celestial Findings Open For Auction

A 15g shard of a mineral that landed over the Cotswold village of Winchcombe the year before is said to interest the UK will government. The said shard of mineral might fetch up to 50,000 or $70,000, which is said to be more than 70 times its value in gold. Furthermore, It will be one of the best collections ever kept in personal ownership.

While according to the chairman of Christie's science and paleontology division Mr. James Hyslop, he collaborates to the four S's which is known to be the size, shape, science, and story of a certain finding in order to know and estimated the worth of all the pieces in the bidding. Together with the Winchcombe shards, this year 's highlight is a large 9kg Martian crater with an assessed cost of up to 590,000 ($800,000).

In perspective of Winchcombe science, there is enough elastomer which is almost 500g in the federal repository to allow academics to examine the beginnings of the observable universe.

Surprisingly, the calculation of 150,000-220,000 or about200,000 to 300,000 in US dollar is greater than the worth of the interplanetary meteorite that caused the destruction.

In a report, a letterbox ripped from its pillar in Claxton, Georgia, US, was auctioned off in 2007 for 61,000 ($83,000). Approximately 90% of what was gathered mostly around Winchcombe is in the UK's institutional archive, which is administered by London's Museum of Natural history.

While a CM2 carbonaceous chondrite, which means it includes biochemistry from the Planetary Platform's creation 4.6 billion years ago. Starting 2014, Christie's has held a meteorites auction annually.

"The tale and authenticity are very significant in evaluating the worth," James Hyslop informed BBC News.

"While I was given the dog kennel for sale, my first thought was, 'Was Roky okay?'

Also read: Earth's True Source of Water: Scientists Explain Earth's History with the Moon





Space Rock Up For Bidding

As per Forbes in this year Christie's is expected to be selling two pieces, in which the other of which is significantly smaller at 1.7g. The stone, known as NWA 12690, might have been blown from Mars' terrain by a massive asteroid or meteorite collision. The Japanese Hayabusa operation brought back 5.4g from the space debris Ryugu, which is holding scientists and researchers occupied.

Thus, the sale cost of these mountainous shards is, it highlights the wonderful benevolence of those Cotswold households who had resource property on their estates on 28 February, 2021, but chose to sponsor their artifacts to scientific knowledge.

The Costa Rican dog kennel home to Roky the German Shepherd will be of special fascination in this auction, as will an ancient Chevrolet Malibu automobile strike by a meteorite in Peekskill, New York, in 1992, which raised funds for 170,000 ($230,000) over two decades back.

Winchcombe gained notoriety in aspect since the collapse left a large hole in the Wilcock family's parking space. The Winchcombe piece of debris is considered as the greatest valuable space rock ever salvaged in the United Kingdom.

Several objects are from privately managed holdings, while others were discovered by experienced extraterrestrial searchers. The dazzling stream of beam of light that preceded the oncoming boulder was caught on many automobile dash camera devices. Artifacts struck by asteroids and comets have a heritage of retrieving high prices at bidding.

Also read: Melting Ice Sheet in Greenland Becomes the Largest Contributor to Global Sea Level Rise




As the second storm of the week makes its way across the United States, conflicting temperatures will bring severe winter weather to the region, with ice posing a threat.

It may sound familiar in light of a storm that dumped a wintry mix and heavy rain throughout the United States earlier this week. In a lot of ways, it is.

On the other hand, the latest storm is bringing far more ice. The storm's ice accumulation totals pose a severe hazard to travel and infrastructure in the Midwest to the Northeast.

A long duration winter storm will begin today across the Southern Plains and then stretch as far as New England by Friday. A mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is expected, some of which will be heavy. Significant impacts to travel are likely in many areas. pic.twitter.com/7ajfJKzeXb  NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 23, 2022

"Ice accumulations of more than 0.25" are expected from Texas' Red River Valley to the Ozarks and southeast Missouri." Damaged ice of 0.5" or more is likely locally, resulting in scattered power outages, tree damage, and hazardous travel, according to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC).

Covering US with Ice

The south-central United States is in the crosshairs for ice buildup, with up to three-quarters of an inch of ice expected throughout northeast Arkansas on Thursday, posing a hazard.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Little Rock warned that travel might be almost impossible.

Even though it doesn't feel like today, the Northeast isn't out of the woods, as a similar wintry combination is expected to hit them on Friday.

Heavy snow and considerable ice are forecast as the system passes over the Great Lakes area late Thursday and into southern New England early Friday.

Related Article: Snow Quall Warning Keeps Everyone on the Edge



Ice Accumulation

Ice accumulations of up to a quarter-inch are possible in south-central Pennsylvania and western Maryland. Although they are better used to cold weather, the WPC cautioned that "widespread dangerous travel and damage to the electrical system are likely."

Much of the Northeast and southern New England are forecast to get six inches or more of snow, with parts of Massachusetts getting nearly afoot. Boston is expected to receive roughly nine inches of snow by the end of the week.

New York City is expected to receive around two and a half inches of snow on Thursday night, with a wintry mix and rain on Friday.

Raising Warnings

The Center warned that "hazardous avalanche conditions prevail in the backcountry, with heavy snow and high winds resulting in natural avalanches." Windy conditions will make it feel considerably colder than it is.

Windy conditions will make it feel considerably colder than it is.

Wind chill advisories and warnings affect more than 10 million people across 14 states. Wind chills reaching from -30 to -50 degrees are causing life-threatening conditions over the Plains.

The NWS at Bismark, ND, warned that "the extremely low wind chills could induce frostbite on exposed flesh in as little as 10 minutes." On the other hand, temperatures on the East Coast are telling a different picture.

"Ice storms happen when warm, humid air and cold air try to occupy the same real estate," CNN meteorologist Chad Myers explained. "The frigid Arctic air is significantly heavier than the buoyant warm air coming up from the south. That warm air rides over the cold air like packages going up a conveyor belt. The clouds make rain, but it freezes as it falls or hits the below-freezing ground."

Temperatures

Warmer temperatures at the surface on the storm's southern flank may cause heavy rain to emerge over the lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys, posing a danger of localized flooding.

Thursday morning, heavy rain of two to three inches is forecast, moving eastward into the Ohio Valley later in the day. According to the WPC, cities, highways, and streams are the most vulnerable to flash floods.

The system is forecast to pass off the coast early Saturday, capping up an eventful week for the United States but leaving a sharp chill in the air.

Also Read: Exposure to Major Disasters Can Cause Long-Term Mental Health Problems

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The gritty little nation is gasping for survival in the face of a never-before economic crunch, and India must do what it can to help it out

by Ashok K Mehta

In the new year, India has seen more official engagement with Sri Lanka than with any other country. The country, which is struggling under legacy debt, is now down to just $2.3bn in foreign exchange reserves. The year opened with Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa having virtual meetings with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (he was supposed to travel to Gujarat but the visit was cancelled because of Omicron) and announcing India had agreed to an extension of $400mn to Sri Lanka under the Saarc currency swap arrangement and deferring a loan settlement of $515.2mn by two months. Extending Indian credit facility of $1bn for importing food, essential items and medicine and $500mn for importing fuel from India were reviewed. And most important, a pact to jointly modernise the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farms was signed that is certain to boost confidence of investors, apart from enhancing Sri Lankas energy security. Retention of Indias footprint in Trincomalee harbour is strategically vital and is sourced from Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, 1987.

Days after, GL Peiris, Sri Lankas Foreign Minister, made no secret of his relief when he returned to Colombo earlier this month bearing additional treasured gifts: $1bn in various lines of credit. Basil Rajapaksa will return to New Delhi later in February to invite India for the BIMSTEC summit meeting and hopefully secure a bit more money.

Lanka has never defaulted on a loan in the past. It has a lot of debt  $4bn is due in 2022 alone. But COVID-19 has led to a drop in foreign remittances and the virtual end of tourism industry, the islands economic mainstay, reducing the country to penury never seen before. Import curbs, currency depreciation and dollar shortage are driving prices high as the cash-strapped country grapples with a shortage of essentials due to the lack of dollars to finance imports and to shore up foreign exchange reserves. Petrol prices are likely to go up.

The economic pressure the Government is facing is creating different kinds of conflict. Last week, Basil and Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal contradicted each other publicly as Basil claimed a team from the IMF would visit soon to provide technical advice on economic problems, hinting at an eventual loan, but Cabraal dismissed the visit as merely a review of the past loans. That the Government is at war with itself on whether to take the easy way out by approaching the IMF or bite the bullet and tap friendly neighbors for cash to keep afloat till the next round of bond repayments falls due is the countrys worst kept secret. For now, the Cabraal school of thought has the upper hand and it believes that with an alternative financial strategy Sri Lanka can keep afloat till July when the next round of International Sovereign Bonds (ISB) redemption is due, amounting to $1bn, and then review its options.

No one in south Asia and beyond wants to see Sri Lanka fail as a State. And even though no one is conceding this, there is grudging admiration for the tiny nations resilience and determination not to fall into the clutches of multilateral lending agencies like the IMF, unless it is forced to.

To be sure, going to the IMF would end Lankas problems at one stroke. The money would come immediately, the country would regain its footing and hopefully, with Omicron receding, tourists would start returning. But the IMF is not going to see its money misused  so before lending, it will insist on a lot of painful structural reform. Many in Lanka are cynical about the IMFs prescriptions for their countrys economy, and with some justification. Lanka has taken many loans and done everything IMF has asked. So, its elite ask, why is the country still in the same place, living from hand to mouth? India is more than happy to help out its friend and brother in its time of difficulty. This is not just cheque book diplomacy. It is about putting things on an even keel in the subcontinent.

China, Sri Lankas other brother, has been a bit mealy-mouthed in extending help. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Sri Lanka on January 9-10 to mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. During the trip, he met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Both requested China to restructure the debt repayments and a concessionary credit facility for imports. This has created a dilemma for China: It does not want to lose Sri Lankas friendship or commercial opportunities but equally is not keen to unilaterally grant Sri Lanka moratoria or debt restructuring that other debt distressed developing countries might cite.

For the moment, Sri Lanka is hanging in that perilous spot between a rock and a hard place. Whatever the past mistakes, whatever the legacy of its history with India, New Delhi must reach out to a country that is gasping for survival. Helping the gritty little country is a national duty in national interest.

(The writer, a retired Major General, was Commander, IPKF South, Sri Lanka, and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the Integrated Defence Staff. The views expressed are personal.)
Ive always had trust issues. Ask any girl I ever dated (all two of them) and theyll tell you the same thing: Hes always had trust issues.

Thats probably why I spend the greater part of the night staring at the ceiling and pondering the imponderable: Can I trust the government? Can I trust science? Can I trust our political leaders? Can I trust corporate leaders? Can I trust the media? Can I trust Big Tech? (What about little tech?) Can I trust pollsters? Can I trust celebrities? Can I trust my boss? Can I trust my wife? Can I trust my kids? Can I trust my lawn man? Can I trust my pastor? Can I trust Taylor Swift? Can I trust my dog?

Do you have any idea how agonizing all this mistrust can be?

Let me add to the confusion and differentiate between distrust and mistrust. According to the Grammarist website: Distrust is based on experience or reliable information, while mistrust is a general sense of unease toward someone or something. Now that Ive defined my terms, I realize Im plagued by distrust AND mistrust.

The Edelman Trust Barometer, a survey conducted by the worlds largest public relations firm, has measured trust for more than 20 years and recently concluded that a pandemic of distrust is sweeping the globe.

The survey, which was conducted in 28 markets, found that 61 percent of the 36,000 respondents trust business to do the right thing, but only 52 percent trust government and 50 percent trust the media.

Among the findings in the report were: The government and media fuel a cycle of distrust, and Failure of leadership makes distrust the default, and Concerns over fake news or false information being used as a weapon is now at an all-time high of 76 percent.

Some 67 percent claim theyre being purposely misled by journalists, 66 percent believe the government is duping them, and 63 percent have misgivings about business leaders.

Let me put on my investigative humorists hat and ask an obvious question: How much can you trust a survey by a public relations firm? I mistrust most polls because theyre often contorted to correspond to preconceived notions. Besides, who tells the truth when theyre being surveyed? For all you know, it could be the FBI on the other end of the line or the KGB or Justin Trudeau.

If these findings are true, theres only one solution. Politicians, corporate leaders and the media have to start taking lie detector tests the same way other people are forced to take COVID tests to keep their jobs. Weekly lie detector tests for everyone, from the president to CNN, the New York Times and Fox News, would increase public trust. Anyone who refuses the test should get the ax. It might be the only way to stop this worldwide pandemic of distrust, at least until Pfizer develops a vaccine to stop lying.

As Albert Einstein said: Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.

We also should launch a public relations campaign  which Im sure Edelman could arrange for a small fee  to convince the world were trustworthy. Public relations can sugarcoat any problem. We have to rebrand ourselves and tell Americans: Trust me.

Presidents say that all the time. It worked for Jimmy Carter  well maybe not  Barack Obama and George W. Bush. It didnt work for Lyndon Johnson or Richard Nixon. What about Donald Trump and Joe Biden? Ronald Reagans favorite line was Trust, but verify.

Im working on my own trust issues. Ive learned to trust my mechanic, since I dont know the first thing about what makes my car run. So if he says, You need a new discombobulator, which will cost $3,599.94, I say, Sure, Guido, put it in, and round it up to $3,600.

I even trust the fellow who cleans my furnace because hell come any time of the day or night if theres an emergency. I also trust the priest who got my father into AA and saved his life. He didnt get a commission. He just did the right thing without any fanfare.

For the most part, I trust my dog, although I have occasional doubts. You see, I was away for several weeks, and she was sad for only five minutes.

However, when my wife goes out for a few hours, the dog sits around brooding and wont eat. Nevertheless, Ive decided to give her a second chance because with her canine intelligence she knows something our leaders never learned: Trust has to be earned.

Now, if youll excuse me ... Im off to CVS to take my lie-detector test.

Former Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time Editor Joe Pisani can be reached at joefpisani@yahoo.com.
All but 18 food gatherings are officially sold out at South Beach Wine & Food Festival Feb. 24-27. Here's our guide to the best food bashes you can't miss.

The South Beach Wine and Food Festival is back Feb. 24-27 and, as usual, this mammoth rolling feast has reserved all of its star-studded events at Miami-Dade venues and left a few crumbs for Broward County.

It should come as no surprise that all but 18 food gatherings are officially sold out, including two Fort Lauderdale beachside dinners at Riviera by Fabio Viviani and Dune by Laurent Tourondel and a third at Etaru in Hallandale Beach.

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For all you last-minute festivalgoers out there, we present the best of the rest of the fest  including the always-swanky Grand Tasting Village on the sands of South Beach. Tickets for these events range from $15 to $250.

A note of caution: The COVID-sniffing dogs from 2021 are gone, but all visitors will be required to attest to either a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours before the event, or show proof of vaccination.

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Food Network's Guy Fieri, a tribute dinner honoree at the 2022 South Beach Wine and Food Festival, will host "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives LIVE!" on Feb. 24 in Miami Beach. (Business Wire/Business Wire)

Diners Drive-Ins and Dives LIVE!

7-10 p.m. Feb. 24 on the beach at 1 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

Guy Fieri, the Grand Poobah of comfort food and self-proclaimed Mayor of Flavortown, hosts this gathering of 25 mom-and-pop restaurants once featured on Fieris Food Network show. Participating eateries will craft their signature dishes under a South Beach tent, and many South Florida comfort-food havens are in the mix, including Miamis Mojo Donuts, Latin House Grill and Blackbrick Chinese and Dim Sum. Cost: $175

Tacos & Tequila

7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 on the beach at 1 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

Celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez (Johnny Sanchez, judge on FOXs MasterChef) presides over this taco roundup featuring chefs crafting sweet and savory handhelds stuffed with lechon, pollo, birria and carne. Eaters can sample over a dozen taco plates, which come paired with Cazadores blue-agave tequila cocktails. Cost: $175

South Beach Wine and Food Festival's kid-friendly Family Fun Fest will return Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 to Hallandale Beach. (John Parra / Getty Images / Courtesy)

Hallandale Beach Food & Groove/Family Fun Fest

7-11 p.m. Feb. 26 at Village at Gulfstream Pegasus Park, 901 N. Federal Highway (Food & Groove), and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 26-27 at Peter Bluesten Park, 501 SE First Ave. (Family Fun Fest)

The adult-leaning Food & Groove will be hosted by MasterChef finalist Nick DiGiovanni and showcase bites from 25 Hallandale Beach restaurants paired with live music, cocktails and wines from the Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits portfolio. (All-white attire is recommended.) Its youthful counterpart, Family Fun Fest, will take place down the street and feature two days of games and interactive cooking demos from 25 chefs, led by Food Networks Robert Irvine, Jet Tila and Aarti Sequeira. Cost: $75 for Food & Groove, $15 for Family Fun Fest

[ RELATED: South Beach Wine and Food Festival 2022 announces tickets, live version of Guy Fieris Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives | PHOTOS ]

A scene from a pre-COVID Grand Tasting Village in South Beach, a marquee event at the annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival. The 2022 Grand Tasting Village will take place Feb. 26 and Feb. 27. (Getty Images/Courtesy, Getty Images/Courtesy)

Grand Tasting Village

Noon-5 p.m. Feb. 27; Ocean Drive and 13th Street, Miami Beach

This daylong walk-around under a breezy white tent is a must-attend marquee bash, if only so visitors can glimpse the parade of big-name chefs assembled there, including Dallas Wynne (Toothfairy Bakery) and Adrianne Calvo (Forte by Chef Adrianne). Visitors can sample bites from 30 restaurants, many from South Florida, such as Lobster Bar Sea Grille in Fort Lauderdale. Saturday is sold out but Sunday passes are still available. Cost: $250

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Southern Kitchen Brunch

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at Loews Miami Beach Hotel, 1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach

Grammy-winning country star Trisha Yearwood hosts this buffet-style brunch featuring 11 local restaurants and dishes. Participating South Florida chefs include Derek Turton of Miamis World Famous House of Mac, Karim Bryant of Miamis Lil Greenhouse Grill and Karen Muirhead of Miamis Honeybee Donuts. Cost: $225, which includes a gift bag with goodies and a signed copy of Yearwoods Trishas Kitchen: Easy Comfort Food for Friends and Family.

For more information, go to SOBEWFF.org.
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Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv, on Feb. 24, 2022, as Russian forces attacked Ukraine from multiple directions. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

(JTA) On Feb. 23, Rabbi Shlomo Baksht and his team were still looking into moving the 250 children of the three orphanages they run in Ukraine westward, away from the Russian border.

It was a last resort meant to get the children out of the southern port city of Odessa and the path of an impending Russian invasion and into Lviv, a city close to the border with Poland.

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But by the time the Russian troops actually crossed the border early morning of Feb. 24, the plan already appeared futile. Explosions were reported from Kharkiv in the East to Odessa in the south and even the Volyn area near Lviv in the western portion of the country. The scale of the invasion appeared to offer no escape.

Were not going to move children from one place being bombed to another place thats being bombed, that makes no sense at all, Baksht, an Israel-born Chabad rabbi who has been living in Ukraine since 1994, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Were going to hunker down.

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Bakshts account underlines the helplessness and confusion that many Ukrainians are feeling as their impoverished country comes under assault by one of the worlds foremost superpowers.

For members of Ukraines sizable Jewish minority of at least 50,000 people, this development carries special complications. Many have family and friends who have emigrated in recent years, leaving them in relative isolation. They also have unique fears rooted in the tragic 20th-century history of their communities.

Baksht said some of the children in his care had woken overnight to the unfamiliar thud of artillery rounds exploding in the distance. They are also experiencing anxiety that Baksht and his colleagues are seeking to ease.

We explained that there was a war but that they are not being targeted, which I believe is the truth, Baksht said. Some were soothed by this, he said, but others not really and the fear stayed in their eyes.

Baksht said he felt confident that he was telling the children the truth because he didnt think that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to cause civilian casualties or even bother with the major cities.

At least in the early hours of the invasion, Bakshts analysis seemed to be holding up, if tenuously. While explosions were reported across all of Ukraine, Russian troops appeared not to be on the ground inside Kharkiv, a city close to the Russian border, or other cities.

The scope and goals of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, in which Ukrainian leaders said dozens of people had died, are still unclear. But Putin in a short media appearance gave no assurances as to its limitations, using language that seemed to imply sweeping action.

Russias military action on Ukrainian soil it meant to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide for the last eight years, Putin said in what was widely understood as a reference to ethnic Russians, who make up a large minority of Ukraines population.

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And for this we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, he said.

The incursion is the culmination of a slow escalation that began in November as Russia began amassing troops along its border with Ukraine, allegedly out of concern due to Ukraines relationship with the Western-led NATO bloc.

During that time, many Ukrainian Jews felt torn between their desire to stay put in connection with their patriotic sentiment toward Ukraine, and an inclination to leave for safety in Israel under its Law of Return for Jews and their relatives or elsewhere  a course of action unavailable to most non-Jewish Ukrainians.

To many of them, this tension introduced thoughts about their families experiences during the Holocaust  the darkest chapter in Ukrainian Jewrys generally bloody and tragic history.

It made Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny, the 71-year-old leader of the Reform movement in Ukraine, think about his mother, a Holocaust survivor. Her relatives, who all perished, stayed even though they had a chance to flee, preferring to stay with their ancestors property, Dukhovny told JTA in January.

The next month, Vlodymyr Zeev Vaksman, a Jewish father in Odessa, said he was simultaneously making plans to leave with his family and to stay put, depending on the circumstances.

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I put off making any big purchases. I want to buy weapons, Vaksman, 40, told JTA on Feb. 14. But he said he was also collecting documents for his entire family so they could leave for Israel quickly.

Attempts to reach Dukhovny and Vaksman were not immediately successful as millions of Ukrainians were left unable to access cellular services and the internet amid the shelling of infrastructure facilities and a rolling cyber attack by Russia.

Elderly Jews and people with Jewish roots, of which there are tens of thousands in Ukraine, are likely to be among the among the worst-affected segments of the countrys population by the isolation and anxiety caused by the Russian onslaught, according to Amos Lev-Ran, a senior employee of the former-Soviet-Union division of the U.S.-based American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee charity, or JDC, which is a major provider of care to needy Jews in Ukraine.

They tend to lack a network of people around them, because of people who died, Lev-Ran said. He noted that the size of Ukraines current Jewish population is a mere fraction of what it used to be before the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the territory that is now Ukraine saw hundreds of thousands of Jews leave for Israel.

Hesed, the name of JDCs agency in charge of caring for needy, mostly elderly Jews, has about 37,000 recipients, or clients, in Ukraine.

The problem of isolation, now exacerbated by the anxiety and communication interruptions induced by the Russian assault, had already worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still raging in Ukraine, Lev-Ran said. It prevented many elderly clients from leaving their homes for weeks.

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One of them was Tamara, a 76-year-old retired teacher from Odessa who now relies on a monthly pension of $86 since the death of her husband two years ago. A volunteer with the JDCs hotline for relieving the loneliness of clients during the pandemic, in recent weeks she also heard from Ukrainian Jews who were anxious about a possible conflict with Russia, Lev-Ran said.

Sending the already-weakened national currency of Ukraine, the Hryvnia, into further decline, the conflict has eroded the limited buying power of needy Jews like Tamara, Lev-Ran said.

This in turn has led to JDC stepping up its aid, adding $4.4 million in aid spending since November.

As things worsen, those needs are becoming more pressing, he said. Millions more will be required to continue care and address emerging needs like displacement and psycho-social care.

To read more content visit www.jta.org.
A new lawsuit filed in Connecticut Superior Court this week seeks to challenge the states repeal of the religious exemption from mandatory school vaccinations.

The suit is being brought by the same plaintiffs who challenged the law in federal court last year. A federal judge in New Haven dismissed the case last month due to lack of jurisdiction.

The plaintiffs  two nonprofit groups, We the Patriots USA Inc. and CT Freedom Alliance LLC., and three parents  are essentially making the same claims in the state case as they did in the federal suit. Attorneys Norm Pattis, Cameron Atkinson and Brian Festa are representing the plaintiffs.

They argue that the law violates their rights to privacy and medical freedom, to child rearing, to exercise their religion freely, and their childrens right to a public education. They are seeking a declaratory judgment finding the law unconstitutional and finding that the enforcement of the law constitutes unlawful discrimination, and a permanent injunction.

The defendants in the lawsuit are the state education and public health departments, the heads of those departments, the Office of Early Childhood, and the boards of education in Bethel, Glastonbury and Stamford.

Citing pending litigation, officials from the three state agencies declined to comment. A spokesman for the Stamford Board of Education also said the board would not be commenting for the same reasons. Representatives for the other local school boards did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

The General Assembly passed legislation removing the states long-standing religious exemption last year. Connecticut became the sixth state to end the policy when the bill was signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont in April 2021, according to the Associated Press.

Supporters of the legislation pointed to an uptick in the number of students seeking the exemption and emphasized the importance of vaccines in keeping kids safe against severe illness.

The new law goes into effect Sept. 1. Parents of children in pre-kindergarten, day care or those new to the school system cannot claim the exemption and are required to vaccinate their children on or before that date.

Children already enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 would still qualify for the remainder of their academic careers. Local school boards are charged with enforcing the law.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
Vickie Cartwright will start her tenure off as Browards permanent schools superintendent with a salary of $350,000.

Thats a big boost from the $275,000 shes been making as interim superintendent but below the $356,000 salary of her predecessor, Robert Runcie, who stepped down last year.

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The School Board, which agreed Feb. 9 to keep Cartwright on the job following a national search, approved the contract at a special meeting Thursday.

Im very excited for this journey, as we continue to build upon the great things that happen here in our school district and to pave new pathways of excellence in our school district for the benefit of our students and community, Cartwright said after the vote.

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[ RELATED: Cartwright to stay on as superintendent ]

The salary is at the bottom of the $350,000-to-$365,000 range the School Board offered when it advertised for the position.

Her contract, which will expire Dec. 31, 2024, also includes the free use of an automobile and a contribution of 7% of her salary into a tax-sheltered annuity. If the School Board wants to terminate her contract without cause, she will receive four months notice. She will also get the same annual raises approved for other district administrators, which has been about 1% to 2% in recent years.

One of the things thats not included is what to do if a superintendent is investigated or arrested, Nathalie Lynch-Walsh, a member of several district advisory committees, told the School Board.

Its an issue that actually came up before. When Runcie was arrested on perjury charges in April, there was confusion over how to handle it. Runcies contract, like Cartwrights said, the superintendent could be fired for cause for reasons such as a felony conviction, moral turpitude or willful neglect of duty. But district lawyers said an arrest alone doesnt qualify.

[ RELATED: The Runcie era is over. Superintendent and top lawyer offer to resign ]

The School Board reached a mutual agreement with Runcie where the terms of his exit package were equal to those of being terminated without cause, which allowed him to stay on for 90 days.

The School Board didnt specifically address this issue Thursday but did agree to reduce her notice from 90 to 60 days if she were to be fired without cause.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  A city woman died after crashing into a tree off Whalley Avenue early Wednesday morning, according to police.

Brittnay Jones, 34, was identified later Wednesday as the victim of the fatal crash.
Pikeville, KY (41501)

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Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 71F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
About Huber's Bar

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Huber's is your neighborhood bar with live music, five dart stations, local beers, and good times!

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Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
Our County Editor

Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com.
South Floridas coastal strip of Sunny Isles Beach and exclusive enclave of Fisher Island are among the most monied addresses in the United States. They are also playgrounds for the Russian elite that have for years drawn the attention of financial crimes enforcers.

Residents have included Dmitry Rybolovlev, a billionaire who famously bought a mansion from Donald Trump in 2008 for $60 million more than its asking price just a few years earlier, and Alexander Yuzvik, who has overseen construction of Russian military and intelligence projects.

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These are some of the elites that the White House might wish to target to ratchet up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine has prompted President Joe Biden to reach for sanctions that no president has deployed before against a major power.

For the full story, please visit miamiherald.com
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Michael McCuskey assumed his role of legislative inspector general this week, bringing 32 years of judicial experience to the position. I want them to be a little scared of me, McCuskey said of the lawmakers who appointed him.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Longview, TX (75601)

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Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
The engineering company hired to do a safety check on the Surfside condo that later collapsed is settling lawsuits by the survivors and family members of victims.

Morabito Consultants, whose inspection of the Champlain Towers South Condominium board in 2018 included warning of a major error in the buildings construction that left it open to water damage, announced Wednesday that its insurance companies would be compensating the families. The engineering company denied that it was in any way at fault, and said it had performed up to proper standards.

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The families who have suffered from this tragedy deserve compensation so that they may focus on healing, the companys statement read. We therefore applaud the settlement reached by our insurers to resolve these difficult issues fairly and expeditiously.

[ RELATED: Major structural flaws identified years before collapse, but condo oversight is slim ]

About 1:30 a.m. on June 24, 2021, 98 people were killed when a portion of the Champlain Towers South condo on Collins Avenue in Surfside collapsed. A search for survivors went on for nine days, until the remaining portion of the tower was brought down in a controlled demolition because of safety concerns.

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An investigation into the cause of the collapse is continuing.

It was unclear Wednesday how many lawsuits were covered by the settlement or how much the insurance companies agreed to pay. After the 12-story beachside building collapsed, dozens of lawsuits were filed against the association and other entities, including one blaming the collapse on work being done on the adjacent Eighty Seven Park tower. A partial settlement of $83 million was proposed earlier this month.

Cracks seen at base of Surfside condo

The Morabito settlement appears to resolve a related dispute between the engineering company and its insurers, who argued they should not be responsible for damage caused by a failure to render proper service. While praising the settlement, Morabito denies any failure to adequately warn the condo association about the seriousness of the structural issues.

Morabito Consultants had been hired in 2018 to give the building a safety checkup as the condo was preparing for its 40-year safety inspection.

[ RELATED: Tentative deal would split $83M for Surfside condo collapse losses ]

Among other things, our report detailed significant cracks and breaks in the concrete, which required repairs to ensure the safety of the residents and the public, Morabito said in its first statement after the collapse.

But the report did not have the air of urgency. The consultant pointed out that the pool and jacuzzi were leaking, and the plaza and planter on the deck also needed replacing.

embed.documentcloud.org/documents/20973564-8777-collins-ave-structural-field-survey-report/?embed=1&responsive=1&title=1 title="8777-collins-ave---structural-field-survey-report (Hosted by DocumentCloud)" width="700" height="1152" style="border: 1px solid #aaa; width: 100%; height: 800px; height: calc(100vh - 100px);" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-forms allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" >

In a letter to the condo summarizing the inspection, in October 2018, the firm first addressed balconies and windows, and didnt get to the major structural damage to a slab, and a major error in construction of the pool deck, until page seven of the nine-page report.

The work still hadnt been done in 2020, when the condo hired Morabito again to help with repair plans.

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No one knew just how dire the situation was until June of 2021.

Morabito Consultants has a well-earned reputation and record for thoroughness and safety, the company said in its Wednesday statement. The firm performed its work at Champlain Towers South consistent with the highest industry standards and denies that it is, in any way, liable for the collapse or the resulting damages.
Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 6:1
Obesity has been linked to a wide array of health problems. A new study suggests that abdominal obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, may result in a greater risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

Previous studies have shown that women experience greater lung function impairment and have a higher risk of developing COPD than men, despite less exposure to smoke. In addition, female smokers, compared with male smokers, experience a more rapid decline in lung function between 45 and 50 years of age. The asthma incidence and hospitalization rate because of asthma are also higher in women than in men. It is believed that female hormones contribute to the greater incidence of asthma in women.

Obesity has been shown to affect the risk of these airway obstructive diseases and can lead to a decline in lung function. The incidence of COPD in people who are obese is significantly higher than in those of normal weight. In addition, women who are obese are more likely to experience asthma than men who are obese.

Until now, little has been known about the effects of obesity on COPD and asthma in women before and after menopause. This new study, based on data collected from more than one million women, aimed to determine the effect of BMI and waist circumference on COPD and asthma development in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

The researchers concluded that, regardless of menopause status, high BMI and waist circumference were found to significantly increase the risk of COPD and asthma. Moreover, the higher the BMI and waist circumference, the greater the risk. In addition, being underweight was also identified as a risk factor for COPD in postmenopausal women, suggesting that controlling weight and maintaining a healthy body shape are key to helping prevent COPD and asthma in women.

Study results are published in the article "Obesity and abdominal obesity are risk factors for airway obstructive diseases in Korean women: nationwide population-based cohort study."
A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows how certain RNA molecules control the repair of damaged DNA in cancer cells, a discovery that could eventually give rise to better cancer treatments. The study is published today in the journal Nature Communications.

It was long assumed that RNA molecules  basic molecules that exist in all living organisms  only participated in protein synthesis. New research demonstrates, however, that RNA molecules have a much broader function and can play a key role in the development of disease.

One such disease in cancer, where damage to our cells' DNA can be a contributing factor. DNA damage occurs and is repaired continuously, but in some cases it can lead to carcinogenic mutations in the genome. A fundamental understanding of how our cells repair DNA is therefore key to the design of new treatments.

In this current study, the researchers examined how certain RNA molecules affected the ability of the cancer cells to repair radiation-damaged or broken DNA strings. They discovered that two molecule types  small Cajal body-specific RNA 2 (scaRNA2) and WRAP53  interacted to regulate the enzyme DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), which in turn affected the DNA-repair mechanisms.

Works like an "on-off" button

Our findings show that some RNA can bind to an enzyme that repairs damaged DNA and operate like an 'on-off' button for this enzyme, thereby controlling DNA repair. We've also discovered that altered levels of such RNA leads to faulty DNA repair in cancer cells." Marianne Farnebo, study's corresponding author, researcher, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet

The researchers hope that the results can enhance understanding of the part played by RNA in DNA repair and cancer.

"This can open up new approaches to the treatment of cancer, such as using synthetic RNA molecules to stimulate cell death in cancer cells," Marianne Farnebo says.

The study was supported with grants from the Swedish Cancer Society, the Swedish Research Council, the Centre for Innovative Medicine, the Cancer Research Funds of Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Institutet, the strategic research programme Cancer KI and the Wenner-Gren Foundations.
Having a child with a disability or a developmental delay is often a stressful experience for a family. Siblings in such families may be exposed to greater stress and challenges. There is little research about the positive effects of growing up with a sibling with disabilities. However, a new study published in Child Development by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Toronto, examines how growing up as a sibling of a child with disabilities may nurture empathy. This is one of the first studies to examine the possible positive effects of growing up with a sibling with a disability.

"The findings indicate that siblings of children with disabilities may have greater cognitive empathy (i.e., understanding of others' thoughts and feelings), which is important as cognitive empathy is key for social skills." said Yonat Rum, a postdoctoral researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Cambridge.

Researchers examined data from the Longitudinal Israeli Study of Twins which includes 1,657 families of twins born in 2004-2005 with demographic characteristics similar to those of the Jewish majority population in Israel. Sixty-three families where one of the twins has a disability and the other is typically developing were identified.

The typically developing twin siblings of children with disabilities were compared to 404 typically developing twin siblings from the rest of the sample, on measures of cognitive and emotional empathy and prosociality, completed when all children were 11 years old. Participating children were administered a self-report questionnaire assessment of cognitive and emotional empathy and a computerized task designed to assess prosocial behavior. In addition, the participating children's parents completed a questionnaire to assess their children's prosocial behaviors.

The data showed that typically developing children who had a twin with disabilities scored higher than typically developing children who did not, in self-reported cognitive empathy. Contrary to predictions, no differences were found in emotional empathy and prosociality.

These positive effects might be due to the specific 'advantage' of cognitive empathy to better understand their sibling with disabilities, and to support the sibling relationship." Ariel Knafo-Noam, Professor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The authors acknowledge the preliminary nature of the findings and call for further research using different modes of measurement in this neglected field.

This research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation and partially supported by the Halbert Centre for Canadian Studies, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and an Azrieli Fellowship.
During the pandemic, news reports surfaced of a surge of young adults showing up at doctors' offices with unexplainable movement disorders that looked, perhaps to a nonspecialist, a little bit like Tourette syndrome.

But when those patients were sent to see a specialist, "They'd say, 'that doesn't look at all like any of my first thousand patients,'" said Kevin Black, MD, a professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

People with experience knew that there were telltale properties of the tics associated with Tourette's, even though there is no one tool that allows a doctor to give a diagnosis on the spot.

However, research published Feb. 23 in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface by Black and Rajan Chakrabarty, the Harold D. Jolley Career Development Associate Professor of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering at the university's McKelvey School of Engineering, may signal that a diagnostic tool is near.

They have replicated and expanded on previous work to show that tics associated with Tourette syndrome have a fractal pattern. They also discovered that a key characteristic of that pattern in any individual can predict how severe the disease will become.

Specialists had long suspected there was some kind of pattern to tics associated with Tourette's, and in the late 1990s, a seminal paper by Bradley Peterson and James Leckman was able to uncover that pattern -; but only over a period of seconds to minutes.

Black, a neuropsychiatrist who specializes in movement disorders, has been heading a research study on tics for years. As part of the New Tics Study, he had collected an impressive amount of data about tics in children as they were going through the yearlong diagnosis process.

He had all that data -; nearly 1,000 minutes of footage documenting the timing of tics in 78 kids taken in two sessions, a year apart -; but he needed a help of a complex systems scientist to figure out what the noisy datasets were was telling him. He reached out to Chakrabarty. "My initial thought was, 'Let's just see if we can replicate Peterson's finding,'" Black said.

Chakrabarty is an aerosol scientist and an expert in studying chaos and patterns in complex environmental systems; examples include studying the chaotic transport properties of pollution particles as they move through air under the influence of everything from wind to humidity to sunlight.

"Tics are chaotic," Chakrabarty said. "Tics are a kind of chaos in human biology, in our neural networks." His lab turned to the tools he uses to find the patterns in the chaos of the atmosphere.

Chaos is in fact not entirely random. Instead, it presents itself in degrees. Something can be very chaotic, or just a little chaotic, and that chaos can have a pattern. One way to quantify a particular kind of chaos is using a parameter called fractal dimension. A straight line has zero fractal dimension. If a system has some measure of chaos, then the fractal dimension is between one and two. If it's closer to two, it's less chaotic; closer to one is more chaotic.

Payton Beeler, a PhD student in Chakrabarty's lab, used Black's data to figure out two things. First, is the timing of Tourette's tics really fractal in nature? Second, does the fractal dimension say anything about how severe the tics are, or will become?

Black shared his data with the Chakrabarty lab. It consisted of data points from two visits. When a person with tics came in for an initial screening visit they were observed under several different situations. Each time they had a tic, the observer noted the time. The person came back a year later and repeated the screening process.

Notably, for a Tourette's diagnosis, a person must have had tics for a year or more.

Beeler compared Black's data to two scenarios, a nonchaotic system and a completely chaotic system that was fractal in nature. Visually, the tic data looks more like that of the chaotic system but does not match point-for-point. The amount that the tic data strays from the chaotic system gave her the fractal dimension value.

Next, Beeler validated her findings against clinical ratings of tic severity. "What we found is exactly what we expected. If the clinical 'tic score' goes up, we see a drop in the fractal dimension, and vice versa. Our finding is very correlated with classical clinical measures," she said.

Because the fractal dimension is the same across time and in different conditions, Black said, "It means that the fractal character relates somewhat to the actual tics and your behavioral state."

In practice, this is what the finding means: a doctor could analyze the timing of tics in a patient's first hourlong visit and diagnose a person with Tourette syndrome if the tic pattern was indeed fractal in nature. The doctor could get a measurement of fractal dimension and, if they analyzed the timing of that person's tics over a monthlong or yearlong period, they would get the same fractal dimension value.

"It may boil down the yearlong diagnosis process into one number," Beeler said -; a number that a doctor can determine in one day as opposed to over one year.

"Almost all of the research that's been on Tourette syndrome has been on people who have had tics for a long time. Any brain changes we find thereafter could be causal. But they could be related to having had tics for a long time." Kevin Black, MD, professor of psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

This data will help researchers identify people with Tourette syndrome at the earliest stages of the disease and learn more about how it affects the brain.

And then there are other kinds of tics -; like the ones that seemed to increase during the pandemic. Known as "functional tics or functional tic-like movements," these conditions require treatment entirely different from Tourette syndrome.

Understanding how these functional disorders differ from Tourette's is Black's next step. He suspects functional movements may have fractal patterns more like those of nontic movements. He'd like to see how well the fractal dimension can discriminate between different types of disorders.
Researchers at the Tufts University School of Engineering are building a reputation for precision targeting in drug delivery. Their tools: tiny lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) fine tuned to latch on to specific tissues, organs, even cell types within the body. Their latest creation: LNPs that carry genetic instructions directly into the lungs.

Even if you have not heard of LNPs before, you may have already had an injection with them recently: LNP delivery had its first blockbuster debut in two of the three major COVID-19 vaccines. The Tufts team has taken the existing LNP technology and engineered it to be applicable to a much broad range of diseases by targeting it to specific tissues and organs, which helps minimize toxic effects on other, healthy parts of the body.

In a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team led by Tufts engineering professor Qiaobing Xu, along with collaborators at Harvard Medical School and the University of Massachusetts, Boston, packed the LNPs with mRNA - the same genetic material used in COVID-19 vaccines, but this time coding for a normal gene, Tsc2, that is mutated in individuals with a rare disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The mutated Tsc2 causes smooth muscle tissue to grow out of control, creating cysts that look like large gaps or holes in the lungs on an X-ray or CT scan. In a mouse model of LAM, delivering a normal Tsc2 gene directly to the lungs led to a significant reduction in cysts.

The effect was quite impressive. The mRNA-packed LNPs could be a promising intervention for this awful disease, and we hope to carry it further into clinical trials." Qiaobing Xu, professor of biomedical engineering at Tufts University and corresponding author of the study

The remarkable achievement follows on earlier groundbreaking research, where Xu and his team created LNPs that carry gene editing packages into cells of the immune system or the liver or even across the blood brain barrier to specific regions of the brain. The current study does not involve gene editing, which splices out a bad gene and replaces it with a good one. In this case, it's more like overwriting the bad gene that's still there with a temporary code (the mRNA) that fades over time, requiring repeat doses. Would it be possible to try more lasting gene editing approach to LAM?

"We were able to demonstrate that we could deliver gene editing to the lungs, but it showed up in the liver as well," said Min Qiu, former postdoctoral researcher in the Xu group at Tufts and now a principal investigator at Fudan University in China and co-first author of the study. "The size and components of the gene editing kit may have effected the LNPs' ability to selectively target the lungs in this case. Delivering the smaller mRNA package is a lot more selective." The team is currently working on refining the LNPs to enable more targeted gene editing to the lungs.

You may be wondering how they managed to target the LNPs to the lungs. The LNPs are essentially tiny bubbles of fat (lipid) and other molecules. Like the mRNA, the LNPs were also used in two of the major vaccines approved for protection against COVID-19. The twist added by the Tufts researchers to get the LNPs to home in on a specific organ like the lungs comes from how they modify the lipids and other molecules making up the tiny bubbles. The bubbles are formed with a bilayer of lipids which encircle the contents. Every lipid can be described as having chemical parts - a head that points to a watery environment - either to the outside, or the inside of the bubble where the mRNA or gene editing kit is packed; a tail that points to the middle of the bilayer, and a linker between the two. Changing any of those parts can change where the LNPs might end up in the body.

By testing many combinations of heads, tails and linkers, as well as other components of the LNPs such as cholesterol or polyethylene glycol, the researchers have been able to target not only the brain or immune system, but also the spleen, liver and even specific cell types.

The two leading lung targeting LNPs, 306-N16B and 113-N16B, both had linkers containing a nitrogen atom, which seemed to be key for targeting to the lungs.

"We found out that the molecules making up the LNPs would pick up proteins and other molecules from the plasma, and it is that 'crown' of material that interacts with the target tissue, organ or cell," said Xu. By analyzing which plasma proteins stuck to the LNPs, the researchers narrowed down to fourteen proteins as possibly having a role in helping them to stick to and absorb into the lungs, including ApoE, albumin, fibrinogen beta and fibrinogen gamma.

"It does become a trial and error process to find the right targeting combination, but we can definitely find that combination within a time frame needed for discovering treatments of a wide range of diseases."
A recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server assessed the persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody five and 12 months post-infection in non-vaccinated patients.

Globally, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused over 430 million confirmed cases of infection, including 5.9 million deaths to date. Understanding humoral and cellular immunity against COVID-19 is essential to combat the ongoing pandemic. However, there is insufficient data about the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the long term and their role in preventing severe COVID-19 infections.

About the study

The present study examined the total antibody levels produced against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein up to five and 12 months after diagnosis of infection in non-vaccinated patients.

The study involved residents of South-Eastern Norway of ages 18 years or older who were selected from hospitals, test centers, and laboratories in that region in the period between 28 February 2020 and 17 December 2020. Participants with a COVID-19-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (PCR+) result were matched with two participants with negative PCR results to facilitate the assessment of risk factors, responses to vaccines, and reinfections.

Antibody samples were collected from all participants, and self-reporting questionnaires were answered by each individual three to five months post-PCR diagnosis. The survey had questions regarding the participants demographic data, education, income, smoking habits, COVID-19-related hospitalization, presence of comorbidities like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer, and diabetes, and symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and impaired sense of taste and smell.

Venous blood samples were collected three to five months and 10 to 12 months after the PCR test. Serum samples were developed from whole blood after centrifuging the samples. Total immunoglobulin levels were examined to detect the levels of total antibodies immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM in human serum. The interpretation of antibody level changes was assessed by categorizing the antibody levels into four categories, namely, negative (0-0.79), low (0.80-1.99), intermediate (2.00-9.99), and high (more than or equal to 10).

Results

The study results showed that in the study period, 656 PCR+ patients and 923 PCR negative controls were matched according to the time and location of PCR testing. The mean age of the study group was 47.5 years, including 39.8% of males.

While 18% of participants reported asthma, no other comorbidity was prevalent in the study cohort. Notably, symptoms like headache, dyspnea, fever with sweating or chills, nausea or diarrhea, abdominal pain, impaired sense of smell and taste, dizziness, moderate to serious fatigue, and myalgia were reported more often in PCR+ patients than in their PCR-negative counterparts. In contrast, symptoms like sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and pain upon swallowing were reported more in PCR-negative participants as compared to PCR+ ones. Also, only 6% of PCR+ participants underwent COVID-19-related hospitalization.

Among PCR+ patients, a total of 94% had total antibody levels of 0.8 or above, while 53% showed antibody levels at the upper limit of quantification corresponding to three to five months post-PCR test. Around 212 participants were assessed for antibody levels at both three to five months and 10 to 12 months after PCR test, among which 96% had total antibody levels of 0.8 or above while 53% had antibody levels at the upper limit of quantification for both the periods measured.

A positive correlation was observed between reduced total antibody levels and body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 and above. Reduced antibody levels were less likely to be found in older participants and patients reporting initial symptoms of sweating and fever with chills.

Conclusion

The study findings showed that total antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein in COVID-19-infected patients persisted in most unvaccinated PCR+ individuals for at least 10 to 12 months after PCR testing was conducted.

The researchers believed that knowledge of antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 is of prime importance amid the pandemic to facilitate the provision of informed and accurate vaccination strategies.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Last summer, Montana created a list of more than a dozen upgrades for its state prison facilities to protect inmates and staffers from covid-19 infections, all of which would be paid for with nearly $2.5 million in federal covid relief money.

But the money, part of $700 million in aid to states to detect and mitigate covid's spread in prisons, jails, and other confinement facilities, sat untouched as of mid-February. Not a single project has begun despite the omicron surge that led to a new outbreak of covid cases among Montana State Prison inmates in January. That delay has left weak points within Montana's secure facilities.

The holdup is the result of concerns that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised after reviewing the spending plan submitted by the state Nov. 8. The state's budget included only Montana Department of Corrections facilities, with no information on how the state would help county jails or other community confinement facilities, according to documents that KHN obtained through a public records request to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services.

The federal agency also raised concerns about some of the state's budget items, among them $100,000 for a generator at the Montana State Prison, $39,000 for an emergency response vehicle, and $9,736 for "specialty bacteria and germ-resistant paint," according to the documents.

Despite those concerns, CDC officials rated the state's plan as "good" and noted in its Dec. 22 response that the proposal was detailed and thorough.

Montana officials submitted a revised proposal Feb. 4 that scrapped the plan for germ-resistant paint and offered justifications for the generator and new vehicle. They are awaiting CDC approval before beginning any of the projects.

"It's our standard practice to not spend money until a work plan and budget is approved by the federal agency granting the funds," said Jon Ebelt, a spokesperson for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

The money comes through the American Rescue Plan Act aid and was distributed by the CDC to states and territories to make prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and other facilities in which people are incarcerated safer during the pandemic. States have until 2024 to spend the money, but criminal justice reform advocates say people in confinement shouldn't have to wait for the aid to go to use.

"This country seems to be allergic to distributing it to people who are vulnerable," said Wanda Bertram, a spokesperson for the nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative, a research and advocacy group that has tracked how state prison systems have responded to covid. "It's senseless to give people until 2024 to spend money that's designated for a pandemic that was supposed to be over last year."

States were authorized in August to start spending the money, even without final approval of their budgets, if they followed guidelines, CDC spokesperson Jade Fulce said.

About $114 million of the $700 million had been spent as of Feb. 4. States may have their own restrictions that prevent them from using the money immediately, Fulce said.

Colorado, which received $11.7 million, is still lining up the contracts and personnel needed to begin spending the money, state Joint Information Center spokesperson Brian Spencer said. Idaho Department of Health and Welfare spokesperson Greg Stahl said the state is waiting for state lawmakers' authorization to spend its share.

And like Montana, Texas is waiting for the CDC to approve its spending plan before it taps into its $75.9 million share, said Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Once covid is present in packed communal settings like jails and prisons, stopping its spread is difficult. People who are incarcerated disproportionately have chronic health problems, leaving some more susceptible to a dangerous infection. All of that has contributed to an increase in the death toll within the nation's prisons during the pandemic, with deaths rising 46% from 2019 to 2020, according to recent data from the U.S. Department of Justice.

In January, at the peak of Montana's omicron surge, 95 inmates in the state prison system tested positive for covid, compared with seven the month before, according to state corrections officials. Overall, 1,182 state inmates across seven facilities had contracted covid during the pandemic as of Feb. 22, and six had died from the virus, according to state data. That does not include outbreaks in county-run jails.

State officials hope the federal aid can be used for lasting improvements, including new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to circulate and purify air both for the laundry facility at Montana Correctional Enterprises, where inmates train and study, and for the Montana State Prison's infirmary.

"Inmates reside and staff work in the infirmary without properly functioning ventilation," state officials wrote in their plan, adding that this increases both groups' risk of contracting covid.

State officials also want to install a $100,000 generator at the Montana State Prison. That request led the CDC to question whether buying a generator was consistent with the covid-prevention purpose of the grant. "Are power outages frequent? Will the described generator only be utilized for screening purposes or for additional, non-COVID related purposes?" the unsigned CDC comment said.

State officials defended the request in their Feb. 4 revised proposal. "Without the ability to provide uninterrupted power and delivery of needed medical treatments, poor patient outcomes may occur," it said.

The state also proposed buying 90 tablet computers, 30 that inmates could use to report covid symptoms and 60 for educating inmates about how to prevent the virus's spread. Additionally, state officials want to create an electronic health records system and buy three transport vehicles where inmates can isolate as they're transferred for treatment, plus an additional emergency transport vehicle.

The state dropped its plan to buy 100 gallons of "germ-resistant" paint for medical areas after the CDC said it was unclear whether that fell within the scope of the aid. Experts have been skeptical of the paint's value in responding to covid, since the virus primarily spreads through particles and droplets in the air, not via surfaces.

One of the rules tethered to the money is that recipients must help facilities implement covid testing programs for residents, staff members, and visitors. Montana officials proposed hiring five additional nurses and two administrative staffers to screen, test, and educate state correctional employees and inmates.

The CDC responded that while the state offered a clear plan for the money, some of the aid had to support local governments in making places like jails and police lockups safer. "The recipient needs to clearly state how confinement facilities that are not operated by the State Department of Corrections will be included," CDC officials wrote.

Montana Department of Corrections spokesperson Alexandria Klapmeier said the department is following CDC guidelines for managing covid but when asked, did not directly whether department officials are concerned about safety issues within facilities while the projects are on hold.

"The department is hopeful these projects will be approved by the CDC to provide us with more tools to offer the best care possible to the inmates under DOC supervision," Klapmeier said.
Ukainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the press in the town of Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on April 4, 2022. (Ronaldo Schemidt/Getty-AFP)

President Joe Biden ordered broad new sanctions targeting Russia on Thursday after its invasion of Ukraine, declaring that Russian leader Vladimir Putin chose this war and his country will bear the consequences.

The sanctions target Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors, Biden said. The United States and its allies will block assets of four large Russian banks, impose export controls and sanction oligarchs.

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Biden also said the U.S. will be deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO after the invasion of Ukraine, which is not a member of the defense organization. Approximately 7,000 additional U.S. troops will be sent.

The penalties fall in line with the White Houses insistence that it would hit Russias financial system and Putins inner circle, while also imposing export controls that would aim to starve Russias industries and military of U.S. semiconductors and other high-tech products.

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Putin is the aggressor, Biden said. Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences.

[ Russia launches full-scale invasion of Ukraine; peace in Europe shattered ]

Biden, for now, held off imposing some of the most severe potential sanctions, including cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, which allows for the transfers of money from bank to bank around the globe.

Biden announced the sanctions at the White House while Ukraines government reported mounting casualties inflicted by Russian forces attacking from the east, north and south.

Oil and natural prices have already surged over concerns that Russia -- an energy production behemoth -- will slow the flow of oil and natural gas to Europe. Biden, however, acknowledged the sanctions are going to take time to have their effect on the Russian economy.

He also acknowledged that the invasion -- and efforts to thwart Putin--will have a cost for Americans. But he sought to reassure that the economic pain that may come with rising energy prices will be short lived for them.

As for Putin, he said, Hes going to test the resolve of the West to see if we stay together, and we will.

Biden spoke hours after holding a virtual meeting with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Italy and Japan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also joined the meeting.

The president also met with his national security team in the White House Situation Room as he looked to flesh out U.S. moves in the rapidly escalating crisis.

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While Biden described the sanctions as severe, Ukrainian officials urged the U.S. and West to go further and cut the Russians from the SWIFT financial system.

We demand the disconnection of Russia from SWIFT, the introduction of a no-fly zone over Ukraine and other effective steps to stop the aggressor, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a tweet.

The Biden administration, however, has shown some reluctance to cut Russia from SWIFT, at least immediately, because of concerns the move could also have enormous ramifications for Europe and other Western economies. Biden, answering questions from reporters, appeared to push a decision on SWIFT to European allies.

It is always an option but right now thats not the position that the rest of Europe wishes to take, Biden said. He also contended that the financial sanctions he announced would be more damaging to Russia.

The Belgium-headquartered system allows for tens of millions of transactions daily among banks, financial exchanges and other institutions. The U.S. notably has previously blocked Iran from the system because of its nuclear program.

Officials in Europe have noted that the loss of SWIFT access by Russia could be a drag on the broader global economy. Russia has also equated a SWIFT ban to a declaration of war. And because the system cements the importance of the U.S. dollar in global finance, outright bans also carry the risk of pushing countries to use alternatives through the Chinese government or blockchain-based technologies.

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Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell expressed support Thursday and also urged Biden to apply maximum pressure on Putin.

Were all together at this point and we need to be together about what should be done, McConnell said. But I have some advice: Ratchet the sanctions all the way up. Dont hold any back.

The sanctions include targeting Russias two largest banks, Sberbank and VTB Bank. The U.S. Treasury Department says the sanctions overall target nearly 80 percent of all banking assets in Russia and will have a deep and long-lasting effect on the Russian economy and financial system.

Treasury also announced sanctions against Belarusian banks, the countrys defense industry and security officials over support for Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Biden said the export control measures he ordered would impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time. The measures will restrict Russia access to semiconductors, computers, telecommunications, information security equipment, lasers and sensors.

Were going to impair their ability to compete in a high tech 21st century economy, Biden said.

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Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Fatima Hussein, Chris Megerian and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Bruce Schreiner in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed reporting.
With those on both sides of the abortion debate anticipating that the Supreme Court this year will weaken or overturn Roe v. Wade, which established the right to the procedure, activists are arguing about how best to proceed. The Biden administration has thus far avoided much mention of the divisive issue, while anti-abortion forces disagree on whether to try to ban abortion at the state level in a single step, or more gradually.

Meanwhile, millions of Americans who have been covered by the Medicaid program since the pandemic struck are at risk of losing that coverage when the federal government ends the declared covid-19 "public health emergency," likely later this year.

This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of KHN, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Rachana Pradhan of KHN.

Among the takeaways from this week's episode:

The Senate is scheduled to vote Feb. 28 on the Women's Health Protection Act, which would codify the right to an abortion into federal law and continue those protections if the Supreme Court were to upend its Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide. It is not expected to get the 60 votes necessary to pass, but Senate Democratic leaders want to get all senators on the record on the issue before the midterm elections.

President Joe Biden will deliver his State of the Union speech on March 1 before Congress. Although he's sure to outline domestic priorities, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is likely to loom large and make national security a key topic.

Even with what could be a pivotal Supreme Court decision on abortion rights likely this year, it would be a surprise if Biden utters the word abortion in the speech. He has not done so publicly since taking office, although he has spoken about Roe v. Wade.

The American public is often confused about the Roe ruling. Many people know it affected abortion rights but don't necessarily know what would happen if the decision were to be overturned.

Lawmakers in key Republican states  such as Florida, West Virginia, and Arizona  are rewriting their abortion laws on the assumption that the justices might overturn or narrow the protections from the 1972 Roe decision. But instead of copying the highly publicized Texas law that bans abortions after six weeks, they are copying Mississippi's law that would ban abortions after 15 weeks. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on that state law later this year.

Even as states try to limit abortion access, other nations are loosening their standards, especially in Latin America. Colombia became the latest country to do so. It follows moves in recent years by Argentina and Mexico.

The Biden administration has not yet signaled when it will end the covid public health emergency designation. When it does happen, massive confusion around Medicaid enrollment is likely to arise. During the emergency, the federal government has given states extra Medicaid funding, but in return it has forbidden them from removing anyone from the health insurance program designed for people with low incomes. When the emergency ends, states will need to review their massive membership rolls and verify who is eligible. Some advocates for Medicaid members are afraid that people pushed off the program may not easily find other insurance.

State efforts to roll back covid precautions, including mask mandates, may not be fully supported by public opinion. Polls have found that the public is generally in favor of mask mandates to help stop the spread of the virus that causes the disease. Those rollback efforts  endorsed in recent weeks by many Democratic officials  may be propelled by business supporters concerned about the pandemic's long-term economic impact.

Democrats are arguing among themselves about the future of a Medicare "direct contracting" demonstration program that some say threatens to privatize the program's traditional "fee-for-service" plan. Others say the program could help Medicare improve the value of the care it provides.

Also this week, Rovner interviews KHN's Jay Hancock, who reported and wrote the latest KHN-NPR "Bill of the Month" installment about newborn twins, their stay in a neonatal intensive care unit, and the claim by the familys insurer that the care did not constitute an emergency. If you have an outrageous medical bill you'd like to share with us, you can do that here.

Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too:

Julie Rovner: The Scientist's "Robert Malone Targets Physician Who Alerted Medical Board to Misinformation," by Catherine Offord

Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' "A Key to Returning to Normal Is Paid Sick Leave, Democrats Say," by Claire Cain Miller

Shefali Luthra: KHN's "Other States Keep Watchful Eye on Snags in Washington's Pioneering Public-Option Plan," by Markian Hawryluk

Rachana Pradhan: KHN's "'Injections, Injections, Injections': Troubling Questions Follow Closure of Sprawling Pain Clinic Chain," by Anna Maria Barry-Jester and Jenny Gold

Also discussed on this week's podcast:

KHN's "Covid Still Threatens Millions of Americans. Why Are We So Eager to Move On?" by Victoria Knight

The Washington Post's "Hong Kong's 'Zero Covid' Days Are Over. But Where's the Exit Plan?" by Keith B. Richburg
A pioneering new study led by UCL and National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists has revealed, for the first time, why a common genetic variant worsens disease outcomes for people with the devastating adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Published in Nature, the study shows how TDP-43 protein depletion, associated with almost all cases (97%) of ALS and half of FTD cases, corrupts the genetic instructions for the critical neuronal protein UNC13A.

Strikingly, it found that a mysterious genetic variant previously associated with disease risk increases the chance of UNC13A's genetic instructions being corrupted among people with the diseases, thereby worsening risk and severity of ALS and FTD.

UNC13A enables neurons (nerve cells) to communicate with each other via neurotransmitter release, and data from animal models suggests its loss from neurons can be fatal. The researchers believe that the corruption of UNC13A's genetic instructions in patients may have similarly harmful consequences.

ALS is the most common motor neuron disease and there is no known cure; it affects the brain and spinal cord by attacking the neurons and nerves which control movement, causing them to die. There is currently only one approved drug for ALS in the UK, which extends lifespan by a few months, and is only effective for a tiny minority of patients. One third of patients die within one year of diagnosis.

FTD is a related disease with similar underlying causes; symptoms include language impairment, changes in personality and cognitive difficulties.

Researchers say the discovery raises hope for new treatments; by developing a therapy that blocks the corruption of UNC13A's genetic instructions, disease progression could be slowed for most people with ALS and around half of patients with FTD.

The majority of research into gene therapy has focused on genes implicated in familial ALS (patients with a family history of the disease), but the vast majority of ALS cases are sporadic, with no known family history." Pietro Fratta, Corresponding Author, Professor, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

Co-corresponding author Dr Michael Ward (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, US) added: "We have known for a long time that genetic variants in UNC13A cause an increased risk of ALS and dementia, but nobody had figured out why this is the case. Together, our teams showed exactly how this genetic risk factor for ALS interplays with the core disease mechanism, TDP-43 loss, in order to worsen the disease course."

TDP-43  a key player in ALS and FTD

Arguably the most important protein in ALS research is TDP-43, as in most cases (as well as half of FTD cases), the protein is incorrectly ejected from the cell's nucleus. This prevents TDP-43 from performing its important functions, such as ensuring that mRNA is produced correctly.

Dr Ward said: "We have known for a long time that most patients with ALS, and about half of FTD patients, lose the function of a key protein called TDP-43, wreaking havoc in nerve cells that are affected. But we haven't known how to reverse the most problematic consequences of TDP-43 loss."

As part of the experimental study, the researchers used skin-derived human stem cells to make neuronal cells in dishes and removed the TDP-43 protein from these cells using a new technology based on CRISPR-Cas9, the Nobel-prize winning gene-editing technology.

The scientists were then able to study how these neurons without TDP-43 differed from healthy neurons. They found that the mRNAs for the UNC13A protein were corrupted, meaning the ribosomes in the lab-grown neurons were unable to correctly produce the UNC13A protein. Furthermore, when the team looked at ALS and FTD patient brain samples, they again found that the mRNAs for UNC13A were incorrect, confirming that their experiments replicated the real-world disease process.

Given the essential role UNC13A plays in facilitating neuron communication, its corruption is thus likely to impair neuronal function and contribute to neurodegeneration in those with ALS and FTD.

Genetic variants increase the risk of UNC13A mRNA corruption

The UNC13A gene and its corresponding protein are of longstanding interest to motor neuron disease and FTD researchers, with previous studies showing common genetic variants increase the risk and severity of the diseases, despite being benign in most people unaffected by the diseases (half the population carries one of these variants, which are only harmful in people with ALS or FTD). However, despite over a decade of research, the exact reason for this has remained mysterious, as these variants do not directly alter the UNC13A protein-coding sequence, but are instead located in a region of 'junk DNA'.

The researchers believe they have uncovered the answer to this critical question: they found that the risk-linked variants greatly increase the chance of the UNC13A mRNA becoming corrupted once the ALS and FTD disease course, and the associated loss of TDP-43 protein, has begun. Thus, patients with these genetic variants are likely to suffer greater loss of UNC13A, resulting in more severe disease.

Co-lead author, PhD student Oscar Wilkins (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Francis Crick Institute), said: "These results represent a significant breakthrough for several reasons. Firstly, they explain why UNC13A genetic variants increase the risk of motor neuron disease and dementia, a question which has puzzled researchers for over a decade. They are also the first to demonstrate a genetic link specifically between loss of nuclear TDP-43 function and ALS, improving scientific understanding of this central disease mechanism."

Next steps

Professor Fratta said: "We have built on years of genetic research that identified that UNC13A was implicated in motor neuron disease and FTD, and supported it with a new molecular biology finding that confirms that the gene is absolutely fundamental to the disease process.

"We are hoping to carry out trials over the coming years to develop such a treatment that could potentially greatly improve the lives of people living with ALS."

The researchers are confident that with this new information, new therapies for motor neuron disease can be created that stop UNC13A mRNAs from being corrupted in patients.

The study involved researchers at UCL, NIH, the Crick, New York Genome Center, Mount Sinai, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, and the National Institute of Chemistry (Slovenia). The study was funded by the Medical Research Council and the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the NIH with support from Rosetrees Trust, The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research, Wellcome, Collaborative Centre for Applied Nanotechnology and Collaborative Center for X-linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism.
Cambridge, UK, 22 February 2022: Semarion Ltd, a University of Cambridge spin-out company from the Cavendish Laboratory combining materials engineering and cell biology to tackle unmet drug screening needs, announced today that it has closed a 2.14 million GBP seed funding round. The investment round was led by Parkwalk Advisors, with the University of Cambridge Seed Funds, Martlet Capital, and angel investors also contributing to the fundraise.

Semarion founders Tarun Vemulkar and Jeroen Verheyen

The funding will support the commercial development of Semarions SemaCyte cell assaying platform. It will also enable further expansion of the team, as Semarion recruits scientists and engineers, and establishes additional research partnerships with biopharma partners for bespoke solutions to cell screening challenges.

SemaCytes, developed by Semarion, are a novel class of cell carrier materials, created using microchip fabrication technologies, nanomagnetism, and smart materials. These assaying microcarriers are flat and function as ultra-miniaturized, magnetically steerable wells which carry small colonies of adherent cells into suspension to improve cell-based experiments. They enable the controlled movement of cell types which need to stick to a surface, namely those typically used for in vitro drug screening work. By facilitating workflow automation, assay miniaturisation, and cell barcoding, this technology improves the quality and reproducibility of cell screening data while reducing the time and cost to deliver research outputs. SemaCytes integrate with existing workflows and are compatible with various multi-well plate formats, liquid handling tools, and imaging tools such as high-content screening equipment.

Semarion was co-founded at the Cavendish Laboratory in 2018 by Jeroen Verheyen (CEO), Tarun Vemulkar (CTO), and Professor Russell Cowburn. Jeroens background in cell model development and Taruns experience in advanced materials and microfabrication drive Semarions vision to address foundational bottlenecks in drug discovery by integrating expertise across disciplines. Previously, the Company received pre-seed funding and business support from Start Codon, a UK venture builder and investor, who supported the transition of the company out of the University.

This is a crucial step towards the commercialisation of our SemaCyte cell assaying platform. We were excited to see our product testers appreciate its truly unique features. We aim to keep working closely with biopharma partners to address their unmet cell screening needs. I would like to thank all our investors and supporters for believing in the Semarion team and the SemaCyte technology.- Jeroen Verheyen, Co-Founder & CEO, Semarion

There is a clear need within the industry for Semarions new platform, to support in vitro research on cell models. We are delighted to support the Company in this initial funding round and look forward to being a part of their continued success. -Cassie Doherty, Investment Director, Parkwalk Advisors

Our investors have identified the potential of Semarions technology, which is uniquely positioned to address a significant market opportunity and revolutionise drug discovery approaches. I look forward to working with the team to support the Company as it progresses to the next stage of commercial and scientific expansion."- Dr Del Trezise, Advisor and Non-Executive director at Semarion

For more information about Semarion, please visit: https://www.semarion.com/
Getting a good night's sleep can sometimes be a challenge, but inflammation may make it even more difficult. While the relationship between inflammation and sleep alteration has been previously shown, researchers in Japan have now identified a potential method to overcome sleep disturbance associated with systemic inflammation.

In a new study published in Journal of sleep research, researchers at the University of Tsukuba examined the effect of sevoflurane, an anesthetic agent used to maintain unconsciousness during surgery, on sleep recovery in a mouse model of systemic inflammation.

Systemic inflammation has been shown to affect sleep quality by reducing the amount of time spent in the rapid eye movement (REM) and waking states and increasing the amount of time spent in the non-REM state. Previous animal studies have illustrated the protective effects of sevoflurane on organs, including the brain, but the relationship between sevoflurane and sleep has not been explored under inflammatory conditions. Using a model in which mice are injected with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation throughout the body, the research team evaluated the effects of sevoflurane on altered sleep patterns associated with systemic inflammation.

We hypothesized that preconditioning with sevoflurane prior to inducing inflammation by LPS would promote sleep recovery." Professor Takashi Kanbayashi, Main Author

The research team exposed mice to sevoflurane prior to LPS injection ("preconditioning") and also examined the effects of sevoflurane exposure after LPS injection ("postconditioning"). Control mice without systemic inflammation were exposed to either sevoflurane or air and received either sterile saline or LPS injection. The researchers monitored the sleep patterns of the mice using electroencephalography and collected brain tissues for histological analysis.

"We found that mice that were preconditioned with sevoflurane showed a significant increase in REM sleep after LPS injection," says Professor Kanbayashi. "This effect was not observed in mice that received postconditioning."

Examination of brain tissues from mice treated with LPS alone revealed a reduction in neurons expressing the neuronal activation marker Fos in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (PPTg/LDTg), which is an area of the brain involved in the regulation of REM sleep. However, the mice that received sevoflurane preconditioning before LPS treatment maintained similar levels of Fos-positive neurons as those observed in the control mice. These results demonstrate that maintained activation of neurons in the PPTg/LDTg region may represent a potential mechanism underlying the effect of sevoflurane on sleep reintegration under inflammatory conditions.

The findings of this study indicate a potential application for sevoflurane in the treatment of sleep disturbance associated with systemic inflammation.
In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers determined the neutralization potency of sera from people vaccinated with Pfizer's Comirnaty (BNT162b2), Moderna's Spikevax (mRNA-1273), or AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria (ChAdOx1) against the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant.

Background

SARS-CoV-2, the causal agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has infected over 430 million individuals causing more than 5.9 million deaths worldwide. Globally, more than 10 billion COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far. Vaccine-resource-rich nations have successfully immunized a vast majority of their eligible population.

At the same time, low-income countries continue to face challenges with just 14.2 vaccines inoculated per 100 people in these nations. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are highly effective in eliciting immune responses, they do not nullify the odds of contracting SARS-CoV-2.

The emergence of mutant variants throughout the pandemic has exacerbated the current crisis as vaccine-breakthrough cases and reduced efficiency of vaccines against the mutant variants have been well documented. About five SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) are detected, namely, the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is the most mutated variant among other VOCs and is responsible for the recent exponential surge of COVID-19 infections.

The study

In the current study, researchers evaluated the neutralizing potency of sera from individuals vaccinated with BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or ChAdOx1 vaccines against the Delta and Omicron VOCs in Australia. The assessment of their potential to neutralize these VOCs is crucial because one or more vaccines are being used in around 192 countries.

The authors worked with three isolates of SARS-CoV-2 - VIC31 (as a reference strain) with the D614G mutation, Delta, and Omicron VOCs propagating them in Vero E6 cells to obtain viral stocks. Blood samples were obtained from healthy vaccinated subjects aged 25 to 70 years who received either of the three vaccines. Human blood specimens were collected at four timepoints - first on the day of vaccination (baseline; pre-first dose), second and third after two weeks (2wk-second dose), and six months (6mo-second dose) post double vaccine dose. The fourth specimen was collected exclusively from Pfizer vaccinees two weeks after the third dose (2wk-third dose).

Virus neutralization assays (VNT) were performed using Vero E6 cells. The researchers constructed in silico models of the Omicron (BA.1.1) spike protein and simulated for over 200 nanoseconds (ns).

Findings

The median age of the ChAdOx1 recipients was 57.5 years, relatively higher than 33 years for Comirnaty and 38.5 years for the Spikevax vaccinees because the AstraZeneca vaccine is used in people above 60 years due to the concerns of thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) in the younger population.

Sera samples (6mo-second dose) from Comirnaty recipients showed an 8.2- and 5.5-fold reduction in neutralizing titers (NT 50 ) against VIC31 and Delta strains, respectively, when compared to 2wk-second dose specimens. After administering a third dose of BNT162b2, sera (2wk-third dose) specimens demonstrated a 25.5- and 24.7-fold increase in NT 50 titers against VIC31 and Delta isolates, respectively, when compared to 6mo-second dose samples.

No significant differences in NT 50 titers were observed for 2wk-second dose specimens from Comirnaty and Spikevax recipients. Two weeks and six months post-second vaccination, the average NT 50 titers were below the detection limit (LoD) for most Comirnaty samples (just four out of 15 samples had quantifiable titers), but they increased after the third dose.

Conclusions

The study findings demonstrated that two doses of any of the vaccines tested were insufficient to neutralize the Omicron variant. Notably, the vaccine-induced protection is considerably lower after six months of the second Comirnaty dose, indicating significant waning over time. Interestingly, all vaccines based on the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2 were ineffective in neutralizing the Omicron variant, and the NT 50 titers were below the LoD for all samples of BNT162b2 recipients at six months after the second dose. However, a third Comirnaty dose produced a booster effect demonstrating quantifiable NT 50 titers two weeks post-boosting.

Several factors limit the study findings: No 6mo-second dose samples were available for individuals vaccinated with either Spikevax or Vaxzevria vaccine. Booster dose specimens were present for only Comirnaty vaccinees. These limitations were primarily because the AstraZeneca vaccine was limited to older people, and Spikevax was introduced in August 2021 in Australia.

Based on the observations made in this study, it is imperative to note that two doses of vaccines made to imitate the Spike protein of the wildtype SARS-CoV-2 are inadequate to neutralize the highly mutant Omicron variant and that the third dose could be effective to boost the immune system.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information
The UK will pledge 160 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to speed up vaccine development, as the Foreign Secretary and Health and Social Care Secretary urge international partners to step up and support this vital work.

COVID-19 has shown vaccines are the way out of pandemics, saving millions of lives and restoring cherished freedoms. The funding announced by the UK will support CEPI's drive to accelerate the development of vaccines for the deadliest infectious diseases, like COVID-19, and enable equitable access to these vaccines globally.

The announcement comes ahead of the UK government hosting the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit on 7 to 8 March in London. The event aims to raise funds for CEPI's goal, backed by the UK during our G7 presidency last year, to cut the time it takes to develop new vaccines to 100 days, including 'variant-proof' vaccines that will work against multiple future COVID-19 variants.

The UK has supported CEPI since its inception and has provided 276 million for the organisation's life-saving work since 2018.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

UK scientists and researchers have led the way in developing vaccines to tackle COVID-19, which have saved millions of lives around the world and are key to restoring our freedoms. The UK is hosting this important summit, providing 160 million in funding to CEPI, which will cut vaccine development times and boost vaccine manufacturing in low- and middle-income countries. I urge other potential donors to step up and fund this vital work to help us avoid future pandemics, save millions of lives and prevent trillions in economic damage."

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:

This pandemic is a global challenge and it has shown the best way to chart a course back to freedom is by standing side by side with our international partners. The UK's ground-breaking science and research has led the way on vaccines and treatments, it is helping us learn to live with COVID-19. Our 160 million pledge will support CEPI's vital work to cut vaccine development to 100 days and protect us all against future health threats. The UK, as a global leader, is helping other countries most in need because no one is safe until everyone is safe."

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said:

This funding comes at a critical moment, allowing CEPI to pursue our ambitious programme to develop 'variant proof' vaccines against COVID-19 and other betacoronaviruses as well as pursue our life saving work developing vaccines against the next Disease X and known viral threats such as Lassa Fever, Nipah and Chikungunya. Contemplating future pandemics is difficult, especially as we continue to battle the current one, but the threat is real and we must seize this rare convergence of political will, practical experience, and scientific progress to build a world that is better prepared. We are delighted to partner with the UK in hosting next month's Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit which will bring the global community together to focus on future threats and to explore what it will take for the world to be better prepared and, in particular, prepared to develop, and enable access to, safe and effective vaccines against new pathogens in 100 days. We thank the UK government for elevating the 100 Day Mission to a G7 priority through its Presidency of the G7 in 2021 and for extending its support today. CEPI is proud to continue our collaboration with the UK government and its world-leading life-sciences sector to build a better, safer, more equitable future for all."

The Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit will bring together influential leaders from the world of science and health. The event will host a range of speakers in-person and virtually, including Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, Dr Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the President of the United States, and Dame Sarah Gilbert who developed the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

The UK government invested more than 88 million to support the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. To date, the UK has also donated 32.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, of which 25.3 million have gone to COVAX, a global scheme to get more vaccines to developing countries.

The UK has been at the forefront of the global response to COVID-19 from the start of the pandemic. Today's announcement builds on up to 1.3 billion in UK aid committed to the international health response early in the pandemic, supporting vaccines, health systems and economic recovery in developing countries.

Background
Kia Slade was seven months pregnant, unvaccinated, and fighting for breath, her oxygen levels plummeting, when her son came into the world last May.

A severe case of covid pneumonia had left Slade delirious. When the intensive care team tried to place an oxygen mask on her face, she snatched it away, she recalled. Her baby's heart rate began to drop.

Slade's doctor performed an emergency cesarean section at her bedside in the intensive care unit, delivering baby Tristan 10 weeks early. He weighed just 2 pounds, 14 ounces, about half the size of small full-term baby.

But Slade wouldn't meet him until July. She was on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for eight weeks, and she developed a serious infection and blood clot while unconscious. It was only after a perilous 2 months in the hospital, during which her heart stopped twice, that Slade was vaccinated against covid-19.

"I wish I had gotten the vaccine earlier," said Slade, 42, who remains too sick to return to work as a special education teacher in Baltimore. Doctors "kept pushing me to get vaccinated, but there just wasn't enough information out there for me to do it."

A year ago, there was little to no vaccine safety data for pregnant people like Slade, because they had been excluded from clinical trials run by Pfizer, Moderna, and other vaccine makers.

Lacking data, health experts were unsure and divided about how to advise expectant parents. Although U.S. health officials permitted pregnant people to be vaccinated, the World Health Organization in January 2021 actually discouraged them from doing so; it later reversed that recommendation.

The uncertainty led many women to delay vaccination, and only about two-thirds of the pregnant people who have been tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were fully vaccinated as of Feb. 5, leaving many expectant moms at a high risk of infection and life-threatening complications.

More than 29,000 pregnant people have been hospitalized with covid and 274 have died, according to the CDC.

"There were surely women who were hospitalized because there wasn't information available to them," said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Vaccine developers say that pregnant people  who have special health needs and risks  were excluded from clinical trials to protect them from potential side effects of novel technologies, including the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and formulations made with cold viruses, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

But a KHN analysis also shows that pregnant people were left behind because including them in vaccine studies would have complicated and potentially delayed the delivery of covid vaccines to the broader population.

A growing number of women's health researchers and advocates say that excluding pregnant people  and the months-long delay in recommending that they be immunized  helped fuel widespread vaccine hesitancy in this vulnerable group.

"Women and their unborn fetuses are dying of covid infection," said Dr. Jane Van Dis, an OB-GYN at the University of Rochester Medical Center who has treated many patients like Slade. "Our failure as a society to vaccinate women in pregnancy will be remembered by the children and families who lost their mothers to this disease."

New technology, uncertain risks

At the time covid vaccines were being developed, scientists had very little experience using mRNA vaccines in pregnant women, said Dr. Jacqueline Miller, a senior vice president involved in vaccine research at Moderna.

"When you study anything in pregnant women, you have two patients, the mom and the unborn child," Miller said. "Until we had more safety data on the platform, it wasn't something we wanted to undertake."

But Offit notes that vaccines have a strong record of safety in pregnancy and sees no reason to have excluded pregnant people. None of the vaccines currently in use  including the chickenpox and rubella vaccines, which contain live viruses  have been shown to harm fetuses, he said. Doctors routinely recommend that pregnant people receive pertussis and flu vaccinations.

Offit, the co-inventor of a rotavirus vaccine, said that some concerns about vaccines stem from commercial, not medical, interests. Drugmakers don't want to risk that their product will be blamed for any problems occurring in pregnant people, even if coincidental, he said.

"These companies don't want bad news," Offit said.

In the United States, health officials typically would have told expectant mothers not to take a vaccine that was untested during pregnancy, said Offit, a member of a committee that advises the FDA on vaccines.

Due to the urgency of the pandemic, health agencies instead permitted pregnant people to make up their own minds about vaccines without recommending them.

Women's medical associations were also hampered by the lack of data. Neither the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists nor the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine actively encouraged pregnant people to be vaccinated until July 30, after the first real-world vaccine studies had been published. The CDC followed suit in August.

"If we had had this data in the beginning, we would have been able to vaccinate more women," said Dr. Kelli Burroughs, the department chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital near Houston.

Yet anti-vaccine groups wasted no time in scaring pregnant people, flooding social media with misinformation about impaired fertility and harm to the fetus.

In the first few months after the covid vaccines were approved, some doctors were ambivalent about recommending them, and some still advise pregnant patients against vaccination.

An estimated 67% of pregnant people today are fully vaccinated, compared with about 89% of people 65 and older, another high-risk group, and 65% of Americans overall. Vaccination rates are lower among minorities, with 65% of expectant Hispanic mothers and 53% of pregnant African Americans fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Vaccination is especially important during pregnancy, due to increased risks of hospitalization, ICU admission and mechanical ventilation, Burroughs said. A study released in February from the National Institutes of Health found that pregnant people with a moderate to severe covid infection also were more likely to have a C-section, deliver preterm, or develop a postpartum hemorrhage.

Black moms such as Slade were already at higher risk of maternal and infant mortality before the pandemic, due to higher underlying risks, unequal access to health care, and other factors. Covid has only magnified those risks, said Burroughs, who has persuaded reluctant patients by revealing that she had a healthy pregnancy and child after being vaccinated.

Slade said she has never opposed vaccines and had no hesitation about receiving other vaccines while pregnant. But she said she "just wasn't comfortable" with covid shots.

"If there had been data out there saying the covid shot was safe, and that nothing would happen to my baby and there was no risk of birth defects, I would have taken it," said Slade, who has had Type 2 diabetes for 12 years.

Working at warp speed

Government scientists at the NIH were concerned about the risk of covid to pregnant people from the very beginning and knew that expectant moms needed vaccines as much or more than anyone else, said Dr. Larry Corey, a leader of the COVID-19 Prevention Network, which coordinated covid vaccine trials for the federal government.

But including pregnant volunteers in the larger vaccine trials could have led to interruptions and delays, Corey said. Researchers would have had to enroll thousands of pregnant volunteers to achieve statistically robust results that weren't due to chance, he said.

Pregnancy can bring on a wide range of complications: gestational diabetes, hypertension, anemia, bleeding, blood clots, or problems with the placenta, for example. Up to 20% of people who know they're pregnant miscarry. Because researchers would have been obliged to investigate any medical problem to make sure it wasn't caused by one of the covid vaccines, including pregnant people might have meant having to hit pause on those trials, Corey said.

With death tolls from the pandemic mounting, "we had a mission to do this as quickly and as thoroughly as possible," Corey said. Making covid vaccines available within a year "saved hundreds of thousands of lives."

The first data on covid vaccine safety in pregnancy was published in April, when the CDC released an analysis of nearly 36,000 vaccinated pregnant people who had enrolled in a registry called V-safe, which allows users to log the dates of their vaccinations and any subsequent symptoms.

Later research showed that covid vaccines weren't associated with increased risk of miscarriage or premature delivery.

Dr. Brenna Hughes, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' covid expert group, agrees that adding pregnant people to large-scale covid vaccine and drug trials may have been impractical. But researchers could have launched parallel trials of pregnant women, once early studies showed the vaccines were safe in humans, she said.

"Would it have been hard? Everything with covid is hard," Hughes said. "But it would have been feasible."

The FDA requires that researchers perform additional animal studies  called developmental and reproductive toxicity studies  before testing vaccines in pregnant people. Although these studies are essential, they take five to six months, and weren't completed until late 2020, around the time the first covid vaccines were authorized for adults, said Dr. Emily Erbelding, director of microbiology and infectious diseases at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of NIH.

Pregnancy studies "were an afterthought," said Dr. Irina Burd, director of Johns Hopkins' Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine and a professor of gynecology and obstetrics. "They should have been done sooner."

The NIH is conducting a study of pregnant and postpartum people who decided on their own to be vaccinated, Erbelding said. The study is due to be completed by July 2023.

Janssen and Moderna are also conducting studies in pregnant people, both due to be completed in 2024.

Pfizer scientists encountered problems when they initiated a clinical trial, which would have randomly assigned pregnant people to receive either a vaccine or placebo. Once vaccines were widely available, many patients weren't willing to take a chance on being unvaccinated until after delivery.

Pfizer has stopped recruiting patients and has not said whether it will publicly report any data from the trial.

Hughes said vaccine developers need to include pregnant people from the very beginning.

"There is this notion of protecting pregnant people from research," Hughes said. "But we should be protecting patients through research, not from research."

Recovering physically and emotionally

Slade still regrets being deprived of time with her children while she fought the disease.

Being on a ventilator kept her from spending those early weeks with her newborn, or from seeing her 9-year-old daughter, Zoe.

Even when Slade was finally able to see her son, she wasn't able to tell him she loved him or sing a lullaby, or even talk at all, due to a breathing tube in her throat.

Today, Slade is a strong advocate of covid vaccinations, urging her friends and family to get their shots to avoid suffering the way she has.

Slade had to relearn to walk after being bedridden for weeks. Her many weeks on a ventilator may have contributed to her stomach paralysis, which often causes intense pain, nausea and even vomiting when she eats or drinks. Slade weighs 50 pounds less today than before she became pregnant and has resorted to going to the emergency room when the pain is unbearable. "Most days, I'm just miserable," Slade said.

Her family suffered, as well. Like many babies born prematurely, Tristan, now nearly 9 months old and crawling, receives physical therapy to strengthen his muscles. At 15 pounds, Tristan is largely healthy, although his doctor said he has symptoms of asthma.

Slade said she would like to attend family counseling with Zoe, who rarely complains and tends to keep her feelings to herself. Slade knows her illness must have been terrifying for her little girl.

"The other day she was talking to me," Slade said, "and she said, 'You know, I almost had to bury you.'"
Mrs. Janice Lindsey Seay, 80, of Pell City, Alabama passed away on February 10, 2022 in Birmingham. Mrs. Seay was a member of Pell City First United Methodist Church. She was a loving wife, mother, dedicated teacher and world traveler. She is survived by her husband, Ted Seay; sons, Phil (Mi
The poll workers volunteered to help with the local primary elections on Tuesday.
People drag their suitcases as they arrive in a bus station to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

KYIV, Ukraine  Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukraines government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.

Military forces battling Russians on multiple fronts suffered dozens of casualties.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored global condemnation and cascading new sanctions as he unleashed the largest ground war in Europe since World War II and chillingly referred to his countrys nuclear arsenal. He threatened any country trying to interfere with consequences you have never seen, as a once-hoped for diplomatic resolution now appeared impossible.

Ukrainian forces sought to fend off a Russian barrage of land- and sea-based missiles, an attack that one senior U.S. defense official described as the first salvo in a likely multi-phase invasion aimed at seizing key population centers, decapitating Ukraines government and installing a new one. Already, Ukraine officials said they had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the worlds worst nuclear disaster.

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Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted. His grasp on power increasingly tenuous, he pleaded Thursday for even more severe sanctions than the ones imposed by Western allies and ordered a full military mobilization that would last 90 days.

Zelenskyy said in a video address that 137 heroes, including 10 military officers, had been killed and 316 people wounded. The dead included all border guards on the Zmiinyi Island in the Odesa region, which was taken over by Russians.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia, saying Putin chose this war and that his country would bear the consequences. Other nations also announced sanctions, or said they would shortly.

[ Biden hits Russia with new sanctions after invasion of Ukraine, says Putin chose war ]

Fearing a Russian attack on the capital city, thousands of people went deep underground as night fell, jamming Kyivs subway stations.

At times it felt almost cheerful. Families ate dinner. Children played. Adults chatted. People brought sleeping bags or dogs or crossword puzzles  anything to alleviate the waiting and the long night ahead.

But the exhaustion was clear on many faces. And the worries.

Nobody believed that this war would start and that they would take Kyiv directly, said Anton Mironov, waiting out the night in one of the old Soviet metro stations. I feel mostly fatigue. None of it feels real.

The invasion began early Thursday with a series of missile strikes, many on key government and military installations, quickly followed by a three-pronged ground assault. Ukrainian and U.S. officials said Russian forces were attacking from the east toward Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city; from the southern region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014; and from Belarus to the north.

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People gather in a shelter during Russian shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Zelenskyy, who had earlier cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law, appealed to global leaders, saying that if you dont help us now, if you fail to offer a powerful assistance to Ukraine, tomorrow the war will knock on your door.

Though Biden said he had no plans to speak with Putin, the Russian leader did have what the Kremlin described as a serious and frank exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Both sides claimed to have destroyed some of the others aircraft and military hardware, though little of that could be confirmed.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-unused Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce battle, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said it was told by Ukraine of the takeover, adding that there had been no casualties or destruction at the industrial site.

A woman reacts as she waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti / AP)

The 1986 disaster occurred when a nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Kyiv exploded, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe. The damaged reactor was later covered by a protective shell to prevent leaks.

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Alyona Shevtsova, adviser to the commander of Ukraines ground forces, wrote on Facebook that staff members at the Chernobyl plant had been taken hostage. The White House said it was outraged by reports of the hostage-taking.

The chief of the NATO alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said the brutal act of war shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders decrying an attack that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government. The conflict shook global financial markets: Stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Condemnation came not only from the U.S. and Europe, but from South Korea, Australia and beyond  and many governments readied new sanctions. Even friendly leaders like Hungarys Viktor Orban sought to distance themselves from Putin.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he aimed to cut off Russia from the U.K.s financial markets as he announced sanctions, freezing the assets of all large Russian banks and planning to bar Russian companies and the Kremlin from raising money on British markets.

Now we see him for what he is  a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest, Johnson said of Putin.

The U.S. sanctions will target Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, Biden said, but they were designed not to disrupt global energy markets. Russian oil and natural gas exports are vital energy sources for Europe.

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[ In January, Ukrainian Americans expressed support, fear for loved ones overseas ]

Zelenskyy urged the U.S. and West to go further and cut the Russians from the SWIFT system, a key financial network that connects thousands of banks around the world. The White House has been reluctant to immediately cut Russia from SWIFT, worried it could cause enormous economic problems in Europe and elsewhere in the West.

While some nervous Europeans speculated about a possible new world war, the U.S. and its NATO partners have shown no indication they would send troops into Ukraine, fearing a larger conflict. NATO reinforced its members in Eastern Europe as a precaution, and Biden said the U.S. was deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO.

European authorities declared the countrys airspace an active conflict zone.

After weeks of denying plans to invade, Putin launched the operation on a country the size of Texas that has increasingly tilted toward the democratic West and away from Moscows sway. The autocratic leader made clear earlier this week that he sees no reason for Ukraine to exist, raising fears of possible broader conflict in the vast space that the Soviet Union once ruled. Putin denied plans to occupy Ukraine, but his ultimate goals remain hazy.

Ukrainians were urged to shelter in place and not to panic.

Until the very last moment, I didnt believe it would happen. I just pushed away these thoughts, said a terrified Anna Dovnya in Kyiv, watching soldiers and police remove shrapnel from an exploded shell. We have lost all faith.

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With social media amplifying a torrent of military claims and counter-claims, it was difficult to determine exactly what was happening on the ground.

Russia and Ukraine made competing claims about damage they had inflicted. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities and drones. It confirmed the loss of one of its Su-25 attack jets, blaming pilot error, and said an An-26 transport plane had crashed because of technical failure, killing the entire crew. It did not say how many were aboard.

Russia said it was not targeting cities, but journalists saw destruction in many civilian areas.

Ukraines health minister said 57 Ukrainians were killed in the invasion and 169 more were wounded. It was not clear how many were civilians, although earlier in the day it had said 40 soldiers had died.

Polands military increased its readiness level, and Lithuania and Moldova moved toward doing the same.

Putin justified his actions in an overnight televised address, asserting the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the U.S. predicted he would make as a pretext for invasion. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees, saying the military action was a forced measure.

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Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle.

In a reminder of Russias nuclear power, he warned that no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.

Inside Russia, authorities moved swiftly to crack down on any critical voices. OVD-Info, a group that tracks political arrests, reported 1,620 people in 52 Russian cities had been detained for protesting the invasion, more than half of them in Moscow.

Isachenkov and Litvinova reported from Moscow. Francesca Ebel in Kyiv; Angela Charlton in Paris; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Raf Casert and Lorne Cook in Brussels; Nic Dumitrache in Mariupol, Ukraine, Inna Varennytsia in eastern Ukraine; and Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Nomaan Merchant, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.
A USPS employee drives a route in New Albany in this 2020 file photo. The Postal Service is now hiring to fill about 140 positions in Southern Indiana.
Bill Hanson is the publisher of the News and Tribune. He can be reached at bill.hanson@newsandtribune.com or at 812-206-2134.
Editors Note: This editorial was published early Thursday in the independent, online publication Ukrainian Pravda (Ukrainian Truth) in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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TALLAHASSEE  The Florida House signed off on culture war measures Thursday backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that seek to combat woke ideology and limit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

State legislators passed legislation dubbed by opponents the dont say gay bill, along with a bill touted as the Stop Woke Act by DeSantis. The Florida Senate will take up the controversial proposals next.

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Seven GOP legislators broke ranks with their party and joined Democrats in opposition of the dont say gay bill, including Reps. Chip LaMarca of Broward County and Rep. Rene Plasencia of Orlando.

The measure (HB 1557), approved in a 69-47 vote, greatly limits instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

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Specifically, it states, Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.

The anti-woke measure (HB 7) bans schools from teaching and businesses from conducting training exercises that state an individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. It passed in a 74-41 vote.

Supporters said the bills are needed to empower parents in their childrens education and protect students and employees from being made to feel guilty about past historical wrongs they played no part in.

Our parents do know best, said Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers. They dont turn over their rights and they dont turn over their love for their child when they send their child to school.

Democratic opponents painted the anti-woke proposal as a politically motivated effort to penalize teachers who tell the truth about Americas racist past. They called the dont say gay bill transphobic and homophobic.

Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said he wore a rainbow ribbon upside down because Floridas LGBTQ community is in distress.

The dont say gay bill is called dont say gay because it erases the identities and existence of LGBTQ students, their families and our history, said Smith, who is gay.

The anti-woke bill also would prohibit teachings and training that make people feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress for past wrongs committed by others of their race, color, sex or national origin. It bars teaching that members of one race, color, sex, or national origin are morally superior.

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Supporters said the measure would ensure that children and employees arent made to feel guilty for historical events they werent personally involved in and that all races are viewed equally.

It is extremely, extremely important for our children to know our history  the bad parts and the good parts but to know that their lives are not responsible for that history, said Rep. Ralph Massullo, R-Lecanto.

Rep. Bryan Avila, the bills sponsor, singled out corporate training that he says tells employees to be less white and less privileged and less oppressive. He referenced Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Lockheed Martin, American Express and other large companies.

Democrats said the bill would discourage teachers from giving honest history lessons and open businesses to lawsuits from employees who feel uncomfortable during diversity training.

This bill is a joke, said state Rep. Travaris McCurdy, D-Orlando. We fight against mask mandates, yet we want to mandate masking history.

DeSantis, a candidate for reelection this year and widely seen as a presidential contender in 2024, has made culture war issues, such as the teaching of critical race theory, a key part of his election pitch to conservative voters. The House votes came as DeSantis addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando.

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sswisher@orlandosentinel.com
(Newser)  The man police say opened fire on a crowd of people demonstrating for racial justice and against police violence in a park has been charged with murder and attempted murder. Four people were injured in the attack Saturday night in Portland, Ore., and Brandy "June" Knightly, 60, was killed, Oregon Public Broadcasting reports. A court filing says one person was paralyzed from the waist down in the shooting, and three others were wounded, one of whom is still hospitalized. Someone in the crowd who's licensed to carry a gun then shot Benjamin Jeffrey Smith, 43, the records show. Smith is in critical condition in a hospital.

He's been charged with one count of second-degree murder, four counts of attempted first- degree murder with a firearm, and four counts of assault with a firearm. Video shows Smith walking up to demonstrators in the park, "yelling at them and demanding they leave the area," prosecutors wrote. They in turn told Smith to "leave them alone and return home," officials said. Smith's relatives, neighbors, and roommate said he regularly complained about protests taking place around Portland, per Oregon Live. He bragged about owning guns, and had threatened homeless people who stepped onto the property of the apartment complex where he lives, they said. (Read more Portland, Oregon stories.)
(Newser)  Update: After the resignation this week of two top prosecutors in Manhattan district attorney's criminal investigation of Donald Trump's business practices, a new prosecutor has stepped up to lead the probe. A spokesperson for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced Friday that Susan Hoffinger, who has served in Bragg's office since February as the executive assistant DA and chief of investigations, will now head up the investigation, per Reuters. Hoffinger had worked previously in the Manhattan DA's office in the 1990s. Sources told the Washington Post earlier this week that Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz, the two prosecutors who resigned, had done so because they didn't feel Bragg was interested in pursuing the case against Trump. "Not true," a Bragg spokeswoman said Thursday, adding: "The investigation remains ongoing" with "the strong team that is in place." Our original story from Wednesday follows:

The future of the Manhattan district attorney's investigation of Donald Trump's business practices is starting to look very uncertain. Danielle Filson, a spokesperson for DA Alvin Bragg, tells NBC that two top prosecutors involved with the case have resigned. Sources tell the New York Times that Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz submitted their resignations after Bragg signaled that he had doubts about moving forward with the criminal case. Bragg was sworn in to replace Cyrus Vance Jr. on Jan. 1 and there has been little activity in the case over the last month, though a parallel civil investigation from New York Attorney General Letitia James' office has been gathering steam.

"The investigation is ongoing," Filson tells CNN. "We can't comment further." The presentation of evidence to a grand jury in the DA's case has been on hold for a month and plans to have a witness testify were postponed because of Bragg's doubts, according to the Times' sources. The term of a special grand jury convened in the case expires in April, and the Times predicts that the case might "peter out" without the involvement of Dunn and Pomerantz. After he was elected last year, Bragg said it was "obviously a consequential case" and he would focus on it personally.

As in the civil case, the DA's office is investigating whether Trump inflated the value of his assets to get better terms from lendersbut there is a higher burden of proof in the criminal case. The Supreme Court ordered Trump to hand over his tax returns and financial records to prosecutors a year ago, but the case has been complicated by accounting firm Mazars' decision to drop Trumpand by the failure to secure the cooperation of Trump Organization chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, who was indicted on tax-related issues last year, along with the organization. (Trump has accused prosecutors of racism.)
(Newser)  "The world lost a queen," a beauty pageant organization said after the death of Zoe Sozo Bethel, the current Miss Alabama for America Strong. Relatives say the 27-year-old died on Friday, eight days after an accident in Miami, NBC reports. Authorities tell People that Miami officers were called to a "possible suicide attempt," but they later determined the death was a "tragic accident." Authorities say the preliminary investigation found that Bethel had fallen out of a third-floor window. Foul play is not suspected.

"She was a light in this world and we are heartbroken over the loss of such a bright and beautiful woman," the Mrs. Alabama America and Miss Alabama for America Pageant organization said, per WSFA. Bethel was also a conservative commentator who worked for groups including Right Side Broadcasting Network and Turning Point USA, the Hill reports. In a tweet, Students for Life praised Bethel for "choosing life during her own unexpected pregnancy to sharing her story & encouraging thousands of pro-life student leaders." (Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst died by suicide in New York City last month.)
(Newser)  Update: Vladimir Putin announced early Thursday local time that a special military operation would take place in the separatist region of eastern Ukraine known as Donbas. The Russian president said his country has no plans to occupy Ukraine, per CNN. But he said his troops will take action and any bloodshed that takes place will be on Ukraine's hands if the country's own forces do not retreat. He also accused the US of crossing Russia's "red line" by expanding NATO, Bloomberg reports. US President Joe Biden called the move "an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces," accusing Putin of having "chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way." Our original story from earlier Wednesday follows:

The Kremlin says rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance Wednesday to help fend off Ukrainian "aggression" while Ukraine declared a nationwide state of emergency amid growing fears of an all-out invasion by Russian troops. The announcement from Moscow immediately fueled fears that the rebel request amounted to a pretext for wara tactic that the West has warned about for weeks, the AP reports. The request from the leaders of Donetsk and Luhansk , which Russian media said was dated Feb. 22, could clear the way for Russia to move large numbers of troops to the territories, reports the BBC.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rebel chiefs wrote to Putin, pleading with him to intervene after Ukrainian shelling caused civilian deaths and crippled vital infrastructure. The separatists appeal comes after Putin sanctioned the deployment of troops to the rebel territories to help "maintain peace" and the parliament granted him permission to use military force outside the country. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separatists' request for Russian help was an example of the sort of "false-flag" operation that the US and its allies have expected Moscow to use as a pretense for war.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the country requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council. He called the separatists' request "a further escalation of the security situation." The Russian government and media have repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that Ukraine is carrying out a "genocide" of Russian-speakers, reports the New York Times. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraines borders is in an advanced state of readiness. "They are ready to go right now," Kirby said. (Kyiv has told its citizens to flee Russia.)
(Newser)  Updated: A former police officer in Louisville, Kentucky, accused of recklessly firing his gun during the fatal raid on Breonna Taylor's apartment has been found not guilty, reports NBC News. Brett Hankison, 45, was not on trial over Taylor's death but because bullets from his gun entered the apartment of her neighbors. Hankison had been charged with three counts of wanton endangerment, per the AP. Our story from Feb. 23 follows:

Testimony began Wednesday in the only trial of a police officer in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. Former detective Brett Hankison faces three felony counts of wanton endangerment in the Louisville raid that killed Taylor in her home in March 2020, the BBC reports. Prosecutors say that Hankison, though he could see no target, recklessly fired shots into a neighboring apartment that risked the lives of the family inside: Cody Etherton; his pregnant wife, Chelsey Napper; and their 5-year-old son. A defense lawyer told jurors they'd be shown that Hankison's actions in a chaotic situation were justified.

Witnesses who took the stand Wednesday included Etherton and four officers who took part in the raid. "We knocked for a really long time," before entering Taylor's apartment, one of the officers testified. The search began as a no-knock raid but was shifted to a "knock and announce" warrant. Jason Vance, who was assigned to the public integrity unit at the time, showed the jury the layout and photos of bullet casings. The jurors will visit the site on Friday, per CNN. The trial in Jefferson County Circuit Court is scheduled to last about two weeks. (Read more Breonna Taylor stories.)
(Newser)  Speaking in their language, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Russian people in a speech late Wednesday night that their leaders are preparing to start what could become "a big war on the European continent" and asked them to oppose it. He began his video speech in Ukrainian, addressing his own citizens, then switched to Russian to address his neighbors, the BBC reports. "Who can stop" a war? he asked them. "People. These people are among you, I am sure." Zalensky said that the Kremlin has approved the deployment of almost 200,000 into Ukraine. The president assured them his country will fight if necessary.

"As you attack, it will be our faces you see, not our backs," Zelensky said in an emotional address. He also said he had tried to reach Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Wednesday, per the Washington Post, but Putin didn't take the call. "Listen to the voice of reason," Zelensky said. "The Ukrainian people want peace." Ukraine had asked for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, and that meeting was scheduled for Wednesday night, per the AP. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  A Manhattan judge said Wednesday that lawyers for Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are seeking a new trial on her defamation claims against the New York Times, along with his removal from the case. US District Judge Jed S. Rakoff made the disclosure during a brief telephone conference with lawyers, the AP reports. Rakoff said in an order last week that jurors knew before delivering their verdict against Palin earlier this month that he had ruled against her as a matter of law the previous day. Rakoff said the jurors repeatedly assured his law clerk that pop-up news notifications on their phones about the judges ruling did not affect their deliberations.

After lawyers for Palin asked to make their requests in a 50-page written submission, the judge said each side could file papers of the same length after he issues a written opinion next week explaining why he decided he was tossing out the case regardless of the verdict returned by the jury. Palin claimed in her 2017 lawsuit that the newspaper libeled her the same year with an editorial about gun control. The Times maintained that it quickly corrected any errors in the editorial and had made an honest mistake" that was never meant to harm Palin. (Read more Sarah Palin stories.)
(Newser)  California woman Bethany Farber is suing the Los Angeles Police Department, saying they wrongfully detained her for 13 daysincluding three days after they allegedly realized they had the wrong Bethany Farber. The 30-year-old aesthetician says her nightmarish experience began in April last year, when she was detained at Los Angeles International Airport as she tried to board a plane to join her family for a vacation in Mexico, the Guardian reports. She says she was told there was a warrant out for her arrest in Texasand TSA agents refused her pleas to double-check their information after she told them she had never even been to Texas. they completely blew me off," Farber tells ABC7. "They said, 'Nope, Bethany Farber, we have you.'"

TSA agents passed Farber to LAX police, who turned her over to the LAPD. She was held without bail at the Lynwood women's jail. Attorney Rodney Biggs says Farber was apparently viewed as a flight risk because she was leaving the country, but authorities failed to check "basic information that Bethany was not the other Farber," Fox 11 reports. "The fact no one checked her middle name, her birth date. No information representing her person," he says. "The woman wanted for property damage in Texas has an "extensive criminal history," Biggs says. "Her fingerprints are in the data base." Farber, whose family hired lawyers in California and Texas as they tried to free her, does not physically resemble the other woman.

Relatives say the Texas prosecutor promised to expedite Farber's release after receiving photosand phone records proving Farber was in California on the day of the crime. Farber, who says her only previous trouble with the law was a speeding ticket when she was 16, is also suing the city and airport police for allegedly violating her civil rights. According to her lawsuit, the stress of her ordeal caused her grandmother to have a stroke that led to her death. She said this week that her time in jail was "traumatic" and she was emotionally scarred by the wrongful arrest and imprisonment. "It could happen to anyone," she said. (Read more wrongful arrest stories.)
BEIJING, Feb. 24 -- According to Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of National Defense (MND), the Chinese military will hold the 7th Great Wall International Military Medicine Forum (GWIMMF) in Beijing from March 24 to 27.

Tan made the announcement at a regular MND press conference on Thursday. He said that the forum will focus on dealing with new challenges and missions faced by military health personnel in the modern military transformation, and include five online/offline sub-forums, namely, Frontline Medical Treatment on Battlefield, Construction of Mobile Medical Service Force, Medical Support in Special Situations, New Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, and International Emergency Disaster Relief. Military medical experts from more than 10 countries including Russia, Serbia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Germany, and Cambodia, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) , have been invited to attend the event.
Charlie Crist, candidate for Governor of Florida, introduces Broward Mayor Steve Geller at a press conference on Thursday Oct. 7, 2021 at Le Meridien hotel in Dania Beach surrounded by Broward County leaders announcing their endorsement of his candidacy. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The pandemic hit our state hard over the past two years. Weve lost nearly 70,000 Floridians to the virus, our childrens schooling has been interrupted, and supply chain problems have made everything more expensive.

But were finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. And the good news is that with omicron fading, vaccines plentiful and new drugs to treat the virus close at hand, we should be able to turn the page on this crisis for good.

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While we may never eliminate COVID, like the flu, we should be able to live with it without a major disruption to our lives.

Finally, its time to get back to normal.

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Former Florida governor and current congressman Charlie Crist is a candidate for governor in the 2022 elections.

We got here because while some of our leaders played partisan politics, others got to work  and together, we all did our part. We developed the best vaccines in the world in record time and distributed over 250 million of them to Americans. We passed legislation that kept small businesses open and put money in peoples pockets to ride out the crisis. And local leaders made the tough calls to keep people safe, despite intense political interference from Tallahassee.

But theres still a lot of work to do to strengthen our economy and our state.

We have to help our children make up for the learning loss from two years of COVID. We have to fix the supply chain issues that are jacking up prices and making basic necessities like gas, clothes and food hard to get. We have to help workers get off the sidelines by getting them reliable child care and sick leave, so they can get back to work easier and faster.

And as a precaution, we need to prepare for the next pandemic. We need to stockpile basic lab testing materials and medical clothing and equipment now, so that if we need them again, we arent caught off guard. And we need to move this manufacturing to the United States, so we arent reliant on China in the event of a future crisis.

Finally, we need to keep promoting vaccines and boosters to the millions of Floridians who still havent gotten the shot.

Other states and countries are already doing this. Florida needs to catch up.

And its clear Gov. Ron DeSantis isnt up for the job. Because under his leadership, Florida has been a disaster.

Our governor opposed the American Rescue Plan that saved our economy from the kind of crash we experienced during the Great Recession. And instead of championing life-saving vaccines, he catered to anti-vaccine and anti-mask conspiracy theorists, even appointing one as Floridas surgeon general.

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Today, Florida has one of the lowest rates of booster shots for seniors, and the omicron variant has killed more seniors than in most states.

Gov. DeSantis turned our schools into yet another political battleground, picking fights with school boards and teachers who are just trying to keep kids safe while his presidential ambitions have resulted in school closures and disruptions across our state.

And right now, the governor is doubling down on his war on our schools, trying to strip $200 million from schools that disagreed with him, promoting Dont Say Gay legislation that discriminates against Florida kids, and trying to silence the teaching of our nations heroic civil rights struggle because it makes him feel discomfort.

I dont know about Gov. DeSantis, but my parents raised me to follow the Golden Rule, to tell the truth and to be kind to others. Thats not the kind of governor we have today, but its the kind of governor Ill be.

Im running for governor of our great state because Ive led our state out of tough times before.

And its time to end these politics of division and unify our state around our shared values.

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Together we can and will come together to build a Florida that works for everyone, not just for some. Its time to turn the chapter on this pandemic in our state, its time to rebuild and restore our Florida, its time we get new leadership back in Tallahassee.

Former Florida governor and current congressman Charlie Crist is a candidate for governor in the 2022 elections.
(Newser)  The chair of Columbia University's psychiatry department was suspended Wednesday after a tweet describing a dark-skinned model as either "a work of art or freak of nature." Jeffrey Lieberman on Monday retweeted a photo of model Nyakim Gatwech, who is of South Sudanese descent, that included the original poster's caption, Newsweek reports: "It is not a work of art made of black stone or granite. She is Sudanese model Nyakim Gatwech. The most beautiful among the black beauties." To that Lieberman added his own caption, per the New York Times: "Whether a work of art or freak of nature shes a beautiful sight to behold." Lieberman's Twitter account is no longer available.

The tweet caused a massive outcry online, including from other Black women and medical professionals who wondered how such a prominent psychiatrist could think that language was acceptable (though the Times delves into the profession's long history of race issues). Before the university suspended him, Lieberman first offered what NewsOne calls a "non-apology" (deleting the tweet and saying he was "living and learning") before apologizing to his colleagues via email and saying he was "deeply ashamed" of the "racist and sexist" tweet. "Ive hurt many, and I am beginning to understand the work ahead to make needed personal changes and over time to regain your trust," he wrote.

Lieberman, who is considered one of the US' top psychiatrists, was also permanently booted from his position as psychiatrist-in-chief at Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and he stepped down as executive director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. The original tweet Lieberman retweeted also falsely claimed Gatwech's skin was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the darkest on earth, and she responded to the incident herself on Instagram. Guinness "does NOT monitor skin tones. I cant imagine its even possible to know whos the lightest or darkest person on the planet!" she wrote alongside a screenshot of Lieberman's tweet. (Read more Columbia University stories.)
(Newser)  Update: This story has been updated to include the latest news, bulleted below. Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of a Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government, the AP reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraines military infrastructure and explosions are heard across the country. Zelensky said he had just talked to President Biden and the US was rallying international support for Ukraine. He urged Ukrainians to stay home and not to panic. More:

Biden pledged new sanctions meant to punish Russia for an act of aggression that the international community had for weeks anticipated but could not prevent through diplomacy. With rare but fragile alignment, the US Congress is largely backing him; the AP has more on that here.

Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukrainea false claim the US had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion. He accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russias demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees, and credulously claimed that Russia doesn't intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to demilitarize it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the action as a full-scale invasion of Ukraine" and a war of aggression, adding, "Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

The Russian military said it has struck Ukrainian air bases and other military assets and hasnt targeted populated areas. The Russian Defense Ministry statement said the military is using precision weapons to target Ukrainian air bases, air defense assets, and other military infrastructure. It claimed that there is no threat to civilian population.

An emergency UN Security Council meeting was meant as an eleventh hour effort to dissuade Russia from sending troops into Ukraine. But the message became moot when the explosions began even as it was being delivered. "It's too late, my dear colleagues, to speak about de-escalation, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told the council. I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war. The AP has more on the meeting here. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says Russia's attack on Ukraine was the saddest moment of his five-year tenure, the AP reports.

Biden plans to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday. In a written statement, he said "the world will hold Russia accountable," CNN reports.

The massive cyberattack targeting Ukraine continued Thursday; more of the latest on that at the AP.

Russian troops and military vehicles are entering Ukraine from multiple borders including Russia, Crimea, and Belarus, CNN reports. It's not clear whether any Belarusian troops are involved, but Ukraine says Belarus is supporting the operation.

Ukraine says it is "firing at the enemy." There have been no reports of casualties so far, per the AP. Air raid sirens can be heard in multiple cities, and a general evacuation of Luhansk, one of two separatist regions backed by Russia, has been announced.

The Moscow Exchange has suspended trading until further notice and several airports in southern Russia have restricted operations until March 2. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is telling air operators of a high risk to civilian aircraft over Ukraine, the AP reports, reminding air operators that this is now an active conflict zone.

Ukraine claims to have shot down five Russian aircraft and a helicopter; Russia denies the claim. CNN is providing live updates here.

(Read more Russia stories.)
(Newser)  This story has been updated with new developments. As Russian troops pushed into Ukraine Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denounced the "war of aggression" and urged other countries not to stand by as Russia invades. "The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," he said. Ukrainian authorities say the country is being invaded from three directions in a "full-scale war" and Russian tanks have now reached Kharkiv, the country's largest city, the BBC reports. NATO says Russia has deployed ground troops and special forces and is targeting military facilities and major cities with air and missile attacks. In other developments:



Assault on airport near Kyiv . Ukrainian officials have confirmed that Russian helicopters have attacked a military airport near Kyiv, the Guardian reports. Area residents have shared video of the attack, which involved at least 20 aircraft. Analysts believe Russia is trying to seize the airport to move heavy equipment close to the capital.

. Ukrainian officials have confirmed that Russian helicopters have attacked a military airport near Kyiv, the Guardian reports. Area residents have shared video of the attack, which involved at least 20 aircraft. Analysts believe Russia is trying to seize the airport to move heavy equipment close to the capital. Kremlin says it plans to 'cleanse' country . Reuters reports that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Russia intends to cleanse Ukraine of "Nazis" and "neutralize" its military capabilities. He claimed that Russia has no intention of occupying the country.

. Reuters reports that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Russia intends to cleanse Ukraine of "Nazis" and "neutralize" its military capabilities. He claimed that Russia has no intention of occupying the country. EU promises 'harshest sanctions.' European Union officials say the Russian invasion will be punished with the harshest sanctions the EU has ever imposed, the AP reports. "These are among the darkest hours for Europe since World War Two," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. "A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue," Borrell said. "This is not only the greatest violation of international law, its a violation of the basic principles of human coexistence." Amid widespread international condemnation, Putin has warned that any attempt by other countries to intervene will lead to "consequences you have never seen."

Death toll rises . Ukraine says at least 40 of its soldiers have been killed along with at least 10 civilians, including a 9-year-old boy killed when an apartment building was shelled, the Telegraph reports. Ukraine's military says around 50 Russian soldiers have been killed and six Russian planes have been shot down.

. Ukraine says at least 40 of its soldiers have been killed along with at least 10 civilians, including a 9-year-old boy killed when an apartment building was shelled, the Telegraph reports. Ukraine's military says around 50 Russian soldiers have been killed and six Russian planes have been shot down. NATO to hold emergency session. NATO said it would hold an emergency session Thursday to discuss the invasion, per the New York Times Jens Stoltenberg, NATOs secretary general, described Russia's actions as a "reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives." He added: "This is a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security."

Zelensky urges citizens to defend country . Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has declared martial law, urged anybody willing to help defend the country against the Russian invasion to come forward and said weapons would be distributed. Ukraine's defense ministry said the invasion is being countered "with dignity" and the "situation" in under control, Guardian reports.

. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has declared martial law, urged anybody willing to help defend the country against the Russian invasion to come forward and said weapons would be distributed. Ukraine's defense ministry said the invasion is being countered "with dignity" and the "situation" in under control, Guardian reports. Shock in Moscow. Resident are fleeing Kyiv and other major Ukrainian citiesand there is also "shock, horror, and bewilderment" in Moscow, according to BBC correspondent Sergei Goryashko. "There are queues at banks and currency exchange points and the police presence in the streets has also increased," says Goryashko. He says opponents of the war are considering holding a rally tonightbut it is highly unlikely they will be granted permission.

(Read more Ukraine stories.)
(Newser)  This story has been updated with new developments. Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion are starting to arrive in neighboring countries, many of them traveling on foot. Reuters reports that normally quiet border crossings in Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia are seeing growing numbers of Ukrainians, and those nations are preparing for the possibility of many thousands more. Poland has set up reception centers for refugees and the country is also planning to send a medical train evacuate Ukrainians injured in the fighting. Slovakia and Hungary have sent troops to the border to process refugees.

Countries that don't border Ukraine, including Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, have pledged to send humanitarian aid and accept refugees. Romania said Tuesday that it was prepared to accept up to 500,000. After Russia launched its long-feared invasion of Ukraine early Thursday, some Kyiv residents hunkered down at home or took refuge in subway stations, but many tried to flee the capital, leading to major traffic jams as long lines of cars left the city, the BBC reports.

"We are facing a war and horror. What could be worse?" 64-year-old Liudmila Gireyeva said in Kyiv, per the AP. Putin "will be damned by history, and Ukrainians are damning him." She said she would try to get to the western city of Lviv before trying to join her daughter in Poland. The Guardian reports that by 6pm local time, the main road out of Kyiv was jammed with vehicles and traffic wasn't moving. At Kyiv's main train station, hundreds of passengers with luggage but no tickets were trying to get out of the city, though some services had been canceled.

Soon after Putin announced military action, Oleksandra Matviichuk, chair of the Center for Civil Liberties in Kyiv, told CNN that she feared the invasion would cause a refugee crisis. "I am in Kyiv. And a lot of people stay in Kyiv and will fight for our country and for our city, and for our dignity," she says. "But people with children, people without parents, people who are scared (will) try to leave (the) city." She said she fears the invaders will target journalists, human rights activists, and anybody "resistant to the occupation." (Read more Ukraine stories.)
(Newser)  "A vast invasion is underway, by land, by air, and by sea," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday, denouncing the Russian attack on Ukraine as a "hideous and barbaric venture" from Vladimir Putin that "must end in failure." Johnson described the invasion as an unprovoked attack on a democratic country and vowed that Britain and its allies would "hobble" Russia with sanctions, the BBC reports. After Putin announced military action, President Biden called it the start of a "premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering" and said the world will hold Russia accountable. He tweeted that he will meet G7 leaders Thursday morning and the US and its allies plan "severe sanctions." The president plans to address the American people after the virtual meeting, reports the Washington Post.

Lawmakers from both parties called for "crushing" sanctions on Russia after Putin's announcement, Politico reports. Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said the Russian leader "must be made to rue the day he unleashed this unprovoked violence in the heart of Europe," while the top Republicans on the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence committees issued a statement calling for "the strongest possible sanctions and export controls to cripple Russias ability to make war, punish its barbarity and relegate the Putin regime to the status of an international pariah."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Western nations were "closely aligned" in seeking "massive and targeted sanctions" against Russia. China, however, not only failed to condemn the attack, it approved imports of Russian wheat Thursday, a move that could blunt the impact of Western sanctions, the AP reports. (Read more Ukraine stories.)
(Newser)  Tucker Carlson is drawing a lot of attention this week for comments viewed as supportive of Vladimir Putin. In particular, the Fox News host on Tuesday questioned why "permanent Washington" hates the Russian leader so much, and the pushback against Carlson has been loud. Coverage:

His comments: It may be worth asking yourself, since it is getting pretty serious, what is this really about?" Carlson said Tuesday of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He encouraged people to ask themselves, "Why do I hate Putin so much? Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him?" Carlson continued with a series of such questions, concluding with, These are fair questions, and the answer to all of them is no. Vladimir Putin didnt do any of that. So, why does permanent Washington hate him so much? Watch the clip, which has been viewed more than 3 million times on Twitter.

It may be worth asking yourself, since it is getting pretty serious, what is this really about?" Carlson said Tuesday of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He encouraged people to ask themselves, "Why do I hate Putin so much? Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him?" Carlson continued with a series of such questions, concluding with, These are fair questions, and the answer to all of them is no. Vladimir Putin didnt do any of that. So, why does permanent Washington hate him so much? Watch the clip, which has been viewed more than 3 million times on Twitter. Elaborating: The snippet was from Carlson's opening commentary, and he wrote an expanded essay here. He refers to the Russia-Ukraine matter as a "border dispute."

Lone voice: Media writer Jack Shafer of Politico notes that Carlson is the only "major media commentator" who has "provided intellectual cover for the Russian leaders adventure." Shafer describes it as "a weird tack for Carlson, who is much smarter than this, to take," especially given the straw-man questions he posed. "Finding him innocent of charges that nobody has leveled against him is an asinine way of demonstrating his guiltlessness. Ive never beaten a kitten to death with my bare hands. Does virtuousness come with that?" So why is Carlson doing it? In part, because he knows what his audience likes.

Kimmel: Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel slammed Carlson in a similar vein Wednesday. "So, in order for you to despise a man who murders his rivalswho murders and poisons peopleand whos actively trying to destabilize our country, he has to do something to you personally," he said, per the Daily Beast. "That makes sense. Thanks for asking all those very dumb questions and then answering them for us. Kimmel adds: I want to see the tape Putin has of him, because it has to be something special."

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel slammed Carlson in a similar vein Wednesday. "So, in order for you to despise a man who murders his rivalswho murders and poisons peopleand whos actively trying to destabilize our country, he has to do something to you personally," he said, per the Daily Beast. "That makes sense. Thanks for asking all those very dumb questions and then answering them for us. Kimmel adds: I want to see the tape Putin has of him, because it has to be something special." Scathing: The most critical attack against Carlson might come from William Saletan at the Bulwark. Saletan compares the "demagogue" Carlson to one from decades ago: Charles Coughlin, or Father Coughlin, an American radio host who defended Hitler. "Im very reluctant to accuse people of the worst acts or motives: racial animus, betraying the United States and its values, serving the interests of a hostile foreign power," writes Saletan. But in Tucker's case, he says he has no choice.

The most critical attack against Carlson might come from William Saletan at the Bulwark. Saletan compares the "demagogue" Carlson to one from decades ago: Charles Coughlin, or Father Coughlin, an American radio host who defended Hitler. "Im very reluctant to accuse people of the worst acts or motives: racial animus, betraying the United States and its values, serving the interests of a hostile foreign power," writes Saletan. But in Tucker's case, he says he has no choice. Politics: In 35 seconds here, @TuckerCarlson basically said: Putin isnt your enemy. Your fellow American is,]" tweeted GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger. This is beyond dangerous, to say the least. The Washington Post notes that Carlson has been previously accused of being a Putin "cheerleader," and the story digs into the background and related politics. It notes that former President Trump this week called Putin's strategy "genius" while bashing President Biden as weak.

In 35 seconds here, @TuckerCarlson basically said: Putin isnt your enemy. Your fellow American is,]" tweeted GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger. This is beyond dangerous, to say the least. The Washington Post notes that Carlson has been previously accused of being a Putin "cheerleader," and the story digs into the background and related politics. It notes that former President Trump this week called Putin's strategy "genius" while bashing President Biden as weak. More generally: Top Republicans appeared to be divided in their responses to what's happening in Ukraine, and Politico breaks down three general categories, including those in the "isolationist, America-first" camp such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Ann Coulter, for one, makes the case that Republicans should stop talking about Ukraine, period.

(Read more Tucker Carlson stories.)
(Newser)  Just after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, he warned other nations of severe "consequences" should they step in. Just how severe? Some are interpreting his remarks as a veiled, or even not-so-veiled, threat to use nuclear weapons. Coverage:

The warning: "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never experienced in your history," said Putin, as translated at CNN. "We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made. I hope that I will be heard."

Reminder: In his long speech, Putin also reminded the world that Russia "remains one of the most powerful nuclear states" with "a certain advantage in several cutting-edge weapons," notes the New York Times.

In his long speech, Putin also reminded the world that Russia "remains one of the most powerful nuclear states" with "a certain advantage in several cutting-edge weapons," notes the New York Times. Chilling: In the view of Mike Allen at Axios, the implication is clear. "This is a rare overt threat of nuclear attack," he writes, adding that "rarely in our lifetimes has the world heard more chilling and ominous words." Worse, "madman Putin is sitting on a massive nuclear arsenal and seems impervious to pressure, sanctions, or threats." Coverage elsewhere isn't as definitive. The Telegraph, for example, states in its coverage that Putin "appeared to threaten nuclear strikes."

Analysis: In an essay at Politico, Beatrice Fihn, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, assesses all this and writes that "suddenly, the 'unthinkable' is unfolding before our eyes." For context, "new deployments of nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe could station US and Russian nuclear weapons closer than at any time in history," writes Fihn. "This would not be a second Cuban missile crisis but a far more volatile situation." However, she sees hope for de-escalation in the UN's Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

In an essay at Politico, Beatrice Fihn, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, assesses all this and writes that "suddenly, the 'unthinkable' is unfolding before our eyes." For context, "new deployments of nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe could station US and Russian nuclear weapons closer than at any time in history," writes Fihn. "This would not be a second Cuban missile crisis but a far more volatile situation." However, she sees hope for de-escalation in the UN's Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Putin's allegation: A separate New York Times story reports that Putin is making the case that Ukraine is the one posing a potential nuclear threat. Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal when the Soviet Union collapsed, but Putin is backing a "conspiracy theory" that "Ukraine and the United States are secretly plotting to put nuclear weapons back into the country," per the Times. As Putin himself put it earlier this week: "Ukraine intends to create its own nuclear weapons, and this is not just bragging. The story digs into the related international pact that emerged when the USSR fell, the Budapest Memorandum. The BBC also fact-checks Putin's statement.

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  President Biden imposed more sanctions on Russia Thursday, including on major banks and individuals with ties to the Kremlin, reports the Hill. Vladimir Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences," said Biden at an afternoon news conference about the Ukraine invasion, per the New York Times. Some other key lines and points, from outlets including the Washington Post, the AP, and Axios.

The aim: Putin has much larger ambitions than Ukraine," said Biden. "He wants to, in fact, re-establish the former Soviet Union. That what this is about."

Putin has much larger ambitions than Ukraine," said Biden. "He wants to, in fact, re-establish the former Soviet Union. That what this is about." US troops: Biden said he was authorizing more US troops to deploy to Europe but reiterated a key point: Let me say it again: Our forces are not and will not be engaged in a conflict with Russia in Ukraine. Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO allies and reassure those allies in the east. As I made crystal clear, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power.

Sanctions' pain: The new sanctions "are going to impose severe costs on the Russian economy both immediately and over time," said the president. "We have purposely designed these sanctions to maximize a long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies." In response to a question, he said the impact on Americans would be short-lived "as long as we continue to stay resolved. He also pledged the sanctions would not disrupt the oil markets, though oil prices were surging.

The new sanctions "are going to impose severe costs on the Russian economy both immediately and over time," said the president. "We have purposely designed these sanctions to maximize a long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies." In response to a question, he said the impact on Americans would be short-lived "as long as we continue to stay resolved. He also pledged the sanctions would not disrupt the oil markets, though oil prices were surging. From the AP: "Biden, for now, held off imposing some of the most severe sanctions, including cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, which allows for the transfers of money from bank to bank around the globe, or Russia's energy sector."

"Biden, for now, held off imposing some of the most severe sanctions, including cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, which allows for the transfers of money from bank to bank around the globe, or Russia's energy sector." No bullies: "This aggression cannot go unanswered and if it did the consequences for America would be much worse," said Biden. "America stands up to bullies. We stand up to freedom."

"This aggression cannot go unanswered and if it did the consequences for America would be much worse," said Biden. "America stands up to bullies. We stand up to freedom." China: Is he urging China to rein in Putin? Biden said he was "not prepared to comment" on that for now.

(Read more President Biden stories.)
(Newser)  It was among the most worrying developments on an already shocking day, as Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday: warfare at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, where radioactivity is still leaking 36 years after history's worst nuclear disaster. Russian forces took control over the site after a fierce battle with Ukrainian national guards protecting the decommissioned plant, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told the AP. The condition of the plant's facilities, a confinement shelter, and a repository for nuclear waste is unknown, he said. An official said Russian shelling hit a radioactive waste repository, and an increase in radiation levels was reported. The increase could not be immediately corroborated.

A senior American intelligence official said the US believes Russian forces at Chernobyl were aiming to push to Kyiv, about 80 miles south of the plant, to link with other Russian forces. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a 1,000-square-mile swath of forest surrounding the shuttered plant, lies between the Belarus-Ukraine border and the Ukrainian capital. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian officers fought to defend it "so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated." He called it a "declaration of war against the whole of Europe." Podolyak said "it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe." He warned that Russia could blame Ukraine for the damage or stage provocations from the site.

A Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser warned that any attack on the waste repository could send radioactive dust over "the territory of Ukraine, Belarus, and countries of the EU." The International Atomic Energy Agency appealed for restraint to avoid any action that may put Ukraine's nuclear facilities at risk. Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington said he is most worried about spent fuel stored at the site. If power to cooling pumps is disrupted or fuel storage tanks are damaged, the results could be catastrophic, he said. Reactor No. 4 at the power plant exploded and caught fire on April 26, 1986, shattering the building and spewing radioactive material high into the sky.

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
Shamokin, PA (17872)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. High 67F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
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What to think? Or how to think? Education and the modern era
MBABANE  The answer to the question as to what the E22 million National Dialogue budget is allocated for might be simpler than most people expected.

The Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, recently presented the budget speech before Parliament on February 18, 2022, and in the speech, he included an allocation of E22 million for the proposed National Dialogue. This amount sparked a debate on social media platforms concerning what it would specifically be used for. With some users questioning whether the National Dialogue budget could be supported by an implementation plan with timeframes. A questionnaire was sent to the minister of Finance on what the E22 million budget entailed and what it would specifically be used for. The minister was further questioned on what the basic budget commonly allocated for Sibaya was.

In response, the Ministry of Finance, through Communications Officer Setsabile Dlamini, stated that the E22 million was money set aside for the processes decided upon at Sibaya.

The budget was simply set aside for the processes that would be announced at Sibaya. These are engagements or activities which will follow, based on the resolutions or discussions at the Sibaya. The cost of these activities cannot be presumed, hence the allocation, she said. Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) President Sibongile Mazibuko, was reached for comment on how best this money set aside could be used to ensure the success of the proposed National Dialogue.

Exiles

She said their stance was that the incarcerated Members of Parliament (MPs) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza of Hosea and Mthandeni Dube of Ngwempisi, should be released from prison first and all political exiles should be allowed to return to the country, then can the money be allocated to processes which will follow the National Dialogue. The money should be used to train those who will negotiate during the dialogue, and this exercise can happen either within or outside the country. It should also be directed towards financing an independent venue, preferably outside of the country, said Mazibuko. She mentioned that the E22 million should also finance independent facilitators who were not locals and whom the relevant stakeholders, government representatives and progressives, had agreed upon.

The body or whoever will chair the negotiations should also receive funding, as well as an allocation to other unforeseen expenses that are inherent in any conflict, resulting from disagreements in the negotiations process, said Mazibuko. A lot of commentary on social media suggested that people were questioning how the ministry reached a consensus to allocate this amount for the National Dialogue, with some suggesting that the amount might be too high for this process alone.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Private schools can decide on their own with regard to offline classes in consultation with the parents, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The ministry shared the information on its Instagram page, where many parents have raised questions over the continuation of offline classes. The ministrys move is in line with the Kingdoms transition from Yellow Alert Level to Green Alert Level.

It is up to the private schools to decide in consultation with the parents over conducting offline classes, a ministry official said. The official said that parents definitely have a choice to send their children to schools or receive online education. Schools can set their own policy regarding the return to regular attendance education system, specifying the number of school days for students whose parents support offline classes. Schools can apply their own internal systems to strike a balance between offline and online classes.

The schools can also conduct studies and tests, both online and offline, except internal exams, where the students have to be physically present. Highlighting the need for all schools to strictly adhere to Covid protocols, she said a rapid antigen test should be done if any student develops symptoms at school after informing his/her parents.

If the guardian refuses for Covid test, the student must be isolated until the guardian comes to take him/her home. Students must wear masks and temperature should be checked upon entering the campus every day. Spraying of disinfectants must also be done by the school authorities on a regular basis.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

India-Bahrain First Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on healthcare cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Govt of India (GoI) and Ministry of Health, Govt. of Bahrain (GoB), was held virtually on 22 February.

The Indian delegation was led by Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, MoHFW and Dr Najat Mohamed Abulfateh, Director and Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health, Ministry of Health led the Bahraini delegation. Piyush Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Bahrain also attended the meeting. The JWG meeting discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical, medical devices and diagnostics.

In recent times, three bilateral B2B meetings and webinars  in Oct 2020, Dec 2021 and Feb 2022  have been organised to promote trade and investment in the field of pharmaceuticals and vaccines, including exploring possibilities of setting up JVs in Bahrain. Both sides also discussed the matter concerning harmonisation of drug approval processes to further promote bilateral trade in this sector.

Both sides also discussed possibilities for the exchange of medical professionals and experts and promotion of medical value travel between India and Bahrain. In this context, the need for mutual recognition and acceptance of each others medical degree was also deliberated upon.

Detailed presentations were made by each side on pandemic management in their countries. Both sides acknowledged the effective handling of Covid-19 in each others countries and shared best practices adopted by them, and agreed to continue cooperation in this critical area, both at bilateral and multilateral levels.

The meeting took place under the MoU on cooperation in the field of Healthcare signed between the two countries in July 2018. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to both sides to exchange views on many issues of common interest in the healthcare domain. Both sides noted the need for regular interaction, agreed to form subgroups and designate focal points on the agreed areas of common interest to take the cooperation forward in an effective and time-bound manner. Both sides also agreed to convene the next meeting of the JWG at the earliest at a mutually convenient time.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) has announced the return of The Sound & Light Show to Bahrain Fort, starting February 24, with weekly performances on Thursdays and Fridays.

The show will be conducted in English between 6:00 and 6:30 pm, followed by another in Arabic between 7:00 and 7:30 pm. Those wishing to attend may purchase tickets at Bahrain Fort Museum.

The show highlights Bahrains civilizations through a performance narrating the history of the land through an audio-visual experience of the past, adding an aesthetic dimension to the first Bahraini archaeological site registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
BUHLENI  In an incident that has shocked teachers, a pupil at Mcuba Primary School near Buhleni stabbed another in the back.

*Girly, who is said to be about 13 years old, allegedly stabbed *Boy, who is also of the same age. The stabbing is said to have happened inside a classroom yesterday when the pupils returned from break-time. It is alleged that trouble started on Tuesday when Girly called Boy by a nickname he did not like. Boy is said to have retaliated by slapping Girly for calling him by the nickname.

Slapping

The girl is said to have reported the slapping incident after which Boy was punished for it. It is alleged that Boy was given three strokes for slapping Girly. However, Girly is said to have been unhappy with this punishment. She is alleged to have complained that the punishment was mild and that Boy should have been given 15 strokes at least. On the following day, Girly is said to have arrived at school with a knife from her home. During break-time yesterday, the pupils had their meals, but when they returned to class, just before the teacher arrived in the classroom, Girly is said to have produced the knife and allegedly stabbed Boy in the back. Girly is said to have blamed her act on bullying, adding that despite her reporting the incident and other similar one in the past, Boy was not punished. However, this publication gathered that Boy had been punished using corporal punishment.

After the stabbing, Boy was rushed to Mkhuzweni Health Centre, which is near the school. He is said to have been treated and discharged from the hospital on the same day. It was gathered that the kitchen knife that the girl used was seemingly blunt. The matter was also reported at Buhleni Police Post where Girly was also taken. It was gathered that the girl was taken to the police with her parents and that the boys parent was also present. Some of the parents blamed the incident on the lack of corporal punishment, adding that pupils were now free to do anything without the fear of being punished. They said the school did not promote corporal punishment except in serious instances.

Police

The schools deputy head teacher, whose name could not be easily ascertained, confirmed the incident, but added that the matter was being handled by the police. When asked about corporal punishment, she said the school had not completely abandoned it, but that it was used in some instances as suggested by the parents. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni, confirmed the incident. She said the police were still working on the matter as the victim had just returned from the hospital.

*Pseudonyms used to protect minors
Ever wanted to eat a dozen donuts at once?

That dream is now a reality at the Mohegan Suns recently opened Crafty Stir Cafe.

The cafe is offering a colossal one-pound donut along with other boozy and Instagrammable indulgent treats.

The donut concept started with a picture of a little boy at Walt Disney World with a giant pink-frosted, sprinkled donut. That little boy is the son of the Mohegan Suns Director of Fine Dining Chris Greaney, and the picture was from a recent trip the Greaney family took to Orlando. When Greany began to think of concepts for The Crafty Stir, that massive pink Disney World donut kept poking at the back of his mind.

How can we make something that is differentiating the guests' experience? Greaney said. A couple of answers to that is to make an iconic... beverage offering as well as iconic food.

With that idea in mind, Greaney challenged Executive Patry Chef Lynn Mansel to make this donut, and after several recipe testing endeavors, they landed on the current iteration.

(The donut) is a statement piece. Its like where did you get that? and it bring people right back to The Crafty Stir, Greaney said. Anyone can walk around with a coffee cup, not everyone is walking around with a one-pound donut and lugging it around.

The donut isnt the cafes only statement piece. The Crafty Stir offers massive cupcakes with seasonal flavors.

All of the cafes pastries can also include a barista bomb for $5, which is an infusion of alcohol to make any pastry boozy. Greany mentioned infusing Gran Marnier into an orange chocolate cupcake or vanilla vodka inside the enormous donut.

The cafe also serves boozy coffee drinks like the Kentucky Coffee with Jim Beam Honey, The Cafe Caribbean with Bacardi Spiced Rum and Amaretto or the Caramel Irish with Jameson and Caramel Schnapps.

The Crafty Stir is open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday at The Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville.
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After a slight increase on Tuesday, the COVID positivity rate dropped Wednesday, state figures show.

On Wednesday, the state reported a positivity rate of 3.48 percent with 540 new COVID cases among 15,529 new tests. The positivity rate was slightly less than the 3.51 percent reported on Tuesday.

The positivity rate, a key metric used by officials to gauge the pandemic, has steadily held at levels seen before the highly infectious omicron variant arrived in Connecticut in December.

Hospitalization numbers, which were flat on Tuesday, dropped by a net of six patients on Wednesday for a total of 255, the lowest figure since 247 hospitalizations were reported on Nov. 19.

Hospitalizations, another key measure, have been continually declining since reaching some of the highest levels seen in the pandemic early last month.

According to the state, of those hospitalized, 51.4 percent were not fully vaccinated.

The latest figures Wednesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 81.8 percent of Connecticuts eligible residents are vaccinated  about 2.76 million people. Of those fully vaccinated, about 51 percent have received a booster shot for the vaccine.
MBABANE  Zwelibandzi Simelane, who allegedly killed his lover, Nhlangano NERCHA Manager Sharon Neves, says he is surprised to be charged with her murder.

He denied committing the offence and said he was confident that he would be acquitted when the matter went to trial. This is contained in an application that Simelane has filed at the High Court to be released on bail. The Crown opposed the application yesterday. It is yet to file its reasons for opposing Simelanes bail application. The accused was arrested on or around February 9, 2022, by Nhlangano police. He was accused of unlawfully and intentionally killing Neves by assaulting her with a blunt object on the body.

Surprised

I deny any such wrong doing and I am also surprised. I have full confidence in that I will be acquitted when the matter is tried, said Simelane. He informed the court that he was currently kept at Nhlangano Correctional Services, where it was difficult for him to survive. He said his health condition was so bad that it was unbearable for him to stay in a cold place. According to Simelane, he suffered from a disease that affected his brain such that it caused him headaches and blurred his vision. He alleged that he had been to a number of health facilities in and outside Eswatini. Simelane told the court that he was once admitted in hospital for the same sickness in February 2013. In 2013, according to Simelane, he was then funded by Phalala Fund to conduct an operation in his head in the Republic of South Africa at Healthshare Hospital.

The operation was also visible on the top right side of my head. I humbly submit that I live with a vp shunt (pipe) inserted in my head during the operation, which is to drain acid water from my brain to my bladder. The acidic water that is flooding my brain is caused by the disease I have. That same acidic water causes headaches, drowsiness and blurred vision, he told the court. Simelane also told the court that a person with his condition should be treated with care. He submitted that the conditions under which he stayed in prison exposed his wounds sustained during the operation. He alleged that he experienced seizures and memory loss sometimes. It was further submitted by the accused person that he had some documentation to support that indeed he visited health institutions due to his disease for treatment. The documents, according to Simelane, proved the steps he took to deal with the sickness.

Request

I have since written to the Ministry of Health, precisely to the Principal Secretary, to request for my medical record issued when I was funded by Phalala Fund to conduct an operation in South Africa, although I do not know when this will be attended to as I can support my evidence, he submitted. Neves was found dead in her apartment at Nkhanini Township/Phola in Nhlangano. Preliminary findings of the police suggested that she was assaulted with a heavy metal object all over her body. Simelane (33) was arrested after police investigators connected him to the gruesome murder of Neves (43), who was Shiselweni Regional Coordinator of the National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS.
Last year Abilitech partnered with the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, based in Vancouver, to help scale its device for mass commercialization.

"We're proud to have entered the Canadian marketplace, effectively immediately," said Angie Conley, founder and CEO of Abilitech Medical. "There are many individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis and other neuromuscular disorders who will benefit from our assistive technology, and are anxious to perform daily activities like eating, brushing teeth and opening doors."

The Abilitech Assist, introduced in the U.S. last year, is the first and only powered orthotic device to include assistance at the elbow and the shoulder. The externally worn product uses a combination of custom-calibrated springs, motors and firmware to provide functional independence to patients who have lost movement of their arms. It can help users lift objects up to 12 ounces and supports range of motion at the shoulder and elbow.

Interested patients and their caregivers are invited to learn more and register for a free, confidential telehealth evaluation at www.abilitechmedical.com/contact. Clinicians, physical and occupational therapists and rehabilitation professionals can contact [email protected] to inquire about the device and learn how to bring it to their populations.

"We're excited to build connections and demonstrate outcomes with clinicians and patients throughout Canada," said Conley. "Our device is intuitive and easy to use, can be leveraged in numerous settings and benefits families as well as patients by lessening the burden of care."

About Abilitech Medical

Abilitech Medical brings innovative solutions to market that allow people living with upper-limb neuromuscular conditions that prevent their arms to function independently. The company's first product, the Abilitech Assist, is a one-of-a-kind powered orthotic device that provides functional assistance and support to both the elbow and the shoulder, and improves the lives of those affected by neuromuscular weakness.

SOURCE Abilitech Medical

For further information: Beth LaBreche, (612) 578-2834, [email protected]
"Tim Hortons has been a beloved taste of Canada since 1964 and we're really excited to be re-imagining some of our most popular flavours as ice creams," said Sourabh Malik, Vice President of CPG at Tim Hortons.

"Canadians are going to love Tim Hortons Ice Cream and how we've brought our unique, only-at-Tims tastes to a new dimension. These new ice cream pints are bursting with inclusions like caramel, apple and chocolate donut pieces."

Tim Hortons Ice Cream expands the Tims brand's footprint in grocery stores, where Canadians can already pick up Tims soups, breakfast cereals, granola bars and, of course, make-at-home coffees and other hot beverages.

Tim Hortons Ice Cream will be available at grocery stores across Canada in the weeks ahead, including at Co-Op, Loblaws (Maxi, No-Frills, Real Canadian Super Store, Provigo, Loblaws Great Food, Fortinos and Your Independent Grocery), Longo's, Metro (Ontario), Sobeys/Safeway and Walmart.

About Tim Hortons

In 1964, the first Tim Hortons restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario opened its doors and Canadians have been ordering Tim Hortons iconic Original Blend coffee, Double-Double coffees, Donuts and Timbits in the years since. Over the last 55 years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of Canadians and has become synonymous with serving Canada's favourite coffee. Tim Hortons is Canada's largest restaurant chain operating in the quick service industry with more than 4,000 restaurants across the country. More than a coffee and bake shop, Tim Hortons is part of the Canadian fabric and guests can enjoy hot and cold specialty beverages  including lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, teas and our famous Iced Capps  alongside delicious breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more. Tim Hortons has more than 5,000 restaurants in Canada, the United States and around the world. For more information on Tim Hortons visit TimHortons.ca

SOURCE Tim Hortons

For further information: For further information please reach out to [email protected]
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a special military operation to protect Donbas, the separatist-held region in eastern Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday. Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize the country. This comes hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has not posed and will not pose a threat to Russia.

Here are the live updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis:

[FEB 24,2022 18:42]

Russia warns media about what is published on situation in eastern Ukraine

Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor on Thursday said media outlets must check the veracity of their reports about the situation in eastern Ukraine and only publish information from official Russian sources.

[FEB 24,2022 18:02]

Indian embassy in Ukraine asks nationals to stay in bomb shelters

Movement of people is now difficult in Ukraine as it is under martial law and those hearing air sirens and bomb warnings should find nearby bomb shelters, the Indian embassy in Kyiv said in a fresh advisory to Indians there. As you are aware, Ukraine is under martial law, which has made movement difficult, it said.

[FEB 24,2022 17:22]

EU to hit Russiawith new sanctions over barbaric attack on Ukraine

European Union leaders will impose new sanctions on Russia, freezing its assets, halting its banks access to European financial markets and targeting Kremlin interests over its barbaric attack on Ukraine, senior officials said on Thursday.

[FEB 24,2022 17:07]

Catastrophe for the continent: Boris Johnson on Russia-Ukraine conflict

This is a catastrophe for our continent.



I will make an address to the nation this morning on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.



I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible.  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 24, 2022

[FEB 24,2022 16:47]

PM Modi to chair a meeting with defence, foreign and home minister on Ukraine-Russia crisis

[FEB 24,2022 16:45]

Nepal urges all sides to exercise restraint

Noting that Nepal opposes any use of force against a sovereign country in any circumstance, the Himalayan nation on Thursday called on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint not to escalate tension.

The Government of Nepal has been closely following the developments in Ukraine. Nepal calls on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint not to escalate tension, Nepals Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

[FEB 24,2022 16:25]

Ukraine attack An act of great evil says Anglican leader

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the worlds highest-ranking Anglican cleric, called Russias attack on Ukraine an act of great evil.

[FEB 24,2022 16:15]

Moldova closing airspace over Russias Ukraine invasion

Moldova said on Thursday it was closing its airspace in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, while Belarus said it was shutting part of its airspace, reports news agency AFP.

[FEB 24,2022 15:50]

More than 40 Ukraine soldiers, nearly 10 civilians killed: Ukraine President

More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers and around 10 civilians died in the first hours of Russias invasion of Ukraine, an aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Thursday.

[FEB 24,2022 15:20]

Ukraine breaks diplomatic ties with Russia

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday broke off Kyivs diplomatic relations with Moscow in response to Russias invasion of its Western-backed neighbour, reports news agency AFP. We broke off diplomatic relations with Russia, Zelensky said in a video message.

[FEB 24,2022 15:06]

China dismisses Russian military action in Ukraine as invasion

Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, dismissed a foreign journalists description of Russian military action in Ukraine as an invasion. Addressing a regular daily briefing on , Chunying said China has called for all parties involved in the Ukraine situation to exercise restraint.

[FEB 24,2022 14:46]

Ukraine clams they killed around 50 Russian occupiers, reports AFP

Ukraine has said that it killed around 50 Russian occupiers, reported news agency AFP.

[FEB 24,2022 14:40]

Explosion reported at Mariupol airport

An explosion has been reported at the airport in Mariupol, the second largest city in the Donetsk region in Eastern Ukraine.

[FEB 24,2022 14:36]

EU Ambassadors meet to discuss Ukraine situation

Ambassadors of European Union nations kickstart their emergency meeting.

[FEB 24,2022 14:26]

Carry passport, documents at all times: India suggests nationals in Ukraine

The Indian embassy in Ukraine issued a second advisory Thursday, informing that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian nationals in the wake of the closure of Ukrainian airspace.

[FEB 24,2022 14:08]

UN chief made statements not compatible with his statussays Russian FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused UN chief Antonio Guterres of being susceptible to pressure by the West and making statements on Ukraine that are not compatible with his status. Lavrov made these remarks during the opening talks with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen Wednesday, Russias official TASS news agency reported.

[FEB 24,2022 13:38]

Poland Calls For Emergency NATO Consultations

Poland asked NATO to activate Article 4, which calls for emergency consultations if a member is threatened, after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. Polands ambassador in Brussels, where NATO is based, submitted a request to the NATO secretary general, together with a group of allies, Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller revealed.

[FEB 24,2022 13:34]

Ukraine central bank limits withdrawals

Ukraines central bank governor says they have limited cash withdrawals from accounts to 100,000 Hryvnia (Ukranian currency) per day.

[FEB 24,2022 13:17]

Russians armed forces entering Ukraines Kharkiv region

#RussiaUkraineConflict Visuals of Russian Armed forces entering Ukraine's Kharkiv region. pic.twitter.com/7aDhLlc9K0  NewsX (@NewsX) February 24, 2022

[FEB 24,2022 13:10]

Moscow stock market plunges nearly 29%

[FEB 24,2022 12:56]

7 killed, 9 injured in shelling, says Ukraine

Ukraine said that at least 7 people have been killed, 9 wounded by Russian shelling, according to a Reuters report.

[FEB 24,2022 12:42]

US embassy announces security alert for US nationals

[FEB 24,2022 12:35]

Smoke fumes out of a military installation near the airport, tanks move into the city

Smoke fumes out of a military installation near the airport, tanks move into the city, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Mariupol: Reuters pic.twitter.com/UH42Rl05Er  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

[FEB 24,2022 12:27]

Russian-backed separatists say they now control two towns in the Luhansk region of Ukraine: Reuters

[FEB 24,2022 12:14]

India issues advisory, asks those travelling to Kyiv to return to their cities

The Indian embassy in Ukraine has issued a new advisory for citizens in Ukraine asking all those who are travelling to Kyiv to return to their cities, especially safer places along the western bordering countries.

All those who are travelling to Kyiv, incl those travelling from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries: Embassy of India in Kyiv, Ukraine #RussiaUkraineConflict pic.twitter.com/QAxAdK0FQ4  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

[FEB 24,2022 12:04]

Putin attacked, but no one is running away: Ukraine minister assures citizens

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba took to Twitter to assure citizens in the wake of the Russian attack.

To Ukrainians around the globe:



Putin attacked, but no one is running away. Army, diplomats, everyone is working. Ukraine fights. Ukraine will defend itself. Ukraine will win.



Share the truth about Putins invasion in your countries and call on governments to act immediately.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022

[FEB 24,2022 11:54]

China tells Chinese nationals in Ukraine to stay at home as precaution

The Chinese embassy in Ukraine Thursday told its nationals in Ukraine to stay put at home as a precautionary measure, following the bombings of some Ukrainian cities and deployment of military operations in the country.

[FEB 24,2022 11:44]

Ukraines military infrastructure neutralised, says Russia

Ukraine military says five Russian planes and a Russian helicopter were shot down in Luhansk region, reports Reuters. Meanwhile, Russian defence ministry said that Ukrains air bases and military infrastructure has been neutralised, reports IFX news agency.

[FEB 24,2022 11:42]

5 Russian planes, a helicopter shot down, says Ukraine

Ukraine military says five Russian planes and a Russian helicopter were shot down in Luhansk region, reports Reuters.

[FEB 24,2022 11:32]

Ukrainian President announces martial law in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday morning introduced martial law, urging citizens to remain calm amid Russias military operations.

[FEB 24,2022 11:25]

Ukraines military says it shot down a Russian aircraft

Ukrainian officials also said Russian artillery shelling of border positions is ongoing

[FEB 24,2022 11:22]

Russia rules out any threat to Ukrainian civilians

Russia has ruled out any threat to Ukrainian civilians as it carries out military operations in the country, local media reported.

[FEB 24,2022 11:20]

Air Raid Sirens Ring In Centre Of Kyiv Amid Russian Invasion

Air raid sirens rang out in downtown Kyiv on Thursday as cities across Ukraine were hit with what Ukrainian officials said were Russian missile strikes and artillery, reported AFP.

[FEB 24,2022 11:12]

UK and its allies will respond decisively- Boris Johnson

The UK and its allies will respond decisively to Russias unprovoked attack on Ukraine, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday. Taking to his Twitter handle, Johnson said that he is appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively, he stated.

[FEB 24,2022 10:50]

Canada condemns Russias move

Condemning Russias military operation in eastern Ukraine, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday called on Moscow to withdraw all military from the country. Canada condemns  in the strongest possible terms  Russias egregious attack on Ukraine. These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of Russias obligations under international law and the Charter of the UN, Trudeau tweeted.

[FEB 24,2022 10:40]

Air India flight returns to Delhi from Ukraine

Air India flight returns to Delhi as Ukraine closes airspace amid Russian attack

[FEB 24,2022 10:30]

Stop the war: Ukrainian envoy appeals to UN members

The Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations has appealed to its members to stop the war at an emergency meeting of the Security Council late on Wednesday

[FEB 24,2022 10:06]

Explosions heard near Kievs main airport

Multiple explosions were heard near the main airport in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev soon after Russia announced a military operation in Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday.

[FEB 24,2022 10:03]

Full-scale invasion launched, Ukrainian cities under strikes, says Ukraine Foreign Minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, announced the countrys Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday and added that Ukrainian cities are under strikes. Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now, Kuleba tweeted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a special military operation to protect Donbas, the separatist-held region in eastern Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday. Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize the country. This comes hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has not posed and will not pose a threat to Russia.

In an emotional appeal delivered largely in Russian, Zelenskyy said You are being told that Ukraine can pose a threat to Russia. It was not like this in the past, it is not like this now and it will not be so in the future. You demand security guarantees from NATO. We also demand guarantees of our security  from you, from Russia, and other guarantors of the Budapest memorandum, Zelenskyy said in a video address. Ukrainian President also refuted Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

The White House warned on Wednesday that Putin will face significant consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine.

Meanwhile, an emergency session of the UN Security Council on the prevailing situation in Ukraine is underway.

Ukraine requested an urgent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Meet after Heads of the Ukraine breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, have asked the Russian President for help. Putin has also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraines breakaway regions. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions amid the escalating situation at the countrys borders.
West Haven Police / Contributed

WEST HAVEN  A man was charged Thursday in connection with an incident where he allegedly pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot a store employee during an argument, according to police.

At about 4:30 a.m., officers served a search warrant at a Third Avenue home in connection with an investigation into a verbal argument at Krauszers at 111 Elm St. where the person showed a gun and threatened to shoot the employee, who was working alone in the store at the time.
MBABANE  No sooner had Hosea and Ngwempisi Members of Parliament (MPs) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, left the High Court, some of their supporters and the police were involved in a confrontation.

The MPs supporters included members of different political organisations. The misunderstanding started after some of the supporters started singing and demonstrating in the middle of the road leading to the High Court. So serious was the situation that senior police officers called leaders of the different political parties, requesting them to advise their members to move to the side of the road to allow free flow of traffic. A number of cars either leaving the High Court or passing by, including that of the registrar of the High Court, had difficulty passing where the supporters had assembled. Some motorists had to honk, much to the jubilation of the supporters who then allowed them to pass. One leader who was engaged by the police was PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya, who told them that the supporters wanted to briefly march closer to the main entrance of the High Court and back, but the police officers could hear none of it.

Firearms

The police officers who were armed with batons and firearms used shields to form a barrier line across the road, to prevent the supporters from moving closer to the gate. During the course of the confrontation, some of the supporters were seen charging towards the police officers, shouting expletives and they were restrained by the other members and their leaders.

They said they did not take orders from the police. Channel S journalist Justice Dlamini, who is always with the MPs supporters, was shoved with the barrel of a gun by one of the officers after a confrontation between the two. At that time, the police officers were trying to clear the road by ordering everyone to move to the side. Dlamini was angered by the conduct of the officer as he said he did not understand what warranted such because he had done nothing wrong. He was later calmed by Mbabane Desk Officer Makhanya.

The reporter was overheard saying he did not understand why the police officer was shoving him as he had done nothing wrong. One of the senior police officers was heard telling Dlamini that due to the behaviour of the supporters and the members of the different political parties, they would not allow them to assembly at the entrance of the High Court today.

The situation almost reached boiling point when the convoy transporting the MPs back to prison approached the entrance of the High Court.

Blocked

Some of the supporters attempted to get closer to the entrance, but were blocked by the armed officers who informed them that they would not be allowed to go beyond where they had assembled. The situation was later calmed by the arrival of Sicelo Mngomezulu, the South African lawyer who also forms part of the legal team of the MPs, who called for calm before addressing the visibly angry supporters. Mngomezulu also thanked the police for exercising restraint during the confrontation. Among the supporters was an elderly woman from Hosea, Gogo Mathunjwa, who said she was pained by the arrest of the MPs, especially Mabuza, who was like a father to them in the community. She said she would continue coming to the High Court until the duo was exonerated, as the charges against them were allegedly trumped up. She further stated that in the absence of Mabuza, they slept on empty stomachs as he used to buy them food and provided them with other necessities.
Eight people are facing federal charges related to distributing fentanyl, heroin, crack and cocaine in the New Haven area, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

In an investigation into seven New Haven residents, as well as one New York and New Jersey resident, law enforcement seized 19 kilograms of cocaine, more than 7,000 bags of fentanyl and more than $780,000 in cash, according to U.S. Attorney Leonard Boyle.

On Feb. 15, a grand jury in New Haven charged Jashon Spearman, also known as J and Deuce, 33, of New Haven; James Hillard, 64, of New York and New Jersey; Henry Horton, also known as Bodie, 39, of New Haven; Jayquan Martinez, also known as Neighbor and Quan, 20, of New Haven; Kishon Shields, also known as L.A. and Key, 24, of New Haven; Rayquan Gory, also known as Wavy, 26, of New Haven; Jeremiah Hargrove, also known as Myers and Miah, 39, of New Haven; and Tiffany Brown, also known as Tiff, 39, of New Haven.

In the fall of 2021, law enforcement began investigating Spearman and others on suspicion of distributing narcotics in and around the West Hills neighborhood in New Haven. The investigation revealed Hillard was supplying Spearman with heroin and fentanyl. Spearman was also receiving kilograms of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from a source in Puerto Rico, Boyles office said.

Investigators arrested Spearman and Hillard after they met in the Bronx, N.Y. on Feb. 4, 2022. At the time, law enforcement found more than 7,000 folds of suspected heroin/fentanyl and about $30,000 in cash in Hillards car, according to Boyles office.

A few days later, on Feb. 8, investigators executed search warrants at several locations, including a home on Ward Street where Spearman allegedly distributed narcotics. There, law enforcement seized cash, several money counters and numerous cellphones, according to Boyles office.

Investigators also searched vehicles that Spearman was suspected of using to store narcotics. Law enforcement found 19 kilograms of cocaine in a minivan, as well as more than $750,000 in cash, assorted jewelry and fentanyl in another vehicle registered to him. Through the search, investigators also seized five firearms, Boyles office said.

A grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment on Feb. 15 charging the eight defendants with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute various quantities of fentanyl, heroin, crack and cocaine, according to Boyles office.

Spearman, Horton, Martinez, Shields and Gory were charged with additional narcotics offenses, Boyles office said.

Spearman potentially faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years that could go up to life in prison if he is convicted of the most serious charges in the indictment. Hillard faces a mandatory minimum prison term of five years that could go up to 40 years, and Horton, Martinez, Shields, Gory, Hargrove and Brown face maximum prison terms of 20 years, according to Boyles office.

Law enforcement arrested Horton, Martinez, Shields, Gory, Hargrove and Brown on Feb. 17, according to Boyles office.

The investigation was conducted by the FBIs New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, as well as the New Haven, Milford, East Haven and West Haven police departments, Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction.

We understand the frustration at times expressed by community members about the drug activity within their neighborhoods, said FBI Special Agent David Sundberg. This case is the response to some of those demands for action by residents.

The severe impact of this case will be felt for some time thanks to the coordinated efforts of all of our law enforcement partners, Sundberg added.
NEW HAVEN  State and local officials distributed masks and coronavirus tests at the Bella Vista housing complex on Eastern Street Thursday, offering residents tools to help safeguard themselves as the coronavirus pandemic nears the two-year mark.

Alder Renee Haywood, D-11, a resident of the complex, said she had partnered with fellow alders, officials from the Department of Public Health and New Haven Rising, among others, to organize the distribution effort, which attracted scores of people looking to receive the health safety tools.

I think that its needed, said Haywood, noting the chance to help out staffers, as well as her neighbors. All these people are entwined with the people that live here.

Nalley Acosta and Aidee Nieves, both regional coordinators of the state health departments health equity program, said the gathering was part of a larger effort across Connecticut, as the state seeks to partner with residents and trusted messengers to share pandemic safety measures.

Its about building a partnership (to help get to people in need), said Acosta.

Eleazar Lanzot, key leader with New Haven Rising, said the group had been working with the state to get masks and tests to the community, especially in hard-hit areas. The effort was in keeping with the groups mission of aiding residents and fighting discrimination, he said.

We really want to help out the community and address some of the injustices that have been done, said Lanzot. This is one way we try to help.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, city Health Director Maritza Bond and state Rep. Al Paollilo, D-New Haven, also in attendance, expressed their support for the endeavor.

Bysiewicz praised Haywood for helping putting together the event, and those in attendance for wearing masks.

This is something that came from the community, said Bysiewicz. This is going to be what continues to keep us safe.

She said she hoped the event spurred people to discuss the importance of vaccination with children and young adults in their families, noting the Lamont administration was ending the statewide mask mandate as of Feb. 28.

Paolillo said the beginning of the pandemic felt like a long time ago, but that it was important to maintain safety measures.

I think during this time we want to continue to stay safe and healthy, said Paolillo. I think thats really the message today  to continue to protect each other.

Bond said the city was continuing monitoring efforts, including considering city wastewater, as the number of coronavirus cases in the city and at local hospitals trend downward after the rise of the omicron variant.

According to the state, 68 people were hospitalized with coronavirus in New Haven County as of Thursday. As of Feb. 17, there were 92 people hospitalized; as of Feb. 10, 150.

Bond asked residents to remain vigilant at this stage and continue to take appropriate precautions. The city, in conjunction with DPH, continues to offer PCR coronavirus testing, she noted.

Haywood said the event demonstrated that people were paying attention to the news and taking steps to aid one another. Asked why she wanted to organize the gathering Thursday, she pointed to the simple utility of it.

The life you save may be your own  no telling, said Haywood. You can help everybody and it doesnt take much.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

NEW CANAAN  A New Haven man was charged Thursday in connection with a stolen BMW taken from New Canaan and recovered in New Haven, according to police.

Officers took a complaint on Jan. 18 of a stolen BMW that was taken from North Wilton Road. Soon after, it was found in New Haven. Around the time the BMW was taken from New Canaan, another vehicle was stolen in Wilton, police said.
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WEST HAVEN  Life for Aniello Cappetta was defined by a deep love for family.

His four children said that, in addition to the deep love and commitment Cappetta gave to them and his nine grandchildren, regular customers of his iconic Allingtown restaurant Cappettas Italian Imports and Catering also were family.

Cappetta died at home Monday following years of health concerns. He was 73.

I think he always had a passion for cooking, said son Donato Cappetta. They say Sunday dinner is important in families, but that was pretty much every day for him. He thought food brings people together.

Although food was important to Aniello Cappetta, his son said the part of owning a restaurant where his father thrived best was in working the front of the house, making conversation with anyone and everyone who walked through the door of the restaurant.

Aniello Cappetta and his wife, Palma, did pretty much everything together, Donato Cappetta said, opening their first restaurant in Ansonia in 1972 before selling it and moving to West Haven where they later opened an Italian video store across the street from what would become the future location of Cappettas, which opened in 1989.

Maria Spera, Donato Cappettas twin sister, said she and her siblings are appreciative that their parents  who were high school sweethearts in the Italian village of Acerno  moved to the United States to give their children a better life.

They started from the bottom up. They came here with nothing, she said.

Prior to following his wife to America on a boat, the first of his 13 siblings to emigrate from Italy, Cappetta served in the Italian Air Force and worked as a carpenter.

They made a lot of sacrifices to send us to college, working long hours, said daughter Rosa Armellino. He just wanted to be around us.

Spera said that sometimes meant traveling hours just to see a grandchild for one day. Although Cappettas health rapidly started to deteriorate in February, Donato Cappetta said his father remembered Valentines Day and managed to secretly order two-dozen roses to be delivered to his two daughters.

Although Cappetta was plagued by health problems in the final years of his life, his family said his indefatigable spirit resounded. After having a leg amputated in 2016 as a result of diabetes, Cappetta used a wheelchair for mobility, but that didnt stop him.

He did more things in a wheelchair than most able-bodied people do, said daughter-in-law Kristina Cappetta.

Donato Cappetta said it was exemplified by his fathers friendship with a University of New Haven crossing guard stationed on Route 1; it became the elder Cappettetas routine to speak with her for about 15 minutes daily. He also learned how to drive with one leg in a customized vehicle, which he used to travel interstate to see family.

Although the restaurant closed to diners the week of Aniello Cappettas death, the family continued to honor catering orders that had been made beforehand.

He made sure we followed up on everything we did, said son Luigi Cappetta.

Donato Cappetta said his father was kind-hearted but extremely firm and meticulous with the way he chose his words.

He was the type of guy who was a man of his word. When he said something, he meant it. A handshake meant a handshake, he said.

He said that also applied to fundraising requests and donating food to people in need.

In 2019, Aniello Cappetta was honored as West Havens Italian-American of the year, something his children said he was greatly proud of. He also was an avid card player and a member of several Italian-American civic organizations.

His oldest grandchild, Carmela Armellino, was born on his birthday  May 30. Every year for 26 years, they shared a party.

There was never a birthday cake that didnt have their names together, said Spera.

In the final days of his life, Aniello Cappetta was unable to eat, but he had a request.

On his deathbed he forced us to go out and make food and have people stay for dinner, Donato said. He wanted to be sure people visiting him were fed.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
LOBAMBA - What is the use of implementing a funeral cover for the elderly when they have nothing to eat while they are still alive?

This is one question which was posed by most Members of Parliament (MPs) during the budget speech debate at the House of Assembly yesterday. It has been revealed that government has budgeted E20 towards funeral cover for each elderly person in the country, starting from the next financial year. Eswatini has around 75 489 registered elderly in the system. This means, in total government will part with E1 509 780 towards the funeral cover per month.

Funeral

Government has considered the inclusion of the funeral cover for the elderly after His Majesty King Mswati III mentioned during the official Opening of the Fourth Session of the 11th Parliament that the elderly people should be well catered for. According to the MPs, the elderly grants should be increased first so that the elderly could live longer and manage to afford items such a medication so that they did not die early. It is good to have a funeral plan but as they live, what will they be eating? asked Somntongo MP. In jest, Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze asked why government did not just give the elderly flowers and gifts while they were still alive. He said increasing the elderly grants would increase the lifespan of the elderly as they would live longer and healthy.

Lamented

Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo also debated the issue, saying he received many calls from people who lamented that they would have wished to thank government for the funeral plan but would not as the same government did not provide them with something that would prolong life. The people are saying government is not providing medication in health facilities and are wondering why it cant use the money for the funeral cover, said Khumalo. In vernacular he said; Batsi hulumende ufunelani kufaka lemali ethuneni? Meanwhile, Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni likened the funeral plan to a son who did not support his mother for years and when she passed on, he purchased an expensive casket just to impress friends.

Myeni said the elderly should be provided with decent grants while they were still alive.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Cloudy. Periods of light rain this morning. High 59F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low near 40F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Adamawa State Police Command has nabbed two teenage boys for alleged rape. Thirteen-year-old Gambo Ali and 14-year-old Halidu Sani, who ...





The Adamawa State Police Command has nabbed two teenage boys for alleged rape.





Thirteen-year-old Gambo Ali and 14-year-old Halidu Sani, who are cattle breeders at Sirigira in Guyuk Local Government Area, are being held for allegedly raping the 13 and 14 years old girls.





The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, told newsmen in Yola that the girls were raped when they were returning from church service at 2pm on Saturday, the 19th of February 2022.





He added that the two suspects confessed to the crime, saying they were tempted.





According to the police spokesman, the boys said while rearing their cattle, they saw the girls and could not help going after them.





In a separate incident, 31-year-old Yaya Tizshe has allegedly defiled an 8-year-old girl at Viniklang, Girei Local Government Area of the state.





Tizshe who confessed to the crime, according to the police, claimed that he was tempted by the devil.





The man said it had become usual for kids in the vicinity to come to visit him as their uncle, and that on that fateful day, the little girl and her friends came to visit him.





He added that she jumped on his body to play with him and he took advantage of her.





Ngoroje said the minor, as well as the teenage girls similarly assaulted by the cattle breeders, were receiving medical attention.
The Head of Medical Records at the Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja, Mr Bassey Amah, on Wednesday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that a...

The Head of Medical Records at the Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja, Mr Bassey Amah, on Wednesday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, does not have medical records at the hospital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amah testified at the commencement of Fani-Kayodes trial for alleged forgery of a medical certificate to evade trial at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The former minister is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Led in evidence by Lead Prosecution Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, Amah said he was the chief custodian of medical records at the hospital.

He said that his duty was to collect vital medical information of patients.

The witness said that the embattled former aviation minister did not have any medical records with the hospital.

Mr Femi is not our patient and he does not have any medical record with us. The doctor that signed the report is not our doctor.

In fact, we do not have any Dr Tochukwu Eze at our hospital, he said.

The witness said that upon receiving a letter dated Oct. 3, 2021, from the EFCC to investigate the defendant, the hospital responded 10 days later.

Kubwa General Hospital received a letter dated Oct. 3, 2021, from EFCC to investigate the defendant, that he did not have a medical record with the hospital.

We sent a letter back with evidence on Oct. 13, 2021, to EFCC, that the defendant was never our patient.

The evidence tendered emanated from Kubwa General Hospital, Amah said.

Defence counsel, Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN), however, objected to tendering of the document, saying that the witness was not the maker of the documents.

My lord, I cannot see the name of the witness on the documents in reference to Sections 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act.

I, therefore, object to the evidence tendered, because the witness is not the maker, he said.

Responding, Oyedepo said that the documents to be tendered are public documents.

The documents are originals, and the witness is the maker of the documents.

I refer your lordship to Section 102 (3) of the Evidence Act which says an officer or official on duty is authorised to submit documents, he said.

Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe admitted the documents in evidence, saying that there was no need to bring the authors of the documents to the court for the documents to be admissible.

The judge noted that the witness testified that he was the Head of Medical Records of Kubwa General Hospital and that the letter was issued by the hospitals medical director.

In this case, I have certified that the witness in the box is competent to give evidence in court. I, therefore, admit the documents in evidence, Abike-Fadipe said.

The judge adjourned the case until Feb. 25 for the continuation of trial.

NAN reports that Fani-Kayode is facing a 12-count charge of procuring and execution of documents by false pretences, use of false documents, fabrication of evidence and use of fabricated evidence.

According to the EFCC, the defendant is also facing trial alongside Nenadi Usman, a former Minister of State for Finance before Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Federal High Court, Lagos on a 17-count charge of money laundering and diversion of N4.9 billion.

The trial of the duo has been stalled over alleged ill-health of Fani-Kayode.

The EFCC is alleging that medical reports presented by Fani-Kayode as proofs of his health status are fake.

The alleged offences violate Sections 88(1), 365(3), 366 and 369 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
The Imo Police Command, on Thursday, announced the restriction of movement of persons and goods between 6am and 3pm, over the forthcoming st...





The Imo Police Command, on Thursday, announced the restriction of movement of persons and goods between 6am and 3pm, over the forthcoming state constituency election scheduled to hold on Saturday, in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state.





The command, while expressing its readiness not to deviate from the tenets of impartiality and professionalism, said its operatives would not tolerate any act that would lead to breakdown of law and order, before, during and after the polls.





The Commissioner of Police, Imo state Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini, issued the directive in a statement signed by the command spokesman, Micheal Abattam and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Thursday.





The CP enjoined the people of the state, especially, residents of Ngo Okpala to be law-abiding and voluntarily comply with the order restricting unnecessary movement during the election period, unless those on essential duties.





The command further appealed to all and sundry to come out en mass with their valid PVCs to exercise their civic responsibility without fear of intimidation or harassment





The statement reads, The command is working assiduously with other security agencies to provide adequate security to ensure a level-playing ground for all the political parties and all eligible electorates to exercise their franchise peacefully.





All political parties, their flag bearers and supporters are advised to conduct themselves in a manner that will guarantee safety, smooth and peaceful conduct of the election.





Politicians and VIPs coming to exercise their franchise are to do so without their security orderlies.





Also, personnel of any security agency seen escorting any politician or VIP as orderlies will be arrested. Moreso, the use of sirens, canvassing or soliciting for votes during the election period is prohibited .





In the same vein, parents and guardians are equally advised to warn their children and wards to stay out of trouble during this period and they should not allow themselves to be used by any politicians to cause crisis in any act of thuggery, gangsterism and hooliganism.
Oleksii Arestovich, adviser to Ukraines president, says about 40 people have been killed so far in the Russian attack on the country. ...

Oleksii Arestovich, adviser to Ukraines president, says about 40 people have been killed so far in the Russian attack on the country.

The adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday many people have been wounded, according to Fox35.

The president had said Ukraine was ready to hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.

The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian, he said, asking all those who can defend the country to come to the interior ministrys assembly facilities.

In a televised address, Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russias demand to stop Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

He also said Russias attack on Ukraine was after rebels in eastern Ukraine asked the country for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian aggression.

A chilling video shows explosions lighting up the sky in Ukraine earlier on Thursday morning as Russian military forces invaded the country.

The explosions were seen near Kharkiv  a city with a population of roughly 1.4 million near the eastern border and approximately 300 miles from the capital city of Kyiv, Ukraine.

The attack elicited outrage from the international community with NATO holding talks on steps to take to tame Putins aggression.

US President Joe Biden described the attack as unprovoked and unjustified, and said the world will hold Russia accountable.
Nigerian Senate has said votes on the Constitution Review will be done electronically and will also be transmitted live on television stat...

Nigerian Senate has said votes on the Constitution Review will be done electronically and will also be transmitted live on television stations.

Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan stated this in his remark to close Wednesdays plenary.

Lawan directed the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to ensure the functionality of the electronic gadgets in the red chamber so as not to constitute any encumbrance during proceedings.

He insisted that no excuse will be entertained for the equipment in the chamber not to work effectively as the Constitution Review was a strategic legislative activity.

Distinguished Senators, we shall cast votes on Constitution Review from Tuesday next week which will last for two days.

The Chief of the Senate should ensure that all our electronic gadgets are properly checked and are functioning, he said.

The Constitution Review Report which was earlier laid on the floor of the chambers by the Constitution Review Committee Chairman and Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege on Wednesday would be deliberated for two days beginning from Tuesday 1st March to Wednesday 2nd.

The Constitution Review Report was laid on Wednesday on the floor of the Senate which was witnessed by the first lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari.
Former US President Donald Trump has praised Vladimir Putin for deploying Russian troops into Ukraine. Amid the escalating tension b...

Former US President Donald Trump has praised Vladimir Putin for deploying Russian troops into Ukraine.

Amid the escalating tension between Ukraine and Russia, on Tuesday, Putin ordered troops into separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine in what he called a peacekeeping mission.

The order came hours after he signed decrees recognising the independence of Moscow-backed breakaway territories of Ukraine  the Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic.

Commenting on Putins actions, Trump said it was genius and called the Russian leader very savvy for describing the troops as peacekeepers.

According to The New York Times, Trump, who spoke during a radio show, accused US President Joe Biden of failing to address Putins recognition of the breakaway territories.

I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said this is genius, Trump was quoted as saying.

Putin declares a big portion of Ukraine as independent. Oh, thats wonderful.

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Putin is now saying, Its independent, a large section of Ukraine. I said, How smart is that? And hes going to go in and be a peacekeeper.

Thats the strongest peace force Ive ever seen. We could use that on our southern border. There were more army tanks than Id ever seen. Theyre going to keep peace, all right. No, but think of it. Heres a guy whos very savvy.

The former US president had earlier said Russias invasion of Ukraine would not have happened if he were still in office.

Following Russias deployment of troops into Ukraine, the UK announced sanctions for five Russian banks and three of its wealthy individuals.

Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, said the sanctions were the first tranche and first barrage of measures in response to Russias actions.

Similarly, Biden had said the US will deploy additional troops and equipment to Baltic members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Eastern Europe.

Biden also said the US is implementing sanctions on two Russian financial institutions, adding that sanctions would also be imposed on Russias elites and their family members.

The US president has warned of more sanctions against Russia if Putin fails to withdraw his forces from Ukraine.
Two weeks to the end of his tenure, Governor Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, held a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at th...

Two weeks to the end of his tenure, Governor Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, held a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock.

The meeting has set tongues wagging, as social media users have been trying to speculate over the possible reason.

Some social media users said it may not be unconnected to the placing of the governor on watchlist by anti-graft agencies.

Recall that Obiano had previously announced that he would be going to the US to rest after his tenure as governor.

Obiano lived in the US, after his retirement with Texaco as a Chartered accountant, before he was called back home to serve as governor.

Last year, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had placed Obiano on its watchlist, alleging that he had questions to answer, and may possibly try to leave the country.

Incidentally, as at the time of the declaration, Obiano was overseas, and there were insinuations that he may never return home, but he returned to the country and called the bluff of those who were making insinuations about his attempt to escape.

Obiano told journalists that he had no question to answer, and more so, no reason to want to flea the country.

He reminded those who wanted to intimidate him that he was still the governor, and still had his immunity intact.
US President, Joe Biden, has pledged to announce new sanctions to punish Russia for the aggression against Ukraine that the international ...

US President, Joe Biden, has pledged to announce new sanctions to punish Russia for the aggression against Ukraine that the international community has expected for weeks but could not prevent through diplomacy.

Biden had on Tuesday announced the first tranche of sanctions on Russia, following its decision to recognise the independence of certain areas of Ukraines Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Recall that Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions.

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen.

Biden, in a written statement, condemned the unprovoked and unjustified attack, and promised that the U.S. and its allies would hold Russia accountable.

I will be meeting with the leaders of the G7, and the United States and our allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia.

We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, he assured President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine on phone.

The president said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday.

Tomorrow (Thursday), I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security.

We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance, he said.
LOBAMBA - Forget it!

This was a bold statement made by Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament Marwick Khumalo in reaction to the proposed plan by government to increase the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) tax by up to 36 per cent. This was during the debate of the budget speech in the House of Assembly yesterday where Khumalo, together with most MPs strongly, stated that they rejected the proposed taxation planed. Infact, the MPs said the current 33 per cent should be reduced. During his debate, MP Khumalo first made it known that he was shocked when the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, announced the increase in tax when he presented the budget speech last week. Khumalo said he expected the minister to announce a reduction of the tax. He said it was surprising that the minister said the increase was in line with the standards in neighbouring countries. Such, according to Khumalo, was far from the truth.

Reflected

Instead, he said his research reflected that in Lesotho, the tax stood at 30 per cent while in Mozambique it was 32 per cent. He said according to his analysis, the increase in Eswatini would be of about 9.1 per cent and that the justification forwarded by the minister was neither here nor there. Khumalo said the minister himself acknowledged that there were financial challenges, which meant that people were having it tough. He wondered how the people were then expected to afford the tax. I want to state that this plan wont make it. The minister will not get the support. He needs to reduce the tax so that the people can have money to spend. For years we have suffered from indirect taxation of 80 per cent on fuel. We are bleeding. Now they are coming for us with direct taxation. Honourable minister, forget it, Khumalo submitted.

He said it was clear that the minister was all about collecting revenue and on his mission he did so without considering those who would be affected. Also speaking on the taxation was KuMethula MP Derrick Masuku, who said since the budget speech was delivered last week, he had been hurting. The MP said the proposed increase of up to 36 per cent gave him sleepless nights as the people were already suffering because of the current 33 per cent. What is an issue is the fact that the tax is being increased while it is not the case when it comes to salaries. I am also concerned because emaSwati are taxed while in employment and then the little they receive as gratuity when they retire is also taxed. So it means they will die poor, Masuku said.

Challenges

He said he expected that since the people had already suffered due to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, their lives would be made better by reducing taxes.

Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze also criticised the proposed plan to increase the tax. He said perhaps the minister was just testing the waters and that since he had heard that there was an outcry, he would drop the plan. Sibandze said since the issue of tax affected everyone, there was danger that it would unite the enemies of government. He said government must be careful not to create an environment where the people would fight among themselves. Since he has heard the outcry, I trust that he will heed the warning shots, said Sibandze.

Lugongolweni MP Enos Magongo said he heard that for now the taxation increase was just a proposed plan. He said his proposal was that for now the plan should be shelved.

Meanwhile, Gege MP Musa Kunene said it was good that the proposed plan to increase taxes had come when the country was preparing for the national dialogue. He said the issue of taxation now needed to be debated on a platform such as a dialogue. Kukhanyeni MP Malavi Sihlongonyane also supported his colleagues, saying government should reconsider the decision to increase the tax. He concurred with some of his colleagues who said the proposed plan should be thrown out.

Elections

Meanwhile, Motshane MP Robert Magongo had his colleagues in stitches when he said the minister should have introduced the new taxes way back instead of now when the next elections were around the corner. Ngeke ucale wente loku nyalo sesiya elukhetfweni. Bangasibulala labantfu. Awusicolele nje, said Magongo. He submitted that the minister should just reduce the tax from the current 33 per cent. Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni also advised the minister to just throw the taxation plan out of the window. Lo-36 per cent ungamletsi la, said Myeni.

During the same debate, some of the MPs called for government to look into the issue of probase roads versus tarred ones. MP Khumalo said some people had observed that the probase was costing the country unnecessarily and said it would be wise to do a comparison so that government could make a wise decision. He also advised government not to allow prejudice.

Khumalo said in the country, the civil service was full of people who graduated in the local tertiary institutions and were aware that now and again there were strikes and protests by students. He said events such as the Black Wednesday were known and commemorated by the students and that there was nothing wrong with that.

Warning

He was reacting to a warning issued by government that students who participated in strikes could lose their scholarships. Khumalo said the students should be allowed to voice out their grievances, which in turn should be solved in a proper manner. On another note, following the passing on of Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Peter Bhembe, on Monday, the MPs observed a moment of silence to mourn his death yesterday. Speaker Petros Mavimbela sent his condolences to those who were close to Bhembe, Their Majesties and the nation at large, saying the minister was a hardworking man. Mavimbela informed MPs that information on preparations and dates for the funeral of the minister would be communicated in due course. Worth noting was that the Order Paper had some reports which were supposed to be tabled by the minister. At some point, there was confusion as it appeared that none of the Cabinet ministers had been assigned to take over the reins on behalf of the now deceased minister.

Reports

One of the reports that had to be tabled was the Eswatini Electricity Companys Annual Report, which was first in the Order Paper. Seeing that there was no minister to do the honours, Mavimbela advised that the item be skipped and the business of the day should continue. However, MP Khumalo stood up on a point of order and submitted that it made no sense not to have the report tabled as the MPs already had it in their possession. In the end, the Speaker called on the Prime Minister, Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, to select a minister to do the honours.

With yesterdays sittings focus on the budget speech, not all the MPs were able to debate. About 17 of them ended up not being given the chance and the Speaker assured that they will get their chance today.
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, has expressed outrage over the incessant activities of ...





Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, has expressed outrage over the incessant activities of unknown gunmen in Enugu State.





It was reported that Enugu has been in the news for the past few weeks following the rampaging activities of unknown gunmen, especially in some parts of the State.





The killings continued yesterday as residents filed out for the local government election.





They attached voting centres, killed about five persons and injured several others in the process.





In a statement issued on Thursday by the President-General of OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he said the killings were totally condemnable.





While describing it as an attack too many, he wondered why the perpetrators would descend on hapless Nigerians who came out to exercise their franchise.





Okwu said, we are in deep pains over the precious lives wasted again yesterday in the hands of some strange persons operating under the guise of unknown gunmen.





Within the past few weeks, several persons, including security operatives have also paid the supreme price. This is totally condemnable and unacceptable.





Igbo people are known to be peaceful people; they are known to be respecters of the sanctity of blood. This is why we are still at a loss on the motive and those behind this carnage.





Be that as it may, we are calling on the Enugu State Government to rise to the occasion. It does appear that the Federal Government controlled security apparatus are sitting on the fence. To this end, the State Government should step up action with both conventional and unconventional approach to tackle this menace once and for all.





We have had enough bloodshed in Enugu State and we say that enough is enough.





He called on aggrieved youths to come to the negotiating table as the current approach will not yield the desired results.





We are ready to midwife any negotiation that would bring about a lasting peace in Enugu State in particular and Igbo land in general.





Okwu further consoled victims of the gunmen attack at Abia cattle market, urging security agencies to carryout in-depth investigation before arriving at a conclusion.





He said there must be adequate compensation for the victims
Chairman of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem has said that they will reject the illegal deploym...





Chairman of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem has said that they will reject the illegal deployment of soldiers during the by-elections in Akpabuyo state and Ogoja-Yala federal constituencies this weekend.





He spoke on the allegation that Governor Ben Ayade went to the Commander of 13 Brigade of Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Everest Okoro on Thursday morning to request for mass deployment of soldiers for the two by-elections apparently to give his party confidence.





Addressing a news conference at the PDP office in Calabar, Ikem said, The resistance we are talking about is towards the deployment. We will protest to the appropriate quarters the illegal deployment of the Army for purposes of the election when there is no need for it.





When the deployment is not from the army high command. That is when the resistance will come up.





Ikem explained that there are legitimate ways soldiers, even other security agencies can be deployed, explaining that there is also an illegitimate way one can attempt to use them illegally to intimidate voters.





Ikem said that if the directive to deploy the army comes from the Chief of Army Staff, it is legitimate.





But if it is from the governor, we will resist, he said.





I have on good authority that the governor went personally to meet with the Brigade Commander this morning to solicit for him to deploy men of the Nigerian Army for the elections. That is illegitimate use. He cannot deploy the army; it is only the Chief of Army Staff that can deploy the army. If they have reason to believe that there are exceptional circumstances, security circumstances that would warrant the deployment of the army, we (PDP) will be so briefed and it will be included in the operational order because there must be a security operational order outside which you cannot deploy security. That is our position.





Reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Erasmus Ekpang, said they have all left Calabar to intensify campaigns in the two places by-elections are to hold and have no intention to request for military deployment.





The Information Officer at 13 Brigade, Captain Tope Aluko could not confirm if Ayade made any request but promised to revert to our correspondent.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Rain likely. High 56F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Low 38F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
SITEKI  Over 20 000 jobs at the Royal Eswatini Sugar (RES) Corporation are at risks following the burning of four hectares of sugar cane fields on Tuesday night.

The four hectares are equivalent to 400 tonnes of sugar cane. The fire was started by unknown arsonists, who are currently wanted by the police. According to Sifiso Nyembe, RES Corporation Group Public Affairs Manager, the fire whose cause is still unknown, resulted in the damage to part of the cane fields on the Estate on Tuesday night. Nyembe said the company had not yet quantified the damage in monetary terms but noted that the damage of that magnitude would place more than 20 000 jobs at risk, which could ultimately affect the lives of more than 100 000 citizens.

Employment

This is because apart from the direct employment provided by the sugar company, there were many contractors and sub-contracted companies which benefitted from the value chain of sugar production. This starts from the growing of the cane to the final production. Nyembe said the company was quick to attend to the burning cane, hence only four hectares were destroyed. We were quick to respond to the scene. A larger group, which also included children, will be impacted because RES Corporations social investment covers education, health and poverty alleviation. The business touches many people across the country, he said.

Explaining further about the imminent job losses as a result of the arson attack, Nyembe explained that in the past, the company had 5 000 direct jobs. However, he explained that due to various other operations, this created the existence of other businesses, which then created more jobs totalling to 20 000. Asked what were the security measures the company had put in place to ensure that such incidents did not happen again, Nyembe stated that the corporation was not in a position to discuss them. We are not in the position to discuss the security measures, he briefly said.

Echoing his assertion, the companys Managing Director (MD), Nick Jackson, also confirmed the damage caused by the fire started by unknown people. Yes, I can confirm that there was some cane that was burnt last night (on Tuesday) and it was carry-over cane from last year. We should have harvested last year but we ran out of time. It is about four hectares, which is about 400 tonnes of cane that was burnt. But for now, I cannot be in a position to give quantification in monetary terms, he said. Mhlume Inkhundla Indvuna Morris Dlamini confirmed having been informed about the incident. I received a report of the incident that a sugar cane field was burnt last night around the Mhlume area. The company can assist with more details about the incident, Dlamini said.

According to an impeccable source at the company, who was part of the team that promptly attended to the incident, the fire started after 7:30pm. Siteki Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services personnel were called and they arrived around 8pm to put out the fire. Police officers from Tshaneni and Simunye, including those from Siteki, also attended to the incident. It appears the people who did this damage were travelling in a vehicle because in a space of 10 minutes, no one was found there and it shows it was a planned mission, said the source. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident.

We have a report of burnt sugar cane fields, but we still dont have the value of the damage. Police are still investigating the circumstances leading to this incident, she said. Worth mentioning is that this is the second incident to take place as the company incurred E120 million losses from 1 000 hectares of burnt sugar cane fields during the June-July unrest.

The burnt sugar cane fields were situated between Tambankulu Estate and Vuvulane Town.

Deployed

Police officers from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) were deployed along the sugar cane fields to keep guard and ensure that no one came close. Only company vehicles and employees were allowed access after security checks had been carried out. Moreover, the army was later deployed and conducted constant patrols along the sugar cane fields between Simunye and Tshaneni. Meanwhile, the country has been marred by a spate of arson attacks targeting schools, government structures and private property. On Monday, three high schools namely; Malindza, Mcozini and Nkiliji were petrol-bombed, resulting in loss of property such as books, furniture and wiring in some of the buildings.

Economist Sanele Sibiya said the current spate of arson attacks on property and structures would be a catalyst in scaring away potential investors, considering the volatile situation currently unfolding in the country. He likened the burning of the cane fields to arson attacks on forestry companies, where the forests were burnt yet they took a long time to grow and to be reach harvesting stage. Sibiya said even though sugar cane took a shorter time to grow and reach harvesting stage, the company had to have enough reserves and lines of credit to go back to planting and start growing, but that was determined by the availability of resources. The economist said in the short-medium term, the small jobs created during harvesting would be affected as the company would be compelled to cut down human resource to accommodate their expenditure. He also pointed out that tax complications would also be experienced as the country would be adversely affected in terms of tax collection.

Highlighted

Sibiya also highlighted that sugar was the countrys main export and contributed a large sum of money in cushioning the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). GDP is the total monetary or market value of all finished goods and services produced within the countrys borders. He added that the spate of arson attacks raised security concerns to investors who wanted to do business in the country. In terms of the overall profits and tax complications, it will have negative effects because the country will face a shortage in terms of not collecting enough tax to subsidise service delivery. Sugar is one of the countrys main exports and thats why we are continually calling for an all inclusive dialogue to bring things back to normalcy as Eswatini is no safe anymore, he said. Sibiya further mentioned that there was a need for swift action to arrest the security concerns in the country as it had become risky and difficult to do business considering the current political situation in the kingdom.
Two Sewerage & Water Board officials have been ousted after a WWL-TV investigation last fall found government employees in charge of plumbing inspections and permits in the city of New Orleans were involved in a web of self-dealing with private contractors and other city building inspectors.

Jay Arnold resigned as the head of the S&WBs plumbing department on Feb. 17, the agency confirmed Wednesday. Documents show one of Arnolds top deputies, Vernon Marcotte, was fired the same day.

Neither man responded to calls requesting comment Wednesday.

WWL-TV reported Nov. 3 that Arnold and Marcotte had used hundreds of gas installation permits over recent years to collect tens of thousands of dollars in extra pay for private work that was done while they were working at the S&WB, often by plumbers who didnt have the proper license.

Within hours of the broadcast, the FBI raided the S&WB to seize all the open permit and inspection records Arnold and Marcotte controlled. The next day, the board launched an internal investigation and suspended Arnold and Marcotte without pay, saying the conduct outlined by WWL-TV may constitute violations of the Louisiana Code of Ethics and/or payroll fraud.

At the time, S&WB Executive Director Ghassan Korban said he had not seen warnings from City Hall and from the State Licensing Board for Contractors about Arnold and Marcottes actions. Korban said he had not understood the enormity of the situation.

There certainly was a lack of understanding and appreciation to the scale of what was going on, Korban said. And no excuse whatsoever, had I known what I knew today, I would certainly have acted differently at the time. I just didnt.

After ousting both employees, Korban issued a statement Wednesday.

Mr. Marcotte and Mr. Arnold are no longer employees of the Sewerage and Water Board, however that is not the final resolution. We are committed to assessing any malpractices and misuse of ratepayers funds in order to hold them both accountable. We also are focusing on lessons learned in order to avoid this from happening again.

Last week, Korban sent a termination letter to Marcotte detailing the internal investigations findings. It says Marcotte failed to show for a disciplinary hearing earlier this month where he could have offered a defense.

You fraudulently filed for gas work permits for which someone other than yourself performed the permitted work, it says.

It also alleges Marcotte violated state ethics laws and S&WB policies, accusing him of abuse of power and accepting anything of value from 2017 to 2021.

The WWL-TV investigation uncovered documents and time-stamped photos showing Marcotte, appearing as the gas contractor at city mechanical inspections, during business hours on days when he claimed eight hours of work on his S&WB time sheets.

Marcotte told WWL-TV in October that he did those gas inspections on his lunch breaks.

But the internal investigation found otherwise, with Marcottes termination letter citing an overlap period of (Marcotte) being on company time while either filing permit applications or having permitted work inspected by a city inspector.

Marcottes public salary was about $57,000 and Arnolds was $104,000.

As the head of the plumbing department, Arnold was on salary, so he did not have to report his hours on time sheets. The S&WB and the Civil Service Commission did not provide any documentation detailing the findings of the internal investigation into Arnold.

Arnold spoke to WWL-TV by phone in October but did not agree to an interview.

In a telephone interview Oct. 26, Marcotte acknowledged he had not actually performed the hundreds of gas installation jobs he had permits for. He said he was just filing permits on behalf of plumbers who lacked the proper gasfitters license.

I was just filing permits. Back then, you know, I just  was filing the permit to have it done. And then a licensed plumber would put in (the gas lines), he said, adding that the requirements for getting a city gasfitter license were too onerous for most plumbers.

Marcottes termination letter also accuses him of an undisclosed conflict of interest for getting his gas permits inspected by an unnamed city inspector. The WWL-TV investigation found that Buddy Fraiche, a City Hall mechanical inspector, approved most of the work done under Marcottes permits.

Fraiche also owned a plumbing company and served as the qualified license holder for another, and both received plumbing permits and inspections from Arnolds staff. After WWL-TVs story aired, city permitting director Tammie Jackson said Fraiche was double-dipping, working his private plumbing jobs without proper authorization.

Fraiche resigned from the city and the state contractors board stripped him of his plumbing license. He declined to comment after his state disciplinary hearing except to say he had resigned.
After two bitter years of controversy that made some onlookers question if the parading organization would survive, the Mystic Krewe of Nyx conducted its 10th parade on Wednesday night.

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in summer 2020, Nyx founder Julie Lea posted the slogan All Lives Matter on a krewe social media account. To many members of the organization, the message seemed to be dismissive of the Black Lives Matter movement that was sweeping the country. The controversy led to a mass resignation of members, reducing Nyx from one of the largest parading groups with more than 3,400 riders in 2020 to a mere 240 riders in 2022, according to a krewe representative.

Lawsuits about float contract breaches, transphobia allegations and membership fee scandals also followed the krewe.

The all-female Nyx parade trailed the Ancient Druids parade along the Uptown route. As Druids passed, some crowd members left their spots along Napoleon Avenue near the start of the route, but it was difficult to say if theyd drifted away in protest of the coming Nyx procession or if the reasons were more routine.

Former Nyx member Laura Valliant was among parade-goers who left as a protest. Valliant, who has two artificial legs and uses a scooter for mobility, said she experienced discrimination when she was a member in 2017 and 2018.

"They treated handicapped people like you're there to fill a space (for ADA compliance)," Valliant said. "I was treated like I was invisible. I was never invited to functions. I offered to help make headdresses, and everybody said, 'We don't need you.'

"I'm nobody's token handicap."

Two young women whod left the crowd awaiting Nyx acknowledged that they were aware of the Nyx controversy, but declined to say more. Another pair of women, whod also distanced themselves from the parade, said theyd left the route for every reason, but would not elaborate.

Perry Jennings, a hospitality staff member at the parade stands outside Gallier Hall, said at least four or five people had approached him with questions about the controversy.

Dana Williams, a Louisiana native who has been watching parades near Gallier Hall for 10 years, said most of the crowds who remained for Nyx were tourists who did not know the back story. Williams considered joining the krewe in 2020, but did not pay dues in time. Now, she's grateful she didn't join Nyx.

"I'm glad I wasn't in that parade, because she (Lea) would have took my money," Williams said, referring to former krewe members' complaints that Lea would not refund their dues after the 2020 exodus.

Dana Williams' daughter, Tasha Williams, said she was staying to watch Nyx because she was curious about the public's perception of the krewe.

"I'm staying just to see what it's about," Tasha Williams said. "So far, I'm not impressed. I heard they took a lot of people's money. Actions speak louder than words."

Sandra Simpson was not reluctant to express her disdain for the Nyx organization. She carried a canary-yellow sign emblazoned with the slogan Black Lives Matter. Asked why shed prepared to protest the parade, she said she was horrified by the position that the head of Nyx took.

The woman showed no compassion, she said, referring to krewe captain Julie Lea. She didnt realize how wrong she was.

Besides the typical signs soliciting for beads, there seemed to be no other messages directed at float riders in the uppermost reaches of the route, either disdaining or supporting Nyx.

The parade consisted of 17 floats, down from 44 in 2020. Some of this years floats seemed adequately occupied, though the upper decks of some floats seemed to be empty.

See photos from the parade here.
WASHINGTON President Joe Biden ordered broad new sanctions targeting Russia on Thursday after its invasion of Ukraine, declaring that Russian leader Vladimir Putin chose this war" and his country will bear the consequences.

The sanctions target Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors, Biden said. The United States and its allies will block assets of four large Russian banks, impose export controls and sanction oligarchs.

Biden also said the U.S. will be deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO after the invasion of Ukraine, which is not a member of the defense organization. Approximately 7,000 additional U.S. troops will be sent.

The penalties fall in line with the White Houses insistence that it would hit Russias financial system and Putin's inner circle, while also imposing export controls that would aim to starve Russias industries and military of U.S. semiconductors and other high-tech products.

Putin is the aggressor, Biden said. Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences."

Biden, for now, held off imposing some of the most severe potential sanctions, including cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, which allows for the transfers of money from bank to bank around the globe.

Biden announced the sanctions at the White House while Ukraines government reported mounting casualties inflicted by Russian forces attacking from the east, north and south.

Oil and natural prices have already surged over concerns that Russia -- an energy production behemoth -- will slow the flow of oil and natural gas to Europe. Biden, however, acknowledged the sanctions are going to take time to have their effect on the Russian economy.

He also acknowledged that the invasion -- and efforts to thwart Putin--will have a cost for Americans. But he sought to reassure that the economic pain that may come with rising energy prices will be short lived for them.

As for Putin, he said, Hes going to test the resolve of the West to see if we stay together, and we will.

Biden spoke hours after holding a virtual meeting with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Italy and Japan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also joined the meeting.

The president also met with his national security team in the White House Situation Room as he looked to flesh out U.S. moves in the rapidly escalating crisis.

While Biden described the sanctions as severe, Ukrainian officials urged the U.S. and West to go further and cut the Russians from the SWIFT financial system.

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We demand the disconnection of Russia from SWIFT, the introduction of a no-fly zone over Ukraine and other effective steps to stop the aggressor, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a tweet.

The Biden administration, however, has shown some reluctance to cut Russia from SWIFT, at least immediately, because of concerns the move could also have enormous ramifications for Europe and other Western economies. Biden, answering questions from reporters, appeared to push a decision on SWIFT to European allies.

It is always an option but right now thats not the position that the rest of Europe wishes to take, Biden said. He also contended that the financial sanctions he announced would be more damaging to Russia.

The Belgium-headquartered system allows for tens of millions of transactions daily among banks, financial exchanges and other institutions. The U.S. notably has previously blocked Iran from the system because of its nuclear program.

Officials in Europe have noted that the loss of SWIFT access by Russia could be a drag on the broader global economy. Russia has also equated a SWIFT ban to a declaration of war. And because the system cements the importance of the U.S. dollar in global finance, outright bans also carry the risk of pushing countries to use alternatives through the Chinese government or blockchain-based technologies.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell expressed support Thursday and also urged Biden to apply maximum pressure on Putin.

Were all together at this point and we need to be together about what should be done, McConnell said. But I have some advice: Ratchet the sanctions all the way up. Dont hold any back.

The sanctions include targeting Russias two largest banks, Sberbank and VTB Bank. The U.S. Treasury Department says the sanctions overall target nearly 80 percent of all banking assets in Russia and will have a deep and long-lasting effect on the Russian economy and financial system.

Treasury also announced sanctions against Belarusian banks, the country's defense industry and security officials over support for Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Biden said the export control measures he ordered would "impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time. The measures will restrict Russia access to semiconductors, computers, telecommunications, information security equipment, lasers and sensors.

Were going to impair their ability to compete in a high tech 21st century economy," Biden said.

Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Fatima Hussein, Chris Megerian and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Bruce Schreiner in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed reporting.
The death of 6-year-old Emma Savoie has left students, parents and faculty at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Slidell grieving, but have also devastated first responders who worked to save the first-grader, who was hit by a truck at the end of the school day Wednesday.

First responders did everything they could to help Emma, said Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal at news briefing Thursday. For reasons I cannot understand, God decided that this was her time. Emma was taken way too early and us, as a community, need to come together and support the Savoie family.

Emmas family said that she called herself a "princess," said Fandal, who was among those at the scene. Everyone else called her an angel.

Slidell area Fire Chief Chris Kaufmann said the fatal accident was the second tragedy that firefighters and others have dealt with in the last two months, referring to a house fire in January that killed a family of four.

Classes at the school, which has 386 students in grades Pre-K through 7, were canceled for the rest of the week, according to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Crisis counselors were on campus Thursday and will be there again Friday.

Superintendent of Catholic Schools RaeNell Houston, who attended the news conference, said that several families, students and faculty members saw counselors on Thursday.

"This tragedy weighs heavily on all of us," she said. "I, as well as Archbishop Aymond, priests, deacons and countless others throughout the Archdiocese, are holding the family and the entire Our Lady of Lourdes community in prayer."

Counselors will also be available when students return from Mardi Gras break, archdiocese spokesperson Sarah McDonald said.

The accident occurred at about 3:30 Wednesday, as school was being dismissed, according to Slidell Police. Children were crossing the school's parking lot at 345 Westchester Place, where a staff member was controlling pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

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Emma was part of a group of children coming to the parking lot from an afternoon recess, according to police.

"For unknown reasons, Emma entered into the path of the truck, and at this point in the investigation  with all the witness statements  investigators have no indication that the driver of the truck was speeding or driving in a careless manner at all," Fandal said.

"It appears to be a tragic accident."

Because children were being picked up, Fandal said there were a number of children present, "so unfortunately there were young witnesses to the accident."

Emma was taken to Slidell Memorial Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, police said.

Slidell Police spokesperson Daniel Seuzeneau confirmed that the truck's driver was there to pick up a student.

Fandal said Slidell Police will sit down with staff at the school after the investigation is complete "and see if there's anything we can do better."

Houston said that the Archdiocese will cooperate with the investigation and take any recommendations that may result.
A 6-year-old girl was fatally injured by a truck Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Slidell police said.

The accident happened just before 3:30 p.m., the Police Department said in a news release. The injured girl was taken to Slidell Memorial Hospital but died there.

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office identified the child as Emma Savoie. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, the Coroner's Office said.

Police said students were walking across the school's parking lot at 345 Westchester Place, where a staff member was controlling pedestrian and vehicle traffic at dismissal time.

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"For reasons still under investigation, a child accidently ran out into the path of a truck, resulting in fatal injuries," the Police Department said.

There was no indication the truck was speeding or being driven recklessly.

"The incident appears to be a tragic accident," police said in the news release.

"The loss of a child is unimaginable," Police Chief Randy Fandal said. "My thoughts and prayers are with the family, the school, the first responders and the entire Slidell community. This kind of tragedy affects us all."
The Louisiana Public Service Commission on Wednesday voted to let Entergy Louisiana borrow $3.2 billion via bonds to pay for repairs and restoration after storms that clobbered the state in 2020 and 2021, effectively passing on those costs to ratepayers who must pay back the money on their monthly bills over 15 years.

In a prepared statement after the vote, the utility said that the surcharge for Entergy Louisiana customers would work out at about $8 a month per 1,000 kilowatt hours. Entergy has said its "typical" ratepayer uses about 1,250 kilowatt hours per month. The final amount will depend on the terms of the bonds issued later this year.

Still, the $3.2 billion includes less than half the estimated costs Entergy Louisiana said were incurred by Hurricane Ida.

The company expects to seek at least another $1 billion this year to cover the remainder of those costs, as well as the costs to Entergy New Orleans ratepayers, spokesman Neal Kirby confirmed, which means the monthly surcharge for customers is likely to rise even higher.

More storm costs to come

"We are completing storm invoice processing for Hurricane Ida, and Entergy Louisiana is on track to submit its cost recovery filing in April, followed by Entergy New Orleans around midyear," Kirby said.

"Our goal remains to receive the balance of Entergy Louisianas Hurricane Ida securitization proceeds by the end of this year," he added, referring to the method of issuing bonds in order to pass on the costs to customers.

Entergy has previously said that the total cost of hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta, and Ida, as well as winter storm Uri, would be more than $4 billion. Entergy Louisiana's 1.1 million customers are on the hook for the vast majority of that, with Entergy New Orleans' 209,000 customers facing a bill for Ida of up to $150 million.

The meeting of state regulators came on the same day that Entergy Corp. Chairman and CEO Leo Denault held a meeting with investment analysts to discuss the utility's 2021 financial performance. He told investors that Entergy could report "strong results for another successful year."

Entergy said earnings in the last three months of the year were $155 million, up 8% from the same quarter in 2020, after adjusting for the volatile nuclear business that it has been shutting down. For the full year, earnings were up 7% at just over $1.2 billion after adjustments. That growth comes on top of record earnings in 2020.

Foster Campbell, the only one of the five LPSC commissioners to vote against approving Entergy's bond issue on Wednesday, railed against the utility and Denault.

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"I'm sick of the free ride y'all get," he told Entergy executives attending the meeting, including Phillip May, CEO of Entergy Louisiana. "When all is said and done, Entergy will not pay one quarter...it will all be paid by the ratepayers."

Campbell also criticized Denault for not turning up at any of the LPSC meetings, as well as for the chief executive's compensation, which totaled more than $16 million in 2020. That is up from just above $10 million in 2019, according to regulatory filings.

About 90% of Denault's compensation is related to financial performance and how well the share price does, and Campbell also criticized the sharply rising dividend payments to shareholders, which totaled more than $1.5 billion over the last two years, even amid a pandemic and record storms.

Promises to shareholders

Entergy promised much bigger dividend increases for shareholders prior to the pandemic and it has kept that pledge, increasing dividends in line with its earnings increases of between 5% and 7%, compared to increases of 2% to 3% prior to 2019.

On Wednesday, Denault promised earnings and dividend increases would continue to grow at that pace for at least the next two years.

"Without financial health, we could not have raised the over $4 billion needed to fund the restoration from recent storms, including Ida and Laura, two of the worst storms ever to hit Louisiana," he said.

At the regulatory meeting on Wednesday, Erik Skrmetta, commissioner for District 1, which covers parts of Greater New Orleans, said he had met this past week with U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and US. Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge to discuss getting HUD grant funds to help mitigate the storm costs for ratepayers.

Fudge said the request had to come directly from Gov. John Bel Edwards but that she would be favorable toward it, Skrmetta said. It is not yet clear how much the state might apply for, or how that might fit with other requests for federal infrastructure funds.

[UPDATE: HUD Secretary says no assurance given to PSC's Skrmetta on federal money for Entergy ratepayers.]

Louisiana already has received more than $2 billion in federal assistance for Hurricane Ida alone, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
DMCC, a flagship free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, has announced the opening of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) representative office at the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) in Almas Tower.

The opening comes a day after DMCC announced that the UAE has become the worlds largest rough diamond trade hub, with $22.8 billion-worth of rough diamonds traded last year.

The announcement was made at the fifth Dubai Diamond Conference, which convened over 550 industry leaders to discuss The Future of Diamonds, reported Wam.

Senior representatives and government officials from DMCC, World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), IDE and the Israeli Consulate in Dubai including Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO, DMCC; Ilan Shtulman, Consul General of Israel in Dubai; Boaz Moldawsky, President, IDE; Eran Zini, Managing Director, IDE; and Yoram Dvash, President, WFDB, attended the inauguration.

The IDE office will help in the ease of doing business for Israeli diamond companies operating in or looking to set up in Dubai.

The entire global diamond industry is in the emirate this week for Dubai Diamond Week, which also includes the inaugural JGT Dubai and the Presidents meeting for the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB).
The Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office has started using an often-controversial legal maneuver to compel witnesses to testify during trials, almost five months after a settlement agreement established rules for the practice.

Over the past two weeks, two prosecutors have requested that judges issue material witness warrants, which are arrest warrants used to take a witness into custody if prosecutors fear, or the witness has explicitly expressed, that he or she will not take the stand.

The first request, made earlier this month in a second-degree murder trial, was rendered moot when the witness testified under subpoena. The second request, made Wednesday in a separate second-degree murder trial, is scheduled to be decided Thursday.

Ned McGowan, first assistant district attorney in District Attorney Jason Williams' office, said that the requests comply with a settlement signed by Williams last year. That settlement put guardrails on a practice that Williams and victim advocates say was misused by his predecessor Leon Cannizzaro.

Material-witness warrants must be approved by a judge. Under Cannizzaro, however, prosecutors sent witnesses fake subpoenas and in at least one case, requested a material witness warrant based on a fake subpoena.

Those actions led to a 2017 civil rights lawsuit filed by targets of the fake subpoenas. In October 2021, Williams agreed to a settlement that placed his office under a court appointed monitor for three-and-a-half years and created several restrictions on how prosecutors can request the issuance of material witness warrants.

The suit that inspired the settlement agreement was against Cannizzaro, not Williams. The settlement resolved the civil lawsuit that was lodged against the office itself and laid out commitments the office would honor to ensure material witness warrants are properly executed.

Tyronne Walker, the chief administrative officer at the district attorney's office, said the office was eager to agree to the guidelines and set a new standard for the warrants' use.

For prosecutors, material witness warrants can be a key tool for forcing people who witnessed a crime to take the stand. But victim advocates say they can cause further trauma to victims of crime, and can infringe on witnesses' civil rights.

Williams has spoken out against his predecessors reliance on material witness warrants to compel victim testimony. In 2019, while serving as a New Orleans city councilman, Williams expressed his distaste for the warrants, saying the use of such warrants on crime victims only further aggravates [the] trauma they have already endured.

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Today, the district attorney's office's official policy regarding motions for material witness warrants mirrors exactly the guidelines laid out in the settlement, McGowan said, including declining to pursue warrants for witnesses who are also victims of crime.

To ensure the office complies with the settlement, a neutral monitor reviews the offices motions for material witness warrants every six months. The first review is set to be conducted in April.

Data provided by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, which monitors the use of material witness warrants across the state, shows the district attorney's office did not seek any material witness warrants in 2020 and 2021.

But during the Feb. 9 bench trial of Dijon Curtis, who is charged with the January 2020 slaying of Brent Jenkins, prosecutors requested from Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Angel Harris a material witness warrant. The warrant was for a witness currently residing at the Odyssey House, an addiction treatment provider. In their motion, prosecutors wrote that several attempts at serving the witness a subpoena had failed.

Harris rejected the request, and the witness ultimately complied with a subpoena and testified during the trial.

On Wednesday, prosecutors again requested a material witness warrant in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier's court. This request involved a witness to the August 2019 shooting death of Patrick Lamar. The witness had failed to appear the day before, and had told prosecutors that she would no longer testify because she feared for her safety.

Prosecutors said if the warrant was issued and executed, the witness would be released on her own recognizance with a GPS ankle monitor until the trial, which is slated to take place March 7.

The defense attorney appointed to represent the witness raised concerns that the motion did not meet the conditions laid out in the settlement agreement, including stating what steps the district attorneys office had taken to protect the witness.

Prosecutors said they had offered to relocate and escort the witness to court.

She was not interested in getting involved at all, despite the limited things we can offer her, said Elizabeth Strauss, an assistant district attorney. We felt we had no other choice than to ask for this material witness warrant.

Flemings-Davillier said she had not seen the 14-page settlement agreement before Wednesday. After reading the settlement agreement, Flemings-Davillier asked prosecutors to review their motion to make sure it was fully compliant.
New Orleans beleaguered police crime lab may soon land a new civilian leader after a two-year search. But Superintendent Shaun Fergusons choice for the key post is suddenly mired in scandal at his current job.

Mark Powell, who manages San Franciscos police crime lab, is in the final, background-check phase of being hired by NOPD as its crime lab director, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the search.

The sources said Ferguson signed off on the hire shortly before San Francisco's district attorney, Chesa Boudin, hammered Powell's lab at a Feb. 14 news conference. Boudin revealed what he described as a routine practice at the lab to include the DNA profiles of sexual assault victims in a database used to identify criminal suspects.

The alleged practice, which Boudin called legally and ethically wrong, drew national headlines and condemnation from advocates for rape victims. Boudin dropped a charge against one woman allegedly linked to a burglary through DNA taken in a long-ago rape exam. San Franciscos police chief pledged to investigate and, if confirmed, to end the practice. We must never create disincentives for crime victims to cooperate with police, Police Chief Bill Scott said.

A statement from Scott, however, also said he was "informed of the possibility that the suspect in this case may have been identified through a DNA hit in a non-victim DNA database."

Boudin's office did not respond to questions about the database or Powell's role in the alleged practice.

Powell has worked at the San Francisco crime lab since 2014 and has led it as manager since 2018, according to his resume. He has not responded to the allegations and declined to comment Wednesday when reached by phone, referring questions to New Orleans and San Francisco police.

An NOPD spokesman declined to confirm the job offer to Powell, saying only that there is a candidate now "in background."

Powell applied for the New Orleans directors job almost a year ago, according to Civil Service Department records furnished to the newspaper under a public records request. He is among seven of 45 applicants who have met the qualifications for a $100,000-a-year job that New Orleans has struggled to fill.

The city posted the job in May 2020 and has since reposted it twice. The job requires eight years of experience in a forensic lab or crime lab and a related masters degree. Police spokesperson Gary Scheets said the department has repeatedly requested salary increases for the position from the Civil Service Commission, which he said granted one increase.

A source within the New Orleans crime lab said Ferguson and other police brass hope Powells expertise in DNA can pave the way for the city to resume that testing itself. The NOPD was accredited for in-house DNA testing in 2003, according to Anne Montgomery, who was the DNA technical leader for the crime lab in the early 2000s. But Hurricane Katrina destroyed the departments capacity and it has not been reaccredited.

Since then, the agency has relied for DNA testing on the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab, an arrangement that has spurred periodic complaints of delays and backlogs. The city is preparing to open a long-delayed $25 million crime lab and evidence storage facility.

Powell, a forensic scientist for 20 years, would become the civilian helm of a lab that has struggled with heavy turnover, flagging morale and a series of discrimination complaints against top officials, documents show.

The last person to hold down the directors post, Matthew Trey Green, was ushered out following complaints of racially discriminatory remarks, first reported by WDSU-TV. He was fired in early 2020 but later negotiated a one-day suspension and back pay in exchange for his resignation.

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Green wasnt alone. Allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation dogged the labs former top police official, Cmdr. Darryl Albert. Meanwhile, a former civilian employee, Karl Von Derhaar, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit last year claiming he was retaliated against for alleging unsafe conditions and inaccurate drug testing.

The lawsuit accuses two high-ranking former crime lab officers, Lt. Kim Lewis-Williams and Sgt. Michael Stalbert, of violating his rights when they visited his home unannounced to escort him to internal affairs, then filed a civil service complaint against him for erratic behavior.

Lewis-Williams and Stalbert both were found to have violated department policies. Their former boss, Capt. Simon Hargrove, was moved out of the crime lab last year.

Stalbert is among at least five NOPD officers who have received FBI target letters from an investigation of alleged timesheet irregularities related to off-duty paid detail work, according to sources with knowledge of the probe.

The city ultimately settled with Von Derhaar for about $25,000 in back pay over his discipline. His federal complaint is pending.

Capt. Bruce Haney, a 22-year NOPD veteran, has led the crime lab for the past year.

Skip Gallagher, a University of New Orleans chemistry professor who has pressed for reforms at the crime lab, recently chronicled heavy turnover there in a letter to the City Council that warned of bigger problems in the unit.

Gallaghers analysis of city records shows 60% turnover in the civilian staff at the lab over three years, and 47% turnover last year. The lab employed as many as 43 civilian staff in 2018, but that number was down to 21 at the start of this year, he said. About eight sworn officers are assigned to the crime lab.

Crime scene technicians, who make as little as $36,000 a year, are leaving rapidly. Scheets, the police spokesman, acknowledged the shortage, saying the crime scene unit has nine technicians and a civilian supervisor. The department is hoping to more than double that staffing, he said. He said NOPD salaries for crime scene technicians are lower than surrounding cities, while their workloads are "twice or three times greater."

In exit forms, several departing crime lab employees described scare tactics by NOPD supervisors, spotty training, inconsistent rules and maltreatment of staff.

Gallagher blames current NOPD officers assigned to the crime lab who are actively hindering the few qualified employees remaining at the lab.

A lack of experience now plagues the crime lab, said Gallagher, who argued for removing active-duty officers and raising pay for more qualified civilian hires.

A truly independent lab is devoid of police influence and those working in the lab do not represent the prosecution or the defense but instead represent the evidence, he wrote.

Staff writers Jillian Kramer and Matt Sledge contributed to this story.
Two young men were arrested this week for shooting 20-year-old Sabastian Henry to death in an Algiers apartment, then dumping his body in a vacant unit next door, according to New Orleans police.

Brandon R. Hamilton, 20, and a 16-year-old are both facing murder charges in the Feb. 18th killing. The name of the teen is not being released because he is a juvenile.

Police responding to a 911 call found Henry lifeless on the bedroom floor of a vacant, weather-damaged apartment in the 2100 block of Cobblestone Lane, detectives wrote in criminal court records. He had been shot in the head and chest, and there was a trail of blood leading from a neighboring apartment.

At the apartment next door, officers found fresh blood stains and spent 9mm shell casings, leading them to believe that Henry had been killed there before being brought to the neighboring unit, police added in the court documents.

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Detectives then met with a witness who claimed to see Henry argue with Hamilton and the 16-year-old suspect. The younger boy was gesturing with a pistol during the argument, and eventually gunshots erupted, said the witness, whose identity was withheld from the court records.

Minutes later, the teen and Hamilton carried Henrys body to the apartment next door and fled the scene, the witness said.

Within days, detectives had obtained a warrant to arrest both suspects. Officers found both in Algiers on Tuesday and brought them to jail.

The 16-year-old was booked with second-degree murder. Hamilton, on the other hand, was booked with being a principal to second-degree murder, meaning he is not accused of firing the deadly shots but is still suspected of having a direct role in Henrys killing.
Speaking Wednesday before a congressional panel, Gov. John Bel Edwards praised a bill that could pave the way for coastal restoration and storm surge protection projects in Louisiana and other states.

Edwards spoke at a U.S. Senate field hearing in Delaware held to collect comments on the proposed Shoreline Health Oversight, Restoration, Resilience and Enhancement Act, known as the SHORRE Act.

That legislation includes language that would loosen the rules the Army Corps of Engineers follows to determine if a project should be approved and funded. It also includes provisions that would authorize a number of major Louisiana projects, clearing the way for each to eventually be funded by Congress.

Edwards and others at the hearing said the Corps formula for approving projects should give more weight to the benefits a project provides to disadvantaged communities, even though the value of homes and businesses in those areas might not be enough to equal a projects cost.

Other issues, like the value of a project to an areas recreation, such as fishing, also should be given greater weight, Edwards said.

Identical versions of the SHORRE legislation were introduced in the Senate by Sens. Tom Carper, D-Del., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., and in the House by Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D.-Del, and Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, in early February.

The bill includes authorizations for the following projects:

The proposed $1.6 billion, 30.6-mile Upper Barataria hurricane levee system that would reduce storm surge heights for portions of seven parishes west of the existing West Bank and Vicinity levee system

A $1.9 billion pair of projects that would keep the west bank and east bank New Orleans area hurricane levees elevated to protect from storm surges caused by a hurricane with a 1% chance of occurring in any year, a so-called 100-year storm, through 2078.

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Congress would still have to appropriate money for those construction projects.

The legislation also would loosen restrictions that might require the Corps to ignore Louisianas request to use a portion of construction costs for a proposed Maurepas freshwater diversion as required mitigation for construction of the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane levee.

The legislation might also empower the Corps to approve Louisianas request to use a portion of money reserved for one project to mitigate the construction impacts of another. Though existing rules might bar such a move, the state wants to use some money intended for a proposed Maurepas Swamp freshwater diversion to fund mitigation efforts for a separate West Shore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane levee.

That levee would increase hurricane storm surge protection for parts of St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes that flooded after hurricanes Isaac in 2012 and Ida in 2021.

The SHORRE bill also would require the Corps to work with the state in an ongoing comprehensive management study of the flow of water in the lower Mississippi River, which could support the states efforts to get its Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion projects approved. Edwards said the research could also help move forward a sediment diversion project proposed for Ama in St. Charles Parish and a freshwater diversion proposed for Union in St. James Parish.

Edwards said the bill would also loosen Corps rules that require Louisiana to buy the land it uses for restoration projects. Instead, the state wants to sign agreements with present landowners to allow such projects to be built.

Nearly three quarters of Louisianas coastal lands are held in private ownership, Edwards said. Louisiana cannot solve its coastal land loss crisis without engaging with willing landowners to find restoration solutions that work for their goals.

If approved, the legislation would become part of the 2022 version of the Water Resources Development Act, a much-broader bill that also authorizes new water, restoration and levee projects overseen by the Corps. That bill is expected to be considered by Congress later this year.
The New Orleans City Council on Wednesday released four drafts of new council district maps in preparation for its decennial redistricting, which must be completed by March 16 under the citys home rule charter.

The final map is likely to borrow from all four drafts, and possibly incorporate additional suggestions, following public comment. Public meetings for each council district are scheduled for March 7 and March 8.

The times and locations have not been announced.

There is one certainty under any scenario: District C, the only one of five districts split by the Mississippi River, will expand further into the east bank, adding several thousand residents in the process.

Most of those residents will come from neighborhoods that were split between District C and District D as part of the last redistricting in 2011, according to the draft proposals drawn up by council consultants. The current district border generally runs along North Claiborne Avenue in Treme, St. Roch, the 7th Ward and St. Claude, whose traditional boundaries extend beyond Claiborne.

The charter requires the council to adopt new maps every decade based on census results. The goal is to create five districts within 5% of the ideal size, which is one-fifth of the citys population. The citys population as of the 2020 census is 383,997, so the ideal district would include 76,799 residents.

The District C population is currently 68,113, meaning it needs to add about 3,400 people to come within 5% of the ideal size. It already includes all of Algiers, which lost more than 2,000 people over the last decade, and so the district has nowhere to expand on the west bank.

The four draft maps show District C adding somewhere between 7,000 and 9,000 residents, bringing it to slightly below the ideal size in each case.

Only one of the four draft maps reunifies all four of the historic neighborhoods that are splintered along Claiborne. That map extends the District C boundary to Broad Street in Treme and Florida Avenue in St. Claude. The 7th Ward and St. Roch would form the southern boundary of District D.

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The other three maps consolidate all of St. Roch into District C while continuing to divide the other three neighborhoods along Claiborne Avenue.

Jarrett Cohen, who lives in a more gentrified portion of Treme in District C, said he would like to see the whole neighborhood represented by a single council person.

Investors are starting to price out longtime residents on the other side of Claiborne, and having one council member who can address these issues makes a ton of sense, Cohen said.

It's an issue that is spilling over from our particular area into this area, said Cohen. The more inclusive redistricting can be, the better. Thats citywide, not just pertaining to Treme.

District boundaries in other parts of the city could change as well. One of the maps connects the French Quarter with the Central Business District by pushing the District C boundary to Poydras Street.

Another proposed change returns lakeshore subdivisions west of the Orleans Canal to District A  they were moved to District D in the last redistricting.

Other proposed changes give District D a slightly bigger slice of New Orleans East, expanding a few blocks beyond the Downman Road commercial corridor.

Also under consideration is a uniform District A-District B boundary along Carrollton Avenue in Mid-City  at present, District A dips below Carrollton along a jagged boundary.
Wind-whipped flames are marching across more of New Mexicos tinder-dry mountainsides, forcing the evacuation of area residents and dozens of patients from the state's psychiatric hospital as firefighters scramble to keep new wildfires from growing. The big blaze burning near the community of Las Vegas has charred more than 217 square miles. Residents in neighborhoods on the edge of Las Vegas were told to be ready to leave their homes. It's the biggest wildfire in the U.S. and is moving quickly through groves of ponderosa pine because of hot, dry and windy conditions that make for extreme wildfire danger. Forecasters are warning of extreme fire danger across New Mexico and in western Texas.
Williamsport, Pa. -- Nursing students at Pennsylvania College of Technology have a great track-record of success, passing examinations at a higher than average rate.

For the second consecutive year, 100 percent of Penn College associate degree graduates who took the national board examination for registered nurses passed on their first attempt, while those in the colleges bachelors degree nursing and practical nursing majors also exceeded state and national pass rates on their licensing exams.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing recently released pass rates for the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) and the NCLEX-PN, for practical nurses. Results are for those who took the exams for the first time between Oct. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021.

In addition to the 100% first-attempt pass rate earned by graduates of the colleges associate degree registered nurse preparation majors, graduates of the colleges bachelors degree nursing majors who took the NCLEX-RN for the first time earned a 95.83% pass rate. The Pennsylvania first-attempt pass rate for the same time period is 88.21%, and the national rate is 83.22%.

In the colleges practical nursing associate degree major, 90% of Penn College graduates who took the NCLEX-PN passed on their first attempt. The statewide first-attempt pass rate is 81.48%. Nationally, the rate is 79.77%.

We are extremely proud of our nursing graduates, said Valerie A. Myers, assistant dean of nursing. They have consistently scored well above state and national first-time NCLEX pass rates and are well-prepared for entry-level nursing positions.

The NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN exams are used by all state boards of nursing across the United States to assess a graduates competency and are required for licensure. In Pennsylvania, a student must graduate from a recognized education program before sitting for the exam.

Penn Colleges undergraduate nursing majors are approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. They represent the largest academic program at Penn College with 322 students.

The Penn College nursing program offers six degree options, including a masters degree with a concentration in nursing education, traditional two- and four-year degrees, as well as pathways for licensed practical nurses to become RNs and for RNs with a diploma or associate degree to pursue a bachelors degree. It welcomes high school and transfer applicants for entry each semester.

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American Heart Association News -- Every few seconds, someone in the U.S. finds themself in need of a blood donation. But there's not always enough donated blood to meet that need. Aid agencies began the year announcing the country was facing its worst blood shortage in more than a decade.

Donations are needed to replace blood people lose and can't replace for a wide range of reasons, such as heart surgery and organ transplants, burns, injuries or cancer treatments. But according to the Red Cross, only 3% of people who are eligible to donate do so each year.

"The blood we need for these patients only comes from human beings," said Dr. Fernando Martinez, medical director of transfusion services and donor operations at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. "We don't yet have the technology to make artificial blood."

While recent months have seen the most dramatic shortage in blood donations in more than 10 years, the blood supply has been in trouble almost since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr. Robert DeSimone, director of transfusion medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.

With the spring 2020 lockdowns, blood donations came to a halt, along with everything else that involved going out in public, he said. The need dropped initially, too, when hospitals postponed all but the most medically necessary procedures. But that need has risen dramatically now that people have started rescheduling those procedures.

Blood donations, however, have not. And they continue to ebb and flow with every new COVID-19 variant surge.

"It's been a bit of a roller coaster for us, managing the blood supply," DeSimone said.

Yet, giving blood isn't just good for the recipient, experts say. Making regular blood donations also can benefit donors.

Blood donors are given a series of health screens to determine their eligibility for donating, including questions about their medications; travel to countries with high rates of blood-transmissible diseases, such as malaria; whether they have sexually transmitted diseases; or if they've recently gotten a tattoo.

If they pass this screening, they are given a "mini physical" exam that includes taking blood pressure, body temperature and pulse. It also includes a small blood sample to test for infectious disease and to measure hemoglobin levels that tell how much iron is in a person's blood. People with low levels may be anemic and cannot donate.

"Sometimes we diagnose high blood pressure or an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). We also check for infectious diseases," DeSimone said. "Finding something like that can be life-altering."

However, Martinez said, people who have risky health behaviors should not use blood donation as an opportunity to see whether their behavior has resulted in a transmissible disease. "In the past, people did that, and they were not being honest with us," he said. People who engage in risky health behaviors such as intravenous illicit drug use or who test positive for transmissible diseases will be rejected as donors.

While there isn't a long list of things people need to do to prepare themselves to donate, it's best if they hydrate sufficiently, eat a good breakfast and don't smoke or drink alcohol the day and night before making a donation, DeSimone said. People also should plan not to drink alcohol immediately afterward to ensure they remain properly hydrated.

The biggest benefit to the donor, Martinez said, is knowing they've helped someone in need and possibly saved a life.

"It can really elevate the spirit," he said. "If a person is in the hospital and needs blood, that person relies on a donor who decided to donate one hour of his or her time to help somebody that he or she does not know."

DeSimone said he'd like to see more younger adults giving blood. "They are the healthiest donor population out there," he said, but less likely to donate than older adults.

Two basic types of blood donation are needed, Martinez said. Whole blood is the most common. In addition to having good health, donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be 17 years old in most states. They can donate every 56 days or up to six times per year.

Donating platelets can be done 24 times a year, but it takes longer  about three hours instead of one hour. Platelets, the tiny cell fragments that form clots and help stop bleeding, are constantly needed to help people undergoing cancer treatments, having major surgery or with serious injuries, and to help people with blood disorders. To extract platelets, blood is drawn from one arm, the platelets are removed using a machine and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor's other arm.

Type O negative is the most common type of blood used for transfusions when the blood type is unknown, because it can be given to anybody. But only 7% of the population has this type so it is always in high demand.

However, all blood types are needed to restock the nation's blood supply, Martinez said. "Whoever wants to give blood, we will take them."

American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org.

By Laura Williamson

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Bloomsburg, Pa.  As state government promises to promote hands-on agricultural learning opportunities that promote pathways to careers in agriculture, they are recognizing school FFA programs already doing just that.

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Education Career and Technical Education Director Lee Burket were joined by Pennsylvania FFA members and industry stakeholders at Central Columbia High School this week. There, they highlighted state investments in agriculture.

Growing the next generation of agriculturalists means investing in our youth, said Redding. Pennsylvania Ag and Youth Grant projects are engaging young minds, facilitating hands-on learning opportunities, and introducing youth to the breadth of careers in agriculture.

Agriculture is farming, but it is also food science, engineering, business, environmental science and so much more. These grants are a strategic investment in our future, ensuring the learners of today are growing into the leaders of tomorrow.

The PA Ag and Youth Grant Program was developed to increase availability of agriculture education programs and raise awareness of agriculture careers throughout the commonwealth to strengthen the industrys future workforce. It provides direct and matching grants to help fund educational seminars and field trips, agricultural safety training programs, and capital projects.

The program is available to youth organizations designed to promote agriculture, community leadership, vocational training and peer fellowship; it includes, but is not limited to, Pennsylvania FFA, 4-H, Ag in the Classroom, Career and Community Leaders of American and vocational education programs.

These grants help schools provide students with access to resources and experiences that open doors to multiple postsecondary and career pathways, said Burket. By exposing learners to the opportunities in agriculture, we are cultivating the next generation of producers, agribusiness professionals, veterinarians, horticulturists  the choices are endless.

Pennsylvania faces an agricultural workforce shortage as farmers retire and new technology-based positions become available.

The state has shown support for agriculture through the Pennsylvania Farm Bill and creation of the Ag and Youth, Farm to School and Farm Vitality grant programs. Since 2019, this historic package of legislation has invested more than $50 million in the industry, with an additional $13.6 million investment proposed by Gov. Wolf for the 2022-2023 budget year.

The Central Columbia FFA Chapter is one of more than 70 organizations across 35 counties to benefit from the $1 million in PA Ag and Youth Grant investments awarded over the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 fiscal years. In 2019-2020, the chapter received $7,500 for the purchase of a tractor for safe tractor driving and agriculture mechanics curriculum.

In 2020-2021, the program purchased a stream table, demonstrating environmental science and conservation practices in the classroom. The combined $15,000 investment has facilitated hands-on learn opportunities for more than 100 agriculture education students at Central Columbia High School.

Its a privilege to be at Central Columbia High School celebrating agriculture and FFA, said State Rep. Barb Gleim. With over 13,600 members in Pennsylvania this growing organization is empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders.

The National FFA Organization is a student-led organization whose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Pennsylvania is home to 150 agriculture education programs that facilitate hands-on, experiential learning experiences for more than 13,000 students statewide. In celebration of National FFA Week, Governor Tom Wolf proclaimed Feb. 19-26, 2022 as FFA Week in Pennsylvania.

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TOKYO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government is considering appointing its economic revitalization minister to double as vaccination chief, in a bid to accelerate its sluggish COVID-19 booster shot rollout, sources close to the matter said Thursday.

The potential new appointment eyed to happen by the end of March, could see Japan's current vaccination minister Noriko Horiuchi replaced amid staunch criticism from opposition parties and the public about the slow rollout of booster shots ostensibly, which has allowed the Omicron variant of the coronavirus to run rampant nationwide.

The potential appointment of economic revitalization minister Daishiro Yamagiwa into the role is based on his handling of the COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency measures implemented recently.

Horiuchi, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction led by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, took over the role from Taro Kono as vaccination chief last year, while also doubling as minister for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics held last summer, the latter a role that will become defunct in late March.

If she is replaced by Yamagiwa, she will likely be left without a cabinet position, sources close to the matter said.

Shigeyuki Goto, minister of health, labor and welfare, meanwhile, is another candidate being floated for the job of vaccination chief, although some concerns have been expressed about the extra workload this would add to his ministerial duties. 
Israeli cities Haifa and Tel Aviv have the world's best falafel, said 10bis.co.il, a leader in online and mobile food ordering from restaurants in Israel, in a new report.



By evaluating factors such as the number of falafel restaurants and the quality of the dish reported on each city around the globe, the food experts at 10bis.co.il created an index score to reveal the best world cities for falafel on a scale from zero to 10.



Taking the second spot is Tel Aviv, with 8.70 out of 10. Interestingly, Tel Aviv has 13 falafel restaurants per 100,000 inhabitants, more than first place Haifa with nine. 10bis.co.il has revealed that Haifa was given the highest score of 9.07 out of 10, thus being crowned the capital with the best falafel worldwide.



Despite almost only 4% of restaurants in the Israeli city offering this dish, Haifa has the tastiest falafel of all places analysed (4.67/5 falafel rating).



In third place is another Middle Eastern city, Beirut, with 7.92/10. Falafels in Lebanons capital are the third highest rated amongst all world capitals, with a remarkable 4.54 out of five.



In joint third is Jerusalem with 7.92/10. The capital has 9.36% of restaurants specialising in falafels, putting it ahead of fellow Israeli cities; Haifa (3.95%) and Tel Aviv (2.56%).



85% of the top 20 cities for falafel are in Europe



Placing fifth in the overall ranking, Amsterdam is the best European city for falafel with an overall score of 7.62 out of 10. The Netherlands capital has 12 falafel restaurants per 100,000 inhabitants, behind European cities such as Brussels with an impressive 33 venues (the highest of all places analysed). The Belgian capital ranked sixth in the study, with a total score of 7.55/10.



In seventh is Athens (7.51 out of 10). The Greek capital offers the tastiest falafel in Europe with a 4.60 out of 5 falafel review rating - shortly behind Haifa which comes out on top in the overall study.



Berlin claims eighth place with 7.48/10. Known for being one of the worlds most vegan-friendly cities, 2.61% of the restaurants in the German capital offer high quality falafel rated at 4.37/5. Ahead of Berlin when it comes to the tastiest falafel (4.42/5), Lisbon in Portugal takes the ninth spot in the overall ranking with 7.47/10.



Rounding off the top 10 cities for falafel is Copenhagen (7.24 out of 10). The Danish capital has 43% more falafel restaurants than Haifa, even though it scored 20% fewer points in the overall results.  TradeArabia News Service
Acer has revealed the Swift 5 SF514-56T, an upgrade on last year's Swift 5 SF514-55T. The latest Swift 5 features a redesigned chassis, a higher resolution display, more powerful processors and DDR5 RAM, plus other improvements. The Swift 5 SF514-56T will launch first in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but Acer will release it in China and North America too.

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

Acer has announced an upgraded Swift 5, the SF514-55T version of which we reviewed last April. Now called the SF514-56T, the latest Swift 5 utilises Intel Alder Lake processors in a CNC-machined unibody chassis. However, Acer is yet to confirm which processors it will offer in the Swift 5, which is also the case with the new Swift 3. Based on last year's model, the Swift 5 will feature Alder Lake-U series processors like the Core i5-1235U and Core i7-1265U.

Additionally, the SF514-56T has a 14-inch and 2,560 x 1,600-pixel display, along with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Acer claims that the display has a 92.22% screen-to-body ratio as well, above which it has included a 1080p webcam. Moreover, the Swift 5 will have LPDDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen4 storage. According to Acer, the Swift supports up to 16 GB of dual-channel RAM and 2 TB of storage. Incidentally, Acer's fine print confirms that the Swift 5 features two M.2 2280 slots, both with PCIe Gen 4 support. Apparently, each M.2 2280 slot is only compatible with up to 1 TB drives, though.

Acer adds that the Swift 5 SF514-56T weighs 1.2 kg and is 14.95 mm thick, despite having an aluminium enclosure. Separately, the new Swift 5 has a Windows Hello-compatible fingerprint reader integrated within its power button and Intel Evo verification. Acer rates the SF514-56T for up to 10 hours of battery life too, while a 30-minute charge should yield up to 4 hours of battery. The SF514-56T will launch with the following ports:

1x 3.5 mm headphone jack

1x HDMI 2.1

1x Kensington lock slot

2x Thunderbolt 4

2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
Hardware specs include the Intel Core i3-1220P processor with 64 EU Xe iGPU, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and 512 GB NVMe SSD, as well as a 1080p IPS display. The 15-inch models are priced at 699, while the 17-inch ones cost 799.

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French tech company OFF Global managed to secure a licensing agreement with Nokia for the design and sale of laptops. It now holds an international exclusive license to create Nokia-branded laptops, and the first to be released will be the 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch PureBook Pro models with Intel Alder Lake-P processors, as well as affordable pricing.

The new Nokia Purebook Pro combines premium elements with enticing price points. Design-wise, the laptops are taking cues from Apples 14-inch MacBook Pros with rounded edges and more pronounced anti-gliding feet. There is also an aluminum cover that comes in four colors, while the profile measures 0.7 inches and the overall weight is 3.7 lbs for the 15-inch model or 5.5 lbs for the 17-inch one.

In order to maintain accessible prices, Nokia and OFF Global included an Intel Core i3-1220P processor with 10 cores and 12 threads plus a 64 EU Xe iGPU, which is coupled with 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB NVMe SSD. The display is modest as well, with a matte finish and 1080p resolution. Port selection obviously does not include any Thunderbolt connectors, yet it does offer two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with charge capabilities, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, a microSD card reader and an audio jack. Wi-Fi 6 + BT5 connectivity is also available, while the battery is supposed to last up to 10 hours.

These models will start shipping soon in most of the Western and Northern Europe countries including France, Belgium, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, plus countries like Morocco, Tunisia, Canada and Thailand. No word on U.S. availability for now. The 15-inch model will be priced at 699, and the 17-inch one will only be 100 more expensive.

Buy the Nokia XR20 5G smartphone on Amazon
Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines Berhad have signed a new agreement that will see both airlines working closely together across multiple areas of the business to offer a range of value-added services to passengers.



With the enhanced partnership, both airlines will leverage each others network strengths and provide more access for passengers to travel to new destinations beyond their individual networks while offering new and exclusive product to their customers soon. Qatar Airways passengers will gain better access to the wider domestic Malaysia market and key destinations in Asia such as Penang, Langkawi and Medan, Indonesia operated by Malaysia Airlines via its hub, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).



Passengers will enjoy seamless connectivity to popular destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas with Qatar Airways extensive network via Doha.



Building on the close links between Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines networks and rapid expansion of codeshare flights, the two oneworld partners have also agreed to maximise synergies in other areas of the business such as air cargo, operations or commercial services, that will create a game-changing innovative synergy for both carriers in leading the new travel demand ahead.



Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, said: This is a significant moment for us as we have just celebrated 20 years of serving Malaysia, and this new strategic cooperation with our oneworld partner, Malaysia Airlines, further cements our commitment to the country. This partnership will serve to link both our networks and allow us to work together across different aspects of the business therefore creating exciting opportunities for our joint passengers, as well as for our airlines.



As we move towards a post-pandemic world, successful business is driven by strong partnerships, and this close cooperation with Malaysia Airlines is a firm example of how symbiotic international partnerships can pave way to industry recovery. Providing customers access to the most extensive route network with unrivalled services and seamless connections.



Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines Berhad Izham Ismail, said: We are delighted to have taken the next important step with our close oneworld partner. This partnership will provide better efficiencies and a more comprehensive network for our passengers whilst we further boost the growth of traffic flow via KLIA, which will serve as a primary gateway to Malaysia domestic and selected Southeast Asian region destinations.



This MoU for strategic partnerships between Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways is an important part of our long-term business plan, as we explore more strategic opportunities and establish deeper partnerships. At the same time, it underscores the commitment of both airlines to provide passengers with safer, and increased choice of flights, wider destinations and greater flexibility on top of the excellent service hospitality throughout their travels with us.



We believe the strategic partnership will put both full-service carriers on a stronger footing to compete in the highly competitive market as we continue to navigate recovery of the pandemic. With the reopening of international borders and an increase in the demand for air travel, he added.



Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines launched their codeshare cooperation in 2004 and have significantly expanded the partnership in recent years, which today comprises of 62 codeshare destinations in Malaysia, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Africa.  TradeArabia News Service
The Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors approved this proposed redistricting map of the countys voting district, which will be sent to the state Attorney General for final approval.
Amazon is delaying plans to open a new delivery station in Valparaiso, though the e-commerce giant still plans eventually to move forward with the project.

Seattle-based Amazon recently took down all the signs at the 80,000-square-foot facility it's been building at 2200 Memorial Parkway in the Lakes of Valparaiso development. It was originally slated to open last year.

"We still plan to launch a new facility in Valparaiso, providing hundreds of jobs, starting at $15 an hour with comprehensive benefits from day one," Amazon spokesman Andre Woodson said. "The only thing thats changed with our plans is the exact timing. We are a dynamic business and we have dozens of fulfillment centers, sortation centers and delivery stations that are evolving and under construction across the country. Its common for us to adjust launch timetables based on capacity needs across the network."

Amazon has recently opened delivery stations in Gary and Merrillville, most recently opening the $30 million, 141,000-square-foot delivery station at a 35-acre parcel in AmeriPlex at the Crossing, where the retailer expects to eventually employ 300 workers.

It's not yet known when Amazon will open the delivery station in Valparaiso.

"Well provide an update on our launch timing at a later date," Woodson said.

Valparaiso expects the project will still move forward.

"The city is aware of the signs being removed from the building purchased by Amazon," Valparaiso City Attorney Patrick Lyp said. "No economic incentives were offered to Amazon and no timetable for opening the facility was announced. I have not been inside the building, but it appears all exterior improvements have been made. Communication between city departments and Amazon has been great."

Amazon expects to employ 100 workers in Valparaiso, with more jobs for delivery drivers who often work for third-party contractors. It will handle "last-mile" delivery as part of Amazon's order fulfillment process.

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Hammond Horseshoe Casino, Merrillville-based Centier Bank, Captrust in Chesterton, General Insurance Services in Michigan City and Starin Marketing in Chesterton were honored as among the Hoosier State's top workplaces.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce recently released its Best Places to Work in Indiana list for 2022. It honored 125 Indiana businesses in various industry sectors, including 40 newcomers.

The Indianapolis-based chamber representing businesses across the state has been honoring top workplaces through the annual program since 2006.

Best Places to Work in Indiana not only recognizes our states outstanding employers, but also sets a high standard for other Hoosier companies by encouraging them to realize the importance of evaluating their own workplace, Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar said. It is clear that a positive work environment makes employees more engaged in their job and in their company, which is what every employer wants and can greatly aid in employee retention  something on the minds of many businesses right now.

The winners were honored in different size categories that range from small companies with between 15 and 74 employees to major firms with more than 1,000 employees. Out-of-state companies can participate so long as they have at least 15 full-time workers in Indiana.

The honors were determined by the research firm Workforce Research Group, which relied on employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys to reach its conclusions. Companies got in-depth evaluations identifying what employees say are their strengths and weaknesses, insights that can be used for employee recruitment and retention.

They will be recognized at the 2022 Best Places to Work in Indiana awards celebration on May 12 in Indianapolis.

For more information or tickets, visit www.indianachamber.com/specialevents.

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Lakeshore Public Media President and CEO James A. Muhammad won a Richard Allen Award, a national honor.

Muhammad received the award at the United Negro College Fund Scholarship Gala at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. It honors those who have shown leadership in educating youth and made exceptional contributions to society.

It is truly an honor to be recognized by such an esteemed organization, Muhammad said. Im very proud of my years of service through public media and the impact it has had on society, especially our community here in Northwest Indiana.

He is one of only a few African-Americans to lead a joint PBS and NPR affiliate and is the first to lead Lakeshore Public Media, which is based in Merrillville and broadcasts across Northwest Indiana and greater Chicagoland.

On the air for 35 years, the nonprofit public broadcasting affiliate has aimed to promote lifelong learning and civic engagement across the Calumet Region and the greater Chicago metropolitan area.

Lakeshore Public Media has won six Silver Telly Awards, a Gold Telly Award, a Public Media Award, and an Emmy during Muhammad's tenure. He also was named to the 2020 Public Media Honor Roll and won a 2020 Entrepreneurial Excellence Award from the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center.

Before arriving at Lakeshore Public Media, Muhammad won a Peabody Award, a national Edward R. Murrow Award, a Silver Baton award from Columbia University and a Gabriel Award. He has previously worked for Alabama Public Radio, West Virginia Public Broadcasting and WCBU at Bradley University.

He serves on the boards of the Indiana Broadcasters Association and the Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations Association.

For more information, visit lakeshorepublicmedia.org.

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HAMMOND  The Hammond Board of School Trustees is considering giving its superintendent a raise, despite public pushback at a recent hearing.

Superintendent Scott Millers current contract indicates he is paid $150,000 annually, with an annuity of $14,500. Under the new contract, he would have a base salary of $178,000 annually for the period that began July 1, 2021, and will conclude June 30, 2024.

Under the proposed contract, the superintendents performance will be evaluated each year. If his evaluation is effective, he will receive a $3,000 increase in his salary, or $5,000 if his evaluation is highly effective.

Currently, Millers annual pay is low in comparison to other superintendents in Northwest Indiana. Larry Veracco of the Lake Central School Corp. has a base salary of $172,943. Jim McCall of Valparaiso Community Schools had a base salary of $170,000 for the 2020-21 academic year, the latest available contract on VCSs website.

Miller was hired to lead the Regions largest school district in 2019. In the time since his hiring, several Hammond schools were closed, and Hammond Central High School has opened.

However, the boards consideration of a raise has sparked concern among some Hammond residents who say the district is continuing to perform poorly and question Millers qualifications for the position.

A significant crowd of concerned residents were at the hearing Tuesday night, where they were informed that public comment would be limited to one minute per person. Several in attendance expressed their outrage at the short time limit.

A bill being considered in the Indiana legislature would not let the school board limit public comment to one minute. House Bill 1130, which currently faces the Senate, would require school boards to allow each individual who desires a minimum of three minutes to speak at public meetings.

School Board member Carlotta Blake-King said she felt uncomfortable with the limit to one minute. She said the board is setting a dangerous precedent in not allowing a diverse community to be heard.

Blake-King discussed an email between Monica Conrad, attorney for the School City of Hammond, and the board. Blake-King said the email discussed possible personal attacks on the superintendent.

Were not guard dogs, were human beings that love our city and are trying to do right by our children, Blake-King said.

Conrad expressed that the email was attorney-client privilege and Blake-King was not to read the email aloud. She also said that the email was referring to how other districts have had problems with personal attacks against superintendents.

Board member Cindy Murphy said public hearings have always had time limits. The board then voted to approve the one-minute time limit, with four in support and Blake-King opposed.

While this issue was being discussed, an individual approached the podium. Public comment had not yet begun, and security asked him to sit down. He refused and said he did not intend to talk, but was first to give his thoughts when public comment began.

Murphy then raised a motion to recess until the public was properly seated, which received significant protest from the crowd. Board Vice President Lisa Miller seconded the motion. The motion passed four to one, with Blake-King again in opposition.

A 10 minute recess was held, during which time several crowd members indicated their disapproval. The individual did not sit down before the meeting began again.

When the public hearing began, several expressed their discomfort at the one-minute limit, and one said he will sue. The board continually asked people to limit their discussion to the terms of the contract.

Christine Clarahan, director of food and nutrition services for the district, said she is in support of the contract due to the fact that Millers current pay is lower than several other superintendents in the Region.

Isker Frank, a School City of Hammond alum, said she does not think the superintendent should be compensated at any rate.

He needs to go, Frank said. She said teachers are leaving the district due to low pay and lack of appreciation. She then discussed Millers qualifications for the position.

Frank said in an email following the meeting that Millers tenure has been filled with failure to students.

My greatest fear is that the system will soon lose its accreditation, making matriculation through it worthless, Frank said via email. Hammond needs to do what it should have done when Dr. Watkins passed on, and that's (to) seek a credentialed, experienced, progressive superintendent to relieve Miller of the duties he was never qualified to take on in the first place! He was hired as a temporary placeholder until the School City could hire a superintendent, not as a permanent replacement.

Walter Watkins was the former superintendent of the School City of Hammond. He died at the end of 2019.

In Indiana, for an individual to be a superintendent, they are required to have at least an Ed.S., which is a postgraduate degree for professional educators, in addition to several other requirements. According to district's website, Miller has a bachelor's degree from Indiana University Northwest and a masters degree from Purdue Calumet.

According to the Indiana Department of Education, Miller has a temporary superintendent license, which expires in 2024.

Cherie Roberts said that raises will be determined in the contract based on a performance of effective and highly effective but that in the time since Miller began, she has not seen anything effective.

Otis Moore said the School City of Hammond is in shambles and is the laughing stock of Indiana. He was interrupted and asked to focus on the contract.

If you aint got good leadership, youre not going to have a good school system, Moore said.

Kim Arroyo said that when teachers are under temporary or similar licenses, they are not often entitled to raises. She asked why the district is considering this contract then.

When public comment ended, Blake-King asked to comment. She was informed she would have to sign up on the public comment sheet and address the board from the podium residents are able to talk from.

Blake-King was appalled by the decision, but she went down to the podium to speak to the board.

I reject this contract based on the fact, as I indicated at the last board meeting, the evaluation process was tainted, manipulated and a manner of cheating, Blake-King said.

Following Blake-Kings comments, the meeting was adjourned. The board will vote on the superintendents contract March 15.

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The Indiana Senate Committee on Education and Career Development passed House Bill 1134 by an 8-5 vote, sending the bill that would limit what is said in Indiana classrooms to the full Senate.

The vote was along party lines, except Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, who voted no with Democratic members.

Several amendments were proposed for the bill Wednesday. Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, began by proposing an amendment that removes parental consent for mental health services provided to students in specific situations, such as crisis situations or situations where the child may be facing abuse from the parent.

The bill's original mental health care limitations were heavily criticized when the bill was heard last week. The amendment passed by an 8-5 vote.

The current bill is heavily weakened from the original, which would have allowed parents to sue school districts. The amended bill also decreased the amount of divisive concepts banned from Indiana classrooms.

The bill no longer requires schools to create curriculum review committees, though it still allows them to be created upon request. School districts are required to use a learning management system parents have access to. Parents are not able to broadly opt out of lessons.

The other amendments were proposed by Democrats in the committee and focused on several subjects such as enhanced Black history lessons. All failed.

Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, who proposed the amendment which would have required high school history courses to include an enhanced study of Black History, said Indiana has a responsibility to teach students about the good, bad and ugly of American history.

My amendment was common-sense and simple, and Im extremely disappointed that it did not pass. The fact that my colleagues rejected the opportunity to require Black history to be taught in our schools, during Black History Month, speaks volumes. Its clear that white-washing our history, despite claims otherwise, is the intent of legislation like HB 1134, Melton said in a statement. Passing this legislation was a mistake that will hinder our teachers and students, and Im saddened to see members of this body support a bill that not only moves our state backward but is a detriment to future generations.

No testimony was heard Wednesday, following a cutoff last week, where only a small portion of those signed up to testify were able to speak.

Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, said in a statement he has opposed HB 1134 since day one. He said he and his colleagues introduced several amendments that were common sense, but they were all declined.

"HB 1134 was conceived in a national and local political context that promotes silencing voices of underrepresented communities in Indiana," Qaddoura said.

The Indiana State Teachers Association released a statement following the committees passage of the bill.

The foundations of this bill remain grounded on a false narrative that teachers cant be trusted, ISTA President Keith Gambill said Wednesday. ISTA will continue to stand with the vast majority of Hoosiers to defeat this bill.

The Senate killed a similar bill that required teachers to remain neutral on subjects like Nazism.

The bill now faces the Senate floor.

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CROWN POINT  Sheriff's police have a message for patrons of gun shows at the Lake County Fairgrounds: Follow the law or face arrest and prosecution.

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said Thursday his department began an undercover investigation named Operation Scarecrow in September to target illegal purchases at the gun shows, which long have been criticized as a source of firearms used in crimes.

Illegally purchased guns often are used in crimes because they likely can't be traced back to any suspects, Martinez said.

"They're using it for gun violence, and a lot of people are getting killed out on the streets," he said. "Innocent people are getting hurt, and we need to put a stop to this."

Some of those arrested during the undercover investigation also were motivated by money: They were getting paid to serve as straw purchasers, Martinez said.

Officers seized 66 firearms, arrested or detained 56 people and confiscated more than $18,000 in cash during three gun shows in October, November and December, according to data provided by police.

Twenty-two people, ranging in age from 15 to 64, have been charged, according to police and Lake Superior Court records. An investigation into a 23rd person remains ongoing, police said.

One suspect was shot and killed in East Chicago before charges were filed, police said. Two additional cases were turned over to federal authorities for further investigation.

Police had 11 people in custody as of Thursday, and 12 remained at large.

In addition to guns, police recovered a total of 50 Ecstasy pills; 271 grams of Ecstasy in powder and rock form; 7 grams of psilocybin mushrooms; 20.7 grams of prescription Xanax pills; 14 bags of synthetic marijuana; and 209 grams of marijuana, officials said.

About one-fourth of the department's approximately 165 officers have assisted with the operation each month, including officers from the Special Operations Division, High-Crime Unit, Patrol Division, interdiction and narcotics units, and undercover police.

The officers used a high-quality surveillance system inside the Industrial Building at the fairgrounds, license plate readers, drones, helicopters and other technology to gather evidence and build their cases.

The operation was among the largest in the department's history, and Martinez ensured whatever resources were needed were available, said Cmdr. Jim Stahl, who leads the Special Operations Division.

Martinez is committed to equipping the department with technology, such as surveillance cameras, license plate readers and its aviation unit.

"This new tech was vital to helping us identify suspects and bring them to justice," Stahl said.

He also credited "good old-fashioned police work" for the operation's success.

Flagrant violations of the law

Many law-abiding people attend the guns shows and legally purchase firearms and other items, Stahl and Martinez said.

Those show patrons are not who sheriff's police were targeting, he said.

"To be clear, I support the right to legally keep and bear arms in accordance with the Constitution," Martinez said. "Simply said, our investigation has helped to cut off the supply of illegal weapons at its source."

Investigators began the investigation by simply watching activity during the guns shows.

What they saw surprised them, Martinez said.

When The Times observed Operation Scarecrow on Dec. 18, the groups police zeroed in on inside the Industrial Building appeared to be exchanging money and guns without much concern for the law.

"We were busy every hour of the operation," Martinez said.

Officers and Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Edgar Rodriguez watched for groups of people working together to shop, purchase and then immediately transfer guns to other people.

People taking photos of guns and texting, people exchanging large amounts of cash, and shoppers immediately handing off guns to those who did not purchase them caught investigators' attention.

The Crown Point gun shows, which have been held for decades, long have been criticized as a place where straw purchasers  who often have no convictions that would prevent them from buying a gun  can divert firearms to those cannot legally possess them.

Registered dealers at the gun shows must conduct background checks, but private sellers are excluded from that requirement, Stahl said.

"Some of the people we took into custody went to a private seller, who doesn't have to do the background check," he said. "They were taking real advantage of that loophole. Detectives were looking for that type of activity."

During the December gun show, investigators at their headquarters in the Sheriff's Department watched three large screens as they remotely operated cameras inside the Industrial Building at the fairgrounds.

After identifying a crew of shoppers, investigators began to focus on their "money guy," a man in a green hoodie withdrawing cash from an ATM and handing it to others.

By the time the man left the show, he likely had passed out more than $1,000 to other members of his group, officials said.

When police noticed another man place his identification on a table to make a purchase, they zoomed the camera in so far they could read his name and date of birth on the ID card.

A check with intelligence officers showed the man had a license to carry a firearm, which made sense if he was serving as a buyer, officials said.

As each crew left the fairgrounds, police watched closely for any guns being handed off to nonbuyers and relayed information to patrol officers to conduct traffic stops.

Those who were detained were brought back to the Sheriff's Department for questioning.

Fatal pursuit sparked probe

Martinez said he first brought the idea for Operation Scarecrow to his command staff after members of the High-Crime Unit began noticing firearms they were seizing from convicted felons had not been stolen, he said.

Investigators were looking into the source of those weapons when they also learned a man visited the gun show July 10, just before he became involved in a pursuit and fatal crash in St. John.

Larael L. Littleton, 20, of Gary, was driving a white Honda near the fairgrounds when a sheriff's officer attempted to pull him over because a temporary license plate on the Honda appeared to be fictitious, according to court records.

Littleton led police on a chase into St. John, where he struck a Buick at the S-curve in the 9500 block of 93rd Avenue and crashed into a tree, according to court records.

Littleton's passenger, Tiara McDonald, 28, of Calumet City, died at a local hospital. The driver of the Buick and Littleton also were taken to hospitals.

Police recovered a drum magazine and extended magazine for a Glock firearm and multiple rounds of .40-caliber ammunition in the Honda, court records state. They said they also found a credit card swiper and four credit cards that didn't match Littleton's or McDonald's names.

Littleton was taken into custody in August and pleaded not guilty to two counts of resisting law enforcement, reckless homicide and auto theft.

During the Oct. 3 gun show, police set their sights on several crews, including a group of five men who were later found with a total of 14 firearms and more than $10,000 in cash, court records show.

One of those five men, Charles D. Wilson III, 23, of Gary, has a history of alleged gun violence, court records show.

Wilson was involved in a shootout April 7, 2018, in Hammond during what police described as "a gun deal gone bad."

Wilson and his cousins Derek T. McLaurin-McNutt and Derrel C. McLaurin-McNutt were accused of luring Elijah Nolan, 19, of Gary, to the Robertsdale neighborhood to rob Nolan of a compact semi-automatic MAC 10 handgun they believed Nolan had stolen from their friend.

Wilson and the McLaurin-McNutt brothers were charged in May 2019 with murder and armed robbery, but Lake County prosecutors later dropped the charges.

Defense attorney Scott King, who represented the brothers, told The Times in 2019 he believed Nolan  not his clients  was the one planning a robbery. A deputy prosecutor's motion said the case had been referred back to Hammond police for further investigation, but the charges were never re-filed.

After his encounter with sheriff's police Oct. 3, Wilson was charged with felony operating a loaded machine gun and possession of a machine gun in connection with a shooting Sept. 4 at Kennedy Avenue and Michigan Street in Hammond. No one was wounded.

Charges linked to the Hammond shooting were filed Nov. 22.

Wilson was arrested on those charges Dec. 24, after police found him and another man hiding in the crawlspace of a Merrillville home where an 8-year-old boy had accidentally shot himself with a gun left on a bed, court records state.

Crew of 5 arrested

Wilson remained in custody Thursday on new charges linked to the Oct. 3 gun show.

Wilson was among a group of five people police were watching that day because of suspicious activity, records show.

When police tried to box in a Pontiac Grand Prix that Wilson was driving as he left the gun show, Wilson struck an unmarked minivan as he fled and drove between a red 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe and black 2011 Cadillac Escalade, damaging both of them, court records state.

Police stopped the Pontiac inside the fairgrounds. Officers recovered two handguns, and AR-15 rifle, two magazines for the rifle, ammunition and other items from inside the Pontiac, court records state.

Wilson was charged with felony resisting law enforcement and three misdemeanor counts of leaving the scene of an accident. His passenger, Shaquann A. Anderson, 25, of Gary, was charged with two felony counts of use of false information to obtain a firearm, two counts of false statement on criminal history information form and one count of assisting a criminal.

Another man involved in Wilson and Anderson's group, Dwight Culver, 29, of East Chicago, is accused of ramming a county vehicle with a blue 2012 Chrysler Town and Country van in the 800 block of Court Street and leading police on a pursuit onto Interstate 65.

The van's right rear tire shredded and came off near the exit to 109th Avenue, but Culver continued driving and merged onto eastbound U.S. 30, records state.

He ran a red light and almost struck several vehicles before hitting a median and spinning out, court records state. Flames and smoke began billowing from under the minivan's engine and around the tires, and Culver put his hands up and got out, according to court documents.

Police recovered nine guns from the minivan, including one gun of "unknown make or model," four rifles, three handguns and one revolver, court records state. Magazines for several of the guns and ammunition also were found, police said.

'This is the beginning'

Martinez said his department will remain committed to policing the gun shows.

Police Chief Vincent Balbo said Martinez has been clear about the department's mission.

"This is not the end, this is the beginning," Balbo said. "We're going to be very proactive with people that are involved in any aspect of violent crime."

During a news conference Thursday, Balbo said investigators were confident the 66 confiscated firearms on display at police headquarters would have been used in crimes of violence, including carjackings, armed robbery and more.

"It's absolutely critical that we continue this effort, and based on the results here, we are going to continue those efforts," Balbo said.

Illegal weapons have a direct impact on the safety of the community, he said.

In addition to guns, police seized firearm components that could be used to confused or slow down analysis of ballistics evidence in criminal cases, he said.

He vowed sheriff's police would continue to investigate not only who illegally buys guns, but what groups may be directing the purchase of weapons and their use in crimes across the Region.

When asked when the next gun show is scheduled, Stahl said, "We are always watching."

"You are more than welcome to come here and purchase a weapon legally," he said. "We're definitely a proponent of that. What we're making sure doesn't happen are the people who are not supposed to possess these weapons purchase them or be in possession of them. ... That's what our main objective is."

While sheriff's police cannot prevent every illegal gun sale in Lake County, "every little bit helps," Martinez said.

"We wanted to send a message out there for anybody here in Indiana or from out of state: If you intend to come to Lake County, Indiana, to a gun show or any gun store to purchase guns illegally, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you," he said.

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CROWN POINT  On occasion, the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point  normally an oasis of fair food, rides and community events  becomes an unwitting stage for organized crime, police say.

While the gun shows hosted on the grounds are hubs of commerce for law-abiding citizens to buy myriad goods and firearms, they also attract criminals and their accomplices to carry out nefarious schemes, local authorities have discovered.

This has sparked Lake County Sheriff's Department's Operation Scarecrow, where police have taken a closer look at criminal networks at work to prosecute those involved. The name of the initiative stems from straw purchases, in which someone buys a firearm on behalf of another person who is not legally able to possess one.

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. and Cmdr. Jim Stahl, of the Special Operations Division of the Lake County Sheriffs Department, said the operation has a clear message: "If you come to a gun show or a gun store in Lake County to purchase guns illegally, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you."

Stahl coordinates multiple teams of police who each play a specific role in the operation. While undercover officers and surveillance cameras closely monitor the fairgrounds, patrolling police like Detective Nick Kopack pull over suspects as they exit the property. Meanwhile, drone pilot Detective Reggie Sanders keeps an eye on things from the sky.

If the suspects are taken into police custody, officers such as Detective Phillip Komisarcik II interview them at the police station.

This episode of Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops takes viewers through a complex undercover mission to stymie the illegal purchasing of firearms at gun shows.

Q: How did this initiative get started?

Martinez: The High Crime Unit has been out there effectively making a lot of stops of drug traffickers and also those in illegal possession of handguns. And it was surprising to find out that some of these individuals were convicted felons and the handguns they had were not stolen. So we started looking more into where they were getting these weapons.

There was a pursuit in particular that ended in a fatality that had two convicted felons inside the vehicle and products of ammunition and extended magazines inside the vehicle. And it was determined they were coming from the gun show. And we understand in this area there's been a lot of gun violence so we wanted to take a proactive approach in stopping this gun violence and the illegal guns out on the streets. And it's in our areas as well as other neighboring communities.

So we decided to start "Operation Scarecrow" in September. And it started with a lot of surveillance. We put a lot of man hours in this operation. We had the special operations division, we had the patrol division, the narcotics division, high crime unit, interdiction and undercover officers. So the men and women of the Lake County Sheriff's Department were extremely dedicated to this operation. They did a great job.

Q: What are police looking for in this undercover operation?

Martinez: So I wanted to make one thing clear. We are not going out there targeting individuals purchasing guns at the gun shows. We were looking, based off of our officers' training and experience, on large groups gathering together in the parking lot. We are looking at large groups, where our officers are trained to determine, "This is a lookout person." You have phone communications going inside and outside of the gun show. You have certain individuals who are just the shoppers who are looking at weapons, taking pictures of weapons, sending them to people on the outside. Then you have the money person who has all the cash. They meet up with another individual and that money is handed down three different times. Then you have the buyer  the person who actually goes and buys the weapons, multiple weapons, at the gun show.

And then we continue their surveillance where they're followed outside, and then it's shocking to see how it's done. They're passing out each gun to different vehicles and different people. Our surveillance team will then follow the vehicle and the license plate will be run. We will have criminal histories for individuals and we'll know if they're convicted felons who cannot be in possession of a handgun. Traffic stops will be made for violations they make leaving the gun show. And then the investigation will continue. So it doesn't necessarily mean right then and there they're doing something illegal. It's a combination of everything and the indicators and circumstances that leads us to detain and in some cases to arrest.

So we did get some pursuits when the traffic stops were initiated where the subjects fled and they were apprehended. We did have arrests of straw purchasing where an individual purchased the gun but was then handed to another individual. We had incidents of felons with a handgun and juveniles. So the ages ranged from 16 years old to 65 years of individuals who were committing these illegal acts.

Q: What kind of man hours were put into the operation, and what did you find?

Martinez: We targeted the October, November and December gun shows. And every day, it was something illegal going on all the time. It's amazing. And when you think about gun shows, they run background checks. But there's also individuals who sell guns privately, and when you do that, you don't have to go through a background check. So we were also watching those individuals and guns that were being purchased from private gun sales.

Q: What is the ultimate goal of this operation?

Martinez: (Our focus) is to take a proactive investigation into the sales and illegal purchasing of guns, and the violence that's going on in our community. So we wanted to send a message out there for anybody here in Indiana or those who come from out-of-state to Lake County, Indiana, to a gun show or a gun store to purchase guns illegally, we will arrest you and we will prosecute you.

Q: What kind of individuals are coming here to illegally obtain guns? Are they involved in organized crime or possible gang members?

Martinez: There are two parts to the answer. They are involved in organized crime. There's a big demand for weapons out on the streets when it comes to organized crime or gang violence. It's much easier to purchase a weapon off someone on the street than trying to go to a gun store having their name behind the receipt of purchasing a gun because they're felons.

There's also a money element. There are individuals we caught who aren't involved in any gangs, but they're involved in purchasing a handgun illegally for someone else because they're making money off of it. So you have the organized crime element and the money element, where individuals are profiting from this.

Q: As far as the money, just watching on the surveillance, it looked like there were thousands of dollars involved.

Martinez: Yes. I could tell you from this operation, we confiscated about $20,000 from individuals who were detained or arrested. We confiscated approximately 65 weapons and arrested or detained about 56 individuals.

Q: Was there anything that surprised you when police took a closer look into all of this?

Martinez: What's surprising is, again there's a lot of traffic of good, law-abiding citizens, just how every time we did the operation, just how much illegal activity was going on as well. We were busy. We were busy every single hour of each operation.

Another surprising thing is we had two juveniles just try to sneak some of the guns off the table and fled from the gun show. Our undercover officers were able to intercept them outside stealing a handgun. Not even trying to purchase it illegally, just snatching it from the table and running outside. It was two weapons, and I believe the individuals were only 15 and 16 years old.

Q: What was the logistics of the operation, and how did everything play out?

Stahl: To be honest this was a fairly large operation in the aspect of our police department, here. I believe that day we had 42 officers working, which we have 164 officers on our police department. So, over a quarter of the police department had worked on the operation that day, so it's a large operation that entails many aspects of this police department.

From what you observed down in the tech room, with the undercovers that were working, the detective side of it, the officers making the traffic stops  there's just a lot of work and teamwork that goes on with different divisions of the police department, and it's worked out very well.

Q: What makes the gun show an attractive place for people looking to engage in illegal activity?

Stahl: I would have to say it's located so close to the border. We have a lot of Illinois traffic that comes over here. ... I know with it being so close to the suburbs of Chicago, it just makes it really easy. It's only a half-hour or 45-minute drive for some people to come out here. So it's very attractive with the state, our gun laws we have here are very different than surrounding states. So that in itself makes it attractive to outsiders who come here.

Q: Can you talk a little about the rules of the gun show? With the licensed dealers, you have to do a background check, and we saw some of that on the surveillance with people sitting down and doing that. But there are other sellers at the table who are private sellers. They don't have to do a background check, right?

Stahl: Yes, from some of the people we took into custody they absolutely took advantage of that. Convicted felons who knew they couldn't go to a licensed dealer because the licensed dealer is going to do a background check. They took advantage of that private seller who doesn't have to do the background check and that's how they were purchasing their firearms  taking real advantage of that loophole.

Q: Detective Kopack, what is a specific instance where police spotted an obvious illegal purchase at the gun show?

Kopack: There was a guy inside the fairgrounds wearing a green hoodie, and he was with three other people. He was seen going to the ATM numerous times to take out money, and he had stacks of money. He was seen on video passing the money to other members of the group and then we performed a traffic stop on his vehicle. Once we did, he had two guns sitting by his feet. He had a receipt in his pocket, but the receipt had one of the other occupants of the vehicle's name on it. So he passed money to the other guy in the car with him to purchase the gun. And the guy who purchased the gun gave it to the guy in the green hoodie. So we stopped them after confirming it was him and found there was weapons in the car. And then we transported him to the Lake County Detective Bureau where he was interviewed by a detective.

Q: Detective Komisarcik, what was your role in the operation as the interviewer?

Komisarcik: The aim is to have them tell the story the correct way, the way it actually happened and to be truthful and honest with what's actually going on  and eventually telling on themselves is what the end game would be.

So that's why we're in interviews, going back and forth of what happened and the story they're telling. Like I said, it's a cat and mouse game, where they're trying to tell this one lie and we have the truth, and we're just trying to get it all together.

Q: How do the interviews normally go, once the person has been taken to the police station to speak with officers?

Komisarcik: Every interview is going to be different. Some interviews we're in there, interviewing over and over and over again. Talking about the same instances. They are going to end up telling on themselves and some of them will shut down and won't say anything. Or, they'll just talk in circles and you won't get anything out of the interview, and you'll have to use the information from the video and what the personnel on scene saw.

Q: The Region has been growing a lot lately with new businesses and more people. Is this operation a part of a push-back to preserve the safety of the community as it continues to grow?

Stahl: Absolutely. The sheriff has done a fantastic job, and not just with this operation, but having the High Crime Unit, having them out patrolling. These extra patrols and blitzes, the overtime, these guys the sheriff is putting on the street, I truly believe has had an impact in our area.

The fairgrounds is a great place. People go there to run. Every day, I drive by there and you see people out there, people running, they have a huge playground. It's really nice. And the gun show is a good thing. It provides a service for people who need it. You can buy all kinds of different stuff there. Us trying to keep the criminal element out, it's no different than anywhere else. The mall has issues. Every place has issues. That's what we are here for. I do believe the stance the sheriff has taken throughout Lake County has saved lives here and really cut down on crime. So there is a push to keep Lake County safe, and the sheriff is doing that.

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A multi-agency blitz near the Indiana-Illinois state line netted multiple arrests and resulted in four pursuits.

Several police departments teamed up with the Lake County Sheriff's Department on Saturday night to locate stolen vehicles.

A total of six arrests were made Saturday, including four Illinois residents and two Indiana residents. Three weapons were confiscated, police said.

During the blitz, four pursuits were initiated, some of which stretched into Illinois.

Around 7:30 p.m. one chase ended in a single-vehicle crash into a residential yard and arrest of a driver in the 17000 block of Wentworth Avenue in Lansing.

In another instance, Lake County police located a stolen vehicle traveling in Hammond. The driver led chase going west on Interstate 80/94 and abandoned the vehicle to flee on foot in Chicago. The suspect was not immediately found; however the stolen vehicle was recovered.

The multi-agency coordinated blitzes are an initiative launched to target carjackings, auto theft, firearm offenses, wanted individuals and more. The Lake County Aviation Unit assisted officers from above by tracking suspect vehicles.

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PORTAGE  Weather conditions continue to hamper the search for the body of an Indianapolis man who fell through shelf ice into Lake Michigan.

As of Wednesday evening, Bryce Dunfee, 22, had still not been found, Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials said.

It will likely be a couple of days before it is safe enough to use a boat to search the area, said DNR Officer Alex Neel.

"It's extremely dangerous and difficult for rescuers on shelf ice," Neel said.

DNR Lt. Shawn D. Brown said high winds and large waves have caused challenges, and searchers are taking it day by day to navigate the conditions.

"It's dangerous, even if someone was tethered while searching the ice shelves, with these waves, it's not a good situation," Brown said.

Using helicopters and other aerial devices to search from the sky have also proved difficult so far with the wind, Brown said. On Wednesday, searchers were only able to scour the area by land but no trace of the man was found.

Dunfee was at the Indiana Dunes National Park site about 5:30 p.m. Monday with four friends when he fell into the frigid lake waters after venturing onto the shelf ice, said DNR Public Information Officer Nicole Baumann.

Firefighters, dive teams and others searched for Dunfee for about two hours Monday night until it got too dark and conditions became too treacherous in the near-freezing lake. The search also resumed Tuesday morning, but deteriorating weather conditions and melting shelf ice limited those efforts.

The search is complicated further in that the frigid water temperature, which is in the freezing range, is known to keep a body submerged, Neel said. In addition, the colder temperatures could result in the shelf ice rebuilding along the shoreline.

Dunfee and his friends were visiting the beach and began walking on shelf ice, Baumann said.

"The shelf ice is elevated. They had to climb up a little hill onto the snow," she said. "A little piece of the shelf ice broke off, and he tripped and fell into the lake."

The friends are believed to be in their 20s. The others were local, hailing from Portage and Lake Station.

The four other people who walked out onto the shelf ice tried to rescue their friend, but the lake pulled him in.

They called 911 and were able to return to shore safely, she said.

So far, Indiana Dunes National Park Rangers, Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and firefighters from Portage, Porter and Ogden Dunes have collaborated in search efforts.

Officials reiterated past warnings to visitors of the lake shore during the winter.

"Shelf ice is beautiful to look at, but it's just that, it's a sight to see," Neel said. "It is extremely dangerous and no one should venture out on it."

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Indiana is the sole Midwestern state that avoided the nuclear power fad of the 1970s and 1980s.

But, like many popular trends, Indiana may finally join the party some 40 years late.

State lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to legislation directing the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to adopt rules by July 1, 2023, that would permit small modular nuclear reactors be used to generate electricity in the Hoosier State.

Senate Enrolled Act 271 does not mandate any utilities switch to nuclear power. Rather, it opens the door for utilities to consider constructing a nuclear generating facility by putting in place the regulations that would guide its development and use.

State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, the sponsor of the measure, said nuclear is a "cleaner energy" option that ensures Indiana can meet its base load energy needs as Hoosier utilities continue retiring coal-fired power stations in favor of renewables.

"The sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow," Soliday said. "So we need to have multiple pathways."

The legislation defines a small modular nuclear reactor as a device capable of generating fewer than 350 megawatts, or about 65% of the capacity of the coal-fired Michigan City Generating Station, or 44% of the capacity of the Meadow Lake Wind Farm located along Interstate 65 south of Northwest Indiana.

Soliday likened the devices  which currently aren't in use anywhere in the United States  to the nuclear devices used to power U.S. Navy ships and submarines for decades.

"They are order of magnitudes safer. They fail passive instead of fail active. They will be certified in probably 2023," Soliday said.

"There are folks who will make comparisons with them and the reactors that we currently have. There is no comparison. None. They don't cost as much, they're much safer, and the regulatory process will be different  but there will still need to be a regulatory process."

Critics of the measure, including state Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, said there's no need for Indiana to lead the way with small modular nuclear reactors, especially with rules that give utilities built-in profits and other IURC incentives, as well as allowing utilities to recoup potentially billions of dollars in construction costs from ratepayers prior to the reactors actually generating any electricity.

"You're really taking a prototype technology and you're encouraging someone to come in and work out the kinks in our state while the ratepayers pay for it," Pierce said.

"Let these people prove their stuff really works before we make the ratepayers pay for what might end up being a giant white elephant."

In response, Soliday lashed out by condemning "far left" activists seeking to delay nuclear power deployment, China's use of child labor to mine battery components, and the "Obama administration" for requiring scrubbers be installed to reduce air pollution at U.S. coal-fired power plants.

"I don't usually like to get hyperbolic like this but I am tired of the extremism," Soliday said.

That spurred Pierce to accuse Soliday of violating a House rule against impugning the integrity of any member because Soliday seemed to suggest Pierce is an extremist.

After an extended recess, House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, intervened to calm things down.

Soliday was not made to publicly answer for his remarks or subject to potential censure by the chamber, according to a recording of the House session.

"It's easy, frankly, when you disagree on a policy to get emotional because you care," Huston said. "Sometimes it can be taken quite personally. So it's important to stay above that, and we'll continue to work to stay above that."

The legislation ultimately was approved, 70-22, after previously passing the Senate, 39-9.

It now goes to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law or vetoed.

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U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., is calling for the United States to stand with the Ukrainian people by immediately providing additional assistance, including military equipment and "lethal aid" in the wake of Thursday's invasion by Russia.

"Vladimir Putin is attacking the democratic, rules-based order that has benefited countless Americans and millions around the globe since World War II," Young said in a prepared statement.

"American strength and leadership in this moment is critical," he said. "The weak response from the United States following Russias previous invasions of Georgia and Crimea left Putin undeterred in his perverse ambition of rebuilding the Soviet Union."

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., a Democrat, who is seeking to unseat Young during this year's elections, challenged Young's track record when it comes to Russia.

"When I'm Indiana's next U.S. senator, I promise never to shake the hand of a U.S. president who adores dictators," McDermott said in a social media post that includes photos of former President Trump shaking hands with Putin and a smiling Young separately posing with Trump.

"When will Indiana @SenToddYoung finally denounce Trump's praise for the man who started this war?" McDermott wrote.

Representative Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, also issued a statement condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine, stating it not only violates international law but it threatens international security. Mrvan said Russia's actions requires the U.S. to lead a "multilateral response to deter Russia from continuing down this path of violence and devastation."

"Our nation must remain committed to its role within NATO and extend every diplomatic, economic, and military resource available to allow Ukraine to defend its sovereignty," Mrvan said. "The world must send the clear message that democracies will defend sovereign nations attacked by autocratic regimes that callously violate every standard of civilized conduct."

The invasion sparked the same type of partisan bickering on regional social media pages Thursday morning, with Republicans and Democrats blaming each other's parties for fueling and/or supporting Russia's aggression.

The Chicago-Gary-Kenosha metropolitan region has the third largest Ukrainian American population in the country at 45,873, according to Ameredia, which bills itself as a multicultural advertising, marketing and public relations firm specializing in reaching diverse ethnic groups nationwide.

Illinois has the fifth-largest Ukrainian American population among states, the group said.

Catholic Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, issued a statement Thursday morning saying, "The people of the Archdiocese of Chicago stand with our brothers and sisters suffering under attack in Ukraine."

"Most of us know war in Europe from the stories of our parents and grandparents, from history portrayed in films and books," he said. "This attack on a peaceful, sovereign nation is a sad reminder that the work of peace is never over."

"Please pray with me for the safety of all now under fire and for those in other nations fearful the war in Ukraine may overspread their borders," Cupich said. "I have asked that prayers for peace in Ukraine be added to all Masses in the Archdiocese of Chicago."

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., joined in on the partisan one-upmanship Thursday by releasing a prepared statement that read, "Though I hoped the administration would proactively shut down Russian energy assets such as Nord Stream 2 to deter further aggression as a majority of Senators voted to do, Putin and his cronies must now be punished with severe economic consequences for their unjustified invasion of Ukraine."

"The U.S. must unleash independent American energy production to lessen the pain of rising fuel prices on Americans, and the U.S. must be watchful to avoid endangering U.S. troops by involving them further in this volatile situation," Braun said.

While oil prices reportedly surged in the wake of the Russian invasion, the increase had not showed up at gas pumps across the state by early Thursday afternoon, according to an online gas price site operated by AAA.

The price for a gallon of gasoline in the state was at $3.365 Thursday, which is only slightly higher than a week prior, the AAA site says.

U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Noblesville, a Ukrainian-born American, also joined her party's criticism of the Democratic administration, saying its lack of leadership and strategy, "puts our great country and our allies in danger."

She asked Americans to stand with the people of Ukraine in their fight for peace and "freedom against evil."

"They are fighting this war not just for them, but for all of us," Spartz said.

Young went on to say, "Sanctions announced earlier this week by President Biden are a positive step, as are ongoing efforts to rally our NATO allies. We should immediately impose the strongest possible economic sanctions to make Putin a global outcast."

"Leaders of the free world must awaken to the challenges that come with the return of great power conflict and a multipolar world," he said. "With Russia and China content to chart their own paths, despite the costs, we must examine what credible deterrence means  both for Putin in Moscow and Xi in Beijing. The goal should not be preparing for the next response, but to deter attacks in the first place."

Times staff writer Anna Ortiz contributed to this story.

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HAMMOND  An Indianapolis woman who joined a scheme to defraud the government with phony income tax returns is going to prison.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on Wednesday afternoon sentenced 35-year-old LaTonya R. Foxx to 10-18 months.

Foxx pleaded guilty Aug. 24 to a felony count of wire fraud under an agreement with the U.S. attorneys office in which she gave up her right to a jury trial in return for a more lenient prison term.

Foxx admitted she and her co-defendants, Tanisha L. Bledsoe, of Chicago Heights, and Yvonna A. Lee, of Merrillville, cheated the U.S. Treasury by preparing tax returns that generated unwarranted tax refunds.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chang stated in an earlier memo to the court the scheme lured clients in Illinois and Indiana with the promise of large refunds.

Lee was the recruiter who found clients and obtained their personal identifying information needed to file tax returns.

Lee gave the information to Foxx and Bledsoe who then filed the tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.

Foxx prepared hundreds of tax returns between 2013 and 2015 on her personal computer, generating inflated tax refunds by misapplying education credits to lower the taxes her clients should have paid.

The defendants hid their involvement by failing to identify themselves on the tax returns as the preparers.

Foxx was receiving as much as $700 for each illegal return from her clients.

The government alleged the trios activities not only cheated the U.S. Treasury out of tax revenues, but also legitimate tax preparation firms out of customers they deserved.

Defense attorney Gregory T. Mitchell said Foxx was the least culpable of the three defendants.

He said she didnt completely understand the seriousness of what she was doing initially, and the other two defendants misled Foxx about their own fraudulent activities.

A federal grand jury indicted Bledsoe, Lee and Foxx in 2018. Lee and Bledsoe pleaded guilty in 2020. They are still awaiting sentencing.

Foxx has agreed to pay the government $1.2 million in restitution, but the judge said he will issue a ruling with 90 days on what her share of the restitution should be.

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VALPARAISO  The Porter County Board of Commissioners and County Council began work on a new plan for how to spend the countys $33 million in American Rescue Plan money.

Already, more than $4 million of that money is spoken for. The commissioners and council agreed in separate meetings Tuesday to spend $25,000 for a behavioral health study, $500,000 for township trustees to distribute, $2.5 million to help complete the Marquette Greenway Trail and up to $1 million in premium pay  bonuses  for public safety and law enforcement employees, primarily.

The council opted to give employees hefty bonuses, up to $4,000, this year in lieu of raises.

That still leaves nearly $29 million to spend.

The ordinance approved by the commissioners Tuesday repeals a more extensive spending plan that included $5.5 million for the Memorial Opera House and stormwater projects including Shorewood Forest and $4 million for Stimson Drain. Those projects could be considered by the committees if proposed.

In the future, spending plans will be determined by a steering committee and four subcommittees. Each will include one commissioner and two council members as well as two members of the public, one appointed by the council and one by the commissioners.

Applications for those citizen seats on the committees are due by March 8 at the countys website, porterco.org. Citizen members are expected to not seek funding for any organization by which they are employed or serve as a member of the board of directors.

The steering committee will be led by County Auditor Vicki Urbanik, a nonvoting member. Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, council President Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, and Councilman Andy Bozak, R-at large, will be on the committee as well. County Attorney Scott McClure will serve as a nonvoting adviser.

The Behavioral Health and Social Services Committee will include Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, and council members Greg Simms, D-3rd, and Sylvia Graham, D-at large. Trustees of Portage and Center townships and two rural townships not yet selected will serve as nonvoting advisers.

The Nonprofits and Employers Committee will include Biggs; Councilman Mike Brickner, R-at large; and Simms. A nonprofit expert, yet to be determined, will serve as a nonvoting adviser.

The Infrastructure and Facilities Committee will include Board of Commissioners President Jeff Good, R-Center; Simms and Brickner. County Engineer Michael Novotney and Facilities Director Ray Cloyd will serve as nonvoting advisers.

The County Government COVID Health Response Committee will include Blaney, Gram and Council Vice President Mike Jessen, R-4th. A Health Department representative and Human Resources Director Rhonda Young will be nonvoting advisers.

The process is designed for extensive public input. Each committee will have at least one evening or weekend meeting. Public input will be accepted at each meeting. Input from the public, agencies and organizations will be accepted online as well at the countys website.

The meetings will be open to the public and videotaped for later viewing. The public can sign up for text alerts as well.

The commissioners approved spending $1,890 on another 1,000 text alert subscriptions after adding 1,000 in January. Commissioners assistant Curt Ellis said the county burned through 700 of Januarys new subscriptions already.

Porter County is not a poor county. We need to take care of what weve got, resident Paul Schreiner told the Board of Commissioners.

Helping fix old infrastructure is part of the process, said resident Gary Brown.

The mental health study will help determine needs for the behavioral health and social Services Committee, Duneland School Board member Ronald Red Stone said.

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VALPARAISO  Porter County Engineer Michael Novotney knew the Carriage Hills subdivision in Jackson Township needed stormwater problems solved. But until a large sinkhole opened up, he didnt realize it was urgent.

The storm sewer infrastructure is just 20 years old. It was installed incorrectly, Novotney told the county Stormwater Management Board.

Given that it was 20 years old, we thought we had some time, he said. The county had done a video of the inside of the sewers in 2019.

Theres a lot we dont know about the condition of our storm sewers, Novotney said. Theres always that unknown risk that can blow up and cause problems from time to time.

On Friday, Joes Towing used a crane to pull two cars out of the sinkhole. The property owner was reasonable to talk to, Novotney said. Two people were in one of the vehicles but didnt sustain serious injuries.

By Monday, the county had materials onsite to begin the emergency repair work. Thats just a quick fix, not whats really needed, though.

The black plastic corrugated pipe is delicate and needs to be properly bedded and backfilled, Novotney said.

Thats the stuff we keep digging up, Board of Commissioners President Jeff Good, R-Center, said.

The road is also in poor condition and also probably poorly constructed, Novotney said.

As usual, offsite flow was neglected, Novotney said.

Novotney wants to televise the sewers again to see what shape theyre in now.

Putting it all back together the right way would cost an estimated $1.4 to $1.5 million, he said.

But where would the money come from? Thats 1.5 times the Stormwater Management Departments annual budget for that type of work. Reconstructing the road alone, once the storm sewers are placed under it, would cost an estimated $450,000, Novotney said.

Novotney said this is the type of project that would be good for American Rescue Plan money. The Board of Commissioners originally planned to program some $4 million of the countys $33 million federal windfall for stormwater projects, but that plan was since revised. Now the project would have to go through a public review process to be considered.

This type of subdivision would not happen today, County Attorney Scott McClure said.

The stormwater department was launched in mid-2016, funded by a user fee. Since then, the department has been beefed up with inspectors to check contractors work. Novotney acknowledged hes considered a stickler for details, but cited Carriage Hills as an example of why he studies plans so carefully.

Its the price of doing business, Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, said. You dont want to throw it 10 years, 20 years later to the taxpayers.

Back then, contractors were allowed to use whatever material they found on site as backfill, regardless of whether it was a suitable material, County Surveyor Kevin Breitzke said. Weve improved dramatically. Our standards have changed.

This is a perfect example of lack of leadership 30 years ago, Good said. The county is paying for that now.

Its not exciting stuff, Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, acknowledged.

These arent pet projects. These are failed systems, Good stressed.

Done well, a storm sewer system should last for half a century, Novotney said.

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John Edward Szeles, the comedian and magician who combined jokes with ersatz gore in his stage persona as the Amazing Johnathan, died on Tuesday at his home in Henderson, Nev., outside Las Vegas. He was 63.

Michael Peters, a funeral arranger at Palm Cheyenne Mortuary in Las Vegas, said that Mr. Szeless hospice care report showed he had end-stage heart failure. Mr. Szeless wife, Anastasia Synn, a magician and performer, had said on Twitter that he had been in hospice care.

Mr. Szeles learned he had heart disease in 2014, and that doctors told him that he had 12 to 15 months to live, according to his website.

Death didnt happen, he told The Chicago Tribune in 2018. I waited another year, and then it was another year. I was sitting and waiting around, so I went back to work.
The Biden administration warned on Wednesday that it had prepared additional measures aimed at cutting off Russia from advanced technology critical to its economy and military in the event of further aggression by President Vladimir V. Putin toward Ukraine.

The United States on Tuesday announced sanctions on two Russian banks and curbs on Russias sovereign debt, effectively isolating the country from Western financing. President Biden also announced further sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline and its corporate officers.

Export controls could ratchet up the pressure on Russia by preventing the country from obtaining semiconductors and other advanced technology used to power Russias aerospace, military and tech industries.

If he chooses to invade, what were telling him very directly is that were going to cut that off, were going to cut him off from Western technology thats critical to advancing his military, cut him off from Western financial resources that will be critical to feeding his economy and also to enriching himself, Wally Adeyemo, the deputy Treasury secretary, said on CNBC on Wednesday.
Lawyers representing Sarah Palin in her unsuccessful defamation lawsuit against The New York Times have told a federal judge that they plan to ask for a new trial and will file several other motions seeking to scrutinize the timing of his announcement that he intended to dismiss the case for lack of evidence if a verdict favored Ms. Palin. His statement arrived while the jury was still deliberating last week.

The decision by Judge Jed S. Rakoff  which was consistent with the verdict the jury arrived at the next day, holding that The Times was not liable for publishing and later correcting an editorial that erroneously linked the political rhetoric of Ms. Palin to a mass shooting  was the subject of a brief conference call on Wednesday between the judge and lawyers for both sides.

Judge Rakoff said Ms. Palins requests amounted to five interesting motions, including one that he be retroactively disqualified from the case. Another would allow her lawyers to interview the jurors, several of whom learned of his decision from push notifications they received on their phones while deliberating. In an order last week, Judge Rakoff said several jurors had told the courts law clerk that the notifications had not affected them in any way or played any role whatever in their deliberations.

The judge said he would review the motions once they had been filed. The motions would become part of the record should Ms. Palin appeal, which she is expected to do. Judge Rakoff also said he would expedite writing his decision outlining why he agreed to dismiss the case. He expects that to be ready by March 1.
The United States is prepared to release oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve as the Russia-Ukraine crisis helps drive up prices.

Russia is the No. 3 producer of oil, after the United States and Saudi Arabia, and it pumps about 10 percent of the worlds demand. Little of that goes to the United States, but the escalating tensions between Russia and the West have helped fuel a global increase in prices, which already were the highest since 2014.

Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said on Wednesday that a release of reserves was certainly an option on the table.

Americas emergency stockpile, which has about 580 million barrels of oil, has already been tapped recently: President Biden ordered a release of 50 million barrels in November as he sought to drive down gas prices that have contributed to high inflation and pushed OPEC Plus, the cartel of oil producers that includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and others, to pump more oil. The United States consumes roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day.
THURSDAY PUZZLE  If I had a nickel for every time someone under the age of 30 told me that I was pronouncing the acronym GIF incorrectly, I would be a very wealthy person.

As usual, thats a hint, not a spoiler. Its also an opportunity to whine about the fact that I never remember how its pronounced. All I know is that no matter how I do it, Im doing it wrong.

Tricky Clues

25A. The Lonely Goatherd was the puppet show performed by the von Trapp family in the 1965 film The Sound of Music. He was big on YODELing.

32A. Give it a twirl! means we are looking for the noun that would replace it. Since were twirling, there can only be two possibilities for this five-letter entry: skirt or baton. In this puzzle, the answer is BATON.
Image Family members at a mass crematorium ground in East Delhi, India, in April 2021. Credit... Atul Loke for The New York Times

A new study estimates that at least 5.2 million children around the world lost a parent or other caregiver to Covid-19 in the first 19 months of the pandemic.

Children are suffering immensely now and need our help, said Susan Hillis, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford and a lead author of the study, which was published in the medical journal The Lancet on Thursday.

The study was based on data from 20 countries, including India, the United States and Peru, and was completed by an international research team that included experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and several colleges and universities.

It warns that a child who loses a parent or a caregiver could suffer negative effects including an increased risk of poverty, sexual abuse, mental health challenges and severe stress.

An earlier study, focused on the first 13 months of the pandemic, arrived at an estimate of 1.5 million affected children. The new figure is much higher not just because it adds data for six more months, researchers say, but also because the first estimate was a significant undercount. Using updated figures on Covid-related deaths, the researchers now calculate that at least 2.7 million children lost a parent or caregiver during the first 13 months.

The new study covers data through October 2021, and does not include the latest surge in cases from the Omicron variant, which have undoubtedly added to the toll.

It took 10 years for five million children to be orphaned by H.I.V./AIDS, whereas the same number of children have been orphaned by Covid-19 in just two years, Lorraine Sherr, a professor of psychology at University College London and an author of the study, said in a statement.

Davyon Johnson, 11, from Muskogee, Okla., is one of the millions of children to have lost a parent  in his case, his father, Willie James Logan, who died two days after being hospitalized with Covid in August 2021.

Its been a rocky road, Ill say it like that, Davyons mother, LaToya Johnson, said in an interview.

Davyon has dealt with the grief as best as he can, she said. His grades are still strong. Hes still eager to see friends. Still, there are days when they are both exhausted.

Up and down  up and down, Ms. Johnson said of their emotions. Its him wanting to call his daddy and not being able to.

Darcey Merritt, a professor of child welfare at New York University who was not involved in the study, said the deaths of parents and caregivers would have a long, far-reaching impact on children, especially those in lower-income households.

Children of color in the United States, she added, are particularly at risk of negative consequences.

A study in the journal Pediatrics last year found that in the United States, one in every 168 American Indian or Alaska Native children, one in every 310 Black children, one in every 412 Hispanic children, and one in every 612 Asian children had lost a caregiver, compared with one in 753 white children.

The study in The Lancet found that two out of three children orphaned are between 10 and 17, and a majority of the children who lost a parent lost their father.

Juliette Unwin, a lead author of the study from Imperial College London, said in a statement that as the researchers receive more data, they expected the figures to grow 10 times higher than what is currently being reported.

The pandemic is still raging worldwide, Dr. Unwin said, which means Covid-19-related orphanhood will also continue to surge.
Youre one of my fathers VERY BEST supporters, and he REALLY wants to meet you, Friend. All you have to do is enter.

Well, all you have to do is enter, beat out all of Dads other very best supporters and 

The massive email operation is actually one of the very few pieces of the Trump empire that seem to be working well. Look down your nose at his real estate holdings; cluck sadly at his attempts to find a social network to love. Speculate about the investigations into his business associates, every single one of whom is probably named Friend.

Donald Trump has been trying to do a lot of things since he lost his re-election campaign, but the only one thats appeared to be really, truly successful is emailing for cash.

People just seem to get into this stuff. Right after Juniors letter about New Orleans came another:

URGENT

CONTRIBUTE NOW

Friend,

We booked you a plane ticket to meet President Trump in New Orleans.

Are you going to accept?

Wait a minute! Is this the same plane ticket I have to enter a contest to win?

Yeah. But its nice sometimes to get an email that sounds super-optimistic, right? If we only focused on the things that werent made up, wed never get another chance to talk about the Mexican wall. And even if you never get a trip to New Orleans, you can tell yourself that Donald did kind of invite you, sort of. Bet $10 and its a win-win.

By the way, we hear so much about the exciting prizes Trumps email readers can aspire to, isnt it sort of weird we dont see more about actual winners? Pictures of every lucky donor whose $10 translated into a free flight to New Orleans and a chance to really hang out with the Donald? Maybe theyre shy.

Or maybe even the fans who play  and donate  understand that on some level that this is just a game.

Friend, says a Trump email from last weekend. Ive never done this before 

I just got off the phone with my team and they told me that your name was MISSING from the FINAL list of supporters who contributed to win a trip to meet me in Florida.
If youve slept, perchance you have dreamed about an ex and woken up wondering, What was that all about?

The good news for chronic analyzers: An intense dream about a person you cared about months or even decades ago doesnt mean youre secretly pining for them. Deirdre Barrett, a dream researcher at Harvard University and the author of Pandemic Dreams and The Committee of Sleep, who has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, said that a number of factors can spark a dream about an ex-partner.

Triggers can include an anniversary of a death or a breakup or a divorce decree, she said. But dreams can also be a reaction to how we feel about our present relationships.

Instead of looking at dreams about exes as a sign of still being hung up on them or as a signal to look them up on social media, Dr. Barrett said to think of them as a chance to examine your current emotions and how youre coping with them.
As Google prepares to bring workers back to its offices, the company is relaxing some of its Covid-19 workplace policies, including a rule requiring U.S. employees to be vaccinated. But workers will still have to be vaccinated if they plan to use the companys offices.

In an email to San Francisco Bay Area employees last week, Google said it was easing some of its pandemic restrictions. It will no longer require employees to be tested weekly to enter its U.S. offices. Also, it will not require staff to wear masks in the office, with the exception of Santa Clara County  home to Googles main Mountain View headquarters.

Google also said it planned to restore many of its famed office amenities, such as fitness centers, cafeterias, massage services and commuter shuttles. CNBC reported the change in policies earlier.

Based on current conditions in the Bay Area, were pleased that our employees who choose to come in now have the ability to access more on-site spaces and services, Google wrote in a statement.
WASHINGTON  President Biden said on Wednesday that he would issue economic sanctions on the company behind a new natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, the latest in a series of penalties that the White House has promised will continue as Russia escalates hostilities against Ukraine.

The move by Mr. Biden came hours before President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia began a military operation in Ukraine that administration officials had warned could be a full-scale assault. But it was also a reversal for the president after he waived sanctions against the pipeline, known as Nord Stream 2, last year despite calls from both Democrats and Republicans to halt the energy project.

These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russias actions in Ukraine, Mr. Biden said in a statement on Wednesday before the Russian military operation. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate.

Administration officials said Mr. Biden decided it was necessary to move forward with the penalties after Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany announced on Tuesday that he would suspend the certification of the pipeline in response to Moscow ordering Russian troops to cross the border into separatist regions in eastern Ukraine that the Kremlin has recognized as independent states.
Dave is the only true, America First candidate that if elected will work every day to restore the pro-growth policies implemented by President Trump, including getting our economy back on track, standing up to China, restoring U.S. strength on the world stage, and securing our border, said Jess Szymanski, a McCormick campaign spokesperson.

He doesnt have the talk down yet

Until recently, McCormick was CEO of Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund whose fieldstone-and-glass headquarters are on a wooded, 22-acre campus in Westport, Conn. Its a world away from Pennsylvania cities like Scranton, McKeesport and Aliquippa, which have been hit hard by the kinds of shifts in global trade that Bridgewaters traders and analysts seek to monetize each day.

McCormick is married to Dina Powell, a former Trump administration official who is now at Goldman Sachs. The couple has been warning their friends that McCormick plans to play up Trump-like views on the campaign trail  what they described as simply the cost of running in a Republican primary right now, according to two business associates of his from Wall Street who asked not to be named discussing private conversations.

So far, McCormick has work to do, according to longtime Trump associates.

He doesnt have the look, said Sam Nunberg, a former political adviser to Trump. He doesnt have the talk down yet.

A Trump-adjacent lane?

McCormick may not want to fully mimic Trump. In Pennsylvania, where President Biden won by 1.2 percentage points, he may be better off running in what Christopher Nicholas, a Republican consultant who is neutral in the race, called the Trump-adjacent lane.
Three men pleaded guilty on Wednesday in a plot to attack power grids in the United States, which they believed could lead to economic and civil unrest and create the opportunity for white leaders to rise, federal prosecutors said.

The men, Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of West Lafayette, Ind., and of Katy, Texas; and Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wis., each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Columbus on Wednesday to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

They will each face up to 15 years in prison when they are sentenced. A date has not been scheduled.

Kenneth Parker, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said in a statement on Wednesday that the three men conspired to use violence to sow hate, create chaos, and endanger the safety of the American people.
William Kuenzel, a prisoner whose unsuccessful challenges to his murder conviction in 1988 attracted support from prominent but disparate legal figures  including the conservative former U.S. Attorney General Edwin C. Meese III and Robert M. Morgenthau, Manhattans liberal, longest-serving district attorney  died on Saturday at the William C. Holman Correctional Institution in Atmore, Ala. He was 60 and had been on death row for 34 years.

David Kochman, his lawyer, said the cause was colon cancer that had spread to his liver and pancreas.

Substandard legal representation at trial, witnesses who change their stories, and the prosecutions withholding of potentially exculpatory evidence are often grounds for overturning a conviction. But those factors were not enough to help Mr. Kuenzel after he was arrested in November 1987 and charged with killing Linda Offord, a clerk at Joe Bobs Crystal Palace convenience store in Sylacauga, Ala., with a single shotgun blast.

Mr. Kuenzel (pronounced KEN-zel) was implicated in the crime by his roommate, Harvey Venn. At first, Mr. Venn said that he had been outside the store at the time of the shooting and that Mr. Kuenzel had probably been at home. But after his arrest, Mr. Venn accused Mr. Kuenzel of being the trigger man and testified against him in 1988 in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. Insisting on his innocence, Mr. Kuenzel refused to take a plea deal.
President Biden said the world would hold Russia accountable as explosions were seen in Ukraines second-largest city minutes after Russian President Vladimir V. Putin declared the start of a special military operation in the country.

President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Mr. Biden said in a statement on Wednesday night. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way.

Mr. Biden said he was monitoring the events from the White House on Wednesday night and receiving updates from his national security team. The president said he would meet with Group of 7 leaders on Thursday and would then address the American people, when he planned to announce the further consequences the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security. Mr. Bidens speech is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, according to a White House official.

Mr. Bidens penalties against Russia for its actions in Ukraine have included imposing economic sanctions against two Russian banks and the company behind an energy pipeline connecting Russia to Germany. They also include measures aimed at hurting several members of the Russian elite and prohibiting Russia from trading debt in American or European markets.
1. Prior to current buildup: Russia has numerous military bases near its border with Ukraine and added several installations inside Crimea after 2014, when it annexed the territory. Russian troops are also stationed in Transnistria, a Russian-backed breakaway region of Moldova.

2. December 2021: Toward the end of last year, Russia began moving troops, tanks and heavy artillery into new positions across the country. Much of that buildup focused on two breakaway provinces in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, where the Ukrainian military has been at war with Russia-backed separatists since 2014.

3. January: Russia started moving equipment and troops into Belarus, a close ally, in preparation for joint military drills. Russian forces in Belarus might allow Russia to open a new front on Ukraines northern border, closer to the capital, Kyiv.

4. February: Russian officials announced a partial withdrawal of troops, though U.S. officials disputed this claim and said Russia had increased its presence instead. Units from the Central and Eastern Military Districts, which are some of Russias most advanced, remain deployed.
MOSCOW  President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia declared the start of a special military operation in Ukraine, pledging he would seek to demilitarize but not occupy the country, addressing the nation in a televised speech broadcast just before 6 a.m. local time.

Mr. Putin said the operation would aim for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, referring to the Kremlins contention that Ukraines military threatens Russia and that it is run by neo-Nazis.

As he spoke, large explosions were heard and seen in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other parts of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said that rockets hit fighter jets at an airport near Kyiv and that Russian troops had crossed the border in Kharkiv and Odessa.

The purpose of Russias offensive military operation is to destroy the Ukrainian state, seize Ukrainian territory by force, and establish occupation control, Georgiy Tykhyi, a spokesman for Ukraines ministry of foreign affairs, said in a statement. Russian troops are attacking peaceful Ukrainian cities from various directions.
SLAVIANSK, Ukraine  Russian mercenaries with experience fighting in Syria and Libya have covertly trickled into two rebel territories in eastern Ukraine, helping to lay the groundwork for war, according to two senior European security officials.

The mercenaries, who so far number about 300, are with the Russian paramilitary group Wagner and arrived in the separatist enclaves of Donetsk and Luhansk wearing civilian clothes, according to the European officials. Western intelligence services have tracked them leaving Libya and Syria and arriving in Russian-controlled Crimea, from where they have filtered into the rebel territories, one of the officials said.

Their numbers are tiny compared to the estimated 190,000 troops that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has placed around Ukraines border as he threatens to wage what many fear could be the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II.
WASHINGTON  In its most dire assessment yet, the Pentagon said on Wednesday that 80 percent of the 190,000 Russian troops and separatist forces in or near Ukraine are now in combat-ready positions, and that a full-scale military assault is most likely imminent.

They are ready to go, John F. Kirby, the top Pentagon spokesman, told reporters.

They could attack at any time, he added, with a significant military force.

Late Wednesday night, the Kremlin said that separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine had requested Russian President Vladimir V. Putins help in repelling the aggression of the armed forces and formations of Ukraine, though Ukrainian officials say there has been no such aggression, and none is planned. The Kremlin did not immediately say how Mr. Putin would respond.

The Russian government and state-controlled media have repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that Ukraine is carrying out a genocide against Russian speakers and poses a threat to the region controlled by Russia-backed separatists.
The Biden administration warned on Wednesday of additional measures it is preparing in the event Russia escalates an armed conflict in Ukraine, signaling that it is ready to impose a ban on exports of American technology that are vital to the Russian economy.

The warning came a day after the United States announced sanctions on two Russian banks and curbs on Russias sovereign debt, effectively cutting the country off from Western financing. Export controls would represent a significant expansion of the tools the United States is prepared to deploy to respond to further aggression by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

If he chooses to invade, what were telling him very directly is that were going to cut that off, were going to cut him off from Western technology thats critical to advancing his military, cut him off from Western financial resources that will be critical to feeding his economy and also to enriching himself, Wally Adeyemo, the deputy Treasury secretary, said on CNBC on Wednesday.

Mr. Adeyemo said that the United States is coordinating closely with European allies on efforts to exert pressure on Russias economy. He added that the tools that the Biden administration was preparing to deploy are more potent than those that were used after Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The gold brooch from ancient Greece was valued at $1.3 million. A 3,500-year-old coffin the size of a trunk, known as a larnax and decorated with undulating patterns, was valued at $1 million. But the most distinctive of the 55 antiquities returned to Greece by the Manhattan district attorneys office this week was a 2,500-year-old sculpture of an athletic youth, known as a kouros, valued at $14 million.

It was purchased, court documents say, from Robert E. Hecht, a Paris-based antiquities dealer who is now dead, in 2000 for $2.3 million by Michael H. Steinhardt, the billionaire hedge-fund pioneer who last year surrendered 180 artifacts that officials determined had likely been stolen from archaeological sites.

The kouros, sculpted around 560 B.C. and depicting a youth with 14 rows of braids draping his back, was among the 55 illicit items  valued in total by officials at $20.2 million  that were handed over on Wednesday to the Greek government.

Investigators said 47 of the objects came from Mr. Steinhardts collection of Greco-Roman artifacts. Mr. Steinhardt agreed to surrender those items and more than 100 additional artifacts from nearly a dozen countries, valued all told at $70 million, in December after officials said they had been illegally imported into the United States. As a result, Mr. Steinhardt, 81, agreed to a lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities.
In 2009, sensitive to the ways that Black girls are under particular duress in American culture, the Austin-based artist Deborah Roberts began creating intricate collages of innocence and joy  very Black Norman Rockwell, as she described them in a recent interview. When she decided to pursue an M.F.A. in 2014 at age 48, hoping to discover ways to move her work forward, she was struck by how little research there was to draw upon to understand the lives of Black girls and the challenges they faced. There was scholarship on Black women, she explained, but not on how we become Black women.

Six years later, a lot has changed. Robertss own career has exploded: Her mixed-media of found photographs on paper and canvas have been lately acquired by SFMOMA, the Whitney, and the Guggenheim, purchased by celebrity collectors including the Carters (Beyonce and Jay-Z) and Spike Lee, and even featured in a recent episode of And Just Like That, the Sex and the City reboot.

Meanwhile, the pressures that Black girls face every day  often stereotyped to be more adult, and less innocent, at a far younger age than their white counterparts, with the result that they are often sexualized earlier; overpoliced by schools and law enforcement; and held to white beauty standards at great cost to their self-esteem, for example  are being increasingly brought to light by activists, educators and researchers.
A compelling new show at the Pace Gallery in Manhattan, Ad Reinhardt: Color Out of Darkness, comes with an unusual perk. It has been curated by James Turrell, as the subtitle proclaims. The prospect of Turrell, an American master of light, presiding over a show of paintings by Reinhardt, an American master of dark, has a special allure, offering not only two visions for the price of one but a glimpse at the improbable ways of inspiration.

On a recent morning, I met Turrell at the gallery with plans to see his Reinhardt show. But first he led me into a pitch-black room at street level where he had just finished installing a piece of his own, After Effect. We sat down on a plain wooden bench to watch. What appeared to be a giant screen, framed in cherry-red light, rose up the ceiling. You could see through it, to an illuminated green rectangle in the far distance. As we talked, the greens blued into ultramarine or yellowed into chartreuse. It looked like nothing so much as a three-dimensional abstract painting, a walk-in Reinhardt or rather a Rothko inhabited by planes of voluptuous color.

In reality, of course, there was nothing there, not even a screen, just LED lights from a group of projectors suffusing the darkness. As we oohed at the changing effects, Turrell mentioned that he had recently undergone cataract surgery. It helped me with color, he said. In the general population, women are more sensitive to color than men.
The sounds of a small jazz combo filled the Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art last Saturday evening. Warm candles lit the space. Over at the museums American Wing Cafe, Christa Chiao and Anna Lee Hirschi were sipping prosecco.

It was the first weekend of Date Night at the Met, an initiative to lure local visitors back to the museum on Friday and Saturday evenings with two-for-one cocktails, gallery chats and free live music featuring New Orleans jazz bands, Renaissance ensembles and string quartets.

The museums efforts to woo back visitors from the region comes as many New York cultural organizations worry not only about the pandemic-era decline in tourism, but also the continuing struggle to bring back local crowds. The Met is currently attracting 62 percent of the local visitors it did before the coronavirus pandemic, a change it attributes in part to the continuing prevalence of remote work.

In this new reality, where many outer borough residents are working virtually and do not have to come to Manhattan, its on us, on the cultural institutions, to be creative and proactive in finding ways to encourage local visitorship, said Ken Weine, a spokesman for the museum.
Anton Bruckner, modernist trailblazer? So thinks Francois-Xavier Roth, one of the more inventive conductors working today. Roth has been working on a Bruckner cycle with his Gurzenich Orchestra in Cologne, Germany, of which this is the first evidence on record. To illustrate the composers progressivism in concert Roth, has performed the Third Symphony with Ligeti, the Eighth with Lachenmann and this Seventh, which was taped live in December 2019, with music by Graciane Finzi. The pairing doesnt make it to disc; what is left is Bruckner quite different from the norm.

Not for Roth all that guff about cathedrals of sound  this is lighter, lither and faster than the Bruckner we so often hear, fully 10 minutes swifter than Andris Nelsonss recent account of the same piece with the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig. Surely influenced by his work with his period-instrument ensemble, Les Siecles, Roth is less interested in grand, architectural paragraphs than in briefer, accentuated phrases; thinning out some of Bruckners textures, his emphasis is not on gravity of utterance, but on variety of sonority. It will take some getting used to, but thats the point. And if Im not yet entirely convinced, its telling that I want to hear more. DAVID ALLEN

Henze: Nachtstucke und Arien

ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop, conductor (Naxos)
China-Laos Railway to run additional passenger trains

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A 120 km/h air-conditioned passenger train arrives in Vientiane Station of China-Laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos, Feb. 22, 2022. (Photo by Li Huan/Xinhua)

The Laos-China Railway Company (LCRC) has announced it will operate slower-speed trains in addition to the two existing high-speed EMU (electric multiple unit) trains to meet the growing needs of passengers.

The LCRC has been running two pairs of EMU trains every day, one pair between Vientiane and Boten bordering China, and another between Vientiane and the ancient capital of Luang Prabang.

The company is also planning to run an additional 120 km/h air-conditioned passenger train on the railway. The first such train has arrived in Vientiane on Tuesday.

According to the operation department of the LCRC, the train, with a total of 15 carriages including 14 hard-seated carriages and one soft sleeping car, can carry 1,664 passengers.

The LCRC is currently preparing for the opening of the 120 km/h train in accordance with the local demands, and the specific opening time and the number of carriages will be further clarified.

As of Tuesday, the Lao section of the China-Laos Railway had run 146 pairs of EMU passenger trains, transporting 144,610 passengers, with a maximum of 2,804 on Jan. 3 and an average occupancy rate of 68.76 percent.

With the approaching of the Lao New Year, the LCRC is studying and formulating an operation plan of additional trains during the most important festival in Laos.
Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Philharmonic announced on Thursday that the Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, a friend and prominent supporter of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, would no longer lead a series of concerts there this week amid growing international condemnation of Mr. Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Gergiev, who had been slated to conduct the Philharmonic in three high-profile appearances at the hall beginning Friday evening, has come under growing scrutiny because of his support for Mr. Putin, whom he has known for three decades and has repeatedly defended.

No reason was cited for his removal from the programs. But the extraordinary last-minute decision to replace a star maestro apparently over his ties to Mr. Putin  just days after the Philharmonics chairman insisted that Gergiev would be appearing as an artist, not a politician  reflected the rapidly intensifying global uproar over the invasion.

While Mr. Gergiev has not spoken publicly about the unfolding attack, he has supported Mr. Putins past moves against Ukraine, and his appearance at Carnegie was expected to draw vocal protests. He was the target of similar demonstrations during previous appearances in New York amid criticism of Mr. Putins law banning propaganda on nontraditional sexual relationships, which was seen as an effort to suppress Russias gay rights movement, and his annexation of Crimea.
Sandy Nelson, one of the few musicians in pop history to score Top 10 hits as a drummer  something he did early in a career that included more than 30 albums  died on Feb. 14 at a hospice center in Las Vegas. He was 83.

His son, Joshua Nelson Straume, said the cause was complications of a stroke that Mr. Nelson had in 2017.

Mr. Nelson was a session drummer in Los Angeles in 1959 when he recorded Teen Beat, a propulsive instrumental whose dominating drum part was inspired by something he had heard at a strip club he visited with fellow musicians.

While they were looking at these pretty girls in G-strings, guess what I was doing? he said in an interview with The Las Vegas Weekly in 2015. I was looking at the drummer in the orchestra pit.
History and modernity duke it out in this weeks recommended titles. In historys corner, we have the heavyweight tag team of Watergate and the Civil War, with Garrett M. Graff writing about the scandal that brought down Richard Nixons presidency and David Wright Falade writing a historical novel, Black Cloud Rising, about the real-life African Brigade and the Black soldiers who fought in it. In modernitys corner, Johann Hari looks at the ways information overload destroys our focus, and Sequoia Nagamatsu imagines a world coping with a viral pandemic by way of robotic pets and euthanasia amusement parks. (And to think the plague used to be a historical subject!) Elsewhere, Imani Perry bridges the past and the present with a tour through the American South, Rachel Hawkins delivers a fun thriller set on a remote tropical island, and we recommend novels out of Chile and Japan. Happy reading.

Gregory Cowles

Senior Editor, Books

Twitter: @GregoryCowles

BLACK CLOUD RISING, by David Wright Falade. (Atlantic Monthly Press, $27.) This Civil War novel is based on the actual experiences of the African Brigade, a unit of Black soldiers, including many recently enslaved people, that in 1863 poured into the coastal South with Union forces, helping to hunt down rebel guerrillas. It centers on the experience of Sgt. Richard Etheridge (a real figure), the son of an enslaved woman and her master. This is a classic war story told simply and well, its meanings not forced but allowed to bubble up on their own, our critic Dwight Garner writes. It becomes a study in divided loyalties. What does Etheridge owe his fathers family? What does he owe his country, and his race?

RECKLESS GIRLS, by Rachel Hawkins. (St. Martins, $27.99.) Set in various exotic locales, this high-octane thriller begins with a young woman embarking on a romantic idyll to the beautiful, uninhabited Meroe Island and ends with a stack of bloody corpses when it turns out her chill vacation friends are actually a bunch of unhinged, vengeful impostors with access to lethal weapons. The creepiness of this holiday destination, Sarah Lyall writes in her latest thrillers column, is enhanced by intermittent excerpts from fake historical documents and other sources, all testifying to Meroes tendency to addle the minds and cut short the lives of visitors, some of whom consumed one another after a shipwreck there in the 19th century. That place has bad vibes, a more recent tourist says on Twitter. 2/10. DO NOT RECOMMEND.

SOUTH TO AMERICA: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation, by Imani Perry. (Ecco, $28.99.) Perry, who teaches African American studies at Princeton, returned to her native South to reckon with its complicated legacy  and in the process, that of America itself. The result is a sprawling personal, historical and geographical odyssey. As Tayari Jones puts it in her review, Any attempt to classify this ambitious work, which straddles genre, kicks down the fourth wall, dances with poetry, engages with literary criticism and flits from journalism to memoir to academic writing  well, thats a fools errand and only undermines this insightful, ambitious and moving project.
I know some authors say they cant read novels while theyre working on their own, but Im not one of them. I read anything at any time. While researching a novel, I may read more nonfiction on various topics, including true crime (love Ann Rule and Gregg Olsen). Otherwise, my only real quirk is that I like to switch up genres. For example, after reading a bunch of thrillers in a row, I might then read some historicals or womens fiction titles, then maybe fantasy or Y.A. To me, books are like ice cream and you always want ice cream, its just a question of which flavor youre craving at the moment.

Whats the most interesting thing you learned from a book recently?

Jon Billmans The Cold Vanish, which delves into the approximately 1,600 people missing on national public lands and the lack of dedicated resources for finding them, shocked and terrified me. Im an avid hiker, so the real-life stories of everything that can, and has, gone wrong struck close to home. Things that scare me eventually wind up in my novels. Hence my January thriller, One Step Too Far, which features the missing persons expert Frankie Elkin heading into a remote wilderness area as part of a search team. Bad things happen from there. I think of the book as And Then There Were None goes hiking. Thank you Jon Billman and Agatha Christie.

What moves you most in a work of literature?

I read for character, character and character. Im looking to see the world through someone elses eyes and in doing so, having my own eyes opened to fresh experiences, issues and ideas. So the what, where and when arent nearly as important to me as the who when it comes to picking novels.

Whos your favorite fictional detective? And the best villain?

I love Sherry Thomass Lady Sherlock series, where the acclaimed detective Sherlock Holmes is actually a front for the very female, very brilliant Charlotte Holmes, who must solve crimes while battling the sexist mores of Victorian-era England. Best villain for me will always be Thomas Harriss Hannibal Lecter. Not sure anyone will ever top that, though Anne Rices Lestat would be my second pick. I feel like were going through this phase of trying to make villains relatable by explaining their actions through some terribly tragic back story. Lets just say, Lecter and Lestat are not looking to be understood. They glory in their violent nature. To me, thats what makes them compelling, as some small part of each of us wishes we could just let go, and be who we truly are. Not that were all secretly vicious killers, but you get my point. Theres a certain triumph in being unapologetically yourself, and Lecter and Lestat are unapologetically themselves. Which is why, I think, decades later readers remain fascinated by them.

What makes for a good thriller?

The best thrillers excel at combining compelling characters with breakneck pacing. Youre heavily invested in the main characters while abandoning all household chores, missing your subway stop and staying up way too late as you race from chapter to chapter to find out what happens next. When readers tell me they ignored their children and showed up late to work just to finish one of my novels, I feel good about myself.

How do you organize your books?

By author. Is that boring? Though I suppose that applies to the books in my library. Like any good reader, I have TBR piles all around my house. Those are organized in the order I plan on reading them. Except, of course, new books keep appearing, meaning no matter how much I read, the stacks never grow shorter. I consider this a good problem to have.

What book might people be surprised to find on your shelves?

I love historical romances. Witty dialogue, great characters, steamy sex. Whats not to like? Favorite authors include Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Tessa Dare, Amanda Quick and Lisa Kleypas. I think its wonderful Shonda Rhimes has brought worldwide attention to the brilliant escapism that is the Bridgerton series, and hope many more adaptations will follow.
Readers have a more sophisticated appreciation of Nordic crime fiction these days. They understand that lumping disparate authors and series by region can do a disservice to the individual works in question  not to mention to the locations. (Sweden is not Denmark is not Norway is not Iceland, after all.) For those in search of a new Danish series, Katrine Engbergs three books featuring the Copenhagen detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner will prove satisfying.

In THE HARBOR (Scout Press, 340 pp., $26.99), capably translated by Tara Chace, the pair is tasked with discovering the whereabouts of Oscar Dreyer-Hoff, the 15-year-old son of a well-to-do family. A cryptic note found on the kitchen table in their swanky apartment suggests hes not a runaway. His girlfriend might be hiding something, and his parents dont seem entirely forthcoming, either.

Theres something off with that family, Werner tells her partner. Im afraid that Oscars lying on the bottom of the ocean with something heavy tied to his legs. As they investigate, they uncover all sorts of malodorous doings, from bullying to sexual abuse to corruption, which create frustrating blockades when time is of the essence.

Engberg is an international best-selling author, and The Harbor showcases her considerable narrative gifts. Her characters are complex and prone to making bad but understandable personal decisions. Her writing is crisp and efficient; the pace, while brisk, still leaves room for third-act surprises. Reading Engberg feels like reading early Jo Nesbo, getting in on the ground of a major crime-writing career.
Russia attacks Ukraine

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, early this morning declared the start of a special military operation in Ukraine. Minutes later, large explosions were visible near Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. Blasts were reported in Kyiv, the capital, and other parts of the country. Ukraines Interior Ministry said that Russian troops had landed in Odessa and were crossing the border. Follow the latest updates.

Russias ambassador to the U.N. said the country was not targeting the Ukrainian people but the junta in power. Russias defense ministry said it was using high-precision weapons to disable Ukrainian military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and planes, according to reports in RIA Novosti, the news agency operated by the Russian state.

Hours earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, called for Russia to avoid war, appealing directly to the Russian people and their nations shared history and culture. Listen to the voice of reason, he said early this morning in Kyiv. The Ukrainian people want peace. He said he had tried to contact the Russian president Vladimir Putin but was met with silence.

From the White House: President Biden described Putins actions as a chosen premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. He vowed to hold Russia accountable.
The most significant European war in almost 80 years has begun.

Early this morning in Ukraine, Russian troops poured over the border, and Russian planes and missile launchers attacked Ukrainian cities and airports. The attacks spanned much of the country, far beyond the border provinces where there has been sporadic fighting between the nations for years.

Ukraines government called it a full-scale attack from multiple directions.

Blasts could be heard in Kyiv, the capital, as well as more than a dozen other cities. At an airport outside Kyiv, rocket attacks targeted parked Ukrainian fighter jets. In the southern port city of Odessa, Russian troops arrived from the sea. In Lutsk  in the northwest corner of Ukraine, closer to Poland than Russia  explosions were also reported.

(Track the Russian invasion and see video of explosions near Kharkhiv here.)
Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war, Biden said in remarks from the White House. And now he and his country will bear the consequences.

Biden said the U.S. would cut off Russias largest banks and companies from the Western financial markets and would restrict exports of technology to Russia. He said the actions would vastly degrade the countrys ability to thrive in the weeks, months and years ahead.

Stocks and energy markets swung wildly; by most measures, European markets were hit hardest. Oil prices spiked and remained at levels not seen since 2014.

The president said that he had authorized sending more troops to Eastern European countries in the NATO alliance, but he reaffirmed that American troops would not fight with Russia in Ukraine. He did say the U.S. would defend its allies if Russia moved beyond Ukraines borders.
Yes, people can and do get buried in their cars. But you cant always accept the claims at face value. A viral story in 2018 told of a Nigerian man who had buried his father in a BMW. According to The Standard, a Kenyan newspaper, it was a dignified send-off befitting of his status.

A few years earlier, The Standard said in its telling, another wealthy Nigerian buried his mother in a Hummer, which he covered with cash. The photos of the episode are fuzzy, but this story, too, went viral in Africa and Asia. People love to read about the excesses of the rich, and when theyre tied in with luxury cars, all the better. The stories, alas, are often light on details.

With good reason, it turns out.

The BMW burial was for a scene in the movie Social Club, according to AFP Fact Check. The movie preaches against ritual sacrifices that are performed in Nigeria by people seeking to join the ranks of the countrys wealthy elite, the fact-check says. The veracity of the Hummer story is unclear.

Similarly anticlimactic was the social media announcement in 2013 by Chiquinho Scarpa, a wealthy Brazilian businessman, that he was going to bury his Bentley so he would have a comfortable place to rest in his next life. He said he had been inspired by accounts that ancient Egyptians were buried with their possessions. Mr. Scarpa posed by the hole with a shovel. Predictably, the photo went viral.
Signaling the growing importance of ties between labor and environmental organizers on climate change, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.s third-ranking official has announced that he was leaving to join Greenpeace USA.

The official, Tefere Gebre, the labor federations executive vice president, will become chief program officer for the environmental group on Tuesday. He will oversee all of Greenpeace USAs campaigns, communications, direct action and organizing and report to the groups co-executive directors.

Im not leaving the workers movement  Im bringing workers to the environmental movement, Mr. Gebre said in an interview.

Labor and environmental groups have forged alliances to reduce carbon emissions while providing a safety net for workers whose livelihoods are threatened by the shift and ensuring that green jobs will pay well. But these coalition-building efforts have occasionally hit snags that have hobbled climate legislation like President Bidens Build Back Better bill, which is stalled in the Senate.
China reaffirms support for Nepal's own development path

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China will continue to support the Nepalese people in choosing independently their own development path and offer support and assistance to Nepal's socioeconomic development to the best of its capability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Reports said the Nepalese government's decision to submit the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement with the United States in Parliament a few days ago has triggered a huge controversy as mass protests were held in places like Kathmandu.

The U.S. State Department said that Nepal's failure to ratify the compact will impact bilateral relations. Some analysts say that the MCC agreement gives itself higher authority than Nepal's domestic law, U.S. program staff's activities in Nepal will not be subjected to local jurisdiction, and the project's accounting and audit is supervised, managed and conducted by the U.S. side. Experts in Nepal believe that accepting the MCC will be detrimental to Nepal's security and sovereignty.

"The U.S. Embassy in Nepal described the 500-million-dollar MCC grant as 'a gift from the American people to Nepalis.' I wonder, since when does a gift come with the package of an ultimatum? How can anyone accept such a 'gift'? Is it a 'gift' or Pandora's box?" said spokesperson Hua Chunying.

"I'm afraid it will turn out like a Nepalese saying: It looks good, but you will find the meat difficult to chew," Hua said.

She said that it is China's consistent belief that in pursuing international development cooperation, the principle of mutual respect and equality should be upheld, the sovereignty of the country concerned and the will of its people should be fully respected, and there should be no interference in any country's domestic affairs, no political strings attached, no coercive diplomacy, and certainly no infringement on other countries' sovereignty and interests for selfish gains.
As Russia began an invasion into Ukraine, the Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Wednesday night welcomed a call in to her show from former President Donald J. Trump, who blamed the weakness and the incompetence of the Biden administration for the military strike.

Tucker Carlson, Fox Newss top-rated host, questioned why Americans hated President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in a segment on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, he labeled Ukraine a pure client state of the United States State Department.

As Mr. Putin mounts an offensive against Ukraine, despite diplomatic efforts by the United Nations and sanctions by the United States and other nations, the comments from some of Fox Newss biggest stars stood in contrast to the reporting from the networks own journalists.

Fox News has four correspondents reporting from Ukraine, with Steve Harrigan and Trey Yingst in Kyiv and Mike Tobin and Lucas Tomlinson reporting from Lviv.
Multinational corporations began closing their operations in Ukraine and moving employees to safety on Thursday, as executives grappled with the implications of a full-scale invasion by Russia and the impact of widely swinging stock and commodity prices.

Carlsberg, one of the worlds largest brewers, said it had suspended operations at two factories near heavy Russian assaults, in eastern Ukraine and in Kyiv, in order to protect workers. The Danish conglomerate, which employs 1,300 people in the country, mostly Ukrainian nationals, also temporarily closed a third brewery in Lviv after its natural gas supplies were disrupted.

The swiftness of Russias multipronged assault sent shudders through international boardrooms and raised questions for businesses about how to confront the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.

Today is a dark day for all of us. The attack on Ukraine represents a turning point in Europe; a war was simply unthinkable for many people, Christian Bruch, the chief executive of Siemens Energy, said at the German companys general meeting Thursday. We as a company now have to analyze exactly what this situation means for our business.
In the longer term, Moscows aggression against its neighbor and the implied threat to European and global energy supplies are likely to lead to Europes working harder to wean itself off dependence on oil and, particularly, natural gas imports from Russia, analysts say.

Russia supplies more than one-third of the gas for the European Union. Pipelines feed the fuel through Ukraine, although the volumes through those conduits have been reduced in recent months. Europe is also a large buyer of Russian oil.

The conflict is occurring when supplies of both oil and natural gas have already been tight for months, driving up prices and creating a situation where the risk of disruption sends them up further.

In the case of oil, the key question is likely to be whether flows are disrupted as a result of sanctions. Russia produces about one in 10 barrels of oil globally, so any conflict involving it is deeply worrying to oil traders.

If oil prices continue to rise, pressure will grow on countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates  two of the countries thought to have room to increase production  to raise output.

OPEC Plus, a group made up of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers including Russia, has been falling well short of its production targets and has already been pressed by both Washington and the International Energy Agency to step up. Russia, however, is a co-leader of the group, along with Saudi Arabia, so such discussions might be awkward.

OPEC Plus plans to discuss the oil market at its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday.

The International Energy Agency, which would probably coordinate a response to a severe disruption of global supplies, said its member countries that are net importers of oil are required to hold 90 days of reserves.
In a briefing with reporters on Thursday, a senior administration official said that the Biden administration had been carrying out consultations with additional countries and that other governments were likely to announce parallel controls in the coming weeks or days.

The Biden administration would add further controls on Russia and any other countries that aided in its aggression if necessary, the official said.

Emily Kilcrease, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security said the new rules would probably usher in an immediate period of confusion and disruption, as companies try to figure out how to comply with the restrictions. But the real impact would be on the Russian economy and military capability over time. When electronics, airplanes and ships wear out, Russian entities will find themselves unable to buy new generations of technology.

The ultimate effect of this is that it is freezing Russias technology stock where it is today, Ms. Kilcrease said. You cant upgrade it, you cant replace it, you cant improve it.

She added: Once you get past this immediate confusion of how to comply with stuff, its really that long-term corrosive impact thats going to be most detrimental to Russia.

Other industry executives said that the immediate impact on global trade might be muted, since Russia is not a major global manufacturer or importer of technological goods.

John Neuffer, the president of the Semiconductor Industry Association, which represents the worlds major chipmakers, said that the industry was still evaluating the potential impact of the rules. But Russia, he said, was not a significant direct consumer of chips or of information technology equipment.
Ive often written that the best wine is an expression of culture. This is easy enough to understand in historic wine-producing regions, where centuries of local traditions helped to shape the identity of the wines.

But what about more recent wine regions like California or Australia, where decisions about grapes, methods and styles of wine have often been made by individual entrepreneurs motivated by commercial expedience or ego? The cultural antecedents of many wines from the 20th century, made without community involvement, were more difficult to trace.

Over the last 20 years or so, though, the internet and social media have tied people around the world closer and closer together, creating new wine cultures regardless of physical proximity. Growers and producers who might once have been isolated can now be a part of community efforts, perhaps adding to our understanding of terroir and a sense of place.

These communities can share thoughts and ideas, ask questions and discuss solutions regardless of how far apart they might be physically. Natural wine producers in the Adelaide Hills of Australia, for example, have instant access to colleagues in the Loire Valley of France or the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. A syrah producer in Sonoma can get together weekly to kick back or talk business with friends in Cornas.
In the films of the Iranian director Shahram Mokri, time ripples, bends, devours itself. Mokris prior features, Fish & Cat and Invasion, have ouroboros-style plots, with recursive chronologies and scenes repeated from various characters points of view. His latest, Careless Crime, pivots on another kind of time loop: the repetitions of history.

An epigraph tells us of a 1978 fire set off by four militants at the Cinema Rex in Abadan, Iran, that killed hundreds of moviegoers and incited the Iranian Revolution. In its opening scenes, Careless Crime seems to recreate that event, as a theater proprietor argues with two colleagues about adding more seats to his cinema, while a wayward pyromaniac, Takbali, falls in with three Islamist arsonists. But temporal tricks already abound: References to the Shah suggest prerevolutionary Iran, even as the settings  replete with gleaming phones and computers and cars  are contemporary.
The opening credits of Friends and Strangers, a funny, productively cryptic debut feature from James Vaughan, unfold over a series of watercolors painted during the first years of Australias colonization; they are synced to a score from a silent film, and the first shot after they end seems inspired by the pointillist Georges Seurat. All of this might be taken as an invitation to look beyond dialogue, to pay attention to gaps.

Nearly every scene in this ultra-low-key cringe comedy involves people behaving with varying degrees of over- and under-chumminess. Alice (Emma Diaz) and her friend Ray (Fergus Wilson) drive separately to a campground. Almost immediately, a bewhiskered fellow camper persistently advises them to move their tent, and a girl, Lauren (Poppy Jones), assumes Ray is Alices romantic interest (a mistake that Ray may share). Soon Lauren is offering Alice articles of clothing from her dead mother, an act of queasily intimate hospitality that is a hallmark of Vaughans characters.
Even allowing for the elastic credibility standards of the average survival movie, The Burning Sea is a stretch. (A favorite moment is when the unconscious half of the central couple pops awake at an especially critical juncture.) Yet if the machinations of the plot are a tad rickety, its geologic premise is inarguably stable.

Tucking a simple romance inside a disaster thriller, the director John Andreas Andersen uses an oil-rig collapse off the coast of Norway to deliver a dire warning of environmental disruption. When Sofia (a charming Kristine Kujath Thorp), an underwater robotics expert, joins the team seeking survivors and an explanation for the accident, shes horrified to learn that a larger catastrophe could be imminent. Unfortunately, mitigation efforts will prove too late to prevent Sofias boyfriend (Henrik Bjelland), a sweet-natured rig worker, from requiring the kind of extreme rescue effort only a woman in love would undertake.
A federal judge on Thursday ordered a hearing into whether a juror who served in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial lied during the jury selection process, an issue that has clouded the jurys guilty verdict and led Ms. Maxwell to seek a new trial.

The judge, Alison J. Nathan, said she would question the juror, who has been identified as Juror 50, under oath at the hearing on March 8.

Ms. Maxwell, 60, was convicted on Dec. 29 of sex trafficking and four other counts in Federal District Court in Manhattan. The jury heard three weeks of testimony that she had helped the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein entice, groom and sexually abuse teenage girls.

After the trial ended, Juror 50, a Manhattan man in his 30s, revealed in comments to the news media that during the jurys deliberations, he told fellow jurors that he had been sexually abused as a child and did not tell anyone about that abuse for years.
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to decline and warm weather starts to peek through the wintry gray, promising flashes of normal life have begun to reappear in New York City.

On Staten Island, that means the return of the local St. Patricks Day Parade. It also signals the return of a bitter conflict over whether gay groups will be allowed to march. As usual, they will not.

Organizers have long barred gay, lesbian and transgender groups from marching in the local parade, even after the New York City St. Patricks Day parade in Manhattan ended a two-decade ban in 2014.

In 2020, the last time there was a parade in Staten Island, officials took an even harder line. Based on what they perceived to be public statements sympathetic to gay and transgender people, parade organizers ejected some prominent individuals, including Miss Staten Island and a Republican City Council member, from the event.
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Some critics of neutrality draw on critical race theory to argue that neutrality is an illusion because everything is political. Choosing neutrality (or disengagement) in time of conflict is choosing to maintain status quo at the expense of one portion of a community, argues a 2017 article by six authors affiliated with library or research programs.

It is true, in a sense, that the librarians apparent neutrality has a political grounding. By means of neutrality, librarians affirm their respect for individual liberty while demonstrating the tolerance for divergent conceptions of the good upon which our constitutional system rests. In a broad sense, classical liberalism is a political stance. At the same time, it offers far more scope for varied ways of life and faith than competing political arrangements.

Critics of neutrality often take it for granted that advocacy by libraries will advance their vision of social justice. This overlooks the extent to which a librarys authority rests upon its reputation for neutrality. When they adopt the role of political actors, librarians cast into doubt public funding, hands-off policies toward book collections and parents willingness to entrust their children to the public school system. This is where we are, particularly in conservative states and school districts, where librarians open embrace of leftist activism is out of step with the public mood.

Neither in libraries nor anywhere else can the classically liberal principles foundational to our institutions be reconciled with the premises of the woke ascendancy. This is the battle of our day. With the fundamental character of American society hanging in the balance, the struggle between these incompatible perspectives must necessarily be waged in localities and states, where K-12 content is set. Blue states like Illinois, with new standards for teacher training, and California, by way of a model curriculum for a newly adopted ethnic studies requirement, are promoting the new progressive orthodoxy on ethnicity and race. Red states like Texas are barring promotion of the most controversial progressive understandings of race and ethnicity in K-12 public school classrooms.

The battle over what books to include in the curriculum must and will continue. I favor state laws that bar promotion of critical race theory ideology. Prohibiting the endorsement of a concept in the classroom, however, leaves room for discussion of the concept.

Students will be aware of the clashes around them. They need resources to explore the alternatives further. That is where school libraries can help. Whether the official curriculum promotes classical liberalism, woke orthodoxy or other important perspectives, students should be free to compare, contemplate and debate them all.

There is a complication here: sexual content. Battles over explicit sexual content in school library books raise issues of age-appropriateness that can be settled only through a combination of community standards and the courts. That battle includes yet goes beyond ideology, and will not be resolved any time soon.
I ask, then, that we not make this sad event yet another partisan squabble. Let us take time to see if sanctions work. Above all, let us please follow former Senator Arthur Vandenbergs famous suggestion that politics stops at the waters edge.

Peter K. Frost

Williamstown, Mass.

To the Editor:

Re Europe plans tougher sanctions on Russia but aims to protect its own interests (nytimes.com, Feb. 24):

Yes, Western nations will look bad if they dither in the face of a once-in-a-generation conflict, seeking to avoid the hardships that sanctions against Russia require. Worse, they must be bystanders, unable to act when a democracy falls to a dictator.

Still, it is good that, in a nuclear age, Western leaders act responsibly even as Vladimir Putin does not, cruelly violating the nation and the people of Ukraine. His actions betray weakness, not strength. He embarrasses rather than protects the people of Russia, whose suffering does not concern him in the least.

Jamie Baldwin

Redding, Conn.

To the Editor:

Re This Is Putins War. But America and NATO Arent Innocent Bystanders, by Thomas L. Friedman (column, Feb. 22):

Mr. Friedman argues that the ill-considered decision by the United States to enlarge NATO provoked Vladimir Putin, and he has cynically exploited NATOs expansion to rally the Russian people to his side.

Years before he became a Russian national figure, in the course of my official duties as a Foreign Service officer, I had the opportunity to have numerous conversations with Mr. Putin in St. Petersburg. He made clear to me then, just as he later repeated in numerous public statements, that he desired the restoration of the Soviet Union and its empire.
The moment, after a standoff stretching for months, has arrived. Russias invasion of Ukraine is underway.

On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin said that he has decided to carry out a special military operation in eastern Ukraine. Earlier this week, he had ordered his military into two regions in eastern Ukraine, giving the lie to the claim  often repeated by Russian officials  that he had no intention of invading. As well as an act of aggression, its a blatant violation of the basic legal principle that international borders are not to be changed by force and that sovereign countries are free to make their own decisions.

It is also unwarranted. There are two types of war: wars of necessity, to protect vital national interests and involving the use of military force as a last resort, such as World War II and the Persian Gulf war of 1991; and wars of choice  armed interventions taken either in the absence of vital national interests or despite the availability of options not involving military force. Into this category fall the wars in Vietnam, Iraq and, after a limited initial phase, Afghanistan.

Mr. Putins conflict is, decidedly, a war of choice. The Russian presidents justifications hold no water: There was and is no consensus about bringing Ukraine into NATO in the next decade or later. There was and is no threat to ethnic Russians in Ukraine. And the United States and NATO have voiced their openness to discussing European security arrangements that take legitimate Russian interests into account.
But then longer term, this will reorient defense postures and energy policies substantially for NATO and for the European Union, again, in ways that will not be good for Russia. There will be some kind of sustained push for energy independence in Europe, I think on a scale we havent seen before. There will be a realignment of NATO forces in the East. Its possible that Finland and Sweden will join NATO. All of this  I think those long-term responses are ultimately going to be more important than the decisions we make about sanctions today. But obviously, those decisions are the ones that are immediate and necessary right now.

Garcia-Navarro: OK, lots to consider there. But fundamentally, what were looking at is a sort of reorganization of the post-World War II consensus. Is that the way you see it, Frank?

Frank Bruni: Yes, absolutely. And Im struck, listening to both Farah and Ross, at this sense of disbelief that all of us seem to feel. And I feel it. I see it all around me. Farah said Americans arent ready for this. I think shes absolutely right. Ross called this astonishing. I think thats absolutely right. This feels like a page from the 20th century. And here we are in the 21st century. And Im struck by this sense I pick up in everyone around me that the world, we were somehow past this, that war in Europe was something that we wouldnt see.

And so I dont think were ready for this. I think people dont know how to process this. I dont even think theyve gotten to the point of fear and terror yet because theyre still in that state of shock. And I wanted to also follow up on something Ross said. He talked about the incredible risk Putin is taking here. I think when people mention that, theyre usually thinking of the risk hes taking internationally. But he has taken an enormous, enormous risk internally, too. The Russian people are going to feel this gravely in their economy. Theyre going to feel this in terms of lost lives. And he is betting  and it is fascinating and terrifying  hes betting that this flexing of might and the stoking of national pride is somehow going to transcend and compensate for all of that. I dont know that we know that to be the case.

Garcia-Navarro: Farah, what does the very audacity of this act say about Putins plans?

Stockman: Well, look, Putins been taking bites out of Ukraine since 2014. And before Ukraine, there was Georgia. So we might be in disbelief, but there are people living there who have seen whats happening. So I think he has nothing to stop him. He is not accountable to a democratically elected congress. He doesnt have an opposition. His biggest opposition is in prison. And so whats stopping him from doing this?

A lot of people consider this to be a personal obsession of his. He has a personal obsession with Ukraine. It has a lot of historical meaning to him. But I also see this as a bigger deal. Its bigger than Ukraine because hes been watching for the last, I dont know, 20 years  hes been watching the United States do things like this, in his mind. He hated what we did in Libya. He was furious. He hated the Iraq war invasion. He has been seeing us throw our might around and call it international law.

And I think hes just saying, well, I can play that game, too. And this is really about telling the United States that its no longer the sole superpower and showing that we are weak. He went to Beijing before this and basically got some kind of agreement from President Xi that somehow China was going to back them up with economic deals so that they could live maybe without Europe for a while. I worry about where this is all going.
Others, though, are less bullish about Americas ability to prop up an insurgency, and more wary of unintended consequences in the region. To have any hope against Russian occupation forces, an insurgency will need to be supplied and supported from neighboring countries, Robert Kagan writes in The Washington Post. Will Poland play that role, with Russian forces directly across the border? Will the Baltics? Or Hungary? And if they do, will the Russians not feel justified in attacking the insurgents supply routes, even if they happen to lie in the territory of neighboring NATO members? It is wishful thinking to imagine that this conflict stops with Ukraine.

Whatever action the United States takes, it must do so in accordance with international law, argues Trita Parsi, the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. In Parsis view, the path to Putins flagrant violation of Ukraines sovereignty was paved in part by similar transgressions on the part of the United States  most notably, the illegal invasion of Iraq  and the resulting degradation of the U.N.s ability to mediate conflicts.

One diplomatic avenue left for Biden to pursue runs through China, which has been trying to strike a delicate balance between calling for peace talks and approving imports of Russian wheat, which could soften the blow of sanctions.

Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, argues the United States must now do what it can to build distance between Russia and China. That would require highlighting the economic and strategic risks  including financial punishment and increasing anti-China sentiment in the West  of it being closely associated with an aggressive Russia, he writes. Now would also be a good time to restart a high-level strategic dialogue with China and search for issues, on Afghanistan, say, and climate change, where the two governments might cooperate.

And if neither international cooperation nor military aid is enough to get Putin to reverse course? Former Adm. James Stavridis, the 16th supreme allied commander at NATO, argues that the rest of the world should help Ukraine prepare for the worst-case scenarios: the fall of Kyiv and the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Ukraine.

In addition to providing an evacuation plan for Ukraines president, the countrys allies could lend financial support to Ukraines embassies and ambassadors to keep its diplomatic network functioning. Much as Charles de Gaulle continued to carry the flame of France during the Nazi occupation, Ukraine should be afforded a similar opportunity, he writes in Time.

Some U.S. politicians, such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have also called for countries to open their doors to Ukrainian refugees.
Theres a lot to see at fashion week. Blink (or scroll too fast) and youll miss the details: feathered bags, futuristic sunglasses, fork jewelry. All month long, well spotlight the things we saw that surprised or delighted us.

MILAN  There was nothing subtle about the way Diesel drummed up interest for its latest runway show, its first since the buzzy Belgian designer Glenn Martens joined the company in October 2020 as creative director.

It sent invitations containing an edible thong made of red and white candy. It lit up skies in Japan, South Africa, Sweden and many more countries with drones forming its D logo.

So it shouldnt have come as much of a surprise for guests walking into the show space in Milan on Wednesday that the first thing they saw was a giant inflatable woman, lying on her stomach with her head resting on her hands and her rear end raised high in the air. (This reporter was eventually seated, along with other members of the American media, directly facing her denim shorts-clad derriere.)
When Chiara Ferragni joined the board of the Italian luxury brand Tods, the companys stock rose 12 percent. Ms. Ferragni is a 34-year-old mother of two with more than 26 million followers on Instagram, and one of the worlds most famous fashion influencers, particularly in Europe. Her businesses include a clothing brand and a talent agency.

Not bad for a former fashion blogger still sometimes known as the Blonde Salad  though few people still use the word blogger. If they do, it is usually a mistake. What they likely mean is influencer or creator.

These words are essentially the same, though  just adopted at different moments in recent history. They are all people who make content online professionally while drawing from their own lives: their outfits, their engagements, their sponsored vacations, their passion for cryptocurrency. Twenty years ago, this content was published on platforms like WordPress, and its reach was difficult to quantify. Now its largely on TikTok, where the metrics, including likes, comments and shares, are much more accessible.

Had Ms. Ferragni not started blogging in 2009, it is possible that so-called creators like Addison Rae, the 21-year-old nascent actress with 86 million followers on TikTok (the apps fourth most followed account) would not be sitting in the front row at Michael Kors last Tuesday  the most glitzy show of New York Fashion Week  a few feet away from Ms. Ferragni.
When it comes to appearing in court, clothes are a reliable tool for conveying a persons character and values. Consider Elizabeth Holmess neutral, relatable, turtleneck-free makeover before her fraud trial, or the pristine white turtleneck dress and taupe Birkin bag that Cardi B wore to reject a plea deal in a misdemeanor assault case, simultaneously signaling innocence with her color palette and reminding the crowd of her professional success with her very expensive purse.

Likewise, on Pam & Tommy, a Hulu series that presents a fictionalized version of the events surrounding the release of a sex tape stolen from Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in 1995, style is a means of being taken seriously in the eye of the law. For Pam, that means donning a sea foam suit jacket and a matching miniskirt as she delivers her testimony, looking businesslike but defiantly glamorous.

The shows latest episode, which was released Wednesday, opens with Pam (Lily James) sitting quietly at her vanity, putting on lipstick in preparation for a deposition. She and Tommy (Sebastian Stan) have filed a $10 million lawsuit against Penthouse magazine after learning of its plans to publish stills from the tape, but only Pam has been summoned to give a testimony.

The deposition is painful and humiliating  at one point the opposition lawyer asks: Mrs. Lee, do you recall how old you were the first time you publicly exposed your genitals?  cementing the shows thesis that the tapes release wasnt merely a titillating celebrity scandal but a crushing personal trauma. It also presents a sex symbol known for her starring role on Baywatch in a more buttoned-up light.
MCAVOY AND LLOYD HAD ALREADY agreed to do the play, and the Jamie Lloyd Company had already commissioned Crimp to write the new version, when Lloyd  who directed a conventional Cyrano de Bergerac on Broadway in 2012  had a brainstorm that he ran past McAvoy.

I remember it very vividly because it was actually on the set of His Dark Materials, said Lloyd, whose son Lewin played the missing child Roger Parslow on the HBO fantasy series opposite McAvoy as Lord Asriel. We were in this freezing cold, very, very dark TV studio, in a tent  one of those kind of pop-up tents they put people in when youre waiting. I go, By the way, I have this idea about Cyrano de Bergerac. We have to scrap the nose. I cant bear the thought of you being in a big prosthetic nose. And he just totally got it.

As McAvoy recalls, his initial response was puzzlement, because isnt the play about a nose? But once Lloyd explained his take, that it is truly about people who are objectified for their appearance and isolated as a result, McAvoy was all in  even if fake Cyrano noses had never much bothered him, and even if it had never completely made sense to him that an outsize nose would be an obstacle to love.

The truth is, I think even if he did have some big old conk like its described in the play, there would be somebody out there that would find it desperately attractive, he said. Man, theres kink for everything.

Still, McAvoy hadnt been interested in doing a standard-issue Cyrano.

One of the things that I really like about this version, he said, is that its less about the flamboyancy of these gallivanting, panache-crazed musketeer poets, and its more of a study of masculinity and at times toxic masculinity, a soldiering culture almost, and its still about a poet. Its still about somebody whos obsessed with words. I loved that I was finally seeing a production that was examining people who are beautiful and light and whimsical with words, and they kill people.

In an inadvertent overlap of star-powered productions, the Lloyd-McAvoy version first opened in the West End in the autumn of 2019 during the Off Broadway run of the stage musical Cyrano, starring Peter Dinklage. The return of Lloyds production coincides with the release of the big-screen version starring Dinklage, which swaps a large nose for a short stature as Cyranos marginalizing physical feature.
A Las Vegas girl passed several notes to her elementary-school teacher on Tuesday morning. They were from the girls mother, and the contents were alarming.

Her mother wrote that she was being held against her will inside a home; that she feared for her son, the girls younger brother; and that she did not know where he was, according to an arrest report and a statement on Wednesday from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The teacher shared the notes with the Clark County School District Police Department, which, in turn, called the Las Vegas police, Lt. Ray Spencer told reporters Tuesday night. It was a tragic situation, he said.

The police went to a home at the address the mother had enclosed. They found her and her boyfriend of 11 months, Brandon Toseland, 35, driving away from the home, a police officer wrote in an arrest report on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON  President Biden on Thursday said the United States is imposing what he said would be crushing sanctions on Russia for waging war on Ukraine, denouncing President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for launching a brutal assault on the people of Ukraine overnight.

Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war, Mr. Biden said in remarks from the White House. And now he and his country will bear the consequences.

Mr. Biden said the United States would cut off Russias largest banks and largest companies from the western financial markets and would restrict exports of technology to Russia, saying that would vastly degrade the countrys ability to thrive in the weeks, months and years ahead.

He also said the United States was freezing trillions of dollars in Russian assets, including the funds controlled by Russian elites and their families, making them pay for what Mr. Biden called a premeditated attack against a free nation in Europe.
Senator James M. Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma, has told officials in his state that he will step down at the end of this Congress, vacating a seat he has held since 1994 with four years remaining in his term.

Mr. Inhofe, 87, was poised to announce his plans on Monday, according to two Oklahoma Republicans who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment in advance. His retirement is unlikely to affect the balance of power in the 50-50 Senate, given Oklahomas solidly Republican leanings.

A conservative and the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Inhofe has cruised to re-election, most recently in 2020.

While he is expected to leave his seat well before his term expires at the beginning of 2027, Mr. Inhofe is not planning to quit before the end of this year, he has told people. By announcing his intention next week, he will assure that he can be replaced in a special election in November.
Russian military forces are moving to decapitate the Ukrainian government in Kyiv, the Pentagon said on Thursday, in a grim assessment of the first stages of President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

A senior Defense Department official said that three lines of Russian troops and military forces were moving swiftly toward Ukrainian cities, with two of them headed toward Kyiv, the capital, and the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The forces are making their way toward Kyiv from Belarus in the north and Crimea in the south, using missiles and long range artillery, the official said.

Our assessment is they have every intention of decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance, the official told reporters in a briefing at the Pentagon. He said the Pentagon does not have perfect knowledge of the Russian troop movements but described what he characterized as the initial phase of a large-scale invasion, coming from Belarus and Crimea.

Russian forces so far have been striking Ukrainian military installations and air-defense targets, using more than 100 medium- and short-range ballistic missiles. Russia has also used sea-launched missiles from warships in the Black Sea, the official said. So far, Russia has not attacked western Ukraine.
WASHINGTON  The United States conducted a drone strike against Al Shabab militants in Somalia this week, the first such military action against the Qaeda affiliate in East Africa since August, the militarys Africa Command said on Thursday.

The MQ-9 Reaper strike on Tuesday followed a Shabab attack on allied Somali forces in Duduble, about 40 miles northwest of Mogadishu, the capital, the command said in a statement.

The command said it was still trying to determine how many Shabab insurgents had been killed in the strike, but it said no civilians were believed to have been harmed.

When the Biden administration took office in January 2021, it placed new limits on drone strikes outside active war zones as it worked to develop a permanent policy. While the Trump administration set broad rules for strikes in particular countries and delegated authority to commanders in the field on when to carry them out, proposals for strikes are now generally routed through the White House.
More ominously, they said that three lines of Russian forces, with their Goliath-size advantage over the Ukrainian military, were converging swiftly on three cities in Ukraine: Kharkiv in the east, Kherson in the south and Kyiv, the capital, with its three million residents. In Kyiv, one senior military official said, the target appeared to be the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The forces, the official said, were assembling from Belarus in the north and Crimea in the south, using missiles and long-range artillery.

The Pentagons assessment suggested that they have every intention of decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance, the official told reporters in a briefing at the Defense Department. Even as he conceded that the Pentagon did not have perfect knowledge of the Russian troop movements, he described what he characterized as the initial phase of a large-scale invasion, coming from Belarus and Crimea.

Russian forces so far have been striking Ukrainian military installations and air defense targets using more medium- and short-range ballistic missiles. Russia has also used sea-launched missiles from warships in the Black Sea, the official said. So far, it has not attacked the west of Ukraine.

Military officials said Ukrainian forces have been fighting back, with the heaviest combat in Kharkiv.

We havent seen a conventional move like this, nation-state to nation-state, since World War II, and if it unfolds the way that hereto we believe it will come to, it has every potential to be very bloody, very costly and very impactful on European security writ large, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make those comments publicly.
Faye Morrone, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New York, said on Friday that by noon local time, the storm was moving out of the greater New York City area.

There are a couple of showers in and out of the city, but the bulk of precipitation has moved off to the East, she said. It was continuing to push off to the east, away from New York City and ultimately away from southern Connecticut and Long Island.

There was less than an inch of rain, sleet and snow in the city, she said.

Temperatures were either at or above freezing levels, or about 32 to 34 degrees and lower farther north to the Lower Hudson Valley. Anywhere that is still seeing precipitation, there is likely a snowy mix or freezing rain, she added.

In terms of the broader region, by tonight we should be dry, Ms. Morrone said.

Some places got a decent amount of rain and sleet, which was not so great, travel-wise, but we are warming through the afternoon, she said. It will all pull off to the north and east and over the ocean tonight.

Snow had made its way into parts of Illinois, including Chicago, and Iowa, where the Weather Service said road conditions deteriorated.
Sally Snowman loves to be alone. As the keeper of Boston Light, a centuries-old lighthouse on Little Brewster Island in Boston Harbor, shes had a lot of practice. For most of the last 19 years, shes lived there from April through October.

She fills the days with work, cleaning the windows, mowing the lawn and sweeping the spiral staircase of the 90-foot lighthouse tower. She reads a lot and has watched a lot of sunsets. And she relishes every minute.

Its a relief to be out on the island, Ms. Snowman, 70, said. When shes by herself, the wheels stop spinning. Her time alone is restorative.

But not everyone feels the same way about solitude, and for the last two years, the pandemic has forced some version of it upon us all. Weve seen fewer friends and spent more time at home. Some people have found themselves feeling lonelier, particularly if they were already single or living alone.
President Biden plans to impose what he called severe sanctions against Russia on Thursday during a public address on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as explosions rocked cities across the country and signaled what the president described as an unprovoked and unjustified attack.

President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Mr. Biden said in a statement. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

Mr. Biden and his top aides have said for days that they would issue more sweeping economic penalties if Russia escalated the conflict in Ukraine and tried to seize more territory in the country  a prospect that became a reality on Thursday when Russian troops were shown on footage entering Ukraine.

Those penalties could include severing Russias top banks from the financial system, cutting off technology exports or imposing sanctions on President President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and his top officials directly.
SLOVYANSK, Ukraine  The explosions began before dawn. Loud booms of artillery in the distance, shaking a region that knows conflict and death all too well. Then came an eerie silence, pierced by the crowing of roosters, as people blinkingly stepped out of their homes into the morning light.

Then came the outrage, and the panic.

In this small town in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region, not too far from where heavy fighting was underway on Thursday morning, people were making runs on the banks, runs on the gas stations, and some people were just running, trying to get west.

Its panic, dont you see? said Yevheni Balai, pointing to the line of anxious Ukrainians standing outside a closed bank, desperate to take out cash. Theyve gotten exactly what they wanted, the ones on the other side  panic and destabilization.

For years, war between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatists has been a persistent conflict to which the rest of the world scarcely paid attention. To a degree, rushing to get money and food after explosions had become part of the rhythm of daily life.
sabrina tavernise This is Sabrina Tavernise. Its 9:15. And we just got to the railway station. And theres a huge crowd of people standing outside. Oh, my god. Hundreds of people standing outside the railway station. So young man in a black coat carrying a cat carrier with a cat in it. Elderly woman carrying a large red bag, struggling down the stairs. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] tatiana Tatiana. sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Tatiana [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Sabrina. tatiana [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] tatiana [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

[music]

sabrina tavernise Its 9:30 in the morning in Central Kyiv. Im at the bus station. And its absolutely packed, long lines of people trying to pack onto buses. Just overheard a young man saying there are no tickets, there no tickets, I dont know what to do.

[music]

Im walking up to a large white bus, two large white buses. People are arguing over who gets to get on.

[interposing voices]

speaker 1 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 2 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 3 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

[interposing voices]

[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

speaker 1 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 3 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise The driver is saying, lets do it without chaos, lets do it without chaos. speaker 3 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Calm down. Calm down. speaker 3 Yeah. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 1 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

[interposing voices]

sabrina tavernise People are scrambling to leave and are in shock.

[music]

Hi. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Im a journalist from The New York Times. Can I ask you a question?

speaker 4 Yes. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Are you trying to leave Kyiv? What are you speaker 4 Yes. We are trying to reach Lviv and then Poland. sabrina tavernise And then Poland. speaker 4 Yes. sabrina tavernise How are you feeling right now? speaker 4 Maybe a little afraid. sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 4 Afraid of Russian sabrina tavernise Yes. Yes. speaker 4 It was too much unexpected to hear the explosions near the houses. sabrina tavernise Yes. Yeah. speaker 4 We afraid. sabrina tavernise Yeah. What time did you guys wake up this morning to hear it? speaker 5 We didnt sleep. All night I didnt sleep. sabrina tavernise Do you guys have a plan for Poland? Do you have a plan to the other side? speaker 4 We expect to buy tickets to Turkey to Antalya, and live here there in Vilnius. So we wait for the end of war, and then come back. sabrina tavernise Just wait it out. speaker 4 Yes. I want you to stay here, but my friends want to leave. So I think that its correct to go together. sabrina tavernise Thanks for talking to me guys. speaker 4 Yes. speaker 5 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Good luck. speaker 5 Thank you.

[interposing voices]

sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] dimitri [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Sabrina [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] dimitri [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise This is Dimitri. Hes looking at a bus going to Lviv that is absolutely packed. His bus is supposed to leave at 9:00. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] dimitri [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise I called my friends all around Ukraine yesterday, and everybody was intending on fighting. dimitri [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise I myself am taking my family to the village outside Lviv, and then coming back and signing up immediately for military service. dimitri [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

[music]

I think if theres one sound of Kyiv this morning so far, just after 10 oclock in the morning, its the sound of wheelie bags being dragged over cobblestones and pavement.

michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. As Russias full-scale assault on Ukraine enters its second day, the people of Ukraine are starting to come to terms with the reality that the unthinkable has actually happened. Today, my colleague Anton Troianovski explains the significance of this moment. And Sabrina Tavernise, Lynsea Garrison, and Michael Schwirtz speak to Ukrainians about the agonizing decisions that they now must make.

[music]

Its Friday, February 25. Anton, we are talking to you on Thursday night in Moscow. We are coming to the end of day one of this invasion. Help us wrap our heads around whats happening and the significance of what were all witnessing. Because even if weve been hearing warnings about this for weeks, its hard to believe that were now experiencing a full scale attack on Ukraine by Russia.

anton troianovski

Yeah. It is really hard to believe. Its the biggest attack of one nation on another nation in Europe since World War II. It is really kind of the worst case scenario of all those scenarios of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine that have been discussed. Its something that Ive spent just about every day writing about this crisis for the last two months or so. And honestly, even until yesterday I didnt think that this could actually happen. Its Europes most powerful military, bearing, basically, its entire firepower, much of its firepower against the neighboring country. So since about 5:00 AM, we have seen cruise missile, ballistic missile strikes against infrastructure targets, military targets in Ukraine. Then during the day, today, we started seeing footage coming in of helicopter assaults, of paratroopers landing, of tanks rolling across the border. And this is happening from 3 sides, from the North, Belarus, from the East, Russia, from the South, from the Black Sea in Crimea. It started, what, like 18 hours ago or so, and its still very hard to just wrap our heads around the magnitude of whats happening.

michael barbaro

And what do we understand to be the end goal here at this point?

anton troianovski

Well, Putin laid it out quite clearly in his early morning speech. He said, our goal is to demilitarize and de-Nazify, in his words, Ukraine.

michael barbaro

And just explain that because

anton troianovski

Yeah.

michael barbaro

De-nazification is not a familiar phrase in 2022.

anton troianovski

Exactly. And I mean, I will say, until recently, it hasnt been a familiar phrase in Russia either. But the Kremlin in their propaganda they consider the democratically elected government of Ukraine a Nazi regime. They claim falsely that it has perpetrated a genocide on Russian speakers in Eastern Ukraine. And so Putin is trying to claim the moral high ground here. He is saying hes going in to remove this evil regime. And what that means is this is a full scale military assault to topple the government, most likely, of another country. This is just a massive undertaking that were only seeing the beginnings of.

michael barbaro

So were talking about a sovereign nation in Europe being attacked by another European nation. And its democratically elected leadership being, by what you just described, deposed. And these are developments that are unheard of in modern Europe. So how should we think about that?

anton troianovski

Yeah. I think its really the end of a certain post-Cold War order in Europe. Its the end of 30 years of Russia trying to find a place in that kind of Western led order. Its the end of 20 years of Putin trying to use diplomacy as well as his kind of hybrid warfare tactics to try to further his interests in Europe. Thats all gone now. Were in a new reality now, where Russia is showing it is prepared to fight a large land war in Europe to achieve what it describes to be its aims. Its just a totally different world that were in now.

michael barbaro

Well, so lets talk about the consequences of that for all involved.

anton troianovski

Yeah. I mean, I would break it up into a few different parts, the consequences for Ukraine, for Russia, for Europe, and the U.S., and the rest of the world. So starting with Ukraine. This is just the beginning, I fear. If this continues, if this continues the way we think its going to, to Putin pursuing regime change, it could get much more bloody. So we dont know yet what happens to the cities. There is a fight for territory going on in Eastern Ukraine, where those separatist regions are. But the big question is, will they go into Kyiv?

michael barbaro

Right.

anton troianovski

Very scarily, it looks like they may well.

michael barbaro

OK. So what about Russia, where you are based? What are the consequences you are seeing and expecting there?

anton troianovski

Well, so people are expecting a new crackdown on civil liberties, on freedom of speech, freedom of the press, even on business. The reason being that whenever weve had crackdowns here in Russia, the justification has always been that the Kremlin is hunting down internal enemies, who are serving some kind of foreign agenda to destabilize the country. So thats certainly one thing to watch over the coming days and weeks is how much of an additional crackdown is there.

protesters [CHANTING]

anton troianovski

Tonight, we had pretty significant anti-war protests

protesters [CHANTING]

anton troianovski

in Moscow, and St. Petersburg, and in a number of cities in Siberia all told several thousand people were in the streets and there were more than 1,500 arrests. So

michael barbaro

Wow.

anton troianovski

one thing thats very important to point out is, there has been next to no outpouring of support for this. And there is a lot of anger, disbelief, fear to see your country inflicting so much suffering on a neighboring country is awful, and this narrative for why it was necessary to do it. It really does fall apart quite quickly upon inspection. Why How does Ukraine actually threaten Russia? Can it really be true that the Ukrainians were planning an invasion of these pro-Russian separatist areas in the East just as 150,000 plus troops were surrounding Ukraine on three sides? Theres just so much in the Kremlin propaganda narrative that doesnt hold up, that I think a lot of people arent buying that story.

michael barbaro

OK. Finally, lets talk about the consequences for the United States and for the rest of the world.

anton troianovski

So President Biden and the E.U. announced major sanctions today against Russia. And Russia has promised to respond potentially asymmetrically. So we might not see sanctions by Russia against the U.S., but we might see Russia take other actions that could cause harm and pain in the U.S. And theyre We can really only speculate what that would be. Some folks are talking about the potential for cyber attacks here in Moscow. Theres been a lot of talk that Russia could base missiles or other military assets in Latin America, to more directly threaten the United States. Russia, obviously, is one of the worlds biggest energy suppliers, especially to Europe. If it were to turn that spigot, that could cause incredible problems for Europeans. So there is so much uncertainty here still, not just in Ukraine, not just in Russia, but really about how this crisis plays out and what it means for the rest of the world.

michael barbaro

And Anton, as youre preparing to sign-off for the night, I want to return to Ukraine and where this situation leaves its people at this moment.

anton troianovski

I mean, its a horrible situation. These are people who I think there was so little expectation that Russia could actually go ahead with this kind of invasion. And now they are making choices they would never thought they would have to make. Do they stay in Kyiv? Do they try to flee West? Do they try to get out of the country? Do you sleep in the basement? Its really an unimaginable situation for millions and millions of people right now.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well, Anton, thank you. Well talk again soon. Stay safe.

anton troianovski

Thank you.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well be right back.

[music]

All day yesterday, my colleagues in Ukraine and back in the U.S. were speaking with Ukrainians around the country about their experiences of the past 24 hours.

denis surkov

Hello.

lynsea garrison

Hi. How are you?

denis surkov

Hi, Lynsey. Not good.

lynsea garrison

Not good.

denis surkov

Its not the same.

michael barbaro

Lynsea Garrison got on the phone with Denis Surkov, who lives in a city called Dnipro in Eastern Ukraine.

denis surkov

I am doctor, Chief of Dnipro Regional Childrens Hospital.

lynsea garrison

Youre a doctor at Dnipro Regional Childrens Hospital.

denis surkov

Yep.

lynsea garrison

OK.

denis surkov

And I am Chief of NICU and I.C.U.

lynsea garrison

Chief of NICU?

denis surkov

Exactly.

lynsea garrison

Got it. Can you just tell me a little bit about what the past 24 hours have been like for you?

denis surkov

So in the morning, we wake up and we have heard, first, rocket explosions near Dnipro Airport. So I was in my hospital. We were nervous. We were confused. Everybody was near their laptops or iPhones.

lynsea garrison

Yeah.

denis surkov

And checked the news. And the news were and are dramatic.

lynsea garrison

Dramatic. How were you understanding this? Did you think that this would happen?

denis surkov

Honestly, no. We were expected for the beginning of the attack, but we didnt know that it could be so, so fast, so right now. And now, the borders between Ukrainian regions are closed. We had some possibilities and some efforts to go last week.

lynsea garrison

OK.

denis surkov

I cant explain, but something stopped us. We hoped that finally everything will resolve. But now, honestly, I dont know exactly what to do.

lynsea garrison

What do you think stopped you?

denis surkov

My family didnt want to leave Ukraine because we love Ukraine, and we wanted to live here happy and in peace, and so on. So I said, OK, maybe everything will be not so bad. Lets wait. So my main question for myself is, if I made a very, very big mistake not to move from Ukraine when I had an opportunity to do this.

lynsea garrison

Thats a heavy question.

denis surkov

Yes. If there was a big mistake or not so big, and I have no answer. I can ask you, do you want to wake up in the morning and understand you should go forever, not for one day, not for two days, forever? Can you make such a decision in I dont know, in 10 minutes? My question to you.

lynsea garrison

Yeah.

denis surkov

To bring just a bit of water, just a bit of food, single cloth, documents, money, and go outside your home forever, can you make such a decision? Just imagine.

lynsea garrison

Yeah.

denis surkov

So this was my family feeling last week. Even though yesterday in the evening, I told to my wife that this is the last calm day we can evacuate. In the morning, we realized that war came to Ukraine, not conflict, not disturbs, war, conventional war.

lynsea garrison

What are your children asking you? Like, how are you talking about this with them?

denis surkov

I say to my children, everything will be OK, your father will care about you.

lynsea garrison

How old are they?

denis surkov

My elder daughter is 30 and she lives abroad. And my younger daughter, she is 14. Shes with me.

lynsea garrison

How is she doing?

denis surkov

She believed me.

lynsea garrison

That youll protect her? And how does that make you feel that she believes you?

denis surkov

I will do all I can to protect her. I dont know exactly what, but I will do everything, everything can.

lynsea garrison

Are you worried it wont be enough?

denis surkov

I am worried. Everything could be changed, I dont know, next few hours or even next few maybe minutes.

[music]

sabrina tavernise Its 3 oclock and Im getting out of the gas station. So Im looking at this line, Id say its maybe 30-40 cars long. speaker 7 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 8 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 7 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Everybody is limited now. You can only get 20 liters of gas. speaker 7 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 9 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Im walking up to an ambulance thats waiting in line for gas. The ambulance is being ushered ahead. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 7 Ya. sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 7 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise The man whos managing here says hes too busy. Hes running, trying to usher the ambulance to the front of the line. Im going to talk to another person. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Sabrina [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] The New York Times [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] varari Varari. sabrina tavernise This is Varari. Varari, [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise I hear Im hearing on the radio now that theyre bombing us. I live in this area that theyre bombing. varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise No one believed it. No one believed that they would act toward us this way. We were brothers. Were neighboring countries. Were brothers. No one believed it. varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise I feel I have this feeling of nervousness, of anxiousness. varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Im calling with my loved ones, my mother. varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise He said, shes an elderly person, she doesnt see very well, and she does not hear very well. So its very difficult for her, shes not understanding whats happening. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise So, so far, Im going to hunker down in place, but Im getting as much gas as I can because I might need to make it to my moms. varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise I bought some food. varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise I got all my phones, passports, documents. varari Yes. sabrina tavernise I bought varari [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise vermicelli bread, milk, and dill, and sour cream. Im going to talk to another person. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] ura Ura. sabrina tavernise Ura. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Ura. Im taking to Ura, whos getting some gas. He says he does not plan to leave. ura [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Im a little shocked ura [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise that Russia attacked Ukraine. Its so bad. ura [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Were going to defend our country to the last drop of blood.

[music]

ura [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Tomorrow Im going to sign up for a territorial defense force. And Im going to defend my country. ura [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

[music]

sabrina tavernise Its 3:30 and were driving in Central Kyiv, and this is just a closed town right now. The day is still very gray. The sky is very low. Feels sort of raw, and cold, and wet. The air has a kind of bitter smell of ordinance. Its the smell of the air after an air strike. Someone carrying a gun and some body armor down the street. A very sweet little bakery, Im going to come in. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Yeah. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] The New York Times. speaker 10 Yeah. sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Sabrina. Yeah. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Im saying Im a journalist from The New York Times and I would like sweets, but also her opinion. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Today, theres panic, people are panicking very strongly. speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise You can see that theyve bought me a lot of bread. So Im doing a bit of panic buying myself, two large bags of cookies, three candy bars, 10 quiches, and a bunch of almond croissants. speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Im asking her if she plans to leave. No, I dont plan to leave. speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise I really dont have a place to leave to. speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Im here. speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise I have my home here. speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise I think everything will be OK. [MUSIC] [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise Today is the hardest day. I think tomorrow might be easier.

[music]

[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

speaker 10 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

[music]

sabrina tavernise OK. Back to the hotel. Everything is closed now. Its almost as if it was nighttime. A few cars are still going by, but almost no pedestrians. Its very central. The street is just completely deserted.

[music]

It does feel ominous.

michael schwirtz Day one of the war its been a very long day. The town Im in, Slovyansk, kind of continued on as normal. There were bits of panic that could be evident. There were lines at the A.T.M.s. And people were stocking up on medications. But overall, the mood was pretty calm and collected, probably because these people have been through this before, the town came under heavy attack in 2014 when Ukrainian forces clashed with Russian backed rebels who had come in from the East. And so when Im walking around town, people are telling me that this is just part of their lives. Very few people I met around town today said that they had any intention of leaving even though rocket attacks hit an airport nearby and Russian forces were fighting with the Ukrainian military just a few dozen kilometers away. lera alekseevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] lera alekseevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz I met a woman named Lera Alekseevna, who was in the courtyard near my hotel. Oh, [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] lera alekseevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz And she had stuffed her pet hairless cat in her jacket and it was shivering. lera alekseevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] And she was telling me how she was planning on going to work at a company that sells cash registers and bringing her animals with her, so that they wouldnt have to be alone. So if she had to make a quick dash for it, she could be with her animals. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] lera alekseevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz But she said she had no intention of leaving, mostly out of fear that she would be forced to leave behind her pets. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] lera alekseevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz Outside a blood bank in Slovyansk, I met a young man named Bogdan Kravchenko,

[non-english singing]

who was just sitting in his car listening to the Ukrainian national anthem cranked up on high volume.

bogdan kravchenko [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] He had just gone and donated blood. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] bogdan kravchenko [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz And he said he wasnt panicked, but he said that he was acting according to the situation and that things had only just begun. bogdan kravchenko [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] I walked up to a base of the National Guard Unit here in Slovyansk. And out front there were a few couples, men dressed in drab green uniforms, and women all of them were being sent off. The men, they were all being sent off somewhere. Some of them said they couldnt tell me where they were being sent. Some of them admitted that they didnt even know. I met one couple, Yelena and Eugenia. Yelena had brought Eugenia, her husband, some clothes that he was going to take with him on his deployment wherever he was headed. Another couple just held each other for what seemed like 15, 20, 30 minutes, just held each other on the street in the sun ahead of whatever deployment this young man was being sent on. speaker 11 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 12 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz You both [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 11 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 11 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 11 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] And then, I met Lyubov Vasilyevna, a 75-year-old pensioner, she was carrying a bag filled with newly purchased loaves of bread. And she said she had spent her last bit of cash on. And was waiting in line at an A.T.M., it would appear that there was no cash left. lyubov vasilyevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz All she wanted, she said, was to live in peace in her native Donbass, which is what this Eastern region is called. lyubov vasilavna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz And then, she paused and recited a poem that she said she wrote 2 years ago. It was supposed to be evocative, the piece that she was looking for. lyubov vasilyevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz And Ill read that poem that I translated from the Russian into English. Im so looking forward to peace, but it is coming to us so slowly. lyubov vasilyevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz We still have a little patience. Peace is close at hand, and were waiting for it to arrive without gunfire, without blood. Enough has been spilled in Donbass. lyubov vasilyevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz Let the sun smile, and the sky brighten, and the children smile. Let it go in a black moment. There will be peace for all. And people will say, god hurt us. lyubov vasilyevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz Let all stormy skies leave us. lyubov vasilyevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] Donbass [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz And hail Donbass and the city of Slovyansk. lyubov vasilyevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] lyubov vasilyevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] michael schwirtz [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] lyubov vasilyevna [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

[music]

sabrina tavernise Its 11:30 AM on Friday in Kyiv. Last night, in the city there were a lot of airstrikes and it seems like theyre getting closer. [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] speaker 13 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] sabrina tavernise [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

[music]

The airstrikes are beginning again. You can hear the siren. Were trying to decide whether to leave. Our colleagues, a few of them drove out this morning because its really unclear whats going to happen. Will there be a big fight with the Ukrainian military? Or will the Russians just come in? What will happen if they take the city? And it seems like that is imminent. So were trying to make arrangements. Our hotel doesnt have a generator, which means we would be out of power if the power gets cut off in the city, which is a pretty good chance. Yeah. Were trying to figure it out. I guess, like a lot of people here, were trying to make that decision. Should we leave or should we stay?

michael barbaro

As of Friday afternoon in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials were bracing for an attack on the capital city as Russias military offenses pressed closer to the heart of the government.

volodymyr zelensky

[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

michael barbaro

In a televised address, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said that at least 137 Ukrainians, military and civilians, had already been killed. And he called on Ukrainians to defend themselves against Russian forces, saying that nobody else would come to their rescue.

volodymyr zelensky

[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

michael barbaro

Zelensky, who was unshaven and in a t-shirt said that he himself was now Russias number one target. Followed, he said, by his own family.

[music]
They took my phone, wallet, passport, a locket and bracelet, and my bus ticket, Mr. Singh said. He had not even come from Turkey but had entered Greece from Serbia and was traveling by bus to the capital, Athens, when he was detained, but he was pushed into Turkey nevertheless.

At the river they were made to board a rubber dinghy in groups of eight to 10 and were pulled across the river with a rope and pulley system. Armed men in uniforms and black balaclavas oversaw the operation.

It was not good but there was nothing we could do, said Muhammad Saiful Islam, 22, an electrician from Bangladesh who was detained a few hours after crossing into Greece.

Barefoot, stripped down to a thin, hooded sweatshirt and jeans, he set out walking fast in pouring rain across the areas patchwork of rice paddies, crisscrossed by canals and dirt roads hard to navigate even in daylight.

Two others from Bangladesh said they had crossed into Greece the night before and were pushed back to Turkey in a group of about 40 men around 10 p.m. I was scared and so tired from the rain and cold, said Riaz, 27, a tailor from Bangladesh, who like many in his country uses only one name.
Early Thursday, just as President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia announced on television that he had decided to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine, explosions were reported across the country.

Blasts were heard in Kyiv, the capital; in Kharkiv, the second largest city; and in Kramatorsk in the region of Donetsk, one of two eastern Ukrainian territories claimed by Russia-backed separatists since 2014.

Ukraines Interior Ministry said that Russian troops had landed in the southern port city of Odessa and were crossing from Russia into Kharkiv. Footage captured by security cameras showed Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraine from Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized in 2014.

Rocket attacks targeted Ukrainian fighter jets parked at an airport outside Kyiv, and Ukraine closed its airspace to commercial flights, citing the potential hazard to civilian aviation.
As Ukrainians woke up to the noise of the Russian bombardment across the country, many began to flee westward to escape the advancement of Russian troops. Times video journalists spoke to residents crossing the Dnieper River through Kyiv in cars. Buses and cars packed with family members, pets and personal belongings were backed up for miles. Anna, a resident of Chernihiv, was stuck in traffic with her husband and three children  two in another car.

Chernihiv lies in the path of advancing Russian forces and sits in the path of the only road down from the border to Kyiv. I thought  if I move west  this wont affect me today or tomorrow, she said while wiping tears. Im sorry, I fear for my kids.
Republicans have said Mr. Biden should have adopted a more aggressive strategy in providing military supplies to Kyiv. They have also criticized him for not acting earlier to impose stiff sentences on Russia to change Mr. Putins course of action.

It will take time to know if more and better weapons could have made a difference for the Ukrainian armys defense. But administration officials have said they have had to act judiciously not to escalate the situation and not allow Mr. Putin to use the delivery of American military supplies as an excuse to start the war.

More clearly, American sanctions against Mr. Putin go only so far. It is European sanctions against Russia and its billionaire class that really bite, and it took time, and intelligence, for Europe to come on board with a tougher package of sanctions.

While the United States clearly has the some of the best, if not the best, intelligence collection in the world, it also had a reputation that remained tarnished, at home and abroad, by the 2003 Iraq invasion, when faulty information was publicly released to justify the war. And while the intelligence community had long been pessimistic about the survival prospects for the U.S.-supported Afghan government, some in the administration criticized the spy agencies last year for not accurately predicting how quickly the countrys military forces would fold to the Taliban.

That reputation increased some of the skepticism of the assessment of Mr. Putins intentions, both by reporters questioning public officials for more evidence, and by allies.

The warnings this time were far different, the information released to try to prevent a war, not to start one. But releasing the information was nevertheless a risk. Had it proved wrong, the intelligence agencies would have been saddled with fresh doubts about their ability to collect and properly analyze intelligence about adversaries. That could have undermined efforts to credibly warn against future threats.
Aleksei A. Navalny, the jailed Russian opposition politician, used a court hearing on Thursday to condemn President Vladimir V. Putins invasion of Ukraine.

The war with Ukraine has been unleashed to cover up the robbery of Russian citizens and divert their attention away from the countrys internal problems, from the degradation of its economy, Mr. Navalny said.

Mr. Navalny, who is serving a prison sentence that could be extended by up to 15 years if he is convicted of embezzlement and other charges, went on to say: This war will lead to a vast number of victims, destroyed lives and continued impoverishment of Russian people.

Mr. Navalny, who built a large anti-corruption organization and opposition party over the past decade with thousands of supporters and offices across Russia, was poisoned by a military-grade nerve agent in 2020 and arrested upon his return to the country last year.
Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan was due to meet President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in Moscow on Thursday during a long-planned visit that began hours before Russian forces attacked Ukraine.

Mr. Khan intended to push for a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline to be built by Pakistani and Russian companies, according to news media reports in Pakistan.

And while some commentators called the visit ill-timed and said it would be cut short, Pakistans information minister said on Twitter that it would proceed as planned, with Mr. Khan returning to Pakistan later Thursday.

Gas is a crucial export for Russia, and Germany on Monday halted certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline linking the country to Russia in response to the Kremlins recognition of two separatist regions in Ukraine. That could potentially increase the importance of other outlets for Russian gas.
Queen Elizabeth II postponed her daily virtual engagements on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said, the second time she has taken such a step since she tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday.

Several people at Windsor Castle, where the 95-year-old queen has spent most of her time in virtual quarantine during the pandemic, were infected this week, according to a palace official. It is not known who exposed her to the virus.

The queen tested positive on Sunday, after meeting at Windsor Castle with her son and heir Prince Charles earlier this month. Charles, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, subsequently tested positive for the coronavirus for a second time and went into isolation.

On Thursday, the palace did not specify why the queens meetings were called off, so it was unclear whether the move reflected lingering Covid symptoms. On Tuesday, the palace said she had canceled virtual events because she was still experiencing mild coldlike symptoms.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets and squares of Russian cities on Thursday to protest President Vladimir V. Putins decision to invade Ukraine, only to be met with heavy police presence.

Many Russians, like people across the world, were shocked to wake up and learn that Mr. Putin had ordered a full-scale assault against a country often referred to as a brotherly nation. At the protests, many people said they felt depressed and broken by the news of Russian military action.

In Moscow, the police blocked off access to the Pushkinskaya Square in the city center, after opposition activists called people to come there. Police officers dispersed even the smallest groups of protesters, ordering them to clear the area through loudspeakers.

A few hundred people, mostly young, flanked the streets leading to the square, some chanting No to war! and unfurling a Ukrainian flag. The police detained more than 600 people in the city, according to OVD Info, a rights group that tallies arrests.
Footage verified by The Times shows the most intense fighting seen so far near Ukraines capital, Kyiv. At least a half dozen Russian helicopters were spotted flying west over the Dnieper river toward Hostomel, a town on the outskirts of the city. Other videos capture the helicopters attacking Hostomels airport. One video, released by Ukraines armed forces, appears to show at least one of those helicopters being shot down.

Videos posted to the Telegram messaging app also appeared to show Russian military jets flying over the capital.
Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Ibrahim Boughali, speaker of the People's National Assembly of Algeria, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu Tuesday held talks with Ibrahim Boughali, speaker of the People's National Assembly of Algeria, via video link.

Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, commended the traditional friendship between China and Algeria since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1958.

Regarding the future development of these relations, Li called on the two countries to enhance mutual political support. He also said they should deepen practical cooperation, strengthen cooperation in COVID-19 response, and enhance global and regional affairs communication.

China appreciates Algeria's support concerning China's core interests and major concerns, said Li, extending gratitude to the northern African country for its firm support of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

He called on the two countries to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative and promote cooperation in major practical projects.

Li noted the friendly tradition between the NPC and the People's National Assembly of Algeria. He said the NPC stands ready with the Algerian side to enhance exchanges on various levels, share experiences in legislation and supervision in finance, agriculture, education, and foreign investment, and closely coordinate on multilateral occasions and affairs to contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

Boughali congratulated China on the success of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and said Algeria is willing to cooperate with China in areas including economy and trade, investment, technology, culture, and COVID-19 response. 

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Ibrahim Boughali, speaker of the People's National Assembly of Algeria, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)
A full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine would create one of the largest refugee crises in the world, with as many as five million people displaced, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said on Wednesday.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the General Assembly that already, nearly three million Ukrainians  half of them older people or children  needed food, shelter and other lifesaving emergency assistance and that the tidal waves of suffering this war will cause are unthinkable.

Far from disagreeing, the Russian ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, warned that a war might cost the whole of Ukraine very dearly.

In a defiant speech, Mr. Nebenzya blamed Kyiv and its Western allies for the crisis and claimed  as Moscow has repeatedly, and without evidence  that Ukraine has been at war with its own Russian-speaking citizens in the Donbas region in the countrys east. Separatists there, backed by Moscow, have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since 2014, and Russia recognized their enclaves this week as independent republics.
Several of its members are Ukrainian and everyone knew someone trapped in the country.

Marichka Marczyk, at the rehearsals in London, said in a telephone interview that shed just had a text exchange with her brother in Kyiv about what to do if he was killed in the conflict. My will is simple, he replied. Burn my body/scatter the ashes, adding: All my riches to my kid. Those riches include his honey bees.

Similar scenes played out in cities across Europe, where Ukrainian expatriates were grappling with the troubling news from their homeland. In Berlins Pariser Platz, hundreds of somber protesters wrapped themselves in Ukrainian flags.

Lyudmyla Mlosch, 70, who runs an association for Ukrainians in Berlin, had been up since 5:30 a.m., trying to organize temporary shelter for friends, family and others who manage to leave the country. Her son and his family live in northwestern Ukraine and her grandson is studying at the university in Kyiv.

My heart is broken in two, Ms. Mlosch said.

She said: I just feel helpless. When Putin says Ukraine belongs to Russia, I dont understand how he could do such a thing to his brother and his sister.

In Madrid, a small group of protesters, some in tears, gathered outside the Russian Embassy to demand an end to the invasion. They waved Ukrainian flags and shouted terrorists.

Nadiya Pshenychniak, a cleaner who has lived in Madrid for 20 years, said she was extremely worried for her family in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, including one daughter who recently had a kidney transplant. This is, sadly, not such a big surprise, she said, because Russia has always wanted Ukraine and has a long history of doing horrible things to our people.

Ms. Pshenychniak, 69, had plans to visit her family in the summer, but she now fears it may be some time before she sees them again.
PARIS  President Vladimir V. Putin has ordered Russian troops into Ukraine but made clear his true target goes beyond his neighbor to Americas empire of lies, and he threatened consequences you have never faced in your history for anyone who tries to interfere with us.

In another rambling speech full of festering historical grievances and accusations of a relentless Western plot against his country, Mr. Putin reminded the world on Thursday that Russia remains one of the most powerful nuclear states with a certain advantage in several cutting-edge weapons.

In effect, Mr. Putins speech, intended to justify the invasion, seemed to come closer to threatening nuclear war than any statement from a major world leader in recent decades. His immediate purpose was obvious: to head off any possible Western military move by making clear he would not hesitate to escalate.

Given Russias nuclear arsenal, he said, there should be no doubt that any potential aggressor will face defeat and ominous consequences should it directly attack our country. He added: All necessary decisions have been taken in this regard.
As international humanitarian groups warned that the Russian invasion could trigger a major exodus from Ukraine, some refugee resettlement leaders in the United States called on the Biden administration to prepare to welcome people fleeing for their lives.

It will be our moral imperative to welcome Ukrainian refugees, as we have been doing for decades, said David Duea, president of Lutheran Community Services Northwest. The agency has resettled thousands of Ukrainians in Oregon and Washington.

He added, I do feel a sense that this is coming.

But there was concern that the U.S. refugee program, already under pressure to absorb more than 70,000 evacuees from Afghanistan who arrived last year, would be unable to handle another large volume of evacuees.

The nine nonprofit groups tasked by the State Department with resettling refugees in U.S. communities have been trying to integrate thousands of Afghan families released from military bases in recent weeks. The organizations were drained of funding and forced to downsize significantly after former President Donald J. Trump reduced refugee admissions during his term in office.
Even with the tons of weapons, ammunition and equipment delivered to Ukraine by Western allies in just the last few weeks, the Ukrainian military is outgunned by the larger, more technologically advanced Russian forces that have launched a multipronged invasion.

Back in December, the commander of Ukraines military intelligence service, Gen. Kyrylo O. Budanov, outlined a scenario in which a Russian invasion would begin with airstrikes and rocket attacks aimed at ammunition depots and trench-bound troops  foreshadowing the attack that came early Thursday morning.

Very quickly, he said, the Ukrainian military would be incapacitated, its leadership unable to coordinate a defense and supply the front. After that, he said, responsibility would fall to frontline commanders to carry on the fight alone.

They will hold up as long as there are bullets, General Budanov said in an interview. Theyll be able to use what they have in their hands, but believe me, without delivery of reserves, theres not an army in the world that can hold out.
We are different, he said, but that is not a reason to be enemies. We want to determine, build our future ourselves, peacefully, calmly and honestly.

Ukraines Parliament declared a state of military emergency, and the government announced it would give arms to anyone with combat experience who was ready to defend the country and urged people to donate blood for wounded veterans.

The future of our Ukrainian people depends on every citizen, Mr. Zelensky said on Thursday.

The enemy has suffered heavy losses, he added. The losses of the enemy will be even greater. They came to our land. Ukraine is under attack from the north, east and south. Attacked from the air. Protection works. Today, the army and national solidarity are the mainstay of Ukrainian statehood. It was a hopeful statement considering how much Russian firepower his soldiers are up against.

Mr. Zelenskys path mirrors that of his country, which has been at war with Russia-backed separatists for eight years. The past decade has seen Ukrainian national pride and use of the Ukrainian language dramatically rise, in tandem with trust in democracy and a pro-Western orientation. Trust in Russia, and respect for Mr. Putins authoritarian government, has dwindled.

He made a transformation because basically, Ukrainian society made this transformation, said Volodymyr Yermolenko, a philosopher who edits Ukraine World magazine.

The president was a person from eastern Ukraine, a Russian speaker, who made his business in Russian, he said, referring to Mr. Zelenskys television channel, Kvartal 95. Russians would have expected pro-Russian policies on his part, but he understands that Russians want to make everything on their terms and push Ukraine around, and deny Ukraines existence. Of course he gradually became a typical Ukrainian patriot.
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting late Wednesday in the hopes of stopping President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia from invading Ukraine. Instead, his country did just that while they were delivering their speeches.

Unfortunately, while weve been meeting in the Security Council tonight, it appears that President Putin has ordered that last step, said the U.S. ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. This is a grave emergency.

The United States said the Council would meet on Thursday to vote on a resolution condemning Russias actions. A European diplomat said earlier in the day that the resolution had been circulated among Council members and had wide support.

It was unclear whether the text would be adjusted to reflect Mr. Putins announcement. But in any case, the resolution is likely to be vetoed by Russia.
U.S. Army troops are preparing to move closer to Polands border with Ukraine to help process people fleeing the country after Russia launched an all-out assault, an Army spokesman said on Thursday, as Poland said it was ready to provide shelter to anyone fleeing the conflict.

Many of the 5,500 troops who arrived in Poland this month have been working with Polish forces to set up three processing centers near the border to help deal with tens of thousands of people, including Americans, who are expected to flee neighboring Ukraine.

American officials have estimated that a nationwide attack on Ukraine could result in one million to five million refugees, with many of them going to Poland. That could lead to the largest arrival of refugees in Europe since more than one million migrants and refugees arrived in 2015, a dynamic that had a profound effect on European politics by bolstering far-right parties.

Until Thursday, officials had seen barely a trickle of people come through the sites. But the flow is expected to grow as the conflict intensifies and expands.
South Africa's Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana (L, Front) talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (R, Front) after delivering the budget speech at the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

CAPE TOWN, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday predicted an improved fiscal outlook in his budget speech for 2022/23 financial year, while saying it is subjected to "significant" risks.

The 2022/23 budget will shift from the trend that has seen over 308 billion rands (20.5 billion U.S. dollars) expenditure on bailing out failing state-owned companies and a reduction of 257 billion rands in frontline services and infrastructure since 2013, and restore focus on the government's core functions, Godongwana told the National Assembly, the lower house of the parliament, in Cape Town, legislative capital of South Africa.

The Africa's most-industrialized country is also on course to close key fiscal imbalances and restore the health of public finances, reducing the fiscal deficit and stabilizing debt, he said.

The minister predicted the consolidated budget deficit to narrow from 5.7 percent of GDP in 2021/22 to 4.2 percent of GDP by 2024/25, while the country will have a primary fiscal surplus, where revenue exceeds noninterest expenditure by 2023/24.

The government reduces the borrowing requirement, by using some of the extra revenue it has collected, for the first time since 2015, which decreases by 135.8 billion rand this year and a total of 131.5 billion rand over the next two years, he said.

However, the country has to stay vigilant and mitigate the risks where possible, including slowing global and domestical economic growth, calls for a permanent increase in social protection that exceed available resources, pressures from the public-service wage bill, continued requests for financial support from financially distressed state-owned companies, he added.

The budget will support Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Program, which remains essential to growth after over a decade of economic stagnation, and the government is accelerating the implementation of critical structural reforms contained in this program particularly in electricity, rail, ports and telecommunications, he said.

The national economic growth has been lowered to 4.8 percent in 2021 from last November's 5.1 percent, due to the impact of changes in the global environment and South Africa's own unique challenges, read the budget speech.

Real GDP growth in 2022 is expected to be 2.1 percent and to average 1.8 percent over the next years, it said.

South Africa has "turned the corner" and will build on the gains of 2021, Helmo Preuss, economist at South Africa-based consultancy Forecaster Ecosa, told Xinhua via email after the budget speech.

The government has made economic growth its priority, which is why economic development gets the highest growth of non-interest spending over the next three years, said Preuss.

The economist also forecasted GDP growth for 2022 could be stronger than the government's forecast, and higher revenue growth for 2022/23 financial year. 

South Africa's Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana delivers the budget speech at the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

South Africa's Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana (3rd R, Front) arrives at the parliament to deliver the budget speech in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

A woman selects clothes at a market in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

A vendor shows his products at a market in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

People walk past a restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)
Today

Cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High near 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Cloudy. High near 60F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Stillwater, OK (74078)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High near 65F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Sharon Torgerson

The Castle Group names Sharon Torgerson as chief communications officer. Torgerson was most recently director of corporate communications for Mass General Brigham. In 2020, she was deployed by the administration of Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker to lead communications for the states Covid Command Center. She has also served as assistant secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Along with newly appointed director of public affairs Taylor Connolly, Torgerson will lead The Castle Groups expanded public affairs practice. Connolly previously headed up communications efforts for Bostons newly established economic development cabinet. Sharon and Taylor, who bring both public and private experience from some of Boston and Massachusetts largest industries and organizations, are a welcome asset to our clients, said Castle co-founder and principal Sandy Lish.

Philip Yi

Invitation Homes appoints Philip Yi senior vice president, marketing. Before joining Invitation Homes, Yi was founder and CEO of consultancy and investment firm Modus Digital, He was previously head of marketing at Omni Hotels & Resorts, and held marketing and business development roles at JC Penney, Sid Mashburn and McKinsey & Company. Invitation Homes chief operating officer said that Yi fills the companys need for a strong leader who understands consumer behavior and can ensure we provide the experiences that help us retain the trust and loyalty of our residents.

Joseph Clarke

Hill+Knowlton Strategies brings on Joseph Clarke as creative strategy director in its Innovation + Creative Hub. Clarke joins H+K from Mission Media, where he was head of strategy. In his new position, he will work across H+Ks sector portfolio on clients including GSK Consumer Health, McCormick and Campari. Joseph is an exceptional, rare strategist with an impressive earned-first backgroundthe perfect fit for our uncommon blend of specialists in the I+C team, said I+C London hub lead Eleanor Sullivan. H+K has also hired Joe Shields, who was part of the WPP Ford Team, as a creative and promoted creative director Ruby Quince to the H+Ks executive leadership committee.
A very popular Offaly tourist destination has been named as one of top ten tourist attractions in Ireland.

The team at Birr Castle Demesne took some time out to celebrate being listed as one of Irelands top ten visitor attractions for 2022. Birr Castle Demesne was fourth in the visitor attraction section of the Irish Independent Reader Travel Awards 2022.

Speaking about the Awards Pol O Conghaile, Travel Editor said As things takes a turn for the better, we're celebrating not just the lights at the end of the tunnel, but the lights that have helped us through the tunnel  Irelands breathtakingly resilient tourism and hospitality industry.

Grainne OMalley, Birr Castle Demesne Manager said It was wonderful to see the efforts of the terrific team, who kept everything going over the past couple of years, being rewarded. Thanks to everyone who voted for us. It is hugely appreciated. This accolade comes on top of all of the other Awards won by Birr Castle Demesne in recent years including being named in 2021 by the Lonely Planet list as one of the top eight hidden treasures in Ireland for visitors and also being named by Lonely Planet as one of top ten most child-friendly castle estates in the world in 2019.

On your doorstep, Birr Castle Demesne is one of Irelands most intriguing destinations and a must-see for anyone with a passion for photography, botany, wildlife, nature, education, science, engineering, astronomy, and heritage. Beautifully framed within a 120-acre demesne, this 17th-century castle is home for the past 400 years to the Parsons Family, who are celebrated for their remarkable scientific and engineering feats, including the world-famous Great Telescope (1845). A self-guided adventure of endless discoveries includes 10 kilometres of scenic walks, rivers, waterfall, a lake, one of Europes finest plant collections, Science Galleries with the worlds oldest intact dark room, the worlds tallest box hedge, forest bathing, trails and Irelands tallest treehouse! www.birrcastle.com
THIS Friday, February 25 and Saturday, February 26 between 7:30 -10 pm, the facade of Tullamore Gaol at Kilcruttin Business Park will be drenched in spectacular light and colour as Birr visual artist Caroline Conway projects her fascinating animation depicting the history of the mysterious building.

The event was originally due to take place last weekend but was postponed due to the weather.

The work entitled Behind These Walls is steeped in known and unearthed stories surrounding the building, from the individuals who were incarcerated there up to its industrial usage. This event is one of many events that will take place in the county between now and the end of April as part of Spectacular Vernacular- In the Open | Faoin Speir.

Spectacular Vernacular- In the Open | Faoin Speir  Offaly, funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, is a collaborative partnership led by Offaly County Councils Arts Office with Birr Theatre and Arts Centre and Birr Festivals Collective. The aim is to develop an exciting and innovative curated programme of outdoor events, to take place in Birr, Lough Boora, in conjunction with the Sculpture Park and Tullamore, in anticipation of the opening of the new Arts Centre for the town next year. In the Open | Faoin Speir  Offaly generates a sustained and curated programme of multidisciplinary, inclusive arts activity in public or open spaces in towns and communities around Ireland until April 2022.

Caroline Conway is a renowned artist who has been providing significantly focused arts strands of collaborative, multi-disciplinary projects in non-traditional art spaces and the public realm for over 20 years in County Offaly. She feels that the Tullamore Gaol has had a very significant and broad tapestry of events happen within its changing roles over the years, with experiences by its inhabitants and workers that need to be shared.

This event will officially launch the Spectacular Vernacular In the Open | Faoin Speir  Offaly programme of which full details of all upcoming In The Open/Faoin Speir workshops, projects and events will be available on Facebook Page Spectacular Vernacular, www.intheopenoffaly.ie and offaly.ie/eng/Services/Arts-and-Culture/.

For more information on Caroline Conway and her amazing work, visit www.carolinefconway.com.
Construction work will commence in the coming weeks on the expansion of the Zoetis production facility on the IDA Ireland Business and Technology Park off the Sragh road in Tullamore.

This exciting new development will bring up to 100 new high quality jobs to Tullamore and provide a significant boost to the local economy.

A total of 17 new jobs have already been added since the expansion was officially announced on 5 October and recruitment in advance of the new facility coming onstream in 2023 is continuing. Zoetis is the worlds leading animal health company.

The expansion in Tullamore will strengthen the companys global manufacturing network, comprising an existing 29 manufacturing sites around the world, ensuring that the company will meet growing demand from customers worldwide as well as support its future growth in veterinary biopharmaceuticals.

Planning permission has been granted for the Zoetis Tullamore expansion by Offaly County Council and it is hoped that the new expanded facility will be complete and ready for production by the end of 2023.

Plans for the construction project have also progressed well. Fencing to secure the site boundary in terms of 24/7 security is now underway and general site preparation work has already begun.

The removal of scrub and hedging within the site under the supervision of an ecologist is being carried out sensitively in advance of the nesting season and bird and bat boxes have been deployed appropriately within the site.

Construction work will begin in earnest in early March with bulk excavations and the laying of foundations. Jacobs Engineering have been appointed as Construction Managers for the project and our key trade partners include PJ Hegarty (Building), Kirby Engineering (Electrical), Jones Engineering (Mechanical), Ardmac (Cleanrooms), Kiernan (Structural Steel), Siac (Cladding) and Mercury (Fire Protection).

Kiernan Steel of Longford will commence work on site in mid-April to prepare for the erection of structural steel in early May. SIAC Roofing and Cladding will begin installation of the Kingspan cladding once the structural steel work is complete.

This will be a neutral mid-grey colour for the main building and white for the administration and laboratory building. It is aimed to have this work completed by August. This will allow for the full facade to be completed in October.

All building work should be substantially complete by June 2023 with operational commissioning works complete by December 2023. At peak, (October/November 2022) we expect that some 450 contractors and services personnel will be working on the construction project.

In the early stage of the project, over March to May 2022, some rock breaking may be required in areas of the site in order to facilitate drainage works, foundation laying and so on. Sophisticated vibration and noise monitoring systems are being set up to monitor site activity in order to minimise and obviate any potential for disturbance.

An environmental and site management plan has been put in place to deal with and resolve any issues that may arise, including from the outset, road sweeping, dust, or other, during the construction project.

Final landscaping and tree planting will commence in late 2023 during the planting season. This work will ensure that any view of the expanded facility will be minimised to neighbours on the Sragh Road.
An Offaly TD has called for the phasing out of Citizens Assemblies after costs exceeded 4.6 million.

Independent Laois-Offaly TD Carol Nolan said that the Department of the Taoiseach has confirmed to her that an allocation of 502,000 has been provided in respect of both Citizens Assemblies planned for 2022, bringing the total from 2014 to 2022 to around 4.6 million.

The Assemblies will examine issues relating to biodiversity as well as a directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin.

Additional funding requirements, if necessary, will be provided from within existing resources allocated to the Department of the Taoiseachs Vote 2022.

The information was released to Deputy Nolan in response to parliamentary questions she had placed on the matter.

The responses also revealed that the total cost of the Citizens Assemblies that have taken place from 2014-2021 is 4.1million.

Matters considered by Citizens Assemblies to date include same-sex marriage, the role of women in politics, abortion and electoral reform.

Commenting on the information provided to her, Deputy Nolan said: I have significant reservations about the democratic value, role and place of Citizens Assemblies.

While they have a veneer of democratic legitimacy and democratic participation, in reality, they are very far from being truly representative of where the general population is on a whole range of issues.

Why have we never had an Assembly on reform of the health service, the systemic crisis in housing, the exponential rise in anti-social behaviour, regional economic imbalance or a robust but fair immigration system, rampant drug use and the absence of services to address that issue? Why is it almost always the kind of topics generally beloved of the NGO and academic class?

I also question why Government is throwing hundreds of thousands of euros at the biodiversity Assembly when we have just had a lengthy Assembly process on the challenges inherent in climate change and when we have an entire Climate Advisory Panel that was specifically set up to look at these issues in the round.

I think the time has come to consider phasing out the Citizen Assembly model, concluded Deputy Nolan.
Laois-Offaly Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley has called on the Government to halt the May increase on Carbon tax and "not to heap further pressure on rural communities."

Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Stanley said: The carbon tax as it is designed is an unfair tax. It is punishing ordinary workers and families who lack disposable income to pay the extortionate costs of retrofitting their homes or purchasing an electric car.

"The point is that you cannot tax people to stop them doing something if they do not have an alternative or cannot afford the alternative. Why are grants not being made available to buy second-hand electric cars, for example? It is difficult to imagine a better example of how out of touch the Green Party and the Government are with the needs of ordinary people at the moment.

I recently had a conversation with a constituent, one of the many who are finding it difficult to cope with how the Government has been playing its part in escalating and driving up the price of essentials. The constituent told me it is now costing between 70 and 80 a week more to heat their home. There are families who have a clear choice between food and heat. Eat or heat; which is it?"

He continued: "The Minister of State need not take our word for it. He should ask the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Its representatives will tell him what the situation is. I have spoken to people working for that organisation and people working in food banks.

The cost of fuel for a car to travel to work is now at its highest level in 30 years. It is getting close to 2 per litre. People in rural areas such as Laois-Offaly are being hit hardest. There is no DART, Luas or bus service there. That is the simple fact of it.

"In some places, the roads are not great. Some people living in Laois-Offaly who commute to work are now paying 150 in fuel to do so. Much of the responsibility for the cost of fuel in this country, though not all of it, lies with the Government. Well over one-third of the cost of every litre of motor fuel is accounted for by tax. That is even before the carbon tax is introduced in May.

This is not climate action; it is penalising poor working people, as well as disproportionately penalising people in rural areas. The planned increase in carbon tax in May needs to be halted.

"Sinn Fein has put forward many proposals relating to climate change in the 11 years since I came into this House but it received a very poor response to a lot of those proposals to move to a more sustainable society. We put forward measures that would create jobs and generate power without using fossil fuel. That is where we need to be going, rather than punishing people who are least able to play.
Delivery man Yan Yingzhao prepares for a delivery order in Yongding District of Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province, Aug. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The greater protection afforded to workers' rights in the food-delivery and car-hailing industries over the past year illustrates how a talking point at China's "two sessions" can result in swift and solid action to tackle thorny problems.

A year ago, national legislators and political advisers called for new policies on the protection of laborers' rights in the new economy, issuing their call during the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

They urged efforts to clarify the responsibilities of online platforms, such as food-delivery apps, and to tackle the lack of guarantees for workers regarding occupational injuries.

"We pay great attention to suggestions and proposals submitted by legislators and political advisers," said an official of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

After thorough discussions and careful studies, a guideline, which incorporated the opinions of legislators and political advisers, was unveiled jointly by seven central government departments in July. The document emphasized that platform companies should shoulder their due responsibilities in protecting the lawful rights and interests of workers.

Over the past months, most of the top platforms have taken action in line with the guidelines, including building channels of expression for workers and mechanisms for communication and consultations, improving their rules and algorithms, and stepping up supervision over labor dispatching partners, the official said.

The official said that many suggestions and proposals are targeted and practical, and the ministry will continue to heed and adopt the opinions of legislators and political advisers in the future.

The guideline was only one of the numerous policy improvements prompted by the "two sessions."

Last year, offices and departments under the State Council handled 8,666 suggestions from NPC deputies and 5,718 proposals submitted by CPPCC members, accounting for 96.4 percent and 93.4 percent of the total numbers of suggestions and proposals, respectively.

Relevant departments adopted more than 4,300 pieces of advice and subsequently introduced over 1,600 policy measures.

The fifth annual session of the 13th NPC is scheduled to open on March 5, and the fifth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee is set to begin on March 4. 
A Lotto player has officially become Irelands newest Lotto millionaire after winning the top prize of 1 million in Wednesday nights Lotto Plus 1 draw.

The National Lottery will be revealing further details on the location of the winning ticket in the coming days.

The winning numbers in Wednesdays (23rd February) Lotto Plus 1 draw were: 05, 10, 23, 31, 34, 36 and the bonus 30.

The Cork winner is advised to sign the back of their ticket, which is now worth 1 million, and keep it in a safe place.

The winner should contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to claim their life-changing prize.

The player has taken the title of 11th National Lottery millionaire of 2022.

Last nights Lotto Plus 1 top prize win also brings the number of Cork wins worth 1 million to a total of three since the beginning of the year.

There have been 11 winners of 1 million or more so far in Ireland in 2022.

On January 15 the longest roll-over jackpot of 19,060,800 was won in Mayo



A jackpot of 4,687,612 was won in Meath on February 9 last.

And two days later, on February 11 a EuroMillions jackpot of 30,928,078 was won in Tipperary.

A National Lottery spokesperson said: "National Lottery players in the Rebel County have had lots to celebrate in recent weeks with Cork currently holding the title for National Lottery millionaires for 2022 so far. Just a few weeks ago, we saw two Cork players scoop 1 million each in the special EuroMillions Raffle after purchasing their tickets in two separate stores in West Cork located just 20km apart.

"And now a Lotto player in Cork has become the countys latest National Lottery top prize winner and millionaire after scooping Wednesday nights Lotto Plus 1 top prize of 1 million.

"We are appealing to all of our Lotto players in Cork to check their midweek Lotto tickets very carefully as one player has a ticket worth 1 million. The winner is advised to sign the back of their ticket and to keep it safe. They should make contact with our prize claims team as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made for them to claim their prize," the spokesperson said.
RESIDENTS living on the Rahan Road in Tullamore say they are ''shocked and amazed'' at a decision by An Bord Pleanala to allow a biogas facility on a site which they claim is totally unsuitable, for such a development. They are also adamant that it will not go ahead.

''We will not stand for this apparent blatant disregard for the opinions of the common man over big business,'' said Paschal Fox, the Chair of Rahan Road Residents Association who lodged an objection to the development.

In a statement, Mr Fox stresses that the people have ''no option but to fight this decision in any way we can. We are thus reviewing our options currently and taking various advices not just on our behalf but on behalf of the town of Tullamore as a whole.''

On July 23, 2020 Strategic Power Limited applied to Offaly County Council to construct a renewable biogas facility at Ballyduff, Tullamore. The plant will receive organic matter such as animal manure and food wastes and in the absence of oxygen break it down into biogas and organic fertiliser.

The facility includes a feedstock reception hall, a laboratory, two primary digester tanks, one secondary digester tank, liquid digestate storage tanks, water storage tank, manure reception tanks and stores, the application states.

The application drew a massive negative response from nearby residents associations on the Rahan and Clara Road. They were joined by a large number of small and medium sized businesses trading in the area along with local councillors. Barry Cowen TD also added his name to the list of those objecting to the proposal.

In January 2021, Offaly County Council refused to grant permission for the facility. This was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanala by Strategic Power.

The residents say a minimum of 30 loads of farm manure per day will be carried into the site by trucks. The fertiliser will then be brought out to be spread on surrounding farms.

They also say the development has the potential to attract vermin, increase traffic volume on the Rahan Road and create additional noise as the plant will run 24/7. They also fear a fire or explosion at the plant.

''We are adamant that the proposed activity cannot be conducted at this site nor in the environs of any town in Ireland, no matter how well designed and operated, without significant, environmental impacts occurring. We are determined to have the people of the towns opinions heard before it is too late. We are convinced that preventing the development is the only viable option,'' said Mr Fox.

The residents are also seeking the support of businesses and all of the residents of Tullamore in their quest to prevent this development.

Outlining the reasons for granting permission An Bord Pleanala said it took into consideration the requirement for an Anaerobic Digester Plant to be subject to and regulated under an industrial emissions licence to be issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.

It said it also noted the pattern of existing and permitted development in the vicinity of the site, the location of the proposed development on lands on the outskirts of Tullamore and its close proximity to the source of agricultural feedstock material. It took account of the proximity of the site to the gas networks Ireland gas network for export of gas.

The Board Inspector proposed that subject to compliance with a number of conditions the development would comprise an acceptable form of energy recovery from primarily agricultural waste. It would also not be prejudicial to public health and would not give rise to a risk of serious pollution or major accident risk.

Under the conditions laid out the developer will be required to submit an annual report on the operation of the facility to the local planning authority.
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Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (2nd L, Front) inspects a guard of honor during the country's National Day celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Brunei celebrated its 38th National Day on Wednesday with a moderate-scaled parade and performances in the capital as the Southeast Asian country is experiencing a series of record-breaking days for COVID-19 infections.

Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, together with members of the royal family, attended the celebration at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien and inspected the guard of honor.

About 3,800 participants comprising groups from national security agencies, public and private sectors, civil movements, and frontliners, took part in this year's national day assembly and parade, compared to about 30,000 attendees before the pandemic hit the country in 2020.

Facing a fast-rising number of COVID-19 cases, Brunei celebrated this year's national day following the standard operating procedures of the Ministry of Health for the pandemic, including entry only for those aged 12 and above; full vaccination required for attendees, preferably boosted; body temperature checks; Rapid Antigen Test (ART) screening; wearing face masks at all times and physical distancing.

Brunei reported 3,285 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, another record high, bringing the national tally to 44,334.

As a country of about 420,000 population, Brunei saw its daily cases exceeding the 3,000 mark for two straight days on Wednesday, after the daily number exceeded the 2,000 mark last Thursday -- also the latest in a series of record-breaking days for infection in the country.

The newly recorded cases were all local infections, the country's health ministry said.

Of the new cases, 2,343 were from Antigen Rapid Test (ART) test results uploaded to the health ministry's portal, whereas 942 were from 5,258 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory tests performed in the past 24 hours.

The ministry said earlier that the country is going through the third wave of COVID-19 and the number of cases is expected to increase beyond the total reported during the second wave, with the Omicron variant replacing the Delta variant as the dominant variant.

As of Feb. 22, 52.9 percent of Brunei's population have received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, while more than 94 percent of Brunei's population have received one dose and two doses, respectively.

The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, China's Sinopharm are administered in Brunei.

Currently, 21,504 active cases are being treated and monitored in Brunei, where 22,718 recoveries from COVID-19 have been reported. 

People join a parade during Brunei's National Day celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

People join a parade during Brunei's National Day celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

People join a parade during Brunei's National Day celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

People wave national flags during Brunei's National Day celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

Cyclists join a parade during Brunei's National Day celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

People join a parade during Brunei's National Day celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

People join a parade during Brunei's National Day celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah waves to participants of the country's National Day celebrations in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)
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BBC Sport 28 Feb 2022

Flanker Rory Darge has emerged as beacon of hope for Scotland after a stuttering start to their Six Nations campaign.
GlobeNewswire 29 Apr 2022

Paysenger is preparing to release the EGO token, which shall also function as the official native token. In related news, the..
Many in the Black business community have experienced difficulties accessing funding from banks and overcoming the impacts of systemic racism. The problem has gained more attention in recent years, but progress on finding solutions isn't happening quickly enough for many entrepreneurs. A summit Thursday aims to change that.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union is planning the strongest, the harshest package of sanctions it has ever considered at an emergency summit Thursday as the Russian military attacked Ukraine and world leaders reacted with outrage at Moscow's actions.



European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the target is the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order, and we will hold President (Vladimir) Putin accountable for that.



We will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions to European leaders for approval, she said.



EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it the strongest, the harshest package ever considered.



A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue, Borrell said. This is not only the greatest violation of international law, its a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence. Its costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.



Von der Leyen said the massive and targeted sanctions she will put to EU leaders will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia.



She said the sanctions, if approved, will weaken Russias economic base and its capacity to modernize. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial financial markets.



Like the first package of sanctions that were imposed when Russia recognized the two breakaway eastern Ukrainian republics, von der Leyen said all Western powers were walking in lockstep.



We are...
The UN Security Council is meeting to discuss the crisis in Ukraine after Russian lawmakers approved the use of force outside the country's borders. Ukraine has declared a state of emergency. Follow DW for more.
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Boris Johnson has accused Vladimir Putin of choosing "a path of bloodshed and destruction" with his attack on Ukraine and says that the UK and its allies would respond "decisively".
BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) Wednesday urged procuratorates across the country to have zero tolerance for sexual assault against minors and increase assistance for juvenile victims.

The top procuratorate said it would coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and other authorities to intensify the crackdown on sexual assault against minors and strengthen the prevention of such crimes.

China's procuratorial organs have been facilitating schools to set up mechanisms of criminal background checks for job candidates and preventing sexual assault, sexual harassment, and bullying on campus, said Na Yanfang, a prosecutor with the SPP.

More than 39,000 prosecutors worked as vice-principles in charge of law issues at over 77,000 schools across the country in 2021, said Na.

In 2021, procuratorial organs nationwide approved the arrest of around 46,000 persons for the suspected crime of assault on minors and handled 10,719 judicial assistance cases for juveniles, Na said. 
Ukraine envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya has called upon the UN to do everything possible to stop conflict in his country.
Rumble 07 Apr 2022

Ukraine will keep up demands on the West for an oil and gas embargo on Russia after its invasion of the country, the Ukrainian..
Long lines of cars jammed the road leading outside Kyiv and residents massed at the railway station as Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday.
euronews (in English) 30 Apr 2022

Vadim Ghirda is a Romanian photographer behind some of the most recognisable and powerful images from Russia's invasion of Ukraine...
The Economist 07 Mar 2022

Vladimir Putins war against Ukraine is devastating the country and its people. How far will he go? Our experts discuss the..
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rolled back the emergencies act invoked over trucker-led COVID-19 protests in Canada. He said the "threat continues" but is not "acute."
Swiss authorities handed over a German lawyer accused of scamming German and European governments in one of Germany's biggest tax fraud scams in recent memory. The elaborate scheme cost treasuries 55 billion.
More than 1,700 anti-war protesters have been arrested across 54 cities in Russia  as scores of demonstrators voice their fury over Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.
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The Indian Embassy on Thursday issued a third travel advisory to Indian nationals/students, amid the ongoing military operations of Russia in Ukraine. The mission asked Indians to be aware of the surroundings, be safe, do not leave homes unless necessary and stress on carrying their documents at all times.
Medical staff perform a surgery at an operating room in Tripoli, Libya, Feb. 22, 2022. A British medical team has started performing heart surgeries in the Libyan capital Tripoli for children, a local medical official said on Tuesday. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua)

TRIPOLI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A British medical team has started performing heart surgeries in the Libyan capital Tripoli for children, a local medical official said on Tuesday.

"The Muntada Aid UK arrived in Tripoli (on Saturday) to perform cardiac catheterization surgeries for children," Abdurraoof Fares, director of the National Center for Cardiac Diseases, told Xinhua.

According to the Ministry of Health, the center has signed an agreement in 2018 with Muntada Aid UK, under which the organization will provide pediatric cardiology training for the center's medical staff.

"The medical team, consisting of six surgeons, specialists and technicians, will perform 50 surgeries over seven days," the ministry said.

Due to years of armed conflict and insecurity, Libyan authorities have been struggling to provide proper basic services, mainly healthcare and education, for the people. 

Medical staff perform a surgery at an operating room in Tripoli, Libya, Feb. 22, 2022. A British medical team has started performing heart surgeries in the Libyan capital Tripoli for children, a local medical official said on Tuesday. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. Sources said Modi is also likely to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
India will have to grapple with the renewed threat of US sanctions for weapon purchases from Russia as well as a more belligerent China along its northern borders as a fallout of the Ukraine crisis. Given its own strategic compulsions, India has so far walked the diplomatic tightrope between the US and Russia. But India will now come under tremendous pressure from the US and its European allies to strongly oppose Russias invasion of Ukraine, a senior defence official said on Thursday.
Explosions also rocked the breakaway eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk and civilian aircraft were warned away as the United States said a major attack by Russia on its neighbor was imminent.
The Newcastle Magistrate's Court fined the school last week. The supervisors checked the weather report before setting off but ignored a warning against climbing past the snow line, the court found.
Opinion: Yael Eckstein describes the "miracle" of a flight holding new immigrants from Ukraine landing in Israel just days before the war began.
TV regulator Ofcom has been encouraged to review Russia Today's ability to broadcast in the UK after the channel was accused of being Vladimir Putin's "personal propaganda tool".
Trump and his allies are working overtime to try to persuade Americans that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is really Biden's fault.
The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting at the request of Ukraine, which says there is an immediate threat of a Russian invasion.
The Welsh government's plan is to move away from an emergency response to the pandemic.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said his country is considering sanctions against 300 members of the Russian Parliament over the attack on Ukraine.
The Ministry of Health of Ecuador and the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech have signed a letter of agreement in Quito on Wednesday to build a vaccine manufacturing in Ecuador.

According to the data from the health ministry, more than 13.51 million people in Ecuador have been vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, accounting for approximately 84 percent of the country's targeted population.





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Ukrainians living in the UK are worried about their families in Ukraine, with one man saying that his mum was left shaking for a few hours because of Russias attack on the country.
Here are the top stories for Wednesday, Feb. 23rd: Russia ratcheting up pressure against Ukraine; Police officer in Breonna Taylor raid goes on trial; UK residents face aftermath of flooding; Duchess of Cambridge continues visit to Denmark.


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In contrast, countries including Japan and South Korea have urged their citizens to evacuate Ukraine or be ready to leave the country.
Video:Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on Feb. 23, 2022 called on all parties involved in Ukraine issue to exercise restraint. (Xinhua)

"China's position on safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states has been consistent. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld," says Zhang Jun.

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on all parties involved in Ukraine issue to exercise restraint.

"In the current context, all parties concerned should exercise restraint, and avoid taking any action that may aggravate tensions," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the plenary meeting of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine.

"China has been paying attention to the evolving situation in Ukraine. China's position on safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states has been consistent. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld," the ambassador stressed.

Zhang pointed out that at the same time, "we note that the issue of Ukraine is rooted in a complex web of historical and present factors. An interplay of those factors has driven the situation to this point. In the current context, all parties concerned should exercise restraint, and avoid taking any action that may aggravate tensions."

"China calls on all parties to recognize the importance of implementing the principle of indivisible security, to continue to engage in dialogue and consultation, and to seek reasonable solutions that address each other's concerns through peaceful means on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We welcome and encourage all efforts aimed at facilitating a diplomatic solution," said the ambassador. 
By recognising the breakaway territories in Eastern Ukraine as "independent republics ", Russia walked away from the Minsk agreements to which it was a signatory and approved by the Security Council of the United Nations, breaching international law, writes the German ambassador to South Africa, Andreas Peschke.
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President Biden announced more sanctions on Russia's military and economy over its invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions have become a favored tool in presidents' arsenals, but they don't always work.
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BERLIN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China remained the most important customer of Germany's automotive industry in 2021, the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said on Thursday.

Germany's exports of passenger cars to China increased by 14 percent year-on-year to 16.7 billion euros (18.7 billion U.S. dollars) last year, according to Destatis.

German car exports to the United States recovered to 15.9 billion euros in 2021 while exports to Britain, the industry's third-largest export country, fell by 17 percent to 9.4 billion euros.

After being affected by "severe COVID-19-restrictions" in 2020, German car exports increased slightly to 117.6 billion euros last year but were still 8.2 percent below pre-crisis levels in 2019, according to Destatis.

Besides the global pandemic, "the lack of chips and other delivery bottlenecks affected the German automotive industry in 2021," Destatis said.

While exports of cars with traditional internal combustion engines declined, Germany witnessed strong increases in exports of all-electric vehicles and hybrid passenger cars. Germany exported around 300,000 pure electric vehicles worth 12.6 billion euros in 2021, according to Destatis.

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) expects the global passenger car market to grow by 4 percent in 2022. The United States and China would grow by 2 percent, while the European market was forecasted to grow by 5 percent due to catch-up effects. (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars) 
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.
MANISTEE  The Manistee Recreation Association Board of Directors appointed Mitchell Deisch as the association's interim executive director, according to a press release from the organization.

Kenny Kott, association board chair, said in a news release that the previous executive director resigned in December and the board felt the time was right to examine the need for various executive upgrades to the MRA."

"The main areas of focus are completing a comprehensive strategic plan with key stakeholders, reviewing current staff salaries to ensure we remain competitive in the Manistee job market, working toward enhancing overall revenue streams, expanding collaborative efforts with other key local agencies and working to increase public awareness of MRA programming efforts," Kott said in the release. "We are very pleased that Mitch was willing to step up to help out the MRA through this transition period."

According to the news release, Deisch has "over 32-plus years in local government administration and management."

In August Deisch retired from his role as the Benzie County administrator, the release states. Deisch had served as the Manistee city manager from 2001-2015 and assistant city manager in Grand Haven from 1996-2001, the release said.

Deisch earned a bachelors and master degree in public administration from Central Michigan University.

Dursa Marshall, association board member, said in the news release that Mitch has served on the MRA Board for over 20 years and has great familiarity with the greater Manistee area."

"The MRA Board believes that Mitch has the required skills to address these administrative upgrades over the next 5-6 months and we look forward to working with him during the interim time frame to make these required upgrades," Marshall said. "These upgrades will ensure the next full-time executive director will have long-term success."

During the meeting where Deisch was appointed, Kenny Kott was named chair and Matt Kieffer was named vice-chair of the board.

At a Feb. 1 Manistee City Council meeting, Erica Carter who works with the MRA, said they were having problems attracting a new director because of pay. The position for director of MRA only pays $15 an hour, Carter said.
Screenshot provided/StrongHearts

MANISTEE COUNTY  The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is joining a domestic and sexual violence advocacy services project ongoing in Michigan.



According to a news release from StrongHearts Native Helpline, it started a pilot project in 2021 to expand its existing domestic and sexual violence advocacy services to support tribal programs and their contacts in that state.



The project is a partnership with the Division of Victim Services at Michigans Department of Health and Human Services, which is also providing the funding.

A well recognized issue throughout tribal domestic violence advocacy and shelter work is that many tribal programs are small with limited staff. Their advocates may need to carry pagers or cell phones at all times in order to respond to victims, resulting in overtime and additional stress, reads the release in part. Sometimes, advocates are unable to respond and victims calling after hours are simply advised to call back during office hours, which can create a safety issue for them. This project will give Native American victim-survivors in Michigan access to culturally-appropriate advocacy 24/7 even if they call their local tribal program after regular operating hours.
Congressmen John Moolenaar and Dan Kildee and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow addressed Russia's attack and invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

Moolenaar announced his support Thursday for the NYET Act, which would impose severe sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin's government. It would sanction Russian financial banks, businesses and Russias Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

In addition, the bill would ban the sale of U.S. made semiconductors to Russia and support weapons financing for Ukraine so it can buy additional arms to defend itself. Finally, the legislation would specifically boost funding for the State Departments efforts to counter Russian propaganda in eastern Europe.

"We must impose severe sanctions on Russia as soon as possible, and the NYET Act will make that happen. I am supporting this legislation because it is a smart, targeted approach that will hurt Russian financial institutions and the powerful people who prop up Vladimir Putins government, said Moolenaar. It will also block U.S. exports of semiconductor chips to Russia. We need those chips here to support our economy and manufacturing. Finally, there are more than 39,000 Ukrainian-Americans in Michigan, and I am praying for them and their families. Putins invasion will cause massive destruction and endanger their loved ones. I stand ready to work across the aisle in Congress to pass sanctions on Russia and support Ukraine diplomatically during this dark hour.

More information on the Never Yielding Europe's Territories (NYET) Act can be found here.

Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, Kildee, said America stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who are the victims of this unprovoked attack.

"Russias declaration of war on Ukraine, an independent and democratic nation, threatens peace and stability in Europe and around the globe," the press release reads. "Working with President Biden, Congress must immediately pass crippling and sustained sanctions to punish Russia for its actions. There must be severe consequences for Vladimir Putin and the Russian government for its illegal invasion of a sovereign country."

He also said that, working with the European Union and our allies, the United States must work to strengthen NATO to deter and defend against further Russian aggression.

"The world must stand together and react swiftly to hold Russia accountable, Kildee continues in the Thursday release.

Moolenaar also made the following statement Monday about Russias attack on Ukraine:

Vladimir Putin is attacking Ukraine to oppress the free people who live there and to take their country from them. The consequences for this invasion must be swift and I stand ready to support harsh sanctions on Putin and his officials for this attack. The Biden Administration must not be weak and it must act with determined resolve to enforce sanctions. Finally, it must do everything it can to get every American citizen out of harms way as quickly as possible.

Stabenow, one of Michigan's two U.S. senators, issued a statement on Thursday condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

I share the horror of the many Ukrainian-Americans in Michigan of this brutal, unprovoked, and unjustified attack by President Putin on the people of Ukraine. America will stand strong with all of our allies to do everything we can to protect their freedom and independence and save lives," Stabenow said.
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Congressman John Moolenaar and U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters addressed Russia's attack and invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

Moolenaar announced his support Thursday for the NYET Act, which would impose severe sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin's government. It would sanction Russian financial banks, businesses and Russias Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

In addition, the bill would ban the sale of U.S. made semiconductors to Russia and support weapons financing for Ukraine so it can buy additional arms to defend itself. Finally, the legislation would specifically boost funding for the State Departments efforts to counter Russian propaganda in eastern Europe.

"We must impose severe sanctions on Russia as soon as possible, and the NYET Act will make that happen. I am supporting this legislation because it is a smart, targeted approach that will hurt Russian financial institutions and the powerful people who prop up Vladimir Putins government, said Moolenaar. It will also block U.S. exports of semiconductor chips to Russia. We need those chips here to support our economy and manufacturing.

"Finally, there are more than 39,000 Ukrainian-Americans in Michigan, and I am praying for them and their families. Putins invasion will cause massive destruction and endanger their loved ones. I stand ready to work across the aisle in Congress to pass sanctions on Russia and support Ukraine diplomatically during this dark hour.

More information on the Never Yielding Europe's Territories (NYET) Act can be found here.

Michigan's two U.S. senators also issued statements Thursday, condemning Russia and calling for sanctions, as well as supporting the Ukrainian people.

Sen. Gary Peters called the invasion "an appalling and illegal assault on a sovereign nation and democracy itself."

"This is a dark and dangerous moment," he said. "The U.S. and our European allies must send Putin an unmistakable message by swiftly enacting crippling sanctions to hold Russia accountable."

Sen. Debbie Stabenow echoed support for the Ukrainian people.

I share the horror of the many Ukrainian-Americans in Michigan of this brutal, unprovoked, and unjustified attack by President Putin on the people of Ukraine. America will stand strong with all of our allies to do everything we can to protect their freedom and independence and save lives," she said.

After President Joe Biden announced he was authorizing additional sanctions and limitations for Russia, she tweeted her support.

"President Putin must face severe consequences," she tweeted.
CHENGDU, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Song Liang, former vice governor of northwest China's Gansu Province, stood trial for bribery on Thursday at the Intermediate People's Court of Leshan City in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Song took advantage of his positions to help others with starting small-loan businesses, obtaining loans and opening rural banks during the period from 2003 to 2020, said the indictment.

In return, Song accepted, directly or indirectly, money and gifts worth more than 79.68 million yuan (about 12.59 million U.S. dollars).

Prosecutors presented evidence that was, in turn, examined by the defendant and his lawyers. Each side gave its own complete account of events.

In his closing statement, Song pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.

The trial was attended by more than 50 people, including lawmakers, political advisors and members of the public.

The verdict will be announced at a later date. 
After six years of leadership, expanding horizons and shifting perspectives at the Midland Center for the Arts, Terri Trotter is returning to her longtime home of Arkansas. Trotter will remain the Center for the Arts president and CEO until March 1 before taking leadership of the Jones Trust, an organization dedicated to strengthening communities in Northwest Arkansas.

Trotters favorite aspect of working at the Center for the Arts has been the opportunity to engage with the community in varied areas including art, science and history. For her, the Center for the Arts has set a standard of how a community can come together and enjoy different aspects of creativity.

This is definitely the high point of my career to date, Trotter stated. Ive been able to learn so much and learn with our team about how you can really think about arts and culture very broadly to bring people in and to build community and grow relationships. Its been a great opportunity.

Leaving a lasting legacy

When Trotter first began her work at the Center for the Arts, her main goals included maximizing its resources and furthering its dedication to the community. She explained how she was able to bring in an outside perspective, as she saw the Center for the Arts as a great asset and recognized the opportunity to share it with broader areas of the community.

Terri has brought a real uplifting and transformative vision and has helped us to really reimagine and redefine the Center and the impact we can have, not just in our community and the Great Lakes Bay Region, but across the state, said Lisa Ungerleider, chairwoman of the MCFTA's board of directors.

Among her many accomplishments at the Center for the Arts, Trotter increased its audience. Ungerleider reported that audience attendance increased 40% during Trotters first three seasons and revenue increased 60%.

Thats relatively unheard of, in that short amount of time, to see a performing arts center elicit such a positive response from its audience base, Ungerleider said.

Trotter looked at the programming that the Center for the Arts was hosting and saw opportunities for it to grow. She introduced the Windows on the World Series, bringing performing artists from around the world to the Midland stage.

In 2016, she brought in the MCFTA's first Broadway touring company, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, which opened its 2016 tour in Midland. The Center for the Arts sold out four shows and the following year began its Broadway and Beyond series, bringing touring companies to Midland.

That really helped propel us into the market and got people in the Broadway industry saying, Why arent we in Midland? Weve been doing the Broadway series ever since, Trotter said.

Even in the midst of the pandemic and the dam failures of 2020, which caused the MCFTA to temporarily close its doors, Trotter and the executive leadership team shifted their perspective and found ways to continue to engage with the community. Some of their measures, including outdoor events and repurposing the front lobby into the Pendulum Lounge, continue to this day. Meanwhile, work continues to mitigate potential flood issues and reimagine the spaces within the building.

I cant speak more highly of the effort that Terri, her team and the whole staff have made, Ungerleider said, calling their work a gargantuan effort.

The search for a successor

As soon as Trotter in November announced her plans to step down as president and CEO, the MCFTA got to work finding her successor. The board enlisted the help of Chicago-based executive search firm Koya Partners. By the start of the year, Koya reached out to MCFTA stakeholders to get their input about what a successful leader would look like and compiled a position profile. The profile has been active on job search sites for the past month. Ungerleider reported that the MCFTA is looking at an initial batch of candidates and expects it will take another couple of months to get to the final round of interviews.

Were in a full steam ahead moment, Ungerleider stated. We have nothing but optimism about the future. We have incredible gratitude for the uplifting and transformative legacy Terri leaves behind. Shes left us with the ability to see ourselves as an organization that gets to define without limits.

I am truly honored to be leading the search committee for the next president and CEO at Midland Center for the Arts, an individual that will be a dynamic and innovative leader for the critical cultural destination in our region stated Mark Flegenheimer, CEO at Michigan Sugar and Midland Center board member. We have retained Koya Partners as the executive search firm to candidates that can continue our trajectory of growth in the years ahead. We are very enthusiastic about the conversations that Koya Partners have already had, and we look forward to begin speaking with candidates very soon.

Ungerleider said the Center for the Arts is looking for a president and CEO who has a strong background in leadership, is able and willing to continue to curate and lead the executive leadership team, and has experience in the arena of arts and culture.

The Center for the Arts is truly a unicorn in the arts and culture space. There are very few organizations of our depth and breadth that do what we do, Ungerleider said.

Until Trotter's successor is chosen, the MCFTA will be led in tandem by Jon Loos, chief operating officer and vice president of operations and guest experience at the MCFTA; and Diane Wilcox, vice president of communications and development at the MCFTA.

I dont think we could ask for two more talented, dedicated, committed professionals to steer the ship while were searching for our next president and CEO, Ungerleider said.

Looking to the future

As the MCFTA looks back on Trotters accomplishments and looks for a qualified successor, Ungerleider believes the organization is at a jumping off point. Thanks to Trotter and the executive team turning roadblocks from the flood and pandemic into building blocks  finding new ways to engage and entertain the community  Ungerleider sees an opportunity for the facility to maximize its impact.

I feel really fortunate to have a really good view of everything thats gone in, Ungerleider said.

Trotter is excited for the next president and CEO and hopes they will continue the opportunities available at the MCFTA.

I have great, great hopes for the person who steps in. I think this is one of the most dynamic organizations out there. Its on the leading edge of so many things, Trotter stated.
Director of Content and Operations

Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half.
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Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Armed gangs in South Sudan have attacked and looted food warehouses, leaving dozens of thousand civilians depending on humanitarian assistance vulnerable, a western humanitarian organization said in a press release received by PANA here Thursday
BAGHDAD, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Five militants of the extremist group Islamic State (IS) were killed in airstrikes in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk on Wednesday, the Iraqi military said.

Iraqi security forces conducted airstrikes on two IS hideouts after a force from the Counter-Terrorism Service spotted them in the al-Dibis area in northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the spokesperson of the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces said in a statement.

The early morning airstrikes killed five IS militants, including two of its local leaders, and destroyed their hideouts, said the statement.

Over the past few months, Iraqi security forces have carried out deadly attacks against IS militants in response to their intensified activities.

The security situation in Iraq has improved after Iraqi forces defeated the IS in 2017. Yet IS remnants have since sneaked into urban centers, deserts and rugged areas, launching frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. 
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan High Council of State on Thursday voted by a majority of the members present, to reject the 12th amendment of the Constitutional Declaration and the change of government
FedEx Express has launched direct services in Egypt to meet the growing demand for international air freight services in the country.

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The companys services are provided in all provinces in Egypt and are accessible through any of the 51 parcel delivery sites across the country. FedEx Express expects its direct presence in Egypt to help local companies and customers from different sectors facilitate business operations, providing international coverage to and from approximately 220 different countries and regions.

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The companys existing subsidiary, Egypt Express, will continue to provide local infrastructure for ground delivery services, including at Egypts newly opened 13,000m2 cargo center within Cairo International Airport.

In 2021, Egypts exports rose to US$31bn while its GDP reached nearly US$406bn. The country also benefits from its strategic location in Africa and its proximity to the Middle East.

Jack Muhs, regional president at FedEx Express for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa, said, We are now closer to our customers than ever before, providing direct communication with a dedicated FedEx support team, a vast range of international services, and advanced digital solutions to meet the demands of our customers around the world. This strategic expansion in Egypt will help local companies reach more markets and a larger segment of new customers around the world, thereby supporting the sustainable development goals within the Egyptian States Vision 2030 to diversify the national economy.

Thanks to positive developments in Egypts logistics sector, many companies have announced their intention to move or expand their production lines within Egypt, providing many business opportunities for shipping companies such as FedEx. FedEx will continue to work closely with Egypt Express, which will provide pick-up, delivery and customs clearance procedures across the republic. We are proud to see FedEx expand its presence in Egypt. This expansion is a testament to the tremendous impact that Egypt Express has had in providing FedExs international services in the country since 1998.
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

A dog missing for more than a decade was finally reunited with her owner with the help of a dog microchip. The police found the dog at a rural property. Despite being listed as deceased by the dog's microchip company, the tiny tracker led the dog to its owner.

In a Facebook post, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said they received a call on February 10 about a stray dog that looked "old and unwell."

The officers found a microchip, and when they scanned it, the authorities learned that the dog's name was Zoey. She was reported missing in Lafayette, California, 12 years ago, USA Today reported.

After Zoey remained lost for more than a decade, the microchip company assumed she had died and listed her as "deceased" in their records.

The police contacted her owner, who kept the same number despite moving to another city. And she was soon reunited with her long-lost dog.

The owner said that she found Zoey and her twin sister at a pound when the dogs were just six months old. The owner also said that Zoey stayed with them for about six months. One day, the owner said she went to a store for 20 minutes and when she came back, Zoey was missing. They have not heard or seen Zoey since.

The owner said she was in shock, as she did not expect this to happen, but she was also excited. She hopes that they can get Zoey's health back and let her enjoy the rest of her life.

The importance of microchipping

The story of Zoey underlines the importance of microchipping pets. For Ruth MacPete, a veterinarian, collars and ID tags are not foolproof, and dogs and cats could lose them. They tend to break off, leaving a pet lost among countless unidentified stray animals at animal shelters.

According to the American Humane Association, one out of three pets gets lost at some point in their life, while nearly ten million pets are lost or stolen every year. Studies reveal that only 25 percent of these pets are returned to owners, while 80 percent are lost. The group also says that 56 percent of dogs, and 71 percent of cats that are lodged in animal shelters are euthanized, all because these animals have no owner identification.

Microchips increase the chances that owners will be able to find their dogs. It utilizes implantable computer chips with a unique identification number to help owners reunite with their lost pets. Pet Health Network reports that its size is more significant than a grain of rice and is placed under the pet's skin with a needle and syringe. It works by receiving a radio signal from a scanner and transmits the encoded chip identification number back to the scanner.

Read Also: Child Treated for Heart Defect Now Works as a Nurse at Same Hospital Where She Got Treatment

A study in 2009 also indicated that pets with microchips are more likely to be returned home than those without them. However, keeping the owner's information updated and providing multiple emergency contacts when microchipping is essential.

What does the law say about microchipping?

According to Richard Walther, a veterinarian at Sacramento, only nine states require animal pounds, animal shelters, or animal control to scan for microchips. If a pet is found, it will be scanned and identified, and pet owners will be contacted and notified for a reunion.

However, if authorities cannot reach the pet owner, the pet may be offered for adoption or euthanized. Zoey was fortunate to have a functional microchip and a welcoming owner.

Related Article: Dog Returns to Couple After Being Lost for More Than a Month With Help of Entire Village
Photo: (Photo : Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

A remarkable replica of a "Bluey" house on Airbnb has drawn a crowd of excited kids and parents who may enjoy a dream vacation and live the experience similar to the characters in the popular children's series.

The "Bluey" house is based in Paddington in Brisbane, Australia, and has become quite the local attraction. Reports cited that this is a promotional partnership between the rental platform and BBC Studios.

The terms of the rental open the home to a family of four Australians, whose children could sleep in a bedroom exactly like Bluey and Bingo's from the show. The short stay also includes family activities in the backyard, a free dinner, and a visit to Ludo Studio, where the actual cartoon series is made.

Read Also: 'Baby Shark' and 'Blue's Clues' Are Getting Movie Treatments, to be Released in 2023

Kids Drag Their Parents to See the "Bluey" House

While not everyone could book their dream vacation in the "Bluey" house on Airbnb due to time and budget constraints, local families in the city have been packing their kids in the car and driving to the street to visit the now-famous landmark. Traffic controllers had to be stationed in the neighborhood as the site has had a lot of visitors for weeks.

"It's been really quite magical," Mike Hillburger, whose house is two doors away from the "Bluey" house, told ABC News. "Just seeing all the kids - the enthusiasm as they drag their parents up the street."

Hillburger said that renovations on the property started more than a month before the site opened on Airbnb. There were rumors that it would be used as a filming location for a George Clooney movie, but Hillburger said they finally figured out what it was after the rebuild was completed.

Daley Peterson, who works in the series in Brisbane, said that this was a project in conception for more than a year. However, the "Bluey" house will soon be restored to its basic Queenslander look after the promotions are done. Susan Wheeldon of Airbnb said they would donate the props inside the home to a local children's hospital or give some pieces to young lucky fans.

On a quiet, leafy street in the heart of Brisbane, something magical has happened... the Heeler home from Blueys wonderful world has been recreated  for real life  and is now listed on @Airbnb! 



 https://t.co/XUQemQAMuC



 by Hannah Puechmarin pic.twitter.com/rsAegOLZTy  Official Bluey TV (@OfficialBlueyTV) February 7, 2022

Is "Bluey" in the U.S.?

There is no "Bluey" house in America, but the series has quite a following on Disney+, where it is streamed one season late than the Australian broadcast. Some American kids could also buy "Bluey" toys at large rail stores. The toy collection comes with different ranges and themes released per season.

"Bluey" is also airing in Mexico, Canada, and the U.K. The series launched in 2018 and has clicked with families, especially the parents, because while it's geared for kids, its stories are relatable to adults on many levels. Some of the episodes on "Bluey" touch on real subjects like miscarriage, vasectomy, or death.

Related Article: Bluey: Parent Lays Down Theory That Popular Cartoon Might Be a Rainbow Baby
Photo: (Photo : Omar Marques/Getty Images)

As the threat of a potential Ukraine invasion looms amid increasing tensions with Russia, Ukrainian parents are putting stickers bearing the blood type of their children in their school uniforms in case they are attacked.

Olga Tokariuk, a local journalist, informed Today that many parents are discussing and debating the Ukraine invasion and the stickers with their children's blood type in social media groups in case they will need blood transfusion following an attack. Some schools insisted it's a requirement. Establishments have also started conducting emergency drills with the children in case the situation turns for the worst.

Parents Vasyl and Marta (not their real names) confirmed that their 9-year-old daughter has a sticker among her things. Aside from her blood type, they also included contact numbers and their names.

Mom Khrystyna (not her real name) said she has just learned about the stickers and has yet to prepare this for her 13-year-old daughter. She had a "very deep talk" with her daughter, who still goes to school, about the situation with Russia. However, Khrystyna has not allowed her two younger kids in kindergarten and preschool to go out anymore.

Read Also: Demoralizing Graffiti in Many Seattle Neighborhoods Upset Parents

An Old War with Russia

Ukraine and Russia, once part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), have been at odds for more than eight years. The USSR collapsed in the early 1990s, and Ukraine joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with other European and North American countries. Putin, however, saw NATO as a threat and has insisted that Ukraine is still part of Russia.

In the last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin has increased its military presence around the Ukraine borders. In recent weeks, diplomatic efforts to curb the tension have not drawn positive results, prompting international leaders, especially in the United States, to assess that a Ukraine invasion will soon follow.

What prompted the panic among parents and the schools was Putin's acknowledgment on Monday, February 21, of the Ukrainian separatist groups, Donetsk and Luhansk. He also ordered Russian troops to deploy in the eastern regions close to these groups. Tokariuk said this acknowledgment was taken as a declaration of war against Ukraine despite Putin's denial of a Ukraine invasion.

If you want to know how Ukrainians react to Putin's speech, here's a glimpse: moms on Facebook discuss putting stickers on their children's clothes, when they go to school, indicating their blood type. Make no mistake: this speech was perceived as a declaration of war on Ukraine  Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) February 21, 2022

Surrogate Babies at Risk, Too

Meanwhile, parents from across the world who have surrogacy arrangements with Ukrainian women also fear for the safety of their surrogate babies.

In Ireland, efforts to arrange for their safe travel out of Ukraine have been set in place with different surrogacy groups and the Department of Foreign Affairs. For years, Irish couples have sought surrogates in Ukraine's private clinics, and about a dozen are due before May 2022.

It usually takes a month for surrogate births to be registered and for the surrogate babies to be granted travel documents. However, some travel arrangements were expedited so that the babies and their families could fly home safely to Ireland before the Ukraine invasion.

Related Article: Surrogate Mom Carole Horlock Gave Away Baby Who Turned Out To Be Her Own Son
Photo: (Photo : JASPER JACOBS/AFP via Getty Images)

Women above the age of 35 could raise their risks of pregnancy complications and heart issues if they are using assisted reproductive technology, also known as infertility treatments, to have kids.

A new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that women who have had infertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), develop more pre-existing conditions tied to diabetes and heart disease, or high blood pressure. They also develop an increased risk for complications once they are pregnant, such as delivering small babies or preterm babies or undergoing a C-section instead of natural birth.

Aside from their advancing maternal age, millions of women who use infertility treatments are also more than likely obese when they started IVF or IUI. Thus, they have more health risks and could require a cesarean delivery.

Read Also: Mom Allergic to Her Second Baby, Diagnosed With Rare Autoimmune Disorder Pemphigoid Gestationis

Over 106,000 Births Examined

To arrive at their assumptions, the experts, led by Dr. Pensee Wu of the Keele University School of Medicine in the U.K., looked into the data of 106,000 births under assisted reproductive technology. They compared the data to 34 million births without the help of infertility treatments. The data covered eight years from 2008 to 2016.

The experts tried to determine if the women's advancing maternal age or the infertility treatments raised the risks of pregnancy complications or heart issues. The results of their findings reinforced a prevailing knowledge that women of a certain age, who are undergoing infertility treatments, could double their risks of developing the concerning health issues.

On the other hand, infertility expert Dr. Sigal Klipstein, who is not part of the study, said that she's not surprised by the findings. Years of treating patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common infertility issue among women, has seen the doctor encountering cases of women with PCOS who have lifetime cardiovascular disease risks as well. She also said that women with infertility issues are seven times more likely to experience a heart attack.

Pre-Natal Interventions Necessary

Wu said, however, that their study's findings are not meant to scare older women into getting infertility treatments to have a baby. Instead, Wu said that this is an important reminder for doctors to properly counsel and guide their patients during the pregnancy.

This might mean more health interventions and a close watch over the mom and the baby in her womb. The experts also said that moms under infertility treatments should be able to discuss how to optimize their health, especially before and during the pregnancy, with their doctors.

Klipstein agrees with Wu that aging women who want to get pregnant with the help of infertility treatments should first address the risk factors. Some of the things they can do to lower their chances of having heart disease during pregnancy include losing weight and managing their cholesterol and high blood pressure. Klipstein said that this advice should also cover women who do not have infertility problems as it's important to be at their healthiest before getting pregnant.

Related Article: In Vitro Fertilization Success Rate Explained: Does IVF Really Give False Hope to Parents?
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MORLEY SAFER:

The Burning of Cam Ne

I had a jeep in Da Nang, and the afternoon before, I went out and did a little tour of some of the marine corps units to find out what was happening, to see if anybody was going on operations the next day, because the operations usually began very early in the morning, four-thirty, five o'clock. I came to this unit and they said, "Yes, we're going on a search-and-destroy in the morning. You want to come along? Please come along." We went out in a bunch of APCs [armored personnel carriers] and some amphibious vehicles, because it was down the river and then through some pretty high-water rice paddies. I talked to a captain, trying to get some idea what the operation was about. And he said, "We've had orders to take out this complex of villages called Cam Ne." I'd never heard anything like that. I'd heard of search-and-destroy operations; I'd seen places ravaged by artillery or by air strikes. But this was just a ground strike going in. He said to "take out" this complex of villages. And I thought perhaps he's exaggerating. It was paddy land but not such high water. The troops walked abreast toward this village and started firing. They said that there was some incoming fire. I didn't witness it, but it was a fairly large front, so it could have happened down the line. There were two guys wounded in our group, both in the ass, so that meant it was "friendly fire." They moved into the village and they systematically began torching every house  every house as far as I could see, getting people out in some cases, using flame throwers in others. No Vietnamese speakers, by the way, were among the group with the flame thrower. The trooper with the flame thrower was ordered to zap a particular house, and our cameraman, who's Vietnamese  Ha Thuc Can, this wonderful man  put his camera down and said, "Don't do it! Don't do it!" And he walked to the house and then I went with him, and a sergeant came on up. We heard people crying. Now, every Vietnamese house had a shelter of some kind. Often it was an underground dugout to store rice. There was a family down there, probably six people, including a practically newborn baby. They were frightened stiff. I coaxed; they didn't want to come out. Ha Thuc Can spoke softly to them, and he coaxed them out. The house was torched, as every house along the way was torched, either by flame throwers, matches, or cigarette lighters  Zippos. Those guys, by the way, called themselves "the Zippo Brigade" after that picture was published. I ultimately got back to Da Nang, tried to file the story, and just managed to get the telex through. It took another day and a half or two days for the film to get back. Harry Reasoner was doing the news that night, and he read my telex. Of course, the Marine Corps, on the basis of the reading of that telex, went into Red Alert, denying everything, saying that a couple of the houses were burned by collateral damage from artillery or something. It was just blatant bullshit, and that's an example of what really drove me crazy in Vietnam. I mean, if you're going to lie, tell a good one, I mean, please. Cam Ne was a shock, I think. It's hard for me to know exactly, because I was thirteen thousand miles away, with really lousy communication, so I only got the reverberation of the shock. I think [viewers] saw American troops acting in a way people had never seen American troops act before, and couldn't imagine. Those people were raised on World War II, in which virtually everything we saw was heroic. And so much of it, indeed, was. And there was plenty in Vietnam, too, that was heroic. But this conjured up not America, but some brutal power  Germany, even, in World War II. To see young G.I.s, big guys in flak jackets, lighting up thatched roofs, and women holding babies running away, wailing  this was a new sight to everyone, including the military, I suspect. Which is perhaps one reason why there was such immediate denial. And the denials themselves were absurd. [Officials claimed] I had gone on a practice operation in a model village  a village the Marines had built to train guys how to move into a village. Or the whole thing was a kind of "Potemkin" story that I had concocted. There are still people who believe that. I was getting the reverberations from a distance. Subsequently, I heard that President Johnson called Frank Stanton, who was then the president of CBS, and whom he knew quite well. He called Stanton the following morning, very early, and Stanton hadn't seen the broadcast the night before. As I understand it, the president said, "Frank?" "Yeah, who is this?" He said, "This is your president." "Yes, Mr. President?" "You know what you did to me last night?" "What did I do, sir?" "You shat on the American flag." It was the end of a certain kind of innocence among the public, really. I mean, soldiers aren't innocent. For the most part, I think American armies are awfully good in the business of protecting civilians, of not going over the line. It happens, but not as policy, not as, "This is how we do things." And that's why it was so shocking, because it's not how we do things. And there we were, and seen to be doing it. So it had a really profound effect. Of course, this wouldn't have happened in World War II, or if it had happened, it wouldn't have been photographed. Or had it been photographed, the photographs would have been censored. I think what makes the story most significant was that it was happening on television, uncensored, either in picture or commentary. There was a realization  perhaps least of all by the press, but certainly by the military and maybe by the public  that the rules have all changed. It's perhaps another reason why the military did not want people covering the Gulf War. From Reporting America at War: An Oral History, compiled by Michelle Ferrari, with commentary by James Tobin, published by Hyperion, 2003. Copyright , 2003 Goodhue Pictures.
At a glance Experts Rating Pros Modular design enables simple assembly and upgrades

Socketed 12th-gen Alder Lake processor

Supports full-length discrete graphics cards

Customizable RGB design on front panel Cons Complex case layout

Proprietary SFX-sized power supply

Case can be easily damaged Our Verdict Thanks to its modular design and desktop processor, Dragon Canyon is a solid option when considering a SFF build under 10 liters.

Price When Reviewed

Dragon Canyon NUC12EDBi9 : $1,450

Best Prices Today  Dragon Canyon NUC12EDBi9

Retailer Price Delivery SimplyNUC $1899 View B & H Photo Not Available Free View

Last summer, Intel leaned hard into its line of modular gaming PCs. Its launch of Beast Canyon (aka the NUCBTM) muscled up into small-form-factor PC territory, with an eight liter case capable of housing full-length graphics cards. The only compromise was its soldered mobile chipif you could call it that, given the strong test results.

Half a year later, the release of Dragon Canyon eliminates that weakness. This Next Unit of Computing (NUC) variant doesnt revolutionize much. A new processor is the star of the show: a socketed Alder Lake chip, plus some of the platform upgrades that come with 12th-gen Core chips. Otherwise, this NUC looks the same as Beast Canyon, thanks to sporting virtually the same chassis as its predecessor.

But we cant say that its just a processor upgrade. Moving from a mobile chip to a replaceable desktop CPU is quite a move. On paper, Dragon Canyon looks much more equipped to face off against a DIY small form factor (SFF) PC. And thats exactly what were going to dig into.

Design and form factor

Dragon Canyon is actually the code name for the $1,450 NUC12EDBi9 and $1,150 NUC12EDBi7Intels official names for the Core i9 and Core i7 variants of this bare-bones gaming PC. The company sells it as a kit, which means you have to bring your own memory, storage, and graphics card. Everything else (the chassis, cooling, and proprietary power supply) is included.

Since Dragon Canyon and Beast Canyon share virtually the same chassis, the concept is exactly the same as before. Inside that eight-liter case, theres just two components to deal with: An Intel Compute Element module comes with the kit and houses the memory, storage, and a pre-installed Core i9-12900 or Core i7-12700 CPU. You have to obtain and install your own discrete graphics card, which can be up to two slots thick and a max of 12 inches long. The idea is that you can easily swap either of those elements for a newer replacement down the road.

A look inside Dragon Canyons Compute Element. Alaina Yee / IDG

This newer Compute Element is the major upgrade in the system. (The chassis has the lone minor changeIntel swapped one of the USB-A ports for USB-C.) The changes are all about cutting-edge tech and speed. Inside is a desktop 12th-gen Alder Lake processor with a completely different architecture from the previous generation and a GPU slot that supports PCIe 5.0. And at the back, a second ethernet port capable of 10Gbps has been added. That speed may sound ludicrous to most of us in the US, but one PCWorld staff member is living the ultra-fast broadband life.

Because of that desktop Alder Lake processor, Intel promotes Dragon Canyon as upgradable to next-gen CPUs. They certainly are, but Intel doesnt usually keep a socket around for more than a couple of generations. Realistically, very few people will have reason to upgrade.

Serviceable hardware is still a plus, though. And in theory having a desktop CPU means less of a compromise in performance compared to a mobile chip. Lets see how that plays out in the benchmarks.

How we tested

Rather than try to tackle Dragon Canyon as an independent product, I chose to take a narrower focus. We already know how Beast Canyon stacked upthe short version is pretty damn well. (You can read the full details in our NUCBTMi9 review from last July.) That eliminates the need to pick apart Dragon Canyon in fine detail.

Instead, the questions that Dragon Canyon raise are straightforward: How much does it boost performance in CPU-oriented tasks? And how does it stack up against a similar DIY small-form-factor PC?

To get a sense of the answers, well look at a select handful of benchmarks. Think of these numbers more as a general impression about the hardware, rather than a set of performance expectations.

The Lian Li A4-H2O has a similar footprint as Dragon Canyonit gets its extra volume from its height. Alaina Yee / IDG

The hardware lineup

Dragon Canyon

Intel shipped us Dragon Canyon as a bare-bones kit this time, so we supplied our own memory and storage for our NUCEDBi9 review unit. For the graphics card, we used the same compact Asus RTX 3060 that came with our Beast Canyon review unit last year.

CPU: Core i9-12900 (8 performance cores + 8 efficiency cores, 24 threads)

Core i9-12900 (8 performance cores + 8 efficiency cores, 24 threads) GPU: Asus Dual O12G RTX 3060

Asus Dual O12G RTX 3060 Memory: 16GB HyperX Impact DDR4-3200

16GB HyperX Impact DDR4-3200 Storage: 500GB SK Hynix P31

500GB SK Hynix P31 OS: Windows 11

As youll see, I couldnt obtain the exact same SSD model as in our Beast Canyon unit. However, the numbers below show that using a PCIe 3.0 (rather than a matching PCIe 4.0 drive) in these particular benchmarks didnt make a difference.

Beast Canyon

Our Beast Canyon review unit came fully outfitted. In the interest of keeping things as even as possible across the board, I used its compact Asus GeForce RTX 3060 with the other test systems.

CPU: Core i9-11900KB (8 cores, 16 threads)

Core i9-11900KB (8 cores, 16 threads) GPU: Asus Dual O12G RTX 3060

Asus Dual O12G RTX 3060 Memory: 16GB HyperX Impact DDR4-3200

16GB HyperX Impact DDR4-3200 Storage: 500GB Sabrent Rocket PCIe 4.0

500GB Sabrent Rocket PCIe 4.0 OS: Windows 11

DIY SFF PC

While not an exact match for Dragon Canyon and Beast Canyon in size, this 11-liter system is still close enough to get an idea of how well the two NUCs stack up against a high-performance DIY small-form-factor PC. For the GPU, I again used Beast Canyons compact Asus RTX 3060 for consistency.

CPU: Ryzen 9 5900X (12 cores, 24 threads)

Ryzen 9 5900X (12 cores, 24 threads) CPU cooler: Corsair H100i (240mm AIO)

Corsair H100i (240mm AIO) GPU: Asus Dual O12G RTX 3060

Asus Dual O12G RTX 3060 Memory: 16GB HyperX Fury DDR4-3600

16GB HyperX Fury DDR4-3600 Storage: 1TB Corsair MP600

1TB Corsair MP600 PSU: SilverStone SX700-G

SilverStone SX700-G Case: Lian Li A4-H2O

Lian Li A4-H2O OS: Windows 11

Performance

Rendering

First up is Cinebench R23, the latest in Maxons line 3D-rendering benchmarks. For evaluation of Dragon Canyon, this test helps provide insight into performance during in CPU-heavy tasks. The default setting loops the benchmark for 10 minutes, which is what we use for our tests.

Longer bars indicate better performance. Right click to see the full sized image. PCWorld

Looking at multi-core performance, you can see that going from Beast Canyons Core i9-11900KB to Dragon Canyons Core i9-12900 results in a nearly 50 percent improvement. That bodes well for anyone considering Dragon Canyon. Still, the Core i9-12900 is a bit subdued within Dragon Canyons confineswe expected numbers closer to the Ryzen 9 5900X. In Cinebench R23s single-core tests, however, Intel maintains its single-core performance advantage, just as in full desktop systems. That bodes well for gaming performance, as most games dont take advantage of all available CPU cores.

Longer bars indicate better performance. Right click to see the full sized image. PCWorld

Encoding

Our Handbrake test involves transcoding a 4K video formatted as an MP4 to an MKV file at the same resolution. This long-lasting encoding benchmark helps round out the Cinebench R23 results, as it provides further context for performance during CPU-oriented tasks.

Shorter bars indicate better performance. Right click to see the full sized image. PCWorld

Beast Canyons Core i9-11900KB performed decently in previous Handbrake benchmarks, though it was still surpassed by other mobile chips. Dragon Canyons Core i9-12900 decreases the amount of time by a hefty 30 percent, though as you can see, hardcore content creators may still find a DIY SFF PC a better choice if time is money. The Ryzen 9 5900X chews through the file in nearly half the time of the Core i9-11900KB.

Gaming

Spoiler alert: When it comes to gaming, these three systems dont give up much ground to one another on average. Its not a surprise, since games rarely lean on all of a CPUs cores. Instead, single-core performance still often dictates outcomes. Game optimizations can affect results, too. So if youre primarily a gamer and were debating between the ease of building in Dragon Canyon or more optimal performance in a SFF build, you fortunately dont have a very tough decision to make at all.

Longer bars indicate better performance. Right click to see the full sized image. PCWorld

Just have a look at the results from the benchmarks. These AAA title still punish your graphics card more than anything else, which means your CPU plays less of a role in the final frame count.

Longer bars indicate better performance. Right click to see the full sized image. PCWorld

Across the board, Dragon Canyon either matches or outperforms Beast Canyon. The real competition here is between Dragon Canyon and the DIY SFF PC, and theres no clear winner in the more recent games. In Metro Exodus and Assassins Creed Odyssey, the two systems are deadlocked, and in Borderlands 3, the DIY SFF PC has a lead of six percent. That edge might sound meaningful, but that lead isnt that much when youre already getting 80 fps.

Longer bars indicate better performance. Right click to see the full sized image. PCWorld

With some games, you may start to see more of a gap open up, as you can in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. But if theyre older or less demanding games (which SoTR is), it again may not matter much. It all depends on whether you need your framerates to be as high as possible, like for a high refresh rate monitor.

Longer bars indicate better performance. Right click to see the full sized image. PCWorld

Acoustics and thermals

Like Beast Canyon, Dragon Canyon runs fairly quiet. In fact, the DIY SFF PC was generally noisier than it. Your choice of graphics card will influence your outcome, though.

It runs about as warm, too. During CPU-intensive tasks, like a 30 minute run of Cinebench R23s multicore benchmark, Dragon Canyons Core i9-12900 averaged about 72 degrees Celsius. It crept up higher during gaming benchmarksI often saw it hovering around 78 degrees Celsius. Thats not as optimal as some SFF enthusiasts may like, but given its size and cooling, those numbers arent unreasonable.

Final thoughts

Before Dragon Canyon, Intels gaming NUCs had an extreme niche vibe. You paid a lot for a cool, well-executed conceptand that was fine so long as you fit the narrow target audience. Otherwise, an alternative was often a better and cheaper choice.

At $1,150 for the NUC12EDBi7 kit and $1,450 for the NUC12EDBi9 kit, youre not necessarily saving money over a DIY SFF build, but youre also not sacrificing performance as with earlier NUCs that leaned on mobile chips. With its socketed chip, Dragon Canyon still retains that incredibly simple, time-saving system for building, while offering flexibility closer to that of a DIY PC. That change makes Dragon Canyon feels like a solid option when considering a sub-10L build, rather than a novelty.
BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Boeing's total number of passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversion production lines in China will reach 15 by the end of this year, Boeing China said Thursday.

Boeing and its local and global partners will facilitate the progress of the production lines for Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) in China to meet growing market demands for freighters, according to Boeing China.

By the end of this year, there will be 12 production lines for the 737-800BCF projects and three for 767-300BCF projects in the three Chinese cities of Guangzhou, Shanghai and Ji'nan.

Boeing and ST Engineering have recently announced a plan to build additional capacity for the 767-300BCF, according to Boeing China.

In the second half of this year, Boeing will add a 767-300BCF conversion line at ST Engineering's airframe facility in south China's Guangzhou. By then, the total number of conversion lines for 767-300BCF in China will reach three, Boeing China added.

Last September, Boeing and Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd. announced plans to create two 767-300BCF conversion lines for converted freighters in Guangzhou.

The 767-300BCF can carry up to 51.6 tonnes and fly up to 6,190 km. As part of the 767 freighter family, it offers strong performance on operating costs per trip, as well as payload and range capabilities.

By now, the 767-300BCF project has received more than 100 orders and commitments from customers globally, data from Boeing China shows.

According to the 2021 Boeing Commercial Market Outlook, the company forecasts a need for 1,720 converted freighters around the world over the next 20 years. 
Banks and Financial Institution operating in Ghana have reminded customers of the directive by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) regarding the use of of the GhanaCard as the only form of identification for financial transaction staring July 1.



Stanbic Bank in a message to customers said In accordance with BOG regulations, the Ghana Card will be the only ID card to use for financial transactions effective July 1. Please remember to present it when you visit our branches. You may call your RM to update your records or visit any Stanbic branch to complete the process.



Stanbic Investment Management Services (SIMS) also said in a message to partners that Following the issuance of Bank of Ghanas notice on the Use of the Ghana Card for all Financial Transactions, please note that with effect from July 1 2022, the Ghana Card will be the only form of identification that will be accepted for transactions.



Kindly visit your Bankers to update your records with a valid copy of your Ghana Card if you have not already done so. A copy of your Ghana card should also be submitted to SIMS.



The BoG on Wednesday January 19 directed that the GhanaCard shall be the only identification card to undertake transactions at all Bank of Ghana licensed and regulated financial institutions.



These include Banks;Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions; Non-Deposit-Taking Financial Institutions; Payment Service Providers and Dedicated Electronic Money Issuers; Forex Bureaus and Credit Reference Bureaus.



In furtherance of its objective of ensuring the safety of the financial system, Bank of Ghana pursuant to Regulation 7 of the National Identity Register, 2012 (L.I.2111), hereby directs that with effect from 1st July, 2022, the Ghana Card shall be the only identification card that will be used to undertake transactions at all Bank of Ghana licensed and regulated financial institutions including: i. Banks; ii. Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions; iii. Non-Deposit-Taking Financial Institutions; iv. Payment Service Providers and Dedicated Electronic Money Issuers; v. Forex Bureaus and Credit Reference Bureaus.



For KYC purposes, the National Identification Authority verification transaction platform will be integrated into the Bank of Ghanas financial monitoring platform. This is to ensure that all financial transactions performed within the ecosystem are linked to one identity and information, and unique codes for the transactions shared with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to facilitate the identification

of initiators/beneficiaries for track and trace purposes. This will include but not limited to transactions by: i. Banks; ii. Non-bank Financial Institutions; and iii. Mobile Money Operators (MMOs).



The Public is to note that no other form of identification will be accepted for financial transactions in Bank of Ghana after the effective date stated above, a statement issued by the central bank said.

Source: 3news.com









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Authorities in Zambia have announced that recovered loot amounting to about US$4 million will be channeled towards education.



The country's anti-corruption graft handed over a cheque of the said amount to the state after a wave of seizures last year.



The handing over was attended by Ministers of Education, Douglas Syakalima and Finance, Situmbeko Musokotwane, as well as officials of the anti-graft body.



The money is to be handed to the Ministry of Education to help more than 2,000 students in need of bursaries, the Minister of Finance, is quoted to have said.



Money was found last year in a house belonging to journalist Margaret Musonda, also known as Faith Musonda, and was subsequently forfeited to the state as part of a deal for her not to be prosecuted, BBC's Zambian reporter Kennedy Gondwe reported from the capital Lusaka.



Anti-corruption activists slammed President Hakainde Hichelima's decision to allow for forfeiture of the funds in exchange for 'freedom.'



They accused the government of coming to power on the back of fighting corruption but reneging on that key promise by treating corruption with kid gloves.





Source: ghanaweb.com









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An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced two labourers to 25 years each in prison for stealing a taxi cab and an amount of GH 350 from a taxi driver in a robbery spree.



The two  Sunday Bawa, aka Joe Pussy, and Musa Ayuba  had initially pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy, attempted robbery and robbery.



However, they were found guilty by the court, presided over by Ms Evelyn Asamoah after a full trial.



The facts, according to Chief Inspector Emmanuel Haligah, were that Bawa and Ayuba, both 22, on November 22, 2021 at about 1 a.m., chartered a taxi from Circle to Teshie.



He said on reaching their destination around a spot close to the LEKMA hospital, Bawa, who was seated at the back pretended to pay the fare.



When the driver of the taxi, George Obeng turned to take the money, Bawa suddenly smeared powdered pepper on his face.



Ayuba, who was seated in front, took advantage of what had happened and forcefully took the car key and got down, the prosecutor said.



Mobile phone



Obeng, according to C/Insp. Haligah, managed to get hold of Bawa and in a struggle decided to bite Bawas right middle finger.



The two, sensing danger, bolted with the key and a sum of GH 350 leaving a mobile phone in the taxi.



Complaint



The driver, he said, who sustained injuries in the mouth lodged a complaint with the Teshie Police.



The police upon investigations arrested Bawa who identified the mobile phone that was left in the taxi.



He later led the police to arrest Ayuba from his hideout.



The police after arresting Ayuba were able to retrieve the key from his room.



In their caution statement, both of them told the police that they had snatched another vehicle from its owner on October 18, 2020 which was also under investigation at the Teshie Station Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the prosecutor added.







Source: graphiconline.com









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The Ghana Police Service has arrested three suspects for the illegal possession of arms.



The suspects who were arrested based on intelligence-led operations in Tema Community 25 and Dansoman on February 21, 2022 led to the retrieval of some weapons and ammunition.



A statement issued by the Police on Thursday said the operation at Tema Community 25 led to the arrest of suspect Abdul Razak, aged 46 years, for possessing a firearm without lawful authority, while suspects Hamza Yakubu and Mubarak Yakubu were arrested at Dansoman.



A search conducted by the Police at Abdul Razak's hideout in Tema Community 25, led to the retrieval of an AK47 assault rifle, 90 rounds of live AK47 ammunition, 4 rounds of 17mm ammunition, a machete and a rubber pistol.



Searches conducted on Hamza Yakubu and Mubarak Yakubu led to the retrieval of one pump action gun and a pistol.



The three have since been put before the court.



The Police further assured that it will continue to conduct targeted intelligence-led operations to clamp down on criminals and also ensure illegal weapons are retrieved from the society.













Source: graphiconline.com









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Government has committed close to one billion dollars to revamp the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to make it attractive to the public and industry to ensure its meaningful contribution to the countrys development.



Looking at what has been done in the past four years just for TVET, if government is to go on like this for the next 10 years, we can see that TVET would be the leader in the educational system..., Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, the Director-General, Commission for TVET, said on Wednesday.



At a media engagement by the Commission and the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project in Accra, he said before the end of April, this year, government would cut the sod for the construction of 32 modern training centres across the country.



The programme is expected to be held every quarterly to brief the media on various developments in relation to the sector.



Dr Asamoah said the projects were expected to be completed within 24 months to increase access to TVET.



He said the sites for the projects had already been identified while a building permit and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approvals had been sought.



Government has gone through every step that is required to make sure the resources are available so that when the work begins there will be no delays, he added.



Dr Asamoah said the Ministry for Education was ready to support the transformation of the sector for sustainable development and reduce the unemployment rate.



Government, through Act 1023, had brought in a committee to work on establishing the Ghana Skills Development Fund into which government and industry would contribute.



He said industry players would have the biggest say on the fund since they constitute more than half of the members.



He said Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia would soon inaugurate the Jobs and Skills matching project to ensure that not less than 250,000 jobs are created in the skills sector.



He called on local industry players to support government in terms of funding for the sector, saying; Government alone cannot do everything.



He hinted that a curriculum was being developed for 100 trade areas to make sure that the sector was given the maximum support.

Source: GNA









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Telecommunications giant, Vodafone Ghana has announced plans to introduce its e-learning platform, Instant Schools, to over 100,000 students across the country before the year ends.



The Legal and External Affairs Director of Vodafone Ghana, Geta Striggner-Quartey, made this known when Vodafones Senior Management Team led an activation to introduce students and teachers of the State Boys High School, and State Girls Junior High School to the e-learning platform. Vodafone Instant Schools is a portal that offers a wide range of free teaching and learning materials with the click of a button.



This is one of many activities by Vodafones leadership as part of a nationwide working tour to engage with customers, staff, agents and stakeholders across the country.



Commenting on the initiative, Geta reiterated Vodafones commitment to empowering and transforming societies using education and digital technology.



"Our education portfolio has been focused on developing initiatives that are transforming teaching and learning in Ghana. Our aim this year is to onboard over 100,000 teachers and students onto the Instant Schools portal as it has proven beneficial to the schools we visited in the past," she said.



"It has been an exciting experience for us, spending time with students from 11 schools in the Ashanti Region. Over 3000 students in these schools can now confidently navigate our platform to adequately prepare for exams and the future. I would like to commend the school authorities and the teachers, as well as the Ghana Library Authority, for their support. We believe our visit will also inspire the students, especially the girls, to take their education and future career seriously. "

Geta further highlighted other educational initiatives by the Vodafone Ghana Foundation to help develop young men and women in Ghana.



"We also have a National Coding Programme, which has equipped thousands of Ghanaian youth with vital computer programming and coding skills. Currently, our monthly STEM Birthday Stars and Vodafone-Ghana Library ICT Hubs continue to support and empower the youth with essential digital skills, "she said.



Vodafone Instant Schools was launched in 2016 to deliver a wide range of basic to advanced learning materials online and give unlimited access to everyone.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has urged Ghanaians to invest in the Otumfuo Commemorative Gold Coin when it goes into sale to the public at all branches of the Access Bank from April 4, this year.



He explained that gold was a store of value, and against the background that the commemorative coin had the official authorisation, investing in it, therefore, held good for anyone who purchased it.



Dr Opoku Prempeh made the call when he was presented with the commemorative gold coin at a brief ceremony in his office last Tuesday.



We are looking forward to you selling the gold coin so that we can also purchase some, Dr Prempeh told the delegation from the E ON 3 Group that called on him to present the coin.



He added:  It is always good to store your money in that [gold] and I will encourage every able Ghanaian willing and with the resources to have this value stored for you.



You buy it today and Im sure in five years it is going to appreciate in value, he stated.



Commendation



He commended the E ON 3 Group for doing a remarkable job by taking the coin to a number of personalities in the country including the President, the Vice President and living past Presidents.



The minister said the honour of presenting the gold coin attested to the value the nation placed on the contribution of Otumfuo Osei Tutu to national development.



He said the symbol of peace inscribed on the coin was touching.



 Thank you for putting your good name on a good cause, Dr Prempeh told the E ON 3 Group and its partners.











Testimonies



Dr Opoku Prempeh said it was significant that the President as well as surviving past Presidents spoke positively of the roles Otumfuo played in national development.



For his part, he recalled an intervention Otumfuo Osei Tutu made in getting the World Bank to reverse a decision to cancel two major educational projects when the NPP assumed the reigns of power in 2017.



According to Dr Prempeh, the two projects - the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP), which is a five-year project with the objective to improve the quality of education in low-performing basic education schools and strengthen education sector equity and accountability in Ghana, and the Jobs and Skills Project, which seeks to support skills development and job creation in Ghana, came under threat as the World Bank Group decided to cancel the projects.

However, the intervention of Otumfuo compelled the World Bank to rescind the decision to cancel the projects which led to the restoration of the GALOP money of about $200 million and subsequently the jobs and skills money of about $200 million.

This is the extraordinary traditional ruler we are celebrating through this commemorative gold coin, he said.



History



Taking a journey back into history, Dr Prempeh said the tradition of Asante had moved from warmongers to peacemaking, and from the battlefield to the classroom.



From Prempeh I to Opoku Ware II to Osei Tutu II, the battle cry has been education, he stated.

Dr Prempeh said the traditional relationship between the Gbewaa Palace and the Manhyia Palace was well established.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo-Dampare, has said the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has been a symbol of peace, unity and development of the country.



He prayed that God will continue to grant the King abundant wisdom and strength to do more for his people and nation.

He has been a symbol of unity and development of our country and I pray God will continue to give him the strength and wisdom to deliver what is best for his people and country, Dr Dampare said.



The IGP stated these when he received the Otumfuo Commemorative Gold Coin at his office in Accra on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.







Police wont fail



Dr Dampare gave the assurance that the police would continue to discharge their constitutional mandate to ensure that the country was peaceful.



That, he said, would enable the people to undertake their lawful activities.



We will continue to do our best with team spirit so as to maintain the peace, and to protect lives and property, he said.



Support



The IGP called for support from all Ghanaians for the police, so that we will be able to arrive at our destination.

He added that it was the aim of the members of the police management to leave the service in a better capacity than they came to meet it.



Dr Dampare thanked the E ON 3 Group and Otumfuo Osei Tutu for the honour done him with the presentation of the coin.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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CH Group Foundation, the CSR wing of the CH Group, has shown its commitment to supporting quality education, by donating buses to Achimota and Mfantsipim Schools. The schools each received a 30-seater 2020 Toyota Coaster Bus from the Foundation.



Speaking at the handing over ceremony at Cantonments City in Accra, Chief Operating Officer, CH Group Cynthia Darko Acquaye, said the donation is part of the CH Groups agenda to assist in transforming Ghana into a hub of world-class education in the West African sub-region.



She said At the CH Group, we acknowledge that dominating the world economy requires the requisite human resource and this is anchored firmly on education. That is why we have taken this initiative to support the education sector with the aim of transforming the country into a world-class education hub.



If the efforts of our forebearers will mean much in the future, we need to invest in the children of today and those of tomorrow. That is why the quality of education is among the biggest perturbations of Africa. As the black star of Africa, an inspirer of hope for the continent, we believe we are well placed to lead an education revolution for the West African sub region by building a hub for World-Class education. We believe that this can become a reality if we all work together and play our parts.



The representatives from the Old Students Associations of both Achimota and Mfantsipim Schools, expressed their gratitude to the CH Group Foundation for the gesture and assured that the buses will be put to great use.



The CH Group Foundation oversees Corporate Social Responsibility for the CH Group and its subsidiaries. The mission of the Foundation is to give back to improve the lives of people living within the communities in which the Group and its subsidiaries work.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Popular NDC serial caller Appiah Stadium has been captured on video accosting Rev Prof Emmanuel Asante, the past Chairman of the National Peace Council, and calling him a hypocrite for, in the opinion of his accuser, keeping silent on all the ills happening in Ghana under President Nana Akufo-Addo.



After exchanging greetings, Appiah Stadium first nicely inquired from the cleric why he has suddenly lost his voice on national issues since he was very vocal during the Mahama administration.



Rev Prof Asante explained to his interlocutor that during the Mahama era, he was the Chairman of the Peace Council but that was no more the case currently, and, thus, he cannot just speak without locus.



I wasnt speaking in my capacity as a Ghanaian then, he explained to Appiah Stadium, clarifying: Im not [Rev Dr] Asante-Antwi as he was referred to by the Kumasi-based serial caller.



Appiah Stadium then asked Rev Prof Asante if he was no more a Ghanaian now.



He then pointed out to the Reverend that the cost of a one-hour flight of the President alone can build a whole school block, contrasting that with the situation under former President John Mahama, who, he said, never embarked on such luxurious trips.



He then asked the man of God: Are you sure you are not a hypocrite?



A riled Rev Prof Asante then parried the hypocrisy charged levelled against him saying: Im not a hypocrite, and then lunged at Appiah Stadium thus: Youre the hypocrite, explaining: So far as you do your bidding, I will not do your kind of politics.



The recriminations continued between the two with each of them aggressively pointing accusing fingers at the other as they parted company amidst a dispersing crowd of mourners at a funeral ground.



Appiah Stadium told the Rev Prof Asante that God would, one day, question him on his silence, to which the cleric retorted: God will judge you more than me, adding: He [God] will cut your head.



Appiah Stadium would have the last word, responding: He [God] will cut your stomach; liar!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by OKAY 101.7 FM (@okay101.7fm)

Source: classfmonline.com









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BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Most of capital goods monitored by the Chinese government registered lower prices in mid-February compared with early February, official data showed Thursday.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 21 reported rising prices during the period, 27 registered lower prices, while two saw prices remain unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Hog prices lost 6.8 percent in mid-February compared with that in early February.

The readings, released every 10 days, are based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions. 
An Accra High Court has dismissed an application by the former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, to set aside findings of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) against him in the Contracts For Sale scandal.



The former CEO had wanted the court to grant an order of certiorari to quash the finding on grounds that it breached the rules of natural justice; however, the court presided over by Justice Elfreda Amy Dankyi ruled otherwise.



The judge in her ruling said analysing the facts of the case and applying the relevant laws and cases stated supra this court is of the opinion there has been no breach of natural justice and certiorari does not arise.



It is the case of Mr Adjei that he was not given a fair hearing by CHRAJ in the investigative report which found him guilty of conflict of interest in the award of government projects.



In the said report, CHRAJ found overwhelming evidence to show that Mr Adjei put himself in several positions where his personal, relational,and pecuniary interest in Talent Discovery Limited (TDL) and other companies actually conflicted with the performance of the functions of his office as CEO and Board Member of PPA, therefore, contravening article 284 of the 1992 Constitution.



The issues





Mr Adjei was the CEO of PPA from March 2017 to August 2019 when he was suspended from his office and his tenure ending on October 30 last year following the termination of his appointment by the President.



His appointment was terminated after he was captured in a video documentary titled Contract for Sale, engaging in an act CHRAJ considered as a grave abuse of his high office of trust.



In the documentary, Mr Adjei was accused of establishing TDL, which won some government contracts through restrictive tendering but sold the contracts to individuals or contractors.



Suppliers and contractors interested in buying those contracts from TDL had to register with the company by paying a non-refundable fee of GH5,000.



In the documentary, TDL was ready to sell a contract worth GH22.3 million to a non-existent entity that, a journalist, Manasseh Azure Awunis team had made up.



Mr Adjei was accused of using information he acquired as the CEO of PPA to the advantage of TDL in which he owned 60 per cent shares.



President Nana Akufo-Addo, following the documentary referred him to CHRAJ to be investigated on conflict of interest claims. It was the findings of the said investigations that Mr Adjei was challenging.



His grievance in court



Mr Adjeis grievance against CHRAJ was the fact that the commission invited 17 people and took statements and evidence from them to arrive at its findings without giving him the opportunity to access and respond to the evidence or cross-examine the witnesses.



CHRAJ, he said, made site trips to several locations to gather evidence which it relied on to arrive at its decision without an invitation to him to be present at any of those site trips.





Mr Adjei said he objected to the entire proceedings on the basis of lack of a complainant but CHRAJ overruled his objection and rather ruled that President Akufo-Addo was the complainant.



Again he said CHRAJ relied on submissions made by another lawyer other than his lawyer in a different matter filed by a different complainant as part of the report and made conclusions from the submissions.



For these reasons, he said CHRAJ acted in bad faith and therefore prayed the court to quash the findings which purportedly influenced his sack.



CHRAJ Defence



CHRAJ, in opposition to the application for certiorari, argued that the appointment and removal from office as CEO of PPA was an executive decision of the President for which reason the President was not bound by its findings and recommendations.



Therefore the prayer by the applicant for an order to rescind the decision of dismissal of the applicant by the President of the Republic of Ghana has no legal basis.

Source: graphiconline.com









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Nearly half of new mothers in Nigeria, two in five Moroccan mothers and more than a fifth of South African mothers have been advised by a health professional to feed their babies a formula product, a joint study by the joint World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Childrens Fund (Unicef) has found.



This report shows very clearly that formula milk marketing remains unacceptably pervasive, misleading and aggressive, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.



Health professionals in Nigeria and Morocco have reported that contact with baby formula companies was extremely common in public and private health care settings.



The report surveyed 8,500 parents and pregnant women, and 300 health workers in cities across the world including in Bangladesh, China, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.



We need robust policies, legislation and investments in breastfeeding to ensure that women are protected from unethical marketing practices -- and have access to the information and support they need to raise their families. said Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell.



Breast milk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses.



The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months as the most effective way to ensure child health and survival.



Breastfed children are said to perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight and less prone to diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Bernard Allotey Jacobs has called on the leadership of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to amicably settle any dispute with the Dome/Kwabenya Member of Parliament(MP), Sarah Adwoa Safo.



Hon. Adwoa Safo, who is also the Gender Minister, is currently based in the USA and has refused to return to Parliament.



Adwoa Safo's Demands



The MP is said to have demanded that the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, should be removed and his position handed over to her before she makes a return.



She is also said to have threatened the party by saying she will not participate in the voting on the e-levy if her demand is not met by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



Chief Of Staff Delivers Ghc 120k To Adwoa Safo



However, according to Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, the Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare gave him GHC 120,000 to put into Adwoa Safo's bank account as a ploy to convince her to come back but the MP has still refused to rescind her decision.



The Chief of Staff called me and I went, I swear [on] my mothers grave, Chief of Staff gave me 120,000 and deposited into Adwoa Safos Fidelity Bank account.



I took the money there into the Fidelity Account, ask her personal assistant if what I am saying is not the truth, a furious Kennedy Agyapong said on Asaase radio.



Adwoa Safo, The Saboteur



According to him, Adwoa Safo is sabotaging the NPP.



Now we are in opposition, the way Adwoa Safo is treating the party, it is clearly showing that we are in opposition and this shouldnt be tolerated at all, he snapped.



She Is Hurt



Addressing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Mr. Allotey Jacobs opined that lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo is pained by the party, hence her sudden change of behaviour.



Seeking to find out what the NPP may have done to hurt her, he asked if she wasn't content with her removal as Deputy Majority Leader and elevated to the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry.



Allotey Jacobs sought clarifications on the processes that characterized the appointment of the Dome/Kwabenya MP as Gender Minister, questioning "was she satisfied?"



"We are all human beings. I'm very sure Adwoa Safo is in pains," he stated.





To him, the MP may not have been happy with her new appointment, therefore using this opportunity as payback against her own party.



''The payback time is that now she is the center around which the e-levy, when taken to Parliament, they will get a majority'', he expounded.



He called on the party leadership to use all means necessary including consulting Adwoa Safo's biological father to talk to her daughter in order to quash any hurtful feelings that may be the underlying tone for the MP's behavior.



''There is the need for government and party to try hard to manage the girl. Find a way out. I won't say they should apologize to her, she's too young for that but she must know the essence of politics and why she entered into politics and the dangers in politics. Someone must guide her in all these things'', he advised.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Social Commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has castigated Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin claiming he and his crop of Parliamentarians are setting a bad precedent.



Rt. Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin has cautioned the leadership of the majority and minority groups in Parliament to stop unduly delaying the works of some Committees of Parliament.



To him, the conduct of both groups is impeding parliamentary businesses and making it difficult for the House to perform its oversight role.



While it is the duty of all committees, to give the matters referred to them their due and sufficient consideration, such consideration should not be at the expense of delaying Parliamentary work, he said.



Mr Bagbin gave the caution when he delivered a formal communication to the House during yesterdays proceedings in the chamber.



He also called for participatory inclusiveness in the business of Parliament saying given the current changes, Parliament cannot continue to apply the old rules, procedures, culture and conduct whilst going through the transitional period, else the march towards democracy will be halted" .



He added; The concept of majority rule should give way to participatory inclusiveness.



He made the remark when the British High Commissioner in Accra, paid a courtesy call on him at Parliament House in Accra.



However, the 8th Parliament has been characterized by violence as the members, on a number of times, have traded blows in the chamber over their misunderstandings.



Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' programme, Bernard Allotey Jacobs wondered why the Speaker is now complaining.



" . . he must take paracetamol every morning," he said as he partly blamed him (Alban Bagbin) for the conduct of the House.



He advised the Speaker to enter a pensive moment where he questions himself about why Parliament has become rowdy under his leadership.



" . . ask yourself what is gone wrong? It's very important. He needs an introspection. He should be talking to himself that why because Ghana first. Ghana is important than any Parliamentarian in that Parliament."



Allotey Jacobs also blasted the Members of the House saying, "the image the current Parliament is caving for itself . . . it is going down in history that this is the most indiscipline Parliament we have had in our democratic dispensation. It doesn't cave a good image for both majority and the minority . . . it is not about them; it's about Ghana!"



He wondered the sort of example they are setting for the youth who are the future leaders of the country.



''Would they (the youth) have that faith, that strength, that courage to be Parliamentarians and to build mother Ghana?'' he questioned.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A former Member of Parliament for the Asante Mampong constituency Francis Addai-Nimoh doubts if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) indeed wants to break the 8 as their agenda for the 2024 election.



To him, the party is rather preparing its grounds to be in opposition  he is also worried about how party internal issues are being handled in recent times.



Addai-Nimoh was commenting on the fight outbreak over the party nomination forms across the country.



It took armed police officers deployed to the Manhyia North Constituency office of the NPP to calm the situation after chaos erupted during the distribution of nomination forms.



Some party members alleged that the constituency executives gave preferential treatment to other party members in the distribution of the forms while others protested a decision by the executives to sell out the forms to them after the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP paid for the forms.



This approach according to Addai-Nimoh contributed to NPPs shocking MPs election in the 2020 elections.



We dont learn from our experiences, he said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



Adding that If we want to break the 8, we have to stop this careless attitude





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro MP, Sylvester Tetteh, has blasted Dome/Kwabenya MP, lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo over her conduct towards the New Patriotic Party(NPP).



Adwoa Safo, who is currently overseas, has refused to return to Parliament to help the Majority approve the e-levy.



According to Kennedy Agyapong, the Assin Central MP, she is sabotaging the NPP as she demands to be made the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament before she will come back to the House.



Reacting to Adwoa Safo's behavior, Hon. Sylvester Tetteh advised her to remember the hardwork and efforts that the NPP put into her election as a legislator and stop holding the party to ransom.



"It's the party's ticket that brought you to Parliament, so you should be grateful to the party first and be grateful to the President. We, in Parliament, are 138 and the people who voted for NPP are over 5 million, I don't think the President can give everyone an appointment in his eight-year tenure as a President. And so, if you are blessed to be given that opportunity, you must accord the President respect. You must respect Parliament, your leadership. You don't make further demands. The demands she is making, what it means, is that you are insulting all the Parliamentarians."



He also stated emphatically that none of the NPP MPs will accept lawyer Adwoa Safo to lead them in the House.



"I don't believe that any Member of Parliament will accept Adwoa as our Deputy leader in Parliament. No! If you cannot be led, you can't lead anybody," he emphasized.



He also dispelled speculations that the Dome/Kwabenya MP is incapacitated, a reason why she cannot return to the House.



"If someone tells me that Adwoa Safo is ill or something, I won't take that as an answer . . . I feel Adwoa Safo knows very well what she is doing'', he said.



Hon. Tetteh spoke on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' Wednesday morning.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has asked that investigations be carried into an alleged GHc120,000 cash deposited into a Fidelity account of the Minister of Gender, Women, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo by Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Hon Kennedy Agyapong.



The NDC capo believes Ghanaians need to know the source of the money and why such an amount was given to the beleaguered Minister, and if the money was a salary or bribe.



Hon Kennedy Agyapong, on Tuesday revealed that Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare gave him an amount of GH120,000 to be deposited into the Dome-Kwabenya MP's bank account for her to attend to Parliament duties to work for the government.



What seemed to have got the MP so worked up is the fact that even after paying the amount, Adwoa Safo has still not appeared in Parliament to support the party passing the e-levy.



The Chief of Staff called me and I went, I swear [on] my mothers grave, Chief of Staff gave me 120,000 and deposited into Adwoa Safos Fidelity Bank account.



I took the money there into the Fidelity Account, ask her personal assistant if what I am saying is not the truth, a furious Kennedy Agyapong said on Asaase Radio.



Commenting on the issue in an interview on Okay Fm's Ade Akye Abia programme, Mr Asiedu Nketia quizzed how the Chief of Staff could swagger around with such a whopping amount of money and spend on such frivolous ventures. He also wondered if the money was in dollars or euros or other form of currency.



"GHc120,000 is a lot of money, even if it is in the old currency, that is quite a huge amount of money. So does the Chief of Staff carry such a huge amount of money on her every day? These are legitimate questions we need answers to. We also need to know whether the Chief of Staff owed the MP money and she was paying back.



"More so, how did she receive the money, was it a bank transfer? If it was a bank transfer, we should know how it was done because the banks are required by law to enquire when you are making huge deposits to find out the source of the money unless it is money laundering," he added.



General Mosquito, as the NDC General Secretary is affectionately called, described as worrying the decision to pay such huge amount of money to an elected MP before she agrees to come to the House to perform her duties.



What kind of corruption is this? This is why I say we should probe this because we want to know whether it was a loan or it was a bribe. If the government that is preaching a cashless system pays money in cash then its worrying.



"there are laws in this country and this is the time these laws needs to be triggered to find out if indeed what Hon. kennedy Agyapong is true. and if he is lying too, i believe the Inspector General of Police should invite him because he wouldn't be different from the likes of Boamah Bennieh and bobie Ansah," he added.



Watch Video Below





The Dome Kwabenya MP has been absent from her parliamentary duties as a Member of Parliament for several days now, an action some New Patriotic Party (NPP) members in the House consider as sabotaging the government.For instance, the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Micheal Okyere Baafi, said she is making the work of the government in Parliament difficult.All the problems government is facing are attributable to Adwoa Safo. Clearly, her intention and posture show that she wants to sabotage NPP, he told Kumasi-basedin a recent interview.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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A former Member of Parliament(MP) for the Asante Mampong constituency says the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) has to realize that the party does not belong to any one person but the masses.



Francis Addai-Nimoh wants a revamp in the party to assure its members of a victory in the 2024 election.



"When you go to parliament now government business is not going well," he told Kwasi Aboagye, adding that there are so many issues hindering progress.



He admitted the NPP need to rebuild a 'solid foundation' for victory.



He spoke in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



He was speaking on NPPs nomination forms fracas which has erupted.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has reacted to insults hurled at him by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong.



Kennedy Agyapong after Buaben Asamoa called for sanctions against him (Kennedy Agyapong) over his recent criticism of colleague NPP Parliamentarian Sarah Adwoa Safo described him (Buaben Asamoah) as a failed lawyer.



Kennedy Agyapong further added, He [Yaw Buaben Asamoa] is a waste to the party. I have told you everything that is going on in the party, what role has he played? The problems were facing in the NPP with communication are because of Yaw Buaben Asamoa. His arrogance, he lost because of his arrogance at Adenta and now he is coming out with a tweet.



All the current executives including Yaw Buaben Asamoa, if they dont vote them out I will form a political party, he told Accra-based radio on Tuesday, February 22.



Yaw Buaben Asamoa reacting to Kennedys statements in an interview with Happy98.9FMs Don Kwabena Prah on the Epa Hoa Daben political talk show sarcastically said, Kennedy Agyapong has more wisdom than every Ghanaian. He is so sensible and understands politics better than every Ghanaian. I just pray the pot of wisdom he is carrying doesnt fall and crack like that of Kwaku Ananse.



Buaben Asamoa described utterances of Kennedy Agyapong as unfair to Adwoa Safo and the NPP hence reasons for his call for disciplinary action against him (Kennedy).



I dont think Kennedy should be telling the world what we are discussing indoors, it is not fair to the party at this time. He should be disciplined, he said.



Kennedy Agyapong had raised issues against the conduct of Sarah Adwoa Safo.



He said that the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has failed in life for requesting that she should be made a Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament.

Jo









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former National Organizer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Boateng Gyan says he is worried his MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo has not been active in his constituency for a long period.



But to him, her absence in parliament is rather a divine intervention' for Ghanaians on the pending passage of the controversial E-levy.



He described the absentee MP Adwoa Safo as Ghanas destiny helper who deserves some commendations for allegedly refusing to take part in passing the E-levy bill.



"In this situation, we dont have to blame her [Adwoa Safo]. Maybe, she is our destiny helper. The wicked E-levy bill would have been passed if she was here, he said on NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



Yaw Boateng Gyan was discussing the brouhaha surrounding the Dome/Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo.



Listen to the interview





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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MOSCOW/KIEV, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in the Donbass region, and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack.

"Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," Putin said in a televised speech to the nation, noting that Russia's move is in response to "fundamental threats" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Putin called on all people living on the territory of Ukraine to "independently determine the future of their own and children."

In the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, explosions were heard at Boryspil International Airport and other places across the city, according to local media reports. The country's airspace was closed for civilian aircraft, and local authorities were evacuating passengers and staff from the airport.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday declared martial law in the country following Russia's military operation.

In a video address, Zelensky said his country is under attack. According to the Interior Ministry, military depots and airfields in the capital were hit by missiles.

Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states and deployed "peacekeeping" forces in the two regions.

Seeing it as "a matter of time" for NATO to expand eastward, Putin took military actions against Ukraine after his recent negotiations with the United States and NATO failed.

Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons, he said Thursday, adding that Russia took action to protect itself from "those who take Ukraine hostage."

In case of external interference in the situation in Ukraine, Russia will respond immediately, Putin said.

In a late-night address Wednesday, Zelensky said he had unsuccessfully sought talks with Putin. "I initiated a telephone call with the president of the Russian Federation. Result: silence."

While mobilizing troops, Russia closed its airspace to civilian aircraft on its western borders with Ukraine and Belarus, the aviation authorities said Thursday.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Armed Forces are destroying "military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" with high-precision weapons, not targeting Ukrainian cities.

Besides Kiev, several military targets in eastern and southern Ukraine were under attack early Thursday, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service








Ghanaian musician, Samuel Adu Frimpong, aka Medikal has been convicted for brandishing a gun in public. He has been fined GH3,600 by an Accra Circuit Court.



In default, he will serve nine months in prison.



This was after the musician changed his plea and pleaded guilty to the charge, on Monday morning.

Medikal was subsequently convicted on his own plea by the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh. The popular Ghanaian musician had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge.



The court was expected to rule on an application filed by Medikals lawyers to order the police to release the Ruger nine-millimeter pistol belonging to the musician.



However, when the case was called Monday morning [Feb 21, 2022], the musician told the court that he wanted to change his plea.



The charges were read out to him and he pleaded guilty to the charges.



Shortly after the case was recalled, Counsel for Medikal, Mr Emmanuel Yeboah Gyan who held Bobby Bansons brief withdrew their services to the musician.

Source: graphiconline.com









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Ontario Premier Doug Ford is condemning Russias attack on Ukraine, calling it a "war of aggression" by Russia. Ford is shown attending a news conference at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto, on Monday, February 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
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TEHRAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign minister said Thursday that an agreement in the ongoing talks in Vienna on the restoration of a 2015 nuclear deal needs the Western sides to take a "courageous and realistic" political decision to guarantee Tehran's interests.

Hossein Amir Abdollahian made the remarks in a phone conversation with his British counterpart Liz Truss, noting that for a swift and sustainable agreement, the United States and E3 group of France, Britain and Germany have to remove the sanctions on Tehran, according to the Foreign Ministry's website.

In regard to his meetings with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the sidelines of the 58th Munich Security Conference (MSC), he said the talks have made good process and the negotiating teams in Vienna are making hard efforts to reach a good agreement.

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015. However, former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed Washington's unilateral sanctions on Tehran.

Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties, namely Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, to revive the deal. 
A Ukrainian soldier talks with her comrades sitting in a shelter at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the "beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
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The counselor of a 15-year-old boy charged with killing four students at his Michigan high school says he told the teen's parents the morning of the shootings that he believed their son was a threat to himself and needed mental health support.

"I said as soon as possible, today if possible," Shawn Hopkins testified Thursday in the preliminary examination for Jennifer and James Crumbley. But, he testified, Jennifer Crumbley told him, "today was not an option because they had to return to work."

"I didn't want Ethan to be alone at home," Hopkins added.

Ethan Crumbley is charged as an adult with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, terrorism and gun charges in the Nov. 30 shooting at Oxford High School, about 30 miles north of Detroit. In addition to the four students slain, six other students and a teacher were wounded.

The judge presiding over the proceedings in Rochester Hills District Court will decide if there's enough evidence to send the Crumbleys to trial for involuntary manslaughter. They are accused of making the gun used in the shooting available to the teen and failing to intervene when he showed signs of mental distress at home and at school.

On the morning of the shooting, Ethan's parents were summoned to the school and confronted with his drawings, which included a handgun and the words: "The thoughts won't stop. Help me." Authorities said the parents refused to take him home after the 13-minute meeting.

Hopkins testified that he provided Ethan's parents with a list of mental health support resources at that meeting and that as it was ending Jennifer Crumbley asked, "Are we done?"

"I wrote Ethan a pass back to class," Hopkins continued. "I told him, 'I just want you to know I care about you.' I don't remember them saying goodbye (to Ethan)."

Earlier Thursday, defense attorneys asked Oakland County sheriff's Detective Edward Wagrowski whether he thought Jennifer and James Crumbley were aware their son was planning the shooting.

Videos and texts between Ethan and his friend, Brady, in August show Ethan with a gun and inviting Brady to a gun range, said Shannon Smith, Jennifer Crumbley's attorney.

"The friend is saying things like 'Nice. Now pull the trigger. jk, jk, jk,'" Smith told Wagrowski, who explained that "jk" is shorthand for "just kidding."

"Ethan responds about how his dad left the gun out but Ethan knows gun safety so its no problem. And then he says: 'Now, it's time to shoot up the school. JK JK JK JK,'" Smith said.

"This conversation existed between Ethan and his friend, but there is not any kind of conversation like this between Ethan and his mother or Ethan and his father?" Smith asked, to which Wagorwski responded "no."

But prosecutors alluded to a disconnect between Ethan and his parents, including texts to his friend in which he talks about his "dark side."

"In a text on April 5, 2021, Ethan writes: 'Now my mom thinks I take drugs. Like she thinks the reason why I'm so mad and sad all the time is because I take drugs, and she doesn't worry about my mental health,'" assistant prosecutor Marc Keast said. "And then he writes: 'They make me feel like I'm the problem.'"

A day before the shooting, the school left a voicemail for Jennifer Crumbley informing her that a teacher was concerned that Ethan had been searching for ammunition online using his phone. A sheriff's office computer crimes investigator testified Feb. 8 at the couple's preliminary examination that she later asked her son in a text if he "at least" showed school officials a photo of the gun the parents gave Ethan as an early Christmas gift.

The Crumbleys are jailed on $500,000 bond. The case against them is highly unusual because parents are rarely held criminally responsible for teens accused in mass school shootings.

The Crumbleys' attorneys have insisted the couple didn't know their son might be planning an attack and didn't make the gun easy to find in their home.

Last month, Ethan Crumbley's attorneys filed a notice of an insanity defense.

He is lodged alone in a cell in the Oakland County Jail's clinic to keep him from seeing and hearing adult inmates. Defense attorneys want him moved to a juvenile facility, but prosecutors say he would pose a potential risk of harm to the safety of other juveniles.

An Oakland County Circuit Court judge said during a hearing for Ethan Crumbley on Tuesday that he expected to have a ruling by early next week on whether the teen will remain in the adult jail or be transferred to the county's Children's Village.

___

Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan.
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 87F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Port of Charleston is temporarily limiting operations at its main container hub this week, citing "space constraints."

The State Ports Authority issued a customer advisory Feb. 23 alerting shippers, truckers and others that it won't accept any loaded overseas-bound cargo shipments at its Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant between 5 a.m. and noon on Thursday and Friday.

"All export loads will be turned away from the gate during these hours," the maritime agency said.

Wando Welch will only accept empty and refrigerated cargo boxes during that time period over those two days, the SPA said.

Last week, The Post and Courier reported that a record 30 container ships were anchored off the South Carolina coast waiting for berth spaces to become available at the port. That number had declined to 26 container ships on Feb. 24.

SPA chief executive Jim Newsome has said that it could take until the end of March before all of the vessels are cleared.

"We have our work cut out for us. It's going to be significant to reduce this backlog," Newsome told the authority's board Feb. 15.

The real estate at the port's container yards is being stretched to the limit by supply chain snarls and a huge surge in imported goods fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nearly 66,000 containers were sitting at the SPA's three terminals in January, mostly at Wando Welch, or about 25,000 more than the SPA can efficiently handle.

We continue to see unprecedented volumes," said SPA spokeswoman Kelsi Brewer. "We have a record number of import containers on our terminals awaiting delivery, which is the principal cause of the congestion. With containers dwelling longer on our terminals, this impacts berth productivity for vessels as well as the motor carriers ability to deliver exports."

Pete Buttigieg, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, weighed in on the Charleston port's congestion this week, saying short-term fixes like the pop-up container yards the Port of Savannah established could help clear the terminals.

Newsome said the Port of Charleston is hampered by a lack of available land for such cargo yards as well as permitting restrictions that make them impractical. He also said the port has also been hampered by the lack of rail service on or adjacent to its terminals, something Savannah already has. The SPA is building a rail yard adjacent to its Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston, but it won't start operations until 2025.

The SPA recently issued an "emergency call for truckers" to move cargo from Wando Welch to existing offsite rail yards, adding railroads serving the port  Norfolk Southern and CSX Corp.  need as many as 3,000 containers transferred to their sites. Rick Todd, president and CEO of the S.C. Trucking Association, said a growing number of truckers are avoiding the port because of its congestion, opting for other opportunities like joining fleets for single shippers like Walmart.

"If the SPA, the ocean carriers, brokers, and customers had been paying better rates and improving efficiencies inside and outside the gates, they would be in better shape today," Todd said. "That would have helped to create a more profitable and robust intermodal trucking sector, with more folks wanting driving jobs."

Gate transactions  the number of times a container is picked up or dropped off  were down 9.1 percent in January compared to the previous month. Part of the reason is it's taking longer for truckers to maneuver through the crowded terminals. It now takes an average of about one hour for a driver to wait in a queue to enter one of the terminals, check in at the gate, pick up or drop off a shipping container and exit the property. A year ago, it was just under 42 minutes.

Todd said truckers "wont suffer inefficiencies when there are plenty of profitable and efficient opportunities with their in-demand assets."
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 84F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
HONG KONG, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday said it has relaxed legal requirements on licensing, registration and application, among others, in order to fully leverage the mainland support in combating the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Emergency (Exemption from Statutory Requirements) (COVID-19) Regulation made under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance has come into operation on Thursday, providing the legal basis for the HKSAR government to implement the anti-epidemic measures supported by the central government, including the construction of hospitals and isolation facilities, according to a HKSAR government statement.

In response to the current public health emergency situation in Hong Kong, Chief Executive Carrie Lam in the Executive Council approved on Wednesday that the emergency regulation is to be made with a view to allowing the HKSAR government to exempt certain persons or projects from all relevant statutory requirements in respect of licensing, registration and application, among others, said the statement.

With the move, the HKSAR government may draw on mainland's support and resources in a flexible and prompt manner to undertake key anti-epidemic projects at full speed when necessary, so as to increase Hong Kong's epidemic control capacity for containing the fifth wave of COVID-19 within a short period of time, said the statement.

The emergency regulation empowers the Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government to grant certain persons or projects an exemption from existing requirements concerning licensing, approval, and registration, among others.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong reported 8,798 new COVID-19 cases and 50 deaths on Thursday, official data showed. 
A Charleston restaurant and chef were named semifinalists in the 2022 James Beard Awards on Feb. 23.

Downtown Charleston restaurant Butcher & Bee earned the semifinalist nod in the Outstanding Restaurant category, and Wild Common Executive Chef Orlando Pagan in the Best Chef: Southeast category.

Pagan is one of 20 chefs from Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia in the running.

Pagan, a Puerto Rican-born chef who previously helmed the kitchen at McCrady's Tavern, helped open Wild Common at 103 Spring St. in 2019 where he offers a tasting menu format dinner service. Butcher & Bee first opened at 654 King St. before relocating to a bigger Morrison Drive location in 2016. In 2015, the restaurant added a Nashville, Tenn., outpost.

Butcher & Bee's former pastry chef, Cynthia Wong, was previously recognized by the foundation, but this is a first for the restaurant and its owner, Michael Shemtov.

Shemtov credited the original staff members that helped put the restaurant on the map and his current team for the honor, saying that he's confident they can meet the heightened expectations that come with being recognized by the foundation.

"We like to say that in our daily lives we are really not competing against other dining establishments but rather against ourselves, trying to be better today than we were yesterday," Shemtov said. "I think the team will use this recognition as fire to fuel that passion for improvement."

The James Beard Foundation brought the awards back for the first time in two years after canceling a virtual ceremony scheduled for September 2020 and announcing that it would begin a yearlong initiative to audit and overhaul the awards process, with intent to remove any systemic bias.

In a statement at the time, the foundation said that one reason to not hold its annual awards ceremony for the first time in 30 years was because of the turbulent state of the industry due to the pandemic.

Shemtov recognizes the imperfections of any awards process, but he said that being nominated means a lot to him and his team.

"It's knowing your peers, and people who you look up to, see you and see how hard you are working; that's truly humbling," Shemtov said. "Every year when this list comes out, I text friends in the industry to congratulate them and their teams on the recognition. It feels amazing to be on the receiving side of those messages today."

This year, the foundation will return to its traditional format of celebrating winners in person. Finalists for the restaurant and chef awards, along with the honorees for the Leadership, Lifetime Achievement Award and Humanitarian of the Year Awards will be announced on March 16 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Winners of the restaurant and chef categories will be announced June 13 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago, and James Beard Foundation Media Awards nominees will be unveiled April 27 in New York City.
Chef Jeanne Oleksiak is one of the few female butchers in Charleston, and every week she wrestles a quarter carcass of a rare, ancient breed of cattle onto a table to be cut into steaks, chops and ground beef for burgers that are a top seller at downtown Charleston restaurant Herd Provisions.

They are huge, Oleksiak said of the quarters. Im not one to ask for a whole lot of help, but its humbling. Theres no way I can lift that myself. There are cheats you can use, like pull the meat so the joint is hanging off the table, so your cuts are helped by the weight of the meat draped off the side.

And like a nurse grappling to get a heavy patient off a gurney, she has learned to lift with her whole body and not just her arms.

She learned some of the cheats at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., when she attended, but others are from YouTube, where she had to refresh her memory of butchery when she took the job at Herd Provisions in September 2020 after leaving Park Cafe.

There are not many actual butchers here who know how to break down a cow from a quarter. There was a lot of trial and error; a lot of tears, she said. But there was never any waste. I ground my mistakes. A hind leg will give you about 80 pounds of ground beef.

It would be bad practice to waste meat in any case, but this particular cattle is from one of only approximately 2,500 ancient White Park cattle on the planet, and one of a few hundred in the herd raised by Herd Provisions owner Alec Bradford on his farm in rural Virginia.

Bradford said the cows' lineage can be traced back to about A.D. 300-400, when druids used them for sacrificial animals. They were hunted by Englands royal family, and in 1939, Winston Churchill shipped 10 cows and a bull to the Toronto Zoo to keep the line safe during World War II. Eventually, Bradford said, the zoo decided it wasnt in the business of holding cattle and sent them to a ranch in Texas, where, with time, they were split into two genetic lines in Iowa and Montana.

More than just royal hunting targets, these cattle were prized for their taste, Bradford said. After careers that included working in an Italian vineyard and writing in New York, Bradford decided to start a ranch in Virginia, and he knew he wanted this breed he had seen in the West while fly fishing, another of his jobs.

They basically stayed a feral breed and were allowed to run wild in open forests, Bradford said. They were in a particularly nasty environment in the winter and the ones that survived had to have had a pretty good ability to convert grasses into fat, which provides the flavorful marbling so prized by carnivores.

Staying wild did more than preserve the flavor of the meat; it produced ornery cattle that were almost too much trouble for the average cattle farmer, as Bradford quickly learned.

The males and the females both still have horns, and thats not a desirable trait in modern cattle, Bradford said. Most cattle farmers will think its a waste of energy making horns. Their temperament is not all that wonderful. You really have to know what you are doing to work with these cattle; theres a good bit of wild left in them. You have to have a healthy sense of respect and fear, especially for the cows with newborn calves.

The meat is worth the ornery, Bradford said.

You can taste what the cow has been eating. If it finishes in May, youre probably going to be able to taste the wild onions that they love to eat in the spring," Bradford said. "If its a grain-fed animal thats been eating corn all its life, well, corn doesnt really have that much flavor. The flavor is neutral. Our animals have more like a terroir; its rich and nuanced ... its hard to describe."

The cows are raised in a humane manner as defined by the Animal Welfare Act, which means they roam free. That can produce a tougher steak, as anyone who has eaten a humanely raised animal can tell you, but Bradford said the ancient Whites fat marbling produces a superior taste. The quarter cows are brought weekly from Virginia to Herd Provisions, where they are hung to dry-age (some as long as 130 days) before butchering, which allows the tough connective tissues and tendons to break down, creating more tender meat.

Some people think Im an idiot for dry-aging our beef for 40-plus days, but it provides a better experience, Bradford said. If you eat it, you will appreciate it, and its better for you and better for the environment.

Oleksiak also raves about the beef.

The grassy notes kind of mellow out the beef and it becomes super umami rich, just delicious. I would say its not as intensely marbled as an Angus because its not fed grain," she said. "Grain is the snack food of the cow world, but these just have healthy fat. Its super yellow, unlike the white fat you see on meat in the grocery store."

Bradfords herd has grown from its initial 10 cows and a bull  the same number the Toronto Zoo got  to about 380, and also now includes about 60 humanely raised hogs. He opened Herd Provisions at 106 Grove St. in July 2019 and had to close less than a year later when COVID struck. He was able to reopen in October 2020, and growing his own kept Bradfords supply stable during COVID, when many restaurants were scrambling to find meat because of supply chain issues or price increases. He was even able to supply some friends who were unable to get meat.

Still, none of it has been easy.

I wanted an integrated food system, everything from the birth of an animal to the butcher shop or restaurant, Bradford said. It took a lot of perseverance and a solid 15 years off of my life.

Given the emphasis on the bovine side of the business, you might be forgiven for thinking that Herd Provisions is another steakhouse. Not so fast.

Oleksiak is quick to say that Brussels sprouts are as popular as beef, and she works hard on the vegetarian menu.

Our menu changes all the time, but even though the burger is always a bestseller, so are the Brussels sprouts, Oleksiak said.

She works with Grow Food Carolina and local fishermen, and prides herself on giving vegetarians plates as carefully composed as the meat plates.

I cook vegetables the same way youd cook a steak, Oleskiak said. Ive done a thick cauliflower steak seared and caramelized and served with a cauliflower and potato puree and shitake mushroom candy. Ive done a smoked watermelon appetizer where you take the skin off and put it in a smoker until it gets tender.

She says customers who eat meat will dig into one of her vegetarian entrees and be shocked that its not meat because she focuses on providing the textures and umami that a meat-eater looks for.

So much work goes into raising a cow or planting a seed and getting a delicious vegetable," she said. "Lets just find people who really care and get a much better product. Thats what we do."

Oleskiak's recipe for Herd Provision's mushroom bourguignon demonstrates this philosophy. At the restaurant, she prefers to use chestnut, chicken of the woods, oyster and shiitake mushrooms, but any mushroom will work. The more caramelization the mushrooms get before liquid or salt is added, the better, as it builds that deep umami flavor.

Herd Provisions Mushroom Bourguignon Ingredients 1 yellow onion, diced 2 parsnip, diced 1 carrot, diced 13 cup olive oil 1 12 tsp garlic, minced 2 Tbsp parsley, chopped 16 ounces mixed mushrooms, cut into large pieces 1 Tbsp mushroom base 4 rosemary sprigs 8 thyme sprigs 1 sage sprig 2 Tbsp tomato paste 3 Tbsp AP flour 2 cup vegetable or mushroom stock 2 cup red wine 1 tsp chili flake 1 tsp lemon zest 2 bay leaves Salt and pepper Method 1. Heat oil on high heat in a medium sized pot 2. Add onion, parsnip, carrot, and mushrooms. Cook over high heat until well browned. 3. Using kitchen twine, tie together rosemary, sage and thyme. Add to pot with garlic, mushroom base and tomato paste. 4. Cook on high about 2 minutes. 5. Reduce heat to medium. Add flour, mixing well. Cook another 2 minutes. 6. Add red wine, vegetable stock, lemon zest, chili flake, and bay leaves. 7. Reduce heat to low and cook about 45 minutes, stirring often. Scrape the bottom to prevent burning. 8. Add parsley. Season to taste. 9. Serve with soft polenta, pasta, braised white beans or even over toast.
GREENVILLE  As restaurants emerge from the challenges wrought by COVID  and as some don't  any news of a closure can cause a collective gasp.

When it comes to longtime Greenville barbecue staple Henry's Smokehouse, yes, there is a closure.

But devoted patrons can exhale. It's just Woodruff Road, after all.

This week, Henry's owner Tiger O'Rourke announced on social media that his March 2021 decision to temporarily close the Woodruff Road location would be permanent.

The pandemic and subsequent labor shortage took its toll across his three locations.

However, the challenges at the Woodruff Road location, open for 15 years in former Bi-Lo shopping mall at the edge of Five Forks, don't translate to the original restaurant on Wade Hampton Boulevard or the second location in downtown Simpsonville.

This October, Henry's will celebrate its 30th anniversary, and the two remaining restaurants will greet that milestone and others to come, O'Rourke told The Post and Courier.

"Both stores are open for the long haul," O'Rourke said. "Wade Hampton isn't going anywhere. That's our busiest store. We are going to be remodeling Simpsonville soon. It needs a refresher."

In the beginning weeks of the pandemic and the months that followed, O'Rourke shifted to a drive-in model. At his Wade Hampton restaurant he designated every other parking space to order and receive food.

The Simpsonville location in a small shopping center near the town clock also has a similar setup.

"When COVID hit, we were able to push outside and transition to carhop services at the other two stores," O'Rourke said. "The way the Woodruff Road location was set up, it was expressly difficult to do that."

The limitation was "an instant slam on sales." And for all the talk of people not wanting to work, it was lack of work to do that made keeping the restaurant staffed difficult, he said.

"As time progressed, slow sales created a situation where it was hard to maintain staff," he said. "People who want to work, want to work. Not sit there."

The temporary closure allowed O'Rourke to redeploy those employees to the other stores and alleviate staffing pressures created by an industry-wide labor shortage.

O'Rourke and chef Bo Wilder evaluated the expiring of the Woodruff Road lease and decided "to focus on other avenues." O'Rourke declined to elaborate on the other potential ventures, saying "it's too early."
The first baby was born at home in Mount Pleasant at 3:36 a.m. Feb. 15. The next arrived with the help of another midwife less than 30 minutes later in Cane Bay.

But Nicole Lavallee wasn't done for the day yet. A third client gave birth to an infant in Summerville at 12:44 p.m. All three were born at home within the span of 10 hours.

It might have been the lunar cycle. After all, the Snow Moon was nearly full on Feb. 15. But the real reason explaining the birth of these back-to-back babies is likely more data-driven: Home births in South Carolina are exploding.

Numbers released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in December show home births across the United States increased by only 1 percent between 2018 and 2019.

But the emergence of COVID-19 changed everything.

Many expectant mothers who might have otherwise given birth in a hospital during normal times were suddenly worried about catching the new virus during labor and delivery. Many were told they would be allowed only one support person to accompany their baby's birth  or maybe no one at all. And many were concerned about being separated from their child if one or both parents tested positive for COVID.

The numbers speak for themselves: Home births across the country rose by 22 percent between 2019 and 2020, up from 38,506 the first year to 45,646 the next.

In South Carolina, the increase observed nationally was even more dramatic. Home births in this state grew by 65 percent during the first year of the pandemic  the second-highest rate increase in the country.

"I just had two births on Sunday. The first week of January, I had seven, which was crazy," said Jennifer Stewart Strother, a licensed midwife based in the Upstate who assists during home births. "Im at a minimum of five clients a month and usually double that."

Lavallee, a licensed midwife based in the Lowcountry, said 2021 was her busiest year ever. The same day three of her clients delivered their babies at home on Feb. 15, Lavallee taught a prenatal class in West Ashley to a group of several more couples who intend to forgo a traditional hospital birth.

"Why has (home birth) become more popular? With the rising C-section rate, people just aren't trusting the medical system as much," Lavallee said.

The pandemic is certainly also a contributing factor. Lavallee and others have said that many hospitals still only allow expectant mothers one support person to attend a birth, and that person is typically the spouse. Doulas, extended family members and friends are not allowed to be present.

For Kelli Ingram, that rule was a deal-breaker.

She'd already given birth in a hospital to five children. When she was expecting her sixth last year, she knew she wanted her oldest daughters to be present during the birth. But hospital COVID protocols wouldn't allow it, so she opted to have the baby at home instead on the farm in Piedmont where she lives with her husband Trey.

"I dont throw OB-GYN care under the bus, but I was just like if this is the rule, Im going to do it at home," Ingram said.

She was most worried about the pain. She'd always gotten an epidural during her previous hospital births.

"It actually wasnt that bad because Id built it up in my head," she said, adding she wouldn't hesitate to have another home birth if she and her husband choose to have another child. In addition to their six biological children, the Ingrams are also parents to two adopted children.

"Im sad I hadnt done (a home birth) before now," she said. "It was just a beautiful experience. I think its so special that my children get to be a part of it."

Ingram was a good candidate for home birth. Her previous pregnancies were uncomplicated. She'd never had a C-section. Her prenatal care was complete and she was screened twice by a doctor during her pregnancy.

But not every expectant mother is a good candidate. Among those who are not advised to give birth at home are women who have had C-sections, women expecting twins or triplets, and women with serious underlying health issues, like high blood pressure or diabetes. This is because home birth is inherently more risky. Very few infants die in the United States after birth  no matter the setting  but the risk is clearly higher at home.

According to a peer-reviewed study published in 2020, the infant mortality rate for hospital births attended by a midwife was 3.27 deaths per 10,000 live births. By contrast, the mortality rate for planned home births was 13.66 deaths per 10,000 births and about double that for unintended or unplanned home births.

This doesn't mean that doctors aren't supportive of women who choose this route.

"Im very sympathetic toward patients who look at these options. I think there are some fair criticisms that (hospital) systems have to take to heart," said Dr. Scott Sullivan, a maternal-fetal specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Many moms, he acknowledged, fear they will not be listened to by the medical team during labor and delivery. They fear their birth plan will not be honored. They worry they'll end up getting an unnecessary C-section.

"I think those criticisms are fair," Sullivan said. "People mistrust the hospital-based system, so theyre sort of voting with their feet."

He worries, though, about making home births in South Carolina as safe as possible. Home births, for example, he said, are safer in Europe. Even Georgia and North Carolina have better regulations than South Carolina does, he said.

"We're not there yet," he said, citing years of conflict between doctors, midwives and nurse-midwives when it comes to updating South Carolina's rules. Allowing midwives to assist during a home birth when the mother has had a previous C-section is only one source of tension that has emerged here in recent years.

"Everybody wants the system to be better and has the same goals, but theres just so much red tape and so much fighting. Every time the regulations are reopened, it just seems to break down," Sullivan said. "It's just been really messy."

There is one source of concern that midwives, nurse-midwives and doctors seem to agree on: the rise of so-called "free births," which do not involve a licensed professional in attendance.

"Thats a very small percent, but it is growing and there happens to be a few doulas who say they will attend will your unassisted home birth," said Lesley Rathburn, a nurse-midwife and the owner of Charleston Birth Place, a freestanding birth center in Mount Pleasant.

She acknowledged there are pockets of South Carolina where women are left with no options aside from a hospital or home birth. Some counties in the state have no OB-GYNs. Most have no freestanding birth centers like Charleston Birth Place. Still, Rathbun characterized these free births as "reckless and dangerous."

"Every woman regardless of where she lives deserves to have a skilled birth attendant," Rathbun said.
Overdose deaths from opioids in South Carolina and across the U.S. are likely much higher than what state health agencies have reported, Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal said at a policy symposium Feb. 23.

"The opioid death numbers are low," O'Neal said during the meeting on drug policy and addiction at the Medical University of South Carolina.

"And the reason is due to a shortage of forensic pathologists around the country and the lack of resources at the coroner and medical examiner level," she added.

According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 100,000 people died of an overdose from April 2020 to April 2021.

Over 2,000 of those deaths occurred in South Carolina.

Nearly two-thirds of those deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is easy to traffic into the U.S. and can be extremely dangerous in small amounts.

Emergency departments across South Carolina saw large increases in the number of patients treated for opioid overdoses during the same period. In many cases, patients are unaware of the amount of fentanyl in their drugs.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, agreed with O'Neal during the summit.

"We face a serious challenge," Gupta said. "Overdose deaths are hitting new highs and our national addiction capacity is too low."

Gupta said the budgets for coroner offices remain stagnant amid rises in overdose deaths, which impairs the ability to collect more accurate data related to the epidemic.

Gupta visited MUSC specifically for this drug policy symposium, citing a number of new initiatives being implemented by the Biden administration related to the opioid epidemic.

Included in this plan is an overall $671 million increase in the drug-control budget for Gupta's office from previous years. The American Rescue Plan also added nearly $4 billion in access to mental health and substance abuse services, he said.

Another significant change in addiction care is a waiver program pushed by the Biden administration to make it easier for health care providers to treat more patients using buprenorphine, Gupta said. The prescription drug is used to help people withdraw from dependency on opioids. Currently, a physician can treat up to 30 patients with the drug.

Gupta said that for some doctors, under the current limit the question becomes "which 30 people do I treat?"

"That's why we need more providers to sign up for this program so we can build a system of care that seeks diagnosis and treats those who need it, rather than waiting for patients to go through the criminal justice system," Gupta said.

The administration has also extended the pandemic rule that allows people with opioid use disorder or an addiction to the painkillers to get treatment and medication by telehealth and phone consultation. They've also revised regulations to allow providers to operate mobile methadone vans to bring treatment to rural, incarcerated and underserved communities, Gupta said.

Methadone is another drug that is used as a replacement for substances like heroin.

"Most overdoses don't happen in the emergency room," Gupta said. "We need to get help to people where they live rather than expect them to come to the brick-and-mortar facilities."
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 88F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
MYRTLE BEACH  As part of the ongoing debate over the proposed 7-Eleven near Grand Dunes in Myrtle Beach, a proposal requiring a 500-feet buffer between gas stations and residential areas across the city made its way to City Council.

But if passed, the ordinance would make all 34 gas stations near residences in Myrtle Beach non-compliant with city rules. It also would make it impossible to build homes or apartments on 30 undeveloped lots near gas stations.

Worried about facing lawsuits from station owners and real estate developers, Myrtle Beach City Council rejected the ordinance at a Feb. 22 meeting. The citys Planning Commission opposed the proposal in a Feb. 1 vote.

I think that there may be some opportunity to do something with gas stations, Myrtle Beach City Councilman Gregg Smith said. I dont know that this is the right answer. I think its kind of a knee-jerk reaction to a problem, and it doesnt solve the most immediate problem.

The proposal was pitched by residents fighting a 7-Eleven coming the corner of 82nd Parkway and North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach.

The 7-Eleven would not have been included in the ordinance if passed because Grand Dunes is covered by a different set of zoning rules. But proposal backers were hoping to help other Myrtle Beach neighborhoods avoid gas stations coming too close to homes.

The 7-Eleven needs approval from the citys Community Appearance Board before construction can begin, but a neighborhood coalition from Living Dunes  a subdivision with 200-plus homes behind the proposed gas station  won a temporary restraining order to block a vote. No hearing has been set, according to online court records.

The residents have argued the 7-Eleven would lower the value of their homes, endanger their health and increase traffic.
Elizabeth covers politics, government and business in North Augusta. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and previously worked with a Twin Cities weekly. Her work has appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and MinnPost.
The reason the Charleston County School District abandoned the Reimagine Schools proposal is disappointing. Well, its disappointing to the extent that we understand why it happened.

After the way the School Board misled us about Gerrita Postlewaits departure as superintendent, were not sure what we can believe about the districts motivations or plans. And as with Dr. Postlewaits departure, we didnt get much of an explanation for why the plan was dropped.

The demise of Reimagine Schools came after elected officials and members of the public got upset about the fact that they werent consulted before the board considered a plan to consult them on the next round of plans for improving schools. And yes, thats every bit as ridiculous as it sounds.

To be clear, the circumstances under which Reimagine Schools was put on indefinite pause are more disappointing than the fact that it was: There were legitimate reasons to question whether we really needed a whole new round of public meetings to design plans for improving education in our schools. In fact, we might be better off without another lengthy round of community engagement  assuming the School Board focuses on what was most important about Reimagine Schools.

What was most important wasnt having a bunch of meetings. It wasnt the fact that the plan was developed by the Coastal Community Foundation, although having leadership and buy-in from such a respected community institution would have been helpful, and might have allowed the plan to overcome the kneejerk opposition so many people in the community have to any idea that isnt their own.

What was most important about Reimagine Schools was that it would have devoted a huge chunk of the district's federal COVID windfall directly to educating the children with the greatest need. The foundation wanted the district to commit to putting $32 million of the $109 million in federal COVID relief funds toward improving academics at 21 low-performing schools.

The good news is that the reason interim Superintendent Don Kennedy gave for putting a hold on his evaluation of Reimagine Schools and 71 other funding requests from community groups was so his administration could focus on its new vision: that in five years, all students will be reading at grade level by the end of the fifth grade. As the district develops that plan, he told the surprised school board members earlier this month, it will determine which if any of the 72 funding requests align with that vision.

Its hard to argue with that vision, since reading is foundational to pretty much all learning. Indeed, its hard  in a district where half the students werent meeting the states English language arts requirements even before the pandemic  to think of anything more important it could do, although the district will also need to catch up students who have already finished fifth grade without meeting the goal.

And such a plan will of necessity focus on the lowest-performing schools, since thats where the students who are struggling the most are concentrated.

Charleston County has some of the best schools in the state and nation, and also more than our share of the worst. Many of the worst schools are full of students who are poor and black, while many of the best are full of students who are much better off and white.

Much of the racial segregation simply reflects the fact that our housing patterns are based largely on economics, and theres such a strong correlation between race and socioeconomic status. Regardless of the cause, though, the effect is devastating. We cant afford to keep failing to educate all of our children, we cant overlook the potential of any of our students, and we cant have a school system that is perceived as unfair.

Although there was more than enough self-defeating opposition, a big reason the districts recent efforts to address those problems have failed was the fact that concentrating more funding on underperforming schools means reducing funding for other schools. Unless theres more money. Which there is now.

It is essential that the Charleston County School District (like all districts) spend its Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, funding to improve teaching and expand learning to make a lasting difference in the lives of the children.

That means being laser-focused on providing children with the education they havent been getting. It means not just using the money to buy new equipment or off-the-shelf learning programs or pay for wish-list infrastructure items but investing in transformative changes to the way students are taught.

And it means that while theres no question that its extremely difficult for kids to learn when theyre hungry or homeless or experiencing turmoil at home, the district has to make sure it doesnt get so involved in providing wraparound services that it can't provide the basic educational services that those wraparound programs are meant to enable.
COLUMBIA  The family of Jamal Sutherland  a Black man who died in the Charleston County jail after being Tased nearly a dozen times  was in the Statehouse to rally support for a pair of bills meant to restrict the potential for excessive force on inmates in jails and prisons.

The two bills include legislation establishing guidance for excessive force by police as well as the Jamal Sutherland Justice Act, which would require inmates to undergo a mental health evaluation before being transferred from a mental health facility to a jail or prison for bond hearings.

"South Carolina doesn't have an excessive force statute on the books," one of the bill's sponsors, Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, D-North Charleston, said at a Feb. 23 news conference. "And so the question is, 'why aren't we making sure that we're giving our prosecutors every tool in the toolkit in order for them to prosecute the crimes that are out there?'"

The bills, which were introduced in 2021, are inspired by Sutherland, a schizophrenic man who died at the hands of detention officers on Jan. 5, 2021, after being repeatedly pepper-sprayed and Tased while being transported to a bond hearing.

"They Tased him 11 times," Nelson B. Rivers III, vice president of religious affairs and internal relations for the National Action Network, said in the news conference. "One officer at least seven times on her own admission. And the solicitor refused to indict or charge results. We refuse to accept that that is justice."

While they were fired from their positions and the death was later ruled a homicide by the Charleston County coroner, the two officers involved  Sgt. Lindsay Fickett and Detention Deputy Brian Houle  did not face charges after the solicitor determined she could not find criminal intent.

Sutherland's family, which has continued to pursue charges against the officers involved in his death, believes the legislation is necessary to address the circumstance in which the officers were allowed to remain free.

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"Accountability brings consequence," his father, James Sutherland, told reporters. "Consequence brings behavior change. So many people that work in law enforcement believe that they are above the law, that they can do whatever they think they can do to people, especially Black people, Brown people, other people in marginalized communities and other minority races."

"We are always wanting to fall victim to excessive force," he continued. "This type of behavior needs to stop."

It remains to be seen whether the bills will be successful, or even if they will get a hearing. Pledges by the General Assembly to consider sweeping law enforcement reforms in 2021 never materialized. The General Assembly has not considered substantial police reforms in the 2022 session, and has yet to assign either reform bill to a committee.

Meanwhile other bills, including a hate crimes bill passed in 2021 by the House of Representatives, have stalled in the Senate, with no clear timeline for a future hearing.

Sutherland's family hopes they'll at least try.

"I pray, I'm begging you, please do the right thing," Amy Sutherland, his mother, said in the news conference. "Don't allow any mothers to have to cry 24 hours every day of the year. Every time I come over here my son dies again. I have to relive his death over and over because my state won't do the right thing."
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces gunned down 10 terrorists in a military operation in Hoshab area of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Wednesday, an army statement said.

The security forces launched the operation by acting on an intelligence tip-off regarding the presence of terrorists' camp and hideout in the area, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement.

The operation was launched to arrest "externally sponsored enemies of peace in Balochistan," but when "the troops started cordoning the area, terrorists tried to flee their hideout and opened indiscriminate fire whereby, a heavy exchange of fire ensued," the statement added.

The 10 killed terrorists included a militant commander, and they were involved in recent firing and attack on security forces in Turbat and Pasni areas of Balochistan.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered which was planned for use against security forces, said the statement.

"Operations to eliminate perpetrators of terrorist acts will continue and they will not be allowed to sabotage peace, stability and progress of Balochistan," it added. 
COLUMBIA  South Carolina lawmakers are weighing legislation to place restrictions on where people can film the police before being charged with obstruction of justice.

Called the "HALO Act," the bill would create a 12-foot perimeter around law enforcement where bystanders would be prevented from filming officer interactions with the public when conducting an arrest.

The bill's sponsor, former chaplain for the Columbia Police Department and Democratic state Rep. Ivory Torrey Thigpen, told lawmakers he has been at incidents where questions arose over whether individuals were putting themselves or officers in danger.

"We do know that this technology is not going away, and incidents of it are increasing," he said. "I think it's an opportunity for us to be proactive and address what I believe is a concern not only for law enforcement and their safety but also concern for individuals and their First Amendment right to record."

The measure has bipartisan support, counting two Republican sponsors and the chair of the S.C. Legislative Black Caucus among its list of mainly Democratic backers.

But critics, including Democrats in Thigpen's own party, say the bill likely impedes on the public's First Amendment rights and could provide law enforcement additional tools to not only cover up misconduct but also imprison those who document it.

During a Feb. 23 hearing on the bill, Rep. Cezar McKnight, D-Kingstree, played cellphone video of two infamous killings of Black men by police: the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the fatal 2015 shooting of Walter Scott by a North Charleston police officer.

If the bill were enacted, he said, law enforcement would not only have the legal ability to charge the individual who recorded Floyd's death  which was filmed at close range  but have avenues to potentially abuse the law by charging individuals who filmed from farther away, like Scott videographer Feidin Santana.

"A 12-foot halo allows this man to die screaming for his mother the way he did and no one would know," McKnight said of Floyd. "A 12-foot halo allows (police officer) Derek Chauvin to be on the streets of Minneapolis abusing people."

"I am not at all going to suggest that law enforcement purposefully does this," he added. "These are rogue actors. Most of law enforcement in this country and in the state are fine people. Good folks. But we don't need another tool that will allow rogue elements to do what it is they want to do."

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Numerous cities and states have considered similar legislation.

In Miami Beach, Fla., in 2021, the City Council enacted an ordinance that allowed for the arrest of people who impeded the police, only for it to be used primarily against Black men and women who recorded them, according to The Miami Herald.

A more extreme 100-foot limit was attempted in Texas in 2015 to the chagrin of free-speech advocates, while Arizona is currently contemplating its own form of "halo" legislation.

In South Carolina, proponents of the First Amendment believe the HALO Act could not just chill the rights of bystanders but also of the working press.

"It's highly concerning that we're considering legislation which would take court-recognized, expressive conduct covered under the First Amendment and make it something subject to criminal punishment," said Taylor Smith, an attorney for the S.C. Press Association.

Smith said the ambiguous language of the bill also leaves significant potential for the law to be abused. Under current law, police officers do not need to issue a warning before conducting an arrest. They would not need to under the HALO Act, either.

Rather than strengthening protections for officers, state lawmaker and Santana attorney Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, said police officers could potentially use the law as pretense to seize, and then destroy, the evidence of potential misconduct.

"If you try and interfere it's called obstruction of justice. It's already a crime," Rutherford said. "What we don't need to do is make it so that within a 12-foot range you would be arrested for filming the act of a police officer. What would happen is that 12 feet become some arbitrary number that nobody knows exactly where it is. The phone gets taken, the video gets deleted and the officer moves on."

He asked lawmakers to let the bill die "a miserable death and that nobody amends it at all. It's not worthy of being amended, to be quite honest with you."

It is unclear when the bill will be up for a vote.
There have been contradictions about our local government's strategy on COVID-19 testing and limitations for those who have come in close cont Read more
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) speaks during a press conference with Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg (C) and European Council President Charles Michel at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

BRUSSELS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Allies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) agreed to further beef up its forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine but it has no intention of sending troops into Ukraine, NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

NATO did not have combat troops inside Ukraine and it "had no intention of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine," Stoltenberg told the press after an extraordinary meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

NATO's response came as Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in the Donbass region, and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack.

"We call on Russia to immediately cease its military action, withdraw its forces from Ukraine, and choose diplomacy," said Stoltenberg.

Putin said in a televised speech to the nation earlier Thursday that Russia's plans "do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories."

"We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," Putin said, noting that Russia's move is in response to "fundamental threats" of NATO which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Earlier, NATO's ambassadors said in a statement they had decided "in line with our defensive planning to protect all allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense across the Alliance."

"We are deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the alliance, as well as additional maritime assets," they added. "We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies." 

Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg (L) , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (C) and European Council President Charles Michel prepare to attend a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg (C), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) and European Council President Charles Michel attend a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
A little while ago, Joe Biden delivered a statement on Russias invasion of Ukraine and then took some questions from reporters. Altogether the appearance lasted 24 minutes; it is embedded below. Here are some observations:

* As usual, Biden read haltingly from a teleprompter. He was even weaker when trying to respond to questions. And his frequent and inappropriate grins were disconcerting. It is hard to escape the assumption that Bidens patent weakness as a leader was part of Vladimir Putins calculation when he chose to invade.

* Biden emphasized the severity of the sanctions that we and other nations are imposing, while admitting that the prospect of sanctions did not deter Russias aggression. At the same time, it appears that some sanctions have not been imposed, such as anything directed specifically against Putin, or involving the international SWIFT banking system. While this was not clear, Biden gave the impression that there may not have been full international backing for such additional sanctions.

* Biden made clear that there will be no U.S. or NATO military response to the invasion. Despite his seemingly aggressive talk, the Ukrainians are on their own.

* Biden drew a clear distinction between Ukraine, which we will not defend militarily, and all NATO states. He said the U.S. will defend every inch of NATO territory. This includes the Baltics. Will we really go to war over Estonia, if Putin chooses the Baltics for his next target? And will the nations of Western Europe be willing to go to war over Estonia? We may soon find out.

* He expressed great concern about rising gas prices and called on American oil companies not to raise prices for the sake of increasing profits. Good luck with that. Gas and oil are international commodities that respond to market conditions. Prices will rise, and releasing a little more from our strategic reserve, or other countries reserves, will have little if any impact.

* Finally, Biden went on at length about how badly international sanctions will damage Russias economy. But he never mentioned the one step we can take that would most impact Russia while at the same time benefiting Americans: a rapid increase in our own oil and gas production. Biden claims to care deeply about freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe, but apparently he cares a lot more about the green lobby and its contributions to the Democratic Party.

Here is the video:
I assume Kamala Harris would claim to be opposed to rape. But during and after the George Floyd Riots, she not only contributed to but enthusiastically promoted a group called the Minnesota Freedom Fund. MFF pretended to exist for the benefit of peaceful protesters, but in fact it immediately bailed violent criminals of all kinds out of jail, most of whom had nothing to do with any sort of protest but were merely rapists, murderers, and so on.

Harris received plenty of criticism from us and others for her involvement with the pro-criminal Minnesota Freedom Fund, but she never denounced that group or disassociated herself from it. Harris is insulated from violent crime as she has been throughout her privileged life, but her perverse political ideology has damaged countless Minnesotans who are not so fortunate.

My colleague Jeffrey Van Nest documents the fact that Kamala is still at it, long after public attention has moved on:

The Minnesota Freedom Fund, which pays criminal bail for those who cannot afford it, is facing another instance where a client is rearrested shortly after release. According to Crime Watch Minneapolis, Gregory Jones, 28, was in jail until February 8th on attempted rape changes when the Freedom Fund made the decision to have Jones released after covering his $40,000 bail. Jones was charged with the attempted rape of a woman in a downtown Minneapolis bathroom. The criminal complaint describes him as a danger to public safety who was also under investigation for several other incidents of indecent exposure. Three days later, on February 11th, police were called to the FAIR Senior High School in downtown Minneapolis after receiving complaints of a man exposing himself to students and staff. Police learned that Jones was seen lying on the floor near the entrance to the school masturbating with his pants down and penis exposed. He spoke to students as they attempted to enter the school. When a staff member told him to stop, Jones became aggressive and started swearing at her. According to security officers at the school, he was previously removed for trespassing based on the same behavior.

Good going, Kamala! This is one of many instances of Harriss loosing criminals on a helpless population. The Freedom Fund promised to change its ways, but it hasnt followed through:

Previously, the Freedom Fund assured the community that its protocols would be revised after it bailed out George Howard, 48, who was facing domestic assault charges. Freedom Fund paid the $11,500 bond for Howards release on August 11, 2021. Less than a month later, on August 29th, Howard was charged with second-degree murder for killing Luis Martinez during a road rage incident on an interstate I-94 entrance ramp in Minneapolis. In a social media posting, Freedom Fund representatives assured the community that following the Martinez murder changes would be made.

Not enough changes, apparently. Links are omitted:

It remains unclear what, if any, changes the Freedom Fund has made to further protect the community from dangerous criminals awaiting trial. This comes on the heels of Freedom Funds sponsoring bond payments for violent criminals such as a twice-convicted rapist, a man accused of sexually penetrating a young child, a man who curb stomped his victim, and several serial domestic abusers.

Does Kamala Harris care about the chaos that her advocacy for this corrupt organization has wrought? Evidently not: if she cared, she would at a minimum recant her support for the ill-named Minnesota Freedom Fund. But she hasnt even done that, let alone express any sympathy for the Freedom Funds many victims of violent crime.

Does Kamala Harris actually want more murder, rape and assault? Or is she just so insulated from the world by her privileged status that she has no idea of the consequences of her actions? Your guess is as good as mine.
Crime Watch Minneapolis is the truth squad run on a shoestring to cover the descent of the Twin Cities into crime and anarchy with the invaluable assistance of our neutered criminal justice system. Starting with one Facebook page grown to 10, Crime Watch has become an invaluable resource for those of us living in the Twin Cities. Its Twitter feed is here. The tweet below from yesterday is representative.

1/

OMFG.

Johah Paul Canny, 19, who just got a slap on the wrist for molesting a 6-year-old, is back in custody on probable cause criminal sexual conduct. Canny was sentenced to 5 years probation by Judge Tamara Garcia after he sexually assaulted the youngster in a portapotty. pic.twitter.com/vltkkn8dYC  CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) February 23, 2022

Who runs the operation and what does he have to say about it? He has preserved his anonymity so far in light of the risks to his safety that disclosure would bring. In Episode 1 of the Alpha News series Liz Collin Reports, Liz speaks with the man. As he explains, its not easy being seen. His voice is altered to protect his identity in the video below, but this is worth the time of Minnesota readers and others who might find the work of Crime Watch an inspiration.
The Centers for Disease Control is a federal bureaucracy and, like all government agencies, is political. CDC employs scientists, but the idea that it is some sort of ivory tower representing science is ridiculous.

We are reminded of this fact by an article in the New York Times that Steve referred to briefly earlier today. The article is headlined, The C.D.C. isnt publishing large portions of the Covid data it collects.

For more than a year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has collected data on hospitalizations for Covid-19 in the United States and broken it down by age, race and vaccination status. But it has not made most of the information public.

***

Two full years into the pandemic, the agency leading the countrys response to the public health emergency has published only a tiny fraction of the data it has collected, several people familiar with the data said. Much of the withheld information could help state and local health officials better target their efforts to bring the virus under control.

So why hasnt CDC made public the large majority of the data it has collected, forcing the outside experts whom federal health agencies look to for advice to rely on Israeli data? CDC is, after all, a public agency, presumably working for all of us.

Kristen Nordlund, a spokeswoman for the C.D.C., said the agency has been slow to release the different streams of data because basically, at the end of the day, its not yet ready for prime time. She said the agencys priority when gathering any data is to ensure that its accurate and actionable. Another reason is fear that the information might be misinterpreted, Ms. Nordlund said.

We live in an age in which misinformation commonly means information that is inconvenient for the powers that be. Likewise, when CDC says it fears that its own data might be misinterpreted, it is reasonable to suspect that this means the data might reasonably be seen as contradicting CDCi.e., Biden administrationnarratives.

But now the case gets interesting, as the Times has updated the linked article twice, on Monday and Tuesday. The final version is considerably longer and is more forthcoming on what might possibly be prone to misinterpretation. It includes this paragraph:

The agency has been reluctant to make those figures public, the official said, because they might be misinterpreted as the vaccines being ineffective. Ms. Nordlund confirmed that as one of the reasons.

We have just lived through a period of intense pressure on everyone, down to small children, to be vaccinated and boosted on the ground that only vaccination can save us all from covid disaster. Vaccine passports have been imposed in many locations, unvaccinated people have been treated as second-class citizens, and many liberals have argued that unvaccinated people should not be treated in hospitals if they become sick.

Now the CDC is telling us that, if you and I had access to all of their data, we likely would *misinterpret* it to indicate that the vaccines dont work very well. (Independent analysts have already raised such questions based on other data sets.) Who knows, the CDC may also have data indicating that adverse side effects from vaccination are more common than the government has let on.

I dont know about that, but I do know that I, and a great many others, are perfectly competent to analyze data without misinterpreting it. It seems obvious that in this case, misinterpretation means drawing conclusions that are unhelpful to the Biden administration, Anthony Fauci, and the Democratic Party. It is long past time for CDC to release the reams of data it has in its possession and let the rest of us argue about what conclusions we should draw from it.

This is a quaint idea: it presupposes a democracy in which bureaucrats actually work for the people who pay their salaries.
Gunmen numbering about 10, on Wednesday, disrupted local elections in Obeagu community, Enugu South, setting ablaze electoral materials and three vehicles.

The gunmen stormed the polling units at about 1p.m. in a Sennia car and Toyota Highlander SUV and started shooting sporadically, scaring away voters, election officials, election observers and journalists.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who witnessed the attack, reported that the gunmen also went after the Enugu State Broadcasting Service bus that was conveying journalists to polling units.

The journalists, including the NAN reporter in the bus, jumped out and ran away to a safe location.

However, most of the voters, election officials, others were injured, while trying to escape.

An unidentified politician got hit on the head by a bullet.

NAN learnt that a journalist and the ESBS bus driver were held back in the ESBS vehicle.

They were later released after being inflicted with matchete cuts.

They are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Enugu.

Mike Ajogwu, chairman of Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, said the commission was aware of the incident.

Mr Ajogwu said: I have sent some top commissioners and staff of the commission to go and find out what really happened and get back to me.

On whether the elections in that ward would be declared inconclusive, he said: It will largely depend on the feedback from those I have mandated to visit the ward.

The police spokesperson in Enugu, Daniel Ndukwe did not respond to calls and a text message seeking comment from him.

(NAN)
Three hours after the impeachment of Mahadi Ali Gusau as deputy governor of Zamfara state, a senator, Hassan Muhammadu (known as Nasiha), walked with his supporters into the Ibrahim Mallaha Legislative Complex that houses the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

He was not there for a meeting. It was rather in a new capacity as the nominated deputy governor of the state.

The Assembly simply asked Mr Nasiha to submit his CV, take a bow and go. He was screened and confirmed in five minutes.

In Zamfara State, Mr Nasiha is a name that rings a bell because he is widely known to be a man who can make political sacrifices.

Before he was appointed commissioner in 1999 by then Governor Ahmed Yarima, Mr Nasiha successfully ran a chain of pharmacies in the state with the name: Nasiha Pharmacy. He also started the first table water business in the state, named Nasiha Table Water.

Profile

Born Hassan Muhammadu on December 12, 1960 in Gusau, the new deputy governor is a professional nurse having bagged a diploma in Nursing and Midwifery from School of Nursing, Sokoto.

He got the name Nasiha from his business but before he delved into business, he worked as a bedside nurse in General Hospital, Gusau, for years after which he left to establish his pharmaceutical business.

In the build up to the 1999 general elections, Mr Nasiha was said to have supported the candidate of the then All Peoples Party, Ahmed Yarima, with money.

He also provided drugs and medical services to party loyalists free of charge. When Mr Yarima was elected governor, Mr Nasiha was amongst his first set of appointees as commissioner.

First, he was posted to the health ministry and then commerce and Industries. He was also commissioner for environment, water resources, land and housing as well as local government and chieftaincy affairs from 1999 to 2003.

2007 politicking

In the build up to the 2007 general elections, Mr Nasiha and other politicians from the Zamfara Central Senatorial zone, specifically Gusau, the state capital, began an underground campaign for the seat of the state governor to be shifted to Gusau.

Mr Nasiha, then speaker of the house of Assembly, Mamman Bawa; Bature Umar  Sambo (two terms Commissioner); Danbuba Gusau (two terms Commissioner) among others were determined on making Mr Yarima pick the next governor from among them. As destiny would have it, Mahmud Shinkafi emerged.

Mr Nasiha, who had by then become more influential, was compensated with the ticket to represent the senatorial zone.

At the Senate, he was appointed to committees on Science & Technology, Public Accounts, Marine Transport, Health, Gas and Employment, Labour & Productivity.

But he was there for only four years (2007  2011) when the Yarima  Yari political tsunami wiped them off after decamping from ANPP to PDP. He was defeated by Kabiru Marafa of the ANPP in 2011.

For the eighth years that Abdulaziz Yari ruled Zamfara State, Mr Nasiha remained with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was its Chairman from 2015 to 2019 when he won the Senate seat again under the PDP.

Gusau agenda

Several political pundits may find it weird for a senator, and chairman of Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, to leave his position and accept to be a deputy governor.

Others may argue that with the kind of influence he has on Mr Matawalle, the new deputy governor would not have had any problem retaining his Senate seat. So why then accept to be deputy governor, a job usually widely derided in Nigeria as that of a spare tyre?

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr Nasiha has been eyeing the governorship seat of the state since 2007.

It is believed that his decision to fight for the seat was an effort to get himself better positioned in the politics of the state to fulfill his ambition of becoming the governor in 2027.

Controversial removal

PREMIUM TIMES had extensively reported how Mr Gusau was impeached by his colleagues months after he parted ways with Governor Bello Matawalle after he refused to join him to defect to the APC.

They were both elected on the platform of the PDP after the Supreme Court disqualified candidates of the APC, who was initially declared winner in the 2019 governorship election.

The House had served Mr Gusau the impeachment notice through the Secretary to the State Government before asking the Chief Judge to constitute an investigative panel to verify the allegations against the deputy governor.

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Offences

The House, through its Chairman, House Standing Committee, Shamsudeen Basko, accused Mr Gusau of three offences.

These are abuse of office, criminal self-enrichment using public funds and failure to discharge official duties.

Mr Basko said: Abuse of office. This includes Constitutional breach of sections 190 and 193 (1), (2) (a)(b)(c), of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Criminal self-enrichment using public funds; includes criminal diversion of state funds, conspiracy to defraud the state and approval of dubious retirement in his office.

Failure to discharge constitutional duties, which give rise to insubordination, he added.

Mr Gusau insists he is being victimised for refusing to join the governor in the ruling APC.
Russian forces have attacked Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin announced he had authorised a special military operation in the countrys east, Al Jazeera reported.

This is happening at about the same time the United Nations Security Council met for its second emergency meeting this week.

Al Jazeera quoted Russian media on Thursday reporting that President Putin had approved a special military operation in the Donbas region of Ukraine, where Moscow earlier recognised rebel-held territories in Luhansk and Donetsk and said they had asked for its help. Clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces were only a matter of time, he added.

There have been airstrikes and sirens going off in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Odessa, Kharviv.

According to Ukraines border guard service, Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus as well as Russia itself, with Belarusian support, at about 5 a.m. local time (07:00 GMT).

The agency said an attack had also been launched from Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

It would appear that military installations have been the target [of the attack]  there have been missile attacks and the number of casualties and level of damage is unclear at the moment, Al Jazeera reported.

But the whole sky was awash with red and orange when these missiles struck  some of which were apparently cruise missiles. And the main international airport did come under attack  it is not clear what the damage is there, but all air space is closed, it added.

However, Vassily Nebenzia, Russias ambassador to the UN, told an emergency security council meeting that Moscows military operation against Ukraine was targeting the junta in power in Kyiv.

I wanted to say in conclusion that we arent being aggressive against the Ukrainian people but against the junta that is in power in Kiyv, he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a brief national address to say that he was declaring martial law and that Ukraine would win.

Assuring Ukrainians of the militarys readiness, Mr Zelensky said a minute ago, I had a conversation with President Biden. The U.S. has already started uniting international support. Today each of you should keep calm. Stay at home if you can. We are working. The army is working. The whole sector of defence and security is working.

No panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will win over everybody because we are Ukraine.

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

U.S. President Joe Biden, in a phone call with Mr Zelenskyy, condemned the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces, the White House said.

Mr Biden said in a statement he briefed Mr Zelenskyy on Washingtons and its allies planned next steps against Russia, including severe sanctions.

In an impassioned appeal, UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned Russias actions.

In the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia, he said. In the name of humanity, do not allow a war to start in Europe which could be the worst war since the beginning of the century with consequences not only devastating for Ukraine, not only tragic for the Russian Federation but with an impact we cannot even foresee.

Russias UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya, who is the current president of the Security Council, admitted to fellow members of the council that special operations were underway, insisting to the other ambassadors that the action did not amount to war and was a consequence of Ukraines actions.

The European Union condemned Russias attack on Ukraine and vowed to hold Kremlin accountable

We strongly condemn Russias unjustified attack on Ukraine. In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives. We will hold the Kremlin accountable, Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President wrote on Twitter.

The EU also imposed sanctions on Russias defence minister Sergei Shoigu, the countrys military chiefs, and other people close to the Kremlin in response to the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

The 27-nation group says it is freezing assets and imposing visa bans on high-ranking officials that include not only the heads of Russias army, navy and air force, but President Vladimir Putins chief of staff, and the editor-in-chief of state-run English language television channel RT, according to the EUs official journal, Al Jazeera said.

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The Nigerian government has issued an advisory to its citizens in Ukraine, saying they are responsible for their personal security and safety.

The embassy urges Nigerian nationals resident in Ukraine to remain calm but be very vigilant and be responsible for their personal security and safety, the Nigerian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, said in a statement shared on Twitter by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

Thousands of Nigerians live in Ukraine, many of whom are students in various higher institutions in the country. There are over 4,000 Nigerian students studying in the Eastern European country, according to official records.

The statement also asked students seeking temporary relocation to seek proper clearance and guarantee from their respective institutions, authorities/ agents.

In case of students seeking such temporary relocation, they are enjoined to seek proper clearance and guarantee from their respective institutions, authorities/agents on the way forward in respect to their studies during this period and/or thereafter, the embassy told students.

For those who still consider it appropriate to remain in the country, be assured that the embassy remains open for its consular duties and responsibilities at all times. it will always avail you of updates when necessary, it said.

It also advised Nigerians who do not feel safe in their current locations to make private arrangements to move to places they consider safer.

The embassy wishes to add that should any of Nigerian nationals consider the situation as emotionally disturbing, such nationals may wish to temporarily relocate to anywhere considered safe by private arrangements they should, however, ensure that they do all the needful to validate all their resident documents for ease of return to the country when desired.

According to Ukraines Ministry of Education and Science in 2020, of the 76,548 international students in Ukraine, 4,227 are Nigerians, the fifth highest international student population.

PREMIUM TIMES attempt to find out the number of Nigerians in Ukraine failed as the Consular and Legal department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who this reporter was directed to said they do not have the details and were not responsible for that.

However, an official of the ministry told this newspaper that the exact number of Nigerians in Ukraine was not known because many Nigerians do not register themselves with the mission in Ukraine hence making it hard to have an accurate database.

Despite threats of a Russian attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the year, no plans were made for the evacuation of the Nigerians.

Nigerian students in Ukraine have lamented the absence of information or assurances from the Nigerian government or the mission in Kyiv.

Also, some Nigerian students speaking on a Twitter Spaces conversation, alleged that the Nigerian Ambassador to Ukraine, Shina Alege, has fled Ukraine. PREMIUM TIMES is unable to independently verify this at the time of filing this report.

Ukranians are fleeing the country heading west to keep safe. Banks are closed and shelves are being cleared by panic buyers looking to stock up owing to the state of emergency in the country.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Russian forces attacked Ukraine Thursday morning in what President Vladimir Putin described as a special military operation

Russia claims it is targeting Ukrainian military installations including air bases but there are fears many civilians have been killed in air raids.
The prices of crude oil on Thursday surged above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014, after Russia launched military attacks on Ukraine.

Brent crude hit a high of $102.48 a barrel, the highest since September 2014, and was at $102.06 a barrel at 0547 GMT, up by $5.22 or 5.4 per cent.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures jumped $4.85, or 5.3 per cent, to $96.95 a barrel, after rising to as much as $97.40, the highest since August 2014, Reuters reported.

The development came after the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, ordered a special military operation in Ukraines Donbas region.

Russia is the worlds second-largest oil producer, mostly selling its crude to European refineries, and the largest supplier of natural gas to Europe, providing about 35 per cent of the latters supply.

On Monday, Mr Putin announced his signing of a decree on the deployment of Russian troops to keep the peace in the two breakaway regions.

Following the decrees, the United States and its European allies are expected to announce new sanctions against Russia after Mr Putin formally recognised the two regions in eastern Ukraine, escalating a security crisis on the continent.

A statement released by the White House news late Wednesday indicated that Biden would meet with a Group of 7 nations Thursday morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine.

Early Thursday, Mr Putin launched an attack on Ukraine, after months of military buildup along the border the countries both share.

Reuters quoted the head of INGs commodity research, Warren Patterson as saying Russias announcement of a special military operation into Ukraine has pushed Brent to the $100/bbl mark.

This growing uncertainty during a time when the oil market is already tight does leave it vulnerable, and so prices are likely to remain volatile and elevated, Mr Patterson said.
JERUSALEM, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli troops have shot and killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy in the West Bank for hurling firebombs at passing vehicles, the Israeli military said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday in al-Khader, a town near Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israeli troops spotted three Palestinian suspects hurling firebombs at passing drivers when they were conducting "counter-terrorism activity" near al-Khader, an Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement sent to Xinhua.

"The troops operated to stop them, firing at one of the suspects who hurled a Molotov cocktail toward passing vehicles," the statement read.

It confirmed that the Israeli troops shot and fatally injured the boy, who was identified by the Palestinian Health Ministry as Mohammed Shehadeh.

Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled it ever since. The Palestinians seek to establish an independent state on these territories with East Jerusalem as its capital. 
Nigerian students in Ukraine say they are confused and feel abandoned by their country amidst the escalating war between Russia and Ukraine. There are over 4,000 Nigerian students studying in Ukraine.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Russian forces attacked major Ukrainian cities Thursday morning in what President Vladimir Putin described as a special military operation.

Russia says it is targeting military installations in Ukraine but there are fears many civilians have been killed in airstrikes.

Amidst the confusion in Ukraine, Nigerians studying in the Eastern Ukrainian country say they feel let down.

A Nigerian student at Lviv National Medical University, Ukraine, Anjola Philips, told PREMIUM TIMES, on Wednesday, that although the Nigerian embassy was responsive, students had no information on what to do should a full-blown war ensue.

We do not know what is happening, we see other nations organising flights for their people. I think it will be good to know if we have a place of convergence, we have no idea and people are asking if they should start returning home.

The embassy is responsive anytime we reach out to them but it is the same response every time, which leaves me wondering if there are no plans for the worst-case scenario, Mr Philips, the president of the Nigerian students union in Lviv, said.

He noted that the situation on the ground is one of great uncertainty. No one knows what is our fate as Nigerian students here. We just get things online and we try to feel the pulse of the school administration and the locals. Lviv is pretty safe, everybody is going about their business

Some days ago, the school sent out information that students could go back to their houses with the exception of students who had professional examinations. We are still trying to get further clarification from the school on why this group is exempted.

The issue is we do not have any direction from the Nigerian embassy, I reached out to them and was told to keep checking the website for information. They said they will update us with more information if they receive any. The last update on their website was on January 26, asking us to call the embassy in case of emergency, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nigerian embassy in Ukraine Thursday released a statement saying Nigerians in Ukraine should essentially defend themselves.

The embassy urges Nigerian nationals resident in Ukraine to remain calm but be very vigilant and be responsible for their personal security and safety, the Nigerian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine said in a statement shared on Twitter by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

Russia Attacks

Felix Ogunlade, a recent graduate of Ternopil National Medical University who lives in Kyiv awaiting his medical licence examination, told this newspaper that between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Thursday morning, he heard three explosions go off.

When I heard the first explosion, I thought I was hallucinating due to the panic and then there were multiple explosions, it sounded like fireworks. I was not sure until my housemates confirmed they heard the same thing.

Mr Ogunlade noted that as residents were scampering out of their apartments in fear, he tried to find his way out to Lviv or anywhere in the western part of Ukraine which is still safe but there was no means of transportation out of the city.

There was no Uber or train available this morning when we first checked. But we found a train for tomorrow that had 300 seats when we checked but before we could mobilise other Nigerians and return to book, it was filled up. This was about 20 to 30-minute interval, he said.

He said, some affirmative message or communication (from the Nigerian embassy) would help his confidence at the moment.

Mr Ogunlade spoke minutes before the statement by the Nigerian embassy.

In Ternopil, a six hours drive from Kyiv (Ukraines capital), Jessica Orakpo, president of Nigerian students in Ternopil National Medical University said the embassy has basically said we are on our own.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES Thursday morning, Ms Orakpo said we received a letter few minutes ago asking us to remain calm and before today when the threats started, I called the ambassador and he said he could not ask us to go home but people who wanted to could but he would not be quoted as asking Nigerians to go home.

According to Ms Orakpo, a lot of Nigerians are now stuck in Ternopil because earlier on when some foreign students were appealing for online learning given the rising tension, the school said it could only do that if the foreign embassies wrote them (school) asking for such for their citizens.

We reached out to our embassy to put pressure on schools but our embassy said they could not do anything saying they could not help our school make that decision. Now the case has become worse, we cannot travel, most airlines have cancelled flights, the embassy is not saying anything. We are literally fending for ourselves.

She noted the ambassador said he could only provide relief funds but could not intervene in the schools decision making.

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India brought their letter but Ghana and Nigerias letters were not issued and that was when I called and they said they could not infringe on the decision-making process of our school, that it has never been done.

And if our school wants that kind of letter from them, our school should write to them. It became a game of diplomacy, nobody wants to take responsibility for asking Nigerians to go home.

Although Ternopil is relatively safe, the panic in the air is palpable as schools have been shut, residents are panic buying and flights cancelled, she said.

According to Ukraines Ministry of Education and Science in 2020, of the 76548 international students in Ukraine, 4,227 are Nigerians, the fifth-highest international student population.

Nigerias Inaction

As world leaders condemned and issued sanctions on Russia, Nigeria has not stated its position and has remained quiet in offering any form of clear advisory to its citizens. The most it had done before the Thursday statement was the January statement asking Nigerians living in Ukraine to take their safety seriously and avoid travels to identified hot spots in Eastern Ukraine.

PREMIUM TIMES visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja on Wednesday but got no response on what or if there is a plan for Nigerians living in Ukraine.

The ministry was as calm as it could be with different events happening and staffers going about their activities as though the world was at its most peaceful state.

On the same day, PREMIUM TIMES contacted the ministrys spokesperson, Francisca Omoyuli, she said she could not respond immediately as she was at a two-day event in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

An official of the ministry who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in confidence said students who wanted to be evacuated would need to notify the embassy of their intentions to return home adding that the students should also be able to prove that the security situation in their location was dire and deserving evacuation.

She added that as of Wednesday, the Nigerian embassy in Kyiv had yet to notify the ministry of any alarming situation or need to evacuate Nigerians.

Kyiv residents leave city

Residents of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv are trooping out of the capital, moving west in search of safer havens.

India is evacuating its students from Ukraine while U.S., Canada and Australia have evacuated most of their citizens from Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin who ordered a military operation in Ukraine early Thursday said he had been left with no choice but to launch the operation.

In a televised address Thursday morning, Mr Putin said the sspecial military operation was aimed at protecting eastern Ukraine from what he called a regime.

Multiple news platforms have reported explosions in major Ukrainian cities including Kyiv, the countys capital, as well as in Kharkiv, a city in the northeast.

BBC reports that Russian troops have landed in Odessa, the countys southernmost port city, and footage showed Russian tanks entering Ukraine through Belarus, the fastest pathway for reaching Kyiv.

Western leaders have quickly condemned what they called the start of a Russian invasion that could spark the biggest war in Europe since 1945.

I have decided to conduct a special military operation, Reuters news agency quoted Mr Putin as saying.

He said that the goal is the defence of people who for a period of eight years have suffered the scorn and genocide of the Kyiv regime  and for that, we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.

And to bring to court those who committed numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation.

Ukraine has dismissed Russian accusations of genocide against people living in parts of its east seized by Russian-backed separatists in 2014.

It accused Russia of looking for an artificial pretext to attack it.

In his speech, Mr Putin told the Ukrainian forces to lay down their weapons and go home.

I urge you to immediately lay down your weapons and go home. All servicemen of the Ukrainian army who fulfil this demand will be able to freely leave the combat zone and return to their families, he said.

Mr Putin added that Russia cannot feel safe and develop and exist with the constant threat coming from the modern territory of Ukraine.

We simply werent given any other option to defend Russia and our people other than that which we will use today.

He said Moscow would not occupy Ukraine but had to end eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv government forces have been fighting pro-Moscow separatist militants.

His only intention, Mr Putin said, is to protect Russia from those who took Ukraine hostage.

He suggested that he planned to annex parts of the country as Russia did in 2014 when it seized Crimea from Ukraine.

Let me remind you that when the U.S.S.R. was created after the Second World War, people who lived in certain territories included in modern Ukraine, no one ever asked them how they themselves wanted to build their life, he added.

According to Financial Times, Mr Putin also referred to the UNs right to self-determination  a possible indication that Russia plans to create more Moscow-backed rump states in Ukraines south-east. Mr Putin also appeared fully bent on regime change in Kyiv.

All responsibility for possible bloodshed will be completely and totally on the conscience of the regime ruling on Ukrainian territory, he said.

He also threatened strong retaliations against any country that joins forces with Ukraine.

Although the U.S. and many Western countries have condemned the invasion and imposed sanctions on Russia, none has indicated any willingness to join the war.

American President Joe Biden is expected to give an address at noon. But, he posted a tweet saying prayers of the world are with the people of Ukraine and that the U.S. and its allies will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia.

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President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Mr Biden added, World leaders would hold Russia accountable.

Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, narrowly affirmed the conviction of a former federal lawmaker, Farouk Lawan, for receiving $500,000 bribe during a legislative probe into the fuel subsidy regime in 2012.

This was after a three-member bench led by the courts president, Monica Dongban-Mensem, unanimously overturned the former lawmakers conviction for two of the three offences he was earlier jailed for by the lower trial court in June last year.

Mr Lawan, who appealed against his conviction and sentencing by the lower High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, also got a reduction of his jail term from seven to five years.

This arose from his acquittal in respect of two counts which, each attracted seven years jail term at the trial court. The Court of Appeals overall decision left Mr Lawan with a conviction for the third offence with five years imprisonment as punishment.

Why Appeal Court gave Lawan an acquittal

Dismissing the first two counts, the three-member bench ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that Mr Lawan demanded and agreed to accept $3 million bribe from billionaire oil mogul, Femi Otedola, to exonerate the businessmans company from the list of firms indicted for fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.

The decision capitalised on a major investigative flaw in the case, with the court holding that the prosecution failed to establish whether it was Mr Otedola who offered the bribe or it was Mr Lawan who asked for it.

David Igbodo, the police investigative officer, who testified as the second prosecution witness (PW2), was evasive at the trial court on the issue of the telephone conversations the two men had on the bribery, Mrs Dongban-Mensem said in her lead judgement on Thursday.

She said the prosecution could have obtained the call logs of both men to determine who initiated the bribery conversation, but they failed to so do.

The respondent did not find it necessary to contact the service providers to establish that the appellant demanded $3million from PW5 (Mr Otedola), she said.

She added that Mr Otedolas claim that Mr Lawan asked for the bribe was not corroborated by any evidence.

There is no scintilla of evidence from PW2 (Mr Igbodo) establishing or proving that the appellant (Mr Lawan) corruptly asked for $3 million from PW5 (Mr Otedola). There is also no evidence that the appellant agreed to accept $3million from PW5 to remove Zenon Oil and Gas Limited and AP Petroleum from the list of indicted firms, the judge held.

Dismissing the two charges, she held: There is a very big lacuna in Counts 1 and 2.

There is no compelling evidence against the appellant in Counts 1 and 2, she added.

Conviction affirmed

But the panel affirmed the decision of the lower court that Mr Lawan, indeed, accepted $500,000 bribe from Mr Otedola, an offence that attracted five years imprisonment at the lower court.

Mrs Dongban-Mensem held that Mr Lawans claim that he collected the $500,000 as evidence of bribery against Mr Otedola did not hold water.

The judge pointed out from the trial courts records that Mr Lawan admitted that he did not report the money he received from Mr Otedola to any law enforcement agency.

It is curious that he accepted the $500,000 as evidence of bribe but failed to report it to any law enforcement agency, she held.

She also referred to the testimony one of Mr Lawans contemporaries at the House of Representatives, Adams Jagaba, who testified as the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), to detriment of the convicts line of defence.

Mr Jagaba said it was untrue that Mr Lawan submitted the money to him as an exhibit with a cover letter.

No such money or memo was given to PW4, the court held.

Affirming Mr Lawans conviction and sentence of five years imprisonment on the charge of taking $500,000 bribe from Mr Otedola, the court held that the prosecution proved it beyond reasonable doubt.

The Court of Appeal affirmed both the conviction and the sentence passed by the lower court on the offence. But it discharged and acquitted him regarding the two other counts of demanding and agreeing to accept $3 million from Mr Otedola to clear his company.

Background

Mr Lawan, a veteran member of the House of Representatives, headed the ad hoc committee of the House that probed the multi-billion-naira fraud in the subsidy scheme during then President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2012.

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As of then, Mr Lawan had earned the moniker, Mr Integrity, in tributes to his strong anti-corruption bent as a lawmaker.

In the report issued at the end of its enquiry, the Lawan-led committee indicted Mr Otedolas Zenon Oil and Gas Ltd and many other firms.

Specifically, the committee accused Zenon Oil of fraudulently obtaining over $230 million foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to import petrol under the subsidy scheme, but failed to use it for the purpose.

But Mr Lawan later removed Zenon Oils name from the list of indicted firms after receiving $500,000 from Mr Otedola as the first tranche of the agreed $3 million bribe, the judge was told.

Both men later claimed that they gave or received the money as evidence of bribe against each other.

But Mr Otedola said he reported to the State Security Service (SSS) the alleged move by Mr Lawan to extort him through threats to indict his firms without justification.

The businessman said the SSS asked him to play along. He said the SSS organised a sting operation that got Mr Lawan captured collecting the bribe from him in a video clip.

Mr Lawan, on his part, insisted that he collected the money as evidence against Mr Otedola, but admitted he did not report to any law enforcement agency.

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, though a private prosecutor, Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had charged Mr Lawan with the first two counts under section 18(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and the third count under section 17(1)(a) of the same law.

High Court conviction

In her judgement delivered on June 22, 2021, the trial judge, Angela Otaluka, of the FCT High Court, convicted Mr Lawan on all three charges filed by the government.

The court convicted him for demanding $3 million gratification, agreeing to receive the $3 million bribe, and eventually taking $500,000 bribe from Mr Otedola to exonerate the businessmans company from the list of firms indicted for the fuel subsidy fraud.

The judge sentenced Mr Lawan to seven years imprisonment on each of the first two counts and to five years in the third count.

She ruled that the sentences should run concurrently, implying that the convict was to spend seven years in jail.

Appeal

But Mr Lawan, dissatisfied with the decision, filed an appeal against it.

The federal lawmaker dropped a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, who defended him at trial, and engaged a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Joseph Daudu, also a SAN, to prosecute his appeal.

Mr Daudu raised six issues with the lower courts judgement on behalf of his client.

The federal government, through a lawyer from the federal ministry of justice, Aminu Alilu, opposed the appeal, and picked holes in all the appellants arguments.

In its judgement on Thursday, the Court of Appeal resolved only one of the six issues in Mr Lawans favour. But the points made by the appellants lawyer on the only one issue were enough to secure an acquittal for the former lawmaker on the two charges of demanding and agreeing to accept $3 million bribe.

The court dismissed all his other arguments, which would have led to the dismissal of the entire charges if they were upheld.

For instance, Mr Daudu argued that the lawmaker was wrongly charged under the repealed Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, instead of the valid version of the law enacted in 2003.

But on this point, the Court of Appeal cited a Supreme Courts decision which nullified the 2003 version of the law, and held that the 2000 version was the active law.

A mere publication of a law does not confer validity, the court ruled.

Mrs Dongban-Mensem added that even if Mr Lawan was charged under the wrong law, the charge would not have been dismissed as much as he was found to have committed an offence created by a valid law.

The lawyer also contended that as a lawmaker, covered by the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, Mr Lawan ought to be charged under section 20 of the law instead of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.

Dismissing this argument, the court upheld the governments argument that, the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, is never a shield for criminal activities of lawmakers. It added that there is no law that exempts a lawmaker from being charged under other laws.

He also raised the issue that his client was not a public officer in the contemplation of the law under which he was charged.

The court also dismissed this argument by upholding the respondents argument that Mr Lawan was a public officer since he was receiving salaries from the government as a member of the House of Representatives.

The lawyer also cited the inconsistencies in the evidence of Mr Otedola who testified as PW5 and Boniface Emenalo, a National Assembly official, who testified as the second prosecution witness (PW1), as to how much he received from them.

But the court ruled that how much he received from the two men was immaterial as much as it summed up to the $500,000 he admitted to have received from them.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to respond to a bail request filed by Abba Kyari, a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, who is being held by the anti-narcotics agency over his alleged involvement in a 25 kg cocaine deal.

Mr Kyari, a former head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), instituted a lawsuit to regain his freedom after he was handed over to the NDLEA by the police in Abuja concerning the pending allegations of drug crime.

At Thursdays hearing, NDLEAs lawyer, Mike Kassa, informed the judge, Inyang Ekwo, that the agency had not been served with Mr Kyaris pending application for bail.

The judge stood down the proceedings for about 30 minutes to enable the applicants lawyer, Cynthia Ikenna, to serve a copy of the court document on Mr Kassa.

When the case resumed, NDLEAs Director of Legal Services, Joseph Sunday, announced appearance and asked for an adjournment of the case to enable his agency to respond to the embattled Kyaris bail request.

Subsequently, Mr Ekwo ordered lawyers to parties in the suit to put their house in order, and adjourned the suit until February 28 for the hearing of the bail application.

Backstory

Last Monday, Mr Kyaris lawyer, Cynthia Ikenna, in an ex-parte application, appealed to the judge to admit her client to bail, while citing health grounds.

But Mr Ekwo instead directed the lawyer to serve the pending request on the NDLEA, before slating the suit for hearing on Thursday.

However, due to the improper service of the court document on the anti-narcotics agency, the hearing was stalled.

The NDLEA had, on February 14, confirmed that the embattled Kyari was in its custody after it declared the cop wanted for allegedly aiding and abetting drug pushing and working with a drug cartel.

The declaration by the NDLEA came a few months after the former police intelligence unit commander was indicted in an internet fraud case by the U.S. government.

Following the declaration, the Nigerian police announced that Mr Kyari was arrested alongside four other members of the police intelligence response team.

But in an affidavit in support of the ex-parte application for bail, Mr Kyari denied the allegation linking him to an international drug cartel.

In the affidavit, dated February 16 and filed February 17, which was deposed to by Mr Kyaris younger brother, Muhammad Usman, the suspended DCP described the allegation as made-up by the NDLEA, arguing, a prima facie case has not been established against him.

He sued the NDLEA for N500 million for alleged violation of his right.
The Nigerian government on Thursday said it has received with surprise reports of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

The West African country, however, did not condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine or call for the cessation of hostilities. Many countries, including the U.S. and its allies have condemned the invasion and imposed sanctions on Russia.

Nigerias position was contained in a press release from the ministry of foreign affairs shared on Twitter.

The ministry of foreign affairs has been reassured by the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine of the safety of Nigerians in that country and measures being undertaken to keep them safe and facilitate the evacuation of those who wish to leave, Francisca Omayuli, the ministrys spokesperson, said.

The federal government wishes to assure the families with loved ones in Ukraine that as soon as the airports in the country are opened. It would assist in facilitating the evacuation of Nigerians who are willing to leave.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that both civilian and military airports in Ukraine have been bombed by Russia which sought to destroy Ukraines air capabilities. All flights in and out of Ukraine were, therefore, cancelled.

Attack only on military formations!

The Nigerian government also said it has confirmed that military action by Russia has been confined to military installations in Ukraine.

READ ALSO: Africa silent as world leaders react to Russian invasion of Ukraine

Nigerias stance that Russias attacks are targeting only military installations in Ukraine is similar to the stance of the Kremlin on the matter. However, the BBC showed videos of residential buildings in Ukraine that have been bombed by Russian forces although the casualty from the war is yet to be stated.

Russia began attacking Ukraine Thursday morning, a day after it recognised two breakaway regions in the east of the country.

The Nigerian governments position that it was willing to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine occurs hours after the House of Representatives called on the government to do so. The lawmakers also tasked some of their members to work with the government and a private airline, Air Peace, to ensure the evacuation is successful.

PREMIUM TIMES reported Russias invasion of Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday. This newspaper also reported that Nigerian students called for help amidst the escalating war between Russia and Ukraine. There are over 4,000 Nigerian students in Ukraine.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of an Abuja property belonging to a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Thursday.

The commission said in a statement that it obtained the court order after showing the court that the property was illegally acquired.

Wilson Uwujaren, EFCCs spokesperson, who signed the statement, described the property located in the Garki area of Abuja as reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities of Mr Okorocha, an incumbent Nigerian senator representing Imo West.

He gave the full address of the property as Plot 1032 & 1033 Cadastral Zone AO3, Takum Close, Off Michika Street, Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki, Abuja.

The interim forfeiture order came just some days after the EFCC lamented its inability to serve the ex-governor with the corruption charges it recently filed against him.

The anti-graft agency had in January filed a 17-count charge against Mr Okorocha over allegations that he conspired with others, including an APC politician and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion from public coffers.

In a fresh development, the EFCC said on Thursday it filed a motion ex-parte to seek the interim forfeiture of the property linked to Mr Okorocha on the grounds that it was acquired illegally.

The anti-graft agency said its investigation had revealed that sometime in 2018, Abtisal Global Ltd and Archivisual Solution Ltd, companies in which Okorocha is believed to have interest, received N222, 000,000 from the Imo State Government Treasury to develop and improve on the said property.

It added that its application for the interim forfeiture was anchored on section 44(2) of the Nigerian Constitution and section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 2006.

The judge, Emeka Nweti, granted the order of interim forfeiture.

He also directed that the order of interim forfeiture be published in the national dailies, to alert anyone with interest in the property to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The judge then adjourned until April 13, 2022 for consideration of the motion for final forfeiture of the property.

Pending charges

PREMIUM TIMES reported that another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Inyang Ekwo, on February 22, adjourned the arraignment of Mr Okorocha and his co-defendants, on 13 charges recently filed against them.

Following the prosecution teams complaint about its inability to serve the charges on Mr Okorocha, the judge fixed March 28 as new date of arraignment.

Mr Okorocha, who has been at the centre of various fraudulent acquisition of assets since leaving office as governor in May 2019, has denied any wrongdoing.

The former governor ,who alleges persecution, recently visited the Presidential Villa to report the matter to President Muhammadu Buhari after the charges newly filed against him by the EFCC became public.

Mr Okorocha, 59, was a two-term governor of Imo State, serving from 2011 to 2019 after which he lost an intense political battle to install his son-in-law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, as his successor. He, however, succeeded in winning the Imo West senatorial election for himself as a candidate of the APC.

His co-accused, Mr Nyerere, open-source searches show, was the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 Abia State election and currently serves as a commissioner at the National Pension Commission.

Mr Nyerere features in all the 17 charges and is accused of conspiring with Mr Okorocha to steal and launder N2.9 billion belonging to Imo State and local government areas in the state in contravention of the Money Laundering Act 2011.

As CAC searches by PREMIUM TIMES showed, he owns or controls three of the charged companies, namely Consolid, Pramif, and Legend World, all registered in Abuja.

According to the EFCC charges, the stolen funds were diverted between October 2014 and February 2016 from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account.
Majeed Bakare, who covers the House of Representatives for PREMIUM TIMES and his wife, Neemat Bakare (nee Shekoni) wedded in style on February 19, 2022.

The Saturday wedding was done in three folds, starting with Nikkah, an Islamic wedding done privately at the wifes family house in the morning, the traditional marriage and reception ceremony commenced at 2 p.m. in Denponsen Royal hotel and event, Ipaja, Lagos State.

The event was graced by family, friends and colleagues charmingly dressed in wine and gold while the couple wore white and gold native clothes.

The introduction ceremony had earlier taken place in November 2021.

The groom is from Kwara State while the bride is from Osun State.

How they met?

Narrating the journey to I do, the groom, Mr Bakare, a University of Abuja graduate said during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020, while he attending an online meeting on Zoom, he was chatting with their mutual friend on WhatsApp.

Then he decided to check the persons status, saw his wifes picture and was attracted to her complexion and beauty.

I saw her picture and I was like who is this yellow popo (light-skinned), because I am dark-skinned and I needed my Fanta. So I got her contact and reached out to her that day and I introduced myself and was very straightforward. I told her I was not looking for a girlfriend but a wife.

Asides from the physical attraction, he went further to ask her important questions to know their level of compatibility and realised that they matched well. He also liked that she is reserved and a resourceful entrepreneur.

Although the groom was in Abuja at the time of contacting her, he travelled to Lagos where his wife was based for his mothers birthday in July which was also his birthday month. He then used the opportunity to meet her for the first time.

He was further surprised by her gesture as she gifted him a food package with pastries being a baker as his birthday gift, the first of that kind that he had ever received.

On the day they met, he narrated we were to meet somewhere but she was still at Idumota market and I couldnt wait till she was done so I dropped at Ijora and was looking for a vehicle to take me to the market but I didnt find so I decided to trek for more than 30 minutes. We were then monitoring each others location till we found ourselves. Even while her face mask was on, I was able to recognise her.

Two days after their first meeting, he introduced her to his mother and according to him, she is the first lady he has ever introduced to his mother because he meant business.

Mrs Bakare, who finished from Kwara State polytechnic knew she had found her lucky man because she found him to be responsible, cool, kind-hearted, and intelligent.

She prayed that they have a blissful marriage while her husband, hopes they learn from their parents generosity which blessed their wedding with support from people that they had helped in previous years. He also looks forward to being great parents to their unborn children.
The IPI global network of editors, journalists and publishers today expresses steadfast support for and solidarity with our members and journalist colleagues in Ukraine in the wake of Russias attack on the country. We demand that journalists safety and the right to cover developments independently and without fear of retaliation be protected.

IPI is monitoring the situation closely and will use all available channels to condemn any attacks on the press and seek accountability for those responsible. The immediate physical safety of Ukrainian journalists, as well as all international journalists reporting from within the country, is of the utmost concern.

IPI is horrified by Russias invasion of Ukraine and demands that the safety and the right to report of all journalists working in the country be immediately guaranteed. Those working in current conflict zones and military correspondents on the frontlines are our immediate concern as they face serious threats to their safety. We remind Russia that journalists are never legitimate targets and that military operations must seek to limit the loss of life.

As the first casualty of war is so often truth, it is vital that the free flow of independent news and information is fully respected. In times of crisis such as this, the media plays a fundamental role in providing timely and accurate information about developments on the ground. The targeting of news organizations covering the conflict or any attempts by Russian forces to knock out key telecommunications or broadcasting infrastructure in Ukraine would be completely unacceptable.

The entire world is watching Russias war of aggression in Ukraine. As events unfold in the coming hours and days, IPI calls on international bodies including the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Council of Europe to closely monitor all forms of attacks on journalists and restrictions of the freedom of the press and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. We also call on the EU and its Member States to offer emergency visas, refugee status and humanitarian support to any journalists forced to flee Ukraine because of their profession.

IPI is setting up a monitoring team and will coordinate with national press freedom unions in Ukraine to ensure all attacks on the media and independent journalists are systematically recorded and responded to. We will also work with partner press freedom organisations in Europe to help provide emergency practical and emergency relocation support to any Ukrainian journalists forced to flee the country.

READ ALSO: Africa silent as world leaders react to Russian invasion of Ukraine

IPI also commends the courageous work of our members and journalists reporting on the ground in extremely challenging conditions, including our colleagues at the Kyiv Independent, who have been working tirelessly to cover developments, provide sober analysis and ensure the world knows what is happening. IPI stands side by side with them and all other journalists in Ukraine during this moment of crisis.

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NSJU) issued a statement on Thursday morning stressing: The safety of journalists at the forefront, the safety of media workers throughout our country, which is being attacked by Russian occupation forces, is our priority.

It said it has set up a special team to monitor the situation and coordinate the actions of NSJU members in Ukraine.

A hotline for journalists to call has been established in Kyiv: 0442342096. Journalists concerned for their safety can contact the NSJU at: oblik@nsju.org and spilka@nsju.org
A Federal High Court in Yenagoa on Thursday adjourned ruling to April 22 on the argument whether or not Nigerias secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), has prosecutorial powers in cyber-stalking cases.

The adjournment followed resumption of trial in the case of a teenage girl who allegedly circulated on social media nude video of a retired permanent secretary.

The SSS arraigned the teenager on October 18, 2021 on a one-count charge of cyber-stalking.

According to the prosecution, the defendant engaged in cyber-stalking by circulating the retirees nude picture in a WhatsApp chat group after she tried to blackmail him into paying her N15 million.

The retired permanent secretary, a witness for the SSS, told the court that the teenager made a nude video of him when they had intercourse at a hotel in Yenagoa in August 2021.

At Thursdays session, counsel to the teenage girl, Andrew Arthur, told the court that he had filed a notice of objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear and determine the charge.

Mr Andrew, a former attorney-general of Bayelsa State, said he was challenging the jurisdiction of the court on the grounds that the SSS under its establishment Act and the National Security Agencies Act lacks prosecuting powers.

He argued that the SSS was set up as a national security protection agency and not a law enforcement agency.

Mr Andrew submitted that if the SSS did not have the powers of prosecution in its enabling Act, it could not assume such powers by itself and urged the court to strike out the case.

In his argument, prosecuting counsel, Victor Uchendu, contended that the SSS under the Cybercrimes Prevention and Prohibition Act 2015 was listed as one of the relevant law enforcement agencies to prosecute offenders.

He maintained that the SSS was indeed a law enforcement agency with prosecuting powers bestowed on it by the Cybercrimes Prevention and Prohibition Act 2015 under which the suspect was being prosecuted.

Mr Uchendu told the court that SSS competently prosecuted many cases successfully and secured convictions and urged the court to dismiss Mr Andrews application and proceed with the prosecution.

The trial judge, Isa Ndahen, asked both counsels to adopt their applications and responses before the court and adjourned the case till April 22 for ruling on the application.

(NAN)
GAZA, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is going through a tough funding phase to provide services to Palestinian refugees, a senior official said Wednesday.

"UNRWA seeks 1.6 billion U.S. dollars in support from the international community to cover expenses, provide services and humanitarian development programs for Palestinian refugees," Thomas White, director of UNRWA's operations in the Gaza Strip, told reporters at his office in Gaza.

"The agency has requested 288 million dollars in rapid support," White said, noting that the funds will be allocated for the regular programs of the general budget for refugees in Gaza, represented by schools, clinics, and health centers.

The agency wants to secure a sum of money for special emergencies in the event of natural disasters or any new Israeli wars that might be waged on the Gaza Strip, he added.

UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 and was mandated to provide assistance and protection services including education, health care, relief, social services, camp infrastructure, improvement, protection and microfinance to some 5.6 million Palestine refugees. 
Poland, Hungary and Slovakia are making preparations to receive Ukranians fleeing Ukraine as a result of Russias attack on their country, Reuters reported.

While Poland is setting up reception points on its border, Hungary and Slovakia are planning to send troops to manage the likely influx.

The countries on the European Unions eastern flank were all part of the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact and are now members of NATO. Among them, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania all share land borders with Ukraine.

Earlier on Thursday, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine amidst calls for dialogue and diplomacy. According to Reuters, it is the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two confirming the Wests worst fears. It prompted fears of a massive flood of refugees fleeing Ukraine, a nation of 44 million people.

Poland called for the fiercest possible sanctions against Russia and the Czech foreign minister called the invasion a barbaric act of aggression.

Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban, despite good ties with Russia, condemned Moscows actions. He said Hungary would prepare humanitarian aid for Ukraine and was ready to receive refugees.

Ukrainians started trickling into Poland, with dozens arriving at the normally quiet Medyka crossing on Thursday, some carrying luggage and accompanied by children.

Polish hospitals were preparing beds for wounded Ukrainians, the health ministry said, and the Polish army raised the level of preparedness of some units.

We will do everything to ensure that every person who enters the territory of Poland has access to healthcare, including hospitalisation, the ministry said.

Poland said it would set up reception points for refugees on its borders, PAP news agency quoted Polish Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Pawel Szefernaker as saying.

Small groups of people also fled into Hungary on Thursday through the Beregsurany crossing, some coming from as far as Kyiv, a Reuters witness said. Some arrived by car, but many pedestrians were also hauling their suitcases across.

Slovakia also expressed its willingness to help refugees.

We can predict with near certainty that Russian aggression will drive out many Ukrainian women and men from their country, Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger said. Please lets have compassion and understanding for them.

Slovakia will send up to 1,500 troops to its border with Ukraine, where additional crossings will be set up, said Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad. Hungary has also said it will send troops to its border to help process refugees.

A Polish government spokesman said Polish diplomatic missions in Ukraine would remain open as long as possible but the foreign ministry urged all Polish citizens to leave Ukraine.

Hungary also said its embassy in Kyiv remained open. The Czech Republic closed its diplomatic mission, though its consulate in the west Ukrainian city of Lviv remained open.

READ ALSO: African Union expresses extreme concern over situation in Ukraine

Germany offered humanitarian help to countries bordering Ukraine. German media have cited estimates that between 200,000 and one million people may flee to the EU from Ukraine.

Public Transportation Halted

The Slovak railway halted services to Ukraine, and budget airline Wizz temporarily suspended all flights in and out of Ukraine. Czech Airlines also suspended flights as Ukraine closed its airspace.

Slovak news agency TASR reported there were waiting times of two to four hours for passenger cars at two main border crossings, while another crossing saw traffic flowing smoothly.

There are around 260,000 Ukrainians living in the Czech Republic, and tens of thousands working in Slovakia and Hungary, which has a large ethnic minority of around 140,000 living in Ukraine just beyond the border.

Romania is ready to grant humanitarian aid if needed, President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday. He also called for the consistent consolidation of NATOs eastern flank.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said his country was preparing to evacuate by land more than 4,000 ethnic Bulgarians from Ukraine and was ready to host other Ukrainian refugees.
An officer with the Nigerias secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), said the agency took over the investigation into the murder of a job-seeker in Akwa Ibom State, Iniubong Umoren, based on a request from the attorney-general of the state.

The SSS officer, Ama Okeke, disclosed on Thursday in a State High Court, Uyo, where he was giving his testimony as the 10th and the last prosecution witness in the murder trial.

Mr Okeke, a data analyst with the SSS, said the states Attorney-General, Uko Sam, requested the exploitation of the biodata of the late Ms Umoren and two accused persons  Uduak Akpan and his father, Frank  to determine the involvement of the accused persons in the murder.

The officer was cross-examined by the defence counsel, Sampson Adulla.

The SSS got the request letter from the attorney-general on June 8, 2021.

And on June 10 and 11, Uduak Akpan, and his father, Frank, were interrogated respectively where Uduak allegedly made a confessional statement, Mr Okeke said.

Mr Okeke said his agencys investigation led to the discovery of late Ms Umorens cell phone and the arrest of two other suspects in Calabar, Cross River State.

The two new suspects, Mr Okeke said, were currently being prosecuted in the State High Court 7.

He told the court that the agencys investigations led to the arrest of the 3rd accused person, Akpan Bassey-Anwan in Calabar

Ms Bassey-Anwan is a sister to the 1st accused person, Uduak.

Ms Umoren, 26, was lured out of her home in April last year with a fake job offer by her alleged killer.

From our (SSS) findings, our conclusions that the deceased was lured, rape, killed and buried in a shallow grave are not only based on what the 1st accused person told us (confessional statement).

From our call record analysis, the 1st accused person and the deceased were at the same cell record and coordinate (location) in Nung Ikono Obio in Uruan Local Government Area, Mr Okeke said.

Mr Okeke said the autopsy report was queried because when compared with the picture of the exhumed body of the deceased, there were a lot of things that showed that the deceased was strangled to death with several cuts noticed on the deceased head which were not contained in the report.

In the penultimate court session, counsel to the 1st accused person objected to his confessional statement being admitted as exhibit, claiming it was obtained under duress.

The trial judge, Bassey Nkanang, in his ruling on the matter, admitted the statement made by 1st accused person to the SSS on June 10, 2021 as evidence.

The case was adjourned to March 16, April 6, 11 and 13 for further hearing.
Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has chided the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, over his comments on the zoning of the 2023 presidency in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said Mr Mohammed got it wrong when he said with the new zoning formula of the APC, the ruling party is not a threat to the governors party, PDP.

Mr Okechukwu stated this while speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday

In the new zoning formula agreed by the APC on Tuesday, the North will produce the next national chairman of the party. This implies that the party may pick its presidential candidate from the South.

Other positions in the National Working Committee were also zoned.

Mr Mohammed said with the new zoning formula, the APC would not pose a threat to the former.

Mr Mohammed , who spoke during his visit to former president Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta on Wednesday, said the APC is not a threat to the PDP because each party is trying to strategise, to plan and organise.

If they zone to the South, it is open to us to see how it is going to give us more electoral victory or if we put it to the North it will give us more electoral victory, said Mr Mohammed, who is a presidential aspirant on the PDP platform.

This is the kind of things we are doing; the leg works, the permutations and so and so forth so that, at least, whatever we are going to do, is give us and provide for Nigerians to choose between the best alternatives.

You got it wrong

Reacting to Mr Mohammeds comment, Mr Okechukwu said his disposition shows the lack of dynamism in the political thinking of the PDP.

He added that the opposition party has shown that it is incapable of upstaging APC, especially when the unity and prosperity of Nigeria is not uppermost in their calculations.

Methinks if the statement credited to him is correct, His Excellency, Bala Mohammed and by extension PDP, is simply being opportunistic by saying that APCs zoning of Presidency to the South is not a threat to the PDP, because if we put it to the North, it will give us more electoral victory. Thats ethnic chauvinism. Simple!

The Bauchi State governor and PDP seems to forget that Nigerians are fair-minded and upholds justice and equity in their voting preferences. That was why the late Moshood Abiola of Social Democratic Party (SDP), defeated Alhaji Bashir Tofa in his Kano State home in 1993.

In 2023, Nigerians are going to repeat that feat by acknowledging President Muhammadu Buhari and APCs decision to do the right things for national unity peace and progress.

To me, the doctrine of swap of offices between the north and the south is a masterstroke by Mr. President and good for APC and Nigerians in every material particular. It is not only a threat to our sister political party, the PDP, but also signals their imminent defeat. My friend governors reaction seems inspired by sense of defeatism and phobia for APC.

After just seven years in opposition, PDP has retained its character of deception, duplicity, selfishness, promise and fail; otherwise how can a rational political party flagrantly and unscrupulously breach its constitution, which expressly ingrained zoning? Mr Okechukwu stated.

The VON DG also said the Bauchi governor may be speaking on behalf of those who underrate the political sophistication of the north and their abiding faith in equity, natural justice and good conscience.

The north cannot be led by the nose by Governor Mohammed and his co-travellers. Have we forgotten how notable northern politicians like Alhajis Abubakar Rimi, Umaru Shinkafi, Adamu Ciroma, Dr Sola Saraki et al out of overriding public interest and uncommon patriotism constructed the zoning convention, which birthed the 4th Republic as the longest democratic era in the annals of Nigerian history?

I am confident that Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry how PDP nurtured Nigeria towards becoming the World Poverty Capital, gross unemployment and palpable insecurity by their squander mania and share-the-money syndrome which became its slogan.

Nigerians know that those monies PDP shared among themselves and their cronies were budgeted for critical infrastructure and social development of our dear countrymen. It is therefore ironical that the same PDP is struggling to washoff its hands like Pontus Pilate from squandering money budgeted for military equipment, roads, rails, education and healthcare.

Or do we forget the less than transparent sale of national assets and State owned Enterprises, where the sordid agreements like that of DISCOs are more or less tailored by tenant for the Federal Government, who is supposed to be the landlord.

The tenancy-tailored agreements had made it impossible to unbundle the none performing DISCOs and free Nigerians from the yoke. That is the darkness we cannot easily overcome.

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One flatly disagrees with those who say that APC and PDP are the same, because whereas our great party invested in critical infrastructure, PDP shared Nigerias money for temporary happiness, he said.
The police, on Thursday, arraigned the chairman of a local government in Akwa Ibom State for age falsification and perjury.

Isreal Idiasin, the chairman of Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, pleaded not guilty to the two counts read to him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The police alleged in the charges seen by PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Idiasin falsified his date of birth through a sworn affidavit, contrary to the one sworn by his late father, which he used to contest and win the local government chairmanship position.

The police also accused him of making false evidence through affidavits which he deposed to that he had never worked in any public office, whereas he was earlier engaged by the Nigeria Postal Service.

Defendants bail

After Mr Idiasins plea of not guilty, his team of lawyers, led by an erstwhile Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Nwoko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to release him on bail.

The prosecuting lawyer, B. N. Ezeala, did not oppose the bail application, but urged the court to exercise its discretionary powers on it.

The trial judge, Emeka Nwite, then stood the case down for about an hour to prepare his ruling.

Ruling after retuning to continue the proceedings, the judge granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court held that the sureties must be reasonable citizens that are resident within Abuja.

It ordered that the sureties must swear an affidavit of means and deposit their two recent passport photographs with the court registry.

In addition, Mr Idiasin was ordered to deposit his travel documents with the Chief Registrar of the court.

The judge adjourned the suit until April 4 for trial.

The court ordered that the defendant should be remanded in a correctional center, pending the perfection of all the bail conditions.
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to pay N15 million to a popular business woman, Seinye Lulu-Briggs.

Ayokunle Faji, the judge, made the order while ruling on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Mrs Lulu-Briggs.

The applicant is the Chief Executive of Moni Pulo Limited and wife of the late oil magnate, Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs.

She listed the Comptroller-General of the NIS and the EFCC as defendants in her suit prosecuted on her behalf by by a team of lawyers led by Funke Agbor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

She detailed in her suit marked FHC/L/CS/147/2020 how she suffered rights violations in hands of the government agencies in January 2020.

According to her, it started during her arrival in Lagos from London on January 14, 2020, when she said she was detained for several hours without explanation.

Similarly, on January 29, 2020, Mrs Lulu-Briggs said she was stopped from travelling at the Lagos International Airport.

She was kept in a solitary room till 2:00 a.m. on January 30, 2020. She was released without her international passport and other travel documents, the judge said in his judgement, reechoing Mrs Lulu-Briggss narration of her sordid experience in the hands of officials of the immigration service.

She filed her suit on February 3, 2020 against the Nigeria Immigration Service, its comptroller-general, and the EFCC, to enforce her rights.

Defence

But the respondents justified the seizure of the applicants passport and her detention.

In its counter-affidavit to the suit, EFCC argued that Mrs Lulu-Briggs was under investigation and granted an administrative bail.

It added that the plaintiff jumped bail, a development, it said, compelled it to place her on a watch list and ask the immigration service to seize her travelling documents.

Judgement

Delivering his judgment, a copy of which was seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, Mr Faji dismissed the immigration services notice of preliminary objection and held that the applicants suit was duly served on the respondents.

The judge, similarly, dismissed the EFCCs preliminary objection.

Mr Faji held that there was no material evidence before the court that Mrs Lulu-Briggs was under investigation for any crime.

He ruled that there was, therefore, no justification for the treatment meted out to her.

He held that NIS can only prohibit the movement of any person based on the order of a court of competent jurisdiction or a warrant of arrest issued by either a judge or magistrate.

He added that the seizure of the applicants passport by the anti-graft agency and immigration was unlawful.

The letter from the third respondent directing the arrest of the applicant did not constitute a warrant of arrest in any form or manner and cannot be a basis for restricting the movements of the applicant.

The law permits the first and second respondents from preventing a person from leaving Nigeria and not to prevent him from entering or delay his entry into the country. The acts of the respondents against the applicant in restricting her movements were done without lawful justification, the court held.

Watch list

The judge added that both the EFCC and the NIS did not comply with the provisions of the law in inhibiting the movements of the applicant to and from Nigeria.

He said: The travel ban on the applicants by the first and second respondents by way of a watchlist is a violation of the applicants right to fair hearing as she was not allowed to make representations before she was placed on the said travel ban.

The fact that the third respondent foisted the doing of an illegal act on the first and second respondents does not give the first and second respondents the cover for illegality.

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The first and second respondents are both as liable if not more culpable than the third respondent.

The judge awarded the sum of N15 million in favour of the applicant as exemplary damages, jointly and severally against each of the respondents.

He ordered each of the respondents to publish an apology to Mrs Lulu-Briggs in two national newspapers.
The police in Ondo have arrested Nkanu Patrick for impersonating an Assistant Superintendent of Police.

Mr Nkanu, 50, was arrested by a team of police officers from the Ore Division on Wednesday at about 2 p.m.

The police team were on a stop and search operation along the Benin/Ore Expressway way when he was arrested.

The police spokesperson in Ondo State, Funmilayo Odunlami, said in a statement on Thursday that the suspect was caught while escorting a Volkswagen mini bus conveying pharmaceutical products heading towards Benin.

He was wearing a complete police uniform with the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, the statement said

His dressing aroused the suspicion of the Policemen on duty and had to probe further into his particulars, Mrs Odunlami added.

When asked of his identity, he could not give satisfactory account of himself as a police officer.

Investigation, however, revealed that the suspect, Nkanu Patrick, has never been a policeman but was close to Policemen in his area.

He will soon be charged to court.

Last week, police officers in Ogun State arrested a 38-year-old man, Akinyemi Thomas, for illegally parading himself as a police inspector.
As the agitation for the inclusion of youth in the governance of Nigeria continues to gain relevance, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has expressed fresh views on how it could be achieved.

Mr Sowore spoke at an open space meeting organised by PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.

He was joined by three other guest speakers to discuss Nigerian youths chances ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

Putting the topic of discussion 2023 Elections: When is the turn of Nigerian youths? in historical perspective, the former AAC presidential candidate said the credibility of Nigerian youth has dwindled over the years to the advantage of the older politicians.

Mr Sowore expressed disgust at what currently obtains as opposed to the struggle for the countrys independence which the youth at the time fought for and went on to serve in high positions at a tender age.

What Im driving at is that young people have made themselves so irrelevant that they keep pushing them to the fringes to do dirty jobs. Today now, in the North, you have those who are carrying machetes for politicians, we have area boys in Lagos.

You had people like Kanu, not Nnamdi Kanu, yearning for Abacha to become president in the 90s and totally youths were eviscerated from the political scene likely because of their own making, because over time since the 60s, young people have continued to deploy themselves to the services of old people who have nothing to offer.

What we have now are young people who are mostly hungry, not for relevance and power but for picking up crumbs from the table of people who sometimes are not even as intelligent as they are, he stated.

Expressing similar concerns, the Executive Director of Dinidari Africa Foundation, Ndi Kato, argued that Nigeria has never lacked quantity of youth participation in politics but in quality.

She said the Nigerian youth have not really been in positions that matter in governance despite forming the highest bracket of voters in election exercise over the years.

However, expressing contrary views, the interim National Youth leader of the APC, Ismaeel Ahmed, posited that there has been improvement on the concerns in recent years as he faulted the cluelessness of some youth in politics.

He described the increased demand of youth involvement and reluctance of older leaders to clear off political space for the young ones as generational congestion.

There is a difference between playing politics and just seeking positions or being in government. And I think thats where a lot of people miss it, not only young people.

A lot of people are just interested in being in government, as opposed to participating in the process of politics as well. The grand old like game, the grain game that is needed for someone to go through the ranks and become really important in politics, Mr Ahmed said while addressing issues raised by the hosts.

Mr Ahmed serves as an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on the National Social Investment Programme.

Nigerian youth are not angry enough

On her part, the Executive Director of TechHerNG, Chioma Agwuegbo, noted the unserious disposition of Nigerian youth to being active in governance despite their increased chances with the Not Too Young To Run Act.

She tied her arguments around dwindling figures of voter turnouts in the off-cycle elections held in Lagos, Anambra, Abuja, among others.

Ms Agwuegbo called on Nigeria youth who desire to change the narrative to join active politics and get relevant in their respective constituencies.

If were not coming out to show that to translate our anger into something that can be negotiated with, I think that you know, we are not yet angry enough, number one.

Number two, we are only able to vote for people that parties present to us because we do not depend on candidacy. And so I strongly believe that for people who are so inclined, the first place to start is in your parties, which is why I have a lot of respect for a number of my friends who have said, You know what, I am now going to play this political game. And they didnt just start today, right?

Because again, I think that it is foolhardy to want to run for office in 2023 and you make your grand announcement in 2022. without anybody in your community knowing. You are wasting your time, wasting everyone elses time, she said.

While Mr Sowore did not align with all of Ms Agwuegbos suggestions on how to bridge the political power gaps between the old and younger Nigerians, they both, however, agreed that the countrys youth need to be angry and discontented with the alleged exclusion from governance before they can attain visible results.

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The former presidential candidate said he never subscribed to the youth begging for the Not Too Young To Rule bill while the campaign was on.

I was, for instance, perturbed with the decision of some young people to go and ask for a law that says Not Too Young To Rule. It was a joke as far as Im concerned. I never participated in that debate because why would young people want to back some old people for power? he said

I think it is for us to judge, and introspectively look at why we rendered ourselves irrelevant to the point that anytime an old person is running for office or they want to do dirty jobs, they deploy us including, carrying out cancel culture against ourselves, even on the internet or social media these days. Because if you have a decent young person whos running for office, not me alone now, the first set of people who will tell you that you dont have experience are these young people.

I will refer them back to history when young people practically battered the country called Nigeria by fighting the colonial masters. So our problem is that we havent been able to confront our internal colonialists who were present in the 60s and some of them are still around today.

Our problem is that we are waiting too much for the old to pass power to the young before taking over the mantle of leadership. We are not angry enough to change our political objective to demand political independence, he stated further.
The House of Representatives has resolved to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Air Peace to commence the evacuation of Nigerians in Ukraine following the invasion of the country by Russia.

The House mandated the leader of the House, Ado Doguwa, to coordinate the interface with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and consider working with Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, to avoid bureaucratic bottlenecks.

This resolution followed the adoption of a motion of matter of urgent public importance moved by Ahmed Munir (APC, Kano) on Thursday.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into the Donbas region of Ukraine, where Moscow earlier recognised the autonomous governments in rebel-held territories of Luhansk and Donetsk.

Although there had been weeks of Russian military build-up around Ukraine and reports it was preparing for an attack, the Nigerian government made no efforts to evacuate its citizens. This paper had also reported that Nigerian students in the country have called for help to leave the country.

Equally, Mr Onyema is not new to an emergency evacuation. He was instrumental to the evacuation of Nigerians during the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa and was honoured by the House for his role.

The evacuation from Ukraine would not be as easy, however, as Russian air forces had damaged facilities at military and civilian airports in the country. There were no flights in and out of Ukraine Thursday afternoon, BBC reports.

The House Motion

Mr Munir said Nigeria has several undergraduate and graduate students currently studying in Ukraine, some of whom are on government scholarships.

This is in addition to a number of Nigerian diplomats and their families in the Kiev embassy and Nigerian expatriates across Ukraine, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that there are about 4,000 Nigerian students studying in Ukraine.

Mr Munir warned that if a strategic plan is not put in place to secure and provide safe passage for our citizens, they may be trapped or worse, harmed.

Speaking on the motion, Mr Gbajabiamila suggested that if due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, the government is unable to ensure the evacuation, the House should work with Air Peace.

America said its not going to be bloodless. We should be more proactive and I think its better late than never. Its important that at this point to forget all the bureaucratic bottlenecks, and look out for our citizens, especially students.

My thought is that leader of the House Hon. Ado Doguwa and Chairman Foreign Affairs (Yusuf Buba, APC, Adamawa) should liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Intelligence Agency and Embassy in Ukraine. And if nothing positive comes out of it, then we should liaise with chairman Air Peace.

He added that the concerned officials should depart the country to commence the evacuation at whatever cost to the House.

Whatever it is going to cost the House, you need to leave this country latest tomorrow and come back on Monday with many of our students, he said.

When the motion was put to question, the ayes had it.
As Vladimir Putin of Russia unleashes what he called a special military operation on Ukraine, many countries and regional organisations have reacted with sanctions, condemnations, and in a few cases, support for Russia.

However, many African countries have remained mum on the issue with the African Union also yet to take a position as of Thursday afternoon.

Nigeria, the acclaimed giant of Africa, has yet to publicly declare its stance on the tension that has been building up over the past weeks despite having a significant population in Ukraine.

As Russia attacked Ukraine, the Nigerian president and vice president were in Nasarawa and Borno states respectively for different reasons.

However, the Nigerian embassy in Kyiv has asked Nigerians in Ukraine to remain calm and protect themselves.

As of the time of filing this report, Ghana, Kenya and Gabon were the only African countries to have made any comments on the events between Ukraine and Russia. These comments were made at the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

Harold Agyeman of Ghana described the unfolding developments as troubling, saying the situation is a matter of concern not just for Ukraine and its neighbours but for all.

Martin Kimani of Kenya expressed concern over the serious risks of the conflict enveloping the entire Donbas region of Ukraine, leading to significant loss of life and a refugee crisis. He called for calm and protection of civilians and civilian objects from violations, he said there was still reason to believe in prospects for a diplomatic solution to the crisis  which will require a vision for a viable security architecture for Europe, protecting Ukraine and other states while remaining sensitive to the needs of other parties.

Xavier Biang of Gabon said the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine has been attacked. Men, women and children are caught in murderous violence in eastern Ukraine, he said, leading to a mass exodus that imperils their safety.

He noted that the spectre of war hangs over an entire region and as such, Gabon fears an imminent invasion of Ukraine. He said Moscows decision to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk sidelines the importance of the Minsk agreements.

The World reacts

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in a tweet said Ukraine will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.

We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia. For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine, he tweeted.

Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in #2WW years. As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & wont give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.

Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Putin had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and peaceful cities were under strikes.

This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now, he tweeted.

President Joe Biden condemned Russia for an unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine while promising that his country and its allies will hold Russia accountable.

President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable, he said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Russias attack on Ukraine as a blatant breach of international law that cannot be justified by anything.

In the name of humanity, do not allow a war to start in Europe which could be the worst war since the beginning of the century with consequences not only devastating for Ukraine, not only tragic for the Russian Federation but with an impact that cannot even foresee, Antonio Guterres, UN Chief said.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the next steps.

President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine, Mr Johnson tweeted.

The bloc will hold Moscow accountable for the unjustified attack on Ukraine, the chief of the EUs Executive Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said.

In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives, she said on Twitter.

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In a statement, the EU said its leaders will discuss further sanctions on Russia at an emergency meeting later in the day.

These further restrictive measures  will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its action, it added.

The Atlantic alliances secretary-general said Russia had chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.

The attack puts at risk countless civilian lives, Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement, describing it as a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security.

NATO ambassadors are to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday morning European time to discuss the attack.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki demanded an immediate reaction to Russias aggression on Ukraine, seeking the fiercest possible sanctions.

We must immediately respond to Russias criminal aggression on Ukraine, Mr Morawiecki tweeted.

Europe and the free world have to stop Putin. Todays European Council should approve the fiercest possible sanctions. Our support for Ukraine must be real.

Hungarys Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, said war is the worst-case scenario.

The task now, just as always, is to guarantee the security of Hungarian people, Mr Sjijjarto posted on his official Facebook page.

Our embassy in Kyiv is operating, and ready to help Hungarians who are in the Ukraine right now.

Scott Morrison, Australian prime minister, said sanctions against Russia would become law Friday but would not take effect until the end of March.

He said the time was needed to give opportunities for businesses that have had very legitimate operations and business interests in Russia and in the affected territories of Ukraine to be able to make changes to their arrangements.

The reason were doing this is there must be a price for the unprovoked, unlawful, unwarranted, unjustified attacks and threats and intimidation that has been imposed by Russia on Ukraine. This cannot be a consequence-free action by Vladimir Putin and the Russian regime, Mr Morrison said.

President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned Russias military attack against Ukraine, vowing Paris would work with allies to end the war.

Russia must immediately put an end to its military operations, Mr Macron wrote on Twitter, saying Russia had made the decision to wage war on Ukraine.

France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands by Ukrainians and is working with its partners and allies to end the war, he added.

President Alexander Lukashenko said the Belarusian armed forces were not taking part in Russias military operation against Ukraine, the Belta news agency reported.

Our troops are taking no part in this operation, Mr Lukashenko was quoted as saying.

Although Belarus is not involved in the crisis, thousands of Russian troops stationed in the country moved Thursday morning into Ukraine.

Justin Trudeau, Canadian prime minister, in a statement called Russias attacks unprovoked and a clear further violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Mr Trudeau said he would meet with partners from the group of seven to shape a collective response, including by imposing sanctions additional to those announced earlier this week.

These reckless and dangerous acts will not go unpunished.

Iran urged its citizens residing in Ukraine to leave the country, Irans semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

Irans embassy in Ukraine is currently working on obtaining flight permits for the evacuation flights given that the Ukrainian airspace is currently closed, ISNA added.

Iran, Syria and Cuba were among the few countries that earlier on Wednesday supported Russias recognition of the breakaway Ukrainian regions.

President Maia Sandu said Moldova would introduce a state of emergency and was ready to accept tens of thousands of people coming in from neighbouring Ukraine.

We will help people who need our help and support, she said.

In a statement, Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani urged all parties to exercise restraint and to resolve all conflicts through constructive dialogue and diplomatic means.

Sheikh Tamim also called for the protection of civilians and the prioritisation of the humanitarian situation, the statement said.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine said arrangements were being made to evacuate Indians since the Ukrainian airspace had been closed.

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President Gitanas Nauseda said the Lithuanian parliament will decide whether to declare a state of emergency.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan condemned Russias military actions and said Japan will respond in a speedy fashion together with the U.S. and other allies.

This Russian invasion stands to put at risk the basic principle of international order that forbids one-sided action of force in an attempt to change the status quo. We strongly condemn Russia, and we will respond speedily in cooperation with the US and other Western nations, Mr Kishida added.

Although China has refused to recognise the breakaway regions in Ukraine, it has criticised sanctions on Russia.

We believe that sanctions are never the fundamental and effective way to solve problems. China always opposes any illegal unilateral sanctions, Hua Chunying, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said during the ministrys daily briefing.

Have they solved the problem? Is the world better off because of US sanctions? Will Ukraines problems be resolved automatically by the imposition of US sanctions against Russia? Will Europes security be more secure as a result of US sanctions against Russia? I think we should try to solve the problem through dialogue and negotiation, she said.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted that the length of the growing season for the year 2022 will range between 96 to 310 days across the country.

NiMets Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) report released Tuesday last week in Abuja, predicted that most parts of the country are expected to have a normal length of growing season.

Areas around Kwara, Oyo, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi are likely to experience shorter growing seasons, the report noted.

However, NiMet said, The northern Plateau, southern Kaduna, Edo, and Imo States are expected to have a longer length of season.

The SCP is produced annually to advise the government and Nigerian citizens on all aspects of weather and climate.

It gives an outlook of various climate variables, such as rainfall and temperature patterns in Nigeria for the year.

These forecasts offer the stakeholders and the general society early warning information for timely preparedness against potential hazards associated with heavy rains, flood, and high temperatures, as well as dry spells in parts of the country, Mansur Matazu, NiMets director general said.

Key highlights of the 2022 SCP

Rainfall onset

According to the report, Rainfall onset dates are predicted to be about the same as long-term average dates in most parts of the country.

It said the 2022 rainfall is expected to start from coastal states of Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom in late February and around July in the northern states such as Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara.

However, the report said Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Kaduna States are anticipated to experience earlier than normal onset when compared to the long-term averages.

Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, parts of Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Bayelsa and Rivers states are likely to experience delayed onset of rainfall, the report said.

Rainfall cessation

Rainfall cessation dates across most parts of the country for 2022 are predicted to be near long term average conditions ( September  December) with possibilities of earlier cessation in a few states such as Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Oyo and Anambra, the report said.

It said the end of season is expected to be prolonged over parts of Cross River, Imo in the south, while in the north, parts of Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, and Yobe States are also anticipated to experience prolonged cessation dates.

Thus, cessation of rainfall is anticipated to begin in the north, from early-October to midNovember, in the central states, and finally ceasing around mid-December in the southernmost and coastal parts of the country, NiMet said in the report.

Rainfall amounts

NiMet said the predicted rainfall amount across the country is expected to be near the long-term average rainfall, ranging from 400 mm to 800 mm in the northern states such as Sokoto, Katsina Jigawa, Yobe and parts of Borno.

The weather forecast agency explained that central states such as FCT, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, Benue as well as Ekiti, Osun and Oyo in the southwest are likely to have 1200 mm to 1600 mm.

It said parts of Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, and Cross River states are predicted to have annual rainfall amounts of 3000 mm and above.

Dry spells

According to the NiMet SCP report, prediction shows that in May to June 2022, moderate to severe dry spells lasting 15 to 20 days are likely to occur in most states in the north.

However, mild to moderate dry spells are anticipated in the months of July and August.

The states that are likely to be affected are mild (less than 8 days), moderate (up to 15 days) and severe (20 days or more), the report said.

Little dry season (LDS)

In 2022, NiMet predicts that the Southwestern part of Nigeria will experience the LDS that characterises the climate in that part of the country.

It said signs of the LDS may begin to manifest by late July to early August 2022.

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Severe LDS that may last up to 25 days or longer is anticipated to affect Lagos and Kwara States, while parts of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and Ekiti States will experience low to moderate LDS that may last 14 to 20 days, NiMet said.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and partners are attempting to meet the needs of people on both sides of the contact line in Ukraine despite volatile hostilities and limited funds, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

"Our colleagues in (Ukraine) continue to receive reports of hostilities impacting civilians and their properties, as well as infrastructure on both sides of the 'contact line,'" said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "Once again, we call on all parties to take all measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure."

He told reporters in a regular briefing, "despite the volatile security situation the United Nations and its humanitarian partners in eastern Ukraine are making all efforts to respond to the needs of people on both sides of that line."

Guterres earlier said in a speech at a General Assembly session on Ukraine how the global body works in the field during such hostilities. "Our humanitarian operations are independent of whoever might control the territory where people are living."

He said that since the start of the year, the world organization and its partners delivered 140 metric tons of life-saving aid across the contact line.

"Here again, our actions are based entirely on humanitarian principles endorsed by the General Assembly," the UN chief said. "United Nations humanitarian assistance is guided by four humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence."

Guterres added that the principles are central to establishing and maintaining access to affected people, including those in the context of an armed conflict.

Dujarric said the existing Humanitarian Response Plan for 2022 has been funded by less than 10 percent.

"We are calling on donors to prioritize their support to this plan, which seeks 190 million U.S. dollars to address the needs of 1.8 million of the most vulnerable people on both sides of the 'contact line,'" the spokesman said, adding that limited funding limits response efforts on both sides.

The contact line separates the breakaway states in the easternmost Donbass region from the rest of Ukraine. 
Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged the federal government to pay more attention to the welfare of security personnel as part of ways of improving the security situation in the state and the country in general.

According to a statement by the governors spokesperson, Muhammad Bello, Mr Tambuwal made the call in Sokoto on Thursday when he attended the presentation of long service awards to operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) in the state at the agencys office in the state capital.

He said the federal government needs to take the welfare and wellbeing of security personnel, especially those fighting bandits in prone areas, seriously.

Armed bandits have killed, kidnapped and displaced thousands of people and rustled livestocks in Sokoto, like many other North-west states.

The governor said: Those (security agents) at the frontline should receive every attention that they deserve.

Mr Tambuwal assured the state command of the SSS that it will soon take possession of surveillance equipment to facilitate its operations in bandits prone areas and criminal hideouts.

We dont have to procure the equipment ourselves. The procurement can be done by you. We can process it and have all the equipment that you require to enhance and improve the Services.

We will not rest. We are not tired. There was hardly anytime we were approached by the Service or any security service in the state requesting for our help that we fall its hand. No. Your government, the government of Sokoto state, has been doing everything humanly possible to support this Services, he added.

He also commended the top management of the SSS for the awards initiative, which is clearly aimed at inspiring members of the Service to do more. Appreciating those who have done well will naturally elicit those in the Service to more and become even more committed.

What you do for us is very important and must not be taken for granted. So, on behalf of people of Sokoto state I commend members of this Service and other security services in the state for all of their efforts over the years, particularly in the last five years that have been very troubling and trying moments in the history of this state.

We have not had, since the advent of modern Sokoto state, a period that has witnessed lots of security challenges like the last five years. And, members of this Service of this Command have been deeply involved in doing their best; and giving their lives, making all the sacrifices for us to stem the tide, along with other security services in the state.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has opposed some sections in the Bank Employees Bill that seeks to mandate spouses and children of bankers to declare their assets.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on the other, hand supported the provision in the bill.

The bill, sponsored by Francis Waive (PDP, Delta), seeks to prescribe 20-years-imprisonment for failure to declare assets.

Rita Adeyanju, the legal adviser to the Institute, in a memorandum she presented to the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes on Thursday, said such provision will breach the privacy of children and spouses.

Section 1(1) of the bill provides: Immediately after assuming duty and, thereafter, at the determination of his employment, and in the case of a serving banker, within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the Declaration of Assets form from the appropriate authority or at such other intervals as the President or the appropriate authority may specify, make a full disclosure of his (or her) properties, assets and liabilities and those of his (or her) spouse or unmarried children under the age of 18 years.

The body noted that such a provision will violate section 37 of the 1999 Constitution. It stated that the asset declaration should be restricted to the employees, not spouses or children.

The Institute also reacted to the provision that prohibits bank employees from operating foreign personal bank accounts.

Section 5 reads: A bank employee shall not maintain or operate a personal bank account in any country outside Nigeria.

It stated that such restriction is a harsh restriction to be placed on bankers. Therefore, the institute proposed:

A bank employee may maintain or operate a personal bank account in any country outside Nigeria for legitimate reasons and shall make full disclosure of all such accounts in declaration of assets form, the recommendation reads.

Hadiza Zubairu, chief of staff to EFCC Chairman, said the EFCC is in support of the bill and the declaration of assets by family members.

Mrs Zubairu also said the EFCC should be the designated authority to be in custody of the bankers assets declaration.

As it relates to the appropriate authority, the EFCC is seeking to be the appropriate authority to receive these declarations.

In relation to the properties of the spouses of the financial institution employees and designated non-financial institution, the EFCC supports that position because looking at issues at hand, when you are dealing with issues of money laundering, you are looking at the issues relating to preps and designated authorities, each and everybody becomes part and parcel of that, the individual, the spouse, the associate becomes part of it, Mrs Zubairu stated.

Last year, the Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had caused a stir when he declared that bankers are to start declaring assets by 1st of June 2021.

Danladi Umar, the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), also supported the bill.

Mr Danladi, however, opposed the inclusion of Customs personnel in the bill. According to him, declaration of assets by NCS officials is already covered by the Customs Act.

Babangida Ibrahim (APC, Katsina), who chaired the Committee in an acting capacity, said the views and opinions of all participants will be taken into consideration.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State says armed bandits are more daring than Boko Haram and their atrocities more devastating than those of the Islamist insurgents.

The bandits operate in the North-west and North-central regions while the activities of Boko Haram insurgents are largely confined to the North-east of Nigeria.

Like the insurgents in the North-east, bandits have killed, abducted or displaced tens of thousands of people in Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger States over the last few years.

Recent statistics from Kaduna State Government said at least 343 persons died due to banditry between July and September last year, while 830 people were kidnapped within the period.

The government said 69 bandits were killed by security agencies, 210 citizens injured, 10 victims raped, and 101 persons rescued by troops in the state within the same period.

Also in Kaduna, 1,018 animals were rustled, while there were 77 reports received relating to destruction of farms across the state within the period.

Mr El-Rufai compared the two groups behind Nigerias worst security challenges in many decades while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday.

I am persuaded that the insurgency in the northwest is far more serious than Boko Haram in terms of the numbers of the people affected.

I have shown you the numbers in Kaduna. I can assure you that the numbers in Zamfara and Katsina are up to three times this if they are keeping taps. The numbers in Sokoto, Niger, and Kebbi will be about this.

We are talking of tens of thousands of people getting killed, getting kidnapped. It is far more serious than Boko Haram. The only thing is that these guys dont occupy territory, they are in the forest and ungoverned spaces.

So, they do not attract the kind of single-minded attention that Boko Haram does. And because Boko Harams ideology is religious, intentionally religious, it elicits more passion but really, this is a far more serious problem, Mr El-Rufai said.

Because, this is a situation largely in which people of about the same ethnicity, same religion are killing each other, stealing each others property, creating an industry out of criminality. It is very, very serious and it requires single-minded attention.

We know where these bandits are, we have the maps. But somebody has to go in and kill them. I cant do that. If that somebody doesnt have enough men, doesnt have enough fire power, doesnt have technology, no one is going to commit suicide.

This is why under this administration, Nigerias Governors Forum collaborated with the federal government to take money from the Excess Crude Account to buy super Tocano jets and other armaments to strengthen our defence system, the Kaduna governor said.
The African Union on Thursday said it is extremely concerned at the very serious and dangerous situation created in Ukraine, calling on Russia and other actors to respect international law, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

It said this in a statement shared on its Twitter handle Thursday evening.

The current Chair of the African Union and President of Senegal, president Macky Sall, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, express their extreme concern at the very serious and dangerous situation created in Ukraine, it said.

The AU urged Russia and Ukraine to establish an immediate ceasefire and to open political negotiations without delay , under the auspices of the United Nations, in order to preserve the world from the consequences of planetary conflict, and in the interests of peace and stability in international relations in service of all the peoples of the world.

Russian forces in the early hours of Thursday, attacked Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin announced he had authorised a special military operation in the countrys east.

READ ALSO: Africa silent as world leaders react to Russian invasion of Ukraine

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia comes a few days after the latter recognised Donetsk and Luhansk (breakaway regions) as independent States and sent in Russian troops to maintain peace.

Many countries of the world have continued to condemn the attack on Ukraine and offer support to the country and its citizens.
Despite the NDLEAs best efforts, the drama surrounding this case appears to be paving the way for Abba Kyaris soft landing, perhaps on grounds of press trial or such useless technicalities, followed by his passage into quiet oblivion. The farce couldnt have been better scripted.

Abba Kyaris response in July 2021, after the U.S. Attorney Generals Office, Central District of California, issued a warrant of arrest against him following his indictment in a case of internet fraud involving Ramon Abbas, otherwise called Hushpuppi, was the earliest warning sign that the Nigerian end of this affair might descend into a farce.

The U.S. authorities might have taken the allegations against Kyari seriously, but his response suggested, without doubt, that he knew his way around the charges, and he was going to get justice on his own terms.

Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police in charge of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), reporting directly to the Inspector General of Police, was not called a super cop for nothing. He knew exactly where the fools button of the system was. And he knew how to press it. While most of his mates doing their day jobs are still two ranks below, he has left them by carefully cultivating an image with the press of the cop who did what Napoleon could not do.

His reported role in the arrest of two alleged kidnap kingpins  Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, otherwise called Evans, in 2017, and Hamisu Wadume, two years later, raised the testosterone of a hero-deprived press to crown him super cop.

The National Assembly blessed the charade by inviting him to come and take a bow on the floor of the house. And to top it, he got a presidential award for courage. It was the type of adulation which CSP Kayode Unaneroro, who died in penury after leading the police team that captured the notorious armed robber, Lawrence Anini, would have envied.

By the time the story of his indictment broke, Abba Kyari had already accumulated enough in his favours bank. He responded to the warrant, which also alleged that large sums of money from Hushpuppi had been traced to his account, by saying it was no big deal. The only transfer from the suspect, he said, was N300,000 sent to him for his tailor.

Even by Abba Kyaris own exotic standards of sartorial taste, acquired from being regularly in the company of Nigerias A-list celebrities, that amount seemed quite high for any honest tailor. But after years of lounging in the celebrity zone, such minor details were hardly a concern for Abba Kyari, who was happy to be Hushpuppis conduit to the tailor.

Abba Kyari knew the Nigerian end of the whole thing would be a farce. He was not disappointed when, after the long wait, the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) reviewed the report of the Egbunike committee and recommended a reduction in rank which, in effect, meant that he could go and sin some more.

In response to additional information by the U.S. authorities of more suspicious transfer details into his account, Abba Kyari quickly returned to his teeming Facebook fans. He took down the tailor story, but stuck to his guns that he had done no wrong. He still maintained a surprisingly robust presence and engagement on social media, some say, in defiance of advice by insiders to slow down.

It was not his fault. After a long career of making the system work for him, this did not look like a mountain too high to climb. The police high command appeared too confused and embarrassed. To its credit, however, within days of the announcement, the police suspended Abba Kyari and set up two panels to investigate him  one by the Police Service Commission (PSC); and the second  the Special Investigation Panel (SIP)  by the office of the Inspector General of Police. Nothing was heard again about the first panel, while the latter, headed by DIG Joseph Egbunike, was given two weeks to submit its report.

That turned out to be the longest two weeks in the police calendar. While the PSC kept the outcome of its own internal investigation secret, the Inspector General of Police kept sealed lips on the outcome of the SIP investigation for nearly five months. During this time, Abba Kyari carried on living not just like the celebrated super cop, but also as the star guest at a number of social events, including the wedding of the son of the Inspector General of Police.

Abba Kyari knew the Nigerian end of the whole thing would be a farce. He was not disappointed when, after the long wait, the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) reviewed the report of the Egbunike committee and recommended a reduction in rank which, in effect, meant that he could go and sin some more.

Neither the Egbunike special investigation panel nor the FDC, of which the Inspector General of Police is a member, saw anything wrong with over N200 million transferred to Abba Kyaris brother, nor were any questions asked.

If the Inspector General of Police was remotely outraged by Abba Kyaris conduct, we would never know. But the outcome of the recommendation of the FDC, suggests that at best, he thought it was a misdemeanour deserving nothing more severe than the loss of a rank. If Abba Kyari had presided over his own internal trial, he would not have written a better script.

But as we have seen, its not only about Abba Kyari; its also about what his alleged liaison with criminals does to the reputation and integrity of a system already beset by multiple malignancies. I cannot for the life of me understand how the Inspector General of Police feels comfortable to be called by his rank in a force where an assistant superintendent will openly call himself Too much money on his Facebook page; or why the Inspector General of Police is not outraged that an officer under his nose and head of the intelligence unit that reports directly to him posts pictures of himself hanging out with dodgy people.

Yet, the tardiness and inexplicable delay in investigating the matter in the first place, the drip, drip in the release of the police report, its inconclusiveness, not to mention the interagency rivalry, puts the government in a tight spot. It would be interesting to see how matters proceed after the drama of last week and Abba Kyaris initial two-week detention on the orders of the court.

How can he be comfortable calling himself Inspector General of Police when a suspect in a criminal case that reports directly to him still has the same special unit lodged inside his in-pocket, while he is supposed to be on suspension and wanted abroad? Theres no outrage, no fear of consequences, nothing. How can the Inspector General of Police be comfortable?

Abba Kyari was always sure of his medicine and his medicine man, so, as they say, he could beat his chest with it. But beyond and above knowing that he had a boss in whose eyes he could do no wrong, he also knew there is a powerful chain of primordial allegiances he can call to return years of favours done at the expense of his duty as a police officer. And that is the real tragedy of this matter and the root of his audacity. Otherwise, how can an officer suspended and already facing serious charges still be involved in negotiating brokerage for a so-called whistleblower? How?

He deserves his day in court and I have no intention, at this time, to comment on the circus which the malicious incompetence of sections of the press, PR agents and the police high command have turned the matter into. As you read this piece, neither the investigation of the PSC nor the recommendations by the FDC has been made public.

The public perception of the sting operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which has obviously complicated matters for Abba Kyari, is that it was a coup detat, executed to save him from the greater peril of extradition to the U.S., where his tailors fancy cuts or decades of dubious favours may not save him.

That perception may be wrong, and clearly the tensions between the NDLEA and the police  followed by clarifications and counter-clarifications  showed that the police turned Abba Kyari over to the NDLEA at gunpoint, in a manner of speaking.

Yet, the tardiness and inexplicable delay in investigating the matter in the first place, the drip, drip in the release of the police report, its inconclusiveness, not to mention the interagency rivalry, puts the government in a tight spot. It would be interesting to see how matters proceed after the drama of last week and Abba Kyaris initial two-week detention on the orders of the court.

Despite the NDLEAs best efforts, the drama surrounding this case appears to be paving the way for Abba Kyaris soft landing, perhaps on grounds of press trial or such useless technicalities, followed by his passage into quiet oblivion. The farce couldnt have been better scripted.

Azu Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP.
The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Ministry of Education to pay N20 million each to the families of the two students that lost their lives in a fire incident in the Federal Government College, Keffi.

Fire had razed two hotsels at the school in 2017, claiming the lives of two students, Miss Favour Ojima Omali and Miss Gloria Sabo Gajere.

The House on Wednesday considered the report of the committee that investigated the inferno and adopted the recommendations of the committee.

The management of the school was indicted for negligence by the House and asked the ministry to tender apologies to the families.

The House noted that the negligence of the management led to the untimely death of the two students.

It therefore resolved that the burnt College Hostel be named after Miss Ojima Favour Tony  Omali and Miss Glory Sabo Gajere or simply called Ojima and Glory Hostel for paying the supreme price occasioned by incessant fire outbreaks in the Colleges history.

Similarly, the House resolved that the Ministry of Education should be responsible for the payment of all outstanding hospital bills incurred by the parents of Juan Joshua and subsequent treatment until she is stabilised /healed.

To prevent future occurrence of fire outbreaks, the House made the following recommendations:

The Ministry must ensure that building codes are strictly adhered to in future construction of Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs)

The existing hostels in FUCs should be redesigned to accommodate Porters apartments within the hostels and the construction of new ones in the nearest future should be designed in that manner.

That there should be provision for firefighting equipment in all hostels in the Federal Unity Colleges.

There should be periodic training of all students in FUCs on how to apply lives saving equipment with a view to averting any fire outbreak in the future.

Provisions should be made for solar lights in the nooks and crannies of FUCs to aid visibility at night.

Principal and Hostels Porters should reside in the Colleges at all times.

Cyril Ajochi, a teacher in the school, who pulled out three trapped students out of the burning building, was also recommended for recognition.

A commendation letter should be written by the Ministry to Mr Cyril Ajochi with a view to commending him for his ability to bring out the three (3) trapped students from the said hostel and present him for honour in the next World Teachers Day, the report stated.

Speaking on the report, the Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education, Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), said some structural negligence were observed by the committee in the course of the investigation.
Gunmen on Thursday attacked four banks and a divisional police headquarters in Edo State, Nigerias South-south.

The gunmen laid siege on Uromi town in Esan Northeast Local Government Area of the state.

Witnesses said the gunmen got to the town in their numbers and in several vehicles before they attacked the four banks with dynamites.

The unmasked gunmen killed two police officers and five persons in the siege.

The police spokesperson in Edo, Bello Kontongs, confirmed the attack but said he had no further detail of the attack.

Mr Kontongs, a superintendent of police, said one of the four banks attacked is a new generation establishment.

He confirmed the killing of the two police officers and five civilians in the attack.

(NAN)
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again won all the 17 chairmanship positions in Enugu State, according to the results of the elections released by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC).

The party also won all the councillorship positions.

The Chairman of ENSIEC, Mike Ajogwu, announced the results at ENSIEC headquarters in Enugu on Thursday.

The elected chairmen were issued with a Certificate of Return.

Mr Ajogwu said the commission thoroughly went through the records of the ad hoc staff across the wards and local government areas to confirm the results of the election.

PDP cleared the seats in councillorship elections all through. They won in all the wards, Mr Ajogwu said.

He said the elected councillors were not invited for the declaration of the results because of their large number.

The ENSIEC chairman praised journalists for their coverage of the elections.

The PDP has been winning all the positions in the local elections in the state for several years now.

Besides the 17 local government areas, Enugu State has 260 political wards.

The elections were disrupted in some polling units at Obeagu community, Enugu South, and Akpugo, Nkanu East local government areas, where gunmen attacked voters, election officials and journalists.

The ENSIEC chairman, Mr Ajogwu, while reacting to the attacks, said the commission would only declare the elections in the affected ward inconclusive based on the feedback from those I have mandated to visit the ward.
The Babalola family has announced the passing of their matriarch, Mopelade Babalola.

Mrs Babalola was the mother of a former minister of state for finance, Remi Babalola.

The family in a statement on Thursday said the deceased lived a remarkable and purposeful life.

The entire Babablola family is mourning the loss of our beloved Matriarch, Alhaja Mopelade Aduke Bilikis Akintola Babalola, affectionately known to many as Iya Ghana, the statement reads.

Born around the years 1925 to 1927. She lived and spread hard work, entrepreneurship, kindness, family values, good character, service and humanity.

We thank Almighty Allah SWT for her long, remarkable and purposeful life.

Mr Babalola was a Minister of State for Finance from July 26, 2007, to September 16, 2010.

A former chairman of First Bank Nigeria Holdings Plc appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, he resigned his position in 2021 due to the rot, stench and corruption in the system.
Journalists across the online, print, and broadcast media on Thursday discussed how to unify ahead of the 2023 elections at an event held at the American Corner in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

The programme also had a representative from the police and the Lagos Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

Rosemary Ejabor-Afolahan, convener of Media Hangout, said the event was focused on promoting professionalism in the media space towards the elections.

She said the media as the fourth estate of the realm has a pivotal role to play in educating the electorates accurately.

There is a need for us to bring people in the media together and other stakeholders to see how we can collaborate by working together to ensure that we have a free and fair election, said Mrs Ejabor-Afolahan, who is also the organiser of the event.

She said it is the responsibility of the media to control the narrative and ensure that more people turn out to participate in the electoral process.

Allwell Okpi, a researcher with Africa Check, urged journalists to be critical of facts and figures from politicians.

There is no person or institution that is infallible, but journalists need to ask politicians who put out figures and how they arrived at it.

Aliyu Giwa, a police public relations officer, said that during elections, there are limits to what security operatives can do.

He encouraged journalists to be abreast of the responsibilities of security operatives during elections, adding that there are a lot of things that we see and wont be able to do anything about.

Mr Aliyu urged media houses to organise lectures for journalists and law enforcement agents ahead of elections.

Ayo Makinde, a journalist with Channels Television, said the primary duty of any journalist is to disseminate accurate information and hold the government accountable, adding that journalists need to always ask the why question  Why are we doing what we do?

Rufai Oseni from Arise TV said that irrespective of media affiliations, journalists should be unified and ensure that verified information is disseminated to the public.

Get the words out, he said.
BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China will work to expand the supply of affordable rental housing as part of efforts to resolve housing difficulties, said the country's housing authorities at a Thursday press conference.

With developing subsidized rental housing as one of the priorities this year, China will have 2.4 million units of government-subsidized rental homes available nationwide this year, said Wang Menghui, minister of housing and urban-rural development.

The country will also add another 100,000 public rental houses and renovate 1.2 million houses in rundown areas, said the minister.

In 2021, a total of 942,000 government-subsidized rental homes in 40 key cities were provided to help new city dwellers and young people in need of affordable housing, data from the ministry showed.

The country will maintain the continuity and stability of its housing policies and strengthen precision and coordination in policy maneuver, said Wang. 
The IDCC project is a comprehensive framework for managing leads, ensuring easy and prompt storage of personal information and personalized service. It dramatically improves customer experience, with the dual positive effect of building a good brand image and generating more sales.

With the careful management of the Mutawa Alkazi company, the IDCC program is helping to create a new sales ecosystem and build GAC MOTOR into a robust and reliable Chinese brand.

A Key Market

2021 was a milestone year for China and Kuwait, marking the 50th anniversary of officially establishing diplomatic relations. It was also the 8th year of business operations in Kuwait for GAC MOTOR.

At the All New GS4 and All New GA6 launch event in 2021, GAC MOTOR General Manager Mr. Zeng Hebin asserted that "Kuwait is one of the important markets for GAC MOTOR in the Middle East."

In combination with a commercial place on the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, the release of the models marks a considerable step up in brand visibility and an increase in regional brand power.

Upgraded Service for a Better Customer Experience

Service concepts are at the core of the GAC MOTOR Kuwait growth model. The flagship AL Rai showroom, reopened in 2022, is built with GAC MOTOR's new VI overseas standards. They display a high-end brand image and provide high-quality, personalized service.

Upgraded Models, Cutting Edge Technology

The All New GS4 GE version and All New GA6 GT version have arrived in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. They are now available for sale in standard and high configurations

The All New GS4 GE version comes with 12.3-inch dual screens, 15W wireless phone charging, and an oxygen bar air purifier. The All New GA6 GT version is now available with full coverage L2 autonomous driving and a huge panoramic sunroof that fills the cabin with light, creating a comfortable driving environment.

GAC MOTOR Kuwait is poised for years of healthy development, building from this strong service foundation with technologically advanced models ready for release.

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SOURCE GAC MOTOR
These partnerships with KVC Industrial Supplies and JJ-LAPP Malaysia will see both partners taking on the sales, distribution and service support of Huawei's complete range of solar inverters across the country. Both parties have currently secured the role of being the main distributors of Huawei Smart PV inverters in Malaysia.

Huawei Malaysia will also undertake the task of being the technology advisor for both parties and manufacture the products as well as conduct product training to support the development of clean hydrogen and other renewables technologies.

The MoU signing ceremonies were held recently with KVC Industrial Supplies and JJ-LAPP Malaysia in two separate ceremonies. On both occasions, Huawei Malaysia was represented by Mr. Chong Chern Peng, Vice President of Digital Power. The MoU signing ceremony with KVC was witnessed by Huawei Malaysia CEO Mr. Michael Yuan, and the signing ceremony with JJ-LAPP Malaysia was witnessed by their CEO Mr. Marc von Grabowski.

"KVC has contributed more than 600MW in Malaysia for the Solar PV industry. This is parallel with our values of being 'Committed to People and the Planet'. We strive to accelerate the nurturing of a sustainable ecosystem through strategic partnerships," said KVC Industrial Supplies Country Managing Director Mr. Eddie Wong Kok Leong.

"We are proud to have established a long and successful partnership with Huawei since 2017. We achieved remarkable milestones when we worked together to deliver unprecedented carbon reductions and we believe that our comprehensive solar PV XtructureD Solutions and an extensive sales network will complement Huawei's state-of-the-art technology and propel us towards greater heights," he added.

"We are excited to further our partnership with Huawei in Malaysia and we are looking forward to working with them as their certified Value-Added Partner and ASEAN Regional Partner. The combined expertise of Huawei, with more than 30 years of expertise in digital information technology, and JJ-LAPP Malaysia, a leading cable, connectivity and renewable energy solutions provider with an extensive network and a broad reach in ASEAN, will no doubt accelerate the growth of renewable energy solutions in Malaysia and the region," said Mr. Chang Chee Keong, General Manager of JJ-LAPP Malaysia.

According to Mr. Chong, the partnerships have enabled all parties to develop strong bonds with their clients and improve efficiency in delivering better products, solutions and services to the market.

"We believe in the development of the local ecosystem by collaborating with partners. Achieving carbon neutrality will require the collective efforts of all industry players. We at Huawei are committed to this end by offering our products and solutions through our partnerships towards jointly exploring new journeys of green and digital value transformation for society," said Mr. Chong.

Solar energy has been a key pillar of the global energy transition and has become the preferred energy source of choice due to rapid advancements of high-tech solutions that have drastically improved its accessibility, adaptability, competitive pricing, sustainability, and productivity output.

With electricity consumption expected to double by 2040 in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is one of the fastest-growing solar energy markets. The demand for solar energy reciprocates the concerns of emission and pollution of high electricity consumption and is key to meeting the additional energy capacity that will be needed to fuel growth in the region's emerging markets.

SOURCE Huawei
Warburg Pincus and Ontario Teachers', both existing shareholders in PDG, also invest in this round

SINGAPORE, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore-based Princeton Digital Group (PDG) has closed an equity investment from Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala) as a lead investor for $350M. Both existing shareholders in PDG, Warburg Pincus and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers'), also invested in this round, with the total exceeding half a billion dollars.

Established in 2017, PDG is a leading Pan-Asia data center operator with an unrivalled footprint across key Asian digital economies. PDG has a portfolio of 20 data centers with over 600MW of secured capacity and spanning five countries. The company serves hyperscalers, internet and cloud companies, and financial institutions with scalable and reliable internet infrastructure and world-class data center services to meet their increasing demand across Asia.

The funds will enable PDG to consolidate its position as the leading Pan-Asia data center operator, by deepening its presence in Japan, India, Singapore, China, and Indonesia and accelerating its expansion plans into other markets. Asia is one of the fastest growing data center regions in the world, driven by strong market fundamentals such as a large base of internet users, the growth of digitalization, high levels of data usage and an increasing tech-savvy young population.

Commenting on Mubadala's investment in PDG, Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer, Real Estate and Infrastructure Investments at Mubadala, said: "We are thrilled to be the lead investor in PDG's fundraise and partner with the company on its growth journey. PDG is a leading data center infrastructure platform operating in an attractive market with strong tailwinds and catering to rising demand from the hyperscale segment and more broadly Asia's digital economies. We look forward to working with PDG's management team to capitalize on the growth opportunities and create not only sustainable, long term value creation, but also support Asia's digital infrastructure development as a vital enabler to economic progress."

"We are excited to have a leading sovereign fund Mubadala as another blue-chip investor in PDG. Mubadala's track record of long-term investments combined with extensive know-how in the digital infrastructure space makes it a great partner as we continue to scale our business. We are also heartened by the continued trust and confidence placed by both Warburg Pincus and Ontario Teachers' in PDG," said Rangu Salgame, co-founder, Chairman and CEO of PDG.

"Since making our initial investment we have been very impressed with the management team's ability to successfully execute a highly differentiated strategy and focus on value creation. We are pleased to make a second investment in PDG to help accelerate their growth and look forward to partnering with Mubadala and Warburg Pincus on this journey," said Ben Chan, Senior Managing Director for Asia-Pacific at Ontario Teachers'.

"Since backing the founders in PDG's formative days, we have been impressed by their leadership and execution of a strong thesis. We are excited to continue to be part of PDG's journey and believe that the company is best poised to take advantage of a truly transformative market opportunity." said Ellen Ng, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus.

About PDG

Princeton Digital Group (PDG) is a leading investor, developer and operator of Internet infrastructure. Headquartered in Singapore with presence and operations in China, Singapore, India, Indonesia, and Japan, its portfolio of data centers powers the expansion of hyperscalers and enterprises in the fastest-growing digital economies across Asia. For more information, visit www.princetondg.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Mubadala Investment Company

Mubadala Investment Company is a sovereign investor managing a global portfolio, aimed at generating sustainable financial returns for the Government of Abu Dhabi.

Mubadala's $243.4 billion (AED 894 billion) portfolio spans six continents with interests in multiple sectors and asset classes. We leverage our deep sectoral expertise and long-standing partnerships to drive sustainable growth and profit, while supporting the continued diversification and global integration of the economy of the United Arab Emirates. Mubadala's Digital Infrastructure unit invests in physical assets around the world underpinning the global trend of digitalization and increasing demand for connectivity, data storage and compute power.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Mubadala has offices in London, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, New York, San Francisco and Beijing. For more information about Mubadala Investment Company, please visit: www.mubadala.com

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global growth investor. The firm has more than $73 billion in assets under management. The firm's active portfolio of more than 235 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector, and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 20 private equity and 2 real estate funds, which have invested more than $100 billion in over 1,000 companies in more than 40 countries. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information please visit www.warburgpincus.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

About Ontario Teachers'

Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers') is the administrator of Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with C$227.7 billion in net assets (all figures at June 30, 2021 unless noted). It holds a diverse global portfolio of assets, approximately 80% of which is managed in-house, and has earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.6% since the plan's founding in 1990. Ontario Teachers' is an independent organization headquartered in Toronto. Its Asia-Pacific region offices are located in Hong Kong and Singapore, and its Europe, Middle East & Africa region office is in London. The defined-benefit plan, which is fully funded as at January 1, 2021, invests and administers the pensions of the province of Ontario's 331,000 active and retired teachers. For more information, visit otpp.com.

Media Contacts

Princeton Digital Group

Grace Chen

[email protected]

PRecious Communications for Princeton Digital Group

[email protected]

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SOURCE Princeton Digital Group (PDG)
DALLAS, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- All Y'alls Foods, a plant-based proteins company, scores #1 in meatless bacon sales on Amazon with It's Big Crunchy Bacony Bits Y'all . The animal-free bacon bits join three flavors of the company's flagship product, It's Jerky Y'all : Black Pepper & Sea Salt, Prickly Pear Teriyaki, and Prickly Pear Chipotle.

A traditional favorite with no added sugar Black Pepper & Sea Salt is one of four offerings from All Yalls Foods. Its Jerky Yall available in 3 flavors as well as Bacony Bits are offered by All Yalls Foods

For more than the past year the All Y'Alls Foods ad spend on Amazon netted up to and over 400% in ROAS further proving that consumers are hungry for plant-based meat alternatives. Overall, sales, both on and off Amazon, have doubled in the past six months. "We hear people talk about plant-based consumption being down and we have no idea what they are talking about," says Founder, Brett Christoffel.

The jerky and balcony-bits meat alternative snacks are low in sugar and sodium, certified vegan, and made from whole non-GMO soybeans with more protein, calcium, magnesium, and iron than beef. All Y'alls Foods are tasty right out of the bag or prepared with other foods as part of meal prep for an exceptional protein replacement.

Savory Plant-Based Goodness

"As the second-largest export in the state, Texas is a proud beef producer, so we knew that it would take some time to establish ourselves as a flavorful, nutritious alternative," said Brett Christoffel, Founder, and CEO of All Y'alls Foods. "And we're happy to say that we're gaining ground quickly. Our sales continue to climb through both direct web marketing and our partner retailers like H-E-B Grocery Company, LP, which reported a 104% year-over-year gain. I stopped eating animals six years ago and enjoy knowing we are contributing to healthier plant-based protein choices."

Plant-Based Proteins for All Y'all!

Plant-based meat alternatives have increased in popularity with U.S. consumers. According to a survey conducted by FoodInsight.org , two in five Americans consume meat substitutes daily or weekly. In 2020, plant-based food sales grew 2x faster than overall food sales according to the Good Food Institute . More than half (52%) of U.S. consumers are eating more plant-based foods and they believe it makes them feel healthier according to Nielsenniq.com .

All Y'all Foods customers couldn't agree more. Mark D. says, "We bought all the flavors and can't even figure out which we like the best!! And my heart thanks you, too! It was such a pleasure to taste jerky again. Admittedly, beef jerky used to be my guilty pleasure. But now I can enjoy delicious jerky without the guilt."

All Y'alls Foods

All Y'alls Foods is based in Texas and founded in 2018 by Brett Christoffel to offer plant-based proteins to nourish customers, support animal welfare, and be kinder to the planet. All snacks are protein and fiber-packed, gluten and cholesterol-free, and made from whole non-GMO soybeans. A portion of all sales goes to helping rescued animals at Rowdy Girl Sanctuary .

For more information, please watch this video or visit www.AllYallsFoods.com . Connect with All Y'alls Foods on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube .

You can purchase All Y'alls Foods directly from the website , through Amazon.com, H-E-B grocery stores, and in natural, specialty, and vegan stores across the nation .

For more food and founder pictures, click here .

Contact: Ann Conrad, Media Relations

Tel. 512-809-7848

[email protected]

SOURCE All Yalls Foods
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a televised address to the nation on Feb. 24, 2022. (Kremlin press release)

"Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories," Putin said.



MOSCOW, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "republics" in the Donbass region.

Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states.

"Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," he said.

Putin called on "all people living on the territory of today's Ukraine" to "independently determine the future of their own and children."

NATO has created fundamental threats year after year, expanding to the east and bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders, Putin noted.

Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons, he said, adding that Russia's actions are not connected with infringing upon Ukraine's interests but with protecting itself from "those who take Ukraine hostage."

In case of external interference in the situation in Ukraine, Russia will respond immediately, he said.

Russia has closed its airspace to civilian aircraft starting Thursday on its western borders with Ukraine and Belarus. 




FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Ocean Voyages announced today that, as a result of current regional tensions, the luxe-adventure cruise line is adjusting two late-summer 2022, Baltic itineraries. On both the Hamburg-to-Kiel itinerary, departing August 26, 2022, and Kiel-roundtrip itineraries, departing September 7, World Navigator will drop St. Petersburg, Russia, and now call at Kotka and Mariehamn, Finland. The August 26 voyage includes a bucket-list transit of the Kiel Canal, while the September 7 departure will now also add Saaremaa, Estonia, where World Navigator will dock in the city center, adjacent to the Medieval Castle of Kuressaare.

"Atlas Ocean Voyages' top priority is the safety and comfort of our guests and crew," said Alberto Aliberti, President of Atlas Ocean Voyages. "With unrest in Eastern Europe, we have adjusted our voyages and replaced our Russia calls with equally exciting and charming destinations in Finland and Estonia. Guests will enjoy these unique and rarely visited destinations and immersive shore excursions to take in the rich cultures and breathtaking vistas of the Baltic."

Atlas Ocean Voyages is a luxe-adventure, expedition cruise line designed for discerning, fun-seeking travelers to immerse in unique and awe-inspiring moments in remote and captivating destinations. Launched in August 2021, World Navigator features 98 suites, solo suites with no single supplements, and staterooms and is the line's first newly constructed small expedition ship, which can reach smaller, authentic and exclusive locales where larger ships cannot reach.

World Navigator will cruise the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and Iceland, Greenland and The Arctic in summer 2022; Central and South America in the autumn; and return to Antarctica for her winter 2022-23 season. Atlas' second ship, World Traveller, launches in November 2022, with three additional sister ships, World Seeker, World Adventurer and World Discoverer, to join the fleet through 2024.

For more information, please visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com. Please also follow Atlas Ocean Voyages on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AtlasOceanVoyages), Twitter (www.twitter.com/atlascruises), Instagram (www.instagram.com/AtlasOceanVoyages), and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/atlascruises). Travel Advisors can call 1.844.44.ATLAS (1.844.442.8527) to book their clients on an unforgettable luxe-adventure expedition.

SOURCE Atlas Ocean Voyages
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of the West, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, today launched Digital Doors, a new small business offering in collaboration with Mastercard. Digital Doors offers resources and interactive tools to help small business owners establish, grow, and protect their online presence.

Impacts of COVID-19 and recent shifts in consumer behavior have prompted business owners to accelerate their move to online platforms. According to Mastercard research, 76% of small business owners across North America suggest the pandemic prompted them to make their businesses more digital and 64% say digitally managing their business is a challenge.

"Now more than ever, having the right digital presence is an essential part of a business's strategy and success," said Michelle Di Gangi, Executive Vice President, Head of Small & Medium Enterprise Banking at Bank of the West. "Bank of the West and Mastercard launched Digital Doors to help small businesses deliver superior customer experiences, stay competitive, and thrive online."

The new Digital Doors platform helps small business owners understand how to digitally ready their businesses, move their storefronts online, and accept digital payments. It also provides cybersecurity guidance to help protect businesses and their customers. Each section within the platform contains educational resources, Bank of the West solutions, Mastercard tools, and collaborator offers, enabling businesses to seize their online opportunity.

"When the pandemic hit in 2020, I wasn't set up to handle online orders. I had to teach myself how to quickly set up an entire online store to serve my customers and stay in business," said Hannalee Pervan, Owner and Head Chef of One House Bakery. "Tools like Digital Doors are so important for entrepreneurs. I'm always looking for digital tools that help me save time, make life easier for my employees, and improve my customers' experience."

"As the shift to digital continues, it is imperative we provide the tools and resources to help small businesses get online, grow their operations and secure the right tools to digitally transform," said Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard. "Together with Bank of the West, we are thrilled to expand our Digital Doors initiative and further our joint mission in helping the small business community better understand and expand their digital capabilities."

Business owners can begin the digitization process by completing the Mastercard Small Business Digital Readiness Diagnostic to assess their business with custom recommendations and benchmark their existing capabilities, or by exploring the Digital Doors content.

Mastercard Digital Doors is just the latest offering from Bank of the West's targeted support of small businesses, and more specifically, women- and minority-owned businesses. Additional programs include the Bank's "WE" Source Program dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs establish and grow their businesses and the recently launched Means & Matters podcast highlighting women changing the status quo in business.

Digital Doors is available for small business owners here.

About Bank of the West

At Bank of the West, we know money deposited in a bank has the power to finance positive change. So we are taking action to ensure our activities help protect the planet, improve people's lives, and strengthen communities. We are redefining banking for a better future by focusing on areas where we believe we can have a real impact: supporting energy transition, helping enable women entrepreneurs, and financing innovative start-ups. As the bank for a changing world, Bank of the West is committed to sustainable finance along with our parent company BNP Paribas. Through Digital Channels and offices across the U.S., Bank of the West provides financial tools and resources to more than 2 million individuals, families and businesses.

 2022 Bank of the West. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Doing business in South Dakota as Bank of the West California.

Connect with us

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. www.mastercard.com

SOURCE Bank of the West
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital Group launched its first suite of active, transparent exchange traded funds (ETFs) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, including one fixed income core plus income strategy, three equity strategies that invest primarily in the U.S., and two equity strategies that cover international and global.

"The active ETF market is still in its early days," said Tim Armour, chairman and CEO of Capital Group. "At Capital, we introduce new offerings when we believe we can help investors achieve superior results over the long-term. I believe active ETFs will be transformative for the industry and that we will be a leader in this market. These six active ETFs will provide another way for investors to access our investment capabilities in the form or vehicle they want  whether that is our mutual funds, SMAs, CITs, or target-date funds  and now, our ETFs."

Capital Group's initial suite of ETF strategies will benefit from the firm's history of low fees, fundamental research process, long-term investment approach, and multimanager investment system. The six new strategies include:

Capital Group Growth ETF (CGGR)

Capital Group Core Equity ETF (CGUS)

Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV)

Capital Group International Focus Equity ETF (CGXU)

Capital Group Global Growth Equity ETF (CGGO)

Capital Group Core Plus Income ETF (CGCP)

"Our suite of six ETFs represents the hallmark of our investing, including three growth strategies offering varying degrees of domestic and international exposure, a core US equity fund, and a US equity fund that emphasizes income," shared Holly Framsted, director of ETFs for Capital Group. "Finally, our fixed income offering is a core plus strategy that pursues income with a level of capital appreciation, leveraging our strong team and capabilities in fixed income."

Capital Group's ETFs are designed to meet classic client needs and strengthen the core of an individual's investing portfolio through active management. The ETF suite will focus on major asset allocation categories used by financial professionals when constructing client portfolios and offer exposure to the firm's 90-years of investment experience and distinctive investment approach. The strategies are designed to reflect high-conviction, long-term investment horizons that contribute to below-average volatility and consistency for investors.

"When it comes to money, for most people, their main objectives are for financial stability, to support themselves and their family, and to retire with confidence," stated Framsted. "We built these ETFs with everything Capital Group is known for behind them -- our active management approach, supported by our multi-manager system and deep fundamental research -- to help people reach their long-term investment goals."

For financial professionals who are helping clients reach their financial goals, Framsted notes, "We knew it was imperative to design our active ETFs to easily fit into the core of client portfolios and reduce complexity."

To learn more about Capital Group's suite of active ETFs, visit capitalgroup.com/etfs.

About Capital Group

Capital Group, home of the American Funds, has been singularly focused on delivering superior results for long-term investors using high-conviction portfolios, rigorous research and individual accountability since 1931.

As of December 31, 2021, Capital Group manages more than $2.7 trillion in equity and fixed income assets for millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. Capital Group manages equity assets through three investment groups. These groups make investment and proxy voting decisions independently. Fixed income investment professionals provide fixed income research and investment management across the Capital organization; however, for securities with equity characteristics, they act solely on behalf of one of the three equity investment groups.

For more information, visit capitalgroup.com.

Media Contact:

Hannah Coan, Capital Group

[email protected]

Tel: (213) 615-5199

Sarah Christiansen, Capital Group

[email protected]

Tel: (213) 615-3052

Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.

Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses and summary prospectuses, which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing.

Statements attributed to an individual represent the opinions of that individual as of the date published and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Capital Group or its affiliates. This information is intended to highlight issues and should not be considered advice, an endorsement or a recommendation.

All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.

Use of this website is intended for U.S. residents only.

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This content, developed by Capital Group, home of American Funds, should not be used as a primary basis for investment decisions and is not intended to serve as impartial investment or fiduciary advice.

Your privacy and security are important to us. See our privacy policy (Canada | Europe & Asia | United States).

SOURCE Capital Group
HOUSTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CEMEX USA announced today as part of its efforts to cut CO 2 emissions, the company has successfully introduced environmentally friendly, lower carbon Portland limestone cement (PLC) manufactured at its plants in Brooksville, Fla., and Demopolis, Ala., across the southeastern United States. Increased PLC production is just one element of CEMEX's Future in Action program that focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of its operations and products.

Portland limestone cement can offer reductions of CO 2 emissions by up to 10% when compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). In the lower carbon PLC, finely-ground limestone replaces a portion of the clinker, typically reducing the clinker factor by approximately 10% compared to OPC, and thereby reducing its CO 2 intensity. Extensive testing and customer feedback have shown PLC offers the same or better performance in durability and resilience when compared to OPC.

CEMEX USA increased production of Portland limestone cement at its Brooksville and Demopolis plants over the last year, and currently, the low carbon building material accounts for more than 50% and more than 20%, respectively, of the cement produced at the operations. CEMEX USA aims to increase the production of PLC, or begin manufacturing the eco-friendly product, at other U.S. cement plants in the coming months.

"At CEMEX, we acknowledge that climate action is one of the most important issues facing our world, and we are committed to being part of the solution," said CEMEX USA President Jaime Muguiro. "Our company has ambitious emission-reduction targets, and by offering lower carbon products that deliver brilliant performance like Portland limestone cement, we can continue to work toward those goals while encouraging customers to join us in the journey."

In addition to diversifying its product mix with lower carbon PLC, CEMEX USA plans to increase its use of alternative fuels, including biomass, at the Brooksville and Demopolis cement plants to further reduce CO 2 emissions and promote a circular economy. Alternative fuels are expected to account for 30% of fuels used in the manufacturing process at the Brooksville plant by the end of 2022.

CEMEX announced more aggressive climate goals just last year and implemented its Future in Action program. The ambitious targets include cutting CO 2 emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 baseline levels and working to deliver net-zero concrete globally by 2050. CEMEX also is part of the Global Cement and Concrete Association's (GCCA) and Portland Cement Association's (PCA) carbon neutrality roadmaps. In addition, the company is a founding member of the First Movers Coalition, an initiative that unites more than two dozen companies worldwide to spur innovation and the use of decarbonization technologies.

About CEMEX USA

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable services with a rich history of improving the wellbeing of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements and sustainability efforts. Its U.S. network includes 10 cement plants, close to 50 strategically located cement terminals, nearly 50 aggregate quarries and more than 280 ready-mix concrete plants. CEMEX USA has been repeatedly recognized for its efforts in sustainability and energy management, including earning U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

SOURCE CEMEX USA
DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Multinational fintech company Channel VAS announced its rebranding to Optasia as it looks to further grow its global position, with emphasis in the emerging markets. Optasia core service is a fully integrated, versatile AI platform covering scoring, financial decisioning, disbursement & collection. The rebranding marks Channel VAS' business evolution after over 10 years of operation.

State-of-the-art AI platform Optasia offers its partners, both top tier Mobile Network Operators and financial institutions a better-informed decision process on credit scoring, opening up massive untapped opportunities and providing a full range of financial products and services to their ecosystem, including consumer and enterprise finance solutions, credit scoring, data science as a service and platform as a service.

Optasia is a game-changer for the fintech/mobile finance revolution taking place in the emerging markets, supporting local banks in their digital transformation to provide financing to their dynamically growing economies in a risk-free way.

Through proprietary AI, Optasia processes and analyzes unstructured behavioural data, creating unique profiles of customers which can be used by financial institutions and MNOs to tailor products and services to their client base. Without this technology, these organizations wouldn't be able to gather the necessary information to make safe decisions on creditworthiness.

Optasia has an established track record of over 10 years' experience in leading the fintech evolution in emerging markets across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, providing credit decisions for over USD 8 million in daily transactions. It services an addressable base of 560 million mobile subscribers in over 30 countries.

Commenting on the rebranding, Bassim Haidar, Optasia Founder and Chairman stated: "Optasia uses state of the art technology to enable financial access to the next billion customers across the global emerging markets. Technological and financial empowerment that data science brings in the regions where economic boost is most needed, is paramount to their future development".

"Globally, 1.7 billion adults are underbanked - without an account at a financial institution or through a mobile money provider. Although the figure has been systematically decreasing, it still accounts for an enormous gap. Optasia plans to spearhead this financial inclusion in the next few years" Mr. Haidar concluded.

Financially headquartered in Dubai, UAE, Optasia operations are located in Athens, Greece. The company developed a tech excellence center in Egypt and has offices and subsidiaries in various countries across the world, including South Africa, Nigeria, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The fintech had been chosen as a prime investment opportunity by top investment firms like Abu Dhabi's Waha Capital in 2017, Ethos, a South African investment company in 2018 and DPI equity firm in 2019.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1752683/Optasia_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Channel VAS / Optasia
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearco, the largest e-commerce investor revolutionizing the way founders grow their businesses, today announced the launch of the Clearco Founders Fund, created to empower Clearco's community of industry leaders to fund the next generation of online businesses.

Traditional VC scout programs remain exclusive to investors with the right network and connections. However, the Clearco Founders Fund aims to level the playing field of investing by empowering its partners to multiply their impact and fund under-represented founders, while simultaneously providing the resources for portfolio growth and networking.

Over the past five years, Clearco has funded 6,500+ online businesses without taking equity, all by democratizing access to capital and backing founders based on merit, not connections. Clearco's portfolio looks totally different from the typical VC. In 2021, 35% of Clearco's funding went to BIPOC founders, compared to 28% for traditional VCs, and 50% of the company's portfolio is female-founded companiesthat's 25X more than the VC industry average. Through this new initiative Clearco will provide even more visibility and opportunities for these overlooked companies to grow.

"The Clearco Founders Fund is another major step in Clearco's mission to create diversity in what businesses receive funding," said Co-founder and President of Clearco, Michele Romanow. "We know that innovation exists in all corners of the world and with the Clearco Founders Fund, it not only provides a window for founders who are typically overlooked by traditional VC, but it gives opportunity for industry leaders of all backgrounds to support the entrepreneurs they believe can make a difference in their industries and beyond."

Some of the platform benefits VC scouts receive by enrolling in the Clearco Founders Fund include:

Engaging in thoughtfully designed community experiences;

Learning about trends and best practices from top industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors;

Participating in Clearco's revenue sharing program and earning up to 1% on any funding given the brands they've scouted;

Receiving access to growth metrics and insights for the companies on their radar and funding them when they're ready;

"As a lifelong brand builder and founder, there is no better platform than the Clearco Founders

Fund to unite the best in the industry to invest in and scale online brands," said Eric Schnell, Founder & CEO, Beyond Brands.

The fund's launch partners include female founders like Melanie Travis from Andie Swim,

Xiomara Rosa-Tedla from UnoEth and tastemakers like Jada Sezer, in addition to advisors from LAUNCH, Vendo, and Beyond Brands. Michelle Finizio, Co-founder of FounderMade, has partnered with Clearco to launch the fund with a goal of funding 1M founders. The fund's venture scout program remains open for community leaders, investors, retailers, influencers and editors supporting online businesses to apply.

"My whole career, including Co-founding FounderMade, has been dedicated to partnering with the best in the industry to scale the missions they believe in and I couldn't be more excited to scale this mission globally with Clearco" says Michelle Finizio, Co-founder, FounderMade & Managing Partner, Clearco Founders Fund.

To learn more and apply, visit

https://clear.co/landing/founders-fund/

About Clearco

Co-founded as Clearbanc in 2015 by Michele Romanow from Dragon's Den (Canada's Shark Tank), Andrew D'Souza, Ivan Gritsiniak, Charlie Feng, and Tanay Delima, Clearco offers the most founder-friendly capital solutions for e-commerce, mobile apps, and SaaS founders as well as a full suite of products and access to a powerful global network, insights and data, and recommendations. Clearco has financed over 6,500+ companies to date, including Leesa Sleep, fashion-rental service Le Tote, home goods company Public Goods, shirtmaker UNTUCKit, online speech therapy practice Expressible, and digital real estate marketplace SetSchedule. For more information visit clear.co and @getClearco.

Media Contact:

Nick Rosen-Wachs

914-391-8218

[email protected]

SOURCE Clearco
CAMBRIDGE, England, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace, a global leader in cyber security AI, today announced that its Autonomous Response technology, Antigena, successfully took action to halt a recent cyber-attack targeting a construction supply enterprise in Saudi Arabia.

The company, which has been in business for over 50 years and has over 35 branches, was infiltrated by attackers in the early hours of the morning. Darktrace's Self-Learning AI spotted that a company device was compromised by Emotet, an infamous trojan that rapidly spreads malware from device to device, exfiltrating sensitive financial information. Emotet, which had defeated static security controls in the organization, is often the pre-cursor to ransomware if left uninterrupted.

Within minutes, Darktrace AI took action to successfully block malicious communications occurring between the infected device and an unusual host.

Self-Learning AI formed a constantly evolving understanding of both IT and operational technologies at the Saudi Arabian construction giant, allowing it to identify the subtle, emerging signs of Emotet. Within seconds, the algorithms took targeted action to interrupt the encroaching attack. This allowed the organization to continue normal business operations without disruption, and investigate the incident further.

The attack occurred amidst rising global cyber tensions and follows warnings from the Five Eyes urging companies to bolster defenses  particularly operators of critical national infrastructure or organizations that are critical to global supply chains.

"Since its emergence in 2014 the Emotet trojan has undergone multiple iterations and recently made a comeback globally," commented Max Heinemeyer, Director of Threat Hunting at Darktrace. "Emotet is particularly dangerous because this type of botnet can quickly escalate into something like ransomware if not stopped. Business leaders should know there is technology out there that can stop these attacks in their tracks, before sensitive data leaves the organization and before any ransom is demanded."

About Darktrace

Darktrace (DARK.L), a global leader in cyber security AI, delivers world-class technology that protects over 6,500 customers worldwide from advanced threats including ransomware and cloud and SaaS attacks. Darktrace's fundamentally different approach applies Self-Learning AI to enable machines to understand the business in order to autonomously defend it. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, Darktrace has more than 1,700 employees and over 30 offices worldwide. Darktrace was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' for 2021.

Media Contacts

Jessica Cheney CommStrat (US) +1 419 350 4614 [email protected] Kerrie Murphy SBM Comms (Australia) +61 409 537 743 [email protected] Tom Bermingham Brands2Life (UK) +44 (0) 7983 857 952 [email protected]

SOURCE Darktrace
Bluphoria has completed their development phase. The band went into East Iris Studios in Nashville this past January to record their debut record with GRAMMY-winning and 11-time GRAMMY nominated mixer/producer Mark Needham (Fleetwood Mac, The Killers, P!nk, Imagine Dragons). The first single from the album is due out this coming spring and STRATEJACKET is currently in development writing new material for their debut album.

EDGEOUT focuses on the development and curation of young mainstream ROCK bands and artists that will be the future rock movement in the music industry.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

ASHBA:

ASHBA is a world-renowned producer, songwriter, and multi-platinum recording artist. He has co-written or co-produced numerous hits for legendary artists ranging from Neil Diamond to Motley Crue. As a member of such notable bands including Beautiful Creatures, Sixx:A.M., and Guns N' Roses, he has captivated audiences for decades. With multiple chart-topping hits and millions of screaming fans around the world, ASHBA continues to push new boundaries with his music including his latest specialty project, GDM (guitar dance music).

BLUPHORIA:

Bluphoria is a pop rock/alternative band, with psychedelic and southern rock influences. Based out of Eugene, Oregon, and fronted by Reign LaFreniere (22) lead guitar/lead vocals, with Dakota Landrum (19) rhythm guitar/background vocals, Dani Janae (20) drums/background vocals, and Rex Wolf (21) bass guitar/background vocals. Founded at the University of Oregon in spring 2019, the band quickly gained popularity around Eugene and Portland, as well as the Bay Area. Since signing with EDGEOUT, Bluphoria went into the East Iris Recording Studios in Nashville, TN to record their debut album with Mark Needham. The band is expected to share their first single in spring, 2022.

STRATEJACKET:

Alternative pop punk for the modern age.

STRATEJACKET is Jackson Roemers (23) guitar/lead vocals, Fabian Angel (21) bass/background vocals and Nate Mangold (20) drums/background vocals. Together they blend of 90s soaked alternative punk with a poppy spin, and their own signature style of speedy riffs, snappy bass, and whirlwind drums. "With the help of the wonderful people at EDGEOUT/UMG/UMe we're gearing up to record our first album. It will contain all the fun energy you hear on our demos with a new sound and new tunes."

EDGEOUT RECORDS

EDGEOUT RECORDS  THE STUDIO

SOURCE EDGEOUT Records/UMe
Electric car share provides Honolulu residents with freedom of movement without expense of traditional car ownership. Tweet this

"Hawaii is on a fast pace moving toward sustainable energy and lower emissions. Kowa is committed to continue our contribution to the state economy and sustainability goal," said Masa Nakashima. "We believe by bringing Envoy to Hawaii we will be able contribute toward achieving that goal. As the world continues shifting toward a "sharing" community, Envoy's platform will be able to lower the number of personally-owned vehicles and give the community an opportunity to learn more about electric vehicles by offering onsite accessibility."

Envoy electric cars are located at specific properties and offered to guests, residents and employees as an exclusive amenity. This provides affordable emobility without the traditional cost of owning or renting a car.

See photos of Envoy's new location in Hawaii: https://www.envoythere.com/post/envoy-launches-first-electric-car-share-in-hawaii

About Envoy Technologies

Envoy Technologies, is a technology and mobility service company offering shared electric vehicles where people live, work and stay. Learn more https://www.envoythere.com

About Kowa American

Kowa American Corporation is part of Kowa Company Limited, one of the largest privately owned companies in Japan. Founded in 1894, Kowa produces a wide variety of products in a number of industries, including healthcare, industrial, and energy conservation. Learn more https://www.envoyhawaii.com/

SOURCE Envoy Technologies
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- mParticle , the largest independent Customer Data Platform, today announced Trade Republic , Europe's largest savings platform, has selected mParticle as its key partner for its customer data infrastructure. By more deeply understanding the customer journey, Trade Republic can provide a better offer for anyone looking to take control of their personal finances by investing and saving in stocks, ETFs or savings plans.

Recognized for its spirit of innovation, Trade Republic built a new bank for investment services from the ground up to enable everybody to have access to capital markets. The tech company offers simple and secure savings to already over a million people across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Austria. At the heart of the business is a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure that provides customers with innovative financial products and services. mParticle was selected as part of Trade Republic's technology infrastructure as a fundamental piece to the company's customer data platform structure.

With customer data infrastructure at the foundation, Trade Republic can create personalized customer messages and interactions. Trade Republic plans to enable connections for additional marketing use cases in the future.

"mParticle's comprehensive feature set, including its ability to ensure compliance with EU regulations, makes mParticle a standout provider in the customer data platform market," said Juan Bongiovanni, Head of Growth at Trade Republic. "As we continue to expand, the ability to personalize our customers' financial experiences becomes increasingly important. mParticle allows us to simplify regulatory compliance and safeguard customer data."

"Trade Republic is growing exponentially, providing hundreds of millions of people across Europe with easy access to capital markets," said Karen Gallantry, mParticle Chief Revenue Officer. "With this comes the need to deeply understand the customer journey. Using mParticle's customer data infrastructure, Trade Republic can help more people put their money to work."

About mParticle

mParticle makes it easy to holistically manage customer data along the entire product and customer lifecycle. Teams across companies like Starbucks, NBCUniversal, Spotify and Airbnb use mParticle to deliver great customer experiences and accelerate growth by solving the foundational challenges that impede success at scale. Founded in 2013, mParticle is headquartered in New York City with employees around the globe.

About Trade Republic

Trade Republic is a European savings platform that enables people to save, invest or trade on the capital market with just three taps and for only one Euro per trade. In addition to the intuitive app, a web version is also available to customers for this purpose. Trade Republic's vision is that everyone should have the opportunity to take their investments into their own hands. Trade Republic is a bank licensed in Germany and supervised by the Bundesbank and BaFin. The company was founded in 2015 by Christian Hecker, Thomas Pischke and Marco Cancellieri and today reaches over 250 million people in six European countries. Trade Republic's investors include VCs Sequoia, TCV, Thrive Capital, Accel, Creandum, Founders Fund and Project A, as well as sino AG.

SOURCE mParticle
JERUSALEM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday announced a plan to expand and rejuvenate the country's agricultural sector.

The purpose of the program is to increase the total number of agricultural lands cultivated in Israel, and to attract young, high-quality, and motivated labor force to the industry, the ministry noted.

As part of the plan, the ministry will support new farmers and farmers who have not worked in the field for at least seven years with a total of 10 million shekels (3.06 million U.S. dollars). The support amounts are intended for the purchase of farms, the preparation and operation of land development and more.

The average age of farmers in Israel is 65 currently, according to the ministry. 
CINCINNATI, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First Student, a trusted leader in school bus transportation in North America, today announced it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Apple Bus Company, a Missouri-based provider of student and charter transportation services.

"Apple Bus Company shares in our unwavering commitment to provide students with safe, reliable transportation," said First Student President Paul G. Osland. "At First Student, we see this as a logical step in our strategic commitment to grow our presence in North America. We are excited to have Apple Bus Company join our team. We look forward to introducing our industry-leading safety record, rigorous driver training programs and cutting-edge technologies to even more school districts, families and communities."

Apple Bus Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Missouri, provides transportation to more than 80 school district customers across North America with a fleet of approximately 1,500 buses. The company has 33 locations in eight states.

"We have spent decades building our business with our customers at the core of every decision we make," said Apple Bus President Mike Oyster. "Apple Bus Company, like First Student, believes great transportation partnerships are built on a foundation of trust, understanding, commitment and high-quality service. We are confident our school districts partners, students and families will benefit from First Student's best practices, processes and innovations."

First Student continues to grow its presence in North America. Since 2019, the company has acquired six bus lines and added more than 1,100 buses to its fleet.

The acquisition of Apple Bus is expected to be complete by no later than this summer. Terms were not disclosed.

About First Student, Inc.

As a leading school transportation solutions provider in North America, First Student strives to provide the best start and finish to every school day. With a team of highly-trained drivers and the industry's strongest safety record, First Student delivers reliable, quality services including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, route optimization and scheduling, maintenance, and charter services with a fleet of about 40,000 buses. For more information, please visit firststudentinc.com.

Contact:

Jen Biddinger

513.362.4600

SOURCE First Student
With more than 10 million gift cards sold in two years, Givex and iFood aim to replicate Brazilian success in Colombian market

TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Givex Information Technology Group Ltd. (Givex), a global leader in omnichannel processing of gift cards, loyalty, and digital merchandise credit with more than seven billion reais already traded on its platform, and iFood, one of the most innovative foodtech companies in the world, are pleased to announce the launch of their highly successful iFood Card program in Colombia.

iFood is a leader in online food delivery in Latin America, driving more than 60 million monthly orders as well as providing business intelligence and management solutions to over 170,000 restaurants in 1,200 cities across Brazil. iFood has sold more than 10 million gift cards to Brazilian customers since migrating its iFood Card to the Givex platform in 2019 and is eager to repeat this success in Colombia.

Givex serves as a central platform, or 'GivexHub,' connecting all major B2C and B2B sales channels in Brazil with integrated business intelligence tracking the real-time performance of the iFood Card program in each channel.

"We are the partner that supports our clients even as they grow and their needs change. We look forward to working with iFood in this exciting new market and building on our mutual success in Brazil," said Givex CEO Don Gray.

The iFood Card has many benefits for the B2B market in Colombia. Businesses can use the card to attract and retain talent, foster team engagement, and increase customer loyalty. Clients appreciate the many uses of the card, such as promoting virtual and physical happy hours, celebrating team achievements, and marking employee milestones.

The iFood card is exclusively redeemed for food in Colombia, and is accepted in 40,000 restaurants, bars and markets that are on the iFood app. "In just one month of operation, the number of companies buying the iFood Card in Colombia tripled," said Paula Rabelo, director of growth for iFood. "By the end of March, we expect to sell 100,000 gift cards in the country. And today, on average, 3,500 small businesses already use the iFood Card," she added.

Through Givex, iFood transformed the iFood Card into an omnichannel product, sold in mobile wallets and other digital marketplaces. By the end of 2021, companies were distributing the iFood Card to more than 60 million users of digital wallets and over 100,000 points of sale.

"We are always looking for partners who contribute to the innovation and pioneering spirit of our operation. Counting on Givex as a technology partner in the evolution of the iFood Card was fundamental for us to reach the results and continue this successful work," emphasized Rabelo.

Givex is leveraging the technology and experience it developed over many years while supporting client locations in more than 100 countries to scale the expansion of the iFood Card program quickly and securely in Colombia. Key features, such as 24/7 Spanish support and currency conversion, are already in place because of Givex's existing global footprint.

"Givex is very proud to be chosen by iFood to support this expansion. They have proven to be a real innovator in the foodtech space, and we are glad to help make their ideas a reality and offer our technology and business intelligence tools to achieve these incredible sales numbers for the iFood Card," said Maria Costa, Managing Director Givex LATAM.

By bringing the iFood Card to Colombia, Givex and iFood look forward to building on past success and many more years of partnership.

About Givex

Givex (TSX: GIVX) is a global technology company designed to simplify business efficiencies through an omnichannel platform with a high level of security and innovation. The company has processed over 20 billion transactions, has client operations in more than 100 countries, and has operated in Brazil for more than 12 years where it traded more than seven billion reais in the Brazilian market alone. Since its founding in 1999, Givex has provided technological intelligence to a wide variety of industries, from restaurants and retail to hospitality and the service sector, offering a range of integrated and customizable products, including gift cards, digital exchange vouchers, loyalty and point-of-sale systems.

About iFood

iFood, the leader in online food delivery in Latin America, has 60 million monthly orders. For nine years in the market, the company of Brazilian origin is also present in Colombia. It works alongside partners with initiatives that bring together business intelligence and management solutions for the approximately 170,000 restaurants registered in more than 1,200 cities throughout Brazil. iFood counts major investors such as Movile - a global leader in mobile marketplaces - and Just Eat - one of the world's largest online ordering companies.

SOURCE Givex
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

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Edition: 3; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 802

Companies: 547 - Players covered include QIAGEN GmbH; Quidel Corporation; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.; BGI; Primerdesign Ltd.; Abbott Laboratories; Co-Diagnostics, Inc.(USA); Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.; AlphaBiolabs Ltd. and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Product (RT-PCR Assay Kits, Immunoassay Test Strips/Cassettes, Other Products); Specimen Type (Nasopharyngeal Swab, Oropharyngeal Swab, Nasal Swab, Other Specimen Types); End-Use (Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, Other End-Uses)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

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ABSTRACT-

Global COVID-19 Testing Market to Shrink to US$10.4 Billion by the Year 2026

COVID-19 testing has emerged as a large market in a span of few months owing to the large-scale testing across the world. However, with vaccines being launched across the world, the COVID-19 testing market is expected to slowdown in 2021, and decline rapidly in the near future as the global population starts getting vaccinated. The major testing types include RT-PCR tests, rapid antigen tests, and rapid antibody tests. Growth in the global market is primarily being driven by rising incidence of COVID-19 infection and the pressing need for effective and fast testing. Announced as pandemic by the WHO, the rapid spread of the virus across countries has prompted governments to rely on massive testing, which created strong demand for COVID-19 test kits. The market for these tests is further bolstered by unavailability of an effective treatment hitherto, driving people to consider diagnostic testing as a solution to curtail the pandemic. Increase caseloads of COVID-19 owing to non-compliance to specific measures like social distancing has resulted in significant demand for testing. In addition, the requirement of effective detection kits for vulnerable population, including aging people and individuals with the compromised immune system, is propelling the market. On the other hand, short supply of test kits and other components, such as RT-PCR instruments, virus control samples, and swabs, are expected to limit the market growth.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for COVID-19 Testing estimated at US$24.2 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to decline to revised size of US$10.4 Billion by 2026, declining at a CAGR of -11.8% over the analysis period. RT-PCR Assay Kits, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a -12.4% CAGR and shrink to US$5.5 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Immunoassay Test Strips/Cassettes segment is readjusted to a revised -10.3% CAGR for the next 7-year period. RT-PCR is the most popular diagnostic technique in the market as it is reliable, sensitive and relatively quick, offering results within 3-4 hours. It is designed to detect the presence of viral RNA in patient samples by capturing as well as amplifying specific segments of the generic material of the virus, mainly the Spike protein, envelop or N protein. The immunoassay segment is growing rapidly, due to rising acceptance of rapid immunoassay tests. The market is likely to receive a notable contribution from the point-of-care (POC) segment. These tests are easy to access and eliminate the requirement of skilled professionals.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $5.9 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Dwindle to $246.2 Million by 2026

The COVID-19 Testing market in the U.S. is estimated at US$5.9 Billion in the year 2022. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to shrink to US$246.2 Million by the year 2026 trailing a negative CAGR of -30.1% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to record negative CAGR of -10.7% and -9.8% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to decline at approximately -9.4% CAGR. The US is a key market and growth is driven by increasing cases of DELTA variant cases, technological advances, rising healthcare spending and presence of leading providers of COVID-19 testing kits. The US has emerged as the worst-hit nation globally, holding the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19. The crisis has prompted the US government to allocate huge funding to medical research units for expediting the development of new diagnostic tests and pushing up the testing capacity. Growth in the European market is attributable to continuous spread of the virus across several countries, which is poised to create strong demand for kits.

Nasopharyngeal Swab Segment to Contract to $4.1 Billion by 2026

Nasopharyngeal swabs are the preferred specimen option, with clinicians considering oropharyngeal swabs in case of unavailability of nasal swabs. The use of nasopharyngeal along with oropharyngeal swabs for testing maximizes test sensitivity while limiting resource usage. In the global Nasopharyngeal Swab (Specimen Type) segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe accounting for a combined market size of US$5.9 Billion will shrink to US$2.2 Billion by the close of the analysis period. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$752.7 Million by the year 2026. More

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
RICE LAKE, Wis., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading lever action firearm manufacturer, Henry Repeating Arms, is donating a custom series of 55 "Miss Milah's Miracle" edition rifles to raise funds for four-year-old Milah Schevenius of Decatur, Indiana. Milah was diagnosed with bilateral Wilms' tumor at just 3-year-old, a rare occurrence affecting less than 10% of all children's kidney cancer cases. All proceeds of the fundraising campaign will be presented to the Schevenius family to assist with the associated healthcare costs of Milah's treatments.

Four-year-old Milah Schevenius (middle) with her family. Image courtesy of Cowbell Photography by Macy Baker. Henry Repeating Arms is donating 55 custom lever action rifles featuring artwork that is engraved and painted by hand.

In 2021, Milah underwent surgery to remove the affected kidneys, leaving her with less than half of her right kidney and no left kidney. A follow-up surgery was performed in December 2021, after a legion was found on her remaining partial kidney. Additionally, Milah is going through 42 weeks of chemo with radiation treatments at a children's hospital in Indiana. She loves to color, play with her dolls, have tea parties, and spend time with her sisters. Milah wants to be a doctor when she grows up so that she can help kids going through what she is experiencing.

"Never judge a book by its cover, because this little girl is tough," says Ryan Knapp, Milah's grandfather. He continues, "She has been through more than anyone should in less than 4 years of life but does it with a smile and she does not quit."

Anthony Imperato, CEO and Founder of Henry Repeating Arms says, "To go through what Milah and her family are going through in the middle of a worldwide pandemic is almost incomprehensible." Imperato continues, "Milah's courage is nothing short of inspirational, and I hope these rifles or the money raised gives her a reason to gift her family with a smile and a big hug." Last year, Henry Repeating Arms raised over $75,000 for the families of two sick children with all rifles selling out within hours.

The Henry "Miss Milah's Miracle" .22 S/L/LR lever action rifle features genuine American walnut stocks with a colorful hand painted motif that incorporates elements of Milah's personality. A doctor's stethoscope, referring to Milah's adulthood ambitions, forms a heart shape and becomes intertwined with a bright orange ribbon that represents kidney cancer. Two crayons symbolize Milah's love of coloring and the labels bearing the words "Faith" and "Family" serve as tributes to what helps the Schevenius family through their journey. The rifles are fitted with a brushed silver receiver cover and barrel band, a 17" blued steel octagon barrel, adjustable sights, and a large loop lever. Baron Engraving of Trumbull, Connecticut donated the artwork, engraving, and hand painting on each buttstock.

To learn more about the Miss Milah's Miracle fundraising campaign or purchase one of the limited-edition rifles, visit henryusa.com/missmilah. The auction for the first serial number in the series, "MISSMILAH01" is available on Gunbroker.com, item #925202160. The last rifle in the series, "MISSMILAH55" is also available at auction, item #925202458. Both online auctions close on March 9.

All firearm purchases must be ship to a federally licensed firearms dealer. For more information about Henry Repeating Arms and its products, visit henryusa.com or call 866-200-2354.

About Henry Repeating Arms:

Henry Repeating Arms is one of the leading rifle and shotgun manufacturers in the United States and a world leader in the lever action category. The company motto is "Made in America, or not made at all," and its firearms come with a lifetime guarantee backed by award-winning customer service. The company is also known for its Guns For Great Causes charitable program, which focuses on assisting the families of sick children, children's hospitals, military veteran organizations, Second Amendment advocacy groups, and wildlife conservation organizations. The company currently employs over 550 people and has over 330,000sf of manufacturing space in its Wisconsin and New Jersey facilities. The company is named in honor of Benjamin Tyler Henry, who invented and patented the Henry lever action rifle in 1860  the first practical repeating rifle and America's unique contribution to the international stage of firearms design. Visit Henry Repeating Arms online at henryusa.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/HenryRepeating, and @henry_rifles on Instagram.

SOURCE Henry Repeating Arms
Market Dynamics

The market is driven by the increased demand for parenteral containers. Parenteral drugs have high bioavailability and exhibit faster action rates when administered in an injectable form. The growing popularity of these drugs has significantly increased the demand for parenteral drug containers. These containers are made of highly aseptic raw materials, which lower the risk of cross-contamination. They also exhibit excellent barrier properties against moisture and are sterilized using steam autoclave, gamma radiation, and peroxide sterilization methods. In addition, with the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the demand for parenteral drug containers has further increased, which is driving the growth of the market.

In addition, the increased demand for healthcare packaging in emerging economies and the adoption of sustainable packaging practices will further boost the growth of the market. However, the inefficient product labeling processes adopted by various pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and the presence of stringent regulations for healthcare packaging will reduce the growth potential in the market.

Company Profiles

The healthcare packaging market in North America is highly fragmented. The market is characterized by the presence of several domestic and international vendors. The intense competition in the market is driving vendors to focus on product differentiation, portfolio expansion, and adopt better pricing strategies. The report provides complete insights on dominant players such as 3M Co., Amcor Plc, Baxter International Inc., Becton Dickinson and Co., Berry Global Inc., DS Smith Plc, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Gerresheimer AG, Sonoco Products Co., and Wihuri International Oy.

Competitive Analysis

The report includes the competitive analysis, which analyzes and evaluates the position of companies based on their industry position score and market performance score. Some of the factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.

Market Segmentation

By Product, the market is classified into bottles, blisters, vials, pouches, and others. The bottles segment will have the largest share of the market. Bottles are the most widely used packaging products for oral medications that are distributed in bulk to retail pharmacists, which is responsible for the growth of the segment. In addition, many vendors are focusing on using recyclable and biodegradable plastics in healthcare packaging applications. This is expected to further propel the segment growth during the forecast period.

By Geography, the market is analyzed across the US, Canada , and Mexico . The US will occupy the largest share of the market. Factors such as the growing value of healthcare exports from the US, increasing healthcare spending, and the rising aging population are contributing to the growth of the regional market.

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Healthcare Packaging Market in North America Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.52% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 10.23 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.18 Regional analysis US, Canada, and Mexico Performing market contribution US at 72% Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3M Co., Amcor Plc, Baxter International Inc., Becton Dickinson and Co., Berry Global Inc., DS Smith Plc, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Gerresheimer AG, Sonoco Products Co., and Wihuri International Oy Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of contents:

1. Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Key Finding 1

Exhibit 02: Key Finding 2

Exhibit 03: Key Finding 3

Exhibit 04: Key Finding 5

Exhibit 05: Key Finding 6

Exhibit 06: Key Finding 7

2. Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 07: Parent market

Exhibit 08: Market Characteristics

2.2 Value Chain Analysis

Exhibit 09: Value chain analysis: Metal and glass containers market

2.2.1 Inputs

2.2.2 Inbound logistics

2.2.3 Operations

2.2.4 Outbound logistics

2.2.5 Marketing and sales

2.2.6 Service

2.2.7 Support activities

2.2.8 Industry innovation

3. Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 10: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 11: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2020

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

3.4.1Estimating growth rates for emerging and high-growth markets

3.4.2 Estimating growth rates for mature markets

Exhibit 12: Global - Market size and forecast 2021 - 2026 (million $)

Exhibit 13: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2021 - 2026 (%)

4. Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five Forces Summary

Exhibit 14: Five forces analysis 2021 - 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 15: Bargaining power of the buyer

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 16: Bargaining power of the supplier

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 17: Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 18: Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 19: Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 20: Market condition - Five forces 2021

5. Market Segmentation by Product

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 21 :Product- Market share 2020-2025 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 22: Comparison by Product

5.3 Bottles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 23: Bottles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 24: Bottles - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Blisters - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 25: Blisters - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 26: Blisters - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Vials - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 27: Vials - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 28: Vials - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Pouches - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 29: Pouches - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 30: Pouches - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 31: Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 32: Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.8 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 33: Market opportunity by Product

6. Customer landscape

Technavio's customer landscape matrix comparing Drivers or price sensitivity, Adoption lifecycle, importance in customer price basket, Adoption rate and Key purchase criteria

Exhibit 34: Customer landscape

7. Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 35: Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 36: Geographic comparison

7.3US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 37: US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 38: US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 39: Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 40: Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Mexico - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 41: Mexico - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 42: Mexico - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 43: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8. Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.1.1 Increased demand for parenteral containers

8.1.2 Increased demand for healthcare packaging in emerging economies

8.1.3 Sustainable packaging

8.1.4 Inefficient product labeling process

8.1.5 Stringent regulations for healthcare packaging

8.1.6 Increasing pricing pressures

Exhibit 44: Impact of drivers and challenges

8.3 Market trends

8.3.1 Smart healthcare packaging

8.3.2 Personalized healthcare packaging

8.3.2 Personalized healthcare packaging

9. Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

Exhibit 45: Vendor landscape

9.2 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 46: Landscape disruption

Exhibit 47: Industry Risk

10. Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors Covered

Exhibit 48: Vendor Landscape

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 49: Market positioning of vendors

10.3 3M Co.

Exhibit 50: 3M Co. - Overview

Exhibit 51: 3M Co. - Business segments

Exhibit 52: 3M Co. - Key offerings

Exhibit 53: 3M Co. - Segment focus

10.4 Amcor Plc

Exhibit 54: Amcor Plc - Overview

Exhibit 55: Amcor Plc - Business segments

Exhibit 56: Amcor Plc - Key offerings

Exhibit 57: Amcor Plc - Segment focus

10.5 Baxter International Inc.

Exhibit 58: Baxter International Inc. - Overview

Exhibit 59: Baxter International Inc. - Business segments

Baxter International Inc.- Key news

Exhibit 60: Baxter International Inc. - Key offerings

Exhibit 61: Baxter International Inc. - Segment focus

10.6 Becton Dickinson and Co.

Exhibit 62: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Overview

Exhibit 63: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Business segments

Exhibit 64: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Key offerings

Exhibit 65: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Segment focus

10.7 Berry Global Inc.

Exhibit 66: Berry Global Inc. - Overview

Exhibit 67: Berry Global Inc. - Business segments

Exhibit 68: Berry Global Inc. - Key offerings

Exhibit 69: Berry Global Inc. - Segment focus

10.8 DS Smith Plc

Exhibit 70: DS Smith Plc - Overview

Exhibit 71: DS Smith Plc - Business segments

Exhibit 72: DS Smith Plc - Key offerings

Exhibit 73: DS Smith Plc - Segment focus

10.9 DuPont de Nemours Inc.

Exhibit 74: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Overview

Exhibit 75: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Business segments

Exhibit 76: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Key offerings

Exhibit 77: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Segment focus

10.10 Gerresheimer AG

Exhibit 78: Gerresheimer AG - Overview

Exhibit 79: Gerresheimer AG - Business segments

Exhibit 80: Gerresheimer AG - Key offerings

Exhibit 81: Gerresheimer AG - Segment focus

10.11 Sonoco Products Co.

Exhibit 82: Sonoco Products Co. - Overview

Exhibit 83: Sonoco Products Co. - Business segments

Exhibit 84: Sonoco Products Co. - Key offerings

Exhibit 85: Sonoco Products Co. - Segment focus

10.12 Wihuri International Oy

Exhibit 86: Wihuri International Oy - Overview

Exhibit 87: Wihuri International Oy - Product and service

Exhibit 88: Wihuri International Oy - Key offerings

11. Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.1.1 Market definition

11.1.2 Objectives

11.1.3 Notes and caveats

11.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 89: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.3 Research Methodology

Exhibit 90: Research Methodology

Exhibit 91: Validation techniques employed for market sizing

Exhibit 92: Information sources

11.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 93: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying different organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

Abbott Laboratories, Angel Medical Systems Inc., Asian Heart and Vascular Centre, BIOTRONIK SE and Co. KG, Boston Scientific Corp., CARDION sro, Medtronic Plc, TechIndia Infoway Pvt. Ltd., Vectorious Medical Technologies Ltd. among others are some of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the market.

Various players in the market are engaging in strategic partnerships and joint ventures coupled with launching differentiated products to up their game in the medical technology and device industry. For instance, in January 2020, CardioComm Solutions Inc. entered into a partnership agreement with CareOS SAS, a subsidiary of Baracoda Group, to provide consumer ECG monitoring technologies through the CareOS Poseidon smart mirror health and beauty hub.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Application:

Cardiac Arrhythmia:



The implantable loop recorder helps the healthcare workers remotely monitor the patients' heartbeats for up to 3 years. When a patient is at high risk of cardiac arrest, a doctor may propose an implanted loop recorder. As a result, the demand for implantable loop recorders to diagnose cardiac arrhythmia in critical patients is predicted to rise over the projection period.



Atrial Fibrillation

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Regional Market Outlook

North America will contribute to 39% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of this region can be attributed to the increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and stroke.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, the US, Canada, Spain, Denmark, China, and UK will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends, Driving the Global Home Textile Retail Market

Market Driver:

Growing number of cardiac conditions due to irregularity in heart rhythms:

Every year, approximately 209,000 patients in the United States are treated for in-hospital cardiac arrest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Arrhythmia can be exacerbated by other illnesses such as chronic liver and renal disease, as well as thyroid problems. According to the CDC, chronic kidney disease affects over 15% of adults in the United States, or nearly 37 million individuals (CKD). Every hour, roughly 340 people receive dialysis therapy for kidney failure, according to the CDC. The majority of ESRD patients who get hemodialysis suffer from cardiac arrest and arrhythmia. As a result, rising demand for arrhythmia monitoring devices like ILR is expected to drive market expansion throughout the forecast period.

Market Trend:

The supportive government and non-government initiative:

Governments all across the world are concerned about the rise in cardiovascular disease cases. Furthermore, half of the world's population resides in rural areas, and nations like Spain, China, Thailand, and India are focusing on improving access to healthcare in these areas. As a result, the medical technology and device business is collaborating with government and non-governmental organizations to address the worrying state of people's health.

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Implantable Loop Recorders Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.06% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 606.31 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth (%) 6.44 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key consumer countries US, Canada, Spain, Denmark, China, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Abbott Laboratories, Angel Medical Systems Inc., Asian Heart and Vascular Centre, BIOTRONIK SE and Co. KG, Boston Scientific Corp., CARDION sro, Medtronic Plc, TechIndia Infoway Pvt. Ltd., and Vectorious Medical Technologies Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Key Finding 1

Exhibit 02: Key Finding 2

Exhibit 03: Key Finding 3

Exhibit 04: Key Finding 5

Exhibit 05: Key Finding 6

Exhibit 06: Key Finding 7

Exhibit 07: Key Finding 8

2. Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 08: Parent market

Exhibit 09: Market characteristics

2.2 Value chain analysis

Exhibit 10: Value chain analysis: Healthcare equipment

2.2.1 Research and development

2.2.2 Inputs

2.2.3 Operations

2.2.4 Distribution

2.2.5 Marketing and sales

2.2.6 Post-sales and services

2.2.7 Industry innovations

3. Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market size 2021

3.3 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021 - 2026

3.4.1 Estimating growth rates for emerging and high-growth markets

3.4.2 Estimating growth rates for mature markets

Exhibit 13: Global - Market size and forecast 2021 - 2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 14: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2021 - 2026 (%)

4. Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five Forces Summary

Exhibit 15: Five forces analysis 2021 & 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 16: Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 17: Bargaining power of suppliers

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 18: Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 19: Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 20: Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 21: Market condition - Five forces 2021

5 Market Segmentation by Application

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 22: Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Application

Exhibit 23: Comparison by Application

5.3 Cardiac arrhythmia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 24: Cardiac arrhythmia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 25: Cardiac arrhythmia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Atrial fibrillation - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 26: Atrial fibrillation - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 27: Atrial fibrillation - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Application

Exhibit 28: Market opportunity by Application

6. Customer landscape

6.1 Overview

Technavio's customer landscape matrix comparing Drivers or price sensitivity, Adoption lifecycle, importance in customer price basket, Adoption rate and Key purchase criteria

Exhibit 29: Customer landscape

7. Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 30: Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 31: Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 33: North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 34: Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 35: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 37: Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 ROW - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 38: ROW - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 39: ROW - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Key leading countries

Exhibit 40: Key leading countries

7.8 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 41: Market opportunity by geography

8. Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.1.1 Growing number of cardiac conditions due to irregularity in heart rhythms and other chronic diseases

8.1.2 Growing awareness initiatives and access to healthcare

8.1.3 Technological advances and new product launches

8.2 Market challenges

8.2.1 Stringent regulations

8.2.2 Device limitations and complications

8.2.3 High cost of ILR as compared to the substitutes

Exhibit 42: Impact of drivers and challenges

8.3 Market trends

8.3.1 Supportive government and non-government initiatives

8.3.2 Increasing focus on R&D

8.3.3 Supportive government and non-government initiatives

9. Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

Exhibit 43: Vendor landscape

The potential for the disruption of the market landscape was moderate in 2020, and its threat is expected to remain unchanged by 2025.

9.2 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 44:Landscape disruption

Exhibit 45: Industry risks

10. Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 46: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 47: Market positioning of vendors

10.3 Abbott Laboratories

Exhibit 48: Abbott Laboratories - Overview

Exhibit 49: Abbott Laboratories - Business segments

Exhibit 50: Abbott Laboratories - Key News

Exhibit 51: Abbott Laboratories - Key offerings

Exhibit 52: Abbott Laboratories - Segment focus

10.4 Angel Medical Systems Inc.

Exhibit 53: Angel Medical Systems Inc. - Overview

Exhibit 54: Angel Medical Systems Inc. - Product and service

Exhibit 55: Angel Medical Systems Inc. - Key offerings

10.5 Asian Heart and Vascular Centre

Exhibit 56: Asian Heart and Vascular Centre - Overview

Exhibit 57: Asian Heart and Vascular Centre - Product and service

Exhibit 58: Asian Heart and Vascular Centre - Key offerings

10.6 BIOTRONIK SE and Co. KG

Exhibit 59: BIOTRONIK SE and Co. KG - Overview

Exhibit 60: BIOTRONIK SE and Co. KG - Product and service

Exhibit 61: BIOTRONIK SE and Co. KG - Key offerings

10.7 Boston Scientific Corp.

Exhibit 62: Boston Scientific Corp. - Overview

Exhibit 63: Boston Scientific Corp. - Business segments

Exhibit 64: Boston Scientific Corp. - Key News

Exhibit 65: Boston Scientific Corp. - Key offerings

Exhibit 66: Boston Scientific Corp. - Segment focus

10.8 CARDION sro

Exhibit 67: CARDION sro - Overview

Exhibit 68: CARDION sro - Product and service

Exhibit 69: CARDION sro - Key offerings

10.9 Medtronic Plc

Exhibit 70: Medtronic Plc - Overview

Exhibit 71: Medtronic Plc - Business segments

Exhibit 72: Medtronic Plc - Key offerings

Exhibit 73: Medtronic Plc - Segment focus

10.10 TechIndia Infoway Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 74: TechIndia Infoway Pvt. Ltd. - Overview

Exhibit 75: TechIndia Infoway Pvt. Ltd. - Product and service

Exhibit 76: TechIndia Infoway Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.11 Vectorious Medical Technologies Ltd.

Exhibit 77: Vectorious Medical Technologies Ltd. - Overview

Exhibit 78: Vectorious Medical Technologies Ltd. - Product and service

Exhibit 79: Vectorious Medical Technologies Ltd. - Key offerings

11. Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.1.1 Market definition

11.1.2 Objectives

11.1.3 Notes and Caveats

11.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 80: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.3 Research Methodology

Exhibit 81: Research Methodology

Exhibit 82: Validation techniques employed for market sizing

Exhibit 83: Information sources

11.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 84: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today DALBAR announced that Nationwide Retirement Solutions has earned the 2021 Plan Participant Service Award. This award recognizes Nationwide for outstanding telephone support to both public and private sector retirement plan participants. This is the eighth consecutive year that Nationwide has earned this distinction.

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SOURCE DALBAR, Inc.
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SOURCE Infinite Outsourcing Solutions
DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Pneumatic Conveying System Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global pneumatic conveying system market reached a value of US$ 28.4 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach a value of US$ 40.5 Billion by 2027 exhibiting a CAGR of 5.80% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



A pneumatic conveying system provides a cost-effective way to handle and transfer dry bulk materials without damage using pressure differential and gas flow. It consists of a receiver, feed device, conveying pipeline, material introduction point, and gas flow movement device. It is widely used in various types of process plants to transport materials between different storage locations. Nowadays, various dense phase pneumatic conveying systems are available across the globe that significantly reduces the risk of material degradation and wear.



Pneumatic Conveying System Market Trends:

Pneumatic conveying systems are utilized in food processing plants to transport powdered and granular food ingredients like flour, sugar, milk, wheat, coffee, grains, salt, and spices. This, along with the growing consumption of processed food products due to busy working schedules and inflating income levels, represents one of the key factors positively influencing the application of pneumatic conveying systems in the food and beverage (F&B) industry. Moreover, pneumatic conveying systems are employed in the pharmaceutical industry to deliver delicate materials, such as tablet granulations, active ingredients, finished tablets, and a wide variety of excipients.

This, in confluence with the escalating need for drugs and medications on account of the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and easy access to healthcare services, is contributing to the market growth. Apart from this, due to the fine powdering nature of titanium dioxide, pneumatic conveying systems are gaining traction over manual conveying methods that are ineffective, expensive, and time-consuming. In addition, the increasing usage of titanium dioxide in the production of paint, inks, plastics, textiles, and ceramics is impelling the market growth. Furthermore, market players are developing innovative pneumatic conveying processes and components to meet increasing customer demands for larger product capacities, greater product variability, and longer conveying distances. This is projected to impel the market growth.

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Atlas Copco AB, AZO GmbH + Co. KG, Cyclonaire Corporation, Dynamic Air Inc., Flexicon Corporation, Gericke AG, Hillenbrand Inc., Macawber Engineering Inc., Nilfisk Group, Nol-Tec Systems Inc., Palamatic Process, Schenck Process Holding GmbH and VAC-U-MAX.



Key Questions Answered in this Report:

How has the global pneumatic conveying system market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global pneumatic conveying system market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the technology?

What is the breakup of the market based on the operation?

What is the breakup of the market based on the end user?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global pneumatic conveying system market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology

3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Pneumatic Conveying System Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Technology

6.1 Positive Pressure Conveying

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Vacuum Pressure Conveying

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Combination Conveying

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Operation

7.1 Dilute-phase Conveying

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Dense-phase Conveying

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by End User

8.1 Food

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Pharmaceuticals

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 Rubber and Plastics

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast

8.4 Ceramic

8.4.1 Market Trends

8.4.2 Market Forecast

8.5 Mining

8.5.1 Market Trends

8.5.2 Market Forecast

8.6 Others

8.6.1 Market Trends

8.6.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Region

10 SWOT Analysis



11 Value Chain Analysis



12 Porters Five Forces Analysis



13 Price Analysis



14 Competitive Landscape

14.1 Market Structure

14.2 Key Players

14.3 Profiles of Key Players

14.3.1 Atlas Copco AB

14.3.1.1 Company Overview

14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.1.3 Financials

14.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.2 AZO GmbH + Co. KG

14.3.2.1 Company Overview

14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.3 Cyclonaire Corporation

14.3.3.1 Company Overview

14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.4 Dynamic Air Inc.

14.3.4.1 Company Overview

14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.5 Flexicon Corporation

14.3.5.1 Company Overview

14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.6 Gericke AG

14.3.6.1 Company Overview

14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.7 Hillenbrand Inc.

14.3.7.1 Company Overview

14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.7.3 Financials

14.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.8 Macawber Engineering Inc.

14.3.8.1 Company Overview

14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9 Nilfisk Group

14.3.9.1 Company Overview

14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9.3 Financials

14.3.10 Nol-Tec Systems Inc.

14.3.10.1 Company Overview

14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.11 Palamatic Process

14.3.11.1 Company Overview

14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.12 Schenck Process Holding GmbH

14.3.12.1 Company Overview

14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.13 VAC-U-MAX

14.3.13.1 Company Overview

14.3.13.2 Product Portfolio

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/szeew1

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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PHOENIX, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Item 9 Labs, the award-winning, elevated mainstream cannabis product brand from Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB), closes out a banner first year of its proprietary vape technology, Orion 710 Live Resin Pod and Battery System, with an optimistic outlook. The revolutionary Orion 710 was introduced in February 2021 and has quickly proven to be a favorite among consumers and dispensaries alike.

The Orion 710 Live Resin Pod and Battery System is a next-generation vape system that provides full-spectrum flower experiences on the go. It features strain-specific live resin extracted from fresh-frozen flower for incredible taste and enhanced effects, complemented by an innovative vaporizing device that offers a satisfying draw, magnetic interchangeable pods, and accurate dosing with its USB-C rechargeable battery.

"The Orion 710 is designed to meet the needs of the modern-day consumer and offer them a powerful, yet enhanced experience, similar to your favorite flower in aroma, taste, and effects," said Item 9 Lab's Director of Education, Veronica Paz Booth. "Our team believes this product will pave the way for the future of the cannabis industry."

Since Arizona legalized adult-use marijuana last January, the market generated $1.9 billion in sales and drew an unbelievable consumer demand that is expected to continue strengthening. Item 9 Labs sold more than 54,000 units of its 1-gram (1,000 mg) Orion 710 pods in 2021 to 70-plus dispensaries throughout Arizona. With this initial success, the Company introduced the vape technology with a half-gram (500 mg) pod in December 2021. Within the first month, the product sold 550 units and began being the buzz amongst local consumers. Already in 2022, Item 9 Labs has sold nearly 22,500 units to local dispensaries with the half-gram pods already outselling its counterpart.

"Item 9 Labs closed the 2021 calendar year as one of the top three preferred brands for cannabis vape products in Arizona this year," said Item 9 Labs' Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bowden, noting the source is BDS Analytics. "We are experiencing incredible momentum with our products in the market, and we anticipate it will only continue to accelerate with the recent launch of our half-gram pods for the Orion 710."

The Company's Director of Sales, Andrew DeNapoli, agreed, "2022 is poised to be the year of the Orion 710 and it's going to be our new half-gram pods taking the spotlight. Dispensary teams and buyers alike frequently share glowing feedback about our Orion 710 series, but it is the half gram pods that really excite them. The price point is more favorable for consumers and the proof can already be seen in our numbers."

Along with rising demand and high praise from consumers, the Orion 710 Live Resin Pod and Battery System earned multiple top placements in Arizona's largest and longest-running annual cannabis festivals and awards events. At the 2021 710 Degree Cup, Orion 710 Live Resin pods earned 1st place in the "Best Vape - Hybrid" category with MAC Lemon, 2nd place in the "Best Vape - Indica" category with Blueberry and 3rd place in the "Best Vape - Sativa" category with Mimosa. Also, at the 2021 ERRL Cup, the Orion 710 took top placement in the "Vape Pen Sativa" category with its MAC Lemon pod.

For more information on Item 9 Labs, its Orion 710 Live Resin Pod and Battery System, and the brand's wide range of premium cannabis products, visit item9labs.com. To find trusted products at a dispensary near you, visit item9labs.com/locations/.

About Item 9 Labs

Item 9 Labs cultivates the highest quality cannabis products while providing transparency, consistency and well-being for an enhanced cannabis experience. With more than 20 podium finishes in Arizona marijuana competitions, Item 9 Labs is a trusted source for premium cannabis products. Starting with intentionally grown flower, the Item 9 Labs product catalogue spans 100-plus products across five core categories, including several active cannabis strains, cannabis vape products, premium concentrates and Orion vape technology. Currently, Item 9 Labs is available at more than 50% of Arizona's dispensaries. For additional information, visit item9labs.com.

About Item 9 Labs Corp.

Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB) is a vertically integrated cannabis operator and dispensary franchisor delivering premium products from its large-scale cultivation and production facilities in the United States. The award-winning Item 9 Labs brand specializes in best-in-class products and user experience across several cannabis categories. The company also offers a unique dispensary franchise model through the national Unity Rd. retail brand. Easing barriers to entry, the franchise provides an opportunity for both new and existing dispensary owners to leverage the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to thrive in their state compliantly and successfully. Item 9 Labs brings the best industry practices to markets nationwide through distinctive retail experience, cultivation capabilities, and product innovation. The veteran management team combines a diverse skill set with deep experience in the cannabis sector, franchising, and the capital markets to lead a new generation of public cannabis companies that provide transparency, consistency, and well-being. Headquartered in Arizona, the company is currently expanding its operations space up to 640,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site, one of the largest properties in Arizona zoned to grow and cultivate flower. For additional information, visit item9labscorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, proposed transactions that are not legally binding obligations of the company and the ability to manage and continue growth. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Media Contact:

Lisa Sass

Serendipit Consulting

[email protected]

909-519-9171

Investor Contact:

Item 9 Labs Corp.

[email protected]

800-403-1140

SOURCE Item 9 Labs
OTTAWA, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday declared to end the state of emergency invoked on Feb. 14.

At a press conference, Trudeau made the announcement to end the use of the Emergencies Act which was passed by the House of Commons on Monday.

"Immediate emergency situation is over," said Trudeau, stressing that the decision was made after careful consideration.

The federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) promised to remain committed to working with law enforcement partners to ensure safety and security.

"Today, the declaration of a public order emergency under the Emergencies Act was revoked," said RCMP in an official statement published on Wednesday. "The revocation of the public order emergency takes nothing away from our resolve to effectively enforce the law and keep communities safe."

Canada's House of Commons on Monday night voted to pass the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act in response to the truckers' convoy blockades in Ottawa and at border crossings.

The 185-151 vote was made on a motion put forward by the Liberal government that outlined its decision to invoke the never-before-used emergency powers after weeks-long demonstrations dubbed the "Freedom Convoy 2022."

Since late January, Canadian truck drivers had been rallying against the government's COVID-19 vaccine mandates, as the truckers were requested to be fully vaccinated for crossing the border into the United States. After being joined by thousands of pedestrian protesters, the rally turned into demonstrations against the government's overall restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The provincial government of Ontario is also expected to lift the state of emergency soon. 
NORTHFIELD, Ill., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Medline announced today that it has entered into a partnership with North Heights Linen Service, a full-service healthcare laundry processing facility in Amarillo, Texas, to provide access to its Ready-to-Use pre-washed and pre-packaged linens to health systems across the country. To kick off the partnership, Medline also worked directly with North Heights Linen Service to set up operations in their new healthcare laundry plant, which opened in June 2021.

Medline's Ready-to-Use pre-laundered and pre-packaged linens undergo a rigorous sanitizing and handling process and are critical in supporting healthcare workers as a more efficient and timely solution during emergency and labor-constrained circumstances. These pre-laundered sheets, blankets, towels, washcloths and patient gowns are ready for immediate use, skipping the processing step required for new product injections. Being processed in the Texas Panhandle, local communities benefit tremendously, given the history of the lack of healthcare laundry processing facilities in the nearby area and the region's susceptibility to weather-related events, in addition to health systems nationally.

"Medline couldn't be more excited with the development and launch of the Ready-to-Use Linen Program," said John Piazzi, director of product management for Medline's textiles division. "Healthcare linen processing is being put in an enormous bind facing volatility in labor, demand and product availability. North Heights Linen Service has been a fantastic partner to implement this new program with, and it is a true win-win scenario. We're ecstatic to bring an impactful product solution to our customers while providing work opportunities to the North Heights community."

North Heights Linen Service tapped Medline in early 2021 for strategic guidance on end-user experience and laundry operations to help with setting up its 30,000-square-foot facility, in addition to leveraging the company's laundry business solutions. With the facility up and running, North Heights Linen Service is delivering essential healthcare laundry services to linen and healthcare providers nationwide, which, now more than ever, is critical in supporting local health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic and demanding labor market.

"The North Heights Linen Service is a fantastic addition to the North Heights community," said City of Amarillo Mayor Pro Tem Freda Powell. "The North Heights Linen Service represents historic economic progress for the community. The partnership with Medline enhances the potential success of this business that has been welcomed into the North Heights community. This is another sign of the revitalization of North Heights and what is possible when people have a shared vision that benefits an entire community, if not the entire city."

The significance of the partnership to the local community dates back decades, with medical professionals in Amarillo having to travel miles outside of the city to seek laundry services.

The new facility has brought in 20 jobs since opening and is expected to employ around 100 by Q3 of 2022. North Heights Linen Service also emphasizes work-life balance and an accommodating work environment with benefits, with the company being worker-owned.

For more than 100 years, Medline has introduced cutting edge fabric and linen products to the market, helping health systems globally drive efficiency, cost savings and patient satisfaction. Learn more about Medline's capabilities: https://www.medline.com/capabilities/laundry-services.

About Medline

Medline is a healthcare company; a manufacturer, distributor, and solutions provider focused on improving the overall operating performance of healthcare. Partnering with healthcare systems and facilities across the continuum of care, Medline provides the clinical and supply chain resources required for long-term financial viability in delivering high-quality care. With the scale of one of the country's largest companies and the agility of a family-led business, Medline is able to invest in its customers for the future and rapidly respond to a dynamically changing market with customized solutions. Headquartered in Northfield, Ill., Medline has 27,000+ employees worldwide and does business in more than 125 countries and territories. Learn more about Medline at http://www.medline.com.

About North Heights Linen Service

The North Heights Linen Service is a new, state of the art, full-service commercial healthcare laundry located in Amarillo, Texas. This facility is the culmination of years of planning and development in partnership with the Amarillo Area Foundation, the North Heights Advisory Association, the Saint Anthony's Legacy and Redevelopment Corporation, the Harrington Foundation and a consortium of Amarillo banks. The organization is based on an employee-owned model after the Evergreen Laundry in Ohio. The complete support of the community and the dedication of the Board of Directors as well as the City of Amarillo have propelled the realization of this project into a reality. Designed to serve the needs of healthcare organizations across the entire panhandle and beyond, the doors opened in the summer of 2021 and offers services tailored to these customers allowing a more convenient local provider that meets regulatory and compliance requirements. For more information, visit https://northheightslinen.com.

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SOURCE Medline
SAN RAMON, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumin Digital , a PSCU company, announced today that Navigator Credit Union (Navigator) has signed a multi-year agreement for Lumin Digital's cloud-native platform for online and mobile digital banking solutions. Lumin Digital will support over 45,000 Navigator members when the credit union goes live on its platform in August 2022.

Navigator, the largest state-chartered credit union in Mississippi, and one of the largest credit unions in Alabama, has provided its members in Mississippi, Alabama and the Gulf Coast region access to stable financial services since 1938. Guided by the motto "people are worth more than the money," Navigator chooses to provide the products, services and technologies that will give its members the best experience possible. Its partnership with Lumin Digital will continue to uphold this motto, delivering best-in-class digital solutions.

"Lumin Digital's technology will help us continue to do what we do best  providing an exceptional, personal customer experience to each of our members," said Sonya Jarvis, President and CEO of Navigator Credit Union. "By leveraging Lumin Digital's platform, Navigator members will experience personalized interactions and insights based on their unique needs, behaviors and inputs creating more successful financial outcomes and higher engagement."

As a cloud-native digital banking platform, Lumin Digital provides members with a tightly integrated and customized experience that matches larger financial institutions' offerings. Focusing on service, user experience, safety, and security through sophisticated automation, Lumin Digital helps credit unions and banks drive better engagement with their members through personalized communication in the areas of spending insights, financial advice, fraud alerts and savings goals. Lumin Digital also enables credit unions to provide customers with real-time updates and new features that add value and simplify banking.

"Navigator's commitment to building deep relationships with its members, and its culture of a shared value of interpersonal connection, which mirrors our company's philosophies, helped make this partnership a natural fit," said Jeff Chambers, founder and CEO of Lumin Digital. "Lumin's platform will provide Navigator with the technology expected of larger financial institutions but with a superior customer experience and a better pathway to innovation."

Lumin Digital continues to drive innovation in the digital banking space, differentiating itself through technology built for human connection. Lumin Digital's offering provides seamless integration to a wide array of PSCU and other platform tools and capabilities, including card services, rewards management, and data analytics to provide a member-centric experience. For more information, visit lumindigital.com .

About Lumin Digital

Lumin Digital is a fintech company specializing in digital banking solutions. Through a fundamentally different approach to technology, service, and people, we're creating the next generation of financial solutions each and every day. Lumin helps credit unions build and deploy next-gen digital experiences that help to continually serve, engage, and grow their membership base. While other platforms are partially adapted or retrofitted for the cloud, Lumin is 100% cloud-native. It was built specifically for the cloud environment, allowing us to more fully realize the advantages it offers. It's a difference that financial institutions and their users will see and feel almost immediately. For more information, visit lumindigital.com.

About PSCU

PSCU, the nation's premier payments CUSO, supports the success of 1,900 credit unions representing more than 6.9 billion transactions annually. Committed to service excellence and focused on innovation, PSCU's payment processing, risk management, data and analytics, loyalty programs, digital banking, marketing, strategic consulting and mobile platforms help deliver possibilities and seamless member experiences. Comprehensive, 24/7/365-member support is provided by contact centers located throughout the United States. The origin of PSCU's model is collaboration and scale, and the company has leveraged its influence on behalf of credit unions and their members for more than 40 years. Today, PSCU provides an end-to-end, competitive advantage that enables credit unions to securely grow and meet evolving consumer demands. For more information, visit pscu.com.

SOURCE Lumin Digital
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Students in communities in every corner of Michigan, from the Upper Peninsula to metropolitan areas, will have access to new career and technical education opportunities through the Michigan-based SME Education Foundation.

The SME Education Foundation received $6 million from the state of Michigan as part of the 2021 education budget to scale the SME PRIME initiative across the state. The award increases the number of schools participating in the unique manufacturer/educator partnership-driven SME PRIME initiative by 16  there are already 17 SME PRIME schools in Michigan.

Supported and informed by private industry, SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) builds cost-effective and tailored manufacturing/engineering programs in high schools across the country, providing equipment, curriculum, professional development, scholarships and STEM-focused extracurricular activities to students and teachers.

"Bringing cutting-edge STEM programming to Michigan students and professional development to our teachers is a win-win for our schools and future leaders," said Michigan State Senator Jim Stamas (Midland), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who was instrumental in securing legislative support. "The SME PRIME model provides a clear pathway for students to find successful careers right here in Michigan."

The 2021 SME PRIME Outcomes Report indicates that 89% of SME PRIME seniors nationwide pursued careers or education in manufacturing or engineering after graduation.

Michigan Senator Wayne Schmidt (Traverse City), chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on K-12 and Michigan Department of Education, who was also crucial to obtaining support, said "Michigan is a global leader in manufacturing and has been for more than 100 years. That's our legacy and our future: we must provide education and training opportunity to students, communities and manufacturers across the state."

SME PRIME schools implement career pathways that provide robust, hands-on instruction that aligns with industry needs and industry-recognized certifications. There are nearly 500,000 U.S. manufacturing positions unfilled. That shortage will grow to 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030. SME PRIME career pathways address this critical shortage by teaching in-demand skills and knowledge in additive manufacturing, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing, industrial maintenance, machining and fabrication, mechatronics/robotics, metrology (precise measurement) and quality, and welding.

"Coordinated by our staff of highly qualified education program managers, SME PRIME schools are a model; a unique approach to STEM education and career preparation implemented by scores of schools across the nation," said SME Education Foundation Vice President Rob Luce.

Representative Joe Tate (Michigan 2nd House District: Detroit; Grosse Pointe), vice chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee and key to the legislative support for the appropriation, said "STEM skills and education are critical to maintaining Michigan leadership in manufacturing. We recognized the value in the Foundation's unique approach to creating a prepared workforce  and the value of this education for our communities and our young people."

The Foundation is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and to providing economic advancement opportunities to underrepresented and/or economically disadvantaged populations: 63% of the schools are designated as Title 1 schools. Of the 16,708 students with access to new SME PRIME school opportunities, 45% qualify for free and reduced lunch, and 38% of the students reflect populations historically underrepresented within manufacturing.

Thanks to a partnership with the Michigan Manufacturers Association, the SME PRIME school presence has nearly doubled since the beginning of 2019, from 47 schools to 81, 33 of which will be in Michigan. Communities in 22 states are now home to SME PRIME. Michigan schools that will begin development this year include:

Airport Community Schools, Carleton

Alpena High School, Alpena

Bay City Western High School, Bay City

Cheboygan High School, Cheboygan

East Jackson High School , Jackson

, Jackson Ecorse Community High School, Ecorse

Edwardsburg High School, Edwardsburg

Genesee Career Institute, Flint

Hancock High School, Hancock

Innovation Central High School, Grand Rapids

William D. Ford Career-Technical Center, Westland

Rudyard High School , Rudyard

, Rudyard Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology, Southfield

Three Rivers High School, Three Rivers

Troy High School , Troy

, Troy West Ottawa High School, Holland

"This significant expansion of the SME PRIME school initiative benefits students and Michigan manufacturers who need qualified, prepared employees," said Mike Johnston, MMA's vice president of government affairs. "Michigan manufacturers need ambitious, creative and prepared young people ready to find their bright futures in advanced manufacturing. We are proud to advocate for our manufacturing partners and for Michigan students."

The Foundation will work with the MMA to solicit input from area manufacturers to inform the developmental curriculum. The MMA, which represents traditional and advanced manufacturing enterprises across the state, has been a partner in developing Michigan SME PRIME schools and critically important in supporting efforts by an industry facing a limited talent pipeline and misperceptions about work environments and opportunities for young people.

About the SME Education Foundation

The SME Education Foundation inspires, prepares and supports the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent. Since its organization by SME in 1979, the SME Education Foundation works to bring students, educators, industry and communities together through its SME PRIME program; awards annual student scholarships and conducts the Student Summit Event Series held at SME events in North America. Visit the SME Education Foundation at smeeducationfoundation.org . Follow @mfgeducation on Twitter or at facebook.com/SME.Education.Foundation .

SOURCE SME Education Foundation
HOUSTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A lawsuit filed by the family of a Conroe, Texas, teenager charges that Snapchat fails to monitor its social media platform for child sexual predators, which allowed the teen's teacher to groom him for what police reports say was an inappropriate sexual relationship.

The lawsuit filed Feb. 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division also names the Conroe Independent School District and Oak Ridge High School science teacher Bonnie Guess-Mazock as defendants.

According to the lawsuit, Ms. Mazock used Snapchat to arrange private, off campus meetings with the student. The school district did not have any policies addressing social media communications between students and teachers.

"This boy's school was his safe haven," said attorney Derek Merman of the Heard Merman law firm, which represents the family. "He trusted his teachers and the staff around him. All of the parties failed him and must be held accountable."

The lawsuit, police investigators and published reports detail how Ms. Mazock is accused of sending the teen seductive photos of herself and solicitous messages through Snapchat. The lawsuit alleges she provided the teen with money and prescription drugs and encouraged him to take the drugs prior to their encounters.

The student's family discovered the relationship after he overdosed on prescription drugs, the lawsuit states. Police arrested Ms. Mazock in late January on a charge of indecency with a child. She posted a $100,000 bond and is out of jail.

The lawsuit further states that Snapchat's design allows sexual predators to target underage children and accuses the company of monitoring content for its own financial gain, but not for the protection of its users. In addition to Snapchat, the school district is accused of failing to properly screen its employees and failing to train staff to recognize the signs of inappropriate activity between teachers and students. The lawsuit notes a history of incidents in which Conroe ISD employees have been accused of inappropriate activity with students.

Watch video interviews with the teen's grandmother and aunt here.

View video interviews with Derek Merman and Andrea Kolski here.

"When you send your children to school you want to make sure they are not bullied," said attorney Andrea Kolski of the Non Stop Justice law firm and co-counsel on the case. "You want to make sure they are educated. You want to make sure they are happy. And of course, you want to protect them from their worst nightmare."

Heard Merman Law Firm

Heard Merman is dedicated to providing compassionate representation in high-profile personal injury disputes. The firm handles cases involving catastrophic injuries in the workplace, from vehicle crashes and from dangerous products. Heard Merman also litigates business disputes. Heard Merman is focused on Big Results. Big Impact. Big Referrals. For more information, visit https://www.heardmerman.com/

Media Contact:

Sophia Reza

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Heard Merman Law Firm
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

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Edition: 10; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 15033

Companies: 38 - Players covered include ABB Group; Alstom SA; Bombardier, Inc.; CAF, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A.; CRRC Corporation Limited; Hitachi Ltd.; Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc.; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.; Siemens AG; Strukton; Talgo; Toshiba Corporation and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Propulsion Type (Electric, Other Propulsion Types)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

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ABSTRACT-



Global Bullet Train / High-Speed Rail Market to Reach 7.6 Thousand Units by the Year 2026

Bullet trains and high-speed rail represent an advanced option to transport passengers or goods at higher speeds in comparison to conventional trains. Growth in the global market is set to be driven by rising adoption of mass rapid transit coupled with the need to expedite journey time and ease traffic congestion. The significant growth potential is led by attributes such as transport efficiency, high safety and security levels, high level of reliability and environmental friendliness. The global market is set to receive a noteworthy impetus from increasing public expenditure to develop rail transport network, unabated surge in passenger traffic and attractive incentives associated with the use of energy-efficient rail. Factors such as increasing construction activities and rapid urbanization are paving way for connectivity between urban and rural or semi-urban areas, which is bound to present new growth avenues for the market. Bullet train/high-speed rail is likely to also benefit from rapid industrialization and the resulting spike in logistics along with ongoing technological advancements to improve safety and reliability of these trains.

In the recent years, various countries have started emphasizing on mass rapid transit like high-speed trains to reduce journey time and traffic congestion. The requirement is prompting governments to develop the city infrastructure by laying new tracks to support high-speed trains. The total number of countries with bullet train/high-speed rail is estimated to increase notably in the coming years, including the US, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Japan and China. Countries like Japan, Spain, France, Germany and China have revolutionized public transportation through implementation of an extensive high-speed train network that has played an important role in significantly expediting the journey time. On the flip side, high construction, operating and maintenance costs associated with bullet train/high-speed rail continue to hinder overall expansion of the market, particularly in developing and underdeveloped nations.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Bullet Train / High-Speed Rail estimated at 6.1 Thousand Units in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of 7.6 Thousand Units by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.3% over the analysis period. Electric, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 5.4% CAGR to reach 7.2 Thousand Units by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Other Propulsion Types segment is readjusted to a revised 4% CAGR for the next 7-year period. Electric railways are used either for electric locomotives for hauling freight or passengers in separate railcars, or electric multiple units (EMUs) comprising electrically-powered carriages, or both. Electrically-powered locomotives are also typically more reliable, responsive, powerful, and quieter as compared to their diesel-based counterparts. The power for electric railways can be generated from a wide range of energy sources, including renewable resources, making them more efficient than a diesel engine as well as reducing the reliance on petroleum.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at 52 Units in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach 3.7 Thousand Units by 2026

The Bullet Train / High-Speed Rail market in the U.S. is estimated at 52 Units in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 0.9% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of 3.7 Thousand Units in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 4.6% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Europe, each forecast to grow at 4% and 5.7% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 5.1% CAGR over the analysis period. Around 20 nations have high-speed railways with China featuring the world's longest network of 35,000km of such tracks. The Chinese government aims to bridge the long distance routes between production areas and key logistics sites by high-speed rail, which offers a safer, more sustainable and low-energy consuming transportation medium. China National Railways has been operating over 9,600 high-speed trains each day by late 2020. These trains included the only high-speed overnight sleeper services in the world. Europe is a major high-speed rail market and is anticipated to continue expanding, driven by long-term plan of the European Commission to expand the high-speed rail lines length from 9,700 km to 30,750 km by 2030. Among the European countries, Spain has the longest network of high-speed railways (AVE, Alta Velocidad Espanola). The nation ranks next to China as the second longest high speed rail network in the world with over with over 3200km of track. More

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Edition: 20; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 69482

Companies: 192 - Players covered include [24]7.ai; Acapela Group; Advanced Voice Recognition Systems Inc.; Apple Inc.; Applied Voice & Speech Technologies Inc.; BioTrust ID B.V.; Convergys Corp.; Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories Inc.; Google Inc.; Honeywell International, Inc.; IBM Corp.; LumenVox LLC; Microsoft Corp.; Nuance Communications Inc.; Sensory Inc.; Sestek; Voxware Inc.; Wizzard Speech LLC and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Technology (Speech, Voice); Deployment (Cloud, On-Premise); End-Use (Consumer, Healthcare, Automotive, Retail, BFSI, Military, Legal, Other End-Uses)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

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ABSTRACT-

Global Voice and Speech Recognition Technology Market to Reach US$20.9 Billion by the Year 2026

Decades of technology advancements and product innovations have led to the emergence of voice and speech recognition systems as indispensable part of new-age applications. Voice and speech recognition technology is emerging as the basis of advanced voice services in various applications including voice-based commerce, customer service applications, clinical documentation for healthcare industry, and virtual digital assistants for automobiles. Growth in the global market is being driven by the expanding applications of voice and speech recognition technologies, with customer care, healthcare, and financial institutions emerging as major end-use markets for the technology. Rising demand for speech-based biometric systems for carrying out multifactor authentication is another major factor driving growth in the market. Increasing focus on combating fraud in major end-use verticals including enterprise, banking and healthcare sectors and the growing adoption of mobile banking services by banking institutions and e-commerce retailers are enhancing the need for more secure verification process, thereby driving implementations of voice recognition/authentication technologies. Sustained innovations in computing power and the growing adoption of cloud-based services are also boosting market prospects. Automatic speech recognition (ASR), text-to-speech (TTS) and speaker verification (SV) are few applications driving growth in the speech technology marketplace.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Voice and Speech Recognition Technology estimated at US$10.3 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$20.9 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 18.1% over the analysis period. Speech, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 16.1% CAGR to reach US$15.9 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Voice segment is readjusted to a revised 22.6% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 27.8% share of the global Voice and Speech Recognition Technology market. Speech recognition technology has been developed as an approach to allow individuals to interact easily with smartphones and its applications. Growth of the speech recognition market is being driven by the extensive adoption of mobile computing technology and increasing proliferation of smartphones. Voice recognition technology is capable of analyzing speaker's identity, by studying behavioral patterns of people, such as accent, voice pitch, speaking style, among others. Advancements in machine learning and speech technology, constantly reducing costs, and growth in processing power are all driving growth in the voice recognition market.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $3.4 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $2.3 Billion by 2026

The Voice and Speech Recognition Technology market in the U.S. is estimated at US$3.4 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 33.2% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$2.3 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 21.6% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 16% and 16.4% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 17% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$2.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period. In developed markets, speech technology has become the mainstay in enterprise call centers and telecommunication devices. Further, there is a growing adoption of speech technology in automobiles and in-car systems with both the US-based and European automobile manufacturers exhibiting high level of interest in the technology. Also driving market growth is the increasing adoption of speech recognition solutions in BFSI and healthcare sectors for purposes such as time and attendance monitoring. The increasing awareness about speech and voice recognition technology and the reducing cost of biometric devices are fueling market growth in Asia-Pacific region, especially in countries such as China and India. More

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NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "Ed Slott's Retirement Freedom!", a new public television special that educates viewers on key retirement savings strategies to have more, keep more and make their money last, is now airing on public television stations throughout the country. Those who wish to tune in should check their local listings in their area. Slott, a nationally recognized CPA and IRA Expert, founder of Ed Slott and Company, and creator of irahelp.com, is participating in live pledge drives in cities across the country, including Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, and more. For a complete list of cities on the pledge drive tour, visit irahelp.com/speaking_schedule.php.

"These are some of the most challenging times I've ever seen in my career as a tax advisor," said Slott. "Uncle Same wants your hard-earned savings more than ever, and with ever-changing retirement tax laws, it can be difficult to understand how you and your family are impacted. My goal is for viewers to come away from my special with the knowledge they need to get their own retirement plan, not the government's plan."

During the public television special, Slott shares his Four Pillars of Retirement Freedom: freedom from taxes, freedom from worry, freedom from risk, and freedom from bad advice. The special also includes real-life stories about those who planned and those who didn't to help viewers gain a better understanding of the importance of retirement planning. Viewers of the show will learn:

The latest retirement planning strategies and opportunities for 2022

How to move their money from forever taxed to never taxed

to Slott's "always" rules for a successful retirement and strategies to help get everything on their retirement wish lists

This is the seventh special Ed Slott has hosted on public television. Combined, these programs have helped raise more than $60 million for public television. "Ed Slott is one of the most successful public television personalities who has brought the message of 'it's not how much you make, but how much you keep,' to tens of millions of viewers," said show producer Bob Marty. "Public television audiences respond enthusiastically to Ed because of his in-depth knowledge and how he delivers it with his inclusive, kind, funny and informed approach."

"There is a lot of noise out there about retirement planning and advice  and most of it is just that  noise!" added Slott. "With this special, I'm able to cut through all of that and come directly to viewers of all ages and arm them with the latest information on retirement tax strategies so that they can save and keep more as they save for and transition to retirement."

ABOUT ED SLOTT AND COMPANY, LLC: Ed Slott and Company, LLC is the nation's leading provider of technical IRA education for financial advisors, CPAs, and attorneys. Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM is comprised of more than 475 of the nation's top financial professionals who are dedicated to the mastery of advanced retirement account and tax planning laws and strategies. Slott is a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert, best-selling author, and professional speaker. His latest books include The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb (Penguin Random House, 2021), Ed Slott's Retirement Decisions Guide: 2022 Edition (IRAHelp, 2022), and Fund Your Future: A Tax-Smart Savings Plan in Your 20s and 30s (IRAHelp, 2021). He has hosted several public television programs, including his latest, Ed Slott's Retirement Freedom! (2022), is a Professor of Practice at The American College of Financial Services and a columnist for AARP. Visit irahelp.com for more information.

CONTACT

AdvisorPR

(702) 685-7450

SOURCE Ed Slott and Company
The New York Auto Show will include innovative new displays from dozens of car companies including hundreds of new 2022 and 2023 models. Also for '22, the Show has lined up a host of new engagements for the public including a dedicated multi-brand Electric Vehicle Test Track , an all-new Automotive Aftermarket Experience and for the first time a personal Micro Mobility Expo to showcase the latest in electric 'last mile' transportation.

"The great constant of the history of the automobile industry over the past 120 years is the New York Auto Show."

"We're back! In the past two years there's been so much change with new and exciting products, technology and advancements and we can't wait to again showcase the very best that the industry has to offer to potential car buyers throughout our area," said Mark Schienberg, New York Auto Show president.

Long known as New York's largest publicly attended consumer event, the Show generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact for the City and State and the enthusiastic support by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul is testimony to the Show's importance.

In addition to its ten-day run for consumers, the Show is thrilled to be partnering again with organizations like the National Automobile Dealers Association, J.D. Power, the World Car Awards, MediaPost and others during the media and industry days.

"The great constant of the history of the automobile industry over the past 120 years is the New York Auto Show and its unique place as the premier automotive marketing event in the nation. No other event attracts so many potential car buyers or as much media attention. There is simply no other way to reach as many consumers in such an experiential way," John LaSorsa, New York Auto Show chairman

The Show is constantly growing and evolving and for 2022 will make its long-awaited return as one of New York City's most iconic events.

WEBSITE: AUTOSHOWNY.COM FACEBOOK: @NYAutoShow

TWITTER: @NYAutoShow. INSTAGRAM: #NYIAS

YOUTUBE: AUTOSHOWNY

SOURCE New York International Auto Show
ATLANTA, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Volato, the modern way to buy and own a private jet, has announced its expansion in service to include Baltimore and the greater Washington, D.C., effective today.

Volato is partnering with Trident Aircraft, based in Easton, MD., for ground support and FBO services. Trident is a full-service general aviation company that provides jet management, jet charter, aircraft leasing, flight training, aircraft rental, maintenance, and hangar services.

"I am extremely excited to be the support provider for Volato's first North-East base of operations. The current private aviation demand is incredible, and I believe they will do very well. We are proud to partner with them in supporting the private aviation industry," said John Galdieri, founder and President of Trident. "The airspace between Charlotte, NC and Boston is likely the busiest in the nation, being the geographic center of this region is a smart strategic move. The HondaJet is ideally suited to support this region with the capability to reach Florida non-stop out of Baltimore."

Volato's homebase is in Peachtree DeKalb Airport in Atlanta, with hubs in St. Augustine, FL, Ft. Lauderdale FL, and now Baltimore, MD.

Expanding to the Baltimore-D.C. area is the most recent of Volato's milestones since launching the company in September 2021. This addition adds significant value to owners in Volato's fractional program, as they will not pay repositioning fees to pick up their aircraft from airports within two hours of Trident's facilities in Easton, Maryland or Baltimore's Martin State Airport.

When the company launched operations in August 2021, it did so with just one four-seat HondaJet Elite aircraft and a 10 aircraft fleet order. Earlier this month, driven by strong demand, the company announced the order of 15 additional HondaJets for its fleet and in December it launched a charter service. Volato's charter service allows non-owner travelers to book a flight and pay by the hour. A portion of charter fees are returned to Volato fractional owners: a distinguishing, valuable feature of Volato's program.

Volato's unique business model offers fractional ownership at 1/16, 1/8, 14, 12, through to a full HondaJet Elite aircraft in the fleet. Shares are in a five-year program term. Owners may fly for as low as $3,200 per hour plus fuel at cost. With the charter program now in operation, owners may earn up to $1,250 per hour, even on the hours they fly, leading to a net rate as low as $1,950 per hour plus fuel at cost, with flight time charged to the nearest 1/10th of an hour. Repositioning fees are reduced or eliminated from owner flight charges depending on the departure distance from a Volato base.

For more information, please visit flyvolato.com .

About Volato :

Volato is the modern way to buy and own a private jet, creating a more accessible, sustainable category of private aviation ownership through an innovative business model that reduces costs while increasing the convenience of ownership. Volato focuses on four-or-less passenger missions and operates a fleet of bespoke HondaJet Elite S aircraft.

PR Contact:

Mike Paffmann

[email protected]

SOURCE Volato
As the risk, complexity and cost of managing DIY Kubernetes continues to grow, enterprises are turning to Rafay to streamline Kubernetes operations

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rafay Systems, the leading platform provider for Kubernetes Operations, today announced it has doubled its total annual recurring revenue since the company's Series B funding in August, 2021, as a result of the increasing demand for its Kubernetes Operations Platform (KOP) .

Rafay's KOP is the only enterprise-grade SaaS solution that streamlines Kubernetes operations for companies deploying modern applications in public clouds, data centers or at the Edge. The platform accelerates application modernization initiatives by helping enterprises leverage the power of Kubernetes without the risk, complexity and cost of a DIY Kubernetes operations practice. New customers span financial services, healthcare, travel and hospitality, high technology and life sciences industries.

See Rafay's KOP in action by requesting a free trial: https://rafay.co/start/

Since its Series B funding, the company has achieved the following milestones:

Annual recurring revenue (ARR) has doubled.

Number of employees has more than doubled.

Number of Kubernetes clusters under management has more than doubled.

"It's been incredible to see the growing demand for our Kubernetes Operations Platform," said Haseeb Budhani, co-founder and CEO of Rafay Systems. "Enterprises continue to look for ways to speed up their modernization initiatives, and find themselves investing significant time and resources towards solving the operational challenges related to Kubernetes. We're proud to offer a turnkey SaaS platform that automates Kubernetes cluster lifecycle management and operations at scale. We will continue to add new capabilities and features to the platform, and successfully reduce the operational burden of managing Kubernetes at scale."

As the company brings more customers onto its Kubernetes Operations Platform, several trends are becoming evident:

Multi-cloud and multi-distribution support is a table stakes requirement for enterprises, with enterprises investing in solutions that make it easier for them to leverage a median of two public clouds.

HashiCorp Terraform is the clear winner in the infrastructure as code market, with a majority of enterprises leveraging Terraform for infrastructure automation.

Adoption of GitOps is increasing YoY for accelerated application delivery and continuous operations in multi-cloud and multi-cluster environments.

Enterprise platform teams are investing in shared services platforms for Kubernetes that provide self-service workflows to developers, while enforcing controls and governance.

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) recently published its annual survey for 2021 and "According to respondents, 96% of organizations are either using or evaluating Kubernetes  a record high since our surveys began in 2016." However, as global Kubernetes adoption grows, enterprises continue to run into roadblocks preventing them from automating deployments, securing access to clusters, maintaining holistic visibility and monitoring, and ensuring standardization and compliance as they scale production Kubernetes environments.

Rafay's SaaS Kubernetes Operations Platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with managed Kubernetes services from cloud service providers such as Amazon (EKS), Microsoft (AKS) and Google (GKE) as well as Kubernetes distributions for on-premises and edge deployments. By adding critical automation, security, visibility and governance capabilities to Kubernetes across IT environments, Rafay helps enterprises quickly and easily scale their Kubernetes operations. With Rafay, enterprises control the complexity, resource requirements, and spiraling costs associated with DIY Kubernetes strategies and ensure the success of their application modernization initiatives.

Start with Rafay for free today: https://rafay.co/start/

About Rafay Systems

Rafay Systems offers the industry's first Kubernetes Operations Platform to help enterprises maximize the value of containerized applications that deliver today's business innovation. With Rafay's unified platform, teams can operate modern application infrastructure at scale across public clouds, data centers, and the Edge. A full suite of turnkey services helps streamline deploying applications across multiple environments and deliver enterprise-grade control and governance to application deployment workflows. This breakthrough approach brings a new and much-needed operations mindset to the increasingly outdated Kubernetes Management market. With the Rafay Kubernetes Operations Platform, platform teams enjoy centralized visibility, management and automation across once disparate processes and systems, resulting in the improved delivery of modern applications. Rafay's growing customer roster includes clients such as Verizon, SonicWall and Guardant Health. For more information, please visit www.rafay.co .

Contact:

Jeremy Douglas

Catapult PR-IR

[email protected]

(303) 589-1941

SOURCE Rafay Systems
SANTIAGO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chile registered 30,675 COVID-19 infections and 224 deaths from the disease in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 2,953,895 confirmed cases and 41,795 deaths, the Ministry of Health said Thursday.

It also reported 106,133 active cases in the South American country.

Health Minister Enrique Paris noted that there has been a general decline in the number of infections, after a peak of more than 38,000 daily cases on Feb. 11 as a result of the Omicron variant of the virus.

New infections decreased by 14 percent in one week, with 13 of the country's 16 regions seeing a reduction in new cases, according to official data.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in the last day was 25.62 percent nationally and 17.64 percent in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, the ministry reported. 
Recycled Materials Packaging Solutions Market 2022-2026: Scope

The recycled materials packaging solutions market report covers the following areas:

Recycled Materials Packaging Solutions Market 2022-2026: Drivers and Challenges

The increasing demand for recycled plastics from the packaging industry is one of the key factors driving the growth of the recycled materials packaging solutions market. Many industries are adopting green and sustainable solutions owing to the rise in awareness about healthy living and having a clean environment. This has led to a rise in demand for recycled plastics across the world. Recycled plastics lower energy consumption and carbon emission and decrease water consumption to achieve high quality and performance. With a rise in the adoption of green options for various applications, the global recycled materials packaging solutions market is expected to grow at a significant pace during the forecast period.

The lack of awareness and acceptance of recycled materials packaging solutions will challenge the recycled materials packaging solutions market during the forecast period. The low penetration rate and the lack of awareness of the use of bio-based polymers in developing and underdeveloped countries pose a critical challenge to vendors. Cost-efficient and easily available packaging solutions are preferred over recycled materials packaging solutions in these countries. Crude oil-based polymer resins are less expensive than bio-based polymers.

Recycled Materials Packaging Solutions Market 2022-2026: Segmentation

By end-user, the recycled materials packaging solutions market has been segmented into food and beverages, healthcare, and others. The food and beverages segment will have significant market share growth during the forecast period. The changing lifestyles and food habits of people are leading to the growth of the packaged food and beverages industry. This is encouraging various enterprises to launch innovative products, which will further support the growth of the market for recycled materials packaging solutions.

By geography, the market has been segmented into APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East And Africa. APAC will have the highest market share growth during the forecast period.

Find out the contribution of each segment of the market. Download a Free Sample

Recycled Materials Packaging Solutions Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the recycled materials packaging solutions market, including Amcor Plc, BASF SE, BioPak Pty Ltd., DS Smith Plc, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Elevate Packaging Inc., Friendly Trader Pty.Ltd., International Paper Co., Kruger Inc., Mondi Group, Ranpak Holdings Corp., Sealed Air Corp., Smurfit Kappa Group, The Tetra Laval Group, and The West Rock group among others.

Subscribe to our "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000 that enables you to download 3 reports/year and view 3 reports/month.

Recycled Materials Packaging Solutions Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will assist recycled materials packaging solutions market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the recycled materials packaging solutions market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the recycled materials packaging solutions market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of recycled materials packaging solutions market vendors

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Recycled Materials Packaging Solutions Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.95% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 65.1 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.38 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 45% Key consumer countries US, China, India, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Amcor Plc, BASF SE, BioPak Pty Ltd., DS Smith Plc, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Elevate Packaging Inc., Friendly Trader Pty.Ltd., International Paper Co., Kruger Inc., Mondi Group, Ranpak Holdings Corp., Sealed Air Corp., Smurfit Kappa Group, The Tetra Laval Group, and The West Rock group Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table Of Contents :

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by End-user

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by End-user



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by End-user

5.3 Food and beverages - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Food and beverages - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Food and beverages - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Food and beverages - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Food and beverages - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 41: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 42: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 44: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 46: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 48: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 56: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 60: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 64: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 66: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 67: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 68: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 69: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 80: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 84: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 86: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 87: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 88: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 89: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 90: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 91: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 92: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Amcor Plc

Exhibit 93: Amcor Plc - Overview



Exhibit 94: Amcor Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 95: Amcor Plc - Key news



Exhibit 96: Amcor Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 97: Amcor Plc - Segment focus

10.4 BASF SE

Exhibit 98: BASF SE - Overview



Exhibit 99: BASF SE - Business segments



Exhibit 100: BASF SE - Key news



Exhibit 101: BASF SE - Key offerings



Exhibit 102: BASF SE - Segment focus

10.5 DuPont de Nemours Inc.

Exhibit 103: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 104: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 105: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 106: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Segment focus

10.6 International Paper Co.

Exhibit 107: International Paper Co. - Overview



Exhibit 108: International Paper Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 109: International Paper Co. - Key news



Exhibit 110: International Paper Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 111: International Paper Co. - Segment focus

10.7 Kruger Inc.

Exhibit 112: Kruger Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 113: Kruger Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 114: Kruger Inc. - Key offerings

10.8 Mondi Group

Exhibit 115: Mondi Group - Overview



Exhibit 116: Mondi Group - Business segments



Exhibit 117: Mondi Group - Key news



Exhibit 118: Mondi Group - Key offerings



Exhibit 119: Mondi Group - Segment focus

10.9 Ranpak Holdings Corp.

Exhibit 120: Ranpak Holdings Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 121: Ranpak Holdings Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 122: Ranpak Holdings Corp. - Key offerings

10.10 Sealed Air Corp.

Exhibit 123: Sealed Air Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 124: Sealed Air Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 125: Sealed Air Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 126: Sealed Air Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 127: Sealed Air Corp. - Segment focus

10.11 Smurfit Kappa Group

Exhibit 128: Smurfit Kappa Group - Overview



Exhibit 129: Smurfit Kappa Group - Business segments



Exhibit 130: Smurfit Kappa Group - Key news



Exhibit 131: Smurfit Kappa Group - Key offerings



Exhibit 132: Smurfit Kappa Group - Segment focus

10.12 The Tetra Laval Group

Exhibit 133: The Tetra Laval Group - Overview



Exhibit 134: The Tetra Laval Group - Business segments



Exhibit 135: The Tetra Laval Group - Key news



Exhibit 136: The Tetra Laval Group - Key offerings



Exhibit 137: The Tetra Laval Group - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 138: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 139: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 140: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 141: Research methodology



Exhibit 142: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 143: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 144: List of abbreviations

type: Includes bottles, jars, jugs, and vials o

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

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Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Resecurity, a Los Angeles-based cybersecurity and intelligence company, recently served as the lead sponsor of the inaugural Cyber Intelligence Africa 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company shared expertise in leveraging cyber threat intelligence solutions to prevent, detect, and prosecute cybercrime with an exclusive presentation from Selene Giupponi, Managing Director of Resecurity, Inc. (USA) about cyber intelligence for law enforcement needs at the event.

According to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC), cybercrime is one of the most pressing challenges plaguing economic activity in Africa with South Africa losing $157 million annually to cyberattacks. The footprint of cybercrime is exacerbating the numerous socio-economic problems in the region including financial loss, protest activity and malicious activity in cyberspace. In recent years the South African government has made significant progress and investment towards securing their growing digital economy and the cyber threats that have come with it.

Hosted by Intelligence-Sec, Cyber Intelligence Africa 2022 brought enterprise and government law agencies together to learn more about emerging cybersecurity threats and mitigation techniques and technologies. As the premier sponsor of the event, Resecurity shared their cyber intelligence expertise in a dedicated session and showcased their innovative platform that allows administrators to reduce potential blind spots and security gaps by quickly seeing in-depth analysis and specific artifacts obtained through the dark web, botnets activity, network intelligence and high-quality threat intelligence data.

"Cyber Intelligence Africa showcased the impact international collaboration and cyber intelligence has in protecting the digital world we rely on every day. As cybercrime becomes more advanced and scales, next-generation cyber intelligence solutions that identify, manage and respond to threats will be critical," said Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity (USA). "Resecurity is proud to have served as the premier sponsor of Cyber Intelligence Africa 2022 and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with law enforcement agencies worldwide to provide them the tools and technologies they need to defend their nations."

The Cyber Intelligence Africa 2022 event took place February 8-9, 2022, hosting 18 sessions on implementing national cyber security programs and building cyber defense capabilities. The event welcomed speakers from a variety of African law enforcement and government agencies and cybersecurity experts including:





Colonel Jesse Phillips , Director, J6, United States Africa Command

, Director, J6, United States Africa Command Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General, National Information, Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria

Carmen Corbin , Head of Counter Cybercrime Programming  Africa , United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

, Head of Counter Cybercrime Programming  , United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Ouanilo Jerome Medegan, Director, National Systems Security Agency

Dhamir Mannai, Head, National Cyber Security Strategy, Government of Tunisia

Vladimir Aman , Head, Ivory Coast Computer Emergency Response Team

, Head, Ivory Coast Computer Emergency Response Team Aly Kande , Chief of Cybersecurity Division for the National Police in Senegal

, Chief of Cybersecurity Division for the National Police in Philip Irode, Head of Information Security and Cyber Security for the ICT Agency in Kenya

Arnold Mangeni , Director of Information Security for the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) in Uganda

, Director of Information Security for the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) in Songezo Mbambisa, Deputy Director of Cybercrime for the City of Johannesburg in South Africa

in Victoria White , First Secretary Cyber for Southern Africa , British High Commission, Pretoria

, First Secretary Cyber for , British High Commission, Omar Daas , Senior Cybercrime Officer, The African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL)

, Senior Cybercrime Officer, The African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL) Rennett Mbako Maphane, Security Architect and Technical Lead, Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Botswana

David Roberts , Economic Officer (Transportation, ICT and Cyber), U.S. Embassy, Pretoria

, Economic Officer (Transportation, ICT and Cyber), U.S. Embassy, Renier van Heeren , Cyber Security Team Lead, South African National Research Network (SANReN) Professor Basie von Solms , Director, Centre for Cyber Security, University of Johannesburg, South Africa .

To learn more about Resecurity's cyber risk management and threat intelligence solutions exhibited at Cyber Intelligence Africa 2022, visit https://resecurity.com.

About Intelligence Sec

Intelligence-Sec is a fully integrated Conferences and Exhibitions Company creating targeted well thought out four day events to keep you fully up to date with all the topical subjects in the security industry. Our employees are fully up to speed, and passionate about security and aim to provide you with the best industry events across the globe. With full experience of operating in global markets we ensure that our clients are 100% satisfied with our services. We aim to work to your requirements and are fully flexible so that you gain the best possible return on investment at our events.To learn more about Intelligence Sec, visit https://intelligence-sec.com/ .

About Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, Resecurity was named one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California by Inc. Magazine. Official member of AFCEA, NDIA, SIA, Infragard. To learn more about Resecurity, visit https://resecurity.com/ .

SOURCE Resecurity
In the book category, Catherine Coleman Flowers received the Reed Award for Waste: One Woman's Fight Against America's Dirty Secret . Alexis Okeowo received the Reed Award in the journalism category for " The Heavy Toll of the Black Belt's Wastewater Crisis ," published by The New Yorker .

The Reed Award celebrates writers who achieve both literary excellence and offer extraordinary insight into the South's natural treasures and environmental challenges. Presented each year, the Reed Award recognize outstanding writing on the Southern environment in two categories: the Book Category for works of nonfiction (not self-published) and the Journalism Category for newspaper, magazine, and online writing published by a recognized institution such as a news organization, university, or nonprofit group.

An award ceremony will be held in honor of the winners during the Virginia's Festival of the Book at 4 p.m. on March 18, 2022. Michael Mann, an American climatologist and geophysicist, and director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, will be this year's featured speaker. His most recent book, The New Climate War, discusses how fossil fuel companies have waged a 30-year campaign to deflect blame, responsibility and delay action on climate change, and offers a battle plan for how we save the planet.

This event is free and open to the public. It will be held at the CODE Building, located at 225 West Water Street on the downtown mall in Charlottesville. Those unable to attend in person can broadcast the Reed Award presentation online. Everyone can register for both the digital and in-person event at the following link:

https://www.southernenvironment.org/reed-award-registration/

This Year's Book Award Winner: Catherine Coleman Flowers

Flowers grew up in Lowndes County, Alabama, a place that's been called "Bloody Lowndes" because of its violent, racist history. Once the epicenter of the voting rights struggle, today it's Ground Zero for a new movement that is Flowers's life's work. It's a fight to ensure human dignity through a right most Americans take for granted: basic sanitation. Too many people, especially the rural poor, lack an affordable means of disposing cleanly of the waste from their toilets, and, as a consequence, live amid sewage.

Flowers calls this America's dirty secret. In Waste she shares the inspiring story of her evolution as an activist, from country girl to student civil rights organizer to environmental justice champion and MacArthur Fellow. It shows how sanitation is becoming too big a problem to ignore as climate change brings sewage to more backyards, and not only those of poor minorities.

This Year's Journalism Award Winner: Alexis Okeowo

Okeowo is a staff writer at The New Yorker who has reported on conflict, human rights, and culture across Africa, as well as from Mexico and the American South. In "The Heavy Toll of the Black Belt's Wastewater Crisis" for the New Yorker, Okeowo explores the fact that many rural households in America don't have access to safe sewage systems. Their piece focuses on Alabama communities entrenched in poverty and located in an area with unusual geology which has created a public health disaster.

About the Reed Award

SELC created the Reed Environmental Writing Award in 1994 to enhance public awareness of the value and vulnerability of the South's natural treasures and to recognize and encourage the writers who most effectively tell the stories about the region's environment. The award is named for SELC founding trustee Phil Reed, a talented attorney and committed environmental leader who believed deeply in the power of writing to change hearts and minds.

Selected by a distinguished panel of judges, Reed Award winners have recently included Paul Bolster author of Saving the Georgia Coast: A Political History of the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act, Tony Bartelme of The Post and Courier in Charleston, for his in-depth reporting on South Carolina's coastal environment; Margaret Renkl, author of Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss; Megan Mayhew Bergman, who received the award in the journalism category for "Climate Changed," a series on southern attitudes toward climate change published by The Guardian; Earl Swift, author of Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island; Edward O. Wilson, the "father of biodiversity"; Janisse Ray, a writer, naturalist and activist who has been inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame; science writer Deborah Cramer, whose work has won honors from the Society of Environmental Journalists and the National Academy of Sciences; and J. Drew Lanham, author of The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature.

Southern Environmental Law Center

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation's most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region's air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 170, including 90 attorneys, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. southernenvironment.org

SOURCE Southern Environmental Law Center
"The purpose of the H.L. Culbreath Jr. Profile in Leadership Award is to recognize an individual whose leadership has made a positive impact within the Tampa Bay community. John Couris was selected for leading the region through the pandemic and collaborating with hospital systems statewide to improve health outcomes related to COVID-19," said Dr. Bob Rohrlack, CCE, president and CEO, Tampa Bay Chamber. For a list of previous recipients, click here.

Tampa Bay Business Journal 25 People to Watch in 2022 List and Power 100 Ranking

The Tampa Bay Business Journal recognized Couris in two ways  naming him to the 25 People to Watch in 2022 list and ranking him as one of the Tampa Bay region's most influential businesspeople.

25 People to Watch in 2022  The Tampa Bay Business Journal news team developed predictions on who and what will dominate business headlines in 2022. The Business Journal noted that Couris' "vision extends well beyond the hospital's physical campus." Tampa General's $550 million master facility plan, its focus on building a medical district in downtown Tampa, along with Couris' involvement in economic development were referenced as examples of his foresight in emphasizing quality and affordable health care as essential to the region's growth. To see more information, click here. (Subscription required.)

Power 100  The Business Journal describes the Power 100 as "a guide that aims to reflect who are the most influential businesspeople in Tampa Bay at this moment in time." The list was selected by the editorial staff and publisher of the Business Journal. Individuals from across Tampa Bay comprise the Power 100 list. Criteria assessed included leadership qualities and whether a candidate shapes the path and fortunes of the regional business community beyond their business and industry. For more on the Power 100, click here. (Subscription required.)

Becker's Hospital Review 113 Great Leaders in Healthcare 2022

Becker's Healthcare, a national media platform for American health care, named Couris to its Great Leaders in Healthcare list, noting that "since 2017, he has led the hospital with a focus on creating a culture of kindness and authenticity, driving innovation and operational excellence." "Health care needs strong leaders now more than ever to navigate their organizations through the pandemic and digital transformation," Becker's Healthcare also stated. For more information on the Great Leaders list, click here.

"It truly is an honor to receive these recognitions and to be in the company of such a distinguished group of honorees, whose examples of community service, philanthropy, visionary leadership, and exemplary business acumen are beyond compare," said Couris. "In addition, I want to thank my family as well as my stellar team at Tampa General, who in large part are directly responsible for these accolades."

Examples of innovation and collaboration Couris has led since becoming the president and CEO of Tampa General in 2017 include:

Hospital at Home --Planned to launch in Spring 2022, Tampa General will begin offering Hospital at Home services which provide patients with hospital-level care at home. Patient care is coordinated through in-home visits from care providers, secure remote monitoring and virtual visits. Hospital at Home has been shown to reduce costs, improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience.

--Planned to launch in Spring 2022, Tampa General will begin offering Hospital at Home services which provide patients with hospital-level care at home. Patient care is coordinated through in-home visits from care providers, secure remote monitoring and virtual visits. Hospital at Home has been shown to reduce costs, improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience. Launching the institution's largest master facility plan  In September 2021 , Tampa General announced its largest master facility plan in the hospital's history, a $550 million capital commitment to bring the most advanced technology and innovative care to patients through a growing medical district in downtown Tampa to create a new model of care to ultimately create a healthier population.

 In , Tampa General announced its largest master facility plan in the hospital's history, a capital commitment to bring the most advanced technology and innovative care to patients through a growing medical district in downtown to create a new model of care to ultimately create a healthier population. A new endeavor: TGH Innoventures  Since the first quarter of 2021, TGH Innoventures provides a coordinated mechanism for Tampa General to develop innovative solutions to improve quality and access to care. Initial projects include TGH Innoventures' investment in Virtue, a nationally experienced early-stage health care venture capital fund, and a collaboration with the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) to identify innovative solutions from Israel , a leader in digital health technologies.

 Since the first quarter of 2021, TGH Innoventures provides a coordinated mechanism for Tampa General to develop innovative solutions to improve quality and access to care. Initial projects include TGH Innoventures' investment in Virtue, a nationally experienced early-stage health care venture capital fund, and a collaboration with the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) to identify innovative solutions from , a leader in digital health technologies. Establishing the Global Emerging Diseases Institute  Announced in December 2020 , this true collaboration between Tampa General and USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is a specialized facility on the hospital's main campus that provides world-class care for patients with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, conducts cutting-edge research and cultivates the next generation of infectious diseases physicians.

 Announced in , this true collaboration between Tampa General and USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is a specialized facility on the hospital's main campus that provides world-class care for patients with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, conducts cutting-edge research and cultivates the next generation of infectious diseases physicians. First in Florida to offer monoclonal antibody infusion treatment  Since November 2020 , and in collaboration with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa General was the first in the state to offer this therapeutic treatment to COVID-positive patients. The goal is to minimize the severity of their symptoms and eliminate long hospital stays.

 Since , and in collaboration with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa General was the first in the state to offer this therapeutic treatment to COVID-positive patients. The goal is to minimize the severity of their symptoms and eliminate long hospital stays. An enhanced affiliation between physician groups  Announced in July 2020 , Tampa General and the University of South Florida developed USF Tampa General Physicians, a new organization dedicated to providing a unified management and support structure for physicians of both USF Health and Tampa General Medical Group, making it one of the largest academic medical groups in the state of Florida .

 Announced in , Tampa General and the developed USF Tampa General Physicians, a new organization dedicated to providing a unified management and support structure for physicians of both USF Health and Tampa General Medical Group, making it one of the largest academic medical groups in the state of . East Coast Expansion  Since May 2020 , Tampa General has been creating a framework of state-of-the-art services to connect patients in the Palm Beach and Treasure Coast area with the expertise and innovation of an academic medical center. Tampa General's east coast initiatives include alliances with the Cancer Center of South Florida , announced in May 2020 , and the Gastro Group of the Palm Beaches in January 2021 . In October 2021 , Tampa General established TGH General Surgeons of the Palm Beaches and in November 2021 opened the first Tower Radiology location in the area, a PET/CT imaging center.

 Since , Tampa General has been creating a framework of state-of-the-art services to connect patients in the and area with the expertise and innovation of an academic medical center. Tampa General's east coast initiatives include alliances with the Cancer Center of , announced in , and the Gastro Group of the Palm Beaches in . In , Tampa General established TGH General Surgeons of the Palm Beaches and in opened the first Tower Radiology location in the area, a PET/CT imaging center. First hospital in Florida to launch CareComm  In August 2019 , Tampa General partnered with GE Healthcare to launch CareComm, a patient care coordination command center using artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and industrial engineering to improve the safety, quality and cost of care. CareComm has proven to be an invaluable asset during the pandemic. Similar to air traffic control at an airport and using a "wall of analytics" on oversized LCD screens, CareComm monitors how patients are flowing through Tampa General in real-time to improve efficiencies and care coordination.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, a 1,041-bed non-profit academic medical center, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2021-22 Best Hospitals, and one of the top 4 hospitals in Florida, with five specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. The academic medical center's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious 2021 Forbes magazine rankings  America's Best Employers by State, third out of 100 Florida companies and first among health care and social organizations and 13th nationally in America's Best Employers for Women. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal 2020 provided a net community benefit worth more than $182.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health and 19 outpatient Radiology Centers. Tampa Bay residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics, and they can even receive home visits in select areas through TGH Urgent Care at Home, powered by Fast Track. As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

Media Contact: Karen Barrera

Assistant Director of Communications & Partnerships

(813) 844-8725 (direct)

(813) 928-1603 (cell)

[email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital
DALLAS, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Noted Dallas trial lawyer Frank Branson has been selected for D magazine's inaugural Best Lawyers Hall of Fame, honoring only 50 top lawyers in North Texas.

Mr. Branson, founder of the Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, was chosen based on his recognition for more than 15 years by D Magazine for its annual Best Lawyers in Dallas edition. Mr. Branson has been honored repeatedly for his work representing people injured in traffic collisions and harmed by dangerous products and corporate negligence.

The annual Best Lawyers list is developed through a thorough review of peer nominations conducted by D Magazine editors and an anonymous panel of the city's most respected attorneys. The Hall of Fame inductees selected from that group will be featured in the March edition of D magazine at https://www.dmagazine.com/.

"This region is home to some of the very finest lawyers anywhere," Mr. Branson said. "To be selected to this elite group of 50 is truly an honor."

One of the most accomplished and influential trial lawyers of his generation, Mr. Branson has been honored by D Magazine every year since the inception of its Best Lawyers edition in 2001. He has been recognized for his representation of individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries from trucking and transportation accidents, from injuries in the oilfield and other dangerous worksites, from defective products and through negligence.

Mr. Branson has been named among the Top 10 lawyers in the state by Texas Super Lawyers every year since 2007. He is a repeat honoree of the Best Lawyers in America and the Lawdragon 500 and a 2021 Lawdragon Hall of Fame inductee. He has been named to Texas Lawbook's "Lions of the Bar," The National Law Journal's "50 Most Influential Lawyers in the U.S.," and D CEO's "Dallas 500: The Most Powerful Business Leaders."

The firm has been twice recognized by the National Law Journal and The National Trial Lawyers as the Elite Trial Lawyers "Law Firm of the Year" for product liability litigation. In 2019, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association honored Mr. Branson with its Lifetime Achievement Award while the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association named him among its Living Legends. In 2021, he received the Texas Bar Foundation's highest honor  the Ronald Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award honoring attorneys who demonstrate the highest moral and ethical standards and professional conduct.

The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, commercial air crashes, professional negligence, and business torts. To learn more about the firm visit http://www.flbranson.com.

Media Contact :

Robert Tharp

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone (NYSE: WOW), a leading broadband services provider, today announced the company is bringing its reliable, state-of-the-art all IP fiber network to residents and businesses in the northern suburbs of Orange County, Florida. WOW! plans to invest at least $40 million in Orange County, which is home to communities such as Maitland and Fairview Shores. Orange County marks the second new service area for WOW! as the company continues to add new markets to its footprint at a time when the demand for strong and reliable broadband providers continues to rise.

This latest expansion is part of the company's larger Greenfield initiative to build new markets non-adjacent to its existing network and bring its advanced fiber technology and award-winning customer service to customers across its growing footprint. WOW! already serves Pinellas County and Panama City in Florida and most recently announced Seminole County, Florida as its first Greenfield market expansion. The company plans to reach more than 40,000 homes passed in the northern Orlando suburbs upon completion of the project.

"Our Greenfield initiative is very important to the growth and success of WOW!, which makes this second service area announcement so exciting," said Teresa Elder, CEO of WOW!. "Orange County, which sits adjacent to Seminole County, was a clear choice for us to bring our broadband services and we are eager to deliver our exceptional multi-Gig fiber-to-the-home network to communities in both counties."

Once completed, customers in Seminole County and Orange County will benefit from WOW!'s innovative technology and product suite that provides the best in choice, reliability, speed and value. Customers will have access to multi-Gig HSD service, WOW!'s fastest broadband speed available, home and business WiFi solutions to support streaming, remote work and small business needs as well as WOW! tv+, its premier IP-based video service.

"I am elated to have WOW! coming to Seminole County to afford our residents a high-end product which without a doubt will be yet another quality-of-life benefit for the community," said Jay Zembower, Seminole County Commissioner. "On behalf of our business community and the residents that will reap these benefits, thank you!"

"As a company, we are committed to delivering the best in service to our customers and being able to bring that quality and care to even more communities is at the top of our list of priorities," said Kirk Zerkle, VP of market expansion at WOW!. "We can't wait to bring WOW!'s pleasantly surprising service to the residents and businesses of Seminole County and Orange County and provide them with the choice and reliability they deserve when it comes to staying connected."

WOW! continues to pursue expansion opportunities across the country and expects to announce additional markets later this year. For more information on WOW! and to find out if its services are available in your area, please visit www.wowway.com .

About WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone

WOW! is one of the nation's leading broadband providers, with an efficient, high-performing network that passes 1.9 million residential, business and wholesale consumers. WOW! provides services in 14 markets, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, including Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. With an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed Internet services, cable TV, phone, business data, voice, and cloud services, the company is dedicated to providing outstanding service at affordable prices. WOW! also serves as a leader in exceptional human resources practices, having been recognized eight times by the National Association for Business Resources as a Best & Brightest Company to Work For, winning the award for the last four consecutive years. Visit wowway.com for more information.

SOURCE WideOpenWest, Inc.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zest AI announced a partnership today with the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, the largest state trade association for credit unions in the United States, serving more than 12.8 million members in their respective states.

The Leagues will be teaming with CUNA Strategic Services to bring Zest's industry-leading AI lending software to more League members. Zest-built models use thousands of data points and better math than traditional national scores to safely approve more members overlooked by legacy scoring. Credit unions using Zest software are achieving five-fold increases in instant-decisioning rates and 25% to 30% higher approvals with no added risk. Loan approvals are also more inclusive by drawing on deep insights from credit reports and loan histories in the markets served by League members.

"We're grateful for the opportunity to help The Leagues bring AI-driven lending to credit unions of all sizes and across all consumer products," says Jose Valentin, Vice President of Corporate Development at Zest AI. "This partnership will pay off by enriching the lives of millions of members in the form of wider access to more affordable credit."

"For nearly 90 years, The Leagues have played an important role in ensuring the sustained health of our member credit unions," says Larry Palochik, Senior Vice President of Member Solutions. "Zest has earned the trust of dozens of credit unions by delivering significant value in the form of faster and more consistent approvals and more inclusive decisions."

"Credit unions need solutions that help them grow, but not at the expense of higher credit risk and compliance concerns. Zest has paid strict attention to the needs of credit unions looking to lend more effectively. This relationship is truly a game-changer for credit unions in California and Nevada, and we're proud to collaborate with The Leagues and Zest to drive positive change," says Barb Lowman, President of CUNA Strategic Services.

About Zest AI

Zest AI software helps lenders make better decisions and better loansincreasing revenue, reducing risk, and automating compliance. Since 2009, it has made fair and transparent credit available to everyone and is now the leader in software for more inclusive underwriting. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Learn more at www.zest.ai and connect with us on Twitter at @Zest_AI or Zest AI's Insights blog.

About The Leagues

With headquarters in Ontario, CA, the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues is the trade association representing the interests of more than 300 credit unions in California and Nevada, and their 10 million members. For more information, go to www.ccul.org .

About CUNA Strategic Services

CUNA Strategic Services develops strategic alliance relationships to bring credit unions innovative solutions that will drive membership growth and operational excellence at an attractive price. The company is majority-owned by Credit Union National Association and state Leagues. For more information, visit www.cunastrategicservices.com .

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Zest AI
ERIE, Pa., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Major life changes like getting married, starting a family or buying a house are often when people start thinking about buying life insurance. It can be a process that may sound intimidating or confusing  but it doesn't have to be.

February is Insure Your Love Month and Erie Insurance shares these five points to discuss with your agent when buying life insurance for the first time.

Erie Insurance helps to take the stress out of buying life insurance with 5 easy tips.

Understand who (or what) you are protecting. While anyone experiencing a significant life event like getting married or starting a family often recognizes the need for life insurance, others may not realize they could benefit from it as well. For instance, stay-at-home parents and student loan cosigners could have a definite need for life insurance. Only buy the life insurance plan you can afford. Many people are surprised at how much life insurance they really need to protect the people and things they love most, but they are also surprised at how affordable it can be. Ask your local Erie Insurance agent about ERIExpress Life.* You could get a policy by answering several application questions without having to complete a paramedical medical exam. Think through your beneficiaries. A life insurance beneficiary is the person or entity you name in your life policy to receive funds in the event of your passing. Your beneficiary can be a person, business, trust, charity or even your church. And, you can have more than one. It's important to make sure you think through who your beneficiaries are and if any proceeds meant to benefit a minor should be held in trust. Buy from a financially sound company. You want the backing of a financially strong insurer if you or someone you love needs to call on the life insurance policy. A.M. Best, the largest and longest-established company devoted to issuing in-depth reports and financial strength ratings about insurance organizations, gave Erie Family Life Insurance Company a rating of A (Excellent). Consider current and future needs. Don't just consider your current lifestyle, keep in mind your future needs and what those could include (a spouse, children or business). By taking in these considerations today, you're investing in the security of your future. Life insurance is less expensive than most people thinkand that's especially true when you're younger.

Life insurance with Erie Family Life offers you the right coverage with flexible options, helping you to build a policy now that is adaptable later. Find an ERIE agent near you to learnmore about life insurance coverage from Erie Family Life and to start the conversation.

About Erie Insurance

According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 12th largest homeowners insurer, 13th largest automobile insurer and 13th largest commercial lines insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written. Founded in 1925, Erie Insurance is a Fortune 500 company and the 16th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. Rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, ERIE has more than 6 million policies in force and operates in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Erie Family Life Insurance Company is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Life insurance policies not written in New York state. Erie Insurance Group is a FORTUNE 500 company.

News releases and more information are available on ERIE's website at www.erieinsurance.com.

SOURCE Erie Insurance Group
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic, physicians have had to adjust how they care for patients. In many instances, health and safety measures made it challenging, if not impossible, for physicians and patients to have appointments at medical clinics.

A saving grace, though, has been the broad acceptance of telemedicine. Since in-person medical appointments are not always available, it is important for physicians to offer patients alternative appointment options. This, in many ways, helps patients ensure their health remains focused upon.

Dr. Richard Tytus (Co-Founder and Medical Director of Banty Inc.)

Recently, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) conducted a survey with 2,000+ physicians. Out of that group, 94% admitted that they currently use virtual care as a way to meet with patients.

Out of that group, 93% offered telephone consults, while 51% made video visits possible. Meanwhile, 36% serviced patients using secure email or messaging. Another 5% employed remote patient and home health monitoring.

"As a physician who had trouble seeing patients during the toughest parts of the pandemic, I've come to learn how significant it is to have virtual care services available," explains Dr. Richard Tytus, Co-Founder and Medical Director of virtual medicine solution, Banty Inc. "Thus, I am thrilled to see that 94% of my colleagues are offering such appointment options."

While Dr. Tytus applauds his cohorts for expanding their treatment methods, he does believe more of them need to move away from phone call consultations and focus instead on video calls.

Adds Dr. Tytus, "While doctor-patient phone calls are a tried-and-true method of care, that doesn't mean such a strategy provides the best results. Oftentimes, it is hard for a physician to get a true scope of a patient's healthcare-related matters without being able to physically see them. This is especially true of an ailment that's cosmetic appearance would help a doctor provide the best diagnosis and/or treatment option possible."

Dr. Tytus and his team at Banty Inc. are hard at work developing virtual care solutions that allow doctors to easily and securely meet with patients over video calls.

What's more, Banty Inc. is focused on creating an online workflow solution that helps clinics guide patients through the entirety of a typical medical appointment, but in a virtual environment, rather than a physical one.

"Our aim is to continually increase the number of doctors who are able to see patients via video conference, rather than a phone call," offers Dr. Tytus. "I believe our suite of products will positively change the online medical landscape."

Banty is poised to make telehealth video conferencing a prime appointment solution for patients and doctors who aim to connect virtually. Click here to learn more .

About Banty

Founded in 2020, Banty offers exceptional video conferencing solutions for Medical Practices , Businesses , and Virtual Events .

Banty's ultimate goal is to become a global provider of personalized, high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use video conferencing, virtual events and meeting room technology, with an initial focus on market penetration in the healthcare industry. Banty video conferencing is HIPAA/PHIPA compliant for virtual medicine.

To learn more about Banty's latest platform innovations, please visit www.banty.org . To access educational video conferencing content, check out our social media channels: LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube , Instagram .

Media Contact

Scott Wilson

289-259-8059

[email protected]

SOURCE Banty Inc.
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Acrylic Acid Market by Derivative Type (Acrylic Esters, Acrylic Polymer, and Others), and End-User (Diapers, Surface Coatings Industry, Adhesives and Sealants Industry, Plastic Additives Industry, Water Treatment Industry, Textiles Industry, Surfactants Industry, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030". According to the report, the global acrylic acid industry generated $12.0 billion in 2020, and is anticipated to generate $19.2 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.8% from 2021 to 2030.

Prime determinants of growth

Rapid increase in adhesives, increase in demand for superabsorbent polymers, and strong demand from emerging economies drive the growth of the global acrylic acid market. However, several regulatory issues hinder the market growth. On the other hand, commercialization of bio-based acrylic acid present new opportunities in the coming years.

Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/221

Covid-19 Scenario

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the growth of the global acrylic acid market.

Due to the pandemic, the construction industry had faced a lot of difficulties, including supply chain logistics and shortage of raw derivative type. Attributed to the massive drop in financial markets around the world, it is projected that construction investments have been withdrawn globally. As a result, the demand for acrylic acid experienced a steep decline.

However, the market is going to recover soon in 2022.

The acrylic polymer segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on derivative type, the acrylic polymer segment held the highest market share in 2020, accounting for nearly half of the global acrylic acid market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Moreover, the same segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.0% from 2021 to 2030, due to increase in adoption of superabsorbent polymers by the manufacturers of disposable diapers.

Get Detailed COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Acrylic Acid Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/221?reqfor=covid

The diapers segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on end user, the diapers segment accounted for the largest share in 2020, contributing to more than one-fourth of the global acrylic acid market, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. Moreover, the same segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 5.9% from 2021 to 2030, owing to growth in urbanization and rapid rise in consumers' disposable income.

Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, to maintain its dominance by 2030

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, held the highest market share in terms of revenue 2020, accounting for more than half of the global acrylic acid market. Moreover, the same region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period, owing to a relatively large adult population.

Leading Market Players

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation

Arkema S.A.

BASF SE

The Dow Chemical Co.

The Lubrizol Corporation

Evonik, Industries Ag

LG Chem Ltd.

Myriant Corporation

Formosa Plastic Group

SIBUR

Interested in Procuring This Report? Visit Here:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/acrylic-acid-market/purchase-options

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About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.



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SOURCE Allied Market Research
JERUSALEM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tnuva Group, the largest food manufacturer in Israel, has signed a collaboration agreement with an Israeli biotechnology company to develop and manufacture cultured meat products.

Tnuva and Pluristem Therapeutics have agreed to co-establish a cultured food platform that includes the development, manufacture and commercialization of cell-based products for the food industry, the two companies said a joint statement on Thursday.

The new platform will be run through a newly incorporated company named NewCo, which will receive exclusive rights to use Pluristem's technology and know-how for cultured meat products.

Tnuva invested 7.5 million U.S. dollars in NewCo, and owns 16 percent of the new company, while Pluristem owns the remaining 84 percent.

Tnuva Group, based in the central city of Petah Tikva, is controlled by the Chinese food giant Bright Food, which holds 77 percent of Tnuva shares. 
Before joining AEA, Heidi was global head of ESG at Edelman, a global public relations consultancy, where she worked with boards and senior executives to design, execute and communicate their ESG strategies to investors and other stakeholders. Prior to her role at Edelman, she oversaw the corporate social responsibility and philanthropic functions at BNY Mellon. Earlier in her career, Heidi practiced law at Debevoise & Plimpton before serving in positions in governance and ESG at Assurant and PepsiCo.

"I am delighted to be joining AEA at a pivotal moment for ESG in the private markets," said Heidi DuBois, Global Head of ESG at AEA. "At the same time that allocation to private investment is accelerating, the global community is doubling down on efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change on livelihoods and the environment. I look forward to helping AEA continue to evolve its policies and procedures to incorporate new insights and ensure our investment teams are equipped to identify rapidly-shifting ESG risks and opportunities and deepen AEA's reporting and analytics capabilities."

"For many years AEA has recognized the value of ESG from both a risk management and a value creation perspective," said Brian Hoesterey, Chief Executive Officer of AEA. "By incorporating material, measurable and actionable ESG considerations into our deal process, portfolio management and at the firm level, we accelerate the positive impact we have on all our stakeholders. While we are proud of the strides we have made to date with AEA's comprehensive ESG program centered on investment diligence and portfolio company monitoring and value-creation, we remain steadfast in our commitment to continuous improvement and are pleased to welcome Heidi to AEA as we embark on a new chapter in our ESG journey."

About AEA

AEA Investors LP was founded in 1968 by the Rockefeller, Mellon and Harriman family interests and S.G. Warburg & Co. as a private investment vehicle for a select group of industrial family offices with substantial assets. AEA has an extraordinary global network built over many years which includes leading industrial families, business executives and leaders; many of whom invest with AEA as active individual investors and/or join its portfolio company boards or act in other advisory roles. Today, AEA's approximately 100 investment professionals operate globally with offices in New York, Stamford, San Francisco, London, Munich and Shanghai. The firm manages funds that have over $14 billion of invested and committed capital including the leveraged buyouts of middle market companies and small business companies, growth capital and mezzanine and senior debt investments.

Media Contact

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Jon Keehner & Erik Carlson

+1 (212) 355-4449

[email protected]

SOURCE AEA Investors
CALABASAS, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) ("American Homes 4 Rent") today announced it has made an investment in Vesta Ventures Fund 1, LP, a residential-focused proptech venture capital fund.

Vesta Ventures focuses its investments on early-stage businesses at the intersection of residential real estate and technology, with a proven track record of supporting some of the most promising companies in the sector. Vesta Ventures takes a holistic approach to supporting emerging businesses that goes beyond just capital commitments. It leverages its deep expertise and extensive industry network to open new channels of growth for businesses and to foster further innovation. The firm has recently participated in Series A funding for companies such as Elevation Energy Solar Solutions, a residential clean energy company, and PetScreening, a pet risk assessment and assistance animal validation platform for property managers.

"We are excited to partner with Vesta and expand our focus on residential proptech," said David Singelyn, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of American Homes 4 Rent. "In keeping with our commitment to innovation, this investment provides us with access to the newest, cutting-edge technologies that focus on the resident experience and achieving operational efficiencies for our organization. This investment also aligns with our sustainability and ESG principles, as Vesta prioritizes technologies that promote quality, sustainable housing for a greener future."

"American Homes 4 Rent is on the forefront of innovation in the residential space, and we are thrilled to partner with them to accelerate growth in the proptech arena," said Rich Ford, Co-Founder of Vesta Ventures. "Our portfolio of companies includes some of the most exciting businesses in the proptech space that provide tangible ESG benefits to residential owners. We are leveraging our expertise and extensive network to help our partner companies unlock their true potential to define the next era of our industry."

About American Homes 4 Rent

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high-quality, good value and resident satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of September 30, 2021, we owned 56,077 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states.

Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at www.americanhomes4rent.com.

About Vesta Ventures

Founded in early 2021 by industry veterans Rich Ford and Clayton Wyatt, Vesta Ventures is a technology-focused residential platform investing in highly innovative growth opportunities. Vesta's inaugural venture capital fund is backed by the industry leading single-family residential rental market influencers and leverages its strategic advantage to accelerate enterprise value for its portfolio companies and limited partners.

Visit www.vestavc.com for more information.

Contacts:

American Homes 4 Rent

Investor Relations

Nicholas Fromm

Phone: (855) 794-2447

Email: [email protected]

American Homes 4 Rent

Media Relations

Megan Grabos

Phone: (805) 413-5088

Email: [email protected]

Vesta Ventures

[email protected]

SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AnyRoad , the leader in Experience Relationship Management (ERM), today announced that it closed a $47M Series B funding round led by funds and accounts managed by BlackRock with participation from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Runa Capital, and Kaiser Permanente. Existing investors Rally Ventures, Precursor Ventures and Day One Ventures, as well as newcomers Commonfund and Corner Ventures, also participated in the oversubscribed round.

The experience economy is booming as the world reopens and brands are taking note, with 81% saying their event and experiential budgets will match or exceed pre-pandemic levels this year. However, brands typically know very little about who is participating in these live experiences. Disparate, siloed experiential data makes analysis difficult, expensive and slow, and there is limited ROI with no actionable insights. AnyRoad solves that problem as the industry's first ERM platform, a new category of software that empowers brands to build stronger relationships with consumers through experiential programs grounded in data and consumer insight. Used by leading brands, including Budweiser, Honda, Michaels and Tabasco, AnyRoad is an analytics platform at its core and supports everything from in-person events to online experiences to experiential retail to global field marketing.

"We are living in an era in which a majority of consumers prefer to spend their money on experiences versus things. Car ownership is declining. Retail brands are shutting down weekly. Marie Kondo has built a global brand telling us to throw away the hard-earned possessions that no longer bring us joy. 'Things' have become commoditized," said Jonathan Yaffe, co-founder and CEO of AnyRoad. "The top brands in the world know that their future depends on creating impactful experiences, but understanding customers requires more than just transactional surveys and loyalty programs. AnyRoad is finally helping companies build transformative experiences, grounded in analytics, that capture the hearts of their customers."

The funding comes during a time of significant growth for AnyRoad. The company tripled top line revenue in 2021, retained 100 percent of its customers during the pandemic, and signed on new brands at Diageo, Beam Suntory, Unilever, and Anheuser-Busch - all despite the pandemic's impact on the experiential industry. More than 400 brands delivering 200,000 virtual, in-person or hybrid experiences every month now rely on AnyRoad to optimize their experiential programs and capture meaningful data to forge stronger relationships with consumers. Michaels, for example, turns to AnyRoad to scale its live classes (online and in-store) to over a million consumers a year. Diageo turns to AnyRoad to personalize experiences at 18 brand home locations, including Johnnie Walker Princes Street, a new state-of-the-art whiskey tourism facility in Edinburgh.

"More and more brands are using live, virtual, and real life experiences to connect with consumers to build loyalty and grow revenue," said David Ulevitch, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. "AnyRoad is uniquely positioned to empower these brands with the technology and insights they need to grow their investment in experiences, whether they are online or in-person."

AnyRoad will use the financing to support ongoing investment in product development, integrations and go-to-market strategy and plans to significantly scale the product with a focus on hiring talent in data science, engineering, machine learning and other departments. For more information about what this funding means to AnyRoad, please visit www.anyroad.com.

About AnyRoad

AnyRoad is the leading Experience Relationship Management (ERM) platform enabling global brands to properly measure, scale, and implement their offline and online experiences. AnyRoad empowers companies to create brand loyalty, change consumer behavior, and better understand their brand associations by providing them with data intelligence sourced from experience-based marketing.

Companies like Budweiser, Honda, Diageo, Michaels, and Tabasco all count on AnyRoad to measure the impact of their experiential marketing. AnyRoad's software integrates into CRM, loyalty, ERP, and POS systems to complete the loop, building the model of exactly how these experiences build loyalty, increase brand perception, and increase revenue. For more information, visit www.anyroad.com .

SOURCE AnyRoad
MONTREAL, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Appian Capital Advisory LLP ("Appian" or the "Company"), the investment advisor to long-term value-focused private equity funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies, today announces the appointment of experienced mining executive Jean Lafleur, P. Geo., as Senior Manager for North America.

Jean will lead Appian's newly opened office in Montreal, Quebec, as it continues its global expansion. He will be primarily sourcing and presenting potential mining transactions for companies headquartered in Quebec and North America  or that have assets in and outside of the continent, as well as assisting on the execution of transactions. Additionally, he will benefit from the financial and technical expertise across Appian's global footprint.

Jean brings with him 45 years of experience as a geologist in Canada and internationally. During his early career, he worked for Newmont, Falconbridge, Dome Mines, and Placer Dome, as well as serving as a C-suite executive for several small-cap junior exploration companies. Throughout his career, he has remained active as a technical, management and financing consultant, and led several teams in the search for precious and base metals, nickel and PGEs, and uranium and iron. Jean also has B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Geology from the University of Ottawa and is an accredited Professional Geologist in Quebec and Ontario.

Quebec is a strategic location for Appian in North America, which is a key market for the Company. Montreal is located near the mining communities of Val-d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda in the Abitibi, where more than a dozen precious and base metals active operations are located. The Abitibi is also home to numerous mid-tier and small-cap junior exploration companies.

Michael W. Scherb, Founder and CEO of Appian, commented: "This is another important development for Appian, as we continue to bolster our global presence and the strong roster of industry leaders that help make our company the most competitive private equity firm in mining. By capitalising on Jean's experience and the capabilities of our global team, I am confident that we will be able to make a real impact in Quebec, just as we have done in several markets globally."

Jean Lafleur, Senior Manager for North America at Appian, added: "I am excited to be part of Appian's journey as it expands its presence in North America. Quebec's natural resources industry has a rich history, and there are plenty of opportunities for Appian to pursue sustainable and innovative mining projects in the province."

About Appian Capital Advisory LLP

Appian Capital Advisory LLP is the investment advisor to long-term value-focused private equity funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies.

Appian is a leading investment advisor in the metals and mining industry, with global experience across South America, North America, Australia and Africa and a successful track record of supporting companies to achieve their development targets, with a global operating portfolio overseeing nearly 5,000 employees.

Appian has a global team of 54 experienced professionals with offices in London, Toronto, Lima, Belo Horizonte, Montreal and Sydney.

For more information please visit www.appiancapitaladvisory.com, or find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1720474/Appian_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Appian Capital Advisory LLP
BEDFORD, Va., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AshtaLuxe, a U.S.- based manufacturer of premium yoga mats and accessories, has officially launched its product offerings on ashtaluxe.com. Made in small batches in the beautiful foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, the premium mats offer exceptional grip, comfort and support for yoga practitioners of all ages and skill levels. AshtaLuxe mats are so durable and comfortable, customers have remarked they are "the last mat you'll ever need."

AshtaLuxe yoga mats

"AshtaLuxe was born after several years of field testing and refinement of a proprietary formula for a high-performance, exceptional mat that has delighted both yoga experts and beginners alike," said Susan Park, co-founder of AshtaLuxe. "What's more, our domestic production allows us to create these incredible mats while generating the lowest total carbon footprint for any premium yoga mat sold in the United States."

AshtaLuxe's domestic production allows its mats, intentionally made from a proprietary synthetic rubber blend, to be produced with a low carbon footprint. The company focuses on mat performance and the total carbon emissions output created to manufacture and deliver a mat, not just a single, "eco-friendly" raw material. AshtaLuxe's production is done within one square mile in a small Virginia town, and over 95% of raw materials used are sourced from U.S. suppliers. This approach avoids the myriad social and environmental issues typical of mats originating from rubber tree plantations in Southeast Asia, as well as the massive carbon pollution resulting from trucking and overseas cargo shipments.

Furthering its commitment to environmental stewardship, AshtaLuxe has partnered with One Tree Planted, a non-profit that supports reforestation efforts across the globe. For every yoga mat sold, one indigenous tree is planted.

AshtaLuxe's signature LuxeGrip mats are available in a variety of colors in standard and premium sizes, and are easy to clean. In addition, the brand's unique Patella Pad offers extra ergonomic protection and comfort for those looking for additional support in their practice. Made from high-density cushioning material, it is perfect for knees, sit bones, and anywhere practitioners prefer additional support. The mats retail between $99-$112 with free shipping. The Patella Pad is available for $21. Order at ashtaluxe.com for direct shipment.

About AshtaLuxe

AshtaLuxe is a manufacturer of premium yoga mats and accessories. Made in small batches in the beautiful foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, the premium mats offer exceptional grip and performance for yoga practitioners of all ages and skill levels. Our small batch, domestic production process allows us to create exceptional mats while generating the lowest total carbon footprint of any premium mat made in the United States, delivered directly to your door. AshtaLuxe is an official partner of One Tree Planted. For every mat purchased, an indigenous tree is planted. View our mats at ashtaluxe.com, on Facebook and @ashtaluxe on Instagram.

Media Contact:

Ann Hastings

For AshtaLuxe

[email protected]

574-210-8425

SOURCE AshtaLuxe
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Austin Capital is uniquely positioned in identifying and funding the greatest founders and pairing them with world-class technology. Austin Capital's strategic partnership with FinTech Automation ('FTA") provides a positive loop between the two companies and a competitive advantage with speed to market and mitigation of technical debt for Austin Capital portfolio companies.

Austin Capital's tech stack integration with FTA's platform ("UniFi") is a tech ywheel as FTA's bank clients have access to a vast ecosystem of ntech companies and FTA fintech customers have access to a vast ecosystem of banks and other financial institutions. The network eects of the ywheel develop as more fintech and financial institutions utilize this platform, creating a marketplace for fintech companies looking for banking partners and banks looking for additional deposits and loans, resulting in better distribution and a powerful and competitive business model.

"We have been utilizing this model to build a well curated list of portfolio companies over the last 4 years and it continues to be a high-value pipeline building and portfolio construction tool for Austin Capital. A validation proof point of this model as where the industry is headed is the most recent announcement between Hyper and Product Hunt. A ne example of the benets and positioning of this type of structure," said David J. Park, founder of Austin Capital.

According to Crunchbase on January 4, 2022, financial services was the leading sector for venture investment in 2021 with $134 billion invested, marking a whopping 177 percent year-over-year growth. That compares with overall global venture capital investment, which grew by a still astonishing 92 percent.

About FinTech Automation

FinTech Automation offers speed to market and mitigation of technical debt with its Infrastructure as-a-Service ("IaaS") platform ("UniFi"). Its banking, wealth management, capital market, payment, and a defi ("Web3") core applications power financial institutions of the future while their hiring and staffing services helps support it.

www.FinTechAutomation.com

About Austin Capital

Austin Capital General Partner, LLLP, a Southern California-based venture firm managing a fintech focused $125M fund along with a venture studio and a digital alternative investment platform. Its founder and partners have an average of 16 years of experience in financial services, technology development, and decentralized finance.

www.AustinCapital.Partners

If you would like additional information, please contact John Alvarez at (214) 624-1022 or [email protected].

SOURCE Austin Capital General Partner, LLLP
Shreve Land Constructors is the general contractor on the project, which will deliver more than 200 single-family lots at the corner of Sam Houston Drive and FM 969 within The Colony, a 2,300-acre master-planned community. The for-rent neighborhood, to be called Avendale, will include community amenities such as a clubhouse and pool, walking trails with fitness stations, open play areas, and playgrounds.

The Colony is conveniently located in a suburb of Austin, just a short 30-minute drive from downtown Austin and 20-minutes from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The Bastrop area is undergoing a growth surge with the recent announcement of the Tesla factory, which is located just minutes from The Colony and will create more than 5,000 new jobs for the area, the relocation of The Art Institute, and the development of the Ascension Seton Medical facility.

Avanta is partnering with best-in-class companies in this industry to deliver high-quality neighborhoods in targeted markets across the U.S., said Avanta Managing Director Peter Spier. We are excited for additional neighborhoods to come out of the ground, as we continue to grow and expand in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Texas and the Carolinas.

Avanta will deliver the homes for rent at The Colony in late 2022.

About Avanta

Avanta is setting the standard in the build-for-rent communities' industry. Avanta was created out of the deep experience of Hunt Companies Inc., a diversified, family-owned holding company with more than $8.5 billion in completed real estate developments, including the development of over 70,000 single-family rental homes across the United States, 50,000 of which are still own and operated today. Avanta is committed to developing thoughtful, well-designed, amenity-rich single-family homes for lease, located in desirable master-planned communities throughout the U.S. Our communities flourish and thrive and deliver outstanding performance to investors. Avanta is active in Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Colorado and is expanding its footprint. For more information, www.avantaresidential.com.

About Shreve Land Constructors

Since 1967, Shreve Land Constructors has been helping cities grow into the communities they aspire to be. Based in Shreveport, Louisiana, with an additional office in Dallas, Texas, our reach extends far beyond the Bayou State and Lone Star State. As a premiere general contracting firm specializing in multifamily residential communities, senior living, student housing, and commercial projects - both new construction and renovation - we have built more than 18,500 multifamily units and nearly $1.1 billion in cumulative construction revenues. For more information, www.shrevelandconstructors.com.

SOURCE Avanta Residential
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

Dear Shareholders,

Axons expansion into justice software is a natural evolution of our market-leading cloud-hosted digital evidence management software category. Specifically, we are developing software to help prosecutors and defense attorneys streamline the discovery process. Not only is our goal to save attorneys time, but also to shorten the time people are jailed awaiting trial.

Our 2021 results reflect strong operational and financial execution across the business.

We are executing upon our vision to build the world's largest and most trusted network of safety devices, in service of protecting life by:

Obsoleting the bullet

Protecting truth

Accelerating justice

Building for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion

In 2021, we achieved revenue growth of 27% to $863 million. Over the past three years, we have delivered a 27% compound annual revenue growth rate. While our net loss of $60 million includes the impact of non-cash stock based compensation expenses, annual Adjusted EBITDA of $178 million exceeded our guidance, reflected a 20.6% margin and showcases our ability to deliver profitability while investing heavily to scale. Indeed, we have achieved a three year Adjusted EBITDA CAGR of 43%.

Our focus on building best-in-class subscription software, with a positive user experience, has driven our annual recurring revenue to $327 million, tripling over three years.

And record annual bookings of $1.7 billion, up 54% over 2020, point to strong growth ahead.

This level of sustainable high growth and profitability underscores the importance and relevance of our mission to protect life. This is especially true at a time when pandemics and social unrest have created far-reaching impacts personally, professionally and societally, around the world.

The stories that we hear from customers and citizens about lives saved and communities feeling supported embolden us to continue innovating, to pursue new markets and expand Axon's footprint into new geographies, executing against the $52 billion total addressable market opportunity we laid out in November 2021.

Our long-term model and financial targets remain unchanged: We aim to deliver a 20%+ top line CAGR, while building recurring revenue streams that support underlying Adjusted EBITDA margins of 30%, allowing us to reinvest for growth, as a Rule of 40 grower(1).

Our priority in 2022 is to *further excel at what we do* and we are focused on setting our teams up for success. We are scaling new products and markets, and attracting and developing talent to continue executing on our mission.

(1) The way Axon invests in future growth while also demonstrating leverage is to target the Rule of 40  where the sum of our top line growth percentage plus our Adjusted EBITDA margin percentage equals or surpasses 40. This metric is typically used to evaluate pure SaaS companies, and has set a high bar for our entire business, which includes hardware. It's a bar that we continuously beat.

Select updates

New products

Axon launched Attorney Premier in December, formally entering the justice software market, which we estimate to be worth $1 billion. Attorney Premier enables prosecutors and defense attorneys to easily manage various forms of digital evidence, including body-worn and in-car video, drone footage, interview room video, CCTV video, photographs, audio, documents and more.

Axon's R&D on the category began more than a year ago, and included hundreds of interviews with prosecutors and defense attorneys. The proliferation of digital evidence has forced highly-trained attorneys to spend up to a third of their time on clerical work. Often, public defenders have as little as six minutes with a client before entering a plea deal, while prosecutors have less than an hour to make a charging decision. Both sides can have hours of video evidence to review for each case.

"Our District Attorney's Office has been working with Axon to meet the many challenges that face us with the volume of videos and other digital discovery that now fills the files of each case. We have found Axon's approach to be responsive and found Attorney Premier to be refreshing and innovative."

 Dan Rubinstein, District Attorney at 21st Judicial District Attorney's Office in Colorado

Axon introduced plans for the Bolt 2, a new consumer device. The TASER Bolt 2 is Axon's upcoming self-defense product. It will feature a 15-foot range, discreet design, enhanced features for improved accuracy in low-light, and the ability to alert emergency dispatch when discharged when paired with a companion app.

The Bolt 2 is designed to immobilize attackers for up to 30 seconds.

We anticipate that consumer will be a growing area of investment for us over the long term given our incredibly low penetration of this sizeable market. Our investments in personal safety devices fall alongside our other growth investments, including software. All of these investments are subject to the same financial discipline that allows us to deliver meaningful profitability while also growing the top line at 20% or higher.

Global scaling

Our geographical footprint continues to expand. Axon's investments in CapEx include building out facilities around the world to better service our customers.

In late 2021, we opened a new fulfillment center in Georgia, which aims to reduce shipping times to Europe by about 50% and allows us to reach many domestic customers more quickly, which is critical in peak season and in mitigation for poor weather. The Atlanta fulfillment center is one of five. Others include the facilities in or near Phoenix, the UK, Germany and Australia.

In February 2022, we announced a new European R&D office. The London R&D hub is Axon's fourth after Scottsdale, Ariz., Seattle, and Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City.

Strategic initiatives

Two initiatives completed in Q4 2021 are highly strategic and value added.

Axon acquired Occam Video Solutions, a well-established provider of forensic video solutions software. Axon initially partnered with Occam in 2020 to license its technology. The purchase price was $26 million, consisting of cash and stock.

The Axon Evidence integration with Occam's solution solves a key pain point for our customers. Video security, closed-circuit TV (CCTV) and publicly submitted video evidence can be burdensome for law enforcement agencies to manage. Many video security systems use unique video formats that can only be played back using third-party hardware or software. When agencies attempt to playback that video using other commercial software, the files often play incorrectly with frames being skipped entirely. Occam's software solves this issue and supports most video file types.

Strategic investment in Dedrone, leader in drone detection and tracking: Axon invested $25 million in Dedrone, a leader in drone security solutions to identify, track and mitigate Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). Dedrone has been delivering strong growth, and has surpassed 1,000 sensors sold, expanding to detect more than 200 drone types. Dedrone uses artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to analyze and synthesize data from sensors to detect, identify and track drones. Its software also provides data analytics and drone mitigation.

Axon's investment in Dedrone is strategically significant to Axon's long-term plans to leverage drones for public safety. Dedrone is selling into 33 countries, and customers include four G-7 nations, nine U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, and more than 65 critical infrastructure sites, 20 airports, 50 correctional facilities and 10 Fortune 500 companies. Dedrone's product suite will integrate with Axon's end-to-end drone solution, Axon Air, which we launched in 2018.

Summary of Q4 2021 results:

Quarterly revenue of $218 million declined 4% year over year, and exceeded our expectations. The negative growth rate reflects:

declined 4% year over year, and exceeded our expectations. The negative growth rate reflects: A high year over year comparison was caused by a $20 million TASER order received from a national government in Q4 2020.

TASER order received from a national government in Q4 2020.

About $35 million of revenue tied to demand for our TASER 7 platform shifted from Q4 2021 into 2022. This was due to industry-wide chip shortages, as we communicated in our Q3 2021 shareholder letter.

of revenue tied to demand for our TASER 7 platform shifted from Q4 2021 into 2022. This was due to industry-wide chip shortages, as we communicated in our Q3 2021 shareholder letter.

About $15.5 million of revenue tied to demand for Axon Body 3 cameras shifted from Q4 2021 into 2022 due to supply chain constraints.

of revenue tied to demand for Axon Body 3 cameras shifted from Q4 2021 into 2022 due to supply chain constraints. Total company gross margin of 62.1% was in line with our expectations.

Operating expenses for the quarter of $162 million included $40 million in stock based compensation expenses.

included in stock based compensation expenses. SG&A of $111 million included $28 million in stock-based compensation expenses.

included in stock-based compensation expenses.

R&D of $51 million included $12 million in stock-based compensation expenses.

included in stock-based compensation expenses. Our quarterly net loss of $14 million , or ($0.19) per share, included $41 million in stock based compensation expenses, an $11 million non-cash, unrealized, mark-to-market adjustment related to our strategic investment in Cellebrite and $9 million in payroll taxes tied to the vesting or exercising of our eXponential Stock Performance Plan (XSPP) and CEO Performance Award (2) .

, or per share, included in stock based compensation expenses, an non-cash, unrealized, mark-to-market adjustment related to our strategic investment in Cellebrite and in payroll taxes tied to the vesting or exercising of our eXponential Stock Performance Plan (XSPP) and CEO Performance Award . Non-GAAP net income was $34 million , or $0.46 per share.

, or per share. Adjusted EBITDA was $31 million , adding up to full year Adjusted EBITDA of $178 million , which exceeded our guidance.

, adding up to full year Adjusted EBITDA of , which exceeded our guidance. Of the $41 million in total stock-based compensation expense in Q4 2021, $27 million was related to our XSPP and CEO Performance Award.

in total stock-based compensation expense in Q4 2021, was related to our XSPP and CEO Performance Award.

In Q4 2021, $14 million was tied to acceleration of attainment dates, which means the time over which we record expense is shortened.

was tied to acceleration of attainment dates, which means the time over which we record expense is shortened.



Since the CEO Performance Award was adopted in 2018, we have expensed $230 million of total potential expense of $246 million under the plan. Since the XSPP plan was adopted in 2019, we have expensed $177 million of total potential expense of $199 million currently projected under the plan for XSPP grants issued to date.

of total potential expense of under the plan. Since the XSPP plan was adopted in 2019, we have expensed of total potential expense of currently projected under the plan for XSPP grants issued to date. In 2021, our operating cash flow of $124 million supported free cash flow generation of $74 million .

supported free cash flow generation of . Excluding our campus investments, adjusted free cash flow more than quadrupled from $20 million in 2020 to $85 million in 2021. Principal uses of cash in 2021 included $40 million of capital expenditures, primarily deployed toward manufacturing automation and global facilities expansion, and $43 million of investment in working capital. We expect adjusted free cash flow generation to strengthen even further in 2022.

in 2020 to in 2021. Principal uses of cash in 2021 included of capital expenditures, primarily deployed toward manufacturing automation and global facilities expansion, and of investment in working capital. We expect adjusted free cash flow generation to strengthen even further in 2022.

Outside of adjusted free cash flow in 2021, other uses of cash included $68 million from inorganic transactions, including the acquisitions of Occam and My90, and strategic investments in RapidSOS and Dedrone, a $90 million strategic investment in Cellebrite, and $331 million in tax payments related to vesting and exercises of net settled stock awards. We also invested $10 million toward our new Scottsdale, Ariz. campus, which is described further in the Outlook section.

from inorganic transactions, including the acquisitions of Occam and My90, and strategic investments in RapidSOS and Dedrone, a strategic investment in Cellebrite, and in tax payments related to vesting and exercises of net settled stock awards. We also invested toward our new campus, which is described further in the Outlook section.

Principal contributors to cash outside of adjusted free cash flow included $106 million in net proceeds from our at-the-market offering, adopted in part to offset net settled stock award tax payments, $52 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options, and $14.5 million in proceeds from our strategic investment in Flock Safety.

in net proceeds from our at-the-market offering, adopted in part to offset net settled stock award tax payments, in proceeds from the exercise of stock options, and in proceeds from our strategic investment in Flock Safety. As of 2021 year end, Axon had $402 million in cash, equivalents and investments.

in cash, equivalents and investments. Axon has zero debt.

(2) These innovative stock-based compensation plans were approved by shareholders in 2018 and 2019 and align the interests of management and employees with shareholders.

Financial commentary by segment:

TASER











































THREE MONTHS ENDED



CHANGE





31 DEC 2021

30 SEP 2021

31 DEC 2020

QoQ

YoY



(in thousands)













Net sales

$ 103,909



$ 121,491



$ 135,761



(14.5) %

(23.5) % Gross margin



63.9 %



65.8 %



64.5 %

(190) bp

(60) bp

Q4 2021 TASER segment revenue of $104 million declined year over year. In Q4 2020, we benefitted from a $20 million TASER 7 order from an international customer - the largest TASER order in company history. Also, in Q4 2021, about $35 million in revenue did not ship due to inventory constraints. On a full year basis, TASER segment revenue grew 19% to $437 million .

declined year over year. In Q4 2020, we benefitted from a TASER 7 order from an international customer - the largest TASER order in company history. Also, in Q4 2021, about in revenue did not ship due to inventory constraints. On a full year basis, TASER segment revenue grew 19% to . Q4 2021 TASER segment gross margin of 63.9% declined slightly, primarily driven by lower fixed-cost leverage, product mix and higher industry-wide freight costs. On a full year basis, TASER segment gross margin expanded 310 basis points to 65.7%, aided by engineered lower build costs in our TASER segment, including investments in automation, and fixed-cost leverage.

Software & Sensors











































THREE MONTHS ENDED



CHANGE





31 DEC 2021

30 SEP 2021

31 DEC 2020

QoQ

YoY



(in thousands)













Axon Cloud net sales

$ 68,668



$ 63,264



$ 50,343



8.5 %

36.4 % Axon Cloud gross margin



74.3 %



74.6 %



77.7 %

(30) bp

(340) bp





































Sensors and Other net sales

$ 45,001



$ 47,234



$ 40,036



(4.7) %

12.4 % Sensors and Other gross margin



39.3 %



36.9 %



36.3 %

240 bp

300 bp

Axon Cloud revenue grew 36% year over year to $69 million , reflecting strong domestic demand and growing adoption of our real-time operations and transcription services.

, reflecting strong domestic demand and growing adoption of our real-time operations and transcription services. Axon Cloud gross margin of 74.3% reflects a combination of our high margin software revenue and no-to-low margin professional services costs related to installing new customers. The software-only revenue in this segment, which includes cloud storage and compute costs, has consistently carried a gross margin above 80%.

Sensors & Other revenue grew 12% year over year to $45 million . About $15.5 million of revenue tied to demand for Axon Body 3 cameras shifted from Q4 2021 into 2022 due to supply chain constraints. Body camera demand continues to be strong. Absent the impact of supply-chain related shipping delays, Sensors & Other revenue would have grown 50% year over year.

. About of revenue tied to demand for Axon Body 3 cameras shifted from Q4 2021 into 2022 due to supply chain constraints. Body camera demand continues to be strong. Absent the impact of supply-chain related shipping delays, Sensors & Other revenue would have grown 50% year over year. Sensors & Other gross margin was 39.3%. As a reminder, we manage toward a 25% gross margin for camera and sensors hardware, and the gross margin will fluctuate quarter to quarter depending on the customer mix.

Forward-looking performance indicators:















































31 DEC 2021

30 SEP 2021

30 JUN 2021

31 MAR 2021

31 DEC 2020



($ in thousands)

Annual recurring revenue (1)

$ 327,488



$ 288,691



$ 260,178



$ 242,357



$ 221,263

Net revenue retention (2)



119 %



119 %



119 %



119 %



119 % Total company future

contracted revenue (2)

$ 2,800,000



$ 2,390,000



$ 2,040,000



$ 1,790,000



$ 1,730,000

Percentage of TASER

devices sold on a recurring

payment plan



65 %



58 %



55 %



64 %



53 %





(1) Monthly recurring license, integration, warranty, and storage revenue annualized. (2) Refer to "Statistical Definitions" below.

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) grew 48% year over year to $327.5 million . On a sequential basis, ARR increased by $39 million , slightly ahead of our expectation due to strong demand for added SaaS software features in all three strategic software growth categories: digital evidence management, productivity solutions and real-time operations, and strong contributions from the federal market and international regions.

. On a sequential basis, ARR increased by , slightly ahead of our expectation due to strong demand for added SaaS software features in all three strategic software growth categories: digital evidence management, productivity solutions and real-time operations, and strong contributions from the federal market and international regions. Net revenue retention was 119% in the quarter, reflecting our ability to deliver additional value to our customers over time and de minimis attrition. We drive adoption of our cloud software solutions through integrated bundling. Our law enforcement agency customers often sign up for five to ten-year subscriptions. This SaaS metric purposely excludes the hardware portion of customer subscriptions. We further define this metric under "Statistical Definitions."

Total company future contracted revenue grew to $2.8 billion , reflecting strong bookings in the quarter. Most of our bookings are for multi-year contracts. See definition of this metric under "Statistical Definitions."

, reflecting strong bookings in the quarter. Most of our bookings are for multi-year contracts. See definition of this metric under "Statistical Definitions." The percentage of TASER devices sold on a subscription was 65% in the quarter. As a reminder, Axon has been successfully transitioning its TASER hardware business into a subscription service in more mature markets and expanding into new markets where some initial sales are not on a subscription, with the intention of building subscription businesses in those markets over time.

Outlook

The following forward-looking statements reflect Axon's full year 2022 expectations as of February 24, 2022, and are subject to risks and uncertainties.

We expect to achieve 2022 revenue of about $1.04 billion , representing 20% growth year over year. This reflects a strengthened outlook compared with our previously communicated guidance of at least $1.0 billion and highlights our long-term strategy of scaling a business that supports a 20%-plus revenue CAGR.

, representing 20% growth year over year. This reflects a strengthened outlook compared with our previously communicated guidance of at least and highlights our long-term strategy of scaling a business that supports a 20%-plus revenue CAGR. We are establishing our expectations for Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $185 million to $195 million .

to . This guidance represents our ability to accelerate revenue growth by reinvesting back into the business with both rigor and discipline, pushing us forward on our path to achieving our long-term target Adjusted EBITDA margin of 30%.



We provide Adjusted EBITDA guidance, rather than net income guidance, due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting certain types of expenses such as stock-based compensation and income tax expenses, which affect net income but not Adjusted EBITDA. We are unable to reasonably estimate the impact of such expenses, if any, on net income. Accordingly, we do not provide a reconciliation of projected net income to projected Adjusted EBITDA.

We expect stock-based compensation expense to be more than $104 million for the full year. Because our stock-based compensation expense may fluctuate significantly based on changes in the probability of attaining certain operational or market capitalization metrics or attainment of such metrics and with changes in the expected or actual timing of such attainment, it is inherently difficult to forecast future stock-based compensation expense.

for the full year. Because our stock-based compensation expense may fluctuate significantly based on changes in the probability of attaining certain operational or market capitalization metrics or attainment of such metrics and with changes in the expected or actual timing of such attainment, it is inherently difficult to forecast future stock-based compensation expense. We expect adjusted free cash flow to strengthen to a range of about $125 million to $145 million in 2022, compared with about $85 million in 2021. This range reflects our expectations for operating cash flow, minus our expected purchases of property and equipment (CapEx), excluding any investments made in our campus facility, outlined below.

to in 2022, compared with about in 2021. This range reflects our expectations for operating cash flow, minus our expected purchases of property and equipment (CapEx), excluding any investments made in our campus facility, outlined below. Our expected capital expenditures of approximately $135 million to $160 million in 2022 include the following initiatives:

to in 2022 include the following initiatives: Approximately $85 million is expected to be deployed toward Axon's new campus in Scottsdale, Ariz. This project, which includes a next-generation manufacturing facility, aims to consolidate multiple facilities and bring increased automation to future generations of product hardware. Axon leverages physical facilities for not only manufacturing and warehousing, but hardware R&D, testing labs, wireless calibration, customer training & events and a variety of other functions that require physical collaboration. We expect this investment to provide long-term flexibility and stability for our physical plant operations.

is expected to be deployed toward Axon's new campus in This project, which includes a next-generation manufacturing facility, aims to consolidate multiple facilities and bring increased automation to future generations of product hardware. Axon leverages physical facilities for not only manufacturing and warehousing, but hardware R&D, testing labs, wireless calibration, customer training & events and a variety of other functions that require physical collaboration. We expect this investment to provide long-term flexibility and stability for our physical plant operations.

Investments of about $40 million to support TASER capacity expansion and automation for current and future products.

to support TASER capacity expansion and automation for current and future products.

Investments of about $15 million in global facility build-outs and upgrades to support manufacturing expansion, including expansions into Germany , the Netherlands , India and Spain .

in global facility build-outs and upgrades to support manufacturing expansion, including expansions into , , and .

Up to $5 million in automating packaging and assembly lines.

We entered 2022 with strong momentum and tremendous confidence in our ability to continue accelerating growth and profitability.

Thank you for investing in our mission to protect life,

Rick Smith, CEO

Luke Larson, President

Jawad Ahsan, CFO



Quarterly conference call and webcast

We will host our Q4 2021 earnings conference call webinar on Thursday, February 24, at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET.

The webcast will be available via a link on Axon's investor relations website at https://investor.axon.com (https://investor.axon.com/), or can be accessed directly via https://axon.zoom.us/j/91034907333.

Statistical Definitions

Bookings: We consider bookings to be a statistical measure defined as the sales price of orders (not invoiced sales), including contractual optional periods we expect to be exercised, net of cancellations, inclusive of renewals, placed in the relevant fiscal period, regardless of when the products or services ultimately will be provided, so long as they are expected to occur within five years. Most bookings will be invoiced in subsequent periods. Due to municipal government funding rules, in some cases certain of the future period amounts included in bookings are subject to budget appropriation or other contract cancellation clauses. Although we have entered into contracts for the delivery of products and services in the future and anticipate the contracts will be fulfilled, if agencies do not exercise contractual options, do not appropriate funds in future year budgets, or enact a cancellation clause, revenue associated with these bookings may not ultimately be recognized, resulting in a future reduction to bookings. Bookings, as presented here, represent total company bookings inclusive of all products, and should not be confused with our historical reported measure of Software & Sensors bookings, which excluded TASER-related bookings. Certain customers sign contracts for time periods longer than five-years, which generates a larger-sized booking  but the expected exercise amounts after the five-year period is not included in bookings, as described here, in order to facilitate comparisons between periods.

Net revenue retention: Dollar-based net revenue retention is an important metric to measure our ability to retain and expand our relationships with existing customers. We calculate it as the software and camera warranty subscription and support revenue from a base set of agency customers from which we generated Axon Cloud subscription revenue in the last month of a quarter divided by the software and camera warranty subscription and support revenue from the year-ago month of that same customer base. This calculation includes high-margin warranty but purposely excludes the lower-margin hardware subscription contingent of the customer contracts, as it is meant to be a SaaS metric that we use to monitor the health of the recurring revenue business we are building. This calculation also excludes the implied monthly revenue contribution of customers that were added since the year-ago quarter, and therefore excludes the benefit of new customer acquisition. The metric includes customers, if any, that terminated during the annual period, and therefore, this metric is inclusive of customer churn. This metric is downwardly adjusted to account for the effect of phased deployments -- meaning that for the year-ago period, we consider the total contractually obligated implied monthly revenue amount, rather than monthly revenue amounts that might have been in actuality smaller on a GAAP basis due to the customer not having yet fully deployed their Axon solution. For more information relative to our revenue recognition policies, please reference our SEC filings.

Total company future contracted revenue: Total company future contracted revenue includes both recognized contract liabilities as well as amounts that will be invoiced and recognized in future periods. The remaining performance obligations are limited only to arrangements that meet the definition of a contract under Topic 606 as of December 31, 2021. We expect to recognize between 15% - 20% of this balance over the next twelve months, and generally expect the remainder to be recognized over the following five to seven years, subject to risks related to delayed deployments, budget appropriation or other contract cancellation clauses.

Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement the Company's financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, we present the non-GAAP financial measures of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP Net Income, Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share, Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow. The Company's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating the Company's performance in comparison to prior periods. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance, and when planning and forecasting our future periods. A reconciliation of GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measures is presented herein.

EBITDA (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Net income) - Earnings before interest expense, investment interest income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Adjusted EBITDA (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Net income) - Earnings before interest expense, investment interest income, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, non-cash stock-based compensation expense and pre-tax certain other items (identified and listed below in the reconciliation).

Non-GAAP Net Income (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Net income) - Net income excluding the costs of non-cash stock-based compensation and excluding any net gain/loss/write-down/disposal/abandonment of property, equipment and intangible assets; loss on impairment; costs related to strategic investments and business acquisitions; costs related to the FTC litigation and pre-tax certain other items (listed below). The Company tax-effects non-GAAP adjustments using the blended statutory federal and state tax rates for each period presented.

Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Earnings Per share) - Measure of Company's Non-GAAP Net Income divided by the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding during the period presented.

Free Cash Flow (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Cash flow from operating activities) - cash flows provided by operating activities minus purchases of property and equipment and intangible assets.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow (Most comparable GAAP Measure: Cash flow from operating activities) - cash flows provided by operating activities minus purchases of property and equipment and intangible assets, excluding the net impact of investments in our new Scottsdale, Ariz. campus.

Caution on Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Although these non-GAAP financial measures are not consistent with GAAP, management believes investors will benefit by referring to these non-GAAP financial measures when assessing the Company's operating results, as well as when forecasting and analyzing future periods. However, management recognizes that:

these non-GAAP financial measures are limited in their usefulness and should be considered only as a supplement to the Company's GAAP financial measures;

these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the Company's GAAP financial measures;

these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered to be superior to the Company's GAAP financial measures; and

these non-GAAP financial measures were not prepared in accordance with GAAP or under a comprehensive set of rules or principles.

Further, these non-GAAP financial measures may be unique to the Company, as they may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. As such, this presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not enhance the comparability of the Company's results to the results of other companies.

About Axon

Axon is the global leader in connected public safety technologies. We are a mission-driven company whose overarching goal is to protect life. Our vision is a world where bullets are obsolete, where social conflict is dramatically reduced, where everyone has access to a fair and effective justice system and where racial equity, diversity and inclusion is centered in all of our work. Axon is also a leading provider of body cameras for US public safety, providing more transparency and accountability to communities than ever before.

You may learn about our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts by reading our ESG report at investor.axon.com.

We work hard for those who put themselves in harm's way for all of us. More than 262,000 lives and countless dollars have been saved with the Axon Network of devices, apps and people. Learn more at www.axon.com or by calling (800) 978-2737. Axon is a global company with headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a global software engineering hub in Seattle, Washington, as well as additional offices in the US, Australia, Canada, Finland, Vietnam, the UK and the Netherlands.

Cellebrite is a trademark of Cellebrite Mobile Synchronization Ltd.; Dedrone is a trademark of Dedrone Holdings, Inc., Facebook is a trademark of Facebook, Inc.; RapidSOS is a trademark of RapidSOS Inc.; Twitter is a trademark of Twitter, Inc.; Vievu is a trademark of Vievu, LLC and Zoom is a trademark of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. Axon, Axon Network, Bolt 2, TASER, TASER 7, Protect Life, the Delta Logo and the Lightning Bolt in Circle Logo are trademarks of Axon Enterprise, Inc., some of which are registered in the US and other countries. For more information, visit www.axon.com/legal. All rights reserved.

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Axon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Axon.ProtectLife/

Forward-looking statements

Forward-looking statements in this letter include, without limitation, statements regarding: proposed products and services and related development efforts and activities; expectations about the market for our current and future products and services; strategies and trends relating to subscription plan programs and revenues; strategies and trends, including the benefits of, research and development investments; the timing and realization of future contracted revenue; expectations about customer behavior; statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operational results and future economic performance, including our outlook for 2022 full year revenue, adjusted EBITDA, stock-based compensation expense, adjusted free cash flow, and capital expenditures; statements of management's strategies, goals and objectives and other similar expressions; as well as the ultimate resolution of financial statement items requiring critical accounting estimates, including those set forth in our Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Such statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events; they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expect," "anticipate," "future," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.



We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized, although we believe we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and potentially inaccurate assumptions. The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: the potential global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic or other catastrophic events; our ability to manage our supply chain and avoid production delays, shortages and impacts to expected gross margins; changes in the costs of product components and labor; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; the impact of product mix on projected gross margins; our ability to defend against litigation and protect our intellectual property, and the resulting costs of this activity; the impact of stock compensation expense, impairment expense, and income tax expense on our financial results; changes in government regulations in the U.S. and in foreign markets, especially related to the classification of our products by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; our ability to design, introduce, sell and deploy new products or features; customer purchase behavior, including adoption of our software as a service delivery model; delayed cash collections and possible credit losses due to our subscription model; exposure to international operational risks; our exposure to cancellations of government contracts due to appropriation clauses, exercise of a cancellation clause, or non-exercise of contractually optional periods; defects in our products; loss of customer data, a breach of security, or an extended outage, including by our third party cloud-based storage providers; our ability to integrate acquired businesses; negative media publicity regarding our products; and counter-party risks relating to cash balances held in excess of FDIC insurance limits. Many events beyond our control may determine whether results we anticipate will be achieved. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could differ materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. You should bear this in mind as you consider forward-looking statements. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q list various important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. These factors are intended as cautionary statements for investors within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act. Readers can find them under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and investors should refer to them. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Form 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K reports to the SEC.

Update on Legal Matters:

Axon v. FTC

Axon continues to vigorously prosecute its federal court constitutional case against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) while the FTC's separate antitrust administrative action against the company remains stayed.

On January 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court accepted review of an important jurisdictional issue raised by Axon's constitutional challenges to the FTC's internal administrative structure and procedures. The high Court's action is a critical first step for all businesses seeking to vindicate their constitutional rights and hold government regulators accountable.

As background, Axon's federal district court constitutional challenge against the FTC was dismissed in April 2020, without prejudice, for lack of jurisdiction, holding that Axon must first bring its claims through the FTC's administrative process. Axon appealed that ruling to the Ninth Circuit (No. 20-15662). In January 2021, the appellate panel in a 2-1 split decision affirmed the district court ruling against Axon on the jurisdictional question, but granted Axon's motion to stay the case pending resolution of the company's certiorari petition with the U.S. Supreme Court (No. 21-86).

The Supreme Court will now decide the question of "whether Congress impliedly stripped federal district courts of jurisdiction over constitutional challenges to the FTC's structure, procedures, and existence by granting the courts of appeals jurisdiction to 'affirm, enforce, modify, or set aside' the Commission's cease-and-desist orders." Without such jurisdiction, parties must endure the very processes they contend are unconstitutional before reaching a court with actual authority to decide their claims.

Argument is expected at the beginning of the Supreme Court's next term in October. A decision is unlikely before February 2023 Links to all court filings and opinions can be found on Axon's FTC Investor Briefing page at https://www.axon.com/ftc.

As a reminder, in parallel to these matters Axon is evaluating strategic alternatives to litigation, which Axon might pursue if determined to be in the best interests of shareholders and customers. This could include a divestiture of the Vievu entity and/or related assets. While Axon continues to believe the 2018 acquisition of Vievu was lawful and a benefit to Vievu's customers, the cost, risk and distraction of protracted litigation merit consideration of settlement if achievable on terms agreeable to the FTC and Axon.

For investor relations information please contact Investor Relations via email at [email protected].

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data)





THREE MONTHS ENDED

TWELVE MONTHS ENDED



31 DEC 2021

30 SEP 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 DEC 2021

31 DEC 2020 Net sales from products

$ 145,409

$ 165,803

$ 174,116

$ 608,525

$ 500,250 Net sales from services



72,169



66,186



52,024



254,856



180,753 Net sales



217,578



231,989



226,140



863,381



681,003 Cost of product sales



64,845



71,336



73,624



260,098



224,131 Cost of service sales



17,672



16,086



11,210



62,373



40,541 Cost of sales



82,517



87,422



84,834



322,471



264,672 Gross margin



135,061



144,567



141,306



540,910



416,331 Operating expenses:





























Sales, general and administrative



111,453



99,295



97,523



515,007



307,286 Research and development



50,674



42,382



38,008



194,026



123,195 Total operating expenses



162,127



141,677



135,531



709,033



430,481 Income (loss) from operations



(27,066)



2,890



5,775



(168,123)



(14,150) Interest and other incom (expense), net



(10,148)



(5,530)



3,265



26,748



7,859 Income (loss) before provision for income taxes



(37,214)



(2,640)



9,040



(141,375)



(6,291) Benefit from income taxes



(23,706)



(51,164)



(16,794)



(81,357)



(4,567) Net income (loss)

$ (13,508)

$ 48,524

$ 25,834

$ (60,018)

$ (1,724) Net income (loss) per common and common equivalent shares:





























Basic

$ (0.19)

$ 0.73

$ 0.41

$ (0.91)

$ (0.03) Diluted

$ (0.19)

$ 0.67

$ 0.40

$ (0.91)

$ (0.03) Weighted average number of common and common

equivalent shares outstanding:





























Basic



69,310



66,192



63,639



66,191



61,782 Diluted



69,310



72,441



65,362



66,191



61,782

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. SEGMENT REPORTING (Unaudited) (dollars in thousands)





THREE MONTHS ENDED



THREE MONTHS ENDED



THREE MONTHS ENDED





31 DEC 2021



30 SEP 2021



31 DEC 2020













Software



















Software



















Software





















and



















and



















and













TASER



Sensors



Total



TASER



Sensors



Total



TASER



Sensors



Total

Net sales from products (1)

$ 100,408



$ 45,001



$ 145,409



$ 118,569



$ 47,234



$ 165,803



$ 134,080



$ 40,036



$ 174,116

Net sales from services (2)



3,501





68,668





72,169





2,922





63,264





66,186





1,681





50,343





52,024

Net sales



103,909





113,669





217,578





121,491





110,498





231,989





135,761





90,379





226,140

Cost of product sales



37,539





27,306





64,845





41,554





29,782





71,336





48,138





25,486





73,624

Cost of service sales









17,672





17,672











16,086





16,086











11,210





11,210

Cost of sales



37,539





44,978





82,517





41,554





45,868





87,422





48,138





36,696





84,834

Gross margin



66,370





68,691





135,061





79,937





64,630





144,567





87,623





53,683





141,306

Gross margin %



63.9 %



60.4 %



62.1 %



65.8 %



58.5 %



62.3 %



64.5 %



59.4 %



62.5 %









































































Research and development



14,104





36,570





50,674





10,476





31,906





42,382





5,231





32,777





38,008

























































TWELVE MONTHS ENDED



TWELVE MONTHS ENDED





31 DEC 2021



31 DEC 2020













Software



















Software





















and



















and













TASER



Sensors



Total



TASER



Sensors



Total

Net sales from products (1)

$ 426,916



$ 181,609



$ 608,525



$ 362,649



$ 137,601



$ 500,250

Net sales from services (2)



10,011





244,845





254,856





3,903





176,850





180,753

Net sales



436,927





426,454





863,381





366,552





314,451





681,003

Cost of product sales



149,739





110,359





260,098





136,925





87,206





224,131

Cost of service sales



145





62,228





62,373











40,541





40,541

Cost of sales



149,884





172,587





322,471





136,925





127,747





264,672

Gross margin



287,043





253,867





540,910





229,627





186,704





416,331

Gross margin %



65.7 %



59.5 %



62.7 %



62.6 %



59.4 %



61.1 %

















































Research and development



46,136





147,890





194,026





15,380





107,815





123,195







(1) Software and Sensors "products" revenue consists of sensors, including on-officer body cameras, Axon Fleet cameras, other hardware sensors, warranties on sensors, and other products, and is sometimes referred to as Sensors and Other revenue. (2) Software and Sensors "services" revenue comprises sales related to the Axon Cloud, which includes Axon Evidence, cloud-based evidence management software revenue, other recurring cloud-hosted software revenue and related professional services, and is sometimes referred to as Axon Cloud revenue.

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. UNIT SALES STATISTICS (Unaudited) Units in whole numbers





THREE MONTHS ENDED



TWELVE MONTHS ENDED





31 DEC

31 DEC

Unit

Percent



31 DEC

31 DEC

Unit

Percent





2021

2020

Change

Change



2021

2020

Change

Change

TASER 7

12,927

41,099

(28,172)

(68.5) %

90,348

77,451

12,897

16.7 % TASER X26P

8,246

10,611

(2,365)

(22.3)



30,083

37,391

(7,308)

(19.5)

TASER X2

14,432

9,751

4,681

48.0



38,620

43,407

(4,787)

(11.0)

TASER Consumer devices

8,733

11,657

(2,924)

(25.1)



26,958

33,158

(6,200)

(18.7)

Cartridges

1,194,867

1,272,679

(77,812)

(6.1)



4,945,927

3,714,291

1,231,636

33.2

Axon Body

31,749

44,735

(12,986)

(29.0)



181,663

182,538

(875)

(0.5)

Axon Flex

1,027

749

278

37.1



7,828

8,962

(1,134)

(12.7)

Axon Fleet

4,609

3,905

704

18.0



11,264

11,304

(40)

(0.4)

Axon Dock

4,959

6,326

(1,367)

(21.6)



25,584

25,422

162

0.6









































AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) Dollars in thousands





THREE MONTHS ENDED

TWELVE MONTHS ENDED





31 DEC 2021

30 SEP 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 DEC 2021

31 DEC 2020

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:































Net income (loss)

$ (13,508)

$ 48,524

$ 25,834

$ (60,018)

$ (1,724)

Depreciation and amortization



5,274



4,838



3,531



18,694



12,475

Interest expense



1



5



11



28



55

Investment interest income



(353)



(123)



(929)



(1,511)



(4,086)

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes



(23,706)



(51,164)



(16,794)



(81,357)



(4,567)

EBITDA

$ (32,292)

$ 2,080

$ 11,653

$ (124,164)

$ 2,153



































Adjustments:































Stock-based compensation expense

$ 41,110

$ 35,062

$ 53,448

$ 303,331

$ 133,572

Realized and unrealized (gains) losses

on strategic investments and

marketable securities (1)



11,160



6,660



(2,055)



(23,035)



(2,055)

Transaction costs related to strategic

investments and acquisitions



1,180



393



109



2,068



1,032

Loss on disposal and abandonment of

intangible assets



16







68



146



320

Loss on disposal and impairment of

property and equipment, net



18



31



293



92



1,722

Costs related to FTC litigation



119



242



522



741



19,064

Payroll taxes related to XSPP vesting

and CEO Award option exercises



9,195



6,069







18,933





Adjusted EBITDA

$ 30,506

$ 50,537

$ 64,038

$ 178,112

$ 155,808

Net income (loss) as a percentage of net sales



(6.2) %

20.9 %

11.4 %

(7.0) %

(0.3) % Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales



14.0 %

21.8 %

28.3 %

20.6 %

22.9 %

































Stock-based compensation expense:































Cost of product and service sales

$ 1,405

$ 1,112

$ 1,294

$ 5,844

$ 3,464

Sales, general and administrative



27,740



25,969



43,007



238,813



103,860

Research and development



11,965



7,981



9,147



58,674



26,248

Total

$ 41,110

$ 35,062

$ 53,448

$ 303,331

$ 133,572







(1) Includes net unrealized gains of $10.7 million and realized gain of $12.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021.

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES - continued (Unaudited) Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts





THREE MONTHS ENDED

TWELVE MONTHS ENDED





31 DEC 2021

30 SEP 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 DEC 2021

31 DEC 2020

Non-GAAP net income:































GAAP net income (loss)

$ (13,508)

$ 48,524

$ 25,834

$ (60,018)

$ (1,724)

Non-GAAP adjustments:































Stock-based compensation expense



41,110



35,062



53,448



303,331



133,572

Realized and unrealized (gains) losses on

strategic investments and marketable securities (1)



11,160



6,660



(2,055)



(23,035)



(2,055)

Loss on disposal and abandonment of intangible

assets



16







68



146



320

Loss on disposal and impairment of property and

equipment, net



18



31



293



92



1,722

Transaction costs related to strategic investments

and acquisitions



1,180



393



109



2,068



1,032

Costs related to FTC litigation



119



242



522



741



19,064

Payroll taxes related to XSPP vesting and CEO

Award option exercises



9,195



6,069







18,933





Income tax effects



(15,605)



(12,064)



(13,172)



(75,276)



(38,156)

Non-GAAP net income

$ 33,685

$ 84,917

$ 65,047

$ 166,982

$ 113,775



































Diluted income (loss) per common share































GAAP

$ (0.19)

$ 0.67

$ 0.40

$ (0.91)

$ (0.03)

Non-GAAP

$ 0.46

$ 1.17

$ 1.00

$ 2.35

$ 1.81



































Diluted weighted average shares outstanding































GAAP



69,310



72,441



65,362



66,191



61,782

Non-GAAP (2)



72,683



72,441



65,362



71,066



62,707







(1) Includes net unrealized gains of $10.7 million and realized gain of $12.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. (2) Non-GAAP diluted income per common share factors in higher diluted weighted average shares outstanding in periods where there is both a GAAP net loss and non-GAAP net income.



AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands)





31 DEC 2021

31 DEC 2020



(Unaudited)





ASSETS











Current Assets:











Cash and cash equivalents

$ 356,332

$ 155,440 Marketable securities



72,180





Short-term investments



14,510



406,525 Accounts and notes receivable, net



320,819



229,201 Contract assets, net



180,421



63,945 Inventory, net



108,688



89,958 Prepaid expenses and other current assets



56,540



36,883 Total current assets



1,109,490



981,952













Property and equipment, net



138,457



105,494 Deferred tax assets, net



127,193



45,770 Intangible assets, net



15,470



9,448 Goodwill



43,592



25,205 Long-term investments



31,232



90,681 Long-term notes receivable, net



11,256



22,457 Long-term contract assets, net



29,753



20,099 Strategic Investments



83,520



11,711 Other long-term assets



98,247



68,206 Total assets

$ 1,688,210

$ 1,381,023













LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY











Current Liabilities:











Accounts payable



32,220



24,142 Accrued liabilities



103,707



59,843 Current portion of deferred revenue



265,591



163,959 Customer deposits



10,463



2,956 Other current liabilities



6,540



5,431 Total current liabilities



418,521



256,331













Deferred revenue, net of current portion



185,721



111,222 Liability for unrecognized tax benefits



3,797



4,503 Long-term deferred compensation



5,679



4,732 Deferred tax liabilities, net



811



649 Other long-term liabilities



25,832



27,331 Total liabilities



640,361



404,768













Stockholders' Equity:











Preferred stock







 Common stock



1



1 Additional paid-in capital



1,095,229



962,159 Treasury stock



(155,947)



(155,947) Retained earnings



109,883



169,901 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)



(1,317)



141 Total stockholders' equity



1,047,849



976,255 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 1,688,210

$ 1,381,023

AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands)





THREE MONTHS ENDED

TWELVE MONTHS ENDED





31 DEC 2021

30 SEP 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 DEC 2021

31 DEC 2020

Cash flows from operating activities:































Net income (loss)

$ (13,508)

$ 48,524

$ 25,834

$ (60,018)

$ (1,724)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by

operating activities:































Depreciation and amortization



5,274



4,838



3,531



18,694



12,475

Loss on disposal and abandonment of intangible assets



16







68



146



320

Loss on disposal and impairment of property and equipment, net



18



31



293



92



1,722

Net loss (gain) on strategic investments and marketable securities



11,160



6,660







(23,035)





Stock-based compensation



41,110



35,062



53,448



303,331



133,572

Deferred income taxes



(22,410)



(52,004)



(4,858)



(81,303)



(16,528)

Unrecognized tax benefits



(783)



30



98



(706)



671

Bond premium amortization



611



1,496







5,217



3,345

Noncash lease expense



1,486



1,437



2,876



5,573



4,104

Provision for expected credit losses



(829)



553



526



(214)



1,302

Change in assets and liabilities:































Accounts and notes receivable and contract assets



(87,675)



(114,106)



(59,211)



(205,769)



(107,762)

Inventory



(15,118)



(1,306)



7,215



(18,272)



(52,156)

Prepaid expenses and other assets



(11,252)



(15,586)



(10,063)



(40,158)



(14,885)

Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities



16,773



38,909



(16,479)



45,301



8,886

Deferred revenue



88,057



61,911



31,040



175,615



65,139

Net cash provided by operating activities



12,930



16,449



34,318



124,494



38,481

Cash flows from investing activities:































Purchases of investments







(124,191)



(139,835)



(362,479)



(656,522)

Proceeds from call, maturity, or sale of investments



219,445



204,358



92,640



718,617



379,839

Proceeds from sale of strategic investments















14,546





Purchases of property and equipment



(13,385)



(12,470)



(6,606)



(49,886)



(72,629)

Purchases of intangible assets



(235)



(14)



(64)



(392)



(241)

Proceeds from disposal from property and equipment



12



(17)



1



43



95

Purchases of strategic investments



(25,000)







(2,368)



(45,500)



(7,068)

Business acquisition, net of cash acquired



(21,693)



(700)







(22,393)





Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities



159,144



66,966



(56,232)



252,556



(356,526)

Cash flows from financing activities:































Net proceeds from equity offering



(101)



105,615







105,514



306,779

Proceeds from options exercised



51,614











51,614



295

Income and payroll tax payments for net-settled stock awards



(148,792)



(172,205)



(923)



(331,309)



(7,809)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities



(97,279)



(66,590)



(923)



(174,181)



299,265

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents



(155)



(1,508)



2,279



(1,982)



1,976

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash



74,640



15,317



(20,558)



200,887



(16,804)

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period



281,798



266,481



176,109



155,551



172,355

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$ 356,438

$ 281,798

$ 155,551

$ 356,438

$ 155,551



AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. SELECTED CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Unaudited) (in thousands)





THREE MONTHS ENDED

TWELVE MONTHS ENDED



31 DEC 2021

30 SEP 2021

31 DEC 2020

31 DEC 2021

31 DEC 2020 Net cash provided by operating activities

$ 12,930

$ 16,449

$ 34,318

$ 124,494

$ 38,481 Purchases of property and equipment



(13,385)



(12,470)



(6,606)



(49,886)



(72,629) Purchases of intangible assets



(235)



(14)



(64)



(392)



(241) Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure

$ (690)

$ 3,965

$ 27,648

$ 74,216

$ (34,389) Net campus investment



3,391



3,128







10,297



54,152 Adjusted free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure

$ 2,701

$ 7,093

$ 27,648

$ 84,513

$ 19,763

































AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL TABLES (in thousands)





31 DEC 2021

31 DEC 2020



(Unaudited)





Cash and cash equivalents

$ 356,332

$ 155,440 Short-term investments



14,510



406,525 Long-term investments



31,232



90,681 Total cash and cash equivalents and investments, net

$ 402,074

$ 652,646

CONTACT:

Investor Relations

Axon Enterprise, Inc.

[email protected]

SOURCE Axon
MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bain & Company today announces the acquisition of ArcBlue, a leader in procurement consulting across the Asia-Pacific region. ArcBlue will operate independently as part of Bain's specialist procurement implementation service line  delivering procurement solutions to existing and new clients for both short and long-term engagements.

Together, the two firms will leverage their expertise and services to strengthen Bain's existing procurement offerings and offer clients differentiated, cost-effective, end-to-end procurement solutions, ranging from strategy to implementation.

Founded in Australia in 2013, ArcBlue specializes in all aspects of the procurement lifecycle, with experience across a wide range of industries and supply categories. ArcBlue is recognized for delivering world class, transformational procurement programs and solutions - enabling clients to get maximum value from their procurement practices. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, ArcBlue has 10 offices across Asia-Pacific, and a team of more than 150 procurement professionals located across the region.

ArcBlue's key services and offerings include:

Procurement transformation and value generation programs

Category management expertise

Strategic sourcing capabilities

Social and sustainable procurement and supply chain solutions

Expert analytics and digital offerings

Training and learning development services

A proprietary digital procurement platform, myBuy

Project resourcing and recruiting services

"Procurement is essential to an organization's growth and, in many cases, critical to its sustainability transformation. By joining forces with ArcBlue, Bain aims to become Asia-Pacific's leading procurement advisor, delivering an end-to-end procurement transformation offering that incorporates capability development, strategy, design and technology," said Hernan Saenz, leader of Bain & Company's Global Performance Improvement practice. "After successfully working with the ArcBlue team over the last two years, this acquisition cements the relationship between the two firms, leveraging our collective strengths to deliver a best-in-class procurement offering to the Asia-Pacific region."

"We are incredibly proud of the success we've achieved as a team at ArcBlue and are excited about the opportunities that this acquisition presents to our clients, partners and team" said ArcBlue co-Managing Director, Chris Newman.

Bain and ArcBlue have been able to demonstrate the extraordinary impact of our combined capabilities across a range of projects," said ArcBlue co-Managing Director, Daniel Fielding. "ArcBlue joining forces with a top-tier, global consulting firm with such exceptional expertise opens up great opportunities to elevate the value we bring to all of our clients."

Editor's Note: To arrange an interview, contact Calla Payne at [email protected].

About Bain & Company

Bain & Company is a global consultancy that helps the world's most ambitious change makers define the future.

Across 63 offices in 38 countries, we work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform the competition, and redefine industries. We complement our tailored, integrated expertise with a vibrant ecosystem of digital innovators to deliver better, faster, and more enduring outcomes. Our 10-year commitment to invest more than $1 billion in pro bono services brings our talent, expertise, and insight to organizations tackling today's urgent challenges in education, racial equity, social justice, economic development, and the environment. We earned a gold rating from EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social, and ethical performance ratings for global supply chains, putting us in the top 2% of all companies. Since our founding in 1973, we have measured our success by the success of our clients, and we proudly maintain the highest level of client advocacy in the industry.

About ArcBlue

ArcBlue is a consulting firm specializing in procurement & supply chain, operating across the Asia Pacific region. Our mission is to deliver positive change through procurement.

Headquartered in Melbourne, we have 10 offices across Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand and a team of over 150 expert consultants serving clients from Japan, Korea and the PRC through Southeast Asia to Australia and New Zealand. Our passionate team of professionals have strong, credible experience and a dedication to helping their clients achieve real results.

We provide organizations with practical, hands-on advice from experienced professionals, and support to deliver and embed change across our broad range of services. Our services cover procurement advisory & change management, spend analytics, digital enablement, learning & development programs, savings programs and sustainable procurement. We are also proud to be at the forefront of the growing field of social procurement and work to incorporate it into standard procurement practices.

Media Contact:

Calla Payne

Bain & Company

+852 6020 7693

[email protected]

SOURCE Bain & Company
"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with LTG L. Neil Thurgood and RCCTO to deliver transformative warfighter capabilities in the form of sUAS," said Jonathan Moneymaker, CEO of BlueHalo. "Our customers continue to turn to BlueHalo to achieve what has never been done before and HIVE is another excellent example of utilizing BlueHalo's capabilities to do just that. I am incredibly proud of the team's success and am excited about how we continue to redefine what is possible through inspired engineering."

BlueHalo has extensive technical experience delivering state-of-the-art capabilities with all aspects of unmanned and counter-unmanned systems including R&D, engineering, fabrication and prototyping, systems development, integration, and test activities. BlueHalo offers a range of proprietary, U.S.-made and manufactured unmanned air system platforms, custom payloads, novel applications, and sUAS systems.

"We are extremely excited to help RCCTO and the Army realize this new, transformational capability," said Jimmy Jenkins, President and General Manager of BlueHalo's Defense Systems Sector. "We are fully committed to ensuring we deliver this solution to the warfighter in the very near future."

About BlueHalo

BlueHalo is purpose-built to provide industry-leading capabilities in the domains of Space Superiority, Space Technology, Directed Energy/Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS), Autonomy, Advanced Radio Frequency (RF), Cyber, and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). BlueHalo focuses on inspired engineering to develop, transition, and field next-generation capabilities to solve the most complex challenges of our customers' critical missions and reestablish our national security posture in the near-peer contested arena. www.bluehalo.com

SOURCE BlueHalo
ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- An undeclared round of UN-brokered talks between Yemen's warring factions failed to reach an agreement to end the years-long military conflict in the Arab country, a Yemeni official said on Thursday.

"During the past months, the Houthi rebel militia and Yemen's government engaged in a series of undeclared negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations in Oman in an attempt to end the bloody fighting," the local government source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking and UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg largely participated in organizing the talks," he said.

He clarified that the talks continued for several months but failed to reach a political plan to end the conflict.

Last month, the Houthi negotiating team based in Oman held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on the developments of Yemen's war as well as the humanitarian and political situation, the Houthis-affiliated Masirah television network reported.

Currently, the international community largely relies on Oman as the mediator to end the Yemen conflict, as it has solid relations with the various parties involved.

For more than seven years, Yemen has been engulfed in a conflict between the pro-government forces backed by a Saudi-led military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the Iranian-backed Houthis, whose troops have occupied key northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, since September 2014.

Until the end of 2021, the war in Yemen had killed 377,000 people directly and indirectly, according to the United Nations.

The war has cost the war-torn country's economy 126 billion U.S. dollars, making it one of the world's biggest humanitarian and economic crises, according to UN estimates issued in November 2021. 
MELVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In March 2022, Canon Inc. will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the launch of the company's EOS System, which includes EOS-series interchangeable-lens cameras and a diverse range of system accessories, such as interchangeable EF and RF lenses.

Canon's EOS System made its debut in March 1987 with the launch of the EOS 650 single-lens reflex (SLR) camera and EF lenses1. An acronym of "Electro Optical System" while also carrying the name of the Greek Goddess of the dawn, the EOS series came to light in 1987 as the world's first fully electronic mount system, representing a new generation of AF SLR cameras.

During the film-camera era, EOS SLR cameras received high praise from a wide range of users for their innovative technologies and designs focused on Canon's key concepts of high-speed and ease-of-use. During this period, the company launched the top-of-the-line professional model EOS-1 in 1989. With the introduction of the compact lightweight EOS Kiss (EOS Rebel XS and EOS 500 in other regions) in 1993, Canon expanded its user base to the more consumer-orientated customer.

Following the introduction of the EOS D30 in 2000, with the rise and popularization of digital SLR cameras in full swing, Canon developed innovative models such as the high-speed and high-image-quality professional-oriented EOS-1D (2001), the EOS Kiss Digital (2003, EOS Digital Rebel or EOS 300D in other regions) which appealed to a broad user base, and the EOS 5D Mark II (2008), which featured Full HD video recording. In 2012, Canon introduced the Cinema EOS System, transforming EOS video technology and marking Canon's entry into the video production industry.

From there, Canon continued to develop equipment for an increasingly broad range of users. In 2018, the EOS R System was born from Canon's desire to construct the optimal rear lens element diameter and shorter distance (back focus) for a Full-Frame image sensor. The company followed up in 2020 with the EOS R5, the world's first digital camera to feature 8K recording2. In 2021, the EOS R3 was launched, featuring eye-control AF capability and the EOS VR System for recording VR content.

Enabling visual expression through still photography, video, and even VR content, the EOS system helps to expand the possibilities of visual expression with a lineup comprising 21 EOS series cameras3 and 104 RF and EF lenses4. Further reinforcing the company's long-running and expansive user base, Canon has maintained the world's No.1 share5 of digital interchangeable-lens cameras since 2003  a total of 18 years running.

Canon will continue to refine its diverse imaging technologies based on its core optical technology to create an even more robust EOS System that meets the needs of an increasingly broad user base.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.6 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), as of 2021 has ranked in the top-five overall in U.S. patents granted for 36 consecutive years and was one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2022. Canon U.S.A. was featured in Newsweek's Most Loved Workplaces list for 2021, ranking among the top 100 companies for employee happiness and satisfaction at work. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.

 Number of patents for 2021 are based on figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Figures for 2005 to 2020 are based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

1 The EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, EF35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 and EF50mm f/1.8 were released alongside the EOS 650. 2 Among interchangeable-lens digital cameras available as of July 8, 2020. 3 Includes 5 digital cinema cameras for video production. As of February 24, 2022. 4 Includes 30 EF cinema lenses (EF and PL mount) and 4 lens extenders. As of February 24, 2022. 5 Shares of unit sales. Based on Canon research.

SOURCE Canon U.S.A., Inc.
For 18 consecutive years, Cat Lift Trucks and its local dealer Darr Equipment Co, have played a critical role in the production of the largest livestock exhibit and rodeo in the world. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo attracts more than 2.5 million visitors and 30,000 exhibitors over a span of three weeks. This year, Cat Lift Trucks has committed to providing over 100 forklifts to keep the show running smoothly, from setup to tear down throughout the 300-acre complex. Darr Equipment's technicians will also be on-hand throughout the show to provide lift truck operator training and on-site support throughout the Rodeo season.

"Our long-standing partnership with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo means a great deal to our company and our employees," said John Sneddon, executive vice president of Sales and Marketing at Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas. "Since 2005, we have proudly supported the show by serving as the Official Lift Truck Provider with our local dealer, Darr Equipment. The work performed behind the scenes, by our forklifts and Darr's technicians, allows us to help bring together the city of Houston in a meaningful way, while also indirectly helping to provide educational scholarships for deserving kids. It's a real honor to help give back to our community in this way."

Texas education has been at the forefront of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's mission since it began in 1932. Cat Lift Trucks plans to honor their 2022 Cat Lift Trucks Scholarship recipient at the show. This year, a deserving Houston-area high school senior will receive a $5,000 Cat Lift Trucks scholarship to go toward their higher education.

The Cat Lift Trucks scholarship program was introduced in 2005, and since then, the program has awarded $130,000 in educational assistance to 26 Houston-area students.

The 2022 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will begin on Monday, February 28, and run through Sunday, March 20, 2022. For more information on Cat Lift Trucks, visit https://www.logisnextamericas.com/en/cat.

About Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas

Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas and its group companies have helped customers Move The World Forward for more than 100 years. A technology-driven manufacturer, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas offers scalable solutions from material handling to automation and extensive fleet support. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, its complete portfolio of advanced solutions spans across five leading brands  Mitsubishi forklift trucks, Cat lift trucks, Rocla AGV Solutions, UniCarriers Forklifts and Jungheinrich warehouse and automation products. All products are backed by an extensive dealer network offering industry-leading customer service and product support. For more information, visit www.logisnextamericas.com.

About Cat Lift Trucks

Cat lift trucks is one of the most trusted forklift brands in the World. For more than 55 years, customers have relied on the Cat lift trucks brand for quality and reliable forklifts backed by exceptional service and support through its trusted dealer network. With capacities ranging from 2,500 to 15,500 pounds, Cat lift trucks delivers fuel-efficient lift trucks for greater productivity and advanced electric forklifts with longer run times and a lower total cost of ownership. Cat lift trucks are manufactured and distributed by the Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas group, one of the largest lift truck manufacturers in the World. For more information, visit www.logisnextamericas.com/en/cat.

SOURCE Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), released the following statement on the Russian invasion of Ukraine:

"CED condemns Russia's unlawful, unprovoked, full-scale assault on the innocent citizens of the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Russia has even more broadly assaulted a stable, rules-based international order that provides safety, security, and prosperity for all. CED supports the unified efforts of the United States government, NATO, and the global community, to respond swiftly and strongly to Russia's blatant invasion of Ukraine, a severe violation of international law and national sovereigntytwo fundamental principles that underpin a stable and prosperous global international order."

About CED

The Committee for Economic Development (CED) is the nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led public policy center of The Conference Board that delivers well-researched analysis and reasoned solutions in the nation's interest. CED Trustees are chief executive officers and key executives of leading US companies who bring their unique experience to address today's pressing policy issues. Collectively they represent 30+ industries, over a trillion dollars in revenue, and over 4 million employees. www.ced.org

About The Conference Board

The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what's ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org

SOURCE Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED)
DOVER, Del., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) announced today the publication of its inaugural Sustainability Report, which affirms the Company's environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. The Company also announced two new organizational changes to advance its ESG strategy and environmental sustainability initiatives.

Chesapeake Utilities' Inaugural Sustainability Report

"Over the past few years, we have increasingly emphasized ESG considerations as important factors in our strategic decision making. Our inaugural Sustainability Report highlights our commitment to sound ESG practices that will support Chesapeake's responsible growth," said Jeff Householder, president and CEO. "This report touches on our efforts to reduce emissions  across both our operational footprint and also for our customers. It also provides insight into our safety practices, employee engagement efforts, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives, along with the support we provide to our local communities. Further, the report describes our governance policies and our approach to enterprise risk management, including the risks and opportunities presented by the nation's transition to a lower-carbon energy future."

To read Chesapeake Utilities' inaugural Sustainability Report and learn more about the Company's ESG efforts, visit https://chpk.com/sustainability-report/.

Environmental Sustainability Office and ESG Committee

In further support of the Company's ESG commitments, Chesapeake Utilities created an environmental sustainability office, an internal ESG committee and two new leadership positions dedicated to those efforts.

Shane Breakie will serve as the Company's environmental sustainability officer, a vice president position reporting to Kevin Webber, senior vice president and chief development officer. In this role, Breakie will lead the Company's environmental sustainability efforts including the identification and management of emission-reducing projects both internally and those to support our customers' sustainability goals. With more than 25 years of service in the utilities industry, Breakie most recently served as vice president, Chesapeake Utilities and Sandpiper Energy, leading the Company's natural gas distribution businesses in Delaware, Maryland and Florida. As part of the organizational transition, Jeffrey Tietbohl will assume leadership of both natural gas transmission and distribution operations.

Amanda Chi will serve as the Company's director of ESG strategy and reporting, reporting to Alex Whitelam, head of investor relations. In this role, Chi will assist in the advancement and execution of the Company's strategic ESG initiatives. She will also help lead the Company's internal ESG committee, bringing together a cross-functional team of leaders across the organization to identify, analyze and report on critical ESG topics. Serving most recently as director of regulatory affairs, Chi brings more than 20 years of experience across various functions and increasing responsibility within the organization, and she soon will complete a graduate certificate in sustainability.

"Our Company has a long history of supporting sustainability initiatives, and we recognize that we live in a world where there is more work to do in those areas," added Householder. "We're committed to continuing that work and are excited to solidify our ESG program with the help of Shane, Amanda and others leading our sustainability efforts. With these new roles, we look to serve the greater good and further bring our mission to life: delivering energy that makes life better for the people and communities we serve."

About Chesapeake Utilities Corporation

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which is engaged in natural gas transmission and distribution; electricity generation and distribution; propane gas distribution; mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions; and other businesses. Information about Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's businesses is available at www.chpk.com.

Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

For more information, contact:

Brianna Patterson

Manager, Public Relations and Strategic Communications

302-217-7050

[email protected]

Alex Whitelam

Head of Investor Relations

215-872-2507

[email protected]

SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation
The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica has earned a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2022.



This latest rating reprises Pacifica's model-year 2021 performance, as vehicles produced after September of last year also qualified for TOP SAFETY PICK+.



"The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica delivers on our firm commitment to provide customers with superior safety," said Chrysler Brand CEO Chris Feuell. "Pacifica remains the ideal choice for anyone seeking the greatest combination of safety, innovative technology and value."



The IIHS revised its ratings system in 2020 to include a greater emphasis on lighting and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) technology. The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica's standard-equipment vehicle-to-vehicle AEB system is rated "superior"  the highest possible IIHS grade.



It benefits from a combination of camera technology and radar sensors that was refined to deliver a wider field of view. Blending the two methods of object detection  a strategy known as sensor-fusion  also affords redundancy, which enhances system performance.



AEB, which is proliferating across the Stellantis product lineup as standard equipment, identifies when certain frontal collisions may be imminent. If such conditions are detected, visual and audible alerts are generated and, if the driver fails to respond, the system may activate the vehicle's brakes to help avoid an impact, or lessen its severity.



The Pacifica's Pedestrian AEB capability earned a rating of "advanced."



The vehicle earned a "good" grade  the highest possible rating  in the six core crashworthiness tests conducted by IIHS:

Small overlap front (driver side)

Small overlap front (passenger side)

Moderate overlap, front

Side impact

Roof strength

Head restraints and seats

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica is North America's only minivan with second-row Stow 'n Go seating, which provides fold-in-the-floor convenience, and available all-wheel-drive (AWD).



Pacifica's AWD technology engages seamlessly at any speed, without any activation required by the driver. If any of the vehicle's wheels lose traction, the system automatically transfers available engine torque to the wheels with more traction, for greater control.



With more than 160 industry honors and accolades, the Chrysler Pacifica is the industry's most awarded minivan six years in a row.



Chrysler Brand

The Chrysler brand has delighted customers with distinctive designs, craftsmanship, intuitive innovation and technology since the company was founded in 1925. The Chrysler Pacifica continues to reinvent the minivan, a segment Chrysler invented, with an unprecedented level of functionality, versatility, technology and bold styling and the most advanced available all-wheel-drive system in its class. The available innovative hybrid powertrain takes this revolutionary vehicle a step further. It's the first electrified vehicle in the minivan segment and achieves more than 80 MPGe in electric-only mode, has an all-electric range of more than 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles. Chrysler Voyager offers fleet owners a budget-friendly minivan that also provides a well-equipped, exceptional driving experience. The Chrysler 300 lineup delivers on the brand's promise of iconic and elegant design executed with world-class performance, efficiency and quality  all at an attainable value. Chrysler is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Chrysler and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Chrysler brand: www.chrysler.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrysler

Twitter: www.twitter.com/chrysler or @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/chrysler or https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
ZURICH, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb Limited (NYSE: CB) announced today that its Board of Directors will recommend to shareholders at the company's 2022 Annual General Meeting an increase in its quarterly dividend for the twenty-ninth consecutive year. The proposal calls for a $3.32 annual per share dividend, payable in four quarterly installments of $0.83 per share, compared to the current quarterly dividend amount of $0.80 per share.

The Board also declared a quarterly dividend equal to $0.80 per share, payable on April 8, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 18, 2022. The dividend will be payable out of legal reserves and will be made in United States dollars by the company's transfer agent as described in the Chubb Limited 2021 proxy statement. This will be the fourth installment as approved by the company's shareholders on May 20, 2021.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Forward-looking statements made in this press release, such as statements regarding the company's 2022 Annual General Meeting and dividends, reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. For example, payment of scheduled dividends could be affected by extraordinary company events or capital constraints or similar factors that could require the company to adjust, delay or withhold dividend payments. Additional information regarding factors that could cause differences from these forward-looking statements appears in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made.

SOURCE Chubb Limited
Judge Napolitano is a radio and television commentator and syndicated columnist, whose written work appears in numerous publications. He was the senior judicial analyst at Fox News from 1997 to 2021 and served as a New Jersey Superior Court judge from 1987 to 1995. He was a visiting professor of law at Delaware, Seton Hall, and Brooklyn law schools. Napolitano has written nine books on the U.S. Constitution, two of which were NY Times best sellers.

Two older New Jersey lawsuits against the Judge were dismissed last month.

About NewsBlaze

NewsBlaze was founded in 2004 as an independent online newspaper and information portal, forming relationships with other publishers and wire services. NewsBlaze covers broad topics of interest to readers worldwide, which helps build a loyal, global following of readers, especially in Australia, North America and Europe.

In addition, as the lead Syndicate Partner of the World City Press Network, NewsBlaze provides news, editing and content services, including news features, with the publishers that make up the World City Press Network. Visit https://NewsBlaze.com to learn more.

Media contact: Alan Gray, [email protected], +61 8 8531 0254

SOURCE NewsBlaze
LONDON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ConserV Bioscience Limited ("ConserV"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing vaccines that protect against endemic and emergent infectious diseases, has been awarded UK Aid funding to advance development of its pan-coronavirus vaccine candidate, UNICOR-v.

The project was selected by the UK Vaccine Network (UKVN) for the award under the competition "Vaccines for epidemic diseases: Readiness for clinical development and regulatory submission." This is one of twenty-two projects funded by the Department of Health and Social Care as part of the UKVN, a UK Aid programme to develop vaccines for diseases with epidemic potential in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

ConserV specialises in identifying broadly protective antigens for highly mutable viruses. The grant will fund preclinical development of an intra-dermal formulation of UNICOR-v, which consists of twelve antigens from conserved regions of internal viral proteins that include clusters of reactive T-cell epitopes for multiple human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). The project will compare four different formulations of UNICOR-v, delivering antigens as synthetic peptides or encoded in mRNA. Preclinical immunogenicity and efficacy of the candidate vaccines will be evaluated, providing necessary evidence to enter clinical trials.

UNICOR-v aims to protect against all coronaviruses including those from alpha, beta, delta, and gamma genera. The betacoronavirus genus includes SARS-Cov-1, responsible for the SARS outbreak in 2003, MERS, responsible for the outbreak in 2012-13 and SARS-Cov-2, responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, all of which originated from viruses jumping from animal hosts to humans. Alphacoronaviruses include strains responsible for the common cold in humans amongst other viruses that infect other mammals. Gammacoronaviruses are mainly found in birds, whereas deltacoronavirus infect mammals and birds. UNICOR-v has the potential to protect against future epidemics caused by a coronavirus jumping from animals to humans, but also against new variants emerging from SARS-Cov-2, avoiding the need for frequent booster vaccinations in response to variants that escape vaccine-induced antibody responses.

Scientists predict that the frequency and severity of epidemics are increasing, driven by human activities and their impact on the environment. Designing a vaccine as an emergency response to an emergent virus takes time during which millions of lives are at risk and considerable economic damage can be done, as demonstrated in the Covid-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic vaccines are necessary to protect against viruses which have not yet emerged in humans.

Kimbell Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of ConserV Bioscience, commented: "Our mission is to develop safe and effective vaccines which offer broad protection against infections from viruses that mutate frequently. We are grateful to the UKVN and Innovate UK for being selected for this award which will help us advance UNICOR-v into clinical trials."

Dr. Olga Pleguezuelos, Chief Science Officer of ConserV, commented: "We are very excited to advance the development of UNICOR-v with UKVN and Innovate UK's support. ConserV Bioscience is committed to creating a vaccine that provides readiness against future coronaviruses."

About ConserV Bioscience Limited

ConserV Bioscience Limited, based in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, is a clinical-stage vaccine development company focused on advancing safe and effective vaccines that protect against endemic and emergent infectious diseases. ConserV Bioscience has a pipeline of eight vaccines at various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development including vaccine candidates to protect against broad-spectrum influenza (Phase III), mosquito-borne diseases (Phase II), HIV, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, Chagas, and broad-spectrum coronavirus. www.conservbio.com

About the UK Vaccine Network:

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is the UK Government department which is responsible for helping people to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. This investment is part of the UK Vaccine Network (UKVN). UKVN was established to provide funding to support the development of promising vaccines and vaccine technologies that will help combat infectious diseases that have epidemic potential in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). UKVN is a 120m UK Aid investment, which means all projects funded must support research primarily and directly for the benefit of people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

SOURCE ConserV Bioscience
POTOMAC, Md., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Curbio, the leading pay-at-closing home improvement service for real estate agents and their clients, today announced the appointment of Darren Stewart as its Chief Technology Officer. Stewart joins Curbio with more than 25 years of experience in the tech and SaaS industries, most recently serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Transformania, a Maryland-based startup focused on data cleansing and enrichment.

Prior to his role at Transformania, Stewart was the CEO of social media monitoring and engagement platform Tracx, where he led strategy, operations and product development. Before Tracx, he was VP of Global Services at Vocus, a public relations and marketing software provider. At Vocus, Stewart served as the first product design executive, where he supported the organization's revenue growth from $4M to $180M and helped to facilitate the rapid expansion of the Global Services Team from 10 employees to over 500 employees worldwide.

"I am pleased to welcome Darren to Curbio's executive team. He has extensive experience leading the entire research and development product functions at multiple companies with great success. Investing in our technology is a top priority for Curbio as we look to continue modernizing home improvement to help agents and homeowners, and I believe that Darren is the perfect candidate to lead this effort," said Rick Rudman, CEO of Curbio.

In his new role at Curbio, Stewart will lead all product roadmap and development, helping to optimize Curbio's proprietary technology to continue transforming home improvement for real estate. Curbio's product provides insights which allow the company to achieve its mission of getting every listing market-ready and sold fast, with no payment due until closing. With the help of Curbio's technology, projects are completed 50% faster, spend 50% fewer days on the market and sell for an average list price that is 20% higher post-renovation.

"I couldn't be more excited to join the Curbio team, a world-class group of professionals who are dedicated to modernizing an industry that has previously lacked innovation," said Stewart. "Curbio already has a fantastic solution that makes pre-listing home improvements stress-free for real estate agents and their clients. I look forward to helping make the solution even better, so that we can serve more realtors and homeowners across the country."

About Curbio

Curbio is the nation's leading pay-at-closing home improvement solution for real estate agents and their clients. Founded in 2017, the company has set out to transform the process of getting homes move-in ready with its streamlined approach to home improvement. Powered by technology, Curbio has created a one-stop solution for pre-listing home improvements, handling the entire process from start to finish. Curbio is a completely turnkey solution, taking care of all sourcing, project management and communication, and acting as the licensed, insured general contractor on all projects. Curbio makes home improvement accessible and stress-free so that every real estate agent and contractor can grow their business, and every seller can unlock the value in their home. Trusted by thousands of realtors and more than 800 brokerages nationwide, Curbio gets every listing on the market faster and sold for top dollar.

SOURCE Curbio
DALLAS, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Esteemed trial lawyer and Bradley partner Dick Sayles is being honored as a member of D Magazine's first Best Lawyers in Dallas Hall of Fame list. The award is one the magazine is bestowing only on attorneys who have been named to its Best Lawyers in Dallas list a minimum of 15 times.

"When you're doing a client's work, you're of course concentrating on that and not really thinking about these kinds of honors," said Mr. Sayles. "But it is very gratifying to see the good work you do honored in this way. And it is nice to be included among the other fine lawyers named to this list."

Mr. Sayles has developed a national reputation for his work in the courtroom, bringing over 150 cases to verdict and earning more than a dozen multimillion-dollar jury verdicts along with high-profile defense wins. He has an active caseload in state and federal venues across the country, representing clients in a range of commercial litigation including securities, healthcare, product liability, patent infringement disputes and high-stakes commercial litigation.

Honored as the Dallas Bar Association's Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2018, Mr. Sayles has also been recognized by Benchmark Litigation and Best Lawyers in America. In addition, he is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the International Society of Barristers. Mr. Sayles was featured in Texas Lawbook's "Lions of the Texas Bar" and has been selected among the Texas Super Lawyers Top 10 lawyers in Texas multiple times. Mr. Sayles was previously named in the 2020 edition of the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, and most recently he was inducted into Lawdragon's Hall of Fame earlier this year.

About Bradley

Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm's nearly 600 lawyers represent clients worldwide in a wide range of professions, including financial services, healthcare, construction, technology, energy, insurance, and many others.

Media Contact:

Alyssa Woulfe

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
CAIRO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The accelerating pace of the economy in Egypt, which has exceeded the government's goal, is considered by economists as a successful outcome from the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and endeavor on restarting the economy.

In the first half of the fiscal year 2021-2022 (which lasted from July 2021 to December 2021), Egypt's Gross Domestic Production (GDP) increased 9 percent, the highest record since the beginning of 2000, compared to 1.3 percent in the same period the previous year, the government said in a statement last week.

The statement added that Egypt's economy will keep its momentum throughout the year, with an annual GDP growth rate between 6.2 to 6.5 percent.

The fiscal year in Egypt begins in July.

"It proved the success of measures taken by Egypt to deal with the repercussions of the COVID-19," said Waleed Gaballah, professor of financial and economic jurisdictions at Cairo University.

The Egyptian government has taken several decisions regulating social distancing, providing vaccines, and developing the health system, along with providing incentive packages to some impacted sectors, pumping large government investments, and expanding national projects in many fields.

Moreover, the rise in the Suez Canal revenues and remittances of Egyptian expats contributed to raising the growth average and supported Egypt's foreign currency reserve, Gaballah added.

In 2021, the Suez Canal hit record annual revenues in its history of 6.3 billion U.S. dollars, according to the chairman of the Canal Authority Osama Rabie.

Meanwhile, the remittances of Egyptians abroad during the first ten months of 2021 recorded nearly 26.4 billion dollars, with a 7.8 percent rise compared to the same period in 2020.

Creating job opportunities is the most important outcome of achieving a large growth rate, he added, noting that current unemployment rates hit 7.4 percent compared to 12 percent during the political turmoil.

Gaballah added that reaching 9 percent in the first half of 2022 is also driven by the tremendous momentum of successive structural reforms.

In 2021, the Egyptian government launched the "National Program for Structural Reforms," the second phase of the 2016 economic reform program, which aims to develop sectors of manufacturing, agriculture, communication and information technology.

Kareem Al-Omda, a professor of the economy with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, said the Egyptian economy was "greatly shrunk in 2020-2021 due to COVID-19."

"Restoring the economic activities in the current fiscal year helped in rising the economic growth," he said.

But the Egyptian economy has not fully recovered and needs several more years, Al-Omda said, adding that "nevertheless, Egypt was among the least countries that have been harmed by the pandemic." 
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, De La Calle announced their closure of a $7 million growth round in a joint venture with private equity firm, KarpReilly , HERE Studio , and DrinkPAK. KarpReilly's investment sets De La Calle up for significant growth in the canned tepache segment with the launch of four new flavors, expansion into new product lines, and solidifying a national retail footprint.

De La Calle launches four new flavors - Chamoy, Watermelon Jalapeno, Grapefruit Lime, and Cactus Prickly Pear.

De La Calle, founded by Rafael Martin Del Campo and Alex Matthews (founder of Here Studio), honors the centuries-old beverage that gained popularity on the streets of Mexico as a popular street vendor treat. Crafted by testing hundreds of recipes, De La Calle has a unique, ancestry-rich flavor that's packed with functional benefits like probiotics while being naturally low in sugar.

"We couldn't be happier to kick off 2022 with this support from KarpReilly to expand De La Calle's offerings and retail footprint," said De La Calle Co-founder and CEO, Alex Matthews. "Our first year in business was incredibly rewarding as we established a strong retail presence and a passionate customer base that went wild for our flavors. With KarpReilly by our side, we are in a strong position to continue this promising growth."

De La Calle is poised to solidify tepache as the new must-have functional beverage. Made with co-founder Rafael's family recipe, De La Calle delights every palate with its rich Latin history. The brand will use the funds to release new flavors - Watermelon Jalapeno, Cactus Prickly Pear, Grapefruit Lime, and Chamoy - add additional product lines and expand into five regions of Whole Foods including Southern California, Northern California, Rocky Mountain, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

"Our new flavors like Watermelon Jalapeno and Chamoy will help us reach even more tepache lovers as we enter 2022," said Rafael Martin del Campo, Co-founder and Chief of Fermentation at De La Calle. "Celebrating the rich Latin heritage of tepache is number one for us so we're glad to have a great partner to help us in this mission as we continue to grow as a brand through exciting product innovation and retail expansion."

De La Calle launched in 2021 with five signature flavors and quickly expanded into 2,000 retail doors. De La Calle won two BevNet Best of 2021 Awards, including Best New Product and Best Packaging, and earned The Dieline's Best of January 2021 accolade. Available in 34 states in supermarkets and specialty grocery, it's easier than ever to pick up a can today.

To learn more, visit delacalle.mx and follow along on Instagram at @delacalleco.

About De La Calle

DE LA CALLE's Tepache is a modern take on a delicious probiotic beverage that hails from the traditions of pre-Columbian Mexico. We make our Tepache from fresh, organic pineapples, then add other regionally sourced ingredients like turbinado sugar and tamarind. Our fermented fizzy drink has many health benefits and is certified organic, probiotic, good for the gut, less than 40 calories, low in sugar and rich in vitamins C & D. Find us online at DELACALLE.mx and on Instagram @Delacalleco #atasteofmexico

About KarpReilly

KarpReilly, LLC is a private investment firm, founded by Allan Karp and Chris Reilly, whose primary mission is to partner with premier small to midsize growth companies and help them achieve their long-term vision. KarpReilly currently manages funds and affiliates with capital commitments in excess of $800 million. Over the past 10 years, the principals of KarpReilly have invested in, sat on the boards of and nurtured over 60 growth companies. For more information, please visit www.karpreilly.com .

About HERE Studios

HERE is focused on creating emotive brand foundations, identities and digital platforms, for entire ecosystems. Working predominantly with health focused and sustainable brands, we are dissecting the why and the how for any brand hitting the market.

Founded in 2018, HERE Studio is a full-service creative agency with a unique point of view. We dive deep into the foundations of what makes a brand, a brand. We create timeless identities and product experiences digitally and offline. We create the intangible 'feeling' that brands (and customers) crave.

HERE doesn't stop there. We sit where the founder, CEO and CMO sits. We create and launch our own brands. This unique knowledge enables us to help innovators incubate new ideas, bringing them to market with total confidence.

About DrinkPAK

DRINKPAK is the premiere West Coast contract manufacturer of premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Set over 41 acres of prime real estate in Los Angeles County, DrinkPAK has 600,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehouse space.

As the most technologically advanced canned beverage facility in North America, DrinkPAK's 24/7 operation is capable of producing 2.1 billion cans annually.

DRINKPAK provides comprehensive operational services including procurement support, complex batching and processing, filling, packaging, and on-site storage and distribution.

Contact: Johanna Albertsson, Krupa Consulting

[email protected] / t.323-363-0519

SOURCE De La Calle
ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital consultancy Forum One is pleased to announce the appointment of award-winning communications strategist Debra Silimeo to its Board of Directors.

"I am thrilled to have Debra joining our Board with her insights and expertise in communications for education, health, and public policy organizations," said Chris Wolz, CEO and President of Forum One. "Most of all, we welcome Debra as someone who has devoted their career to improving people's lives and making the world a better place."

Silimeo founded the Silimeo Group after nearly two decades at Hager Sharp in executive roles, helping the socially-conscious communications firm expand its client roster and triple in revenue. In 2012, Silimeo helped establish collaboration between Forum One and Hager Sharp in support of "The Nation's Report Card," the US Department of Education's National Assessment of Educational Progress. This collaboration continues today.

"After years of seeing Forum One's work up close, I am thrilled to serve in this new role," said Silimeo. "Forum One is a unique organization, bringing cutting-edge digital solutions to organizations that want to help people live better, healthier, smarter lives. Its client service and its people are outstanding."

Previously, Silimeo spent more than a dozen years in government service, advising cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, and agency directors. An ardent advocate for global press freedom, Silimeo began her career in Washington DC as a journalist, anchoring and reporting at TV and radio outlets including WAMU, WTOP, and NBC-4.

Silimeo has been recognized by WWPR as PR Woman of the Year, by the Washington Business Journal as a "Woman Who Means Business," and inducted in the PR Hall of Fame of the Public Relations Society of America's National Capital Chapter as well as the PR News Hall of Fame. She co-chairs the Girl Scouts' Women's Advisory Board and serves on the Board of Governors of the National Press Club.

"A leader of Debra's caliber will help shape the next chapter of Forum One," said Wolz. "As we mark more than 25 years in business, her energy and experience will expand our service to organizations making a positive impact in the world."

About Forum One

Forum One amplifies the impact of mission-driven organizations through transformational digital solutions. The digital consultancy works with nonprofits, associations, foundations, think tanks, cultural institutions, and government agencies all over the world to understand their challenges and implement forward-looking, effective solutions that have an impact.

SOURCE Forum One
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Eat & Beyond Global Holdings Inc. (formerly Eat Beyond Global Holdings) (CSE: EATS) (OTCQB: EATBF) (FSE: 988) ("Eat & Beyond" or the "Company"), an investment issuer focused on the global plant-based and alternative protein sector, is announcing that the Company has rebranded to better reflect its refined investment mandate, and also uplisted to the OTCQB under the ticker "EATBF." In addition to this listing, the Company's common shares will also remain listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange in Canada under the ticker symbol "EATS," and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "988."

"The team has made tremendous progress since launching the Company in 2020, and has built a diverse and impressive portfolio, this progress is reflected in many areas, including this uplisting to the OTCQB market," said Eat & Beyond CEO, Michael Aucoin. "However, our portfolio has expanded far beyond food to also include innovative food technology and key intellectual property that could help to truly define the future of the entire industry."

OTC Markets Group Inc., located in New York, N.Y., operates the world's largest electronic inter-dealer quotation system for broker dealers to trade over 10,000 securities. The OTCQB is a transparent trading platform that offers a cost-effective method for United States investors to access Eat & Beyond's shares.

Eat & Beyond's portfolio spans plant-based protein, dairy alternatives, foodservice, supplements, sustainable packaging, adaptogenic drinks, cultured meat and milk, and cellular agriculture technology.

"We have seen unprecedented consumer demand for alternatives to traditional factory farming and other unsustainable practices in the food industry. These outdated practices have been shown to have a detrimental impact on the health of the population and health of the planet," added Aucoin. "This builds on the growing phenomenon of swapping beef burgers for plant-based burgers at the weekend barbeque - we are at the precipice of a true revolution in the food industry that will reshape not only what we eat today, but the way we live tomorrow."

Eat & Beyond provides retail investors with the unique opportunity to participate in the growth of a broad cross-section of companies that are leading the charge toward a smarter, more secure food supply.

Subscribe to updates about Eat & Beyond Global here: https://eatandbeyond.com/contact/

About Eat & Beyond Global Holdings

Eat & Beyond Global Holdings Inc. ("Eat & Beyond") ( CSE: EATS ) ( OTCPK: EATBF ) ( FSE: 988 ) is an investment issuer that makes it easy to invest in the future of food. Eat & Beyond identifies and makes equity investments in global companies that are developing and commercializing innovative food tech as well as plant-based and alternative food products. Led by a team of food industry experts, Eat & Beyond is the first issuer of its kind in Canada, providing retail investors with the unique opportunity to participate in the growth of a broad cross-section of opportunities in the alternative food sector, and access companies that are leading the charge toward a smarter, more secure food supply. Learn more: https://eatandbeyond.com/

Find Eat & Beyond on Social Media on LinkedIn , Instagram , Twitter and Facebook

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Factors that could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Prospectus, and the schedules attached thereto, that are available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Eat Beyond Global Holdings Inc.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 23, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by the Plaintiffs  the Texas Medical Association and Dr. Adam Corley  regarding their lawsuit challenging the federal government's interim final rule implementing the independent dispute resolution process for reimbursement disputes between physicians and insurers.

The Memorandum Opinion and Order states "the Court concludes that the Rule conflicts with the Act and must be set aside under the Administrative Procedure Act ("APA").  In sum, the Court holds that (1) Plaintiffs have standing to challenge Defendents' September 2021 interim final rule implementing the No Surprises Act, (2) the Rule conflicts with the unambiguous terms of the Act, (3) the Departments improperly bypassed notice and comment in implementing the challenged portions of the Rule, and (4) vacatur and remand is the proper remedy."

The Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA), an organization representing the practice of Emergency Medicine, filed an amicus brief , along with Texas ACEP and Virginia ACEP, in support of the Texas Medical Association's and Dr. Adam Corley's Motion for Summary Judgment. Throughout the legislative process, stakeholders agreed that patients should be removed from billing disputes and held only to their in-network cost-sharing amounts. EDPMA strongly supports the patient protections. The Motion for Summary Judgment does not challenge these protections. The focus of the Motion and the court's order is the process for resolving reimbursement disputes between insurance plans and physicians. Early legislative proposals that relied on a benchmark set at the plan's typical in-network rate were rejected in favor of a compromise that considered evidence submitted by both the plans and the physicians . The statute clearly provides that the arbiter "shall consider" eight factors before deciding appropriate payment. The interim final rule would have inappropriately prohibited the arbiter from considering seven of those required factors except in special circumstances.

"EDPMA is thrilled that the Court has agrees that the problematic rule must be vacated and remanded. Congress was clear when it passed the landmark No Surprises Act last year: protect patients from unavoidable and unexpected costs without jeopardizing patient access to care," said Don Powell, D.O., Board Chair of EDPMA. "The Rule would have allowed insurers to manipulate payment standards with little or no transparency on the health plan's calculation of 'median in-network' rates. This would have harmed not just commercially insured patients, but the rural, medically vulnerable and indigent populations who rely on our nation's emergency departments as an important safety net.

"With the COVID-19 pandemic, and the latest wave of new variants, emergency department safety net resources have been stretched to the breaking point. We see the Rule would have led to dire effects on the overall viability of our emergency medical care system. We urged the Administration to amend the Rule to be consistent with the language of the statute and Congressional intent  and now the Court has forced them to do so."

SOURCE Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA)
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on " Electric DC Motors Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type (Brushed DC Motors and Brushless DC Motors), Speed (Low, Medium, and High), and Application (Industrial Machinery, Automotive and Transportation, HVAC Equipment, Aerospace & Defense, Household Appliances, and Others)". The electric DC motors market growth is driven by the adoption of brushless dc motors in electric vehicle manufacturing.

Get Exclusive Sample Pages of this research study at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00014525/

Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in US$ 12,968.5 Million in 2021 Market Size Value by US$ 23,639.4 Million by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 9.0% from 2021 to 2028 Forecast Period 2021-2028 Base Year 2021 No. of Pages 171 No. Tables 83 No. of Charts & Figures 85 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Type, and Application Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Electric DC Motors Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

Johnson Electric Holdings Limited, Nidec Corporation, Siemens AG, AMETEK Inc., and ABB Ltd are among the key players profiled in the electric DC motors market study. Several market players were analyzed to acquire a holistic view of the global electric DC motors market and its ecosystem.

In 2022, Maxon Motors launched a new ventilated brushless DC motor with power level improvement.

In 2021, Johnson Electric launched LVDC motors for smart furniture. It is designed for actuators used in smart furniture products, such as smart recliners, hospital beds, and height adjustable desks.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPRE00014525/

An electric DC motor converts direct electrical energy into mechanical energy. Its speed can change over a broad range, by providing a variable supply voltage or by fluctuating the current strength in its field windings. A small DC electric motor is widely used for small tools, appliances, and toys. The electric DC motor is used across various domains, such as industrial machinery, automotive, aerospace, transportation, HVAC equipment, and household appliances. Under industrial machinery, the motors find significant use in floor-cleaning equipment, industrial cleaning machines, scrubbers, and sweeping machines. These cleaning machines are also widely required at railways, bus stops, and national and international airports. New airports are being constructed in various countries of the world. For instance, Berlin-Brandenburg (Berlin's long-awaited airport) became finally operational on October 31, 2020. The construction and expansion of new airports drive the need for electric DC motors used in cleaning machines.

Manufacturing units across North America were temporarily closed to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. However, industrial manufacturing is one of the essential services that were partially operating with a disrupted raw material supply. The manufacturing sector experienced notable losses due to temporary factory shutdowns and low production volumes, which hindered the growth of the automotive, consumer electronics, and HAVC system production across the region. Due to temporary manufacturing plant closure, the market for electric DC motors was adversely affected from the supply side in the US. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had weakened the North America electric DC motors market. However, during the Q3 of 2020, with the normalization of economic activities across the region, the supply chain resumed its operations.

Rising Penetration of Industrial Automation to Fuel Electric DC Motors Market Growth during Forecast Period:

The global industrial production landscape has changed dramatically since Industry 4.0. The evolution of technical infrastructures is fueled by data digitization, machine automation, and asset connection in industrial facilities. Industrial automation enables accuracy and productivity beyond human capabilities, especially in high-risk situations. New versions of robotics are simple to use and program, with features such as speech and image recognition to replicate sophisticated human activities.

Buy Premium Copy of this research report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00014525/

Several industry verticals use industrial automation components. Industries alter their business processes to compete in the fast-paced commercial environment. These factors are projected to contribute to the electric DC motors market growth during the forecast period. A prominent trend in the industry is the adoption of improved and energy-efficient electric DC motors. The rising demand for energy-efficient electric DC motors in industrial machinery used across mining, manufacturing, power generation, and utility sectors bolsters the growth of the electric DC motors market globally.

Electric DC Motors Market: Type Overview

Based on type, the electric DC motors market is bifurcated into brushed DC motors and brushless DC motors. The brushless DC motors segment led the market in 2020. Advantages such as high power-to-weight ratio, high efficiency, nearly instantaneous control of speed (rpm), high torque and speed, and lower maintenance than the conventional brushed DC motors have propelled the adoption of brushless DC motors. As a result, the use of brushless DC motors has increased in computer peripherals (disk drives and printers), consumer electronics, hand-held power tools, vehicles ranging from model aircraft to automobiles, and healthcare devices.

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

Contact Us:

If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us:

Contact Person: Sameer Joshi

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +1-646-491-9876

Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/electric-dc-motors-market

SOURCE The Insight Partners
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) today announced it will participate in the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference, which is being held in Miami, Florida, on March 15-17, 2022.

Encompass Health's Chief Financial Officer Doug Coltharp will present on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, from 8:30-8:55 a.m. CT.

The presentation will be webcast live and available at http://investor.encompasshealth.com .

About Encompass Health

As a national leader in integrated healthcare services, Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) offers both facilitybased and homebased patient care through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies and hospice agencies. With a national footprint that includes 146 hospitals, 251 home health locations, and 96 hospice locations in 42 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides highquality, cost-effective integrated healthcare. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com , or follow us on our newsroom , Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .

Media Contact:

Erin Wendel-Ritter | 205.970.5912

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

Mark Miller | 205.970.5860

[email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Good corporate governance (GCG) can help state-owned enterprises (SOEs) increase their value, investor confidence, develop their businesses, and manage risks.

Therefore, SOEs must implement GCG to fulfill their responsibility to the country, their shareholders, and the public, according to analysts.

GCG involves regulating, managing, and supervising a sustainable business control process to increase share value, as a form of accountability to shareholders without ignoring the interests of stakeholders, including employees, creditors, and the community.

In Indonesia, the implementation of GCG has been mandated at all SOEs under Erick Thohir's leadership as the Minister of SOEs .

According to Thohir, all SOEs must apply the five GCG principles outlined in the SOEs Minister's Regulation Number PER-09/MBU/2012 concerning Amendments to the SOEs Minister Regulation Number PER-01/MBU/2011 concerning the Implementation of Good Corporate Governance in SOEs.

The first GCG principle involves transparency in decision-making and disclosing material and relevant information regarding the company.

The second principle is accountability in terms of clarity of function to ensure the management in the company is working effectively.

The third principle pertains to the responsibility of the company's management to obey applied law and regulations.

The fourth is independence in managing the company in a professional way without conflict of interest and pressure from certain parties.

The last is fairness or justice and equality in fulfilling the rights of stakeholders' interests that arise based on agreements, laws, and regulations.

Under Thohir's leadership, several SOEs have implemented GCG.

To comply with GCG principles, state-owned energy company PT Pertamina has increased the involvement of legal institutions in its business processes and company projects.

According to Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati, during 20202021, the company carried out strategic cooperation with several law enforcement agencies, including the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the Government's Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP), the Indonesian Attorney General's Office, and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Pertamina and PPATK established cooperation in data exchange for investigations for preventing and eradicating money laundering or other criminal acts in the company, she said.

Pertamina will also continue to collaborate with BPKP for company audits, she added.

Meanwhile, the company's cooperation with the National Police involves supervising and assisting procurements for strategic projects, such as the construction, development, and operation of oil refineries and petrochemicals.

State-owned port operator PT Pelindo I has also implemented GCG through mutual cooperation with KPK for the handling of complaints of criminal acts, such as corruption.

Pelindo I President Director Dani Rusli Utama said that this mutual cooperation is in line with the principle of GCG applied by Pelindo I in its work activities.

Pelindo I's anti-corruption commitment has also been integrated with 26 other SOEs through the Whistleblowing System, he informed.

The Whistleblowing System is an application for reporting violations of the code of ethics, regulations, and legal provisions, he said. The application does not reveal the identity of the whistleblower and aids fair reporting of corruption, he said.

The collaboration with KPK is a form of the ministry's support for SOEs as partners in preventing corruption, Thohir said.

"We are committed to continued transformation, transparency, and professionalism in the Ministry of SOEs as well as our SOEs. One of our breakthroughs in transparency is opening all SOEs' financial reports to President Joko Widodo and the Finance Minister," he added.

During Thohir's term, the SOEs Ministry has also made other major breakthroughs in bureaucratic reform by making bold moves. To simplify bureaucracy, Thohir has reduced the number of deputies from seven to three (focusing on legal, human resources, and finance), and appointed two deputy ministers for SOEs who handle the portfolios of 142 SOEs.

Evaluating SOE subsidiaries, he has contended that they can reduce the profits of the main company, which may be already large.

He further said he will issue a ministerial regulation regarding the establishment of SOE subsidiaries.

Eventually, the business model of each SOE will be improved, he informed. SOEs must go back to their business core to avoid similar businesses overlapping each other, he explained.

Thohir said he will also encourage SOEs' expansion in foreign markets to boost revenue.

Furthermore, troubled companies will not be liquidated, according to the previous policy, but will be merged instead, the minister added.

He pointed out how his ministry successfully engineered the merger of state-owned Islamic banks into a single entity called Bank Syariah Indonesia, or BSI.

BSI was formed through the merger of three Sharia banks owned by the State-Owned Banks Association (Himbara): Mandiri Sharia, BRI Sharia, and BNI Sharia. With the formation of BSI, for the first time, Indonesia finally has a large Islamic bank, with assets totaling around Rp 247 trillion, Thohir said.

BSI has also received official permission from the United Arab Emirates to open a branch in one of its Islamic finance centers, Dubai, he highlighted. The recognition has brought BSI a step closer to achieving its goal of becoming a key player in the global Islamic banking industry, he remarked.

The minister said his ministry also successfully merged four state-owned port operators Pelindo I, Pelindo II, Pelindo III, and Pelindo IV into one company, with each operating ports in different areas.

The Pelindo merger, which had been attempted for two decades, was successfully realized in October 2021, he noted. He said the merger aimed to reduce logistics costs in Indonesia, which were still higher than in neighboring Asian countries.

With this merger, Pelindo has emerged as the eighth-largest container terminal operator in the world, with a total of 16.7 million TEUs, and become one of the main players in the ports sector, with assets totaling Rp 112 trillion, Thohir said.

This merger also aims to boost connectivity and efficiency to lower national logistics costs in an effort to further drive the competitiveness of Indonesia's industry sector, he said.

Social expert Budi Muliawan said all of these transformations at SOEs were realized through strategic plans and the well-organized vision of leaders.

Leaders must be able to internalize GCG in modern corporate principles, he said. In leading SOEs, leaders should also have a sense of crisis and a senseof belonging, he added.

SOURCE Ministry of State-Owned Enterprise
Copper Sulfate Procurement report explains key category management objectives that should form the base for sourcing strategy, including:

Top-line growth

Scalability of inputs

Green initiatives

Category innovations

Supply base rationalization

Demand forecasting and governance

Minimalization of ad hoc purchases

Adherence to regulatory nuances

Cost savings

Customer retention

Reduction of TCO

Supply assurance

Sign Up for a Sample Copper Sulfate Procurement Market Report: www.spendedge.com/report/copper-sulfate-market-procurement-research-report

This report evaluates suppliers based on provision for applicable insurance policy, real-time analysis, pipeline software solutions, and conduct pipeline surveys. In addition, suppliers are also shortlisted based on business needs, technical specifications, operational requirements, security compliance, regulatory mandates, legal requirements, quality control, change management procedures, pricing models, penalty clauses, SLA nuances, acceptance criteria, and evaluation criteria.

Best Selling Reports:

1. Asset Recovery Services - Forecast and Analysis: The asset recovery services will grow at a CAGR of 9.49% during 2021-2025. Asia Asset Recovery Pte Ltd., TES-Amm Singapore Pte Ltd., and Iron Mountain Inc. are among the prominent suppliers in asset recovery services market. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report.

2. Vulnerability Management Sourcing and Procurement Report: Vulnerability Management Procurement Market, prices will increase by 4%-6% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a Moderate bargaining power in this market. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report.

3. Celebrity Talent Management Services - Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: This report offers key advisory and intelligence to help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers for their celebrity talent management services requirements. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report.

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contact

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today announced the winners of its highest award in safety, the 2022 TOP SAFETY PICK+. Every tested Mazda vehicle made the list for the third consecutive year. These vehicles include the Mazda3 Sedan, Mazda3 Hatchback, CX-30, CX-5, and CX-9.

To qualify for the 2022 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, Mazda vehicles earned good ratings in each of the Institute's six crashworthiness evaluations: moderate overlap front, driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. Mazda vehicles also earned advanced or superior ratings for front crash prevention in both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations and good or acceptable headlight ratings.

"Achieving the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK + Award is a reflection of Mazda's commitment to providing advanced safety technologies that our owners expect," said Mazda North American Operations President and CEO Jeff Guyton. "Our wide range of safety technologies are designed to support, not replace the driver, which results in a more confident and enjoyable driving experience."

Mazda's CX-5 was the first vehicle to earn a Good rating in IIHS's new, tougher side impact test, which will be added to the award criteria in 2023. Mazda was proud to add that top achievement to our list of accolades from IIHS and commends the Institute for continuously raising the bar in safety.

To learn more about advanced safety at Mazda, please visit the MazdaUSA.com website - https://www.mazdausa.com/why-mazda/safety.

The IIHS is an independent, non-governmental safety-testing organization, funded by the insurance industry. For more information, visit https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, and Mexico through approximately 780 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at News.MazdaUSA.com.

Follow MNAO's social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
SAN RAMON, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Experience.com , a disruptive provider of experience solutions, introduces EX by Experience.com, an innovative open platform that helps organizations hire and retain elite talent by powering people to do their best work. EX by Experience.com helps companies create and implement an intentional culture that empowers employees to perform across every level of an organization for greater ROI.

EX by Experience.com humanizes everyday excellence by collecting real-time data at each of the eight steps of an employee journey, from attraction and recruiting to exit. By doing so, EX by Experience.com:

EX by Experience.com empowers employees to perform across every level of an organization for greater ROI. Tweet this

Empowers employees to easily share and excel through real-time continuous feedback

Enables leadership to prioritize action by surfacing insights across specific touchpoints

Elevates culture and ROI by improving experiences, engagement, and retention

"With remote work the new norm, the Great Resignation, and intense competition, it is critical for organizations to effectively attract, engage and retain employees. For these reasons, the employee experience must be a focus for companies," said Dr. Jessica Kriegel, Chief People and Culture Officer, Experience.com. "EX by Experience.com allows companies to establish an intentional culture that results in long-term employee retention, higher levels of productivity, and improved quality of work."

Establishing an Employee Voice

EX by Experience.com gives employees a voice that is heard by HR management so correct action is taken to improve retention and development. The platform goes beyond traditional pulse/annual surveys to truly elevate employees, humanizing and personalizing automated communication, so no candidate or employee is left behind.

Real-time employee opinions are gathered via a best-in-class campaign blueprint that identifies the most critical touch points on the employee/employer journey. The open platform of EX by Experience.com allows for simple development of custom employee automated workflows that power companies to launch journey-based campaigns for current and prospective employees.

Prioritize Action for HR Leadership

HR managers can launch preset feedback campaigns at each step of an employee journey with EX by Experience.com. The platform seamlessly incorporates into human resources information system (HRIS) and its applicant tracking integrations deliver a unique level of personalization, empowering current and prospective employees to easily share real-time continuous feedback at the moments that matter.

Corporate management receives immediate feedback on onboarding, training, career development, and culture  all segmented by employee data. Real-time reporting and escalations send information to appropriate leaders to institute relevant initiatives. HR leadership can launch proactive initiatives based on employee experience insights to improve engagement, productivity, and satisfaction to decrease turnover and absenteeism.

About Experience.com

We believe that experience is everything. Amazing experiences create customers for life, and poor ones destroy brands and businesses. That's why Experience.com has built the most impactful Experience Management Platform available anywhere, with features to drive operational and behavioral change, in real-time, during the moments that matter. Experience.com delivers impactful business outcomes including increased customer satisfaction, brand loyalty, online reputation, and visibility, as well as improved employee engagement, and compliance - making every experience matter more. Founded in 2015 as SocialSurvey, Experience.com is headquartered in San Ramon, Calif. and backed by SavantGrowth, Silicon Valley Data Capital, Tri-Valley Ventures, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

For more information, visit www.experience.com or call 888.701.4512.

Experience.com Contact:

Dr. Jessica Kriegel

Chief People & Culture Officer

415.244.2617

[email protected]

Agency Contact:

Amy Stern

3E PR

973.202.8332

[email protected]

SOURCE Experience.com
LONDON, Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EY today announces an alliance between The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), an Atlanta-based nongovernmental, not-for-profit social justice organization, and Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). Through the new collaboration, EY teams will support The King Center's ambition to drive global citizens and organizations towards shaping a more just, humane, equitable and peaceful world. The Alliance has been established within EY US with further global expansion planned in the future.

The EY-The King Center Alliance will help enable digitization of The King Center learning resources and make it easier to access Dr. King's nonviolence principles and methodologies on a larger scale.

One of The King Center's most visible initiatives has been the codification of Dr. King's teachings and approach to nonviolence as a way of life into a comprehensive, immersive, self-paced online learning program called Nonviolence365. Over the years, numerous leaders and enterprises, across every industry and segment, have taken the Nonviolence365 training in order to create a more equitable, empathetic, inclusive and communicative organization. In 2020, EY organization teamed with The King Center to convert the existing classroom-focused brick-and-mortar Nonviolence365 content into a digital offering  Nonviolence365 Online.

EY teams have built a leading set of capabilities to help organizations make the cultural, organizational and process changes necessary to yield a more diverse, inclusive and empathetic workplace. EY teams' research and knowledge of Nonviolence365, coupled with the experience in driving institutional changes in complex environments, places it in a unique position to serve as a leading services provider to organizations wishing to integrate Nonviolence365 into their DEI strategy, plans and initiatives.

Jackie P. Taylor, EY Global The King Center Alliance Leader, says:

"The EY organization has a long-standing commitment to cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture and to helping organizations do the same. The alliance with The King Center will enhance EY teams' ability to support clients who are looking to build on their existing DEI capabilities. The Nonviolence365 Online curriculum will help clients and their people cultivate inclusive environments and learn conflict resolution skills."

Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, says:

"Creating Nonviolence365 Online has been a two-year team effort  an idea championed by Chance Patterson and made a reality by the generous EY support and digital learning experience  the global consulting and accounting organization. Brian S. Knudson, Jackie P. Taylor, Kasey Waas and their EY colleagues literally spent thousands of hours with our Nonviolence365 trainers and contributors to create this unprecedented 15-hour immersive self-paced digital experience. Their patience, attention to detail, passion and deep belief in nonviolence as a way of life has resulted in an unprecedented opportunity for individuals around the world to develop powerful and practical love-centered approaches to deal with conflict and dismantle injustice."

To learn more about Nonviolence365 Online, please visit thekingcenterinstitute.org.

For more information about EY, visit ey.com/alliances.

Notes to Editors

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

About The King Center

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King. The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change "The King Center" is the official living memorial and programmatic nonprofit organization committed to educating the world on the life, legacy and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The King Center serves to inspire new generations to carry forward his unfinished work, strengthen causes and empower change-makers who are continuing his efforts today. The King Center's premiere educational initiative, Nonviolence365, is based on Dr. King's nonviolent philosophy and engages participants from various sectors of society, including emerging and next generation leaders, in modules and exercises that enhance communication, leadership, interpersonal and conflict reconciliation skills. Learn more at https://thekingcenter.org/

Eric Minuskin

EY Global Media Relations

+1 908 770 9758

[email protected]

SOURCE EY
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Metrics, the investor relations platform for the private capital markets formerly known as Quaestor, today announced $23.7 million in Series A financing.

The round was led by 8VC along with a number of Standard Metrics' venture capital customers and industry supporters, including Alpha Edison, January Capital, First Trust Capital Partners, Fin VC, Spark Capital, Slack Fund, Socii Capital, Not Boring Capital, and Gaingels, among other institutions and leading angels.

Standard Metrics' automated portfolio monitoring solution enables dozens of global VC firms, hedge funds, family offices, and corporate venture capital groups to centralize and utilize critical data on their portfolio companies and investments. Standard Metrics also helps over a thousand private companies to manage their key metrics and relationships with their investors.

"It's an honor to have our customers come together and invest in our Series A round," said John Melas-Kyriazi, CEO and Co-founder of Standard Metrics. "We are working hard to accelerate the digital transformation of the private markets, and we are fortunate to partner with and support some of the world's most forward-thinking investors on this journey"

With this new round of financing, Standard Metrics will continue to develop its software platform and scale its network of investors and private companies, both domestically and internationally.

"It's been our pleasure to work with the team at Standard Metrics from day one, and we look forward to continuing our partnership as both a Series A investor and as a customer," said Alex Moore, Partner at 8VC and Standard Metrics board member. "Standard Metrics is at the forefront of an enormous opportunity to digitize workflows and data in the private markets."

With its headquarters in San Francisco as well as fully-distributed employees throughout the world, Standard Metrics is actively hiring in product, engineering, sales, customer success, and operations.

About Standard Metrics

Standard Metrics, formerly known as Quaestor, is a global investor relations platform for the private capital markets. A San Francisco-based company with distributed employees all over the world, Standard Metrics has raised $29.5 million to date from investors including 8VC, Alpha Edison, January Capital, First Trust Capital Partners, Fin VC, Spark Capital, Slack Fund, Socii Capital, Not Boring Capital, and Gaingels. For more information about Standard Metrics, visit standardmetrics.io.

About 8VC

8VC is a leading technology investment firm, investing in visionary teams and backing industry-transforming companies. The partners have a proven track -record as founders, engineers, and operators of successful companies including Palantir, Addepar, Affinity and OpenGov, amongst others. 8VC was founded in 2012 and manages $3.6 billion in committed capital. The firm invests primarily in smart enterprise platforms across industries including financial services, healthcare, logistics, Bio-IT, and others. For more information, please visit http://8VC.com

SOURCE Standard Metrics
CALGARY, AB, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Enverus Intelligence Research, a part of Enverus, the leading global energy data analytics and SaaS technology company, has released a new report that examines the impacts Russia's invasion of Ukraine will have on oil prices, the effectiveness of Western sanctions and potential political fallout.

"While we see energy sanctions as a big leap for Russia-dependent euro economies, Brent prices exceeding $100/bbl imply the loss of ~1.5 MMbbl/d, which is tighter relative to our base model," said Ian Nieboer, report author and managing director of Enverus' Global (International) Energy Analytics business. "This amounts to about 20% of Russian crude and refined product exports. Whether that is accurate will depend upon the coordination of Western sanctions, battlefield developments and whether President Vladimir Putin decides to wield the energy weapon himself."

"Benchmark oil prices have incorporated a meaningful geopolitical risk premium  perhaps $10-$15  so far this year. The combination of slow-to-arrive, but still expected, U.S. supply growth, shrinking OPEC spare capacity, and strong demand amid increasing geopolitical tensions focused on  but not exclusive to  Russia and Ukraine have driven prompt Brent toward $100. The arrival of hot conflict last night is pushing crude prices past that mark," Nieboer said.

Key takeaways from the report:

Brent prices exceeding $100 /bbl imply the loss of ~1.5 MMbbl/d tighter relative to our base model. This amounts to ~20% of Russian crude and refined product exports.

/bbl imply the loss of ~1.5 MMbbl/d tighter relative to our base model. This amounts to ~20% of Russian crude and refined product exports. The combination of slow-to-arrive (but still expected) U.S. supply growth, shrinking OPEC spare capacity and strong demand amid increasing geopolitical tensions focused on (but not exclusive to) Russia and Ukraine have driven prompt Brent toward $100 /bbl.

Members of the media should contact Jon Haubert to schedule an interview with one of Enverus Intelligence Research's expert analysts.

About Enverus

Enverus is the leading energy SaaS company delivering highly-technical insights and predictive/prescriptive analytics that empower customers to make decisions that increase profit. Enverus' innovative technologies drive production and investment strategies, enable best practices for energy and commodity trading and risk management, and reduce costs through automated processes across critical business functions. Enverus is a strategic partner to more than 6,000 customers in 50 countries. Learn more at Enverus.com.

About Enverus Intelligence Research

Enverus Intelligence Research, Inc. is a subsidiary of Enverus and publishes energy-sector research that focuses on the oil and natural gas industries and broader energy topics including publicly traded and privately held oil, gas, midstream and other energy industry companies, basin studies (including characteristics, activity, infrastructure, etc.), commodity pricing forecasts, global macroeconomics and geopolitical matters. Enverus Intelligence Research, Inc. is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser.

SOURCE Enverus
AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) utility personnel are prepared to respond to possible service interruptions caused by a winter storm that is expected to bring ice, snow, rain and wind to its service territory Thursday evening through Friday morning.

Company meteorologists have been tracking the winter storm for several days and expect ice accumulation in central Ohio, central Pennsylvania, northern Maryland and northern New Jersey. In addition, parts of southwest Pennsylvania and western West Virginia may experience heavy rain that could cause localized flooding. Gusty winds are also expected in parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey on Friday.

FirstEnergy's electric utilities are implementing storm response plans, which include staffing additional operators, damage assessors and analysts at distribution control centers, and arranging to bring in additional line, substation and forestry personnel. The company has also notified contractors who work throughout FirstEnergy's footprint on projects to enhance service reliability for customers to be on deck to assist with restoration efforts.

To help speed the restoration process should the storm cause power outages, FirstEnergy has secured approximately 500 additional outside contractor line workers to assist with storm restoration efforts in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The company will coordinate with contractors and electric industry mutual assistance organizations to obtain additional resources, based on the magnitude of the storm.

FirstEnergy representatives have also been in contact with emergency management officials, state officials, regulators and local officials about the company's storm preparation efforts.

How to Report Power Outages and Downed Lines

Customers who experience a service interruption due to the storm are encouraged to report their outage by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), texting OUT to LIGHTS (544487) or clicking the "Report Outage" link on www.firstenergycorp.com.

FirstEnergy customers can sign up to receive email and text message alert notifications for updates after they've reported a power outage. Customers can also use two-way text messaging to report outages, request updates on restoration efforts and make other inquiries about their electric accounts. More information about these communications tools is available at www.firstenergycorp.com/connect.

Ice accumulation can bring down power lines and tree branches. Customers should assume all downed or low-hanging power lines are energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away and use extra caution where downed lines are tangled in trees or other debris, and do not touch anything that is also in contact with a power line. Report downed lines ASAP by calling 911.

For updated information on the company's current outages, the company's storm restoration process and tips for staying safe, visit FirstEnergy's 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.

Customers Encouraged to Prepare in Advance of the Storm

FirstEnergy encourages customers to plan for the possibility of power outages and cold temperatures due to the impending winter storm by following these tips:

Keep electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops and tablets fully charged.

Have a car charger on-hand to charge mobile devices if your power is out. If you have a smart phone, this will ensure you have access to online information sources.

Keep a flashlight, portable radio and extra batteries handy in the event of a power outage. Tune to a local station for current storm information.

Gather extra blankets or a sleeping bag for each person.

Do not use gas stoves, kerosene heaters or other open-flame heat sources to prevent deadly carbon monoxide gas from building up in your home.

If you have a water well and pump, keep an emergency supply of bottled water and/or fill your bathtub with fresh water.

Stock an emergency supply of convenience foods that do not require cooking.

Consider having a hard-wired phone available to report an outage or emergency. A plain, hard-wired phone can operate on power delivered through the phone line.

Operate Backup Generators Safely

Emergency power generators offer an option for customers needing or wanting uninterrupted service. To ensure the safety of the home's occupants as well as that of utility company employees who may be working on power lines in the area, the proper generator should be selected and installed by a qualified electrician.

When operating a generator, the power coming into the home should always be disconnected. Otherwise, power from the generator could be sent back onto the utility lines, creating a hazardous situation for utility workers. Locate the generator outside of your home and far away from windows, doors and vents. Never locate a generator inside your home.

View additional generator safety information.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and follow FirstEnergy and its operating companies on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp, @ToledoEdison, @IlluminatingCo, @OhioEdison, @MonPowerWV, @JCP_L, @Penn_Power, @Penelec, @Met_Ed, @PotomacEdison, @W_Penn_Power.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for Active Design (CfAD) today announced the 2022 winners of the Fitwel Best in Building Health  leadership awards, its flagship recognition program that identifies people and companies enhancing human health via Fitwel, the leading certification system committed to building health for all. This year's winners were recognized based on project submissions in 2021 to the Fitwel portal.

Created in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and operated by CfAD, Fitwel is a rigorous, third-party healthy building certification system that sets the industry standard for evidence-based strategies to promote health and wellness through the built environment.

"The 2022 award winners demonstrate not only an increased demand for Fitwel and healthy building certification, but significantly, an increased emphasis around the globe on prioritizing occupants' health and wellness," said Joanna Frank, President and CEO of CfAD. "With the growing focus on prioritizing human health, real estate owners and investors are meeting the demand for health-focused buildings with key strategies and programs to prioritize occupant health."

The Best in Building Health awards honor those who meet and exceed Fitwel standards, but also recognize exceptional leadership and progress in the industry. This year's special recognition awards feature companies that are leading the charge in driving market transformation through their buildings for health and wellness, sustainability, and social equity.

Social Equity Leadership: Harrison Street has been awarded the Social Equity Leadership Award for implementing strategies that ensure their facilities provide residents and occupants with access to health-promoting strategies focusing on public transportation, amenities, and universal accessibility across their DLC and Brightview portfolios.

Harrison Street has been awarded the Social Equity Leadership Award for implementing strategies that ensure their facilities provide residents and occupants with access to health-promoting strategies focusing on public transportation, amenities, and universal accessibility across their DLC and Brightview portfolios. Thought Leadership: QuadReal Property Group has been awarded the Industry Thought Leadership award for their commitment to driving research on the impact of buildings on human health and wellness.

"At QuadReal, our ongoing work with the Center for Active Design is an important part of our commitment to create places that support the health and wellbeing of our tenants and residents. The partnership began with a focus on certifying our office properties through Fitwel and has since extended to encompass education and research. We look forward to broadening our benchmarking efforts to ensure we consistently maintain safer and healthier environments across the entire Canadian portfolio we manage and are developing," said Sarah Clarke, Senior Vice President, Office, Operational Excellence at QuadReal Property Group.

For the first time, Best in Building Health is recognizing Fitwel Ambassadors for their commitment to serving as leaders and active participants in Fitwel's healthy building movement. The Ambassadors with the Highest Scoring Project are two Ambassadors from Corgan, an architecture and design firm, who were a part of the Peloton HQ NYC certification effort. Rachel Schiftan of Cushman & Wakefield has been named the Ambassador with the Most Certified Projects of all-time, at 60 projects.

"Cushman & Wakefield assists clients in transforming properties across their portfolios to create distinctive, healthy places where people can thrive in all aspects of their lives," said Rachel Schiftan, Associate Director, Energy & Sustainability Services at Cushman & Wakefield and Fitwel Ambassador. "We are honored to be recognized in several categories for our dedication to the healthy building movement as this not only aligns with our clients' goals, but our goals for our own workforce. We look forward to supporting the Center for Active Design's efforts to further evidence-based design and operations, now and into the future."

Additional awards that highlight the adoption and implementation of health-forward strategies include:

Fitwel Excellence Award: Most Certification of All Time: Kilroy Realty Corporation

Most Certification of All Time: Fitwel Promise Award: Most Benchmarked Projects of All-Time: QuadReal Property Group

Most Benchmarked Projects of All-Time: Fitwel Impact Award: All-Time Highest Scoring Project: Peloton/Corgan, Peloton HQ, New York , NY

"While the pandemic has introduced uncertainty into many aspects of life, one thing that has become more clear is the importance of healthy spaces that support community and collaboration. We are proud that our longstanding commitment to designing and operating healthy buildings has once again earned us the Best in Building Health Award for Most Certifications of All Time," said Sarah King, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Kilroy.

Best in Building Health recognizes projects worldwide, from Kyoto, Japan, and Taoyuan, Taiwan to Moscow, Russia, and Tel Aviv, Israel. The growing number of geographically diverse projects underscores how the healthy building movement is not limited to one country or region, but the global real estate industry.

Below is the complete list of Fitwel Best in Building Health 2022 Winners. Best in Building Health winners will be honored at a virtual event on March 24 that will showcase data and trends in the healthy building movement and feature key speakers from winning companies focused on the increasing role of health and wellness in real estate investment, design, and operations. Register to attend at this link .

Fitwel Best in Building Health 2022

Recognition Categories and Award Winners

Special Recognition for Leadership

Social Equity Leadership: Harrison Street

Thought Leadership: QuadReal Property Group

All-Time Achievements

Fitwel Excellence Award

Most Certifications of All Time: Kilroy Realty Corporation

Fitwel Promise Award

Most Benchmarked Projects of All Time: QuadReal Property Group

Fitwel Impact Award

Highest Scoring Project of All Time: Peloton/Corgan, Peloton HQ, New York, NY

2021 Distinctions

Greatest Number of Certifications

Consultant: Cushman & Wakefield

Building Owner: Barings Real Estate

Tenant: Meta (formerly Facebook)

Greatest Number of Benchmarked Projects

Building Owner: Harrison Street

Greatest Impact on Building Health

Most People Impacted across Building Scorecards: Cushman & Wakefield

Most People Impacted across Site Scorecards: Beam Living / Steven Winter Associates

Highest Square Footage: Cushman & Wakefield

Highest Acreage: Fidelity Investments

Greatest Impact on Viral Response

Highest Scoring Module (tie): The Stock Exchange of Thailand | The Stock Exchange of Thailand / SCG Building and Living Care Consulting

Highest Scoring Module (tie): The Meridian Group Portfolio | The Meridian Group / Paladino & Company

Most Approved Assets: Boston Properties

2021 Highest Scoring Projects

Commercial Interior Space v2.0

M. Moser Associates | City Tower One Bay East, Hong Kong

Commercial Interior Space v2.1

Built: Takeda Pharmaceuticals | Takeda, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Design: Peloton / Corgan | Peloton HQ, New York, NY

Single-Tenant Building v2.0

Microsoft / Alfa Sustainable Projects | Microsoft Campus Herzliya, Israel

Single-Tenant Building v2.1

Built: Cushman & Wakefield | Alfabank Technopark, Moscow, Russia

Design: UL | Hotel Sun Chlorella, Kyoto, Japan

Multi-Tenant Base Building v2.0

LaSalle | 60 London Wall, London, United Kingdom

Multi-Tenant Base Building v2.1

Built: SBA Urban / Vesta Consulting | BLC2, Kaunas, Lithuania

Design: Element Four | 217 Bath Road, Slough, United Kingdom

Multi-Tenant Whole Building v2.0

Projekt Wadowicka Sp. z o.o. / Sweco Polska sp. z o.o. | Wadowicka 3A, Krakow, Poland

Multi-Tenant Whole Building v2.1

Built: Principal Real Estate Investors | Broadway Tower, Portland, Oregon

Multifamily Residential v2.0

UL | YuanXiJiaYuan, Beijing, China

Multifamily Residential v2.1

Built: Newcastle Limited / SCB | State & Chestnut, Chicago, Illinois

Design: UL | Herjing Gulf Villa Multifamily, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Retail v2.1

Built: UL | TaiMall Shopping Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Design: CBRE | Angel Central, London, United Kingdom

Community v2.1

Built: Beam Living / Steven Winter Associates | Peter Cooper Village & Stuyvesant Town, New York, NY

Design: Harrison Street | Cortland Cassiobury, Watford, United Kingdom

Commercial v2.1

Built: QuadReal Property Group | Southcore Financial Centre, Toronto, Canada

Design: QuadReal Property Group | World Exchange Plaza, Ottawa, Canada

Ambassador Awards

Company with the Most Ambassadors (All-Time)

Perkins & Will

Ambassador with the Highest Scoring Project

Caroline Compton / Corgan | Peloton HQ, New York, NY

Emily Frazer-Smith / Corgan | Peloton HQ, New York, NY

Ambassador Associated with the Most Certified Projects (All-Time)

Rachel Schiftan / Cushman & Wakefield



About Fitwel

Fitwel is the world's leading certification system committed to building health for all. Generated by expert analysis of 5,600+ academic research studies, Fitwel is implementing a vision for a healthier future where all buildings and communities are enhanced to strengthen health and well-being. Fitwel was originally created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and U.S. General Services Administration. The CDC remains the research and evaluation partner for Fitwel. The Center for Active Design (CfAD), a global not-for-profit organization, maintains the Fitwel standard and conducts objective third-party assessments that lead to certified projects. CfAD's new business unit, Adai (pronounced "a-DAY"), is charged with expanding Fitwel to the global market, administering the program while providing best-in-class customer service and technical support. To learn more about Fitwel, please visit: www.fitwel.org.

SOURCE Center for Active Design (CfAD)
HEFEI, China, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iFLYTEK, a pioneer in the artificial intelligence and voice recognition industry, has announced the iFLYTEK Super Brain 2030 Plan, a series of strategic initiatives to advance the quality and availability of personal robotics and artificial intelligence solutions to assist families and communities.

The initiative will build off the success of iFLYTEK's use of AI to improve interpersonal communication, education, medical services, and the workplace.

"At iFLYTEK, we aspire to solve major social problems through the development of new technologies and to use the generated successes as models for the future," remarked iFLYTEK Founder and Chairman Liu Qingfeng. "The iFLYTEK Super Brain 2030 Plan will usher in the next phase of innovation in the artificial intelligence industry to support communities with their most pressing challenges."

The first stage of the iFLYTEK Super Brain 2030 Plan, from 2022-2023, will focus on bionic robot ontology technology, multi-modal perception, expression technology, and active dialogue technology. Three key products will be released in the first phase: a collection of virtual "professionals" including customer service clerks, doctors, and teachers; bionic pets supported by active dialogue and scene perception; and a publicly available depression screening platform for children and teenagers.

The second stage will focus on developing the necessary technologies to develop exoskeleton robots for adaptive walking and for virtual characters. Furthermore, the third stage will seek to better integrate new and existing technologies in decision making, autonomous learning, and common-sense reasoning to develop adaptive companion robots that can understand and learn.

"In the next decade, every family will be able to have a robot to help them with their everyday problems. Across our communities, these solutions can reduce the stresses and challenges that stem from an aging society and declining birth rates," said Qingfeng.

About iFLYTEK  iFLYTEK is one of the world's leading artificial intelligence (AI) and speech technology companies. For more information, please visit www.iflytek.com/en/.

SOURCE iFLYTEK
SHANGHAI, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fosun RZ Capital, a venture capital firm originated in China with a global investment layout, has announced on Thursday that it had completed the raising of its third RMB-dominated fund. The size of the newly raised fund, which is registered at Shanghai's Songjiang District, is 2 billion yuan (over $300 million). At present, Fosun RZ Capital, a fast-rising industrial investor, has assets under management of nearly 10 billion yuan (almost $1.6 billion).

National-level government-guided fund - China SME Development Fund, Venture Capital Guiding Fund of Shanghai and several market-oriented parent funds have become new shareholders of Fosun RZ capital in addition to its previous LP investors from Fosun. The new fund, Science and Technology Venture III RMB-denominated Fund, jointly launched and established by Fosun RZ capital and the China SME Development Fund, will rely on Fosun's industrial ecosystem to invest in and empower startups, facilitating the development of innovation-driven SMEs in China.

The new RMB fund will be seeking investment opportunities in early and growth stage startups in technology and new consumer goods industries, with a focus on semiconductor chip, autonomous driving, SaaS, new energy, robotics, cross-border business, cyber security and new brands.

Fosun RZ Capital, established in 2013 as a global industrial investment institution with its roots in China and operations worldwide, has been, in recent years, gradually establishing its leading position among top-tier industrial investment institutions.

Moving to the next stage of development, Fosun RZ Capital has upgraded its global branding. The new mission is to empower the globalization of innovative enterprises with its industry resources, while the vision moved to transforming the firm into a world-leading industrial investment institution.

Since 2014, Fosun RZ Capital entered the South-east Asian and US markets, followed by the Indian market in 2016, and Israel in 2019. Fosun RZ Capital has been leveraging its industrial capital to support Chinese companies expanding operations overseas relying on its diverse, globalized industrial resources. At the same time, the company has also been introducing cutting-edge technologies, business models and market resources from other countries into Asia, helping innovation-oriented firms grow their business not only at home but also abroad.

In 2022, Fosun RZ Capital plans to continuingly broaden its capabilities. The company is also preparing for a round of the capital raising for their USD-denominated fund.

At the same time, Fosun RZ Capital plans to gradually grow its presence in Singapore and London. In addition to a broad expansion into emerging markets in Southeast Asia, the company is also exploring new business opportunities throughout Europe, using its experience in globalization to identify quality assets worldwide for investment, and connecting Chinese and overseas industrial resources to deliver outstanding returns to investors. In addition, Fosun RZ Capital will empower Chinese portfolio companies from a global perspective and help them expand overseas.

For more information contact:

Yang Siya

+86-15001791547

[email protected]

SOURCE Fosun RZ Capital
One of the Northeast's leading online fresh food grocer partnered with OUTFRONT's MOMENTS in Food content partner, So Yummy, to sponsor four :15 video branded content segments focused on timely seasonal recipes to reach on-the-go commuters. Each video includes a QR code to link commuters to the FreshDirect website for detailed recipes and a path to purchase the ingredients featured in the branded content spots.

The FreshDirect campaign also includes dynamic creative ad units that trigger contextual messaging changes based on the latest weather conditions. Powered by weather intelligence provider Tomorrow.io, these unique ad units feature the latest weather conditions visualized in the creative paired with a relevant and enticing recipe based on the forecast. The engaging imagery changes dynamically in real-time to ensure that FreshDirect is top-of -mind to transit riders on the subway and commuter rail during the cold winters in New York City.

In addition, the FreshDirect campaign extends to static brand trains within the subway system, providing the brand with several touchpoints of impact and mass reach to subway riders throughout New York City.

"As a great local New York city brand for 20 years, FreshDirect has been meeting our customers where they are, delivering the highest quality, fresh food to their doorsteps," said John MacDonald, Chief Marketing Officer, FreshDirect. "This campaign enables us to reach them beyond their doorsteps and at various points of their daily commute throughout the city. We are excited and proud of our collaboration with OUTFRONT and Quan Media Group."

"We are thrilled to partner with FreshDirect and Quan Media Group on this innovative new campaign," said Andrew Miller, Vice President Innovation and Product Engagement, OUTFRONT. "FreshDirect's use of both branded shoppable content and dynamic creative has allowed them to connect with subway riders in a meaningful way."

The campaign will run on New York City subway and commuter rail Liveboards and Livecards until the end of the month. The entire campaign was spearheaded and executed by Quan Media Group, the Out of Home agency of record for FreshDirect.

About OUTFRONT Media Inc.

OUTFRONT leverages the power of technology, location and creativity to connect brands with consumers outside of their homes through one of the largest and most diverse sets of billboard, transit, and mobile assets in North America. Through its technology platform, OUTFRONT will fundamentally change the ways advertisers engage audiences on-the-go.

Contact:

Investors: Media: Stephan Bisson Courtney Richards Vice President, Investor Relations Senior PR & Events Specialist (212) 297-6573 (646) 876-9404 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on " Frozen Potato Market Forecast to 2028  COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis  by Product (French Fries, Hash Brown, Shaped, Mashed, Battered/Cooked, Topped/Stuffed, and Others) and End User (Residential and Commercial)". The frozen potato market growth is driven by the rising demand for French fries, the expansion of quick service restaurants, rising demand for convenience food, increasing demand in Asia-Pacific, and use of innovative technology.

Get Exclusive Sample Pages of this research study at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00005147/

Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in US$ 62,753.12 million in 2021 Market Size Value by US$ 83,889.18 million by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 4.2% from 2021 to 2028. Forecast Period 2021- 2028 Base Year 2021 No. of Pages 149 No. Tables 65 No. of Charts & Figures 67 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Product and End User Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Frozen Potato Market: Competition Landscape and Key Developments

The key players operating in the global frozen potato market include Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.; McCain Foods Limited; The Kraft Heinz Company; J.R. Simplot Company; Bart's Potato Company; Aviko B.V; Agristo NV; Greenyard; Himalaya Food International Ltd.; and Farm Frites International B.V. These companies are highly focused on developing high-quality and innovative products to fulfill the changing requirements of customers. Players realized the immense potential of frozen potato and were highly involved in merger and acquisition, product innovation, and other such market initiatives.

North America accounted for the largest share of the global frozen potato market. The rapid development in the frozen potato market in North America is mainly attributed to the rise in the employment rate of women among the North American countries. For instance, the US is among the leading countries with an increase in women's employment in recent years. Frozen potato is mainly used as convenience food in North American countries. Also, the presence of major players such as McCain Foods, Lamb Weston, and J.R. Simplot Company makes North America a larger market.

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There is a surge in demand for frozen food due to the rising purchasing power and growing consumer preference toward convenience food items. As the lifestyle of the consumers is changing, the demand for convenience products is also increasing. The demand for convenience food is increasing as the consumers are now leading a hectic lifestyle due to the workload. Globally, there has been significant growth in the women's employment rate. The woman employment rate in the US and China is 55.4% and 60.4%, respectively. As women's employment is increasing, it becomes difficult for them to manage household work and office work. It becomes difficult for them to cook meals because of the lack of time. Due to this reason, the demand for convenience food like frozen productswhich includes frozen potatoes, frozen meats, and frozen snackshas increased in recent years.

Moreover, there has been a significant rise in the number of single-person households in recent years that also contributes to the demand for convenience food. Frozen potatoes are readily available in retail outlets or stores, as well as various fast-food chains, hotels, and quick-service restaurants. The rise in the number of retail outlets, convenience stores, and supermarkets has increased the availability of ready-to-eat food, propelling the frozen potato industry to new heights. Frozen potatoes give the same benefits and taste as fresh potatoes but have a longer shelf life, which is boosting the market growth. Furthermore, foods such as French fries and wedges are becoming increasingly popular globally, particularly among children and youth, which is catalyzing the growth of the frozen potato market.

Frozen Potato Market: Segmental Overview

In terms of product, the frozen potato market is segmented into French fries, hash brown, shaped, mashed, battered/cooked, topped/stuffed, and others. The French fries segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period due to the rising demand from quick-service restaurants. Quick service restaurants are one of the major consumers of French fries because it requires less preparation time.

Based on end users, the frozen potato market is segmented into residential and commercial. The commercial segment accounted for a larger share of the frozen potato market in 2020. The majority of the frozen potato companies have a very short supply chain, and they deliver the produce almost regularly to convenience stores and supermarkets, including Walmart and Wholefoods. Retail stores such as hypermarkets and supermarkets have a high customer traffic. Therefore, companies distribute their products through different retail channels to enhance sales. Moreover, these stores have modern storage facilities which keep the frozen potato fresh. Thus, the high consumer traffic in various commercial stores is projected to increase the segment's growth during the forecast period.

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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Frozen Potato Market:

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected economies and industries in various countries due to lockdowns, travel bans, and border restrictions. The food & beverages industry has also suffered severe disruption due to the shortage of raw material, labor, and shutdown of production units. During the initial days of the pandemic, various companies announced possible delays in product deliveries and slump in future sales of their products. In addition, the global travel bans imposed by countries in Europe, Asia, and North America have been affecting business collaborations and partnership opportunities. However, the demand for frozen potatoes remained steady even during the lockdowns. The COVID-19 outbreak has considerably increased the demand for frozen food because it retains nutrition for longer and has a longer shelf life than fresh vegetables. The lockdown situation worldwide increased the demand for frozen food products, enabling customers to avoid regular market visits. This factor also positively impacted the demand for frozen potatoes during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to supply chain disruptions, raw material and labor shortages, and operational difficulties, there was a demand and supply gap that affected the global frozen potato market growth. For instance, McDonald's Japan discontinued sales of medium and large-size orders of French fries in mid-December due to the chain's continuing potato shortage. Moreover, due to the opening of restaurants and cafes across the globe, the frozen potato market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years. Furthermore, residential sales grew significantly even during lockdowns as consumers had more family meals at home than ever before, and they were looking for convenient and cost-effective food products.

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SOURCE The Insight Partners
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaming Dynamics and Quick Custom Intelligence ("QCI") jointly announced that their first year of operation has been a huge success with deployments from the clubs to pubs across New South Whales.

"This partnership has opened many doors for us in the very competitive Australian gaming market. The proven, scalable and highly intuitive technology that QCI has developed has given us the opportunity to approach large and small gaming operators and offer them an affordable solution to their gaming reporting and analytical needs," said Tony Toohey, Director of Gaming Dynamics.

CTO of QCI, Mr. Andrew Cardno, stated "During this year we have built a robust data platform and deployed it across a range of sites in New South Whales. The sites range from clubs with as many as 600 machines to pubs with as few as 25 machines. Deployment was slowed during COVID but now we are seeing accelerated uptake of our modern data analytics platform. Having a strategic partner in Australia has afforded QCI the opportunity to work with large and small gaming operators in this large distributed market with over 200,000 gaming machines."

ABOUT Gaming Dynamics

Gaming Dynamics provides unique gaming data analytics and insights to a cross section of the Australian and New Zealand gaming market. Gaming Dynamics seeks to acquire, licence or partner with leading edge technology providers that create sustainable strategic advantage to gaming operators.

ABOUT QCI

The QCI Platform aligns player development, marketing and gaming with powerful real-time operational tools developed for the gaming and hospitality industries. QCI has installed their ground-breaking, highly configured software in over 50 Casino Resorts in North America and over 3,000 sites worldwide. QCI products provide tooling for gaming operators managing over $10 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, these products are built on the QCI Platform, a best-in-class on-premises, hybrid or cloud-based technology that enables fully coordinated activities across gaming or hospitality operations. This data-driven software allows for quick, informed decisions in the ever-changing world of the casino industry and assists casinos in their efforts to optimize resources and profits, manage marketing campaigns and increase customer loyalty. QCI was founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno. Based in San Diego, QCI also has offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas & Phoenix. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715 www.QuickCustomIntelligence.com

SOURCE Quick Custom Intelligence
DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least six people have been killed after they were swept away by flooding rivers and drowned in dams between January 11 and February 23 this year in Tanzania's northern coastal region of Tanga, police said on Thursday.

Safia Jongo, the Tanga regional police commander, said the six people were killed after they attempted to cross over flooded rivers or swam in overflowing dams.

"Ongoing heavy rains have flooded some of the rivers and dams posing a threat to residents in the areas," Jongo told Xinhua when reached by telephone.

She said the victims included two children, two students, a farmer and a 64-year-old village chairman.

Jongo added that the deaths were reported in Korogwe, Handeni, Muheza and Kilindi districts.

She appealed to members of the public to stop attempting to cross over flooded rivers or to swim in flooded dams for their own safety. 
ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GEF Capital Partners is pleased to announce that Bluesource, LLC, the most experienced and diversified corporate climate advisor in North America, has merged with Element Markets, LLC, a leading renewable natural gas marketing and environmental commodities company under new majority ownership by TPG Rise, a global impact investing platform managed by alternative asset firm TPG. Element Markets was acquired by TPG in January 2021, and the results of this subsequent transaction are expected to prove transformative in the global effort to combat climate change.

Bluesource has pioneered creative solutions to climate change for over 20 years, during which it has become the leading developer of carbon credits and other environmental offsets in North America. GEF Capital partnered with Bluesource in 2018 by making an investment into the company and becoming the company's largest shareholder. Proceeds from GEF Capital's investment have been used to support the growth of Bluesource's carbon and other offset development programs to mitigate the harmful effects from climate change due to the release of methane and carbon dioxide into the Earth's atmosphere.

Since GEF Capital's investment in 2018, Bluesource has experienced exponential growth while continuing to be an innovator in the industry. Its nature-based programs have protected over 3 million acres and led to the establishment of a $500 million joint venture to enable the direct purchase of forest lands for sustainable management. Its methane reduction initiatives have resulted in the adoption of newer and more environmentally friendly equipment for industrial customers, and its rapidly expanding regenerative agriculture program will prove instrumental in sequestering carbon across more than 320,000 acres of farmland this year alone.

Stuart Barkoff, a founder of GEF Capital who co-led the investment in Bluesource, noted that, "Bluesource is a perfect representation of the value that partnership, alignment and capital can bring to an investment. We have been fortunate to have worked with Bluesource's highly sophisticated and entrepreneurial management team during a period of explosive growth in the company and its markets. With many shared successes over this period, we remain excited for what the future will bring to the company and its incredibly valuable group of employees."

Daniel Prawda, also a founder of GEF Capital and co-leader of the investment, further stated that, "GEF Capital is excited to continue as an investor in the combined Element Markets and Bluesource businesses. We are strong believers in the future opportunities ahead for their united mission, as well as the extremely positive impact these businesses will have in addressing climate change. As Fortune 500 companies announce and pursue Net Zero targets, they will need an equally sophisticated global advisor to help attain these goals. We are excited to be partnering with TPG and Element Markets to create the undisputed industry leader in the North American carbon and renewable fuels market."

Bill Townsend, founder and Chairman of Bluesource noted: "We started Bluesource over twenty years ago to answer to the growing climate crisis before us. As the urgency has risen, so has the need for transparent results and accountable solutions. We are honored to have trusted partners in GEF Capital who, since 2018, have enabled the necessary expansion of our emission reduction programs and nature-based offset projects for those looking to make compensatory investments in conservation. As we embark upon our next chapter together with TPG Rise and Element Markets, we are ready to meet global demand and establish the accountability that the world needs to see from market-based solutions to propel climate change solutions forward."

GEF Capital will remain an investor in the business following the merger.

About Bluesource

Bluesource (www.bluesource.com) is the most experienced and most diversified corporate climate advisor providing innovative, trusted environmental services and products in North America. A full-service climate and energy action partner, Bluesource counsels leading organizations at every stage of the business cycle to simplify their next steps toward achieving their climate and environmental goals. With an understanding that no business, organization or government agency regardless of size can afford to be absent from the climate conversation, Bluesource has the breadth of services and depth of experience to help clients achieve their environmental and energy goals simply, efficiently and credibly.

About GEF Capital Partners

GEF Capital Partners is a global private equity firm that that was established in March 2018 following a collaborative spinout from Global Environment Fund, an early pioneer in global sustainability and environmental investing. With offices in the United States, India and Brazil, and investments spanning the clean energy, energy efficiency, waste, water and resource efficiency sectors, GEF Capital invests in companies that have developed solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change and pollution. By partnering with management teams that operate in high-growth markets, GEF Capital brings a value-added approach to its investments to grow leading companies and ensure a more sustainable future. More is available at www.gefcapital.com.

CONTACT:

Stuart Barkoff

202-236-4376

SOURCE GEF Capital Partners
What's New for 2022?

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Edition: 9; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 773

Companies: 79 - Players covered include Aphria; Aurora Cannabis; CannTrust Holdings, Inc.; Canopy Growth; Cronos Group Inc.; Dixie Brands Inc.; GW Pharmaceuticals plc; Hexo Corp.; Keef Brand; Koios Beverage Corporation; MedReleaf Corp.; New Age Beverages Corporation; OrganiGram Holdings; Phivida Holdings Inc.; The Alkaline Water Company; Tilray; VCC Brand; Vivo Cannabis Inc. and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Type (Non-Alcoholic, Alcoholic); Component (Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD))

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.



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ABSTRACT-



Global Cannabis Beverages Market to Reach US$2 Billion by the Year 2026

Cannabis has been gaining considerable popularity globally. Its use for recreational purposes (factoring in the illegal usage) is much higher in comparison to its medicinal use. The market is anticipated to be on a growth path due to the growing cannabis demand in the mainstream market. The changing legal status of marijuana in a growing number of countries worldwide, including several US states, is attracting more and more food and drink companies to the vibrant cannabis beverages market. The continued deregulation of cannabis, escalating societal acceptance, growing awareness of CBD benefits, and availability in familiar/popular formats are some factors supporting growth in demand and sales of cannabis beverages. The CBD-infused beverages are gaining popularity in the US where they are becoming easily available through mainstream retail outlets. The growing interest in wellness drinks is also likely to drive gains in the market. Customers are increasingly demonstrating preference for wellness drinks over soft drinks, which is driving demand for cannabis beverages. The market is also benefitting from other factors such as better living standards, increasing disposable income levels, and legalization of recreational cannabis in several countries. Off-trade channels such as lounges, clubs, restaurants, cafes, and hotels are likely to augment the product's visibility and popularity among customers.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Cannabis Beverages estimated at US$1 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$2 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.9% over the analysis period. Non-Alcoholic, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 17.5% CAGR to reach US$1.6 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Alcoholic segment is readjusted to a revised 15.7% CAGR for the next 7-year period. Non-alcoholic cannabis beverages dominate the market and are also expected to register strong growth, mainly supported by growing demand from female and new customers, especially millennials, and also rising interest in wellness drinks among customers. Cannabis-infused alcoholic beverages are also gaining strong popularity, given their capability to offer the alcohol effect, but with health advantages and no calories. They are mainly used by people who consume cannabis as well as alcohol.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $752 Million in 2022, While Asia-Pacific is Forecast to Reach $146.7 Million by 2026

The Cannabis Beverages market in the U.S. is estimated at US$752 Million in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 70.9% share in the global market. Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$146.7 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 14.2% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Canada and Europe, each forecast to grow at 16.7% and 16.1% respectively over the analysis period. North America is a dominant market, mainly driven by growth in the US market. Subsequent to the legalization of the use of hemp and its derived CBD products, sales of hCBD (hemp-cannabidiol) gained considerable impetus. Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, District of Colombia, and 33 States have granted approval to medical cannabis programs (publicly available), which led to the introduction of many cannabis drinks. Further, 13 states in the country permit the usage of high CBD and low THC products for medical uses, which has resulted in strong adoption of CBD infused cannabis drinks. Europe is another region that is likely to register surging demand, due to the growing interest in cannabis among consumers and the rising introduction of products. In developing regions such as Latin America, Oceania, and Asia, cannabis-based beverages have registered nominal growth due to the prohibition of THC products.

By Component, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Segment to Reach 1.1 Billion by 2026

Demand for cannabis beverages infused with THC is being supported by the growing consumption among adult customers for recreational reasons. The euphoria they offer as well the therapeutic benefits are anticipated to foster their demand. In the global Tetrahydrocannabinol (Component) segment, USA, Canada, and Europe will drive the 16.2% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$422.5 Million will reach a projected size of US$1.2 Billion by the close of the analysis period. The market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$76.6 Million by the year 2026. More

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DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Electric Vehicles Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global electric vehicles market reached a volume of 12.7 million units in 2021. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach 106.6 million units by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 41.8% during 2022-2027.

Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



The increasing demand for fuel-efficient automobiles across the globe is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market. Furthermore, growing concerns regarding the detrimental environmental effects due to greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, along with the implementation of favorable government policies encouraging sustainable development, are also providing a boost to the market growth. For instance, various benefits, including tax exemptions, subsidies, low buying costs and free charging facilities, are some of the government privileges offered to those utilizing EVs, thus encouraging their overall adoption rates.

Additionally, manufacturers are focusing on the development of advanced technologies to produce zero- and low-emission vehicles with improved fuel efficiency and soundless operations. Also, enhancements in the EV charging infrastructure are leading to more investments in utilities, charging hardware manufacturers and other power sector stakeholders.

Other factors, including rapid urbanization, increasing disposable incomes and extensive research and development (R&D) activities, are projected to drive the market further.



Key Market Segmentation

This report provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global electric vehicles market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2022-2027. The report has categorized the market based on component, charging type, propulsion type and vehicle type.



Breakup by Component:

Battery Cells & Packs

On-Board Charger

Fuel Stack

Based on the component, battery cells & packs currently account for the highest market share.



Breakup by Charging Type:

Slow Charging

Fast Charging

Based on the charging type, slow charging represents the largest category.



Breakup by Propulsion Type:

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

Based on the propulsion type, hybrid electric vehicle currently account for the largest market share.



Breakup by Vehicle Type:

Passenger Vehicles

Commercial Vehicles

Others

Based on the vehicle type, passenger vehicles currently account for majority of the market share.



Breakup by Region:

Asia Pacific

Europe

North America

Middle East and Africa

and Latin America

On the geographical front, Asia Pacific currently represents the biggest market for electric vehicles.



Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the top electric vehicles companies being:

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

BYD Auto

Chery

Daimler AG

Ford Motor Company

Geely

General Motors

Honda Motor Company

Hyundai Motor Company

Nissan

Renault

SAIC Motor

Tesla Inc.

Toyota Motor Corporation

Volkswagen

Key Questions Answered in this Report

1. What was the size of the global electric vehicles market in 2021?

2. What is the expected growth rate of the global electric vehicles market during 2022-2027?

3. What are the key factors driving the global electric vehicles market?

4. What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global electric vehicles market?

5. What is the breakup of the global electric vehicles market based on the component?

6. What is the breakup of the global electric vehicles market based on the charging type?

7. What is the breakup of the global electric vehicles market based on the propulsion type?

8. What is the breakup of the global electric vehicles market based on the vehicle type?

9. What are the key regions in the global electric vehicles market?

10. Who are the key players/companies in the global electric vehicles market?

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nn6twz

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Medical Isolation Gowns Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global medical isolation gowns market is expected to reach US$ 3,542.78 million by 2028 from US$ 1,346.31 million in 2021; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 14.8% from 2021 to 2028.



Key factors such as increasing awareness regarding hospital-acquired infections and rising emergency procedures drive the growth of the global medical isolation gowns market. However, rising demand for reusable surgical gowns and stringent regulatory norms restrain the market growth.



Isolation gowns are a kind of personal protective equipment used in healthcare facilities. They are designed to protect the front-line caregivers and other personnel from infectious droplets, fluid penetration, and solid materials and prevent the transmission of microorganisms to people with weak immune systems. They are a part of the infection-control strategy.



The need for a specific type of isolation gown is based on the patient interaction nature, the degree of contact with infectious material, and the potential for blood and body-fluid penetration. Surgical isolation gowns are used during moderate risk, such as arterial blood draw, intravenous (IV) line insertion, in the emergency room, trauma cases, and high-risk procedures, such as fluid-intense procedures, surgeries requiring pathogen resistance, and infectious diseases. The growing number of traumas, burns, and critical cases worldwide increased the need for emergency procedures.

Also, the upswing in the prevalence of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, fueled the need for proper preventive measures during patient treatment. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) reported that trauma is the leading cause of death in individuals up to 45 years of age in the US. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the most significant cause of death in the US, and around 1,000,000 people suffer from this per year, with 23,000 hospitalizations. The National Inter-Ministerial Observatory of Road Safety (ONISR) published that 6,520 people were injured in road accidents in France in 2018. According to the data published in 2021 by WHO regarding road injuries, about 1.3 million people die due to road traffic crashes each year.



The increasing number of road accidents and critical cases eventually leads to the rise in emergency surgical procedures, which, in turn, boosts the growth of the medical isolation gowns market.



Reasons to Buy

Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the Medical Isolation Gowns market.

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global Medical Isolation Gowns market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies.

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin security interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Global Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology



4. Medical Isolation Gowns Market- Market Landscape

4.1 Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.2.1 North America - PEST Analysis

4.2.2 Europe- PEST Analysis

4.2.3 Asia Pacific - PEST Analysis

4.2.4 Middle East and Africa - PEST Analysis

4.2.5 South and Central America (SCAM) - PEST Analysis

4.3 Experts Opinion



5. Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Increasing Awareness Regarding Hospital Acquired Infections

5.1.2 Increase in Emergency Procedures

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 Rising Demand for Reusable Surgical Gowns

5.2.2 Stringent Regulatory Norms

5.3 Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Increasing Investment by Market Players

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Innovation in Medical Isolation Gown Designs

5.5 Impact Analysis



6. Medical Isolation Gowns Market- Global Analysis

6.1 Global Medical Isolation Gowns Market Revenue Forecast and Analysis

6.2 Global Medical Isolation Gowns Market, By Geography - Forecast and Analysis

6.3 Market Positioning of Key Players



7. Medical Isolation Gowns Market Analysis - By Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Medical Isolation Gowns Market Revenue Share, by Type (2021 and 2028)

7.3 Disposable

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Disposable: Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

7.4 Reusable

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Reusable: Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



8. Medical Isolation Gowns Market Analysis - By Product Type

8.1 Overview

8.2 Medical Isolation Gowns Market, by Product Type 2021 & 2028 (%)

8.3 Surgical

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Surgical: Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

8.4 Non-Surgical

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Non-Surgical: Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



9. Medical Isolation Gowns Market Analysis - By End-User

9.1 Overview

9.2 Medical Isolation Gowns Market Revenue Share, by End User (2021 and 2028)

9.3 Hospitals

9.3.1 Overview

9.3.2 Hospitals: Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

9.4 Ambulatory Surgical Centers

9.4.1 Overview

9.4.2 Ambulatory Surgical Centers: Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

9.5 Clinics

9.5.1 Overview

9.5.2 Clinics: Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

9.6 Others

9.6.1 Overview

9.6.2 Others: Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



10. Global Medical Isolation Gowns Market - Geographic Analysis



11. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Medical Isolation Gowns Market

11.1 North America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.2 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.3 Asia Pacific: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.4 Middle East and Africa: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.5 South & Central America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic



12. Medical Isolation Gowns Market-Industry Landscape

12.1 Overview

12.2 Organic & Inorganic Developments

12.2.1 Overview



13. Company Profiles

13.1 Cardinal Health, Inc.

13.1.1 Key Facts

13.1.2 Business Description

13.1.3 Products and Services

13.1.4 Financial Overview

13.1.5 SWOT Analysis

13.1.6 Key Developments

13.2 Medline Industries, Inc.

13.2.1 Key Facts

13.2.2 Business Description

13.2.3 Products and Services

13.2.4 Financial Overview

13.2.5 SWOT Analysis

13.2.6 Key Developments

13.3 Leboo Healthcare Products Limited

13.3.1 Key Facts

13.3.2 Business Description

13.3.3 Products and Services

13.3.4 Financial Overview

13.3.5 SWOT Analysis

13.3.6 Key Developments

13.4 Narang Medical Limited.

13.4.1 Key Facts

13.4.2 Business Description

13.4.3 Products and Services

13.4.4 Financial Overview

13.4.5 SWOT Analysis

13.4.6 Key Developments

13.5 Shanghai Medical Corporation

13.5.1 Key Facts

13.5.2 Business Description

13.5.3 Products and Services

13.5.4 Financial Overview

13.5.5 SWOT Analysis

13.5.6 Key Developments

13.6 Molnlycke Health Care AB

13.6.1 Key Facts

13.6.2 Business Description

13.6.3 Products and Services

13.6.4 Financial Overview

13.6.5 SWOT Analysis

13.6.6 Key Developments

13.7 Advin Health Care

13.7.1 Key Facts

13.7.2 Business Description

13.7.3 Products and Services

13.7.4 Financial Overview

13.7.5 SWOT Analysis

13.7.6 Key Developments

13.8 Dispotech SRL

13.8.1 Key Facts

13.8.2 Business Description

13.8.3 Products and Services

13.8.4 Financial Overview

13.8.5 SWOT Analysis

13.8.6 Key Developments

13.9 SARA HEALTH CARE

13.9.1 Key Facts

13.9.2 Business Description

13.9.3 Products and Services

13.9.4 Financial Overview

13.9.5 SWOT Analysis

13.9.6 Key Developments

13.10 PRIONTEX

13.10.1 Key Facts

13.10.2 Business Description

13.10.3 Products and Services

13.10.4 Financial Overview

13.10.5 SWOT Analysis

13.10.6 Key Developments

13.11 STANDARD TEXTILE CO., INC

13.11.1 Key Facts

13.11.2 Business Description

13.11.3 Products and Services

13.11.4 Financial Overview

13.11.5 SWOT Analysis

13.11.6 Key Developments

13.12 CWS International GmbH

13.12.1 Key Facts

13.12.2 Business Description

13.12.3 Products and Services

13.12.4 Financial Overview

13.12.5 SWOT Analysis

13.12.6 Key Developments

13.13 Elis

13.13.1 Key Facts

13.13.2 Business Description

13.13.3 Products and Services

13.13.4 Financial Overview

13.13.5 SWOT Analysis

13.13.6 Key Developments

13.14 Alsco, Inc.

13.14.1 Key Facts

13.14.2 Business Description

13.14.3 Products and Services

13.14.4 Financial Overview

13.14.5 SWOT Analysis

13.14.6 Key Developments



14. Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yblzv3

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Military Protective Eye-Wear Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type and End User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The military protective eyewear market was valued at US$ 110.48 million in 2021 and is expected to reach US$ 166.65 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2021 to 2028.

Military protective Eyewear systems help military, paramilitary forces, and law enforcement officers defend their eyesight from ballistic, laser, radiological, and NBC threats. The demand for such equipment has increased dramatically in recent years due to increased military exercises and operations. Also, due to the increased potential of attacks by extremist and terrorist organizations using mines, bombs, and NBC or radioactive agents, there are increasing investments in developing protective Eyewear systems for military, paramilitary, and police personnel, which drives the growth of the military protective Eyewear market.

Moreover, the modern army's increasing requirement to operate at night and in low-light settings has resulted in considerable advancements in night vision systems. Night vision devices are essential equipment for a soldier during a war. Therefore, tremendous effort has been invested in research and development. As a result, various technologies have been developed, allowing for the use of a wide range of military night vision systems. Hence, advancements and contraction in night vision technologies would drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Military Protective Eyewear Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken several industries. The unprecedented growth in the spread of the virus has urged governments worldwide to impose strict restrictions on vehicles and human movement. The US has the highest military expenditure across the world that makes this country largest market for military technologies. In addition, the military technology manufacturers observed a drop in deliveries for new defense technologies, cancelation or rescheduling of military orders and delivery, and labor shortage, which hampered their businesses and ability to deliver substantial volumes of new products to the customers. The increase in order backlogs and orders along with disrupted supply chain led to a decline in the revenues of the military protective Eyewear market.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways

3. Research Methodology



4. Military Protective Eye-wear Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.2.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers:

4.2.1.1 Buyer Concentration is Moderately Growing

4.2.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers:

4.2.2.1 Weak suppliers bargaining power

4.2.3 Threats to Substitutes:

4.2.3.1 No Substitutes

4.2.4 Threats of New Entrants:

4.2.4.1 Established Players Capture the Maximum Market

4.2.5 Degree of Competition:

4.2.5.1 Well Established Players with Balanced Financial Status

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis

4.4 Expert Opinion



5. Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 High Demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

5.1.2 Advancement and Contraction in Night Vision Technologies

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 High Cost Associated with Military Protective Eye-wear

5.3 Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Emergence of Laser Protection Eye-wear

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Technological Advancements in Military Protective Eye-wear

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Global Market Analysis

6.1 Global Military Protective Eye-wear Market Overview

6.2 Global Military Protective Eye-wear Market Forecast And Analysis

6.3 Market Positioning- Top Five Players



7. Military Protective Eye-wear Market Analysis - By Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Military Protective Eye-wear Market, by Type (2020 and 2028)

7.3 Safety Eye-wear

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Safety Eye-wear: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

7.4 Ballistic protection eye-wear

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Ballistic Protection Eye-wear: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

7.5 Laser protection eye-wear

7.5.1 Overview

7.5.2 Laser Protection Eye-wear: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



8. Military Protective Eye-wear Market - By End User

8.1 Overview

8.2 Military Protective Eye-wear, by End User (2020 and 2028)

8.3 Paramilitary Forces

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Paramilitary Forces: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

8.4 Armed Troops

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Armed Troops: Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



9. Global Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Geographic Analysis



10. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Military Protective Eye-wear Market

10.1 Overview

10.2 North America

10.3 Europe

10.4 Asia-Pacific

10.5 Middle East and Africa

10.6 South America



11. Military Protective Eye-wear Market - Industry Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Market Initiative

11.3 New Product Launch

11.4 Merger and Acquisition



12. Company Profiles

12.1 Blueye Tactical Eye-wear

12.1.1 Key Facts

12.1.2 Business Description

12.1.3 Products and Services

12.1.4 Financial Overview

12.1.5 SWOT Analysis

12.1.6 Key Developments

12.2 Bolle Safety

12.2.1 Key Facts

12.2.2 Business Description

12.2.3 Products and Services

12.2.4 Financial Overview

12.2.5 SWOT Analysis

12.2.6 Key Developments

12.3 Gentex Corporation

12.3.1 Key Facts

12.3.2 Business Description

12.3.3 Products and Services

12.3.4 Financial Overview

12.3.5 SWOT Analysis

12.3.6 Key Developments

12.4 Eye Safety Systems, Inc. (ESS)

12.4.1 Key Facts

12.4.2 Business Description

12.4.3 Products and Services

12.4.4 Financial Overview

12.4.5 SWOT Analysis

12.4.6 Key Developments

12.5 PERRIQUEST DEFENSE RESEARCH ENTERPRISES

12.5.1 Key Facts

12.5.2 Business Description

12.5.3 Products and Services

12.5.4 Financial Overview

12.5.5 SWOT Analysis

12.5.6 Key Developments

12.6 Revision Military LTD

12.6.1 Key Facts

12.6.2 Business Description

12.6.3 Products and Services

12.6.4 Financial Overview

12.6.5 SWOT Analysis

12.6.6 Key Developments

12.7 Rochester Optical

12.7.1 Key Facts

12.7.2 Business Description

12.7.3 Products and Services

12.7.4 Financial Overview

12.7.5 SWOT Analysis

12.7.6 Key Developments

12.8 Shalon Chemical Industries Ltd.

12.8.1 Key Facts

12.8.2 Business Description

12.8.3 Products and Services

12.8.4 Financial Overview

12.8.5 SWOT Analysis

12.8.6 Key Developments

12.9 Smith Optics

12.9.1 Key Facts

12.9.2 Business Description

12.9.3 Products and Services

12.9.4 Financial Overview

12.9.5 SWOT Analysis

12.9.6 Key Developments

12.10 Wiley X Inc.

12.10.1 Key Facts

12.10.2 Business Description

12.10.3 Products and Services

12.10.4 Financial Overview

12.10.5 SWOT Analysis

12.10.6 Key Developments



13. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8d4a8q

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Online Car Buying Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global online car buying market reached a value of US$ 261.2 billion in 2021. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach US$ 515.6 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.60% during 2022-2027.

Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



The thriving e-commerce industry on account of the rising awareness among individuals about the associated convenience represents one of the key factors driving the demand for online car buying across the globe. This can also be attributed to the increasing digital literacy, improving internet accessibility, rapid urbanization, and inflating disposable income levels. Moreover, with the surging use of social media networking sites, companies are offering innovative car deals via these sites, which is influencing the market positively.

Apart from this, there is a significant rise in the demand for electric vehicles (EVs), which can be accredited to the growing concerns among people about the detrimental environmental effects of petrol-based automobiles. In addition, as governing agencies of numerous countries are implementing favorable policies to promote the usage of fuel-efficient cars, there is an increase in the adoption of online car buying portals to purchase EVs from across the globe.

Furthermore, the emerging trend of personal vehicles on account of improving urban road infrastructure is contributing to the market growth. The rising popularity of pre-owned cars, especially among the young population, due to their affordability and accessibility is also impelling the market growth.



Key Market Segmentation

This report provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global online car buying market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2022-2027. The report has categorized the market based on vehicle type, propulsion type and category.



Breakup by Vehicle Type:

Hatchback

Sedan

SUV

Others

Breakup by Propulsion Type:

Petrol

Diesel

Others

Breakup by Category:

Pre-Owned Vehicle

New Vehicle

Breakup by Region:

North America

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Latin America

Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being:

Asbury Automotive Group Inc.

AutoNation Inc.

Cargurus Inc.

CarsDirect.com

Cars.com Inc.

Cox Automotive Inc.

Group 1 Automotive Inc.

Hendrick Automotive Group

Lithia Motors Inc.

TrueCar Inc.

Key Questions Answered in this Report

How has the global online car buying market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global online car buying market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the vehicle type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the propulsion type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the category?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global online car buying market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xo8ole

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
Get a free sample of this data, download our sample report: https://spendedge.com/pressure-vessel-market-procurement-research-report

Who are the Top Suppliers in the Pressure Vessel Market?

The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several top suppliers. Some of the leading Pressure Vessel suppliers profiled extensively in this report include:

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd

Alfa Laval

John Wood Group Plc

These are a few of the key suppliers in Pressure Vessel market. Discover more about these vendors, including the detailed analysis of procurement strategies deployed by major category end-users across several industries while sourcing for Pressure Vessel requirements.

Download a free sample of this report: https://spendedge.com/procurement-report/pressure-vessel-market-procurement-research-report

What are the Most Adopted Procurement Strategies for the Pressure Vessel Market?

The research includes a complete analysis of the most commonly used procurement strategies by buyers across sectors, as well as an insight into these strategies' innovation, regulatory compliance, quality, supply, and cost. Adopting these procurement tactics would enable buyers to minimize category TCO and achieve cost savings while sourcing Pressure Vessel.

What Are the Most Effective Price Strategy That a Vendor Can Adopt and What is The Forecasted Incremental Spend?

It is critical to monitor current and future pricing changes in order to maximize the value of the purchase. Price forecasts can assist in purchase planning, especially when combined with constant monitoring of price-influencing factors. The market expects an incremental spend of USD 10.66 billion over the forecast period as a result of several market drivers prevalent across multiple geographies. In addition, the sourcing and procurement report discusses different cost-cutting factors by analyzing the following criteria:

Identify favorable opportunities in Pressure Vessel TCO (total cost of ownership)

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities

Download the free sample report to get detailed insights into few more pricing strategies.

Which are the Key Regions for Pressure Vessel Market?

The Pressure Vessel market will register an incremental spend of about USD 10.66 billion during the forecast period. However, only a few regions will drive the majority of this growth. Moreover, on the supply side, North America, Europe, and APAC will have the maximum influence owing to the supplier base. The growth is expected to be primarily driven by increasing demand and adoption of the category across those few regions.

To get more information on the volume drivers that are driving the adoption of the category across regions, download our free sample report.

Smart Procurement Starts Here:

SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy to use platform:

Subscribe now for free, to get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment.

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contacts

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

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SOURCE SpendEdge
"One thing we take pride in at Gotcha Covered is our franchisee support system," said Paul Linenberg, president of Gotcha Covered. "We strive to help make our franchise owners succeed and thrive in their communities. We offer extensive training and provide technology that separates our franchisees from their competitors. We also make sure that someone is always available to answer any questions that our owners have. We are one big family."

Gotcha Covered was among over 300 franchise brands, representing more than 30,000 franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review's research. Franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction in key areas of their franchise system including training and support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity.

"While the pandemic impacted various business sectors differently, the last 18 months have clearly demonstrated the inherent strengths of the franchise business model. The old franchise adage of 'being in business for yourself, but not by yourself' has never been more important," said Franchise Business Review founder & CEO Eric Stites. "Thanks to fast innovations, significant support, and responsive crisis management, many franchise brands have emerged stronger from the pandemic, and that is reflected in high franchisee satisfaction."

Franchise Business Review, a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of the top 200 franchises in its annual Guide to Today's Top Franchises.

To see the full 2022 FBR Top 200 Franchise rankings, visit https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/top-franchises/.

For more information or to find your local Gotcha Covered consultant, visit https://www.gotchacovered.com.

About Gotcha Covered

Gotcha Covered is a leader in custom soft and hard window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada. Flying under their Gotcha Covered flag since 2009, they offer custom window treatments including blinds, draperies, shutters and much more. They offer end-to-end consultation with the customer's specific needs and goals in mind. The company currently has over 130 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Gotcha Covered
PHOENIX, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona foster children will receive a full scholarship at Grand Canyon University thanks to a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Arizona Department of Child Safety.

The Fostering Futures Scholarships college pathway program covers 100% of the costs for tuition, fees, and year-round room and board for qualified Arizona foster children by combining GCU's generous scholarships with state and federal funding resources.

"With this program, Arizona's foster kids will get the support they need to get a college degree," said Governor Doug Ducey. "GCU's commitment to academically supporting foster youth and providing them with year-round housing is a game-changer. This scholarship program offers a gateway for foster youth to realize their untapped potential. I commend GCU for extending this generous offer to these young adults."

Nationwide, fewer than 10% of youth in foster care graduate with a four-year degree. In addition to the cost of higher education, housing stability is among the biggest challenges for youth aging out of foster care. The Fostering Futures Scholarship program provides recipients with a year-round home on an active, vibrant college campus in a supportive Christian environment, as well as the opportunity to begin their adult life without any student debt. The program will also incorporate additional support elements such as free tutoring, access to student worker jobs, mentoring, life skills programming designed to acclimate foster students into college life, and post-graduation planning assistance to help envision their path ahead.

"We strive to ensure that private, Christian education is within reach for all  and students who have aged out of the state's foster care system should be no exception," said GCU President Brian Mueller. "Our affordable tuition and room and board rates help make this opportunity possible, and we already have faculty, staff and students on campus who are familiar with the foster care system. With the right support system in place, these students have the tools to earn a college degree without incurring any debt and set themselves up to achieve great things in their adult lives."

The first Fostering Futures Scholarships are scheduled to be awarded for the 2022-23 academic year.

"Obtaining a college degree is difficult for every young adult, but especially so for youth in foster care, who face additional barriers," said DCS Director Mike Faust. "But foster youth are profoundly resilient and can flourish if they are given the tools and supports they need. GCU's scholarship program will help remove the barriers so foster youth can succeed in college and life. We are honored to partner with GCU on this scholarship program and are grateful for their continued commitment to Arizona's foster youth."

About Grand Canyon University: Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona's premier private Christian university. GCU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers nearly 300 academic programs, emphases and certificates for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University's curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu.

About the Arizona Department of Child Safety: The Department of Child Safety is dedicated to the vision that "Children thrive in family environments free from abuse and neglect." Our mission is to successfully engage children and families to ensure safety, strengthen families, and achieve permanency. As highly motivated and caring public servants, the DCS team is committed to fulfilling this mission with excellence, providing safety and well-being for the most vulnerable population in Arizona - our children. If you suspect child abuse, call 888-SOS-CHILD.

About Governor Doug Ducey: Elected in 2014, and re-elected in 2018, Governor Ducey has applied his experience from a successful career in business to bring much-needed change to Arizona government. Governor Ducey remains committed to making Arizona a land of "Opportunity for All" and has pledged to work every day to make that vision a reality. Governor Ducey was born in Toledo, Ohio. He moved to Arizona in 1982 to attend Arizona State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He and his wife, Angela, live in Paradise Valley with their three sons, Jack, Joe and Sam. He is Arizona's 23rd governor.

SOURCE Grand Canyon University
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Health in Motion Network and ScriptDrop Inc. announce a partnership to closely integrate their technologies, which will enable pharmacists to deliver medications and clinical services efficiently. By drawing on both companies' deep experience in pharmacy innovation, Health in Motion Network and ScriptDrop will help pharmacists magnify the impact of their complementary pharmaceutical and clinical expertise, thereby significantly expanding access to communities across the country.

Health in Motion Network's software, Parawell, connects pharmacists to patients through comprehensive health information including medical records, lab results, and data from personal wearable and health monitoring devices. ScriptDrop's unique prescription delivery platform personalizes and streamlines medication dispensing and access, bringing medications to patients' doorsteps through a nationwide courier network. By working together, these two technologies will produce improved patient communication, engagement and outcomes along with cost-savings and workflow efficiencies that will dramatically increase access to pharmacy services for all communities.

Ray Shealy, Health in Motion Network's CEO, observes, "The missing puzzle piece in healthcare innovation has long been a system that facilitates true continuity and access to care. Health in Motion Network and ScriptDrop together create that continuum through a seamless, end-to-end patient-pharmacist experience. From consultations to medication review and refills, pharmacists and patients have the information, access and the infrastructure they need. The end-to-end integration will include a comprehensive dataset allowing for more intelligent care and delivery."

"ScriptDrop's robust, nationwide network effectively improves medication adherence through medication access," says CEO Amanda Epp. "With Health in Motion Network's patient insights, pharmacists will be able to choose ScriptDrop home delivery based on an individual patient's needs. This access to better information will support better service."

Health in Motion Network and ScriptDrop, both Columbus, OH-based health information technology companies, have individually contributed to the ongoing evolution in pharmacy-driven healthcare delivery. This partnership not only speaks to current trends  empowering patients, elevating pharmacists as healthcare providers, and combining digital solutions with at-home and in-person care  but also expands Parawell's and ScriptDrop's respective networks and capabilities to exponential effect.

About Health in Motion Network

Health in Motion Network (HIMN) is a digital healthcare technology company redefining the pharmacy care model with a national network of connected pharmacists and partners. HIMN's Parawell software platform provides pharmacists with comprehensive, connected data sources including medical records, lab reports, remote monitoring devices and/or wearables, and prescription information. Equipping pharmacists to be more informed about patients' health enhances clinical service delivery, improves patient engagement, and streamlines practice workflows. HIMN demonstrates how pharmacists, who are the most accessible healthcare providers, can apply their expertise in medication and disease state management to lift outcomes while lowering costs.

For more detail about Health in Motion Network and Parawell, navigate to himn.health or search Health in Motion Network on LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Alec Slusser

[email protected]

About ScriptDrop Inc.

ScriptDrop is the only healthcare IT company specializing in prescription access that serves patients in all 50 states. Since 2016, ScriptDrop has worked alongside their healthcare partners to deliver medication access opportunities to patients from coast to coast through technology, empathy, and healthcare expertise.

Through a robust platform, long-term data storage, multiple service levels, and first-class customer service, ScriptDrop is driving down rates of hospital readmission and improving drug adherence. ScriptDrop has helped pharmacies reduce return to stock rates by 88% and has helped health systems increase their same-day delivery volume by 73% after just two months of partnership.

For more information, go to scriptdrop.co or follow @ScriptDrop on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

Media Contact

Jessica Behrendsen

[email protected]

SOURCE Health in Motion Network
COLOMBO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The current shortage of fuel in Sri Lanka will be resolved soon as the government has decided that funds should be allocated for an uninterrupted fuel supply, the Ministry of Energy said Thursday.

The cabinet approved the payment of 35.3 million U.S. dollars for diesel carried by a tanker that arrived in Sri Lanka a few days ago and subsequently, 37,500 liters of diesel were being unloaded, with more fuel to arrive in the coming days, K.D.R. Olga, secretary to the ministry, told the media.

Last week, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka authorized the Ceylon Electricity Board to cut power given that the operations of several diesel power plants have stopped due to the lack of fuel.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan medical unions on Thursday urged the government to exempt hospitals from the island wide power cuts that are taking place due to fuel shortages.

Navin de Zoysa, assistant secretary to the Government Medical Officers Association, the largest doctors trade union in Sri Lanka, claimed that only major hospitals of the country have generators, and the hospital administrations are finding it difficult to find adequate amounts of fuel to run the generators. 
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthVerity, the leader in Identity, Privacy, Governance and Exchange (IPGE) for real-world data, today announced that Michael J. Cavanagh, Chief Financial Officer of Comcast Corporation, and Dr. Raquel Bono, Chief Health Officer of Viking, have been appointed to its board of directors.

Cavanagh brings decades of exceptional expertise in guiding high growth businesses to the HealthVerity board. In his role at Comcast Corporation, he has a broad range of responsibilities, including overseeing all financial functions, corporate development, strategic planning, and corporate administration. Cavanagh joined Comcast in 2015 after spending more than 20 years in the financial services industry at companies like JPMorgan Chase and The Carlyle Group.

A board-certified trauma surgeon and retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy Medical Corps, Dr. Bono most recently led Washington State's medical and healthcare systems response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She saw duty in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and is the first female Navy medical officer to have achieved three-star rank. As CEO and Director for the Defense Health Agency (DHA), Dr. Bono led a joint, integrated combat support agency that enables all branches of the U.S. military medical services to provide health care services to combatant commands in times of both peace and war. Dr. Bono integrated an unprecedented $50 billion worldwide health care enterprise for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, composed of 50 hospitals and 300 clinics that provide care to 9.5 million military personnel.

"Mike Cavanagh is one of the most accomplished strategic financial leaders in corporate America and will bring strong capital markets and corporate governance expertise to the company," said Andrew Kress, CEO of HealthVerity. "His participation on the Board will significantly enhance the value that we offer to our Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Insurance and Government clients. "

"Dr. Bono's decorated military service, broad organizational leadership and unique healthcare insights will be a tremendous asset to the company and we are honored to welcome her to the Board," said Kress. "Her experience and counsel will be critical as we enter the next phase of our journey to bring critical infrastructure to the healthcare insights economy."

Cavanagh earned a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Yale and is Chairman of its Investment Committee. Cavanagh is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Dr. Bono earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and M.D. from the School of Medicine at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She also holds an MBA from the Carson College of Business at Washington State University, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Senior Fellow with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Her personal decorations include a Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three Defense Superior Service Medals, three Legion of Merit Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals.

"I am excited to be joining the HealthVerity Board at such an important moment in the company's growth and believe that the organization is well positioned to continue to help its clients recognize the best return on investment in their data strategies," said Cavanagh.

"I am delighted to join the HealthVerity team and look forward to contributing to the company's technological approach to solving some of the most difficult challenges in healthcare," said Dr. Bono.

With these appointments, Cavanagh and Bono will complement HealthVerity's seasoned management team, an experienced board of directors and accomplished founders with extensive experience across healthcare and technology.

About HealthVerity

Pharmaceutical manufacturers, payers and government organizations have partnered with HealthVerity to solve some of their most complicated use cases through transformative technologies and real-world data infrastructure. The HealthVerity IPGE platform, based on the foundational elements of Identity, Privacy, Governance and Exchange, enables the discovery of RWD across the broadest healthcare data ecosystem, the building of more complete and accurate patient journeys and the ability to power best-in-class analytics and applications with flexibility and ease. Together with our partners, HealthVerity has built the modern way to data for the health insights economy. To learn more about the HealthVerity IPGE platform, visit www.healthverity.com.

Contact:

Chris Martinez

Head of Content

[email protected]

SOURCE HealthVerity
Experts Urge Consumers to Protect Their Hearing and Get Their Hearing Checked Tweet this

"Everyone can do something to protect their hearing," said Barbara Kelley, executive director of HLAA. "If you notice a change in your hearing, get your hearing checked now, and take the steps to seek out resources that you need to hear better. We are glad to join WHO to encourage all consumers to protect their hearing today through safe listening. HLAA will continue our advocacy efforts around hearing health."

HLAA also promotes consumer protection for people with hearing loss. HLAA's advocacy for people with hearing loss includes recently filed comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its proposed rule establishing Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids. Once finalized by the FDA, consumers 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to purchase hearing aids at retail and online outlets. For more details from HLAA and the organizations that signed onto these comments, see the full comment letter.

HLAA is also proud to partner with the Cochlear Implant International Community of Action (CIICA) to acknowledge February 25 as International Cochlear Implant (CI) Day, which also marks the first anniversary of CIICA. In one year, CIICA's network has grown to 75 organizations, and 350 individuals from 48 countries across the globe, united in the goal of increasing access to cochlear implantation and lifelong services for all those with hearing loss who can benefit. Visit www.ciicanet.org to learn more about CIICA's global activities.

About the Hearing Loss Association of America

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is the nation's foremost organization representing consumers with hearing loss. The mission of HLAA is to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, support and advocacy. HLAA holds annual Conventions, organizes Walk4Hearing events in cities across the country, publishes Hearing Life magazine, provides educational webinars, advocates for the rights of people with hearing loss and has a network of chapters and state organizations across the country.

To arrange an interview, please contact:

Carrie Johnson

Senior Communications Manager, Hearing Loss Association of America

[email protected]

301.657.2248 ext. 109

SOURCE Hearing Loss Association of America
Green River Soda was introduced in 1919, as Congress was passing the18th Amendment establishing Prohibition. That's when The Schoenhofen Brewery, residing in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, decided to fill their old beer bottles with the soon to be famous vivid green lime soda instead. Green River became a huge hit, trailing only Coca Cola in popularity. In 2021, historic Green River was acquired by Sprecher Brewery, Milwaukee's original craft brewery known for its award-winning root beer and craft soda.

In 1980, Eli Schulman declared Cheesecake to be the signature dessert at his restaurant, Eli's The Place for Steak, a Chicago legend for over 40 years. In his restaurant's kitchen, he dreamed up a new way of baking cheesecake. Known as "Chicago-Style," his creation is famous for its beautiful caramelization, rich and creamy texture, and all-butter shortbread cookie crust. Still a family-owned business, Chicago's favorite dessert is handmade and decorated at Eli's Cheesecake World, on Chicago's Northwest side.

After many years of serving Green River at Eli's Cheesecake's annual reception for Chicago's St Patrick's Day Queen and her court, the two Chicago icons joined forces, and in 2020, Eli's Green River Cheesecake was born! "St. Patrick's Day is a big deal in Chicago. The City dyes the river bright green, and Green River Cheesecake is another fun and festive way to celebrate," said Marc Schulman, Eli's president.

Eli's is also teaming up with Sprecher for the ultimate Green River giveaway (a Green River Cheesecake and Green River Soda). For details on how to enter, follow @ElisCheesecake and @SprecherBrewery on Instagram.

High resolution photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GATXdzXLDDVxrjjj6

Eli's Green River Cheesecake (9", serves 14, $59.95 plus shipping) is available: Nationally at http://shop.elicheesecake.com (order by Tuesday, March 15th, 8:00 AM for St Patrick's Day delivery), for curbside pickup by ordering at https://order.ehungry.com/Elis-Cheesecake (6701 W. Forest Preserve Dr., Chicago), Mon-Fri, 9-4pm and Sat, 10am-4 pm, closed Sunday, at Eli's Cheesecake at O'Hare Airport (United Terminal 1, B concourse), at Dom's Kitchen & Market (2730 N Halsted St., Chicago) and by-the-slice at Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen (1141 S. Jefferson St., Chicago).

Green River Soda is available at Sprecher Brewery, 701 W. Glendale Ave, Glendale, Wisconsin. Order online at https://bit.ly/greenriver1919 and in stores including Woodman's Market, Jewel-Osco, Binny's, Angelo Caputo's Fresh Markets, Tony's Fresh Market, Pete's Fresh Market, Meijer, Mariano's and more locations throughout the Midwest and select national markets.

SOURCE Eli's Cheesecake
"We believe in protecting food, people and the planet. This agreement marks an important milestone on our journey towards delivering on our ambitious 2030 sustainability agenda. The agreement builds on the European VPPA agreement announced late in 2021, which covers 80% of our European electricity usage", says Thomas Guest, Deputy CEO of Huhtamaki.

The renewable energy covered by the agreement will be sourced from a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources' Inertia Wind Energy Center in the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) North Zone, in Texas. The approximately 300-megawatt project is expected to be operational by the end of 2022 and to save more than 71,000 tons of CO 2 emissions annually, equivalent to the average electricity usage of more than 12,000 homes in the United States.*

"We applaud Huhtamaki's commitment to sustainability and are pleased to be able to support the company's renewable energy goals. This will also create significant economic stimulus for the local community, creating good jobs and additional tax revenue", says Matt Handel, Senior Vice President of Development for NextEra Energy Resources.

"We have already taken a series of pioneering steps on our journey to a sustainable future, with the intent to reach carbon-neutral production by 2030 while optimizing usage of resources, including energy, water, and waste. The VPPA enables us to make a significant leap forward in delivering on our ambitious sustainability agenda and scope 2 emissions reduction target in line with our science-based targets. It also contributes to adding more green electricity into the U.S. energy mix", says Thomasine Kamerling EVP Sustainability and Communications.

Huhtamaki's science-based targets were validated and approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative in 2021. The company is committed to limiting the global temperature rise to well below 2C in its operations and value chain. It will reduce its electricity greenhouse gas emissions by 27.5% by 2030 and greenhouse gas emissions from its product end-of-life by 13.5% also by the same timeframe. To achieve these targets, the company has to address its Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Currently, a large portion of Huhtamaki's Scope 2 emissions relate to purchased electricity and can thus be addressed with further adoption of renewable electricity.

*Reference: www.epa.gov

Global: Arto Grondahl, Media Relations Manager, tel. +358 (0)10 686 7107

North America: Wess Hudelson, Communications Manager, tel. +1 913-583-8268

HUHTAMAKI OYJ

Global Communications

Notes to editors

A Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) is a contract structure in which a power buyer (or off taker) agrees to purchase a project's renewable energy for a pre-agreed price. In this agreement, the utility-scale solar project receives the market price at the time the energy is sold. Source: https://bit.ly/3F3BMxh

Huhtamaki signed the first Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPA) with BayWa r.e., a global renewable energy developer in December 2021. The agreements form the largest solar VPPA for the packaging industry in Europe, as well as the first major solar VPPA by a Finnish company. The 200 GWh agreements cover approximately 80% of the company's current electricity usage in Europe, where it has 18 manufacturing sites in 10 countries. Find out more https://bit.ly/3H3UqVQ

About Huhtamaki

Huhtamaki is a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world, enabling wellbeing and convenience. Our innovative products protect on-the-go and on-the-shelf food and beverages, ensuring hygiene and safety, and help prevent food waste. We embed sustainability in everything we do. We are committed to achieving carbon neutral production and designing all our products to be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2030.

We are a participant in the UN Global Compact and EcoVadis has awarded Huhtamaki with the Gold medal for performance in sustainability. To play our part in managing climate change, we have set science-based targets that have been approved and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

With 100 years of history and a strong Nordic heritage we operate in 38 countries and 114 operating locations around the world. Our values Care Dare Deliver guide our decisions and help our team of 19,600 employees make a difference where it matters. Our 2021 net sales totaled EUR 3.6 billion. Huhtamaki Group is headquartered in Espoo, Finland and our parent company, Huhtamaki Oyj, is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. Find out more about how we are protecting food, people and the planet at www.huhtamaki.com.

SOURCE Huhtamaki Oyj
"As one of the leading automakers in safety designations by IIHS, this achievement represents a significant performance by our engineering and safety teams and further validates the laser-like focus that we have for the safety of our customers and all road users, said Brian Latouf, chief safety officer, Hyundai Motor North America. "We will continue on our journey for a world-class North American safety office, through our new Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory and child passenger educational safety efforts recently announced during the Chicago Auto Show."

Hyundai products receiving 2022 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ ratings include:

2022 Elantra TOP SAFETY PICK with specific headlights

2022 Sonata TOP SAFETY PICK with specific headlights

2022 Venue TOP SAFETY PICK with specific headlights

2022 Tucson TOP SAFETY PICK+

2022 Palisade TOP SAFETY PICK+

2022 Santa Fe TOP SAFETY PICK+ built after July 2021

2022 Santa Cruz TOP SAFETY PICK with specific headlights

2022 NEXO TOP SAFETY PICK+

To qualify for an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+, the higher of the Institute's two awards, vehicles must earn good ratings in all six IIHS crash-worthiness evaluations, including the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side roof strength and head restraint tests. Additionally, vehicles must be available with a front crash prevention system that earns advanced or superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations and good or acceptable headlights must be standard across all trim levels.

The IIHS award criteria remain unchanged from last year, but, beginning in 2023, IIHS will add two new evaluations to the award requirements. For more information, visit IIHS.org.

Safety reminder  Please buckle-up! Seat belts save lives every day. Always wear seat belts and use appropriate restraints for all child passengers.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs and electrified vehicles. Our 820 dealers sold more than 738,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2021, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IDX, a leading privacy platform and data breach response provider, announced that they are the recipients of Javelin Strategy & Research's prestigious Leader in Detection category of its 2022 Javelin Identity Protection Service Provider Scorecard for both its business-to-consumer and business-to-business channels.

"We're incredibly pleased to have earned Javelin's distinction as an identity protection leader in detection," said Tom Kelly, president and CEO of IDX. "We are laser-focused on providing identity and privacy solutions to enterprises for data breach response and to protect their workforces and customers, and this recognition further establishes our authority in this marketplace."

Javelin's scorecard evaluated 17 leading identity theft protection vendors in total and measured the offerings in 101 criteria across three categories: prevention, detection, and resolution. IDX was recognized as "leader" in the detection category for both its business-to-consumer and business-to-business channel offerings. Learn more about Javelin's 2022 Identity Protection Service Provider Scorecard here.

In addition to this recognition, IDX also recently snagged three awards at the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, managed nearly 1,000 data breaches in the past year, and expanded capabilities on their flagship, IDX Privacy Platform, by adding a military-grade password manager integrated with a service for checking passwords compromised on the dark web.

About IDX:

IDX is a proven partner in digital privacy protection. Thousands of organizations and over 40 million individuals rely on IDX to protect sensitive personal information from the growing threat of cybercrime. As the nation's largest provider of data breach response services, IDX is trusted by both public and private sector clients to serve as an unparalleled strategic partner in data protection. Visit www.idx.us for more information.

SOURCE IDX
Largest funding round in the Digital Healthcare services space

BANGALORE, India, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MediBuddy, India's largest end-to-end digital healthcare platform, has raised USD 125 million in Series C funding from Quadria Capital and Lightrock India along with participation from existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners, India Life Sciences Fund III, Rebright Partners, JAFCO Asia, TEAMFund LP, FinSight Ventures, InnoVen Capital, Stride Ventures, and Alteria Capital.

MediBuddy provides its users with 24x7 access to specialist doctors via video calls, doorstep medicine delivery, at-home lab tests, mental health support, and other integrated healthcare services. The platform has successfully catered to the healthcare needs of over 3 crore Indians.

Having recently onboarded megastar Amitabh Bachchan as its official brand ambassador, MediBuddy is ready to scale to new heights and make high-quality healthcare more accessible to a billion Indians.

With the new round of funding, the comprehensive healthcare platform will further invest in customer awareness, hiring, strengthening technology platforms including data science capabilities, clinical research, and product development.

Tejasvi Ravi, Principal & Healthcare lead, Lightrock India, said, "MediBuddy is playing a critical role in organising primary healthcare services, improving quality and convenience even as it expands access across India including Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. The leadership team have a remarkable understanding of consumer need and have scaled their reach and services to a leadership position. MediBuddy's care-platform provides seamlessly integrated care that is leading the way in increasing uptake of primary healthcare and helping millions of customers stay healthy."

Dr Amit Varma, Managing Partner and Co-founder, Quadria Capital, said, "Digital Healthcare is witnessing an unprecedented growth and over the next decade digital infrastructure will revolutionise the way people consume healthcare services. MediBuddy has already achieved a leadership position in the digital healthcare industry while demonstrating superior unit economics. We are happy to support MediBuddy in further consolidating its position and filling the gaps that exist in digital healthcare."

Satish Kannan, Co-founder, and CEO, MediBuddy, said, "From the inception of MediBuddy, we have envisioned making high-quality healthcare easily accessible to a billion people in the country. Digitisation of the healthcare industry has helped people living even in the most remote parts of the country avail timely medical care by professionals. With the latest round of funding, we will capitalise on strengthening our network of healthcare service providers and our team while launching new services on the platform. As always, we will continue to be at the forefront of the digital transformation of India's healthcare industry."

The current population of India stands at about 1.38 billion, and access to high-quality healthcare is the need of the hour. The primary e-health space in India is still at its nascent stages with low penetration levels; the Government of India has also acknowledged the same with a boost in the budget to enable and support digital healthcare platforms.

SOURCE MediBuddy
PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, blockchain infrastructure provider InfStones (https://infstones.com/) announced the close of $33 million in Series B financing from Susquehanna International Group (SIG), Dragonfly Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, DHVC, A&T, INCE Capital, and Value Internet Fund. InfStones previously raised $12 million in seed and Series A financing, bringing the company's total funding to $45 million.

In tandem with the funding, InfStones is launching a powerful, easy-to-use new front-end user interface that lets clients deploy nodes within minutes. Available starting today are public and dedicated API gateways and node management services, all of which are accessible via a self-service portal. The public API, which allows clients to deploy nodes with the click of a button, is currently available for Binance Smart Chain (BSC), BSC Archival Data, Ethereum, and NEO, with support coming for Cosmos and other chains.

"With InfStones, we're created the world's most powerful blockchain development platform with robust API features that gives developers integration and access to over 50 blockchains out of the box. InfStones gives more cross-chain access than any other platform in the world and includes Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Cardano, Polygon, Polkadot, Solana, Chainlink, and many more. . We don't compromise reliability, scalability, or speed despite having one of the world's most easy to use, one-click deployment features.Our goal is to bring the AWS experience to Web3." said Dr. Zhenwu Shi, CEO of InfStones.

As the most expansive infrastructure Platform as a Service (PaaS) provider for the blockchain industry, InfStones provides services to a wide variety of institutional clients and supports tens of thousands of nodes on more than 50 chains, including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Cardano, Polygon, Polkadot, Solana, Chainlink, and more. InfStones' unified blockchain infrastructure makes it much easier for crypto exchanges, wallets, custodians, asset managers, analytics providers, and more to enter the blockchain space and adopt the technology.

"The next phase of blockchain will be focused on ease of use, not only for end-users but also for the builders. InfStones is simplifying a process that has been historically complex, without compromising reliability, security, scalability, and control. This will lead the way for a new era of blockchain growth that will change the way companies across a variety of verticals enter and build in the space," said Michael Yuan, Partner at SIG.

With the new funding, InfStones plans to triple its team and expand support to more than 100 chains and protocols. Platform advancements and continued technology research and development are also on the agenda, as the provider positions itself as the "AWS of Web3."

"Just as AWS has made it easy for companies to deploy applications across servers, storage, and databases, InfStones is making it simple to deploy nodes, APIs, and other services. Their platform helps reduce the barriers to entry for new companies that are looking to incorporate blockchain technology into their stack," said Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly Capital.

The fundraising comes at an opportune time for InfStones as blockchain economy continues to grow exponentially, and the demand for a high-performance cross-chain development platform with rapid and scalable node deploment has become essential for decentralization and Dapp development.

About InfStones

Founded in 2018 with offices across three countries and two continents, InfStones is the world's leading blockchain infrastructure provider. The company's core team is composed of senior engineers and business leaders from well-known tech and financial companies across the world.

InfStones is dedicated to bringing down the barriers to connecting with the blockchain, allowing clients to quickly build their applications on a large variety of blockchain networks. Currently, InfStones provides services to hundreds of institutional clients around the globe, supporting tens of thousands of nodes on more than 50 major blockchains.

Learn more about InfStones here: https://infstones.com/

SOURCE InfStones
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I thought there should be an improved toilet seat design to assist those who are obese" said an inventor, from Midlothian, Va., "so I invented the KING ROYAL. My design provides a natural, comfortable means for individuals to use the facilities on their own."

The patent-pending invention increases support for obese individuals. It also enhances comfort and it protects against bacteria, germs and backsplash. The invention features a durable and ergonomic design that is easy to install and use so it is ideal for obese individuals as well as the general population. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.

The original design was submitted to the Richmond sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-RHO-1308, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve Stallard, the managing member of Mortgage Specialists International (MSI), Williams & Williams Auction, and I Property Claims (IPC) announced that he has entered into a definitive sales agreement to acquire the investor claims division of Dimont & Associates, LLC. "This transaction represents a key milestone for our company, our customers, and our team as we continue to execute on our strategy to deliver the most comprehensive end-to-end default solution in the industry," said Stallard. "Once the sale is completed, the investor claims division will operate as Investor Claim Solutions, LLC (ICS) and will be led by our newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Kimberly Williams." The announcement was made at the annual Mortgage Bankers Association Servicing Solutions Conference & Expo currently being held in Orlando, Fl.

Laura MacIntyre, President DIMONT & Associates LLC, said, "It was our intent to a sell the investor claims business to a company with deep roots in the claims business to ensure our clients received the best service. We are transitioning our extensive pipeline of clients and are excited about the immediate success ICS will bring to the mortgage industry. Kim Williams and team has a track record of success and will further grow and develop this business. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to transition our investor business line to such an innovative and well positioned company."

Kimberly Williams is a 30+ year industry veteran with extensive experience in the investor claims space and a background in leading key initiatives in technology development and business process improvement while at Fannie Mae and First American. "With my experience and passion for adopting technology, improving processes, and developing highly effective teams, I believe that working with Stallard and the family of companies represents the next logical step in providing the most effective end-to-end default solution in the industry, and I am very excited to be part of this team." said Williams.

For more information, please visit http://www.investorclaimsolutions or call 972.665.6816

SOURCE Investor Claim Solutions
KABUL, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce has pledged to promote standardization of quality requirements for oil refineries, a ministry statement said on Thursday.

"Oil refineries serve an important role in the production and transportation of fuels. All challenges facing the oil refineries should be removed and the factories should be standardized in accordance with the national administration's standards," Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi was quoted in the statement as saying.

The minister made the remarks at a meeting, attended by representatives of Afghan oil refineries, officials from the ministry and a team from Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, held on Wednesday, according to the statement.

The meeting tasked a technical team to investigate into problems concerning quality requirements in the oil and petroleum sector, according to the statement.

The acting minister assured the representatives of the refineries of providing a technical workshop for engineers and experts of the oil refineries, the statement added. 
Before the start of COVID-19, customers living overseas were able to see the actual products in the stores and shop, but now that KAMAWANU has entered the age of the new normal and the environment has changed drastically, KAMAWANU's products are only available in a limited number of stores overseas. In addition, KAMAWANU has been receiving many requests from overseas users to purchase products through the official online store and SNS. With this opportunity, KAMAWANU has decided to open a global online site "KAMAWANU Global Online Store" with the hope of "communicating and delivering" made-in-Japan items to users around the world.

The product lineup consists of four categories: the mainstay tenugui, which has more than 100 types of classic and modern patterns; the cotton and linen tenugui, which is a pleasant blend of fabrics; the scarf, which can be used as a scarf or hair bandanna; and the pocket square, which is a pea-sized tenugui that can also be used as a cocktail chief.

Enhanced online content linked to SNS

Share the HOW TO USE of Tenugui with the worldwide

What's "The Tenugui Times"?

KAMAWANU will set up "The Tenugui Times", a content linked to Instagram, on the online site. When customers post on Instagram with the hashtag #TenuguiTimes, it will appear on the corresponding page, and by sharing not only their own usage but also that of other users, the content will allow for two-way communication between the brand and users online.

Sending out information on how to use tenugui according to the scene.

On this website, KAMAWANU will sequentially release videos specializing in "how to use". The videos will suggest how to use them in daily life, focusing on dining, kitchen, and fashion. Even those who are new to using tenugui can discover easy-to-understand stylings and ideas.

Two pop-up stores in New York and San Francisco

In celebration of the opening of KAMAWANU Global Online Store, KAMAWANU will be opening pop-up stores in New York and San Francisco from Tuesday, March 1st to Monday, March 7th, 2022. This pop-up store will be held in two locations, New York and San Francisco, at FRONT GENERAL STORE, a popular vintage store that attracts customers from all over the world, and SF76, an interior design store that introduces Japanese lifestyle products to the American public. The tenugui will be displayed in their original packaging during the event.

FRONT GENERAL STORE

Official website: https://frontgeneralstore.com/

SF76

Official website: https://www.sf-76.com/

What is TENUGUI: The spirit of playing, various ways to use, the tenugui of Kamawanu.

Tenugui is said to have been used since the Heian period (around the 9th century). To wipe one's hands and face. To wrap things. For cleaning up. It is a versatile item that has been rooted in the lives of Japanese people since ancient times and can be used for a variety of purposes. The appeal of tenugui is that the more one washes it, the softer it becomes to the touch. It comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. It is a daily necessity that can be used for a long time and is a small artifact in the daily life.

TENUGUI is sustainable: The more one washes it, the more it takes on its own flavor.

Made in JAPAN

Japan's world-renowned hand-dyeing technique, "Chu-sen". Chu-sen is a technique of hand dyeing by pouring dye into the yarn, which was established in the Meiji era and spread only in Japan. The fabric is dyed with dye all the way down to the yarn, so the fabric does not become hard, and it absorbs water easily and dries easily. The pattern is reversible, and the more users wash it, the more it becomes tasty, so they can enjoy the changes over time. Dyeing is done by hand by craftsmen. The dyeing process differs depending on the weather and humidity, so adjusting the hardness of the dye and resist paste according to the temperature and weather is a feat of many years of experience. Even so, each piece is unique, which is a charm. The more buyers use them, the softer they become to the touch, and the more the dyed colors and fabric gradually become familiar. Just like denim, people can enjoy growing them.

Sustainability

Because it is made by hand-dyeing, it is not something that can be mass-produced at once, but it can be done because it can be manufactured according to demand, thus reducing production loss. Also, the waste liquid generated at the factory during production is treated appropriately, and KAMAWANU is making products in consideration of nature. KAMAWANU complies with Japan's Sewerage Law and properly treat sewage effluent in factories according to the guidelines of the municipalities where each factory is located.

Over 100 timeless designs

For this release, 100 patterns were selected from among 500 patterns. The patterns cover a wide range from classic to modern patterns. In Japan, there are many patterns that have been handed down from generation to generation that have meaning and are filled with wishes. The "Asanoha(hemp leaf)" is a wish for the growth of children, inspired by the growth of hemp, and the "Seigaiha(ocean waves)" is a symbol of good fortune, depicting waves that spread endlessly. KAMAWANU proposes lucky charms that have been loved in Japan for a long time to fit into our daily lives. On the other hand, KAMAWANU has also created many original designs for Kamawanu. The goal is to create timeless designs that will still be loved 100 years from now.

TENUGUI is versatile.

A single piece of tenugui, which combines function and design, can be used as a hand towel or bandana due to its breathability and portability, as well as a wall art or table runner to enjoy due to its diversity of designs. It is very ecological and can be used again and again for various purposes. The longer people use it, the more they will love it.

SOURCE KAMAWANU CO., LTD.
"As part of a new generation of express logistics companies with increased focus on internationalisation, J&T Express attaches significant importance to the Latin American market," said Charles Hou, Group Vice President of J&T Express. "The launch in Mexico is an integral step in the expansion of our global network, which further demonstrates the benefits of the regional sponsorship model in our global expansion. In the future, we hope to continue building our competitive advantage through refined local operations, our unique management model and technological improvements, to provide customers with quality logistics experience."

Ryan Zhang, Head of J&T Express Mexico, said, "Mexico is a logistics hub in Latin America, and home to the headquarters of many Latin American companies. It serves as an important strategic channel for J&T Express to continue its expansion in the market. This network launch is another milestone in J&T Express' international strategy, and we hope to create a pleasant courier and shipping experience for our Mexican customers through efficient and high-quality services."

Previously, J&T Express' delivery network covered ten countries and regions including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Following the successful launch of the network in Mexico, J&T Express' first stop in Latin America, the company aims to further cultivate emerging markets and expand its global footprint in the future to connect the world with greater efficiency and bring the benefits of logistic services to all.

About J&T Express

Founded in August 2015, J&T Express is a rapidly-growing international delivery company, with its core business in express services and cross-border logistics. J&T Express is committed to continuously creating integrated quality experiences for its customers globally. J&T Express' network spans eleven countries including China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Mexico, and serves over 2 billion people.

SOURCE J&T Express
CARMEL, Ind., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KAR Auction Services, Inc., d/b/a/ KAR Global (NYSE: KAR), a leading digital marketplace platform for wholesale used vehicles, has reached a definitive agreement pursuant to which Carvana will acquire the company's ADESA U.S. physical auction business. The all-cash transaction is valued at $2.2 billion and includes all auction sales, operations and staff at 56 ADESA U.S. vehicle logistics centers and exclusive use of the ADESA.com marketplace in the U.S. The agreement is closely aligned with KAR's digital strategy, and will allow KAR to focus on its portfolio of industry-leading digital marketplaces. Proceeds of the transaction will be utilized to reduce KAR's corporate debt.

"KAR has always been a leader in the digital transformation of remarketing, and this transaction firmly positions us as the premier digital marketplace provider for wholesale used vehicles," said Peter Kelly, CEO of KAR Global. "While off-premise sales have increased over the past decade and represent over 50% of our vehicle sales today, we believe we are still in the early stages of this industry evolution, and the trends are rapidly gaining momentum. Digital marketplaces provide low cost, highly efficient venues for our sellers and buyers to transact, and our leading digital brands, platforms and technology position us well to grow as digital penetration increases. This transaction will allow us to focus our investments and energy on those higher growth, higher margin digital marketplaces and on delivering the most strategic solutions to our customers. By simplifying our business, we are better positioned to lead and win in the fastest growing segments of this industry."

Under the agreement, KAR will serve as a technology partner to Carvana, supporting the ADESA.com digital marketplace and the Simulcast and Simulcast+ technology that powers in-lane virtual sales for ADESA and the majority of independent auctions today. KAR will continue to operate its OPENLANE platform that supports more than 40 private label programs representing approximately 80% of North America's off-lease inventory. KAR will also continue operating its rapidly growing digital dealer-to-dealer businesses  BacklotCars and CARWAVE in the U.S. and TradeRev in Canada  all of which experienced double-digit growth in 2021. In addition, the company will retain its ADESA Canada, ADESA U.K. and ADESA Europe businesses as well as its affiliated inspections, transportation and other services brands, including leading floorplan solutions provider AFC.

"This transaction will enable a leaner, more nimble operating model and faster long-term growth rate at KAR," said Kelly. "We believe the transaction will reduce our 2022 Adjusted EBITDA by approximately $100 million on an annual basis  net of the contribution from the commercial agreement entered into with Carvana as part of this transaction. However, we will reduce our headcount by approximately 50% while also paying down the majority of our balance sheet debt. We expect these savings, when combined with our investments and our focus on higher growth platforms, will deliver higher revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth rates, as well as higher gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA margins."

Approximately 4,500 current ADESA and KAR employees will transition to Carvana at the closing of the transaction. This will include all field personnel supporting the ADESA U.S. vehicle logistics centers as well as corporate employees and select senior and executive leaders who are primarily focused on the ADESA U.S. physical auction business.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022, with the 30-day waiting period under the HSR Act having expired on February 23, 2022. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both KAR and Carvana.

Conference Call Information:

An investor and analyst conference call and webcast has been scheduled for February 25, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. EST. The call will be available via live webcast on the investor relations page of www.karglobal.com and will be available for playback after the call. To access the call via phone, please dial (844) 778-4145 and enter pass code 3296093 at least 10 minutes prior to the call.

Advisors

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal advisor to KAR.

About KAR

KAR Auction Services, Inc. d/b/a KAR Global (NYSE: KAR), provides sellers and buyers across the global wholesale used vehicle industry with innovative, technology-driven remarketing solutions. KAR Global's unique end-to-end platform supports whole car, financing, logistics and other ancillary and related services, including the sale of nearly 2.6 million units valued at over $40 billion through our auctions in 2021. Our integrated physical, online and mobile marketplaces reduce risk, improve transparency and streamline transactions for customers in about 75 countries. Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, KAR Global has employees across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Uruguay, Europe and the Philippines. For more information and the latest KAR Global news, go to www.karglobal.com and follow us on Twitter @KARspeaks .

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release include, and KAR may make related oral, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and which are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties. In particular, statements made that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words such as "should," "may," "will," "can," "of the opinion," "confident," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "predicts," "strategy," "outlook," "initiatives," "goals," "opportunities," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include (i) KAR and Carvana may be unable to complete the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all, which may materially and adversely affect KAR's business and the price of KAR's common stock, because, among other reasons, conditions to the closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or waived; (ii) uncertainty as to the timing of completion of the proposed transaction; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the purchase agreement; (iv) risks related to disruption of management's attention from KAR's ongoing business operations; (v) the effect of the announcement or the pendency of the proposed transaction on KAR's relationships with its customers, operating results and business generally; (vi) the outcome of any legal proceedings to the extent initiated against KAR, Carvana or others related to the proposed transaction; (vii) the ability of KAR to execute on its strategy and achieve its goals and other expectations after the completion of the proposed transaction; and (viii) those other matters disclosed in KAR's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. KAR does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE KAR Global
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Great Bear Resources Ltd. (the "Company" or "Great Bear"), (TSXV: GBR) (OTCQX: GTBAF) announced today that Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross"), (TSX: K) (NYSE: KGC) has completed the previously announced acquisition of Great Bear by way of a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement").

Chris Taylor, President and CEO of Great Bear said, "After their exciting and rewarding journey from acquisition through discovery, our shareholders and local stakeholders are now well positioned to benefit from Kinross' development and operational expertise. We look forward to following Kinross' progress as they advance one of Canada's best new gold discoveries towards what we believe will be one of Canada's best new gold mines. Great Bear's management would like to thank Perry English, Rimini Exploration and Consulting, our partners at the Wabauskang and Lac Seul First Nations, and the people of the Red Lake region for their years of cooperation and support."

Under the terms of the Arrangement, Great Bear shareholders were provided the right to elect to receive C$29.00 in cash for each Great Bear common share ("Great Bear Share") or 3.8564 Kinross common shares ("Kinross Share") per Great Bear Share, both subject to pro-ration to a maximum cash consideration of approximately US$1.1 billion (C$1.4 billion) and a maximum of 80,773,353 Kinross Shares (the "Consideration"). Based on valid elections received by the election deadline, Great Bear shareholders who elected (or who were deemed to elect) to receive cash were subject to pro-ration and will receive approximately C$25.80 in cash and approximately 0.4257 Kinross Shares per Great Bear Share. Great Bear shareholders who elected to receive the shares were not subject to pro-ration.

The Arrangement also includes a payment of contingent consideration in the form of one contingent value right ("CVR") per Great Bear Share that may be exchanged for 0.1330 of a Kinross Share per Great Bear Share. The contingent consideration will be payable in connection with Kinross' public announcement of commercial production at the Dixie project, provided that a cumulative total of at least 8.5 million gold ounces of mineral reserves and measured and indicated mineral resources are disclosed. The CVRs are transferable and have a term of 10 years.

In aggregate, Kinross will pay approximately C$1.35 billion in cash and issue approximately 49.3 million Kinross shares and 59.3 million CVRs to Great Bear securityholders under the Arrangement.

The shares of Great Bear are expected to be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange on or around market close on February 25, 2022. Following the delisting, Kinross intends to apply for Great Bear to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws.

Information regarding the procedure for exchange of shares for the Consideration is provided in the Company's management information circular dated January 13, 2022 (the "Circular"). The Circular is available on SEDAR under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.greatbearresources.ca/investors/great-bear-kinross-transaction.

About Great Bear

Great Bear Resources Ltd. is a Vancouver-based gold exploration company focused on advancing its 100% owned Dixie project in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. A significant exploration drill program is currently underway to define the mineralization within a large-scale, high-grade disseminated gold discovery made in 2019, the LP Fault. Additional exploration drilling is also in progress to expand and infill nearby high-grade gold zones, as well as to test new regional targets.

Great Bear is a committed partner to all stakeholders, with a long-term vision of sustainable exploration to advance the Dixie project in a manner that demonstrates good stewardship of land, operational excellence and accountability.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect our expectations or beliefs regarding future events and the impacts of the ongoing and evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements with respect to the Consideration payable under the Arrangement, the timing of the delisting of Great Bear Shares; the contingent consideration; the pro-ration; the strengths, characteristics and potential of the Arrangement; and growth potential and expectations regarding the ability to advance the project. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, amongst others, the required court, regulatory and other consents and approvals to effect the Arrangement, the possibility that the Arrangement could be terminated under certain circumstances.

Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Such factors, among other things, include: impacts arising from the global disruption caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold or certain other commodities; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); discrepancies between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties.

Great Bear undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

SOURCE Great Bear Resources Ltd.
DENVER, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Liquid CORE Gum Company ("Liquid CORE") announced the release of FLATLINER Gum this week, a gum that showcases the effectiveness of its liquid center functional delivery system. Each piece of FLATLINER contains 130mg of natural caffeine, whereas the strongest previously available gums top out at 100mg. In conjunction with the FLATLINER launch, Liquid CORE is expanding an educational effort highlighting NIH and other studies that detail the brain-boosting and stress-reducing cognitive benefits from chewing, like enhanced memory recall. These studies show that the benefits are present for the duration the gum is chewed  which is why the form and flavor of FLATLINER were engineered to last longer and taste better.

The company also recently posted online prior studies indicating that up to 18% of caffeine never releases from traditional "pressed" or chiclet gums, emphasizing the more complete release and better experience that the Liquid CORE gum system provides. FLATLINER starts with an Ice Cherry flavor which arcs through what the company calls the Ultimate Flavor Transformation, delivering a series of unique flavors. This dynamic interaction among the functional ingredients and flavors is unique to all Liquid CORE Gum Company gums.

"The FLATLINER ingredient delivery technology can diminish the First Pass Effect, a pharmacology term that describes how bioavailability can be reduced and delayed by digestion and liver function," stated Liquid CORE COO Scott Schaible. Isolating the caffeine in the liquid center also provides the ability to customize any dose by simply squeezing a portion of the liquid from a piece. FLATLINER was engineered for long-lasting flavors that transition over time, and a smooth texture that facilitates longer chew times. Flexible dosage, physical and cognitive benefits, and an edgy brand and message combine to offer a reimagined way to enhance performance before and during any activity requiring focus and energy. FLATLINER is fast acting and non-jittery, making it ideal for pre workout. It is also perfect for gamers, truckers, college students, runners, bikers, climbers  anyone that needs peak performance with portability and convenience. NIH studies show that the act of chewing provides a superior performance experience compared to consuming functional beverages or supplements alone.

"We are excited about FLATLINER. It has the elements to highlight our Liquid CORE Gum technology while 'waking up' the consumer to the performance benefits of chewing functional gum," said Liquid CORE Founder & CEO Troy Widgery. "All eyes are on the functional gum segment. It reminds us of when Red Bull, Rockstar and Monster changed the course of carbonated soft drinks, a subcategory energizing and redefining a larger category," he continued.

About: Liquid CORE Gum Company manufactures liquid center functional Performance, Health & Wellness chewing gums at their factory in Denver, Colorado USA. The company is also developing a European factory and distribution center in Vila de Rei, Portugal to service its rapidly expanding European Partner Network that includes Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Partner Brand FIRST in the Netherlands. Zero sugar, vegan and gluten-free are the hallmark of every Liquid CORE formula. Suggested retail for FLATLINER is $5.99, and each pack has five pieces. All Liquid CORE gums contain more xylitol than any other gum in the world. For more visit LiquidCORE.store.

Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/12906456

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Liquid CORE Gum Co.
HOUSTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marcel Fadl, a specialist in building materials and surface finishes, has expanded his enterprise with Green Mid, LLC, based in Houston, Texas (USA). As a partner and Chief Executive Officer, he provides renovation project management for commercial and residential real estate. Mr. Fadl is known for introducing cutting-edge finishes into interior design and creating new techniques that allow for the unique application of architectural materials. He provides consulting and sourcing services for architects, builders, interior designers, suppliers, and consumer clients.

Marcel Fadl

Mr. Fadl was previously CEO and partner/General Manager of Espacios Arquitectonicos HM Mexico, SA de CV, an international materials distribution company based in Mexico City, Mexico. In this capacity he led business operations for multiple stores and distirbution facilities, built and negotiated vendor relationships with prestigious global brands, and provided materials for a wide range of major projects across diverse industries.

Among his notable projects, when the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was renovated to host motor racing's Grand Prix in Mexico, Mr. Fadl designed and provided flooring and restroom furnishings for the high-traffic racetrack. In healthcare, he was engaged to participate in the development of two important facilities: a new nursing school for the Mexican Red Cross, for which he provided a flooring solution that mitigated liquid absorption and joints; and the renovation of Sanatorio Durango hospital, which required a flooring surface that could accommodate stretchers, while updating the hospital's 1970's interior design.

In the retail arena, as a primary supplier to Servicios Shasa, a fashion chain with more than 100 retail stores throughout Mexico, Mr. Fadl was selected to supply materials for a new corporate brand renovation. His innovative three-tier remodeling and design strategy for numerous retail locations improved lighting and materials durability and provided a better shopping experience. Mr. Fadl also provided state-of-the-art commercial floors and restroom furnishings for the Mexico City Airport extension of Terminal 2, Gate 75, which had to withstand a seismic zone location and high foot traffic.

Additionally, as one of the first to sell and install KRION, a new generation solid surface, in Mexico, Mr. Fadl was a leader in utilizing this revolutionary material for kitchen countertops in luxury residences. In the U.S., he continues to pioneer unique design strategies that integrate groundbreaking and/or eco-friendly "green" materials with durability, design, and budget.

Media Contact:

Ellen Warren

215.669.0011

[email protected]

SOURCE Marcel Fadl
"Mars is proud to have awarded grant funds to over 46 cultural and educational institutions over the past 10 years. This has resulted in continued chocolate history research, discovery and development of educational programs that have impacted thousands of people across North America, bringing better moments to people through the rich history of chocolate," said Gail Broadright, Sr. Director Digital Sales, Marketing and User Experience, Mars Wrigley. "This year's grant winners will continue to contribute to the evolving global story of chocolate in people's lives."

"We are thrilled to be hosting the Heritage Chocolate Society again this year," stated Clifford B. Fleet III, President and CEO, Colonial Williamsburg. "The first meeting was held at Colonial Williamsburg in 2003 and seeing the impact of the grant on chocolate research and discovery during this time has been truly inspiring. We extend our congratulations to all the grant winners."

Mars Wrigley and AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate awarded grants to the following institutions:

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth : www.umassd.edu.

: www.umassd.edu. New York Historical Society: https://www.nyhistory.org.

Henderson State University : https://www.hsu.edu.

: https://www.hsu.edu. Fortress Louisbourg Association: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/ns/louisbourg.

We Make History: https://wemakehistory.com.

Mars plans to continue to award grants on an annual basis and the submission period for the 2023 awards begins on August 30, 2022 at https://www.americanheritagechocolate.com/grants/. AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate is a line of artisanal chocolate products developed from ingredient lists from the 1750s. Developed by Mars Wrigley, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate shines a light on the stories of both tragedy and triumph throughout our collective history - from chocolate's Mesoamerican roots, dating back over 3500 years, to its place in the lives of European and Colonial American families, to its role in popular culture today. While chocolate's rich history provides context for its global journey through time, it is chocolate's future, and its stories of connection, that brings people together. The late Forrest E. Mars, Jr's passion to push the boundaries of discovery is what inspired the formation of the Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research Grant.

About AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate:

The AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate brand was developed in 2006 by Mars Wrigley to help educate consumers about the history of our multicultural nation through the engaging story of one of our most beloved foodschocolate! With a flavor profile drawn directly from the archives of chocolate's historic past, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate provides an artisanal, versatile way to eat, bake or drink a sweet taste of history. Rainforest Alliance Certified and made with no preservatives, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate currently comes in four formats: Tasting Squares, Tablet Bars, Grated Chocolate for baking/drinking and Gourmet Hot Cocoa. AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate is sold in over 50 fine gift shops at historic sites, museums and historic inns across the USA and Canada. The brand can also be found on Amazon.com, at M&M's World in New York City and Las Vegas, and at the Ethel M chocolate store in Henderson, Nevada.

Learn more about AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate at www.Facebook.com/AmericanHeritageChocolate, on Instagram at @AmericanHeritageChocolate, Twitter @Choc_history, Tumblr @americanheritagechocolate.tumblr.com, and on Pinterest @Chochistory.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and Petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world's best-loved brands including DOVE, EXTRA, M&M's, MILKY WAY, SNICKERS, TWIX, ORBIT, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, SKITTLES, BEN'S ORIGINAL, WHISKAS, COCOAVIA, and 5; and take care of half of the world's pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses, including AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, and VCA.

We know we can only be truly successful if our suppliers and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles  Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom  inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Contact: Valerie Donati

Brand Building Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Mars Wrigley
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Mining Drills and Breakers Market by Machinery Type (Drills and Breakers), Business (Original Equipment and Aftersales), and Application (Metal Mining, Mineral Mining and Coal Mining): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030." According to the report, the global mining drills and breakers industry generated $13.58 billion in 2020, and is estimated to reach $20.67 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.1% from 2021 to 2030.

Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities

Rise in demand for underground mining equipment and surge in demand for coal, metal, and mineral mine drive the growth of the global mining drills and breakers market. However, strict government regulations related to mining operations hinder the market growth. On the other hand, technological advancements in the mining sector and rise in investments in the mining industries present new opportunities in the coming years.

Download Sample PDF: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/5267

Covid-19 Scenario

Production activities of different machinery types of drills and breakers stopped completely or partially due to lockdown restrictions. Moreover, shortage of raw materials and disruptions in the supply chain led to halt in production activities.

The demand from construction and industrial sectors reduced considerably due to disruptions in daily activities. These sectors began operations with full capacities post-lockdown and the demand for drillers and breakers rose steadily.

The drills segment to maintain its lead position by 2030

Based on machinery type, the drills segment held the largest market share in 2020, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global mining drills and breakers market, and is expected to maintain its lead position by 2030. This is attributed to development in transport and conveyance sector and increased mineral fertilizers for advancing agriculture activities. However, the breakers segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period, owing to rise in usage of artificial sand in the construction sector and surge in mining operations that need breakers such as tunnel breakers, heat-resistant breakers, and stationary breakers.

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The metal mining segment to maintain its leadership status based in terms of revenue by 2030

Based on application, the metal mining segment accounted for nearly half of the global mining drills and breakers market in 2020, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status based in terms of revenue by 2030. Moreover, this segment is expected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period. This is attributed to surge in demand from the automotive, aerospace, and construction industries along with need for premium metals such as titanium, diamond, and platinum in developing countries. The research analyzes the segments including mineral mining and coal mining.

Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, contributed to the highest market share in 2020, accounting for nearly half of the total market share of the global mining drills and breakers market, and is estimated to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Moreover, this region is projected to witness the largest CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. This is attributed to rise in demand for minerals and precious metals such as gold, diamond, silver, and platinum along with surge in need for coal.

Leading Market Players

Boart Longyear

Caterpillar, Inc.

Doosan Corporation

Atlas Copco AB

Epiroc AB

Furukawa Co., Ltd.

GEODRILL Limited

Komatsu Ltd.

Metso Outotec Corporation

Sandvik AB

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ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a research report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global mining equipment market is estimated to gain a valuation of US$ 345 Bn by 2031. The market is projected to register growth at a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period, 2021-2031.

Increasing industrialization and rising urban population globally are leading to a surge in the need for natural resources, including oil and minerals. As a result, the global mining industry is expanding, which, in turn, is driving the demand prospects in the mining equipment market.

Players operating in the global mining equipment market are increasing their production capabilities in order to fulfil rising demand for different equipment such as crushers, mining drills & breakers, screening equipment, surface mining tools, and mineral processing equipment.

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Due to rise in awareness pertaining to environmental issues, the demand for environmental-friendly mining tools has increased. Hence, manufacturers are focusing on catering to the current market demand. Moreover, players in the global mining equipment market are developing highly dependable machineries that are safe to the environment. Additionally, several companies from developing countries are utilizing the hybrid technology for manufacturing mining equipment in order to adopt sustainability, according to a TMR report on the global mining equipment market.

The mining equipment market in Asia Pacific is prognosticated to maintain leading position during the forecast period, owing to the expansion of the mining industry in the region. In addition, rise in demand for minerals and metal from regional end-use industries is resulting into increased mining activities, which, in turn, is fueling the sales of mining equipment in Asia Pacific. Moreover, the Asia Pacific mining equipment market is being driven by several factors, including rising construction activities, rapid urbanization in several emerging economies, and infrastructure development activities in the region.

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Mining Equipment Market: Key Findings

Several mining equipment manufacturers are focusing on improving the safety of products in order to help in prevention and reduction of health hazards and accidents, owing to mining activities. The use of technological advancements in latest mining equipment is resulting into advanced safety of workforces at mining locations. The factor is boosting the sales growth in the global mining equipment market.

Companies engaged in the mining activities are increasing the use of technological advancements such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in mining processes. This factor is resulting into increased opportunities for players in the mining equipment market. Moreover, the market is being driven by increased penetration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and rise in the acceptance of digitalization and automation in the mining industry.

Smart and efficient mining equipment are being increasingly adopted by end users, owing to several advantages such as the ability of these equipment to offer safety to the workforce at distant locations. This factor is contributing to the growth of the global mining equipment market.

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Mining Equipment Market: Growth Boosters

Surge in the number of mining activities globally is boosting the sales prospects in the global mining equipment market

Increase in demand for metal and minerals from a wide range of end-use industries is fueling business avenues in the mining equipment market

Mining Equipment Market: Key Players

Some of the key players profiled in the report are:

Liebherr Group

Caterpillar Inc.

Komatsu Ltd

Atlas Copco

BelAZ

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd

Deere & Company

Sandvik AB

AB Volvo

Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd.

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Mining Equipment Market Segmentation

By Equipment Type

Mineral Processing Equipment

Mining Drills and Breakers

Pulverizers

Crushers

Screening Equipment

Surface Mining Equipment

Underground Mining Equipment

Others

By End-use

Coal Mining

Metal Mining

Mineral Mining

Regions

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

& Latin America

Energy & Natural Resources Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Energy & Natural Resources:

Waste Management Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/waste-management-market.html

White Pellet Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/white-pellet-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.



Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ

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Transparency Market Research

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mink oil products have gained enormous commercialization from the widespread use of these as skin moisturizer and a key part of protective element for various skin types. In recent years, the ingredients find massive use in shoe care products, thus propelling the revenue growth of the mink oil market. The global valuation of mink oil market is anticipated to reach US$ 31.70 Mn by 2031.

Mink farms have increasingly more responsive toward animal cruelty. Thus, their bottom line has witnessed a decline. However, still there exist proclivity toward sourcing animal fat without involving any cruelty. The use of mink oil has proliferated in recent years notably in leather durrant, animal feed, and cosmetics care applications.

Europe has been a hub of production of mink oil, with Denmark contributing massive avenues. The demand for genuine mink oil products is expanding the horizon for various suppliers of emollients and lubricants products. Healing properties of mink oil make this as highly popular in cosmetic and personal care industry, where the oil acts a natural moisturizer.

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Key Findings of Mink Oil Market Study

Mink Oil Gathered Traction for Leather Care Products: Rise in consumption of leather products has spurred the sales of products in the mink oil market. An enormous pace of urbanization has fueled massive profitable avenues in the leather durrant segment during the forecast period. Substantial consumption has stemmed from increased awareness regarding the fatty acids derived from animals for making leather soft and flexible. Mink oil products have been popularized as leather moisturizer.

Rise in consumption of leather products has spurred the sales of products in the mink oil market. An enormous pace of urbanization has fueled massive profitable avenues in the leather durrant segment during the forecast period. Substantial consumption has stemmed from increased awareness regarding the fatty acids derived from animals for making leather soft and flexible. Mink oil products have been popularized as leather moisturizer. Use in Cosmetics to Rise Substantially During Forecast Period: Rise in demand for mink oil for cosmetics has propelled vast revenue streams in recent years, note the TMR study on the mink oil market. Further, wide use in skincare product has underpinned revenue growth, find the TMR analysts in the mink oil market. Of note, animal products are being discouraged in some countries, thus making a dent on the revenue growth of the mink oil market. The cosmetics & personal care segment is projected to advance at CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period.

Rise in demand for mink oil for cosmetics has propelled vast revenue streams in recent years, note the TMR study on the mink oil market. Further, wide use in skincare product has underpinned revenue growth, find the TMR analysts in the mink oil market. Of note, animal products are being discouraged in some countries, thus making a dent on the revenue growth of the mink oil market. The cosmetics & personal care segment is projected to advance at CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period. Producers of Emollients Leverage Mint Oil for Value Addition Across Multiple Industries: The cosmetics & personal care segment is projected to expand at CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period. Apart from cosmetic application, the demand for animal feed additives has expanded the sales, find the TMR study on the mink oil market.

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Mink Oil Market: Key Drivers

The demand for premium-care skincare products worldwide is a key driver of the mint oil market. Mink oil have shown to have long-lasting effects on skincare.

Cosmetics product manufacturers are continuously expanding their product portfolio in production and marketing of fatty acids. This has fueled the prospects of the mink oil market. On the other hand, fur farming has attracted criticism over the past few years.

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Mink Oil Market: Lucrative Regions

Latin America is a highly lucrative region in the mink oil market. The valuation of the regional market is projected to advance at CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period.

is a highly lucrative region in the mink oil market. The valuation of the regional market is projected to advance at CAGR of during the forecast period. Opportunities in East Asia are growing substantially. The regional market is projected to expand substantially in the next few years.

Mink Oil Market: Key Players

Some of the prominent players are AILI Inc., Fitohim farm LLC, PFAU Oil, Spec Environment solution, Touch of Mink, and Mink Seal company

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Global Mink Oil Market Segmentation

Mink Oil Market, by Grade

Low Grade

Premium Grade

Mink Oil Market, End-use

Leather Durrant

Animal Feed Additives

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Other

Mink Oil Market, by Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

South Asia

East Asia

Oceania

Middle East & Africa

Food & Beverages Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Food & Beverages:

Guaiacwood Essential Oil Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/guaiacwood-essential-oil-market.html

Honeysuckle Essential Oil Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/honeysuckle-essential-oil-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ

Contact

Mr. Rohit Bhisey

Transparency Market Research

State Tower,

90 State Street,

Suite 700,

Albany NY - 12207

United States

USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/mink-oil-market.htm

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Brunei officially unveil the 18th Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting on Thursday, with government budget, development plans, post-pandemic recovery on the table for discussion.

The annual parliamentary session was inaugurated by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and will focus on the deliberation and approval of the fiscal budget bill for the financial year 2022 to 2023, which will come into effect on April 1, 2022.

The Sultan said in his speech that LegCo is a strategic platform to deliberate on matters for the well-being of the people and country.

He also touched on several matters related to initiatives from the government for the welfare of the people and country, including the roadmap in the 12th National Development Plan, food security, price monitoring, foreign direct investment projects as well as efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agriculture, agri-food, fisheries and livestock sectors. 
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of controversy, 65 acres of undeveloped residential land near the Franklin Reservoir in Beverly Hills, also known as the Coldwater Development, is being sold under authority of the United States Bankruptcy court, and as directed by court appointed Trustee, Sam Leslie.



65+ Acres in Beverly Hills set for Bankruptcy Auction.

The 6 parcels, which sit just west of Coldwater Canyon and Royalton Drive, north of Sunset Boulevard, range in size from 4.92 to 21.29 acres, and have some of the most spectacular views in the city. They are owned by two holding companies, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January of 2021. After almost one year of contemplated sales, in December of 2021 the Bankruptcy Court assigned an independent trustee to take over the liquidation process to ensure a fair, transparent and final disposition of the land.



Mohammad Hadid, owner/member of both Coldwater Development LLC and Lydda Lud LLC, purchased two of the parcels in 2006 and the remaining four in 2011 when he began grading for his planned development. Since then, however, the project has been plagued with a number of development delays. According to one source, the delays were largely attributable to Hadid's grandiose vision, which contemplated a large compound with eleven homes, at least one mega mansion of 100,000 square feet, three guard towers and a helipad. This development plan both conflicted with local zoning ordinances, and enraged locals who feared their treasured hiking spot along the Hastain trail would become an over-developed eyesore. In September of 2011, a local, Ellen Scott, organized "Friends of the Hastain Trail" with six or seven likeminded Hastain Trail hikers, and filed a lawsuit to stop development and secure a prescriptive easement to the trail. While Hadid offered to relocate and enhance the trail for the benefit of the hikers, the legal process persisted, causing a five- year development delay.



In 2016, Hadid won an appellate court decision that resolved doubt about his, or a future owner's rights to develop the land, subject to adherence to local zoning and permitting requirements; however, his ability to service his debt on the property while funding the development ultimately resulted in the bankruptcy filings and now the forced sale of the land by the Trustee.



The properties are being offered through a live and webcast auction conducted by ThreeSixty Asset Advisors and Tranzon Asset Strategies, who have been retained by the court appointed Trustee and employed by Bankruptcy Court Order. The auction, being billed as the Royalton Auction, will take place on March 24, with each parcel offered both individually and then grouped in combinations as bidders may desire. The final bids will be awarded based on the highest and best prices achieved.



"Ours is not to decide what will be done with the property. We know many would like it to remain for the exclusive use of hikers, but it is privately owned property" said Jeff Tanenbaum, President of ThreeSixty Asset Advisors one of the firms running sale process. "Our mandate is to identify interested parties and sell the properties to the highest and best bidders, whether that's one entirety buyer or six individual purchasers." Mr. Leslie echoes this view, adding that "the auction provides an equal opportunity for one or more buyers to purchase parcels to develop their dream home, or for a philanthropist to purchase the land for conservation. Plus, with over 65 acres available, there's plenty of space for tasteful development and hiking trails to co-exist."



Undeveloped parcels of this size in the prestigious 90210 Beverly Hills zip code are a rarity, especially with three-hundred-sixty-degree views. However, a recent sale of Enchanted Hill  a comparable 120- acre property  sold for a reported $65 million dollars to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt  a price many consider a bargain. At one point, Jeff Bezos had reportedly offered $90 Million for the property. Meanwhile, buyers of the Coldwater Development land would find good company nearby. In addition to the many celebrity residents of the area, producer, director, and actor Tyler Perry's property - where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently enjoyed an extended stay - abuts the north end of the Coldwater lots.



"These are spectacular parcels, and some of the last of their kind given their size, location and amazing views," points out Mike Walters, President of Tranzon Asset Strategies, the real estate auction firm selling the property. "A recent appraisal, which considered only three homesites on the six parcels, estimated the land value after site development at $150 million and 'as-is' at $131 million. Of course, being sold at auction, the value will ultimately be determined by the buyers."



Interested parties can obtain more information about the properties and auction at www.tranzon360.com .

Media Contact:

Tiffeny Cook

(888) 314.1314

[email protected]

SOURCE Tranzon 360
OSLO, Norway, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Q4 and twelve-month 2021 results:

MPC Container Ships ASA ("MPCC" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries the "Group") today published its unaudited financial report for the twelve-month period ended 31 December 2021.

Total revenues of USD 142.5 million in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: USD 118.5 million ).

in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: ). EBITDA of USD 162.7 million in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: USD 73.6 million ).

in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: ). Net profit of USD 127.9 million in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: USD 46.5 million ).

in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: ). Adjusted EBITDA of USD 92.4 million and adjusted net profit of 66.6 million in Q4 2021.

and adjusted net profit of 66.6 million in Q4 2021. Earnings per share of USD 0.29 in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: USD 0.12 ).

in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: ). Utilization of 97.6% in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: 97.7%).

Average time charter equivalent ("TCE") of USD 23,103 per day in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: USD 19,656 per day).

per day in Q4 2021 (Q3 2021: per day). Cash and cash equivalents of USD 180.3 million as at 31 December 2021 .

as at . Equity ratio of 70.4% and leverage ratio of 22.4%.

As at 31 December 2021, the Group owns and operates 68 container vessels, whereof 61 are fully owned and 7 are operated in a joint venture.

For FY 2022, management currently expects, subject to certain assumptions, revenues in the range of USD 550-575 million and EBITDA in the range of USD 450-470 million, including an estimated gain of USD 40 million related to the sale of three vessels, two of which were scheduled to be delivered in Q4 2021 but were delayed to Q1 2022.

CEO Constantin Baack comments in relation to the announcement: "This quarter marks another key milestone for MPC Container Ships ASA as we release the best quarterly result and the best full-year result in the Company's history.

2021 was a remarkable year for the container shipping industry with historically good market conditions, where we continued to execute our chartering strategy by concluding 54 multi-year charter contracts at strong charter rates. Furthermore, we executed twelve highly accretive vessel acquisitions and successfully completed twelve highly profitable exits, in order to facilitate a refinancing in preparation of our distribution plan.

For MPCC, 2021 was the year where we transitioned from significant growth to a very strong value proposition on the back of high earnings visibility for the years to come.

We are pleased to have commenced with the execution of our distribution plan with an event-driven distribution of around USD 150 million paid in dividends earlier this month. Together with the first recurring dividend to our shareholders of USD 0.11 per share (around USD 50 million in total) for Q4 2021, distribution to shareholders in Q1 2022 alone totals around USD 200 million.

Recent forward fixtures concluded during the initial weeks of 2022 illustrate the continuous strength in the container charter market. Looking ahead, we have a significant number of highly profitable charters with contracted revenues of USD 1.4 billion and a projected EBITDA backlog of around USD 1.1 billion. This earnings visibility will not only protect a strong distribution capacity for the years ahead, but will also enable us to continue to significantly delever the company. As such, MPCC will not only be perfectly positioned for substantial distributions to shareholders, but we will at the same time maintain a very high balance sheet flexibility, allowing us to selectively execute growth opportunities as they arise.

The various steps taken underlines MPCC's commitment to rational decision making and capital allocation. Going forward we will continue to place a strong emphasis on creating shareholder value by focusing on transactions that are accretive on a per share basis. With such a compelling risk-reward profile, we look forward to MPCC's value strategy continuing for years to come."

The above information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Q4 and twelve-month 2021 earnings call and webcast:

The Company will host a webcast for the presentation of the Q4 2021 results commencing on Thursday 24 February 2022 at 15:00 hours CET / 09:00 hours EDT. The presentation will be made available on the Company's webpage (https://www.mpc-container.com/en/financial-reports/) prior to the earnings call. There will be a Q&A session after the presentation.

The event is being streamed. It is recommended that you listen via your computer speakers. Please note that for optimal viewing, it is recommended not to use VPN, but instead to connect directly to the internet. Please disable pop-up blockers in order to view the content in its entirety.

The live webcast can be accessed through the following link:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/pnmy7rmm

Alternatively, participants may dial in to the earnings call using the below dial-in information:

Norwegian LocalCall Dial-In (Oslo): +47 21 56 31 62

US LocalCall Dial-In (New York): +1 (917) 720-0178

International/Toll Attendee Dial-In: +44 (0)20 3009 5710

Conference ID: 2679538

Following the earnings call, a post-call recording of the webcast will be made available on the Company's webpage (https://www.mpc-container.com/en/financial-reports/).

Further information and contact:

[email protected].

About MPC Container Ships ASA:

MPC Container Ships ASA (ticker code "MPCC") is a leading container tonnage provider with a focus on the segment below 5,000 TEU. Its main activity is to own and operate a portfolio of container ships serving intra-regional trade lanes on fixed-rate charters. The Company is registered and has its business office in Oslo, Norway. For more information, please see our website: www.mpc-container.com.

Forward-looking statements:

This announcement includes forward-looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/mpc-container-ships-asa/r/mpc-container-ships-asa-reports-q4-and-twelve-month-2021-results,c3513179

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Public/17513/3513179/ab53517e91517849.pdf MPCC Q4 2021 Financial Report

SOURCE MPC Container Ships ASA
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Bio, the pioneer in high-throughput single-cell DNA and multi-omics analysis, announced the publication of new findings from researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and the University of Miami showing six novel mutations that prevented patients with B-cell leukemia from responding to a new class of non-covalent Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors. In the paper, which published today in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), researchers from the labs of Omar Abdel-Wahab, MD, and Justin Taylor, MD, used Mission Bio's Tapestri platform to characterize cancer sample genomes at the single-cell level, thereby identifying mutational patterns in the B cell receptor pathway that could shape future treatment paradigms.

Covalent BTK inhibitors like ibrutinib have been used as a first-line long-term treatment for B cell malignancies like chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) since approval in 2016. But eventually, the majority of patients will develop treatment resistance through a mutation at cysteine residue 481 (C481), where covalent inhibitors bind BTK. To avoid this, a new generation of noncovalent BTK inhibitors is in clinical development with different binding sites. One of them, pirtobrutinib, is currently in late-stage clinical trials for patients with CLL who have failed covalent BTK inhibitors.

In the NEJM paper , the authors confirmed some patients developed resistance to pirtobrutinib, with disease progression seen in 9 of 55 patients with CLL. The researchers performed bulk genomic sequencing on samples from pirtobrutinib-resistant patients to identify resistance-associated mutations. To investigate the evolution of subclones harboring these resistance mutations, the team performed single-cell DNA sequencing on samples taken from two patients before treatment and at relapse (during pirtobrutinib treatment). These studies revealed that both primary (pre-existing) and secondary (acquired) resistance mechanisms were present. For instance, both patients had subclones with an acquired resistance-conferring BTK mutation, and one patient also had a subclone with a resistance-conferring mutation in the substrate PLC2 (downstream of BTK) prior to treatment. Notably, the Tapestri Platform allowed the investigators to identify the co-occurring mutations within each subclone, providing a picture of how new subclones evolved from pre-existing ones.

In addition, the authors found that the resistance mutations to this new class of non-covalent BTK inhibitors could also confer resistance to other non-covalent and covalent BTK inhibitors. If patients were screened at the single-cell level to identify mutational patterns like these, it could predict whether they are likely to respond to a BTK inhibitor and hence guide personalized treatment.

"We were detecting these mutations at the time of clinical resistance with conventional bulk NGS. So the question was, were these mutations present at some low degree prior to therapy, and what are the mutation combinations that emerge during therapy that underlie resistance?" said Dr. Abdel-Wahab, Director of the MSKCC Center for Hematologic Malignancies. "Tapestri is the only reliable method right now that can measure mutations at the DNA level in individual cells. It is well-recognized in the hematology field because of how many studies have used it so far."

"This impressive study is the first in humans that describes novel mechanisms of resistance to pirtobrutinib, a very promising drug that is currently in advanced clinical development," said Yan Zhang, PhD, CEO of Mission Bio. "But it's just the latest example of how Tapestri can help discern when treatment-resistance clones emerge, holding the potential to inform the course of therapy. We are proud to support academic researchers and drug development partners to turn findings like these into new ways of treating patients and advancing precision therapeutics."

To learn more about Mission Bio and the Tapestri platform, please visit www.missionbio.com .

About Mission Bio

Mission Bio is a life sciences company that accelerates discoveries and cures for a wide range of diseases by equipping researchers with the tools they need to better measure and predict our resistance and response to new therapies. Mission Bio's multi-omics approach improves time-to-market for new therapeutics, including innovative cell and gene therapies that provide new pathways to health. Founded in 2014, Mission Bio has secured investment from Novo Growth, Cota Capital, Agilent Technologies, Mayfield Fund, and others.

The company's Tapestri platform gives researchers around the globe the power to interrogate every molecule in a cell together, providing a comprehensive understanding of activity from a single sample. Tapestri is the only commercialized multi-omics platform capable of analyzing DNA and protein simultaneously from the same sample at single-cell resolution. The Tapestri Platform is being utilized by customers at leading research centers, pharmaceutical, and diagnostics companies worldwide to develop treatments and eventually cures for cancer.

Media Contact

Consort Partners for Mission Bio

[email protected]

SOURCE Mission Bio
CALGARY, AB, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Nanalysis Scientific Corp. ("the Company") (TSXV: NSCI) (OTCQX: NSCIF) (FRA: 1N1), a leader in portable MRI and NMR machines for healthcare and industrial applications, is pleased to announce that it has ranked in the top 5 performing Clean Tech and Life Sciences stocks in the 2021 TSX Venture 50, which is comprised of the top 50 from over 1,600 companies on the TSX Venture Exchange. The selected Venture 50 companies have seen tremendous growth over 2021, offered excellent returns to their shareholders, and are actively traded in the market.

"We are grateful to be recognized here as one of the top performers in 2021," said Sean Krakiwsky, Chief Executive Officer of Nanalysis. "We have had explosive growth in our business and have no intention of our momentum slowing down in 2022 and beyond."

A video of Nanalysis CEO Sean Krakiwsky discussing the company can be found here: https://vimeo.com/marketonemediagroup/review/676035652/b32bdcd682

ABOUT THE VENTURE 50

The Venture 50, the Exchange's flagship program, showcases the top performing listed companies from five industry sectors: Clean Technology and Life Sciences, Diversified Industries, Energy, Mining, and Technology. Winners are selected based on year-over-year performance across three equally-weighted criteria: market capitalization growth, share price appreciation and trading volume for the year ended December 31, 2021.

For more information visit: www.tsx.com/venture50.

About Nanalysis Scientific Corp. (TSXV: NSCI,OTCQX: NSCIF, FRA:1N1)

Nanalysis trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) in Canada with ticker symbol 'NSCI', Over the Counter (OTC) in the United States under the ticker symbol 'NSCIF', and on the Frankfurt Exchange (FRA) under the symbol '1N1'.

Nanalysis is an international business focused on capitalizing its proprietary technologies in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) that go into NMR spectrometers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Nanalysis operates out of two subsidiaries, Nanalysis Corp. and RS2D S.A.S. (RS2D).

Nanalysis Corp. is an industry leader in developing and manufacturing compact NMR spectrometers for laboratory and industrial markets. Its advanced 60 and 100 MHz spectrometers require no liquid helium or other cryogens. These devices are used by chemical professionals spanning a wide variety of industries, including oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology.

Through its European subsidiary RS2D, the Company's electronic boards and software are used in conventional NMR and MRI equipment and are being incorporated into next-gen MRI systems as well as miniaturized MRI devices.

To sign up for updates relating to Nanalysis, please complete the online form found HERE.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Nanalysis Scientific Corp.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Park Foundation today announced the official launch of ParkVentures within the organization's Outdoor Exploration initiative. ParkVentures supports programs and activities that help people create and strengthen life-long relationships with national parks, with a focus on communities that have been historically excluded from parks and may not feel a sense of belonging in the outdoors.

ParkVentures joins numerous efforts across the country to make national parks more accessible and welcoming to everyone. Tweet this Participants in Outdoor Outreachs Climbing Over Barriers Program, which promotes access and inclusion in the outdoors through rock climbing. Photo: Eh Ler Tha

"The National Park Foundation recognizes that many factors can hinder people from connecting with and being inspired by national parks," said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. "Through our new ParkVentures program, the National Park Foundation is investing in leaders and organizations who are removing barriers and bringing people together for joy-filled and meaningful experiences outdoors."

This new program supports the National Park Service's mission by expanding access to the outdoors and connecting more people to the benefits of nature.

"National parks belong to all of us as Americans, but their full benefit is only realized when everyone has access, feels welcome, and can see themselves represented in parks and the stories they tell," said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. "Efforts like ParkVentures demonstrate how strong partnerships can advance our goal that everyone has access to the outdoors no matter where they live, how much money they have, or what their background is."

While ParkVentures is a new National Park Foundation program, the push to advance equity in parks is an enduring cause. ParkVentures now joins numerous efforts across the country, including the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiativei, to make national parks and public lands more accessible and welcoming to everyone.

"No matter someone's background, zip code, or disability, every young person deserves the educational, life-enriching experiences that our beautiful public and tribally recognized traditional lands have to offer," said Angel Pena, executive director of the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project who sits on the leadership team of the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative. "As a diverse coalition of organizations across the country, the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative aims to tear down barriers to access and create new points of entry into experiencing the living ecosystems of the great outdoors, and we are excited to see the National Park Foundation supporting this type of work through their new ParkVentures program."

In its inaugural year, the ParkVentures program is supporting 58 projects that focus on the following core themes that leaders in outdoor recreation and equity spaces identify as barriers:

Representation: A lack of representation of historically excluded communities among visitors, staff, volunteers, and in materials used to raise awareness about public lands. A lack of representation prevents people from seeing themselves in parks and feeling a sense of belonging.

Accessibility: A lack of understanding for the spectrum of information and accommodations needed for people, including people with disabilities, to participate in the outdoors. A lack of accessibility inhibits participation and prevents people from feeling a sense of belonging.

Interpretation: A lack of diverse perspectives in the stories shared and historical figures featured in parks. A lack of interpretation prevents people from having a broad understanding of history, seeing themselves reflected in parks, and understanding how parks connect to their personal identities and lives.

Representation

With a primary focus of representation, the National Park Foundation is supporting projects and organizations including:

Indigenous Families Day at Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico

The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps crews work on critical projects that support the protection of the sacred resources within Petroglyph National Monument. Many of the crew members are from local Pueblos or Tribes and have deep connections to the resources located within the Monument, yet for some, working on the crew may be their first opportunity to visit the Monument and experience these connections. Indigenous Families Day will bring together Pueblo and Tribal crew members and their families, along with Pueblo and Tribal families and Elders from across the region for a special day of prayer, healing, and reflection honoring their ancestral and ongoing connections to the lands within the Monument.

Camping to Connect at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New York.

The Young Masterminds Initiative brought their Camping to Connect program to parks including Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Camping to Connect is an outdoor learning and mentorship initiative led by Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC)ii for young men of BIPOC communities living in inner cities. Participants enjoy daylong and overnight journeys to parks to learn fundamental camping and survival skills, while also exploring core values like leadership, cooperation, camaraderie, brotherhood, and accomplishment. Together, these young men broaden their minds, strengthen their confidence, and build enduring bonds, all while connecting to the outdoors in a national park setting.

"The ParkVentures grant provides us with a much-needed financial resource to create a paradigm shift in how BIPOC young men see themselves, changing the narrative of who 'belongs' in outdoor spaces, and addressing the issue of nature deficiency in urban youth," said Manny Almonte, president of the Young Masterminds Initiative.

Accessibility

With a primary focus of accessibility, the National Park Foundation is supporting projects and organizations including:

Installing an ADA Compliant Fishing Dock at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan.

The park will be able to purchase and install an ADA compliant fishing dock for Grand Sable Lake. This dock will help provide a fantastic fishing area for those needing wheelchair access to the park's shorelines. The dock will also provide an ideal place for the park's Junior Ranger Angler program, in which park rangers engage kids in interactive fishing activities and conversations about being stewards of local waterways. Beyond fishing, and just as important, this new dock will provide a more accessible option for folks who want to enjoy nature and watch a sunset over a lake.

The Climbing Over Barriers Program at Joshua Tree National Park in California.

Outdoor Outreach's Climbing Over Barriers program will help increase access to, awareness of, and stewardship of Joshua Tree National Park through rock climbing. Outdoor Outreach will engage youth from historically underrepresented communities, who face significant barriers to accessing national parksiii. Through overnight outings to the park, Outdoor Outreach will promote access and inclusion in outdoor spaces, meaningful connection with positive peers and mentors, and a culturally relevant, joyful introduction to Joshua Tree National Park.

Interpretation

With a primary focus of interpretation, the National Park Foundation is supporting projects and organizations including:

Our Home, Our Island Ambassadors Program at Virgin Islands National Park in the Virgin Islands.

This project will engage people in the St. John community as cultural ambassadors by incorporating their stories and experiences into the activities, programs, and resources offered to park visitors. Specifically, the park will create an interactive listening station in their visitor center store and a virtual self-guided listening tour that will share an oral history podcast series that includes interviews with local community members and St. Johnians who served as the park's interpretative and resource management rangers. Additionally, the park will recruit, hire, and train St. Johnians as ambassadors to help engage visitors with the stories of specific sites and trails referenced in the podcast, which was recently produced with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. The ambassadors will also receive mentoring as part of the program.

Summer Parks Program at Freedom Riders National Monument in Alabama.

Celebrating its 5th anniversary as a park in 2022, Freedom Riders National Monument's summer parks program is an eight-week program in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Central Alabama that connects local youth to their community and history through culturally relevant stories at national parks. In addition to Freedom Riders National Monument, youth will also visit nearby parks including Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and Little River Canyon National Preserve. This experience opens their eyes to the myriad ways parks relate to their personal lives and identities, helps them learn about the breadth and depth of national park jobs, and broadens their minds about what a national park can be.

View the full list of NPF ParkVentures grantees for fiscal year 2022.

By supporting affinity spaces and promoting access and a sense of belonging, the National Park Foundation is helping people experience the social, mental, and physical health benefits of spending time outside.

The National Park Foundation is investing more than $1.1 million in ParkVentures grants in fiscal year 2022, including support from ParkVentures founding partner Nature Valley and Outdoor Exploration initiative premier partner Subaru of America and supporting partner Sun Outdoors. Additional support is provided by Apple, American Airlines, EVOLVE Plant-Based Protein, and method.

"At Nature Valley we believe it's imperative to protect and preserve the outdoors for all - today and for future generations," said Emily Thomas, president of General Mills Snacks Operating Unit. "We're proud to partner with organizations like the National Park Foundation to prioritize access and inclusivity so more people and communities can get out there and experience the benefits and beauty of our national parks."

Individuals, foundations, and companies can support NPF's Outdoor Exploration initiative, including ParkVentures, by visiting the National Park Foundation website.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION

The National Park Foundation works to protect wildlife and park lands, preserve history and culture, educate and engage youth, and connect people everywhere to the wonder of parks. We do it in collaboration with the National Park Service, the park partner community, and with the generous support of donors, without whom our work would not be possible. Learn more at nationalparks.org.

i The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. initiative is receiving grant funding from the National Park Foundation's ParkVentures program.

ii In this press release, the National Park Foundation uses the language Black, Indigenous, and people of color. While the intent is to honor inclusivity and be representative of various ways that people identify, we recognize that this language does not account for all identities. We also recognize the importance and need of specificity in reference to particular communities.

iii Outdoor Outreach describes communities that experience barriers to accessing national parks as having less than three acres of parkland per 1,000 people and a median household income below $47,331.

SOURCE National Park Foundation
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 8; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 2956

Companies: 22 - Players covered include Arysta LifeScience Corporation; BASF SE; Bayer CropScience AG; Certis Europe B.V.; Corteva Agriscience, A DowDupont Company; FMC Corporation; Isagro S.p.a.; Syngenta AG and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Type (Boscalid, Fluopyram, Penthiopyrad, Fluxapyroxad, Isofetamid, Other Types)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.



Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry



ABSTRACT-



Global SDHI Fungicides Market to Reach US$3.4 Billion by the Year 2026

Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides play a critical role in protecting plants from numerous fungal diseases and infections. SDHI fungicides that come with active ingredients like fluopyram, boscalid, penthiopyrad, and fluxapyroxad are growing as effective measures against various crop diseases like gray mold. Growth in the global market is set to be fueled by the emergence of advanced products for crop protection. The issue assumes greater significance as there has of late been an increasing demand for providing and ensuring food protection to ensure the safety of a fast growing global population and for increasing the productivity of arable land worldwide. Rising global development and urbanization have reduced the total volume of arable land globally, which again will propel the market's growth. The SDHI fungicide has been growing fastest in the agricultural and turfgrass segments. SDIF fungicides have been effectively used to control turfgrass diseases and also in other resistance management initiatives. Increasing agricultural trade also has contributed to the growth of products for crop protection. The Fungicide Resistance A Committee (FRAC) lists 23 SDHI compounds currently that belong to separate chemical types.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for SDHI Fungicides estimated at US$2.5 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$3.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.6% over the analysis period. Boscalid, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 6.2% CAGR to reach US$872.4 Million by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Fluopyram segment is readjusted to a revised 8.8% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 20% share of the global SDHI Fungicides market. Boscalid, a new range of fungicide, is an odorless white crystalline solid mainly intended for use on food crops. Boscalid fungicide controls a diverse range of plant pathogens in broadacre and horticultural crops. Rising demand for high-quality fungicides from crop growers across the world is poised to inflate the demand for boscalid in the next few years. Fluopyram is a broad-spectrum fungicide formulated to suppress a broad array of deuteromycete and ascomycete diseases in many horticultures and arable crops. Rapidly changing lifestyle trends and health concerns associated with processed food are anticipated to steer the demand for farm produced fruits and vegetables over the coming years. The scenario in turn is expected to drive the market for fluopyram.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $653.3 Million in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $392.5 Million by 2026

The SDHI Fungicides market in the U.S. is estimated at US$653.3 Million in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 26.1% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$392.5 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 8.2% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 5.8% and 8.5% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 6.7% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$422.7 Million by the end of the analysis period. Europe dominates the SDHI fungicides market as there have been growing concerns in Spain about the Botrytis cinerea. Gray Mold Decay has always been a major crop malady, particularly in some European nations, especially Spain. The disease causes pre and post-harvest decay in grapes, simultaneously affecting other unrelated components and crops. SDHI fungicide is applied post-harvest to tackle the situation. The US is also a major for SDHI fungicides due to an increasing food demand in the region and for crop security.

Penthiopyrad Segment to Reach $600.7 Million by 2026

Penthiopyrad is a carboxamide fungicide formulated to control a wide spectrum of diseases on a broad variety of corps. Penthiopyrad is intended for control of fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, botrytis, various scab diseases, rots, and blights. In the global Penthiopyrad segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 8.3% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$284.8 Million will reach a projected size of US$498.9 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$55.6 Million by the year 2026. More



MarketGlass Platform

Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide.



Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android



About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.



CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



LINKS

Join Our Expert Panel

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 17; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 1521

Companies: 126 - Players covered include AGSCO Corporation; ASCOM For Carbonate & Chemicals Manufacturing; Blue Mountain Minerals; Calcinor, S.A.; Carmeuse; Carthage Crushed Limestone; Cerne Calcium Company; Chemical & Mineral Industries Pvt Ltd.; Columbia River Carbonates; Fujian Sanmu Nano Calcium Carbonate Co. Ltd.; GLC Minerals, LLC; Graymont Limited; Greer Industries, Inc.; Gulshan Polyols Ltd.; Huber Engineered Materials; Imerys S.A.; Lhoist North America; Longcliffe Quarries Ltd.; Maruo Calcium Co., Ltd.; Minerals Technologies Inc.; Mississippi Lime Company; Newpark Resources, Inc.; Okutama Kogyo Co. Ltd.; Omya AG; Pennsy Supply, Inc.; PROVALE S/A; ProvenAale SA; SCHAEFER KALK GmbH & Co. KG; SCR-Sibelco N.V.; Shiraishi Kogyo Kaisha, Ltd.; United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Type (Ground, Precipitated); Application (Paper, Paints & Coatings, Plastics, Adhesives & Sealants, Other Applications)

Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Spain; Russia; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Australia; India; South Korea; Rest of Asia-Pacific; Latin America; Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; Rest of Latin America; Middle East; Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; UAE; Rest of Middle East; Africa.



Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry



ABSTRACT-



Global Calcium Carbonate Market to Reach US$28.9 Billion by the Year 2026

Calcium carbonate is extensively used as alkalizing agent, whitening agent and mineral filler in a broad spectrum of applications across several industries. Growth in the global market is set to be driven as a result of increasing consumption of the material from end-use industries. The demand for calcium carbonate in the paper industry is anticipated to be fueled by increasing production of bulkier and brighter paper for different applications. The compound is also used widely in paints and coating industries, which has further been augmenting the market. The demand for the compound has been increasing across the plastic manufacturing industries as it is used in combination with various thermosets and thermoplastics. Growing demand of plastics from different end-use industries like electrical & electronics, packaging, and building and construction is likely to drive the consumption of calcium carbonate in the plastic industry. As the production cost for calcium carbonate is very low, it is preferred widely in various industries as a cheap ingredient. Growth in the global market post COVID-19 would be driven by improving construction activity and surging demand from various industries such as plastic, paper & pulp, packaging and automotive.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Calcium Carbonate estimated at US$23.2 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$28.9 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5% over the analysis period. Ground, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 4.7% CAGR to reach US$21.7 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Precipitated segment is readjusted to a revised 5.9% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 27.1% share of the global Calcium Carbonate market. The global consumption of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) is significantly influenced by the dynamics of its two major end-use markets, plastics and paper. The recent years witnessed rise in number of satellite plants for precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) production in countries such as India and China to address the needs of the global paper industry. Precipitated calcium carbonate is utilized as a rheology modifier in a variety of sealants such as formulations of PVC plastisols which find use in the automotive industry.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $5 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $8 Billion by 2026

The Calcium Carbonate market in the U.S. is estimated at US$5 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 21.62% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$8 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 5.9% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 4.1% and 4.4% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4.5% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$8.4 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Asia-Pacific represents a key market due to increasing demand from end-use industries and strong construction activity. Paper continues to be the primary end-user industry, with China representing the primary consumer. Rising consumption of food and favorable macroeconomic scenario are propelling the demand for packaging products, creating a fertile ground for overall expansion of the market. North America is also a major calcium carbonate market. The growth of the market in the region can be attributed to the strong industrial base with key manufacturers. More



MarketGlass Platform

Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide.



Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android



About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.



CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



LINKS

Join Our Expert Panel

https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp



Connect With Us on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./



Follow Us on Twitter

https://twitter.com/marketbytes



Journalists & Media

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OmniSync Incorporated announces the successful completion of the period of performance under its second innovation contract from the US Air Force, fully meeting the objectives of both contracts.

Match capabilities with requirements with one-click

OmniSync is a San Diego-based high-growth tech startup that uses a combination of AI/ML-powered research tools, process workflow automation, and services to help democratize access to government grant and contract funds. Its flagship product, TurboSBIR is used by hundreds of deep tech and life science startups to access Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants and contracts to fund their product development pipelines.

The company itself has now been awarded two innovation contracts from the US Air Force's AFWERX SBIR/STTR program  these are highly competitive awards that encourage the development of innovative dual-use technologies that while solving an important defense need, also have commercialization potential. With its previous innovation contract for matching teams and capabilities with defense needs progressing towards later Phases of development and implementation, OmniSync recently completed execution on its second contract, awarded for streamlining a crucial part of the contract creation/solicitation process itself.

"Federal grant and contract systems are largely opaque on both sides of the table  most applicants are unaware of how to position their capability to solve or contribute to a government need or focus area, while government grant makers and contract creators' awareness of market capabilities and state-of-the-art is limited by historic contractor engagements and information submitted by a biased pool of repeat applicants. OmniSync intends to make requirement-research, grant/contract solicitation, application, awarding and acquisition processes more objective, data-driven, rapid, and cost-efficient", said Dr. Rupak Doshi, CEO of OmniSync Incorporated.

As a requirement of the AFWERX SBIR/STTR Phase I contracts, awardees are meant to engage in technical feasibility studies that result in securing interest from an Air Force stakeholder to serve as a potential customer for later Phases of development and implementation. OmniSync has successfully received signed interest from several distinct stakeholders for both projects that are now advancing to later Phases.

OmniSync's success in the SBIR/STTR program follows its successful fundraise from venture capital investors. The company is backed by the ex-Googler founded venture studio, Launch Factory, and premier accelerators, Capital Factory and EvoNexus. Read more about OmniSync.

Contact:

Rupak Doshi

[email protected]

8582646546

SOURCE OmniSync Incorporated
ROCHELLE PARK, N.J., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- P ANOS Brands (PANOS) , a consumer product company that manages a unique portfolio of specialty food brands, is excited to attend this year's Natural Products Expo West. Attendees of the show are invited to stop by Booth 761 to see their newest offerings, including:

PANOS Brands - Chatfield's, Sesmark, Walden Farms, Andrew & Everett, KAME, Better Than Milk, MI-DEL

Newly reformulated Walden Farms  The recent re-brand of the zero calorie, zero carbs salad dressing and condiments line has been improved to be formulated with real vegetables, fruit fiber, and natural flavors, removing all preservatives, sucralose, and artificial flavors and dyes.

 The recent re-brand of the zero calorie, zero carbs salad dressing and condiments line has been improved to be formulated with real vegetables, fruit fiber, and natural flavors, removing all preservatives, sucralose, and artificial flavors and dyes. Revamped Andrew & Everett packaging design  The new look for the natural clean-label, source-verified "small batch" cheese brand was designed to better resonate with consumers seeking "Cheese with Integrity."

 The new look for the natural clean-label, source-verified "small batch" cheese brand was designed to better resonate with consumers seeking "Cheese with Integrity." Debut of KA-MEFried Rice  Launched last September, this will be the first trade show appearance of the new heat-and-eat fried rice in microwavable pouches that bring together convenient cooking and authentic Asian flavor.

Understanding the growing consumer demand for natural, better-for-you food products, PANOS recently partnered with SRW Agency , the independent, full-service marketing agency known for building natural health and wellness brands.

"We are excited to showcase some of our latest branded transformations taking shape as new products and packaging at Expo West," said Darcy Zbinovec, CEO of PANOS . "We are also looking forward to our new partnership with SRW as we plan for great messaging and communication with our consumers."

"PANOS has seen tremendous growth over the past few years, and we're excited to partner with them and keep the momentum going," said Shelly Walquist, VP, Account Director of SRW. "SRW's capabilities can capture each brand's unique identity and create exciting campaigns that will take them to the next level in 2022 and beyond."

Natural Products Expo West, the leading trade show in the natural, organic, and healthy products industry, will be held from March 8-12, 2022 at the Anaheim Convention Center located at 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92802. For more information on the show, please visit www.expowest.com .

About PANOS Brands:

Enhancing home cooking with unique and delicious flavors is our passion, whether building an authentic Asian meal, deepening a stew with our cooking pastes, or topping salads with a bold burst of flavor, PANOS is built on brands that are Premium, Authentic, Natural, Organic, and Specialty. Our products allow exploration of new flavors and cuisines while providing healthy options for meal preparation.

Included in its portfolio are Andrew & Everett rBGH-BST Hormone Free cheeses, KA-ME, a comprehensive line of authentic Asian food products, Walden Farms calorie-free specialties, Sesmark wholesome crackers, MI-DEL cookies, and Gluten Free pie crusts, and Amore Italian cooking pastes, and ready-to-eat pouched vegetables. For more information, please visit https://www.panosbrands.com .

Media Contact:

Rebecca Jakush

[email protected]

(630) 359-1827

SOURCE PANOS Brands
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on " Pharmacogenomics Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Technology (PCR, Sequencing, Microarray, Gel Electrophoresis, Mass Spectrometry, and Others), Application (Drug Discovery, Oncology, Neurology and Psychiatry, Pain Management, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Others), and End User (Hospitals and Clinics, Biopharmaceutical Companies, CROs and CDMOs, and Others)". The pharmacogenomics market growth is driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the rising demand for precision medicine, and the growing funding for pharmacogenomic research activities. However, the lack of skilled professionals hampers the market growth.

Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in US$ 7,087.81 million in 2021 Market Size Value by US$ 14,107.80 Million by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 10.3% from 2021 to 2028 Forecast Period 2021-2028 Base Year 2021 No. of Pages 239 No. Tables 110 No. of Charts & Figures 82 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Technology, Application, and End User Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Pharmacogenomics Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ltd; Abbott; Oxford Nanopore Technologies; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc; Illumina, Inc; QIAGEN; Agilent Technologies, Inc; Myriad Genetics, Inc; Admera Health; and Dynamic DNA Laboratories are among the leading companies operating in the global pharmacogenomics market. These players focus on expanding, diversifying their market presence, and acquiring a novel customer base, thereby tapping prevailing business opportunities.

In October 2020, F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ltd announced that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of expanded claims for the cobas EGFR Mutation Test v2 as a companion diagnostic (CDx) for a broader group of therapies in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Get Exclusive Sample Pages of this research study at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00007564/

In December 2020, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc announced that USFDA has granted premarket approval to Oncomine Dx Target Test as a companion diagnostic (CDx) to help identify non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients whose tumors carry epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Exon20-insertion mutations for potential treatment with RYBREVANT targeted therapy.

In September 2021, Abbott announced the acquisition of Walk Vascular, LLC, a commercial-stage medical device company with a minimally invasive mechanical aspiration thrombectomy system designed to remove peripheral blood clots. Walk Vascular's peripheral thrombectomy systems will be incorporated into Abbott's existing endovascular product portfolio. Financial terms were not disclosed.

In 2020, North America dominated the pharmacogenomics market, and the US holds the largest market share in this region. The market growth in the country is attributed to the increase in the prevalence of chronic disorders, such as cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disorders; the presence of leading biopharmaceutical companies and CROs; and the presence of well-developed healthcare infrastructure. The US Food and Drug Administration is also playing a significant role in driving the pharmacogenomics market by developing a specific database for storing pharmacogenomic profiling of drug and biomarkers, and it currently includes more than 200 medications. In this way, FDA is assisting the physicians in developing the drug prescriptions for the patient to achieve optimum effects with minimum adverse events. The FDA also provides a list of pharmacogenomics biomarkers in drug labeling, including germline or somatic gene variants, functional deficiencies with genetic etiology, protein biomarkers, and chromosomal abnormalities.

The rising adoption of pharmacogenomics-based treatment of cancer along with the introduction of several novel products associated with this approach and the support of the regulatory agencies are expected to bolster the pharmacogenomics market in the US during the forecast period. Currently, several clinical trials are investigating pharmacogenomics technology for developing precise medications and improving the overall response rate of the treatment. In May 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lumakras (Sotorasib) for a targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer patients with tumors that express the G12C mutation in the KRAS gene.

Many older adults (>60%) suffer from two or more chronic conditions. Twin studies stated that genes can cause chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease (CVDs), diabetes, obesity, RA, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and depression. By using molecular genetic data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), it is now possible to measure individual-level risks for these chronic diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2020, nearly 6 in 10 people in the US suffered from at least one chronic disease, and 4 in 10 people had two or more chronic conditions.

Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPRE00007564/

CVDs, such as atherosclerosis, angina pectoris, and acute myocardial infarction, due to a hectic lifestyle result in high mortality rates. As per the data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), CVDs are the leading cause of death, reporting ~17.9 million deaths each year. Diabetes is a life-threatening disease with no functional cure, and diabetes of all types can lead to various complications in different parts of the body and increase the risk of premature death. Heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, leg amputation, vision loss, and nerve damage are among the major complications associated with diabetes. The significant increase in diabetes cases leads to life-changing complications among people. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), in 2017, 46 million diabetic patients were reported in North America, which is expected to reach 62 million by 2045. This increasing burden of chronic diseases is triggering the demand of pharmacogenomic technologies for developing novel therapies.

EPharmacogenomics Market: Segmental Overview

Based on technology, the pharmacogenomics market is segmented into PCR, sequencing, microarray, gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and others. The market for the PCR segment is further segmented into real time PCR, standard PCR, and digital PCR. The PCR segment held the largest share of 37.71% of the pharmacogenomics market in 2021.

Based on application, the pharmacogenomics market is segmented into drug discovery, oncology, neurology and psychiatry, pain management, cardiovascular diseases, and others. The oncology segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021. However, the drug discovery segment is expected to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.

Based on end user, the pharmacogenomics market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, biopharmaceutical companies, CROs and CDMOs, and others. The CROs and CDMOs segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021, whereas the hospital and clinics segment is expected to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily affected North American countries, such as the US and Canada. These countries reported the highest numbers of COVID-19 positive cases. The US registered the highest number of deaths due to COVID-19. The demand for diagnosing and therapeutic devices dramatically increased in hospitals due to the chaotic situation in the medical industry across the region. For instance, the demand for ventilators, respirators, and in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests has risen drastically in hospitals in North America.

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Moreover, across various healthcare sectors, the effect of COVID-19 pandemic can be felt, resulting in multiple changes in the healthcare industry. Scientists are collaborating to generate and share genomic sequence data information and apply it to disease diagnosis and control efforts. The US is increasing its ability to track novel coronavirus mutations with genomic sequencing as experts warned that new variants drive up number of cases and hospitalizations. For instance, the US ranked 43rd in genome sequencing projects by sequencing 3% of the sample, according to the GISAID Initiative, a global genome sequencing database project. Genome sequencing can aid in the fight against COVID-19 and the newly emerging variants.

In addition, in April 2020, genome Canada launched the Canadian COVID Genomics Network, an initiative backed with US$ 40 million funding. The initiative consists of a partnership between Genome Canada and six regional Genome centers, genome sequencing centers through CGEn, national and regional public health labs, universities, hospitals, and the private sector, for scaling up existing genome-based COVID-19 research globally. All such developments would propel the growth of the North America pharmacogenomics market in the future.

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

Contact Us:

If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us:

Contact Person: Sameer Joshi

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +1-646-491-9876

Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/pharmacogenomics-market

SOURCE The Insight Partners
KIEV, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack.

The international community has expressed deep concerns over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Here is a timeline of some major events related to the current crisis:

Feb. 24, 2022

-- Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass.

"Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," Putin said in a televised speech to the nation, noting that Russia's move is in response to "fundamental threats" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

-- According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Armed Forces are destroying "military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" with high-precision weapons, not targeting Ukrainian cities.

-- Ukraine on Thursday severed diplomatic relations with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law in the country following Russia's military operation.

Feb. 21, 2022

-- The Russian Security Council held an extraordinary meeting, when the country's top officials supported the recognition of Lugansk and Donetsk.

-- Putin signed two decrees recognizing Lugansk and Donetsk as independent and sovereign states.

At a ceremony held in the Kremlin, Putin also inked the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and Lugansk and Donetsk respectively.

-- Through a statement attributable to his spokesperson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for "peaceful settlement" of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, as endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2202 (2015).

-- At the Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, called on all parties concerned to seek "reasonable solutions" to the Ukraine issue.

Feb. 18, 2022

-- An explosion occurred close to "DPR government building." Local armed groups in eastern Ukraine ordered the evacuation of civilians to Russia, citing the danger of a possible military offensive.

Feb. 17, 2022

-- The Ukrainian military claimed that local armed groups in eastern Ukraine launched shelling on the area controlled by government forces. Local armed groups in eastern Ukraine accused the Ukrainian government forces of first using heavy weapons to attack areas under their control. Tensions in eastern Ukraine continued to escalate.

Feb. 2, 2022

-- The United States decided to deploy additional troops to Europe, including 1,000 troops to be repositioned to Romania and another 2,000 troops to be sent from the United States to Germany and Poland, in preparation for what it claimed to be an "imminent" Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Jan. 26, 2022

-- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States has delivered a written letter to Russia addressing Moscow's concerns amid escalating tensions on Ukraine's border.

Jan. 22, 2022

-- The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said the first shipment of military aid from the United States arrived in Kiev.

Jan. 10-13, 2022

-- The latest round of talks aimed at defusing tensions between Russia and the West within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ended without a breakthrough as both sides warned of potential escalation.

Dec. 10, 2021

-- The Russian Foreign Ministry demanded "legal guarantees" that NATO wouldn't expand eastward.

Feb. 7, 2019

-- The Ukrainian parliament passed a constitutional amendment stating Ukraine's commitment to joining NATO.

Feb. 12, 2015

-- The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France announced a peace deal in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, which envisaged a ceasefire between Ukrainian government troops and local armed groups in eastern Ukraine.

Dec. 23, 2014

-- The Ukrainian parliament renounced Ukraine's "non-aligned" status with the aim of deepening cooperation with NATO.

Sept. 5, 2014

-- Then Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and local armed groups in eastern Ukraine signed a ceasefire protocol in Minsk, where envoys from the two warring sides as well as Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe held talks for a possible political solution to the crisis.

April 2014

-- Unrest erupted in eastern Ukraine, where protesters seized government buildings, demanding a referendum on autonomy and closer ties with Russia.

February 2014

-- Amid rising protests, Ukraine's parliament voted to dismiss then President Viktor Yanukovych and set early elections.

November 2013

-- The Ukrainian government suspended the signing of partnership agreements with the European Union to avoid straining ties with Russia, triggering widespread protests, which soon snowballed into a violent nationwide movement against the authorities. 
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pretium, a specialized investment firm with $40 billion in assets, today announced that Josh Pristaw has joined the firm as Senior Managing Director and as Co-Head of Real Estate. Mr. Pristaw joins Dana Hamilton, Pretium's Co-Head of Real Estate, responsible for Pretium's real estate platform, including investing in and managing rental homes. As Co-Head of Real Estate, Mr. Pristaw will work alongside Ms. Hamilton to oversee Pretium's market-leading Progress Residential platform, which services more than 250,000 residents across approximately 80,000 homes. Progress Residential is a market leader in single-family rental management services, with people, technology, scale, and data-driven solutions that streamline operations, optimize asset performance, and provide an exceptional renting and living experience for residents.

Mr. Pristaw brings to Pretium more than two decades of direct real estate experience across acquisitions, asset management, portfolio development, and capital markets. In 2005, Mr. Pristaw co-founded GTIS Partners, a real assets investment firm, where he worked for 17 years and most recently served as a Partner, Co-Head of GTIS Brazil, Head of Capital Markets, and a member of the firm's Investment Committee. Previously, he was a Principal and Co-Head of Acquisitions for Coventry Real Estate Advisors and was also a member of Coventry's Investment Committee.

"Josh brings extensive and complementary experience to Pretium's single-family-rental business," said Don Mullen, Founder and CEO of Pretium. "We are confident now is the opportune time for Josh to join our rapidly expanding team as we continue to deploy private capital to contribute to solving our nation's housing shortage. His keen understanding of the real estate ecosystem will help us continue to elevate the standard for professional ownership and management of affordable, single-family homes, including best-in-class service and support for our residents."

"Pretium is a distinguished leader in today's rental housing market with an unmatched reputation and legacy in residential housing and communities," said Mr. Pristaw. "I look forward to the opportunity to partner with Don, Dana, and the Pretium and Progress teams to prioritize our residents, support our incredible teams on the ground across the country, and deliver the best possible resident experience for those who choose to rent."

Mr. Pristaw previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Brazil Hospitality Group, one of the largest owners and managers of hotels in Brazil, and on the Board of Directors of GTIS Brazil Logistics FII, an externally-managed real estate vehicle listed on the Bovespa in Brazil. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Dartmouth College.

About Pretium

Pretium is a specialized investment firm focused on U.S. residential real estate, residential credit, and corporate credit. Pretium was founded in 2012 to capitalize on secular investment and lending opportunities arising as a result of structural changes, disruptions, and inefficiencies within the economy. Pretium has built an integrated analytical and operational ecosystem within the U.S. housing, residential credit, and corporate credit markets, and believes that its insight and experience within these markets create a strategic advantage over other investment managers. Pretium's platform has approximately $40 billion of assets under management as of February 1, 2022 and employs approximately 3,000 people across 30 offices, including London and Dubai. Please visit www.pretium.com for additional information.

About Progress Residential

Progress Residential is a market leader in intelligent single-family rental management services, with people, technology, scale, and data-driven solutions that streamline operations, optimize asset performance, and provide an exceptional renting and living experience for our residents. Progress Residential's approximately 2,500 employees currently manage approximately 80,000 homes across 30 markets. Progress Residential also offers third-party property management service for investors with mid-to-large single-family rental home portfolios and Built for Rent communities through its Progress Residential Management Services. For more information, please visit www.rentprogress.com.

Contacts

Jon Keehner / Lyle Weston / Erik Carlson

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212-355-4449

[email protected]

SOURCE Pretium
HONG KONG, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 23 2022, Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (2096.HK) announced that the phase III clinical registration study of Trilaciclib in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) has met its primary endpoint. The drug co-developed in China by Simcere and G1 Therapeutics is the world's first comprehensive myeloprotective drug in treating ES-SCLC. The latest data has shown a significantly decrease in duration of severe neutropenia of patients receiving chemotherapy in Cycle 1. Further data are scheduled to be presented in academic conferences later this year.

The principal investigator of the study, Professor Ying Cheng from Jilin Cancer Hospital commented: "Platinum based chemotherapy combined with etoposide is the first-line treatment for ES-SCLC. Chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression is an unavoidable toxic side effect of chemotherapy. On the one hand, it can directly lead to the occurrence of adverse events such as infection, sepsis and bleeding, reducing the quality of life of patients and increasing their economic burden; on the other hand, the occurrence of bone marrow suppression will also lead to dose reduction or delay in administration, thereby affecting the anti-tumor effect of chemotherapy. At present, there is no effective prevention therapy to protect bone marrow from chemotherapy. We are happy to see that this study has shown a positive result, confirming that trilaciclib has a bone marrow protection effect in Chinese patients with the potential of filling a clinical gap in the treatment of small cell lung cancer."

Dr. Bijoyesh Mookerjee, Simcere's Chief Medical Officer in Oncology said: "The latest clinical data supports the safety and effectiveness of trilaciclib in Chinese patients receiving chemotherapy, and hopefully will accelerate the NDA approval of this novel therapy in China. At Simcere, we are committed to accelerating the development of the world's latest breakthrough therapy to improve the overall benefits and quality of life in patients with small cell lung cancer. "

The Chinese phase III registrational trial of trilaciclib in ES-SCLC was approved in January 2021. Data from the first part of the study for safety and pharmacokinetics evaluation as well as real-world study in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Pilot Zone have supported the NDA submission of the first indication (small cell lung cancer) in China, and the new evidence will be a strong support to the NDA of Trilaciclib in China (myeloprotection for SCLC), which has received Priority Review Designation from the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on Dec 22 2021. The promising evidence obtained from this phase III trial further cofirmed the safety and efficacy of trilaciclib in Chinese patients receiving chemotherapy, and is expected to benefit Chinese small cell lung cancer patients as soon as possible.

About Trilaciclib

Trilaciclib is the world's first and only anti-tumor drug with comprehensive myeloprotective effect, which can reduce chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (CIM). In August 2020, Simcere has reached a collaboration agreement with G1 Therapeutics, INC. to be responsible for the development and commercialization of trilaciclib in all indications in Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).The Phase III registration clinical trials of trilaciclib in three indications in China including small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer have all achieved patient enrollment. The NDA for the first indication (small cell lung cancer) submitted in China has been included in priority review by the State Drug Administration.

SOURCE Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited
ZURICH, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

Q4 HIGHLIGHTS

Related Documents View PDF Q4 & FY21 Results

Revenues +3% sequentially, +1% yoy organic TDA 1 , led by Modis +14%

, led by Modis +14% Gross profit +7% organic yoy; led by Adecco +7% and LHH's Recruitment Solutions +c.35%

20.7% gross profit margin driven by portfolio, favourable mix and pricing

EBITA excluding one-offs 2 259 million; 4.7% margin, reflecting cost discipline while investing in growth

259 million; 4.7% margin, reflecting cost discipline while investing in growth Operating income 191 million; Net Income 184 million; Basic EPS 1.11, up 21% yoy

FULL YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

Revenues +9% yoy organic TDA 1 ; Gross profit +15% organic yoy

; Gross profit +15% organic yoy Leading gross profit margin of 20.4%, driven by portfolio, favourable mix and pricing

EBITA excluding one-offs 2 953 million; 4.6% margin sector-leading

953 million; 4.6% margin sector-leading Operating income 780 million; Net Income 586 million; Basic EPS 3.62

Cash flow from operating activities 722 million; cash conversion 83%

Good strategic delivery: GBU organisation put in place; AKKA acquisition announced; LHH re-brand underway

Acquisition of majority stake in AKKA completed; good line of sight on 15 million 2022 EBITA synergies

Proposed dividend per share CHF 2.50 , composed of CHF 1.25 gross plus CHF 1.25 from reserves not subject to withholding tax

Alain Dehaze, Adecco Group CEO, commented: "Good progress has been made in the first year of implementation of our [email protected] strategy. We have established all three GBUs as Global Leaders, and accelerated our pivot to higher value services, as evidenced by this year's record gross margin level. At the GBU level, Modis delivered outstanding performance in 2021, with strong top line growth and margin uplift, providing a strong foundation for the upcoming integration of AKKA. In LHH, Recruitment Solutions excelled, taking market share in permanent recruitment, while Career Transition navigated lower demand for their services. Adecco delivered sector-leading profitability through 2021, while continued investment supported improved sequential revenue momentum in the last quarter. Looking ahead, while recognising ongoing pandemic related challenges, we expect healthy demand for the Group's services in 2022, and are investing to accelerate sustainable, profitable growth."

FULL PRESS RELEASE

The Adecco Group, Investor Relations, +41 (0)44 878 88 88

Unless otherwise noted, all growth rates in this release refer to same period in prior year.

[1] On an organic and trading days adjusted basis.

[2] For further details on the use of non-GAAP measures in this release, refer to the Financial Information section and the Additional Information Section of the 2020 Annual Report.

PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1753090/Adecco_Group_Q421_Results.pdf

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197818/The_Adecco_Group_Logo.jpg

SOURCE The Adecco Group
PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- QC Ware, the leading developer of quantum algorithms running on near-term quantum computing hardware, today announced the appointment of Christoph Siegert as the company's new Head of Product to lead the company's software strategy and development globally.

"We are excited to have Christoph join our team during this pivotal time of growth for the company and the quantum computing industry," said Matt Johnson, QC Ware CEO. "With diverse experience in developing and scaling products across emerging technologies, cloud, and quantum computing, we are certain that his track record of generating growth and customer adoption will cement QC Ware's position as the category leader."

Siegert specializes in leading product teams to achieve rapid growth and product-market fit for cloud and emerging technologies. Before joining QC Ware, he was Senior Director at Microsoft, where he led Azure Engineering's worldwide expansion in new cloud regions. During his seven years at Microsoft, he oversaw Azure's growth from 10 to 35+ countries and 80x revenue growth in these regions. The rapid expansion to new markets led to substantial leadership over AWS (cloud regions in 24 countries) and GCP (26 countries).

Before joining Microsoft, Siegert led tech investment strategies, operations, and partnership assessments as Principal at Keystone Strategy, a prominent Management Consultancy for tech companies. Prior to that, Siegert worked at multiple technology companies and was in the German Air Force in the late '90s. He holds a quantum physics Ph.D. from Cambridge University and an MBA from INSEAD.

"QC Ware's mission to ensure companies are prepared for the coming quantum computing disruption is truly inspiring," said Siegert. "I'm thrilled to join QC Ware's world-class team of quantum computing experts and to partner with QC Ware's growing list of customers to help shape the future of quantum computing at such a decisive time."

Siegert joins QC Ware at a time of rapid growth for the company and industry. IDC predicts that customer spending for quantum computing will grow from $412 million in 2020 to $8.6 billion in 2027. With a team of some of the industry's top quantum computing experts, QC Ware focuses on creating practical applications for near-term quantum computing hardware. The company has signed more than 45 commercial contracts with over 25 enterprises, many with the world's largest companies including AIRBUS, BMW Group, Goldman Sachs, Total, and more. QC Ware has formally partnered with several hardware companies in the quantum computing space like Amazon Braket, D-Wave Systems, IBM, IonQ, Rigetti, and others.

About QC Ware

QC Ware is a quantum software and services company focused on ensuring enterprises are prepared for the emerging quantum computing disruption. QC Ware specializes in the development of applications for near-term quantum computing hardware with a team composed of some of the industry's foremost experts in quantum computing. Its growing network of customers includes AFRL, Aisin Group, Airbus, BMW Group, Equinor, Goldman Sachs, and Total. QC Ware Forge, the company's flagship quantum computing cloud service, is built for data scientists with no quantum computing background. It provides unique, performant, turnkey quantum computing algorithms. QC Ware is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and supports its European customers through its subsidiary in Paris. QC Ware also organizes Q2B, the largest annual gathering of the international quantum computing community.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE QC Ware Corp.
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF), will release its financial results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Bret Kidd, President and CEO, and Steve Thompson, Interim CFO, will host a conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET the same day.

Webcast Information

The live audio webcast will be available at:

https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1528257&tp_key=1d

Dial-in Information

To access the call from Canada and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6392 (Toll Free)

and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6392 (Toll Free) To access the call from other locations, dial 1.416.764.8659 (International)

Replay Information

Webcast replay will be available for 365 days at:

https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1528257&tp_key=1d

Telephone replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET on March 10, 2022, until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 17, 2022, at: 1.888.390.0541 (Toll Free North America) or 1.416.764.8677.

Conference ID: 31380252 and Replay Passcode: 380252

About Quarterhill

Quarterhill is a leading provider of tolling and enforcement solutions in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry, as well as, through its Wi-LAN Inc. subsidiary, a leader in Intellectual Property licensing. Our goal is global leadership in ITS, via organic growth of the Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC (ETC) and International Road Dynamics, Inc. (IRD) platforms, and by continuing an acquisition-oriented investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive growth opportunities within ITS and its adjacent markets. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information, visit www.quarterhill.com

SOURCE Quarterhill Inc.
GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress held a press conference on the "Regulations of Guangdong Province on China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City" on February 23. Relevant officials answered questions from media reporters.

The Regulations, adopted at the 39th session of the 13th Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress on January 16, 2022, will come into force on March 1 this year, providing strong guidance and guarantee for the accelerated construction and development of the Knowledge City, strengthening the legalized business environment, and exerting its advantages and roles in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Located in the northern part of Huangpu District, Guangzhou city, the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City has a total planned area of 232 square kilometers and is a national-level bilateral cooperation project between China and Singapore and a high-level science and innovation carrier in the Greater Bay Area.

The foundation of the Knowledge City project was officially laid in June 2010. And in July 2016, the Knowledge City became the only comprehensive reform pilot area for the utilization and protection of intellectual property rights approved by the State Council. High-level research institutes such as Xidian University and top talent teams led by 24 academicians including Shi Yigong and Wang Xiaodong were introduced, high-end scientific and technological innovation platforms such as China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute, gathered, and a free port of international talents, put into operation. The construction of high-end technology innovation platforms such as the National University of Singapore Innovation Research Institute and major technological infrastructure such as the large-scale scientific device for aircraft tire dynamics were accelerated, and the brand of Singapore enterprises' first choice in China, ever more famous.

Head of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress said that, it is necessary to promote the construction and development of the Knowledge City through legislation as it was upgraded to a national-level bilateral cooperation project in November 2018. The Regulations were initiated with great attention from the provincial party committee and the provincial government. The drafting with the joint efforts of the provincial, municipal and district-level, ensured that the project approval, the submission for deliberation, and the approval by voting were completed within the same year.

According to the "Overall Development Plan (2020-2035) of China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City" approved by the State Council in August 2020, the Regulations make provisions for technological innovation and intellectual property rights protection, knowledge-intensive industry development and talent support, opening-up and cooperation and other aspects. Specific regulations were also made on empowering the Knowledge City Administrative Committee, which fully reflects the strategy of building the Knowledge City into a new highland for knowledge creation, a free port for international talents, a source of innovation in the Greater Bay Area, and a demonstration area for openness and cooperation.

Head of the Knowledge City Administrative Committee said that, the Knowledge City will fully utilize the empowerment of the Regulations, overcome difficulties and forge ahead bravely, explore new paths and accumulate new experiences on pilot projects, and better serve the Belt & Road Initiative and the high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area. The Knowledge City strives to demonstrate responsibility in building a new development pattern, and be at the forefront of the new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects.

SOURCE The Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress
HONG KONG, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HKATG has successfully launched five satellites for its ''Golden Bauhinia Constellation'' in 2021, the aerospace development plan shows no sign of slowing down in 2022.

In January 2022, HKST announced that the Group has planned to launch two satellites named ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 3'' and ''Golden Bauhinia Satellite No. 4'' in 2022 Q3, with the target launch time tentatively being scheduled in July 2022 and will continue to form and constitute part of the "Golden Bauhinia Constellation''.

At the same time, 25 satellites are planned to be launched in 2022 for the "Golden Bauhinia Constellation'', and the further launch of satellites this year will provide additional aerospace data as well as will boost the speed of receiving aerospace data. It's worth noticing that "Golden Bauhinia Constellation'' is the first-star chain plan of the Hong Kong aerospace industry, the whole project plans to launch 112 satellites.

The satellite remote sensing data of "Golden Bauhinia Constellation'' will serve the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a priority, providing users with overall solutions for smart cities, helping cities to refine city management, promote infrastructure development, innovation, and technology industries, agricultural monitoring, disaster prevention, and mitigation, as well as comprehensive urban management and watershed control.

HKATG is a commercial space company established in 2019 and became an accredited institutional member of the International Astronautical Federation in November 2019. HKATG makes good use of Hong Kong's position as an international center and the industrial advantages of being one of the four independent WTO zones, the Group is committed to forming an upstream and downstream industry ecosystem for commercial aerospace, with satellite basic industries and satellite data applications as the core, and to promote the re-industrialization process of Hong Kong while opening up new industrial paths for Hong Kong social and economic development for the vigorous development of the global aerospace industry.

EU lays out 'Secure Satellite Communications' plan

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market the European Commission presented a 6 billion 'Secure Satellite Communications' plan on 15 February, the proposal aims to build and operate a space-based state-of-the-art connectivity system covering all of Europe and parts of Africa. This plan will launch 20,000 low-orbit satellites in the next ten years, with a total investment of about 6 billion euros. The plan sets to launch more than a low orbit satellite of 20,000 satellites, the total investment is about 6 billion.

According to Thierry Breton, there are only 56% of households in the EU are connected to the broadband network, and there are many networks blind spots. The new plan will make high-speed Internet coverage throughout the European continent and adopts quantum cryptography technology to enhance the security of the communications network.

It is estimated that the construction of the 'Secure Satellite Communications' plan will bring 17 to 24 billion in revenue, increase employment in the space and communications sector in the EU, and drive the development of downstream industries.

How much economic value is there in global commercial aerospace?

According to the 'Space Report' issued by the Space Foundation in 2019, the total revenue in the global space market has grown by 73% over the past decade, up more than US$9 billion from the previous year, soaring to the US $423.8 billion. Commercial aerospace revenue accounts for 80% of the global space economy, reaching the US $336.89 billion.

In addition to the economic benefits, commercial aerospace radiates enormous social benefits. In Europe and the U.S., commercial aerospace is now a major source of job growth. Of the $336.89 billion in commercial revenue, $217.72 billion was in space products and services; $119.17 billion was in space infrastructure and related industries - a portion that is up 16.1% from 2018.

HKATG is one of the key players in global commercial aerospace sector.

The stock price of HKATG had soared 25 times in a few months. Bloomberg believes that HKATG has the opportunity to grow with world-class enterprises to capture the rapid growth of the global space industry. As the first Hong Kong company with a satellite project, HKATG is expected to thrive on the stage of aerospace industry and continues to draw investors' attention.

SOURCE Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group
WALLDORF, Germany, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Supervisory Board and Executive Board of SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) have decided to recommend that shareholders approve a dividend of 2.45 per share for fiscal year 2021. This represents a year-over-year increase of approximately 32%. This payment includes a special dividend of 0.50 to celebrate SAP's 50th anniversary. If the shareholders approve this recommendation, based on the number of treasury shares as of December 31, 2021, the total amount of dividends to be distributed would be approximately 2.89 billion (2020: 2.18 billion), representing a pay-out ratio of 54% (2020: 41%). Excluding the special dividend, the ratio would be approximately 43%. The 2021 fiscal year dividend is scheduled to be paid on or after May 23, 2022.

"Our strategy to accelerate our cloud transformation is working. We delivered an exceptional year of strong results and want our shareholders to participate in this success with an increased dividend. We are also recommending an additional special dividend to celebrate SAP's 50th anniversary," said Luka Mucic, Chief Financial Officer, SAP SE.

Supervisory Board Elections

Following the proposal of the Nomination Committee, the Supervisory Board has nominated three candidates to stand for reelection at the 2022 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM), in alignment with the Profile of Skills and Expertise and the objectives set by the Supervisory Board for its own composition.

The candidates are:

Prof. Hasso Plattner (78), Potsdam , Germany , Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SAP SE. In case of re-election, his 2-year term would expire in 2024.

(78), , , Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SAP SE. In case of re-election, his 2-year term would expire in 2024. Dr. Gunnar Wiedenfels (44), Greenwich, CT , USA, Chief Financial Officer, Discovery, Inc., New York City , New York, USA . In case of re-election, his term would expire in 2026.

(44), , USA, Chief Financial Officer, Discovery, Inc., , . In case of re-election, his term would expire in 2026. Dr. Rouven Westphal (49), Potsdam , Germany , Member of the Executive Board of the Hasso Plattner Foundation, Potsdam , Germany , and Managing Director of the General Partner of HPC Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Potsdam , Germany . In case of re-election, his term would expire in 2026.

For candidate profiles, see the www.sap.com/agm.

A fourth seat will become available after the 2022 AGM, as Bernard Liautaud has decided to step down from his role. The candidate for this seat will be announced in the coming weeks.

Naming of Lead Independent Director

The SAP Supervisory Board is introducing the role of Lead Independent Director. With this newly created role, the Supervisory Board strengthens its alignment with international corporate governance best practice, focusing on the importance of Supervisory Board independence. Dr. Friederike Rotsch, member of the Supervisory Board since 2018, will assume this role after the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in May 2022. For more information about the Lead Independent Director role, see the Corporate Governance section of the SAP Web site.

2022 Annual General Meeting to be Held as Virtual Event

The Executive Board, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, has decided to hold the 2022 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders as a virtual event. This is due to the unforeseeable further development of the pandemic situation in Germany during the next months, the substantial risk of pandemic-related restrictions for large events, as well as to ensure the safety of all participants. Further details will be posted to www.sap.com/agm in early April.

Note to holders of SAP ADRs (American Depositary Receipts):

One SAP ADR represents one SAP SE share. The final dividend amount per ADR is dependent upon the euro/US dollar exchange rate. Since SAP SE pays cash dividends on the ordinary shares in euro, the exchange rate fluctuations will affect the US dollar amounts received by holders of ADRs. The final dividend payment by SAP SE to the depositary bank is scheduled for May 23, 2022. The depositary bank will then convert the dividend payment from euro into US dollars as promptly as practicable.

Visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @SAPNews.

About SAP

SAP's strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: SAP customers generate 87% of total global commerce. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want  without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

This document contains forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections, or other statements about future events. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to materially differ. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors section of SAP's 2020 Annual Report on Form 20-F."

 2022 SAP SE. All rights reserved.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices.

For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:

Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24

United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727)

Please consider our privacy policy. If you received this press release in your e-mail and you wish to unsubscribe to our mailing list please contact [email protected] and write Unsubscribe in the subject line.

SOURCE SAP SE
MILWAUKEE, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating SJI (NYSE: SJI) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Infrastructure Investments Fund.

Click here to learn how to join the action: https://www.ademilaw.com/case/south-jersey-industries-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Ademi LLP alleges SJI's financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet SJI shareholders will receive only $36 per share, reflecting an enterprise value of approximately $8.1 billion. The merger agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for SJI by prohibiting solicitation of further bids, and imposing a significant penalty if SJI accepts a superior bid. SJI insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of SJI's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for SJI.

If you own SJI common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/south-jersey-industries-inc.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of South Jersey Industries, Inc. ("South Jersey Industries" or the "Company") (NYSE: SJI), in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by Infrastructure Investments Fund. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the Company's shareholders will receive $36.00 in cash for each share of South Jersey Industries common stock that they hold. The transaction is valued at approximately $8.1 billion.

If you own South Jersey Industries shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:

https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/sji Or please contact:

Joshua Rubin, Esq.

WeissLaw LLP

305 Broadway, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10007

(212) 682-3025

(888) 593-4771

[email protected]

WeissLaw LLP is investigating whether (i) South Jersey Industries' board of directors acted in the best interests of Company shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, (ii) the $36.00 per-share merger consideration adequately compensates South Jersey Industries' shareholders, and (iii) all information regarding the sales process and valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed.

WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]

SOURCE WeissLaw LLP
CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ShipBob , the leading global omnifulfillment platform, today announced the release of their first ever 2022 State of Ecommerce Fulfillment Report, highlighting how ecommerce brands are approaching expansion and adapting their fulfillment strategies this year.

ShipBob's 2022 State of Ecommerce Fulfillment Report comes at a time when there have never been more ecommerce IPOs and online/offline sales and marketing channels for direct-to-consumer brands to navigate. Alongside the ecommerce industry's impressive growth in 2022, the number of new brands launching globally has also skyrocketed, making competition for consumers even more fierce and unpredictable  especially in the face of supply chain issues, labor shortages and port congestion delays.

One section of the report looks at various global shopping and shipping trends, keying in on the importance of free shipping and how brands are approaching global expansion to reach a wider audience. ShipBob also documents the surge in online shopping during the pandemic and details how brands plan to grow globally, specifically calling out key 2022 global expansion trends, such as:

Approximately 56% of brands plan to either ship or fulfill orders from new countries in 2022.

32% of brands will start physically fulfilling orders in new countries in 2022.

The 2022 State of Ecommerce Fulfillment Report also underscores the fundamental changes from 2020 to 2021 affecting the ecommerce, supply chain and fulfillment industries by keying in on shipping trends over the past year. The report dives into expectations for 2022 and beyond, and touches on the most important ecommerce brand priorities for the year and how they are likely to play an even more impactful role in the years to come.

ShipBob also looks at rebounded time-in-transit performance from shipping carriers and how deliveries are back to pre-COVID timelines  key information for the ecommerce industry in 2022 and beyond. ShipBob is able to compile a vast amount of shipping carrier data by aggregating the tens of millions of shipments they process for thousands of brands each year.

"In 2022, we are really seeing shopper expectations grow and mature," said Dhruv Saxena, ShipBob Co-Founder & CEO. "Now, more than ever before, it is crucial for brands to go above and beyond to delight their consumers who are now adamant about the high-level, nearly flawless execution of the shipping/fulfillment service they deserve. With this data report, we want to highlight these trends while also showing brands how to provide a personalized and effective purchase and post-purchase experience when utilizing best-in-class supply chain capabilities."

The data report, based on insights from a ShipBob survey along with proprietary data from the millions of orders it fulfills across five countries, provides an expansive overview of the industry while showcasing multiple data points on how retailers are adapting their strategies this year, including:

More than 70% of brands will add new sales channels in 2022.

Despite supply chain setbacks, more than 62% of brands expect their revenue to grow by more than 25% in 2022.

In the US, 35% of all ecommerce orders and GMV are in 4 states: California , Texas , New York and Florida .

To view the complete report, visit shipbob.com .

About ShipBob

ShipBob is the leading global omnifulfillment platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses to provide them access to best-in-class supply chain and fulfillment capabilities. The ShipBob platform provides merchants with a single view of their business and customers across all of their sales channels, and enables them to manage products, inventory, orders and shipments, and leverage analytics and reporting to run their business effectively.

Founded in 2014 out of Chicago, ShipBob was launched through Y Combinator by co-founders Dhruv Saxena and Divey Gulati, two entrepreneurs who saw a need for more efficient shipping for ecommerce businesses. Today, the company has raised $330.5 million in funding and operates a global logistics network with 30 fulfillment centers across five countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union and Australia. Learn more by visiting shipbob.com .

SOURCE ShipBob
RENO, Nev., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sierra Car Wash is celebrating the opening of a new express wash location at 1490 E Peckham Lane in Reno, NV on March 1st, 2022. The new site will be the car wash chain's tenth location spanning the Reno, Carson City and South Lake Tahoe markets.

Sierra Car Wash, a Reno-based express and full-service chain, opens tenth location as of March 2022.

Grand Opening specials will take place March 1st through March 20th. During this time, guests will enjoy complimentary express car washes (regularly $7-$20 depending on wash package). Additionally, new guests will have the option to become an Unlimited member for zero dollars down and zero payments until May. After this introductory promotional period, Unlimited plans may be purchased at a discounted rate up until May.

Sierra Car Wash members receive unlimited wash privileges, fast pass access, free self-serve vacuum use, and as of May, access to all ten Sierra Car Wash locations. The Grand Champion membership, the chain's top wash plan package, includes a complimentary "Pit Kit" detail kit with each wash, along with one free full-service wash per month from any of Sierra's four full-service locations. Grand Champion Unlimited plans start at $29.95 per month.

Sierra Car Wash offers express and full-service locations. Unlimited wash memberships start at just $12.95 per month with the option to add family members to select plans. Complete location list and service menu may be found at www.sierrawash.com. Sierra Car Wash is part of the Raceway family of car wash brands which operates 36 additional locations across Nevada, California, Arizona, and Texas.

SOURCE Sierra Car Wash
Sierra's President & CEO Sonny Janda commented "We are very pleased with the results of the 2021 soil geochemical programs at all three of our Nevada properties. As a result of those positive outcomes, we expanded all three projects materially. In the first half of 2022 our objective will be to complete the remaining exploration work to get these prospects drill ready."

2021 Year in Review

Successful Soil Geochemical Programs Completed at Nevada Properties

In May of 2021, Sierra completed soil geochemical programs on its 3 properties, Glitra-Sat/Orbit, Betty East, and B&C Springs-Mildred, located in the northern part of the Walker Lane trend of west-central Nevada (see Figure 1). The focus of the work was on soil geochemistry, with totals of 813, 332, and 645 soil geochemical samples collected from the Glitra/Sat, Betty East, and B&C Springs properties, respectively. Including blank samples submitted for QA/QC, a total of 1,805 soil geochemical samples were submitted. The aim on each property was to provide complete coverage via wide-spaced sampling (50 to 100 metres between samples) along lines oriented across known mineralized and/or altered trends and separated by 100 to 200 metres.

Glitra/Sat/Orbit Results

The Glitra/Sat properties are sister properties, with the relatively small "Orbit" property between them, that are located in Pershing County, western Nevada, in the Seven Troughs Range of the Farrell Mining District, which hosts numerous historical and modernday mineral occurrences and deposits (see Figure 2). The properties are contiguous with Millennial Precious Metals Wildcat Project which hosts a 43-101 compliant inferred mineral resource of 67.6 million tons grading 0.37 g/t Au totaling 824,000 oz Au, and they lie a few kms north of Timberline Resources Seven Troughs Project.

At Glitra, a promising +1km north-northeast trending mineralized and altered zone with a pronounced epithermal Au-Ag-As-Hg signature and a width ranging up to 150 to 200 metres has been identified.

Consistently high gold-in-soil results occur along the NNE trend include values of 1460, 1400, 987 and 718 ppb gold



A total of 467 samples were collected, with 58 samples returning values > 100 ppb gold



At Sat, strong soil sampling results also appear to outline a north-northeast trending anomalous zone, or zones, with a pronounced Au-Hg-As-Ag signature that most likely reflects structurally-hosted epithermal mineralizing system.

Highlighted gold-in-soil values along this trend include values of 905, 529 and 345 ppb gold



A total of 355 samples were collected, with 31 samples returning values > 100 ppb gold

B&C Springs-Mildred Results

The B&C Springs property is located in the southern Paradise Range in west-central Nevada, within the Fairplay Mining District. The property abuts Almadex Minerals Ltd.'s Paradise Valley project on its east side (see figure 3)

A total of 544 soil geochemical samples were collected from the B&C Springs-Mildred property. The results of the soil geochemical sampling clearly show that the anomalous copper, molybdenum and silver geochemistry at B&C Springs is closely associated with a west-northwesterly trending porphyry dike swarm crossing the northern part of the property. The anomalous zone is extensive, running from beyond the previously drilled Mo-Cu-Ag mineralized zone at B&C Springs on the east, to beyond the western boundary of the claim group, a distance of over 4 km. The anomalous values are of high tenor, with a broad zone, nearly a km in width, that has many values exceeding 100 ppm copper, and which range up to 1200 ppm copper. Elevated Ag, Mo, Au, Hg and Sb are commonly associated with the anomalous copper values, but this latter expression is most evident in a semi-circular "halo" around the northern margins of the greenstone "cap" to the B&C Springs Mo-Cu-Ag mineralized zone.

In the vicinity of the Mildred Mine and toward the southwestern part of the property, where there are numerous historical prospect pits, adits and shallow shafts, the soil geochemical response for gold and silver confirms the potential of that area for precious metals mineralization. It also hints at further potential for precious metals, to the west beneath the shallow overburden of the pediment area, which is an area staked very recently by the Company (see Figure 3).

Beatty East Results

The Betty East property is located in west-central Nevada, approximately 40 miles north of the town of Tonopah, in Nye County. The claims, which cover 653 acres, lie at the southern end of the Manhattan Mining District, adjacent to and immediately north of Huntsman Exploration's/Liberty Gold's Baxter Springs project and less than 20 km south of the world class Round Mountain mine (2020 gold equivalent production of 324,277 ounces, proven and probable reserves as of December 31, 2020 of 2.245M oz Au, and >15 million ounces of total historic production1) (see figure 4).

Two prospective trends are apparent in the soil geochemical data. One, known as "The Knolls," trends northerly, has been explored previously and displays a pronounced Au-As-Ag-Hg epithermal signature. The other is a newly-emerging and more extensive trend. It appears to trend east-northeastward from the Knolls, and displays an Ag-As-Sb-Hg-Mo (Zn-Cu-W) signature (see figure 4).

The Knolls trend has locally very high gold-in-soil results, including values of 6270, 5060, 1185 and 690 ppb gold, within an envelope of values that are anomalous in gold and arsenic (see Figure 3.)



The newly emerging east-northeast trend is extensive (>1.5km long by up to 1km wide) and displays elements of both epithermal and intrusive-related signatures, with highly anomalous As-Hg-Ag-Sb-Mo, along with locally elevated gold and consistently elevated Zn-Cu-W. This trend appears to merge with the Knolls anomaly in the southwest part of the property

Additional Staking at the Nevada Properties was Completed in 2021

Upon receipt of the encouraging results from the Company's soil geochemical programs in Nevada, all three projects were expanded materially through additional claim-staking during the course of the late summer and early fall of 2021.



At Glitra/Sat, 90 additional claims were staked to ensure that the anomalous trends identified by the soil geochemical program were sufficiently covered and buffered. The combined properties now total 1,130 acres (see figure 2).







At B&C Springs 225 additional claims were staked. This expanded the property to the west and south west, in part to cover the encouraging Cu-Mo-Ag geochemical trend on the north, but also to cover the potential for precious metals mineralized zones between the historical workings near to and south of the Mildred Mine where there are numerous historical prospect pits, adits and shallow shafts. Many of the new claims were staked to the west of this area, encompassing a pediment area covered by shallow overburden that lies north of the main B&C Springs access road. Initial prospecting efforts there and along the west side of the pediment area, along with numerous historical workings in that area and on the adjacent Almadex property, suggest that there is excellent potential on the new Sierra claims. The B&C Springs project now totals 4,607 acres (see figure 3).







At Betty East 28 additional claims were staked to cover the extensive and newly recognized east-northeast soil geochemical trend (see above; Figure 4). The Beatty East Project now totals 653 acres.

2021 Corporate Developments

Sierra's management team has been conducting due diligence on a number of prospective gold and silver projects located in the Walker Lane trend of west-central Nevada as part of the Company's future growth plans. The goal is to identify exploration projects that show the potential to host a tier 1 type gold/silver deposit. Sierra has narrowed its focus to a few possible opportunities and is hopeful it will make further acquisitions, ideally in H1 of 2022.

On April 23, 2021 Sierra received DTC eligibility. DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, a United States company that manages electronic clearing and settlement for publicly traded companies. Securities that are eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through the DTC are considered to be "DTC eligible". DTC eligibility will simplify the process of trading and transferring the Company's common shares in the United States and is also expected to enhance the liquidity profile of its common shares in the United States due to the accelerated settlement period and reduction in trading costs for investors and broker/dealers.

On December 17, 2021 the Company filed an updated 43-101 compliant technical report for its B&C Springs Property.

2022 Outlook and Next Steps

In addition to evaluating potential new acquisitions, all three existing Nevada projects, B&C Springs, Glitra/Sat and Beatty East will be the focus for airborne magnetometer surveys, with the aim that the surveys will help us better understand the geologic context and provide an improved focus for future prospecting, geological mapping and expanded soil geochemical surveys. Ground geophysical surveying (Induced Polarization and(or) CSAMT surveys) may also be considered for Q1/early Q2 2022.

In addition, further expansion of the Company's Nevada claim-holdings is also being considered, with a reasonably high likelihood that additional staking will start in Q1, 2022.

Also, in Q1, 2022 Sierra will begin the application process for drill permitting at its B&C Springs and Glitra/Sat properties.

Technical data pertaining to this new release was reviewed and approved by Charles J. "Charlie" Greig, MSc., P.Geo., a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Jared Scharf"

___________________

Jared Scharf, Director

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, statements that address the timing and content of certain agreements and development. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks, including the ability of the Company to raise the funds necessary to fund its projects and, accordingly, may not occur as described herein or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include Covid-19 restrictions, market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for information on these and other risk factors, available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation."

SOURCE Sierra Grande Minerals Inc.
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Single Cell Multiomics Market by Type, (Single Cell Genomics, Single Cell Proteomics, Single Cell Transcriptomics, and Single Cell Metabolomics), Application (Oncology, Cell Biology, Neurology, Immunology and Stem Cell Research), Technique (Single-Cell Isolation & Dispensing and Single-Cell Analysis), and End User (Academic Institutes, Contract Research Organizations, and Pharmaceutical & Biotech Companies): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030." According to the report, the global single cell multiomics industry was pegged at $2.17 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $15.26 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 21.4% from 2021 to 2030.

For Right Perspective and Competitive Insights, Get Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/12148

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Rise in adoption of personalized medicine for screening and diagnostics of genetic disorders and technological advancements in single-cell analysis products have boosted the growth of the global single cell multiomics market. However, shortage of skilled professionals and high cost of single-cell analysis products hinder the market growth. On the contrary, rise in funding for the research of single cell multiomics and increased collaborations are expected to open new opportunities in the future.

Covid-19 scenario:

The outbreak of Covid-19 has a positive impact on the global single cell multiomics market. Hospitals across the globe were restructured to accommodate and treat vast number of Covid patients. Also, as the covid cases were growing exponentially, many non-essential procedures took significant backlog.

Moreover, other factors responsible for the impact on the market include limited availability of medical care, shortage of healthcare staff and rise in burden of COVID-19 related hospitalization.

The global single cell multiomics market demand is further increasing due to rising chronic diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases caused by viruses.

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The single cell genomics segment to dominate by 2030-

By type, the single cell genomics segment accounted for more than two-fifths of the global single cell multiomics market share in 2020, and is anticipated to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is owing to the advanced method of classification of individual cells that can define unique traits and identify rare cell types. The single cell proteomics segment, however, would showcase the fastest CAGR of 22.3% by 2030. The single cell proteomics can identify large number of proteins expressed within thousands of individual cells at a given point in time which drives the growth of the segment. The report also includes an analysis of single cell transcriptomics and single cell metabolomics segments.

The oncology segment held the lion's share in 2020-

Based on application, the oncology segment held the lion's share in 2020, contributing to more than one-third of the global single cell multiomics market, and is expected to continue its lead during the forecast period. This is owing to increase in cancer cases, surge in personalized therapies and awareness for early diagnosis and screening of diseases. However, the neurology segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR of 24.5% by 2030, owing to increase in prevalence of neurological diseases. The report also includes an analysis of cell biology, immunology, and stem cell research segment.

North America held the lion's share-

By region, the global single cell multiomics market across North America dominated in 2020, accounting for nearly half of the market, due to robust R&D infrastructure for life science researches, rapid adoption of advanced technologies, improved single cell multiomics analysis, and presence of key players across North America. However, the market across Europe is anticipated to showcase the highest CAGR of 25.2% during the forecast period, owing to rise in number of R&D investments, developed healthcare infrastructure, and increase in adoption of single cell multiomics.

Leading Players-

Berkeley Lights Inc

Bio Rad Laboratories, Inc.

10x Genomics, Inc.

BGI Genomics Co. Ltd

Parse Bioscience

Fluidigm Corporation

Mission Bio, Inc.

Danaher Corporation (Cytiva Life Sciences)

Epicypher Inc.

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & CO.

Nanostring Technologies, Inc

Qiagen N.V.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Dolomite Bio

Takara Holdings Inc. Takara Bio Group

Illimina, Inc

Olink Holding AB (Olink Proteomics)

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Smile Identity has announced the launch of Document Verification, covering 142 ID types across 100 countries in Africa. Tweet this

Now, platforms who run Know Your Customer ("KYC") checks with Smile Identity can verify documents to onboard their customers. Document Verification confirms the authenticity of over 140 ID documents across 100 countries in Africa, Europe and North America, and leverages Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to read the KYC information on the document itself. This offers a frictionless experience for users who can simply snap a selfie and photo of their document to prove their identity online; Smile Identity takes care of the rest.

"We are excited about Document Verification. It promises to help us with regulatory changes in Africa, like supporting the new Ghana Card. It's great to know that Smile Identity's coverage extends to all of Africa," said Kay Sulyman, Product Manager for Compliance at global remittance provider Chipper Cash.

Salami Abolore, CEO of Riby, a digital platform offering financial services to cooperatives and trade groups in Africa, agrees: "With Document Verification, we can now verify national IDs, passports, and more. Smile Identity helps us onboard individual and small business users quickly, allowing us to focus on getting them the financial services they need to thrive."

A core feature of Document Verification is the use of SmartSelfie, Smile Identity's proprietary facial verification technology, which compares a user-submitted selfie to the image on the document. SmartSelfie is a debiased biometric solution for face detection, matching and liveness confirmation that has a 99.9% accuracy rate on African faces. This renders Document Verification one of the most secure offerings of its kind, helping businesses and platforms combat fraud and promote trust.

Document Verification complements Smile Identity's core products that run KYC on the basis of an ID number, rather than a document scan. Document Verification helps businesses retain a record of the IDs they checked, a regulatory requirement in key countries.

By giving businesses more options across continents to conduct their KYC process in a secure and compliant manner, Smile Identity is contributing to growth in trade and remittance corridors between Africa, Europe and North America. Smile Identity fosters trust and positive user experiences, which strengthens the African digital economy as a whole while meeting customer, business and regulatory needs.

About Smile Identity

Smile Identity is the leading identity verification and digital Know Your Customer (KYC) provider for Africa. We help companies scale rapidly across Africa by confirming the true identity of their users in real time, using any smartphone or computer. Our technology is powered by proprietary Machine Learning algorithms designed specifically for African faces and identities. We have developed solutions for identity verification, digital KYC, user onboarding, biometric authentication and anti-fraud checks. Backed by Costanoa, CRE Venture Capital, Khosla Impact, LocalGlobe and Angel Investors from across Africa, Smile Identity is enabling the growth of tech ecosystems across the African continent while providing infrastructure to build trust online. For more information, please visit www.smileidentity.com.

Press Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Smile Identity
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The digital remittance market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 27% during the forecast period 2022-2032. The market is expected to be valued at USD 18.16 Billion in the assessment period 2022.

As per the latest World Bank's report, the remittances industry moves over $600 billion around the world, with $466 billion being sent to low-and-middle-income countries. Remittances are expected to continue to increase in 2022, by 27% to reach nearly USD 18 Bn. The international community is striving to considerably reduce the cost of remittance services.

This will eventually propel the growth rate for the digital remittance market in the forthcoming future. Robust growth in transfers from countries in Southeast Asia assisted offset lower remittance flows from other regions, especially the Middle East and the United States.

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WorldRemit processed nearly 10 billion dollars in transactions in 2020 and remittances are expected to continue growing in 2022 perhaps at a marginally consistent rate when economies across the globe stabilize. Moreover, financial institutions are investing in their technology systems to make data exchange and provide fast and secure digital money transfers.

They are using API technology that enables them to facilitate remittances in almost real-time. Besides, increased communication and tracking features are integrated for added peace of mind. Along with this, cross-border remittances bring many economic benefits, widen financial inclusion, and boost economic development.

Digital remittances play an enormous and vital role in the lives of migrants and their families. The money received in migrant households in migrants' countries of origin represents around 60% of household income, which is normally spent on essential items such as medicines, education, food, and housing expenses.

Report Attributes Details Base Year Value (2021A) USD 14.32 Billion Estimated Year Value (2022E) USD 18.16 Billion Projected Year Value (2032F) USD 64.43 Billion Global Growth Rate (2022-2032) CAGR 27%

Key Takeaways:

Global digital remittance market to be valued at over US$ 18 Bn by 2022-end

by 2022-end By end use, digital remittance for personal use to accumulate 42% of total revenue

Money transfer operators to conduct 2 out of 5 digital remittance transactions through 2022

Outward digital remittance to account for 57% of total market revenue across the forecast period

North America to account for 27% of global digital remittance transactions

to account for 27% of global digital remittance transactions Asia Pacific to flourish at a CAGR of 13% with respect to digital remittance services

Growth Drivers:

The proliferation of the digital platforms for remittance is expected to encourage customers to move toward online transactions. Moreover, the rising penetration of mobile devices across the globe in recent years has encouraged the adoption of digital technology in remittance services and cross-border payments.





Customers across the globe are also shifting toward digital remittance services as they help reduce the money transfer time and remittance costs. Moreover, digital remittance services offer high privacy and protection for consumers' money.

Key Restraints:

The increasing adoption and ease of digital payments are expected to create growth opportunities for the market over the forecast period. However, the lack of awareness about digital remittance services and high remittance prices are expected to hinder the market growth. Moreover, security hindrances such as terrorist financing and money laundering could negatively impact the growth prospects of the market over the forecast period.

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Competitive Landscape

The various leading players in the Digital Remittance market are focusing on offering various marketing strategies are adopted by key players such as mergers and acquisitions, expansions, collaborations, and partnerships.

In August 2021 , WorldRemit Ltd. launched its money transfer services in Malaysia , allowingWorldRemit users to send money from Malaysia , in addition to 50 other countries, including the U.S. and the U.K., to more than 130 destinations. Based on their location, users can choose from numerous payout methods for the recipient, including payments to mobile wallets, bank deposits, mobile airtime top-up, and cash pick-up.

Key Companies Profiled by Fact.MR

Azimo Limited

Digital Wallet Corporation

InstaReM Pvt. Ltd.

MoneyGram

PayPal Holdings, Inc.

Ria Financial Services Ltd.

TransferGo Ltd.

TransferWise Ltd.

Western Union Holdings Inc.

WorldRemit Ltd.

More valuable Insights on Digital Remittance Market:

Fact.MR, in its report, offers a market analysis of the global Digital Remittance market analysing the forecast period through 2022 and beyond. This survey reveals the growth of technology in the Digital Remittance Market with detailed segmentation as follows: -

By Type

Inward Digital Remittance



Outward Digital Remittance

By Channel

Digital Remittance through Banks



Digital Remittance through Money Transfer Operators



Digital Remittance through Online Platforms



Digital Remittance through Other Channels

By End Use

Digital Remittance for Migrant Labor Workforce



Personal Digital Remittance



Digital Remittance for Small Businesses



Digital Remittance for Other End Uses

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Key Questions covered in the Digital Remittance Market Report

What is the global Digital Remittance Market scenario?

How far is the global demand expected to reach over the forecasted period?

What was the last 5-year CAGR for the demand in the demand in the Digital Remittance Market?

Who are the prominent players in the global Digital Remittance Market?

Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Technology Domain 

Real-Time Payment Market Trends: Digitization has resulted in the increased adoption of real-time payment solutions. Governments across the globe are taking initiatives to promote digital payments with an aim to increase the number of digital transactions in their respective countries.

Digital Transaction Management Market Forecast: Several reputed banks are implementing digital solutions to increase transaction flexibility. In the DTM system, documents are transferred and certified electronically, along with electronic signatures. Furthermore, most companies are introducing QES (Qualified Electronic Signature) to ensure the highest level of security for their digital transactions. These factors are likely to propel the market growth for digital transaction management.

Self-Service Kiosk Market Scope: With various technological advancements, self-service technologies are being used extensively at banks, hospitals, airports, amusement parks, etc. Consumer demand for self-service kiosks is rising day by day, as more and more consumers are looking for a better experience such as customization, convenience, and enhanced interface.

5G Services Market Report Growth - The global 5G market is anticipated to show robust growth in the forecast period. The expansion of the market can be attributed to the rapid development in virtualization in the networking domain.

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LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), applauds action taken by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today to establish a renewable gas standard, an important step toward decarbonizing the gas system and reducing short-lived climate pollutant emissions. The action taken by the CPUC today makes California the first state in the country to adopt a renewable gas standard. Under this new renewable gas standard, SoCalGas will be required to replace 12.2 percent of the traditional gas it delivers to core customers with renewable gas by 2030. The standard also sets an interim goal of procuring approximately 3 percent renewable gas by 2025.

Last year, SoCalGas set a goal to achieve net zero greenhouse emissions in its operations and the energy it delivers by 2045. As part of that net zero goal, SoCalGas established benchmarks including delivering 20 percent renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. The state's new RNG standard aligns with and will assist SoCalGas in reaching that goal.

"The CPUC's decision today will help California to address the single most urgent climate issue, which is the reduction of climate super pollutants methane and black carbon," said Julia Levin, Executive Director of the Bioenergy Association of California and former Deputy Secretary for Climate Change and Energy at the California Natural Resources Agency. "Requiring utilities to procure biomethane generated from organic waste will help to reduce landfill waste, open burning of agricultural and forest waste, and wildfires, which in turn provides enormous benefits for public health and the climate."

"This new standard will be critical to California's transition to net zero by implementing a framework to recycle waste, eliminate greenhouse gas emissions produced by that waste, and put it to good use as renewable natural gas," said Jawaad Malik, SoCalGas vice president of strategy and sustainability and chief environmental officer. "Our way forward will require the innovative implementation of clean fuels such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen to help make our transition to a cleaner future reliable, resilient and affordable. By creating a new mechanism for consumers to access renewable natural gas, we are one step closer to a cleaner future."

The establishment of a renewable gas standard is the result of passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1440, authored by Senator Ben Hueso, chair of the state Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. SB 1440 required the CPUC to develop the standard and set goals for the procurement of renewable gas-made organic waste from wastewater treatment plants, dairies, landfills, agricultural waste, and forestry residues.

A key element of the renewable gas standard is procurement of RNG produced from landfill waste, which was targeted in SB 1383. That law is aimed at reducing emissions in part through a reduction of organic waste  and the methane it produces  in landfills. The law mandates the reduction of methane emissions by 40%, hydrofluorocarbon gas emissions by 40%, and anthropogenic black carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, when compared to 2013 emissions levels.

An economy-wide analysis by SoCalGas released in October found that electrification combined with clean fuels like RNG and hydrogen and carbon management offers the most affordable, resilient and technologically proven path to achieving carbon neutrality in California.

To read more on how SoCalGas is building the most cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America, visit socalgas.com/aspire2045.

About SoCalGas

Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines will continue to play a key role in California's clean energy transitionproviding electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy deployment.

SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America . In support of that mission, SoCalGas is committed to the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego.

For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook .

SOURCE Southern California Gas Company
TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SolidRun , a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance edge computing solutions, today announced in collaboration with IoT.Bzh, an embedded open source software specialist, new Linux distributions available for SolidSense-branded enterprise-grade IoT edge gateways. These software packages are available to SolidSense customers via redpesk, a SaaS platform that offers pre-integrated, ready-to-use software for a variety of industrial IoT applications.

"When it comes to deploying any enterprise or industrial computing solutions, a significant amount of time is spent engineering and testing software to ensure a problem-free deployment," Dr. Atai Ziv, CEO at SolidRun. "The time required dramatically increases when solutions are deployed at scale, such is often the case with edge gateways. Working with IoT.bzh has allowed us to further our value to customers by providing them access to thousands of Linux software solutions that have been tested for our SolidSense systems."

redpesk (www.redpesk.bzh) is a secure embedded all-in-one Linux software platform dedicated to Industrial IoT. It offers an easy-to-use pre-integrated CI/CD factory with more than 2,500 binary packages and a set of basic "ready-to-go" components that nearly every system requires. redpesk fosters innovation, reduces development costs and time to market, while allowing software teams to scale deployments that benefit from long-term support (10+ years) and over-the-air updates.

"By pairing our redpesk solution with SolidRun's SolidSense edge gateways, we can offer customers a complete, turn-key solution comprised of hardware, and both essential and specialized Linux-based software to fit a variety of industrial IoT needs," said Fulup Le Foll CEO at IoT.bzh.

All SolidSense Edge Gateways are OEM ready, but SolidRun will work with customers to configure custom systems to any industry's or enterprise's specific IoT needs.

SolidSense N8 Edge Gateways are available today from SolidRun at www.solid-run.com/solidsense .

Press Kit: https://bit.ly/SolidRun_Redpesk

About SolidRun

SolidRun is a global leading developer of embedded systems and network solutions, focused on a wide range of energy-efficient, powerful, and flexible products. Our innovative compact embedded solutions are based on ARM and x86 architecture and offer a variety of platforms including SOMs (System-on-Module), SBCs (Single Board Computer) and industrial mini-PCs.

SolidRun offers a one-stop-shop for developers and OEMs, providing a complete service from hardware customization to software support and even product branding and enclosure design. With a mission to simplify application development while overcoming deployment challenges, SolidRun proudly provides customers faster time-to-market and lower costs.

About IoT.bzh

IoT.bzh is an expert embedded software company with strong recognition among the global open-source community for its Linux and cybersecurity solutions dedicated to Industrial IoT markets (automotive, maritime, military, aeronautics, energy). IoT.bzh proposes redpesk, a secure embedded all-in-one Linux software platform that simplifies embedded Linux development and maintenance enabling customers to focus on their core business.

For more information, visit https://iot.bzh

Media Contacts:

Michael Farino

New Era Communications

[email protected]

949-346-1984

SOURCE SolidRun
Nitrogen is essential for crop development, but is often overapplied with 30-50% going unused by the crop. The excess has significant environmental consequences, resulting in runoff and volatilization that negatively impacts the quality of water, air and soil. Sound Agriculture's flagship product, SOURCE, uses patented technology to activate microbes in the soil that unlock existing nutrients through nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization. Growers can target a yield increase of 5-10 bushels per acre or a nitrogen reduction of 25-50 lbs per acre in corn, depending on how they want to use it.

"Growers are interested in implementing more sustainable practices, but financial risk is a barrier," said Adam Litle, CEO, Sound Agriculture. "Even with record highs in fertilizer prices, growers are still reluctant to reduce nitrogen at $6 per bushel for corn. Because we're confident SOURCE can maintain or grow yields even with reduced nitrogen, we're introducing this program to remove all of the risk. To our knowledge it's the first time a private company has offered an unlimited yield risk guarantee. We think the results are going to be excellent for growers' operations, their soil and water quality, and climate change at large."

Growers who participate in the pilot will work closely with a Sound Agriculture agronomist to develop a nitrogen reduction plan specific to their farm. Using the company's Performance Optimizer, key soil characteristics and other data points will be used to identify fields where SOURCE in combination with nitrogen reduction will perform best. Growers will save money on fertilizer prices, which have risen by 100-300% over the past year, increase soil microbial activity, reduce nitrogen loss, and in many cases may see an increase in yield.

"The combination of rising fertilizer prices and the desire to impart more on-farm stewardship practices piqued my interest in this program," said Kasey Bamberger, Partner, Bryant Agricultural Enterprise. "As part of a family-run farm in Ohio, finding ways to reduce nitrogen to improve the health of our soil and the environment, without reducing our bottom line, is always a top priority. I had great results with SOURCE last year and am eager to participate in the pilot. I don't know of other companies removing the financial risk for this type of change, and it makes the decision to move forward much easier."

SOURCE is currently being sold for use in corn and soybeans, with trials underway in wheat, rice, cotton and other crops. Unlike products that add microbes to the soil, SOURCE is the only solution that stimulates the microbes already in the soil. To learn more about participating in the pilot program, email [email protected].

About Sound Agriculture

Sound Agriculture unlocks the natural power of plants to meet the demands for more diverse and nutritious food. Innovative, on-demand crop solutions allow agriculture to adapt faster to climate change and evolving consumer preferences, creating healthier food that is better for the planet. Products are designed to improve on-farm efficiency and create healthier, tastier, more sustainable food. SOURCE activates the microbiome to give crops access to more of the nitrogen and phosphorus that exists in the field, improving yield and reducing synthetic fertilizer by up to 50 lbs per acre. Learn more at www.sound.ag and follow @sound_ag on Twitter.

SOURCE Sound Agriculture
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SWX) ("Southwest Gas" or "the Company") today confirmed that an affiliate of Carl Icahn ("Icahn") extended its tender offer to acquire any and all outstanding common shares of the Company for $75.00 per share in cash (the "Offer"). As previously announced, Southwest Gas' Board of Directors rejected Icahn's unsolicited, inadequate, structurally coercive, highly conditional and illusory tender offer. Accordingly, the Board continues to recommend that stockholders not tender any of their shares into the Offer.

Southwest Gas issued the following statement:

The Southwest Gas Board and management team are executing a clear and detailed strategy to create value and deliver attractive, risk-adjusted total returns comprising stable earnings and a meaningful dividend. We continue to recommend that stockholders reject Mr. Icahn's Tender Offer, which is highly illusory, undervalues the Company, has no certainty of completion and is not in the best interests of Southwest Gas stockholders.

Lazard is serving as financial advisor to Southwest Gas and Morrison & Foerster LLP and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP are serving as legal advisors.

About Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the business of purchasing, distributing and transporting natural gas, and providing comprehensive utility infrastructure services across North America. Southwest Gas Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary, safely and reliably delivers natural gas to over two million customers in Arizona, California and Nevada. Centuri Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, is a strategic infrastructure services company that partners with regulated utilities to build and maintain the energy network that powers millions of homes and businesses across the United States and Canada. The Company's MountainWest subsidiary provides natural gas storage and interstate pipeline services within the Rocky Mountain region.

How to Find Further Information

This communication does not constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval in connection with the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders of Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") (the "Annual Meeting"). In connection with the Annual Meeting, the Company will file a proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which the Company will furnish, with any other relevant information or documents, to its stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, WE URGE STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND WHITE PROXY CARD AND OTHER DOCUMENTS WHEN SUCH INFORMATION IS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE ANNUAL MEETING. The proposals for the Annual Meeting will be made solely through the proxy statement. In addition, a copy of the proxy statement (when it becomes available) may be obtained free of charge from www.swgasholdings.com/proxymaterials. Security holders also will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of the proxy statement and any other documents filed by Company with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov, and at the companies' website at www.swgasholdings.com.

Important Information for Investors and Stockholders

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. In response to the tender offer for the shares of the Company commenced by IEP Utility Holdings LLC and Icahn Enterprises Holdings L.P., the Company has filed a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF SOUTHWEST GAS HOLDINGS ARE URGED TO READ THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and stockholders may obtain a free copy of these documents free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, and at the Company's website at www.swgasholdings.com. In addition, copies of these materials may be requested from the Company's information agent, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, toll-free at (877) 825-8621.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about, among others, the industry, markets in which Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (the "Company," "Southwest Gas Holdings," "SWX," or "we") operates, and the matters described in this press release. While the Company's management believes the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, such information is necessarily subject to uncertainties and may involve certain risks, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond the control of the Company's management. A number of important factors affecting the business and financial results of the Company could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the timing and amount of rate relief, changes in rate design, customer growth rates, the effects of regulation/deregulation, tax reform and related regulatory decisions, the impacts of construction activity at Centuri, future earnings trends, seasonal patterns, and the impacts of stock market volatility. In addition, the Company can provide no assurance that its discussions about future operating margin, operating income, pension costs, COLI results, and capital expenditures of the natural gas segment will occur. Likewise, the Company can provide no assurance that discussions regarding utility infrastructure services segment revenues, operating income as a percentage of revenues, interest expense, and noncontrolling interest amounts will transpire, nor assurance regarding acquisitions or their impacts, including management's plans related thereto, such as that currently planned in regard to Riggs Distler & Company, Inc. and the recent acquisition of Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline, LLC and related entities (the "Questar Pipeline Group"). Additional risks include risks that the acquisition of the Questar Pipeline Group disrupts current plans and operations, the risks related to the ability of the Company to integrate the Questar Pipeline Group, the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the transaction and the actual terms of certain financings that will be obtained for the transaction, potential negative impacts to the Company's credit ratings as a result of the transaction, the disruption to the Company's stock price and the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to, and the distraction of management's attention in connection with, any proxy contest or other stockholder related or similar matters, as well as other risks that are set forth under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2021 and in future filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release.

Participants in the Solicitation

The directors and officers of the Company may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting. Information regarding the Company's directors and officers and their respective interests in the Company by security holdings or otherwise is available in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and its most recent definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants is or will be included in the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC, when they become available.

Contacts

For investor information, contact: Ken Kenny (702) 876-7237 [email protected]; or Innisfree M&A Incorporated, Scott Winter/Jennifer Shotwell/Jon Salzberger, (212) 750-5833.

For media information, contact: Sean Corbett (702) 876-7219 [email protected]; or Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, Dan Katcher / Tim Lynch, (212) 355-4449.

SOURCE Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.
VALLETTA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Maltese authorities have decided to lift some of the country's COVID-19 restrictions in March, Health Minister Chris Fearne said here on Thursday.

Among others, catering establishments will be allowed to remain open after 1 a.m. The government may also remove the face mask mandate for schoolchildren after the Easter holidays.

Fearne told journalists that after March 14 the face mask mandate in public spaces will also be removed, with the exception of mass events. From Apr. 11, outdoor standing events will be allowed to resume, but only for vaccinated people if the event is held indoors.

The mandatory quarantine for primary contacts of positive COVID-19 cases will be lifted from March 7 as long as the infection rate remains low.

The quarantine period for primary contacts who do not reside in the same household has been reduced from seven to five days, and for primary contacts in the same household from ten to seven days.

Vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for seven days and present a negative test result on the seventh day.

Malta will start recognizing vaccine certificates approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) even if these are not approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Fearne said.

Fearne also said that the quarantine period for vaccinated travelers coming from countries on Malta's "dark red" list will be reduced to seven days from ten. 
Spartech will showcase thermoplastics solutions including, Polycast SolarControl cell cast acrylic at HELI-EXPO 2022. Tweet this

"These superior Spartech thermoplastic materials offer helicopter manufacturers and designers clear design advantages," said Spartech Business Development Manager, Aerospace Eric Trimble. "We're proud to develop resources that play a key role in helping to improve the performance, functionality, and reliability of aircraft within the aviation industry."

Spartech has a history in the aerospace arena, helping to create plastics products from window shades and bulkheads to aircraft canopies which meet the most demanding aerospace design and application challenges while offering a full line of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft material options for both commercial and defense markets.

For more than 70 years, HAI has provided support, services and set the industry safety guidelines for the international helicopter community. HAI HELI-EXPO 2022 will feature over 600 exhibitors with a show floor space of nearly one-million square feet within the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, (Spartech Booth #6320).

About Spartech

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri with a unique innovation center and 16 manufacturing facilities located throughout the United States, Spartech is a leading plastics manufacturer of engineered thermoplastic materials and specialty packaging products. Meeting exact standards for everything from food packaging to aerospace and automotive applications, Spartech continues to make a world of difference with sustainable, diverse, reliable, and innovative products including UltraTuf, Royalite, Korad, PreservaPak, and Polycast. https://spartech.com

Media Contact:

For Spartech

Sheldon Ripson

[email protected]

636-751-5733

SOURCE Spartech
Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman represents Melissa Cantabrana , who is taking on the baby food industry for allegedly causing her son Noah's autism. Cantabrana says she connected her son's diagnosis to the foods he ate as a baby after reading a scathing government report titled "Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury." The baby food report specifically called out Nurture (Happy Baby), Gerber, Hain (Earth's Best Organic), Parent's Choice (Walmart), Plum Organics, Sprout Organic Foods, and Beech-Nut for knowingly selling products that pose serious health risks to babies.

Cantabrana enlisted the legal help of attorneys Pedram Esfandiary and R. Brent Wisner to hold the baby food companies accountable in court. The attorneys are all too familiar with David vs. Goliath legal battles, having won billions in jury verdicts against Monsanto Company in the Roundup litigation.

"I'm not concerned about the fact that these guys are Goliaths," Esfandiary told Spotlight. "All that matters is what the truth is. And the facts say these metals should have never been in baby food. They should have never ended up in the bodies of American children."

Parents across the country agree. Esfandiary and his firm now represent over 1,000 families in the baby food litigation.

According to Esfandiary, if the judge overseeing Cantabrana's case rules that there is sufficient science underpinning the allegations, a trial could proceed with haste and the case would enter discovery, potentially allowing documents from the defendant companies to enter the public record.

As the litigation progresses, Cantabrana continues to work tirelessly with Noah in therapy. "I'm hopeful that we will get to share this information out there to other moms and other families that it's time for this to stop," she says.

Watch the Spotlight on America Report.

SOURCE Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman
ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- aptihealth, a leading provider of virtual-first behavioral healthcare, today announced a relationship with St. Peter's Health Partners (SPHP), the Capital Region's most comprehensive not-for-profit integrated healthcare network. This new relationship ensures SPHP's 11,000 colleagues and more than 1 million residents of the greater Capital Region will have fast, easy access to confidential, goal-oriented mental healthcare at a time when the community needs it most.

"aptihealth puts the patient at the center of everything we do. Our platform makes it easy for people to access care at any time, connecting them to a care team with innovative digital tools that allow them to deliver precise, personalized care in a timely and efficient manner," said Dan Pickett, CEO of aptihealth. "As our healthcare system reels and adjusts to the rise and fall of COVID-19 cases, we recognize that not only are our communities feeling the stress of our changing world, but the nurses, doctors, and staff on the ground are also in need of care. That's why we are working with St. Peter's to ensure every patient and employee understands that support is available at their fingertips."

The aptihealth platform provides seamless behavioral healthcare access for patients at any point-of-care, including referrals from the patient's physician, upon discharge from the emergency department or inpatient unit, and through online self sign-up. Upon referral, patients and employees get a dedicated care team and start care within days. aptihealth's integrated and tech-driven approach to care has shown to decrease symptom severity by up to 50 percent or more, resulting in improved health outcomes and reduced costs.

"The last two years have seen our colleagues on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic facing countless professional, personal, and psychological challenges," said Dr. Steven Hanks, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Clinical Officer for St. Peter's Health Partners. "Taking care of these healthcare providers who are taking care of the community is crucial, so this relationship with aptihealth comes at a perfect time. This program provides our colleagues with a necessary, easily accessible resource to address their psychological and emotional well-being during these extremely difficult times."

The relationship also gives SPHP providers the tools to refer their patients to more timely mental health services. Patients in need of behavioral healthcare are connected to aptihealth and asked to complete a comprehensive online self-assessment. They are then matched with a licensed therapist and psychiatric prescriber (if needed) who specialize in their areas of need.

Together, these providers develop a personalized, goal-oriented care plan. The care provided includes teletherapy, medication management, and unlimited messaging with a therapist between sessions. The aptihealth platform enables progress tracking and the dedicated care team, including the patient's primary care doctor, therapist, prescriber, and care manager, remain connected throughout treatment.

Headquartered in Boston, aptihealth launched in 2018 and has grown significantly with more than 150 employees, and 28 partnerships with health plans, health systems, and physician practice customers.

About aptihealth

aptihealth is the first tech-driven behavioral health provider built to transform higher acuity care. Its platform provides population-precise programs that connect medical providers, behavioral health specialists, behavioral health prescribers, and patients with its proprietary screening, assessment, and treatment management protocols. aptihealth's digital platform provides a seamless and effective approach to virtual, intelligent, and comprehensive care that helps patients get better faster. Learn more at: www.aptihealth.com.

About St. Peters Health Partners

With nearly 11,000 employees in more than 170 locations, St. Peter's Health Partners is one of the Capital Region's largest and most comprehensive not-for-profit integrated health care networks, and provides high-quality, compassionate, and sophisticated care to thousands of people every day. St. Peter's Health Partners is a member of Trinity Health, one of the nation's largest Catholic health systems. For more information, please visit www.SPHP.com.

SOURCE aptihealth
RENO, Nev., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- StroudwaterGCL has completed $102 million in government-guaranteed financing for Deborah Heart and Lung Center, a hospital that provides high-quality critical care to cardiac, pulmonary and vascular patients.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center located in Brown Mills, NJ, is New Jersey's only specialty heart, lung and vascular hospital, and an Alliance member of Cleveland Clinic Heart, Lung & Vascular Institute.

The StroudwaterGCL funding will be used for construction of DEBORAH100: The Project.

DEBORAH100: The Project will bring a completely reimagined patient experience to the Hospital, with all aspects of construction focused on patient privacy, their comfort and care, access to cutting-edge technology and accommodations for families who remain a key support in a patient's hospital journey.

The new construction includes a three-story addition on top of existing hospital space, having a total of 36 private patient rooms, 18 of which will be critical care. One floor will be dedicated for staff and other uses. The project will give Deborah a total of 95 licensed beds.

After the new construction phase is completed, the remaining double-occupancy rooms in the hospital will be renovated into private rooms. Additional plans include upgrades to the hospital's cardiac catheterization labs, a new pharmacy clean-room, new robotic technology in the electrophysiology labs and respite lounges for staff. Throughout the new construction and renovations, the most advanced digital and electronic systems have been integrated, as well as a focus on providing the most optimum conditions for the comfort and care of patients, including lessons learned from the COVID Pandemic: privacy, critical care beds and isolation standards, as well as attention to staff amenities.

The project is timed to coincide with Deborah's 100th Anniversary celebration next year.

These improvements will provide critically important specialty medical care to the nearly 800,000 rural residents within Deborah's service area.

"The improvements that we will be able to make to the campus, in large thanks to these funds, allow us to continue providing the highest standard of care to our patients. This has added importance to a hospital like ours, as we have a case mix  which is a measure of how sick patients are  that's twice the national average," said Deborah Heart and Lung Center President and CEO Joseph Chirichella.

StroudwaterGCL worked with Ponder & Co., the financial advisor to Deborah Heart and Lung Center, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to arrange an especially favorable, large loan  2% interest over a long, 30-year term.

StroudwaterGCL is a partnership between Greater Commercial Lending (GCL), which provides access to government-guaranteed credit to organizations in rural and under-served areas, and Stroudwater Associates, which delivers strategic advice to rural hospitals and health systems. The loan for Deborah is guaranteed by the USDA and is four-times larger than the average USDA hospital financing.

"Given our hospital's unique funding structure and mission, we needed to find the best way to finance this project with an approach tailored to our organization. The working relationship with StroudwaterGCL produced an arrangement with the USDA's rural healthcare loan guarantee program that proved to be much more favorable than any other option we looked into," said Chirichella.

"It is gratifying to be able to partner with the USDA as well as community banks and credit unions around the country to provide credit that enables a storied institution like Deborah to extend and enhance the superb critical care it provides in an under-served area. We are especially delighted that the financing and expansion coincides with Deborah's upcoming 100th anniversary," said Jeremy Gilpin, executive vice president of GCL.

Deborah was established in 1922 by Dora Moness Shapiro, a member of a New York City garment industry family, as a tuberculosis sanitorium to provide care to those who could not afford it. In the 1950s, the hospital expanded into cardiac and vascular care and was the site of the first pioneering open-heart surgeries in New Jersey by renowned physician Dr. Charles Bailey. For nearly 100 years, Deborah's founding mission "there is no price on life" has been supported by Deborah Hospital Foundation's charitable mission of never billing a patient.

"This financing supports Deborah's mission to provide exceptional quality and patient satisfaction, while also keeping healthcare costs low. Rural healthcare systems like Deborah are vitally important and are especially deserving of this kind of support," said Brian Haapala, CEO of StroudwaterGCL.

About Greater Commercial Lending

Greater Commercial Lending (GCL) is a credit organization that brings together credit unions and community lenders from around the U.S. to provide government-guaranteed loans to businesses and initiatives in rural and under-served markets throughout the U.S. and its territories. It helps finance key infrastructure services, like power, renewable energy, transportation and fiber optic, as well as schools, hospitals, restaurants, agriculture, hotels and manufacturers. GCL partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which guarantee loans, to arrange credit at favorable terms. GCL is a subsidiary of Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU).

About StroudwaterGCL

StroudwaterGCL works with rural hospitals to help them not only identify but also execute on funding high-impact rural health investments. Through a combination of strategic advisory services and access to capital through the USDA Community Facilities program, StroudwaterGCL helps rural healthcare clients access capital quickly and with attractive terms.

About Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, NJ is an 89-bed teaching hospital that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, research, and treatment of heart, lung, and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has been a regional and nationally recognized leader throughout its 100-year history. From performing the first open heart surgeries (adult and pediatric) in New Jersey, to running one of the highest volume left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant programs in the region, Deborah has stood at the forefront of medical innovation, all while never wavering from its founding mission "there is no price on life." Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey for patient satisfaction; holds a top-tier Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating which places Deborah among the best cardiac surgery programs in the country; and is designated a national Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group. Deborah is an Alliance member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. To learn more visit www.DemandDeborah.org .

SOURCE Greater Commercial Lending
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The shareholders of Castellum AB (publ), Reg. No. 556475-5550, are hereby summoned to the Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 5 pm in RunAn, Chalmers Karhus, Chalmersplatsen 1, Gothenburg. The entrance opens at 4.30 pm.

In order to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus, the Board of Directors has decided that shareholders shall be able to exercise their voting rights at the Annual General Meeting also by postal voting in accordance with temporary legislation. As further precautionary measures, Castellum has decided that no beverages or food will be served and that certain restrictions will be made as to the attendance of non-shareholders. Castellum would like to encourage shareholders to consider whether to attend the meeting in person, but instead use the opportunity to vote by post or participate by proxy. Castellum is monitoring the development and will, if necessary, update the information.

Notification etc.

Attend the meeting venue in person

A) A person who wishes to attend the meeting venue in person or by proxy must

be listed as a shareholder in the presentation of the share register prepared by Euroclear Sweden AB concerning the circumstances on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 ; and

; and give notice of participation in the Annual General Meeting no later than Friday, March 25, 2022 (preferably before 4 pm ). Notification of participation at the Annual General Meeting can be made by post to Castellum AB (publ), c/o Euroclear Sweden AB, Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, by phone +46 8401 43 76, or through the company's website www.castellum.com. The notification must state name/business name, social security number/company registration number, address and telephone number.

For those who wish to be represented by a proxy, a written and dated power of attorney signed by the shareholder must be attached to the notification and presented at the meeting. Form of proxy is available on Castellum's website, www.castellum.com. If the shareholder is a legal person, a registration certificate, or if such document does not exist, other corresponding authorization document must be attached.

Participation by postal voting

B) A person who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting by postal voting must

be listed as a shareholder in the presentation of the share register prepared by Euroclear Sweden AB concerning the circumstances on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 ; and

; and give notice of participation in the Annual General Meeting no later than Friday, March 25, 2022 , by having submitted a postal voting form in accordance with the instructions below, so that the postal vote is received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than that day.

A person who wishes to attend the meeting venue in person or by proxy, must give notice in accordance with the instructions stated under A) above. Hence, a notice of participation only through postal voting is not sufficient for a person who wishes to attend the meeting venue.

A special form shall be used for postal voting. The form is available on the company's website www.castellum.com. The completed and signed form may be sent by post to Castellum AB (publ), "Annual General Meeting", c/o Euroclear Sweden AB, Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, or by email to [email protected] (state "Castellum AB  postal voting" in the subject line). The completed and signed form must be received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than Friday, March 25, 2022. Shareholders may also submit the postal vote electronically by verifying with BankID via Euroclear Sweden AB's website https://anmalan.vpc.se/EuroclearProxy/.

Shareholders may not provide special instructions or conditions in the voting form. If so, the postal vote (in its entirety) is invalid. Further instructions and conditions are included in the form for postal voting.

If the shareholder postal votes by proxy, a written and dated power of attorney signed by the shareholder must be attached to the postal voting form. Form of proxy is available on Castellum's website, www.castellum.com. If the shareholder is a legal person, a registration certificate or other corresponding authorization document must be attached to the form.

Nominee-registered shares

In order to be entitled to participate in the Annual General Meeting, a shareholder whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee must, in addition to giving notice of participation, register its shares in its own name so that the shareholder is listed in the presentation of the share register as of Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Such registration may be temporary (so-called voting rights registration), and request for such voting rights registration shall be made to the nominee, in accordance with the nominee's routines, at such a time as decided by the nominee. Voting rights registrations that have been made no later than Friday, March 25, 2022 will be taken into account in the presentation of the share register.

Documentation

The annual accounts, the audit report, the Board's report on remuneration pursuant to Chapter 8, Section 53 a of the Swedish Companies Act will be available at the company's office at Ostra Hamngatan 16, Gothenburg, and on the company's website, www.castellum.com, in connection with the disclosure of the company's annual report on March 7, 2022. The auditor's statement according to item 6 b), the Board's proposal and motivated satement in accordance with item 8, as well as other proposals regarding item 10 and items 17-19 will be available at the company's office and on the company's website no later than March 10, 2022. As to other proposals, complete proposals can be found under each item in this notice.

The Election Committee's complete proposal for resolutions, information regarding the proposed Board members, motivated statement concerning the Election Committee's proposal regarding the Board and report on the Election Committee's work can be found on the company's website.

The documents are considered presented by being held available at the company and on the company's website. The above documents will, as from the day they are available, be sent to shareholders, who have stated their postal address, upon request.

Number of shares and votes

At the date of this summons, there are in total 345,731,968 shares and votes in the company, of which the company holds 5,712,000 own shares.

Items

1. Election of Chairman of the meeting.

2. Preparation and approval of the voting list.

3. Approval of the agenda.

4. Election of one or two persons to verify the minutes.

5. Consideration if the Annual General Meeting has been duly convened.

6. Presentation of

(a) the annual accounts and the audit report as well as the consolidated annual accounts and the audit report for the group,

(b) the auditor's statement regarding the company's compliance with the guidelines for remuneration to members of the executive management in effect since the previous Annual General Meeting.

In connection thereto, presentation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director.

7. Resolution regarding the adoption of the income statement and the balance sheet as well as the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet.

8. Resolution regarding the allocation of the company's profit in accordance with the adopted balance sheet and resolution regarding the record days for distribution of dividend.

9. Resolution regarding discharge from liability towards the company in respect of the members of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director.

10. Resolution to amend the Articles of Association.

11. The Election Committee's report on its proposals regarding resolutions at the Annual General Meeting and the Election Committee's motivated statement concerning its proposal regarding the Board of Directors.

12. Resolution regarding the number of members of the Board of Directors and auditors and deputy auditors.

13. Resolution regarding remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors and the auditor.

14. Election of members of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

(a) Per Berggren (Chairman)

(b) Anna Kinberg Batra

(c) Anna-Karin Celsing

(d) Joacim Sjoberg

(e) Rutger Arnhult

(f) Henrik Kall (new election)

15. Election of auditor.

16. Resolution regarding approval of the remuneration report.

17. Resolution regarding guidelines for remuneration to members of the executive management.

18. Resolution regarding authorisation for the Board of Directors to resolve on new share issues.

19. Resolution regarding authorisation for the Board of Directors to resolve to acquire and transfer the company's own shares.

Proposals for resolution

Item 1

The Election Committee proposes the lawyer Sven Unger to preside as Chairman of the Annual General Meeting.

Item 8

The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of SEK 7.60 per share, distributed to the shareholders in four equal payments of SEK 1.90 per share. As record days for the dividend, the Board of Directors proposes Monday, April 4, 2022, Thursday, June 30, 2022, Friday, September 30, 2022 and Friday, December 30, 2022. The dividend is expected to be distributed by Euroclear Sweden AB on the third banking day after each record date.

Item 10

The Board of Directors proposes two new subparagraphs in  9 of the Articles of Association with the following wording.

The Board of Directors may decide before a general meeting that the shareholders shall be able to exercise their voting rights by post before the general meeting pursuant to the procedure stated in Chapter 7, Section 4 a of the Swedish Companies Act.

The Board of Directors may resolve that a person who is not a shareholder of the company shall be entitled, on the conditions stipulated by the Board of Directors, to be present or otherwise follow the proceedings at the general meeting.

Furthermore, the Board of Directors proposes that  11 of the Articles of Association should be amended with the following wording.

An Annual General Meeting shall be held in Goteborg or Stockholm within six months of the expiry of each financial year.

In order to be valid, a resolution regarding amendment of the Articles of Association requires approval of at least two thirds of the votes cast and the shares represented at the Annual General Meeting.

Items 12, 13, 14 and 15

An Election Committee has been established in accordance with the shareholders' resolution from the Annual General Meeting of 2021. The Election Committee consists of Helen Fasth Gillstedt (Chairman of the Election Committee) appointed by Handelsbanken Fonder, Patrik Essehorn appointed by Corem Property Group, Johannes Wingborg appointed by Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning, Ilija Batljan appointed by Ilija Batljan Invest and Per Berggren, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The Election Committee has made the following proposals:

I. 12 The Board of Directors is proposed to consist of six members and the number of auditors is proposed to be one with no deputy auditor.

I. 13 Remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors is proposed to be the following (2021 remuneration within brackets).

The Chairman of the Board of Directors: SEK 1,075,000 (SEK 1,015,000).

Each of the other members of the Board of Directors: SEK 440,000 (SEK 425,000).

Chairman of the People Committee: SEK 100,000 (SEK 100,000).

Each of the other members of the People Committee: SEK 75,000 (SEK 75,000).

Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee: SEK 220,000 (SEK 200,000).

Each of the other members of the Audit and Finance Committee: SEK 105,000 (SEK 100,000).

It is proposed that the auditor's fee shall be paid as per approved accounts.

I. 14 The existing Board members Per Berggren, Anna Kinberg Batra, Anna-Karin Celsing, Joacim Sjoberg and Rutger Arnhult are proposed to be re-elected as Board members. Christina Karlsson Kazeem and Zdravko Markovski have declined re-election. Further, Henrik Kall is proposed to be elected as new Board member. Per Berggren is proposed to be elected as Chairman of the Board.

Henrik Kall, born in 1967, has a great understanding of the capital market and, particularly, the interest rate market, as he has worked in various leading positions in banking and finance both in Stockholm and London, including as Global Head of Markets Sales & Distribution at Nordea Markets covering all types of assets such as interest rates, shares, currencies and derivatives, whereby he was also a member of the Nordea Group's Risk and Product Committee.

More information concerning all members proposed for re-election and new election is available on the company's website, www.castellum.com.

I. 15 In accordance with the Audit and Finance Committee's recommendation, Deloitte is proposed for re-election as auditor in Castellum until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2023. If the Annual General Meeting resolves to elect Deloitte as auditor, Deloitte has announced that Harald Jagner will continue as the main responsible auditor at Deloitte.

Item 16

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to approve the remuneration report pursuant to section 8 subsection 53 a of the Swedish Companies Act.

Item 17

The Board of Directors' proposal regarding guidelines for remuneration to the members of the executive management is proposed to apply until further notice. In relation to the current guidelines, the proposal mainly entails a partly amended decision-making procedure for variable remuneration, that the share price based three-year incentive program is adopted every year instead of every third year and amounts to one third of the previous maximum remuneration, as well as that the reinvestment requirement related to the one-year profit based incentive program is removed. The guidelines includes the following key considerations.

The level of remuneration shall correspond to the conditions of the market and be competitive. A fixed salary shall be paid for work performed in a satisfactory manner. Pension terms shall correspond to general market practice and shall be based on pension schemes with fixed charges. In addition to the fixed salary, variable remuneration may be offered within the scope of a profit and share price based incentive program. Such variable remuneration should aim to create long term value, and strengthen the sustainability work, within the group. Total variable remuneration per year may not exceed the fixed annual remuneration. The profit and share price based incentive program consists of two parts, a one-year remuneration based on growth in income from property management per share and the development of individually determined factors, as well as a three-year remuneration based on to what extent established objectives in respect of the development of the share price have been achieved over a three-year period. Each year, the Board of Directors may decide to adopt a program that contains both parts. The program's structure shall be based on the objective to align the interests of the group executive management with the interests of the shareholders by way of the group executive management also being shareholders of Castellum and by increasing the share of the total remuneration which is connected to the development of the group. Hence, the performance targets under the profit and share price based incentive program are clearly linked to Castellum's business strategy and long term interests, including its sustainability work, among others by linking the remuneration to the development of shareholder value and by promoting the executive member's long term personal development. Variable remuneration shall be paid as salary, includes payment for vacation and shall not be pension qualifying income unless required by mandatory collective agreement. In the event that the remuneration to the executive member is pension qualifying income in accordance with mandatory collective agreement provisions, necessary adjustment shall be made of the remuneration so that cost neutrality is achieved for the company. The participants shall undertake to purchase Castellum shares for at least half of the amount of the share price based remuneration received, after deduction for tax.

The notice period shall, upon termination by the company, not exceed six months in respect of the Managing Director, and twelve months in respect of any other member of the executive management of the company. The notice period shall, upon termination by the Managing Director or by any other member of the executive management of the company, be six months. During the notice period full salary will be paid and other benefits will be provided to the employee, with deduction for salary and other remuneration received from another employment or business during the notice period. Such deduction shall not be made in respect of the Managing Director. A severance pay, corresponding to twelve fixed monthly salaries, shall be paid to the Managing Director upon termination by the company. Such severance pay shall not be reduced due to other income received by the Managing Director.

The guidelines applies to executive members of the group executive management in Castellum. The Board of Directors has the right to reclaim variable remuneration that has been paid on the basis of information that later has turned out to be inaccurate and provided with a deceptive intention. Further, the Board of Directors shall have the right to deviate from the guidelines, in whole or in part, if in a specific case there is special cause for the deviation and a deviation is necessary to serve the company's long-term interests, including its sustainability work.

Item 18

The Board of Directors' proposal implies that the Board of Directors shall be authorised to, during the period until the next Annual General Meeting, resolve on new share issues, on one or several occasions, with or without deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights and that shares corresponding to maximum ten per cent of the company's share capital may be issued. Further, the proposal implies that an issue may be made against cash payment, by set-off or by contribution in kind. In case of deviation from the shareholders' preferential right to subscription, shares shall be issued on market terms. The purpose of the Board of Directors' proposal is to enable the company to, completely or partially, finance any future real property investments and/or acquisitions of real property companies/businesses by issuing new shares as payment in connection with agreements on acquisition of real property, alternatively to raise capital for such investments and/or acquisitions.

In order to be valid, a resolution regarding authorisation of the Board of Directors to resolve on new share issues requires approval of at least two thirds of the votes cast and the shares represented at the Annual General Meeting.

Item 19

The Board of Directors' proposal implies that the Board of Directors shall be authorised to, during the period until the next Annual General Meeting, resolve on acquisition on one or several occasions, of the company's own shares provided that the company after each acquisition will not hold more than ten per cent of all the shares in the company, and to transfer all of the company's own shares with deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights. The objective of the Board of Directors' proposal is to allow the company to adapt its capital structure to its capital needs from time to time and thereby contribute to an increased shareholder value, and to transfer own shares as payment, or in order to finance, real property investments and/or acquisitions of real property companies/businesses. This objective does not allow the company to trade with its own shares for the short-term purpose of making a profit.

In order to be valid, a resolution regarding authorisation of the Board of Directors to acquire and transfer own shares requires approval of at least two thirds of the votes cast and the shares represented at the Annual General Meeting.

Miscellaneous

At the Annual General Meeting, shareholders are entitled to ask questions to the Board of Directors and the Managing Director in respect of information regarding circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda, circumstances that can affect the assessment of the company's or its subsidiaries' financial position and the company's relation to other companies within the group. The Board of Directors and the Managing Director shall provide such information at the Annual General Meeting, provided that they considers that it may be done without significant harm to the company.

Processing of personal data

For information on how your personal data is processed, see https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf.

Gothenburg in February 2022

CASTELLUM AB (publ)

The Board of Directors

For further information, please contact:

Per Berggren, Chairman of the Board of Directors Castellum AB, +46 705 53 80 48

Rutger Arnhult, Managing Director Castellum AB, +46 704 58 24 70

About Castellum

Castellum is one of the largest commercial listed property companies in the Nordic region that develops flexible workplaces and smart logistics solutions. As of 31 December 2021, the property value totalled approximately SEK 176 billion, including ownership share in the Norwegian company Entra ASA. We are active in attractive Swedish growth regions as well as in Copenhagen and the Helsinki area. One of our sustainability goals is to become entirely climate neutral by 2030 at the latest. Castellum is the only Nordic property and construction company elected to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). The Castellum share is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Large Cap.

Beyond expectations.

www.castellum.se

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/castellum/r/summons-to-the-annual-general-meeting-of-shareholders-in-castellum-ab--publ-,c3511239

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/8364/3511239/1540166.pdf Press release 220224

SOURCE Castellum
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweetwater Private Equity ("Sweetwater") is holding its third annual investor meeting later today at Torrey Pines Lodge where it plans to announce Adam Goldenberg, Co-Founder & CEO of Fabletics, as the 2021 recipient of the Sweetwater Leadership and Innovation Award. Each year, Sweetwater selects one of the most innovative and inspiring leaders from its portfolio companies for this honor. Prior recipients include Chad Robins (2019), CEO of Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp. and James Rogers (2020), Founder & CEO, Apeel Sciences.

Sweetwater is a leader of small-cap, single-asset private equity secondaries in technology, healthcare and consumer sectors. Mr. Goldenberg will be the first recipient of the award from a consumer-focused company. Sweetwater is recognizing his accomplishments in providing innovative business models and dynamic leadership to one of the fastest growing consumer segments, athleisure.

Mr. Goldenberg is the co-founder and CEO of Fabletics. He co-founded the company in 2013 with his partner, Don Ressler, and celebrity/actress Kate Hudson. Fabletics has since grown to become the largest digitally native activewear brand in the world.

In addition to co-founding Fabletics, Messrs. Goldenberg and Ressler co-founded other high fashion, e-commerce companies including Savage X Fenty and Just Fab, and acquired ShoeDazzle and FabKids under the TechStyle Fashion Group family of brands.

Mr. Goldenberg shared, "I'm honored to have Sweetwater recognize me as the recipient of its Leadership & Innovation Award as a result of the incredible work the entire Fabletics team has accomplished. Sweetwater has been a great partner and has supported our success over the last several years."

About Sweetwater Private Equity

Sweetwater Private Equity (www.sweetwaterpe.com) is a boutique private equity manager that specializes in niche secondary opportunities. Sweetwater is a leader of single-asset secondary purchases and buyer-led fund restructures. Sweetwater focuses on late-stage venture, growth equity and small buyout opportunities with an emphasis in the healthcare, technology, and consumer sectors.

SOURCE Sweetwater Investment Management
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Talen Energy Corporation ("Talen" or "the Company") announced today that it has been named by Forbes to the list of America's Best Mid-Size Employers for 2022. This is the second consecutive year the Company has received this recognition. Of the thousands of companies that were surveyed, only 500 made the list which recognizes Talen as an employer of choice.

"We are honored to be named to Forbes' list of America's Best Employers again this year," said Alex Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer. "This recognition is driven by the transformation of Talen's culture of simplification, engagement, and teamwork which has underpinned the Company's operating turnaround over the last several years. Looking ahead, Talen is at an important inflection point as we strategically re-position our Company for long-term value creation as an energy transition and digital infrastructure platform. We remain focused on being a Force for Good in our communities and providing opportunities for our people as we execute this strategy in the years ahead."

Chief Human Resource Officer Ryan Price added, "Talen fosters an inclusive, diverse, respectful, and collaborative workplace that empowers employees to excel. Our team's tireless efforts to drive performance, maintain safe and compliant operations, and embrace positive change while fostering a One Talen culture are the key drivers for this recognition. Talen firmly believes that this achievement is a direct reflection of our incredibly talented team and that each employee contributed to this award. Additionally, we are actively recruiting and welcoming new colleagues to our Talen team that will contribute to our culture and join us in driving the future of the Company."

To view a listing of available opportunities with Talen, please visit the Talen Energy careers page at https://www.talenenergy.com/careers/ .

Forbes and Statista Inc., a leading provider of market and consumer data, selected companies for this prestigious recognition based on anonymous independent surveys of 60,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. These surveys were conducted anonymously to encourage open feedback. Participants were asked to rate their employers as well as other employers in their industry on multiple aspects of an employee's experience such as working conditions, salary, potential for growth, and diversity. The final list ranks the 500 midsize employers that received the most recommendations.

The full list can be found at: https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-midsize-employers/?sh=4ab6ef0f210f

About Talen Energy Corporation

Talen, through its subsidiary Talen Energy Supply (TES), is one of the largest competitive power generation and infrastructure companies in North America. The company owns and/or controls approximately 13,000 megawatts of generating capacity in wholesale U.S. power markets, principally in the Mid-Atlantic, Texas and Montana.

Through its subsidiary, Cumulus Growth, Talen is developing a large-scale portfolio of renewable energy, battery storage, and digital infrastructure assets across its expansive footprint. For more information, visit https://www.talenenergy.com/about-talen/

Media Contact

Taryne Williams

Director Corporate Communications

610-601-0327

[email protected]

SOURCE Talen Energy Corp.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asia Group ("TAG") is pleased to announce the launch of a sustained initiative to invest and expand its presence in key markets across the Indo-Pacific. As companies focus on Asia for growth, TAG is bullish on the region's long-term dynamism and is committed to enhancing its capacity to help clients seize opportunities at the forefront of global business and commerce.

More than ever, corporations require integrated global-local services, which pair global strategy with local solutions, and enable companies to advance unique market entry, sales, and dispute resolution efforts for individual markets and the broader region. TAG's track record in Asia has helped clients seize growth opportunities through periods of profound uncertainty and volatility. TAG is committed to aggressively expanding its regional footprint and redefining the strategic advisory landscape by providing business relevant and operational services in market.

"Asia is not a part-time market," said TAG CEO and Co-Founder Nirav Patel. "The Asia Group understands that you have to be all in to succeed."

TAG's growth plan to build a comprehensive suite of global-local services will leverage new offices across the Indo-Pacific as it hires world-class talent from government and industry. In addition, new strategic partnerships will enhance TAG's capacity to monitor in-market policy developments, source insights from local stakeholders, and provide direct points of contact for in-country client teams or visiting executives.

As the first part of this strategic effort, TAG is proud to announce the launch of an Indian subsidiary that will be anchored by a flagship office in New Delhi. The subsidiary, led by TAG's India Country Director Aman Raj Khanna and a growing team of Associates and Senior Advisors, will expand the reach and capabilities of its industry-leading South Asia practice to develop turnkey solutions for its global client base and their local entities.

"This is a significant investment by The Asia Group that is reflective of India's position as one of the most important and dynamic economies in the world," said Patel. "We are excited to chart this next phase of growth in the Indian market and help our clients execute successful strategies in India and across South Asia."

Alongside these in-market capabilities, TAG is pleased to welcome Basant Sanghera as a new Principal with TAG's South Asia practice based in Washington, D.C. Basant brings nearly fifteen years of experience spearheading diplomatic initiatives to strengthen the U.S.-India strategic and commercial partnership. He has advised U.S. government officials at the highest levels across three U.S. administrations, including most recently as India Unit Chief at the U.S. State Department and Director for South Asia at the National Security Council.

"Basant's unique insight into the most complex strategic trends animating the U.S.-India bilateral relationship will be invaluable to our clients, particularly as they navigate historic uncertainty to achieve success in India and across South Asia," said TAG Managing Partner Rexon Ryu. "We are delighted to welcome Basant to TAG as we expand our South Asia practice."

TAG's South Asia practice includes leading experts based in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Washington, D.C., who bring a wealth of on-the-ground experience and deep networks to help clients navigate critical business and policy challenges. Since 2013, the team has worked with clients ranging from cutting-edge startups to blue-chip corporations and established an unparalleled track record of success while advising clients on market entry and expansion strategies, regulatory risk mitigation, stakeholder management, commercial dispute resolution, CSR strategies, and executive thought leadership.

The Asia Group is the premier strategic advisory firm to the world's leading companies seeking to excel across the Indo-Pacific. With a team of dynamic and experienced professionals  from consultants and former senior government officials to lawyers and investment bankers  The Asia Group supports companies with end-to-end integrated strategies for market entry and expansion. To learn more about The Asia Group, please visit www.theasiagroup.com or reach out to [email protected].

SOURCE The Asia Group
LA PAZ, Bolivia, Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Plurinational State of Bolivia ("Bolivia") announced today the participation results of the offers to (i) purchase for cash notes of each series listed in the table below (collectively, the "Old Notes", and each series thereof a "series" of Old Notes) validly tendered and accepted for purchase (the "Offers to Purchase") and (ii) exchange Old Notes that are validly tendered by the Bolivian Entity Offerees, and accepted for exchange for New Notes ("Offers to Exchange" and together with the Offers to Purchase, the "Offers"), in each case, as set forth in the table below and upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in the invitation dated February 10, 2022 (the "Invitation") and announced on February 16, 2022 in connection with Bolivia's decision to extend the Expiration Deadline and other key dates and times in relation to the Offers (the "Extension", and together with the Invitation and the related eligibility letter and certification letter, the "Invitation Materials"). Bolivia also announced that the Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price for all Old Notes accepted for purchase or exchange is U.S.$ 788,212,350. Capitalized terms not defined in this communication have the meanings specified in the Invitation Materials.

The Invitation expired as scheduled at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on February 23, 2022 (the "Expiration Deadline"). The information in this announcement is qualified in its entirety by the Invitation Materials.

The following table summarizes the participation results of the Offers as of the Expiration Deadline and the principal amount of each series of Old Notes that Bolivia has accepted for purchase or exchange, as applicable:

Old Notes

Principal Amount Tendered

for Purchase

Principal Amount Accepted

for Purchase

Principal Amount Tendered

for Exchange

Principal Amount Accepted

for Exchange

Principal Amount

Outstanding Following the Offers

4.875% Notes due

2022 (the "2022

Notes")

U.S.$97,734,000

U.S.$97,734,000

U.S.$346,015,000

U.S.$346,015,000

U.S.$56,251,000

5.950% Notes due 2023 (the "2023 Notes")

U.S.$60,986,000

U.S.$0

U.S.$316,601,000

U.S.$316,601,000

U.S.$183,399,000

4.500% Notes due 2028 (the "2028 Notes")

U.S.$181,214,000

U.S.$0

U.S.$273,114,000

U.S.$0

U.S.$1,000,000,000



(1) Bolivian Entity Offerees whose Old Notes are validly tendered and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offers will receive an amount of New Notes calculated by dividing the Tender Value (as defined below) by the New Notes issue price (which is the cash price at which the New Notes will be issued in the New Notes Offering). The "Tender Value" for a series of Old Notes equals the principal amount of Old Notes tendered multiplied by the Purchase Price for such series of Old Notes.

On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Invitation Materials (including the pricing and closing of the New Notes Offering), Bolivia is expected to issue U.S.$850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the New Notes in the New Notes Offering and from such issue expects to (a) pay an amount of cash equal to approximately U.S.$108,103,043.59, constituting (i) U.S.$100,177,350 as consideration for the Old Notes validly tendered and accepted in the Offers to Purchase, (ii) U.S.$7,914,465.59 for the total amount of Accrued Interest pursuant to the Offers, and (iii) U.S.$11,228.00 for the total amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional amounts of New Notes expected to be issued by Bolivia pursuant to the Offers to Exchange, and (b) exchange New Notes in an amount equal to approximately U.S.$688,035,000 as consideration for the Old Notes validly tendered and accepted in the Offers to Exchange.

The New Notes to be delivered as part of the consideration in the Offers to Exchange will have identical terms, be consolidated, form a single series and be fully fungible with, the 7.500% Notes due 2030 expected to be issued by Bolivia on March 2, 2022 in the New Notes Offering. For the avoidance of doubt, the U.S.$850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of New Notes to be issued in the New Notes Offering, includes the U.S.$688,035,000 to be delivered as consideration in the Offers to Exchange.

The New Notes Offering will be made solely by means of an offering memorandum relating to that offering, and this announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an order to buy any New Notes in the New Notes Offering.

If Bolivia accepted all or a portion of a holder's tender of Old Notes of any series and if the conditions of the Invitation are met (including the pricing and closing of the New Notes Offering), the holder will be entitled to receive for such Old Notes on the Settlement Date (i) the applicable Total Purchase Price in the Offers to Purchase or (ii) the applicable amount of New Notes in the Offers to Exchange. The Settlement Date is expected to occur on March 2, 2022, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Invitation Materials.

Any holder who fails to make delivery in accordance with the Invitation Materials shall not be entitled to receive any payment therefore unless Bolivia, in its sole discretion, determines to waive any such failure.

Any Old Notes not accepted for purchase or exchange will be promptly returned to holders. Old Notes that have been validly tendered cannot be withdrawn, except as may be required by applicable law.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) Bolivian Entity Offerees are not eligible to participate in the Offers to Purchase, and (ii) only Bolivian Entity Offerees are eligible to participate in the Offers to Exchange.

BofA Securities, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as Dealer Managers for the Invitation, and questions regarding the Invitation may be directed to the contact information below:

BofA Securities, Inc. One Bryant Park New York, NY 10036 United States of America Attention: Liability Management Group Toll-Free: (888) 292-0070 Collect: (646) 855-8998 Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 United States of America Attn: Liability Management Group Collect: (212) 357-1452 Toll-Free: (800) 828-3182 J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 383 Madison Ave New York, NY 10179 United States of America Attn: Latin America Debt Capital Markets Collect: (212) 834-7279 Toll-free: (866) 846-2874

The Invitation Materials may be downloaded from the Information, Tender and Exchange Agent's website at https://gbsc-usa.com/eligibility/bolivia_exchange and https://gbsc-usa.com/eligibility/bolivia_tender or obtained from the Information, Tender and Exchange Agent, Global Bondholder Services Corporation, 65 Broadway  Suite 404, New York, New York 10006 (Tel. (212) 430 3774, or toll free (855) 654-2015) Attention: Corporate Actions, or from any of the Dealer Managers.

Important Notice

The distribution of materials relating to the Invitation and the transactions contemplated thereby may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. The Invitation and any of the transactions contemplated thereby are void in all jurisdictions where they are prohibited. If materials relating to the Invitation or any of the transactions contemplated thereby come into your possession, you are required by Bolivia to inform yourself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the Invitation and the transactions contemplated thereby, including this communication, do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the Invitation be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Invitation shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Invitation in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders."

This announcement is for informational purposes only. This announcement is not an invitation for offers to purchase for cash or a solicitation of invitations for offers to purchase for cash any Old Notes. Any materials relating to the Invitation do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, any form of offer or solicitation in any place where such offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the Invitation be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or its respective affiliate is such a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Invitation shall be deemed to be made by a Dealer Manager or affiliate in such jurisdiction.

The distribution of the Invitation Materials in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession the Invitation Materials comes are required by Bolivia, the Dealer Managers, and the Information, Tender and Exchange Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions as set out in the "Jurisdictional Restrictions" section of the Invitation Materials.

Bolivia

Neither the New Notes nor the Offers (each, as defined below) have been or will be registered with the Bolivian Securities Market Registry and accordingly will not be publicly offered in Bolivia within the scope of Article 6 of the Bolivian Securities Market Law (Law No. 1834 dated March 31, 1998, as amended).

European Economic Area

This announcement and the Invitation have been prepared on the basis that any offer of the New Notes in any Member State of the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the New Notes.

Each person in a Member State of the EEA who receives any communication in respect of, or who acquires any of the New Notes under, the offers contemplated in this Invitation or to whom the New Notes are otherwise made available, will be deemed to have represented, warranted, acknowledged and agreed to and with each Initial Purchaser and Bolivia that it and any person on whose behalf it acquires the New Notes is not a retail investor. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (11) of MiFID II; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended, the "Insurance Distribution Directive"), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II.

In this section, the expression an "offer" in relation to any of the New Notes in any Member State of the EEA means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the New Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the New Notes, and the expression "Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended or superseded).

Any distributor subject to MiFID II subsequently offering, selling or recommending the New Notes is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the New Notes and determining the appropriate distribution channels for the purposes of the MiFID II product governance rules under Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 ("Delegated Directive"). Neither the Issuer nor any of the Initial Purchasers make any representations or warranties as to a Distributor's compliance with the Delegated Directive.

United Kingdom

This announcement and the Invitation have been prepared on the basis that any offer of New Notes in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under section 85 of the FSMA and the Prospectus Regulation, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"), from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of New Notes.

Each person in the UK who receives any communication in respect of, or who acquires any of the New Notes under, the offers contemplated in this Invitation or to whom the New Notes are otherwise made available, will be deemed to have represented, warranted, acknowledged and agreed to and with each Initial Purchaser and Bolivia that it and any person on whose behalf it acquires the New Notes is not a retail investor. For these purposes, (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA.

In this section, the expression an "offer" in relation to any of the New Notes in the UK means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the New Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the New Notes.

Any distributor subject to the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules"), subsequently offering, selling or recommending the New Notes is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the New Notes and determining the appropriate distribution channels for the purposes of the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules. Neither the Issuer nor any of the Initial Purchasers make any representations or warranties as to a distributor's compliance with the UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules.

The Invitation is for distribution only to persons who (1) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Financial Promotion Order"), (2) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order, (3) are outside the United Kingdom, or (4) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The Invitation is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

SOURCE Government of Bolivia
DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cannabis Pharmaceuticals Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Brand Type (Sativex, Epidiolex), by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa), and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global cannabis pharmaceuticals market size is expected to reach USD 127.1 billion by 2028. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 104.2% from 2022 to 2028.

Rapid growth in applications of cannabis for various indications including pain, inflammation, sleep disorders, anorexia, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis is estimated to drive market growth. There is a shift from cannabis herbal preparations to prescription drugs. Demand for processed, quantified, and packaged cannabis products is significantly increasing. Moreover, consumer, as well as regulatory acceptance of cannabis products, is increasing which in turn is positively impacting market growth.



Regulatory acceptance of cannabis products such as Sativex and Epidiolex are improving patient and physician perspectives on cannabis as these drugs are developed and regulated by the stringent process.



The increasing number of research and development activities and clinical trials for studying the therapeutic benefits of cannabis will drive the market growth during the forecast period. For instance, in September 2020, Tilray Inc. announced that its cannabis products are showing promising results in reducing vomiting and nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. According to the study, a quarter of the patients consuming medical cannabis did not show nausea and vomiting. Such research studies are estimated to increase the demand for cannabis in the pharmaceutical industry.



There is a rise in a number of physicians prescribing cannabis to their patients due to increasing clinical evidence, growing awareness, and an increasing number of patients looking for cannabis as a medical alternative. For instance, according to a survey published in 2019, 22% of the consumers were looking for replacing prescription or OTC drugs with CBD. Moreover, 30% took CBD in addition to the prescribed drug. Forty-seven percent replaced an OTC drug with CBD, 36% with prescription opioids, 33% with prescription anxiety drugs, and 22% with prescription sleep drugs. Thus, increasing cannabis consumption will drive the pharmaceutical cannabis market globally.



Regulatory approval of cannabis is a major parameter supporting market growth. Governments and regulatory authorities are taking initiatives to legalize the use of cannabis for medical purposes. For instance, In August 2020, a regulatory authority in Portugal, INFARMED I.P., granted license to Clever Leaves for cultivation and import export of medical cannabis. For instance, in November 2018, GW Pharmaceuticals, plc launched EPIDIOLEX (CBD) oral solution for treating seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. EPIDIOLEX was approved by the FDA in June 2018. It is the first prescription pharmaceutical formulation plant-derived CBD and an antiepileptic drug.



Cannabis Pharmaceuticals Market Report Highlights

The Epidiolex brand type emerged as the leading application segment in 2021, with a revenue share of 96.9% in the market

Europe dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 43.8% in 2021

dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 43.8% in 2021 In Middle East and Africa , the market is projected to expand at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2 Executive Summary



Chapter 3 Global Cannabis Pharmaceuticals Market Variables, Trends, & Scope

3.1 Market Segmentation

3.2 Market Dynamics

3.2.1 Market Driver Analysis

3.2.2 Market Restraint Analysis

3.3 Penetration & Growth Prospects Mapping

3.4 Global Cannabis Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Scenario

3.5 Cannabis Pharmaceuticals - PESTEL Analysis

3.5.1. Political

3.5.2. Environmental

3.5.3 Social

3.5.4 Technology

3.5.5. Legal

3.5.6 Economic

3.6 Cannabis Pharmaceuticals - Porter's Analysis

3.6.1. Threat of New Entrants

3.6.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers

3.6.3 Competitive Rivalry

3.6.4 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

3.6.5 Threat of Substitutes

3.7 Opportunity Analysis (2016 - 2019 - 2027)

3.8 Product Pipeline Analysis, By Stage

3.9 Key Deals and Strategic Alliances

3.10 Synthetic Cannabis Pharmaceuticals Overview



Chapter 4 Global Cannabis Pharmaceuticals Market: Brand Type Estimates & Trend Analysis

4.1 Definitions & Scope

4.2 Market: Brand Type Market Share Analysis, 2020 and 2028

4.3 Sativex

4.3.1 Market estimates and forecasts, 2016 - 2028 (USD Million)

4.4 Epidiolex

4.4.1 Market estimates and forecasts, 2016 - 2028 (USD Million)



Chapter 5 Global Cannabis Pharmaceuticals Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis, By Brand Type, Deployment Model and End-user



Chapter 6 Global Cannabis Pharmaceuticals Market: Competitive Analysis

6.1 Company Market Position Analysis

6.2 List of Key Emerging Players and Market Differentiators

6.3 Company Categorization

6.4 Brand Share Analysis, 2018-2020



Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape

7.1 GW Pharmaceuticals

7.1.1 Company overview

7.1.2 Financial performance

7.1.3 Product benchmarking

7.1.4 Strategic initiatives

7.2 AbbVie Inc.

7.2.1 Company overview

7.2.2 Financial performance

7.2.3 Product benchmarking

7.2.4 Strategic initiatives

7.3 Valeant Pharmaceuticals

7.3.1 Company overview

7.3.2 Financial performance

7.3.3 Product benchmarking

7.3.4 Strategic initiatives

7.4 Insys Therapeutics, Inc.

7.4.1 Company overview

7.4.2 Financial performance

7.4.3 Product benchmarking

7.4.4 Strategic initiatives



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bjt214

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

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SOURCE Research and Markets
BUCHAREST, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Moldovan parliament late Thursday declared a state of emergency for 60 days across the country amid the latest developments in neighboring Ukraine, according to reports reaching here from Chisinau, the capital of Moldova.

The legislators met and made the decision at the request of the government, which, at its turn, implemented the relevant decision of the Supreme Security Council chaired by President Maia Sandu.

Under the state of emergency, a special regime is established for entry and exit from the country, for the use of airspace, for the movement and control of goods.

Meanwhile, special working regime could be introduced for the economic agents and public institutions. Mass gatherings could be banned, and the activities of mass media would be coordinated.

If necessary, food and basic consumer goods, as well as gas, power and water supplies could be rationed.

Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita told the parliament ahead of its vote on declaring the state of emergency that the government would use the emergency measures only in case of need.

According to her, the biggest risk for Moldova under the current situation is large migration flows, and "the state of emergency will allow us to be flexible and quickly take measures to solve emerging problems."

Earlier on the day, Interior Minister Ana Revenco announced to close the airspace of the country starting at 12:00 p.m. local time (1000 GMT), with flights to be directed to other airports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack. 
DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Mobile Data Protection Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The mobile data protection market is evaluated at US$1.949 billion for the year 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 32.53% to reach a market size of US$13.999 billion by the year 2026.

Mobile Data Protection (MDP) is a technique that manages data encryption on a workstation's primary storage system in various data storage platforms, such as solid-state disks, portable media, and hard drives, and is used in conjunction with smartphones and workstations. It comprises a removable media offline/stand-alone agent, a target device active endpoint agent, and a central console. Data on mobile storage systems, such as removable media, cellphones, and laptops, is protected by mobile data protection (MDP). It also offers a single set of protection policies that may be used across various platforms.



Information technology managers must grasp the nuances of mobile operating systems, select which devices to allow in the office, and understand native data security to secure mobile data. Keeping business data safe from theft or loss is a top responsibility for every company. Data breaches are expensive and traumatic, with ramifications ranging from regulatory fines to brand harm. Secure device wipe and native device-level encryption are not always supported. As a result, it's usual for IT managers to take a two-pronged strategy to protect mobile data. First, they enforce and create minimal requirements for outside devices ready to connect to the corporate network, and then they backfill platform flaws with third-party mobile security technology. Remote data wipe for mobile devices, mobile device locks, mobile activity monitoring, and audit, and encryption of stored data on mobile devices are all options for safeguarding mobile data.



Benefits for the companies.

Mobile Data Protection (MDP) has been widely used by businesses to improve business efficiency while also ensuring data security. With the growing adoption of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies, there is an increased risk associated with data loss. This is leading to a growing implementation of MDP solutions to secure the enterprise data and minimize the threats.



Inclining adoption by the BFSI sector to contribute to market size.

Banks and financial institutions work in a sector that is heavily regulated. Over the last several years, the BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) industry has seen several technological advances. Because of the perceived worth of the underlying data, the digitalization of financial services, insurance claims, and information collecting has resulted in huge data possession, making it one of the major data breach targets.



The escalating the amount of personal data available is to propel the market growth.

Much of the new online activity in the global information economy is now powered by personal data. Every day, huge volumes of data are transferred, stored, and gathered throughout the world, allowing tremendous advances in computer and communication capacity. Mobile phone use and increased Internet access have allowed online social, economic, and financial activity in developing nations.



Expanding online exposure to aid market development.

As more commercial and social activities move online, data privacy and protection are becoming increasingly important, not least in the context of international commerce, which is helping the market develop. Many companies have adopted cloud computing, which has resulted in a rise in data management problems. Furthermore, data transfer has increased the risk of data loss, illegal data processing, and theft. With all of the above risks, it's more important than ever to develop solutions to secure data.



Inclining usage of small devices to augment market growth.

Expanding usage patterns of small devices among businesses have resulted in a significant risk of data loss, prompting the adoption of mobile data security systems. Likewise, the evolving work culture in businesses of all sizes is typically adopting trends such as bring your own device, cloud, and online media, as well as strict rules for mobile data protection, which are likely to aid in the growth of the Mobile Data Protection Market.



Growth in the number of mobile payments creates lucrative opportunities in the market.

Growth in the number of mobile payments has resulted in a large increase in mobile data breaching incidents, which is driving the mobile data security industry. Mobile payments are growing at the fastest rate of all payment modalities. This expansion has resulted in a rise in mobile data. Furthermore, the market for mobile data protection is projected to grow as the number of mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Walmart Pay grows. The need for mobile data protection is projected to rise throughout the forecast period, owing to the rising usage of smartphones for payments.



Because of the early adoption of data security by companies in the United States, as well as the presence of a large number of mobile data protection vendors in the region, North America is expected to dominate the global mobile data protection market. This will help consolidate the majority of revenues in the mobile data protection market. In addition, cloud technology adoption is quite strong in this region. North America also contributes the most to the global IT BFSI industry, which is the major market for mobile data security. Furthermore, firms are trying to provide security services as a result of rigorous government requirements.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics

4.1. Market Drivers

4.2. Market Restraints

4.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.3.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.3.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.3.3. The Threat of New Entrants

4.3.4. Threat of Substitutes

4.3.5. Competitive Rivalry in the Industry

4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis



5. Global Mobile Data Protection Market Analysis, By Solution

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

5.3. Mobile Data Protection (MDP)

5.4. Mobile Device Management (MDM)

5.5. Others



6. Global Mobile Data Protection Market Analysis, By Deployment Type

6.1. Introduction

6.2. On-Premise

6.3. Cloud



7. Global Mobile Data Protection Market Analysis, By End-User Industry

7.1. Introduction

7.2. BFSI

7.3. Healthcare

7.4. Travel & Transport

7.5. Defense & Aerospace

7.6. Others



8. Global Mobile Data Protection Market Analysis, By Geography

8.1. Introduction

8.2. North America

8.2.1. United States

8.2.2. Canada

8.2.3. Mexico

8.3. South America

8.3.1. Brazil

8.3.2. Argentina

8.3.3. Others

8.4. Europe

8.4.1. UK

8.4.2. France

8.4.3. Germany

8.4.4. Italy

8.4.5. Others

8.5. Middle East and Africa

8.6. Asia Pacific

8.6.1. Japan

8.6.2. China

8.6.3. India

8.6.4. Thailand

8.6.5. Taiwan

8.6.6. Indonesia

8.6.7. Others



9. Competitive Environment and Analysis

9.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

9.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness

9.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

9.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix



10. Company Profiles

10.1. Microsoft

10.2. Dell Inc.

10.3. NortonLifeLock Inc.

10.4. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

10.5. McAfee Corporation

10.6. Sophos Group Plc

10.7. Cisco

10.8. Trend Micro Incorporated

10.9. CheckPoint Software Technologies Ltd.

10.10. Total Defense



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hx6llw

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
The three-month-old Ethlas is the first game-fi startup founded in Singapore to have secured serious investor money, underlining the confidence that VCs have in this fledgling tech startup that first launched quietly in November 2021. Built on the Polygon blockchain, Ethlas has chalked up over 100,000 crypto-wallet users globally and scored some three million gameplays on its platform as of end-January 2022. The rapid scale that Ethlas achieved product market fit has been one of the key reasons for its seed fundraising success.

According to a Bloomberg report in January 2022, the number of blockchain games grew nearly threefold: from about 200 in 2020 to more than 544 in 2021. Most game-fi platforms have a high barrier of entry, requiring gamers to pay subscription fees or have upfront capital. On the contrary, Ethlas  a portmanteau of "Ethereum" and "Atlas"  is a free-to-play, play-to-earn platform which helps the lay person win and encash cryptocurrency, by participating in simple, easily-understood casual games that everyone is familiar with. Think Tetris, Candy Crush and Bubble Popper but way cooler. To start playing, gamers just need to install MetaMask, a software crypto wallet or link their wallets, and they can start playing in the Ethlas metaverse on a PC or mobile phone's browser. There are no complicated onboarding rules or requirements to sign up with a hefty subscription fee.

"Komo" NFT minted

As part of its product roadmap, Ethlas will mint its first series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) called Komos. Modelled after the Komodo Dragons of Indonesia, the Komo NFTs will benefit both free-to-play gamers and crypto natives: Free-to-play gamers can use the five tiers of the Komo NFT to boost their gameplay and secure more $XGEM (Exchange Genesis Ethlas Medium), the in-game cryptocurrency in the Ethlas metaverse; crypto natives can benefit from the intrinsic value of a well-designed NFT that has in-game utility and facilitates scholarships (NFT rental). The Komo NFT series will be available before end-February 2022. Ethlas is also working with game studios to launch their games on their platform through a revenue-sharing model.

"The unique value proposition of Komo NFTs is that they do not only function as game passes on Ethlas granting players special access to games and features, they are also asset-backed NFTs, which consist of staked tokens wrapped as an ERC-721 token that has recently started gaining popularity. Ethlas' Komo NFTs possess both intrinsic artistic as well as monetary value, thereby driving up their desirability as a piece of tradeable art. Most game NFTs do not provide such value as Komo," says Ethlas co-founder, Elston Sam.

Moonshot vision of one billion users

The founders of Ethlas were intrigued by the potential of game-fi when they read of Filipinos earning more money from playing games on game-fi platforms than from their day jobs. With their convictions that Web 3.0 will be powered by cryptocurrency and its social impact, the four founders decided to take the plunge and leave their well-paying jobs to build Ethlas. Their moonshot vision: make crypto inclusive and accessible by onboarding the next billion non-crypto users onto the Ethlas metaverse. Ethlas has plans to work with regulators to develop a framework for game-fi as it believes regulations and consumer education are key to facilitate the growth of this currently nascent but immense game-fi ecosystem in a safe and controlled manner.

"Consumer gaming platforms can amass millions of engaged players - combine that with asset ownership through NFTs and a crypto rewards layer, the network incentives fall back into the hands of the players. This is an immensely powerful flywheel. We also like that Ethlas is onboarding native gamers onto Web 3.0 and that the team is hyper-focused on delivering a delightful gaming experience. We have been very impressed with the platform's rapid user adoption and high gamer engagement, suggesting strong future growth prospects," Aakash Kapoor, Vice President, Sequoia India.

"We recognise that blockchain has a high barrier of entry, and currently appeals only to a skewed demographic. While GBIC is always looking out for blockchain startups to invest in, we are looking for those with a serious direction and vision. The direction of Ethlas was very clear and we believe in their vision that games will be a significant channel to onboard the next billion users into crypto. Unlike the current play-to-earn games, Ethlas' operating model allows even people who do not even know crypto to just do a one-click sign in with MetaMask, and they can play for fun and earn. We are excited to be one of the early VCs to help Ethlas take flight," says Sinhae Lee, Partner, Global Blockchain Innovation Capital.

Ethlas has built up a team of more than 20 blockchain engineers, game developers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts and designers, based out of Singapore, Philippines and the United States. The startup is founded in Singapore as the country has a good tech ecosystem that fosters and enables innovation, especially in crypto, and has good access to venture capital. It will leverage its seed funding to aggressively hire tech talent in the Web 3.0 space.

About Ethlas

Launched in November 2021, Ethlas is a free-to-play/play-to-earn blockchain-based game finance (GameFi) Metaverse built on the Polygon chain, the protocol for enabling interoperability and scalability within the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem. Founded by a group of four tech leaders with extensive experience in leading teams across tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Airbnb and Grab, etc, Ethlas is headquartered in Singapore with offices in San Francisco Bay Area and New York, United States, and Manila, Philippines.

Within two months of its beta launch and with minimal marketing, Ethlas chalked up more than three million gameplays with over 100,000 unique wallet IDs to its gamepage. Ethlas minted its first Windblown asset-backed NFTs in December 2021.

The Ethlas GameFi metaverse has been voted "Best NFT Project" by Polygon, and ranked the number one blockchain casual game on PlayToEarn.net, which tracks and ranks the most popular crypto and NFT blockchain games.

Ethlas is backed by Sequoia Capital India, Global Blockchain Innovative Capital, Play It Forward DAO, Genesis Fund, Blockchain Space, Venturra Capital, and executives from Coinbase, CoinMarketCap, Grab and Switcheo.

Website: bit.ly/ethlas_web_pr

Discord: bit.ly/ethlas_discord_pr

Twitter: @Ethlas_Official

For media queries and interviews, please reach out to [email protected]

Media Pack: https://bit.ly/ethlasmediapack

Biographies of Founders

Elston Sam

Co-founder

A founding member of Grab's Growth team, Elston is Ethlas' "growth hacker" building on his expertise and experience in driving product growth with Grab, Airbnb and Chinese e-commerce platform, Jumei.com. At Grab, Elston led the expansion of the Grab Daily news feed into major markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, which was pivotal in shaping Grab's 'everyday app' strategy.

The avid gamer - he once played for 12 hours straight on his Playstation till his TV started emitting smoke  seeks to change the status quo where current access to crypto is disproportionately skewed in favour of wallet spend and academic qualifications, and believes that games could be a channel to help widen blockchain's appeal and accessibility to the mass consumer market.

The Singapore's Nanyang Technological University graduate with a Bachelor of Business, Data Analytics, was instrumental in helping Ethlas garner more than 2.5 million gameplays and over 80,000 unique wallet holders within 10 weeks of its launch. He will be driving Ethlas' growth strategy and product roadmap as it works towards achieving its vision of one billion users.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elstonsam

Gennady "Ari" Medvinsky

Co-founder

Based in Redmond, United States, Ari has more than 20 years of experience in software engineering and security architecture: he has built products and platforms with some of the world's leading tech companies such as Microsoft, Grab and more recently Google.

In his time with Google  over two stints that saw an interlude with Grab  Ari's contribution included leading a team responsible for onboarding and integration of Cloud IAM service with Google Cloud Platform. As Grab's Head of Engineering, IAM from 2017 to 2020, he founded and grew a team of 20 IAM engineers in Grab's Redmond office. His team built GrabID - Grab's proprietary authentication and login system - that now supports hundreds of millions of Grab accounts across Southeast Asia and enabled third-party integrations on interfaces of GrabPay and merchant partners. In his eight years with Microsoft, some of his achievements included co-designing an anti-piracy solution for Microsoft Xbox for PC and console gaming, as well as co-architecting the security design for the now defunct Microsoft Kin One phone.

The United States citizen has a PH.D. in Computer Science from University of Southern California. His publications and thesis (1997) on "NetCash: a framework for electronic currency" were cited by over 160 academic papers; NetCash was one of the early experimental systems in the 90s that foreshadowed today's cryptocurrency wave. Ari's technical skills and knowledge in crypto will be vital in achieving Ethlas' moonshot vision of becoming the world's foremost game-fi platform.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/arimed/

SOURCE Ethlas
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Tripsitter Clinic Ltd. (CSE: KETA) (FSE: UY0) ("TripSitter.Clinic" or the "Company"), a virtual clinic and tele-health company, is pleased to announce that we now have providers in 23 states. These states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Tripsitter.Clinic CEO, Dr. John Huber stated "We are excited to announce the expansion of Tripsitter.Clinic services to these 23 states as we continue to help Americans on their path to mental wellness as we bring healing to nearly half of America!"

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD of DIRECTORS

John Huber, Richard Dolan, Matthew Morgan and Alexander Somjen

About TripSitter Clinic Ltd.

TripSitter, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, TripSitter Clinic Corp., operates a consultative virtual clinic and tele-health platform that connects prospective patients to a licensed physician in the United States who can evaluate for a prescribed treatment program of low-dose, oral ketamine medication. The licensed physicians within the platform consult and coordinate with the primary care physician ("PCP") of the prospective patient, if they are approved for treatment. TripSitter is not a PCP and requires each prospective patient to provide their information to their PCP during the initial intake process. The PCP is assigned to the patient by the patient's own physician. TripSitter is proud to be at the forefront of the emerging wave of consultative medicine that prioritizes patient access and quality of care while leveraging an internationally recognized platform of remote diagnostic and patient monitoring. TripSitter's platform, TripSitter.Clinic, is a mobile-first, responsive webapp that acts as a virtual clinic, connecting patients with licensed medical practitioners. TripSitter.Clinic operates as a SaaS platform, functioning as the intermediary between patient and practitioner.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of TripSitter in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold within the U.S. or to U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements concerning the Company's general business plans, the tele-health industry and the Company's market position within it, and statements concerning the listing of the Company's common shares on the CSE. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Factors that could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's final long-form prospectus dated November 22, 2021, and the schedules attached thereto, that are available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws.

SOURCE TripSitter Clinic Ltd.
DALLAS, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Givling, the patented crowdfunding trivia game, gave three Texas-based residents new hope to start the new year off right. The company announced Mindy Johnson of Houston, Julie Cooper of Springtown and Laura Daglish of Dallas won a combined $20,000 that will help the three players address pressing housing needs.

Givling player Julie Cooper of Springtown, Texas

Givling's mission is to crowdfund large cash awards to help players pay down their student loans and mortgage debt. The company expanded its rules in 2021 to allow prize money to be used toward any financial needsjust in time for a Texas-sized win.

For Mindy Johnson, a third-grade math, science and social studies teacher in Houston, the $5,000 she won playing the Givling app will finally enable her to make repairs on her home that her insurance didn't cover after the Texas ice storms and power grid failure a year ago. "Knowing my house repairs can finally be completed means everything to me," said Johnson. "I am beyond thankful for Givling, that this community exists, and the fact that this award came at the time I needed it the most. It is a total blessing."

Laura Daglish's award also couldn't have come at a better time. Her husband of 17 years recently lost his job, so the $5,000 she won will be used to do some much-needed repairs and improvements to increase their home's resale value. "What a way to start the New Year!" said Daglish, an HR leave administration representative.

Julie Cooper and her husband have been living in a camper since selling their house last summer. She's been a Givling regular since 2018 when the couple learned that her husband was not going to get his Public Service Loan Forgiveness, as promised when he graduated from Texas A&M and began working for the government. Her $10,000 award will allow them to build a tiny home and live purposefully small so they can "spend more time with family and care for my aging parents, as well as give a better future to our kids and grandkids."

Cooper said that what Givling is doing is remarkable. "They have found a way to help people with financial burdens as well as just have a little fun," she said. "The debt problem in America is at record levels and it seems insurmountable. A great big shout out to all the Givlings and the Bears. Keep spinning!"

About Givling, Inc.

Givling, a crowdfunding trivia game, has awarded over $9 million to its users to reduce student loan and mortgage debt. Trivia winners are awarded cash to spend as they wish. A new user could download Givling today and be the recipient of the Free $5,000 Award or be a FreePlay Trivia Winner within a week or less. Visit givling.com to create your free account and play today!

Media Contact:

Hailie Beam

310-299-2826

[email protected]

SOURCE Givling
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Uberflip , the leading cloud-based content experience platform (CEP), today announces key executive changes. Randy Frisch has passed the torch of Chief Marketing Officer to Anastasia Pavlova, as he begins serving as the company's Chief Evangelist. Pavlova was selected for this position based on her 20 years of experience across B2B SaaS, MarTech, SalesTech, Ecommerce, Cybersecurity and B2C technology industries. Her outstanding track record in building world-class marketing teams and leading technology companies through periods of hypergrowth and transformation is perfectly suited to usher in the next phase of Uberflip's growth. For his part as Chief Evangelist, Frisch will continue to engage with other marketers to learn from and inspire them, while sharing Uberflip's mission in as many avenues as possible.

"I've been chomping at the bit to shift into a chief evangelist role within our company, but wanted to wait until we had the best possible CMO to fill my previous role," said Frisch, Uberflip Co-founder, President & Chief Evangelist. "When we found Anastasia, it was clear that time had come. Not only is her background incredibly impressive, but her vision for Uberflip is also truly remarkableand she has the expertise to fulfill it. We're so thrilled to have this dynamic leader on our team, and I couldn't be happier handing over the CMO reins to her as I embrace my new

Chief Evangelist role."

Prior to joining Uberflip, Pavlova was Vice President of Growth and Demand Generation at OneLogin. In this position, she and her team built a demand generation engine that delivered 50% of net new revenue growth for the business and ultimately led toward an acquisition by One Identity, a subsidiary of Quest. Before this, she served as Vice President of Marketing at Webgility, where she repositioned the corporate brand and optimized the go-to-market strategy. Earlier in her career, Pavlova was a member of the Marketo executive team and held various marketing leadership roles at B2C technology companies. She holds her MBA degree from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley.

"After helping to lead OneLogin through a successful acquisition, I had my career sights set on joining an exciting company that's primed for major growth," said Pavlova. "I certainly found that in Uberflip. Not only is our technology top tier, but the entire approach the team takes to marketing and delighting other marketers is refreshing and innovative. I'm looking forward to transitioning from being an Uberflip customer to now being part of the leadership team that drives this company toward even greater heights."

To learn more about these leadership changes, read this post by Frisch .

About Uberflip

Uberflip is a content experience platform that empowers marketing and sales to create engaging, relevant content destinations quickly for every campaign, audience, and stage of the customer journey. Marketers use our platform to scale how they incorporate content into every touchpoint and remove friction from the customer journey by surfacing the right content at the right time. For more information, visit uberflip.com .

SOURCE Uberflip
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest Hardware Security Module OEM competitive assessment by global technology intelligence firm ABI Research provides an unbiased examination and ranking of six prominent Hardware Security Module (HMS) providers. Ranking criteria are split between present-day implementation and forward-looking innovation potential, and include customer flexibility, as-a-service options, partner ecosystem, go-to-market strategies, new applications, form factor, security algorithms, certification and compliance, applications (General Purpose and Payment), and architecture. The companies evaluated and ranked include:

Market Leaders: Utimaco, Thales, Futurex

Mainstream: Entrust, Securosys, Kryptus

"The HSM market is changing rapidly, dynamized by digital transformation strategies driving cloud migration, IoT adoption, and expanded use cases notably in automotive, healthcare and industrial markets. This is propelling highly flexible HSM offerings that can scale easily and adapt quickly to emerging demands," says Michela Menting, Research Director with ABI Research. "Competitive differentiation is underscored by hybrid deployments, integration capabilities, crypto-agility, and modularity."

Utimaco scored first overall in the assessment, followed by Thales and Futurex. Utimaco's leadership is attributable to the fact that it delivers on a vision for a converged HSM platform, abstracting the underlying hardware platform from the applications and thus enabling a highly modular offering.

Thales, a market leader in the digital security space, ranked a close second, with a high-level and comprehensive HSM offering on all fronts, with diverse form factors and varied deployment models to application choice and richness of feature-set.

Futurex came in third, showcasing an extensive payment HSM platform with strong cloud integration and service availability, enabling it to carve itself a particularly successful niche in the HSM market which it is actively expanding.

No competitor in this assessment is lackluster, with the three resulting companies, Entrust, Securosys, and Kryptus scoring well enough to be included in the Mainstream category. Entrust is a strong market contender with a well-established background and deep expertise in the General Purpose HSM space. Swiss visionary startup Securosys impresses with innovating encryption technology and new application usage (and notably in Blockchain), and Kryptus is a breakout domestic company from Brazil expanding rapidly internationally with a highly competitive converged offering.

"While the market leaders are primarily incumbent HSM providers, there is a small flurry of startups emerging to challenge the status-quo, among which Securosys and Kryptus are two of the most notable to have made it into this assessment. The coming year will no doubt see new players entering the market, from niche domestic firms to large service providers, all looking to compete in a security market typified by a growing appetite for HSM applications. From key management and PKI, to identity, authentication, and access control use cases, HSM providers offer the platforms to create trusted foundations that will help secure a continuously expanding digital ecosystem," concludes Menting. "HSM market competition is thus set to intensify and is set for significant opportunity with the advent of 5G networks and quantum computing."

These findings are from ABI Research's Hardware Security Module: OEM competitive assessment report. This report is part of the company's Cybersecurity Applications research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights. Competitive Assessment reports offer comprehensive analysis of implementation strategies and innovation, coupled with market share analysis, to offer unparalleled insight into a company's performance and standing in comparison to its competitors.

About ABI Research

ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm delivering actionable research and strategic guidance to technology leaders, innovators, and decision makers around the world. Our research focuses on the transformative technologies that are dramatically reshaping industries, economies, and workforces today.

ABI Research

For more information about ABI Research's services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info:

Global

Deborah Petrara

Tel: +1.516.624.2558

[email protected]

SOURCE ABI Research
Atectura and Enerzair also now reimbursed by the Non-Insured Health Benefits ("NIHB") program of Indigenous Services Canada and Veteran Affairs Canada ("VAC")





Public reimbursement now includes Ontario , Quebec , Alberta , Manitoba , Nova Scotia , New Brunswick , NIHB and VAC covering over 80% of the Canadian population





Private insurance coverage across Canada exceeds 90%

MONTREAL, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Valeo Pharma Inc. (CSE: VPH) (OTCQB: VPHIF) (FSE: VP2) ("Valeo" or the "Company"), a Canadian pharmaceutical company, is proud to announce another major milestone for its two innovative Asthma therapies; Enerzair Breezehaler and Atectura Breezhaler, which have been accepted for reimbursement by the Ontario Drug Benefit program, the Manitoba Pharmacare Program, the New Brunswick Drug plan, and the NIHB and VAC federal programs. The public reimbursments are now in effect with the exception of the Ontario listing which takes effect on February 28th, 2022. These listings are now published on the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary, the Manitoba Drug Benefits Formulary and New Brunswick Drug Plans Formulary.

"With the addition of Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, NIHB and VAC to our exisiting list of provincial/federal public listings, public reimbursement now covers over 80% of the Canadian population suffering from chronic asthma thereby improving their access to these two innovative medications", said Frederic Fasano, Valeo's President and Chief Operating Officer. "Securing extensive public and private reimbursment was part of our roadmap to build a fast-growing respiratory business unit. We are now working with the remaining provincial authorities to secure their public reimbursement in order to continue making asthma control a more attainable goal for all Canadians asthma patients".

Public coverage in these jurisdictions also means that private payers that follow public plans will now cover both drugs. Private coverage for Enerzair and Atectura now exceeds 90% of privately covered lives accross Canada.

About Enerzair Breezhaler

Enerzair Breezhaler is indicated as a maintenance treatment of asthma in adult patients not adequately controlled with a maintenance combination of a long-acting beta 2 -agonist and a medium or high dose of an inhaled corticosteroid who experienced one or more asthma exacerbations in the previous 12 months. This formulation combines the bronchodilation of indacaterol acetate (a LABA) and the glycopyrronium bromide (a LAMA) with mometasone furoate (an ICS) in a precise once-daily formulation, delivered via the dose-confirming Breezhaler device.

About Atectura Breezhaler

Atectura Breezhaler is indicated as a once-daily maintenance treatment of asthma in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with reversible obstructive airways disease. Atectura Breezhaler should be prescribed for patients not adequately controlled on a long-term asthma control medication, such as ICS or whose disease severity clearly warrants treatment with both a LABA and an ICS. Atectura Breezhaler combines the bronchodilation of indacaterol acetate (a LABA) with the anti-inflammatory mometasone furoate (an ICS) in a precise once-daily formulation, delivered via the dose-confirming Breezhaler device.

Valeo Pharma Inc. became the exclusive distributor in Canada of both Enerzair Breezhaler and Atectura Breezhaler following the signing of an agreement with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. in March 2021. As such Valeo Pharma Inc. is responsible for all medical and commercial activities for both products which are two innovative therapies approved by Health Canada for the treatment of asthma.

About Valeo Pharma

About Valeo Pharma Valeo Pharma is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the commercialization of innovative prescription products in Canada with a focus on Respirology, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Oncology and other specialty products. Headquartered in Kirkland, Quebec, Valeo Pharma has the full capability and complete infrastructure to register and properly manage its growing product portfolio through all stages of commercialization. For more information, please visit www.valeopharma.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Valeo's objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are "forward-looking" because they are based on our current expectations about the markets we operate in and on various estimates and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE Valeo Pharma Inc.
Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

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Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

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Edition: 7; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 476

Companies: 49 - Players covered include ArisGlobal LLC; Bracket Global LLC; CRF Health; ERT Clinical; HealthDiary Inc.; ICON PLC; Kayentis SAS; Medidata Solutions, Inc.; OmniComm Systems, Inc.; Parexel International Corporation and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Solution Type (eClinical Outcome Assessments (eCOAs), ePatient Reported Outcomes (ePROs), Clinician Reported Outcomes (ClinROs), ePatient Diaries, Performance Outcomes (PerfOs), Observer Reported Outcomes (ObsROs)); End-Use (Clinical Trial Sponsors, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Hospitals, Academic Institutes, Other End-Uses)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.



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ABSTRACT-



Global ePRO, E-Patient Diaries and eCOA Market to Reach US$2.8 Billion by the Year 2026

ePRO, eCOA, and e-patient diaries are among the technologies that are enabling healthcare providers and clinical trial companies to enable electronic data capture and analysis. Electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (ePROs) involve reporting of health outcomes directly to the patients in a seamless manner, while electronic outcome assessment (eCOA) involves the electronic capture of data during clinical trials, enables adherence to regulatory requirements, and improves the quality of study data. The ePRO or eCOA platform offers significant benefits as it mitigates costs, reduces trial times, and reduces administrative burden. It is possible to standardize accurate studies with eCOA. Government regulations mandate the maintenance of EHR (Electronic Health Records). Electronic devices and mobile technologies are being increasingly used in the healthcare sector. Electronic devices are being harnessed to collect and report clinical outcomes. Users benefit from the data interpretation offered by eCOA products when compared with traditional paper-based resources. This is due to a better quality of information gathering as well as harmonized data systems. Growth in the global market is set to be fueled by increasing pressure on medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for improving the productivity, reducing costs, and expediting the process of drug development.

Growth in the market is also being driven by the continuous rise in demand for clinical trials and research studies to develop new drugs, therapies and vaccines. Specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased focus by pharma companies and clinical study companies on development of new therapies, vaccines and drugs for managing COVID-19 infection. Faster trial implementation, real-time data sharing, and increased visibility became more relevant during the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Also, since there are more people using smartphones, therefore there is greater acceptability of eCOA and ePRO methods. However, need for Internet connectivity, lack of patient awareness about these advanced technologies and shortage of sufficiently skilled persons with technical know-how inhibit the growth and expansion of the market. Concerns about data privacy are another inhibiting factor, with technology advancements and clinical communication and collaborative solutions raise concerns about privacy and security.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for ePRO, E-Patient Diaries and eCOA estimated at US$1.6 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$2.8 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 14.3% over the analysis period. EClinical Outcome Assessments (eCOAs), one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 14.6% CAGR to reach US$1.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the epatient Reported Outcomes (ePROs) segment is readjusted to a revised 15.9% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 21.6% share of the global ePRO, E-Patient Diaries and eCOA market. Growth in the eCOA market is being spurred by the increase in clinical trials being conducted, growth in R&D spending in pharma industry, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and the growing need for real time data analysis. More emphasis on the patient reported outcomes as well as push towards the use of technology in clinical trials is resulting in massive growth in the use of ePRO. Another factor which is expected to propel the ePRO market in the coming years is the growing post-market research activity, which requires data to be collected for lifecycle management of patented drugs, reimbursement analyses, and safety evaluation.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $563.4 Million in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $326.9 Million by 2026

The ePRO, E-Patient Diaries and eCOA market in the U.S. is estimated at US$563.4 Million in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 35.58% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$326.9 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 17.4% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 11.9% and 13.4% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 12.6% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$387.2 Million by the end of the analysis period. Developed regions of North America and Europe account for a significant share of the market owing to rise in the number of clinical trials.

Clinician Reported Outcomes (ClinROs) Segment to Reach $441.5 Million by 2026

A Clinician Reported Outcome (ClinRO) refers to a report that is received from a healthcare professional based on observations of the patient's health condition. The rise in electronic data capture and availability of better quality data, which is importance for clinical trials, presents lucrative opportunities for ClinRO. In the global Clinician Reported Outcomes (ClinROs) segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 12.8% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$178 Million will reach a projected size of US$413.2 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$47.8 Million by the year 2026. More



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Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.



CONTACTS:

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Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 7; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 4783

Companies: 190 - Players covered include Bluefin Payment Systems; Carta Worldwide; Ciphercloud, Inc.; Discover Financial Services; First Data Corporation; Fiserv, Inc.; Futurex; Gemalto NV; Ingenico Epayments; IP Solutions International Pty Limited (IPSI); Liaison Technologies; MasterCard, Inc.; Merchant Link; Micro Focus International PLC; Protegrity USA, Inc.; Rambus, Inc.; Sequent Software, Inc.; Shift4 Company (POSitouch); Symantec Corporation; Thales E-Security, Inc.; Tokenex; VeriFone Systems, Inc.; Visa, Inc.; WEX, Inc.; Worldpay, LLC and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Component (Solutions, Services); Deployment (Cloud, On-Premise); Application (Payment Security, Compliance Management, User Authentication); Vertical (BFSI, Retail & eCommerce, IT & ITES, Healthcare, Government, Energy & Utilities, Other Verticals)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry

ABSTRACT-

Global Tokenization Market to Reach US$4.3 Billion by the Year 2026

The concept of tokenization focuses on converting the critical information into non-critical data, commonly termed as tokens, which can be used in internal systems or databases without exposing the information to the public. Tokenization protects sensitive information by replacing it with non-significant value holding the same format and length as the original one. While the original information is kept in safe token vault, tokens are transferred to internal systems of organizations for desirable use. In contrast to encrypted data, tokenized data is irrevocable and unbreakable, leaving no scope for converting tokens back into the original form. Tokenization holds high relevance for organizations with critical information in internal systems, such as credit card data, social security numbers and medical information that demands enhanced protection and security levels. Growth in the global market is set to be driven by increasing focus on fraud prevention and payment security measures in the wake on COVID-19-induced accelerated shift towards online and contactless payments. The market is gaining from rising incident of credit card frauds and the pressing need for robust payment security that covers different components like tokenization-as-a-service and contactless payments. The market growth is also fueled by the need to comply with stringent regulations, improve fraud prevention and deliver enhanced experience to customers. Tokenization is poised to receive a major demand stimulus from increasing uptake of contactless payments as well as rising investments in cloud-based tokenization options.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Tokenization estimated at US$2.1 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$4.3 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 18.4% over the analysis period. Solutions, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 19.6% CAGR to reach US$3.6 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Services segment is readjusted to a revised 16% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 35.4% share of the global Tokenization market. The Solutions segment's growth is favored by increasing deployment of tokenization solutions across SMEs as an effective approach to mitigate the risk of identity theft and payment frauds. Companies operating in the industry are increasingly opting for tokenization solutions to comply with PCI DSS regulations.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $814.8 Million in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $476.3 Million by 2026

The Tokenization market in the U.S. is estimated at US$814.8 Million in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 38.22% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$476.3 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 23.7% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 15.4% and 17.5% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 16.5% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$586.8 Million by the end of the analysis period. North America dominates market share on account of stringent regulations like CCPA coupled with rising incident of cyber-attacks, mainly related to payment frauds. Factors such as digital first credit cards and increasing uptake of contactless cards are creating strong demand for tokenization services and solutions. The regional market is also gaining from notable expansion of e-commerce along with extensive use of smartphones to make online payments and access several options like government services, online gaming and digital information. Growth in Asia-Pacific region is attributed to government efforts to deal with financial frauds as well as implementation of stringent regulations to improve cyber-security. More

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Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.

CONTACTS:

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Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Camber Creek, a venture capital firm focused on technology and innovative companies transforming the real estate industry, announced that it closed an oversubscribed fourth fund with capital commitments of $325 million. Founded in 2011, Camber Creek is the original VC firm focused on real estate technology and has more than $500 million in assets under management. Notable investments in leading proptech companies include Notarize, Flex, FlyHomes, Measurabl, Curbio, HappyCo, Building Engines, and Latch.

Jeffrey Berman, Casey Berman, Jake Fingert, Mitchell Schear (Camber Creek)

"We greatly appreciate our investors' overwhelming support and enthusiasm for our hands-on and value-added approach," said Casey Berman, Founder and Managing Partner of Camber Creek. "Our Limited Partners are an exceptional group of institutional investors and many of the world's leading real estate firms. We are honored to work with them in identifying and supporting category-defining proptech companies."

Camber Creek's partner team has over 60 years of real estate industry and over 30 years of venture investing experience. The firm rapidly doubled its previous fund size, building on its strong track record, operating experience, industry relationships, and premier brand in the proptech space.

"You can't change an entire industry without partners," says Patrick Kinsel, CEO of Camber Creek portfolio company Notarize. "Camber Creek is tireless in making introductions, helping us refine our strategy, and creating opportunities that we work on together. When they back you, you feel like you have an army behind you."

"Our focus on creating value for our portfolio companies, leveraging our industry relationships and domain expertise, has consistently given us the opportunity to partner with exceptional founders," said Jake Fingert, Managing Partner at Camber Creek. "Real estate has always been one of the most networked industries, and as we have continued to scale our platform, we have found that these network effects can be harnessed to create value for industry stakeholders willing to embrace innovation while driving outsized investor returns."

Over the past decade, Camber Creek has invested early and supported the growth of 34 proptech companies. Almost half of those companies have either successfully exited or are current unicorns.

"From day one, Camber Creek understood how urgently the real estate industry needed to take action on sustainability and how Measurabl would support this change," said Matt Ellis, CEO of Camber Creek portfolio company Measurabl. "Their credibility with companies managing billions of square feet of office space opened so many doors."

"Camber Creek was the perfect partner to co-lead our Series B," said Mallorie Brodie, CEO of construction workforce software company Bridgit, a Camber Creek portfolio company. "We founded Bridgit in Canada and knew that Camber Creek would help us continue to grow in the US and beyond. They are a force multiplier, validating the work that we do, boosting sales, and putting Bridgit and our story in front of audiences we would not reach on our own."

About Camber Creek

Founded in 2011, Camber Creek is an institutional venture capital firm investing in and scaling companies that are transforming the real estate industry. Over the past 11 years, the firm established itself as the premier real estate technology venture firm by consistently delivering industry-leading returns to investors, driving value for its portfolio of start-ups, and generating successful company exits. Today, Camber Creek has more than $500 million in assets under management with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

CONTACT: Great Ink Communications  212-741-2977

Roxanne Donovan/Eric Gerard/Eric Nizguretsky/Francisco Miranda

[email protected]

SOURCE Camber Creek
LONDON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday announced a new round of "severe" sanctions against Russia, aimed at excluding Russian banks from the British financial system.

Speaking to Parliament, Johnson said his country is announcing "the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen," including imposing a full asset freeze on Russian state-owned VTB Bank.

Furthermore, Britain will impose asset freezes on more than 100 new entities and individuals, ban Aeroflot Airline from Britain, and limit the amount of money that Russian nationals will be able to deposit in their British bank accounts.

The British government will also introduce legislation to prevent Russian companies from raising funds on British markets, and ban the export of "dual-use" equipment that can have military uses in the electronics, telecommunications and aerospace sectors, Johnson said.

On Tuesday, Britain had already announced its "first barrage" of sanctions against Russia as a response to the development of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These sanctions targeted five Russian banks and three very high net worth individuals. 
Appointment of experts to support development of lead candidate VMB-100, an RNA-based therapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence

BASEL, Switzerland, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Versameb AG ("Versameb"), focused on discovering and developing innovative RNA-based drugs, today announces the formation of an Advisory Board comprised of industry leaders in urology. These include Professor Roger Dmochowski of Vanderbilt University, Professor Margot Damaser of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, and Assistant Professor Frederic Birkhauser of St. Anna and Hirslanden Clinic Lucerne.

Versameb is building a pipeline of promising first-in-class RNA therapeutics leveraging its next generation RNA platform technology, VERSagile. The newly formed Board will provide guidance on the clinical development of its lead candidate, VMB-100, for the treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) currently undergoing advanced preclinical development activities and expected to enter clinical development in the second half of 2022.

Up to 50% of adult women suffer from SUI at some point in their lives with no restorative drug treatment currently approved. The physical changes resulting from pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are risk factors for the development of SUI. VMB-100 has first-in-class potential and has generated promising pre-clinical data showing muscle tissue regeneration and function restoration of the urinary sphincter.

Klaas Zuideveld, Chief Executive Officer of Versameb, said: "The formation of an Advisory Board marks a significant milestone for Versameb as we progress our lead candidate in Stress Urinary Incontinence towards clinical development. We are delighted and honoured to be working with three world leading experts in the field whose individual expertise and deep knowledge will be especially important as we transition into clinical development."

Roger Dmochowski is the Professor of Urology, Associate Surgeon in Chief for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and a world leader in the fields of urology and incontinence. He is a member of the FDA Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee (BRUDAC) and has co-authored the FDA guidelines for regenerative medicine in urology. He has led and participated in numerous incontinence clinical trials and is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Urodynamics Society for his accomplishments in the clinical treatment of incontinence. He is a Trustee and past President of the American Board of Urology, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Urological Association, and the International Continence Society. Dr Dmochowski has published over 320 articles, 100 book chapters and 460 abstracts and over 260 presentations at various national and international meetings. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Neurourology and Urodynamics and serves on the editorial board for several scientific journals.

Margot Damaser is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and Staff in the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute. In her distinguished career spanning over 25 years, she has studied urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders. Her research focuses on the development and testing of novel devices and regenerative approaches for improved diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence, voiding dysfunction, and pelvic floor disorders. She has expertise in animal models of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders. She received her PhD in Bioengineering from the joint University of California Berkeley and San Francisco Bioengineering Programme. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers, has served as a member of National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other grant review study sections, and has served on several national advisory committees including the Advisory Council to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK) at NIH. Dr. Damaser is a member of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows, an honor reserved for the top 2% of Biomedical Engineers in the US.

Frederic Birkhauser is the Co-Lead Urologist at St. Anna and Hirslanden Clinic Lucerne and Consultant Urologist at the Universities of Basel and Berne, Switzerland. He has been co-investigator in numerous urology and uro-oncology clinical trials and published on innovative surgical techniques and immuno-oncological approaches in renal, bladder and prostate cancer. He is an examiner for the European Board of Urology, and member of the Swiss Medical Association, European Association of Urology, Swiss Society of Urology and American Urological Association.

About Versameb

Versameb AG is a privately held biotechnology company focusing on discovering and developing innovative RNA-based drugs for modulation of protein expression, including the ability to simultaneously influence several therapeutic targets, in a controlled manner, with one molecular construct, and cellular targeting. Based in Basel and fully operational from 2018, the company is led by an experienced scientific and leadership team with proven expertise in drug discovery and development from lab bench to patient. Versameb's proprietary technology platform, VERSagile, optimizes the application of functional RNA in different disease contexts  making RNA druggable in new therapeutic areas others have been unable to solve.

The pipeline includes lead candidate programs in Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) and solid tumors. Versameb is working towards a first in-human/proof-of-concept clinical study while advancing its platform. More information on Versameb can be found at www.versameb.com as well as on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Versameb
What's New for 2022?

Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 9; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 11152

Companies: 218 - Players covered include Amazon.com, Inc.; Apple Inc.; Best Buy Co., Inc.; Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc.; Edenred; Global Payments Direct, Inc.; Gyft, Inc.; InComm Payments; NGC US, LLC.; Qwikcilver Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; Starbucks Corporation; Target Corporation; Walmart Inc. and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Type (Retail Closed Loop, Restaurant Closed Loop, Miscellaneous Closed Loop, Universal Accepted Open Loop, eGifting)

Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Spain; Russia; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Australia; India; South Korea; Rest of Asia-Pacific; Latin America; Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; Rest of Latin America; Middle East; Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; UAE; Rest of Middle East; Africa.



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ABSTRACT-



Global Gift Cards Market to Reach US$1.4 Trillion by the Year 2026

The closest alternative to cash is the gift card. With cash increasingly being perceived and considered as unthoughtful as it requires no effort and implies a calculated dollar value tagged on the relationship, gift cards are rising in popularity. Gift cards with a personal touch such as a handwritten note additionally impart a very personal gifting experience all without the hassles of trying to find the right present. Convenience and flexibility are the two key benefits of gift cards driving their adoption among people, companies and marketers the world over. For companies gift cards helps express appreciation and gratitude for employees. This kind of workplace recognition helps build an inclusive work environment. For retailers and marketers gift cards help build brand awareness; capture more holiday sales; enable customer engagement; generate useful customer behavioral data; offer easy distribution and improve cash flow. With increasing preference for online purchases by millennial brides, e-gift cards are becoming a big business. With internet-savvy brides at ease with online purchasing, wedding e-gift cards are rising in demand. Selling gift cards is emerging to be a new sales flavor in online retail business with consumers widely appreciating the many benefits of gift cards. Benefits of having gift cards in eCommerce business are numerous including increased sales and customer loyalty. Integrated gift card systems help customers make payments for purchases using the gift cards while simultaneously helping retailers track and analyze customer behavior.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Gift Cards estimated at US$899.3 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$1.4 Trillion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 11.1% over the analysis period. Retail Closed Loop, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 11.4% CAGR to reach US$410.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Restaurant Closed Loop segment is readjusted to a revised 10% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 29.9% share of the global Gift Cards market. In the recent years, gift cards have gained notable attention in the restaurant industry as an impressive marketing and branding approach along with lifeline for businesses who are dealing with challenges brought by the pandemic. A sizeable fraction of customers prefer gift cards from their preferred restaurant, providing restaurant owners with the chance to serve them. Major retailers and restaurant chains such as Walmart, Amazon, Target, Starbucks and Chipotle also offer customers both digital and physical gift cards. Digital gift cards make it convenient for customers to speed up the checkout process using an app. The growing penetration of smart devices and high levels of digital transformation is contributing to the robust demand for e-gift cards.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $339.5 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $156.4 Billion by 2026

The Gift Cards market in the U.S. is estimated at US$339.5 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 38.26% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$156.4 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 15.3% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 8.9% and 11.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 10.1% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$50.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period.

Miscellaneous Closed Loop Segment to Reach $144.8 Billion by 2026

In the global Miscellaneous Closed Loop segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 9.2% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$66.6 Billion will reach a projected size of US$120.1 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$12.2 Billion by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 10.7% CAGR through the analysis period. More



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About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.



CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]



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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Edition: 8; Released: February 2022

Executive Pool: 811

Companies: 151 - Players covered include Apttus Corporation; Aspire Technologies, Inc; Callidus Software; Cincom Systems, Inc.; ConnectWise, Inc.; FPX, LLC; Infor, Inc; International Business Machines Corporation; Model N, Inc.; Oracle Corp; PROS, Inc; Salesforce.com; SAP Ag; Vendavo, Inc. and Others.

Coverage: All major geographies and key segments

Segments: Deployment (On-Premise, Cloud)

Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry

ABSTRACT-

Global Configure Price Quote Software Market to Reach US$3.9 Billion by the Year 2026

Configure Price Quote (CPQ) is a software that is used by companies in different industries to generate quotes as well as process orders for configurable products. CPQ software assists consumers in determining the best possible product and service choices from a range of options according to industry and domain needs. Pricing will consider the configuration fed by the customer and delivers the original or discounted prices as applicable in the situation while calculating profit margins based on costs. The rising demand for higher productivity in enterprises and businesses is pushing demand for CPQ software solutions. The enhanced adoption of automation solutions by different enterprises looking to minimize time and reduce expenses are leading to increased demand for CPQ applications. The need for minimizing reliance on documentation and paperwork of sales staff is also a strong growth driver. The enhancement of the speed of the configuration workflows and options of reducing overall expenses is another market driver. Also fueling demand for CPQ software is the growing enterprise mobility and the rising adoption of smartphones in enterprise settings, which is driving need for mobile applications of CPQ software. CPQ software solutions are gaining more popularity now on account of several innovations that serve e-commerce applications well. The easy access to open-source CPQ software can impede market growth. High upfront costs and maintenance expenditure along with difficulty to scale to partners and channels are other factors affecting adoption of CPQ software.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Configure Price Quote Software estimated at US$2.2 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$3.9 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.3% over the analysis period. On-Premise, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 15.1% CAGR to reach US$2.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Cloud segment is readjusted to a revised 17.7% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 45.5% share of the global Configure Price Quote Software market. The on-premise CPQ software segment will continue to dominate market growth, as most enterprises still use legacy systems to run their business workflows and invest in maintenance and support of such systems to ensure organizational efficiency. However, there is growing shift towards cloud-based CPQ software systems, which can help in saving time and enable management of legacy system integrations, conquering management issues and filtering out price data variations. Cloud-based CPQ also offers easy access from any mobile device and this facilitated easy data access and collaboration even between employees working at different locations.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $655.5 Million in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $629.9 Million by 2026

The Configure Price Quote Software market in the U.S. is estimated at US$655.5 Million in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 30.6% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$629.9 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 20.2% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 13.4% and 14.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 15% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$740.6 Million by the end of the analysis period. North America and Western Europe lead the global CPQ software market due to their swift adoption of technology. The presence of leading players such as SAP SE, Oracle Corporation Configure One and Salesforce.com in the regions along with early technological adoption are factors responsible for the leading positions of these regions in the global market. India, Japan and China along with Australia show considerable promise in this domain, driven in part by the growing adoption of cloud platforms by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The rising trade volumes in China along with increasing numbers of SME players in the cross border trade segment will boost the CPQ software market in the near future. More

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Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years.

CONTACTS:

Zak Ali

Director, Corporate Communications

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Phone: 1-408-528-9966

www.StrategyR.com

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wunderkind ("the Company''), a leading performance marketing engine that scales one-to-one messages for top retailers, today announced it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's (HRC) 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Wunderkind joins the ranks of over 840 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year, including Amazon, Salesforce, and Oracle. This marks the second consecutive year, the Company achieved a 100 percent rating from CEI.

"We are an anti-corporate corporation focused on unleashing employee individuality and building amazing products and services for all brands. Our employee resource groups are already setting the tone for cultural and identity expression through our progressive LGBTQ+ inclusivity initiatives," said Ryan Urban, CEO of Wunderkind. "We encourage creativity and provide our employees opportunities to contribute, grow and be challenged. We have created an environment where our new hires feel comfortable enough to add to the existing character of Wunderkind; all characters are welcome! Keeping our community open, and supportive while driving undeniable performance, helps us carry each other and always have each other's back"

Wunderkind stands out for the second year in a row with its distinct approach to gender identity and ethnic identity. It goes above and beyond legally required options for self-identification and offers additional options for individuals to choose what they feel best identifies their persona. Employees are also offered pionneering benefits, including transgender medical coverage which removes any limitations based on gender identity and/or sexual orientation. The Company also allows for domestic partners to be added to medical plans and receive full medical coverage and benefits. The Company also offers Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that touch on inclusivity, through events, charities, and partnerships.

"When the Human Rights Campaign Foundation created the Corporate Equality Index 20 years ago, we dreamed that LGBTQ+ workersfrom the factory floor to corporate headquarters, in big cities and small townscould have access to the policies and benefits needed to thrive and live life authentically," said Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Programs, Research and Training. "We are proud that the Corporate Equality Index paved the way to that reality for countless LGBTQ+ workers in America and abroad. But there is still more to do, which is why we are raising the bar yet again to create more equitable workplaces and a better tomorrow for LGBTQ+ workers everywhere. Congratulations to Wunderkind for achieving the title of 'best places to work for LGBTQ+ equality' and working to advance inclusion in the workplace."

The results of the 2022 CEI showcase how 1,271 U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ+-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but also for the 56% of CEI-rated companies with global operations who are helping advance the cause of LGBTQ+ inclusion in workplaces abroad. Wunderkind's efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria earned a 100 percent ranking and the designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.

In 2002, the first year of the CEI, only 13 companies achieved a top-score, demonstrating the incredible impact the CEI has had on the business world over its 20-year life. This year's CEI reflects growth across every measurement category, from the adoption of inclusive non-discrimination policies to equitable healthcare benefits for transgender employees.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million abroad. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine's 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities.

Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families.

Supporting an inclusive culture; and,

Corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public's understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

About Wunderkind

Wunderkind is a leading performance marketing engine that scales one-to-one messages for top brands. Digital businesses use Wunderkind to remember who site visitors are better than ever before, allowing them to deliver high-performing, one-to-one messages on websites, through emails and texts, and in ads at a scale that's not otherwise possible. Wunderkind drives $2.8 billion dollars annually in directly attributable revenue for top eCommerce brands like Uniqlo, Sonos and HelloFresh, often ranking as a top-3 revenue channel in their own analytics. Wunderkind is maniacally obsessed with ROI and aims to be the infrastructural interface between individuals and brands in a world where consumers choose what they want, from whom, and when. Learn more by visiting the Wunderkind site .

Media Contacts

KCSA Strategic Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Wunderkind
BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeal Technology, a leader in the Digital Adoption Platform (DAP) market, announces its universal Digital Adoption Platform is now compatible with iPad devices. Zeal's DAP is an easy-to-use tool that sits on top of any enterprise or custom software, desktop, and web-based application to deliver real-time, tailored content that automatically populates as users move through different software platforms. With Zeal's latest advancement, employees can receive workflow learning on iPads. Zeal's DAP also supports applications across other platforms such as Windows and MacOS machines.

Zeal Digital Adoption Platform on iPad

Zeal engineered its new technology to meet the needs of field employees struggling to comply with new or complex business processes. Now users can receive help and guidance in their moment of need, anywhere they can bring an iPad. With this new functionality, field training and remote software rollouts are easier and more effective.

"We were hearing that a major pain point for many of our customers was their inability to provide field employees with the support and guidance they needed on iPads," said Co-founder and CEO of Zeal Technology, Mark Somol. "Now that our DAP supports iPad applications, new software training and rollouts are not only more convenient, but also make a positive, lasting impact on employees. With real-time guidance that pops up directly on their iPad, users feel more supported, engaged, and productive."

For example, customers using Zeal's DAP can access real-time guidance in their customer relationship management (CRM) software, delivered directly on an iPad. Zeal's Digital Adoption Platform for iPad is ideal for manufacturing employees, healthcare workers, or anyone who uses an iPad for their job.

About Zeal Technology :

Zeal's customizable Digital Adoption Platform delivers on-demand information in real-time to maximize individual employee performance. The platform provides bite-sized content to improve software adoption and knowledge retention. It is optimized for learning in the flow of work, microlearning, and contextual learning to help companies and organizations disseminate their own content and information to support digital adoption, digital transformation, performance support, training, employee onboarding, and more. Based in Burlington, Massachusetts, Zeal provides digital adoption platform solutions to millions of users worldwide.

Media Contact:

Kate AlShafie

(781) 281-9162

[email protected]

SOURCE Zeal Technology
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zest AI announced today that it is partnering with the Northwest Credit Union Association (NWCUA) which represents more than 170 not-for-profit, cooperative credit unions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and their 8.1 million consumer members.

NWCUA will be teaming with CUNA Strategic Services to bring Zest's industry-leading AI lending software to more NWCUA members. Zest-built models use more data and better math than traditional national scores to safely approve more members overlooked by legacy scoring. Credit unions using Zest software are achieving five-fold increases in instant-decisioning rates and 25% to 30% higher approvals with no added risk. Loan approvals are also more inclusive by drawing on deep insights from credit reports and loan histories in the markets NWCUA members serve.

"We're honored to be working with a great organization like NWCUA to bring AI-driven lending to credit unions of all sizes," says Jose Valentin, Vice President of Corporate Development at Zest AI. "This partnership will pay off for millions of hard-working families in the form of wider access to more affordable credit."

"Northwest credit unions are always looking for ways to say 'Yes' to more members," says Cameron Smith, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Resources at NWCUA. "Zest has earned the trust of dozens of credit unions by delivering significant value in the form of faster approvals and more inclusive decisions."

"It's been our top priority to deliver an industry-leading solution that is fully compliant with fair lending laws, mitigates risk to credit unions, and opens up borrowing capabilities to members who may not have been approved if not for the non-traditional credit scoring models offered by Zest. This relationship is truly a game-changer for credit unions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and we're proud to collaborate with NWCUA and Zest to drive positive change," says Barb Lowman, President of CUNA Strategic Services.

About Zest AI

Zest AI software helps lenders make better decisions and better loansincreasing revenue, reducing risk, and automating compliance. Since 2009, it has made fair and transparent credit available to everyone and is now the leader in software for more inclusive underwriting. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Learn more at www.zest.ai and connect with us on Twitter at @Zest_AI or Zest AI's Insights blog.

About NWCUA

The Northwest Credit Union Association is the trade association representing more than 175 not-for-profit, cooperative credit unions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and their 8.1 million consumer members. As not-for-profit cooperatives, credit unions look out for their members' financial well-being. Everyone should open their eyes to a credit union. For more information, please visit https://yourmoneyfurther.com .

About CUNA Strategic Services

CUNA Strategic Services develops strategic alliance relationships to bring credit unions innovative solutions that will drive membership growth and operational excellence at an attractive price. The company is majority-owned by Credit Union National Association and state Leagues. For more information, visit www.cunastrategicservices.com .

CONTACT: Danielle Dusebout, [email protected]

SOURCE Zest AI
CARMEL, Ind. , Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zotec Partners (Zotec), a leader in technology-enabled and data-driven healthcare revenue cycle management solutions to optimize financial experiences, was selected as a finalist for this year's 'The Best of Tech in Indiana' awards. The annual Mira Awards program is hosted by TechPoint, the growth accelerator for Indiana's tech ecosystem, and is the state's largest, best known and most prestigious technology awards.

"We're honored to be a finalist in the Service Partner of the Year category--the dedication and passion we provide to every client is like no other in the healthcare technology space," said T. Scott Law, founder and CEO of Zotec Partners. "We achieved many milestones this past year with our clients, and our team is looking forward to delivering even more meaningful solutions and services to further these partnerships."

In the Service Partner of the Year category, TechPoint Mira Awards recognize the year's best service providers delivering remarkable, impactful service to clients. Finalists were selected based application criteria, including service provided, technology solution, and the overall impact on client success in the 2021 calendar year.

"Zotec is committed to quality in all we do, and this is evident in the way we've always operated with an intentional balance of people, processes, and technology," said Law. "This powerful combination enables us to optimize the financial experience for our healthcare providers across the country and their patients."

Nominees were selected by 52 independent judges who evaluated and ranked the applications. In early March, nominees will present their cases and be interviewed by judging panels, after which the judges will deliberate and select the winners. Judges include company founders, CEOs and presidents, CTOs, CIOs and other community leaders and subject matter experts.

The nominees include individuals, community organizations, investors, educators, entrepreneurs and tech employers with remarkable achievements in the prior year. A complete list of the nominees competing for the state's top technology honors in the 2022 Mira Awards is available at techpoint.org/mira. Nominees will celebrate and winners announced during an awards gala on April 23, 2022.

Zotec was a double finalist in the 2021 TechPoint Mira Awards in the categories of Tech Product of the Year and Pandemic Pivot of the Year, selected for the company's vaccine administration, facilitating millions of COVID-19 tests and vaccinations throughout the state of Indiana. For details on Zotec's industry-leading healthcare technology solutions and its celebrated corporate culture, visit zotecpartners.com.

Media Inquiries

Stephanie Freeman

(317) 273-3248

[email protected]

About Zotec Partners

Zotec Partners (Zotec) is the country's largest, privately held provider of patient engagement, revenue cycle and practice management solutions for healthcare practices and their patients. Supporting more than 120 million medical encounters annually, Zotec's progressive technology solutions, data-driven tools and industry-leading client support transforms the financial capabilities for more than 21,000 healthcare providers nationwide. Our powerful revenue cycle resources enable patients with a more seamless and fulfilling bill care experience, leading to peak revenue optimization for healthcare providers. Learn more about Zotec and stay up-to-date on Twitter or LinkedIn.

About TechPoint

TechPoint is the nonprofit, industry-led growth initiative for Indiana's technology companies and overall tech ecosystem. The team is focused on attracting talent, accelerating scale-up companies, activating the community and amplifying stories of success. For more information, please visit www.techpoint.org.

SOURCE Zotec Partners
Zelira Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ZLD, OTCQB:ZLDAF), a leading biopharmaceutical company, has signed a deal with Health House International Limited to acquire the international pharmaceutical distributor, which specialises in the distribution of medicinal cannabis across Australasia, the UK and Europe.

The company hopes the merger will create a global organisation with strong medicinal cannabis product and distribution capabilities.

This deal is set to proceed, pending the outcome of Zeliras due diligence checks on Health House. Once these requirements are cleared the parties will enter into a formal scheme implementation deed.

Under the scheme, Zelira will issue shares to Health House shareholders, giving Health House parties a 19.45% interest in the expanded capital of Zelira.

Zelira has agreed to provide a $1.5 million loan facility to Health House to assist with its working capital requirements prior to implementation of the scheme.

Why merge?

Health House founder and chairman David Wheeler said: The proposed merger is a strategic vertical opportunity to increase margins and save costs.

He went on to list reasons why the merger will be beneficial to both companies, including that it will bring manufacturing in house to improve margins for the total product output and to provide stronger control of the product life cycle.

There is a natural synergy with the product pipeline  Health House currently distributes Zeliras Rx formulations in Australia and has an agreement in place to distribute the SprinjeneCBD toothpaste in the United Kingdom.

In addition, Zeliras research team and Health Houses European-based Kalapa Clinic will provide an opportunity to materially improve the speed at which these products can obtain clinical validation, while improving the cost of clinical trials.

"Control of direct access"

Zelira Therapeutics founder & chairman Osagie Imasogie said: The proposed acquisition of Health House will provide Zelira with control of direct access to highly regulated European and other markets for its products.

"In addition, the successful conclusion of this transaction will improve the margin to Zelira from products that will be directly sold in the markets in which Health House is currently active.

"This transaction will also provide Zelira with direct access to GMP manufacturing facilities in Europe that will further improve margins for our products and provide stronger control of our product life cycle.

"In addition, this transaction will provide Zelira with control of direct access to high quality international standard clinical trial capabilities for our proprietary cannabinoid-based products.

"This will materially improve the speed at which these products can obtain clinical validation, while improving the cost of such clinical trials.

"We look forward to welcoming Health House shareholders as important members of our mutually enhanced Zelira."

Short-term loan facility

To assist Health House with its short-term working capital requirements, Zelira has agreed to provide a $1.5 million short-term loan facility.

A debt-to-equity swap deal will also provide support and reduce the working capital requirements of the combined group.

Under this deal, Health House will seek shareholder approval for the issue of shares as repayment of approximately $1.5 million owing to CanPharma lenders  debt consideration shares  which will constitute shares under the scheme.

Zelira Therapeutics global managing director & CEO Oludare Odumosu said: The proposed acquisition of Health House will maximise Zeliras unique capability to develop new clinically validated products that can be marketed and distributed on a global basis.

"Post-merger it is anticipated, Zeliras revenue profile will be accelerated, margins will increase from the sale of Zeliras products in markets that Health House is currently active, and cashflow breakeven will be brought forward.

About Zelira

Zelira owns a portfolio of proprietary revenue-generating products and a pipeline of candidates undergoing clinical development and has positioned itself to access the worlds largest and fastest-growing markets.

The company is focused on developing and clinically validating branded cannabinoid-based medicines for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions in its Rx business, including insomnia, autism and chronic non-cancer pain, as well as offering over-the-counter products.

It is also generating revenue in Australia and Germany from its proprietary and patented Zenivol  a leading cannabinoid-based medicine for the treatment of chronic insomnia.
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.) returned to profit in 2021 as it hit restructuring targets a year ahead of schedule and announced its chief executive will step down.

Looking ahead, the engine maker expects low-to-mid-single digit revenue growth and operating profit margin to be broadly unchanged and anticipates growth in its end markets as the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic eases.

Operating profit for 2021 was 513mln compared to a loss of 1.97bn in 2020, with cash burn falling 65.5%.

Revenue dropped 2% to 11.2bn, hit by reduced income in the companys largest civil aerospace section as a result of restructuring and COVID-19.

We have improved our financial and operational performance, continued to deliver on our commitments and created a better balanced business capable of sustainable growth, said Warren East, chief executive of Rolls Royce.

"We expect low-to-mid-single digit revenue growth and we expect our operating profit margin to be broadly unchanged as underlying operational improvement is balanced with increased engineering spend to develop sustainable growth opportunities.

"We expect to generate modestly positive free cash flow in 2022, seasonally weighted towards the second half of the year."

Engine deliveries and repair visits both fell as flying hours for its long-term service agreement (LTSA) engines struggled to recover in 2021, but revenue growth was strong in the companys defence and power systems segments.

The company posted earnings per share (EPS) of 1.48, an improvement on last years loss per share of 51.81.

Rolls Royce embarked on a redundancy programme that saw the culling of more than 9,000 workers, which the company said helped it achieve its 1.3bn run-rate savings target a year ahead of schedule.

But the company still took on extra debt, with net debt of 5.2bn in 2021, up from 1.6bn in 2020, as 1.2bn was pumped into research and development.

Rolls Royce also announced its chief executive East would step down from his role at the end of 2022, as the company tries to move on from COVID-19 turbulence.

With the advances we have made, the momentum and energy we have shown and our firmer financial foundations, this is the right moment to look to the future. I am thoroughly committed to leading this business while we work towards a smooth leadership transition, said East.

Rolls Royce fell almost 12% to 103.68p in early deals.
Greencoat UK Wind PLC (LSE:UKW) blew in strong growth last year as the renewable infrastructure fund expanded its wind portfolio and grew assets.

Net asset value (NAV) rose more than 38% to 3.09bn in 2021, resulting in NAV per share of 133.5p, up from 122.2p the previous year.

Greencoat generated net cash of 256.8mln, providing good cover against the 138.8mln in dividends paid out through the year.

2021 represented another year of robust performance and sustained strong cash generation, building on our well-established track record, said Shonaid Jemmett-Page, chairman of Greencoat.

Wind continues to be the most mature and widely deployed renewable energy technology in the UK.

In November 2021, the UK hosted the COP26 conference in Glasgow, with the Prime Minister playing a clear role in encouraging the delivery of 2050 net zero emissions targets. A key part of that plan for the UK is a 40GW offshore wind target for 2030.

The investment fund declared dividends of 7.18p per share for 2021 and is targeting a dividend of 7.72p per share in 2022.

The company embarked on aggressive portfolio expansion through 2021, including the acquisition of the remaining 50% of its stake in Braes of Doune, and a mix of investments and wind farm commissions that increased its net generating capacity to 1.4GW.

The groups investments generated 2.9GWh of sustainable electricity last year.

Wind generation took centre stage this month with the onset of storms Eunice Franklin recording wind speeds up to 122mph, seeing wind take up 35.3% of UK power generation last month, compared to an average of 19.4% for the last year.

Greencoats share price fell 1.28% in initial deals to trade at 138.6p.
Hong Kong: Jan exports value up 18.4%

The value of Hong Kongs total goods exports increased to $459.5 billion in January, up 18.4% compared with the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The value of imports of goods rose 9.6% to $452.9 billion for the same period.

A trade surplus of $6.6 billion, or 1.5% of the value of imports, was recorded for the month.

Comparing the three-month period ending January with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports increased 9.9%, while that of imports rose 7.6%.

The Government said the value of merchandise exports grew further by 18.4% in January over a year earlier. Exports to the Mainland, the US, the EU and other major Asian markets all expanded visibly.

This figure may be distorted by the different timing of the Lunar New Year compared to last year, and a clearer picture of the underlying situation can be ascertained by analysing the trade figures for January and February combined when available.

Looking ahead, the continued revival of external demand should render support to Hong Kongs export performance.

However, the evolving pandemic and the resulted global supply chain and transportation disruptions remain major concerns.

Geopolitical tensions in Europe, the development of China-US relations, as well as the monetary and fiscal policies in major economies also warrant attention, the Government added.

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The use of high-tech surveillance systems on the U.S.-Mexico border has contributed to an alarming spike in the deaths of migrants, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is experimenting robotic dogs as part of new high-tech surveillance systems in the Arizona desert along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to researchers.

These headless, four-legged and 100-pound "ground drones" would be tasked with looking for migrants within roughly 41,500 square miles.

However, the use of high-tech surveillance systems in the Arizona border region has directly contributed to an alarming spike in the deaths of migrants, according to the latest study from Geoffrey Boyce, academic director of the Earlham College Border Studies Program, and Sam Chambers, a researcher at the University of Arizona.

The study found a roughly 643 percent increase in the rate of mortality in the Arizona border region between 2006 and 2020, since surveillance towers were established.

Migrants had to travel deeper into the Arizona desert, one of the most rugged and dangerous areas in the United States, in order to avoid the U.S. border surveillance system.

Last year set a record for migrant deaths in Arizona border, with the recovery of 226 sets of human remains.

The border-control plan has failed to meaningfully curb or deter migration but has actively funneled migrants toward punishingly inhospitable terrain, the researchers said.

"Yet despite the fact that, annually, hundreds of people die crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, millions more continue to attempt this hazardous journey every year," they noted.

The researchers called for dropping the high-tech surveillance programs, adding that money could be spent to address the root causes of violence, inequality, and political and economic instability in migrants' countries of origin, "with investments in infrastructures that would allow people on both sides of the border to not only survive but also thrive." 
Bitcoin and Ethereum slumped after the Ukranian foreign minister said Russia had launched a full- scale invasion of the country amid reports of tanks and troops rolling across the border and cruise missile strikes on major cities including the capital Kyiv.

Bitcoin tumbled over 4.53% to US$35,578, its lowest point in more than a month, while smaller peer Ethereum slumped 13.56% to US$2,308  both flirting with key support levels.

Equity markets fell, gold spiked and brent broke through the $100 mark after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared parts of Ukraine must be purged of corruption, cells of extremists, and the threat of nuclear weapons being pointed only in a matter of time at Moscow, the Guardian reported.

Whoever tries to stand in our way or create threats for our country and people should know Russias response will be immediate and lead you to consequences you have never encountered in your history, Putin was quoted as saying.

Cryptocurrency prices, like the broader financial markets, are likely to be volatile in the coming weeks, influenced heavily by events related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, said Naeem Aslam, a market analyst at avatrade.

Markets are braced for an escalation in sanctions against Russia and allies of Putin after the US led its NATO allies in targeting key financial institutions and policy makers at the start of the week.

An impending interest hike by the US Federal Reserve in March is also expected to put downward pressure on bitcoin prices.

This is because hawkish monetary policy would raise the cost of capital, removing liquidity from markets that have supported risky assets since the coronavirus pandemic began, Aslam added.

Solana was down 11.12% to US$79.47, Terra 8.59% lower at US$51.44 and Avalanche slumped 15.08% to US$66.04..
First Tin Limited's Dr Thomas Buenger joins Proactive London to talk about their portfolio of well-advanced tin mining projects.

The firm is developing advanced hard rock tin projects in Germany & Australia with an ambition to follow these streams of critical mineral into the electric vehicle, renewable energy and semi conductor supply chain.

He says tin is often the forgotten critical enabler of the green energy revolution, the electromobility and the IT boom, it is the glue that joins together all the electrical and electronical components.
An RC rig at the laterite gold zone.

Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX:STK) has made strong drilling progress for its maiden exploration campaign at the flagship Millrose Gold Project on the world-class Yandal Greenstone Belt in Western Australia.

Major 23,000-metre reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling programs are underway at Millrose with an initial 12 RC pre-collars and the first two diamond holes completed.

To date, 45 short RC holes have been drilled into the laterite gold zone as part of an initial 84-hole resource drill-out program.

Looking ahead, Stricklands RC rig is expected to move on to targeting strike extensions of Millrose North and Millrose South - upon completion of the laterite program next week.

Number one priority

Strickland CEO Andrew Bray said: Were extremely excited to be underway with our planned programs at Millrose.

Millrose is our flagship asset and number one priority at our Yandal Gold Project.

High-grade gold mineralisation is open in virtually every direction, with the current program being designed to bring more of the known mineralisation into an expanded mineral resource.

Proximal exploration is also likely to yield the discovery of further gold mineralisation.

Diamond drill program

Stricklands initial diamond drilling is focused at Millrose North, with the mineralisation in this area being of a consistently higher grade tenor, and open at depth.

About 18 diamond holes for 3,500 metres have been designed to:

Enhance the understanding of the mineralisation controls, specifically the elevated grade displayed at the currently interpreted weathered-to-fresh boundary;

Reduce the drill density to 20m x 20m within zones of elevated mineralisation;

Enable the modelling of both structural and weathering controls on the mineralisation distribution;

Carry out bulk density testwork to improve confidence in tonnage and contained metal conversions; and

Assess the historical data quality with twinned holes.

Bray adds: The first 12 RC pre-collar holes are complete, with the diamond rig having completed the first two holes at the Millrose North resource.

The core is currently being cut and will be transported to Perth this weekend.

Geologists with diamond hole MRDD002.

Laterite gold zone

Stricklands initial shallow RC program, consisting of 84 holes across 1,700 metres, has been designed on a 40-metre (north-south) by 20-metre (east-west) grid, to define the extents of this mineralised laterite horizon.

Once this initial program has been finalised and the results reviewed, the second phase of RC drilling, to define a 20 by 20-metre grid will be completed to assist with a first-pass laterite gold mineral resource.

Bray adds: The RC rig is currently drilling out the laterite gold area as part of an initial 84-hole program. The laterite gold mineralisation lies primarily from surface to 20-metre depth and is across a large, coherent zone of +1g/t gold mineralisation.

Over half of this program is complete, and the company expects to wrap up the laterite program at some stage next week.

Any potential laterite mineral resource estimation will provide the company with quick upfront cash flow in a development scenario.

Extensional RC drilling

Historic aircore drilling has intersected significant gold mineralisation in shallow drilling demonstrating the continuity of the main controlling mineralising structures.

A program of approximately 14 RC holes, for a total of 3,000 metres have been planned to test these primary mineralised structures.

Notably, this program is designed on 90-metre (north-south) spacings, with infill and extensional RC and diamond drilling being undertaken, pending these initial results.

Bray adds: ...the RC rig will then begin drilling for northern and southern extensions of the current mineral resource.

Importantly, historic aircore drilling has intersected the same shallow oxide mineralisation as we see above the existing fresh-rock resource and various geophysical datasets suggest continuity of the primary gold-bearing structure.

Dill out of the gap in between the Millrose North and Millrose South will also be included.

Forward plan

Stricklands RC rig is to move on to targeting strike extensions of Millrose North and Millrose South upon completion of the laterite program which is expected next week.

Bray adds: The RC and diamond rigs have both been secured for the entirety of 2022.

A third rig is expected to be added next month, with the focus being on both resource drilling as well as regional exploration.

Its fair to say a huge amount of very exciting drilling is going to be occurring over the next few months!

Millrose is a very strategic asset on this part of the Yandal belt, being only 30 kilometres due east of Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST)s giant Jundee gold operation and approximately 20 kilometres northeast of their recently mined Ramone open-pit deposit.

Strickland is targeting an updated mineral resource towards the end of 2022.
Arrow Minerals Ltd (ASX:AMD)s recently completed reverse circulation (RC) drilling program has extended the Dassa gold system by 1,000 metres at the Vranso Project in Burkina Faso.

Drilling at two other prospects - Guido and Semapoun  has also confirmed gold mineralisation and validated targets.

An airborne magnetic survey will commence shortly at the Vranso Project.

Dassa prospect

The Dassa deposit is a near-surface, shallow-dipping, mostly oxidised gold mineralised system extending over 3 kilometres in a NE-SW direction, which remains open along strike and at depth.

Six shallow RC holes were drilled totalling 424 metres to test for a further southern extension of the Dassa mineralised system.

Gold analytical results from holes DW_RC_21_109, 110 & 111, drilled 1-kilometre further south from the nearest previous drill hole, confirmed the continuation of the mineralised system at the Dassa prospect.

Hole DW_RC_21_110 intersected 1.41 g/t gold over 5 metres from 59 metres. This result increases the interpreted strike of the known shallow oxide mineralised system to more than 4 kilometres.

The deposit comes to surface, extends more than 300 metres downdip and ranges from 2 to 15 metres in thickness.

Further exploration drilling is required to clearly define the extent and magnitude of the Dassa deposit.

Guido prospect

Gold mineralisation intercepted as part of the 19-hole RC drilling program (2,288 metres) included:

 1.06 g/t gold over 17 metres from 21 metres;

 2.17 g/t over 8 metres from 83 metres; and

 0.92 g/t over 11 metres from 145 metres.

Semapoun prospect

The best result from the 10 RC holes (760 metres) reported at Semapoun was 1.06 g/t gold over 6 metres from 31 metres.

Work at Semapoun including detailed geology, structural studies, mapping and sampling is being undertaken.

Vranso Project

Vranso Project, 100 kilometres west of the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, consists of 10 semi-contiguous exploration permits extending for more than 80 kilometres along the main NE-SW trending Boromo Shear Zone, host to numerous multi-million-ounce gold deposits including Bissa, Bouly, Poura and Batie West.

The Project encompasses 1,300 square kilometres of the richly gold endowed Paleoproterozoic Birimian Greenstone Belt, the majority of which is yet to be evaluated using modern gold exploration techniques.
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Gascoyne Resources Ltd (ASX:GCY) has received encouraging drill results from near-mine exploration of the wholly-owned Dalgaranga Gold Project in Western Australia that highlights depth potential at the Plymouth open pit and extensions at Gilbey's North discovery.

Promisingly, the first hole in the reverse circulation (RC) drill program returned 11 metres at 2.75 g/t gold from 89 metres.

The companys latest exploration developments include positive results immediately below the operating Plymouth open pit and further results from the emerging Gilbeys North discovery, which is the main source of ore feed at Dalgaranga.

Drilling continues at pace, with two RC rigs undertaking near-mine exploration and mine grade-control drilling across Dalgaranga.

Significant untapped potential

Gascoyne managing director and CEO Simon Lawson said: These latest results demonstrate the significant untapped potential in the near-mine environment at Dalgaranga, with positive new results in close proximity to existing mining areas at both the Plymouth and Gilbeys open pits.

With the Gilbeys North discovery firming up as a very compelling target, and with a number of near-mine targets like Plymouth producing standout results, we are now intently focused on converting these results into potential upgrades to resources, reserves and mine life at Dalgaranga.

These results really reinforce Gascoyne as an exciting growth opportunity, with solid production and a great processing plant at its core  and an active exploration team delivering new ounces and blue-sky growth potential.

This is a rare combination that I think investors want to see  a company actively capitalising on its potential.

Plymouth expansion potential

The Plymouth open pit is less than 1 kilometre from the Dalgaranga processing plant, with drilling in this area targeting potential expansion of the operating pit.

Assay results for the first reverse circulation (RC) hole at Plymouth, DGRC0753, returned a highly encouraging intercept of 11 metres at 2.75 g/t gold from 89 metres.

The intersection is directly down-dip of the main Plymouth ore zone and about 20 metres beneath the floor of the current optimised mine design, indicating the potential to extend the resource at depth.

Operating Plymouth Open Pit with new drill intercept below current design extent.

Near-mine discovery at Gilbeys North

The emerging Gilbeys North discovery is less than 1-kilometre west of the 2.5 million tonnes per annum Dalgaranga processing plant.

Initial drilling in this area intersected significant mineralisation with the company now well underway with a follow-up reverse circulation (RC) program utilising two drill rigs.

Assays have now been received for a further 14 RC holes, with eight of these holes intersecting strong mineralisation.

The drilling continues to return highly encouraging intersections, all outside the current mineral resource area:

6 metres at 1.6 g/t gold from 91 metres;

4 metres at 3.7 g/t from 78 metres, including 1-metre at 11.3 g/t;

9 metres at 1.1 g/t from 84 metres;

3 metres at 1.1 g/t from 87 metres;

8 metres at 1.3 g/t from 111 metres;

8 metres at 1.5 g/t from 114 metres;

4 metres at 0.9 g/t from 122 metres; and

1-metre at 13.1 g/t from 82 metres.



Gilbeys North gold prospect cross-section 4875mN.

Forward plan

Assays are awaited for further RC holes targeting previously untested shallow extents to the high-grade Plymouth ore zone along-strike and down plunge.

Drilling continues at pace, with two RC rigs undertaking near-mine exploration and mine grade-control drilling across Dalgaranga to the end of February when one rig will temporarily leave the site.

Lawson adds: "We are continuing to see good gold production from our plant through the short month of February, we are making meaningful near-mine shallow discoveries with the potential to become mill feed in the short term and, with plenty of untested targets, our team is just getting started.
Orthocell Ltd (ASX:OCC) made strong operational progress during the half-year ended December 31, 2021, advancing the development and commercialisation of collagen medical devices and cell therapies for the repair and regeneration of human tendons, bone, nerve and cartilage defects.

During the period, the company achieved key milestones on its path to securing distribution partners for Striate+ in dental bone and tissue repair procedures, clinical development milestones in nerve and tendon repair and development objectives of its key pipeline products.

Looking ahead, the company remains focused on executing its distribution partnering strategy for Striate+, accelerating the most appropriate regulatory programs for the introduction of the nerve indications, in parallel with the commercialisation of OrthoATI and pipeline products.

Manufacturing and logistics

During the half-year, Orthocell made significant progress towards US market entry with preparations to scale-up manufacture completed, the incorporation of Orthocells wholly-owned Delaware LLC to enable product supply and the set-up of a high-quality US warehouse and logistics solution.

The company also completed its international logistics solution for the EU/UK with the engagement of Expeditors International to manage logistics, warehousing and distribution requirements.

Clinical advocacy program

Orthocell has a highly desired KOL network now in place with 18 industry-leading clinicians (KOLs) based in the EU, UK, US and Australia actively representing the company at industry conferences as product ambassadors and using Striate+ in their dental surgeries, implant procedures and education workshops.

The KOL network has assisted the company in expanding the network of referring clinicians and supported ongoing discussions with potential distribution partners.

Increasing product awareness

During the period, the company completed product awareness initiatives in the US including the Sunrise Dental Solutions Group launch showcasing Striate+ at the Sunrise Summit in October 2021.

In Australia, the company attended the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ANZAOMS) annual conference in November 2021.

Orthocell has been preparing for the anticipated return of demand for high-quality products, such as Striate+, to facilitate rapid and high-quality dental procedures by continuing to invest in its clinician advocacy program and targeted digital marketing program in the UK and the EU.

Positive nerve generation results

In August 2021, Orthocell announced successful pre-clinical and clinical Remplir (formerly named CelGro nerve repair) study results showing superior nerve regeneration and consistent restoration of upper limb function in people with tetraplegia and these were presented at the 50th West Australian Branch Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA) annual scientific meeting.

Australian orthopaedic nerve specialist and clinical trial lead, Dr Alex OBeirne presented the results of two successful Remplir nerve repair studies titled: 'Development of an epineurial substitute for nerve repair in patients with tetraplegia: proof of concept pre-clinical and clinical studies'.

During the half, the company progressed discussions with the TGA regarding its application for approval to supply Remplir in the Australian market for peripheral nerve repair

CelGro pipeline

Orthocell has initiated a prospective study evaluating the structural and biological properties of SmrtGraft (previously named CelGro tendon repair) and assessing the safety and effectiveness of its use in the augmentation of rotator cuff tendon surgical repairs.

The findings represent a substantial advance in improving patient outcomes by reducing rates of revision surgeries.

Orthocell has progressed its regulatory strategy to achieve the US and AUS approval to market SmrtGraft for tendon repair procedures and continues to work towards the completion of a clinical trial relating to the positive performance of SmrtGraft in augmenting tendon repair.

OrthoATI pipeline

Also in the half, the company delivered the first statistically significant results from its Phase 2a randomised, multicentre, controlled rotator cuff tendon clinical study (RC Study).

The data confirmed that the study achieved its goals, demonstrating that OrthoATI is a safe and effective treatment for patients suffering from rotator cuff tendinopathy with intrasubstance tendon tear compared directly to the standard of care (steroid injections).

In light of the initial study results, Orthocell is accelerating its US commercialisation plans with technology scale-up, FDA engagement and commercial preparation activities being advanced to support a Phase 2b randomized controlled study to support eventual FDA submission.
Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL, EURONEXT:SHELL), BP PLC (LSE:BP.) and other oil majors are greenwashing and not making the transition to clean energy they suggest, according to a new academic study.

The companies freely used terms such as climate, low-carbon and transition, BP and Shell especially, but an increasing tendency to push decarbonization and clean energy strategies are pledges rather than concrete actions, the report in the PLOS journal said.

Financial analysis by the authors, Mei Li, Gregory Trencher and Jusen Asuka, reveals the business model of the FTSE 100 pair, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) and Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), continues to depend on fossil fuels along with insignificant and opaque spending on clean energy.

The study, which used data collected between 2009 and 2020, concluded that the transition to clean energy business models is not occurring, since the magnitude of investments and actions does not match discourse.

Until actions and investment behaviour are brought into alignment with discourse, accusations of greenwashing appear well-founded.

Given that the energy products of these companies have contributed significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions and planetary warming over the past century, the authors stressed the importance of their role, as decarbonising the global economy over coming years to avoid dangerous climate change cannot occur without a profound transformation of their fossil fuel-based business models.

In their latest results, Shell revealed nearly US$55bn of cash generated in 2021 thanks to rising oil prices, while BP generated US$6.1bn of cash and set out to "sustain earnings from resilient hydrocarbons out to 2030".
Brent crude prices jumped 9% to soar over US$105 per barrel in Thursday mornings deals after Russia launched a "full-scale invasion" of Ukraine overnight.

A raft of new international sanctions is expected in the wake of Russian tanks and troops rolling across the border into Ukraine and cruise missile strikes on major cities including the capital Kyiv.

It adds yet more uncertainty and threat to supply in what was already a tight oil market.

Whilst Brent Crude changed hands at US$105.26, West Texas Intermediary crude was also up 9% trading at just over US$100.

In London, Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL, EURONEXT:SHELL) shares were up slightly more than 2% at 1,983p whilst BP PLC (LSE:BP.)  which owns close to 20% of Rosneft (AIM:ROSN), Russias third-largest oil company  saw its share price fall 3.3% to 370p.

North Sea producer Harbour Energy (LSE:HBR) Plc was up 3.6% at 365.6p, Tullow Oil PLC (LSE:TLW) was up 2.6% at 51.92p, and Enquest shares gained 4.5% to 21.79p.

Hurricane Energy PLC (LSE:HUR), which is in a race to generate enough cash to repay bond debt before a July deadline, outpaced the rest of the sector to climb nearly 9% to trade at 8.21p.
Bottle roll tests of all six of the soil, colluvium blanket and basement saprolite samples had recoveries exceeding 90% regardless of grade

Cabral Gold Inc (TSX-V:CBR) has unveiled positive metallurgical results for the MG deposit that returned up to 97% gold recoveries over 48 hours.

Bottle roll tests of all six of the soil, colluvium blanket and basement saprolite samples had recoveries exceeding 90% regardless of grade, according to the Vancouver-based company.

CEO Alan Carter called the results from the target on the companys Cuiu Cuiu property in northern Brazil highly encouraging.

The next step is to subject the samples to column leach tests, and those results should be available during May, Carter said in a statement.

Cabral also revealed new drill results from MG highlighted by 6 metres at 8.6 grams per ton (g/t) gold, including 1.5 metres at 32.6 g/t gold.

The promising result helps define the high-grade zone within the primary deposit, and extends the central high-grade zone 100 metres further west than previously known, Cabral told shareholders.

The drill results from the underlying primary MG deposit continue to outline a central high-grade core to the primary hard-rock MG gold deposit with the mineralized zones all open at depth, Carter added.

Other drill results include 7.3 metres at 1.3 g/t gold, including 1.4 metres at 4.9 g/t gold, and 32.7 metres at 0.4 g/t gold in the gold-in-oxide blanket overlying the primary deposit.

Results are pending on another six diamond drill holes at MG, and drilling is continuing, the company said. Results are also expected from five holes at the Central deposit and the PDM target.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden said he will meet with his counterparts of other Group of Seven (G7) countries on Thursday morning to discuss next moves they will take on Russia in response to Moscow's military operation in the Donbass region.

Biden said Wednesday night the United States will also "coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance."

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in the Donbass region. Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack.

"Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," Putin said in a televised speech to the nation, noting that Russia's move is in response to "fundamental threats" of NATO which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders. 
Cypress Development Corp (TSX-V:CYP, OTCQB:CYDVF) has announced that, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary Cypress Holdings (Nevada) Ltd, it has entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement to acquire Enertopia Corporations Clayton Valley Lithium Claystone Project, located adjacent to its own Clayton Valley lithium asset in Nevada.

Under the transaction, Cypress said it will pay US$1.1 million in cash and issue 3 million common shares to Enertopia for 100% ownership interest in Enertopias project.

We are excited to consolidate Enertopias project with our project, as it will add upside, and can easily be integrated into our mine plan, Cypress Development president and CEO Bill Willoughby said in a statement.

This is a strategic acquisition, and it will potentially aid in optimization, and production schedule development for our upcoming feasibility study, he added.

The Clayton Valley Lithium Claystone Project project is 100% owned by Enertopia and comprises 17 unpatented mining claims totaling 160 contiguous acres.

Cypress noted that a March 2020 NI 43-101 compliant technical report on Enertopias project states the property has an Indicated resource of 82 million tonnes (mt) of 1,121 parts per million (ppm) lithium and an Inferred resource of 18 mt of 1,131 ppm lithium using a cutoff grade of 400 ppm lithium. The resource was calculated using assay data from four core holes drilled on the property in 2018, it added

Closing is expected to be completed in April 2022 and is subject to customary approvals and closing conditions for a transaction of this nature, including approval of the Share Consideration by the TSX Venture Exchange, Cypress said.

Cypress Development is a Canada-based advanced-stage lithium exploration company, focused on developing its 100%-owned Clayton Valley project, which it is advancing towards the production of high-purity lithium hydroxide suitable for tier-one battery usage.

Also, work completed by the company led to the discovery of a world-class resource of lithium-bearing claystone adjacent to the Albemarle Silver Peak mine, North America's only lithium brine operation.

Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com
Healixa (OTC:EMOR) Inc said it has secured Indications of Interest (IOI) to order 1,000 Global AquaDuct units from WATERisLIFE for projects located in Central America.

The IOI, representing approximately US$15 million, is the first IOI secured for Global AquaDuct units. WATERisLIFE works closely with non-profit partners, local governments, and community organizations to ensure that households, schools, orphanages, and medical facilities have access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene programs. WATERisLIFE's goal is to provide 1 billion people safe drinking water.

In a statement, Ian Parker, CEO of Healixa (OTC:EMOR) said: "This is an exciting initial indication for our Global AquaDuct product and begins to highlight the demand and need for this product. We are very grateful that WATERisLIFE has chosen our solution to assist them in their goal of bringing clean potable water throughout the world. We are eager to get these 1,000 units produced and help the people of Central America."

According to the World Bank report, 'Study of Urbanization in Central America: Opportunities of an Urban Central America', it is expected that in the next generation, 70% of the population will live in cities, compared to the current 59%. This leads to unprecedented challenges, among which water supply and sanitation are among the most urgent, Healixa noted.

For example, in Guatemala approximately 90% of the water is contaminated. Many people are left with water sources that cause disease and sickness. Another example is Mexico City where weak infrastructure and climate change are challenging Mexico City's ability to provide clean and adequate water to residents. Water supply in Mexico City comes from an underground aquifer that is being drained at an irreplaceable rate. As the aquifer is drained, Mexico City is sinking downwards rapidly at twenty inches per year.

Healixa's AWH technology is a game-changing clean water technology that can harvest potable water directly from the atmosphere almost anywhere on earth with minimal energy using solar power. AWH is not reliant on relative humidity and can be operated sustainably to provide several hundreds of liters of potable water a day with a Global AquaDuct unit.

Healixa estimates that solar panel components will make up approximately 2.5% of the Global AquaDuct unit production costs and has recently signed a definitive solar component supply agreement with Solar Integrated Roofing Corp (OTC:SIRC) to supply the solar components.

Solar Integrated Roofing is an integrated, single-source solar power and roofing systems installation platform company specializing in commercial and residential properties throughout the United States. The company serves communities by delivering the best experience through constant innovation & legacy-focused leadership. Its broad array of solutions includes sales and installation of solar energy systems, battery backup and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to roofing, HVAC and related electrical contracting work.

David Massey, CEO of Solar Integrated Roofing commented: "We are very excited to see the strong initial demand for the Global AquaDuct units. We believe this initial indication will be the first of many, representing an incredible opportunity for both of our companies. I look forward to supplying Healixa with an estimated $300,000 in solar components for these future orders, enabling sustainably produced, clean water in Central America."

Healixa is a technology company focusing on building and acquiring innovative and disruptive technologies in the health-tech, clean water generation and green-tech industries. The company embraces innovation by combining its intellectual properties, patents, strategic collaborations, and partnerships to create a 'LaunchPad' of disruptive sustainable products.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Potent Ventures Inc said it has established a partnership with The Bee Conservancy, forming the foundation for its purpose-driven endangered Keystone Species product marketing strategy for The Gummy Project's initial gummy product line, featuring bees and sharks.

"Our new partnership with The Bee Conservancy is fundamental to the Gummy Project's commitment to helping raise awareness of endangered species that are crucial to the world's ecosystems," said Charlie Lamb, CEO of Potent Ventures in a statement.

He added: "We will be working collaboratively with the Bee Conservancy to align our Keystone Species strategy across multiple channels including, packaging, education, media promotion, social influencers, events and more as we support their efforts to protect bees, which are critical to all life on this planet."

Gummy Project's purpose-driven mandate aligns strongly with The Bee Conservancy's mission to protect bees and the environments that sustain them to ensure ecological health and security for all, the company said.

The purpose of the partnership is to protect bees, safeguard the environment, and secure food justice through community-based education, research, habitat creation, and advocacy, through the engagement of consumers with the Gummy Project's innovative Keystone Species strategy.

The Honeybee Conservancy was founded in 2009 by Guillermo Fernandez in direct response to a tremendous decline in bee populations globally.

The Bee Conservancy's initiatives, such as their flagship program Sponsor-a-Hive, have served hundreds of thousands of people across the United States, and protected an estimated 10 million bees to date, the company said.

The Gummy Project will donate 8% of the net proceeds of its Bee-shaped gummy products sales from March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023.

"The Bee Conservancy is extremely grateful for the support of The Gummy Project," said Rebecca Louie, executive director of the Bee Conservancy. "Their donation will help advance our mission to protect bees and bee habitats.

She added: This is a compelling opportunity to connect communities directly with the importance of these precious pollinators, and we are excited to align with a company committed to raising awareness and support for bees and ecosystems everywhere."

The Gummy Project's initial launch will feature two endangered Keystone Species, Sharks and Bees. Long term, the Gummy Project aspires to develop a robust endangered Keystone Species product mix, connecting with consumers through content, merchandise and live experiences that support conservation efforts with these endangered species and their ecosystems.
NutraLife Biosciences (OTC:NLBS) President and CEO Edgar Ward joined Proactive to discuss its partnership with medical research company KOR Medical and Cookies Retail Products.

Ward says the group will produce four ingestible products for KOR Medical, formulated to help improve overall health, including helping consumers sleep better, feel better, be calmer, and improve their quality of life.

California-based cannabis group Cookies Retail Products (CRP) will provide NutraLife with branding and marketing guidance while NutraLife becomes a preferred research and development profit participant and partner of CRP.
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Canada Rare Earth Corp (TSX-V:LL) CEO Tracy Moore joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has responded to urgent needs from business and government by providing a continuous, reliable supply of rare earths.

Moore telling Proactive, they are expecting to have a assured supply of rare earths and they expect demand will grow substantially and will be supplied largely from this new stable and dependable sources. Canada Rare Earth is in business and actively sourcing, selling, and delivering critical minerals to its customers. Moore also said the Company has renewed distribution agreement for high purity and specialty rare earth products and they have results to market, distribute, and sell in Europe, the Americas, Russia, and India, and obtained the non-exclusive right in Asia.
Kiev, Feb 24 : The Ukrainian Parliament has supported a bill to introduce a state of emergency in the country from February 24 amid the ongoing tensions with Russia, according to the Parliament's press service.

The legislation, introducing the state of emergency in all Ukrainian regions except for the conflict-hit Luhansk and Donetsk regions, for 30 days, was supported by 335 lawmakers in the 450-seat parliament on Wednesday.

In the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where a Joint Forces Operation is underway, a special legal regime has been already in effect, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Interfax-Ukraine news agency, the state of emergency in 22 Ukrainian regions envisages a ban on holding mass meetings and protests, on changing the place of residence by those liable for military service, and on the production of information materials that can destabilise the situation in the country.

The new law also stipulates for restriction of freedom of movement, inspections of vehicles, premises and personal belongings of citizens, and the introduction of a curfew if the need arises.

Besides, it provides for the evacuation of residents from places where there is a danger to the lives of people.

Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council proposed the parliament introduce a state of emergency across the country due to the buildup of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border.

Earlier on Wednesday, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine imposed special measures in regions bordering Russia, Belarus and those having access to the seas.

The measures include the limitation of movement of private vehicles and floating devices, flights of light planes and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as restrictions on filming and photographing of certain objects.

Since November, Kiev and some Western countries have accused Russia of assembling heavy troops near the Ukrainian border, including in Belarus, with a possible intention of "invasion".

Denying any intention to attack any country, Russia said it has the right to mobilise troops within its borders to defend its territory, as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's increasing military activities near Russia's borders constitute a threat to Russia's border security.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Amman, Feb 24 : Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi has reaffirmed that there is no alternative to the two-state solution as the real political ground for achieving fair and comprehensive peace in the region.

In a meeting with Sven Koopmans, the visiting European Union (EU) Special Representative for the Middle East Peace process, Safadi said Jordan would keep working to find such a political ground, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday in a statement.

Jordanian Foreign Minister also briefed Koopmans about Jordan's efforts to arrange peace negotiations and support the Palestinian economy, while acknowledging the EU's role in the regard, the statement added.

The Jordanian top diplomat said all illegitimate procedures that undermine the Israeli-Palestinian peace process should stop, including building settlements and seizing Palestinian lands, Xinhua news agency reported.

He also reiterated the importance of respecting Palestinian residents' rights in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, as well as the legal status quo of Jerusalem and its holy sites.

For his part, the EU Special Representative praised Jordan's role and efforts in pursuing regional peace and stability, reiterating the EU's keenness to continue cooperation with Jordan to reinvigorate the peace process which has stalled since 2014.
United Nations, Feb 24 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the arrest of four members of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and called for their immediate release.

The UN peacekeepers were arrested by the Central African Republic (CAR) gendarmerie in Bangui on Monday, while escorting a senior military officer of the mission.

The Secretary-General on Wednesday emphasised that, pursuant to the 2014 status-of-forces agreement between the UN and the government of the CAR relating to MINUSCA, these MINUSCA members enjoy privileges and immunities which are held in the interest of the UN, Xinhua news agency reported.

The top UN official recalled that the 2014 status-of-forces agreement establishes a specific procedure in cases where members of MINUSCA are suspected, by the authorities of the CAR, of having committed an offence. Guterres noted that this procedure has not been followed in the present case.

The UN Chief called upon the government of the CAR to abide by all its obligations under international law, including the status-of-forces agreement, and release these MINUSCA personnel "unconditionally and without delay".
Kabul, Feb 24 : Supporters of Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the Resistance Front against the Taliban, and Taliban representatives held their first meeting in the centre of Islamic Republic of Afghanisation's Parwan province to seek an alternative to fighting.

The Resistance Front delegation comprised of 12 people led by Almas Zahid, a former Mujahideen Commander, and the six-member Taliban delegation was led by Mohammad Mohsin Hashimi, the Taliban's Deputy Leader of Intelligence. The meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon.

A representative of the Resistance Front, Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, wrote on his Facebook page that both sides agreed to not attack each other until the second round of negotiations is held, TOLO news was reported as saying.

The representatives met for three hours and then returned to their respective sides to share the discussed issues with their leaders.

"After three hours of discussion, it was decided that both delegations will share the message with their leadership and resume the negotiations to reach a durable peace in the country. It was also decided that the parties should not attack each other until the second round of negotiations," wrote Ezedyar.

A member of the Taliban delegation, meanwhile, said the Taliban wanted to discuss the issue of Panjshir, but Massoud's supporters wanted to discuss the structure of the future government. Thus the negotiations had no tangible outcome, he said.

"The Panjshir delegation was more focused on the overall structure of the governance system. Since there were big differences between the two sides' demands, both sides decided to take the messages to their leaders," said Anamullah Samangani, a member of the cultural commission of the Taliban.

The negotiations followed both sides' threatening to use military force.

"The discussions will bear results in the coming days. If the discussions have no results and they use another option (military), we will do the same," said Noorullah Noori, a member of the Taliban's political office.

"We are still waiting for the outcome of the negotiations. Despite this, we have all the military preparations as well," said Hamid Saifi, a member of the Resistance Front.

Ahmad Massoud in a recent interview with the BBC said that if an inclusive and acceptable government for all is not established, Afghanistan will be isolated both politically and economically.

"We are negotiating with the Taliban. So far, several countries like Canada has said it will not recognise an exclusive government. If that happens the people will continue to suffer," Massoud said.

The Taliban has said they will form an inclusive government, but the terms have still not been clearly defined.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon said on Wednesday it has authorized hundreds of unarmed National Guard members to be deployed in Washington, D.C., as truck convoys are heading to the city to stage protests.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has approved the provision of 400 District of Columbia National Guard personnel and 50 vehicles to support the Metropolitan Police Department at designated traffic posts, according to the Pentagon press secretary John Kirby.

Austin, he said, has also greenlighted the provision of up to 300 National Guard personnel from neighboring states to support the U.S. Capitol Police officers with traffic control operations at designated perimeter posts.

The deployed troops will not carry firearms, take part in law enforcement or carry out domestic surveillance activities.

Law enforcement agencies across the National Capital Region "are aware of plans for a series of truck convoys" arriving in the U.S. capital around the time of U.S. President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on March 1, the Capitol Police has recently said.

Truckers held weeks-long protests in Canada against the country's COVID-19 restrictions earlier this year by blocking city traffic and border crossings with the United States, prompting some Americans to organize similar events. 
Kabul, Feb 24 : International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said more than 24 million Afghans are in grave need of humanitarian assistance.

" As many as 24.4 million people in Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian assistance," the ICRC said on Twitter.

"This is a 30 per cent increase from a year ago." The ICRC also in a separate statement expressed concerns over the closing of many medical centres in Afghanistan, TOLO news was quoted as saying.

"The effect of the banking and liquidity crisis is rippling across the country and huge consequences on the health system are being felt as multiple facilities are not able to pay salaries, or for fuel to run their generators," the ICRC said.

"Ambulances can't operate; food supplies are running short for the patients, and they lack adequate medicine." Meanwhile, the bakeries which are distributing bread for poor people said the number of people begging for bread has recently increased.

Dozens of people gathered in front of a bakery in Kabul to receive a loaf of bread.

"Around 1,200 families come to this bakery. There are some people who help us to distribute it," said Meer Dil, Head of a bakery in Kabul.

Akram, who is a father to five children, said he has been looking for a job to take care of his family, but he failed to find any job opportunity and therefore he is obliged to stand in the line for free bread and take it home for the family.

"It is all poverty. Some nights I receive some bread and sometimes not," he said.

"I am poor. My husband is disabled and I have five children. I am obliged to stand here from dusk till dawn to receive some breads," said Nadi, who came to the bakery to receive bread.

When the Islamic Emirate swept into power, the Afghanistan's Central Bank assets in reserve were frozen, which severely affected the already feeble economy of Afghanistan.

US President Joe Biden earlier signed an executive order to direct $3.5 billion of Afghan assets based in US banks for Afghan humanitarian needs. A similar amount was reserved by Biden for potentially paying compensation to the victims of 9/11.
Damascus, Feb 24 : Three soldiers were killed in an Israeli missile strike targeting military sites in Damascus after midnight, Syrian state news agency SANA said early Thursday morning.

The Israeli attack triggered the Syrian air defenses, which intercepted most of the Israeli missiles, said SANA, citing a military source without providing further details.

The attack came only about a day after Israel struck Syrian military sites in the southern province of Quneitra, causing damage, Xinhua news agency reported.

On February 16, Israel carried out a similar missile strike against points south of Damascus, which resulted in material damage but no casualties.
Bengaluru, Feb 24 : Amid crisis related to wearing of hijab in classrooms, an Amritdhari (baptised) Sikh girl was asked to remove her turban in the reputed Mount Carmel PU College here in accordance with the February 10 High Court's interim order. Some parents of the college also complained of being targeted after their daughters were asked to remove the hijab.

The authorities are now crossing their fingers over the turn of events on Thursday, as the sensitive issue could spread more and to other colleges as well in the state capital.

Though colleges across the state witnessed widespread agitations, protests regarding denial of permission to attend classes with hijab, the agitations so far had not touched Bengaluru in a major way. The Special bench of the High Court has made it clear on Wednesday that no religious symbols are allowed in the classrooms in PU as well as graduation colleges until the matter is disposed of.

Parents of college students who were asked to remove hijab by the authorities have demanded that the order of the High Court must be implemented equally to all students. The problem started when G. Sriram, deputy director of PU Education, who was inspecting the college during practical exams on Monday, directed two students to remove their hijab as per the court order. This led to outrage among the students and more students strongly protested against it.

The college authorities conducted a series of meetings and asked the students to follow orders, demanding that they should be treated equally. Though the college authorities successfully convinced the majority of the students, a few insisted that if they were to remove hijab, others should also not be allowed to wear any religious symbols.

Meanwhile, the college authorities of Mount Carmel PU College asked a Sikh girl student to remove her turban to follow the High Court order. The authorities also mailed about it to her father. The girl was asked to remove her turban on February 16, but she did not agree. However, after G. Sriram, deputy director of PU Education visited the college and asked students not to wear hijab, they demanded that others who were wearing religious symbols too should not be allowed.

The school authorities informed the father of the Sikh girl about the situation and her family informed the college that she would not take off her turban and they would seek a legal opinion on the issue. The education department maintains that the High Court interim order does not talk about turbans.
Meerut : , Feb 24 (IANS) An army man's father has been booked for allegedly killing his daughter-in-law in connivance with another retired army personnel.

The police have now booked Shravan Singh Rathore, a retired honorary captain in the Missile Brigade of the army's Artillery Regiment, and his mother for the murder.

On February 20, the body of a young woman, 28, was found stuck in the bushes along a highway in Haryana's Yamunanagar.

Three days earlier, on February 17, Umrao Singh Rathore, 29, posted as sergeant at Sarsawa Air Force station, Saharanpur, had filed a missing person report. His wife Puja had disappeared.

The body of the woman was later identified as Puja.

According to police reports, Umrao had met Puja, a dancer, on social media some years ago. They fell in love and got married in 2018 against the wishes of his father Shravan Singh Rathore.

Shravan hatched a plan to eliminate his daughter-in-law and got in touch with Parvez Ahmad, a retired hawaldar who had served in the same brigade and ran the grocery store outside the air force station the couple lived at.

Sharvan asked Parvez for a 'favour' and gave the latter Rs 5 lakh.

Parvez and an accomplice first kidnapped and then murdered Puja, throwing her body in a desolate stretch.
Moscow/Kiev, Feb 24 : Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, which the authorities in Kiev have described as a "full-scale invasion".

Donbas comprises the rebel regions of Luhansk and Donetsk which were declared as independent states earlier this week by the Russian leader which led to widespread condemnation and sanctions against Moscow.

In a televised speech to the nation on Thursday morning, Putin said Russia did not plan to occupy Ukraine, but warned that Moscow's response would be "instant" if anyone tries to take on Russia, the BBC reported.

He said that the Ukrainian people would be able "to choose freely" who runs the country and reiterated that his country's actions were in "self-defence".

The Russian leader urged the Ukrainian soldiers who are facing off Russian-backed rebels to lay down weapons and return to their homes. He also told them that their "fathers and grandfathers did not fight so they could help neo-Nazis".

Putin added that clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces were "inevitable" and "only a question of time".

Immediately after Putin made the announcement, there were explosions heard in Kiev and also across Ukraine, including towns in the east, like Kramatorsk, close to areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists, said the BBC.

The Russian President's declaration came at the same time as the UN Security Council in an emergency meeting was imploring him to stop pushing more troops towards Ukraine.

In his appeal, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked Putin to stop the Russian troops from attacking Ukraine and to "give peace a chance" as "too many people have already died.

Meanwhile in Kiev, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba said that Putin has launched a "full-scale invasion of Ukraine".

Taking to Twitter shortly after the announcement, he said: "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression.

"Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now." In a last ditch appeal before Putin made the announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia could start "a major war in Europe" and urged Russian citizens to oppose it.

Zelensky said Russia had almost 200,000 troops and thousands of combat vehicles on Ukraine's borders, the BBC reported.

Condemning Putin's latest move as "unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces", US President Joe Biden said that the Russian leader has "chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering".

In a statement released by the White House, Biden said: "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the US and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way.

"The world will hold Russia accountable." In a tweet, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg strongly condemned Russia's "reckless attack" on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives.

"This is a grave breach of international law & a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. NATO Allies will meet to address Russia's renewed aggression."

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Chennai, Feb 24 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged the Centre to urgently engage with Sri Lankan authorities and find a permanent solution to the issue of attack on Indian fishermen, mostly from the state, and put in place functional mechanisms to stop such incidents in future.

In a letter to Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday, Stalin said that the fishermen of the state are under constant threat by the Sri Lankan authorities and still 29 fishers are in jail in the island nation.

Eighty-nine boats, including fishing trawlers, are in the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities and Government of India's immediate intervention is urgently required.

Stalin, in the letter, said: "I request you to take up this issue with the Sri Lankan authorities at the highest level and initiate bilateral talks between the two countries to find a permanent solution to this long pending vexatious issue and put in place functional mechanisms to stop such incidents in future." Meanwhile, the Fishermen association of Ramanathapuram has also threatened to restore the road blockade if the fishermen of the area are not released from Sri Lankan prison.

S. Jesudasan, President, Ramanathapuram Fishermen association while, speaking to IANS said: "We welcome any initiative taken by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to solve this vexed issue but the Sri Lankan authorities won't budge unless the Government of India uses tough language. We don't have any other option but to go for an indefinite road blockade to get our fellow fishermen released from jail.

"The Sri Lankans are of the position that the boats and trawlers seized will not be released and this cannot be allowed. Government of India must take up these issues with the Sri Lankan authorities at the highest level and bring about a solution on the same." Several fishermen from Tamil Nadu are getting arrested after they inadvertently cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and get into the custody of Sri Lankan authorities.
Washington, Feb 24 : US President Joe Biden on Thursday called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's announcement of a military operation in Ukraine as "an unprovoked and unjustified attack" and that the "world will hold Russia accountable" for the subsequent developments.

In a statement issued by the White House, Biden said that "Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering".

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the US and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way," he said.

Biden said that he will be monitoring the situation in Ukraine and will will meet his G7 counterparts on Friday morning after which further actions will be taken.

Just three days after declaring the rebel regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states, Putin on Thursday morning announced a military operation in the Donbas region, asking Ukrainian troops to lay down their weapons and return home.

Unfazed by the numerous economic sanctions imposed by the international community against Moscow, Putin said Russia did not plan to occupy Ukraine, but warned that Moscow's response would be "instant" if anyone tries to take on Russia.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba said in a tweet that "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression".

"Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now."

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The BJP has claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's call to NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in the Nawab Malik case is an effort to secure support for her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, against whom ED investigation is underway.

BJP co-incharge for West Bengal, Amit Malviya said Banerjee's call to Pawar is not out of principle or for solidarity but a desperate attempt to secure support at a later date.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Banerjee called Pawar after Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Nawab Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

"Mamata Banerjee's call to Sharad Pawar is not out of principle or solidarity. It is a desperate attempt to secure support at a later date, given her nephew is under ED scanner, not to forget the dark shadow of post-poll violence that hangs over her, who as CM, oversaw the pogrom," Malviya said.

After Malik's arrest, BJP national general secretary and Maharashtra in-charge C.T. Ravi tweeted, "NCP leader Nawab Malik arrested by the ED for money laundering. Playing the usual "Victim Card" will begin now." Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis termed the matter as 'extremely serious' since the land worth crores of rupees was allegedly grabbed at a throwaway price with persons linked to absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, colluding with enemies of the country, and the proceeds were laundered for terror funding and anti-national activities.

BJP state President Chandrakant Patil demanded that since Malik has been arrested, he should quit, as also all other ministers facing various allegations should resign from the Cabinet immediately, failing which the BJP would launch an agitation on the streets.

After a series of meetings with top leaders of Shiv Sena-NCP -Congress, it was decided that irrespective of the court orders, Malik would not be compelled to resign as the Minority Affairs Minister.

A special PMLA court in Mumbai had remanded Malik to eight-day ED custody till March 3.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Los Angeles, Feb 24 : Actress Deanna Allison, who has worked in the 2003 film 'Edge Of America', has joined the cast of the upcoming series 'Dark Winds' in a series regular role.

She will essay the role of Emma Leaphorn, the wife of a Navajo police officer Joe Leaphorn played by Zahn McClarnon.

Her character in the show is described as a strong woman with good intuition who works as a midwife, reports 'Variety'.

Emma is deeply invested in her work. When she suspects that one of her patients is a victim of domestic violence, she immediately asks her husband to investigate. As per 'Variety', the series follows an investigation into the murder of a young Navajo woman, led by Joe.

Season 1 will comprise six episodes and is slated to debut on AMC and AMC Plus in 2022. The series also stars Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee as well as Rainn Wilson, Noah Emmerich, and Jessica Matten.

Allison's role in the series will be her first regular TV series role. Graham Roland, who developed 'Dark Winds' for television will also executive produce the show along with Zahn McClarnon and Vince Calandra. Calandra will also serve as the showrunner.

George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford will also work in the capacity of executive producers on the series produced by AMC Studios along with Tina Elmo and Vince Gerardis. Chris Eyre will executive produce and direct the pilot.
Jammu, Feb 24 : The Border security force (BSF) troops on Thursday fired at a drone along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's R.S. Pura and Arnia sectors A BSF spokesman said, "Drone movement was observed near R.S. Pura, Arnia sectors of the International Border area. The drone returned after the BSF fired 10 to 20 rounds.

"A search operation is underway".

Reports said the area is being scanned by the paramilitary forces, but nothing suspicious has been found so far.

Sources said the drone was first spotted in the R.S. Pura sector and after being fired upon it moved to the Arnia sector and finally went back to the other side of the border.
Evan Greenberg, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the insurance company Chubb Limited, speaks during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Closer economic cooperation between the United States and China is not only crucial but also mutually beneficial as the world's two largest economies are highly interdependent, business leaders, diplomats and officials have said.

"China-U.S. economic and trade relations are win-win in nature," Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang said in his video remarks to the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce -- USA (CGCC-USA) held here on Tuesday evening.

Noting that China and the United States have "highly complementary economic structures and deeply intertwined interests," Qin stressed that "win-win cooperation is our only right choice."

"We have broad common interests and great potential for cooperation, especially in trade," said the Chinese diplomat.

Qin called on the business community to continue to serve as a "bridge and bond" between the two countries, to cultivate an objective and rational view of both sides, and tell the story of cooperation.

"Our two nations have deep and longstanding inter-dependencies," said Evan Greenberg, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the insurance company Chubb Limited.

"Two-way trade and investment between the United States and China are strategically important, and in the interest of both our countries," Greenberg noted, who also serves on the board of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and the U.S.-China Business Council.

The American business executive believes that it should be a priority for governments and private sectors in the two countries to advance productive economic relations, which will benefit both sides.

During the event, Guan Linhua, CEO at Surge Energy America, a Texas-based production and exploration company, told Xinhua that China and the United States are quite complementary in the energy sector and enjoy great potential for cooperation.

Calling China and the United States as "amazing partners," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in her address that it is vital that "we continue to work together collaboratively and our people are joined together in a common vision of giving people a better life."

As many speakers at the event suggested, the two countries should enhance collaborations and mutual understanding while managing differences through candid communication and dialogue.

Saddened by the recent years' strains and misunderstandings in the bilateral ties, Ray Dalio, a renowned American investor and founder of Bridgewater Associates, called on joint efforts to promote mutual understanding and improve U.S.-China relationships.

"It is incumbent upon all of us in both the public and the private sector to continue to reach for greater people-to-people interaction between us," Greenberg said. 

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang delivers a video speech during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, speaks during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang delivers a video speech during the annual New Year gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC-USA) in New York, the United States, Feb. 22. 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
Washington, Feb 24 : The Pentagon said that it has authorised hundreds of unarmed National Guard members to be deployed in Washington, D.C., as truck convoys are heading to the US capital city to stage protests.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has approved the provision of 400 District of Columbia National Guard personnel and 50 vehicles to support the Metropolitan Police Department at designated traffic posts, Xinhua news agency quoted Pentagon press secretary John Kirby as saying on WEdnesday.

Austin, he said, has also greenlighted the provision of up to 300 National Guard personnel from neighbouring states to support the US Capitol Police officers with traffic control operations at designated perimeter posts.

The deployed troops will not carry firearms, take part in law enforcement or carry out domestic surveillance activities.

Law enforcement agencies across the National Capital Region "are aware of plans for a series of truck convoys" arriving in the US capital around the time of President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on March 1, the Capitol Police has recently said.

Truckers held weeks-long protests in Canada against the country's Covid restrictions earlier this year by blocking city traffic and border crossings with the US, prompting some Americans to organise similar events.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Supreme Court on Thursday said the Attorney General (AG) K. K. Venugopal has circulated an email saying that vacancies in all tribunals across the country are almost filled.

Senior advocate Arvind Datar mentioned the tribunal vacancies matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli.

The Chief Justice told Datar that an email has been circulated by the Attorney General. "The AG circulated an email saying that all the vacancies are almost filled, except few in the green tribunal and the armed forces tribunal," said the Chief Justice.

Citing the email, he added that 'the process to fill up the vacancies in National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) will be finished today (Thursday), but National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will take some time'.

The Chief Justice said the court has been informed that the remaining vacancies, including the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal will also be filled soon.

On February 16, expressing its discontent with the vacancies in the tribunals, the Supreme Court said some "knee-jerk" appointments were made by the Centre to fill up vacancies across the country, and the bureaucracy has been taking up the issue "lightly," A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana then observed that after a few appointments made initially, nothing substantial happened. The bench said the court is getting requests for the extension of time for National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) matters, etc. The bench said: "Some knee-jerk appointments took place and nothing happened after that. We do not know the fate of members and many are retiring". The top court emphasized that the bureaucracy is taking the issue lightly.

Earlier, the apex court had made some strong observations in connection with vacancies in tribunals across the country. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal contended before the court that he could show the list of vacancies and the steps taken to fill them up. After a brief hearing in the matter, the top court scheduled the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

In August last year, the top court had cited data to show that around 250 posts are lying vacant in various key tribunals and appellate tribunals across the country. The bench read out the long-list of vacancies across the tribunals and added that 19 presiding officers, 110 judicial members, and 111 technical numbers are pending in all theAtribunals. "This is the scenario of the tribunal. We do not know what is the stand of the government...," said the Chief Justice.
Abuja, Feb 24 : A total of 159 Nigerians stranded in Libya while seeking to enter Europe voluntarily returned home on Wednesday, Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said.

The Nigerians, who arrived in the economic hub Lagos on Wednesday evening, were received by local officials, Ibrahim Farinloye, Xinhua reported citing NEMA.

Among them were 67 male adults, 80 female adults, 10 children and two infants.

Libya has for years been a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

The returnees were supported by the International Organisation for Migration through the Voluntary Humanitarian Return programme, which makes arrangements to help illegal immigrants stranded in Libya return to their homelands.

Since 2015, more than 53,000 illegal migrants have returned from Libya through the programme.
Denver, Feb 24 : The coldest weather in 123 years has gripped Denver, the capital of the western US state of Colorado, reaching minus 7 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 21.6 degrees centigrade), according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The previous record of minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees centigrade) was set in 1899, Xinhua news agency reported citing NWS.

"Frostbite can develop in 10 to 30 minutes in the expected conditions on Wednesday," the NWS warned, telling residents to "avoid prolonged outdoor exposure." Wednesday night will stay cold with temperatures dropping near zero in Denver, with "on and off snow showers Wednesday night and Thursday morning," local television station KDVR reported.

Meanwhile, in the nearby Rocky Mountains, "storm number two moves in today," CBS said Wednesday, telling residents to expect another 4-10 inches of snow accumulation across the Western Slope and Southern Mountains by noon on Thursday.

A winter snow warning was issued Wednesday with cautions for travelers on Colorado's main east-west highway Interstate 70.
Kabul, Feb 24 : Over 850 Afghan families have received relief assistance in the capital of Kabul as the Afghan caretaker government and aid agencies redoubled efforts to help destitute families in winter, authorities said on Thursday.

The Afghan Ministry for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement that 600 needy and internally displaced families received the relief assistance distributed by the ministry in Kabul on Monday and Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the ministry, the assistance included 50 kg wheat, 50 kg rice and a package of food.

In addition, on Wednesday, the Afghan Red Crescent Society distributed a 50-kg bag of flour to 250 orphans, needy and internally displaced families in districts of Kabul province, where the Kabul city is located, the organisation said.

Economic woes hit the impoverished country following the freezing of over $9 billion of Afghan central bank's assets by the US as well as a halt of funds by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Ukraine on Thursday imposed 'martial law', citing the situation in Donbas following Russia's 'military operation' in the country.

Urging civilians to stay at home, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a statement, said that there are "strikes" on Ukraine's military and other important defence facilities.

"The armed forces, law enforcement agencies of the state are on alert. The National Security and Defence Council is working in an emergency mode," he added.

"Our diplomats are informing the world about what is happening. Ukrainians will never give up their freedom and independence. Only we, all citizens of Ukraine, have been determining our future since 1991. But now not only Ukraine's fate, but also what life in Europe will be like, is being decided," Zelensky asserted.

"All thoughts and prayers with our soldiers," he concluded.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces have destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian Navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev, the Daily Mail reported.

Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off, while more unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6 a.m. on THursday morning, the report said.

A government spokesman also said that the country was attacked from Crimea, which Russia had annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

"The work of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups is also recorded. Depending on the situation on the border, border guards together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine are firing at the enemy.

"Information on injuries among border guards is being clarified," the Daily Mail quoted the spokesman as saying.

Putin said in a televised address on Thursday morning that in response to a request from the heads of the Donbas Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, he had decided to conduct a special military operation to protect the people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Ukrainian regime for eight years".

He said Russia could not exist with a "constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine" and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was "inevitable", Daily Mail reported.

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law in the early hours of Thursday, in a video message to the people urging people to remain at home and stay strong.

He said he had just spoken to US President Joe Biden.

"We are working. The army is working. Don't panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone."
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Metadata of the video in which Russian President Vladimir Putin announces a military operation in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, shows that it was recorded on Monday evening, but only broadcast on Thursday morning, the Daily Mail said in a report.

At the time, some Russian officials were denying any intention to invade.

The Russian armed forces are not inflicting any missile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow told RIA Novosti.

Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Ukrainian army were being disabled by high-precision weapons, they said.

Nothing threatens the civilian population of Ukraine, they claimed.

All flights cancelled at Russian airports in Krasnodar, Sochi, and Anapa, close to the Black Sea, Daily Mail reported.

Rostov also reported cancelled flights.

Within minutes of Putin's public address, explosions could be heard in the capital city of Kiev as well as the city of Kramatorsk in central Ukraine, and Odessa in the south.

Across Ukraine, cruise and ballistic missiles were destroying military infrastructure and strategically important facilities, according to unofficial Russian sources, the report said.

Mariupol, on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, appeared to be under fierce attack.

Taking this strategic location would give the Donbas separatist Republics access to the sea.
New Delhi/Kiev, Feb 24 : After blocking several researchers' accounts as Russia began a military strike against Ukraine on Thursday, Twitter has admitted it "mistakenly" removed a number of accounts sharing details about Russian military activity.

Several researchers sharing Russia-Ukraine information found their Twitter accounts "unexpectedly" suspended since late Wednesday.

Twitter's Head of Site Integrity, Yoel Roth, said in a tweet that the company's human moderation team made the mistake.

"A small number of human errors as part of our work to proactively address manipulated media resulted in these incorrect enforcements. We're fixing the issue and reaching out directly to the affected folks," he posted.

"We do not trigger automated enforcements based on report volume, ever, exactly because of how easily gamed that would be," Roth added.

Earlier, Oliver Alexander, analysts with open-source intelligence (OSINT), said: "I am back again after having been locked out twice in 24 hours. First time for a post debunking the "foiled sabotage / gas attack" and second time for a post debunking the "Ukrainian attack into Russia".

OSINT researcher Kyle Glen was also locked out of his account for 12 hours, according to tweets from Glen and a post shared by another OSINT organisation.

Security analyst Oliver Alexander also claimed to have been locked out of his account twice in 24 hours, reports The Verge.

A Twitter thread compiled by Nick Waters, an analyst at the pioneering OSINT organisation Bellingcat, listed more account suspensions.

In an earlier statement, a Twitter spokesperson said that action had been taken against these accounts in error and was not part of a coordinated campaign.

"We're closely investigating -- but mass reporting is not a factor here," said Roth.
Mumbai, Feb 24 : A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested a serving Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party protested against each other across the state on Thursday.

Leaders of the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress staged a sit-in agitation near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside Mantralaya and all over Maharashtra to protest against Malik's arrest and the manner in which the Centre has 'unleashed' central probe agencies to harass and topple non-BJP governments in the country.

The BJP leaders demonstrated in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and other cities alleging Malik has "mafia connections" and he must either resign from the cabinet or be sacked immediately.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, ministers Subhash Desai, Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan, Sunil Kedar, Vijay Vaddetiwar and other party leaders sat along with many activists.

They raised slogans against the central government, flaying the 'political vendetta' through the misuse of probe agencies, harassing leaders to break or bend them to grab power at any costs.

The BJP city, state and regional leaders organised noisy demonstrations at railway stations, bus stations or other public places demanding the resignation of Malik, accusing him "financing terror operations" through the absconder mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his family.

The Maharashtra Police maintained tight security at all the government and opposition protest venues, as the MVA grappled with its biggest political crisis after it won the 2019 Assembly elections and the BJP lapped up its major political opportunity in the past 27 months since the latter lost power.

In an unprecedented pre-dawn development on Wednesday, the ED picked up Malik from his home, took him to the ED office around 7.30 a.m. and handed him the summons, and after 8 hours placed him under arrest on charges of alleged money-laundering case arising out of a tainted land deal nearly two decades ago.

After a hearing lasting nearly 3 hours, the Special PMLA Court late on Wednesday shunted Malik to eight days' ED custody till March 3.
Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Feb. 24, 2022 shows a screen displaying U.S. President Joe Biden delivering remarks on Russia and Ukraine in a live stream provided by PBS News. Biden announced on Thursday additional sanctions against Russia and the deployment of more troops to Europe as conflicts in Ukraine continue to evolve. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Thursday additional sanctions against Russia and the deployment of more troops to Europe as conflicts in Ukraine continue to evolve.

Speaking from the East Room of the White House, Biden said the new measures will target major Russian banks, limit the country's "ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds, and yen," and curtail Moscow's high-tech imports and its ability to upgrade the military.

The U.S. president said he had authorized "deployment of ground and air forces stationed in Europe to the eastern flank," as well as "additional U.S. force capabilities to deploy to Germany" as part of the response of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"Our forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine, our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine but defend our NATO allies and reassure those allies in the east," he reiterated, adding that NATO will convene a summit "tomorrow."

A senior U.S. defense official said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that the Pentagon had ordered the deployment to Europe of approximately 7,000 additional service members and that they are expected to "depart in the coming days."

The troops, the official added, will deploy to Germany to reassure NATO allies, "deter" Russia's military operations and be prepared to support a range of requirements in the region.

Biden also addressed concerns that oil prices may further go up as a result of U.S. sanctions against Russia.

"We've been coordinating with major oil-producing and consuming countries toward our common interest to secure global energy supplies," he said. "The United States will release additional barrels of oil as conditions warrant."

The announcement was made hours after leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries met virtually to coordinate their responses to Russia's military actions in Ukraine.

Biden tweeted he and his G7 counterparts had agreed to move forward on what he called "devastating packages of sanctions and other economic measures" against Russia.

Earlier on Thursday, Biden convened a meeting of the National Security Council in the White House Situation Room to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass on Thursday and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack.

In a televised speech, Putin said the "plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories" and that Russia is "not going to impose anything on anyone by force."

Russia's move, he explained, is in response to "fundamental threats" of NATO which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that the United States and NATO have broken their commitments, continuously expanded eastward, refused to implement the new Minsk agreement, and violated the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2202.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Kiev decides to sever diplomatic relations with Moscow. 

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Feb. 24, 2022 shows a screen displaying U.S. President Joe Biden delivering remarks on Russia and Ukraine in a live stream provided by PBS News. Biden announced on Thursday additional sanctions against Russia and the deployment of more troops to Europe as conflicts in Ukraine continue to evolve. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Supreme Court on Thursday junked a plea seeking an injunction against Bhansali Productions from releasing Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi. The plea was filed by Gangubai's adopted son.

A bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and J.K. Maheshwari after a detailed hearing in the matter dismissed the plea filed by Gangubai's adopted son, Babuji Rawji Shah, against the Bombay High Court order.

"This special leave petition is dismissed," said Justice Banerjee.

On Wednesday, the bench queried, "Is changing the title possible?" However, the petitioner's counsel insisted on an interim stay on the release of the movie. The respondent's counsel argued that name change, days before the release, would not be possible.

During the hearing on Thursday, the filmmaker's counsel pressed that the movie has been promoted for more than seven months, and it is all over social media. A battery of senior advocates argued that the movie is not derogatory at all, rather it glorifies Gangubai, and pointed out that there is also a statue in her name.

Gangubai's adopted son in the appeal, filed through lawyers Arun Kumar Sinha and Rakesh Singh, claimed that the novel and the movie tarnished his image, his deceased mother and other family members and statements in the plaint satisfy the ingredients, which defines defamation.

The plea said: "Because the high court while keeping the first appeal pending, in the facts and circumstances of the present case, ought to have granted temporary injunction restraining the respondents from printing, promoting, selling, assigning, etc., the novel namely, "The Mafia Queens of Mumbai" or the film namely Gangubai Kathiawadi, which are admittedly defamatory in nature".

The top court was hearing an appeal against the high court order, which continued the stay on the summons issued by a Mumbai court in a criminal defamation complaint against actress Alia Bhatt, the producers of Gangubai Kathiawadi, and authors S.Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges, who wrote the book.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 24 : The Kerala Assembly on Thursday witnessed angry exchanges between the treasury and the opposition benches after Speaker M.B.Rajesh denied permission to the Congress-led Opposition to discuss the infamous gold smuggling case.

Since the issue has been raised in the past and it's sub-judice, permission cannot be granted, the Speaker said.

At this, the angry opposition members rushed into the well raising slogans.

The Speaker then requested them to return to their seats and allowed opposition leader Satheesan to speak.

"Speaker Sir, you are trying to set a new precedence by not giving permission to even present the leave for an adjournment motion to discuss the issue. In the past, when your party was in the opposition, cases like bar scam, solar scam were raised numerous times on the floor," he said.

"We all know that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan does not want the issue to be discussed as he knows what his role is. Today it's fear that rules Vijayan and hence he does not want this case to be raised," said Satheesan and announced that the opposition is boycotting the day's session.

Then, the entire opposition squatted in the foyer of the house raising slogans against Vijayan.

Later, Satheesan told media that the entire gold smuggling case was swept under the carpet last year ahead of the Assembly polls due to a secret pact between the CPI(M) and the BJP leadership.

"Two important audio tapes surfaced in 2020 in which prime accused Swapna Suresh, who was in judicial custody, could be heard saying that she was being pressured to speak against Vijayan. But early this month she herself said that the audio tapes was stage managed and that she was asked to do it," said Satheesan.

"She spoke the truth after M. Sivasankar, the former principal secretary of Vijayan, wrote a book, which she refuted. Why was senior IPS official Jacob Thomas suspended by Vijayan for writing a book without permission, while Sivasankar was not even questioned when he did the same? Vijayan is presently caught in a fear trap and does not want to speak," added Satheesan.

Accusing Vijayan of double standards, the Congress leader said that the former had handed over the Solar scam case which has no merit to be investigated by the CBI.

"But in the gold smuggling case he is afraid that the truth will be exposed. Very soon, more details on how Vijayan's office stage managed things will surface. He will have to break his silence soon, said Satheesan.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : With Russian President Valadimir Putin on Thursday announcing military operation against Ukraine, the Indian students in Ukraine have been advised not to go out of their homes and carry cash.

An Indian student in Ukraine's Ternopil city, Aman Gupta (name changed) told IANS: "When we woke up in the morning, we heard the sounds of sirens. The situation is not what it was before. The government has asked us not to go out from home. Some of my friend's have booked flight. They have gone to Kiev and are returning to Ternopil as the attacks took place just three km away form Kiev airport. In view of the emerging situation, the university held online classes today." "Students here are in panic and parents are calling constantly. Some of my friends are at the Indian embassy after they were evacuated from the airport. My seniors and some organisations have asked us to keep cash in hand and hoard as much ration as possible," he further said.

In the wake of the conflict, around 242 Indian students returned to India and reached the Indira Gandhi International airport late on Tuesday night.

India has started bringing back its nationals from Ukraine and nearby areas and has pressed Boeing Dreamliner B-787 aircraft into service.

As per information, Putin has announced military action against Ukraine and has launched attack on Kiev and eastern parts of the country.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Sydney, Feb 24 : As active cases in the state of Western Australia (WA) tip past 2,000, the nation's last Covid-19 stronghold has begun to ponder living with the virus as it plans to open its borders from March 3.

WA recorded 617 new cases in the 24 hours till 8.00 p.m. Wednesday night (1200 GMT). It came after the daily caseload ballooned to 645 cases on Tuesday, almost tripling the 263 cases reported on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Throughout the pandemic, the state has remained relatively unscathed as it has maintained hard borders to the rest of the country. Currently there are 2,272 active cases in the state, near half of the 5,164 total cases recorded since the start of the pandemic.

Speaking to media on Thursday, WA Premier Mark McGowan said case numbers were expected to continue to rise.

"The mathematics are clear. We're not far away from recording over 1,000 new cases per day," he said.

Previously, the state's border reopening date had been pushed back "indefinitely" from February 5 as the premier cited high transmission of the Omicron variant in Australia's eastern states.

But as local transmissions have surged, McGowan has scrapped the state's Covid-zero approach.

"Eventually there comes a point where the border is ineffective, when you get to high numbers within the state," said McGowan when announcing the reopening last Friday.

The state's hard border restrictions are set to be lifted to the rest of the country from March 3, when fully vaccinated arrivals will not be required to quarantine.

McGowan also announced on Thursday a A$67 million (about $48 million) support package to help business through what would be "the next phase of the pandemic" for the state.

"It's going to be a bumpy and uncertain time, especially for small businesses," said McGowan.

As of February 22, 95.8 per cent of WA's population aged 12 and above had been vaccinated with both shots. Its booster rate has just tipped 60 per cent and is on track to reach 70 per cent by March 3.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : At a time when Russian has started military operations against Ukraine, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday arrived in Moscow on a two-day official visit, Dawn reported.

The Prime Minister was greeted by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov upon his arrival and was also presented a guard of honour.

Khan is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

The last Pakistani premier to visit Russia was Nawaz Sharif in March 1999, while former President Asif Ali Zardari came to Moscow in 2011.

As the Prime Minister has already played down the timing of the visit and any effect it would have on Pakistan's relations with the West, there is a thinking that this visit is a double-edged sword and the government must tread with caution.

Pakistan National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, however, rejected the notion about the timing of the visit.

"Yes there is a global tension but our visit is of bilateral nature and the similar path was taken in the visit to China where economy, economic indicators and connectivity was at the heart of that tour," he said.

Asked about Pakistan's stance when the crisis deepens, he said his country's message for Russia and the whole world was that it was not in any zero-sum game and there was no such (demand) from Kremlin as well.

That apparently clarifies the dust surrounding Khan's visit but Thursday's meeting and a joint declaration isn't something that can be predicted, the report said.

The rising tensions over the Ukraine-Russia crisis have been brewing for more than two months, by now no effort has brought success to lessen the tensions, which are already putting country like Pakistan under immense pressure for several reasons.

Thursday will not be a random day for Khan to have a diplomatic speech as he is expected to be measured and calculated in his words.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 24 : A police official attached to the Karimanoor police station in Idukki district, who was first suspended form service in December last year, was dismissed from service.

P.K. Anas, a police official has been booted out for sharing crucial information pertaining to over 100 BJP/RSS workers in the Idukki district of the Police database to the office bearers of the Social Democratic Front of India (SDPI), the political wing of the Popular Front of India.

Things turned bad for Anas when top police officials in the hilly district while probing an attack on a government bus driver found some evidence against against the police official.

After an arrest of one of the accused in the attack on the driver, the probe team found lot of information about the BJP RSS leaders on his mobile phone and this was what led to sacking of Anas, who was identified of downloading this confidential information and passing it to the SDPI leaders.

Another piece of information which the probe team was able to find out was that he had sent mails to the President of India to recall the administrator of Lakshadweep Praful Khoda Patel, whose policies had come under severe attack from the islanders.

The police meanwhile are continuing its probe in the same case to see if more damage was done.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Supreme Court on Thursday said the Attorney General (AG) K. K. Venugopal has circulated an email saying that vacancies in all tribunals across the country are almost filled.

Senior advocate Arvind Datar mentioned the tribunal vacancies matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli.

The Chief Justice told Datar that an email has been circulated by the Attorney General. "The AG circulated an email saying that all the vacancies are almost filled, except in the green tribunal and the armed forces tribunals", said the Chief Justice. He added that according to the email, the process to fill up the vacancies in National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) will be finished today, but National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will take some time. The Chief Justice said the court has been informed that the remaining vacancies, including the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal will also be filled soon.

Datar submitted that the Madras Bar Association judgment says it has to be 5-year tenure, but the government has made it 4 years and it was three-judge bench. The bench said then it would have to constitute a five-judge bench.

Datar said, what's surprising is that the top struck down the ordinance, but then identical provisions were made. After a brief hearing, the bench said it will list the matter for hearing in March.

In July last year, the top court struck down the provisions of tribunal law, which fixed tenure of members at 4 years.

On February 16, this year, expressing its discontent with the vacancies in the tribunals, the Supreme Court said some "knee-jerk" appointments were made by the Centre to fill up vacancies across the country, and the bureaucracy has been taking up the issue acelightly".

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana then observed that after a few appointments made initially, nothing substantial happened. The bench said the court is getting requests for the extension of time for National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) matters, etc. The bench said: "Some knee-jerk appointments took place and nothing happened after that. We do not know the fate of members and many are retiring". The top court emphasized that the bureaucracy is taking the issue lightly.

Earlier, the apex court had made some strong observations in connection with vacancies in tribunals across the country. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal contended before the court that he could show the list of vacancies and the steps taken to fill them up. After a brief hearing in the matter, the top court scheduled the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

In August last year, the top court had cited data to show that around 250 posts are lying vacant in various key tribunals and appellate tribunals across the country. The bench read out the long-list of vacancies across the tribunals and added that 19 presiding officers, 110 judicial members, and 111 technical numbers are pending in all the tribunals. "This is the scenario of the tribunal. We do not know what is the stand of the government...," said the Chief Justice.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a plea by the BJP leaders challenging the Calcutta High Court, which directed the state election commissioner to take a decision on the deployment of central paramilitary forces, after examining each of the 108 West Bengal municipalities going to polls on February 27.

Senior advocate P.S. Patwalia, appearing for BJP leaders Mousumi Roy and Pratap Banerjee, mentioned the plea before a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana. He argued that the high court had left the decision on the state election commission (SEC).

The bench, also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli, said: "We are now addressing the issue of governance. This is for the election commission to decide".

Patwalia pressed for an urgent hearing in the matter on Friday as the polls are scheduled on Sunday. He pointed out that a bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had heard the matter connected with Tripura municipal elections and passed orders on deployment of central forces.

After hearing brief submissions, the bench agreed to list the matter on February 25.

The high court had noted the commissioner has to take a decision on deployment of paramilitary forces and if he decides against it, then he will be personally liable to ensure violence-free and fair elections take place.

In December last year, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a plea by the BJP seeking a direction to the West Bengal government, state election panel and other functionaries, to come up with an action plan, including deployment of sufficient central police forces, for a free and fair municipal polls in Kolkata.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 24 : Anxious Keralites in Ukraine have been taken aback after war broke out, said a Kerala doctor who has now moved out from Kiev in Ukraine.

Speaking over phone to the media here on Thursday, Dr Anzar who is the president of the Malayalee Association there, said the information that the Ukraine government has now given to all is to move to bomb shutters.

"These bomb shutters are safe places for aerial attacks. The situation here is the roads are full of traffic as people are trying to move to safe places. Petrol filling stations have all now been closed as these are being targeted and bombed. Airports are also targeted," said Anzar.

"I was at Kiev till a few days back, but when the things appeared tensed, some Keralites moved out from Kiev," said Anzar.

Sailesh Prasad, also a medical professional in Kiev, however said that he is staying at his apartment.

"Our request to all is, please do not try to create a panic situation. We are here and safe," said Prasad.

Dev Nandu, a medical student in Ukraine, said some of his friends and classmates on Thursday morning were on their way to the Kiev airport to return to India when the news came of a bomb attack.

"I have spoken to them and have asked them to remain safe and keep all their documents safely. The airport has now been closed," said Nandu.

According to figures, there are about 18,000 students and 2,000 people in Ukraine, of which Keralaites are also there in good numbers.

On Thursday, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan wrote to Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar seeking urgent steps to repatriate Keralites, mostly students at the earliest.

On Thursday, an Air India flight which was to have landed at the Kiev airport was unable to do so and has flown back.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a "special military operation" in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, BBC reported.

The price of Brent crude hit $102.30 a barrel at one point, the highest level in more than seven years, the report said.

Russia is the second biggest exporter of crude oil, and is also the world's largest natural gas exporter, BBC reported.

Stock markets fell, with the UK's FTSE 100 index opening down more than 2.6 per cent.

Earlier, stocks in Asia and had fallen sharply, while the Moscow Exchange suspended trading shortly after the rouble plunged to its lowest since early 2016.

The price of gold - which is considered a haven asset in times of uncertainty - rose 2 per cent.

Tina Teng, an analyst at CMC Markets, said: "We could see [oil] prices keeping the momentum." Most of the oil and gas that the UK imports does not come from Russia, but it would nonetheless be affected by a rise in global prices.

In response to Russia's military action, European Union leaders said they would put more sanctions in place on Russia, BBC reported.

The European Council said it would "impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its actions".

The US and EU had already imposed a series of sanctions in response to Putin's actions against Ukraine.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) on Thursday announced the separation of the position of Chairman of the Board and the CEO & Managing Director.

The Company announced the appointment of Nitin Paranjpe, currently Chief Operating Officer of Unilever as a Non-Executive Chairman of the Company with effect from March 31, 2022.

Sanjiv Mehta will continue as the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director (CEO &MD).

The Nomination & Remuneration Committee (NRC) of the HUL Board recommended his appointment to the Board. The Board accepted the recommendation made by the NRC and has appointed Paranjpe as a Non-Executive Chairman. The appointment is subject to approval of the shareholders which the Company will seek as per applicable regulations.

As recently announced by Unilever in January, Paranjpe will take on a new role as Chief Transformation Officer & Chief People Officer, leading the business transformation, and heading the HR function for Unilever effective April 2022. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Heineken NV.

Commenting on the appointment of Paranjpe, Sanjiv Mehta, the Chairman & Managing Director, HUL said: "We welcome Nitin back to HUL as the Non-Executive Chairman. He brings in huge knowledge and experience which will enrich the deliberations and add value to the Board." Mehta thanked the Board for their unstinted support rendered to him during his tenure and added, "It has been an honour to have led the HUL Board over the past few years."
Los Angeles, Feb 24 : Hollywood actor Cillian Murphy, who will be seen playing the eponymous character of Manhattan Project leader J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's atomic bomb drama 'Oppenheimer', has skipped the overall exercise of what goes into making an atom bomb, reports 'The Guardian'.

Instead, the actor decided to focus on Oppenheimer's psyche, mannerisms and world view. Murphy is leading his first Nolan tentpole after playing supporting roles in five of the director's movies (three 'Dark Knight' films, 'Inception' and 'Dunkirk').

The actor told 'The Guardian' that "(I prepped by doing) an awful lot of reading. I'm interested in the man and what (inventing the atomic bomb) does to the individual. The mechanics of it, that's not really for me - I don't have the intellectual capability to understand them, but these contradictory characters are fascinating." The actor, who has had a longstanding association with Nolan, mentioned that he would never say no to 'The Dark Knight' director, "I'll always turn up for Chris, whatever the size of the part. Chris will call me up and I'm there. Isn't it wonderful that filmmakers are still making challenging, demanding films within the studio system, shot on film?" "I think he's flying the flag. Him, Paul Thomas Anderson and Quentin Tarantino are fantastic filmmakers making interesting work on a massive scale", he further said.
Bengaluru, Feb 24 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that about 10 students from the state are stranded in Ukraine after Russia launched an all-out attack on the country.

"As many as 100 Indian citizens, students are stranded in Ukraine due to war. They got stranded while going to the airport. The flights have been suspended after the war broke out. Right now they are in two buses and we have learnt that there are more than 10 students from Karnataka among them. We are getting information on their whereabouts," he said.

"We are in touch with the Indian Embassy and our Chief Secretary is in touch with foreign affairs secretary. The Embassy has been contacted and it has been learnt that priority is given to their safety. We are doing everything for their safety and we are in touch with the central government also," Bommai said further.

"I have been trying to get in touch with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He is attending a meeting and as soon as possible, I will be speaking to him on the issue," he stated.

Though many returned to India from Ukraine last week, some students wanted to leave the country as per their convenience. This was supposed to be the last batch of arrival to India from Ukraine. "Today, they had almost reached the airport and then it (war) happened. We are in touch with the Indian embassy and they are in turn in touch with the students and working out measures to keep them safe. They have informed students about safety measures," Bommai explained.
San Francisco, Feb 24 : Tech giant Google has announced that, with its upcoming Chrome 100 release, the company will discontinue the "Chrome Lite Mode" feature that has been available on Android for years.

"Lite Mode" in Chrome for Android is a rebranded version of "Data Saver," which debuted on the platform several years ago as a tool for those with slow or limited data connections, reports 9To5Google.

It is certainly a useful feature, but one that has become less necessary in recent years, the report said.

In a help page post, Google this week confirmed that "Lite Mode" in Chrome will be going away with the v100 update which is scheduled to be released on March 29.

"On March 29th, 2022, with the release of Chrome M100 to the stable channel, we will turn off Lite mode, a Chrome feature for Android that we introduced back in 2014 as Chrome Data Saver to help people use less mobile data on their phones and load web pages faster," Google was quoted as saying.

Google explained that the reason for sunsetting the feature is the "decrease in cost" for cellular data plans, as well as other improvements Chrome has made to data usage.

"In recent years we have seen a decrease in cost for mobile data in many countries, and we have shipped many improvements to Chrome to further minimise data usage and improve web page loading. Although Lite mode is going away, we remain committed to ensuring Chrome can deliver a fast webpage loading experience on mobile," the company said.
Hyderabad, Feb 24 : YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) led by Y.S. Sharmila on Thursday celebrated as the Election Commission registered it as a political party.

The party cadres participated in the celebrations held at the party office and residence of tge founder Sharmila in posh Jubilee Hills here.

Amid the playing of loud music and drum beats, several workers were seen dancing. There were also fireworks on the occasion.

Earlier, Sharmila cut a cake to celebrate the occasion along with her mother Y.S. Vijayamma, husband Anil Kumar and some key party leaders.

Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, thanked the Election Commission for recognising the party. She said her party would continue to work in a democratic manner to serve the people.

She tweeted that despite all the odds, the YSRTP will work for the people and will remain amidst people. She vowed the follow the path of her late father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister of combined Andhra Pradesh.

The Election Commission has registered YSR Telangana Party as a political party under the Representation of the People Act.

Meanwhile, Sharmila voiced concern over the continuing suicides of farmers in Telangana and slammed Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for doing nothing to prevent these. The YSRTP leader alleged that seven farmers have committed suicides in the state during the last two days due to debts.

She said KCR was talking of 'Bangaru (golden) Bharat' but has no concern for the farmers of Telangana who are ending their lives due to debt and other problems created by the wrong policies of the state government.

Sharmila was referring to the slogan given by Telangana Rashtra Samthi (TRS) chief, who is leading efforts to form a national front against BJP.

Sharmila floated YSRTP on July 8 last year and announced the party will strive to bring 'Rajanna Rajyam' in Telangana.

'Rajanna Rajyam' is an euphemism for the rule of Rajasekhara Reddy, who launched several pro-poor and welfare schemes when he was the Chief Minister of combined state between 2004 and 2009.

Sharmila was earlier active in YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) floated in 2011 by her brother Jagan Mohan Reddy after resigning from the Congress party.

She admitted political differences with Jagan Mohan Reddy, who opposed her entry into Telangana politics.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Asia was the most-attacked region by cyber-criminals in 2021, accounting for one in four attacks globally, and India was among top three nations that experienced most server access and ransomware attacks in the region, a new report showed on Thursday.

Server access attacks (20 per cent) and ransomware (11 per cent) were the top two attack types on Asian organisations in 2021, followed closely by data theft (10 per cent).

"Japan, Australia and India were the most-attacked countries in Asia. The high percentage of server access attacks in Asia suggests that Asian organisations are adept at identifying attacks quickly before they escalate into more concerning attack types," said researchers from IBM's X-Force Threat Intelligence team.

Remote access trojans and adware tied for fourth place, at 9 per cent of attacks.

In Asia, REvil made up 33 per cent of ransomware attacks, and Bitlocker, Nefilim, MedusaLocker and Ragnar Locker were significant players as well.

Vulnerability exploitation and phishing tied for the top infection vector at Asian organisations in 2021, both leading to 43 per cent of attacks observed in the region.

Brute force (7 per cent) and use of stolen credentials (7 per cent) were also occasionally employed to gain initial access to networks.

In Asia, finance and insurance organisations were attacked most frequently, making up 30 per cent of the incidents X-Force remediated, followed closely by manufacturing (29 per cent) and then more distantly by professional and business services (13 per cent) and transportation (10 per cent).

"The high portion of server access attacks might point to Asian organisations' ability to identify such attacks quickly before they escalated to more critical forms of attacks, said the IBM team.

Europe and North America followed closely behind, garnering 24 per cent and 23 per cent of attacks, respectively, and the Middle East and Africa and Latin America received 14 per cent and 13 per cent of attacks, respectively.

"Experiencing more ransomware attacks than any other industry, attackers wagered on the ripple effect that disruption on manufacturing organisations would cause their downstream supply chains to pressure them into paying the ransom," the report stressed.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Ukraine's envoy to India Dr Igor Polikha on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to activate dialogue with Russia amid the ongoing crisis.

Ambassador Igor Polikha said that India has a special relationship with Russia and New Delhi can play a more active role in controlling the situation. Urging PM Modi to step into the crisis, he said, "We urge PM Narendra Modi to immediately contact Russian President Vladimir Putin and our President Volodymyr Zelensky." "Modi Ji is one of the most powerful and most respected leaders in the world. You have a special privilege and a strategic relationship with Russia. We are expecting a much more favourable attitude by the Indian government in this crisis situation," said Igor Polikha.

Terming the attack as blatant aggression, he said that we are getting fresh information about casualties. They say they are attacking only military facilities, but we have suffered civilian casualties. "We have the first civilian casualties even on the outskirts of capital. There's fighting in some areas. According to information from our Ministry of Defence, the Ukrainian side shot down five Russian fighter planes, two helicopters, and destroyed 2 tanks and several trucks," he further told the media.

"Some attacks happened on the outskirts of the capital. Some attacks happened deep inside the territory of Ukraine. We're getting the first information about casualties among our soldiers and the civilians,' the ambassador said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Colombo, Feb 24 : Sri Lanka's health authorities have urged citizens to get their Covid vaccines as 9,00,000 locals were yet to receive their doses due to an anti-vaccination movement spreading across the country, local media reported on Thursday.

The Health Ministry's Epidemiology Unit Director, Samitha Ginige, was quoted by the Daily Mirror, as saying that 17.6 million people above 12 years of age were eligible to get the vaccines in Sri Lanka, but the total number administered with the first dose stood at 16.7 million as of Wednesday.

He said those who were hesitant to take the vaccines were misguided and were believing myths and misconceptions, Xinhua news agency reported.

Sri Lanka is rolling out the booster shots to all those aged above 20, however, Ginige said over 1.1 million people aged above 60 had not taken the booster despite constant reminder, which was worrying as they were more vulnerable to succumb to Covid.

Sri Lanka has, in recent weeks, recorded a rise in Covid infections due to a spread of the Omicron variant with over 1,000 new infections being reported daily.

Health authorities have urged the public to seek immediate medical treatment if they develop any of the Covid symptoms and get vaccinated without further delay.

To date, Sri Lanka has recorded 6,40,578 Covid infections since March 2020 and 16,086 deaths.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency has suspended all flights to and from 12 airports in the south of the country. The move comes after Moscow revealed that it had launched airstrikes in Ukraine, RT reported.

"The airports temporarily suspended are Rostov (Platov), Krasnodar (Pashkovsky), Anapa (Vityazevo), Gelendzhik, Elista, Stavropol, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Voronezh, and Simferopol," the agency reported on its official website, also noting that people should avoid going to the airports. The restriction will remain in place until March 2, 2022.

Russia has asserted that it is targeting "military infrastructure, air defence facilities, military airfields, and aviation (in Ukraine)," with the Defence Ministry claiming that there is no threat to the civilian population, the report said.

Early on Thursday morning, in a televised address to the nation, Putin announced that Russia would begin launching a special military operation in Ukraine. The goal of the action, according to the Kremlin, is "to protect the people (of Donbas) who have been tortured for eight years by the Ukrainian regime." Putin also called for the complete "demilitarisation" and "denazification" of Ukraine, and made a pledge to prosecute those who were involved in "numerous bloody crimes against civilians". The Russian leader called on Ukrainian soldiers "to put down arms immediately" so they could return home to their families.

Moscow's decision to enter Ukraine followed an official request from the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (DPR) People's Republics for "help in repelling the Ukrainian military aggression", RT reported.
Seoul, Feb 24 : South Korea's government said Thursday it has set up emergency contact lines with Korean companies operating in Russia and opened a counselling office for export firms to minimise impacts Moscow's military operation against Ukraine could have on the country's industry sector.

Some 120 South Korean companies are currently operating in Russia, and the government established hotlines with them to provide necessary support amid escalating tensions in the region, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Yonhap news agency reported.

A total of 43 South Korean nationals who had been in Ukraine for business purposes were all evacuated safely earlier in the day, the ministry added.

The ministry also opened the 'Russia desk' to offer counselling services to Korean exporters on international sanctions expected to be imposed on Russia and other legal support.

US President Joe Biden has warned of "severe sanctions" against Russia, and South Korea vowed to join the move.

South Korea's exports to Russia and Ukraine are relatively low, but geopolitical tensions are feared to have an adverse impact on its industry and economy in the long term, given the country's export-driven growth structure and heavy reliance on imports for key materials.

The government also beefed up monitoring of the country's supplies of energy, crops and other necessary items amid a possible upsurge in global oil and other energy prices.

Currently, South Korea holds a crude stockpile that could last for 106 days, or around 97 million barrels, so as not to face a shortage in their short-term supplies.

The government has also devised preemptive steps, such as diversifying import channels, boosting domestic productions and enhancing cooperation with partner nations, regarding supply chain matters, the finance ministry said.

It is considering releasing strategic crude reserve if necessary, it added.

"Despite sudden changes in the security situation in Ukraine, we've seen no unusual moves or signs that could cause a major impact on the economy. We will be fully prepared for any contingencies," the ministry said in a release.

Earlier in the day, Russian troops reportedly launched attacks on Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation despite international calls for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
NANJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- By Tuesday, over 99 percent of industrial enterprises with an annual business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 3.2 million U.S. dollars) in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou had resumed work, according to the municipal bureau of commerce.

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the city has registered a total of 105 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 28 asymptomatic cases since new infections were first reported on Feb. 13, the city's COVID-19 prevention and control headquarters said.

The city has taken a series of measures to help enterprises run safely and stably.

Nearly 12,000 industrial enterprises with an annual business turnover of at least 20 million yuan resumed operations after the Spring Festival holiday. By Tuesday, over 95 percent of the industrial enterprises' employees had returned to their posts, Wan Li, director of Suzhou municipal bureau of industry and information technology, told a press briefing.

"Currently, more than 30,000 foreign-funded and foreign trade firms in Suzhou are operating normally," said Sun Jianjiang, director of the municipal bureau of commerce.

Since January, Suzhou has established 181 new foreign investment projects and received newly registered foreign capital of 3.5 billion U.S. dollars, with those figures respectively increasing by 11.7 percent and 26 percent year on year. 
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Ukrainian soldiers are abandoning their positions in the face of a Russian offensive, Moscow has asserted.

In a statement issued on Thursday morning, Russia defense officials said that "intelligence shows that units of the Ukrainian army and servicemen are leaving their posts en masse, laying down their weapons." No direct evidence has been presented to substantiate the statement, RT reported.

According to the release, "Ukrainian Armed Forces positions that have laid down their weapons are not being attacked. The Russian armed forces are not striking Ukrainian cities. There is no threat to the civilian population", the report said.

Moscow says a number of military targets, including airfields, defense installations and airplanes have been hit by "high-precision weapons" as part of a "special operation" ordered by President Vladimir Putin.

However, the Mayor of Mariupol, Vadim Bouchenko, held a press conference later the same day alleging that three people have been killed and six injured in the city, including one child. "Don't panic. We are ready to fight for Mariupol and Ukraine," he said.

Alexey Reznikov, Ukraine's Minister of Defense, has called on his country's citizens telling them to take up arms in the face of the Russian offensive. "The enemy attacks, but our army is unbreakable," he wrote on Facebook. "Anyone who is ready and able to hold weapons may now join the Territorial Defense Forces in your local region." Kiev's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has issued a statement in which he declared that Moscow "has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine." According to him, "this is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win," he insisted, the report said. "The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared martial law in the country, urging citizens to stay calm and stay at home.
Jammu, Feb 24 : Hours after the Border Security Force (BSF) troopers fired at a drone along the International Border in J&K on Thursday, police recovered three remote controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), six grenades and a pistol besides other ammunition in R.S. Pura area of Jammu.

"On the basis of inputs regarding drone activity and dropping of arms and ammunition by Pakistan based militant outfits LeT/TRF on the behest of Pak agency ISI in R.S. Pura, Arnia area, special search operation was launched by police including SOG.

"During the search operation three boxes of the arms ammunition which were dropped through drone during night hours were recovered by the search party from the Treva village of Arnia/R.S. Pura," police sources said.

The arms, ammunition and explosive recovered during the search operation include three remote controlled IEDs, as many detonators, 3 explosive bottles, one bundle of Cordtex wire, two timers of IEDs, one pistol, two magazines, six grenades and 70 rounds.

"Dropping of the huge arms and explosive depicts a major militant plan of the Pak-based LeT/TRF outfit.

"With the recovery of this huge consignment of arms and explosive, a major militant plot has been averted by the alert troops of the J&K Police", sources said.

Chandan Kohli, Senior Superintendent of Police (Jammu) said that a case (FIR no. 12/2022) under relevant sections of law has been registered in police station Arnia and further investigations in the case are underway.

Earlier BSF spokesman had said, "Drone movement was observed near R.S. Pura, Arnia sectors of the International Border area. The drone returned after the BSF fired 10 to 20 rounds".
Seoul, Feb 24 : The presidential National Security Council (NSC) of South Korea on Thursday expressed strong regret over Russia's attack on Ukraine, shortly after President Moon Jae-in said South Korea will join international sanctions against Moscow.

National security adviser Suh Hoon presided over the meeting after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in eastern Ukraine, Yonhap news agency reported.

During the meeting, security officials "expressed strong regret over Russia's invasion of Ukraine" and repeated calls that the Ukraine crisis "must be peacefully resolved through diplomacy." The NSC also called for Russia to "immediately stop invading Ukraine," Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement.

Shortly before the NSC meeting was held, Moon said South Korea will join international sanctions against Russia as he expressed regret over Russia's attack on Ukraine.

"As a responsible member of the international community, the Republic of Korea expresses support for international efforts, including economic sanctions, aimed at curbing armed invasion and resolving the situation peacefully, and will take part in them," Moon said, referring to South Korea's official name.

Moon also instructed the government to do everything possible to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in Ukraine after he was briefed on the crisis in the wake of Russia's attack, said Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication.

The foreign ministry has said South Korea will join international sanctions on Russia if Moscow launches a full-blown invasion of Ukraine.

"The government has no other option but to join sanctions against Russia, including export controls" if Russia goes ahead with a full-fledged war in any form despite repeated warnings from the international community, the ministry said in a text message sent to reporters.

The NSC will make utmost efforts to protect South Korean nationals there and help them swiftly leave the country, it said.

There are 64 Korean nationals in Ukraine and 36 of them will leave the country Thursday, it said.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi/Kyiv, Feb 24 : The Ukrainian Armed Forces have said that they managed to stop Russian troops in northern Ukraine's Chernihiv region, but heavy fighting is underway in Kharkiv, located in northeast part of the country, where the "enemy" has suffered casualties.

Around 50 Russian troops were killed in Ukraine's "retaliation" to Moscow's military operations, Ukrainian forces said on Thursday in a post on the General Staff's verified Facebook page, claiming that they have shot down six Russian Air Force planes, and two choppers as well as destroying two tanks.

The forces, in a statement, said they regained full control on Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, although the situation in Kherson in the south is said to be critical, where Ukrainian forces are trying to push back the Russian troops.

Meanwhile, more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers had also been reportedly killed and dozens had been wounded in the operations.

Urging citizens to stay calm, the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that all military units are in their positions.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Russia on Thursday launched all-out war on Ukraine with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air, Daily Mail reported.

Missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions were seen across the country after Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to attack, the report said.

'Hundreds' of Ukrainian troops were killed in early clashes, and official said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment's notice.

Official figures put the death toll at 40, with 'dozens' wounded. Cruise missiles, guided bombs and Grad rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital, the report said.

Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed, Ukraine claimed, before Moscow boasted of taking full control of the skies, the report said.

Ukrainian border guards said they had come under attack by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight - though he denied taking part.

Luhansk, Sumy, and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all came under attack, while tanks battled on the outskirts of Kharkiv after paratroopers dropped in. Blasts were also reported in the west - in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland.

Extraordinary video footage showed what appeared to be a Kalibur cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport. An apartment block in Kharkiv was also struck, causing civilian casualties including a young boy. Video also appeared to confirm cruise missiles had been launched by Russian troops stationed in Moldova, Daily Mail reported.

Meanwhile pro-Russian rebel forces pushed out from the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot two Ukrainian jets out of the skies.

The port cities of Mariupol and Odessa, where Ukraine's main naval bases are located, were also attacked. Russian tankers appeared to have blockaded the Kerch Strait, leading from the Back Sea to the Sea of Azov, cutting off Mariupol.
Maskanwa : Feb 24 (IANS) Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday lashed out at the government for the apathy shown towards students residing in Ukraine.

Speaking to IANS during campaigning at Maskanwa in Uttar Pradesh, she said, "government should show the might to bring back the stranded students. They should have done it earlier. It was clear that something was going on in that country, but the government should act now as not only the students, but parents and family members are also worried." India has asked its citizens stranded in Ukraine to reach out to the embassy for evacuation and also has issued helpline numbers. The announcement was made after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday launched a military operation in Ukraine.

In an advisory to all the Indian nationals in Ukraine, the embassy said: "This is to inform all Indian nationals in Ukraine that since the Ukrainian airspace has been closed the schedule for special flights stands cancelled." The embassy further stated that alternative arrangements were being made for evacuation of the Indian nationals.

The embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalised, so that the Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country, said an official.
New Delhi/Kyiv, Feb 24 : Russian military operation will not be limited to Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, Indian security experts said on Thursday, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

The experts in India, however, maintained that it would be premature to jump to conclusion or guess that Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Decoding Putin's move, the experts said that his statement was limited to the Donbas region, where the rebels had sought Russian military help against Ukrainian forces.

Talking about the current crisis, Major General Ashok Kumar (Retd) said, "Once the Russian troops had surrounded Ukraine from three directions, it was appearing that the war is inevitable. However, due to diplomatic efforts and concerns of the international community, there was hope in initial stages that probably it could be averted." However, out of the two pre-conditions Russia had laid down, the one on expansion of NATO forces eastwards to include Ukraine was non-negotiable.

"Since there was no word coming either from NATO or the US, it became inevitable for Putin to move forward with his plans," Kumar said, The first thing which he did was to identify two independent states -- Donetsk and Luhansk -- as countries in the eastern part of Donbas, which have more than 90 per cent Russian population who are predominantly pro-Russian.

"Because Ukraine as per them (Donetsk and Luhansk) had started bombarding and doing incursions in their area beyond the line of contact, which was decided in the 2015 Minsk agreement. And thereafter the Russian forces moved into the Donbas area," Kumar said.

He further stated that there are reports that there is huge shelling in other parts of Ukraine as well, and a number of military targets have been destroyed because of the missile attacks.

"Now at what stage the war will go is a matter of judgement. There has been a hardening of stance from the US and NATO also," he said.

Swasti Rao, Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar-Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), said, "Russia has been revamping its military might since long, and it should not be seen as a development of the last two months. This is part of it's imperialistic design." As far as the military ties with Russia is concerned, India is dependent on Russia for 50-70 per cent supplies.

"Though India has initiated the process of Indianisation of military procurement, we still depend on Russia to a large extent," Rao said.

About economic sanction, Rao said, "We need to wait and watch what type of sanctions are imposed on Russia in the days to come. The US, if they impose a restriction on swift banking, it will be a jolt to Russia, and if the US imposes CATSA, then the import of military equipment will be difficult.

"So far, he (Putin) has maintained that he only intends to limit himself till Donetsk and Luhansk, but this cannot be taken without a pinch of salt. In his repeated addresses, Putin has been referring to Kyiv being the original cradle of Russian civilisation. I doubt that he will only limit himself to the eastern region in the long run. He may stop before the Dniper river now." On Thursday, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine, with Putin warning other countries not to interfere in his affairs in eastern Ukraine.

"To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside: If you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me," Putin said.

Meanwhile, the global community, especially the West and the US, has accused the Russian President of launching an unprovoked attack on Ukrainian territory.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Bengaluru, Feb 24 : Karnataka Opposition leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, strongly objecting to the proposal to sell public sector banks as part of disinvestment programme.

"The hurry to disinvest banks is worrying and is backed by an unfounded economic approach. Through disinvestment of banks, the BJP government is executing day-light robbery of common man," he said.

"The recent announcement by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to sell public sector banks as part of disinvestment programme, has sent ripples across the nation, raising eyebrows among economists, political leaders and also common man. The decision lacks exhaustive research, consensus among banking professionals, experts and bank employees, and the analysis of the outcome. The decision stems more from the failure of the government to increase revenue for the last 8 years, rather than the structural need to disinvest," he said.

He further explained that, public sector banks in India have a rich, inspiring and progressive history - contributing to the development of every individual and enterprise. Banks are an important link between people and the economy. It gave economic independence to the common man. This was possible only because of nationalisation of banks in 1969 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, he added.

This access to credit enabled the growth of businesses, helped overcome short-term tides, took banks to the doorstep of farmers and improved the financial strength of the country. Banking system improved savings, ensured low interest capital and easy accessibility to credit. The number of Public Sector Bank branches grew to more than 65,000 by 1992 - ensuring the reach to all corners of the country. The RBI had once said nationalisation is the most important economic decision by any government since Independence and not even the 1991 reforms are comparable to social, political and economic consequences, he noted.

Disinvestment is definitely not the same as privatisation. In privatisation, the government is allowing private players for additional investment and more competition for better outcomes, but with the disinvestment, it is just selling public owned assets to corporations paving the way for widened socio-economic and political inequalities.

"I, being totally opposed to disinvestment of public sector banks, will avoid discussion of fallacies in technicalities and valuation of disinvestment process which is a bigger issue in itself. In the interest of every Indian, I urge you to withdraw the decision to disinvest banks to ensure equality, to promote economic participation of every individual and in nation building," Siddaramaiah said.
Kolkata, Feb 24 : In an unusual development, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday summoned the Budget session of the Assembly at 2 am on March 7.

However, the Governor made it clear that he only accepted the Cabinet decision to summon the Assembly session at such an odd hour.

"Summoning WBLA Invoking Article 174 (1) of Constitution, accepting Cabinet Decision, Assembly has been summoned to meet on March 07, 2022 at 2.00 A.M. Assembly meeting after midnight at 2.00 A.M. is unusual and history of sorts in making, but that is Cabinet Decision," Dhankhar tweeted.

He also shared the order of him summoning the Assembly.

The Governor said that he found the timing of the Assembly odd and urged the Chief Secretary to meet him to discuss the issue.

"Finding the timing of the session after midnight somewhat odd, an outreach effort was made by calling the Chief Secretary for urgent consultations before noon today. There was the usual compliance failure. The issue was determined by accepting the Cabinet Decision," Dhankhar wrote in another tweet.

Later, in a press release, Dhankhar said, "The Governor has expressed his concern and displeasure at procedurally flawed and inappropriate handling of the issue of summoning of the state legislature due to dereliction of duty by officials. Failure of Chief Secretary, who is the Secretary to Cabinet, to ensure adherence to rules is apparent." Earlier, the Governor had returned Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recommendation to convene the Assembly session from March 7, stating that the proposal did not meet constitutional norms.

"Hon'ble CM Mamata Banerjee's recommendation to summon assembly on March 7 had to be returned for constitutional compliance as Guv summoned assembly on the recommendation made by the Cabinet after due compliance of Rules of Business under article 166(3) of constitution," Dhankhar had said in a tweet.

Dhankhar had also attached a letter that he wrote to the government as he sent back the file.

"Only option was to remit the file for constitutional compliance," he had said.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : NATO has announced the deployment of 'additional defensive land and air forces' to the eastern part of the bloc and an increase in the readiness of all its forces 'to respond to all contingencies,' in light of the Russian military 'operation' in Ukraine, RT reported.

"Russia's actions pose a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security, and they will have geostrategic consequences. NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the security and defence of all Allies," the alliance said on Thursday in a statement.

Following emergency consultations, the bloc decided "to take additional steps" to strengthen its "deterrence and defence." "Our measures are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory," NATO said, as per the report.

The alliance called Russia's military 'operation' "a horrifying attack on Ukraine, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked" and called upon Moscow to "immediately cease" the action.

"Russia will pay a very heavy economic and political price. NATO will continue to coordinate closely with relevant stakeholders and other international organisations including the EU," the statement reads.

NATO claims that it has "made every effort to pursue diplomacy and dialogue with Russia" and has "repeatedly invited" it for talks in the NATO-Russia Council, RT reported.

"Russia has still not reciprocated. It is Russia, and Russia alone, which has chosen escalation," it said.

Russia launched its "special operation" in Ukraine on Thursday morning. As President Putin said, the operation is aimed at stopping the Ukrainian army's attacks on the two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, now recognized by Moscow as sovereign states.

In Putin's opinion, NATO used Ukraine as a proxy, which could threaten Russia militarily. He underlined that his government had to act immediately to demilitarize its neighbouring country and to ensure that no attack against Russia occurs in the future on NATO's terms.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
More than a decade after Bahrains February Revolution  What Now?.

   Ali Salman

 

More than a decade has passed since the Bahraini revolutions outbreak in February 2011, and the fire has not died out, despite official repression efforts. What took place, though itself an experience rich





in profundity, is not singular: it is only a fulfillment of a series of rites that occur almost every 10 years. The ceremony is not complete, however, and the ruling familys policy, rooted in tyranny, corruption, and the denial of human rights, is but the igniting flame of the cyclical process. The ruling familys insistence on running the state in a fickle manner, the consolidation of powers in its hands, and the deprivation of people the right to build the state and its institutions all add to the recurrence.





It is unfortunate that in repetition there is not learning, and the same detrimental policies are writonce again, with the same notes of anger and revolution chanted once more.





What set the February Revolution apart from the previous iterations and increased its visibility may be thanks to the Internet?.





The various form of new media lifted images from one part of the world and relayed them to the rest  and, as messenger, communicated both the acts of heroism, will, and steadfastness, and acts of bloodshed and martyrdom, a memorialization of the dozens of innocents, men, women, children, young and old.





Thousands suffered from arbitrary arrests, torture, and violent harassment at the hands of armed forces, comprised of many officers who were not Bahraini and who were transported by the authorities to act as mercenaries to damn participation in peaceful protesting.





It is a revolution worth reading, but it is not one without sacrifice. It is necessary to pay tribute and appreciation to everyone who participated in that popular revolt, a flame still aflicker today, after more than 10 years.





Tribute belongs to God - glory be to Him - and thanks to the will and sacrifices of the struggling people, the blood of the righteous martyrs, where dozens of men, women and children have fallen  in addition to the detainees and detainees, for they are the heroes who deserve to be glorified.





May God have mercy on the righteous martyrs and accept the sacrifices of the detainees. He inspired their families with patience and steadfastness. May God hasten the healing of the wounded and injured, and the release of the detainees and detainees.





The Ruling Familys Brutality





The peaceful revolution of the Bahraini people has revealed the extent of the brutality of the Bahraini government and the Gulf governments that are ready to use the most brutal methods of oppression by all military means, even if said military is foreign and ready to be deployed against the indigenous people peacefully protesting and demonstrating.





What remains for violence if it is used against peace  and what remains to happen to the peaceful, if they resort to violence?.





Inevitably, the blood of the innocent will be shed, and the land will be scorched for the power to rule.





The International Communitys Scandal





The heinous crime by the ruling family in Bahrain further exposed others; members of the international community that declare their support of human rights and democracy but who stood in grave silence at the Bahraini atrocities.

It exposed states beyond the Gulf and Arab states, of countries lying outside the specific geographic region and their failure to speak in the face of oppression and tyranny.

For the Gulf community, the heroic acts of the Bahrainis who moved and revolted in order to build a state of justice, freedom, dignity, pluralism, and the application of democracy could have served as a model of a state that represents the will of the people, not the ruling family. Indeed, it could have been the building stones of a Gulf union that represents the will of the people.





Bahrains Black Thursday





On February 17th, the world tuned in to watch Bloody Thursday.

Through the use of mercenaries and foreign armed forced, the ruling family committed a brutal crime against picketers at the Pearl roundabout.

Men, women, and children were attacked at dawn, martyred, the wounded and injured survivors chased and preventing them from getting treatment in hospitals, with Salmaniya Medical Complex singled out.

It is a bloody and unforgettable crime by the ruling authority against its peaceful citizens in a crime that confirms the fatal brutality of the ruling family.





The Sacrifices of the Protesting Bahraini People





During the February Revolution, the people took control of the streets and squares in Bahrain for peaceful protest in the absence of the government, especially the military, out of fear of the revolutionary people who were ready to sacrifice.





Yet why have the goals of the revolution not materialized? Moreover, what sort of effects are there, and how can the goals be achieved, a decade after the revolution and the great sacrifices, the test of patience and strong wills.





How will a reversal of consequences play out on the crises suffered, from widespread arbitrary arrests, dismissal from jobs, the halting of education, and the resulting widespread unemployment and poverty?.





Will reality be altered,can the psychological torture and intimidation be undone?.

Will those who were sent away come back? Deport and exile may be reversed, but what about those extinguished flames?.





Though it finds support in fellow governments in the Gulf region and abroad, the Bahraini government also suffers.





The reassuring pat on the back offered by the US has turned into an uncomfortable squeeze, an attempt at retracting prior support by the US and applying pressure to the Gulf monarchies to release those detained for expressing their opination or taking part in peaceful protests. Raising the banner of human rights and democracy, the Biden administration puts on the oft-worn ceremonial robes and takes part in its ever-recurring, ever-performed rites. And there is ever a more word to be uttered





Ali Salman
Kiev/New Delhi, Feb 24 : The situation is highly tense and very uncertain and this of course is causing a lot of anxiety, said Indian Ambassador to Ukraine on Thursday reaching out to stranded Indian nationals.

Partha Satpathy, Indian Ambassador to Ukraine, said, "I am reaching out to you from Kiev. Today early morning, we all woke up with the news that Ukraine is under attack." The air space is closed, railway schedules are in a flux and roads are crammed, he said requesting everyone to stay calm and face the situation with fortitude.

The Embassy continues to remain open and operate in Kiev, Satpathy said.

He urged Indian nationals to please stay wherever they are, in their familiar locations. "Those who are in transit, please return to your familiar places of habitation. Those who are stranded here in Kiev, please get in touch with your friends and colleagues in Kiev, universities and other community members, so that you can temporarily lodge there," he said.

The Ambassador said, "We have already reached out to the Indian Diaspora and have requested them to assist to the best of our abilities." He said that he is inundated with calls, so is the Embassy and they are doing their best to help.

"If there is a critical emergency, contact us on the emergency lines provided. Please follow our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Website) for any updates that we will be putting out," he stated.

As of now, Indian government are seized of the situation and working on a mission mode to find a solution to this difficult situation, he added.

Earlier in the day, the Indian embassy in Ukraine announced that they are making alternative arrangements for evacuation of stranded nationals.

The Ministry of External Affairs in touch with all the neighbouring countries surrounding Ukraine to even evacuate Indian citizens. Many citizens who were to fly back to India were left at the airport after closure of Ukrainian airspace following Russia's Vladimir Putin announcement of a military operation in Ukraine.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
February 24 : The Supreme Court on Thursday said Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Alia Bhatt in the lead role, will release tomorrow as scheduled. Ever since the name of the film was revealed, Gangubai Kathiawadi has been facing controversies and legal troubles.

In a new development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday suggested that the makers of Gangubai Kathiawadi should change the name of the film. The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by Babu Ravji Shah, who claimed to be the adopted son of the real Gangubai.

On Thursday, the court dismissed Babu Ravji Shahs plea, claiming that the film is defamatory. The Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court's ruling that Shah could not prove he was really the late Gangubai's adopted son.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's lawyers told the apex court that a name change, as suggested by the court, just before the release of the film, was not possible. Senior advocate C Aryama Sundaram, who appeared for Bhansali Productions, today argued that the name change was impractical given that the film release is scheduled tomorrow and has been promoted with its current title.

The Supreme Court bench was hearing a special leave petition that was filed challenging the Bombay High Court's order that refused to stay the release of Gangubai Kathiawadi. The petitioner, Babuji Shah, had sought an order to restrain the makers from printing, promoting, selling, assigning, the novel titled The Mafia Queens of Mumbai or the film Gangubai Kathiawadi. Shah claimed that the contents of the book written by Hussain Zaidi, is defamatory and infringed on his privacy. He also alleged that his "mother" Gangubai has been portrayed as a prostitute and mafia queen in the book and the film.

In another development, on Tuesday, Maharashtra Congress MLA Amin Patel, a resident of Kamathipura, South Mumbai, has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court to change the name of the film. Patel alleged that the film misrepresents Kamathipura as a red-light area and shows the Kathiawadi community in poor light.

Gangubai Kathiawadi is based on a chapter from author S Hussain Zaidis book Mafia Queens of Mumbai. It is a biographical narration about Gangubai, played by Alia, who was a powerful as well as loved and respected madam of a brothel in Kamathipura during the 1960s. The films also stars Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa and Shantanu Maheshwari.
London/New Delhi, Feb 24 : A well-prepared online disinformation campaign on various social media platforms changed the whole narrative around the escalated Russia-Ukraine tensions, aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to go to war over claims to protect the people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Ukrainian regime for eight years", reports said.

A report in France24 has detailed how days after the Kremlin slammed Western "hysteria" over the Russian military buildup around Ukraine, the messaging from Moscow changed, following Putin's decision to recognise the pro-Russian, self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine.

The disinformation posts were first circulated in pro-Russian groups mostly on the encrypted messaging service Telegram, and then relayed by the state and pro-Kremlin media organisations to the world.

"Over the past few days, Russian state media has insisted that Putin has ordered troops on a apeacekeeping' mission into eastern Ukraine to prevent what the Russian leader has called a agenocide' of Russian-speakers by the government in Kiev," the report mentioned.

Some of the disinformation examples were a photo of an alleged Ukrainian armoured vehicle on Russian territory, a video of Ukrainian troops on an "invasion" mission infiltrating Russia, and another clip supposedly showing Ukrainian or Polish "saboteurs" trying to blow up Russian tanks.

Fact-checkers have exposed such fake videos and images being posted by Russians on social media platforms.

"The video of soldiers 'speaking Polish' and trying to sabotage Russian tanks was dissected to reveal a montage of video and audio pieces," Eliot Higgins, founder of investigative site Bellingcat, was quoted as saying.

Some of the footage was shot in early February, while editors added footage and sound from a video shot during a Finnish military exercise in 2010.

"The image of an alleged Ukrainian armored vehicle supposedly advancing into Russian territory was also promptly and effectively debunked," the report said.

The Soviet-era vehicle in the photo does not belong to the Ukrainian arsenal, according to investigators at Oryx, an open-source platform.

Another claim that a shell fired from Ukrainian territory destroyed a Russian outpost on the border was supported by video by the FSB, one of Russia's key intelligence services, according to the report.

The Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) analysed the video and found that the closest Ukrainian positions" are located more than 37 kilometres from the impact zone.

"We find this 'incident' to be yet another in a string of poorly staged pretexts for a possible operation against Ukraine," CIT said in a tweet.

It's not the first time that Putin has used the term "genocide" in Ukraine's context.

"This is what he had already done in 2014 before launching the invasion of Crimea," Stefan Meister, a specialist in Russian security and disinformation at the German Council on Foreign Relations, was quoted as saying.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Indian students stranded in Ukraine are making appeals to be evacuated, if not to the homeland, then to any country which is safe.

The appeal comes in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's launch of military operation against Ukraine on Thursday morning and subsequent explosions across the country.

Several Indian students are studying at Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Dnipro State Medical University, Chernivtsi National University in Ukraine.

Most of the students were scheduled to return to India this week but due to the unavailability of flights, they could not be evacuated.

Aryan, a student of Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University, told IANS: "Tension has escalated in many areas in Ukraine. Explosions can be heard at a distance. Many students have left their homes and hostels and are staying in a group." Aryan said many of his friends reached the airport to fly back to India but due to unavailability of flights, they have to wait for hours, while many of them are stranded at railway stations.

Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has shared a message of Indian Embassy for those stranded in Ukraine.

The embassy said: "Students should stay put wherever they are, should not panic. Students should not travel to Ukraine's capital Kiev." Many students of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University are constantly in touch with the Indian embassy.

Kiran, an MBBS student said: "Many students were going to Kiev by train to board a flight. In the meantime, they got the information that flights have been cancelled due to which they got worried. First flights, and then train movement was also stopped. Train was stopped 15 km away from Kiev." After standing for hours in train, when the students reached the railway station, there was no taxi or other vehicle available.

Ankit, an MBBS student said, right now, he is staying with six Indian students which includes two girls.

As per the students, initially, only few areas of Ukraine were tensed. Ternopil, where Indian students stay, was peaceful till Wednesday night but now explosions could be heard here as well, the students said.

Another Indian student Sandy said situation is grim in Ternopil now. People staying here are leaving in groups in search of a safe place, but most of them are confined to their homes.

Around 4,000-5,000 Indian students study at Kharkiv National University.

Ankit said that he has spoken to Embassy officials who have assured him that efforts are being made to evacuate the stranded Indian nationals.

Ankit said: "Situation here has turned tense. People have made a beeline at medical and grocery stores. Shops are mostly shut. So, it is necessary to evacuate students on time. Students here are worried about their safety."
Srinagar, Feb 24 : Jammu and Kashmir police along with security forces have arrested an active terrorist and a terrorist associate of proscribed terror outfit LeT from Central Kashmir's Budgam district, officials said on Thursday.

Police said acting on specific information about presence of terrorists in Aarath area of Budgam, police along with army's 2 RR arrested an active terrorist of proscribed outfit LeT identified as Yasir Mushtaq and a terrorist associate identified as Irfan Bashir, both residents of Allahpora Budgam.

Incriminating materials of proscribed terror outfit LeT, arms and ammunition including one Chinese grenade, one AK Magazine and 30 AK rounds were recovered from their possession.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested terrorist had joined the terror folds recently and the arrested terrorist associate was providing the logistic support to him," police said.

Police have registered a case and the investigation into the matter is in progress.
New Delhi/Kiev, Feb 24 : Amidst the prevailing tension, the Indian students stranded in Ukraine are left with no choice but to queue up outside the Indian Embassy in Kiev seeking the authorities' help as they ran out of food and money.

The Russian military actions in Ukraine have triggered panic among all sections, including students from India.

Speaking to IANS, a student said, "We urged the embassy officials in Kiev to allow us to sit inside as the temperature outside is two degrees Celsius and the students are standing since morning, but the authorities advised us to find hotels." Stranded students also sent a video from outside the embassy in which some officials are seen explaining the situation to the students.

Divyanshu Gehlot, president of the Indian student at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, said, "The situation here is really bad. Bombs are exploding in every 15 minutes since morning. We plead with folded hands to the Indian Embassy and Government of India to get us out of here. We ran out of food and there is no money in ATM." Apart from Divyanshu, there are many other Indian students who are constantly seeking help from the government.

The Indian Embassy has issued advisory for students and citizens living in Ukraine urging them not to move out and stay wherever they are. The embassy has also asked the students and citizens in Kiev to stay in touch with the embassy via its official social media handles.

"As you are aware, Ukraine is under martial law, which has made movement difficult. For those students who are stranded without a place of stay in Kyiv, Mission is in touch with establishments to put them up. We are aware that certain places are hearing air sirens/bomb warnings. In case you are faced with such a situation, google map has a list of nearby bomb shelters, many of which are located in underground metros," reads the advisory issued to Indian nationals and students in Ukraine.

"While Mission is identifying possible solution to the situation, please be aware of your surroundings, be safe, do not leave your homes unless necessary and carry your documents with you at all times," it added.

"After waking up in the morning, we first collected water and food items. We used to bring food and other articles for a week. But now nothing is available here. We ran out of flour, rice and cooking oil. That's why we brought bread and milk. There are long queues outside ATMs and banks. Residents of Ukraine are going to Poland but how do we go? Everyone is terrified," Ritika Nigam, who lives in the city of Ternopil in Ukraine, told IANS.

Earlier, an Air India plane which was sent to bring back students from Kiev, had to return because of missile attacks.

Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have said that the government is reviewing options to evacuate Indians and students via the neighbouring countries like Poland, Hungary, Moldova and Romania but before taking any final decision, the government is evaluating all possible actions.
Chennai, Feb 24 : While the identity of the yogi from Himalayas who had corresponded with then NSE Managing Director and CEO Chitra Ramkrishna remains a 'Chidambara Ragasiyam' or the 'secret of Chidambaram', speculations are rife as to the persons' identity.

What is clear from the contents of the emails from mail id 'rigyajursama@outlook.com' to Ramkrishna is that the "yogi" is a person who is well versed with NSE organisational set up, stock market operations, and having power at different levels.

The yogi also has an office in Delhi's upmarket Vasant Vihar and is a good friend of foreign shareholders representation committee on NSE Board.

However, the money trail from the accounts of Anand Subramaniam, former Group Operating Officer and Advisor to MD, can lead to the mysterious Yogi.

Interestingly Subramaniam seems to be a conduit to an unknown person to whom a substantial portion of the pay hikes were paid.

This came to light from the email correspondence between Ramkrishna and an unknown person said to be a yogi in Himalayas with an email id rigyajursama@outlook.com.

One of the emails from the unknown person from the mail id rigyajursama@outlook.com to Ramkrishna and Subramaniam, as extracted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), states: "Subject: RE: Proposed Organization Structure with notes. '1. contract to revise to 5 day week only for paper and emoluments. 3 day will continue on routine with HO and rest at will. 2. One day brought additional on contract per week Kanchan to withdraw and surrender to me per month as gratitude on gross amt." One of the NSE controversies is the hiring of Subramaniam at a very high pay of Rs 1.68 crore in April 2013 and subsequent pay and designation hikes.

While the forensic report of E&Y had said Subramaniam is the mysterious yogi himself, the SEBI categorically rejected that view.

Legal and other experts told IANS that if Subramaniam is accepted as the yogi, then the charge against Ramkrishna sharing of sensitive data with an outsider will not hold.

In support of its views, the SEBI said on November 13, 2015, email of Rigyajursama was undeliverable to her, as well as her own message of November 19, 2015 to the email id.

"On November 19 2015, Rigyajursama wrote an email to Chitra stating that 'Unfortunately your company has blocked MY id from your outgoing so your msgs are not being delivered properly by mail from you'. On verbal instructions of Ramkrishna, it appears that Sanskaron Banerjee from NSE tech wrote an email internally to Narayan NeelakantanA (IT/TRC) stating: 'Please investigate why this id rigyajursama@outlook.com is unable to send or receive emails to MD', post which the mail was forwarded internally to allow such exchange on emails and to check the same on priority," the SEBI order states.

"On November 19, 2015 at 19:31, Rigyajursama wrote an email to her, stating that '/All checked CHITSOM the mail works fine'," the SEBI order said.

According to SEBI, if the unknown yogi was Subramaniam, such internal documents need not have been sent through the email of the unknown person as the same would have already been accessible to him as Chief Strategic Advisor to Ramkrishna.

"In view of the afore said paras, I note that the E&Y report, at best, reveals that the unknown person was also well known and in close proximity to Noticee no. 6 (Subramaniam) but does not give a conclusive finding that Noticee no. 6 was in fact the unknown person who used the email id 'rigyajursama@outlook.com'. I note from the E&Y Report that only the desktops assigned to Noticee no. 1 (Ramkrishna) and 6A were imaged/checked and the laptops assigned to Noticees no. 2 (NSE) and 6 (Subramaniam) were not available for forensic imaging as they were disposed as E-waste," SEBI Whole Time Member Ananta Barua said in his order.

"I also note from the E&Y Report that only the official emails id's of Noticees no. 2 (NSE) and 6 (Subramaniam) could be checked and emails sent/received to/from their private emails to the unknown person could not be accessed," Barua said in the order.

According to the SEBI, there is no conclusive evidence or finding from the E&Y Report or the documents to prove that the unknown person who used the email id 'rigyajursama@outlook.com' was in fact Subramaniam.

"However, what is evident from the E&Y Report is that confidential information/data including those pertaining to NSE 5 year financial projections, dividend pay-out ratio, NSE's business plans, agenda of NSE's board meeting and consultations over the ratings/performance appraisalsA of NSEA employees, has been shared by Noticee no. 1 (Ramkrishna) with an unknown person/an outsider," the SEBI order said.

The SEBI has also rejected Ramkrishna's statement that the unknown person is a spiritual force who has been guiding her for the past 20 years and that as a spiritual force, their spiritual powers do not require them to have any such physical co-ordinates and would manifest at will.

The SEBI order also states that Ramkrishna, in her statement, told the markets regulator that she had met the unknown person at the Swamimalai temple in Delhi and also met him on occasions in holy places.

As per an email available in the SEBI order, the unknown person is a good friend of foreign shareholders representation committee on the Board of NSE and also has an office in India as seen from an email.

"E-mail dated March 02, 2015 from the unknown person to the noticee and Nawaz Patel (secretary to the MD & CEO) and subsequent reply from Nawaz Patel to the unknown person on the same date: "Hi Chitra/Navaz, I am a good friend of your foreign shareholders representation committee on your Board and would like to discuss the global trend on the dividend payout that is world vide accepted with you in person. I am on a trip to India and in Delhi on 7th and 8th March and will be happy to meet on any of these two days at your convenience. Since 7th will be a tight schedule will March 8th Forenoon work, then we will meet at Vasant Vihar Delhi at my India Office. Looking forwarding to hearing from you," states the SEBI order.

"From Nawaz Patel to Unknown Person:"Greetings from NSE! Thank you for your email to Ms. Chitra Ramkrishna, MD & CEO, NSE. Ms. Ramkrishna will be pleased to meet you on Sunday, March 08, 2015. As regards the time and venue for the meeting we will touch base with you," the reply mail said, as per SEBI order.

The SEBI order states: "From a perusal of the emails given in sub-para (ii) above, without unnecessarily going into the details of each email, it is evident that the unknown person is a physical being and has gone on vacations with the Noticee no. 1 (Ramkrishna) to 'chill'." "It is apparent that Noticee no. 1 (Ramkrishna) has refused to reveal the identity of the unknown person and has sought to claim that the unknown person is a spiritual force. As already discussed in detail in the foregoing paras, it is not necessary for me to once again dwell into the conduct of the Noticee no. 1 (Ramkrishna) in submitting to SEBI that the unknown person is a spiritual force having no physical persona. In view of the above, I find that Noticee no. 1 (Ramkrishna) has made incorrect and misleading submission before NSE that the unknown person was a 'siddha-purusha' or 'paramhansa' who did not have physical persona and could materialise at will," the SEBI Whole Time Member Barua said in his order.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in)
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Ukrainian military has damaged two civilian ships in the Sea of Azov using missiles, Russian security service FSB said on Thursday, RT reported.

The attack reportedly injured one person and caused a fire onboard one of the ships.

The border guard division of the FSB's Krasnodar branch identified the ships as oiler 'SGV-Flot' and general cargo ship 'Seraphim Sarovskiy'.

The 'SGV-Flot' was the one that was hit. It said the injury sustained by a crew member was "serious", but the fire was extinguished. Both attacks came from the port city of Mariupol, the FSB claimed, the report said.

Russian maritime traffic authorities had earlier banned all travel in the Sea of Azov due to the country's ongoing military operation in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the operation was necessary to "demilitarise" and "denazify" the country.

He claimed that Russia had to act due to a growing threat to its national security posed by NATO's presence in Ukraine, and to stop attacks by Ukrainian troops against the separatist regions in the east, which Moscow recognised as sovereign states on Monday.
Ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi top leaders of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress protests in Mumbai and all over Maharashtra against NCP Minister Nawab Malik arrest and harassment by central probe agencies unleashed by the Opposition BJP. Image Source: IANS News

Ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi top leaders of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress protests in Mumbai and all over Maharashtra against NCP Minister Nawab Malik arrest and harassment by central probe agencies unleashed by the Opposition BJP. Image Source: IANS News

Ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi top leaders of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress protests in Mumbai and all over Maharashtra against NCP Minister Nawab Malik arrest and harassment by central probe agencies unleashed by the Opposition BJP. Image Source: IANS News

Ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi top leaders of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress protests in Mumbai and all over Maharashtra against NCP Minister Nawab Malik arrest and harassment by central probe agencies unleashed by the Opposition BJP. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Feb. Feb 24 : A day after the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) unprecedented arrest of serving Cabinet minister Nawab Malik, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and opposition BJP in Maharashtra protested against each other across the state on Thursday.

Leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress alliance staged a sit-in near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Mantralaya here and all over Maharashtra to protest against Malik's arrest and the manner in which the Centre is 'unleashing' central probe agencies to harass and topple non-BJP governments in the country.

The BJP leaders, on the other hand, demonstrated in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and other cities, alleging that Malik has "mafia connections" and he must either resign from the Cabinet or be sacked immediately.

The MVA leaders and activists, along with Malik's daughter, Nilofer Malik, raised slogans slamming the Centre, flaying the 'political vendetta' through the misuse of central probe agencies and harassing leaders to break or bend them to grab power at any cost.

"ED Murdabad", "Modi Government Hai, Hai, Modi Government Chor Hai", "Nawab Malik Zindabad" rent the air in Mumbai and other cities as MVA leaders carried banners, placards and posters, vowing "never to bow before the 'tanashahi' of Delhi".

State Congress President Nana Patole and Legislative Party leader Balasaheb Thorat said the BJP has no moral right to seek the resignation of Malik, and instead they should demand the sacking of the Union minister whose son crushed farmers under his vehicle in Uttar Pradesh.

They pointed out that 'vindictive action' has been taken against Malik in a two-decade-old case, trying to link it with the mafia or the terror attacks 30 years ago.

Minister Ashok Chavan pointed out that politics had stooped to a new low with a sitting minister being arrested merely on the basis of suspicions, which is not only unwarranted, bust poses a serious threat to democracy.

Those present included Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, ministers like Subhash Desai (Shiv Sena), Jayant Patil, Dilip Walsepatil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Jitendra Awhad, Rajesh Tope, Rajendra Shingane, Balasaheb Patil (NCP), Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan, Vijay Vadettiwar, Sunil Kedar, and Aslam Sheikh (Congress).

Ministers of State Satej alias Bunty Patil, K.C. Padvi, Dattatraya Bharne, Prajakt Tanpure, Aditi Tatkare and Sanjay Bansode also joined the protests.

They were joined by MP Supriya Sule, Maharashtra State Commission for Women Chairperson Rupali Chakankar, ex-minister Naseem Khan, Yuvraj Mohite, ex-MPs Bhalchandra Mungekar and Hussain Dalwai, Lokbharati MLA Kapil Patil, Mumbai Congress President Bhai Jagtap, General Secretary Sachin Sawant, and spokesperson Raju Waghmare.

Also protesting were scores of MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other office-bearers of all the three parties from across the state, youth, women and frontline organisations and supporters.

Meanwhile, the BJP leaders organised noisy demonstrations at railway stations, bus stations and other public places demanding the resignation of Malik, accusing him of "financing terror operations" through absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his family.

The Maharashtra Police maintained tight security at all the government and opposition protest venues, as the MVA grappled with its biggest political crisis after it won the 2019 Assembly elections, and the BJP ogled at its major political opportunity in the past 27 months since the latter lost power.

In a shocking pre-dawn operation on Wednesday, the ED picked up Malik from his home and took him to the agency's office around 7.30 am.

There, they handed him the probe summons, and after eight hours of interrogation, arrested him on charges of money-laundering arising out of a tainted land deal nearly two decades ago, which was highlighted by the Leader of Opposition, Devendra Fadnavis, last November.

After a hearing lasting nearly three hours, a special PMLA court late on Wednesday shunted Malik to eight-day ED custody till March 3.
Srinagar, Feb 24 : Jammu and Kashmir police along with army's 32 RR, arrested two hybrid terrorists from North Kashmir's Baramulla district, officials said here on Thursday.

They have been identified as Muzamil Ahmad and Mohammad Yaseen, both residents of Chakloo Baramulla.

"As per police records, the duo was missing since 16/02/2022. On their disclosure, two Chinese pistols, two Magazines and 12 Pistol rounds were recovered," police said.

Police said preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested duo was in close contact with handlers of proscribed terror outfit LeT across the border and on their directions they left their homes on February 16 to join proscribed terror outfit LeT.

"It was also revealed that they were tasked to carry out attack on Police/ Security Forces and soft targets in coming days," police said.

A case has been registered and investigation is in progress.

"Their involvement in other terror acts is also being investigated," police said.
Fight that started from western UP will end in eastern UP: Baghel Image Source: IANS News

Deoria : , Feb 24 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Thursday that people should ensure that those who make false promises and deceive the society are thrown out of power.

Targeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his bulldozer remark, Baghel said that farmers, women and youth are afraid to share their problems with the state government as the CM threatens to run bulldozers instead of providing solutions.

While campaigning in Deoria, which will go to the polls in the sixth phase on March 3, Baghel said that the fight for change which began from western Uttar Pradesh will end in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister also visited the Gorakhnath temple to offer his prayers.

Addressing a public meeting in favour of Congress candidates in Maharajganj and Gorakhpur, he suggested the farmers to release stray cattle at UP CM's residence so that he could also have a taste of the problem that is bothering the farmers.

Baghel said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is talking about forming a policy to address the stray cattle issue after March 10 after remaining silent for five years, whereas the Chhattisgarh government has already made a plan regarding livestock, which is not a problem but a means of earning for the citizens of Chhattisgarh.

Taking a dig at Adityanath, Baghel said that those who use bulldozers on helpless people cannot be a saviour. He also questioned as to how could the BJP claim that they are the saviour of Lord Ram, who himself is everyone's saviour.

He said that ever since the BJP government came to power, the people of the country are getting poorer, and the saffron party is getting richer.

Baghel claimed that only the Congress can do good to the citizens of the country and the state.
Kiev/New Delhi, Feb 24 : Hit by Russian military actions, the Ukranian authorities have come up with a special fundraising account to support the country's armed forces.

The opening of the special account was announced by the Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine, Kyrylo Shevchenko, in his video address on Thursday.

"The National Bank of Ukraine has decided to open a special fundraising account to support the armed forces of Ukraine," he said.

"This decision was made in connection with the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and the threat to the state independence of Ukraine, its territorial integrity," read a post shared on the Ukraine Armed Forces' verified Facebook page.

The account accepts multi-currency and is opened for the transfer of funds from international "partners and donors" in foreign currency, as well as from Ukrainian businesses and citizens in national currency.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 24 : Kerala continues to register fewer new Covid cases, as on Thursday 4,064 turned positive, while the test positivity rate also came down to 7.82 per cent, said a statement from State Health Minister Veena George.

While there were 9,531 more recoveries, the number of active cases stands at 41,675, of which 6.7 per cent were admitted in hospitals.

There were 15 Covid deaths taking the total death tally to 64,803.
Islamabad/New Delhi, Feb 24 : In an apparent display of its "hostility" towards India, Pakistan removed the banners inscribed with "India's message of love" for Afghans from the trucks carrying humanitarian aid sent by India to Afghanistan.

The trucks carrying the aid had entered Pakistan's territory a couple of days ago before continuing with their journey towards Afghanistan.

Bearing banners inscribed with the message "Gift from the people of India to the people of Afghanistan", around 41 trucks, carrying 2,500 tonnes of wheat, had rolled into the Pakistani territory through the Attari-Wagha border after these were flagged-off on Tuesday by Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla.

Farid Mamundzay, Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, was also present on the occasion.

The consignment is part of the 50,000 tonnes of wheat promised by India as aid to Afghanistan.

The Indian government has been providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan ever since the Taliban took over the country in August last year.

The Central government had sent a proposal to Pakistan last year regarding transit of wheat to Afghanistan, which had received a positive response.

Afghan trucks were allowed into the Indian side via Pakistan to collect the wheat. These were decorated with banners bearing a "Message of Love" from India. However, these trucks were delayed on the Pakistani side after they crossed the Attari border.

Sources said these trucks were sent to Afghanistan late on Wednesday night, but only after removing the banners.

"Besides hinting its hostility towards India, this gesture of Pakistan made it quite evident that it opposes India's bonhomie with Afghanistan," they added.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Amid ongoing controversy over hijab, BJP minority morcha national president Jamal Siddiqui on Thursday said that the issue has been politicised with an eye on assembly polls.

Siddiqui told IANS that wearing fewer clothes is not part of Indian culture and women from all faiths cover their head in the country. "Irrespective of faith or religion, women in our country cover their head and wearing lesser cloth is not part of our culture. Culturally, we Indians prefer to wear more clothes than others. Wearing clothes is the personal choice of an individual and no one has the right to interfere in his or her choice. But the issue has been politicized for political benefit in the ongoing assembly polls," Siddiqui said.

Siddiqui, however, also said that while wearing clothes of his or her choice, everyone must follow the uniform code of educational institutions. "Uniform in educational institutions bring a sense of equality and create a bonding among students irrespective of faith they follow. I personally believe one must wear a uniform without raising any question and they are free to wear whatever they like outside the campus," he said.

"Why politicize hijab? Only for votes of a particular community? Political parties have avoided making it an issue at the time of election," he added.

The hijab row, which started in January in Udupi Pre-University College in Karnataka after six girl students refused to remove hijab and were disallowed from entering the class. The row has snowballed into a major issue in the state and has hit international attention too.

The bench had asked the media not to publish passing remarks and arguments by the counsel until the final order is issued on the matter.

On February 23, the Karnataka High Court bench, hearing the hijab matter, made it clear that the students should wear uniforms prescribed by the schools and colleges until the final verdict in the case.

Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, who heads the three-judge bench, reiterated: "We are making it very clear that whether a degree or PU College, if uniform is prescribed, that has to be followed until the verdict."
Mumbai, Feb 24 : The Maharashtra government expressed concern over the fate of a large number of students, businessmen and tourists from the state who are stranded in Ukraine as Russia launched military operations against that country on Thursday.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed the Chief Secretary and others to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs on the arrangements being made for the rescue of Indians, particularly people from Maharashtra stuck in Kiev and other cities of Ukraine.

"The CM has expressed concern over the safety of the people who have travelled to Ukraine for business, education or tourism purposes. He has directed all concerned officials to keep track of their wellbeing," an official from the CMO told IANS.

Earlier, Higher & Technical Education Minister Uday Samant wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister for External Affair S. Jaishankar and others seeking their urgent intervention to bring back the students trapped there as all commercial flights have been closed.

Samant pointed out that there are around 1,200 students from Maharashtra and their lives could be in danger due to non-availability of flights and other resources for survival during the war-crises that have erupted there.

"The Government of India, in the past, has rescued Indians stuck in a similar situation in other countries. It is a kind request to urgently rescue these students and direct the concerned authorities to bring them back safely to the state," Samant said in his letter.

Besides Maharashtra other states like Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka and Haryana, have also sent similar appeals to the Centre seeking intervention on priority.

An estimated 20,000-plus Indians, mostly students are reported to be stranded in Ukraine, Europe's second largest country as Russia started pounding its former territory with bombs and missiles from Thursday morning.
Kiev/New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Indian embassy in Ukraine shared a list of temporary bomb shelters created by the local administration with stranded Indian students amid intensified bombing by Russia.

The embassy in an advisory stated that Ukraine is under martial law, which has made movement difficult.

"For those students who are stranded without a place of stay in Kyiv, Mission is in touch with establishments to put them up," the advisory stated.

It further said, "They are aware that certain places are hearing air sirens and bomb warnings. In case you are faced with such a situation, google maps has a list of nearby bomb shelters, many of which are located in underground metros." The embassy also stated that they are making all possible measures to for evacuation.

"While Mission is identifying possible solution to the situation, please be aware of your surroundings, be safe, do not leave your homes unless necessary and carry your documents with you at all times," the embassy stated.

Earlier in the day, Ambassador of India to Ukraine Partha Satpathy said the situation is "highly tense and very uncertain, and this of course is causing a lot of anxiety".

"I am reaching out to you from Kyiv. Today early morning, we all woke up with the news that Ukraine is under attack," Satpathy said.

The air space is closed, railway schedules are in flux and roads are crammed, he said, requesting everyone to "stay calm and face the situation with fortitude".

The Indian embassy continues to remain open and operate in Kyiv.

The ambassador urged the Indian nationals to stay wherever they are, in their familiar locations. "Those who are in transit, please return to your familiar places of habitation. Those who are stranded here in Kyiv, please get in touch with your friends and colleagues in Kyiv, universities and other community members, so that you can temporarily lodge there".

He said, "We have already reached out to the Indian Diaspora and have requested them to assist you to the best of their abilities."
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Supreme Court on Thursday said the compassionate appointment policy cannot discriminate against a person only on the ground of descent, as it would violate fundamental right and also go against dignity of his family.

A bench ofJustices U.U. Lalit, S. Ravindra Bhat, and P.S. Narasimha said: "Familial origins include the validity of the marriage of the parents of a claimant of compassionate appointment and the claimant's legitimacy as their child." Justice Narasimha, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench, said: "The policy cannot discriminate against a person only on the ground of descent by classifying children of the deceased employee as legitimate and illegitimate and recognizing only the right of legitimate descendant." He added that exclusion of one class of legitimate children would fail to meet the test of nexus with the object, and it would defeat the purpose of ensuring the dignity of the family of the deceased employee.

The top court judgment came on an appeal where compassionate appointment plea of a deceased employee's second wife's son, was declined citing the condition imposed by the Railway Board circular. According to this circular, compassionate appointment cannot be granted to children born from the second wife of a deceased employee. The decision was upheld by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Patna and later by the Patna High Court.

Justice Narasimha said: "While compassionate appointment is an exception to the constitutional guarantee under Article 16, a policy for compassionate appointment must be consistent with the mandate of Articles 14 and 16. That is to say, a policy for compassionate appointment, which has the force of law, must not discriminate on any of the grounds mentioned in Article 16(2), including that of descent." The bench noted that the circular creates two categories between one class, and it has no nexus to the objects sought to be achieved. "Once the law has deemed them legitimate, it would be impermissible to exclude them from being considered under the policy," it said.

Setting the high court judgment passed in January 2018, the bench said: "We have held that appellant No.1, Manish Kumar, cannot be denied consideration under the scheme of compassionate appointments only because he is the son of the second wife, there shall be a direction to consider his case as per the extant policy." The bench directed the authorities to scrutinise whether the application for compassionate appointment fulfils all other requirements in accordance with the law, and the process of consideration of the application shall be completed within a period of three months from Thursday.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Border Security Force DG Pankaj Kumar Singh on Thursday exhorted all security personnel of the Central security forces to come forward to donate blood in the mega blood donation camp being organised at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on February 25.

"I exhort the entire 'Prahari Pariwar of the security forces and fellow citizens to come forward in donating blood during upcoming mega blood donation camps and make it a huge success," Singh said in a video message.

He also said that the AIIMS is organising the voluntary mega blood donation camp on February 25, 2022 for the third successive year.

The BSF DG further said that the Prime Minister has launched the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate 75 years of India's Independence on March 21, 2021. It is a 75-week long programme which will last on 75th Independence Day on August 15 this year, he added.

"This year, this camp is being conducted as a part of week long celebrations for Azadi ka Raktadaan Mahotsav from February 19, 2022 which marks the beginning of 50th week of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. From this week, several activities have been organised to promote voluntary bold donations and this will conclude with the mega blood donation camp on February 25," Singh said.

He also said that the camps held in the last two years were conducted in collaboration with various faculties of central security forces, and were a great success. I congratulate each of you who donated blood in the previous camps.
Goa: Voters show mark of indelible ink after casting their votes at a polling booth, during the Goa Assembly Election, at Junta House in Panaji, Goa on February 14, 2022. (Photo: PIB/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 : Barring a few incidents, the last phase of panchayat elections in Odisha were completed smoothly with approximately 70 per cent voter turnout, an official said on Thursday.

As per preliminary reports, about 70 per cent out of 41.88 lakh voters exercised their franchise in this phase. However, the final polling percentage will be known on Friday, said State Election Commissioner, Aditya Prasad Padhi.

The elections were held in five phases on February 16, 18, 29, 22 and 24. In the last phase, elections were held for 131 Zilla Parishad (ZP) seats in 975 gram panchayats of 25 districts on Thursday.

In this phase, the election process was disrupted in some places due to law and order situation. After getting detailed reports from the concerned district collectors, the Commission will examine them and take further action, Padhi said.

He said all arrangements were made for 2.79 crore voters to elect 1,06,353 representatives for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) at 91,913 booths in the rural polls.

Of which, 36,523 ward members, 126 sarpanchs, 326 panchayat samiti members and one Zilla Parishad member were elected unopposed, while about 2.20 lakh candidates contested for the remaining posts, Padhi informed.

Over 1 lakh polling personnel and nearly 40,000 policemen were deployed for the smooth conduct of the elections.

Stating that 78 per cent polling was recorded during the first four phases of the rural polls, Padhi said that participation of a large number of voters in the elections is a good sign for democracy.

For the first time, Maoist-hit Malkangiri district recorded over 70 per cent polling during the first four phases. The elections also passed peacefully in the Maoist hot belt, Swabhiman Anchal (erstwhile cut-off area), under Chitrakonda block in Malkangiri district, he added.

Padhi said the elections could not be conducted in the Chitrakonda block in 2017, while very few voters had participated in the elections held prior to that.

Counting of votes will be taken up on February 26, 27 and 28.
Chennai, Feb 24 : The Tamil Nadu government will constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe illegal mining since 2000-01 to recover about Rs 5,832.44 crore from private beach sand mineral exporters.

The government has appealed to the Madras High Court to get a clearance to seize 1.55 crore tonnes of stock and hand them over to Indian Rare Earths Limited.

State Industry Secretary, S. Krishnan said that the district collectors of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Kanniyakumari would be directed to recover the losses. The collectors would also be directed to lodge complaints against the miners before the special courts concerned for violation of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957.

The Tamil Nadu government had stopped giving license for mining to companies after large-scale complaints were received. A total 64 mining licenses were given to 7 miners in Tamil Nadu with 52 licenses in Tirunelveli and 6 each in Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari districts. All these were withdrawn in 2013 after complaints were raised from local people against large-scale illegal sand mining.

A special committee headed by IAS officer Satyabrata Sahoo was constituted by the Madras High Court in 2017 to assess stocks available with the Private miners. The team filed a report in 2018 stating that 1.55 crore tonnes of excess sand were in stock with the miners.

The committee also found a major difference of 69.89 lakh tonnes that had been declared by the miners and the stocks that were available. The amicus curie after studying various reports found that the miners had caused a loss of Rs 3,829.76 crore during the period before the ban (2000-2013) and also assessed a loss of Rs 2,002.67 crore during the post-ban period (2013-2016).

The amicus curie also assessed that miners were exporting the minerals to foreign countries even after the ban on mining and transportation of the minerals in the state.

The Tirunelveli district collector had written to Customs officials in Kochi, New Mangalore, and Visakhapatnam ports not to allow illegal miners from Tamil Nadu to export.

The Industries secretary informed the Madras High Court that the quantity of minerals was being reassessed and that the work would get completed in two weeks.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Thursday said the police force is "all prepared" to deal with "any challenge" that may emerge in the next ten years.

"We have prepared the action plans for 2022, 2024, and 2030 in this regard," said the Police chief while addressing the annual presser.

Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the 75th Raising Day had asked the Delhi Police to prepare a road map for the next 5 years and also an agenda for the next 25 years when it would celebrate a century of its founding.

The police chief said that the department has been reorganised into 14 verticals since September 25, last year, which was the first step of the same action plan.

The move, according to several officials, is a transformational change which will benefit the residents of the national capital as well as the police personnel.

The 14 verticals are -- Law and Order Division Zone-I (eastern, northern and central), Law and Order Division Zone-II (New Delhi, Southern and Western ranges), Traffic Management Division, Crime (EoW merged), Special Cell, intelligence Division, Protective Security Division, Human Resource Division, Community Policing and Media Cell Division, Provisioning and Financing Division, Vigilance and public transport Safety Division, Armed force Division and MD Delhi Police housing Corporation, Technology and project implementation Division and Licensing and Legal Division.

Among these Technology and project implementation, public transport Safety Division and Perception management were the new additions. Every vertical will be headed by a Special Commissioner.

Delhi has a population of 2 crore people apart from a floating population of 25-30 lakh. Vehicular population is 1.28 crore with over 1000 new registrations daily.

"In the backdrop of these figures the public-police ratio is 368 which is considered as one of the finest public-police ratios," Asthana said, adding that the Delhi Police's sanctioned strength is 94,358 personnel while the present strength is 78,363.

The Commissioner also said about the structural reforms done at the police station level. "Among several changes the most important was the merger of PCRs with police stations," said the top police official.

"It was done so that not only human resources are increased at police stations rather vehicles remain always present for the police staff to do patrolling, prevent crime or to attend to any distress call without any delay," Asthana added.

The Delhi Police had also, a couple of months ago, separated Law & Order and Investigation at every police station. "This was done so that the focus of the police personnel is not deviated from investigating any case. The prime reason was when any complainant reaches a police station, he should find a dedicated investigation team or officer attending to him," he asserted.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has started, Dawn reported.

Khan, who is on a two-day visit to Moscow, will exchange views on international and regional issues during his meeting with Putin, according to Radio Pakistan.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss bilateral relations, especially cooperation in the energy sector.

Before the meeting, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who is part of Khan's delegation in Moscow, confirmed that the Pakistan premier was on his way to meet President Putin, debunking "speculation" regarding the premier's visit being cut short amid Ukraine-Russia tensions.

Sharing the update on Twitter, Chaudhry said after the meeting between both leaders, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Valentinovich Novak would call on PM Imran and the delegation accompanying him at the hotel where they are staying.

In a tweet, the information minister said the premier's "visit is proceeding and PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule", Dawn reported.

According to Dawn News correspondent who is currently in Moscow, the PM's "important meeting" with Putin has been extended to three hours, which was earlier scheduled for an hour.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Black smoke has been seen rising from near the Ukrainian defence intelligence headquarters in central Kiev, BBC reported.

Ukraine said some of its military command centres have been hit by Russian missile strikes on Thursday morning after Moscow launched a military operation against its neighbour.

The building appears to be intact, and the smoke actually appears to come from a large fire next to the building. Witnesses have seen uniformed people throwing bags on to the fire, the report said.

Just outside Kiev, in the town of Brovary, authorities said at least six people were killed by a series of missile strikes.

Explosions and gunfire have been heard across Ukraine after Russian forces invaded the country.

A residential building in Chuguev was destroyed after it was shelled. Footage has emerged which shows the devastation being inflicted by the Russian military, BBC reported.

In the capital Kiev, people have been fleeing to seek safety, amid fears that Russian forces will attack the city.

People have been trying to flee the capital and there is a palpable sense of shock all around.
However, though Ukrainian forces launched a fight-back, with ground forces moving in to retake the air field as jets streaking over the city, followed by reports that up to four Russian choppers had been shot out of the air, the report said.

New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS) By midday Thursday, the skies over Kiev swarmed with Russian attack helicopters which seized Gostomel air base, Daily Mail reported.

However, though Ukrainian forces launched a fight-back, with ground forces moving in to retake the air field as jets streaking over the city, followed by reports that up to four Russian choppers had been shot out of the air, the report said.

Meanwhile Russian tanks, driving out of Crimea, broke through Ukrainian lines near Kherson and were moving towards the Dnieper River where they linked up with more helicopters and seized power plants - with a Russian flag seen raised over Kakhovka Hydroelectric plant in the early afternoon.

Ukrainian forces appeared to be putting up a stiff resistance around Kharkiv, in the east, where multiple Russian tanks and armoured vehicles were pictured having been destroyed by Kiev's forces - with bodies lying in the streets. Two Russian soldiers were also captured by Kiev's forces in the area, the report said.

Border guard units said they were fighting for control of Sumy, also in the east, against Russian forces. Earlier in the day, they had reported coming under attack from Belarus as Russian and Belarusian tanks rolled across the border. Four ballistic missiles were also launched from Belarusian territory, the Ukrainian MoD said, Daily Mail reported.

It came after cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west - aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital. Six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region, Ukraine claimed.
Just ahead of the military action in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin had, in an address to his nation (and the world), termed Ukrainian statehood a "fiction" and attributed the very existence of modern Ukraine to Bolshevik leaders in wake of the 1917 Revolution.

Political rhetoric may not need to be accurate, but there is no doubt that Russia and Ukraine have long and intertwined historical and cultural affinities. For starters, the first names of both the Russian and Ukrainian Presidents - Vladimir and Volodymyr (Zelensky) - are variants.

And then, guess where famous Russians such as the writer Nikolai Gogol, and General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev were born? Or where did Nikita Khrushchev, who can be blamed for a lot of the present-day problems in this connection - handing over the Crimean Peninsula from Russia to Ukraine in the 1950s - begin his career? Both Russia and Ukraine can be said to have emerged as independent nations after the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991, but the latter was - along with Belarus (or Byelorussia then) - a separate member of the United Nations from its inception after World War II.

Both of the Slavic race, and the Orthodox Christian Church, Russians and Ukrainians (or at least half of them) have been linked since Kievan Rus emerged in the 9th century, and both claim it as a birthplace of their modern cultures, religion, and language, with the Russian state centred around Moscow only coming up a few centuries later.

After the breakup of Kievan Rus in the 12th century and consequent subjugation by the Mongols, there was no Ukrainian "state" as such till the 20th century.

The historical reality, spanning a millennium of changing religions, borders and peoples, and politics, is much more complex, if not confusing - and explains why the eastern and western parts of Ukraine are different in culture and even religion.

Much of the latter was even a part of Poland - for about 20 years - following World War I, and before that, under the Austro-Hungarian Hapsburg Empire. The rest was a part of the Tsarist empire - and then the Soviet Union.

Any good history book can tell you about the tortuous fate of the territories that comprise present-day Ukraine, in the last five centuries or so under various empires and regimes, there are some more nuances that need to be explored.

First, despite historically close political and cultural ties, Ukraine was never Russified to the same extent as Belarus (where Belarusian is now spoken only by about 10 per cent of the population).

And then, the Ukrainians are not enthused by the autocratic rule of both the Tsars and the Commissars - especially, Stalin, who is blamed by them for the devastating famine caused by the collectivisation drive in the early 1930s, which is still remembered as the "Holodomor" (death by hunger) that left at least 4 million of them dead.

Then, take the name of Ukraine itself - it is derived from "krai", an Eastern Slavic-origin word that can mean both "edge" or "borderland" - still in use in Russia, as in Primorsky Krai - the southeastern-most part of Russia, bordering China and North Korea.

A section of scholars, however, contend that "krai" can also mean "country" or, even, "homeland". Historically, Ukraine was sometimes referred to as "the Ukraine", but this is considered incorrect or even offensive now - as U.S. President George H.W. Bush once learned to his cost.

The problem is rooted in grammar. In Eastern Slavic (both the Russian and Ukrainian languages), the preposition "na" (as in the English transliteration) is used to refer to regions or areas, while "v" (transliterated) is used to refer to proper nouns or definite locations.

Until 1991, Ukraine could be referred to using "na", but most Ukrainians have now switched to "v", but the Russians stubbornly still use "na". This leads to Ukrainians thinking that the "na" user doesn't consider Ukraine a "real" country, although there are some Ukrainians who use "n?" either out of habit, or they just don't see it as an issue.

A complicated relationship, made more so by present events, the Russian-Ukrainian connection seems to keep on being interesting - not to mention impactful - for the wider world.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 24 : President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Assam from February 25 to 27 wherein he will attend the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan, the 17th century war hero from Assam.

"On February 25, the President will grace the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Lachit Barphukan in Guwahati," said a communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday.

On February 26, the President will address the 19th convocation of Tezpur University and later, on the same day, he will visit the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

At Kaziranga, the President will inaugurate a photo and archival exhibition on conservation, the communique said.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Flights from India to Western Europe and North American will not be impacted much due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

At present, some India-based airlines, including Air India, operate flights to Europe and North America. But these flight operations do not use the conflicted airspace over Ukraine much.

Consequently, hardly any impact is expected to be witnessed on out-bound flights from India to Western Europe.

Besides, Air India will not operate its special flights to Kiev anymore after a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued about the closure of airspace over Ukraine.

According to industry sources, the airspace is closed for civilian traffic.

The development assumes significance as many Indian students and professionals are stranded in Ukraine.

The Indian Embassy has issued an advisory for students and citizens living in Ukraine, urging them not to move out and stay put wherever they are.

The Embassy has also asked the students and citizens in Kiev to stay in touch with the Embassy via its official social media handles.

Air India's flight bound for Kiev from New Delhi on Thursday returned to the national capital's IGI Airport after the NOTAM was announced at Kiev airport and airspace was closed over Ukraine. The flight had left Delhi at 7.30 a.m. only to return at 12.30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the airline had operated the first of its special flights ferrying Indian citizens from Ukraine.

Apart from Air India, other Indian operators were expected to start special flight services to Ukraine.

Last week, the Centre had removed the restrictions on the number of flights and seats between India and Ukraine, evidently to facilitate the return of Indian students and professionals stranded in the east European nation due to the ongoing tensions with Russia.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Thursday said 1,356 persons accused in the infamous northeast Delhi riots are still in judicial custody and the investigation is still underway in several cases.

"Several cases are still under investigation because until and unless we identify the accused, we can't file a charge sheet. So whatever digital evidence we have, using facial recognition technology, we are trying to complete the investigation in the pending cases," said the Delhi Police chief while addressing the annual presser.

He said, "those cases in which a charge sheet has been filed, if there is trial or even a re-trial, we are trying our best to present the police's investigation in the courts in a better way." The communal riots broke out in the national capital in February, 2020, during which 53 people were killed. Since then the Delhi Police has been investigating the riots and has detained and produced several accused persons before the courts.

The Commissioner informed that the police registered over 700 cases in the riots, of which around 62 cases, in which murders happened, are being investigated by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police while one case of larger conspiracy is being investigated by the Special cell. "The rest of the cases are being probed by local police stations," he said.

Speaking about charge sheets filed in the said cases till now, the Delhi Police chief informed that they have already filed 100 charge sheets. "Among these, charges have also been framed in several cases," he said.

The Commissioner further informed to streamline the investigation that was done during the riots and even after the riots, a Special Team under North DCP and Special CP Zone-1 was constituted and many supplementary charge sheets were also filed.

Sharing the exact figures of the riot cases, Asthana said, "Total number of 758 FIRs were registered, 2,456 arrests made, of which 1,053 were released on bail; 1,356 still continue to be in judicial custody." "The charge sheet has been filed against 1,610 accused, cognizance was taken in 338 cases. Among the total charge sheet filed, in 100 cases charges have been framed, the trial has started and so far two have been convicted," the police chief added.

Speaking on the quality of the investigation of the northeast Delhi communal riots, Commissioner said, "As far as the quality of the investigation is concerned, the figure of cognizance taken, the figure of charges framed and keeping in view the observations made by the courts, whatever improvements are to be made, we're doing it."
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Centre on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that 66.91 per cent of the total loss caused to various banks -- due to fraud committed by fugitives Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi -- has been returned back to them by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, submitted before a bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar that "timely attachment of proceeds of crime has led to attachment of assets worth of Rs 19,111.20 crore out of total fraud of Rs 22,585.83 crore by three fugitive offenders namely Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi".

"The proceeds of crime of Rs 98,368 crore were identified and attached under Section 5 of the PMLA out of which, proceeds of crime of Rs 55,899 crore has been confirmed by Adjudicating Authority and substantial part of attached proceeds of crime are still under adjudication by the Adjudicating Authority. In addition to this, proceeds of crime of Rs. 853.16 crore has already been confiscated to the Central Government under the orders of the competent court." "Out of the attached proceeds of crime from these 3 individuals, assets of Rs 15,113.91 crore has already been returned back to public sector banks by the ED u/s 8(7) PMLA through the order of the Court and assets worth Rs 335.06 crore has been confiscated to the Government of India i.e. 66.91 per cent of total loss to the banks in these 3 cases has been returned back to them by the ED." Mehta also submitted it is pertinent to mention that the SBI has already recovered cash of Rs 7,975.27 crore by selling a part of assets returned to it by the ED and the process of liquidation of other restituted assets by the banks is continuing.

The Centre added that the investigation in 57 cases of terror and Maoist financing has resulted in identification of proceeds of crime of Rs 1,249 crore and attachment of proceeds of crime of Rs 982 crore (256 properties) and filing of 37 prosecution complaints and conviction of two terrorists under PMLA.

"The attachment of proceeds of crime include properties of Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed (UN designated terrorist), Syed Salahuddin (Head of Hijbul Mujahideen) and Iqbal Mirchi (involved in Mumbai blasts and international narcotics smuggler) also," Mehta said.

Mehta said PMLA is a new law which came into force on July 1, 2005, and the process of filing of prosecution complaint started mainly from 2012 and 2013. He added till date, prosecution complaint has been filed in 930 cases which are under different stages of trial as on date 21 persons have been convicted under the PMLA. "In last 17 years, 4,850 cases have been taken up for investigation under the PMLA. The investigation in these offences were carried out by using investigative tools as provided under the PMLA including 2,883 searches and arresting 313 persons," he saida.

On Wednesday, Mehta submitted before the bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and C.T. Ravikumar, that the ED only arrested 313 people under the Act in the last 20 years.

The top court is hearing 242 petitions challenging some provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) including the stringent bail conditions and arrest of people without supply of ECIR (equivalent to FIR).

Over the past few weeks, a battery of senior advocates, including Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Mukul Rohatgi, Sidharth Luthra, Amit Desai, and others have made submissions before the top court on various aspects related to potential misuse of PMLA provisions introduced by way of amendments to the Act.

The law has been criticised on various aspects: stringent bail conditions, non-communication of grounds of arrest, arrest of persons without supply of ECIR (akin to FIR), broad definitions of money laundering and proceeds of crime, and statements given by accused during investigation made admissible as evidence during trial.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The fate of Ukraine is looking increasingly uncertain as Russia launches a series of strikes across the country, President Volodymyr Zelensky has apparently told his Austrian counterpart, RT reported.

The Ukraine President apparently warned that the Eastern European nation may not be able to withstand the offensive by Moscow's armed forces.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer shared details of his telephonic conversation with Zelensky. According to Vienna's leader, Zelensky told him, "I don't know how much longer my country will exist", RT reported.

Nehammer added that Austria "is not indifferent to breaches of international law," promising that it helps wherever it can.

The remarks come after the leaders of the newly recognized Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics formally requested military assistance from Moscow to combat what they claimed was a spike in "Ukrainian aggression." Hours later, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the use of force for an offensive in the Donbass.

Within moments of the televised address, rounds of explosions hit sites across the country, including military installations and airfields. Blasts also struck around major cities, including the capital Kiev.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba issued a statement in which he asserted that Moscow "has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine." Western officials had been warning for months that Moscow's armed forces were building up at the Ukrainian border ahead of an invasion. Until Thursday morning, Russia had denied that it planned to attack, and insisted its intervention in the Donbass would be defensive.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 24 : As a countdown towards 2023 that has been declared as the International Year for Millets by the UN, India on Thursday announced four major steps to make the country a leading exporter of millets.

Union Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Minister, Piyush Goyal who equated millets with yoga, said: "India is going back to its roots like yoga. Bringing back the glory of millets will make the country Aatmanirbhar in three areas: Food, Nutrition & Economy." He was addressing a webinar on 'Smart Agriculture: Bringing Back Glory of Millets; Moving Towards Aatmanirbharta in Edible Oil', soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about the positive impact of Union Budget 2022 in the agriculture sector earlier in the morning.

Goyal's four mantras to make India a leading exporter of millets included suggestion for other states to duplicate the success of Karnataka's Fruits Model for crop diversification with a focus on millets, collaboration with agri startups to provide the latest tech to ensure quality & aid in bio fortification of millets, launching campaigns to create awareness regarding health and nutrition benefits of millets in families and international outreach to promote 'Brand India Millets'.

India produces all nine common millets and is the second-largest producer and second-largest exporter of millets in the world. It produces more than 170 lakh tonnes - 80 per cent of Asia's & 20 per cent of global production of millets. Global average yield is 1,229 kgs/ha while India's is 1,239 kgs/ha.

The Minister also said that nearly 4 lakh hectare area of rice fallow is to be used for oilseeds cultivation in 100 districts of 10 states. Also, 230 high-yielding districts of oilseeds have been identified. Nearly 20 lakh hectares area will also be brought under intercropping of oilseeds in next five years.

Goyal also said that Smart Agriculture is about using technology to leapfrog into a new era to build a resilient infrastructure for farmers.

Secretary, Agricultural Research & Education, and DG, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), T. Mohapatra said support will be provided for post-harvest value addition, enhancing domestic consumption & branding millet products nationally and internationally.
Guwahati, Feb 24 : The Indian Army on Thursday donated 1,00,000 doses of made in India Covid vaccine to Nepali Army, a defence spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, Lt Gen P.N. Ananthanarayanan, President, Gorkha Brigade, gifted 1,00,000 doses of Indian made Covid-19 vaccines to Lt Gen Bal Krishna Karki, Vice Chief of Army Staff of the Nepali Army, at the Nepali Army Headquarters, Tundikhel.

The Indian Army in numerous ways has been helping the Nepali Army to fight against the Covid-19 since 2020.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : It was 20 years ago on this day that Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on his journey as an elected public representative.

On February 24, 2002, Modi, as the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, had won the Rajkot II assembly bypoll. It was Modi's first electoral foray as till then he was assigned organisational duties in the BJP and prior to it, with RSS.

Modi had been sent by the BJP from Delhi to Gandhinagar to take over as the Gujarat Chief Minister in October 2001, following which it was necessary that he win the assembly seat within six months.

Senior BJP leader, Vajubhai Vala had vacated the seat for Modi, who defeated the Congress candidate by a margin of 14,718 votes. Nine months later, Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat had returned with a thumping majority at the assembly polls regular schedule in December 2002.

However, this time, he chose to represent Maninagar constituency, part of Ahmedabad.

He went on to win from the same constituency in 2007 and 2012 to govern Gujarat for three consecutive terms. In 2014, Modi was the Prime Ministerial face of the BJP and contested Lok Sabha from Vadodara in Gujarat and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, winning both with massive margins.

He went on to become the Prime Minister and chose to resign from Vadodara and continued to represent the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in 2019 too.

Last year, Prime Minister Modi completed 20 years as head of a public office. On October 7, 2001, Modi was first sworn in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and remained in the office for 13 years till he was sworn in as the Prime Minister in May 2014.

On completion of two decades as head of public office, the BJP had launched 20 days 'Seva Aur Samarpan Abhiyaan' on his birthday on September 17 and concluded it on October 7 to mark the anniversary of his two decades in public life.
Bengaluru, Feb 24 : The Karnataka High Court bench, hearing the petitions filed by students pressing for their right of wearing hijab, has asked all counsel to conclude their submissions by Friday and if the submissions are over, it is likely to reserve the judgment thereafter.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the 10th day of the hearing, the three-judge bench heard the counsels' argument who vehemently pressed for the right of hijab.

A.M. Dar, counsel for the girls who have been denied their right to wear hijab, submitted an elaborate argument quoting verses from Quran and stated that hijab is a life and death question for Muslim girls. He prayed before the bench to come down heavily on the state for passing an order restricting hijab in classrooms.

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat presented his rebuttal to arguments and citation of previous judgments against wearing of hijab in classrooms. He maintained that the Government Order, issued regarding wearing of hijab, clearly offends Article 14 of the Constitution. Denying entry to girls for wearing hijab is affecting their right to education which is paramount, he said.

At this, Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, who is heading the bench, asked Kamat that he is insisting to wear headgear inside an institution which has a prescribed uniform. The CJ further said that as Kamat also says that it is the fundamental right and asked him to establish his (petitioner girls) right. He underlined that Article 25 (2) is a 'reformatory power' given to the state.

Kamat maintained that wearing of hijab is indeed an essential practice under Islam. The Education Act and uniform rule cannot be a measure of social reform and wearing of hijab is not a regressive practice as it is portrayed by the AG, he added.

Senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar appeared for lecturer of Udupi College who has been made a respondent and submitted his arguments in favor of prescription of uniform.

The hijab row which started from Udupi Pre-University Girls' College has become a crisis in the state, with students refusing to attend classes without hijab and maintaining that they will wait until the final verdict is given. the high court had issued an interim order banning both hijab and saffron shawls or scarves inside the classrooms, the agitation is ongoing.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Supreme Court said any default in the payment of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution by the employer is liable to imposition of penalty by authorities concerned.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Abhay S Oka said: "We are of the considered view that any default or delay in the payment of EPF contribution by the employer under the Act is a sine qua non for imposition of levy of damages under Section 14B of the Act and mens rea or actus reus is not an essential element for imposing penalty/damages for breach of civil obligations/liabilities." It noted that that "it is well settled that mens rea or actus reus is not an essential element for imposing penalty or damages for breach of civil obligations and liabilities".

The top court was hearing appeals against the common judgment and the order passed by the division bench of the Karnataka High Court in October 2009.

The high court had observed that once the employer has failed to deposit the contribution of EPF or committed default, as mandated under the provisions of the Employees Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and after determination under Section 7A by the competent authority, levy of damages is a sine qua non and upheld the order for recovery of damages in the proceedings initiated under Section 14B of the Act.

The top court dismissed the appeals of the company challenging the high court order. The company challenged imposition of damages of Rs 85,548 in addition to Rs 74,288 which it had not contributed towards EPF.

The company did not comply with the provisions of Act from January 1, 1975 to October 31, 1988 and proceedings were initiated and dues towards contribution of EPF for this period was assessed at Rs 74,288 by the competent authority, which was paid by the company. Later, the authorities issued a notice under Section 14B for delayed payment of provident fund amount and directed the company to pay damages of Rs 85,548.

The top court noted that the high court held that once the default in payment of contribution is admitted, the damages as being envisaged under Section 14B are consequential and the employer is under an obligation to pay the damages for delay in payment of contribution of EPF under Section 14B.

The Regional Provident Fund Organisation counsel submitted that mens rea is not an essential element for imposing penalty for breach of civil obligations or liabilities and mere contravention of the provisions of the Act or default in making compliance of the mandate of law as regards the civil liabilities are concerned, mens rea or actus reus is not the requirement of law to be considered, while imposing damages like, in the instant case, under Section 14B.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Delhi on Thursday reported marginal decline in Covid cases, at 556, against 583 the previous day, but the infection rate has risen to 1.10 per cent, according to the Health Department bulletin.

There were also six more deaths, taking the death toll to 26,115 while the fresh infections have pushed the tally to 18,58,154.

Meanwhile, active cases have reduced to 2,276.

With Covid recovery rate continuing at 98.47 per cent, the Covid death rate in capital city stands at 1.41 per cent and the active rate at 0.12 per cent.

With 618 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has gone to 18,29,763. A total of 1,559 Covid patients are being treated in home isolation at present.

The number of Covid containment zones has also declined to 6,880 in the city.

Meanwhile, a total of 50,591 new tests -- 40,299 RT-PCR and 10,292 Rapid Antigen - were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 3,61,82,443.

Out of 44,076 vaccines administered in the last 24 hours, 5,933 were first doses and 35,799 second doses. Meanwhile, 2,344 precaution doses were also administered. The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 3,11,80,761, according to the health bulletin.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday evening as the crisis between Russia and Ukraine intensified into conflict.

Sources said that PM Modi is likely to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin while External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar is expected to speak to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.

Though the outcome of the meeting was not shared, it is assumed that Prime Minister Modi was briefed about the present situation in Ukraine and also about the Indians including students who have been stuck there.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar were seen in the meeting as well as Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Hardeep Singh Puri, though the duo were not part of the the CCS.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, P.K. Mishra and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were also present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine shared a list of temporary bomb shelters created by the local administration with stranded Indian students.

Earlier in the day, Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Partha Satpathy said the situation is "highly tense and very uncertain, and this of course is causing a lot of anxiety".

"I am reaching out to you from Kyiv. Today early morning, we all woke up to the news that Ukraine is under attack," Satpathy said. The air space is closed, railway schedules are in flux and roads are crammed, he said, requesting everyone to "stay calm and face the situation with fortitude".

The Indian embassy continues to remain open and operate in Kyiv.

The Ambassador has urged the Indian nationals to stay wherever they are, in their familiar locations. "Those who are in transit, please return to your familiar places of habitation. Those who are stranded here in Kyiv, please get in touch with your friends and colleagues in Kyiv, universities and other community members, so that you can temporarily lodge there."
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Ukraine is calling on the European Union and its member states to urgently provide air-defence and anti-missile systems, as well as use "all means" to jam Russian satellite signals, The Guardian reported.

In a list of requests sent to the EU leaders ahead of an emergency summit on Thursday night in Brussels, Ukraine also calls for the "fiercest restriction measures against Belarus, which directly supported (the) Russian full-scale invasion", the report said.

The paper, drafted by Ukrainian diplomats in Brussels and seen by the Guardian, also calls for ending software licenses for military and civilian equipment in Russia and Belarus, blocking or interfering with Russian satellite navigation systems in the air, over the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, using all means to block the Russian satellite navigation system Glonass, including jamming its signal over the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Belarus and Ukrainian airspace.

As well as an appeal to end "business as usual" with Russia, Kyiv wants the EU to open its emergency aid system (the civil protection mechanism) to Ukrainians, The Guardian reported.
Kolkata, Feb 24 : Setting aside the demand for a CBI probe raised by the victim's family, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday rested its faith on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the West Bengal government in connection with the murder of student leader Anis Khan, and ordered for a second post-mortem as demanded by the SIT.

The court also asked the team to submit its progress report to the family and the court within two weeks.

Justice Rajasekhar Mantha, who had ordered that the issue of Khan's death be taken up as a suo motu petition of the court, also directed the district judge of Howrah to supervise the second post-mortem of Khan's body. The court also ordered the district judge to take custody of Khan's mobile phone for the purpose of investigation.

Justice Mantha asked the SIT to seal the mobile phone of Khan in the presence of the judge and the family members and send it to Hyderabad for forensic test. The SIT will also have to analyse everything in detail and inform the family members.

The judgement came following allegations by the family members that Khan was murdered by the police on February 18.

Khan's father Sabir Khan alleged that the police were responsible for the murder and only a CBI investigation under the supervision of the court can bring the truth to light.

He along with the many others from his village went to the Amta police station and demanded the arrest of officer-in-charge, Debashis Chakraborty.

Meanwhile, the members of the SIT interrogated Chakraborty and four others from Amta police station in connection with the murder of the student leader.

"The investigation team is trying to find out under whose instruction the police went to their house just before the murder. The team is also trying to figure out the team members who were present on the spot on that day," a senior police officer said.

Two security personnel of Amta police station in Howrah district -- Home Guard Kashinath Bera and Civic Volunteer Pritam Bhattacharya -- who were arrested by the police on Wednesday morning in connection with Khan's murder, were was produced before the court on Thursday which sent them to 14-day police custody.

The duo while being taken to the court told the media that they went to Khan's home on that day on the instruction of the officer-in-charge of Amta police station.

"We are being framed to save some influential people. We are being made scapegoats," one of them said.

Sources in the police, however, said that it is now clear that on the night of the murder, two police vans from Amta police station went to Khan's home and they were the last people to meet the student leader.

"There is no doubt that the police went to their house, but what happened after that is still not clear. The police are trying to find out the details," a senior police officer said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the state government had suspended two policemen and a Home Guard for dereliction of duty. The suspended persons are ASI Nirmal Das, constable Jitendra Hembram and Home Guard Bera, who was arrested on Wednesday.

Anis Khan, a former Aliah University student, was allegedly thrown off the terrace of his residence in the dark of night by the assailants, who visited his home identifying themselves as personnel from the Amta police station, as testified by his father who was held at a gunpoint when the assailants committed the murder.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Residents of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, said on Thursday that windows in apartment blocks were shaking from constant blasts as the Ukrainian military and Russian forces exchanged shellfire, BBC reported.

Clashes have also been taking place around the capital Kiev in the north and the Black Sea port cities of Odesa and Mariupol in the south, the report said.

Air strikes from Russia have been carried out on Ukrainian military bases and airports, with fierce fighting reported around a key airport near Kiev.

The Ukrainian military claims to have shot down at least six Russian aircraft, while Russia claims to have destroyed more than 70 military targets in Ukraine, BBC reported.

Many Ukrainians are seeking shelter or trying to leave larger cities around the country, including thousands seen fleeing Kiev.

Soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, videos and images claiming to be from the conflict zones began trending on major social networks.

While there are many genuine footage, some viral clips racking up hundreds of thousands of views show events from past conflicts or old military exercises. Many of these seem to coming from users posting content without checking, BBC reported.

The BBC has seen videos of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine war, the 2011 Libyan war and the 2020 Beirut explosions going viral.

In one example, a former Ukrainian ambassador to the US tweeted a video which he claimed was taken in Mariupol, but a version of the same clip was uploaded on TikTok weeks ago, apparently showing a lightning hitting a power station, the report said.

Another viral video claiming to show Russian military paratroopers landing in Ukraine first appeared online in 2016, BBC reported.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said on Thursday that the police are awaiting a digital evidence certificate from the forensic science laboratory (FSL) in the Clubhouse hate chat case to proceed further with the investigation.

"We have seized their devices and sent them to FSL for securing digital evidence. As soon as we have the digital evidence certificate, we will proceed further with our probe," Asthana said.

He also informed that the police have identified the people who were involved in the Clubhouse hate chat case, who have been interrogated.

On January 17, a video of a Clubhouse conversation on the topic 'Muslim gals are more beautiful than Hindu gals' went viral on social media.

In the said conversation, the participants were allegedly heard making obscene, vulgar and derogatory remarks targeting Muslim women and girls.

The next day, taking suo-motu cognisance of the matter, the Delhi Commission for Women issued a notice to the cyber cell of the Delhi Police demanding immediate registration of an FIR and punitive action against the alleged culprits.

An FIR was then registered under the relevant sections of IPC at the Special Cell police station.

The Delhi Police had identified six persons, of which two were women and one a minor boy.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO), K.P.S. Malhotra, too had last month informed IANS that before making any arrest in the case and proceeding further, the authenticity of the videos and the voice matching of the alleged persons has to be done.

"We have to rule out any voice modulation in the video, as the same may affect the trial of the case," Malhotra had said.

According to the officer, the only evidence in the present case is the first source, who had video recorded the audio conversation.

"That is the only evidence of the vulgar remarks, as the app does not record the audio conversations in the chat rooms," he added.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Amid the shrinking footprints of Maoists in Chhattisgarh, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to set up more Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in the state soon to increase its operational dominance in the so-called 'Red Corridor' region there, officials said.

According to CRPF officials, the force has 34 operative FOBs in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) regions while it was decided to add up 25 more by the end of 2022.

"So far, 11 bases have been set up and the rest will be added up by the end of this year," an official said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in March 2021, had tasked the CRPF to set up six FOBs each on Bheji-Chintagufa axis, Kistaram- Chintalnar axis, Basaguad-Pamed axis, Basaguda- Jagdargunda axis, and the Usoor-Pamed axis.

As per the force officials, the four FOBs - Elarmadugu, Kollaiguda, Karigundam, and Potakpalli - on the Bheji-Chintagufa axis have been set up while Minapa, Elmagunda and Mukram Nala on the Kistaram-Chintalnar axis, Tarrem and Mokur on Basaguad-Pamed axis, and Dharmavaram and Galgam on Usoor-Pamed axis have been established.

The CRPF officials said that the pending FOB at Silger on Basaguad-Pamed axis, T -Junction, Kunded, Bedre on Basaguda-Jagdargunda axis and Nabmi on Usoor-Pamed axis Awill be taken up this year.

Out of the proposed new bases, 10 will be set up in Chhattisgarh, six in Jharkhand, one each in Odisha and Telangana, seven in Maharashtra, including the Garhchiroli area, and one each in Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

The lands for constructing the FOBs have already been identified where work will begin soon, the officials said, adding that this will further help the force penetrate deep into the hardcore areas of Maoist dominance.

The FOBs will be better fortified while the security forces will be equipped with the latest weapons, bullet and land mine proof vehicles and better medical facilities.

A source in the operational team said that most of the casualties take place because late medical treatment causes deaths in many cases. So better medical treatment will be provided at these FOBs once set up in the operational areas, the source added.

As of now, only minor operations are being performed by the paramedics in most of the base camps, and in case of multiple bullet injuries or landmine blasts, the injured troopers are airlifted to the nearby bigger hospitals. The new FOBs will have better medical treatment facilities.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Madhuri Jain Grover, former head of controls at BharatPe who has been sacked over charges of financial fraud, has escalated the battle via social media, posting questions over the board's handling of the situation.

Fintech platform BharatPe had sacked Madhuri Jain, the wife of its co-founder and Managing Director Ashneer Grover, on Wednesday for alleged financial irregularities during her tenure.

"The whole thing is a conspiracy. Why did @mickymalka and @HarshjitSethi of @Sequoia_India seek my resignation on 19.1.22 (same day Ashneer went on voluntary leave) ? The current review is clearly just an eyewash and means to an end. Why was @SuhailSameer14 taking instructions?," she tweeted.

"And these are the people Suhail Sameer (CEO, BharatPe) sitting on Governance Review and passing judgement on me! Great work by Sequoia and Harshjit Sethi (MD at Sequoia Capital India) and Chairman Rajnish Kumar for a perfectly executed witch hunt with your accomplices Sumeet Singh (General Counsel and Head- Corporate Strategy, BharatPe) and Bhavik Koladiya (Co-founder and Group Head of Product & Technology at BharatPe)," she further tweeted, tagging all of them.

Jain said law firms Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Alvarez & Marsel (A&M) did not present any documents regarding the governance review.

"@AMS_Shardul and A&M never presented a single document to me when I was called. They did not present any proof for me to address. Where is the concept of natural justice? I have learned of allegations from the media. A&M has not till date been able to explain how their report leaked," she argued via Twitter.

She also posted a video clip of an office party where Sameer and Koladiya were seen.

"Congrats @SuhailSameer14 @BhavikKoladiya and Shashvat Nakrani. Now you may indulge in your 'drunken orgies' without having to wait for me (righteous lady) to leave office. Slow clap," she posted.

BharatPe terminated the services of Madhuri Jain, head of controls, after an internal probe found misappropriation of funds during her time at the fintech platform.

"We can confirm that the services of Madhuri Jain Grover have been terminated in accordance with the terms of her employment agreement," the company said in a statement.

Alvarez and Marsal, a leading management consultant and risk advisory firm, is set to submit its report into financial irregularities at the firm during Grovers' time some time next week.
Bengaluru, Feb 24 : The Karnataka government Thursday appointed Dr Manoj Rajan as its nodal officer to facilitate safe return of students and others from the state stranded in Ukraine.

"Dr Manoj Rajan, Commissioner, Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, Revenue Department, will coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and Embassy of India, Kyiv, and provide all necessary support for evacuation of stranded people from the state to the respective destination," a government notification said.

The nodal officer will oversee functioning of the 24x7 helpline number (080-1070, 080-22340676) and email manoarya@gmail.com and revenuedmkar@gmail.com) in the state emergency operation centre.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said stated that they have information about 10 students from the state being stranded in Ukraine amid the Russian attack.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The National Green Tribunal has directed District Magistrate, Baghpat, and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to act on a complaint regarding ongoing polluting leather treatment work in the district, in violation of the earlier orders passed by the green court.

The bench, headed by NGT Chairperson, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (retd) also sought an action taken report in the matter to be submitted within four months.

The plea pointed out that on October 10,2018, the NGT had directed the DM and state PCB to look into the matter, and a status report was also filed earlier on June 26, 2020, it said. As per a further action taken report, it had noted that all the 84 leather treatment work units have been served the closure order issued by UPPCB as per direction of the NGT.

A joint team of SDM, Circle Officer, Tehsildar, Inspector, and Assistant Engineer of UPPCB visited the village on June 6, 2020 and found that no leather treatment work was carried out inside the village Bhadal.

Also, a team constituted by District Magistrate had visited Bhadal village on June 25, 2020, and found that no leather treatment work was carried out inside the village. The report further stated that presently leather treatment work is closed inside the village Bhadal, Tehsil-Baraut, Baghpat and all 84 closure orders issued by UPPCB have complied.

However, in the present petition, the applicant stated that the illegal activity was still continuing, as per a report dated September 25, 2021, of the Regional Revenue Inspector, furnished to the Tehsildar. The applicant has also filed photographs in support of the averments.

In the order dated February 23, the bench said, if any further direction is considered necessary, the Registrar General may place the matter before the Tribunal, while disposing of the applications.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the current situation in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Thursday, terming India as a "concerned party" in the conflict.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to Russian President Putin on the prevailing crisis," the Foreign Secretary said in a media briefing here on Thursday night.

He also said that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken to a number of ministers from European Union and those from neighbouring countries, which will help in the evacuation of stranded Indian nationals from Ukraine.

About being a stakeholder, the Foreign Secretary stated, "We are in touch with all. Whatever we do will be in the interest of our people." He further said, "We have been in touch with all the parties, both as a member of UNSC, and as a country with stakes in that region where Indian nationals are stuck." The official said that 4,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Ambassador to Ukraine, Partha Satpathy, said the situation is highly tense and very uncertain, which of course is causing a lot of anxiety.

Satpathy said, "I am reaching out to you from Kiev. Today early morning, we all woke up with the news that Ukraine is under attack. The air space is closed, railway schedules are in flux and roads are crammed." Satpathy requested everyone to stay calm and face the situation with fortitude.

The Embassy continues to remain open and operate in Kiev, Satpathy added.

He urged Indian nationals to stay put wherever they are, in their familiar locations.

"Those who are in transit, please return to your familiar places of habitation. Those who are stranded here in Kiev, please get in touch with your friends and colleagues in Kiev, universities and other community members, so that you can temporarily lodge there," he said.

The Ambassador said, "We have already reached out to the Indian diaspora and have requested them to assist you to the best of their abilities."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Moscow is willing to negotiate terms of surrender with Kiev regarding the Russian military offensive currently underway in Ukraine, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, RT reported.

According to Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his preparedness to engage in discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with a focus on obtaining a guarantee of neutral status and the promise of no weapons on its territory, the report said.

These are terms that, according to Peskov, would enable the achievement of 'demilitarisation' and 'denazification' of Ukraine, and eliminate what Russia currently views as a threat to the security of its state and people.

"The President formulated his vision of what we would expect from Ukraine in order for the so-called 'red-line' problems to be resolved. This is neutral status, and this is a refusal to deploy weapons," Peskov clarified.

The Press Secretary added that Putin would determine the timing of the negotiations, but gave assurances that Russia would only engage "if the leadership of Ukraine is ready to talk about it", RT reported.

"The operation has its goals -- they must be achieved. The President said that all decisions have been made, and the goals will be achieved," Peskov continued, suggesting that if Kiev agrees to meet the demands, the current military attack on Ukraine could be called off.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Putin instigated a "special operation" in Ukraine, with the supposed aim of "securing peace" in the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in the Donbass region, RT reported.
Chandigarh, Feb 24 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday urged the striking anganwadi workers and helpers of the state not to get misled or instigated by political leaders, as in the past seven years several steps have been taken by the state government to safeguard their interests.

Addressing the media here, Khattar said, "We have taken several concrete steps in the interest of anganwadi workers and helpers. In December last year, the honorarium of anganwadi workers and helpers was increased by Rs 850 and Rs 736, respectively." "Haryana is among the first three states where the highest honorarium is being given. In north India, Haryana ranks first," he added.

The Chief Minister said that Rs 12,661 is given to the anganwadi worker with more than 10 years of experience, while Rs 11,401 is being given to those with less than 10 years of experience.

In Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Puducherry and West Bengal, Khattar said anganwadi workers are getting Rs 9,500, Rs 6,500, Rs 10,000, Rs 9,678, Rs 10,500, Rs 6,540 and Rs 6,750, respectively.

"We have increased their honorarium from time to time. In 2014, the honorarium of anganwadi workers was Rs 7,500 per month, which has now been increased to Rs 12,661. Similarly, the honorarium of the helpers was Rs 3,500 per month in 2014, which has now gone up to Rs 6, 781," Khattar said.
Hyderabad, Feb 24 : Microsoft Co-founder and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-chair Bill Gates was all praise for India for development, manufacturing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and termed the country's vaccine coverage as "very impressive".

He said that the Gates Foundation is working with its partners in India not just for Covid vaccines but using new platforms like mRNA to make vaccines for diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Speaking virtually at BioAsia 2022 during a fireside chat with Telangana's Industries and Information Technology Minister K. T. Rama Rao on Thursday, he noted that India stood out for two things - creating great vaccines with global partners including Gates Foundation, and getting those vaccines out.

He said companies like Serum, Bharat Biotech, Biological E and many Indian partners really stepped up and they did fantastic job.

"India's vaccine coverage is very impressive even better than most rich countries. This is quite phenomenal. The design of vaccines, manufacturing and distribution of vaccines all of that handled well and that ended up saving massive number of lives," he said.

The philanthropic billionaire said in future, Gates Foundation would like to work with partners to make vaccines even faster and have even better vaccines that could avoid breakthrough cases.

"We have a research agenda with our partners in India not just for Covid vaccines but also for creating new platforms including m-RNA and building up capacity as a standby for future pandemics. The new platforms can also be used to get vaccines for some of the most difficult diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria," he said.

Replying to a query from the minister, Gates said the world learnt a lot during this pandemic. "The speed with which we responded was not as fast as it would have been ideal. Getting diagnostic capacity up and quarantine people when the level of infection was low...only few countries like Australia did that. On the other hand, miraculous things happened. Development of vaccines is really incredible." Gates, who had predicted the pandemic in 2015, said the last gigantic pandemic was almost 100 years ago but it won't be long until the next one breaks. "It won't necessarily be a coronavirus or even flu. It is likely to be respiratory virus with all human travel we have it can spread in such a rapid way," he said while revealing that he is writing a book which deals with this in detail.

He, however, next pandemic won't be like this. He said in this pandemic millions of lives were lost, health system was disrupted and economies suffered. "We need to be better whether it's lives and economies and make sure this does not happen." "We do need to get the world to spend more on R&D infectious diseases in some rich countries are sometimes ignored because the disease burden is quite modest compared to cancer, heart disease and others. This pandemic reminder we have to go back and do a better job to improve health equity," Gates said.

He noted that India is in transition as it has some of diseases of rich countries which are becoming a challenge and still some infectious diseases. He said innovators all over in India see this as an opportunity.

Gates pointed out gene-therapy is now a ray of hope for conditions like sickle cell anaemia but is now prohibitively expensive. The effort should be to bring down the costs drastically to bring it within the reach of many people and this could take 10 to 15 years, he said.

Asked about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Gates said that AMR continues to be a big challenge and accounts for a significant number of deaths across the world. The disease burden is more in developing countries. Newborns contract pneumonia in many cases. "We should get rid of the infectious diseases. Incredible work is happening in the area of biology. We should find ways to cure HIV and malnutrition," Gates said.

Gates, who visited Hyderabad twice in the past, said he was looking forward to getting back to Hyderabad as soon as things opened up.

To another question by KTR, Gates said that he is anxious to visit Hyderabad. "I have a lot to thank the vaccine companies for their key role. They have made them not just for India but for the world," he said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Jaipur, Feb 24 : In the midst of the controversy over the REET (Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teacher) paper leak, the Rajasthan government on Thursday tabled the Rajasthan Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2022 in the state Assembly.

The Bill aims to provide effective measures to prevent and curb offences of leakage of question papers.

It also aims to check the use of unfair means at public examinations for the purpose of recruitment to any post under the state government, including autonomous bodies, authorities, boards or corporations, and to provide for designated courts for the trial of such offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, said Rajendra Yadav, Minister of State for Education.

The new law will work as a deterrent against the rising trend of unfair means in public examinations and also work as a deterrent for the examinees and criminal masterminds who resort to such tactics.

It has strict provisions of punishment of up to 10 years and penalties in the form of fines up to Rs 10 crore as well as attachment/confiscation of property.

A designated court for the trial of such offences has been provisioned in the Bill.

In any examination, if a candidate copies or is found guilty of buying paper from the paper leak gang, there is a provision of imprisonment of three years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.

If the examinee is a member of the copying gang, his punishment and fine will also be the same as the rest of the gang. An examinee who has been convicted of an offence under the provision of this Act shall be debarred from taking any public examination for a period of two years.

Paper leak and copying in all types of examinations will be treated as a cognisable and non-bailable offence. Only an officer of Additional SP level will be able to check copying and paper leaks in examinations; a police officer below this rank will not be able to investigate these cases, said the Bill.

It further added, "All offences specified under this Act shall be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable. The state government may, by notification in the official gazette, designate as many courts of sessions in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court as it may be necessary to try offences punishable under this Act." It needs to be mentioned here that the Ashok Gehlot government sacked Board of Secondary Education Chairman D.P. Jaroli after he was caught in the REET exam paper leak case.

A huge political controversy was triggered in this regard.

Many arrests are being made in the paper leak case. The Chief Minister on Wednesday announced the formation of an anti-cheating cell in the investigating agency, SOG.

The Yogi Adityanath government in UP and the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana have already passed Bills with strict provisions against the crime of copying.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Differences between Russia and the NATO can only be resolved through "honest and sincere" dialogue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told Russian President Vladimir Putin as they discussed the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

President Putin briefed Modi about the recent developments regarding Ukraine.

Reiterating his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue, the Prime Minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.

He also sensitised the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India.

The leaders agreed that their officials and diplomatic teams would continue to maintain regular contacts on issues of topical interest.

Before Modi spoke to Putin, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla called India a "stakeholder" and a "concerned party" in the conflict.

He also had said that Prime MinisterA Narendra will be speaking to Russian President over the prevailing crisis.

Shringla also stated that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had spoken to several ministers from the European Union and those from neighbouring countries which will help in evacuation of stranded Indian nationals.

About being a stakeholder, the Foreign Secretary said: "We are in touch with all. We have interest. Whatever we do will be in the interest of our people." "We have been in touch with all parties, both as a member of UNSC, as a country with stakes in that region, with nationals stuck." He said that 4,000 Indian nationals have left the country.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Amidst a raging debate over illegal Bt Brinjal and Bt Cotton, opinion is split amongst farmers' groups even as the Centre has maintained that it is the responsibility of the state governments to take action against such cultivators.

Agriculture being a state subject, any complaints that come to the notice of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) secretariat are flagged for action at state level, and communications are sent to the Chief Secretary concerned, the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry said.

Violations have been flagged from Maharashtra and Haryana, prompting the Centre to alert the states for action.

Shetkari Sanghatana leader, Anil Ghanwat, who was one of the three members of the committee appointed by the Supreme Court in connection with the now repealed three farm laws, had carried out an agitation in Maharashtra last week wherein he and his team had publicly planted the seeds as part of the agitation.

"Almost 50 per cent cotton sowing is of HtBT cotton. Almost 15 lakh packets of HtBt cotton seeds have been sold in the market. There is lot of corruption and black marketing going on as there is a demand for this seed," Ghanwat told IANS on phone from Maharashtra.

He also claimed that an Indian company has come up with Bt Brinjal seeds in association with an Agriculture University. "Farmers from Bangladesh are benefitting with those seeds and here you are damning our agitation." Kishor Tiwari, who heads the Maharashtra Farm Taskforce, alleged that it is only a handful of farmers that are sowing these illegal seeds and claimed that "the agitation that happened last week was sponsored by seed companies".

The farmers have a right to technology, but it is for the Centre to decide with a larger discussion on the topic, he said.

Two FIRs were launched against members of the farmers union involved in the agitation. Similarly, complaints/reports received in the Environment Ministry on illegal cultivation of unapproved Bt Brinjal in Haryana were forwarded to the Chief Secretary, Haryana. "Haryana government confirmed the presence of Bt positive Brinjal in Fatehabad district and has destroyed the crop," said an official from the Ministry.

Complaints regarding sowing of unapproved GM crops in Maharashtra were forwarded to its Chief Secretary, who in turn, informed that efforts were made to dissuade the sowing of unapproved GM seeds. "Such seeds were seized and sealed in the presence of farmers and government officials and sent to CICR Nagpur for HTBT testing," the Maharashtra government told the Ministry.

In response to IANS' query on the issue, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said, "Since only Bt cotton is approved by GEAC for environmental release, it follows that seeds of any other GM crop are illegal and unauthorised, and State Agriculture departments are expected to maintain vigilance and supervision to prevent spread of unapproved seeds." States/UTs have been requested to provide lateral flow strip test kits for preliminary field level testing of GM crops, and also train the front line staffs who visits the fields for field inspections.

"We have also written to Chief Secretaries of all states/UTs to constitute and strengthen State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC) and district level committees and take penal action under Section 15, 16 and 17 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, in case of any cultivation of illegal Genetically Modified Crops," Yadav said.

Suman Sahay of Gene Campaign, an organisation that has been opposing GM/Bt seeds, said: "As far as I know, no Indian company has developed a Bt gene for creating Bt crop. As on today, any and every Bt gene can come only from Monsanto." So, whatever Ht/Bt seeds are being grown, all are illegal, she said, adding, "The MoEF&CC has done the right thing to alert the states and now, it is the states that are to take action." The Centre has to decide on the policy, she added.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is on a two-day visit to Moscow, met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday with a focus on energy and economic cooperation, according to state media, Dawn reported.

The Kremlin said that the two leaders discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia.

In a handout, the Pakistan Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said that the two leaders held wide-ranging consultations on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

"Recalling the telephone conversations during the recent months between the two leaders, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the positive trajectory of bilateral relations will continue to move forward in the future," the handout issued late on Thursday said.

Imran Khan expressed the hope that the trust and cordiality marking the relationship would translate into further deepening and broadening of mutual cooperation in diverse fields.

He also reaffirmed the importance of the Pakistan Stream gas pipeline as a flagship economic project between the two countries and also discussed cooperation on prospective energy related projects.

"The Prime Minister underscored Pakistan's commitment to [forging] a long-term, multi-dimensional relationship with Russia," the Pakistan PMO said.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Pentagon believes Russia's invasion is designed to "decapitate" the Ukrainian government and install new leadership, a senior defense official told reporters on Thursday, Axios reported.

Russia's invasion - air, land and sea - is proceeding along three primary axes, with one of those aimed squarely at the capital, Kyiv, the official said.

Ukraine's ambassador to Washington told reporters that fighting is ongoing near Kyiv but the city is currently "secure".

Russian and Ukrainian troops battled for control of an airport near Kyiv on Friday, with Russian forces telling CNN they now control it. Russia is also invading from the north along the Belarusian border, which at its closest point is less than 100 miles from Kyiv.

The defence official said the heaviest fighting so far had been in Kharkiv, a city of 1.4 million nearly the border with Russia in the east, Axios reported.

Russian forces are also attacking from the south. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the "most problematic situation" was currently Russia's push north from Crimea.
Hyderabad, Feb 24 : With many students left stranded in Ukraine and waiting for help, Telangana has set up helplines in Delhi and Hyderabad for those seeking assistance.

The helplines at the Telangana Bhavan in Delhi and at the state secretariat in Hyderabad will help students and professionals from Telangana stranded in Ukraine, which is under military attack by Russia.

The helpline numbers at Telangana Bhavan are +91 7042566955, +91 9949351270 and +91 9654663661. The email id is rctelangana@gmail.com.

The helpline numbers at Telangana secretariat in Hyderabad are 040-23220603, +91 9440854433. The email id is so_nri@telangana.gov.in.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar has requested the Resident Commissioner at Telangana Bhavan to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and to be in touch with the students/professional from Telangana to extend all possible support.

Telangana's Minister for Industries and Information Technology, K.T. Rama Rao, has urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to ensure the safety of the stranded students.

Rama Rao took to twitter to appeal to Jaishankar to ensure the safety of Indian students in these times of distress, saying: "Have been receiving several messages from anxious parents of students. Hope Govt of India can work through diplomatic channels & reassure all Indians at the earliest." Students from both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have appealed to the government of India and the respective state governments to ensure their evacuation.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : More than 150 senior Russian officials have signed an open letter condemning President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as 'an unprecedented atrocity' and warning of 'catastrophic consequences', Daily Mail reported.

The deputies said they were 'convinced' Russian citizens do not back the war and blamed Putin 'personally' for ordering troops into Ukraine in an attack 'for which there is no and cannot be any justification', the report said.

The letter urged Russians 'not to participate in the aggression' and called on citizens to speak out against the invasion because 'only massive popular condemnation can stop the war'.

Among the letter's signatories were Moscow deputies Elena Rusakova, Maxim Gongalsky, Andrey Morev, Elena Kotenochkina and Elena Filina, as well as St Petersburg officials David Kuvaev and Polina Sizova, and Veliky Novgorod deputy Anna Cherepanova.

It was a surprising step for Russian officials to speak out against Putin, who usually holds an iron grip on dissent, and last week televised a meeting with Moscow's top security chiefs in which they appeared to be railroaded into backing his plans to invade Ukraine, Daily Mail reported.

The letter, which described the signatories as those 'elected by the people', said they 'unreservedly condemn the attack of the Russian army on Ukraine'.

"This is an unprecedented atrocity for which there is no and cannot be justification. The decision to attack was made personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin. We are convinced that the citizens of Russia did not give him such a mandate," it said.

The letter warned of 'catastrophic consequences' - 'Thousands of people will die, be injured and maimed, cities dear to many Russians will be destroyed', the report said.
Guwahati, Feb 24 : Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said that his government has given thrust to improve trade and business with India through waterways, railways and airways and to further strengthen people-to-people contact between the two countries.

The visiting Bangladesh Minister, during an interactive meeting in Guwahati, said that the Chittagong sea port has a long historical association with Assam and the other northeastern states since the British period.

"The century-old international seaport has been redeveloped to handle cargo ships with deeper depths. Chittagong Port is nearer to Guwahati compared to Haldia Port of Kolkata. Use of Chittagong Port will not only reduce transportation costs and timings but also further boost easy trade and commerce activities," he said.

Highlighting the similarities on food, attire, culture, language between Assam and Bangladesh, he said that people of Bangladesh and Assam live on the banks of the same river - Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh.

Participating in the deliberations, Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary highlighted the vibrant trade activities that took place prior to Independence through the territories which now fall in Bangladesh.

He said that the Barak River in southern Assam used to carry vessels from Chittagong port and other ports of then East Bengal to this northeastern region.

"With the formulation of the Act East Policy of Government of India, the disrupted traditional trade routes are gradually being restored and reconnected through the Chittagong and Mongla Ports," he said.

In a significant development, the first 260 MT digester package of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd recently reached Silghat in Assam from Kolkata via river route through Bangladesh.

Patowary called upon the Bangladesh officials to provide necessary support and cooperation to increase the volume of trade from Assam. "Bangladesh can take the opportunities of potential sectors of Assam like ethanol, methanol, plastic, hydrocarbon to improve trade and business," he added.

During the event, an India-Bangladesh trade portal was also launched which would facilitate the business fraternity of both India and Bangladesh.

An official of Assam's Industries and Commerce Department said that in the trade portal database of exporters and importers of both northeast India and Bangladesh would be available and would enable B2B collaboration between buyers and sellers of both sides and also allow dealings and negotiations among them.

Bangladesh MPs Shaimum Sarwar Kamal and Momtaz Begum and Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Mokbul Hossain among others were present in the programme, which was organised by the Indian Chambers of Commerce.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Thousands of Ukrainians are already on the move and leaving the country, with tens of thousands more preparing to flee, after the Russian attack ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Guardian reported.

Videos and photos on social media show lines of cars moving out of cities and heading west, as well as an increase of people on foot near the southern and western borders, the report said.

The United Nations refugee agency said on Thursday that the situation was quickly deteriorating after Russia's invasion. It appealed to neighbouring countries to keep their borders open to people seeking a safe haven.

"We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety," said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, The Guardian reported.

At the Luzhanka border crossing with Hungary in western Ukraine, hundreds of cars waited in a queue snaking more than 2 kilometres back from the border on Thursday afternoon. People said they had been waiting over six hours in line to cross.

Others had come from other parts of Ukraine and planned to drive on to western Europe. "The people who have money are leaving," said one of the customs officials at the post. He said over 1,500 people had left through the crossing by 4 p.m. on Thursday, as opposed to just a few hundred on a normal day.
New Delhi, Feb 24 : Ukrainian troops are fighting Russian forces for the control of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, 60 miles north of capital Kiev, amid fears that the battle could damage the storage facilities holding nuclear waste, sparking a fallout that could blanket Europe, Daily Mail reported.

Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior Affairs, said that Russian forces entered the zone and were 'vigorously' fighting with the border guards units.

"If storage facilities are destroyed, the radioactive cloud could cover Ukraine, Belarus and the EU," Gerashchenko said, the report added.

Meanwhile, Turkey reported that one of its ships had been hit by a 'bomb' off the coast of Odessa, where fighting is going on. Turkey is a member of NATO, underlining fears that the war in Ukraine could quickly suck in other nations and spark an all-out conflict in Europe.

Elsewhere, Kiev ordered civilians to bomb shelters amid fears Russia is about to strike the Ukrainian capital as Kiev's troops lost control of a key airfield around 15 miles away, Daily Mail reported.

Russian forces had attacked it with around two-dozen attack helicopters earlier in the day, four of which are thought to have been shot down.

"They are going to bomb Kiev now. Authorities told us to hide in shelters," a source in the city told MailOnline as city authorities said a hospital had been hit, killing four people.

The Ukrainian army was this afternoon fighting in almost every region of the country, battling the Russians for control of military bases, airports, cities and ports from Kharkiv to Kiev, and Donetsk to Odessa.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 24 : An initial allocation of Rs 1,500 crore has been made for PM-DevINE for the year 2022-23 and one of the major projects identified for starting during the year is 'Establishment of dedicated services for the management of paediatric and adult haematolymphoid cancers in North-East India', to be located at Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati, at an estimated cost of Rs 129 crore.

A new scheme 'Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North-East' (PM-DevINE) was included in the Union Budget 2022-23 to be implemented through the North-Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of the North-Eastern Region, with the objective fund infrastructure in the region.

The initiative is expected to provide a boost to cancer care in the region given that in the last 11 years, 3,855 childhood and adult haematolymphoid cancer patients reported to BBCI for treatment.

The population-based cancer registry of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reveals that the incidence of cancer in India is highest in the North-Eastern region.

The national average incidence of cancer every year varies from 90-120 per lakh population, whereas in the North-Eastern region it is as high as 220-270 per lakh population.

As per the ICMR report, more than 45,000 new cancer patients are detected in the North-Eastern region each year.

BBCI has the state-of-the-art facility for treatment of common cancers in the North-east. However, statistics show that treatment facilities are still limited in the region.

As per the ICMR report, 95 per cent of patients from Sikkim, 58 per cent Nagaland, 16 per cent Manipur and 13 per cent from Meghalaya move out of the North-Eastern region for cancer treatment.

However, due to the dearth of adequate facilities other than the BBCI in the North-East, some patients don't get specialised care close to home and must travel to other centres across the country.

Under the scheme, the dedicated paediatric oncology block will be established which can offer treatment to nearly 1,000 patients annually for this group of ailments, which in return will significantly reduce the patient expenditure.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 : In a bizarre incident, a minor boy in Odisha's Balasore district has committed suicide after his father allegedly failed to bring biryani for him, family members said on Thursday.

The incident took place on Wednesday at Gobindapur village under the Nilagiri police station. The deceased was Satyabrata (13), the son of Manoranjan Maharnna.

According to the victim's father, Satyabrata demanded biryani from him during last two days. However, his father, who is contesting for ward member's position in the panchayat election, was unable to bring biryani for him.

"On Tuesday evening, he requested me to bring biryani for him. As I was busy with the election, I told him that I will get it on Wednesday. Again on Wednesday when he called me for the same, I told him that I am busy with the election. With this he disconnected the phone and in next few minutes, he hanged himself," Manoranjan said.

Though the family members immediately rushed him to the local government hospital, the doctors declared him dead. After conducting an autopsy, the body was handed over to the family and the last rites were conducted on Thursday.

Meanwhile, local BJP MP Pratap Sarangi on Thursday visited the bereaved family and expressed his condolences.

Sarangi blamed the food habit and nuclear family set-up for the suicide of the boy. Earlier, various kinds of delicious foods were being prepared in home and there was no fast food, he said.

The main reason is the nuclear family set-up, where children became alone and spend time on mobile phone. However, in joint families, children have their siblings, grandparents and cousins to play with, the BJP MP added.
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Indian Air Force is ready to airlift nationals stranded in Ukraine, along with commercial aircraft, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Thursday, adding India is in touch with both Russia and Ukraine as a "stakeholder".

"Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with the Ministry of Defence. We have told them that we will need provisions for airlift. In that case, the IAF can go along with commercial aircraft... All options are on the table," said Shringla.

He also said that India's topmost priority is safety and security of Indian nationals and their evacuation.

The Foreign Secretary stated that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken to his Polish, Romanian, Hungarian, and Slovakian counterparts for setting up a camp at border areas for evacuation of stranded Indian nationals.

He also stated that flight options are available through Dubai and Istanbul and that the Indian Embassy continues to be operational in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the ongoing crisis in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin and stated that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue.

The Russian President briefed Modi about the recent developments regarding Ukraine, while Modi appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.

The Prime Minister also sensitised the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 25 : A woman from Assam has filed a complaint before Odisha women police in Bhubanewar against a fake doctor, who had married at least 18 women from different states, and duped them with lakhs of rupees. The women, a doctor by profession, is also a victim.

The alleged accused has been identified as Ramesh Chandra Swain.

"We met the first time on a matrimonial site. From there onwards, we have contacted each other through phone and then he (Swain) visited Assam to meet me thrice," said the woman.

"Following several meetings, we got married on May 31, 2021. At that time, Swain went to Guwahati with some of his relatives. From there onwards, he cheated me," she added.

After marriage, Swain had kept the female doctor in a rented house in Khandagiri area of Bhubaneswar city. Later, on the pretext of buying a flat, he requested her to lend him more than Rs 20 lakh, she alleged.

"At the time of my 'griha pravesh' (entry into the new house), he introduced two women as his sister and step-mother. I went back to Assam after some time. After hearing the news of his arrest, I realised that I have been cheated," the woman said.

She added that Swain had cheated her and misused their tradition and customs.

The woman requested all victims like her to come forward and appealed them to file complaints against Swain to punish him so that such crime does not take place anymore in India.

Santoshini Behera, Investigating Officer of this case, said, "Swain had introduced himself as Vijayshree Ramesh Kumar on the matrimonial site 'Shaadi.com' and married the woman. After receiving a written complaint from the victim, we have registered another fresh case against Swain." The police recorded the statements of the woman along with his father and brother before the Magistrate on Thursday, Behera added.

Meanwhile, the police have got another three-day remand of the alleged accused. After completion of his remand period, the police would also seek remand of his sister, who was arrested on Wednesday, police officials said.
Moscow/Kiev, Feb 25 : Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised "a special military operation" in Donbas, and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack.

A total of 11 airfields, three command posts, a Ukrainian naval base, and 18 radar stations of the S-300 and Buk-M1 air defense missile systems were among the facilities destroyed, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Signs of nervousness were growing as planes flew overhead, explosions were heard, and an alarm siren sounded in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, where citizens were standing in long lines hoping to draw money and stock up on supplies, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the centre of Kiev, the local bus system, subway, banks, supermarkets, pharmacies and hotels were still operating normally. However, many private shops and bookstores have closed.

The US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have both denied the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine.

In a televised speech to the country earlier on Thursday, Putin said, "Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," noting that Russia's move is in response to "fundamental threats" by NATO, which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

The Russian President called on all people living on the territory of Ukraine to "independently determine the future of their own and children".

In Kiev, explosions were heard at Boryspil International Airport and other places across the city, according to local media reports. The country's airspace was closed for civilian aircraft, and local authorities were evacuating passengers and staff from the airport.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday declared martial law in the country following Russia's military operation.

In a video address, Zelensky said his country is under attack. According to the Interior Ministry, military depots and airfields in the capital were hit by missiles.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday in a press briefing that "we have made it clear that we do not have any plans and intentional deploying NATO troops to Ukraine".

The White House on Wednesday said the US would not be in a war with Russia or put troops on the ground in Ukraine.

"What I will tell you is President Joe Biden has been crystal clear and consistent: He is not sending US troops to fight in Ukraine. That has not changed," said White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki during a daily briefing.

Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognising "the Luhansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states and deployed "peacekeeping" forces in the two regions.

Seeing it as "a matter of time" for NATO to expand eastward, Putin took military action against Ukraine after recent negotiations with the US and NATO failed.

Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons, he said on Thursday, adding that Russia took action to protect itself from "those who take Ukraine hostage".

In a late-night address on Wednesday, Zelensky said he had unsuccessfully sought talks with Putin.

"I initiated a telephone call with the President of the Russian Federation. Result: silence." While mobilising troops, Russia closed its airspace to civilian aircraft on its western borders with Ukraine and Belarus, the aviation authorities said on Thursday.

Additionally, the Russian Aviation Authority Rosaviatsiya announced that Russia has temporarily closed more than 10 airports in the south and Crimea.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Armed Forces are destroying "military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" with high-precision weapons, not targeting Ukrainian cities.

A 37-year-old citizen named Anna said that sales in her cosmetics stores in Kiev dropped by 40 per cent this January due to heightened tensions.

Having not planned to leave the city because her children are still in school, she expressed the hope that the war would not interrupt school for her children.

Besides Kiev, several military targets in eastern and southern Ukraine were under attack early Thursday, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

The Ivano-Frankivsk International Airport and its fuel and lubricants depots in western Ukraine were also destroyed by Russia's missile systems, reported Ukrinform, citing the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.

Ukraine's border guard service said Russia's ground forces crossed into Ukraine from several directions on Thursday. Russian tanks and other heavy equipment crossed the frontier in several northern regions and Crimea in the south.

The border guard also said separately that Russian troops had crossed the Ukrainian border into the Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.

Following Russia's operation, Ukrainian President announced that Kiev had severed diplomatic relations with Moscow after Russia launched military operations in Donbas, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported.

In a televised address, Zelensky said more than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in the conflict.

In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the severance of bilateral diplomatic ties was "not our choice," Sputnik reported.

Shortly after Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on Wednesday evening called on Russia to withdraw its troops.

If the military action would lead to a generalised war, "it is difficult to forecast how dramatic it will be in the number of people who will die, in the number of people who will be displaced, in the number of people who will lose hope in relation to the future," Guterres told reporters following a Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told a meeting with top military brass that the purpose of Russia's military operation in Donbas is to prevent local destruction and civilian casualties in Donetsk and Luhansk, noting that even though the conflict has already begun, the sides must find ways to prevent bloodshed and full-scale war.

To rally the support of his Western allies, Zelensky has reached out to US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron through phone.

During the call, Biden briefed his Ukrainian counterpart on the steps Washington is taking "to rally international condemnation," adding that the US "will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," according to a White House statement.

Biden also said he would meet with leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries on Thursday.

The US has announced what it called "the first tranche" of punitive measures on Russia -- sanctions on two major Russian banks and the country's sovereign debt, preventing Moscow from raising money from the West and trading new debt in the US or European markets. It also sanctioned Russian elites and their family members.

Austrian President, Alexander Van der Bellen said on Thursday that "everything must now be done to avoid further escalation and to protect lives".

Emphasising that "peace comes first," Van der Bellen said the way to the negotiating table must be open to all sides.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian tweeted on Thursday that "The #Ukraine crisis is rooted in NATO's provocations. We don't believe that resorting to war is a solution." It is "imperative to establish ceasefire and to find a political and democratic resolution," he added.

Guterres on Wednesday evening asked Putin to send his troops back to Russia and "give peace a chance" after the Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine concluded.

China maintains that the Cold War mentality should be completely abandoned and a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism should be finally established through dialogue and negotiation, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Chilling videos show Russian helicopter gunships swept over Ukraine to attack an airport just miles from Kiev, The Sun reported.

Russian choppers can be seen hurtling over the landscape as they attacked the military base at Gostomel airport, the report said.

Ukrainian officials said they managed to down at least three of the aircraft -- but the Russians had managed to seize control of the area.

Kiev's presidential office said there was "fierce fighting" at the airport.

In some of most dramatic footage of the invasion so far, the helicopters are seen flying low and appearing to be firing flares as they moved in, The Sun reported.

Smoke is seen rising in the background from the devastated landscape amid the bloodshed which has plunged Europe into a new crisis.

The craft are believed to be a mix of Ka-52 Alligators, Mi-8s and Mi-24 military attack helicopters.

Elsewhere, fighter planes were seen flying low over Kiev -- while a Ukrainian An-26 transport plane was shot down, killing 5 people, the report added.

Russia launched a full scale invasion as they assaulted 25 cities, destroyed 75 military installations and 11 air bases.

Troops and tanks surged across the border -- many of them emblazoned with the now infamous "Z" symbol -- sparking bloody firefights, the report said.

VladimirPutin has nearly 200,000 soldiers ready to move in -- encircling the north, south and east of Ukraine.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Russias President Vladimir Putin has 're-introduced war to the European continent', the leaders of the G7 have said, The Guardian reported.

In a joint statement following a virtual meeting, the leaders of France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the UK, the US, Canada as well as the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council President, Charles Michel, and the NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the report said.

The crisis is a "serious threat to the rules-based international order, with ramifications well beyond Europe," the G7 leaders said, adding that Putin had "put himself on the wrong side of history," The Guardian reported.

The statement said, "We condemn President Putin for his consistent refusal to engage in a diplomatic process to address questions pertaining to European security, despite our repeated offers.

"We stand united with partners, including NATO, the EU and their member states as well as Ukraine and remain determined to do what is necessary to preserve the integrity of the rules-based international order." The White House has released a statement from US President Joe Biden, saying the G7 leaders have agreed to move forward on "devastating packages of sanctions," the report said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 25 : A group of Ukrainian MPs have called on their President to start negotiations with Moscow. Any further escalation of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine might turn into a "real catastrophe" for all sides that would see "no winners", seven MPs said in an open letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, RT reported.

"Millions of our fellow citizens strive for a peaceful ... life," said the group on Thursday, led by Vadim Novinsky -- a Ukrainian billionaire and one of the co-leaders of the Opposition Bloc -- an association of more than a dozen political parties.

The MPs have said they "insist on (Zelensky) using all options" to protect human life and de-escalate the situation, RT reported.

The lawmakers called on their leader to start talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and "reach an agreement" on "stopping the bloodshed". They urged Ukraine's Parliament to form a delegation to hold "strategic consultations" with the Russian Parliament.

"We believe that a new compromise is still possible," the MPs have said, adding that a diplomatic option should still be explored even if it has "one chance in a hundred" to be successful. The MPs have not outlined any specific ideas for a potential agreement with Russia, the report said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Russian forces have seized control of Chernobyl nuclear power plant after a 'fierce' battle with the condition of nuclear storage facilities 'unknown', Ukraine has said, sparking fears of a radiation leak that could cause fallout in Europe, Daily Mail reported.

An alleged video revealed Russian tanks and armoured vehicles standing in front of the destroyed reactor, which sits just 60 miles north of the capital Kiev, the report said.

Meanwhile Turkey reported that one of its ships had been hit by a 'bomb' off the coast of Odessa, where fighting is also going on. Turkey is a member of NATO, underlining fears that the war in Ukraine could quickly spread in other states and spark an all-out conflict in Europe.

Elsewhere, Kiev ordered civilians into bomb shelters and declared a curfew amid fears that Russia is about to strike the Ukrainian capital as Kiev's troops lost control of a key airfield around 15 miles away. Russian forces had attacked it with around two dozen attack helicopters earlier on Thursday, four of which are thought to have been shot down, Daily Mail reported.

"They are going to bomb Kiev now. Authorities told us to hide in shelters," a source in the city told MailOnline as authorities said a hospital had been hit, killing four people.

The Ukrainian Army was on Thursday afternoon fighting in nearly every region of the country, battling the Russians for control of military bases, airports, cities and ports from Kharkiv to Kiev, and Donetsk to Odessa.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
1SEO Digital Agency Announced as Google Premier Partner "We are honored to receive this nomination of Google Premier Partner again for 2022. It has been a pleasure working closely with Google, and we look forward to another successful year. Our clients' success has grown exponentially with the increased access and technology they receive"

In the beginning of February, Google recognized the achievements of top-performing digital marketing partners across the globe by awarding Premier Partner status as part of the new Google Partners program. 1SEO Digital Agency has been selected as a member of this exclusive Premier Partnership.

"We are honored to receive this nomination of Google Premier Partner again for 2022. It has been a pleasure working closely with Google, and we look forward to another successful year. Our clients' success has grown exponentially with the increased access and technology they receive through our exclusive partnership with Google."

C.J. Bachmann, CEO of 1SEO Digital Agency

The Google Partners program has undergone significant changes for 2022, including redefining what it means to be a Premier Partner through new, advanced program requirements and offering unique Premier Partner benefits to support growth and success with Google Ads.

This program is designed for advertising agencies and third parties that manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of other brands or businesses. Its mission is to empower companies by providing innovative tools, resources, and support to help their clients succeed and grow online.

This elite designation is only awarded to a select few agencies that demonstrate excellence in client service and technical capabilities. 1SEO Digital Agency has long been recognized as a leader in digital marketing, and this latest achievement confirms its standing as one of the top firms in the industry.

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This premier partnership means that 1SEO Digital Agency is among the top 3% of Google Partners in the United States. 1SEO has more access to resources, technology, and tools from Google than other agencies.

About 1SEO Digital Agency

1SEO Digital Agency offers a full suite of growth-driving services to help businesses achieve their online goals. Formed in 2009, they have grown from a local Philadelphia-based marketing agency to serve clients worldwide. 1SEO Digital Agency has been serving all types of businesses for years and has a proven track record of helping clients grow to their fullest potential.
Pavle Jovanovic, United States Olympic Bobsledder "It's time the deadly consequences of this sport alleged in this lawsuit are brought out of the dark."

TorHoerman Law has filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey on behalf of the Estate of Pavle Jovanovic, a Team USA Olympic bobsled athlete who took his own life on May 3, 2020.

This lawsuit is the first filed on behalf of an individual against the United States Olympic Committee, the United States Bobsled & Skeleton, the International Olympic Committee, and the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation for their alleged failure to protect American bobsled athletes from suffering from and developing traumatic brain injuries, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The complaint alleges that Jovanovic's suicide resulted from thousands of runs he took down bobsled tracks throughout the world during his career from 1997 to 2008. According to the complaint, during each run, Pavle was allegedly subjected to concussive and sub-concussive impacts, constant and severe jarring and vibrations, and high g-forces. These forces allegedly have been reported to cause "sled head", a term used by athletes and trainers/medical staff to refer to instances when the athlete experiences confusion, problems with immediate recall, disorientation to time, place & person, anterograde and retrograde amnesia, fatigue, blurred vision, brain fog and/or difficulty communicating immediately after a run.

The lawsuit alleges that "sled head" has been used within the sport since the 1980s. The lawsuit further alleges that the Defendants, jointly and individually, failed to warn of and protect Pavle from the symptoms and effects of "sled head." According to the complaint, these acts and omissions were done despite the Defendants' knowledge of medical science, published since the 1960s, discussing the intersection of concussions and sport and warning of the traumatic brain injuries that athletes can suffer when exposed to various forms of brain trauma. The complaint states that those publications define a clear list of associated symptoms of concussions and traumatic brain injuries, all of which are identical to those symptoms associated with "sled head."

"TorHoerman Law and the Jovanovic family believe this lawsuit is the tip of the iceberg. We hope it will be a platform for awareness on the alleged issue and of courage for other current and former athletes to come forward and join the fight for accountability, change, and transparency from the Defendants," said Hoerman. "It's time the deadly consequences of this sport alleged in this lawsuit are brought out of the dark."

If you or a loved one were a member of the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation and have suffered a traumatic brain injury or currently suffer from the associated symptoms of sled head, you can contact TorHoerman Law for a free, no-obligation, confidential consultation with a member of the TorHoerman legal team. You can also visit https://www.torhoermanlaw.com/personal-injury/sliding-sports-athlete-brain-injury/ for additional information or to receive an instant online case evaluation.

The Estate of Pavle Jovanovic is represented by TorHoerman Law attorneys Tor Hoerman, Eric Terry, Ken Brennan, and Eric Cracken. The lawsuit is filed in conjunction with Robert Dassow of Hovde Dassow + Deets, and Andrew D'Arcy and Peter Smith of D'Arcy Johnson Day, P.C. The lawsuit (# OCN-L-000409022) is filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey in Ocean County.

About TorHoerman Law

At TorHoerman Law, our team of experienced legal experts specializes in various litigations, including personal injury, traumatic brain injury, and head and brain injuries in athletes.

TorHoerman Law represents clients nationwide, with offices in Chicago, IL, St. Louis, MO, and Edwardsville, IL. TorHoerman Law is comprised of experienced attorneys and support staff that believe in justice for individuals harmed through no fault of their own. To learn more, visit https://www.torhoermanlaw.com/.
Combining state-of-the-art retail banking software solutions with highly experienced back-office and service-delivery teams will enable our clients to respond to new opportunities and threats as digital transformation takes greater priority in our sector.

Atris Technology, LLC, a nationwide provider of software and services for financial institutions, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hogan Financial Systems, provider of operational and consulting services for community banks.

The acquisition furthers each organizations commitment to expand their respective portfolios of end-to-end retail banking solutions and services to increase value for existing and new customers.

Hogan Financial Systems fits our growth strategy and will enable Atris to rapidly broaden our software and services offerings in the fast-changing SMB financial space," said Dan Roberts, Technology Director and Managing Partner at Atris. Combining state-of-the-art retail banking software with experienced back-office and service-delivery teams will enable our clients to respond to new opportunities and threats as digital transformation takes greater priority in our sector.

Banking solutions from both companies are already closely aligned, including advanced teller automation, back-office automation, back-up and disaster recovery, and protection against ransomware.

This convergence creates new opportunities for clients, added Scott McElhiney, Sales Manager and Partner at Atris. A combined portfolio of software and managed services helps banks and credit unions reduce complexity and streamline vendor relationships.

The acquisition will have no direct impact on clients at Hogan Financial. Ken Hogan, founder and CEO, will remain onboard indefinitely, as an FI operations consultant for Atris. Clients will reap the benefits of complementary support teams, as well as new cloud banking services. Service reliability will also improve due to expanded, geographically diverse, secure data processing facilities.

We know Atris well and have worked alongside them for several years now, said Ken Hogan, founder and CEO, Hogan Financial Systems. We share the same values and ongoing commitment to our respective customers, and we are thrilled to add Atris competencies and extensive expertise to serve our customers better.

About Atris Technology, LLC

Atris Technology, LLC is a provider of software automation that enables banks and credit unions to successfully compete in the rapidly changing financial marketplace. Key solutions include branch automation, real-time EFT processing, and IT security solutions. Teller image capture and remote-deposit processing exemplify its progressive delivery solutions. Atris is headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, serving clients nationwide.

More information about Atris Technology, LLC can be found at http://www.atris.com.

About Hogan Financial Systems, Inc.

Hogan Financial Systems, Inc. provides hosting, operation, and management of core IT infrastructure systems for community banks throughout the United States. Services include secure protection against ransomware, item processing, check processing, disaster recovery, and ATM debit-card authorization. Additionally, Hogan Financial allows banks to enjoy the benefits of an in-house and competitively priced solution that guarantees data integrity and SOC 2 compliance. Hogan Financial is headquartered in Flower Mound, Texas.

More information about Hogan Financial Systems, Inc. can be found at http://www.hoganfin.com.
The Chinese government is also supportive of international partnerships and has introduced an improved regulatory environment for more efficient and accelerated research and new drug approvals.

The number of clinical trials in China that were conducted over recent years has increased, particularly for Japanese pharmaceutical companies. With a growing aging population, an estimated 2.2 billion hospital visits per year, an expansive network of qualified hospitals and research sites, and a skilled talent pool of clinical trial project leaders, China is an appealing location. The Chinese government is also supportive of international partnerships and has introduced an improved regulatory environment for more efficient and accelerated research and new drug approvals.

In this webinar, the featured speaker will discuss the landscape of clinical trials in China, including ways that sponsors can address and ease common difficulties in managing a study in China.

Attendees will learn about the impact of recent regulatory reforms, including the Human Genetic Resources Administration of China (HGRAC) regulation. The featured speaker will discuss best practices for operational oversight and governance. In addition, the featured speaker will give practical tips and solutions for developing an effective communications plan, as well as how to address escalations.

Join Qing Liu, MPH, MBA, Director, Project Management, ICON, for the live webinar on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10am CST (China).

For more information, or to register for this event, visit A Guide to Conducting Clinical Trials in China.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/


Binary Defense, a leading managed security services provider was selected by AT&T Cybersecurity as its 2021 North American Partner of the Year. This is the fourth award Binary Defense has received from AT&T, previously receiving three Global Partner of the Year honors (2019, 2018 and 2016).

Binary Defense can help customers implement the AT&T USM Anywhere SIEM platform, and provides tuning and ongoing, around-the-clock monitoring for both new and existing AT&T customers. For organizations with smaller security teams, or those without their own Security Operations Center (SOC), Binary Defense acts as an extension of their team, providing continuous coverage so security teams can focus on other activities.

Managing multiple sources of data and combing through alarms is a task that many organizations cant keep up with. Binary Defense and AT&T Cybersecurity are a best-in-class pairing that allows businesses to offset the task of monitoring alarms, said Mike Valentine, Binary Defense Chief Executive Officer. We are proud to be recognized as North American Partner of the Year and look forward to serving our customer base together far into the future.

According to a statement from AT&T, At AT&T Cybersecurity we will continue to focus on enhancing our channel programs to provide partners the ability to not only scale their businesses and increase profitability, but most importantly deliver on their infosec promise to their client base. Together we will do so in both a consistent and progressive manner, evolving with the ever-changing security market we all serve. We look forward to another year of success working closely with our partners.

Read more about the Partner of the Year honors on the AT&T blog: https://cybersecurity.att.com/blogs/security-essentials/att-cybersecurity-announces-2022-partner-of-the-year-awards-winners

Read more about the combined technology and service of AT&T and Binary Defense on our website:

BinaryDefense.com/ATT-SIEM

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About Binary Defense

Binary Defense is a managed security services provider and software developer with leading cybersecurity solutions that include SOC-as-a-Service, Managed Detection & Response, Security Information & Event Management, Threat Hunting and Counterintelligence. With their human-driven, technology-assisted approach, Binary Defense is able to provide their clients with immediate protection and visibility, combating and stopping the next generation of attacks that their business faces. The company is headquartered in Stow, Ohio at 600 Alpha Parkway. For more information, please contact David White at David.White@binarydefense.com.
My core focus is to grow our agency and create an amazing place to work, while also providing as much value as possible for merchants and other agencies owners.

Signifyd named John Surdakowski to its list of the 2022 Most Influential in Ecommerce, a group of commerce leaders who in an exceptional way overcame the unique challenges of the past year and propelled their organizations to new heights.

The 30 awardees come from around the world and work in a broad range of verticals and roles. Each of them, including John Surdakowski, demonstrated creativity, perseverance, agility and brilliance in navigating the new era of ecommerce spurred by the challenges of an ongoing pandemic, changing consumer preferences and supply chain disruptions.

Retail has always been the kind of dynamic industry that requires rapid thinking and decisive action. The last two years have exposed that as a tremendous understatement, Signifyd CEO Raj Ramanand said in announcing the most recent award winners. These 30 honorees have turned that challenge into an advantage by launching new initiatives and exhibiting new thinking that has transformed their businesses in ways that anticipate where their customers are headed next.

John Surdawkoski has been added to an exclusive list that includes 29 fellow honorees and a group of 30 recognized in 2021 as Signifyds inaugural group of the Most Influential in Ecommerce.

Founded in 2015 by John Surdakowski, the agency has worked with brands like Kith, Hugo Boss, and Simmons Bedding on their online stores. In 2021, Avex was named one of Inc 5000s Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America. Through Johns leadership, Avex has created strong partnerships with software companies like Shopify Plus, Dynamic Yield and Klaviyo to bring clients best-in-class eCommerce, conversion rate optimization, and email marketing services.

I am honored and humbled to be listed among some really great eCommerce professionals in the community. My core focus is to grow our agency and create an amazing place to work, while also providing as much value as possible for merchants and other agencies owners. Im looking forward to collaborating with the other honorees in Signifyds list of the most influential people in eCommerce.

As a Most Influential in Ecommerce honoree, John Surdakowski joins an elite group of industry professionals who now belong to a learning community that over the coming year will share its insights and knowledge through a series of events.

The complete 2021 Most Influential in Ecommerce list and their stories can be found by visiting Signifyds website.

About Avex Designs

Avex is a Shopify Plus Partner Agency and eCommerce development agency. The company leverages the power of the Shopify platform to design, develop, and optimize beautiful eCommerce websites for fashion & lifestyle brands. Avex partners with merchants to help them scale through data-backed ecommerce development & UX design services, conversion rate optimization, and Klaviyo email marketing services. To learn more, visit avexdesigns.com.

About Signifyd

Signifyd provides an end-to-end Commerce Protection Platform that leverages its Commerce Network to maximize conversion, automate customer experience and eliminate fraud and customer abuse for retailers. Signifyd counts among its customers a number of companies on the Fortune 1000 and Internet Retailer Top 500 lists. Signifyd is headquartered in San Jose, CA., with locations in Denver, New York, Mexico City, Belfast and London.

Contacts

Holly Kuldell

Avex

Marketing Assistant

holly@avexdesigns.com

Mike Cassidy

Signifyd

Head of PR & Storytelling

mike.cassidy@signifyd.com
Scott Schuetter of The Scott Schuetter Team "The Scott Schuetter Team's expertise in the real estate process, as well as their knowledge of the greater Anne Arundel County area and beyond, are unmatched." Terri Bracciale, Regional President, PenFed Realty

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, one of the countrys fastest-growing real estate brokerages with more than 2,000 Realtors and over $8 billion in annual sales volume, is pleased to welcome The Scott Schuetter Team to its Annapolis branch office.

We are beyond pleased that Scott and his team have decided to join us, said PenFed Realty Regional President Terri Bracciale. They are an impressive group and their reputation of providing best-in-class service to their clients precedes them. Their expertise in the real estate process, as well as their knowledge of the greater Anne Arundel County area and beyond, are unmatched, and we look forward to providing them with perfect support so they can continue providing perfect service to their clients.

Team lead Scott Schuetter started his real estate career in 2006 and has, since then, amassed a remarkable record of achievements. To date, Schuetter and his team have closed over $350 million in transactions, and he has consistently ranked among the highest-producing agents in Anne Arundel County since 2015. He has appeared in Whats Up Annapolis magazine as one of its Best of Realtors since 2017 and has been voted Best of the Bay Realtor four times.

As a Naval Academy graduate and former aviator, my sense of discipline and responsibility are deeply ingrained in me, Schuetter said. This has carried over into my 15-year career as a real estate professional as I am deeply committed to providing service to my clients thats above and beyond what they expect. In turn, I looked for a brokerage that has that same sense of responsibility towards their agents, and I found it with PenFed Realty. Not only does the companys mission, vision, and values align with my own, but the companys reputation and strength of the brand are unrivaled in the industry.

Schuetter received his bachelors degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and attended the U.S. Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Fla. where he graduated first in his class. He was stationed in Norfolk, Va., flying E-2C Hawkeyes for three years including one combat deployment, then came back to the Naval Academy to teach leadership for three years before transitioning to a career in real estate. He lives in Annapolis with his wife, Dana and their two children, Cade and Alice. He can be reached at 410-900-7668 or by email at scott.schuetter@penfedrealty.com.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty (http://www.penfedrealty.com) is a full-service real estate company with an annual sales volume of over $8 billion. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., the company has over 2,000 agents and nearly 60 offices, providing complete real estate services nationwide and helping over 20,000 clients with their real estate needs each year. PenFed Realty is a wholly owned subsidiary of PenFed Credit Union and is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brokerage network, operated by HSF Affiliates LLC. We are proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Bethune-Cookman University joins the Florida Purchasing Group Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information.

Bethune-Cookman University announced its joining of the Florida Purchasing Group which connects nearly 50 existing participating agencies from across Florida to a large vendor pool for bid distribution and management. All potential Bethune-Cookman University vendors are encouraged to register online with http://www.bidnetdirect.com/florida/bethunecookmanuniversity to access upcoming solicitations.

Bethune-Cookman University joined the purchasing group in February. In joining, Bethune-Cookman University hopes to utilize the system to streamline the purchasing process. The Florida Purchasing Group is a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities and provides local Florida government agencies the tools needed to minimize costs and time delays associated with the procurement process. Bethune-Cookman University was distributing bids and managing the procurement process manually before joining the system. In joining, Bethune-Cookman University looks to save time, reach out to more vendors automatically and achieve cost savings over the traditional paper-based bid process.

Bethune-Cookman University has access to the Florida Purchasing Group vendor pool which will enhance competition without increasing distribution costs. In addition to the existing vendors on the Florida Purchasing Group, all vendors looking to do business with Bethune-Cookman University can register online: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/florida/bethunecookmanuniversity. Bethune-Cookman University invites all current vendors not already registered on the purchasing group to do so today.

Registered vendors can access all open bids, related documents and files, additional addendum and award information. In addition, the Florida Purchasing Group offers a value-added service to notify vendors of new bids targeted to their industry, all addenda and advance notification of expiring term contracts. A robust NIGP code category list allows vendors registering to find the correct codes in order to receive matched bid information.

It is not only our purchasing department that looks forward to the benefits of using the Florida Purchasing Group, but our valued vendors can now save time and access not only our open bids, but those from other agencies throughout the state. We invite all of our current vendors to register on the Florida Purchasing Group or contact bidnet directs vendor support team with any questions, stated April Chapman, Procurement Manager of Bethune-Cookman University.

Vendors may register on the Florida Purchasing Group: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/florida/bethunecookmanuniversity. bidnet directs vendor support team is available to answer any questions regarding the registration process or the bid system at 800-835-4603 option 2.

Other local Florida government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the Florida Purchasing Group for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution.

About Bethune-Cookman University:

B-CU is an historically black university associated with the United Methodist Church. The university offers baccalaureate and masters degrees in 37 areas of study across seven academic schools, and emphasizes service learning and civic engagement in all aspects of student life.

Bethune-Cookman University is an institution filled with rich history and beloved traditions, and a strong commitment to academic excellence and community service. Founded by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in 1904, Bethune-Cookman University is an historically Black, United Methodist Church-related university offering baccalaureate and masters degrees. The mission is to serve in the Christian tradition the diverse educational, social, and cultural needs of its students and to develop in them the desire and capacity for continuous intellectual and professional growth, leadership and service to others. The University has deep roots in the history of America and continues to provide services to the broader community through a focus on service learning and civic engagement.

About bidnet direct:

bidnet direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. bidnet direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Florida Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
Canela Medias approach of For Latinos, by Latinos'' has helped them remain authentic and attract brands seeking to truly connect with multicultural audiences

Canela Media, an industry-leading, minority-owned digital media technology company, today announced the completion of an oversubscribed $32 million Series A funding round. The investment was co-led by Acrew Capital and Angeles Investors with participation from Link Ventures, TEGNA Ventures and Samsung NEXT. BMO Harris Bank provided an additional $10 million of capital. In addition, existing investors BBG Ventures, Mighty Capital, Reinventure Capital, Portfolia's Rising America Fund, Alumni Ventures and Powerhouse Capital, continued its participation, bringing Canela Medias total funding to date to $35 million.

Canela Media is the single largest funded, Latino-owned company with the 4th largest amount of funding for a female in the media industry. Latinos create more business ventures per capita than any other U.S. racial or ethnic group, comprising 18% of the population. Yet, they still receive less than 2% of all venture funding.

The financing will be used to help Canela Media accelerate product development, produce new high-quality original programming for its flagship products Canela.TV and Canela Music, and to enable expansion further into Latin America. Later this year, Canela will roll out the Canela Kids app focused on childrens programming. The company will also be adding 95 new positions in various functions, including engineering, operations and programming.

Commenting on Canela Medias success, Richard Wolpert, venture partner at Acrew Capital, stated, We continue to see significant business opportunities and growth coming from the U.S. and Latam Hispanic consumer segment, particularly in streaming media where consumers are looking for viewing options tailored to not only their language, but also their content consumption desires. Canela Medias approach of For Latinos, by Latinos'' has helped them remain authentic and attract brands seeking to truly connect with multicultural audiences.

Launched in 2020, Canela.TV, one of the first AVOD streaming services for U.S. Hispanics/Latinos, is now approaching 10 million downloads. Canela.TV also has a wide distribution of FAST channels through partners such as Samsung, XUMO and LG. Canela Music launched in 2021 with a variety of music genres and original content. Canela Media reaches over 50 million users across their OTT products and 180 Spanish content sites.

"Canela Media set the standard for U.S. Hispanic consumer brand marketing in streaming media," said Isabel Rafferty, Founder and CEO of Canela Media. "From inception, we made it our mission to serve the underrepresented U.S. Hispanic consumer, while bridging the gap to multicultural audiences for marketers. We look forward to helping more brands capitalize on our unparalleled and in-depth knowledge and understanding of how to establish meaningful and culturally relevant connections with U.S. Hispanics.

"We believe this team, combined with its truly unique platform and approach, will unlock the full potential of the U.S. consumer market, said Rodrigo Garcia, advisor at Angeles Investors. Our firms investment philosophy is all about finding the most exciting startups, funding the most disruptive and fastest growing business models and growing the impact of Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs in the U.S. economy. With Canela Media, we have discovered the perfect match.

For additional information on Canela Media please visit: https://www.canelamedia.com/

About Canela Media

Canela Media is a leading digital media technology company offering brands a complete ecosystem to connect with multicultural audiences starting with its free streaming platform service, Canela.TV, which enriches the new generation of U.S. Latinos with free access to unique, culturally relevant content. In addition to TV content, Canela Music features a unique blend of Latin music programming, featuring various genres from Latin Pop, Regional Mexican, Classics, Romantic, and more.

Canela Media reaches more than 50 million unique Hispanics across its 180+ premium Spanish-language sites. Combined with the company's proprietary data, Canela Media possesses in-depth knowledge and understanding of how to establish meaningful and culturally relevant connections with the new mainstream  U.S. and Latam Hispanics.

Headquartered in New York, Canela Media is ranked as the third largest Hispanic ad-focused company and the only female- and minority-owned certified digital company. For more information please visit http://www.CanelaMedia.com.
Brokerage websites can help you obtain extremely accurate car insurance quotes. However, to obtain extremely accurate quotes, you will need to provide correct and truthful information while completing complex online questionnaires, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of IMC

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that explains how drivers can obtain some very accurate car insurance quotes.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/tips-getting-accurate-car-insurance-quotes/

Comparing car insurance offers from multiple insurance carriers is not that hard anymore. With the help of a brokerage website, drivers will only need to complete a questionnaire with data about themselves, their vehicles, and their driving history in order to obtain multiple offers from various insurance companies that are licensed to sell policies in their areas. Using a brokerage website can help drivers find the policy they need without wasting too much time.

The next tips will help drivers obtain accurate quotes:



Determine insurance needs. Before looking for insurance, drivers should decide what coverage they need. Besides purchasing the minimum coverage, drivers can have different insurance needs. Drivers who just recently bought a new vehicle should consider getting collision and comprehensive coverage to protect their investment. Also, new car replacement coverage and gap insurance should be bought by owners of new and valuable vehicles who want to have their vehicles fully protected. Additional options like windshield coverage and roadside assistance can help drivers overcome different delicate situations. In the end, the policyholder is the one who decides how much protection is needed.

Check how much money is available. Drivers who know how much money they can spend on insurance can better simulate different insurance plans. Online quotes will help drivers simulate different insurance policies with different coverage limits, add-ons, and deductibles with their available budgets.

Use only correct information. While getting online quotes, drivers should keep some relevant documents nearby. An online questionnaire will ask for data about the car make, model, sub-model, year of production, safety and anti-theft devices, and driving history. The online questionnaire can ask drivers to provide some really accurate info like the exact sub-model of a vehicle or the number of cylinders.

Provide truthful information. There are many drivers who have driving records that are not so good. However, this is not a reason to lie to an insurer. Before offering an insurance deal to someone, car insurance companies will do their own investigations. Drivers who are caught lying can face harsh penalties like increased premiums or policy denial.

Use complex questionnaires. The more complex is an online questionnaire, the more accurate are the results. Drivers who complete long questionnaires about vehicle history, driving history and their personal details will obtain quotes that are extremely accurate.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
Visitors to booth #114 at SIA Executive Forum will learn about CEIPALs AI-driven ATS, CRM, and patent-pending DEI technology CEIPAL, an industry-leading talent acquisition automation platform, will be showcasing some of its latest advances in talent acquisition and recruitment CRM technology at SIAs Annual Executive Forum.

CEIPAL, an industry-leading talent acquisition automation platform, will be showcasing some of its latest advances in talent acquisition and recruitment CRM technology at SIAs Annual Executive Forum. This annual forum for staffing executives to connect and gain new insights from key industry trends is being held February 28 to March 3, 2022 in Austin, Texas. At the event, staffing leaders will discuss business challenges, growth, trends, and innovations in HR and staffing technology. Attendees can learn about CEIPALs complete talent management ecosystem, which improves recruiting and increases new hires. In addition, attendees can preview CEIPALs patent-pending DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Technology.

Attendees are invited to visit CEIPAL at booth #114 to learn how to successfully:

Use customer engagement and talent marketing to drive staffing success

Apply an AI-powered applicant tracking system to engage the best candidates more quickly and to improve sourcing

Access the most diverse, high-quality talent pool

Utilize business analytics to give your team access to critical data for better decision-making

Attendees who visit CEIPALs SIA Executive Forum booth #114 can also experience virtual reality through an Oculus VR system for which they can register to win. Those who are not attending, but wish to learn more about CEIPALs features and capabilities, can request a personalized demo and find additional information at http://www.ceipal.com.

About CEIPAL

CEIPAL is an AI-powered SaaS platform that provides full-lifecycle management of the talent acquisition process. Our system leverages advanced technology to analyze vast amounts of candidate and employee data, providing actionable insights for meeting hiring goals and executing talent strategies. With robust solutions for pipeline curation, candidate engagement & marketing, applicant tracking, and workforce management, CEIPAL helps staffing firms, MSPs, and corporate hiring teams of all sizes to attract and retain the best available talent. CEIPAL was founded in 2015 and now serves 1,800+ customers and 120,000 recruiters globally.
Gio Carrillo, CellGate's New Southeast Regional Sales Manager "We are excited to have Gio represent us (in the Southeast region), as his experience and industry relationships will allow him to step in and make a positive impact right away. Ken Shaw, Vice President of Sales, CellGate

Cellular-based access control company, CellGate, has announced a new addition to their sales organization. Beginning Monday, February 21st, 2022, Gio Carrillo has joined the CellGate team, serving as its new Southeast Regional Sales Manager, reporting to David Rademacher, National Sales Manager.

Gio Carrillo has been part of the perimeter access control industrydomestically and internationallyfor over 30 years, with additional experience in video surveillance and intrusion detection systems. Gio was previously a Regional Sales Manager for Viking Access Systems and Nortek Control, and has also held the title of Technical Director and Product Manager for BFT and Ultra Aluminum Manufacturing, respectively. Additionally, Gio served 8 years as a Power Production Specialist in the U.S. Air Force Reserves; and attended the InterAmerican University, majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Marketing.

As a CellGate Regional Sales Manager, Gio will be responsible for managing CellGates sales growth and customer experience through its distribution and dealer partnerships in the Southeast Region. Carrillo will represent CellGate out of Miami, Florida and will work with all CellGate sales channels including: fence and gate, systems integrators, and home automation.

Ken Shaw, Vice President of Sales at CellGate had this to say about Carrillo's hiring: "The Southeast region is one of the strongest and most demanding parts of the country for our cellular and internet-based access control products. We are excited to have Gio represent us there, as his experience and industry relationships will allow him to step in and make a positive impact right away.

CellGate has been providing access control and security monitoring products utilizing cellular and internet network technology since 2006. They are the only technology company with a complete suite of cellular-based security productsencompassing integrated streaming video, access control and camera solutions. With their easy-to-use smart phone applications and proprietary web-based TrueCloud portal built on Microsoft Azures cloud service, CellGate offers flexibility found in no other access control or monitoring solution. Visit http://www.cell-gate.com to learn more.
If God Has Not Disqualified You, Do Not Disqualify Yourself: a potent reminder that all are Gods children who he has deemed worthy. If God Has Not Disqualified You, Do Not Disqualify Yourself is the creation of published author Cynthia A. Brathwaite, an ordained minister and lead pastor at Promise Worship Center in Braintree, Massachusetts, where she serves along with her husband, Elder Carson Brathwaite.

Brathwaite shares, Who told you that you were disqualified? What labels are you still wearing? What words still taunt you? What images still haunt you? Who said the unthinkable, and did the unimaginable to you?

You are more than what was done to you, more than what you have been labeled, more than the name-calling, more than your feelings, more than your appearance, more than your mistakes, and much, much, more. You are a champion. You are more than a conqueror.

Isnt it time that you unwrap, unpack, release, and discover the warrior inside of you? Dive in and discover the power to live your life the way God intended.

If God Has Not Disqualified You, Do Not Disqualify Yourself delivers a Gods eye view to power and victory over insecurity, fear, low self-esteem, and the feelings of not being good enough, and inspires you to see yourself as God sees you.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Cynthia A. Brathwaites new book will encourage and empower as readers reflect and seek ways to promote growth and healing within their lives.

Brathwaite draws from personal experience and study to explore the work needed to take up the mantle of a chosen child of God and turn away from feelings of inferiority.

Consumers can purchase If God Has Not Disqualified You, Do Not Disqualify Yourself at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about If God Has Not Disqualified You, Do Not Disqualify Yourself, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Im so pleased to be taking part in this years WiCyS conference. I am inspired and empowered by the representation I see and the work my colleagues are doing. I am deeply honored to speak with them this year.

Dr. Latanya Sweeney, Daniel Paul Professor of the Practice of Government and Technology, Harvard is set as a keynote speaker at the Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) conference, March 17-19, in Cleveland, Ohio.

What makes the WiCyS conference distinctive is its emphasis on recruiting, retaining, inspiring and advancing women in cybersecurity careers while involving students, educators, industry, government, military and research organizations.

Sweeney helped launch the emerging area known as algorithmic fairness, and her work is explicitly cited in government regulations worldwide, including the U.S. federal medical privacy regulation (also known as HIPAA). She has received the prestigious Louis D. Brandeis Privacy Award, the American Psychiatric Association's Privacy Advocacy Award, and has testified before government bodies worldwide. She earned her Ph.D. in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2001, the first Black woman to do so.

Im so pleased to be taking part in this years WiCyS conference. I am inspired and empowered by the representation I see and the work my colleagues are doing. I am deeply honored to speak with them this year, Sweeney said.

Sweeney will talk about how technology could dictate the civic future since data-driven algorithms and technology designers have become the new policymakers. She will survey unforeseen consequences and brainstorm options to move forward with innovative technologies designed with the public interest in mind.

Journalists are invited to attend and should email info@wicys.org to request a media pass. For more information on WiCyS or the conference, visit http://www.wicys.org.

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is the premier nonprofit organization with international reach dedicated to bringing together women in cybersecurity. Founded by Dr. Ambareen Siraj from Tennessee Tech University through a National Science Foundation grant in 2013, WiCyS offers opportunities and resources for its members and collaboration benefits for its sponsors and partners. Strategic partners include Tier 1: Amazon Web Services, Bloomberg, Carnegie Mellon University  Software Engineering Institute, Cisco, Fortinet, Google, Intel, Lockheed Martin, Meta, Microsoft, Optum, SentinelOne. Tier 2: Abbvie, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Linkedin, Navy Federal Credit Union, Nike, Wayfair, Workday. Tier 3: Haystack Solutions, HERE Technologies, Home Depot, MITRE, Palo Alto Networks, Smoothstack. To partner, visit https://www.wicys.org/support/strategic-partnerships/.


We are excited to work with Meridian to streamline and expand how we train staff on skill development, cyber security, confidentiality and general policies and procedures.

Meridian Knowledge Solutions is excited to announce a new partnership with Delaware County to help restructure its compliance program and centralize training of various departments to one source. Delaware County needed a comprehensive training solution that was not only flexible, but also accountable to track critical progress and performance essential to compliance.

Sean Osborne, SVP of Product and Growth Strategy, believes Meridians ability to not only deliver critical training, but meet the specific requirements around the delivery of complex IT compliance training, was instrumental in Delaware Countys selection process.

Emily Mullin, Delaware Countys Human Resources Training and Development leader, said We are excited to work with Meridian to streamline and expand how we train staff on skill development, cyber security, confidentiality and general policies and procedures.

Delaware County sought a Learning Management System that would track training and communicate progress via alerts or emails, incorporate specific reporting needs, integrate with Microsoft Active Directory, automate critical HR tasks, and tightly integrate OpenSesame content. Meridian LMS met all these requirements.

About Delaware County

Delaware County, presently consisting of over 184 square miles divided into forty-nine municipalities is the oldest settled section of Pennsylvania. Because of its rich history, Delaware County has been welcoming visitors from around the globe for hundreds of years. The area offers a window to the past, where visitors to Drexel Hill can still see a cabin built by settlers in the mid-1600s and families can visit the site of the Battle of the Brandywine in 1777  on a day that would eventually become known as Patriot Day  September 11. Many of Philadelphias visitors arrive in Delaware County because two-thirds of the Philadelphia International Airport is within our boundaries. Visit https://www.delcopa.gov/index.html to learn more.

About Meridian Knowledge Solutions

Powering progress with compliance training, branded and blended learning environments, and eCommerce solutions. Meridian Learning Management System (LMS) addresses complex learning challenges for customers such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Johnson Controls, Abbott, Mazda, HAI Group, and The Auto Club Group (AAA).

Our award-winning enterprise-level learning management platform contains our proprietary Learning Record Store (LRS), Career Explorer, content authoring tools, and natively integrates content provided by our partner OpenSesame. Meridian LMS is available in the cloud, on-premise, or private cloud. For more information, visit https://www.meridianks.com or follow @MeridianKS on Twitter.
There is tremendous pent-up demand to connect again in person. While many attend because an event of this scope offers enormous potential to conduct business and fortify client-counsel relationships, it goes well beyond that. It is a reunion, a gathering of community in every sense of the word.

Pent-Up Demand Sparks Registrations for International Trademark Associations 2022 Annual Meeting

As the International Trademark Association (INTA) prepares to hold its first full-scale in-person event in nearly three years, more than 2,500 brand owners and intellectual property professionals from more than 100 countries have already registered for the 2022 Annual Meeting Live+. The Annual Meeting continues a 144-year-old tradition and is renowned as the worlds largest gathering of industry professionals.

The 2022 Meeting will take place from April 30 through May 4, both in person in at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., and virtually. INTA has put in place health and safety best practices for the onsite event, providing comfort to registrants to attend sessions and conduct in-person meetings and business at the Convention Center.

Registrants run the gamut, including representatives of brands, law firms, government, service providers, and academia worldwide, and first timers to experienced practitioners who have attended the Annual Meeting for years or even decades.

Among corporates, 250 brand owner representatives from 14 countries have already signed up. They include corporate giants like Amazon.com, Inc. (USA), Heineken International B.V. (Netherlands), LG Display Co. (South Korea), Nestle Ltd. (Switzerland), PepsiCo, Inc. (Mexico), Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (US), and Zoom Video Communications (USA). As well, 67 organizations are sending six or more team members.

There is tremendous pent-up demand to connect again in person, said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo. While many attend because an event of this scope offers enormous potential to conduct business and fortify client-counsel relationships, it goes well beyond that. It is a reunion, a gathering of community in every sense of the word.

Given INTAs return to an in-person Annual Meeting, since the last one in 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts, registrants can expect some changes in programming to present a whole new experience, Mr. Sanz de Acedo noted.

Most representative of this, the Association is hosting a hybrid event, with an all-out onsite meeting and virtual components. Participants can register for either Live+ (in person plus virtual) or Virtual Only.

At the onsite event, the revamped programming includes more time, opportunities, and venues for networking, such as a new Business Development Lounge, reimagined Exhibition Hall called the Brand Marketplace, and an online scheduling and networking tool, INTAconnect.

Educational programming centers on thematic tracks: Building a Better Society Through Brands; Complementary Rights, Regulatory Issues, and Brand Restrictions; Enforcement and Anticounterfeiting; Innovation and the Future of IP; Professional Development; Regional Updates; and The Business of Brands.

Sessions address top-of-mind trends, key policy issues, and career pointers. For example, panels include Counterfeiting in the Metaverse: Protecting, Policing, and Enforcing Digital Rights as Technology Races Forward, Green Is the New Black: How Does This Fit into an IP Strategy, Indigenous Communities and the Design Industry: Boundaries and Balances, and Leveraging Legal Technology to Support the Business: Trends to Watch. Also on tap are sessions on blockchain, brand valuation, case law, and NFTs, among others.

Also new, several sessions will be live streamed, such as the Opening Ceremonies and the legendary Annual Review of U.S. Federal Case Law and TTAB Developments. At the end of February, registration will open for approximately 100 small-group Table Topics, and in-house practitioners will be able to sign up for the popular Anticounterfeiting Workshop and In-House Practitioners Workshop.

As the pandemic continues to develop, INTA has updated its health precautions for the in-person portion of the 2022 Annual Meeting Live+. The revisions make the requirements more cost-effective and seamless for registrants while maintaining the Associations emphasis on health and safety.

Under the guidelines, registrants must show proof of being fully vaccinated and a negative COVID-19 test result (PCR, Rapid-Antigen, or self-administered) within 48 hours before picking up their badge.

Our commitment to registrants health and safety is unwavering, Mr. Sanz de Acedo said. We recognize, however, that just as we have been agile throughout the pandemic, we need to continually adapt our health precautions when appropriate to make in-person entry as simple as possible while also ensuring safety.

The Convention Center itself has top-notch and innovative health and safety practices, such as self-cleaning escalators and utilizing the UV-C disinfection robot ADIBOT. As well, INTA has adapted its Meeting schedule to allow for cleaning of rooms between sessions.

For those who cannot or choose not to attend in person, the Association is offering a Virtual Only option. Educational sessions, focusing on key IP issues, will be held in different time zones each day (China Standard, Central European, U.S. Eastern). In addition, the agenda includes small-group Table Topics and various Business Development opportunities.

Early-bird pricing for Live+ (in person plus virtual) is available until March 4. Premium Access pricing for Virtual Only runs through April 1. For both options, the last day to register is April 22.

About the International Trademark Association (INTA)

The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and complementary intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation, and committed to building a better society through brands. Members include nearly 6,500 organizations, representing more than 34,350 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 185 countries, who benefit from the Associations global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA, a not-for-profit organization, is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Santiago, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and a representative in New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.

Media Contact:

JC Darne

Senior Manager, Communication

212-642-1774

jdarne@inta.org
Faithful Living: Honoring God Through Persistence and Faith During Trying Times: a potent reminder of the strength one can draw from faithful dedication to God. Faithful Living: Honoring God Through Persistence and Faith During Trying Times is the creation of published author Donald R. Ruth, a loving husband, father, and grandfather who has served as pastor of St. John Baptist Church of Alsen for nearly twenty-five years.

Ruth shares, As I write this book, the world has been shaken by a horrible pandemic, namely COVID-19. The initial impacts of this dreadful disease were first seen in America in early 2020. As of today, the COVID-19 death toll in America is nearing six hundred thousand. In addition to the tremendous loss of life, the economy was virtually brought to a standstill because of business closures that were made necessary to stop or limit the spread of this disease. As a result, many people found themselves facing a daily struggle to remain safe while yet trying to provide for themselves and their families.

Though this book was not written to address faithful living from a COVID-19 perspective, I felt led to share about faithfulness, but from a broader perspective. Having been raised in a family that did not have very much in the way of finances, my parents, who were both strong Christians, demonstrated to me what faithfulness looked like, especially in the face of adversity.

Hence my title Faithful Living: Honoring God through Persistence and Faith during Trying Times. They, to me, are the epitome of the title of this book.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Donald R. Ruths new book will encourage and challenge believers.

Ruth shares a hopeful discussion with thoughtful reflection and relevant scripture for the encouragement of those who seek a deeper connection to God.

Consumers can purchase Faithful Living: Honoring God Through Persistence and Faith During Trying Times at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Faithful Living: Honoring God Through Persistence and Faith During Trying Times, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.


The Nicholas Recognized Among Top Multifamily Projects in the Nation by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) The Nicholas boasts a customer living experience second to none.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently announced the 2021 Best in American Living Award (BALA) winners at the International Builders' Show, naming The Nicholas, an Edwards Urban Community professionally managed by Drucker + Falk, among the year's best.

The Nicholas, offering 230 luxury apartment homes, took home Platinum for the Best Multifamily Development Four to Seven Stories - for Rent, as well as Best in Region - Midwest. Transforming a parking lot into a vibrant, mixed-use community that has added new life to the urban core, this Downtown Columbus community impressed judges with its strategic development, mix of architectural styles, and addition of fresh details and character to the area.

Several teams came together to ensure the communitys developer, Edwards Urban, philanthropic vision of reinvigorating downtown Columbus came true. KEPHART, the architectural firm; Urban Five the builder; MKSK the communitys Landscape Architect / Designer; and Studio 4D the Interior Designer created a multifamily community that has been long-praised by its residents and now recognized nationally by reputable organizations like BALA.

In its 38th year, BALA recognizes outstanding achievement by builders and design professionals in all sectors of the residential housing industry including single-family production, custom, multifamily, affordable, remodeling, community, and interiors. BALA is built on the principle that all great homes start with great design, no matter cost or size.

Kimberly Krzemien, Director of Multifamily Management with Drucker + Falk said, We are thrilled that The Nicholas was recognized by the National Association of Home Builders. The Nicholas boasts a customer living experience second to none. With dramatic city views, open living spaces with designer touches to the high-end amenity package and exceptional location, the community offers more than a residence  it offers a lifestyle.

To learn more about life at The Nicholas, click here.

ABOUT DRUCKER + FALK

Founded in 1938, Drucker + Falk is a full-service real estate and investment firm, managing a diverse portfolio of more than 40,000 apartments in 11 states including Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Louisiana. With roots in third party fee management, Drucker + Falk specializes in multifamily management of all asset types, new development construction consultation and lease up, urban revitalization, asset repositioning and stabilization of challenging properties, mixed use management and due diligence services. With more than 3 million square feet under management, Drucker + Falk also offers commercial sales, leasing and management services. For more information, visit Drucker and Falk.
Our goal is to solve the complex issues surrounding lead-free aviation fuels with innovations that ensure safety, as well as reliability, marketplace availability, and continue to provide the countless benefits of general and recreational aviation to our nation and the world.

Leaders of aviation and petroleum groups have committed to an initiative laying out a clear plan to transition piston-engine aircraft to lead-free aviation fuels by the end of 2030.

Announced at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., today, the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative calls for an industry and government partnership to expand and accelerate the actions and policies necessary for a viable high-octane unleaded replacement for the current 100 octane low-lead aviation gasoline (100LL), without compromising the existing U.S. transportation infrastructure system, aviation safety, and the economic and broader public benefits of general aviation.

The FAA hosted an industry stakeholder roundtable meeting in November 2021 to discuss a strategic plan toward an unleaded avgas future, culminating in the establishment of the EAGLE initiative, which is structured around four key pillars  Regulatory and Policy, Unleaded Fuel Testing and Qualification, Research and Development, and Business Infrastructure and Implementation. These activities, which will require full government support, provide the foundation toward safe unleaded aviation fuels for piston-engine aircraft. Industry stakeholders and the FAA will begin working on the EAGLE initiative right away with a partnership symposium, to define a detailed workplan, planned for March.

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson pledged the FAAs support of the initiatives collaborative partnership.

This is a safe and practical path to a lead-free aviation system, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said. We look forward to starting this new partnership with aviation stakeholders to achieve this important goal.

Groups committed to the EAGLE initiative include the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), American Petroleum Institute (API), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), National Air Transportation Association (NATA), and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

Securing a lead-free future for aviation fuel is a formidable challenge, but the aviation community has faced and met previous challenges with ingenuity and imagination, said Jack J. Pelton, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Our goal is to solve the complex issues surrounding lead-free aviation fuels with innovations that ensure safety, as well as reliability, marketplace availability, and continue to provide the countless benefits of general and recreational aviation to our nation and the world.

The future of light general aviation depends on moving away from leaded fuels. To accomplish this imperative, it is important to note that our industry, as well as the industry providing our avgas, are united in partnering with the FAA to advance a sustainable future. The EAGLE public-private partnership will ensure coordination of a safe and reliable transition to an unleaded future state for piston-engine aircraft. GAMAs manufacturing and maintenance companies look forward to working with the FAA, industry colleagues and other stakeholders to carry out this challenging and ambitious initiative. EAGLE will be the enabler for meeting our environment goals while keeping aviation safety, as well as the broader economic and public benefits provided by general aviation, at the forefront, said Pete Bunce, GAMA President and CEO.

While the industry has a shared vision of a lead-free aviation future, the transition must be done in a smart and safe way, and in a manner that works for the entire general aviation fleet, said Mark Baker, President and CEO of AOPA. Joining together in a broad coalition to reinforce our commitment, and outlining the plan to get there, is a very positive step forward. We look forward to making good progress under the EAGLE banner.

Environmental stewardship is a high priority for airport executives, and AAAE is pleased to join with FAA and our partners in the general aviation industry to chart a path forward to a lead-free future for aviation fuel, AAAE President & CEO Todd Hauptli. The EAGLE initiative sets a meaningful goal that will benefit the environment, public health, and the future of general aviation, which plays such an important role in communities across the country and to the national economy. We look forward to working with the government and our industry partners to make the promises of EAGLE a reality.

We welcome the opportunity to partner with the FAA and general aviation industry to develop an achievable pathway that safely transitions piston-engine aircraft to unleaded aviation fuels. The EAGLE public-private partnership brings together the critical cross-section of industry and government expertise that will be necessary to succeed in this complex undertaking. We look forward being a part of this collaborative effort to deliver a solution that ensures general aviators continued access to the safe and reliable fuels while strengthening environmental progress .  API VP of Downstream Policy Ron Chittim.

The EAGLE initiative brings together stakeholders dedicated to advancing a sustainable future for general aviation. It is imperative that we safely transition piston-engine aircraft to lead-free aviation fuel by the end of 2030. This initiative is the right thing to do for the environment and the economic health of our industry. Helicopter Association International (HAI) is committed to this partnership and applauds the broad public-private partnership that has come together enabling industry and government to accelerate a solution. The vertical flight industry is eager to work with all stakeholders to move the EAGLE initiative forward, said James Viola, HAI President and CEO.

National Air Transportation Association President and CEO Timothy Obitts stated, "NATA and its members are dedicated to finding a single drop-in unleaded fuel to replace 100LL that is compatible with existing infrastructure. We thank the FAA for its guidance and support, and look forward to working with our industry partners toward a safe and viable solution. The EAGLE initiative is another great example of how we are uniting for the safety, success, and future of the industry.

We are proud to be a part of this pioneering initiative to chart a course for a future free of leaded fuels, said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. The EAGLE initiative is a very important step in ensuring the sustainability, safety and security of aviation in the years to come.

About EAA

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the worlds most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAAs 250,000 members and 900 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to http://www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with http://www.twitter.com/EAA.
There is so much misinformation online about filing auto accident claims and how an Accredited Claims Adjuster can help policy holders. We hope our blog series will help to educate consumers so if they need to file an accident claim their process is a smooth one

Educational Services & Consulting (ESC) announces the launch of their newest blog series. This newest online discussion is designed to educate consumers on the steps to follow when involved in a car accident and how an Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) can help with their insurance claim.

The first blog in the series is entitled Car Accident and Filing an Insurance Claim. In this blog Educational Services & Consulting reviews the steps to take in the aftermath of a car accident. Readers will learn about what information to document while at the accident scene including gathering witness contact information, taking photos, recommendations for exchanging insurance information and more. Within this blog readers will also learn when an Accredited Claims Adjuster will get involved, how long it can take for an adjuster to review the claim and if the claim is approved how reimbursement will work. To read this blog in its entirety visit: https://escconnected.com/car-accident-how-to-file-insurance-claim/

The second blog in the series is entitled Ive Had an Auto Accident, How Can an Accredited Claims Adjuster Help Me? In this blog readers will learn how once a claim is filed an Accredited Claims Adjuster will be their point of contact throughout the entire claim process. Educational Services & Consulting discusses what to submit to the insurance company including the police report, photos, medical records, receipts and other documentation. Readers will also learn more about the timeline for processing the claim, how often they would communicate with their adjuster and more about the overall claim process. To read this blog in its entirety visit: https://escconnected.com/car-accident-how-can-accredited-claims-adjuster-help/

Co-Owner and Chief Strategy Officer, Natalie Zimmerman, states There is so much misinformation online about filing auto accident claims and how an Accredited Claims Adjuster can help policy holders. We hope our blog series will help to educate consumers so if they need to file an accident claim their process is a smooth one. Details are typically lost in the chaos of an auto accident. In our first blog of the series, we provide steps to take in the event the driver and passenger(s) are not able to gather information at the scene of the accident. Best case scenario is when all parties involved are not injured and can gather information and take pictures/videos. One tip we do recommend is to take photos of the area where the accident occurred including street signs, crosswalks, sidewalks and other unique identifiers in the event these smaller details get lost in translation of filing the auto claim.

The final two blogs in the series focus on how to file a car accident claim and the summary of roles and responsibilities for the Accredited Claims Adjuster and the claimant. Readers are encouraged to follow Educational Services & Consulting to read these next two blogs that will be posted to: https://escconnected.com/blog/.

Zimmerman adds We hope the information shared in our blog series is helpful. The more information that can be provided to the Accredited Claims Adjuster the better the outcome will be for the claimant. Typically, when there is a lack of communication and detail between the Accredited Claims Adjuster and the claimant the entire process can drag on and take longer than necessary.

ESC offers online courses for individuals desiring to earn their 6-20 Accredited Claims Adjuster and 4-40 Registered Customer Service Representative (RCSR) designations. ESC works with insurance companies looking to add additional licensed personnel to their team. Individuals who complete ESCs 40-hour online course and passes their exam are not required to take a state exam. Upon passing ESCs exam individuals can apply for their state license. Those who passed their ACA exam can work as an All-Lines Adjuster once they receive their state license.

ESC also partners with area colleges/universities and the various branches of the United States Military. Their partnership with educational institutions offers a revenue share opportunity for each student who enrolls in ESCs courses directly through the school. School resources are not required as ESC will facilitate their courses online and handle any technical support issues.

For those retiring or on leave from any of the United States Military branches, Educational Services & Consulting welcomes those candidates to help them transition into civilian life and start a new career. Zimmerman states Our courses provide that next career move for those leaving their military careers. While they receive their military retirement benefits, they can start a new chapter in their career and continue to have an active income. We have had many retired military candidates earn their ACA designation and really enjoy their next career. The Accredited Claims Adjuster position is very procedural, so we think it really appeals to former members in the military.

Educational Services & Consulting is known throughout the industry for offering affordable, flexible online designation courses for those looking to earn their 6-20 ACA designation and 4-40 RCSR designation. This Clermont, Florida based company recently participated in the Windstorm Insurance Network (WIND) conference in Orlando, Florida. Their next industry wide conference they are participating in is the Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA) conference happening June 15  17, 2022.

For more information on ESC 6-20 Accredited Claims Adjuster designation or their 4-40 Registered Customer Service Representative designation, call 1-800-309-2459 or visit online at: https://escconnected.com/courses/.
Left to right: Marius Wuestefeld (SE Spezial), Steve Attfield (SE Spezial), Steve Shultis (Empower Semiconductor), Diego Sala (Empower Semiconductor) We have over fifty years experience in supplying technically advanced products across a wide variety of applications. Empowers IVR and E-Cap technologies are world leading and complement our existing portfolio of semiconductor, passive and power solutions.

Empower Semiconductor, Inc., the world leader in Integrated Voltage Regulators (IVRs) has signed a European agreement with technology distributor SE Spezial-Electronic. Under the terms of the agreement, SE Spezial will provide comprehensive sales and support services for Empowers technologies to customers throughout Europe, UK and Russia.

The new agreement allows Empower to support the rapidly growing demand for its IVR and advanced E-Cap solid-state capacitor products. As well as the distributors well-established logistics infrastructure, SE Spezial will be able to support custom product developments built around advanced semiconductor technologies.

Empowers IVRs are high-performance power management chips designed to provide performance, efficiency, size, and cost benefits to energy-hungry, data-intensive electronics applications by replacing the traditional power management integrated circuits (PMICs) with a single tiny IC. The companys E-Cap solution is a compact, high-performance, configurable silicon-based alternative to conventional multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs).

Commenting on the new agreement, Steve Shultis, Empowers Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing states: We are actively expanding our global sales and support capabilities as we ramp up our IVR and E-Cap businesses. SE Spezial-Electronic offers the perfect combination of experience, technical knowledge and logistics that not only ensures European customers have rapid access to these technologies but also provides a route to local support as they develop their next-generation applications.

Steve Attfield (Business Development Dir.) of SE Spezial-Electronic GmbH adds: We have over fifty years experience in supplying technically advanced products across a wide variety of applications. Empowers IVR and E-Cap technologies are world leading and complement our existing portfolio of semiconductor, passive and power solutions and are ideally for our customers looking to develop the next-generation of ultra-efficient power architectures.

For inquiries, please contact SE Spezial at: empower@spezial.com

About Empower Semiconductor

The exponential increase in the amount of data being communicated and processed around the globe is driving the energy consumption of data centers and communications networks to 17% of total electricity demand worldwide by 2030(1), dramatically increasing pollution, carbon emissions and cost. Empower Semiconductor was founded with the mission to minimize the energy footprint of the digital economy by developing novel fully integrated power management solutions that both increase the performance and reduce the power consumption of energy-hungry, data-intensive applications.

Traditional power solutions require dozens of discrete components with big footprints, complex designs and deliver power inefficiently with poor response times and inaccuracies. Empower Semiconductors patented IVR technology integrates dozens of components into a single IC increasing efficiency, shrinking footprints by 10x and delivering power with unprecedented simplicity, speed & accuracy and with zero discrete components. The Empower IVR technology solves the power density challenge to address a wide range of applications including mobile, wearables, 5G, AI, and data centers. In 2020 the capacitor technology platform was added to further address power density. E-CAP revolutionized the capacitor industry as the worlds smallest, highest performing, and incredibly reliable capacitor for wearables, mobile, and SoC applications. The company is based in Silicon Valley, CA and is led by a team of highly experienced power experts and executives.

About SE Spezial-Electronic

SE Spezial-Electronic GmbH was founded in 1970 and is now an internationally operating distributor for electronic components. The company has its headquarters in Buckeburg (Lower Saxony), branches in Dortmund, Ellwangen, Munich, London and Amsterdam as well as subsidiaries in Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia and the USA. The product range includes ICs for the analogue signal path, A/D and D/A conversion and communication via radio and cable; modules and antennas for mobile radio, GNSS, Bluetooth, WLAN, RFID transponders and readers, sensors, quartz and silicon-based timing products, TFT, passive LC, LED, OLED and touch displays, flash memory, DRAMs and EEPROMs, discrete semiconductors as well as passive and electromechanical components. Detailed information about SE Spezial-Electronic GmbH can be found at http://www.spezial.com.

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Empower Semiconductor and the Empower logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Empower Semiconductor, Inc. All other brands, product names and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.
We couldnt think of a better way to say thank you than by giving back to the creative community and uplifting future creatives and their talents. ~ Explainify Senior VP Derek Gerber

Explainify, the leader in premium animated explainer videos, is proud to launch the Explainify 10-Year Anniversary Young Creatives Competition.

The year-long competition is open to young creatives around the world between the ages of 12 to 30. Submitted artwork must include the Explainify logo or Explainify Play Button icon (included in the submissions package). The competition will run from January through December 2022.

Over the past decade, the worlds most popular brands have trusted Explainify to create animated explainer videos that have generated millions of views throughout the world, says Explainify Senior Vice President Derek Gerber. We couldnt think of a better way to say 'thank you' than by giving back to the creative community and uplifting future creatives and their talents.

Winning details:



How to Enter: Creatives will submit their original artwork via the competition Submissions page. The Explainify team of animation professionals will choose each months winning creative. Winners will then be notified via email.

Winners Receive: High-profile spotlights throughout the year on Explainify.com, their winning artwork displayed on all Explainify social platforms, a $50 gift card, and eligibility to win the year-end Grand Prize.

Grand Prize: Monthly winners will be automatically entered to win the Grand Prize. The one Grand Prize winner will be selected by Explainifys panel of judges on December 31, 2022 and receive a $500 Amazon gift card and a new Apple Watch.

The Explainify 10-Year Anniversary celebration is not about patting ourselves on the back for our accomplishments, says Gerber. Its about having the opportunity to give back to the community and include others in the celebration. The Young Creatives Competition is our chance to do both. Explainify is more than a brand experience for creating amazing explainer videos  its a lifestyle that we embrace with our clients as were so excited to have the opportunity to be able to bring their stories to life with the world.

For more information on competition rules and how to enter the Explainify Young Creatives Competition, visit the submissions page at explainify.com/young-creative-competition.

About Explainify

Founded in 2012, Explainify is a leading premium animation explainer video agency known for its work around the world. Headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas with affiliate offices throughout the United States, Explainify works with organizations from Fortune 500 companies to funded startups. The company has created explainer videos for brands around the world, including such iconic names as Visa, Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods, American Red Cross, General Electric, and Bosch. To learn more, visit explainify.com.
In this book you will meet two dozen Jews from all walks of life  rabbis, journalists, an ex-Marxist couple, a stand-up comic, an irreligious Israeli waitress, a mean old junk-yard operator  who exhibited, in their own wildly differing ways, the influence of Yeshua thus far in their lives.

Author Anthony Cardinale shares the stories of modern-day Jews in Searching for Jesus in the Jewish Mind: The Unseen Hand of God ($21.99, paperback, 9781662839429; $9.99, e-book, 9781662839436).

Cardinale has spent years getting to know the people he has chosen to showcase in this book. He has tracked their search for God and His service, and the impact Jesus and His teachings have had on that journey.

In this book you will meet two dozen Jews from all walks of life  rabbis, journalists, an ex-Marxist couple, a stand-up comic, an irreligious Israeli waitress, a mean old junk-yard operator  who exhibited, in their own wildly differing ways, the influence of Yeshua thus far in their lives, said Cardinale.

Anthony Cardinale, a Christian with Jewish bloodlines, has been active in the Messianic Jewish movement for more than 30 years. Among his books are The Red Heifer: A Jewish Cry for Messiah, and most recently The Pharisees Are Coming to Jesus: Secret Orthodox Believers in Israel and America. The award-winning journalist has written for the Jerusalem Post, Messianic Times, Jewish Voice Today, Charisma, and Ministries magazines. A member of the National Association of Scholars, he has taught at five colleges since completing his graduate work at Northwestern University. He also brings to his writings his dramatic touch as an award-winning playwright.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. Searching for Jesus in the Jewish Mind is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
Supporting community organizations with training, capacity building, and capital, will help us connect all Illinois children to a crucial antipoverty lifeline.

Individuals and families in Illinois are eligible for thousands of dollars from the government via temporary increases to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), but need to file their 2021 taxes to receive the benefits. Many people who dont normally earn enough to file taxes dont realize they are still eligible for these stimulus dollars. The Get My Payment IL Coalition is helping make the process easier by connecting individuals and families to free tax-filing resources and helping them understand their benefit eligibility, as well as providing grants of $15,000-$20,000 to community organizations in Illinois that directly serve eligible populations.

Congress passed the American Rescue Plan in March 2021, which included one-time increases in the EITC and CTC and expanded eligibility to individuals who were previously ineligible. Although Congress has not extended these benefits beyond the 2021 tax year, millions of dollars of benefits are just kicking in for parents of minors, childless workers, and very low-income individuals.



Some families with minor children already received half of their CTC automatically in monthly payments starting July 2021, but will need to file taxes to receive the other half of their payments. The credit amounts have been increased to $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 per child age 6-17 for most families.

Families with minor children who didnt receive their monthly payments should file to receive the maximum amount they are eligible for, including the higher CTC, EITC, and Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC). The amount of childcare costs covered by the CDCC has increased to 50% of expenses up to $8,000 from 35% of expenses up to $3,000, for a maximum credit of $4,000 for one child and $8,000 for two or more children. The credit previously maxed out at $2,100 per family. More low- and middle-income families are also eligible, with families with incomes up to $125,000 qualifying for the full credit.

Childless adults and very low-income individuals can also benefit from the temporary increase in the EITC. Those making up to $21,430 are eligible for up to $1,502 (increased from $543). Young adults aged 19-24 without qualifying children are also now eligible unless they are full-time students (age 24) or were in foster care (age 18). Seniors aged 65+ are also now eligible for the 2021 EITC.

Individuals who never received their stimulus checks can also still claim those. The third round of stimulus checks were larger: $1,400 for each taxpayer with a valid Social Security Number and $1,400 for each dependent, with no age limit for dependents. This helps families with many types of dependents including elderly family members, college students, and adults with disabilities.

The Get My Payment IL Coalition has granted $15,000-$20,000 each to five community-based organizations around the state that directly serve populations eligible for these increased government benefits.

"Early in the pandemic, we learned that many of the low-income families we serve lack the technology and hands-on assistance to access tax filing resources. Supporting community organizations with training, capacity building, and capital, will help us connect all Illinois children to a crucial antipoverty lifeline. Grantees have close connections to communities," said Barbara Martinez, Manager of Asset-Building Programs, Heartland Human Care Services.

"We are excited to support a variety of organizations, each with a unique approach to reaching and assisting families to receive all available tax credits. These organizations will be reaching low-income communities across the state from new mothers, to families of school-age children, to those experiencing homelessness," said Anna Phelan, head of the Get My Payment IL hotline.

The following organizations received grants:

Cunningham Township Supervisors Office in Urbana, IL is a public agency providing direct assistance to more than 5,000 local residents annually who are dealing with the devastations of homelessness, joblessness, or disability. Cunningham Township will work with families who are housing insecure or homeless, those without tech access, limited transportation, limited literacy, and who may not bank or file taxes.

Press Contact: Danielle Chynoweth, 217-721-7223, danielle@cunninghamtownship.org

Universidad Popular in Chicago, IL works with the Latino immigrant community in learning financial literacy, job skills, life skills, digital literacy, health literacy, and English language acquisition skills. Universidad Popular will incorporate presentations about the Child Tax Credit to existing programming, as well as posting information in neighborhood locations like libraries, laundromats, supermarkets, and on yard signs in schools and churches for residents to get help claiming the CTC.

Press Contact: Irais Flores Medina, 773-733-5055, iflores@universidadpopular.us

Inner Voice in Chicago, IL provides a combination of transitional and supportive housing, case management, and support services through a portfolio of 16 programs designed to help individuals and families use housing as a platform for health and recovery following a period of homelessness. Inner Voice will directly assist community members and residents in transitional housing in obtaining their CTC via neighborhood events and strong word-of-mouth communication.

Press Contact: Andrew Gaddy, 901-848-1392, agaddy@ivchi.org

Peoria Public Schools Foundation in Peoria, IL devotes its expertise and fundraising capabilities to serve as a catalyst to implement bold ideas that achieve remarkable outcomes for children in Peoria Public Schools. The Peoria Public Schools Foundation will help families access the CTC during drop-in days at the school districts Wraparound Center, a community services center housed in a district school, during door-to-door visits, and with flyers at community hubs, like churches and food pantries.

Press Contact: Trish O'Shaughnessy, 309-696-3406, patricia.oshaughnessy@psd150.org

Public Health Foundation through the Stephenson County Health Department in Freeport, IL provides public health services to community members. They will distribute information about the tax credits to families with children participating in their existing programming, as well as to new mothers who deliver and reside in Stephenson County.

Press Contact: Craig Beintema, 815-235-8353, cbeintema@stephensoncountyil.gov

The Get My Payment IL Coalitions website connects individuals to free online tax-filing services and provides guides to help make the process easier, especially for those who may not have filed taxes in the past. The website also includes information in Spanish, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, and Chinese. For those who do not have internet access, a telephone hotline is available at 888-553-9777 in English and Spanish. Additionally, the Coalition can share necessary tax forms and instructions for paper filing.

To learn more about tax credit eligibility and where to get free tax-filing resources, visit GetMyPaymentIL.org. Experts are available to help via the free telephone hotline at 888-553-9777.

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About the Get My Payment IL Coalition

In 2020, several nonprofit organizations came together as the Get My Payment IL Coalition to help ensure more low-income Illinoisans are able to receive their stimulus checks and to receive these funds more quickly. In 2021, the coalition expanded their work to focus on helping more Illinoisans access newly available monthly Child Tax Credit payments and other temporary stimulus-related increased tax credits. The Coalition comprises the Economic Awareness Council, New America Chicago, Heartland Alliance, and Heartland Human Care Services. The Coalition works with governmental, private and nonprofit partners, including libraries, food pantries and banks, to help increase awareness and accessibility.
Making the wine industry more inclusive is not just a question for people who look like him, its a question for everybody and if there is really going to be a conversation about diversity, it should be with the people who dont look like the people being excluded.

Andre Hueston Mack wears a lot of hats. In his formative years he worked in the financial sector; that was, until he discovered wine. He eventually won Best Young Sommelier in America, and went on to work for The French Laundry in California and Thomas Kellers Per Se in New York. He branched out from there, starting his Maison Noir wine label, and his graphic design company Fraiche Cru. He is an author, a public speaker, a host for shows such as Bon Appetit on YouTube, as well as his own eponymous channel, and he even opened a chain of restaurants during the pandemic. There is little this man has not done in the food and wine industry, and he uses his fame and wisdom to mentor and educate people, something the host recently found out he is very good at. Macks ability to express himself and illustrate his points is very profound, especially when speaking about diversity in the wine industry, a conversation that was tackled on the Italian Wine Podcast (IWP) show Voices, a show dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the wine industry.

Mack made some very interesting points about being on the show, and it is a fine line that IWP treads because, the podcast, like so many out there, are struggling to combat the exclusivity of this industry in an effort to correct many glaring failures. In this climate, it seems imperative to give space to a show such as Voices. Making space for under-represented people in the industry who actively want to share their experiences in order to shed light on inequalities and hardships they overcame can point directly at the deficiencies of an antiquated wine industry that has not yet caught up with the times. These conversations allow guests - whether they are from the LGBTQ community, BIPOC, women, or anyone who is excluded and underserved - to share their own experiences and find solidarity with others who have experienced the same things, while in turn leading as role models, spot-lighting accomplishments, educating and cultivating understanding and change within the industry at large.

Excluded should be the operative word here since - at the same time - there is a flaw with this logic and Mack points this out. He speaks about how a show such as Voices can put under-represented people into a box, which can minimize their accomplishments by narrowly focusing simply on diversity and inclusion  implying the only reason he was asked to be a guest on the show was because of the color of his skin and not on the merits of his achievements. Mack goes on to speak about how this perception places the burden of diversity squarely on the shoulders of the guest rather than the entire industry at large.

This is a valid point, and in concurrence with Macks assessment, while the mode in which diversity is being tackled can be part of the problem, it can also foster a solution. The solution he alludes to is genuine recognition without the lens of race or gender and the end of highlighting the achievements of under-represented people only against the backdrop of diversity and equality. It serves no one to place the recognition of success within the confines of a space specifically designed to highlight the inequalities, rather than highlighting the individual victories in the same space as those who have privilege. Mack notes that making the wine industry more inclusive is not just a question for people who look like him, its a question for everybody and if there is really going to be a conversation about diversity, it should be with the people who dont look like the people being excluded.

However, with this said, this begs the question: by doing what is suggested, could this not sweep the issue under the carpet in the long term? Could the subtle message be lost by a machine that is not yet 100% committed to acknowledging the failings of its imperfect system? In principle, completely removing the constructed space and just highlighting the individual victories without the backstory of personal hardships caused by discrimination seems correct. However, the notion also strikes as having a sense of idealism attached to it, since only in a perfect world might this be a plausible means of bringing real, lasting and sweeping change.

These points are crucial to the entire movement. Once again, the looming question was: how can this be actioned? It is one thing to be struck by such a valid argument, and another to create tangible results based on it. This is something the Italian Wine Podcast is still thinking about, and they hope to find satisfactory answers moving forward. For now, the show and the host are just grateful to have been part of a real conversation about something that matters, and to have learned through such a teachable moment.

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About: The Italian Wine Podcast: Cin Cin with Italian Wine People! launched in 2017 as a project dedicated exclusively to the Italian wine world. The program uncovers the unique world of Italian wine in conversation with some of its key protagonists. Under the umbrella brand of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, Italian Wine Podcast aims to inform, educate, and entertain listeners with content for wine professionals and casual listeners alike. The only daily wine podcast in the world, content includes wine business, food & travel, diversity and inclusion, wine producers, science, and marketing and communication. Italian Wine Podcast is available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, XimalayaFM (for China), and on the official website. It now boasts almost 800 recorded episodes with a growing online following of over 2 million listens. Donations to the show are welcomed and help fund a portion of the shows equipment, production, and publication costs. To advertise on the show, please request a prospectus and/or customized advertising plan from info@italianwinepodcast.com. Cin Cin!
PartsBase Expo Logo We have seen significant growth in the aviation, aerospace and military segments, and DB Roberts is focused on providing fastener and hardware solutions for the emerging opportunities in these markets."

The event, held March 3-4, 2022 at the Miami Convention Center and hosted by PartsBase, attracts professionals from the aviation and aerospace industry, including engineers, designers, purchasing managers and suppliers. PartsBase offers the largest online database of aerospace parts and services.

The DB Roberts Team will be exhibiting at booth #587, joined by leading suppliers PennEngineering and Stanley Engineered Fastening. DB Roberts will feature PEM and Heli-Coil brands, including the new Heli-Coil Electronic Power Installation Tool. Military Specification fasteners and hardware will also be featured.

We have seen significant growth in the aviation, aerospace and military segments, and DB Roberts is focused on providing fastener and hardware solutions for the emerging opportunities in these markets, said Sandra Solis, DB Roberts Senior Vice President. Our team will be joined by key suppliers and we are excited to be exhibiting at PartsBase Expo for the first time.

DB Roberts will be exhibiting at trade shows throughout the year across North America. View the entire list of shows, with links to register, on the DB Roberts website.

About DB Roberts-

DB Roberts (http://www.dbroberts.com) is a leading distributor of specialty fastener and hardware solutions, including fasteners, access hardware, electronics fasteners, grommets and bushings, threaded inserts, caps & plugs, slides, commercial hardware and more. Founded in 1982, DB Roberts has 16 locations throughout the United States and Mexico. Connect with DB Roberts on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
2022 Mazda CX-30 Front Right-quarter view

Metro Mazda of Mesquite located at 15900 Lyndon & Johnson Freeway, Mesquite, Texas 75150, is offering a limited-time period lease offer for the 2022 Mazda CX-30. The 2022 Mazda CX-30 can be leased at $219 per month for a period of 36 months. An initial payment of $2,999 is to be made at the time of signing the agreement. This is for the Mazda CX-30 2.5 S trim with all-wheel-drive and automatic transmission. The lease offer is available on approved credit only to well-qualified lessees through participating dealers and Mazda Financial Services. The lessee will be responsible for maintenance along with excess wear and use and will pay $0.15 per mile for all mileage over 10,000 miles per year.

Also, a new 2021 Mazda CX-30 can be financed at 0.9 percent interest for 36 months. For more information on these offerings, interested customers can contact Metro Mazda of Mesquite on 833-320-1240, or visit the dealership. Customers can also visit the website of the dealership for more information about these offers - https://www.metromazdamesquite.com/manager-specials-in-mesquite-tx?utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=press+release&utm_campaign=2022feb23


Link Labs, a leading provider of an end-to-end IoT platform for locating, managing and monitoring equipment, supplies and assets anywhere at any time, today announced their continued partnership with Cambridge Industries Group (CIG), a leading provider of wired and wireless access device solutions for telecom and data communications operators, will expand to support initiatives for alleviating supply chain deficits.

We are excited to move into this next phase of our partnership with CIG as we work to alleviate the pain points of the supply chain that all industries have been feeling over the past two years, said Bob Proctor, founder and CEO of Link Labs. IoT asset tracking is a critical piece to operating efficiency for many businesses, so finding ways to make this a more scalable and quickly adaptable process is our main focus.

Link Labs and CIG will focus on relieving supply chain shortages and enhancing the IoT asset tracking processes. Supply chain disruptions in business can cause up to 62% loss in finances; this can be especially detrimental for industries like hospitality and travel, which were hurt significantly during the pandemic. In their partnership with CIG, Link Labs has already been working with several top hotel brands in the U.S. to improve their IoT asset tracking, and in turn, their bottom line.

The hardware provided by CIG will support many Link Labs solutions, including AirFinder OnSite Bluetooth Low Energy/XLE Access Point, AirFinder OnSite Bluetooth Lower Energy Ultrasound-Enabled Beacons, AirFinder OnSite XLE Beacons and custom-built and designed enclosures.

CIGs hardware will leverage Link Labs superior strength in prototyping and is designed to support the mass production of associated products. Together, this partnership is promised to bring fewer hardware shortages and provide substantial benefits due to mature, mass-produced products.

About Link Labs

Link Labs provides the industrys most complete, end-to-end IoT platform for tagging, locating and monitoring equipment, supplies and assets. Its flagship product, AirFinder, helps companies in nearly every industry locate, monitor and manage business assets anywhere at any time  indoor, outdoor and everywhere in-between. Founded in 2014 by a group of engineers from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Link Labs today is trusted by top global enterprises for their essential IoT solutions and has deployed hundreds of thousands of IoT devices, managing billions of IoT events each month. Link Labs is based in Annapolis, Md. and holds more than 20 patents on its technological innovations. For more information, visit https://www.link-labs.com/ and follow on Twitter @LinkLabsInc.
KCET, showcasing the best of PBS while being the leading source for arts, culture and news in Southern California, announced today the return of the Emmy -winning historical documentary series LOST LA. The program is a co-production with the University of Southern California Libraries, part of their longstanding commitment to building public engagement with regional history collections. Public historian and writer Nathan Masters returns as Host with untold histories behind the Red Car rail transit system, winemaking, Los Angeles prehistoric landscapes, the Japanese-American community of LAs Crenshaw area and LA as a sanctuary during WWII for Europes most accomplished artists and intellectuals. Season five of LOST LA premieres on Sat., Mar. 19 at 9 p.m. on KCET in Southern California with encores airing the following Tuesdays on PBS SoCal at 7 p.m. Following the broadcast, each episode will stream at kcet.org/LostLA and pbssocal.org/LostLA and on the free PBS app.

Now in its fifth season, LOST LA explores the regions hidden past through documents, photos and other rare artifacts from California libraries and archives. Since its premiere in January of 2016, the series has continued to challenge the assumption that Los Angeles is a city without a history. Instead, LOST LA offers a history of Southern California that is not often told, or has been forgotten, bringing primary sources of Los Angeles history to the screen and connecting them to the Los Angeles of today.

The episodes will be telecast as follows (subject to change):

Who Killed the Red Car?  Sat., Mar. 19 at 9 p.m. on KCET

Short: Los Angeles dismantled one of the greatest rail transit systems in the nation.

Long: Los Angeles dismantled one of the greatest rail transit systems in the nation. In this episode, search for a sunken Red Car off the coast of Redondo Beach, explore remnants of the Pacific Electric, ride a restored streetcar with Southern California Railway Museum co-founder Harvey Laner and visit the site of L.A.s newest rail transit project, the Crenshaw Line.

Winemaking  Sat., Mar. 26 at 9 p.m. on KCET

Short: Explore a forgotten age when winemaking was Southern Californias principal industry.

Long: Before the movies, before aerospace, oranges and oil, there was wine. This episode explores a largely forgotten age when winemaking was Southern Californias principal industry. Pick grapes from the oldest vines in Los Angeles, learn about the laborers who built the industry and meet enterprising winemakers who are resurrecting a long-lost Southern California tradition.

Prehistoric Landscapes  Sat., Apr. 2 at 9 p.m. on KCET

Short: Digging deep into Southern Californias past reveals lessons for a climate-changed future.

Long: Southern Californias climate has changed over the millennia. In this episode, sift through a natural archive of climate change at the La Brea Tar Pits, explore the remnants of a sunken super-island off the coast of Ventura and visit a natural tar pit in Ojai that might serve scientists in the distant future.

German Exiles  Sat., Apr. 9 at 9 p.m. on KCET

Short: During WWII, L.A. became a sunny sanctuary for Europes most accomplished artists and intellectuals.

Long: During World War II, Los Angeles served as a sunny sanctuary for European artists and intellectuals fleeing Nazi persecution. In this episode, explore the archive of the Nazis Public Enemy Number One at USCs Doheny Memorial Library, tour a Pacific Palisades house that hosted spirited literary salons and visit the Paramount Pictures studio lot, where exiles set the stage creatively for the filmmaking industry.

From Little Tokyo to Crenshaw  Sat., Apr. 16 at 9 p.m. on KCET

Short: After incarceration camps, Japanese-Americans made L.A.'s Crenshaw neighborhood their home.

Long: Japanese-Americans returning from World War II incarceration camps rebuilt their community in LAs Crenshaw area. In this episode, walk through Little Tokyo, explore the archives at the Japanese-American National Museum, share a meal at historic Taks Cafe, shoot hoops at Dorsey High and consider how the neighborhoods diverse history intersects with community-building efforts today.

LOST LA is supported by the California State Library, the Frieda Berlinkski Foundation and other generous institutional funders.

For more information about LOST LA and to watch episodes online, visit kcet.org/LostLA.

Join the conversation on social media using #LostLA

About KCET

KCET is part of the donor-supported community institution, the Public Media Group of Southern California, which was formed by the merger of PBS SoCal and KCETLink Media Group. As one of Southern Californias two flagship PBS stations, KCET is on-air, online as well as in the community, and plays a vital role in the cultural enrichment of Southern California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 55-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions and its website, kcet.org. For additional information about KCETs original productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET Originals and PBS programming are available to stream on the FREE PBS App on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Chromecast. KCET is also available to watch live on YouTube TV.

About USC LIBRARIES

The USC Libraries actively support the discovery, creation, and preservation of knowledge at the University of Southern California and beyond. The libraries serve as host institution for L.A. as Subject, an association of more than 267 libraries, cultural institutions, official archives, and private collectors dedicated to preserving and telling the sometimes-hidden histories of the Los Angeles region. Southern California history is among the USC Libraries prominent collections and programming strengths, and Lost LA is an emblem of USCs connection and commitment to Los Angeles as a Pacific Rim megacity.
Qi Shi, Ph.D., LCPC, associate professor of school counseling At Loyola, we need to be strategic in thinking about how we can push the impactful work we do to the next level, and the Center connects Loyolas strengths in a focused, mission-driven way, said Afra Hersi, Ph.D., interim dean of the School of Education.

Loyola University Marylands School of Education is establishing a new Center for Equity, Leadership, and Social Justice in Education to advance education and embrace and uplift multi-racial and multicultural human rights.

The Center will serve as a hub for research and engaged scholarship, which advocates for and amplifies the collective voices of educators, community members, students, and allies through a forum of professional learning, political action, and community empowerment.

Qi Shi, Ph.D., LCPC, associate professor of school counseling, will serve as the director for the Center beginning on July 1, 2022.

At Loyola, we need to be strategic in thinking about how we can push the impactful work we do to the next level, and the Center connects Loyolas strengths in a focused, mission-driven way, said Afra Hersi, Ph.D., interim dean of the School of Education. It elevates our existing work, brings our partners to the table, and allows us to lean into our commitment to be anchored in Baltimore. Dr. Shi brings a strong background in scholarship, research, and grant writing, as well as an understanding of how to partner with faculty peers and the community to bring about meaningful change.

The Center will cultivate and strengthen sustainable partnerships with the community so that research can be conducted in ways that can have deeper and more meaningful impact. Embracing a research-practice partnership model, the Center is designed to be participatory and collaborative, while valuing and advancing equity, diversity, and antiracism in its work.

Through the Center, we can start housing faculty members under this space and provide supports to help them get grants to conduct research with local community partners, Shi said. We will be able to have a greater influence on the larger community by providing opportunities for mentoring and collaborative research across academic departmentsand within the community.

Faculty are collaborating on initiatives related to the Baltimore Story curriculum project, the LEAD Model, and the Esperanza Center, with others to be added to the Centers portfolio in the near future.

The School of Education is uniquely situated to be a leader in the mission work of the University, Hersi said. We pride ourselves on this with our commitment to teaching excellence and social justice, but the sustainability of this work is key in this post-pandemic worldand centering this work as a core part of what we do is essential. Through the Center, we are elevating that faculty excellence and creating a hub that becomes an engine where we can grow and more fully connect and collaborate with the communityand with each other.

Shi, who came to Loyola in 2013 as an assistant professor, earned her B.A. in English from Beijing International Studies University, M.S. in School Counseling from Drake University, and her Ph.D., in Counselor Education from The George Washington University.

Shis research interests include the role of school counselors in personal, social, and academic development of underrepresented student populations in K-12 schools, broadening the participation for immigrant youth and English Language Learners in science, technology, engineering, and math majors and careers, and school counseling professions development in international contexts.

We already have many faculty who are doing great projects and really benefiting youth in Baltimore City and Maryland public schools, Shi said. Our amazing faculty are engaged in fieldwork through training, professional development, teaching, and research in different channels to help the community. A lot of exciting work is going on. Now were trying to create a structure to collaborate and share this work more broadly.

During her time at Loyola, Shi has worked on developing partnerships with local community agencies to provide Loyola school counseling students with early exposure/experiential learning opportunities to work with immigrant youth and English Learners in Baltimore.

Shi is currently working on a project funded by the National Science Foundation to examine Latina English Learners interest development, access and persistence in STEM. She has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters over the past 12 years.

Shi serves as the associate editor for the Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation (JSCPE), the official journal of the International Society for Policy Research and Evaluation in School-Based Counseling (ISPRESC). Shi is also on the research board and serves as an institutional lead for the Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC), a partnership between Baltimore City Public Schools with universities in Maryland.

To learn more about the Center, visit http://www.loyola.edu/JusticeInEducation.
Kevin Krot, Industry Leader, Aerospace & Defense, Maine Pointe Kevin's experience in areas including corporate strategy, supply chain management, and operations will bring value to our clients, and also add to the exciting growth we are seeing in our A&D business.

Global supply chain and operations consulting firm Maine Pointe, a member of the SGS Group, today announced that Kevin Krot has been appointed Industry Leader in the firms growing Aerospace & Defense business. Kevin brings significant value to the Boston-based consultancy, with over 25 years of industry experience, and a track record of delivering results and a strong return on investment.

Prior to joining Maine Pointe, Kevin was a Partner in the Industrials Practice for a global management consulting firm which included Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, and Transportation. His years of experience in Aerospace & Defense included a focus on ground combat systems, heavy tactical wheeled vehicles, and aerospace structures and propulsion. He addressed both strategic and operational issues for Fortune 500 companies, PE firms, and the US government, and is skilled at supporting his clients with strategies ranging from assessments and due diligence, to enterprise-wide transformation projects.

The Aerospace & Defense industry has seen dramatic changes, challenges and opportunities just in the last few years, said Kevin. Maine Pointes deep level of expertise in this area brings unparalleled value to its clients, especially as the industrys largest players re-shape their strategic and operational processes as they plan for the industrys changing future, new growth, and exciting opportunities.

Over the course of his career, Kevin has developed a proven track record of developing strong and productive relationships with clients. In addition to his experience in Aerospace & Defense, he has also worked across many other industries, including automotive, heavy equipment, agriculture, motorcycle, bus, oil and gas, chemicals, and other diversified industrials. Prior to his consulting career, Kevin gained hands-on industry experience working product development within the automotive Tier 1 supply base.

Kevins experience is directly relatable to our clients mission and goals, and he is uniquely capable of managing all facets of delivery for an engagement, said Jeff Staub, Maine Pointes CEO. His experience in areas including corporate strategy, supply chain management, and operations will bring value to our clients, and also add to the exciting growth we are seeing in our A&D business.

Over the course of his long and successful career, Kevin has personally conducted over 250 manufacturing site workshops and assessments, and has worked at all levels of the organization, from the board room to the shop floor. We are excited to welcome Kevin to the Maine Pointe family, said Staub. His breadth of experience and industry knowledge is sure to play a major role in our growth in the industry, and in the continued success of our clients.

About Maine Pointe

Maine Pointe, a member of the SGS Group, is a global supply chain and operations consulting firm trusted by many chief executives and private equity firms to drive compelling economic returns for their companies. We achieve this by delivering accelerated, sustainable improvements in EBITDA, cash and growth across their operations, procurement and logistics. Our hands-on implementation experts work with executives and their teams to rapidly break through functional silos and transform the buy-make-move-fulfill supply chain to deliver the greatest value to customers and investors at the lowest cost and risk to business. We call this Total Value Optimization (TVO).

Maine Pointes engagements are results-driven and deliver between 4:1-8:1 ROI. We are so confident in our work and our processes that we provide a unique 100% guarantee of engagement fees based on annualized savings. http://www.mainepointe.com

About SGS

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 96,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.
The capabilities of Microsoft 365 for law firms extend far beyond simple word processing.

Messaging Architects, an eMazzanti Technologies Company and Microsoft 365 expert, explains how Microsoft 365 improves client relationships and office productivity for law firms in a new article. The informative article first describes how the benefits of Microsoft 365 extend far beyond simple word processing.

The author then explains how firms can leverage the Teams app in Microsoft 365 to better organize the firm by practice area. He also covers how the Bookings and Forms apps can simplify scheduling and client communications. He concludes by discussing how Microsoft 365 addresses legal-specific needs.

The capabilities of Microsoft 365 for law firms extend far beyond simple word processing, stated Greg Smith, Vice President of Services Delivery at Messaging Architects. Many attorneys might be surprised to realize the extent of the benefits available.

Below are a few excerpts from the article, Microsoft 365 for Law Firms Improves Client Relationships and Powers Office Productivity.

Organize Practice Areas with Microsoft Teams

On the surface, Microsoft Teams gives work groups a tool for group chat and instant messaging. However, Teams provides much more than messaging and can act as the central dashboard and communication hub for the firm.

Organize Multiple Information Types with OneNote

OneNote moves beyond simple notetaking to provide an organized, searchable storage space for a wide variety of information. Notes can contain any combination of text, hyperlinks, images, embedded files, drawings and more.

Simplify Scheduling with Bookings

The Microsoft Bookings app integrates with Outlook and Teams and delivers a web-based calendar to simplify scheduling and managing appointments. Clients can schedule appointments through the firms website or a direct link. And administrators customize the process by defining appointment types, setting business hours, and managing staff schedules.

Addresses Legal-Specific Needs

The legal industry deals with large amounts of sensitive data and strict mandates regarding confidentiality. Microsoft 365 offers several tools for information security, including powerful retention policies, modern authentication, email encryption and advanced threat protection. Additionally, Microsoft introduced their Microsoft 365 Solution for Legal last year to address specific concerns.

Microsoft 365 Experts

To get the most out of Microsoft 365, engage the help of the Microsoft 365 experts at Messaging Architects. The companys experienced consultants help firms migrate smoothly to Microsoft 365 and configure their systems for optimal security and productivity.

Have you read?

Proactive eDiscovery for Business Saves Time and Reduces Cost

Changing Plans  New Microsoft 365 Pricing Coming March 2022

About Messaging Architects

Messaging Architects specializes in effectively managing and securing an organizations most precious asset, its information. With over 20 years of information management and technology consulting experience, the Messaging Architects team has provided corporations, educational intuitions, health care facilities and nonprofits with methodologies, procedures, and technology to keep their data organized, compliant and secure.

About eMazzanti Technologies

eMazzantis team of trained, certified IT experts rapidly deliver increased revenue growth, data security and productivity for clients ranging from law firms to high-end global retailers, expertly providing advanced retail and payment technology, digital marketing services, cloud and mobile solutions, multi-site implementations, 247 outsourced network management, remote monitoring, and support.

eMazzanti has made the Inc. 5000 list 9X, is a 4X Microsoft Partner of the Year, the #1 ranked NYC area MSP, NJ Business of the Year and 5X WatchGuard Partner of the Year! Contact: 1-866-362-9926, info@emazzanti.net or http://www.emazzanti.net Twitter: @emazzanti Facebook: Facebook.com/emazzantitechnologies.


Mployer Advisor Founder and CEO Brian Freeman (left) is presented with the award for "Technology Start-Up Company of the Year." We are honored to be recognized by the Greater Nashville Technology Council and incredibly grateful to Nashvilles technology and healthcare community for its outpouring of support and confidence.

Mployer Advisor, the nations leading independent platform for employers to research, review and evaluate insurance brokers, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the prize for Technology Start-Up Company of the Year by the Greater Nashville Technology Council. The award was announced during the 13th Annual Nashville Technology Council (NTC) Awards live from the Wildhorse Saloon to over 550 attendees on Thursday, February 17, 2022.

The Technology Start-Up Company of the Year award recognizes the top tech start-up in Middle Tennessee that has used technology in a new and innovative way to obtain success. To qualify for the award, nominees must be headquartered in Middle Tennessee and have a founder actively working in the business. Nominations for the award were open to the public in 2021, and the finalists were evaluated by a panel of independent judges in early 2022. Mployer Advisor was named a finalist for the award on December 16, 2021, alongside Pivot Technology School and Clovers.

We are honored to be recognized by the Greater Nashville Technology Council and incredibly grateful to Nashvilles technology and healthcare community for its outpouring of support and confidence, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. This award is a testament to our company's mission and a compliment to our dedicated team. Its only in Nashville where you could apply a traditional West Coast-style business model to tackle one of healthcares largest structural issues.

The 13th Annual NTC Awards is an event dedicated to connecting, uniting, developing and promoting Middle Tennesse's rich community of developers and technology entrepreneurs, enthusiasts and institutions. The event, co-hosted by Brian Moyer, CEO and President of the Greater Nashville Technology Council, and Adrian J.R. Davis, founder of Developmental Resource Group, represented more than 130 technology companies and related organizations in Middle Tennessee.

To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Mployer Advisor:

Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly-rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform.

Media Contact:

Abbey Dean (Content Marketing Lead)

abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com
With the introduction of a pulse width expanded to 2,000 microseconds, I now have one more tool to help address the short- and long-term pain relief needs of individual patients suffering from chronic intractable pain.

Nalu Medical ("NALU") announces the "Haleakala" update, substantially upgrading both the software and firmware of their award-winning Nalu Neurostimulation System. This update adds significant new capabilities for both spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS).

The update broadens the stimulation pulse width parameter to the widest range currently available in implantable SCS and PNS systemsup to 2,000 microseconds. The Nalu Neurostimulation System is optimized to utilize this energy-hungry parameter due to its external, wearable battery. This means that healthcare teams can program Nalu patients for their exact therapy needs without concern for depleting an implantable battery or accelerating the need for battery replacement surgery.

Every patients pain is unique and having the ability to prescribe a wide range of stimulation options is significant, said Robert M. Levy, MD, PhD of the Institute for Neuromodulation in Boca Raton, Florida. Modulating stimulation pulse width has the potential to selectively recruit particular nerve fibers that could benefit patients with difficult to address pain patterns. With the introduction of a pulse width expanded to 2,000 microseconds, I now have one more tool to help address the short- and long-term pain relief needs of individual patients suffering from chronic intractable pain.

The update also unlocks Activity Monitor 1.0, a patient activity monitoring capability that utilizes sensors built into the system's Therapy Disc and stores a 30-day activity history viewable by both healthcare teams and patients.*

Dr. Aaron Calodney of Precision Spine Care in Tyler, TX and Past President of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians explains why this is important. "Activity monitoring reveals objective, measurable activity changes associated with patients' daily lives away from the clinic, augmenting pain scores and self-reported changes in activity. It may help pain teams understand the impact of therapies beyond the pain score.

Like a smartphone operating system, the Nalu Neurostimulation System can be updated with a simple download, enabling existing patients as well as new patients to benefit from current and future improvements to Nalu technology.

According to Earl Fender, CEO of Nalu, We recognize that chronic pain is an ever-evolving condition for patientsand therefore healthcare teams need an ever-evolving toolset of treatment options and insights. This update is consistent with our commitment to continually empower patients with the latest technology and innovation. It is another significant upgrade of our award-winning Nalu Neurostimulation System that not only benefits new patients, but retroactively gives existing patients access to our newest engineering developments.

*Any interpretations made from this information are not intended to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment. The health care provider is not intended to interpret or take clinical action based on this output. It is for informational purposes only.

About Nalu Medical

Nalu is a Carlsbad, California-based medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative and minimally invasive solutions for patients with chronic neuropathic pain. The Nalu Neurostimulation System delivers gentle electrical pulses to the nervous system to modulate pain signals to the brain. The Nalu system was designed to address major unmet needs in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain and provide a differentiated value proposition for patients and physicians.

About the Nalu Neurostimulation System

The Nalu system consists of a fully-featured, battery-free, miniaturized implantable pulse generator (IPG) that is powered wirelessly by an externally worn Therapy Disc and controlled through a smartphone-based remote control app. Despite its small size, Nalu's micro-IPG delivers treatment capabilities similar to larger IPGs as well as unique advantages associated with advanced waveforms, extensive programming options, exceptional upgradability, and an expected service life of 18 years. The Nalu Neurostimulation System is currently FDA-cleared for Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) indications. To learn more, visit http://nalumed.com.

Indications for Use

Spinal Cord Stimulation  The Nalu SCS system is indicated as the sole mitigating agent, or as an adjunct to other modes of therapy used in a multidisciplinary approach for chronic, intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs, including unilateral or bilateral pain. The trial devices are solely used for trial stimulation ( 30 days) to determine efficacy before recommendation for a permanent (long term) device.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation  The Nalu PNS system is indicated for pain management in adults who have severe intractable chronic pain of peripheral nerve origin, as the sole mitigating agent, or as an adjunct to other modes of therapy used in a multidisciplinary approach. The Nalu Neurostimulation System for PNS is not intended to treat pain in the craniofacial region. The trial devices are solely used for trial stimulation ( 30 days) to determine efficacy before recommendation for a permanent (long term) device.

Nalu, the Nalu logo, nPower, and the engineered to be more tagline are trademarks of Nalu Medical, Inc.
Our score is an indication of the value our school-home communications platform provides to our school partners, and we are very pleased that we are providing our customers with the best experience possible, said Anupama Vaid, President & Founder of ParentSquare.

According to recent survey data, the vast majority of over 4,000 educators using ParentSquare are giving high marks to the different features of the unified school-home communications platform. ParentSquares 2021 Customer Satisfaction Survey found more than 90% of respondents reported satisfaction with individual features.

Among the highest rated capabilities, 95% of respondents expressed satisfaction with ParentSquares Posts feature, which enables teachers and administrators to post updates, newsletters, volunteer sign-ups, announcements, and more for the entire school as well as a specific grade, class, or period. Andrew W., a teacher at Hartford Public High School in Connecticut, explained how the digital tool saved him time. I went from spending hours mailing out attendance letters, sending emails, and making phone calls to taking 15 minutes to send direct messages and posts, he stated.

Another 95% of survey takers shared their appreciation of both the Secure Documents and the Personalized Auto Notices features. Secure Documents allows schools to electronically deliver confidential documents such as report cards, IEPs, and progress reports to parents. Personalized Auto Notices sets up automated messages to parents with information about absences, overdue textbooks, and more.

We are saving time and money with the Secure Document delivery feature, said Melissa D., the director of communications and community engagement for Portage Township Schools in Indiana. Our parents love it because its easy to use. Our teachers love it because they are better able to connect with their students families.

Parents also shared feedback. I love the auto messages on my sons grades, said a parent with a student attending Paso Robles Joint Unified School District in California. I was able to schedule their delivery each week. This allows me to consistently monitor his progress.

The feature that received the most praise (96% of survey respondents) was Urgent Alerts, which allows customers to deliver alerts to all their contacts in the case of an emergency or important update. Parents and guardians can receive these notifications in the way that works best for them (via text, phone, email, app or web portal), increasing family engagement and combating message fatigue.

Over half (52%) of survey respondents were teachers, and other district educator roles made up almost another half (43%). The remaining survey takers (5%) were parents.

We use this customer survey feedback to drive key decisions within our company and prioritize future product and process improvements, said Anupama Vaid, President & Founder of ParentSquare. Our thanks to these respondents for giving us the information that will guide our way forward.

Overall, the platform earned a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 47. The NPS is a measure of customer satisfaction calculated based on responses to a single question: How likely are you to recommend ParentSquare?

The NPS measurement scale is -100 to +100, so anything above zero means you have more fans than critics, explained Vaid. Our score is an indication of the value our school-home communications platform provides to our school partners, and we are very pleased that we are providing our customers with the best experience possible.

About ParentSquare

ParentSquare is relied upon by millions of educators and families in 44 states for unified, effective school communications. ParentSquare provides parent engagement tools that work from the district office to the individual classroom, supported by powerful metrics and reporting. ParentSquares technology platform features extensive integrations with student information and other critical administrative systems, translation to more than 100 languages, and app, email, text, voice, and web portal access for equitable communication. ParentSquare (http://www.parentsquare.com), founded in 2011, is based in Santa Barbara, CA.
SkyPoint Cloud (SkyPoint), the privacy-first healthcare data and artificial intelligence (AI) platform that enables healthcare brands to build deeper relationships with their patients and residents, today announced its partnership with Generations LLC (Generations), a company specializing in senior living community innovation, care, and vitality. Together, Generations and SkyPoint Cloud are revolutionizing how residents data can be used to empower caregivers and staff to make more informed care decisions. SkyPoint is the only healthcare data platform tailored for senior living communities.

SkyPoint is working to revolutionize the technology used in the senior care space, said Tisson Mathew, CEO and founder of SkyPoint. Using SkyPoints products, like SkyPoint Profile, caretakers have access to a 360 resident profile to create richer data visualizations and personalized experiences for residents and their families  enabling staff at Generations to work smarter, not harder.

Disconnected and siloed data makes it difficult for caretakers and family members to make well-informed business and care decisions. SkyPoint unifies this fragmented resident data from Generations multiple legacy systems and applications into comprehensive profiles and provides tools to understand and access that data securely. This provides Generations leadership with a comprehensive view of critical business information, including expense reports, staffing requirements, and resident projections.

SkyPoint Cloud is also working with its recently acquired company, SkyPoint CSG, to provide operations-focused dashboards that create visibility around budgeting, staffing and facility census. Together, three dashboards have been developed in Power Business Intelligence (BI) to improve data automation and business decisions, including those focused on census, resident count, and staffing and expenses.

With SkyPoint Cloud, our staff is able to focus more of their time on caring for our residents, said Kathy LeVee, President and COO at Generations. By removing repetitive manual processes, we are enabling staff to operate at the top of their license.

To learn more about how SkyPoint is accelerating tech-enabled senior care please visit skypointcloud.com.

About SkyPoint Cloud

SkyPoint Cloud (https://skypointcloud.com/) is an industry-leading customer data platform (CDP), zero-trust data privacy vault, privacy compliance automation, analytics and AI solution for customer-centric brands in several industries including healthcare, retail, hospitality and financial services. SkyPoints platform enables organizations to take control of their customer data, deliver unmatched customer experiences and build brand loyalty. Industry leaders and more than 6 million end users currently use SkyPoint. SkyPoint Cloud was awarded The Development Stage award in the 2021 Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Annual Awards.

About Generations LLC

Generations LLC has been a leader in retirement and assisted living lifestyle options for more than 75 years. With 11 communities in five western states (CA, WA, OR, UT and CO), the company is dedicated to redefining what it means to retire, with a focus on social interaction, healthy living, and home. To learn more, visit generationsllc.com.

Media Contact

Matter Communications for SkyPoint Cloud, Inc.

skypoint@matternow.com
Brian Maser, Founder of The Condo Experts Were here to give clients the confidence and resources they need to make the smartest, most beneficial real estate decisions of their lives.

The Maser Condo Sales Team today announced The Condo Experts and its partnership with Side, the only real estate technology company that exclusively partners with high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages. The collaboration will ensure that The Condo Experts, which is home to Westside Los Angeles most experienced condo sales partners, is powered by the industrys most advanced platform.

The Condo Experts was founded by Brian Maser, who ranks as the top agent in West LA and in the top 1% of agents nationwide. He has overseen more than 400 targeted, high-return remodeling projects, and he advises, designs, and directs most client renovations at the company. A former tech entrepreneur, Maser has founded and sold several future-forward companies, including a foreclosure management system that is licensed to Fidelity National Title and Southland America.

The Condo Experts unprecedented new sales platform combines the latest in real estate technology, efficient pre-packaging of deals, and decades of experience in the specifics of condo sales, resulting in the fastest, easiest way for clients to sell and buy real estate. This supercharged method is built to push forward the teams already impressive track record. On average, the company closes deals in 16 days or less, while its listings sell at 10% above asking and 6% above market. This is due in large part to Masers advisory plan, The MASERPLAN.

Our roster of hyper-focused local Realtors will be armed with the latest in data technology, said Maser. Buyers and sellers will also have access to experts with deep, on-the-ground knowledge of the neighborhoods we work in, as well as our unique condo sales process.

Partnering with Side will ensure The Condo Experts remains on the cutting edge of the evolving real estate market while continuing to deliver premium services to its clients. Side works behind the scenes, supporting The Condo Experts with a one-of-a-kind brokerage platform that includes proprietary technology, transaction management, branding and marketing services, public relations, legal support, lead generation, vendor management, infrastructure solutions, and more. Additionally, The Condo Experts will join an exclusive group of Side partners, tapping into an expansive network from coast to coast.

I partnered with Side because its world-class technology and support will allow The Condo Experts to expand our business while focusing on what we do best: providing world-class service and unparalleled results to our clients, continued Maser. Were here to give clients the confidence and resources they need to make the smartest, most beneficial real estate decisions of their lives.

About The Condo Experts

The Condo Experts is an unprecedented new sales platform, offering clients an efficient, results-driven sales approach they wont find anywhere else. Its agents combine the convenience of todays real estate technology with decades of experience in condo sales to provide personal guidance to each client. The Condo Experts proprietary system, The MASERPLAN, has led to more than $600 million in sales in West LA, a listing average of 6% above market, and an average closing rate of 16 days or less. To learn more, visit thecondosalesexperts.com.

About Side

Side is a behind-the-scenes brokerage platform that exclusively partners with top-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to create and grow their own boutique brands without the cost, time, or risk of operating a brokerage. Sides proprietary technology platform and premier support solutions empower its agent partners to be more productive, grow their business, and focus on serving their clients. Side is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://www.sideinc.com.
Kosai City LINE Official Account With transcosmos DEC Connect in place, the city has enhanced the features of its LINE Official Account. To improve its services, the city will deliver more diverse information, including municipal information, information for families, disaster and disaster prevention via its renovation.

transcosmos inc. hereby announces that the company implemented DEC Connect, its proprietary API platform that lets users create links to various external systems, databases and more, to Kosai city, Shizuoka prefecture (Mayor: Takeshi Kageyama) on February 1, 2022. With the platform, transcosmos has assisted the city in renovating the Kosai City LINE Official Account (Account Name: Kosai City https://page.line.me/iri2851u).

With the aim of driving Kosai city's sustainable development towards its future by making its citizens live and work in their communities, Kosai city has been sending out information featuring the charm of the city such as weekend events and local specialties not only to local residents but also to people who are interested in, and who are supporting the city via its LINE Official Account. Now, with transcosmos DEC Connect in place, the city has enhanced the features of its LINE Official Account. To make its services more convenient for citizens, the city will deliver more diverse information than before, including municipal information, information for families, disaster and disaster prevention and more via its renovated LINE Official Account released on February 1, 2022.

Kosai City LINE Official Account: Key enhanced features by DEC Connect



Segmented messaging: Delivers municipal information by topic

By selecting specific topics from municipal information, information for families, disaster and disaster prevention, and for businesses, users can receive only the information they want on a regular basis.

Rich menu: Tabbed rich menu

By switching tabs, three different menus appear on the screen, enabling users to quickly access more information on the rich menu than before.

API connect to external systems: Corporate Shuttle BaaS Route & Location

On December 2, 2021, Kosai city began a demonstration experiment on a new transport option known as "Corporate Shuttle BaaS," which allows citizens to use private bus services already operated by large local companies. Given the surge in omicron cases, the Covid-19 variant, the city cancelled the experiment on January 25, 2022. Originally, Kosai city was planning to show route and location information on LINE, via the renovated account using DEC Connect's feature that creates a link to external systems.

Reference) About Corporate Shuttle BaaS / Kosai City

https://www.city.kosai.shizuoka.jp/soshikiichiran/sangyoshinkoka/koutuu/kigyousyatorubaas/10651.html

Building on its track record in implementing features on the LINE Official Account, and managing the Accounts, transcosmos will continue to scale up DEC Connect features, thereby assisting local governments in utilizing LINE for more diverse areas. Ultimately, transcosmos will push forward and help all municipalities across Japan digitalize their services for their citizens.

About DEC Connect

DEC Connect is a communication management platform, which helps clients communicate with their customers by suitably combining various communication channels including LINE and Facebook Messenger with clients' customer data, purchase data, website log and other customer databases as well as with chat solutions like bot and AI. With this platform, clients can send messages to their customers and execute chat-based initiatives without any development. At the same time, its API based design helps clients drastically reduce man-hour to connect various communication channels as well as to set link to external databases and solutions.



transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.

Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 173 bases across 30 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services to consumers in 48 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/
A detailed clay sculpture holds a book up to another sculpture as part of the "Henry Halpern Collection of Jewish Life" donated to the University of La Verne. His gift in forming the clay people was his way of teaching what is important in any culture: working together; debating the meaning of faith; visiting the sick; lively exchanges at the market; simple vignettes of daily life, Small said.

The University of La Verne has received a donation of 14 historical folk-art sculptures from the Malgert Halpern and Irving Cohen family that depict Jewish life and culture in pre-World War II Ukraine and the United States.

The sculptures will be restored and preserved through a years-long conservation process led by the Cultural and Natural History Collections (CNHC) and a select team of university staff and students.

The Henry Halpern Collection of Jewish Life was created by Henry Halpern, who was born in Ukraine and lived from 1895 to 1979. Many of the pieces depict Halperns memory of what Jewish life was like in Ukraine prior to the Holocaust, which led to the ultimate destruction of his community. Others resemble Jewish traditions he preserved while living in the United States.

Each piece is made of delicate greenware, or unfired clay, and some sculptures express various depictions of Halperns small town or shtetl.

They are expressive, very dynamic, they are very emotive, said Anne Collier, curator in the CNHC.

Collier is leading the conservation process of the sculptures, most of which are brittle and heavily aged. She has moved them to a climate-controlled space and has begun carefully dusting years of layered dirt and debris off them.

Once the sculptures are cleaned, reassembled, and stabilized, they will be displayed publicly and studied by students. Students will also be able to assist in the process of conservation, historical research, and curation, Collier said.

Collier looks forward to uncovering the history behind each sculpture as the conservation process moves forward. Its the person behind the story, never the object, Collier said. Theres so much more to learn about these sculptures.

Robyn Small served as the Halpern and Cohen familys caregiver for the sculptures and was introduced to the University of La Verne through her husband. After meeting President Devorah Lieberman and Chaplain Zandra Wagoner, Small felt the alignment between Halperns sculptures and the universitys values made the university the perfect fit to care for them.

His gift in forming the clay people was his way of teaching what is important in any culture: working together; debating the meaning of faith; visiting the sick; lively exchanges at the market; simple vignettes of daily life, Small said.

Wagoner agreed that the sculptures embody the universitys commitment to interfaith teaching, diversity and inclusivity, and lifelong learning.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to preserve this history that so easily communicates through its visual representation, Wagoner said.

The CNHC is the steward of the University of La Vernes collection of artifacts, objects, and specimens that represent, preserve, and document the collective memory of the natural and cultural world.

Financial support of the conservation efforts is welcome and can be made online.

# # #

About the University of La Verne

Founded in 1891, the University of La Verne is a private, nonprot, comprehensive institution founded on four core values: lifelong learning, ethical reasoning, civic and community engagement, and diversity and inclusivity. The university serves students on the historic La Verne campus as well as across regional campuses and online.
A recent survey by the Better Sleep Council, found that mattress purchase intent is rising as people continue to make getting a good nights sleep their number one health and wellness priority, said Mary Helen Rogers, ISPA vice president of marketing and communications.

The International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) will host its first in-person event in two years, ISPA EXPO, March 8-10, 2022, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. ISPA EXPO is the world's only trade show exclusively for the mattress industry, featuring more than 200 exhibitors from 20 countries throughout 150,000 square feet of exhibit space.

A recent survey by the Better Sleep Council, found that mattress purchase intent is rising as people continue to make getting a good nights sleep their number one health and wellness priority, said Mary Helen Rogers, ISPA vice president of marketing and communications. Its important to recognize that the mattress industry didnt stop innovating during the pandemic, and, in fact, is introducing new technologies, components, equipment and services that will have a positive impact on consumers.

ISPA EXPO will offer relevant educational sessions that provide business insights for attendees across every sector of the mattress industry. Speakers and topics include:



Andrew Dent, Ph.D., EVP of Research, Material ConneXion. Materials Innovation  Changing the World

Ron Insana, CNBC Senior Analyst, financial journalist & best-selling author. An Economic Reality Check: From Here to Normality

Mark Schulman, world-class drummer & business strategist. Hacking the ROCKSTAR ATTITUDE: How to Ignite Rockstar Performance During Uncertain Times

ISPA EXPO is all about mattress innovation and what's next for consumers searching for solutions to their sleep needs. The mattress is the foundation for a good nights sleep, and sleep is the foundation for everyone's health and wellness. Come to ISPA EXPO and experience the world of sleep all in one space.

More information about ISPA EXPO 2022, including registration and exhibit space, is available at http://www.ISPAEXPO.com. Complimentary registration is available for media.

About ISPA

Since 1915, the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) has been Helping the World Sleep Better by supporting innovations and growth across the sleep products industry. ISPA is committed to serving members through public policy, research, public affairs, education initiatives and events like ISPA EXPO in order to create a more valuable future. Learn more about ISPA today at http://www.sleepproducts.org or call 703-683-8371.

To learn more, visit http://www.sleepproducts.org or contact info@sleepproducts.org.
The global market size for Human Resource Outsourcing (HRO) had an estimated value of $32.8 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $45.8 billion by 2027. This trend is expected to grow stronger as HR outsourcing remains to be one of the most cost-effective and fastest ways for businesses to scale and thrive.

DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting businesses with agencies, leveraged its 13,000-agencies-strong network for quick insights  or QuickSights  on the reasons businesses should outsource HR.

1) TO MINIMIZE THE RISKS

According to Civility Partners Founder and CEO Catherine Mattice, SHRM-SCP, organizations should consider outsourcing HR to obtain an expert perspective and minimize the risk of poor compliance.

"Outsource HR when you reach [more than 5] employees, especially if [operating] in California. Payroll, benefits, leave, etc., [are] a risk if [not handled by a trained HR professional], said Mattice. Also, [the] outsourced HR can take confidential complaints and gain insight about employee needs in a way [that] internal managers cannot."

2) TO FOCUS ON THE BUSINESS

In the opinion of Dr. Tana M. Session, CEO and Founder of TMS Business Solutions, Inc., businesses should particularly outsource HR to save time and focus on core operations that drive business growth.

"It is time for a business to outsource HR when the tasks outweigh the importance of other business needs, said Session. It provides the business with specialized HR expertise to assist employee relations, benefits and other tasks. This enables organizations to continue to grow while receiving necessary HR support."

Hafwen Truong, HR business partner manager at Kotwel, shares the same opinion claiming that outsourcing HR is worth the effort as properly trained professionals allow organizations to focus on their key business goals.

"The best thing about outsourcing HR is that you can focus your time and attention on your key business goals, said Truong. [However,] you need to find the right company to handle the job. It can take time, but its worth the effort if you decide to go down this road."

3) TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY

Meanwhile, Courtney Dade, CEO and Chief Strategist at CSD Marketing and Consulting, LLC believes that small businesses should outsource HR to a third-party service provider to manage both talent acquisition and regular business operations.

"In a thriving small business, you may not have the time it takes to develop, prepare and implement a successful recruitment and hiring process, said Dade. Something will suffer either the hiring or the operations. You can succeed at both when you outsource your talent acquisition strategically.

DesignRush released the February list of the top HR outsourcing companies that help businesses improve its talent acquisition and retention:

1. Civility Partners - civilitypartners.com

Expertise: Leadership Development, Performance Management, Workplace Bullying and more

2. TMS Business Solutions, Inc. - tanamsession.com

Expertise: Career & Performance Management, Customized Corporate Training, Human Resources Infrastructure and more

3. CSD Marketing and Consulting - csd-marketing.com

Expertise: Human Resources and Hiring, Company Formations, Strategic Planning and more

4. ProMailing Solutions - pmsagency.com

Expertise: Relationship Management, Reputation Management, Branding and more

5. Kotwel - kotwel.com

Expertise: Localization Services, AI Training Data Services, Data Entry Services and more

6. DNA 325 - dna325.com

Expertise: Recruitment, Company Formation/Operational Support, HR Management and more

7. UKSMEEL - uksmeel.com

Expertise: Compliance and Risk Management, Recruitment, Remote Team Administration and more

8. RNT Consulting Solutions - rntconsultancy.com

Expertise: Recruitment, HR Shared Services, HR Outsourcing and more

9. Coleman Services - coleman.ru

Expertise: HR Consulting, Permanent Staffing, Temporary Staffing and more

10. Talents and Skills Africa Consulting LLC - talentsandskills.net

Expertise: Payroll Services, Recruitment, Permanent Staffing and more

11. Quad Consultancy - quadconsultancy.com

Expertise: Recruitment, Employee File Management, HR Policies & Procedures and more

12. Proten International - protenintl.com

Expertise: HR Advisory, Talent Acquisition, HR Technology and more

Brands can explore the top HR outsourcing companies by location, size, average hourly rate and portfolio on DesignRush.

About DesignRush:

DesignRush.com is a B2B marketplace connecting businesses with agencies through expert reviews and agency ranking lists, awards, knowledge resources and personalized agency recommendations for vetted projects.
The Lodge at Bodega Bay Were thrilled to begin a new era with The Lodge at Bodega Bay and look forward to continuing to share the quintessential California coastal experience and the same sense of wanderlust, welcome and wonder with returning and first-time guests," said Greg Alden, president, CEO, Woodside Hotel Group

Woodside Hotel Group, a collection of independent boutique hotels throughout Northern California, today announces the rebranding and renaming of Bodega Bay Lodge to The Lodge at Bodega Bay. Timed to its 50th anniversary, The Lodge at Bodega Bay was originally purchased in 1972 by the Alden family as a small motor lodge on a beautiful bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Sonoma County, marking the creation of Woodside Hotel Group. Since, the Lodge has transformed into an elegant coastal hideaway, featuring 83 guest rooms with stunning ocean views and private balconies, most with wood-burning fireplaces.

Woodside Hotel Group started 50 years ago with my parents vision for an inspiring retreat on the beautiful Sonoma Coast, and since then, we have welcomed thousands of guests with our brand of warm and engaging hospitality, providing the setting for so many impactful experiences, said Greg Alden, president and CEO, Woodside Hotel Group. Were thrilled to begin a new era with The Lodge at Bodega Bay and look forward to continuing to share the quintessential California coastal experience  and the same sense of wanderlust, welcome and wonder  with returning and first-time guests alike.

Combining comfort and luxury for a distinctly memorable getaway, the Lodge will soon introduce the newly reimagined Captains Quarters  its largest accommodation choice. Serene and spacious, the 1,200-square-foot suite features a generous living area ideal for relaxing with family or friends, complete with its own fireplace, half-bath, two pull-down, queen-sized murphy beds and a 600-square-foot wrap-around sundeck with idyllic views of Bodega Bay. A separate, private bedroom offers a king bed and en-suite balcony overlooking the bay, among an airy bathroom sanctuary with a soaking tub and walk-in shower. Additionally, fifteen guest rooms and suites, each featuring private balconies with views of the bay and nearby bird sanctuary, are currently undergoing renovation and will be completed this spring. The Lodges spacious Ocean Club Suites were also recently renovated and each offer a king bed and queen sofa bed, sea-inspired artwork, granite fireplaces, spa-like bathrooms, private patios and vaulted ceilings that bring in ample natural light.

Located on four acres of meticulously landscaped grounds, amenities of The Lodge at Bodega Bay include a dramatic, infinity-edge hot tub with unobstructed water views; heated swimming pool; sauna; intimate spa with treatments inspired by the Pacific; large fitness center; outdoor fire pits; meeting and event spaces; and complimentary Electra cruiser bikes. A home base for exploration along the California Coast, guests of The Lodge at Bodega Bay can enjoy the beauty of nature just steps from their guest room, with sights of rare birds prized by the National Audubon Society, among views of migrating whales down the coast throughout winter.

A stay at The Lodge at Bodega Bay is a taste of life in-tune with nature, inspired by the wild beauty of this romantic region, said Andrea Murray, general manager, The Lodge at Bodega Bay. The Lodge is a tranquil respite for those looking to unwind and press pause on the pace of everyday life, and a launching pad to explore the outdoor adventures, natural landscape or unique culinary and wine experiences that abound the Sonoma Coast. We look forward to welcoming guests in to recharge at our coastal retreat.

The Lodge at Bodega Bay offers two distinct dining options reflecting the rich bounty of local seafood, meats, produce, cheeses and wines of Sonoma County. Signature restaurant Drakes Sonoma Coast offers an authentic culinary experience designed to complement the natural and strong sense of place, offering award-winning Sonoma coastal cuisine with unparalleled views. Menus change frequently to highlight local seafood and sustainable, seasonal ingredients paired with an exceptional hand-picked Sonoma County wine list that is updated regularly. The recently renovated Drakes Fireside Lounge offers a more casual, relaxed dining and bar experience. After a day of adventure, guests can unwind indoors next to the large stone fireplace or 300-year-old elm tree bar, or cozy up to the outdoor fire pits in teak rocking chairs.

With two tranquil spa treatment rooms and in-room spa services, the intimate spa at Bodega Bay Lodge offers an extensive menu of massages, facials, and signature body treatments. From the signature warm shell massage to the decadent Cabernet grape sea scrub and sea enzyme facial, all treatments are inspired by the healing powers of the Pacific.

Woodside Hotel Group is a multi-generational family business dedicated to earnest and gracious hospitality around the West, stewarded by the second generation of family leaders who grew up among these magical getaways across California. Embracing the independent and entrepreneurial spirit of the company's founding, Woodside delivers service that is warm and engaging, hotels that are distinguished, and experiences that are authentically local. Among The Lodge at Bodega Bay, its current portfolio includes distinct boutique hotels throughout California, including Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa in Monterey; The Hotel Drisco in San Francisco; The Stanford Park Hotel in Menlo Park; Harvest Inn in St. Helena; Napa Valley Lodge in Yountville; and Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa in Lafayette.

The Lodge at Bodega Bay is located at 103 Coast Highway One Bodega Bay, Calif., 94923. For more information or to book a reservation, call 707-875-3525 or visit http://www.lodgeatbodegabay.com.

ABOUT THE LODGE AT BODEGA BAY

Poised atop a tranquil bluff along the Sonoma Coast, The Lodge at Bodega Bay offers an unparalleled coastal escape with spectacular views from every room. A stay at the serene 83-room retreat is a taste of life in-tune with a rugged coastline and rolling vineyards. Amenities include a heated pool and infinity hot tub, a spa and fitness center. Two distinctive dining options reflect the rich bounty of Sonoma  signature restaurant, Drakes Sonoma Coast, and relaxed dining and bar lounge experience, Drakes Fireside Lounge. The hotel offers access to views of migrating whales down the coast and rare birds prized by the National Audubon Society. From Point Reyes to Tomales Bay, Bodega Bay Lodge serves as a guide to the adventures of the Northern California coast. For more information, please visit: http://www.lodgeatbodegabay.com.

ABOUT THE WOODSIDE HOTEL GROUP

Woodside Hotel Group is the preeminent operator of distinguished, independent hotels, restaurants and spas in California. Woodside manages a portfolio of seven hotels and nine restaurants from Monterey to Napa Valley and operates more #1 rated hotels (per TripAdvisor) than any other company in California; including the top-rated hotels in San Francisco (Hotel Drisco), Monterey (Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa), and Menlo Park (The Stanford Park Hotel). Woodside is a multi-generational family business comprised of dedicated and passionate associates who take great pride in delivering authentic hospitality in renowned destinations. Embracing the independent and entrepreneurial spirit of the company's founding, Woodside delivers service that is warm and engaging, hotels that are distinguished, and experiences that are authentically local. For more information, please visit: http://www.woodsidehotelgroup.com.
ZEBOX Logo At ZEBOX, were committed to building bridges between the brightest minds in the startup ecosystem, and the biggest and best established industry leaders."  Charley Dehoney, Vice President of ZEBOX AMERICA.

ZEBOX, the international accelerator and innovation hub for the supply chain, logistics, and Industry 4.0 spaces, today announced strategic partnerships with seven key U.S. corporate leaders. Following the announcement of ZEBOXs U.S. headquarters launch in Arlington, Virginia, in February 2021, the new partnerships support ZEBOXs ongoing mission to forge connections between disruptive startups and established industry leaders, accelerating scalable and sustainable innovation to transform the global supply chain.

Created in 2018 by Rodolphe Saade, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, ZEBOX operates innovation hubs in Europe, the Caribbean, and North America, connecting pioneering startups and visionary entrepreneurs with global industry leaders including CIMC, INFOSYS, GTT, BNP Paribas, Ceva Logistics, Centrimex and EDF. In less than 4 years, ZEBOX has supported more than 55 startups, building successful businesses that have raised tens of millions of dollars and created scores of new high-skilled jobs.

ZEBOXs new U.S. partners include:



BNSF Railway is one of North Americas leading freight transportation companies. BNSF operates approximately 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and also operates in three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food, and beverages. BNSFs shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve.

Cargomatic is a digital marketplace for local trucking using proprietary technology to modernize the logistics space, saving shippers of all sizes  from the worlds biggest brands to local mom and pop shops  valuable time and cost; and doing a lot of the legwork for truckers, empowering them to focus on what they do best. We are an on-demand local freight marketplace that serves customers in seaports and rail ramps in the continental U.S. and operates in more than 40 U.S. cities.

EDRAY is a technology driven platform that enables collaboration between cargo owners, drayage companies, steamship lines, and ports. This collaboration improves velocity in and out of ports, increased industry capacity, and reduces unnecessary emissions. EDRAY thrives in the most difficult part of the supply chain  the final mile at the ports. Through proprietary technology, processes and most importantly  innovation, EDRAY works on its customers behalf with all stakeholders to keep freight moving in the most efficient way possible. With the Destination Management solution, EDRAY acts with clean, actionable data as an extension of its customers team to reduce time and costs in the supply chain. With the EDRAY Drayage Marketplace, the company provides year-round capacity, or as a back-up, when EDRAYs customers drayage providers need help. Founded by industry veterans, EDRAY understands the challenges of ports and is dedicated to creating the most innovative solutions in the marketplace such as Flow Stacks and Street Turns.

Ingram Industries, a global company that consists of diversified businesses in international and inland marine transportation and logistics as well as print and digital book content distribution. As a specialist in ocean freight, domestic freight, trucking and end-to-end logistics services, Ingram Logistics is part of the Ingram Marine Group, a leading carrier in Americas inland waterways, operating a fleet of more than 1,500 towboats and 5,000 hopper and tank barges. Ingram Content Group is a global leader in physical and digital book distribution, print on demand book manufacturing, management and distribution services for the publishing industry.

project44 is on a mission to make supply chains work. As the supply chain connective tissue, project44 operates the worlds most trusted end-to-end visibility platform that tracks more than 1 billion shipments annually for over 1,000 of the leading brands, including top companies in manufacturing, automotive, retail, life sciences, food & beverage, and oil, chemical & gas. Using project44, shippers and carriers across the globe drive greater predictability, resiliency, and sustainability.

The Port of Virginia is a 21st-century, deep-water port capable of handling the biggest ships at sea. Our network consists of six general cargo terminals: four deep-water facilities and two inland operations. These modern terminals combined with an experienced team of professionals provide our customers with the capacity, connections, and service they need to succeed. We own and operate our terminals and the nations leading chassis pool. Our terminals are optimized to ensure a safe, reliable, and predictable experience for our customers and partners. Having all of our assets operating under a single ownership and management model, called the Virginia Model, allows for quick decision-making, productivity and efficiency, all to the benefit of our ports users.

TRAC Intermodal is North Americas leading marine chassis pool manager and equipment provider with 11 pools under management across the U.S. TRAC has the largest fleet of marine and specialty chassis in North America and operates an extensive network of facilities. TRACs subsidiaries offer emergency fleet roadside assistance through FYX, and maintenance and repair services as well as storage and parking solutions through TRAC Services.

The new partnerships build on the rapid expansion of ZEBOXs U.S. presence, supported by a $36 million investment by CMA CGM Group to expand its operations in Virginia, with the creation of more than 400 new jobs. ZEBOX America is already driving success for its startups, which include Expedock, a San Francisco tech company that has raised almost $8 million to accelerate the use of AI, robotics, and advanced data to streamline supply chain operations.

The global economy is deeply interconnected and requires genuinely global innovation solutions. Thats exactly what ZEBOX is providing through its global network of innovation hubs, said Massimo Magnifico, CEO of ZEBOX. As we grow our presence in Europe, the Americas, and worldwide, were able to connect the worlds leading logistics and supply chain companies with disruptive startups and innovative thinkers to drive the scalable and sustainable change our industry needs.

At ZEBOX, were committed to building bridges between the brightest minds in the startup ecosystem, and the biggest and best established industry leaders. By partnering with project44, TRAC Intermodal, Ingram Logistics, Edray, BNSF, Port of Virginia and Cargomatic were establishing ZEBOX America as the premier space for high-impact innovation in the U.S. logistics, transportation, and supply chain sectors, said Charley Dehoney, Vice President of ZEBOX AMERICA. Our corporate partners will get access to game-changing new technologies and processes, and our entrepreneurs and founders will gain vital expertise, funding opportunities, and the ability to rapidly scale in the U.S. and globally.

About ZEBOX

ZEBOX is a global incubator and accelerator dedicated to fostering innovation by forging compelling collaborations between early-stage startups and corporate stakeholders. Created in 2018 by Rodolphe Saade, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, ZEBOX enables the supply chain of the future by focusing on two key segments: Transportation/logistics and Industry 4.0. ZEBOX accelerates digitalization, automation, and sustainability by harnessing new technologies including AI, IoT, Big Data, and robotics.

Led by Massimo Magnifico, an expert in startup incubator management, ZEBOX is building a diverse ecosystem bringing together stakeholders including corporate partners, entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, and a wide range of professional services providers.

Launched in February 2021, ZEBOX AMERICA is led by Charley Dehoney, a veteran entrepreneur and recognized transportation, supply chain, and logistics technology expert. To learn more about ZEBOX and its programs, visit http://www.ze-box.io/en/.
If the early days of 2022 have been any indication, paper shortages and rising distribution costs are challenges that the industry will likely face throughout year. The seeds of the current problems were sown in the years of the pandemic, when sales of print books unexpectedly rose, increasing demand while people were leaving manufacturing jobs in droves that led to labor shortages in the printing and papermaking businesses.

Those were two of the main takeaways from last weeks webinar, The Powerful Case for U.S. Book Manufacturing in the Face of Global Supply Chain Challenges, Paper Shortages, and Rising Distribution Costs, moderated by Chris Lyons, president and publisher of Book Business, and featuring Jim Milliot, editorial director at Publishers Weekly; Bill Rojack, v-p of Midland Paper; and Matt Baehr, executive director at Book Manufacturers Institute. The program was sponsored by Canon Solutions America.

After Milliot summed how book sales grew in both 2020 and 2021, Rojack opened with a sobering statement: Ive been doing this for 25 years and Ive never seen a market like this before. While the paper market has always had cycles, Rojack said this is something different. The paper business has been consolidating for years and will continue to consolidate, he said, adding that the pandemic expedited the process.

Noting that book paper accounts for only about 5-7% of total paper market demand (including for catalogs and magazines), Rojack said that, despite an increase in demand by book publishers, overall paper demand has dropped 50% in recent years. To compensate for that drop, many mills converted to other products where they can make moneyparticularly the growing demand for corrugated boxes and other packaging materials. Giving current trends, Rojack said that the paper crunch for books is likely to get worse before it gets better, and he noted that plants that have spent millions of dollars converting their factories are not going to retool back to paper even if the packaging market becomes saturatedsomething some experts believe could happen.

Rojack said book publishers are going to need to make some tough choices. Weve been spoiled, he said. Too many trim sizes and too many colors, and simply too many options. He added that publishers should be in constant contact with their paper and print providers, discussing the options that remain available and shouldnt even bring up prices. Rojack pointed to a slide that he said summed up the situation the best, which noted that the way publishers chose a sheet of paper for their books in the past may need to change. Price and look and feel will always be important, but they need to be balanced by what works best for your paper manufactures and your print providers. If those parties are not show how represented in your initial production meetings, they need to be, he said.

Some solutions were offered and many of them involve longer term changes rather than short term band-aids. One involves automation and streamlining the process. Historically, the goal was print enough books to get cheapest unit cost possible; then it became trying to get as much narrow focus on just-in-time delivery and having everything there, Baehr explained. Now with a supply chain crunch its about finding the best balance.

One solution might be print-on-demand, which solves many inventory and time issues, though retains a high cost per unit. This situation creates an interesting dialog with publishers because it assures that there will have to be a standardization of trim sizes, paper usage, cover stocks, and more, Baehr said.

Since Covid, the Inkjet platform has grown like crazy, Rojack noted. I fully expected it and itll continue to grow. The future for new models is in digital printing. This brings automation into the conversation, though it will require more of the aforementioned standardization of trim sizes, cover stock, and more. For automation to take hold, something will need to change.

Ultimately, the labor and paper shortages are not going away soon and in some cases publishers have become more proactive in bringing their printing back stateside. They are taking responsibility for consolidation, realizing they should have done things differently and supported domestic printers better, said Milliot.This is more than a market cycle, Rojack added. It is a structural transformational sea change that happened so much faster than anybody expected because of Covid.
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Purdue Police Officer Jon Selke has been temporarily reassigned to administrative services following the release of special prosecutor Rodney 
Sasha Marcones grandparents left their home at 8 a.m. Friday Ukraine time for a bomb shelter in Kyiv.
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New high school admissions policies have drawn criticism from Queens parents who say it is a lottery system for schools like Francis Lewis High School, above.
A homeless man sleeps on the concourse level of the Forest Hills-71st Avenue subway station. Mayor Adams and Gov. Hochul say their new Subway Safety Plan will benefit subway riders, the homeless and mentally ill and the city.
Pressing for more federal aid for the restaurant industry are, holding the banner, Route 66 American Kitchen & Bar owner Ronan Downs, left, Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Paul OConnor, Downs partner in Taproom 307; and behind them, Kenny Keeting of Playwright, Peter Fahy, Frank McCaully of McGees, Liam McGrevey of Legends, Kathleen Riley of the New York State Restaurant Association, Arelia Taveras of the NYS Latino Restaurant Association, Queens Chamber of Commerce President Tom Grech and Michael Muzyk of Baldor Specialty Foods, with other supporters hidden. They rallied outside the Court Square Diner in Long Island City last Friday.
Mayor Adams announced a Covid-19 task force on Feb. 17. It includes people from various sectors to help with both the well-being of New Yorkers and the economic recovery of the Big Apple.
45-year-old Timothy Huante of Rapid City has been placed under arrest for First Degree Murder in connection with the investigation into the February 20th fatal shooting incident at 826 Main Street.

Shortly before 1:00 a.m. on February 20th, police were dispatched to 826 Main Street for a shooting that had just occurred inside the business. Responding officers encountered a chaotic situation on arrival. Police officers located a single gunshot victim, later identified as 30-year-old Dallas Quick Bear of Rapid City. Emergency life-saving measures were attempted before a medical unit arrived to transport Quick Bear to the hospital. Police later learned that Quick Bear had died of his injuries at the hospital.

In the hours and days following the shooting event, members of the both the RCPD and the Pennington County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigations Division conducted dozens of interviews with witnesses. These interviews included an interview with Huante who wished to speak with police the morning of the shooting. During the course of this interview, very few details were garnered. Detectives and investigators continued to comb the downtown area looking for cameras that may have captured the suspect responsible for the shooting.

During the course of the investigation, police were alerted to a handgun that had been discarded in the 400 block of 7th Street. Law enforcement reviewed video footage of the area where the gun was left and were able to identify a single individual responsible for discarding the weapon. Police then worked through collected video to establish the individual seen discarding the gun had left 826 Main Street immediately following the shooting. This individual was identified as Huante.

On February 23rd, Huante was interviewed by detectives and investigators. Following his interview, he was placed under arrest for First Degree Murder.

This is a fantastic example of the power of old-school detective work at its finest, says Captain James Johns, Commander of the RCPDs Criminal Investigation Division. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the men and women of the RCPD and PCSO, we were able to identify and locate the individual responsible for this crime. There is still plenty of work left to do in this investigation, but we can rest easier knowing the suspect will now answer for their actions.

This case has since been handed over to the Pennington County State Attorneys Office for prosecution. As a result, any further inquiries for details about the investigation should be directed to their office.

* The charges are merely accusations and the arrested individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Any additional details regarding this case can be obtained from the Pennington County States Attorney and/or court records as appropriate.
As U.S. and EU officials jet around the world to identify additional energy supplies for a Europe in crisis, Spain and Portugal are breathing new life into a stalled natural gas interconnector that carries profound implications. While this all plays out amidst the backdrop of mounting Russia-Ukraine tensions, the question remains whether France and the EU will lend their support to the project.

President Emmanuel Macron may simultaneously be the greatest hope and challenge to the projects success and, therefore, European energy security. French advocacy for the transnational interconnector would go far in advancing EU solidarity, particularly as France occupies the critical position of European Council President and President Macron seeks to fill the leadership void left by Chancellor Angela Merkels departure.

The MidCat Pipeline, which would connect the Iberian Peninsulas significant natural gas import capacity to the broader EU market through France, has reemerged as a point of interest for the EU and even NATO. The newfound attention is a bold recognition of the pipelines critical importance to transatlantic interests, particularly as the bloc seeks to mitigate chronic exposure to Russian energy manipulation and political interference.

Just as Nord Stream 2 stokes further division and dependence, MidCat provides a feasible pathway for integration and diversification. But just how much can MidCat help alleviate Europes historical dependence on Russian supplies?

Together, Spain and Portugal possess eight LNG import terminals capable of receiving more significant volumes today. In total, these terminals equate to a nominal import capacity of approximately 76 billion cubic meters per annum (bcm/a). Of course, this doesnt factor in the direct pipeline links between Spain and North Africa. Algeria alone offers an additional five bcm/a. To put this in perspective, the Iberian Peninsula represents approximately 34 percent of total EU LNG import capacity.

Unfortunately, this potential is primarily confined to the peninsula itself, as a lack of interconnections with the French system and the broader EU market creates a significant bottleneck. The result is the underutilization of import terminals and the very market illiquidity that the EU has attempted to overcome.

Beyond doubling the volumes capable of being dispatched from the peninsula, MidCat enhances the long-term viability of transatlantic clean energy trade. The more fully utilized import capacity of Spain and Portugal would provide new opportunities for long-term contracts with U.S. LNG suppliers - contracts that offer greater consumer protection from price volatility.

The MidCat pipeline would see the region transformed into an energy hub and help to ensure that Spain, Portugal, and France become indispensable in Europes future energy system. Much like the U.S., new infrastructure investment is essential to expand the lifecycle of LNG import terminals well beyond the tentative energy transition.

Make no mistake, the benefits of MidCat are not limited to LNG supplying nations; they reach beyond to strengthen economic relations between the EU and North Africa. This relationship stands as a notable pillar of economic stability within an often-chaotic neighborhood.

It is past time for the EU to set aside its climate purity and fully integrate the natural gas markets of Spain and Portugal. To start, MidCat should be restored to the EUs list of Projects of Common Interest. This would send a strong signal that its construction will be fully backed by the EU.

Compared to the disastrous Nord Stream 2 pipeline, MidCat not only fulfills greater EU energy aspirations but also comes in at less than one-third of the cost. EU officials could easily identify avenues for allocating modest provisions of the more than 2 trillion recovery fund to Spain, Portugal, and France. Such a measure would ensure the project's completion and promote efforts to improve system efficiency and sustainability.

While the EU should be applauded for its decision to embrace natural gas as a sustainable energy source, more must be done to commit to natural gas as a long-term clean energy solution. Europe is fortunate in that the answers to its energy woes are already present. Projects that promote EU solidarity sit on the desks of European energy regulators, and U.S. LNG exporters stand ready to sign long-term exports contracts that benefit European consumers.

All that is needed is for Presidents Biden and von der Leyen to support this project as emblematic of the enduring friendship within the transatlantic community. Perhaps most importantly, President Macron should capitalize on this unique moment in history to demonstrate not only his political leadership but also the resilience of the fraternal bond between the U.S. and France. Such support would go far to impress upon regional stakeholders the importance of the MidCat Pipeline for European energy security.

Sam Buchan served as Director of International Economic Policy at the National Economic Council and Senior Advisor to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. He is an energy and foreign policy strategy consultant.

Ricky Gill served as Director for European Energy Security at the National Security Council and Senior Advisor in the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/23/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

pro Cheryl Burke has filed for divorce from Matthew Lawrence , her husband of nearly three years.According to court documents, Cheryl, 37, filed her divorce paperwork in Los Angeles, CA, on Friday, February 18, Us Weekly reported Cheryl reportedly cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for her split from the 42-year-old actor, and she listed January 7 as their date of separation.The divorce papers also reveal Cheryl and Matthew have a prenuptial agreement in place.Cheryl and the former Boy Meets World star seemed happy together in December 2021, when Cheryl posted a photo of themselves and their dog on Instagram."Wishing you a very Merry Christmas," she captioned a picture at the time.Cheryl and Matthew met in 2006 through his brother, actor Joey Lawrence , who competed on Season 3 of .The pair reportedly began dating in February 2007 and stayed together for about a year before calling it quits on their relationship in February 2008.Cheryl and Matthew reconciled nearly a decade later in February 2017. In September of that year, Cheryl admitted to People she regretted letting her romance with Matthew end."When we first dated, we were both young and immature, and I was so new to this world," she revealed of why the relationship didn't work the first time around."Now we are both adults and feel balanced. He's such a great guy. He's so normal, considering we're in this crazy business," Cheryl continued of Matthew. "It's so nice to be able to come home to him... He's someone I definitely do see spending the rest of my life with."Cheryl accepted a marriage proposal and got engaged to Matthew in early May 2018 while the couple was celebrating Cheryl's 34th birthday."OMG! So far so good for 34! #amilliontimesyes #imengaged#herecomesthebride," Cheryl captioned an Instagram picture of the pair at sunset in Laguna Beach, CA.The dancer and choreographer went on to marry Matthew on May 23, 2019.Cheryl previously told Us in April 2020 that she felt "a sense of ease and peace" with Matthew, while her then-husband pointed out how arguments were naturally "going to happen," especially as they quarantined together amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic."It's just the constant communication," Matthew shared in 2020. When you stop that communication and when you don't try every day is when things start to slowly fall apart."At the time, the pair weren't interested in trying for a baby and expanding their family."I think it's healthier [to wait until after COVID-19]. I don't know if being pregnant right now would be ideal for me," Cheryl told the magazine, adding however that she "always wanted to be a mom" and thought it would be natural for them to "continue onto that next step in our lives."More than a year after their wedding, Cheryl shared on Good Morning America how she was two years sober and Matthew was her "rock" in life."I don't know where I would be without him," Cheryl said in October 2020.Cheryl joined all the way back in Season 2 and has won two mirrorball trophies since. The brunette beauty has graced the ballroom almost every season since she began, with the exception of five seasons to pursue other career interests.Over the years, Cheryl has placed second on twice and finished in third place a total of four times.The pro dancer also finished in second place on the first season of I Can Do That, losing to Nicole Scherzinger . The talent competition aired on NBC from May to June 2015.As for Matthew, he is best known for his roles in Boy Meets World, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Brotherly Love.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/23/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Mark Maher has revealed where things currently stand with his landlord, a "mother figure" whom his new wife Lindsey Georgoulis accused of being "obsessed" with Mark.Mark, 37, and Lindsey, 34, were matched for matrimony on Season 14 of by the show's experts Dr. Viviana Coles, Dr. Pepper Schwartz and Pastor Calvin Roberson.While the pair tried to enjoy their honeymoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mark's Boston-based landlord kept calling and texting him every day about an unfortunate bedbug situation in Mark's apartment.Lindsey became utterly annoyed with the "classless" landlord's "relentless" attempts at communication, and she was furious to later discover Mark's lease had been changed to a no-pets policy when Mark has several beloved cats."Your landlord, who has been like a mom [to you], has completely been, like, tripped. Didn't she come to your wedding?" : Afterparty host Keshia Knight Pulliam asked on the February 16 episode of the talk show."Yeah," Mark replied.When asked where his relationship with the landlord stands now, Mark revealed, "We haven't talked.""Yeah, I just grabbed all my stuff and turned over my key -- and that was it. I didn't want to re-open that afterwards."Keshia asked Mark to clarify what was going on considering the landlord's behavior seemed overwhelming and pretty inappropriate."Did she like you and you didn't know about it?" Keshia asked."No, I mean, it was literally, like, two days before the wedding this [bedbug thing] happened, and she was upset about it," Mark explained."And I was like, 'What do you want me to do? I can't control it. I've got to go get married.'"Mark's co-stars Katina Goode and Michael Morency joined him on Afterparty, and Katina shared how she would feel if her husband Olajuwon Dickerson had bedbugs in his apartment and needed to move out."Would I have helped? Probably not," Katina confessed.As shown on the latest episode of , Lindsey dressed in a hazmat suit and helped Mark clean out his apartment before they moved into a "neutral" place together, one that had been provided for them by the show."I don't like bugs," Katina explained, "but I would've been like, 'Everything has to go!' So the fact that Lindsey was even like, 'Yeah, you can bring some stuff,' it all would've been gone [for me]!"Michael was also pretty impressed by how Lindsey had Mike's back in that sticky situation."On one hand, I think it was really dope that Lindsey decided to help, like, immediately," Michael shared."I don't know if it felt like a little too much for [Mark], but I do like that she didn't even think twice before saying, 'Alright, let's do this! Let me help you out.'"Keshia also gave props to Lindsey for stepping it up that day.On a previous episode of Afterparty, Lindsey admitted to Keshia that she thought Mark's landlord would pull a stunt like this on his honeymoon because she was "afraid to lose him." "So instead of losing him to me in a marriage, she's just going to push him away," Lindsey reasoned.Lindsey called the whole ordeal "really confusing," especially since the landlord had thrown Mark an engagement party."And so for many times, she was that [mother]-figure for him. And I think it was very difficult for him to lose that relationship in a blindsided way," Lindsey shared earlier this month.When asked if this relationship was "unsettling" to Lindsey in light of the fact Mark had been extremely close to this older woman, Lindsey replied, "Listen, a lot of his relationships are unsettling to me, if I'm going to be honest with you."She added, "I think [Mark] is sometimes missing a factor of the whole picture."Lindsey noted how Mark also had a strange dynamic with his married friend who's a woman."His married friend was calling him twice a day, too, [during honeymoon] to say, 'I love you, where are you? What are you doing?' And he was always on his phone," Lindsey complained."She's married, it was one of his wedding guests. She sent me a message saying, 'I'm his ride-or-die friend -- Mark likes X, Y, Z. He doesn't like this.'"Lindsey said the text message bothered her and so she decided not to answer it."I thought it was a little audacious for her to insert herself as the most important woman in his life," Lindsey admitted. "I want a chance to make my own opinions about [Mark] on my own."Lindsey already told Mark "I love you" and they've consummated their marriage on 's fourteenth season, but the pair experienced many bumps in the road following their wedding day.Mark admitted Lindsey could be "a lot" for him and "condescending" at times, especially in regards to the no-filter delivery of her opinions as well as her reckless behavior when she's excessively drinking alcohol.And Lindsey struggled with Mark's seemingly-sudden desire to pump the brakes and slow down their relationship. She accused her husband of being hot and cold and holding back his feelings."I think you're not processing these changes well... We went from having sex to you not even wanting to hold my hand or be affectionate with me," Lindsey explained."My feelings are hurt because you went from all to nothing. I am so insulted and offended by you. I am so mad!... And you are f-cking clueless right now, and it makes me so mad! Work on us!"Mark admitted that he wasn't feeling like himself, like he was out of his own skin, explaining, "I've seen you poke and it makes me uncomfortable. But I don't poke you; I just shut my mouth."During a therapy session, Pastor Cal therefore advised Lindsey to pull back on occasion and give herself to Mark in "doses" in order to allow him to catch up to her.Pastor Cal also asked Lindsey not to take over Mark's life and for Mark to keep running in the marriage all the while giving his wife more validation and reassurance.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now!
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/23/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Michael Morency has admitted he was "wrong" in his first blowout fight with Jasmina Outar when he had accused her of interrupting him during a group conversation about sex.When the five 14 couples enjoyed their honeymoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the group had a conversation on a catamaran about who had consummated their marriage already.In an off-camera conversation, Michael accused Jasmina of interrupting his answer on the boat, and she later vented in a confessional about how Michael was demanding an apology for something she didn't think even happened."I feel in this moment he's being very aggressive with his words. I don't appreciate his tone. It's disrespectful, it's rude, it's loud... I don't tolerate disrespect -- at all," Jasmina complained to the cameras.Jasmina, who thought Michael was incapable of having a civil conversation, admitted that she was "not feeling him," and she added, "I don't want to be in this marriage. I don't even want to be in the same room with this man, honestly."During the February 16 episode of : Afterparty, Michael explained how he had an issue with Jasmina's use of the word "aggressive.""Aggressive is like you feel threatened by me or I was being intimidating. There's a whole bunch of connotations to the word 'aggressive,'" Michael told host Keshia Knight Pulliam "I was wrong in this situation," he conceded. "I'm Mr. Accountability.""But it gets to the point where it's like, 'Alright, you're going too far,'" he added.Michael then recalled what happened that day on the catamaran, in his opinion."The question came up of who consummated their marriage. I was trying to say the gentleman way of answering, 'No, we haven't consummated the marriage,'" Michael said."But in the midst of me saying that, [Jasmina], like, jumped in. And in my mind, I'm like wondering why she interrupted me in that moment. I don't know what it was, but I felt like..."Keshia interjected, "Were you overthinking it a little?""Possibly," Michael responded. "It's very possible."Keshia pointed out how "sometimes when you're in the midst of things, you're seeing it from your perspective and not seeing the accurate presentation of how it happened."Keshia therefore played back the footage of Jasmina supposedly interrupting Michael on the boat so Michael could see what the world saw during an early February episode of 's fourteenth season."Has anyone consummated their marriage?" MAFS star Olajuwon Dickerson asks in the clip."Well, we haven't yet," Michael replies. "I mean, it's only been what? Three days since we got married?"It appeared Michael had asked Jasmina a question and finished his thought, which prompted Jasmina to explain, "I'm just someone that wants to have an emotional connection with somebody first."Seeing it in hindsight, Michael changed his perspective on the conversation."So I understand her position," Michael noted of Jasmina on Afterparty."Seeing the clip, I felt like in the moment, it probably felt more tense in my head just because I know it's a touchy topic. [But] she didn't interrupt me, it looks like."Keshia, from an unbiased viewer's perspective, said it appeared Michael had almost looked to Jasmina in that moment to corroborate what he was saying, and Michael agreed.Tension from that fight definitely lingered in Jasmina and Michael's relationship.While Jasmina and Michael attempted to enjoy the rest of their honeymoon, Jasmina wanted space from her husband once they moved into a Boston apartment together, and so they spent the first night in their new place apart.And once Jasmina found out about Michael's two female roommates, she acknowledged how she was both "annoyed" and "disappointed" in Michael's secrecy and how he had never been forthcoming with that information.During a therapy session with expert, Pastor Calvin Roberson, on the latest episode , Jasmina complained about how Michael had yelled at her in San Juan -- a claim which Michael denied.To end the couple's back-and-forth bickering, Pastor Cal asked Jasmina to forgive Michael and move on, and he advised Michael to stop talking "at" or "to" Jasmina.Pastor Cal told Jasmina to tell Michael, "I am not your enemy," during challenging times when she doesn't like how he's speaking to her.Following one week of marriage, the pair hoped for a fresh start in Massachusetts and to reclaim the spark they had both felt on their wedding night."Before the Pastor Cal visit, we were in a really, really tough spot communication-wise, and what Pastor Cal did for us, it was super, super important," Michael shared on Afterparty."Because I feel like there were a lot of things that were on my chest and a lot of things that were on her chest that we never really, fully laid out with a third party [who] can interject and sift through our issues."Michael concluded, "And I think after the Pastor Cal visit, it made us start, like, a new Day 1. Michael said he "for sure" felt a lightness in his relationship with Jasmina after that.'s fourteenth season, which currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime, also stars Olajuwon and Katina Goode, Mark Maher and Lindsey Georgoulis, Alyssa Ellman and Chris Collette, and Noi Phommasak and Steve Moy.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now!
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/23/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Michael Morency has explained why he lied to his wife Jasmina Outar about never having lived with a woman before when he actually had two female roommates at the time.After tying the knot as total strangers and hitting it off, Michael, 28, and Jasmina, 29, experienced some bumps during their honeymoon in Puerto Rico and when they moved into an apartment together in Boston, MA, one week into marriage.Jasmina said she didn't like the "aggressive" and "loud" tone Michael would allegedly take with her off-camera during arguments, and she felt Michael had withheld the facts of his roommate situation from her.At one point, Jasmina openly declared how she lived with a male roommate, giving Michael a chance to share the details of his living arrangement, but Michael didn't come clean.On the February 16 episode of : Afterparty, Michael watched back a Season 14 clip of Jasmina finding out he had -- not one -- but two female roommates."So you have two female roommates?" Jasmina asks Michael in the clip."Yeah... so what did you think? That I purposely didn't tell you about that one?" Michael asks."Well, I mean, I didn't know about the first one," Jasmina points out."Okay, I did it. But even if I didn't, what does that mean? What would I be trying to get away with?" Michael questions his wife. "Like, I currently live with women. I don't think it makes me look like I'm trying to hide something."Afterparty host Keshia Knight Pulliam , seemingly frustrated, asked Michael to "redeem" himself after seeing that footage."Because that's when you should've just said, 'I'm wrong. I'm sorry.' But you kept fighting!" Keshia complained to Michael."I was wrong," Michael admitted in front of his MAFS co-stars Mark Maher and Katina Goode."Okay," Keshia responded with skepticism."I was wrong," Michael reiterated. "I think I went too much trying to prove my point.""I think what I was trying to say was, 'I wasn't intentionally trying to hide this because I wanted to get away with having women for roommates,'" he clarified.Michael added, "I just didn't want her to think I was trying to lie to her."Keshia then asked Katina how she would feel if her husband Olajuwon Dickerson was living with two women and didn't tell her."First off, that's not possible for that man," Katina said of Olajuwon, who is a bit of a flirt and had a playboy past under the fake name, Isaac. (Olajuwon even admitted he once slept with a mother and her daughter ).Katina then called Michael out and said, "You can't even -- you know probably he's [slept with] one of them," referring to one of Michael's two female roommates."Both of them!" Keshia chimed in, before joking, "Together!"Katina, Mark and Michael all cracked up with laughter, as Keshia said, "Let's be real!"Considering Michael didn't deny Katina or Keshia's allegations, Mark pointed out with a big smile, "It just got real!"When Jasmina and Michael moved into the "neutral" apartment in Boston provided for them by production, Jasmina chose to sleep at her old place the first night.While Jasmina told Michael that she needed some time to find a new daycare for her dog, she admitted in a confessional how she liked having a little space from her husband after a tumultuous honeymoon.And once Jasmina found out about Michael's female roommates, she acknowledged how she was both "annoyed" by his secrecy and "disappointed" in how Michael had handled the situation.During a therapy session that aired during the latest episode with Pastor Calvin Roberson, Jasmina complained about how Michael had yelled at her in San Juan -- a claim which Michael denied.To end the back-and-forth bickering, Pastor Cal asked Jasmina to forgive Michael and move on, and he also advised Michael to stop talking "at" or "to" Jasmina.Pastor Cal suggested that Jasmina should tell Michael, "I am not your enemy," during challenging times when she doesn't like how he's speaking to her.The pair hoped for a fresh start in Boston and to reclaim the spark they had both felt on their wedding night.'s fourteenth season, which currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime, also stars Mark's wife Lindsey Georgoulis, Alyssa Ellman and Chris Collette, and Noi Phommasak and Steve Moy.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now!
Ozark Season 4, Part 2 is coming to Netflix in April.

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The streaming service shared a release date, April 29, for the show's final episodes Wednesday.

Netflix also released a new teaser that shows Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner) reflect on being "a cursed Langmore." The video features text that promises "the end arrives sooner than you think."

"My childhood traumas are not like yours," Ruth (Garner) says. "You see, I'm a cursed Langmore. Long inured to violence and death. And in the case of a Langmore, perhaps not soon enough."

Season 4, Part 2 opens with Marty (Jason Bateman) and Wendy (Laura Linney) Byrde on top of the Navarro empire following the events of Part 1, which premiered in January. The Byrdes get another chance to leave the Ozarks but their past isn't through with them.

Skylar Gaertner and Sofia Hublitz also star.

Ozark is created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams. The series was renewed for a fourth and final season in June 2020.

"We're so happy Netflix recognized the importance of giving Ozark more time to end the Byrdes' saga right," showrunner Chris Mundy said at the time. "It's been such a great adventure for all of us -- both on screen and off -- so we're thrilled to get the chance to bring it home in the most fulfilling way possible."
Succession star Matthew Macfadyen and his real-life wife, Bodyguard actress Keeley Hawes, have landed the lead roles in ITV's three-part drama, Stonehouse.

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Macfadyen will play disgraced British politician/philandering Czech spy John Stonehouse, who faked his own death in the 1970s.

Hawes will portray Barbara, the spouse he abandoned with three young children.

A Very English Scandal and The Dig scribe John Preston wrote the miniseries, which will be helmed by Stan & Ollie director Jon S. Baird.

"What happened to John Stonehouse is the stuff of legend," Macfadyen said in a statement Wednesday.

"I've always been intrigued by what motivated him to fake his own death, and leave behind the family he loved and doted upon and a promising political career. John Preston's script truly captures the man and his colorful life and I'm looking forward to taking on his character."

Streaming service BritBox International will be the exclusive home to the U.K. series in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.

Macfadyen and Hawes have been married since 2004. They have two children together.
Athens, GA (30605)

Today

Thunderstorms during the morning hours, then skies turning partly cloudy during the afternoon. High 87F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Periods of rain. High near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Beckley, WV (25801)

Today

A few showers early, then clouds lingering for the afternoon. High 69F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Beckley, WV (25801)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms during the morning. Mostly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 69F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
GREENWICH  Asset management firm Hudson Bay Capital plans to expand in town by hiring 40 additional employees, supported by a state grant of up to $1.31 million, company and state officials announced Thursday.

The expansion reinforces southwestern Connecticuts status as a major hub for financial-services firms. Hudson Bay expects its offices in downtown Greenwich at 28 Havemeyer Place to employ nearly 50 professionals as new positions are filled, according to the announcement.

As we continue to strategically scale our business, attract top talent, and provide best-in-class solutions to our global clientele, it became clear that Connecticut was the ideal location for expansion, given its infrastructure, proximity to metropolitan areas and commitment to business, Sander Gerber, chief executive officer and chief investment officer of Hudson Bay, said in a statement. Gov. (Ned) Lamonts mission of job creation resonates with our own and we look forward to welcoming new, intellectually curious, team-oriented individuals to our Greenwich office.

The grant from the state Department of Economic and Community Development is contingent upon Hudson Bay creating and retaining 40 new full-time jobs. It would be disbursed over seven years as job targets are met. The firm could earn less than $1.31 million if it creates fewer than 40 positions.

Founded in 2006 and employing more than 120 in total, Hudson Bay also has offices in midtown Manhattan, Miami and London.

The decision by Hudson Bay Capital to create up to 40 new jobs in their Greenwich office is yet another sign that our business-friendly environment here in town is recognized by companies both large and small, national and international, Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo told Hearst Connecticut Media. Businesses also recognize all of the amenities we offer here in town  including but not limited to great schools, wonderful parks, terrific entertainment, a civic spirit that is second to none and outstanding government services, as well as our longstanding reputation as a leader in municipal fiscal responsibility.

Hudson Bay is the second firm in the past year to secure state funding to support hiring in Greenwich. Last September, financial-technology firm iCapital Network opened offices in the downtown at 2 Greenwich Plaza to complement its headquarters in Manhattan. It can earn up to $2.94 million in grants from the state if it creates 200 full-time jobs.

Hudson Bay Capital is an international company with offices all over the world, and I am glad that as their company continues to grow, theyve selected Connecticut as the location where they will create these new jobs, Lamont said in a statement. Business confidence continues to rise in Connecticut, and we are building on that momentum by continuing to exercise fiscal discipline and make the strategic investments that are necessary to attract new jobs. I look forward to seeing Hudson Bay Capitals continued growth in Connecticut.

During the past year, Lamonts administration has announced agreements to provide seven-figure subsidies contingent on job creation to other companies, including cryptocurrency-and-blockchain conglomerate Digital Currency Group and real estate-focused fintech firm Tomo Networks and manufacturer and technology-services provider ITT. Tomo has opened its main offices in Stamfords South End; ITT plans to open its new headquarters next month, coincidentally next door to Tomo; and DCG is planning to open its headquarters in Stamfords Shippan section later this year.

Tobacco giant Philip Morris International, which is planning to open later this year a new headquarters in downtown Stamford after relocating from Manhattan, is not receiving any state subsidies.

DCG, ITT, PMI and Tomo plan to create several hundred jobs in Stamford during the next few years.

Companies focused on growth see tremendous opportunity in Connecticut, David Lehman, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, and Peter Denious, president and CEO of the nonprofit organization AdvanceCT, said in a joint statement.

When we talk with CEOs and site consultants, we consistently hear that Connecticuts skilled workforce and strategic location are among the top reasons companies are choosing to invest, innovate, and grow here. It is great to see Hudson Bay Capital among the growing roster of financial services and financial technology companies expanding operations in our state, they said.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
Just days after state officials canceled a contract that provided more than $29 million in hazardous waste projects to a select list of four companies, they released new guidelines Wednesday that sharply limit when municipalities can make use of the process for school construction.

Two companies named in a federal grand jury subpoena investigating former state official Konstantinos Diamantis were the primary beneficiaries of that contract before it was canceled, records show.

Diamantis team was in charge of the contract, which was initially supposed to be limited to emergency work, state officials have said.

The grand jury investigation has raised questions about whether Diamantis pressured municipalities to hire specific contractors, construction managers and hazardous waste and asbestos removal companies.

The guidance released Wednesday from the state Department of Administrative Services places restrictions on when towns can hire the companies on the states approved list. They can now only be used for minor rehabilitation projects that cost less than $500,000 and emergency projects, defined as work that needs to begin within 24 hours. Demolition projects are explicitly excluded from the contract.

DAS has clarified with other towns through, for example, conversations, website updates, contract updates and more to ensure towns have accurate information about the school construction grants process, DAS spokeswoman Lora Rae Anderson said.

The original DAS contract, 16PSX0110, was designed to be an on-call emergency list for towns to use for hazardous waste abatement ranging from asbestos removal to mold remediation in state buildings.

But under Diamantis, the former deputy secretary at the state Office of Policy and Management, many municipalities started using the list to bid for hazardous waste removal and demolition on school construction projects.

Diamantis also ran the Office of School Construction Grants & Review  first at DAS and then at the Office of Police and Management  until late October, when he was fired from his OPM job and retired from the OSCGR position.

Asbestos Abatement and Insulation Services (AAIS) Corporation of West Haven and Bestech Inc. of Ellington got all but 15 of the 284 purchase orders issued by the state for hazardous waste disposal and demolition from fiscal year 2017 through 2022  contracts that are paid for by the state and not tied to school construction jobs.

Diamantis was in charge of the roughly 20-member OSCGR team, which approved school construction projects. In October, a federal grand jury issued a subpoena seeking Diamantis emails and text messages from January 2018 through October 2021.

They later sent DAS a list of search words that included several construction management companies and general contractors who have been awarded school contracts in the last four years. Among the search words were AAIS and Bestech.

Local officials from Tolland to Bristol have said that Diamantis or Michael Sanders, a member of the OSCGR team that specialized in asbestos abatement, pressured them to give contracts to either AAIS or Bestech rather than to companies not on the state list.

Sanders died suddenly in December in Old Saybrook. The state medical examiner has ruled his death an accidental drug overdose.

The new contract, 20psx0154, was put into place after New Haven attorney Raymond Garcia, on behalf of his client Stamford Wrecking Co., complained to several state officials, including Attorney General William Tong, that Diamantis and his team were improperly using the so-called emergency contract list for school construction jobs.

The discussions among Garcia and state officials, including Diamantis and Assistant Attorney General Margaret Chapple, led to the issuing of a new directive to municipalities on March 2, 2021.

The directive, signed by Diamantis, clarified when municipalities should use the states hazardous materials abatement contractors list for their school projects.

The directive states that if municipalities planned to use one of the companies on the so-called emergency contractor list, they needed to solicit a minimum of four bid proposals in order to be eligible to get state funding.

Anderson said the new guidance issued Wednesday replaces that directive.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

A New Haven man was sentenced to more than three years in prison after police found firearms and more than 20 grams of crack in his home, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

New Haven police on May 10, 2019, searched the home of 43-year-old Theo Sargent, also known as Ciph, 43, based on information obtained from a confidential informant, according to court records.
STAMFORD  A city man allegedly fired a gunshot into his neighbors apartment then failed to report it, according to police.

Hector Batista, 53, was arrested Monday night on charges of unlawful discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of illegal possession of high-capacity magazines after a gunshot was fired into a neighboring apartment.

Police were called to an apartment building on Glenbrook Road around 11 p.m. Monday after the tenant returned home to find a hole in the wall from a gunshot, said Capt. Richard Conklin.

Conklin said responding officers found a bullet lodged in the tenants closet and eventually determined that the bullet came from next door, where Batista lives.

After tracing the bullet back to Batistas apartment, Conklin said officers also discovered two illegal high-capacity magazines in the home.

Conklin said Batista told police he was handling his gun  though Conklin didnt specify in what way  inside his apartment Monday night when a round was fired into his apartment wall.

Batista did not report the incident to police, Conklin said.

While no one was injured, Conklin said the incident serves as a reminder for anyone who discharges a gunshot to immediately contact police.

If an accident like this does occur, we want to be notified about it immediately, Conklin said. That way we can trace the round to see where it went and can make sure that no one was injured.

Batista was released after posting a $1,000 bond. A date for his arraignment has not yet been posted on the states judicial website.
Emergency personnel work at the crash site of a Ukrainian military plane south of Kyiv on February 24, 2022. It was unclear how many people were killed. (AFP/Ukraine Emergency Ministry press service / handout)

In this handout photo taken from video, the body of a slain soldier lies on the ground next to wrecked military vehicles after an attack - allegedly by separatists, or Russians - in eastern Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. (Ukrainian Police Department Press Service via AP)

Beijing on Thursday called for restraint following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but said the movement of troops wasn't an invasion, and came against "a very complicated historical background."



"China is closely monitoring the latest situation. We call on all sides to exercise restraint to prevent the situation from getting out of control," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing in Beijing.



"This is perhaps a difference between China and you Westerners. We won't go rushing to a conclusion," she said, adding that countries' "legitimate security concerns" should be addressed through dialogue.

The Russian attack comes weeks after Putin met with ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping ahead of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, where the two sides signed a friendship pact aimed at countering U.S. global influence.



Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, sea and air in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II, sending missiles raining down on cities, with columns of troops seen crossing the border from Russia and Belarus, and landing from the Black and Azov seas.

The debris of a privet house in the aftermath of Russian shelling outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. AP Photo



Highways out of the country's capital, Kyiv, were choked with traffic as people tried to flee the city amid the sounds of explosions, air raid sirens and gunfire.



"Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in the WW2 years," Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said via Twitter on Thursday.



"Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks," he wrote, calling on Ukrainians to defend their country.

Putin said he had ordered "a special military operation" to prevent "genocide" in Ukraine - an accusation the West calls absurd propaganda.



"We will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine," Putin said in a speech early on Thursday.



U.S. President Joe Biden has ruled out sending U.S. troops to defend Ukraine but he and other Western leaders promised tough financial sanctions.



'Let Ukraine be a warning'



Many in China drew an immediate parallel with a putative Chinese invasion of the democratic island of Taiwan, which the CCP lays claim to, despite never having ruled the island of 23 million people.

"Hey, little Taiwan, are you watching?" Weibo user @LingTinIsInHellButDoesn'tForgetTheWorld wrote in a comment on a news report on the Russian military action. "Let Ukraine be a warning to you!"

People wait at the Ukrainian side of the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine following the launch of Russias military operation Feb. 24, 2022. (Reuters)



"Taiwan is like, I have an American father and brothers in South Korea and Japan, so I can get military support. Hahahahahahahaha The U.S., South Korea and Japan will just offer sanctions," @ItsRightToLikeCNPeople wrote.



@EnthusiasticOldCitizenHK added: "I hope that the biggest surprise when I wake up tomorrow morning is the return of Taiwan [to the motherland]."



@QiBaiXiangNorth quipped that Taiwanese people will be learning China's national anthem overnight, while @LiuYiming wrote: "We're only going to show you this once, so take note, little Taiwan," and @_alarm number 9527 said the invasion of Ukraine was "a blueprint for taking back Taiwan by force."



"Little Taiwan is done for," @Clover555 concluded.

China's state-controlled media has been ordered to use only news reports approved by the CCP's central propaganda department, while social media platforms have been told to moderate comments to ensure that no anti-Russian content is posted.



"They can only use copy from the People's Daily, Xinhua news agency or CCTV's news broadcast," former journalist Zhang Jiayi told RFA.



"Everyone, including celebrity accounts, social media pundits, scholars and the media have to follow official guidelines when expressing their opinions," he said. "This will influence the judgement formed by the general public."

"Russia is in the wrong because it has violated humanitarian principles, but the [Chinese government] wants to use this to show the Chinese people that they can do the same in Taiwan; that they can treat Taiwan the same way," Zhang said.



Ukrainian tanks move into Mariupol, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Reuters)



'Just a bargaining chip'



Faced with a chorus of commentary, the American Institute in Taiwan issued a statement seeking to reassure people that Washington's commitment to supporting Taiwan remained unchanged.



Ye Yaoyuan, head of the Department of International Studies and Contemporary Linguistics at St. Thomas University in the United States, pointed out that China is playing a "two-handed" game, and is unlikely to seek to influence any actual restraint on the part of Russia.



"This conflict isn't ... something that China can act as mediator in," Ye told RFA. "It's just a bargaining chip [Beijing] can use to bring to the negotiating table with the U.S."



Another senior media figure told RFA that the majority of people in China believe that the current conflict is the fault of the E.U. and the U.S.



"Official public statements ... all say they want a peaceful solution, but the rhetoric will subtly change, to imply that Russia had its hand forced by Western countries," the person said.

Police officers inspect the location of an apparent Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Associated Press)



Chinese officials have been quick to fuel nationalistic sentiment in China, calling on Chinese people in Ukraine to identify themselves with bumper stickers on their cars, or with the Chinese national flag.



But an official who answered the phone at the Chinese embassy in Kyiv said no arrangements are currently in place for Chinese nationals who may need help.



"What danger?" the official said. "There aren't any arrangements at the moment, and the embassy doesn't have many rooms for Chinese citizens to stay in, not right now."



An official who answered the consular assistance helpline number at the Chinese consulate in Odessa declined to comment when contacted by RFA on Thursday.



"I'm out right now, can't talk on the phone," the official said, before hanging up.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Only after the crash site is verified can the recovery process officially begin.

File photo of the DSCV Picasso, a diving support vessel sent to the site of the F-35 crash in the South China Sea. Credit.

One month after an F-35C Lightning II fighter jet crashed on an aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy is finally making the first steps to retrieve the plane from the bottom of the sea.

The U.S. Navy 7th Fleet spokesperson confirmed to RFA on Thursday that it has sent a team to verify the site and recover the F-35C aircraft involved in the Jan. 24 crash aboard USS Carl Vinson.

Only after the crash site is verified can the recovery process officially begin.

Cdr. Hayley Sims said that the Navy has embarked personnel  aboard the diving support construction vessel (DSCV) Picasso, which departed Naha, Okinawa [on] Feb. 23.

The team includes personnel from Task Force 75 (CTF 75), the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), and NAVSEAs Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), Sims said.

Carl Schuster, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former director of operations at the U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center, said it would take three to five days for the Picasso to reach the location from Okinawa, depending on transit speed and sea conditions along the route.

The Navy and CTF 75 have spent the last month planning and gathering what they needed, he said.

CTF 75 specializes in disaster response, expeditionary operations that require specialized skills and equipment, including salvage operations.

The F-35C crashed into the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and then fell into the water on Jan. 24. A leaked video showed the plane hit the deck then rotated and skidded in flames before sliding off the flight deck and into the sea.

Five Navy personnel are facing charges for leaking the video, deemed official as it was taken from the pilots landing aid television on the aircraft carrier.

A photo widely circulated on social media shows the F-35C jet in the sea after its crash while attempting to land on the USS Carl Vinson on Jan. 24, 2022. The U.S. 7th Fleet verified the photo. High-tech deep-diving support vessel

Last month the Japanese Coast Guards Hydrological and Oceanographic Department issued a navigation warning for salvage operations to be carried out in northern part of the South China Sea until further notice.

A navigation warning is a public advisory notice to mariners about changes to navigational aids and current marine activities or hazards including fishing zones and military exercises.

The operations are believed to be for the crashed F-35C and the navigation warning is still in effect.

It would take weeks if not months, and millions of dollars to recover the state-of-the-art stealth fighter jet, experts said.

The crash is listed as Class A mishap - an incident either involving loss of life or permanent disability, or the complete loss of an aircraft or property damage of $2.5 million or more, according to the U.S. Navy.

The vessel contracted by the U.S. Navy for the operation, DSCV Picasso, is a high-tech, deep-diving support vessel built and operated by Singapore-based Ultra Deep Solutions.

Picasso can carry deep-diving underwater unmanned vehicles to do the survey work.
Chinese commentators have taken aim at an official investigation into a woman found chained up in the eastern province of Jiangsu, calling for a wider inquiry into rampant human trafficking and official collusion with criminal gangs who buy and sell women for "marriage."



An investigation by Jiangsu provincial authorities said the woman, named as Yang Qingxia on her marriage certificate, was a missing woman known by the nickname Xiaohuamei who was trafficked out of the southwestern province of Yunnan in 1997 and sold twice by human traffickers in Feng county.



Investigators said nine people have been arrested and would face criminal investigation, including Yang's "husband," surnamed Dong and others involved in her trafficking.



Meanwhile, Feng county ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secretary Lou Hai and governor Zheng Chunwei have been fired for failing to "uphold people's rights and interests."



"On Feb. 22, the Feng county people's procuratorate approved the arrest of the criminal suspect Dong ***min on suspicion of abuse," state news agency Xinhua reported.



"Xiaohuamei was bought by Dong ***geng (Dong ***min's father) in ... the relevant criminal facts are still under investigation," it said, adding that Yang has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and is being treated in hospital.



It said DNA testing had revealed that Yang wasn't missing woman Li Ying from Sichuan province, as many citizen investigators have claimed, citing the striking similarity of facial features when comparing a known photo of Li with a recent photo of Yang.



Fifteen other Feng county officials have also been punished in connection with the case.



''Conflicting statements'

Official media said the county government had issued "conflicting statements" that had fueled widespread public anger about the case.



Veteran Beijing journalist Gao Yu said the latest announcement on the Feng county case bore the hallmarks of central government messaging.



"This fifth announcement is actually coming from the central government, and I don't think there'll be another," Gao told RFA. "The final decision has been made."



But she said there are many unanswered questions.



"This fifth announcement is also unconvincing, and its credibility is still zero," she said. "A centralized regime can ignore tens of billions of concerns, and it has maintained its own stability for decades by doing so."



Beijing-based artist and activist Ji Feng said the statement also glosses over the much deeper problem of rampant trafficking in women and girls, aided and abetted by Chinese officials.



"They are making sure the buck stops in Feng county," Ji said. "They are totally avoiding the issue of rape and human trafficking, the essential things, and the punishments are only for negligence."



"The aim is to exonerate the CCP and its officials at ever level ... they are all accomplices in this crime," he said.



Waking people up

He said public anger over the incident is unlikely to be soon forgotten.



"This whole story has already annoyed the vast majority of people and woken up a lot of people," Ji said. "Very few people will now believe that the official story is the correct one."



"The chained woman could have been our mother, our sister, our daughter, and the rapists aren't only Dong but also the officials and others [who enabled it]," Ji said.



"They should abolish the word abduction or trafficking, because what it really means is kidnapping, detention and violent rape," he said.



Current affairs commentator Guan Shan said many had noticed that Yang's age had been changed to 44, to fit the Xiaohuamei narrative, after online investigations pointed out a discrepancy between the age of the missing Yunnan woman and Yang, as given on her "marriage certificate."



The new narrative also makes a nonsense of the name of one of Dong's children, who was earlier said to be named Dong Xianggang because they were born in 1997, the year of the handover of Hong Kong.



Under the new official version of events, Dong Xianggang's year of birth is reported as 1999.



Deeply entrenched abusive practices

A resident of nearby Xuzhou who gave only the surname Li said the sale of women and girls was deeply entrenched in the region.



"It's awful, the way they abduct women and children, and use them as tools to serve these chains of vested interests [including officials]," Li said. "The roots of this go very deep; they are all members of the same criminal gang."



Beijing lawyer Mo Shaoping agreed.



"The case of the chained woman in Feng County is just the tip of the iceberg," Mo said. "There have been many other reports of abduction and trafficking of women in other provinces and cities in mainland China."



"This is an extremely cruel crime ... We should change the law and crack down harder. Police should also hold accountable all of the public officials who participated in it."



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Some detained in the restive Sagaing region were said to have been severely tortured by their captors.

Residents hold up a protest banner during the Six Two strike in Tanintharyis Launglone township, Feb. 22, 2022.

Authorities in Myanmars Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions have arrested dozens of people for allegedly joining a nationwide strike to protest the junta, in what observers say is part of a widening campaign of retribution against opponents of military rule.

Protesters gathered in cities across Myanmar on Tuesday as part of the Six Twos Revolution strike in a show of resistance despite the juntas brutal crackdown on critics. Civilians joined monks in the streets displaying banners with the numbers to signify the continuation of mass strikes and demonstrations a year after a protest on Feb. 22, 2021, in which millions of people participated, three weeks after the military overthrew the countrys elected government.

During the strike, authorities in Sagaing and Tanintharyi arrested more than 60 people they say took part in the action, residents of the two regions told RFAs Myanmar Service.

A spokesman for the Dawei District Strike Committee said police from Tanintharyis Launglone township donned riot gear to raid a shop in Thabyah village, arresting 34 youths celebrating a birthday before releasing 29 of them later Tuesday evening.

Yesterday, at about 1:30 p.m., a friend from our group went to a birthday party at a restaurant in Thabyah village. Police raided the party and arrested him and others. All of them were around 18 years old, the spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

They were not protesters or gathering for a protest. This shows how much the junta is worried about the peoples resistance.

The spokesman said the five youths who remain in custody had been wearing black makeup on their faces and black T-shirts, similar to what participants in the Six Twos strike had worn Tuesday.

The 29 released were summoned to the Launglone police station on Wednesday morning and told to sign a pledge that they would refrain from engaging in politics, he said.

Torture in detention

In Sagaings Monywa township, where the military has faced strong resistance from anti-junta armed groups, authorities arrested 27 people on Tuesday for allegedly aiding members of the local prodemocracy Peoples Defense Force (PDF) militia.

A resident of Monywa, who declined to be named for security reasons, told RFA that at least some of the 27 were severely tortured while in detention.

According to one person who was released, most of the men were beaten, although the women were spared, the resident said. Some of the tortured could even face death.

Photographs posted on social media, purportedly of the arrests in Monywa, showed a young man with a leg injury and severe facial injuries, although RFA could not independently verify their authenticity.

People Media  a news outlet said to have ties to military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)  reported on Tuesday that eight PDF members, 10 who provided financial support to the PDF, and nine PDF informants from Monywa had been arrested.

Attempts by RFA to contact junta Deputy Information Minister Zaw Min Tun about the arrests went unanswered Wednesday.

Zeyar Lwin, a member of the University Students' Union Alumni Force, told RFA that the impact of protests such as the Six Twos strike is significant and urged members of the public to remain vigilant while they are underway.

The military arrests anyone they want whether they take part in protests or not, he said. Even people who remain in their own homes are targeted for arrest. These kinds of things will continue to happen for as long as we remain under a military dictatorship.

Former railway department employees being evicted from state housing in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina, in an undated photo. Citizen journalist Railway employee evictions

News of the arrests on Tuesday came as dozens of former railway department employees face eviction from state housing in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina for taking part in the nationwide anti-junta Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). They told RFA they are struggling to make ends meet after more than year of no pay.

The 80 former employees joined the CDM on Feb. 8, 2021, and were quickly removed from their positions, but had been allowed to remain with their families in state housing for nearly a year before being ordered to vacate the premises in mid-January this year.

A member of the group told RFA on Wednesday that many of the families left the state housing within a week, but others have been unable to secure a place to stay because they no longer earn regular wages.

All staff who took part in the CDM find life difficult except for a few  and most are now poor, the former employee said.

When there is no regular income, we must take any job we can to feed our families.  At least we didnt have to worry about accommodation while we tried to earn some money. But now that we have been evicted, we must worry about our housing as well.

The former employee said that some of the evicted families are now renting houses in the city, while others had to return to their hometowns because they could not afford the cost of living. Among the evicted employees were senior staffers with health problems and at least two mothers with young children, he said.

Financial pressure

Another former employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the workers had received some financial support from the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) when the CDM was first launched, but dare not take any more because of the growing number of arrests.

Some 20 of the 80 former employees are now preparing to withdraw from the CDM because of the financial pressure, the source said.

It is difficult to move out all of a sudden because they have no money and no place to live, they said.

It was very disturbing to see these [eviction] notices and we were constantly on edge. Sometimes we dared not sleep at home and stayed outside when we heard there might be arrests. Wed come back only when things calmed down.

Sources close to the NUG said that the relevant shadow ministry is compiling a list of the evicted former railways department staffers and is undertaking measures to assist them with donations.

They counted more than 13,000 CDM staff members in Kachin state, based on figures dating from October 2021, and said former health workers and railways employees make up the majority.

The junta has cracked down on its opponents through attacks on peaceful protesters, arrests, and beatings and killings. The military regime has also attacked opposition strongholds with helicopter gunships, fighter jets, and troops that burn villages they accuse of supporting anti-junta militias.

As of Wednesday, more than 1,570 people had been killed since the coup and almost 12,300 arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a human rights organization based in Mae Sot, Thailand.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
They say Chinas veneration of Shen Jianjia contrasts starkly with the detention of Uyghur do-gooders.

The Chinese medias praise for a Han Chinese man as a model philanthropist helping minority students in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang has outraged Uyghur activists who note that China has jailed numerous Uyghur philanthropists under a mass internment drive that has created many orphans.

Shen Jianjia of Tikes county in Ghulja (in Chinese, Yining) was lauded for helping 175 Uyghur, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz students live in his home for free during the past 30 years while they completed their schooling in an article published on Tengritagh (Tianshan), the official website of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) government.

The article describes Shen arriving back at his home on the evening of Feb. 15, Chinas Lantern Festival, after celebrating the Lunar New Year in another part of the country. He and the four students, who live in his home while going to school, along with their parents gathered to celebrate the holiday with him.

With wholehearted warmth Shen helped the children for many years with no regrets, the article says.

One student had been living in Shens house for seven years from when he began junior high school until he graduated from the local vocational and technical school, according to the report.

We celebrated a happy Lantern Festival together, Shen is quoted as saying in the article.

The retired Peoples Liberation Army soldier who is now a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official in Tikes county moved to Xinjiang with his parents and five siblings when he was two years old, according to the report.

In the past few years, he has received awards from the Chinese government for being an ideological and moral building exemplar, a model of ethnic unity, and a philanthropist.

Ilshat Hassan Kokbore, vice president of the executive committee of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), expressed disgust at what he said was propaganda about the former soldier in Xinjiang.

A Chinese colonialist PLA soldier helping native children of East Turkestan has appeared in the Chinese media while millions of native Uyghurs have been imprisoned in camps and prisons, and their children have been deprived of parental care and have become the subjects of Chinese colonial boarding schools which are called kindergartens of angels and schools of angels, he said.

East Turkestan is Uyghurs preferred name for the Xinjiang region.

Kokbore said that the Chinese government needs such propaganda to cover up its colonial policies and genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang in light of accusations of genocide and crimes against humanity by some members of the international community.

Their goal is very obvious  to cover up the genocide they are committing and to show that the CCP and its government is the savior and helper of the native people and to tell the world that what they are doing is good instead of evil, he said.

Tragic fate of Uyghur philanthropists

RFA has previously reported that authorities have arrested and imprisoned Uyghur philanthropists who had made significant contributions to education and helped children in Xinjiang, as part of the Chinese governments campaign to wipe out Uyghur society and culture.

Many of them have been among the 1.8 million predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities believed to be held in a network of detention camps in Xinjiang since 2017. Beijing has said that the camps are vocational training centers and has denied widespread and documented allegations that it has mistreated Muslims living in Xinjiang.

Kokbore said that the story of Shen Jianjia contrasted wildly with the tragic fate of Uyghur philanthropists such as Nutay Haji and others who focused their work on helping Uyghur children and students.

Nurtay Hajim, a respected businessman who amassed a fortune through an international tourism and a shipping firm, financed the establishment and operations of the Nurtay Iskender School for Orphans in Ghulja. The school offered free accommodation, food, and education for Uyghur children whose parents had died or were imprisoned. He is believed to have received a lengthy prison sentence in 2018.

Another Uyghur philanthropist, Ablimit Hoshur Halis Haji, was taken into custody in Xinjiangs capital Urumqi (Wulumuqi) in 2018 by a unit of the State Security forces known as the Guobao. His detention was said to be directly linked to his establishment in 1994 of the Halis Foundation, a charitable organization whose goal was to help elite Uyghur students attain higher education and financial aid for study abroad.

Our philanthropists  who opened schools for the orphans, including Chinese orphans, and who had done many times better than this Chinese soldier, were imprisoned and turned into criminals by this Chinese regime, Kokbore said. This is all about covering up their crime of genocide.

Kokbore condemned Chinas veneration of Shen Jianjia, because he was a member of the PLA, which has been the backbone of repression in Xinjiang since the occupation of the region by the Chinese Communist Party after 1949.

By choosing and praising a former Chinese Peoples Liberation Army soldier, the Chinese colonialist government was trying to justify Chinese PLAs crimes against Uyghurs, he said.

Turghunjan Alawudun, director of WUCs religious affairs committee, said that Chinas story about Shen as a form of domestic propaganda aims to undermine Uyghurs religious beliefs, customs, and culture on and that the government does not respect the religious freedom of ethnic minority groups as it claims it does.

This is another lie by the Chinese government by saying that China is helping the native children of the Kazakhs, the Kyrgyz, and the Uyghurs, he said. While they are committing genocide against Uyghurs, they are telling this lie of a Chinese soldier being an angel who helps the children.

With this propaganda, China is trying hard to speed up the assimilation of native children, he added.

The example of the Chinese philanthropist is an open example of the Chinese policy to exterminate the Muslim faith of such children, he told RFA.

Uyghur children eating at a home of a Chinese is against our belief system in Islam, he said. The average Uyghur parent is against letting their children eat at a non-Muslim Chinese home.

Translated by RFA's Uyghur Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
The Russia-Vietnam relationship goes back a long way to the Soviet era.

Vietnam's President Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, during an official visit to Russia Dec. 1, 2021.

As Russia launches a major military invasion on Ukraine, Moscows closest partner in Southeast Asia - Hanoi - has remained passive, giving no substantive comment besides a formulaic call for restraint.

Vietnamese media, on the other hand, are covering the conflict in great detail, surprisingly without much of their usual pro-Russia bias.

When the so-called Euromaidan protest movement rocked Ukraine in 2014, followed by the Russia-Ukraine conflict that led to the annexation of Crimea by Russia, Vietnamese state-run media generally blamed the crisis on the West. Fault was seen to lie with the U.S. and on NATO expansion aimed at bringing Ukraine out of Russias sphere of influence.

Today, the picture is different.

Nhan Dan daily, the mouthpiece of Vietnams ruling Communist Party, reported both sides arguments at Tuesdays United Nations Security Councils emergency meeting on Ukraine. It carried quotes by not only the Russian and Chinese representatives but also by the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and a statement from the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The official Vietnam News Agencys online newspaper, Bao Tin Tuc, while dedicating more space as usual to the Russian accounts of the crisis, also reported on the Wests condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putins recognition of the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, as well as the European sanctions against Moscow.

An opinion piece went as far as saying that Putins action has destroyed the hope for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine, Nguyen Hong Thach, went on national TV to say he was extremely surprised and did not expect that Putin would unleash Russian forces that quickly and resolutely.

The Russia-Vietnam relationship goes back a long way to the Soviet era. The Soviet Union was among the first countries to diplomatically recognize the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in 1950.

Russia is Vietnams first strategic partner and one of its only three so-called comprehensive strategic partners, besides China and India. Moscow was also Hanois biggest donor, up until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc.

To this day, Russia remains Vietnams most important defense partner and the main provider of weapons and military equipment to the Vietnamese armed forces.

For those reasons, any criticism of Russia and Putins foreign policy, especially when it doesnt relate to Vietnam directly, is highly unusual.

Vietnam doesnt have private media and most of the local media strictly follow the lines given to them by a special arm of the Communist Party called the Central Commission for Propaganda and Education.

Nevertheless, as more than 70 percent of Vietnams population has access to the internet and the younger generation of journalists are now able to utilize English-language news sources, more westernized ideas have penetrated into the domestic media, to the dismay of conservatives.

People read newspapers by the Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi, Vietnam May 3, 2018. Credit: Reuters Warnings about China

The Vietnamese government so far has not said anything about the Russian attacks but on Wednesday released its first statement on the Ukrainian conflict with a well-rehearsed call on all sides to exercise restraint and resolve differences peacefully through diplomatic means based on the Charter of the United Nations and the main principles of international law.

However, discussions of the Ukrainian situation are hotting up on Vietnamese social media platforms, particularly Facebook where there are 66 million Vietnamese users.

Vietnamese netizens interest in the ongoing conflict some 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) away focuses on some main topics: the small community of 6,000-7,000 Vietnamese living in Ukraine, the impact on the worlds economy, and China.

While there fraternal ties between the communist parties of China and Vietnam, theres also suspicion and rivalry between the two nations, including over their conflicting claims in the South China Sea.

China has partnered up with Russia to form a new world order, said former ambassador Nguyen Ngoc Truong, a political analyst.

Now, Asia should beware of China, he added.

The U.S. has made a strategic mistake, said another Vietnamese analyst who wishes to stay anonymous as hes affiliated to the government and not authorized to speak to the media.

They [the U.S.] seem to forget that their real competitor is China. To go to war with Russia is having to fight on two fronts at the same time. Defeat is almost guaranteed, the analyst said.

The Biden administration says it wont send troops to fight in Ukraine. And China also maintains it wont exploit the situation there, saying it has no self-interest in the Ukraine issue. But many Vietnamese voice concern that with Washington distracted by the escalating tension in Ukraine, Beijing would take advantage and push its agenda in the Asia-Pacific.

Taiwan and the South China Sea seem the most obvious targets as China has already been claiming ownership there, the Vietnamese analyst said, adding that how it plays out depends on the developments in Europe.
More than 100 people who were evacuated from a steel plant in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol have arrived in Zaporizhzhya, the Mariupol city council said, as Russian forces resumed their assault on the complex.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

The council said in a statement that the people who arrived in Zaporizhzhya -- a city about 230 kilometers northwest of Mariupol -- were receiving assistance after emerging from weeks in the bunkers of the sprawling Azovstal plant.



Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 156 people were evacuated. She said several hundred more people remained inside the plant and tens of thousands of women, children, and elderly remain in Mariupol.



"There is no medicine, water, or communication services," she said at a briefing on May 3, adding that the authorities needed to rescue everyone who wants to escape.



The United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross coordinated the evacuation of women, children, and the elderly from the steel works.

"We would have hoped that many more people would have been able to join the convoy and get out of hell. That is why we have mixed feelings," Pascal Hundt of the ICRC told journalists on a video conference call.



Osnat Lubrani, UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, said that 101 women, men, children, and older people could finally leave the plant, and several dozen more joined the convoy in a town on the outskirts of Mariupol. Some evacuees decided not to stay with the convoy and headed to destinations other than Zaporizhzhya, Lubrani said.



A few women who arrived in Zaporizhzhya held up handmade signs calling on the Ukrainian authorities to evacuate soldiers still holed up in the plant and their relatives and loved ones who are trapped.



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he hoped the continued coordination with Kyiv and Moscow will lead to more humanitarian pauses that will allow civilians safe passage from the fighting.

WATCH: Current Time reporter Borys Sachalko comes under fire as he accompanies a Red Cross team attempting to evacuate a village that lies between Russian-occupied Kherson and Ukrainian-held Mikolayiv in southern Ukraine.

Despite the calls for additional evacuations, Russian troops began to storm the plant soon after the latest group of people got out, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications under the National Security and Defense Council said in a statement on May 3.



According to the Vereshchuk, Russia purposely resumed the assault after some civilians got out.



"This was their plan: to allow some civilians to leave and then continue bombing. However, civilians remain there, there are people who did not have time to get out from under the rubble because the blockages were so heavy that in two days they simply could not lift them physically. We need to continue the humanitarian operation, including Azovstal," Vereshchuk said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also urged that evacuations from the steel plant be allowed to continue.



Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on May 3, calling on Russia to rise to the level of its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council by ending its devastating aggression, an Elysee statement said.



The storming of the plant comes days after Putin said he had called off plans for such an operation. Putin instead said he wanted Russian forces to blockade the sprawling plant "so a fly can't get through."

Later on May 3, Russian strikes began targeting the western city of Lviv. The strikes happened just before 8:30 p.m. local time. It wasnt immediately clear what was targeted.



Mayor Andriy Sadoviy wrote on social media that people in the city should take shelter. Train service out of Lviv was suspended.



Sadoviy acknowledged in another message that the attacks had damaged power stations, cutting off electricity in some districts.



The governor of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine said Russian troops shelled a coke plant in the city of Avdiyivka, killing at least 10 people and wounding 15 more.



"The Russians knew exactly where to aim -- the workers just finished their shift and were waiting for a bus at a bus stop to take them home," Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote in a Telegram post. "Another cynical crime by Russians on our land."

Kyrylenko said 11 more people were killed in the shelling of four towns in the region. The number includes five killed in the town of Lyman and four in Vuhledar.



Kyrylenko said the death toll on May 3 was the highest on a single day since a Russian strike on a train station in the city of Kramatorsk killed 57 people on April 8 and injured 109 others.

WATCH: Ukrainian troops southeast of Kharkiv survey heavy damage to a community cultural center, reflecting on the impact on locals, now all but gone.

Ukrainian officials say the Russian military also struck railroad infrastructure across the country on May 3.



Oleksandr Kamyshin, head of the state-run Ukrainian railways, said the Russian strikes hit six railway stations in the countrys central and western regions, inflicting heavy damage.



The governor of the Dnipro region, Valentyn Reznichenko, said Russian missiles struck railway infrastructure in the area, leaving one person wounded and disrupting train service.

Earlier on May 3, in a video address to the parliament in Kyiv, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced 300 million pounds ($376 million) worth of extra military aid for Ukraine.

Britain has already sent military equipment, including missiles and missile launchers, to Ukraine. The new aid will consist of electronic warfare equipment, a battery radar system, GPS jamming equipment, and thousands of night vision devices.



In his speech, Johnson referred to a 1940 address by World War II leader Winston Churchill as Britain faced Nazi Germany's aggression.

"The British people showed such unity and resolve that we remember our time of greatest peril as our finest hour," Johnson told the Verkhovna Rada. "This is Ukraine's finest hour, an epic chapter in your national story that will be remembered and recounted for generations to come."

"We will carry on supplying Ukraine...with weapons, funding, and humanitarian aid, until we have achieved our long-term goal, which must be so to fortify Ukraine that no one will ever dare to attack you again," Johnson said.

In Brussels, the EU's executive indicated it was prepared to propose another sanctions package to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine. But Slovakia and Hungary will not support sanctions against Russian energy, including on oil imports.



The two countries say they are too reliant on Russian oil and there are no immediate alternatives.

The sanctions will also target the Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, which will be excluded from the global banking communications system SWIFT, unnamed diplomats said.

Fighting also raged in the strategic port city of Odesa and across Ukraine's east. A 15-year-old boy was killed in a fresh Russian strike on Odesa, the city council said.

Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv, was under shelling, the military said on May 3, while the General Staff said Ukrainian forces were defending the approach to Kharkiv from Izyum, some 120 kilometers to the southeast.



Since Russia launched its unprovoked war on February 24, its troops have failed to completely take over any major Ukrainian city.

On the diplomatic front, Germany's conservative opposition leader traveled to Kyiv on May 3 for meetings with Ukrainian officials, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz made clear that he wouldn't be visiting Ukraine any time soon.

Friedrich Merz, who heads former Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc, visited the town of Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, which has been heavily bombarded by Russian forces.

Scholz refused to go to Ukraine because of Kyiv's refusal to invite Germany's head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whom Ukrainians accuse of cozying up to Russia during his time as foreign minister.

"It can't work that a country that provides so much military aid, so much financial aid...you then say that the president can't come," Scholz told public broadcaster ZDF late on May 2.

The United States warned that Moscow was planning to formally take over regions in Ukraine's east.



Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the OSCE, said Russia is planning to imminently annex the territories of Luhansk and Donetsk in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, using referendums after failing to overthrow the government in Kyiv.



Russia encountered surprisingly staunch resistance in the north around the regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv, which forced it to redeploy its troops in the south and east, where fighting has intensified in recent days.



Ukraine's east and south are seen as key strategic goals for Russia, allowing it a land link to Crimea.

Separately, Russia's state news agency TASS quoted the Defense Ministry on May 3 as saying that more than 1 million people, including nearly 200,000 children, had been taken from Ukraine to Russia in the past two months.



Defense Ministry official Mikhail Mizintsev said those civilians "were evacuated to the territory of the Russian Federation from the dangerous regions" of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and from other parts that came under Russian control.

No details were provided on the location or circumstances of the moves.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC, and dpa
CHISINAU -- Moldova's Socialist-dominated parliament has failed for a second time to approve the candidate nominated by pro-Western President Maia Sandu to serve as prime minister, moving the country closer to snap elections.

Igor Grosu on March 25 failed to receive the votes needed due to a lack of a quorum in parliament after the Socialists and the parliamentary bloc For Moldova left the chamber.

Under the constitution, the president has the right to ask for the dissolution of parliament and organize snap elections after a second failure to approve a new prime minister within 45 days.

Lawmakers on February 11 rejected Sandu's previous choice for the post of prime minister, Natalia Gavrilita.

Last week, Sandu nominated Grosu, leader of the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), to form a new cabinet, but the Moscow-leaning Socialist Party later proposed its own candidate, Vladimir Golovatiuc, Moldova's ambassador to Russia.

The Constitutional Court on March 21 ruled that Grosu's nomination was lawful.

A U.S.-educated former adviser with the World Bank, Sandu defeated Moscow-backed incumbent Igor Dodon in November 2020 on a pledge to fight entrenched corruption and improve relations with the European Union.

She has repeatedly said she wants to push for snap elections in order to acquire a working majority in the 101-seat legislature.

Moldova, with a population of about 3.5 million, is one of Europes poorest countries and is sharply divided between those who support closer ties with Russia and those who advocate stronger links to Brussels and neighboring EU member Romania.
It was a dark and rambling speech filled with historical grievances, conspiracy theories, and outright fabrications.

And when Russian President Vladimir Putin finished his hourlong address to the nation shortly before midnight on February 21, he had all but ended any doubt that he would launch an assault on Ukraine, potentially triggering the largest war in Europe since 1945.

Seated in the Kremlin dressed in a black suit appropriate for a funeral, Putin essentially told his nation that Ukraine did not have the right to exist, bending history to claim it was created on historically Russian land by Soviet leaders desperate to hold on to power.

Live Briefing: Ukraine Under Attack 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.

He lashed out at the neighboring country for tearing down monuments to those very Soviet leaders, cynically deriding Ukrainians as grateful descendants of Lenin. He then segued into one of his most ominous statements in his speech.

You want de-communization? Very well, this suits us just fine. But why stop halfway? We are ready to show what real de-communization would mean for Ukraine, he said, a suggestion that Russia could seize the land he claims the communists handed over to Ukrainian nationalists.

In a new address announcing the invasion before dawn on February 24, Putin asserted that Russia has no plans to occupy Ukraine. But he said Moscow would press for its demilitarization and hinted strongly that the Kremlin may be out for regime change.

In dismissive remarks over the years, Putin has suggested without evidence that Ukraine -- which, like Russia, became a sovereign state when the U.S.S.R. collapsed in 1991 -- does not have the right to exist as a country with full independence from Russia.

Over the past year, he has used false claims about Ukraines actions in its Donbas region, where Kyiv has fought Russia-backed separatist for almost eight years, to imply that Moscow would be justified in taking further military action against it.

For many people who watched warily for weeks, holding out hope that dire U.S. warnings that a massive invasion could come at any time would not be borne out, Putins speech on February 21 blotted out all but a small remnant of that hope.

Sergiy Zhuk, a Ukrainian-born history professor at Ball State University in the U.S. state of Indiana, told RFE/RL on February 23 that Putins speech was so aggressive that he expected Russia to invade soon.

He showed to the entire world his Russian imperialistic nationalism, Zhuk said.

In the speech, Putin repeated a patently false allegation that Kyiv was committing genocide in the Donbas and seemed to turned reality on its head several times.

With Russia massing an estimated 190,000 troops near Ukraines borders, Putin asserted it was Kyiv that was preparing to launch a military operation, basing the evidence-free claim on Ukraines recently published military doctrine that focuses largely on Moscow.

Putin did not mention numerous potential reasons for that focus: The fact that in the past eight years, Russia has seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, backed separatists in the war in the Donbas, launched cyberattacks against Ukrainian critical infrastructure, financed opposition parties, and imposed trade restrictions.

He claimed that nationalists seized power in Kyiv -- and in the remarks on February 24 declared that Russia would press for the de-Nazification of Ukraine -- a groundless suggestion about the nature of the Ukrainian government, which is headed by a president who won an election deemed free and fair by international observers in 2019.

Kremlin critics also charged that Putins portrayal of the Ukrainian state as one without an independent judiciary, free speech, or democracy describes the authoritarian state he himself has built in Russia over the past 22 years.

Putin came out swinging against Ukrainian identity and nationhood early in the address, describing Ukraine as historically Russian. He claimed that Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin created the state of Ukraine by severing Russian land without asking the people living there what they thought.

Ive watched a lot of Putin speeches, and I dont think Ive ever seen one quite like this, Sam Greene, director of the Russia Institute at King's College London, said in a February 21 tweet. This whole speech islaying the groundwork for the wholesale occupation of Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has told his nation that Ukraine suffered "serious losses" in the initial stages of Russia's long-feared attack early on February 24, with an adviser saying at least 40 people had been killed.

Zelenskiy also said he was breaking diplomatic ties with Moscow and he urged Russians "who had not lost their honor" to protest their government's actions.

Live Briefing: Ukraine Under Attack RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Zelenskiy spoke in a televised address on February 24 shortly after Russian missiles had targeted air bases and military infrastructure in at least 25 cities after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a "special" operation to "demilitarize" its neighbor and rival.

The attack began in the early hours of February 24, with explosions and sirens being heard in the capital, Kyiv, and at its Boryspil airport, and witnesses reporting missile blasts in many other cities, including Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Dnipro, Mariupol, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhya.

The attack prompted outrage and denunciations from the West and elsewhere as fears grew of a major war in the middle of Europe.

NATO ambassadors said the alliance had agreed to beef up its land, sea, and air forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia after Putin ordered the attack on Ukraine.

NATO ambassadors said in a statement after emergency talks on February 24 that "we have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies."

Zelenskiy -- who spoke by phone with U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson -- declared martial law, but he urged citizens to remain calm amid the Russian assault.

He said Moscow had launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine, with missile attacks targeting "our military infrastructure" and border guards in several cities.

WATCH: Russian missiles and air strikes targeted Ukrainian military positions and infrastructure across the country. Videos posted to social media showed explosions in several cities as Russia launched its attack of Ukraine.

The Kremlin on February 24 repeated Putin's previous statement, saying that the goal of the invasion was the "demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine."

Earlier on February 24, Putin justified invading Ukraine by saying that Moscow would try to demilitarize and "de-Nazify" Ukraine, reiterating his baseless accusations made in a speech on February 21 that the Ukrainian government was a "neo-Nazi" regime that was seeking a nuclear weapon.

Explaining what the demilitarization of Ukraine means, Peskov said it was the "neutralization of its military potential, which recently was noticeably increased due to, among other things, the active efforts by foreign countries."

WATCH: Kyiv residents spoke to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service as Russian missiles hit cities across the country. Some Ukrainians are hoping to flee to safety, but others plan to stay at home.

Answering a question about how deep Russia plans to get inside Ukraine, Peskov said: "I cannot give any information related to military, technological, and other elements of this operation. The only source for that data is our defense institution, our military."

"The terms of the operation will be defined by its efficiency, congruity, and will, of course, be defined by the supreme commander."

Zelenskiy, meanwhile, urged Ukrainians to step up to defend their country and promised to provide them with weapons if they did so.

Putin "wants to destroy my country, our country," he said in an emotional address.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged other countries to impose tough sanctions on Russia immediately and to provide Ukraine with military and financial support.



"Right now, Putin is plunging Europe into its darkest time since 1939. Any government hoping to sit this out is naive. Don't repeat mistakes of the past," Kuleba said on Twitter.

Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian flights on February 24 while Europe's aviation regulator warned about hazards to flying in bordering regions.

Moldova, southwest of Ukraine, also closed its airspace, while Belarus to the north said civilian flights could no longer fly over part of its territory after Putin authorized the military operation.

CNN reported that Russian troops had entered Ukraine through the port city of Odesa, but it was not clear if they were involved in fighting. CNN also showed video purporting to show Russian troops entering Ukraine from Belarus, where they had been involved in military drills.

As of midday, an adviser to Zelenskiy said Ukraine was being hit by a second wave of missile strikes. No further details were immediately available.

Russia's Defense Ministry said it had struck military infrastructure at Ukraine's air bases and "suppressed" its air defenses but that it had not hit populated areas.



The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that "heavy fighting" was under way in the Kharkiv area and in the regions close to the separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine.

"The enemy suffered losses in troops and equipment. Our troops regained full control over the towns of Mariupol and Shchastya.... At least six planes, two helicopters, and tens of armored vehicles of the enemy were destroyed," it said, although the claims could not immediately be confirmed.

There was immediate and widespread condemnation from the West, with vows of new, tougher sanctions to be slapped on Moscow.

Biden called the action an "unprovoked and unjustified" attack on Ukraine and said the world would "hold Russia accountable."

"The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces," Biden said in a statement.

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable," he added.

WATCH: Ukrainian authorities released video showing Russian tanks and military vehicles crossing a checkpoint from the occupied Crimean Peninsula on February 24:

The White House said later that Biden had spoken with Zelenskiy and had offered his support and briefed the Ukrainian leader on the planned next steps against Russia by Washington and its allies.

Biden said he would address the nation on February 24.

British Prime Minister Johnson condemned the "horrific events in Ukraine" and said Putin "has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack."

"The U.K. and our allies will respond decisively," he wrote on Twtiter, adding that he -- like Biden -- had spoken by phone with Zelenskiy.

The EU echoed those remarks, with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying that "by its unprovoked and unjustified military actions, Russia is grossly violating international law and undermining European and global security and stability."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned what he called Russia's "reckless" attack on Ukraine.

He said NATO allies will meet to address "Russia's renewed aggression." Ukraine is not a member of NATO but is aligned with the West.

"I strongly condemn Russia's reckless attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. This is a grave breach of international law and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security," Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.

European Union leaders will discuss new, tougher sanctions on Russia at an emergency meeting later on February 24 in reaction to its "barbaric attack" on Ukraine, von der Leyen said.

"We will hold President Putin accountable for that," she said.

"With this package, we will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to key technologies and markets," von der Leyen said in a statement to the media. "We will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernize."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc will slap the harshest package of sanctions ever implemented on Russia.

"The European Union will respond in the strongest possible ways...(EU leaders) will adopt a stronger package, the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented," he told reporters in Brussels.

Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, who has in the past pursued close ties with Putin, also criticized Russia's move against its smaller neighbor. "Together with our European Union and NATO allies, we condemn Russia's military action," he said in a video on Facebook.

Orban, whose anti-migrant policies have put him at odds with the EU, also said that the number of Ukrainian refugees approaching Hungary's borders was likely to grow. He added that Hungary was "prepared to care for them and will be able to meet this challenge quickly and effectively."

In a nationally televised speech early on February 24, Putin sought to justify the offensive operation by claiming that he had to stop Ukraine from acquiring nuclear weapons. Ukraine has not indicated it is seeking nuclear weapons.

"Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action," Putin said, and that Moscow-backed separatists in Ukraine's Donbas region had asked for assistance.

Putin also said the action was intended to protect civilians and that it came in response to threats coming from Ukraine -- claims Kyiv and the West have long dismissed.

Putin called on the Ukrainian military to lay down its arms. He claimed that Russia did not intend to occupy Ukrainian territory.

Russia had massed more than 150,000 combat-ready armed forces with heavy equipment on Ukraine's border, something NATO has described as the largest military buildup on the European continent since the end of the Cold War.

Putin had for weeks denied any plans to invade Ukraine.

The Russian leader is seeking to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO -- something he has called an existential threat -- and bring the Western alliance's eastward expansion to a halt.

Ukraine has been aiming to join NATO ever since Russia seized its Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed separatists in its eastern provinces.

Zelenskiy made a last-ditch effort to avoid a war by trying to call Putin late on February 23. Putin did not take the call, Zelenskiy said.

With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, CNN, and the BBC
Security forces in Russia have broken up anti-war protests in several cities across the country. In Moscow, protesters chanted "no to war" after Russian troops launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Police detained dozens of anti-war protesters in the capital and in the central Russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Perm.
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Residents of the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, located near the Ukrainian border, have expressed mixed reactions to their country's full-scale attack on Ukraine. Current Time asked several people on February 24 about Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to unleash a military invasion on his country's western neighbor.
Three journalists from RFE/RL's Russian Service were detained by police while attempting to cover an anti-war protest in Moscow. One of them managed to record this video of his violent arrest. He can be heard repeatedly telling the policeman that he is a journalist, demanding that he stop using physical force, and explaining that he is not resisting.
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Ukrainian authorities have released video showing Russian tanks and military vehicles crossing a checkpoint from the occupied Crimean Peninsula on February 24. The video did not identify the precise location but showed Russian forces entering territory controlled by the Ukrainian government.
Ukrainian soldiers whom Current Time caught up with on February 23 in the Donetsk city of Horlivka -- a town on the front line with Russia-backed separatists -- said they have noticed a change since Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the separatist entities as independent states. Although separatist fighters have so far not attempted to move the line of contact itself, the intensity of the shelling has increased and it has become qualitatively better, they say. In the words of one Ukrainian soldier, the shells no longer come from crash-course shooters.
KYIV -- Above ground, Kyivs notoriously clogged, busy streets were eerily empty of cars and people. Shops were closed. At ATMs, residents lined up to get cash. Gas stations, facing long lines of cars, ran empty.



Underground, meanwhile, down in the citys famously deep subway system, residents took shelter -- bringing clothes, blankets, medicine, food, and their pets as they heeded warnings that a Russian assault on the Ukrainian capital could be imminent.



We dont know how long well be down here. Maybe overnight. Maybelonger? Who knows? said Yekaterina, 42, who sat with her mother, Viktoriya, 64, on a thin sleeping pad on the hard floor of the Ploshchad Lva Tolstoho station -- Leo Tolstoy Square. They had their toothless 12-year-old chihuahua, Lukas, with them.



We woke up to the explosions at five o'clock this morning. We havent really slept since then, she said, glued to her smart phone like nearly everyone else in the subway station.

Ukraine has been at war for nearly eight years, with government forces battling Russia-backed separatists who hold parts of the eastern region known as the Donbas. Its a conflict that has killed more than 13,200 people and displaced more than 1.5 million. But its also a conflict that has been distant from Kyiv, and for many here had faded to background noise.



Now Ukraine is at war with Russia, full stop, after the countrys massive eastern neighbor launched a large-scale invasion on February 24. Predawn explosions jolted the city awake and sent many rushing to gas stations to fill up their cars -- and then headed west, or south, only to be stuck in kilometers-long traffic jams.

And in the afternoon, warnings from authorities lit up Kyiv residents phones and sent many scrambling underground, taking what they could and hoping they would not have to stay long.



No one expected, in the modern world, that we would be down here in the subways, camped out, hiding out, like what we read and saw in photographs from World War II, said Emilia, a 36-year-old freelance IT-programmer who was seated on a bench with her 8-year-old daughter, Ira, in the Maidan Nezalezhnosti station  beneath the square where protests led to the ouster of a Moscow-friendly president in 2014. Russia responded to that development by seizing Crimea and fomenting separatism in the Donbas, where it has given crucial support to the anti-Kyiv forces throughout the conflict..

What is the point of this nonsense? Emilia said.



Still, she said, it could be worse: its warm, theres light, its safe.

While the bomb shelters scattered around the city have been shown to be in decrepit or even laughable, condition, Kyivs metro was a relatively welcome destination for many.

Russian forces attacked across multiple fronts in Ukraine, launching an assault that met the worst expectations of Western intelligence analysts of what President Vladimir Putin planned to do. The explosions that were heard in Kyiv early in the morning appeared to be the first wave of an attack on a Kyiv region military installation.



Ukrainian government reports said airborne units were pushing to the outskirts of Kyiv by dusk. It was unclear whether Russian troops would launch an assault aimed at seizing the Ukrainian capital itself. Russian officials, however, including Putin himself, have signaled the possibility of an attack on Kyiv that would aim to remove the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

What do you think? Of course, Im scared. Russian tanks in the streets? said Mansur, an Uzbek-born shawarma seller who said he was benefiting from the fact that nearly all the restaurants and cafes in the neighborhood were closed. Business is good. Cant complain.

Up above, the Maidan was mostly empty except for TV crews, some pedestrians, several Territorial Defense guards, and David, a 63-year-old mechanical engineer originally from Georgia.

Live Briefing: Ukraine Under Attack 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.

After posing for selfies and touristy shots in front of Maidans monuments and decorations with his Ukrainian companion, who refused to give her name, saying only that she was from the northern city of Poltava, David laughed at a question about whether they were frightened to be out in the city amid warnings of a possible attack.



I lived through it before. I saw it with my own eyes, he said. Im from Gori. In 2008, they attacked there too -- referring to the five-day Russia-Georgia war in which Russian forces bombed and briefly occupied the city of Gori, among other locations n the South Caucasus country.



What theyre doing -- the Russians -- is illogical, said David, who studied engineering in Tbilisi and Moscow but moved to Kyiv after the 2008 war.. There is no logic in it. Whats the point? There are Russians who live here, in Ukraine. There are Ukrainians who live there, in Russia.



Whats painful for me is to think of all the young people who could die, suffer: the Russians, the Ukrainians, he said. And whats the point? Its totally illogical.



Liliya Dikun, 53, was on an overnight train from the Donbas town of Bakhmut to Kyiv, when she was awoken just before dawn by the incessant buzz of her cell phone. She woke up to answer the call from her older son in Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, which is north of the Donbas and close to the Russian border.

Shortly after, the entire train car was chirping and buzzing with cell phones sending the same message: Russias attack on Ukraine has begun.

Dikun, who works for a land surveying company and was traveling to Kyiv for meetings that appeared to be now completely canceled, said she remembers when the war in the Donbas first began, in 2014.

It wasnt a real war, it was like children fighting over a toy in the sandbox, the playground, she said. Now, I dont know what will happen. I dont know why its happening.



She said her son, who is 32, was rushing to leave Kharkiv with his wife and 6-year-old daughter after reports that Russian troops had crossed the border.



Its just offensive, to be fighting against our own brothers and sisters. We were one country, during the Soviet Union. And now were two countries, and thats good. But we dont need to be fighting each other, she said.
The Russian military has fired missiles on military targets and cities as part of a predawn invasion by land, air, and sea.



The Kremlin's attack came after a February 24 TV address by Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he demanded that Ukraine's military lay down its arms.



Since then, fighting has broken out across Ukraine, where Russian forces have entered from the north, south, and east. Fighting has also reached the outskirts of Kyiv, the capital, where scenes of firefights between troops and aerial attacks have taken place. Inside the city, warning sirens blared out as traffic jammed the streets as families fled and others sought shelter in subway stations.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on February 24 that his country has suffered "serious losses but that Ukraine won't give up its freedom.



As fighting across the country continues, RFE/RL spoke with Keir Giles, an expert on the Russian military at the London-based think tank Chatham House to get a better understanding of the fast-moving situation on the ground and what may lie ahead.



RFE/RL: So far, it seems that this is a campaign coming on multiple fronts and by land, air, and sea, and not only from the east as many would have predicted, but also from Belarus in the north and Crimea in the south. What does this first phase of the Russian invasion and the targets that Russia has chosen tell us about Moscows goals and what might we expect in the next phase?



Keir Giles: It's true that we've seen Russian troops moving in on Ukraine on three sides, but the overall shape of the campaign still hasn't become clear. We're still getting disjointed information from each of those fronts, both about what Russian forces are actually trying to do and also whether they're succeeding or whether resistance from Ukraine on a local level is actually preventing them.



It's only later that we'll see precisely what Russia's objectives are: whether they are aiming at a decapitation strike against Ukrainelooking to destroy the Ukrainian militarys capability in some kind of raid, or simply aiming for regime change in the maximum possible time frame. Now that may or may not come along with territorial control of Ukraine as well, but it will only become clearer as this campaign unfolds.



RFE/RL: How prepared are the Ukrainian forces to fight against the Russian military? How long could they conceivably hold out?



Giles: It's anybody's guess how this campaign may go. There's no doubt of the will of the Ukrainian people to resist Russia and that is something that Russia may have catastrophically underestimated in its planning for this campaign.



But there are also clear capability gaps [between the Russian and Ukrainian armies.] It was always known that missile and air strikes at extremely long-range would be part of the Russian campaign and defending against those are a key deficiency that was already known in Ukraine's military forces.



RFE/RL: Many people expected a Russian push coming from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that Moscow recently recognized as independent, but instead weve seen forces arrive from Belarus and Crimea as well. What is the likelihood of an attack from the southwest, [where Russian troops are stationed in Moldovas breakaway Transdniester region]?



GILES: We shouldn't rule out the unexpected if Russia wants to develop this campaign further, [which means] that activation of troops in [Transdniester] is an option. But it's still too early to say just how well this campaign is going for Russia and whether Russia might need to reach for other options to achieve its objectives.



RFE/RL: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that Ukraine must be cleansed of Nazis, which is the baseless characterization that Moscow is using to refer to the Ukrainian government. Is it safe to say that the Kremlins goal is regime change in Ukraine and, if yes, is that achievable militarily?



Giles: There's no doubt that regime change in Kyiv would suit Russia, because [Moscow] could then have a more compliant government installed in Ukraine, regardless of the wishes of the Ukrainian people.



How Russia goes about that, however, with its disinformation campaigns and its claims of Nazism in Ukraine is just a matter for Russian internal consumption, and not something that is designed to be credible outside of Russia itself. The rest of the world knows that it's pretty unlikely for Ukraine's leader to be both a Nazi and Jewish.



RFE/RL: What about NATO and Ukraines western neighbors? What kind of military response can we expect from NATO as this unfolds and is there anything the alliance can do to deter the Russian advance?

Live Briefing: Ukraine Under Attack 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.

Giles: It would have been possible for Ukraine's friends in the West to protect Ukraine, but they declared at a very early stage that they were not going to do this.

The United States and the United Kingdom both said that they would not provide direct military support to Kyiv and that, of course, gave Moscow the green light to move in. It's not as though this mistake hasn't been made before. In 2014, then U.S. President [Barack] Obama said that there was no military solution to the crisis that emerged when Moscow seized Crimea and started the fighting in eastern Ukraine. That also gave [the Kremlin] the green light to pursue its own military solution with the knowledge that it wouldnt be interfered with.



RFE/RL: Ukraines defense minister and President [Volodymyr] Zelenskiy have said that anyone can enlist in the countrys Territorial Defense Forces as reservists and fight against Russian troops. Could we see a Ukrainian civilian resistance? And how could that affect Russias goals on the ground?



Giles: This appeal to Ukrainians to take up arms and resist the invader is brave. It's also potentially very dangerous, because if you have untrained individuals going up against the Russian Army with its weapons of mass destruction, with its weapons for inflicting mass casualties on the enemy, there's no telling how it may end.



And this also goes for the suggestions that a resistance movement [if Ukraine is] under Russian occupation should be armed, equipped, and assisted by the West.



If we look at Russia's history of dealing with resistance movements of that kind, including in Ukraine, Russia wins by employing medieval levels of savagery which are completely unknown in the rest of Europe in this century.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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Kyiv residents spoke to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service as Russia's long-feared attack on Ukraine began in the early morning hours of February 24. Russian missiles hit cities across the country. Some Ukrainians are hoping to flee to safety, but others plan to stay at home.
People gathered at the railway station in Kostyantynivka, in eastern Ukraine, hoping to catch a train to safety following Russia's invasion on February 24. A tearful woman said she had heard Poland would take refugees, while a man said his family would go "wherever there's an open door."
Richmond, KY (40475)

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Jonathan Bailey took over as editor of the Ripon Commonwealth Press in July 2020, after spending the past nine years covering sports and general news for the Commonwealth. He also is the editor of the Green Laker.

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(politico.eu) - Diamonds may still be a girl's best friend  but banks are becoming less keen. That's the growing concern for Antwerps diamond traders, who are warning that banks risk hurting their business by unfairly blacklisting them over money-laundering fears, closing accounts or refusing to offer basic services. This new fight centers on whether Belgiums lenders are playing their role as gatekeepers to the financial system, which is under pressure to block potential dirty money after a series of financial scandals.
Anglo appoints new senior independent director

24 february 2022 News

Anglo American has appointed Ian Tyler as the senior independent director on its board, with effect from Anglo Americans annual general meeting (AGM) on 19 April 2022.

He will replace Byron Grote who is set to step down from the board having served for nine years.

Tyler joined Anglo Americans board as a non-executive director and a member of the audit and remuneration committees on 1 January 2022.

He will also succeed Anne Stevens as chair of the Remuneration Committee on 19 April 2022.

Tyler served as a non-executive director of BAE Systems plc since 2013 and will step down from both roles in May 2022.

Meanwhile, Anglo said its board has agreed on the appointment of Marcelo Bastos to succeed Grote as chair of the Global Workforce Advisory Panel, with effect from 19 April 2022.

This panel ensures that employees views are better understood and considered in board decisions and helps non-executive board members better understand how culture, purpose and values are connected and embedded across Anglo American.

I thank Ian Tyler for taking on the senior independent role in addition to his committee duties, and Marcelo Bastos for agreeing to chair our workforce panel  an ever more important interface for us as a Board, said Anglo chairperson Stuart Chambers.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished






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Not long after 22-year-old Harley Noel got out of the Army in 1957, he lost his life savings when an old friend stole all the money in his brokerage account.

A year later on Thanksgiving day, Noel decided to drive to the prison in Chino to visit his old friend, who hed forgiven for the crime. The trip changed the course of his life.

I wasnt sure why I went. Maybe it was curiosity or fascination. Maybe I just wanted to see what it was like, said Noel, an Encinitas resident. But when I was there I ran into a lot of guys and I saw the sad situation they were in.

That was the beginning of Noels lifelong devotion to visiting men in prison and helping them find their footing when theyre released.

Now 83, Noel is the executive director of Hawkes Home, a six-bedroom sober-living house in Vista for men transitioning out of prison. Since he and his wife, Joyce, purchased the house and opened it five years ago, theyve helped dozens of ex-cons make a fresh and sober start in life.

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Harley Noel, 83, executive director of Hawkes Home in Vista, says we always have our hand out," looking for donations for the transitional living house. (Bill Wechter / San Diego Union-Tribune)

One of them is Obediah Breer, a 39-year-old who grew up in Oceanside, where his first arrest was at age 12. Breer was in such trouble with drugs and crime after that, the longest he ever went without being incarcerated was three months.

In 2012, when Breer was released from a six-year, eight-month prison sentence for drug sales, he was offered a bed at Hawkes Home.

Before that, it was a revolving door. At Hawkes Home, I felt like I had a secure place to learn how to live life in regular society, said Breer, whos sober, a union construction worker and now shares a home in Escondido with his wife.

Joyce and Harley are like a mom and dad to me, he said. If you needed a shirt, they would take the shirt off their back and give it to you, and they have 20 friends who would do the same thing. Theyre always trying to help the next man up.

Resident Geoff Andreozzi, 35, said Hawkes Home is helping him make a successful transition back into society from prison. (Bill Wechter / San Diego Union-Tribune)

The Noels dont live at Hawkes Home, but theyre a regular presence there. Joyce, 77, decorated the property and visits often. Harley attends resident meetings every Saturday.

On Wednesdays, he visits prison inmates and also drives regularly to L.A., where hes co-founder and CEO of McIntyre House, a long-term drug treatment center for male ex-cons. He opened the center 20 years ago with Monsignor Jeremiah Murphy in L.A.s Catholic diocese.

Joyce said she and her husband were blessed with good fortune in their careers and running the transitional homes is their way of giving back.

Weve seen some miracles here, she said, during a recent visit to Hawkes Home. Once you get to know the guys and you see them making progress, its a wonderful feeling.

During the 1960s, Noel spent many of his weekends visiting prisoners around his native L.A. At first, he went alone to do a little Bible-thumping. Then he went as a member of the Lay-Mission Helpers Association.

In 1960, on a flight to San Francisco, he met Monsignor Ben Hawkes, a leader in the L.A. diocese. Hawkes became a friend and mentor and asked Noel to put his faith and business skills to work helping others.

At the time, however, Noels main energy was focused on his career. He ran labs for oil companies, then worked in bedding and houseware sales. In 1970, he moved to San Diego to open new stores, but when the bank loan fell through, he started over as a traveling garment salesman.

That was how he met Joyce, who worked for one of his buyers. They married in 1980. Over the next nine years, they built a large clothing importing and manufacturing company, then sold it and retired.

Finally able to fulfill his promise of service to Hawkes, who died in 1985, Noel and his wife embarked on a mission to northern Kenya, where he ran a hospital for the poor from 1993 to 1995.

It was a very strategic time in both of our lives, she said. We realized how much need there was in the world and we got to know ourselves a lot better.

Two years after they returned, they helped open McIntyre House, which has been a noted success. Eighty percent of residents who finish its nine- to 12-month treatment program remain sober after one year, Noel said.

Hawkes Home in Vista  which has a framed portrait of Msgr. Hawkes over the living room fireplace  doesnt offer drug treatment or counseling. Instead, residents are subject to regular drug testing, strict house rules and a curfew. If they test positive just once, theyre out because others are waiting to get in.

Home manager Bruce Dishneau, 32, talks with founder Joyce Noel, 77, at Hawkes Home in Vista. (Bill Wechter / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Residents are hand-picked by house manager Bruce Dishneau, 32, who said he seeks men coming out of prison who are committed to sobriety and ready to change their lives.

Dishneau, who grew up in Big Bear, spent 10 years in the cycle of drugs, crime, prison and rehab before finally escaping his old habits and friends and moving to Oceanside several years ago.

When I got out of prison at age 20, I didnt have a normal family dynamic. There was nothing to go back to in Big Bear (and) I didnt have anywhere else to go, he said. If it wasnt for places like this, I wouldve ended up back in prison. Its important to do this for somebody.

Parolees arrive at Hawkes Home with little more than the clothes on their back and $200 in spending money from the state. Dishneau said most of the men  who range in age from 31 to 67  have been in prison so long they have no independent living skills.

He and his assistants help them get a bus pass and a phone, look for work, set up a bank account, make medical appointments, enroll in college or vocational classes, learn to cook for themselves and deal with court paperwork.

The men can stay free for a couple of months until they find work. Then theyre expected to pay a monthly fee of $250 to $435 for housing and support services. Some stay for a few weeks, others for several months, and some like Breer have stayed for a couple of years.

The fees dont cover all the costs of operating Hawkes Home, so the Noels are always looking for donors to help support their mission.

Harley Noel, executive director of Hawkes Home in Vista, right, talks with resident Joseph Silverira, who says I love it here. Its excellent. The best place Ive been to. (Bill Wechter / San Diego Union-Tribune)

In 2012, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul became a sustaining donor. The charity bought the homes appliances and it pays the annual sewer, water and homeowners insurance bills. Society member Patrick Conger said Hawkes Home fills an unmet need, because there are so few resources for men coming out of prison.

Both Harley and his wife are very spirit-filled, Conger said. They know God has called them to do this and theyre following through in the best way they can. They dont want to see it fail.

The Noels biggest challenge now is seeing their work carry on after theyre gone. A wake-up call came three months ago when Murphy passed away. Now theyre racing the clock to find local people who share their spirit to keep Hawkes Home alive. They want to form a board of directors and find an attorney and accountant willing to donate their services.

To introduce the community to Hawkes Home and its residents, theyre hosting an open house from noon to 3 p.m. July 16. There will be free tacos, live classical guitar music and tours of the home at 1020 Marbo Terrace, Vista. For details, call Dishneau at (760) 447-4907 or email b.dishneau1@gmail.com.

Harleys favorite experience at Hawkes Home took place at a past open house when he saw a resident proudly showing his bunk to his young son during a tour.

The little boy started jumping up and down on the mattress and said, Gee, Dad, they must treat you really well here,  Noel said. Hearing that, it made my day.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
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I recently revisited a couple bottles of sub-$25 bottles, lovingly filling glasses, tumblers, and coffee cups with dive bar standards like Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, and my personal favorite old man whiskey, Evan Williams.

After spending a week (or maybe it was two months?) reviewing each bottle with an open mind, positive attitude, and salivating mouth, here is my official ranking of each:

Rest assure, bottom shelf is a social construct.

Best bourbon for drinking neat

And the award goes to Old Forester 86 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky; a sweet and approachable sippin whiskey about as pleasant and approachable as it gets. I dig Old Foresters smooth caramel body and not-too-sweet vanilla sweetness; its a flavor that scratches that itch for sugar without overwhelming the tongue or drowning out the bourbon flavor. I suggest drinking this strait Kentucky bourbon whiskey neat or even throwing in a couple whiskey stones to keep things on the chillier side.

Old Forester 86 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky drizly.com $28.68 Shop Now

Best bourbon on the rocks

If youre looking for an affordable bourbon that jumps out of the bottle into your mouth like a bat outta hell that I guess flew into your mouth, look no further than our good ol pal Wild Turkey. In the same vein of diluting coffee concentrate like Grady's to bring out the flavor, I think Wild Turkey goes through a hell of a transformation when you add a splash of water or seltzer to it. Unlike the brands more expensive bottles 101 Rye or Rare Breed, Wild Turkeys signature bourbon thrives on that little jolt of H20 to help those underlying citrus-y caramel not bloom. I know some lunatics who cut cans of Dr. Ugly with Wild Turkey Bourbon, and all I can say is: keep an open mind, dont @ me.

Wild Turkey Bourbon Wild Turkey drizly.com $21.99 Shop Now

Best bourbon for cocktails and mixed drinks

Rightfully earning its spot as Americas top-selling bourbon between the 1930s and 1950s, Four Roses Bourbon is a bottom-shelf/well whiskey standard that is beloved for its mild taste, approachable flavor, and surprisingly complex flavor. Adaptability is the strong suit of this classic Kentucky bourbon, turning any cocktail made with Four Roses into a Four Roses cocktail. Want a drink thatll put some pep in your step? (Or is it step in your pep? Anyway) Four Roses recently posted the recipe to the Judges Choice from their 16th annual Rose Julep Cocktail Competition. Concocted by Bill Whitlow from Kentuckys own Richs Proper Food and Drink, the Storm Clouds over the Downs uses both Torres Spanish Brandy and Bananas foster syrup as a truly adventurous take on the classic Mint Julep.

2 oz Four Roses Single Barrel

1/2 oz China-China liqueur

1/2 oz Torres Spanish Brandy

2 Dashes Chocolate bitters

3 Drops Orange blossom water

2 Spoons Smoked maple syrup

1/2 oz Bananas foster syrup

7 Large Mint leaves

Stir and strain into mason jar then smoke with apple wood smoke. Pour over crushed ice in julep glass. Garnish with mint leaf and powdered sugar/allspice blend

Four Roses Bourbon Four Roses drizly.com Shop Now

Best bourbon for shots

And right-outta-the-bottle award goes to Jim Beam. Honestly, Beam is a whiskey you can enjoy every which way  on the rocks, mixed with Coke, or chased with a tall boy of beer, but its rightful place belongs in a shot glass preferably with your friends nearby. Its sweet, strong, and oh-so-smooth, which is makes it perfect to slam responsibly. Get all that crazy stuff out of the way in your twenties, because even one shot is a freaking production once you crack 35. Jim Beam is a great bourbon for a shot because its the only bourbon some of us aging millennials can stomach.

Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey Jim Beam drizly.com $23.99 Shop Now

Most versatile bourbon

Evan Williams is a brand Ive always held close to my heart. It was the first whiskey I ever bought as a post-21 adult and a bottle I find myself going back to again whenever I want something I know I can depend on. I think Evan Williams is a bit of misunderstood entity  like Holden Caulfield or Shrek. Its gruff (that is, harsh) demeanor can be a bit of an acquired taste, but once you get past that medicinal quality, Evan reveals a spicy  almost toasted nut  flavor that makes you want to melt into a puddle. If youre looking for a two-ingredient cocktail thatll take transport you to the Amalfi Coastl, try a shot or two of Evan with Casamara Clubs Italian amaro leisure sodas.
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Almost since the day Evans Hall opened at UC Berkeley in 1971, students have complained that it is unattractive on the outside, depressing on the inside and an obstruction to campus views on all sides.

But now that its demolition has been announced, some are starting to feel pangs of nostalgia over the 10-story building.

Not many people like it, but this is my home, said junior Hillary Sim, as she took the elevator to the buildings eighth floor, a ride notable for the mournful moan evoked by the elevators cables.

Evans is pretty ugly, but the architecture building is even more ugly, said freshman Leif Liu, referring to Wurster Hall, a cold concrete hulk on the other side of campus.

Evans has its advantages, Liu said, namely that if you ride the elevator to the top floors and gain access to one of the classrooms, you see the most beautiful view of campus because you cant see Evans Hall when you are standing in it.

But looks and location arent what doomed Evans. The reason the rectangle of reinforced concrete is coming down is because it was deemed more expensive to retrofit the building than to tear it down and replace it, university officials said.

The decision to demolish was made on the advice of a structural engineering study and architectural assessment. No official announcement has been made and no demolition date set. But the intent to tear down the building has been shared with the academic departments, student government and the Daily Cal student newspaper.

In addition to seismic improvements, the building has extensive deferred maintenance, inefficient and crowded classrooms, spaces that are not sized or configured to meet current program needs, and aged building systems that have exceeded intended lifespans, said Wendy Hillis, UC Berkeley campus architect and assistant vice chancellor for capital strategies.

Even the Campus Guide, University of California Berkeley, a treatise on the history and architecture of the campus by former planner Harvey Helfand, describes Evans as bearing the reputation expressed by many as the most despised building on campus.

But thats not how junior Sitara Swaroop saw it as she sat on the terrace at lunch and watched students arrive in the warm sunshine to steel themselves for entry into the dark and narrow hallways. Its not that bad, she said, offering up her kindest words.

Evans houses 12% of the general assignment classrooms on campus, and has a capacity of about 3,500 people. It is the home of the Mathematics Department, the Economics Department, the Statistics Department, the math and statistics library, and the undergraduate advisers for the College of Letters and Science. All of these departments, and all of those students sitting on the linoleum floor waiting for office hours, will have to be relocated before Evans can be taken down, university officials said.

The plan is to scatter them to other locations, including a new building to be constructed on a surface parking lot on the west side of campus below Dwinelle Hall. The working name is the Academic Replacement Building, and construction is expected to begin in a year. But no single building will replace Evans and its 270,000 square feet, one of the largest on campus.

At least one more building will be required and the concern is that a new building will go up where the old one is, once again obstructing the sight lines from Hearst Mining Circle down through Memorial Glade to Doe Library. From the north side, Evans also obstructs the southward view of Sather Tower, the landmark white-granite bell tower designed by campus architect John Galen Howard and known as the Campanile.

The main problem with Evans is that it blocks off the Campanile. It was just built too close to it, said Anthony Bruce, executive director of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. The Campanile should have open space around it.

That was not a concern 50 years ago when Evans was built. It was designed by architect Gardner Dailey, an influential modernist who died three years before the building was completed. Its construction was funded by state and federal grants, and it was named for Griffith Conrad Evans, a former chair of the math department.

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Originally painted off-white in an apparent attempt to blend in with the architectural surroundings, Evans was darkened to an earth tone in 2000, according to Helfands book, apparently in an attempt to blend in with the Berkeley hills behind it. Nothing has helped.

Due to its massing, height, scale and materiality, Evans Hall, which obstructs views to San Francisco and beyond, is considered incongruous with the Beaux Arts buildings in the Classical Core, Hillis said.

A new plan for the Evans site will be revealed by the end of the school year when the university completes its updated campus master plan.

To see the possibilities for the central axis through the northeast quadrant of campus without Evans, the best vantage point is the observation deck 200 feet up the Campanile. It looks like a standard office building in the middle of a city, said senior Max Tiehen, who could see from there how Evans cuts off the flow of campus. I dont have a problem with its aesthetics, but it does block the view of the bay.

Down on the ground and heading to her comparative literature class in Evans, freshman Isabel Zhang was optimistic that she would be on campus to watch the whole demolition process.

Its not earthquake-proof, and I get the point of it being an eyesore, said Zhang, who is from Seattle and hasnt been in Berkeley long enough to feel sentimental about Evans.

I dont hate it, she said, but I wont mind seeing it gone.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com
Missiles rained, buildings crumbled and explosions shook Ukraine Thursday as Russia launched a full-scale attack on the country, including its capital of Kyiv, where San Mateo resident Mick Safrons parents live.

My parents packed what they could in their car and are headed out west, Safron, 28, told The Chronicle Thursday morning. Theyre on the road and know to get out of Ukraine right now, this very minute.

West for Safrons parents means a direction and not necessarily a destination yet. They have family and friends in Germany and Poland and are considering refugee camps being set up outside Ukraines borders. Bomb shelters are being set up within the country, but his parents prefer to leave, he said. This was their plan for days, if the worst-case scenario  war  was to happen, they would head west and hope to get somewhere safe, Safron said.

More than 13,700 people born in Ukraine call the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area home, according to 2019 American Community Survey data. The diaspora is clustered around San Francisco, Fremont, northern San Jose and the Peninsula, and many reacted with horror at the overnight development. They had hoped a war could be averted.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea after weeks of futile diplomatic talks with Western leaders. The move is considered one the largest attacks by a European state on another since World War II.

The United states swiftly announced fresh sanctions against Russia, its harshest yet, including export controls, blocking assets of four large banks and penalizing some of Russias elite. President Biden authorized more deployment of ground and air forces to NATO, but emphasized that U.S. troops would not get directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine.

Thats not enough for many in the local Ukrainian community. Sergey Shukaylo, owner of Pushkin, a Ukrainian and Russian restaurant in San Francisco, said everyone, not just the U.S., could have done more to stop the war.

It feels like the whole world just let this happen, he said.

His parents and siblings live in the Donetsk region of Eastern Ukraine. Parts of the area have been under separatist, pro-Russian, control since 2014 when Putin first invaded Ukraine and annexed  or occupied  Crimea. The pro-Russian rebels have been fighting Ukraines army ever since. Shukaylos family have been close to whats happening on the ground for the last eight years he said, and hes worried.

They are not safe because theres missiles all over, he said. The roads are blocked, and Russian military forces are on it. Theres really not much my family can do at this point. Though he contends they might be safer where they are as other parts of Ukraine face an onslaught of terrifying bombardment.

Several hundred Bay Area Ukrainians and others rallied Thursday afternoon in front of San Francisco City Hall, waving Ukrainian flags, blasting music from the homeland and holding signs that read Save Ukraine, F Putin, Stop Russian aggression.

Fiodor Otero of Berkeley said his family in Eastern Ukraine is sheltering in place but is ready to fight for their country if necessary. Attending the rally was the least he could do to raise awareness about the suffering in Ukraine, he said.

I feel so useless, but I think the one thing everyone can do is say something to condemn Russia on what they are doing, Otero said.

A Russian-Ukranian interaction of a different kind happened on the streets of the Richmond neighborhood on Thursday afternoon.

Ilya Rumyantsev, 47, an engineer who lives in San Francisco, was standing outside an elementary school with his friend, Alex Berzhanskiy, 51, of Daly City. Rumyantsev is Russian. Berzhanski is Ukrainian. Both men waited for their sons, ages 6 and 5, to get out of school, discussing the situation solemnly.

Berzhanskis 72-year-old mother is still in Ukraine and had spent most of the past 24 hours hearing rockets, sirens and shootings, he said. Ive been on the phone with her every two hours, Berzhanskiy said, adding that she had just come for a visit to San Francisco two months ago, and he had urged her to stay, but she insisted on returning home.

Rumyantsev stood several feet away from his friend, who sometimes takes their sons to play tennis, and stared into the street.

I feel very ashamed now to be Russian, he said. Even though I never voted for this president, I kind of feel like I am somehow responsible.

He said he grew up in St. Petersburg and moved to the U.S. in 1998. His brother is still in Russia, and he expects even harsher sanctions to be imposed  making it impossible for his brother to leave if he wants. Rumyantsev said he and his wife have had sleepless nights watching the news and worrying.

The maniac with the red button is keeping everyone hostage now. Not just Russians or Ukrainians, but the whole world. Who knows how its going to end, he said.

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Just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dmytro Kushneruk, the consul general of Ukraine in San Francisco, spoke to his father in Odesa, a southern port city which was one of the first to face the brunt of the Russian invasion. While on the call, he said he could hear the explosions that had woken up his panicked parents.

My family is OK, he texted Thursday morning, saying they were still in Odesa. The night before, he said residents were frightened and almost in disbelief at how rapidly political tensions escalated.

Putin feels like there is no punishment for what hes doing. And what hes doing, we will treat as a crime against humanity, Kushneruk said.

Ostap Korkuna, 34, is a Ukrainian immigrant and San Carlos resident. He said he couldnt sleep Wednesday night as his worst nightmare came true. The engineer is actively involved with community groups and is the co-founder of Nova Ukraine, a Palo Alto nonprofit which helps with Ukrainian humanitarian aid efforts, so hes been acutely aware of whats going on, but its still overwhelming to process, he said.

His family is in Lviv, the western side of Ukraine, and his wifes family is in Kyiv, which is fending off attacks. His family is ready to leave for neighboring countries at a moments notice if the war comes closer to them. He said Poland could be an option, but its still hard to just get up and leave with a backpack. Peoples lives are being uprooted, he added.

Our ask is that stronger sanctions and actions be implemented, something that will really be felt in Russia by both the government and the Russian people who need to stand up against whats happening, Korkuna said. Please help really stop this.

Sam Francisco Chronicle staff writer Andres Picon contributed to this report.

Shwanika Narayan and Sarah Ravani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com, sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika, @sarravani Instagram: @shwanika
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After an extraordinarily dry start to the year, the federal government announced Wednesday that most farms in California will likely receive no water from the states biggest reservoirs in 2022, the latest fallout from drought and a blow to an agricultural industry already crippled by tight supplies. Cities and towns, meanwhile, will get just a fraction of the water they requested.

An impending third straight year of drought has left Californias federally managed reservoirs, including giant Shasta and Trinity lakes, soiled by cracked earth and bathtub rings, and standing as striking images of the states aridity. Many of the storage sites are at near-record lows for this point in the wet winter season, and officials at the Bureau of Reclamation say theres just not enough water for everyone who needs it.

Most of the recipients of the bureaus Central Valley Project are irrigation districts, whose farms have made Californias Central Valley the breadbasket of the nation, producing more than half of the nuts, fruits and vegetables in the United States. With no federal water deliveries expected for many of these districts, growers will have to turn to groundwater or storage, if they have it, or else forgo planting and production entirely.

In terms of tonnage and yield (of crops), I cant see there not being an impact, said Chris Scheuring, water attorney for the California Farm Bureau Federation and whose family grows walnuts and almonds.

A zero-water allocation would mark the second consecutive year that irrigation districts must cope with no federal water.

Its certainly something were disappointed to announce, said Ernest Conant, the Bureau of Reclamations regional director, speaking to reporters Wednesday morning about the expected curtailment of water deliveries.

Municipal agencies that receive federal water, which include suppliers in the Bay Area, are projected to get just 25% of what they asked for in 2022. This includes Contra Costa Water District and Santa Clara Valley Water District, which serves the city of San Jose. Last year, most urban customers got about half of what they wanted.

Wednesdays announcement hits the Santa Clara Valley district especially hard because deliveries from the Central Valley Project typically make up about a quarter of the agencys water supply. Its local sources, meanwhile, are compromised by the temporary loss of the districts largest reservoir, Anderson Lake, to accommodate an earthquake retrofitting project.

Were really in a tough place here, said Gary Kremen, chair of the Valley Water governing board, who says he expects many residents in Santa Clara County to face much stricter water restrictions in the coming year.

Already, 15% water restrictions are in place for households and businesses within Valley Waters service area.

The Central Valley Project, one of the worlds biggest waterworks, operates by capturing runoff between the southern Cascades and the Sierra Nevada in 20 reservoirs and piping it, sometimes hundreds of miles, to more than 250 agencies that contract for the water. The system runs in parallel with the State Water Project, which has forecast that it will meet just 15% of the water requests from contractors.

The projected allocations could change if the water situation changes, but theres little optimism as Californias wet season is approaching its end, typically in April.

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The wet season started strong, with heavy rain and snow in October and December, but the spigot shut off in January. The first two months of the new year have so far marked the driest start to a year in Northern California in at least a century, as measured by the states Northern Sierra Eight-Station Index. The grim outset of 2022 follows two years that also won distinction for how dry they were.

And not only are reservoirs low as a result, with Shasta Lake at about 53% of its typical level for this time of year. The snowpack that serves to recharge the reservoirs is low, about 66% of average for the date. Also, there is little precipitation in the forecast.

Last year was a very bad year, and this year could turn out to be worse, Conant with the Bureau of Reclamation said.

Not all irrigation districts are projected to receive zero water this year. A few with longtime water rights will get deliveries because of past agreements made with the federal government.

Fishing groups voiced concern Wednesday with the prospect that at least some water will continue flowing to farms when Californias salmon population is on the brink. When water goes to agriculture, theres less in the rivers to support fish migration.

At the rate things are going, theres no doubt that the salmon that try to spawn naturally this summer and fall are likely to fail. Their eggs are likely to die, said John McManus, president of Golden State Salmon Association.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
A photojournalist who was injured and had his equipment seized by police during a disturbance at a homeless encampment in Sausalito has sued the city and its officers for $21 million, saying the officers were racially motivated and violated state laws protecting freedom of the press.

Despite Californias shield law protecting journalists and other protective measures, in too many instances, the police have swept up newsgatherers and photojournalists as part of arrests, typically made without probable cause, for purposes of quelling legitimate protest activity, along with the press coverage of it, Jeremy Portjes lawyers said in a suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.

They said Portje is still suffering physically, psychologically and financially from his encounter with Sausalito police on Nov. 30.

Portje, a Bay Area staff photographer and freelancer for 25 years, said he went to the Sausalito harbor that day at the request of a boat owner whose vessel was about to be destroyed by city officials and was turned away by officers. He said he then heard shouting from nearby Marinship Park, the site of a homeless encampment, and saw police activity that he started to film. He said a group of officers huddled together and then approached him.

One officer stood in front of his camera to block his photos, then lunged at him and accidentally hit his own face on the camera, Portje said. He said the officer then punched him, put him in a painful shoulder hold and then, along with other officers, handcuffed and arrested him. All the officers were white, said Portje, who is Black.

Police accused Portje of striking the officer with his camera, and he was charged with two misdemeanor counts of battery and a felony of obstructing police. He was jailed for 11 hours, then released to his wifes custody on $15,000 bail. Four weeks later, Marin County District Attorney Lori Frugoli dropped the charges, saying she lacked evidence that Portje had intended to injure the officer.

Meanwhile, however, Superior Court Judge Mark Talamantes had issued a warrant Dec. 9 allowing police to search Portjes camera, cell phone and photo memory cards, despite the states shield law, which in most cases prohibits officers from searching journalists equipment and unpublished material. Officers had told the judge that Portje was actively anti-police, and one said he was not a true objective journalist.

Frugoli ordered the officers on Dec. 21 not to examine the equipment, which was later returned to Portje. But an investigator in the district attorneys office said in a memo, also on Dec. 21, that he had downloaded data from Portjes cell phone, photographed his camera and memory cards, and forwarded the material to a crime task force. Portje said in his lawsuit that one of the officers also reported that his property had been searched.

Sausalitos police chief, John Rohrbacher, and his officers violated their own policies on press access to police activity, Portjes lawyers said in their court filing.

Mr. Portje, an articulate and professional African American journalist, was simply too much for (the officers) to bear, the lawyers said. Their actions were designed to silence his spirit and journalistic advocacy for the disempowered in the city of Sausalito.

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Portje is still in severe pain and has received death threats from supporters of police, the lawsuit said. It seeks $12 million in damages from the city and $3 million from each of three officers, Sean Smagalski, Thomas Georges and Nick White. It also seeks court orders to prohibit such seizures of journalists equipment and require Sausalito to adopt court-supervised policies to protect press freedom.

In a statement Wednesday, City Manager Chris Zapata said Sausalito takes matters of diversity, equity and inclusion very seriously and does not condone discrimination of any kind by its employees.

There has been a review of credible evidence in this matter and we have found no information to support any indication that this incident was about race as alleged, Zapata added. Portje was arrested because his camera collided with a police officers face, causing the officer to get medical treatment, not because he is a journalist.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
The San Francisco police crime lab has ended a policy that allowed rape victims DNA profiles to be linked to unrelated criminal cases  a recently revealed practice that drew national rebuke over what was seen as a shocking violation of victim privacy.

The policy changes, which were announced to lab staff on Friday, came days after District Attorney Chesa Boudin revealed that a suspect in a recent property crime case was identified through DNA she submitted for a rape exam in 2016. Boudin dismissed the case, citing potential constitutional violations given the way the DNA was collected.

Policy documents reviewed by The Chronicle detailed how the crime lab operated its so-called quality assurance database, which held DNA profiles from several categories of individuals  including rape victims  and was routinely tested against suspect DNA gathered in later criminal cases.

News that the practice had ended was first reported by USA Today, and was confirmed in emails provided to The Chronicle.

The documents indicate that the practice was in place for seven years, and provide more clarity on whose DNA profiles are entered into the database.

The quality assurance database has two components, the documents state. One includes every single source and ... evidence profile analyzed since tracking began in 2015, which could include DNA profiles from rape suspects, sexual assault victims, child victims, consensual sex partners of rape victims or other people unrelated to a crime whose DNA may be found at a crime scene, according to a San Francisco police spokesperson.

DNA evidence from victims or other non-suspects is collected and stored in order to separate it from that of the suspected offender.

The second component is an elimination database that holds DNA samples from lab staff members, visitors and police, to test for DNA contamination. Staff members in the crime labs DNA unit have access to the full quality assurance database for searching during routine casework, according to the policy documents.

In a Friday email to crime lab staffers, DNA Technical Leader Manager Eleanor Salmon wrote that, effective immediately, if DNA from a victims rape kit matches DNA found at another crime scene, it would not be communicated outside the crime lab. The matches will continue to be evaluated internally, however, to test for possible contamination, Salmon wrote.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement that last weeks revelations prompted him to take immediate steps to halt any possibility of a misuse of DNA profiles of victims and survivors moving forward.

Boudins announcement of the practice last week ignited swift condemnation from sexual assault survivor advocates nationwide, who said it would discourage victims from reporting the crimes.

Camille Cooper, vice president of public policy of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, called the reports horrifying and an egregious violation of the survivors privacy.

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Boudin has called for the practice to end immediately, calling it legally and ethically wrong.

San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen and State Senator Scott Wiener have both said they may seek legislation to ban the practice. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff on Tuesday asked FBI Director Christopher Wray to investigate whether federal law enforcement officials can take any action to prevent police from using DNA collected from rape victims to tie them to unrelated crimes.

Scott said he shared Representative Schiffs concerns that the practice risks having a chilling effect on sexual assault reporting.

We must never create disincentives for crime victims or survivors to cooperate with police, he said.

Scott said the department was still reviewing the underlying case, and is conducting a comprehensive review DNA policies and practices.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
UPDATE: California will stop requiring masks in K-12 schools as of March 12, but San Francisco public school officials said that there will be no change to masking protocols.

In a state thats largely backed its public health leaders in the long and wearisome battle against COVID-19, one topic has proved more polarizing among Californians than almost any other: masking kids in schools.

State leaders on Monday are expected to announce a date when the school mask mandate will be lifted and shift instead to a strong recommendation. The announcement will land in the wake of Fridays recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that about 70% of Americans should be able to remove their masks indoors, including in classrooms unless schools are in places now defined as high risk.

But the state move alone may not end the increasingly vitriolic debate, as many districts may opt to keep their own mandates in place.

The state mask mandate was widely viewed as a necessity for safely reopening California K-12 schools last August, amid a raging late-summer surge, and after almost all schools had been closed to in-person learning for most of the previous school year.

But the mandate has become increasingly controversial in recent weeks, as another surge  this one fueled by the highly infectious omicron variant  recedes and other mitigation measures fall away. Most notably, on Feb. 15 the state lifted its universal mask mandate, which had required all Californians to wear face coverings indoors, while pointedly keeping the requirement for schools.

More than 60% of California parents still support masking in schools  and that support is even stronger, about 75%, in the Bay Area  according to a survey published Thursday by UC Berkeleys Institute of Governmental Studies. But parents, teachers unions, district officials and public health experts increasingly are at odds on the best way forward, and protests and petitions are popping up.

The protests both for and against masks have been widespread and deeply divergent: In Oakland, teachers and students staged walkouts in January in favor of face coverings  they were demanding better access to high quality masks. Ninety miles east in rural Oakdale (Stanislaus County), hundreds of students opposed to masks held demonstrations this month, and some were ultimately banned from campuses for refusing to wear them.

More than a dozen school districts across California, from San Diego to Sutter counties, have adopted voluntary masking for students, according to one group, called Urgency of Normal, thats pushing for the state to lift the mandate. In other communities, including San Francisco, parents and others opposed to the mandate have taken a more law-abiding approach, starting petitions urging state and county officials to lift it.

At the same time, some districts or schools continue to exceed the state requirement. Oakland Unified requires students wear masks outside, which the state does not mandate; Los Angeles Unified, the states largest district, only dropped its outdoor mask requirement last week. Some San Francisco schools urge students to double-mask for better protection.

Parents are at times passionately divided, including in places like the Bay Area that have generally supported pandemic orders. Some insist that losing masks is a key step in helping children recover from what has been an immensely stressful two years. Others say they remain fearful of unchecked spread of the virus in classrooms and the risks to their children or vulnerable family members.

The issue has split even health experts. The Urgency of Normal group, led by several UCSF doctors among others, started a petition in January demanding the state mandate be lifted, and arguing that masking students could be harming their academic and social development. A counter-group called Urgency of Equity, started this month by a few dozen doctors and patient advocates from around the country, insists that masks are a critical, low-risk tool for protecting all children and their families and keeping schools open.

Getting it perfect is definitely going to be tough, said Dr. Abraar Karan, a Stanford infectious disease expert who favors masking in schools, but said he understands why so many parents and students are unhappy with them. Karan is not part of either group.

The state has been guarded about its long-term plan for the schools mandate. Two weeks ago. Dr. Mark, Ghaly, secretary of California Health and Human Services, said hed take into consideration falling case rates and hospitalizations, along with vaccination rates among school-aged children, in potentially lifting the mandate.

Ghaly refused to provide specific targets, though its possible he will reveal them Monday  possibly allowing districts to drop mandates once a certain percentage of students are vaccinated, or case rates drop to a specific level. Vaccination rates vary hugely across the state, with less than a third of students vaccinated in some districts while more than 80% are in others.

But many health experts say they expect the state to simply pick a date in the near future, possibly within a week or two of Feb. 28, to lift the mandate, then leave it up to counties or school districts to decide whether they will continue to require masking.

If that happens, well keep mask mandates in L.A. and in San Francisco, well keep them in our largest urban districts, and then even though the state lifts the mask mandate, it doesnt change anything for the majority of California students, said Dr. Jeanne Noble, a UCSF emergency room physician involved with the Urgency of Normal group.

The masking debate is made especially complicated by imprecise data over how well masks works and whether they cause any harm. Several large studies have shown that mask requirement are associated with lower case rates in schools and communities.

But how much protection they provide, especially in the context of other measures like improved ventilation, isnt clear. And studies on whether masks can impact academic or social development are almost nonexistent.

There has been not really any evidence that indoor masking has been detrimental to kids, said Dr. Anne Liu, a Stanford pediatrician and infectious disease expert who supports keeping masks in schools a bit longer. We have a lot of ways that kids can still be outdoors and socialize and learn without masks.

The biggest divide, though, is between those who dont consider children to be at high risk of serious illness from COVID, and those who remain concerned about the threat to students and families.

Its been a grueling time for our students and our teachers and our site administrators and our families, said Dave Kline, superintendent of Oakdale Joint Unified School District in Stanislaus County, where hundreds of students protested against masks this month.

After months of outrage, and even a school board meeting canceled due to safety concerns, the district is anxiously awaiting the states new guidance on masks, which it plans to adopt.

Id like to have COVID in our rearview mirror, Kline said. Im ready for us to move on.

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Some districts already have moved on, mostly by refusing to enforce mask-wearing in schools. Districts that have stopped requiring masks in defiance of the state order often point to intense pressure from parents.

We are caught in the middle of a very difficult and progressively escalating situation, the El Dorado Union High School District said in a Feb. 15 letter to families, announcing it would no longer enforce the mandate. We know that masking guidance will definitely change in the weeks to come but our enforcement will change immediately.

At a heated school board meeting in Nevada County last week, administrators voted to lift the mandate for Nevada Joint Union High School  a decision met by both cheers and frustration. One union representative in favor of the mandate told the board that if the district would no longer require masks, he didnt see why he should have to wear a shirt to school or refrain from using swear words around students. On Thursday, two days after the mandate was dropped, Nevada Union High School closed for the day when teachers didnt show up for classes.

Districts that violate the state mandate by adopting voluntary masking expose schools and school leaders personally to substantial legal and financial risks, including fines, according to state health officials. In addition, school leaders could face lawsuits that could leave them financially liable if someone is exposed to COVID, contracts it or dies while the masking mandate is not enforced, state officials said.

In general, state and local teachers unions have not supported a statewide lifting of the school mask mandate.

We need to continue to follow the science and look at local transmission rates and hospitalizations in guiding COVID-19 decisions, said E. Toby Boyd, president of the California Teachers Association. Some communities continue to be impacted more than others.

Some Bay Area parents who continue to obey the state mandate said its increasingly hard to justify strapping a mask on their childs face every day when adults can now walk into public places without one.

Many blame politics, and the political power of teachers unions, for continued masking in schools, said San Francisco parent Laura Fagan. California is going to be one of the last places to get masks off kids, she said.

After Paso Robles Joint Unified, in San Luis Obispo County, opted last week to make masks voluntary, student Hunter Breese said he was relieved. Hunter, 17 and a senior at Paso Robles High School, had led student protests against the mandate.

Weve dealt with this for two years now ... and the students are just getting fed up with the masks, Hunter said, though he acknowledged about half the students continued to wear masks on the first day they were optional. Ive only had one completely normal year of high school. ... I know that if I get (COVID), I'm going to recover, and I think a lot of other students feel the same way.

Back in San Francisco, Mission High teacher Greg McGarry doesnt want to see masks off any faces in his classrooms. Not yet.

Schools are high-risk environments, he said. Lots of students from all over the city who live in multigenerational households are coming into cramped classrooms with poor ventilation systems that havent been updated in decades. They will have to wear masks to keep their school and home communities safe.

Erin Allday, Jill Tucker and Annie Vainshtein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com, jtucker@sfchronicle.com, annie.vainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday, @jilltucker, @annievain
A Northern California high school was forced to close Thursday after teachers didnt show up for classes, according to the schools website.

Nevada Union High Schools closure because of a teacher shortage came just days after its district voted to remove mask requirements in their schools. It was not immediately clear whether the teachers not coming to class was in protest of the recent changes to masking rules.

The Nevada Joint Union High School district voted 3-2 Tuesday  with one board member abstaining  to pass a resolution that would permit mask-choice on the districts campuses.

The vote took place at the end of a special meeting in which the district heard impassioned comments from parents, teachers and union representatives on the issue.

Representatives from the districts teachers union said they were disappointed by the districts choice to move forward with the resolution and said they felt blindsided by it. A representative from the teachers union was not available for additional comment Thursday.

At the beginning of the meeting, district Superintendent Brett McFadden said attempts to enforce the mask mandates were crumbling.

(We) began to experience significant civil disobedience by that of students and parents, McFadden said. The enforcement ability of the mask mandate came to a point where it was untenable, and we were concerned about maintaining a ... safe, effective and instructional environment.

McFadden was not available for additional comment Thursday.

The boards discussion quickly turned to heated debate, with multiple members expressing their opposition to the resolution in the face of the states impending new guidelines. Californias school mask mandate runs through Monday, when state leaders are expected to announce a date when it will be lifted.

But other members said California was lagging behind multiple other states and argued students should be allowed to exercise their right to wear a mask or not.

By Thursday afternoon, it was unclear whether the high school would be able to reopen for Friday studies. On Wednesday, the high school was apparently so short-staffed that hundreds of students had to watch a movie in the auditorium instead of attending class, CBS Sacramento reported.

Nevada Union High School, which is located in Grass Valley (Nevada County), is home to about 1,531 students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The schools principal, Kelly Rhoden, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the closure.

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain
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Russia launched a wide-scale attack on Ukraine, touching off the first land war Europe has seen in decades. Ukrainian forces have put up fierce resistance to slow the advance of the larger and more powerful Russian military closing in on the capital, as the U.S. and EU rushed ammunition and weapons to Kyiv and announced powerful new financial sanctions aimed at further isolating Moscow.

The invasion has pitched the world into an international crisis with far-reaching implications, including for California and the Bay Area.

Coverage of how the crisis is impacting California and the Bay Area: Eric Swalwell backs kicking Russian students out of the U.S. | How many Bay Area residents have Ukrainian or Russian heritage | Russia is using cyberattacks; Could U.S. be next? | Heres who is cutting ties with Russia

Latest news out of Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Crisis Bay Area lawmakers condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine as they grapple with what can be done

At least 198 people, including three children, reportedly have been killed on the Ukrainian side as of Saturday, according to officials. They also claimed hundreds of deaths on the Russian side. Russian authorities released no casualty figures; according to the Associated Press, it was not possible to verify the tolls.

More than 150,000 Ukrainians fled for Poland, Moldova and other neighboring countries, and the U.N. warned the number could grow to 4 million if fighting escalates.

The U.S., European Union, and United Kingdom agreed to block selected Russian banks from the SWIFT global financial messaging system, which moves money around more than 11,000 banks and other financial institutions worldwide, part of a new round of sanctions aiming to impose a severe cost on Moscow for the invasion. They also agreed to impose restrictive measures on Russia's central bank.

Biden has emphasized that U.S. troops would not get directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine.

Anatolii Stepanov/AFP / TNS

Underscoring how warfare has changed in the internet era, the aggression includes a wave of cyberattacks against Ukraine seeking to destabilize critical infrastructure.

California and Bay Area response

In the Bay Area, the Ukrainian diaspora expressed anger and fear for their families, with some expressing frustration that the U.S. should have done more to stop the war.

More than 13,700 people born in Ukraine call the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area home, according to 2019 American Community Survey data. The diaspora is clustered around San Francisco, Fremont, northern San Jose and the Peninsula, and many reacted with horror at the overnight development.

On Saturday, hundreds of Ukranians alongside supporters from other countries, including Russia, rallied in San Francisco to call for Western allies to step up sanctions against Russia. The rally with an open microphone lasted nearly four hours. Many who spoke reiterated that they felt Ukrainians were not only fighting for themselves and their country, but against further westward initiatives by Russia.

Condemnations from the Bay Areas members of Congress have been swift and forceful.

Evgeniy Maloletka / Associated Press

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco on Thursday, called Russian President Vladimir Putin an evil person whos doing bad things while speaking at an event on Postal Service reform.

The United States stands with Ukraine, tweeted Fremont Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna. We will hold Putin accountable for his unconscionable, unjustified, and illegal attack on the innocent people of Ukraine. He is committing a crime against humanity and flagrantly violating international law.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said he spoke with the consul general of Ukraine in San Francisco, Dmytro Kushneruk, to reaffirm our support with Ukrainians.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the U.S. stands shoulder-to-shoulder with allies and said Congress must come together to make ... crystal clear that any action by Putin against the U.S. and NATO will be met with an overwhelming response.

East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell floated an idea to kick Russian students out of the U.S. as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine, a controversial suggestion that quickly faced pushback. He mentioned the proposal as one of a range of options to punish Putin, comments that were seized on by conservative media outlets that make Swalwell a frequent target. Such a move would be exceedingly rare, echoing a controversial effort by the Trump administration to crack down on Chinese academics in the U.S. that was criticized as improper racial profiling.

Cutting ties with Russia?

Ukraines minister of digital transformation has requested that Apple block Russia from using the App store and to stop supplying the country with products. Apple didnt immediately respond to The Chronicles request for comment. On Thursday, CEO Tim Cook wrote that the company was supporting local humanitarian efforts and he was joining all those calling for peace.

Go here for a list of what countries have imposed sanctions and companies that have cut ties with Russia.

Gas prices

The attacks against Ukraine may also impact Californias gas prices as Russia was considered the worlds third-largest producer of petroleum and other crude oil in 2020, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average price for gas in California reached $4.77 per gallon Thursday, which is higher than the national average of $3.54 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association .

Prices began rising again earlier this month as the possibility of Russias invasion of Ukraine grew. By Thursday morning, the geopolitical unrest had already impacted the price of crude oil, which rose from $90 per barrel to more than $100 in a couple of hours, said Aldo Vasquez, spokesperson for AAA Northern California.

Dont expect (gas prices) to go down anytime soon, theyre only going to keep going up, Vasquez said. How much, its still unknown.

Biden acknowledged on Thursday that the invasion  and efforts to thwart Putin  will have a cost for Americans. But he sought to reassure the public that the economic pain that may come with rising energy prices will be short-lived in the U.S.

How to help

Here are two Bay Area organizations that help Ukrainians and that you can contribute to:

Nova Ukraine: Since 2014, Nova Ukraine has been working with nonprofits and volunteers to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraines most vulnerable residents, according to their website.

On Wednesday in a Facebook post, the Palo Alto-based organization said they were preparing to ship items like diapers, baby food and essentials to hospitals in Ukraine. The group also started a fundraiser on Facebook in response to the Russian-Ukraine tensions.

We need your support as never before, they wrote on Facebook.

Hromada: Hromada is a San Francisco-based organization that runs a foundation, Anhelyk, to support children of parents who died fighting for Ukraine. According to their website, the group has been sending families $50 per child in the last four years and has provided college scholarships.

You can donate here or by writing a check to Hromada, PO Box 7026, 7 Pixley Ave, Corte Madera, CA 94976.

Email info@hromada.us if you have any questions.

The Associated Press, Tal Kopan, Shwanika Narayan, Sarah Ravani, Andres Picon and Ricardo Cano contributed to this report.

Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores
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One person died and six others were wounded in a shooting on Lakeshore Avenue alongside Lake Merritt in Oakland on Saturday evening, police said.

Oakland police received reports of shots fired in the 2200 block of Lakeshore Avenue at 6:22 p.m. Saturday, police said, just as roughly 1,000 people were celebrating around the lake.

Police on Saturday initially said the gunfire victims were five males aged 16 to 27, and one 21-year-old woman. On Sunday they reported a seventh victim, a woman who walked into a hospital with a gunshot injury.

One of the victims  identified Sunday as a 22-year-old San Francisco man  died at the hospital, police said. The six others were in stable condition.

Police said officers saw two men with guns running from the scene immediately after the shooting. Both men, whose names were not released on Saturday night, were arrested. Police said they recovered two firearms.

Investigators with Oakland polices Homicide Investigation Unit are working to determine if the men are connected with or responsible for the shooting, police said.

The shooting sent hundreds of people running away from the scene. By 7:30 p.m., police had largely locked down the scene with police tape and the commotion had subsided.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Mayor Libby Schaaf condemned the shooting, saying that the joyous occasion at our Lake Merritt was marred by a senseless act of gun violence. Large crowds had spent the day in the area celebrating the first federally designated Juneteenth holiday.

For Nancy Douyon, 35  who had been celebrating Juneteenth around Lake Merritt since 8 a.m. Saturday  the shooting is not an example of what this community is, referring to Oakland.

Everyone had a very chill vibe except for this. Its unfortunate, and very sad, Douyon said. We shouldnt let this ruin this day.

Douyon said the celebrations around the lake drew Bay Area residents from Vallejo to Hayward, all gathering to commemorate Juneteenth, which President Biden designated as a federal holiday just days ago.

I think some individuals were targeted, Douyon said. I still feel like Oakland is a safe city. It sounds like a couple of bad apples, and it doesnt represent Oakland.

At the scene Saturday evening at the eastern edge of the lake, police officers had placed markers around what appeared to be roughly 30 bullet casings.

John Samaras and his wife, Lili, were peering behind the bars surrounding the porch of their apartment building on Merritt Avenue on Saturday night.

They said their nephew found shell casings on the street earlier. Right there, Lili said, pointing to the curb 10 feet away.

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.

Ken Lee, who lives in an apartment building on Excelsior a block from Lake Merritt, said he arrived home from work around 7 p.m. to see police zigzagging around the blocks and over the medians.

Cops were out here in full force, Lee said, standing on the corner of Excelsior and MacArthur Boulevard.

Oakland police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $40,000 reward for information leading to arrests in this case.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims, and I want to thank our officers for a quick response, Schaaf said.

Anyone with information, video or photos of this incident should contact Oakland polices Homicide Division at 510-238-3821.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Kevin Fagan and Chronicle photographer Santiago Mejia contributed to this report.

Rachel Swan and Lauren Hernandez are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com, lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan, @ByLHernandez
Change is coming to Berkeleys storied Telegraph Avenue, home to cheap eats, coffee shops, street vendors and a tie-dyed history of colorful characters and student hangouts  and it could lead to a ban on cars.

The Berkeley City Council unanimously approved a plan that would add a dedicated bus lane to the one-way street through the main business district for the Cal campus, leaving a single lane to be shared by bikes and vehicles, including cars.

But advocates of a car-free Telegraph Avenue say the councils endorsement of the plan  and particularly a promise to study how the avenue could be rid of private automobiles  is a step toward a pedestrian-oriented future.

We think a car-free Telegraph can and will happen, said Sam Greenberg, a Cal urban studies and political economy student and co-founder of Telegraph for People, a student group aiming to push cars off of a four-block stretch of Telegraph. Its just a matter of creativity, activism and funding.

What passed the City Council on Tuesday was a plan to reconfigure Telegraph and other streets south of the Cal campus. The Telegraph plan drew much of the attention, with numerous speakers logging in to the video meeting and voicing support for making Telegraph car-free.

The plan that was approved falls short of that goal, but calls for raising the avenue to sidewalk level, making it more of a plaza than a traditional street, and adding the bus lane  something merchants and the City Council rejected over a decade ago when AC Transit was proposing a bus rapid transit line extending into Berkeley.

But the council also supported a motion by Council Member Rigel Robinson, who represents the south side, to begin studying how to make Telegraph car-free.

Robinson hailed Tuesdays action and what he sees as widespread community support for eventually taking cars off of Telegraph.

Its huge, its a beautiful vision, he said. Telegraph is such a beautiful hub of life and activity in Berkeley. We can design our streets around people, not cars, starting with Telegraph Avenue.

Some Telegraph Avenue merchants dont necessarily oppose the idea of making the street car-free, but have concerns about deliveries, pedestrian safety, and fixing and maintaining the city parking garage near Telegraph Avenue. They opposed the bus lane  saying it devotes too much space to a single mode of transit and doesnt improve the look of the street  but desperately want changes to the business district.

We are overall excited for change and are supporting ambitious proposals to foster a vibrant environment, creating a stronger and more inviting sense of place on Telegraph Avenue, said Alex Knox, executive director of the Telegraph Business Improvement District.

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.

We want to foster a vibrant pedestrian environment that is attractive and a destination rather than a pass-through, that draws more people to our businesses and makes people want to come and stay and hang out on Telegraph.

Robinson said that south side residents have contemplated making Telegraph car-free for decades, and that the move to reconfigure streets south of campus produced a groundswell of support for limiting private vehicles. With cities around the world contemplating turning more streets into carless corridors, he said this is the right time to move toward taking cars off of Telegraph.

Greenberg, from Telegraph for People, agreed.

Were all going to look back, he said, and wonder why this didnt happen 50 years ago.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
A court monitor has found that the Oakland Police Department is gaining momentum in its nearly 19-year struggle under federal oversight  a win for the departments chief who has said reaching compliance is one of his main priorities.

Monitor Robert Warshaw filed a report Tuesday to U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick that determined the Oakland Police Department has reached compliance with two more tasks in its mandate to implement dozens of reforms. Three more tasks remain.

Warshaw wrote in his report that the department has completed two of the most critical requirements in the negotiated settlement agreement and he encouraged department leadership to remain vigilant to maintain this newfound compliance.

The settlement agreement and the federal oversight stems from a class-action lawsuit in 2000 that accused four officers, known as the Riders, of violating civil rights by beating residents and planting evidence. In 2003, the court ordered Oakland to enter into federal oversight that requires the department to fulfill 51 tasks designed to improve the departments treatment of people, training and disciplinary action.

The report comes nearly six months after Warshaw struck an optimistic tone in an August filing that indicated the department could be nearing the end of federal oversight  surprising city officials after years of an adversarial relationship. At a hearing a month later, officials said the departments federal oversight could start to wind down by the end of the year, but cautioned against celebrating just yet.

On Tuesday, Warshaw wrote that the department reached compliance with completing internal investigations in a timely manner and ensuring that complaint procedures against department personnel are efficient and fair.

The department must still make progress in reducing racial disparities in vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle stops. The department attempted to do this in 2018 by no longer pulling people over for low-level infractions. The policy did result in fewer stops, but the racial breakdown only slightly changed. Black motorists were still stopped more than 10 times as frequently as white drivers.

In addition, the department is tasked with recruiting more diverse officers  which both the chief and council members have said is a priority  and ensuring that use-of-force investigations are done in a timely manner.

Mayor Libby Schaaf struck a neutral tone Wednesday and said she acknowledges the court monitors findings.

Oaklands leadership remains committed to having the most professional and progressive police department in the country, Schaaf said. Our vision of public safety is grounded in a commitment to continual and persistent improvement that meets our communitys highest values and expectations.

When Chief LeRonne Armstrong was sworn in last year, he said one of his top priorities is to lead the department with laser focus to complete the mandated reforms.

Paul Chambers, a spokesperson for the Oakland Police Department, said Wednesday that the report demonstrates the departments commitment to fair and constitutional policing.

The efforts that led to compliance focused on stronger accountability, improving the use of technology and strict adherence to department timelines, Chambers said. The department still has more work to do to achieve full compliance with the negotiated settlement agreement and we are committed to continuing that work.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

John Burris, one of the plaintiffs attorneys, said the department is making steady progress toward reaching full compliance. Burris said hes hopeful that the department will complete all the tasks by the end of the year. Once the department does reach compliance, it will enter into a year of monitoring to ensure compliance is maintained.

In addition, the department has faced scrutiny after police command staff discovered that some officers followed a racist and sexist Instagram page. Burris said the department has to put a system in place to make sure it doesnt happen again.

Orrick, the judge, has said if racism, misogyny, and cultural rot pervade Oakland police, then it will prevent the city from reaching full compliance. A separate report on the departments handling of the case should be released soon, Burris said.

Rashidah Grinage, the spokesperson for Oaklands Coalition for Police Accountability, said the police commission was created to be the successor agency once federal oversight ends, and she believes the commission is prepared to take over that role.

She said as long as an unforeseen last-minute scandal doesnt unfold before the end of the year, it looks to me they are on the verge of exiting.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Every week, Abdul Wahid Taha soaks pounds of small white beans for a dessert thats relatively unknown in the Bay Area: bean pie.

Its the food most associated with the African American Muslim community, and Taha is on a mission to bring the treat more exposure.

This is really the pinnacle for a navy bean, he said. You could have a bowl of beans, some bean soup or beans in a salad or whatever, but a bean aspires to become part of a bean pie.

Taha started his business, Papas Bean Pies, in 2014 and now delivers about 300 individual-sized pies weekly to a few small markets, primarily in Oakland, and select locations of fast food restaurant JJ Fish & Chicken. He bakes out of a commercial kitchen in Berkeley.

Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

For his pies, Taha cooks the beans in a pressure cooker until theyre extremely soft. Then he puts them into a giant processor for four minutes, until they turn into the consistency of peanut butter. That bean paste mixes with eggs, raw sugar, butter, evaporated milk and warm spices like cinnamon for a pie filling that emerges from the oven browned and custardy. Each bite feels reminiscent of a creamier sweet potato pie, dense yet totally smooth.

The pie outfit is one of the featured vendors at the Bay Areas second annual Black Muslim Food Week, which takes place Friday through Monday. The goal is to uplift Black Muslim-owned food ventures, with special deals on halal eats culminating in a pop-up party at Taleef Collective in Fremont. Halal restaurants serve meat that was slaughtered according to Islamic tradition.

Other vendors at the festival include Halal Mexican food truck Chimulita and barbecue truck 523 Moonlite Radio Southern Halal Cafe. The pop-up doubles as a fundraiser for Oakland nonprofit Mueeds program that delivers halal meals to seniors, unhoused and disabled residents. The full schedule is posted in the Bay Area Halal Foodies Facebook group.

Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Taha, a Kansas City native, first started baking bean pies when he managed a bakery in Philadelphia in the 1970s. The bakerys best-seller was the bean pie, and he oversaw the production of up to 5,000 bean pies per day. Dreaming of California and returning to school, he moved to the Bay Area. He was amazed to find so few of the protein-packed treats here.

In the 70s and 80s, it was more widely known, he said. Its maybe the older generation that is quite familiar with it but the youngsters sometimes dont know anything about it.

Its unclear who invented the bean pie, though many believe it emerged in the 1930s through the Nation of Islam. Founder Elijah Muhammad encouraged followers to move away from ingredients associated with enslavement, such as sweet potatoes, and eat more navy beams. Taha credits Lana Shabazz, personal chef for famed boxer Muhammad Ali, as the most famous baker of the bean pie and the creator of the recipe many use today.

Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

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Taha doesnt see fellow bean pie bakers in the Bay Area as competition; rather, theyre all helping spread the word about a dessert he hopes more people eat. The options are growing: Delightful Foods Bakery, a 44-year-old Oakland outfit, and Raoofs San Jose Bean Pies, which launched in 2007, sell them at farmers markets. Oaklands Baby Bean Pie debuted in 2020 with traditional bean pies as well as a modern spin, which sees a layer of bean custard baked on top of cheesecake. And food truck Cafe Salaam opened last year with bean pies by the slice.

By delivering mini bean pies to stores like Mandela Foods Cooperative in West Oakland and Ashby Super Market in Berkeley, Papas Bean Pies is unusually easy to find on a regular basis compared to other purveyors. This year, hes tinkering with a vegan recipe and hopes to boost production. To do that, hell need to more customers. So far, all of his bakerys growth has been through word of mouth, which means he just needs more people to try their first bean pie.

Papas Bean Pies. Various locations in Oakland, Berkeley and Vallejo. www.papasbeanpies.com

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
Winter in the Bay Area rarely looks as wintry as it has this week, with pea-size pellets of hail and fluffy snow descending on us as temperatures dip below freezing.

In some corners of the Bay Area, the precipitation looked otherworldly. I certainly never thought I'd see hail from the window of my home in San Francisco. But what many city dwellers may not realize is that in certain mountainous areas of Wine Country, snow is a familiar sight at this time of year.

"We seem to get a dusting every year," said Brian Brakesman, winemaker at Summit Lake Vineyards, which sits at 2,000 feet on Napa Valley's Howell Mountain. Tuesday afternoon brought a brief hailstorm, which quickly turned into snowflakes, Brakesman said. "It was beautiful, like a winter wonderland. Unfortunately it left as soon as it came."

Snow remains rare in lower-elevation areas like the valley floors of Napa and Sonoma. It's only in the higher-altitude hillsides where snow is a yearly  or nearly yearly  occurrence. Other mountainous areas of California, like the Sierra foothills, are also accustomed to annual snowfall.

Tuesday's light snow didn't come close to the volume that those high Wine Country vineyards have received in some years past. Brakesman estimated the most Summit Lake has ever gotten was 18 inches. Across the valley, Spring Mountain's Keenan Vineyards had enough in some years during the 1990s for an employee's children to go sledding.

But winemakers will take what they can get. In a historic drought like the one California is currently experiencing, any precipitation is welcome. Some parts of the Bay Area hadn't seen rain in 44 days, the second-longest dry spell during the region's rainy season in recorded history.

"It's scary," said Brakesman. "If you don't have any rain for a month and a half, especially at this time of year, it adds a lot of stress to the vines."

This week's hydration still wasn't enough to satisfy vintners, who hope for more before spring begins. "We'd still love to get another big rain," said Sam Kaplan, winemaker at Arkenstone Vineyards on Howell Mountain.

Hail can be a frightening portent for winemakers: If it comes once buds have emerged on the vines, it can knock them off, potentially decimating the grape yields for that year's harvest. Those buds become flowers, which become grapes, which become wine. France's Burgundy has seen that worst-case hail scenario several times in recent memory. Last year, hail and frost cut the crop in Burgundy almost in half.

Luckily, this time, most California vineyards are still dormant, not yet awakened by the warmer spring temperatures  and therefore not bearing any of the little buds that would be vulnerable to hail.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

In fact, other than adding to the groundwater supply, the only real effect the snow can have on vines at this point in the year is to delay the budbreak, by keeping temperatures low and extending that winter dormancy period. California winemakers see that delay as a good thing, since it tends to push harvest into the milder, cooler autumn months as opposed to the hotter summer months.

"We don't want them to wake up yet," said Brakesman. "The cold weather is definitely buying us time."

Vineyard owners decide when to start pruning their vineyards based on when they hope that wake-up will occur. "Pruning kind of shocks the vines and ensures that they will stay dormant for another 8 weeks or so," said Bettina Sichel, owner of Laurel Glen Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain, which saw hail on Tuesday. "As long as the vines are dormant, the kind of bad weather we can get here in NorCal is not going to affect them. Fortunately we dont get the extreme cold of Long Island or the Finger Lakes or Michigans upper peninsula."

It's a refrain you don't often hear from vintners these days: The weather is behaving exactly as they'd like it to.
The number of new coronavirus cases in the Bay Area has fallen by nearly 80% since the beginning of the month,yet all but three counties in the region still have high or substantial transmission rates, as does most of California. New research on the waning immunity of COVID boosters is prompting many people to wonder whether they should seek a second booster shot. A Bay Area internist accused of giving COVID-19 vaccines to people not yet eligible for them during the height of the pandemic was cleared of the charge by state officials.

Latest updates:

White House prepares to shift pandemic strategy, trying to eliminate COVID is not realistic: President Bidens COVID-19 response team is preparing to move beyond crisis mode in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, according to multiple media reports. After consulting with a group of outside experts led by Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a bioethicist with the University of Pennsylvania, the White House will introduce a 136-page plan entitled Getting to and Sustaining the Next Normal: A Roadmap for Living With COVID, that outlines the public health strategies required to transition to an endemic approach to managing the virus. Trying to eliminate COVID is not realistic, the authors wrote in a copy of the plan obtained by the New York Times. Instead, the nation must plan to mitigate its effects, prepare for variants, and build towards a next normal. Biden was scheduled to address the next phase of the nations COVID-19 response during his State of the Union address on March 1 but the crisis in Ukraine may put those plans on hold.

COVID-19 pandemic worsened discrimination toward racial and ethnic minorities: People from all major racial and ethnic minority population groups in the United States experienced more COVID-19 related discrimination than white adults, according to a new study by the National Institutes of Health. In what is being described as the largest study of its kind, with the most diverse participants, researchers found that those who said they experienced discrimination reported being threatened or harassed based on someones perception of another having COVID-19. Compared with white adults, 22.1% of participants in the study said they had experienced COVID-19 related discriminatory behaviors, and 42.7% of participants reported that people acted afraid of them. Participants who identified as Asian or American Indian/Alaska Native were most likely to have experienced this hostile behavior, and participants who identified as Hawaiian or Pacific Islander or Latino were also highly likely to have experienced discrimination, according to the report.

Moderna forecasts COVID will become endemic in 2022: Officials from Moderna said on a quarterly earnings call Thursday that they expect COVID-19 to become endemic before the end of this year, indicating it will be a manageable seasonal disease. But they said that booster doses of vaccines will likely be required annually. While we are hopeful that we are about to enter a period of relative stability in the Northern Hemisphere, we believe firmly that a vaccine booster dose will be required for the fall of 2022 to provide ongoing protection against this virus, said Moderna Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton on the call. The Boston biotech company reported a fourth-quarter net income of $4.87 billion, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier. The company said it expects sales to be larger in the second half of 2022 than in the first half due to the ongoing need for vaccine doses.

COVID paid sick leave is back in California. Heres how it works: Many California workers can once again apply for COVID-related sick pay under legislation approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this month. As of Feb. 19, people who work for public or private companies that have 26 or more employees are entitled to up to 80 hours of COVID-related paid sick leave retroactive to Jan. 1 and extending through Sept. 30. Similar legislation expired last year when federal tax credits for businesses providing the leave ended at the close of September. Read the full story here.

Google restores Bay Area office perks, loosens vaccine mandate for remote workers: Google is restoring its signature perks like shuttle buses, massages and cafes in the Bay Area as the pandemic eases and it moves toward bringing back most office employees for at least a few days a week. The Mountain View tech giant is also lifting a temporary weekly testing policy for on-site workers in the Bay Area, but vaccinations will remain mandatory. Masks are currently required in Santa Clara County, which is lifting its mandate next week. Around 30% of Bay Area Google workers were voluntarily in the office last week. Read the full story here.

Santa Clara County expects to lift indoor mask mandate March 2: Santa Clara County is preparing to eliminate its indoor mask mandate in one week, assuming COVID cases and hospitalizations remain stable or continue falling as expected, health officials said Thursday. Ten days after the state dropped its universal mask mandate, Santa Clara County remains the only place in the Bay Area still requiring that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings in indoor public spaces. The county decided to stick with a local mandate until cases had fallen to a more acceptable level and hospitalizations were stable, health officials said. Read the full story here.

Nevada County school closes amid masking controversy: A Northern California high school was forced to close Thursday after teachers didnt show up for classes, according to the schools website. Nevada Union High School was forced to close because of a teacher shortage just days after its district voted to remove mask requirements in their schools. Representatives from the districts teacher union said they disappointed by the districts choice to move forward with the resolution and said they felt blindsided by it. It was not immediately clear whether the teachers not coming to class was in protest of the recent changes to masking rules. Read the full story here.

Newsoms SMARTER plan for COVID could be smarter (opinion): Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his SMARTER Plan  policy guidelines intended to inaugurate the next phase of the COVID pandemic in California. As Newsom announced last Thursday, the crisis phase of the pandemic is officially ending; the SMARTER plan ushers in a phase of living with the virus. But declaring endemic COVID may still be premature. Read the op-ed by Martha Lincoln here.

Maternal deaths rose 14% in first year of pandemic: The number of women in the United States who died during pregnancy or shortly after the end of pregnancy rose during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2020, 861 women died of maternal causes, a 14% increase from the 754 deaths reported in 2019  and a 30% jump from the 658 deaths that occurred in 2018. The report also found disparities based on race and ethnicity, with three times as many Black women as white women dying. Deaths among pregnant Black women rose 26% over the previous year.

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.

Queen Elizabeth II postpones more engagements: As the 95-year-old British monarch continues to experience cold-like symptoms from COVID-19, Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth II has been forced to postpone two scheduled virtual audiences on Thursday. The queen, who is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and has received a booster shot, tested positive on Sunday. It was the second time this week that she had canceled virtual sessions. The countrys longest-reigning monarch is scheduled to host a March 2 reception at Windsor with hundreds of diplomats, according to the Associated Press.

When will the mask mandate end in California schools? Heres the latest on the battle: In a state that has largely backed its public health leaders in the long and wearisome battle against COVID-19, one topic has proved more polarizing among Californians than almost any other: masking kids in schools. State leaders on Monday are expected to announce a date when the school mask mandate will be lifted and shift instead to a strong recommendation. But that move alone may not end the increasingly vitriolic debate, as many districts may opt to keep their own mandates in place. Read the full story here.

CDC to unveil new metrics for assessing virus risk: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will change the way it assesses community levels of disease for COVID-19 as early as Friday, according to a source inside the agency who spoke with CNN. The updated metrics will help many counties nationwide to move closer to lifting safety measures aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus, such as mask mandates. By the current standards, 97% of the counties in the U.S. are at substantial or high levels of virus transmission  tiers for which the agency recommends masking indoors. The agency will move away from looking at case rates and positive test rates in determining virus risk, according to the source, and also incorporate hospitalizations, emergency room visits and deaths in each region.

L.A. County drops mask mandate for businesses that verify vaccination: Businesses and venues in Los Angeles County that verify vaccination status will be allowed to make masking indoors optional for fully vaccinated customers and workers beginning Friday, according to a modified order issued by the health department. With lower rates of hospital admissions and COVID hospitalizations, it is appropriate in settings verifying vaccination or negative test status, that we transition to strongly recommending masking instead of requiring masking, said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the countys public health director, in a statement.

Vaccine demand in U.S. falters following omicron surge: The average number of Americans getting their first shot of a vaccine against COVID-19 has fallen to about 90,000 a day, according to federal data  the lowest number since December 2020, when shots were available on a limited basis. Nearly 25% of the eligible U.S. population has not yet received even one dose of vaccine, and more than 35% are not fully vaccinated. The trend doesnt appear likely to reverse anytime soon as government leaders have abandoned incentive programs and some vaccine mandates. Demand for shots has bottomed out, especially in conservative regions and among communities of color where distrust of the government runs deep, according to a report by the Associated Press. In California, about 74% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated, with only 56.3% having received a booster dose, which health officials say is critical in protecting against omicron, especially as the state winds down other COVID-19 mitigation measures.

CDC recommends waiting 8 weeks between initial vaccine doses: Some people getting Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines should consider waiting up to eight weeks between the first and second doses, instead of the three or four weeks previously recommended, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in guidance it quietly updated on Tuesday. Officials said they were reacting to research showing that the longer interval can provide more enduring protection against the coronavirus, the Associated Press reports. Research suggests that 12- to 64-year-olds  especially males ages 12 to 39  can benefit from the longer spacing, the CDC said. The original, shorter interval is still recommended for people with weakened immune systems; people 65 and older; and anyone who needs fast protection due to risk of severe disease.

Up to 12,800 Americans may die of COVID-19 by mid-March: The number of newly reported COVID-19 deaths will likely decrease over the next 4 weeks according to federal forecasts, with 5,400 to 12,800 new deaths likely reported in the week ending March 19. The national ensemble used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that a total of 963,000 to 983,000 COVID-19 deaths will have been reported by that date. California is forecast to see between 500 to 1,500 additional COVID deaths over the same period, bringing the state tally of lives lost closer to 90,000.
Once again, we are stuck in a world of Armageddon politics. It is war and not just some silly movie, like Duck Soup or The Russians Are Coming, a gazpacho war. How did we get here again? How could we not?

Vladimir Putin, enabled by other authoritarians, has sown conflict within the European Union and right here in America. Supporters of the insurrectionist-in-chief and other Republicans virtually welcomed Putin into Ukraine, as if it was ours to give away.

Our stock market crashes, the price of oil skyrockets, and the American response is likely to give more power to the people who created this mess. Its just another sad cycle in the history of a country, and world, that continues to repeat its mistakes from the past, lessons not learned, distorted or hidden. God bless the U.S.A., God save the queen, in God we trust, because we certainly cant depend on ourselves.

Mitchell Goldman, Richmond

More for you Letters: Americans are tired of war. Biden needs to explain why Ukraine is worth fighting over

Americans are uncaring

In the past, Americans have always rallied to protest our governments hasty commitment to war and actions like President Bidens refusal to grant neutrality to Ukraine so he can get wartime glory before the midterm elections.

Congress nearly impeached President James Polk for provoking the Mexican-American War. There was a huge anti-European war sentiment surrounding both world wars. Student protests against the Vietnam War are still within our memories. Many people pushed back against George W. Bushs flimsy excuse of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

But today it is likely the American people will not lift a finger to stand with Ukrainian Americans who protest both the actions of Vladimir Putin and the inaction of Biden, because we have lost memory of our own national history. Also, if the carnage is not happening to our own families, our own neighborhoods or churches or workplaces, we could care less.

But even if we knew our history, and cared about others, we would still be unmoved. We are so mired in our own personal addictions and programs to pamper our personalities, we can no longer move our feet.

Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah

1938 redux

The invasion of Ukraine is a replay of the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938. Lets all remember what happened after that and be very much afraid! World War III would likely start with destruction of our spy satellites, cyberattacks on our infrastructure, cutting off fuel supplies to Europe followed by attacks on NATO countries. Let us not be too complacent about our own security.

Darryl Raszl, San Francisco

Propaganda war is on

Regarding War in Ukraine is not Americas battle to fight (Letters, Feb. 23): While I agree that the United States should not go to war with Russia and think the concept of Ukraine being internationally recognized as a sovereign neutral country is intriguing, I do find the suggestion that Vladimir Putin is not a threat to our national security unsupported by the facts.

Russia isnt likely to invade our shores anytime soon, but it is engaged in a propaganda war where it is taking existing political divisions and using its bot networks to further inflame partisan dissension and foment political violence. With such methods, President Putin is actively seeking to destabilize American society using a sophisticated campaign of disinformation that threatens not only our security but the global order writ large. If we as a people do not wise up to this reality soon, Putin wins.

Stephen Upjohn, San Francisco

Putin is a danger

Regarding War in Ukraine is not Americas battle to fight (Letters, Feb. 23): I agreed with the first part of the writers point of view until I read the last two sentences: For all of his faults, Vladimir Putin is not a threat to our national security or to Western Europe. We should not turn him into one.

The naivete of that robs the entire letter of all credibility. Perhaps the writer is not aware that this is exactly what many people believed about Adolf Hitler in 1939!

Joseph Chance, Emeryville

Alternative facts

Vladimir Putins bald-faced assertion that Ukraine has always been part of Russia does not jibe with history and his predecessors policies. After all, the Ukrainian Socialist Republic become a full-member of the United Nations in 1945 on the insistence of Moscow.

And, of course, all member republics had the right to secede according to the Soviet Constitution.

George Lewinski, Berkeley

Lies drive conflict

The war in Ukraine is a lesson in what happens when your countrys leader is a profound liar.

Stephen Maffin, Berkeley

U.S. has no high ground

President Biden says the Kremlin flagrantly violated international law: Vietnam. Cambodia. Laos. Lebanon. Cuba. Grenada. Panama. Libya. Iraq.

Somalia. Bosnia. Kosovo. Afghanistan. Pakistan. Yemen. Syria.

Yes, the United States really has the moral high ground when it criticizes Russia for attacking another country. What hypocrisy!
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his SMARTER Plan  policy guidelines intended to inaugurate the next phase of the COVID pandemic in California. The plans name is an acronym for shots, masks, awareness, readiness, testing, education and Rx (for pharmaceutical therapies to treat COVID). As Newsom announced last Thursday, the crisis phase of the pandemic is officially ending; the SMARTER plan ushers in a phase of living with the virus.

The agenda has received praise from national and state public health leaders, including a former senior adviser for COVID-19 response in the Biden administration, and will likely influence policy in other Democratic states.

But declaring endemic COVID may still be premature. California is barely coming out of its most recent surge of cases and deaths; while case rates are now declining, the state still reported over 200,000 new infections in the last two weeks. As Newsom pivots toward treating the coronavirus like any other virus, his policy should be more far-reaching  and more honest about the challenges ahead.

For example, the first part of the SMARTER plan is shots  a commitment to improving the states vaccination rates. On paper, thats commendable. But as the omicron wave revealed, a pandemic strategy that relies too heavily on vaccination is likely to founder. The emergence of more variants is all but guaranteed  and recent reports suggest that the rapidly spreading BA.2 subvariant may have more potential to infect the vaccinated.

Further, despite the governors efforts to vaccinate equitably, Californias vaccination levels remain highly uneven. While wealthier counties, coastal counties and the areas around Los Angeles, San Diego and the Bay Area show high rates of vaccine uptake, other counties have lagged. Only 57% of San Bernardino County residents have received two shots  on par with Louisiana and Texas. And as of the start of the year, only 38% of all Californians have received a booster shot.

Given the probability of new variants emerging amid incomplete protection, the SMARTER plan should go all in on other measures  including high-quality masks. Yes, the plan calls for stockpiling 75 million high-quality masks, but just days before announcing the states new plan, Newsom ended Californias indoor mask mandate. As of Feb. 15, vaccinated people in most counties may now remove masks indoors. Schools will continue to require masks through Monday, but at the end of the month those protections may be lifted too. Stockpiling masks wont mitigate the spread of a new variant. Wearing them will.

The SMARTER plan strongly recommends the continued use of masks, particularly in high-risk settings. But recommendations alone will not deliver the protection that Californians need. Particularly, immunocompromised Californians  who number at least 1.1 million, a figure that is likely a low estimate  will require policies that limit their chances of being exposed to the virus in the first place. So will the 2.8 million children in our state who are younger than 5. To keep public spaces accessible to these groups, California counties should continue to require masks in indoor settings.

If the BA.2 subvariant  or a brand-new variant of concern  causes a surge of cases, its highly likely that the indoor mask mandate will need to be reinstated, just as it was last year in response to the delta and omicron surges. But instead of tying measures like masking to specific thresholds or trends in case data, like Nevada has, the SMARTER Plan says only that officials will evaluate the data quickly and nimbly. In practice, this may mean that decision making will be ad hoc, with policy changes announced to the public in ways that may be startling or confusing  a concern that has recurred over the entire pandemic.

While the lack of specificity in this plan is concerning, some of the governors optimistic tone is justified. Its true we have more tools to manage COVID  such as wastewater surveillance, an important part of the SMARTER Plan and a source of information about the real-time dynamics of the virus. And Newsom has made smart calls in other recent policy decisions, too  like extending supplemental paid sick leave for the states workers last month.

Yet despite invoking the lessons learned of the past two years, Newsoms COVID agenda draws on those lessons selectively. SMARTER doesnt set specific preparedness metrics for improving ventilation in workplaces and schools  a powerful complement to downstream measures like masking and vaccination. Nor does it lay out robust measures for reducing the significant racial and ethnic disparities in Californias coronavirus infections and COVID deaths. And perhaps most concerning, the plan steers clear of forecasting worst-case scenarios.

Over the last two years, weve learned the necessity of protecting our most vulnerable, investing in layered protections, communicating with transparency and expecting the unexpected. Weve also learned that timeliness is of the essence  and, particularly, that its counterproductive to remove protections prematurely. As state Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly has acknowledged, We arent out of the woods. Instead of relaxing COVID measures to grasp at a fleeting sense of normalcy, California should be pursuing proactive, comprehensive measures to protect all communities equitably.

Martha Lincoln is an assistant professor of medical and cultural anthropology at San Francisco State University.
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WASHINGTON  Condemnations from the Bay Areas members of Congress were swift and forceful as Russian forces launched a broad attack on Ukraine on Thursday.

But even though several of them had just returned from days of meetings with European allies, options for responding remained limited. Most called for the West and U.S. to remain united against Russias aggression and backed President Bidens use of sanctions.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco on Thursday, called Russian President Vladimir Putin an evil person whos doing bad things while speaking at an event on Postal Service reform.

Were not gonna let him provoke World War III, but were gonna make sure hes debilitated in terms of the nature of these sanctions, Pelosi said.

Her remarks followed those at a news conference on Wednesday fresh from a trip to the international Munich Security Conference, where Pelosi and fellow California Democrats praised Western democracies and the NATO alliance in standing firm against Putin, with Pelosi calling Russias invasion of Ukraine an attack on democracy.

They also backed Bidens use of sanctions to punish Russia, both the ones he had rolled out earlier this week and more severe ones imposed Thursday.

The beauty of it all is that it is a unified effort of our NATO allies, Pelosi said. The steps that the president is taking are appropriate. ... You cannot take it any lighter than what it is: a total assault on democracy.

That news conference was held after Putin had begun invading breakaway regions of Ukraine. Hours later, overnight Thursday, Russia launched a full-scale invasion and attack on the country, with explosions and fighting breaking out across Ukraine.

The Bay Area delegation quickly issued harsh condemnations of Russia and sought to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

The United States stands with Ukraine, tweeted Fremont Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna. We will hold Putin accountable for his unconscionable, unjustified, and illegal attack on the innocent people of Ukraine. He is committing a crime against humanity and flagrantly violating international law.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said he spoke with the consul general of Ukraine in San Francisco, Dmytro Kushneruk, to reaffirm our support with Ukrainians.

We stand with them and support President Biden and our allies in enacting severe sanctions against Putin for his unprovoked and dangerous attack on an important democratic ally, Padilla tweeted.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the U.S. stands shoulder-to-shoulder with allies and said Congress must come together to make ... crystal clear that any action by Putin against the U.S. and NATO will be met with an overwhelming response.

St. Helena Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson called the invasion pure evil and urged a swift response.

That means cutting Putin, Russia, and their financial elites off from the global market and imposing further crippling sanctions, Thompson tweeted. My thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and I am hoping for a rapid resolution of this conflict and for lasting peace.

San Mateo Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier also called for the severest sanctions in response to the bloodbath, tweeting her prayers are with the people of Ukraine.

Livermore Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell similarly tweeted out prayers for Ukraine and democracy, while taking a swipe at Republicans for rooting for the Russians, a reference to former President Donald Trumps recent remarks calling Putins invasion plans savvy and for some Fox News personalities praise of Ukraine. Many Republicans, however, also swiftly condemned Putins actions and called for consequences.

Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine is reckless and evil, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield said in a statement. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine and prays for their safety and resolve. Putins actions must be met with serious consequence. This act of war is intended to rewrite history and more concerning, upend the balance of power in Europe. Putin must be held accountable for his actions.

Joining Pelosi at her news conference Wednesday, Swalwell recalled a dinner he and a few colleagues had during their European trip with a member of Ukraines parliament, a young politician who reminded the group of themselves.

We certainly saw ourselves in her and told her that we will go home and make sure that our constituents see themselves in Ukrainians, Swalwell said. And you cant help but talk to somebody who still believes that their country has a right to sovereignty and ask the question, What is our democracy worth if were not able and willing to stand against an invasion of another democracy?

But aside from the wide embrace of sanctions and standing with European allies, it was clear there was no support for American troops to respond to Russia and few other options for the U.S.

At Wednesdays news conference, Oakland Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee, a longtime advocate for limited use of the U.S. military and for Congress to place boundaries on any authorized use of force, said she had signed on to a letter re-emphasizing Congress role in signing off on military intervention, but said she doesnt expect troops to be called in.

The president has indicated over and over and over again that in no way does he intend to allow or insert ground troops in this, Lee said. With the increase in tensions, we signed the letter and wrote the letter because we want to make sure that the War Powers Act is complied with and that the public understands that the president means what he says, because hes not going to insert ground troops into this possible incursion.

Burbank Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said the Biden administrations declassification of intelligence in the lead-up to Russias invasion helped prevent Putin from being able to create false pretenses to invade, and that bolstering troops to support NATO allies was also important. He also backed further sanctions and remaining united against Russia.

I think the administration did everything it could do, Schiff said at Wednesdays news conference. As the president made clear from the very beginning, if Putin had made the  has made the decision to go forward, none of this may stop him from invading. ... But I think the president made it clear that he was going to do everything possible diplomatically, through deterrence. And thats all you can do.

San Francisco staff writer Andres Picon contributed to this report.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
Millennium Towers sinking and tilting has created a 1-inch gap between the main tower and smaller 12-story podium structure, the buildings project engineer said on Wednesday.

The 60-story tower in San Franciscos Transbay area has sunk 18 inches and rotated slightly, resulting in the gap with the smaller building, which contains 53 condo units. The tower is tilting to the west by around 2 feet.

We have fully considered this in our evaluation of the buildings structural safety and determined that the building is not at risk due to this movement, or any movement likely to occur before construction completion, said Ron Hamburger of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, the project engineer, in a statement.

Engineers plan to install 18 piles to relieve weight from the buildings foundation and mitigate the sinking and tilting in a $100 million fix, down from an earlier 52-pile plan that resulted in more sinking.

NBC Bay Area first reported the gap between the two structures and described it as sliding, but the buildings management said the tower was not sliding.

Hamburger said the installation of piles could reverse some of the gap.

Once the voluntary upgrade is complete, further settlement of the building at the northwest corner will be arrested, some rebound will occur, and slight additional settlement of the rest of the main tower will act to reverse the tilting that has occurred and close the gap between the elevator thresholds in the adjacent podium building that connects the main tower and mid-rise together, Hamburger said.

The podium building sits on top of a five-level underground parking garage, and in 2019, state inspectors prohibited the use of an elevator connecting the garage to the tower because of a widening gap.

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.

That gap was repaired, state inspectors signed off and the two garage elevators are back in service, said James Zaratin, Millennium Tower general manager.

There was previously a gap between the threshold and the landing floor on the two parking garage elevators in the podium section of the building, Zaratin said in a statement. Mitsubishi Elevators has remedied this gap by extending the thresholds to ensure code compliance.

City officials and building engineers concluded the building remains habitable and is safe even if a major earthquake occurs.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
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San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott and District Attorney Chesa Boudin agreed to preserve a critical agreement that makes Boudins office the lead investigative agency in police use-of-force cases for another 60 days, giving the citys law enforcement agencies more time to create a new agreement  just as the current one was about to expire.

Attorney General Rob Bonta, who has been tapped to help mediate discussions between the two agencies, announced the extension Wednesday. The extension will last until May 20.

I welcome these renewed efforts and commitments to ensure there is a process in place in San Francisco that helps build and maintain trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve, Bonta said in a statement.

The announcement comes after Scott stunned city officials this month by declaring he would unilaterally pull out of the agreement. That Feb. 2 announcement started a countdown giving city officials 15 business days before the agreement would lapse, pitching city and state officials into a flurry of closed-door meetings in an attempt to salvage it.

Without the agreement, the Police Department could be left to investigate its own ranks, a scenario that police reform advocates said would wipe out public trust in the citys accountability measures following police shootings or allegations of police brutality.

Both sides are expected to spend weeks negotiating a new agreement. In the meantime, as part of the extension, the agencies agreed to let an outside mediator  like a retired judge  resolve any current or future disputes over the next 60 days.

This 60-day extension puts in place an independent mediator to monitor both parties conduct and resolve extremely serious disputes that emerged in recent weeks, Scott said in a statement.

The agreement spells out how San Franciscos law enforcement agencies will interact with one another following allegations of excessive use-or-force and police shootings, dictating how they share information with one another. Critically, the agreement names the District Attorneys Office as the lead investigator following allegations of excessive force by police, an arrangement rooted in the idea that police cannot be entrusted to investigate their own ranks.

Bontas announcement relieves some of the pressure from the Police Commission, who scheduled an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening to ensure there wasnt a lapse.

In his announcement to terminate the agreement, Scott alleged what he called serious violations by the District Attorneys Office that had eroded the trust between the two departments. Scott pointed to testimony from a D.A. investigator who said she was pressured to withhold from police evidence that would have been favorable to an officer charged with excessive use of force. Scott said he is seeking a complete overhaul of the agreement.

Scotts decision to pull out of the agreement was blasted by police commissioners and reform advocates, many of whom noted that the decision came on the eve of the first trial against a San Francisco officer accused of on-duty excessive force.

San Franciscos police union supported the decision and have previously complained they would not be treated fairly by Boudins office, since Boudin has pledged to take a tougher stance on police accountability. Union officials had planned to hold a meeting about leadership the day after Scotts announcement.

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.

Boudin denied wrongdoing by his office and has maintained that investigations into police misconduct must remain independent to ensure their integrity. He has additionally alleged that the Police Department had violated the agreement numerous times, and said his office would investigate officers even without official assistance from the department.

The extension is a common sense approach to give us the necessary time to solidify this critical agreement, Boudin said in a statement.

San Franciscos first MOU, signed in 2019, was hailed as a milestone in the citys police reform efforts. The agreement took two years to finalize between Scott and Boudins predecessor, George Gascon, and then six more months to negotiate an amended version in 2021, under Boudin.

This extension represents another positive step towards ensuring that we have independent oversight in police use-of-force cases while maintaining a transparent and fair process for those being investigated, Mayor London Breed said in a statement.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
A USA Today investigation published Wednesday afternoon has revealed that all DNA processed by San Francisco polices crime lab is, in fact, stored in a database  and could potentially be used to identify individuals in criminal investigations.

"Any DNA that our lab tests, or comes across, goes in that database," Chief Bill Scott told the newspaper. Some examples provided by USA Today include victims of violent and property crimes, child abuse victims, and people neither suspect nor victim such as consensual sexual partners during sexual assault investigations and roommates.

These revelations raise the questions of whether San Francisco police have utilized DNA from victims of crimes and other individuals who voluntarily provided DNA to SFPD to aid in investigations  and just how many people currently have their DNA stored by SFPD. Scott did not confirm to the outlet how many people may have been queried by the crime lab for possible matches in DNA over the past seven years.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced earlier this month that the San Francisco Police Department uses DNA from sexual assault victims in criminal investigations, and used a womans DNA previously obtained from her rape kit to arrest her for a property crime. Boudin cautioned that the revelation would further discourage survivors of rape and sexual assault in San Francisco from coming forward.

Boudin, in a statement to USA Today and on Twitter, excoriated the police, saying his offices worst fears are confirmed.

Every DA I've spoken to in the country far and wide, red and blue - has absolutely been horrified at this practice, he said Tuesday. It never should have happened.

Among the other revelations disclosed in the USA Today report: San Francisco police do not have a purge schedule for DNA samples collected, with the exception of minors whose data must be purged after two years as required by a state statute. Additionally, the police department also did not promise to stop using consensual partner sample hits, saying it would be "evaluated on a case-to-case basis."

Mark Barash, a San Jose State professor interviewed by the outlet, called San Francisco police's policy "contradictory to any professional ethics."

San Francisco police has updated its policies as of Wednesday, stopping the practice of notifying investigators of DNA matches from victims of sexual assault  as was the case with Boudins bombshell announcement earlier this month  and of other criminals.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., requested Tuesday that the FBI investigate San Francisco police.

"Though there are still many unanswered questions about the extent of this practice, the fact it may have occurred at all is deeply disturbing. I fear it will have a chilling effect on sexual assault reporting, Schiff wrote in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, the Hill reported Tuesday.

San Francisco police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE.
picture alliance | Getty Images

Employees in Amazon's Bessemer, Alabama warehouse are currently in the midst of a union rerun election after last year's vote against unionizing was successfully challenged by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Now the second vote, which began on February 4 and will conclude on March 28, is being challenged by the RWDSU once again.

A Tuesday email sent from the RWDSU is accusing the ecommerce giant of violating the National Labor Relations Act. According to Engadget, the union has accused Amazon of illegally interfering during the second election, using tactics such as forcing workers to attend anti-union meetings and implementing a new rule that limits the time workers can spend inside the facility to 30 minutes before and after their shift.
More details have emerged on what the much-anticipated (and much-delayed) Ikea mall coming to San Francisco's mid-Market will look like after the first European site of its city concept opened Wednesday.

The Swedish ready-to-assemble furniture juggernaut opened its new foray into malls in London this week, and it looks nothing like the vast, mazy floor plans we're used to finding on a trip to Ikea.

The company's urban vision, named the Livat, meaning "lively gathering" in Swedish, will instead feature pop-ups, non-meatball food options, meeting spaces and no cars.

Andrew Chamings/SFGATE

The mall in London, developed by holding company Ingka Centres, is anchored around the Ikea store, but also features other clothing and grocery outlets and a curiously named "Library of Things," due to open later in April. The London store is cash free, but it is unclear if this will also be true of the San Francisco site. Footage of the London launch and a look inside the store, complete with staff greeting shoppers by waving Swedish flags, was shared on Reddit Thursday.

The important thing is to create places which are of their community and where everyone is welcome, Ingka Centres managing director Cindy Andersen told Forbes at the launch in London before reportedly traveling to San Francisco to check on the Market Street project. Meeting places are more important than ever, we have to get away from this idea of either/or for online and physical space. We completely believe in building places where people will create memories together. Livat is designed to be both of the community and a destination.

Andrew Chamings/SFGATE

The mid-Market store has been a long time coming. The vacant shopping center at 945 Market hasn't seen a customer in over six years. After a series of false starts, the trials of the pandemic and floundering retail plans from various holding companies, in 2020 it was announced that Ingka would develop the 250,000-square-foot space into the the Livat urban concept, with an Ikea store occupying 70,000 feet of the space.

A fall 2021 opening date was targeted  and missed. A new opening date was not stated by Ingka, but the San Francisco Business Times reported it would "likely be pushed back a year."

Construction is now underway at 945 Market. The street windows are currently covered in Ikea decals reading, "A new Swede on the block," and "Hej! We are creating your new meeting place, and extra space to be yourself!"

Ingka Centres did not share an opening date with SFGATE, but said they are "in the process of making significant improvements to the building, to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for visitors and the local community," adding, "We look forward to sharing more details about this development in the near future."
A California woman is suing Los Angeles and its police department because she says she was wrongfully arrested and jailed for nearly two weeks after being mistaken for another woman in Texas who shares her name.

Bethany Kaley Farber's ordeal began in April, when she was waiting to board a flight to Mexico at Los Angeles International Airport and Transportation Security Administration agents told her that she was wanted by authorities.

According to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday, TSA agents told Barber that there was a warrant for her arrest in Texas, handcuffed her and detained her before Los Angeles airport police arrested her.

In the lawsuit, Farber, 29, says she repeatedly told authorities that she had never been to Texas and had never been accused of a crime, but she was jailed for 13 days without bail before police admitted that they had taken the wrong woman.

According to the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Farber's arrest and imprisonment violated her Fourth Amendment rights because she was detained without probable cause. Authorities did not do "the bare minimum" to confirm her identity, the lawsuit says, which would have shown the officers that she did not have warrants for her arrest.

"Her constitutional rights were violated based on the negligence of the city of Los Angeles," Rodney Diggs, Farber's attorney, said in an interview Wednesday.

"They could have easily checked and compared her fingerprints; they could have checked her driver's license, Social Security number. There are numerous things that they could have done to prevent and avoid her ending up locked up in jail," Diggs added.

The TSA directed a request for comment to the LAPD, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Farber's lawsuit says the LAPD mistook her for another woman with whom she "had nothing in common" except her name.

If authorities had compared pictures of both women, the police would have realized that Farber "should not have been arrested at all," the lawsuit states.

Farber's friends and family took matters into their own hands, sending the district attorney handling the case in Texas documentation and evidence showing that she was not in Texas the day she was accused of committing a crime.

After days of contacting authorities, the family received a response from the prosecutor in Texas, who said it had been a case of mistaken identity.

"She said, 'Oh my God, we are so sorry, we will expedite this. We will get her out,' " Farber's mother, Terry Brodie, told Southern California news station ABC7.

Farber's attorney says the nature of the incident and duration of her imprisonment forever changed her life.

Nearly a year later, Farber is struggling with remnants of the emotional stress caused by the experience, according to a statement Farber's legal team released Tuesday.

"From law abiding citizen to inmate over night, Bethany is now suffering from anxiety and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder," the statement says.

According to Diggs, Farber is asking for monetary compensation for the emotional distress she endured. He added that police agencies should take this case as an opportunity "to put in place procedures and policies so that they make sure this doesn't happen again."

"Agencies make mistakes, but this was egregious," he said.
KYIV, Ukraine  Dozens of Ukrainian military personnel were killed in the early hours of Russias multipronged assault on the country, officials said Thursday, as its overmatched army strained to mount an all-out defense against Russian forces advancing by land, sea and air.

More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and dozens were wounded in fighting Thursday morning, said Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.

At least 18 military officials were killed in an attack outside the Black Sea port city of Odessa, where amphibious commandos from the Russian navy came ashore, according to Sergey Nazarov, an aide to Odessas mayor.

Explosions rang out around Odessa at about 10:30 a.m., sending firefighters scurrying to put out blazes and rescue people in the vicinity, according to the citys emergency services agency. By noon, however, the fighting in Odessa appeared to have subsided, and there was no indication of any Russian forces in the city, said Nazarov.

The countrys foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said that Ukraine was facing a full-scale attack from multiple directions but that it continues to defend itself from the Russian advance. Civilians lined up at recruitment offices to take up arms against President Vladimir Putins forces.

Starting before dawn, Russian forces entered Ukraine at multiple points, with helicopter-borne troops flying in under the cover of machine-gun fire, naval units coming ashore from the Black Sea and military vehicles crossing from Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized in 2014.

Ukrainian forces said they had shot down several Russian fighter aircraft and a helicopter in an increasingly intense battle to maintain control over key cities. Ukrainian troops had also repelled Russian advances on two major cities: Chernihiv in the north, near the Belarus border, and Kharkiv in the northeast, close to Russia, a senior Ukrainian military official said.

Video footage verified by The New York Times showed at least half a dozen Russian helicopters flying west over the Dnieper river toward Hostomel, a town on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, with some helicopters apparently attacking Hostomels airport. One video released by Ukraines armed forces appeared to show at least one of those helicopters being shot down.

Other videos posted to social media showed Russian military vehicles parked on the outskirts of Kharkiv, the second largest city, where troops had set up checkpoints on a main road.

The Ukrainian army is badly outgunned and outmanned by Russian forces, but in one indication that it was mounting a resistance, two Russian armored personnel carriers were seen damaged, one crashed into a tree, in the eastern Ukrainian town of Shchastya early Thursday.

Maryna Danyliuk, a retiree, was awaken by intense explosions  she believed them to be caused by Russian artillery fire  around 5 a.m. She hastily packed to flee.

By the time she was driving, she said in a telephone interview, she could hear sounds of combat on the towns street, and saw the two apparently damaged armored vehicles. They had no markings other than a white circle surrounding the letter Z, a symbol that has been seen on Russian military vehicles in recent days on the Russian side of the border.

It was unclear what had happened to the vehicle crews, she said: We were driving very fast. There was shooting in the city.

In Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, about 100 men, ranging in age from their 20s to 50s, turned up at a military recruitment office even as the dull thuds of explosions could be heard from the direction of the towns military airport.

They packed into a corridor and filled out forms to join the military, heeding a call from Ukraines defense minster, Oleksii Reznikov, who asked all able citizens to immediately enlist with the countrys territorial defense units.

The enemy is attacking, but our army is indestructible, he said. Ukraine is moving into all-out defense mode.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
NEW YORK - Two prosecutors heading the Manhattan district attorney's criminal probe into Donald Trump's business dealings have resigned from their positions - frustrated that after their former boss authorized them to seek an indictment against the former president, the new district attorney appeared uninterested, multiple people familiar with the situation said.

Cyrus Vance Jr., D, who declined to seek reelection as district attorney, told a team led by seasoned litigators Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz to go to a grand jury to begin the process of securing a case against Trump. Vance concluded there was enough evidence after a two-year probe to obtain an indictment and conviction, those people said.

The final decision, however, would fall to Vance's successor, Alvin Bragg, D, who was sworn into office Jan. 1.

And Bragg has shown minimal interest in the case, which centers on whether Trump and his business inflated the value of their assets to secure more favorable loans, insurance and tax rates.

One person familiar with the situation said the new prosecutor took weeks to read memos Dunne and Pomerantz had prepared on the case and didn't meet with them for some time. When they did meet, he didn't seem keenly interested, said this person, who like others interview spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations in an ongoing investigation.

Due to the inactivity, members of the grand jury, whose term expires this spring, were instructed to stay home on days they were slated to serve, according to one of the people with knowledge of the developments.

A spokeswoman for Bragg on Wednesday confirmed the resignations of Dunne and Pomerantz, who were overseeing a team of about 25 lawyers, paralegals and analysts, but declined to say why they left.

"We are grateful for their service," said Bragg's spokeswoman, Danielle Filson, adding that the investigation into Trump and his business practices "is ongoing."

New York Attorney General Letitia James, D, who has an active, parallel civil probe into Trump's business practices, may proceed alone with a civil lawsuit, a person familiar with the situation said. But James's office also has partnered with Bragg in the criminal investigation. On Wednesday, James spokeswoman Delaney Kempner said the joint criminal inquiry "is ongoing and there is a robust team in place that is working on it."

Pomerantz, a former federal prosecutor who was working on the Trump case without taking a salary, confirmed his departure but declined to comment further. Dunne, who served as Vance's general counsel, could not be reached for comment. Vance, who is now in private practice, declined to comment on the resignations, which were first reported by the New York Times.

Trump and his attorneys have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. One member of Trump's legal team, Ron Fischetti, predicted Wednesday that the departure of the two prosecutors "will mean the district attorney's investigation will come to a halt."

Alan Futerfas, a lawyer representing Trump Organization in the criminal matter, declined to comment. Trump had not issued a statement by Wednesday evening. Should the criminal case in Manhattan yield no indictment of Trump, it would not be the end of his legal woes. In addition to James's civil inquiry and other pending civil claims, a prosecutor in Georgia is weighing whether Trump committed crimes in pressuring state election officials to overturn the results of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. The Westchester County district attorney in suburban New York is also looking into Trump's business and has subpoenaed records related to one of Trump's golf clubs there.

In the Manhattan probe, Vance's administration did not rush to seek an indictment by the end of 2021, believing that Bragg - who would inherit the case - should handle the conclusion of the grand jury process, one of the people familiar with Vance's thinking said.

Dunne and Pomerantz expected the support for an indictment would transfer to Bragg's administration, the person said.

Another person briefed on the case said Bragg and James had a good relationship as they pursued their joint investigation. But a second person with knowledge of the situation said James's office still wanted to take a more aggressive tack at times during the investigation.

The investigation by the district attorney's office was in a holding pattern for at least a month after Bragg failed to communicate a sense of direction, according to a different person with knowledge of the situation. Dunne and Pomerantz were growing increasingly frustrated, this person said.

Since taking office in early January, Bragg has been largely consumed with discussions, meetings and public appearances over his controversial "Day One" memo, which dictated a set of lenient policies on charging decisions and bail. He drew pushback from officials and residents at a time when violent crime is intensifying - leading to a lengthy effort to clarify to his staff and the public what the memo meant.

The district attorney's investigation of Trump's business practices started in 2019 and included a protracted legal battle that resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that Trump's personal and business tax returns must be turned over, in compliance with a subpoena to his accounting firm, Mazars USA.

In July, the Trump Organization and its longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, were indicted in a 15-year tax fraud case by a previous grand jury. Charges included scheme to defraud, conspiracy and related counts, with Weisselberg also charged with grand larceny.

Lawyers for the Trump Organization and Weisselberg recently filed motions asking New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to dismiss charges before the case goes to trial, which could happen in August or September. The motions said Weisselberg was simply collateral damage in the quest by two elected Democrats, Vance and James, to take down the former president.

Weisselberg's attorneys also argued in the 140-page filing that the case is marred by its reliance on Michael Cohen for information. Cohen, a former Trump attorney who is now an outspoken critic, pleaded guilty in federal court to campaign finance violations and to lying to Congress in 2018. He served prison time for the crimes.

Weisselberg was given immunity for his cooperation in the New York federal investigation that resulted in charges against Cohen. Weisselberg's attorneys have also argued that the district attorney's case stemmed from that probe and the immunity he got in federal court should extend to the state court matter.

Bragg generally declined to discuss his plans for the Trump case on the campaign trail last year, saying it would be improper for him to do so without having access to the evidence. He highlighted, however, civil investigations into Trump's business dealings that he was involved in previously as a top lawyer at the attorney general's office.

He remained tight-lipped about the criminal inquiry after taking office, as is customary for a prosecutor with regard to an open investigation.

James, in contrast, repeatedly promised in public appearances to examine potential illegal activity in Trump's business dealings. She has been criticized by Trump and his allies for those pledges.

Since joining the district attorney's criminal case, James has declined to speak publicly about it. But she has released a wealth of public information about her civil case, which covers much of the same subject matter. Last week, a New York Supreme Court justice ordered Trump and two of his adult children - Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. - to sit for sworn testimony in the civil case in coming weeks.

The Trump family is expected to appeal that ruling, likely to argue, among other things, that James could unfairly use what they say against them in the criminal case.

Pomerantz was still interviewing witnesses for that probe as recently as this month. On Feb. 2, he spoke for an hour with Jonathan Greenberg, a former Forbes magazine reporter who for several years compiled the magazine's list of the nation's richest people - a list that Trump was very eager to be on.

It was for those stories that Trump called Greenberg pretending to be "John Barron," a public relations representative for the developer. In their Feb. 2 call, Greenberg said, Pomerantz "let me know he was getting ready to present his best case" to his superiors.

"He said he was in the final round and they needed to prove intent," Greenberg recalled in an interview Wednesday. "He said, 'We need to prove that Trump wasn't just drinking his own Kool-Aid'" when his company told lenders that he had assets that were worth far more than what he actually owned.

Greenberg said the prosecutor told him that the tricky part of getting a green light to move ahead with a prosecution of Trump was finding evidence that proved that Trump "wasn't just blowing smoke as a marketing tactic, but was lying and knowing that he was lying."

- - -

Dawsey reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Marc Fisher contributed to this report.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is following a course many military analysts had predicted, with a barrage of missile attacks to destroy Ukraine's air force and air defenses quickly followed by a massive land campaign aimed at crushing armed resistance.

Events on the ground unfolded rapidly on Thursday and, while the situation remains fluid, it appears that Russian President Vladimir Putin has opted for a campaign aimed at achieving regime change, rather than a more limited takeover of the separatist Donbas territories he recognized as independent on Tuesday.

Ukraine's State Border Guard Service said its personnel came under attack at 5 a.m. local time in five provinces ranged around the country's north eastern borders, as well as through Donbas and occupied Crimea, to the south.

Russian tanks were reported to have reached the outskirts of Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv, by mid morning, and to be fighting in the Kherson region just north of Crimea. By early afternoon, CNN showed Russian troops apparently in control of Hostomel airport, outside the capital Kyiv, following an air assault.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said Russian forces may be trying to secure the base as a bridgehead for an operation to decapitate the government. "Landing of airborne troops is possible. There could be an attempt to enter government's bloc," Podolyak said. "One of the goals is to remove top authorities."

That idea was supported by Vyacheslav Nikonov, first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma's International Affairs Committee, who said Russia aims to install a new, Moscow-friendly administration. It isn't clear how a government imposed by Russia would be able to overcome popular resistance.

In the east, the Facebook page for Ukraine's war effort reported a fierce battle with Russian tanks pressing down toward the rear of Ukrainian front lines fighting separatists in Luhansk province.

In an unequal battle -- Russia spends more than 10 times as much on defense -- Ukraine said it had shot down Russian aircraft and destroyed tanks. Russia's Defense Ministry said it had destroyed 74 military facilities, including 11 air fields, 3 command posts, a naval base and 18 radar stations for anti-aircraft batteries.

What happens next, according to the Moscow-based defense analyst Pavel Felgenhauer, is best understood from Putin's stated goal to "demilitarize" rather than occupy Ukraine, a nation of 41 million that has a territorial expanse similar to that of France.

"That means the Ukrainian armed forces should be totally disbanded, weapons liquidated and Ukraine turned into a buffer zone where Russia can do what it wants without any ability of Ukraine to resist," said Felgenhauer, a veteran military analyst with the Jamestown Foundation, a U.S. think tank. "Putin was very specific, territory issues come second."

That, in turn, requires targeting the Ukrainian armed forces that are mostly in Donbas, where Russian forces are likely to engage from the front and surround them, Felgenhauer said. Russia cannot afford a drawn out engagement, but rather "it will be a Blitz, a Blitzkrieg," he said.

That's a view shared by Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. General and former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe. Taking Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million, by force would risk months of urban warfare and require all the manpower Russia has available. In U.S. experience, he said, taking one hotel-size building requires a battalion, or 700-800 men.

"I just don't think it's feasible," Hodges said on the margins of the Feb. 18-20 Munich Security Conference.

According to the U.S., Russia had built up a force around Ukraine numbering between 150,000 and 200,000 troops by the time Putin gave the order to move. Not all have yet been deployed.

There's little doubt Putin has his eyes on more than just the separatist territories, according to Mathieu Boulegue, a specialist in Eurasian security and defense at the London think tank Chatham House.

In Putin's pre-war address to the nation, said Boulegue, he spent less time talking about stopping further NATO expansion than what he saw as the illegitimacy of Ukraine as a state, cobbled together -- in his account -- by a series of arbitrary Soviet-era decisions.

"It was the way he was talking about Ukraine almost like it was a Lego set," Boulegue. "He was making the case to Russians that by going in he would be righting a historical wrong."

- - -

Bloomberg's Daryna Krasnolutska contributed to this report.
As the United States seeks to rally its allies and impose tough penalties for Russia's aggression toward Ukraine, a vocal group of Republicans and right-leaning commentators is expressing praise and admiration for the president's strength and shrewdness. President Vladimir Putin, that is.

While most congressional Republicans back President Joe Biden's tough line against Moscow - or argue it should be even tougher - a faction made up of conservative Republicans, supporters of former president Donald Trump and conservative media figures says Putin should be left alone, or even congratulated, by Americans.

Trump complimented Putin on Tuesday, saying it was a "smart move" by the Russian president to send "the strongest peace force I've ever seen" to the Ukraine border.

"This is genius," Trump said in a conservative talk radio interview at his Mar-a-Lago resort, echoing his past praise of the Russian president. "Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine - of Ukraine - Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful. He used the word 'independent' and 'we're going to go out and we're going to go in and we're going to help keep peace.' You've got to say that's pretty savvy."

Trump is hardly the only figure making such arguments. Many on the right seem to have bought into Putin's claims that he is merely protecting his country and that it is the West that is showing aggression as NATO has moved closer to Russia's borders since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Conservative commentator Candace Owens tweeted this week: "I suggest every American who wants to know what's *actually* going on in Russia and Ukraine, read this transcript of Putin's address. As I've said for month - NATO (under direction from the United States) is violating previous agreements and expanding eastward. WE are at fault."

Fox News host Tucker Carlson, like many others on the right, minimized Russia's move to invade and overpower a neighboring country as a "border conflict" that should not concern Americans.

"It may be worth asking yourself, since it is getting pretty serious: 'What is this really about? Why do I hate Putin so much?'" Carlson said Tuesday. "'Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him?'"

The comments reflect the novel phenomenon of a major political faction openly siding with the leader of a U.S. adversary against the American president. They cite Putin's shrewdness and strength, along with an unfettered willingness to use force to expand his country's reach, suggesting that creates a flattering contrast with Biden, whom they portray as weak and feckless.

Yet Putin is an authoritarian leader who has jailed adversaries, shut down political opposition and moved to eliminate a free press and independent judiciary. He has dispatched his powerful military against an independent neighboring country.

When he was president, Trump sought to project his strength in his own ways, regularly trying to exert his will over federal judges, Congress, media and other institutions in ways that violated long-standing American norms but were cheered by his supporters as a show of strength.

Now some of his supporters see an admirable figure in Putin. That includes Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state under Trump and recently called Putin "savvy" and "very talented."

"I have enormous respect for him," Pompeo said in a Feb. 18 call with the Center for the National Interest. "I've been criticized for saying that." And he told Fox News: "He's a very talented statesman. He has lots of gifts. He was a KGB agent, for goodness' sakes. He knows how to use power. We should respect that."

Democrats and some Republicans denounced the suggestion that Putin was a nonthreatening figure, let alone an admirable one.

"Former President Trump's adulation of Putin today - including calling him a 'genius' - aids our enemies," tweeted Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. "Trump's interests don't seem to align with the interests of the United States of America." Cheney is a high-profile critic of Trump and his supporters.

Some GOP strategists argued that praising Putin was not a wise move, especially if it involved denigrating the United States and its democratically elected president.

"I think anyone who gives Putin credit is making a mistake," said Matt Mackowiak, a Republican strategist in Texas. "Putin is weakening Europe, attacking a sovereign country, which is to undermine the global position of the United States, which is to undermine the sitting president of the United States, has a vast nuclear arsenal and is risking the first world war in 70 years."

Mackowiak said he believes that Trump and Pompeo are not assessing the moral implications of Putin's tactics with their comments but rather his single-minded pursuit of his goal. But glowing language about Putin goes too far, Mackowiak said.

Some polling suggests that Republicans view Putin positively compared with their view of Democratic leaders. But Mackowiak said that based on his conversations with GOP voters, many of them simply do not consider Ukraine a priority, and that Republicans and Democrats are wary of overseas entanglements after years of wartime abroad.

Still, he added, "non-interventionism can be nice in theory - until the practical realities of the world oftentimes come to your doorstep."

Conservatives' arguments against the United States aiding Ukraine vary. J.D. Vance, the author of "Hillbilly Elegy" who is now running a hard-right campaign for U.S. senator in Ohio, acknowledged that Putin is hardly a praiseworthy figure but argued that Ukraine still does not merit U.S. support.

"Vladimir Putin is an evil man, who has done a number of evil things during his time in government," Vance said in a statement. "But spare me the performative affection for the Ukraine, a corrupt nation run by oligarchs, that is as close to a functional democracy in 2022 as Afghanistan was when Joe Biden handed it over to the Taliban in 2021."

Others have adopted the mantra that Biden is showing more concern for Ukraine's border than for America's, a way to twin their criticism of Biden's foreign policy with what they see as an overly lax policy toward would-be immigrants. Vance was among those who pointed to the illegal import of fentanyl across the southern border as an issue more deserving of attention than the international conflict.

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., tweeted last week, "We should just call ourselves Ukraine and then maybe we can get NATO to engage and protect our border." Gosar had previously tweeted: "Putin puts Russia first as he should. Biden should put America first but instead he will let in terrorists and welfare seekers."

That rhetoric is unfolding as most Republicans in Washington are making a somewhat opposite argument - criticizing Biden for not taking stronger action against Russia, for example by imposing hard-hitting sanctions earlier.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday that the United States and its allies must issue "devastating sanctions" against Russia and the Kremlin.

"As he escalates his war against Ukraine, Putin must be made to pay a far heavier price than he paid for his previous invasions of Georgia and Ukraine," McConnell said.
WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump continued his criticism of President Joe Biden on Wednesday, saying in a statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin is playing him like a drum.

It is not a pretty thing to watch! Trump said.

His comments come a day after the former commander in chief went well beyond most Republicans by not just criticizing Bidens handling of Russias aggression toward and invasion of Ukraine, but also lionizing Putin.

In a separate statement Tuesday, following Bidens announcement of the first tranche of sanctions, Trump claimed such events would never have occurred during his presidency.

And in an interview published Tuesday with The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, Trump called Putins recognition Monday of two enclaves in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine as independent breakaway republics genius, adding that Putin is very savvy.

Trumps former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, tweeted Wednesday that allowing these thugs, autocrats, and dictators to move around freely is not in Americas best interest.

But on Tuesday, Pompeos past praise for Putin was widely circulated. Over the past month, Pompeo has called Putin talented, savvy, shrewd and a talented statesman for whom he has enormous respect.

Republicans parroting Trumps comments about Putin are cowards repeating the nonsense that is fed to Trump by his handlers, former Trump White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci tweeted Wednesday.

Trump down deep laughs at all this, he said. He cant believe he has this level of sway.

The recent rhetoric from Trump and his once-top diplomat go far beyond what most congressional Republicans have said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warned that the humanitarian consequences of a larger Russian invasion could be catastrophic.

Noting that the world is watching, McConnell challenged Biden to use his executive authority to impose devastating sanctions against the Kremlin and its enablers.

A joint statement from House Republican leaders called Putins invasion reprehensible and slammed Biden for routinely choosing appeasement and tough talk without strong action to follow.

The U.S. and our allies must now make the Putin regime pay for this aggression, they said. Congress should compel President Biden to take the tough steps his administration has opposed thus far.

In a Fox News interview, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., referred to Bidens first round of sanctions as quarter measures.

Unfortunately, the administration spent the first 24 hours debating whether to even call this invasion an invasion, and the president took 80 minutes to come out for his own press conference, which doesnt exactly project confidence and certainty and resolution to people watching in Moscow, Cotton said.

The House Republican Conference went even further in criticizing Bidens appearance, posting a C-SPAN screen grab of Biden walking away from the lectern after delivering his remarks Tuesday.

This is what weakness on the world stage looks like, the post said.

For one Republican, it was an unfair slam against a president in the middle of an international crisis.

As still technically a member of house Republicans, let me, with all my might, condemn this damn awful tweet during this crisis, retiring Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., wrote. You can criticize policy, but this is insane and feeds into Putins narrative.

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who was voted out of GOP leadership for opposing Trump and whose primary opponent is backed by Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-cALIF., said Trumps adulation of Putin aids our enemies.

Trumps interests dont seem to align with the interests of the United States of America, she said.
WASHINGTON  A Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared imminent for days, if not weeks, as anyone who has been paying attention to the news knows.

But on the minds of many is why Russian President Vladimir Putin is so obsessed with Ukraine.

Putin massed more than 150,000 Russian troops along Russias border with Ukraines east and southern edge  where Moscow already occupies territory  and in Russian ally Belarus on Ukraines northern border. An incursion into Ukraines east might be easier since Russia illegally annexed Ukraines Crimea peninsula nearly eight years ago and has been backing Russian proxy militias against Ukrainian forces in the east ever since.

Moving in from Belarus in the north might be even more ominous because Russian forces would be within a couple of hours drive from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

But whether an invasion begins, there are questions still worth examining.

Among the most important: Why is Putin so obsessed with Ukraine?

Theres a Russian adage that you cant have a Russian Empire without Ukraine, owing to its long cultural and economic history as the beating heart of the defunct Soviet Union. And Putin is hell-bent on re-creating a new empire to restore his declining country to superpower relevance.

To understand how Putin views Ukraine, and why its so entangled in his mythology, first look at a map.

Belarus, Ukraine and Georgia  in that order north to south  are former Soviet Union republics that broke away into ostensibly independent nations after the Communist power collapsed in 1991. They sit like a massive land barrier between Russia and Europe to the West.

Ukraine is the largest, a minerals-rich vast land of fertile fields.

Tiny Georgia was invaded by Russia in 2008, and the two fought a brief war. Then, as now, Moscow accused Georgia of attacking pro-Russia breakaway enclaves like South Ossetia. France negotiated a cease-fire that ended most fighting, but Georgia did not regain the disputed territory.

Belarus, along with several other former Soviet republics, have, or had, Kremlin-friendly leaders. But Ukraine broke from the pattern in a 2014 revolution that seated democratically elected officials and moved the country solidly toward the West. The then-pro-Russia president, Viktor Yanukovych, fled to Moscow in what became known as the Maidan Revolution.

Ukraine had also served as a lucrative source for Putins coffers. A Russian gas pipeline crosses Ukraine en route to Europe, ginning big profits for Moscow  money that Putin used to co-opt friendly Ukrainian politicians as well as to buy off his oligarch cronies, according to Russia experts and former diplomats.

But Ukraine was stepping out of Putins sphere of influence. He has been trying to get it back ever since. In that same year, 2014, Putin began eating away at eastern Ukraine, declaring swaths like the Donbas to be Russian because many people there speak Russian and have Russian passports.

A former KGB operative, Putin has said the collapse of the Soviet Union was one of the greatest disasters of modern history. He has publicly stated that he does not regard Ukraine as a real country, nor Ukrainians as separate people. Much of the West, probably unwittingly, bought into part of the narrative by referring to Ukraine as The Ukraine, the way Putin and Russian nationalists do. It would be like Americans referring to The South or The West, parts of the U.S. not separate countries.

Franklin Foer, a writer at The Atlantic who traces family roots to what is today Ukraine, argues that Putin is less concerned about Ukraine joining NATO than he is about Ukraine becoming part of Europe with its insistence on rule of law. Ukraine signed an association agreement with the European Union on March 21, 2014, a month after the Maidan Revolution and the same month Putin took control of Crimea.

Rule of law and a campaign against rampant corruption, both of which the U.S. and Europe have been urging on Kyiv with some success, further robs Putin of a tool to control or manipulate the country and its potential quislings, analysts say.

What he feared most was Ukrainian democracy, which would deprive him of influence over the colonial possession that he felt was his birthright, Foer wrote last week.

U.S diplomats in Europe  including ambassadors to Russia and Ukraine  warned throughout the 2000s that showing any inclination toward incorporating Ukraine into Western organizations like NATO would be neuralgic for Putin.

Putin now may not want to take over all of Ukraine, but he certainly wants to swallow up enough of the country to render it a submissive ghost nation, experts and analysts say. One scenario floated by U.S. intelligence is that Putin would make the invasion swift and only long enough to install a new leader.

The fundamental crisis will not end, Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden and now a senior envoy in Europe, said on Twitter, until Putin leaves the Kremlin and [Russia] finally decides whether it will build a modern nation state or whether it still seeks an empire.
By Ana B. Ibarra

CalMatters

Renata Garza-Silva loves movies -- she longs to sit in a theater without having to worry about COVID-19 and whether others around her are masked.

Hillary Liber dreams about going back to the gym. She misses her in-person fitness classes, but for now a makeshift home workout space in the middle of her living room will have to do.

Garza-Silva, who is immunocompromised, and Liber, who is diabetic, are among the millions of Californians at greater risk of complications from a COVID-19 infection despite being fully vaccinated. Both women worry that the statewide protective measures that had given them some peace of mind during the pandemic are now lifting, increasing their susceptibility and limiting where they can go and what they can do.

Throughout California, people like Garza-Silva and Liber who have health conditions, such as heart disease, autoimmune disorders and diabetes, are forced to re-evaluate their risks. Every day, they ask themselves whether buying groceries, going to work, eating at a restaurant or visiting the post office is worth the risk of contracting a virus that could leave them hospitalized -- or worse.

For people at higher risk, the pandemic has meant walking a fine line for two years. "I'm always balancing out the fear of missing out with the fear of going out," Liber said.

Under state guidelines that were loosened last week, vaccinated people now can go maskless in indoor public spaces, except health care facilities, schools and prisons. Garza-Silva said this amplifies her worries, and she's upset that state health officials have virtually ignored people like her when setting guidelines for returning life to "normal."

"People in my position, young children and older people are just ignored. We don't count whatsoever," said Garza-Silva, 48, a middle school teacher and resident of La Crescenta whose immune system is weakened because of medication she takes after a kidney transplant. "I don't know that people understand how many of us there are."

About a third of adults in California -- close to 10 million people -- are at elevated risk of serious complications from COVID-19, according to a 2020 report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. This includes 6 million people who are 65 and older, but also millions of others with heart disease, diabetes, lung disorders, obesity and other conditions. (The data did not include seniors in nursing homes or children.)

Organ transplant patients and those undergoing cancer treatment or taking anti-inflammatory steroids -- which are used to treat autoimmune diseases such rheumatoid arthritis and lupus -- are among those considered "moderately or severely immunocompromised," according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide about 3 percent of adults are estimated to be on immunosuppressive medication.

Others with chronic illnesses should also continue to be more cautious, experts say. The CDC lists people with diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, coronary artery disease and kidney disease, among others, as likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

In California, 2.5 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, but millions more are estimated to be undiagnosed or prediabetic. And 7 percent of adults in California -- about 2.1 million people -- have been diagnosed with heart disease.

Vaccines offer some protection

Many people with health conditions gain strong protection from vaccines, experts say, but others less so.

Transplant patients, like Garza-Silva, take immunosuppressive drugs so their immune system won't attack their new organ, leaving them vulnerable to infections. For some, the first two doses of the vaccine do not provide adequate protection, and in some cases, even a third dose hasn't been sufficient, prompting federal health officials to allow people with compromised immune systems to receive a fourth dose.

Garza-Silva has received three doses and is talking to her doctor about the fourth.

"Being fully vaccinated protects you dramatically, even if you have a chronic condition," said Dr. Mark Henderson, an internal medicine physician at UC Davis Health.

Still, they face an elevated risk. At Henderson's hospital, about 20 percent of people hospitalized for COVID-19 are vaccinated -- most of them have a health condition that makes them susceptible.

Diabetes, for example, is known to affect immune function, Henderson explained. "White blood cells, which are the basis of fighting infections, don't work the same way on diabetics."

Diabetes was listed as an underlying condition in 15 percent of COVID-19 deaths nationwide.

As the state and nation look to turn the page on the pandemic, these patients, as well as older residents, have to be more vigilant in keeping up with boosters and wearing masks, Henderson said.

"The pandemic has always been about the vulnerable. In terms of the havoc that it's wreaked, it has been about the elderly, the medically vulnerable and now those who are unvaccinated," Henderson said.

Andy Imparato, director of Disability Rights California, said that unlike conversations around vaccine distribution in which advocates were able to provide input, they were not invited to discuss the state's SMARTER plan, a blueprint released last week that will set the stage for the next phase of the pandemic.

The plan sets preparedness goals that state officials say will help them quickly respond and adapt to changing conditions, including new variants. But the 30-page document mentions people with underlying medical conditions only to emphasize that they use masks and stay up-to-date on their shots.

Under the state's existing guidelines, vaccinated people can go maskless in most public places. People who are unvaccinated must still wear a mask in all public settings, although throughout the pandemic, the rules have rarely been enforced, mostly leaving it up to businesses to decide whether to check vaccination status. And even then, vaccinated people can still transmit the virus.

High-risk individuals can't live in a bubble. People with health conditions or disabilities, for example, often depend on others for assistance. Many people with heart disease or diabetes have to venture out into the world to work.

"We want the state to recognize those who even after they have been vaccinated are at high risk," Imparato said. "We recognize that the state is trying to balance competing demands, including keeping business afloat and helping people resume their lives, but we don't want it to happen prematurely."

The state is also expected to soon set a date for when masks will be able to come off inside schools.

The imminent end of indoor masking at schools concerns Garza-Silva, who teaches middle school film appreciation for the Los Angeles Unified School District. In a sign of loosening protections, the district announced Friday that it is lifting its outdoor mask mandate.

Her students, she said, are very understanding of her immunocompromised condition and are good about wearing masks in the classroom. She keeps windows and doors open for better airflow. She doesn't know what will happen when masks are no longer required in schools.

"Our principal has been very supportive, and maybe it will be OK for students to wear masks at least for my class, I really don't know," she said.

Earlier this month, a Placer County high school teacher, who was fully vaccinated but had suppressed immunity from prescriptions treating his autoimmune order, died from COVID after returning to the classroom.

Looking to the future

One hopeful sign is that therapeutics, like Remdesivir, are now much more widely available than in the earlier days -- although during the omicron surge supply still struggled to keep up with demand, said Dr. Shira Abeles, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego Health.

Also, another recently approved drug, known as Evusheld, can be used as a preventive measure, before infection, for those at highest risk, although that is still only available in more limited supplies.

Liber, who lives in San Diego, said one of her friend's who also is high risk was treated with monoclonal antibodies when they caught COVID, "but there's no guarantee it'll be available if I need it."

Her Type 1 diabetes is well-managed, but she knows that in combination with her age, 68, "back to normal" for her may still be a long way off. But "I'm not 15 anymore, I don't have my whole life ahead of me," she said.

People older than 65 account for 71 percent of COVID-19 deaths in California. About 84 percent of older Californians are vaccinated with two doses and 72 percent are boosted.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Liber and her husband were on total lockdown, rarely leaving their house. "We got really good at Amazon and Instacart," she said.

Vaccines and stricter mask guidelines gave her some confidence to resume some of her favorite activities.

When cases came down and things started to look a little better, she journeyed to restaurants to eat outdoors on patios. It's happened so infrequently in the last two years that she knows exactly how many times she's dined out -- five.

But every surge sends her back inside, and she fears pandemic-weary people will forget about people like her and stop taking precautions.

"I still want to do things," she said, "I don't want to give up on life."

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The worst, it seems, has now happened in Ukraine. In a pre-dawn televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he had ordered an operation aimed at demilitarizing Ukraine. He blamed the U.S. for crossing "red lines." Kyiv, he said, would be responsible for any bloodshed. Reports of explosions and gunfire in cities across the country began immediately.

It's a dark moment for Russia, for Ukraine, for Europe - the darkest in Putin's two decades at the helm. It is also a point of no return for Russia's leader, and one with lasting consequences for the world.

Putin has fallen into the autocrats' trap. Isolated, he is no longer able to weigh up reality as it is, but sees his fears instead. He is obsessed with what he perceives as the threat from Ukraine's westward drift, and with turning back the clock to reset the post-Cold World order. His speech Thursday - ranging from Russia's weakness at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, to Iraq, Yugoslavia and a chilling warning against Western intervention - was hardly the product of a cool, rational mind. It could not have contrasted more sharply with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's earlier moving appeals for peace, made directly to ordinary Russians. U.S. President Joe Biden called Russia's actions a "premeditated war."

Hubris, paranoia, military adventurism - a heady combination, and one that has been fatal for dictators and their regimes. And Putin is starting a war Russians do not want, for which they will pay the cost.

Political scientist Daniel Treisman, in his study of autocrats' last acts, found that most regimes come to an end through mistakes, whether because they ignored change or, like Argentina's General Leopoldo Galtieri, embarked on an ill-advised war. He invaded the Falklands in 1982, assuming Britain would not fight and that his population would unite behind him. He was misguided, and the blunder was terminal.

Russia is not Argentina, and there will be no such immediate repercussion for Putin, whatever happens. Increased repression at home is in fact the most likely consequence from this show of force abroad - either because the Kremlin can, or because it must.

But consequences can play out over time, and the Russian president appears to be unraveling. Even by the standards of an repressive authoritarian regime with a history of false-flag operations and fabricated pretexts for war - and for an autocrat with a penchant for macho, reckless military pursuits and for rewriting the past - the last few days have been hard to comprehend. A rambling, hour-long speech on Monday laced with wild accusations, portraying Ukraine as Vladimir Lenin's invention. Then a staged Security Council meeting with senior officials being made to publicly support Putin and the recognition of the separatist republics. Now, a war that, stretching credulity to the limit, Putin says will "denazify" Ukraine - a country that suffered brutally in the Second World War.

He made his move, moreover, while the United Nations Security Council was meeting, in a last-ditch attempt to avoid conflict.

What is remarkable here is not just the ambition of what Putin is apparently undertaking, a full-scale military operation with little regard for repercussions, an effort to destroy a neighbor and destabilize the region. It's also the scale of the delusion, when it comes to the threat posed by NATO and - crucially - his country's long-term ability to bear the human and financial cost of isolation. Yes, Moscow has built up central bank reserves and a war chest, but this is a country whose economy is stagnating, and one that's already struggling to deal with a health crisis as Covid-19 races through an under-vaccinated population.

To drive home the point, the West must now dramatically ramp up sanctions, reaching far beyond individuals into Russia's state banks and more - even if few options now come without a cost for Europe and the rest of the world. Vladimir Putin has already begun the war no one but Kremlin hawks wanted. Now only the toughest measures can hold him back.

- - -

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and member of the editorial board covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues.
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Rashid's boasts rich family tradition Samuel Rashid was what his son calls New Castles last gentleman.

NEW CASTLE  A 21st century pandemic has pulled the rug out from under a local business with 19th century origins.

Rashid Oriental Rugs, which opened in New Castle in 1930 but which traces its history to 1896 when the grandfather of current owner Jerry Rashid arrived from Lebanon and began to travel from town to town peddling rugs, has taken the first steps toward shutting down for good.

Rashid already has ended his rug cleaning service, which provided the bulk of his business and attracted thousands of customers from as far away as San Francisco. Hes still doing some rug repair, and hes selling his remaining inventory of Oriental rugs at 50 percent off.

Its a bittersweet moment for me, said Rashid, who will turn 80 in April. I dont have a choice. Ive lost my help, my rug-cleaning help. I had two guys that didnt come back after the pandemic, and I cant blame them.

One guy did come back, Bob Elliott, hes been here 48 years. He still comes in if I need him, but hes retired and hes not replaceable. He probably knows more than anybody in the country about cleaning rugs.

Age, Rashid went on, also played a role in the decision to pull the plug on the cleaning portion of the business.

I cant wash them any more, he said. Theyre too heavy if you do them right, when theyre soaking wet. We have special machines, but its still hard to do.

Its something that I love to do but something I cant do any more  bad knees, bad feet, bad hips. He (Elliott) and I are both in that position.

Elliott agreed.

Its physical work, and we did it for quite a few years, he said. You hate to disappoint people when they call and they dont know where to go. They ask you where they can go, and I really cant give them a good answer. But we were getting older, and at some point, you have to stop.

Rashids, both men said, created a cleaning method they say is exclusive to their business.

Bob and I have developed top secret things to wash these Orientals, and I can honestly say, I dont think weve ever had a complaint, Rashid said. We get rugs that are filthy and full of dog urine and cat stuff. We developed methods that we can get that out.

Moreover, Elliott noted, not all rugs are the same, and thus, may require different approaches to cleaning.

You have to understand the country it came from, the dyes they may have used, he said. The Persian rugs (from Iran) used vegetable dyes, and you had to be careful with them because they can be fugitive (meaning they can run or bleed). The Indian rugs and the Pakistani rugs that we got in later years, they used chemical dyes, which they werent allowed to do in Iran.

The chemical dyes, for the most part, hold up a little better, But the Persian rugs were usually more valuable. Back in the 70s, we had a lot of Persian rugs.

Rashid admits he has not sought out anyone to train to take over the business, citing the exacting nature of the cleaning procedures.

To learn how to wash these rugs takes 10 years, he said. There are so many things you have to watch. A lot of the Persian rugs have dye that is fugitive, and we have to know what to do. Thats why you cant teach someone. Theyll ruin a $10,000 rug in five minutes.

You cant find a carpet cleaner that knows how to really clean them. Ive had carpet cleaners bring me rugs all the time that theyve about ruined.

As for his remaining inventory, it includes one rug on his showroom floor that is 100 years old, and others like it that hes been loath to part with and has had wrapped up and put away for 20 or 30 years.

Theyre in great condition, but I cant take them home with me, he said. Were having one-half off on rugs that cost thousands of dollars. We have rugs that have been here for years  brand new, never used, and we have not changed the prices, nor would I change the prices. They were staying at that price.

Now Im selling them for a price I couldnt buy them at today, and theyre hand knotted. They take years to make.

The question is, though, once the rugs are sold, who will clean them when that time comes, with Rashid gone.

Thats something, Rashid said, buyers may never have to worry about.

Some people dont clean them for 40 years, he said. If you vacuum them and take care of them, they dont get dirty. Theyre amazing. Theyre wool, and theyre wonderful.

My house is full of them. I love them. I have rugs that are over a hundred years old in my house. The runner that you walked in on (at the store) is 130 years old. Thats what we wipe our feet on. Theyre sturdy; they last lifetimes.
Wood chips flew through the air over the weekend as woodcarvers from near and far descended upon the Shippensburg Fairgrounds to showcase thei
Enns named to Deans Honor List at Cedarville University

CEDARVILLE, Ohio  Cedarville University student Abraham Enns of Hart

was named to the Deans Honor List for Fall 2021.

This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. Enns is majoring in early child education.

Local pair named to Cedarville Deans List

CEDARVILLE, Ohio  Two local students were named to the Deans List at Cedarville University for Fall 2021.

This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.5 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. Earning the honors were Alayna Ackley of Mears and Joshua Huizenga of Hart.

Ackley is majoring in life science education and biology. Huizenga is majoring in social work.

Kirby named to deans list at Tufts

MEDFORD, Mass.  Tufts University recently announced the Deans List for the Fall 2021 semester, and it included Rune Kirby of Ludington.

Ludington is scheduled to graduate this year. Deans List honors at Tufts University require a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater.

Ferris State releases names of recent graduates, Deans List honorees

BIG RAPIDS  Ferris State University announced the fall graduates from its institution as well as local students that earned honors on the Deans List.

Local graduates in December were:

 Jenny Appledorn of Fountain, who earned an associate of applied science degree in graphic communication and graduated magna cum laude;

 Logan Drake-Soltes of Free Soil, who earned an associate of applied science degree in surveying technology and a bachelors degree in surveying engineering;

 Josey Stankowski of Free Soil, who earned a bachelors degree in elementary education and graduated summa cum laude;

 Sally Choponis of Hart, who received a certification in long term care;

 Tara Warmuskerken of Hart, who received a certification in long term care;

 Brian Hansberger of Ludington, who earned an associate of applied science degree in general business;

 Megan Moffitt of Ludington, who earned a bachelors degree in nursing and graduated summa cum laude;

 Trinity Herbert of Manistee, who earned a bachelors degree in business administration and graduated summa cum laude;

 Emily Modjeski of Manistee, who earned a bachelors degree in hospitality management;

 Maegan Sorenseon of Manistee, who earned a bachelors degree in public health;

 Joseph Stocki of Manistee, who earned an associate of applied science degree in building construction tech; and,

 Mason Johnson of Mears, who earned an associated of applied science degree in plastics polymer engineering technology.

Named to the Deans List were freshman Elisa Barry of Branch, senior Leah Larson of Scottville, senior Taylor Dykman-Gilchrist of Fountain and junior Bryce Williams of Grandville.

Goehmann named to Concordia Honors List

MEQUON, Wis.  Ludington native Concordia University Wisconsin sophomore Macee Goehmann was to the Fall Honors List for the 2021-22 academic year.

Goehmann is studying social studies/education at the school. To be eligible for the honor, students must achieve a minimum 3.60 GPA.
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Page Content

The four-day workweek became a reality in Belgium when the country's governing coalition passed workplace reforms Feb. 15 that included the option for employees to work longer hours in exchange for a three-day weekend. Employees need permission to work a shorter week, and they must work the same number of hours as those working a five-day week.



The idea of a shorter work time frame pops up periodically. In 2020, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern suggested employers consider flexible work options, including a four-day week, to help employees amid the coronavirus outbreak, SHRM Online reported in May 2021. Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin also raised the four-day workweek concept.



There are different approaches to a four-day workweek. While one has employees putting in longer hours over four days, another involves working 32 hours over four days, such as that proposed in recent U.S. legislation.



A bill Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., introduced in July would not mandate a 32-hour week, but employers would be required to offer nonexempt employees overtime pay after 32 hours under the Fair Labor Standards Act. H.R. 4728, the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, awaits a potential vote in the House Education and Labor Committee.



The last time the workweek was changed by Congress was 1940, when the 40-hour week became U.S. law. Two years earlier, the Fair Labor Standards Act set it at 44 hours.



During the Industrial Revolutionwhich occurred from the mid 18th to the early 19th centuriesmost people worked around 14 hours per day, six days a week, without paid holidays or vacation.



Some companies have started testing the waters, prompted at times by pandemic-induced employee burnout.



SHRM Online collected the following news stories on this topic.



Belgium Becomes Latest Country to Let Workers Try Four-Day Workweek



Workers in Belgium will be able to request a four-day week without losing salary, as the government overhauled labor practices Feb. 15 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the latest country to offer a shortened week to decrease stress and burnout.



(Forbes)



Lawmakers Lining Up Behind Bill to Bring Four-Day Workweek to America



The Congressional Progressive Caucus is putting its weight behind a measure that could fundamentally alter Americans' traditional workweek. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., said in a Dec. 7 statement the nearly 100-member group formally endorsed the Thirty-Two-Hour Workweek Act.



"After a nearly two-year-long pandemic that forced millions of people to explore remote work options, it's safe to say that we can'tand shouldn'tsimply go back to normal, because normal wasn't working," Takano said.



He introduced the measure in July, and it has garnered endorsements from others in Congress and several labor unions.



(The Hill)



[SHRM members-only toolkit: Managing Flexible Work Arrangements]



Viewpoint: Why More Companies Are Embracing a Four-Day Workweek



In May 2020, as the pandemic sent stress levels through the roof, an online children's clothes retailer called Primary started an experiment that it hoped would prevent staff from burning out: It gave everyone Fridays off. By December, the new schedule was working so well that Primary decided to extend it indefinitely.



The company is part of the latest wave of organizations experimenting with a work schedule that has been proposed for decades but has never quite caught on. Driven by the flexible work arrangements and bonus days off that were introduced during the pandemic, concern for burnout, and empowerment of employees in a tight labor market, companies are embracing a shorter workweek.



(SHRM Online)



The Four-Day Week Is Flawed. Workers Still Want It



Workers say the shortened workweek is a success, but the reality is more complicated.



When you squeeze the same amount of work (or more) into less time, work intensifies. When the University of Auckland's Helen Delaney and Loughborough University's Catherine Casey studied a New Zealand firm that piloted the four-day week in 2018, they found that employees took shorter breaks and spent less time lingering for "chit chat" after tea, instead scurrying back to their desks to resume work.



A four-day workweek also poses challenges for companies that must deal with clients working five-day weeks.



(Wired)



The Needle Isn't Moving on Four-Day Workweeks



This spring, 35 companies in the U.S. and Canada, including Kickstarter, a few nonprofits and even an RV manufacturer, will test shorter weeks with help from 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit founded in New Zealand in 2018.



Some companies are piloting a similar program in the U.K.



Each time a company does this, it gets a lot of attentionbut overall, the needle isn't moving. In January, there were just 1,700 job postings advertising four-day workweeks for every million listed on Indeed.com.



(Axios)



We Moved to a Four-Day Workweek Last Year. Here's How It's Going



The founder and CEO of InDebted said that since implementing a 32-hour week, employees are learning new ways to work smarter to deliver the same or better outcomes.



(Fast Company)



A CEO's Advice on Adopting an Alternating Four-Day Workweek



A four-day workweek can be a popular employee benefit. Brian Abernethy, co-founder and CEO of Service Direct, an online advertising and technology company for service-based businesses, told SHRM Online why his firm adopted an alternating four-day week and how doing so can foster greater employee engagement and productivity.



(SHRM Online)


Google has announced that it is now ready to move into the final phase of the migration from Classic Hangouts to Google Chat for Google Workspace customers.

The company said it will turn on the "Chat preferred" setting for any customers who have not already done so, making Google Chat the default chat application beginning March 22.

"This means that when users visit classic Hangouts in Gmail on the web or the classic Hangouts mobile apps, they will be directed to Chat," the company said in a blogpost.

"Hangouts.google.com will continue to work. It is not possible to opt out of this change. If you would like to export your classic Hangouts and Chat data, learn about exporting your organisation's data," it added.

After domains are upgraded to "Chat preferred", all classic Hangouts applications, except hangouts.google.com, will be disabled. Additionally, the "Chat and classic Hangouts" and "Classic Hangouts only" settings will be removed from the Admin console.

Messages sent in classic Hangouts will continue to be retained and held according to policies set for Chat, and searchable and exportable with Gmail search in Vault. Messages sent in Chat are subject to retention rules and holds you set for Chat and searchable and exportable with Chat search in Vault.

The company also mentioned that except for a few special cases, all the conversation history from Hangouts will be available in Google Chat. However, starting mid-March 2022, any newly created spaces in Google Chat within domain will not appear in classic Hangouts.
Ekrona is widely gaining attention from investors all across the globe. The digital currency, which comes under the holding of the Swedish central bank, is a future-proof alternative for transacting in the country and is at present been a topic of discussion as soon it can be regarded as an official currency of the European Union (EU).

Apart from Sweden, this digital currency is accepted in the United Kingdom, the U.S.A., Canada, and Australia. In fact, a resident of the EU can use eKrona for purchases prior to its release as an official and legal tender.

This article talks about the procedure of purchasing an eKrona coin using the eKrona platform .

HOW TO BEGIN THE TRADING OF THE TRADING OF THE EKRONA?

You can purchase an eKrona coin and start trading. But make sure to go for a licensed dealer as there are a lot of companies that make false claims of their association with the Riksbank (Central Bank of Sweden) and rob people's hard-earned money.

The eKrona platform is a licensed platform where you can purchase this Swedish currency and trade it without any worries. The platform sells this future-based digital currency with the assistance of its trusted exchange partners.

STEPS TO FOLLOW:-

To get started with the process of trading eKrona you simply have to open an account.

Create An Account

All you need to do is enter the required details (your contact information, first name, last name, country name, etc.). And make yourself a registered user of the platform.

Deposit The Funds

You need to deposit a certain amount into your trading account once you've completed the registration process. Although you can invest as much as you want, the minimum deposit amount, in general, is $250.

Get, Set, Trade!

You can start trading after depositing funds into your trading account.

So simple! Right?

REASONS TO GO FOR THE EKRONA PLATFORM

Entirely Regulated Platform:

The platform is completely regulated and has official power to issue cryptocurrency backed by a license. Also, the platform is associated with licensed partners whose background verification has been done to provide the users with authenticity and to protect them from getting stuck with any fraudulent dealers.

Avant-Garde Software:

Advanced technologies are employed to provide users with the best resources, services, and tools. Well-equipped softwares are in place to ensure the efficient functioning of the platform in order to provide the best user experience.

Assistance From Advisors:

Once you become a registered user of the eKrona platform , you can get in touch with a team of qualified and highly experienced advisors for any investment-related advice. The team is quite professional and is always ready to guide you through the paths of this journey.

Zero Fees Trading Platform:

Zero trading fees. Yes, you read that right. The platform doesn't charge a single penny for trading-related activities. Wondering why so? Well, this is so because the platform aims to motivate the investors to channel their funds in the Swedish Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)- eKrona.

Safety Of Funds:

When you think of trading, a secure system is a top-most priority. The platform works closely with prominent financial institutions across the globe to ensure the safety of a user's deposits. This also means that you can have immediate access to your funds easily.

NEED OF CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY (CBDC)

The way the financial system used to work has evolved over time, and the difference in its functioning is really huge. With online transactions and payment-supported apps, the financial system has walked a long way, and the same is the case with Sweden.

The number of cash transactions that take place in the Country is nearly nothing already, and with the introduction of the state-backed currency, it has become more clear that the country wants to keep its monetary system intact.

Russia, China, and India are also coming forward with the plans for the issuance of a centralized and regulated CBDC which the respective countries have named as Digital Yuan, CryptoRuble, and Digital Rupee, respectively. This raises the question of why countries are feeling the need to issue a country-based electronic currency that is regulated by their respective central banks.

The answer is simple, to maintain monetary stability within the country. The huge surge in the number of investors in decentralized cryptos has made waves between an individual's spending and savings in government-owned institutions. If this number keeps on going up constantly just like this, then it'll make a huge impact on the overall growth prospects of an economy.

And the alarming fact is that even the state would not be able to control the after-effects of the same. The credit rate, purchasing power, regulatory framework, everything will face a huge hit of consequences. This is the reason national authorities have to intervene in the financial markets to have a grip over the privately held decentralized market.

A major benefit of investing in regulated and centralized currency (or CBCD) is the assurance that your funds are in safe hands because government institutions are more trusted when it comes to regulations and claims than private ones.

QUICK LOOK

In times when the world is shifting to digital options, secure payment options are a major need. Countries are constantly upgrading their financial systems in order to provide the citizens with secure, easy-to-use, and quick services. To ensure public trust in regulated digital currencies, the authorities are developing projects with improved features. One such invention is "eKrona"- introduced by the Swedish Central Bank as a CBDC, which holds the possibility of becoming the legal tender of Sweden.

It's time to upgrade to a reliable way of transferring funds, and when we say this, we mean adopting the current new-age ways rather than debit or credit card payments.
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BHP chief executive Mike Henry does not expect China to lift its unofficial ban on Australian coal cargoes any time soon, while analysts say the long-running restrictions could persist for at least another two years.

Despite China clearing millions of tonnes of Australian coal stranded at its ports late last year amid crippling energy shortages, Mr Henry on Thursday said BHP was not projecting to resume coal deliveries to China in the near term, but was hopeful Canberra and Beijing will eventually find a path through.

We are not forecasting there is going to be any turnaround in the constraints on coal exports to China in the near term, Mr Henry told an investor briefing on Thursday.

Shipments of Australian coal, the nations second biggest export, have been banned in China since 2020. Credit:Nic Walker

A deterioration of diplomatic ties between Australia and its biggest trading partner in 2020 led to China slapping hefty tariffs on a range of Australian goods including wine and barley while an outright ban on Australian coal left dozens of vessels stranded off the coastline unable to dock.
Rio Tintos global boss Jacob Stausholm has lauded the benefit of WAs pandemic borders and is bullish about navigating heightened political tensions in the years ahead.

WAs relatively strict approach to stopping COVID-19 at its borders was both good and bad for the states miners: operations were unaffected by outbreaks but increasing labour shortages and difficulties flying in specialist personnel were crimping their activities.

Rio chief executive Jakob Stausholm: TBA

When asked if Premier Mark McGowans border policies had been a net positive or negative for the industry overall, Mr Stausholm lauded the exemplary cooperation between the state government and the mining industry.

We are very grateful for the support we have received and over the last two years weve been able to keep producing, he said.
Inspiration for the new Sidney Nolan show at Heide Museum of Modern Art came from the artist himself. A tiny painting from 1942 entitled Woman and Tree (Garden of Eden) was the starting point, metaphorically and physically. It has all the hallmarks of the biblical scene: the woman, the tree, the apple and the snake.

Head curator at Heide Kendrah Morgan says it depicts Sunday Reed and references a lifelong obsession for the acclaimed modernist.

Kendrah Morgan holds Sidney Nolans Woman and Tree, 1942. Credit:Wayne Taylor

He saw Heide as a form of Eden, then of course became very angry about it because it was also the site where he lost his innocence, she says. It illustrates how Heide took shape in Nolans youthful imagination as a mythical arcadia and site of lost innocence that would form the nucleus of his creative activities and romantic interests for almost a decade from 1938. When he finally left, it would haunt him forever.

Called Sidney Nolan: Search for Paradise, the show includes several well-known pieces and masterpieces, including the artists self-portrait from 1943. Originally timed to coincide with the museums 40th anniversary last year but rescheduled for this month, the exhibition traces the artists extraordinary work and its evolution. In the process, it reveals something of his life as it intertwined with Heides founders.
So, who is in it? It has a core cast of 13, including one couple, who are all young (or youngish), good-looking, and seemingly obsessed with a curated image of themselves and the life they live.

What is Byron Baes? Its Netflixs first Australian reality series, about a bunch of influencers  largely, but not exclusively, social media entrepreneurs  in Byron Bay. It was i nspired by an article in Vanity Fair in July 2019 about the surfing mamas of the area, though none of them feature in the show.

Weve had the controversial first press release, the instant community backlash , the alleged breaches of COVID health and safety protocols by its cast of influencers. Now, finally, we have the first glimpse of Byron Baes itself.

Two of them are blow-ins, outsiders who have relocated from the Gold Coast, and at least some of the drama appears to derive from their efforts to fit in. The rest are ostensibly locals, though in a town that is a magnet for people from all over the country  indeed, the world  that is a loose term indeed.

Have I heard of any of these so-called influencers?

If you watch reality TV you may have seen Nathan Favro  seemingly a local but in truth from Sydney via the Gold Coast (he is a part owner of pizza restaurant Toros in Palm Beach)  on The Bachelorette in 2018 and Bachelor in Paradise in 2019. You may have seen model Elias Chigros (aka Elias Black, and originally from Melbourne) on the first season of Love Island Australia in 2018 (he also popped up on The Block the same year, pretending to be a milkman).

Mate, maate: Nathan Favro, left, and Elias Chigros are both repeat reality TV offenders. Credit:Netflix

If you spend a lot of time on Instagram, you may have seen Jade Kevin Foster, who has 1.2 million followers; here he is cast as one of two blow-ins.

The other is Sarah Tangye, a musician of Seselwa heritage (her mother is from the Seychelle Islands) who records as St James. Though she calls the Gold Coast home, she was formerly half of the Melbourne-based duo Elle, and is not to be confused with fellow musician Sarah Saint James, who grew up in a strict Christian family in South Australia and is most assuredly not in this show.
A saliva test for COVID-19 has been developed that is faster than a PCR test and more accurate than a rapid antigen test, researchers say, and which could form a key part of virus monitoring as society moves beyond the pandemic.

Researchers at QIMR Berghofer have previously shown how an infra-red screening technique for blood samples can give a good indication for which patients will develop serious COVID-19 symptoms.

A fast, accurate COVID-19 saliva test could be used to screen large numbers of people at public gatherings. Credit:Paul Jeffers

They have now applied that technique to saliva samples, and shown they can get good indications of whether people have the disease in just a few minutes.

Both PCR tests and RATs use methods which detect viral particles in bodily fluids, with PCRs taking longer but being far more accurate, while RATs are faster but less accurate in some circumstances.
Premier Dominic Perrottet has ruled out imposing a vaccine mandate for members of NSW Parliament amid accusations of a cabal of unvaccinated MPs within the Liberal Party.

While he strongly encouraged all MPs to be vaccinated, Mr Perrottet said he could not confirm whether all government members had received their COVID-19 jabs.

I dont know the personal medical issues and decisions of members in the Liberal Party, he said on Thursday.

Premier Dominic Perrottet arrives for a press conference in Sydney along with Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres. Credit:Brook Mitchell

Liberal member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies confirmed to the Herald on Thursday afternoon she had a valid medical exemption not to receive a COVID vaccination, while senior government MPs believe there is at least one other among their ranks who is unvaccinated.
The Greater Sydney Commission is preparing to allow more of Sydneys industrial land to be opened up for housing and other purposes, after conceding its policy of safeguarding those sites from redevelopment was too strict.

The Commission, an independent government agency, is reviewing the policy it adopted in 2018 to retain and manage most of Sydneys industrial land for factories, freight and other urban services.

That review, now in its final stages, would go some way to winding back a policy that stakeholders had complained wasnt really working, GSC chief executive Elizabeth Mildwater told a conference earlier this week.

More industrial land is likely to be released for alternative uses as the Greater Sydney Commission concedes its current policy lacks nuance. Credit:Anna Kucera

Industrial precincts would be categorised by importance - with state significant areas such as ports given absolute protection from change, and more flexibility allowed in areas of lesser importance. The message that weve heard ... is that the policy could be more nuanced, Ms Wildwater said.
NSW has recorded 7583 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths, as restrictions ease on face masks in shops and offices ahead of rules being relaxed in schools next week.

There are 1144 COVID-19 patients in the states hospitals. There are 64 people in intensive care including 28 on ventilators. This is compared to 1211 patients on Thursday, and 59 in ICU.

Face mask rules eased in NSW on Friday but remain mandatory in some settings. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Of the new cases, 4774 were from positive rapid antigen tests and 2809 from PCR tests.

The deaths were of five men and one woman. Five people were from south-western Sydney and one person was from the states Northern Rivers region. One person was aged in their 50s, one in their 70s and four in their 80s.
In Sydneys Martin Place, two identical-looking tiny houses sit side by side. Each contains a cubic metre block of ice, about the size of a small fridge.

One house is built like a wooden tent, as John Beurle, a member of the non-profit Australian Passive House Association (APHA), describes homes constructed to existing building standards.

The other is tightly sealed and insulated to passive house standards. The APHA says they keep homes in the Goldilocks zone - not too hot, not too cold. In Australia, these buildings are designed to keep the temperature between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius year round.

Caroline Pidcock, a cofounder of Architects Declare, looks into a double glazed and insulated room. It is part of the ice block challenge, testing whether ice melts faster in this house compared to another tiny house next to it built to current building standards. Credit:Nick Moir

Until March 4, the public is invited to watch the ice melt in the houses in Martin Place, monitor progress via the webcams, and make a guess how they will compare.
Queensland has recorded more than 6000 new cases of COVID-19 and eight more deaths on Thursday, but the state is still set to go ahead with restrictions easing further next week.

Of the people who died, four were in aged care, while 6094 new cases were recorded on Thursday, 3466 of which were detected through RAT tests.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Covid figures are trending down, as the state prepares to ease restrictions further. Credit:Matt Dennien

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told Queensland parliament that 334 people were being treated for COVID-19 in public hospitals on Thursday, down from 379 yesterday.

Theres also pleasing news in the number of cases among children, which is also trending down, Ms Palaszczuk said.
In a week when Brisbanes 19th-century convict heritage was excavated beneath Adelaide Street, another part of the citys World War II history at Indooroopilly was being protected.

Historians tell how interpreters sat outside the cells at the Witton Barracks during WWII and quietly smoked cigarettes while they listened to the Japanese prisoners within.

Brisbane councillor James Mackay inside the Witton Barracks, where Japanese prisoners were interrogated. Credit:Tony Moore

Sometimes they learnt valuable war intelligence, sometimes they learnt how prisoners were heartbroken and lonely, so far from home.

Other times, information was not merely overheard but extracted.
Already weve got traffic down in the city, weve got to deal with all these mandates, its difficult. After two years of a pandemic, people in WA have become tired of a virus they have not experienced at a broad scale but which is now starting to take off. But even as community cases went above 600 daily detections on Wednesday, no one is sure just how many deaths or what impact there will be on the states under pressure hospital system. Even the Department of Healths fact sheet on Omicron variant modelling stated its predictions of about 149 deaths in six months and a peak of 10,000 daily cases could be higher than what actually happens.

The state is in a unique position and as such there are few (if no) real-world examples from which we can accurately forecast what will occur, it said. Cases are anticipated to reach 1700 a day by next Wednesday when WAs borders open and the public is waiting to see whether there will be mass hospitalisations or if they can have the confidence to mostly go about life as per normal. While West Australians are a compliant bunch when it comes to following COVID-19 rules  with above 98 per cent first vaccine dose, 95.8 second dose and 59.2 per cent booster shot, and with QR code check-in rates still high  the state government is wary of the publics weariness when it comes to following directions after two years of measures the Premier himself has described as draconian. UWA psychological science deputy clinical director Lisa Saulsman said after two years of constant pressure about COVID  whether it was separation from loved ones, job impacts or otherwise  even in sheltered WA there was a background psychological pressure building up in people.

Weve seen whats been happening overseas and over east and finally bracing for when it hits us and now its here, she said. That constant stress and uncertainty for a two-year period is hard to sustain at that constant high level. Its kind of understandable for some people they have run out of puff with COVID and I think were seeing a bit of that now. Dr Saulsman said for the general public the sentiment could go in two directions; either being burnt out or a desensitisation effect where people become used to the pandemic.

Weve seen how the other states have gone through this and are coming out the other side so we might be a bit more accepting of the situation, she said. I think whatever it is we will go through, people are feeling generally speaking we will cope. From a policy perspective, Curtin University School public health researcher Professor Jaya Dantas said she did not think having overly harsh restrictions was the way the government should approach this stage of the pandemic. I think people want to get on with their lives, she said. All over the world pandemic fatigue has set in and weve seen this in the civil disobedience movement ... where people now are conveying the message that we want to take health in our own hands and they are just tired of the mandates and restrictions.

Thats a strong message that is coming globally, especially in developed countries, this is not something one expected in Canada or New Zealand but it still happened. Loading Professor Dantas said the mask mandate was working well as part of WAs cautious approach but people would get tired of such measures after a while. As neighbouring states drop restrictions and mask mandates the WA government is mindful of the impacts of its rules on the psyche of the public. WA Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson noted in his advice on reducing quarantine times for close contacts from 14 days to seven days that people were more likely to engage with contact tracing efforts when the restriction for doing so truthfully was not as onerous.

For people who may have been exposed and are cases, shorter periods of isolation encourage people to get tested, particularly when they have mild or minimal symptoms, he said. QR codes could also be on the outer, with the system under review. Contact tracing could also soon become a moot point for the metropolitan parts of the state as cases jump and it becomes harder to keep up in identifying the source of new detections. QR code check-ins dropped in other states after COVID-19 peaks passed and many jurisdictions have since reduced their use to high-risk transmission areas like music festivals and hospitals.

One thing Mr McGowan has said is not going away is vaccination mandates. The state government still wants the booster shot rate get closer to 90 per cent, which could still be months away. A table identifying the risk of dying from COVID-19 for different age groups and genders depending on vaccination status, created by University of Queensland professor Colleen Lau. I cant put a date on it [the mandates]. But itll be there for a considerable period of time, Mr McGowan said. Opposition Leader Mia Davies says vaccine mandates should be reconsidered.

Clearly, with a very high vaccination rate here in Western Australia ... it is absolutely the time to look at whether or not all the mandates we have in place are proportionate and reasonable, she said. Loading Especially when you think that the decision around proof of vaccination for bottleshops was dropped on Friday, weve still got venues that are policing proof of vaccination requirements in our hospitality and dining venues. Its adding to the cost of their business. Its causing great concern in the community. Mr McGowan said he recognised people were tired and wanted to move forward but things were about to get bumpy.

I feel the same way. But unfortunately, there is nothing perfect in a pandemic. I wish I could tell you that life is going to get easier after March 3, but I cant. Its going to be bumpy, he said. We cant become dumb to the threat that we face and the impact in terms of loss of life. WA Premier Mark McGowan. Credit:Peter de Kruijff What gives me confidence ... is that despite the fatigue and frustration, whenever we have asked West Australians to do something to protect themselves and the people around them, they have risen to the occasion. Professor Dantas said the government had good reason to be worried about West Australians health as not enough had been done to prepare the system.
The prospect of being sanctioned by the Australian government is unlikely to influence people like Valentina Matviyenko, one of the members of the Russian Security Council who is complicit in the invasion of Ukraine. Nor will it deter others who surround Vladimir Putin when the Russian President repeats his practice of using military force to reclaim parts of an old empire.

Australia has named eight other members of the Russian council it will punish for signing off on the invasion, but Matviyenko has been the target of global penalties since her boss annexed Crimea eight years ago. She is already listed on Australian sanction orders and is a likely target for more. But if the previous ones have had no effect, why should the ones that come next?

An Australian target? Russian President Vladimir Putin with Russian Security Council member Valentina Matviyenko. Credit:AP

That makes her just one example of the limit of personal sanctions in deterring a leadership intent on war. And it raises the urgent question about what else can Australia do.

Matviyenko is so enmeshed in Putins regime that foreign travel bans and financial penalties have lost their power. Like the President, she is a survivor from the Soviet era (and she has the Order of the Red Banner of Labour to prove it). She has known Putin for decades. The fact that she was born in Shepetivka, west of Kyiv, did not stop her supporting Russian land grabs on her homeland.
The queues will be worse than the lines we saw last year. You wont be able to get a property for love or money and I can see sale listings drop down to 3000, which weve never seen before. Mr Thompson expected a gain of at least 10-20 per cent on house prices and possibly even a doubling. Prominent Perth property analyst Gavin Hegney also believed the WA market could handle only around 10,000 buyers. He said he understood there were 22,000 applications pending or approved to come in once WA opened. He said even 20,000 entering at a rate of around 400 per week would cause price and rent rises of roughly 20 per cent across a year.

Above these levels, pressures on the market would dislocate prices upward, causing a boom and bust cycle. Loading Mr Thompson said to compound matters, the building industry was gridlocked because the borders had cut off its labour supply and increased the cost of materials. Youd typically expect releasing land would be a good remedy but building at the moment is a nightmare and youd be lucky to get something built in two to three years, he said. A state government spokeswoman said a campaign was under way to lure construction workers from interstate.

The Build a Life in WA campaign began in November and is being expanded internationally to New Zealand, and to cover hospitality workers. Loading During the pandemic, net interstate migration to WA returned to positive territory (4592) for the first time since 2012-13, meaning for the first time the state gained more residents from the eastern states than it lost to them. Garth Davis, whose company advises on property investment across Australia, said WA needed out-of-the-box ideas to mitigate a catastrophic shortfall in rentals. He said normally new migrants would rent for the first 12-24 months to get a feel for the suburbs and proximity to amenities before buying.

Assuming that 30,000 families try to rent, and there are only 2000 properties to rent, we will have a major rental shortfall catastrophe, he said. Rents are already going at $100 per week above asking price in this market ... rents will be going at $200 to $400 per week above the asking rent ... ridiculously high levels of unaffordability. He said measures the state government could take included incentivising residents with spare bedrooms to offer them as short-term rentals. He also believed any empty property not occupied for at least six months of the year should be charged a substantial vacancy tax so overseas owners would not let properties sit idle. We have a housing crisis already, he said. Which will become a housing catastrophe as the borders reopen.

But this was all wild speculation, according to Steven Rowley, the director of Curtin Universitys Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. Loading Obviously there will be some people coming, but also there will be some people leaving, Professor Rowley said. Nobody talks about the net impact ... nobody can accurately forecast that. It could be a lot less. However, he said there was certainly an existing issue with rental stock and any positive net flow into the state would put further pressure on that.
It was reported Russian forces were approaching Kyiv, with the aim of toppling Zelensky and his government. Describing rocket attacks on Kyiv Friday morning as horrific, Ukraine foreign affairs minister drew comparisons to World War II. Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany, Kuleba tweeted. Ukraine defeated that evil and will defeat this one. Stop Putin. Isolate Russia. Sever all ties. Kick Russia out of everywhere.

Zelensky signed a decree on the general mobilisation of the population, the Interfax Ukraine news agency said. Conscripts and reservists will be called up over the next 90 days to ensure the defence of the state, maintaining combat and mobilisation readiness, an entry on the Ukrainian presidencys website said. A woman walks past the debris in the aftermath of Russian shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine. Credit:AP He earlier called on Ukrainians to defend their country and said arms would be given to anyone prepared to fight. After Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war in a pre-dawn televised address on Thursday, explosions and gunfire were heard throughout the morning in Kyiv, a city of 3 million people. Missiles rained down on Ukrainian targets and authorities reported columns of troops pouring across Ukraines borders from Russia and Belarus to the north and east, and landing on the southern coasts from the Black Sea and Azov Sea.

The assault brought a calamitous end to weeks of fruitless diplomatic efforts by Western leaders to avert war. Russian forces capture Chernobyl nuclear plant An adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, just 90km north of the capital. On Friday afternoon AEDT, the White House said it was outraged at reports Russia may have taken hostages at the facilities.

Just before midnight, Kyiv time, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said government forces had recaptured Hostomel airport in the metropolitan region, as a pitched battle was waged for the strategic location and Russian helicopters were seen in the skies. Protests in Russia - People are in shock Shocked Russians turned out by the thousands in Moscow and St Petersburg, with a smaller protest in Yekaterinburg, to decry their countrys invasion of Ukraine and emotional calls for protests grew on social media. Some 1702 people in 53 Russian cities were detained, at least 940 of them in Moscow. Hundreds of posts condemned Moscows most aggressive actions since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

As sirens blasted in Kyiv and large explosions were heard there and in other cities, Russians were writing no war signs and signing open letters and online petitions demanding the Kremlin halt the assault. Public opinion is in shock, people are in shock, political analyst Abbas Gallyamov said. People take to the streets in St Petersburg, Russia, to protest their countrys actions in Ukraine. Credit:AP One petition, started by prominent human rights advocate Lev Ponomavyov, garnered 289,000 by the end of the day. More than 250 journalists, 250 scientists, and 194 municipal council members in Moscow and other cities signed separate open letters decrying the aggression were signed. Im worried about the people very much, Im worried to tears, said Zoya Vorobey, a resident of Korolyov, a town outside Moscow, her voice cracking.

Several Russian celebrities and public figures, including some working for state TV, spoke out against the attack. Yelena Kovalskaya, director of a state-funded Moscow theatre, announced on Facebook she was quitting her job, saying its impossible to work for a killer and get paid by him. I know that right now many of you feel desperation, helplessness, shame over Vladimir Putins attack on the friendly nation of Ukraine. But I urge you not to despair, human rights activist Marina Litvinovich said in a video statement on Facebook, calling for mass protests. A detained demonstrator shows a No War! sign from a police bus in St. Petersburg, Russia. Credit:AP We, the Russian people, are against the war Putin has unleashed. We dont support this war, it is being waged not on our behalf, Litvinovich said. But the authorities were having none of that. In Moscow and other cities, they moved swiftly to crack down on critical voices. Litvinovich was detained outside her residence shortly after posting the protest call.

Despite the pressure from the authorities, more than 1,000 people gathered in the center of Moscow Thursday evening, chanting No to war! as passing cars honked their horns. Hundreds also took to the streets in St. Petersburg and dozens in Yekaterinburg. Western leaders impose severe sanctions on Russia After a day of fighting, Putin told business people in Moscow he had no choice but to act, while Western leaders condemned the Russian leader and promised sweeping economic sanctions. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a package of severe sanctions against Russia on Thursday, targeting banks, members of President Vladimir Putins closest circle and the extremely wealthy who enjoy high-rolling London lifestyles.

Loading Speaking to Parliament, Johnson said Putin would be condemned by the world and by history for his invasion, never able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands. This hideous and barbarous venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure, he told parliament when announcing the new sanctions. For our part today the UK is announcing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen. Russias Defence Ministry said it had destroyed 83 land-based Ukrainian targets and had achieved all its goals, according to Interfax news agency. Heavy exchanges of fire were also reported in the regions of Sumy and Kharkiv in the northeast and Kherson in the south.

The highway heading west out of Kyiv was choked with traffic across five lanes as residents fled, fearful of bombardments while stuck in their cars. People enter Romania after crossing from Ukraine into Sighetu Marmatiei. Credit:Getty Loading What we have heard today are not just missile blasts, fighting and the rumble of aircraft. This is the sound of a new Iron Curtain, which has come down and is closing Russia off from the civilised world, Zelensky said on Thursday. EU freezes assets

Leaders of the 27-nation bloc lambasted Putin, one by one, as they arrived for an emergency summit in Brussels, with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins describing him as a deluded autocrat creating misery for millions. The EU will freeze Russian assets in the bloc, halting banks access to European financial markets as part of what its foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described as the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented. Leaders said it was a barbaric invasion. It will also target Russias trade, energy and transport, among other sectors, and impose export controls. But a sense of powerlessness to stop a war that Western leaders had seen coming could be felt even before the summit began. We were not successful enough, not decisive enough, to prevent Russia from this step, which is a tragedy for Ukraine, a tragedy for Europe and a tragedy for Russia itself, said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.

There are differences within the EU over how far to go with sanctions, with countries that would face the harshest economic backlash keen to keep the most severe steps in reserve. Loading The details of the sanctions - including whether anything had been agreed on the SWIFT global interbank payments system - were not immediately known. Ukraine and the EUs ex-Soviet Baltic states say Russia should be cut off from the system, but German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, when asked about SWIFT, said: We need to keep sanctions ready for later times. US President Joe Biden also said the United States would not restrict access to SWIFT for now.

An EU diplomat said Italy, Germany and Cyprus had been among those that preferred a step-by-step approach, while Central European and Baltic states - those closest to Russia - wanted a harder stance. We support the most serious package of sanctions against Russia, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said, wearing a tie with the Ukrainian flags yellow and blue colours. Russia needs to feel that the price of aggression is significant. Ukrainian servicemen sit atop armored personnel carriers driving on a road in the Donetsk region. Credit:AP Russias invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea threatens to disrupt exports of commodities such as grains and oilseeds from both countries, while the prospect of toughened sanctions against Russia could disrupt energy and metals supplies. Oil prices broke above $US100 a barrel on for the first time since 2014 and stock markets slumped globally on Thursday while Russias rouble hit a record low as the US dollar rallied after the invasion.

MSCIs gauge of stocks across the globe was last down 2.1 per cent after touching its lowest level since March 2021. Europes stock markets tumbled with the STOXX 600 index falling more than 4 per cent, to its lowest since May 2021. It finished down more than 3 per cent. Loading Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Ukraines government pleaded for help as it said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a full-scale war that could rewrite the geopolitical order. Putin ignored global condemnation and cascading new sanctions as he unleashed Moscows most aggressive action since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and chillingly referred to his countrys nuclear arsenal. He threatened any foreign country trying to interfere with consequences you have never seen.

A path of evil Ukrainian officials said their forces were battling Russians on a series of fronts. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom, Zelensky tweeted on Thursday. Later, he offered Russia an end to the hostilities.
The nuclear power station accident, disclosed yesterday, is the most serious in the history of nuclear power generation, British experts believe. The full extent of the accident is still unknown. Soviet authorities reverted to silence today after the surprise admission that a reactor at Chernobyl, in the Ukraine; was damaged, causing casualties. A view of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station taken on May 9, 1986. Credit:TASS But a Swedish official said after receiving the Soviet request for advice that it was clear the reactors core had melted in part or even completely. The West German centre said it appeared from information given by the Soviet diplomat that a reactor had melted down and the blaze was out of control.

The Soviet Union at first denied that there had been trouble, but the news agency, Tass, later reported the accident after radiation levels six times higher than normal were reported over Scandinavia and 600 workers were evacuated from a Swedish power station. The leakage has drifted more than 1600 kilometres over Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway, but experts say the only danger to health would be in the immediate area of the accident. Scandinavian readings today showed a decline in radioactivity. The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna said it had been notified of the accident but given no details. It said it had no power to police reactors but could offer help in an emergency. Even from the scanty evidence available it is believed that the accident, involving a 1000 megawatt reactor, is of major proportions. The BBC news service said it was almost certainly the worst in history. Mr Jim Harding, former adviser to the chairman of the Californian Energy Commission, said the leak made the Three Mile Island affair look like a tea party. An aerial view of the Chernobyl nuclear power reactor shows damage from the explosion and fire. Credit:Tass

The US presidential Chief of Staff, Mr Donald Regan, on tour with Mr Reagan, is reported to have offered American help. Ringhals nuclear power plant, Sweden, measured 100 times the normal amount of caesium 137, and high iodine counts were made in central Sweden. Radiation levels in some areas of Finland were reported to be 10 times higher than normal. A British expert described the caesium level as alarming. Caesium has a half-life of more than 30 years and its presence would indicate high contamination in the area of the accident. Mr Peter Taylor, of the political ecology research group, said the release of caesium 137 would cause long-term, serious health damage. There is speculation that a large-scale evacuation is being carried out from Chernobyl. Bus services in Kiev are reported to have been disrupted because buses have been commandeered for the emergency in Chernobyl, 130 kilometres north. The BBC says the first reports of high radiation over Scandinavia came early on Sunday afternoon, indicating that the accident probably happened on Saturday morning.

Loading A spokesman at the Danish nuclear laboratory at Riso said: It is difficult to say exactly what happened. We are looking at something very close to a meltdown. A Swedish nuclear inspector said the accident appeared to have been caused by the overheating of nuclear fuel. A considerable explosion would have been the result and could have led to a meltdown of the nuclear core of the reactor. Sweden first learned of the high radiation level when a worker at the Formark nuclear plant, about 90 kilometres north of Stockholm, set off an alarm while passing through a routine radiation check. Six hundred workers were evacuated, but tests showed there had been no leak from the plant. Sweden asked Moscow for an extensive report, but the Soviet atomic energy authorities at first told the Swedish embassy in Moscow they were unaware of any nuclear accident that could cause a leak to reach Sweden.

The Swedish Energy Minister, Mrs Birgitta Dahl, said last night that Sweden was not satisfied with Soviet behavior. They should have notified us immediately, she said. We must demand higher safety standards in the Soviet Union. Mrs Dahl urged that all Soviet reactors be placed under international control, although adding that there was no danger to people in Sweden from the present leak. An Energy Ministry spokesman said that the rate of a few millirems an hour was not high enough to warrant the evacuation of Forsmark. A millirem has the same biological effect as one thousandth of a standard unit of X-ray. The British Radiological Protection Board said Britain would not be affected. The Tass report of the accident said: Measures are being taken to eliminate the consequences of the accident. Aid is being given to those affected. A government inquiry had been set up, it added. The report was mentioned on Soviet television last night but did not appear in newspapers this morning. It referred to similar accidents in other countries, claiming it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union.
Loading This is that red line that I talked about multiple times, Putin said. They have crossed it. His mission was to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kyiv regime, repeating the frequently aired false claim that Ukraine has been committing war crimes against native Russian speakers. He issued a chilling warning that made explicit this was no peace-keeping mission and never was. Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russias response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history, Putin said. We are ready for any turn of events.

Soon enough, loud explosions could be heard across the multiple cities in the region, including the capital of Kyiv. After weeks of US warnings about an imminent strike, a full-scale invasion had finally begun. The Pentagons constant briefings, based on the latest intelligence, had been downplayed by some European officials who thought Putin would never do it. But the US has been proved right. If there were any doubt about Putins determination to rebuild his Russian empire, tonights bizarre and chilling sequence of events has laid them to rest. Here was Guterres - who days ago said in Munich that he didnt think a military conflict would break out - suddenly making a last-minute plea for Putin to desist in the name of humanity.

Loading And here was Putin, as defiant as ever - even in the face of global condemnation and the threat of widespread economic sanctions by the US and its NATO allies. The Security Council meeting on Ukraine was its most dramatic yet: in real time, history in the making. As the worlds most senior diplomats took to the lectern to argue for peace, news filtered through on the phones of ambassadors, interpreters and officials. War had already begun. The turning point underscored the desperation of the West in the last 76 hours as it tried to avert the inevitable.

While fears of an invasion had been simmering for weeks, concerns intensified on Monday after Russian troops moved into Ukraines breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk. By Tuesday, the US and its allies had moved to punish Putin with a series of initial sanctions, such as blocking trade on key Russian banks and halting Nord Stream 2 - a gas pipeline that would increase Europes reliance on Russian energy. And by Wednesday, the UN had convened that emergency meeting. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared on NBC, dropping his usual cautious wording to affirm that yes, a full-blown invasion could take place before the night was over. He was right. After the first explosions were heard in Ukraine, US president Joe Biden put out a statement condemning Russias unprovoked and unjustified attack and vowed to hold Putin accountable.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia has to take a tough stance against Russias aggression in Ukraine to deter countries like China from making similar military incursions into other sovereign nations.

On Thursday morning Australias Governor-General David Hurley signed off on amended sanctions regulations, which give the government the ability to sanction individuals who are supporting Russias actions in Ukraine.

Mr Morrison said there must be a price for Russias unprovoked attack on Ukraines sovereignty. Credit:Nick Moir

The reason were doing this is there must be a price for the unprovoked, unlawful, unwarranted, unjustified attacks and threats and intimidation that has been imposed by Russia on Ukraine, Mr Morrison said.

Australia reserved the right to take further action, the Prime Minister said, adding Australia would always have a principled and consistent response to any countries who threatened the sovereignty of others.
It failed to prevent a war, but almost everything the US said Russia would do in Ukraine has come to pass.

The intelligence that President Joe Biden made public in a highly unusual step gave the world a preview of Vladimir Putins true intentions, robbing him of the element of surprise. It also gave the US time to rally support from its allies on sanctions that in normal circumstances would have taken months to hash out.

Smoke rises in Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city, following Russians invasion. Credit:@Osinttechnical - Twitter

Last November, the US privately warned allies in Europe that Putin had plans to invade Ukraine. Officials shared maps and intelligence outlining how Russia was planning to double troop numbers around Ukraine. They spelled out where Putin would place artillery, and ground, air and naval forces to strike its neighbour. They previewed how a series of cyberattacks and a drumbeat of disinformation would set the stage for an attack.

It was a real-time chronicle of an invasion foretold even though right until the end no one knew whether Putin would really do it. In the early hours of Thursday morning, Russia entered Ukraine from the north, south and east, targeting multiple cities -- just as the US and the UK warned it would.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The tax revenues of Sint Maarten are lagging behind the economic growth. For 2022, despite real economic growth of 12 percent, a considerable budget deficit is expected by the country. The Cft urges the country to limit expenditures and increase tax revenues by taking compliance-enhancing measures. For example, the introduction of a casino tax and ending the exemption from sales tax on goods upon import would be good steps in this regard.

The economy is recovering significantly. The economy of Sint Maarten expanded by 4 percent in 2021 and the IMF expects a growth of 12 percent for this year. On the one hand, this is the result of the recovery of tourism and on the other hand because of the acceleration of repair work, such as the reconstruction of the airport. Private investment is also expected to accelerate significantly in 2022. Sint Maarten should use this economic recovery to put the public finances in order.

2022 budget and following years

On February 4th, Sint Maarten received approval from the Kingdom Council of Ministers to be allowed to deviate from the central budget standards for the 2022 budget year. The adopted budget for 2022 shows a deficit of ANG 124 million on the exploitation budget. Sint Maarten can achieve a lower deficit by limiting expenditure now and by increasing tax revenues. Regarding expenditures, Cft mainly insists on a reduction in the charges for goods and services. Cft emphasizes that it is of great importance that a balanced budget is achieved on the exploitation budget in 2023 and surpluses in the following years so that a start can be made on paying off the national debt. Sint Maarten, for example, is obliged to repay a loan of ANG 73.5 million in 2025, which still arises from the debt restructuring in 2010. Furthermore, it is important that Sint Maarten provides a satisfactory explanation of the intended investments in the 2022 budget and for later years. In consultation with the Netherlands, it will then have to be explored whether Sint Maarten is able to take out loans for capital investments in anticipation of a balanced exploitation budget in 2023.

Increase tax revenues

Also from an international perspective, the (tax) revenues on Sint Maarten are on the low side at approximately 20 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This is troublesome as Sint Maarten does not generate sufficient income to cover the annual costs and generate surpluses. It is therefore important that in short-term Sint Maarten implements the recommendations from the March 2021 IMF report on tax reforms. The Cft advises, amongst others, to implement the recommendations on casino tax, an increase of excise duties, and the introduction of an import tax on goods. Currently, private individuals on Sint Maarten are exempt from tax when importing goods. This is an undesirable situation because people turn to online purchases, as a result of which Sint Maarten misses out on tax revenue.

Wage subsidy scheme audit

Sint Maarten is lagging behind in determining the final amount of the wage subsidy provided during the years 2020 and 2021. In the meetings, the Cft emphasized repeatedly that a final determination has to take place as soon as possible and that wage subsidy received in excess has to be repaid. In 2020 Sint Maarten paid out ANG 72 million in wage subsidies to companies. Sint Maarten expects to pay out approximately ANG 31 million in wage cost subsidies in 2021. Cft has requested the Minister of Finance to complete the audit on the wage cost subsidy programs for 2020 and 2021 on April 1st and May 1st, 2022, respectively.

Health care funds

The financial situation of the healthcare funds on Sint Maarten is unsustainable. In short-term Sint Maarten must raise the wage limit for the Health Insurance Fund/Accident Fund to ANG 120,000. The contribution for employees in the public sector will also have to be brought more in line with the private sector and political authorities will have to start contributing to health insurance. The Cft once again emphasizes the importance of substitution of specific medicine by generic ones. Herewith, Sint Maarten can save an amount of at least ANG 6 million annually.

Financial management

As is well known, Sint Maarten's financial management has been falling short for many years. Cft is positive about the attention given to financial management in the Country Package and emphasizes the importance of improving financial management in collaboration with COHO that is being established. It is imperative that the discussion with the Netherlands about making support available for this program is concluded as soon as possible so that Sint Maarten can intensify the efforts on this essential project. The Cft also insists that the agreements made on the adoption of the annual accounts are strictly observed.

On February 22nd and 23rd, the members of Cft Curacao and Sint Maarten spoke virtually with the Governor, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Health, Social Affairs and Labor, and the Finance Committee of Sint Maartens Parliament. The Cft also spoke with the Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) and the board of Social Health Insurance (SZV).

On February 21st Cft Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba spoke virtually with the deputy government commissioner and the head of Finance of Sint Eustatius.

Recently, two new members have joined the Boards, namely Mrs. Julisa Frans as a member upon the proposal of Sint Maarten for the Cft Curacao and Sint Maarten and Mr. Hans Hoogervorst as a member upon the recommendation of the Netherlands for the Board of Aruba financial supervision, Cft Curacao and Sint Maarten and Cft BES.
SABA:--- The highest point of phase 2 of the Under the Hill social housing project was reached on Wednesday, February 23.

Phase 2 consists of three buildings with 18 units of 1, 2, and 3-bedrooms. The Public Entity Saba assisted with the transfer of 18,000m2 of government-owned land to the Own Your Own Home Foundation (OYOHF).

Funding for this project came from the European Union (EU), the Dutch Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK and Bazalt Wonen, a housing corporation from the Netherlands, formerly Woonlinie. The main contractor for this project is Van Boekel along with various subcontractors.

The groundbreaking for this project took place in early December 2018. The project has been challenging due to difficulties in the excavation of the very steep hillside and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project will be completed by the end of this year. Once the units are ready, this will help to alleviate the burden for people in dire need of housing. OYOHF will manage the houses and rent them to the tenants. Phase 1 of the Under the Hill project consisted of 20 units.

As Commissioner of Housing Affairs, I am extremely happy today to see the progress that has been made in the Phase 2 housing complex. The highest point and the rafters are now in place. I do hope that the work will continue to move along smoothly as was scheduled. Hopefully by the end of the year all the buildings will be completed. Congratulations to the company and the group of men who have and continue to work hard on this project, said Commissioner Rolando Wilson.

The milestone of reaching the highest point was celebrated by pouring sparkling wine onto the rafters. Present at this occasion were Commissioner Wilson, Head of the Planning Bureau Bobby Zagers, Project Manager at the Planning Bureau Evita Pronk, Director of the Own Your Own Home Foundation Eviton Heyliger Project Coordinator of Van Boekel Zoubeir El Atmani and Rijkstrainee Hester van Haalen.
Somerset, KY (42501)

Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 68F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Mobile Launcher on a Roll

(Image credit: Ben Smegelsky/NASA)

Friday, June 28, 2019: NASA's mobile launcher arrives at NASA's Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final tests in preparation for its launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket and Orion spacecraft. The mobile launcher will be used for the launch of Artemis 1, the first planned mission of NASA's new moon exploration program. It arrived at the pad on June 27 and will remain there for the rest of the summer as NASA gears up for the historic uncrewed test flight around the moon.  Hanneke Weitering



Strawberry Moon Seen from Space

(Image credit: NASA)

Thursday, June 27, 2019: The full moon of June, also known as the Strawberry Moon, looms above Earth's horizon in this photo taken by an astronaut at the International Space Station. The image was captured on June 17 as the space station was orbiting 254 miles (409 kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean northeast of Guam.  Hanneke Weitering



Liftoff of the Falcon Heavy

(Image credit: SpaceX)

Wednesday, June 26, 2019: SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket fires its engines for a spectacular nighttime liftoff from NASA's historic launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission, which launched early Monday morning, carried payloads for the U.S. Air Force's Space Test Program, NASA, NOAA and the Planetary Society.  Hanneke Weitering



Astronauts Return to Earth

(Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA)

Tuesday, June 25, 2019: A Soyuz crew capsule carrying three crewmembers home from the International Space Station parachuted down to Earth under the first-quarter moon on Monday night (June 24). NASA astronaut Anne McClain, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques touched down southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan on the steppe of Kazakhstan at 10:47 p.m. EDT (0247 GMT or 8:47 a.m. local time on June 25).  Hanneke Weitering



'Galaxies With a Chance of Asteroids'

(Image credit: NASA/ESA/STScI/B. Sunnquist/J. Mack)

Monday, June 24, 2019: Several asteroids "photobombed" this Hubble Space Telescope image of galaxies in deep space. The composite shows the curved trails of 20 different asteroids, some of which were undiscovered until they appeared in Hubble's field of view. This picture, which was first originally in 2017, shows the parallel field for the galaxy cluster Abell 370. It is being revisited as part of the European Space Agency's new "Hubble Asteroid Hunter" citizen science project.  Hanneke Weitering



Hubble's 'Hidden Treasure'

Friday, June 21, 2019: Countless stars fill the cosmic void around the irregular galaxy IC 10 in this deep-space image from the Hubble Space Telescope. Located 2.2 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Cassiopeia, IC 10 is the closest known starburst galaxy, or a galaxy that is undergoing rampant formation of new stars. It is a member of the Local Group, a collection of more than 50 galaxies that includes the Milky Way. This image won 10th place in the Hubble Hidden Treasures competition, which called on the public to help sift through Hubble's enormous collection of images to find the most beautiful ones that did not receive the fanfare they deserved.  Hanneke Weitering



'The Boot' Spotted from Space

(Image credit: NASA)

Thursday, June 20, 2019: A new photo of Earth from space offers a clear view of southern Italy, a peninsula commonly referred to as "the boot," and the island of Sicily. The northern part of the country is obstructed by a blanket of clouds that stretches as far as the eye can see. An astronaut at the International Space Station captured this view of Italy as it was passing over the Mediterranean Sea on June 9. At the time, the space station was orbiting at an altitude of 255 miles (410 kilometers), which is more than high enough to be able to see the curvature of the Earth.  Hanneke Weitering



Triple Cubesat Sendoff

(Image credit: NASA)

Wednesday, June 19, 2019: Outside the International Space Station, the Japanese Small Satellite Orbital Deployer ejects three small cubesats into low Earth orbit for the BIRDS-3 mission, which is part of a program to help countries build their first satellites. This batch of cubesats includes Nepal's first satellite, NepaliSat-1, and Sri Lanka's first satellite, Raavana-1. The third is a Japanese cubesat called Uguisu. All three arrived at the space station in April on board a Cygnus cargo spacecraft, and the Expedition 59 crew released them into space on Monday (June 17).  Hanneke Weitering





Happy Anniversary, LRO!

(Image credit: Tom Farrar, Kevin O'Connell/NASA)

Tuesday, June 18, 2019: Ten years ago today, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) soared into space atop an Atlas 5 rocket, together with the agency's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS). The rocket with the two spacecraft lifted off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on June 18, 2009, at 5:32 p.m. EDT (2132 GMT). LCROSS intentionally crashed into the moon a few months later, but LRO is still going strong today.  Hanneke Weitering



Milky Way Sparkles Over ALMA

Monday, June 17, 2019: The arc of the Milky Way galaxy stretches over the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in northern Chile in this panoramic shot by European Southern Observatory photo ambassador Petr Horalek. Also visible in the night sky here are the Crux constellation (also known as the Southern Cross), located above and to the right of the nearest antenna, and the Carina Nebula, a reddish-pink emission nebula to the right of the Southern Cross.  Hanneke Weitering



A Falcon in the Clouds

(Image credit: SpaceX)

Friday, June 14, 2019: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket pierces through a layer of clouds after lifting off in the thick morning fog at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Wednesday (June 12). The rocket successfully delivered three Earth-observing satellites into Earth orbit for the Canadian Space Agency before returning to Earth to stick a landing.  Hanneke Weitering



Cloudy Sunset Seen from Orbit

(Image credit: NASA)

Thursday, June 13, 2019: A sheet of clouds blankets the sky over the Pacific Ocean as light from the setting sun reflects off the surface of the water in this view from the International Space Station. An Expedition 59 astronaut captured this photo on Tuesday (June 11) when the space station was flying into the sunset about 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) off the coast of San Francisco.  Hanneke Weitering



Satellite Flare Over VLT

(Image credit: R. Wesson/ESO)

Wednesday, June 12, 2019: A satellite flare lights up the sky over the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) array on Paranal mountain in Chile in this sparkling image by ESO photo ambassador Roger Wesson. The four main unit telescopes that make up VLT are pictured here. Not pictured are the array's four smaller auxiliary telescopes.  Hanneke Weitering



A Jovian Abyss

(Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstadt/Sean Doran)

Tuesday, June 11, 2019: NASA's Juno spacecraft spotted this dark, eerie hole at the center of a cloud vortex in Jupiter's atmosphere. The dark spot, located in a Jovian jet stream, is surrounded by bright high-altitude clouds that appear brighter as they swirl in the sunlight. Juno captured this image on May 29 when the spacecraft was about 9,200 miles (14,800 kilometers) above Jupiter's cloud tops.  Hanneke Weitering



Southern Lights Seen from Space

Monday, June 10, 2019: Lime-green auroras shimmy over the South Pole in this view from the International Space Station. "Years ago at the South Pole, I looked up to the aurora for inspiration through the 6-month winter night," NASA astronaut Christina Koch tweeted from space. "Now I know theyre just as awe inspiring from above."

In the foreground of the image, two Russian spacecraft are docked to the orbiting lab: the Soyuz MS-12 crew spacecraft and the Progress 72 cargo vessel.  Hanneke Weitering



New Crater Spotted on Mars

(Image credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Friday, June 7, 2019: A fresh crater on the surface of Mars shows darker shades of Martian soil that became exposed after an impact kicked up the loose dirt on top. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this color-enhanced image of the crater using its High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on April 17. Scientists believe the crater formed sometime between September 2016 and February 2019.  Hanneke Weitering



Saturn Gets Psychedelic

Thursday, June 6, 2019: Saturn's strange north polar vortex looks like a psychedelic cyclone in this view from NASA's Cassini orbiter. Citizen scientist Kevin Gill processed this image using data Cassini collected during a close flyby of Saturn on Nov. 27, 2012. Cassini's 20-year mission came to an end in 2017 when the aging spacecraft plunged into the planet's atmosphere.  Hanneke Weitering



Messier 59

(Image credit: ESA/NASA/Hubble)

Wednesday, June 5, 2019: This brilliant and diffuse object glowing in deep space is the elliptical galaxy NGC 4621, also known as Messier 59. Located about 50 million light-years from Earth, it is one of the nearly 2,000 galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. The Hubble Space Telescope captured this new view of the galaxy using its Advanced Camera for Surveys.  Hanneke Weitering



'Giant Snowmen'

(Image credit: David Saint-Jacques/CSA/NASA)

Tuesday, June 4, 2019: A snowman-like figure protruding from the top of a layer of clouds makes Earth's atmosphere look like a weird winter wonderland in this photo from the International Space Station. "Like giant snowmen," Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques wrote when he tweeted the photo from space on Saturday (June 1).  Hanneke Weitering



Colors of the Cosmos

Monday, June 3, 2019: A colorful night sky sparkles over the La Silla Observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert in this cosmic shot by European Southern Observatory photo ambassador Petr Horalek. As bright-green airglow looms near the horizon, red emission nebulas decorate the Orion constellation overhead. One of them is Barnard's Loop, which forms an arc around the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.  Hanneke Weitering


Sky and Peacock today announce LOCKERBIE, a new mini-series that will be based on the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 and the search for justice by Dr Jim Swire and his wife Jane who lost their beloved daughter, Flora, in the air disaster in 1988.The five-part series will be written by Academy Award nominees Jim Sheridan (In The Name of The Father, My Left Foot) and Kirsten Sheridan (In America, Dollhouse).All 259 passengers and crew were killed when the bomb exploded over Lockerbie 38 minutes after take-off, with a further 11 residents losing their life as the plane came down over the quiet, Scottish town. Thirteen years later, in 2001, Libyan national Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was convicted of the crime and later released on compassionate grounds in 2009.Shortly after the Lockerbie bombing, one of the worst terrorist attacks in history, some families of the victims joined together to launch a campaign for truth and justice. Among them was Dr Jim Swire whose campaign has taken him to the sand dunes of Libya to meet face-to-face with Colonel Gaddafi, to 10 Downing Street to meet with successive Prime Ministers and to the corridors of power in the US where he worked with the American victims groups to mount pressure on Washington for tighter airport security, well before 9/11.The moving series will explore events from 1988 to the present day, while providing an intimate account of a man, a husband, and a father who pushes his marriage, his health, and his sanity to the edge.Jim and Kirsten Sheridan, said: The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 was one of the worlds deadliest terror attacks that continues to have widespread implications for the meaning of justice in the US, Scotland and Libya. Over 30 years on, this series takes an intimate and very personal look at the aftermath of the disaster, and we are grateful to all of those, particularly Jim and Jane, who have entrusted us to tell their story, and the story of their loved ones, on screen.The series, which is due to begin production later this year, is a co-production between UCP and Sky Studios, produced with Universal International Studios Carnival Films for Sky and Peacock. Both Universal International Studios and UCP are divisions of Universal Studio Group. It is the first scripted co-commission from Sky and sister company Peacock, NBCUniversals streaming service.The series is written by Jim and Kirsten Sheridan, with Naomi Sheridan guest writing an episode. Nigel Marchant and Gareth Neame are Executive Producers for Carnival, with Samantha Hoyle as Executive Producer for Sky Studios. Oskar Slingerland also serves as Executive Producer. The series was commissioned by Gabriel Silver, Director of Commissioning for Drama at Sky Studios for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content at Sky UK. It will be produced with support from Screen Scotlands Screen Commission.The series is expected to air in 2023 on Sky in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Italy. It will stream on Peacock in the US. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will be handling international sales.The drama is based on the book The Lockerbie Bombing: A Fathers Search for Justice by Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph, along with multiple other sources.
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STAMFORD  For weeks, teachers and students at the districts smallest high school have advocated for preserving the schools current block schedule, and on Wednesday, they took that message to Government Center.

More than 50 teachers and students from the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering held signs in favor of the schools current block schedule, known as the A/B model, which has been in use at the school for about 20 years.

Protesters joined in chants against the school districts preferred schedule, which central office administrators have dubbed the hybrid four-by-four.

They yelled, in unison, No four-by-four, no hybrid and AITE, all we want is A/B.

The protest was not billed as being exclusively about AITE, but that was the most represented school. There appeared to be little participation from teachers or students from the two biggest high schools  Stamford High School and Westhill High School  whose schedules also would change to the hybrid four-by-four under the districts plan.

Teachers at Westhill, however, have done their own internal polling, that found that almost all the educators at that school are against the districts hybrid model and would prefer to implement AITEs schedule.

Students at AITE take up to eight classes per school year, rotating between four 90-minute classes one day and the other four classes the following day.

But Stamford central office administrators want to modify that schedule next school year for all three high schools, only allowing for certain classes such as Advanced Placement and performing arts to remain in the A/B model. The rest of the classes would operate under a four-by-four schedule, meaning each class would only last for one semester  either in the fall or the spring  and would meet every day.

Stamford and Westhill highs currently run a seven-period schedule, where the same seven classes are held every day of the school year and last 48 minutes each.

Ten students at AITE recently put together a virtual panel in which they detailed the reasons they prefer to keep their current schedule.

Senior Aishwarya Sivasubramanian led the effort to set up the panel and was at Government Center protesting on Wednesday.

After the event, Sivasubramanian sent officials an email that included a link to a video of the discussion. She said district officials in response have said they would like to schedule a meeting, which has yet to happen.

At some point, it just feels like they dont want to hear us, Sivasubramanian said. Were all standing here loud and clear right in front of the Government Center.

She added, We know what we want and we want A/B, so thats what were going to keep fighting for.

Lucas Devault, a sophomore at AITE and one of the speakers during the online panel, said students are overwhelmingly opposed to changing the schools current structure and want district officials to know.

At this point, all we need to do is basically keep putting pressure on them because right now a lot of students feel as I do that were not getting listened to, he said.

The students on the panel conducted their own survey, which found that at least 540 of the 618 students at AITE would prefer to preserve the A/B model and reject the hybrid four-by-four.

Devault said the timing of the schedule change will only make things harder on students.

Youre going to enact this change super quickly on all the students and a lot of students arent ready for this, especially coming out of ... a pandemic, he said.

Students and teachers at the protest said AITEs model should not be modified, since the school is often praised for being one of the best educational facilities in the area. AITE has long been considered one of the best magnet schools in the state, according to Niche Rankings, which regularly places the school among the top institutions.

Why change something thats working so well? asked Ray Milo, a business teacher at the school.

All of the students on the online panel touted the A/B schedule for giving them a break from any one class, since they meet every other day. They said that approach allows them time to process the material and focus more on the subject matter once they come back to the class.

Reaction to the schedule has been overwhelmingly unfavorable among Stamfords high school educators. Stamford students and parents have been similarly opposed to the concept.

In an email to AITE families sent last week after the panel, Principal Tina Rivera defended the districts proposed hybrid block schedule.

I have always believed that a block schedule is best for students and I do believe having the high schools on similar schedules makes sense for many reasons, she wrote.

While AITE students perform well on tests and graduate at high rates, Rivera was hesitant to attribute that to the sequencing of classes.

To make the claim there is a correlation between success on these metrics and a particular schedule, however, is completely erroneous, she wrote, before listing schools with different schedules that also have high test scores.

Dagny Forrester, who teaches digital art at AITE and was at the Wednesday protest, claimed the school district is forcing the new hyrbid schedule without listening to concerns from the community.

It seems like they really are trying to get us to go away, she said.

ignacio.laguarda

@stamfordadvocate.com
China on Thursday denied backing Russia's military assault in Ukraine as it trod a cautious line in response to a conflict that many Chinese analysts just days before were predicting wouldn't happen.

At a regular briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying played down the suggestion that Beijing was supporting Moscow behind the scenes.

"As for American hints that Russia had China backing it up for this operation, I'm sure Russia would not be pleased to hear it," Hua said. "We won't be like America and provide Ukraine a large amount of military equipment. Russia as a powerful nation also does not need China or other countries to provide [military assistance]."

Hua added that "China did not wish to see what happened in Ukraine today."

In her remarks, Hua called out NATO for owing China a "debt of blood" over the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia by U.S. warplanes in 1999. Bringing up that incident was probably an effort to drum up anti-U.S. sentiment against the backdrop of the Russian attacks on Ukraine.

The incident remains a sore spot for many in China who are suspicious of the official NATO explanation that it was an accident caused by outdated maps. On Thursday evening, that comment was the top trending hashtag with 460 million views on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo.

The Russian attacks are the greatest test yet for an emerging Moscow-Beijing partnership, which has recently shown signs of evolving from what many considered a "marriage of convenience" to something resembling a formal alliance.

In recent weeks, China has voiced support for Russia's "legitimate security concerns" but has balanced that with calls for restraint and negotiations, echoing the approach China took during the 2014 invasion of Crimea. Beijing appeared to be repeating that tightrope walk on Thursday, as it called for calm while news of the attacks sent regional markets plunging.

On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for a return to dialogue in a call with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. China both respects every country's territorial integrity and understands the Kremlin's "reasonable security concerns."

Despite the outward show of mutual support between the two countries, there have been indications that China was caught flat-footed by Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of military action.

Minutes after the declaration, China's representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, told a Security Council meeting: "We believe that the door to a peaceful solution to the Ukraine situation is not fully shut, nor should it be."

Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, noted Tuesday that the Chinese policy community appeared to be in "shock" at the sudden escalation of fighting after having "subscribed to the theory that Putin was only posturing and that U.S. intelligence was inaccurate as in the case of invading Iraq."

For instance, in an interview on Tuesday, Ma Bin, a Russia expert at Fudan University in Shanghai, told the Chinese publication Yicai that the ball was in Ukraine's court and "there would not be a war" because Russia still preferred a diplomatic resolution.

That same day, when China warned its nationals in Ukraine about a worsening situation, it did not tell them to leave the country. On Thursday, with explosions going off nearby, many of the 6,000 Chinese passport holders in the country took to Weibo to call for help.

"When can China evacuate?" asked a user with the handle LumpyCut. "We are in Kyiv near the airport. I just heard three enormous bombings and can estimate the size of the mushroom clouds by sight."

The Chinese Embassy responded to the outcry with a statement urging everyone to stay put and not to panic as well as suggesting that anyone traveling long distances by car place a Chinese flag in an obvious place on the vehicle's body. It did not mention evacuation plans.

In recent weeks, Chinese experts have argued that de-escalation was possible even as they adopted Russia's view of the conflict. Wang Yiwei, director of the Center for European Studies at Renmin University, wrote in late January that only the actions of Ukraine or the United States could bring about a war, but because the former lacked "gall" and the latter lacked strength for a direct conflict with Russia, tensions could be dispelled.

In an interview on Thursday, Wang defended his prediction as being primarily about the possibility of a direct conflict between the United States and Russia, not fighting in eastern Ukraine.

While he said China always supports the principle of protecting national sovereignty, "there are some countries that are being used by external forces as a tool to harm the territorial integrity of other nations." He added, "Lots of people in China say that Ukraine did not manage the balance between powers and that passive approach led to Russia taking this extreme measure."

In the run-up to Putin's announcement, China continued to blame the United States and NATO for being instigators of the conflict, brushing aside warnings from the White House about the Kremlin's intention to invade.

"A key question here is what role the U.S., the culprit of current tensions surrounding Ukraine, has played," Hua, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said Wednesday. "If someone keeps pouring oil on the flame while accusing others of not doing their best to put out the fire, such kind of behavior is clearly irresponsible and immoral."

Hua also rejected suggestions that China might adhere to U.S.-led sanctions against Russia, pointing to China's long-held stance against the use of sanctions adopted outside of U.N. deliberations.

But China's support for Russia has also stopped short of direct approval for military action. Over the weekend, Wang, the Chinese foreign minister, reiterated that all countries' sovereignty must be respected, adding that "Ukraine is not an exception."

Such hesitation comes, however, during a time of growing strategic alignment between Moscow and Beijing, built primarily on shared disdain for the United States and the Western-led world order.

Hawkish commentators in China were quick to explain Putin's attack on Thursday as the result of provocation from the United States. "That the situation came to today's step is due to spiraling escalation," Fu Qianshao, a military commentator, told the nationalist Shanghai Observer. "Russia had already said many times that it would withdraw troops, but America always promoted an atmosphere of conflict."

- - -

The Washington Post's Lyric Li in Seoul, and Pei Lin Wu and Vic Chiang in Taipei contributed reporting.
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PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y.  With no conclusive findings into the cause or manner of death, nor any leads to follow, police say the investigation into the death of Danbury woman LaelCira DeLima remains closed.

Putnam County Sheriff Kevin McConville said the medical examiners report his department received last week showed no determined cause of death for the 53-year-old, whose remains were found two years ago in a wooded area behind the Putnam Diner in Patterson, N.Y.

Our bureau of criminal investigations commanding officer went through the report (which) makes no determination as to cause and provides no findings and no forensic evidence, he told the News-Times.

Having consulted with Danbury police and determining there to be no more leads, McConville said the Putnam County Sheriffs Department has concluded that no further investigatory information or leads remain in order to pursue this case.

No arrests nor official determinations have been made about what happened to DeLima, who went missing more than four years ago.

DeLima was last seen Oct. 20, 2017, when she left her Danbury home and told her children to lock the door behind her, Danbury police said at the time. The 53-year-old had said she was going to the Walmart in Danbury, but never returned home.

A month later, DeLimas Honda Accord was found abandoned in the parking lot of the Putnam Diner.

New York State Police said an extensive search of the area was conducted with nothing found. Two additional searches in May 2018 also yielded no results, according to police records obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media.

More than two years later, a hunter spotted what turned out to be DeLimas skeletal remains while scouting a wooded area behind the Putnam Diner on Feb. 1, 2020.

At that point, Danbury police said the investigation was turned over to authorities in New York.

According to Putnam County investigators, a human skull was located approximately a quarter-mile behind the diner and more evidence  a sneaker, jet black hair and a dark-colored jacket containing skeletal remains  was found within a 10-yard radius of the skull.

On Feb. 19, 2020, the investigation into DeLimas death was marked closed  absent any conclusive findings  by both the Putnam County Sheriffs Department and New York State Police.

McConville was not Putnam Countys sheriff at the time. Hes been in office for about a month after being elected to the position in November.

Since being sworn in as sheriff, McConville said hes had department personnel review old cases, including DeLimas, for investigation.

My BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) captain has been pulling folders and going back and trying to put closure on them or pull them for further investigation, he said earlier this month.

If conclusions about DeLimas death had been drawn in the medical examiners report, McConville said the information would have been used to drive his departments next steps  but without such findings, and absent any leads, the department has nothing left to go on.
STAMFORD  Only one change was made to the schools proposed budget on Wednesday night as members of the Board of Education voted to add $150,000 for music programs at the districts two biggest high schools.

In all, the budget request is about $308 million, a $14.4 million increase  about 5 percent  over the current operating budget of $293.6 million.

The final vote, which took place close to midnight, was 6-2, with only members Joshua Esses and Becky Hamman opposed. Member Fritz Chery, who was in attendance for the meeting earlier, was not present for the vote.

During the meeting, Hamman and Esses proposed a number of cuts to the budget, all of which failed. Only the amendment to fund music programs, proposed by member Andy George, was supported.

The $150,000 item is intended to be divided between Stamford High School and Westhill High School, with $50,000 going to the former and $100,000 to the latter.

Last week, members of the boards Fiscal Committee voted in favor of adding four amendments to the capital budget, resulting in an extra $1 million.

Those resolutions included adding an architect and project manager for future school construction projects, providing more funding for the districts communication department and free caps, gowns and yearbooks for graduating seniors.

The other resolution was an addition of $331,000 because of an expected increase in employee health care premiums from the Connecticut Partnership Plan.

On Wednesday, the board also approved a grants budget of $58.3 million.

Among the budget priorities, presented by district officials earlier this year, are bringing back 33 kindergarten para-educators eliminated over the past two years because of the budgetary crisis brought on by COVID-19. The positions will be funded with money from the operating and grants budgets to the tune of $1.5 million.

The budget also sets aside $2.3 million in special education services, including about 10 new teachers, two behavior analysts and additional services including occupational and physical therapy, music and art therapy and student evaluations.

Another $1.5 million has been allocated for social/emotional programs to address the impact of COVID-19.

Overall, the district is looking to add 83 positions between the operating and grants budgets.

Thirty-four of those would be teachers, including the special education teachers, six high school educators, three English learner teachers and four Strawberry Hill teachers for that schools new seventh grade, among others.

Four new proposed positions would be administrators, while another five would go to teacher support positions such as school psychologists, speech pathologists and social workers.

The approved budget will now go to the Board of Finance and Board of Representatives for final adoption. Those boards can make cuts to the budget before voting on it. Once approved, the budget comes back to the Board of Education, at which point members cannot increase the total amount but can re-appropriate funding within the financial document.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
STAMFORD  The date to eliminate the mask requirement in Stamford schools may be moved up by two weeks, the superintendent announced Wednesday night.

District officials are now considering March 2 as the day to no longer require students and teachers to wear masks inside school buildings, Superintendent Tamu Lucero said during a Board of Education meeting.

Initially, Director of Health Jody Bishop-Pullan had proposed March 15 as the end of the mask mandate.

A number of factors  including the decreased spread of the COVID-19 virus, and lower hospitalization and death rates  have led school officials to consider eliminating the mandate sooner, Lucero said.

Those numbers continue to drop consistently, she said.

Multiple parents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting in favor of getting rid of the mask mandate.

A Board of Education meeting is set for next Tuesday, at which members will discuss lifting the mandate and possibly voting on a resolution to repeal the school districts mask policy.

It is likely that the school district and Department of Health will recommend that staff and students continue to wear masks.

Last week, Bishop-Pullan said the city and school district have seen a rapid decline in COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the year. The drop in cases in school was precipitous  from 885 during the first week of January to 68 cases during the week prior to Feb. 11.

The districts most recent data shows 25 new cases of the virus during the week prior to Feb. 18.

The current rate in the city, however, remains in the high category, with 16.8 cases per 100,000 residents. Stamfords lowest transmission rate during the pandemic was 0.4 per 100,000 residents in June.

Those figures will be revised Thursday, when the state releases new data, Lucero said.

The citys vaccination rate is considered high, but the population of vaccinated children ages 5 to 11 was about 42 percent by last week, Bishop-Pullan said.

In recent weeks, the mask debate has heated up in Stamford. Parents and students protested the mandate outside the Government Center, while Board of Education members seemed open to ending the practice.

Many of the parents at the protest said children are less likely to become severely ill if they contract COVID-19, and said students are suffering emotionally by the mask requirement during the school day.

Earlier this month, state officials recommended giving local school districts the authority to decide whether to require masks in public schools starting Feb. 28.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that children from the age of 2 and up wear masks in schools and day care facilities. A report released last week by the CDC found that repeated use of face masks or respirators in indoor public settings was associated with lower odds of contracting COVID-19.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
Pet protein manufacturer Norpel is celebrating its 20th anniversary and recently opened the doors on a brand-new processing facility to accommodate new demand for pet proteins, the company announced.

The new pet food prep kitchen will produce fresh and frozen proteins for pet food manufacturers and enable Norpel to sustain growth and capitalize on new opportunities in the pet food sector.

Norpels new processing facility in Hazle Twp. will create more than 80 new, full-time jobs. The facility will feature three processing lines that will expand the companys capacity on existing products and enable new opportunities for product innovation and specialization with both customers and vendors.

Northern Pelagic Group LLC announced in March 2021 that it hoped to open the facility by the end of last year.

The move to Pennsylvania has been in the works for more than two years now. Norpel closed on a 70,000-square-foot facility in Humboldt Industrial Park in January 2021 and construction has begun to convert it into a temperature-controlled food-grade processing facility. Additionally, Norpel constructed a 25,000-square-foot cold storage facility.


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Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Thursday, at the extraordinary meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, condemned the military aggression against Ukraine and reiterated the importance of continuing to support the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, which are facing pressure from Russia", informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE).

According to the MAE, Aurescu condemned in "strongest terms" Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, preceded by the recognition of the so-called "independence" of the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The head of the Romanian diplomacy pointed out that these actions represent "serious" violations of the international law and of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation, as well as of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, respectively of its inviolability of the borders.

Bogdan Aurescu reiterated Romania's "firm" support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting the "reprehensible and completely illegal path" of massive armed violence against a European state.

The foreign minister stated that Romania, together with the entire democratic international community, strongly rejects this "irresponsible" behavior, which "undermines the foundation of international relations and the norm-based international order."

He stressed that the "aggressive" actions of the Russian Federation will be faced with a firm, coordinated and substantial response from the Euro-Atlantic community, Agerpres.ro informs.

Aurescu reiterated Romania's call for an immediate and unconditional cessation of Russian military operations against Ukraine and the withdrawal of all Russian forces from the neighboring country and the cessation of any pressure on it.

According to the MAE, the head of Romanian diplomacy called for ensuring the security and safety of members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and reiterated the importance of continuing to support the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, which are facing pressure from Russia.
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu had a telephone conversation on Thursday with the head of diplomacy of the Republic of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the two discussing "the latest security developments in the region and unjustified military aggression of the Russian Federation on Ukraine".

According to a press release sent by the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE), the conversation of the two officials took place in continuation of the meeting they had on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, on February 19.

"In this context, Minister Bogdan Aurescu condemned in the strongest terms the recent actions of Russia, as a flagrant, repeated violation of the principles of international law, especially of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, following the reprehensible action of illegal recognition to the Russian Federation for the 'independence' of the self-proclaimed separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, part of Ukraine. The head of Romanian diplomacy underscored the need for the international community to firmly sanction Russia in response to the flagrant violation of international law and as a way to discourage future aggressive actions", the MAE release reads, Agerpres.ro informs.

Indian Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar praised Romania's involvement in supporting security in the entire Black Sea region and in the Euro-Atlantic area, but also in supporting the citizens affected by the current situation. In this context, Minister Bogdan Aurescu expressed, at the request of his counterpart, Romania's readiness to support the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine, the release states.

At the same time, the two heads of Romanian and Indian diplomacy addressed issues of common interest for advancing the bilateral agenda, in the framework offered by the Extended Partnership between Romania and India, with Minister Bogdan Aurescu once again thanking his Indian counterpart for accepting paying in the next period an official visit to Romania, an opportunity that will allow a concrete approach to the joint effort to develop and deepen bilateral relations, including sectoral ones, the MAE reads.
The situation generated by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was the topic of an emergency meeting of the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, with the Charge d'Affaires a.i. of Ukraine in Romania, Paun Rohovei.

"I had an emergency meeting with Ukraine's Charge d'Affaires in Romania, Mr. Paun Rohovei, in the context of the situation caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. What is happening now in Ukraine is a real drama, and this irrational and disproportionate attack of Russia will have to receive a proportionate response from the international democratic community," Ciolacu wrote on Facebook.

He announced that Parliament will support all the steps taken by the Romanian state in managing this crisis, including the humanitarian assistance and support that our country will provide to Ukraine, Agerpres.ro informs.

"We are fully in solidarity with Ukraine, with the citizens of Ukraine and with the Romanians who live there," Ciolacu added.
The probability of Romania being the target of conventional offensive actions by the Russian Federation is "minimal," Romanian Chief of Defence (CoD) Daniel Petrescu said on Thursday in a Facebook post in which he condemns Russia's "aggressive" behaviour.

"Estimates of an imminent invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine have been confirmed. The recent escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has moved the two countries into the phase of armed conflict. This aggression against Ukraine is a flagrant violation of international law. The aggressive behaviour of the Russian Federation has fundamentally damaged the regional security state of play. Consequently, the determination of NATO member states for collective defence is currently at an unprecedented level in the alliance's more than seven-decade history," General Petrescu wrote, Agerpres.ro informs.

Petrescu went on to say that Romania, as a NATO member, benefits from "the strongest security guarantees."

"The probability that Romania will be the target of conventional offensive actions by the Russian Federation is minimal. As NATO members, we are the beneficiaries of the strongest security guarantees we have ever had. At the level of the Romanian Army we were and are permanently involved in the process to strengthen the national defensive capacity, as well as the NATO posture on the Eastern flank to deter aggression in operational complementariness with NATO and strategic partners," Petrescu also said.

According to Petrescu, the Romanian Army has activated the necessary capacities to monitor security developments and to coordinate means and forces, as well as to support the public authorities, if need be.

"In close coordination with NATO military bodies, we are doing the following: nationally - we are continuously strengthening our capacities and increasing the responsiveness of our own forces; in the NATO context - we are encouraging the participation of NATO multinationals like 'combat group' in Romania to secure unified and proportionate defensive alignment on the entire eastern flank of NATO; in the context of the Strategic Partnership - we continue the efforts of co-operation and enhancement of the US military presence on our national soil," General Petrescu pointed out.
The Minister of Defence, Vasile Dincu, announced on Thursday that reception points had been established for refugees in counties bordering Ukraine, adding that for the time being no "significant flow" had been noticed.

"For the beginning, we have established six or seven border counties where we will have refugee reception points. We have all the materials ready for this, we have activated these points," Dincu told Digi 24.

He stressed that the Romanian authorities are ready at the border. "We have activated refugee reception centers. We do not see a significant flow in this area so far, but we are ready at the border," he said.

Vasile Dincu gave assurances that there are no signs of a possible conflict in Romania, Agerpres.ro.

"We are in a state of vigilance, we have not changed the state of alert from this point of view. (...) At this moment we do not have the signs of a possible conflict on the Romanian territory," the Minister of Defence said.
The Vaslui Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU) has identified places in the county where camps from the Ukrainian refugees could be located, but also other locations where these people could be accommodated, depending on requests.

"We expect them to come along the Albita, from the South and North, we do not know exactly what option could they choose, but we have considered all the options. We don't have a location right now, we cannot say for sure where the refugee camp will be. We have capabilities, we have a camp, so that we can become operational within the 12 hours of procedural steps. We have identified several locations, we have taken into account as large numbers of people as possible, so that we will establish these camps and use the existing capabilities of the other accommodation centres," the head of ISU Iasi, Niculae Tataru, told AGERPRES.Until now, there have been no requests for the reception of refugees from Ukraine in Vaslui County.According to ISU Vaslui, the accommodation camp has a capacity of 200 places, but the number of refugees that could be received in the county is higher, because there are spaces that can be provided by other institutions.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu had a phone call on Thursday with his Dutch counterpart, Wopke Hoekstra, in the context of the latest security developments in the region and the "unjustified" armed military aggression of the Russian Federation on Ukraine, a press release by the relevant ministry sent to AGERPRES reads.

The two chief diplomats have had a broad exchange of opinions on the impact of the military aggression over the region's security situation, condemning in the "strongest" terms the recent actions of Russia, as a new flagrant violation of the principles of international law, in particular the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in continuation of the reprehensible action of illegal recognition by the Russian Federation of the "independence" of the self-proclaimed separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, parts of Ukraine.

"During the dialogue, the two ministers reiterated their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, stressing the need to continue the efforts of assistance for Ukraine, as well as of providing support for increasing the resilience of partners in the region, including the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, Minister Bogdan Aurescu reiterated the need for the entire international community to sanction firmly, immediately and in a coordinated manner, Russia's actions, in response to the flagrant violation of the international law and to the unprecedented escalation of tensions in the region," the release reads.

Regarding the security situation in the Black Sea region, the two ministers reiterated the importance of further strengthening NATO's defense and deterrence posture, minister Aurescu stressing the need to strengthen, of a coherent and unitary manner, the Allied posture of deterrence and defense on the Eastern Flank, including in its south, at the Black Sea, through concrete actions at the level of the alliance, especially by accelerating the process of creating the NATO Battle Group in Romania, Agerpres.ro informs.

Minister Wopke Hoekstra appreciated Romania's "firm" responses to the current developments in Ukraine and the importance Romania has in this context and attaches to the security in the entire Black Sea region and in the Euro-Atlantic area, reaffirming the strong support for the principle of collective defense within NATO. He also agreed with the need for the EU to provide humanitarian support to partner states in the region affected by the current security crisis.
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu had a telephone conversation with French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday about the worsened regional security situation in the context of "illegal" and "unjustified" military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), through a press release sent to AGERPRES.

According to the MAE, the Romanian and French diplomats "condemned Russia's actions in the strongest terms, as they represent a flagrant violation of the principles of international law, especially of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in the continuation of the reprehensible recognition by the Russian Federation of the "independence" of the self-proclaimed separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, parts of Ukraine."

On the same occasion, Minister Aurescu reiterated his strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, while underscoring the need to continue efforts to support Kiev and the other partners in the region, especially the Republic of Moldova, which are states whose resilience needs to be further strengthened, including in the context of the negative effects of the current crisis.

At the same time, Bogdan Aurescu reiterated to the French counterpart the need for the entire international community to sanction Russia "firmly," "immediately" and of a "coordinated" manner, in response to the "flagrant" violation of the international law and unprecedented escalation of tensions, Agerpres.ro informs.

With regard to the security situation in the Black Sea region, the two ministers reiterated the importance of further strengthening NATO's defence and deterrence stance in the region. They discussed the need to strengthen, in a coherent and united manner, the allied position of deterrence and defence on the Eastern Flank, including on its southern part, at the Black Sea.

Jean-Yves Le Drian reiterated Paris' strong support for the creation of the NATO Combat Group in Romania, in which France will play the role of host nation.

Romanian and French officials underscored the need to speed up the process of setting up this fighting group, as a measure to further strengthen NATO's deterrent and defence stance in the region.

Minister Le Drian appreciated Romania's firm position on the current developments in its neighbourhood, the importance that Romania has for security in the Black Sea region and throughout the Euro-Atlantic area, and reaffirmed its strong support for the principle of collective defence.
Three other Eurofighter planes of the German Air Force land, on Thursday evening, at the "Mihail Kogalniceanu" military air base, in order to support the three planes that are already operating there, informs the German Embassy on Facebook.

The diplomatic mission states that Germany is thus strengthening its military presence in Romania within NATO Air Policing South, "as a result of the current situation".

"Germany is firmly alongside Romania. As allies, we will work closely together to ensure the security of the North Atlantic Pact," German Ambassador in Bucharest Peer Gebauer said, Agerpres.ro informs.

The German Air Force has been participating in the enhanced air police mission with Eurofighter planes and troops since mid-February. Together with Italy, Germany ensures the security of NATO airspace and "thus transmits a clear transatlantic and European signal of solidarity with Romania," the embassy's message reads.

The source said that the German Federal Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, had strongly condemned the Russian government's military attack on Ukraine.

"Our thoughts are on these difficult times with the people of Ukraine. German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock today strongly condemned the Russian government's military attack on Ukraine and stressed Germany's solidarity with Ukraine. The minister announced the implementation of massive sanctions against Russia and strengthening the security of Germany and its allies," representatives of the diplomatic mission said on the social network.
Iasi City Mayor Mihai Chirica told a news conference on Thursday that he will start a campaign to collect aid for the people of Ukraine, also mentioning that the facade of Roznovanu Palace, where the Iasi City Hall operates, will light up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag in solidarity and as a message of peace.

"By the end of this week, we will set up collection centres in the city, aid for victims. This is an action that I will personally coordinate through the Civil Protection office. We will set them up in the most important points, in the nodes of public transport; people will sign when donate, and an inventory will be taken on the aid as well as pictures of it, so that we can collect as many things as the victims need. We do not want to become a clothing storehouse, but we will receive blankets and non-perishable food. That means canned, packaged products. We will check for validity period," said Chirica, Agerpres.ro informs.

The mayor of Iasi expressed his concern and solidarity with what is happening in Ukraine. He mentioned that because Romania shares a border with Ukraine, it will have to receive war refugees.

He also urged the Iasi community to show solidarity with the Ukrainians and Lipovans living in the city.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Lucian Bode, condemns the Russian Federation for invading Ukraine and reiterates Romania's commitment of supporting Ukrainian citizens, including by picking up and managing possible flows of refugees from this country, Agerpres reports.

"I firmly condemn the Russian Federation for invading Ukraine. It is certainly an act of aggression that violates the principles of international law and which tries to redefine relations between states in the current security architecture. As a member of the Romanian Government, as Minister of Internal Affairs, as a Romanian I am expressing my solidarity with the authorities and the Ukrainian people and support this state's right to sovereignty, integrity and freedom. In these tragic moments, I am reiterating Romania's commitment to supporting the citizens of Ukraine, including by picking up and managing the possible flows of refugees from this country," Bode said in a Facebook post.He highlights in his message the importance of Romania being part of NATO and its important role as a "security supplier".
The latest COVID-19 test positivity rate in Romania is 18.72 percent, the Health Ministry informed on Thursday, Agerpres reports.

As many as 10,749 Covid positives were reported in Romania in the last 24 hours out of a total of 57,417 RT-PCR and antigen tests performed.Out of the 1,002 Covid patients admitted to the ICU, 837 are unvaccinated. Also, out of the 115 Covid-related deaths reported in the last 24 hours, 99 occurred in unvaccinated patients.
NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana announced that he had a phone call with Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, stressing that the situation generated by the "reckless and unprovoked" attack of the Russian Federation is an "extremely serious" one, Agerpres reports.

"I have just spoken to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, following the reckless and unprovoked attack of the Russian Federation. The situation is extremely serious, the Russian Federation attacks on all fronts and endangers the lives of millions of civilians. We call on Russia to immediately stop military activities and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," Geoana wrote on Facebook on Thursday.Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday morning announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin leader urged the Ukrainian army to "lay down its weapons" and vowed to counter any foreign interference in the Russian operation in Ukraine. Putin claimed that he was trying to demilitarize and "de-Nazify" Ukraine.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine causes the Ukrainian population to leave the war-torn country en masse. Thousands of people panicked by the start of the military conflict were waiting in endless queues at the border between Ukraine and Romania on Thursday, in the Tereblecea area, to leave, on foot, the Ukrainian territory, with their final destination various cities in Romania or other European countries.

Hundreds of cars with Ukrainian plates were also waiting in line at the Tereblecea - Siret border crossing point to reach Romania.The Ukrainian authorities have allowed only women and children to leave the country, while, in the case of men, only those who reside in another state are allowed to leave the country. In this context, many women with children in their arms or with children in prams were waiting at the metal gates of the border crossing point.Many of the refugees managed to take with them no more than one suitcase in which they put items of strict necessity."Everyone is scared, everyone is running away, to relatives, who still have houses in the mountains. The world is hiding, because it is a difficult situation," a Ukrainian woman who left the country told AGERPRES on Thursday.A young man living in Lithuania was forced to leave the country via the Tereblecea-Siret border crossing point because he could not reach the destination country through northern Ukraine, which is being attacked by the Russians."We go to Lithuania because we live in Lithuania and we go there because we also have a job," he said.The waiting time to enter Romania is very long, but, nevertheless, no person in line is willing to give up.The queue of cars at the border stretches for a length of 3-4 kilometres.
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church has called for an end to the war in Ukraine and urged everyone to pray for peace.

In a message Thursday morning, Patriarch Daniel expressed his concern over the beginning of war in Ukraine and assured Romanians living in Ukraine to help them according to possibilities.

Patriarch Daniels call for an end to the war in Ukraine: full text

Like the other significant institutions in Romania and the European Union, the Romanian Orthodox Church has noted with the utmost concern the beginning of the war in Ukraine, a war launched by Russia against a sovereign and independent state.

In this way, we hope that the Euro-Atlantic political forces can find a way to a peaceful dialogue for the benefit of Ukraine and the whole of Europe.

At the same time, we express our full solidarity with the Romanian Orthodox Christians living in Ukraine and our willingness to help them according to our own possibilities.

We pray to the Merciful God, the Lord of peace, justice, and love, to protect the Ukrainian people and give all responsible political leaders peace-making wisdom.

 Daniel

Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Romania is backing "immediate" cessation of Russian military aggression in Ukraine to give a chance to resume diplomatic efforts, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Thursday at the Government House.

"Today, I attended a meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defence, convened by the President of Romania, Mr Klaus Iohannis, following the illegal Russian military aggression and the massive armed violence against Ukraine. We are dealing with an unprovoked aggression against a sovereign and independent member of the United Nations. The Russian Federation has chosen the armed forces to pursue revisionist political goals. Romania is strongly condemning the attack by the Russian army that has already claimed countless lives and endangered the safety and lives of innocent people," said Ciuca.

He pointed out that Romania is in constant dialogue with its NATO allies and European partners.

"Romania is backing the immediate cessation of military aggression, which will give a chance to resume diplomatic endeavours," said Ciuca.

He mentioned the convening on Thursday of a task force for the management of the aftermath of the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, Agerpres.ro informs.

"The main responsibilities of the task force are related to monitoring the situation and coordinating measures at governmental level to ensure the functioning of all public services. The relevant government bodies are also prepared to provide the necessary measures to take in refugee flows as needed. We are standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and are ready to provide humanitarian aid to those in need. We are monitoring the situation of Romanian citizens in Ukraine to whom we are prepared to offer consular assistance and support through the interinstitutional task force at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," he added.

He said that Romania benefits from the strongest security guarantees in its history.

"At this difficult time, together with our NATO allies, especially through the strategic partnership with the United States, as well as with our partners in the European Union, we are part of the strongest protection umbrella generated by the world's democracies. The security and safety of the Romanian citizens are not affected in any way," Ciuca said.

He added that the authorities have ensured that Romania has sufficient natural gas stockpiles in storage for the management of the cold season.

"We are constantly monitoring and evaluating natural gas inflows and outflows on all routes in the country in order to be able to take the necessary measures to ensure continuity in natural gas supply," Ciuca said.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shymhal, on Thursday, in which he sent a message of solidarity and support against Russia's "unlawful military aggression," stressing that Bucharest authorities support Ukraine's independence and sovereignty.

"I had a call with PM Denys Shmyhal of Ukraine. Solidarity and support against unlawful military Russian aggression. We are assisting our neighbours in need and support the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine," Ciuca said, according to a post on the Government's Twitter page.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine on Thursday morning. The Kremlin leader called on the Ukrainian military to lay down their arms and vowed to counter any foreign interference in the Russian operation in Ukraine, Agerpres.ro informs.

European, US, NATO and UN leaders reacted to the Russian president's announcement by calling for an end to the "military aggression" against Ukraine and strongly condemned Russia's attack.

Ukraine has announced the closure of its airspace, and President Volodymyr Zelensky has decreed martial law in the country's all territories.

In Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis convened the Supreme Council for National Defence. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, conveyed the Romanian Mission to NATO to request the activation of Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which establishes a mechanism for consultation among allies.
On Thursday at the Romanian Government House, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca welcomed an official delegation of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC), a non-profit anti-communist organisation in the US, underscoring the importance of strengthening the transatlantic relationship to Romania's democratic and prosperous future.

According to a government press statement, discussed at the meeting with VOC Chairman Andrew Bremberg, and the chairman of the VOC Board of Trustees, Edwin J. Feulner, were the situation generated by the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, with Ciuca emphasising that Romania benefits from solid security guarantees because of its NATO membership and because of its strategic partnership with the US.

"I appreciate the remarkable initiative to build the memorial museum dedicated to the victims of communism in Washington DC, which will make an essential contribution to our transatlantic relationship. Along with the three museums dedicated to the victims of communism that Romania will build in Bucharest, Ramnicu Sarat and Timisoara, such landmarks will not let us forget the horrors, the humiliations, the underdevelopment, and the poverty that the communist dictatorships brought to this part of Europe. The suffering of generations brutally crushed by the mechanisms of communism cannot be forgotten, especially at a time when the democratic world is facing revisionist aggression, when military force is violating the rules of international law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the tried Ukrainian people," Ciuca is quoted as saying in the statement, Agerpres.ro informs.

"Romania is grateful for the benefits of its strategic partnership with the United States, both in terms of the security umbrella offered inside NATO and in terms of the investment of American companies that contribute to the country's development," says PM Ciuca.

Ciuca mentioned a series of recent meetings with executives of American companies (AmCham and AMRO). "I am pleased to note the interest of American investors in Romania and the fact that they will continue to develop their projects. It is the clearest sign of the strength of our partnership, along with the significant presence of the US military in our country," he added.

The VOC officials presented the latest developments in a project under which a memorial museum dedicated to the victims of communism in Washington DC will open in 2022, commending the Romanian government for educating the younger generations in the spirit of democratic values.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"I had a talk with President Zelenskyy to assure him of Romania's full support & solidarity in face of the irresponsible military aggression by Russia, and for Ukraine's sovereignty & territorial integrity. We coordinate with our partners to rapidly support Ukraine through humanitarian assistance," Iohannis wrote on Twitter.

Russia launched early Thursday morning a wide - land, air and naval - invasion against Ukraine, the biggest attack of a state against another state in Europe after the Second World War, Agerpres.ro informs.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the cessation of the diplomatic relations with Russia.

In the context of the situation in Ukraine, several countries, Romania included, invoked article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which provides immediate consultations among allies, and which applies when one of the allied countries feels threatened.
President Klaus Iohannis has convened the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT), Agerpres reports.

The CSAT meeting will take place on Thursday, at 11:00, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.According to the Presidential Administration, the agenda of the meeting includes the implications for Euro-Atlantic security in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine.At the end of the CSAT meeting, President Klaus Iohannis will make a press statement.Klaus Iohannis condemned in the strongest terms, on Thursday morning, the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.The Presidential Administration has announced that Romania, along with the entire democratic international community, strongly rejects such irresponsible behavior that undermines the foundation of international relations and the very current order of international law."Romania stresses that the Russian Federation must bear the consequences of this deeply illegal act. In full coordination with its NATO and EU allies and partners, Romania will impose firm and substantial response measures," the Presidential Administration said.President Iohannis expressed full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and reaffirmed Romania's full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of that country.The Romanian President also called for an immediate, complete and unconditional cessation of Russian military aggression, the withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine and for all pressure on Ukraine to stop."Romania is ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, Romania warns against any hostile action against members of the Romanian community in Ukraine and is ready to provide the necessary support," the statement shows.At the same time, Klaus Iohannis assured all Romanian citizens on the territory of Ukraine that Romania, including through its diplomatic and consular missions, is ready to provide the necessary consular assistance."No Romanian citizen has any reason to fear. President Klaus Iohannis emphasizes that the citizens of Romania, as a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, fully benefit from the widest security guarantees in its history," the Presidential Administration release further specifies.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has convened on Thursday, at the level of the Government, the task force to manage the situation generated by the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, Agerpres reports.

According to a release of the Executive, the main responsibilities relate to the monitoring of the situation and the coordination of measures at the level of government structures to ensure the functioning of all public services.The working group is made up of Minister of Defence Vasile Dincu, Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu, Finance Minister Adrian Caciu, Interior Minister Lucian Bode, Energy Minister Virgil Popescu, Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu, Health Minister Alexandru Rafila, Labor Minister Marius Budai, the Government's General Secretary, Marian Neacsu, and the Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Mircea Abrudean.
DNA (National Anti-corruption Directorate) Chief Prosecutor Crin Bologa said on Thursday that more than 220 persons in important offices in Romania were sent to court in 2021, up from 2020.

"There were 223 persons in leadership or other important offices sent to court in 2021, compared to 160 in 2020 and 140 in 2019. Of the 223 people in important offices, 18 were dignitaries. A former prime minister, a president of the Chamber of Deputies and the head of the most important party in Romania at the time were charged with corruption. There were also MPs - senators and deputies, two ministers of health, secretaries of state, undersecretaries of state, prefects, county council presidents, mayors, policemen, two CNAS (National Health Insurance House) heads, a position that it's similar to that of a secretary of state," said Crin Bologa, at the presentation of the activity report of the National Anti-corruption Directorate for the year 2021, Agerpres.ro informs.
Leaders of the parties in the governing coalition have signed a joint statement regarding the situation in Ukraine, PSD (Social Democratic Party) leader Marcel Ciolacu informs on Thursday.

"We have discussed the situation in Ukraine right now, especially the situation of Romanians in Ukraine, for we all know about the attack of the Russian Federation against an independent and sovereign state. We have all agreed, the leaders of the political parties in the governing coalition, Mr Citu, Mr Kelemen Hunor, Mr Pambuccian, who is the leader of the minorities group, to issue a joint statement signed by all four of us, following that in the following days the joint plenum of the Romanian Parliament to issue its own clear statement in respect to Russia's aggression against Ukraine," Ciolacu said at the Palace of Parliament.

He added that, according to the information he had, Romania is ready to welcome a certain flow of immigrants from Ukraine, Agerpres.ro informs.

When asked if the sanctions to be imposed by the European Union against the Russian Federation would affect Romania economically, Ciolacu said: "I suppose that it will economically affect the entire Europe. Which is why we didn't want to hurry with the joint statement of the Deputies' Chamber and the Senate, for we need to wait first for the package of sanctions, which we need to include in that statement. We hope that the decision regarding the sanctions will be take as soon as possible, tonight."

The PSD leader also informed that "a consistent load of medicines" is prepared to help Ukraine.

Ciolacu mentioned that, at this point, Romania can provide consular assistance in Ukraine, considering the substantial Romanian community there.

"I am absolutely convinced that we are going to overcome this challenge. At this point Romania is safe and Romanians are in a very safe country. Romania is not involved in any conflict with the Russian Federation. More than that, Romania is a NATO and EU member state. Right now I don't see a possibility that Romania might declare a state of emergency because of what happens in Ukraine," said Ciolacu.
Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Thursday had a telephone conversation with his counterpart from the Republic of Moldova Nicolae Popescu and in this context he reiterated Romania's "full and firm support" for the neighbour country.

"Discussed today over the phone with my colleague and friend Nicolae Popescu on the security situation in Urkaine and the impact on the Republic of Moldova. Reconfirmed Romania's full & firm support for the Republic of Moldova, as well as for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in the current difficult regional context," the Romanian Foreign Minister wrote on Twitter.

Russia launched early Thursday morning a wide - land, air and naval - invasion against Ukraine, the biggest attack of a state against another state in Europe after the Second World War, Agerpres.ro informs.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the cessation of the diplomatic relations with Russia.
Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has ordered the summoning of the Russian ambassador in Bucharest Valery Kuzmin to the ministry's headquarters on Thursday morning, Agerpres reports.

According to a press statement released by the Foreign Ministry, the summon was made amidst ongoing Russian military aggression against Ukraine, preceded by the illegitimate recognition by Russia of the so-called separatist "republics" Donetsk and Lugansk, being in line with similar action taken by all EU member states.
Leaders of the parties making up the ruling coalition - the Social Democratic Party (PSD), National Liberal Party (PNL), Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) and the national minority parliamentary group - issued a joint statement on Thursday strongly condemning the "invasion and armed aggression" by the Russian Federation of Ukraine, giving assurances that Romania will not be dragged in any military conflict.

"The actions of the Russian Federation are criminally violating the principles of international law, starting with the observance of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Through today's cynical invasion, the Russian Federation is the architect of the worst security crisis since World War II, which endangers the lives of millions of people, children, old people, women and men alike. Those who gave the order to launch the invasion will now be seen throughout the democratic world as aggressors who have innocent victims on their conscience. Not only Romanians, but also hundreds of millions of people on all continents watching dramatic footage in Ukraine know and feel that no matter how powerful the aggressor is today, there is no military force that can defeat the truth. And the truth is that the right of the Ukrainian nation to sovereignty and independence cannot be denied by the will of any temporary leader of another state," reads the statement signed by party leaders Marcel Ciolacu, Florin Citu, Kelemen Hunor, and Varujan Pambuccian, Agerpres.ro informs.

The coalition leaders say they can assure all Romanians that they are safe and that Romania will not be dragged in any military conflict.

"Never in its history has Romania had more solid security guarantees than now, as a NATO member. At this time of regional insecurity, the importance of Romania's NATO and European Union memberships and a very solid strategic partnership with the US is all the more obvious."

According to the statement, "the illegal use of armed force to achieve the goals set by falsified history is unacceptable to the world of the 21st century, and the Russian Federation will bear the consequences of these actions that blatantly violate the foundations of international affairs."

"The unacceptable actions of the Russian Federation will receive an adequate response from Romania's NATO and EU partners, with whom Romania is in constant coordination. The Russian Federation has to understand that it must stop immediately its aggression against Ukraine and avoid fatalities at any cost."

The party leaders go on to say that the aggression by the Russian Federation would have devastating consequences not only for Ukraine but also for the Russian people, who would inevitably suffer as a result of extensive economic and other sanctions that would profoundly affect their country to the point of international isolation.

"We consider it our duty, the duty of the responsible Romanian democratic political forces, to show our solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of families fleeing the invasion orchestrated by Vladimir Putin. The Romanian government will help all Ukrainian citizens seeking refuge in Romania and will provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine," according to the joint statement.
The Parliament of Romania must be prepared for anything, if needed, Senate President Florin Citu said on Thursday, Agerpres reports.

President Klaus Iohannis will meet today at 13:00 hrs at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace with Senate President Florin Citu and with Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu to discuss the situation generated by the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine.Asked if a state of emergency will be declared, Florin Citu replied: "The decision lies with the Supreme Council for National Defense - CSAT, with the President of Romania. If this decision is taken, the President will announce it immediately."President Iohannis called a CSAT meeting at 11:00 to examine the implications of the Russian Federation's attack on Ukraine for the Euro-Atlantic security.
Several hundred people from Ukraine crossed, on Thursday, the Danube by ferry in the Romanian eastern city of Isaccea to avoid war, and in support of the refugees, the local authorities decided that the means of naval transport should work without a programme, the mayor of Isaccea, Anastase Moraru, told AGERPRES.

"In customs, the boarding schedule is no longer respected, and when the ferry is filled, the Danube is crossed. From the information I have, now it (the ferry, ed. n.) is full, it is going to arrive, after which it will immediately go to the other side (on the Ukrainian bank of the river, ed.n.)," explained mayor Moraru.

He also said that most Ukrainians who come to Romania have personal cars, Agerpres.ro informs.

"They haven't made a request for accommodation yet. Everyone knows where they need to go. They can go to relatives, some go to Bulgaria, but also to Turkey, as far as I understand," said the mayor of Isaccea.

According to the source, refugees without personal means of transportation can be directed through the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations to the centers it has prepared or they can resort to the accommodation possibilities of the local authority in the city.

Tulcea County Prefect Dan Munteanu told the media on Thursday that the county has prepared plans to support refugees from Ukraine.

"We are ready to optimally manage possible migration flows. I can tell you that at the central level such a plan is drawn up regarding the management of an influx of refugees on the territory of Romania," mentioned the prefect Dan Munteanu.
The restrictions will be relaxed under certain conditions and we must have at least two steps, and if in the next period the number of intensive care beds drops to 900, some restrictions could be considered to be lifted, such as wearing a mask in public or increasing the occupancy rate in restaurants and theatre rooms, the Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said on Thursday, at a debate organised by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism at the Tourism Fair, in Bucharest's Romexpo exhibition centre.

"The restrictions will be relaxed under certain conditions and we must have at least two relaxation steps. I'll give you an example, which is not a really imaginary example, it also resulted from discussions with various colleagues in the area of public health. You noticed that when we talked about schools we gave up on the premises. We no longer linked the operation of the schools to the precincts, but we linked it to the occupancy of the places in the hospitals. Why? Everywhere it has been observed that this Omicron strain produces many cases, but relatively few admissions and relatively little to intensive care. In Romania it wasn't quite like that, we had quite a lot of admissions, we had an occupancy rate in intensive care up to about 65 pct, about 1,200 of the 1,800 beds were occupied. And now we're trying to apply the same algorithm to relaxations. That is, if the number of beds occupied in intensive care decreases by half, that is, 900 beds... we are not far away. Did I have a reluctance to take action because of what? Because in intensive care, although the number of cases was decreasing, in intensive care it remained about the same, we always had about 1,100 beds occupied. And now, for two days now, we've seen a more consistent drop. If this trend continues in the next period and we reach 900 beds, now we have a minimum of over 1,000, we can consider lifting some restrictions," Rafila explained.

Among the restrictions that could be lifted, the minister mentioned the use of the protective mask in open spaces, "we will continue to recommend that the mask be used in crowded spaces, but we will recommend this, it will no longer be an obligation", or other relaxations that have a direct impact on economic activity, such as the abandonment of time limits, access to the big stores, to the malls, "one of the favourite places where Romanians spend their weekends", or the increase of the occupancy limit in restaurants, performance halls from 30 pct to 50 pct, Agerpres.ro informs.

"Yet we need to have two steps. Why's that? We do not want to return to a situation where we are reintroducing restrictions. This for the economy is devastating, because these rapid cycles of closure, opening and again closure lead to a lack of predictability and to very high economic losses, they have employees who go into furlough, they have to pay them, the stocks of goods.... I have to have sustainability. Then I take a first set of measures, and I've given some examples, not if they're going to be identical, they're not a commitment, but they're rational things that can be taken into account, and then, if we see that the situation has stabilized, it hasn't gotten worse, the downward trend continues, we move on to the next set of easing measures that can be equivalent to the normal resumption of economic and social activity, including in the field of tourism or in the field of organizing events," said Alexandru Rafila.
The management of the "Stefan cel Mare" University of Suceava (USV) expressed its "concern" about the escalation of the situation in the context of the recent developments of events in Ukraine during the past 24 hours, while believing that diplomacy is the "acceptable" way to defuse the current tense situation.

This university's press office sent a press release too AGERPRES on Thursday, in which the academic institutions sends a message of solidarity to the students in Ukraine and their families, and also to the partner universities in the neighbouring country, and the researchers with whom the institution collaborated under various projects.

According to the USV, the two representatives of the Suceava academic institution in Ukraine, the Romanian language lecturers from Chernivtsi and Odessa, continue to carry out their activities in safe conditions, their meetings with all students being organized exclusively online, Agerpres.ro informs.

The same source states that the institutions will closely monitor the situation and, if necessary, new decisions will be taken regarding the functioning of the two lectureships.

The USV leadership voiced hope that diplomatic dialogue will make it possible to end the military conflict as soon as possible.
National airline TAROM announces the suspension of flights to and from Chisinau, as a result of the closure of the airspace in the Republic of Moldova, shows a press release of the company, sent to AGERPRES on Thursday.

"We inform you that the Republic of Moldova has closed its airspace starting today, February 24, 2022, at 12:02, given the conflict situation in the region. According to the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by the Civil Aeronautical Authority of the Republic of Moldova, the suspension of flights is in force until March 4, 2022, at 23:59. In this regard, TAROM suspends the operation of flights to/from Chisinau, starting today (flights RO201, RO202, RO207, RO208, RO209 and RO210)," the company announced.As many as 1,036 TAROM passengers are affected by this decision.
Tens of persons have gathered on Thursday evening in front of the headquarters of the Embassy of Ukraine in Bucharest to show their support for the Ukrainian people.

People of all ages are standing quietly, holding heart-shaped drawings in the colours of the Ukrainian flag and displaying banners with messages such as "Solidary with the people of Ukraine - No War" or "By Ukraine's Side."

Russia launched early Thursday morning a wide - land, air and naval - invasion against Ukraine, the biggest attack of a state against another state in Europe after the Second World War, Agerpres.ro informs.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the cessation of the diplomatic relations with Russia.

In the context of the situation in Ukraine, several countries, Romania included, invoked article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which provides immediate consultations among allies, and which applies when one of the allied countries feels threatened.
Import gas supplies to Romania via Ukraine are running normally and in the event of disruptions, the gas flow can be easily redirected through other entry points, Ion Sterian, CEO of national gas transmission company Transgaz told AGERPRES on Thursday.

"There are no problems with imports through Ukraine. We have prepared for all possible scenarios and will cope with any situation. Romania's gas supply will not be affected," Sterian said.Romania currently imports 5.3 million cubic meters of gas per day through Ukraine, and its national consumption is about 40 million cubic meters per day."Even if gas imports from Ukraine are cut off, the flows can be easily redirected through the Negru Voda entry point and other points. There is no problem with that. We are lucky that Transgaz has made its investments on time. At this moment the BRUA pipeline is operating at full capacity and all the stations we have built are also working at maximum capacity, in reverse flow mode," said Sterian.Other gas import pipelines to Romania are those from Giurgiu-Ruse (Bulgaria) and Arad-Szeged (Hungary).
Two F-35 Lightning II aircraft of the United States Air Force (USAFE) landed on Thursday, around 15:00hrs, local, at the 86th Locotenent aviator Gheorghe Mociornita Air Base at Borcea, from where they will carry out joint missions and training with soldiers and aircraft of the Romanian Air Force.

According to the Romanian Defence Ministry (MApN), the main objective of joint training missions is to increase interoperability among NATO allies and joint air policing missions contribute to the development of responsiveness and deterrence, Agerpres.ro informs.

"At the same time, these missions are real evidence of the high level of defence and security co-operation under the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States, while sending a strong message of solidarity among allies," says the Defence Ministry.
Ukraine's charge d'affaires to Romania, Paun Rohovei, on Thursday stated that the Russian Federation's attacks were "very massive" and that the Ukrainian army was ready for such a scenario.

"The Ukrainian army is ready for such a scenario, it has retaliated and retaliates. After the most recent data we received at 1.00 pm, six fighter jets were shot down, plus a large number of helicopters and a large number of tanks and armored vehicles. We took prisoners, Russian soldiers. At this point attacks are very massive, it is very difficult to keep them at the line, which is why we called on all out international partners to make maximum of politico-diplomatic efforts to fight on two fronts, let's say, the politico-diplomatic front and the front as such," said Rohovei, at the Parliament Palace, where he had a meeting with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, Agerpres.ro informs.

He added that the city of Kyiv is not yet surrounded, and that it is "very well defended."

"The world is calm and the most important thing is that there is a surge of patriotism among the population," he said.

Asked what Ukraine expects in the coming days, Paun Rohovei said: "We expect serious things. The Ukrainian army is ready to give a very strong response. As for the number of victims, there are hundreds of civilians."

He noted that the Russians were "going all the way" to the big cities.
Ukrainian students at Dunarea de Jos University in Galati are receiving psychological counselling and material succour from the university, Vice-Chancellor Alexandru Nechifor announced on Thursday, Agerpres reports.

He said that he met with some of the 85 Ukrainian students housed in dormitories in Galati and that the young people were offered support from the university.In addition, according to Nechifor, the university has been contacted by several professors from Ismail, Ukraine, with which the higher education organisation is collaborating. The professors have announced that they want to be accommodated in Galati together with their families; there are about 20 families.Maria Marian, chair of the Stefan cel Sfant Basarabia and Bucovina Students Club of the Galati Students' League, says that most of the Ukrainian students are in the dormitories in Galati after one week ago the university announced in-person instruction will resume and virtual classes will be discarded two years after inception.According to her, dozens of young people in their preparatory year or first year students did not manage to reach Galati."Ukrainian students studying in Galati are concerned about the situation in Ukraine and fear for the safety of their families living there," said Marian.About 400 students from Moldova and almost 100 from Ukraine are enrolled at Dunarea de Jos University based in Galati.
The Council of the Union of Ukrainians in Romania (UUR) expresses its solidarity with the Ukrainian people and strongly condemns the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, after recognizing the independence of the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, acts that are "blatant violations of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, of international law and regional, European and Euro-Atlantic security and stability".

In a release sent on Thursday to AGERPRES by Parliament Deputy Nicolae Miroslav Petretchi (Parliamentary Group of National Minorities), the Council of the Union of Ukrainians in Romania calls for an immediate stop to the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and an end to any military operations directed at the Ukrainian state, stressing that disputes and conflicts must be resolved exclusively through dialogue.Moreover, the UUR calls for responsibility, the avoidance of human loss of life, and calls on the democratic international community to do everything in its power to stop the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.The Union of Ukrainians in Romania welcomes the reaffirmation of Romania's firm and constant commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and its readiness to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and expresses its readiness to support the Romanian and Ukrainian authorities in the event of a worsening situation in Ukraine (the possibility of an influx of refugees from Ukraine), providing the help of strong and dedicated teams, able to provide the necessary logistical and linguistic support, making available to the Romanian authorities the spaces in the UUR headquarters.At the same time, the UUR approves the opening of a fund, called "For peace in Ukraine and solidarity with the Ukrainian people", in order to provide humanitarian support to Ukrainian citizens in the areas affected by the conflict, to which ethnic Ukrainians in Romania and beyond can contribute.
The international organization World Vision announces that it will support the Romanian office to provide humanitarian aid, especially to children, in case refugees from Ukraine will come to our country.

According to a release issued to AGERPRES on Thursday amid the international crisis in Ukraine, World Vision is urgently finalizing humanitarian action plans for families in high-risk areas and calling for a focus on child protection.

"As the crisis in Ukraine worsens, World Vision is concerned about the risk of such a conflict for the most vulnerable - children. To this end, World Vision is finalizing emergency plans if high-level humanitarian aid becomes necessary. World Vision supports the organization in Romania in case children and their families are forcefully displaced from Ukraine and are in need of emergency assistance," Eleanor Monbiot OBE, World Vision's regional leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe, was quoted as saying in the release.

In the Middle East and Eastern Europe, World Vision last year supported 3.2 million people through immediate crisis response programs. If necessary, the organization will be able to use this capacity to respond to the crisis in Ukraine, Agerpres.ro informs.

"In boundless pain, the children of Ukraine are suffering. And when the whole world is helpless in the face of this tragedy, we return with thoughts and prayers to the entire hard-hit population. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are anticipated, hopefully Romania will be able to host them. The whole world is scared, the danger is approaching. But it is time for solidarity," said Mihaela Nabar, executive director of World Vision Romania.

World Vision is a humanitarian organization dedicated to the children, their families and the communities they belong to. World Vision supports all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
St. Louis, MO - RedKey Realty Leaders St. Louis, a top-performing, independent real estate agency, has named B.J. Sonderman as the companys new Director of Agent Success in the West office. With an impressive background of over 19 years in the industry, Sonderman will help RedKey agents accomplish their goals while assisting the leadership team in attracting and retaining top talent in the area.

We are so excited to have B.J. Sonderman join the team at RedKey, said Jill Butler, CEO and Founder of RedKey Realty Leaders. His experience as a mentor and expert in the industry will help us continue to uphold our commitment to cultivating agent success. He is a welcome addition to our growing community.

At RedKey Realty Leaders, there is a strong emphasis placed on agent growth and continued education. In 2020, the agency unveiled its RedKey Training and Media Center, equipped with video and audio studios, training classrooms, and access to RedKeys marketing department. Current and aspiring realtors can also take courses developed and taught by the RedKey leadership team and obtain assistance in passing their licensure examinations. In line with the many resources available to RedKey agents, Directors of Agent Success work closely with agents to identify opportunities for growth and ensure success in a fast-paced, competitive housing market.

As a seasoned executive with years of experience serving in top management positions at local real estate organizations, Sonderman has led and overseen multiple teams of talented sales and client relations professionals. In 2017, he was named Broker/Manager of the year by St. Louis REALTORS, a title awarded to top managers in the area who have shown an unparalleled commitment to helping their associates succeed in the communities they serve. The following year, he was placed in the top 5% of all NRT, LLC Broker/Managers. Sonderman enjoys cultivating client relationships and improving leadership practices, working at both the strategy and execution levels to generate and grow revenue.

It is so refreshing to join an agency that prioritizes agent growth and education, where a people-first approach takes precedence, said Sonderman. Helping teams develop and apply their skill sets and watching their business grow as a result is an extremely rewarding process. It is something I take great pride in, and I cant wait to apply this passion to my new role at RedKey.

Sonderman moved to St. Louis 22 years ago from Southeast Missouri, and is an active member of several local real estate committees including St. Louis REALTORS. He enjoys music and classic cars, owning a 1964 1/2 Mustang convertible that he has had since high school. He is also the proud multiyear champion of a Midwest region traveling sand drag racing circuit. He currently resides in St. Charles County with his wife and four daughters.

###

About RedKey Realty Leaders St. Louis

RedKey Realty Leaders is an independent real estate agency founded in 2012 on the basis of love, service, and fun. RedKey agents and staff showcase their love for their work and the industry by providing top-shelf client service. In addition to growing 300% in their first year, RedKey has consistentlyand significantly out-performed the market in both sales amounts and volume. In October 2015, RedKey opened a second office in Chesterfield. Named a top-25 real estate company by the St. Louis Business Journal, RedKey Realty Leaders St. Louis attracts top agents committed to, and passionate about, their clients and the community in which they live and work. For more, www.redkeystlouis.com or 314-692-7200.

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Tom Kutis V, a member of the fifth generation of the Kutis Family, presents a grant from the Matthews Childrens Foundation to Conrad A. Haubrich, Jr. of the St. Baldricks FoundationTeam Brett 2022. Kutis Funeral Home has partnered with the Matthews Childrens Foundation to sponsor Team Brett 2022 in funding lifesaving pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldricks Foundation.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer driven charity dedicated to funding the most promising research for finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Cancer kills more children in the United States than any other disease, more than many other diseases combined, and 1 in 5 children diagnosed with cancer will not survive. Even in light of this grim reality, less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget is dedicated to childhood cancer research.

With the help of Kutis Funeral Home, Team Brett 2022 has raised over $129,000.00 to fund pediatric brain cancer research, with most of that money invested right here in St. Louis through the physicians and researchers at Siteman Kids/St. Louis Children's Hospital. These efforts have helped fund a St. Baldrick's Research Grant that has been awarded to Dr. Josh Rubin at Washington University in St. Louis for his work on medulloblastoma, an aggressive grade 4 brain cancer. Dr. Rubin was one of the pediatric oncologists who treated Brett at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Kutis Funeral Home is a family owned and operated St. Louis business that has served the community since 1910. The Kutis Family continues their tradition of charity, kindness and service to others by supporting childhood cancer research at the St. Baldrick's Foundation.





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CLAYTON  Centene Corp. on Thursday said its board had approved a medical leave of absence requested by the company's chief executive officer.

Chairman and CEO Michael Neidorff has led the Clayton-based health insurance company for 26 years. In December Neidorff announced that he intended to retire by the end of 2022, as the company disclosed that it had struck a deal with an activist investor to overhaul its board.

The company said day-to-day management will be led by a four-person office of the chairman. It includes Vice Board Chairman Sarah London, President and Chief Operating Officer Brent Layton, Chief Financial Officer Drew Asher and Chief Administrative Officer Shannon Bagley.

The company said the office will report to James Dallas, who has been named acting chairman of the board.

"I have full faith and confidence in this leadership team and their ability to execute on Centene's Value Creation strategy," Neidorff said in a statement Thursday. "As I deal with a treatable medical condition, I want to thank the team for their ongoing work and dedication to lead this exceptional company."

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OLIVETTE  A child care facility adjacent to the 39 North ag tech district could open by September to serve the growing workforce there.

The YWCA of Metro St. Louis is eyeing a site owned by the private school Miriam Academy, which moved into its building at 1138 North Warson Road in 2020. The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, which helped establish the 39 North district, are helping to coordinate the effort.

The partnership board voted to endorse a cooperative agreement on the plan Wednesday.

Bayers North American Crop Science headquarters campus is nearby, and ag tech company Benson Hill has quickly grown from a startup to a public company with a new headquarters in the district.

The Partnership is not committing any funding but will continue facilitating the effort. Janet Wilding, who leads the Partnership's 39 North efforts, said the need for child care is among the top priorities employees in the 39 North district report in surveys.

The hope is to open a child care facility on the Miriam campus for up to 70 children by September, growing capacity to 100 by late next year.

Editor's note: The Danforth Center is helping coordinate efforts for the child care center. An earlier version incorrectly said it was providing a grant writer for the project.

Jacob Barker  314-340-8291 @jacobbarker on Twitter jbarker@post-dispatch.com

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THURSDAY, Feb. 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Devastating wildfires around the world will only grow in number in coming decades as climate change further fuels the chances of out-of-control blazes, a landmark report from the United Nations warns.

Produced by more than 50 researchers from six continents, the report estimated that the risk worldwide for uncontrollable wildfires could increase by up to 57 percent by the end of the century, although some regions are likely to see more fire activity, while others may experience less. But all governments should prepare for the worst, the scientists added.

In some regions with long histories of brush fires, such as Eastern Australia and the Western United States and Canada, they have become more intense during the last decade and are incinerating larger areas, the report showed. But uncontrolled blazes are also starting to occur in places where it had not been common, such as Russia, Northern India, and Tibet. Meanwhile, in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, fire activity has declined during the past two decades, partly because drought has killed off more vegetation.

Researchers concluded that the extreme heat wave in the Pacific Northwest last year almost certainly would not have occurred without planetary warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. And scientists have also found the signs of climate change on brush fires in Australia and extreme heat and burning in Siberia. But hot weather and weak rainfall can also decrease the amount of vegetation that can feed fires. In other places, the decreased humidity can make vegetation more flammable, helping fires spread more easily.

In a moderate scenario, the likelihood of catastrophic fires could increase by up to a third by 2050 and up to 52 percent by 2100, as estimated in the report. If greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed and the planet heats up even more, wildfire risks could rise by up to 57 percent by the end of the century.

The report urges governments to become more proactive about fire hazards. For every dollar spent in the United States on managing wildfires, almost 60 cents goes toward firefighting responses, according to the report. Much less is spent on lowering fire risks ahead of disasters and helping communities recover in ways that could make them more resilient to future blazes.

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
THURSDAY, Feb. 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A drug developed for an autoimmune disease shows promise in treating a potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition in children who've had COVID-19, researchers say.

The rare condition is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). It typically develops weeks to months after a child has had mild or even asymptomatic COVID-19.

"Working collaboratively, we've been able to demonstrate that viral particles that remain in the gut long after COVID-19 infection can instigate MIS-C," said study co-author David Walt. He is a principal investigator in the pathology department at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

"Building on this important discovery, we wanted to see if treatment with a drug developed for another condition  celiac disease  could help resolve symptoms in children experiencing MIS-C," Walt said in a hospital news release.

MIS-C causes fever and hyperinflammation that can affect multiple organs, including the heart, brain and gastrointestinal tract.

Fifty-five children out of over 6,400 diagnosed with MIS-C have died since May 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The researchers applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February 2021 for emergency compassionate use of the drug larazotide acetate to treat MIS-C.

The doctors gave the drug to four extremely ill children, aged 3 to 17, being treated for MIS-C at Massachusetts General Hospital. Larazotide decreases the release of a molecule called zonulin, which increases the risk that the highly inflammatory spike protein associated with COVID-19 can escape the gut and get into the bloodstream.

The four children who received four daily oral doses of larazotide acetate also received steroids and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG). They were compared to 22 children with MIS-C who received only steroids and IVIG.

Compared to those who didn't receive larazotide, the children who got the drug had a much quicker recovery from gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and also had slightly shorter hospital stays.

The spike protein associated with the coronavirus cleared from the blood of children treated with larazotide within one day, compared to 10 days for the children who weren't given the drug, according to the study.

"These findings suggest that larazotide may provide a safe and beneficial adjuvant therapy for the treatment of MIS-C," the study authors concluded.

The results were published online recently in the journal Critical Care Explorations.

Larazotide is currently in a phase 3 clinical trial for approval to treat celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that leads to damage in the small intestine.

More information

For more on MIS-C, go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCE: Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, news release, Feb. 23, 2022

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
THURSDAY, Feb. 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Despite the crushing challenges of navigating a worldwide pandemic during the past two years, Americans remain as optimistic as ever, a series of surveys shows.

The surveys were conducted between 2008 and 2020, and included 2.7 million adults who were asked to use a 10-point scale to rank their current life satisfaction, with 10 being the highest level of contentment.

The participants were also asked to rate their anticipated life satisfaction in five years, and the difference between that and their current satisfaction score was used to measure their sense of optimism or pessimism about the future.

Over the 12 years of surveys, current and anticipated scores remained fairly consistent, according to the study published Feb. 23 in the American Journal of Public Health.

For example, during the Great Recession (2008 to 2010), current satisfaction scores ranged between 6.79 and 6.97, while scores of anticipated satisfaction in five years ranged from 7.56 to 7.74. In each of the three years of the recession, the measure of optimism (the difference between current and anticipated scores) was exactly the same (.77).

Scores in the first year of the COVID pandemic showed similar results. Current satisfaction levels in 2020 were slightly lower than in previous years, but the anticipated satisfaction level in five years stayed steady, resulting in a relatively high measure of optimism (.92).

The findings from the long-running survey conducted by the Gallup National Health and the Well-Being Index, an online self-assessment tool created by the Mayo Clinic, have broad implications for Americans' health, said senior study author Dr. Brita Roy, an assistant professor of medicine at Yale University.

"Prior literature shows that declines in hope are associated with worse health outcomes and sense of well-being," Roy said in a Yale news release. "People with a more optimistic orientation generally do better during an illness, adhere to better health behaviors, and exhibit better psychological health."

The surveys also revealed that between 2008 and 2017, optimism declined in 1 of 7 counties nationwide, increased in about 1 in 7, and remained the same in about 5 out of 7.

Understanding the differences in local trends and levels of hope are crucial in developing community-based strategies to improve public health, Roy noted.

For example, in areas where hope is diminishing, public health problems such as opioid addiction might be increasing.

"That is where strategies to improve community engagement and socio-economic conditions might pay big health dividends," Roy said.

More information

There's more on optimism and health at Harvard Medical School.

SOURCE: Yale University, news release, Feb. 23, 2022

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
On Monday, Feb. 23, 1931, The St. Louis Star newspaper shared with its readers news about a huge lake being developed in mid-Missouri. The lake's official name, Lake Benton, didn't stick. The body of water came to be known as the Lake of the Ozarks. Here is that original report.

What will be the largest body of water in Missouri is being formed since the closing of the locks of the Bagnell Dam of the Union Electric Light and Power Company last week.

The dam is almost in the center of the state, about 200 miles from St. Louis. At some places the water has covered the valley to a depth of eight feet.

The lake will be about 125 miles long, twisting and curving with the valley and filling in all the subsidiary valleys formed by the outlets of the Niangua, Little Niangua, Grand Auglaise and other creeks flowing into the Osage River. The lake will have an irregular shore line of almost 1,400 miles, flooding about 60,000 acres.

The dam will be 2,500 feet long and 100 feet high and will be built of earth and concrete. It will cost $30 million.

The final step necessary to undertake its construction was the securing of the St. Joseph Lead Company as a power customer. The company uses more current than all the resident consumers in St. Louis.

The settlement at the dam has been named Damsite, Mo. There are about 250 inhabitants, all of whom work on the dam. The settlement is about 35 miles southwest of Jefferson City.

The state house passed a bill February 12, last, to name the lake formed by the dam "Lake Benton," in honor of United States Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri. The Union Electric has named it the Lake of the Ozarks. Completion of the dam this year is expected to attract many tourists next summer.
Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Ed Lewis was a high school teacher.

For most of his adult life, he taught chemistry and physics. Through the years, in the Missouri towns of Vandalia and Moberly, he taught all four of his children.

One of those children, a daughter, is a journalist. She has a masters degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and works as a reporter in mid-Missouri.

Lewis, a Republican, is now a state representative.

This is a story about how those three professions  teaching, politics and journalism  collided. It starts with a letter Lewis received in November. Everybody involved in public education in Missouri  including my wife  received such a letter, explaining that their Social Security numbers might have been available in publicly accessible data on a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website. The letter explained how a person who might have been affected could take extra steps  at the states expense  to protect their personal information.

By the time Lewis received the letter, he knew it had been spurred by the journalism of my colleague, Post-Dispatch data reporter Josh Renaud. In October, Renaud discovered the vulnerability in the DESE website. He verified with a University of Missouri-St. Louis professor who is an expert in all things cyber that he was seeing what he thought he was seeing. Renaud informed the state of the vulnerability and held off publishing his report about it until the data could be taken offline and protected.

Rather than thank Renaud for his professionalism and fine journalism, Gov. Mike Parson, who, like Lewis, is a Republican, falsely accused Renaud of a crime. He called him a hacker and implied he had broken the law to obtain the information that led to his reporting. At an angry news conference, Parson ordered the Missouri State Highway Patrol to investigate.

We will not let this crime against Missouri teachers go unpunished, the governor said.

Lewis was a bit dumbfounded.

That didnt really sound like hacking to me, he says. He discovered something and did the right thing. He did exactly what a journalist should do.

Lewis talked to his daughter about it. He worried that the governors action might have a chilling effect on young reporters like her. Over the past couple of weeks or so, it became clear that Renaud did everything by the book, after Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson said no crime was committed and the state patrol investigation found that Renaud was never in a place he should not have been and only accessed open data.

To date, public records show that the FBI didnt think a crime was committed. The state patrol found no crime. The prosecutor found no crime. So Parson was asked this week: Would he apologize to Renaud for calling him a criminal?

The answer is no. Parson will not be apologizing. Thats unfortunate. It will forever stain the governors legacy. While he hasnt heard from the governor, Renaud did hear from somebody else in state government: Lewis.

The state representative was moved upon seeing Renauds statement posted online after Thompson announced he wouldnt prosecute the reporter.

Since my ordeal began, I have tried to follow Jesus command in Matthew 5:44 to bless those who curse you and to pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. It hasnt been easy, Renaud wrote.

My colleague is a better Christian than I am. I am not sure I could pray for the governor in that circumstance. In his statement, Renaud asked for something simple: an apology from the man who dishonored his name.

He received one not from the governor but from a state representative, a former teacher, a proud dad of a journalist, who saw pure class in action and responded accordingly.

I just wanted to reach out to you and tell you how happy I was that the Cole County court decided not to move forward with a case against you, Lewis wrote to Renaud. I read your response and I thought you handled the dispute with class and represented your profession well. We need journalists to do their job and to do their job without feeling intimidation. ... Please accept my apology for the behavior of our state and to how you were treated. I know it is not my position to extend an apology but as a member of the General Assembly I think I should as a Representative of the state of Missouri.

Its a lovely letter that hit its mark. Renaud was moved by it. I called Lewis this week to ask why he sent it.

He deserved encouragement, not the opposite, Lewis said of Renaud. I felt that Josh was treated poorly.

Indeed, he was. Now hes vindicated, and uplifted, thanks to a teacher who just gave the entire state a civics lesson that wont soon be forgotten.

From City Hall to the Capitol, metro columnist Tony Messenger shines light on what public officials are doing, tells stories of the disaffected, and brings voice to the issues that matter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
CLAYTON  A police union can represent prosecutors and investigators in St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bells office, a judge ruled Thursday.

Bell, who was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, had expressed concern that having them represented by the St. Louis Police Officers Association presents an inherent conflict of interest because they sometimes work with police officers who are also represented by the union.

St. Louis County Associate Circuit Judge Amanda B. McNelley, however, granted summary judgment to the prosecutors and investigators, citing an appeals court case and a Missouri Supreme Court case about union representation.

McNelley ruled that the union was the exclusive bargaining unit for the employees and ordered county officials to recognize them as such, saying to do otherwise would violate the Missouri constitutional provision that says employees shall have the right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.

The union sued in 2020, saying county officials were refusing to bargain in good faith with the union selected by Bells employees in a 33-11 vote in 2018.

A county spokesman did not immediately return an email seeking comment.

The ruling represents a major development in the St. Louis Police Officers Associations lawsuit against St. Louis County that sought to rescind changes to employment conditions imposed by Bell without notice to the association since January 2019.

SLPOAs lawsuit said that in a vote held Dec. 17, 2018  two weeks before Bell took office  33 employees of the prosecutors office voted in favor of the union and 11 were opposed, out of 54 eligible prosecutors and investigators.

The suit claimed that Bell and county officials have refused to bargain with the union and that that refusal violates the Missouri Constitution that allows employees to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.

During a Feb. 16 court hearing, a lawyer for the SLPOA said St. Louis County created a void by refusing to meet and confer with the police union for more than two years. St. Louis County, he said, still has a constitutional duty to act because of the prosecutors vote to join the police union.

It has been pure silence, said Neil Bruntrager, a lawyer representing the SLPOA. To do nothing is to violate the constitution.

Jillian Mueller, a lawyer for St. Louis County, argued that the prosecutors vote to join the SLPOA in December 2018 was an invalid, private election because Missouris State Board of Mediation declined to manage the election.

Mueller added that the Missouri Supreme Court struck down the 2018 paycheck protection law last summer that allowed public-sector union workers to decline the expenditure of dues money for political purposes.

She said the mediation board would have held jurisdiction over the election had the law not been in place at the time.

The only reason this private election was allowed to take place was because HB 1413 was in place, Mueller said. There has been no quote-unquote void.

The move to join the SLPOA has been a divisive issue among some current and former members of Bells staff.

One example of Bells changes to working conditions that SLPOA cites is the 2019 departure of veteran prosecutor Susan Petersen, who later sued Bell alleging racial and gender discrimination.

Bell responded to a complaint from SLPOA business manager Jeff Roorda, saying he had respectfully declined to negotiate a union contract over perceived conflicts of interest.

Bell declined an interview with the Post-Dispatch but has said that while he supports workers rights to unionize he opposes his staff joining the SLPOA because of potential conflicts of interest.

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Robert Patrick Robert Patrick is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Robert Patrick Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
ST. LOUIS  St. Louis police officers sent through the police academy by the city will have to repay St. Louis if they leave the department within a short time under a bill advanced Thursday by a St. Louis aldermanic committee.

Board Bill 195 follows growing complaints within the police department of recruits being trained using city funds before quickly getting a job at another department, St. Louis Public Safety Director Dan Isom told the aldermanic panel Thursday.

The Post-Dispatch reported in September that officer departures were up by 60% in the department in 2021 compared with the previous year. Some police leaders point to both an increase in retirements and young officers leaving for suburban departments driving the trend.

It costs the city about $36,900 to put a recruit through the St. Louis Police Academy, Isom said.

This is a recognition that we put a lot of investment up front in these individuals to become police officers, Isom said.

Police recruits already sign an agreement with the city to repay the cost of training if they leave for another law enforcement job within four years.

But the agreements have been unenforceable since the department shifted from state to city control in 2013, Isom said.

The old agreement was approved by the state police board but needs a city ordinance to become valid again, Isom said.

With most smaller agencies not funding officers training, Isom said hes heard some smaller municipalities have recommended recruits get trained by St. Louis and work for just a few months in the city as a way to get hired onto the smaller forces.

The police department plans to prorate the repayments so that officers will be required to repay less the longer they stay with the city, Isom said.

In a way, its no different than a trainee or a new officer working off student loan debt, so to speak, Alderman James Page, Ward 5, said in support of the measure.

Isom told aldermen Thursday that police departures were rising quickly from about 10 per month to 20 a month through the summer in 2021, but some officers have decided to return to the department in 2022.

When you talk about exit interviews there are various things that people point to, Isom said. Pay is one. Certainly the stress of the job here ... can be more than some other agencies.

Isom said the department has focused on restarting award ceremonies to give more recognition for good work as a way to improve morale.

Isom said he hopes the department should be able to rebound from the increase in departures through larger academy classes in the next year.

The St. Louis police force fell by about 150 officers, or 12%, in 2021, going from 1,286 at the end of 2020 to 1,137 by January. The number of budgeted officer positions in the department was cut from 1,348 to 1,286 officers in fiscal year 2022.

Board Bill 195 now moves to consideration by the full St. Louis Board of Aldermen.

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ST. LOUIS  Most circuit employees in St. Louis and St. Louis County were sent home early Thursday due to the winter storm, spokesmen said.

Most St. Louis Circuit Court employees were dismissed at 1:30 p.m., leaving a "skeleton crew" to handle essential court functions, a statement says. Judges can decide on their own if they want to proceed with trials or hearings, the statement says.
ST. LOUIS  St. Louis police union board members voted to let the unions contract with Jeff Roorda, the unions often controversial business manager, expire in April, union officials confirmed Thursday.

Roorda remains employed by the union, but members of the St. Louis Police Officers Association opted to not automatically renew his contract in April because Roorda is running for a seat in the Missouri Senate representing Jefferson Countys District 22.

Roorda said Thursday that the vote is a precaution, should he win election.

Nothing has changed, he said. Im still the Police Officers Association business manager. I just filed to run for state Senate on Tuesday. This is all about whether Ill be able to do both jobs if I win. Theres no story here.

Roorda, 56, of Barnhart, has for more than 10 years represented union members in the media and in negotiations with city leaders, among other duties.

In his time with the union, Roorda has often landed in controversy with his statements defending police, leading activist groups and the citys two most recent mayors to call for his removal.

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones called on the union to oust Roorda during her campaign last year.

If they dont get rid of him, they dont have a seat at my table, she said.

A spokesman for Jones office on Thursday declined to comment on the vote about Roordas contract.

Roorda has called Jones role in the citys search for a police chief a disaster and has pushed for the police department to return to state control, in part to avoid the mayors influence over policing in the city.

In 2017, Roorda called Jones a race-baiter and cop-hater. His 2017 comments about Jones elicited a sharp response from her mayoral opponent at the time, former Alderman Lyda Krewson, who called on the union leadership to fire Roorda for his statements.

When I am mayor, he will not be welcome in my office, Krewson, who was elected, added.

Following the 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson by a police officer, Roorda wrote a book titled Ferghanistan: The War on Police.

Roorda was a police officer for 17 years, most of them in Arnold.

Roorda served in the Missouri House as a Democrat from 2005 to 2010 and again from 2013 to 2015, but he is now running as a Republican to take over the Missouri Senate seat of term-limited Republican Sen. Paul Wieland of Imperial.

After his service in the House, he ran for a seat in the state Senate in 2014 but lost to Wieland. A bid for Jefferson County Council in 2016 and Jefferson County executive in 2018 also failed.

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ST. LOUIS  An 81-year-old Webster Groves woman who was defrauded by romance scammers and then turned around to help them was sentenced in federal court here Thursday to five years of probation.

Glenda Seim was also ordered to repay $32,454 to victims, and she faces intensive supervision by probation officers and significant restrictions on her ability to possess a computer or access the internet.

Seim could have faced three to four years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.

But U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark gave her a break because of her age, her health and her participation in a unique FBI public service announcement released in December warning others of romance scams.

In the video, Seim spoke of being duped by Nigerian scammers and then becoming a money mule for them, pawning cellphones and other electronics that were sent to her by other victims.

She also opened bank accounts that scammers used to electronically deposit money from other victims.

Still referring to her scammer as my love, Seim said she ignored repeated warnings from bank employees and federal agents in the video. News of the video was shared as far away as Nigeria, prosecutors said.

Both Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry and defense lawyer Lucille Liggett supported the sentence of probation.

Berry said Seims PSA has been shared widely and is being used by the FBI and others to warn of the dangers of romance scams.

Liggett said that when she first met her client in March, Seim didnt trust her or the FBI.

But it wasnt until after going through the evidence against her for hours and hours that it dawned on Seim that the love of her life had duped both her and others, Liggett said.

Seim told Clark, I am so ashamed, embarrassed and sorry for my actions.

She pleaded guilty in November to federal bank fraud and identity theft charges.

Seim began an online relationship with someone claiming to be an American citizen working in Nigeria in 2014 and sent some of her Social Security retirement income to help him get out of the country, her plea says.

Seim graduated to pawning the electronics, tried to deposit a $45,000 counterfeit check into a bank account and then created a fake company to open business bank accounts that scammers used to electronically deposit money from romance scams.

Even after she was warned by FBI and U.S. Secret Service agents and promised to stop, agents discovered that Seim had been helping scammers get unemployment insurance in the name of three victims of identity theft.

The scammers sought to steal more than $550,000 but were largely thwarted.

Seim grew up an only child on an isolated farm with parents who were distant to her, Liggett wrote in a sentencing memorandum. After her second husband died, she moved into a seniors apartment complex in Kirkwood and opened a Facebook account as a way to meet people.

She was courted by a man named Wilson, who promised to marry her and then manipulated and brainwashed her by withholding his affection unless she did his bidding, the memo says.

The man also convinced her to believe him over those trying to warn her about the scam. Liggett said Seim was evicted from her apartment after her guilty plea.

Seims case is one of a series prosecuted recently in St. Louis and nationwide, part of a Money Mule Initiative targeting the scams.

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SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois Supreme Court is being asked to review the states mask mandate and other COVID-19 mitigation orders for K-12 schools on an expedited schedule.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a petition for appeal Tuesday, along with a motion for an emergency stay of a Sangamon County judges order to block enforcement of the rules.

On Feb. 4, Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the rules which, among other things, require schools to exclude students or staff from their buildings if they have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, and require unvaccinated staff to undergo testing at least once a week.

In her ruling, Grischow cited a section of the Illinois Department of Public Health Act that says people may not be quarantined without their consent or a court order and concluded that the mitigation mandates amounted to a kind of quarantine.

Two weeks later, a three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeals declined to review that decision, saying the issue was moot because, in the intervening time, the legislatures Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted not to extend the Illinois Department of Public Healths emergency rules that put those mandates in place.

The appeal comes just days before Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration is scheduled to lift the statewide indoor mask mandate Feb. 28 for most public places, except in schools and health care settings. Pritzker has said he intends to lift the school mandate as well, possibly within the next few weeks, saying schools need more time because of the large number of unvaccinated children in the buildings and the close proximity in which they work.

Asked Wednesday why the administration continues to appeal the case, Pritzker said he thinks its important to clarify the powers of the governor and state agencies in case of another public health emergency.

This really is about what do we do in the next emergency, as much as anything, what happens when there is another omicron wave or, God forbid, at some future date, another pandemic or some other major emergency that affects everybody in the state, Pritzker said during an unrelated news conference in Decatur. We want to be able to do the right thing for the people across the state and so we hope that the Supreme Court will see that and rule on that despite the decision by the appellate court.

In his appeal, Raouls office also argued that there needs to be clarity because different appellate courts have ruled differently on the same question.

In 2020, the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Kane County ruled against the owners of FoxFire Tavern in Geneva and upheld Pritzkers indoor mask mandate for bars and restaurants. In that ruling, the court specifically found that the orders were not tantamount to quarantine orders, isolation orders, or business-closure orders, and that the governors actions were authorized under the Illinois Emergency Management Act.

As a result, the (Sangamon County) circuit courts order has infused confusion into an area of law that was settled and holds the governor to a standard not required by statute, Raouls office stated in the appeal.

In its motion to stay the Sangamon County restraining order, Raouls office said the order is creating confusion for entire communities.

Today, parents, teachers, school staff, and members of their communities are faced with impossible choices, the motion states. Some schools have eliminated mitigation measures on the threat of legal liability, some parents have been forced to withdraw students from school, and uncertainty regarding the applicable legal regime reigns. This court should stay the circuit courts (temporary restraining order) during the pendency of these proceedings and restore the status quo.

The state is asking for a schedule that would allow for oral arguments as soon as the week of March 20.
CLAYTON  A St. Louis County government email responding to a local nonprofit group seeking information about COVID-19 testing included a link to a campaign site for County Executive Sam Page.

The email was the subject of a County Council ethics committee inquiry Thursday into a complaint that Pages administration violated laws forbidding the use of public resources for political campaigns.

Damon Broadus, county public health director of health promotion and public research, sent the email Jan. 10 with information about a county effort to collect reports of at-home test results.

Broadus email added that Pages office does their best to help residents stay on top of the news in the county. It included a link for signing up for a Page campaign newsletter.

Department of Public Health spokesman Chris Ave said in a statement that the email mistakenly included a link to a campaign website.

The inclusion of that link was wrong and never should have occurred. Before the error was caught, the substance of the email, including the link, was emailed to other individuals. DPH is investigating the situation as a personnel matter, Ave said.

Page spokesman Doug Moore said in a statement that Dr. Faisal Khan, acting public health director, informed Dr. Page that a personnel investigation is underway to determine what happened.

Moore said Page found out about the email Wednesday.

Dr. Page has for the past two years in his weekly press conferences referred residents to county-run sites that offer information on COVID-19, including ReviveSTL.com, where residents can find information on testing and vaccines.

The Jan. 10 email read in full: You may have seen Dr. Pages press conference from last Friday, if not it can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/2JHN0gAeSl4?t=854  he shares the info below:

How to Report Results of At-Home COVID-19 Tests to DPH: If you have conducted at-home testing and are positive, you can report that result to the Department of Public Health. A number of residents who have tested positive for COVID on a home COVID test have asked whether they should report their results to DPH. DPH has created an email account for those who wish to report a positive COVID test result. That email is dph.submission@stlouiscountymo.gov.

Lastly, each week, the County Executives office does their best to help residents stay on top of the news in the County. There is a newsletter with useful resources that you can sign up for at: https://bit.ly/3nijXBs

The Jan. 10 email was a follow-up to a Jan. 5 email from a local nonprofit CEO asking for information on COVID-19 at-home testing in north St. Louis County. The email, which also copied Councilwomen Rita Days and Shalonda Webb, was sent to Broadus and Rochelle Walton Gray, a former councilwoman Page hired in 2020 to conduct vaccine outreach.

Gray deferred to Broadus, removing Days and Webb from the email thread. Broadus notified the nonprofit that the county didnt have a way to report at-home test results at that point, but said he would provide any updates if that changed.

He emailed again Jan. 10, a few days after Page held a press conference announcing the public health department created a new email address to receive at-home test reports.

Jane Dueker, an attorney and frequent and vocal critic of the Page administration, sent a complaint about the email to the councils ethics committee, alleging it represented an overt and blatant inappropriate diversion of public resources for campaign purposes.

Dueker told a reporter Thursday the email was sent to her by a whistleblower but refused to provide more details.

She said she doubted the public health departments explanation that the link was included in error.

How can that be a mistake? she said. Its a bright line that you never ever use government resources for campaigns, ever.

Ave said the department was unaware of the link until Councilman Mark Harder, chairman of the ethics committee, disclosed the complaint had been made in a letter dated Feb. 16 and included in the councils public agenda this week.

After Khan inquired, Harders office sent them the email Wednesday, Ave said.

Asked how the department knew the link was added by mistake, Ave said the person involved didnt know that the link went to a campaign website.

Broadus and Gray did not return messages seeking comment.

During the council hearing, Councilman Tim Fitch, R-3rd District, urged the council to issue subpoenas and records requests for any other emails with the link.

Im sure we have the ability to search every county email in our system, he said.

Harder agreed and said he would schedule another ethics committee meeting.

The recipient of the Jan. 10 email, North County Inc. President Rebecca Zoll, said she had opened the link for the email but had done nothing more with it and had no more contact with county officials about it.

She was unaware that the email was a subject of council discussion until a reporter called Thursday, she said. She had not been contacted by any council member or anyone else about it.

Zoll is part of a volunteer North County outreach group formed in 2020 to share information about any COVID-19 vaccine and testing events, she said. Th organization has a strict policy against endorsing electoral campaigns or sharing campaign information.

The next email Zoll received from Broadus, on Jan. 25, included a link to ReviveSTL and did not reference the past communications, according to a copy seen by a reporter.

Originally posted at 1:45 p.m. Updated at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24.

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JEFFERSON CITY  The House on Thursday advanced its third plan within a week to diminish voters ability to change the states constitution through initiative petitions.

A proposal sponsored by Rep. J. Eggleston, R-Maysville, would raise the bar for passage of constitutional amendments from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority.

However, voters could still repeal previously approved constitutional amendments by a simple majority, Eggleston said.

Lawmakers gave the measure first-round approval on a voice vote.

Today we saw the clearest illustration of what this is about, said Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis. We had this bill pass that was very carefully crafted to make it harder for people to pass things at the ballot but still made it so that theres an easier way to undo Medicaid expansion.

Medicaid expansion is one of several measures passed through ballot initiative opposed by GOP lawmakers. The House also approved a measure Thursday that would allow lawmakers to defund the expansion.

GOP representatives said the Missouri Constitution is abnormally long compared with the U.S. Constitution and other states. Rep. Barry Hovis, R-Whitewater, argued the document shouldnt be allowed to just shift with the winds of time.

Unlike some of the other proposals, the increased requirements would apply to both amendments proposed by lawmakers and by voters through the petition process.

Signatures to place a question on the ballot would have to come from all eight Missouri congressional districts, as opposed to the six currently required.

The amendment also institutes a process for the General Assembly to vet proposed amendments by conducting hearings and potentially recommending changes.

There is already an often-ignored statute calling for hearings on these proposals, Eggleston said.

This brings the hearing process into our normal process, Eggleston said. I dont think theres a body in this state thats better at vetting ideas and more equipped to do so than our House and Senate.

The petitioner would retain the right to reject any changes made by lawmakers.

If approved by the Legislature, the proposal would need voter approval by a simple majority to take effect. Democratic opponents repeated the argument that Republicans were hiding attacks on the petition process under the guise of more commonsense measures or complex language as a ploy to confuse voters.

An amendment proposed Thursday by Merideth would have added language allowing Missourians to sign ballot initiatives electronically.

Merideth argued the electronic signatures would make the petition process more accessible and secure, calling it a commonsense 21st century change.

Security was a sticking point for GOP representatives, who said adding technological changes would exacerbate some voters election security concerns. The amendment was voted down.

The legislation is House Joint Resolution 91.

Originally posted at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24.

Grace Zokovitch gzokovitch@post-dispatch.com
JEFFERSON CITY  With thousands of vacant properties stacking up in St. Louis, state lawmakers are taking another swing at addressing the problem.

The House Local Government Committee on Wednesday approved a bill, sponsored by Rep. Michael ODonnell, R-Oakville, aiming to reduce the number of vacant properties in the city.

Proposed penalties and regulations would push owners to maintain and pay delinquent taxes on vacant properties. The bill also adds stipulations for the revenue collector in the reclamation process and provisions to clarify property records.

The combination of these things will not be a silver bullet, but is intended to stem the tide of dilapidated properties going forward and clean the title so that people stand a chance if they decide to take on one of these properties, one lawyer advocating for the legislation said at a previous hearing.

There are more than 24,000 vacant parcels in the city, according to St. Louis Vacancy Collaborative data, costing the city over $19 million in unpaid taxes and fees in the last three years.

Were going to add, since the last time I was here testifying on this bill, the incalculable price of the loss of a 33-year-old St. Louis City firefighter, Ben Polson, said ODonnell at a hearing earlier in the month.

Polson was killed responding to a fire at a vacant Wells-Goodfellow building when the structure collapsed on top of him. The building was one of many in the area condemned multiple times and overdue to be demolished.

Buildings like these are largely concentrated in the north side of the city, where over 50% of properties are vacant in some neighborhoods. Fewer than 2,000 have been torn down in the past five years.

Lawmakers spoke to the safety hazard the structures pose to both first responders like Polson and homeless people who take refuge inside.

ODonnell said the legislation is an opportunity to redevelop these neighborhoods but also prevent the issue from taking hold in areas with a couple vacant homes pulling down property values.

We feel that this could be a once-in-a-generation chance to move the needle on this issue that the city of St. Louis hasnt been able to get ahead of for so long, said Missouri lawyer Peter Hoffman of the Legal Services of Eastern Missouris Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative.

The committee also approved two bills prohibiting law banning or regulating dogs based on breed.

The legislation is House Bill 2218.

Originally posted at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23.

Grace Zokovitch gzokovitch@post-dispatch.com
JEFFERSON CITY  Candidates for Missouris open U.S. Senate seat sounded off Thursday on Russias invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, one of the leading contenders in the race, strongly condemned the Russian military assault, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin late Wednesday, taking place across Ukraine.

Today I call upon all Missourians and all Americans to pray for the people of Ukraine, Hartzler, a Republican, said in a video posted to Twitter at 9:27 a.m. Thursday. I call upon all of us to stand strong against the thuggery and the raw power of Putin, who is attacking a free and independent nation.

Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, another candidate for Senate, was also early in condemning Putin, tweeting four minutes later: The only thing a bully respects is a bloody nose  for an unprovoked attack on a free people, Putin deserves one. These actions must not be tolerated.

A third Senate candidate, Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, said of course when asked by phone Thursday morning whether he condemned the invasion.

The intelligence I was privy to was stellar, he said. It was like Putin was wearing a GoPro. So this all was known by our intelligence people, our military people.

He said on Twitter earlier, at 6:48 a.m., that sanctions on Russia should have come before not after the invasion.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt weighed in later Thursday, tweeting at 3:49 p.m.: Vladimir Putin must be held responsible for this unconscionable attack on #Ukraine. Thats why Im calling on (President) Joe Biden to bring the Russian energy industry to a hard stop by placing aggressive sanctions on Russias energy sector.

Former Gov. Eric Greitens briefly addressed the invasion during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday afternoon but saved all of his criticism for Biden, not Putin.

When you look at the military disasters in places like Afghanistan and Bidens policy of weakness and chaos that leads to aggression like were seeing in the Ukraine, you can see that they are trying to destroy our country, Greitens said in his seven-minute speech that mostly excoriated the left and RINOs (Republicans in name only).

The top fundraiser in the Missouri race, Democrat Lucas Kunce, said in a statement Thursday afternoon everyday Ukrainians are under assault from a tyrant.

The only way well destroy Putin is by defunding his war machine  that starts with support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russian oligarchs, but it will only end when we cure Europes addiction to Russian oil and natural gas, he said.

The primary is Aug. 2.

Fissures within the GOP had emerged as the Ukraine threat intensified.

Figures such as Fox News host Tucker Carlson have openly questioned whether to oppose Putin.

Former President Donald Trump had praised Putins strategy in declaring two regions of Ukraine independent from the country.

I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, This is genius. Putin declares a big portion of Ukraine  Putin declares it as independent. Oh, thats wonderful, Trump said in remarks published Tuesday, NBC News reported.

I said, How smart is that? And hes going to go in and be a peacekeeper. ... We could use that on our southern border, the former president said.

Trump said he knew Putin very, very well and described him as a guy whos very savvy.

This invasion would have never occurred under the strong leadership of President Trump who held Russia in check for four years, Schmitt said Thursday afternoon.

Sen. Josh Hawley, who has relentlessly criticized Bidens response to the crisis, continued to do so in a tweet on Thursday, saying Biden had led the United States in to yet another foreign policy crisis.

But a statement Missouris junior senator released struck a somewhat different tone, calling for strong American resolve.

Russias brutal assault on Ukraine and invasion of its territory must be met with strong American resolve, Hawley said. President Biden must act now to hit Vladimir Putin where it hurts, beginning with Russias energy sector. The Biden Administration should sanction Russian energy production to a halt, and help arm the Ukrainians to defend themselves.

At the same time, the White House should reopen American energy production in full, he said. This is the time to show Russia and the world that America will not reward aggression and it will not be dependent on its enemies.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican opposed to Trumps wing of the GOP, earlier this month called Hawley one of the worst human beings after the Missouri senator had called on Biden to reject Ukraines bid for membership in NATO, a position Axios reported Republicans increasingly agreed with despite past consensus otherwise.

Hawley called Kinzingers comments weird, Business Insider reported, and Kinzinger responded, It is weird. We are in weird times. Like having a senator more interested in pleasing Tucker (Carlson) and playing to worst instincts than leading.

Hawley has endorsed Hartzler in the GOP primary for the Senate seat Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., is vacating.

In the Missouri Senate, state Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, asked for a moment of silence in the aftermath of the overnight invasion.

Russias invasion of Ukraine should enrage supporters of democracy all over the world, he said.

Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, voiced support for Ukraine in a statement late Thursday morning on Twitter.

Missourians stand with the people of Ukraine and pray for every innocent life put in harms way due to this unprovoked and senseless act of Russian aggression, he said. The free world shouldnt cower to dictators or stand idly by as democracy is threatened.

We pray that a unified response from the United States and our allies can quickly resolve this conflict, Parson said.

Posted at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24. Updated at 4:52 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24.

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JEFFERSON CITY  A fight over one senators bib overalls was shunted aside Wednesday so the Missouri Legislatures fractured upper chamber could finally approve a midyear budget adjustment that boosts state worker pay and bans funds for Planned Parenthood.

After weeks of inaction, the massive supplemental budget was sent back to the House for further action on a 25-7 vote. If the House concurs with the Senate version, it would head to Gov. Mike Parsons desk.

Business in the Senate had been stuck in a dress code dilemma for two days as Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, read from a book. He was angered that the Senate president had removed him from committees after he wore denim bib overalls on the Senate floor, in violation of chamber dress code.

With Moon and Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, announcing a truce Wednesday afternoon, senators were able to proceed to the Republican governors long-sought supplemental budget that will provide a 5.5% cost-of-living raise to state workers as managers struggle to retain staff.

The supplemental budget will allow agency managers to provide wages that match market rates, without setting a $15 base pay that had proved controversial in the House, said Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

It really does not deal with a baseline, Hegeman said. We are giving you the ability to be able to hire folks in these much-needed areas, retain your employees and, you know, and go to the market rate.

A recurring exodus of workers in state government has led to added costs for temporary workers, long waits on state hotlines, limits on nursing home beds for veterans and caps on people needing mental health treatment.

But the massive $4.5 billion budget measure, which Parson originally sought by Feb. 1, was briefly held up by Democrats opposed to a provision that would block state funds for Planned Parenthood clinics, including ones where abortions arent provided.

Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, proposed an amendment to reverse the move. Schupps proposal was rejected on a partisan 10-23 vote after heated debate, potentially signaling the issue would eventually have to be resolved by the court system.

Once again, this body has used this legislation, this budget bill, to legislate and to remove funding from Planned Parenthood, Schupp argued, adding an estimated 7,600 Medicaid recipients use the provider for services such as treatment for sexually transmitted infections, cancer screenings and contraception.

Theyre not all women, Schupp said of Planned Parenthood patients. Theyre low-income people, or people who need to make sure they get access.

This is not about abortion, Schupp said. This is about taking away contraception from low-income women around the state, and from providing health care to low-income people around the state.

I dont know what facility the people who put this into our budget bill think that these 7,600 patients will go to to get their health care, Schupp said.

We have a great network of FQHCs (federally qualified health centers), Hegeman said.

Said Schupp, The FQHCs are going to be overwhelmed.

While the state already doesnt fund abortion, Hegeman said that wasnt enough.

Right now, we dont fund abortions in the state of Missouri, but we do fund organizations that support abortion services, Hegeman said.

This is not the kind of funding that we want to do in Missouri, he said to Schupp. Weve had a position in the state of Missouri for the past number of years, much to your chagrin, of us not funding facilities that provide abortions and ... affiliates of those facilities.

Hegeman said the Missouri Supreme Court has issued two conflicting decisions in recent years: a 2020 ruling that reversed an attempt to defund Planned Parenthood and a second last summer that paved the way for voter-approved Medicaid expansion.

Both judgments were at odds with language in the state budget, which the GOP-controlled Legislature had approved.

I find their decisions contradictory right now, Hegeman said. I want a decision on it.

Overalls

Debate over the budget followed a resolution to the conflict with Moon, who in addition to wearing bib overalls has repeatedly worked with other hard-liners to bedevil GOP leaders agenda.

After talks Wednesday, Schatz said his initial approach to Moon about his bib overalls was maybe in a manner that was taken as offensive.

I apologize for that. I wish I had handled it differently, Schatz said. I dont think this will be my last mistake.

But, Schatz added, I am pleased to move on with this.

Moon acknowledged that he may have reacted just as harshly, saying many lawmakers have drives to be fighters for the needs of their constituents.

They expect us to come in and fight for what is right, Moon said.

Originally posted at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23.

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Kurt Erickson Kurt Erickson is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Follow Kurt Erickson 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
JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri House moved quickly Thursday to send a $4.5 billion midyear budget adjustment to Gov. Mike Parsons desk.

Within hours, the Republican chief executive signed the measure, which includes pay raises for the states underpaid workforce.

This bill not only gives our dedicated state team members a long overdue pay increase but also appropriates critical funding to our K-12 schools and child care system, Parson said in a statement.

The supplemental spending plan includes nearly $2 billion in federal emergency relief funds for the states school districts, as well as gives Parson the authority to pass along raises to the 48,000 workers he oversees.

Im glad to see this getting across the finish line, said Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis. Im glad to see the Senate didnt drag its feet too long.

The measure zoomed out of the House on a 133-12 vote. It moved out of the Senate late Wednesday after languishing in the upper chamber for weeks because of Republican infighting.

The blueprint includes the money Parson requested to increase the base pay for state workers to $15 an hour and give a raise of 5.5% to all current employees.

Those raises could begin appearing on state paychecks for the March 1 pay period.

Lawmakers also earmarked money to pay the $1.5 billion cost of operating the Medicaid health insurance program through the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

The Legislature was working under a March 24 deadline to get the money for schools into the budget.

Democrats in the Senate had worked Wednesday to try and stop a Republican plan to carve Planned Parenthood out of the states Medicaid program. But they relented in their effort on the belief the matter will be decided in a courtroom at a later date.

In a briefing earlier this week, Planned Parenthood said the GOP maneuver was illegal.

In our eyes, its a clear violation of both federal and state laws, said Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri.

Democrats also stood down from the fight because the overall package includes top priorities for them, including the money for schools and the Medicaid program.

Missouri ranks among the worst paying states for government workers. Some agencies are seeing massive turnover as employees leave for higher paying private sector jobs.

Hundreds of Missouri residents are crossing the Mississippi River to work in Illinois prisons and mental health facilities where union-backed government jobs pay significantly higher rates.

In response to the exodus, the Missouri Veterans Commission has had to limit how many veterans it can serve at its seven nursing homes.

The Department of Mental Health also faces a backlog of service, resulting in over 200 people needing treatment being stuck in county jails awaiting open beds.

Long wait times are common for people needing state services, ranging from food stamp benefits to health insurance.

Reversing Medicaid expansion

While Democrats praised the passage of money to continue funding an expanded Medicaid program, Republicans used their supermajority Thursday to muscle through a proposed constitutional amendment asking voters in November to reverse their 2020 decision to permanently expand the government-funded health insurance program.

The ballot question, if it also wins approval in the Senate, would ask voters to allow the program to be subject to annual appropriations by the General Assembly, potentially affecting health care access to 275,000 low-income Missourians.

The measure moved to the Senate on a 95-45 vote.

The proposal, if approved by voters, also would require the Missouri Department of Social Services to apply for a waiver from the federal government seeking to require adults who receive the health care benefit to have a job.

And the proposal would end a practice of paying health care costs of people from out of state who are treated in Missouri hospitals.

House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Cody Smith, R-Carthage, argued the proposed constitutional change wouldnt necessarily cut all expansion costs. Rather, he said, it would allow lawmakers more flexibility to manage Medicaid spending.

Groups that had fought for expansion panned the plan.

Expanding coverage for Missourians has been a long fought battle that included a ballot campaign in which voters approved expanded coverage and a lengthy court battle that upheld the voice of Missourians. The voters of Missouri and the courts have spoken, and they should not have to fight this battle again, said Emily Kalmer, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

The budget legislation is House Bill 3014. The proposed constitutional amendment is House Joint Resolution 117.

Originally posted at 10:57 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24. Updated at 1:34 p.m.

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CLAYTON  A request by County Executive Sam Pages administration to hire outside lawyers to fend off Councilman Tim Fitchs pension lawsuit again failed to gain approval this week despite a warning that benefits for other council members could be jeopardized if Fitch prevails.

County Counselor Beth Orwick, in a public letter requesting outside counsel, had said a ruling in Councilmember Fitchs favor could threaten the ability of other council members to qualify for a county pension or other benefits.

On Tuesday, Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, D-2nd District, said she and her children are covered by the countys health insurance program. And she said Council Chair Rita Days, D-1st District, wouldnt be able to count her three years on the council toward a county pension.

Days, who joined the council in 2019, was a county elections director from 2011 to 2015. Under the countys retirement plan, benefits are payable after age 65 if the employees age and years of service combined equal 80, or as early as age 55 with enough years of service.

Days, 71, said she never counted on a county pension and said it had no bearing on her vote not to hire outside lawyers.

Days joined Councilwoman Shalonda Webb, D-4th District, and Councilman Mark Harder, R-7th District, in opposing the request to hire outside lawyers. On the other side were Dunaway, who sponsored the measure, and Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, D-5th District, and Councilman Ernie Trakas, R-6th District. Fitch abstained, and the motion failed on a 3-3 vote.

Fitch said Wednesday that the argument his lawsuit would affect other council members pensions was a scare tactic.

Fitch retired from the police force in 2014 after 31 years of service, including the last six as chief. He sued the county earlier this month to recover more than $254,000 in retirement benefits from his time with the department, plus interest.

The county stopped paying Fitch his roughly $85,000-a-year pension on Jan. 1, 2019, after he was seated as the 3rd District representative on the council.

Under county retirement ordinances, retirement benefits are suspended if a pensioner returns to a salaried position with the county. Council members are paid $20,000 a year.

In his lawsuit, Fitch argues the countys ordinance only applies to full-time, merit positions and that council seats are elected, part-time offices exempt from the merit system.

Orwick said the case posed a conflict of interest because her office had already told Fitch he couldnt draw the pension while on the council.

An earlier request to hire outside lawyers fell short on Feb. 8, when both Dunaway and Trakas were absent.

On Tuesday, Dunaway urged the council to consider a potential impact on their own benefits from the position.

Councilman Fitchs argument, should it prevail, would have some important consequences for his colleagues own pensions and benefits, Dunaway said. You, Madam Chair, would lose the service time you thought you had earned toward your pension, and those of us who rely on this position for health insurance, could lose that.

Dunaway added: Maybe you dont care if your colleagues lose benefits and pensions, but I care. I care that a colleague wants to have his pension cake and eat it too, at the expense of my insurance, my childrens insurance, the benefits of future members of this council and the chairwomans pension.

Days, in response, said she does quite well without the pension.

Its not necessary that I have this, she said.

I noticed that you called me out specifically  its really not necessary, she said. You and whoever else thinks that this is why Im here, you can dispel that.

Whatever is fair needs to be fair ... but I dont appreciate that.

Days, a former two-term state senator, is the only council member who does not also work in the private sector. Fitch is a senior manager for global security at Emerson. Dunaway, a licensed attorney, last year began her own consulting practice.

Days, in an interview Wednesday, claimed she did not know any details about what her county pension would be because she had never sought information about it.

Ive never looked into the retirement situation, she said.

Page spokesman Doug Moore refused to answer the executives position on whether a legal victory for Fitch would affect benefits for other council members.

The attorneys and the court will work that out, Moore said. We dont have anything else to add at this point. Its a pending legal matter, and we will wait for the outcome.

Originally posted at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23.

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ST. LOUIS  Plans call for the Loop Trolley to restart service in the summer unless its new operator, the Bi-State Development Agency, needs more time to ensure that the trolley cars and other equipment meet the agencys safety and other standards.

Thats part of a letter Mayor Tishaura O. Jones plans to send Friday to Mokhtee Ahmad, who heads the Federal Transit Administrations regional office.

The letter by Jones, who chairs the trolleys transportation development district, was approved Thursday by the districts board.

The board, which levies a sales tax collected in and near the 2.2-mile trolley route, also agreed to the memorandum worked out with Bi-State to take over trolley operations. The same document was endorsed last week by the board of Bi-State, which also oversees Metro Transit.

Jones repeated that while she had opposed the trolleys creation, it needs to resume service to avoid having to repay federal money that helped construct the $51 million line. The trolley shut down at the end of 2019 amid financial and operational problems.

Our region is coming together to fix this problem to make sure that were not on the hook for tens of millions of federal dollars, she said.

Ahmad had given local officials until Tuesday to submit a plan to resume trolley service beginning June 1 or face efforts to reclaim as much as $37 million.

Jones said the district is confident that the reopening goal of summer, which begins in late June, can be met with Bi-States technical expertise.

But she said state Department of Transportation oversight and certification will be the determining factor for a prudent opening date.

The letter says the district will pay Bi-State to hire full- and part-time staff to run and maintain the trolley. Bi-State also will provide contracted services for landscaping, security and communications support.

Also taking part in Thursdays videoconference meeting were the four other members of the district board  St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, University City Mayor Terry Crow, Delmar Loop businessman Joe Edwards and Bi-State CEO Taulby Roach.

Roach, however, abstained on the voice votes regarding the districts agreement with Bi-State, citing a conflict of interest.

Jones said the district estimates it will collect $773,787 in sales tax this year, which is 90% of the 2019 pre-pandemic total. The district also will use previously collected tax revenue to run the trolley; it had $881,321 as of January.

The district also has applied to the East-West Gateway Council of Governments for a $1.26 million federal grant; a decision on that isnt expected until August.

The councils board rejected a similar request in October. The Bi-State boards decision to take over the trolley for three years was a reversal of its previous position taken in 2020.

Jones said in her letter that the district has met with partners in the trolley service area, such as the Missouri Historical Society and Forest Park Forever, to try to collaborate on event partnerships.

Originally posted at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24.

Bi-State board agrees to take over, restart Loop Trolley The date for resuming service has yet to be determined; a Federal Transit Administration official wants that to happen in June.

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UPDATED at 6:15 a.m. Thursday with latest on forecast, roads

ST. LOUIS  Officials warned residents in the St. Louis area to watch the roads Thursday as another wintry storm system brings sleet and snow to the region.

Roads were slick in spots Thursday morning as a drizzle continued to fall. At the start of morning rush hour, some cars were spinning off highways, particularly Highway 40 (Interstate 64). No injuries were reported.

The Missouri Highway Patrol said main roads might just appear to be wet but can be icy.

Bob Becker, St. Louis district maintenance engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation, said freezing rain fell off and on all night Wednesday into Thursday as road crews worked.

"You can't drive normal speeds," Becker warned motorists.

Road crews headed out around noon Wednesday to treat the roads and worked around the clock during the storm, officials said. Their counterparts in Illinois also worked through the evening and overnight hours.

"We've got a storm coming on later this morning," Becker said at a briefing early Thursday. "We'll be fighting this all day and into the evening."

A trouble spot for motorists Thursday was a water main break on South Lindbergh Boulevard, south of Interstate 55, as temperatures hovered in the low 20s. The high Thursday is expected to be 30 degrees around 4 p.m.

Illinois road officials around sunrise Thursday said interstates were in good shape although motorists should expect icy spots as another "mixed bag" of precipitation was looming.

Snow and sleet started falling Wednesday evening during rush hour, and by 7 p.m. Wednesday the Missouri Department of Transportations road condition map showed that area highways partially covered.

The storm hit a lull overnight Wednesday and is expected to start back up Thursday morning with the worst of a wintry mix predicted to arrive in the immediate St. Louis area around 10 a.m., said Lydia Jaja, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

After another slowdown midday on Thursday, the system could fire back up in the late afternoon and stop around 8 p.m..

In all, Jaja said the St. Louis area could get up to half an inch of sleet and some additional snow.

Thursdays storm is the third such system to pass through the St. Louis area in February. Early in the month, between 6 and 10 inches of snow fell in the area during a two-day period.

Staff writer Kim Bell contributed to this report.

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The Republican-controlled Missouri Legislature is on course to make it almost impossible for Missourians to successfully pass ballot referendums to overturn extreme GOP-enacted statutes or to utilize popular ballot initiatives to pass laws directly when the Legislature is complacent and fails to act.

In the past several years, citizen ballot initiatives in Missouri have succeeded in expanding Medicaid to more than 275,000 low-income Missourians and another increased the states minimum wage from $7.85 an hour in 2018 to $12 an hour in 2023. This will impact 677,000 Missourians. These are two important matters that the Legislature had failed to act on, so everyday citizens got organized and enacted them into law.

These citizen successes have raised the ire of most GOP legislators, and they are fighting back. Their aim is to muzzle Missourians by making it more difficult for the will of the people to be expressed. For example, the Missouri House has recently approved legislation that would:

 Increase the required number of signatures for initiative petitions to 10% from the current 8%, and the signatures must come from all eight congressional districts instead of the current requirement of six districts. It would probably increase the required number of signatures by more than 100,000.

 Increase the current simple majority vote for enactment to a two-thirds majority requirement.

Rep. Mike Henderson, the Republican sponsor of the House-passed bill, even admitted to reporters that citizens have resorted to pushing ballot initiatives because its used too often to expand things that cant get through the Legislature.

Exactly.

Other bills have been introduced that would require ballot initiatives to be first approved by the Legislature before going to the voters. Such an arrangement would make a mockery of the publics right to petition their government.

Another bill would require that constitutional amendments be approved by a majority of registered voters instead of a majority of votes cast on Election Day. Imagine if such a scheme were adopted to require lawmakers to win their own elections by that margin. Dont hold your breath.

These proposed changes to the states constitution, if enacted, assure politicians in Jefferson City would be insulated from public opinion in its most direct form.

We understand why most Republicans are bent on pursuing these misdirected changes. The two of us have a combined 32 years as members of two legislative bodies  the U.S. Congress and the Missouri House of Representatives. We know the thinking of many legislators: They want all the power to pass laws, all the time  even when they dont use that power for the people. In other words supporters of these changes are telling voters: Leave us alone.

Its the mindset of a legislative body that is overwhelmingly dominated by one political party.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade was correct when she said citizens wouldnt have to resort to bypassing the Legislature if we did our job in the first place.

The Legislature has in the past had help from Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who must approve language on the ballot explaining the initiative for the public. Often the strategy is to confuse the public or run out the clock.

Several lawsuits filed against Ashcroft allege his language is insufficient, unfair and argumentative and refers to terms not in the petitions language. Proponents of the ballot initiative believe the language is calculated to prejudice voters against the proposal.

In a separate action, ballot supporters claim the secretary of states actions slowed down the process of collecting signatures. A plaintiffs legal brief said they were eating up much of the time for circulation and effectively extinguishing the constitutional right.

Missourians have had the power to place matters before the voters for more than 100 years. The current effort to sabotage ballot initiatives is an attack on our democracy. It cannot be justified. We urge Missourians to contact their state senator to voice their opposition to this legislative sleight-of-hand to deny citizens their rights under the Missouri constitution.

Tom Coleman is a former Republican member of the Missouri House and U.S. congressman. He is an adviser to several pro-democracy organizations including Protect Democracy and the States United Democracy Center. Russ Carnahan is a former Democratic member of the Missouri House and U.S congressman. He serves as senior policy adviser for Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP.
The stock market took a plunge. Gas pump prices are edging upward by the hour. Whether Americans like it or not, the war in Ukraine is going to affect them in profound and unpleasant ways. No amount of complaining and political finger-pointing about whos to blame will change the simple fact that a superpower invasion of a Texas-sized European country is going to continue reverberating around the world. Citizens and politicians in this country can help shorten the duration by suspending the political sniping and uniting behind President Joe Bidens efforts to keep the United States out of a shooting war with Russia while making President Vladimir Putin suffer maximum consequences for his aggression.

The preceding sentence will strike many conservative readers as laughable coming from a newspaper that has devoted years to criticizing the policies of former President Donald Trump. But never in his presidency did Trump face a situation like this. He and his supporters would argue that his tough policies were what deterred Putin from ever attempting such a move on Trumps watch. There are very strong facts about Trumps record that would tear that argument down quickly  facts that suggest Trump actually encouraged the chain of events that are now unfolding in Ukraine. But those are political arguments for another time.

Right now, the world is at a level of crisis not seen since the Cuban missile crisis of 1961, if not the Sept. 1, 1939, German invasion of Poland, when World War II started. Putin stated Tuesday that he was acting to defend two Russian-speaking eastern regions of Ukraine that, he asserted, were proclaiming their independence. It appeared that Russias incursion would be limited to that eastern region, much like Putins illegal seizure and annexation of Crimea in 2014. But if that were true, why did Putin launch attacks across all of Ukraine on Thursday and deploy ground troops to Ukraines capital, Kyiv, 200 miles to the northwest?

Every justification Putin claimed was based on lies. If he goes unchallenged, why should he stop at Ukraine? True to his megalomaniacal form, Putin has made clear his intention to restore Russias former glory through territorial expansion. Nothing in his portfolio of international military adventurism suggests it will end here.

So skeptical Americans must ask themselves: If not now, when will it be time to stand up to Putin?

In an Associated Press/NORC poll, only 26% of respondents supported a greater U.S. role in Ukraine. As if this rapidly escalating crisis would magically resolve itself if the United States just stood back and watched.

The poll was conducted Feb. 18 to 21, before fighting had begun and Putins words amounted to little more than bluster. Does it change their minds seeing for themselves the missile explosions, tanks and troops deploying across Ukraine, and frightened civilians taking shelter in subways  exactly as Britons did to escape Hitlers air raids and rocket attacks in World War II?

The poll also showed that only 23% of Americans trusted U.S. intelligence reports about the Russian military buildup and forecasts of Putins intentions to invade. On Thursday, every single one of the warnings the Biden administration issued, based on declassified intelligence, turned out to be true. A big reason Biden declassified the intelligence was to let Putin know he could not rely on the element of surprise, perhaps to make Putin rethink the wisdom of invading.

At best, the tactic only stalled Putins plans. So now comes the hard part: imposing and sustaining international sanctions so severe they would put a stranglehold on Russias economy, crashing the ruble and denying Moscows ability to sell oil, access foreign bank accounts or conduct foreign financial transactions. Russian billionaires, some of whom are helping launder money that Putin has stolen from his own people, will be cut off from their international accounts. One billionaire oligarch reportedly saw his net worth drop by 30% on Wednesday alone.

Thats why gasoline prices are going up and the stock market is plunging.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are doing everything to blame Biden for these domestic repercussions. Trump is touting the low gas prices Americans enjoyed during his presidency. Hes even exploiting this crisis to solicit campaign donations.

Republicans might well argue that Biden and the Democrats dont deserve a magnanimous gesture of national unity, given the way Democrats savaged President George W. Bush during the Iraq War. Thats the wrong reference. Even Trump criticized the Iraq War. There was no crisis. The 2003 invasion was based on the same kind of false-flag, fictitious justifications that Putin used to claim his right to invade Ukraine.

A more apt reference would be the national unity displayed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when Democrats and Republicans joined together in backing the invasion of Afghanistan. No, Putins action is not the same as the direct attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, but it is a direct challenge to global stability unwitnessed since World War II.

What matters most right now is for Putin to encounter an unshakable wall of unified American resolve, with Republicans joining Democrats in declaring, just as George H.W. Bush declared in 1990 when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, that this aggression will not stand.

Just put the political posturing on hold for awhile. There will be plenty of opportunities to score points later. If ever there was a need for national unity, and for America to speak with one voice in opposition to Putins aggression, this is that moment.
Welcome to the new travel reality, one in which the idea of making firm plans seems laughably quaint. The focus these days is not so much on nailing down an itinerary, but building one that can be painlessly un-nailed when circumstances and rules change.

Americans are ready to travel. A 2021 poll from the Out of Home Advertising Association of America showed that 72% of respondents plan to travel in the first half of 2022, regardless of the state of the pandemic.

Yet all the good intentions in the world wont matter if your flight is canceled, you get sick or your destination closes its borders to foreigners. So its not just about avoiding travel disruption in 2022  its about avoiding the headaches that come with uncertainty.

1. Forget about basic economy

The rules and fees for basic economy fares were always a hot mess, and they only got worse during the pandemic. One major change flew under the radar, though, and it is the most important.

Basic economy fares have moved to even less flexibility. On most airlines, you can't change them at all, and on some, you must pay a fee. This is in contrast to regular economy (or main cabin) fares, many of which now allow changes and cancellations with no fees at all.

To be clear, this change is not a temporary pandemic policy, but a permanent shift in how many airlines handle changes and cancellations. It means that, unless youre equipped with a crystal ball to see into the future, you should forget about booking basic economy tickets altogether.

The flexibility of main cabin fares makes them more appealing in nearly every situation, regardless of the extra cost.

2. Do your research with travel insurance

In a 2022 survey conducted by insurance provider VisitorsCoverage, 64% of respondents say that getting a travel insurance policy that covers emergencies will make them more likely to travel.

But travel insurance isn't as straightforward as it seems.

Will a policy cover changes to your trip if a country closes its borders? What about if you get sick with COVID-19 and are unable to travel?

The answer is a resounding It depends. Some travel insurance policies  such as cancel for any reason insurance  will cover these events, but will also cost much more. Most travel medical plans will cover hospital costs (that your health insurance might not) while abroad, but wont cover cancellations or rebookings for the rest of the trip.

Basically, travel insurance is an umbrella term that can refer to a range of coverage options. Dont assume the first policy you find will cover what you need. Do your research and get a plan that covers COVID-related disruptions, or make sure your travel plans are flexible enough to withstand them.

3. Never prepay for cars and hotels

Youve found a hotel room and are ready to book it when you notice that it's a prepay (or similar) rate. Under most circumstances, you might not care much. But in the new COVID reality, you should care a great deal.

Most hotels, most of the time, should offer a flexible rate that can be canceled 24 hours prior to check-in for no fee. This is what you want in our current reality, regardless of how confident you think you are in your plans.

Hotels are getting a little trickier at hiding these refundable rates, or making less flexible options the default during checkout. Thats because they want to lock you into paying now that so many travelers are canceling and rebooking at the last minute. The same applies to rental car companies, which have enjoyed greater leverage over customers due to an ongoing car shortage.

Dont fall for it. Pay the few extra bucks to keep your itinerary flexible.

4. Make a backup plan

Its a great idea to plan a family trip to Southeast Asia for the autumn. Its also a great idea to pencil in a backup plan in case that falls through. If we cant go to Thailand, well rebook for Hawaii instead.

The reason for having a backup is less practical and more psychological. Its disheartening to have plans fall through, especially this far into the pandemic. So its smart to build in a backup plan that you can switch to without losing your steam.

To be clear: You shouldnt book any travel for your backup plan. Just have it ready to go if and when borders close or virus variants emerge.

5. Dont overbook

With airline fares so much more flexible than they used to be, you might be tempted to book three or four trips and cancel whichever ones dont work out. But watch out: Free cancellations doesnt necessarily mean youll get your money back.

For example, the value of canceled main cabin fares on Delta Air Lines is returned as a credit that can be used for future flights. So if you cancel three $800 flights, you could end up with $2,400 in credits that can be used only on Delta. This outcome might seriously restrict your options when rebooking.

Take advantage of airlines cancellation policies to avoid getting stuck with a ticket you cant use, but dont abuse them or you might get saddled with an even bigger hassle.

The bottom line

Its easy to get frustrated in the new travel reality. Understanding travel rules and restrictions can feel like a full-time job, never mind predicting what will happen next with the pandemic  or is it endemic?

To minimize these travel disruptions and headaches, keep it simple. Keep your bookings flexible by avoiding prepaid rates and basic economy fares. Make sure your travel insurance covers what you think it does. And have a backup plan ready when everything changes again.

Sam Kemmis writes for NerdWallet. Email: skemmis@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @samsambutdif.

The article 5 Ways to Avoid Travel Headaches This Year originally appeared on NerdWallet.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of online accommodation booking website Booking.com is pictured at the International Tourism Trade Fair (ITB) in Berlin, Germany, March 9, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

(Reuters) -Booking Holdings posted quarterly profit and revenue above market expectations on Wednesday and said it is seeing an uptick in bookings, driven primarily by a recovery in cross-border travel within the European region and North America.

Pent-up demand and easing COVID curbs have in recent months sparked a surge in flight and hotel room reservations despite a temporary setback from the winter surge of the Omicron variant.

"We are still in a potentially volatile environment with high COVID infection rates in some part of the world and geopolitical uncertainty that could impact our business, especially in Europe," said David Goulden, chief financial officer of Booking Holdings.

Online travel agency Bookings said it continues to grow its alternative accommodation supply with people still working remotely and workplaces moving to a more hybrid environment.

"The segment is a new one, which is called many different names such as 'bleisure' - business and leisure. We're going to see a lot more of it in the future," Glenn Fogel, chief executive officer of Booking, told Reuters.

Gross travel bookings soared 160% to $19 billion from the prior quarter. Gross bookings for the summer are higher than 2019 levels, led by strong bookings in Western Europe, the company said.

Excluding items, profit came in at $15.83 per share, compared with analysts' estimates of $13.64, according to Refinitiv data. Revenue of $2.98 billion also beat estimates of 13.64 billion.

Net income was $618 million, or $14.94 per share, in the three months to Dec. 31, compared with a loss of $165 million, or $4.02 per share, a year earlier.

Shares of the Norwalk, Connecticut-based company were down 4.3% to $2,363 after the bell, amid a weaker broader market as Ukraine declared a state of emergency and the U.S. State Department said a Russian invasion of Ukraine remains potentially imminent.

(Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Aditya Soni and Subhranshu Sahu)
CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Two Chicago icons, Eli's Cheesecake and Green River Soda, have teamed up to create Eli's Green River Cheesecake: A rich and creamy neon lime cheesecake, topped with lime gelee, baked on Eli's signature all butter shortbread cookie crust and, of course, made with real Green River flavoring.

The timeline goes like this:

Green River Soda was introduced in 1919, as Congress was passing the18th Amendment establishing Prohibition. That's when The Schoenhofen Brewery, residing in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, decided to fill their old beer bottles with the soon to be famous vivid green lime soda instead. Green River became a huge hit, trailing only Coca Cola in popularity. In 2021, historic Green River was acquired by Sprecher Brewery, Milwaukee's original craft brewery known for its award-winning root beer and craft soda.

In 1980, Eli Schulman declared Cheesecake to be the signature dessert at his restaurant, Eli's The Place for Steak, a Chicago legend for over 40 years. In his restaurant's kitchen, he dreamed up a new way of baking cheesecake. Known as "Chicago-Style," his creation is famous for its beautiful caramelization, rich and creamy texture, and all-butter shortbread cookie crust. Still a family-owned business, Chicago's favorite dessert is handmade and decorated at Eli's Cheesecake World, on Chicago's Northwest side.

After many years of serving Green River at Eli's Cheesecake's annual reception for Chicago's St Patrick's Day Queen and her court, the two Chicago icons joined forces, and in 2020, Eli's Green River Cheesecake was born! "St. Patrick's Day is a big deal in Chicago. The City dyes the river bright green, and Green River Cheesecake is another fun and festive way to celebrate," said Marc Schulman, Eli's president.

Eli's is also teaming up with Sprecher for the ultimate Green River giveaway (a Green River Cheesecake and Green River Soda). For details on how to enter, follow @ElisCheesecake and @SprecherBrewery on Instagram.

High resolution photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GATXdzXLDDVxrjjj6

Eli's Green River Cheesecake (9", serves 14, $59.95 plus shipping) is available: Nationally at http://shop.elicheesecake.com (order by Tuesday, March 15th, 8:00 AM for St Patrick's Day delivery), for curbside pickup by ordering at https://order.ehungry.com/Elis-Cheesecake (6701 W. Forest Preserve Dr., Chicago), Mon-Fri, 9-4pm and Sat, 10am-4 pm, closed Sunday, at Eli's Cheesecake at O'Hare Airport (United Terminal 1, B concourse), at Dom's Kitchen & Market (2730 N Halsted St., Chicago) and by-the-slice at Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen (1141 S. Jefferson St., Chicago).

Green River Soda is available at Sprecher Brewery, 701 W. Glendale Ave, Glendale, Wisconsin. Order online at https://bit.ly/greenriver1919 and in stores including Woodman's Market, Jewel-Osco, Binny's, Angelo Caputo's Fresh Markets, Tony's Fresh Market, Pete's Fresh Market, Meijer, Mariano's and more locations throughout the Midwest and select national markets.

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SOURCE Eli's Cheesecake
ZURICH, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

The Adecco Group has acquired 59.91 percent of AKKA Technologies shares1 from the Ricci Family Group and SWILUX S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Compagnie Nationale a Portefeuille SA2, bringing its total holding to 64.72 percent3

Modis, the Adecco Group's high-tech services business, will be combined with AKKA, a leader in engineering R&D services, to become a leading engineering and digital solutions business in the Smart Industry market

Akkodis will become the global brand for the combined business, leveraging the existing value of both brands and providing a clear, distinct brand proposition to customers and colleagues to amplify business development

Highly experienced leadership team appointed under the leadership of Jan Gupta, President; Dominique Cerutti appointed Senior Advisor to Jan Gupta and the future Akkodis business unit

The Adecco Group's strategic implementation toward high-value, technology-led services is accelerated and the Group's unique solutions ecosystem strengthened

Good line of sight on c.70% of 2022's synergy target, corresponding to over 15 million synergies

Transaction expected to be margin and EPS accretive in year one4 and EVA positive in year three

Mauro Ricci and Jean-Franck Ricci will receive 1,626,772 newly created ordinary shares of Adecco Group AG with a 24 month lock-up period5

The Adecco Group will launch a Mandatory Tender Offer for remaining AKKA Technologies securities; completion expected by end H1 2022

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes, Chair of the Adecco Group said: "The completion of the acquisition of a majority holding in AKKA Technologies announced today is of paramount strategic importance to our Group. AKKA and Modis combined will be a global market leader in technology and digital engineering. Its integration accelerates the Group's [email protected] strategic implementation toward high-value and technology-led services. The three Global Business Units - Adecco, LHH and, in the future, Akkodis  will be recognised market leaders, reinforcing the Adecco Group's solutions ecosystem and its unique ability to meet the transformation needs of customers, underpinned by talent."

Alain Dehaze, CEO of the Adecco Group, commented: "We extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues and customers. With the best team in the industry, the future business, Akkodis, is uniquely positioned to meet the rising demand from customers for high-tech experts to scale up their innovation, improve productivity and accelerate digital transformation. We will now begin the integration of AKKA and Modis that will create a Smart Industry leader, delivering significant value for all stakeholders."

FULL PRESS RELEASE

1 The 7,927,487 profit-sharing certificates issued by AKKA Technologies and existing at the time of announcement of the transaction have been cancelled in the meantime. 2 In accordance with the terms as announced 28 July 2021. 3 The Adecco Group acquired 4.81 percent of AKKA's share capital in the market between 18 November 2021 and 14 February 2022. 4 Excluding one-time integration and implementation costs. 5 Agreed terms of 42 per share in cash plus 7 per share value equivalent in Adecco Group AG new ordinary shares.

Contact: The Adecco Group, Investor Relations, +41 (0)44 878 88 88

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SOURCE The Adecco Group
SCOTT AFB, Ill. (Tribune News Service)  A group of families living in Scott Air Force Base housing complained earlier this month to base leadership about racist incidents and policies they say are discriminatory against people of color and LGBTQ people.

But Col. Christopher Robinson, commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at the base, says leaders responded swiftly and appropriately, while social media has fueled speculation and ill-will between base residents.

A series of incidents in January, a report of bullying and a mounting feud over yard signs prompted families to send letters to 375th brass asking for a "formal investigation." Robinson said the base has no control over housing policies and that investigations showed the events were isolated.

"The United States Air Force is clear. We believe in a culture of dignity and respect, and that goes wherever you are. You don't really ever take the uniform off," Robinson said.

On Jan. 13, a rope tied in a loop resembling a noose was found hanging from a playground swingset in the Lincoln's Landing military housing neighborhood near the base. St. Clair County Sheriff's deputies later determined children had been using it as a foot-swing, Robinson said. The day after, a racist slur was found written in the frost on an elementary school bus stop in the same neighborhood.

Around the same time, Hunt Military Community, the company that operates the base's housing, removed a display in an outdoor common area decorated to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 17. Residents had painted a cutout to resemble the minister and civil rights activist, and next to it was a sign with a partial quote: "Stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

The families also said Hunt, the military's largest privatized housing owner, has unfairly issued citations to families with LGBTQ pride and Black Lives Matter signs in front of their homes.

"People were obviously upset with everything happening in such a short timeline," said resident Ceasarae Galvan, a 25-year-old mother of four biracial children.

Robinson said he and base leadership were "very concerned" and "took immediate action" when they learned about the incidents, mainly through social media. They met with Hunt and housing residents, and Robinson held two calls with commanders. Then base leaders held a town hall on Jan. 21 with residents.

The events were found to be unrelated, Robinson said.

"Once you do an investigation, you look into it, they're not related, but you could see how a reasonable person would come to the conclusion that they were related," Robinson said. "We needed to address that."

The families suspect a bigger problem is at hand, Galvan said. She is a disability rights advocate for Armed Forces Housing Advocates, a group pushing for an end to privatized military housing.

"Claiming they were isolated incidents when multiple happened in a short span of time doesn't really add up," Galvan said. "It's not the first time there's been repeated talk on social media of people having issues."

Investigating the incidents

Base housing officials learned about the rope from a social media post, which described it as a noose. Housing personnel notified Hunt's maintenance director, and the rope was removed, Robinson said. Within a day, a Lincoln's Landing resident told base law enforcement that he hung the rope for his children to use as a foot-swing.

The 375th Security Forces Squadron and St. Clair County Sheriff's Department confirmed what the parent said. The parent had pictures of his kids using the rope as a swing before social media posts called it a noose, Robinson said.

The rope still posed a safety hazard, Robinson said, and the resident should have considered how it would appear to others.

"How your neighbors see things is important," the commander said.

There's no mistaking the writing in the frost on the bus stop as anything other than a racist incident, however. Base housing officials notified Hunt, and staff removed the slur and power washed the windows. No witnesses have come forward and there are no video cameras at the stop, Robinson said, but anyone with information may contact the Scott AFB Resident Advocate.

Hannah Magee, 34, lives in Lincoln's Landing with her husband, who works for the Command Post, and three biracial sons. She said she no longer allows her boys to play outside after the rope and racist scrawl were found.

"We have someone here who has a problem," said Magee, who has lived in the neighborhood for roughly a year and a half. "They could target my children."

Magee and her family leave for another base soon, and the move couldn't come soon enough, she said.

"I can't wait to go," Magee said.

The incidents stirred memories of bullying from more than a year ago. A child had used a racist slur and chased another child home. Hunt officials and the parents dealt with the bullying at the time, Robinson said, but Scott AFB brass recently got statements from the parents of the children involved.

"It appears all the members who were involved are satisfied with the outcome and the system worked as it should have," Robinson said. "Does that mean other bullying hasn't taken place? No. But I will say this, no one else has been willing to come forward and give us a witness statement or to tell us their child has been bullied."

Combined with the suspected noose, the racist slur and past bullying, it's no surprise that when residents saw Hunt had removed the MLK Jr. Day display, they believed Lincoln's Landing had a real problem with racism.

'Sign war'

Because of an "escalating sign war" between residents, Hunt had decided to remove all signs, including the MLK Jr. Day decoration, Robinson said. It was merely bad timing and not indicative of a racist policy, he said.

Magee says Hunt should have left the decoration up despite the policy.

"They could've left it and they chose not to," Magee said. "It wasn't offensive. It was really beautiful."

People had been "putting up signs with some clear evidence that it was being done to intentionally irritate one's neighbor," Robinson told residents in the town hall, according to meeting minutes. Hunt has since removed all signs, including one advertising a Cub Scout troop and recruitment for the Air Force Reserve, Robinson said.

One Lincoln's Landing resident, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, disputed that portrayal. She said she and her wife, who's in the military, joined other families in putting up signs "welcoming anybody who's coming in" after one resident complained to Hunt about a pride sign.

"Neither Scott Air Force Base nor Hunt will say, 'Bigotry should not be allowed," said the mother of two. "They intended for this (no signs policy) to be impartial, but the impact is they've emboldened hatred. They've emboldened bigots."

Her family has received three citations from Hunt for having a sign in her front window stating "Black Lives Matter" and "Science is real," among other sayings.

"This is not a flag war," she said. "We were trying to stand together for inclusivity and for the incredible diversity that's here in Lincoln's Landing."

Galvan's family previously received a citation from Hunt for a sign in their yard. The citations don't specify if there are consequences for violating the sign policy.

Her family's sign in the front yard of their Lincoln's Landing home says "Hate Has No Home Here." She has yet to remove it, citing resident guidelines for base housing. The guidelines available online restrict flags and where signs are affixed, but it does not prohibit yard signs.

Hunt did not return a request for comment.

Hunt's operations director said at the town hall the company's policies prohibit signs that could "be considered harassing, discriminatory or potentially disturb the rights and comfort of your neighbor."

"We want a community that's a comfort for everyone, and so we don't want to be picking and choosing what signs should be allowed," Brent Norvik said at the town hall, according to minutes.

Lionel Wiley Jr., director of Equal Employment Opportunity at Scott AFB, told residents at the town hall they might have had a positive intent with their signs, but the impact became negative.

"The intent is not to keep anyone from practicing their religion or beliefs, but to keep a healthy environment, there has to be a level of control imposed. I know that doesn't feel good," Wiley said. "Our office is always open and willing to listen to any allegations of racism."

The Air Force manages housing contracts at the federal level, so Scott AFB leaders has no control over the contract with Hunt or their policies, Robinson said. But the mother of two urged Hunt and Scott AFB to clarify housing policies and the methods for changing them. According to resident guidance, Hunt will provide 30 days written notice on new or changing rules. The mother said she never received notice.

"There's no transparency," she said.

Official means for complaint

The commander expressed frustration at the town hall that he had to find out about the incidents through social media, not "official means."

"This is problematic because it slows our response time," he said.

Residents may file a complaint with the base Equal Opportunity Office if they feel Hunt has discriminated against them, Robinson said. They may also contact the base chaplain, who can protect residents' anonymity, or the base's Inspector General.

People don't always feel safe going through those channels, even with promises of anonymity, said the mother of two. Living in military housing is convenient and a privilege for service members that comes with access to base services and good schools. She worries her family could lose that if she speaks up.

"One of our biggest concerns is if we're too vocal, they're going to find a reason to kick us out," she said.

"I want them to stand behind inclusivity and say that there is no room for hatred or bigotry here in this residential neighborhood or in the Armed Forces."

In a letter to Galvan sent Tuesday, Robinson said Galvan and other residents have the right to report discrimination to the Equal Employment Office.

"I know there is more work to do and I ask for your help fostering a culture of respect for all community members," the commander wrote.

Robinson said Scott AFB leaders have put in "a lot of time and effort" to getting their response to the allegations right.

"That person to your left or right, that's your neighbor when you go home to Lincoln's Landing at night, those are the people you're depending on if we ever go to combat," Robinson said.

"We have to be able to trust one another. We have to be able to treat each other with dignity and respect. We have a lot of things we need to focus on in the military, and this right here to me seems like the basics. We have to get this right otherwise the big stuff can't happen."

(c)2022 the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.)

Visit the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.) at www.bnd.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
DAYTON, Ohio (Tribune News Service)  Wright-Patterson Air Force Base personnel were among the military members who were placed on an elevated alert posture in late January in response to concerns that Russia will execute a further incursion into Ukraine.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby at the time declined to identify units placed on a heightened alert posture but he did mention Wright-Patterson as home to at least one affected unit.

Stacey Geiger, 88th Air Base Wing spokeswoman, said Thursday morning there have been no changes to the base's security posture.

"As you are already aware, Wright-Patt was identified on Jan. 27 by the Secretary of Defense as one of the installations placed on an increased readiness posture to deploy," she said. "We currently remain in that status and have not been activated."

An Air Reserve Command spokesman told the Dayton Daily News last week that the 445th Airlift Wing remains on alert but has not been activated.

The wing has nine C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. Built by Boeing, the C-17 is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force, according to the Air Force.

Dr. Glenn Duerr, a history professor at Cedarville University, said history and logic suggest Russia would be more interested in the south and east of Ukraine, as areas seen as more strongly connected by culture, religion and family ties to Russia.

But what is happening now looks like a Russian attack on all Ukrainian medium or large cities and a probable attempt to install a puppet government, Duerr said.

It's hard to know where an attack might stop, he said. There is no NATO or U.S. treaty obligation to come to Ukraine's aid, but Russian troops moving much closer to the NATO-member nations bordering Ukraine  Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania  will create new tensions and possibilities for miscalculation.

"Wars don't just stop arbitrarily at the border's edge," he said. "Often they spill over and sometimes shots are fired and there are incidents elsewhere."

Putin could seek to "protect" those whom he considers "ethnic Russians" in other countries, he added.

The possibility of a far wider conflict can't be ignored, but he does not believe at the moment that is likely.

"The nightmare scenario is there," Duerr said. "I don't see that as likely."

Shawn Waldman, chief executive of Miamisburg cyber security business Secure Cyber Defense, said his company is monitoring potential cyberattacks against the United States.

"We are very much in defense mode at the moment monitoring the threat data from the U.S. government and other sources," Waldman said in a Twitter message Thursday.

"There is one Russian group 'Shuckworm,' that we are monitoring and looking for inside our customers networks," he said. "This cyber threat from them is very real and active. I'm not aware of anything in the U.S. that has been hit. Obviously the cyberattacks against Ukraine are just the tip of the iceberg I believe."

(c)2022 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

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A Humvee fire on a highway near Camp Lejeune involved members of the 2nd Marine Division, which is headquartered at the North Carolina installation, a division spokesperson said.

There were no casualties, 1st Lt. Sydney E. Murkins said in a statement emailed to Stars and Stripes a few hours after the incident that tied up the Thursday morning commute. The circumstances were still being investigated, Murkins said.

Emergency services crews responded to a military vehicle fire on U.S. Highway 17, south of Jacksonville, N.C., the Onslow County government said in a message on Twitter about 7:45 a.m. local time.

Travelers along US17 (Wilmington Hwy) might want to avoid the area near Canady Road, the post said. Crews are reporting a HumVee fire.

Update: Traffic headed south on US17 south of Jacksonville is affected by a military vehicle fire near Canady Road. Travelers headed south might wish to elect an alternate route. Traffic north on US 17 south of Jacksonville is not affected at this time.  Onslow County Government (@OnslowPIO) February 24, 2022

The vehicle fire was affecting southbound traffic only, the county government said in a later post.

The vehicle was cleared from the roadway, the 2nd Marine Division said on Twitter about three hours after the initial report.

We can confirm there have been no casualties and the HMMWV has been cleared from the road.  2d Marine Division (@2dMarDiv) February 24, 2022

The fire comes just over a month after a tactical vehicle rollover at the intersection of U.S. Highway 17 and state Highway 210 a few miles further south that left two Marines dead.
South Vietnam, April 1969: With various forms of weaponry close at hand, two soldiers at Patrol Base Diamond II, near the Cambodian border about 35 miles from Saigon, catch up on their reading. The base, manned by the 25th Infantry Division, withstood several Communist attacks in the early part of April, 1969.
A vineyard road snakes along the wooded hill in Germanys Ahr Valley that hides what was once the biggest of state secrets: a vast doomsday bunker.

After the chaos of World War II, a Germany that had barely crawled out from the rubble found itself at the nuclear front line between East and West.

The leaders of the fledgling country of West Germany needed a place of escape should the next war erupt on their doorstep. In 1950, they identified a location for an alternate emergency seat of government.

The safe harbor is a 30-minute drive from the West German capital of Bonn and was built in an old railroad tunnel in the picturesque spa town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler.

My wife and I embarked on the two-hour journey from Kaiserslautern to see this fortification for ourselves. Even from the parking lot, it was hard to spot until we saw the ominous-looking entrance of concrete block and rusted iron.

A guided tour is required to visit the underground complex. Tours are offered in German and English by appointment.

We learned that the bunker was originally conceptualized in 1913 as a railroad tunnel connecting Germany and France. Later, it became part of plans to support German troop movements during World War I.

After the war, the costly and unfinished railroad project was abandoned. The cold, damp and dark tunnels were used for mushroom cultivation.

During WWII, the tunnel again reverted to military use. For a while, portions of Werner von Brauns V2 rocket were manufactured there, and it later served local citizens as an air raid shelter.

As the Cold War launched new fears of a nuclear disaster, a top-secret underground bunker was designed to shelter all important political and military leaders.

For years, the bunkers construction was kept from the public. It was considered the most secret building in West Germany, even while winemaking continued uninterrupted in the surrounding hills.

Eventually, journalists and spies alike picked up on the clandestine activities  literally through the grapevine.

After German reunification the bunker was abandoned. Yet public curiosity remained.

Since 2008, a 600-foot-long restored portion of the bunker now bears witness to the horrors that West German leadership once contemplated.

Our tour proceeded through tiled decontamination showers that line the entryway. Here, Germanys top leadership would have stripped and washed themselves of any nuclear fallout before entering an elaborate airlock path of two security layers, separated by 25-ton round bombproof doors.

Visitors can see rooms where war planners would have tracked troop movements and political developments. A small television studio offered the ability to record messages for survivors above.

An adjacent barber workspace enabled the chancellor, ministers and generals to maintain a proper hairdo and trim before appearing on screen.

A meeting area was outfitted with magenta chairs and a white table against decidedly clashing mint green walls, the few dashes of bright color in a vast sea of beige and forest green tones intended to calm the anxious minds of the entombed.

In another room, once-cutting-edge communication and encryption machines stood ready to transmit orders and messages to military units and friendly governments.

The upstairs consisted mostly of 936 military-style bunk rooms and bathrooms. Only the president and chancellor had private rooms. Notably, there was no planned space for families.

Downstairs, the amenities included offices, medical facilities and multipurpose rooms.

From the control room, crew members managed gate access, as well as a aquifer water and a filtered air supply. Kitchens and store rooms holding provisions and thousands of meal-ration kits would sustain as many as 3,000 people for up to 30 days. When asked what the plan was after day 30, our guide said one would just hope for the best.

After the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, the $14 million cost of annual upkeep and the development of more powerful bombs made the bunker obsolete.

Most of the sprawling system was demolished down to its railroad tunnel origins or allowed to be flooded by groundwater.

Our tour ended at a towering metal gate that separated the museum space from the once-again bare and empty railway tunnel nearly 120 feet underground.

On the QT

Address: Am Silberberg 0, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany

Getting there: From Kaiserslautern, follow the A63 and the A61 north. At Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, take the exit to the A573. Take the exit to the B267 toward Altenahr and follow signs to the museum. The site offers free parking for 65 cars, but spots fill quickly during the summer tourist season. By train, the nearest stops are Ahrweiler Markt and Walporzheim. The closest bus stop is located at the Roemervilla Museum. From there, it is an 800-yard uphill walk to the bunker site.

Hours: Starting in April, tours for individual visitors take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Costs: 12 euros for adults, five euros for children ages 8 through 13 and 7 euros for students 13-16 years of age.

Food: The small museum cafe will reopen in the summer.

Information: Online: regbu.de; group visitors are asked to register their guided tour with the Ahr Valley tourist office by phone at 0264-191-7175 or email at regierungsbunker@alt-ahrweiler.de. Signage and daily tours are in German, but an English-language tour can be scheduled for 30 euros per group, in addition to the ticket prices.
"One day, fried oysters could replace hot dogs as America's favorite food," oyster farmer Takashi Suzuki said with starry eyes.

The 45-year-old president of Farm Suzuki in the town of Osakikamijima, Hiroshima Prefecture, developed a deep-fried oyster vending machine to promote the local specialty to the world.

The first vending machine was set up in January last year at Nagasakiya, a souvenir shop in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Shoppers tap an LCD panel on the machine and pay with a credit card to receive a box of frozen deep-fried oysters. The machine comes with a microwave so they can be eaten right on the spot. Reheating fried oysters is regarded as "taboo in the industry," but Suzuki aims to challenge that view.

Suzuki has long wanted to create a way to sell oysters directly to consumers overseas, without going through middlemen.

"I couldn't afford to open a restaurant, but I thought that maybe I could do it with a vending machine," he recalled.

He began developing the machine four years ago. To try something no one else was doing, he deep-fried oysters and flash-froze them. They might not be quite at the level of freshly fried ones, but he said, "I'm sure there is a need to eat them more easily."

This noncontact sales route happens to work well amid the pandemic. The machine accepts e-payments only, and Suzuki monitors the sales and stock remotely.

His second vending machine is in Tokyo, on floor B1 of the Toranomon Hills Business Tower in Minato Ward. Machines will be set up in Singapore and Hong Kong this year, and eventually in the United States and France, he hopes.

Born in Saitama Prefecture, Suzuki enrolled in the National Fisheries University in Yamaguchi Prefecture after graduating from high school. He joined a trading company specializing in fisheries and became independent in 2008, opening a company to export oysters.

He has exported frozen shucked oysters, which should not be eaten raw, but began receiving orders for oysters in their shells for raw consumption, too.

He said he was exporting oysters from Hiroshima Prefecture with pride, only to be hit with a complaint from a customer who said, "I've never seen such bad oysters with uneven shape and weight."

In Japan, shucked oysters are marketed in bulk. As a result, they are grown big, on the presumption that they will shrink when cooked. Large masses of oysters are grown hanging in the water from floating rafts on the sea. When harvested, they are sorted by size.

On the other hand, smaller, juicy oysters are eaten raw abroad. These oysters are grown in baskets. Every two weeks, they are sorted into different baskets based on their size. When oysters of the same size are put together in the same basket, their shells and their flesh grow in a uniform way.

To promote Hiroshima oysters to the world, Suzuki learned the farming methods used in the United States and France and began cultivating oysters in 2011 in a pond that used to be a salt-making farm in the town. Struggling with differences between Hiroshima and foreign oyster cultivation areas in terms of water temperature and other environmental factors, Suzuki worked to artificially bring the farm closer to a "natural" state. It was the sixth year when he succeeded in farming oysters there.

Once he achieved stable production, Suzuki began to feel like selling the shellfish directly to consumers.

"We want to sell our own products by ourselves," Suzuki said.

Farm Suzuki has sold its oysters at domestic retail stores and online, and shipped them to restaurants overseas.

His business started to take off around 2018, selling over 100 million yen, but soon was hit by the pandemic. Overseas sales, which accounted for about 70% of the total, fell to almost zero. Domestic sales increased thanks to a trend of spending from home, and overseas sales are picking up again.

"I want to make a splash with Japanese fried oysters in Europe and the United States, where there is a culture of eating oysters raw," Suzuki said.
I have written and said many times in recent weeks that I didnt believe Vladimir Putin would launch a full invasion of Ukraine. I was horribly wrong.

Heres why.

Even in his speech announcing the invasion, Putin referred to his oft-stated belief that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. This, of course, was never true - even when they lived side by side in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. The two identities and cultures are distinct. But Russians and Ukrainians are the closest of kin. Even when we speak different languages, as we have increasingly done since Putin annexed Crimea in 2014, we understand each other. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made the most of his eloquent speech on the eve of the invasion by speaking in Russian, directly appealing to Russian citizens with the ease of someone who shares a cultural code with them. It runs thick as blood and has nothing to do with official Soviet avowals of brotherhood.

A lot of evidence pointed to Putins intention to invade. But I kept hoping he would stop at the last moment, because a full-scale attack on Ukraine, guaranteed to spill the blood of Ukrainian civilians, is the worst war crime a Russian can possibly commit. Even the inevitable parallels with Hitlers 1938 Anschluss of Austria, which I drew before when Putin took Crimea and when he published his historical screed assailing Ukraine as an anti-Russian project, do not do justice to what happened in the early hours of Feb. 24.

The only text I can think of that does is Genesis 4:9-12.

Then the Lord said to Cain, Where is your brother Abel?

I dont know, he replied. Am I my brothers keeper?

The Lord said, What have you done? Listen! Your brothers blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brothers blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.

To make the curse permanent, God marked Cain to make sure no one would kill him to end his suffering. Russia, with the nuclear arsenal Putin keeps bragging about, also bears a kind of Cains mark now. It is not Putin who is cursed now - its all of us Russians. Our identity, wherever we are, will be tainted by this invasion, by our failure to stop the dictator long before he crossed this unspeakable line.

Russia, of course, has seen its share of fratricidal wars, the last of them in the early 20th century. But back then, the Red soldiers battle was a class revolt. Putins war is an imperialist attack on a people more closely related to Russians than any other on earth.

I have met Putin, and I have watched him as a journalist since before he became president. My analysis of his actions was always based on the assumption of his rationality. There was always something to gain, a manageable risk of losing. Perhaps I was wrong from the start. Perhaps Putin has changed in recent years as his close circle narrowed and negative selection expelled people with a broader vision from the ranks of his advisors. Quite likely, Ukraine has long constituted an exception from Putins rationality, as most of its people time and time again chose the Western path, away from Putins vision of the Russian World.

I left Russia after the Crimea annexation because I couldnt accept it and felt it was a great historical wrong - both for Ukraine and for Russia. But I ended up returning to that assumption of rationality. I analyzed Putins moves from a cost and benefit perspective. I have a lot of rethinking to do.

The invasion is an irrational move. It makes any further negotiations with Putin and his clique pointless: There is, quite clearly, nothing he wont do, no line he wont cross, no matter what he says or what deal he makes. From this point on, autarky is the only feasible economic choice for Russia, and a retreat into isolation is the only remaining cultural and political choice. At the same time, Russias dependence on China, which has grown in recent years, is no longer a matter of choice. Any security benefits from turning Ukraine - and neighboring Belarus, from whose territory Putin also attacked - into a buffer state are illusory since Russia also borders actual NATO member states, which now will arm themselves as heavily as possible.

This attack achieves no conceivable gain. It is the worst possible move from a rational standpoint, a petty mans revenge on a grand scale. It seals Putins place in history - not as a nation builder but instead as someone whose entire legacy will need to be erased for Russia to go back to a semblance of normality.

In his early morning speech, Putin spoke of denazifying Ukraine, a country led by a Jewish president. Yet it is Russia that now clearly requires denazification. It will not sustain Putins regime forever - and it, and we its citizens, will need to repent and make sure nothing like this calamity ever happens again.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Leonid Bershidsky is a member of the Bloomberg News Automation team based in Berlin. He was previously Bloomberg Opinions Europe columnist. He recently authored a Russian translation of George Orwells 1984.
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  Military trainers from the 2nd Infantry Division helped cadets of the Korean Military Academy hone their skills over three days recently as they prepare for a global competition in April.

Obstacle courses, weapons systems, and combat casualty care  not exactly Olympic events, but the South Korean cadets will test their mettle against their peers when they take the field during the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

The annual event, limited to U.S. military competitors only in 2021, will admit international cadets again after a two-year absence. The event was canceled altogether in 2020, according to the West Point website.

First-year cadet Suhae Jang, one of 10 preparing for the event, was present for water survival training at the Vandal Training Center pool on Feb. 15.

Cadets sharpened their skills on everything from proper swimming techniques to water rescue.

I have always been pretty confident in my swimming skills, but the Army water survival training took it to another level for us, Jang said. It was a good opportunity for me to try not to panic and prepare me for what I'm going to be doing in the Sandhurst competition.

The Sandhurst competition began in 1967 when Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the U.K. academy, presented a British officers sword to West Point to use as the prize for a competition to promote military excellence, according to the West Point website.

The competition evolved from there to include competitors from other U.S. military academies, ROTC detachments and up to 14 teams from 12 other countries, according to West Point.

The Sandhurst competition teaches cadets the mental and physical toughness, the relentlessness and the discipline thats necessary to work as a team to accomplish the mission, West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams said during the 2021 Sandhurst event, according to the academy website.

It also strengthens relationships with our allies and partners to foster multi-national cohesion and interoperability while showcasing the tenacity and grit of future military leaders from across the world, he said.

Interoperability is a term the military uses to describe the ability of a countrys armed forces to use another countrys training methods and military equipment.

The team from the Korean Military Academy has been preparing for the competition since September.

On day two of training, Feb. 16, the cadets stood before an eight-lane obstacle course at Camp Humphreys.

Familiarizing the cadets with each lane and the proper way to execute each station was the main priority for the day, said Master Sgt. Dimas Magundayao, the 2nd ID noncommissioned officer in charge of competition training.

They picked up on everything so fast and I was impressed with the improvement from start to finish, he said.

On Feb. 17, day three of training, the cadets were familiarized with weapons systems, radio communications and tactical combat casualty care.

I think it's definitely been mentally and physically challenging, Jang said.

But I can see that I'm growing, but I still have room for lots of growth. So, I think it's both enjoyable and challenging at the same time and I look forward to competing in April.
CHINA-EVERGRANDE 784 words  1 photo Communist Party meeting may hint at Evergrande tycoons fate (c) 2022, Bloomberg  Venus Feng  WORLD, ASIA-PACIFIC  Feb 24, 2022 - 10:11 AM When China Evergrande Group Chairman Hui Ka Yan showed up at the Communist Partys 100th anniversary celebration in July, investors saw it as a sign the government still had the embattled property tycoons back.

Another test is looming.

A top advisory body that counts the billionaire as a member is having its annual convention next week. The question among investors eager for signs about the fate of Hui and his empire: Will he show up?

Much has changed since July. Evergrande has officially become a defaulter and authorities from the developers home province of Guangdong are among those leading what could be one of the nations biggest debt restructurings. Creditors have filed hundreds of lawsuits and local governments have imposed restrictions on some of its property projects, including at least one demolishing order. The companys shares and bonds are trading near record lows.

Unless Hui is super sure that Evergrande will make a successful comeback and remain a powerful presence in the real estate sector, I dont think he would show up in this years meeting, said Willy Lam, an adjunct professor at the Centre for China Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who has authored books on Chinese politics. Xi Jinping doesnt want such a controversial figure to show up.

Lam said thats partly due to Xis focus on common prosperity, a wide-ranging campaign to distribute wealth more evenly. While Hui remains one of Chinas richest men, Evergrandes debt crisis has imposed losses on thousands of individual investors and delayed work on many of the developers more than one million unfinished homes.

The Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, whose more than 2,000 members include the nations most prominent politicians and entrepreneurs, gathers once a year to discuss areas ranging from new laws, policies and the economy. Delegates, like Hui, typically submit proposals on major political and social issues and may take questions from reporters during the meetings that can stretch for about a week.

Evergrandes chairman was elected to join the political advisory body in 2008 and later secured two other five-year terms. He has been part of the CPPCCs elite 300-member standing committee since 2013. His current term will end in March 2023 unless hes reappointed early next year.

In November, Hui didnt join a CPPCC standing committee meeting due to the ongoing crisis at Evergrande, two people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named discussing private information. On Wednesday, he wasnt among the four people expelled from the advisory body.

Hui, who once was Asias second-richest person, has been a Communist Party member for more than three decades. The 63-year-old has invested in areas endorsed by the government and has been one of the nations biggest philanthropists, but a crackdown on the property sector in Xis quest for common prosperity has taken a toll on Evergrande and its peers. His net worth has slumped to about $6 billion from $42 billion in 2017, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Evergrande didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.

Its not uncommon for billionaires to join government or political bodies. Shimao Group Holdingss Hui Wing Mau is another member of the CPPCC. Tech tycoons Pony Ma, the chairman of Tencent Holdings, Xiaomi Corp.s Lei Jun and Li Shufu, the founder of automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., are delegates of the National Peoples Congress. In 2020, Ma missed the annual gathering of the parliamentary body -- and several major Tencent events around that time -- for health reasons.

During his CPPCC tenure, Hui has made proposals including some to develop the real estate sector and cut income taxes. At last years meeting, he suggested private enterprises should help create jobs and take up more social responsibilities, according to a local news report.

Now authorities have reached a general agreement on the Evergrande disposals, though theyre waiting for an opportune time to disclose it to avoid destabilizing the market, people familiar with the matter have said. In January, the nations authorities were said to be considering a proposal to sell most of the developers assets except for its property-management and electric-vehicle units, with a group led by state-owned bad debt manager China Cinda Asset Management Co. taking over what would go unsold.

In a recent internal meeting, Hui stressed that selling assets at cheap prices wouldnt resolve the debt crisis, according to local media reports.

While the market waits to see what comes next, one thing is for sure.

Evergrande is not yet out of the woods, Lam said.

- - -

Bloombergs Li Liu, Jing Li and Emma Dong contributed to this report.
A 64-year-old pilot was among the four civilian crew members killed this week in a helicopter crash at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii.

All were employees of the Oregon-based contractor Croman Corp., which identified the dead as:

 Daniel Maurice, 64, of Lyle, Wash., the chief pilot of the Sikorsky S-61N

 Patrick Rader, 55, command pilot and crew member

 Erika Tevez-Valdez, 42, a mechanic and crew member

 Matthew Haider, 43, a mechanic and crew member

Rader, Tevez-Valdez and Haider all lived on Kauai Island, where the missile facility is located.

The helicopter was supporting a training operation when it went down in the northern area of the installation around 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Navy.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

The S-61N, a civil version of the militarys Sea King medium-lift helicopter, is optimized for amphibious operations and can carry up to 15 passengers. The Sikorsky was destroyed in the crash, according to an incident notice by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The missile facility covers 1,100 square miles of underwater range and over 42,000 square miles of controlled airspace.
An unexploded World War II bomb found in a southern Japanese city was safely defused this week by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

The 550-pound explosive, believed to be American-made, was disarmed at 10:34 a.m. Monday in Usa city, Oita prefecture, according to a news release on the citys website.

The bomb, with a fuse in its nose, was found buried nearly 8 feet in the ground during sewage work in Usa last month, the release stated.

An area of about 1,300-feet radius was sealed off and residents were evacuated around 9 a.m., according to the release. Mayor Shuji Korenaga declared the area safe around 11 a.m. after the Ground Self-Defense Force explosives ordnance disposal unit defused the bomb.

The area is close to the former site of a Japanese Imperial Navy base that was bombed by the U.S. military in the final days of the war, according to the citys crisis management division.

Ordnance from World War II is frequently found in Japan. More than 600 unexploded munitions uncovered on Okinawa during dredging of Naha Port last year were disposed of by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in December.
The USS Charleston, an Independence-variant littoral combat ship, arrived on Guam this month after 25 days on patrol, including 19 consecutive days in the South China Sea, the U.S. 7th Fleet said recently.

The Navy hailed the Charlestons nearly monthlong stretch at sea as an accomplishment for a vessel designed for shorter tours.

I am very proud of this crew and the teamwork they demonstrated in completing the mission, the ships skipper, Cmdr. Clayton Beas, said in a 7th Fleet news release Wednesday. Each prolonged period of operations gives the Sailors an opportunity to put their training to use  and they executed flawlessly.

The Charleston, homeported in San Diego, steamed into Apra Harbor, Guam, on Feb. 14, according to the release.

Specifically designed to operate in nearshore environments, the Charlestons extended tour in the South China Sea constituted a productive period of operations for the ship and its crew, Task Force 76 spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Sherrie Flippin told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday.

The Navy is still looking for a definitive role for littoral combat ships, according to a Jan. 12 report by DefenseNews.com. The warship class has been controversial almost since its inception in November 2001, according to a Congressional Research Service report in 2019.

Growth in costs, and questions with their design, construction and ability to survive battle damage plagued the littorals more than a decade, according to the report.

The Navy has commissioned 23 littoral combat ships of 35 contracts awarded, according to Navy.mil. Another five are under construction and four are in the pre-construction phase, as of Feb. 9. The littorals come in two variants, Independence and Freedom.

They are meant to provide joint force access close to shore and can operate on their own or in a network of larger warships in high-threat environments, according to the Navy.

Littoral combat ships are meant to stay at sea for shorter periods than other warship classes, Flippin said.

Charleston has been on a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations for several months in support of security and stability in the region, and to work alongside allied and partner navies to provide maritime security and stability, key pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific, she said. Our sailors demonstrate self-sufficiency and a relentless work ethic, which ensures that the ship is able to meet the mission.

Between Jan. 21 and Feb. 8, the Charleston and its crew worked and trained in the South China Sea, according to the release. It conducted flight operations, was resupplied at sea and practiced live-fire gunnery and damage control.

Flippin declined to further specify the Charlestons operations due to security concerns. Littoral combat ships operate at sea and by their presence remain ready to support rapid mobilization in the event of crisis, conflict or natural disaster, she said.

Beijing claims much of the South China Sea as its maritime territory and frequently logs complaints when warships of other nations operate in the area. A 7th Fleet spokesman declined to say whether the Charleston crossed paths with the Chinese navy.

All interactions with foreign military forces during Charlestons operations were consistent with international norms and did not impact operations, Lt. Mark Langford said in an email Wednesday to Stars and Stripes.
CAMP MCTUREOUS, Okinawa  A major makeover for William C. Bechtel Elementary School on Okinawa will bring it into the 21st century, according to the Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific.

DODEA is spending $94.85 million on the renovation project at the school on this Marine Corps base. The project is scheduled to begin in summer 2023.

During construction, Bechtels approximately 670 students will be bused to schools at Kadena Air Base, 6 miles away, until the work is finished, according to a Feb. 4 news release from DODEA-Pacific spokeswoman Miranda Ferguson. Some students will be relocated in the school year that begins Aug. 22.

Bechtel Elementary is the latest school for military dependents in Japan to undergo improvements under DODEAs 21st Century facilities program designed to prepare students for tech-focused jobs.

The upgrades include an open floor plan that removes walls and doors to create a peer-to-peer learning atmosphere. There will also be new furniture, including bouncing balls for chairs; laptop docks, smartboards; and water-bottle stations.

The Bechtel makeover will include renovations to the main building; a new, 81,000-square foot-building; new furnishings; and playground improvements, according to the release.

The planned renovations and new construction at Bechtel Elementary School will provide our students residing on camps Courtney and McTureous, as well as the off-base attendance area, with an updated facility that promotes collaboration and supports the needs of 21st century learners, Jackie Ferguson, the acting superintendent for DODEA-Pacific South, said in the news release.

Three other DODEA schools in Japan, including one on Okinawa, were upgraded in 2021.

Renovations at Bob Hope Elementary at Kadena totaled $75 million. A pair of schools at Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan were renovated and consolidated into one school, Edgren Middle/High School, at a cost of $33 million.

In preparation for Bechtels planned renovation, the district will relocate approximately 150 students to Ralph Stearley Primary School and Amelia Earhart Intermediate School at Kadena Air Base for the 2022-23 school year, according to the DODEA news release. That group includes students living off-base south of McTureous.

After Bechtel Elementary closes for construction, all remaining Bechtel students will be sent to Ryukyu Middle School at Kadena until work is complete, according to the DODEA statement.

Those students families will be contacted via email by the student transportation office this summer with information regarding new bus schedules, according to a letter from Bechtel principal Scott Tefft on Feb. 3. Bus stop locations will remain the same, he wrote.

While times of transition can be difficult, I am confident this project will ensure Bechtel Elementary continues to proudly serve military-connected students and their families for many more years. Please reach out to our office if you have any questions, Tefft said.

The schools namesake, William C. Bechtel, was a Marine stationed on Okinawa during World War II. He returned to the island as a DODEA administrator and school principal. Bechtel elementary, home of the Bulldogs, was built in 1987 and serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grades.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  A Marine from Camp Kinser is facing assault and injury charges for allegedly fighting with two men while drunk, according to Japanese police.

Police arrested Lance Cpl. Lewis Nyooh Kah, 21, in Naha city shortly after the incident occurred around 5:50 a.m. Sunday, a Naha police station spokesman said by phone Thursday.

Kah allegedly picked a fight with a local man on the street when two other men, both 45, intervened, the spokesman said. Kah struck one in the face and pushed the other to the ground. He struck the man on the ground several times, injuring his face, the spokesman said.

One of the men called police and Kah, who was intoxicated, was arrested on the spot, the spokesman said. Some government officials in Japan customarily to speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

Kah was still being held Thursday at the Naha police station, and has refused to speak with investigators, the spokesman said.

Police plan to charge him with one count of assault and one count of causing bodily injury, the spokesman said.

An assault conviction carries two years imprisonment or approximately $2,600 in fines, according to the Japanese penal code. Inflicting injury brings up to 15 years imprisonment or approximately $4,300 in fines.
Taiwan scrambled fighter jets Thursday in response to nine Chinese aircraft entering its air defense identification zone, the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense said on its website.

Chinese aircraft have encroached on Taiwans air defense zone with increasing frequency during the past year, but Thursdays sorties come at a particularly fraught time, just hours after Russia launched an invasion into Ukraine.

Taiwan issued radio warnings to the Chinese aircraft and air defense missile systems deployed to monitor the activities, the defense ministry said.

Eight J-16 Chinese fighter jets and one Y-8 reconnaissance prop airplane flew over the southwest tip of Taiwans air defense zone, according to a map posted on the ministrys website.

An air defense identification zone is an area of airspace beyond a nations territorial boundary over which it maintains air traffic control for the sake of national security.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and must be unified, at some point, with the mainland and under the control of the Chinese Communist Party.

Some defense analysts have speculated China could move militarily against Taiwan amid the chaos of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, which came after weeks of amassing forces along its border.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday during a security conference in Munich that China was watching the level of support Western nations were offering Ukraine for its defense.

If Ukraine is endangered, the shock will echo around the world, Johnson said. And those echoes will be heard in East Asia, will be heard in Taiwan. People would draw the conclusion that aggression pays, and that might is right.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday called for increased surveillance of Chinas actions in light of the unfolding Ukraine crisis, saying all government units must be more vigilant.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Wednesday dismissed as unwise any linking of the two issues.

Taiwan for sure is not Ukraine, she told reporters. Taiwan has always been an inalienable part of Chinas territory. This is an indisputable historical and legal fact.
VICENZA, Italy  Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are deploying to Latvia as part of the NATO response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment began moving into the Baltic country Wednesday on C-130 aircraft out of Aviano Air Base and was expected to have hundreds of troops in place Thursday, said Maj. Cain Claxton, a Vicenza-based Army spokesman.

The troops will link up with Latvian forces, Claxton said. The tiny nation has just one active army brigade.

On Thursday, Russia fired missiles at facilities in or near Ukraines largest cities, including the capital of Kyiv. It also sent some of its forces into Ukraine after massing up to 190,000 troops and heavy weaponry along the borders, U.S. officials said.

Claxton said he did not have information available on the exact nature of the paratroopers mission, but called the deployment an opportunity to get out the door and work in another country on behalf of U.S. security interests.

The brigade, which is the conventional airborne strategic response force for Europe, is well-prepared to move out at a moments notice, Claxton added.

The deployment is part of a repositioning of Europe-based U.S. forces announced by the Defense Department this week to defend NATOs eastern flank.

Also moving eastward are a battalion of 20 AH-64 helicopters from Germany, the Pentagon said Wednesday. Additionally, an attack aviation force of 12 AH-64 helicopters from Greece are heading to Poland, defense officials added.

Six F-35 fighter jets deployed from Utah to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, were sent Thursday to air bases in Estonia, Lithuania and Romania to support NATOs air policing mission along the alliances eastern borders, Air Force officials in Europe said.

Two B-52 bombers deployed to England, meanwhile, were flying over Sweden and Poland on Thursday afternoon along their usual training routes, according to public aviation tracking websites.

Some 5,000 U.S.-based airborne troops moved into central and Eastern Europe in recent weeks to join thousands more deployed to NATO member countries concerned about Russian aggression.

The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had increased their calls for permanent U.S. bases in their countries in the run-up to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

And on Thursday, all three joined Poland in asking NATO to invoke Article 4 of its founding treaty. Article 4 provides for consultation of all NATO members if any country in the alliance deems its territorial integrity, political independence or security to be under threat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly referred to Russians and Ukrainians as a single people, causing worry in many parts of Eastern Europe that were previously subjugated by the Soviet Union.

Stars and Stripes reporter Jennifer H. Svan contributed to this report.
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  The highest ranking officer in the German army on Thursday publicly lamented years of fiscal neglect and the armys deteriorating readiness, as the U.S. and NATO allies mobilize in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine.

In my 41st year of service in peace, I would not have thought I would have had to experience another war, Inspector of the Army Lt. Gen. Alfons Mais posted on his personal LinkedIn account.

And the army that I am allowed to lead, is more or less standing bare, Mais wrote.

Mais comments Thursday morning came ahead of Defense Minister Christine Lambrechts announcement that Germanys defense forces were being placed on national alert in preparation for a possible NATO deployment.

But Mais cast doubt on Germanys capabilities.

The options we can offer policymakers to support the Alliance are extremely limited, Mais wrote.

As chief of German land forces, Mais is responsible for 60,000 soldiers and supporting materiel in his service.

It wasnt a lack of foresight that caught the army off guard, according to the general. Mais, who condemned Russias attack on Ukraine, effectively criticized the decisions made by his countrys leadership in recent years.

We all saw it coming and were unable to penetrate with our arguments to draw and implement the conclusions of the annexation of Crimea, he wrote.

While no NATO member nation has been attacked as part of Russias invasion of Ukraine, allies who fell under Soviet domination during the Cold War feel the constantly growing pressure, Mais wrote.

When, if not now, is the time to leave the Afghanistan mission behind us structurally and materially and to reposition ourselves? he wrote. Otherwise, we will not be able to implement our constitutional mandate and our alliance obligations with any prospect of success.

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who served as former Chancellor Angela Merkels defense minister until last year, also expressed regret Thursday over the German militarys lack of preparedness to counter Russia.

Im so angry at ourselves for our historical failure. After Georgia, Crimea, and Donbas, we have not prepared anything that would have really deterred (Vladimir) Putin, Kramp-Karrenbauer wrote in a Twitter post, referring to earlier Russian conquests.

German law under the Soldiers Act of 2005 places limits on free speech by service members. It was not immediately clear whether Mais will face consequences for his remarks.

There is nothing to add to the statements made by the Inspector of the Army on LinkedIn, a German army spokeswoman told Stars and Stripes by email on Thursday.

It was not the first time the German armys most senior uniformed leader has spoken out.

In 2020, Mais said in an interview that not a single brigade-sized unit in the German army was ready for deployment.

In a December 2021 year-end letter to the force, Mais wrote the service would again encounter challenges in its core tasks of providing homeland defense and support to alliance partners in the year ahead.

Mais posted his LinkedIn comment before visiting the U.S. Armys 56th Artillery Command in Mainz for discussions. The unit was reconstituted in November to help the Army counter potential Russian aggression.

Especially in these times, the exchange with our closest allies is all the more important, Mais wrote on Twitter on Thursday, accompanied by the hashtag #StrongEurope.

Mais frank comments also come a day after he joined units throughout Germany during the armys first Day of Values, held on Wednesday.

Service members conducted group discussions about the services core values, social media use, ethics and other issues. The effort was launched to improve personnel development by refocusing soldiers on the German constitution, a military statement said.

At (the days) core was the question What do we serve for? he wrote on LinkedIn. It has never been easier to make this clear to the generation that did not live through the Cold War.
STUTTGART, Germany  NATO took a rare step Thursday that empowers the alliances top commander, U.S. Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, to mobilize troops on short notice as allies shore up defenses in response to Russias attack on Ukraine.

It will be a new Europe after the invasion we saw today, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said following an emergency meeting in Brussels to activate the alliances defense plans, which means Wolters now has the authority to mobilize NATOs 40,000-strong quick response force if he chooses.

The U.S. military currently has about 8,500 troops in the U.S. at a heightened state of alert to deploy to Europe as part of the NATO force.

On Friday, President Joe Biden and other NATO heads of state will hold a summit to discuss NATOs next moves in the wake of Russias assault Thursday.

Stoltenberg said the Russian attack involved missiles, aircraft, warships, ground forces and special operations units, hitting both urban centers and military sites.

This is a blatant act of war  Peace on our continent has been shattered, Stoltenberg said. This is a grave moment for the security of Europe.

More allied forces will be heading to the eastern flank in the days ahead, Stoltenberg said.

The decision to activate NATO defense plans could be a prelude to mobilizing NATOs Response Force, which is made up of 40,000 allied troops.

Established 20 years ago, the force includes high-readiness air, land, maritime and special operations units. It has never been activated to defend against a potential Russian invasion.

The question of whether to put the force, or elements of it, along the eastern flank will be debated when heads of state meet Friday.

For now, NATO has committed to deploying additional land, sea and air forces eastward, the alliances North Atlantic Council said in a statement.

We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies, the statement said.

Details on what forces would deploy were not immediately released.

For its part, the U.S. has sent additional forces to Poland and Romania, and troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Italy are arriving in Latvia over concerns about Russian aggression.

Allies called the all-out Russian attack on Ukraine unjustified and unprovoked.

Our thoughts are with all those killed and injured, and with the people of Ukraine, NATOs North Atlantic Council said.

NATO also condemned Belarus, where thousands of Russian forces are based, for enabling the attack.

We call on Russia to immediately cease its military action and withdraw all its forces from in and around Ukraine, to fully respect international humanitarian law and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need, the NATO statement said.
WASHINGTON  U.S. intelligence suggests Russia aims to overthrow the pro-Western Ukrainian government as its military launches a full-scale invasion including more than 100 missile launches into the country, a senior defense official said Thursday.

It is our assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to go in big and threaten Kyiv [Ukraines capital], the official told Pentagon reporters Thursday. The indications weve seen thus far in just these first not even 12 hours are keeping with our assessment earlier that it would be his goal to decapitate this government.

Russia began making early moves toward Kyiv on Thursday morning, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The U.S. estimates Russia launched more than 100 various missiles during the initial onslaught into the country, including short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles.

They did this beginning at 9:30 p.m. EST last night when we observed missiles being fired from both land- and sea-based platforms impacting key cities in central and eastern Ukraine, the official said.

The Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday said it had destroyed 83 Ukrainian military facilities after launching air and missile strikes on Ukrainian forces. Later, the ministry said its ground forces had crossed into Ukraine from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed during its last invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

The defense official could not provide a casualty count in Ukraine as of Thursday morning but said civilian and Ukrainian troops lives might have been lost already.

When you start launching more than 100 ballistic missiles, its of concern that innocent life could be taken, the official said.

The heaviest fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces is happening in Kharkiv, but other combat is occurring throughout the country Thursday, including near the civilian airport in Kyiv, the official said.

The invasion comes days after the Russian parliament recognized the independence of the breakaway eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and later authorized Putins decision to deploy troops abroad.

Russia claims the invasion is part of a peace-keeping mission, but it comes after the country has been steadily amassing more than 150,000 troops along Ukraines borders with Belarus and Russia during the past three months.

U.S. and NATO partners for months have been attempting diplomatic negotiations with Putin, who in December demanded that NATO bar Ukraine from any future membership in the alliance and remove all troops and military equipment from countries that joined NATO during the past 25 years, such as Poland and Romania.

NATO members, including the U.S., have refused these requests.

U.S. officials from the Pentagon, White House and State Department for weeks have said there was still time for a diplomatic resolution up until a Russian invasion occurred.

Since the invasion began overnight, there has been no direct communication between Russian and U.S. defense leaders, the officials said.

On Thursday, Biden ordered the deployment of approximately 7,000 additional U.S. service members to Europe. This would comprise an armored brigade combat team with associated capabilities and enablers, according to the Pentagon. The troops will deploy in the coming days to Germany to reassure NATO.

The U.S. already has approximately 8,700 troops in Poland assisting police forces, about 4,700 of whom were deployed from Fort Campbell, Ky., and Fort Bragg, N.C., during the past three weeks.

In that same period, the U.S. moved 1,000 troops to join the 900 American troops already stationed there on a rotational basis and 300 to set up a joint force headquarters in Germany.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden also ordered an infantry battalion task force of about 800 US soldiers in Italy to move to the Baltic region after Russia refused to withdraw its forces from Belarus. An attack aviation battalion of 20 AH-64 helicopters from Germany will also join them.

Additionally, Biden sent two F-35 strike fighter jets each to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from Germany, the defensive official said. An attack aviation task force of 12 AH-64 helicopters is also moving this week from Greece to Poland.

Biden has repeatedly pledged not to send U.S. troops into Ukraine to fight Russia but maintains he is committed to supporting NATO ally countries.
Russias invasion of Ukraine is following a course many military analysts had predicted, with a barrage of missile attacks to destroy Ukraines air force and air defenses quickly followed by a massive land campaign aimed at crushing armed resistance.

Events on the ground unfolded rapidly on Thursday and, while the situation remains fluid, it appears that Russian President Vladimir Putin has opted for a campaign aimed at achieving regime change, rather than a more limited takeover of the separatist Donbas territories he recognized as independent on Tuesday.

Ukraines State Border Guard Service said its personnel came under attack at 5 a.m. local time in five provinces ranged around the countrys north eastern borders, as well as through Donbas and occupied Crimea, to the south.

Russian tanks were reported to have reached the outskirts of Ukraines second city, Kharkiv, by mid morning, and to be fighting in the Kherson region just north of Crimea. By early afternoon, CNN showed Russian troops apparently in control of Hostomel airport, outside the capital Kyiv, following an air assault.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, adviser to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said Russian forces may be trying to secure the base as a bridgehead for an operation to decapitate the government. Landing of airborne troops is possible. There could be an attempt to enter governments bloc, Podolyak said. One of the goals is to remove top authorities.

That idea was supported by Vyacheslav Nikonov, first deputy chairman of the Russian State Dumas International Affairs Committee, who said Russia aims to install a new, Moscow-friendly administration. It isnt clear how a government imposed by Russia would be able to overcome popular resistance.

In the east, the Facebook page for Ukraines war effort reported a fierce battle with Russian tanks pressing down toward the rear of Ukrainian front lines fighting separatists in Luhansk province.

In an unequal battle -- Russia spends more than 10 times as much on defense -- Ukraine said it had shot down Russian aircraft and destroyed tanks. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed 74 military facilities, including 11 air fields, 3 command posts, a naval base and 18 radar stations for anti-aircraft batteries.

What happens next, according to the Moscow-based defense analyst Pavel Felgenhauer, is best understood from Putins stated goal to demilitarize rather than occupy Ukraine, a nation of 41 million that has a territorial expanse similar to that of France.

That means the Ukrainian armed forces should be totally disbanded, weapons liquidated and Ukraine turned into a buffer zone where Russia can do what it wants without any ability of Ukraine to resist, said Felgenhauer, a veteran military analyst with the Jamestown Foundation, a U.S. think tank. Putin was very specific, territory issues come second.

That, in turn, requires targeting the Ukrainian armed forces that are mostly in Donbas, where Russian forces are likely to engage from the front and surround them, Felgenhauer said. Russia cannot afford a drawn out engagement, but rather it will be a Blitz, a Blitzkrieg, he said.

Thats a view shared by Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. General and former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe. Taking Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million, by force would risk months of urban warfare and require all the manpower Russia has available. In U.S. experience, he said, taking one hotel-size building requires a battalion, or 700-800 men.

I just dont think its feasible, Hodges said on the margins of the Feb. 18-20 Munich Security Conference.

According to the U.S., Russia had built up a force around Ukraine numbering between 150,000 and 200,000 troops by the time Putin gave the order to move. Not all have yet been deployed.

Theres little doubt Putin has his eyes on more than just the separatist territories, according to Mathieu Boulegue, a specialist in Eurasian security and defense at the London think tank Chatham House.

In Putins pre-war address to the nation, said Boulegue, he spent less time talking about stopping further NATO expansion than what he saw as the illegitimacy of Ukraine as a state, cobbled together -- in his account -- by a series of arbitrary Soviet-era decisions.

It was the way he was talking about Ukraine almost like it was a Lego set, Boulegue. He was making the case to Russians that by going in he would be righting a historical wrong.

Bloombergs Daryna Krasnolutska contributed to this report.
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  The Armys first manned spy plane and an Air Force nuke sniffer have been among the surveillance aircraft watching Russias military movements during the Kremlins planning and execution of its latest invasion of Ukraine.

For weeks, aviation spotters have been following the Air Forces RQ-4 Global Hawk, RC-135 Rivet Joint, WC-135 Constant Phoenix and E-8C, an Army prototype called ARTEMIS, as well as other U.S. and NATO aircraft flying in Ukraine or in neighboring areas.

The aircraft flight paths are not classified and are readily viewable on commercial websites.

The specialized planes flying in or near Ukraine can provide real-time intelligence on land and sea movements and intercept Russian communications.

A remotely piloted Global Hawk with the call sign FORTE12 was the last aircraft tracked over Ukraine before the country shut down its airspace to civilian air traffic a few hours before dawn Thursday, according to the global flight tracking service Flightradar24.

It was spotted with another U.S. Global Hawk, call sign FORTE11, on Wednesday evening over eastern Ukraine. On Thursday morning, aviation watchers spotted FORTE12 flying southwest of Crimea over the Black Sea.

Based out of Naval Air Station Sigonella on the Italian island of Sicily, the two planes have been frequent visitors to Ukraine over the past month, according to Flightradar24 data.

The site observed that FORTE11 had arrived in Ukrainian airspace late Wednesday morning and noted that the last time it was in Ukraine, on Feb. 20, it stayed for 24 hours.

The Global Hawk can fly at high altitudes for more than 30 hours without refueling, according to the drones manufacturer, Northrop Grumman. Its cameras can gather nearly real-time, high-resolution imagery of large areas in all types of weather, day or night, the company says.

Air Force officials in Europe would not comment Wednesday on the specifics of surveillance aircraft flying in or near Ukraine, citing Defense Department policy.

The Air Force conducts these types of flights with allies and partners routinely and only with prior approval from and full coordination with respective host nations, said Tech. Sgt. Michael Battles, a spokesman for U.S. Air Forces in EuropeAir Forces Africa.

Surveillance and reconnaissance missions continued Thursday following Russias missile attacks on facilities in or near Ukraines major cities, including the capital of Kyiv.

The CivMilAir Twitter tracking site observed an American E-8C and RC-135 Rivet Joint plus ARTEMIS watching the western borders of Belarus and Ukraine late Thursday morning.

The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, or JSTARS, departed from Ramstein Air Base and was tracked over Poland and Romania.

The aircraft was conceived during the Cold War to locate and track moving ground targets in all weather conditions, manufacturer Northrop Grumman says.

Its 24-foot-long radar antenna can be tilted to either side of the aircraft, allowing it a 120-degree field of view covering about 19,000 square miles.

A British Rivet Joint plane was spotted with its U.S. Air Force counterpart Thursday morning over Eastern Europe. The aircrafts sensors soak up electronic emissions from communications systems, radar and the like, according to Britains Royal Air Force.

ARTEMIS, which stands for Aerial Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System, is the Armys first manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance jet.

It is a Bombardier Challenger 650 thats been souped up with military-grade sensors for tracking ground troops and is flown on the Armys behalf by defense contractor Leidos, according to a Breaking Defense article published Tuesday.

Its electronics and ground-scanning radar can monitor tanks from hundreds of miles away, meaning it can see into Belarus, the heavily fortified Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and maybe even the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, Tom Spoehr, director of the Heritage Foundations center for national defense, said in the article.

Meanwhile, the Air Forces WC-135 Constant Phoenix, nicknamed the nuke sniffer, spent time patrolling Eastern Europe this week. Its mission is to detect and collect radioactivity samples in the atmosphere. The radioactivity typically results from a nuclear explosion.

The aircraft, based at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, made an emergency landing Tuesday at RAF Mildenhall, England, following a flight over the Baltic Sea.

Air Force officials said the crew followed all prescribed emergency and safety procedures and landed safely. No one on board was injured.
Europe is bracing for what could be an exodus of more than a million refugees after Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine, as officials say any initial strain will be borne by member states on the blocs eastern frontier.

The order of a full-scale invasion from President Vladimir Putin, triggering one of the worst security crises in Europe since World War II, has intensified preparations by eastern European Union states for an influx of refugees. Poland especially, already home to well more than a million Ukrainians, would be the first point of escape for many seeking to escape the violence.

Lines of cars already clogged highways leading out of the capital Kyiv, with the Ukrainian government saying Russian forces had entered the region around the city of 2.9 million. Polish authorities said they are beginning to see an increase in passenger traffic over the border.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki warned this month that a war could trigger an exodus from Ukraine. His government has already set up a coordination team and approved aide to deliver assistance in the event of a large number of arrivals.

Poland would be primarily affected, not only due to its proximity, but the significant Ukrainian community living in the country, which could act as hosts to others at least in the early stage, Magdalena Majkowska-Tomkin, director of migration issues for the Open Society Foundations philanthropy, said in an interview before the invasion.

But the prospect of a vast influx of migrants has forced Eastern European governments, some who have refused in recent years to accept migrants, to confront the possibility of hundreds of thousands of new arrivals. Authorities in the four EU member states bordering Ukraine -- Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania -- say theyre prepared for those fleeing.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a champion of anti-immigration policies who faces a tough re-election fight in less than six weeks, also said his country would accept refugees. In recent weeks he had issued grave warnings of an influx.

In the aftermath of todays military attack, unfortunately we can expect an increase in the number of Ukrainian citizens arriving in Hungary who will probably request asylum, Orban said in a Facebook video on Thursday after meeting his national security cabinet. Were prepared to take care of them, and well be able to rise to the challenge quickly and efficiently.

Lines of cars had already formed at Hungarys border early Thursday, MTI state news service reported, citing witnesses. Hungary, which refused to admit mostly Middle Eastern migrants in Europes 2015-16 refugee crisis, could incur a scale of migration that outstrips the arrivals fleeing the Balkan wars in the 1990s, Orban warned before the invasion.

The government in Budapest, which has clashed with Kyiv over the rights of ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine, this week shifted some troops to the frontier with Ukraine to bolster border defense and prepare for humanitarian aid.

The EU expected as many as a million refugees, though any scenario is linked to the scope of a conflict, according to officials in Brussels. Planning has consisted of taking stock of eastern members capacity to manage the influx, effectively relying on the contingency planning of border states.

Polish observers have speculated about far more than a million. Tomasz Hanczarek -- head of Personnel Service, a company that recruits workers from abroad -- put the overall number at as many as 3 million.

Germany, which absorbed the vast majority of migrants who entered Europe via Turkey and the Balkan region six years ago, said it will first offer assistance to border states shouldering the initial burden.

We expect initial refugee movements within Ukraine and will be watching very closely how strong movements are in neighboring countries, possibly coming to Germany as well, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Twitter.

Romanian authorities said Ukrainians have started to arrive, mostly on foot, at its northern border. Romanian Defense Minister Vasile Dincu said the country is able to accept about a half a million refugees. In neighboring Moldova, a non-EU state wedged between Romania and Ukraine, lines had formed, and the countrys president, Maia Sandu, called on lawmakers to issue a state of emergency.

Romania has asked its northernmost counties that border Ukraine to provide heating and electricity to existing refugee centers -- though local media has questioned whether the nation has the capacity. Slovakia, which had already fleshed out plans to expand refugee shelters, dispatched 1,500 soldiers to the border.

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Bloombergs Alberto Nardelli, Natalia Drozdiak, Zoltan Simon, Daniel Hornak, Slav Okov, Zoe Schneeweiss and Andra Timu contributed to this report.
SHADADI, Syria  In the countryside around this market town, people prefer not to travel after dark. Rumors abound that militants stalk the roads then. Three years after the defeat of its self-declared caliphate, the Islamic State group is reconstituting itself in the Syrian shadows, and few villagers want to test their luck.

Its not safe out there, said Khalifa Salim al-Jeddal, 64, his grave expression framed with deep wrinkles from years in the sun. There are places I know I cant just get in my car and drive to. There are sleeper cells.

A farmer from the nearby village of Jallo, Jeddal knows the risks more than many. The militants tortured him when they ruled his village, he said. Now theyre growing in confidence again, sometimes wearing military fatigues that make them indistinguishable at a distance from the areas U.S.-backed security forces.

This is the Islamic State in 2022. No longer holding territory, as the group did until 2019, but lying low in small groups, operating with increasing sophistication and exploiting the breathing spaced afforded by Syrias fractured politics to rebuild. They are also taking advantage of the local Kurdish-led administrations struggles to fully govern the broad swath of northeastern Syria it has come to control since the fall of the caliphate, recruiting informants from impoverished communities and intimidating individuals who work with local government.

The dangers were dramatically underlined last month when hundreds of Islamic State fighters assaulted a prison holding suspected militants in the northeastern city of Hasakah. American and British special forces were forced to join the 10-day battle to recapture it. More than 500 people died, about three quarters of them ISIS members, according to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

These cells came from different places, said Mazloum Kobane, who leads the U.S.-backed SDF in northeastern Syria. They spread out people in neighborhoods around the prison to create chaos as soon as the attack began.

As the violence unfolded in Hasakah, militants were carrying out attacks elsewhere in northeastern Syria.

At a rural checkpoint in Deir al-Zour province, Yasser was partway through another freezing night shift as a member of the regions internal Kurdish-led security forces when he saw six men on motorcycles coursing down the otherwise empty road toward him. Two of them had suicide vests strapped to their chests, recounted Yasser, who described the event on the condition that his last name not be used because of safety concerns. He would later learn that similar attacks had unfolded at two other checkpoints.

As some members of Yassers unit fled the ensuing gun battle, no one in the village offered them shelter.

People were whispering through the doors, telling us: Please go. We cant open the door for you, Yasser recalled. They said, If ISIS finds out, they will kill us.

The militants have taken advantage of Syrias political divisions to rebuild their fighting capabilities. Under pressure from the SDF and the U.S.-led military coalition, some Islamic State cells had retreated in 2019 from northeastern Syria to territory controlled by Syrian President Bashar Assads forces, where operations against the group were less sustained. Then, after the militants came under fire there, they slipped back into the Kurdish-led region.

They had moved people to a more viable front for survival, and that was central Syria. Now the most viable front again is the northeast, said Gregory Waters, a nonresident scholar at the Middle East Institute.

Mazloum and other SDF officials noted that some of the attackers in Hasakah appeared to have spent time in ISIS training camps in areas controlled by Assads forces, and the militants who returned to northeastern Syria have demonstrated a greater ability to carry out complex attacks.

In the past, Kurdish officials had said there was little coordination among the small sleeper cells operating in the northeast. But officials suggested after the Hasakah assault that it had involved three separate cells operating with high-level coordination and that there had been a centralized decision to carry out the attack.

Waters said that the Islamic State in Syria has again become capable of carrying out sophisticated operations. The group has developed a slimmer, centralized core of veteran fighters who are linked into broader regional networks planning less-frequent but larger, more-complex attacks, while the more peripheral, decentralized cells carry out the day-to-day low-level insurgency, he said.

Intelligence gathered in U.S. surveillance of Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in the months before he was killed in an American raid on Feb. 3 indeed indicated that he had stayed in touch with a network of underground cells in parts of Syria and Iraq.

Qurayshis death is likely to disorient the Islamic State group and reduce its effectiveness, at least for the time being, according to Hassan Hassan, the editor in chief of New Lines magazine. For now, the group is in a weakened state, but that is not the same as not being dangerous, Hassan said. He said that Qurayshi did not have wide appeal and that the selection of a new leader could enhance the groups odds at energizing its base and appealing to new people.

As some Islamic State cells have returned to northeastern Syria, the SDF has found itself with less visibility into their operations than before. For one thing, it has little insight into militants activities in adjacent areas held by the Syrian government west of the Euphrates River or Turkish-backed forces in the north, and sometimes in neighboring Iraq.

Everyones working in silo, said Dareen Khalifa, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.

Islamic State militants have also capitalized on the Kurdish-led administrations struggles to govern in majority-Arab areas that have fallen under its rule. Arab residents have protested over poor public services and what they describe as arbitrary detentions during anti-ISIS raids.

The militants exploit this discontent, paying some residents small sums to be informants, for instance supplying information about the activity of community leaders or the movement of security forces. In some cases, insurgents have intimidated and even killed people who cooperate with local government. As a result, Khalifa said, local authorities are finding it harder to generate intelligence about militant activities. Some people dont think [local] forces are capable of protecting them, she said.

SDF officials point in particular to the regions sprawling, ramshackle camps housing thousands of people displaced from their homes by fighting and poverty, where the militants might try to make inroads. Several dozen camp residents have been arrested in recent months, the SDF said, accused of offering support to the Islamic State in return for cash.

ISIS is taking advantage of the poverty in this region, said Farhad Shami, a spokesman for the SDF. They have tried to use displaced people as a weapon, he said.

The conditions in many of the camps are dire. Residents are at times short of bread and other food, wear threadbare clothes and burn trash for warmth against the winter cold.

Camps around the city of Raqqa, once the capital of the Islamic States self-declared caliphate, have swelled in recent years as climate change and drought have accelerated the immiseration of tens of thousands of pastoralists who say they have had no choice but to migrate toward cities in search of work.

But once they arrive, they find few opportunities. Many live in grinding poverty. For local notables and tribal elders who have acted as brokers between their communities and the SDF, the arrival of so many strangers has also limited visibility into what happens among the newcomers.

The Washington Posts Mustafa al-Ali contributed to this report.
Intel Corp.s new bitcoin mining chip may turn out to be the first major challenger to the Chinese rig manufacturers that have dominated the market for years.

The Santa Clara, California-based chip making giant unveiled its crypto mining initiative earlier this month and the first generation BonanzaMine chip in January. Jack Dorseys digital payment company Block Inc., and two mining firms Griid Infrastructure and Argo Blockchain will receive the first batch of the chips later this year.

Chinese manufacturers Bitmain and MicroBT have a lions share of the Bitcoin mining hardware market due to the proprietary technology they use to make their high-performing chips. Few competitors appear to have been able to make a chip that can match them until now.

Bitcoin mining, which is earning rewards in bitcoin by using computers to secure the cryptocurrencys network, has become a lucrative business amid the surge in the price of Bitcoin in recent years, enriching the rig makers along the way. The mining industry raked in $15 billion in revenue in 2021, more than double the previous year, according to research from The Block.

Intels entry could weaken the Chinese manufacturers pricing power and offer better maintenance services given the companys close proximity to the miners in North America, industry participants said. The region dethroned China as the worlds Bitcoin mining hub as Beijing banned crypto mining last May.

Having a U.S.-based manufacturer with the size, scale and credibility like Intel is fantastic for the entire crypto industry, said Dave Perrill, chief executive of Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based Compute North, which provides Bitcoin miners with data centers to operate their machines. Competition is a good thing.

Shares of Intel rose about 1% to $45.08 as of 10:34 a.m. in New York. Theyve dropped 26% in the past year.

One chief reason for miners to welcome a competitor like Intel is the current pricing model and purchasing terms, which are set by the top manufacturers, burden their buyers with varying financial risks and operational costs. A fixed price, which will be offered by Intel, provides more predictability.

The manufacturers make pre-orders of their latest models available for buyers before they have the inventory. However, the buyers wont know the actual price until the manufacturers ship the machines and they are given a price range, said Nick Hansen, chief executive of Seattle-based mining pool and hardware brokerage company Luxor.

Prices of pre-ordered machines are updated everyday within that range based on the manufacturers internal pricing models. Bitcoins spot price and the payback period, which is the time needed to break even, are key factors in these models, Hansen said.

The internal pricing models could strain bitcoin miners cash flow and pose even more risks when the miners face a potential shakeout during bear markets as the pricing models give great weight to the bitcoin price.

Our customers want clarity, Perrill said. They want to know that next week bitcoin mining machines prices are not going to shift by 50% given the volatility of the bitcoin market.

Another reason Chinese makers do not sell machines at a fixed price is they do not have much control over its suppliers pricing, therefore these companies have less control over the final price for its mining machines, said Lei Tong, head of lending at Hong Kong-based Babel Finance, which provides lending services for bitcoin miners.

The 25% tariff imposed on imported mining machines from China adds more cost to the buyers, which could also be a significant factor for miners to make purchases. Unlike Bitmain and MicroBT, Intel has more control over its suppliers pricing due to the companys influence and scale in the semiconductor industry, Tong said.

Some miners in North America also expect a domestic mining machine provider to have better maintenance services.

Being located here gives a lot of advantages to Intel in the domestic market, Perrill said. Things like warranty claims, repair and how to handle the e-waste are really tipped in Intels favor.

Better maintenance can slow mining machines depreciation and save operational cost for mining companies. Maintenance services become even more important when miners use certain models of mining machines that have more quality issues, Tong said.

The biggest thing for us is what happens to older grade machines, Perrill said. My hope is that Intel brings a more enterprise grade approach to this business, manages and configures millions of computers at scale.

Details on Intels second generation chip, such as power efficiency and pricing, are yet to be available and some miners are skeptical of the significance of Intels entry to the industry. Intel revealed its first generation chip has the power efficiency of 55 joules per terahash falling far behind Bitmains latest model, according to Intels paper submitted to the International Solid-State Circuits Conference. The details on its second generation product, which is what the buyers are purchasing, will be released at a later time, a spokesperson from Intel told Bloomberg.

Power efficiency is arguably the most important specification for miners to gauge the profitability of a bitcoin mining machine, Tong said. High power efficiency chips can save energy cost, which is one of the biggest costs for bitcoin miners.

There are two things that determine a manufacturers ability to mass produce a chip. One is the chips design, while the other is whether it has a reliable supply chain for the components.

It could take a few years for Intel to catch up with Bitmain on all fronts, Tong said. But Intels entry is definitely a good thing for the industry.
The United States will send an additional 7,000 troops to Europe to bolster NATO defenses, President Joe Biden announced Thursday in the hours after Russia launched an unprovoked brutal assault on Ukraine.

Biden announced the latest ordered deployment of American forces from the U.S into Europe in an address from the White House to the U.S. people, in which he labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin a pariah on the international stage and announced new sanctions on Russian banks, businesses and elites meant to severely damage the countrys economy as punishment for its invasion of its neighbor to the west.

There should be no confusion or cover up about what Putin is doing, Biden said. Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences.

The latest tranche of U.S. forces includes an armored brigade combat team with additional capabilities and enablers that will deploy in the coming days to Germany, the Pentagon said after Bidens remarks. They will join some 7,000 American troops sent in recent weeks into NATO countries, including those neighboring Ukraine, which fear Putin could turn his forces toward them next.

On the enablers, I would say its largely transport and supporting fires, artillery, a senior defense official told Pentagon reporters Thursday on condition of anonymity.

The bulk of those troops are members of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga., an Army official said Thursday. After they reach Germany, they could be repositioned to other locations as needed.

The units and locations of the remaining troops that make up the 7,000 were not identified by the defense official.

However, the official said some were among the 8,500 U.S-based forces on high alert to deploy on short notice to Europe amid the heightening tensions with Russia. Those forces included troops from nearly a dozen military posts, Pentagon officials announced previously. Among them were Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Hood, Texas, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and Fort Carson, Colo., where another armored brigade combat team  the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division  was already scheduled to deploy to Europe in the coming weeks on a regular rotation of troops supporting NATOs Atlantic Resolve training mission.

Earlier Thursday, the Pentagon incorrectly named the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division as the unit ordered immediately to Europe, but officials later confirmed the Fort Stewart unit was tasked with the rapid deployment.

The [1st] Brigade Combat Team that is going could also be used should the [NATO response force] get activated because they will have been pre-positioned, the official said. Theyre going to deter aggression, reassure rallies and be prepared for other requirements, [so] that could be a requirement that they could fill.

Biden said at least some of those forces would soon move to Europe, after the alliance earlier Thursday granted U.S. Gen. Tod Wolters, the top NATO and U.S. commander in Europe, the authority to active the NATO response force of some 40,000 troops from multiple countries.

NATO leaders were set to hold an emergency summit on Friday to map out our next steps in the alliances response to Russia, Biden said, hinting that could include activation of the response force.

The president reiterated his long-held stance that American forces would not enter Ukraine. But, he warned, if Putins forces entered a NATO country that the U.S. military would be forced to respond.

There is no doubt, no doubt that the United States and every NATO ally will meet our Article 5 commitments, which says an attack on one is an attack on all, Biden said. Its a large conflict already [in Ukraine] and the way were going to assure its not going to spiral into a larger conflict is by providing all the [military] forces needed in Eastern European nations that are members of NATO. NATO is more united than its ever been.

The United States had already sent some 5,000 U.S.-based soldiers  largely from the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions  into Poland, Romania and Germany in recent weeks. The Pentagon on Tuesday ordered a deployment of another 1,000 troops  including a 173rd Airborne Brigade infantry battalion, six F-35 advanced fighter jets and a battalion of 20 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters  from locations elsewhere in Europe to the Baltics countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

The Pentagon on Thursday painted a bleak picture of the Russian attack on Ukraine, reporting Putins forces appeared to be moving toward Ukraines capital Kyiv and other key population centers intent on toppling that nations western-aligned government. Russia had launched more than 160 missiles into Ukrainian territory and moved its troops into that country from multiple directions as part of an initial phase of an operation, a senior Pentagon official told reporters Thursday.

Our assessment is that [the Russians] have every intention of basically decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance, said this official, who spoke about the latest events in Ukraine on the condition of anonymity. We havent seen a conventional [military] move like this  nation-state to nation-state  since World War II.
(Tribune News Service)  Controversial legislation that would repeal an Idaho statute prohibiting private militias cleared another hurdle Wednesday, when the House passed the bill with little debate.

House Bill 475, pushed by the Idaho National Guard and Gov. Brad Little, would remove a long-standing state law that serves as an obstruction to private militias. The statute forbids "a body of men," other than the National Guard, to "associate themselves together as a military company or organization, or parade in public with firearms in any city or town of this state."

Legal experts, who have used similar statutes to bring civil suits against militias, flagged the bill when it was introduced by the Idaho National Guard last month. Attorneys from Boise and Washington, D.C., urged lawmakers to preserve the statute.

The House overwhelmingly passed the House Bill 475 on Wednesday on a near-party line vote. Rep. Linda Wright Hartgen, of Twin Falls, was the only Republican to oppose it.

"Peaceable assembly cannot be restricted," Rep. Joe Palmer, a Meridian Republican who sponsored the bill, said in a brief speech, closing debate in the full House after just one other lawmaker spoke.

Rep. John Gannon, a Boise Democrat, said the statute is "there for a reason." It also prohibits a city from supporting private armies, Gannon noted.

"That could be of concern if you had a city that was very small and, maybe, was influenced by one group or another and decided to take some kind of step to support a local armed group," he said.

Idaho National Guard supports, defends bill

Maj. Stephen Stokes, an attorney for the Idaho Military Division, said the statute is "unnecessary" and inapplicable to the Idaho Military Division. Military officials proposed repealing it as part of the Red Tape Reduction Act, a 2019 executive order by Little that directed state agencies to find ineffective or outdated rules to eliminate.

During an introductory hearing last month, Stokes said the statute violates First and Second Amendment rights. But in another hearing last week, Stokes acknowledged that courts have ruled similar statutes as constitutional. He maintained, though, that the statute is unenforceable, and that other Idaho statutes prohibit paramilitary activity.

All eight people who testified during last week's public hearing opposed the bill. Some were North Idaho residents who described the fear and uncertainty brought by self-deputized, armed citizens who took to the streets in 2020 amid nationwide protests against police violence.

Shawn Keenan, of Coeur d'Alene, recalled when armed vigilantes patrolled his city to protect the resort town from rumored rioting and violence, which did not materialize. Keenan said the vigilantes paraded the city for months.

"It was surreal," he said. "It was scary."

Others noted similar situations in more North Idaho cities. Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad, a Democrat running for governor, said House Bill 475 is a "dangerous bill that doesn't make us safer" or protect constitutional rights.

"Playing politics with our fundamental rights like freedom of speech and our rights to own and carry a gun is cowardly and opportunistic," Rognstad said in a news release after the House passed the measure.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

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It failed to prevent a war, but almost everything the U.S. said Russia would do in Ukraine has come to pass.

The intelligence that President Joe Biden made public in a highly unusual step gave the world a preview of Vladimir Putins true intentions, robbing him of the element of surprise. It also gave the U.S. time to rally support from its allies on sanctions that in normal circumstances would have taken months to hash out.

Last November, the U.S. privately warned allies in Europe that Putin had plans to invade Ukraine. Officials shared maps and intelligence outlining how Russia was planning to double troop numbers around Ukraine. They spelled out where Putin would place artillery, and ground, air and naval forces to strike its neighbor. They previewed how a series of cyber attacks and a drumbeat of disinformation would set the stage for an attack.

It was a real-time chronicle of an invasion foretold even though right until the end no one knew whether Putin would really do it. In the early hours of Thursday morning, Russia entered Ukraine from the north, south and east, targeting multiple cities -- just as the U.S. and the U.K. warned it would.

Given the intelligence failures of the past, most damagingly in 2003 with Iraq, the U.S. couldnt afford to get this wrong. Two decades later, controlling the narrative on social platforms is critical to shaping perceptions. Sending Americans to fight was out of the question, so the White House had to try and control the narrative -- and unlike in Russias previous invasion of Ukraine in 2014, it decided to go public with what it knew.

For starters, it brought more countries into the fold. The U.K. is a trusted partner of the Five Eyes intelligence network, along with Canada, Australia and New Zealand. But this time vast amounts of information were also shared with France, Germany and European Union leaders in Brussels.

Administration officials then decided to aggressively begin to release sanitized versions of some of the intelligence findings publicly.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance had very good intelligence on Russian plans and took the decision to publicize Russian efforts to create a pretext for an invasion.

We exposed those attempts because we hoped that could reduce the risk of a military invasion, he told reporters in Brussels. They have done as they actually planned for a long time ago.

The same assessments, pointing to a large-scale invasion from multiple directions in the early months of 2022, were independently verified by the U.K., with senior British officials also deployed to brief allies.

In the weeks that followed, the U.S. and the British governments made public much of that same information in an unprecedented effort to try and deter Putin by exposing his plans.

By telegraphing Putins strategy, the U.S. was able to accelerate talks with allies over a package of financial penalties that would not only hurt Russia but their own economies as well. It wasnt always easy, especially getting Germany to halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Italy was also uneasy about being cut off from supplies during an energy crunch.

A person familiar with the thinking said the aim was not primarily to get people to believe but to cause people to have some skepticism, as events such as false-flag operations, unfolded. For months the U.S. downgraded and declassified information, while protecting sources and methods, to share it with key allies and senior officials traveling to Europe.

Amid repeated Kremlin denials that he intended to invade and some skepticism in Western European capitals, the two transatlantic allies went into great detail in their disclosures, including by outlining Russias potential plots to fabricate a pretext for invasion, rapidly attributing cyber attacks to Russian intelligence services and tweeting about Moscows possible military maneuvers.

As frantic diplomatic efforts to sway Putin away from invading continued through January and this month, allies were clear that the intelligence assessments didnt extend to the Russian presidents intentions: They did not know whether a decision had been taken to invade.

That changed last week.

On Feb. 17, on a late afternoon, Biden came out in front of the camera to tell world that there was every indication that Moscow would attack within days and try and stage a pretext for an invasion.

The U.S. believed that the Russian leader had just about made up his mind by that point. There was some last-ditch frantic diplomacy.

Frances Emmanuel Macron even tried to arrange a summit between Putin and Biden, one that U.S. officials at that point really couldnt see happening. A one-on-one meeting between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russias top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, was scrapped.

Blinken last week was very specific.

He said Russia plans to manufacture a pretext for its attack -- a violent event that Russia will blame on Ukraine, then the highest levels of the Russian government may theatrically convene emergency meetings to address the so-called crisis.

He went on to say: Next, the attack is planned to begin. Russian missiles and bombs will drop across Ukraine. Communications will be jammed. Cyber attacks will shut down key Ukrainian institutions. After that, Russian tanks and soldiers will advance on key targets that have already been identified and mapped out in detailed plans.

For months, no one had wanted to speculate what exactly Putin would do. The oft-repeated line was that no one could not get into his head.

With scenes unfolding now of military vehicles breaching the Kyiv region, what Putin had planned became painfully apparent.

- - -

Bloombergs Ania Nussbaum and Peter Martin contributed to this report.
(Tribune News Service)  A swath of major American businesses  from major banks to utility companies  are preparing for possible cyberattacks against their computer networks as Russia on Thursday threatened consequences for nations that interfere with its invasion of Ukraine.

Their concerns, echoed in C-suites and around Washington, follow recent warnings from the Biden administration that U.S. firms should harden their defenses against potential cyberattacks that could disrupt the nations critical infrastructure.

American officials say there are no current threats against the U.S. But they have nonetheless urged organizations to plan for worst-case scenarios and more aggressively monitor their computer networks for possible intrusions.

"Right now, everybody needs to be at a heightened alert in the event this continues to escalate, and Russia tries to sway political opinion by causing damage in the United States and its Western allies, said David Kennedy, the chief executive officer of security firm TrustedSec. He said companies should be going through their computer infrastructure with a fine-tooth comb to ensure previous intrusions cant be used to cause future, more damaging, attacks.

Major U.S. banks, for instance, fear aggressive cyberattacks if Washington imposes deeper financial sanctions on Russia, said two banking executives who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. CEOs of major financial firms and their cybersecurity experts recently met with Treasury officials as Russian threats of war intensified, according to the executives. (The New York Times previously reported the meeting.)

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that any foreign attempts to interfere with Russias actions in would lead to consequences you have never experienced, according to remarks of his speech provided by the Kremlin. U.S. officials have tied recent cyberattacks on government websites and banks in Ukraine to the Russian government.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has been urging U.S. businesses and organizations to be prepared for cyberattacks, despite the lack of specific threats. Russia may consider taking retaliatory action in response to sanctions that may impact our critical infrastructure, she tweeted on Tuesday.

CISAs Shields Up campaign has encouraged cyber preparedness in recent days, from ensuring that software is up to date to designating a crisis-response team for a suspected cybersecurity incident. The Russian government understands that disabling or destroying critical infrastructure including power and communications  can augment pressure on a countrys government, military and population and accelerate their acceding to Russian objectives, according to a webpage devoted to the campaign.

Speaking on a panel for the Aspen Institute last week, Easterly said, We all recognize that early warnings of a cyberattack effecting U.S. organizations are frankly going to be identified by very likely a private company first rather than the government.

She added: Our goal is to ensure that we are connecting the dots between seemingly disparate events, so we can identify and work to remediate an emerging campaign as rapidly as possible.

Steven Silberstein, chief executive officer of the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, known as FS-ISAC, an organization that shares cyber intelligence among financial institutions around the world, said in a statement: Our global intelligence team is continuing to actively assess the situation through enhanced monitoring and cross-border threat intelligence sharing across the financial services sector. Our members and the broader financial services industry remain vigilant.

Electric utilities are closely monitoring the situation and are coordinating across the industry and with our government partners, said Scott Aaronson, a security executive at the Edison Electric Institute, a trade group. The Solar Energy Industries Association, meanwhile, encouraged its members in a message Thursday to discuss your organizations cyber response procedures with your staff and have a clear understanding of everyones roles and responsibilities.

Other experts urged caution, saying it wasnt a given that Russia would wage cyberattacks against American organizations in retaliation. Adam Meyers, senior vice president for intelligence at the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike Holdings Inc., said he didn't currently anticipate Russia attacking U.S. targets in retaliation for sanctions or other actions from the Biden administration.

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NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Tribune News Service)  Among those who gathered Wednesday morning at National Iwo Jima Memorial Park to commemorate the raising of the American flag on the Japanese island was Harry Danos, the 97-year-old Niantic man believed to be the state's oldest survivor of the fighting that occurred on the island at the end of World War II.

Immortalized first in photographic film and then in bronze, the flag being hoisted by six men atop Mount Suribachi became the symbol of perseverance amid one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. Marine Corps history. The image was taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal on Feb. 23, 1945.

Nearly 7,000 U.S. Marines died and 20,000 were wounded in the five-week Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II, the Associated Press has reported. Of 18,000 Japanese soldiers, almost all were killed. The island was declared secure on March 16, 1945, but skirmishes continued.

One hundred of the dead were from Connecticut, according to the Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation.

Danos said he arrived on the island in April as a 19-year-old Army Air Corpsman to find so many spent shells that he couldn't see the ground. He recalled Seabees with the U.S. Navy's construction battalion moving dirt and body parts all at once as they bulldozed trenches to aid in the construction of airfields, which would serve as an emergency landing site for massive B-29 bombers.

"I have walked over all the gravesites of the fallen Marines," he said.

That's why he became involved with the creation of the National Iwo Jima Memorial Park in New Britain. An architect by trade, he supplied the first drawing for what ultimately would become the memorial statue that includes rocks from Mount Suribachi and black sand from the beach incorporated into the stone base.

"These guys were worth more than a bell toll," Danos said.

The park was built by the Iwo Jima Survivors Association under the direction of the late Dr. George Gentile and is now maintained by the Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation. Like the well-known Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., it is based on the iconic photograph.

During a ceremony to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the battle, veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps from the northwest detachment of the Marine Corps League presented Danos with an engraved USMC KA-BAR fighting knife like the ones affixed to the belts of the Marines looming in bronze over the ceremony.

It is unknown exactly how many survivors are left, according to the memorial park foundation. But there were three at the ceremony, with Danos the eldest.

Greg Timms and Nick Gandolfo thanked Danos for his service as they presented him with the knife and called him a hero.

"I don't have to be your hero," Danos replied. "You're my heroes. I've seen the Marines in action and there are no equals."

According to The Day archives, Danos was a young first lieutenant when he was assigned to Iwo Jima in 1945, tasked with tracking thousands of U.S. B-29s leaving the Marianas to bomb Japan. If one was shot or forced down, he was supposed to dispatch a rescue team.

Danos, who grew up in Springfield, Mass., enlisted in the Army and was picked to go through a commissioning program. He had arrived on the island in April 1945, a time when Japanese soldiers were still holed up in caves there and occasionally rushed out to kill an American.

After the ceremony, Danos described showing up to find the dark and foreboding island of sand and ash guarded by barbed wire and U.S. Marines. There were B-29 bombers overhead; below were land crabs that ran around sideways and sometimes disappeared into the soldiers' uniform pants.

He said the Marines were the defense against an enemy determined not to relinquish its land.

"I know what they did," he said. "For these people to give up their lives and go through the crap that they did is a tribute to the American spirit."

Danos said he's writing a book called "After the Flag" about his arrival in Iwo Jima and what he found there.

East Lyme veterans representative Brian R. Burridge, who picked up Danos in Niantic and drove him to the event, described the Iwo Jima veteran as "living history."

"He's willing to share and let the next generation know what he did, why he did it and what they can learn from life's living lessons of somebody that's been there," Burridge said.

Danos at 97 has outlived his wife, Kitty, and their son, Michael. His legacy as an architect includes numerous buildings in Niantic and across the state, including the East Lyme Town Hall and his own home. He is a watercolor painter who has taught at Mystic Art Center, Naples Art League in Florida, Guilford Handcraft Center and Veterans of Foreign Wars Kari Hill Post 5849.

"It's a privilege to be alive, and I owe my life to the Marines and what they did," he said.

e.regan@theday.com

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FORT EDWARD, N.Y. (Tribune News Service)  Michael Powers pulled a harmonica from his case of 20, cupped his hands around the woodwind and started to play.

"When I was just a little kid, I started playing it," said Powers, who grew up on Henry Street in Glens Falls. He now lives in Fort Edward with his wife, Cherie.

Powers, 73, recently used his talent to win first place in the 2021 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival competition held by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA uses the creative arts as one form of rehabilitative treatment to help veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities, according to its website.

Powers won first place in the "instrumental spiritual" category for his rendition of "Amazing Grace" on his harmonica.

He also won second place in the "original vocal" category for a song he wrote called "A Soldier's Haunted Dream."

He shot videos of his songs in his hay barn with his son Mark on guitar and grandson Liam on the ukulele. His niece, Kim, at Upstate Records, recorded the videos. Both videos are available on YouTube.

Nearly 2,000 veterans from 118 VA medical facilities across the nation competed in the festival, which is open to veterans enrolled at VA health care facilities.

As a first-place winner, Powers has been invited to attend a five-day festival in April in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he will sing in the chorus.

Powers joined the Navy Reserves in 1968 and then served in active duty for two years. He doesn't suffer from PTSD, but is partially disabled due to hearing loss he suffered working with Morse code in the radio room and refueling aircraft carriers in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

The lyrics to the song were not derived from his own personal experiences during the Vietnam War, yet they do mirror the guilt soldiers felt during the conflict.

"When I started I thought I was writing a nice blues song, and as the words kept coming to me, finally it got to a point where I didn't like the song anymore because it was something very bad," Powers explained.

The haunting lyrics say, "Vietnam '69, haunted memories. We were so young, and we were so scared. That little boy saw us, and he ran away. We didn't know he was just a child at play."

Powers hopes his song will help veterans who may have guilt about the actions they took during the war.

"I hope that it helps veterans that have had very bad experiences causing memories that make them feel guilty," he said. "That it's not their fault. That it's war."

ghochsprung@poststar.com

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Stillwater, OK (74074)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. High near 65F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 59F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view.
The president of Local Government New Zealand has taken aim at a Tauranga ratepayer organisation over their attack advertising style of social media content.

However, the group say those offended by the content should find a sense of humour and they are more concerned with a return to democracy in Tauranga.

The Tauranga Ratepayers Alliance launched in May of last year. This was in direct response to the appointment of a commission to take over the governance of Tauranga City Council.

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta appointed the four-person commission, who took control last February, after an independent review found significant governance issues among council members.

Four of those elected Council members, Andrew Hollis, Dawn Kiddie, Kelvin Clout and Steve Morris, were founding members.

Of the elected-Councillors who formed part of the original steering group, only Andrew Hollis remains. Kelvin Clout, Dawn Kiddie and Steve Morris have informed SunLive they are no longer active members of the steering group.

However, LGNZ president Stuart Crosby, also a former Tauranga Mayor, is still disappointed.

Local Government New Zealand president Stuart Crosby. File Image. SunLive.

It is clear that a small number of former councillors are part of the attack advertising, says Crosby. Either generally or by support and association.

The TRA have been staunch critics of the commission, especially over rate rises and remuneration costs. That criticism has stretched into content on their Facebook page.

But some of their tactics have drawn heavy criticism from LGNZ president Crosby. He labels the TRAs social media activity as attack advertising whilst also comparing this style of politics to fast food.

Its cheap and of little substance, Crosby explains.

Attack advertising is designed to wage a personal attack against a person or a party in order to highlight an issue and attract support for a counter position.

Some may say that this is all part of the tool box of political persuasion, which has been exacerbated by the advent of social media, but it is not a technique that either I or LGNZ support.

However, TRA spokesperson Michael ONeill suggests the posts are supposed to be light-hearted in nature to entertain the groups 2000 followers.

If some of those in powerful positions take offence, well, they just need to find a sense of humour and not think of themselves too highly, says ONeill.

Most importantly, they need to remember that being able to laugh at ourselves is part of what makes our country great.

The state of democracy, or lack thereof, in Tauranga is atrocious and if you didn't laugh, you'd cry.

The TRA Facebook page contains several references to democracy in Tauranga being comparable to the current situation in Hong Kong - where pro-democracy activists have been imprisoned and news outlets critical of Beijing have been forced into closure.

TRA spokesperson ONeill doubles down on the comparison.

The situation in Tauranga is worse than Hong Kong, he says. At least in Hong Kong they had some form of an election, even if the candidates were selected by Beijing.

Another TRA social media post, from June last year, compares the current commission, consisting of chair Anne Tolley, Stephen Selwood, Shadrach Rolleston and Bill Wasley, to former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

The rule of North Korea by the Kim family has been linked to systematic and widespread human rights violations - some of which the United Nations has found constitute crimes against humanity.

With that in mind, LGNZ president Crosby feels a line has been crossed.

The use of these comparisons is deliberately exaggerated to make a point, says Crosby.

It is generally an attack on the person and not a rational evidence-based counter position.

The commissioners say they do not feel it would be appropriate to comment.

But they are not the only target.

Minister Mahuta is a regular attractor for media posts on the TRA Facebook page. Her image features on at least 30 photos posted in the group. This includes several memes, including one calling her the water thief and another depicting her as a criminal in Court.

Mahuta did not respond directly to the Facebook posts when approached by SunLive. Instead, she reiterates her satisfaction with the work of the commission since their appointment to TCC and her commitment to a return to elections in the city.

Crosby, however, is disappointed at the way the Minister has been targeted.

I am saddened by what I am seeing, says Crosby. People are entitled to express their views, and forcefully if they wish, but some are crossing the line of what New Zealanders would expect in our politics.

It is also sad to see people in politics being defined by their identity rather than what their message is.

ONeill explains that Mahutas decision to cancel elections and appoint an unelected commission naturally makes her a target for criticism.

She could have dismissed the Council and had a fresh election for all positions, says ONeill.

"That would have been our preference, and the preference of our members, because Tauranga doesnt belong to Nanaia Mahuta, Anne Tolley, and certainly not Scott Adams. The democratic destiny of Tauranga belongs to local ratepayers, end of.

Scott Adams is the chairperson of another local lobby group, the Urban Task Force, who have previously called on the Commission to remain instead of a proposed return to elections in October.

Urban Task Force chairperson Stuart Adams. File Image. SunLive.

Adams appears in another Mahuta-led meme, but he says UTF have no interest in commenting on the TRAs Facebook activity or refuting anything they say.

Adams says he does want a return to elections when the city is ready and fresh blood is prepared to run. He hopes that most ratepayers in the city are united in what they want from their Council.

I hope all ratepayers are largely after the same thing, says Adams.

Being a city for all, that we are proud of, that is liveable, an environment for new and existing businesses to thrive, and has a clear vision and bright future.

Whilst Crosby does voice concern over the TRAs Facebook activity he sees groups such as theres as an important part of community-based democratic process.

While I may not necessarily agree with their positions and processes, at least they are making an effort to become engaged and participate in the democratic process, says Crosby.

I had a great night at the Papamoa Ratepayers and Residents meeting late last year presenting and listening to the concerns over the Governments three waters proposals.

Crosby even agrees with the TRA on one significant point. He believes elections must return to Tauranga in October.

However, he believes the attack politics that form a part of the TRAs Facebook activity should form no part of that process.

I would encourage all these conversations to be respectful, says Crosby.

With local government elections coming up this October, it is important that we all create an environment to encourage participation both at the candidate and voter level.
Vaccine passes will be required for people visiting Opotiki iSite and Opotiki District Council chambers from next week but not at the reception area of the council or the library.

The council met yesterday afternoon to decide whether vaccine passes should be a requirement for council facilities.

A policy adopted on February 9 required all council staff, contractors and volunteers to be vaccinated.

A report to yesterdays extraordinary meeting from the council senior management team said the Opotiki district was 86 percent double vaccinated.

However, for the Opotiki township this is at 78 percent for all and 71 percent for Maori. Modelling predicts between 700 and 800 cases a day in the Eastern Bay at the peak of the outbreak, with 70 percent of cases likely to be Maori.

The report said Opotiki was likely to face higher risk of a significant outbreak due to limited resources to manage wellbeing and lack of appropriate isolation options.

Alongside mask wearing, scanning in and social distancing, requiring vaccine passes is a mechanism that can help to slow the spread of Covid across our community while allowing 86 percent of the community to continue to access services, it said.

The council had three public facilities and one retail space it was considering restricting access to for people without vaccination passes.

These were the front-of-house or reception area of its St John Street offices, where residents would go to pay their rates and conduct other business with council staff. Other areas considered for vaccination pass requirements were the council chambers located in the same building, the library - Te Tahuhu o Te Rangi - and the i-SITE.

The vaccine mandate for Te Tahuhu o Te Rangi was the most divisive of the four locations, with councillors Louis Rapihana and Shona Browne voting for the vaccine requirement and Mayor Lyn Riesterer, and councillors David Moore, Steve Nelson and Debi Hocart voting against it.

Councillor Barry Howe was absent from the meeting.

All councillors present agreed that any decision they made should be reviewed in two weeks.

Mrs Browne said she would like to see all four locations requiring vaccine passes as it would bring the district in line with neighbouring councils and lessen confusion. All other councils in the Bay of Plenty require vaccination passes to their indoor facilities.

Mr Rapihana said he was happy for people without vaccine passes to have access to the front of house at the council offices but wanted a vaccine pass requirement for the three other facilities. He forwarded a motion to that effect which was outvoted, two votes to four.

With Covid-19 starting to spread in the community, he said the next few weeks would be critical.

Now is the time when we need to protect our communities, not wait until the numbers are high, Mr Rapihana said.

Mr Moore questioned whether there was any point in requiring vaccine passes at the library for adults when unvaccinated children under 12 would still be allowed in. How does that do anything to protect people. He said the iSITE was another matter as there were fewer children that used the facility.

Mrs Hocart forwarded a motion that vaccine passes be required within the council chambers and the iSite but not Te Tahuhu o Te Rangi or the council reception.

The front of house, reception area of Opotiki District Council in St John Street is still open to people without vaccination passes but the council chambers where council meetings are held is not.

I dont think the library should require a vaccine pass. I feel like we will be excluding the community. Especially when it comes to people who use the computers there because that is their only access to the internet. I would be happy with i-SITE requiring vaccine passes as it would work in better with DoC, Ms Hocart said.

One of the reasons given for requiring vaccine passes at the i-SITE was that the building was in the same building as the Department of Conservation and shared toilet and kitchen facilities. This had created issues for DoC which does require vaccination passes.

There was also a DoC kiosk in the i-SITE, which was not being manned because the i-SITE does not require vaccine passes.

Ms Hocarts motion was passed with only Mr Rapihana and Ms Browne voting against it.

Voting was unanimous to direct staff to implement any additional security requirements as needed. Management confirmed that the cost of this would be around $6000 a month. They expect to be able to implement the changes by Monday next week.

Councillors agreed the decision would be reviewed on March 9.
New Zealand is moving into phase 3 of the Governments Omicron response at 11.59pm tonight, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed.

Hipkins also confirms that the community case total for the nation today is in the region of 5000, with an official tally to be confirmed at 1pm.

He says 205 people are currently in hospital and going forward, under phase 3, this will be a more important metric than daily case numbers at this stage.

Hipkins says the move to phase three should not come as a surprise considering the sharp rise in cases in recent weeks.

"This continued rise and also the number of hospitalisations we have which today sit at 205 means that we are now confirming our shift to phase 3 of our planned Omicron response. That'll happen at 11.59pm tonight."

He says most have been gearing up for this and it will not come as a surprise.

However, the move to phase three will not mean a "sudden lurch" in terms of additional restrictions or movements, because the traffic light system has been designed to smooth things out already.

"Our priorities now shift to isolating those with Covid-19 and their household contacts to reduce the spread, while at the same time supporting supply chains and essential services to continue to operate."

Only confirmed cases and their household contacts - the people they live with - will be required to isolate. All other contacts will be asked to monitor for symptoms but they will not have to isolate.

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) will become the primary means of testing for Covid-19, and will be available from thousands of sites. Millions more are expected to arrive over the coming days.

It is expected that businesses will be able to make the tests available to the public through retail outlets from March, he says.

Because only household contacts are required to isolate, a self-assessment tool will help the government keep track of very high risk locations and the overall spread of the virus.

This includes things like hospitals and aged care facilities.

"There's no doubt the next few weeks are going to be pretty challenging... We just need to stick to the plan that we've set out as we manage a higher number of cases in our coming weeks before we reach a peak as other countries have."

He says Omicron's lower likelihood of severe illness, and high vaccination rates, are what allows the self-management approach.

He suggests people have an isolation plan, and talk to friends and whanau about how they will manage if they need to isolate.

He also urges people to take up booster shots.

"You are far less likely to end up in hospital if you get Covid-19 if you've had a booster."

Community providers are being resourced to provide wraparound health and care services in the community, alongside clinical care to those with higher needs.

"New Zealand is in a much better shape going into a potential peak of Omicron cases than many other countries, so keep supporting one another and we will get through this."

The government initially set out the three phases of its Omicron response late last month, signalling an increasing reliance on automated systems and home isolation as growing case numbers threaten to overwhelm contact tracing, testing, and MIQ.

It was initially suggested New Zealand may never reach phase three, expected to trigger when the country was getting about 5000 cases a day, but that now seems inevitable with case numbers topping 3000 yesterday.

It would see further changes to contact tracing, with the definition of contacts shifting to household and household-like contacts, meaning only the highest-risk contacts will need to isolate.

Rapid antigen (RAT) tests would be considered sufficient to diagnose cases, who will be encouraged to fill out an online contact tracing form and self-notify their close contacts.

Clinical care and welfare support would be targeted based on need.

The nature of Omicron means daily cases are expected to double every three to five days, and the outbreak is not expected to peak for another three to six weeks.

With the caseload rising so rapidly, GPs have warned they may not be able to cope, and Covid-19 testing laboratories have been inundated with high levels of demand.

But what is phase three? Why does it seem to be lowering requirements just when the outbreak is growing? And when will it all end? RNZ is here to clear it all up.

What is phase three?

Phase three is designed to help the health system handle an Omicron outbreak of several thousand new cases a day.

The shift means a greater focus on individual responsibility, rather than relying on health services to be able to cope and contact trace in the way they had earlier in the pandemic.

Testing

Rapid antigen (RAT) tests will be considered enough to diagnose symptomatic people and priority groups.

These tests, which are self-administered and give results in 15 minutes, should be available from doctors, pharmacies, community testing centres or workplaces.

Critical workers including those in healthcare can use these tests daily to be able to go to work even if they are a close contact, so long as their employer is signed up to the scheme.

Cases should get a test on day three and day eight of their isolation period, as should household contacts. Contacts not living in the same house should get a test on day five or if symptoms appear.

PCR testing will continue to be used for those who need it.

Case and contact management

People testing positive are notified by text message, not a phone call, and will be sent a link to complete an online contact tracing form. There will be a phone call option available for those without internet access.

Contacts may be automatically notified from the contact tracing form, but cases can also be expected to notify their close contacts themselves.

The definition of 'contact' changes to mean household and household-like contacts only. Contacts will only be required to isolate if they are high-risk (household) contacts.

Notification of locations of interest are restricted to the most high-risk events.

Isolation

Isolation times remain the same as the shorter period introduced in phase two: 10 days for cases, seven days for contacts.

However, household close contacts should continue to isolate until the case in their home has completed 10 days isolation.

Most people who test positive will be expected to look after themselves at home, leaving clinical care available for those with greater need.

Official messaging is that there is unlikely to be other accommodation - such as MIQ - available for most cases. However, the government has repeatedly said arrangements will be made for those who have no home, are living in a vehicle, or are in other difficult circumstances.

Why do we need it?

While Omicron is considered milder than the dangerous Delta variant and is less likely to put people in hospital, some people do still get very sick and it spreads so quickly many more people can be expected to get very ill.

That is, while any one person is less likely to get severe symptoms, many more people overall can be quickly expected to get the virus, so the total number of people who do end up in hospital all at once is likely to be significant.

New Zealand has been recording steadily increasing numbers of daily cases, topping 3000 yesterday, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has this week been saying the outbreak is not expected to peak for three to six weeks, and the nature of Omicron means case numbers can be expected to keep doubling every three to five days until we near that peak.

Ardern signalled New Zealand was likely to move to phase three when the country was hitting about 5000 daily cases. The government had said it was possible we might never reach that scenario but it now seems inevitable, and with high test positivity rates impacting laboratories' ability to process PCR tests at the rate required, it makes some sense to be moving early.

New modelling shows the peak of Covid-19 in the Omicron outbreak in Auckland and Northland alone could reach 4000 daily cases, if transmission is low, or 9000 if it is not.

Even a low-transmission scenario would mean about 400 cases from Auckland and Northland in hospitals at any given time. It would put heavy strain on New Zealand's health system - general wards as well as intensive care - which has suffered decades of underinvestment from successive governments.

The high number of cases means the follow-up interviews with cases and high-intensity contact tracing systems will not be able to keep up, so the systems will instead focus on the most high-risk people.

During this time, New Zealand can also be expected to remain in the red traffic light setting. Ardern has suggested these settings, the vaccine passes and mandates are likely to last until the country has progressed well past the peak of cases, so the health system remains operational.

Vaccinations - especially booster doses - are a big help in reducing hospitalisation from Omicron, and New Zealand's high rates will have helped prevent some of the high death rates seen overseas.

Masks and other public health measures like frequent, thorough hand-washing also help slow the spread of the virus, so it will be important for people to continue to do this while the virus is spreading.

While the government says it intends for heavy lockdowns to be a thing of the past, the traffic light system does maintain localised lockdowns as an option should things get really out of control.

Meanwhile, the government is also gearing up for more people to start isolating at home when arriving from overseas, beginning from next week with those coming from Australia and expanding to New Zealanders coming from the rest of the world two weeks later.

-RNZ.
Taurangas proposed $300 million civic precinct is being touted as a once in a generation opportunity for the community, but some business owners are dubious about its benefits.

Work on the civic precinct Te Manawataki o Te Papa is set to begin later this year, but Tauranga City council will consult with the community on two options as part of the draft annual plan process.

The precinct will be located where the current library and council chambers reside, between Wharf Street and Hamilton Street in central Tauranga.

Option one, which would see the full precinct realised in one stage, has an estimated cost of $303.4 million and includes a library, museum, civic whare (a venue for council and community meetings) and an exhibition space.

It would also include the development of the waterfront reserve, between Hamilton and Wharf Streets, linking the harbour with the civic precinct via Masonic Park.

Option two is a scaled back version that would include a library and community hub and the civic whare, with a cost of $126.8 million.

Barrel Room owner Stewart Gebbie, who has owned the Wharf Street bar and eatery for five years, says the plans look great but hes concerned the area would be used infrequently.

We need more people in the city before building a huge facility like that, said Gebbie.

This on its own, isnt going to bring people into town.

He's concerned Tauranga doesn't have the population for facilities like this, and it's putting the "cart before the horse".

Central Tauranga has long been plagued with empty shops and dwindling business. In part because of older buildings requiring seismic strengthening and also Taurangas urban sprawl has seen shopping centres developed in the suburbs.

Fancy That owner Bill Campbell finds the civic precinct "hard to get excited about". Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

Retailer Bill Campbell has owned specialty store Fancy That since 2008 and is demoralised by the state of the CBD.

I think the city centre is past it past the point of no return, he says.

It's just going to take so long for the whole area to recover.

The CBD needs far more constructive and instantaneous repairs and maintenance before we need the civic precinct, says Campbell.

Commissioner Stephen Selwood said, "The city has clearly died in Mondays council meeting about the civic precinct. He was referencing a recent walk through the CBD.

Downtown Tauranga chairman Brian Berry disagrees with the assertion that the CBD has died.

It's not dying, it's just changing, he says.

Downtown Tauranga is a not-for-profit organisation that represents Tauranga city centre business members.

The CBD was going to have to go through this process, says Berry.

It cant compete as a retail centre against the suburban shopping centres, so the retail needs to become more specialty.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce CEO Matt Cowley agrees with Berry.

I found it disappointing that Commissioner Selwood has been quoted as saying the city centre has died, says Cowley.

The long list of private sector developments that are underway, or are in the pipeline, shows there is confidence in Tauranga CBD.

Selwood is, however, in full support of the precinct. He says: This is our unique opportunity to put Tauranga on the map, not only to wider New Zealand but also to the people of Tauranga."

Short term impacts

Gebbies biggest fear is the impact construction of the precinct will have on his business in the short term.

It's going to be years of pain for central city businesses.

It's going to be awful for anyone within 500 meters of the work site, says Gebbie.

If option one is chosen by the commissioners, council is proposing it will take six years to complete, but said if it is done in pieces, it could take up to 14 years.

Berry says the construction work is a necessary evil.

You can't do that size of development without having disruption and it is difficult, says Berry.

I'm sure that when it's developed, every attempt will be made to mitigate the disruption.

The chairman is in full support of the precinct and would like to see the full project completed in one stage because Tauranga had a culture of getting things half done.

What has been proposed is excellent, says Berry. The big thing is to make the decision and get on with it and do it now because the city needs it.

Tauranga is moving away from being a small seaside town, to a regional business and cultural hub.

"The precinct is for the benefit of not only of the CBD, but of the whole community and greater region potentially.

In terms of funding the large undertaking, half the cost of the civic precinct developments would be debt-funded and financed through rates. The balance would be funded from other sources such as government grants, the sale of non-core council assets and sponsorship.

Commission Chair Anne Tolley is eager for the community to engage in the consultation process.

We are at a moment in time when we have the chance to do this once and do it properly, so its important that we hear what the community thinks about the options proposed, says Tolley.

Community consultation on the civic precinct options will take place from March 25 until April 26.

The commission is expected to make a final decision about the civic precinct on June 27.




Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta is condemning Russias military advance into neighbouring Ukraine with National calling on Labour to act fast to enact sanctions.

Bombing is being reported across Ukraine following President Vladimir Putins announcement of a special military action earlier today.

In a statement, Minister Mahuta says New Zealand condemns the advance of Russian military personnel and equipment into Ukraine.

This represents a clear violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. We stand with the people of Ukraine impacted by this conflict. Our thoughts are with them, says Mahuta.

Russias actions are a flagrant breach of fundamental international rules; the use of force to change borders is strictly prohibited under international law.

We join the international community in calling on Russia to cease military operations in Ukraine, and immediately and permanently withdraw, to ensure all possible steps are taken to protect civilians in line with international humanitarian law, and return to diplomatic negotiations to de-escalate this conflict.

Nationals Foreign Affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee has also condemned Putins actions and says the Government must pass legislation allowing New Zealand to enact sanctions.

There is no possible justification for the catastrophic damage to human life this will bring, says Brownlee.

This a threat to global peace and stability many have never seen their lifetime, and the time for twiddling thumbs and putting out statements is over.

It is not too late for the New Zealand Government to pass legislation allowing our country to join in coordination with sanctions being used by our traditional partners to send a clear message to Russia and deter this violation of Ukraines sovereignty.

If they dont, this Government must explain why.
Over the past two days, 5.2 million Rapid Antigen Tests arrived in the country.

The shipment comes as New Zealand wakes to life at Phase 3 of the Omicron outbreak reaponse this morning.

Another 10 million will arrive over the weekend, bringing the country's total supply of RATs in the country to more than 22 million by Monday.

"RATs will increasingly become the primary testing method in the community with daily case numbers expected to hit 10,000 very soon," sasys Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall,

"These tests will soon be shipped to community testing centres, GPs and pharmacies right across New Zealand. Businesses who need them as part of the Close Contact Exemption Scheme can also access them.

"Users who take a RAT will get their results within 20 minutes which will help identify cases sooner, reduce testing wait times and minimise disruption to business and ensure critical services and infrastructure workforce can continue to keep New Zealand operating.

"Despite significant global constraints, Im pleased we have secured enough RATs to ensure that anyone who needs a test can get one throughout the Omicron outbreak.

"We have orders in place for 180 million RATs over the next six months."

In Phase Three, PCR tests will be used in hospitals, aged residential care facilities and GPs can order a PCR if they think its necessary.

Read more about Phase 3 here.
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Valerie Trujillo, assistant superintendent of Taos Municipal Schools District, bottom right, presented the results of a community survey about the district's mask policy during a regular meeting of the Taos Municipal Schools Board of Education Wednesday (Feb. 23) night.
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Why it matters: Mobile users are spending more money than ever on apps and subscriptions. Sensor Tower in its latest intelligence report said the top 100 non-gaming, subscription-based apps collectively generated $18.3 billion in 2021, an increase of 41 percent over the $13 billion that subscription apps brought home in 2020.

Nearly 75 percent of consumer spending on subscription apps came through Apple's App Store, with Google Play contributing just $4.8 billion globally. That said, Android users increased their spending on subscription apps by 78 percent compared to what they spent in 2020. iPhone users' spending only increased 31 percent year over year.

The growth of subscription app spending in the US largely mirrored what was seen globally, just on a smaller scale.

YouTube was the top revenue producer globally among subscription apps in 2021, followed by dating service Tinder and Japanese webtoon service Piccoma. Google One, the search giant's cloud storage service for the consumer market, and Disney+ rounded out the top five.

In the US, Google One led the way, followed by Disney+, YouTube, HBO Max and Tinder, in that order.

Sensor Tower believes that as platforms continue to experiment with subscriptions as a way to entice content creators and retain audiences, the number of top apps that adopt the model will likely grow over the coming quarters.

Has your spending on subscription-based apps increased over the past year or so? Aside from streaming, what sort of things are you purchasing with subscriptions? Tacos, perhaps?
Blue Origin is planning to double the number of people in its space flights in 2022, which will then require the space firm of the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, to also add another New Shepard rocket.

Blue Origin to Double Space Flights in 2022

As per a news story by Space News, the chief executive of Blue Origin, Bob Smith, said during the 24th Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference that the space firm is working to meet the "very robust" demand for commercial space missions.

The Blue Origin chief executive said that "the market is robust. It's very robust." On the other hand, the space firm is facing a shortage in its supply, noting that "no business ever wants to be supply-limited when there's robust demand."

As such, the Bezos-led space company is now on its way to boosting its space flights for this year.

Space News noted in the same story that for the first year of the New Shepard vehicle of Blue Origin, it only flew 14 people to space in total for its three flights.

The first launch of the Blue Origin rocket only had four passengers, similar to its second mission to space. On the other hand, its third launch and its last for 2021 monumentally carried a total of six passengers.

According to a recent report by Space.com, the maximum passenger capacity of the Blue Origin New Shepard is only six. Thus, its December space mission has already maxed out the number of people that it could launch to space.

Read Also: Tom Hanks Reveals Blue Origin's Jeff Bezos Invited Him to Fly to Space-Here's Why He Declined

New Shepard Rocket to Increase Blue Origin Space Flights?

This 2022, the space firm by the Amazon founder plans to double its 2021 figures.

The chief executive of Blue Origin boldly claimed that they could "easily double" the number of people that would be flying to space for 2022.

To do so, Smith says that Blue Origin is now working to build more space vehicles that would soon be ready to "safely go fly."

Smith went on to disclose that the new vehicle that the space firm is looking to launch this year is expected to help boost its space flight this year.

In turn, it could further propel Blue Origin to reach its goal of doubling the number of people that it would be flying to outer space.

Related Article: Blue Origin's Top Engineers and Employees Resigned After Jeff Bezos' Trip to Space

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/Omid Armin) Siri

Apple's latest update, iOS 15.4, will include new features. One of them is the new voice for Siri, Apple's virtual assistant is expected to be less explicitly male or female sounding.

Apple Siri New Voice

According to Axios, the new Siri voice is a part of Apple's effort to offer a more diverse array of options. In 2021, it added two Siri options recorded by Black voice actors.

The new voice will be under option number 5 in the Siri UI menu. It will be included in the beta versions of iOS 15.4, which developers have been testing since Feb. 22.

As of last year, Siri no longer defaults to a female voice. Apple users need to select their preferences from the available options.

Also Read: Apple iOS 15 Siri Features Removal Now an Issue for Visually Impaired

The tech giant confirmed that the new voice was recorded by a member of the LGBTQ+ community but did not give any more details.

Apple told Axios that they are looking forward to introducing a new Siri voice for English speakers, giving them more options to select a voice that speaks to them.

The tech giant added that millions of people worldwide rely on Siri daily to help get things done, so they are working to make the experience as personalized as possible.

Siri Dutch Voice Recognition

Aside from changing the voice, Apple is also adding Dutch voice recognition for Siri on the latest HomePod 15.4 beta. It is only a matter of time until the tech giant finally releases the HomePod mini in the Netherlands.

According to iCulture, Apple is adding Dutch voice recognition for Siri on the HomePod with the latest software update.

A few versions before that, with 15.2, the tech giant had already brought support to Dutch on the HomePod but it did not have any voice recognition feature.

With HomePod 15.3, the tech giant enabled multi-user support for users with Siri configured in Italian. With HomePod 15.2, Apple added the same feature, but it was made for German speakers.

In the past year, Apple expanded the availability of the HomePod mini for a lot of countries like Italy, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Aside from that, version 1.54 of HomePod will also bring a clever way to sign in to captive Wi-Fi networks. Apple stated that 15.4 OS would add captive Wi-Fi network support. This means that you can use your iPhone or iPad to connect with Apple TV and HomePod to networks that need sign-in steps.

Apple is also fixing the issue with AirTags by adding an anti-stalking feature. Others have used the device for stalking and stealing, according to Apple Insider.

The tech giant has made other minor changes, including removing the ability to disable Item Safety Alerts. Apple has also included customization for tracking notifications and Find My Network notifications.

The anti-stalking mechanisms, added in the iOS 15.4 update, are only part of a broader slate of solutions for AirTag misuse.

Later this year, Apple says it will release other features like Precision Finding for unknown AirTags and a more noticeable beeping of the device.

Related Article: Microsoft Advancing Talks to Acquire Apple's Siri AI Developer, Nuance Communications, for $16B

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Ja Rule's new NFT collection, ClubCards, will soon arrive. However, the popular American rapper is linked to the fraud concert, Frye Fest.

The musician confirmed the new non-fungible token card series via his official Twitter account.

"ClubCards are your WL pass to the Rascals!!! Coming soon... thanks for all the support!!!," said Ja Rule.

ClubCards are your WL pass to the Rascals!!! Coming soon  thanks for all the support!!!  pic.twitter.com/GPYSH6h8Nc  Ja Rule (@jarule) February 19, 2022

In the comment section, many fans shared their support. Some of them even posted the passes they received from ClubCards.

Ja Rule ClubCards NFT Collection

According to The Verge's latest report, the new NFT series is already accepting member registrations. Those who already signed up for ClubCards will soon have exciting giveaways.

Also Read: BAPES'TM BAPESCLANTM Records Releases Bella Albanese's New Single - "Vibe With The Tribe," An Anthem Song to celebrate the Growing Global BAPESCLANTM Community

These include physical merchandise, such as badges and clothing. Now, one of the lucky winners shared that he had already received an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City.

This giveaway will allow him to see Ja Rule perform live. Paul Hawron, a college graduate in Arkansas, said that he and his partner flew in January.

Thankfully, their trip was a successful one. Hawron even shared that Ja Rule seems to be a really genuine individual.

The lucky college graduate is just one of the fans that still support the American rapper despite the massive fraudulent concert he is linked to.

Fans Not Worried About Another Frye Fest

When Hawron was asked if he was nervous about his previous trip to see Ja Rule, the college graduate said that he had forgotten about the scam music fest that the rapper recently promoted

He added that he only remembered the issue after one of his friends reminded him about the Frye Fest. For those who don't know, this massive music festival scam, Frye Fest, happened back in 2017.

Thousands of people had purchased expensive Frye Fest tickets to see Ja Rule and other musicians and celebrities. However, they were welcomed by a disorganized event, reported by CNBC.

If you want to see more details about Frye Fest, you can visit this link.

In other news, around $1.7 million worth of OpenSea NFTs were lost because of a massive phishing attack. Meanwhile, Salesforce NFT employees threatened to quit their jobs if the company launched a cloud platform.

For more news updates about NFT and other related blockchain topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: NFT Marketplace OpenSea Faces $1 MILLION Lawsuit After a Rare Bored Ape Was Stolen

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
TikTok users who posted animal attack videos were banned from having pets.

Although the kids getting disqualified from owning animals is good news, their actions already led to deaths, including deers, rabbits, and birds.

Some alarming videos that are supposed to be restricted from TikTok still find their way on the social media platform.

But, it is good that the three teenagers made a mistake since it allowed the authorities to know their identities and locations.

If they didn't post 180 TikTok videos of their doings, they might have been able to continue their cruel act against many animals in their area.

TikTok Users Banned From Having Pets

According to ITV's latest report, they arrested the three individuals after locating in Burnley, Lancashire.

Also Read: TikTok Video Length Extension: Company to Make More Money with Up to 10Min Videos

The Lancashire Police department named the two boys Marcus Leverett (19 years old) and Ryan Hancock (18 years old).

However, the third teenager remained anonymous because of his age.

"This group of lads was targeting animals on the council estate they lived on as well as wildlife in the surrounding area," said RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) officer Jason Bowles.

Since they were found guilty of two offenses under the Animal Welfare Act at Blackburn Magistrates' Court, the teenagers are now banned from owning any animal for 10 years.

If you want to see the exact cruel things they did to their pets and other animals in their area, you can visit this link.

What You Can Do

As of the moment, the best thing you can do as a TikTok user is to report the content so that people who are cruel against animals will know that their act is not welcome by you and other individuals.

TikTok Community Guidelines stated that posting, streaming, or sharing content that harms animals are not allowed on the platform. These videos include the following:

Animal cruelty and gore.

The slaughter or other non-natural death of animals.

Dismembered, mutilated, charred, or burned animal remains.

If ever you see a video with the details above, the first thing you need to do is check if their accounts have their locations or contain their real names. After that, you need to provide the information you acquired to the police station or other authorities.

On the other hand, you also need to report the actual content or the account that posted it:

First, click the video and long-press it. After that, select a report. You also need to choose the violation category applicable to the content.

In other news, TikTok users were not impressed with the $150 Tesla EV. Meanwhile, the new TikTok Community Guidelines aim to prevent users below 16 years old from posting any content.

For more news updates about TikTok and other social media platforms, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: TikTok User Shows How to Block Unsolicited Spam Calls Using 'Scam Block' Feature For T-Mobile Users

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
TechTimesLifeHack episode is back once again to offer essential tech guides that will make your life easier. This time, we are going to tackle the things you need to know before purchasing smart lights.

A smart light is different from a traditional light bulb. In the conventional version, you need to click the switch before it turns on.

On the other hand, a smart light allows you to activate it without the need to use a switch. Now, how does a smart light work?

Smart Light: How Does It Work?

According to LifeWire's latest report, a smart bulb uses wireless communication technologies, such as WiFi, Z-Wave, Zigbee, and Bluetooth.

Also Read: #TechTimesLifeHack: Common Coffee Maker Types Explained, And How To Pick One That Suits You

Consumers can turn them on using their home automation hubs, tablets, smartphones, and other gadgets. But, there are some models that need to have a special gateway, such as the Philips Hue Bridge, before they can be turned on.

This special gateway is a small box that communicates with the smart light so that it can be activated. On the other hand, there are two types of smart bulbs: the white and the colored ones.

The white or traditional smart light can only go between warm and cool tones. Meanwhile, smart bulbs that have LEDs with different colors (red, green, and blue) can offer different dim levels.

Smart Light Details You Need To Know

CNET reported that there are some things you need to consider before buying smart lights. Right now, most consumers tend to purchase these advanced bulbs in bulk instead of just one.

Since this is the case, you need to check the features, the platform used, and other factors that can make your smart light system more efficient, such as the following:

Check the wireless communication feature they used. Bluetooth usually works better compared to WiFi since there are some instances when the internet connection is weak.

Review the platforms your smart lights will rely on, such as Google Assistant, Apple's Siri, and Amazon's Alexa.

Expect that you'll need a connection hub if you want your smart lights to work properly.

In other news, Tech Times recently how to delete Spotify account, as well as how to read eBooks in EPUB and PDF using Amazon Kindle.

For more news updates about smart lights and other related tech topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: #TechTimesLifeHack: ALL Amazon Alexa Commands for Media, Coronavirus Info Update, and More!

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Black Shark, a prominent Chinese gaming smartphone maker, has globally launched its flagship phone Black Shark 4 Pro this week.

After debuting in its home country last October 2021, the Xiaomi-supported firm is now eyeing to compete with other huge brands in the electronics industry. Get to know its latest release which boasts spot-on features.

Black Shark Pro 4 Specs

According to a report by XDA Developers, the newest smartphone Black Shark 4 Pro has an interesting set of features to see. Starting from its triple-rear camera along with its punch-hole design, this impressive specification is surely an eye-catcher for tech fans.

Moreover, there's something that you shouldn't miss on its screen as it boasts a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display. With that, it also has a refresh rate of 144 HZ and a touch sampling rate that could reach up to 720 Hz.

It should be noted that it comes with 1,300 nits of peak brightness, not to mention that it is HDR 10+ certified. This means that this product has passed the high standards for picture quality so your selfies are guaranteed to be satisfying.

Of all these specs, the users should know that the Black Shark Pro 4 packs some punch with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC. To add, it has a UFS 3.1 storage of 256GB and an LPDDR5 RAM of up to 12 GB.

For a more particular take on its camera, it features an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a primary camera of 64 MP. This triple-camera feature is something you should look for especially if you're a fan of mobile photography.

On top of that, there's a 20 MP selfie camera for those who love taking front pictures. Regarding its battery, the Black Shark 4 Pro contains a 4,5000mAh battery which goes well with an excellent 120 hyper charging.

For gaming enthusiasts, this flagship gaming smartphone boasts shoulder triggers that you can freely customize, aside from a fingerprint scanner, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and stereo speakers.

In the context of its connectivity, this beast gaming phone supports both 4G and 5G connectivity on top of its Wi-Fi 6 support. Aside from that, it backs up NFC and Bluetooth 5.0.

You can also see an Android skin JoyUI 12.5 which is inspired by MIUI 12.5 skin of Xiaomi. Regarding its supported OS, it's not mentioned whether it's built on Android 11 or 12.

Related Article: Xiaomi Black Shark 4: Release Date, Specs, Price; Company Confirms Global Release 'Soon'

How Much is Black Shark 4 Pro

In another report by Mashable, the Black Shark Pro costs $580 if you are opting for its 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. If you are looking for a more suited phone for gaming, you can extend it by purchasing the variant with 12GB RAM + 256 GB for a price of $680.

As of press time, this smartphone is currently available on Black Shark's official website.

Meanwhile, another gaming phone was revealed in Tech Times' report back in May 2021. The new Redmi K40 was leaked to have a 67 fast charging support and a Dimensity 1100 chipset.

Read Also: iQOO 8 to Feature Snapdragon 888+ 5G Chip--Leaked Specifications Revealed Ahead of its 'Alleged' Release Next Month



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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The battle between Apple and Intel when it comes to the processor has become tighter over the past years. While Cupertino has established itself to be a more dominant competitor in the market than the latter, the Santa Clara-based company is planning to win back its position this time.

According to a recent report, there was a leaked roadmap that shows Intel's next-gen processor under the "Arrow Lake" series. This processor is rumored to be capable of beating Apple's advanced chips in the future.

Intel Arrow Lake Spotted in Leaked Roadmap

In a recent article from Tech Radar, it appears that Intel is planning to win back its position in the market by beating Apple's top-notch M1 chip. So far, the Cupertino titan seems to be unfazed by the increasing numbers of its competitors in the market.

However, the leaked roadmap might be one step away from telling that Intel has a hidden arsenal against Apple. The 15th-generation Intel CPU dubbed "Arrow Lake" could be the key to beating the tech titan in any way when it comes to performance benchmarks.

Moreover, the report included that the Intel Arrow Lake CPU will borrow inspirations from Skymont and Lion Cove. This is what the company wants to achieve in the context of developing its efficiency cores and performance.

It wasn't a rumour, it was their plan. I talked with Intel engineers working on the project and I was also handed this slide a bit before then. If they are no longer doing TSMC 3nm its a decision made since the video. pic.twitter.com/zr0FojtCv6  Jim (@AdoredTV) February 22, 2022

To add, the word "TSMC N3" was mentioned in the roadmap. Either way, it could mean that the upcoming powerful chip will be utilizing the N3 process node from the Taiwanese semiconductor firm.

In particular, the leaked CPU could rely on the 6+8 configurations for a revamped change in its capability. Since we mention this part, Intel might be close to revealing a high-end CPU that can handle heavy tasks without using a lot of power.

Like the 14th Gen Chip, the core count for the leaked "Arrow Lake" CPU will be the same. Moreso, the report also added that it will allegedly utilize up to 320 graphics execution units which would boost the laptop's performance.

Related Article: Apple M1 Vs. Intel Specs, Release Date and More: M1 MacBook Air 3.5X Faster!

Rumored Release of Arrow Lake P-Equipped Laptops

In the same report by the tech site, we could see that Intel has an upper hand here due to the fact that its chip has 14 cores. On the other hand, Apple's M1 chip only has 10 cores.

Regarding the release of laptops with the 15th gen chips, the roadmap revealed that it could take place in 2024.

Too Late For Intel to Beat Apple

About this issue, 9to5Mac wrote that Intel has a chance to beat Apple in any way, but it's quite too late at the moment.

At the same time, the iPhone maker is expected to unveil its third-gen Apple Silicon Chip which will be used for Macs. The tech publication anticipated that this could be more powerful than the current M1 and even the upcoming Intel chip.

Meanwhile, it was mentioned during CES 2022 that Intel's 12th gen processor is faster than Apple's M1 Max, per Tech Times.

Read Also: [LOOK] Intel Arc Alchemist GPU is Leaked to Have 512 Execution Units, Two Fans, and MORE



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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Cryptocurrencies, including the world's top crypto, Bitcoin, have been affected by the wide-scale crisis brought by Russia's war declaration on Ukraine. According to the latest report, the most popular digital coin plunged to over 6% on Thursday, Feb. 24, following the invasion in Western Europe.

Russia-Ukraine War Hits Bitcoin's Price

In a news story from The Independent, BTC's value was seen to have decreased following the tension that is currently happening in Ukraine. As the war continues, the market suffers from its unforeseen impact.

According to some experts, all cryptocurrencies will feel the aftermath of war globally. Aside from Bitcoin, several currencies also saw low trading prices this week.

For instance, Ether experienced a decrease of 9.7%, which equates to a trading value of around $2,372.64. According to Coinmarket, over $150 billion has been slashed in the crypto industry in just one day.

Besides cryptocurrencies, other investment assets such as stocks are also affected by the tension that Russia initiated in Ukraine.

Per Luno VP of corporate development and international Vijay Ayyar, the ongoing conflict between the two countries persists in dragging down risk assets such as Bitcoin and other digital coins.

Related Article: BTC Reclaims Top Crypto Mentioned on Twitter with Cardano Beating Solana in 4th and 5th Spot

US and UK Punish Russian Banks

In another report from CNBC, both the United States and the United Kingdom have imposed particular punishments on Russia-based banks as war surged.

In addition, there will be an emergency meeting that the European Union will spearhead before weekend. The discussion could be about the potential sanctions that could affect Russia.

In November 2021, we witnessed how the crypto market turned bearish following the downward trend of Bitcoin's price, which nearly hit $69,000. Since this took place, investors found BTC unstable until it plunged to about 50%.

Given that the tension between Ukraine and Russia is just getting started, only two things could happen to Bitcoin's price: a positive and a negative trend.

Ayyar said that Bitcoin could manage to hit a price of above $30,000. However, if it continues to decline in the upcoming days or weeks, it might hit a rock-bottom value of $20,000.

Speaking of cryptos, Tech Times reported that the Web3 Movement is now seeking potential employees from the most notable tech giants globally, including Google and Amazon.

Outside the talk about Bitcoin, the FBI warned on Wednesday, Feb. 23, that businesses and local governments should be vigilant on the possible ransomware attacks in the U.S.

According to the two sources, the senior official announced this following his statement about Russia's plan to invade Ukraine. He added that the more dominant nation would not be going shorter this time.

In response to this, US President Joe Biden revealed the potential sanctions that Russia will face if it begins to wage war with Ukraine. At that time, the US was aware that there were no credible threats that might hit them at the moment.

Read Also: Elon Musk's Brother Says Tesla Was 'Very Ignorant' of Bitcoin Environmental Impact | No Regrets?

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A new Russia-Ukraine invasion map offers the latest updates regarding the ongoing tension between the two countries.

Right now, Russian President Vladimir Putin is already sending his troops to Ukraine. On Thursday, Feb. 24, he launched an attack against the enemy country, which led to explosions.

Knowing the latest details regarding the conflict between the two countries is essential since Putin's acts can lead to a full-scale invasion.

Because of this, CIR (Center for Information Resilience) decided to launch a new map to show the invasion's latest details.

Russia-Ukraine Invasion Map: How It Works

According to Boing Boing's latest report, the new Russia-Ukraine invasion is developed by the Center for Information, a non-profit organization that counters disinformation and influence operations.

Also Read: China's Navy Vessel Points Laser at Australia's Military Jets! Here's Why This Can Endanger Aircraft

This detail was also confirmed by CIR's Director of Investigations, Benjamin Strick.

"The mapping done by our team at @Cen4infoRes and the wider community is now verifying and logging more events inside Ukraine of shelling, bombings, and other events," said Strick via his official Twitter post.

Seeing a sad turn of events as the situation in Ukraine has escalated. The mapping done by our team at @Cen4infoRes and the wider community is now verifying and logging more events inside Ukraine of shelling, bombings and other events. Here is the link: https://t.co/QwQrTWsmBF pic.twitter.com/ZfAu4AVur6  Benjamin Strick (@BenDoBrown) February 24, 2022

CIR's new Russia-Ukraine invasion map works by simply relying on new Twitter posts that contain videos, photos, and texts regarding the ongoing tension between the two countries.

How To Use the New Twitter Map

To use the new Russia-Ukraine invasion map of the Centre for Information and Resilience, all you need to do is search for MapHub.

You can also click this link so that you will be redirected to the official page right away. Once you are there, you will see green and yellow markings on the Ukraine map.

Once you click a mark, you will see the Twitter links that contain images and videos of the Russian invasion happening in that area.

However, you need to read the description first since some of the content provided in the link may showcase violence.

The new U.S.-Mexico border robot dogs are now being trained for deployment in other news. Meanwhile, RAF's recent warning claims that smart meters can affect the United Kingdom's EWS.

For more news updates about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine invasion and other related defense stories, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: US Missile Defense Systems Still Ineffective Against ICBMs-Even After 15 Years, Says New Study

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
We are not seduced by lies repeated a thousand times. We know that Putin is defending the Russian people's right to peace and dignity, President Nicolas Maduro said.

On Tuesday, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro ratified the Bolivarian nation's support for the Russian people in the face of aggressive stances taken by the United States, the European Union (EU), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"Venezuela announces all its support for President Vladimir Putin in his defense of peace in Russia, his people, and his homeland. All our support for President Putin!", he said and rejected the U.S. plans to fence politically, economically and militarily to Russia.

"The peace of Russia is the peace of the world and we are going to defend it... Russia and all the peoples of the world must be respected."

Maduro also pointed out that the actions taken against Russia show that the United States and its European allies continue to think of the world from the logic that empires have towards their colonies.

Andy Vermaut shares: US, NATO must respond on Russias security guarantees demands substantively - Putin: Russia referred its proposals on security guarantees to the United States and NATO in December 2021 https://t.co/z3AGcqsxDX Thank you. pic.twitter.com/QCrVbrC0vk  Andy Vermaut (@AndyVermaut) February 20, 2022

"We have been attentive to the events in Russia and Ukraine. We observe how NATO intends to end Russia and a multipolar world, which is already a reality," he said and urged defeating the global manipulation campaigns coming from the transnational mainstream media.

We are not seduced by lies repeated a thousand times. We know that Putin is defending the Russian people's right to peace and dignity.

Finally, Maduro highlighted the authenticity of Putin's leadership and recalled that his administration has revitalized Russia as an economic and political power on the world stage.
In 1888, Emile Zola was a writer covered in glory. However, from the top of his 48 years, he is overweight, suffers from shortness of breath and has the impression of having missed his life. Zola grows tired of his wife Alexandrine, who lets herself go and with whom he cannot have a child. In this new episode of the Europe 1 Studio podcast "At the heart of history", Clementine Portier-Kaltenbach recounts the meeting of the famous novelist with the one who will upset the course of his existence: the young and pretty Jeanne Rozerot.
The Missouri State University Board of Governors passed a tuition increase during its April  Read more
Ada, OK (74820)

Today

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 73F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Construction continues on the Venture Global LNG plant in 2021 in Cameron Parish. As the United States and Europe continue to pummel Russia with economic sanctions following Vladimir Putins military attacks on Ukraine, Louisianas heavy industrial sector is waiting in the wings to see what effect the penalties will have on the states booming liquefied natural gas market.
Tin Roof Brewing has pulled out of Louisianas Industrial Tax Exemption Program and the Baton Rouge brewery wont have to pay back any of the $45,000 in taxes it otherwise would have owed the state between 2018 and 2020.
New social studies standards for public school students appear headed for easy approval next month from Louisiana's top school board after superintendents Thursday endorsed the changes without dissent.

The benchmarks, which have been in the works for 14 months, have sparked controversy, including how the nation's racial history will be taught.

But the latest draft recommended by state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley breezed through the Superintendents' Advisory Council, which represents about one-third of the state's local superintendents.

The new guidelines are aimed at crafting a coherent sequence of historical events and ensuring views from different backgrounds. Brumley said today's standards need more rigor, especially since only 24% of students are proficient in social studies.

"We are in a place today, after over a year, that we are able to make a set of recommendations that we feel like adhere to the initial desires when we began in December of 2020," he said.

+3 Louisiana delays update on social studies standards; 'This is politically combustible' A seemingly routine update of Louisiana's social studies standards has been delayed for two months amid criticism from former House Education 

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is set to vote on the standards March 8-9.

BESE members Doris Voitier, who is superintendent of the St. Bernard Parish School District and Ronnie Morris, of Baton Rouge, were at the meeting and said they have generally heard positive things about the standards.

State lawmakers who earlier voiced concerns on how the standards were unfolding have made similar comments.

During a public hearing last year some critics said the revisions would inject critical race theory into classrooms  which has been described as the view that the legacy of White supremacy remains as a pervasive factor in today's society through laws and institutions.

Brumley has repeatedly said he does not want anything resembling critical race theory taught in classrooms.

Others called the worries overblown, and that some critics are leery of letting students examine grim chapters on slavery and other topics.

Critical race theory won't be included in Louisiana's social studies standards, official says Setting up a key vote, state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley on Tuesday put his imprint on proposed new social studies standards for 

The issue did not surface during Thursday's brief discussion by superintendents.

BESE authorized the review in December, 2020.

Work groups under a steering committee worked for six months to hammer out initial recommendations in September.

New social studies standards put on hold again; January vote at earliest State education leaders have delayed action on new social studies standards a second time amid off and on complaints on how the benchmarks wou

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Brumley put his own imprint on the new standards earlier this month after state officials made revisions to the initial draft.

Jenna Chiasson, assistant superintendent for the Office of Teaching and Learning, said overly broad standards were made more specific.

Chiasson said there were lots of public comments that third-graders were not learning enough about state and national history.

Under the new benchmarks, the U.S. history course for second-graders would be extended to the third grade and world history moved to the fourth and fifth grades.

For high school students studying American history the period covered would be extended to 1776-2008 and critical primary sources were added.

Social studies curricula delayed a third time over concerns about teaching racial history The push to update social studies standards has been delayed a third time after a barrage of public comments on the proposed changes, includin

Superintendents were initially set to simply receive the report.

Frank Jabbia, superintendent of public schools in St. Tammany Parish, made a motion to both receive an affirm the recommendations, which was approved.

Jabbia said some residents of his district were interested in the new standards and officials of the state Department of Education addressed concerns, myths and misinformation.

"The department bent over backwards to ensure their concerns were heard," he said.

Brumley, a former social studies teacher, said one of the major problems with today's standards is the lack of an orderly rollout of historic events. "I believe that we have a broken system of coherency," he said.

Brumley said another problem is the lack of support materials to go along with courses. "What I see frequently are just teachers who tried to build something here and there," he said.

State education officials repeatedly extended the public comment period, including the latest one from Feb. 8-22.

Brumley said about 400 comments were collected during those two weeks and tweaks have been made to the recommendations as a result of some of those suggestions.

About 1,500 public comments were registered during earlier comment periods.

The revised standards are set to be in classrooms for the 2023-24 school year.

They were scheduled to be updated by 2017.
Sydneysiders are warned bursts of heavy rain could trigger flash flooding throughout the city and coastal areas of NSW on Thursday, as north-eastern parts of the state are braced for hundreds of millimetres of rain.

The mercury is expected to hit a muggy 26 degrees in Sydney on Thursday, with 10 to 35 millimetres predicted to fall across the city throughout the day.

A swimmer braves the water at Bondi as a downpour sweeps across the beach on Thursday morning. Credit:Brook Mitchell

Days of torrential downpours have swollen waterways, triggered floods, inundated roads, brought down trees and damaged homes across Sydney. The stormy weather is expected to persist for the next week.

Sydney Airport received about 53 millimetres in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, with 44mm falling at Observatory Hill near the CBD, 34.4mm in Canterbury and 22.8mm in Gosford on the Central Coast.
A prominent far-right Australian extremist has pleaded guilty to making repeated and explicit violent threats against a Melbourne journalist and lawyer, as part of a case that initially exposed concerns that police were failing to take seriously the threat posed by the far-right.

Nathan Sykes, a prolific online troll and a lieutenant of one of Australias most notorious white supremacists, Jim Saleam, appeared on Thursday before the NSW District Court after admitting to multiple offences, including using a carriage service to menace and to issue threats to do serious harm.

Nathan Sykes outside court last year. Credit:

During a hearing in which Mr Sykes attacked the conduct of his victim and claimed he was the target of an anti-fascist conspiracy, his lawyers also told the court they intended to call Mr Saleam as witness.

Mr Saleam was jailed for three years in 1991 for organising the shotgun attack on the home of African National Congress representative in Australia Eddie Funde.
The Queensland Ukrainian community says it is alarmed and horrified by Russias invasion it claims is a fabricated justification for bloodshed, as Brisbanes lord mayor announced lights would be turned off across the CBD in solidarity.

Russian forces fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on its south coast on Thursday, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation.

Ukrainian military facilities, including airfields and anti-aircraft systems, were being targeted by Russia, while the government in the countrys capital, Kyiv, called it a full-scale invasion.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenzky has since imposed martial law.
A serving member of the Defence Force has told the Federal Court that war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith and another soldier compromised a surveillance mission in Afghanistan by shooting a young Afghan man.

Person 2, a former Special Air Service soldier who remains in the Defence Force, gave evidence in Sydney on Thursday in Mr Roberts-Smiths defamation case that the decorated former soldier was one of two soldiers who shot the man in 2006 during a mission to provide surveillance of the Chora Pass.

Ben Roberts-Smith outside the Federal Court earlier this week. Credit:James Alcock

He told the court he did not observe a weapon on the young Afghan, although he did see the man retrieving a bag, a sack of some sort. He said he did not believe the shooting was legitimate.

Our mission was to observe and surveil. That was our primary mission, Person 2 said.
One of Australias most notorious paedophiles, former Christian Brother Ted Bales, has had his jail term extended until 2029 for abusing 19 boys more than three decades ago.

Bales, 72, was jailed in 1996 and in 2015 for sexual crimes against children and was due for release in February next year, but his latest admissions to abusing boys between 1971 and 1988 resulted in 7 years being added to his prison stretch on Thursday.

Ted Bales in 1994 when he was known as Edward Dowlan. Credit:Geoff Ampt

The earliest he can apply for parole is in four years and nine months.

Bales most recent admissions, made last year when he pleaded guilty to 33 charges of indecent assault, bring to 50 his total number of confirmed victims.
The number of Victorian teachers being investigated for potential misconduct or incompetence has grown six-fold after the professions watchdog was overhauled to help prevent those who pose a risk to childrens safety working in schools.

The Victorian Institute of Teachings annual report shows its conduct, competence and fitness to teach investigations grew to more than 1055 in June 2021  up from about 150 cases in 2017.

Professor Damian Blake of Deakin University says theres no evidence more teachers are breaking the law despite the rise in investigations. Credit:Jason South

Similarly, complaints and notifications about teachers from sources such as employers, members of the public and Victoria Police rose 23 per cent to 2232 last financial year.

The watchdog attributed the increase to growing community awareness and empowerment in the aftermath of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and Victorias Betrayal of Trust inquiry, as well as new rules requiring it to investigate all teachers with a criminal history.
Beijing: China called Thursday for talks to resolve the Ukraine crisis and avoided criticising President Vladimir Putins attack while, in a step that could blunt the impact of Western sanctions, Beijing also approved imports of Russian wheat.

Chinese ties with Russia have grown stronger under President Xi Jinping, who met Putin this month in Beijing. Chinas multibillion-dollar purchases of Russian gas for its energy-hungry economy have been a lifeline to Putin, who already was under Western sanctions over its 2014 seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier this month. Credit:Sputnik

China is the only major government to refrain from condemning Putins attack. However, it tempered that by calling for restraint and respect for national sovereignty.

We still hope that the parties concerned will not shut the door to peace and engage instead in dialogue and consultation and prevent the situation from further escalating, said a foreign ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying.
This is an act of war, an attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv. The goal of the Russian offensive military operation is to destroy the Ukrainian state, to seize by force Ukrainian territory and to establish occupational control. Within half an hour of Mr Putins televised address, Russian missiles struck the Boryspil Airport in Kyiv while tanks and armoured vehicles were seen crossing the border from Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko has governed since 1994 with Russian support. Mr Putin said the two Donbas regions, around the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk, had turned to Russia with a request for help, a claim dismissed by Ukraine and rejected by Western leaders as a pretext for a military offensive that flouts international law.

Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action, Mr Putin said in the speech that interrupted an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Loading To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside: if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me. The Russian leader said the special military operation was needed to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, a declaration that led Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to appeal to Russians not to listen to their President. You are told we are Nazis, but can a people support Nazis that gave more than eight million lives for the victory over Nazism? said Mr Zelensky, who was born to Jewish parents in central Ukraine.

The offensive is expected to be met by military and civilian resistance that could lead to an extensive conflict with massive casualties, despite Mr Putins claim he did not intend to occupy the country. Russia confirmed it was targeting military facilities across the country, including air fields and anti-aircraft systems. The government in Kyiv called it a full-scale invasion and Zelensky imposed martial law. In the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urged Mr Putin. United States President Joe Biden condemned the move in a statement that signalled a response from the US and allies such as Australia, saying he would talk to G7 leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan on Friday to discuss further sanctions against Russia.

Loading President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Mr Biden said. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the US and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was a catastrophe for our continent as he called for an urgent meeting of NATO leaders. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she and other leaders in the European Union (EU) would discuss further sanctions on Russia after the unprovoked and unjustified military offensive.

These will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its actions, she said. The senior Ukrainian diplomat in Australia, Volodymyr Shalkivskyi, welcomed the Australian sanctions announced this week but said the military in Ukraine was outnumbered by the Russian forces and would need more support. Mr Morrison called a press conference in Sydney on Thursday afternoon to condemn the attacks and promise stronger action against Russia, saying Australia stood with the people of Ukraine. We pray for their safety but we also know that they are suffering a terrible ordeal at the hands of a terrible aggressor, Mr Morrison said.

The Prime Minister said Australia would work on further actions against Russia alongside allies such as the US, UK, Japan, Canada and the EU. Loading There will be further waves of sanctions as we identify those responsible for these egregious acts, including, as I discussed this afternoon with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, moving on over 300 members of the Russian Parliament, he said. We must ensure there is a cost for this violent, unacceptable, and egregious behaviour. There must be a cost. With Russia launching cyber attacks on systems in Ukraine and other countries, Mr Morrison said Australian experts were working on preparations for similar attacks. He also said the government was preparing for price and supply shocks in the energy markets.

Mr Morrison has been asked to intensify Australian support for Ukraine by sending non-lethal military supplies as soon as possible, going beyond the medical supplies the government has offered in the past and the training currently underway for Ukrainian cyber security personnel. The request was put to the Prime Minister by the chairman of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, Stefan Romaniw, on Wednesday and then raised by a group of Ukrainian Australians in talks with Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Thursday. Mr Hawke was also asked to issue urgent visas for refugees fleeing the conflict, leading the minister to promise Ukrainian organisations that Australia would offer help in the same way it sheltered some of those rescued from wars in Kosovo and Syria. Loading

Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie, a former SAS officer, said the corrupt and evil invasion was unlikely to be contained because war was contagious and could spread in ways Mr Putin may not expect. Vladimir Putin is blowing the filthy clouds of war across Europe, innocent people will die at his foul hands, and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms, Mr Hastie said. Labor leader Anthony Albanese endorsed this weeks Australian sanctions against Russia and condemned the military offensive in a statement with Labors foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong. This attack is wholly unprovoked and without justification, they said. Russia alone is the aggressor, and Russia alone bears responsibility for the bloodshed and suffering that will follow.
It was unthinkable. Until the moment it happened. Until the first Russian missiles slammed into Ukraines capital of Kyiv in the countrys north.

Even as civilians jammed the highways and flooded the subways to escape the violence, many Ukrainians distrusted the evidence of their eyes. No-one here can quite believe its actually happening, according to the BBCs Sarah Rainsford. People were shocked and horrified to imagine what might be coming.

Vladimir Putin warned other countries that attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen. Credit:AP

That will be the next phase of the unthinkable. As the United States ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said: The tidal waves of suffering this war will cause are unthinkable. US analysis anticipated five million people displaced, she said. She chose not to disclose US predictions of the numbers of civilian and military deaths to come.

As Western companies market an exciting future of a virtual reality metaverse, revisionist dictators return the world to a past of violent conquest as its present reality. Industrial scale, kinetic warfare carefully planned and executed by one country against its neighbour. In Europe. In 2022.
Wellington: The anti-government protests that jolted Canada have been quashed. But 14,000 kilometres away, in the capital of another Western democracy largely unaccustomed to violent tears in the social fabric, an occupation on Parliament grounds has entrenched itself and turned increasingly ominous.

Hundreds of demonstrators opposed to New Zealands COVID-19 vaccine mandate are in their third week of encampment in Wellington, erecting tents, illegally parking vehicles and establishing communal kitchens and toilets in a deliberate echo of the Canadian siege.

A signpost is erected outside a tent during a protest at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on Wednesday. Credit:Getty Images

The New Zealand occupation initially had a carnival atmosphere, with a popcorn stand and a doughnut truck and a number of children brought in by their parents. Locals joked that it was the countrys only Omicron-era music festival: officials blared Barry Manilow and James Blunt to try to drive out the protesters, who responded with some Twisted Sister of their own.

In recent days, however, after police moved to evict some protesters, the demonstration has grown more violent. On Monday, protesters threw faeces at the police. On Tuesday, a driver tried to ram a car into a large group of officers, and three other members of the force required medical attention after protesters sprayed them with what a police statement called a stinging substance.
New Jersey Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Rob Asaro-Angelo, speaking, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (left).
Voters wait in line Nov. 3, 2020, outside a pavilion at Center Street Park shortly before the polling site opened on Election Day in Milwaukee.
U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., a former Marine, joins House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., right, and other GOP members to criticize President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the close of the war in Afghanistan, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.
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Pick-up trucks are used to close First Street SW near the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Feb. 23, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

1st Truck Convoy to Reach Washington Area Doesnt Disrupt Traffic, Heads Home

The first U.S. truck convoy to reach Washington arrived on Feb. 23, but fizzled out without disrupting traffic.

Pennsylvania business owner Bob Bolus drove an 18-wheeler to the area and got on the Capital Beltway, but he was followed by a small number of vehicles and didnt disrupt traffic after vowing to shut down the highway.

Betsy Green, another convoy organizer, wrote on Facebook: We did not block anything today. If anything we were blocked by the insane traffic and gridlock around DC.

Bolus and Green didnt respond by press time to requests for comment.

Green later posted a video of one of the trucks heading home after a great day on the beltway!

Spokespersons for the Maryland State Police and the Virginia State Police told The Epoch Times in emails that the agencies saw no disruptions to traffic from truck convoys on Feb. 23.

The number of vehicles following Bolus was estimated at several dozen by organizers and less than a dozen by reporters tracking the group, which started in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and stopped at the states capital of Harrisburg before heading toward Washington.

People have work to do, Bolus told the Patriot-News, a Pennsylvania newspaper.

Were not putting a chokehold on D.C. today, the tow truck company owner also told The Daily Beast.

Green told the outlet that she and Bolus got lost after getting onto the beltway and were working to find Interstate 270 so they could return home.

In this screenshot from video, trucks depart from Adelanto, Calif., on Feb. 23, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Bolus told The Epoch Times earlier in the week that he wanted to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, illegal immigration, and the teaching of critical race theory, among other issues.

Bolus had suggested the convoy wouldnt leave the area until organizers were able to meet with members of Congress to air their grievances.

A larger convoy of hundreds of vehicles left from Southern California on Feb. 23. That group, called the Peoples Convoy, plans to cross the country before arriving in the Washington area on March 5.

Authorities in Washington say theyre tracking multiple convoys and are upping security ahead of President Joe Bidens scheduled March 1 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has approved the deployment of hundreds of National Guard members to help deal with potential traffic disruptions and other issues, while the U.S. Capitol Police has reportedly decided to re-erect fencing around the Capitol.
The seal of the United States Department of Justice is seen on the building exterior of the United States Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, N.Y., on Aug. 17, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

2 NY Prosecutors Abruptly Resign From Investigating Trump Organization

The two prosecutors leading the Manhattan district attorneys criminal inquiry into the Trump Organization abruptly resigned on Wednesday.

The resignations of prosecutors Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz were confirmed by a spokesperson for District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

We are grateful for their service, said spokesperson Danielle Filson, without elaborating. Filson declined to comment further, saying the investigation is ongoing.

The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that the prosecutors quit after Bragg raised doubts about pursuing a case against former President Donald Trump.

The Epoch Times has been unable to independently verify the reports. Dunne and Pomerantz didnt immediately respond to requests for comment by The Epoch Times.

The D.A.s office investigation led to tax fraud charges last July against Trumps company, the Trump Organization, and its longtime finance chief, Allen Weisselberg. Trump has not been charged in the case.

Weisselberg was accused of collecting more than $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation, including apartment rent, car payments, and school tuition. He and the company have pleaded not guilty.

One of the unnamed sources told The New York Times that after Bragg signaled that he had doubts in the case, Dunne and Pomerantz last month postponed interviewing at least one witness before the grand jury.

The reasons behind Braggs alleged doubts in the case are unclear.

It comes after New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ruled on Feb. 18 that Trump and two of his children, Ivanka Trump, and Donald Trump Jr., must testify in another investigation being conducted by New York Attorney Letitia James.

Attorneys for Trump argued that the investigation violates the U.S. and New York Constitutions and thus, the subpoenas issued against him and his children should be quashed.

Engoron said hes considered the arguments and finds them to be unavailing and/or non-dispositive, adding that all three must sit for depositions within 21 days of the order.

Trump and his two children may invoke their Fifth Amendment rights however, Engoron noted.

The subpoena issued by Jamess office also directs Trump to hand over documents and information within 14 days.

No one will be permitted to stand in the way of the pursuit of justice, no matter how powerful they are. No one is above the law, James said in a statement.

Trump said James is selectively prosecut[ing] him and his family.

After viewing millions of pages of documents over many years, they come up with a fringe benefits case on a car, an apartment, and on grandchildrens education, he said in a statement. She is doing everything within their corrupt discretion to interfere with my business relationships, and with the political process.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mother of eight (the chained woman) shackled in small hut in Fengxian County, Xuzhou City, after being given a coat and some food. (Screenshot via Dou Yin)

CCP Princeling Speaks Up for Chained Woman

A third-generation descendent of a powerful Chinese Communist Party official has spoken up for the chained woman in Xuzhou, saying that the incident was definitely just the tip of the iceberg. This is the first comment on the chained woman from the Partys powerful cadre offspring, known as princelings.

Ye Jingzi, also known as Maggie Ip, is the granddaughter of Ye Jianying, a founding marshal of the Chinese Communist Party. Her post on Feb. 21 exposed the current situation in the township where the chained woman was found.

All roads in Feng County were closed on Feb. 15. The locals seem to feel the pressure from the public. But, we want to see a solution, not a fake peace under suppression, it read.

She described the incident as only a tip of the iceberg, adding ,Such primitive behavior in the 21st century, wheres the humanity?

Ips father, Ye Xuanning, was known as the spiritual leader of the red princelings, and an influential politician and businessman. Ip is the managing director of Hong Kongs Brilliant Culture Group.

Responding to her post, Chinese netizens voiced their concerns about the incident and the possible closing of Ips Weibo account due to the regimes censorship around the topic.

Ip also shared an official announcement dated on Feb. 15 from Feng County traffic police under Chinas Public Security Bureau, stating that the entire Huanshou Line (county road X301) that leads to Dongjicun, the village where the chained woman was found, has been closed for construction.

The traffic closure is extended to June 30, 2022, the notice read.

On Feb. 17, Jiangsu Province announced an investigation team for the chained woman incident, which the authorities finally recognized as a case of human trafficking since the incident was exposed on Jan. 28. After persistent public outcry for the truth, local officials released a total of four notifications, although each time, the update was a revised version of the previous one.

Amid outcries over the womans poor treatment, local authorities put the village and township under strict surveillance.

A police officer gestures to a journalist not to photograph in Beijing, China, on March 5, 2021. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)

According to a Hunan Broadcasting post on Twitter, one reporter tried various routes to drive into Dongjicun on Feb. 20, only to be stopped at police checkpoints. The authorities had a total blockade of the village in the name of epidemic prevention.

Zhao Hantang, a Chinese film director and actor, also wrote on his Weibo on Feb. 19 that he received information from people who made it to the county where the chained woman was found. Since the news broke, authorities have erected dozens of miles of iron walls to encircle Dongjicun and its surrounding villages.

According to a Chinese blogger @wanjunxie, a Jiangsu police officer risked his life to send a message on Feb. 20: The leaders have demanded that there be no more news about chained women from Feng County. Neighboring provinces have dispatched a large number of police officers to assist Xuzhou. Feng County was also locked down. The police are secretly capturing and detaining all chained women in the villages.

Fearing that the lives of hundreds or thousands of chained women in the area could be collectively extinguished, the blogger urged for public attention to prevent it from happening.

He insisted that these chained women have done nothing wrong; but unfortunately, they were born in the country of hell.

Mary Hong contributed to this report.
Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

8 Dead, 14 Wounded as Russia Launches Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine: Officials

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Moscow-led attacks on military units in Ukraine killed at least eight people and wounded 14 others, Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Thursday.

Shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine on Thursday, explosions were reported across the country, including in Ukraines capital Kyiv, as well as in other cities, including Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Odessa.

Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement Thursday that six people were killed and seven were wounded in a bombing incident in the city of Podolsk, in the Odessa province, noting that 19 people were still missing.

Local Odessa resident Farid Agayev told The Epoch Times that his family was woken up at roughly 5 a.m. local time to the sound of an explosion and car alarms going off.

Another person was killed and two more were injured during shelling in the city of Mariupol in the Donetsk region, the ministry said.

And in the village of Berda in the Berdyansk district, one person was killed and five others were wounded after an air defense military unit was targeted in the early hours of Thursday morning, officials confirmed.

Russias ministry of defense issued a statement saying that its military is targeting Ukraines military infrastructure.

Nothing is threatening Ukraines civilian population, it said in a statement.

Ukraines Command of Joint Forces said Thursday that at least five Russian aircraft and one helicopter were shot down.

On Feb. 24, 5 aircraft and an aggressor helicopter were shot down near the area of the Joint Forces, the command said on Facebook.

The Joint Forces give a worthy rebuff to the armed forces of the Russian Federation, is said in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed nationwide martial law on Thursday morning, saying Russia had targeted Ukraines military infrastructure.

Russia has attacked our military infrastructure, our border guards, Zelensky said. Explosions were heard in many cities of Ukraine.

Zelensky urged civilians to stay home where possible. A day earlier, Ukraine imposed a nationwide state of emergency lasting for 30 days, and urged citizens in Russia to leave immediately.

Declaring martial law imposed harder restrictions than a state of emergency, and could include bans on meetings, movement, and political parties.

Putin has claimed that his special operation is intended to protect civilians and demilitarize Ukraine, and is a response to threats coming from Ukraine.

He said that Russia doesnt plan to occupy Ukraine and said that the Ukrainian military should immediately lay down its arms.

Putin also said that any foreign attempt to interfere with Russias action will trigger an immediate reaction from Russia, and will lead to consequences they have not seen before.

Zelensky has directed the head of Ukraines armed forces, Maj. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny, to inflict maximum losses against the aggressor, according to AFP.
A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Australia Should Prepare for Russian Cyber-Retaliation: Experts

Cyber experts are warning Australian firms to brace for potential retaliation from Russian hackers following the governments stance on the occupation of two breakaway Ukrainian territories.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has issued a high alert, pointing to a historical pattern of cyberattacks against Ukraine.

Malicious cyber activity could impact Australian organisations through unintended disruption or uncontained malicious cyber activities, the ACSC said in its alert.

While the ACSC is not aware of any current or specific threats to Australian organisations, adopting an enhanced cyber security posture and increased monitoring for threats will help to reduce the impacts to Australian organisations.

Professor Matt Warren, director of the Centre for Cyber Security Research at RMIT, said the cyberattacks were a form of power projection and would be deployed to punish Australia for our political stance.

These attacks will potentially impact all aspects of Australian society and will test our Australias ability to protect against cyberattacks at this scale, he said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

Australia, along with several democratic nations, has placed sanctions on Russia, including imposing travel bans and financial sanctions on eight members of Russias Security Councilwho are responsible for the decision to move troops into the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Servicemen of Ukrainian Military Forces walk along trenches on their position on the front line with Russia backed separatists, near Novognativka village, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Feb. 21, 2022. (AnatoliI Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

Sanctions will also stop Australian individuals and entities from doing business with the following banks, Rossiya Bank, Promsvyazbank, IS Bank, Genbank, the Black Sea Bank for Development and Reconstruction, and the state development bank VEB.

Warren said there had already been three recent waves of cyber-attacks launched against Ukraine by Russian groups.

The first was on Jan. 14, 2022, where the websites of Ukrainian ministers were shut down. The second was on Feb. 15 and targeted two major banks and the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, with a distributed denial-of-service attackwhich attempts to overwhelm the cyber-infrastructure with a flood of traffic.

The third wave currently targets Ukraines critical infrastructure, including power and water distribution.

The ACSC recommends organisations enhance cyber security measures, make sure all systems are updated, and ensure that they have a response plan in place.
Signage and construction machinary are seen onsite at The Ribbon project at Darling Harbour in Sydney, Australia, Feb. 24, 2022. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)

Australian Construction Giant Probuild Falls Into Voluntary Administration

Australian construction giant Probuild has collapsed and been placed in administration, leaving around $5 billion (US$3.6 billion) in building projects in limbo.

Probuild confirmed on Thursday that its South African parent company, Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) Ltd, had abruptly ended all cash and securitisation support in Australia.

We are caught up in a set of circumstances, not of our making. We are working closely with the administrator on a number of plans to protect our clients, subcontractors and employees.

The Probuild brand is strong, and we intend to keep it that way. We have several options for raising the necessary capital to continue as a premium Australian building company. These will all be pursued, a Probuild spokesperson said in a statement.

WBHO said they had adopted a more conservative bidding strategy for new lower-risk projects in response to Australias increasingly competitive and contractual construction environment.

However, sourcing acceptable projects had become impacted by COVID-19 and further complicated by the governments hard-line approach to managing the pandemic.

The protracted effect of COVID-19 has delayed any meaningful economic recovery and procurement activity in Australia, WBHO said in a statement on its decision to end financial support.

Over the past four years, it had supported the Australian branch with two billion South African rand, equivalent to around $182 million (US$131 million).

The Australian businesses have not been able to complete projects on time and not been able to recover variation and delay claims, resulting in material losses in the financial period to date and the requirement for further funding and balance sheet support from WBHOC, it added.

Construction workers are pictured at a building site in Melbournes city centre in Australia, on Sep. 17, 2020. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Hundreds of workers employed by Probuild were met with closed gates without notice at different projects around the country.

Some Probuild projects include the tallest residential building in Melbourne, luxury apartments in Perth, and an all-suite tower in the Gold Coast.

In January 2021, WBHO had attempted to sell its Probuild business to a Chinese construction corporation.

However, the $300 million (US$228 million) bid was rejected by the Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on the grounds of national security.

Going forward, Deloitte, the company appointed as administrator, will focus on assessing Probuilds financial situation and stabilising the business and projects where possible.

We will also also be commencing a sale and recapitalisation process in order secure a new owner for the businesses, Deloitte administrator Sal Algeri said.

The construction union, CFMEU, said it was currently seeking information to understand the situations impact on workers.

As always, the union will work to ensure the interests of our members in the construction industry are made the primary consideration, CFMEU Construction National Assistant Secretary Nigel Davies said.

Professor Jason Harris from the University of Sydney said the collapse of Probuild was a reminder that Australia needs effective insolvency and restructuring laws to help businesses that fall into financial distress.

Singapore and the UK have recently introduced major new restructuring laws, and Australia should consider reviewing its insolvency laws as many of the rules date back to the 19th century or earlier, Harris, who is an expert in insolvency law, told The Epoch Times. A new modern insolvency and restructuring law might help companies stay in business longer.

According to The Australia Constructors Association (ACA), the construction sector accounts for 25 percent of all insolvencies in Australia, a trend that will continue unless action is taken to improve industry sustainability, according to The Australia Constructors Association (ACA).

The current focus of selecting contractors based on the lowest price and the greatest transfer of risk is unsustainable, ACA CEO Jon Davies said in a statement. We have to move away from the idea that construction is a zero sum game with winners and losers.
NSW Health urges parents to keep children at home if they are experiencing any stomach flu symptoms amid high number of outbreaks across the state. (pasja1000/Pixabay)

Australian Health Authorities Warn of High Number of Stomach Flu Outbreaks in Childcare Centres

The New South Wales (NSW) government have warned parents to keep their children home if they feel unwell following a sharp increase in stomach flu outbreaks in childcare centres around the state.

NSW Healths Executive Director of Health Protection, Richard Broome, revealed that there had been 156 reported outbreaks of gastroenteritis in early childhood education centres across the state in February thus far.

Almost 1,000 children and 210 staff members have been affected so far, almost double what is normally reported in February.

NSW Health has notified the directors of NSW early childhood education services to an increase in viral gastroenteritis outbreaks and since then there have been further notifications of gastroenteritis outbreaks across the sector, Broome said.

Viral gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu, is an infection of the stomach and intestines that is highly infectious. It is spread from the vomit or stool of an infectious person, which can occur when cleaning the fluids or sharing contaminated objects.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache, and muscle aches. It can take up to three days to develop and usually lasts one or two days.

NSW Health advises parents to keep children experiencing the sickness at home until 48 hours after the last symptom occurs.

It also notes that washing hands thoroughly with regular soap and water is more effective than alcohol hand sanitiser, but that the sanitiser can be used if there are no alternatives.

The main treatment for viral gastroenteritis is to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Most people recover without complications but it can be serious for infants, people with suppressed immune systems, and the elderly, NSW Health said.

Be sure to drink plenty of water. (Elena Nichizhenova/Shutterstock)

The outbreaks come as the NSW and Victorian health authorities recalled several baby formulas by the U.S. company Abbott Laboratories after reports of four infants getting sick.

Doctors warned parents to stop feeding their babies with formula from EleCare, Similac, and Alimentum as they may be contaminated with the dangerous bacterias Salmonella and Cronobacter.

NSW Health Chief Paediatrician Matthew OMeara said so far, no known illnesses linked to the baby formulas have been reported in the state.

The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation warned parents to seek medical attention if after consumption their babies become unwell.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an investigation into the complaints of infection after consuming the products.

Jessie Zhang contributed to this article.
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media to announce sanctions on top Russian officials following the invasion of eastern Ukraine, during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Steven Saphore/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian PM Rejects Russian Embassys Claim of Peacekeeping

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected the Russian embassys statement alleging the people who live in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two pro-Russia areas of Ukraine, were at imminent threat of ethnic cleansing.

The invasion has effectively already begun, Morrison told Sevens Sunrise program on Feb. 24, in reference to the positioning of Russian forces inside those regions under the disputed pretext of peacekeeping.

We completely reject the claims that Russia has made in relation to Ukraine and the territories that theyve come and effectively already occupied. And the world has to continue to stand strong on this, Morrison said.

The Russian embassy released its statement late at night on Feb. 13, local time, defending its move into the separatist Ukrainian regions as being on humanitarian grounds.

The recognition of #DPR and #LPR by #Russia was made on humanitarian grounds to protect civilians there from the ethnic cleansing prepared by radical nationalistic regime in Kyiv. This decision by Russia will not be reverted. ReadEmbassy commenthttps://t.co/bqqlSRNkXt pic.twitter.com/7mJCUOLjqT  Russia in Australia (@RusEmbAU) February 23, 2022

This came after Russias ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky was summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade after Russia moved to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent peoples republics and as the Australian government announced a new package of unilateral sanctions.

In alignment with its key partners, Canberra has played its part in supporting and encouraging the xenophobic bullies based in Kyiv, the statement read, adding that civilians in Donetsk and Luhansk faced the imminent threat of ethnic cleansing.

The embassy also disputed Morrisons assertion that Australia stands up to bullies, saying Canberra had ignored the plight of civilians in Donbass living for years under blockade and constant shelling from the Ukrainian military.

Recognising the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics was the only solution Russia felt compelled to take, the statement read, adding that the move would guarantee the right of residents to live in peace and preserve their language and cultural identity.

This decision by Russia will not be reverted.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who is currently in Europe, hit back at the Russian embassys claims that moving its forces into the two separatist Ukrainian regions as part of peacekeeping efforts.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne speaks at the 2022 Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Alexandra Beier/Getty Images)

Any suggestions that there is a legitimate basis for Russias actions are pure propaganda and disinformation, Payne said.

The assertion by President Putin of Russian soldiers acting as peacekeepers is indeed an obscene perversion of the noble and vital role that generations of peacekeepers have played across the world.

Australia Announces Sanctions

Australia announced a swathe of new sanctions and expansions to existing sanctions on Russian individuals, organisations, and banks as part of an international effort to impose a sharp cost on Russia for its actions.

Under a first phase, we will impose travel bans and targeted financial sanctions on eight members of Russias Security Council, Payne and Morrison said in a joint statement on Feb. 23.

The Council bears responsibility for the current phase of the invasion by providing policy advice and justification to President Putins unilateral declaration recognising the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Luhansk Peoples Republic.

Australias international partners have announced similar sanctions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to Sunrise, Morrison stressed that Australia had no quarrel with the people of Russia.

This is about an autocratic, authoritarian government that is seeking to bully others. And those who support that regime cannot be enabled to go about their lives and move around the world doing their business and profiting from that violence, he said.

The Australian government has said it will not hesitate to expand sanctions, but Morrison admitted he doesnt think they will change Russias course.

Now, I note that many have said, Do you think that this will lead to Russia pulling back? I would hope so, but I dont expect so, Morrison said.

The reason were doing this is there must be a price for the unprovoked, unlawful, unwarranted, unjustified attacks and threats and intimidation that has been imposed by Russia on Ukraine.

Beijing Watching Ukraine Very Carefully

When queried if he thought that Beijing might be assessing how the world responds to the Ukraine situation as it considers its own potential strategies towards Taiwan, Morrison said he believed China was watching very carefully.

He also noted that he believed that the Chinese had not gone far enough in condemning Russias actions, although Morrison said he welcomed that Beijing had called for tensions to be deescalated.

A view of the South China Sea between the city of Xiamen in China, in the far distance, and the islands of Taiwans Kinmen County in the foreground, home to around 140,000 people, on Feb. 2, 2021. (An Rong Xu/Getty Images)

But they need to go further and denounce the threats of violence and any suggestion theres some sort of justification or pretext for this, he said.

Because bullying, wherever its occurring, and particularly in our own region, is things that we have, in my government, has always stood up very strongly to.
People walk past signage for Australian universities in Melbourne's central business district in Melbourne, Australia, on June 10, 2020. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian Universities Deprive Casual Employees of Wages and Super: Inquiry

Casual staff at Australian universities are complaining that their employers short-change them millions of dollars a year via regular underpayment practices.

A parliamentary inquiry into the unlawful underpayment of workers was alerted on Feb. 22 that over nine in ten casual workers at the University of Sydney did not receive compensation for carrying out a certain amount of work during the second semester in 2020.

Siobhan Irving from Casualised, Unemployed & Precarious Uni Workers (CUPUW), a network of university staff with unstable jobs, said university managers constantly turned a deaf ear, refuted and warded off blame when casual employees expressed concerns over being underpaid.

The current system simply does not work. It relies on casuals fighting tooth and nail for years on end, with little incentive for university managers to change their practices, she said.

Staff are calling on universities to discard the practice of piece rates in which casuals receive payments based on the amount of work they finish rather than the time they spend to complete it.

They also urge universities to conduct frequent, independent audits to ensure that the payments casual workers receive correspond with the number of hours of work they complete.

Representatives from the University of New England, Melbourne University, RMIT, Monash University and La Trobe University admitted that underpayment incidents had occurred at their institutions.

Affected past and current staff from the five universities were receiving back-payments after the institutions had discovered the problem via their own audits and proceeded with settling the underpayments.

A general view of the Sydney University campus in Sydney, Australia, on April 6, 2016. (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Brigid Haywood, the vice-chancellor of New England University, told the Senate Economics References Committee that while casual employees were necessary for universities, they should not constitute over 30 percent of the whole labour force.

The extent to which universities use casual staff is unique to Australia  we have to balance what is desirable for a certain cohort of staff (with workforce need), she said.

The Australian Higher Education Industrial Association, an employer association representing higher education providers, did not immediately respond to a request for comments from The Epoch Times.

Early Childhood Sector Also Affected

Meanwhile, the committee also listened to the accounts of early childhood educators who consistently missed out on superannuation because their employers failed to pay it and the consequential impacts on their financial future.

An anonymous witness working at a childcare centre in Lithgow in New South Wales said she felt betrayed when finding out that her employer did not transfer the payment as shown on her payslip to her super account.

United Workers Union officer Melinda Bolton said the above employer had undergone liquidation, and the impacted staff might never get back the amount of super owed to them.

Labor senator Jess Walsh remarked that too many employers did not treat employee superannuation with the right attitude.

Too often, the (tax office) lets them get away with it, but this is someones retirement at stake, she said.

We need a strong super system that makes employers do the right thing. We need a strong system that gives workers real power to get their stolen super back.
Authorities Seek Powers To Set up Buffer Zones To Stop Anti-Vaccine Protests At Schools

On Monday, Home Secretary Priti Patel backed an amendment from the House of Lords to the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill that would enable a local authority to quickly establish a buffer zone around schools that have had anti-vaxxers protests.

She will point out to MPs the irony of recognising the significant harm that can be caused by protests with this amendment and highlight that logic follows that it shouldnt just be schools and vaccination centres that are protected, wrote Patel in a statement.

Fast-track

Last year, Labour called to introduce an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, to allow fast-track Public Spaces Protection Orders in the vicinity of schools to stop dangerous misinformation spreading.

Public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) are used to tackle an issue in a local area that is having a negative effect on people within the community. The orders have been used to disperse protesters outside of abortion clinics, for example. They are also used for anti-social behaviour such as drinking, begging, and drug-taking.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill, covers a wide range of policy areas, would give police new powers to impose conditions on protests that are noisy enough to cause intimidation or harassment or serious unease, alarm, or distress to bystanders, and increase the sentence for damaging memorials to up to 10 years. The bill is currently being debated in the house of Lords and stands a firm chance of becoming law.

However, the Bill has been criticised as a serious clampdown on civil liberties as it would allow the police to impose controls on protests. These new powers were introduced during 2020s Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion protests.

A recent survey from the Association of School and College Leaders Union found that nearly eight in 10 schools have been targeted with anti-vaccine protests. Protesters have been criticised for handing out leaflets to pupils and holding up signs saying COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe.

Last September, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) announced the decision to not back vaccination of all 12- to 15-year-olds. The JCVI said that the margin of benefit is considered too small to support universal vaccination of healthy children of that age group at the time. Children aged five to 11 in England are now being offered a low-dose COVID jab on a non-urgent basis.

Already Violations

The Manifesto Club, an organisation that challenges the hyper-regulation of public spaces, said that the amendment is justified in part in the light of recent cases of invasion of vaccination centres.

But it noted that attacks on vaccination centres are already violations of many criminal laws, including theft, criminal damage, and trespass and public order offences. These are serious offences and should be prosecuted under the relevant law, for which the penalties are far more serious than any PSPO.

On the claim that 80 percent of schools have been targeted by anti-vaccination campaigners, research from The Manifesto Club found that this campaigning was mainly in the form of emails or the delivery of letters. In some cases, it involved protests by parents outside the school, who were concerned that their children would be vaccinated without their consent.

It gives them carte blanche to not consult and that creates problems. For example, if you have a situation somewhere, in many cases where parents are protesting outside of school, you have a headmaster bringing in a legal order against parents, that wont be good for school relations, said Manifesto Club director Josie Appleton.

The amendment in practice would mean giving headteachers the power to prohibit any activity outside their school, so long as they gain consent from the head of the council and the police. This could include banning parents from gathering petition signatures or just banning parents from gathering.

There have been problems with anti-vaxx protests and criminal damage, nobody would support them, but there are plenty of laws to deal with them, said Appleton.

Appleton added that the PSPOs wouldnt ban criminal damage, but it could ban things like expressing views on vaccination within the vicinity of the school for example. It would ban something that was not a criminal offence and would enforce an existing one, rather would create a new crime.

Whenever there is a problem, people want more powers, more laws, more executive open-ended power. And its not the answer, added Appleton.

Completely Inappropriate

Headmaster unions backed the Home Secretary Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders union told The Daily Mail that schools played a role as venues hosting the School Age Immunisation Service, running vaccination sessions and communicating with pupils and parents.

He said that protests seen at schools were completely inappropriate and have a profound impact on both the students and staff caught up in them and added that the amendment to the Policing Bill is therefore welcomed as an extra tier of protection.
The County of Orange, Calif., has voting ballot boxes available to local citizens as they walk toward government buildings in Santa Ana, Calif., on Sept. 18, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Ballot Tracking Technology Pilot Introduced for Orange County Residents

SANTA ANA, Calif.Orange County adopted a new ballot drop box technology that instantly tracks voters ballot envelopes from the deposit to the tally process, the county registrar of voters announced on Feb. 23.

When a voter drops off a ballot envelope, a secure barcode scanner placed on the ballot box allows the voter to scan the printed barcode located outside the ballot envelope.

Once deposited, the voter receives an SMS text message confirming the status and location of the ballot.

By providing voters with enhanced visibility on the location of their ballot, I believe this will help to continue boosting voter confidence and improve overall election security, Neal Kelley, registrar of voters, said in a statement.

Orange County Registrar of Voters is the first to adopt the pilot program technology, a system used typically in the medical industry to track tissue samples.

A spokesperson from the registrars office told The Epoch Times that the technology comes after feedback from the countys registered voter pool indicated that more tracking abilities at valid drop-off locations were needed to ensure extra security measures for ballots.

The registrars office always looks for ways to supersede voter expectations, a spokesperson for the registrars office said. Just because we have a secure election system here doesnt mean that there arent ways that we can continue to layer that security.

The pilot program includes nine ballot drop boxes throughout the county, and the registrars office said voters would have access to each location on its website.

As the fifth largest voting jurisdiction in the United States, the Orange County Registrar of Voters conducts county-wide elections for 1.8 million voters.

Data collected from the 2020 General Election showed Orange County voters cast approximately 1.5 million ballotsan 87.3 percent voter turnout.

Of those ballots, over 260,000 used vote center ballots, whereas 1.2 million used vote-by-mail ballots.

Californias 2021 Gubernatorial Recall Election showed that of the approximate 1.1 million ballots cast by registered Orange County voters, over 129,000 used vote center ballots while about 1 million used vote-by-mail ballotsa 62.9 percent voter turnout.

Once the registrars office collects the pilot programs data from the primary election held on June 7, 2022, the results will determine whether officials will expand the technology across the county.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on developments in Ukraine and Russia, and announces sanctions against Russia, from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Feb. 22, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Biden Announces New Sanctions in Response to Russian Attack on Ukraine

President Joe Biden announced additional sanctions and export restrictions against Russia Thursday in response to a Russian attack against Ukraine launched in the early hours that morning.

In a televised address on Feb. 24, Biden vowed to impose new sanctions against four additional Russian banks as well as additional members of Moscows elite inner circle and cut off half of Russias high-tech imports.

America stands up to bullies. We stand up for freedom, said Biden. This is who we are.

Bidens speech came after a meeting with the National Security Council and a virtual summit with G7 leaders. And he said the sanctions are in coordination with a list of countries representing more than half of the worlds economy.

Biden pledged humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine and reiterated the U.S. commitment to defend NATO territory. He also said again that the United States will not send troops to fight in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation on Feb. 24 to defend Moscow against what he alleged were threats from Ukraine. Shortly after Putins announcement, Russia launched its attack by land, air, and sea.

This came after months of Russian troop buildup along Ukraines border.

Ukraines leadership said at least 40 people had been killed so far in what it called a full-scale war, with multiple cities and bases targeted with airstrikes or shelling from the east, north, and south.

And an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said Thursday the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been captured by Russian forces.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law.

Bidens latest action comes in addition to the United States first tranche of sanctions against Russia taken earlier in the week. These include sanctions against two regions within Ukraine declared independent by Russia, state-owned Russian banks, individual Russian oligarchs and their families, as well as sanctions against the company behind the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline connecting Russia to Germany.

The first tranche was announced in response to Putins move Feb. 21 to declare two regions within Ukraine to be independent and then sign a decree authorizing peacekeeping troops to move into the two breakaway regions

Biden has acknowledged that Americans will likely see increased costs at the gas pump as a result of the sanctions against Russia but has pledged that his administration is using every tool at our disposal to limit the effect on gas prices.
President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House about Russian military activity near Ukraine, on Feb. 22, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Reiterates: No US Troops Will Fight Russia in Ukraine

President Joe Biden on Thursday said that U.S. forces will not be ordered to fight in Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country earlier in the day.

Our forces are not and will not engage in the conflict in Ukraine, Biden said at an address from the White House, adding that more troops will be deployed to defend our NATO allies in eastern Europe. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, although the United States has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance to Kyiv in recent years.

While announcing more sanctions against Russian assets, Biden said that all 30 NATO members will hold a summit on Friday to map out the next steps we will take to strengthen the alliance.

In recent weeks, the United States has deployed thousands of additional forces to Poland and Germany. This week, the Department of Defense confirmed NATO personnel and military equipment were sent to the Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, which share a border with Russia.

Earlier Thursday, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia triggered consultations under Article 4 of NATOs founding treaty. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania said in a joint statement that the alliance should provide Ukraine with military equipment, weapons, and ammunition.

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraines Lugansk region on Feb. 24, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov /AFP via Getty Images)

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday also asserted that the alliance would defend every inch of its members territory, adding: Peace on our continent has been shattered.

We now have war in Europe on a scale and of a type we thought belonged to history, Stoltenberg continued to say.

It came as Ukrainian officials said their forces were battling Russians on a multiple fronts, and had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the scene of the worlds worst nuclear disaster.

Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter. It wasnt Ukraine that chose the path of war, but Ukraine is offering to go back to the path of peace, he said.

Russian and Ukrainian authorities made competing claims about the damage they had inflicted. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities, and drones, and confirmed the loss of a Su-25 attack jet, blaming it on pilot error. It said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that there is no threat to the civilian population.

Earlier this month, the Department of Defense said that some American troops would leave Ukraine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Photo of a mother of eight (R) found shackled in a village hut in Xuzhou city, Jiangsu, China, in January 2022. (Douyin/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Black Swan Incident: CCP State Broadcaster Fails to Curb Nationwide Rage Over Chained Mother of 8

After publishing a 5000-character communique on social media on Feb. 23, China Central Television (CCTV), the regimes state broadcaster, met unrelenting waves of online condemnation for its response to reports of a mother of eight shackled in a hut in the Feng County of Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province.

Despite the statements censure of local officials in Feng County, it echoed previous reports made by the Xuzhou city government de facto, leaving unresolved the fundamental contradictions raised by members of the public.

In the week preceding the start of the 2022 Winter Olympics, a video showing an apparent victim of human trafficking chained up in a hut went viral on the Chinese internet. After days of inaction from the regime and a series of loophole-filled official statements, now-censored demands for accountability flooded the newsfeed of Chinese netizens.

As of Feb. 22, the topic had been viewed more than 4.8 billion times on Weibo.

Five Notices

By Feb. 23, the Chinese regime officials had issued a total of five notices. The authorities level of involvement roughly followed the escalating public outcry.

The first and second notices, issued by Feng County days after the video was posted in late January, denied speculations that the case involved human trafficking. The notices preemptive claims set off days of vehement criticism alleging county cover-up and negligence.

On Feb. 7, the level-higher Xuzhou City government launched a probe and in a third notice identified the woman as Xiaohuamei, who reportedly went missing after traveling to Jiangsu in hopes of finding a cure for an unspecified disease.

The public found an issue with this statement. Several bloggers on Weibo posted a picture of Li Ying, a girl from the neighboring Sichuan province, who was reported missing in 1996, and found her facial features to resemble those of the chained woman in Xuzhou.

A side-by-side comparison between images of the chained mother of eight (L) and Li Ying (R), showing alignment in facial features, made by a Weibo user (Screenshot via Sina Weibo)

A Chinese film producer from Fengxian County, said in a Weibo post that the chained mother is Li Ying and all the locals know this fact. He added that because Lis father is in the military, the regime avoided associating the victim with a missing girl for fear of alienating the military.

One investigative journalist, Deng Fei, posted a picture of the marriage certificate of the chained woman and a man named Dong. On the certificate, the womans 1969 birthday indicates she would be in her 50s, which, netizens said, doesnt match the apparent age of the chained woman.

Enhanced photo of Xiaohuamei (L) from the marriage certificate with Dong and the mother of eight (R) (Screenshot via Sina Weibo)

The citys report claimed she was from the province of Yunnan, on the Southwestern border of China, which was another point of contention among netizens as she would have traveled over 2,000 kilometers to get to Jiangsu Province.

A screenshot from Google Maps, taken on Feb. 22, 2022, shows the distance between Yunnan and Jiangsu. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

In a Feb. 10 notice, fourth of the five notes, the Jiangsu province recognized the case as human trafficking, contradicting earlier information issued by local Feng County authorities. Many said the county had protected its image over providing expedited help to the victim, or identifying her origin and returning her to her original home.

The CCTVs Feb. 23 communique reaffirmed the womans identity as Xiaohuamei, referring to interviews and DNA tests obtained by investigators from Feb. 17 to Feb. 22. The communique also rejected earlier speculation that the woman was Li Ying.

The communique attributed the differences between the womans current appearance and the marriage certificate photo to factors such as skin deterioration, hair deterioration, fat liquefaction, and lack of teeth.

In addition, the communique said Xiaohuamei was born in 1977 contradicting what was on the marriage certificate. It said Dong had registered a different age than the womans actual age at the marriage registry without elaborating further.

Sixteen Feng County officials and one vice-chair at the Xuzhou city-level Womens Federation received varying degrees of punishment from demotion to expulsion from the Communist Party. The statement said that three of the seventeen officials were temporarily detained and await a disciplinary ruling.

Black Swan Incident

This is Chinas first Black Swan Incident of 2022, China expert Wen Zhao said during his Feb. 21 show, it had evolved into an unstoppable eruption of a societal-wide outage with the participation of grassroots and elites, and entrepreneurs and students.

Wen cited a Henan author who called for the dissolution of the so-called Womens Federations in China, which were silent throughout the incident.

If people can call for the dissolution of peripheral organizations [such as the Womens Federation] today, tomorrow they can call for the dissolution of the Chinese Communist Party itself, Wen said.

Womens Federations in China are part of 22 mass organizations that bear a resemblance to the Western ideas of civil societies on the surface. In reality, the Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party directly manages the mass organizations and recognizes them to be a part of the peripheral organizations.

A leaked official document showed that Xuzhou Citys Womens Federation spent over 30 million yuan ($4.7 million). Employee expenses accounted for over 11 million yuan ($1.7 million). Chinese internet users posted another official document showing the Feng County Womens Federation received two honorary awards from the CCP, one in 2017 and one in 2021.

CCP members under Xis rule are generally lackluster in their duties. Without a directive from the top, they would not know how to handle a situation, Chen Weijian, publisher of Beijings Spring, told the Epoch Times.

The Jiangsu incident [of the chained mother] should have been apparent, even without investigation. They all knew. The CCPs intelligence system and public security system are well aware of things like this, Chen said, their main concern is how to minimize the incidents impact to the Party.

In a normal liberal democratic country, the protection of womens rights are not only dependent on human rights groups and womens rights groups. The more important factor is judicial independence, freedom of the press, and checks by the opposition [political] party, Professor Year-tarn Lee at the National Chengchi University told the Epoch Times.

Professor Lee said the judicial system should serve to protect the people instead of being a political tool, and all of its mechanisms are for the protection of human rights. Yet, all mechanisms of the CCP exist for the sole purpose of protecting the safety of the communist party regime.

Therefore, this issue is an issue of the political systems structure: absolute power and absolute corruption, Lee added.

Ning Haizhong, Luo Ya contributed to this article
Capitol Report (Feb. 23): Bidens Immigration Policy Under Scrutiny

The White House is trying to send a message to Russia by allowing sanctions on the parent company of Nord Stream 2. Tensions continue to escalate, and lawmakers are urging President Joe Biden to get approval before deploying any U.S. troops directly to Ukraine.

With Ukraine on the brink of war, we wanted to know how this conflict differs from when Russias Vladimir Putin invaded Crimea during the Obama administration in 2014. Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Darin Gaub is here to discuss.

Some National Guard troops will be deployed to Washington to help with traffic control next week, right before U.S. trucker convoys are set to protest against vaccine mandates in the capital area.

The two prosecutors in charge of the criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump have suddenly resigned Wednesday, throwing the future of the probe into question.

The Supreme Court Wednesday heard a dispute over a Trump-era immigration policy, as sheriffs across the country are demanding transparency over illegal immigrants coming into their communities.

With the world focused on Russia and Ukraine, the Chinese Communist Party continues to calculate its plan for global dominance. How might they use this conflict to advance their goal?

Last year, Americans lost more than $5.8 billion over consumer fraud.

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A Flagler County parent makes her feeling clear on the subject of who is in charge when it comes to the children as she observes proceedings at a Nov. 16, 2021, school board meeting. (Patricia Tolson/The Epoch Times)

Child Advocacy Group Pleads With Lawmakers to Protect Children From Sexually Explicit Material and Gender Indoctrination

'Why is Speaker of the Florida House Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson unsupportive of parental involvement in education and protection of our children?'

As time runs out on the legislative calendar, a child advocacy group is pleading with Florida lawmakers to pass two bills designed to protect public-school children from sexually explicit material and age-inappropriate gender indoctrination.

In an open letter to State House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-Fla.) and state Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Fla.), the Florida Citizens Alliance (FLCA) asks the lawmakers: Why have you decided NOT to protect our public-school children from sexually explicit material and age-inappropriate gender indoctrination of Floridas young children?

Weve always prided ourselves on having solutions rather than just complaining, Keith Flaugh, managing director of Florida Citizens Alliance told The Epoch Times. So during the 2022 legislative session, we got a Harmful for Minors bill filed in both chambers of the Florida legislature.

Rep. David Borrero (R-Fla.) filed HB 1305 (pdf) Harmful for Minors in the Florida House. Senator Dennis Baxley (R-Fla.) has filed a comparable bill SB 1842, (pdf) Reproductive Health and Disease Education.

HB 1305 has 3 significant elements:

fixes several loopholes in FS 847.012 and 847.001 that school districts exploit to push their sexually explicit agenda

contains a very strong parental opt-in, putting parents in control of what sexually explicit materials their children are exposed to

provides parents with a legal course of action if unsuccessful in their schools

SB 1842 also contains a very strong parental opt-in, putting parents in control of what sexually explicit and age-inappropriate materials their children are exposed to.

We were sure up until about two weeks ago the bills would be heard, Flaugh said. Two weeks ago, I was told the House bill was not going to move because Rep. Vance Aloupis wasnt going to hear the bill based on direction from above. So thats what motivated us to put the open letter out. So, we decided to call out Rep. and House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-Fla.) and Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Fla.).

The Background

According to Flaugh, FLCA has been fighting to protect children from sexually explicit materials for over 6 years. When confronted with the materials, almost every legislator, regardless of party, readily admit many of these should not be in public schools, Flaugh said. Yet leadership fails to have the courage to act. Several sheriffs have indicated that if you or I were to go on school property to distribute some of these, we would be arrested for distributing child pornography or child abuse. Yet there has been little or no action by the legislature, most Sheriffs, or State Attorneys.

Three years ago, FLCA filed a public records request in 25 Florida counties seeking to know which of the books on the list schools used as textbooks or had in their libraries. Of those, 12 forwarded the requested information and 13 ignored the request. However, FLCA didnt have the financial means to pursue legal recourse. Enter Pacific Justice Institute (PJI).

As reported by The Epoch Times on Aug. 2, PJI reached out and offered to represent FLCA on a pro-bono basis. PJI attorney Alexander Bumbu filed another public records request. This time, to all 67 Florida counties. Of those, only Broward County refused to comply. After a six-week-long legal back and forth, PJI sued Broward County and within two weeks, Broward capitulated. According to the new information gathered through the more expanded public records request, over 20 of the 67 Florida counties admitted to having over 50 percent of the books on the FLCAs 2021 Objectionable Materials Report.

The 2021 OBJECTIONABLE MATERIALS REPORT: Pornography and Age-Inappropriate Material in Florida Public Schoolsbears a warning:

This report contains objectionable and potentially offensive material. It is intended for adults and for educational purposes only. Please keep this report away from minors and avoid indiscriminate distribution. If you are sensitive to such material and do not wish to be exposed to it, please do not read the report.

While one must confirm they are not a minor and will not distribute to minors, in order to read the report or access any of the links to the books within, Flaugh said these sexually explicit and age-inappropriate materials are prevalent in Floridas public schools and available to children as young as five and six years old.

While some of the LGBTQ-focused novels are being utilized in elementary schools, a majority of them are targeted at pre-kindergarten children, and thus FLCA has no avenue for confirming their use. These books, which are promoted to children ranging from ages 12 months to eight years, promote gender self-identification and same-sex marriage; this endorsement violates Floridas Constitution and infringes upon the rights of its citizens, the FLCA concluded in its report. All of the novels in question contain indecent and offensive material.

Ironically, parents who have attempted to read excerpts from these books at school board meetingsthat the schools place in the hands of childrenhave been told its not appropriate because children may be listening. Some school board members have ordered police to remove these parents from the chambers.

One book on the Objectionable Materials Report Its Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris, discusses being gay, bisexual, and transgender and describes in detail how a man and woman, two women, and two men engage in sex acts. An FLCA assessment of the book shows it contains sexually graphic drawings, detailed how-to instructions, and discussions on how perfectly normal it is for children to masturbate. It targets 10-year-olds. Overtly graphic drawings depict the male and female genitalia and people engaged in sex acts. One drawing shows a young, naked female bent over, holding her ankle with one hand while holding a hand mirror between her splayed legs with the other to examine herself.

The Laws

Florida has obscenity laws, FS 847.012 and FS 847.001, that make it a third-degree felony to distribute any book, pamphlet, magazine, printed matter however reproduced that contains explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual excitement, or sexual conduct and that is harmful to minors.

Florida also has the third-highest rate of sex trafficking in the nation. According to the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, 93 percent of boys and 62 percent of girls are exposed to pornography before age 18. Children who view pornography frequently disengage from their family and start to isolate more and often become withdrawn, sullen, or depressed. Many argue school districts should not be aiding and abetting these sexually explicit materials in public schools.

In October of 2021, more than 100 people were arrested in Bartow following a human trafficking investigation where child predators were attempting to arrange sex with minors online.

On Feb. 16, two women and a man were arrested in Orlando for trafficking at least three teens ranging in age from 15 to 16 years old, for sex acts at several hotels.

On Feb. 18, a principal at Dawson Elementary school in Hillsborough County was arrested with 17 others following a three-month investigation in a sex trafficking sting called Operation Wanderlust, which rescued two teen girls. One, a 15-year-old was being groomed for participation in one perpetrators rape and BDSM fantasies.

Parents and Advocates Speak Out

As a mom to four children, Jamie Merchant of Lee County was extremely supportive of HB 1305 Harmful for Minors.

I feel that todays society is rushing to turn our children into adults, Merchant told The Epoch Times. I feel that requiring parental involvement in education could only become beneficial in preserving the innocence of our children. Parents should be able to access materials and curriculum without having to jump through dozens of hoops provided by the school districts, and be able to opt-in, not opt-out, of certain classes, like sexual education and reproductive health.

For the last seven months, Merchant has been part of several book and curriculum reviews for the School District of Lee County and sees firsthand the access her own children have to materials she feels may be inappropriate for their age group.

The fact that this bill and the Senate comparison Bill SB 1842 have not made it through committees is worrisome, Merchant asserted. Why is Speaker of the Florida House Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson unsupportive of parental involvement in education and protection of our children?

Hanna Petersen, a parent and Executive Director of County Citizens Defending Freedom for Polk County supports Flaughs efforts to get HB 1305 and SB 1842, passed.

Keith Flaugh and his team have done outstanding work over the past decade to protect children and defend parental rights, Petersen told The Epoch Times. We support his efforts, and we sincerely hope that our state legislators will consider these two bills. They would provide transparency regarding issues that we believe are the parents responsibility in educating their children. Schools are overreaching by automatically opting children into programs without parent awareness or consent. These issues are seen across America and many parents are starting to question the education system. These laws will assure that our children are safeguarded from any nonessential curriculum or theories that undermine moral standards and beliefs of the parents. These laws will also be a step towards renewing faith in our education system.

June Lamson, a Tea Party member and advocate for Kids First Team St. Lucie County believes these sexually explicit books play a big role in grooming children for sex trafficking.

In exploring what happens with sex trafficking and how they groom children, Lamson told The Epoch Times, we need to make sure there is no encouragement of the sexualization of children in the classroom. We know its going on. Weve seen the books. Its a sad affair when you have any books that are sexually oriented. They are being prepared to be trafficked with age-inappropriate and pornographic content and the traffickers grooming jobs are becoming so much easier.

Unfortunately, its too late to get the bill scheduled in committees in the House, Flaugh lamented. Theyre not permitted to meet after week six so theres no way for the bill to be heard in the House now. The only way forward is to convince Sprowels and Simpson to put the bill into either a committee bill or to amend it to an education bill thats moving through the legislature. Thats the only way forward.

The Epoch Times reached out to Sprowls and Simpson for comment.
Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) speaks during a Senate Budget Committee hearing in the Hart Senate Office building in Washington, on Feb. 17, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

China Paying Close Attention to US Response on Ukraine Crisis: Sen. Braun

China is paying close attention to how the United States responds to Russias attack on Ukraine, according to Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

Our biggest opponent in the long run is not Russia, it would be Xi [Jinping] and China with their strategy. And they are watching closely, the senator told Epoch TVs China Insider program at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 24.

They are going to try to have their cake and eat it too, he said, adding that he believes China will throw a lifeline to Russians economy.

Beijing has been pushed into an awkward position during the Ukraine crisis, given its deepening ties with Moscow. While it has carefully avoided criticizing Russia for attacking Ukraine and accused the United States of stoking war, it has also maintained that it respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

In the latest sign of its strengthening relationship with Russia, Chinas customs bureau on Thursday said it will begin accepting wheat imports from all regions of Russia, one of the worlds biggest wheat producers, a move that could soften the impact of Western sanctions.

Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24, 2022, as Russian armed forces are trying to invade Ukraine from several directions. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Fears for Taiwan

Russias aggression toward Ukraine has fueled questions about the fate of Taiwan, Chinas self-ruling island neighbor that the regime has long vowed to take over one dayby force if necessary.

On Thursday, Taiwan was forced to scramble jets in response to an incursion of nine Chinese aircraft into the islands air defense zone. Such aircraft incursions have been a regular occurrence over the past two years as Beijing steps up its military harassment of the island in a bid to intimidate and wear down Taiwans defense.

With Washington and allies slapping more punitive measures on Russia, Braun said the Chinese regime will be looking to see whether the sanctions have tangible consequences, to inform their strategy regarding Taiwan.

They are going to see if we practice what we preach, if we are going to put some teeth in the real sanctions, he said. And theyll take a cue from that when they start to push the envelope, if they are really considering doing something vis-a-vis Taiwan.

Taiwans national flags flutter beside Taipei 101 at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei on Oct. 7, 2012. (Mandy Cheng/AFP via Getty Images)

But the regime will be unlikely to make a military move soon against Taiwan, which, he said, would put them in the same kind of thug category as Russia is now in.

I think they are probably too smart for that, said the senator.

The regime, meanwhile, has rejected any comparisons between Ukraine and Taiwan. Hua Chunying, the spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry, said on Wednesday that Taiwan for sure is not Ukraine.

It is unwise of certain people of the Taiwan authorities to latch on to and exploit the Ukraine issue to their benefit, she said, warning that Taiwan independence only leads to a dead end.

While theres still a question of what method China will use to bring Taiwan under its fold, Braun warned that failing to check Russian aggression could accelerate Beijings plans.

They to me look like they want to shortcut the process, and would be very likely to be emboldened by what they see Putin being able to do, especially if we dont make Putin pay the price, he said.

Biden, announcing new coordinated sanctions on Russia on Feb. 24, took a veiled swipe at China.

Putin will be a pariah on the international stage. Any nation that countenances Russias naked aggression against Ukraine will be stained by association, he told reporters without naming any country.

Eva Fu China Reporter Follow Eva Fu is a New York-based writer for The Epoch Times focusing on U.S.-China relations, religious freedom, and human rights. Contact Eva at eva.fu@epochtimes.com
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying gestures during the daily Press conference at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Feb. 24, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

China Refuses to Denounce Russian Attack on Ukraine, Blames US for Stoking Tensions

China has refused to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying the regime wont rush to conclusions, and instead accused the United States of inflaming the possibility of war in the region.

During a tense press briefing on Feb. 24 that ran for more than 90 minutes, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying skirted a half-dozen questions about whether Beijing would consider Russias assault on Ukraine an invasion.

She reiterated the regimes call for all sides to exercise restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control. While the current state of affairs is not what we would hope to see, the parties concerned should give peace a chance and ease the tension through conflicts, she said.

Hua said that China isnt directly involved in the conflict and has been acting responsibly by urging de-escalation.

Why are you obsessed with Chinas condemnation? she asked a reporter at one point, and to another, who persisted with the same question, she blamed Washington for hyping up war and sending ammunition to Ukrainea charge that the United States has denied. Russia, she said, has stated that its armed forces will not conduct any missile or artillery strikes on any Ukrainian city.

To make a suggestion, you may go ask the U.S.: They started the fire and fanned the flame, how are they going to put out the fire now?

Chinas customs bureau on Feb. 24 also approved imports of Russian wheat. Hua told reporters that the country will continue to carry out normal trade cooperation with Russia and Ukraine in the spirit of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit.

China is now the only major country that hasnt formally condemned Russias broad attack, which took place shortly after Russian leader Vladimir Putin declared a special military operation against Ukraine. The Biden administration has called the action unprovoked and unjustified attack, while the European Union (EU) said its mulling the harshest sanctions ever on Russia.

People stand near a structure damaged by a rocket in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said.

Meanwhile, Beijing is apparently following a different road map.

An accidentally released Chinese state media guideline from earlier this week shows that the staff was told to avoid posting any content that may seem unflattering to Russia or partial to the West. A former editor for Chinese state media Xinhua further advised China to back Russia morally and emotionally, and balance relations well with all parties to maximize Chinese interests.

Chinas embassy in Ukraine told citizens to stay home and display a Chinese flag in or on their vehicles if they travel.

Also on Feb. 24, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a call with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, saying that China always respects all countries sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Sticking to Beijings position, Wang said they see a complex and unique historical context on the Ukraine issue, and understand Russias legitimate concerns on security issues.

Ukrainian servicemen prepare to repel an attack in Ukraines Lugansk region on Feb. 24, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov /AFP via Getty Images)

The regime has sought to deepen its relations with Russia. Earlier this month, Putin met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, in which both leaders declared a no limits strategic partnership that also included the signing of gas and oil contracts worth nearly $118 billion. Xi also voiced support for Russias opposition to the expansion of NATO, the issue at the heart of the current crisis in Ukraine.

The growing ties between Beijing and Moscow sparked sharp criticism from State Department spokesperson Ned Price, who said the two countries are seeking a new world order.

But this is an order that is and would be profoundly illiberal, an order that stands in contrast to the system that countries around the world  have built in the last seven decades, he said in a Feb. 23 news briefing.

Chinese state media, such as Xinhua and Peoples Daily, carefully avoided the word invasion in coverage on Feb. 24. One such exception was in references to the United States, which the media reports alleged has continued to promote invasion claims.
Ukrainian military vehicles move past Independence square in central Kyiv on Feb. 24, 2022. Air raid sirens rang out in downtown Kyiv today as cities across Ukraine were hit with what Ukrainian officials said were Russian missile strikes and artillery. (Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

China Walks a Ukrainian Tightrope

Commentary

Beijing is walking a tightrope in Ukraine. After initially giving Moscow strong support for its opposition to NATO expansion, noting that Russia had reasonable concerns, and a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Beijing has pulled back, tempering its support and calling for a resolution of the ongoing crisis via a diplomatic solution.

Does the policy change mark a significant shift in Chinas foreign policy or in its relationship with Russia? No, it simply reflects that fact that Chinas desire to support its de facto Russian ally is constrained by the need to prevent a further deterioration in its relationship with the United States and the European Union (EU).

Russian-Chinese relations have been growing closer over the last several years. The development has been highlighted by a marked expansion in military cooperation between the two countries, as well as mutual support on issues central to each countrys foreign policy.

At the recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, held against the backdrop of the Winter Olympics, for example, Xi reiterated Beijings opposition to the further expansion of NATO. This is a central thesis of Russias current foreign policy and is, at least according to the Kremlin, the reason for the current crisis over Ukraine.

At the same summit, Putin reiterated Russias support of Beijings 0ne-China policy, asserting that Taiwan was part of China and would eventually be reunited with the mainland. Historically, Russia, has been vague about its support for Chinas position on Taiwan. Moscows support reaffirmed an earlier declaration by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Russia views Taiwan as part of the Peoples Republic of China.

More significant was the joint statement issued by the two leaders that reads, Friendship between the two States has no limits, there are no forbidden areas of cooperation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping pose for a photograph during their meeting in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

The summit and the subsequent joint statement further stoked concerns in Washington and NATO of a growing, de facto Russian-Chinese alliance.

On Feb. 16, however, during a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Xi emphasized Chinas support for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, preferably through the four-party Normandy Format talks between Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany.

Three days later, on Feb. 19, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in comments at the Munich Security Conference, again emphasized Beijings support of a diplomatic solution, urging that the parties should return to the 2015 Minsk II Agreement.

Wang also used the occasion to denounce NATOs eastward expansion, asking rhetorically, If NATO keeps expanding eastward, is it conducive to maintaining peace and stability in Europe?

At the core of Beijings strategy to manage its relationship with Washington is the belief that China should hide capabilities and bide time. Deception is at the center of Chinese strategic thinking: a concept that goes back all the way to Chinese general and military strategist Sun Tzu.

It was Sun Tzu who famously declared in his tome Art of War that The greatest victory is that which requires no battle, adding that:

All warfare is based on deception. Hence when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away.

China is still highly dependent on access to the American domestic market for its exports and access to American investment capital and technology. The challenge for Beijing in managing its relationship with Washington is to continue to modernize its military capabilities, develop the ability to deny access to U.S. forces to its peripheral geography, especially in the East and South China Sea, and to pursue an increasingly assertive foreign policyboth toward its immediate neighbors and increasingly around the world, while at the same time ensuring that it does not raise U.S. concerns to the point that it loses access to American markets, capital, and technology.

It is a strategy that Beijing has managed brilliantly, in the process of co-opting large segments of Americas political, financial, and business elites. Beijing has made it clear that access to Chinas domestic market is contingent on accepting and, in particular, not criticizing Chinas authoritarian foreign and domestic policies. Unfortunately, thats a tradeoff that far too many American elites have been willing to accepteven when that acceptance serves to undermine, long term, Americas position in the world.

Beijings support for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis does not mark a significant change in Chinas international posture. It simply reflects the fact that an assertive Russia serves Beijings purpose, and it is in Chinas interest to support Russia as long as that support does not lead to a significant deterioration in its relationship with the United States and the EU or affect Beijings access to those markets. Faced with balancing those two competing needs, Beijing will, at least for now, continue to walk a Ukrainian tightrope.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych (L) toasts with Chinese leader Hu Jintao (R) during a signing ceremony in Beijing on Sept. 2, 2010. (Feng Li/Pool/Getty Images)

Chinas Business and Economic Interests in Ukraine

BEIJINGUkraine, which is locked in a security crisis with Russia, has seen growing investment from China in recent years.

Below are some of Chinas main business and economic interests in Ukraine.

Trade Ties

Trade relations between China and Ukraine have grown significantly since a state visit to China in 2013 by then-President Viktor Yanukovych.

China leapfrogged Russia to become Ukraines biggest single trading partner in 2019, with overall trade totaling $18.98 billion last year, a nearly 80 percent jump from 2013, according to data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine.

Ukrainian exports to China, mainly commodities such as iron ore, corn, and sunflower oil, stood at $8.0 billion in 2021, while imports from China, largely machinery and consumer goods, totaled $10.97 billion, the data showed.

China became the largest importer of Ukrainian barley in the 202021 marketing year. About 30 percent of Chinas corn imports last year, more than 8 million tonnes, came from Ukraine, Chinese customs data showed.

Increased bilateral trade also facilitated the launch of direct rail freight service between the two countries, although the frequency remains low. Ukraine is also a stop on the ChinaEurope Railway Express service, which has helped ease logistics headaches for Chinese firms during COVID-19 pandemic.

Belt and Road

Ukraine is an important hub within the Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) signature infrastructure and foreign policy project, which Kyiv joined in 2017. In 2020, the two sides signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in areas including the financing and construction of infrastructure projects.

Big Chinese companies with operations in Ukraine include state food conglomerate COFCO Corp, state-run builders China Pacific Construction Group and China Harbor Engineering Co (CHEC), and telecoms gear giant Huawei Technologies.

Direct investment by Chinese firms in Ukraine totaled $150 million by end-2019, according to Chinese data. In the first three quarters of 2020, Chinese firms invested $75.7 million on projects in Ukraine, according to Ukraines embassy in China.

COFCO in 2016 launched a grain terminal at Nikolaev sea port worth of $75 million in southern Ukraine. In 2019, CHEC completed a dredging project at the port of Chornomorsk.

China Pacific Construction Group in 2017 signed a deal to build a metro line in the capital Kyiv.

Huawei, which has helped Ukraine to develop its mobile networks, in 2019 won the bid to install the 4G network in Kyivs subway. In 2020, Huawei was chosen to help ensure and improve cyber defense and cybersecurity in Ukraine.

A Huawei store stands in Kiev, Ukraine, on Oct. 3, 2019. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

In 2021, China Longyuan Power Group Corporation , the countrys largest wind power producer, built and put into operation a large wind farm in the city of Yuzhne.

Power Construction Corp of China also signed a deal to construct an 800 MW wind power plant worth $1 billion with local partners in Donetsk which would be Europes biggest onshore wind park.

Not every investment has gone smoothly.

Ukraine said last year that it would halt the takeover of a local aircraft engine maker by Chinese aerospace company Skyrizon due to U.S. concerns of forced technology transfers to the Chinese regime.
Former President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 31, 2022. (The Epoch Times)

Chinas Xi Will Invade Taiwan After Taking Cue From Twin Sister Putin, Trump Warns

Former President Donald Trump has warned that the Chinese regime will invade Taiwan after seeing Russian troops move into Ukraine.

Such an invasion against self-governing Taiwan will occur because Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are an example of twin sisters, Trump said during an interview on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show on Feb. 22.

China is gonna be next, Trump said. Absolutely. Not with me, they wouldnt have.

Theyre waiting til after the Olympics. Now the Olympics ended, and look at your stopwatch, right? No, he wants that just like  Its almost like twin sisters right here, he added.

Because you have one that wants Taiwan, I think, equally badly, Trump added. Somebody said, Who wants it more? I think probably equally badly.

He suggested that neither Putin nor Xi would make a move if he were the president.

Putin would have never done it, and Xi would have never done it, the former president said.

Putin and Xi met in China earlier this month. After their meeting, they released a lengthy statement, claiming that the two bordering nations enjoy strong ties in which there would be no limits in their partnership and no forbidden areas of cooperation.

Xiwho is likely to be handed an unprecedented third term in office at an important Chinese Communist Party meeting later this yearvowed in October that reunification of Taiwan with China would definitely be realized.

On Feb. 23, Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen ordered the islands national security agencies and military forces to ramp up their efforts to monitor and provide early warning of military developments in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, following a high-level national security meeting on developments in Ukraine.

China and Taiwan are separated by the Taiwan Strait, which is about 80 miles wide at its narrowest point.

The Chinese regime sees Taiwan as part of its territory that must be united with the mainland, by force if necessary. However, Taiwan is a de facto independent country, where Taiwanese people elect their own government officials through democratic elections.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) also saw a connection between Ukraine and Taiwan, while speaking to ABC earlier this month.

Xi is watching what is happening [in Ukraine], our adversaries are watching, McCaul said. If Putin can go into Ukraine with no resistance, certainly, Xi will take Taiwan. Hes always wanted this.

In light of its ambitions toward Taiwan and the broader AsiaPacific region, Beijing has been engaged in an aggressive program of military modernization. Part of this includes expanding its nuclear arsenal, with a 2021 Pentagon report estimating that the regime might have 700 deliverable nuclear warheads by 2027, and as many as 1,000 by 2030.

The report pointed out different military actions the Chinese regime might deploy against Taiwan, including air and maritime blockades, precision airstrikes, and a full-scale amphibious invasion.

In recent years, Taiwan has been bearing the brunt of persistent Chinese military harassment, with military jets flying into the islands air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on a regular basis. According to Taiwans defense ministry, the latest incursion happened on Feb. 23, when two J-16 military jets entered the islands southwestern ADIZ, prompting the island to deploy its military aircraft and air defense missile systems in response.

A recent survey conducted by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation found that most Taiwanese do not believe Russias invasion of Ukraine would lead to Beijing attacking the self-governing island. The survey polled 1,079 people for two days ending on Feb. 15.

The survey found that 62.9 percent said it was either unlikely or impossible that China would attack Taiwan. Meanwhile, 26.6 percent said it was either very likely or fairly possible that China would attack the island after Russia invades Ukraine.

On Feb. 24, Putin declared a special military operation in Ukraine. Soon afterward, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced martial law and said Russia had conducted strikes on Ukraines military infrastructure and border guards.

Russian aggression drew immediate criticism from Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa). Writing on Twitter, she stated: I strongly condemn Putins unprovoked military attack on Ukraine. Americans stand with the Ukrainian people who deserve freedom & peace.

The world is watching us. We must ensure that our allies, like Taiwan, know they can rely on the U.S., Hinson added.
J-10 fighter jets from the August 1st Aerobatics Team of the People's Liberation Army Air Force perform during the 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province on Nov. 11, 2014. (Reuters/Alex Lee)

Chinese Military Aircraft Enter Taiwans Air Defense Zone Following Ukraine Invasion

Nine Chinese aircraft entered Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the hours following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Taiwanese air assets were scrambled in response, according to Taiwans defense ministry.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has sent such incursions into Taiwans airspace continuously over the past two years in an apparent attempt to intimidate and exhaust Taiwans military.

The Feb. 24 sortie marked the 13th incursion this month, but was well off the last large-scale incursion in late January when the Chinese military sent 39 aircraft into Taiwans ADIZ.

The ADIZ isnt airspace directly over the island nation, but in the immediately surrounding area where identification, location information, and government control of aircraft is required for security purposes. Taiwanese military aircraft are scrambled to respond to each such incursion.

The CCP claims that Taiwan, which has been self-governed since 1949, is a breakaway province. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to reunify the island with the mainland, and hasnt ruled out the use of force in doing so.

Taiwans defense ministry said the latest incursion included eight fighter jets and one reconnaissance aircraft.

The incident comes as Taiwans leadership watches the ongoing crisis in Ukraine with concern. Defense and security experts believe that the international response to that crisis could inform the CCPs strategy for a future invasion of Taiwan.

Taiwans leaders have been keen to point out that Russias actions in Ukraine are emblematic of a greater struggle between authoritarianism and a democratic way of life.

The people and government of Taiwan stand with Ukraine, Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te wrote in a tweet. The principle of self-determination cannot be erased by brute force.

Taiwanese fighter jets and air defense missiles were deployed to monitor the Feb. 24 incursion, a standard response.

While Taipei hasnt reported any unusual troop movement from the CCP, the islands government has increased its alert level and called for increased combat readiness.

The prospect of invasion from the mainland has raised concern over the U.S. policy of so-called strategic ambiguity, under which it will neither openly confirm nor deny its willingness to engage in a military defense of the island. Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, however, the United States is obligated to provide the island with the means to sustain its self-defense capabilities.

Meanwhile, a poll conducted by the Trafalgar Group in January found that a majority of Americans of all political affiliations support a potential U.S. military defense of Taiwan in the event of an invasion by Beijing.

In October 2021, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen promised that the self-governed island would defend itself and its free and democratic way of life from CCP aggression at all costs.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) speaks during a hearing to examine United States Special Operations Command and United States Cyber Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2022 and the Future Years Defense Program, on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 25, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images)

DOJs Halt to Program Targeting CCP Espionage a Show of Weakness: Sen. Cotton

The Department of Justices (DOJ) recent decision to scrap the China Initiative, a Trump-era effort to thwart economic espionage by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is another instance of weakness by the Biden administration, a U.S. senator says.

The CCP has stolen trillions of dollars of American intellectual property, destroyed millions of American jobs, and turned students and researchers studying in the United States into foreign spies, said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in a Feb. 23 statement.

Yet today, the Biden administration announced its canceling the initiative tasked with combatting the Chinese governments unprecedented domestic sabotage and aggression because they claim its racist.

He also said that the closure of the program presented another instance of weakness from an administration more concerned with being politically correct than protecting Americans.

The DOJ announced the end of the China Initiative on Feb. 23 following a review of its practices brought about by allegations of racial discrimination and mishandled cases.

The program was begun by the Trump administration in 2018 to counter national security threats stemming from the CCPs use of espionage, fraud, and cybercrime against the United States. The program came under immense pressure from academics and Chinese Americans, however, who believed that it was discriminatory and negatively affected research.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, who led the review, said that it didnt uncover any evidence to support claims of bias, but that the perception of bias was harmful enough to warrant the canceling of the program.

Make no mistake, we will be relentless in defending our country from China, Olsen said in a statement.

But our review convinced us that a new approach is needed to tackle the most severe threats from a range of hostile nation-states.

Olsen said the initiative would be replaced with a broader strategy focusing on a range of threats posed by nation-states.

Ian Prior, who was the DOJ deputy director of public affairs when the initiative was first announced, said the program had been important in unveiling the CCPs strategy of stealing research and technology on a mass scale.

During a Feb. 24 interview with The Epoch Times at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, Prior said that cases such as that of a CCP attempt to steal genetically modified rice demonstrated how pervasive such espionage efforts are.

I think that exactly goes to sort of their motivation, where [the CCP] are looking to effectively steal our intellectual property to increase their power, to increase their production, and to increase their technology, Prior said.

He added that the CCP differs from other potential adversaries such as Russia, in that it didnt pursue a strategy of sowing chaos and discord, but of continuously skimming and stealing.

Chinas model is to go out there and improve themselves by stealing from America, Prior said. Stealing trade secrets, stealing IP, [having] scientists going and working for companies and then bringing it back to China.

That will eventually create a situation where the intellectual property and the economic value of the things that are happening in America will be transferred to China via espionage.

Priors remarks echoed sentiments of experts such as Timothy Heath, a senior defense analyst for the Rand Corporation, who said the China Initiative was necessary to ensure national security against CCP espionage.

The [CCP] have made no secret of their desire to dominate the most cutting-edge technologies and industries, and they have directed their bureaucracies and officials to acquire those technologies through whatever means necessary, Heath said.

Despite remarks such as those of Cotton, Prior expressed some hope that the decision to close the China Initiative wasnt a partisan one, and that the United States would work to lessen its interior struggles and focus more on the wider world.

I would certainly hope that political ideology and political partisanship wouldnt play a role in the Department of Justices national security operations, specifically when it comes to our adversaries, Prior said.

Nobody really thinks about these kinds of issues until we get a situation like were in now, where you have Russia and Ukraine, he added. Its generally the way it has always worked in America, where they focus inward, as opposed to worrying about the global scene.

David Zhang contributed to this report.
A Florida woman in her Miami Beach home on Feb. 20, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)

COVID-19 Lockdowns Linked to Brain Inflammation and Poor Mental Health, Study Suggests

Lockdowns imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused brain inflammation among healthy adults who didnt contract the virus, a new study from Massachusetts General Hospital suggests.

Researchers examined the societal and lifestyle disruptions caused by the pandemic and found that healthy adults without COVID-19 had higher brain and blood levels of various markers of inflammation after the lockdowns, compared with their average levels before the lockdowns.

These disruptions may have triggered inflammation in the brain that can affect mental health, they wrote.

The authors of the study, which was published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, noted that since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, the severity and prevalence of symptoms of psychological distress, fatigue, brain fog, and other conditions have increased considerably in the United States.

Scientists conducted behavioral tests and collected blood samples from dozens of volunteers who hadnt previously been infected with COVID-19, both before and after the lockdowns were rolled out as part of measures aimed to curb the transmission of the disease.

Study participants who reported greater symptoms related to mood and mental and physical fatigue had elevated levels of inflammatory markers in their brains, the researchers noted.

Higher brain levels of two markers of neuroinflammationtranslocator protein and myoinositolwere seen in study participants post-lockdown, compared with before the lockdowns.

Similarly, post-lockdown participants demonstrated elevated blood levels of two inflammatory markersinterleukin-16 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1although, to a lesser extent, according to the researchers.

The authors of the study, backed by the National Institutes of Health and The Landreth Family Foundation, suggested that their findings lend credibility to the idea that brain inflammation can be triggered by stressful events.

This could have important implication for developing interventions for a broad number of stress-related disorders, said senior author Marco L. Loggia, a doctoral candidate and co-director of the Center for Integrative Pain NeuroImaging at Massachusetts General Hospital.

He said that acknowledging the role of neuroinflammation in the symptoms experienced by many during the COVID-19 pandemic might point to possible strategies to alleviate them.

For instance, behavioral or pharmacological interventions that are thought to reduce inflammationsuch as exercise and certain medicationsmight turn out to be helpful as a means of reducing these vexing symptoms, Loggia said.

Lead author Ludovica Brusaferri, a postdoctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, suggested that the effects of lockdowns need further research.

While COVID-19 research has seen an explosion in the literature, the impact of pandemic-related societal and lifestyle disruptions on brain health among the uninfected has remained under-explored, Brusaferri said. Our study demonstrates an example of how the pandemic has impacted human health beyond the effects directly caused by the virus itself.

A separate study conducted during the onset of the pandemic that analyzed survey data from 1,441 U.S. adult participants, found that symptoms of depression were three times higher during the lockdowns than they were before the lockdowns.

The study was conducted from March 31, 2020, to April 13, 2020, and found that participants with lower social resources, lower economic resources, and greater exposure to stressors reported a greater burden of depression symptoms.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, speaks during a hearing to examine US-Russia policy at the US Capitol in Washington on Dec. 7, 2021. (Alex Brandon/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Cruz Drops Holds On Biden Nominees After Biden Sanctions Nord Stream Pipeline

After a months-long feud with Republicans over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, President Joe Biden has issued sanctions against the company building it. Following the decision, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who had blocked several Biden State Department nominees, applauded the decision and dropped his hold on the nominees.

Over the past several weeks, Russia has congregated troops and armored vehicles along the border with Ukraine, causing many western leaders to fear that Russia is planning an invasion. On Tuesday morning, Ukraine was reportedly advised that a Russian invasion could be imminent.

As the crisis has unfolded, the White House and Congress have prepared a series of proposed sanctions to dissuade Russia from sending its forces into Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Biden unveiled a sanction on the company building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will go into effect immediately after months of refusing GOP demands to put the sanction in place.

The underground pipeline, built by the Swiss firm Nord Stream 2 AG at a cost of around $11 billion, would make it easier for Russia to transport its oil to Germany, and by extension to most of Europe.

A 2019 bill passed by the GOP Congress and signed by former President Donald Trump placed sanctions on the pipeline, which the United States considered a security risk. The bill called the pipeline a tool of coercion, as the United States feared that it could increase Russian influence in Western Europe by allowing Russia to withhold oil if its demands were not met.

The European Union, which would have made substantial economic gains from the pipeline, protested the sanctions, but they remained in place through the rest of Trumps presidency.

In May 2021, Biden lifted these sanctions, a move that was roundly criticized by Republicans. Now, he has put the sanctions back in place.

Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers, Biden said in a statement after announcing the sanctions. These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russias actions in Ukraine. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate.

After Biden initially lifted the sanctions, Ted Cruz retaliated by placing holds on several individuals that Biden had nominated to the State Department.

In January, Cruz put forward a bill that would have put similar sanctions in place; it failed to break past the 60-vote filibuster threshold, winning 55 yes votes and 44 no votes.

On his website, Cruzs office announced, After engaging with the administration and following todays announcement, Sen. Cruz will lift these holds.

President Biden made the right decision today, Cruz said in a statement. Allowing Putins Nord Stream 2 to come online would have created multiple, cascading, and acute security crises for the United States and our European allies for generations to come. Todays announcement is critical to preventing such scenarios.

However, Cruz argued that the sanctions put in place on Wednesday must be made permanent in order to avoid these dire consequences.

Putin believes that Nord Stream 2s activation is a fait accompli now that it has been physically completed, and that any barriers or sanctions are only temporary, Cruz argued. His aggression toward Ukraine is based on that assessment, and the only way to change his decision calculus is to convince him Nord Stream 2 will never come online.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Russia is not committed to any set course toward Ukraine.

An invasion of Ukraine, Putin has indicated, can be avoided by a guarantee that Ukraine will not join NATO. Such an alliance, in Putins view, would threaten Russias national security by allowing its western adversaries to set up nuclear sites that could reach Moscow in minutes.

Western leaders have refused the demand, contending that Russia should not dictate who can and cannot join the Cold War-era alliance.

But still, Putin has said in recent public appearances that he is confident that conflict can be avoided and that the West can reach an agreement with Moscow.

Putin has not yet responded to Bidens move to sanction Nord Stream 2.

With Cruzs holds against Bidens nominees lifted, they will be able to move toward confirmation by the Senate.
A 85-year-old man receives a booster vaccination in the so called "vaccination express" tram in central Frankfurt, Germany, on Nov. 4, 2021. (Michael Probst/AP Photo)

Data Show Significant Underreporting of Vaccine Side Effects: German Health Insurer

A large German health insurance provider said that it analyzed data from more than 10 million individuals regarding COVID-19 vaccine complications and suggested there were more than health authorities have reported.

The insurer, BKK ProVita, concluded that the rate of vaccine side-effects is several times larger than earlier reports from the Paul-Ehrlich Institute, a German federal agency, according to a letter from the company (pdf).

BKK board member Andreas Schofbeck told Die Welt publication that the data is an alarm signal, adding: The numbers determined are significant and urgently need to be checked for plausibility.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Paul-Ehrlich Institute for comment.

The letter, written by Schofbeck, said BKK analyzed doctors billing data from 10.9 million insured people, finding that of that figure, some 217,000 received treatment due to vaccine side-effects. Overall, in Germany, which has a population of about 83 million, the Paul-Ehrlich Institute reported 244,576 suspected cases of COVID-19 vaccination side effects in 2021, the firm noted.

The data available to our company gives us reason to believe that there is a very considerable under-recording of suspected cases of vaccination side-effects after they received the [COVID-19] vaccine, he wrote in his letter.

If these figures are applied to the year as a whole and to the entire population of Germany, Schofbeck estimated, then probably 2.5-3 million people in Germany been under medical treatment because of vaccination side effects after [COVID-19] vaccination.

Schofbeck then concluded that based on their data, there is a significant underreporting of vaccination side-effects in Germany.

Another letter that was sent out by BKK (pdf) suggested that vaccination side effects reported across Germany are at least 10 times more common than what was reported by the Paul-Ehrlich Institute, reported the Nordkurier newspaper on Wednesday.

Schofbecks letters were also sent to Germanys Standing Vaccination Commission and the German Medical Association.

The letters did not elaborate on the severity of the side effects, nor did they provide a breakdown of the symptoms, or which vaccines caused the side effects. Germanys drug regulator has approved COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, NovaVax, and Moderna.

Federal health officials in the United States and Germany have stressed that COVID-19 vaccines benefits outweigh the potential risks.

And the Paul Ehrlich Institute, the German federal health agency that regulates vaccines and medicines, asserts on its website that COVID-19 vaccine side effects are very rare. They list myocarditis, the inflammation of the heart muscle; and pericarditis, the inflammation of the pericardium, as rare side effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
Energy Independent No More? US Poised to Be Net Oil Importer in 2022

The United States is poised to remain a net crude oil importer in 2022 for the second consecutive year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) stated in a new report.

The worlds largest economy is projected to import an annual average of 3.9 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, according to the February 2022 Short-Term Energy Outlook report. It also projects that net import volumes will decline to 3.4 million bpd in 2023.

EIA officials said that the United States returned to importing more petroleum in 2021, adding that these imports could increase this year.

Looking ahead, the report stated that the United States could purchase less crude oil than it ships to foreign markets because domestic production is anticipated to climb to 12.6 million bpd.

The United States has largely been a net crude importer for the past 50 years, with many administrations promising energy independence. In 2020, the nation attained net energy exporter status amid the shale revolution and the COVID-19 public health crisis. Americas output levels rivaled those of Russia and Saudi Arabia, threatening their global market share.

Making Heads or Tails of Energy Markets

President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House about Russian military activity near Ukraine, on Feb. 22, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking at the White House on Feb. 22, President Joe Biden outlined a series of sanctions on Russia that targeted large state-owned banks, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline company, and foreign debt from Western nations. He also warned that defending freedom will have costs for the American people, adding that this will blunt gas prices.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki also told reporters that higher energy prices are what we want the American public to be aware of following sanctions on Moscow.

The national average price of a gallon of gasoline is $3.535, up from $2.645 the same time a year ago, data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) show.

Analysts purport that applying sanctions on Russia could have severe consequences for the United States and global economies, mainly because of how much Moscow is connected to international markets.

But a U.S. State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that these efforts are not targeting and will not target oil and gas flows.

This makes it sound like the U.S. government is a bit desperate and wants to try to deflate some of the war premium in energy, said Phil Flynn, the author of The Energy Report.

Yet, can the Russian economy really be hurt if you dont target their oil and gas industry? he asked.

A 2021 BP Statistical Review of World Energy (pdf) revealed that Russia supplied 7 percent of U.S. crude oil imports last year. If this supply is eliminated, industry experts contend it would significantly raise West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent prices to above $100 per barrel.

This price level could trigger greater production, but a broad array of factors could also weigh on output efforts, says Artem Abramov, Rystad Energys head of shale research.

Although high prices would in theory trigger a burst in tight oil production, acute supply chain bottlenecks, a lag between price signals and its impact on production, and winter weather-related disruptions will slow growth. Added to this are expectations that spot sand prices will rise to a $50 to $70 per ton rangea level unheard of in the industrys modern historywhich will hit operators wallets, Abramov noted.

Biden halted new oil and gas drilling on federal land and other energy-related projects in a half-dozen states. In a ruling earlier this month, a Louisiana federal judge blocked the method in which officials were calculating the real-world costs of climate change.

The federal court decision will also postpone a $2.3 billion federal grant program for transit projects.

The U.S. administration has promised to explore every option to ease soaring oil and gas prices. This includes tapping domestic strategic petroleum reserves. Last month, the Department of Energy approved the release of 13.4 million barrels. Reports suggest that White House officials are discussing releasing more gas reserves amid the unfolding conflict at the UkraineRussia border.

Biden also has entered into negotiations with Iran to establish a new nuclear pact. Should Washington lift sanctions on Tehran, the energy-rich country could immediately unleash as much as 87 million barrels of oil onto global energy markets.

A 3D printed oil pump jack is seen in front of the OPEC logo in this illustration picture on April 14, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

However, because that would affect global prices, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, OPEC+ revealed they want to bring Iran into their quota arrangement.

But strategists are split on the Iranian regime abiding by the cartels system.

With the lifting of sanctions, Iran will increase its oil production according to its facilities, capabilities, and interests, to compensate for its lost oil revenues, a source told Reuters. In my opinion, OPEC+ will set a quota for Irans oil production but will apply it gradually, and Iran will accept the quota with some bargaining to show its support for OPEC.

Ellen R. Wald, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global Energy Center, wrote in an op-ed in The Hill that Biden also needs to extend regulatory certainty to U.S. oil and gas producers.

Even with the administrations commitment to renewable energies and new technology, assurance that oil and gas have not become an enemy of this administration would go a long way toward encouraging investment and growth in oil and gas production, Wald stated.

Meanwhile, the subdued performance in oil prices during the midweek session isnt surprising, said ING analysts.

Given that there is still plenty of uncertainty over how the situation will evolve, we would expect markets to continue to price in a fairly large risk premium, particularly given that the current tightness in a number of these markets leaves them more vulnerable to supply shocks, they said in a note.

On Feb. 23, March WTI futures rose above $92 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. April Brent futures were relatively flat at just below $97 a barrel on Londons ICE Futures exchange. March natural gas futures hovered around $4.60 per million British thermal units.
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a small boat incident in the Channel. Picture date: Tuesday January 18, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA)

English Channel Crossings Topped 28,500 in 2021, Official Figures Reveal

Some 28,526 people arrived illegally in the UK after crossing the English Channel in small boats last year, according to official figures released for the first time.

The Home Office published statistics measuring irregular migration for the first time on Thursday, which confirmed the Governments official recorded annual totals.

The data reveals the total for 2021 is slightly higher than previously anticipated.

According to the report, last years figure compares with 8,466 people crossing in 2020, 1,843 in 2019 and 299 in 2018.

November 2021 saw the highest number of small boat arrivals in the last four years (6,971) and the number coming to the UK in each month of last year was higher than comparable periods in 2020.

The Home Office document described small boat arrivals as a phenomenon that was rare prior to 2019 but has since increased sharply in number and made clear this method of travel is only one of a number which could be used to reach the UK border and seek entry without permission.

It added: It is not possible to know the exact size of the irregular population in the UK, nor the total number of people who enter the UK irregularly.
European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager addresses a press conference on an antitrust case at the EU headquarters in Brussels on July 8, 2021. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images)

EUs Vestager Says Tech Giants May Prefer Fines to Compliance, Cites Apple

BRUSSELSSome U.S. tech giants may prefer to pay a fine rather than comply with antitrust rules, the European Unions antitrust chief said, and cited Apples fight with the Netherlands competition authority as an example.

The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) imposed a 5-million-euro ($5.7 million) fine on Apple on Monday, the fifth such penalty in successive weeks, linked to claims that Apple does not allow access to non-Apple payment methods for subscriptions to dating apps.

European Commission Vice President and digital chief Margrethe Vestager said Apples behavior could indicate other big companies behave similarly.

Some gatekeepers may be tempted to play for time or try to circumvent the rules, she said in an online speech at a U.S. awards ceremony on Tuesday.

Apples conduct in the Netherlands these days may be an example. As we understand it, Apple essentially prefers paying periodic fines, rather than comply with a decision of the Dutch Competition Authority on the terms and conditions for third parties to access its App Store.

Contacted by Reuters, Apple had no immediate comment.

Vestager has proposed landmark rules called the Digital Markets Act that targets Alphabet unit Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft and which could come into effect next year.

One of its requirements would be that Apple allow third parties to access its App Store. Apples App Store condition that app developers exclusively use its payment system with commissions of 30 percent has come under scrutiny in several countries, most recently the United States.

By Foo Yun Chee
Ukrainian troops patrol in the town of Novoluhanske, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Reported Explosions in Ukraines Capital, Other Cities

Click here for live updates

The sounds of explosions were allegedly heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine early Thursday, local time.

Putin said in an emergency televised address that the military operation is intended to protect civilians and to demilitarize Ukraine, and is a response to threats coming from Ukraine.

However, he added that Russias plans are not to occupy Ukraine, we do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone and asked that the Ukrainian military immediately lay down its arms.

Shortly after Putins address, explosions were reported in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, as well as in other cities, including Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Odesa.

CNN reporter Matthew Chance said during a live CNN broadcast that he heard a big bang behind him.

There are big explosions taking place in Kyiv right now, I cant see where theyre taking place from this vantage point here on top of the roof of the hotel in central Kyiv, he continued.I cant explain what they are but I heard four or five explosions a few moments ago.

Later, livestream video obtained by CNN shows tanks rolling into Ukraine from a border crossing with Belarus at around 6:48 a.m. local time.

Separately, Al Jazeeras Andrew Simmons said he heard at least seven loud explosions in Kyiv as he reported from Ukraines capital.

It sounds like shell fire, but it could be airstrikes, Simmons told the news channel. Boryspil international airport came under attack  were not sure whether it was shelled or whether its an explosion, he added.

Weve heard sirens as well, so theres definitely a full attack happening on the capital.

It has not been confirmed if the airport has come under attack.

Separately, CBS international correspondent Charlie DAgata, said during a CBS broadcast, that he heard five loud explosions, before briefly pausing the report for what he believed to be a fighter jet flying overhead.

Just a few moments ago we heard five loud explosions three to begin with followed by two more, DAgata said. Its just after 5.15 in the morning here, there were reports of explosions earlier this morning.

DAgata added that the explosions were very clear and distinctive explosions.

Another CBS correspondent Holly Williams also reported hearing explosions shortly past 5 a.m. local time in Kharkiv, saying she had heard more than a dozen of them beginning early this morning.

Sounds like explosions, we cant confirm what they are but of course, the suspicion is that they are missile strikes, airstrikes, Williams said while reporting from the city, which is just 20 miles from the Russian border.

Russian military vehicles are seen loaded on train platforms some 30 miles off the border with the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic in Russias southern Rostov region on Feb. 23, 2022. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said on Twitter that there was a full scale & comprehensive military assault underway throughout Ukraine.

Airborne & amphibious landings, missile strikes from air, ground & naval forces, electronic & cyber attacks & a large ground force to occupy a large swath of territory, Rubio said.

Ukraine is outgunned and outmanned but they are brave & tough fighters and as the world will soon learn they have already inflicted damage on Russian invaders, he said in a later tweet.

In another tweet, Rubio said, One very concerning development is Russia has carried out a few targeted operations uncomfortably close to the Polish border, adding, This is the danger of miscalculation & human error that can quickly lead to a catastrophic escalation.

Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Kyiv has issued a warning for Americans in Ukraine to shelter in place amid the Russian attacks in a number of Ukrainian cities. There are reports of Russian attacks on targets in a number of major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Mariupol, the embassy said on Twitter. Americans were also advised to immediately seek cover if they hear a loud explosion or sirens are activated.

Following Putins declaration, Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet that, Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned what he called Russias reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine which he said puts countless civilian lives at risk.

This is a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. I call on Russia to cease its military action immediately and respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, Stoltenberg said. NATO Allies will meet to address the consequences of Russias aggressive actions. We stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time. NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend all Allies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022, in a still from a video. (Russian Pool via Reuters/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Putin, in his announcement on Thursday, warned that any foreign attempt to interfere with Russias action will trigger an immediate reaction from Russia, and will lead to consequences they have not seen before.

His announcement regarding the military operation came after the president on Monday said that the country will recognize the independent sovereignty of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine. Putin also signed a decree that authorized Russian troops to be sent into the area for so-called peacekeeping operations.

President Joe Biden late Wednesday local time issued a statement saying that Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces, Biden said. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
A photo shows a page on the Flightradar24 website that shows flights avoiding Ukraine and nearby countries on Feb. 24, 2022. (Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images)

FAA Restricts US Airlines From Flying Over Ukraine, Belarus, and Parts of Russia

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that its restricting U.S. airlines and pilots from flying over Ukraine and nearby Belarus.

The FAA, which had already restricted flights over eastern Ukraine, issued Notices to Air Missions that now cover the entire country of Ukraine, all of Belarus, and western Russia.

These restrictions do not apply to military operations, the agency said in a Feb. 24 statement to media outlets.

However, the restrictions do apply to civilian and cargo flights.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a similar notice, with a larger buffer added along the RussiaUkraine border.

This extension reflects the operational reality and takes account of the assessed risk posed by the threat of missile launches to and from Ukraine, EASA said in a statement.

The notices come after the Russian Ministry of Defense told Ukraine that there was a high risk to flight safety of aircraft because of the war that has been launched, according to the European agency. It also comes after Ukrainian authorities restricted flights because of potential hazards from the war.

Ryan Petersen, CEO of the freight company Flexport, said the notices would lead to extensive delays and potential cancellations as [airlines] grapple with this new reality of airspace.

Flexports freighter service from Hong Kong to Maastrict, Netherlands, was delayed by several hours because the flight was shifted to the Middle East to avoid flying over Russia, Peterson wrote on Twitter.

A map from the tracking website Flightradar24 showed no flights over Ukraine and few over Belarus, which is north of Ukraine, or Moldova, which is located south of Ukraine.

The situation is that the flight to Moldova was canceled. Thats it, now we are not flying anywhere. Now we have to go back, a Russian woman told Russia Today at an airport in Moscow.

Russia started launching missiles into Ukraine this week and started moving forces into the country early on Feb. 24, under orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The fighting has caused dozens of casualties.

In other flight-related developments, UK Transport Secretary of State Grant Shapps signed restrictions barring all Russian airlines from entering UK airspace or landing inside the country.

Putins heinous actions will not be ignored, and we will never tolerate those who put peoples lives in danger, Shapps said in a statement.
The clampdown on Canadas trucker convoy has entered a new phase. First of all, the police force has been called in to break up the protest. And so they have. Online videos from the ground are showing swarms of armed police pushing protesters back, smashing truck windows, arresting protesters at gunpoint, and even trampling overtop protesters on horseback.

And based on leaked text messages from the officers themselves, it appears that they are enjoying their work.

Furthermore, hackers have broken into the GiveSendGo fundraising system, and released the names and addresses of all the donors.

And the mainstream media in this country, instead of investigating the illegal, is instead pursuing the donors.

And then lastly, Kyle Rittenhouse has launched a new initiative called The Media Accountability Project, which he described as a group that will be used to hold members of the media accountable for lies and defamation.

Resources:

 My Patriot Supply:

https://ept.ms/3uxAt7r

 Kyle Rittenhouse:

https://ept.ms/3JM6sF6

 Leaked Texts:

https://ept.ms/3pd6JJn

https://ept.ms/3tmuBvB

 Hacked Donor List

https://ept.ms/3LWaa0Q

 Canada Protests:

https://ept.ms/3pa8yGW

 India

https://ept.ms/3hahHLd

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In this still image from undercover video footage, Christopher Cole, an executive officer at the Food and Drug Administration, speaks about vaccines. (Courtesy of Project Veritas)

FDA Executive Who Said Government Plans to Push Annual COVID-19 Shots Speaks Out

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) executive who was captured on hidden camera saying the U.S. government plans to push annual COVID-19 shots is claiming that the way the video footage was presented is misleading.

Christopher Cole, executive officer of the medical countermeasures initiative at the FDA, told a Project Veritas reporter that President Joe Biden wants to inoculate as many people as possible.

Youll have to get an annual shot. I mean, it hasnt been formally announced yet because they dont want to rile everyone up.

Cole also said that the FDA was going to grant emergency use authorization (EUA) for Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months to age 4. Just from everything I heard, he said, describing the EUA process as having a lower bar than the regular approval process.

The FDA was poised this month to authorize Pfizers vaccine for young children but announced on Feb. 11 that officials were delaying the decision.

Cole took issue with the two videos released by Project Veritas that showed him talking about vaccines and related matters, he told The Epoch Times on LinkedIn.

The videos were from an edited private conversation and done without my permission or knowledge, he said. Partial statements were taken to summarize points completely changing them in an effort to sensationalize the article.

An article published on the website of Project Veritas summarizing portions of the conversation is not factually correct and does not represent the full conversation and is misleading in the portrayal of the conversation, he said.

Asked which parts werent factually correct, Cole said he was told to refer all media inquiries to the FDAs media office.

So I cannot respond at this point in time, he said.

We stand by our accurate reporting of the words said by Mr. Cole on video tape, a Project Veritas spokesman told The Epoch Times in an email.

An FDA spokesperson declined to answer a number of questions, including why the agency seemed to cast doubt on whether it was actually Cole in the videos.

The person purportedly in the video does not work on vaccine matters and does not represent the views of the FDA, a spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an earlier statement.

The initiative that Cole oversees is described as [ensuring] that medical countermeasures  are safe, effective, and secure. The FDA website says the program is involved in work relating to COVID-19 vaccines.

Cole told Project Veritas that his agency oversees vaccines, including vaccine approval.

The FDA also stated that the agency doesnt yet know if people will need additional shots past the three authorized for the general public, and four recommended for people with weakened immune systems.

Cole said he started working with the FDA more than 20 years ago and that during his time there, the agency has always based its approvals of vaccines and emergency use approvals (EUAs) of vaccines on good science and still does.
Federal Employee Union Lawsuit: Biden Vaccine Mandate Is Executive Power Overreach

When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Joe Bidens mandate for large private businesses to require workers to get vaccinated, the decision didnt let federal workers off the hook.

Now, members of the largest union representing federal workers are challenging the mandate in court, and the decision has the potential to put limits on when presidents can issue executive orders in the future.

Under the umbrella of the 700,000-member American Federation of Government Employees, the following unions have filed suit in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania: the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2018, representing all union, federal contractors who train U.S. Marines outside of boot camp; and the American Federation of Government Employees Council Of Prison Local 33, representing union employees in all federal prisons and detention centers.

The lawsuit covers tens of thousands of unvaccinated employees, Attorney Bruce Castor, Jr. of the law firm Van Der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin, told The Epoch Times.

Castor, who is representing the unions, says his clients told him that if all the people who wont take the vaccine are fired, there will not be sufficient staff to guard prisoners nor to train Marines, and it will affect the welfare of the country.

Bruce L. Castor, Jr. of the law firm Van Der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin. (Courtesy of Bruce L. Castor Jr.)

Were not trying necessarily to get money, were trying to get the court to say, You cant do this. The main thrust of the argument is that the president doesnt have the authority to issue an order like this, pursuant to the powers granted him in Article Two of the United States Constitution, and thats the same argument that won the day in the Supreme Court regarding the 100 or more employees; the president doesnt have that authority, Castor said. Instead of going through the checks and balances of congressional approval which includes feedback from the public, the executive order cuts all that out. It just says, My way or the highway. Certainly, the Constitution grants powers like that to the president in foreign affairs and protecting the nation from aggression from foreign powers. But he doesnt have the authority, with a sweep of the pen, to affect the lives of millions of people, bypassing Congress.

The complaint makes other arguments. For example, as union members, employees were not given the opportunity to negotiate a contract with the mandate, which punishes unvaccinated employees with termination; being forced to disclose vaccination status draws employees into unwanted political speech because vaccination status has become a politically charged issue; and employees are deprived of their religious freedoms when religious exemption applications are denied.

When the president issues an executive order that the following things will happenabsent a court stepping in, and the president agreeing to the authority of the courtthe reason he can do that is he controls the army, he controls the enforcement mechanisms. If you dont do this you get sanctioned, you get arrested, you get fined, you lose your job. He controls the enforcement mechanism.

The filing requests an injunction to stop Biden and the federal Office of Personnel Management from enforcing the vaccination mandate. The injunction will be heard April 5.

A federal court on Dec. 7 had issued a preliminary injunction to block nationwide enforcement of the mandate for federal contractors.

Where do we draw the line between the chief executive officer executing the laws that Congress passes, and the chief executive officer deciding whats best for America without consulting Congress? Castor said. Nowhere in the Constitution is he granted these powers, and nowhere has Congress created some agency under the executive branch controlled by the president that delegates these powers.
The Bible cautions Christians that they cannot serve two masters (see Matthew 6:24), but the state-sponsored Catholic organization Pacem in Terris (PiT) instructed member clergy to do exactly that in Czechoslovakia under communism. Adopting the language of the international peace movement, the ostensibly religious body was really a means for the state to monitor and dominate the Church. The underground revolt against PiT within the Catholic Church leads to profound moral dilemmas for two newly arrived seminarians in Ivan Ostrochovskys Servants.

Two seminarians in Servants. (Loco Films)

When the provincial Juraj and Michal arrive at the Gothic-looking seminary in Bratislava (now the capital of Slovakia), they expect it to be a fortress of spirituality. That their designated spiritual adviser is an old friend of their hometown priest should bode well for them. Unfortunately, Spiritual (as the film simply refers to him) has completely submitted to the seminarys dean, who is completely beholden to PiT and their Communist Party masters.

As was true throughout Czechoslovakia, there is an underground movement at the seminary protesting and resisting PiT (and the Party). It turns out that two of the seminarys younger and more popular faculty members are deeply involved in the dissident organization. In fact, one of them even provides tips to Radio Free Europe. Inevitably, Juraj and Michal will have to decide how to respond to this clash of ethical values, just like the rest of their classmates.

Threatening Samizdat

It is pretty amazing to see the scandalized uproar caused by a few anonymous, typed statements posted on the seminarys bulletin boards. In todays short attention span era, hardly anyone would stop to read something that wasnt bullet-pointed and illustrated with eye-catching graphics. Yet, the ideas of the unknown seminarians crude samizdat (publishing government-suppressed literature) are profoundly threatening to the dean, because they rely on Scripture and Christian principles to critique PiT dominance. Perhaps one positive takeaway from Servants is that ideas matter.

A scene from Servants. (Loco Films)

It is also a chilling depiction of the Soviet socialist era, circa 1980. Clearly, Ostrochovsky and co-screenwriters Rebecca Lenkiewicz and Mark Lescak had no illusions regarding the communist regime, judging from the cold, sinister prologue. In some ways, Servants also functions as a noir Cold War thriller, following Doctor Ivan of the secret police as he investigates the dissident underground, but the films elliptical structure somewhat undercuts the possible suspense, heightening the tragedy instead.

Regardless, Juraj Chlpiks black-and-white cinematography might be the most visually striking since Joel Coens The Tragedy of Macbeth (which was lensed by Bruno Delbonnel). Indeed, the stark, shadowy imagery has a similarly disorienting effect in both films. It is a masterful period production that perfectly re-creates the gritty, worn-out analog look and textures of the socialist era.

Powerful Ideas

Conversely, Servants is not a flashy showcase for the casts acting chops. It is really more about ideas and re-creating a particular place at a particular time. Samuel Skyva and Samuel Polakovic are quiet and unassuming as Juraj and Michal. Both look overwhelmed by the events surrounding them, but that rather fits the dramatic context.

Scene in Servants. (Loco Films)

However, Romanian actor Vlad Ivanov is totally chilling as the ruthless Dr. Ivan. He seems to specialize in playing the villains in Eastern European auteurist films, such as Cristian Mungius 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Corneliu Porumboius The Whistlers, and Sergei Loznitsas In the Fog, probably because he is good at itand that expertise nicely serves Servants. Yet, perhaps the most interesting performance might be Milan Mikulchiks subtle portrayal of the sad and conflicted Spiritual.

There is no overheated outrage in Servants, but its bracingly cold depiction of Soviet socialism in Czechoslovakia could cause frost burn. The images are arresting (occasionally even hinting at the surreal), but revisiting PiTs intrusive attempts to control the nations church still has relevancy today. For years, the Chinese Communist Party has demanded the power to select the spiritual leaders for Tibetan Buddhists. Throughout Servants, viewers can see what a deliberately corrupting impact that has on the targeted faith.

Every frame of Servants is a work of art to behold. Yet, even more importantly, it is a film of truly weighty substance. This is a demanding work of cinema, but it is also one of great significance. Very highly recommended, Servants starts streaming Friday, Feb. 25, on VOD platforms.

Promotional ad for Servants. (Loco Films)

Servants

Director: Ivan Ostrochovsky

Stars: Samuel Skyva, Samuel Polakovic, Milan Mikulcik, Vlad Ivanov

Running Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

MPAA Rating: Unrated

Release Date: Feb. 25, 2022

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Florida Lawmakers Want Students to Take Financial Literacy Course Before Graduating High School

Florida lawmakers unanimously approved a bill on Feb. 23 that would require high school students to take and pass a financial literacy course before graduating.

House Bill 1115 would add the course requirement starting as early as the 2022-2023 school year. It could become a condition for getting their diplomas.

Currently, students are required to take eight elective courses.

The bill would drop that to seven-and-a-half credits with a half-credit course in personal financial literacy added to graduation requirements statewide.

A companion bill currently in the Senate called the Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Act is named for the former Republican senator who passed away in 2018. It closely mirrors HB 1115.

In October 2021, Ohio lawmakers passed a similar bill requiring a financial literacy course that was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine.

He said that high schools will offer a mathematics course beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.

Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year there will be requirements for teachers to have an educator license with a financial literacy endorsement. Teachers who hold licenses and teach social studies, family and consumer sciences, or business education will be exempt.

Ohio law states, The goal of Ohios system of elementary and secondary education is to prepare all students for and seamlessly connect all students to succeed in life beyond high school graduation, regardless of whether the next step is entering the workforce, beginning an apprenticeship, engaging in post-secondary training, serving in the military, or pursuing a college degree.

Legislators saw that Ohio students needed an edge before leaving for college or the workplace before graduation.

It is our duty as a state to ensure that our education system prepares Ohio students for success, State Sen. Rob McColley told reporters in October.

There are few things that will better prepare someone for success than an understanding of basic financial literacy.

The Florida financial literacy course would include instruction on the different types of bank accounts and their differences, how to open and manage them, how to complete loan applications, and complete federal income taxes.

Basic principles of money management, such as spending, credit, credit scores, and managing debt, including retail and credit card debt would also be required as part of the curriculum, the proposed bill said.

Bill sponsor Demi Busatta Cabrera, a Republican, said students deserve to be equipped with education and information on how to succeed and thrive financially in our society.

Rep. Matt Willhite, a Democrat, expressed reservations about lawmakers chipping away at the number of electives students must take but still voted in favor of the bill.

I think when we start decreasing our electives and start increasing our directions that we are forcing our kids to go, I dont know if thats always the right way, Willhite said during the committee meeting.

The bill will need approval from the House Education and Employment Committee before advancing to the House floor.

A Senate bill (SB 1054) closely mirrored the House bill and was approved unanimously on Feb. 22 by the Rules Committee and will be up for a vote by the full Senate.

Dr. Tom Symthe is a professor of Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University. (Courtesy of FGCU)

Dr. Tom Smythe, professor of finance at Florida Gulf Coast University, says that financial literacy and financial knowledge are two separate things.

Financial knowledge is part of financial literacy. It is the combination of knowledge and then behaviors that go along with that knowledge  [that] lead to better behaviors, Smythe told The Epoch Times in a telephone interview.

He said his research showed the most essential element was improving behaviors regarding finances and teaching the subject on a senior level in high school was more beneficial than any other grade level.

Teaching it to freshmen and sophomores is a waste of time  all they care about is getting through the course because they werent getting ready to go out into the real world, he said.

Whereas seniors, most of them hated dealing with money, but they were at least wise enough to realize that they were going to have to all of a sudden because theyre getting to graduate. It was real.

Smythe advised that there should be two different financial literacy levels for students to choose fromone for college-bound students and the other for those who are going into skilled trades or straight to work.

College students leave institutions owing thousands of dollars in student loans and they need to know how to budget and deal with that, which is why it is crucial for college students to have a refresher course in personal finance, he said.

It can be done a couple of different ways, he continued. Offer it to incoming [college] freshmenthey need to know things about budgeting, but also understanding credit management, especially if theyre taking out student loans.

All in all, Smythe thought the bill was a good start, but it could use a little improvement by defining it a little bit more.

He said he thought the Department of Education would probably take over and write the curriculum but hoped experts in the field of finance would be consulted.

The critical thing is this subject is something you will have to deal with, he said. Youve got to cope with itwe want to provide them with skills to do that.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Florida Department of Education for comment on the bill, but they did not respond by press time.

According to NerdWallet, a website that offers personal finance information and advice, financial literacy had become a growing priority in schools.

It stated, The number of states requiring personal finance instruction in schools more than doubled over the past decade.
Florida Senate Approves DeSantis Pick Dr. Joseph Ladapo for Surgeon General

Dr. Joseph Ladapo was confirmed by the Florida Senate on Wednesday as the states next Surgeon General.

The Senate voted 24-15 in favor of Ladapo after roughly 40 minutes of debate, making him the states 6th Surgeon General, despite opposition from Democrats over his views on COVID-19 mandates.

Ladapo, a graduate of Harvard Medical School, was appointed by DeSantis in September to replace Dr. Scott Rivkees and has been outspoken in sharing his views against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other virus-related health policies.

He told the Miami Herald on Wednesday, Im really looking forward to just focusing my energy and attention on the health of Floridians. I know things have been pretty politically charged. I want to assure everyone that Im really passionate about health, about good health. Ive been consistently talking about good health since the beginning of the pandemic.

Back in September, Ladapo said Florida would reject fear, in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that there had been a lot of fear associated with the disease, which is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

While Ladapo said the virus should be acknowledged, he added that it shouldnt scare people. Unfortunately, it has been a centerpiece and the expiration date is now, its done, he said.

I read a recent study that said that after the lockdown the mortality increased, he said. Lockdowns are bad.

The Surgeon General, who is the son of Nigerian immigrants, has also declined to confirm or deny whether he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, telling lawmakers that it is his private medical information.

Last month, Ladapo, while issuing new guidance for COVID-19 testing, said people need to get back to a sense of normalcy in society and unwind this sort of planning and living ones life around testing.

Its really time for people to be living; to make the decisions they want regarding vaccination; to enjoy the fact that many people have natural immunity, and to unwind this preoccupation with only COVID as determining the boundaries and constraints and possibilities of life, he said.

Some Senate Democrats have argued that Ladapo is not fit to be Surgeon General due to his views on vaccines and masking.

Senator Tina Polsky, a Democrat, has also criticized Ladapo after he refused to wear a mask during a meeting in her office in October 2021. Polsky has asked him to wear a mask because she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy at the time.

Last month, Florida House Democrats even walked out of a committee meeting ahead of a vote to approve Ladapos nomination, stating that he could not adequately answer questions on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Republicans unanimously advanced Ladapo to the next round of Senate confirmations, despite the walkout.

On Wednesday, Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried released a statement following Ladapos appointment, stating that he was an anti-science quack who had no place in overseeing the states public health Service.

As Ive said before, I believe Dr. Ladapo is an anti-science quack who doesnt belong anywhere near our states Surgeon General office, let alone running it, Fried said in a statement.

But now that hes been confirmed, its my sincere hope that he and Governor DeSantis choose to focus on saving lives and preventing unnecessary illness instead of continuing their absurd promotion of conspiracy theories and opposition to proven public health measuresbut Im not going to hold my breath.

But State Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach), referring to the earlier incident in which Ladapo refused to wear a mask in Polskys office, said that while he agreed Ladapo had made mistakes, he deserved to be given a chance.

If you judge me on my worst day, where would I be in my life? Bean said according to Politico. And so I ask you to give this nominee a chance.

Ladapo graduated from Wake Forest University and received his MD from Harvard Medical School and his PhD in Health Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

He will be teaching at the University of Florida as well as working in his new role as the states new surgeon general.
Ford President and CEO Jim Farley speaks during the official announcement of Ford Motor Company along with SK Innovations in building two electric battery factories in Glendale, Ky., at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. on Sept. 28, 2021. (Timothy D. Easley/AP Photo/File)

Ford CEO: No Plan to Spin Off EV Business, but Change Coming

DETROITThe CEO of Ford Motor Co. says the automaker has no plans to spin off its electric vehicle or internal combustion businesses, but is reinventing itself by removing costs and ramping up for large-scale EV and software sales.

Ford CEO Jim Farley told the Wolfe Research virtual global auto technology conference Wednesday that the company could hit Tesla-like profit margins by using common electric motors, electronic components, and other parts across all sizes of vehicles.

But to do that, Ford needs radically different human talent than it now has, Farley said in a surprisingly candid interview with analyst Rod Lache. He also said the company has too many people and too much complexity, and it doesnt have the expertise to transition to battery-electric vehicles. Thats the simple answer. Theres waste, he said.

Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford has about 183,000 employees worldwide.

Ford, Farley said, cant just pivot from internal combustion engines to battery-powered vehicles. The internal combustion engine organization is good at body, paint, and manufacturing, and would be envied by startup EV makers.

But I cant turn to the ICE organization and say go be Tesla, Farley said. They may do it on the (auto) body. They may do it in plant operations, but thats not good enough, he said, without giving specifics of what changes are coming.

The all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E GT SUV is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California on Nov. 18, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Ford has only 15 percent of the market in the U.S., so the transition to battery vehicles is a chance to attract new customers. But Farley said it needs to make the buying process simple and all online, with no inventory in the system and home deliveries of the vehicles.

Fords distribution costs are $3,000 to $4,000 higher than Teslas, Farley said, and is seeking to close that gap by attracting new talent with those skills.

Neither Fords internal combustion business nor its electric vehicle operations earn as much profit as they could, Farley said. The company needs more talent to lower structural costs and raise quality in its ICE business, and cut the cost of materials for electric vehicles, he said.

The company also can differentiate itself by doing online software updates so that customers understand how their vehicle is changing, and it needs to keep service customers so if they have a fender bender or a problem develops in four or five years, they can stay within a simple Ford system, Farley said.

He said also the company is working hard to secure raw materials such as lithium and nickel to make EV batteries, and to expect more announcements in the coming months.

Bloomberg News on Friday reported that Ford is looking at ways to separate its electric vehicle business from its legacy combustion operations to earn the kind of investor support enjoyed by Tesla.

But Farley said Wednesday thats not happening.

We have no plans to spin off our electric business or our ICE business, he said. Its really more around focus and capabilities, expertise and talent.

Shares of Ford closed Wednesday down 2 percent to $16.95. They have lost about one-third of their value since hitting a 2022 high on Jan. 14.

By Tom Krisher
Registered nurse Emma Ahearn talks to Stephen Delaney ahead of son Lachlan Delany receiving his Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 11, 2022. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Health Expert Calls on Australian States to Lift Mask Mandates in Schools

A leading authority in infectious disease has called for Australian state governments to remove mask rules for school students in the classroom as the jurisdictions proceed with relaxing indoor mandates.

Many states across the country have taken action to ease mask mandate in indoor venues, except for some high-risk environments like hospitals, aged care and public transport.

While the majority of people in Victoria no longer have to wear masks indoors from Feb. 25 at 11:59 p.m., primary school students in grades three to six will still be subject to the mask rules when they are in the classroom. Meanwhile, high school students in the Australian Capital Territory also share a similar experience.

Robert Booy, a University of Sydney professor who was the head of clinical research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance from 2005 to 2019, said the removal of mask mandate should extend to school students.

Why should children have to bear the brunt of public health control of the virus? They have already missed weeks, and even months of school, he told the Nine Network on Feb. 24.

Take the masks off. If you are taking them off at workplaces, take them off in schools.

Registered nurse Emma Ahearn administers the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Millie Persic sitting on the lap of mother Maria Persic in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 11, 2022. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Booys remark came as Australia just approved the Moderna vaccine for children from six to 11 years old starting from Feb. 24.

Australia is the first country in the world to permit health professionals to administer the Moderna vaccine for the age group, with health officials saying that the second COVID vaccine option would help drive up childrens immunisation rates.

Children will need to take two doses of the vaccine with an interval of eight weeks in between. The childrens dosage for Moderna, which is similar to the Pfizer vaccine, will be half of that for adults.

However, health professionals can administer the second dose as early as four weeks from the first in certain situations, such as when a child has a weakened immune system.

The federal government approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11 in January, and since then, nearly 50 percent of the age group has taken one dose.

Meanwhile, Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck has called on more Australians to return to aged care facilities to visit their family members as COVID-19 restrictions on visitors to health services start to ease.

Colbeck has reiterated calls from leading peak organisations in the healthcare industry.

Personal contact is vital to maintaining the social, emotional and mental wellbeing of residents, reducing their social isolation and loneliness, he said.

We are also aware of the significant stress on a residents loved ones due to the extended restrictions over the last two years and new guidance means that visits can become more frequent and supported.
A police officer walks near an Apple store in central Amsterdam during a hostage incident in the store, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Feb. 22, 2022. (Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters)

Hostage Taker in Amsterdam Apple Store Dies of His Injuries

AMSTERDAMThe man who held a customer hostage at gunpoint at an Amsterdam Apple store has died of the injuries he sustained during his arrest, public prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Police stopped the man, identified as a 27-year-old from Amsterdam, by running into him forcefully with a car as he chased after his hostage when the hostage fled from the Apple flagship store on Tuesday night.

We are investigating the possible motives of the hostage taker and the explosives he carried on his body, police said in a statement, noting that the explosives were not ready to detonate.

The suspect was armed with a pistol and an automatic rifle, with which he fired at least four shots when police arrived at the central Leidseplein square in front of the store around 6 p.m. (1700 GMT), Amsterdam police chief Frank Pauw told a news conference.

The man, who had a criminal record, had demanded a ransom of 200 million euros ($226 million) in crypto currencies and safe passage out of the building, Pauw said.

The hostage, described by police as a 44-year-old Bulgarian man, fled from the building around 10:30 p.m.

The hostage taker chased after the man and police waiting outside rammed him with the car to stop him.

Videos of the incident showed the hostage taker being knocked onto the hood of the police car and then falling to the ground.

Police said on Wednesday the man who was arrested was the only suspect.

During the evening, about 70 people were able to leave the store while the hostage situation was ongoing. There were no reports of other injuries.

We are so incredibly grateful and relieved that our employees and customers in Amsterdam are safe after this terrifying experience, Apple said in a statement.

By Toby Sterling
Huntington Beach Recall Organizers Turn in Signatures for 3 Councilors

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.Organizers attempting to recall three Huntington Beach city councilmembers turned in thousands of signatures on Feb. 23, surpassing the minimum threshold of signatures to begin the recall process.

The 20-member recall group, known as Save Surf City, turned in signatures to recall Mayor Pro Tem Mike Posey, Councilman Dan Kalmick, and Councilwoman Kim Carr.

According to recall organizers, around 14,000 signatures for each councilmember were turned in to the Huntington Beach City Clerks office, far above the approximate 13,000 signature minimum requirementrepresenting 10 percent of current Huntington Beach votersyet not quite the 20,000 recommended by the clerks office in the likely case that some signatures get removed during the verification process.

Huntington Beach resident Cari Swan helps a woman fill out her information to place her signature to recall Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr and city councilmembers in front of a grocery store. Volunteers extended their time by one hour on Feb. 6, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Save Surf City attempted to recall current Mayor Barbara Delgleize and Councilwoman Natalie Moser previously, yet missed the Feb. 7 deadline before collecting the minimum number of signatures.

Organizers say their recent failed attempt, which they called a gut punch, to recall Degleize and Moser motivated them, saying volunteers worked around the clock at grocery stores to gather the requisite signatures this time around.

Our volunteers just kicked butt, Cari Swan, one of Save Surf Citys members, told The Epoch Times. The number that we produced in the last couple of weeks was just amazing.

Russ Neal, another one of the organizations main members, said he was proud of how the community came together and noted that this recall was different than most, since it was fully volunteer-based.

One thing that differentiates this recall effort is that it has been 100 percent volunteer, grassroots-driven without having big money, lawyers, political consultants, or anything like that to help, Neal told The Epoch Times.

Were gratified for all the work that people did and we believe that the educational work we did and making citizens of Huntington Beach aware of the threat posed by Sacramento-driven high-density development in certain cities has been extremely important. And that the educational benefit will be paying U.S. political and electoral dividends in the months and years to come.

In its petition to recall, Save Surf City cited issues such as the councils stance on density housing, what they say is a lack of transparency, the financing of a homeless shelter, and massive government expansion.

Organizers additionally cited the councils decision to not hold a special election after Mayor Pro Tem Tito Ortiz, a Republican, resigned in 2021 as another reason for their recall.

The council voted to appoint lawyer and civil rights activist Rhonda Bolton to the seat instead.

At this point, the city clerks office will review the petition documents and ensure the minimum number of signatures was collected, according to Huntington Beach City Clerk Robin Estanislau. If that number is reached, the petition will be delivered to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, which will conduct a verification process to certify that each signature is connected to a person registered to vote, which can take up to 30 working days.

If the registrar certifies the petition, the petition will then go to the city council, which would have 14 days to produce a resolution to call for a special election.

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Posey, Councilman Dan Kalmick, and Councilwoman Kim Carr didnt respond to requests for comment by press time.
Halyna Hutchins at the 70th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 20, 2017. (Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Husband of Cinematographer Killed on Rust Movie Blames Alec Baldwin, Safety Violations for Wifes Death

By Anousha Sakoui

From Los Angeles Times

Matthew Hutchins, husband of cinematographer Halyna Hutchinswho was killed during filming of the movie Rustexpressed outrage over actor Alec Baldwins response to the shooting.

In a preview of an interview that will air Thursday morning on NBCs Today show, Hutchins blamed the actor as well as a lack of adherence to industry safety standards on set for his wifes death.

Hutchins, 42, was killed Oct. 21 when she was struck by a live bullet from a gun that Baldwin was drawing for a scene filming on a movie ranch outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. The bullet passed through her and injured the director, Joel Souza.

Earlier this month Matthew Hutchins filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and others linked to the production.

The idea that the person holding the gun and causing it to discharge is not responsible is absurd to me, Hutchins told Today co-anchor Hoda Kotb.

Baldwin previously deflected any blame for the shooting in an interview on ABC, adding that it was unlikely he would be charged criminally.

Someone put a live bullet in a gun, a bullet that wasnt even supposed to be on the property, Baldwin said. Someone is responsible for what happened, and I cant say who that is, but I know its not me.

Those comments enraged Hutchins.

Watching him I just felt so angry, Hutchins told NBC. I was just so angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way and then to not accept any responsibility after having just described killing her.

In an earlier statement, Aaron Dyer, an attorney for Baldwin and other producers, disputed claims that Baldwin was reckless and said he followed proper protocols.

Actors should be able to rely on armorers and prop department professionals, as well as assistant directors, rather than deciding on their own when a gun is safe to use, Dyer said.

The interview is the first time Hutchins, a Los Angeles resident, has spoken out about the killing of his wife, who also leaves behind their 9-year-old son.

The Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office has been conducting a criminal investigation into the tragedy. The district attorney in New Mexico has yet to bring any charges in the case.

Three other members of the crew have filed lawsuits accusing the producers and Baldwin of negligence and other claims.

In his interview, Hutchins said gun safety was not the only problem on that set, where there had been accidental discharges prior to the fatal shooting.

There were a number of industry standards that were not practiced and theres multiple responsible parties, he said.

2022 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Iceland's Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir at a joint press conference in the Prime Ministers Office in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Nov. 3, 2021. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

Iceland Lifts All COVID-19 Restrictions, Says People Need to Be Infected Since Vaccines Are Not Enough

Iceland will lift all public COVID-19 restrictions starting Friday, saying that herd immunity is the way out of the pandemic.

We are returning to normal life but the virus is still with us, Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir told reporters on Wednesday, reported AFP. She said the country may impose new restrictions if needed, such as if a new variant emerges.

The countrys minister of health, Willum or orsson, said in a statement, We can truly rejoice at this turning-point, but nonetheless I encourage people to be careful, practice personal infection prevention measures, and not to interact with others if they notice symptoms.

Both domestically and at the border, all rules on quarantine, social gatherings, and school regulations regarding COVID-19 will be removed, Willum announced. This includes rules on a gathering limit of 200 people indoors.

[N]o disease prevention measures will be in place at the border, regardless of whether individuals are vaccinated or unvaccinated, according to a government announcement. Iceland has previously lifted domestic restrictions twice, in the summers of 2020 and 2021. However, this is the first time it is lifting border restrictions.

The Ministry of Health also said in a statement to Reuters, citing infectious disease authorities, Widespread societal resistance to COVID-19 is the main route out of the epidemic. To achieve this, as many people as possible need to be infected with the virus as the vaccines are not enough, even though they provide good protection against serious illness.

The decision to lift all restrictions was based on the recommendation of chief epidemiologist orolfur Gunason. In a memorandum, orolfur said that in his opinion, a widespread herd immunity akin to an infection of up to 80 percent of the population is the way out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Iceland has a population of about 368,000. About 110,000 peopleor about 30 percent of the populationhave been diagnosed with COVID-19. However, it is estimated from antibody testing that another 110,000 have already been infected without being diagnosed, the ministries said.

Recently, about 2,100 and 2,800 infections have been diagnosed daily, but serious illness has not increased in the same manner.

A total of 60 people in Iceland have died due to COVID-19.

Separately, Poland and Slovakia are also easing COVID-19 restrictions.

Polands health minister, Adam Niedzielski, said on Wednesday that all economic restrictions will be lifted from March 1, including capacity restrictions in shopping centers, restaurants, and more. He cites a downward trend in new infections for the decision. The country will still mandate masks in indoor settings and public transport, and require that COVID-19 infected people quarantine for seven days.

In Slovakia, almost all measures will be lifted starting on Feb. 26, after which people will no longer require to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter restaurants, or join sporting and cultural events. Some areas will still have capacity limits, and masks will still be required indoors and public transport, however.
A paramilitary policeman stands guard ahead of the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on March 13, 2017. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

Im Not Ashamed to Face Heaven: Chinese Army Veteran Persecuted for His Faith

'This is not persecution against me personallyit is a suppression of universal values,' the officer says

A decorated Chinese Army veteran who later served 21 years in the police force was well-known for cracking difficult cases involving murder, robbery, and drug trafficking. However, his will to uphold his spiritual faith was viewed as an act of disloyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), leading to the end of his successful career.

Zha Zhuolin, 58, a police officer from Yuzhou city, Henan province, China, was to retire this year. But nearly two years ago, in June 2020, he was ordered to hand over his police equipment and was officially put off-duty. Two months later, Zha received a formal notice stating he had been fired.

Once honored for his competence to maintain law and order in the region under his command, Zha is now treated as a state enemy, like countless other adherents of Falun Gongan ancient cultivation system of mind and body that is practiced in over 100 countries worldwide.

This is not persecution against me personallyit is a suppression of universal values, Zha said, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based organization that reports on the persecution of Falun Gong in China. If a society cant tolerate the values of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, then it is a dangerous society.

Ive devoted most of my life to our country and its people. Im proud of my career. Looking back on my life, I am not ashamed to face heaven or the people.

The relentless harassment, financial persecution, and mental distress in the last two years have compromised his well-being, and he is currently incapacitated and dependent on others with one side of his body paralyzed.

A Successful Career

Zha enlisted in the army at the age of 19. For the next 17 years, he dedicated his youth to working on national defense, serving at different points as a soldier, platoon leader, deputy commander, and several other positions.

As a strict disciplinarian with excellent leadership skills, Zha received multiple awards at all levels he served during his tenure. He won the honorary title of an outstanding instructor of the army group he led. During his last few years of serving in the army, between 1996 and 1998, Zha was honored as a model worker and was recognized for his assistance in the flood-fighting and disaster-relief efforts in Inner Mongolia, reported Minghui.org.

In 1999, Zha was transferred to assist the police force of the Yuzhou Public Security Bureau, Henan province. In the following years, he cracked a huge drug trafficking case as a squadron commander with the anti-drug brigade and then served as the deputy director of the Chuhe township.

Facing extreme work conditions and challenges, Zha developed high blood pressure, migraines, a frozen shoulder, and a herniated lumbar disc. When his rhinitis was bad, he struggled to fall asleep. He tried various treatments to restore his health, and in 2013, he learned about the health benefits of the meditation practice of Falun Gong.

Despite the communist partys ongoing violent suppression of the spiritual system, Zha decided to give Falun Gongs five gentle qigong exercises a try. Like any other adherent, Zha, too, experienced health improvements, reported Minghui.org. According to several surveys, many who practice Falun Gong have experienced an improvement in their overall health and well-being.

Zhas atheistic mindset and the CCPs lifelong indoctrination of him were overturned after he explored further Falun Gongs moral teachings of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

Falun Gong adherents practice the exercises in China before the CCPs launch of the nationwide persecutory campaign. (Courtesy of Minghui.org)

Upholding Faith

Despite the spiritual practices global appeal, in 1999, then-leader of the Chinese communist regime Jiang Zemin, out of his own ideological fear, launched a systematic persecution campaign against Falun Gong with the aim of eliminating the practice. Over the past 21 years, millions of practitioners have been detained, brainwashed, and tortured, and even killed for their organs.

In 2015, Zha, who was still working in the police force, stood up for his faith and human rights and supported the unprecedented wave of lawsuits against Jiang Zemin by filing a criminal complaint against him for initiating a campaign of terror against Falun Gong.

Falun Gong practitioners holding banners raising awareness about forced organ harvesting and bringing Jiang Zemin, the former CCP leader, to justice, in Melbourne, Australia, on July 14, 2018. (Daniel Cameron/NTD)

Soon after filing the lawsuit, Zha faced harassment and persecution like other Falun Gong practitioners. As he was still in service, the local police department went ahead to punish him a step further.

Zha was reprimanded and warned and never awarded his performance bonuses, which would have amounted to over 100,000 yuan (approx. US$15,800) by 2020. The members of the Public Security Bureau and the National Security Brigade reported against Zha to their higher-ups, while his supervisor tried to force him to give up his faith. Zha was coerced toward writing a guarantee statement, a written declaration that one is ashamed of having practiced Falun Gong and will no longer practice, but he refused to comply.

In June 2020, the department tried to pressurize him one last time. According to Minghui.org, the director of the Domestic Security Office, Wang Xiaowei, told Zha that the first rule for a police officer is to be loyal to the Party, adding that he only cared about his officers loyalty to the CCP and whoever practiced Falun Gong would be deemed disloyal.

Wang refuted Zhas claims that the law guarantees freedom of belief and that no law says practicing Falun Gong is a crime. A few months later, Zha was fired from his job.

Zha filed a complaint to protest their decision and is currently facing persecution in China for refusing to give up his faith.

Arshdeep Sarao contributed this report.
Researchers have surveyed more than 2,500 people in the United States and China about their emotional responses to these and thousands of other songs from genres including rock, folk, jazz, classical, marching band, experimental, and heavy metal.

Heres the MAP

The upshot? The subjective experience of music across cultures can be mapped within at least 13 overarching feelings: Amusement, joy, eroticism, beauty, relaxation, sadness, dreaminess, triumph, anxiety, scariness, annoyance, defiance, and feeling pumped up.

Imagine organizing a massively eclectic music library by emotion and capturing the combination of feelings associated with each track. Thats essentially what our study has done, says lead author Alan Cowen, a doctoral student in neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley.

We have rigorously documented the largest array of emotions that are universally felt through the language of music, says study senior author Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology.

Cowen translated the data into an interactive audio map, where visitors can move their cursors to listen to any of thousands of music snippets to find out, among other things, if their emotional reactions match how people from different cultures respond to the music.

Potential applications for these research findings range from informing psychological and psychiatric therapies designed to evoke certain feelings to helping music streaming services like Spotify adjust their algorithms to satisfy their customers audio cravings or set the mood.

Music and Emotions Across Cultures

While both US and Chinese study participants identified similar emotionssuch as feeling fear hearing the Jaws movie scorethey differed on whether those emotions made them feel good or bad.

People from different cultures can agree that a song is angry, but can differ on whether that feeling is positive or negative, says Cowen, noting that positive and negative values, known in psychology parlance as valence, are more culture-specific.

Furthermore, across cultures, study participants mostly agreed on general emotional characterizations of musical sounds, such as angry, joyful, and annoying. But their opinions varied on the level of arousal, which refers in the study to the degree of calmness or stimulation evoked by a piece of music.

For the study, more than 2,500 people in the United States and China were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turks crowdsourcing platform.

First, volunteers scanned thousands of videos on YouTube for music evoking a variety of emotions. From those, the researchers built a collection of audio clips to use in their experiments.

Next, nearly 2,000 study participants in the United States and China each rated some 40 music samples based on 28 different categories of emotion, as well as on a scale of positivity and negativity, and for levels of arousal.

Getting Pumped up or Feeling Down

Using statistical analyses, the researchers arrived at 13 overall categories of experience that were preserved across cultures and found to correspond to specific feelings, such as being depressing or dreamy.

To ensure the accuracy of these findings in a second experiment, nearly 1,000 people from the United States and China rated over 300 additional Western and traditional Chinese music samples that were specifically intended to evoke variations in valence and arousal. Their responses validated the 13 categories.

Vivaldis Four Seasons made people feel energized. The Clashs Rock the Casbah pumped them up. Al Greens Lets Stay Together evoked sensuality and Israel Kamakawiwooles Somewhere over the Rainbow elicited joy.

Meanwhile, heavy metal was widely viewed as defiant and, just as its composer intended, the shower scene score from the movie Psycho triggered fear.

Researchers acknowledge that some of these associations may be based on the context in which the study participants had previously heard a certain piece of music, such as in a movie or YouTube video. But this is less likely the case with traditional Chinese music, with which the researchers validated their findings.

Cowen and Keltner previously conducted a study in which they identified 27 emotions in response to evocative YouTube video clips. For Cowen, who comes from a family of musicians, studying the emotional effects of music seemed like the next logical step.

Music is a universal language, but we dont always pay enough attention to what its saying and how its being understood, Cowen says. We wanted to take an important first step toward solving the mystery of how music can evoke so many nuanced emotions.

The findings appear in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Additional coauthors are from the University of Amsterdam and York University in Toronto. This article was originally published by UC Berkeley. Republished via Futurity.org under Creative Commons License 4.0.
Jamaican Police Officer Indicted in Attempt to Smuggle Cocaine Through Florida Airport

By Eileen Kelley

From South Florida Sun-Sentinel

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.A veteran police officer from Jamaica was indicted after attempting to smuggle close to 3 pounds of cocaine into South Florida, a federal grand jury says.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Shelian Cherine Allen, a 42-year-old Jamaican citizen, arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on a flight from Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Feb. 3.

During a pat-down search in customs, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered something hard protruding from Allens groin. After pulling a package of cocaine from her genitals, Allen willingly removed several pellets of cocaine from inside each of her bra cups, the grand jury indictment, and a criminal complaint say.

According to an arrest report, investigators asked Allen if she swallowed any cocaine but she denied doing so. Investigators pressed, saying they were concerned for her safety, and Allen admitted she had swallowed a number of packages of cocaine. Reports say she was taken to a hospital where she expelled 90 pellets of cocaine.

In total, Allen had approximately 1,350 grams of cocaine on or inside her body when she entered the United States, the government claims. That amount of cocaine has a street value of $37,000.

The 1,350 grams is equal to 2.97 pounds.

At the time of her arrest, Allen had been a law enforcement officer employed by the Jamaica Constabulary Force for 18 years.

Stashing drugs inside the body is a way to try and conceal drugs by drug mules, and can be deadly. Typically drugs are placed in latex gloves, condoms or small balloons. If swallowed, stomach acid can rupture the latex pellets and lead to acute cocaine toxicity.

The indictment charges Allen with two counts: importation of 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. If convicted, she faces up to 40 years in prison on each count.

2022 South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Visit sun-sentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Members of U.S. Air Force prepare to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea on Dec. 29, 2020. (United States Forces Korea via Getty Images)

Judge Blasts Air Force Over Denying Vaccine Religious Exemption Requests, Grants Injunction

U.S. District Court Judge Tilman Self, III, is the first to stop the U.S. Air Force from enforcing its military COVID-19 vaccine mandate on a service member.

Self granted a preliminary injunction against the U.S. Department of Defense on behalf of an Air Force officer whod been denied a religious exemption to the mandate. As a result, the DOD cant enforce the mandate or take any adverse action against her, including forcing her to retire.

At the beginning of his 32-page order, the judge describes how the plaintiffs chain of command justified why she was denied a religious exemption: Your religious beliefs are sincere, its just not compatible with military service.

Thats about as blunt as it gets, Self wrote in his ruling. True, he undoubtedly spoke for himself, but when considering the Air Forces abysmal record regarding religious accommodations requests, it turns out he was dead on target.

Although the Air Force has claimed to provide a religious accommodation process, it proved to be nothing more than a quixotic quest for Plaintiff because it was by all accounts, . . . theater, Self wrote, citing U.S. District Judge Reed OConnors Jan. 3, 2022, assessment in another case, U.S. Navy SEALs 126 v. Biden, on the U.S. Navys religious accommodation process, or lack thereof.

In the Navy SEAL case, the latest filings received by the court as of Feb. 4 reveal that out of 24,818 religious exemption requests the four branches received, only four were granted. While religious exemptions continued to be denied, 4,146 medical exemptions were granted.

Despite thousands of requests for religious exemption, the Air Force hadnt granted a single one of them when Plaintiff filed her Complaint, Self, who presides over the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Macon Division, said.

At the end of the hearing on the preliminary injunction request, Self said he informed the parties that hed closed the window to receive evidence. But six days later, the Biden administration ignored his decision.

Undeterred, Defendants filed the Declaration of Colonel Jason A. Holbrook  six days later, informing the Court that as of Feb. 4, 2022, nine  religious accommodation requests  have been approved within the Air Force, he said.

By adding this evidence, Self said, That raises the Air Forces percentage of granted religious exemptions from 0.00 percent to about 0.24 percent. So, suffice it to say, Defendants last-minute efforts to inject something new into the record doesnt change the Courts opinion because what Col. Holbrooks declaration doesnt tell the Court is when the Air Force granted these nine religious exemptions.

Since the Air Force didnt state when the requests were granted, Self decided to find out for himself. He looked up the data on the Air Forces COVID-19 website and discovered that as of Jan. 31, 2022, the Air Force had yet to approve a single religious exemption.

In other words, the Air Force granted these nine exemptions in the last two weeks, he said.

Thomas More Society Senior Counsel Stephen Crampton notes that the Air Force had granted over 1,500 medical exemptions by the time they filed the lawsuit, but not one religious exemption had been granted.

Selfs scathing rebuke was rendered in a case filed on Jan. 6 by Thomas More Society on behalf of an officer who served her country for over 25 years. The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Air Force and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and alleges that the U.S. Military is violating the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the First Amendment, and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The officer objects to taking the COVID-19 shots due to their association with aborted fetal cells and filed for a religious exemption. Although shes been willing and able to work remotely, wear a mask and test periodically, the Air Force issued a final denial of her religious exemption request in December.

When denying her appeal, she was given less than one week to decide to take the vaccine, submit a retirement request, or refuse the shot in writing. The Air Force also informed her that any refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, absent an approved exemption, may be punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice . . . and that continued refusal will result in involuntary reassignment to the Individual Ready Reserve without pay, benefits, or regular responsibilities, according to the brief.

The plaintiff argues the Air Forces policy is forcing her to choose between her job and her faith, and the Constitution and RFRA protect her from having to make this choice.

She argues that she has a sincere religious belief that prohibits her from submitting to an injection of any of the presently available COVID-19 vaccines and the Air Forces requirement puts substantial pressure on her to modify [her] behavior and to violate [her] beliefs.

Self said, A classic case of substantial pressures occurs when a person has to choose between her job and her religion, and the Defendants dont say much in response to this argument. In fact, as of Feb. 7, 2022, the Air Force has administratively separated 142 active duty Airmen for refusing to take a vaccine, he points out, citing Air Force data.

And, how could they? he asks. Very few scenarios paint a bleaker picture than giving up your livelihood in order to follow your religious beliefs.

Crampton said its disgraceful how the military, in general, has disrespected fundamental First Amendment rights. We are grateful that the court has restored the Free Exercise rights of this courageous officer and are hopeful that her victory will help to protect the rights of conscientious objectors everywhere.

The lawsuit is one of many filed after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued an Aug. 24 memo directing the Secretaries of the Military Departments to immediately begin full vaccination of all members of the Armed Forces under DoD authority on active duty or in the Ready Reserve, including the National Guard, who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The White House and Austin have yet to issue statements on the lawsuit.

By Bethany Blankley
Judge Temporarily Stops Wesson from Returning to LA City Council

LOS ANGELESA judge issued a temporary restraining order on Feb. 24 blocking former Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson from filling the council seat left vacant by the suspension of Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was indicted in a federal corruption case.

The order by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary Strobel prevents Wesson, who was sworn in on Tuesday, from filling the seat until at least a March 17 preliminary injunction hearing, according to John Sweeney, attorney for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California, which filed the lawsuit challenging the appointment and Ridley-Thomas suspension.

Sweeney said that during the March 17 hearing, the city will have to show why it believes it is legal for Wesson to fill Ridley-Thomas seat.

The lawsuit filed Friday by the SCLC of Southern California is aimed at reinstating Ridley-Thomas to the City Council. Ridley-Thomas, who was the executive director of the organizations Greater Los Angeles chapter from 1981- 1991, was suspended from the council in October following the federal indictment.

The lawsuit alleges that the decision to suspend [Ridley-Thomas] contravenes the bedrock presumption of innocence guaranteed under California law.

It also seeks to prohibit the council from appointing Wesson or any temporary replacement to represent the 10th District.

The motion to appoint Wesson as a temporary replacement was passed by the City Council on Tuesday.

Pastor William Smart, SCLCs president, told City News Service Friday afternoon that his position is that Ridley-Thomas suspension was morally wrong, politically indefensible and patently illegal.

Wesson represented the 10th District from 2005 to December 2020. He also served as the president of the council from 2012 to 2020. The lawsuit notes that Wesson is termed out and alleges he cannot lawfully assume the City Council seat because he already represented the district for three terms.

According to the appointment, Wesson is supposed to hold the position through Dec. 31 unless Ridley-Thomas is acquitted or the charges against him are dropped.

With over 30 years in public service representing the residents of Council District 10, there is no better choice at this time than former council member Herb Wesson, Council President Nury Martinez said after announcing her motion to appoint Wesson last week.

Mr. Wesson cares deeply about the communities he represents and knows the district better than anyone. The constituents of Council District 10 need a voting member who understands their community to represent them within Council Chambers.

Since Ridley-Thomas suspension, the 10th District has been overseen by caretaker Karly Katona, who does not have voting authority. The City Councils vote to suspend Ridley-Thomas passed with three council members in opposition: Councilmen Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Bonin and Curren Price. Price said before the vote that his office had been inundated with calls of support for Ridley-Thomas from South L.A. residents.

Responding to the judges issuance of a temporary restraining order blocking Wessons appointment, Ridley-Thomas attorney Michael Proctor said in a statement, For months one of Mark Ridley-Thomas primary concerns has been that Nury Martinez and City Council have consistently taken action without listening to the voters of District 10. Today, thankfully, someone  the court system  finally listened to their concerns. The lesson to District 10 voters? If you want to be counted, you need to fight for it.

The trial for Ridley-Thomas and former dean of the USC School of Social Work Marilyn Flynn is tentatively set to begin Aug. 9. The defendants are charged in a 20-count indictment alleging a secret deal whereby Ridley- Thomas  when he was a member of the county Board of Supervisors  agreed to steer county money to the university in return for admitting his son Sebastian Ridley-Thomas into graduate school with a full-tuition scholarship and a paid professorship.

Flynn allegedly arranged to funnel a $100,000 donation from Ridley- Thomas campaign funds through the university to a nonprofit to be operated by his son, a former member of the state Assembly. The donation prompted an investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Los Angeles that remains open, prosecutors said.

In exchange, the indictment contends, Ridley-Thomas supported county contracts involving the School of Social Work, including lucrative deals to provide services to the county Department of Children and Family Services and Probation Department, as well as an amendment to a contract with the Department of Mental Health that would bring the school millions of dollars in new revenue.

Both defendants have strongly denied any wrongdoing and promised that evidence will clear their names.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022, in a still from video. (Russian Pool via Reuters/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Kremlin Says Putin Will Decide When Ukraine Invasion Ends

Russian President Vladimir Putin will decide when the invasion of Ukraine will end, said a top Kremlin spokesman on Thursday, coming hours after Russian military forces attacked several Ukrainian cities in what appears to be the most significant European land invasion in decades.

The operation has its goals and they need to be achieved, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state-run media when asked when the operation would end. He did not provide a timetable.

Moscow is determined to neutralize the [Ukrainian] military potential, which was boosted considerably lately, including with the active assistance of foreign nations, Peskov continued to say, without elaborating or providing details.

Peskov claimed that Russia will not attempt to occupy Ukraine, a country of more than 40 million people, and said the invasion was intended to have limited goals in protecting Moscows interests. Video footage uploaded online showed Russian troops manning checkpoints around Kharkiv, located near the Russia-Ukraine border, and other areas.

Sirens wailed in Ukraines capital, large explosions were heard there and in other cities, and people massed in train stations and took to roads, as the government said the former Soviet republic was seeing a long-anticipated invasion from the east, north, and south. It reported more than 40 soldiers had been killed and dozens wounded so far.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky severed diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law across the country, while writing on social media that any Ukrainian who wishes to fight against Russia will be provided weapons.

As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history, Zelensky wrote. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom.

The attacks came first from the air. Later Ukrainian authorities described ground invasions in multiple regions, and border guards released security camera footage Thursday showing a line of Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraines government-held territory from Russian-annexed Crimea.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that there is no threat to civilian population. However, video footage uploaded online on Thursday morning appeared to show the remnants of non-precision weapons, including Grad rockets, that had exploded in Ukrainian civilian areas.

Ukrainian officials claimed that its forces shot down several Russian aircraft and took soldiers prisoner.

Western leaders unilaterally condemned Putin for the invasion and said they would impose significant sanctions against Moscow. President Joe Bidens administration said he would make an announcement on more sanctions against Russia later Thursday.

Diplomatically, politically, economicallyand eventually, militarilythis hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
LA Prosecutors Union Endorses Recall of District Attorney Gascon

LOS ANGELESAn overwhelming majority of Los Angeles County district attorneys in the Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA) voted to endorse the recall of their boss, District Attorney George Gascon on Feb. 22.

The association, made up of 800 district attorneys in LA County, previously invited Gasconwho is facing a recall effortto a virtual town hall event to allow him to explain why he shouldnt be recalled. Organizers said Gascon declined the offer.

No competent elected official should be afraid of answering questions, the ADDA said in a statement. While we are surprised that Mr. Gascon chose to decline our invitation to make his case as to why he should not be recalled, the ADDA will proceed on a vote.

Nearly 83 percent of ADDA members participated in the tally and 97.9 percent voted in support of the recall.

This vote is by those who are intimately familiar with how Mr. Gascons policies actually play out on a day-to-day basis, ADDA President Michele Hanisee said in a statement. We believe the vote of our members will resonate with the voters of Los Angeles as they decide whether to recall Gascon from office and restore public safety as the priority of the District Attorneys office.

Gascons office didnt return a request for comment.

Gascon took progressive steps to reform LAs criminal justice system when he was elected in 2020, such as reducing sentencing for some crimes and eliminating sentencing enhancement for suspects who use a gun during a crime or if they have a gang affiliation. His defense was that the majority of those incarcerated belonged to long-disadvantaged groups.

More than 30 cities in LA County, including Torrance, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, and Beverly Hills, support the recall, with more than a dozen passing votes of no confidence against Gascon.

This is the second recall attempt after a previous effort launched last year failed to gain enough momentum, so some of the original organizers split and relaunched under a new campaign. The campaign committee is made up of victims rights attorneys as well as family members of murder victims.

Over the last year since Ive been representing close to 100 victims of murder crimes, victims generally have felt abandoned and ignored by Gascon, Victims Rights Attorney and former deputy DA Kathy Cady told The Epoch Times. So I think that of course combined with the incredible rise in violent crime that weve seen has led people in the community to recognize that his policies are wreaking havoc in our communities.

Cadywho is also a co-chair in the Recall Gascon campaignsaid Gascons policies disenfranchise already marginalized communities and endanger the public, and that two years ago, she could tell immediately that they discounted victims.

Petitioners have until July 6 to gather 566,857 signatures in LA County to get the recall on the November ballot to trigger a recall election.
People stand at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Medyka, Poland, Feb. 24, 2022. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Leaving Behind Possessions and Pets, Ukrainians Flee to Poland

MEDYKA, PolandUkrainians fleeing a Russian invasion have started trickling into Poland, with dozens arriving at the normally quiet Medyka crossing on Thursday, some carrying luggage and accompanied by children.

Officials in European Union countries bordering Ukraine, including Romania and Slovakia, said there was no big influx of refugees for now, but local media and witnesses said foot traffic was increasing.

Alexander Bazhanov fled his home in eastern Ukraine with his wife and young child, taking only what they could carry and walking the final part of their journey into Poland.

The 34-year-old technical manager from Mariupol, 113 km (70 miles) from Donetsk, decided to cross into Poland when he learned the war had started from a colleague.

I dont have any feelings other than that I am very scared, Bazhanov said at the pedestrian border crossing, about 400 km from Warsaw. I will visit my father in Spain but I dont have any money and I dont know how I will do that.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east.

Central European nations that share a border with Ukraine have for weeks braced for an expected flood of refugees searching for sanctuary within the European Union.

The Medyka crossing is largely used by people going shopping across the border or travelling for work.

Lines to enter the Polish border town grew during the morning. Some people said they feared Russia could push far into Ukraine.

Everybody thought western Ukraine was safe because it was close to EU and NATO nations, said Maria Palys, 44, who was travelling with her family and that of her brother. It seems like it is not the right protection.

Russia has demanded an end to NATOs eastward expansion and Putin repeated his position that Ukrainian membership of the U.S.-led military alliance would be unacceptable.

Putin said he had authorised military action after Russia had been left with no choice but to defend itself against what he said were threats from modern Ukraine, a democratic state of 44 million people.

News of the invasion spurred Olga Pavlusik and her boyfriend Bohdan Begey to rush to the border, leaving their dog at home in their town in western Ukraine. They have no destination in mind. Anywhere safe will be fine, she told Reuters.

By Alan Charlish, Bryan Woolston Kacper Pempel and Leon Malherb
Ukrainian servicemen patrol in the settlement of Troitske in the Lugansk region near the front line with Russia-backed separatists on Feb. 22, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia-Ukraine (Feb. 24): Explosions Heard in Kyiv, Official Says Enemy Aircraft Downed

Ukrainian forces downed an enemy aircraft over Kyiv in the early hours of Friday, which then crashed into a residential building and set it on fire, said Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to the interior minister.

It was unclear whether the aircraft was manned. Herashchenko wrote on Telegram that a nine-story residential building was on fire.

A series of explosions were heard in Kyiv earlier, which Herashchenko said were the sounds of air defences firing at the aircraft.



Australia Imposes More Sanctions on Russia, Criticizes Chinas Response

Australia imposed more sanctions on Friday against Russia targeting several of its elite citizens and lawmakers, and said it was unacceptable that the Chinese regime was easing trade restrictions with Moscow at a time when it invaded Ukraine.

We will work along with our partners for a rolling wave of sanctions and continuing to ratchet up that pressure on Russia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during a media conference.

Morrison voiced concerns over the lack of strong response from China and criticized Beijing about reports it had eased trade curbs with Moscow by allowing imports of wheat from Russia.

You dont go and throw a lifeline to Russia in the middle of a period when they are invading another country. That is simply unacceptable, he said.



EU Leaders Agree on More Sanctions Against Russia

European Union leaders put on a united front early on Friday after a six-hour meeting during which they agreed on a second package of economic and financial sanctions against Russia.

The legal texts for the sanctions agreed were expected to be finalized overnight and to be submitted for approval to EU foreign affairs ministers during a meeting scheduled Friday afternoon.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraines invasion put into question Europes peace order and said the EU will hold the Kremlin accountable for its actions, saying sanctions will have a maximum impact on the Russian elite.

Von der Leyen said the package, decided in concertation with western allies, includes targeting 70 percent of the Russian banking market and key state-owned companies, including in defense.

-

Update: Feb. 25, 2:303:30 a.m. Ukraine local time:

Ukraine Orders General Mobilization, Announces New Death Toll

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree ordering a general mobilization of the population after Russia started attacking the country in the early hours of Thursday.

The decree, on the presidential website, said the mobilization to ensure the defence of the state would be carried out within 90 days of the decree coming into force.

The mobilization order applies to the territories of Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Zaporizhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytsky, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Chernihiv regions, and the city of Kyiv.

Read the full story here



UN Council to Vote on Condemning Invasion

The U.N. Security Council will vote Friday on a resolution that would condemn Russias military aggression against Ukraine in the strongest terms. It also would demand an immediate halt to Russias invasion and the withdrawal of all Russian troops.

The final draft resolution, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, would reaffirm the councils commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

The council is scheduled to vote at 3 p.m. EST Friday.



Update: Feb. 25, 3:00 a.m. Ukraine local time:

World Bank Preparing Ways to Support Ukraine

The World Bank said on Thursday it was preparing options to provide immediate support to Ukraines government, as the development lender and the International Monetary Fund assess the economic fallout from the conflict in Ukraine.

We stand ready to provide immediate support to Ukraine and are preparing options for such support, including fast-disbursing financing, World Bank President David Malpass said in a statement, adding that the institution was horrified by the shocking violence and loss of life in Ukraine.

The statement came after Malpass told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday that the bank was preparing a $350 million disbursement to Ukraine for budget support by the end of March.

It was unclear, however, what resources may be available to aid Ukraines people if Zelenskys government is deposed by Russian forces.



Update: Feb. 25, 2:00 a.m. Ukraine local time:

Ukraine Prohibits Men Aged 18 to 60 Years Old From Leaving Country: Official

A Ukrainian official announced late Thursday it is prohibiting males aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country after Russia invaded earlier in the day.

The head of Lviv regional customs, Daniil Menshikov, posted an urgent message to Facebook saying that due to the military state, mencitizens of Ukraine, aged 18 to 60 will not be released outside our state, according to a translation.

He added: Please do not create panic and do not try to cross the border on your own! Victory is upon us! Glory to Ukraine!

The country started enlisting reservists between those ages, according to Ukraines armed forces.

We are giving away weapons and we will continue doing so to anyone who will ask for it in order to protect our sovereignty, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media. Our future depends on each and every citizen.



Update: Feb. 24, 11:30 p.m. Ukraine local time:

Sean Penn in Ukraine Filming Documentary About Russian Invasion: Government

Actor and director Sean Penn is in Ukraine filming a documentary amid the invasion by the Russian military, the Ukrainian government said.

The director specially came to Kyiv to record all the events that are currently happening in Ukraine and to tell the world the truth about Russias invasion of our country, the Ukrainian government said in a statement on Thursday. Sean Penn is among those who support Ukraine in Ukraine today. Our country is grateful to him for such a show of courage and honesty.

Read the full story here



Update: Feb. 24, 10:20 p.m. Ukraine local time:

Pentagon: Russians Decapitating Ukraine in Multi-Step Attack

A U.S. Department of Defense official said Western intelligence believes Russia is trying to decapitate the government of Ukraine and seek to install their own officials to take charge of the country.

Its our assessment that [Russian forces] have every intention of basically, decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance, which would explain these early moves towards Kyiv, the official said in a DOD news release.

Officials said that there is fighting within 20 miles of the center of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, as well as Kharkiv, one of the largest cities in Ukraine.

These three axes are  clearly designed to take key population centers, the official said.



Update: Feb. 24, 9:11 p.m. Ukraine local time:

Biden Announces Sanctions Against Russia

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced he is hitting Russia and President Vladimir Putin with more sanctions after Moscow mounted a land invasion in Ukraine.

Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences, Biden said, adding that the Untied States will use export controls against Moscow to impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time.

Biden, meanwhile, said he and Western powers would attempt to make Putin a pariah on the international stage.

Read the full story here



Turkish Ship Hit by Bomb in Black Sea

A Turkish-owned vessel was struck by a bomb near Ukraines port city of Odessa on Thursday, said the Turkish Maritime General Directorate.

They said that there were no casualties, according to Turkish officials. The ship was en route to Romanian waters, they said.

Upon information that the Marshall Islands-flagged Turkish-owned Yasa Jupiter ship was struck by a bomb off the coast of Odessa, it was learned that the ship has no request for help, is en route to Romanian waters, has no casualties, and is safe, the authority wrote on Twitter.

Officials told CNNs Turkish edition that the ship is the Marshall Islands-flagged, Turkish-owned Yasa Jupiterand that it took slight material damage.



Update: Feb. 24, 8:30 p.m. Ukraine local time:

Chernobyl Captured by Russian Forces: Ukrainian Official

Update: Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. Ukraine local time:

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been captured by Russian forces, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said on Thursday.

It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians, he said.

This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today, Podolyak said.



Update: Feb. 24 6:01 p.m. Ukraine local time

Ukraine President Claims Russia Trying to Seize Chernobyl

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday claimed Russian military forces in Belarus are attempting to seize the Chernobyl nuclear waste site amid an invasion across the country.

Zelensky said the move is a declaration of war across Europe.

A Ukraine advisor to Interior Ministry Anton Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook that Russian forces entered the exclusion zone.

If the invaders artillery hits and ruins / damages the collectors of nuclear waste , radioactive nuclear dust can can [sic] be spread over the territory of Ukraine, Belarus and the country of the EU! the advisor claimed.

In 1986, Chernobyl, which was operated by the Soviet Union, became the site of the worlds worst nuclear accident when a reactor exploded. The disaster spilled radioactive waste across Europe.



Update: Feb. 24 5:35 p.m. Ukraine local time

Kremlin Says Putin Will Decide When Ukraine Invasion Ends

Russian President Vladimir Putin will decide when the invasion of Ukraine will end, said a top Kremlin spokesman on Thursday, coming hours after Russian military forces attacked several Ukrainian cities in what appears to be the most significant European land invasion in decades.

The operation has its goals and they need to be achieved, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state-run media when asked when the operation would end. He did not provide a timetable.

Moscow is determined to neutralize the [Ukrainian] military potential, which was boosted considerably lately, including with the active assistance of foreign nations, Peskov continued to say, without elaborating or providing details.



Update: Feb. 24 4:45 p.m. Ukraine local time

Ukraine to Give Weapons to Anyone Who Can Fight

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday morning that the government would provide anyone with weapons from a Russian invasion that was launched in the early morning hours.

We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities, Zelensky said in a statement. We will lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of territorial defense with weapons in hands.



Update: Feb. 24 12:45 p.m. Ukraine local time

NATO to Deploy More Land, Air, Maritime Assets to Eastern Europe

NATO announced it is deploying more assets to Eastern Europe in response to Russias decision to mount what President Vladimir Putin called a special military operation in Ukraine early on Thursday.

Russias actions pose a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security, and they will have geostrategic consequences. NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the security and defence of all Allies, the statement from the 30-member alliance said in a statement.

We are deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, as well as additional maritime assets. We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies.

Statement by the North Atlantic Council on Russias attack on Ukraine#NATO | #Ukraine  | #StopRussianAggression  NATO (@NATO) February 24, 2022



Update: Feb. 24 12:13 p.m. Ukraine local time

Ukraine Cuts Diplomatic Ties With Russia, Says at Least 40 Killed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country has cut diplomatic ties with Russia after it was attacked. The announcement comes after Russia launched a massive air and missile attack on its neighbor and Russian forces were seen rolling into Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials say the countrys military is fighting back and asked for Western defense assistance.

Russian forces have launched an attack on Ukraine from the north, east and south, according to a Ukrainian presidential adviser.

The adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the Ukrainian military is fighting hard.

Podolyak said Thursday that our army is fighting back inflicting significant losses to the enemy. He said that there have been civilian casualties, but didnt give details.

He said that Ukraine now needs a greater and very specific support from the worldmilitary-technical, financial as well as tough sanctions against Russia, he said.

Oleksii Arestovich, another Ukrainian presidential adviser, said Thursday that several dozen peopleabout 40 so farhave been killed. He didnt specify whether the casualties included civilians.

Zelensky said the Ukrainian authorities will hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.

The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian, he said, urging all those who can defend the country to come to the Interior Ministrys assembly facilities.



Update: Feb. 24 11:45 a.m. Ukraine local time

US Lawmakers, World Leaders Condemn Russias Attack of Ukraine

Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the United States and leaders from around the world have condemned Russias unprovoked and unjustified attack of Ukraine on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in the country.

Read the full story here



Update: Feb. 24 11:25 a.m. Ukraine local time

8 Dead, 14 Wounded as Russia Launches Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine: Officials

Moscow-led attacks on military units in Ukraine killed at least eight people and wounded 14 others, Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Thursday.

Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement Thursday that six people were killed and seven were wounded in a bombing incident in the city of Podolsk, in the Odessa province, noting that 19 people were still missing.

Russias ministry of defense issued a statement saying that its military is targeting Ukraines military infrastructure.

Zelenskyy has directed the head of Ukraines armed forces, Major General Valeriy Zaluzhny, to inflict maximum losses against the aggressor, according to AFP.

Read the full story here



Update: Feb. 24, 10:45 a.m., Ukraine local time

Oil Surges Above $100 After Putin Orders Military Action Against Ukraine

Oil prices surged above the $100 per barrel mark on Wednesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of military action against Ukraine.

U.S. crude futures were up by 5.46 percent and trading at $97.56 per barrel as of 10:27 a.m. GMT, while Brent crude futures were up 6.47 percent at $103.32, the first time they have been over the $100 mark since 2014.

Meanwhile, natural gas prices at one point surged nearly 6 percent.

Read the full story here



Update: Feb. 24, 9:45 a.m., Ukraine local time

Kyiv Sees Gridlock Traffic As Inhabitants Seek to Leave

The roads out of Kyiv have filled with cars bumper-to-bumper on Thursday morning as inhabitants seek to flee to safer areas, even though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had advised people to stay at home unless they are involved in critical work.



Update: Feb. 24, 8:57 a.m., Ukraine local time

US Embassy in Kyiv Tells US Citizens in Ukraine to Shelter in Place

The U.S. embassy in Kyiv issued an announcement advising U.S. citizens in Ukraine to shelter in place amid reports of Russian attacks in multiple cities, including Kyiv.

There are reports of Russian attacks on targets in a number of major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Mariupol, the embassy said on Twitter.

Americans were also advised to immediately seek cover if they hear a loud explosion or sirens are activated.

If in a home or a building, go to the lowest level of the structure with the fewest exterior walls, windows, and openings; close any doors and sit near an interior wall, away from any windows or openings. If you are outdoors, immediately seek cover in a hardened structure; if that is not possible, lie down and cover your head with your hands.

Be aware that even if the incoming missile or drone is intercepted, falling debris represents a significant risk. After the attack, stay away from any debris, and monitor major news outlets for official guidance.

Further Russian military action can occur at any time without warning. U.S. citizens throughout Ukraine are strongly encouraged to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space.



Update: Feb. 24, 7 a.m.7:30a.m. Ukraine local time

Ukraine Declares Martial Law; Zelensky Building Anti-Putin Coalition

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced martial law early Thursday morning local time.

In a short video address to the nation, Zelensky said that Russia has conducted strikes on Ukraines military infrastructure and border guards, adding that explosions have been heard in many cities of Ukraine.

He said he had just spoken to U.S. President Joe Biden and that the United States is planning to more send military assistance to Kyiv.

Zelensky also urged Ukrainians to keep calm and remain at home.

We are working. The army is working. The whole sector of defense and security is working, he said.

Separately, the Ukrainian president urged global leaders to provide defense assistance to Ukraine.

He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has unleashed a war with Ukraine and the entire democratic world. He added that the Russian leader wants to destroy our state, everything that we have built.

I talked to [US President Joe] Biden, [UK Prime Minister Boris] Johnson, [President of the European Council] Charles Michel, [Polish President Andrzej] Duda, [Lithuanian President Gitanas] Nauseda. We started putting together an anti-Putin coalition, he added. I have already urged global leaders to slam Putin with all possible sanctions, offer large-scale defense support and close the airspace over Ukraine for the aggressor. Together we must save Ukraine, save the democratic world, and we will do it.



Update: Feb. 24, 6:14 a.m. Ukraine local time

Rubio: Russian Invasion of Ukraine Underway, Russia Trying to Take Control of Kyiv Airport

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), vice chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, in multiple statements via Twitter, said that Russias invasion of Ukraine is underway, adding that Russian forces are trying to take control of the airport in Kyiv.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is now underway, he said. In the hours to come Russia will: conduct strikes on air defense systems; move to cut off Kyiv from eastern Ukraine; move to cut off Ukraines military forces on the line of contact in the east to prevent them from falling back to defend Kyiv.

In another post, Rubio wrote that Russia was establishing air superiority via targeted surgical strikes, a pincer movement to trap Ukrainian forces in the east [and] cut them off from Kyiv, and finally attempt to decapitate Ukrainian govt by targeting govt buildings, leaders & command & control systems.

He added, Russias airborne forces are attempting to take control of the airport in Kyiv [so] they can fly in forces to occupy the [capital] city.

An amphibious assault on the key port city of Mariupol is now underway, he added. Ground forces now moving in from Belarus, Crimea, and from Russia.

Ukraine announced early Thursday that passengers and staff have been evacuated from Kyiv airport.



Update: Feb. 24, 5:30 a.m6:50 a.m. Ukraine local time

Explosions Reported in Ukraines Capital, Other Cities

Shortly after Putins address, explosions were reported in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, as well as in other cities, including Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Odesa.

Later, livestream video obtained by CNN shows tanks rolling into Ukraine from a border crossing with Belarus at around 6:48 a.m. local time.

Read the full story here



Update: Feb. 24, 5:00 a.m. Ukraine local time

Putin Declares Special Military Operation in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine on Thursday.

Putin said in an emergency televised address that the military operation is intended to protect civilians and to demilitarize Ukraine, and is a response to threats coming from Ukraine.

He said that Russia doesnt plan to occupy Ukraine and said that the Ukrainian military should immediately lay down its arms.

Read the full story here



Update: Feb. 24, 3:00 a.m. Ukraine local time

Ukraine Closes Airspace to Civilian Flights

Citing a high risk to safety, Ukraines State Air Traffic Services Enterprise confirmed it closed the countrys airspace at 2:45 a.m. local time.

Meanwhile, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned of a high risk to civilian aircraft over Ukraine, as well as bordering areas of Russia and Belarus, reminding air operators that this is now an active conflict zone.

Under these circumstances, the aforementioned airspace and critical infrastructure, including airports, are exposed to military activities which result in safety risks for civil aircraft. In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft, the agency said.

EASA said Russias defence ministry had sent Ukraine an urgent message warning of a high risk to flight safety, due to the use of weapons and military equipment from 2:45 a.m. local time, and asked Ukraines air traffic control to stop flights.



Mimi Nguyen Ly, Isabel van Brugen, Katabella Roberts, Jack Phillips, Zachary Stieber, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report.
A sign for mask requirements is diplayed upon the entryway to a Corner Bakery restaurant in Irvine, Calif., on Dec. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Los Angeles County to Ease Indoor Mask Mandate on Feb. 25

Los Angeles County will lift its indoor mask mandate in indoor establishments that require proof of vaccination, health officials confirmed Feb. 23.

The change will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 25, according to the Department of Public Health.

However, according to the health order, businesses need to ensure all customers permitted indoors are either fully vaccinated or can provide proof of a recent negative COVID test. Even after that verification, only fully vaccinated customers will be permitted to remove masks indoors. Unvaccinated customers must continue wearing masks indoors, even after showing proof of a negative COVID test, unless they are actively eating or drinking.

While there are powerful tools that impede virus transmission, none are perfect, which is why we often need to use a variety of safety measures to reduce transmission, county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement.

For venues that have its workers remain masked while allowing its fully vaccinated customers to unmask requires the venue only to verify the customers vaccination status or COVID test result, according to the department.

After California Gov. Gavin Newsom removed the indoor mask mandate for the vaccinated on Feb. 15, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has been continuously fighting to end the mask mandates in the county.

Barger posted on Twitter on Feb. 22, saying that the new rule is another step towards living with COVID-19 in a balanced way.

Supervisor Janice Hahn, who joined Barger in advocating to lift the mandate, also said on Twitter that the new mask requirement puts us significantly closer to aligning with the State.

The county lifted its outdoor mask mandate for large event venues, schools, and child care centers last week. Masks will continue to be required indoors at schools under a state requirement thats expected to be reevaluated at the end of February.

Los Angeles County on Feb. 23 reported 1,204 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

The county also reported 1,934 new COVID-19 cases and 36 additional deaths. Among the 36 deaths, 33 of these individuals had underlying health conditions.

City News Service contributed to this report.
Los Angeles Seeks State Funding to Local Organic Waste Diversion Programs

LOS ANGELESTwo Los Angeles City Councilmen introduced a resolution on Feb. 23 to support state legislation that would provide funding to organic waste diversion programs in Los Angeles and other California jurisdictions.

The resolution, which was introduced by Councilmen Mitch OFarrell and Paul Krekorian, contends that Senate Bill 45 would help Los Angeles and other cities meet the requirements of Senate Bill 1383, which took effect Jan. 1 and seeks to divert organic waste from California landfills.

There is no city in California that has done more in the area of waste diversion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions than Los Angeles, Krekorian said. We were doing this before the unfunded mandate that is SB 1383 had ever been written. The state must provide financial assistance towards meeting CalRecycles rigid requirements, which will allow Los Angeles to continue to lead California cities in combating methane emissions from the waste sector.

The state legislation was introduced by Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) and would direct CalRecycle and the California Air Resources Board to provide assistance, including funding, to local jurisdictions organic waste diversion programs.

The councilmen also said it would assist Los Angeles in its goal to achieve zero waste from city departments by 2025 and a 1-million-ton diversion of materials from landfills by 2025, which was adopted as part of the citys Green New Deal.

Los Angeles is committed to environmental stewardship, and we have consistently led the way toward a carbon-free future, said OFarrell, the chair of the Councils Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and River Committee.

The resolution to declare the councils support for Senate Bill 45 will first be considered by the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee before a full vote by the full city council.
Los Angeles to Fund Unarmed Policing Pilot Program

LOS ANGELESLos Angeles will allocate $2.3 million to alternative policing programs that deploy unarmed responders to areas with high gun violence in order to lower the number of violent crimes in those areas.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a motion on Feb. 23 to fund a policing pilot program that would send alternative unarmed responders to areas most acutely affected by the recent surge in gun violence. The $2.3 million will come from the citys general fund.

Last month, the LA Police Department (LAPD) reported that deadly shootings involving LAPD officers were up over 140 percent, while homicides increased nearly 12 percent from 2020 to 2021. LAPD Chief Michel Moore said during a press conference last month that 54 percent of the citys shootings and homicides were related to gang violence.

Given the surge of violent crime that weve seen in certain parts of our city  we know that an integrated approach to community-based public safety initiatives are paramount to helping to support the work that LAPD does in these neighborhoods, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who introduced the motion last month, said on Feb. 14.

Rodriguez said the programs would be created under the mayors office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development, founded in 2008, which aims at preventing crime among youth through social services.

The policing programs will be modeled on existing programs, such as the CIRCLE program and a pilot partnership between the Los Angeles Fire Department and the LA County Department of Mental Healthboth of which send a team of therapists and social workers to homeless- or mental health-related emergency calls.

These programs represent two recent innovations that remove armed response from situations that do not warrant it and take therapeutic approaches to assisting people who are experiencing homelessness or dealing with a mental health crisis that results in a call to 911, Rodriguez said in the motion.

Gang Reduction and Youth Development Director Reginald Zachary said during a committee meeting that his team will first target the areas with the highest amount of gun violence, and then later address all 23 Gang Reduction and Youth Development zones, though he didnt specify which areas would be targeted first.

Gang Reduction and Youth Development data estimate a 36 percent decrease in gang crimes in all targeted areas from 2017 to 2018.

Rodriguezs motion also authorizes the mayors office to prepare, process, and execute contracts with service providers or any other agencies or organizations to prepare the pilot programs, though the councilwoman didnt give a timeline for the pilot programs creation or execution.

Councilwoman Monica Rodgriguez and a spokesperson for the Gang Reduction and Youth Development didnt respond to requests for comment by press deadline.
A woman has shared a heartwarming video of her Bambi-obsessed, terminally-ill mothers joyous reaction upon receiving a surprise bedside visit from a fawn days before she died.

Phyllis McDonald, 81, a retired nurse in Melbourne, Australia, had made the brave decision to leave hospice care and spend her last days at home after a long battle with polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

Her daughter, insurance worker Lisa McDonald, knew her mother had always loved deer and the movie Bambi.

I dont know why, but anyone that knew her knew she loved them, she told The Epoch Times.

As Lisa was recently caring for her mother, an idea blossomed.

I contacted Simone and Chris from Barn Buddies mobile farm on Facebook to see if they had a deer, she explained, and they did.

They agreed to get the deer to meet Lisas mother on Feb. 12. However, when Phylliss condition deteriorated a day before and the family wasnt sure if she would make it, Lisa sent Simone and Chris a message to let them know of the change.

Simone called Lisa right back to let her know they were based 2 1/2 hours away. Would they make it, she asked; Lisa said it was hard to tell. But Simone, Chris, and a fawn named Bambihand-raised by Simone and Chris when her own mother was unable to look after herarrived just in time.

When Chris walked in with the deer, Mom couldnt believe her eyes, Lisa recalled. She was in shock but so, so happy.

Lisa shared a video of the moving bedside visit with the Facebook group The Kindness Pandemic, amassing 20,000 reactions from netizens who were touched by both the sweet gesture and Phylliss response.

In the footage, Phyllis wears a pink Bambi t-shirt and gasps in response to her unexpected visitors arrival at her home in her bed. The family also wore Bambi t-shirts in support, calling them their nursing uniforms, Lisa wrote on the Facebook post.

Lisa, who had been caring for her mother alongside her sister, Allison Andrews, and aunt, Carol Hardy, told The Epoch Times that Barn Buddies didnt accept any payment for their visit. They did this out of pure kindness.

Recounting her mothers battle with PKD, Lisa said Phyllis had been on dialysis for four years.

In the last few months, she had to be hospitalized for an unrelated procedure, but then endured a number of surgical procedures while continuing dialysis, she explained. Mom passed away on Feb. 15 at 2.45 a.m. surrounded by her family, and very peacefully.

Lisa explained that the reason she shared the video was to showcase the kindness of Simone and Chris.

We will never forget it, she said.

Watch the touching video:

(Courtesy of Lisa McDonald)

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
Maine Governor Janet Mills has taken one of the toughest stances against vaccine religious exemptions in the nation. Here she is pictured at the Climate Action Summit in the U.N. General Assembly Hall in New York on Sept. 23, 2019. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

Maine House, US Supreme Court Deny Relief Requests From COVID Jab

The Maine House of Representatives on Feb. 23 rejected a proposal calling for a five-year prohibition on all COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the state, which has some of the most restrictive orders in the nation.

By a 7659 vote with 13 lawmakers absent, the Democratic-controlled Maine House voted down the measure. The chamber voted to forward it to the Senate for consideration.

Tiffany Tereck, a co-founder of Health Choice Maine who lobbied in support of the bill, told The Epoch Times that her group considers the fight against COVID-19 vaccine mandates far from over.

Tereck pointed to sole Republican gubernatorial contender and former Maine Gov. Paul LePages bid to unseat incumbent Democrat Janet Mills. An Ipsos poll shows Millss job approval has dropped to 48 percent while LePage is winning over undecided voters.

Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage is running to unseat current Gov. Janet Mills. LePage is pictured in the State Dining Room of the White House on Feb. 12, 2018. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Were far from done with this fight, Tereck said. The bill called for a five-year moratorium to allow for studies of the vaccines potential harm to pregnancies and reproduction.

The rejection by the Democratic-led House came just a day after the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed, without a finding, a petition filed by about 2,000 Maine health care workers challenging Millss elimination of religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate.

That made Maine one of only three U.S. statesalong with New York and Rhode Islandwhose COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers doesnt allow for religious exemptions. Mills added a warning that her administration would revoke the business license of any employer that granted such an exemption to an employee.

Matt Staver, founder and lead counsel of Liberty Counsel, told The Epoch Times he was very disappointed as well as very surprised by the Supreme Courts rejection, especially given Justice Neil Gorsuchs dissenting opinion of the courts rejection of the Maine groups emergency petition it filed in October, Staver said.

Because there is no real dispute that the challengers are likely to be permanently harmed if the mandate remains in effect, the real question before the court in deciding whether to grant emergency relief was whether the challengers are likely to succeed on their argument that the vaccine mandate violates their right to freely exercise their religion, Gorsuch wrote.

The answer to that question is clear, he wrote, the mandate is unconstitutional. He was joined by Justices Thomas Clarence and Samuel Alito in his support of the Maine petition.

Staver said his organization is considering filing a motion to reconsider, which he acknowledged is an unusual move, citing an opportunity to deepen the constitutional challenge to Millss acceptance of medical exemptions and not religious exemptions as a matter of discrimination.

He also wants to expand his argument that prohibiting employers from granting a religious exemption is a civil rights violation.

This really leaves an injustice unremedied, Staver said.

As for legislative efforts to block the COVID-19 vaccine mandates, the Republican-led proposal came from all corners of the northeastern statethe largest in New England.

Its main sponsor, Republican Tracy Quint represents Aroostook County, which borders Canada, while Republican Heidi Sampson, a co-sponsor, represents York County in the southern part of the state, which includes some of its most blue communities, such as Ogunquit, York, and Kittery.

However, it would have been a near political miracle if the bill was approved by the House.

Maines entire government systemincluding the executive branch and both chambers of the legislatureis controlled by the Democrats. In addition, the 13-member Maine Health and Human Services Committee has only five Republicans.

Some of its strongest opposition to the moratorium proposal came from the American Cancer Society. In a statement against it on its website, Hilary Schneider, the societys Maine director of government relations, said that the bill undermines evidence-based, public health policies and especially poses a risk to Mainers with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.

Vaccine requirements help protect immunocompromised patients, including kids, and blocking businesses and organizations, as well as cities and towns, from enacting these policies jeopardizes the health of patients and silences their voices, she wrote.

The Maine Hospital Association, Maine Medical Association, Maine Primary Care Association, Maine Health Care Association, Maine Dental Association, and the states two largest hospitalsNorthern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and MaineHealthalso opposed the bill.

Mills maintained a staunch position against religious exemptions even in the wake of the shutdown of emergency rooms at Maine hospitals and a shortage of emergency medical technicians around the state.

Last month, Mills opted instead to fill the void with National Guard personnel.
Vials with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine labels are seen in this illustration picture taken on March 19, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Australia Approves Moderna Vaccine For 6 to 11s

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has now been approved as the primary course for children aged 6 to 11 in Australia.

Speaking at the press conference on Feb. 23, Health Minister Greg Hunt said Moderna gives more choice and flexibility for parents along with the Pfizer vaccine which is approved for children aged 5 and older.

The vaccine was provisionally approved by the TGA on Feb. 17 and are available for administration from Feb. 24 following ATAGIs announcement the day prior.

Vaccination sites for Moderna are to become available across 4,000 around the country from Feb. 24, with an additional 1,600 clinics and pharmacies expected to join the number once they have completed their training packages.

Similar to the Pfizer vaccine, the dosage for the vaccine will be half of what is administered for adults and is recommended for administration at 8 weeks intervals between the two primary doses but the time frame can be shortened to 4 weeks for children that are at risk of moderate or severe COVID-19 symptoms.

The news comes timely as the health minister announced on Feb. 22 the federal government would be moving to start mass vaccine rollouts for children via schools in a move to encourage the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in states and territories.

TGA Considers Novavax as Boosters and for Children

The news about Modernas approval comes as TGA deputy secretary, John Skerritt said that the organisation is in discussions with Novavax leaders to see if the vaccine can be provisioned for children as well as boosters for adults.

The TGA are still waiting for data from Novavax. A response on further rollouts are expected from March onwards.

The news comes as 12,000 Novavax protein vaccines have been rolled out since Feb. 14 for Australians aged 18 and over, well ahead of what the government anticipated.

We are seeing that there are people who are coming forward for Novavax who had chosen, for whatever reason, not to be vaccinated earlier, and thats encouraging, Skerritt said.

Additionally, the TGA is also looking into the Australian-made protein vaccine COVAX-19, which has already been approved for use in Iran.

We also have vaccines from a couple of international companies that were expecting to receive submissions from. And of course, we continue to review a number of treatments.

TGA Considers Additional Shots

When asked if four shots are being considered as the definition to fully vaccinated Skerritt said that they are still considering due to the flu season coming in as the country goes into winter.

Because of masks and perhaps because of isolation from the rest of the world, weve had fairly extremely low flu numbers, and thats not going to continue forever, he said.

He said the TGA is looking into the possible impacts of flu and COVID-19 as the winter season approaches and whether vulnerable populations would require a fourth dose, especially if they were boosted in November, December 2021, or into January 2022.

Skerritt said that there has been a lot of active thinking and planning into the fourth dose and the TGA will have to have clear positions on it by March and April.

As of Feb. 23, 49.4 percent of children have received their first dose of the vaccine and 62.1 percent of eligible of Australians have received their boosters.
A general view shows damaged buildings and landscape covered with ash following the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Kanokupolu, Tonga, on Jan. 23, 2022. (Tonga Red Cross Society/Handout via Reuters)

Musks Starlink Connects Remote Tonga Villages Still Cut Off After Tsunami

SYDNEYElon Musks satellite venture has launched a free high-speed internet service to connect remote villages in Tonga that have been cut off since a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami in January.

Tongas prime minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, said in a ceremony on Wednesday in the capital, Nukualofa, that 50 VSAT terminals provided free of charge by Musks SpaceX would be distributed to the outlying islands worst hit by the tsunami.

It is rather paradoxical for a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami to bring to our shores the latest in satellite and communications technology, he said in a speech broadcast by Tonga Broadcasting Commission.

Elon Musk probably didnt know much about Tonga until January 15, but gave generously.

The service will remain in place and free until a submarine cable connecting the outlying islands with Tongas main island Tongatapu is repaired.

The international cable connecting Tonga to Fiji was restored on Tuesday, after a 92 km section was replaced. The domestic cable was closer to the volcanic eruption and will take up to nine months to replace, Tonga Cable says.

Tonga Cable chief executive James Panuve said the Starlink service would help isolated villages in desperate need of connectivity, and credited the prime minister for negotiating with Musk after he made the offer.

PM Sovaleni said it had all started with a simple letter from a New Zealand politician, Dr Shane Reti, addressed to Musk and seeking his assistance to provide Starlink internet to the people of Tonga cut off from the outside world.

The letter was sent on Jan. 17, two days after the eruption. On Jan. 21, Musk replied on Twitter to a Reuters story reporting it would likely take a month for internet connectivity to be restored after damage to the archipelagos sole subsea communications cable.

Could people from Tonga let us know if it is important for SpaceX to send over Starlink terminals? Musk asked in his post.

Expatriate Tongans, unable to reach loved ones after the tsunami, replied that it was.

Sovaleni said Musk set up a Starlink gateway station in Fiji and was donating 50 VSAT terminals and free capacity during the emergency period.

Sovaleni said 85 percent of Tongans had been impacted by the volcano and tsunami, with damage amounting to 20 percent of gross domestic product. Four people were killed.

The prime minister urged Tongans to enjoy the fast online speeds from the safety of home, amid Tongas first COVID-19 outbreak, which grew to 254 cases on Tuesday.

By Kirsty Needham
People stand at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Medyka, Poland, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

My Mother Heard Explosions and Yelled That the War Is Coming: Ukrainians React to Russian Invasion

Ukrainians have shared details about what is happening inside the country as Moscow-led military attacks have sent thousands of residents fleeing their homes.

The sounds of explosions were allegedly heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine early Thursday, local time.

Natalie Telesheva, a digital artist living in Kharkiv, roughly 299 miles from Kyiv, told The Epoch Times that she was woken up early on Thursday morning by her mother who heard the sound of explosions pummeling the city.

I was sleeping and my mother raced into my bedroom and said she had heard explosions and yelled that the war is coming and we need to leave, Telesheva said.

But I dont want to leave because this is my home and I dont want to be afraid, the enemy should be afraid, Telesheva added.

The artist, 25, said that she has seen hundreds of people trying to flee the city, leading to roads being completely blocked with traffic jams.

Her own family is contemplating traveling to Poltava, a city located on the Vorskla River in central Ukraine because they feel it would be safer but again they are hesitant to leave their home.

Inside Kharkiv, locals have turned to stockpiling goods amid the invasion, leaving supermarket shelves virtually empty.

I went out earlier today and there were so many people on the streets trying to leave, some of them were going to the underground station to shelter from air missiles, Telesheva said. I wanted to buy some water but people have been mass purchasing food and drink because they feared it would run out so I couldnt get anything.

There is a general feeling of panic here, we are afraid, she said, adding that she heard multiple explosions earlier today but that things have since become much quieter this afternoon.

Telesheva said that Russian troops had earlier taken over the ring road near Kharkiv but that the Ukrainian army has now removed them from the area.

Russian troops had also arrived near the town of Shchastya in Ukraines region of Luhansk after Putins announcement earlier this week that the country will recognize the independent sovereignty of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine.

But Telesheva said that this area is now safe.

The Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted a statement on social media on Thursday morning local time which reads, Operational information from the east of Ukraine. Two tanks and several trucks of the Russian Federation were destroyed in the area of Shchastya. Follow the updates.

In a second update, officials said, The city of happiness is under control. Shchastya means happiness in Ukrainian.

Iuliia Mendel, the former press secretary for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys administration said on Twitter on Thursday that, The Ukrainian Armed Forces recaptured Zmiinyy Island (near Odesa, South) and that Mariupol and Shchastia in Donbas are also under Ukrainian control.

Telesheva said Ukrainian forces have also successfully removed Russian troops from Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, where attacks were being carried out earlier today.

Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Thursday that at least eight people were killed and 14 more wounded during Moscow-led attacks on military units.

The countrys President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed nationwide martial law on Thursday morning, saying Russia had targeted Ukraines military infrastructure, and urged civilians to stay home where possible.

Russia has attacked our military infrastructure, our border guards, Zelensky said. Explosions were heard in many cities of Ukraine.

Russia has asked the United States and its allies to deny Ukraine and other former Soviet nations membership into NATO and that NATO members scale back troop deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

Ukrainian military vehicles move past Independence square in central Kyiv on Feb. 24, 2022. (Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

In the buildup to the attack, Russian state media portrayed Moscow as coming to the rescue of war-torn areas of eastern Ukraine where residents were tormented by Ukraines aggression.

You paid with your blood for these eight years of torment and anticipation, anchor Olga Skabeyeva said during a popular political talk show Tuesday morning. Russia will now be defending Donbas.

But leaders from around the world have condemned Russias unprovoked and unjustified attack of Ukraine in the wake of the invasion.

President Joe Biden late Wednesday issued a statement saying that Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces, Biden said. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

Biden has also said he would sanction two state-owned banks, including one that services the Russian military as well as elites close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the countrys sovereign debt.

In response, Anatoly Antonov, Russias ambassador to the United States, said the U.S. sanctions cannot solve a thing.

It is hard to imagine that there is a person in Washington who expects Russia to revise its foreign policy under a threat of restrictions, he wrote in a social media post. I dont remember a single day when our country lived without any restrictions from the Western world. We have learned to work in such conditions. And not only to survive but also to develop our state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NATO Further Increases Military Presence on Alliance Territory After Russian Attack

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday vowed that the military alliance would defend every inch of its members territory, slamming Russia for shattering the peace in Europe.

NATO is the strongest alliance in history. And make no mistake, we will defend and protect every ally against any attack, Stoltenberg said during a news conference at the organizations headquarters in the capital of Belgium.

Peace on our continent has been shattered, he added. We now have war in Europe on a scale and of a type we thought belonged to history.

Stoltenberg stated that NATO activated the alliances defense plan, giving military leaders additional authority to move and deploy combat forces whenever and wherever needed in the eastern part of its territory, also noting that no troops will be sent to Ukraine and the measure is only defensive.

We have made it clear that we dont have any plans or intention of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine, the chief said. What we have made clear is that we have already increased, and we are increasing, the presence of NATO troops in the eastern part of the alliance, on NATO territory.

But what we do is defensive, is measured and we dont seek confrontation, we want to prevent the conflict and any attack against any NATO-allied country, he added.

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, however, said in a joint statement that the alliance should urgently provide Ukrainian people with weapons, ammunition and any other kind of military support so they are able to defend themselves.

During Thursdays meeting, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia triggered urgent consultations under Article 4 of NATOs founding Washington Treaty. These are launched when the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the (NATO) parties is threatened.

A first step now could be to activate the NATO Response Force (NRF), which can number up to 40,000 troops. A quickly deployable land brigade that is part of the NRFmade up of around 5,000 troops and run by France alongside Germany, Poland, Portugal, and Spainis already on heightened alert. NATO already bolstered members airspace defense capabilities and put more than 100 warplanes on high alert.

Some NATO members have also sent troops, aircraft, and warships to the Black Sea region, near allies Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey. The Pentagon has also put up to 8,500 U.S. troops on heightened alert, so they will be prepared to deploy if needed to reassure other allies.

Stoltenberg said there is a probability the move will result in long-term security effects and NATOs response will be crucial for future relationships between Moscow and the alliance.

We dont have all the answers today but there will be a new realityit will be a new Europe after the invasion we saw today, he said.

Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine by land, air, and sea in the early hours of ThursdayUkraine local timeafter Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation. The attack was feared for months by Western nations and is the largest attack on European soil since World War II.

Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraines leadership said at least 40 people had been killed so far in what it called a full-scale war, with multiple cities and bases targeted with airstrikes or shelling from the east, north, and south.

Lithuania, a NATO member, declared a state of emergency in a decree signed by President Gitanas Nauseda in response to Moscows attack. The Baltic countrys parliament was expected to approve the measure in an extraordinary session later on Thursday. Lithuania borders Russias Kaliningrad region to the southwest, Belarus to the east, Latvia to the north, and Poland to the south.

The measure, in effect until March 10, would allow for more flexible use of state reserve funds and increased border protection, giving border guards greater authorities to stop and search individuals and vehicles in border areas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
President Joe Biden delivers remarks about Russia's unprovoked and unjustified" military invasion of neighboring Ukraine in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 24, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

New Sanctions on Russia Dont Block Russian Oil and Gas

New U.S. sanctions released on Feb. 24, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, dont directly block Russian oil and gas imports.

American oil and gas companies should notshould notexploit this moment to hike their prices to raise profits, U.S. President Joe Biden said in a televised speech announcing the sanctions. In our sanctions package, we specifically designed [it] to allow energy payments to continue. We are closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption. Weve been coordinating with major oil-producing and [oil] consuming countries toward our common interest to secure global energy supplies.

Biden noted that the United States was prepared to release more oil from its strategic petroleum reserves as conditions warrant.

The U.S. measures, detailed in a White House statement, target various Russian financial institutions. They also encompass financial restrictions on Russian elites and their family members, along with limits on debt and equity for Russian energy firms, including the state-controlled firm Gazprom and its subsidiary, Gazprom Neft, as well as the pipeline firm Transneft.

The sanctions dont target Rosneft, a Russian integrated energy firm.

In his speech, Biden said his administration is using every tool at our disposal to limit the effect on gas prices, but noted that gasoline prices for Americans are likely to be affected by the sanctions.

Similar sanctions from the European Unioin, released on Feb. 23, target 351 State Duma members who voted to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The EU sanctions also ban imports from areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that arent under Ukrainian control.

In addition, those sanctions limit EU financing to Russia.

The Council decided to introduce a sectoral prohibition to finance the Russian Federation, its government, and Central Bank, the EU said in a statement. By restraining the ability of the Russian state and government to access the EUs capital, and financial markets and services, the EU aims to limit the financing of escalatory and aggressive policies.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the EU regarding its sanctions and their intended effect on the Russian energy industry.

An unnamed Biden administration insider told Politico that energy prices are influencing the administrations actions against Russia.

Ukrainian officials have been advocating for tough sanctions on Russia.

Right now, Putin is plunging Europe into its darkest time since 1939. Any government hoping to sit this out is naive. Dont repeat mistakes of the past. Hit Russia with severe sanctions now. Help Ukraine with military and financial support. Together we can #StopRussianAggression, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, wrote on Twitter on Feb. 24.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter on Feb. 24 that a package of additional tough sanctions against Russia from the EU is approaching. Discussed all the details with [French President Emmanuel Macron]. We demand the disconnection of Russia from SWIFT, the introduction of a no-fly zone over Ukraine, and other effective steps to stop the aggressor.

The United States has become a major consumer of Russian oil. Statistics from the Energy Information Administration show that the United States imported more than 17.8 million barrels of Russian oil in November 2021, the last month for which statistics are available.

The EU relies on Russia for up to 40 percent of its gas.

Bidens actions on no Russian export limits keeps Russian barrels in the market, and a lid on prices by not cutting 9 million barrels out of the stack, Paul Copello, president of IIR Energy, said in an email to The Epoch Times. That decreases the probability of a supply disruption from the West banning purchases of oil and natural gas into Europe or elsewhere, and is the main reason that oil sold off from its highs today.
A person uses a smartphone on a subway platform in Manhattan, New York City on Feb. 11, 2022. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

New York City Plans to Install Subway Barriers After Spate of Attacks

Platform doors will be installed at multiple stations in New York Citys subway system after a spate of attacks, including six stabbings, a top transportation official says.

The pilot program will see the doors put in place at three stations, including the Times Square station, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Janno Lieber told NY1.

Another effort focuses on using new technology, including lasers, to alert workers more quickly to when people are on the tracks in the system, one of the largest in the world.

Both pilot programs come after a significant increase in the number of people getting on the tracks and inside tunnels, Lieber said.

A lot of people are doing it voluntarily. Sometimes people with mental health issues do it and they dont understand the dangers and so on, he said. Others are being pushed.

Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, was killed in January when a homeless man shoved her onto the tracks.

The platform doors will be installed in 2024, a spokesperson for the transportation authority told The Epoch Times in an email. The cost is expected to be above $100 million, while the materials havent been decided upon and will be determined through a procurement process.

Many of the largest subway systems around the world have platform doors, but New York officials have resisted installing them in part because the system, much of which was built more than a century ago, cant handle the doors in many areas.

A feasibility study (pdf) completed in 2020 found that platform doors could only be installed at 41 of the 472 stations studied.

Still, the pilot drew some praise, including from Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

This will be a huge win for safety & efficiency. Truly a milestone in the history of NYCs subways. Congrats to all who fought for this, Levine, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter.

Others said the pilot wouldnt be enough.

A pilot program for three stations out of 472, which wont even go into effect for at least another two years, is not an adequate solution for the serious violent-crime crisis we face on the subway right now, Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, told The Epoch Times via email.

Police and mental-health professionals must secure subway platforms by securing the faregate, ensuring that people with a tendency toward anti-social behavior cant come in by ensuring they cant beat the fare. In addition, rather than pursue a multi-billion-dollar platform doors plan, the MTA should consider far more simpler infrastructure ideas, such as fixed railings and barriers that separate the platform from the track bed in all areas of the station but the boarding areas near the doors, she added.

The office of Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, didnt return an inquiry.

Adams, a former police officer who took office on Jan. 1, has vowed to remove homeless people from the system after years of officials letting them sleep on trains through the night.

New York Citys system operates 24/7.

People tell me about their fear of using the system, and we are going to ensure that fear is not New Yorks reality, Adams told reporters on Feb. 21.

A plan to improve system safety includes adding police officers.
LONDONA London high court began to hear a lawsuit on Wednesday launched by Nigeria against U.S. bank JP Morgan Chase, claiming more than $1.7 billion for its role in a disputed 2011 oilfield deal.

The civil suit filed in the English courts relates to the purchase by energy majors Shell and Eni of the offshore OPL 245 oilfield in Nigeria, which is also at the center of ongoing legal action in Italy. A panel of judges in Milan acquitted the companies and executives, who all denied any wrongdoing, of bribery last March. Prosecutors have appealed the ruling.

In the court documents pertaining to the London case seen by Reuters, Nigeria alleges JP Morgan was grossly negligent in its decision to transfer funds paid by the energy majors into an escrow account to a company controlled by the countrys former oil minister Dan Etete instead of into government coffers.

The trial opened with details of the claim by Nigerias lawyer, Roger Masefield. JP Morgan will present its defense early next week. The trial will end on April 7 and a judgment will likely take several months.

In court, Masefield said Nigerias case rested on proving two key points: there was a fraud and JP Morgan was aware of the risk of fraud. He said JP Morgan had breached its duties.

The evidence of fraud is little short of overwhelming, Masefield told the court.

Under its Quincecare duty, the bank was entitled to refuse to pay for as long as it had reasonable grounds for believing its customer was being defrauded.

Quincecare is a legal precedent whereby the bank should not pay out if it believes its client will be defrauded by making the payment.

JP Morgans London offices deal with business for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, including Nigeria.

A spokesman for the bank in a statement to Reuters said it was confident that it acted appropriately in making these payments and said the bank would robustly defend against this claim.

Damages Sought

The damages sought include cash sent to Etetes company Malabu Oil and Gas, around $875 million paid in three installments in 2011 and 2013, plus interest, taking the total to over $1.7 billion. The Nigerian government at the time asked JP Morgan to make these transfers as part of the oilfield sale, court documents show.

The London case dates back to 1998 when Nigerian military ruler Sani Abacha awarded the offshore oilfield license, OPL 245, to a company Etete owned.

The $20 million price tagof which Etete paid about $2 million, according to court documentswas widely viewed by industry experts as too low given, the block was expected to yield billions of dollars of crude, although it remains undeveloped.

Subsequent Nigerian administrations contested Etetes rights to the field, triggering years of legal wrangling until a deal designed to end the battles was struck in 2011.

Etetes company Malabu Oil and Gas handed the undeveloped OPL 245 back to Nigeria as part of a resolution agreement involving Shell and Eni.

To complete the deal, Shell and Eni paid a signature bonus of about $200 million directly to the Nigerian government and then deposited $1.1 billion in the Nigerian governments escrow account with JP Morgan, court documents show.

Etetes lawyers did not comment on the trial as Etete is not a party in this suit. Shell and Eni are also not parties to the London law suit and declined to comment.

By Julia Payne
The back of an Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) bus in Orange County, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

OCTA Reaches Contract Agreement With Bus Drivers

After a tenacious dispute in which drivers at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) threatened to strike, the agencys board of directors approved a new contract on Feb. 22.

This agreement means that OC Bus services will keep running for passengers who count on us to get to work, to school, and elsewhere throughout Orange County, OCTA Chairman Mark A. Murphy said in a statement.

Team Local 952, the union representing 600 bus drivers, approved the three-year agreement on Feb. 22.

Negotiations have been underway for nearly a year since the old contract expired last April. It wasnt until January when bus drivers decided to strike in an attempt to fight for better pay and more rest breaks.

Under the new agreement, drivers will receive a 4 percent raise immediately and a one-time $2,000 contract signing bonus for all current drivers, from federal COVID-19 relief funds, according to an OCTA press release.

Drivers will also receive a 5 percent raise in the second and third years of the contract, bringing their hourly wage to $33.74.

Additionally, the contract also permits guaranteed minimum break times per shift.

Drivers previously threatened to go on strike in January.

Ultimately, OCTA sought the intervention of Gov. Gavin Newsom, urging him to appoint a board to investigate the labor contract dispute.

However, since OCTA reached an agreement with Team Local 952 before a strike was called, the governors intervention wasnt necessary, according to OCTA spokesman Eric Carpenter.

A strike would have affected around 85 percent of riders that use the OC bus as their main source of transportation, according to OCTA.

Half of the riders have an average household income of less than $50,000.

The new contract will expire in April 2024.
An employee holds a sample of crude oil at the Yarakta oilfield, owned by Irkutsk Oil Co., in the Irkutsk region, Russia, on March 11, 2019. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

Oil Surges Above $100 After Putin Orders Military Action Against Ukraine

Oil prices surged above the $100 per barrel mark on Wednesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of military action against Ukraine.

U.S. crude futures were up by 5.46 percent and trading at $97.56 per barrel as of 10:27 a.m. GMT, while Brent crude futures were up 6.47 percent at $103.32, the first time they have been over the $100 mark since 2014.

Meanwhile, natural gas prices at one point surged nearly 6 percent.

The surge in prices came shortly after Putin announced in a televised address that a military operation was set to get underway in Ukraine with the intention of protecting civilians and to demilitarize Ukraine, in response to alleged threats coming from Ukraine.

Shortly after Putins announcement regarding the military operation, which Ukraines defense ministry called an unjustified, deceitful, and cynical invasion, explosions were reported in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, as well as in other key cities, such as Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Odesa.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said on Twitter that there was a full scale & comprehensive military assault underway throughout Ukraine with Airborne & amphibious landings, missile strikes from air, ground & naval forces, electronic & cyber attacks & a large ground force to occupy a large swath of territory.

Rubio said that Ukraine is outgunned and outmanned but that they are brave & tough fighters and as the world will soon learn they have already inflicted damage on Russian invaders.

Livestream video obtained by CNN also shows tanks rolling into Ukraine from a border crossing with Belarus at around 6:48 a.m. local time.

Pipes at the landfall facilities of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, on Feb. 15, 2022. (Michael Sohn, File/AP Photo)

The EU has repeatedly warned it is ready to impose massive consequences on Moscows economy if Russia invades Ukraine, but had previously stopped short of launching sanctions, in part due to the EUs close energy and trade ties with Russia.

However, on Feb. 23, the European Council of the European Union announced that it had agreed to sanction 351 members of the Russian State Duma who voted on Feb. 15 in favor of the appeal to Putin to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics, EU headquarters said.

Sanctions were also placed against an additional 27 individuals and entities who the EU council said have contributed to the undermining or threatening of the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.

Restrictions were also placed on economic relations with the non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk and on Russias state and government ability to access the EUs capital and financial markets and services.

Some EU members have cautioned against imposing strong sanctions on energy imports, given the EUs reliance on Russia for energy flows.

According to Eurostat, Russia is the fifth-largest trade partner of the EU, with imports of $177.9 billion and exports of $104.1 billion (pdf).

A number of EU countries, such as Germany and the Czech Republic, also have a high reliance on Russian natural gas, and Russia remained the largest supplier of natural gas and petroleum oils to the EU in 2021, according to Eurostat.

Russia is also one of the worlds largest producers of oil and natural gas, accounting for 17 percent of the worlds natural gas and 12 percent of its oil.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has said that the United States will impose sanctions on Russia far beyond the ones that were imposed years prior in 2014 following the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

Those sanctions target Russian elites close to Putin, and their family members, as well as two state-owned banks and the countrys sovereign debt.

But while oil prices jumped on Wednesday amid escalations in Ukraine, Goldman Sachs has said this shouldnt have much impact on energy prices.

While Europe imports a large share of its natural gas consumption from Russia, the U.S. is a net exporter of natural gas and any spillover effects on U.S. gas prices should be modest, analysts at the Wall Street bank said in a report on Wednesday.

Our commodities strategists also expect only a modest impact on oil prices, though they see the risks as skewed to the upside because the oil market is already tight.
A sculpture of the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, erected in 1970 at Moscow Square in front of the House of Soviets in Saint Petersburg, on June 25, 2017. (Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images)

Once Upon a Time in Moscow

Commentary

Once in Moscow, before the downfall of the Soviet Union, I stood in the line to file past the alleged corpse of Lenin in his mausoleum in Red Square. Behind me was a man from Brooklyn, New York.

This country is the hope of the world, he said.

He was an old-fashioned communist of a type that had by then become rather rare, but was once very common. The defects of communism, to say nothing of the mass crimes committed in its name, were so undeniable that only the blindest of the blind, such as the man from Brooklyn, could adhere to their former illusions.

In fact, the Iron Curtain had for some years served a useful function in the West. The horrors of life behind it were so well documented that they exerted a damping effect on the fantasies of those who might otherwise have been inclined to utopian dreams. The example of a utopia that had swiftly turned into a murderous hell everywhere it was tried encouraged a degree of realism, even among intellectuals.

With the implosion of the Soviet Union, however, the utopian imagination was set free to roam. It no longer had to check itself against any existing reality, and the recent past was soon forgotten even by the young in countries that had suffered it. Utopian schemes abounded: sexual identity without limits or boundaries, a world free of carbon dioxide production, countries without borders, equal representation of all racial and other demographic groups in positions of power, wealth, or influence, and so forth.

Of course, the reverse side of utopianism is authoritarianism, even totalitarianism. Since the utopian aims at perfection, anyone who opposes him must be a bad person, evilly disposed. Its therefore only right that such people should be silenced, by force if necessary. Never in my lifetime has the desire been greater to shut people up or prevent them from speaking in the first place. It goes deeper even than that, since children as young as 5 or 6 are now being indoctrinated so that they will grow up incapable of having wrong thoughts about such matters as sex and gender and global warming.

Just because something is impossible doesnt stop people from trying to put it into practice, nor does the sheer unrealism or even stupidity of ideas mean that they can have no practical effect or influence. Indeed, their practical effect or influence can be profound and disastrous.

Currently, for example, Europe finds itself as weak as a baby in the face of Russia, despite having an economy thats many times the size of Russias and an incomparably higher standard of living.

One of the reasons for this seeming paradoxits usually polities with the strongest economies that have the upper handis the energy policies pursued by European countries. Under pressure from idealisticthat is to say utopian greenactivists, they have decided to reduce their consumption of oil, ban coal, decommission nuclear power stations, and prohibit the practice of fracking. Britain stopped oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, and Germany chose the very time of the Ukrainian crisis to close its last nuclear power stations.

At the same time, Europe is committed to the electrification of all its vehicles (which initially, at any rate, will act as a heavy tax on the poor). The extra electricity required will have to be generated somehow. So-called renewables are unreliable: The wind doesnt always blow and the sun doesnt always shine. For the moment, the only plausible solution is natural gas, much of which must be imported from Russia.

One may accuse Putin of many things, but not of stupidity. Hes fully aware of the lever this has put into his hands, and many people believe he has been funding ecological movements in Europe that stymie a more realistic policy. Whether this is true, he now has the perfect tool for causing serious stagflation in Europe: restricting the supply of a vital productive factor and raising the price of everything.

It isnt even as if the green utopians care much for the environment, or at any rate not for its beauty. They would be happy to see the land covered with hideous, noisy, wildlife-destroying wind farms. What they care for isnt power generation, but political power, their own power to dictate policy irrespective of consequences.

Thus, the green utopians, whom cowardly or corrupt governments have appeased, have strengthened Putins hand and condemned Ukrainians to a very anxious future.

The same kind of people believe in a world without conflict in which armed forces are unnecessary at best and a menace at worst. A combination of utopian pacifism and utter military reliance on the United States has disarmed Europe completely; it probably couldnt long withstand an attack from Turkey, let alone from Russia.

Meanwhile, U.S. power is itself being undermined and weakened by utopian social movements that are making its armed forces a laughing stock to the Russians and Chinese. Their mission is no longer to defend the country and its interests but to further the cause of so-called diversity, inclusion, and equity, in the same way that universities and colleges have been sapped of their true purpose. Diversity, inclusion, and equity are like termites in a wooden building: The building appears to be just the same as it always was until it suddenly collapses in a heap of sawdust.

Suffice it to say its doubtful that the armed forces of Russia and China are much concerned with diversity, inclusion, and equitywhich in any case are, in true Newspeak fashion, the very opposite of what they appear to mean. They are really uniformity, exclusion, and injustice.

We shouldnt exaggerate. We dont yet live in fear of the midnight knock on the door, and thats something to be grateful for. But all the academics to whom I speak (which I admit may not be a representative sample) live in fear for their jobs, for their grants, for their promotion, for their reputation, occasionally even for their safety.

The totalitarians are winning all the way along the line.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Over 95 Percent of US States Saw Hefty Rent Hikes Since Last Year

A new rent report just released by Rent.com indicates that 95 percent of U.S. states faced significant rent increases over 2021. The cost for one-bedroom units increased by an average of 22.6 percent, while two-bedroom units experienced hikes of around 20.4 percent.

Rent.com, an apartment search engine and online marketplace catering to Millennials, is owned by RentPath a Redfin company.

In some locations, rental increases for one-bedroom apartments were staggering. Gilbert, Arizona saw a 108.5 percent surge, while Long Beach, California rents are up by 55.7 percent, and Huntington Beach, California, 49.2 percent. Jersey City, New Jersey and Austin, Texas also had rental increases of over 45 percent.

For two-bedroom apartments, New York City rents climbed almost 50 percent, followed by Fresno, California, Aurora, Illinois, and Salt Lake City, Utah, all with rents over 40 percent higher.

In New York City, which stomached the highest rent increase over the past year, the average two-bedroom apartment is now demanding a whopping $7,384 a month. Jersey City comes in second with an average of $5,055 a month rent, and Boston third, with an average monthly rental of $4,704.

For one-bedroom rentals, Jersey City leads the pack with an average $3,766 monthly rate, followed by Boston at $3,687 a month, and San Francisco at $3,515 a month.

A new apartment building in the Mission Bay area of San Francisco (Courtesy of Rent.com)

I think there are two major factors driving rent prices: migration and a hot home-buying market, Jon Leckie, Rent.com data journalist told The Epoch Times. Leckie explains that when the pandemic hit, a lot of people left major cities, resulting in increased prices in the suburbs. However, as the rents in major metropolitan areas fell, some people began to move back. This, in turn, increased demand and put prices back to levels at or beyond what we saw before the pandemic.

Leckie also noted that many Millennials are entering a period in life where they now have a family and want to buy a house in the suburbs. The pandemics halt on new construction coupled with institutional investors and an already hot buying market put a further squeeze on the supply of single-family homes. All of these factors have increased the cost of buying a home, which has priced many first-time buyers out of the market, he said. And those priced out of home buying are the remaining renters, which further increases the demand for rentals.

Newer buildings are often able to garner higher rents because of the amenities offered, such as newer appliances, gourmet kitchens, rooftop decks, pools, and gyms. Leckie added that developers are also seeking the biggest return on their investments.

In New York City, where the average two-bedroom apartment can fetch over $7,000 a month in rent, the demand remains high. The rental market is on fire, Michael Shapot, a real estate broker with Keller Williams Park Avenue Manhattan office told The Epoch Times. People are getting priced out of the market for purchasing properties and now theres very little inventory left. Plus, new apartment construction has stalled due to supply chain issues.

According to Shapot, Manhattans rental prices have risen way beyond pre-pandemic levels in areas like midtown, Greenwich Village, Soho, and Tribeca. The en masse return of Millennials and Generation Y to the city is being blamed for rental shortages and the resulting price hikes. During the pandemic, there was a glut of apartments when younger people returned home to live with their parents or friends, but we started to see an influx back to the city in the Fall of 2021, he said.

Shapot isnt surprised by the average rents indicated in the Rent.com report. Weve seen some rents go for as high as $25,000 a month in great areas with three bedrooms and lots of amenities, he added. Thats over a quarter million dollars a year in rent, and its amazing to see who plays in these sandboxes!

A studio apartment in Manhattans Murray Hill section, renting for $2,700 a month (Courtesy of Michael Shapot, Keller Williams, Manhattan)

Rental high rollers are often people who have large stock portfolios, have acquired a huge amount of wealth, and want the flexibility of a rental, notes Shapot. As a result, qualifying for an apartment has become more difficult for the average person. Landlords are often skittish about renting, since they can collect only one month security deposit now, he added. Having good credit is more important than ever.

New York City dwellers looking for more affordable options may have better luck in the outlying areas like northern Manhattan, the Bronx, or Queens.

In Chicago, the average one-bedroom apartment rents for $2,239, and two bedrooms for $3,294. Yolanda Jeffries of Coldwell Banker in Chicago notes that many of her clients are single, younger people who are now back working in the city, following the pandemic.

They dont seem to mind spending more on rent because theyre paying the price of convenience for being in the downtown areas, she told The Epoch Times. They thrive on that and they like that lifestyle with building amenities like gyms, pools, and rooftop lounges.

To offset the costs, some renters take roommates, while others actually rent out their apartments for a few weekends a year using Airbnb. A lot of these renters dont have cars, so they dont have to worry about the extra expense of gas, parking, and insurance, Jeffries added.

Those who cant afford or are unwilling to spend upwards of $2,000 a month for rent will turn to the citys outskirts, where just $1,500 a month can get them a two-bedroom apartment. In the suburban areas, renters can lease an entire house for about $2,000 a month. The only problem is there are not enough of these rentals to go around, admitted Jeffries, who recently had over 40 applications for one available apartment.

A three-bedroom, three-bath apartment in Manhattans Lenox Hill section, that rented for $8,000 a month. (Courtesy of Michael Shapot, Keller Williams, Manhattan)

Many of her potential single-family home buyers have become burned out of the bidding war process and have decided to rent for now. The current multiple-offer situation takes a lot out of them and after a while they ask me to just find them something to rent, said Jeffries.

People do tend to spend money when they have money, added Leckie. But its also true that not everyone has enough cash to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Leckie admits the current market is not very favorable toward renters. They may need to look for cheaper neighborhoods or downsize within their own neighborhood. Many people have also been forced to leave their city or state.

For those who are willing to relocate, the prospects of finding an affordable rental may be a bit brighter. The Rent.com report showed significant decreases in rent in select communities throughout the Midwest and South. One-bedroom apartments in Toledo, Ohio had a 27.6 percent decrease in rents, followed by Kansas City at 21.6 percent and Atlanta, Georgia at 9.6 percent. For two-bedroom units, Shreveport, Louisiana experienced the highest rent decrease at 28.6 percent, while Lincoln, Nebraska, and Wichita, Kansas rents declined by over 18 percent.

The lowest average one-bedroom rents recorded by the Rent.com report include Montgomery, Alabama at $668 per month, Tulsa, Oklahoma at $754, and Columbus, Georgia at $837. Wichita, Kansas came in with the lowest average two-bedroom monthly rentals at $625, with Sioux Falls, South Dakota at $851, and Greensboro, North Carolina at $1,010.

In addition, the Rent.com report indicates that while occupancy rates across the U.S. hit the highest percentage on record in December 2021  97.5 percent  some 60 percent of renters indicate they are planning to look for a different apartment or home within the next six months.

We believe that rents will continue to rise through 2022, but the percentage rates will be lower, said Leckie. Vacancy rates are at nearly 40-year lows and the home buying market is showing no signs of slowing down.
A 2021 file image of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. Republicans agreed to a new a new Congressional district map for the state last month, but Wolf vetoed it. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Picks New Congressional District Map

For the second time in a row, the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court has chosen a new Congressional district map instead of the General Assembly, which is tasked with the job.

For months, members of the General Assembly sought public input and worked to draw a new map. Republicans, who control Pennsylvanias House and Senate, agreed to a new map in January, but Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed it.

Ultimately it ended up in the hands of the Democratic-controlled State Supreme Court, which picked the new map Wednesday in a 4-3 decision. Before the decision, a challenge to the legitimacy of the Supreme Court choosing the map was filed by Republicans in federal court, so it is still unclear if this new map will stick.

Congressional maps must be redrawn every 10 years after the census. Districts must have about the same number of people, but populations change. The 2020 census showed Pennsylvania was growing slower than other states, so Pennsylvania lost one district and after the midterm election, will only send 17 representatives to Washington.

In 2018, the League of Women Voters, with the support of Fair districts PA, challenged Pennsylvanias congressional map, saying it was too gerrymandered to be fair. That map was not due to be redrawn until now, but, right before the 2018 primary election, the state Supreme Court drew its own map that changed the power in some districts.

And that is what makes congressional and state legislative maps so contentious. Unless the Supreme Court gets involved, the elected party in power has the most say in drawing the maps. The task is to draw the maps fairly, but sometimes counties, towns, and school districts get sliced into multiple districts, putting voters likely to vote for one party, with those who would vote the other way, diluting the power of their vote. Or shaping a district to increase members of one party, in an attempt to define the power of the district as Republican or Democratic.

Pennsylvanias new congressional district map, as seen in the state Supreme Court decision naming this map. (Image supplied)

The new 17-district map has one less Republican-leaning district and the same number of Democratic-leaning districts compared to the current 18-district map Pennsylvania is living under, data analysis from Project 538 shows. Pennsylvania is still solidly a battleground state, with eight republican leaning districts and six democratic leaning districts plus three highly competitive districts.

Pennsylvanias Republican lawmakers are not happy with how this map got approved.

This is not about where lines are drawn or where they could have been drawn. The court has now confirmed once and for all, they do not abide by the state and federal Constitutions, Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler and House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff wrote in a joint statement.

Only the map submitted by House and Senate Republicans followed all constitutional guidelines, went through a deliberative legislative process and was endorsed by a judicial body. The process for creating district lines is clearly defined, and even if the governor refused to follow the process, it does not allow the courts to just pick and choose when or when not to follow the law. Sadly, candidates and voters must now submit to a unilateral court that sees itself above every person in our Commonwealth.

Republicans have argued that as elected officials, they represent the people directly and since the state constitution puts them in charge of drawing the map, it should not be taken out of their hands.

Todays decision by the court was shamefully partisan. In its ruling, the court said elected members of the General Assembly, who are tasked with ensuring the voices of Pennsylvanians are heard, dont matter. Instead, the court said the National Democratic Redistricting Committee outweighs the voice of the people. The court justices who selected the map bowed to the wants and wishes of their Democratic National Committee handlers, Rep. Seth Grove said in a statement.

He noted that the court ignored the recommendation of its own selected special master, Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough, a Republican, who was charged with endorsing a fair map. She recommended a citizen-drawn map, saying it met all the criteria of the Free and Equal Elections Clause.

With the swipe of their pens, four Democrat justices from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia eviscerated the months of work the General Assembly and the citizens of Pennsylvania put into developing a fair and constitutional congressional map, Grove said. Obviously, the message was clear by the courts: it doesnt matter what process the General Assembly or the people use, we care more about the opinions of partisan national groups.

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee, chaired by former Obama administration attorney general Eric Holder, has aggressively worked to have a hand in redrawing maps around the United States.

The committee has a four-prong strategy to invest more money in areas it considers crucial for redistricting, including many smaller races such as mayoral races, where newer politicians sometimes cut their teeth.

Starting in 2018, it promoted rule changes in statehouses to change who gets to draw the maps.

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee works alongside affiliates, its website says, to take legal action against maps it deems unfair, and it has built a massive grassroots campaign to prepare for the redistricting battles ahead because Republicans will fight hard to protect their manipulated system, Holder explains in a video about the committee.
Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region on Feb. 24, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov /AFP via Getty Images)

Pentagon: Russians Decapitating Ukraine in Multi-Step Attack

A U.S. Department of Defense official said Western intelligence believes Russia is trying to decapitate the government of Ukraine and seek to install their own officials to take charge of the country.

Its our assessment that [Russian forces] have every intention of basically, decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance, which would explain these early moves towards Kyiv, the official said in a DOD news release.

Officials said that there is fighting within 20 miles of the center of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, as well as Kharkiv, one of the largest cities in Ukraine.

These three axes are  clearly designed to take key population centers, the official said.

On early Thursday, Russia carried out airstrikes and launched missiles at Ukrainian military positions, according to officials. After those attacks, Russian troops, tanks, and artillery started moving into Ukraine, although the Ukrainian armed forces have been able to repel some of Moscows assaults.

They used about 75 fixed-wing heavy and medium bombers to carry out their assault, attacking air defense positions and military bases, U.S. officials said. Its not clear how many died.

People stand around a damaged structure caused by a rocket in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

U.S. Defense officials asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin made a decision to invade Ukraine even before diplomatic talks were held. Western officials for weeks have warned that Russia would launch an attack on its neighbor, including the capital Kyiv, although Ukraines leadership asserted that they had believed Putin wouldnt attack and largely dismissed Western intelligence reports.

An adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl former nuclear power plant, just 90 km (60 miles) north of the capital, and Hostomel airport in the Kyiv region, where paratroopers had earlier been landed.

Heavy exchanges of fire were also taking place in the regions of Sumy and Kharkiv in the northeast and Kherson and Odessa, home to a populous city and Ukraines most important seaport, in the south.

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced more sanctions against Russian assets and threatened more, but he stressed that no U.S. troops would be deployed in Ukraine.

This is a premeditated attack, he told reporters at the White House. Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences.

According to the White House, the measures restrict Sherbank from transactions made in American dollars while limiting Moscows capabilities to import goods.

And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukrainians to defend their country and promised that weapons would be given to anyone prepared to fight.

What we have heard today are not just missile blasts, fighting, and the rumble of aircraft. This is the sound of a new Iron Curtain, which has come down and is closing Russia off from the civilized world, Zelensky said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Ukrainian Military Forces servicemen use tanks, self-propelled guns and other armored vehicles to conduct live-fire exercises near the town of Chuguev, in Kharkiv region, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images)

Can Avoiding War Come at Too High a Price?

Commentary

On Sept. 3, 1939, the Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, broadcasted the following message:

Fellow Australians, it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that in consequence of a persistence by Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.

Most readers today were born long after these words were spoken, but it takes little imagination to share in our minds something of the dread they conveyed to a people who still vividly remembered the awful losses of World War I that had ended only 20 years before.

Its all happening again, they thought as they prepared their minds for the deprivations and the deaths that they knew in their hearts were bound to follow.

Humans always hope, of course, but the prospect of peace by Christmas was a forlorn one. The troops who embarked for Asia and the Middle East the following year could not have foreseen an early end and a homecoming, nor even predicted their prospects of surviving at all.

Of course, many didnt; they left their homeland and their loved ones never to return.

Without a formal declaration of war, German tanks, escorted by troops on motorcycles, drive into Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. (Pictorial Parade/Getty Images)

Today, we cannot fail to be moved as we remember these events of more than 80 years agoand to be struck by their strangeness.

Why would Britain go to war again? Why would Australia necessarily follow?

Revisionist historians (by revisionist I mean ignorant or fantasist) would tell you that Britain was a warlike and ruthless nation and that Australia did its bidding as a servile colonial state.

Those who actually lived at the time knew that Britain declared war because Hitlers Germany invaded Poland, with which Britain had an alliance, and that Australias response, far from servile, was prompted by a certain gung-ho affection and loyalty. It was unthinkable, in those days, that we could act otherwise.

But the main point was that honour and trust were at stake. We could no longer tolerate Nazi aggression. We had commitments to meet, regardless of the price that had to be paid. Talking and threatening hadnt worked.

No reader (and certainly not this writer) wants to see events like these happen again. Our lives have been lived with wars and rumours of wars and we yearn for peace.

But the contrast between the brave actions of nearly a century ago and the craven prevarication of modern western leaders in their response to Russias aggression against Ukraine couldnt be greater.

So much talk, so little action. President Joe Bidens promise of serious economic reprisals sounds good on first hearing, but in practice, hes sending a message that in fact, we wont go to war for the Ukrainian people.

We might block bank accounts or cancel visas, we might withdraw diplomats and boycott events, but we wont risk our own necks.

To be honest, Im relieved, as I think most of us are. Im too old to be sent to fight, but I dread the thought of young people being sent to serve and even bleed on my behalf. Not only does the loss of lives appal me, but the waste of resources and the extinction of dreams and ambitions.

Ukrainian troops patrol in the town of Novoluhanske, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

For most of us in developed countries, life is very attractive, not always perfect all the time, but full of promise.

So many people have told us, so often and for so long, that war is never a solution to any problem. I suppose I agree with them.

And yet

Can avoiding war come at too high a price? We failed to act when China took Tibet; now its absurdly too late even to think about it. We finally acted in Vietnam but came out bloodied and bowed. The nuclear spectre has haunted us for three-quarters of a century.

We wax hot and cold on every international issue, sending in troops if the cost is not too great, berating offenders with virtually empty words and gestures otherwise.

I dont blame our politicians: were all in this together, a very frightened world that has accommodated itself to the safe notion that while words might not always mean a lot, theyre always cheaper than deeds.

It is difficult to take pride in our Western governments as they posture over Russian aggression, and in a not dissimilar way, boycott the Winter Olympics, yet allowing athletes to participate and business to go on pretty much as usual.

If Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow?

Menzies concluded his message with these words: May God in his mercy and compassion grant that the world may soon be delivered from this agony.

To most of us todaystreetwise, sophisticated, cynical, toughened by several decades of default-position atheismthat sounds like mere empty verbiage. But Menzies meant it, and most of those who heard him then would have known it was a prayer, not a platitude.

This has been a reflection of a question to which I have no answer. Should we act bravelyand violentlyas our fathers did, drawing lines in the sand and savaging any enemy that crossed them? Or can we in good conscience say that our avoidance of naked conflict, our extreme reluctance to commit to seriously tough measures against an aggressor, is really wisdom learned?

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers a speech on communist China and the future of the free world at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California, on July 23, 2020. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Pompeo Sends a Tough Signal to Beijing With His Visit to Taiwan

Pompeo sets course on China

News Analysis

We need to do all we can to protect our American way of life at home, and allowing these thugs, autocrats, and dictators to move around freely is not in Americas best interest, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Feb. 23.

Pompeo could have been talking about Vladimir Putin and his recent invasion of Ukraine, about Xi Jinping and his threat to do the same to Taiwan, or about both.

If his tweet relates to China, and I think it does, it reinforces that of the possible Republican presidential candidates in 2024, Pompeo is the toughest on China. That accords with what my sources say, as well.

And Pompeo is doubling-down on his China hawk status by planning a trip to Taiwan from March 2 to 5. On March 3, he will meet President Tsai Ing-wen.

Pompeo and his wife will join Vice President Lai Ching-te and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu for dinner, making it not just business, but social. Thats the best way to improve relations between our two countries.

The visit, according to an official Taiwan statement, demonstrates the bipartisan nature of U.S. support for the island democracy.

But not everybody is toasting. Beijing has already sent fiery missives denouncing Pompeo in the direction of Taipei, a city in an independent country that is about to host Americas greatest hope for 2024.

Pompeos China Policies

In January 2021, just as President Joe Biden entered office, Beijing sanctioned Pompeo and another 27 leading Trump administration officials.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) doesnt much like Pompeo.

The year prior, Pompeo called the CCP a predator and the central threat of our times.

Shortly after, Pompeo broke the mold again, designating the Beijing regimes persecution of the Uyghurs a genocide. The designation opened the floodgates for the incoming administration, and other governments around the world, to do the same. That put Beijing squarely in the pariah box of international relations.

Pompeo also facilitated the U.S. approval of multiple Taiwan arms sales, strengthened bilateral exchanges, supported more participation by Taiwan in international organizations, and ended State Department restrictions on official U.S. contact with Taiwan.

Pompeo said that for decades, the State Department had created complex internal restrictions to regulate our diplomats, service members, and other officials interactions with their Taiwanese counterparts.

He continued: The United States government took these actions unilaterally, in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing. No more.

Pompeo has been a strong and public advocate for Taiwans democracy and freedom both during and after his government service. He confirmed that Taiwan has not been a part of China in a November 2020 radio interview.

During the upcoming Taiwan visit, Pompeo will be accompanied by his close adviser, Dr. Miles Yu, a professor of history at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Yu argues that there is more evidence for the CCPs genocide against Falun Gong than there is against the Uyghurs. There is plenty of evidence for both, of course, which means there is a double or even triple genocide ongoing in China, if one includes the Tibetans.

When news of Pompeos upcoming trip was announced, Chinas foreign ministry made note of his sanctioned status and flung a veiled threat at Taiwan.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, takes a question at a press briefing in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Pompeo has long been sanctioned by China due to his anti-China actions and deeds, said Wang Wenbin, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman, on Feb. 21. Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party attempts to achieve independence with the help of the U.S. will only end up getting themselves burnt.

The Benefits of Pompeos Taiwan Visit

Former Taiwanese diplomat Vincent Chao observed on Feb. 21 that Taiwan will benefit from Pompeos visit in three ways. First, it will normalize high-level government meetings between the United States and Taiwan. Second, it will put Taiwans international participation at the core of U.S. goals. And third, it will further liberate U.S.-Taiwan relations from prior restraints.

The visit might benefit Taiwan in other ways as well, if three main topics of discussion include what lessons Ukraine has for the changes needed to Taiwans status in order to assure its safety and sovereignty.

First, Taiwan needs a better deterrent against territorial aggression by the Chinese regime. This should include Americas most powerful conventional weapons, but also an independent nuclear deterrent and U.S. and allied boots on the ground. If Ukraine had more powerful weapons and NATO boots on the ground, Putin would not have invaded. Taiwan needs all thatand moreto deter Beijing, which is far more powerful than Moscow.

Second, Taiwan needs tougher laws against foreign illiberal influence, especially from Beijing. That should include better protection against influence that the regime attempts to exert on Taipei through Taiwanese business people.

Third, and with effective protections against military and political aggression in place, Taiwans independence and sovereignty should be internationally recognized, starting with the United States. It should be explained publicly and forcefully to Beijing that a sovereign country does not use the threat of force. Instead, sovereignty inheres in the people, who vote their government into being.

My final piece of advice for Pompeos upcoming flight to Taiwan: Do not transit through mainland China.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Rebutting Chinese Communist Propaganda

Commentary

Beijing called for the protection of Asian Americans against systemic racism and the abuse of their rights, but it is using politically charged words to shield its own behavior and undermine American confidence.

The communist regime in China is excellent at using specific words and phrases to beguile and undermine its Western critics. At a press briefing on Feb. 17, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, commented on the rise of attacks against Asian Americans.

Wang said that Asian Americans are the victims of systemic racial discrimination and the United States must do more to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities. He also said that America should make sure [Asian Americans] are free from violence and fear and enjoy equal rights as they deserve.

It is true that violence against anyone is wrong, and the United States has work to do on ensuring safety for everyone. But these words come from a regime that commits genocide against millions of people. The statement is not an expression of sincere concern for the American people, but instead adopts talking points used by left-wing Americans to undermine American moral confidence and prevent American leadership from condemning communist aggression abroad and Beijings oppression at home.

The use of the term systemic racism recalls frequent domestic arguments. Im sure the Chinese minister hoped that using this term would make Americans argue the merits of the point and the policies that derive from the concept. (The statement almost got this author to go down that rabbit hole.) But these are hotly contested ideas and have led to some of the most vociferous debates in recent memory as well as massive riots throughout 2020. It can be fairly said that this concept is ripping apart America from the school board to the board room.

Beijings minister invoking the term systemic racism is likely an attempt to reignite that debate among Americans. And every second spent arguing about that topic means another second the regime doesnt have to defend its treatment of Uyghurs, its oppressive security state, and its suppression of Hong Kongs freedoms.

Riot police detain a man as they clear protesters taking part in a rally against Hong Kongs new national security law on the 23rd anniversary of the citys handover from Britain to China, in Hong Kong, on July 1, 2020. (Dale de la Rey/AFP via Getty Images)

As I wrote in the last case of clear communist propaganda, Western obsession with its history of racial sins has become pathological. The guilt Western leaders have over racism and sexism has led to violent felons getting low bail and being free to run over people at a Christmas parade or attacking a Thai model at a New York City subway platform; a cancel culture climate so heated that makes survivors of Chinas Cultural Revolution recall that event; the labelling of massively damaging riots as mostly peaceful; and, in general, a malaise and lack of confidence that makes people and government leaders less likely to confront Chinese aggression over disputed territory and to condemn human rights abuses by the regime. Beijing expects that the Western officials trying to be tough on China feel a stab of pain to their core when Chinese authorities invoke Americas racist past.

Beijings claim about safeguarding the rights of minorities is a double-edged sword. One of the fears of the regimes leadership is that the concept of human rights and humanitarian intervention can be used as an excuse by the West to invade China. The United States has a history of humanitarian intervention in places like Bosnia and Kosovo. And humanitarian concern was a part of the reason to invade Iraq and Afghanistan. Chinese leaders believe that the rights of the oppressed are not an excuse to violate the sovereign territory of a state. They fear that Chinas own record would produce a reason for invasion and fuels the paranoia of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

It seems in this case, however, the argument for safeguarding the rights of Asian Americans is another domestic left-wing (and some right-wing isolationist) talking point, which argues that America has no moral right to intervene because of its history of abuse. Thus, Beijings statement about safeguarding the rights of Asian Americans becomes a shield, which too many useful idiots in America are ready to take up. That shield argues that American misdeeds disqualify them from the justified humanitarian use of American power against China.

But the double edge of the sword is that by attacking American abuses of Asian minorities to undermine the United States moral right to intervene, Beijing is enhancing the concept that moral abuses matter. If moral rights matter, then international observers and nations have a right, and even a duty, to intervene in another sovereign state to protect the rights of minorities when they are abused.

Clearly, any problem in America is still minor compared to the genocide happening in China. A close look at history suggests that while the attack on Asian Americans is horrible, it is still far less egregious than the CCPs behavior toward Uyghurs. The latter are regularly put in concentration camps, raped, tortured, and have their culture systematically obliterated. (The use of the term systemic is accurate in this case, unlike the American use of the term to describe domestic concerns.)

Thus, the CCPs insistence on protecting minority rights enhances the concept of humanitarian intervention. And for those who truly care, the Uyghur abuse is not a bumper sticker, but a call for action.

American views on crime often swing like a pendulum, and during long periods of low crime, Americans are concerned with abuses in the criminal justice system toward criminals. But when those policiesnotably, defund the police and restorative justice district attorneysresult in massive spikes in violent crime, including those against Asian Americans, the policies change. Weve seen that to the point that some of the loudest defund the police voices have completely changed their position.

In short, the Asian American victims of crime will receive far more protection and justice, in far quicker time, than the Uyghurs can hope to receive, regardless of the talking points from Chinas foreign minister.

Despite American misdeeds, the American people and leaders have a duty to see through CCP propaganda, and a moral imperative to resist the Chinese regimes naked aggression abroad and the genocide of its minorities at home.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Russia Postpones Cuba Debt Payments

The Russian Federation has agreed to postpone the payment of certain debts owed to it by the Republic of Cuba, allowing the small island country until 2027 to repay billions of dollars worth in foreign debt.

These debts, worth a total of $2.3 billion, are the result of numerous loans made by Russia on behalf of power generation, metals, and transportation infrastructure in Cuba.

The new terms of debt repayment, which were approved by the Russian Duma on Tuesday, were originally drafted by the Cuban legislature last year.

The timing of the new announcement suggests that it is, in part, an act of gratitude from Moscow for Cubas response to the recent events in Ukraine and its breakaway regions. The Cuban government has expressed support for Russian president Vladimir Putins recognition of the separatist-held regions of the Donbas in Ukraine, and Cuba has accused the United states of waging a propaganda war against what it perceives as the legitimate annexation of the ethnically Russian territories of Luhansk and Donetsk.

This is not the first time that Russia has exercised leniency over debt payments. In the summer of 2014, just months after Russias annexation of Crimeawhich the Cuban government recognized as legitimatePutin visited Havana to offer forgiveness for 90 percent of Soviet-era Cuban debts to Russia.

The communist nation has also sought debt forgiveness from Western creditors, appealing numerous times to the Paris Club for postponements on its international debts. The most recent such postponement occurred last October, when the Paris Club agreed to delay Cuban debt payments by one year to November 2022.

Debt has been a persistent challenge for the Cuban economy, and the countrys communist regime has struggled for decades to raise enough revenue to pay interest on its outstanding foreign debts. While the reestablishment of formal diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States was expected by some analysts to herald an economic recovery, the island nations international trade has actually decreased by billions of dollars since the countries reconciled in 2015, and foreign investors are wary of putting stock in a country so beset by its outstanding debts.

The burden of debt has retarded economic growth on the island and resulted in shortages of food and medicine, which culminated last year in the countrys largest protest movement since the establishment of Cuban communism in 1959. The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus has been especially challenging for Cuba, as the country has hoped to revive its fledgling economy by emphasizing tourisman industry which has been uniquely damaged by governments pandemic restrictions.

Thus, Cuba finds itself in a similar position to that it faced in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War: internationally isolated, pushed ever-deeper into Russias sphere of influence, and with an apparent void of solutions to the problem. While the government has made tepid market reforms, such reforms are proving to be insufficient to address the debt situation. For the time being, Cuba will likely continue grovelling for debt extensions from its more powerful benefactors, while its economy lags behind and its people become increasingly restless with the slow state of progress.
The Sarcophagus of the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor 4 in Chernobyl, Ukraine, in a file photo. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

Russian Military Captures Chernobyl Nuclear Site: Ukrainian Official

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday claimed Russian military forces in Belarus are attempting to seize the Chernobyl nuclear waste site amid an invasion across the country. Later, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said that Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been captured by Russian forces.

It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians, he said on Thursday afternoon. This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today, Podolyak said.

Zelensky said the move is a declaration of war across Europe, according to a Twitter post he made. Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the [Chernobyl site]  Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated.

Reported this to [Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson]. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe, Zelensky added.

A Ukraine adviser to Interior Ministry Anton Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook that Russian forces entered the exclusion zone.

If the invaders artillery hits and ruins / damages the collectors of nuclear waste , radioactive nuclear dust can can [sic] be spread over the territory of Ukraine, Belarus and the country of the EU! the adviser claimed on social media.

In 1986, Chernobyl, which was operated by the Soviet Union, became the site of the worlds worst nuclear accident when a reactor exploded. The disaster spilled radioactive waste across Europe.

The plane and exclusion zone is located near the Ukraine-Belarus border about 80 miles north of Kyiv, the capital. The destroyed reactor was covered by a massive protective steel shelter to prevent radiation from leaking.

Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier on Thursday, Russia mounted a military invasion of Ukraine, first targeting Ukrainian air defense positions and bases in a bid to neuter the countrys military. Hours later, reports from the ground indicated that columns of Russian troops, tanks, and other equipment were moving into Ukraines interior.

As Zelensky reported fighting near Chernobyl, regional officials said Ukrainian authorities had lost control of some territory in the Kherson region near Russian-occupied Crimea.

Calling on ordinary Ukrainians to mount a defense, Zelensky said that weapons would be handed out to anyone prepared to fight, according to Twitter posts he made on Thursday. He also said Russians should protest against Russian President Vladimir Putins actions.

Inhabitants of Kyiv leave the city following pre-offensive missile strikes of the Russian armed forces and Belarus from the territory of Belarus on Feb. 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

In an address, a visibly angry Putin said he ordered a special military operation to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine, claiming the Kyiv government is carrying out a genocide. Western leaders have described his claims as baseless.

Ukrainian officials said Russian helicopters attacked Gostomel, a military airport near Kyiv, and Ukraine downed three of them. Ukrainian border officials said the Russians were trying to penetrate Kyiv region and Zhytomyr region on the Belarusian border.

They were using Grad rockets. Unconfirmed reports of casualties included Ukrainian civilians killed by Russian bombardment and border guards defending the frontier.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Russian Ruble Drops to Record Low Against US Dollar, Euro Falls Against Safe Havens as Putin Invades Ukraine

The Russian ruble tumbled to a record low against the U.S. dollar on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine that could trigger tougher sanctions from the West.

The ruble dropped to as low as 89.98 per dollar and is currently at 84.46 against the greenback as investors ditch the Russian currency and turn to safe-havens.

Meanwhile, the euro fell as much as 0.84 percent to $1.1209, the lowest level since Jan. 3. It is currently at $1.1166 as of 10:32 a.m. GMT.

The euro also fell against some other traditional haven currencies, declining as much as 1.28 percent to a nearly one-month low of 128.37 Japanese yen and sinking to a multi-year low to the Swiss franc, where it is currently trading at 1.03 francs.

Riskier commodity-linked currencies like the Australian dollar also fell by as much as 0.90 percent to $0.7167 and the New Zealand dollar slid as much as 1.00 percent to $0.6706.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday called Russias invasion of Ukraine brutal and unprovoked, while announcing new sanctions on 25 more individuals and four financial institutions, including commanders, deputy defense ministers, and Russian mercenaries who have been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression.

The situation certainly looks like its going to get worse before it gets better, and that means the commodity currencies can weaken, Joseph Capurso, a strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, told Reuters.

Elsewhere, the Moscow Exchange announced Thursday that it has suspended trading on all of its markets until further notice after a big sell-off of Russian assets, but trading resumed at 10 a.m. Moscow time.

Ukrainian military vehicles move past Independence square in central Kyiv on Feb. 24, 2022. Air raid sirens rang out in downtown Kyiv today as cities across Ukraine were hit with what Ukrainian officials said were Russian missile strikes and artillery. (Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the Bank of Russia said in a statement that in order to stabilize the situation on the financial market it had decided to start interventions in the foreign exchange market, adding that it and other financial institutions have clear action plans for any scenario.

In a separate statement, the bank said it had ordered brokers to stop allowing traders to place bets against Russian shares, known as short selling, on the Russian exchange and over-the-counter markets until further notice.

In connection with the current situation in the financial market and in order to protect the rights and legitimate interests of investors in the financial markets, reduce risks, and limit excessive volatility, the Bank of Russia ordered brokers to suspend short sales on exchange and over-the-counter market, the bank said.

The tumbling value of the Russian ruble comes after explosions were reported in multiple cities across Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Odesa as well as the capital of Kyiv, shortly after Putin announced the launch of military action against Ukraine.

Livestream video footage obtained by CNN also shows tanks rolling into Ukraine from a border crossing with Belarus at around 6:48 a.m. local time.

Ukraines defense ministry called the action an unjustified, deceitful, and cynical invasion, while world leaders have condemned the move.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Thursday that the EU will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions against Russia that will block its access to critical technology and other markets.

We will target the strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia, von der Leyen said in a statement. We will weaken Russias economic base and its capacity to modernize. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.

Russias actions in Ukraine also sent the price of oil surging above the $100 per barrel mark on Wednesday, while U.S. crude futures were up by 5.46 percent and trading at $97.56 per barrel as of 10:27 a.m. GMT.

Brent crude futures were up 6.47 percent at $103.32, the first time they have been over the $100 mark since 2014, while natural gas prices at one point surged nearly 6 percent.
The logo of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project is seen on a pipe at the Chelyabinsk pipe rolling plant in Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Feb. 26, 2020. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

Russias Gazpromtrans Stops Accepting Orders for LPG Shipments to Ukraine

Company pledges uninterrupted gas supplies as sanctions loom

Russias Gazpromtrans, the rail shipment subsidiary of state gas monopoly Gazprom, said it stopped taking orders to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Ukraine as of Feb. 18 because of political tensions between the two countries.

Gazpromtrans told its clients in a note to consider other destinations for their supplies, but that it would fulfill existing orders and continue to provide full compensation to customers if any damage is caused to rail cars during deliveries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 21 said that his government had officially recognized the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, after weeks of tense troop buildups in the area by NATO and Russian forces.

The announcement by Putin spurred a selloff in Russian assets and pushed global oil prices to their highest since 2014.

Putin quickly deployed troops in the two regions after the statement, while denying his actions were an invasion, prompting the United States and European Union to discuss potential sanctions.

In a vote on Feb. 22, the Russian Duma ratified the treaties on friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance between the two breakaway republics and Russia, authorizing Putins use of military force outside the country.

Last year, the Russian oil freight company shipped 64,000 tons of LPG to Ukraine, which accounted for 10.7 percent of all Russian supplies of the fuel to the country.

Putin said that Russia will continue to supply natural gas to world markets, after Germany halted the certification of the Nord Stream 2 undersea gas pipeline, which would connect Russia with Germany, in response to Moscows troop deployment to the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

Russia aims to continue uninterrupted [gas] supplies, including liquefied natural gas, to the world markets, improve related infrastructure, and increase investments in the gas sector, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his address to the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

On Feb. 24, in response to the Kremlins recent actions, President Joe Biden announced at the White House a new set of sanctions and limitations on exports to Russia. He added that the 27 European Union (EU) members and G-7 members will also participate in these sanctions.

This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine  so I am going to begin to impose sanctions in response, Biden said Feb. 22 in a 10-minute statement.

Like I said last week, defending freedom will have costs for us as well and here at home. We need to be honest about that, he added.

When all is said and done were going to judge Russia by its actions, not its words.

Whatever Russia does next, were ready to respond with unity, clarity and conviction  Im hoping diplomacy is still available, the president said.

Biden appeared an hour late to his 1 p.m. White House press conference and left without taking questions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Europe to suspend the gas pipeline immediately after the Kremlins recognition of the separatists.

The European Union agreed to new four-part sanctions that would blacklist more Russian politicians, lawmakers, and officials, forbid EU investors from trading in Russian state bonds, and target imports and exports with the separatist republics.

Germany, Russias top gas consumer, quickly followed with an immediate halt of the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, after Chancellor Olaf Scholz made the decision in unity with the EU and its allied states.

The Germans, up until recently, were heavily in favor of the pipeline project, despite security objections from the United States and other nations in the region.

However, Europe secures about 46 percent of its natural gas requirements from Russia, and Nord Stream 2 would have supplied much of the needed intake.

European investors with Nord Stream 2 could be taken to court if EU sanctions are slapped on the $11 billion project, said Russian energy minister Nikolai Shulginov, in an interview with Energy Intelligence.

The Russian energy minister mocked the EUs decision saying that Europe would not be able to replace large volumes of Russian gas with LPG immediately from elsewhere without causing shortages.

The Yamal gas pipeline, which sends Russian gas westwards to Germany via Poland, was switched eastwards, sending the gas back to Poland.

Welcome to the new world where Europeans would soon have to pay 2,000 euros per 1,000 cubic metres! Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said in a Feb. 22 Twitter post.

European spot gas prices rose by 10 percent to 78.55 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) after this recent escalation in tensions between Russia and Ukraine, but is still well below the all-time high of 186.25 euros per MWh on Dec. 21.

Most liquid gas from Gazprom to Ukraine is done via spot sales delivery contracts, which are currently low due to winter seasonal factors, but if the crisis persists until March or April, some shortage of LPG supplies may be felt in the Ukrainian market according to analysts.

Reuters contributed to the report.
Premier Scott Moe at a press conference at the Legislative Building in Regina on Oct. 27, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Michael Bell)

Saskatchewan Premier Calls on Trudeau Government to End Federal COVID-19 Mandates

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is urging the federal government to lift all COVID-19 mandates following Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus recent announcement that he would revoke the Emergencies Act.

Now, with a clear end to the use of the Emergencies Act, it is time for a clear end to mandates and restrictions, Moe said in a series of tweets on Feb. 23 following Trudeaus announcement.

Originally invoked in response to demonstrations in Ottawa and elsewhere across the country against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, Trudeau said the Act is no longer required because the situation is no longer an emergency.

We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe, the prime minister said at a press conference in Ottawa.

Trudeaus sudden announcement came as the Senate was still debating whether to confirm the governments decision to invoke the Act, after MPs passed a motion on Feb. 21 to approve a 30-day extension of the emergency measures.

Moe said revoking the Act was the right thing to do, because it should not have been invoked in the first place. He added that law enforcement agencies already had all the tools they needed to manage the protests.

Moe stressed that the Liberal government should now end all COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

It is past time for the Trudeau government to detail a return to normal for all Canadians, he said.

Saskatchewans vaccine passport requirements were lifted on Feb. 14. The provinces public health orders, including indoor mask mandates and the requirement to self-isolate if tested positive for COVID-19, are set to end on Feb. 28.

Earlier this week, Moe said Saskatchewan is considering a legal challenge of the federal governments decision to invoke the Act. The provinces Justice Minister Gordon Wyant said on Feb. 23 that the province continues to evaluate legal options and expects to make a decision in the coming days.

On Feb. 19, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney had also said he will file a court challenge against the Liberal government, saying the invocation of the Act is unnecessary and disproportionate, and an intrusion into provincial jurisdiction. On Feb. 23, he took to Twitter, saying that the plan remains in place despite Trudeaus decision to revoke it.

Those whose rights have been violated, and provinces whose jurisdiction has been violated without justification must have their day in Court, Kenney said. The judiciary must be asked to establish limits on such arbitrary use of extraordinary police powers for the future.

The Canadian Press and Noe Chartier contributed to this report.
Sean Penn in Ukraine Filming Documentary About Russian Invasion: Government

Actor and director Sean Penn is in Ukraine filming a documentary amid the invasion by the Russian military, the Ukrainian government said.

The director specially came to Kyiv to record all the events that are currently happening in Ukraine and to tell the world the truth about Russias invasion of our country, the Ukrainian government said in a statement on Thursday. Sean Penn is among those who support Ukraine in Ukraine today. Our country is grateful to him for such a show of courage and honesty.

The statement continued: Sean Penn is demonstrating bravery that many others have been lacking, in particular some Western politicians. The more people like thattrue friends of Ukraine, who support the fight for freedomthe quicker we can stop this heinous invasion by Russia.

Photos uploaded online showed Penn speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and appearing at a news conference in Kyiv. Its not clear when the photos were taken. Zelensky posted a video of him meeting the actor on Instagram.

The more people know about the war in Ukraine, the higher the likelihood of stopping Russia, said Zelensky.

The documentary is a Vice Studios production, reported Variety, which provided no other details. A Vice spokesperson confirmed the details to UK news outlet ITK.

Last November, Penn was seen photographed wearing a helmet and protective equipment while meeting with Ukrainian soldiers.

It comes as Ukrainian forces battled Russian military forces on three sides on Thursday after Moscow mounted an assault by land, sea, and air in the biggest attack on a European state since World War II, prompting tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

An adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl former nuclear power plant, just 60 miles north of the capital, and Hostomel airport in the Kyiv region, where paratroopers had earlier been landed.

Heavy exchanges of fire were also taking place in the regions of Sumy and Kharkiv in the northeast and Kherson and Odessa, home to a populous city and Ukraines most important seaport, in the south. The highway heading west out of Kyiv was choked with traffic across five lanes as residents fled, fearful of bombardments while stuck in their cars.

This is a premeditated attack, President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House as he unveiled harsh new sanctions coordinated with allies. Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences.

Reuters contributed to this report.
State Rejects LA Housing Plan Update, Seek More Ambitious Rezoning Effort

LOS ANGELESState housing regulators rejected Los Angeles blueprint for increased development over the next eight years, telling the city it must re-zone by mid-October to accommodate 255,000 new homes, instead of over the next three years, or risk losing access to affordable housing grants, it was reported Feb. 24.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved the Housing Element Update 202129 on Nov. 24 as a guide that lays the groundwork for nearly 500,000 new housing units by 2029. The update revises the plan adopted in 2013.

The Department of Housing and Community Development said the city needs to comply with stricter state laws that are aimed at more development across California, the Los Angeles Times reported. Among the states concerns, according to The Los Angeles Times, is that the city hasnt demonstrated a sufficient strategy to invest in park and economic development in its poorer neighborhoods.

City planners said the goal of the update, titled The Plan To House L.A., is to provide an ample supply of housing that creates more equitable and affordable options for Angelenos; to preserve and enhance the quality of housing and provide greater stability for households of all income levels; to create healthy, sustainable and resilient communities that improve the lives of all Los Angeles residents; to foster racially and socially inclusive neighborhoods; and to commit to preventing and ending homelessness.

Los Angeles needs to produce about 57,000 units per year to keep up with housing demand, but since 2014, it has been producing only about 16,700 units per year, according to the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, a process required by the state that aims to ensure cities and counties plan for enough housing in their Housing Element.

Additionally, it needs about 23,000 new affordable units per year, but only about 1,650 affordable units have been produced per year since 2014, according to city planners.

The Regional Housing Needs Assessment determined the city must accommodate at least 456,643 new units by 2029, with at least 184,721 of them being affordable for lower-income households.

The plan was aimed at clearing the way for the construction of 250,000 housing units within three years. The plan also includes anti-displacement strategy studies, eviction defense programs, inclusionary zoning studies and a focus on rezoning higher opportunity areas near jobs and transit, allowing increased densities in areas previously limited to single-family-only uses.

Under the states ruling, the city must rezone for 255,000 new homes by mid-October, instead of over the next three years. If the citys plan doesnt get approval from the state, it will not be eligible for the states affordable housing programs, which in January gave $125 million to support low-income housing developments in Los Angeles, The Times reported.

Officials with the city and state told The Times that doing the rezoning effort by mid-October was likely not possible given lengthy environmental reviews and the City Councils approval process.

Los Angeles is leading the movement to confront the housing crisis in California. Our housing element is the most ambitious and aggressive in the state, as part of a new regulatory process with unprecedented housing goals, and the mayor is proud of the work city staff have done to bring it to this point. This is just another step in the process, and the mayor is confident our plan will be approved very shortly, and that we will not miss out on any state funding, Garcettis communications director Alex Comisar said.

Rezoning the entire city in one year is infeasible, and we dont believe that penalty was meant to apply to jurisdictions pursuing compliance in good faith. We will work collaboratively with the governor and the legislature toward an outcome that allows for successful implementation.
The US Supreme Court is seen in Washington, on Feb. 8, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Supreme Court Overturns 9th Circuit Decision, Upholds Copyright Ruling Against H&M

The Supreme Court ruled 63 in a highly technical decision on Feb. 24 that the often-reversed 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was wrong to invalidate a copyright infringement verdict that a California clothing design firm won against the gigantic Swedish fashion retailer H&M.

H&M was in the news in 2020 after it and other fashion companies announced they would no longer use cotton originating from the Xinjiang region in mainland China, after reports surfaced that the communist country uses forced Uyghur labor for cotton production. The regime denies the practice, and the Chinese Communist Party launched a propaganda campaign targeting H&M.

The appeal came after Vernon, California-based Unicolors won a nearly $800,000 award at the trial court-level against H&M for copying its fabric designs.

The majority opinion (pdf) in Unicolors Inc. v. H&M Hennes and Mauritz LP, court file 20-915, written by Justice Stephen Breyer, held that a copyright registration cant be challenged merely because it contains inadvertent legal errors. The high court vacated the judgment of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Unicolors owns copyrights in many fabric designs. It sued H&M for copyright infringement and a jury ruled in favor of Unicolors, but H&M asked the judge after the trial to ignore the jurys verdict, arguing the law required it to do so, according to the opinion.

H&M argued that Unicolorss registration certificate was invalid because it contained inaccurate information, and that Unicolors was therefore precluded from suing for infringement. Specifically, H&M claims Unicolorss registration certificate was inaccurate in the sense that Unicolors had improperly filed a single application seeking registration for 31 separate works.

H&M cited a U.S. Copyright Office regulation that states that a single registration can cover multiple works only if those works were included in the same unit of publication. Because a knowing inaccuracy in the registration was established, H&M said the trial court should move to the second legal requirement and ask the Register of Copyrights whether it would have refused to register Unicolorss copyright if it had known of the inaccuracy.

The U.S. District Court denied H&Ms post-trial motion and the 9th Circuit found the lower court was wrong to do so.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch dissented from the Supreme Courts opinion.

The dissent, written by Thomas, accused Unicolors of trickery.

A copyright registration is invalid if the registrant included materially inaccurate information in its application with knowledge that [the information] was inaccurate, the justice wrote, citing the Copyright Act.

Thomas said Unicolors had asked the Supreme Court to decide a question on which appellate courts were splitwhether the statutes knowledge element requires indicia of fraud. The company argued that knowledge requires inten[t] to defraud the Copyright Office.

But now, after having convinced the court to grant its petition for certiorari and hear the case, Unicolors changed its approach and relied on a different argument, claiming the statute requires fraudulent intent and instead proposes a novel actual knowledge standard.

Because I would not reward Unicolors for its legerdemain, and because no other court had, before today, ever addressed whether [the Copyright Act] requires actual knowledge, I would dismiss the writ of certiorari as improvidently granted.

In statements emailed to The Epoch Times, lawyers representing both Unicolors and H&M offered their thoughts on the Supreme Court ruling.

Unicolors attorney Scott Alan Burroughs of New York City law firm Doniger Burroughs welcomed the decision.

Unicolors is pleased with the courts decision, which elegantly applies the statutory text to the registration at issue and rightly concludes that the putative error should not invalidate the registration nor allow a willful copyright infringer to evade liability, Burroughs said.

This decision will benefit artists everywhere, particularly those who have struggled to complete the byzantine copyright registration process. It also sends a clear message to copyright infringers that they will have to address their misconduct on the merits as opposed to hiding behind technicalities.

H&M attorney Staci Jennifer Trager of the Los Angeles office of law firm Nixon Peabody said the decision proves Unicolors behaved badly.

She said her client was pleased that the Supreme Court agreed that Unicolors copyright registration contained inaccurate information, and that Unicolors did not have a good faith belief that the facts supporting its application were correct when it filed the application.

After todays ruling, in order to save its copyright, Unicolors will have to establish that it had a good faith belief that it misunderstood the legal requirements when it filed its original application, which H&M believes it cannot do given Unicolors existing trial court testimony demonstrating Unicolors was, at best, willfully blind to the requirement that all works in a group application be published together, she said.

Trager also said her client appreciates the dissents acknowledgment that Unicolors abandoned its original position and that the question decided today was one of first impression.

The Epoch Times reached out to U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, whose office participated in oral arguments in the case on Nov. 8, 2021, but didnt receive a reply by press time.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during her visit to Penghu Air Force Base in Penghu county, Taiwan on Sept. 22, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

Taiwan Orders Army to be Combat Ready Amid Ukraine Crisis

As the Ukraine crisis unfolds, Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen has ordered the self-ruled islands military forces and national security agencies to strengthen their combat readiness.

Tsai delivered instructions during a high-level national security meeting on Wednesday.

Taiwan set up a Ukraine working group last month to closely monitor the confrontation thousands of miles away in Europe, studying how Russias move could impact its neighbor, the communist regime in Beijing.

Our national security agencies and military must ramp up their efforts to monitor and provide early warning of military developments in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, Tsai told the meeting.

She ordered to ensure our national security by continuing to strengthen our readiness to respond to military developments in the Taiwan Strait, according to the statement released by her office.

Related Coverage Taiwan Responds as China Sends 39 Military Aircraft Into Its Air Defense ID Zone

Tsais remarks come amid growing speculation that the Ukraine crisis could be used by the communist regime in China to hasten its claim on Taiwan.

The regime views Taiwan as its own territory to be taken by force if necessary.

Tsai further said that external forces would attempt to sway the Taiwanese public by manipulating developments in Ukraine. She told government agencies to step up their guard against cognitive warfare from external forces, according to the statement.

Taiwan warned in its National Defense Report last year that Beijing is using cognitive warfare to seize the island without a fight.

A Taiwanese Air Force F-16 in the foreground flies on the flank of a Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Air Force H-6 bomber as it passes near Taiwan on Feb. 10, 2020. (Republic of China Ministry of National Defense via AP)

Tsai also condemned Russias infringement on Ukrainian sovereignty, it stated. However, she noted that Taiwan is fundamentally different from Ukraine in terms of geostrategic factors, geography, and role in international supply chains.

Tsai expressed empathy last month for Ukraines situation because of the military threats and intimidation Taipei faces from Beijing.

On Wednesday, Beijings foreign ministry dismissed parallels between the issues of Taipei and Kyiv, accusing Taiwan of seeking clout by using the Ukraine crisis.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying reiterated the regimes claim on Taiwan at a daily briefing.

Huas comments come after Chinas foreign minister said Beijing is closely following the situation in Ukraine.

Experts have suggested that Beijing is learning from the crisis in Ukraine in relation to its own strategy toward Taiwan.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson flagged the risk for Taiwan in a warning last week about the damaging worldwide consequences if Western nations failed to fulfill their promises to support Ukraines independence.

If Ukraine is invaded, the shock will echo around the world, and those echoes will be heard in East Asia and they will be heard in Taiwan, Johnson said at a security conference in Munich. People will draw the conclusion that aggression pays and that might is right, he said.

Reuters contributed to the report.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on June 8, 2021. (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)

Texas Gov. Abbott Orders Probe of Child Sex Change Surgery

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Feb. 22 ordered a probe of medical procedures for transgender children.

In a letter to the states youth protection agency, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Abbott said that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had determined that a number of gender reassignment procedures amount to child abuse under Texas law.

Gender reassignment surgeries can include orchiectomies, hysterectomies, vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, and mastectomies.

Because the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsible for protecting children from abuse, I hereby direct your agency to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the State of Texas, the Republican governor wrote in his letter to Commissioner Jaime Masters (pdf).

Abbott noted that it is already against state law to subject Texas children to a wide variety of elective procedures for gender transitioning, including reassignment surgeries that can cause sterilization, mastectomies, removals of otherwise healthy body parts, and administration of puberty-blocking drugs or supraphysiologic doses of testosterone or estrogen.

He added that Texas law imposes reporting requirements upon all licensed professionals who have direct contact with children who may be subject to such abuse.

This includes doctors, nurses, and teachers, and provides criminal penalties for failure to report such child abuse, Abbott said.

Texas law also imposes a duty on DFPS to investigate the parents of a child who is subjected to these abusive gender-transitioning procedures, and on other state agencies to investigate licensed facilities where such procedures may occur, the governor added.

Abbott said: There is no doubt that these procedures are abuse under Texas law, and thus must be halted. [DFPS] has a responsibility to act accordingly. Ill do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans.

The White House condemned Abbotts decision to launch an investigation into the procedures.

The Texas Attorney Generals attack on loving parents who seek medical care for their transgender children is dangerous to the health of kids in Texas and part of much larger trend of conservative officials cynically attacking LGBTQI+ youth to score political points, a White House spokesperson told ABC News.

Families should have the right to seek health care that will enable young people to live healthy and fulfilled lives, the statement said. Conservative officials in Texas and other states across the country should stop inserting themselves into health care decisions that create needless tension between pediatricians and their patients. And no parent should face the agony of a politician standing in the way of accessing life-saving care for their child.

Gender dysphoria, according to the American Psychiatric Association, is a condition of distress created by an individual who identifies with the opposite biological sex.

As previously reported in The Epoch Times, separate studies found 88 percent of boys and girls experiencing gender dysphoriawho had not yet undergone social transitioningreported when they were teens that it was no longer an issue and they accepted their biological gender.

Brad Jones contributed to this report.
The eight plots all movies are based on? You mean plots arent limitless? Theres not an endless supply of plots? No. There are only a small collection of plots in all of plot-dom, and everything else is merely permutations and combinations of them. According to Irish playwright Denis Johnston (19011984), there are only eight.

These plots can be presented in endlessly different formstragedy, comedy, farce, whodunit, and flipped and invertedbut they remain the building blocks of all story-telling in movies.

British actors Lily James (L) and Richard Madden pose for photographers on the red carpet ahead of the UK premiere of the film Cinderella in central London on March 19, 2015. (Jack Taylor/AFP/Getty Images)

Because think about it: How many plots can there really be? There are only so many situations that humans, family, friends, community, can find themselves in. Here are the eight categories, and examples of movies based on these particular plots.

The 8 Plots All Movies Are Based On

1) Unrecognized Virtue at Last Recognized.

This would encompass the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, and the fairy tales of Cinderella and The Ugly Duckling.

Whats universal is that the good is initially down-trodden and disrespected, but eventually recognized, acknowledged, and ultimately lauded. An excellent example of this, in movies, is Eddie the Eagle:

2) The Fatal Flaw

The Fatal Flaw is the foundation for most classical tragedies, although it can be exist as comedy too. Some aspectphysical, emotional, or mentalof a character, leads to their death or downfall.

Achilless heel is the classic example. Another classic is Icarus being smart enough to manufacture wings made of wax, but his fatal flawhubrisgoads him to fly too close to the sun, melting the wax, and plummeting him, fatally, to earth. In comedy, while Daffy Ducks defining characteristic is selfishness, his fatal flaw is recklessness. In The Hobbit, the dragon Smaug has a naked chink in his impenetrable armor of scales:

3) The Debt That Must Be Paid

The fate that catches up with all of us sooner or later. The debt that must be paid. Characters either go on a quest to pay a debt or endure great suffering because they do not pay their debt. This is the basis of all gambling movies. The classic tale is Goethes Faust, who makes a deal with the devil. Robert Johnson, the well-known legend has it, sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads, in order to be able to play the blues bewitchingly well. Thats a debt Robert may be paying right now.

In Sicario, a cartel boss brutally murders the wife and daughter of the titular Sicario, which means hit-man; a tremendously bad choice of person for an individual to incur debt to.

4) The Love Triangle

The standard triangular plot of two women and one man, or two men and one woman. Most French farce has this set-up. Shakespeares got plenty of it.

Heres the young Robert Downey, Jr., trapped between the lovely Heather Graham, and the very cute Natasha Gregson Wagner (Robert Wagners daughter). Being a naughty young player, hes trying to not just date both of them, but actually be in relationships with them. Theyve not heard of each other. They show up at his Soho apartment at the same time. Its so effective that the screenwriter just slapped on the incredibly lazy title, Two Girls and a Guy.

5) The Spider and the Fly

This story archetype is from the predatory sorceress Circe, from The Odyssey. Basically, a trap is laid, and the unwitting fly falls in. In Othello, Iago lays a jealousy trap for Othello, causing the Moorish general to kill his wife Desdemona in a fit of jealous rage.

Heres the greatest stage actor of all time, Laurence Olivier, as Othello, with young Maggie Smith as Desdemona. Shes currently the venerable Dame Maggie Smith, who played Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, as well as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey:

6) Boy Meets Girl, Boy Loses Girl, Boy Either Gets, or Doesnt Get, Girl

Four are movies where boy gets girl: The Graduate: Dustin Hoffmans character, by ruining her wedding. Spiderman: Toby Maguires Peter Parker, by not being himself. Twilight: Robert Pattinsons character, by being sparkly. Say Anything : John Cusacks Lloyd Dobler, by holding a radio over his head for a long time.

If youve ever done yoga or qigong, you know how challenging it is to hold your arms over your head this long, even without an 80s boombox. But if you want to get the girl, you must do a great thing in her presence. Heres the classic example:

7) The Gift Taken Away

In the German fairy tale that has become the foundation of the modern international mytho-poetic mens movement, Iron John, the prince loses his gift, a golden ball and has to get it back out of the cage of the giant hairy Wildman (who represents powerful, mature masculinity). How? By stealing the cage-key from under his mothers pillow (mothers will subconsciously always withhold this key from their little boys).

This is a metaphor for how to get our original, perfect selves back, by facing our fears. Also a metaphor for accessing the inner wildman by rebelling against being mommys good little boy, and thus becoming a man with the wherewithal to reclaim ones gold. Its the quintessential Heros Journey.

The prime movie example of getting something precious taken away is so powerful, that again, the screenwriter got lazy and just wrote Takenas the title of a story about a former CIA black ops agent whose daughter gets taken by human traffickers.

8) The Hero Who Cannot Be Kept Down

Top Gun. The lead characters partner gets killed. He feels responsible. His self-confidence spirals down from high-flying F-14 Tomcat fighter-jet glory, into the depths of the deep, dark ocean. His girlfriend tells him hes a quitter. Here, he has the elder-talk that sets the hero back on the path to victory.

Goldfish

It is said that a goldfishs memory is so short, that by the time it swims once around its fishbowl, by the time it passes the little plastic castle in the sand againit believes its seeing it for the first time. Like Ellen Degeneress intensely forgetful fish character Dory in Finding Nemo.

Human memories are thankfully longer. But although history repeats itself because humans forget, forgetfulness is not why we listen to stories based on the same plots repeatedly. Human existence is limited and finite, but paradoxically, within the limited can be found the infinite. And this infinite variation is why we go watch the same plots in movies over and over again and feel were experiencing something new. Like shifting kaleidoscope images. Always different. But its all the same pieces of colored glass. 8 plots. Thats it.
The SFPD Is Dying and No One Seems to Care

Commentary

Its beyond time to start asking some very hard questions and demanding some actual answersnot crafted talking pointsabout the San Francisco Police Departments (SFPD) problems.

Its no secret that the past few years havent been kind to policing across the United States. Retention of qualified officers has been a real issue for many departments. But why has San Francisco been losing so many cops?

We have both a recruitment and a retention problem. Were in the throes of a death spiral from which we may not be able to pull out.

Currently, we have two classes in the academy with a combined total of only 35 new recruits. Over the next couple of weeks, the department plans to promote a rumored 35 new sergeants. While I agree we need some more sergeants, promoting more people will be taking from the officer rank without anyone to replace them.

According to an email from the SFPD chief to the mayor, our success rate from recruit to officer passing FTO is 67 percent. So, although we have 35 in the Academy, we most likely will end up with about 24 new cops. Dont forget, these classes of roughly 20 each were meant to have 55 each, but we cant attract anyone else.

In addition to no one coming in the front door, we have plenty of cops choosing to walk out the exit door. Not including the 43 cops who left or are in the process of being released because of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, there are about 40 who are on approved leave who may choose to not come back rather than get vaccinated.

Sorry if I spoil the hopes and dreams of management, but a lot of them arent coming back, either. Those losses alone will eliminate years of any hiring gains weve made. It turns out that when the chief says you are replaceable, thats only true if there are people there to replace you.

No one seems to be too concerned about the retirement cliff thats quickly approaching. Currently, there are more than 400 members who have 25 years of service and are also over age 50. They can leave right after reading this article, and theres nothing the department can do.

We have just under 2,100 sworn members between the city and the airport, 1,665 if were only counting the city. If 400 were to leave tomorrow, we would be at 1,700 total. Forget specialized units or promotions; at that point, handling calls would be a problem.

This still doesnt address the cliff thats coming because of the 1994 Crime Bill hiring. There are more than 500 members who were hired as a result of the 1994 Crime Bill. Starting in 2024, all of them will be coming into their maximum retirement benefit. From 2024 to 2026, all 500 will likely retire, since theyll be topped out at their full 90 percent pension.

What are we doing to address that? We should be hiring 200 cops per year just to try to replace those upcoming losses. Instead, were hiring about 40 per year, which doesnt even cover our promotions, let alone cops choosing to walk away altogether.

Looking over past personnel orders, were losing five to 10 cops per month, leading to an average of 7.5 cops per month leaving the department. Unfortunately, the most recent order had 17 cops leave, which will bump up the average. The longer we wait for anything to change, the more people will leave.

On June 30 and then July 1, well get two raises, and that will increase our base wage by 5 percent. Anyone considering leaving must already have factored that into their calculations. This means any package offered that may work at keeping people must include additional pay raises.

However, as every day passes, more and more people are steadily flowing out. The longer the decision-makers take, the fewer people they will have at their disposal. If nothing happens before those raises in July and our average remains at 7.5 cops leaving, we could be short another 38 cops by raise time. If the average continues to rise, well, then 38 cops could be the low end of our problems.

Ive been telling people for a while now to always have an exit plan. Always be ready to leave this place, because we dont know what could happen that makes working here impossible. I hope everyone has started planning, because the SFPD is dying, and unless an enormous shift or change occurs, there will be nothing left.

Or maybe were just destined to go out the way of the T.S. Eliot poem The Hollow Men:

This is the way the world ends

Not with a bang but a whimper.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
NEW YORKIs there anywhere in the world thats truly safe? This is the question at the heart of Joshua Harmons drama Prayer for the French Republic, a tale that focuses on cultural identity and the reality of how the more things change, the more they stay the same. The play is now at Manhattan Theatre Clubs Off-Broadway City Center Stage I.

In 2016, Marcelle (Betsy Aidem) and Charles (Jeff Seymour) are a Jewish professional couplehes a doctor, shes a psychiatristliving in France with their grown son Daniel (Yair Ben-Dor) and daughter Elodie (Francis Benhamou). Neither Marcelle nor her brother Patrick (Richard Topol) were particularly religious as children. That changed for Marcelle when she married Charles, whose family arrived in France from Algeria when he was 4 years old.

(LR) Betsy Aidem as Marcelle, Richard Topol as Patrick, Pierre Epstein as Pierre, Francis Benhamou as Elodie, and Jeff Seymour as Charles in Prayer for the French Republic. (Matthew Murphy)

Remembering a Difficult Past

Daniel is quite open about his Jewish heritage, something that disturbs Marcelle greatly due to the rise in anti-Semitic attacks in France. She and Patrick believe its best not to call attention to ones religion. These feelings at least partly stem from what happened to their family in World War II. Offering an outsiders perspective on this is Molly (Molly Ranson), a very distant relative from America. Mollys seemingly uninformed point of view puts her at odds with the very opinionated and manic-depressive Elodie.

As these scenes unfold, so do events that occurred more than 70 years earlier as Marcelle and Patricks great-grandparents (Nancy Robinette and Kenneth Tigar) shelter in place during the Nazi occupation. All they can do is wait fearfully for news of family members who have been arrested by the authorities.

Nancy Robinette as Irma Salomon and Kenneth Tigar as Adolphe Salomon in Prayer for the French Republic. (Matthew Murphy)

Linking the sequences together are observations from Patrick, who serves as the plays narrator. The play examines the persecution of Jewish people through the ages. Topols matter-of-fact delivery as he imparts this information serves to give the subject extra emotional weight.

As racial tensions keep rising, Charles thinks about moving to Israel, perhaps not the safest place in the world, but one that wont force him to hide who he is. Its a move Marcelle opposes. She does not want to leave her home, her friends, and the life she has built. Plus, she is also the de facto caregiver for her aged father, Pierre (Pierre Epstein), one of several of her family who survived the Holocaust.

No Easy Answers

The best thing about Prayer for the French Republic is that it offers no easy answers (other than a family confrontation scene late in the play that comes off as too pat). The different characters try to balance the idea of leaving a place where they no longer feel welcome with refusing to be driven out of their home because of who they are. In between these two points are issues of family, belief, heritage, survival, and loveall of which must be considered when making any decision.

The question of whats actually the correct choice and how that choice is measured against prior events is continually debated. Molly notes how you can fight for whats right wherever you are, but you have to be alive to do it. She and Elodie, who delivers a powerful speech on Jewish hatred, both offer some insightful moments. This is rather ironic, as their characters are initially presented as somewhat one-dimensional. In one interaction, in which Elodie rambles from one point to the next while Molly tries to keep upMollys understanding of French isnt always perfectis particularly hilarious.

Aidem as Marcelle is the standout of the cast. A touch overbearing when first seen, she is fiercely protective of her family and just wants to find a place where she and the people she loves can be safe. Robinette strikes a powerful note as Irma Salomon. As with Marcelle, the most important thing to her is family, and not knowing their fate is almost more than she can bear. Her determination to understand what happened forces a confrontation with those who dont want to relive the horrors theyve seenor experienced.

Epstein, as Marcelle and Patricks 86-year-old father, effectively delivers his own opinion about what the family should do, and also explains why he still goes to work in the family piano store five days a week. Seymour is fine as the more pragmatic Charles, to whom the current situation is nothing new for his people. Ben-Dor is nicely appealing as Daniel. His scenes with Ranson have a nice flirtatious touch, with a hint of something deeper.

(LR) Nancy Robinette as Irma, Kenneth Tigar as Adolphe, Ari Brand as Lucien, Pierre Epstein as Pierre, Peyton Lusk as Young Pierre, and Richard Topol as Patrick in Prayer for the French Republic. (Matthew Murphy)

David Cromers direction is very strong as he slowly and deliberately increases the storys underlying tension while the characters grapple with issues theyre not always ready to face. Takeshi Katas set is appealing and functional, and never calls attention to itself so as to take away from the story.

With a running time that doesnt feel long at all, Prayer for the French Republic looks at an age-old situation, one that sadly shows no sign of being resolved anytime soon.

Prayer for the French Republic

Presented by Manhattan Theatre Club

131 W. 55th St., New York City

Tickets: 212-581-1212 or NYCityCenter.org

Running Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes

Closes: March 27

Judd Hollander is a reviewer for stagebuzz.com and a member of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle.
Advocates for mask optional at a Mecklenburg County Commissioner Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina in February 2022. (Courtesy of Brooke Weiss)

They Make Me Sick: Tensions Rise in a North Carolina County Commission Meeting on Lifting Mask Mandate

After a contentious Mecklenburg County Commission meeting in North Carolina, commissioners unanimously voted to lift its mask mandate on Feb. 16, paving the way for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board of Education to follow suit on Feb. 22.

The commissioners voted to lift the mandate on Feb. 26, while the school board voted to end its mandate on March 7.

In the commissioners meeting during final remarks, Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell expressed disdain for members of the audience who were endorsing a vote for optional masks.

This is an extremely homogeneous group, Rodriguez-McDowell said. We have a majority minority community, and this group has acted as if COVID isnt real.

She alluded to there being two Charlottes, which she expounds on in a later press release.

In closing, she said, God help us, into the microphone.

When reached for comment, Rodriguez-McDowell didnt immediately respond.

Later, she issued a statement alleging that local right-wing media had produced a highly edited video and other propaganda pieces which depict me in an extremely negative light.

She didnt specify what media outlet had edited what video.

First, during the public comments portion of the meeting there is a hot mic moment when I use the word disgusting under my breath when reacting to sarcastic and nasty comments directed at a mother with immunocompromised kids who spoke in favor of keeping the mask mandate, she said. I regret that the comment is picked up on the hot micbut that was my gut reaction in the moment. Im human, I stand by it.

She said she was expressing disapproval for their behavior, but not their speeches.

Because there are no microphones on the audience, their offensive heckles and jeers are not able to be heard on the video, she said.

Rodriguez-McDowell said she is being criticized for suggesting that the audience members were racists, to which she countered that she was calling on them to show sensitivity to those who are vulnerable.

When I said that there are two Charlottes, I am referring to the wide disparity between those who are marginalized in our community and those, like myself, with privilege, she said.

In reference to the majority minority community, she said she was pointing to race demographics.

It is widely known that COVID-19 took a proportionally higher toll on minorities in Mecklenburg and across the country in terms of deaths and hospitalizations, she said.

On her statement, God help us, she said she stands by her disappointment with the crowd, but she said she apologizes for reacting in the heat of the moment with my unfiltered feelings.

Later in her statement, she alleged that the group in the crowd was a part of a political movement.

They have an agenda and tactics that are all about dividing us with hyperbole, chaos, and conspiracies sound familiar? As a county commissioner my work is focused on making life better for people through public health, environmental stewardship, social services, job creation, etc  not culture wars, she said.

The woman with immunocompromised children to whom Rodriguez-McDowell was referring is Stacy Staggs, who spoke against lifting the mask mandate in public comment at the meeting.

I want you all to consider who youre helping, and who youre hurting. Lifting the mask mandate adds risk and thus hurts children. It also hurts black and brown bodies in our community she said, echoing Rodriguez-McDowells statement that COVID-19 is race-related.

It was after this statement that some in the audience reacted.

Staggs went on to say that because its Black History Month, wearing a mask should be considered as an act of compassion.

Id like you to reconsider, although the message is very clear: My children, kids like ours, those who are immune-compromised, are not welcome in the county of Mecklenburg, Staggs said.

They Make Me Sick

It was after this final statement that the audience reacted again, and when the microphone picked up someone on the board saying, Unbelievable. Disgusting. They make me sick.

Commissioner Laura Meier issued a press release on Feb. 21 in which she identified herself as the person who said, They make me sick.

Meier said she made the comments under her breathunaware that the microphone was onin reaction to parents in the crowd she said were being disrespectful during Staggss presentation.

She pleaded with us to keep the mandate and spoke about her two immune-compromised children, Meier said in her statement. The crowd jeered and yelled sarcastic comments, and our Chair promptly reprimanded them. At around this moment, my mic was hot and I said, under my breath, unreal and this makes me sick or something to that affect.

Meier said it was a reaction to what she called the audiences disregard for others.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education meeting on Feb. 22. (Courtesy of Brooke Weiss)

Their Disdain was on Full Display

Thats not what happened, Brooke Weiss, chairwoman for the Mecklenburg chapter of Moms for Liberty, a parental rights advocate organization, told The Epoch Times. Weiss, who was in the audience, said that the people werent reacting to the Staggss statement about her immunocompromised children, but other comments made by Staggs, with whom Weiss said many in the crowd have had a previous antagonistic relationship.

Shes called Moms for Liberty racist, and has attacked me personally, she said. Shes made very disparaging comments about members of our group, so a lot of us are familiar with her. I certainly have sympathy for anyone with two immunocompromised children, but she should be able to make her own choice on masking, and so should we.

Weiss attributed what she said was the boards animosity to never having faced pushback before.

They were caught off guard, Weiss said. A lot of people were calling them out, saying, You had no right to do this in the first place; its gone on way too long. You didnt have our best interest in mind. They were being called out and they didnt like it.

For Weiss, whos attended numerous board of education meetings, the board of commissioners response was new, she said.

Ive never seen a board attack its citizenry the way that they did, Weiss said. Their disdain was on full display.

Weiss said there were people groaning, but that it didnt get out of hand.

On being referred to as a homogenous group, Weiss said the implication was that they are racists only representing white people.

Weve never suppressed or tried to keep anyone out of our group, Weiss said. And to say we are homogenousmy family is Jewish. There were various minorities represented in the group. The fact is that the 6th district is mostly a white area and thats where most of us came from. Its not our fault that other districts werent represented there.

Mask-optional advocates for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district hold signs outside of the Feb. 22 meeting. (Courtesy of Brooke Weiss)

Free the Smiles

Currently, there is a bill called the Free the Smiles Act that has passed in the House and the Senate and is waiting to be signed or vetoed on North Carolina Gov. Roy Coopers desk. The bill would give parents the discretion on masking their children. Cooper, a Democrat, encouraged local governments and schools to end their mask mandates, citing lower case numbers and more people getting vaccinated.

We are taking a positive step on mask requirements to help us move safely toward a more normal day-to-day life, said Cooper in a Feb. 18 press conference.

Parents at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg board of education meeting on Feb. 22. (Courtesy of Brooke Weiss)
Three Arrested in Pomona on Gun, Drug Charges

POMONAThree people are in custody on Feb. 24 after police arrested them on drug and weapons charges in Pomona.

San Dimas resident Daniel Angulo, 32, and Pomona residents Jesse Quinteros, 38, and Rachelle Lopez, 41, were arrested on various drug and weapons charges, authorities said. Angulo was also arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and Lopez was arrested for transport of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Patrol officers with the Pomona Police Department observed the driver of a white Dodge Challenger committing an unsafe driving maneuver and a traffic violation around 10:50 p.m. on Wednesday in the area of Mayfair and White avenues, said Pomona Sgt. Mark Medellin.

Officers followed the Challenger and observed a second traffic violation when Quinterosthe driverbegan driving above the posted speed limit. The officers then initiated a traffic stop and a pat-down of Quinteros, Angulo, and Lopez.

During the searches they discovered two loaded firearms inside of the vehicle and a backpack that contained fully sealed candy packages with methamphetamines, Medellin said. Angulo was also in possession of hypodermic needles and syringes.

In addition, they found prescription drug pills and U.S. currency, which officers say suggests illegal drug sales. At one point, Angulo admitted that he was in possession of more illegal drugs that were concealed in his pants, Medellin said.

The suspects were transported to the Pomona City Jail and booked under the above-mentioned charges.
Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkish-Owned Ship Hit by Bomb in Near Ukraine: Officials

A Turkish-owned vessel was struck by a bomb near Ukraines port city of Odessa on Thursday, said the Turkish Maritime General Directorate.

They said that there were no casualties, according to Turkish officials. The ship was en route to Romanian waters, they said.

Upon information that the Marshall Islands-flagged Turkish-owned Yasa Jupiter ship was struck by a bomb off the coast of Odessa, it was learned that the ship has no request for help, is en route to Romanian waters, has no casualties, and is safe, the authority wrote on Twitter.

Officials told CNNs Turkish edition that the ship is the Marshall Islands-flagged, Turkish-owned Yasa Jupiterand that it took slight material damage.

Earlier, Ukrainian officials called on Turkey, a member of NATO since its inception, to block Russian ships from entering the Black Sea.

Ukraines ambassador to Ankara, Vasyl Bodnar, said Turkey should shut down the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian ships in a move that would surely provoke Moscow. Omer Celik, a spokesman for Erdogans ruling AK Party, told Reuters Turkey was evaluating the issue.

Turkey will evaluate the requests and respond as soon as possible, Bodnar told reporters, according to the Reuters news agency. We expect solidarity to be shown.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine and said Moscow is violating Kyivs sovereignty.

Turkey has maintained a close relationship with Russia, although it also has warm relations with Ukraine. Turkey has sold armed drones to Ukraine that Kyiv reportedly used on Thursday against the Russian military.

Turkey supports Ukraines struggle to preserve its territorial integrity, Erdogan said, according to reports.

The Russian Defense Ministry later on Thursday formally confirmed that its forces have moved into Ukraine from Crimea.

Until Thursdays statement, Russia had said only that it unleashed a barrage of air and missile strikes on Ukrainian air bases, air defense batteries, and other military facilities.

The ministry said it has destroyed a total of 83 Ukrainian military facilities. Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov confirmed that Russian ground troops advanced toward the city of Kherson northwest of the Crimea peninsula.

Kherson sits on a water reservoir used in the past to provide the bulk of freshwater for Crimea until Ukraine cut it with a dam in 2017 in response to Moscows 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Konashenkov said Thursdays move allows the resumption of the water supply to Crimea.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his address to the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

US Sanctions Wont Change Putins Decision Calculus, Experts Say

National security analysts say Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely remain undaunted by the sanctions package unveiled on Feb. 24 by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Atlantic Council senior fellow Emma Ashford said Bidens sanctions package was what most observers expected: a series of restrictions on Russias ability to use the Western financial system, while leaving Russias energy exports mostly untouched.

Energy sanctions would have imposed a harsher punishment on Russia, but they also would have severely harmed European allies and others, according to Ashford.

[Bidens decision] was pretty much inevitable, because the level of Russia and Europes interdependence makes it impossible to sanction without causing major economic disruption, Ashford said at a Feb. 24 event hosted by Defense Priorities.

Germany has canceled the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Russia in response to Putins Feb. 22 announcement of a peacekeeping mission in the breakaway Donbas republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. However, Europe still imports about 27 percent of its oil from Russia.

You cant just find 186 to 200 billion cubic meters of gas from some other source. Where will it come from? asked Defense Priorities Director Rajan Menon.

The analysts also explained the rationale behind the Biden administrations decision to allow Russia to keep using the SWIFT payment system, which underpins international financial transactions.

Bidens decision on SWIFT immediately came under fire from critics.

The Germans have vetoed the U.S. from using Swift sanctions. Biden deferred to them. America First vs consensus, former Trump administration Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell wrote on Twitter.

Ashford said the decision on SWIFT was likely related to keeping Russias energy exports flowing.

If you cut Russia off from SWIFT, then you have the questions of how the Europeans will pay for their gas from Russia, she said. Were very limited in the things we can do that would change Russias calculus.

But that isnt to say that Putins apparent invasion plans will go unchallenged.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer said he expects Putin to face a Ukrainian insurgency.

If theyre really intent on regime change, a large portion of the Russian army is going to have to stay in Kiev for some time to come, he said. There are a lot of Ukrainians out there that have spent the last couple of months collecting weapons and learning how to use them. And what may change things is when the Russians start experiencing the pain of occupying.

Ashford and Menon expressed agreement.

Its not clear this is going to improve Russias security situation, Ashford said.

Menon said: This seems to me a wild gamble, and hes [Putin] gone much further than I ever thought hed go.
Students register and have their temperatures taken at Bukere Secondary School in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, Kyegegwa District, Uganda, on Jan. 11, 2022. (Esther Ruth Mbabazi/Reuters)

Ugandans Would Face Fines, Jail for Refusing COVID-19 Jab Under New Law

KAMPALAUganda plans to impose fines on people who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who fail to pay could be sent to prison under a new public health law which lawmakers are scrutinising, parliament said on Tuesday.

Although the East African country started administering COVID-19 jabs nearly a year ago, only about 16 million jabs have been administered in a population of 45 million.

Parliaments house health committee has begun scrutinizing Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 which seeks to make coronavirus vaccinations mandatory.

The new law proposes a fine of 4 million Ugandan shillings ($1,139) for those who fail to get vaccinated.

According to the proposal, those who do not get vaccinated against COVID-19 will be fined 4 million shillings or (receive) a jail term of six months, parliament said in a statement on its website.

The parliament statement quoted health minister Jane Ruth Aceng as telling lawmakers on the committee that mandatory vaccinations would ensure enough people are vaccinated so that we create mass immunity.

The statement did not say when the proposed law was likely to be brought before all members of parliament for approval.

Uganda fully reopened its economy last month after two years of anti-coronavirus measures that included curfews, businesses and school closures, the shutting of borders, and other steps.

The strict measures drew widespread criticism from Ugandans whose businesses and livelihoods were affected.

($1 = 3,510.0000 Ugandan shillings)
Vehicles of Russian state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today (RT) are seen near the Red Square in central Moscow on June 15, 2018. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

UK Says Russian Channel RT Is Tool of Kremlin Disinformation

LONDONBritain accused Russian news channel RT on Wednesday of being a tool of a Kremlin disinformation campaign and asked the UK media regulator to take action if needed after Russia recognized two rebel regions of eastern Ukraine.

Russian officials say RT is a way for Moscow to compete with the dominance of global media companies based in the United States and Britain that Moscow says offer a partial view of the world.

Critics say RT, which broadcasts news in English, Arabic, Spanish, and German, is the propaganda arm of the Russian state and aims to undermine confidence in Western institutions.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said in a letter to state media regulator Ofcom that she was concerned RT would seek to spread harmful disinformation about the RussiaUkraine crisis.

While respecting Ofcoms regulatory independence, I call on you to ensure your actions are timely and transparent to reassure the British public, the letter, seen by Reuters, said.

Asked in parliament whether he would request Ofcom review RTs licence, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he believed Dorries had asked the regulator to review that matter.

Johnsons spokesman, asked later if the government was looking to ban the channel, sought to clarify the prime ministers remarks. All the culture secretary is asking Ofcom (is to) take any appropriate action should there be any attempt to use Russia Today to spread disinformation, he said.

The Conservative prime minister had also said the regulator should make its own decisions.

We live in a country that believes in free speech, Johnson told parliament. And I think its important that we should leave it up to Ofcom rather than to politicians to decide which media organizations to banthats what Russia does.

RT said British politicians seemed to be trying to meddle in the affairs of a regulator, undermining its independence.

The UK culture minister is now clearly directly interfering in institutions touted as supposedly wholly free from political pressure and influence, Anna Belkina, RTs deputy editor in chief, told Reuters.

Belkina said despite political pressure Ofcom had found no breaches of the Broadcasting Code by RT in the past four years.

Ofcom did not comment specifically on RT but said it would prioritize complaints about any broadcasters news coverage of Russia and Ukraine.

Recognising the serious nature of the crisis in Ukraine, we have been keeping the situation under close review and have already stepped up our oversight of coverage of these events by broadcasters in the UK, it said in a reply to Dorries letter.

It would not be acceptable for any of our licensees to broadcast one-sided propaganda.

By Muvija M and William James
Recent graduate Asuka Law, 23, poses with her British National (Overseas) passport in her favourite part of the city and the place she would miss the most if she leaves, near a shopping mall, in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, on June 3, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

UK to Expand Special Visa Scheme to Cover Hongkongers Born After 1997

The UK government has announced its intention to expand the special visa scheme for British national (overseas) status holders to cover young Hongkongers born after the 1997 handover.

The scheme was rolled out in July 2020 following the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regimes imposition of a draconian national security law on Hong Kong. It allows BN(O) status holders to live, study, and work in the UK for five years and eventually apply for citizenship.

But the government has acknowledged that a gap in the current arrangement means some young Hongkongers born after the handover of sovereignty to Beijing on July 1, 1997, have been unable to apply for the visa.

In a written ministerial statement issued on Feb. 24, immigration minister Kevin Foster said that, under the current rules, Hongkongers born on or after July 1, 1997, can only apply as a dependent as part of their BN(O) parents household and must apply at the same time as the parent.

However, some of this cohort cannot currently access the BN(O) route because their BN(O) parent does not wish to apply, because they are not part of their parents household, or they are unable to apply at the same time, he wrote.

Foster said this gap is creating unfair outcomes for the families of BN(O) status holders with some children able to access the route independently as they were old enough to be registered for BN(O) status, while their younger siblings aged between 18 and 24 are unable to access the route.

To address this problem, he said, the government has made the decision to enable individuals aged 18 or over who were born on or after July 1, 1997, and who have at least one BN(O) parent to apply to the route independently of their BN(O) parent.

The government intends to revise the rules in September and expects the changes to take effect in October, the minister said.

Campaigner Benedict Rogers speaks at a rally for democracy in Hong Kong at Trafalgar Square in London on June 12, 2021. (Laurel Chor/Getty Images)

Hong Kong Watch, a London-based NGO that has been calling on the government to expand the arrangement, welcomed the announcement. The organisation is delighted that the government has taken the bold and moral step to plug the gap in the policy, CEO Benedict Rogers said in a statement.

We greatly appreciated the parliamentary and civil society alliance that has stood with the people of Hong Kong to ensure the government lived up to its historic, legal, and moral obligations to help those most in need of a lifeline out of the city, he said.

The BN(O) visa scheme started on Jan. 31, 2021. By the end of last year, 103,900 Hong Kong residents had applied for the visa.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses MPs on the latest situation regarding Ukraine, in the House of Commons, central London, on Feb. 24, 2022. (PA)

UK Unveils Most Severe Sanctions Against Russia Over Ukraine Invasion

The British government has announced another package of sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson said is the most severe Russia has ever seen.

Following Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement of a special military operation in Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday, explosions have been reported across the country, including in the capital Kyiv, as well as in other cities, including Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Odessa.

Addressing the House of Commons on Thursday, Johnson said Putin will stand condemned in the eyes of the world and of history, and will never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands.

Ukrainians demonstrate against the Russian invasion outside Downing Street in London, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Now we see him for what he isa bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest, he said, adding that this hideous and barbarous venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure.

Johnson said the UK is launching the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen.

Johnson extended punitive measures to hit five further oligarchs, including Putins former son-in-law Kirill Shamalov, and to tackle more than 100 businesses and individuals.

He said the government will sanction all the major manufacturers that support Putins war machine, will imminently ban Russias national airline Aeroflot from touching down planes in the UK, and will freeze the assets of all major Russian banks, including immediately against state-owned VTB, Russias second-biggest bank.

Updating Parliament on his talks with G7 leaders and NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, Johnson said the G7 agreed to work in unity to maximise the economic price that Putin will pay for his aggression.

He said this must include ending Europes collective dependence on Russian oil and gas that has served to empower Putin for too long.

He also said, countries that together comprise about half the world economy are now engaged in maximising economic pressure on one that makes up a mere 2 percent.

The prime minister said the UK will coordinate with the United States and the EU to introduce new trade restrictions and stringent export controls.

These trade sanctions will constrain Russias military, industrial, and technological capabilities for years to come, he said.

We will continue on a remorseless mission to squeeze Russia from the global economy piece by piece, day by day, and week by week, he added.

Sanctions will also be applied to Belarus, which has supported the Russian military action against Ukraine.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Lufthansa airplanes are seen at the Terminal 1 of the new Berlin-Brandenburg Airport 'Willy Brandt' in Schoenefeld near Berlin, on Oct. 29, 2020. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters)

Ukraine Closes Down Airspace for Civilian Flights as Conflict Escalates

Ukraine has shut down its airspace for civilian flights following Russias invasion of the country as flights modified routes and aviation authorities around the world take various precautionary measures.

The suspension of air traffic services to civilian users came into effect on Feb. 24, 00:45 UTC, according to an update provided by the Ukraine State Air Traffic Services Enterprise. Airspace within 100 nautical miles of the Ukrainian border was classified as posing a risk for aviation by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), with Belarus, Moldova, and Russia being part of the affected countries.

In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft. The presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a HIGH risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels, said the agency.

The EASA notice came after the Russian Ministry of Defense sent an urgent message warning about a high risk of flight safety of civil aircraft due to the use of weapons and military equipment and asked Ukraines air traffic control to soon cease all flights.

Multiple flights made course adjustments around the time Ukraines airspace closure was announced. Many Polish Airlines flights to Kyiv from Warsaw turned back, while an El Al flight heading to Toronto from Tel Aviv made an abrupt U-turn out of Ukrainian airspace.

Safe Airspace warned of a primary risk of unintended targeting of civil aircraft by military around Ukrainian borders. Secondary risks to aviation activities include the potential non-availability of the Ukrainian Air Traffic Control Service due to a cyberattack and other unforeseeable non-normal operating environment, the organization warned.

Regardless of the actual movements of Russian forces into Ukraine, the level of tension and uncertainty in Ukraine is now extreme. This itself gives rise to significant risk to civil aviation. For this reason, and based on OPSGROUP member discussions, we assess Ukraine as Level 1  Do Not Fly, said Safe Airspace.

Prior to Ukraine announcing a ban on civil aviation within its airspace, several countries like the United States, Britain, Canada, France, and Italy had advised their airlines to avoid flying through certain airspace above Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

On Tuesday, Air France canceled flights to and from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as a precautionary measure. Lufthansa earlier announced the suspension of flights to and from Odessa and Kyiv until the end of this month. Dutch carrier KLM was one of the first international airlines to announce a suspension of flights to Ukraine early in February.

Tensions in Ukraine have previously resulted in an aviation tragedy. In 2014, a missile hit a Malaysian Airline flight traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam. The flight was shot down over the eastern Ukraine region, with an investigation revealing that the missile used in the attack belonged to the Russian military. All 298 people on board the flight ended up dead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gestures as he addresses lawmakers in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec.1, 2021. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo)

Ukraine Imposes Nationwide Martial Law, Biden Condemns Unprovoked and Unjustified Attack

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed nationwide martial law on Thursday morning, saying Russia had targeted Ukraines military infrastructure as explosions were reported across the country.

This morning, President Putin announced a special military operation in Donbas. Russia has attacked our military infrastructure, our border guards, Zelenskyy said. Explosions were heard in many cities of Ukraine.

Ukraines defense ministry called Russias military operation an unjustified deceitful and cynical invasion.

There are strikes on military and other important defense facilities, border units are under attack, the situation in the Donbas has degraded, the ministry said in a statement, referring to the Ukraines separatist enclaves that were recognized as independent entities by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine, all special and law enforcement agencies of the state are on alert. The National Security and Defense Council is working in an emergency mode, the ministry added. Martial law will be imposed.

The move came shortly after Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine.

In a televised address, Putin said that the operation is intended to protect civilians and demilitarize Ukraine, and is a response to threats coming from Ukraine.

He said that Russia doesnt plan to occupy Ukraine and said that the Ukrainian military should immediately lay down its arms.

Putin also said that any foreign attempt to interfere with Russias action will trigger an immediate reaction from Russia, and will lead to consequences they have not seen before.

Shortly after Putins address, explosions were reported in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, as well as in other cities, including Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Odessa.

The owner of a local construction company in Odessa, Farid Agayev, told The Epoch Times that his family were woken up at roughly 5 a.m. local time to the sound of an explosion and car alarms going off.

Russias ministry of defense issued a statement saying that its military is targeting Ukraines military infrastructure.

Nothing is threatening Ukraines civilian population, it said in a statement.

However by Thursday afternoon, there were already reports of death during the first hours of the Russian assault, including eight civilians and 40 Ukranian soldiers from Russian shelling. The conflict has already cost about 14,000 lives over the past eight years as the Russian-backed separatists occupied the Donbas.

Zelensky urged civilians to stay home where possible. A day earlier, Ukraine imposed a nationwide state of emergency lasting for 30 days, and urged citizens in Russia to leave immediately.

Declaring martial law imposed harder restrictions than a state of emergency, and could include bans on meetings, movements, and political parties.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in the early hours of Thursday morning that he had a phone call with Zelenskyy during which he condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.

Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the Leaders of the G7, and the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia, the president said.

He added, We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
Ukrainian troops patrol in the town of Novoluhanske, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraine Prohibits Men Aged 18 to 60 Years Old From Leaving Country: Official

A Ukrainian official announced late Thursday it is prohibiting males aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country after Russia invaded earlier in the day.

The head of Lviv regional customs, Daniil Menshikov, posted an urgent message to Facebook saying that due to the military state, mencitizens of Ukraine, aged 18 to 60 will not be released outside our state, according to a translation.

He added: Please do not create panic and do not try to cross the border on your own! Victory is upon us! Glory to Ukraine!

The country started enlisting reservists between those ages, according to Ukraines armed forces.

We are giving away weapons and we will continue doing so to anyone who will ask for it in order to protect our sovereignty, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media. Our future depends on each and every citizen.

As of Thursday afternoon, Ukraines Minister of Healthcare Oleh Lyashko said the countrys death toll has risen to 57 and at least 169 have been injured. However, that figure is sure to rise as video footage shows Russian and Ukrainian forces battling in several different cities and regions.

The United Nations confirmed that more than 100,000 people have been internally displaced in Ukraine.

There has been significant displacement inside the countryit seems that more than 100,000 people have moved within the borders fleeing the violence for safety, Matthew Saltmarsh, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee division, told news outlets. And there have been movements towards and across international borders. But the situation is still chaotic and evolving fast.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war in a pre-dawn televised address, and around the same time, explosions and gunfire were heard throughout Ukraine, including near Kyiv. The assault brought a calamitous end to weeks of fruitless diplomatic efforts by Western leaders to avert war.

Putin justified his actions by claiming that the attack on Ukraine is needed to protect civilians in the eastern separatist regions near Russias border. Western officials have said Putins claims are false and have described Russias incursion as a war of choice.

Apparently reminding the world of Russias extensive nuclear arsenal, Putin warned that no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.

On Thursday, Russia and Ukraine made competing claims about the damage they had inflicted. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities, and drones. It confirmed the loss of one of its Su-25 attack jets, blaming pilot error, and said an An-26 transport plane had crashed because of technical failure, killing the entire crew. It did not say how many were aboard.

Russia alleged it was not targeting cities, but journalists saw destruction in many civilian areas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region on Feb. 24, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov /AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraine to Give Weapons to Anyone Who Wants to Defend Country: President

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday morning that the government would provide anyone with weapons from a Russian invasion that was launched in the early morning hours.

We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities, Zelensky said in a statement. We will lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of territorial defense with weapons in hands.

It came as missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders from Russia and Belarus, and landing on the coast from the Black and Azov seas. Video footage online showed alleged Russian forces using multiple rocket launch systems, heavy artillery, hypersonic missiles, and airstrikes on Ukrainian assets.

Ukrainian troops fought Russian forces along practically the entire border, and fierce fighting was taking place in the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odessa and at a military airport near Kyiv, an adviser to the presidential office told news outlets.

Ukrainian officials said Russian helicopters attacked Gostomel, a military airport near Kyiv, and Ukraine downed three of them. Ukrainian border officials said the Russians were trying to penetrate Kyiv region and the Zhytomyr region on the Belarusian border, and they were using Grad rockets.

Initial unconfirmed reports of casualties included Ukrainian civilians killed by Russian bombardment and border guards defending the frontier.

Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

People stand at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Medyka, Poland, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Regional authorities of Ukraines southern Odessa region said 18 people were killed in a missile attack. At least six people were killed in Brovary, a town near Kyiv, authorities there said. Ukraine reported five people killed when one plane was shot down.

The move to invade Ukraine came as Russian President Vladimir Putin released what appeared to be a pre-recorded speech in which he said he authorized a special military operation in Ukraine. Its not clear for how long. Putin asserted the move is for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.

Later on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state-run media that Russia is determined to neutralize the [Ukrainian] military potential, which was boosted considerably lately, including with the active assistance of foreign nations.

Previously, President Joe Biden said he would rule out sending troops to Ukraine, although the Department of Defense said it placed more American troops in NATO allies like Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Ukraine is not a member of NATO.

Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way, Biden said in a statement, while the White House said it will issue more sanctions to top Kremlin officials.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A sale board stands out the front of a property in Middle Park in Melbourne, Australia, on June 17, 2011. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Uncertainty Hangs on Victorias New Housing Levy

The Australian state of Victoria may abandon a newly proposed housing levy after the Andrews government said the property sector reneged on its promise to support reforms in the industry.

The state government on Feb. 18 announced the new Social and Affordable Housing Contribution, which would impose a 1.75 percent levy on all newly built developments with three dwellings or more from July 2024, to raise funds for constructing thousands of social and affordable homes.

It said that less than 30 pecent of residential planning permits would be subject to the levy, and each year the government could raise more than $800 million (US$578 million) to build around 1,700 new social and affordable homes.

However, many major industry groups immediately raised concerns that buyers would have to bear the brunt of the levy costs, pushing young people further away from the housing market.

Premier Daniel Andrews said there had been discussions on the levy between his government and members of the property sector as part of a broader reform package to speed up planning approvals.

He said that the sector would harvest massive profits with the reduction of red tape and had consented to contribute some of the windfalls to provide more social and affordable housing.

Nevertheless, Andrews alleged industry organisations, including the Property Council of Australia, had backed out of their promise to support the levy after striking an agreement with the government.

Its fair to say that the future of this bill is very, very uncertain, he told reporters on Feb. 23.

Im not in the business of creating super-profits for developers if they are unwilling to support sharing those profits with those who need more affordable housing.

The Flemington public housing estate is seen in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 26, 2020. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The Property Council refuted Andrews criticism but pledged to maintain the working relationship with the government.

This is the 10th new tax this government has introduced, the second in the last ten months, the organisation said in a statement to AAP.

All our members are concerned about the flow-on effects of new taxes on housing affordability.

The Victorian government has yet to introduce the bill in the state parliament, and the premier said the legislation would not move forward without industry consensus, pushing the issue back to the developers.

Its now over to the development community, he said.

David Davis, the opposition shadow treasurer, said the government had misjudged the response of the property sector to the proposed tax and placed doubt on Andrews suggestion that the industry had agreed to the levy.

That is complete and utter rubbish. I have spoken to everyone across that sector  and nobody thought this was a good idea, he said.

It came as a complete bolt from the blue.

The state government later called off a planned briefing with shadow cabinet members on the housing levy and other measures included in the bill.

Victorian Greens party leader Samantha Ratnam announced her partys support for the bill while calling the property sectors claims of housing price-hike a furphy.

We see the development community crying poor every time there is a reform to create more affordable housing, she said.

The Greens party also put forward a private members bill in the Victorian Legislative Council on Feb. 23 to compel the government to pass a new law to end homelessness in the state by 2030.
The logo of UniCredit Bank outside the company's branch in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 30, 2016. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

UniCredit Shares Open Down 8 Percent on Ukraine Crisis

MILANShares in UniCredit, whose Russian arm is one of the largest lenders in the country, fell as much as 8 percent on Thursday, before triggering an automatic trading suspension, hit by the escalation of the Ukraine crisis.

Russian forces fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine and landed troops on its coast on Thursday.

By 0819 GMT shares in UniCredit fell 4.3 percent against a 2.7 percent drop in Italys banking index.

Rival Italian heavyweight Intesa Sanpaolo, which is also active in Russia where it has financed major investment projects such as the Blue Stream gas pipeline or the sale of a stake in oil producer Rosneft, fell 4.2 percent.
A United Parcel Service (UPS) sign is displayed outside of a UPS facility during a job fair in New York, on Nov. 1, 2019. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

UPS Loses $2 Billion Euro Claim for EU Veto on TNT Bid

LUXEMBOURGThe worlds No. 1 logistics company, United Parcel Service Inc, on Wednesday lost its court fight for a record 1.74-billion euro ($2 billion) compensation claim from EU antitrust regulators for blocking its 2013 bid for Dutch rival TNT.

A win for UPS could encourage other companies to take similar action though EU merger vetoes are rare, with only 10 deals blocked by the EU in the past decade.

The European Commission had stopped UPS planned 5.2-billion-euro acquisition of TNT because it had not offered enough remedies to allay concerns that the deal would hurt consumers.

UPS subsequently challenged the decision in court, won, and then sued the EU executive for compensation for the harm allegedly suffered as a result of the EU veto.

The General Court dismisses two actions for damages brought by UPS and ASL Aviation Holdings, the court said.

UPS failed to establish that the infringements of its procedural rights in the procedure for the control of the concentration between itself and TNT constituted the determining cause of the types of damage alleged, judges said.

The court also turned down compensation claims from ASL Aviation Holdings DA and ASL Airlines (Ireland) Ltd, two UPS subcontractors that had clinched commercial deals with TNT to be performed after the approval of the merger between UPS and TNT.

The ruling can be appealed to the EU Court of Justice, Europes top court, only on points of law.

The EU watchdog had in 2016 cleared FedEx Corps 4.4 billion euro purchase of TNT Express.

The UPS claim is the largest since Schneider Electric sued the Commission for around 1.6 billion euros for blocking its bid for Legrand in 2001 and won. Europes top court however said it should be compensated for only part of its legal fees.

The cases are T-834/17 UPS v Commission and T-540/18 ASL Aviation Holdings and ASL Airlines v Commission.

By Foo Yun Chee
Russia's President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with China's leader Xi Jinping during their meeting at Friendship Palace in Beijing, China on April 26, 2019. (Alexey Nikolsky/AFP via Getty Images)

US Criticizes China and Russia for Seeking Profoundly Illiberal World Order

U.S. State Department Ned Price on Feb. 23 criticized China and Russia for seeking to create a new profoundly illiberal world order, with the current Russian aggression against Ukraine being a part of that.

Price pointed to the two nations joint statement released earlier this month as evidence for their desire of achieving such a world order, during a regular news briefing.

But this is an order that is and would be profoundly illiberal, an order that stands in contrast to the system that countries around the world  have built in the last seven decades, he said.

It is an order that is in many ways destructive rather than additive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Chinas capital Beijing on Feb. 4, the opening day of the 2022 Winter Olympics, to meet with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping. After their meeting, they released a lengthy statement, claiming that the two bordering nations enjoy an unprecedented strong tie where there would be no limits in their partnership and no forbidden areas of cooperation.

The statement also joins China in Russias opposition to the further enlargement of NATO.

Price said every responsible country in the world, including China, had an obligation to use any influence it has to urge Putin to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis.

You will have to ask the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] whether they have used their own considerable influence with the Russian Federation to that end, he said.

A reporter asked Price about mixed signals coming from Beijing in terms of its stance on Ukraine, pointing to how the communist regime has stressed the importance of state sovereignty while having also voiced against NATO expansion.

China often uses state sovereignty as an excuse to deflect international criticism on its policies in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang. The communist regime claims that what happens in these areas are its internal affairs.

In response, Price noted that Beijing had often in its statecraft said that the principle of sovereignty was inviolable and sacrosanct. Then he told the reporter to ask China.

So, youll have to ask the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] how they marry that longstanding position with anything less than an effort to use the considerable influence and sway they have with the Russian Federation to urge Vladimir Putin to back down, to de-escalate, Price said.

On Feb. 23, Ukraine declared a state of emergency and introduced conscriptions of reservists, while calling on its citizens to leave Russia immediately. On Feb. 24, Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine.

At least five countriesAustralia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United Stateshave imposed sanctions on Russia as the Ukraine crisis deepens.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi about the need to preserve Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity during their phone call on Feb. 22.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned on Feb. 6 that China would end up owning some of the costs if the regime is seen as supporting a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Three days earlier, on Feb. 3, Price warned Chinese firms that they would face consequences if they attempted to evade any U.S. export controls imposed on Russia in the event of Russia invading Ukraine.

We have an array of tools that we can deploy if we see foreign companies, including those in China, doing their best to backfill U.S. export control actions, to evade them, to get around them, Price said.

Reuters contributed to this article.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on developments in Ukraine and Russia, and announces sanctions against Russia, from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Feb. 22, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

US Lawmakers, World Leaders Condemn Russias Unprovoked and Unjustified Attack of Ukraine

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Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the United States and leaders from around the world have condemned Russias unprovoked and unjustified attack of Ukraine on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in the country.

President Joe Biden late Wednesday issued a statement saying that Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces, Biden said. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

Explosions were reported in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, as well as in other cities, including Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Odesa shortly after Putins televised appearance announcing the military operation, which he said is intended to protect civilians and to demilitarize Ukraine.

The Russian president said that Russia doesnt plan to occupy Ukraine and said that the Ukrainian military should immediately lay down its arms.

Commenting on the situation in Ukraine on Wednesday, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said on Twitter it was the first time in 80 years that a great power has moved to conquer a sovereign nation and that it was without justification, provocation and without honor.

He blamed tepid responses to Russias previous horrors in Georgia and Crimea, the naive efforts at a one-sided reset during the Obama administration, and Trumps America First.

History shows that a tyrants appetite for conquest is never satiated, he said, adding that America and our allies must protect freedom by subjecting Putin and Russia to the harshest economic penalties, by expelling them from global institutions, and by committing ourselves to the expansion and modernization of our national defense.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) shared a string of posts on Twitter about Ukraine Wednesday night, saying that there was a full scale & comprehensive military assault underway throughout the country.

Airborne & amphibious landings, missile strikes from air, ground & naval forces, electronic & cyber attacks & a large ground force to occupy a large swath of territory, Rubio said, adding in another post that while Ukraine is outgunned and outmanned, they are brave & tough fighters and as the world will soon learn they have already inflicted damage on Russian invaders.

One very concerning development is Russia has carried out a few targeted operations uncomfortably close to the Polish border, Rubio said in another post, adding, This is the danger of miscalculation & human error that can quickly lead to a catastrophic escalation.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said on Twitter that the USA stands with Ukraine.

We pray for the people of Ukraine as they defend against Putins attempt to rebuild the old Soviet Union, she added. Biden must stand up to Putin and immediately levy severe sanctions against Russiastarting with removal from the SWIFT banking system.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that an attack on Ukraine is an attack on democracy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his address to the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022.(Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden speaks on developments in Ukraine and Russia, announcing sanctions against Russia, from the East Room of the White House on Feb. 22, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

She said she applauded Biden for his forceful leadership in imposing the first tranche of swift & severe sanctions to counter Russian aggression adding that, The U.S. & our allies stand together in our unwavering support of the Ukrainian people.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also shared his prayers with Ukraine, adding that it is imperative that we continue to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons as well as good intelligence, and that the world needs to condemn Putins destruction of a neighboring democracy as a war crime.

Putin and his cronies should be pursued by international law enforcement agencies for the purpose of seizing their lavish apartments, fine art, yachts, and other material goods purchased through stealing the Russian people blind. Its time to make this personal to Putin, Graham said.

A number of other lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) also took to social media to condemn what Durbin called the invasion of Ukraines sovereign land.

Outside the United States, government leaders from multiple countries also condemned Russias actions in Ukraine.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called Russias invasion of Ukraine brutal and unprovoked, while announcing new sanctions on 25 more individuals and four financial institutions, including commanders, deputy defense ministers, and Russian mercenaries who have been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that his country strongly condemns Russias decision to wage war on Ukraine and that Russia must immediately end military operations in Ukraine.

Elsewhere, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Thursday that the EU will block Russias access to critical technology and other markets to hold Putin accountable over his decision to invade Ukraine.

We will target the strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia, von der Leyen said in a statement. We will weaken Russias economic base and its capacity to modernize. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.
(L-R) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar and Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa at Melbourne Commonwealth Parliament Office in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb. 11, 2022. The 2022 Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting brings together the foreign ministers of Australia, the United States, Japan, and India are meeting to discuss the countries cooperation in areas including the economy, security, and the coronavirus pandemic. (AAP Image/Pool, Darrian Traynor)

US Signals Renewed Focus on South Pacific to Counter Rising Chinese Influence

NEW DELHIThe United States and several allies have signaled a renewed focus on the Pacific Island with fresh visits and diplomatic engagements this month, but a lot more needs to be done to mitigate the Chinese regimes influence in the region, according to experts.

Beijing has over the years steadily expanded its economic and political footprint in the South Pacific, a region that consists of 14 sovereign island nations and seven territories with a cumulative population of 13 million.

But as Washington and allies step up their commitment to the Indo-Pacific region to counter the Chinese regimes growing assertiveness there, they have also set their sights on the Pacific Islands.

In a Feb. 11 meeting in Melbourne, Australia, of foreign ministers of the informal QUAD grouping of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India, the countries agreed to enhance their cooperation to ensure the region is free of coercion, a veiled reference to China.

The next day, the Biden administration released its Indo-Pacific strategy (pdf), which said Washington will focus on every corner of the region, including the Pacific Islands. Such intensified focus, the document said, has been necessitated by mounting challenges, particularly from the PRC, a reference to the Peoples Republic of China.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) attends a meeting with Fijian acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (R) in Nadi, Fiji, on Feb. 12, 2022. (Leon Lord/AFP via Getty Images)

Immediately after the Melbourne meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Fijithe first such visit for a U.S. secretary of state in 36 years. He also hosted a virtual meeting with leaders of 14 Pacific Island nations.

Around the same time, State Department announced that the United States would reopen its embassy in the Solomon Islands after 29 years to bolster its presence in the region. The move came months after rioters entered the island nations parliament and torched much of the capital Honiaras Chinatown. The riots grew from peaceful protests stemming from ethnic tensions, economic problems, and concerns over the countrys growing links with China.

Cleo Pascal, an associate fellow at London-based think tank Chatham House told The Epoch Times that the Pacific Islands are strategically crucial for China in its bid to project power in the wider region.

They are trying to gain influence in them in the typical CCP way, which is they come in with the commercial front, which has a strategic reason for it. And braided in it is the third element  the criminal activity, said Pascal.

By criminal activity, Pascal said the CCP was promoting corruption, organized crime, drugs, prostitution, and gambling, all of which is destroying the social fabric of many Pacific Island nations.

Beijings Increasing Footprint

After the end of the Cold War, the United States pulled back from the Pacific Island region thinking that it was not a strategic priority anymore, and delegated its strategic oversight to five key partners including Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, according to Pascal.

The U.S. administration closed embassies in the region and Australia, New Zealand didnt deliver what the people of the Pacific needed. Pascal said. In some cases, the relationship was barely post-colonial in the way that they tried to extract benefit for their businesses from the economies of the region, she added.

In this context, when China entered the region with a different offer, she said. Beijing came in offering generous aid, investments and loans, signaling a long-term interest in these small island countries.

This was understandably attractive at first look to a lot of countries in the Pacific, she said.

Since then, the Chinese aid, investments, and lending in the region have increased manifold. While Beijing is not a dominant lender in the region, it has nonetheless used lending as a route to increase the presence of Chinese state-owned enterprises in the region.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (R) and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspect honor guards during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2019. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

Region for Testing Missiles

The Chinese regime also uses the South Pacific region for military purposes, as its thee area it uses for the testing of long-range missiles, according to Satoru Nagao, a non-resident fellow at the Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute.

From January to September 2021, Beijing conducted at least 250 ballistic missile tests, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in October, calling these tests a rapid expansion of the PRCs nuclear capabilities that was especially concerning.

All longer-range inter-continental missiles need long-range testing range and the South Pacific is the only place available for China. If China tests its missiles against the U.S. directly, the U.S. will retaliate. Thus China needs a safer direction as a testing place. Thats [the] South Pacific, said Nagao.

In addition, there is growing unease about the possibility of Beijing growing its military footprint in the region. Last May, Kirabati, an archipelago nation in the Central Pacific, confirmed that the Chinese regime was financing plans to update a WWII-era airstrip on a tiny island 1,800 miles southwest of Hawaii. Kiribatis assurance the project would be for civilian use did not assuage analysts fears that Beijing could use the strategically-located airstrip as a hub for espionage and military operations.

America is Back

At a Feb. 12 joint press conference with the U.S. Secretary of State, Fijis Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the pacific island nations felt they were forgotten by the United States, but Blinkens visit showed that America is back.

Fiji and America are both working to support a more secure, stable Indo-Pacific region, and indeed a peaceful region, said Sayed-Khaiyum.

Blinken said that the U.S. wants to develop sustained, innovative, mutually reinforcing partnerships across the Indo-Pacific including with the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) which Fiji is chairing this year.

The PIF is the pacifics main political forum, and was facing trouble last year after five Pacific Island nations decided to abandon the forum over a dispute about a leadership vote. But those countries agreed to temporarily revoke their withdrawal in February.

China had announced initiatives to expand ties with the PIF countries as early as 2003, and had even warned the member countries from exchanges of an official nature or dialogue partnership of any form with Taiwan, according to a release by the Chinese regimes embassy in Papua New Guinea.

Pascal said that America has yet to resolve many issues with Pacific Island nations, in particular, the three Freely Associated States (FAS) of the Republic of Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federated State of Micronesia. The FAS are independent nations that have signed a comprehensive agreement with the United States called a Compact of Free Association (COFA). Under the agreement, the United States provides financial assistance in exchange for full defense authority.

So the people of these countries go and work in the United States. A lot of them serve in the U.S. military and the U.S. provides postal services and various other services within those countries. And the U.S. has strategic access and the right to strategic denial to other countries. Its a very unique relationship, said Pascal.

The COFA for all three FAS nations is due for renewal over the next two years. But the Biden administration has been slow in progressing renewal negotiations despite multiple bipartisan letters from Congress, said Pascal.

If the U.S. relationship with the Pacific was truly on track instead of heading towards being on track, then Blinken should have gone to one of the Freely Associated States because those countries have very deep ties to the U.S., Pascal said, adding that this indicates that there are still some serious issues to be resolved with the FAS.

But Pascal acknowledged that recent moves by Washington, including its Indo-Pacific strategy and re-opening of its embassy in Solomon Island, was a step in the right direction.

It revealed an awareness within the U.S. administration that it needs to provide a strategy for giving the people of Pacific the tools that they need in order to develop without becoming vassal states of China, she said.
Vaccinations the Only Way to Get Rid of Masks in the Classroom: Federal Health Minister

Victoria has been encouraged by the federal Health Minister Greg Hunt to launch a mass COVID-19 vaccination program in schools to boost vaccination rates so mask mandates can be removed for students.

The state has maintained masks for students in grades three to six despite being the state with the highest vaccination rates for children aged 5 to 11 in Australia (pdf).

Speaking at the press conference on Feb. 23, the Minister for Health Greg Hunt said that in the light of the federal government pushing for a mass vaccination program across the states, he recognised that Victoria has taken a different path.

Hunt said if the decision Victoria made is about vaccination rates, which as I say are some of the highest in the world, then the best way to turbocharge those school-based vaccination rates is with a school-based program.

They know how to do it, theyre good at it, and they have the additional capacity now that the pressure has come off in state clinics.

He also highlighted that the states decision to maintain masks for students in grade three and higher in primary school can make it difficult for parents.

Queensland has announced there will be no masks from Mar. 4. While NSW has stated that masks will only be required for public transport, planes, and indoors at airports, hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, corrections facilities, and indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people.

The states mask rule changes come as Victoria celebrates an almost 54 percent vaccination rate for children in that age category for receiving one dose, compared with 47 percent in NSW and 42 percent in Queensland.

However, Victorian health minister Martin Foley slammed Hunts statements.

Last year, we stepped in to fix the commonwealths failed vaccination program, and now we are having to do it all over again with state-run pop-up clinics and grants for primary care providers to provide in-reach vaccination programs in Victorian schools, he said.

We want to see less talk and more action from the federal government, who are ultimately responsible for the national child-vaccination program.

The Victorian Government has implemented several interventions to lift vaccination rates among children, including pop-up clinics for vulnerable children at sites such as Melbourne Zoo and the Melbourne Museum.

Meanwhile, the Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy criticised the Victorian governments decision to maintain mask-wearing for primary students in classrooms even though that mandate does not stretch to primary school teachers as out of touch.

Hows it going to work in a composite  a Grade 2, 3 composite  half the class is going to wear a mask and half wont? It is completely and utterly out of touch, he said.
Washingtons Policy Failure in Ukraine

Commentary

The Biden administration seems to have thought it could scare the Russians away from Ukraine, so it refused on principle to negotiate. The Russians werent scared off, and we and our allies (not to mention the Ukrainians) are without much of a policy. In fact, the White House has failed to execute both a strategic and tactical policy to deal with the Ukraine problem, and Russia in particular.

First, a superpower shouldnt make threats if it cant back them up. The United States and NATOwhich dont agree on very muchdo agree that no one will use military force to defend Ukraine. That means all the threats are economic and political.

This is necessary, because Americas ability to defend Eastern Europe militarily is, to say the least, questionable. We have few ground forces, no in-depth defenses against Russian missiles and rockets, and little assurance that NATO can fight even if it chooses to. The expansion of NATO in the 1990s came when most of our allies had disarmed as part of the peace dividend after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The United States did some serious disarming as well, and the result is that no NATO member outside of the United States can really defend its own territory, let alone someone elses. And keep in mind that Ukraine isnt a NATO member.

In addition, U.S. forces are weaker today because of long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, throwing away trillions of dollars and leaving a lot of our forces unable to be summoned to a fight. Readiness levels remain appallingly poor despite some improvements during the prior administration. In addition, the Pentagon continues to ignore important defense systems, including tactical and strategic air defenses; we have sent our soldiers to war with no air cover against missile and drone attacks. War stocks, too, which take years to replenish, are at bare minimum levels or below.

Objective conditions leave any U.S. leader with an almost empty military hand.

The right move, the clever move, would have been serious arms control negotiations with Moscow when Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded them. Putin handed the administration a clear opportunity, because it appears the Russians are afraid of NATO. It appearsit may not be truebut if they are afraid of NATO, we could work out deals to protect European security and Russian security, something the Russians not only say they want, but also put their want in the form of demands.

The same possibility for negotiations had applied to Ukraine. The Russians argued that the Ukrainians should negotiate the terms provided for by the Minsk Protocols. Washington, however, applied no pressure on Kyiv, although its a signatory along with the two Donbas republics. The core issue there was limited autonomy for those republics, which the Russians have now recognized as independent and to which they have sent peacekeepers.

Certainly, it would have been difficult, but Ukraine would have held onto the republics and taken away the Russian excuse to threaten Ukrainian independence. But the Ukrainians really were convinced, wrongly, that support from Washington would get them back the lost areas with no compromise and chase the Russians away. Washington should never have been allowed that fantasy.

Theres a reason that Ukraine isnt in NATOand that adding it isnt on the NATO agenda. It makes no sense to have encouraged the Ukrainians in their misguided beliefs. It makes less sense to do it while the big challenge to both U.S. security and the U.S. economy is China. U.S. defense policy had been to be able to fight two regional wars at once. We cant. We dont have the forces and are unlikely to have them in 20 years if we begin to build now. Which were not.

President Joe Biden claims vast experience in foreign policy from his days on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and his service as vice president under President Barack Obama. Even without delving into how the Biden family was making millions of dollars in Ukraine and China, the fact is that Biden has lost sight of Americas strategic responsibilities. Making meaningless threats, not being firm with Ukraine, and leaving Europe hanging by a thread, the administration and its cohorts have significantly compounded the regional threat and put the United States in the unfortunate position of not only undermining deterrence but also increasing the possibility that NATO will disappear.

The Europeans have been moving forward on a separate defense alliance, probably excluding some Eastern Europeans, and including only core Western European players. Its a bad idea that hadnt been taken too seriously in Washington, but Americas strategic blunders will give it a boost. The United States will lose its role as a security guarantor for Europe, and the emerging system will try to work its own deals with the Russians. You can be fairly certain they will be worse than Chamberlains appeasement of Hitler.

The United States didnt need this confrontation with Russia, yet here we are with no apparent way out.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Stephen Bryen Follow Dr. Stephen Bryen is regarded as a thought leader on technology security policy, twice being awarded the Defense Departments highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Medal. A senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy, his most recent book is Technology Security and National Power: Winners and Losers.
Wizz Suspends Ukraine Flights, Trying to Evacuate Staff, Planes

LONDONWizz Air said it was working to evacuate its Ukrainian-based crew, their families, and four aircraft on Thursday after Russias invasion forced it to suspend all operations in the country.

Due to the current events in Ukraine and the airspace closure, Wizz Air regrets to inform our customers that the airline must temporarily suspend all flight operations in the country, the airline said.

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, Wizz Air had operated the second highest number of flights between Europe and Ukraine, behind Ryanair.

The company said it was working to evacuate all of its Ukrainian-based crew, and their immediate families. It also has four aircraft on the ground there, three in Kyiv and one in Lviv.

Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian flights on Thursday after Russia launched a land, sea, and air invasion of its neighbor, while Europes aviation regulator warned about hazards to flying in bordering regions.
Imelda Acosta, known on social media as Mariposa Castro, entered the U.S. Capitol through a broken window on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Woman Who Broadcast Jan. 6 Live on Facebook Sentenced to 45 Days in Jail, $5,000 Fine

Senior Judge Reggie B. Walton chides her for blaming Antifa and BLM for Jan. 6 violence

A California woman who broadcast her trip through the U.S. Capitol on Facebook on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to 45 days in jail and levied a $5,000 fine by U.S. District Senior Judge Reggie B. Walton, who lectured her for blaming Black Lives Matter and Antifa for some of the violence that day when that obviously was not the case.

Imelda Acosta, who was described in court documents by her social media nameMariposa Castrowas sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol building, a misdemeanor. As part of a plea agreement, several other charges were dismissed.

Clips from her 47 minutes of Facebook broadcasts were played by prosecutor Jordan Konig at the sentencing hearing. Konig argued for a 60-day jail term. The governments sentencing memo cited statements Acosta made on the live-stream, including were coming and this is war.

Imelda Acosta, aka Mariposa Castro, enters the U.S. Capitol while broadcasting live on Facebook on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

During one broadcast, Acosta said, Were breaking in! We are breaking in! Were doing this. Were breaking in, right?  Were taking our house back. This is our Capitol. Were taking it back. No more bull[expletive]! according to prosecutors. Acosta entered the Capitol through a broken window, court documents said.

Judge Walton said jail time is a necessary punishment, to send a message to others who harbor a similar mindset.

It is my view that in order for people to understand that if youre going to engage in the type of behavior that you engaged in, if youre going to make the statements that you made on that day in reference to what was occurring, and then if youre going to disseminate that information to others, there has to be a penalty for it, he said.

Defense attorney Elita Amato argued in a sentencing memo that Acosta did not cause damage or engage in any violence while inside the Capitol.

Acosta told Judge Walton she is a peace-loving person who carried a peace flag with her that day. She described herself as very empathic and said that at the Capitol, a dark energy  just sucked me into this.

Judge: Why Blame Antifa, BLM?

Judge Walton interrupted Acostas statement and made clear he did not believe her contentions. He chided her for references she made to BLM and Antifa on the Facebook broadcasts.

I think it was clear to anybody who was at the Capitol on that day or who watched it on TV that these people who were doing the things that were going on that day were former President Trumps supporters, Walton said, but you represented that these acts were being committed by Antifa and Black Lives Matter people.

Now I dont condone violence by anybody, but that was very concerning as to why you would try to blame somebody else for what obviously was not the case.

Acosta said she was only repeating what others were saying.

But you had your own eyes, the judge said. You had your own eyes to see what was going on. What would have caused to you repeat something that somebody else said that obviously was false, considering what you had to have seen and observed?

The judge also questioned Acosta on her statement about taking back the Capitol.

Who do you think you were taking your Capitol back from? Walton asked.

I was just repeating what other people were repeating and that just came out, she said. I dont know what we were taking the Capitol back from. It was just something I was repeating from other people.

Imelda Acosta broadcasting from the West Terrace tunnel at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Judge Walton made an extended statement before pronouncing the sentence, noting both Acostas actions and words were factors to consider. He expressed frustration with the political divide in America, and allegations by Trump supporters of election fraud in the 2020 presidential vote.

These cases are difficult, because on the one hand, most of the people who got caught up in this situation dont have prior records and seem to have lived decent lives before whatever caused them to develop the mindset to do what they did on January 6th, the judge said. On the other hand, its very troubling to me that we have people in our country who, when there is an election and they dont get their way, that they act out in the manner that we saw take place on January 6th.

Walton said this situation is leading us to a very dangerous place.

What happens next time around? Would it be justified if whoever the Democratic candidate is runs and losesand thats always a possibilitythat the Democratic supporters would then say, Well, we think the election was stolen and strike out as the former presidents constituents did?

Trump supporters have pointed out the violence by hundreds of anti-Trump leftists on inauguration day in January 2017. Rioters threw bricks and chunks of concrete at police, smashed storefront windows of downtown businesses, set fire to a limousine at the edge of the inauguration secure zone, and lit a bonfire as night fell. Police made more than 200 arrests. The DisruptJ20 coalition had announced its goal of shutting down or impeding the inauguration ceremony and the inaugural balls.

History is Repeating Itself

Judge Walton, appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush in 2001, said he has been reading books about how civil wars start. He said so much of history is repeating itself in our country, with things happening that in other places caused a destruction of democracy.

Now those same type of things are now happening in America, because weve got a segment of our society that it has to be their way and no other way, Walton said. A democratic society cant function that way, because in a democratic society, somebodys gonna win and somebodys gonna lose. And historically, while people may not have been happy about having lost, they accepted that reality.

Walton told Acosta he did not believe her 2022 statements that she was only repeating the words of others on the live streams.

Contrary to what youre saying now and contrary to what you said in your letter, you were there for an extended period of time, he said. You seemed to be gleeful. You seemed to be happy about what was going on. You did not seem to be a peace-loving person. You seemed to be someone that was seeking to inspire others to do what you thought you had done.

What kind of message does that send to people who may have the same mindset that you had that day? the judge asked. Thats a very troubling situation for this country to be experiencing. Its concerning to me. I love this country. This country has been good to me. And to see what people are trying to do to this country for their own partisan, biased perspective is just very concerning.

Walton stressed the need to set an example.

The concern I have is what message do you send to others, because unfortunately, there are a lot of people out here who have the same mindset that existed on January 6th that caused those events to occur, he said. If people start to get the impression that you can do what happened on January 6th, you can associate yourself with that behavior and that theres no real consequence, then people will say, Why not do it again? 
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez listens to a police officer after being detained by members of the Honduras National Police, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Feb. 15, 2022. (Honduras National Police/Reuters)

Years of Drug Trafficking Exposed as Former Honduran President Awaits U.S. Extradition

SANTA CRUZ, BoliviaAccusations of narcotics smuggling, bribery, and collusion have piled up against former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, culminating in an arrest at his private residence in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Feb 15.

Following Hernandezs apprehension, his wife, Ana Garcia, said in a Feb. 21 statement that drug cartels were seeking revenge for their members being extradited to the United States during Hernandezs administration, which she said was the motive behind his sudden capture less than a month after leaving office.

Garcias accusation echoes Hernandezs own comments from November 2021, when he claimed drug cartels sought revenge on him by creating trouble with the U.S. justice system, driven by his self-proclaimed tough stance on narco-trafficking during his administration.

Before they pointed their weapons like bullets, now they point lies, Hernandez said.

Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, a convicted drug trafficker and former leader of the Los Cachiros cartel, claimed during his trial in March 2021 that he paid Hernandez $250,000 in protection money in 2012 so that the military police  would not capture us in Honduras.

During the time of the alleged transaction, the former head of state was president of the Honduran National Congress.

Members of the Special Forces guard former president Juan Orlando Hernandez upon his arrival to the Palace of Justice in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Feb. 16, 2022. (Orlando Sierra/AFP via Getty Images)

Hernandez has staunchly denied the allegations. The former president awaits a handover and trial in the United States for drug and weapons smuggling.

U.S. officials sent a request for extradition to the Honduran justice department the day before Hernandezs arrest. Consequently, Judge Edwin Ortez ordered Hernandez to be put in preventative detention until March 16.

Shortly after that decision, the former presidents legal defense team filed a request on Feb. 21 for the preemptive internment to be served at his home.

In November 2021, Hernandez said his anti-drug policies resulted in a 95 percent reduction in northbound drug trafficking through Honduras, which he claimed the U.S. State Department and U.S. Southern Command applauded. However, neither U.S. officials nor Xiomara Castro, the current president of Honduras, share Hernandezs view.

Castro denounced the rampant drug smuggling in Honduras that took place during her predecessors administration.

In 2019, Honduran law enforcement seized a total of 2,218 kilograms of cocaine. In 2020, 31 illegal airstrips were identified for flying drug shipments to the United States. An astounding 2,830 kilograms of cocaine were seized by October 2020, pointing to the likelihood of narco-trafficking air routes still being in operation.

The U.S. Department of Justice provided evidence of 185,000 kilograms of cocaine manufactured and transported into the United States from Honduras over the course of 15 years, the majority of which occurred during Hernandezs tenure.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement on Feb. 7 that declassified and disclosed the inclusion of Hernandez on the List of Corrupt and Anti-Democratic Actors, which was initiated by the United States in accordance with a law of greater collaboration between Washington and the Northern Triangle nations of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

The statement also outlined that people added to the list arent eligible for a visa to the United States. The State Department placed Hernandez on the list on July 1, 2021.

U.S officials have kept the former president in their crosshairs for years, especially since the arrest and trial of Hernandezs brother, former congressman Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, who was sentenced on March 30, 2021, to life in prison in the United States for smuggling cocaine and firearms into the country.

He was caught during his brothers time as president in October 2019 and was part of what the Department of Justice for the Southern District of New York called a state-sponsored drug trafficking conspiracy.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez speaks after his brother Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez is found guilty of U.S. drug trafficking, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Oct. 18, 2019. (Jorge Cabrera/Reuters)

Yet the trail of evidence pointing to the former presidents involvement in drug smuggling doesnt stop there.

As early as 2005, Hernandez has been linked with narcotics-related bribery, reportedly accepting $40,000 in drug profits from Victor Hugo Diaz Morales, or El Rojo, while serving as a deputy in the National Congress.

Hernandez also accepted $1.5 million from Ardon Soriano, which came from drug profits, during his presidential reelection campaign in 2017.

Its not an easy time, I wish this on no one, he said after being arrested, noting that hes ready and willing to collaborate with the justice system.

The Epoch Times contacted the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Justice, both of which declined to comment.
Bailey, CO (80421)

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Rain showers early with precipitation turning to a mixture of rain and snow for the afternoon. High 42F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Republican state legislators around the country are proposing to require public schools to post all curriculum materials on the internet as an accountability measure, and the other day they got powerful if inadvertent support from Enfields school system.

Enfields school administration acknowledged that an eighth-grade class had been given an assignment in which students were instructed to choose pizza toppings as a sort of code to signify the sex acts they preferred. The objective seems to have been to teach the 14-year-olds that sex, like pizza, should be consensual and negotiated.

The Enfield incident, first publicized by a national parents group, was picked up by news outlets far and wide and put the town on the world map for stupidity.

The school administration apologized and attributed the assignment to a mistake of absentmindedness. That is, a different assignment involving pizza choices but without the sexual allusions, also aiming to teach consent and negotiation, was meant to be used. But this account evaded the big questions.

How did the pizza sex assignment get into the school system in the first place? Exactly where did it come from? Why is the school system receiving such material? Who authorized it?

And why, in a state where most students graduate from high school without mastering basic math and English, is a school system using a Family Health and Human Sexuality class to teach students, even without sexual allusions, what they already know from their own experience with pizza and life generally  that when ordering for more than oneself, the preferences of others must be considered?

Its all beyond moronic, even if it is the work of people holding degrees in education and drawing at tax expense annual salaries of $100,000 or more.

Responding to the proposals to require all curriculum materials to be posted on the internet, teachers and school administrators around the country insist that they are not hiding anything and that they make curriculum materials available to anyone who asks. But this is evasive.

For having a misplaced faith in schools, few people do ask, and few people might think they need to ask to see any curriculum materials likening pizza toppings to sex acts or imputing to white students guilt for the mistreatment of racial minorities throughout history.

Yet such materials are indeed in use in American schools, precisely because they are not routinely publicized and easily accessible.

Enfields Board of Education may appoint a committee to look into the pizza sex assignment and how a recurrence might be prevented. This too is moronic, for the school superintendent already should be able to answer the big questions. It is distressing and revealing that they were not answered at the board meeting when the incident was discussed at length.

The problem here isnt the sexual prudery of parents or other observers. The internet distributes pornography so widely that Enfields eighth-graders already may know more about sex than their parents do. No, the problem is the unaccountability of public schools.

Yes, posting on the internet all curriculum material will facilitate many questions and complaints, and some will be mistaken, arise from prudery, or have bad intent. But thats democracy, which inevitably is less convenient for government than totalitarianism, a lesson schools should teach  perhaps most of all to their own staff.

But will any legislators in Connecticut propose a curriculum-posting law and thus risk the ire of the teacher and school administrator unions? (Yes, in Connecticut most school administrators, supposedly managers, are unionized too and so not really managers.)

Any such legislation shouldnt stop with curriculums. It also should require the posting of school salaries and teacher evaluations, thereby repealing Connecticuts law exempting teacher performance evaluations from disclosure, the laws only exemption for evaluations of government employees.

Of course, the teacher and administrator unions surely would dissuade the governor and General Assembly from enacting that much accountability in public education. But a discussion of accountability legislation at least might establish that the big problem with public education in Connecticut is that its not really public at all.

Chris Powell is a columnist for the Journal Inquirer.
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Edwardsville Neighbors has found a sweet way to expand its mission in the community.

Since its founding in 2010, the nonprofit has worked to ease the financial burdens of local families when facing a medical or emergency crisis. In its first decade, the organization contributed more than $1 million in direct assistance to individuals and families across District 7.

Now, it is opening Neighbors Bakeshop, a nonprofit bakery and community kitchen, on Tuesday. The store is located at 1010 Enclave, Suite B in the Whispering Heights development off State Route 157.

All proceeds generated from the store will benefit District 7 residents through a variety of community outreach efforts and impact projects. Eventually, the community kitchen will also be available for party rentals, cooking demonstration classes and for use as a co-op kitchen for local makers.

Weve been doing Taste of Edwardsville and the Turkey Trot 5K (on Thanksgiving) since 2010, but when the pandemic hit and we were unable to hold events, it started the wheels turning about how to continue our mission of helping neighbors in a more sustainable way, said Kathie Opel, president and co-founder of Edwardsville Neighbors.

Weve been looking at several different opportunities to do something that not only gives us a fundraising avenue, but also something that the community can enjoy and something that the community might need.

Those discussions led to the creation of Neighbors Bakeshop.

We had been approached by a couple of people about the potential for a neighborhood bakery, Opel said. We have so many talented bakers who might have home businesses or just want to do something to give back.

We wanted a place where people could volunteer and use those skills, as well as a place where people could pick up a donut, a cookie or treats to take to the office.

Neighbors Bakeshop will operate with one full-time manager to oversee operations and will otherwise host a series of regular volunteer workers.

Edwardsville native Cadence Rippeto will be the manager of the bakery.

She graduated from EHS (Edwardsville High School) and shes been working for the St. Louis Cardinals for most of her career doing events, Opel said. She is also a very talented home baker, and this was an opportunity for her to pivot and do something close to home while helping the community.

Opel noted that the project would not have been possible without the gifts of donors who supported the Edwardsville Neighbors capital campaign, especially Michael and Kristie Bailey of Fireside Financial, owners of Whispering Heights.

We have been friends with the Baileys for a long time on a personal level and weve done some work with them, Opel said.

They knew that we were looking for a sustainable fundraising model and they generously offered some retail space that they had available, and we were able to work out a very favorable deal to get the buildout done and get the equipment in there. They have been huge backers of this project.

Once the concept for the bakery was approved, the project moved quickly from the conceptual stage to the countdown for Tuesdays opening.

Id like to say thank you to Pfund Construction, which did the buildout for us, and they have been wonderful to work with, Opel said. They got us on a pretty quick timeline because they started construction in December. Were still finishing the last few touches this week and well be ready to open on Tuesday.

Opel said Neighbors Bakeshop will provide its customers a typical bakery experience, but with a distinct style, unique products, and a purpose.

We searched diligently to provide quality-sourced baked goods and favorites from local bakeries, vendor partners like Goshen Coffee, and bakery wholesalers, said Edwardsville Neighbors Board Member and committee leader Aleah Likas. The part that excites us most is the local artisan bakers who will come to bake in our own kitchen, allowing us to feature monthly and weekly specialty items.

Neighbors Bakeshop will provide an artisan and eclectic offering of daily bakery items, along with:

Market items (jam, honey, etc.) from a collective of local makers

Bakeshop swag

Custom orders

Co-op kitchen memberships

Hourly kitchen rental (the first in our area)

Special event opportunities

Were going to open with the bakeshop piece and get our feet under to get the customer experience perfected, and well branch out eventually to offer hourly kitchen rental, Opel said. If people want to come in for birthday parties or to try out new recipes with the equipment in our kitchen, theyll be able to do it right here in town.

Edwardsville Neighbors will continue to raise funds through their signature annual events such as Taste of Edwardsville, which has not been held since 2019 due to the pandemic but is slated to return in April or May of 2023. The Turkey Trot 5K is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022.

They will also continue utilizing their business partner and membership program fundraising opportunities to continue their core mission of medical assistance.

Edwardsville Neighbors also provides backpacks filled with supplies for District 7 students at the start of the school year.

Weve been carrying out our core mission of helping families in the community who have been affected by a medical emergency or crisis, Opel said. Weve had a lot of loyal supporters and weve done some smaller events during the pandemic. Im proud to say we have not had to turn any families away.

There are a lot of opportunities that our board sees to expand that community outreach. In the last several years, weve taken over the Thanks program, which was started decades ago by the Edwardsville Fire Department. Working with District 7, we helped to provide Christmas gifts for 180 students last year. We deploy secret Santa shoppers and get the community involved in volunteering for that.

The hours for Neighbors Bakeshop will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It will be closed on Monday.

We hope to get people on the way to work and on the way to school, especially with Woodland (Elementary School) and Lincoln (Middle School) being next door, Opel said. Well stay open a little later on Thursday and Friday and we hope that people will stop off for dessert after work on the way home.

For more information, go to neighborsbakeshop.org or visit Neighbors Bakeshop on Facebook.

Edwardsville Neighbors was founded as a 501(3) in 2010 by Chad and Kathie Opel. They, along with a 12-person volunteer board operate the organization as it enters its 12th year. Nominations for assistance are received through the website at edwardsvilleneighbors.org.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.  Illinois' Congressional members quickly responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine early Thursday as world leaders called it "unprovoked and unjustified" attack.

"Let me be clear: Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraines sovereign land is a dire threat to the established international order and must be resolutely deterred," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL.

"Ukraine and our NATO allies facing ongoing Russian belligerence have strong bipartisan, bicameral support in the U.S. Congress," he said in a tweet. "As someone who has strong ties to the region, my prayers are with the Ukrainian people and all of Eastern Europe."

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-IL, also criticized Putin's actions.

"Make no mistake: whatever lies Vladimir Putin tells, it is obvious to the world that Russia is the aggressor here and has invaded Ukraine's sovereign territory," she posted on Twitter. "His actions are threatening innocent lives and regional stability in Europe."

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, called on President Joe Biden to "impose crippling sanctions" on the Russian economy.

"Putins invasion of Ukraine must be met with decisive action from the U.S. and our global partners," Bost said. "This isnt the time for subtle nuance and split hairs."

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, joined in the condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

"Thugs like Putin only respond to strength. Now is the time for severe economic consequences," Davis said on Twitter. "The Ukrainian people need our prayers, and they need our support through tough sanctions on Russia."

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said the "world is witness again to the true evil of Putin, who alone has chosen a path of bloodshed" in Ukraine.

"I condemn Vladimir Putins unprovoked and unjustified attacks against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms," he said. "America and the free world must stand with Ukraine by enacting the strongest possible economic sanctions, crippling Russia's ability to make war, and punishing Putin's regime and his oligarchs on the international stage. My prayers will remain with the Ukrainian people."

While the U.N. Security Council was meeting to avert war, explosions thundered and flashed across Ukraine early Thursday as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to attack the country after weeks of failed diplomacy and a massive military buildup intended to recast the map of Eastern Europe.

For weeks Putin has massed troops on Ukraines borders while brandishing threatening rhetoric and snubbing diplomacy. The latest incursion shatters nearly three decades of relative peace in Europe.

Putin vowed to liberate and protect the Russia-backed separatist eastern region of Ukraine, warning other countries to stay out of the conflict: Whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.

Biden swiftly condemned Russias attack and said he would meet with other world leaders on Thursday to discuss a response.

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces, Biden said. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

Overnight missiles struck military airfields and depots in cities across Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, which was still recovering from a series of earlier cyberattacks on government ministries and banks.

Unfortunately, while weve been meeting in the Security Council tonight, it appears that President Putin has ordered that last step, said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. At the exact time as we are gathered in the council seeking peace, Putin delivered a message of war, in total disdain for the responsibility of this council.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensnkyy has urged Moscow to end hostilities, adding that Russian airborne troops have been checked outside Kyiv.

It wasnt Ukraine that chose the path of war, but Ukraine is offering to go back to the path of peace, he said Thursday.

He said a Russian airborne force in Hostomel airport outside Kyiv, which has a big runway, has been stopped and is being destroyed.

The Ukrainian leader said many Russian warplanes and armored vehicles were destroyed but didnt give numbers. He also said an unspecified number of Russian troops was captured.

He said a difficult situation is developing in Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city just over 20 kilometers from the Russian border. In the north the Russians are slowly advancing toward Chernihiv, Zelenskyy said.
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COLLINSVILLE - Kahok Nation stepped up to raise $12,060 dollars for Illinois Special Olympics by taking the Polar Plunge Friday in the parking lot of the VFW Post 5691 in Collinsville  the site of this years Region J Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge for Illinois Special Olympics.

The goal was $5,000.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that the forthcoming June 18 Ekiti State governorship election would be free, fair and credible.

It added that the era of election rigging has come to end.

On Wednesday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Dr Adeniran Tella, gave the assurance during a courtesy call on the office of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti Council .

Dr Adeniran Tella made disclosure that the commission has put in place mechanism to mitigate electoral vices.

He noted that technological advanced tools have been developed to ensure that the electorates elect the candidate of their choice.

According to him:On June 18 , we are going to conduct election here in Ekiti and it will be credible and transparent. We will give our people the opportunity to choose who will determine their lives. We are going to work with relevant agencies to bring whoever that is trying to forment trouble to book.

The era has gone when people would just sit somewhere and cooked up figures and say this is what they have seen. It is impossible now. It is the people that will determine who becomes governor in Ekiti and nothing more.

We have Election Violence Mitigating and Advocacy tools being used now to ascertain where violence could erupt during elections to prevent and curb violence, so that we can protect the sanctity of the electoral system.

Tella also disclosed that the electoral body have established more polling units in the state to ensure that every eligible citizen of the state participate in the exercise.

"The commission has created more polling points across units that have registered voters that are more than 750, thereby shoring up the number of units in the state from 2,195 to 2,445," he said.

However, while warning the various political parties to desist from actions or utterances that may cause chaos in the state, he also appealed to the electorates to avail themselves during the claims and objections exercise.

In his words: "The commission has created more polling points across units that have registered voters that are more than 750, thereby shoring up the number of units in the state from 2,195 to 2,445.

"We are not going to tolerate any violence or making of incendiary comments by candidates. This election must be peaceful. During the just concluded primaries of parties , one party contravened our guidelines, we didnt spare it. We applied the law.

"INEC will conduct claims and objections exercise on March 18 for all the candidates that would participate in the poll, so that the people can scrutinise all their claims by being put in the court of public opinion.
For a long time, the U.S has perched unassailably on the top of the totem pole of global leadership and economic power. However, that has come under serious challenge with countries like China materializing onto the scene much to global consternation.

Interestingly, Arvind Subramanian predicted that by 2030 relative U.S decline will have yielded not a multipolar world but an almost unipolar one dominated by China. The meteoric rise of China has ensured the quick spread of its influence across the globe. It has effectively short circuit the development path that the Western powers had to tread, as a consequence, incentivizing the replication of some its successful models by many developing countries.

Again, it has proved convincingly that theres more to becoming a developed nation than flaunting democratic credential. The world has seen how applying home-grown development paradigm with discipline and hard work can deliver the development goods.

Since it opened its doors to the world there has been no let-up in the speed of its progress. The developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin-America found a partner in China - an alternative to the Western financial institutions which have been taken to task for many of its too bitter to swallow prescriptions.

It goes without much saying that the Sino-Africa relationship has conduced to development in the continent not least in dealing with the huge infrastructure deficit. China is breathing life into the moribund railway system across Africa; other sectors from agriculture to mining have also not been spared of the Chinese touch which is coming at a huge cost. Thus, making China a big holder of the continents external debt. And, the mountain of debts is an albatross round Africas neck effectively driving the continent into Chinas chokehold.

Much of the agreements contain confidentiality clauses which forbid the disclosure of their contents. For instance, both China and Uganda were forced to refute a rumoured takeover of the Entebbe Airport over debt issue but a probe by the parliament unearth clauses on the loan that could lead to a forfeiture in the event of a default. Also, Sri Lanka partially handed its Southern Hambantota port and surrounding 15000 acres of land, for 99 years to a Chinese company over debt repayment failure in 2017- a move the New York Times described as an example of chinas ambitious use of loans and aid to gain influence around the world- and or its willingness to play hardball to collect.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is reminiscent of the European conquest of Africa and the ostensible rationale behind the infrastructure that were constructed - which was to facilitate the onward movement of requisite raw materials to their factories at home.

China is ready to show off its power which should really unsettle Africa that is so weak under the weight of its debts - its bellicosity towards its neighbours (Philippine, Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam) over the South China Sea is a case in point. Its claiming about 90 percent of disputed Sea using a nine- dash line. It is an area valued for fisheries and undersea fossil fuel. China has failed to abide by the ruling of The Hague based court of arbitration which dismissed its claims. However, Chinese militia vessels remain active on the disputed water according to reports.

The states involved are walking a tight rope in trying not to ruffle China while still trying to claim their rights over the area. They need the aids and support from Beijing. Chinas economic puissance comes in handy on such issues.

The use of power in trying to whip Taiwan which it sees as a renegade part that must be brought back, is as worrying as the issue with Hong Kong. It boils down to use of naked force and power. Again, its the new face of China which should unsettle Africa.

Africa has all that China needs in keeping the wheels of its prosperity turning. Therefore, the continent is not just teeming with the Chinese cash but also its citizens. Reports on blithe violation of labour rights are thick on the ground suggesting that Africans matters less; making the description of Africa as an equal partner in development amount to a smokescreen to assert firm control over it.

No doubt, China has filled an important space in Africa left by other powers. It has effectively established a foothold in the continent. It remains unrivalled with no qualms in dealing with corrupt leadership and atrocious human right records. China must work towards changing the bad optics some of its actions and behaviours are creating in making its many partners uncomfortable.

Africans are concern about corruption in its leadership base and the accompanying weakness in challenging the impunity of some of the Chinese corporations. Africa needs to start interrogating its engagement with China which is by no means altruistic in getting a fair deal while building capacity in meeting its development needs.

Abachi Ungbo

[email protected]
We are moving closer to the epic decision-making year- a period of general elections in Nigeria. Political parties, interested individuals and political actors are dusting their regalia to seek for election. It is like an expected Market day for village farmers envisaging how much he/she may reaps from their months of sweating and caring for their crops.

I developed keen interest in the forthcoming Kaduna gubernatorial election based on the performance and developmental stride of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. The ongoing cascading developmental project in the state has converted the city of crocodile to a permanent site and all thanks to Mallam Nasir El Rufai and his workaholic team.

The antecedent of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as FCT Minister propel many of us to supports his candidature during the 2015 general election and we are happy that the end has justified our sweats with massive infrastructural development in the state. For continuity, we need someone with proven capacity that will not only inherit but build on the legacies of the current administration.

My focus this week will be on Barr Abdullahi Mukhtar MON, FCIA. Abdullahi Mukhtar has been an astute public servant with a good track record and wealth of experience in public service.

He began his public service career in the Hospitality and Tourism sector of the Kaduna State economy and rose to the helm of the management which he ran for over a decade. He has succeeded in positively transforming the business of the Board of the state to a national enviable state.

His initial sojourn was in the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Board where he rose to be the Executive Secretary, a position he held for over a decade-spanning three political administrations. In addition, he has held some advisory roles in the same area before becoming the Executive Secretary.

He has succeeded in positively transforming the business of the Hajj Board of the state to a national enviable status. His sojourn has spanned across tenures of 3 executive governors who carried him along due to his proficiency in public sector management.

Abdullahi Mukhtar works under three Executive Governors of Kaduna State due to his proficiency in public sector management. It is rare especially within Nigeria political realm for a head of a state agency to serve under three different Governors without being shoved aside. He was appointed by Senator Ahmed Muhammed Makarfi when he served as the Executive Governor of the state. He works throughout the tenure of former Vice President Namadi Sambo as Governor and held the same position under Late Patrick Yakowa. An uncommon phenomenon in Nigeria.

Secondly, Due to his professionalism and competence, President Muhammadu Buhari administration retained Abdullahi Mukhtar as Chairman of NAHCON despite the removal of most of the Heads of MDAs

It is noteworthy that His tenure was extended by the President to allow him to conclude the hajj calendar cycle. Abdullahi Mukhtar is gifted with the rare attribute of extraordinary management skills. His tenure witnessed unprecedented levels of value addition and developmental strides within the sectors he served.

It is with these historical records in mind and history that I deemed it necessary to promote his candidacy to the exalted position of Kaduna Governorship come 2023.

It is our very positive conviction that the gains seen in his handling of the various micro-political economies will be extrapolated and transited to our dear and beloved Kaduna state's prominence.

Because of constant change in leadership, Nigeria especially Kaduna State had experienced retardation in the area of provision of public infrastructures and drives in human empowerment policies and programmes. We have never had ambitious projects like the Urban Renewal projects executed by the current administration. Kaduna is like a mini Nigeria and serves as unofficial headquarters of Northern Nigeria. Whatever happened to Kaduna in terms of progress or retrogression will definitely has a backslash effects on other states in the North.

In contrast, continuity in the system ensures and encourages continual completion of projects, implementation of policies and programmes to their full functional capacity. Continuity in the system helps to achieve the desired purpose for which projects/facilities and programmes were made.

However, we all wish the best for the state and I look forward to more options so we can compare and contrast for us to pick the best among the rest for our dear state in 2023 God willing.

Kassim Zakari wrote this piece from Sabon Gari Zaria

[email protected]


The collapse of the 21 storey building in Lagos which is owned by Femi Osibona, but linked to Femi Osinbajo, Nigerias Vice President, faces a poser whether the collapsed structure is accident or ritual sacrifice. The unfortunate incident occurred on the 1st of November, 2021, and about 40 persons died with the collapsed structure, including the assumed owner and developer Mr Femi Osibona.

Not long after, the media was awash with news that the property is owned by Femi Osinbajo, Nigerias Vice President. According to reports, both Femi Osinbajo and Femi Osibona hails from Ikenne, and the developer worked with the Vice President from 2015-2019 before going to start erecting the structures on behalf of the former. While Osinbajo belongs to Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG, the deceased is also a leader with Celestial Church of Christ CCC

A reputable online news medium Sahara Reporters, grossly hated by successive corrupt governments, have explicitly linked the bloody building to Femi Osinbajo of which the Vice President threatened a legal action. Another leading politician and activist given to sincere admonitions, Mr Timi Frank has queried the connection between the duos in a very damaging analysis.

While the noises over the ownership have died down in the public sphere, it has not died down amongst Pastors in Nigeria. I have been summoned by two Bishops who queried why I should continue to support Buhari and his ruling APC when the Vice President allowed his 21-Storey building to be used for ritual sacrifice. All my explanations that the Vice President has denied any links yielded results after long hours of worrying interrogation. This has been echoed in many Pentecostal circles that when the 2023 election year comes, the picture will splash to the congregations that APC is a party of ritualists.

Therefore, President Buhari should seek and unmask the real owners of the 21 storey building who used over 40 Nigerians for ritual sacrifice. Though the developer is a self made man, at what point did he allow some bloody ritualists to infiltrate his conglomerate, by bringing in illicit financing without his knowledge? He should not make the same mistake his predecessor and good friend, Goodluck Jonathan did by refusing to go after the Jihadist Rapists who converted over 276 Chibok Christian School Girls to child slave, raping to death majority of them, a diminishing turning point in his clueless regime. I warned him in the piece titled. Chibok Christian Girls; Gang-Raped and Shot in the Name of Allah that

God is warning those playing with the issue of these abducted girls that if the bloods of these girls are wasted as we carry on our normal businesses, we are opening doors of unimaginable violence in the nation such that everybody will bear the consequences.

Today, the nation which ignored this piece of 2014 is suffering due to banditry attacks, and knowing it is a curse, I have refused to comment on it, and the banditry issue will never go until the blood of the Chibok School Girls is appeased..

I am speaking on a divine mandate because there will be no solution to the issue of ritual killings in Nigeria if the high profile end users are not apprehended. To the best of my prophetic knowledge, and I am a Senior Prophet for that matter, who discerns authentically on issues of divine interest, with records, including how God Will Approve Nigerias Breakup , how  Covid -19 Will not Swallow Nigeria, Africa, and how Anti-Covid Presidents will be murdered.

I also have links with diplomatic sources whose security intelligence information is full proof, including arrest of Nnamdi KANU, life attempt at Muhammadu Buhari etc and the plot to Destroy South East Nigeria using IPOB, ESN and UGM and turn it to another Afghanistan.

Therefore it is spiritually discerniblethat the owners of the collapsed structures or their privies belong to a cult for purposes of 2023 elections. Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN , have blamed technical defects for the collapsed structures, the same manner ritualists in government told us all to wear face mask, lock down at home and get chipped by a zombie Covid Vaccine to please their Illuminatic paymasters.

Forty greatly destined Nigerians including the tongue talking Femi Osibona collapsed in the sacrifice. Femi Osibona, the developer is a Celestial Church member who also attends progrmmes with Redeemed Christian Church of God and other major Pentecostal churches. He iis technically a Pentecostal Christian with Aladura background., He is on fire for Jesus, he gathered Christians as workers in the structure. They do morning prayers daily in the site. He pays tithe with proceeds from the structure. He even preaches Jesus at the site, yet on that fateful ritual date of November 1st, he was murdered, with his zeal and love for God, alongside a friend from the US, Bob Oseni, another promising Nigeria on his way to the topmost top, who diverted his route to the airport, to inspect the doomed building. Osibona and his friend have destinies in the mould of Dr Adeshina of African Development Bank who used his Christian intellect to change the face of agric business in Nigeria, before moving to ADB.

Forty rising stars were killed at the Ikoyi building collapse and somebody says I should shut up! Their next target will be plane crashes, so let some buffoons shut up their dirty mouth. The next victim may be your relative so shut up your silly mouth!

I was the first columnist in Africa to write an article on Ritual Killings Business. I wrote the piece on the 19th of February 2012 titled Ritual Killings Business in Nigeria: A Curse about to Explode. I stated in the piece that:



The number of missing persons in Lagos State alone runs into hundreds weekly. Police stations are daily inundated with reports of missing persons. Ninety five percent of such persons are never found. The case is the same in different parts of the country. Persons miss daily and are never found. The victims are mostly able bodied men and women who had the misfortune of entering public transport system especially commuter buses and taxis. The ritual killings business is very old in Nigeria. People apprehend fellows, kill them and use certain parts for human sacrifices. There is a superstitious belief among these vampires that certain human parts like eyes, breast, private part etc serve some human advancement purposes. They believe that the use of human beings for rituals confers some political, economic and security advantages

I stated further in the piece ten years ago, the price ranges of human parts thus;

The ritual business in Nigeria is a thriving business. A human head with all the condiments is sold for between N200, 000 to N500, 000 ($1,200-$2,000). In certain cases, the captives are paraded before the beneficiaries for selection, while at times the beneficiaries send couriers to do the selection on their behalf, after which the person is slaughtered.

The write-up above I penned in 2012 brought me in conflict with many top politicians including some Governors and party chieftains who felt I am unduly exposing a normal secret. I was denied some patronage as a result of that singular piece, and some friends of mine were told to warn me to tread carefully. Today even the tricycle rider wants to kill his unsuspecting passenger for ritual killings

Though it was widely published then, the ritualists and their media collaborators have removed it from the internet space in Nigeria, but it is still with some foreign media that published it. Today, my warning that it is a curse about to explode, has foreboded on the entire nation that even secondary school students now indulge in ritual killings.

TB Joshua in 2014 killed 85 South African Pilgrims at his Synagogue Church for witchcraft when his building collapsed. I explained it in the piece titled TB Joshua and the Witchcraft Murder of 85 South Africans and I stated that

TB Joshua, a popular prophet in Nigeria, has indirectly murdered eighty five citizens of South Africa who came to Nigeria looking for God and solutions to their problems through acts not far from witchcraft. These eighty five South Africans are among the over one hundred and sixteen persons who perished when his guest house collapsed in September 2014.



TB Joshua is a man whom the mainstream Pentecostal body in Nigeria has declared a false prophet. I was in Sokoto many years preparing for a foreign mission ago when signals came that this man was among those blacklisted by Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). Another person also blacklisted was Prophet Samson Ayorinde. Their blacklisting was based on the fact that those who have spiritually discerning powers have noted that they use strange powers in their operations, and those who fled from their fold, including ex-pastors claimed that the man disappears into the waters beside the church from time to time, among many other allegations

Among these 115 persons are 85 South Africans who came to see the God of TB Joshua and them all ended up in the graveyard of TB Joshua. Yes the graveyard of TB Joshua swallowed some persons, and initially I thought that this prophet will respect himself after the incidence, and allow rescue workers to come to salvage as many people as possible. Rather, while his congregants were busy crying from within the rubbles, his bouncers and thugs, who have already intimidated the residents of Ikotun area of Lagos to submission, were busy harassing and beating up rescue workers, while another group were spraying miracle water. Is the harassment of rescue workers, including those from NEMA a script to ensure that more persons die and the number of blood needed obtained before help can be sent to the victims? Had TB Joshua allowed a quicker response to the tragedy, probably the death toll would have been less than twenty.

The media handlers of TB Joshua laid all manner of curses upon me, but 7 years later the murderous prophet repented and went to answer for his deeds.

In the T B Joshua witchcraft case of 2014., I introduced again for the first time in Nigerian columnism that some collapsed building structures are used to collect blood for mass ritual purposes. I also cited a case where a ritualist confessed to me many years that they used black magic to collapse a building in Enugu for ritual purposes. I stated thus that;

Many year ago, I did a deliverance on a particular man who claimed that he was among some occult group contracted to collapse a building at the Chime , New Haven are of Enugu over twenty years ago.. The building under construction killed nothing less than twenty persons. It was alleged that the building was owned by a big man who later became a chieftain of the ruling party in Nigeria by name Chris Uba. This Uba of a person is a member of BoT of the ruling PDP in Nigeria. This man narrated how they spiritually pulled down the building and siphoned blood through spirit realms. However, he did not say that it was the PDP Chieftain that contracted him to pull down the building.

I know that some building collapses are results of technical defects, and some engineers have told me of such, but some are equally advanced forms of ritual killings, and Nigerian construction workers should listen to the voice of the Spirit whenever they receive warnings. Had Femi Osibona listened to the Voice of the Spirit, he would not have been sacrificed. His fasting, tithes, offerings, prayers , dancing and shouting Hallelujah does not obliterate the fact that if God says a place is haunted or defective, the believer should ask for the way out, spiritually, legally and technically, including from the Holy Ghost instead of plain assumptions.

It is either he excuses himself from the said project, or creates a targeted spiritual warfare against the occult owners of a property as the Spirit of God will direct. Misplaced faith confessions do not suffice except when specifically directed. The ritualists meant business, and any tongue talking Christian who fails to Watch while Praying will be used for Pepper Soup.

.

I am warning the ritualists in government as a prophet of God, that judgment will fall upon them. It took the case of Umorem and other recent cases for the nation to wake up to a cankerworm that will soon eat it up. The Nigerian parliament has banned Hollywood movies from any ritual killings oriented films. That is not enough; the politicians who patronize them should be exposed and sanctioned, including those in the Federal Executive Council, National Council of States, National Assembly and those in the ruling APC and opposition PDP. Anything short of it is shadow chasing.

.

I want to warn a fazed and confused wicked leaderships of Nigeria at all levels. The blood of all the innocent killed over the past ten years is flowing, and if these silly ruling politicians and their media collaborators and paymasters fails to rise up and stop this ritual killings business, a bloody revolution will ensue in Nigeria and the Rawlings experience will be unleashed on them-this is the message from God, and I am warning these silly rulers and their prayer contractors for the last time.

The owners of the 21 storey building who used Femi Osibona as front are bloody ritualist, let government fish them out before they graduate to multiple plane crashes, bloodletting explosions and drums of war.

(Obinna Akukwe , Cleric. Columnist, [email protected], facebook/twitter @obinnaakukwe)
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) has asked the Nigerian government to ensure a transparent and rapid investigation of the killing of a dozen civilians, including children, in an airstrike conducted by the Nigerian Military in the Maradi region, southern Niger.

An airstrike had hit a small village in the Madarounfa district of southern Niger, on Friday, February 18, According to the non-governmental organization, Doctors Without Borders, which received several of the casualties at a local hospital, the strike killed at least 12 people, including four children, and injured 16 others.

The strike was later confirmed by a local governor of the Maradi region. A spokesperson for Nigerias military said that an investigation into the incident has begun.

CIVIC, while expressing concerns over reports of the killing, urged Nigerian authorities to work in close coordination with the Nigerien government.

"If civilian casualties from the airstrike are confirmed, the Government of Nigeria should provide post-harm amends to civilians affected by the strike and put in place measures to prevent the recurrence," Benson Olugbuo, CIVICs Country Director said in a statement on Thursday.

This airstrike shows yet again that it is civilians who bear the brunt of conflict in the region. Governments carrying out military operations, including airstrikes, must take tangible and stronger steps to prevent harm to the civilian population, he added.

We welcome the launch of an investigation by Nigerias military, and we encourage the investigation to be prompt and transparent. We also encourage the Government of Nigeria to continue to work to improve its efforts to minimize harm to civilians from airstrikes, Olugbuo further said.

The Center also urged the Government of Nigeria to continue improving its air-ground coordination to prevent and mitigate harm to civilians during airstrikes.
Fourth-dose booster injections roll out to the general public

PHUKET: Members of the general public in Phuket can now start receiving their fourth vaccination injection to even better protect themselves from COVID-19, Dr Witita Jang-iam, Deputy Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital has announced.

COVID-19CoronavirusVaccine

By The Phuket News

Thursday 24 February 2022, 10:05AM

A woman receives a Pfizer fourth-dose vaccination injection at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town yesterday (Feb 23). Photo: PPHO

In January, there were the third-dose vaccination injections for people who had received AstraZeneca+AstraZeneca, Sinovac+AstraZeneca and Sinovac+Sinovac injections, Dr Witita explained at a meeting of the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee at Phuket Provincial Hall on Tuesday (Feb 22).

Also in January we conducted the fourth-dose vaccinations of medical personnel, front line personnel and at-risk people in the Group 608 category: elderly aged 60 and over and patients with any of the seven congenital diseases [chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic renal disease, stroke, obesity, cancer and diabetes], as well as women more than 12 weeks pregnant, she said.

This month [Feb], we started the fourth-dose vaccinations for the general public and children aged 5-11 years old, she added.

The registration of children was mostly conducted via schools while the vaccination injections for children were being administered at the airport, Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong, the Saphan Hin Gymnasium and Central Floresta Phuket, Dr Witita Of the target 28,801 children 5-11 years old to be vaccinated, so far 5,663, or 19.7%, had received vaccination injections, she added

Dr Witita reminded people wanting to receive the third- and fourth-dose vaccinations to register through the PhuketMustWin website.

Of note, all the announcements by Phuket officials to inform the public of vaccination drives being held at various locations across the island continue to be in Thai-language only, despite more than a year of rolling out vaccination injections.

Any non-Thai-speaking person not constantly monitoring the government public-relations channels for the Thai-language only updates on where and when specific vaccines will be administered to a limited number of people at each event, must constantly return to the PhuketMustWin website to confirm their status as eligible to receive a third- or fourth-dose booster injection.

The PhuketMustWin website does feature English language to assist foreigners in registering to be vaccinated with booster doses. As such it is the only source of any information in English for non-Thai-speaking foreigners regarding which vaccination injections they are eligible for, and how such foreigners can receive a vaccination injection.

English-speaking foreigners can register to receive third- and fourth-dose vaccination injections through the section Booster-dose vaccination appointment for foreigners.

The website still features the registration sections First-dose vaccination appointment for foreigners and Vaccination registration for non-work-permit foreigners.

Expats and other foreigners who register to receive booster injections are informed to bring with them to their vaccination appointments the following documents:

Original passport, visa and original work permit

A copy of passport, visa and a copy of work permit

The copy of vaccine certificate with ID number (13 digits)

Patient form

Vaccination consent form (which can be downloaded from the website)

Personal drinking water and a pen

Phone to show your appointment confirmation from the PhuketMustWin website

People are asked to wear a short sleeve shirt or a sleeveless shirt to make the vaccination process as quick as possible.

According to the latest Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) update on the mass vaccination campaign, of the target population of 539,183 to be vaccinated, 493,481 (91.52%) have received their first vaccination injection, and 470,394 people (87.24%) have received two vaccination injections.

So far 316,260 people (58.66%) have received a third-dose booster jab, and 107,041 people (33.85%) have received a fourth-dose vaccination injection.
Laos agrees to reopen border

BANGKOK: Thailand and Laos have agreed to soon reopen cross-border checkpoints, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said yesterday (Feb 23).

tourismimmigrationCOVID-19

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 24 February 2022, 09:35AM

The Ban Huak-Khob checkpoint linking Phayao and Laos Sayaboury province. Photo: Bangkok Post

The decision was made after Lao ambassador to Thailand Seng Soukhathivong paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to mark the occasion of his 4.5 years at Government House, reports the Bangkok Post.

Commenting on a plan by Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh to make an official visit to Thailand in the middle of this year, Gen Prayut said this would be a good opportunity to elevate relations to a strategic partnership for growth and sustainable development, the spokesman said.

The Lao ambassador thanked the government for providing assistance during the flood disaster in 2019 and in the form of COVID-19 medical supplies. Both parties agreed on key issues including a plan to reopen cross-border checkpoints to increase the value of border trade and boost economic recovery.

Prayut called on Vientiane to consider streamlining its customs process and adjust fees collected at the Thanaleng Dry Port and Vientiane Logistics Park, opposite the Nong Khai border, to attract more Thai investors to use the Laos-China railway services.

He also asked the Lao government to consider developing the R12 route connecting the borders of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, which would benefit local communities, Mr Thanakorn said.
Phuket named in weather warning for the South

PHUKET: Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi have been named as areas of possible heavy to very heavy rain for the next few days in a weather warning for all of Southern Thailand issued by the Thai Meteorological Department.

Thursday 24 February 2022, 05:00PM

The weather warning issued by the TMD earlier today (Feb 24). Image: TMD

The weather radar image of the region posted by the Phuket Met weather station at 4:30pm today (Feb 24). Image: Phuket Met

The warning, initially issued yesterday, was reissued earlier today by Wattana Kanbua, Acting Director of the Weather Forecast Division, forecasting possibly dangerous weather conditions in the region through to at least Saturday (Feb 26).

A cold air mass from China is extending to cover the upper Thailand and the South China Sea, which tends to move to cover Malaysia and the lower Southern Thailand, thus resulting in heavy rainfall, Mr Wattana explained.

People who living in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun will be affected, he said.

Please be careful of flash floods, Mr Wattana cautioned.

The wind waves in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman will be stronger, resulting in waves up to 1-3 metres, he added.

Residents living near coastal areas should beware of dangers of strong winds that may hit the coast as well, Mr Wattana noted.

Fishermen should proceed with caution and avoid sailing in heavy rain areas. Small boats stay ashore," he added.

People were urged to keep up to date with changing weather conditions and forecasts by following local government announcements or by checking the TMD website http://www.tmd.go.th.
SOS continue food security drive for Phuket people in need

PHUKET: The Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS) is continuing its campaign to provide food to people in need across the island as the economic crisis continues to afflict thousands of residents with greatly reduced incomes, or no income at all.

COVID-19economicscharity

By The Phuket News

Thursday 24 February 2022, 11:07AM

Officials were on hand at the food security delivery in Thepkrasattri, Thalang, yesterday (Feb 23). Photo: PR Phuket

Officials were on hand at the food security delivery in Thepkrasattri, Thalang, yesterday (Feb 23). Photo: PR Phuket

Officials were on hand at the food security delivery in Thepkrasattri, Thalang, yesterday (Feb 23). Photo: PR Phuket

Officials were on hand at the food security delivery in Thepkrasattri, Thalang, yesterday (Feb 23). Photo: PR Phuket

Scholars of Sustenance volunteers deliver food to the Laem Phromthep community yesterday (Feb 23). Photo: Scholars of Sustenance

Scholars of Sustenance volunteers deliver food to the Laem Phromthep community yesterday (Feb 23). Photo: Scholars of Sustenance

Scholars of Sustenance volunteers deliver food to the Laem Phromthep community yesterday (Feb 23). Photo: Scholars of Sustenance

Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan, Thalang District Chief Bancha Tanu-in and Luksana Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya, Chief of Phuket Social Development and Human Security office, joined an SOS food drive at Wat Muang Komanraphat, in Thepkrasattri, Thalang, yesterday (Feb 23).

The Phuket branch of the SOS Foundation, working with the Phuket Social Development and Human Security office and volunteers, will continue to deliver food to those in need four days a week, from Wednesday through Saturday, Said a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket).

Volunteers in the community will be the main mechanism for distributing food to vulnerable people, socially disadvantaged people and people who are affected by the COVID-19 [economic crisis] and those who are high-risk or under Home Isolation, the report said.

In the absence of a caregiver, the volunteer will deliver food to the home to alleviate the suffering [sic], the report added.

The report by the official government public relations agency noted, This shows the support and cooperation of all sectors in helping low-income societies and lacking access to food and reducing the peoples living costs.

Volunteers from the SOS Phuket branch yesterday also donated some 461kg of food to residents in the Laem Promthep community.

This community comprises people of various cultures and religions, so the volunteers sorted the food to ensure the Muslim residents could receive Halal food, SOS reporetd through its officials Facebook.

It was a great demonstration of how they co-exist with one another peacefully and how respectful they are with others religion, the SOS report said.

The SOS Foundation focuses its efforts on donations of surplus food and products nearing the expiration date on the label, to reduce food waste throughout society.

The foundation also welcomes volunteers to help with their efforts.

Contact SOS in Phuket at 081-9508711, or the national operations by email at info@scholarsofsustenance.org or through their Facebook page: Scholars of Sustenance Thailand - SOS Thailand
TAT: Tourist arrivals hit by Russia-Ukraine crisis

BANGKOK: The Russia-Ukraine crisis will have an adverse impact on foreign tourist arrivals, Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said on Thursday (Feb 24).

tourismRussianUkraine

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 24 February 2022, 11:19PM

Beach chairs are placed on an empty beach in Phuket. File photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran / Bangkok Post

The Russia-Ukraine dispute will certainly have an immediate effect on the tourism sector, Mr Siripakorn said, reports the Bangkok Post.

Following the launch of the governments Test & Go programme for fully vaccinated travellers in November, the number of foreign tourist arrivals was around 100,000, about 10% of whom were from Russia, he said.

Mr Siripakorn said many Russian tourists were high-quality tourists, with high spending power, and most travelled with their families. Ukraine also had high-quality tourists, but the number of arrivals is less than Russia, he added.

In the wake of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, travellers may decide to cancel their trip to Thailand because many airlines had to divert or cancel their flights, according to the TAT official.

Its too soon to assess the impact of the situation because the situation is beyond our control.

The TAT can only closely monitor the situation and maintain consistent communication with the private sector in the country and abroad, Mr Siripakorn said.
UK PM chairs crisis meeting after Russias horrific Ukraine attack

UNITED KINGDOM: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (Feb 24) condemned Russias unprovoked and horrific attack on Ukraine, as he prepared to chair an emergency meeting of top ministers and officials.

Ukraine

By AFP

Thursday 24 February 2022, 03:50PM

Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on February 24, 2022. Photo: AFP

Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky overnight and vowed the West would not stand by as (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin waged his campaign against the Ukrainian people, his office said.

I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps, Johnson said on Twitter.

President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.

Downing Street later said the emergency meeting  dubbed COBR  to coordinate Britains response would begin at 0730 (local and GMT).

Putin early Thursday launched an air and ground assault on Ukraine after a surprise television address.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who spoke to her US counterpart Antony Blinken Wednesday evening ahead of the Russian leaders announcement, joined Johnson in condemning the attack on the people of Ukraine.

We stand with Ukraine and we will work with our international partners to respond to this terrible act of aggression, she said following the start of Russias offensive.

Her foreign ministry colleague, lawmaker James Cleverly, told the BBC that the government feared it was the start of a quite extensive military operation.

The ministry has deployed teams to five countries in eastern Europe to support Britons leaving Ukraine, Truss noted.

Meanwhile Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had instructed the UK Civil Aviation Authority to ensure airlines avoid Ukraine airspace to keep passengers and crew safe.

The UK slapped sanctions Tuesday on five Russian banks and three billionaires, in what Johnson called the first barrage of measures in response to the Kremlins actions in Ukraine.

UK media reported early Thursday he would detail another round of measures in parliament later in the day.

Leading members of Johnsons ruling Conservatives, as well as the main opposition Labour party, have urged him to hit the Kremlin as hard as possible with the new sanctions.

Cleverly vowed London would respond with unprecedented steps to punish this aggression and to hopefully persuade the people around Vladimir Putin that this is completely the wrong thing to do, and that he should reverse this attack.

INVASION

Russias ground forces on Thursday crossed into Ukraine from several directions, Ukraines border guard service said, hours after President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a major offensive.

Russian tanks and other heavy equipment crossed the frontier in several northern regions, as well as from the Kremlin-annexed peninsula of Crimea in the south, the agency said.

It said one of its servicemen died in a shelling attack along the Crimean border, the first officially confirmed military death of the Russian invasion.

Ukraine has suffered heavy casualties in its eight-year conflict with Russian-backed rebels in the separatist east, but has reported no fatalities along its southern border with Crimea for some years.

After holding a series of emergency calls with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, the Ukrainian leader convened a meeting of the top military brass, his office said.

The armed forces of Ukraine are waging heavy combat, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said.

We have losses, he added, without giving details.

In several places, the Russian armed forces have been repelled.

Ukrainian officials said Russia was primarily targeting military infrastructure and silos, managing to push five kilometres deep along the northern frontier.

Weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine.

I have made the decision of a military operation, Putin said in a surprise television announcement that triggered immediate condemnation from US President Joe Biden and other Western leaders, and sent global financial markets into turmoil.

Shortly after the announcement, explosions were heard in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, and several other cities, according to AFP correspondents.

Ukrainian border guards said Russian ground forces had crossed into Ukraine.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law and said Russia was attacking his countrys military infrastructure, but urged citizens not to panic and vowed victory.

CITY RESIDENTS TAKE SHELTER

Kyivs main international airport was hit in the first bombing of the city since the Second World War and air raid sirens sounded over the capital at the break of dawn.

I woke up because of the sounds of bombing. I packed a bag and tried to escape. We are sitting here, waiting, said Maria Kashkoska, as she sheltered inside the Kyiv metro station.

Ukraines foreign minister said the worst-case scenario was playing out.

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes, Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

Within a few hours of Putins speech, Russias defence ministry said it had neutralised Ukrainian military airbases and its air defence systems.

In his televised address, Putin justified the operation by claiming the government was overseeing a genocide in the east of the country.

The Kremlin had earlier said rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military help against Kyiv.

CONDEMNED AGGRESSION

World leaders swiftly condemned Russias military attack on Ukraine on Thursday, with Western capitals pledging new sanctions on Moscow and the UN chief demanding the conflict stop now.

Here are some reactions to the Russian operation:

US President Joe Biden:

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces, the US president said shortly after the operation began.

He warned Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring.

The world will hold Russia accountable, he added.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson:

"I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelensky to discuss next steps," the British leader tweeted.

President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.

EU chiefs:

In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives," wrote EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel on Twitter.

We will hold the Kremlin accountable.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg:

The NATO head said Russia had chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.

The attack puts at risk countless civilian lives, Stoltenberg said in a statement, describing it as a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security.

NATO ambassadors are to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday morning European time to discuss the attack.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:

These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of Russias obligations under international law and the Charter of the UN, Trudeau said in a statement.

He said he would meet with partners from the Group of Seven to shape a collective response, including by imposing sanctions additional to those announced earlier this week.

These reckless and dangerous acts will not go unpunished.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki:

We must immediately respond to Russias criminal aggression on Ukraine, Europe and the free world has to stop Putin, Morawiecki wrote on Twitter.

Todays European Council should approve fiercest possible sanctions. Our support for Ukraine must be real.

UN chief Antonio Guterres:

Guterres made a direct and personal plea to Russian President Vladimir Putin after an emergency Security Council session, urging him to stop the attack in the name of humanity.

In the name of humanity, do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century, he said.

The conflict must stop now, added the UN chief, who said it was the saddest day of his tenure.

Ukraines UN ambassador:

During the charged UN emergency meeting, the Ukraines ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya implored the council, chaired by Russia to do everything possible to stop the war.

He demanded that Russias ambassador relinquish his duties as chair.

There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador, the visibly emotional Kyslytsya said.
Woman rescued after jumping off Phuket bridge

PHUKET: A 37-year-old woman from Wichit was rescued from the Chong Pak Phra canal separating Phuket from the mainland after she jumped from the Thao Thepkrasattri Bridge leading onto the island in an apparent suicide bid last night (Feb 23).

suicidepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 24 February 2022, 01:51PM

The womans jump from the bridge came two days after the 49th anniversary of Somsak Wanawornsukrak and Kanjana Sae- Ngho together ending their lives by jumping off the Sarasin Bridge. Photo: Tamnoon Wannawichaikul

The womans jump from the bridge came two days after the 49th anniversary of Somsak Wanawornsukrak and Kanjana Sae- Ngho together ending their lives by jumping off the Sarasin Bridge. Photo: Tamnoon Wannawichaikul

A rescue worker comforts the woman before she is taken to Thalang Hospital. Photo: Panupan Jindapol

Local community leaders Panupan Jindapol, village headman (Phu Yai Baan) of Moo 5, Mai Khao, and Wiwat Jindapol, a Vice-President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) Council and police were alerted to the incident at 8:30pm.

Officers from the Tha Chatchai Police and rescue workers from the Mai Khao Tambon Administrative Organization (OrBorTor) were soon at the scene to provide immediate first aid and transport the woman to Thalang Hospital.

Mr Panupan later explained that the alarm was raised by a eyewitness who saw the woman get out of her white Mazda sedan stopped halfway across the bridge, and jump over the edge.

A local fisherman in his boat on the water below was able to react in time to rescue the woman from the usually fast-moving water, notorious for claiming lives of those who jump from any of the three bridges connecting Phuket to the mainland..

Mr Wiwat, at the scene last night, said that the current in the canal was not particularly strong when the woman plunged into the water.

At that time, the tide was not very strong, so the fisherman was able to rescue her in time, he said.

Police said they were still investigating what had motivated the woman to jump from the bridge.

However, Mr Wiwat said her distress seems to be related to family problems.

Now, she is in a better state of mind as she has since been in contact with her parents, he said.

The womans jump from the bridge came just two days after the 49th anniversary of Somsak Wanawornsukrak and Kanjana Sae- Ngho together ending their lives by jumping off the Sarasin Bridge after their families had forbidden them from seeing each other.

Tamnoon Wannawichaikul, a classmate of the couple, on Tuesday posted a remembrance of the fateful night.

The tale of the star-crossed lovers has become modern Thai folklore, with the Sarasin Bridge today a popular site for Thai tourists to visit during trips to Phuket.

Phuket authorities have set up a 24-hour hotline to help people who have been impacted and are struggling due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 87F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 61F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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From an office in the Press Corps of the Indiana Statehouse, the journalism majors of Franklin College's Pulliam School of Journalism work alongside the best reporters in the state, digging into the behind-the-scenes stories of Indiana politics. We're a student newsroom, but our work doesn't sit on a professor's desk. We create daily content for this website and 35 professional media partners around the state.
News

Suburban Streeter: Opinion split on truckers protests

Mathieu LeBrun Left to right: Chomedeys Peter Koutroumanis, Mathieu LeBrun and NDGs Neal Mukherjee. NDGs Neal Mukherjee,

In light of the Emergencies Act, The Suburban wanted to get your views on the trucker protests. We went into the streets downtown, in the West End, West Island and Laval to sample reaction. Opinion seems evenly split.

In downtown Montreal, when asked about the protesting truckers, many did not want to be quoted while others were indifferent. I try to stay away from the news, said one person, who did not want to give her name. John, was aware of what was taking place, but said he does not think about it. Ive got my own things to think about in my life, he said.

But Mathieu LeBrun has given the issue much thought and said the situation is complex. At first, when it came to [the protest against] the vaccine mandates and passports, even as Im fully vaccinated and use the passports, its a bit much two years in. I was in solidarity with getting rid of that as soon as possible, or having a concise date when they would roll that back. But the elements that are left amongst the protesters, as far as Ive seen it, are not the best our society has to offer, he told The Suburban. If I was a little bit supportive in a discrete manner, Im not at all now. Its time for them to clear out.

Tom and Cara, were visiting from Connecticut and offered an American perspective. They saw video of a police horse trampling or colliding with protesters, and a protester being hit with a rifle butt. The truckers should have a voice and they should be able to express that voice, Tom said, both adding they noted that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau supported the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. It seems youre free to protest if your opinion is right, Tom added.

Denis, said he has had enough of the trucker protesters, as the provincial vaccination restrictions are being lifted in the coming days. Why are they talking about freedom, well have that soon, he added. We pointed out that the original reason for the protest, the federal rule that truckers have to be vaccinated when returning to Canada or entering the U.S., is still in place. This protest has lasted too long and is too radical, Denis said. You dont teach children to be that way.

The democratic process states that we all have a right to voice and communicate our opinions with our government. The truckers were denied that right, they were demonized, punished and abused, Montrealer Chelsea Hammond told The Suburban.

Truckers went to protestand Trudeau responded with a war, Montrealer Mike Sylvestre told The Suburban.

I think its [the governments actions] completely against our Charter of Rights and Freedoms in every possible way, said Montrealer Yolizzie Telfer. They (the media) fueled the divide alongside government with blatant lies.

I do not always agree with police force, especially since it has often caused escalation, but watching what was happening in Ottawa and how the police handled it, I felt they did a good job of keeping a potentially dangerous situation under control, Montrealer Peggy Ann Scott told The Suburban.

What happened in Ottawa was illegal from the start. Nothing gives anyone the right to honk their horns non-stop, keep their engines running continuously, parking, illegally blocking streets and occupying the downtown area harming businesses, causing a major shopping centre to close, West Islander Murray Levine told The Suburban.

Chomedey resident Peter Koutroumanis says the federal governments response was heavy handed and unnecessary. I know the Prime Minister thought he had to do what he did to end the protests but he did it without a vote. He may have the right to do it but that doesnt mean he should have done it, without a debate or consulting other Members of Parliament or debating the issue.

The truckers should be heard, says NDGs Neal Mukherjee, who expressed frustration with the Trudeau governments reaction.

I am disappointed that the government has not spoken to them, he said, adding that it has chosen instead to demonize them based on a few morons who flew disgusting symbols on the first day of the protest.

Mukherjee also levelled some criticism at the national media: We see that legacy media has adopted a narrative and are not covering this protest fairly.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy. Some light rain will fall throughout the day. High 15C. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

A few clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 4C. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
RTHK: 'Dozens killed in Ukraine' after Russian attack

An adviser to Ukraines president said about 40 people have been killed so far in the Russian attack on the country.

Oleksii Arestovich, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Thursday that several dozen people have been wounded.

He didnt specify whether the casualties included civilians.

Zelenskyy said his country has cut diplomatic ties with Russia after it was attacked.

He announced the decision to rupture ties with Moscow on Thursday after it launched a massive air and missile attack on its neighbour and Russian forces were seen rolling into Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials said the countrys military is fighting back and asked for Western defence assistance.

Another Ukrainian presidential adviser says that Russian forces have launched an attack on Ukraine from the north, east and south.

Ukrainian border guards released footage of what they said were Russian military vehicles moving in, and big explosions were heard in the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv in the east and Odesa in the west.

As the Russian military claimed to have wiped out Ukraines entire air defences in a matter of hours, Ukrainians fled some cities and European authorities declared Ukrainian air space an active conflict zone.

World leaders decried the attack as global financial markets plunged and oil prices soared.

Governments from the US to Asia and Europe readied new sanctions after weeks of failed efforts for a diplomatic solution, but global powers have said they will not intervene militarily to defend Ukraine.

China repeated calls for talks to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a daily briefing that the Ukraine issue is complex in its historical background... what we are seeing today is the interplay of complex factors.

China is closely following the latest developments," Hua said. We still hope that the parties concerned will not shut the door to peace and engage instead in dialogue and consultation and prevent the situation from further escalating. (AP)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Periods of rain. High 54F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Light rain early. Partial clearing overnight. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Trudy Rubin: Why Putin's Ukraine aggression will change the world  an explainer on how we got here
EDWARDSVILLE  A zoning request for a building and landscaping business special use permit apparently was not approved at last weeks Madison County Board meeting, although it was announced that it had.

Ryan Lybarger and Jason Askew had sought the special use permit, which received 17 affirmative votes and eight opposed. Officials this week learned the request actually required a supermajority for approval because of a zoning regulation technicality.

The two had sought a special use permit to allow a landscaping business on the Jarvis Township property which is located in an agriculturally-zoned area along Troy Road. They had requested a variance to allow them to place a building within a setback zone. After nearby residents objected to the buildings location, they withdrew the request to negotiate with neighbors. It was later resubmitted and approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Building and Zoning Committee.

After extensive discussion on Feb. 16, the county board voted 17-8 in favor of the special use permit and announced it had been approved.

Madison County Administrator Dave Tanzyus, however, said officials later realized that, because of a technical issue, the request required a higher percentage of county board votes for approval, and didnt meet that requirement.

Madison County Clerk Debra Ming-Mendoza said a supermajority is defined as three-quarters of the full county board. She said that, at the time of the vote, her office was not aware that anything other than a simple majority was needed. The issue has never come up before, she said.

After the vote was taken, both she and County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler deemed the request had passed.

Building and Zoning Administrator Chris Doucleff said the supermajority vote was needed because landowners on more than 20 percent of the propertys frontage had opposed the special use permit request.

At the time of the vote, Tanzyus said there was something about the vote that bothered him. But he said immediately following the vote he was tasked with answering questions about another issue and was distracted.

Tanzyus said that, in the future, if a supermajority or anything other than a simple majority is needed it will be posted on the county board agenda.
EDWARDSVILLE  An Alton man was charged Tuesday with home invasion after an incident Monday.

Aaron L. Trask, 31, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged Feb. 22 with home invasion, a Class X felony; aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony; and violation of an order of protection, a Class A misdemeanor.

The case was presented by the Alton Police Department.

According to court documents, on Feb. 21 Trask allegedly entered a home in Alton knowing another person was inside and struck the victim, who was 60 or older, with a closed fist. In addition, he allegedly violated an order of protection by having contact with a protected person at a protected residence.

Bail was set at $150,000.

Other felonies filed Feb. 22 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Steven C. Perkins, 21, of Granite City, was charged with aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony; and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, Perkins allegedly took a Nintendo Switch from a 13-year-old by threatening him and two 12-year-olds, indicating he had a gun. He also allegedly struggled with a Granite City police officer attempting to place him under arrest. Bail was set at $75,000.

 Derrick L. Taylor Jr., 32, of Florissant, Missouri, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Feb. 20 Taylor allegedly strangled a household or family member. Bail was set at $60,000.

 William C. Johnson Jr., 28, of Granite City, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of weapons and criminal damage to property, both Class 4 felonies and aggravated assault, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Feb. 18 Johnson allegedly was carrying a Glock 19 9 mm handgun which he pointed at another person. He also allegedly damaged three windows and a screen door on a house, and two windows on a Chrysler 200 sedan. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Carlos B. Foster II, 29, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful restraint, a Class 4 felony; and domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police Department. On Feb. 18 Foster allegedly forced a woman into a Dodge Charger and would not allow her to leave the vehicle and scratched the neck of the victim, who was a household or family member. Bail was set at $10,000.

 Christopher L. Carrington, 38, of Alton, was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony; and leaving the scene of an accident, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Feb. 18 Carrington, who was driving a Dodge Ram 3500 at the intersection of Come in Place and East Broadway, allegedly tried to flee from an Alton police officer after being involved in a vehicle accident that left another vehicle damaged, reaching speeds of up to 21 miles per hour. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Kevin C. Maloney, 32, of Belleville, was charged with driving while license revoked, a Class 4 felony; and leaving the scene of an accident, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Feb. 21 Maloney allegedly was driving a 21012 Chevrolet truck when he struck another vehicle in the 9500 block of Collinsville Road and attempted to flee the scene. His license was revoked due to a 2016 conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol in another state, and he has prior convictions for driving while license revoked out of St. Clair County. Bail was set at $15,000.
ELSAH  State officials have selected Elsah as one of six communities for a 14-week intensive broadband planning program.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Broadband on Thursday announced the communities selected for the inaugural cohort of the Accelerate Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program. Elsah joins the city of Springfield and Jackson, Knox, Mercer and Whiteside counties.

The training program will help leaders from the participating communities develop broadband plans to fit their unique needs and position them to leverage newly available state and federal broadband infrastructure funding.

"Elsah has embraced the phrase, 'The village that time forgot,' in reference to its quaintness and history," said Susan Young, chairperson for Concerned Citizens About Broadband for Elsah. "However, the geography of our sweet valley has unfortunately made receiving high speed internet services impossible for some of our residents and frustrating for others.

"We, as citizens of Elsah, have decided to push forward so that every resident can have access to quality broadband," she said. "This will help boost our economy and attract more people to live here.

"Expanding broadband infrastructure is essential," Young said. "We anticipate that our participation in the Accelerate Illinois program will be integral to our efforts to bring Elsah into this century's technology."

Pritzker noted that broadband infrastructure is only as useful as it is accessible to the people who need it. So the state is partnering with local jurisdictions to develop broadband plans tailored to unique local needs, he said. He also noted the recent passage of the $1 trillion federal infrastructure plan and $420 million for broadband expansion in the state's Rebuild Illinois plan.

The Accelerate Illinois program is offered through a collaborative effort by the Illinois Office of Broadband, the Illinois-based Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the University of Illinois Extension, as well as funding by Heartland Forward. The training is designed to guide communities through establishing and implementing a full-scale broadband connectivity vision.

A core component of the program is a community survey, both online and on paper, gathering information from residents, businesses and community stakeholders about their current use of broadband and satisfaction with existing services. The online survey will include an internet speed test to show broadband speeds and evidence of whether existing providers need to upgrade services or new providers should come in to meet the states broadband goals.

Its hard to take any big steps forward without a plan  and goodness knows there is work to be done on expanding high quality broadband access to underserved communities in Central Illinois, said Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield. "This is truly what it means to be visionary, and I am grateful to Gov. Pritzker for the Connect Illinois program that is making this happen.

In December the state launched the program seeking to serve up to 12 communities as part of this initiative. A second cohort of Accelerate Illinois communities will be announced later this spring.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  Illinois' Congressional members quickly responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine early Thursday as world leaders called it "unprovoked and unjustified" attack.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending troops and tanks from multiple directions in a move that could rewrite the world's geopolitical landscape. Ukraines government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.

President Vladimir Putin ignored global condemnation and cascading new sanctions as he unleashed the largest ground war in Europe in decades, and chillingly referred to his countrys nuclear arsenal. He threatened any country trying to interfere with consequences you have never seen.

"Let me be clear: Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraines sovereign land is a dire threat to the established international order and must be resolutely deterred," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL.

"Ukraine and our NATO allies facing ongoing Russian belligerence have strong bipartisan, bicameral support in the U.S. Congress," he said in a tweet. "As someone who has strong ties to the region, my prayers are with the Ukrainian people and all of Eastern Europe."

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-IL, also criticized Putin's actions.

"Make no mistake: whatever lies Vladimir Putin tells, it is obvious to the world that Russia is the aggressor here and has invaded Ukraine's sovereign territory," she posted on Twitter. "His actions are threatening innocent lives and regional stability in Europe."

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, called on President Joe Biden to "impose crippling sanctions" on the Russian economy.

"Putins invasion of Ukraine must be met with decisive action from the U.S. and our global partners," Bost said. "This isnt the time for subtle nuance and split hairs.

Throughout his time as the leader of Russia, Vladimir Putin has repeatedly violated international law, ruthlessly consolidated power, and invaded other countries without provocation," Bost said. "Responsibility lies solely with his regime for the bloodshed and communities destroyed.

"The United States and our NATO allies must show strength and be unwavering in our defense of democracy," he said. "Our prayers are with the Ukrainian people as they fight for their lives and their country.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, joined in the condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

"Thugs like Putin only respond to strength. Now is the time for severe economic consequences," Davis said on Twitter. "The Ukrainian people need our prayers, and they need our support through tough sanctions on Russia."

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, also said she is praying for the Ukrainian people and criticized President Joe Biden.

"Americans miss the 'Peace Through Strength' and energy independence that were achieved during the Trump administration," she said in a released statement. "President Biden's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and dismantling of U.S. energy production have severely weakened our national security.

"Gas prices are about to skyrocket even higher, and the American people will suffer because of the Green New Deal policies pushed by radical leftists in Congress," she said. "None of this would be happening if President Trump was still in the White House."

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said the "world is witness again to the true evil of Putin, who alone has chosen a path of bloodshed" in Ukraine.

"I condemn Vladimir Putins unprovoked and unjustified attacks against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms," he said. "America and the free world must stand with Ukraine by enacting the strongest possible economic sanctions, crippling Russia's ability to make war, and punishing Putin's regime and his oligarchs on the international stage. My prayers will remain with the Ukrainian people."

For weeks Putin had massed troops on Ukraines borders while brandishing threatening rhetoric and snubbing diplomacy. The latest incursion shatters nearly three decades of relative peace in Europe.

Putin vowed to liberate and protect the Russia-backed separatist eastern region of Ukraine, warning other countries to stay out of the conflict: Whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.

Ukrainian officials said their forces were battling Russians on a multiple fronts, and had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the world's worst nuclear disaster.

Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and wont give up its freedom, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted.

In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia, saying Putin chose this war and that his country would bear the consequences of his action. Biden also said the U.S. will be deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO after the invasion of Ukraine, which is not a member of the defense organization. Approximately 7,000 additional U.S. troops will be sent.

The sanctions will target Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, he said, adding they were designed not to disrupt global energy markets. Russian oil and natural gas exports are vital energy sources for Europe.

Putin is the aggressor, Biden said. Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences."

Biden, for now, held off imposing some of the most severe potential sanctions, including cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, which allows for the transfers of money from bank to bank around the globe.

In Ukraine, AP reporters saw or confirmed explosions in the capital, in Mariupol on the Azov Sea, Kharkiv in the east and beyond. AP confirmed video showing Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukrainian-held territory in the north from Belarus and from Russian-annexed Crimea in the south.

Russia and Ukraine made competing claims about damage they had inflicted. Russias Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities and drones, and confirmed the loss of a Su-25 attack jet, blaming pilot error. It said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that there is no threat to civilian population.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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GODFREY  Mike Logan Ministries namesake will have more time to minister as he retires from working locally for Speedee Delivery, based in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.

They really don't want me to retire, but it's time to do the work of the Lord and help Carol, to help her with Robertas Lovely Ladies Boutique," said Rev. Mike Logan of Godfrey. Ive been working full time since I was 14 years old. Its time to say, OK, OK.

Logan recently turned 60. He and his wife, Carol, own Robertas Lovely Ladies Boutique at 603 W. Delmar Ave., Alton, where there will be a celebration for his retirement 3-5 p.m. Saturday, March 12.

Since the Logans have owned Robertas, they also provide ministry on site at the shops building. Their son, Micah, a 2020 Alton High School graduate, is a supervisor at a warehouse in Edwardsville and is involved in Mike Logan Ministries founded by his father more than 15 years ago.

Mike Logan will be leading nondenominational services at 10 a.m. the first, second and third Sunday of each month at Robertas. On the fourth Sunday of each month, Logan visits churches out in the community to preach.

Other pastors call us up; we take the congregation wherever we go, Logan said. "Proverbs 3:5-6 says, 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.' Word!"

A prayer session takes place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday for the country, families, financial needs, spiritual needs, healing of physical ailments and discomforts.

We should all have a house of prayer because prayer changes things; Jesus said that, Logan said. The ministry is really blessing us. Look what God can do with something small. People are coming, having a glorious time.

"Whoever doesnt have a home church come to Robertas," he said. "Big things happen in small places. I have great faith in Him.

Except for times during COVID restrictions, Mike Logan Ministries visits the homes of individuals who are bedridden. It added a mobile component seven years ago with its The Rolling Church RV. The ministry includes an annual scholarship outreach event through the nonprofit Mike Logan Ministries funds.

What I plan to do now with the ministry is use the Rolling Church to travel to the Ark monument in Williamsburg, Kentucky, from mid-summer through fall, Logan said. "All denominations that follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will have the opportunity to take a trip to the Ark."

The large Noah's Ark representation is at Ark Encounter, a Christian religious and creationist theme park that opened in Grant County, Kentucky, in 2016. The Ark, the centerpiece of the park, is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high.

The cost of the travel package, in part, will be based on gasoline prices and include a two-night hotel stay and admission into the site. Individuals will be responsible for their own food and meal costs.

I will be going to different churches, inquiring who would be interested in the journey, said Logan. Many have told me they are interested already.

People wishing to sponsor someone who can't afford the trip can contact Logan at 618-304-2388.

The couple also are celebrating the sixth anniversary of owning Roberta's Lovely Ladies Boutique. Begun more than 25 years ago, the business offers services for women going through breast cancer including wigs, custom bras and breast prosthetics. Carol Logan also hosts Sister Support for women at the shop.

Roberta's also offers mastectomy fittings and bras as well as regular bras in cup sizes A through O and custom fittings for pieces fitted specially for customers.

This is one of the few fitting facilities in the region to provide these services, taking assignment on most insurances and providing a welcoming and inviting setting that is also private and intimate, Carol Logan said.

Robertas Lovely Ladies Boutique was awarded People's Choice for Best Wig Shop in 2017 by the St. Louis Post Dispatch. It was voted Best of Alton in the wig category in 2018.

Carol has touched the St. Louis area, not just Alton-Godfrey, truly, Mike Logan said. Through Carol taking care of these ladies, I have had the opportunity to pray with many of them and their husbands. Its formed truly a ministry.

The Logans also help those who do not have insurance and follow up with Robertas Lovely Ladies support group, which is made up of 10-12 people at any given time. The same support leader also visits OSF Saint Anthonys Health Center. Check the website for the schedule.

The ones who come to our place enjoy meals that Carol makes, and she makes some of the best vegetable soup in the Midwest, Mike Logan said.

The Rolling Church also hosts and provides day trips for the womens support group, such as to Grafton in the spring and summer and, this season, to Calhoun County.

We go across the ferry, pick our own peaches and apples, Logan said. A lot of people forget about Calhoun County. Its, just, pretty to see. We are really excited about Grafton, Brussels, Hardin, going across the ferry and seeing the drawbridge go up, being with people, seeing people operate and move.

There were few chances during these last two years because of COVID and theres been a lot of death. May God be with each one who lost loved ones, said Logan, whose mother died last February. I havent seen so many people pass in my lifetime than in the last two years.

Visit Mike Logan Ministries Facebook page, Mike Logan's Facebook profile and www.mikeloganministries.org for more information and to hear Rev. Logan preach the Word. For more information about Roberta's Lovely Ladies Boutique visit its Facebook page, visit https://www.altonwigs.com/custom-bras or call 618-467-0640.
SWANSEA  ILLINOISouth Tourism has published its 2022 Visitors Guide.

ILLINOISouth is the largest convention and visitors bureau in the state, covering 100,000 square miles, 21 counties and Highland. The guide includes road trip itineraries, maps and information on roadside attractions, wineries, breweries, food, history and agritourism.

When we started compiling stories from folks who have been here, it was remarkable to see how one visit to our area has stuck with them for years, said Andy Waterman, Communications Director for ILLINOISouth Tourism. There is a story in our new Visitors Guide about a man who was having no luck catching fish at Newton Lake, one of the best bass fishing lakes in the state. Thanks to the knowledge of a hospitable local fisherman, this man caught more fish than he could handle. Those are the stories we love to hear, and those are the personal accounts that make people want to visit southern Illinois.

It is apparent as you read through our 2022 Visitors Guide that our region of southern Illinois is prime for not just one road trip but several, Waterman said. Our goal with this Visitors Guide is to appeal not only to the regional folks to make day and weekend road trips within our territory, but also to those long-haul visitors that are either passing through or want to experience something new."

Copies of the free ILLINOISouth 2022 Visitors Guide have been distributed throughout Illinois and Missouri, including tourist information centers along interstates. People also can request a copy at illinoisouth.org or read a digital copy online.
During and since my time as an active-duty officer in the Army, I have devoted much time and energy to protecting military service members from financial predators.

Last year I focused on the passage of the Predatory Lending Prevention Act (PLPA), and the nationwide repeal of a Comptroller of the Currency rule that protected payday lenders using evasive schemes to get around state-imposed usury rate caps. While those efforts were successful, there is more to do.

Recently, I took notice of a bill in the Illinois Legislature, HB 4627, which would allow the owners of self-storage locker facilities to avoid altogether the required public notice of the auction of renters items when his or her belongings have been confiscated. Those auctions often take place without the knowledge of the renter, who might be overseas defending our country or assisting fellow citizens falling victim to natural disasters.

Illinois law requires owners to notify renters of an auction only by sending notice to the renters last known address. A deeper look into Illinois Self Storage Facility Act reveals a law that is astonishingly lopsided in favor of locker owners to the detriment of renters.

It is a law in need of reform.

Whether the renter is active-duty military, our neighbors in the military Reserve or National Guard called to duty, a victim of eviction, or a victim of a house fire, every effort must be made to locate the renter before selling what could be their worldly belongings. Public notice in newspapers and their attendant websites helps.

California law requires owners to allow renters to submit the name and address of a second individual to whom all notices must be sent. In addition, California law also allows renters to formally object to an auction after which the owner must get a court's blessing before proceeding. Illinois law should do the same.

Locker rent increases and late fees should be examined. How many rent increases should a renter endure after their belongings are in storage? Active-duty military or reservists and Guardsmen called to duty might find it impossible to competitively shop or even receive notice once deployed. The current law should be viewed from the perspective of the transient and the vulnerable, not from only the point of view of owners.

I am all too familiar with real-life cases in which deployed service members have lost literally everything when storage facility owners sell off their possessions. I am sure that, given these difficult times, many other Illinoisans have suffered or will suffer the same.

There are several other changes in Illinois law that could help protect the renters of storage lockers. Many of those changes have been proposed by my colleagues, including the Woodstock Institute, Chicago Urban League, Housing Action Illinois, and Legal Action Chicago. Those changes include several provisions that would benefit renters and help provide a balance between the rights of renters and owners.

I urge legislators to not only reject HB 4627 but to reform Illinois Self Storage Facility Act as soon as possible.
The worst, it seems, has now happened in Ukraine.

In a pre-dawn televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he had ordered an operation aimed at demilitarizing Ukraine. He blamed the U.S. for crossing red lines. Kyiv, he said, would be responsible for any bloodshed. Reports of explosions and gunfire in cities across the country began immediately.

Its a dark moment for Russia, for Ukraine, for Europe  the darkest in Putins two decades at the helm. It is also a point of no return for Russias leader, and one with lasting consequences for the world.

Putin has fallen into the autocrats trap. Isolated, he is no longer able to weigh up reality as it is, but sees his fears instead. He is obsessed with what he perceives as the threat from Ukraines westward drift, and with turning back the clock to reset the post-Cold World order. His speech Thursday  ranging from Russias weakness at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, to Iraq, Yugoslavia and a chilling warning against Western intervention  was hardly the product of a cool, rational mind. It could not have contrasted more sharply with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys earlier moving appeals for peace, made directly to ordinary Russians. U.S. President Joe Biden called Russias actions a premeditated war.

Hubris, paranoia, military adventurism  a heady combination, and one that has been fatal for dictators and their regimes. And Putin is starting a war Russians do not want, for which they will pay the cost.

Political scientist Daniel Treisman, in his study of autocrats last acts, found that most regimes come to an end through mistakes, whether because they ignored change or, like Argentinas Leopoldo Galtieri, embarked on an ill-advised war. He invaded the Falklands in 1982, assuming Britain would not fight and that his population would unite behind him. He was misguided, and the blunder was terminal.

Russia is not Argentina, and there will be no such immediate repercussion for Putin, whatever happens. Increased repression at home is in fact the most likely consequence from this show of force abroad  either because the Kremlin can, or because it must.

But consequences can play out over time, and the Russian president appears to be unraveling. Even by the standards of a repressive authoritarian regime with a history of false-flag operations and fabricated pretexts for war  and for an autocrat with a penchant for macho, reckless military pursuits and for rewriting the past  the last few days have been hard to comprehend. A rambling, hourlong speech on Monday laced with wild accusations, portraying Ukraine as Vladimir Lenins invention. Then a staged Security Council meeting with senior officials being made to publicly support Putin and the recognition of the separatist republics. Now, a war that, stretching credulity to the limit, Putin says will denazify Ukraine  a country that suffered brutally in the Second World War.

He made his move, moreover, while the United Nations Security Council was meeting, in a last-ditch attempt to avoid conflict.

What is remarkable here is not just the ambition of what Putin is apparently undertaking, a full-scale military operation with little regard for repercussions, an effort to destroy a neighbor and destabilize the region. Its also the scale of the delusion, when it comes to the threat posed by NATO and  crucially  his countrys long-term ability to bear the human and financial cost of isolation. Yes, Moscow has built up central bank reserves and a war chest, but this is a country whose economy is stagnating, and one thats already struggling to deal with a health crisis as COVID-19 races through an under-vaccinated population.

To drive home the point, the West must now dramatically ramp up sanctions, reaching far beyond individuals into Russias state banks and more  even if few options now come without a cost for Europe and the rest of the world. Vladimir Putin has already begun the war no one but Kremlin hawks wanted. Now only the toughest measures can hold him back.
EDWARDSVILLE  Property owners seeking to redeem properties with outstanding taxes will have an easier time of it after the countys annual tax sale showed the lowest ever penalty rate recorded in the county, according to Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser.

This year the Madison County tax sale collected nearly $3.4 million dollars of delinquent taxes. Slusser said 40 tax buyers took part in this years annual event, purchasing the taxes on 2,397 parcels.

Slusser said an automated bidding system currently used by the county, along with a high number of participating tax buyers, had a large impact on the penalty rate. He said this year it had a weighted average of .43 percent; the previous low record was 1.52 percent in 2021.

Weve come a long ways in ensuring the integrity of this process and achieving low penalty rates for those who are struggling to pay their taxes, Slusser said.

The lower the rate, the less it costs a taxpayer to redeem their delinquent taxes," he said. "Its great to see the penalty rate so low this year, which benefits those whose taxes were sold.

Each county in Illinois holds an annual tax sale to collect delinquent taxes which are distributed throughout their taxing districts. Illinois requires the sales, or auctions, so taxing entities such as school districts, townships, municipalities, libraries, fire protection districts and other governmental units can receive the money levied for that year.

Interest in the tax sale is high in Madison County because of past issues. In 2010 it came to light that former Madison County Treasurer Fred Bathon had conspired with at least three tax buyers to rig the auction by not accepting trailing bids. Nearly all of the taxes sold that year went for the maximum 18 percent penalty rate. In exchange, the buyers made significant campaign donations to Bathon.

It was estimated delinquent taxpayers were defrauded out of as much as $4 million dollars in excessive penalties. Some even lost their homes because they couldnt afford to pay the excessively high penalty rates.

After a lengthy investigation by the FBI, Bathon and three tax buyers later pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act and served short prison sentences. Bathon was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, but served just 18 months. He also was forced to forfeit his county pension.

The Property Tax Code was designed to foster competition in bidding at the tax sale, and it is my duty as county treasurer to ensure that theyre sold at the lowest possible cost," Slusser said. "This is a duty that I take very seriously.

"We live in a state with the highest property taxes in the nation," he said. "So I always look for any opportunity I can find to provide relief for struggling taxpayers.

This years automated sale on Feb 22 consisted of delinquent 2020 real estate taxes due in 2021. Automated tax sales have become the most popular method of conducting a tax sale throughout the state. The automated systems capture bids with an accuracy that would be unreachable by any other standard, according to Slusser.

Anyone whose taxes were sold can contact the Madison County Clerks office at 618-692-6290 for more information. If you have questions about the tax sale contact the treasurers office at 618-692-6260.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Showers this morning becoming a steady light rain during the afternoon hours. High 57F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Maternity clothing brand Seraphine lost two-thirds of its value as a thumping profits warning sent its shares to a record low.

The firm, whose clothes were worn by the Duchess of Cambridge in all three of her pregnancies, said profits will be around 4.5million this year, down on the 6.2million expected in the City.

Shares tumbled 66.9 per cent, or 135p, to 67p. The stock has fallen dramatically since it listed at 295p in July, cutting its value from 150million to 34million.

Shares crash: Seraphine, whose clothes were worn by the Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) in all three of her pregnancies, said profits will be around 4.5m this year

The company, set up in London in 2002 by designer Cecile Reinaud, said sales growth was strong in the 17 weeks to January 31.

But February has been a soft month across all markets and channels with the retail store trading environment remaining extremely challenging.

And it said it has been hit by the higher warehousing and transport costs. Seraphine has three stores in London and one in Leeds, as well as two in France and two in the US.

Its products range from maternity jeans, leggings and dresses to nursing jumpers and breastfeeding covers.
Barclays bankers will share a bonus pool of 1.9billion after the lender raked in record profits last year.

Their rewards were up 23 per cent on 2020 levels, as red-hot deal-making boosted its lucrative investment bank.

Barclays, which is currently advising on the takeover of airport services firm John Menzies and pharmaceuticals business Clinigen, bagged profits of 8.4billion in 2021  an all-time high.

Record profits: Barclays, which is currently advising on the takeover of John Menzies and pharmaceuticals firm Clinigen, bagged profits of 8.4bn in 2021  an all-time high

The lions share of this, or 5.8billion, came from its corporate and investment bank.

The stellar performance was boosted by the release of cash which Barclays set aside to cover potential pandemic losses.

It freed up 653million of those reserves last year as the Covid job losses and business failures many had expected did not materialise. In 2020, the lender had squirrelled away 4.8billion.

Shareholders reaped the rewards, as Barclays promised to hand them 2.5billion through dividends and buybacks. The stock climbed 3.1 per cent, or 5.82p, to 195.98p.

But the bumper numbers will also come as a boost to CS Venkatakrishnan, Barclays new boss who goes by the nickname Venkat.

The Indian-born American banker was thrust into the limelight last year when he took over from Jes Staley, who left amid an investigation into his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Venkat knew Staley when they both worked for JP Morgan, and has previously called him my manager, mentor and friend.

Female first for banking giant Anna Cross (pictured) will replace Tushar Morzaria, who was chief financial officer for more than eight years. Barclays has appointed its first female finance boss. Anna Cross (pictured) will replace Tushar Morzaria, who was chief financial officer for more than eight years. Cross, an activist for LGBT rights, will now be one of the handful of women to hold a top job in British banking, and becomes the most powerful woman to work for Barclays. While NatWest has appointed Alison Rose as chief executive and Katie Murray as chief financial officer, Barclays has never had a woman in one of its most prestigious roles. Cross, who is Morzarias deputy, joined Barclays in 2013. Her appointment now means half the UKs Big Four banks have female finance directors - a landmark for diversity in the male-dominated world of British banking. Morzaria gave no reasons for his own resignation, but he will stay as the chairman of global financial institutions. He will give up a long-term incentive award which, in the next two years, could have hit 2.3million if Barclays had attained performance targets. Barclays chief executive Venkat said: I am delighted that the board has asked her to succeed Tushar and look forward to working closely with Anna as we continue to deliver our strategy. Cross will receive a base salary of 1.73million. She will also be in line for benefits including medical insurance, a bonus, a long-term incentive and pension contributions.

Staley chose Venkat as one of his first hires when he took the helm at Barclays, and eventually made him head of global markets.

Venkats pay in that position was not disclosed, since he was not on the board. But Barclays dropped a hint of just how well-remunerated he was, as the annual report said his new 2.7million base salary  up from Staleys 2.4million  would be a downgrade from his previous role.

The 56-year-old, who was previously based in New York, will get a further 190,000 annual housing allowance for the next two years to pay for temporary accommodation in Britain.

And he will get pension contributions worth 135,000, benefits such as healthcare and a company car worth around 100,000, an annual bonus worth up to 2.5million, and a long-term incentive scheme, worth up to 3.6million.

This means his total pay package could, in a year when Barclays hits all its targets, reach 9million.

Venkat has vowed to push on with the strategy which Staley kicked off at Barclays, building the investment bank to rival Wall Street giants such as Goldman Sachs.

But there may be some bumps ahead. Although profits increased at the investment bank, most of that performance during the final quarter of 2021 came from reduced costs, as revenue was flat.

Venkat also said he wanted to expand the consumer credit arm, which includes credit cards, as families start to spend again following lockdowns and need to borrow to cover the cost-of-living squeeze.

This would be concentrated especially in the US, he said, as he hinted the bank may be looking to partner with more retailers to offer store cards.

Last year, Barclays bought a 2.8billion credit card portfolio from clothing chain Gap.
Boots has given suitors until the end of today to table offers for the high street chemist.

The company, set up in Nottingham in 1849 and now part of US giant Walgreens Boots Alliance, has set a deadline of midnight for first bids to be submitted.

The auction is likely to pit some of the worlds most powerful private equity firms against each other in a bidding war that could see Boots sold for as much as 10billion.

Bidding war: High Street chemist Boots, which set up in Nottingham in 1849 and now part of US giant Walgreens Boots Alliance, has set a deadline of midnight for first bids to be submitted

It follows a decision by Walgreens to offload the company.

The Daily Mail understands US private equity group Bain Capital  fresh from failing to buy British mutual insurer LV  is among those to have made an offer.

The billionaire Issa brothers who own Asda are also eyeing a bid alongside their private equity backers, TDR Capital. Others circling Boots include US investment firms Sycamore Partners, Advent and Apollo.

Boots was founded by Quaker John Boot, selling herbal remedies and now has 2,200 stores and 51,000 staff.

It merged with European pharma firm Alliance Unichem in 2006 to become Alliance Boots. It was then taken over in 2007 by private equity group KKR before merging in 2014 with American giant Walgreens to create US-listed Walgreens Boots Alliance.

Boots has struggled through the pandemic, losing 258million in the year to August 31, 2020, and cutting thousands of jobs.

Its sale would be the latest private equity takeover of a British business, many of which are considered to be going cheap.

It would also represent the dismantling of an empire created by its executive chairman Stefano Pessina, whose long-term partner Ornella Barra runs the international arm.

Boots chief executive Seb James has been in charge since 2018 and it is thought that if a private equity bidder emerges successful he may stay on.

The bid by Bain is thought to be a joint effort with another private equity giant  CVC Capital Partners.

CVC is betting on the expertise of former KKR partner Dominic Murphy who joined it in 2019.

He previously led KKRs takeover of Alliance Boots for 11.1billion in 2007 and is on the Walgreens board.

Executive decision: Walgreens Boots chairman Stefano Pessina with partner Ornella Barra

Bains move comes just two months after its failed attempt to buy the historic British mutual LV for 530million. It would have taken over the 179-year-old insurer and stripped it of its mutual status.

But the deal was rejected by LVs 1.2million members after fierce opposition from critics and a Daily Mail campaign to save it from buyout barons.

CVC was part of a consortium that bought Debenhams in 2003 which picked up 1.2billion in dividends before returning it to the stock market less than three years later.

When it bought Debenhams, the retailer had 100million of debt but by the time it was relisted that had risen to 1billion. Debenhams later collapsed in 2020.

Bain and CVC are believed to be planning to invest heavily in Boots digital, beauty and healthcare offerings.

They would carve the UK business out of Walgreens Boots Alliance, where it accounts for about 10 per cent of sales.

The private equity firms believe it could be run more effectively outside the group.

The healthcare services played a key part in the rollout of Covid tests and vaccines as Boots administered around 4m tests.

Boots also announced this week it is launching lateral flow tests, costing up to 5.99 each online, or 2.50 in-store.

TDR is working on a plan to take over Boots and combine it with Asdas stores, which already operate some UK pharmacies.

But US buyout firm CD&R is understood to have put its ambitions for Boots on hold, given competition regulators are probing its takeover of Morrisons.

Boots has also kept open the option of a float if takeover interest is muted, which would see it listed as a stand-alone firm on the London Stock Exchange.
SPARKS [mdash] Mrs. Mattie L. Clements Martin, 93, of Sparks, Georgia, passed away at her granddaughter's home on April 25, 2022. Mrs. Martin was born on January 17, 1929 in Colquitt County to the late Ivey Lane Hart and Ola Gay Hart. She lived most of her life in Cook County and was of the 
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Cumberland, MD (21502)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 73F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

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Barre, VT (05641)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 52F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

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Rain ending early. Remaining cloudy. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.


remaining of

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Kingsport, TN (37660)

Today

Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 78F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

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A few passing clouds. Low 51F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
The Europe Peace Foundation(EPF) president Sappan KC Hum condemned Russias actions, telling Putin to bring your troops back to Russia.

In the name of humanity, do not allow a war to start in Europe which could be worst war since the beginning of the century with consequences not only devastating for Ukraine, not only tragic for the Russian Federation but with an impact cannot even foresee.

Russias decision to launch a completely unprovoked attack is unacceptable and in contradiction to international law, he said.

  

Thursday, February 24, 2022 (MADRID)  Russian Federation launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea, Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under attack. Several Ukrainian civilians reportedly killed, according to multiple news reports.

I strongly condemn in the strongest possible terms Russias unprecedented military attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. I deplore the loss of life and the human suffering in Ukraine.

The humanitarian consequences on civilian populations will be devastating. I call on Russia to immediately end its military operations and withdraw all its forces from in and around Ukraine, to fully respect international humanitarian law, and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need. Such use of force and coercion has no place in the 21st century.

I call for a peaceful resolution of the situation through sustained diplomatic efforts for long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond.

#SAPPANKC, #PRESIDENT
CATSKILL  Three men were arrested over the last week and charged in connection with a late-night brawl involving snowmobiles.

A 30-year-old and a 53-year-old, both from Catskill, and a 28-year-old from Saugerties were all charged with first-degree gang assault, a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison.

No arrests were initially made because many of the people involved fled the scene prior to the arrival of police.

Police were called to an address just outside the hamlet of Palenville at about 1 a.m. on Feb. 1 after a 911 caller reported shots fired, according to Trooper Steven Nevel, a spokesman for the State Police.

Weapons were involved, but Nevel could not say what they were or confirm if a gun was involved.

The altercation followed a dispute over snowmobile use, according to State Police.

The three men allegedly injured "multiple individuals" during the incident, according to Nevel. Their injuries were considered non-life threatening.

The incident occurred in an open space outside the hamlet, according troopers.

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Nevel said he did not know the relationship between the three men.

To be charged with gang assault, a defendant does not need to be associated with a gang. The charge is leveled when three or more people cause "serious physical injury" to a victim, according to state penal code.

The three men were arraigned earlier this month, according to the Catskill Town Court clerk's office.

No bail was set, and all three were released with appearance tickets for March 17, according to the clerk's office.
Towns across the Hudson Valley are considering or implementing short-term rental legislation to restrict the number of Airbnbs and VRBOs in a given area. But who will monitor these listings and flag those that skirt legal restrictions?

The Town of Red Hook in Dutchess County has passed controversial regulations to limit short-term rentals to only certain parts of town, for a limited number of days, and only if the homeowner is a primary resident of the town and has registered the property as a short-term rental.

Now, the town is considering a third-party company to monitor listings and enforce the law. Granicus, a platform that provides short-term rental monitoring as part of the Colorado-based firms offerings to governments, presented its services to the Red Hook Town Board on Feb. 8, with an eye toward securing a contract to scan short-term rental s listing sites to flag any properties that arent registered or complying with local resolutions.

They do a lot of the legwork associated with having a short-term rental program in the community, said Town of Red Hook supervisor Robert McKeon, who made the initial outreach to Granicus. We dont have the technology to keep track of the short-term rentals that are in our community.

Laurel Anderson, Vice President of Product Management for Granicus, said in an emailed statement that because short-term rental regulations vary by city, most towns must manually scan sites like Airbnb and VRBO to identify short-term rentals and then cross reference against a list of regulated properties to find the outliers.

This is an extremely lengthy process and is why so many go unregulated for quite some time, said Anderson.

Updating data profiles of rentals every 72 hours

Granicus said it helps regulate and aid local governments as well as rental hosts  both of whom are seeking real-time data on local rentals. Using its software, the firm scans rental websites every 72 hours to identify how many rentals are operating, their addresses, rental history, where the owners are from, and how many nights per year properties are rented.

The data is compiled into a profile on each short-term rental, which can then be accessed by town officials.

As more and more folks look into joining the short-term rental market, many come in unaware of all thats needed to ensure theyre following government regulations, said Anderson.

Granicus said it would help with permitting and registration in the Town of Red Hook as well.

I was impressed with what theyre capable of doing, said McKeon. I could see how it would relieve some burden off of our already stressed building department.

McKeon said the towns building department is bogged down with the additional developments in the area, and that hiring Granicus would remove any additional pressure.

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Other towns have also considered how to monitor short-term rentals themselves. For example, Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley said at the February monthly village board meeting that their short-term rental law is cumbersome and beyond the capacity of our small staff to enforce. Their law currently identifies the Cold Spring Police Department as responsible for enforcement.

If Granicus is hired in Red Hook, anyone operating short-term rentals in the town would need to pay a $250 fee, which would be applied toward funding Granicus services.

The company works with other municipalities in region, whether for short-term rental monitoring or hospitality tax collection, including the Town of Milan and the Village of Rhinebeck.

We thought it was a positive presentation, and it appears there are benefits to both the local government and to the short-term rental operators, said McKeon of Granicus. Everything can be done online, and rather easily. We hope we can come up with a solution that works for both parties.

The Town of Red Hook has not yet made a decision on whether to hire Granicus for some or all of their services, but he suspects a decision in the next month or two.

Red Hook homeowners operating Airbnbs, some of whom opposed the towns short-term rental limits during a public meeting in December, must comply with the recently passed legislation by June 1.
ALBANY Three current and former Capital Region men are accused of putting together a scheme to fraudulently get over $100,000 in unemployment insurance benefits through federal programs intended to aid out-of-work New Yorkers during the pandemic, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

An indictment alleges that a former Albany resident, 25, now living in Georgia, and a Troy man, 26, provided a 21-year-old Albany man with the personal identifying information of other people, which the 21-year-old used to file false claims with the state Department of Labor website, authorities said.
Courtesy Albany International Airport

COLONIE  With up to a foot of snow expected in the Capital Region and at other locations across the Northeast, several airlines that serve Albany International Airport are offering waivers for people who have planned to travel in the next few days but may choose to delay their trips.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are offering waivers at impacted airports, including Albany.
Village residents in two Saratoga County villages can pick new leaders next month.

In the March 15 village elections, there are competitive races in Ballston Spa and Waterford, as well as elections in Corinth and Victory.

Ballston Spa

Ballston Spa residents must pick a mayor who will complete the term of former Mayor Larry Woolbright, a Republican who resigned abruptly last year. Whoever wins will have to run again next March for a full term. Candidates are current Mayor Christine Fitzpatrick, a Democrat, and Frank Rossi Jr., a Republican.

Residents must also choose a village trustee, selecting from Democrat Kamran Parwana and Republican Bernadette VanDeinse-Perez.

All four are appearing in a League of Women Voters forum that will be broadcast on March 8 on the leagues YouTube channel.

The election will be on March 15 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Eagle-Matt Lee Fire Company, 35 Washington St., and Union Fire Company, 319 Milton Ave.

Waterford

One Democrat is challenging the Republican slate in the Waterford election.

Currently, the board and mayor are Republicans. All the incumbents are running for reelection. The mayor is unopposed.

Running against the four Republican trustees is Mark Turpin, in his first attempt to win political office. Turpin is a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and wants to focus on zoning and code enforcement to improve quality of life in the village, he said in a news release.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

The Republican trustees running for reelection are Russ VanderVoort, Jonathon Matson, John Fairclough and Marilyn Carson.

Waterfords election will run from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at three locations: Waterford Visitors Center, 1 Tugboat Alley; Waterford Senior Center, 125 Second St.; and Waterford Fire Department, 11 Eighth St.

Corinth and Victory

Two other villages are holding elections, but the outcome is not in doubt.

In Corinth, trustee Dean Brown is running for reelection. Trustee Maureen Kelly is not running again, but will be replaced by the one new candidate running: John Coltrain.

In Victory, trustee Leslie Dennison is running for reelection. No one else has filed paperwork to run, according to the village clerk, although someone could mount a write-in campaign.

Each village runs its own election, managed by the village clerk. That can be expensive and time-consuming, as the clerk must not only count the ballots but also track who is eligible to vote. Several years ago, Round Lake officials decided to move their village election to the general election date in November. The county Board of Elections runs that election for the village, as it does all the other local elections in November.
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ALBANY  An Albany County prosecutor told a judge that a 911 call that prompted the Jan. 24 police response that ended with Jordan Young being shot was made by Young himself.

Jordan Young sought the police out, acting Chief Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Fowler told County Judge William Little at a Thursday bail hearing for the 32-year-old Young, who remains hospitalized at Albany Medical Center.

It is clear Mr. Young called 911 to report a home invasion that we know now never occurred, Fowler said at the first of two court appearances for Young on Thursday. So Jordan Young got the police there.

The judge ordered Young to remain in the custody of the county sheriff's office without bail. Young appeared at the hearing on a monitor from his hospital bed with his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Rebekah Sokol, at his side.

Sokol disputed the prosecutor's allegation about the 911 call. She said she had not received any information to suggest it was made by Young. She said the person who made the call had claimed his name was Xavier.

Jordan Young on Jan. 24 was a mentally ill Black man walking his dog  thats it, Sokol told the judge.

She said Young was doing nothing illegal when the police stopped him in the middle of the road. He didnt bring the police there  he wasnt looking for that, Sokol said. He certainly wasnt looking to engage with them when they happened upon him.

A half-dozen members of Youngs family and supporters attended the hearing in the third-floor courtroom of the Albany County Judicial Center.

Young was shot by Officer James Madsen after he ordered Young to drop a knife he was holding as he ran at the officer, according to police reports and body camera video from the officers involved in the incident.

Young has pleaded not guilty to a felony count of menacing a police officer, which carries a possible sentence of up to seven years in prison, as well as a misdemeanor charge of weapon possession for the knife.

On the night of the shooting, police were in the vicinity looking for a person said to be running on a rooftop in connection with the supposed home invasion on the 100 block of Morris Street.

At a preliminary hearing in City Court later Thursday, Albany Police Officer Francis Fogarty testified that he drove the patrol car to respond to the call alongside Madsen. He said he backed the marked car into a store parking lot on New Scotland Avenue to get a good angle to view the home on Morris Street where the home invasion was reported. Fogarty said he spotted the man he now knows to be Young walking from Madison onto New Scotland avenues alongside a large dog that was not on a leash.

Fogarty testified that he and Madsen exited the patrol car. He said he asked Young where he was headed because Young was walking toward a potentially active crime scene. It was then, he testified, that he saw Young crouch and place the razor blade-type knife to the dog's neck.

"What is that? What is that?" one of the officers can be heard asking Young on a video played in court.

"Sir -- put the knife down!" an officer yelled at Young.

The video showed Young charge at Madsen, who can be heard firing his department weapon.

Fogarty testified that neither he nor Madsen have been trained to use a Taser-type electrical gun.

Assistant District Attorney Marissa Olsen told City Court Judge Holly Trexler that Madsen and Fogarty both asked the defendant to drop his knife at least 12 times.

At the earlier hearing. Sokol noted that Young had been moved to a trauma unit after several weeks in Albany Med's intensive care unit. But she said he remains in critical condition with four drains in his abdomen, and is still receiving nutrition intravenously; he needs a colostomy bag because of damage to his bowels from the shooting.

"Jordan Young is the antithesis of a flight risk," she said.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

The defense attorney said her client is unnecessarily shackled to his bed and under constant watch by sheriff's deputies. She said she is unable to have meetings with Young because of the police presence. Sokol said Young, a married father of two children , has no prior criminal record.

She said Young has bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, but was not taking his medicine between November and the date of the incident. Sokol argued her client's recent arrests are a result of a person "in the throes of mental illness."

Fowler argued that Young's recent arrest history shows an escalation of behavior, starting with a Dec. 3 incident in Crossgates Mall. The prosecutor said Young stole a shirt from a store and, after being confronted by an employee, pulled a knife.

She said that on Dec. 24, Young showed up at his aunts home possessing a semi-automatic pistol and threatened to kill her. She said someone called 911, and Young fled.

On Jan. 14, the prosecutor alleged, Young went to the home of his fathers girlfriend and made threats while armed with a gun. She said the father was at the girlfriends home because he had been kicked out of Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady after Young had been threatening to kill his family members, and the facility wanted to protect its staff and other patients.

Fowler said police took Young into custody outside his fathers Morris Street home; once in the police station, he refused to be fingerprinted.

The prosecutor said after being arraigned in City Court, Young was ordered to report to probation on Jan. 24  but never showed up. Fowler said Young was a flight risk.

The judge determined Young to be a flight risk, and ordered him to remain in custody.
BALLSTON SPA  For the first time in recent memory, a Democrat will be running for Saratoga County district attorney this fall.

Michael Phillips, a senior attorney with the state Department of Health, was expected to be nominated on Wednesday night by the county Democratic Committee. He will go up against Republican incumbent Karen Heggen, who has held the seat as the countys top prosecutor since 2014. The seat carries a four-year term.

The purpose of the campaign is to establish a center of excellence in the Saratoga County district attorneys office, said Phillips, who has been an attorney in public and private practice for 31 years. That means a center for best practices for county prosecutors from across New York state and across the country. We live in a global destination. We should have a county prosecutors office that aspires to be the best.

He said right now the DA's office is too influenced by the countys Republican Party bosses. He contends that Heggen went soft on Saratoga Springs GOP candidate Samantha Guerra over a case involving her nominating petitions but was hard on Black Lives Matter advocate Jamaica Miles, appealing a judges decision to dismiss a violation.

Its colossal mismanagement, Phillips said. Appealing disorderly conduct, which is the same as a parking ticket, are you serious? Using the DA offices resources on that? Thats a bad look.

He said that Heggen is obligated to prosecute without fear or favor.

Just because someone is in the same political party should be more of a motivation to prosecute them, not a reason to declare nonexistent conflict of interest, said Phillips, who describes himself as the son of a plumber. As a DA, you are held to a higher standard. No more politics. There should be one standard of justice. Not one for the wealthy and highly connected and one for everyone else.

Phillips said he decided to join the race after the 2021 death of Ian Gerber on Saratoga Lake. Heggen, he complained, offered a deal to the 20-year-old who piloted the boat that struck and killed Gerber. Originally charged with criminally negligent homicide, Blake Heflin of Malta ended up pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault and boating while intoxicated. One of the reasons given by the DA's office was that those on the boat were not cooperating.

She announced the plea deal on Christmas Eve. Thats a red flag, Phillips said Im supposed to believe a bunch of 20-year-olds are staring down the DA's office? Thats when I made up my mind to do this.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Heggen, while not addressing Phillips' comments, said she is proud of the work she has done since 2014.

"I am proud of the work my team does each day to achieve justice for the citizens of Saratoga County," Heggen said. "I am proud of the 95 percent conviction rate my office has sustained over the years I have been in office; the same rate of convictions as when now Judge (James A.) Murphy (III) was the DA. My office works daily with law enforcement to keep our community safe. In fact, Saratoga County has the lowest crime rate in the Capital Region, as well as one of the lowest crime rates in the entire state among counties with a population of more than 100,000. I am excited to bring the record and accomplishments of my office to the voters of Saratoga County as I again seek reelection this year as Saratoga County District Attorney."



Phillips, who is a graduate of U.S. Marines boot camp but was discharged after six months due to a knee injury, said one his top goals is to create a veterans court.



I feel we have an obligation to veterans, he said. This is a way to give back. ... This is a need and its also good government. It avoids incarcerations and gives people the help they need.



Phillips says he started his career in private practice in Seattle and Saratoga Springs where he practiced all types of law, including criminal.

He now says he does lifesaving work as a line prosecutor for health care regulations in nursing homes, adult care facilities and emergency rooms.

He said he also created the first private sector presence at the Harriman State Office Campus and led an interagency team to create and implement the Harriman Redevelopment Strategy and Plan. He was also a project release manager for GE Energy.

Phillips said he grew up on Saratoga Lake where he learned to love hunting and fishing. He is a 1991 night school graduate of Western New England School of Law, a course he chose while serving as an executive assistant to Albany Mayor Thomas M. Whalen III in the 1980s.

What distinguishes me is I have the prosecution experience and the management experience, he said. I know what it takes to develop and lead a team. Thats my goal, the center of excellence, to be the best prosecutor in New York state.
New Yorks K-12 public schools are expected to see a substantial drop in enrollment for the second year in a row, for a total decline of 5 percent since the start of the pandemic, preliminary enrollment data posted to the state Education Department last month shows.

The public school system lost 60,000 students  2.38 percent of the total student populationin the past year alone, according to the latest figures analyzed and mapped by the Empire Center for Public Policy.

State Education Department officials warn against comparing this year's preliminary enrollment numbers with last year's finalized enrollment data. The 2021-22 data reported by districts could change considerably before final enrollment is reported later this year due to a number of factors, including, students transferring out of districts or dropping out, officials said.

Schools in 2020-21 saw a sharp decline in enrollment. Final figures for that school year showed a 2.64 percent drop from 2019-20.

The pandemic appears to have accelerated a steady decrease in public school enrollment since 2011-12.

In 10 years, enrollment has fallen 8 percent, from 2,665,612 to 2,453,123 a loss of 212,489 students.

The Southern Tier is on track to see the deepest enrollment losses in the state for the second consecutive year. The region lost 4.7 percent of its student population in two years, according to the most current state data.

The only New York region that appears to have gained public school students in the last two years is the North Country, and within the region, Hamilton County was the only county in the state that saw its public school population grow. In two years, the sparsely populated county saw its K-12 public school enrollment rise from 359 students to 368, a 2.52 percent increase.

In the Capital Region, Greene, Schoharie and Columbia counties saw the steepest declines in public school enrollment during the pandemic. The number of Greene County K-12 students dropped 7.4 percent in two years, while Schoharie and Columbia County saw enrollment losses of just over 6 percent during the same time period.

Albany County's enrollment remained relatively steady during the pandemic period, dipping just 1.5 percent in two years. (The Menands Union Free school district, pictured above, saw its enrollment stay flat.)

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Rensselaer County saw an enrollment loss of 4.74 percent, Saratoga County lost 2.38 percent of its public school students and Schenectady lost 3.11 percent of its public school enrollees in two years.

The public school enrollment data includes public charter schools. During the same two-year period, charter school enrollment rose by 14,502 students, from 159,211 to 173,713, state data shows.

State education officials said it's unclear why the public school population has fallen in two years.

"While there may be a variety of pandemic and non-pandemic-related factors for the enrollment decline, we cannot speculate on what specifically caused the decline," Education Department spokeswoman Emily DeSantis said in an email. "Additionally, as the causes may be localized, it would be best to check with local school districts for that information.
SCHENECTADY  The death of a city man on Christmas Day 2019 was about a life for a wallet, according to a prosecutor who began and ended his opening statements Thursday with those words, telling jurors the victim was crushed to death by a sport utility vehicle driven by his irate killer.

Ishwarnand Goberdhan took a 3,000- to 4,000-pound weapon, and on three successive occasions launched it, rammed it, hurled it, accelerated it directly into the body of Alejandro Melendez, said Schenectady County District Attorney John Carson.

He said Melendez, a drug addict, was "looking for money, walking down the the street" when he encountered Goberdhan.

Carson asserted in court that each time Goberdhan hit Melendez, it was with more violence and force  one time pinning him against a concrete building  and that after the third strike in the parking lot of a business, Goberdhan hopped out of his wifes 2017 Nissan Rogue and retrieved his wallet from the ground near Melendezs lifeless body in the cold before driving off.

Defense attorney Brian Mercy countered in his opening remarks before County Court Judge Matthew Sypniewski that the confrontation early that holiday morning on State Street was a tragic accident and not intentional.

Mercy claimed the only crime his client is guilty of was failing to report the incident, and because of that the district attorneys office went after him, charged him with two counts of second-degree murder, and one count each of first-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting resulting in death.

If convicted on the top murder charge, Goberdhan, 36, whose nickname is Krisso, could face 25 to years to life in prison.

Mercy said that after a night of deejaying at the nightclub and bar Secret End on State Street, Goberdhan was sitting in the SUV waiting for someone he was going to give a ride to when Melendez knocked on the window and asked for $2 to get something to eat.

Goberdhan, who also worked as a barber, rolled down the window to give Melendez a couple of bucks.

Out of that kind act, you will see the video that Mr. Melendez looks inside the car, and when he sees no one else is there, he snatches his wallet and runs, said Mercy.

The defense lawyer also said Goberdhan had no idea that Melendez had died, and that he traveled to his native Guyana on Dec. 26, the day after the altercation, because he wanted to see his ailing father.

Once he returned to Schenectady in January 2019, Goberdhan was arrested and charged with the homicide.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Carson told the jury that they will view video and hear audio of most of the violent encounter captured by surveillance cameras from three local businesses as well as through grand jury testimony and hear in Goberdhan's own words what happened.

Carson, who is handling the case with Assistant District Attorney Christina Tremante-Pelham, said that the cameras also picked up a smaller compact car that was later determined to be an Hyundai Elantra that pulled into the parking lot briefly as Melendez lay dead before driving off.

Both the Rogue and Elantra were eventually traced back to Goberdans home on Strong Street in Schenectady, not far from where the confrontation happened.

In January 2020, Melendez's mother, Santa Melendez told the Times Union that her son, 51, battled drug addiction, had two adult daughters, and had previously served time in prison for robbery.

Despite his issues, she recalled him as a loving son who would check in with her just about every night to make sure she was doing OK.

The owner of the barber shop where Goberdhan cut hair said he worked multiple jobs so he could support his wife and daughter here and family in Guyana.

Testimony in the trial is expected to continue Monday morning.
ALBANY  A federal judge ruled Wednesday that he will not grant a new detention hearing to a 22-year-old Schenectady man facing drug and weapon charges and who is under investigation for his alleged role in a Mafia-linked cocaine transaction.

Attorneys for Jeffrey Civitello Jr. requested a new hearing from U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Stewart at which the defendant could be granted possible release. Instead, the judge rejected the request, finding that Civitello presented a potential danger to the community, regardless of whether he was a risk of flight.

The primary issue for the court has always been the finding of dangerousness, Stewart wrote.

Civitello was arrested after investigators with a federal Drug Enforcement Administration task force seized 75 pounds of marijuana, loaded guns and hundreds of thousands of dollars from his home on the top floor of a Schenectady building on Albany Street on Oct. 21.

Stewart, in his ruling, noted the large amounts of money involved, the fact that there were loaded weapons located next to the narcotics, the extensive nature of the alleged conspiracy, and all the other arguments presented on this issue by the government. He described Civitello's home as heavily barricaded.

In a memo asking the judge to keep Civitello locked up, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett revealed that Civitello and his father, Jeffrey Civitello Sr., were under investigation in connection with the DEA's unrelated seizure of 9 kilograms of cocaine discovered in a trap compartment of the younger Civitello's 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee on April 2, 2021, in Greene County.

Two days earlier, investigators watched Civitello and his father meeting in Schenectady with three men, including Richard Sinde, 56, a reputed Bonanno crime family associate from Fort Lee, N.J., the prosecutor told the judge. Prosecutors said Sinde, Robert Ingrao, 74, of Lodi, N.J., and Christopher Kelly, 54, of Brooklyn, met with the Civitellos to borrow the Jeep.

In his ruling Wednesday, the judge referenced that meeting. Stewart said it would be a problem for Civitello, if released, to stay with his father as the father was "suspected of being involved in the transportation of large amounts of cocaine with the defendant himself." The father, who is yet to be charged, has a prior federal conviction for cocaine trafficking and money laundering.

The judge said it also would be problematic for Civitello to stay with his mother, as the defendant suggested. A gun discovered in the raid was on her permit and "it therefore appears she was the source of that weapon," Stewart said. She has not been charged with any crime.

At least one gun was found on the first floor of Civitello's building in an office for Focus Construction, a company owned by Civitello's father, prosecutors have said.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

The judge noted that, according to prosecutors, alleged associates of the younger Civitello were in pictures posted on Snapchat in which they "reasonably appear to have guns as well." Prosecutors alleged that Civitello also exchanges messages over the social media platform related to the distribution of opioid pills.

Robert G. Wells and Derek S. Andrews, the Syracuse-based attorneys for Civitello, asked for the new detention hearing for Civitello, arguing that he has no prior criminal history and was no risk of flight. Civitello, they noted in a motion to the judge, has strong family ties in Schenectady, a long history of employment and is an expectant father.

Civitello has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The judge previously ordered Civitello detained, but was willing to listen to legal arguments from Wells and Andrews on whether Civitello should be granted a new detention hearing.

In his decision Wednesday, the judge said federal probation officers initially recommended that Civitello be released on conditions, but added that probation officers were not privy to some factors recognized by prosecutors.

"Often the court concurs with probations recommendation for or against release, but on occasion it does not," Stewart stated. "This was one of those circumstances, and does not, in and of itself, warrant a new detention hearing."
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ALBANY  Members of the Capital Regions Ukrainian community are reeling after Russia invaded Ukraine early Thursday.

Were in shock, said Andrij Baran, president of the local chapter of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Its something we never thought was possible in the 21st century.

Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee, reported The Associated Press.

Ukraines government pleaded for help as it said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a full-scale war, the most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. An adviser to Ukraine's president said 40 people so far have been killed.

Igor Korostil, owner of DNIPro Euro Deli in Latham, was visibly distraught on Thursday morning, alternating between serving customers and holding his cellphone to his neck as a radio played in the background with the latest in the fast-moving series of events.

Korostil said he was nearly unable to talk.

I feel horrible. Its my country, my people and where I came from, said Korostil, who is from Buchach in western Ukraine. This could bring more death and destruction  Its occupation and war on a peaceful people.

Korostil chatted with a steady stream of patrons.

One customer who only gave his first name, Oleg, said he grew up in the former Soviet Union and emigrated to the U.S. in 1989 amid the nation's collapse.

I have to say it is hard to imagine this stuff, said Oleg, who lives in Colonie. There is going to be a lot of collateral damage.

More for you N.Y. braces for influx of Ukrainian refugees

The Rev. Vasyl Dovgan, of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Troy, said he was worrying about his family in the cities of Kolomya and Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine.

Shelling and missile strikes were reported across the country early Thursday.

I cannot have peace in my heart and in my mind, said Dovgan, who said he was pacing around the house.

My faith is strong that God will bless all of us with the strength to get through, Dovgan said. "I see people are dying and were already going the wrong way.

Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said the crisis could be resolved if Ukraine recognizes Russias sovereignty over the Black Sea peninsula, reported the Associated Press, renounces its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarizes.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

A lot of my friends died, Dovgan said, speaking about the 2014 invasion, and now my father-in-law is in the army."

Its very, very difficult to face the reality, Dovgan said. "I am asking everyone to say a prayer and pray for people in Ukraine and pray for peace because this is what is needed.

Rev. Mikhail Myshchuk of the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Watervliet said prayer services are planned for Friday.

Like others, Myshchuk said he's having trouble processing the unfolding situation.

Russia and its leaders headed by Putin, he said, are "evil beings."

"They don't respect or care about their own citizens never mind of us Ukrainians," Myshchuk said in an email. "We will use our arms to fight evil by praying to our God to use his power and to protect Ukraine and its people from evil of Russia."

Baran is urging people to contact their member of Congress to request that the U.S. retain its support of Ukraine, as well as push for economic sanctions on Russia. The Ukrainian Congress Committee will be engaged in humanitarian relief efforts.

Please say prayers, Baran said. Dont believe Russian disinformation (Putin) wants a czarist empire.
ALBANY  Two state prison inmates pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Thursday to charges that they had conspired to defraud the state-administered unemployment insurance program from inside a Franklin County correctional facility.

Their cases are among a slew of recent criminal prosecutions targeting individuals who used fraudulent means, including stolen identities, to dupe the state Department of Labor into doling out unemployment benefits during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, when many of the safeguards for applications had been lowered.

The two inmates, 29-year-old Reginald Thornton and 41-year-old Lord Paulin, had launched a bold scheme from the Bare Hill Correctional Facility to distribute their personal information to outside collaborators who submitted unemployment insurance claims under the inmates' names. They received more than $40,000 in benefits, according to the indictments filed in U.S. District Court.

Thornton and Paulin, as part of their guilty pleas, agreed to pay restitution to the state in the amounts of $31,276 and $10,004, respectively.

The state Department of Labor has come under increased scrutiny for its susceptibility to fraudulent unemployment insurance claims since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the administration of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had directed the agency to expedite benefits for people who reported losing their jobs during the pandemic.

The ensuing increase in applications for unemployment benefits crashed on New York like a wave, pushing our systems to the brink, according to testimony from state labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon in August 2020. The Times Union reported that key security protocols for identity verification were dropped in the face of the urgent situation.

But in the final quarter of 2020, the same period when claims were filed on behalf of Thornton and Paulin, the state reported more than $68.3 million in payouts to New Yorkers ineligible to receive money, in a mixture of fraudulent schemes or claimants unaware of their ineligibility. Law enforcement officials also reported a high rate of identification-theft cases involving individuals whose information was used illegally by others to file false claims.

In response to this and other pandemic-related increases in fraudulent activity, the U.S. attorney general formed a COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force last May to "bolster efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors," according to the Department of Justice.

One of the two federal indictments against the inmates noted that each unemployment insurance applicant was required to certify that they were available for work right away, with the exception of those who could not work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Inmates were not eligible to receive UI benefits because they were not available for employment due to their incarceration, not the COVID-19 pandemic," the indictment states.

Thornton pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Paulin pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and admitted to conspiring with Thornton and another person to file a false unemployment insurance claim in his own name while he was also incarcerated at Bare Hill.

The pair face maximum federal prison terms of up to 20 years in prison, although under federal sentencing guidelines they could face much less time in prison. Federal prosecutors said that Thorntons identity theft conviction carries a mandatory term of two years in prison, and that would run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. They're scheduled to be sentenced on June 30.

Paulin is serving a state prison sentence of up to seven years for drug possession for a 2018 conviction in Orange County. Thornton is serving a 7 to 9 year sentence for a 2018 conviction in Nassau County for weapons and drug charges.
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ALBANY  U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican's front-runner gubernatorial candidate, announced Wednesday that Alison Esposito, a deputy inspector commanding officer for the New York Police Department, will be his lieutenant governor running mate.

The selection by Zeldin, a Long Island Republican, buttresses his push for a platform built on public safety and high-profile criminal justice issues, including law enforcement cutbacks and changes to the state's bail laws.

"I'm just like you: a lifelong New Yorker who is sick and tired of the attack on our freedoms, our wallets, our safety and, ladies and gentlemen, this is as personal as it gets," Esposito said.

Esposito has been with the NYPD since 1997, she said. Her father was a former police chief for the NYPD and last year, according to the news reports, she considered running for mayor. Esposito has served on anti-crime teams, detective squads and anti-gang units, she said. Currently, she is the commanding officer for the 70th Police Precinct in Brooklyn.

Zeldin presented his pick for lieutenant governor in Manhattan days before the state nominating conventions for the Republican and Conservative parties, where he is expected to be the lone candidate to walk away with a nomination. In New York, the governor and lieutenant governor do not run on a joint ticket, as do the candidates for president and vice president, but the two are often thought of as running mates.

As he continues to build his name recognition and familiarity with his platform among voters, Zeldin rattled off his campaign issues centered around bolstering public safety.

He reiterated his platform to pass a "law enforcement bill of rights," repeal the state's bail laws that were retooled in 2019 and his desire to remove the district attorney of Manhattan, Alvin Bragg.

Zeldin also portrayed Esposito in contrast to the selection by his potential competition, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a western New York Democrat.

Hochul announced six month ago that state Sen. Brian Benjamin would assume her longtime position as lieutenant governor. The Harlem Democrat intends to run for a full term, like Hochul.

"There is no clearer contrast for voters," state Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy said in a statement about the difference between Esposito and Benjamin.

Benjamin supported efforts to "defund the police." The movement, which lacks a firm definition, can refer to reallocating resources that may have gone toward certain police functions and moving them toward issues related to social work. Benjamin has repeatedly said since taking office that he supports retaining law enforcement. In some cities, that movement indicates a desire to shut down police forces completely.

Hochul's proposed budget includes funding for two additional classes of state troopers in New York, which could add 500 new recruits, along with millions of dollars to bolster law enforcement's efforts to track illegal guns and analyze gun violence.

Despite the budget proposals, Zeldin looked to paint Hochul's administration and the Democratic-controlled Legislature as being anti-law enforcement. According to Esposito, "today's lawmakers have shackled the hands of law enforcement."

A recent Siena College poll found that nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers, including 88 percent of Republicans, believe that the "so-called bail reform law should be amended to give judges more discretion to keep dangerous criminals off the streets." Criminal justice advocates have questioned the wording of the proposed question and suggested it skewed results.

The lone demographics where the majority did not believe it should be amended were Black and Latino voters, the group who progressive lawmakers were trying to protect from racial discrimination in the court system. Black and Latino voters also polled as the highest groups to believe that crime is a "very serious" problem currently in New York.

Zeldin reiterated his focus is on issues that he believes New Yorkers care about. He was asked multiple times by the press about his decision to not certify the results of the presidential election on Jan. 6, and was harangued by protestors who shouted similar questions.

"No matter how hard they try to get us to talk about anything other than the issues that matter the most at the end of the day, we're going to be successful," Zeldin said, referencing the push by Democrats to focus attention on him related to his vote on Jan. 6.

As Zeldin fielded questions on his record in Congress, Esposito, who has never held elected office, stood beside him. Zeldin said that his pick for lieutenant governor is "bad news for criminals."
Ireland has branded the Russian military assault on Ukraine as a murderous act of aggression.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said a strong response was needed from the international community.

Mr Coveneys comment come as the Department of Foreign Affairs urged all remaining Irish citizens in Ukraine to seek shelter in a secure place.

It advised citizens not to move around the country in the coming hours and to follow the advice of local authorities.

Russia has launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them.Rocket attacks & explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly. @dfatirl  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 24, 2022

Mr Coveney said Irelands diplomatic team in Kyiv had moved to a safe place.

In a series of tweets on Thursday morning, the minister said: Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them.

Rocket attacks & explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly.

Our thoughts & prayers are with the innocent people of Ukraine, as families wake up to shocking Russian attacks.

Russian leaders are lying to their own people to justify this illegal aggression. We utterly condemn Russia for this act of unjustifiable war in the heart of Europe.

He added: Our diplomatic team in Kyiv has moved to a safe place and we stay in close contact with them. We are working with EU colleagues to ensure their safety.

At the emergency UN Security Council meeting Ireland condemned the decision of Russia to launch a military operation and called on UNSC members to assume their responsibility and to speak out in the strongest possible terms about this act of aggression.
Irelands Online Safety Bill must include mechanisms that forces Facebook to publish data and increase transparency, a Facebook whistleblower has told an Oireachtas committee.

Frances Haugen said the Bill should include forced transparency as self-regulation of the social media giant does not work.

Appearing remotely before the the Oireachtas Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media Committee, Ms Haugen said there is a major national security problem with Facebook and its lack of transparency.

She also said the Government should order an independent review of the Data Protection Commission.

There is a major, major, major national security problem with Facebook with regard to lack of transparency, Ms Haugen added.

It needs to include mandatory force transparency, like the (Europe) Digital Services Act does.

Unless we have forced transparency, we will not in any way adequately find those influence operations that Russia uses to destabilise free societies.

Unless we have mandated transparency, unless the public has the right to ask questions and get real validated data in return on an ongoing basis, theyre going to tell you they cant give you this data monthly or weekly. And thats a lie.

Because if they write the code once to pull this information, they have systems that allow them to run it every day if they want to.

Its basically free.

Ms Haugen warned that without mandated transparency, there will not be an acceptable level of public safety.

Ms Haugen said that governments should tackle the algorithms in the platforms, and that there is too much focus on the content.

The committee heard that The Online Safety Commission would need at least 20 algorithm experts to tackle the tech giant, but that there are only 200 to 300 qualified people world-wise.

She said that the top algorithm experts are paid between 500,000 to 750,000 dollars a year.

The idea that Ireland is going to be able to go out on the world stage and pay market competitive strategies on specialist like this, its an undue burden on the Irish people, she added.

I dont think its responsible to force all the costs for an effective regulator just on the Irish taxpayer.

Ms Haugen is a former product manager at Facebook turned whistleblower whose revelations about the companys practices have drawn global attention.

She says the social media giant prioritises engagement and user growth over online safety.

As your Online Safety Bill acknowledges, self-regulation of social media has not worked, Ms Haugen added.

Platforms cannot be trusted to act in the public interest.

They are often, as my revelations showed, fully aware of the harms caused by their products and services, and yet choose to ignore these in favour of growth and profit.

As you set up the new regulator for your Online Safety regime, I would urge you to learn lessons from the criticisms of your other digital regulator, the Data Protection Commission.

The DPC is widely considered to have stepped back from its responsibilities in properly enforcing GDPR.

The tech companies on your shores have, once again, got away with it.

As you create an independent, robust and effective online safety regulator, you must launch an independent review into the DPC so that it too can start to enforce the law thoroughly and boldly.

She said that Ireland holds a unique responsibility because it is the place of establishment for these companies.

While Europe has led the way in terms of robust, strong regulations around things like privacy, Ireland has faced a challenge in that its falling behind in terms of actually enforcing that law, she added.

The Irish people have an opportunity here to really show that they can stand up to these giants, but we need to change the pattern because so far GDPR has not demonstrated that Ireland is willing to fund and actually hold to account these large tech companies when it comes to tech regulations.

She added: One of the concerns I have with the current Online Safety Bill in Ireland is that it strongly focuses on content, what content should be illegal, what kind of current content should be taken down.

One things that DSA (Digital Services Act) does well as it focuses on risk assessments, on the idea that what we need to do here is figure out how to close the feedback loop.

Facebook are the only ones that can see behind the curtain of their business.

Academics cant study it, individual citizens cant see more than their own individual experience.

There is no current feedback loop where when something goes wrong on Facebook, no one, other than Facebook, can observe it and suggest corrections.

The DSA risk assessments close that circle.

They say companies need to start disclosing what the risks are, but they also need to listen to concerns from NGOs, from governments, and be able to state what those mitigations are going to be and have them assessed by an independent party.
Central Statistics Office (CSO) analysis of deaths website RIP.ie revealed the mortality trends associated with Covid-19 in real-time.

The experimental analysis on Measuring Mortality Using Public Data Sources looks at the period from October 2019 up to the end of December 2021 using death notices placed on the website www.RIP.ie to monitor trends in mortality in Ireland.

Based on the analysis of thousands of death notices, the total excess mortality for 2020 and 2021 in Ireland is estimated at 3,533. This is the number of death notices above and beyond normal circumstances.

The monthly analysis of excess mortality shows two significant peaks: in April 2020 (39% above average) and January/February 2021 (21% and 18% above average).

A less pronounced, but extended excess, was observed between July and November 2021, ranging between 10% and 16% above average before falling to 5% in December.

Commenting on the results, Statistician, Rob Kelly, said: "Since the end of March 2020, the CSO has been using the website RIP.ie to keep track of death notices. Death notices as far back as 01 October 2019 were analysed, to include the last month before the first global cases of COVID-19 were notified. The analysis has now been updated to end of December 2021 providing two full calendar years for analysis (2020 and 2021). The Death Events Publishing Service (DEPS) of the General Register Office (GRO) has been monitored in tandem, to validate the volumes of death notices published.

"Due to the Irish custom of holding funerals within two to three days following death, these notices are usually placed in a fast and efficient manner, providing a valuable crowd-sourced means of tracking deaths. The notices are placed close to 'real time'. We found that the average length of time between date of death and publication is about 1.1 days. In comparison, the statutory time limit for the registrations of deaths in the State is three months."

He continued: "The analysis conducted for October 2019 to December 2021 shows some important trends. Most notable are the increases in death notices in April 2020 and in January and February 2021 when compared to recent years. The number of death notices increased to 3,528 in April 2020 from 2,881 in March 2020.

"In comparison, the average number of deaths for April for the years 2016 - 2019 was 2,536, according to official month of occurrence mortality statistics as measured by the CSO. A total of 3,965 and 3,178 death notices were recorded in January and February 2021 respectively while the average number of deaths was 3,286 for January and 2,685 for February for the years 2016-2019 (again according to the official month of occurrence mortality statistics)."

The CSO conducted further analysis of death notices to provide estimates for excess mortality.

"This assumes that, in the absence of COVID-19 deaths, mortality would have been similar to the average as measured over previous years (2016 to 2019). Analysis of more than 75,000 death notices for the period January 2020 - December 2021 provides an estimate for excess mortality of 3,533," Rob Kelly concluded.
The Irish Foreign Ministry has issued "urgent" consular advice regarding the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, all Irish citizens currently present in Ukraine are being advised to shelter in a secure place.

The call comes following military action taken by Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who this morning (Thursday February 23) televised an address as attacks began in Ukraine.

President Putin warned other countries against any attempt to interfere, stating it would lead to "consequences you have never seen in history".

In a statement, the Irish Foreign Ministry said, "Do not move around the country in the coming hours. Please follow the advice of local authorities."

 Urgent consular advice regarding Ukraine.



All Irish citizens in Ukraine should shelter in a secure place. Do not move around the country in the coming hours. Please follow the advice of local authorities.



We will post regular updates on @dfatirl as the situation develops.  Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) February 24, 2022

They confirmed updates will be posted on the department's Twitter page as the situation develops.

The move by Putin, which has reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities, has been condemned by nations all across Europe, as well as the United States.

Ukranian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed the attack and stated on Twitter: "Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in [World War 2] years. As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. [Russia] has embarked on a path of evil, but [Ukraine] is defending itself and won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks."

Our thoughts & prayers are with the innocent people of Ukraine, as families wake up to shocking Russian attacks. Russian leaders are lying to their own people to justify this illegal aggression.

We utterly condemn Russia for this act of unjustifiable war in the heart of Europe.  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 24, 2022

Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, confirmed Ireland's diplomatic team in Kyiv has moved to a safe place.

He called Russia's attack "a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state".

He stated: "Russia has launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine. God help them. Rocket attacks and explosions across the country. Make no mistake: this is a shocking murderous act of aggression against a sovereign peaceful state. EU and world needs to respond strongly."
Tipperary comedy duo and new 2FM radio presenters, the 2 Johnnies, have been forced to apologise after being called out for 'sexist' material on their separate podcast and social media channels.

Johnny McMahon and Johnny O'Brien issued the apology after Holly Cairns TD claimed some of their content was "virulently sexist."

The Social Democrats Deputy was quoted in Thursday's Irish Independent to condemn the inclusion of sexist slogans from car stickers which were included in teaser clips for the duo's new RTE 2FM show, Drive It, which started this week.

The video has since been deleted but made reference to slogans the pair shared with the thousands of listeners to their separate podcast series. The comments or content was not aired at any stage on 2FM.

In a recent podcast episode, they jokingly read the slogans, which included, Workin the land and droppin* the hand; Tyres are like women, no good unless they are squealing and Shes not a princess, shes a sl*t." The pictures of the stickers were sent to the 2 Johnnies podcast before being read aloud and shared by Johnny Smacks and Johnny B.

Sexist comments, in which women are objectified and demeaned, are incredibly insidious and contribute to a toxic culture in which women feel unsafe. Dressing these remarks up as banter or jokes does nothing to dull their damaging impact, Deputy Cairns remarked.

In response on Thursday afternoon, they released an apology via social media. Laura Fox is filling in for their 2FM slot on Thursday from 3pm to 6pm. It was due to be their fourth show since launching on Monday. 2FM bosses are understood to be "reviewing the matter."

A number of their followers on Facebook responded in support for the comic duo.

One said: "It's not your opinions of women it's just a few stickers! Half of your fanbase is women and if they were offended they wouldnt still be listening!"

Another female user also appeared to make light of the controversy: "Why would you apologise. Jesus who could be offended by laughing at bumper stickers. Madness! Some of the funniest content Ive seen, to be honest. Dont worry about the snowflakes."

The 2 Johnnies podcast is the most listened to in the country and 2FM bosses have said they brought them onboard for their "incredible chemistry and content." They have also featured in a number of shows on RTE television, including a series in America last year.
In this post we take a peek at metro reports on ALLEGED creepers, gunfire, court cases and weed crime trending.



As always, we try to finish with some semblance of hope.



Check TKC news gathering . . .



Kansas City gun store owner pleads guilty to selling machine gun components KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The owner of a Kansas City, Missouri, gun store pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to selling components to convert firearms into machine guns, which he marketed on his website as "cell phone holders." Charles Lee Weston, 37 waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before a U.S.

KCPD conducting death investigation after woman's body is found outside KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Kansas City Police Department is conducting a death investigation, but homicide detectives have not been called to the scene. Around 9 a.m. today, a woman's body was found outside a home near E. 35th Street and Indiana Avenue. No further information is available at this time.

Court records: Police investigating fourth medical marijuana dispensary burglary JACKSON COUNTY, MO (KCTV) - A search warrant filed in the investigation into several medical marijuana dispensary burglaries shows Raytown police almost caught thieves in the act during a break-in at a medical marijuana dispensary. Raytown police were called to a burglary in progress on Jan. 22 near 350 Highway and Gregory Boulevard.

Kansas City Uber driver charged with sexual battery OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - An Uber driver is charged with sexually assaulting a Kansas City-area woman. Overland Park police said the victim reported taking an Uber home Sunday evening because she'd been drinking. She reported she was in the back seat and woke up with the driver on top of her.

Man sentenced to 17 years in prison for fatally shooting mother of his children KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for fatally shooting the mother of his children last summer. Christopher L. Spears, 34, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. He was sentenced to 14 and three years in prison, respectively.

Wanted: Dominick Foley According to the KC Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline, 36-year-old Dominick Foley is wanted and a warrant has been issued. They say he "is wanted on a Clay County, Missouri Failure to Appear in Court Warrant for Sex Offender Registration Violation in connection with Possessing Child Pornography."

Missouri security business owner admits to not paying millions in taxes KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Sunrise Reach, Missouri, man who owns an off-duty security company admitted to not paying millions of dollars in taxes to the Internal Revenue Services. Rex Tarwater, 66, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday on one count of failing to pay over employment taxes and one count of failing to file personal income taxes.

Homeless Kansas man fatally beaten with pipe WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - One homeless man is dead, and two others were arrested following a beating that took place on Tuesday evening. Police responded to the bridge near Seneca and McLean by the Indian Center around 6:45 p.m. They found 30-year-old Blake Barnes of Wichita. He had been beaten.

'This is a hard pill to swallow': Family speaks out after daughter shot to death on Monday KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On Monday, a mother lost not only her daughter, but a piece of herself after a woman died in a shooting in Kansas City, Missouri. Ashley Pettiford, 31, was one of three people to get shot near Linwood Boulevard and Agnes Avenue .

Restaurant workers used food, chair and plates to detain armed KC robber: affidavit A Kansas City man faces three federal felony charges after he was overpowered by employees of an Independence restaurant during an attempted armed robbery Monday night, according to court records. Bryan C. Byers, 23, is accused of armed robbery, brandishing a firearm during a violent crime and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Kansas City-area nonprofit works to help fathers with children injured or killed in violent crime KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City continues to deal with violent crime and one nonprofit is working to help fathers who have children injured or killed as a result of the violence. On Monday, the death of 16-year-old Way La Baw marked the latest incident where a teen or child was caught in the crossfire of violence.

Developing . . .
Pet code enforcement proves to be controversial and yet another topic where police leaders don't agree with 12th & Oak.



Here's an overview of the debate . . .



On Feb. 8, Smith sent the letter to Kansas City Municipal Court Judges Todd Wilcher and Archie Bland, and said KCPD would not be assisting KC Pet Project in conducting them.



"I am notifying you that until the concerns of safety and authority are resolved and in the interest of safety for everyone, KCPD will not initiate, execute, or provide assistance in the execution of any such search warrants," Smith said in the letter.



However, KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas responded saying officers are required by local state law to assist in such warrants. Lucas sent a letter of his own to the KCMO Board of Police of Commissioners. According to Lucas, Smith's letter violated Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code of Ordinances.Chapter 14 states that "it shall be the duty of the police department to enforce the provisions of this chapter, and assist the supervisor of animal health and public safety in enforcing the provisions of this chapter."

Our TKC hot take . . .

The Top Cop knows his biz better than Mayor Q. That's an ongoing KCMO theme.

Moreover . . .

Over the years, so many reports about dogs getting shot after police answer complaints lead us to believe that KCPD picking up after pooches needs to be reconsidered by our community overall.

Moreover, we're kind of interested to know what our blog community and locals think about this debate before we come to a conclusion.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Today it's important to consider a universal and bipartisan rejection of hate in Kansas.



To wit . . .

NOBODY LIKES KANSAS NAZIS!!!

Nowadays there's very little we can agree upon but this truism remains undisputed.



A Kansas prog blog is mostly useless but today they offer some encouraging reporting . . .



The Kansas House voted 121-0 on Wednesday for House Concurrent Resolution 5030. It recognized the growing problem of antisemitism and the targeting of Jewish communities by hatemongers. It recognized the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances definition of antisemitism. The resolution noted contemporary examples and referenced the 11 people killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pennsylvania in 2018 and the three people who died in Overland Park in 2014.



The resolution stated it shouldnt be construed to infringe on rights protected by the First Amendment to the Kansas and United States constitutions.



Rep. Chris Croft, R-Overland Park, said the document was a bipartisanship effort among legislators interested in recognizing the danger of antisemitism eight decades after the Nazi regime tortured and slaughtered more than 6 million Jews during World War II.



Yet, here we are with antisemitism on the rise again even here in Kansas, Croft said. This is a world issue and an issue of humanity, civility and being offered the opportunity to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .
Let's be practical . . .



The US will NEVER ban guns or make it very hard to get one.

Instead . . .

So many school shooters might think twice when they consider that they'll be walking into a situation where people can fire back.

It's not an elegant solution.

In fact, it's kinda scary to think that armed deterrence is the only reality keeping so many youngsters safe.

However . . . Nuclear deterrence has secured relative peace betwixt wealthy nations for at least 75 years . . . And it's only this month that all of that might come to and end.

Like it or not . . . This might be part of a real world education for youngsters.



Here's the word . . .



"Under current state law, teachers and administrators already can be designated as school protection officers if they complete 112 hours of basic training and an additional 18 hours every two years.



"The legislation would expand that option to all school personnel, such as cooks, custodians, maintenance staff and others."



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .
Public schools in their current configuration are a waste of time.

Even in Kansas City's urban core there is a successful move toward CHARTER SCHOOL education wherein communities, neighborhoods and stakeholders can exercise common sense in the administration of taxpayer resources.



And so . . .

TKC READERS ARE ONCE AGAIN PROVEN CORRECT: THE N-WORD CRISIS AT PARK HILL EXPOSES YET ANOTHER REASON WHY TEACHERS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY!!!



It didn't seem like there wasn't any effort and mediation, counseling or intervention . . . The teacher and student were left to slug it out on social media and student protest hit the news with very little deets or context.



We had an informative discussion about it last time around.

Here's an update from a lesser blog . . .



The Park Hill school district notified teacher Stuart Sullinger that it would terminate him after he repeated a racial slur said by a Black student. Sullinger then immediately submitted his letter of retirement, an official said.



The Park Hill school board was expected to consider Sullingers retirement as part of its routine consent agenda at its meeting on Thursday. He asked to retire effective Tuesday, March 1.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

Kansas City teacher was about to be fired for using N-word. He asks to retire instead The Park Hill school district notified teacher Stuart Sullinger that it would terminate him after he repeated a racial slur said by a Black student. Sullinger then immediately submitted his letter of retirement, an official said. The Park Hill school board was expected to consider Sullinger's retirement as part of its routine consent agenda at its meeting on Thursday.

Non-paywall link . . .

Park Hill High School teacher who repeated racial slur at student to retire KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Park Hill High School teacher who repeated a racial slur at a student will retire, the district announced Wednesday. The teacher was placed on leave on Feb. 8 after repeating the language during class. A spokeswoman for the district said he was notified on Feb.

Developing . . .
The numbers are on the decline . . .But that isn't comforting to the people who are hooked up to ventilators or pushing up daises become of the global plague.

Here's the word from local health providers who seem justifiably skeptical about "the science" and how the current infection, hospitalization & death numbers translate . . .



"It will be a gradual step by step thing," said Dr. Dana Hawkinson with KU Medical Center. "But, I think those steps are being taken for better or for worse regardless of, maybe, optimal health of medical information and guidance."



Weddings, concerts and other events have returned to full capacity.



"Overall Coronavirus, SARS-COV2 is endemic in our community," Hawkinson said. "It is endemic in our nation and that just means that we will always have to live with some sort of level of disease."



While cases are steeply declining, he's still emphasizing caution.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Doctors in Kansas City urge: 'Omicron is not over' KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) --- Covid-19 cases are the lowest Kansas City has seen in three months. According to the Mid-America Regional Council. at its peak there were an average of 4,300 new cases each week. Those cases have dropped to 610. This new trend towards "normal" has some cities and schools dropping their mandates.

Kansas City Symphony no longer requiring masks during performances, vaccines still mandated Patrons attending the symphony will no longer need to wear a mask during the performance, should they choose not to.The Kansas City Symphony announced Tuesday that face masks are no longer required during Symphony performances inside Helzberg Hall.Officials with the Symphony said if you desire, you may remove your mask once inside Helzberg Hall; however, mask-wearing is still strongly encouraged.Officials added that while mask-wearing will no longer be required during the performance, the current vaccination policy is still in effect.

Roeland Park leaves mask mandate in place through March 16 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - While many schools and cities are dropping mask requirements, Roeland Park is not. On Feb. 7, Roeland Park leaders voted to extend the mask mandate already in place through March 16. With signs of declining COVID-19 case rates and other jurisdictions ending mask mandates early, leaders met again on Monday to decide if they would follow suit.

Mission will let its indoor mask mandate expire next week YOU CAN TRACK THE STORM, SEE SNOW TOTALS, AND GET WEATHER ALERTS SENSTT RAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE. SEARCH KMBC IN YOUR APP STORE FOR THE FREE DOWNLOAD. NOW TO THE PANDEMIC, MORE CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY FOR SCHOOLS AND CITIES IN THE METRO, AS COVID-19 CASES START TO DECLINE.

Missouri COVID update: Health officials report 825 new cases, 13 virus deaths by: Kevin S. Held Posted: / Updated: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Health officials in Missouri updated the state's COVID-19 Dashboard on Wednesday with the latest information on cases, deaths, and hospitalizations. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the state has recorded 1,120,269 cumulative cases of SARS-CoV-2-an increase of 825 positive cases (PCR testing only)-and 14,907 total deaths as of Wednesday, Feb.

Large COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Kansas City start to wind down The KC Care Health Center will close its vaccination clinics in Kansas City Public Libraries this week. While the need to vaccinate the community is still there, the demand is not.Person after person passes through the main doors and right past the KC Care Health Clinic registration desk.

KDHE's reports show declining trends in COVID numbers TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is reporting declining trends for COVID-19 cases and deaths but, The University of Kansas Health System warns of what could come if efforts are decreased. KDHE reports 1,100 new cases and 81 hospitalizations since Monday's update.

Prairie Village indoor mask mandate to expire next week; Mission's ends Wednesday Hide Transcript Show Transcript PRAIRIE VILLAGE IS RESCINDING ITS INDOOR MASK MANDATE ON MARCH 1. THE ORIGINAL DATE WAS MARCH 16. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED THAT CHANGE TONIGHT. THEY ALSO VOTED TO RETN TOUR HYBRID MEETINGS INSTEAD OF ALL VIRTUAL. MISSION'S DOINOR MASK MANDATE RUNS OUT TOMORROW.

'Fauci Can Pound Sand': DeSantis takes on Dr. Fauci in reelection messaging Gov. Ron DeSantis has a new message to Dr. Anthony Fauci for Republicans to spread across Florida's beaches.

Omicron is on its way out of Kansas City with COVID hospitalization, death numbers dropping KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Hospitalization rates are continuing to decline around the Kansas City area as case rates and death numbers drop. It's unclear if or when the next COVID-19 variant will emerge, but omicron appears to be on its way out. Here's the latest data.

Developing . . .
One year into the administration of Prez Biden and the world is a remarkably worse place.

We didn't want to wait until noon morning to update and had a few seconds to consider the fate of humanity.



And so tonight we share more than a few links on our mind that should be good enough to inspire a few thoughts from night owls along with the question . . .

Is there anybody who Kansas City who thinks Prez Biden did a good job handling Vlad & this hot mess???

I'm honestly curious to see any semblance of an argument supporting the White House and their strategy or lack thereof . . .



For now . . .

Check TKC news gathering . . .



Russia declares war, launches attack in Ukraine; explosions reported - live updates Ukraine was poised to implement a 30-day state of emergency on Wednesday, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called up military reservists, as Russia recognized two separatist regions as independent and appeared mobilized for major military action. Zelenskyy said that Ukraine wants "silence" but noted it must act.

NATO officials say Russian attack on Ukraine has begun The attack began moments after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he had "decided to conduct a special military operation."

Russia invades Ukraine as Putin declares war to 'demilitarise' neighbour Russian forces have unleashed an attack of Ukraine on the orders of Vladimir Putin, who announced a "special military operation" at dawn, amid warnings from world leaders that it could spark the biggest war in Europe since 1945. Within minutes of Putin's short televised address, at about 5am Ukrainian time, explosions were heard near major Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv.

Russia has launched its war in Ukraine Russia's long-looming invasion of Ukraine has officially begun. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday morning local time that he is launching a "special military operation" in Ukraine, a move that was followed up byreports of explosions around cities, including Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, and the capital, Kyiv .

U.S., allies gear up to hammer Russias economy after Putin launches attack on Ukraine Ukraine warned its citizens on Wednesday to avoid traveling to Russia and to leave the country immediately if they are already there. The Ukrainian government later voted to impose sanctions on 351 Russian lawmakers.

The Latest: Ukraine says Russian army attacked from Belarus The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis: ___ KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine's border guard agency says that the Russian military has attacked the country from neighboring Belarus. The agency said that the Russian troops unleashed artillery barrage as part of an attack backed by Belarus.

Trump praised Putin over Ukraine so much he ended up suggesting invading Mexico Russian president Vladimir Putin's escalating threats to invade and annex Ukraine have drawn global condemnation. Former president Donald Trump, though, had a different take. Asked to comment on the crisis by conservative talk radio host Buck Sexton, Trump responded with enthusiastic praise for everything Putin. The Russian leader, Trump said, was a "genius."

Biden condemns 'Russia's unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine' | CNN Politics US President Joe Biden condemned an "unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" in a statement Wednesday evening following explosions in Ukraine. "President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said.

Dow futures, Asian markets plunge as Russia-Ukraine crisis escalates Asian markets and US stock futures plunged on Thursday as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

Gold rallies over 2% as Russia attacks Ukraine Feb 23 (Reuters) - Gold prices on Thursday jumped over 2% to their highest in more than a year, with investors flocking to safe havens as Russian forces invaded Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation.

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(BPT) - A significant majority of parents want to be home every night to tuck their children into bed (based on a OnePoll and Amazon Glow survey of 2,000 American parents*). Thats not always possible if you work long hours or are among the more than six million Americans who have a job that
Well the full results are in for the Trinity Masters Open Waters Swim Meet and there's a new
Two servicemen were killed and 25 more people were injured in shelling and fire at an arms depot near the town of Kalynivka, Vinnytsia region.

"As a result of the shelling on the territory of military unit No. A1119, small arms depots caught on fire. One person was killed on tower. Up to 20 service members and six civilians were wounded. All of them have been hospitalized, their health status is moderate. The assistance is being provided. Unfortunately, one serviceman was seriously wounded. He died in hospital," Vasyl Polishchuk, the head of the Kalynivka town community, told Ukrinform.

According to him, the situation is currently under control. The fire is being put out.

Residents of villages at a dangerous distance from the military arsenal were evacuated. Destruction or damage to residential buildings outside the military unit has not been recorded so far.

As reported, in the Vinnytsia region, in addition to military depots near Kalynivka, military units in the town of Tulchyn and the village of Bohonyky were bombed. Casualties have been reported.

At about 05:00, the state border of Ukraine in the sections near the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus. Attacks on border units, border patrols, and checkpoints are carried out with the use of artillery, heavy equipment, and small arms in Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr regions.

In addition, the attack is carried out from the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The activity of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups is also observed. Information on casualties among border guards is being clarified.

As of 07:00, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Armed Forces had shot down 5 planes and 1 helicopter of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

At around 10:00, the sixth plane of the Russian Armed Forces was shot down near Kramatorsk.

On the outskirts of Kharkiv, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed four tanks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

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Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the Head of the President's Office, said that the Ukrainian military had lost control of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

As Podoliak said in a comment to NV, the state of the Chornobyl NPP, confinement, and nuclear waste storage facilities is currently unknown.

"After a completely senseless Russian attack in this direction, it is impossible to say that Chornobyl is safe. This is one of the most serious threats to Europe today. Knowing the habits of Russians, they are probably already preparing provocations at Chornobyl or they will use the damage inflicted during the attack to accuse Ukraine, or they themselves will damage these, obviously, the most dangerous objects," he said.

Earlier, Russian troops entered the Chornobyl zone from the territory of Belarus.

The Russian occupiers declared war on the whole of Europe with their efforts to seize the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said.

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Russian troops seized the villages of Horodyshche and Milove in Luhansk region. Military depots across Ukraine are on fire. A TV tower in Luhansk regions was blasted.

"The villages of Horodyshche and Milove in Luhansk region have been seized," the press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine posted on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

The fuel depot of a military unit in the village of Starokostiantyniv, Khmelnytsky region, central Ukraine, caught on fire as a result of artillery shelling.

In addition, fires erupted at military depots in two villages in Dnipropetrovsk region, two military units in Vinnytsia region. A TV tower was blasted in Lutsk, western Ukraine. In Kyiv region, a fire broke out at a military unit near the town of Brovary.

At about 05:00, the state border of Ukraine in the sections near the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus. Attacks on border units, border patrols, and checkpoints are carried out with the use of artillery, heavy equipment, and small arms in Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr regions.

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Martial law in Ukraine has been imposed from 05:30 on February 24, 2022, for a period of 30 days.

This is stated in the decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky No. 64/2022, which is published on the website of the Head of State, Ukrinform reports.

"To impose martial law in Ukraine from 05:30 on February 24, 2022, for a period of 30 days," the document reads.

According to the decree, the military command, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, other executive bodies and local self-government bodies, must ensure the measures and powers provided by the Law of Ukraine On Legal Regime of Martial Law necessary to ensure Ukraine's defense, public safety, and state interests.

In connection with the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, the constitutional rights and freedoms of person and citizen provided for in Articles 30-34, 38, 39, 41-44, 53 of the Constitution of Ukraine may be temporarily restricted, as well as temporary restrictions on the rights and legitimate interests of legal entities may be introduced.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine must immediately put into effect a plan to implement and ensure measures of the legal regime of martial law in Ukraine, to provide appropriate funding.

The State Emergency Service is instructed to immediately, together with local state administrations and other government bodies, institutions, enterprises, organizations of all forms of ownership, make the unified state civil protection system, its functional and territorial subsystems ready to perform tasks in a special period.

Moreover, regional, Kyiv city state administrations, and local self-government bodies should establish defense councils and provide assistance to the military command in introducing and implementing measures of the martial law regime.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must inform the UN Secretary-General and foreign officials in the prescribed manner on the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, on restrictions on human and civil rights and freedoms, which is a deviation from the commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and about the limit of these deviations and the reasons for such a decision.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada endorsed a presidential decree on the imposition of martial law throughout Ukraine. 300 MPs voted for the decision.

On the morning of February 24, Russia attacked Ukraine and launched a war.

In particular, Russian troops fired missiles at airfields in Boryspil, Ozerne, Kulbakine, Chuhuiv, Kramatorsk, Chornobayivka, as well as at military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukraine's state border with Russia and Belarus has been attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus. Russian armored vehicles violated the Ukrainian border in Chernihiv, Sumy, Luhansk, and Kharkiv regions.

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Ukrainian defenders have repelled the attack on the town of Shchastia, Luhansk region. Fifty Russian mercenaries were killed.

"The town of Shchastia (Luhansk region), which was attacked by the Russian aggressor, is regained. When trying to attack, the equipment was destroyed and about 50 enemies were killed," the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security posted on Facebook.

At about 05:00, the state border of Ukraine in the sections near the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus was attacked by Russian troops supported by Belarus. Attacks on border units, border patrols, and checkpoints are carried out with the use of artillery, heavy equipment, and small arms in Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr regions.

In addition, the attack is carried out from the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The activity of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups is also observed. Information on casualties among border guards is being clarified.

As of 07:00, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Armed Forces had shot down 5 planes and 1 helicopter of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

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The lower house of the Polish parliament (the Sejm) at a session on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine and expressing support for Ukraine.

The document was adopted unanimously by acclamation (standing applause from Polish lawmakers), according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

The resolution was read out by Marshal of the Sejm Elzbieta Witek, who wore a badge with Ukrainian and Polish flags. The flag of Ukraine was unfurled in the hall.

According to the resolution, the principle of sovereignty and the right to self-determination of nations are among the core values of Western civilization.

"The decision by the Russian Federation to recognize the independence of two territories, which are integral parts of Ukraine, openly violates the norms adopted by the international community and means that Russia rejects all avenues of understanding in accordance with international law," the resolution said.

It says that Putin's decision violates the fundamental principles of international law, so it cannot be recognized by any other state.

"Ukraine is an independent, sovereign and democratic state. Russia's recognition of the constitutions of the self-proclaimed so-called Luhansk and Donetsk republics actually means their intention to seize Ukrainian territory, so these are actions of a purely military nature," the document reads.

According to the resolution, Russia's actions, which have intensified in recent weeks, are "aggression against an independent state."

"Vladimir Putin's next steps prove that his policy is to end more than 30 years of peace in Europe after the fall of communism. Russia is deliberately resurrecting the demons of the past and rejecting any rules other than the rules of force, cruelty and readiness to kill innocent people," the resolution said.

It is noted that ordinary citizens of Ukraine are already paying the price for Putin's neo-imperial policy, Russia's gas and energy policy, and this also affects the living standards of hundreds of millions of European citizens, including millions of Polish families.

"The Polish Sejm once again strongly condemns all actions by the Russian Federation aimed at encroaching on Ukraine's sovereignty. The international community must do everything possible to prevent a war. The integrity of Ukraine's territory, the inviolability of its borders and the right to self-determination are the source of security for the whole of Europe," the resolution reads.

The lower house of the Polish parliament also called on the international community to impose tough economic and diplomatic sanctions against the aggressor.

"We call on the governments of the EU and NATO countries and the entire international community to stand in solidarity with the freedom and right of the Ukrainian people to live in an independent state," the resolution said.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of puppet entities "LPR" and "DPR."

On February 22, at a press conference in the Kremlin, Putin said that Russia was recognizing "DPR" and "LPR" within the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

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U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, calling Russia's aggression "unprovoked" and stressing that the United States and allies will respond strongly on Thursday.

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, reads the statement released by the White House.

The US leader stresses that Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way.

The world will hold Russia accountable, Biden said.

I will be monitoring the situation from the White House this evening and will continue to get regular updates from my national security team. Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security. We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance, he added.

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Members of the European Council have issued a joint statement in which they strongly condemned Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.

The relevant document was published on the European Councils website.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine. By its unprovoked and unjustified military actions, Russia is grossly violating international law and undermining European and global security and stability. We also condemn the involvement of Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine and call on it to abide by its international obligations. We demand that Russia immediately ceases military actions, unconditionally withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respects Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, reads the document.

It is noted that leaders of the EU countries will meet later today to discuss Russias aggression against Ukraine and agree in principle on further restrictive measures that will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its action.

We deplore the loss of life and humanitarian suffering. The EU and its Member States are ready to urgently provide humanitarian emergency response. We call on Russia and Russia-backed armed formations to respect international humanitarian law. The EU stands firmly by Ukraine and its people as they face this war. The EU will provide further political, financial and humanitarian assistance. We are coordinating our response with our neighbours and international partners, including NATO and G7 whose leaders will be meeting shortly, reads the document.

As reported, the head of the aggressor country, Vladimir Putin, announced the start of a special military operation in Donbas. At around 04:00, on February 24, Russia attacked Ukraine and launched a war.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved President Volodymyr Zelensky's decree on the imposition of martial law throughout Ukraine.

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Published Feb. 23, 2022

Favorites of the Gods: An Anthology of Short Fiction by News Orleans Creoles of Color, 1837-1867 by Dr. Chris Michaelides of ULM is a collection of stories he devoted 10 years translating from French into English. The cover illustration is Daniel in the Lions Den by Henry Ossawa Tanner (Los Angeles County Museum of Art, public domain).

Jeanette Robinson/ULM Photo Services

Dr. Chris Michaelides, University of Louisiana Monroe Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Education, and Sciences, and Associate Professor of Modern Languages, recently completed a 10-year project to produce a critical edition of selected works by 19th-century African American writers from Louisiana.

His book, Favorites of the Gods: An Anthology of Short Fiction by New Orleans Creoles of Color, 1837-1867, is a collection of 10 short stories originally published in French by eight authors before, during, and after the Civil War. Most have never been translated and published for English-speaking readers. The stories are annotated, and an introduction provides historical background as well as literary perspectives.

The volume is published by Editions Tintamarre, an academic press based in Centenary College, whose mission is to help preserve Louisianas francophone cultural heritage by making historically significant texts and new creative works available  in the original French or in translation  to students and scholars.

These stories and the writers who published them are an important part not only of Louisianas cultural heritage but of American history and identity. So this volume contributes to an effort to make them better known  to rescue them, in a way, from the obscurity of archives, Michaelides said.

The writers in Favorites were leading educators, artists, and activists within the New Orleans community of Creoles of color  a term that refers to people of mixed racial heritage, with both Latin European (especially French) and Afro-Caribbean (primarily Haitian) ancestry.

According to Michaelides, the 19-century authors addressed issues that are still relevant today, making these works from the past especially appropriate during February and Black History Month. Deprived of basic civil rights, they protested systemic racial injustice and fought for radical reforms at the state and national levels.

In the wake of the Civil War, he explained, they spearheaded a progressive movement to extend full citizenship to African Americans, oppose segregation in public spaces, and end racial discrimination. They played a crucial role in the history of American democracy, so they are a vital part of our national DNA. In that sense, my hope is that learning about these writers and reading their stories will allow us all to learn more about ourselves.

Tintamarre Director and General Editor, Dr. Dana Kress, Professor of French and Chair of the Foreign Language Department at Centenary, described Michaelidess work as 10 of the crown jewels of 19th-century literature. I honestly dont think a better translation is possible.

The eight authors contained in this book spoke about race with an authority and audacity that could have cost them their lives at any moment  and yet they wrote. They wrote out of the conviction that a better world was possible; they wrote for future readers that they conjured up by the power of their pens and their imaginations, Kress said.

"The efforts of these African American leaders to advance the principles of freedom, inclusion, and equality in tumultuous times are part of a heritage that belongs to all Americans and that we should all celebrate." Dr. Chris Michaelides on his book, "Favorites of the Gods: An Anthology of Short Fiction by New Orleans Creoles of Color, 1837-1867"

The short stories written during this period were initially published in the French edition of the New Orleans Tribune, a newspaper founded and managed by people of color, which championed the progressive political platform of radicals, both black and white.

Michaelides recalled that Favorites started in a ULM classroom, a seminar he taught some years ago on francophone Louisiana literature.

It was a very special group of students, he said, and studying the original texts with them was one of the most rewarding experiences Ive had as a teacher. They were excited to explore the stories, and our discussions inspired me to launch my work on this anthology.

The stories from deep in Louisiana history beg the question, what has changed in more than 162 years?

Its amazing to think that these stories were actually published in the nineteenth century, he said. They are dramas about the ordeals of interracial couples who struggle against prejudice, legal restrictions, and the threat of violence. When I first came across them, I couldnt believe what I was reading, and I wanted to make the authors more widely known. The efforts of these African American leaders to advance the principles of freedom, inclusion, and equality in tumultuous times are part of a heritage that belongs to all Americans and that we should all celebrate.

Favorites of the Gods: An Anthology of Short Fiction by New Orleans Creoles of Color (1837-1867) can be ordered from Editions Tintamarre, https://www.editionstintamarre.com, for $15.95, plus $4.50 shipping.
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Published Feb. 24, 2022

Toni Corso's students showed their English skills by writing happy birthday messages to her on the classroom chalkboard. Corso teaches English to middle school students in Daejeon, South Korea. The 2020 graduate of ULM has a degree in political science and was an Honors Program student. She is from Belle Chasse.

The University of Louisiana Monroe changed Toni Corso's life.

Today, she is changing lives half a world away in Daejeon, South Korea.

Corso, an Honors Program student with a degree in political science from ULM (2020), teaches English as a second language at two middle schools in Daejeon.

In addition to traditional hours teaching in the classroom, this spirited young woman has embraced a humanitarian role in Korea as "a volunteer for a nonprofit organization that helps rescue North Korean defectors and give them the resources needed to adjust to their new life of freedom."

University of Louisiana Monroe alumna Toni Corso wears traditional Korean attire (hanbok) when visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea. Corso lives in Daejeon and teaches English at two middle schools, and volunteers with an organization assisting defectors from North Korea. The 2020 graduate of ULM has a degree in political science and was an Honors Program student. She is from Belle Chasse.

South Louisiana to South Korea

As a teen in Belle Chasse in Plaquemines Parish, Corso became enamored with Korean, teaching herself to write the Hangul system (like the English alphabet) with 24 basic letters and 27 complex letters, and speaking and reading the East Asian language.

At ULM, she seized the opportunity to study abroad her senior fall semester as an exchange student at Hanbat National University in Daejeon. Since 2012, ULM and Hanbat have had an exchange program.

"After experiencing the beauty of the culture and traditions there, I immediately knew I had to go back as soon as possible. I know it's where I am meant to be in this current chapter of my life," Corso said.

Corso said ULM prepared her for the exchange program by giving her "all the necessary tools to prepare for this new, life-changing opportunity and ambition to build up a more globalized perspective on life. And, because I want to do work with the Seoul Embassy in the future, my political science courses definitely gave me more knowledge to do so as well."

Corso credited two professors with providing her the instruction and insight needed for her South Korean journey, Joshua Stockley, Ph.D., professor and director of political science and the Honors Program, and Leigh Hersey, Ph.D., assistant professor and coordinator of political science.

"Toni exemplifies how pursuing an honors and political science degree from ULM is not merely a theoretical exercise; rather, a practical one with the power to effect positive change in the world. I am so very proud of Toni and the difference she has made, is currently making, and will continue to make in the future," Stockley said.

"They assisted me by not only furthering my political science education but by also helping out tremendously with my senior honors thesis on the North Korean regime, completed in May of 2020," she said.

"I am so excited that Toni has been able to fulfill her dream of living and teaching in Korea. She radiates joy and positivity and is sensitive to other people's needs. As a student, she continually strived to achieve her best while also encouraging her classmates to do the same," Hersey said.

Toni Corso enjoys traveling in South Korea.

Language, learning and life

Corso's knowledge of Korean can at times be hindered by some of the nuances in any language, which can lead to puzzled looks from coworkers and students.

"Most of the time, I'm able to communicate about basic things with ease effectively. But I'll admit, sometimes it is rather difficult to partake in some of the more advanced topics in the workplace," she said.

Corso loves seeing her students break through to understand and speak their second language.

"The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the progress and growth of my students from day one to where their language skills are now," she said. "The fact that I'm able to assist in their English-speaking confidence is something I don't take for granted at all."

"School life here is definitely much more different. The motivation and work ethic of the Korean citizens and students here are unmatched," she said.

Equally as satisfying as teaching is Corso's helping people who have fled North Korea and the rule of dictator Kim Jong-un.

"The most rewarding part of my volunteer service is the chance to make an impact and spread positivity and cultural knowledge to former North Korean citizens," Corso said.

People beyond politics

Teaching and volunteering have given Corso a unique perspective on the differences between the two Koreas, especially through the eyes of an American.

"I think oftentimes Americans forget there is an entire world out there from us that offers so much more," she said.

"I would encourage people to make a greater effort in understanding the difference between the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). I think there are so many misconceptions about the two countries and just how completely different they are," she said.

"One of the most important parts of life's journey is not only finding out what you want to do but more specifically what you're not so interested in. I think it's important to narrow down your passion and desires in that way and keep chasing after any endeavor." Toni Corso

"I also hope one day people can realize the beautiful, rich culture of North Korea and understand that they are human beings, not just chess pieces in a political discussion about regimes," Corso added.

To ULM students vacillating on career choices, Corso offers simple advice:

"Follow passion over income, hands down. So many times, I see my friends stuck in career paths that make them absolutely miserable," she said.

"One of the most important parts of life's journey is not only finding out what you want to do but more specifically what you're not so interested in. I think it's important to narrow down your passion and desires in that way and keep chasing after any endeavor," Corso said.
Community members attend a question-and-answer session Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, with members of the Hermiston School District and Umatilla County Public Health Department at Armand Larive Middle School in Hermiston. The meeting served as an opportunity for community members to ask questions about the return to school amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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February 24 2022

Plans for an innovative co-living residential home in Aberdeen have been brought forward by Camphill Schools, to provide accommodation for charity workers wishing to remain associated with the movement in later life.

The co-housing community by Taylor Architecture provides 20 apartments with common house features to encourage friendship and companionship among occupants while maintaining their independence.

Replacing the surplus Whithorn and Caranoc buildings on the Cairnlee Estate off Baillieswells Road with rationalised accommodation the Cainlee co-housing community will adopt a cranked plan to align with the neighbouring Simeon House and provide a more visible principal entrance.

In a statement the applicant observed: "Cairnlee Senior Co-housing Aberdeen has been created to address the needs of an ageing co-worker population dedicated to service of Camphill Schools Aberdeen. Senior members of staff forever connected to the Camphill ethos wish to remain a part of the community into later years.

"The staff wish to maintain the independence of having their own flatted property but reap the benefits of sharing aspects of daily life, building on friendships, companionship and provide support for each other. The collaborative group of neighbours will create a social network that will maintain a strong sense of community."

Camphill School is engaged in a decade-long development plan to improve its estate and the care provided to children and young people.
Istanbul, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a "heavy blow" to regional peace.

"We reject Russia's military operation," Erdogan said in a televised speech, calling it a "heavy blow to regional peace and stability".

Erdogan, whose government has friendly ties with Russia and Ukraine, had positioned Turkey, a member of NATO, as a neutral mediator for a resolution to the crisis.

He expressed "sincere sadness" over the fact that the two countries "with which we have close political, economic and social ties" were confronting each other.

Erdogan earlier today chaired a security summit in the capital Ankara after Moscow launched an attack on its neighbour.

The summit concluded that Russia's attack was "a violation of international law" and "unacceptable", according to the presidency.

It also discussed measures that can be taken with Russia and on international platforms for an "end to the attack that threatens regional and global security".

Turkey "will continue to support Ukraine's political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity", it said.

In a separate statement, the foreign ministry urged Moscow to stop its "unjust and unlawful" invasion immediately.

"We consider the military operation... unacceptable and reject it," the ministry said.

"We call on the Russian Federation to stop this unjust and unlawful action as soon as possible."Erdogan, who stepped up diplomacy with phone calls to the Russian and Ukrainian leaders this week, said Turkey had no desire to abandon ties with either of the countries.

"We want this issue to be resolved without us having to choose between the two," he said in comments published in local media on Wednesday.
The Hague, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :The EU's medicines watchdog on Thursday recommended that Pfizer/BioNTech's anti-Covid booster vaccine be approved for children aged 12 and older.

The "EMA's human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended that a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine Comirnaty may be given where appropriate to adolescents from 12 years of age," the European Medicines Agency said in a statement, using the vaccine's commercial name.
United Nations, United States, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :Russia's ambassador to the United Nations told an emergency Security Council meeting late Wednesday that Moscow's military operation against Ukraine was targeting "the junta" in power in Kiyv.

"I wanted to say in conclusion that we aren't being aggressive against the Ukrainian people but against the junta that is in power in Kiyv," said Vassily Nebenzia.
London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :Queen Elizabeth II cancelled two engagements on Thursday after she tested positive for coronavirus at the weekend, Buckingham Palace said.

"The two virtual audiences that had previously been scheduled to take place today will now be rescheduled for a later date," a spokesman said.

Royal officials announced on Sunday that the 95-year-old head of state had tested positive and had "mild" Covid symptoms, but would continue with "light duties".

Her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, tested positive for the second time since early 2020 on February 10, two days after meeting his mother at Windsor Castle.

The queen, who is in her record-breaking 70th year on the throne, cancelled similar virtual engagements planned for Tuesday but spoke to Prime Minister Boris Johnson Wednesday.

The monarch and the prime minister hold regular weekly meetings in private. They were conducted by telephone rather than in person due to coronavirus restrictions.

No further engagements are planned for this week but the latest cancellation will inevitably stoke further fears for her health, given her advanced age.

As a precaution, the queen and her husband Prince Philip moved to Windsor, west of London, in March 2020 as the global pandemic hit Britain.

The couple, who were married for 73 years, self-isolated with a reduced number of household staff. Philip, 99, died in April 2021, and his funeral was held under virus curbs.

She returned to official duties after his death and as restrictions were lifted. But she was forced to slow down on medical advice in October last year.

The palace was forced to confirm that she had an overnight stay in hospital after going in for unspecified tests. Since then her appearances have become rarer.

She held a public engagement at her Sandringham residence in eastern England on February 5 on the eve of the anniversary of her accession to the throne in 1952.

- Jubilee tours - Preparations are well underway to mark the queen's Platinum Jubilee, with four days of public parades, pageants and parties planned for early June.

It will be hoped they will lighten the mood after a disastrous start to the historic landmark.

Her second son Prince Andrew, 62, earlier this month settled a US civil case for sexual assault, after years of scandal at his friendship with convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Public outrage on both sides of the Atlantic saw the queen strip Andrew of his honorary royal titles and charitable positions, in a move designed to protect the institution from further reputational damage.

Charles himself has also come under scrutiny after police in London announced a probe into "cash for honours" claims connected to one of his charities.

Meanwhile his son Prince Harry, in self-exile in the United States with his wife Meghan and their two children, has made waves with another legal case against a British newspaper.

On Wednesday, he filed a complaint for libel against Associated Newspapers over a report about a separate court case against Britain's interior ministry and the funding of his private security.

But the royals were keen to give the impression of business as usual, announcing a series of royal tours to eight of the 14 Commonwealth countries outside Britain where she is also queen and head of state.

Charles and his second wife, Camilla, will visit Ireland from March 23-25, while his eldest son, Prince William and his wife, Catherine, will travel to the Caribbean.

They will be in the Commonwealth countries of Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas from March 19-26, with the visit likely to be keenly watched after Barbados ditched the queen as head of state in November last year.

The queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, will visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines from April 22-28.

And her only daughter, Princess Anne, will be in Papua New Guinea, from April 11-13.
London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday held her weekly telephone audience with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson despite having "mild" Covid symptoms, Buckingham Palace said.

"Her Majesty did speak to the prime minister this evening," a spokesman said, after the 95-year-old monarch on Tuesday cancelled her planned virtual engagements because of Covid.

The queen and the prime minister have held weekly audiences by telephone for much of the pandemic and they are expected to have discussed the escalating crisis with Russia on Ukraine's border.

The head of state tested positive for the virus on Sunday, sparking renewed concerns about her health after she spent a night in hospital in October last year.

She was forced to rest on medical grounds and cancelled a series of planned engagements, including hosting world leaders at the UN climate change summit in November.

Her appearances since then have been rare, although she returned to public duties before the start of her record-breaking 70th year as monarch on February 6.

News of her illness came the day before Johnson announced all pandemic legal curbs in England would end on Thursday.

On Monday he said compulsory self-isolation for positive cases would stop on Thursday, urging a shift from government intervention to personal responsibility.
Antananarivo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :Rescuers in Madagascar on Wednesday began to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Emnati, which overnight lashed the island nation still reeling from the impact of another cyclone earlier this month.

Faly Aritiana Fabien, a senior official at Madagascar's National Risk Management Office (BNGRC), told AFP no human casualties had been reported but said it was important to "remain cautious" less than 24 hours after Emnati's arrival.

Houses were submerged in brown water, debris and uprooted trees, an AFP correspondent saw, as the weather conditions prevented rescuers from carrying out thorough searches in the worst-affected areas in the south and southeast.

Emnati "made landfall around 2300 GMT just north of the southeastern district of Manakara", Fabien had earlier told AFP.

The storm, which passed just north of the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Reunion, had weakened slightly by the time it reached the eastern coast of Madagascar.

But it was still packing winds of around 100 kilometres per hour (62 miles per hour) and gusts of 140 kph, according to Meteo-France.

The cyclone is forecast to exit Madagascar Wednesday night, but national weather forecaster Meteo-Madagascar warned of strong gusts, heavy rain and widespread flooding around the southern and southeastern districts.

Meteo-France has warned that another tropical storm may form in the next five days.

UN agencies had on Tuesday said they were preparing "for the worst".

Another storm, Cyclone Batsirai, struck the island on February 5, affecting some 270,000 people and claiming 121 lives.

At the same time, some 21,000 people remain displaced from when Tropical Storm Ana struck in late January.

Another 5,000 were affected last week by Tropical Storm Dumako.

More than 37,000 people have been moved to emergency shelters as a precautionary measure.

One of the poorest countries in the world, Madagascar's southern region has been ravaged by drought.

The UN says it is the worst in 40 years and blames climate change for the crisis.

Madagascar is prone to numerous storms and cyclones between November and April every year.
United Nations, United States, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations implored the Security Council, chaired by Russia, to "do everything possible to stop the war" against his country.

"It is the responsibility of these bodies to stop the war," Sergiy Kyslytsya told a late-night meeting of the 15-member council which began shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine.

Kyslytsya urged Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the council, to "call Putin, call (Foreign Minister Sergey) Lavrov to stop (the) aggression."
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Belarus's leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that his military is not taking part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Kyiv said Moscow's troops were entering the country from Belarusian territory

Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :Belarus's leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that his military is not taking part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Kyiv said Moscow's troops were entering the country from Belarusian territory.

"Our armed forces are not taking part in this operation," said Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has stationed tens of thousands of troops in Belarus.

Ukraine's border guards said Thursday their country was coming under artillery attack along its northern border with Russia and Belarus.

Minsk said Putin called Lukashenko in the early hours of Thursday -- "at around 5:00 am (0200 GMT) -- to inform him that Moscow was launching a military operation on Ukraine.

After meeting his army chiefs, Lukashenko said Putin had informed him about the "development" of the situation in the call.

He said the Russian leader told him the "aim" of the operation was to "stop the genocide of the people in the Donetsk and Lugansk republics."He also said he had "personally suggested" to Putin for "a number of the Russian armed forces" to stay in the south of the country despite joint military drills coming to an end.
China will work to expand the supply of affordable rental housing as part of efforts to resolve housing difficulties, said the country's housing authorities at a Thursday press conference

BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :China will work to expand the supply of affordable rental housing as part of efforts to resolve housing difficulties, said the country's housing authorities at a Thursday press conference.

With developing subsidized rental housing as one of the priorities this year, China will have 2.4 million units of government-subsidized rental homes available nationwide this year, said Wang Menghui, minister of housing and urban-rural development.

The country will also add another 100,000 public rental houses and renovate 1.2 million houses in rundown areas, said the minister.

In 2021, a total of 942,000 government-subsidized rental homes in 40 key cities were provided to help new city dwellers and young people in need of affordable housing, data from the ministry showed.

The country will maintain the continuity and stability of its housing policies and strengthen precision and coordination in policy maneuver, said Wang.
PRAGUE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2022) The Czech Republic is suspending the issuance of visas to Russian citizens, except for humanitarian cases, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Thursday.

"The government of the Czech Republic has decided to stop issuing visas to citizens of the Russian Federation, except for humanitarian cases," Fiala told reporters.

The prime minister also said that the government decided to close Russian consulates in Brno and Karlovy Vary.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2022) The former President of the New York Police Department's Sergeants Benevolent Association has been charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of Dollars from the organization through the use of fake expense reports, the US Justice Department said.

"Edward D. Mullins, the former President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association ("SBA"), the union that represents all current and former Sergeants of the New York City Police Department, was charged with one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the SBA, through the submission of fraudulent expense reports," the Justice Department said in a news release on Wednesday.

For nearly two decades, from around 2002 to October 2021, Mullins was entrusted to look after the welfare of SBA's membership as its president, but was instead perpetrating a scheme to steal from the union and its members, the release said.

The fraud committed by Mullins included using his personal credit card to pay for meals at high-end restaurants and purchasing luxury personal items, and then submitting false and inflated expense reports to the SBA, seeking reimbursement for those bills as legitimate SBA expenditures, the release said.

"Altogether, Mullins was reimbursed for over $1 million in expenses from the SBA, the majority of which was fraudulently obtained," the release added.

Mullins surrendered to the FBI in Manhattan on Wednesday morning and was brought before US Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein, according to the release.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that the Belarusian armed forces do not participate in the Russian military operation in Ukraine

MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2022) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that the Belarusian armed forces do not participate in the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

"That is what I have read: 'The state border of Ukraine with Russia and Belarus was attacked at about 5 a.m. (02:00GMT) by Russian troops backed by Belarus.' Utter bastards! Our troops do not take part in this operation," Lukashenko told an emergency military meeting in Minsk, as quoted by Belarusian news agency Belta.

Lukashenko added that he offered Russian President Vladimir Putin to leave a part of Russian troops in Belarus after the joint drills, held in February, as Minsk was unable to defend its southern border.

"I offered Putin to leave a part of the Russian armed forces in southern Belarus during the last meeting in Moscow.

Why? I am not ashamed to say that we were not ready to cover the southern direction in this situation, because the Ukrainian military units - not border troops - had advanced to the border and started conducting maneuvers there. We saw that, but we never had any troops there. That is why I proposed that a small part (of Russian troops) be left there on the southern borders until we can replace them with our own armed forces," Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko added that Putin supported this idea by saying, "You're right, we should leave them. This is another chance for the deranged politicians in Ukraine to make the appropriate conclusions. Maybe they would realize that they need to sit down at the negotiating table and make decisions about peace. Brotherly peoples should not wage wars."
(@FahadShabbir)

A New Zealand bull has been hailed a "legend" after it was swept along a flooded river and survived going over a waterfall before being dumped 80 kilometres (50 miles) downstream

Wellington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2022 ) :A New Zealand bull has been hailed a "legend" after it was swept along a flooded river and survived going over a waterfall before being dumped 80 kilometres (50 miles) downstream.

South Island farmer Tony Peacock said the 18-month-old bull was one of three washed away earlier this month when the West Coast region experienced its worst flooding in almost 80 years.

"We had a massive dump of water that we weren't expecting and just got caught out by not having stock on higher ground," he told AFP.

"It was daylight by the time I realised how bad it was and by that stage they were gone. I never thought I'd see any of them again.

" But a week later, Peacock received a call saying one of his bulls had been found on the riverbank at Westport, about 80 kilometres away.

"It was a big surprise, as you can imagine," he said, noting the bull survived a 10-metre drop at the Maruia Falls during its watery adventure.

He said the Hereford breed bull, which was identified by an ear tag, is being transported back to the farm and would be retired after returning home.

"We'll be keeping him, he's become a local legend now," he said.

"He's more famous than anything else we've produced."Peacock said the local school is now holding a competition to find a suitable name for the celebrity heavyweight.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2022) Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov responded on Wednesday to UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace's claims that the United Kingdom is ready to strike at Russian interests by recommending UK troops to learn more about Russian history.

Earlier in the day, Wallace, a former Scots Guards officer, said that his regiment "kicked the backside" of Russia in the Crimean War and compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Czar Nicholas I.

"We recommend British troops to study well not only Russia's geography but also its history in order to avoid enriching our shared military history with their lives for the benefit of ill-educated British politicians," Konashenkov said.

The spokesman also reminded Wallace of the so-called Charge of the Light Brigade, when the UK light cavalry was massacred by the Russian artillery during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean war.

"It is precisely this 'feat' of the Englishmen in the Crimean War that gave the term 'cannon fodder' to all the world's languages and military textbooks," Konashenkov added.

On Monday, Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and agreements on cooperation and mutual assistance with them. Under the new documents, Moscow will ensure the security of the two Russian-speaking entities. The decision followed prompted a wave of criticism from Western countries, including the UK.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2022) The Russian military has disabled 83 ground facilities of the Ukrainian military structure after strikes, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday.

"In total, as a result of the strikes of the Russian Armed Forces, 83 ground objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine were put out of action," Konashenkov told reporters, adding that the military has successfully completed all goals for today.

The military spokesman also said that forces of Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics have managed to break through the defense of Ukrainian forces.

"Groups of troops of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics broke through the well-equipped layered defense of the armed forces of Ukraine, advanced 6-8 kilometers in-depth," Konashenkov said.

In addition, the spokesman said that Russian troops have restored the water supply to Crimea.

"The joint use of raid detachments and airborne troops in the Crimean direction ensured the advance of Russian troops to the city of Kherson. This made it possible to unblock the North Crimean Canal and restore the water supply to the Crimean peninsula," Konashenkov said.
(@FahadShabbir)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2022) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg plans to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday, NATO said.

"On Thursday 24 February 2022, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will meet with the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, at the European Commission," NATO said in a statement on Wednesday.
(UroToday.com) The 2022 GU ASCO Annual meeting included a session on the optimization management of localized prostate cancer, specifically looking at artificial intelligence (AI), active surveillance, and intervention, featuring a presentation by Dr. Mary-Ellen Taplin discussing combined modality therapy in localized prostate cancer. Dr. Taplin notes that high-risk localized prostate cancer is associated with an increased risk of morality as highlighted in the following table emphasizing 15-year prostate cancer specific mortality rates:





Currently, there are several paradigms of treatment for high-risk prostate cancer:

However, there is still some question as to the utility of neoadjuvant treatment for these high-risk patients. Interestingly, neoadjuvant treatment is standard of care for breast, rectal, bladder, and other cancers given the improved long-term survival. Neoadjuvant therapy may down-stage local disease, which may facilitate surgical resection and potentially reduce or delay post-surgery treatment. Historical neoadjuvant trials investigated LHRH agonists +/- first generation anti-androgens, but with the majority of patients having low-risk disease. These trials did not systematically evaluate pathologic response and had limited long-term follow-up. More contemporary neoadjuvant trials are investigating more potent androgen targeting agents (abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, apalutamide), the majority of patients have high-risk disease, there is systematic central pathology review to evaluate response, and long-term follow-up is ongoing.

The optimal response metric in the neoadjuvant setting remains to be fully elucidated, specifically whether we should be conducting short versus long term trials or phase 2 versus phase 3 trials. There may be several potential endpoints in neoadjuvant trials based on the phase they are being conducted:

Phase 2 Tissue endpoint: hormone levels, drug levels, or immunohistochemistry Pathologic staging endpoint: pathologic complete response, minimal residual disease, volume of residual tumor, cellularity/volume, residual cancer burden Intermediate clinical endpoint: PSA/clinical relapse

Phase 3 Metastases free survival: ICECaP - rPFS as a surrogate for OS MFS + radical prostatectomy pathology: PROTEUS trial (3-year accrual, 4-year follow-up)



Dr. Taplin highlighted that there have been several series of randomized phase 2 trials in the neoadjuvant setting, testing the utility of abiraterone, enzalutamide, and apalutamide. These trials have resulted in the following clinical outcomes:

pCR rates: 10-13%

Minimal residual disease rates: 24-30%

Combined pCR + minimal residual disease rates: 22-40%

3-year BCR-free rates: Overall 59.1%; exceptional responder 95.2%; non-responder: 48.7%

Dr. Taplin discussed several important ongoing neoadjuvant trials. First, the Proteus trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study of apalutamide in subjects with high-risk, localized, or locally advanced prostate cancer who are candidates for radical prostatectomy. Patients are randomized to 6 months of apalutamide + ADT versus placebo + ADT followed by radical prostatectomy and 6 months of additional therapy (based on what they received prior to radical prostatectomy) post-operatively. The primary endpoints are pathologic complete response and metastasis free survival, and key secondary endpoints are PSA-free survival and progression free survival. The study schema for Proteus is as follows:

Second, the GUNS trial is a multi-arm, multi-stage adaptive trial in biomarker selected patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer. The primary endpoint of this trial is pathological complete response rate and the trial schema is as follows:

Third, neoadjuvant darolutamide + abemaciclib will be assessed in a phase I lead-in 3+3 design to determine RP2D, followed by a randomized phase 2 study of ADT + darolutamide + abemaciclib versus ADT + darolutamide followed by radical prostatectomy. The primary endpoint is the rate of pathologic complete response + minimal residual disease rate, with the following trial schema:

Dr. Taplin then discussed whats new in primary radiation for localized high-risk prostate cancer and as salvage therapy after prostatectomy. The RTOG 0815 trial assessed escalated radiotherapy alone or with androgen suppression for intermediate risk prostate cancer. This trial had 1,538 patients with T2b-T2c, Gleason 7, PSA >10-20 prostate cancer that was randomized to dose-escalated radiotherapy alone or combination with LHRH agonist/bicalutamide for 6 months. Radiotherapy was 79.2 Gy external beam radiotherapy or external beam radiotherapy + LDR or HDR brachytherapy boost. Patients were randomized stratified by single versus multiple risk factors, radiotherapy boost, and baseline comorbidity index. This trial found no difference in 5-year overall survival (90% vs 91%), ADT + radiotherapy improving PSA relapse (HR 0.52), distant metastasis (HR 0.25), and prostate cancer specific mortality (HR 0.10). Additionally, grade 3 adverse events were high with ADT + radiotherapy (17.5%) compared to radiotherapy alone (2.3%).

The recently published meta-analysis assessing abiraterone acetate + prednisolone with or without enzalutamide for high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer from the STAMPEDE platform1 provided additional clarity in this disease space. Eligible patients had high-risk or relapsing with high-risk features non-metastatic prostate cancer; local radiotherapy was mandated for node negative and encouraged for node positive disease. In both trials, patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to ADT alone (control group), or with abiraterone acetate and oral prednisolone. In the second trial with no overlapping controls, the combination-therapy group also received enzalutamide (160 mg daily orally). The primary endpoint of this meta-analysis was metastasis-free survival. Overall, 1,974 patients were randomly assigned to treatment. With a median follow-up of 72 months (IQR 6084), metastasis-free survival was significantly longer in the combination-therapy groups (median not reached, IQR not evaluable [NE]NE) than in the control groups (median not reached, IQR 97NE; HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.440.64). Overall survival (median not reached, IQR NENE] in the combination-therapy groups vs not reached [IQR 103NE] in the control groups; HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.480.73), prostate cancer-specific survival (median not reached, IQR [NENE] vs median not reached [IQRNENE]; HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.370.65), biochemical failure-free-survival (median not reached, IQR [NENE] vs 86 months [IQR 83NE]; HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.330.47), and progression-free-survival (median not reached [IQR NENE] vs median not reached [IQR 103NE]; HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.360.54) were also significantly longer in the combination-therapy groups than in the control groups.

Dr. Taplin then discussed several important ongoing trials in this disease space. First, a randomized phase 3 study assessing conventional ADT with or without abiraterone acetate + prednisone and apalutamide following a detectable PSA after radiation and ADT. Of note, inclusion requires any PSA > undetectable after radiation and at least 6, but not more than 8 months of conventional ADT in patients with non-metastatic high-risk or N1 prostate cancer. The trial schema is as follows:

The PREDICT-RT phase 3 randomized trial is for high-risk prostate cancer evaluating de-intensification for lower genomic risk and intensification of concurrent therapy for higher genomic risk with radiation (NRG-GU009). The PI for this trial is Dr. Paul Nguyen and the schema is as follows:

Dr. Taplin concluded her presentation by highlighting several key trials assessing adjuvant systemic therapy after radical prostatectomy. The ERADICATE trial is assessing radiotherapy for Decipher > 0.6, treating these patients with ADT +/- darolutamide. The trial schema for ERADICATE is as follows:

Second, the INNOVATE is for pathologic node positive prostate cancer with a rising PSA, randomizing patients to standard of care + ADT versus standard of care + ADT + apalutamide. Notably, patients must be pN1 with a detectable PSA after radical prostatectomy and prior negative Axumin, F-18, or Ga-68 PSMA PET within 90 days documenting no distant metastatic disease. The primary endpoint is metastasis-free survival. The trial schema for INNOVATE is as follows.

Third, the DASL-HiCaP trial is an ANZUP-led, randomized, phase 3, placebo-controlled, double-blind international trial for men planned for radiotherapy who have very high-risk localized prostate cancer on conventional imaging, or very high-risk features with PSA persistence or rise within one year following radical prostatectomy. The trial is stratified by: radical prostatectomy, use of adjuvant docetaxel, and pelvic nodal involvement. The goal is inclusion of 1,100 participants who will be randomized to darolutamide 600 mg or placebo twice daily for 96 weeks in combination with standard of care: LHRHa for 96 weeks, plus RT starting week 8-24 from randomization.

The primary endpoint is metastasis-free survival (ICECaP-validated), with key secondary endpoints being overall survival, prostate cancer-specific survival, PSA-progression free survival, time to subsequent hormonal therapy, and time to castration-resistance.

Dr. Taplin concluded her presentation discussing combined modality therapy in localized prostate cancer with the following take-home messages

For multi-modality therapy for patients undergoing prostatectomy for localized high-risk prostate cancer: There is currently no phase 3 data to support systemic therapy with radical prostatectomy Innovative phase 2 trials are underway with biomarker-directed treatment, including utilization of PSMA-PET and biomarker selection The PROTEUS trial will read out in ~2026, with the potential for radical prostatectomy pathology to be a surrogate for metastasis free survival More clinical research investment is urgently needed for these patients

For multi-modality therapy for patients undergoing radiotherapy for localized intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer: ADT has value for most patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer undergoing radiation (RTOG 0815) Abiraterone acetate/prednisone is recommended in addition to ADT and radiotherapy for localized high-risk prostate cancer undergoing radiation (STAMPEDE). Of note, data from Enza-Rad is expected ~2023-2024 Trials are ongoing trials evaluating apalutamide and darolutamide with salvage radiotherapy, potentially being an important implication for genomic risk stratification Importantly, the burden of increased therapy recommendations needs to be considered, given the added toxicity and cost associated with therapy



Presented by: Mary-Ellen Taplin, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Assistant Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary (ASCO GU) Cancers Symposium, Thursday, Feb 17  Saturday, Feb 19, 2022





References:
(UroToday.com) The 2022 GU ASCO Annual meeting included a prostate cancer session highlighting work from Dr. Robert J. Jones and colleagues presenting results of an international qualitative study assessing preferences and perceptions of patients with mCRPC for treatments and biomarker testing. Despite a range of available treatments, outcomes for mCRPC remains poor with significant morbidity. The PARP inhibitors are targeted therapeutics approved to treat mCRPC patients with genetic mutations in homologous recombination repair (HRR). However, to benefit from PARP inhibitors as a single agent, patients usually need to undergo biomarker testing to determine their mutation status. As an initial step to understand patient preferences for mCRPC treatments, this study investigated the treatment features important to mCRPC patients and their preferences for and perceptions of biomarker testing.

This preliminary qualitative study included 25 men in the US, UK, Germany, Spain, and Japan with self-reported mCRPC diagnosed at least 6 months previously. Participants completed a 60-minute, one-on-one, semi-structured interview online or by telephone about mCRPC treatments, disease impact, and biomarker testing. Data was analyzed using standard qualitative research procedures.

Participants had a mean age of 62 years and were diagnosed with prostate cancer an average of 68 months prior. Approximately half (52%) had metastasized > 1 year prior and more than half (56%) reported no HRR genetic mutation. The most frequently reported symptoms were pain (60%), urinary problems (56%), and fatigue (32%):

Participants stated that pain impacted their sleep, daily activities, and social lives. There were 60% of participants that reported shared treatment decision-making with their physician, some (24%) shared it with partners or caregivers, and others (32%) left treatment decisions up to their physician due to their lack of knowledge. Quality of life (QoL) was the most important treatment benefit reported (56%), followed by progression-free survival (PFS) (52%), overall survival (OS) (48%), and reduced pain (44%):

Some participants reported their desire for prolonged survival needed to be balanced with adequate QoL. Few participants reported reduced fatigue (24%) or urinary problems (12%) as desired treatment benefits.

Overall, 64% had previously undergone biomarker testing to determine mutation status, and 56% of tested participants reported that their physician discussed the purpose and benefits of testing. Based on conversations with their physicians, both tested and untested participants felt that biomarker testing would inform them about heritable risk of mutation and help find new targeted treatments. Untested participants with a negative view of biomarker testing (22%) reported concerns about the need for further invasive biopsies.

Dr. Jones concluded his presentation assessing preferences and perceptions of patients with mCRPC for treatments and biomarker testing with the following take-home points:

QoL followed by PFS, OS, and reduced pain were the most important benefits of treatment to participants

More than half of participants had a positive view of biomarker testing, especially if testing could lead to targeted therapies and inform about heritable risk

These results will inform the design of an international discrete choice study of biomarker testing among men with mCRPC

A full quantitative study using insights from these qualitative interviews will be conducted with a wider sample of both mCRPC patients and treating clinicians

Presented by: Robert J. Jones, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Co-Authors: Hannah Collacott, Alicia K. Morgans, Elena Castro, Stefan Machtens, Hiroji Uemura, Tommi Tervonen, Sameer Ghate, Shan Jiang, Theresa Cain, Nenad Medic, Sarah Payne, Alicia Gayle

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Assistant Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary (ASCO GU) Cancers Symposium, Thursday Feb 17  Saturday Feb 19, 2022
USM Associate Professor Named Chemist of the Year by Mississippi Section of American Chemical Society

Wed, 02/23/2022 - 16:20pm | By: Van Arnold

For her exemplary efforts as an educator, researcher, and mentor, Dr. Julie Pigza, Associate Professor of chemistry and biochemistry at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has been named the 2021 Chemist of the Year by the Mississippi Local Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

This marks Pigzas first time to earn the prestigious award. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., she joined the USM faculty in 2013. Pigza notes that she felt surprised, extremely honored, and humbled all at the same time upon receiving the news.

Research faculty have a lot of aspects to our jobs that take up our time, and it can be hard to know if you are devoting time to everything completely, she said. A recognition such as this makes me pause and realize I must be doing something right.

Much of Pigzas research emphasis at USM involves the various facets of organic chemistry. During her time at USM, she has expanded her research group to also include organocatalysis, which is using small, chiral organic molecules to impart selectivity in bond forming reactions to yield products that are enriched in one stereoisomer.

To understand the important interactions between molecules that result in this selectivity, we have also begun to explore computational programs that can capture this data, said Pigza. We are interested in a feedback loop where results within the lab can be supported by computation and where calculations could be utilized as a predictive tool to develop new reactions in the lab.

Dr. Bernd Schroeder, Interim Director of USMs School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, points out that Pigzas expertise and commitment to excellence made her an ideal choice for the award.

Chemistry is a competitive and impactful field, which makes this a very significant award. Dr. Pigza is very versatile, and she dedicates tremendous energy to all her pursuits, said Schroeder. Her teaching is well received and includes inverted lectures, YouTube videos, lecture notes available prior to the start of class, Smart Boards, research projects (in a combined senior/graduate level class) and, when available, using learning assistants as peer mentors. Her written student evaluation comments are among the best, if not the best, that I have ever seen.

Pigza earned her undergraduate degree (2002) from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. She received her doctorate in organic chemistry from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. (2008) under the tutelage of Dr. Jeffrey Johnston. From 2008-2009, she was a post-doctoral researcher in the Molinski Group at the University of California, San Diego. Before joining the USM faculty, she was an assistant professor of chemistry at Queensborough Community College in Bayside, N.Y.

She has received research funding through the National Science Foundation Early Faculty CAREER program and the Eppley Foundation for Scientific Research, as well as internal collaborative grants to support teaching and outreach efforts.

During her independent career as a faculty member, Pigza has trained four graduate students, 27 undergraduate students, and four high school students. Of those students, 23 have been underrepresented student from within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields.

Any recognition I receive is a direct reflection of the hard work of the students in my research lab, said Pigza.
What's up Vol Nation?! Check out @Sami_whamiii on this weeks episode of the Weekly Wrap-Up for news involving @tpusautk and their guest speaker @tomilahren, the largest increase to the HOPE Scholarship since its founding, @josiah.j.james declaring for the draft. As always, a wrap up of our 
Lincoln, RI (02865)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 58F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Aloysius John is currently on a visit to Bangladesh, from February 21-26, during which he visited the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar.

By Robin Gomes

Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Aloysius John is currently on a 6-day visit to Bangladesh on the occasion of 50 years of service of Caritas Bangladesh, the social service and development agency of the Catholic Church in the country.

The Rohingya refugees

During the February 21 to 26 visit, Caritas Asia President Benedict Alo DRozario, a Bangladeshi, and other Caritas Bangladesh officials are accompanying John to the various sites where Caritas is running its projects. This included visits to the camps of Coxs Bazar where the Rohingya people, who are largely Muslim, have been offered refuge after they fled the brutality and persecution of government forces in neighbouring Myanmar.

On February 22 and 23, the Caritas team visited the Rohingya in Camp-4 and Camp-4 Extension in Coxs Bazar district, in what has been described as the worlds largest settlements where the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) are housed.

Listen to Aloysius John speaking to Linda Bordoni

John, who is on his 3rd trip to Bangladesh, spoke to the refugees and inspected the interventions of Caritas Bangladesh under the Emergency Response Programme (ERP) that has been going on for FDMNs since the massive influx in 2017, said a press release. The Caritas official visited activities at the Multipurpose Children and Adolescent Centre (MCAC), shelter construction and Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WaSH) interventions in the camps. The executive director of Caritas Bangladesh Sebastian Rozario, director of programmes James Gomes and project director Marcel Ratan Guda were also present during the visit.

Giving dignity and hope

According to John, an estimated one million Rohingya refugees are in Cox Bazar. Some 100,000 of them are being taken care of by Caritas. He described it as a well-structured action that aims to give dignity and a sense of life to the displaced who have undergone a lot of hardship.

He said that the boys, girls, men and women he met at the camps were full of life looking to the future with hope, with the support they receive from Caritas Bangladesh, such as through psycho-social support, food, basic necessities and healthcare.

John expressed gratitude to Caritas Bangladesh for providing him the opportunity to have this encounter with those who have been left on the wayside of our society in total indifference.

The President of Caritas Internationalis, Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle visited the Rohingya refugee camps twice. His first visit was in December 2018. He made it again in July the following year along with Myanmar Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) as well as of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC).

Pope Francis and the Rohingya

The CI secretary-general recalled how close to the heart of Pope Francis is the issue of the refugees, the displaced, and the migrants of the world. During his visit to Bangladesh in 1917, the Holy Father met a group of Rohingya refugees during an interfaith peace meeting in the capital Dhaka.

All of us are close to you, the Pope told the group of 16 refugees on December 1, 2017. There is little that we can do because your tragedy is so great. But let us make room in our hearts. In the name of everyone, of those who persecute you, of those who have wronged you, above all for the indifference of the world, I ask your forgiveness. Forgiveness.

"The presence of God today is also called Rohingya," he said, urging, May each of us respond in his or her own way.

Projects for the Rohingya

Caritas Bangladesh started working widely for Rohingya people in Cox's Bazar since the massive influx in August 2017 through providing shelter, food, and non-food items including site improvement, WASH, Protection, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and education in 12 camps of FDMNs in Ukhiya Upazila in Cox's Bazar.

John, who is visiting other projects of Caritas Bangladesh, also paid a courtesy call to Archbishop Bejoy DCruze of Dhaka who is President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB).

50 years of Caritas Bangladesh

Caritas Bangladesh is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.



Headquartered in the capital Dhaka, Caritas Bangladesh has eight regional or diocesan offices. It is active in 208 sub-districts in 53 of the countrys 64 districts, where it focuses on integral human development, disaster management, and human resource development.

It runs 112 projects for about 1.6 million beneficiaries. It also operates 10 training centres, 248 cyclone centres, 11 technical schools, 32 tuberculosis centres and leprosy treatment centres, two drug treatment centres and 36 daycare centres. It also supports sex workers and street children. During emergencies, such as natural disasters, Caritas reaches out to any part of the country.

The origin of what is Caritas Bangladesh today began in 1967 as Caritas East Pakistan, in what was then Pakistans eastern province. Following the cyclone of November 1970, which caused widespread havoc in the coastal areas, the Diocese of Chittagong (today Chattogram) set up the Christian Organization for Relief and Development (CORD). Later, under growing demand for relief work, CORD and Caritas joined hands to form the Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation, CORR.



Meanwhile, the Bangladesh War of Independence broke out in 1971 and ended with the defeat of Pakistan on December 16, giving way to the birth of the new nation of Bangladesh. That year, the bishops of Bangladesh who earlier were members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan formed their own Catholic Bishops Conference of Bangladesh, CBCB.

On June 19, 1972, the new government of Bangladesh recognized CORR as a national organization. In 1976, CORR began to be called CORR-Caritas. The following year, CORR was dropped from the name and was simply called Caritas. On February 7, 1980, Caritas was registered as a charitable organization with the government of Bangladesh.

Relocation

Speaking to Vatican News' Linda Bordoni, Aloysius John highlights the realities surrounding the idea of relocating some of the people staying in Cox's Bazar. He explains that the government of Bangladesh is discussing the possibility of relocating some to a small island, around 40km from Bangladesh. "The Church will take part in helping the population" in case of relocation, he says. He explains that there are two extremely important things that must be ensured before any decision is made. The first is that "basic rights and dignity are respected". That's the first thing, says Aloysius John. The second, he continues, "there is apprently nothing in this island". He explains that this makes the question: How can we imagine an Integral Development programme which will also allow the communities to enter into activities? He responds, "agriculture, maybe", and "structures: infrastructure such as roads and other things which can be used to lead a normal life".

This is a difficult issue, continues Aloysius John, "and a controversial one". He asks what funds might be made available by the International community to help these refugees resettle and find themselves in a normal situation.
Loretta Ann Rosales, a torture victim of the martial law in the 1970s under late Philippine dictator President Ferdinand Marcos (AFP or licensors)

At least three Filipino bishops are urging the faithful not to forget the lessons drawn from the dark years of Marcos dictatorship as they prepare to vote for candidates who will lead the nation.

By Robin Gomes

As Filipinos on Friday mark the 36th anniversary of the People Power Revolution  a popular uprising that ended the fourteen-year martial rule of former president Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.  at least three bishops are calling on people not to forget the dark years of dictatorship and its bitter lessons.

Bishop emeritus Teodoro Bacani of Novaliches exhorted the people not to forget the bitter truth of the Marcos dictatorship, not to refresh the wounds that people experienced but to heal our future.

A member of the Constitutional Commission that framed the 1986 Constitution following the uprising, Bishop Bacani urged Filipinos to take into consideration the past in casting their votes in the coming May national elections.

A report by the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), estimates the Marcoses amassed an estimated $5 to $10 billion, or more than 500 billion Philippine pesos (P), in ill-gotten wealth, between 1972 and 1986. The Presidential Commission on Good Government, the government agency tasked with recovering billions of dollars plundered by Marcos and his allies, has recovered a total of P170 billion in the past 30 years.

Bishop Bacani said, Let us not allow a Marcos to win because until now they refuse to ask for forgiveness for what their family did to the Filipino people.



People Power Revolution

President Marcos imposed martial law on the nation from 1972 to 1981 to suppress increasing civil strife and the threat of a communist takeover following a series of bomb blasts in Manila.

The February 22 to 25, 1986, People Power Revolution, was a series of massive nonviolent protests by the people in the capital which led to the departure of Marcos and the end of his 20-year dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s, and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.

The sustained protest is also called the February Revolution or EDSA Revolution (after Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, a major thoroughfare in Manila where the demonstrations were held).

The three bishops raised their voice as some 67.5 million Filipinos, 1.7 million of them overseas, are currently preparing to vote in the May 9 election for a president, vice president, about 300 lawmakers, and roughly 18,000 local government positions.

Upcoming election

The countrys presidential candidates kicked off a 3-month long election campaign on 8 February, making lofty promises to rebuild the shattered economy, wipe out corruption, and uplift the lives of a pandemic-weary public.

Frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, the son and namesake of the late dictator president, promised to foster unity to overcome the economic and pandemic crises. Joining him as his running mate is Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, and the favourite to win the vice presidency, which has a separate election.

Close on his heels is current Vice President and opposition leader, Leni Robredo, who narrowly beat Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential contest but trails him in polls for the countrys top job. She promised her supporters better healthcare and an honest and caring government.

Remembering to avoid abuses

Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Taytay also called for recalling the lessons of the years under martial law and the 1986 uprising. It is important that we do not forget, he said, noting that since 1986, stories of abuses during the dictatorship have surfaced.

Data from the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines and other human rights monitoring groups show that up to 3,000 people were killed, 35,000 were tortured, 77 went missing, and 70,000 were imprisoned during the Marcos rule.

Thats why let us not be duped, Bishop Pabillo said, urging the people to remember the 1986 People Power Revolution. Let us give importance to truth in history, he added.

Keeping to the spirit of EDSA

Meanwhile, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan also exhorted the faithful to vote in the coming elections for leaders who value the spirit of the 1986 uprising. A good Christian will vote for someone who will continue to uphold the true spirit of the People Power Revolution, which restored democracy in our country, said Bishop David, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). He did not mention any presidential candidates.

A good Christian will [also] vote for a candidate who will uphold and strengthen the countrys democracy, will follow the law, and will respect human rights, he said during a voter education webinar on Tuesday, February 22.

The Church and People Power Revolution

The Catholic Church of the Philippines played a key role in the 1986 protest that led to the restoration of democracy in the predominantly Catholic nation.

Pressured by the international community to legitimize his regime, President Marcos called a snap election on Feb. 7, 1986. Despite Corazon Aquino, the widow of assassinated opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr., leading in the race by almost 70 per cent, Marcos declared victory amid allegations of massive fraud.

On Feb. 13, the CBCP publicly declared the inadmissibility of the election results. When a government does not of itself freely correct the evil it has inflicted on the people, the bishops said, then it is our serious moral obligation as a people to make it do so.

As Marcos desperately scrambled to hold on to power amid protests and defections, people glued to the radio heard the prophetic voice of the then-Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin, calling them to rise. This is Cardinal Sin speaking, the 57-year-old church leader said on February 22, 1986, on Catholic Radio Veritas, inviting the people to show their solidarity and support for two prominent defectors of Marcos, by gathering around Manilas Camp Aguinaldo.

Stressing his only wish was that violence and bloodshed be avoided, he called on the faithful to pray to our Blessed Lady to help us in order that we can solve this problem peacefully. I would be very happy ... Please come, he urged. The response was staggering, with over two million Filipino civilians, as well as several political, military, and religious groups converging in and around EDSA.

Three days later, on February 25, 1986, the bloodless revolt vanquished Marcos. As he flew into exile to Hawaii that evening, Corazon Aquino was installed as the new president of the Philippines.
EMMA BRATT is a News and Features Reporter for The Vidette. Bratt can be contacted at ekbratt@ilstu.edu. Follow Bratt on Twitter at @ttarbamme.

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ERIN GESSERT is a News and Features Reporter for The Vidette. Gessert can be contacted at eggesse@ilstu.edu Follow Gessert on Twitter at @erin_gessert

IF YOU SUPPORT THE VIDETTE MISSION of providing a training laboratory for Illinois State University student journalists to learn and sharpen viable, valuable and marketable skills in all phases of digital media, please contribute to this most important cause. Thank you.
The leaders of Malaysia and Cambodia discussed the crisis in military-ruled Myanmar and other regional issues during a meeting in Phnom Penh on Thursday, the two countries said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob met with his counterpart, Hun Sen, and King Norodom Sihamoni during his first visit to Cambodia since becoming Malaysias leader last August.

Both countries are members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has been trying to help restore peace in Myanmar, where the army seized power a year ago from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Cambodia is the chair of ASEAN this year, and Hun Sen has sought to engage Myanmar's generals in a conciliatory manner. In January, he became the first foreign leader to visit Myanmar since the military takeover, which critics say lent legitimacy to the army's rule in a situation that some U.N. experts have termed a civil war.

Malaysia is one of several members of the regional group which have taken a harder line toward Myanmars military government for its failure to implement a five-point ASEAN consensus on promoting peace.

In their talks, Hun Sen and Ismail both endorsed the five-point plan and Malaysia fully supported the work of ASEANs special envoy on Myanmar, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, the two countries said in a joint statement.

They also discussed tensions in the South China Sea and geopolitical rivalry among major powers, the statement said. Many ASEAN members strongly dispute China's claim to wide swaths of the South China Sea, but Cambodia, China's closest ally in the region and without claims of its own, has been lukewarm in supporting its fellow members' positions.

Their differences on the Myanmar issue were highlighted last month when Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Hun Sen should have consulted with other ASEAN leaders before going to Myanmar to meet the head of its ruling military council, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.

Hun Sen responded that Malaysia's foreign minister should not be arrogant and disrespectful of the ASEAN chair.

Ismail also raised the issue of people displaced from Myanmars Rakhine state, the statement said. More than 700,000 members of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority fled from Rakhine to neighboring Bangladesh in 2017 to escape a brutal counterinsurgency campaign by Myanmar's security forces, which were accused of mass rapes and killings and the burning of thousands of homes.

In a post-meeting news conference, Hun Sen said Cambodia and Malaysia will promote bilateral trade, investment, education, human resources and tourism, in order to upgrade the economies of the two countries after the end of COVID-19.
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed grave concern over Russia-Ukraine tensions and urged maximum restraint and dialogue, according to a draft statement being prepared by the 10-member regional bloc on Thursday.

"We call on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, to pursue dialogue through all channels, including diplomatic means to contain the situation, to prevent it from further escalation and to see peaceful resolution in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter," said the draft statement of ASEAN chair Cambodia, seen by Reuters.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

For the latest developments of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, all times EST:

11:33 p.m.: White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweets that President Joe Biden was briefed on a secure call this evening by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the ongoing attack on Ukraine by Russian military forces.

11:05 p.m.: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg "strongly" condemns "#Russias reckless attack on #Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives."

10:59 p.m.: Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweets that Russian President Vladimir Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

10:30 p.m.: U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement, saying the prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces."

Biden will speak with G-7 leaders Thursday morning. Afterward, he will announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security.

10:26 p.m.: Explosions were heard in Kyiv early Thursday, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced "military operations" in Ukraine's Donbas region.

10:03 p.m.: As the U.N. Security Council meets, Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation about 6 a.m. local time, announcing a military operation in Ukraines Donbas.

Putin said that he had "made the decision of a military operation" in Ukraine to defend separatists in the east of the country, according to media reports.

He added that those who oppose the Russian action in the Donbas region will face consequences they have never seen.

Around the same time, several rumbling explosions were heard in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, away from the city center.

9:30 p.m.: The U.N. Security Council begins holding a nighttime emergency session Wednesday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.

8:50 p.m.: Safe Airspace, a conflict zone monitor, warned Wednesday that airlines should stop flying over any part of Ukraine because of the risk of an unintended shootdown or a cyberattack targeting air traffic control amid tensions with Russia, Reuters reported.

7:47 p.m.: Ukraine announced late Wednesday it was closing airports in eastern Ukraine from midnight through 7 a.m. local time because of the confrontation with Russia. Ukrainian aviation authorities also have declared some airspace in the east to be danger areas because of attempts by Russian aviation authorities to seize control of the airspace, according to The Associated Press.

7:10 p.m.: VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer confirmed the United Nations Security Council was holding an emergency session Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.

7:06 p.m.: Pentagon: Russian Troops Near Ukraine Border Ready to Go -- Another sweeping cyberattack struck Ukrainian government websites Wednesday, as the Pentagon said Russian forces are closing in on Ukraines borders, readying to conduct military action at virtually any time now.

We believe that they are, they're ready," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters Wednesday.

6:45 p.m.: With the Russian threat growing against his country, Ukraine President Volodymry Zelenskyy is pleading for peace and says Russian President Vladimir Putin would not accept his call. Zelenskyy rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and lamented that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, he said in Russian during an emotional address Wednesday night to the nation. But if the nation comes under an attack, he said, "We will fight back. Hours earlier, he had declared a nationwide state of emergency.

He also said he tried to call Russian President Vladimir Putin, but there was no answer from the Kremlin.

5:20 p.m.: Ukraine Minister to UN: Russia Will Not Stop at Ukraine -- Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba appealed to the international community on Wednesday to take swift, concrete and resolute actions to help preserve his country from Russian military aggression. Russia will not stop at Ukraine, Kuleba told a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. He added that a full-scale war against Ukraine would be the end of the world order as we know it.

5:14 p.m.: Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted Wednesday night that Ukraine has initiated an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council in connection with the appeal of the Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia for military support, which is a further escalation of the security situation.

4:21 p.m.: VOA Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze reports: Ukraine has introduced a nationwide state of emergency, which enters into force at midnight tonight, February 24, for 30 days.

3:12 p.m.: US Lawmakers: Russia Incursion Into Ukraine Is Assault on Democracy -- Top U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday called Russian President Vladimir Putins incursion into the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine an assault on democracy.

Its stunning to see  in this day and age  a tyrant rolling into a country. This is the same tyrant who attacked our democracy in 2016, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a press conference, recalling Putins interference in U.S. elections.

3:12 p.m.: Earlier, Kuleba tweeted the entire night shift of Titan chemicals plant in Armyansk evacuated from the facility, located in Crimea. This might be a preparation for another staged provocation by Russia. Moscow seems to have no limits in attempts to falsify pretexts for further aggression, he tweeted.

2:49 p.m.: US Warns Of Russian Cyberattacks Against Ukraine -- The United States and Britain warned Wednesday of new malware that attacks network devices, which the U.S. says has been commonly used by Russia.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an advisory informing organizations of Cyclops Blink, a new malware used by Sandworm and Voodoo Bear to target network devices.

Sandworm, also known as Voodoo Bear, is allegedly a cyber military unit of Russias agency in charge of Russian military intelligence.

2:19 p.m.: The U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division, deployed to Poland to reassure NATO allies, was seen Wednesday, operating out of a camp at a landing field near Arlamow, in eastern Poland. Washington sent 4,700 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to Poland, more than doubling the U.S. troop presence there.

1:58 p.m.: White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports that President Joe Biden will impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers in response to Russias actions in Ukraine. Biden said he would "not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate."

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Russia has played an increasing role on the African continent through trade, aid, military training and paramilitary security. Analysts say the future of that relationship will be tested as Russias tensions with the West escalate amid the Ukrainian conflict.

The South African government condemned Russias action in a statement, saying it is dismayed at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and calls on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine in line with the United Nations charter.

Other African countries remained quiet Thursday as Russian forces pushed into Ukraine.

Russia has increased its presence on the continent in recent years and is scheduled to host a Russia-Africa summit this November.

Regardless of how African nations react to Russias invasion going forward, analysts say the continent will feel repercussions.

Irina Filatova is the professor at Russias Higher School of Economics University.

"Will it be the new cold war, or will it be the new hot war? We still do not know. But whatever it is, Africa is one, is going to be one of the victims of it, Filatova said.

Countries reliant on imported oil and gas like South Africa will feel the pain of skyrocketing prices.

Northern African countries that import grains from Ukraine will feel disruptions in supply and price.

The conflict could also impact the availability of funding and resources for international development and aid that many African countries rely on.

Dzvinka Kachur is a researcher at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at South Africas Stellenbosch University.

"It's also going to create a long-term distraction from and attention from the sustainable development goals, Kachur said. "So we can expect the budgets of states around the world will be gearing towards more militarization and not the developmental goals.

The conflict not only risks disruptions to aid, but also military and peacekeeping support on the continent.

Pauline Bax is the deputy director for the International Crisis Group in Johannesburg.

A lot of attention will be taken away from conflicts that are quite urgent here in Africa, such again as the Sahel, the conflict in Mozambique and the conflict in Ethiopia," said Bax. "A lot of diplomatic efforts will have to be put in the Ukraine crisis now and has already been put in  to the detriment of other crises here in Africa.

However, the conflict could also bring opportunities.

Kachur says African leaders should call for changes in global power structures, especially at the United Nations.

Russia is of of five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

This is an opportunity to show that U.N. system is ineffective if the aggressor is one of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Kachur said. ".... This is a good time for African countries to talk about the change of the global system of international relations and to redistribute power.

Analysts note its too early to be sure how the conflict in Ukraine will affect countries thousands of kilometers away. But to the extent the world order is being altered, Africa will feel the impact.
The Hong Kong government has invoked emergency powers to fight unprecedented COVID-19 caseloads as other parts of the world see declines in transmission. Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced mandatory citywide testing will begin in March, as Hong Kong tries to achieve a dynamic zero-COVID policy in line with mainland Chinas approach.

It's ridiculous. It feels like were in the Third World. I never thought something like this would happen to an international financial hub, said Hong Kong resident Packie Mak.

For more than six months, Hong Kong detected zero imported COVID-19 cases; however, since the Lunar New Year, the highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus has led to an exponential growth in the caseload, with clusters developing throughout the city.

According to the Hong Kong governments website, from February 17-23, there were an average of 6,327 cases of COVID-19 reported each day - compared to 1878 daily cases on average reported the week before.

I think the biggest issue here is that they (government) didnt do well in their preventive measures. They didnt close the borders, and now all these cases have come through, and they only start to tackle this when the virus has already spread, resident Ken Wong said.

Lam this week announced tougher measures to stop the spread.

We will implement compulsory universal testing or in English, CUT, within three months, in order to cut off this transmission chain, Lam said at a press conference.

The Hong Kong Security Bureau has also set up a new anti-epidemic police task force to prepare for mandatory testing throughout the city. Officials say they are in full-on war mode.

Hong Kong aims to follow Beijings approach by implementing a dynamic zero-COVID-19 infection strategy. The initiative includes designated clinics to take in COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms in order to ease the strain on public hospitals, which have reached maximum capacity.



Labs have been overwhelmed with people waiting days before getting test results.



Resources from the mainland have poured in as Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the city to contain the spread of the infection. The emergency powers exempt doctors from the mainland from licensing requirements and allow them to treat patients in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong government is also looking to build makeshift hospitals for COVID-19 patients.

Some residents have voiced frustration with what they describe as inconsistent health measures, including a ban on gatherings of more than two people, while residents have been lining up outdoors for mandatory COVID-19 testing with many people waiting for hours in close proximity.

Youre only applying measures selectively, which has caused so much outrage. Whats the point? asked Wong.

Some residents say the measures will not be enough.

I think there is a need to strengthen the preventive measures and increase citizens awareness, but I dont think we can achieve zero COVID-19 [cases] because we live in such a densely populated environment, and (it is) so unlike on the mainland where they have much more space to carry out those measures such as quarantine, said resident Jeremy Chan.

The Hong Kong government has introduced a vaccine pass, which requires citizens to provide their vaccination records before entering designated venues, such as shopping malls and wet markets.

I dont support the government in introducing stricter measures because we have our freedom and rights. Even forcing us to take vaccines is already not quite acceptable, resident Veronica Kong said.

David Owens, a family practice doctor in Hong Kong, told VOA the Zero COVID-19 strategy had been successful, but that it is unrealistic at this stage to expect to completely eliminate the coronavirus from Hong Kong.

Most of the people in Hong Kong are going to be infected in the next three months. So really what we want to do over the next two months is to focus on minimizing the harm to the health system, Owens said.

Health authorities have started offering the Chinese Sinovac vaccine to children as young as three years old. Hong Kong currently has a vaccination rate of more than 76%, but only about 20% of those aged 3-11 have received their first shot.
The murder of a prominent Azerbaijani reporter and gay rights activist is a tragedy for the countrys media and civil society, a media analyst said.

Avaz Shikhmammadov, a 24-year-old reporter popularly known as Avaz Hafizli, was stabbed to death Tuesday near the capital, Baku, according to the Azerbaijan Attorney Generals Office and Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Police arrested the reporters cousin, Amrulla Gulaliyev, in connection with the attack, and the prosecutor's office is investigating.

Initial investigation shows that Gulaliyev was drunk when he committed the crime and has admitted to killing his cousin as a result of a dispute, a joint statement by the attorney general and ministry said.

Neither Gulaliyev nor his attorney has yet issued a comment.

Hafizli worked as a reporter for the independent video news website, 13Kanal, where he covered a range of issues, including LGBTQ rights.

He took part in rallies against the new media law in Azerbaijan and staged protests demanding the government end discrimination against LGBTQ citizens. Last year, the journalist chained himself to the fence outside the chief prosecutors office to protest a lack of action against threats to the gay community.

Reporting on such issues is limited in Azerbaijan, where media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says authorities harass and jail independent or critical journalists and censorship is increasing.

The country ranks 167 out of 180 countries, where one is the freest on RSFs World Press Freedom Index.

Media and legal analysts called for a thorough investigation into Hafizlis death to determine whether the attack was motivated by his journalism or activism.

Friends of the journalist say he was harassed by his family and others for his work and his sexual orientation, including a blogger who called for violence against gay people. Some relatives disowned him, Global Voices reported.

Supporters paid tribute to the journalist on social media and cited a lack of action in violence against the gay community.

Authorities in Azerbaijan say that basic rights and freedoms of citizens are fully guaranteed.

But rights groups disagree.

Hate crimes are a serious issue in Azerbaijan, with attacks, online harassment and threats a risk, the umbrella gay rights organization ILGA-Europe says

Shamshad Agha, a media expert in Baku, described Hafizlis murder as a tragic event for both journalism and the society in Azerbaijan.

Agha, who presents a show on Toplum TV and edits an independent news website, called for a thorough investigation of the incident.

Police say the killing was the result of a drunken dispute.

But Javid Nabiyev, a LGBTQ+ rights defender, says that every crime against the gay community in Azerbaijan is political in its nature.

Hate crimes are political, because there is no mechanism. There is no protection mechanism. There is no awareness mechanism. There are no opportunities to work with the society. The reason behind the lack of these opportunities is the government. And that in itself makes any crime political, he said.

Part of the problem is a lack of clarity in hate speech legislation and how the laws are applied, according to media legal expert Khalid Agaliyev.

"A government that comes up with and adopts a law every week aimed at curbing critical content and silencing voices must focus its main efforts on treating the atmosphere that is fertile for hate speech, improving the law, and enforcing existing laws more effectively. Otherwise, we will witness more such horrible crimes," he said.

The Council of Europe last month adopted a resolution on gay rights in Azerbaijan and the Southern Caucasus, calling for better laws and policies to protect citizens rights.

This story originated in VOAs Azerbaijani service.
Russian police detained more than 1,300 anti-war protestors in 50 Russian cities Thursday, according to OVD-Info, an independent Russian human rights group.

Anti-war rallies broke out after a military operation targeting Ukraine was announced. The human rights organization said most of the detentions, 660, were in Moscow.

The group said arrests were also made in Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and other cities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin used a televised address to announce what he called a special military operation in eastern Ukraine, in response to what he termed Ukrainian threats. He warned other countries not to intervene, declaring they will face consequences they have never seen if they do.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the government was introducing martial law throughout the country after "Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in the World War Two years.

NATO is bolstering its military presence to defend allied countries in eastern Europe, if necessary, the military alliance said hours after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden said the people of Ukraine were suffering an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces, adding, The world will hold Russia accountable.
Russias invasion of Ukraine has so far been met with diplomatic silence in Africa, except for a comment made by Kenyas ambassador to the UN earlier this week. Analysts say that while many Africans disagree with Russias use of force, the continents governments are aware of Russias power on the world stage.

Ukraines ambassador to Kenya, Andrii Pravednyk, spoke to reporters in Nairobi and appealed to the international community to help his country against Russias invasion.

Today, the future of Europe and the future of the world is at stake. Today Ukraine calls on the international community to take the following actions, to implement devastating sanctions on Russia now without any delay, he said.



But so far, African governments have said nothing about the Russian aggression. One exception is Kenya, whose ambassador to the U.N., Martin Kimani, condemned the prospect of an invasion Monday, three days before Russian forces entered Ukraine.

Kenya rejects such a yearning from being pursued by force. We must complete our recovery from the embers of dead empires in a way that does not plunge us back into new forms of domination and oppression, he said.

Separately, South Africa issued a statement Wednesday urging Ukraine and Russia to find a way to de-escalate tensions.

Steven Gruzd is the head of the Russia-Africa Program at the South African Institute of International Affairs. He says African states are well aware of Russias power in the international system.



African countries are mindful of the role Russia plays in international politics. It is a supporter without asking governance questions, without asking [about] the internal affairs of countries," he said.

"There was a big Africa-Russia summit in 2019 in Sochi where 43 African leaders went. Russia is definitely wooing the continent and that may weigh on how critical countries are going to be," he said.



But Grudz says in principle, African government oppose the idea of rearranging borders by force.



We were left with colonial borders at the end of the 19th century and when our countries became independent, we decided that we would respect those borders even though they cut off ethnic groups and language groups and so on. Otherwise, its a recipe for total disaster. So, I think the fact that there is some political affinity between Russia and African countries would probably make the statement more muted but African countries will stand for their principles and one of those is territorial integrity and sovereignty, he said.

Kenyan international relations expert Kizito Sabala says he doubts the Kenyan ambassadors words at the U.N. will affect Nairobis relationship with Moscow.



Russia is going to ignore this statement just like any other from the U.S. or any other partner. They are just going to proceed with what they want to do and what they think is right but in terms of relations, I dont think it is going to adversely affect Kenya-Russia relations, he said.

Russia has exerted increasing influence in Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Mali and Libya in recent years. Some governments have used Russian mercenaries to battle insurgent groups.

The mercenaries are accused of widespread abuses against civilians. The Russian government denies any link to the mercenaries.
Fighting has largely died down in Ethiopias Tigray region after more than a year of conflict between the federal government and Tigrayan rebels. However, clashes continue in the neighboring Afar region, where civilians have formed self-defense militias to respond to Tigrayan rebel attacks. In the town of Afdera, the main hospital is overwhelmed with injured. Vinicius Assis reports from Afdera, Ethiopia. Camera: Vinicius Assis Producer: Vinicius Assis
China has condemned Australias plans to boost its scientific and strategic presence in Antarctica. The government in Canberra on Tuesday announced plans to fly a fleet of surveillance drones and long-range helicopters over the icy continent.

Australias $570 million Antarctic plan has environmental and strategic ambitions. It aims to chart unexplored parts of the continents interior with drones and long-range helicopters to boost research into glaciers, marine science and rising sea levels.

Australia also has concerns about Chinas expansion in the increasingly contested region.

At a media conference Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not mention specific countries by name, but he said some were eager to exploit its resources."

We are stewards of some of the most important and most sensitive environments anywhere in the world, he said. We need to keep eyes on Antarctica because there are others who have different objectives to us.

Australia lays claim to more than 42% of the continent, a territorial ambition that is recognized by few other nations.

The Australian government wants to uphold the 1961 Antarctic Treaty, which bans military and mining activity. About 30 countries maintain dozens of research bases on the worlds coldest, driest, and windiest continent.

Professor Donald Rothwell is from the Australian National Universitys College of Law. He said some countries have ambitions to use the continent for defense purposes.

Antarctica was demilitarized under the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty and also de-nuclearized, he said. Antarctic is a nuclear-free zone but that does not mean to say that issues have not been raised from time to time about dual-use capacity, and also, dual-use technology.

Chinas state media outlet Global Times said Beijing had always abided by the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty System in carrying out scientific expeditions in the Antarctic region.

It claimed Australias multimillion-dollar plan was part of the Morrison governments anti-China agenda and was driven by their hostility toward China.

Relations between Australia and China  its biggest trading partner  have soured in recent years. There have been various diplomatic flashpoints, including allegations of Chinese interference in Australias domestic affairs.

The China state-owned Global Times said Canberra was driving the bilateral relations toward a dead end.
President Joe Biden has interviewed at least three candidates for the Supreme Court, according to a person familiar with the matter, and the White House is reiterating that he remains on track to make a final selection by Monday.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that Biden had not decided whom to nominate. But the president has interviewed Judges Ketanji Brown Jackson, J. Michelle Childs and Leondra Kruger, according to a person familiar with the matter. A second person familiar said Biden had interviewed at least three candidates for the post. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the process.

Biden has pledged to nominate the first Black woman to the high court by the end of the month to fill the vacancy being created by the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer. It was not clear whether any additional candidates have been interviewed by the president.

Psaki declined to discuss whether Biden had conducted interviews but insisted the president was "on track" to make the selection despite rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Jackson was nominated by President Barack Obama to be a district judge. Biden elevated her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Early in her career, she was also a law clerk for Breyer.

Childs, a federal judge in South Carolina, has been nominated but not yet confirmed to serve on the same circuit court. Her name has surfaced partly because she is a favorite among some high-profile lawmakers, including Representative James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat.

Kruger, a graduate of Harvard University and Yale University's law school, was previously a Supreme Court clerk and argued a dozen cases before the justices as a lawyer for the federal government before becoming a justice on the California Supreme Court.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is signaling he wants a fair fight over Biden's pick, discouraging those within his GOP ranks who are eager to interject a broader debate over race into the confirmation process.

Speaking Tuesday in Kentucky, McConnell distanced himself from GOP senators and others who have criticized Biden for declaring his intent to nominate a Black woman.

"I heard a couple of people say they thought it was inappropriate for the president to announce he was going to put an African American woman on the court. Honestly, I did not think that was inappropriate," McConnell said.

The GOP leader drew on history to remind people that former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump both promised to put women on the court  when Reagan tapped Sandra Day O'Connor as the first female justice and Trump chose Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. "I'm not complaining about that," McConnell said.

More to the point, Republicans are unable to stop Biden's pick in the 50-50 Senate where Democrats have the majority with Vice President Kamala Harris' tie-breaking vote. They want to allow the confirmation process to unfold without self-inflicted political drama so they can resume challenging the president on their preferred topics of the economy and the administration's handling of COVID-19.

Republicans believe one way to show voters how they would govern is by drawing a contrast between this court battle and the controversy that exploded around Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation, when the Trump nominee was accused of sexual assault, a claim he denied. Republicans believe Senate Democrats suffered with voters after those highly politicized public confirmation hearings.

"This confirmation will not occur like that," McConnell said. He said he expects a confirmation process that Americans can be proud of. "We believe a Supreme Court nominee ought to be respectfully treated, thoroughly vetted and then voted upon."
As much of the world denounced Russias invasion of Ukraine Thursday, the Central African Republic's capital, Bangui, hosted a tribute to Russian paramilitaries who helped beat back rebels a year ago.

In Banguis city center, a human-sized statue erected last year depicts Central African and Russian security forces protecting a woman and her child.

As Western countries tried in vain Wednesday to prevent Russian military aggression against Ukraine, about 100 Central Africans gathered at the monument holding Russian flags.

The group was paying tribute to Russian mercenaries who helped defend the capital, Bangui, last year against rebels.

Blaise-Didacien Kossimatchi organized the ceremony. He heads the "National Galaxy" platform, a Central African group close to the government that often holds protests against France and the United Nations.

He says they say no to everything that is a smear campaign against our army and our Russians, especially by the international press who qualify the Russians as mercenaries.. Kossimatchi adds, "no, the Russians are not here to make exactions - the Russians did nothing!

By exactions, Kossimatchi means crimes such as rapes and killings. U.N. experts accuse Russian mercenaries of abusing civilians in the CAR. and several other countries.

Several of those celebrating the anniversary wore T-shirts that read I am Wagner, a reference to the Wagner Group, the shadowy Russian network that supplied the mercenaries.

Analysts say Russian President Vladimir Putins ally, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is behind the Wagner Group.

Wagners fighters provide security for CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera and have been spotted from Syria to Libya and from Mozambique to Mali.

Yefi Kezza, a member of the ruling United Hearts Movement party, says theyre changing history. You see what is happening in Mali, says Kezza. This is a strong message that Im sending to the French Embassy today, he says. It is time to cooperate with President Touadera and to try and liberate the country together, says Kezza. Were grateful to the Russians. We are here today, he says, and we have invited the Russians to join us to thank them along with our national army.

No Russians attended the celebration in Bangui, but one Central African army commander was in the crowd.

One man held a sign that read, Russia will Save the Donbas from War, referring to the area in southeast Ukraine that Russia declared independent this week before launching its invasion.

A CAR government spokesman declined to comment on the celebration.
China, Russias most powerful ally, was notably restrained in its initial reaction to Russias invasion of Ukraine, offering little direct support for Moscow as much of the world seeks to isolate Moscow economically and diplomatically.

I would like to say that China is closely following the situation in Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing on Thursday. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control.

We still hope that the parties concerned will not shut the door to peace and engage instead in dialogue and consultation and prevent the situation from further escalating, she said.

A foreign diplomat based in Beijing said the statement was consistent with Chinas recent remarks on the Ukraine crisis but expressed surprise that Hua did not promise Moscow more help against what Western leaders say will be crushing economic sanctions.

This is more or less what China has been saying last few days, said the diplomat, who asked not to be identified. The least one would have expected from Beijing is an assurance that it will go ahead with the recent agreement on purchase of Russia gas.

Nevertheless, there were signs that China will help to soften the blow of the expected sanctions, some of which have already been announced. The Chinese Customs department released a new order signed on Wednesday for the purchase of Russian wheat.

The two countries had announced a trade deal for the sale of wheat and barley to China on February 8. They appeared to make a point of announcing the transaction even as Russian troops and tanks were rolling into Ukraine.

During the press briefing, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson differed with Western journalists over whether the Russian military action should be called an invasion.

"Regarding the definition of an invasion, I think we should go back to how to view the current situation in Ukraine. The Ukrainian issue has other very complicated historical background that have continued to today. It may not be what everyone wants to see," she said.

Other Chinese experts have echoed the argument made by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow is simply responding to Western aggression and the mistreatment of Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine.

"I believe Russia's military operation is a reaction of Moscow toward Western countries' exerting pressure on Russia for a long time, showing that Moscow can't tolerate anymore," said Yang Jin, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He spoke to the state-run Global Times on Thursday.

Chinese dilemma

There are signs Beijing is caught in a dilemma. It does not want to support or justify the Russian attack on Ukraine because it might harm its political and trade relationship with the Western world.

Beijing is particularly worried about Western experts suggesting the Ukraine invasion could be a test case for China, which has long refused to rule out a military takeover of Taiwan. It does not want the spotlight to focus on China at this stage, informed sources said.

On the other hand, it wants to be seen as a country that stands by its friends and allies, which explains its decision on the wheat purchase. Beijing is expected to offer more trade opportunities to ease economic pressure on Russia but avoid any major political or military measures, the diplomat said.

Putin is believed to have consulted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping about the possible fallout of an invasion on Ukraine during a visit to Beijing on February 4. They also discussed possible ways to overcome new challenges that an attack on Ukraine would throw up, sources said.

The same day, Russian state-owned petroleum company Gazprom announced it has signed a 30-year agreement for the sale of natural gas to be supplied to China through a Far Eastern route.

The two countries were prepared for a possible European decision to halt the activation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, built to carry Russian gas under the Baltic Sea, directly to Germany.

The United States is particularly worried about a strong partnership between China and Russia.

We think that Russia and the PRC [want a world order] that is and would be profoundly illiberal, an order that stands in contrast to the system that countries around the world  have built in the last seven decades, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Wednesday. It is an order that is in many ways destructive, rather than additive.
Experts are calling for increased investment in Africas health care infrastructure to support data collection, research and development related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent impact on African economies.

In a recent discussion on VOA's Straight Talk Africa program titled COVID-19 in Africa: Virus, Variants and Vaccines, experts pointed out that the global health crisis exposed poor health infrastructure on the continent.

Mo Ibrahim, the billionaire founder and chair of the London-based foundation that bears his name, spoke about inequality in vaccine distribution at the height of the pandemic.

The vaccine apartheid did not help the situation for Africa,'' Ibrahim said. However, he said he remains "quite optimistic that the pandemic in a strange way will help us move forward."

"Going forward, we need to manufacture our own vaccines," he said. "We should not rely on the goodwill or the sensible behavior of others."

Last Friday, the World Health Organization announced that six African nations would be the first on the continent to receive the technology necessary to produce mRNA vaccines. The countries are Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.

Health experts around the world have raised concerns over the unequal distribution of vaccines. More than 80% of the African continents population has yet to receive a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to WHO.

"Much of this inequity has been driven by the fact that globally, vaccine production is concentrated in a few mostly high-income countries," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a European Union-African Union summit last week.

On the panel, Ibrahim highlighted Africas weak and overstretched health care system while stressing the lack of adequate investments and the effects of brain drain on health care.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, more affluent countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development have lured migrant doctors and nurses with measures such as higher pay, temporary licensing and eased entry, the OECD has reported.

WHO recommends at least one physician for every thousand people. Some African countries, such as Ghana and Chad, had as few as 0.1 medical doctors per thousand in 2019, according to World Bank data.

Panelist Aloysius Uche Ordu dispelled the assumption that infectious diseases always come from poor countries.

"We tend to look at Africa as the place where infectious diseases start. Well, that did not happen with COVID," said Ordu, who directs the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. "COVID started with a rich country and spread to other rich countries. In fact, Africa came into the picture later on."

An official with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the continent has done a laudable job of dealing with the virus.

"We have kept the numbers low. We have mobilized our political leadership from the very top all the way down to our technical teams," said Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, deputy director of the Africa CDC. "We have mobilized the public, and Africa has largely addressed this pandemic as a group. And this is unprecedented, and I will give us a very, very good mark."

But the dean of health sciences at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa disagrees.

Professor Sabir Madhi noted that his country's disproportionately high COVID-19 death toll is largely due to "much more robust" contact tracing and data collation tools than other African nations.

South Africans "constitute less than 5% of the African population yet have contributed 45% of all (COVID-19-related) deaths on the African continent," he said.

The country of nearly 60 million people has Africas highest number of recorded infections and deaths  a total of 3.6 million cases and nearly 99,000 deaths as of this week, according to the Johns Hopkins Universitys Coronavirus Resource Center. The center has recorded more than 420 million COVID-19 cases globally and nearly 6 million deaths.

South Africa is emerging from a fourth wave of the pandemic, largely driven by the omicron variant. According to local scientists, the variant no longer leads to high hospitalization rates and deaths in the country, a huge relief for a population reeling under lockdown fatigue.

Madhi told VOA the continent has failed to learn from experiences with the 2009 swine flu, which emphasized the need for good data collection.

He added that "the impact of the pandemic on Africa will, unfortunately, be realized only after the pandemic has passed."

US support

The United States has committed to helping the world combat the virus. President Joe Biden pledged to donate over 1.2 billion doses through COVAX, the international vaccine-sharing initiative supported by the U.N. and the health organizations Gavi and CEPI. The initiative aims to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines to developing countries.

So far, the U.S. has donated more than 450 million doses globally, with more than 120 million doses going to 43 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the State Department.

Ordu said it has become imperative to strengthen STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in Africa. This, he contended, would be a sure way to overcome any future health crisis.

"Because of the growing youthful population in Africa, it is important that STEM education is an area of focus, particularly for women and girls," he said.

This report originated in VOAs English to Africa service.
Haitian police on Wednesday opened fire on demonstrators demanding higher wages and killed a reporter, according to witnesses and a hospital official in the impoverished Caribbean island nation.

Two other journalists were shot and wounded at the scene in Port-au-Prince, where hundreds of Haitians gathered to call for a higher minimum wage than the one approved this week by the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

A passing police vehicle fired at protesters, according to a Reuters witness and a union leader present. Dominique St Eloi, a union leader who was at the demonstration, said it was calm when police began shooting from the vehicle.

Haiti on Monday hiked the minimum wage by as much as 54% following weeks of demonstrations by garment workers who said their wages did not keep up with the rising cost of living.

The protesters on Wednesday were mostly from the garment sector, which exports finished products to U.S. retailers. Those workers received a 37% increase that took their wages to just under $7.50 a day  half what union leaders had demanded.

Lazzare Maxihen, who worked for Haitian media group Roi des Infos, succumbed to his wounds at a hospital on Wednesday, according to a hospital official who asked not to be identified.

The prime minister later condemned the brutal acts and pledged to protect peaceful demonstrations. The government reiterates the responsibility of public authorities to ensure order and security, Henry wrote on Twitter.

It was not immediately evident why police fired. A spokesperson for Haitis National Police did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH), the countrys main manufacturing trade group, announced the closure on Thursday of clothing factories at an industrial park near where shooting took place.

The group condemned the shooting and said the closure was intended to protect their workers and their equipment.
Human Rights Watch warns Russian President Vladimir Putins battle plan for Ukraine will likely entail the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure to weaken Ukraines resolve to fight on.

Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, says he fears Russias military will replicate in Ukraine the war strategy it employed to help the Syrian regime reclaim the northern province of Idlib, the countrys last rebel-controlled enclave.

He says a detailed study of how Russia fought that war found repeated instances of Russian bombers deliberately targeting civilian institutions. He says hospitals, schools, markets, and civilian buildings were blatantly attacked.

We were able to document, I think it was 43 cases of these where there were no known military targets in sight. It was just deliberately attacking a civilian institution, to make it unlivable and make it easier for the Syrian military to move in. It became clearer that these were deliberate efforts  to make life unlivable for the three million civilians in Idlib, he said.

What is particularly worth noting, Roth says, is the structure of the chain of command behind Russias deliberate, illegitimate policy.

We found that Putin himself had command responsibility and that he had even given out, what is called a Hero of Russia award to the two commanders who were in charge of this bombing during the period when we found these bombings going on. So, our fear is that this will be replicated, he said.

Roth says serious pressure must be put on the Russian military not to replicate this wartime strategy. He notes Russias wanton bombing campaign in Idlib stopped in March 2020 under the combined pressure from the German French, and Turkish leaders. He says international pressure on Putin in this instance must be maintained.
During February, a special ritual takes place backstage at The Lion King musical on Broadway.

On show days, the four young actors who play the lion cubs Simba and Nala seek out fellow actor Bonita J. Hamilton in the moments before the curtain goes up at the Minskoff Theatre.

The youngsters have learned their lines and choreography, of course, but during Black History Month, they also tell Hamilton what they've learned about a Black historical figure. It might include a birthdate, the figure's biggest achievements and some facts about their lives.

"February is my favorite month because the children  the cubs  get to teach me about Black history," said Hamilton, who plays the hyena leader Shenzi onstage and offstage looks after the cubs with warmth and respect. "Every day in the month of February, they bring me a Black history fact."

Hamilton has led the voluntary ritual for 17 years and the children seem to enjoy the challenge. "Telling Miss Bonita my fact is just really fun to do," said Sydney Elise Russell, 10, who plays young Nala.

This month, the kids have honored Aretha Franklin, Shirley Chisholm, Whitney Houston, Billie Holiday, Frederick Douglass, James Baldwin, Michael Jordan, George Washington Carver, Angela Davis, Ethel Waters, Maya Angelou, Muhammad Ali, Dorothy Height and Mabel Fairbanks, among others.

"They're learning, I'm learning. Because I say, 'You're teaching me something,'" said Hamilton, a graduate of Alabama State University and Brandeis University. "You've got to know whose shoulders you're standing on."

Last Friday night, Vince Ermita, 12, who plays Simba for four performances a week, sought out Hamilton to recite what he'd lately learned online about music icon Louis Armstrong.

"Louis Armstrong was born on Aug. 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a jazz trumpeter and vocalist, and one of the most iconic people he performed with was Ella Fitzgerald," Vince said, without notes.

"His improvisation changed the landscape of jazz, and some of his most famous songs were What a Wonderful World, West End Blues and Hello, Dolly! And he passed away on July 6, 1971."

Vince had clearly nailed the assignment, and Hamilton beamed. But she had a follow-up question: What was Armstrong's nickname?

"Satchmo?" he answered.

"All right!" Hamilton exclaimed, giving him a hand slap.

The other young actors also offered their facts. Alayna Martus, 12, picked gymnast Dominique Dawes  nicknamed Awesome Dawesome  and Sydney picked writer and poet Phillis Wheatley Peters, whose most famous poem is On Being Brought from Africa to America.

Hamilton also had a question when Sydney was done: Do you know the name of Peters' first published book? Sydney did not but promised to return with the answer.

"Circle back, good job. Good job, guys. Thank you. I learned something today," said Hamilton.

The backstage February ceremonies have had a lasting impact on generations of actors who have cycled in and out of the show, under Hamilton's charismatic leadership. This year, several former child alumni of The Lion King  led by Caleb McLaughlin of the Netflix series Stranger Things  got together to make a video for Hamilton  each submitting their Black History figures for February.

Hamilton, from Montgomery, Alabama, the home of the civil rights movement which her family aided, started the tradition after coming to The Lion King and asking her then-young co-stars about the meaning of February.

"One day, just so casually, I said, 'It's Black History Month, guys. Let's talk about it. What do you know about Black History Month?' And they said, 'Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks,'" she recalls, shaking her head. "There's so much more to our history."

Hamilton mixed it up a bit this year, kicking off the month by picking the names of several Black heroes from South Africa and putting them into a cup for the cubs to pick: Chris Hani, Steve Biko, Mamphela Ramphele and Tsietsi Mashinini, among them. The Lion King is set in South Africa, after all.

"They make me very proud. It's like a game. It's not anything that's homework. Learning can be fun," she said.

It's a fitting ritual for a show in which Africa is celebrated and there are six Indigenous languages sung and spoken: Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana and Congolese.

"The Lion King is steeped in ritual tradition, tribal things. Even the fabrics that we wear in the show have tribal markings, the mask, the makeup  all of it is tribal," said Hamilton.

The ceremony clearly honors a legacy of greatness  updated, naturally, as the inclusion of gymnast Simone Biles can attest  but also teaches the children to respect how they got here.

"They have to know that there was a time when we weren't allowed to perform on stage or, if we were, we couldn't walk into the front door of the theater," said Hamilton.

"It is a privilege to be able to share your gifts on the world's largest stage. And that's what I try to instill in them because we weren't always able to do it."
In the week after the Nazis began attacking Poland, the U.S. weekly newsmagazine Time declared in its September 11, 1939, edition, World War II began last week at 5:20 a.m. (Polish time) Friday, September 1, when a German bombing plane dropped a projectile on Puck, a fishing village and air base in the armpit of the Hel Peninsula.

France and the United Kingdom, allies of Poland, had declared war on Germany on September 3.

In the hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine  although no country has declared war on Russia  many are asking: Is this the start of World War III?

No, its not, according to Joshua Pollack, editor of The Nonproliferation Review and a former consultant to the U.S. government on issues related to weapons of mass destruction, including proliferation, arms control and deterrence. The real question is whether its the start of Cold War II. The answer may depend on the longevity of Putins regime.

Plenty of previews

Naoko Wake, Michigan State University associate professor of history, concurs.

This appears to be one of the beginnings of a second Cold War, which we have been seeing so many manifestations of around the globe in the recent decade, she says.

Were far from World War III but a lot closer than we were 24 hours ago, says Kenneth Weinstein, a Hudson Institute distinguished fellow. But if NATO is forced to invoke Article V by a Russian attack on the Baltics, Poland or other alliance members, and the Chinese move simultaneously and massively on Taiwan, while Iran launches a blistering attack on Saudi Arabia, wed be there.

That scenario is unthinkable but not impossible, adds Weinstein, who was former President Donald Trumps nominee for U.S. ambassador to Japan.

Bryan Clark, a Hudson Institute senior fellow and a former director at the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group, states, This isnt the start of World War III, at least in terms of how previous world wars played out. Russia can manage its operations in Ukraine to keep the conflict from escalating out of control, and the U.S., NATO and EU have reconciled themselves to not intervening militarily.

This could be, however, the start of a long-term, slow-motion global confrontation between Russia and its Western neighbors, which could be complemented by conflict between China and its eastern neighbors, Clark says.

Democracies vs. authoritarians

It is premature to call this a new world war, according to Brett Bruen, who runs the Global Situation Room consultancy.

Nonetheless, there clearly is a worldwide war being waged on a range of fronts between democracies and authoritarian regimes. While they may not be fighting on the battlefield, they certainly are squaring off online and through regional conflicts in places like Ukraine and Afghanistan, says Bruen, a former White House global engagement director.

"Regardless of how the situation is resolved, it would engender a bitter divide between Russia and the West, triggering a new Cold War, according to Vishnu Prakash, Indias former ambassador to Canada and South Korea.

If NATO were to intervene militarily, all bets are off and could even precipitate the Third World War, Prakash says.

Time magazines early reference to World War II  what we now call World War I was known simply as the World War or the Great War until the bloody sequel  prompted U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt to begin using the term, although the government did not officially adopt that name for the six-year conflict until September 1945, a month after the Japanese surrendered.

Ankit Panda, a senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, also views World War III terminology as premature.

The concern is that this becomes a larger-scale European conflict, he says, observing a small possibility that other states could seize on a distracted West amid this crisis to pursue escalation elsewhere. But theres no evidence this is likely.

'Death knell' of postwar order

What is clearer among the people who make a living thinking about such questions is that a new era is beginning this week, regardless of what it ends up being labeled.

Putins invasion may well signal the death knell of the postwar global order and the rise of a revanchist global alliance of Russia, China and Iran, undeterred by the rule of law and laser-focused on kinks in the Western alliance system, Weinstein says.

This act of war is intended to rewrite history, and more concerning, upend the balance of power in Europe, said House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy in a statement Thursday.

Asked by a reporter on Thursday whether we are seeing the start of a new Cold War, President Joe Biden responded that depends, adding what is more certain is it's going to be a cold day for Russia.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.



The latest developments of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, all times EST:

11:31 p.m.: VOA's Anita Powell reports: On Friday morning, both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will meet, in separate meetings, with different working groups of NATO allies about the situation in Ukraine.

11:10 p.m.: Ukraine's foreign minister compares situation to 1941 attack by Nazi Germany:

11:06 p.m.: VOA's Jamie Dettmer reports: Missile blasts in Kyiv early hours of this morning; fierce fightback by Ukrainians overnight in Sumy region and down south near Kherson; Ukrainians also managed to recapture a military airport very close to Kyiv that was going to be used by Russians to launch a ground attack on the capital. My overall impression is that yesterday in the first hours of the offensive Russian forces penetrated deeply in east, south and north but with the exception of the south underestimated the resistance they would face and have suffered reversals or containments. Russia will likely redouble efforts on Kyiv, hoping to shorten war.

10:55 p.m.: Kyiv's mayor, a former champion boxer, says he's ready to fight, ESPN reports:

10:51 p.m.: The New York Times reports newborns in Ukraine are being moved to a makeshift bomb shelter:

9:15 p.m.: French President Emmanuel Macron held a "frank, direct and quick" phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to ask him to stop military operations because the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had asked him to, according to an Agence France-Presse report.

8:28 p.m.: VOAs Steve Herman tweets: #Ukraine forces putting up fierce resistance, according to #UK.

8:07 p.m.: The U.N. Security Council will vote Friday on a resolution that would condemn Russias military aggression against Ukraine in the strongest terms. It also would demand an immediate halt to Russias invasion and the withdrawal of all Russian troops, according to The Associated Press.

7:04 p.m.: VOAs Heather Murdock on what its like on the ground in Ukraine:

Like many people in Ukraine today, we knew about the invasion before we could hear the bombs.

Around 5 a.m. our phones were pinging, with WhatsApp, Signal and Facebook posts: We heard a blast in Kyiv. Blasts heard in Mariupol  bombs in Kramatorsk, and so on.

By the time we could hear bombing in the distance from our hotel in Slovyansk, a quiet town about 20 kilometers from the nearest place of military significance, we were not surprised. In fact, we were already planning our departure, thinking someplace farther from the battle zones would be safer.

6:08 p.m.: VOA's White House correspondent Anita Powell reports that White House press secretary Jen Psaki has confirmed reports of a hostage situation at Chernobyl: "We're outraged by credible reports that Russian soldiers are currently holding the staff of the Chernobyl facilities hostage. This unlawful and dangerous hostage taking, which could end the routine civil service efforts required to maintain and protect the nuclear waste facilities is obviously incredibly alarming and partly concerning concerning we condemn it and we request their release."

5:49 p.m.: Ukraines Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said on Thursday that 57 Ukrainians were killed as a result of the Russian invasion, and 169 more were wounded. Lyashko said Ukraines authorities are repurposing the countrys health care facilities to make room for those who need medical assistance because of the hostilities.

4:32 p.m.: Pro-Ukraine rallies were held around the U.S. on Thursday. Hundreds of demonstrators from the Ukrainian community gathered in New York's Times Square to protest against Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion and show support for their loved ones back home. Tetiana Sears says she has many family and friends living in Eastern Ukraine, just a couple hundred kilometers from the Russian border. "I know people there, I talk to them, they're going to fight until they all die," she said.

4:05 p.m.: VOAs Jeff Seldin reports, According to U.S. officials, the Russian offensive, still in its initial phase, has targeted Ukrainian defense positions with more than 160 short and medium range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and airstrike from fixed-wing aircraft.

4:05 p.m.: VOA's White House correspondent Anita Powell shared Vice President Kamala Harris' statement on Ukraine. "We know and believe that this is a war of choice. It is unprovoked. It is unwarranted and it is unjustified. The president made clear from the beginning if Russia were to take aggressive action against Ukraine, our response would be swift and certain and that is in fact what has occurred.

3:29 p.m.: VOAs Jeff Seldin reports the Russia is continuing to send additional troops into Ukraine.

2:32 p.m.: VOAs Carla Babb reports from the Pentagon.

1:48 p.m.: President Joe Biden announced additional sanctions against Russia that will impose severe costs on the Russian economy following its invasion of Ukraine. Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war and now he and his country will bear the consequences, Biden said from the White House Thursday.

1:30 p.m.: A Ukrainian official says Ukraine has lost control over the Chernobyl nuclear plant after a fierce battle with Russian forces. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the condition of the plants facilities, a confinement shelter and storage of nuclear waste is unknown. The decommissioned plant was the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986

12:50 p.m.: A monitoring group says at least 1,000 people have been detained in anti-war protests across Russia. Earlier, the Investigative Committee, a government body that investigates major crimes, warned Russians of legal repercussions for joining unsanctioned protests related to "the tense foreign political situation.

12:05 p.m: Ukraines U.N. envoy is calling for the United Nations General Assembly to meet in an emergency session following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

11:45 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl power plant, the site of world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986. He says Ukrainian forces are fighting back.

11:16 a.m.: A senior U.S. defense official say Russian military operations in Ukraine are just getting started. Theyre making a move on Kyiv, the official said.

10:38 a.m.: VOAs Heather Murdock describes the situation on the ground from a car as she moves from Kharkiv in Eastern Ukraine towards Kyiv.

10:25 a.m. The shockwave from Russias invasion of Ukraine reverberated in the worlds financial markets Thursday, with stocks tumbling worldwide.

9:40 a.m. VOAs Jamie Dettmer, reporting updates from Ukraine.

The mayor of Kharkiv (Ukraines second largest city) says city effectively encircled.

9:10 a.m.: President Joe Biden met with his National Security team Thursday morning to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

8:58 a.m.: Video posted on RFE/RL shows explosions in several cities as Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine.

8:17 a.m.: Ukraines foreign minister says Ukraine has severed diplomatic relations with Russia and urges all our partners to do the same.

8:01 a.m.: VOAs Jamie Dettmer reporting updates from Kyiv.

The military airport of Hostomel west of Kyiv was struck early Thursday by attack helicopters, much deeper inside Ukraine than 20 kilometers.

7:54 a.m. :U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi is warning that the humanitarian consequences of Russias invasion on civilian populations will be devastating.

7:30 a.m.: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to impose massive sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Today, in concert with our allies we will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy, he said.

7:01 a.m.: VOAs Jamie Dettmer reporting updates from Kyiv.

According to former deputy prime minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Russian military forces broke through into Ukraine in the Kyiv region at the Vilcha checkpoint. Border guards together with the Ukrainian military are now fighting to contain the breach. Additionally, Russian forces launched multiple rocket attacks on border guards at Mlachivka, in the region of Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv.

6:22 a.m.: VOAs Jamie Dettmer reporting updates from Kyiv.

Ukrainian army officials also said they had contained an offensive on the port of Mariupol. And in the north-east region of Chernihiv, adjacent Belarus, an attack had also been contained, they say. In the capital former President Petro Poroshenko urged residents of the capital to rally saying that if Kyiv holds, then so does Ukraine.

6:16 a.m.: Map of Ukraine locating the main cities where explosions were heard on February 24 and the regions where Russian forces entered, according to Ukrainian border guards. (SIMON MALFATTO, SOPHIE RAMISAFP)

5:32 a.m.: NATO leadership announces to hold a virtual meeting on Friday to discuss Russias attack on Ukraine. We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russias horrifying attack on Ukraine, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked, NATO officials said in a statement Thursday.

5:06 a.m.: Ukraines foreign minister said the country is under a full-scale attack from multiple directions in a Twitter post.

4:26 a.m.: VOAs Heather Murdock from Slovyansk, Ukraine. By 9 a.m. Thursday morning families crowded onto long lines at ATM machines, supermarkets and fuel stations, stocking up in case the bombing begins again. Between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. the crash of shells hitting the area could be heard from towns and cities as many as 50 kilometers from the border with Russia and Russian-backed separatists, as well cities far beyond, including the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

3:56 a.m.: VOAs Jamie Dettmer reporting updates from Kyiv.

3:48 a.m.: European Unions foreign policy chief Josep Borrell calls Russias attack amongst the darkest hours for Europe since the end of WWII. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Borrell said Ukraine needs urgent assistance and that the EU would respond in the strongest possible terms."

3:16 a.m.: European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russias military action calling it a barbaric attack, in a speech Thursday. We will not let President Putin tear down Europes security architecture.

2:59 a.m.: Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas says she plans to meet with NATO members and the European Union to take joint decisions in support of Ukraine, and regarding the strengthening of the security of NATO, including Estonia. Poland and Baltic countries have triggered consultations under NATO Article 4. The treaty allows member states to consult when the territorial integrity of another is compromised.

2:07 a.m.: Explosions are seen in several Ukrainian cities:

2:03 a.m.: Air raid sirens sound in Kyiv:

2 a.m.: The U.S. Embassy gives instructions to U.S. citizens in Ukraine:

1:57 a.m.: VOAs Jamie Dettmer in Kyiv: Hotels quickly emptied with guests checking out in droves. Everything is OK, said a worker in a fitness spa in one five-star hotel in the city center. Keep calm, she added. By 9 a.m. there were few pedestrians on the streets of the city  with only dog-walkers loitering. Couples could be seen pulling their luggage. One young woman struggling with a huge bag was asked where she was going: Away, she responded.

1:55 a.m.: Joining a chorus of condemnation from European leaders, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte urged that it is time for strong and united action, in a Twitter post Thursday.

1:49 a.m.: The spokesperson for Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleg Nikolenko calls Russias military action an act of war, in a statement posted on Facebook. Nikolenko said the attack is a gross violation of the UN Statute and the fundamental norms and principles of international law.

1:45 a.m.: President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission issued a joint statement on Thursday condemning Russias unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine.

1:14 a.m.: Russias Federal Air Transport agency issues a statement saying that airports in southern Russia have a limited operation. After indicating that the decision was due to the current situation in Ukraine, the statement said, flights in a number of airports in the South of Russia have been suspended. The restriction will be in effect until March 2, CNN reported.

12:39 a.m.: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with NATOs Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg affirming U.S. commitment to NATOs Article 5 is ironclad. The article states that any attack on any of the alliances 30 members is considered an attack on all.

12:39 a.m.: VOA's Jamie Dettmer in Kyiv: "Bigger explosion near center of Kyiv. Officials tell me Russians are targeting military infrastructure with cruise missiles. Also told Russian troops have landed near the port city of Odessa in the south. Reports also from officials of Russian soldiers appearing near Kharkiv. Ukrainian officials say they think the Russians are targeting air defense systems. The weird thing is the morning commute is underway and some people are heading to work in Kyiv."

12:37 a.m.: VOA's Eastern Europe Chief Myroslava Gongadze reports Ukrainians will be gathering outside the Russian Embassy in Washington at 1 a.m. EST.

12:15 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law Thursday across the country. He urged his countrymen not to panic and said he had spoken to U.S. President Joe Biden.

Biden confirmed their conversation via Twitter.

VOA's Jamie Dettmer tweets about what he's seeing in Kyiv this morning.

12 a.m.: After the United Nations Security Councils meeting late Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield a draft resolution would be put on the table Thursday.

A European diplomat said security council members are discussing a resolution that will make clear that Russia is not complying with the U.N. Charter, international law, or council resolution 2202.

Russia would be expected to veto such a measure, but a strong number of members voting for it would increase Moscows isolation in the council. Diplomats would then likely move quickly to the General Assembly where it could be adopted without a threat of veto, but with no legal backing.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday called the U.S. "stubborn" in stalled nuclear talks in Vienna for discussing Tehran's missiles and regional influence, likely signaling more trouble ahead for the negotiations.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remarks came as his hardline protege, President-elect Ebrahim Raisi, is poised to be sworn in next week as the head of the country's civilian government.

While Raisi has said he wants to return to the nuclear deal, which saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions, Khamenei seemingly called for a more adversarial approach in his remarks. The supreme leader also appeared to describe outgoing President Hassan Rouhani's eight-year government as naive for its approach in reaching the 2015 agreement  even as Rouhani and his Cabinet sat before him in a farewell meeting.

"Others should use your experiences. This experience is a distrust of the West," Khamenei said in remarks broadcast by state television. "In this government, it was shown up that trust in the West does not work."

Reaction in Washington

In Washington, the State Department said the U.S. is being "sincere and steadfast in pursuing a path of meaningful diplomacy" in the nuclear deal negotiations, but blamed Iran for the impasse in Vienna.

"We have made clear that we are prepared to return to Vienna to resume negotiations. The same could not be said of Iran," the U.S. statement said. "No amount of deflection can obscure that. We urge Iran to return to the negotiations soon so that we can seek to conclude this deal."

The statement added: "That opportunity will not last forever."

French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes Von Der Muhll similarly told journalists Monday that it was "urgent for Iran to return to the negotiating table."

"Through its actions, Iran continues to exacerbate the nuclear situation," she said. "If it continues down this path ... it could compromise the very possibility of concluding the Vienna talks and restoring" the deal.

In his remarks Wednesday, Khamenei described American negotiators as verbally promising to lift sanctions but saying any return to the nuclear deal must "include a sentence" on negotiating on other issues.

"By putting this sentence, they want to provide an excuse for their further interventions on the principle of [the deal] and missile program and regional issues," the leader said. "If Iran refuses to discuss them, they will say that you have violated the agreement and the agreement is over."

Rouhani sat off to the side at Khamenei's office during the meeting along with his senior vice president, while officials in his government sat before the supreme leader in socially distanced chairs amid the country's raging coronavirus outbreak. All wore masks, making it difficult to see their expressions as Khamenei criticized any outreach to the West while praising only "some" of the country's diplomats in front of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

"Westerners do not help us. They hit wherever they can," Khamenei said. He also said at another point: "They don't help. They are enemies."

Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium gas to just 3.67% purity, which can be used in nuclear power plants but is far below weapons-grade levels of 90%. It also put a hard cap on Iran's uranium stockpile to just 300 kilograms (661 pounds). Tehran also committed to using only 5,060 of its first-generation centrifuges, the devices that spin the uranium gas to enrich it.

Then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord in 2018. Today, Iran has broken all the limits it agreed to under the deal. It now enriches small amounts of uranium up to 63% purity, its highest level ever. It also spins far more advanced centrifuges and more of them than allowed under the accord, worrying nuclear nonproliferation experts, though Tehran insists its program is peaceful.

The International Atomic Energy Agency also hasn't been able to access its surveillance cameras at Iranian nuclear sites since late February, nor data from its online enrichment monitors and electronic seals  hobbling the U.N. nuclear watchdog's monitoring abilities.

Trump said he withdrew from the deal over Iran's ballistic missile program, as well as its support for regional militias like the Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels. Biden's administration has said it seeks a "longer and stronger" deal, possibly involving those issues, given Khamenei's comments.

Protests and social media

Tensions over the nuclear deal's collapse have spilled across the wider Middle East in the form of attacks and sabotage. Meanwhile, Iran's already ailing economy has further suffered, leading to the drastic devaluation of its rial currency and fueling protests.

Those protests have renewed attention by the government on social media in the country, as foreign-based apps like Facebook's Instagram and WhatsApp have helped spread videos of the demonstrations.

On Wednesday, Iran's parliament agreed to discuss a bill requiring social media companies to have an office in Iran and be registered with the government. Failing to do so would see them banned by authorities. The bill also takes control of the internet away from the civilian government and places it under the armed forces.

Hardliners in the government have long viewed social messaging and media services as part of a "soft war" by the West against the Islamic Republic. Iran long has blocked access to many social media websites, like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

State Department spokesman Ned Price urged Iran "to allow its citizens to exercise their right to freedom of expression and to freely access information, including via the internet," amid the protests.

"The Iranian people are now putting a spotlight not only on their unmet needs, but also their unfulfilled aspirations for respect for human rights," Price said.
Russian authorities on Thursday warned anti-war sympathizers from gathering for protests after President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine.

The Investigative Committee, a government body that investigates major crimes, warned Russians of legal repercussions for joining unsanctioned protests related to "the tense foreign political situation."

It said it was responding to social media calls to protest against Putin's decision to attack Ukraine.

"One should be aware of the negative legal consequences of these actions in the form of prosecution up to criminal liability," it said.

The Russian interior ministry said it will take "all necessary measures to ensure public order."

Russia has strict protest laws and demonstrations often end in mass arrests.

Some Russians called on social media for people to take to the streets to protest against the Ukraine attack.

Independent rights monitor, OVD-info, said at least 27 people had been arrested throughout Russia for holding anti-war protests.

Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said earlier on Thursday that he was against the invasion in a speech during his trial, held behind bars.

"I am against this war," Navalny was heard saying in a video published by independent news outlet Dozhd.

"This war between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed to cover up the theft from Russian citizens and divert their attention from problems that exist inside the country," Navalny said.
They satirize and poke fun, sometimes capturing the zeitgeist in a single sketch and often drawing the ire of rulers and other powerful people. Cartoonists power, wielded with humor and ink, can put them in the crosshairs of those they lampoon.

Cartoonists persecuted for their work anywhere on the globe now have the backing of a dedicated team of legal advisers.

The Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI), a nonprofit that advocates for political cartoonists attacked or detained for their work, has set up a legal advisory network thanks to a UNESCO grant.

The $23,000 grant, issued through UNESCOs Global Media Defense Fund, has enabled the network to put together a team of lawyers and academics specializing in human and media rights, digital freedom and security issues.

The team will assist those facing criminal action by assessing the merits of the lawsuits and helping cartoonists to connect with lawyers.

Most need support

It is a vital lifeline for cartoonists at a time when most work independently or as freelancers, and so have less support when they run into trouble.

Back in the day [cartoonists] would go the head office to speak with their chief editor, Terry Anderson, CRNIs executive director, told VOA. With the network, we can be that first person that they can call.

The help comes at a pressing time for media globally, with a rise in the number of journalists fighting legal complaints related to critical reporting on how governments handled the pandemic.

In the first few months of 2020, the CRNI saw double the number of cases affecting cartoonists worldwide.

One of those was Bangladeshi cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, who says he was tortured while imprisoned in May 2020. Kishore was arrested after creating cartoons criticizing the governments pandemic response. A writer arrested at the same time died while in custody.

A Dhaka court ordered a special police unit to investigate Kishores claims, his lawyer told Agence France-Presse.

Such cases demonstrate the need for better legal help, cartoonists maintain.

The impact of the pandemic on the project has made it more powerful for me, said Anderson, a Scotland-based cartoonist who has led CRNI for 2 years.

For over two decades CRNI has supported cartoonists who have been threatened or harassed. The biggest threat currently, Anderson says, is lawsuits.

The legal response team will help CRNI better help those in need, he added.

Cartoonists play an important role in political commentary, often to show an opposing view, or to reflect skepticism about a particular figure or issue, Anderson said.

The legal network is typical of the projects supported by UNESCOs media development fund.

The fund supports those working on the ground in the undertaking or upscaling of projects that bolster journalists protection or media freedom through strategic litigation, Thomas Mallard, a UNESCO press officer, told VOA by email.

Mallard said that journalists globally are facing increased risk, which is why initiatives like CRNIs are so important

This fund is a critical part of UNESCOs wider work to ensure freedom of expression and the safety of the journalists worldwide, at a time of massive challenges, he added.

Part of the problem, Anderson says, is that authoritarian governments can view cartoonists as a threat to their power.

Tanzanian detained

In September, police detained Opptertus John Fwema, a political cartoonist from Tanzania, for two weeks on accusations of cybercrime. The arrest came shortly after he posted a cartoon on Instagram criticizing the leadership of Tanzanias president.

Critical political commentary and coverage of the opposition are essential to Tanzanias democratic discourse, and it is deeply worrying that police are equating this kind of journalism to criminal activity, Muthoki Mumo, of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement at the time.

With CRNIs legal team now in place, Anderson wants to spread the word.

One of the things I had wanted to do in 2021 was go to at least three gatherings to spread the word and promote the launch of the service, he said. Im hoping by the end of this year, there will have been more of an opportunity to talk to cartoonists about what it is that were trying to do.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia hosted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for "wide-ranging consultations" Thursday, covering bilateral relations and regional as well as international issues of "mutual interest."



Khan arrived in Moscow the previous day on a long-planned two-day "working" visit, the first by a Pakistani prime minister in 23 years, hours before Russian forces attacked Ukraine.



Pakistani officials said Thursday's three-hour meeting was held at the Kremlin, where the two leaders also discussed the Ukraine crisis.



"The prime minister regretted the latest situation between Russia and Ukraine and said that Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict," Khan's office quoted him in a post-meeting statement as telling Putin.



Khan "stressed that conflict was not in anyone's interest" and noted "the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically in case of conflict." He went on to underline Pakistan's "belief" that disputes should be settled through dialogue and diplomacy, according to the statement.



The Russian president's office said in a brief statement the two sides "discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia."



Khan is the first foreign leader to have visited Moscow since Putin recognized the independence of Ukraine's breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk earlier this week and had Russian forces invade the country early Thursday.



The military deployment escalated tensions with the West and drew international condemnation and sanctions against Russia, with the United States promising to impose tougher new sanctions.



Before meeting with Putin, Khan attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall in Moscow.



While responding to a question about Khan's visit, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters Wednesday that Washington believed that Pakistan, like "every responsible" country, would voice objection to Putin's action. Price noted that the U.S. has a long-standing partnership and history of cooperation with Pakistan.



"And we certainly hope that every country around the world would make that point clearly, in unambiguous language, in their engagements with the Russian Federation," Price said.

Energy issues



Senior Pakistani officials who accompanied Khan on the visit said the discussions on bilateral issues focused specifically on enhancing energy cooperation. The two sides said they also resolved "90%" of the issues related to a proposed multibillion-dollar gas pipeline, known as Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline, that Islamabad wants to construct in partnership with Moscow.



"The prime minister reaffirmed the importance of Pakistan-Stream Gas Pipeline as a flagship economic project between Pakistan and Russia and also discussed cooperation on prospective energy-related projects," said the statement issued by Khan's office.



The project has suffered delays since the two countries first agreed to it in 2015. Technical disputes and earlier U.S. sanctions on Russia are blamed for the delay. The 1,100-kilometer pipeline would transport imported liquified natural gas from Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi to the country's most populous northeastern province of Punjab.



Some critics called Khan's visit ill-timed in light of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. But Khan dismissed those suggestions in an interview he gave to the state-run Russia Today channel in the run-up to his trip.



"This [Ukraine crisis] does not concern us. We have a bilateral relationship with Russia, and we really want to strengthen it. What we want to do is not become part of any bloc," Khan said.

'Mission accomplished'



"All things considered, Imran Khan's visit to Russia could have been much worse, given the dreadful timing," said Michael Kugelman at the Wilson Center in Washington. "Limited visuals, measured comments, no gaffes, and so on. This won't appease those that wanted him to postpone, but mission accomplished."



Pakistan and Russia were once bitter adversaries, as Islamabad closely aligned itself with the United States during the Cold War.



The Pakistani intelligence agency worked closely with the American CIA in arming and training Afghan fighters to successfully end a decadelong Russian occupation of Afghanistan in 1989.



Islamabad and Moscow have restored ties in recent years, however. They routinely hold joint military exercises and are attempting to develop energy cooperation to help Pakistan overcome shortages.



Pakistan also maintains close economic and military ties with Ukraine and is a major importer of Ukrainian wheat.
Russia has "every intention" of overthrowing the Ukrainian government with Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of the neighboring country on Thursday, a U.S. official said.

"What we are seeing is initial phases of a large-scale invasion," a senior Pentagon official told reporters. "They're making a move on Kyiv."

WATCH: President Biden makes remarks on Russia's invasion of Ukraine:

"They have every intention of decapitating the Ukraine government," the official said.

The official said the first Russian assault involved more than 100 short-range ballistic missiles, but also medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles. The missiles were targeted at military sites -- airfields, barracks and warehouses.

The United States has "seen indications" that Ukrainian troops "are resisting and fighting back," the official said.

Photo Gallery: Russian Forces Invade Ukraine Russian forces launched an invasion of Ukraine early Thursday, with President Vladimir Putin warning other countries not to intervene and Ukraines Western allies pledging their support and new rounds of strong sanctions as they condemned the Russian assault. Share on Facebook

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Putin launched the invasion early Thursday in the biggest European onslaught since the end of World War II, attacking Ukrainian forces in the disputed eastern region and launching missiles on several key cities, including the capital, Kyiv.

Putin called it a "special military operation" aimed at the "demilitarization and denazification" of its southern neighbor, once a Soviet republic but an independent country since 1991.

In a predawn television address from the Kremlin, the Russian leader warned other countries not to intervene and said they would face "consequences they have never seen."

The United States and its Western allies quickly and uniformly condemned the invasion and vowed to announce punishing economic sanctions on the Russian economy later Thursday.

U.S. President Joe Biden called Putin's invasion a "premeditated war."

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way," Biden said in a statement shortly after the attack began. "The world will hold Russia accountable."

Biden met at the White House with his National Security Council to discuss the Russian attack and how the U.S. should respond.

Although Western leaders said they do not intend to send troops to Ukraine to fight the Russians, Biden was expected to announce the sanctions in a mid-day address after last-minute consultations with European leaders.

The U.S. and several allies had already imposed a first tranche of sanctions on Tuesday, a day after Putin declared the disputed eastern Ukrainian Luhansk and Donetsk regions as independent states and no longer part of Ukraine, much as he appropriated Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

But the initial sanctions, and the threat of tougher ones to follow, did not stop Putin from launching a full-blown war.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called Russia's attack "amongst the darkest hours for Europe since the end of World War II." Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Borrell said Ukraine needs "urgent assistance" and that the EU would "respond in the strongest possible terms."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy severed diplomatic ties with Moscow. He said Russian forces carried out strikes on Ukraine's military infrastructure and border guards. He said the government was introducing martial law throughout the country, while urging people to stay calm and stay home.

"No panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will win over everybody because we are Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said the government would arm "anyone who wants to defend the country."

Ukraine's military said Russia began shelling Ukrainian forces in the country's east Thursday morning and carried out rocket strikes at airports in multiple cities across Ukraine. A Zelenskyy aide told reporters at least 40 people have been killed.

In Kyiv, the downtown area became largely deserted. In residential districts, lines formed at banks and outside food stores. Main roads leading out of the city were clogged with traffic headed to the west.

From Slovyansk, Ukraine, VOA's Heather Murdock reported, "By 9 a.m. Thursday morning, families crowded onto long lines at ATM machines, supermarkets and fuel stations, stocking up in case the bombing begins again. Between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., the crash of shells hitting the area could be heard from towns and cities as many as 50 kilometers from the border with Russia and Russian-backed separatists, as well cities far beyond, including the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv."

VOA's Jamie Dettmer reported from Kyiv that "the military airport of Hostomel west of Kyiv was struck early Thursday by attack helicopters, much deeper inside Ukraine than 20 kilometers."

Dettmer added, "According to former Deputy Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Russian military forces broke through into Ukraine in the Kyiv region at the Vilcha checkpoint. Border guards, together with the Ukrainian military, are now fighting to contain the breach. Additionally, Russian forces launched multiple rocket attacks on border guards at Mlachivka in the region of Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv.





Global sanctions

Biden said he discussed the situation in a phone call with Zelenskyy, who asked him to "call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin's flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine."

After speaking with G-7 leaders Thursday morning, Biden said the United States and other allies will impose severe sanctions on Russia.

European Union leaders were also preparing what EU foreign policy chief Borrell said would be "the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that he also spoke with Zelenskyy about the impending actions and said Putin had opted for "a path of bloodshed and destruction."

For months, Russia has denied it planned to invade Ukraine, even as it massed 150,000 troops and military equipment, to the north in Russian ally Belarus, to the east in Russia along the Ukrainian border, and to the south of Ukraine in the Black Sea. The Kremlin accused Western governments of engaging in "hysteria" as they called for Russia to de-escalate the situation and often said Moscow's invasion could occur at any time.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted Thursday that the Russian leader had launched "a full-scale invasion of Ukraine."

He said the international community needs to respond with "devastating sanctions on Russia," as well as sending weapons, military equipment, financial assistance and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Peter Maurer, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, urged all parties in the conflict to protect civilians.

"ICRC teams are responding to urgent humanitarian needs, and they must be able to continue their life-saving work," he said.

American troops have been setting up refugee stations inside Poland near its border with Ukraine for Ukrainians fleeing their homeland.

NATO response

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Russia's attack a "grave breach of international law."

"Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country," Stoltenberg said in a statement. "NATO Allies will meet to address the consequences of Russia's aggressive actions. We stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time. NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend all allies."

Ukraine is not a NATO member, although its constitution says that is its aim. Putin has demanded that the West disavow Ukraine membership in NATO, which the West has refused to do.

NATO leaders are due to meet Friday, and the alliance has activated its defense plans for member states in the region.

Lithuania, a NATO member, declared a state of emergency Thursday and ordered its army to deploy along its border with Belarus.

Putin's remarks came a short time after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pleaded during an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council for Putin to avoid the conflict.

"Tonight, I have only one thing to say, from the bottom of my heart: President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died," Guterres said.

As word came during the meeting that Putin had deployed his forces against Ukraine, the secretary-general told reporters that he was changing his plea.

"I say, 'President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia. In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century.'"

There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador.

Russia describes 'special operation'

Russia's U.N. ambassador, who also happens to be the president of the Security Council this month, presided over a meeting where his president's actions were denounced by nearly every member.

"We don't know all the details today, but briefly, I'd like to inform you that from his statement it says the occupation of Ukraine is not in our plans," Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said. "The aim of the special operation is to protect the people who for eight-plus years have been suffering genocide from the Kyiv regime. And from this, we will demilitarize and degenocide Ukraine, and also hold accountable those who carried out so many crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation."

Ukraine's envoy told the council it was too late to speak about de-escalation, as the Russian war had begun.

"There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador," Sergiy Kyslytsya told Nebenzya.

The Russian responded that Moscow is not attacking the Ukrainian people but "the junta that is in power in Kyiv."

Ukrainians democratically elected Zelenskyy to power in April 2019, in a landslide victory over former President Petro Poroshenko.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the council needs to act, and they would put a draft resolution on the table Thursday.

A European diplomat said Security Council members are discussing a resolution that will make clear that Russia is not complying with the U.N. Charter, international law or Security Council Resolution 2202  which endorsed the Minsk agreements  and it will urge Russia to immediately return to compliance.

Russia would be expected to veto such a measure, but a strong number of members voting for it would increase Moscow's isolation in the council. Diplomats would then likely move quickly to the General Assembly where it could be adopted without a threat of veto, but with no legal backing.

Multiple U.S. lawmakers condemned Russia's attack, including Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who said Putin's decision was driven by "fear of allowing a neighboring independent, sovereign nation to pursue democracy and freedom."

Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican Foreign Relations Committee member, said, "Ukraine is outgunned and outmanned. But they are brave and tough fighters. And as the world will soon learn, they have already inflicted damage on Russian invaders."

White House correspondent Anita Powell, VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer, Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb, State Department bureau chief Nike Ching, VOA refugee correspondent Heather Murdock in Slovyansk and Jamie Dettmer in Kyiv contributed to this report.

Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.
Russia fired missiles at more than half a dozen Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, targeting air defense facilities and military infrastructure just before dawn Thursday and landed soldiers on the countrys south coast. The action unfolded shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on television what he described as a special military operation, but what Ukrainian leaders say is a full-scale invasion of their country, the second biggest in Europe.

In an angry address broadcast just before 6 a.m. Moscow time, Russias president said he could no longer tolerate what he called the threats from Ukraine. He ended his speech warning outside powers not to interfere. He said his goal was the demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine. He added: We will bring to court those who have committed many crimes, responsible for the bloodshed of civilians, including Russian citizens, he said.

Putin warned that if Ukrainian soldiers dont lay down their weapons, they would be responsible for bloodshed.

Shortly after he spoke, intense rocket fire could be heard in the eastern city of Kharkiv and then sporadic rumbling explosions could be heard coming from the outskirts of Kyiv, from the direction of the capitals main Boryspil international airport and its second airport at Zhuliany.

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now, added Kuleba.

Within hours of the missile attacks, Russian tanks rolled across Ukraines borders, from Russia, Belarus and from Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014. Ukrainian officials said amphibious Russian forces landed near Odesa on the Black Sea coast.

Ukraines State Border Guards said Lukansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr and Chernihiv oblasts have come under attack. And they said Russian forces were crossing into Ukraine from Crimea.

Ukraines response

Broadcasting from his phone, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainians he would declare martial law and, urging Ukrainians to stay home, he said: Dont panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine."

But as the tanks rolled into Ukraine, they appeared to be facing little coordinated initial resistance and Russia broadened its air assault firing Cruise missiles at military airports in western Ukraine.

Ukrainian military officials said they shot down five Russian warplanes and a helicopter.

In Kyiv, the city administration issued an airstrike warning and sounded sirens several hours after the citys airports were struck. The first explosions could be heard from downtown Kyiv just before 5 a.m., local time. The blasts sounded a long way off and then came in short flurries. Television footage later showed fires raging at Boryspil.

Other cities issued warnings and in Lviv on the Polish border, where many European embassies relocated to earlier this month, air-raid sirens sounded. The wide-ranging offensive took many by surprise here in Kyiv and as the attack unfolded, the citys early morning commute got under way and only thinned out as startled workers began to understand that the long-feared invasion was getting under way.

Hotels in Kyiv quickly emptied with guests checking out in droves. Everything is OK, said a worker in a fitness spa in one five-star hotel in the city center. Keep calm, she added. By there were few pedestrians on the streets of the city  with only dog-walkers loitering. Couples could be seen pulling their luggage. One young woman struggling with a huge bag was asked where she was going: Away, she responded.

Blasts were more intense and concentrated in eastern Ukraine, on the borders of Moscows breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Local residents reported four loud blasts early Thursday in Kramatorsk, which serves as the Ukrainian government's de facto capital in the Donbas region. Blasts were also reported in the southeastern port city of Mariupol.

Britain's ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, tweeted a wholly unprovoked attack" on Ukraine was starting. She added: A wholly unprovoked attack on a peaceful country, Ukraine, is unfolding. Horrified. Just because youve prepared and thought about this possibility for weeks and months doesnt mean it isnt shocking when it actually happens.

In some Ukrainian towns there were reports civilians rushed to bomb shelters as dawn broke.

Russia's defense ministry claimed it was using high-precision weaponry to take out Ukrainian military infrastructure, air defense, aerodromes, and aviation.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said the initial assault had led to hundreds of casualties. Roads leading out of Kyiv were soon clogged with families packed into cars and determined to head for Lviv in the west.
Founding a newspaper is rarely easy, but when Assunta Ng was preparing to launch the Seattle Chinese Post in 1982, she faced an unexpected challenge: The Chinese-script typewriters ordered from Taiwan were lost in transit.

The typewriters eventually turned up at the Port of Seattle, eight days before the newspaper was due to publish. A short window to train typists on the hard-to-use equipment.

But they got the job done, Ng said. In the early hours of January 20, the Post went to print and became the first Chinese-language paper in the Pacific Northwest since 1927.

Forty years on, the papers weekly circulation is in the thousands, but its small size belies its significance as one of the few independent Chinese-language outlets to offer local news in the United States.

Mandarin and other Chinese dialects combine to make up the third-most-common language in the U.S., with some 3.5 million speakers, according to a Census Bureau report.

And while major papers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal publish in Chinese, they typically dont provide hyper-local news.

That is where outlets like the Seattle Chinese Post and the New York-based website NYChinaRen come in.

Both cover typical community news  a mix of local politics, crime, weather, business and culture.

That focus is what separates them from the broader  though still narrow  Chinese-language media landscape in the U.S., which Human Rights Watch researcher Yaqiu Wang says is politically polarized.

Some Chinese news outlets have ties to Beijing. Others are backed by opposition groups, such as the Epoch Times, which is reported to be aligned with Falun Gong. a religious movement banned by Beijing. Followers of the group are surveilled, detained and pressured, says Freedom House.

Finding accurate, unbiased outlets can be a challenge, says Wang. And while American media publishing in Mandarin provide independent coverage, their reporting doesnt necessarily target a Chinese audience living in the U.S., Wang said.

Rare outlets like the Seattle Chinese Post and NYChinaRen, both of which publish in Mandarin, provide a snapshot into the small landscape of independent and impartial Chinese-language media in the U.S.

In Seattle, Ng is proud of her papers independence and neutrality.

Before the Post was founded, members of the citys large Chinese population would gather at bulletin boards in Seattles Chinatown to get the latest news. Ng, who moved to Washington from China for college, wanted to fill that gap.

The local community was initially skeptical of Ngs newspaper until she assured them that it would be politically neutral.

Were not pro-Taiwan or China, Ng said. We want to serve the community, and we want to write stories, and we write stories that other newspapers have not been able to see.

That local knowledge and connection with the community in Seattle came into play in 1983, when 13 people were killed at a gambling club.

The mainstream media  I wouldnt say they didnt cover our community  they did, Ng said. But they always liked to feature us with food. So I always laughed at them. Boy, we look like a very hungry community. You always write about us about food and nothing else. And now theres this murder  biggest murder in the state  and you didnt know how to cover it.

Overnight I had so many mainstream media calling me to ask for help because they couldnt communicate with the Chinese immigrants in Chinatown, Ng said. I was like a bridge between our community and the mainstream media.

The Seattle Chinese Post is an outlier, but Ng doesnt really view it that way. For her, its neutrality is not a political statement. Ng views the Post first and foremost as a local newspaper, one that just happens to publish in Mandarin.

We are an American newspaper, except written in Chinese, Ng said.

In leading NYChinaRen, Cheng Yizhong was similarly motivated. He worked at state-run and privately owned outlets in China before an arrest in 2004 on corruption charges, a move seen widely as retaliation for his outspoken reports.

Being jailed in China is behind Cheng now. It doesnt really matter to me anymore, he told VOA in November. It only makes me believe firmly that our industry is extremely important.

Cheng acted as editor-in-chief from when NYChinaRen was founded in 2019 until he stepped down in January, citing "political risk and pressure" but reaffirming in a statement that the website is independent. For him, media play an important role in reporting on local Chinese communities

Their news may not be reported by mainstream American news channels. But thats what we care about, he said.

Beijings reach

For the past decade, China has worked to extend its influence over global media, using training opportunities, content sharing agreements, media trips and funding to try to curry favor with foreign outlets, all while restricting and expelling correspondents in Beijing.

Experts including the International Federation of Journalists believe China uses such tactics to influence global media coverage in its favor.

Wang, of Human Rights Watch, said Beijing made similar efforts to influence Chinese-owned media in New York and other cities through ownership or making the businesspeople who are close to Beijing buy those newspapers.

In an email to VOA, China's Washington embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said that Chinese media "should not be assumed to be led or interfered (with) by the Chinese government," adding, "The Chinese government supports closer cooperation between Chinese and foreign media."

Being relevant to Mandarin-speaking audiences can bring challenges, including whether to connect via the popular app WeChat.

With more than 1.2 billion active monthly users worldwide, the Chinese social media, messaging, and payment app is a powerful tool. It is also under the reach of Beijings censors.

Rights groups have cited how sensitive topics, like criticism of the government and human rights, are suppressed on the app.

The WeChat question is an important tradeoff, according to Sheng Zou, a University of Michigan postdoctoral research fellow. Chinese-language outlets can access more readers, but at the expense of editorial independence.

If you want to cater towards the Chinese community, then you inevitably have to use WeChat, Zou said.

Embassy spokesperson Pengyu denied that Beijing censors web content and said that "Chinese people have extensive access" to online information.

The website for NYChinaRen is blocked in China, but it has two public WeChat accounts with about 250,000 subscribers, according to Cheng. The accounts act as a news portal or blog page that app users follow.

Ng decided to not disseminate Seattle Chinese Post content on WeChat.

But despite challenges of adapting in the digital age, local news remains at the core of both media outlets.

Although some mainstream media in the U.S. publish in Mandarin, they do not concentrate as closely on whats happening in the Chinese diaspora communities, Zou said. Thats what makes local-language media all the more important.

Identity  this sense of belonging, this sense of rootedness  is a very important factor in their consumption of the media, he said. Identity politics is crucial to understanding why people want to consume Chinese media.

And, as Ng says: People are hungry for information and whats going on in the community.

Bo Gu contributed to this report.

Editor's note: The 10th paragraph of this article has been updated to clarify details of the Falun Gong movement.
Seven African heads of state gathered in Kinshasa on Thursday to assess a 2013 agreement aimed at cementing peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo's violence-torn east and the Great Lakes region.

The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework aims at fostering efforts to stabilize the region.

Millions of people died from violence, disease or starvation in the 1996-7 and 1998-2003 Congo Wars -- a conflict that enmeshed countries from around east and central Africa.

The Kinshasa summit, the 10th in the series, brought together the presidents of the DRC, South Africa, Uganda, Angola, the Republic of Congo, Burundi and the Central African Republic, a diplomat said.

The summit was expected to express concern about logistical and other support for armed groups that remain active in the region.

It would "take note" of joint DRC-Ugandan operations against the most notorious group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the diplomat said.

The historic operation was launched in the border area late last November, prompted by a string of massacres in eastern DRC and bomb attacks in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

The summit would also congratulate improved relations between Rwanda and Uganda and between Rwanda and Burundi after a long period of tension.

The 2013 accord was eventually signed by a total of 11 countries, including Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia.

The next summit will be hosted in 2023 by Burundi.
As Taiwan continues to face a military threat from China, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said this week the Taiwanese government continues to focus on its asymmetric defense capability  including U.S. assistance  to make it an unattractive target, despite its limited military power.

Taiwans current strategy is to make certain China will understand it will pay a very heavy price if it initiates conflict against Taiwan, Wu said during a virtual event hosted by the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University.

Speaking with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Wu argued for continued U.S. support of Taiwan through arms sales, military exchanges, shared intelligence, and freedom of navigation exercises in the Taiwan Strait.

We want the people here in Taiwan to be able to defend themselves if China is going to launch a war against Taiwan, Wu said.

Taiwan has lived under the threat of military action by China since Chinas Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang fled the mainland after losing the Chinese civil war in 1949. While the conflict has remained largely a stalemate since then  with Beijing continuing to claim Taiwan as a province  an aggressive military modernization campaign by China means it could be able to attack Taiwan as early as 2027, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

Wu said China could have the potential to attack targets other than Taiwan in the future.

"China has made so much investment and have modernized their military capable of not only striking at Taiwan but go beyond the first island chain, so we need to develop our asymmetric warfare so that Taiwan is able to defend itself, he said, referring to the name of the defensive barrier of Taiwan, Japan, Okinawa, and the northern Philippines.

Similar concerns have led the United States as well as France, Japan, Australia, India, South Korea, the Philippines, and the European Union to become more vocal about the future of Indo-Pacific security in the face of a rising China. Earlier this month, Washington released its latest Indo-Pacific strategy, which called for greater cooperation with regional partners.

Wu said Taiwan must be very careful to not provoke China and trigger a conflict. The most recent incident occurred in 1995 and 1996, when China fired missiles toward Taiwan ahead of its first democratic elections. Future triggers could include a formal declaration of independence by Taiwan from China, which is why leaders such as President Tsai Ing-wen are extremely careful when they discuss Taiwans political status.

Wu said domestic problems could also force Beijings hand if it needed to unite China against a common enemy. We also need to watch out for this classical theory about authoritarian countries. They like to divert domestic attention by initiating external conflict. If something is happening in China, inside their country, for example, economic slowdown, unemployment, or major disasters, things like that, that might be the time that we need to watch very carefully, he said.

In the meantime, Taiwan continues to face Chinese efforts to sway public opinion and destroy morale from within Taiwan by convincing civilians democracy is doomed. Tactics have included more than 1,000 Chinese Peoples Liberation Army air sorties toward Taiwan last year, Wu said, as well as disinformation campaigns and political infiltration.

Wu said these tactics are below the thresholds of a military conflict but still require Taiwan and allies such as the United States to keep pushing back.

Events like Wus talk at the McCain Institute are part of Taiwans greater public relations strategy to remain a central concern for both the U.S. government and the U.S. public, said Kitsch Liao Yen-fan, a cyber and military affairs consultant at the Taiwanese civil society group Doublethink Lab.

Liao said this was a particular concern for Taiwan after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan last year, as the U.S. public may not want to see its military send troops to another foreign conflict. While the United States is not formally committed to defending Taiwan if it were attacked, under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act it has pledged to help it defend itself.

Whether this would ever extend to sending U.S. personnel to Taiwan in a wartime scenario, however, is still a topic of debate  and a decision that Taipei hopes to influence.

Talks like those by Wu, however, create sufficient momentum to tip public opinion on Taiwans side, and on the political side of the United States to reach a tipping point where the willingness to actually send the military into the next conflict will be reversed again, said Liao.
Viewed from Paris, London and Washington, the events unfolding in Ukraine may seem like a new Cold War taking shape in Europe.

From the Baltic countries, it looks much worse.

To Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians  particularly those old enough to have lived under Soviet control  Russias belligerence toward Ukraine has some worried that they could be the next target. The tensions have brought back memories of mass deportations and oppression.

"My grandparents were sent away to Siberia. My father was persecuted by the KGB. Now I live in a free democratic country, but it seems that nothing can be taken for granted," said Jaunius Kazlauskas, a 50-year-old teacher in Vilnius, Lithuanias capital.

Russias attack on Ukraine sent shockwaves through the Baltic countries on Thursday. Lithuanias president declared a state of emergency and Latvia suspended the broadcast licenses of several Russian TV stations accused of spreading disinformation and propaganda.

All three Baltic countries were seized and annexed by Stalin during World War II before gaining independence again with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. They joined NATO in 2004, putting themselves under the military protection of the U.S. and its Western allies. Ukraine is not part of NATO.

Along with Poland, also a NATO member, the small Baltic countries have been among the loudest advocates for powerful sanctions against Moscow and NATO reinforcements on the alliances eastern flank. Baltic government leaders in recent weeks have shuttled to European capitals, warning that the West must make Russian President Vladimir Putin pay for attacking Ukraine, or else his tanks will keep rolling toward other parts of the former Soviet empire.

"The battle for Ukraine is a battle for Europe. If Putin is not stopped there, he will go further," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis warned last week in a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Two days before the attack, President Joe Biden announced that some American forces deployed in Europe, including 800 infantry soldiers, F-35 fighters and Apache helicopters, would be moved to the three Baltic states, describing the step as purely defensive.

The news was met with enthusiasm in the Baltic capitals. While the NATO treaty commits all allies to defend any member that comes under attack, the Baltic countries say it is imperative that NATO show resolve not just in words but with boots on the ground.

"Russia always measures the military might but also the will of countries to fight," said Janis Garisons, state secretary at Latvias Defense Ministry. "Once they see a weakness, they will exploit that weakness."

While Putin hasnt publicly expressed any ambition to reassert Russian control over the Baltic countries, many Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians worry he wants to regain influence across all former republics of the Soviet Union, the collapse of which he once described as a tragedy for the Russian people.

In his speech earlier this week setting the stage for Russias military intervention, Putin said Ukraine is "not just a neighboring country for us. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and spiritual space."

Culturally and linguistically different, the Baltic countries dont have the same connection to Russian history and identity. However, they were ruled by Moscow for most of the past 200 years, first by the Russian Empire, then for almost 50 years following World War II by the Soviet Union. All three countries have ethnic Russian minorities; in Latvia and Estonia, they make up about one-quarter of the population.

Though many of them are well integrated, tensions flared in 2007 when hundreds of ethnic Russians rioted against government plans to relocate a Soviet war memorial in Tallinn, Estonia's capital. Estonia suspected Russia of stoking the unrest and orchestrating cyberattacks that paralyzed government computer networks.

"When we hear Putin humiliating Ukraine, calling it an artificial state with no history, it reminds us of the same things that they have been repeating about all former Soviet republics for many years," said Nerijus Maliukevicius, a political analyst at Vilnius University. The Russian "state propaganda machine is now working on unprecedented levels of intensity, and the message is not just about Ukraine," he added.

Lithuania borders both Kaliningrad, a Russian region where the country's Baltic Sea fleet is based, and Belarus, the former Soviet republic where tens of thousands of Russian troops have been deployed for joint exercises. Belarus recently announced that the drills would continue because of the tensions in eastern Ukraine.

"It seems they are not going to leave," Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine. "But we must understand that numbers do not mean everything. There are technically very advanced troops on our side of the border. Their main task is deterrence  and defense, if necessary."

The Baltic countries have expressed strong support for Ukraine. Baltic leaders have traveled to Kyiv recently to show their solidarity and have sent both weapons and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Estonia, which celebrates its independence day on Thursday, is taking a strong stance in the conflict, but not because it fears for its security, said former President Kersti Kaljulaid, the first woman to hold that office.

"We are doing it because we find it is our moral obligation," she said. "We very strongly feel that ... every nation should have the right to decide their future."

While the Baltics are direct neighbors of Russia, she said other European countries should be equally worried about the crisis in Ukraine.

"Frankly speaking, I dont think it concerns the Baltics more," she said. "If you look from Kyiv, its the same distance to Berlin as Tallinn."
The United Nations said Thursday at least eight members of polio vaccination teams were killed during the course of their life-saving work in Afghanistan.

Ramiz Alakbarov, the U.N. secretary-general's deputy special representative for the South Asian nation, strongly condemned the violence while disclosing details of the incidents in the Afghan provinces of Takhar and Kunduz.

We are appalled by the brutality of these killings, across four separate locations, Alakbarov said in a statement. These are the first attacks on polio workers since nationwide campaigns resumed in November last year.

The envoy said the violence prompted Afghan authorities, the Taliban, to suspend house-to-house polio vaccination campaigns in Takhar and Kunduz. There were no immediate claims of responsibly for the violence.

Afghan health workers have previously come under attack across the country, ravaged by years of war and persistent drought. Nine polio workers were killed during national polio vaccination drives in 2021.

This senseless violence must stop immediately, and those responsible must be investigated and brought to justice. This is a violation of international humanitarian law, Alakbarov said.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where wild poliovirus continues to paralyze children, although new cases have dropped lately to historic low levels on both sides of the border.

The last wild poliovirus infection in Pakistan was detected in January 2021. Afghanistan has reported one case in 2022. Four were detected there last year. The dramatic drop in cases in both countries has raised hopes of ridding the region of the crippling disease.

U.N. officials say the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and cessation of hostilities have led to an increase in vaccination rates and health workers were able to vaccinate 2.6 million additional children in November and December for the first time in three years.
While U.S. lawmakers have come together to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, their response to the Biden administration's latest sanctions remains divided along party lines.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised U.S. President Joe Biden's Thursday remarks responding to the largest military offensive in Europe in more than 70 years.

"President Biden has made clear throughout Russia's escalation that we will continue to impose costs on Russia that will leave it weakened in every way. These include the further steps announced today of sweeping and catastrophic sanctions on financial institutions, companies and individuals critical to the Russian economy and of further military support to bolster NATO," Pelosi said in a statement.

In a speech late Wednesday, Putin rationalized the unprovoked attack on the independent eastern European nation, claiming without evidence that a genocide was occurring in Ukraine and calling for the "de-Nazification" of the country, which is led by an elected Jewish president.

But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Biden was too late in announcing that the United States would limit exports to Russia and sanction more Russian elites. Putin himself was not included.

"The president should have exercised his extensive authorities to impose certain tough sanctions early enough to actually deter invasion and weaken Russia. We should have ensured that the pipeline of lethal aid to Ukraine was flowing far sooner. And we should have sent more reinforcements to support NATO's eastern flank allies earlier," McConnell said in a statement Thursday.

Senator Jim Risch, the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Putin's bombardment of cities in Ukraine were "the actions of a madman."

In a formal statement, Risch said he would move immediately to pass the NYET Act, his Russian sanctions legislation, when the U.S. Congress returns to Washington next Monday.

"Diplomacy has failed. Those of us who called for more definitive action from the Biden administration and our allies have unfortunately been proven right. We cannot afford to wait any longer. We must take decisive action," Risch said.

Earlier this year, both Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez and Risch introduced legislation sanctioning Russia for a possible invasion of Ukraine.

As Putin massed troops at the Ukraine border in recent weeks, U.S. lawmakers struggled to reach an agreement on sanctions legislation. Republicans favored triggering sanctions earlier to deter Putin, while Democrats favored the Biden administration approach of working in concert with European allies to negotiate a diplomatic solution.

Now that a full-scale Russian invasion has begun, there are several options at the disposal of lawmakers, including $750 million in aid for Ukraine in the 2022 omnibus spending bill, and as much as $1 billion in humanitarian aid.

Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, co-author of bipartisan Russia sanctions legislation in the House of Representatives, told VOA Thursday the U.S. should provide Ukraine with everything it asks for, "from weaponry to financing, to intelligence support. Anything they need."

"Second, we need to cripple Russia's economy. We need to target their energy sector. We need to target Vladimir Putin himself with sanctions, his inner circle with sanctions, his inner circle's family members  many of whom live in the U.S., including Sergey Lavrov's daughter (who) lives in Manhattan," Fitzpatrick said.

"There's a lot of people here, right, that we can sanction. Sanction every member of the Duma who voted in violation of the Minsk Agreement. And Nord Stream 2 is now dead, and we need to keep it dead. And we need to kick them off the SWIFT banking system," Fitzpatrick said.

Congress is on recess this week, but lawmakers were to receive an unclassified phone briefing from administration officials later Thursday.

House Foreign Affairs Committee lead Republican Michael McCaul and House Armed Services Committee lead Republican Mike Rogers released a statement Thursday calling for harsher sanctions on Putin.

These actions are a far cry from the swift and severe and unprecedented sanctions President Biden promised for months. Secondary sanctions on major Russian banks and penalties on key industries are needed to help ensure the Putin regime is made an international pariah, the statement said. However, we are concerned that President Biden is holding additional U.S. penalties in reserve. The people of Ukraine do not have the luxury of time.

Congressional Democrats praised Biden's efforts to work in concert with European and Asian allies to deliver sanctions that will have a severe impact on the Russian economy.

"President Biden is trying to gather the world to try and hit the Russians extremely hard. And that's what I think we saw today," Democratic Representative Colin Allred told VOA, "These are extremely difficult and crippling sanctions. We want to isolate Russia. We want to make them an international pariah for this act. We want to cripple their economy. We want to exact as much pain from them as possible, while also understanding that we may be dealing with a leader in Vladimir Putin who may not care about that."

While some members of both the Republican and Democratic parties have expressed concern about the U.S. being drawn into a ground conflict in Ukraine, Biden has repeatedly stated the U.S. will not commit its own troops to the conflict.

VOA's Myroslava Gongadze contributed to this report.
The use of wind to generate electricity for the United States was thrust forward Wednesday with the largest-ever offering by the federal government of offshore development rights.

Bidding for the 197,000 hectares of the New York Bight  an area of shallow waters between the coasts of Long Island (in New York state) and the state of New Jersey  attracted record-setting prices, according to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

This auction today is a testament to how attractive the U.S. market is, said Fred Zalcman, director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance.

Europe is much further along than North America in developing lease areas for offshore wind farms.

There are two small offshore wind facilities in the United States off the coasts of the states of Rhode Island and Virginia. Two more commercial-scale projects were recently approved for development.

We're really just at the beginning of a process here. We hope to apply the lessons learned from Europe and take advantage of the cost savings achieved in Europe," Zalcman told VOA.

Officials say turbines erected in the set of six leases that went up for bidding Wednesday, the first auction conducted during the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, could eventually provide power for nearly 2 million residences.

Wednesdays top bids totaled more than $1.5 billion. The largest single lease area offered -- totaling nearly 51,000 hectares and located about 50 kilometers off the New Jersey coast -- had attracted a record-busting $410 million, with bidding to resume Thursday morning.

The previous auction was held in 2018 during the administration of former President Donald Trump. It was considered a success, with three leases off the coast of the state of Massachusetts bringing in a collective record-breaking $405 million for rights to develop 158,000 hectares south of Marthas Vineyard, with a potential generating capacity of more than 4.1 gigawatts, enough to supply power to about 1.5 million homes.

Trump, a Republican, repeatedly expressed, at best, skepticism toward wind as a viable renewable source to supply Americas energy needs. He derided windmills, saying he had been told the noise from their blades causes cancer and its like a graveyard for birds.

Biden, a Democrat, has veered in a different direction, embracing wind as part of his clean energy ambitions and setting a goal of 30 gigawatts of capacity in the United States by the year 2030.

In his first week in office in 2021, Biden signed an executive order to expand opportunities for the offshore wind industry, predicting, according to the White House, the projects will create good-paying union jobs and spawn new supply chains that stretch into Americas heartland.

The area included in the ongoing auction, which began with 25 qualified bidders, was cut back by about one-fourth from what was initially proposed last year due to concerns about the potential impact on commercial fishing and military interests.

State and federal officials, according to Zalcman, have been addressing concerns of other ocean users, including recreational and commercial fishers, navigators and the shipping industry, and taking into consideration visual impacts to coastal communities, and concerns of environmental groups about migratory species, such as the North Atlantic right whale.

A group of residents of the New Jersey summer colony of Long Beach last month sued BOEM over the New York Bight leasing plans, contending the massive wind farm would permanently mar their beautiful view from the beach, hurt the areas tourism economy and harm property values.

Bob Stern, the president of Save Long Beach Island, told VOA on Wednesday that the organization is not opposed to offshore wind energy but believes that the federal governments process of selecting ocean areas for turbine placement is flawed.

Stern explained that the groups lawsuit challenges the federal government agencys selection of wind energy areas for offshore wind turbines which should have been preceded and supported by a structured regional environmental impact statement process with full disclosure of impacts and public input.

The Sierra Club is terming the New York Bight auction a historic major stride forward for clean energy.

This lease sale is the first to include stipulations setting out responsibilities for project developers to report on their engagement with stakeholders to minimize conflicting uses, negotiation of project labor agreements, and the development of offshore wind-related manufacturing and supply chain services, said Allison Considine, a senior campaign representative of the national environmental organization.

A preeminent concern is ensuring that these projects are done responsibly, said Zalcman of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance, of which the Sierra Club is a member.

How developers configure the wind farms will be subject to another rigorous round of environmental review before they are able to erect the huge structures.
White House officials have called the latest package of sanctions against Russia a severe action, with President Joe Biden saying the economic restrictions will "cut off Russias government from Western financing  powerful claims that some critics and even some Biden allies say are overblown and will do little to stop President Vladimir Putin on his military push toward Ukraine.

The package of U.S. sanctions announced Tuesday and Wednesday include several elements: action to block Russias revenue-raising Nord Stream 2 pipeline plus sanctions on two large banks, Russias sovereign debt, and a handful of elites with ties to Putin.

Any problem solved?

China, which is Russias largest trading partner, came out hard against the very concept of sanctions Wednesday. China, as a rule, follows a policy of noninterference in the internal affairs of other states.

Our position is that sanctions are never fundamentally effective means to solve problems, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. We consistently oppose all illegal unilateral sanctions.

She cited U.S. Treasury data showing the U.S. has increased its use of sanctions tenfold in the last two decades, and asked, rhetorically: Have the U.S. sanctions solved any problem? Is the world a better place because of those sanctions? Will the Ukraine issue resolve itself thanks to the U.S. sanctions on Russia? Will European security be better guaranteed thanks to the U.S. sanctions on Russia?  I would also like to point out that the illegal unilateral sanctions by some countries including the U.S. have caused severe difficulties to relevant countries economy and livelihood.

But analyst Chris Miller of the American Enterprise Institute predicted that these sanctions would not do much to Putins bottom line.

"The sanctions announced [Tuesday]  notably the sovereign debt sanctions  will have a minor, negative macroeconomic impact on Russia, he told VOA.

Anti-corruption campaigners have lobbied the administration to target several dozen members of Putins inner circle.

Existing sanctions dont reach enough of the right people, Vladimir Ashurkov, director of the Moscow-based Anti-Corruption Foundation, said in a January letter to Biden. The West must sanction the decision-makers who have made it national policy to rig elections, steal from the budget, and poison. It must also sanction the people who hold their money. Anything less will fail to make the regime change its behavior.

He was referring to allegations that Putin ordered security officials to poison now-jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The sanctions announced Tuesday target three men from Ashurkovs list of 35: top intelligence official Aleksandr Bortnikov, whom Ashurkov described as the man responsible inter alia for the attempted poisoning of Alexei Navalny; Bortnikovs son Denis, who is the deputy president and chairman of the Russian state-owned VTB Bank; and Sergei Kiriyenko, a top official in Putins office. Ashurkov accuses Denis Bortnikov of acting as a wallet for his fathers ill-gotten gains.

The administration also leveled sanctions at Petr Fradkov, chairman of Promsvyazbank, one of the two banks that the administration has sanctioned.

Wiggle room

Jennifer Erickson, an associate professor of political science and international studies at Boston College, said the administrations decision to impose limited measures at this time could leave it room to seek a diplomatic solution.

There's a lot more that the United States could do if they wanted to take really firm, strong action, she told VOA. So it's leaving room to maneuver. And I think there's a dilemma there for the U.S. You know, do you go really strong now, and hope to make the cost really high to stop further action from Russia? Or do you wait and leave room to sort of escalate your sanctions as Russia might escalate its actions, give it room to back down?

Administration officials indicated that they were trying to leave space for diplomacy.

No one should think that its our goal to max out on sanctions, said Daleep Singh, deputy White House national security adviser for international economics. Sanctions are not an end to themselves. They serve a higher purpose. And that purpose is to deter and prevent.

But in Washington, where Biden faces political pressure, that moderation has drawn out his critics.

Republican Senator Ben Sasse described the package as too little, too late, arguing that the sanctions should have been issued before Putin ordered troops into the Ukrainian border regions of Luhansk and Donetsk regions  a move that Biden characterized as the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"We shouldnt fool ourselves into thinking that todays incremental sanctions will deter Putin from trying to install a puppet government in Kyiv, Sasse said.

But perhaps the biggest, loudest criticism came from the nation in Putins crosshairs.

"First decisive steps were taken yesterday, and we are grateful for them," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted. "Now the pressure needs to step up to stop Putin. Hit his economy and cronies. Hit more. Hit hard. Hit now."
With the global vaccine supply exceeding distribution capacity, the Biden administration is acknowledging a need to adjust its pandemic response strategy to address hurdles faced by lower-income countries to vaccinate their citizens.

It is clear that supply is outstripping demand and the area of focus really needs to be that shots in arms work, said Hilary Marston, White House senior policy adviser for global COVID, to VOA. That's something that we are laser-focused on for 2022.

Marston said that the administration has helped boost global vaccine supply through donations, expanding global manufacturing capacity and support for COVAX, the international vaccine-sharing mechanism supported by the United Nations and health organizations Gavi and CEPI.

Following supply setbacks in 2021, COVAXs supply is no longer a limiting factor, a Gavi spokesperson told VOA. He said COVAX now has the flexibility to focus on supporting the nuances of countries strategies, capacity, and demand.

However, the pivot from boosting vaccine supply to increasing delivery capacity depends on whether the administration can secure funding from Congress, including funds for the U.S. governments Initiative for Global Vaccine Access, or Global VAX, a program launched in December by USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Global VAX is billed as a whole-of-government effort to turn vaccines in vials into vaccinations in arms around the world. It includes bolstering cold chain supply and logistics, service delivery, vaccine confidence and demand, human resources, data and analytics, local planning, and vaccine safety and effectiveness.

Four-hundred-million dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act has been put aside for this initiative, on top of the $1.3 billion for global vaccine readiness the administration has committed. Activists say this is not nearly enough, but USAID says it's a good first step.

The U.S. government will surge support for an initial subset of countries in sub-Saharan Africa that have demonstrated the potential for rapid acceleration of vaccine uptake with intensive financial, technical, and diplomatic support, a USAID spokesperson told VOA.

Those countries include Angola, Cote dIvoire, Eswatini, Ghana, Lesotho, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

Critical bottleneck

In January, COVAX had 436 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to allocate to lower-income countries, according to a document published in mid-February. Those countries, however, only asked for 100 million doses to be distributed by the end of May  the first time in 14 allocation rounds that supply has outstripped demand, the document from the COVAX Independent Allocation of Vaccines Group said.

We've seen now 11 billion plus doses of vaccine being manufactured, said Krishna Udayakumar to VOA. We're estimating 14- to 16- plus billion doses of vaccine being available in 2022, added Udayakumar, who is founding director of the Duke Global Health Innovation Center and leads a team that tracks global vaccine production and distribution.

But rather than fulfilment of vaccination targets, the oversupply highlights a weakness in global distribution capacity, which Udayakumar said is becoming the critical bottlenecks.

Only 12% percent of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose, according to country data compiled by Our World in Data. Many countries still face massive hurdles to get those shots in arms, including gaps in cold-chain storage, and lack of funding to support distribution networks.

Global COVID funding

As the administration prepares to pivot its global pandemic response, humanitarian organizations are criticizing it for requesting insufficient funding from Congress.

After two devastating years of this pandemic, U.S. leaders are dropping the ball on fighting COVID-19. Today we learned the Biden administration briefed Congress on the need for $5 billion in funding from Congress to fight COVID-19, said Tom Hart, president of the ONE Campaign, in a statement to VOA last week. What the world needs, though, is a formal request for $17 billion.

Hart argued the $5 billion funding would be insufficient to provide critical resources needed to deliver vaccines, tests, and life-saving treatments to low-income countries, and achieve the administrations goal of 70% global vaccination by September  a goal that is already far below pace.

The White House said the number is not final. I don't have any specific numbers; we're still in conversation with the Hill (Congress) at this point about funding and funding needs, both domestically and internationally, press secretary Jen Psaki told VOA on Wednesday.

In a statement to VOA, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro, said they are still reviewing the funding request. I will work with my colleagues to meet these important public health needs at home and around the world, she said.

Meanwhile, Gavi, a COVAX co-sponsor, said it has only raised $195 million out of the $5.2 billion it asked for this quarter. The Gavi spokesperson told VOA the call to donors only went out in January and typically campaigns such as this require extensive rounds of consultation.

The reason we launched a campaign to raise US $5.2 billion in additional funding is to ensure countries are able to roll out vaccines rapidly and at scale and have the resources on hand to be able to immediately step in as and when countries needs change, the spokesperson said. We need resources available now to prevent lower income countries once again finding themselves at the back of the queue. This is the only way we will break this pandemic.

TRIPS waiver

Humanitarian organization Oxfam also argues that $5 billion dollars is not enough.

We need to do much more to vaccinate the world, including investing in local manufacturing and most importantly, sharing the vaccine recipe, Robbie Silverman, Oxfams senior advocacy manager told VOA.

Sharing vaccine recipes essentially means implementing a temporary TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver at the World Trade Organization to allow the generic production of current vaccines, as proposed by South Africa and India in October 2021. The proposal is supported by the Biden administration but rejected by the European Union.

Following a summit between European Union and African Union leaders last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered a compromise and said that the EU and AU will work together to deliver a solution within the next few months.

The U.S. is by far the biggest vaccine donor. The administration is sending 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Angola, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Zambia and Uganda this week, bringing the total shipped globally to 470 million doses out of 1.2 billion doses pledged.
U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday struggled over whether to let Republican state officials defend an immigration rule crafted by former President Donald Trump's administration to bar permanent residency for immigrants deemed likely to need government benefits.

The justices heard oral arguments in an appeal by 13 Republican state attorneys general led by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich of a lower court's ruling that rejected their bid to defend Trump's rule, which expanded the scope of those considered likely to become a "public charge."

President Joe Biden's administration dropped the government's defense of the policy, prompting the action by the states. The rule took effect in February 2020.

Liberal and conservative justices questioned why the administration rescinded the policy in March 2021 based on a November 2020 decision by U.S. District Judge Gary Feinerman in Illinois ordering it vacated nationwide in another case, rather than undertaking a formal rulemaking process to replace it while it remained in effect.

Justice Elena Kagan suggested that the administration evaded requirements under a U.S. law called the Administrative Procedure Act and expressed doubt that the court should be "green-lighting" such behavior. Chief Justice John Roberts said circumventing that statute "is a pretty big deal."

'Not unprecedented'

Some justices noted that presidential administrations often stop defending in court certain policies they oppose.

"It's very much not unprecedented," Justice Brett Kavanaugh said.

Biden administration lawyer Brian Fletcher raised some eyebrows when he told the justices that the government does not believe that federal administrative law gives judges the power to set aside policies on a nationwide basis, as Feinerman did in this case  a position aligning with that of the Trump administration.

Justice Neil Gorsuch wondered how that admission should affect the case, given that the Biden administration's decision to rescind Trump's rule "is premised on what it admits to be an unlawful order" by Feinerman.

The Supreme Court in a separate dispute is weighing whether to let Kentucky's Republican attorney general defend a restrictive abortion law in his state that was struck down by lower courts, after its Democratic governor dropped the case.

Biden's administration six days ago announced a new "fair and humane" public charge rule that it said would avoid penalizing people for seeking medical attention and other services. The fact that a new federal rule already has been devised raises questions about what type of remedy would be available to the state officials even if they win and get to defend Trump's policy.

Brnovich was joined by officials from Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia.

Past guidelines

U.S. guidelines in place for the past two decades had said immigrants likely to become primarily dependent on direct cash assistance or long-term institutionalization  in a nursing home, for example  at public expense would be barred from legal permanent residency, known as a "green card."

Trump's policy expanded this to anyone deemed likely to receive a wider range of even non-cash federal benefits such as the Medicaid health care program, housing and food assistance for more than an aggregate of 12 months over any 36-month period.

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided in 2020 that Trump's policy impermissibly expanded the definition of who counts as a "public charge." Other courts made similar rulings.

During the time the policy was enforced, the government issued only three denials of admission under it, according to court filings, all of which have since been reversed.

The Supreme Court's ruling is expected by the end of June.
The United States and Britain warned Wednesday of new malware that attacks network devices, which the U.S. says has been commonly used by Russia.



The warning comes amid heightened concerns that Russia would use cyberattacks to weaken Ukraine as its military encroaches on two regions in eastern Ukraine, further raising fears of an invasion.



The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an advisory informing organizations of Cyclops Blink, a new malware used by Sandworm and Voodoo Bear to target network devices.



Sandworm, also known as Voodoo Bear, is allegedly a cyber military unit of Russias agency in charge of Russian military intelligence.



Britains National Cyber Security Center said industry analysis has associated Cyclops Blink with a large-scale botnet targeting small office and home office network devices and that it has been active since 2019.



After U.S. deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger warned her European counterparts earlier this month that Russia could use cyberattacks to destabilize Ukraine, the Ukrainian government announced Wednesday another in a series of massive Russian cyberattacks, shutting down the websites of some banks, its foreign ministry, security service and parliament at around 4 p.m. Kyiv time.



Ukrainian authorities said earlier this week they had seen online warnings that hackers were preparing to launch major attacks on government agencies, banks and the defense sector.



U.S. software maker Microsoft said in January that dozens of computer systems at an unspecified number of Ukrainian government agencies had been infected with destructive malware disguised as ransomware.



Moscow has denied any involvement in the attacks.



Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura says South Africans should not torment foreigners by demanding their immigration documents as that can only be done by the police and immigration department.

In his Sate of the Province Address on Tuesday, Makhura said, Its illegal to go around asking people about where they come from and why they are in South Africa. Thats the work of the police and immigration department.

He urged all South African to stop evicting foreigners from rented houses and work places, noting that its against the law.

An anti-immigration outfit, #PutSouthAfricaFirst, was been been conducted random searches at work places and rented house where they have evicted foreigners and ordered employers to terminate work for outsiders and employ locals.

#PutSouthAfricaFirsts anti-immigration drive is dubbed Operation Dudula.

Reacting to Makhuras remarks, a Zimbabwean Greatman Mkhwebu said the Gauteng premier appears to be playing politics instead of helping foreigners.

Mkhwebu said, He is doing all this because he is a provincial leader. They know what is going on and people like him are merely playing games. They dont want to come clean on this fearing that they will be criticized by many people. He knows everything about Operation Dudula because such things cant happen without government knowing about it. They know everything but are just playing with peoples lives.

#Put South Africans First protested in Johannesburgs Hillbrow suburb last week calling on employers to fire foreigners and employ only South Africans.

They gave local companies a week to get rid of all illegal immigrants, promising to take unspecified action against those that wont heed their demands.

#Put South Africans First leader, Victoria Mamogolo, said they are rolling out Operation Dudula to ensure that the government follows strict South African laws, which stipulate that some jobs are reserved for locals.

Mamogolo said illegal foreigners should not work in restaurants, bars, saloons, departmental stores, vegetable markets and other places as there was no need for specialized skills in these sectors.

We want the government to control our borders because we have a problem right now in South Africa. We are saying the government should deport all illegal immigrants who are stealing our jobs, she said.

Mario Khumalo, another member of Put South Africa First, said Operation Dudula is designed to get rid of all illegal immigrants in order to economically empower locals.

As South Africans who abide by the laws of the land, we want the government to follow the law. We are not breaking the law right now because all what we are doing is well-known by the government which has to get rid of illegal immigrants. As we speak right now, there are some representatives of the Ministry of Homes Affairs, including the police, who are here witnessing what we are doing.

Police came out in large numbers after warning the group to stop demanding identity documents from people in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa also told journalists a few days ago that its illegal for Put South Africa First to demand immigration documents from members of the public.

VOA correspondent Thuso Khumalo contributed to this article.
PENTAGON  Another sweeping cyberattack struck Ukrainian government websites Wednesday as the Pentagon said Russian forces were closing in on Ukraines borders, readying to conduct military action at "virtually any time now.

We believe that they are, they're ready," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters Wednesday.

Kirby said the Pentagon believes "additional Russian military forces are moving into" the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, but he would not confirm specifics on the number of Russian troops that have moved into these two regions.

VOA has not independently confirmed the presence of additional Russian troops in the Donbas.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media that the heads of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for help Wednesday in fighting Ukrainian forces.

'Russian playbook'

Kirby would not attribute the latest cyberattack to Russia, only saying that disruptions in cyberspace were of a Russian playbook. Kyiv blamed Moscow for the cyberattacks, although Russia has denied any involvement.

A senior defense official told reporters earlier Wednesday that as many as 80% of the more than 150,000 Russian troops surrounding Ukraine were in forward positions ready to go, including troops on more than 10 landing ships in the Black Sea.

The U.N. Security Council was to convene for a second time this week to discuss Ukraine. The session was scheduled for 9:30 p.m. EST

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed his nation late Wednesday night.

"The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, he said in Russian, hours after declaring a nationwide state of emergency. But if the nation comes under an attack, "we will fight back.

He went on to reject Russias claims that Ukraine was a threat and said an invasion would cost thousands of lives.

He also said he tried to call Putin, but there was no answer from the Kremlin.

'Staged provocation'?

Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned on Twitter about reports from Crimea that the entire night shift of Titan chemicals plant in Armyansk [had] evacuated from the facility.

This might be a preparation for another staged provocation by Russia, he said.

Ukraine welcomed the range of Western sanctions imposed against Russia for its actions in eastern Ukraine, while lawmakers in Kyiv approved a 30-day national state of emergency starting Thursday and the government recalled its ambassador to Moscow.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered sanctions on the company and its executives that run the new Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline that stretches from Russia to Germany. The White House responded to criticism that these sanctions came too late by saying Washington wanted Berlins diplomatic cooperation before moving against the pipeline.

There were calls by some in Congress to do preemptive sanctions, or earlier sanctions, or take the earlier steps, I should say, on Nord Stream 2; we disagreed with that strategy, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday had halted certification for the pipeline, which is completed but not yet operational.

The U.S., Germany, Britain, Canada, the European Union and others have all taken a variety of actions to punish Russia and promised harsher sanctions if Russian troops advanced farther into Ukraine.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, We have not yet seen a full-scale invasion, but we are very clear that if President Putin escalates, we, the international community, will escalate our sanctions.

Standing up to 'bullies'

Australia on Wednesday added sanctions targeting members of Russias security council, while Japan joined with asset freezes for certain Russian individuals and a ban on the issuance of Russian bonds in Japan.

Australians always stand up to bullies, and we will be standing up to Russia, along with all of our partners, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters. I expect subsequent tranches of sanctions; this is only the start of this process.

Ukraines military said Wednesday that shelling by pro-Russian separatists in the Luhansk region had killed one Ukrainian soldier and injured six others.

Zelenskyy signed an order to call up some military reservists, citing a need to quickly staff up the nations army.

Putin said Wednesday that he was always open to finding a diplomatic solution, but added, The interests of Russia and the security of our citizens are non-negotiable for us.

'Peacekeeping' forces

Earlier this week Putin decreed the eastern Ukraine regions of Luhansk and Donetsk were independent states. Putin also said he was sending what he characterized as peacekeeping forces across the Ukrainian border, stoking fears of a broader conflict with the one-time Soviet republic, which has been independent since 1991.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and urged any Ukrainians there to leave immediately, contending that Moscows aggression could curb its ability to provide consular services.

Russia began evacuating its diplomatic posts in Ukraine and by Wednesday afternoon the Russian flag was no longer flying over its embassy in Kyiv, where police surrounded the building.

White House Correspondent Anita Powell, U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer and VOA's Ken Bredemeier contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Russia launched an attack on Ukraine early Thursday, with President Vladimir Putin warning other countries not to intervene and Ukraines Western allies pledging their support and new rounds of strong sanctions as they condemned the Russian assault.

Putin used a televised address to announce the start of a military operation in eastern Ukraine in response to what he called Ukrainian threats. He said those who opposed the action in the Donbas region will face consequences they have never seen.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces carried out strikes on Ukraine's military infrastructure and border guards. He said the government was introducing martial law throughout the country, while urging people to stay calm and stay home.

No panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will win over everybody because we are Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

He later announced Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with Russia and that the government would arm anyone who wants to defend the country.

Ukraines military said Russia began shelling Ukrainian forces in the countrys east Thursday morning and carried out rocket strikes at airports in multiple cities across Ukraine.

A Zelenskyy aide told reporters at least 40 people have been killed.

In the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, the downtown area became largely deserted while in residential districts lines formed at banks and outside food stores. Main roads leading out of the city were clogged with traffic headed to the west.

Lines were also long at ATMs, supermarkets and fuel stations in the eastern city of Slovyansk as people stocked up in case of renewed bombing.

Between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. the crash of shells hitting the area could be heard from towns and cities as far as 50 kilometers from the border with Russia and Russian-backed separatists, as well cities far beyond, including Kyiv.

U.S. President Joe Biden said the people of Ukraine were suffering an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.

President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Biden said in a statement. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

Biden said he discussed the situation in a phone call with Zelenskyy, who asked him to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putins flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine."

After speaking with G-7 leaders Thursday morning, Biden said the United States and other allies will impose severe sanctions on Russia. European Union leaders were also due to discuss a new round of sanctions being finalized Thursday.

European Union leaders were also preparing what EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said would be the the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented. He said of the situation, These are among the darkest hours for Europe since the end of World War II.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that he also spoke with Zelenskyy about the impending actions, and said Putin had opted for a path of bloodshed and destruction.

For months, Russia denied it planned to attack Ukraine as it massed 150,000 troops and military equipment along the Ukraine-Russia and Ukraine-Belarus borders. The Kremlin accused Western governments of engaging in hysteria as they called for Russia to de-escalate the situation.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, tweeted Thursday that the Russian leader had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

He said the international community needs to respond with devastating sanctions on Russia, as well as sending weapons, military equipment, financial assistance and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russias attack, calling it a grave breach of international law."

Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country, Stoltenberg said in a statement. NATO allies will meet to address the consequences of Russias aggressive actions. We stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time. NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend all allies.

Putins remarks came a short time after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pleaded during an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council for Putin to avoid the conflict.

"Tonight, I have only one thing to say, from the bottom of my heart: President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died, Guterres said.

As word came during the meeting that Putin had deployed his forces against Ukraine, the secretary-general told reporters that he was changing his plea.

I say: President Putin in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia. In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century.

Russias U.N. ambassador, who also happens to be the president of the Security Council this month, presided over a meeting where his presidents actions were denounced by nearly every member.

We dont know all the details today, but briefly Id like to inform you that from his statement it says the occupation of Ukraine is not in our plans, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said. The aim of the special operation is to protect the people who for eight-plus years have been suffering genocide from the Kyiv regime, and from this we will de-militarize and de-genocide Ukraine, and also hold accountable those who carried out so many crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.

Ukraines envoy told the council it was too late to speak about de-escalation, as the Russian war had begun.

There is no purgatory for war criminals, they go straight to hell, ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya told Nebenzia.

The Russian responded that Moscow is not attacking the Ukrainian people but the junta that is in power in Kyiv.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the council needs to act and they would put a draft resolution on the table Thursday.

A European diplomat said security council members are discussing a resolution that will make clear that Russia is not complying with the U.N. Charter, international law, or council resolution 2202  which endorsed the Minsk agreements -- and it will urge Russia to immediately return to compliance.

Russia would be expected to veto such a measure, but a strong number of members voting for it would increase Moscows isolation in the council. Diplomats would then likely move quickly to the General Assembly where it could be adopted without a threat of veto, but with no legal backing.

Earlier this week Putin decreed the eastern Ukraine regions of Luhansk and Donetsk were independent states. Putin also said he was sending what he characterized as peacekeeping forces across the Ukrainian border, stoking fears of a broader conflict with the one-time Soviet republic, which has been independent since 1991.

White House correspondent Anita Powell, VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer, Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb, State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching, and Jamie Dettmer in Kyiv contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
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In the 90s, it was practically an urban legend. Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lees first date was in Cancun. They took ecstasy, stared into each others eyes for two days, and swiftly found an officiant to marry them. The wedding party was small, consisting of girls the bride and groom had met the night before at a local bikini contest, the winner serving as maid of honor. The ceremony was held on the beach, where a crowd recognized the famous couple and formed around them. After they were pronounced husband and wife, the groom lifted the bride, who wore a white bikini, and carried her into the ocean. Spring breakers followed them into the waves, swimming around the couple as they kissed. In lieu of rings, Pam and Tommy exchanged tattoos: Pamela on his dick and Tommy on her ring finger.

As is their nature, urban myths tend to shift over time, adapting to fit new cultural mores. The above summary (based on an interview with Pamela Anderson in Tommyland, Lees memoir) is not exactly the wedding depicted in Pam & Tommy, a new scripted series by Hulu. The miniseries trades the bikini-contest girls for BFFs, and there is no dick tattoo. Billing itself in ads as The Greatest Love Story Ever Sold, it promises an account of the couple, their quickie marriage, and their infamous sex-tape leak under the guise of cultural restitution (a trendy framework for recent TV). Its a reevaluation of the medias treatment of Anderson, one thats meant to square specifically with Gen-Z and millennial viewers steeped in strains of online feminism.

But Pam & Tommy takes a true-crime approach to its subject matter, based as it is on a Rolling Stone story about the carpenter who stole the couples sex tape and leaked it to the early internet, where it took two years to go viral. The show, produced without the consent of Anderson or Lee, opens with a sympathetic close-focus shot of the carpenter, played by Seth Rogen, who, after not being paid for construction on Lees Malibu mansion, is remade as a sort of spiritual leftist with reason enough to rob the couple. Its karma. The Pam and Tommy of the show arent given the benefit of the same interiority, embodied by little more than prosthetics: a literal talking dick and a medical-grade silicone breastplate. Lily James  whoever she is, as Courtney Love said in a Facebook post criticizing the show  doesnt play Anderson so much as a fantasy of her, all baby talk and empty smiles. A breathy flash of veneers. We know why the carpenter did it, but three-quarters of the way through the series, were no closer to understanding why the couple, and especially Anderson, maintained such a psychic hold of the public at large.

If Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee are part of a great love story, its set in a specific time and place. Clinton had just been elected on the principle of Its the economy, stupid. The dot-com bubble, yet to burst, created upper-middle-class jobs while welfare reform pushed many Americans to extreme levels of poverty and hunger. When he wasnt playing the saxophone on Arsenio Hall, the president was talking about his crime bill and a push for more police. Meanwhile, TV public-service announcements warned, You know you can get AIDS from heterosexual sex? Anyone can get HIV. Anyone.

In came Pamela and Tommy Lee, hounded by paparazzi, appearing as though in a perpetual sex daze, like the VHS cover for a sexual thriller. Their celebrity channeled an image of all-encompassing passion, arousing both anxiety and interest among a rubbernecking public steeped in fiscally conservative family-values messaging. It was an image of falling all the way into love with its emotional, spiritual, and sexual extremes  using the position of being alive, however briefly, to experience as much joy and intensity as possible. They spent money like they hated it, the real-life carpenter Rand Gauthier told Rolling Stone.

The shows pose of class consciousness is current to discourse, but the flattening of Pamela Andersons story isnt.

When asked about preparing to play Anderson, James said she reached out to Anderson but never got a call back. The real Pamela Anderson was accessible, though. She was a savvy social-media user before she quit Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter last year and is outwardly leftist. She is creative, sharing poems on her website. As for her relationship with Lee, she describes their connection in his memoir Tommyland as more of a shared joie de vivre. They lived a life marked by private artistic pursuits, writing screenplays for each other and throwing mock themed weddings together  a space-themed wedding, a New Age wedding, a wedding on Christmas in which Lee rode in on a horse and the couple signed the guest book in each others blood because it felt like forever.

The character James and the Pam & Tommy writers created without Anderson is far more simple. Pam is the nice girl who fell for the wrong guy. Shes the SWERF fantasy: a woman so used to pleasing men that she cant stand up for herself. All we see are the tropes: Pams the pinup, shes the bombshell, shes the bimbo. The show clings to that tabloid fantasy of two people with little in common beyond the desire to fuck each other without digging any deeper, casting Anderson as blank as possible so that a new publics conscious and repressed desires could be projected onto her all over again. Taking on the damage of a repressed bisexual nation is hard work. (Anderson survived it; Marilyn Monroe did not.) But doing it twice in one lifetime doesnt mean youve been redeemed by anyone.

The redemption arc in Pam & Tommy comes in two speeches that have yet to air, though commenting on them now wont spoil anything. First, the character of Pamela, in a shaky voice, explains something we already know happened in real life: The court denied her control over the distribution of her image in the form of the sex tape. Sluts  and thats what this ruling is saying I am, in case youre unclear  dont get to decide what happens to pictures of their body, she says. Its Pams big scene, yet it falls flat, the delivery automated. The knowledge that Anderson herself did not sign off on the use of her (nude, prosthetic) image for the show has an uncanny-valley effect. The second speech comes when the leftist straw man, the carpenter, doing a little soul-searching in the face of mob threats, admits that Pam did nothing wrong. From episode one, we are made to understand why he stole and leaked the tape, but for a supposedly sympathetic and thoughtful character, this admission feels paper-thin.

While the shows pose of class consciousness via Rogens character is current to discourse, the flattening of Andersons story isnt. New generations respond to Anderson because of shifted values. Women online have come to claim the term bimbo. Their politics are influenced by the hard-won visibility of sex workers who fought against stigma, moving discussions of sex work from the realm of sexual politics into the realm of labor. If millennial feminists dont already have some cultural memory of Pams sex tape, they can probably recall Kim Kardashian Wests. A millennial herself, she came of age in an era of free online porn, a time when girls were warned about creating sexual images of themselves: What if your kids see it one day? Its a question that seems outdated now when a growing number of women are signing up for OnlyFans. And besides, what girl with a dating app on her phone hasnt at least sent nudes?

Every generation must discover sex for themselves, but rather than bring the Gen-Z viewer with no memory of this sex-tape scandal into the actual adult world of 2022 where Pamela Anderson currently lives, the series introduces the story washed in an ethos of the past with only a slight change: The bombshell isnt a slut, and she isnt asking for it. Shes actually a victim. But its just another trope inside of which the same violence takes place. Pam is stifled. The mores might have changed for women raised to view a two-salary household as a feminist win, who put off marrying to build a career and require a longer dating period with more sexual partners. Whats unchanged is that the bimbo and the bad boy, the whore and her co-conspirator, remain characters in a morality tale as told by social conservatives  whether on the left or the right, the story is a cautionary one. Pam remains a threat to an economic system underpinned by the top-down promotion of family values. She is the trespasser, an intruder.

But theres another legend wherein Pamelas character is seen as more of a warrior. Wherein The Greatest Love Story Ever Sold contains one truth: Only by destroying traditional marriage can you remake it on the basis of love. Typically, this isnt the stuff of true crime, but one could imagine a series that studies the resourcefulness and drive of a character like Pam and arrives somewhere more radical  this show did not.

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There is a moment in the pilot episode of Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunsons warmhearted half-hour mockumentary comedy about the teachers and students of a Philadelphia public school, that illuminates the genius of Janelle Jamess portrayal of the self-obsessed principal Ava Coleman. Willard R. Abbott Public School is aging and underfunded, with threadbare rugs and flickering lights, and the documentary crew Ava has invited in is primarily there to document the schools struggles. But you wouldnt guess that from Avas treatment of the camera as a chronicler of her fabulousness.

In between throwing a smile at the camera after saying, Aides cost money, and we dont have that, and revealing that she used $3,000 from the school system to make a gigantic sign of herself, Ava thanks longtime teacher Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) for her resignation to Colemans uselessness  which the principal misreads as support. The breezy way James delivers So understanding!, the cocky hand-on-her-hip pose, and her deliberate stroll away from another teacher begging for help come together to make Ava Coleman one of the most entertaining TV villains in recent memory. In a show that is primarily about selflessness, Avas ability to twist any situation into one that serves her self-interest is the hard edge that has made Abbott Elementary such a delight to watch each week. And after nine episodes of Jamess scene-stealing performance, including this weeks Ava-spotlighting episode Step Class, I deliver a plea: Let principal Coleman stay terrible!

Since its premiere on ABC on December 7, Abbott Elementary has steadily amassed a devoted following thanks to the precision of Brunsons vision, the dimensionality of the seriess ensemble, and the amusing way these characters tackle the challenges public schools have faced for years. Mockumentary comedies like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Modern Family amassed audiences and awards over time, but its arguable whether any of those series was as confident in its first season as Abbott Elementary. Within the pilot episode, the series efficiently establishes the schools old and new guards, including longtime Abbott teachers Barbara and Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter) as part of the former, and new-to-the-field Janine Teagues (Brunson) and substitute Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), Janines will-they-or-wont-they love interest, in the latter. And standing on the outside of both groups, smirking at their antics and daydreaming about how to wield her power over them, is Ava.

Abbott Elementary is clear from the beginning that Ava is bad at her job, as Melissa exasperatedly says during a talking-head interview, and just the latest in a long line of people who do absolutely nothing, according to Barbara, and the principals ineptitude serves two functions. Broadly, any realistic depiction of an American workplace needs a bad boss, and specifically, positioning Ava as an id-like figure causing mayhem at Abbott also avoids any possibility of mistaking the schools students as the teachers burdens, irritations, or enemies. The long-running hardships faced by the faculty and staff come from bureaucratic and systemic failures outside of their control, and the series is realistic in its quiet observations that much of this, from outdated textbooks to produce-lacking school meals, is unfixable from the bottom up. But the day-to-day chaos manifested by Avas immaturity and spontaneity? Thats easier for the teachers to solve, and Abbott Elementarys episodic format allows James to charm as an ever-flowing fountain of mayhem while the other characters get sketched out through how they grapple with her actions.

If you watched Jamess episode of The Standups on Netflix, youre aware of her talents: the ease with which she can jump from coy flirtation to brusque observations (after batting her eyelashes at the portraits of white Jesus that decorated her grandmothers house, What a fucked-up religion. Why was Jesus so fine? What was the point of that?); the liveliness of her physicality (her wide-eyed, loose-limbed recreation of an unnerving altercation with an Uber driver that ended with James farting for my life in the back of the car). On Abbott Elementary, Ava is the constant villain of myriad B stories, and Jamess performance, as exuberant as it is impish, teases out her standup strengths.

Is there an episode of Abbott Elementary that doesnt involve some kind of impetuous pettiness from Ava? There is not. The character is designed to play to the cameras, and James is excellent at selling fourth-wall-breaking cutaways as uncontrollable moments of ego: her dead-eyed stare when she asks Janine, Can you twerk? You dont look like you can, but I could be wrong; the snarling way she rejects Janines wish of a nice day with Dont tell me what kind of day to have. Getting all presumptuous and rude. Jamess line deliveries are always punchy, whether Ava is exasperatedly admitting that of course she plans to sell school equipment for personal gain, realizing that one of the students in the schools gifted program is aware of how little she works (We shutting this down. Hes getting too smart!), or excitedly referencing pop culture in which no one else expresses interest. A running list of things Ava likes: Train to Busan, X-Men, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, The Fast and the Furious franchise, and Pixar movies; this woman, whose video-editing skills are so good that she is convinced people will one day have to differentiate between herself and the other Ava (DuVernay), has taste!

Avas variable slyness and jauntiness, coupled with the characters physical reactions, make her an absurdist counterbalance to the seriess more somber depictions of our overwhelmed public school system. Her mini-arc in the eighth episode Work Family, in which she goes from laughing into collapse when she learns about Janines boyfriend since eighth grade (Somebody get me a chair  So he broke? Somebody get me a fresh chair!) to later acknowledging that Tariq (Zack Fox) got bars, is a real journey. And while the side-eye the principal recurrently throws at Janine evokes another classic mockumentary moment  Lucille Bluths door-closing on her son Gob, which has experienced its own long social-media life in GIF form  Ava has become a highly memed character in her own right. If getting called into the principals office at school is such a bad thing, why does hanging out with Ava seem so fun?

All of that serves as a buildup to Step Class, in which Ava finally steps into the A story by volunteering to lead Abbotts newly formed step club alongside Janine. Avas involvement in an optional activity is an unexpected development that both seems to go against her personality (Jamess disgusted I hate school is a series-best line delivery) and shocks Barbara and Melissa, who have seen Ava pull a George Costanza and push kids out of the way during fire drills. But in a smart move, Abbott Elementary doesnt soften Ava past recognition. Yes, she easily teaches the student steppers a complicated routine, is revealed to be taking care of her ill grandmother, and tells Janine she appreciates her support of the club, but she also calls Janine dorky, refuses her apology for seeming self-serving, and shoves the teacher aside instead of returning a hug. Step Class made Ava a person, but refreshingly, it didnt make her a hero. Abbott Elementary already has enough of those.

To transform Ava into someone who genuinely believes the children are our future line from Whitney Houstons Greatest Love Of All instead of semi-ironically singing it for the cameras would be a misunderstanding of what makes the character so appealing in the first place. In a series where everyone else is trying to do the right thing, Avas single-mindedness in prioritizing herself is a luxury, and Jamess performance is a comedic boon. Without Ava as an acerbic anchor, Abbott Elementarys sincerity could turn into, as the character herself scoffs against, the treacle of a very special episode  a narrative turn that isnt so unusual for mockumentary comedies. After Steve Carell announced his exit from The Office, the series gave its characters collective amnesia and tried to rebrand Michael Scott as a beloved mentor, not someone who terrorized and abused everyone under his thumb. In its fan-service-inundated final season, Parks and Recreation committed itself to fully sanding off Ron Swansons prickly edges and flattening the eccentric April Ludgate into a domesticated mom.

But both approaches made the mistake of confusing niceness for worthiness, as if we should have felt bad for being amused by Michael, Ron, or April when they were acting their worst. Heres hoping Abbott Elementary will continue to sidestep that conflation when it comes to Ava and keep in mind what Black Bobby Fischer Malcolm (Jayce B. Johnson) says in the final moments of Abbott Elementarys sixth episode, Gifted Program: I like Principal Coleman. Shes like a big kid. Shes silly, and she doesnt have a job. In her abandon and authenticity, Ava Coleman is living the dream. Let her stay that way.
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Fracking may be Americas most powerful weapon against Russian aggression. President Joe Bidens administration was already working to bring down gasoline prices before the crisis and war in Ukraine. Those measures, however, mostly depended on quick fixes such as a suspension of the federal gas tax or an opening of the strategic petroleum reserve. They would do little to relieve the financial hardship of U.S. consumers and nothing to weaken Russias geopolitical position.

Thats because they dont address the fundamental problem: The worlds demand for oil is growing faster than its ability to produce oil. A reduction in the gas tax would have no effect on the supply of oil, and would actually increase the demand for it. Likewise, a release from the strategic petroleum reserve would increase the supply of oil now, but because it doesnt increase production, the bump would be short-lived.

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Fortunately, the U.S. has a technology that would not only increase the total supply of oil, but also keep a lid on prices. What the fracking industry needs is more support from the president and Congress.

A short history of the last decade of the U.S. fracking industry is instructive. When fracking first took off in 2011, the price of oil had broken through $100 a barrel and was expected to keep rising, to perhaps $200 or more. But the rise of fracking arrested that expected price increase and held oil to about $100 for the next three years. In response, OPEC rapidly increased the supply of oil in an attempt to drive down the price and put the U.S. fracking industry out of business.It didnt work. Fracking declined at first, but drillers became more efficient until they could be profitable at about $50 a barrel. OPEC and Russia then tried driving the price all the way to down $36  but at that level, many of OPECs member countries, as well as Russia, faced serious financing difficulties.

OPEC and Russia then reversed course and cut supply, hoping to bring oil prices back to the level that had prevailed before the price war. But the newly efficient fracking industry was able to rapidly increase supply. The end result was a kind of truce, with oil trading at about $60 until the pandemic.

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Covid hit the U.S. fracking industry hard, and it has yet to recover. From 2018 to 2020, U.S. oil production grew from almost 10 million barrels a day to almost 13 million. Today, however, oil production is about 11.7 million and rising slowly. As a consequence, the price of oil has steadily risen  filling the coffers of the Russian treasury.

Only Russian President Vladimir Putin can say why his invasion of Ukraine began when it did. Its worth noting, however, that periods of high oil prices have coincided with periods of Russian aggression. When Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, the price of oil was roughly $100 barrel. It crashed later that year. Oil stayed well below that level until just last month, when it rose above $95.

Higher oil prices strengthen the Russian economy and weaken Western Europes. Higher oil prices also hurt America  so long as fracking production stays muted.

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To be sure, market forces will cause fracking production to pick up in response to the elevated price. But there are several things the Biden administration can do to speed the process along.

The first is simply to be vocal about the vital role of the fracking industry in national security. Democrats are perceived as actively hostile to the oil and gas industry. That limits the amount of exposure investors are willing to have to U.S. production. If the president himself were to say that energy security is as important as climate security, it might mitigate some of the current hesitancy to invest.

The government should also reopen federal land to fracking. That will allow for some increase, but it will be mostly helpful as a signal to investors that the government supports expanded oil and gas production.

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Congress can and should go further, offering to guarantee the debt that drillers incur over the next year if they decide to expand production. That would be a dramatic and controversial step. But it would create an incentive for drillers to move quickly.

Of course, such a measure would not bring oil prices down immediately. Most of the boost would be felt late this year and into the next. Lower oil prices would increase the U.S. and Europes ability to endure sanctions while reducing Russias ability to fund its war in of Ukraine. And that would help shift the balance of power away from Putin and toward the West.

Related at Bloomberg Opinion:

 The World Has Been Using A Lot More Oil Than We Thought: Julian Lee

 Oil, Gas and Commodities Arent Being Weaponized  for Now: Javier Blas

 Bidens Ukraine Response Is Mired in Barrels of Oil: Liam Denning

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This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Karl W. Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He was formerly vice president for federal policy at the Tax Foundation and assistant professor of economics at the University of North Carolina. He is also co-founder of the economics blog Modeled Behavior.

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The newly completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline under the Baltic Sea has come tantalizingly close to being able to pump billions of cubic meters of Russian gas to the European Union. Now its future is in limbo amid tougher sanctions from the U.S. and Europe. The link between Russia and Germany runs parallel to the existing Nord Stream pipeline thats been fully operational since 2012. The launch of the new link was already delayed by earlier U.S. efforts to block its completion. Russias invasion of Ukraine further complicates matters, and the new pipeline may lie dormant on the Baltic seabed for years.

1. Whats halted it for now?

U.S. President Joe Biden expanded sanctions against Russia on Feb. 23, with new penalties targeting the builder of the pipeline and its corporate leadership. The U.S. sanctions hit Nord Stream 2 AG. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said just before the Russian attacks that President Vladimir Putins recognition of two separatist republics in the east of Ukraine had materially changed the situation so that no certification of the pipeline can happen right now. Without it, he told reporters, the gas link cannot go into operation. Scholz effectively froze the approval process by having the Economy Ministry withdraw its assessment that the project doesnt pose a threat to security of supply. Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the pipeline is unlikely to start up in the medium term.

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2. Was Germanys action separate from sanctions?

Yes. Its not a sanction in the classic sense, its a political decision that Nord Stream 2 cannot come, Habeck told Deutschlandfunk radio in an interview on Feb. 23. The EU separately proposed a package of sanctions on Russia for its moves relating to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, targeting those behind the decision, as well as banks that finance Russian operations in the territories.

3. What was holding it up before?

Russian gas producer Gazprom PJSC needed to restructure its Nord Stream 2 operations to comply with the requirements of the German energy watchdog BNetzA and EU law. Only then would the intricate approval process, which started in September and was suspended in mid-November, be able to resume. The German regulator would have as long as four months to reach a preliminary conclusion and the EU, which has a more advisory role, could take another two to four months to express its opinion. BNetzA then would have a further two months to make a final ruling. Its president already said in December that a decision wouldnt be made in the first half of 2022.

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4. Why was certification halted?

The approval process was first halted at the end of 2021 as the German energy regulator asked Nord Stream 2 AG, a Swiss company, to set up an entity in the country to comply with EU regulations. The company has now set up Gas for Europe GmbH as operator in Germany, but it still needs to transfer the main assets and human resources to the Schwerin-based unit. BNetzA suspended its review until the new entity was established and could prove it met all the legal requirements.

5. When could Nord Stream 2 become operational?

If the German government rescinds its objection at some point in the future, then once the new unit submits the application documents to BNetzA, the watchdog could potentially pick up the approval process from where it left off. Since the regulator has already been considering the Nord Stream 2 case for just over two months, it would have a similar amount of time left to complete the study before the European Commission, the EUs executive arm, starts its own review. The German regulator is obliged to take into utmost account the opinion voiced by the Commission, but is not required to follow it entirely. But Gas for Europe would still need to comply with any applicable U.S. sanctions remaining in force.

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As U.S. president, Joe Biden has a rarely used but potentially powerful tool to make up for energy supply shortages or economically damaging price spikes: the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR. Set up in the aftermath of the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s as a national energy safety net, its the worlds largest supply of emergency crude, stored in deep and heavily guarded underground salt caverns along the U.S. Gulf Coast. The Biden administration is said to be considering tapping the SPR in coordination with allies to counter a surge in prices brought on by Russias moves against Ukraine.

1. How much oil is in reserve?

The reserve stood at 582.4 million barrels as of Feb. 22. Thats about 82% of its maximum authorized storage capacity of 714 million barrels and enough to replace more than half a years worth of U.S. crude net imports.

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2. In what circumstances can presidents release stockpiled oil?

Its pretty much the presidents prerogative. But the 1975 law that established the reserve says a president can order a full drawdown in the event of a severe energy supply interruption that threatens national security or the economy. A limited drawdown (up to 30 million barrels) can be ordered in the event of a domestic or international energy supply shortage of significant scope or duration.

3. How have presidents tapped the reserve?

Beyond ad hoc responses to localized oil disruptions, the U.S. has tapped its oil reserve only a handful of times. Biden did so late in 2021, authorizing the release of 50 million barrels as part of a coordinated multi-nation bid to lower surging fuel costs. In 2011, President Barack Obama released 30 million barrels as part of a joint effort with other nations to counter supply disruptions from Libya. In 2005, President George W. Bush released 11 million barrels in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. And in 1991, under President George H.W. Bush, 17 million barrels were released during the first Gulf War. In 2017, the Energy Department authorized the release of 5 million barrels to Gulf Coast refineries when Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the region. Such arrangements are designed to address short-term emergency needs, and the crude is repaid, in kind, at a future date. Test releases take place from time to time, as well as limited releases in the form of swaps.

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4. What does a release entail?

The maximum drawdown capability is 4.4 million barrels a day, according to the Energy Departments website, and it takes 13 days for SPR oil to reach the open market after a presidential decision. But the mere announcement that the SPR is being deployed could have an immediate, if short-lived, effect on oil prices.

5. Which other countries have reserves?

China, India, Japan and South Korea are among Asias major stockpilers of oil. Member states of the European Union held a combined 112.5 million tonnes (825 million barrels) of emergency oil stocks as of June 2021, according to Eurostat, the EUs statistical office.

6. Whats the outlook for the U.S. stockpile?

The domestic shale boom has allowed the U.S. to join the ranks of the worlds biggest oil producers, lending weight to arguments that the emergency reserve is past its sell-by date. But U.S. crude production has only grown modestly in recent months, despite a big rally in prices, while demand has increased and imports have been trending upward. In the past the reserve has been used to pay government bills ranging from roads to deficit reduction and drugs, and current plans are for the stockpile to be cut almost in half over several years. But periodic use of the reserve after natural disasters may be the most effective rebuttal to the case for doing away with it.

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By the time the shells started falling, the assault in cyberspace had already begun. At close to 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday in Ukraine, and within hours of a military invasion by Russia, a new form of destructive software was already wiping out data on hundreds of Ukrainian computers, according to researchers at cybersecurity firm ESET. Time stamps on the malware suggested the attack had been in preparation for almost two months. Government, banking and media websites were shunted offline in distributed denial of service attacks. Kyiv Post, a popular English-language news site in Ukraine, said Thursday morning that its main website was under constant attack.

But Ukraine has been here before.

For years, it was the worlds punching bag for Russian cyber aggression. Its citizens suffered blackouts from disruptions to its electricity grid in 2015 and 2016, and Ukraines government and financial system were crippled by powerful malware attacks in 2017. The NotPetya virus went on to spill out of Ukraine and cause an estimated $10 billion in damage to companies and organizations across the U.S., Europe and other parts of the world. As the former U.S. Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert once said, It was the equivalent of using a nuclear bomb to achieve a small, tactical victory.

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Attribution is never 100% certain, but cybersecurity researchers widely agree that Russia was the likely culprit of those attacks. In making Ukraine its most frequent victim, Russia has also become the worlds most serious cyber aggressor, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a geopolitical think tank.

The benefit is that Ukraines commercial and public sectors have become better prepared for cyber harassment. After Wednesdays attack, military and banking websites reportedly recovered quickly thanks to their preparedness and swift work to mitigate the damage. Kyiv Posts website, at the time of this writing, was up and running.

The latest cyberattack is nothing like a targeted strike against a major system, like the Stuxnet worm that disrupted Irans nuclear program in the early 2000s. Russias goal is scattershot psychological disruption  to sow chaos, confusion and fear, not just in Ukraine but among its Western allies.

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It shouldnt work. Western governments contemplating harsh sanctions against Russia are weighing up the potential cyber blowback, with the global damage caused by NotPetya a fresh memory. But Russia looks unlikely to deploy its full cyber arsenal against Ukraine, and its potential targets look better prepared thanks to years of experience.

The United Kingdom, for example, has built up a formidable cyber defense force aimed at deterring action from aggressors like like Russia. The United States Cyber Command, run by National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone, has a similar stance on deterrence and has no doubt carried out its own offensives in Russian cyberspace too.

Then there are the limits on Russias own resources. The NSAs Nakasone has said he directs a cyber defense workforce of roughly 238,000 people. I doubt Russia has got half that many people, working in that many missions in the Russian armed forces, said Greg Austin, a senior fellow on cyber security for IISS, during a webinar on the Ukraine conflict on Thursday. Theres a question of how many do they have, how skilled are they and whats the link between their skills, training and policy planning in Russias armed forces.

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What we have seen since 2013 have been largely harassment-type attacks, low level. Some had effects which lasted some months but most were relatively short-lived, Austin added. Russias military intervention during the Syrian civil war in 2015, for instance, saw surprisingly little use of offensive cyber operations by Russia. That raises questions not only about the resources of Russias military intelligence division, the GRU, but the imagination of senior leaders in the Kremlin for launching cyber attacks, according to Austin.

Theres no mistaking that an important part of Russias assault on Ukraine will continue to be digital. But if it continues to be as limited and chaotic as some cybersecurity observers expect, that should give Western allies the confidence they need to bring down sanctions, and bring them down hard.

More From Others at Bloomberg Opinion:

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 Vladimir Putin Is Playing With Fire in Ukraine: Clara Ferreira Marques

 Shock-and-Awe Sanctions Could Still Stop Putin: Javier Blas

 Putins Invasion of Ukraine Is a Sin All Russians Will Bear: Leonid Bershidsky

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. She previously reported for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes and is the author of We Are Anonymous.

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Russias recognition of Ukraines separatist Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics was the precursor to attacks by Russian forces on targets across Ukraine, after President Vladimir Putin vowed to demilitarize the country and replace its leaders. That has dramatically raised the stakes in the already-volatile region, riven by conflict since 2014. Western officials have responded with sanctions, putting the self-proclaimed republics at the heart of one of Europes biggest security crises since the Cold War.

1. Where are Donetsk and Luhansk?

Long the home of Don Cossacks, the region, in eastern Ukraine, came under control of the Russian Empire in the mid-18th century, soon after the discovery of the coal basin that would provide its nickname  the Donbas. The coal attracted industry and Russian settlers from the mid-19th century, turning Donetsk and Luhansk into Ukraines industrial heartland. With its substantial Russian-speaking population, the Donbas became a bedrock of support for Viktor Yanukovych, the Donetsk-born former president toppled in 2014 by street protests over his decision -- under pressure from Putin -- to renege on signing a trade association pact with the European Union.

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2. How did the trouble start?

Following Yanukovychs removal, which Russia saw as a Western-backed coup, Putin sent unbadged troops to annex Crimea, without a shot fired. Opponents of the new pro-Western government in Kyiv tried to emulate that success by taking control in cities across the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. But this time there was resistance. Clashes broke out and an armed conflict developed in the Donbas. Russia denies allegations that it fomented the protests. Its clear many in the region wanted stronger ties with Russia, though not that they wanted to join it or fight. One of the first commanders of the separatist forces, Igor Girkin, otherwise known as Strelkov, was a Russian citizen who had been involved in Moscows operation to secure Crimea.

3. Why is Russia focused on this area?

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Putin has made clear since at least 2007 that he does not accept Europes post-Cold War, U.S.-dominated security architecture. He since tried to carve out a sphere of influence for Moscow in the former Soviet space, pushing back against efforts by Russias neighbors to join or associate with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or, later, the European Union. He tried instead to build Russian-led equivalents -- the Collective Security Treaty Organization and Eurasian Economic Union -- but without Ukraine, a fellow Slav nation of at least 41 million, they could amount to little.

4. Didnt Russia say it wanted to implement the Minsk Accords?

Yes. For seven years Russia tried to get Ukraine to implement the 2015 Minsk II peace deal, agreed after battlefield defeats for Kyiv. Russias interpretation of the accords would have federalized Ukraine such that Moscow -- through the pro-Russia leaders of Donetsk and Luhansk -- would be able to influence or block shifts in Ukraines orientation. Agreeing to implement the accords as Russia wants would for that reason be seen as capitulation and politically dangerous for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Ukraine offered its own interpretation of how to implement the Minsk deals, but by recognizing the separatist territories as independent states Putin has made the accords irrelevant.

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5. How valuable are the provinces?

The separatist territories are by now mainly of value for the disruption they cause Ukraine, cutting key transport links and supply chains and creating political risks that drive up borrowing costs and deter investors in the rest of the country. The territories produce coal and are home to some substantial factories, but the economy has been largely destroyed, with the war leaving about 14,000 people dead. Large numbers have fled the fighting and lack of rule of law in the territories, leaving either for Ukraine or Russia. One 2020 study estimated the cost of reconstruction at $21.7 billion, a bill that now falls to the Kremlin.

6. How large will the new states be?

Thats still unclear. Separatists hold about one third of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, with the remaining two thirds behind a roughly 450 kilometer (280 mile) front line defended by about 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The separatist governments, led by Denis Pushilin in the Donetsk Peoples Republic and Leonid Pasechnik in the Luhansk Peoples Republic, claim the whole Donbas region for their statelets. The documents signed by Putin on Feb. 21 did not define their extent. The territories remain part of Ukraine under international law.

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7. Why does the West care?

Putin is demanding a wholesale restructuring of Europes security order and has now altered the borders that emerged from the collapse of the former Soviet Union four times -- twice in Georgia and, after Crimea and the Donbas, twice in Ukraine. He has also forced a much closer union on the embattled leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, with the result that some of the shelling on Ukraine has come from Belarus, according to Ukraines border guard. Thats worrying for the neighboring Baltic states and Poland -- all NATO members -- which have begun to ask for a stronger NATO presence in the area response.

 A QuickTake on why the Minsk accords have been a murky diplomatic path for Ukraine.

 An International Crisis Group study on Conflict in Ukraines Donbas.

 A report by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies on the economic challenges and costs in the Donbas.

 A Foreign Policy article on Putins Frozen Conflicts.

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Read More: Ex-Malaysia PM Najib Razak Faces Court for Biggest 1MDB Corruption Trial Malaysias state-owned investment fund, 1MDB, was supposed to promote development. Instead, it has spurred investigations around the world into deal-making, election spending and political patronage under former Prime Minister Najib Razak. The figures are mind-boggling: Of the $8 billion that 1MDB raised via bond sales, the U.S. alleges more than half was siphoned off. Angry voters ousted Najib in a 2018 election that ended his partys 61 years of rule, and two years later he was convicted in the first of a series of trials. Goldman Group Inc. has agreed to pay more than $5 billion, including a record $2.3 billion fine in the U.S., and enter its first-ever guilty plea for its role in the scandal.

1. What is 1MDB?

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Its a government investment company -- full name, 1Malaysia Development Bhd -- that took shape in 2009 under Najib, who led its advisory board. Its early initiatives included buying privately owned power plants and planning a new financial district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysias capital. The fund proved better at borrowing -- it accumulated $12 billion in debt -- than at luring large-scale foreign investment.

2. Whats the issue?

Much of the money raised was allegedly embezzled. The U.S. Justice Department says that some $2.7 billion of the $6.5 billion Goldman helped raise for 1MDB was stolen by people connected to Najib and diverted for bribes, a luxury yacht, fine art and even funding for the Martin Scorsese movie The Wolf of Wall Street. According to a U.S. indictment, a small coterie of Malaysians, led by businessman Low Taek Jho (known as Jho Low), diverted money from 1MDB into personal accounts disguised to look like legitimate businesses, and kicked back some of those funds to officials. There were questions about a $681 million payment that landed in Najibs personal bank account (he has said most of the money was returned). Malaysias then-attorney general cleared Najib of wrongdoing in 2016. But after losing office, Najib was charged with corruption, breach of trust and money laundering. The first trial involved $10 million deposited in his personal accounts from a former 1MDB unit. He was found guilty in 2020 on all seven counts and sentenced to 12 years; an appeals court upheld the conviction in December 2021. Jho Low, a fugitive, has also denied any wrongdoing.

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3. Wheres the money?

Scattered, but slowly coming in. Under a July 2020 settlement, Malaysia dropped all criminal charges against Goldman in exchange for a $2.5 billion cash payment and at least $1.4 billion from seized 1MDB assets being returned with the help of U.S. prosecutors and Goldman. (Goldman made $593 million working on three bond sales that raised $6.5 billion for 1MDB in 2012 and 2013 -- far more than what banks typically make from such deals.) The banks October 2020 settlement with the U.S. Justice Department included the largest-ever penalty for foreign bribery. Goldman units also paid $350 million to Hong Kongs financial regulator, $122 million to Singapores government and 96.6 million pounds ($126 million at the time) to the U.K.s Financial Conduct Authority.

In addition:

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 U.S. prosecutors struck a deal in 2020 with Jho Low to recoup almost $700 million worth of assets, including a Beverly Hills hotel and real estate in New York and London. Thats in addition to $260 million of assets, including a $126 million super yacht, seized earlier on Malaysias behalf.

 The U.S. reached a $60 million settlement with the producers of The Wolf of Wall Street. The production company was co-founded by Riza Aziz, Najibs stepson and a friend of Jho Low.

 Malaysia moved to seize $340 million in PetroSaudi Internationals accounts in London.

 Singapore said it would return S$35 million ($25 million at the time) forfeited by former Goldman banker Roger Ng.

4. Whats happened with the investigation?

The U.S. Justice Department has been at the forefront, focusing on bribery, theft and money laundering. A small Malaysian unit of Goldman pleaded guilty to a single conspiracy charge. But the parent company avoided a criminal conviction under an agreement that allows the bank to put off any prosecution as long as it cooperates with ongoing U.S. investigations and submits compliance reports. (A conviction might have cost it some institutional clients.) According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, some potential witnesses were scared to talk because they feared retaliation. Several other countries also conducted probes. Singapore and Switzerland have fined some banks for lapses in anti-money laundering controls. Malaysia also has said it is looking into allegations that China offered to help fend off probes into 1MDB in the U.S. and elsewhere in exchange for stakes in infrastructure projects in Malaysia. A former Najib aide testified that the ex-premier offered projects to China in return for help resolving 1MDBs debt.

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5. Who else is charged?

 Jho Low, a bon vivant who said he did consulting work for 1MDB, is portrayed by U.S. prosecutors as the central figure who set up shell companies to collect proceeds from the fund and arranged withdrawals for payoffs and for his own lavish spending. He has been charged in absentia in Malaysia and the U.S. with money laundering and other offenses. Malaysian police have bemoaned the lack of help from other jurisdictions in finding him, after saying they had located him and were in talks with a party they suspect of protecting him. Jho Lows settlement with the U.S. didnt include an admission of guilt or release him from criminal charges.

 Goldmans former Southeast Asia Chairman Tim Leissner pleaded guilty to U.S. charges including conspiracy to launder money and admitted to bribing officials in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates to get bond deals for Goldman. He agreed to forfeit $43.7 million and was expected to be sentenced this year.

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 Ng was extradited from Malaysia to the U.S. to face similar charges. After a long delay tied to the coronavirus outbreak, his trial began in February 2022, with Leissner as the prosecutions star witness. (The U.S. Federal Reserve has banned both men from the financial industry.)

 Malaysia leveled charges of securities law violations against Leissner, Ng, Jho Low and 1MDBs former general counsel, Jasmine Loo Ai Swan.

 PetroSaudi International directors Tarek Obaid and Patrick Mahony were charged by Malaysia in absentia in 2020 for allegedly receiving $300 million from 1MDB through unlawful activity.

 Ex-1MDB President Arul Kanda was charged along with Najib for allegedly tampering with a state audit report into the fund. Both men have denied wrongdoing.

 Rosmah Mansor, Najibs wife, was charged with money laundering and tax evasion. Luxury items and cash seized from properties linked to the former first couple were valued at about 1.1 billion ringgit ($259 million). According to U.S. prosecutors, Jho Low in 2013 allegedly funneled $27.3 million that was looted from 1MDB to a New York jeweler who designed a pink diamond necklace for her.

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 A Justice Department employee pleaded guilty to funneling money into the U.S. to pay for a lobbying effort to influence the 1MDB probe, with the filing identifying the funds source as Jho Low.

6. Exactly how much money is involved?

In all, 1MDB raised more than $8 billion in bond sales and accumulated billions more in debt through loans and interest payments. Swiss investigators say about $7 billion of 1MDB funds passed into the global financial system from 2009 to 2015. Some 1MDB projects are going ahead under the new government, including the plan for a new financial district and a $34 billion property and transport hub. As for 1MDB, it has been reduced to a shell after the finance ministry took over its assets and debt.

7. Why does it matter?

Authorities in Asia, the U.S. and Europe have been working to coordinate their investigations into the money trail from 1MDB, as well as legal approaches toward Goldman and asset recovery. Their findings could potentially identify, and help close, loopholes in the global financial system that open the way for corruption.

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8. Who else is involved?

 The Fed banned ex-Goldman banker Andrea Vella from the financial industry for life, saying the former co-head of investment banking in Asia engaged in unsafe and unsound practices by failing to ensure all of Goldmans internal committees were aware that the 1MDB bond deals involved Jho Low.

 Swiss bank BSI, which was caught up in the scandal, lost its license to do business in Singapore for breaches of money laundering rules.

 Malaysia central bank governor Muhammad Ibrahim resigned in 2018 amid questions over the role the monetary authority played in a land-purchase deal linked to 1MDB. The monetary authority set up a review of the deal.

 UBS Group, DBS Group, Credit Suisse, United Overseas Bank and Standard Chartered are among those that have drawn penalties from the Singapore central bank for anti-money laundering lapses. They said they will strengthen controls in their businesses.

 Singapore has banned at least eight financial professionals in connection with 1MDB.

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In the pandemics third year, we are beginning to discern the total picture of Covid-19s damage. Beneath the coronaviruss own staggering death toll and the suffering it has inflicted lie many layers of collateral damage. One of the largest of these is Covids disruption to cancer prevention and care. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Cancer patients are among the most vulnerable to catching Covid, and if exposed theyre much more likely than other people to end up in the hospital or to die. Theyre also among the least likely to benefit from vaccines, because cancer treatment weakens the immune response.

This is why, as Welela Tereffe, the chief medical executive at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, puts it, cancer patients rely on everybody else to also do their part to keep the virus in check.

But everyone did not do their part to get vaccinated and help slow the coronaviruss spread. Whats more, the waves of infections put pressure on hospitals and their employees, disrupted routine screenings, and sent cancer centers scrambling to ensure a continuum of care.

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All this has come at great cost to the physical and emotional well-being of cancer patients and their families  something that came into stark relief for me in October, when my father-in-law went into the hospital in severe pain and walked out two days later as a pancreatic cancer patient.

A doctor delivered the bleak diagnosis the morning after my father-in-law had spent the night in a hallway  the hospital was overrun with Covid patients  with no family members beside him to help absorb the blow.

The pandemic has also subjected cancer patients to many daily indignities. Prescriptions have been difficult to fill when pharmacies have been closed due to staff shortages. Wait times have been long for appointments with counselors who can help patients process a difficult diagnosis. Tests and procedures have been delayed because resources are stretched.

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Covids most quantifiable toll on cancer care has been its effect on screening. In just the first half-year of the pandemic, from January to July of 2020, 10 million screening tests were missed, according to a recent report from the American Association for Cancer Research. New cancer diagnoses, in turn, dropped 13% in 2020, according to a recent study of the Veterans Affairs health-care system.

And the backlog persists. Some people remain unwilling to go in for preventive doctor visits because theyre worried about the risk of exposure to Covid. And once a routine colonoscopy or mammogram has been delayed, doctors know, its very easy to keep putting it off. The danger is that when people finally go in for missed screenings, their tests will show more advanced cancers.

The question now is whether the health-care infrastructure will be robust enough to handle a wave of new cancer patients. Covid has depleted the health-care workforce. In the past two years, about 20% of American health-care workers left the field, according to Morning Consult.

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This attrition will have an outsized effect on the health of patients in the long run, says Tatiana Prowell, an associate professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins Medicine. With no fast way to replenish the workforce, Prowell worries her patients will ultimately be worse off for years to come.

To rebuild support systems for cancer prevention and treatment, the oncology community should build on some of the practices it adopted during the pandemic, including more patient-centered approaches that made it easier for more people to access high-quality care. During Covid, telemedicine became more widely accepted for cancer care in many places. Clinical trial participants were allowed to sign consent forms remotely, get routine tests and scans in their own neighborhoods, check in with their oncologists virtually, and have experimental drugs shipped directly to their homes.

Such small changes can add up to a big difference in the day-to-day lives of cancer patients and their families. Telemedicine meant that in his final weeks, my father-in-law didnt spend his limited energy on getting to a doctors office, and his whole family could be with him to hear from his oncologist or palliative-care team.

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Changes like these can improve access to health care for the poor, for people living in rural areas and for communities of color. When a cancer center is a few hours, or even a plane ride, away, or a patient lacks child care or cant miss work, good care is too often out of reach.

After the pandemic subsides, the cancer community might be tempted to fall back into old habits. Hospitals and cancer centers should not only resist that urge, but they also should keep pushing for more and better ways to democratize access to care.

Revitalizing the health-care infrastructure is a necessary part of that goal  and will help guarantee that future patients dont pay the price of the pandemic.

More from other writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 The War on Cancer Needs a Less Martial Approach: Stephen Mihm

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 The Vaccine Protecting Young People From Cancer: Therese Raphael

 Can Covid Cause Higher Cancer Rates? It Doesnt Help: Sam Fazeli

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Lisa Jarvis, the former executive editor of Chemical & Engineering News, writes about biotech, drug discovery and the pharmaceutical industry for Bloomberg Opinion.

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The day before the fake referendum that handed Crimea to Vladimir Putins Russia in 2014, I marched against the annexation with tens of thousands other Muscovites  but a majority of Russians supported the move, and Putins popularity, measured by independent sociologists, soared to highs not seen before or after. Now that the dictator has launched an all-out attack on Ukraine, there will be no large-scale protests and no popularity bump. Seven years later, Russia is a different country  one that allows Putin to disregard it.

That, however, is hardly sustainable.

At the time of the Crimea adventure, Russia still had an active political opposition. Former deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov was still alive and protesting loudly against the takeover. Most of my friends saw the move as the end of Russias civilized European path, a major defeat for the freedom project launched by the fall of the Soviet Union. By 2022, the opposition has been crushed, chased into exile or underground. Nemtsov was assassinated in 2015. When Alexei Navalny speaks out against the war on Ukraine, he does so from a penal colony where hes been locked up for a year and where hes being tried on further trumped-up charges. And when one of Navalnys trusted lieutenants, Leonid Volkov, curses Putin on Telegram and expresses the hope that the dictator has bitten off more than he can chew, he does so from relative safety in a European Union country.

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Some artists, TV personalities, writers and social network influences  not all of them still living in Russia  have expressed their shock and disgust. Nobel Peace Prize-winner Dmitry Muratov, the editor of Novaya Gazeta, still allowed to publish under a compromise with the Kremlin, has promised to put out an edition in both Russian and Ukrainian in protest against the war. Journalists, academics and more than 100 local legislators have signed antiwar appeals. But none of them will lead a big march through Moscow streets: Putins repression machine now works pre-emptively to neutralize protest. Activist Marina Litvinovich, who called for street protests on Thursday, was detained. Those Russians who dare take to the streets across the land likely face the same prospect: Official warnings already have been issued.

But although there will be no footage of big marches to prove that not all Russians accept Putins aggression, no polls will show a boost to Putins popularity, either. The regime has largely gotten rid of independent pollsters, but even the Kremlin-loyal ones arent registering Crimea-like approval levels. VTsIOM, for example, on Wednesday reported 73% support for the previous, much less radical Putin move  the recognition of the separatist peoples republics of eastern Ukraine. In 2014, the same pollster measured the popular backing of the Crimea annexation at 93%.

A fresh CNN-commissioned poll shows 50% support in Russia for military action to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO  but even that number seems high. Russian respondents mistrust of pollsters  what if they work for the authorities?  is a constant source of distortions.

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In March 2014, Putins support hit 80%, according to one of the few remaining independent pollsters, the Levada Center  and kept increasing as Crimea was integrated into Russia. Last month, with propaganda already blaring an anti-Ukraine message, Putins rating stood at 69%, close to the pre-Crimea level. Its unlikely to rise when Western sanctions on Russia hit full force  and Russians know these are coming. There are lines at banks to draw dollars and euros. The biggest state bank, Sberbank, briefly published a notice on its website that it might soon be hit by sanctions, making things difficult for more than 100 million clients, but then quickly took it down, claiming a software error.

The Crimea moment was euphoric for many, since the peninsula was widely seen as both historically and ethnically Russian. Hardly anyone spoke Ukrainian there even pre-2014, and a lack of respect for Ukrainian authorities was palpable. The large Russian naval base, with a history of many wars, added to the perception, heavily promoted by propaganda outlets, that Crimea was coming home. But Russian missiles raining on the outskirts of Kyiv and Kharkiv, arms depots blowing up near peaceful Ukrainian cities  that, for many of the same Russians who welcomed the 2014 annexation, is the stuff of nightmares. Ukrainians are broadly perceived as a fraternal people; according to official statistics, Ukraine is at the top of the list of countries whose citizens Russians are most likely to marry. No matter what Putin might say about denazifying Ukraine, too many ordinary Russians have family ties and friendships in the neighboring country; they know their friends and relatives are not Nazis.

Russias biggest YouTube star, Yury Dud, spoke for many compatriots just before the invasion when he said,

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I grew up in Russia, Russia is my motherland, and Im proud to have a tattoo of the Russian tricolor on my forearm. But these days, my support goes to Ukraine, the birthplace of my kin and home to my friends.

Not that Putin cares, at least for now. Its quite possible that all the screw-tightening the regime has conducted in the last two years, the crackdown on the opposition, the greatly increased risks for street protest, came in preparation for this moment. Putin is so insulated from the Russian street now that his regime is not in danger, no matter what drastic and unpopular steps he takes. What is less certain is the longer-term picture, with increasing economic isolation, potential paralysis in financial markets, the loss of hydrocarbon export clients. Russias financial cushion, including $643 billion in international reserves, can last for a long time, but not forever if the Wests resolve to maintain punitive sanctions endures. In a country as big as Russia, maintaining a climate of repression amid economic decline will not be an easy proposition even for a dictator as experienced and ruthless as Putin.

More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

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Vladimir Putin Is Playing With Fire in Ukraine: Clara Ferreira Marques



Russia Needs European Cash More Than Europe Needs Russian Gas: David Fickling



Vladimir Putin Has No Time for Your Reality: Andreas Kluth

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Leonid Bershidsky is a member of the Bloomberg News Automation team based in Berlin. He was previously Bloomberg Opinions Europe columnist. He recently authored a Russian translation of George Orwells 1984.

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I have written and said many times in recent weeks that I didnt believe Vladimir Putin would launch a full invasion of Ukraine. I was horribly wrong. Heres why. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Even in his speech announcing the invasion, Putin referred to his oft-stated belief that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. This, of course, was never true  even when they lived side by side in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. The two identities and cultures are distinct. But Russians and Ukrainians are the closest of kin. Even when we speak different languages, as we have increasingly done since Putin annexed Crimea in 2014, we understand each other. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made the most of his eloquent speech on the eve of the invasion by speaking in Russian, directly appealing to Russian citizens with the ease of someone who shares a cultural code with them. It runs thick as blood and has nothing to do with official Soviet avowals of brotherhood.

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A lot of evidence pointed to Putins intention to invade. But I kept hoping he would stop at the last moment, because a full-scale attack on Ukraine, guaranteed to spill the blood of Ukrainian civilians, is the worst war crime a Russian can possibly commit. Even the inevitable parallels with Hitlers 1938 Anschluss of Austria, which I drew before when Putin took Crimea and when he published his historical screed assailing Ukraine as an anti-Russian project, do not do justice to what happened in the early hours of Feb. 24.

The only text I can think of that does is Genesis 4:9-12.

Then the Lord said to Cain, Where is your brother Abel?

I dont know, he replied. Am I my brothers keeper?

The Lord said, What have you done? Listen! Your brothers blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brothers blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.

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To make the curse permanent, God marked Cain to make sure no one would kill him to end his suffering. Russia, with the nuclear arsenal Putin keeps bragging about, also bears a kind of Cains mark now. It is not Putin who is cursed now  its all of us Russians. Our identity, wherever we are, will be tainted by this invasion, by our failure to stop the dictator long before he crossed this unspeakable line.

Russia, of course, has seen its share of fratricidal wars, the last of them in the early 20th century. But back then, the Red soldiers battle was a class revolt. Putins war is an imperialist attack on a people more closely related to Russians than any other on earth.

I have met Putin, and I have watched him as a journalist since before he became president. My analysis of his actions was always based on the assumption of his rationality. There was always something to gain, a manageable risk of losing. Perhaps I was wrong from the start. Perhaps Putin has changed in recent years as his close circle narrowed and negative selection expelled people with a broader vision from the ranks of his advisors. Quite likely, Ukraine has long constituted an exception from Putins rationality, as most of its people time and time again chose the Western path, away from Putins vision of the Russian World.

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I left Russia after the Crimea annexation because I couldnt accept it and felt it was a great historical wrong  both for Ukraine and for Russia. But I ended up returning to that assumption of rationality. I analyzed Putins moves from a cost and benefit perspective. I have a lot of rethinking to do.

The invasion is an irrational move. It makes any further negotiations with Putin and his clique pointless: There is, quite clearly, nothing he wont do, no line he wont cross, no matter what he says or what deal he makes. From this point on, autarky is the only feasible economic choice for Russia, and a retreat into isolation is the only remaining cultural and political choice. At the same time, Russias dependence on China, which has grown in recent years, is no longer a matter of choice. Any security benefits from turning Ukraine  and neighboring Belarus, from whose territory Putin also attacked  into a buffer state are illusory since Russia also borders actual NATO member states, which now will arm themselves as heavily as possible.

This attack achieves no conceivable gain. It is the worst possible move from a rational standpoint, a petty mans revenge on a grand scale. It seals Putins place in history  not as a nation builder but instead as someone whose entire legacy will need to be erased for Russia to go back to a semblance of normality.

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In his early morning speech, Putin spoke of denazifying Ukraine, a country led by a Jewish president. Yet it is Russia that now clearly requires denazification. It will not sustain Putins regime forever  and it, and we its citizens, will need to repent and make sure nothing like this calamity ever happens again.

More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:



Vladimir Putin Is Playing With Fire in Ukraine: Clara Ferreira Marques



Russia Needs European Cash More Than Europe Needs Russian Gas: David Fickling



Vladimir Putin Has No Time for Your Reality: Andreas Kluth

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Leonid Bershidsky is a member of the Bloomberg News Automation team based in Berlin. He was previously Bloomberg Opinions Europe columnist. He recently authored a Russian translation of George Orwells 1984.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Make no mistake: The pain of sanctions placed on Russia are definitely starting to be felt. Its stock market  albeit largely owned by foreigners  is down 40% this month after a significant drop following the invasion of Ukraine early Thursday. State finances may be mostly secure, but oligarchs dont like market hits either. The countrys sovereign debt yields went sharply higher, both in rubles and in major currencies. Foreigners own more than $60 billion of Russian debt, and the exit door for them just effectively slammed shut with the prospect of more sanctions coming. There is no international market  and precious little domestic demand  for any Russian security now.

The Russia 2047 dollar bond has fallen from a price of 110 at the start of February to the mid-70s now, but there is no volume at any market price. At launch, 50% of the book was taken by U.K. domiciled investors, so this is a widespread problem. Russia is traditionally a dollar issuer, but its last three benchmarks have been in euros, presumably because of the reluctance of U.S. investors.

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This points to a much bigger systemic problem hanging over all credit markets: Who provides the liquidity when everyone wants out at the same time?

The lack of liquidity has not truly been tested in the investment-grade space since the financial crisis, with the possible exception of the European Union sovereign crisis when the ECB pledged to do whatever it took to keep the peace. With pandemic stimulus in reverse gear from all the major central banks, there is no obvious support mechanism at hand. The risk is not just of painful margin calls but also of potential fund failures.

When the pandemic threatened a credit crisis, the central banks remit was widened to take in corporate debt. That has now been fully unwound by the U.S. Federal Reserve, and the Bank of England is in the process of selling off all its 20 billion pounds ($26.8 billion) of holdings. That leaves just the European Central Bank with 320 billion euros ($360 billion) of investment-grade euro corporate bonds that are likely to be capped out this year as the overall asset-purchase programs stop. None of this helps the emerging-market credit situation.

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Look through the registered holders of Ukraine or Russian international debt, and youll see a long list of the great and the good. They are effectively trapped, relying on wider portfolio diversification to hope returns elsewhere smooth out these particular losses. That is not the case for smaller and more risk-exposed or leveraged entities. To reduce overall emerging-market exposure, more liquid proxies will suffer the ATM effect, selling the most liquid securities to raise cash for inevitable fund withdrawals  a phenomenon that occurred during the global financial crisis and again at the start of the pandemic.

Unfortunately, it is not just Russia that is being penalized; it is also Ukraine and peripheral country debt and equities in the region, such as Polish and Finnish companies with large exposure to affected economies.

Ukrainian debt has fallen by an even bigger magnitude  to the point where the credit curve may invert because the bigger risk is with securities closest to maturing  but even that is hard to discern in this fog. The focus is on the next sizable upcoming maturity, a 7.75% dollar bond maturing in September 2022 with $912 million outstanding.

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But there are basically no functioning bids or liquidity for corporate debt or for securities with sanctions warnings. Why take the risk of owning a security that soon might be orphaned? This is not a credit quality crisis but a market liquidity one.

Russia is not going to default, unless by choice, with $650 billion of reserves and plentiful cash flow from its sale of hydrocarbons, along with surpluses in its current account and its government budget.

But the credit default market does not function all that well when there are no natural sellers of protection. Though Russias five-year dollar credit default swap spread has risen above 900 basis points, from below 200 basis points earlier in the month, what risk manager is going to sign off on increased exposure to Russia or Ukraine? Portfolio managers looking to hedge exposure are driving the credit spread higher with nothing on the other end. The market is voting with its feet before they get blown off.

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Ukraine, which has $23 billion of international debt, is already in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $700 million credit line and will certainly receive a warm audience from the G20 countries in its time of need. But not if it no longer functions as part of a recognizable independent state.

With bitter irony, the worst immediate pain is being felt in emerging-market funds that are trapped by industry standard benchmark index rules, such as JPMorgan Chase & Cos Emerging Market Bond Index (EMBI) or the equivalent MSCI Inc. benchmarks, to continue to hold these constituent members. Russia constitutes 3% of the foreign currency EMBI and double that of the domestic tracker. Going underweight is not an option for an exchange-traded fund or really much of a viable option for any passively managed fund.

With the widespread adoption of ETFs, which is a $57 billion universe for emerging market bonds alone, according to a Bloomberg search, there is an exaggerated effect on market flows creating a horrid disconnect between perceived and actual liquidity. This has resulted in almost no active market for debt holders to gracefully exit. Even more horrifying is the prospect of many (or all) Russian securities becoming orphaned with no exit. Effectively the same has happened to Ukrainian assets as available buyers evaporate and the contagion spills over to the rest of emerging markets.

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Its a Hotel California scenario  you can check out but never leave.

More From Others at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Vladimir Putin Is Playing With Fire in Ukraine: Clara Ferreira Marques

 Shock-and-Awe Sanctions Could Still Stop Putin: Javier Blas

 Putins Invasion of Ukraine Is a Sin All Russians Will Bear: Leonid Bershidsky

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Marcus Ashworth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European markets. He spent three decades in the banking industry, most recently as chief markets strategist at Haitong Securities in London.

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In a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would not recognize any step against Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and counseled against further military action. He was, of course, referring to Putins decision to recognize the two self-proclaimed separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, and send Russian troops into eastern Ukraine.

The Turkish presidents office said after the call that this reflects Erdogans principled approach to the crisis. It is consistent with Ankaras longstanding position on Russias land grab in Ukraine: Turkey condemned the 2014 seizure of Crimea, a position Erdogan reiterated during a 2020 visit to Kyiv.

His consistency will be welcomed by his counterparts in the U.S. and Europe, who for several years have been anxious about Erdogans drift away from the West and toward Russia. A member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Turkey has outraged other members of the group by purchasing Russian missile-defense systems. In Syria, Ankara has made accommodations with Moscow and attacked Kurdish militias that the U.S. and Europe regard as important allies in the fight against the Islamic State. In speeches, Erdogan has routinely directed rhetorical vitriol at American and European leaders. And in return, they have frequently frozen him out of their deliberations.

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But it would be a mistake to interpret his position on Ukraine as a signal that he wants to come in from the cold. Beyond wagging a disapproving finger at Putins territorial adventurism, Erdogan has shown little interest in imposing punishment on the Russian leader. Ankara has maintained that sanctions would get in the way of a negotiated solution.

This has as much to do with economics and politics, local and regional, as with principle. Russia is one of the top 10 destinations for Turkeys exports and one of the top three sources of its imports. As much as Russian oil and gas, Turkeys economy is heavily dependent on Russian visitors  the more so now as the tourism industry begins to recover from the Covid slowdown.

Turkey, which maintains strong trade ties with both Russia and Ukraine, would like nothing better than a speedy resolution of their differences: Erdogan has even volunteered his services as a peacemaker. A war that hinders trade with Ukraine would be bad enough, but sanctions that limit trade with Russia would be devastating to Turkeys economy, which is struggling to recover from the combined effects of the pandemic, a plunging currency and Erdogans own unorthodox economic policies.

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Erdogan knows from recent memory the pain Turkey feels when economic ties with Russia are hindered. The last time trade between the two countries was severely constrained was in 2015: Then, the restraints were imposed by Putin, in retaliation for Turkeys shooting down a Russian military jet. The number of Russian visitors plummeted, and the Turkish leader was obliged to apologize.

Beyond the imperatives of economics, the two presidents pursue conflicting ambitions. Erdogan regards Turkeys hinterland  and more broadly, the region covered by the old Ottoman empire and the Turkic ethnic group stretching from areas bordering the Black Sea through parts of the Caucasus and much of Central Asia  as being in his preserve and outside the purview of the West and Russia alike. This sometimes puts him at odds with Putin, who is fired by a similar vision of reasserting influence over the old Soviet Union and the empire of the czars.

The two men were most recently at cross purposes in the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, where Ankaras military assistance for the former, a Turkic-majority nation, proved decisive, upending the delicate balance Moscow had imposed on the former Soviet republics.

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Erdogan also has upset Russia in Ukraine, by supplying the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky with military drones and the technology to make them. Earlier this month, Turkey defiantly proclaimed it wouldnt let Russian anger prevent the deepening of military cooperation between Ankara and Kyiv.

Here, too, history is at play. Large parts of modern Ukraine were ruled from Istanbul until late in the 18th century, when a Russian invasion displaced much of the ethnic Crimean population. Turkey now has a sizable Crimean Tatar community, and feels responsible for those who remain in their traditional homeland.

Still, if Erdogan regards Putin as an interloper in his province, he also needs Russian support to pursue foreign-policy goals that conflict with those of the West. His assault on the Kurdish militia  which Ankara regards as a mortal threat because of its link to Kurdish insurgents in Turkey  wouldnt be possible without the tacit support of Moscow, which maintains a large military footprint in Syria to prop up the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad.

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Russia is also a useful foil against the West. Erdogan uses overtures to Moscow as a bargaining ploy with NATO partners: Witness his periodic threats to buy Russian jets if the West denies Turkey the latest fighters.

For all those reasons, Erdogans druthers would be to limit his principled approach on Ukraine to that phone call. But if the man on the other end of the line has decided to send his forces further west, Turkeys president may finally be forced to do what he has deftly avoided until now: Pick a side.

More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:



Oil, Gas and Commodities Arent Being Weaponized  for Now: Javier Blas



Putin and the Specter of a Permanent Ukraine Crisis: Leonid Bershidsky



Which Sanctions Would Hurt Putin the Most?: Timothy L. OBrien

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering foreign affairs. A former editor in chief of the Hindustan Times, he was managing editor of Quartz and Time magazines international editor.

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Since 2014, the U.S. and its allies have imposed travel bans, asset freezes and economic restrictions on hundreds of Russian individuals and companies, part of a multinational effort to punish President Vladimir Putins government for alleged trouble-making beyond its borders and online. The sanctions have largely failed to moderate Putins behavior. Now that Russian forces have attacked targets across Ukraine, harsher measures are likely to follow.

1. What forms can sanctions take?

Theyre primarily designed to hurt the target -- a person, a company, a group or even an entire country -- economically, through restrictions on trade, banking or access to financial assets. Sanctioned individuals may face travel bans. Companies or industries may be blocked from certain exports or imports. Sanctioned governments can find themselves unable to tap capital or debt markets. In what are known as secondary sanctions, third parties can face penalties for doing business with sanctioned people or entities.

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2. How effective are they?

Travel restrictions and asset freezes aimed at individuals are little more than symbolic if they arent planning to travel globally and dont have assets overseas. But broader sanctions can impose real pain. Western sanctions against Iran were credited with helping force the 2015 deal to limit its nuclear program. North Korea, by contrast, has persisted with its nuclear program despite decades of harsh sanctions. The Congressional Research Service, in a report updated in January, said that U.S. sanctions on Russia have had a negative but relatively modest impact on Russias economic growth and that its difficult to determine whether sanctions actually influence Russias behavior. To cause widespread economic disruption in Russia, the U.S. and Europe could block exports of computer, electronics and optical products used in producing machinery, cars and planes, write Scott Johnson and Maeva Cousin of Bloomberg Economics. One constraint on broad economic sanctions is worry over unintended collateral damage.

3. What sort of collateral damage?

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An April 2018 round of U.S. sanctions in response to Russias malign activity around the globe hit Oleg Deripaskas United Co. Rusal hardest, limiting for a time its access to the $140 billion global aluminum industry. That disrupted the global supply chain for aluminum and briefly sent prices soaring by 30%. Aluminum consumers in Europe, the U.S. and Asia, including car manufacturers, soda-can makers, the worlds biggest miners and big banks, shared in the pain. The sanctions on Rusal were lifted in late 2018 after Deripaska agreed to reduce his ownership and relinquish control. Europes dependence on Russian natural gas makes it vulnerable to retaliation by Russia, which cut off supplies to parts of Europe in 2006 and 2009 in disputes over pricing and alleged siphoning. A new pipeline to bring Russian gas to Western Europe, Nord Stream 2, was completed in September 2021. Its future is now in doubt after Germany halted certification of the $11 billion project and the U.S. imposed fresh sanctions on the company that built it.

4. Is there a better way?

Sanctions are not an end in themselves and should not be treated as such, Steven Pifer, a former State Department official now with the Brookings Institution, wrote in 2020. He urged President Joe Biden, who was then preparing to take office, to embed sanctions in a broader U.S. policy toward Russia, link them to specific policy goals understood by the Kremlin, and be willing to reverse sanctions if Russia ceases the offending action.

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5. What U.S. sanctions are in place against Russia?

Even before Russia was targeted with fresh penalties over its activity in and near Ukraine, more people and companies in Russia had been hit by U.S. sanctions in the last decade than any country other than Iran. Some, including business magnates and close political allies of Putin, are banned from doing business with U.S. companies and individuals and making any transactions in dollars. So-called sectoral sanctions against corporate titans such as Rosneft, Gazprom, Sberbank and VTB limit their ability to do business abroad. Restrictions added by Biden stop U.S. financial institutions from participating in the primary market for Russian sovereign debt.

6. Why were the existing sanctions imposed?

The first round of U.S. sanctions was ordered by President Barack Obama after Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and supported a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. More were added after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Moscow interfered in the 2016 presidential election, won by Donald Trump. Other U.S. sanctions were aimed at punishing Putins government for a 2018 nerve-agent attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the U.K. Biden, upon taking office in 2021, imposed new sanctions after a review of Russias interference in the 2020 election, reports of Russian bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, the hacking of Texas-based software supplier SolarWinds Corp. and the poisoning and jailing of opposition leader Alexey Navalny. On Feb. 22, Biden announced what he called a first tranche of new sanctions, which included freezing future purchases of Russian sovereign debt.

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7. What other countries have sanctions on Russia?

The European Union slapped sanctions on Russias financial, energy and defense sectors in response to the annexation of Crimea in a bid to push Putin into a more conciliatory stance over the conflict in Ukraine. Japan joined in those sanctions. The EU also blacklisted six Putin allies as punishment for the attempted murder of Navalny. (The Kremlin denies involvement.) The U.K. and EU joined the U.S. in announcing additional sanctions on Feb. 22.

8. Whats left to consider?

Its hard to predict what else the U.S. and EU might target with further sanctions, but its safe to say these are potential areas for action:

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The worst, it seems, has now happened in Ukraine. In a pre-dawn televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he had ordered an operation aimed at demilitarizing Ukraine. He blamed the U.S. for crossing red lines. Kyiv, he said, would be responsible for any bloodshed. Reports of explosions and gunfire in cities across the country began immediately.

Its a dark moment for Russia, for Ukraine, for Europe  the darkest in Putins two decades at the helm. It is also a point of no return for Russias leader, and one with lasting consequences for the world.

Putin has fallen into the autocrats trap. Isolated, he is no longer able to weigh up reality as it is, but sees his fears instead. He is obsessed with what he perceives as the threat from Ukraines westward drift, and with turning back the clock to reset the post-Cold World order. His speech Thursday  ranging from Russias weakness at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, to Iraq, Yugoslavia and a chilling warning against Western intervention  was hardly the product of a cool, rational mind. It could not have contrasted more sharply with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys earlier moving appeals for peace, made directly to ordinary Russians. U.S. President Joe Biden called Russias actions a premeditated war.

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Hubris, paranoia, military adventurism  a heady combination, and one that has been fatal for dictators and their regimes. And Putin is starting a war Russians do not want, for which they will pay the cost.

Political scientist Daniel Treisman, in his study of autocrats last acts, found that most regimes come to an end through mistakes, whether because they ignored change or, like Argentinas General Leopoldo Galtieri, embarked on an ill-advised war. He invaded the Falklands in 1982, assuming Britain would not fight and that his population would unite behind him. He was misguided, and the blunder was terminal.

Russia is not Argentina, and there will be no such immediate repercussion for Putin, whatever happens. Increased repression at home is in fact the most likely consequence from this show of force abroad  either because the Kremlin can, or because it must.

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But consequences can play out over time, and the Russian president appears to be unraveling. Even by the standards of an repressive authoritarian regime with a history of false-flag operations and fabricated pretexts for war  and for an autocrat with a penchant for macho, reckless military pursuits and for rewriting the past  the last few days have been hard to comprehend. A rambling, hour-long speech on Monday laced with wild accusations, portraying Ukraine as Vladimir Lenins invention. Then a staged Security Council meeting with senior officials being made to publicly support Putin and the recognition of the separatist republics. Now, a war that, stretching credulity to the limit, Putin says will denazify Ukraine  a country that suffered brutally in the Second World War.

He made his move, moreover, while the United Nations Security Council was meeting, in a last-ditch attempt to avoid conflict.

What is remarkable here is not just the ambition of what Putin is apparently undertaking, a full-scale military operation with little regard for repercussions, an effort to destroy a neighbor and destabilize the region. Its also the scale of the delusion, when it comes to the threat posed by NATO and  crucially  his countrys long-term ability to bear the human and financial cost of isolation. Yes, Moscow has built up central bank reserves and a war chest, but this is a country whose economy is stagnating, and one thats already struggling to deal with a health crisis as Covid-19 races through an under-vaccinated population.

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To drive home the point, the West must now dramatically ramp up sanctions, reaching far beyond individuals into Russias state banks and more  even if few options now come without a cost for Europe and the rest of the world. Vladimir Putin has already begun the war no one but Kremlin hawks wanted. Now only the toughest measures can hold him back.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 Vladimir Putin Has No Time for Your Reality: Andreas Kluth

 Which Sanctions Would Hurt Putin the Most?: Timothy OBrien

 Putins Ukraine Gamble Risks Xis Friendship: Clara F. Marques

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and member of the editorial board covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia.

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In an attempt to avert a major war in Europe, France and Germany, backed by the U.S., pressed for implementation of the controversial Minsk peace accords as the best chance for a solution to Russian demands on Ukraine. The package of agreements, which they helped negotiate with Russia after Ukrainian military defeats in 2014 and 2015, were complex, hotly disputed and went to the heart of what is at root a struggle over Ukrainian identity and sovereignty. On Feb. 24, Russian forces attacked targets across Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin pronounced the agreements dead.

1. How did the Minsk deals come about?

The accords sought to halt the armed conflict that broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The countrys pro-Russia leader Viktor Yanukovych had just been ousted by mass protests in the capital Kyiv, triggered by his decision -- under pressure from Putin -- to renege on a trade pact with the European Union. Smaller protests against the new government in Kyiv followed throughout eastern and southern Ukraine, with armed Russia-backed separatists seizing territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, together known as the Donbas. Although the Kremlin denies involvement, Ukraine has claimed, and open source investigations in the West and Russia have put forward evidence, that Russian forces intervened directly to turn the tide of the fighting and inflict two crushing defeats on Ukrainian forces. Each loss was followed by a peace deal reached in Minsk, the capital of neighboring Belarus.

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2. What do the accords say?

Minsk 1, reached in September 2014, had 12 points, including a cease-fire to be monitored by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a law on Ukraines decentralization with temporary special status for the separatist-held territory, local elections, an amnesty and other issues. As fighting continued, a follow-up memorandum two weeks later required heavy weapons to be pulled back from the front lines. The truce again struggled to hold amid disputes over sequencing and finally collapsed in January 2015. Minsk II followed a month later, amid renewed heavy fighting and with Ukrainian troops surrounded in the town of Debaltseve. The new deals 13 points included more detailed, but also confusing language on the settlements sequencing and political requirements.

3. Why have they been so hard to implement?

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One problem was that though Russia negotiated the Minsk deal, it said it was not a party to the conflict and therefore not responsible for implementation. Ukraine says it was. Beyond that there were at least three key disputes. The first was who should be in control when elections were held. Still more difficult was that the deal says the special status for the Donbas region, and arguably Ukraines constitutional restructuring, have to be made in consultation and agreement with the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics, through a specially formed group. Potentially the most dangerous dispute was over the extent of the special status territory, which was left undefined. The separatist leaders said it should include all of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, more than half of which remains under Kyivs control. Now in Moscows eyes they have legal standing to make those claims as the leaders of sovereign states -- and to invite Russian troops to help.

4. How did Russia interpret the accords?

Russia saw Minsk as a deal Ukraine signed and was obliged to fulfill, returning the Donbas to Kyivs control while ensuring the safety and rights of the areas citizens, as many as 800,000 of whom have now received Russian passports. Thats roughly 20% to 40% of the population, depending on estimates. Moscow also saw the accords as creating wide autonomy for Donbas and as a means to federalize Ukraine, making it in practice impossible for the country to join Western institutions such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the European Union. At a February meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Russia complained specifically about a Ukrainian pledge that none of Ukraines regions will be able to veto state-wide decisions, and that France, Germany and the U.S. had failed to pressure Ukraine to implement the agreement. Kremlin officials didnt define the form this federalization should take, but Vladislav Surkov, Putins Ukraine adviser until 2020, said after leaving office that Minsk II was written to give Ukraine symbolic sovereignty over the east, of the kind the British monarch exercises over Canada or Australia.

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5. What about Ukraine?

Ukraine passed a law on decentralization as required by the Minsk agreement, but it was not negotiated with the separatists, seen by Kyiv as Moscows proxies, and was therefore rejected by Russia. The government said it was committed to implementing the accords, just not as Russia interpreted them. It prepared draft bills for that purpose but insisted that security should be ensured first. Speaking out of turn, Ukraines National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov went further, telling the Associated Press in January that fulfilling the Minsk accords, signed under a Russian gun barrel, would destroy Ukraine as a country. Even a limited effort to implement the accords in 2015 led to violent protests in Kyiv. A December 2021 poll found that 75% of Ukrainians thought the Minsk accords should either be amended or abandoned. Just 12% thought they should be implemented.

6. What did the French and Germans say?

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France and Germany were central to negotiation of the Minsk accords, and to talks in the seven years since under the so-called Normandy Format -- which includes those two countries, Russia and Ukraine -- to implement them. They argued, as did Russia until it declared the territories independent states, that the agreements were the only available route to a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shuttled between Moscow and Kyiv in February in an effort to reinvigorate the Normandy process.

7. Where did the agreement leave Ukraine?

Minsk reduced the Donbas conflict to limited trench warfare for seven years, yet each side blames the other for the failure to implement key terms. Prior to the Russian attacks on Feb. 24, the fighting had already killed about 14,000 people and left more than 1.4 million internally displaced within Ukraine, according to government data. It was always difficult to see a solution emerging, because as Duncan Allan, an analyst at the Chatham House think tank in London, wrote in a study, the accords rest on two irreconcilable interpretations of Ukraines sovereignty: Is Ukraine sovereign, as Ukrainians insist, or should its sovereignty be limited, as Russia demands?

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Iran pushes West for 'realistic' negotiation Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Iran urged Western powers to be realistic Wednesday in talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal and said its top negotiator was returning to Tehran for consultations, suggesting that a breakthrough in its discussions is not imminent. After 10 months of talks in Vienna, progress has been made toward the restoration of the pact to curb Tehrans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, but both Tehran and Washington have cautioned that there are significant differences to overcome.

Reuters reported last week that a U.S.-Iranian deal was taking shape in Vienna to revive the pact, abandoned in 2018 by then-President Donald Trump, who also reimposed extensive sanctions on Iran.

 Reuters

Protesting fishermen end blockade of port

Fishermen protesting lack of access to some waters ended a 34-hour-long blockade of Karachi port, Pakistans busiest, on Wednesday night after talks with the government, Prime Minister Imran Khans adviser on maritime affairs told Reuters.

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The fishermen had blockaded the port in Pakistans business capital Tuesday, assembling trawlers across the main channel to halt shipping in and out.

Karachi handles much of the countrys trade in commodities and vehicles. The government said Wednesday that it was negotiating with the protesters.

Mahmood Maulvi, Khans adviser on maritime affairs, said the ports channel had been reopened and normal sea traffic resumed.

 Reuters

Covid-positive queen speaks to prime minister: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II spoke with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday as she continued to carry out official duties days after testing positive for the coronavirus, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said. The palace said Sunday that Elizabeth, 95, was suffering mild symptoms but was expected to carry on with light duties, an indication that the world's oldest and longest-reigning monarch was not seriously unwell.

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Forces kill 10 insurgents in Baluchistan, Pakistan says: Security forces in Pakistan's volatile southwest raided a militant hideout Wednesday, triggering an intense firefight that killed 10 insurgents, the military said. The operation took place in Hoshab, a remote district in Baluchistan province, the military said in a statement. It said the militants were involved in recent attacks on security forces. The slain insurgents were believed to be from the Baluchistan Liberation Army, designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019.

U.K. man hands over Cyprus church icon taken by his father: An 18th-century icon that a British officer spirited out of war-wracked Cyprus in 1974 was returned Wednesday to the island's Orthodox Church by the officer's son to reunite it with those "who really appreciate what it stands for." A representative of the Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos II received the icon during a ceremony at Geneva's Villa Moynier. The Royal Air Force officer took the icon back to Britain, where his son said it remained locked "in a box for years." The son, who wished to remain anonymous, said he thought its return would be "best for all concerned."

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Jamestown, site of the first permanent English settlement in North America, is seen last month, sandwiched between the James River and a swamp. (Julia Rendleman for The Post)

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These funny little islands of ours sure know how to pull it out of the hat (literally, in the case of Richard Quinn, the designer the Queen went to see three years ago whose hats this season catered more to pilgrims). Not even storms Eunice and Dudley, an occluded depression in the economy and a general chilling towards excessive displays of extravagance could dampen the nations creative spirit. This fashion week, held in less than ideal circumstances (some brands, such as Burberry, are still citing COVID problems as the reason they didnt show this week) also happened to produce some of the most elegant clothes seen in years. Let me stick my neck out here  possibly some of the most elegant ever.

Looks from the runways of Roksanda Ilincic, Eftychia Karamolegkou, and Emilia Wickstead at this years London Fashion Week. Credit:Getty Images and Instagram/@emiliawickstead

It was all the more notable because elegance is not traditionally in plentiful supply on any catwalks. Edginess, outrageousness, heightened reality, yes. Elegance, however, is generally dismissed as rather an outdated notion. Weird. And yet several designers mentioned it as a consideration backstage this season. If you remember, femininity was seen as uncool at one point, Roksanda Ilincic said backstage at her show. Her dresses have featured prominently on the world stage  Michele Obama, Cate Blanchett, Samantha Cameron, the Duchess of Cambridge, Melania Trump and Vanessa Redgrave  to name a few fans. She knows elegance.

Androgyny, athleisure and oversized silhouettes have all been more fashionable than elegance, but Ilincic wants to combine all the above (she has collaborated with Fila to create voluminous duvet coats) with a dancers sense of grace and dayglow shots of colour  not a standard idea of elegance, it must be said, but on the right women it works.

She also had navy versions on some of her front row guests who, because they were dressed in outfits from next seasons collection, became an extension of the show. I really like the idea of elegance in a modern, sporty context, she added.
Police have stormed a Western Australian detention centre and arrested a 33-year-old man they believe is connected to the Comancheros bikie gang, over a string of serious drug trafficking charges.

Andrew John Hickling was arrested on Wednesday at Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre, 100 kilometres north-east of Perth, with 80 WA Police and Australian Border Force officers in attendance.

Police at Yongah Hill on Thursday. Credit:WA Police

It will be alleged the accused was involved in the sourcing and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs.

Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said a number of search warrants were executed and a number of items taken.
An emergency siren sounded around Kyiv and the defence minister said Ukrainian units, military control centres and airfields in Ukraines east were under intensive Russian shelling. People drive out of Kyi after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an assault on Ukraine. Credit:Reuters In an address on Thursday, Putin claimed the special military operation was in response to threats coming from Ukraine and was intended to protect civilians. Russia was left no chance to protect itself by other means I have decided to conduct a special military operation, Putin claimed. He added the responsibility for bloodshed rested with the Ukrainian regime.

In the statement carried by the Russian Interfax and TASS newsagencies and broadcast on state-run television, Putin claimed Russia could not tolerate threats coming from Ukraine and added we do not plan to occupy Ukrainian territory. He added that in case of foreign interference, Russia will react immediately. Smoke rises in Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city, following Russians invasion. Credit:@Osinttechnical - Twitter It happened just as the United States ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the Security Council that We believe, along with Ukraine, that a full-scale further invasion into Ukraine is imminent. The council was meeting to discuss Ukraine, diplomats said, after separatists in eastern Ukraine asked for Russia for help to repel aggression.

At the exact time as we are gathered in the council seeking peace, Putin delivered a message of war, in total disdain for the responsibility of this council, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. She added that a draft resolution would be circulated to the council later. It would declare that Russia is violating the UN Charter, international law and a 2015 council resolution on Ukraine, a European diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. The resolution would urge Russia to come back into compliance immediately, the diplomat said. Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg convened a meeting of NATO ambassadors to assess the invasion of Ukraine, which borders several NATO members.

The meeting to be held as Europe wakes up on Thursday morning will address the situation and the consequences of Russias unprovoked attack. Stoltenberg had already condemned Russias invasion earlier. Despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression, he said. CNNs senior international correspondent Matthew Chance was reporting live from the ground when he reported hearing about five explosions. There are big explosions taking place in Kyiv right now. I cant see where they are taking place from this vantage point here on top of the roof of the hotel in central Kyiv.

The BBCs Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford also reported hearing a big bang in Kramatorsk, the administrative centre of northern Donetsk. US President Joe Biden released a statement shortly after saying, The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, Biden said. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable. I will be monitoring the situation from the White House this evening and will continue to get regular updates from my national security team.

Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring: US President Joe Biden. Credit:AP Earlier UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Putin to not send Russian troops against Ukraine and give peace a chance. Before Putins announcement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rebel chiefs had written to the President to tell him that shelling by the Ukrainian military had caused civilian deaths and forced many people to flee. We want peace but will fight: President Volodymyr Zelensky. There have been no independent reports of Ukraine forces shelling Russian targets. There was one unconfirmed report of rockets hitting near Mariupol.

Putin has recognised the independence of the Russia-backed rebel regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine and signed friendship treaties with them. On Tuesday, received parliaments permission to use military forces outside the country. Hours after the separatists wrote to the Kremlin, the Ukrainian President rejected Moscows claims that his country posed a threat to Russia and warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives. The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, Zelensky said in an emotional overnight address to his nation in Russian. The State Duma, The Federal Assembly of The Russian Federation. Credit:AP But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Zelensky said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late on Wednesday, but the Kremlin didnt respond. In an apparent reference to Putins move to sanction the deployment of the Russian military to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent. Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything, he said. He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.

Before the night was over US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC News on Thursday morning AEDT that he expected Russia to invade Ukraine before the night was over but still saw a chance to avert a major aggression. Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine, Blinken told NBC in an interview, adding he could not be precise about time or place. Earlier, Biden said his administration would impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG, the company in charge of building Russias controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany.

The announcement was an escalation of US measures against Russia over the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine. The gas pipeline is seen as a key tool of influence that Russia holds over Europe. It has also been the subject of debate between the US and Germany. The US has opposed the pipeline supplying gas that Germany requires for its economy. Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers, Biden said in a statement. Ukraine declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and told its citizens in Russia to flee.

Airports at Dnipro, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine were closed to traffic until Thursday morning, according to notices to airmen issued by local authorities. No reason was provided for the closures. Shelling intensified at the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, where Putin recognised the independence of the two Moscow-backed rebel regions this week and ordered the deployment of Russian troops as peacekeepers. Loading Cyber attack Ukrainian government and state websites, which have experienced outages in recent weeks, were again offline on Wednesday. Ukraines parliament, cabinet and Foreign Ministry websites were affected.

Russian armored vehicles are loaded onto railway platforms at a railway station in region not far from Russia-Ukraine border on February 23. Credit:AP Moscow had denied planning an invasion and repeatedly described warnings as anti-Russian hysteria. On Wednesday, it took down flags from its embassy in Kyiv, having ordered its diplomats to evacuate for safety reasons. Sanctions Washington has described Russias actions as the start of an invasion, but along with allies has so far unveiled mostly incremental sanctions, while making clear they were keeping tougher measures in reserve in case of a full-scale invasion. Loading

European Union sanctions approved on Wednesday will add all members of Russias lower house of parliament who voted to recognise the separatist regions in Ukraine to a blacklist, freezing their assets and banning travel. Britain announced new restrictions banning Russia from the issuing of new bonds in its security markets, and called for its broadcasting regulator to investigate Russias RT international television news channel as a propaganda outlet. Fresh troops deployed Earlier on Thursday, Ukraines military said one soldier had been killed and six wounded in increased shelling by pro-Russian separatists using heavy artillery, mortar bombs and Grad rocket systems in the two breakaway areas over the previous 24 hours. Protesters show support for Ukraine outside the Russian embassy in Berlin. Credit:AP

New satellite imagery showed several fresh troop and equipment deployments in western Russia and more than 100 vehicles at a small airfield in southern Belarus, which borders Ukraine, according to US satellite firm Maxar. For months, Russia has presented the crisis mainly as a dispute with the West, demanding security guarantees, including a promise never to allow Ukraine to join NATO. But the recognition of the separatist regions was accompanied by much stronger language against Ukraine, including personally from Putin. In a TV address on Monday, Putin rambled across centuries of history to characterise the Ukrainian state as an artificial construct wrongly carved out of Russia by its enemies. Reuters, AP, Bloomberg
Salisbury, MD (21801)

Today

Rain showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing for the afternoon. High 81F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Harrison Jozefowicz quit his job as a Chicago police officer and headed overseas soon after Russia invaded Ukraine. An Army veteran, he said h
A Ukrainian soldier talks with her comrades sitting in a shelter at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the "beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine."
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Weatherford, TX (76086)

Today

Foggy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High near 80F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
WSU Alum Leads the Effort to Promote Her Southern Utah Community

February 22, 2022

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State alum Camille Taylor, who was raised in southern Utah, lives for the wide range of outdoor adventures she can experience close to her home in Kanab. As executive director for the Kane County Office of Tourism, she promotes the areas she loves around her.

Some of her favorite nearby sights include lofty evergreens in the Dixie National Forest; majestic red, pink and cream-colored cliffs in Zion National Park; and Lake Powells crystal-blue water, teeming with fish. When she picks the destination, however, shes likely to choose the trail in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument leading to the Wahweap Hoodoos, almost-otherworldly white-rock formations jutting from the ground with dark, mushroom-like rocky tops.

Ive been there twice now, she said. Both times were as the sun was setting, and the lighting was just magical.

Taylor, who earned her bachelors in communication with a minor in business administration at Weber State, is in her sixth year as director of tourism for the county.

I had a great experience at Weber State, said Taylor, who jokingly refers to herself as a Thundercat since she spent her first two years as a Southern Utah University Thunderbird before leaving to become a WSU Wildcat. At Weber, she recalls former communication department chair Ty Sanders making her and other students feel like they were already broadcasting professionals. It was like we were already reporters or anchors, she said. He never doubted us.

After graduating, Taylor started a journalism position with KSL TV, and planned to work her way to the top of Salt Lake Citys broadcasting market, until she realized it wasnt for her. Youre involved in the worst five minutes of peoples lives all day, she said.

After leaving broadcasting, she spent some time caring for her two children before tapping into her business and communication background as marketing director at Castle Rock Financial. Afterward, she worked at Windermere Real Estate as general manager and recruiter. Taylor lived along the Wasatch Front for 18 years before returning to Kanab, where she wrapped up prior work in the Utah Valley real estate market remotely and ran her own mobile boutique until former Kane County executive director of tourism, Ken Gotzenberg, heard about her marketing prowess and approached her with an offer.

He offered me an assistant director position, and it was a natural fit, Taylor said. I brought my degree and experience back to the land I grew up in, and applied it to doing good things for this community.

When Gotzenberg said he would retire in five years, he began preparing Taylor to take on his position after he left. After only two years, he realized Taylor was ready to take the role.

Ive been able to run a team that makes a difference in our economy and quality of life here, Taylor said.

As director, Taylor heads the Kanab Visitor Center; the Kanab Center, a local convention and event venue; and the countys events and marketing teams. She also connects with economic development and tourism professionals across the state to help navigate shared issues and solve problems. In addition, she serves on the Utah Tourism Industry Association Board of Directors and recently served as chair for the Utah Association of Destination Marketing Organizations.

Along with talking up the countys outdoor attractions, Taylor draws visitors to the area by promoting its rural communities and one-of-a-kind local businesses, far removed from the towns where nearly all the businesses are national chains, those she refers to as Anywhere, USA.

I dont feel like Im selling a product or service that Im disconnected from, she said. It comes from an authentic place.

Taylor credits Weber State for helping her discover her path.

I would absolutely recommend WSU to others following a similar career path, she said. I had a quality education that increased my confidence to go after big goals and provide for my family during many years as a single mom.

For photos, visit this link.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
??Record historico! Gracias al trabajo de nuestros exportadores, agricultores, pescadores, textileros y toda la cadena exportadora, nuestros productos conquistan los mercados del mundo.?? ?Celebremos los $ 56 mil millones en exportaciones.????(1/2)#PeruanosInvencibles pic.twitter.com/Brkchp6XJL
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Peru agrees with what was expressed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , in the sense that recognizing the independence of separatist territories and the deployment of military forces within those territories "are incompatible with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations , and they constitute a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine," the ambassador said.
Frente a la violacion a la soberania, territorio e integridad de Ucrania, el Peru rechaza el uso de la fuerza y se pronuncia a traves de la @CancilleriaPeru, invocando al respeto al Derecho Internacional. https://t.co/jCT4hEKut3
One-man folk musical The Lion is set to open at Southwark Playhouse in May, it has been announced.

The Drama Desk Award-winning piece by Benjamin Scheuer, which has been seen at Manhattan Theatre Club, Geffen Playhouse in LA, and on a US tour, will have a month-long run at the south London venue, performed by Max Alexander-Taylor and directed by Alex Stenhouse and Sean Daniels.

Telling a true story about survival and a brush with mortality, the 70-minute piece will run from 25 May. You can watch a number from the show here:

The production has set and costume design by Simon Kenny, lighting design by Emma Chapman and sound design by Andrew Johnson. Producer Danielle Tarento said today: "I have loved Benjamin's writing and this show for nearly a decade so to get to work on it in a brand new production is such a privilege. And, after the two years we've collectively lived through, to share this story of courage in the face of adversity and hope triumphing over sorrow feels all the more timely and poignant."

Arizona Theatre Company is co-producing the show, with the production set to hop over the Atlantic after its London run. Artistic director Daniels, who directed the original production, said: "I am delighted to be back in the world of The Lion, a project Benjamin and I started eight years ago as he first told me his own personal and inspiring story.

"ATC and I are honoured to be working with Danielle Tarento on this award-winning musical. For me, this piece reminds me that great and redemptive things can come from awful things, and that the bonds between parents and children are with us a lifetime."




The sectoral brands include Cafes del Peru; Cafes del Peru, Especialidades Unicas; Alpaca del Peru; Peru Textiles; Peru Xpert; Super Foods Peru; and Pisco, Spirit of Peru.





"The Peru Brand has been operational for 10 years and, in this period of time, has helped bring together a valuable legacy around its identity that summarizes its rich ancient history and a present full of enthusiasm and progress, which the world recognizes and values as a powerful distinctive sign," Foreign Trade-Tourism Minister Roberto Sanchez stated.





According to the government official, this legal recognition in the world of sectoral brands "represents the appreciation of Peruvian products, the work of men and women who through Peruvian companies and the State strive to provide products of unique quality that global users can identify as Peruvian."





Amora Carbajal Executive-President of Peru's Exports and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru), a Mincetur's body in charge of safeguarding the Country Brand and sectoral brands commented on the matter.





"This global step to include Peruvian sectoral brands in the WIPO legal register will provide adequate protection against unauthorized use by third parties," Carbajal said.





"We had a positive experience defending the Peru Brand, in which we won a dispute that protected the country against the use and appropriation of its identity by a third party without authorization," she added.





Throughout these years, the Peru Brand has become an essential part of national pride and is Peru's main emblem in all the important moments in which we are represented both locally and internationally.



??Peruanidad reconocida a nivel global!?????? La Organizacion Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (Ompi) reconoce a las marcas sectoriales peruanas, una importante noticia que nos llena de orgullo. @marcaPERU???? (1/2)

#Comercio #Exportaciones #ComercioExterior #Peru pic.twitter.com/r4MbXd4bks  MINCETUR ???? (@MINCETUR) February 21, 2022

(END) NDP/JOT/RMB/MVB

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) , a United Nations agency, recognizes the sectoral trademarks of Peru, which constitute a powerful distinctive sign and value the work of Peruvian men and women, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) has reported.Publicado: 22/2/2022
Quincy, IL (62301)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 64F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Field Supporting Officer, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina

City: Sarajevo

Office: UNDP HQ Sarajevo

Closing date: Wednesday, 9 March 2022

Job Identification : 2442

Locations : Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Posting Date : 02/22/2022, 05:42 PM

Apply Before : 03/09/2022, 04:59 AM

Degree Level : Advanced/Postgraduate Degree

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NB4

Vacancy Type : National Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Governance

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS

Contract Duration : 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience : Masters Degree

Other Criteria : Bachelors degree in combination with 2 years of experience in the field of civil society

Required Languages : English and the official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Mobility required/no mobility

no mobility required

Job Description

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Strengthening the Role of Local Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)- Phase 2, is a joint project of the Government of Switzerland and Sweden, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in BiH in a partnership with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, the Ministry of Justice of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the Ministry for Administration and Local Self-Government of Republika Srpska (RS), the Government of Brko District and both Entity Associations of Municipalities and Cities.

The overall goal of the second Project phase is to improve the quality of life of the citizens of BiH through empowered, gender responsive local communities (mjesne zajednice-MZs) that facilitate active citizen engagement in public life, stand for people-centred performance of local governments and catalyse democratic transformation at the local level. The Project focuses on encouraging community-led local development and revitalizing community governance through MZs in order to achieve this goal. The three specific Project outcomes are:

Outcome 1: Local governments create a conducive environment that enables pro-active engagement of MZs in decision-making and community-led local development.

Outcome 2: MZs as legitimate and sustainable community spaces translate citizens voice into quality, gender-responsive and inclusive services and use MZ networks for replication of successful MZ models countrywide.

Outcome 3: Higher government authorities take responsibility and act in response to increased citizens demand for an improved MZ regulatory framework, moving forward broader local governance reforms at country level.

The Projects methodological approach in Phase 2 is designed in the way to consolidate achievements from the Phase 1 and to prepare the ground for phasing-out the overall intervention following completion of the Phase 2. The Project will undertake all possible actions for this to happen, keeping in mind that sustainability, scaling up and handing-over the knowledge products represent the frame for the overall approach. Within this frame, strengthening of domestic ownership, for both systemic and behavioral transformations, and results-based management are the Projects underlying approaches, and these are the essential pre-conditions for the launch of bottom-up democratic reforms and for the overall sustainability of the intervention. Empowerment of women, social inclusion and socially constructive use of technologies will continue to be used as accelerators for societal transformation.

The expected Project achievements will be ensured by working on-system, i.e. by using as much as possible the existing country systems and tapping into the efforts of committed partners. It is assumed that this will result in systemic local governance and community governance changes and durably improved quality of citizen participation and public service delivery at local level. The second Project phase will work directly with 41 local governments and 199 MZs, distributed throughout the country.

This position relates specifically to the Projects work in the domain of local governance and improved service delivery, as elaborated in the Functions/Key Results section of these Terms of Reference. The employee will be based in the UNDP BiH office in Sarajevo with frequent field trips.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for duties outlined below: 1. Support coordinate and oversee projects technical and training assistance related to strengthening the local communities (mjesne zajednice-MZs) in improving responsiveness of local governments (LGs) and service delivery to its citizens:

Support, coordinate and oversee LG and MZ- level technical and training assistance within the area of responsibility ensuring high quality implementation and achievement of intended results;

Serve as the project focal/liaison, and information point for the project partners, in particular partner local governments (LGs) and MZs, as well as providers of technical and training assistance within the area of responsibility (AOR);

Directly assist partner LGs and MZs within the AOR to understand the objectives of technical and training support and effectively participate in the implementation of the provided assistance;

Provide quality control and assurance of LG and MZ technical and training assistance provided by the externally engaged service providers and consultants;

Monitor implementation of contractual modalities of externally hired service providers and consultants within the AOR with specific focus on quality assurance of deliverables;

Contribute to the design of project details, schedules, deliverables, plans, budgets and reports from the viewpoint of the Projects technical and training assistance provided to LGs and MZs;

Coordinate and provide support in organizing technical assistance meetings, workshops, trainings and other events within the AOR, as well as establish synergies with other relevant domestic and international initiatives or programmes in the region;

Support, coordinate and establish functional and operational partnerships with relevant formal and informal entities, maximizing the efficient and effective use of resources and multiplying project results and focusing on encouraging citizens engagement in local development processes;

Interact effectively with Local Governance Officer, other field officers and the entire Project Team in the area of successful realization of the LG and MZ-level technical and training assistance;

Travel regularly to partner LGs for individual meetings, events, focus groups, workshops, training events and similar and ensure effective working relations with partner LGs, MZs and externally engaged service providers/consultants throughout the Project implementation.

2. Support, coordinate and oversee implementation of MZ methodological framework to partner LGs and MZs from formulation to implementation:

Steer, facilitate and monitor implementation of MZ methodological framework in partner LGs and MZs;

Prepare necessary documents related to implementation of project activities to be signed between UNDP/MZ Project and local governments within the AOR such as memorandum of understanding, grant agreements, contracts, etc.

Monitor implementation of the agreements signed between LGs and UNDP/MZ Project with specific focus on compliance with UNDP rules and regulations and quality assurance of deliverables;

Prepare action plans for AOR based on the Annual Work Plan of the Project and ensure their regular monitoring and effective implementation;

Contribute to the design of project details, schedules, deliverables, plans, budgets and reports from the viewpoint of the Projects assistance provided to LGs and MZs for implementation of MZ methodological framework;

Provide technical and operational advice to partner LGs and MZs related to implementation of MZ methodological framework and strengthening of the MZs functions;

Contribute to the process of improving the policy and regulatory frameworks related to enhanced functioning of MZs across all government levels with a particular focus on local government level;

Assist and guide partner LGs within the AOR to discuss, design and set-up mechanisms for citizen involvement into local policy design;

Support, coordinate and oversee grassroots engagement and neighbourhood initiatives, MZ-level public consultations and planning (citizen fora), volunteering, civil society and citizen participation in local development processes;

Support the process of design and implementation of specific project initiatives and activities to each partner local government focusing on quality, control, from formulation to implementation within the AOR, ultimately meant to result in provision of better-quality delivery services to citizens;

Coordinate and provide support in organizing meetings, citizen fora, workshops, capacity development and information/discussion, conferences, and other events within the AOR, as well as establish synergies with other relevant domestic and international initiatives or programmes in the region;

Contribute to the broader UNDP local governance/local development programme, from the viewpoint of community development and citizen participation;

Monitor and supervise activities and performance progress within the AOR according to the approved Annual Work Plan through electronic record, written feedback and systematic upgrade of information, and regularly share feedback and elevate potential risks to the Project Management;

Interact effectively with Local Governance Officer, other field officers and the entire Project Team in the area of successful realization of the MZ methodological framework.

3. Steer, facilitate and oversee implementation of community development projects and grass roots initiatives:

Contribute to the process of design of project interventions related to the implementation of local community priority projects and other grass roots initiatives;

Assist partner local governments in the process of identification, design, development and submission of local community priority projects to be jointly funded by the MZ Project and LGs;

Prepare necessary documents related to implementation of local community priority projects to be signed between UNDP/MZ Project and local governments within the AOR;

Support, coordinate and monitor implementation of the agreements signed between LGs and UNDP/MZ Project with specific focus on compliance with UNDP rules and regulations and quality assurance of deliverables;
Emergency Specialist, Manila, Philippines

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund

Country: Philippines

City: Manila

Office: UNICEF in Manila, Philippines

Grade: P-4

Closing date: Saturday, 26 February 2022

Emergency Specialist, P4, Temporary Appointment, (initially 6 months with possibility of extension), Manila, 119309

Job no: 548587

Position type: Temporary Appointment

Location: Philippines Division/Equivalent: Bangkok (EAPRO), Thailand

School/Unit: Philippines

Department/Office: Manila, Philippines

Categories: Emergency Programme

UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a fair chance

UNICEF has been an active partner of the Government of the Philippines and civil society in realizing the rights of every Filipino child, in line with priorities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNICEF efforts have been focused on the most vulnerable regions identified by the Government of the Philippines Development Plan, particularly in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. To ensure that interventions are sustainable and scaled up, UNICEF will support primarily local government units (LGUs) as the main instruments of delivering services and building systems. The level of engagement with government institutions will take into account capacities, economies of scale and sector issues.

It has a field office in Cotabato City, the second largest city in Mindanao, southern Philippines, with some 300,000 population. The city is the regional administrative centre of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and over 80 percent of the population is Muslim. Mindanao is both conflict-affected and prone to frequent earthquakes and typhoon storms.

Visit this link for more information on Philippine Country Office: https://www.unicef.org/philippines/

How can you make a difference?

The Emergency Coordinator post is responsible for emergency managerial guidance to support operational and programme initiatives in emergency response. The post is accountable for coordinating the overall response efforts of the country office until recovery is achieved. The Emergency Coordinator represents UNICEF in his/her Area of Responsibility (AoR), and act as focal person representing the office with the government counterparts and implementing partners in the emergency operations.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative Programme for coordination of the emergency response, collaboration with the Dep Rep Operations, and the overall guidance from the Representative, the post shall undertake the following: 1. Provides UNICEF policy and programme advice related to emergencies, including on management related issues. Provides direction and guidance to the programme team (emergency focal points and staff in the field) in the implementation of emergency preparedness measures, which strengthens preparedness and response mechanisms. Ensure that all SOPs and UNICEF programming guidance are followed. Holds primary responsibility for the implementation of Emergency programme goals and objectives consistent with the established strategy.

2. Takes prompt action as to establish UNICEFs presence and implement the initial operational tasks relating to emergency assistance needed. Support the on-going inter-agency planning process and ensure that it is consistent with the UNICEF CCCs. Coordination with Government, UN and implementing partners on response. Identify and support inputs (sectoral) needed from UNICEF for implementation of Response Plan with focus on UNICEFs comparative advantage and availability of resources. Promote measures which increase accountability to affected populations and promote the identification of durable solutions.

3. Assesses local conditions resulting from the emergency situation affecting children and their families in the country. Leads and/or participates in post disaster needs assessment missions in conjunction field staff, in order to determine priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF. Participates in ICCG, UN, UNICEF and Inter-cluster meetings and contributes to assessing the crisis and humanitarian situation in regions with special regard to the survival, protection and wellbeing of children, adolescents and women.

4. Assists the Philippines Country Office in emergency operations oversight and programme management to ensure that the funding, budget, management, reporting, and field presence coordination are managed efficiently and effectively with clear accountabilities. Support the development if partnerships. Ensure to the extent possible that partners use common standards and tools for information collection/sharing and data management, including in needs assessments and monitoring (while respecting principles of confidentiality and protection concerns).

5. Programme coordination: Supports the implementation of the emergency preparedness and response plan, and identifies staffing requirements, including redeployment country office staff as required. Executes the timely delivery of assistance and procurement of supplies, monitors the appropriate and effective use of UNICEF resources/inputs. Identifies problems and constraints in order to ensure effective project delivery. Certifies the disbursement of funds, monitors expenditures and submits financial status reports. Sets up a reporting system and sends regular situation reports to concerned parties. Engages in regular discussion with Programme Chief Sections, programme focal points to follow up on progress/scale up; quality issues; innovation and bottlenecks. Support programme integration and convergence. Help facilitate real time evaluations. Participates in humanitarian and recovery related forum and keeps management informed of all humanitarian developments in the country in terms of policies, strategy, situation developments, potential threats and opportunities/issues in partnership.

6. Rapid response and field monitoring: Support to coordinate of field monitoring and rapid response team when needed. Regular follow up of recommendations from programme section focal points from field updates. Support analysis of data by age and sex (children and adult, male/female) by geographical area to refine programme/operational interventions focusing on children and women. Advise the Representative/Deputy Representative on any revision of the UNICEF Emergency Response Plan and the UN strategic plan as a result of new developments.

7. Advocacy: Work with the Resource Mobilization Specialist in identifying potential funding opportunities and support in drafting funding proposals and donor reports for emergency operations. Brief partners and donors on UNICEFs response activities and priority needs as needed. Prepare documents (jointly with Communication Specialist) for Representative/Deputy Representative to use for advocacy purpose.

8. Promote emergency/humanitarian learning on emergency preparedness and response to strengthen emergency capacity within UNICEF across programmes, operations, and cross sectorial functions and among partners. Ensures that adequate emergency preparedness measures are taken through the development and updating of the office contingency plans and establishment of early warning mechanisms, which leads to more effective preparedness and response to the 2022 typhoon season.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

*Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 13 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and administration

Specialized training/experience in emergency response management is required.

Previous record and experience of working with UNICEF is required.

Fluency in English and local working language of the duty station.

Knowledge of another official UN language or the local language is an asset.

Selection Criteria:

Experience of working with UNICEF on Emergency coordination/programme management will be given preference.

Experience in programme oversight and management of response (HRP) and oversight/coordination of grants, personnel, supplies.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and proven success in facilitating interagency processes in an emergency response; including liaising with Government partners; stakeholders and implementing partners. c8LqIwo Dh7qKS

Experience coordinating deliverables with interdisciplinary teams.

Experience in leading cluster coordination; and high frequency reporting (HPM, sitreps, etc).

Experience in resource mobilization (proposals/concept note) and documentation.

Substantive knowledge in UNICEF practice areas.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEFs values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The competencies required for this post are:

Builds and maintains partnerships (III)

Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (III)

Drive to achieve results for impact (III)

Innovates and embraces change (III)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (III)

Thinks and acts strategically (III)

Works collaboratively with others (III)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 26 February 2022. Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job Number: 548587 will be considered.

By applying through our Talent Management System (TMS) you agree to our privacy statement which is in line with the Philippines Data Privacy Act. You are strongly advised to read carefully through the privacy statement before submitting your application.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Advertised: Feb 18 2022 Singapore Standard Time Application close: Feb 26 2022 Singapore Standard Time

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1645547149512
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 60F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Cloudy with light rain this morning...then becoming partly cloudy. High near 75F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
February in Manitoba is a time for wool socks and sweaters.

What with the seemingly endless Environment Canada weather statements and alerts about blizzards and frigid temperatures, warm woollen outerwear has become almost as prevalent as face masks.

Art preview Click to Expand The One Year, One Outfit Challenge

By the Pembina Fibreshed

 C2 Centre for Craft, 1-329 Cumberland Ave.

To Saturday

While woollens will likely be sported by those who visit the C2 Centre for Craft this week, its the ones on display on pedestals and tables that deliver the warm fuzzies to those who enjoy locally made products and celebrate the people who make them.

The One Year, One Outfit Challenge, presented by the Pembina Fibreshed, includes textiles made since Jan. 31, 2021, within a 200-mile radius of the Pembina Valley.

"The purpose was to take a year and really dig into what it takes to make our clothing," says Anna Hunter, a co-director of the Pembina Fibreshed, an advocacy group for Manitoba fibre producers, manufacturers and dyers. "It really gave us an opportunity to connect and to bring farmers and artists and users together."

That means every strand of wool that is on display until Saturday has been shorn from a Manitoba sheep, milled and spun in the province and dyed with products created from plants grown here.

The perfectly timed pop-up show, which opened on the eve of yet another blizzard on Feb. 18, is about more than displaying the skills of Manitoba crafters.

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Wool goods by Modern Medieval; The One Year, One Outfit Challenge called on artists to create clothing using textiles made within a 200-mile radius of the Pembina Valley.

"Most of us have a small connection to the local food movement. Either weve been to a farmers market or maybe we know a farmer or we know when or where we can access local food," Hunter says.

"Most people dont even consider the fact that textile agriculture even exists, that the clothing we wear at one point probably started from the ground."

Warmth in Winnipeg Click to Expand Cold and snowy winters are a fact of life in Winnipeg, and this winter has proven to be colder and snowier than most. Amid blizzards, extreme temperature warnings and icy breezes that can freeze skin in only a minute, theres always something warm that can make these chilly months bearable. Whether its to fight off winters chill or to create recreational activities, Winnipeg needs warmth to make it happen. Sometimes it is even the warmth in someones heart. So maybe throw another log on the fire, or inch that blanket up a little further and join the Free Press on our investigation of this elusive, yet essential item of a Winnipeg winter. Warmth.

The Pembina Fibreshed challenged its members to create one garment and two accessories from scratch for the show.

Hunter and her husband Luke raise sheep and operate Manitobas only wool-processing mill at Long Way Homestead near Ste-Genevieve, about 50 kilometres east of Winnipeg.

The homesteads mill cleaned, spun and dyed most of the woollen textiles in the exhibition, and the Hunters sell skeins of yarn from their sheep, which are shorn by hand every spring.

We use nothing but hot water and a small amount of biodegradable citrus soap to clean all our fibre, and that grey water goes right back into our system," Hunter says. "Washing wool means youre taking dirt and lanolin and manure out of it and that goes right back into our pasture systems."

She says about 90 per cent of Canadas raw textiles, such as wool and linen, which is made from flaxseed, are exported, with Canada importing the finished products, whether they are wool sweaters or tuques, or linen garments.

"The textile agriculture and the textile-manufacturing industry is almost non-existent and that was the impetus for this project," Hunter says. "Lets talk about what it takes to source and make our clothing locally and some of the challenges within that, but also see the opportunity for how we can grow that industry and how we can build a resilient fibre economy."

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Maureen Winnicki Lyons used a number of different wools to make up her intricate top.

The exhibition also includes leather-based goods, such as vests, moccasins and wallets from elk that were hunted in the province, their hides tanned and tailored by Manitobans.

It has led to lovely knitted garments but also an appreciation for Manitobas ancestors, whether they were settlers who made all their own clothes or Indigenous people who found a use for almost every part of a wild animal they hunted successfully.

Among the pieces on display at the C2 Centre is a colourful wool tunic by Winnipeg craftswoman Maureen Winnicki Lyons. She used wool from more than 20 different breeds of sheep, as well as Angora goats and a host of dyes created by Manitoba flowers.

Unlike many knitted pieces in the exhibition, a felting process was used to create the woolly vest.

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Katherine Delorme contributed hand-dyed and stitched items to The One Year, One Outfit Challenge.

"I have a strange fascination with different breeds of wool," Winnicki Lyons says during the exhibitions debut. "I wanted to incorporate all the different wool that we have available in the province, because every breed of sheep has its own wool and all wool is useful for something."

Hunter and other crafters make their own dyes from flowers they grow, such as Japanese indigo, tansy, goldenrod and even onion skin, which Hunter says make a golden colour.

To get different hues in their yarn, Winnicki Lyons and Hunter even add rusty nails recycled from old fence posts to the dyes.

While the exhibitions theme and garments are eye-openers for visitors, Pembina Fibresheds crafters learned about the time-consuming process of making clothing the hard way.

Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Artist Maureen Winnicki Lyons children, Teresa Lyons (left) and Duncan Campbell (right), admire their mothers tunic on display at the C2 Centre for Craft.

Winnicki Lyons remembers the "laborious process" of fitting in more yarn in her tunic so there wouldnt be gaps.

"Weve travelled so far away from the source of our things in every way in life that this is just bringing it back home," she says. "Thats something we need to, as a society, as a civilization, appreciate."

alan.small@winnipegfreepress.com

Twitter: @AlanDSmall

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During a press conference, the high-ranking official affirmed that crime is one of the problems that has been tackled from various fronts.

"It is the most serious problem we face; however, we are going to solve it against all criticism," he added.

In this sense, the Prime Minister said that for the Government the first thing is people's lives, physical integrity, health, and heritage, in such a way that Peru becomes one of the safest countries. Thus, the National Police of Peru will rely on the support of the Armed Forces.

The Government's spokesman noted that the Interior sector will have to work intensely with neighborhood councils and Serenazgo (municipal police) personnel.

Moreover, Torres announced that markets, where stolen things are sold, will be intervened.

"The buying and selling of stolen things is not allowed. Thus, we don't want complaints starting tomorrow when the operations are carried out to put an end to citizen insecurity. We want the press to contribute as well," he stated.

?? Para informar sobre las ultimas decisiones adoptadas en sesion del Consejo de Ministros, el premier Anibal Torres, junto con ministros de Estado, brindara conferencia de prensa. pic.twitter.com/2SoMdmWmIP
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Environmental groups say Romania has failed to tackle illegal logging and nature destruction in areas protected by European Union law, two years after Brussels warned the country to put an end to illicit deforestation.

Investigators from NGO Agent Green monitor what they say is large-scale deforestation and habitat degradation in Natura 2000 sites, in Avrig, Fagaras Mountains, Romania, Sunday, Sept.5, 2021. Environmental campaigners have accused European Union member Romania of failing to tackle illegal logging and nature destruction in areas protected by EU law, two years after Romania received legal warnings from Brussels urging it to put an end to illicit deforestation. (Agent Green via AP)

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Environmental groups say Romania has failed to tackle illegal logging and nature destruction in areas protected by European Union law, two years after Brussels warned the country to put an end to illicit deforestation.

A new report authored by nongovernmental groups Agent Green, EuroNatur, and ClientEarth, obtained by The Associated Press before its official release, alleges that widespread destruction in Natura 2000 sites  areas of special value that are meant to be protected by EU law  has in some areas intensified since the EU Commission issued warnings in February 2020.

The Commission said at the time that Romanian authorities managed forests and authorized logging without evaluating beforehand the impacts on protected habitats as required under the bloc's directives. It gave Romania a month to take measures to address the shortcomings and issued final warnings in July 2020.

Gabriel Paun, president of Agent Green, told the AP that instead of curbing illegal logging in the protected natural areas, Brussels' infringement procedures triggered what he called panic logging.

The report clearly shows that logging in native forests in protected areas has increased, Paun said. This is panic logging in old-growth forests based on a fear that the EUs biodiversity strategy will become binding for all member states.

He added: Romania will surely have to face the European Court of Justice over these protected areas as it has failed to comply with EU nature laws.

The campaign groups report found that the Romanian government has done very little to stop the ongoing degradation of the Natura 2000 sites and the threat to these protected natural forest ecosystems remains constant and widespread.

The three environmental groups will this week call on the Commission to refer the case to the European Court of Justice, the blocs highest court.

Romania, an EU member since 2007, is home to vast areas of primary forests measuring around half a million hectares. They are mostly situated in the countrys Carpathian Mountains, out of a total forest cover of around 7 million hectares which provide habitat for large mammals like bears, wolves, and Eurasian lynx.

But successive Romanian governments have struggled to prevent widespread illegal logging, which some describe as being carried out by a wood mafia."

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Over a three-month period between August and October last year, Agent Green investigators monitored 41 locations within four Natura 2000 sites  each the subject of EU infringement procedures  using a combination of fieldwork, satellite imagery, and data from a national, public database of logging permits.

Romanias persistent failure to act means the situation in Romanian forests has gone from bad to worse, said Agata Szafraniuk, a ClientEarth wildlife and habitats lawyer. If the European Commission does not escalate Romanias clear disregard of EU nature laws before the EUs highest court, the future of these important forests looks dire."

In a statement to the AP after seeing the report, a spokesperson at Romanias environment ministry said there was "no evidence that logging activities have increased since the start of the infringement procedure and that measures the ministry implemented last year are effectively tackling illegal logging.

The ministry said that after increasing sanctions for illegal logging in 2021 it has seen a strong upward trend in terms of criminal offenses discovered, with an increase of 47% in investigations referred to a court of justice when compared to 2020.

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Follow AP climate reporting at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
BRUSSELS (AP)  World leaders Thursday condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as barbaric and quickly slapped heavy sanctions on the Russian economy, President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and many of the country's oligarchs.

People watch a TV program broadcasting the news of Russian troops that have launched their attack on Ukraine, at a restaurant in Hong Kong Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

BRUSSELS (AP)  World leaders Thursday condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as barbaric and quickly slapped heavy sanctions on the Russian economy, President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and many of the country's oligarchs.

Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences, U.S. President Joe Biden declared.

In near-unison, the United States, the 27-nation European Union and other Western allies announced a round of punitive measures against Russian banks and leading companies and imposed export controls aimed at starving the country's industries and military of semiconductors and other high-tech products.

From the U.S. to Western Europe and Japan, South Korea and Australia, nations lined up to denounce the Kremlin as the outbreak of fighting raised fears about the shape of Europe to come. The invasion initially sent stocks slumping and oil prices surging on fears of higher costs for food and fuel.

The West and its allies showed no inclination to send troops into Ukraine  a non-member of NATO  and risk a wider war on the continent. But NATO reinforced its member states in Eastern Europe as a precaution against an attack on them, too.

A screenshot made available by Flightradar24.com that shows the clear airspace over Ukraine on Thursday Feb. 24, 2022 not long after Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine.(Flightradar24.com via AP)

Make no mistake: We will defend every ally against any attack on every inch of NATO territory, said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

In the meantime, countries began taking steps to isolate Moscow in hopes of forcing it to pay so high a price that it changes course.

Biden, for now, held off imposing some of the most severe sanctions, including cutting Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, which allows for the transfers of money from bank to bank around the globe. Ukraine's president called for Russia to be cast out of SWIFT, but the U.S. has expressed concern about the potential damage to European economies.

A TV screen broadcasts the news of Russian troops that have launched their attack on Ukraine, at a restaurant in Hong Kong Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

From the U.S. Congress, there was widespread support for slapping devastating sanctions on Russia, even as lawmakers from both parties urged the White House to impose even further financial restrictions to halt Putins attack on Ukraine.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he encouraged Biden to ratchet up sanctions to inflict as much economic pain as possible on the Russian regime.

Its pretty clear that members of the U.S. Congress, regardless of party, want us to present a totally united front, McConnell said.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters on the current situation in Ukraine, at his official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. World leaders reacted Thursday to Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement of military action in Ukraine with outrage and vows to both tighten sanctions and hold the Kremlin accountable. (Sadayuki Goto/Kyodo News via AP)

EU leaders held an emergency summit and agreed on sanctions that cover, among other things, the financial, energy and transport sectors and various Russian individuals. In a statement, the leaders said the measures will have massive and severe consequences for Russia.

The details will not become available until Friday at the earliest.

We want to cut off Russias industry from the technologies desperately needed today to build the future, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks during a media conference after a meeting and telephone call with other G7 ministers at Quai d'Orsay foreign ministry, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. World leaders are getting over the shock of Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering his forces into separatist regions of Ukraine and they are focusing on producing as forceful a reaction as possible. Germany made the first big move Tuesday and took steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: It is about the leadership of Russia and being merciless in finances and the economy."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announced financial restrictions and export controls. In addition, Britain will also prohibit Russia's flagship airline, Aeroflot, from landing at British airports.

Johnson called the attack on Ukraine hideous and barbaric and said of Putin: Now we see him for what he is  a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press statement on Ukraine, at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb 24, 2022. Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool Photo via AP)

Canada imposed sanctions that will target 58 people and entities, including members of Russia's elite and their families, the paramilitary Wagner Group and major Russian banks. The punitive measures, announced after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended a virtual meeting of G-7 industrialized nations, will also cover members of the Russian Security Council, including key cabinet ministers.

In the days before the attack, Germany suspended approval of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.

With Stoltenberg and Johnson, von der Leyen called the invasion a barbaric" attack on an independent nation that threatened the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, speaks during a press statement on Ukraine, at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb 24, 2022. Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool Photo via AP)

The new U.S. sanctions also targeted the military and financial institutions of Belarus, Ukraines neighbor to the north. Russia is using Belarus as a staging ground for troop movements into Ukraine.

Separately, the U.N. Security Council is expected to vote Friday on a resolution condemning Russia and demanding the immediate withdrawal of all its forces. But Moscow is certain to veto it.

Highlighting a widening rift in superpower relations, China stood alone in failing to condemn the attack and instead accused the United States and its allies of worsening the crisis.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaks during a press statement on Ukraine, at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb 24, 2022. Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to "consequences you have never seen." (Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool Photo via AP)

In a clear defense of Moscow, China called on parties to respect others legitimate security concerns.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that all parties should work for peace instead of escalating the tension or hyping up the possibility of war  language China has consistently used to criticize the West in the crisis.

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China went further and approved imports of wheat from Russia, a move that could reduce the impact of Western sanctions. Russia, one of the biggest wheat producers, would be vulnerable if foreign markets were closed off.

A man walks past a TV screen with image of Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Tokyo, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. As Russian troops attacked Ukraine, world leaders reacted Thursday with outrage, one called it "an unjustified barbarian act," and vowed to both tighten sanctions and hold the Kremlin accountable. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

The possible repercussions extended well beyond economics and geopolitics. The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worried that the crisis will further distract global attention from helping the worlds least vaccinated continent fight COVID-19.

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Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.

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Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
LONDON (AP)  All government-mandated coronavirus restrictions in England were lifted Thursday, including the legal requirement for people who test positive for COVID-19 to isolate at home.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, Monday Feb. 21, 2022, to outline the Government's new long-term COVID-19 plan. (Tolga Akmen/Pool via AP)

LONDON (AP)  All government-mandated coronavirus restrictions in England were lifted Thursday, including the legal requirement for people who test positive for COVID-19 to isolate at home.

Officials say that those who tested positive will still be advised to stay at home for at least five days. But from Thursday they are not legally obliged to do so, and those on lower incomes will no longer get extra financial support to make up for a loss of income due to isolation. The routine tracing of infected peoples contacts has also been scrapped.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday set out his Conservative governments strategy for living with COVID in the longer term. He said Britain is moving from legal restrictions to personal responsibility, and that the end of all domestic legal measures marked the end of two of the darkest years in the countrys peacetime history.

The strategy includes plans to massively scale back free universal coronavirus testing from April 1.

England already binned most virus restrictions in January, after infection rates and hospitalizations fell following a surge in late December. Face masks are no longer legally required anywhere and vaccine passports for entering nightclubs and other venues were scrapped.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which set their own public health rules, have similarly opened up though at different paces.

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Some other European countries, including Denmark and Sweden, have also recently lifted all COVID-19 restrictions.

Some critics have questioned whether it is too early to end all restrictions, especially isolation laws. The British Medical Association warned that Johnsons strategy fails to protect the most vulnerable people and those at highest risk of harm from COVID-19.

Some 85% of people aged 12 and older in the U.K. are fully vaccinated, and about 66% have had their third or booster dose.

The U.K. still has Europes highest coronavirus toll after Russia, with more than 161,000 recorded deaths.

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Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP)  A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in Michigan in a non-commercial backyard flock of birds in Kalamazoo County, federal authorities said Thursday.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP)  A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in Michigan in a non-commercial backyard flock of birds in Kalamazoo County, federal authorities said Thursday.

Samples from the flock were tested at Michigan State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service laboratories in Ames, Iowa.

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State officials have quarantined the Kalamazoo County site and the 34 birds at that property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of disease, the USDA said, noting that birds from that flock will not enter the food system.

Its the first case of avian flu in Michigan, said Lyndsay Cole, a USDA spokeswoman. Its not clear how it reached the backyard flock, she said.

The virus strain is potentially deadly to commercial poultry.

The bird flu cases are among the latest in the U.S. that have put farms that raise turkeys and chickens for meat and eggs on high alert, fearing a repeat of a 2015 bird flu outbreak that killed 50 million birds across 15 states and cost the federal government nearly $1 billion.

Bird flu has also been detected at commercial turkey farms in southern Indiana, a flock of commercial broiler chickens in Kentucky, a commercial poultry flock in Delaware, a backyard flock of mixed species birds in northern Virginia, and in New York and Maine, both at a single non-commercial backyard flock.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the recent bird flu cases do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these viruses have been detected in the U.S.
BERLIN (AP)  Germanys vice chancellor said Thursday that Russias attack on Ukraine is completely illogical and will backfire, causing western nations to stop buying Russian coal, oil and gas  an important source of income for the resource-rich country.

German Economy and Climate Minister and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, in his office at the Economy ministry in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Germanys vice chancellor said Thursday that Russias attack on Ukraine is completely illogical and will backfire, causing western nations to stop buying Russian coal, oil and gas  an important source of income for the resource-rich country. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

BERLIN (AP)  Germanys vice chancellor said Thursday that Russias attack on Ukraine is completely illogical and will backfire, causing western nations to stop buying Russian coal, oil and gas  an important source of income for the resource-rich country.

Robert Habeck, a powerful figure in the new German government whose portfolio includes economy and climate, said the crisis will strengthen the case for customers of Russian fossil fuels to pursue energy independence by boosting renewable sources.

From a rational point of view, this is completely illogical, he told The Associated Press in an interview hours after Russia unleashed its military might against its smaller neighbor.

The complete West will turn away from Russia, he said. We will diversify our energy system. We will not buy Russian coal and gas in such an amount in the future.

Germany currently gets about half of its natural gas and coal from Russia, and a third of its oil.

Allies such as the United States have long warned that the heavy reliance of Europe's biggest economy on Russia energy imports is a strategic risk given the growing friction with Moscow. Until recently, German officials insisted that Russia had proved itself to be a reliable supplier and even backed the construction of a new natural gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea, despite protests from the U.S., Poland and Ukraine.

Germany halted the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project Tuesday as tensions with Russia over Ukraine escalated  a move that was applauded in Washington and Kyiv.

Habeck said measures to shore up Germany's gas reserves in recent months, along with a fortunate abundance of wind power following a blustery February, had helped prevent a shortage for consumers as energy prices shot up and Russia held back additional supplies.

We see a direct effect: the more renewable energy is in the market, the less natural gas we use, he said.

I definitely think that the current situation will help the transition into renewable energy in Germany and Europe," he told The AP at his office in Berlin. People see that it is not only a climate-related issue, but a safety or security-related issue right now.

Extending the lifetime of Germanys three remaining nuclear plants isnt an option, and building terminals for tankers filled with liquefied natural gas  an idea Habecks Green Party has been skeptical of  will take years, he said.

Germany is looking to import LNG from Qatar via foreign ports and buy gas from other European nations to cover any shortage in the near term.

Habeck acknowledged that, on the diplomatic front, Germanys efforts to foster talks with Moscow by refusing to supply Ukraine with weapons had failed.

From a German perspective, we were trying to hold the line open for diplomacy, he said. We thought it was a good idea not to go into weapon delivery to Ukraine because then the possibility of talks would be narrowed. This was our strategy, actually. It hasnt worked out.

Nor did sanctions imposed earlier this week deter Russia from sending troops into Ukraine, he said. But we can strengthen the pressure on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his people, and then we will wait and see what comes out of it.

Habeck said he believed Putin personally should face sanctions for his actions on Ukraine, and expressed doubt whether further negotiations with the Russian leader would be helpful.

I think we have to talk with Russia, and Russia is more than Putin, he said. I hope that some people will speak for the other Russia, and they have a voice that can be heard and they will not be suppressed.

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Habeck said he had been emotionally moved by a visit to the Ukrainian embassy in Berlin earlier Thursday, where tearful staff expressed fears for their loved ones back home amid the Russian advance.

Habeck said he hopes to embark on his first official visit to the United States next week, if the crisis allows, arguing that its vital to strengthen the trans-Atlantic partnership further.

The trip was scheduled to include meetings with senior U.S. officials and a visit to the Deep South, where several large Germany companies have manufacturing plants.

In a way its the best moment to go there, he said. We have a lot of things to discuss: trade issues, relations (with) China, but of course in the current situation I also expect that the security issues and the energy supply ... are of uppermost interest.

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Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong residents are becoming increasingly annoyed with the administrations insistence on sticking to China's zero-COVID strategy as the city posted another record number of cases Wednesday, bristling at ever-stricter regulations and a plan to test everyone for the virus.

People wearing face masks walk at a downtown street in Hong Kong Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. Hong Kong residents are becoming increasingly annoyed with the administrations insistence on sticking to China's zero-COVID strategy as the city posted another record number of new cases Wednesday, bristling at ever-stricter regulations and a plan to test every city resident for the virus.(AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong residents are becoming increasingly annoyed with the administrations insistence on sticking to China's zero-COVID strategy as the city posted another record number of cases Wednesday, bristling at ever-stricter regulations and a plan to test everyone for the virus.

Schools have already switched to online learning and summer holidays are being moved forward so that the buildings can be used as facilities for testing, isolation and vaccination. Hong Kong says it will go ahead with the plan to test every one of its 7.5 million residents three times in March.

Under the zero-COVID-19" strategy, every person testing positive case must be quarantined in a hospital or other government facility for 14 days regardless of symptoms. It's in contrast with most countries, which are reducing restrictions and allowing people with mild or no symptoms to remain at home.

The whole world knows we have to live with the virus, only the Hong Kong government does not know, said taxi driver Chan Tai-man. Actually it's not that they don't know, they only do what the Chinese government tells them to.

With hospitals in Hong Kong already overwhelmed, construction crews from mainland China are being sent to build new isolation units and the city was moving to convert hotels, halls, indoor stadiums and other quarantine locations, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said.

Chinese medical teams were also building mobile testing laboratories to help prepare Hong Kong for the launch of the mass testing.

Everybody is now predicting that we will have a pretty sizeable percentage of people infected with COVID-19 in Hong Kong, so hopefully through comprehensive universal testing we will try to identify these infected cases and put them in isolation, Lam told reporters Tuesday night.

To ensure the success, we need a lot more isolation facilities.

Leung Chun-kit, a kitchen worker, said he didnt think the government was prepared for universal testing and dealing with the results.

I think the government should consider increasing hospital manpower and facilities to better support the health workers, he said.

People wearing face masks walk at a downtown street in Hong Kong Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

In his presentation of the city budget on Wednesday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced a series of measures to provide relief to residents and small businesses, as well as resources to fight the pandemic.

After keeping the coronavirus largely at bay with extremely strict regulations on international travel and internal restrictions, Hong Kong has seen record numbers of new cases fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.

Last week the daily figure climbed to more than 6,000 confirmed cases for the first time, then hit more than 7,000 earlier this week. On Wednesday, Hong Hong reported 8,674 cases.

The analysis of sewage samples suggest the real number could be far greater, with experts predicting that the citywide testing could catch some 300,000 cases.

We probably have not seen the peak of this wave, so how we are going to manage the next two to three months will be extremely essential and critical to containing, but there is no guarantee whatsoever, Lam said.

Currently 68% of Hong Kong's population is fully vaccinated and another 10% has had one shot, according to Our World in Data.

As part of its zero-tolerance strategy, China has locked down entire cities, keeping people sequestered in their homes and providing them with food and supplies during extensive testing and contact tracing.

Hong Kong, a former British colony and semi-autonomous region of China, lacks the resources for a complete lockdown but there is growing fear among residents that it is going in that direction. Smaller lockdowns of single buildings or city blocks have raised vehement criticism.

Hong Kong operates under the one country, two systems principle within China, but the mainland has been exerting ever-increasing authority.

Lam insisted there is no instruction from the Central People's Government on a lockdown" and that the current outbreak was entirely a matter for her administration to handle.

Our motherland is giving us all the support that we need at this critical stage, she said. But at the end of the day, I am responsible under one country, two systems."

China on Wednesday reported 90 new cases of domestic transmission, almost half in the northern Inner Mongolia region and 10 in Beijing. Shenzhen in Guangdong province, which borders Hong Kong, reported seven new cases.

Guangdong also recorded 38 imported cases, all from Hong Kong, despite strict border controls that have virtually severed travel between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Addressing the surge in Hong Kong on Monday, China's leading epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan said strict control measures were needed to prevent a higher death rate among the elderly.

Mainland China has lifted lockdowns on millions of people in cities in the north and center of the country, but continues to impose quarantines and require mass testing in districts where cases have been reported.

Practically for Lam, relaxing the zero-COVID-19 strategy would further hinder travel between the city and the mainland, where authorities require three weeks of quarantine or more. Beijing will not reopen Hong Kongs border with the mainland until the city reaches and maintains zero cases.

Hong Kong already is operating under its strictest curbs on travel, business and public activity since the pandemic began. In place since Feb. 10, they also prohibit gatherings of more than two households. Restaurants, hair salons and religious sites were ordered closed.

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Those restrictions are expected to be tightened further on Thursday, the same day the government rolls out a new app to control access to specified venues.

The app will contain the users vaccination records and only residents who have had at least one shot, or certain specified medical exemptions, will be allowed to enter places like restaurants, malls and supermarkets.

If Hong Kong still has to live the zero-COVID policy and then cannot achieve it, then Hong Kong would become an island because it basically will be cut off from the rest of the world, including China, and we already see the escalation in price of vegetables, said Francis Lun, the CEO of Geo Securities in Hong Kong.

"In addition, the status of Hong Kong as an international financial center would suffer.

____

Rising reported from Bangkok.
WASHINGTON - With the United States and Canada each taking stock of their supply-chain woes and marking one year since their heralded bilateral "road map," a group of House Republicans is raising concerns about whether the two countries should be working together on critical minerals.

Republican conference chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., speaks with reporters during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Washington. A group of House Republicans want to know more about why Canada didnt red-flag the pending Chinese takeover of a lithium producer with offices in Toronto.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Alex Brandon

WASHINGTON - With the United States and Canada each taking stock of their supply-chain woes and marking one year since their heralded bilateral "road map," a group of House Republicans is raising concerns about whether the two countries should be working together on critical minerals.

Texas Rep. Lance Gooden, Florida Rep. Michael Waltz and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik have written to key members of President Joe Biden's cabinet to complain about a Chinese state-owned enterprise's pending takeover of a lithium producer with offices in Toronto.

The acquisition "is highly concerning and raises a litany of questions regarding United States and Canadian understanding of the threat imposed by the Chinese Communist Party," reads the letter, dated Feb. 23 and released Thursday.

The letter, signed by all three lawmakers, is addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

In 2020, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in North America, the two countries formalized a "joint action plan" to ensure secure supply chains for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel and uranium  vital components in high-tech communication, aerospace and defence applications, as well as electric vehicle batteries.

But Canada's decision to allow Neo Lithium Corp. to be taken over by China  a perennial national security concern that's by far the global leader in critical minerals and rare earth elements  casts a shadow over the wisdom of that plan, the letter suggests.

"The Canadian government's complicit approval also raises questions regarding the extent of co-operation with the United States in accordance with the action plan, including whether the United States government was aware or notified of the pending transaction."

The deal has become a political headache for the governing Liberals, who insist that Neo Lithium is actually based in Argentina, and that its presence in Canada  an office address in Toronto and listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange  is little more than a gambit for raising capital.

Last month, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne insisted to the House of Commons industry committee that the proposed takeover by Zijin Mining Group Ltd. had been thoroughly vetted under the rules set out in the Investment Canada Act.

Only if that initial review identifies a potential risk to Canada's national interests or security is the matter referred to cabinet to decide whether to launch a more intensive, extended security review.

In the case of Neo Lithium, Champagne said a subsequent review was not necessary because the initial one  already "enhanced" because it involved both critical minerals and a Chinese state-owned enterprise  identified no potential risk.

Champagne also said that Neo Lithium's main project in Argentina involves lithium carbonate, not the lithium hydroxide coveted by EV manufacturers.

Laurie Bouchard, a spokesperson for Champagne, said any foreign investment proposal is reviewed on its merits, a process that considers factors like the nature of the mineral deposits involved and whether the company has operations in Canada, and "often includes consultation with Canada's allies."

Those factors include whether a company "is principally domiciled here for regulatory or other reasons, with few local staff or assets," Bouchard said in a statement.

"The government has not hesitated to take action to block transactions that are not in Canada's interest and will continue to protect Canadian access to and development of critical mineral supplies."

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The letter nonetheless comes at an awkward time for both countries, particularly considering that just Wednesday, officials marked the one-year anniversary of the vaunted "Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership," a bilateral agreement that included plans "to make Canada and the United States global leaders in all aspects of battery development and production."

On Thursday, the White House noted a related anniversary: that of President Joe Biden's executive order to assess and fortify the country's most important supply chains, an occasion marked by a comprehensive set of reports from across the administration.

Notwithstanding the road map and the action plan, the U.S. conversation around supply chains, including those for critical minerals and rare earth elements, has been drenched in Biden's union-friendly, made-in-America rhetoric.

"From rare earths in our electric motors and generators to the carbon fibre used for airplanes, the United States must ensure we are not dependent on foreign or single sources for critical minerals," the White House said in a statement Thursday.

The U.S. plan does acknowledge the role of foreign trading partners in fuelling the economic recovery from the pandemic and "building long-term supply chain resilience for the future," including plans for a trilateral summit with Canada and Mexico this summer.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2022.
DETROIT (AP)  U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints that the automatic emergency braking systems on more than 1.7 million newer Hondas can stop the vehicles for no reason.

FILE - The Honda company logo is shown outside a Honda dealership Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Highlands Ranch, Colo. U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints that the automatic emergency braking systems on more than 1.7 million newer Hondas can stop the vehicles for no reason. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says, on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, it has 278 complaints that the problem can happen in 2017 through 2019 CR-Vs and 2018 and 2019 Accords. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

DETROIT (AP)  U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints that the automatic emergency braking systems on more than 1.7 million newer Hondas can stop the vehicles for no reason.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has 278 complaints that the problem can happen in 2017 through 2019 CR-V SUVs and 2018 and 2019 Accord sedans. The agency announced the probe in documents posted Thursday on its website.

In some cases the owners complained of unexpected speed reductions that could cause increased vulnerability to rear collsions. Agency documents say the inadvertent braking can occur without warning and randomly.

In six cases, owners told the agency the problem caused collisions with minor injuries.

The agency says it's opening the probe to determine how many vehicles are affected and how bad the problem is. The investigation could lead to a recall.

In a statement, Honda said it's cooperating with the investigation and is continuing its own review. The company said consumers who experience any problems should contact their dealership.

Among those complaining was a Honda owner in Fredericksburg, Virginia, who told the agency that a 2018 CR-V came to a complete stop in November of 2019. While driving on an interstate with no vehicles or obstacles stopped in front of me, my car automatically braked hard, the owner wrote. It came to a complete stop on the interstate, which resulted in me getting rear-ended.

The owner, who was not identified in the complaint, reported that two people were hurt.

The Honda probe is the second investigation of automated braking systems opened by NHTSA in the past week. On Feb. 17, the agency began investigating reports of similar malfunctions on about 416,000 Teslas after it received 354 complaints that the vehicles could stop for no reason.

The vehicles are equipped with partially automated driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control and Autopilot, which allows them to automatically brake and steer within their lanes.

No crashes or injuries were reported.

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Automatic emergency braking systems have great life-saving potential. They can stop crashes or slow vehicles if drivers are impaired or are not paying attention when something is in the way. But they also can react to shadows, overpasses or other things that appear to be obstructions.

The systems are becoming more widespread. In 2016, 20 automakers covering most of the industry agreed to voluntarily make automatic emergency braking standard on nearly all of their new vehicles by Sept. 1, 2022.

The systems help prevent crashes or reduce their severity by applying the brakes for a driver. The systems use cameras, radar and other sensors to see when a crash is imminent. They warn drivers to brake, and they brake vehicles automatically if the driver doesnt act quickly enough.

Consumer Reports found last December that more than 12 major automakers have equipped nearly all of their 2021 model year vehicles with the technology.

NHTSA also has started the regulatory process of requiring the systems for both heavy trucks and passenger vehicles.

The move to require the electronic systems and the investigations come as the government tries to stem a trend of increasing highway deaths. For the first nine months of 2021, an estimated 31,720 people were killed on the nations highways, keeping up a record pace of increased dangerous driving during the coronavirus pandemic.
WASHINGTON - An Ottawa-inspired "freedom convoy" is making its way to the U.S. capital, but as of now, it has little else in common with its Canadian namesake.

A supporter walks past a mannequin of Uncle Sam at the beginning of a trucker caravan to Washington, D.C., called The People's Convoy Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Adelanto, Calif. A small convoy of truckers demanding an end to coronavirus mandates began a cross-country drive from California to the Washington, D.C., area on Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Nathan Howard

WASHINGTON - An Ottawa-inspired "freedom convoy" is making its way to the U.S. capital, but as of now, it has little else in common with its Canadian namesake.

Where the protests in Canada's capital were organized, unified and bent on disruption, the D.C. endeavour appears amorphous and is still taking shape.

One contingent departed Wednesday from a staging area in California, with others expected to join up in time for President Joe Biden's state of the union speech next Tuesday.

The Pentagon has agreed to deploy 700 unarmed members of the National Guard to help with traffic, but beyond that, authorities aren't sure what to expect.

The protests in Canada coalesced around deep-seated frustration with a wide range of COVID-19 restrictions, including vaccine and mask mandates.

But in the U.S., many of the most stringent restrictions have already started to ease, leaving many to wonder what is left to complain about.

It's also not entirely clear whether protesters will enter the city itself, or disrupt traffic along Interstate 495, the highway known as the Beltway that encircles D.C.

Kyle Sefcik, a protest organizer who also hopes to unseat Larry Hogan as governor of Maryland, posted a video to social media this week promising a peaceful and lawful protest.

"The world is watching us," Sefcik says in the video. "If what happened in Canada happens to us here in the land of the free, then freedom as we know it is gone."

Sefcik has applied for a permit to stage a protest on the National Mall, the strip of parkland that runs between Capitol Hill and the Washington Monument.

That application anticipates a crowd of between 1,000 and 3,000 people.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier this week that officials are monitoring the situation, including Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall, who was in close contact with counterparts in Canada at the height of the protests there.

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"We are closely monitoring, closely watching, and working with state and local authorities  to continuously assess the threat environment and keep our communities safe."

Capitol police, meanwhile, have yet to confirm whether they will erect protective fencing around the building, which lingered for months following last year's deadly Jan. 6 protests.

"They have a good handle on what the expectation is," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a news conference Wednesday, noting that the protests are expected to linger later than March 1.

"Some of it won't even come until after the state of the union, but no, I feel confident. Now, people said, 'Don't let them put up a fence.' That's not my call."

The city's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department says it is "aware of and prepared for" potential demonstrations taking place "in the weeks ahead."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2022.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP)  Four Rocky Mountain states will cooperate on developing ways to make the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, more available and useful as clean-burning fuel for cars, trucks and trains, the states' governors announced Thursday.

FILE - In this photo taken Nov. 17, 2014, a Toyota Motor Corp.'s new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle Mirai arrives at a charge station near Toyota's showroom in Tokyo. Four Rocky Mountain states announced plans Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, to cooperate on making the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, more readily available and useful as fuel for cars, trucks and industry. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP)  Four Rocky Mountain states will cooperate on developing ways to make the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, more available and useful as clean-burning fuel for cars, trucks and trains, the states' governors announced Thursday.

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming will plan a hydrogen hub to be built somewhere in the region, drawing from $8 billion in recently approved federal infrastructure funding for four or more such regional hubs in the U.S.

This coalition represents a shared vision for the future of hydrogen in the Mountain West region, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said in a joint statement with governors Jared Polis of Colorado, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Spencer Cox of Utah.

The Western Inter-State Hydrogen Hub will have facilities in all four states under plans to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy, according to an agreement signed Wednesday.

Goals will include economic development and the "latest science, research and technology for cost-effective generation, transportation, and use of clean hydrogen, the states' agreement said.

Hydrogen has long been eyed as an abundant, clean fuel. Companies including major auto manufacturers have been developing hydrogen-fueled cars, trucks, buses and trains.

Hydrogen can be derived from water using an electric current and when burned emits only water vapor as a byproduct. The fuel could theoretically reduce greenhouse emissions and air pollution, depending on how it's obtained.

As with electric vehicles, however, hydrogen's potential has been limited by infrastructure. Lack of fueling stations limits the market for hydrogen-fueled vehicles. Few hydrogen-fueled vehicles limits investment in producing and moving hydrogen.

In New Mexico, Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, has amid criticism pushed aggressively to attract private investment and federal dollars for hydrogen production and distribution.

Hydrogen is coming everywhere in the country, Lujan Grisham said last week at the close of the states annual legislative session. My job is to make sure we have the right safeguards and effort.

Critics point out that as it's now produced, hydrogen isn't green, carbon-free or unlimited. Currently nearly all hydrogen commercially produced in the U.S. comes not from water but natural gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

While advocates say using fossil fuels to produce hydrogen now can help to develop a clean industry later, environmentalists are skeptical.

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Its essentially a push for expanded oil and gas development. More oil and gas development is completely at odds with the need to confront the climate crisis and drastically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, Jeremy Nichols with the Santa Fe, New Mexico-based environmental group WildEarth Guardians said by email.

Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming rank seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively, for U.S. onshore gas production. Utah also is significant gas-producing state, according to the Energy Information Administration.

___

Associated Press writer Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico. contributed to this report.

___

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Likewise, the Government reiterated its call to stop all hostilities and violations of the ceasefire in Ukraine.

At the UN

Peru agrees with what was expressed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , in the sense that recognizing the independence of separatist territories and the deployment of military forces within those territories "are incompatible with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations , and they constitute a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine," the diplomat said.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  The husband of a cinematographer shot and killed on the set of the film Rust says it's absurd that Alec Baldwin believes he's not to blame for the shooting and he was so angry when Baldwin didn't accept responsibility.

FILE - Actor Alec Baldwin attends the 2019 PEN America Literary Gala In New York on May 21, 2019. Attorneys for the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was shot and killed on the set of the film Rust, say they're suing Baldwin and the movies producers for wrongful death. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The husband of a cinematographer shot and killed on the set of the film Rust says it's absurd that Alec Baldwin believes he's not to blame for the shooting and he was so angry when Baldwin didn't accept responsibility.

The remarks made in excerpts released Wednesday from an interview with the Today show are the first public words from Matt Hutchins on the Oct. 21 death of his wife Halyna Hutchins.

The idea that the person holding the gun and causing it to discharge is not responsible is absurd to me, Matt Hutchins told Today" host Hoda Kotb in the interview that airs in full Thursday.

Baldwin said in a December interview with ABC News that he was pointing the gun at Halyna Hutchins at her instruction on the New Mexico set of the Western when it went off without his pulling the trigger, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

Watching him I just felt so angry, Hutchins said. I was just so angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way and then to not accept any responsibility after having just described killing her."

FILE - The Bonanza Creek Ranch, where the film "Rust" was being filmed, appears in Santa Fe, N.M. on Oct. 23, 2021. Attorneys for the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was shot and killed on the set of the film Rust, say they're suing Alec Baldwin and the movies producers for wrongful death. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Baldwin said in his interview that someone is responsible for what happened, and I cant say who that is, but its not me.

Matt Hutchins added that gun safety was not the only problem on that set.

There were a number of industry standards that were not practiced, he said, and theres multiple responsible parties.

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Randi McGinn, from left, Brian Panish and Jesse Creed, attorneys for the family of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, take part in a news conference, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. The family is suing Alec Baldwin and the movie producers of "Rust" for wrongful death, the attorneys said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Matt Hutchins and his 9-year-old son are the plaintiffs in a wrongful death lawsuit filed last week that names Baldwin, the films producers and others as defendants.

It alleges that Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, and his co-producers showed callous disregard in the face of safety complaints, and their reckless conduct and cost-cutting measures" led directly to her death.

Baldwins attorney Aaron Dyer responded that any claim the actor was reckless is entirely false.

At least four other lawsuits have been filed over the shooting, but Hutchins' is the first directly tied to one of the two people shot.

Last month Baldwin turned over his cellphone to investigators, and Dyer said he continues to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Investigators have described some complacency in how weapons were handled on the Rust set. They have said it is too soon to determine whether charges will be filed.
EDMONTON - Police in Edmonton say officers shot and killed a robbery suspect Wednesday night, and a man in a nearby apartment building was also hit by gunfire.

Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee talks during an interview in Edmonton on Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. Police in Edmonton say officers shot and killed a robbery suspect Wednesday night, but an innocent man in a nearby apartment building was also hit by gunfire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

EDMONTON - Police in Edmonton say officers shot and killed a robbery suspect Wednesday night, and a man in a nearby apartment building was also hit by gunfire.

"An innocent person not involved in this has lost a life," police Chief Dale McFee said Thursday.

At the building where the man was killed, a hole could be seen in the bottom corner of a basement window.

The man worked as the apartment's resident manager and livedon-site,said Robert McLeod, the president of the property management firm in charge of the building. He had only recently started working with the company but was a valued colleague and friend, McLeod added.

"He was a kind and caring man and liked by all (of) his co-workers. We were excited to be part of his new career and support those efforts," McLeod said in a statement.

"Our team is devastated."

Neighbours said the sound of multiple gunshots echoed through the area before police rushed to the apartment building.

"All of sudden we just heard bang, bang, bang, bang," said Steven Watkins, who was watching television with his girlfriend in a nearby apartment building. "(It was) this really loud banging sound coming from outside."

Edmonton police investigate the scene where officers shot and killed a robbery suspect Wednesday night, and a man in a nearby apartment building was also hit by gunfire on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

He said, in retrospect, it sounded "like someone was just pulling the trigger.

McFee, who was visibly shaken during the Thursday news conference, said he's not sure how many bullets were fired or how the person in the apartment building was shot.

"There are so many different things that could have happened ... going through an individual into a building, missed into a building," McFee said.

Police had been called to a report of a man with a gun robbing a liquor store downtown, the chief said.

Officers located a suspect a few blocks away. McFee said there was a confrontation and officers fired their guns.

McFee said a firearm was located on the scene.

He added that the officers involved in the shooting have been removed from duty for their mental well-being.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, the group that investigates police-involved shootings, has been notified.

McFee said he cannot speculate about what happened but it's a very difficult situation for everyone involved.

"It's difficult for all. It's tragic," he said.

The shooting took place days after a separate fatal police encounter in Calgary. Latjor Tuel, a 41-year-old Black man born in South Sudan, was shot and killed on Saturday.

A Canadian Press database tracking police shootings across the country found 17 police shootings in Alberta in 2021, nine of which were fatal. That was up from 11 the previous year.

Of those, Edmonton police were involved in five shootings last year  three of which were fatal  up from four shootings the year before.

Experts say it is rare to have a bystander injured or killed in a police shooting in Canada.

The most recent incident was in November 2020 in Ontario. An 18-month-old baby was killed when Ontario Provincial Police opened fire on his father's truck. The father was also killed.

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Temitope Oriola, a criminology professor at the University of Alberta and a former special adviser to the province in a review of its Police Act, said it's deeply troubling that a bystander was killed.

He said there are a lot of questions yet to be answered, including whether officers were being shot at and if officers were aware of how close they were to residential apartments.

"Available information suggests that the bystander was in a nearby suite," he said.

"Therefore, the incident raises questions about appropriate and proportional use of force by the (Edmonton police). People should feel safe in their own suite."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2022.

 With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Winnipeg
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine and calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw all military forces from the country.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine and calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw all military forces from the country.

"Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms Russias egregious attack on Ukraine," Trudeau said in a statement late Wednesday.

"These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are also in violation of Russias obligations under international law and the Charter of the United Nations."

Trudeau said Russias actions will be met with severe consequences.

Trudeau said he would be meeting Thursday with G7 partners and would work quickly with NATO and Canada's allies "to collectively respond to these reckless and dangerous acts, including by imposing significant sanctions in addition to those already announced."

"Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and the Ukrainian people must be free to determine their own future."

Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, called the attack "a grotesque war crime."

"Putin is the cause of all this. We cannot let him win," Rae said on Twitter. "Cmon people, stop pretending. War has started."

Rae went on to call what is happening "brutal thuggery."

"Unprovoked, evil, aggression. From a permanent member of the Security Council, during a meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations."

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said she has spoken with Canada's ambassador to Ukraine, Larisa Galadza.

"The team is safe and the embassy will offer consular services to Canadians from Lviv as long as possible," Joly said on Twitter. "If you need consular help in Ukraine, please reach us at sos@international.gc.ca."

Updated travel advice for Canadians in Ukraine warned, however, that the government's ability to provide consular services in Ukraine could become "severely limited," and that Canadians should not rely on the government to help them leave the country.

"If you are in Ukraine, you should shelter in place unless it is safe for you to leave the country," the updated guidance said.

Those who choose to remain should "monitor trustworthy news sources to stay informed on the evolving situation" and follow instructions from local authorities, it said.

Eugene Lupynis with Metro Vancouvers Ukrainian Community Society Of Ivan Franko said the news about the invasion has left him full of terror and concern.

"Weve been watching this build not just for weeks but for years," he said in an interview. "When Russia invaded Crimea and eastern Ukraine back in 2014, there was always a feeling something would happen but we were praying it wouldn't."

Lupynis immediate family moved to B.C. in the 1950s but he has many relatives living in western Ukraine. He said the invasion "boggles the mind" and that everyone needs to fear what Putin could do next.

The West has always underestimated what Putin could, and would, do  hes rewriting history in his own pen and trying to get the world to believe it."

Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper issued a statement on Twitter, saying he prays for the people of Ukraine, and that the invasion is a long time coming.

"Putin's war on Ukraine began in 2014," the statement reads. "This full scale attack, unleashing death and horror on a mass scale, merely makes explicit what he has long planned."

Calling for NATO allies to "stand ready to honour their full treaty commitments," Harper wrote "Putin and his gang must be treated like the full global pariahs they have chosen to become. They must be sanctioned, excluded and punished at every turn."

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney called the invasion "devastating," tweeting "Weakness invites aggression. The democratic world must be united in standing with Ukraine. That should begin with a hard global embargo of all Russian oil & gas exports."

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council issued a statement saying more than 330 000 people in Alberta claim Ukrainian ancestry, and called for Albertans to support Ukraine "militarily, politically, economically and financially."

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson tweeted that her province joined the federal government in calling on Russia to end its invasion, writing "It's hard to imagine how difficult watching the news must be for so many Manitobans who have loved ones in Ukraine."

Former Conservative MP James Moore called on the federal government to table a motion in Parliament to expel Russian Ambassador Oleg V. Stepanov.

Putin warned other countries Wednesday that any attempt to interfere with the Russian military action would lead to consequences they have never seen.

He said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a claim the U.S. had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion.

In a televised address, Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russias demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said Russia's goal was not to occupy Ukraine.

As Putin spoke, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine and said the world will hold Russia accountable.

A full-blown Russian invasion could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraines democratically elected government. And the consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions levied on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, affecting energy supplies in Europe, jolting global financial markets and threatening the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

Putin said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a demilitarization of Ukraine. He urged Ukrainian servicemen to immediately put down arms and go home.

Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian aggression." The announcement immediately fuelled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned.

A short time later, the Ukrainian president rejected Moscows claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and said a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

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The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

In an apparent reference to Putins move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.

"Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything, he said.

-- With files from Nick Wells, AP

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2022
For the past 11 years, independent researcher and traffic-safety activist Christian Sweryda has been urging the City of Winnipeg to install eye-level safety lights at pedestrian corridors.

For the past 11 years, independent researcher and traffic-safety activist Christian Sweryda has been urging the City of Winnipeg to install eye-level safety lights at pedestrian corridors.

It has been a long, drawn-out battle, featuring a forgotten report, a pilot project bordering on the absurd, a spate of major crashes and dead children.

Red Light, Green Light, No Oversight MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A traffic light on the north median (facing southbound traffic) of Osborne Street and St. Mary Avenue in Winnipeg on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. For Ryan Thorpe story. Winnipeg Free Press 2022. Posted: 1:59 PM Feb. 23, 2022 Christian Sweryda has spent hundreds of hours cataloguing and tracking the changes to intersections in Winnipeg. His findings point to financial mismanagement in the public works department. That research is the basis of a Free Press investigative series by Ryan Thorpe: Red Light, Green Light, No Oversight. Read Full Story

Despite the deaths and near-tragedies, the city has resisted the mass rollout of a cheap and proven safety initiative. To this day, the vast majority of pedestrian corridors in Winnipeg do not have eye-level safety lights.

The financial cost of delays is minuscule, but the human cost has been immeasurable.

On April 4, 2011, a 22-year-old woman was killed at the pedestrian corridor near Henderson Highway and Leighton Avenue as the overhead lights flashed.

At that time, Sweryda  who currently works for the Winnipeg School Division and is a second-year law student  had been studying traffic-related issues in Winnipeg for more than two years. His work had become an obsession, and hed been mulling over the womans death for a month.

One day he was stopped in his car at a rail crossing on Lagimodiere Boulevard when a figurative light bulb went off in his head. The solution was staring him right in the face: eye-level safety lights.

At the pedestrian corridor on Henderson Highway where the woman was killed, the only lights were overhead, which were flashing when the driver entered the crosswalk.

Sweryda concluded drivers whose vehicles were closer to the intersection when the lights began flashing would have a more difficult time seeing them. If lights were also installed at eye level, it would increase visibility.

It seemed like common sense  Sweryda contacted the transportation division of the public works department and advocated for the installation of eye-level lights at pedestrian corridors. His efforts were rebuffed.

In 2012 he contacted former city councillor Harvey Smith  the first municipal politician receptive to Swerydas research. Smith got department staff to sit down and hear Sweryda out on this and other traffic-safety issues, but they made no commitments to install the lights.

By March 5, 2013, the same idea occurred to traffic-signals engineer Michael Cantor. In an inter-department email obtained by the Free Press, Cantor said the city should consider conducting a pilot project on eye-level safety lights at pedestrian corridors.

"We can increase safety with a cheap and effective solution," Cantor wrote.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS In February 2018, a 16-year-old boy was hit at the crosswalk on Roblin Boulevard at Hunterspoint Road while chasing after his school bus.

Email correspondence shows there was initial pushback within the department, but the pilot project was eventually approved.

Google Street View images show lights were installed at the pedestrian corridor at Notre Dame Avenue and McGee Street sometime between March 2013 and May 2014.

The lights remained inactive and hooded until September 2016, when they were activated for a single eight-hour period. That was the extent of the pilot project.

While the sample size was small, the engineering report said the project had been a success, with driver "yield compliance" improving, and it recommended further study. The city did no further study at the time.

Instead of rolling out eye-level safety lights at pedestrian corridors across the city, work crews went in and removed the pilot project lights at Notre Dame and McGee about a year later.

A freedom-of-information request seeking an explanation for the decision to uninstall the lights turned up no records and an admission the department had co-ordinated the work through "word of mouth."

Then came the deaths.

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES On March 18, 2019, four-year-old Galila Habtegerish was killed at the pedestrian corridor on Isabel Street at Ross Avenue. Her mother was also hit and taken to hospital in critical condition.

On Feb. 13, 2018, at the pedestrian corridor on St. Annes Road at Varennes Avenue, eight-year-old Surafiel Musse Tesfamariam was killed while on his way to school. The driver remained at the scene.

The overhead lights were flashing.

Eleven days later, a 16-year-old boy was hit at the crosswalk on Roblin Boulevard at Hunterspoint Road while chasing after his school bus. He was taken to hospital in unstable condition.

On Aug. 30, 2018, a woman was left in critical condition and a man in unstable condition after being hit at a newly built pedestrian corridor on Keewatin Street at Santa Fe Drive. The 65-year-old driver remained at the scene.

BORIS MINKEVICH / FREE PRESS FILES On Feb. 13, 2018, at the pedestrian corridor on St. Annes Road at Varennes Avenue, eight-year-old Surafiel Musse Tesfamariam was killed while on his way to school. The driver remained at the scene.

On March 18, 2019, four-year-old Galila Habtegerish was killed at the pedestrian corridor on Isabel Street at Ross Avenue. Her mother was also hit and taken to hospital in critical condition.

The driver remained at the scene. She was charged with six offences, including two counts of disobeying a traffic-control device.

The overhead lights were flashing.

On July 31, 2019, a 23-year-old woman was killed at the crosswalk on Sargent Avenue at Simcoe Street. An 89-year-old man was charged with driving carelessly causing death and disobeying a traffic-control device.

The overhead lights were flashing.

On Sept. 10, 2019, a 37-year-old woman was killed while crossing the pedestrian corridor on William Avenue near the Health Sciences Centre. The 57-year-old driver remained at the scene and was charged with dangerous driving causing death and disobeying a traffic-control device.

The overhead lights were flashing.

It was extremely frustrating, depressing. Whenever another person died I would just get so mad. Basically, screamingatthewall mad. Of all the social problems in the world, were fighting over this? No wonder we cant get anywhere."  Christian Sweryda

Nineteen months, six crashes, four deaths, two of them children.

Sweryda remembers the moment he heard the boy had been killed on St. Annes Road. A friend broke the news to him.

"I cried," Sweryda said.

"It was extremely frustrating, depressing. Whenever another person died I would just get so mad. Basically, screaming-at-the-wall mad. Of all the social problems in the world, were fighting over this? No wonder we cant get anywhere."

Charlene Sacher has lived in that area with her husband and three children for 13 years. Her 11-year-old daughter was friends with Surafiel, the boy killed in the corridor.

In the years before the boys death, Sacher said neighbourhood residents repeatedly took safety concerns about the corridor to the city. At first they requested a speed-limit reduction, but the city said that was not possible.

"Then we asked for the trees to be trimmed back, because coming up to that crosswalk, sometimes it is very difficult to see the lights. We asked for better signage. There were lots of comments about looking into it," Sacher said.

"It took what everyone thought would be a worst-case scenario to actually make changes happen."

"It took what everyone thought would be a worstcase scenario to actually make changes happen."  Charlene Sacher

After the death on St. Annes Road, the transportation division of the public works department did a safety review of the corridor, concluding that eye-level safety lights were needed. An engineering report pegged the installation cost at $500, later upgraded to $5,000 per corridor, or just under $1 million for the 184 corridors throughout the city.

Timeline: Death and injury at Wininpeg's crosswalks A review of recent crashes involving pedestrians using Winnipeg's crosswalks. click to read more A review of recent crashes involving pedestrians using Winnipeg's crosswalks. April 13, 2011 A 22-year-old woman was killed while walking across the crosswalk on the 900 block of Henderson Highway. Police said it appeared the driver went through the crosswalk when the lights were flashing and then hit the woman. An 18-year-old driver was charged with criminal negligence causing death. Feb. 13, 2018 An eight-year-old boy was killed after being struck by a vehicle at a crosswalk at St. Annes Road and Bank Avenue. At the time, an area resident said drivers regularly go through the crosswalk when the overhead lights are flashing. Feb. 22, 2018 Just days later, a 16-year-old boy was hit by a car while walking across the crosswalk at Roblin Boulevard and Hunterspoint Road. The boy was taken to hospital in unstable condition, but recovered. Aug. 30, 2018 A man and a woman were hit by a vehicle while using a crosswalk at Keewatin and Santa Fe Drive. A 65-year-old man was charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. March 18, 2019 9A four-year-old girl was killed and a mother was left in critical condition after both were hit by a vehicle near Isabel Street and Ross Avene. A woman, who was a novice driver, was charged with six criminal offenses, including two counts of disobeying a traffic control device. July 31, 2019 A 23-year old woman died after being hit by a vehicle at a crosswalk on Sargent Avenue and Simcoe Street. An 89-year-old man was charged with driving carelessly causing death and disobeying a traffic control device. April 13, 2011 A 37-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a vehicle while using the crosswalk on the 700 block of William Avenue. Police said the overhead lights were active when she was hit. A 57-year-old driver charged with driving carelessly causing death and disobeying a traffic control device. Close

After the four-year-old girl died on Isabel Street in 2019 (shortly after the lights were installed on St. Annes Road), the city did a safety of review of that corridor. As was the case with the St. Annes Road review before it, the report recommended installing eye-level safety lights at the location.

There was no mention of Swerydas advocacy dating back to 2011, or to the citys 2016 pilot project, or to the St. Annes Road review.

In 2019, by which time eye-level lights had been installed at nine corridors, the city hired a consulting firm to further investigate the issue, which looked at driver yield compliance rates at three pedestrian corridors in Winnipeg that had been equipped with the lights on St. Annes Road, Corydon Avenue and Maryland Street.

The contract was awarded to a consulting firm owned by the wife of a long-standing manager within the transportation division of the public works department  although he was no longer employed by the city at the time.

In a written statement, a City of Winnipeg spokesman summarized a key finding of the report as "the addition of the low-mounted beacons to the pedestrian corridor treatment system did not result in a statistically significant change in driver yield compliance."

But the report concluded that yield compliance rates on St. Annes Road and Corydon Avenue had indeed increased, from 90 per cent to 93, and from 86 per cent to 89, respectively.

"As a vehicle moves closer and closer to a pedestrian corridor, it becomes impossible for the driver to see the overhead flashers because they pass out of a drivers (line of sight)." Report

Meanwhile, driver yield compliance rates fell at Maryland Street, from 88 per cent to 85; the report does not speculate as to a possible explanation.

Nevertheless, the report noted benefits to the installation of eye-level lights beyond the increase in driver yield compliance at two locations.

"As a vehicle moves closer and closer to a pedestrian corridor, it becomes impossible for the driver to see the overhead flashers because they pass out of a drivers (line of sight)," the report reads.

"As such, the Public Service concluded that (eye-level safety lights) do provide conspicuity to pedestrian corridors for drivers that are within the stopping sight distance (ie: are close to the corridor when the lights are actuated), and in dense urban settings for vehicles turning right onto a corridor."

In other words, as drivers get closer to the pedestrian corridor, they are less likely to see the overhead flashing safety lights, so installing eye-level lights improves visibility.

Eight years after Sweryda first brought the matter to the attention of the department, the city had conducted two different studies  in one case hiring an outside consulting firm  to arrive at the same conclusion he had.

The city spokesman said that moving forward, the department will install eye-level safety lights at all pedestrian corridors impacted by capital projects.

"There is no identified funding source to support a network-wide upgrade for pedestrian crossings," the spokesman said.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A city spokesman said that moving forward, the department will install eye-level safety lights at all pedestrian corridors impacted by capital projects.

The Free Press explained the series of events to Brent Toderian, an internationally recognized thought leader on cities and city-building with more than 30 years of experience in advanced urbanism, city planning and urban design.

As he has not reviewed the reports, he did not want to comment specifically about the effectiveness of the lights. But he was willing to make some general comments.

"One thing Ive seen in city after city, whether or not you have the money depends entirely on your priorities. Too many cities are still keeping old standards because of momentum and a disinterest in changing the status quo," he said.

But the saga, according to Toderian, points to deeper, structural problems in Winnipeg, and its ultimately a debate over "doing the wrong thing better."

"Never forget thats what youre doing. Youre trying to retrofit failure. And the failure is you didnt design for pedestrian safety in the first place," he said.

Sacher has already seen tragedy up close and worries there could be more deaths.

"So many of these crosswalks are near schools. There is a potential for a tragedy to happen at all of these. Being proactive now could save the life of someones child," Sacher said.

In 2020, Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface), the chair of the public works committee, moved a motion asking the department to develop plans for a citywide rollout of eye-level safety lights at pedestrian corridors  nine years after Swerydas advocacy began.

To date, the public works department says it has installed eye-level safety lights at 25 pedestrian corridors in Winnipeg, with 159 locations to go.

According to Sweryda, the citys numbers are wrong: its actually 28 of 184, roughly 15 per cent.

A department memo reviewed by the Free Press said plans are in the works for 15 more.

They say theyll get around to them later this year.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
Theyve been shoved, swung at, racially abused, threatened and called Nazis or other names by strident opponents of Manitobas COVID-19 restrictions.

Theyve been shoved, swung at, racially abused, threatened and called Nazis or other names by strident opponents of Manitobas COVID-19 restrictions.

Provincial public health inspectors thrust onto the front line of pandemic education and enforcement efforts have suffered the brunt of fury triggered by government rules aimed at protecting Manitobans.

With restrictions set to be scrapped by mid-March, an inspector is reflecting on a two-year period in which she and her colleagues have faced an unprecedented workload and abuse never imagined.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Volatile incidents are rare, the inspector said, but it leaves a mark when someone lashes out over a fine, an inspection or restrictions in general.

"The profanities I have heard are unbelievable. Words hurt. It adds to the burnout we are already facing," said the inspector, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. "(People) are so angry with you because you are the face of the government. A lot of it comes down to people not knowing the difference between rights and privileges."

Inspectors have been tasked with making sure Manitobans wear masks, show proof of vaccination and self-isolate, among other rules, while putting themselves at potential exposure to the virus.

Volatile incidents are rare, the inspector said, but it leaves a mark when someone lashes out over a fine, an inspection or restrictions in general.

The profanities I have heard are unbelievable. Words hurt. It adds to the burnout we are already facing."  Inspector

"We enforce the law, but we dont make the law," said the inspector, who feels like she and her co-workers have become scapegoats. "Health inspectors are people. They have families and young kids."

She described numerous incidents over the last two years where inspectors were assaulted, harassed or intimidated.

Someone took a swing at an inspector enforcing COVID rules in Winkler, she said. That city has seen some of the fiercest opposition to restrictions.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES (Pictured) Since April 9, 2020, 2,586 tickets have been handed out for public health order violations.

"There have been angry members of the public who have resorted to pushing and shoving. Weve had a lot of situations where weve had to de-escalate or situations where we havent been able to de-escalate and have had to leave," the inspector said.

Police are asked to join them on assignments considered potentially dangerous.

One such occasion was a visit to a Steinbach-area church to check if it was complying with limits on public gatherings.

Church members slammed their hands against a vehicle, yelled at inspectors and put cellphone cameras in their faces, the inspector said.

When cameras come out, video clips or photos usually end up on social media.

There have been angry members of the public who have resorted to pushing and shoving. Weve had a lot of situations where weve had to deescalate or situations where we havent been able to deescalate and have had to leave."  Inspector

Inspectors have been locked out of businesses by owners who refuse to comply with rules. Their names and work phone numbers and addresses have been posted on social media by those opposing the restrictions.

"Some of them were blatant threats," the inspector said.

Some are so worried about their safety theyve gone to "extreme" lengths to protect themselves and their families.

This includes no longer driving their own vehicles to inspections considered high risk. Some have changed the address on their personal vehicles registration because theyre worried about being tracked.

The "toxic" environment has led some to find jobs in other jurisdictions or other work, the inspector said.

JESSICA LEE/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Inspectors have been tasked with making sure Manitobans wear masks, show proof of vaccination and self-isolate, among other rules, while putting themselves at potential exposure to the virus.

While trouble has occurred all over the province, those working in parts of the Southern Health region have faced more resistance than colleagues elsewhere in Manitoba, the inspector said.

"They face issues on a regular basis, if not a daily basis. These areas are constantly showing issues with compliance," she said. "We have resorted to often having police attend with inspectors because situations become dangerous."

The job has never been this demanding or heavy on enforcement, she said.

The inspector felt a sense of relief when Premier Heather Stefanson announced all restrictions, including face masks and proof-of-vaccination requirements, will end March 15.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The inspector felt a sense of relief when Premier Heather Stefanson announced all restrictions, including face masks and proof-of-vaccination requirements, will end March 15.

With no pandemic rules to enforce, it means the inspector and her colleagues likely wont face as much abuse.

"Its a relief to not have to wonder if today Im going to have a camera in my face or have someone yell at me," the inspector said. "I get to go back to being a health inspector and doing the work I enjoy doing."

COVID still poses a threat, she pointed out.

Since April 9, 2020, a total of 2,586 tickets have been handed out for public health order violations. They amount to more than $3.5 million in fines, according to the provinces online enforcement dashboard.

As their work moves away from COVID, inspectors will have to tackle a backlog of inspections put on the "backburner" during the pandemic.

Amid a number of vacancies, some districts do not have a public health inspector, she said, adding low pay has made it tougher to recruit and retain staff.

NAM Y HUH / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Low pay has made it tougher to recruit and retain staff, the inspector said.

Manitoba offers one of the lowest annual salaries in Canada, starting at $50,744 and topping out at $67,671, according to industry data.

Inspectors in Saskatchewan are paid between $77,868 and $94,736, while those in Alberta earn $85,426 to $126,510.

"Prior to COVID, (inspectors) were there to make sure our restaurants were serving us safe food and the water we swam in at public pools was safe," said Kyle Ross, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union. "When COVID hit they were called upon to take on even more work, helping to enforce public health orders. They did this, and continue to do this, with mounting workloads and staff shortages.

As we reopen, we need the government to address these issues and make the muchneeded investments to help these inspectors do their jobs and keep Manitobans safe.  Kyle Ross

"As we reopen, we need the government to address these issues and make the much-needed investments to help these inspectors do their jobs and keep Manitobans safe."

The province did not provide comment by press time.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching
Doris Loewen wants to get all dolled up and play the piano for an audience.

Doris Loewen wants to get all dolled up and play the piano for an audience.

The 91-year-old lives at Misericordia Place, the care home run by Misericordia Health Centre.

"Theyre going to get me kind of dressed in something really pretty, some kind of ballgown," said Loewen.

Shes played piano since she was six years old and will be the first resident to perform at the Misericordia Foundations gala dinner this year.

Its her "dream destination" in a fundraiser that gets residents moving  walking and pedalling  and improves their well-being.

SUPPLIED Misericordia Place resident Elizabeth with a dog from the Humane Society.

"The goal is fitness and wellness," recreation therapy manager Jennifer Klos said Wednesday.

"You look at overall wellness and it includes areas of socialization, emotional health, physical health, and giving these residents something to look forward to."

The "Around the World" campaign rewards care home residents who participate in fitness journeys with trips and experiences in Manitoba.

The campaign target is $60,000, which will help pay for the "dream destination" trips, virtual tours and anything else residents choose, as long as its local. The wellness goals are fine-tuned to individual needs.

In Loewens case, she participates in recreation programs  which she said makes residents excited to get up, even when its difficult, and reminds her of her love of dancing  and plays music with her son when he visits.

Other residents have other goals and rewards.

SUPPLIED Misericordia Place married residents Eapen and Marykutty had a special catered Indian meal from their favourite restaurant for Valentines Day.

An 84-year-old resident is working on getting her strength up through walking to visit The Forks for the first time. Others are focused on emotional and social wellness; one resident wants to visit the Winnipeg Humane Society to cuddle with the adoptable animals. A married couple at the care home received a catered Indian meal for Valentines Day.

"What we wanted to do was give our residents personalized, extraordinary experiences that are in our care, just as a way to celebrate them, and give them something to be excited about," Klos said.

Its a way to take residents on a trip without worrying about COVID-19.

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"These last two years, its been really hard for our residents with everything going on with COVID and increased isolation," Klos said.

"Giving them something to look forward to and be excited about was something that we were very, very happy to do."

This is the second year of the fundraising campaign. Last year, the centre purchased exercise bikes to help residents keep moving.

So far this year, $44,000 has been raised.

Canadian Tire will contribute $2 for every $1 donated. Those interested can donate online at misericordiafoundation.com or by calling 204-788-8458. The campaign ends March 2.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca
One of the candidates in the Fort Whyte byelection doesnt belong to a party or have a policy platform, but he does have a track record of defying public health orders and inciting others to do likewise.

One of the candidates in the Fort Whyte byelection doesnt belong to a party or have a policy platform, but he does have a track record of defying public health orders and inciting others to do likewise.

"I honestly think what I have done in the last two or so years will help me get some votes. It could be a very exciting turnout and maybe a surprise," said Patrick Allard, who is running as an independent in the March 22 byelection.

Populist and fringe party candidates are not new to Manitoba, said University of Manitoba adjunct political studies Prof. Christopher Adams.

"The key point is that with a byelection, you get people who are able to use it as a platform, even if they dont have a realistic chance of winning," said Adams.

The well-to-do constituency, which was represented by former premier Brian Pallister until he gave up the seat Oct. 4, has only been won by Progressive Conservatives. This time, the PCs have a star candidate  former Winnipeg Blue Bomber and restaurateur Obby Khan. The New Democrats have put up Trudy Schroeder, a former Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra boss and Folk Festival organizer, and the Liberals have nominated Willard Reaves, a former Manitoba Justice official whos also an ex-Blue Bomber with two Grey Cup wins.

Allard says he hopes his bid for the Fort Whyte seat will encourage others to run.

"No matter what the outcome is, I think its going to be beneficial for all Manitobans to see if I can do this and put my name on a ballot," Allard said. "It might encourage other people to do so."

The private contractor who publicly opposed COVID-19 restrictions, has been cited multiple times for violating public health orders. He was arrested by Winnipeg police and charged with failing to comply with conditions of his release for inciting protesters to block roads to the Bombers Aug. 5 home opener. His Fort Whyte candidacy has received endorsements from members of the federal Peoples Party of Canada. Allard spoke at party rally in Winnipeg in September with its leader, Maxime Bernier.

On Wednesday, Allard said he has no party affiliation and was encouraged by friends to run in Fort Whyte. He said he wants to connect with constituents in the PC stronghold whove been ignored and taken for granted by the PCs.

"People ask me what are your political views and I say I dont know  I need to hear from the people that Im going to be representing and see what they want and what they need," Allard said Wednesday.

Its unusual for anyone seeking elected office to say theyre running on a blank slate, said Adams.

"Ive never seen a candidate without some sort of platform, even if its not written down. Every candidate has a basic set of principles or ideas. What would happen if that person were elected? His platform is that he will just listen to what people want? It doesnt make sense."

Even "fragment parties" such as the short-lived right-wing Confederation of Regions party, and the Maverick Party (formerly Wexit Canada), have taken positions on issues, Adams said.

"This is quite striking to me that a candidate would have no positions on different issues," he said.

The other striking feature about the current political landscape is the anger on display in protests across the country, Adams said.

University of Manitoba professor emeritus Paul Thomas said "Trumpism" in the U.S. has spread to Canada.

Traditional mechanisms of representative and responsible government are rejected as rigged, said Thomas, who pointed to so-called "freedom convoy" leaders demands for the governor general, the Senate and a group of citizens to take over the government.

"There is an anti-politics and anti-democracy aspect to populism. It is not the same as demands for more vibrant democracy, like citizen assemblies and more democracy within parties," he said.

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Populist leaders  at both ends of the spectrum  seek a mass movement of "true believers" who are not open to compromise. Populism relies on "group think" and adherents sticking to narrow social media channels that reinforce belief systems and prevent opposing arguments and evidence from being considered.

The political environment has become more polarized and people dont seek common ground, said Thomas.

Traditionally, Manitoba politics has been moderate and pragmatic; the most successful premiers and parties have governed on that basis, said Thomas.

There has been emotional political upheaval and division, such as the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike and the French language controversy of the 1980s, he said.

"Calm prevailed because certain groups were excluded and their voices were not being heard. Once crises were resolved, a new political equilibrium was established that recognized, to some extent, previously marginalized groups."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
A man was found dead in a downtown Winnipeg bus shelter Tuesday, as a dangerous cold snap grips the city.

The body was discovered in a structure on Portage Avenue at Edmonton Street at about 5 a.m. City police said the death is not considered suspicious.

Local temperatures leading up to the discovery of the body plummeted as low as -30.3 C, with a wind chill hitting -43 C.

It was the second Manitoba death in as many days exposure to cold might have played a role in.

The body of Ashley Kematch, 31, was found Monday outside a home in The Pas. RCMP said Kematch was dressed for cold weather but not for extreme overnight temperatures and exposure does appear to be a contributing cause.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not confirmed either case is due to exposure. Office director Mark ORourke said investigations by autopsy will take several months  but the results will not be made public.

Gordon Geisbreicht, a University of Manitoba professor and physiologist who studies the effects of cold on the body, said the extreme temperatures tearing through the province are inherently dangerous.

Were not designed for this weather in this climate, thats for sure. The only way we can survive outside, especially in weather like this, is to have really good clothing, he said Wednesday. Not many of us would do very well if we stayed all night in weather like this. Youd need to have clothing for climbing Mount Everest.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The cause of death was not released, but the incident is not considered suspicious, the Winnipeg Police Service said.

Geisbreicht said almost anyone who has to spend a full night in a bus shelter in -30 C weather would likely suffer significant medical problems. Hypothermia would gradually set in, leaving a person with little capacity to seek help, he added.

People with diabetes are at elevated risk of frostbite due to poor circulation, and drugs and alcohol can exacerbate hypothermia, the professor said.

Siloam Mission communications manager Luke Thiessen said Wednesday he didnt know if the man found Tuesday had any connection with the downtown shelter. But in any case, the cold has been creating difficulties for many of the people it serves, he said.

What were seeing at Siloam is really just a maximum influx of people who are coming in and cant physically spend time outside because its so extremely cold, Thiessen said. Ive been in and out of the building lately, and its the fullest its been in quite some time at any given moment  certainly since before the (COVID-19) pandemic.

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The shelter expanded last summer to 143 beds, some of which remained open some nights at the beginning of winter, Thiessen said. Since the deep freeze grabbed the city, however, Siloam has been hitting maximum capacity on a nightly basis, he added.

It takes a toll on peoples well-being both physically and mentally. Its exhausting, trying to survive in the cold, even for a few minutes or a few hours, he said.

Many of Siloams clients use the drop-in centre but not the shelter, as the centres capacity exceeds that of the shelter, Thiessen said. Often, Siloam must try to redirect them to another safe space.

Some people do have places to go, but certainly the majority do not The mental anxiety of that when you know that the temperature outside is actually fatally dangerous to your health is really tough.

Just a Warm Sleep manager Sarah Chan said, as the emergency warming centre (107 Pulford St.) is a distance from those on north Main Street, there are often spots open. The organization works with other shelters to try to bring in overflow to fill up spaces, she added.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
Manitobas COVID-19 school dashboard has been blank for the last two weeks  but that does not mean students and school staffers have suddenly stopped contracting the virus.

Manitobas COVID-19 school dashboard has been blank for the last two weeks  but that does not mean students and school staffers have suddenly stopped contracting the virus.

The virtual tables, which are updated on Tuesdays and Thursdays, have been adjusted throughout the pandemic to provide K-12 employees, families and members of the public with information about active and historic novel coronavirus caseloads.

The province stopped entering information about student and staff cases on Feb. 10, but failed to inform the public about it on the dashboard website  which has, in turn, prompted questions about whether the charts are broken.

(The province briefly announced the change in one line at the bottom of a news release on Feb. 11.)

"It was never quite accurate, but it was better than nothing  and now we have nothing," said Lauren Hope, co-founder of the Safe September MB, a collective of parents, educators and community members who continue to advocate for enhanced COVID-19 protocols in schools.

A public spreadsheet, which has been compiled by anonymous individuals who crowdsource school exposure letters via social media, has tracked more cases than the provinces dashboard at various points throughout both the 2020-21 and current school years.

Between the mismatch and Manitobas changing definitions about school outbreaks, Hope said the dashboard only provided a rough outline of the true COVID-19 situation.

The dashboard currently states that there have been nil student and staff cases, no schools with one or more cases, and zero K-12 buildings fully in remote learning throughout the last 14 days. It shows that a single community notification letter was issued in that timeframe.

Another table showing the cumulative tally of cases throughout the 2021-22 school year is also mostly blank. On Feb. 1, the table showed at least 6,000 cases had been connected to schools since Labour Day.

Hope said she doesnt understand why the province is lifting mandates at the same time as it is limiting the data that is made public to allow people to make informed decisions in the context of current COVID-19 cases and transmission.

A provincial spokesperson indicated officials continue to report both the total number of entire schools in remote learning and community notification letters issued on a biweekly basis.

"With the changes in public reporting, Feb. 10 was the last time that student and staff case data were included on the dashboard," they wrote in an email.

Widespread reliance on rapid tests, increasingly limited PCR eligibility, and a halt in contact tracing have made the dashboard figures less reliable since the start of 2022.

School divisions have relied on families and staff to self-report positive tests since in-person classes resumed in January and publish that data however they see fit.

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The Louis Riel School Division has launched its own dashboards to chart student and staff absenteeism related to COVID-19.

The number of students absent from class because of either a personal positive test, they were showing symptoms, or were following public health directives to isolate because of an exposure peaked at 882 last month. Five per cent of the student population in the southeast Winnipeg division did not come to class for one of the above reasons on Jan. 21.

Those figures had dropped to 105 and 0.8 per cent, respectively, on Wednesday.

The province has alerted school leaders to notify officials when they start to see unusually high absenteeism rates or increased reports of positive cases in any community. If it is determined necessary, the province may initiate a local asymptomatic rapid testing surveillance program or temporarily move an individual class or school to remote learning.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
A second Manitoba First Nation is taking the province and lumber giant Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd. to court over commercial logging activity in western Manitoba.

A second Manitoba First Nation is taking the province and lumber giant Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd. to court over commercial logging activity in western Manitoba.

Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation filed a lawsuit Wednesday that seeks a moratorium on all logging and forestry development activities in Porcupine Mountain Provincial Forest and Kettle Hills, and an order that the province complete "a process of meaningful consultation" with the First Nation before it can resume.

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Wuskwi Sipihk First Nations two reserves are located north of Birch River and along the western shore of Swan Lake.

The province extended its licence agreement with Louisiana-Pacific in December, allowing it to build more roads, harvest more timber "and further erode the rights" of its members," the first nation said in a news release Wednesday.

"In 2011, the Manitoba government instituted a ban on moose hunting in Porcupine Mountain and Kettle Hills," Chief Elwood Zastre said in the news release.

"This has had a direct and devastating impact on our people. Manitoba acknowledges that human activities, including resource development, is a main reason our moose populations declined. The ban remains in effect today, and we are unable to exercise our right to hunt moose in and around Porcupine Mountain and Kettle Hills as a result."

In January, Pine Creek First Nation filed court action against the province in a bid to halt commercial logging in Duck Mountain Provincial Park.

The First Nation alleges the province failed in its duty to "consult and accommodate" it before extending the term of Louisiana-Pacifics forest management licence agreement.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Hungarians have always shared the grief of Armenians over the painful event of the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in 2004, but they also feel it is time to open a new page and look towards a more hopeful future, State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program H.E. Tristan Azbej said in a joint interview together with Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary H.E. Dr. Zsolt Semjen exclusively for ARMENPRESS.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, how would you describe the cultural-historic ties between the Armenian and the Hungarian peoples, and the contribution of the Armenians and the Armenian community to the centuries-old history of Hungary?

H.E. Dr. Zsolt Semjen: The Armenian community has been present in Hungary for centuries. Our king, Andrew II has visited Armenia, where he almost arranged the marriage of his son to the daughter of King Levon II. The origin of the names of the localities around Esztergom  the capital of Hungary in that time  is also a proof of the Armenian presence. In Transylvania, the Armenians obtained permission to settle and various privileges from Duke Mihaly Apafi in the 17th century. In the middle of the 19thcentury, we can assume a population of cca. 12-15 thousand who had Armenian identity: language, religion and origin. Two of the 13 generals executed after the Hungarian revolution of 1848-49 were of Armenian origin: Erno Kiss, and Vilmos Lazar. After the system change in 1989, the Armenian societal, cultural and religious life started to revive in Hungary.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. State Secretary, the well-known events of 2012 resulted in the suspension of the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Hungary, upon which the then Foreign Minister of Hungary expressed sorrow and regret. However, the violent murder of Gurgen Margaryan in 2004 remains a painful issue among the Armenian society. Meanwhile in 2021, we observed the moral gesture of the Government of Hungary mediating for the repatriation of 5 Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan. Do you think it might be an attempt to open a new page in the relations of Armenia and Hungary?

H.E. Tristan Azbej: Hungarian-Armenian solidarity is based on our common Christian faith, our cultural, religious and educational ties and last but not least on the Armenian diaspora in Hungary and their descendants. This fraternal bond is so strong that it has existed even during the suspension of diplomatic relations; for example, in the form of cooperation between universities and the realization of Armenian cultural events in Hungary. This holds true for the manifestations of human solidarity also. In recent years, through the Hungary Helps Program Im leading, the Hungarian government has supported the reconstruction of a damaged school of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Syria, the restoration of a church in the Iraqi city of Zakho and has provided help for Armenian Catholic families in Lebanon. In Armenia, we have supported the humanitarian and charity work of the Armenian Apostolic Church and faith-based NGOs. The Armenian community of Budapest is also quite active in keeping their traditions and the religion of their ancestors. A few months ago, in December 2021, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphael Bedros Minassian XXI celebrated Armenian liturgy in the church of the catholic community. The Armenian Faculty at our Peter Pazmany Catholic University is also becoming more and more popular. The Government of Hungary provides all support for our local community in order for them to continue thriving.

Hungarians have always shared the grief of Armenians over the painful event of the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in 2004, but they also feel it is time to open a new page and look towards a more hopeful future.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, how important is the normalization of Armenian - Hungarian relations in Hungary, including among the public?

H.E. Dr. Zsolt Semjen: Armenia is the first Christian nation in the world, so it is our brotherly duty to cooperate in all possible fields for a better, more brotherly world. The Hungarian people await with a hopeful heart the re-strengthening of the centuries-long friendship and brotherhood between our nations on the diplomatic level, which in our view has become well-established on scientific, cultural, religious and humanitarian levels in the past year.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, what perspective directions can you outline?

H.E. Dr. Zsolt Semjen: Most recently, the Hungarian government successfully mediated the release of 5 Armenian citizens detained in Azerbaijan. In addition to their release, the Hungarian government also provided Covid-19 vaccines to Armenia. These results represent an active expression of solidarity between the Hungarian people and government and the Armenians. The original bond has not been destroyed during recent years and we are pleased that all this contributes to making the relations between our peoples more complete and to hopefully resume diplomatic relations.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. State Secretary, Hungary is among the few countries in the world that have taken up the mission on a government level to openly speak about the plight of Christians being persecuted around the world because of their belief. Why is this issue so important for Hungary and how are you helping?

H.E. Tristan Azbej: Undoubtedly, the Government of Hungary was the first administration in the world to raise the issue of helping persecuted Christians to government level. The reason for this is the fact that Hungary was one of the first countries to recognize that the persecution of Christians is the most significant - and most concealed  humanitarian crisis of our time: 360 million people worldwide are persecuted and discriminated for being Christian. The objective of the Hungary Helps Program is to provide direct humanitarian assistance on the spot thus making it possible for crisis-hit communities to remain and succeed in their ancestral lands.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editor's Note: Armenian military officer Gurgen Margaryan was murdered by Azerbaijani military officer Ramil Safarov during a February 2004 training course organized by NATO in Hungary.

Gurgen Margaryan was asleep in his room when Safarov attacked him with an axe.

During the trial in Hungary, Safarov admitted in court to having killed Margaryan because of his hatred towards Armenia and Armenians. He was sentenced to life in prison by the Hungarian court. However, in 2012 Hungary extradited him to Azerbaijan upon Bakus request. He was released upon arrival, glorified on the state-level and pardoned by President Aliyev. On the same day, then-President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan severed diplomatic relations with Hungary.

The pardon and glorification of Safarov in Azerbaijan received widespread condemnation around the world.
A new student-founded campaign is calling on Manitoba officials to retain some public health restrictions until COVID-19 becomes endemic.

A new student-founded campaign is calling on Manitoba officials to retain some public health restrictions until COVID-19 becomes endemic.

As far as Grade 12 student Drayton Kejick-Fair is concerned, "Now is not the time for forced normalcy."

"Im no big activist or advocate, but when the government does something that potentially puts the people around you and the people that you love in danger, you have to do something about it," Drayton said.

The 17-year-old is organizing a protest at the Manitoba Legislative Building at noon on Saturday to make known his concerns about the imminent loosening of restrictions.

Drayton, who attends Nelson McIntyre Collegiate in Winnipeg, said a handful of student organizers want the province to expand access to rapid tests and KN95 masks and maintain mask mandates and vaccine passports.

They are necessary to protect people who are at a higher risk of severe outcomes, prevent the health-care system from being overwhelmed, and prepare for future variants of COVID-19, said the "Keep Manitoba Safe" collective.

The group, which has made a masked bison its logo, is urging current students and supporters of all ages to mobilize in-person and on social media in solidarity with their calls to action.

Earlier this month, the Stefanson government unveiled a three-pronged plan to phase out public health restrictions in Manitoba in order to establish a "new normal."

The first step, which took place Feb. 15, allows restaurants, gyms and other businesses to operate at 100 per cent capacity with proof-of-vaccination requirements. Limits on all outdoor gatherings, as well as indoor events with vaccinated attendees, and self-isolation for close contacts of positive cases were removed.

The next change will permit proof-of-vaccination mandates in public venues to be lifted as of March 1. Finally, on March 15, mask requirements and all remaining orders are slated to disappear.

Drayton called the move to lift all restrictions premature and "confusing for Manitobans."

Doctors were quick to critique the provinces plan after it was made public, saying the sweeping changes are tied to dates that do not correlate to health-care capacity.

"Theres nothing magical about March 15," said Dr. Philippe Lagace-Wiens, a University of Manitoba professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases expert, in an interview with the Free Press earlier this month.

It remains unclear whether any mandates or restrictions will remain intact in classrooms.

"Measures will follow the advice of public health and we expect updated information shortly," a provincial spokesperson wrote in an email Wednesday.

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Drayton said Keep Manitoba Safe, which has been organizing via @KeepMBSafe on Twitter and Instagram, has connected with MB Students for COVID Safety  a group with a similar purpose.

The latter campaign organized student walkouts across the province in protest of the limited COVID-19 measures that were in classrooms upon the return of in-person learning after the winter break amid the Omicron wave. More recently, organizers planned protests outside MLA offices last week in opposition to the province loosening restrictions in schools.

"I feel in the middle ground, between safe and unsafe (at school)," said Drayton, who wears a KN95 mask in class, but noted many of his peers do not have access to them and could not obtain them for free at liquor stores because they are underage.

"Were past the peak of the Omicron wave but its still unnerving, knowing there could still be a case of COVID-19 showing up in my classroom or in the lunchroom where I eat."

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
Two cases of the COVID-19 BA.2 variant have so far been detected in Manitoba.

Two cases of the COVID-19 BA.2 variant have so far been detected in Manitoba.

The variant is a sub-type of the Omicron variant, and early research shows it is more contagious than other Omicron strains, but more research needs to be conducted to understand how it could affect transmission and reinfection rates.

Officials confirmed two cases have been found here after chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said during a news conference Thursday that there hasnt been "significant" BA.2 transmission.

"We have not seen significant levels of transmission in Manitoba at this point. Theres suggestion that this is more transmissible than the original strain of Omicron, not seeing a lot of evidence regarding that its more severe, so were continuing to follow these numbers. Were still sequencing a significant proportion of our cases, we just havent seen a lot of BA.2 at this point," Roussin said.

The first Manitoba case of BA.2 was confirmed Feb. 10 and the second was detected this week, the province said. A government spokesperson did not answer questions about what proportion of positive COVID-19 test results are being sequenced to check for BA.2 or other emerging variants of concern, or how the province can be confident in its efforts to track emerging variants when more accurate molecular-level PCR testing is so limited in Manitoba.

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"The province has always had a robust system to detect variants utilizing samples from across the province to ensure that the introduction of a new variant is detected and communicated to public health," the spokesperson said.

Only 1,428 PCR tests were conducted in Manitoba Wednesday, and the province doesnt plan to make the tests more widely available to the public. Rapid-test results arent included in official case counts, so sequencing a proportion of PCR test results is the only way for the province to track the presence of COVID-19 variants.

Roussin said Thursday that the goal now is to test for "clinical purposes," which involves offering PCR tests to hospitalized patients and those at highest risk of severe infections.

The World Health Organization has said BA.2 should still be considered a variant of concern. Transmission of BA.2 is growing, but overall, COVID-19 cases are still declining around the world.

"WHO will continue to closely monitor the BA.2 lineage as part of Omicron and requests countries to continue to be vigilant, to monitor and report sequences, as well as to conduct independent and comparative analyses of the different Omicron sublineages," it said in a statement Tuesday.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca
Russia has launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine, which the smaller country called a  full-scale war . Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with other G7 leaders today to discuss the crisis. "Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms Russias egregious attack on Ukraine," he said in a statement last night. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow will strive for the demilitarization and de-Nazification  of a country whose president is Jewish. Putin referred to nuclear weapons as he threatened any other country that interferes with consequences you have never seen.

Top local news

The University of Manitobas administration building. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) Judge rules Tories interfered in talks: A judge has ordered the province to pay a union more than $19.3 million in damages after the Progressive Conservative government secretly inserted itself into bargaining talks at the University of Manitoba in 2016. Maggie Macintosh and Dean Pritchard report. Read More Advertisement Whats happening today

People pick up rapid tests at a COVID-19 testing site last month. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) COVID-19 news conference: The Manitoba government will hold its weekly news conference on the pandemic today. (Its not clear why Mondays holiday resulted in the usual Wednesday news conference being rescheduled, but here we are). Katie May reports on how some music and performing arts venues plan to keep vaccine and mask mandates after the province lifts health restrictions next month. Read More So angry: The husband of the cinematographer shot and killed on a movie set is speaking publicly for the first time in an interview airing in full on the Today show. He said its absurd that actor and producer Alec Baldwin believes he's not to blame. The Associated Press reports. Read More Weather

Your forecast: Sunny with a high of -19 C, wind chill as low as -41 and wind from the south at 10 km/h. An extreme cold warning remains in effect. Read More In case you missed it

Dallas Stars winger Denis Gurianov after scoring on Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck in the third period. (Tony Gutierrez / The Associated Press) Single point vs. Stars: The Jets lost in overtime to the Dallas Stars, earning a point in their third consecutive loss. Jeff Hamilton reports from Texas. Read More Fringe candidate in Fort Whyte: Patrick Allard, who has been arrested and cited multiple times for violating pandemic health orders, is running in the provincial byelection. University of Manitoba adjunct political studies Prof. Christopher Adams said a byelection attracts candidates who are able to use it as a platform, even if they dont have a realistic chance of winning. Carol Sanders reports. Read More Forced normalcy: A student protest against the imminent removal of COVID-19 restrictions is set for Saturday on the Manitoba legislative grounds. Maggie Macintosh reports. Read More Rewards for residents: Misericordia Place is rewarding residents who participate in fitness journeys with dream destination trips, virtual tours and anything else they choose. The care home is trying to raise $60,000 to pay for the experiences. Malak Abas reports. Read More On this date

On Feb. 24, 1969: The Winnipeg Free Press reported four people were injured in a Montreal explosion from a dynamite bomb planted at the Liberal party's social club, the eighth such bombing of the year. Manitoba Liberal leader Gil Molgat said he would reconsider his decision to step down; the provincial caucus, three members of Parliament and provincial executive had refused to accept his resignation. U.S. president Richard Nixon said the U.S. would enter into negotiations with the Soviet Union on a wide range of issues and promised to consult with NATO allies before and after the talks. Today's front page

Get the full story: Read today's e-edition of the Winnipeg Free Press Read More
OTTAWA  It has been a stressful three weeks for many Canadians. The truckers convoy held those living in downtown Ottawa hostage, moving out only after the Emergencies Act was invoked and police began a concerted effort to dismantle the encampment.

Opinion

OTTAWA  It has been a stressful three weeks for many Canadians. The truckers convoy held those living in downtown Ottawa hostage, moving out only after the Emergencies Act was invoked and police began a concerted effort to dismantle the encampment.

The occupation in Winnipeg appears to be reaching its end, as the convoy leaders have agreed to police demands to move out on Wednesday. However, concerns remain, as there are indications the Parliament Hill protesters have regrouped on private property outside Canadas capital and are planning their next steps.

On Monday, before the Emergencies Act was authorized by the House of Commons, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for healing, softening his tone after weeks of angry rhetoric directed at those protesting at border crossings, bridges and cities.

In a news conference, Trudeau said, "Nows the time to work together," and suggested that if a political argument had become heated recently, people should reach out  not to try to convince anyone of their side, but to simply check in and see how things are. Its a return of the 2015 Justin, who observed while campaigning that "Conservatives are not our enemies, they are our neighbours."

This chasm between those who stand for or against vaccinations has affected families in both Canada and the United States, including high-profile ones. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, staring down an election in June, has had to explain the behaviour of his oldest daughter Krista Ford Haynes, who has been vocal in her opposition to government rules on vaccination mandates and certificates.

In one Twitter post, she wrote: "Our pass is the Charter of Rights." Her husband, a Toronto police officer, was suspended for not complying with vaccine rules. Some analysts have suggested she has subtly called her father a tyrant for the way the rules have been implemented.

Ford addressed the issue last week in a news conference, saying, "One of the hardest things about this pandemic is the way its fractured us as a society.  Ive experienced this in my own family. Its been one of the hardest things my family and I have ever gone through."

The premier of Ontario isnt the only politician being put in the uncomfortable position of having to speak about his daughters controversial point of view. In the U.S., the Kennedy family has had to deal with this as well, as environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Childrens Health Defence Fund have become the voice of anti-vaccination and conspiracy theories predating COVID-19.

Seems the son of Bobby Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy is against vaccinating children. With the pandemic, he has been kicked off of Instagram for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines.

Needless to say, the Kennedy family has had to do some major distancing from these controversial points of view. In 2019, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, Joseph P. Kennedy II, a former member of Congress from Massachusetts and Maeve Kennedy McKean, executive director of Georgetown Universitys Global Health Initiatives, wrote an article in Politico magazine headlined "RFK Jr. is our brother and uncle. Hes tragically wrong about vaccines."

They wrote, "We are proud of the history of our family as advocates of public health and promoters of immunization campaigns to bring life-saving vaccines to the poorest and most remote corners of America and the world.  On this issue, Bobby is an outlier in the family."

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It may be tough to reconcile with individuals, even those we love, when they hold such divergent perspectives  particularly after more than two years in which most of us have followed the rules, done what is expected and stayed at home, often at great expense to our physical, financial and mental health.

But we need to remember that most of us have done the right thing so far by getting vaccinated, wearing masks, avoiding gatherings. Those folks at the convoys are outliers in the Canadian family.

On some level, maybe Trudeau is right. We should check in with those folks to see how theyre doing and find out what is fueling their fears. Maybe thats how we can prevent an escalation of protests leading to another occupation that holds cities hostage for weeks on end.

I am not in anyway suggesting that we side with those who flew confederate flags or displayed Nazi symbols  but lets face it, those werent dominant in Ottawa or in Winnipeg.

Im just saying that when things calm down just a little bit, we consider doing what Trudeau (and some researchers) suggest in an effort to de-escalate the tensions. Instead of trying to prove why youre right, maybe its time to try to understand why the other side is worried. It cant hurt.

Shannon Sampert holds the Eakin Visiting Fellowship in Canadian Studies at McGill University and is the former politics and perspectives editor of the Winnipeg Free Press.
While its encouraging that Manitoba has formed a council to improve its immigration system, especially since the councils leader is globally recognized immigration authority Lloyd Axworthy, the matter of attracting more newcomers is too crucial to wait until the councils final report in 10 months.

While its encouraging that Manitoba has formed a council to improve its immigration system, especially since the councils leader is globally recognized immigration authority Lloyd Axworthy, the matter of attracting more newcomers is too crucial to wait until the councils final report in 10 months.

Manitobas post-pandemic economic recovery will depend partly on securing more immigrants, especially those with in-demand skills in fields such as health care. Measures to make the province more attractive to newcomers should start now, not be postponed until the immigration council reports on Dec. 31.

The need for quick action on simple immigration changes should be fuelled by a sense of urgency because many other provinces and countries are competing for the same talent. In short, Manitoba is in a race with other jurisdictions, some of which are already off and running.

Lloyd Axworthy will lead the provincial advisory committee. (Dylan Robertson / Winnipeg Free Press files)

So it doesnt get left behind, Manitoba can adjust its immigration strategy immediately in several simple ways to become more competitive. Drop the $500 application fee the Progressive Conservative government introduced in 2017 for some skilled workers. Reinstate universal health insurance for international students, which was dropped by the PCs in 2018. Continue to lobby federal officials to increase Manitobas allotment of immigrants under the Liberal plan released last week.

Such short-term changes to become a more attractive destination for skilled newcomers should be implemented simultaneously, not in place of, the necessary work planned by the newly formed immigration council.

To have an in-depth study of immigration to Manitoba headed by Mr. Axworthy is nothing short of a coup for this province. His extensive resume reaches far beyond his initial Manitoba academic and political offices and has recently included an avid interest in global population shifts. Mr. Axworthy became the first chair of the World Refugee and Migration Council, formed in 2017 by the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

To have someone with such global immigration expertise to agree to help Manitoba compose a long-term plan is an opportunity that should not be squandered.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitobas post-pandemic economic recovery will depend partly on securing more immigrants and their families. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)

The council will find Manitoba has high hopes to attract more skilled workers, with the provincial government estimating it will need about 15,500 new workers a year until at least 2025 to meet labour and economic demands. The councils challenge is to decide how to reach those targets.

The councils agenda will include talks with employers and labour groups, and also with settlement agencies and recent immigrants. The goals include streamlining this provinces provincial nominee program and improving recognition of foreign qualification.

There is reason for optimism that the timing is right for Manitoba to secure an increase in the number of newcomers allowed under the provincial nominee program. Immigration Minister Jon Reyes is currently in talks with his federal counterparts at a time when Ottawa is pledging to tackle immigration backlogs and raise its annual immigrant intake from 431,645 in 2022 to 451,000 in 2024.

When the Liberal government tabled planned changes to its immigration strategy last week, federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser pledged a more "nimble" system to reduce the unprecendented backlog of 1.8 million applications for permanent and temporary residence and citizenship.

Manitoba has been built on a history of immigrants who make their home here, join the workforce, raise their families and contribute their diversity to this provinces rich cultural tapestry. As Manitoba rebuilds from the pandemic, the skills and talents of immigrants are needed more than ever. The challenge is to peel back the red tape of bureaucracy and let the door open wide.
The provinces plan to scrap the rule requiring vaccination or regular COVID-19 testing for direct care workers puts vulnerable Manitobans and the health-care system at risk, critics say.

The provinces plan to scrap the rule requiring vaccination or regular COVID-19 testing for direct care workers puts vulnerable Manitobans and the health-care system at risk, critics say.

On Thursday, Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced, in addition to dropping provincial vaccination requirements March 1, direct care health-care workers across the province and designated public-sector employees (including teachers and child care workers) wont have to be vaccinated or submit to regular COVID-19 testing.

"We continue to see positive trends throughout the province," Gordon said, noting hospitalizations and ICU admissions are on a downward trajectory.

"Now is the time to prepare for a return to normal," the health minister said at a news conference with chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin and David Matear, incident commander for Manitobas COVID-19 response.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced Thursday that direct-care health-care workers across the province and designated public-sector employees  including teachers and child-care workers  wont have to be vaccinated or submit to regular COVID-19 testing.

"Together, we can look forward to a co-ordinated and cautious plan to recover from the intense demands that COVID-19 has placed on our health-care system."

Gordon said a memo from the COVID-19 incident command, the heads of all health regions and service delivery organizations was being sent Thursday to employees advising them the requirement to be fully vaxxed or tested was being lifted, as of March 1.

"I was furious when I saw that," said critical care physician Dr. Doug Eyolfson. "Theres no reason to be doing this.

"We have vulnerable populations in our health-care system  young children, who are too young to be vaccinated, people with chronic medical conditions, the elderly, people who are immuno-compromised, people on chemotherapy. These people are still at tremendous risk if exposed to COVID and the province has basically just said, essentially, Youre on your own."

Download COVID-19 modelling

Social epidemiologist Souradet Shaw questioned the decision and its timing.

"I would think that those in health-care settings would be the exact population wed consider vulnerable, and to the extent possible, provide the most protection to," said Shaw, with the department of community health sciences at the University of Manitoba.

It might have been prudent to wait and see what the impacts of lifting vaccination and mask requirements would be before lifting protections for vulnerable people, he said.

Shaw also noted Manitobas uptake of third (booster) doses of the vaccine is less than optimal and there are "blind spots" in the provinces COVID-19 surveillance.

"So even if there is an argument to be made for lifting these protections, I think the timing of it is another issue altogether."

I was furious when I saw that. Theres no reason to be doing this."  critical care physician Dr. Doug Eyolfson

Roussin said officials have the "confidence to continue on our plan to loosen restrictions" because of projections that show declining hospitalizations and intensive-care admissions into next month.

Provincial proof-of-vaccination requirements end March 1, and mask use in indoor public spaces will no longer be mandatory, as of March 15.

Roussin presented updated modelling Thursday showing key COVID-19 indicators are on a downward trajectory after having peaked in January.

Manitoba vaccine cards, app to remain active WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The Manitoba provincial government announced Thursday vaccine cards and verification app will stay active so businesses and venues can continue to use them if they choose to do so. Posted: 5:10 PM Feb. 24, 2022 Manitobas COVID-19 proof-of-vaccine cards and corresponding scanner app will remain active  even after the province lifts public health requirements March 1. The vaccine cards and verification app will stay active, the provincial government announced Thursday, so businesses and venues can continue to use them if they choose to do so. Read Full Story

He acknowledged there are "different perspectives" on the public health restrictions that have been in place for a long time and transitioning out them "will be a difficult time for many."

"We know this is going to be a difficult time, but as we see from that modelling, we are trending in that right direction and well continue to watch those numbers very closely," Roussin said.

So will Manitoba nurses, wary of another pandemic wave swamping the health-care system.

"We cannot be in a position where our ICUs and emergency departments and hospital beds are overflowing again," Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson said Thursday.

If a new COVID-19 variant drives up hospital admissions, the province cant dither, she added. "This government really has to be proactive and act very quickly to put those restrictions back in place."

Meantime, nurses who havent been working because of proof of vaccination or rapid-test requirement will be welcomed back March 1, she said. "We are in a critical nursing shortage so having as many nurses in the system as possible is something were advocating for all the time."

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS David Matear, health system co-lead, Unified Health Sector Incident Command during press conference and public health update at the Manitoba Legislative building Thursday morning

However, the percentage of workers who chose unpaid leave rather than undergoing regular rapid tests or providing proof of vaccination is so small allowing them to return to work now with vulnerable people, when COVID-19 infection rates remain high, makes no sense, Eyolfson countered.

"It has not been a significant burden to staffing levels," the doctor said. "So what earthly reason is there for doing this?"

As of Monday, 119 direct care workers were on unpaid leave as a result of the public health order to either be vaxxed or tested, and 1,500 who were working required regular rapid testing, Shared Health said.

Lifting those requirements for workers puts the most vulnerable Manitobans at risk, opposition members say.

"I think its a mistake," said NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station), a former nurse. "It shows the lack of this governments willingness to prioritize the folks in our communities who are most vulnerable to COVID-19."

"If youre going to get rid of restrictions, the last thing you should be doing is telling people they dont need to be vaccinated," said Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont.

"We still have half of Manitobans who dont have a third shot," he said referring to the 570,690 whove received a COVID-19 booster, versus 503,352 with two doses, and 58, 272 with just one.

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The number of COVID-positive ICU patients in Manitoba has declined 40 per cent since Feb. 1, and fell 16 per cent in the past week, said Matear. The COVID-19 response incident commander said ICU capacity remains at 124 beds; before the pandemic, it was 72.

As pandemic pressures ease, the 500 provincial health-care employees whove been redeployed across the system will be returning to their pre-pandemic work "as soon as were operationally able," Matear said.

"For the immediate future, the health systems focus will be on both maintaining capacity and supporting recovery."

As for Manitobas massive surgical and diagnostic procedure backlog, Gordon expects an update from the task force addressing it "very soon."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Katie May

Reporter Katie May is a general-assignment reporter for the Free Press. Read full biography
Clarke Gehman was sent to a health-care facility four hours away from Winnipeg after the expected influx of COVID-19 patients left him without a bed in the city  but his family never expected that same illness would end his life just weeks later.

Clarke Gehman was sent to a health-care facility four hours away from Winnipeg after the expected influx of COVID-19 patients left him without a bed in the city  but his family never expected that same illness would end his life just weeks later.

Families across Manitoba have decried the health system's recent practice of whisking patients  many of them seniors  away from their loved ones to hospitals outside their local health region, which are sometimes hours away.

To read more of this story first reported by CBC News, click here.

This content is made available to Free Press readers as part of an agreement with CBC that sees our two trusted news brands collaborate to better cover Manitoba. Questions about CBC content can be directed to talkback@cbc.ca.


St. Paul, March 11 (AP)  Minnesotas legislature today definitely killed proposals to bar the teaching of evolution from the states tax-supported schools.

With only brief debate, the state senate discarded the anti-evolution bill by the overwhelming vote of 55 to 7, thus crushing the hopes of the bills supporters for the present session.

Senator Solberg opened the debate in the senate by re-stating briefly reasons why he thought the teaching of evolution should be prohibited in the public schools.

I think that all of you have made up your minds as to how you will vote, he said. We ask only for a fair deal for those who do not want this fool theory taught to their children. This is the greatest issue confronting us today.

This is undermining our youth and is nothing to be laughed away.

Senator A.L. Twing, chairman of the education committee, in urging adoption of the report killing the bill, said that he did not doubt the sincerity of those who are urging passage of the bill.

Basis for ContentionIf it were true in our belief that the evolutionary theory is contradictory to the Bible, I think that every thinking man would grant that there is some basis for the contention of proponents of this bill, Senator Thwing said. But this is not true.

Different scholars differ much in interpretation of parts of the Bible. Why should we then undertake by legislative fiat to adopt one of several different interpretations of the Bible?

Considerable propaganda has been circulated in favor of passage of this bill. Many of those who signed these petitions and letters asking for passage of the bill have been inspired by a misunderstanding of the theory of evolution.

Scores Spellbinders

Senator George H; Lommen, addressing himself to a man in the gallery, made a bitter attack on the Rev. W.B. Riley, Minneapolis, who has led the fight tor the bill.

Let us reject this bill by such an overwhelming majority that never again will the name of the state of Minnesota be stained by such an attempt, he said.

We should not be hypnotized by spellbinders and publicity agents, who go out misrepresenting things to stir up people so that letters come flocking in hero from lttle girls who imagine that in teaching of evolution we are actually destroying faith in God.

Let us give no encouragement to those who at the expense of the state have gained too much publicity at the expense of the legislature. This bill hasnt the chance ever to become a law in this state, but we should put down by an overwhelming majority this attempt to exploit the people who are trying to put over this legislation have done more to disrupt the church than any other factor. You are driving young people away from it. By your act on this very measure, you are sending thousands of eager young men and women to the study of these very theories which you seek to outlaw. From your own standpoint your plan fails.

The Rev. Riley, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Minneapolis, listened to the debate from the gallery.

A skirmish doesnt determine a war, he paid, afterward. This is only the first time that the question has come to a straight battle and it will not be the last.

Senate Committee Acts

Yesterday, the house committee on education voted for indefinite postponement of the measure in that body, and action on this report will be taken in the lower house late today.

Opponents of the bill predicted the house action would be just as emphatic as was the senates.

Without waiting for action by the house, the senate education committee this morning voted, 9 to 4, to recommend indefinite postponement of the anti-evolution bill and prepared to bring its report before the senate for adoption before the close of todays session.

The house was scheduled to take up the bill at its session this afternoon, following similar action by its education committee yesterday.

Those who voted for indefinite postponement in the committee were: Senators A.L. Thwing, W.B. Anderson, Victor Christgau, H.A. Larson, Lord E. Lllygren, B.U. MacLean, J.E. Madigan, Frank Romberg and Henry Steen.

Those who voted against the postponement were: Senators Frank A. Day, Iver J. Leo, H.P. Lund, and Herman Schmechel.

Proponents of the bill indicated they would not insist on a minority report but would confine their opposition to an attempt to defeat adoption of the majority report when it is submitted to the senate.

Contrary to the plan followed by the house committee, which decided upon its action behind locked doors, the senate committee acted upon the bill in open meeting.

Senator K.K. Solberg, author of the anti-evolution bill, asked that the senate adopt a minority report instead of the majority report, but could muster only seven votes on this request.

The members who voted for the minority report and for the antl-evolution bill were: Senators Day, Frost, Lawson, Lee, L.P. Lund, Schmechel and Solberg.

Vote Against Bill

Those who voted against the anti-evolution bill and for the majority report killing the bill were: Senators Adams, Anderson, Arens, Bessette, Bonniwell, Bridgeman, Brooks, Cannon, Carley, Child, Chrlstgau, Duem; Hanson, Hausler, Hougen, Johnson, Johnston, Lahdby, H.A. Larson, Lemim, Lilygren, Lommen, Long, C.A. Lund, MacKanzie, MacLean, McCubrey, Madigan, Mangan, Millett, Morin. Naplin, Nelson, Nordlin, Olson, Orr, Peterson, Putnam, Putzler, Ribenack, Richardson, Rockne, Roupke, Romberg, Rosenmeier, Serline, Sharpe, Steen, Stemsrud, Q.H. Sullivan, J.D. Sullivan, Thwing, Traxler, Turuhajm and Widell.

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Winona Area Public Schools is in the process of updating and revising its strategic plan, and it is turning to the community for help.

A strategic plan clarifies the districts purpose and direction. It serves as the school boards visionary road map for governing while focusing on equitable student achievement for all. It sets clear expectations for district leadership to develop and monitor continuous improvement practices. It leans on the intellect, insight and lived experience of school board members, district staff and students, local business leaders and other community members to develop a shared vision that takes into account the beliefs, values and goals of all stakeholders.

The Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) is providing guidance and assisting with the planning process.

The WAPS board is seeking input from school district residents and staff to help in identifying the districts strengths and areas for improvement. School district residents and staff can give the school board feedback by completing a survey or attending one of several community listening sessions. The information gathered from the survey and listening sessions will be analyzed by the MSBA and used to help identify school district strategic priorities.

You can fill out the survey in a variety of ways:

Go to winonaschools.org/plan for an electronic version, which is also available in Spanish and Pashto.

Visit the district office at 903 Gilmore Ave., Winona, to pick up a paper copy and return it.

Contact communications coordinator John Casper at 507-494-0902 or john.casper@winona.k12.mn.us to request a copy be sent to your home.

The online survey will close at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 6. All paper copies must be returned by that date as well.

There will also be a series of listening sessions and focus groups held on Tuesday, March 1 and Thursday, March 3 to provide additional information to MSBA to be used in the planning process. The sessions will be held virtually over Zoom.

There will be three general listening sessions for community members and district parents/guardians:

7-8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1

6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1

Noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 3

There will also be focus groups centered around the experience and expertise of individuals who are senior citizens, who work in our post-secondary institutions, or who are considered business, city, county and state government leaders. Those focus groups will be held as follows:

Senior Citizens, 1-2 p.m. on Thursday, March 3

Post-Secondary Leaders, 2:15-3:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 3

Business, City, County and State Leaders, 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 3

The links to participate in those sessions are available at winonaschools.org/plan.

If you have any questions about the survey, listening sessions or the strategic planning process, please contact MSBAs Gail Gilman at 507-934-2450 or ggilman@mnmsba.org.

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine will convene an emergency session to declare martial law in the country, RADA TV reported citing the Secretary of the Council Alexey Danilov.

Early Thursday morning Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a special military operation in Donbass. Putin announced that Russian doesnt seek to occupy Ukraine, but will seek to achieve demilitarization of Ukraine.
Winona Catholic Daughters will meet Sunday, March 13 at St. Marys Commons, noon to 12:001:30 p.m. Light lunch at noon followed by 12:30 meeting. For those that can stay after the meeting there will be the making of St. Patricks Day crafts.
Kendra Leigh Atherton-Guenther, 29, of Winona has died as a result of a crash that occurred Wednesday afternoon on Highway 61.

According to Minnesota State Patrol, a 2004 Saturn Vue, driven by Atherton-Guenther, was traveling south bound on Highway 61 at 1:11 p.m, when it collided with a 2011 Freightliner Semi that was parked on the shoulder of south bound Highway 61.

The driver of the semi, Quinton Levair Stephens, 56 of Austell, GA, was not injured in the crash, according to the report.

Atherton-Guenther was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and the airbag was deployed, according to the report. Atherton-Guenther was flown into Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse but succumbed to her injuries, State Patrol said.

The highway was classified as snow/ice in the report and alcohol is not a factor in the accident. Outside agencies who assisted with the crash were MedLink and Winona Police, Fire and Ambulance.

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Baraboo Common Council members rescinded the citys COVID-19 policy during its meeting Tuesday, which includes the wearing of protective masks in all city-owned buildings, despite guidance from the Sauk County Health Department that recommends anyone 2 or older wear masks indoors.

The immediate removal of the policy, which was reimplemented in August, was recommended by members of the city Finance and Personnel Committee, Joel Petty, Jason Kent and Scott Sloan.

Its pretty much not needed anymore, Sloan said. I think at this point, it can be treated as any illness, rather than any special policy.

Council members Michael Plautz, Kent, Petty, John Ellington, Sloan, Phil Wedekind and Tom Kolb voted in favor of the immediate end to the policy. Heather Kierzek and Kathleen Thurow voted against it.

Thurow had moved to amend the measure by removing just the masking requirement while keeping the rest of the policy, which gives vaccinated employees additional sick time if they have a breakthrough case, but it died without a second from another council member.

Ellington said the change was asking for trouble, while Kierzek questioned why they would move to end a policy while still in a pandemic. Kent and Sloan echoed one another in referring to the virus as endemic despite the lack of a designation by health professionals. Kent implied that because he got sick with COVID-19, the masks are not beneficial for protection against the virus.

I dont want to debate science, but the evidence is there that masks have been useful in a pandemic and were not in an endemic yet, Kierzek said. I think that would have to come through public health, to say that were at that point in the pandemic that its time to relax those restrictions, and they havent said that yet.

The Sauk County Health Department follows the guidance of the CDC for anyone 2 years or older to wear a protective mask in an inside setting. According to its COVID-19 data hub, Sauk County is still an area of high transmission, with 90 new cases between Feb. 15 and Monday. There were five hospitalizations reported at that time. Sauk County has had four reported deaths, with one in February and three from December.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the seven day average of COVID-19 deaths added to the total was 11 deaths per day. DHS recommends vaccination against COVID-19 as wearing a well-fitting, multi-layered mask over your nose and mouth can help prevent transmission of the respiratory droplets and aerosols that spread COVID-19.

The CDC also recommends getting vaccinated and boosted, keeping distance from others and wearing a mask as ways to prevent catching the virus. According to CDC data, cases, hospitalizations and deaths have steeply declined back to nearly the same numbers as February 2021 after a surge due to the Omicron variant began in November.

Council members asked for opinions from city employees, including Director of Public Works Tom Pinion and Baraboo Police Chief Mark Schauf, both who said their employees would prefer to no longer wear masks in their work.

During public comment, a resident has repeatedly complained that he has been pulled over for minor violations by police officers not wearing masks. Officers and firefighters also appeared in August to contest the reimplementation of the policy, which had initially included the requirement that all employees be vaccinated or be tested for COVID-19 once a week. That caveat was stripped from the proposed measure before being passed.

City Administrator Casey Bradley said that Jessica Bergin, director of Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library in Baraboo, supported the rescinding of the policy on behalf of her staff, which has met hostility by patrons against wearing masks. He said Mike Hardy, director of the city Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department has reported similar issues and supported its removal as well.

Sloan emphasized that vaccines are readily available for anyone, which he posited was not the case in August and the driving reason behind the policy, though the vaccine had been available since spring of 2021. He also said no one is prohibited from wearing a mask if they choose to.

The idea of one-way masking is actually better in theory than in practice, and that universal masking with quality masks is better than one-way masking, Kolb said. Universal masking is what OSHAs study recommended. It says One-way masking places the burden entirely on the most vulnerable among us, for what its worth.

Petty said council members could always pass another policy if COVID-19 case numbers increased, as it did once before last year. Kent said he wanted fellow council members to examine whether they are making their decision based on what residents want or their personal opinions. Kierzek, who was supported by Kolb, said people are elected to make the best choices for their electors, regardless of whether it is popular.

The main part of the purpose of this council is to protect the public, Kierzek said. And we dont always do what the public wants, we do what we feel is in their best interest. If that gets me voted off, thats fine. Thats a hill Im willing to die on.

Follow Bridget on Twitter @cookebridget or contact her at 608-745-3513.

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Beaver Dam High Schools library has brought back a heart healthy event in support of American Heart Health Month.

The Read and Ride Challenge has been going on for the month of February. Staff and students can visit the library with a book or pick up one there to read while riding a stationary bike for 10 minutes. Riders are entered into a drawing for prizes at the end of the month, Beaver Dam High School Librarian Jennifer Vinz said.

Physical education teacher Kelly Riehbrandt brought two stationary bicycles to the library for the month. Those using the bicycles can log on using a computer that allows the times to be calculated for the contest.

If they ride all days in February, they may win more prizes, Vinz said.

The Read and Ride Challenge was not done last year due to the pandemic, Vinz said. It had been started a few years prior and was a fun break in the winter months at the school.

Once per day people can come in and read while they ride in order to win prizes, Vinz said.

Vinz said the activity is a bit more popular with the staff, but it is a good activity for everyone to participate in.

It is a good way to promote heart health, Vinz said. It is a way to take care of both the mind and the body.

Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760.

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The Republican-led Assembly on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment to give lawmakers final say over how the governor spends federal funds allocated to the state.

The amendment comes as the Legislature takes up a flurry of bills before both chambers adjourn from session in a matter of weeks. Other bills to pass the Assembly Wednesday would raise the minimum age for buying tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 and protect firearms and ammunition manufacturers from certain lawsuits.

The Assembly will convene again Thursday to take up a slew of fast-tracked election bills that would, among other things, allow lawmakers to cut funding for the Wisconsin Elections Commission when its deemed not to have complied with state election laws. Republicans continue to scrutinize the 2020 election as part of a nationwide GOP effort to overhaul elections.

The package of bills has been touted as an effort to clean up election processes after a report last year from the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau that found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election but made several recommendations for improvements.

Democratic lawmakers have widely blasted the bills at a time when bipartisan measures, such as a bill aimed at eventually closing the embattled Lincoln Hills juvenile correctional facility, have stalled in the Assembly.

We should put down these partisan election lies and voter suppression tactics and take up broad bipartisan bills, Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, told reporters before Wednesdays session.

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill that would borrow $42 million for a juvenile correctional facility to replace the states embattled Lincoln Hills facility, but Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said earlier that day the measure is unlikely to be taken up by the GOP-led Assembly before the chamber adjourns.

One of the bills to pass the Senate Tuesday, SB 214, would allow election officials to begin counting absentee ballots the day before Election Day, a measure local clerks have pushed for to help address the massive number of ballots that must be counted after polls close.

Republicans in the Assembly previously said that bill would not likely come before the chamber before it adjourns, but Vos said Wednesday its possible the measure could be worked into a different election-related bill as an amendment. The move could force Gov. Tony Evers, who has pledged to strike down most, if not all, of the election bills, to veto the measure.

Route to voters

Legislative Republicans, who lack the votes needed to overturn a veto by Evers, have increasingly turned to constitutional amendments as a means of bypassing the Democratic governor.

Such measures would need to pass the Senate and Assembly in two successive sessions before going to voters in a referendum. The governor cannot veto a constitutional amendment.

AJR 112/SJR 84 passed along party lines and would prohibit any executive branch official or department from allocating any federal dollars without first securing approval from a legislative committee, which officials have said would likely be the GOP-led budget committee.

Currently, the governor has sole discretion over how federal funds are spent, but there has been a growing push among legislative Republicans seeking more control over how the executive office doles out federal funds  primarily in recent years as the federal government pumped billions of stimulus dollars into the state to help address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Evers has vetoed several efforts in recent years by Republicans seeking control over federal funds.

Theres not one single person in this state that should be able to unilaterally control billions of dollars, said Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna. Our job is to control the purse strings and have a say about how dollars are expended in this state.

An amended version of the bill clarifies that it only applies to federal money accepted by the governor on behalf of the state and not initial allocations provided to departments. The amended resolution also maintains the UW-System Board of Regents authority to accept and allocate federal funding without legislative approval. The amended resolution heads back to the Senate for concurrence.

AJR 135, which is scheduled to come before the Assembly on Thursday, would call for a constitutional convention to consider term limits for congressional delegates.

The measure initially failed after five Republicans joined Democrats to reject the resolution in a 17-16 vote. However, Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, then changed her vote, allowing the proposal to pass, despite objections from Democratic members who said Senate rules did not allow for such a move. Darling did not explain her flip.

If passed, Wisconsin would become the fifth state to call for such a convention. Thirty-four states would be needed to formally convene a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution.

Another constitutional amendment before the Assembly Thursday, AJR 134/SJR 101, would bar the state from receiving private funds to help administer elections.

Other bills

The Assembly voted 61-35, with Rep. Nick Milroy, D-South Range, joining Republicans in support of SB 570, which would bar anyone from suing a firearm or ammunition manufacturer for damages related to those products design or use. The measure, which is supported by the National Rifle Association of America and Wisconsin Gun Owners Inc. and opposed by groups including the Wisconsin Council of Churches, would still allow lawsuits related to a breach of contract or death/damages caused by a defect in a firearm or ammunition.

Bill author Rep. Gae Magnafici, R-Dresser, said the measure aims at preventing needless lawsuits and protects individuals Second Amendment rights.

I just feel that when a crime is committed, we should blame the criminal and not the gun, Magnafici said.

The bill is likely to be vetoed by Evers, who has pushed for more gun regulations.

The Assembly also passed AB 348, which would align state law with changes to federal law in 2019 that increased the minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. The measure heads to the Senate.

AB 960 also passed the Assembly and would make it a felony to attack or threaten a health care provider or staff member of a health care facility. The bipartisan measure would create a new felony crime of battery against a health care provider and expand current felony battery laws to include nurses or emergency medical care providers.

Such an offense, which also includes threatening a health care provider, would be punishable by up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Population based survey reveals why SA is at a turning point in the pandemic

South Africans had extensive immunity against severe Covid-19 disease and death prior to Omicron, due to high infections in the first 3 waves and vaccination.

A recent study in Gauteng, where a quarter of South Africans  some 15.5 million  live, showed that three in four people had been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes Covid-19) at least once since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and prior to the Omicron wave in SA in November 2021.

The immunity induced by such infection, coupled with the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines to at least one-third of the population, contributed to major decoupling of infections relative to severe Covid-19 that transpired during the fourth wave compared with the three earlier waves in SA.

The findings from South Africa indicate that despite breakthrough infections (when people contract the virus after they have been vaccinated) or reinfections (in those with prior history of infections) likely having been common during the course of the Omicron wave, immunity induced by vaccine or past infection generally protected well against severe Covid-19 disease, hospitalisation, and death.

The study, titled South African population immunity and severe Covid-19 with Omicron variant was led by scientists at the Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits-VIDA) and reported in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine on 23 February 2022.

The study presents the first peer-reviewed and published data demonstrating decoupling between infections and Covid-19 severe disease and death.

About the study

The study aimed to determine sero-positivity against SARS-CoV-2 before the fourth wave of Covid-19, in which the Omicron variant was dominant.

Sero-positivity measures for the presence of antibodies against the virus as a metric of past infection  in this case, the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Furthermore, the study analysed data provided by collaborators at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on trends in recorded Covid-19 cases, hospital admissions and deaths since the start of the pandemic. This was complemented by Covid-19 attributable death rates that were evaluated using excess mortality data obtained from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).

Dry blood spots from 7010 randomly selected individuals in Gauteng were tested to determine sero-positivity.

Notable findings were as follows:

Sero-positivity ranged from 56.2% in children younger than 12 years to 79.9% in individuals older than 50 years

At a sub-district level, sero-positivity was as high as 85% in the inner city, densely populated areas

Sero-positivity was 68% in unvaccinated individuals and 93% in vaccinated individuals.

These data indicate that although less than one million cases of Covid-19 had been recorded when the sero-survey was completed in Gauteng, this represented less than 10% of the 10.4 million people imputed to having been infected by the virus at least once since the start of the pandemic and prior to the onset of the Omicron wave.

Hybrid immunity

Furthermore, although only one-third of the population in Gauteng had received at least a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine prior to the onset of the Omicron dominated wave, the data suggest that the majority of vaccinated individuals also had natural infection-induced immunity (i.e., hybrid immunity). Extensive protection against severe Covid-19 was also prevalent in unvaccinated individuals, based on using sero-positivity as a proxy for presence of protection against severe Covid-19.

Decoupling

The analysis of trends in Covid-19 cases, hospitalisation and death rates over the course of the pandemic impressively reported major decoupling of incidence of infections relative to Covid-19 hospitalisation and death during the Omicron dominant wave in SA, compared with earlier waves.

Notably, compared with the Delta variant-dominant third wave in SA  which contributed to 44% of Covid-19 hospitalisations and 50% of deaths since the start of the pandemic in Gauteng  the Omicron wave only contributed to 10% hospitalisations and 3% of deaths.

The decoupling was also evident in people older than 50 years of age, among whom 61% had received at least a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine prior to the onset of the Omicron wave, who had contributed to more than 80% of Covid-19 deaths in SA.

In the older than 50 years age group, only 2% of deaths since the start of the pandemic in Gauteng occurred during the course of the Omicron wave, whereas 53% occurred in the Delta variant dominant wave, which transpired when vaccine roll-out had only belatedly started in SA.

A turning point

The study findings indicate that we have reached a turning point in the Covid-19 pandemic, even in countries with a modest uptake of vaccines, but where there has been a high force of natural infection, which has resulted in a massive loss of lives, says lead author Shabir Madhi, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University, and Executive Director of Wits VIDA.

Madhi says that in South Africa, 490 people per 100 000 have died of Covid-19. This puts South Africa in the top 10 countries globally of Covid-19 fatality rates.

When excess deaths are factored in, three times the official figure of 97 000 people in South Africa have died of Covid-19. The actual number of deaths from Covid-19 in South Africa is closer to 300 000 people, he says.

Vaccinate to maximise immunity

The findings have significant implications for Africa, a continent where vaccines and resources to support vaccine roll out are limited and where hospitalisation for Covid-19 severely constrains public health facilities and resources.

The findings from the study necessitates a recalibration of not only how we deal with the pandemic, which appears to be at its tail end, but also how we make the most efficient use of vaccines across Africa where only approximately one-tenth of the population have received at least a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine, says Madhi.

The focus of Covid-19 vaccine rollout in countries with low coverage has to be primarily targeted at achieving more than 90% in high risk groups, rather than some percentage of the population  considering that the majority have inadvertently developed protection against severe Covid-19 in countries such as SA, following natural infection.

Vaccines, however, still have an important role to play in people who have past infection, as other studies have recently shown that such hybrid immunity (i.e., induced by a combination of vaccine and past infection) induces a more robust and broader repertoire of immune responses that would heighten protection even against mild Covid-19, and reduce the infectiousness compared with immunity induced by natural infection or vaccines alone.

Also, high risk individuals need the full series of vaccines to optimise their individual protection against severe Covid-19, even if previously infected by SARS-CoV-2, says Madhi.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. United States President Joe Biden accused Russian President Vladimir Putin in choosing a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering after Russia launched a special military operation in Donbass.

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way, Biden in part said in a statement.

Biden added that he will meet with G7 counterparts and then announce further steps.

Early Thursday morning Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he made the decision to hold a special military operation in response to the address of leaders of Donbass republics.

"Peoples republics of Donbass approached Russia with a request for help. In connection therewith, <> I made the decision to hold a special military operation. Its goal is to protect the people that are subjected to abuse, genocide from the Kiev regime for eight years, and to this end we will seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine and put to justice those that committed numerous bloody crimes against peaceful people, including Russian nationals," Putin said in the television address as reported by TASS.

Justice and truth are on Russias side, President Vladimir Putin said in a special television address.

"The welfare, the very existence of entire countries and peoples, their success and health are always originating from the strong root system of culture and values, experience and traditions of ancestors, directly depending on abilities to quickly adapt to continuously changing life, consolidation of the society, its readiness to consolidate and gather all forces together for moving forward," Putin said.

"Forces are always needed but they can be of different quality," the Russian leader said. "And we know the real strength is in justice and truth that are on our side," he added.
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Cartagena, or Cartagena de Indias, as it is also known, is the capital city of the department of Bolivar, in the South American country of Colombia. With a population of about 1,079,000 people, it is the second-largest city in the region and the fifth largest in the country. The whole of Cartagena is a bustling metropolitan, but the heart, history, and global intrigue stem primarily from the walled city, or Old Town, which is immediately recognizable by the surrounding stone fortress.

Geography And Climate Of Cartagena

Aerial view of Cartagena, Colombia.

Cartagena is located in the North of Colombia, right on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. It is sandwiched between the Central American country of Panama, to the West, and the neighboring South American country of Venezuela, to the South-East. The climate is tropical, oscillating between a wet and dry period. The rainy season is between May and June, and again from October to November. It is exceptionally dry between January and March. The average annual temperature is a pleasant 83 degrees Fahrenheit, ranging from a low of 75 degrees to a high of 89.

History Of Cartagena

The streets of Cartagena lined with old buildings.

Cartagena was founded as a major port for the Spanish colony in the early 16th century. It, therefore, has a colorful and complicated but overall celebrated history. For starters, the area went through several names over a short period. In 1501, Spanish explorers initially christened the site 'Bahia de Baru' (Bay of Baru), switching it soon after to 'Bahia de Cartagena,' to reflect the resemblance to Cartagena, Spain. In 1533, Spanish commander Pedro de Heredia formally founded the city, giving it the name 'Cartagena de Poniente' (Cartagena of the West), which was then changed to its current, formal designation, 'Cartagena de Indias' (Cartagena of the Indies).

Shortly after its establishment, the population of Cartagena began exploding as the site solidified as a major trading post. The port primarily facilitated the export of ransacked Peruvian silver to Spain and the import of enslaved Africans under the asiento system (i.e., trading rights granted by Spain to external, intermediary parties). The city's wealth led to repeated attacks by pirates throughout the mid to late 16th century. These episodes were the impetus for constructing the perimeter wall, which was Spain's largest fortification project on the entire continent.

In 1650, the Canal del Dique was also built, which connected Cartagena Bay to the Magdalena river (i.e., the largest in Colombia). This firmly established Cartagena as Spain's most significant outpost in South America.

Cartagena changed hands a few times throughout the early 1800s, rotating between Spanish rule to the emboldened people of Colombia, only to be reconquered again by the Spaniards. In 1821, Simon Bolivar helped permanently liberate the inhabitants of Cartagena from Spanish invaders.

In 1984, Cartagena was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the walled city is a melting pot of eclectic cultures and enthusiastic tourists, all of whom congregate to steep in the centuries of wild history.

Population And Economy Of Cartagena

Cartagena's 1-million people are distributed fairly evenly into both males and females and across the ethnographic spectrum of black, white, and mixed, or mulatto/mestizo (Note: terminology differs depending on region and source). Due to its history with the Spanish slave trade, Cartagena's modern population can generally be referred to as Afro-Caribbean. Christianity (mainly Roman Catholic) is the dominant religion.

Cartagena's economy relies heavily on tourism and hospitality. More people visit Cartagena than any other Colombian city. The Canal del Dique is still heavily utilized and ensures Cartagena remains a significant hub for commerce.

Visiting Cartagena

The Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG) is located just north of the city, which provides an option for tourists to fly directly into Cartagena. Other major nearby airports include Barranquilla, Santa Marta, and Medellin. Most visitors will focus their attention on the Old Town, as the 8-mile perimeter wall packs plenty of appeal within its dense circumference. Here are some attractions to get you started.

Horse carriage in the streets of Cartagena. Editorial credit: Chrispictures / Shutterstock.com

1. Take a stroll, or ride in a horse carriage, around the town. The colorful, colonial architecture, floral-lined cobblestone alleys, smell of enticing cuisine, formal and urban art displays, street performances, and the energy of the global community will sweep your senses into a state of reverie. As with any popular destination, there are some tourist traps to watch out for. A simple, "No, gracias," will serve you well to keep exploring unimpeded.

2. Once you have done a wandering overview, try a formal walking tour to better understand the ins and outs of the area. There is an abundance of street art that you might not catch without a local expert. Bookworms may also wish to join the Gabriel Garcia Marquez afternoon tour, exploring the many settings that inspired some of his most acclaimed novels.

Beautiful fruit vendors in Cartagena. Editorial credit: Jacek Sledzinski / Shutterstock.com

3. Next, keep the momentum going with a lap of the famous stone wall and catch a picturesque sunset at Cafe del Mar, which looks out over the Caribbean Sea. You will be in good company, so make sure to get there early. Once the sun goes down, the zesty nightlife will flood the town.

4. The following day, you may wish to take in some history outside the walls. Just east of the Old Town is the sizable fortress of Castillo de San Felipe. Wear a good pair of walking shoes and make sure to pack water and sunscreen.

Baru Beach near Cartagena.

5. Finally, you may decide to venture to some of the neighboring islands of Isla Tierra Bomba, Isla Mucura, Isla Baru, and the protected archipelago of Islas del Rosario. Visiting these tropical islands will require some extra time and planning, but it will be worth getting a taste of paradise outside the city.
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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory letter to President of France Emmanuel Macron on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, the PMs Office said.

The letter reads:

Respectful Mr. President, dear Emmanuel,

February 24th, 1992 is a memorable year for Armenia and France. 30 years ago this day Armenia, which opened the page of its new history with the declaration of independence, established diplomatic relations with the French Republic.

Thus, the Armenian-French connections and friendship, having a history of centuries and strengthened by the presence of the Armenian community of France, gained an interstate framework for further development.

I praise the fact that over the past three decades Armenia and France have managed to establish unique relations based on close political dialogue and regular high-level contacts, active parliamentary partnership and decentralized cooperation, as well as to develop multisectoral cooperation in economic, educational, scientific, cultural, healthcare and other areas.

We attach great importance to the close cooperation with France within the frames of European structures and international organizations.

For Armenia, as an active member of the International Organization of La Francophonie, holding the Francophonie Summit in Yerevan in autumn 2018 was of exceptional importance, within the frames of which it was a special honor also to host you in our country. I would like to note that the French University in Armenia, which is one of the most significant achievements of our bilateral relations in educational field and plays a vital role in Armenias higher education system, brings its valuable contribution to the spread of Francophonie also in our country.

We highly appreciate the valuable commitment of France to assist Armenias economic development which is reflected in the Armenian-French economic cooperation development roadmap signed in Paris in December 9, 2021 and defines our common commitment to raise our bilateral partnership in infrastructure, agriculture, new technologies and healthcare absolutely to a new level and quality in the next five years. Moreover, the importance on deepening the comprehensive partnership with France is also reflected in the Armenian governments five-year action plan.

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by France as the first country and declaring April 24 as an Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in France based on your decree are of special importance in the history of the interstate relations of Armenia and France. With this step France has once again showed its solidarity with Armenia and the Armenian people, as well as its deep dedication to the universal values.

France is always careful and consistent with the protection of Armenias vital interests and the fundamental rights of the Armenian people. We highly appreciate the clear positions and solidarity of France and yours personally during the military aggression against Nagorno Karabakh, as well as your determined efforts and commitments to resist the geopolitical and humanitarian problems caused by the war, including in the preservation of the historical-cultural heritage of Artsakh.

Armenia also attaches great importance to Frances key role together with the other OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries  Russia and the United States, in the peaceful settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which aims at clarifying the status of Nagorno Karabakh with the guarantee of the rights of Artsakh-Armenians to self-determination.

Today, the relations between Armenia and France mark their 30th anniversary with important achievements, which, I am sure, will continue deepening and expanding with our joint efforts, by opening new bright pages in the history of the Armenian-French unique relations for the long duration of the Armenian-French brotherly friendship.

Looking forward to meeting with you soon and continuing our regular discussions, please accept, Mr. President, the assurance of my highest respect.
Wrexham and the whole of Wales has lost a really good man and a leader

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Feb 24th, 2022

Councillors have paid tribute to a wonderful politician and a good friend following the death of former Wrexham council leader, Aled Roberts.

Aled, who passed away aged 59, was the current Welsh Language Commissioner for Wales, and former Member of the Senedd for North Wales.

As a councillor, Aled represented the Ponciau Ward from 1991-2012 and served as Mayor of Wrexham in 2003-04.

He was elected Leader of Wrexham County Borough Council in March 2005.

Yesterday councillors paid tribute to Aled at the first full council meeting of the year.

Wrexhams Mayor Cllr Ronnie Prince led the tributes: Im sure you were all shocked and as saddened as me to hear the recent passing of Aled Roberts.

He was a good friend of many of us, and had been a councillor for 20 years.

He was leader for several of those years before being elected as an Assembly Member in 2011. His passion for the Welsh language brought him to the most recent role as Welsh Language Commissioner.

Aled was a great character and his dedication to every role he took on is evident by the amount of kind words that have been spoken about him since his passing from across the public, private and voluntary sector.

Leader of the Council Mark Pritchard described Aled Roberts as a wonderful politician, noting he had gone on to bigger and better things, but he never left Wrexham and never left Rhos.

Cllr Dana Davies shared warm personal memories, describing him as a force of nature, passionate about all things Welsh.

Cllr Rob Walsh said: I owe a lot to Aled, without Aled I dont think Id be here now as a councillor.

He was the one who inspired me to become a councillor to represent my local area, and I learned so much from him over the years. Because I spent so much time with him he was almost like an older brother for so long.

It was so good to see a smile because when Aled smiled he would always always light up a room. I concur with all the comments about what hes done for Wrexham, for his community, for Wales, and also the Welsh language.

Cllr Michael Morris said: I do feel that not only Rhos, but Wrexham and the whole of Wales has lost a really good man and a leader to be honest with you.

I think his last last role as Welsh Language Commissioner was where he wanted to be, and where he needed to sit, quite frankly, because that was always his passion  the Welsh culture, the Welsh language.

Cllr Alun Jenkins added: I worked closely with Aled when he was leader and have great respect for all he did, and the way that he did everything so effectively and thoroughly.

He was always always very inclusive with everybody and thoroughly involved in all the details of everything that we were dealing with.

The Mayor led a period of silence in the meeting, saying We salute you and passing on words of condolence.

> Tributes paid in Welsh Parliament to the loss of a sincere, warm, humorous, and very passionate man

> Tributes after death of former Wrexham council leader Aled Roberts
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Kazakhstan, the Prime Ministers Office said.

The Armenian PM was greeted at the Nur-Sultan airport by Kazakhstans Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Integration Bakhyt Sultanov.

PM Pashinyan will participate in the Eurasian Inter-governmental Councils narrow-format and expanded-format sessions in Nur-Sultan on February 24 and 25 respectively.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian airline FLYONE Armenia will start operating Yerevan-Moscow-Yerevan regular direct flights from March 1 as the company received the permit of the Armenian and Russian aviation authorities, the company told Armenpress.

The first flight to Moscows Vnukovo Airport is scheduled on March 1.

The company will then operate the flight twice a week  on Mondays and Fridays.

The flights will be operated from the Zvartnots Airport with convenient timetable and affordable prices.

The tickets and additional services of FLYONE Armenia can be acquired at www.flyone.am or in a mobile app available in Google App or App Store, as well as in the offices of all partner companies.

About FLYONE Armenia

FLYONE Armenia (www.flyone.am) started its operations in 2021. On 27 October 2021, the Civil Aviation Authority of Armenia offered us the National Air Operator Certificate, assigning the IATA 3F code, which contains 2 characters and ICAO FIE code- 3 characters.

The airline's fleet consists of Airbus A320 aircraft, on which we will operate both scheduled and charter flights. Each aircraft has 180 seats and meets all International Air Transport Association (IATA) and EASA safety standards. Also, in pandemic conditions, the aircraft is equipped with HEPA air filters, which remove 99.97% of viruses and bacteria.

FLYONE (www.flyone.eu) was launched in 2016 on the Republic of Moldova market and is currently one of the leaders in the aviation market there. FLYONE has received IOSA certification, the highest safety standard in operational management. As well, it has been ranked multiple times in 2018, 2019 and 2020 in the TOP 10 "Most punctual company" according to the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) category.
In this Thursday April 16, 2020 file photo, The Amazon logo is seen in Douai, northern France. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler, File)

Six thousand Amazon workers at the BHM1 fulfillment center in Bessemer, Alabama are currently voting on whether to bring in the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). The voting began on February 4 and will continue through March 25.

This election is a do-over of the election held last year around this time, in which only 738 out of 5,800 workers voted for the union. The Biden administrations National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that regulates union activity, subsequently ordered the election to be repeated, determining that a ballot mailbox on Amazon property and other efforts by management to discourage workers from voting yes violated US labor laws and regulations.

The campaign to bring the RWDSU in at Amazon arises not from a rank-and-file rebellion of the working class, but from strategic calculations of the ruling class.

There is no shortage of opposition among Amazon workers to the dangerous and exploitative conditions they face. Amazon has perfected a psychologically manipulative workplace regime that combines tracking and surveillance to pressure its employees to make rate, working as fast as possible. In this environment, injuries are rampant. In only one warehouse, the IAWV documented 567 serious injuries over a two-year period from 2017 to 2018.

After they are injured, workers are pushed into the workers compensation system, which is weighted against workers, and which functions to deny them treatment and compensation and minimize their injuries. Other workers simply burn out from exhaustion, with one study finding a 150 percent turnover rate among warehouse associates in a single year. A common saying among Amazon workers is, We are not robots!

With the COVID-19 outbreak at the beginning of 2020, Amazon kept workers at their stations with minimal and cosmetic safety precautions. During the pandemic, tens of thousands contracted the virus. Amazon continues to conceal the extent of infections and deaths from its workers in an effort to lull them into a false sense of security.

The role of the RWDSU

Bringing in the RWDSU, however, will resolve none of the burning issues facing Amazon workers. As during the first vote, the union is advancing no demands in relation to wages or working conditions in the plant. Indeed, the campaign is backed by powerful sections of the political establishment as a means of strangling and blocking a rank-and-file rebellion at Amazon.

While the RWDSU campaign found relatively lukewarm support among Amazon workers in Bessemer last year, winning over only 13 percent of the workforce, the campaign continues to enjoy the full support of the Biden administration and the Democratic Party, the trade union bureaucracy, the media establishment, and even sections of the Republican Party.

The promotion of the unions is one of the Biden administrations central policies, a fact underscored earlier this month by the release of a report by the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowermenta blueprint for the corporatist integration of the unions with the state and corporate management.

The 45-page report includes a specific reference to the Amazon unionization campaign in Bessemer, citing RWDSU President Stuart Applebaum as saying, This is the most pro-union statement from a president in United States history. The report notes that the RWDSU is organizing to represent workers in Bessemer, Alabama.

Applebaum himself has had a long career as what amounts to a government operative, embedded for decades in the Democratic Party and the AFL-CIO bureaucracy, including overseas operations in the service of US imperialism. He is on the board of Freedom House, which is a right-wing propaganda arm of the US government, and he is also on the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee and chairs the DNC Labor Council.

The Biden administration has been joined by sections of the Republican Party, represented chiefly by fascistic Florida senator Marco Rubio, who endorsed the RWDSU campaign in March.

The Biden administration, the Democratic Party, the union bureaucracy, sections of the Republican Party, and the Wall Street interests they serve see the official unions as key to containing and channeling the potentially explosive eruption of industrial struggles among Amazon workers, who currently number 1.5 million worldwide.

A further factor in the Biden administrations campaign to strengthen the AFL-CIO apparatus over the working class is the ruling classs preparation for war. In the event of a major great power conflict, and in particular war with Russia, the pro-capitalist unions will be critical in promoting national chauvinism. War abroad requires a disciplined labor movement at home.

Over the past several decades, and in particular since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, the AFL-CIO has played a key role in blocking and obstructing workers struggles. The unions failed to lift a finger to protect workers from the outbreak of the deadly pandemic, and the teachers unions in particular were instrumental in actively forcing teachers to return to work. Union and non-union alike, workers in America were herded into unsafe workplaces and schools, where they contracted the deadly disease by the millions.

Amazon has certainly opposed the unionization drive with all the means at its disposal. The oligarchs at the head of the monopolistic global conglomerate believe that they can do a better job of policing their own workforce than the unions can. Doubtless intoxicated by wealth and profits hardly precedented in world history, Amazon management resents what it must view as trespassing by the Biden administration and the union bureaucracy on its property.

However, if a union were to be brought in, Amazon would adapt and integrate the union into its apparatus, just as it has in Europe, where it employs unionized workers who are subjected to similar wages and working conditions as non-union workers.

Nor does the Amazon Labor Union, which is seeking to organize workers in New York, offer a way forward. While it has billed itself as an independent and worker-led organization, the ALU has trumpeted the backing it has from countless labor organizations, politicians, news media, and established unions.

ALU leader Chris Smalls has promoted the effort of the Teamstersan organization no less corrupt and integrated with management than the RWDSUto install itself in Amazon. Rather than seeking to develop a rank-and-file rebellion of workers through the formation of genuinely independent organizations of class struggle, the ALU is selling itself to the existing union apparatus.

Build Rank-and-File Committees at Amazon!

A struggle of Amazon workers must be waged! The pandemic has enormously intensified the brutal conditions of exploitation among Amazon workers throughout the world, along with all sections of the working class.

Whatever the outcome of the RWDSU re-vote, workers face the urgent necessity of establishing independent, rank-and-file organizations to fight for their interests, such as the committee already formed by Amazon workers at the BW12 warehouse in Baltimore, Maryland.

These organizations must be based on the principle of class struggle, not class collaboration. They must be democratically controlled by the workers themselves, not subject to the dictates of union executives who benefit off the exploitation of the workers they claim to represent.

The WSWS and the International Amazon Workers Voice call on all Amazon workers to join and build an Amazon Workers Rank-and-File Committee to fight against the oppressive workplace atmosphere, the hated rate system and time off task harassment. Amazon workers need wages adequate for a comfortable standard of living, effective countermeasures to ensure Zero Covid transmission in the workplace, the elimination of injuries, and full compensation and care for workers who have already been injured.

Moreover, in any struggle against the corporation, Amazon workers could rally the support of their class brothers and sisters in adjacent industriesincluding among teachers, who have been frog-marched into superspreading classrooms around the world in the middle of a pandemic; among the 30,000 oil workers whose union is blocking a strike against the hated American oil industry; among the tens of thousands of BNSF railway workers whom the courts are desperately attempting to prevent from striking; and among countless others.

The International Amazon Workers Voice stands ready to assist Amazon workers around the world in the formation of rank-and-file committees. If you are an Amazon worker, contact us today to join a committee at your workplace or to begin the process of building one.
Backed fully by the opposition Labor Party, Australias Liberal-National Coalition government has responded lockstep with the Biden administration in blaming Russia for the Ukraine crisis and imposing severe sanctions on Russian entities and individuals.

While also following the White House in not committing troops to the Ukraine, the government has offered full-throated political support to the US and has effectively intervened militarily by offering to assist the Ukrainian military, including in cyber warfare against Russia.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison talks about the situation in Ukraine at a news conference in Sydney, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Matching the US, Prime Minister Scott Morrisons government has withdrawn all Australian diplomatic representatives from Ukraine and urged Australians to leave the country, heightening the sense of alarm and a wartime atmosphere.

Addressing a media conference yesterday, following an emergency meeting of the cabinet national security committee, Morrison declared that a Russian invasion of Ukraine has effectively already begun. The comments, echoing those of Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, demonstrate that the US and its allies are not seeking to deescalate the crisis, but to ramp it up further.

Morrison hypocritically branded Russian President Vladimir Putin a thug and a bully. The language is that of war, not diplomacy.

This is from a man and a government that has supported every violent and murderous military invasion launched by the US to assert its global hegemony, from Vietnam to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya.

Morrison provided few details of the Australian sanctions, except that they would include travel bans. He said they would be ratcheted up in lockstep with the US, UK and other governments. He declined to rule out expelling Russias ambassador and other diplomats, saying that would depend on whether other governments took such actions.

Morrison refused to provide any information on the military assistance being committed to Ukraine. On Saturday, he had declared that Australia was ready to provide practical assistance to Ukraine in conjunction with allies, but said it would be irresponsible to telecast Australias plans.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who is one of Morrisons leadership rivals in the unstable and unpopular government, said there was an opportunity for Australia to provide support to Ukraine by way of basic equipment.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia would expand its existing cyber training for Ukrainian officials and could join a coalition to provide Ukraine with military equipment.

Labors leaders are equally aggressive. In fact, they urged the government to go further. Party leader Anthony Albanese branded Russias decision to send forces into the separatist-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk regions of the Ukraine as completely unacceptable.

Speaking before the national security committee meeting, Albanese called on the Morrison government to stand united with the US and its allies. There needs to be action taken and the Australian government must be a part of that action, he declared.

The Labor leader offered carte blanche bipartisan support for any decision made by the government and the US-linked intelligence apparatus. I would welcome any action that the Government sees fit, based upon the advice that theyll be receiving from the security agencies today.

On Tuesday, Albanese issued a joint statement with Labors shadow foreign minister Penny Wong, condemning Russias continuing aggression and urging the government to withdraw Australias ambassador to Russia and offer technical military assistance to the Ukraine, as well as stepping up cyber security support.

In response to Morrisons press conference yesterday, Albanese declared that Australians stand as one in the aggression against Russia.

The Labor leader again emphasised his full-throated support for the US-led campaign and the war propaganda accompanying it, declaring: Australia stands against aggression, and the aggressor here is Putin. It is not the people of Ukraine, it is not the government of Ukraine, it is not NATO, it is not the United States, it is Vladimir Putin and Russia.

The governments sanctions add to those it imposed on Russia in 2014 after the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, a tragedy for which it automatically blamed Russia, and the annexation of Crimea, which developed in response to the 2014 regime-change putsch organised by the US and Germany.

Bans will be imposed on trade and investment in the transport, energy, telecommunications, oil, gas and mineral reserves sectors in the breakaway Luhansk and Donetsk regions, extending existing bans on Crimea and Sevastopol.

Given the relatively small size of Australian trade with Russia, the sanctions are expected to have minimal direct impact on the Russian economy. Reportedly, they will mainly affect Russian investors who might have interests or funds in Australia. Individuals can be targeted on a wide range of vague grounds under US-style Magnitsky sanctions laws passed last December with Labors backing.

The bipartisan line-up behind the US-led confrontation with Russia is being accompanied by a barrage of anti-Russian propaganda throughout the corporate media. Russia crosses the line was the banner headline in yesterdays Australian, the Murdoch media flagship. Worst case scenario: Russia invades Ukraine, declared the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

This wall-to-wall blitz is designed to poison public opinion in preparation for war and cover over the real driving forces behind the conflict, which lie in Washington, not Moscow. As the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) explained in its February 14 statementOppose the US-NATO drive to war with Russia in Ukraine! for the past three decades, US imperialism has seized upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union to seek to reinforce and extend the global hegemony it asserted after World War II. Washington has waged war repeatedly, causing devastation in the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

Media outlets are deliberately linking the Ukraine conflict to China, which US imperialism regards as the greatest threat to its global power. Yesterdays Australian editorial bracketed China into the demand for action, supposedly to stop a march of the tyrants.

Any war by the US and NATO against Russia would almost certainly drag China into what could well be a nuclear war for domination over the Eurasian landmass, which the US has long sought to bring under its thumb. Japan and Australia, close allies of the US, would be drawn into the conflagration with China.

Over the past three weeks, as Washington has escalated the Ukraine crisis, there has been an increasingly frenzied anti-China witch hunt in Australia, also driven by a deepening domestic political crisis. Morrison and his ministers have accused Labors leaders of being Chinas pick in the looming federal election. In response, Albanese and his shadow ministers have ramped-up their own charges against China and their total commitment to the US military alliance.

This week, the governmentbacked by Laborprovocatively accused China of aggression, intimidation and bullying after a Chinese naval vessel reportedly pointed a laser at an Australian surveillance plane.

Significantly, media polls indicate that the China scare campaign has failed to reverse the governments collapsing approval ratings. A Resolve Political Monitor published by Nine Media outlets yesterday showed that from January to February, Morrisons net performance rating fell from minus 10 to minus 17.

There is widespread anti-war sentiment and distrust of the entire political establishment. Many people recall the weapons of mass destruction lie that provided the pretext for the barbaric US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq.

This antipathy to the war-mongering agenda has to be translated into support for a global anti-war movement, based on the working class. That must be informed by an historical understanding that the danger of a World War III is produced by the efforts of US imperialism to maintain the dominant power it obtained via the first two global conflagrations.

For that purpose, the WSWS is this weekend hosting an international online webinar, Fight COVID! Save Lives! Stop the drive to World War III! Speakers will elaborate a political program to mobilise the working class against war and the pandemic. We urge our readers to register and attend this critical event.
Spains far-right Vox party is poised to enter the regional government of Castilla y Leon after winning its best-ever regional election result on 13 February. The ruling right-wing Peoples Party (PP) increased its total seats by two but failed to win a parliamentary majority.

Vox won 17.6 percent of the vote and 13 seats, a dramatic increase on its 5.5 percent and one seat in the 2019 elections. While the PP returned 31 representatives to the 81-seat parliamentthe most of any partyits vote share declined slightly, from 31.5 percent to 31.4 percent. It was the partys worst-ever election result in Castilla y Leon, historically a PP stronghold.

The Socialist Party (PSOE) gained 30.1 percent of the vote and 28 seatsseven fewer than in 2019. The right-wing Citizens party, which had ruled in coalition with the PP since 2019, collapsed from 12 representatives to one. The left-populist Podemos also won a single seat. The regional parties Soria Ya! (Soria Now!), the Leonese Peoples Union and For Avila together won seven seats.

The vote for Vox in the Castilla y Leon elections is another sharp warning to the working class of the neo-fascist danger in Spain. Forty-four years after the 1978 Transition from the fascist regime established by Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War, the far-right is once again on the verge of taking power in parts of Spain.

In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, top far-right officers opposed to public health measures issued calls for a coup and mass murder, which the PSOE-Podemos government downplayed. In leaked WhatsApp chats, far-right generals, backed by Vox, call to kill 26 million Spaniards55 percent of Spains populationwhom they view as impossible to win to fascism.

The snap elections in Castilla y Leon were called after PP regional president Alfonso Fernandez Manueco expelled Citizens from his government in December, claiming he could no longer rely on their loyalty.

Tensions had been rising in the PP-Citizens government for months due to tactical differences over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and difficulties in pushing through the PPs budget. The snap elections were precipitated by a no-confidence motion tabled by the PSOE opposition in March 2021. Although the motion was defeated, Citizens deputy Maria Montero defected from the party before the vote, leaving the PP-Citizens coalition one member short of an absolute majority.

Manueco had hoped to win enough votes to govern without Citizens, with opinion polls initially predicting a comfortable PP victory. But with Citizens collapse and the PPs disappointing results, Manueco will likely now be forced to rely on votes from Vox to form a government and push through legislation. This would be the first time Vox would enter a regional government.

While Vox has previously supported regional PP administrations from outside the government, Vox leader Santiago Abascal has demanded that the PP enter into coalition with his party in Castilla y Leon, stating that Manueco would not get Voxs support free of charge.

Vox has the right and the duty to form a government in Castilla y Leon, Abascal declared after the elections. Weve managed to save the region from the threat of socialists and communists, he continued. Abascal then demanded that Voxs lead candidate in the region, Juan Garcia-Gallardo, be made regional vice-president.

Abascal later retreated somewhat, stating: The demand for the vice-presidency in Castilla y Leon was just a comment. We havent formally demanded anything yet. However, he still conditioned Voxs support on their being brought into government, declaring, if Citizens received 14 percent of the vote in the last parliament and weve received 17.6 percent, we should get the same or more than Citizens. Citizens members had held four ministries and the post of vice-president in the last government.

Garcia-Gallardo has also ruled out Vox abstaining to tacitly back a minority PP government, declaring: We are not going to abstain, and we are going to make our votes count.

Manueco initially sought to avoid forming a coalition, stating that he wants to form a solo government based on informal pacts with other parties. We are not going to repeat the elections, he said, and there will be a strong and stable government which will emerge from a parliamentary agreement. Initially, without specifically ruling out an alliance with Vox, he claimed he preferred to avoid it, stating: I dont have red lines, but I do have great principles.

Expediency has dictated new principles to Manueco in recent days, however, and current reports are that he and the PP are progressing rapidly in talks with Vox on a governmental alliance. There is good harmony between the PP and Vox in talks, though the question of ministerial portfolios has not been discussed yet, a PP source told El Diario, which said that it is increasingly likely that Vox will obtain the regional vice-presidency.

Other PP leaders have not hesitated to ally with Vox, with Madrid regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso declaring in a press conference last Tuesday: We shouldnt care what the left thinks about our agreements. She explicitly endorsed entering into coalition with Vox during the Madrid election campaign.

For its part, the PSOE has opened the door to an agreement with the PP, with PSOE Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declaring that his party could abstain in an investiture vote to allow the PP to form a minority government without Vox.

If the [PP] explains that the far-right is a danger for democracy, Sanchez declared, perhaps we could come to an agreement; if they explain that we must place a cordon sanitaire around those who question the rights and freedoms of women and LGBTI people, perhaps we can come to an agreement. But first they must do one thing: ask all those who have made deals with the far-right in Madrid and outside of Madrid to break those agreements.

The PP currently has agreements with Vox in Andalusia, Murcia and Madrid, making it unlikely that they will break ties with the far-right party, as they could then lose control of all these governments.

The elections in Castilla y Leon are significant especially insofar as they are widely considered to be a dry run for the national legislative elections, which must be held before December 2023.

A mid-February opinion poll by Electomania predicted that Vox could become the second-largest party in the 2023 elections, after the PSOE. It suggested that Vox could win as much as 22.1 percent of the vote and 84 seats, with the PP coming a close third with 83 seats and 21.7 percent of ballots. While the PSOE may be able to form an unstable coalition by relying on Podemos and a host of regional parties, a Vox-PP national government remains a distinct possibility.

No significant opposition to the rise of this fascistic party will be forthcoming from the ruling PSOE and Podemos party and their various political satellites. They have downplayed the threat posed by the far-right and acceded to virtually every demand placed on them by Voxfrom its refusal to implement lockdown measures to combat the pandemic to its brutal crackdown on refugees.

The only way to fight the rise of the far-right in Spain and across Europe is for the working class to fight on the basis of its own party and programme. This requires a break with the PSOE and Podemos, as part of a struggle for socialism in Spain and internationally.
The threat of a fascist occupation of the Capitol, a week before President Joe Biden is slated to give the State of the Union address, prompted the Department of Defense on Tuesday to approve the deployment of 700 National Guard soldiers and 50 large trucks to the Washington D.C. area.

Supporters listen to organizers talk about the upcoming trucker caravan to Washington, D.C. called The People's Convoy on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Adelanto, Calif. A small convoy of truckers demanding an end to coronavirus mandates began a cross-country drive from California to the Washington, D.C., area on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

In the last week the Pentagon has received two different requests for National Guard support, the first coming last Wednesday from the District of Columbia (DC) Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. The agency requested 400 members of the DC National Guard and 50 large tactical vehicles. Some of the unarmed soldiers and vehicles have already been deployed around Washington D.C., creating militarized traffic control points.

The second request, for some 300 soldiers, came from the U.S. Capitol Police department this past Sunday. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin approved the deployment of soldiers from West Virginia, New Jersey and Vermont who will arrive no later than February 26, according to CBS News.

The approval of troops follows an announcement last week that the U.S. Capitol Police will be installing security fencing around the Capitol complex and the White House, as was done for much of 2021 following Trumps failed coup.

Earlier this month the Department of Homeland Security leaked a security bulletin warning that the proposed convoy was seeking to emulate the far-right Freedom Convoy occupation of downtown Ottawa.

As with the Ottawa occupation, the proposed US convoy is not an organic expression of the working class but a top-down far-right operation, with extensive ties to the Republican Party and former advisers of would-be dictator Donald Trump. Its purpose is to eliminate the few remaining public COVID-19 health measures in the US and undermine, even overthrow, the Biden administration.

The figures organizing the nascent convoys include many who participated in and organized Trumps failed January 6 coup, including Republican Party operatives, fascist paramilitaries and other far-right elements, some of whom have already begun their trek to Washington D.C.

In California on Wednesday, local reports estimated that some 300 vehicles aligned with The Peoples Convoy left Adelanto Stadium in Adelanto, California. The vehicles were afforded a police escort by San Bernardino County Sheriffs onto US Route 395. In a press statement dated February 20, 2022, the group wrote that the goal of the transcontinental movement was to restore accountability and libertyby lifting all mandates and ending the state of emergencyas COVID is well-in-hand now, and Americans need to get back to work in a free and unrestricted manner.

According to the New York Time s data tracker, as of February 22, 2022, some 939,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. On Tuesday alone, 2,726 people died of the virus in the country. The 7-day average death rate is just under 2,000, and with new cases still averaging 125,000 a day, the US will cross over 80 million cases later this week.

In a Wednesday article on the California convoy, the New York Times reported: Darrel Courtney, the chief executive of the Adelanto Stadium and Event Center, said he received a call last Tuesday from Leigh Dundas, an Orange County lawyer and Republican activist. Dundasa lawyer for an anti-vaccine group whose leader was charged with entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and who was videotaped the day before the riot rallying pro-Trump crowds with calls to kill any alleged Americans who might have helped undermine the 2020 electionscalled to rent the parking lot.

At the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Dundas was seen screaming at Trump supporters to give their lives in furtherance of the coup.

The Times reported that a list of organizations supporting the convoy included those led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ... and Gen. Michael Flynn, the former Trump administration national security adviser. One of the listed organizations supporting The Peoples Convoy is The America Project, which is run by former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne. In December 2020, both Flynn and Byrne implored Trump to deploy the military in order to seize voting machines and rerun the election at gunpoint.

Byrne has continued to galvanize fascist forces under Trumps stolen election lies. In addition to lending the bulk of the money to fund last years Arizona recount, Byrne, Flynn, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and Trump lawyer Sidney Powell played key roles in organizing Trumps failed coup.

Demonstrating the support the convoy has in far-right media circles, the Peoples Convoy press released notes that Newsmax and the Epoch Times will be providing live daily updates and have embedded journalists in the convoy. The Epoch Times, funded by the far-right Falun Gong movement, has promoted the conspiracy theory that the coronavirus was purposely created and disseminated by the Chinese Communist Party. The movement also provides funding to fascist former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.

Another notable supporter of the Peoples Convoy is personal injury attorney and aspiring Nevada Republican gubernatorial candidate Joey Gilbert. Like Dundas, Gilbert also participated in Trumps January 6 attempted coup. In this video (34 seconds) he can be seen calling to fascist InfoWars host Alex Jones to Come up here! and join him on the steps of the Capitol.

In a Tuesday interview on Pushing the Limits with Brian Shapiro, Gilbert reiterated Trumps central claim that the 2020 election was stolen and that Biden was not the legitimate president. I do not believe President Joe Biden was dutifully elected by the American people, Gilbert declared. He also claimed that the coronavirus was a plandemic conceived by Dr. Anthony Fauci ... the Democrats and establishment Republicans.

Emulating the same militia groups that participated in Trumps coup, participants in the California convoy can be seen in videos wearing black and yellow shirts, the traditional colors of the Proud Boys. The shirts, according to this interview, were given to volunteers by the convoy organizers.

A report in the Chicago Free Media detailed a Sunday meeting of the Peoples Convoy in Round Lake Beach, Illinois. The report noted that [w]itnesses reported seeing at least three men in Proud Boy-branded gear. One picture taken of the event shows a person wearing a Proud Boys Core Tenets sweatshirt and waving a flag that read F*ck Biden.

Speakers at the event denounced COVID-19 vaccine mandates, protesters against police violence and the antifa. The roughly 100 attendees waved American and pro-police flags and carried signs reading Lets Go Brandon code for F*ck Joe Biden and vaccine mandates is (sic) communism.

Asked about the potential fascist convoy coming to D.C. on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki advised that the White House was closely monitoring and closely watching the situation.

Despite the fact that those planning to descend on Washington D.C. include many of the same people who participated in the January 6 coup, Psaki did not comment on the political character of the convoy or the organizers connections to the Republican Party. This is in keeping with the Democratic Party and Biden administrations policy of blinding the working class to the threat of fascism in order to protect the capitalist system and protect their increasingly fascistic Republican colleagues.
Students walking out of Winnipeg's Kelvin High School to protest the lack of COVID-19 safety measures. (Striking Students/Reddit)

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the response of Canadas ruling elite, led by the Federal Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has been organized around the principle of defending corporate profits over the health, wellbeing and, indeed, the lives of the population.

The federal government and its provincial counterparts of all political stripes explicitly rejected the implementation of a Zero COVID policy. They refused to carry out mass testing and contact tracing, the shutdown of all non-essential production with full compensation for all workers affected, and the mobilization of the resources necessary to reinforce healthcare infrastructure and provide families with financial, social, and educational support to shelter at home.

Governments at all levels left health care workers, educators, students and their families, and the entire working class to fend for themselves without adequate personal protective equipment, including high-quality masks. Instead, the political elite concentrated on organizing massive bailouts to the banks and big business with virtually no strings attached. Only a pittance was provided to workers, and much of this support was quickly clawed back by the tax authorities. As a result, Canadas billionaires, millionaires and sections of the upper-middle class have seen their stock and real-estate portfolios balloon to unprecedented heights, even as more than 36,000 Canadians have succumbed to the virus.

The five successive waves of the virus have been driven by unscientific and premature school and workplace reopenings. Governments primary concern was the need to step up the exploitation of the working class to guarantee corporate profits.

These homicidal policies have taken a devastating toll on the mental health of children and young people. The possibility of getting sick and potentially getting Long COVID, as well as the danger of bringing home the virus from overcrowded schools and infecting family members, are constant fears for children. The cynical lies from politicians and the media about their desire to keep schools open at all costs to protect kids mental health have left many young people feeling like their lives are worthless as far as the ruling class is concerned. The real reason governments were so determined to keep schools open was so they could function as a babysitting service for parents, whose labour power was needed by the capitalists to keep churning out profits.

Social isolation from friends and extra-curricular activities, a lack of robust online learning and social supports for students, and the general economic fallout from the pandemic have exacerbated the mental health challenges youth already face.

Community charity Toronto Foundation president and CEO Sharon Avery describes the mental health crisis as a shadow pandemic. The charitys 2021 Vital Signs report documented alarming increases in mental health challenges for children and youth in Toronto over the previous two years based on data from hundreds of studies, interviews, and articles. The report showed trends of increased cases of eating disorders, feelings of loneliness, as well as emergency room visits for suicidal ideation at the Hospital for Sick Children located in Toronto.

Dr. Tyler Black, a British Columbia-based child psychiatrist, has noted that child admissions to hospital for attempted suicides increased most when lockdowns were lifted and the virus was spreading widely.

In an interview with CBC News, Avery explained, We are concerned that long-term anxiety and depression become life-long illnesses and burdens for our children to carry. Underscoring both the tragic impact of decades of austerity on critical social and health infrastructure and services, and the urgency of the mental health crisis facing young people, she warned of the danger of the shadow pandemic overrunning the mental health system, which was already overburdened, particularly for youth.

According to a report by Childrens Mental Health Ontario (CMHO), the number of youth under 18 on waiting lists for mental health and addiction services more than doubled between 2017 and 2020 to 28,000. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington, also in Ontario, reported a 40 percent increase in the number of youth accessing mental health services last year.

In Alberta, members of the Alberta Medical Association and the Alberta Psychiatric Association made an urgent call for a meeting with the provincial Health Minister Jason Copping. The doctors are advocating for significant increases in funding and an overhaul of the mental health system, including more preventative supports in schools.

Dr. Sterling Sparshu, section president of the child and adolescent psychiatry section with the Alberta Medical Association, told CBC earlier this month, Ive never seen so many kids suffering so badly. Ive never seen so many families in need of hope and Ive never seen so many colleagues struggling with the degree of burnout they are right now. The system is on the edge of collapse.

The emergency room doctor at the Alberta Childrens Hospital in Calgary explained that the overburdened and underfunded mental health system has been overwhelmed with the additional stress of COVID. He pointed to a 200 percent increase in mental health related emergency department visits over the past decade. Since the start of the pandemic, admissions for attempted suicide have doubled. There are long waiting periods for community-based support programs, while average wait times for mental health treatment beds have jumped from 10 hours to 33 hours over the past two years.

A meta-analysis of 29 different studies involving 80,879 youth from across the globe published in August 2021 by the University of Calgary found that rates of depression and anxiety symptoms doubled during the pandemic. The analysis was printed in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics under the title Global Prevalence of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adolescents During Covid-19. The prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms were higher later in the pandemic, in older adolescents, and in girls.

Childrens Healthcare Canada (CHC), a national organization representing child health care providers, reported that Kids Help Phone received about 4.6 million calls in 2020. This was more than double the 1.9 million calls received by the toll-free distress hotline for young people in 2019. CHC also noted that childrens hospitals are recording higher volumes of young people being admitted for suicide attempts, substance abuse and complex eating disorders.

Rather than introducing the social and psychological supports that are desperately needed to combat these troubling developments, governments at all levels claimed that the answer was to force children to return to dangerous, overcrowded classrooms with almost no protections against COVID-19.

The strains and stresses on working class families are not limited to the younger generation. According to a study by the Angus Reid Institute published January 24, 36 percent of Canadians say they are struggling with their mental health. This was an increase from the 25 percent who said they were struggling in November, prior to the fifth wave driven by the Omicron variant, which has killed over 5,000 Canadians since the start of the year.

A Nanos Research poll commissioned by CTV and publish in January found that 33.3 percent of respondents aged 18-34 sought help for their mental health during the pandemic, through either counselling or treatment. This was more than the 19.5 percent of 35-54 year-olds and 5.9 percent of those 55 and up. Nearly half of all respondents, including 64 percent of those aged 18-34, said their mental health had worsened since the start of the pandemic. This is a significant increase from April 2020, when 38 percent of all respondents reported a deterioration in their mental health.

Young adults, including post-secondary students, are also vulnerable to mental health challenges. International students have been particularly hard hit. A study of 1,000 international students from 84 countries conducted by The Conversation found that 55 percent of respondents were at risk of depression and about 50 percent were at risk of an anxiety disorder.
Jury deliberations began on Wednesday morning in the federal trial of the three officers who assisted officer Derek Chauvin in killing George Floyd on May 25, 2020. After a month-long trial, prosecuting attorneys and the defense lawyers made closing arguments on Tuesday.

Three more Minneapolis police officers charged in death of George Floyd. From left, Tomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao (photos: Hennepin Country Sherriff)

The three former Minneapolis, Minnesota police officersJ. Alexander Kueng, 28, Thomas Lane, 38, and Tou Thao, 36were indicted by the US Justice Department on May 6, 2021, on multiple counts of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law for willfully failing to intervene to stop Chauvin from using excessive force and willfully failing to give medical care that resulted in bodily injury to, and the death of, George Floyd.

Under color of law refers to an act by a law enforcement officer or government official that has the appearance of legal authorization when in fact, no such authority exists. The phrase was included in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to hold liable anyone who misuses their power to deprive any citizen of the United States or other person of their rights secured by the Constitution.

Derek Chauvin, who knelt on George Floyds neck for nine minutes and caused his death by preventing him from breathing, pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges on December 15 as part of a deal worked out with the federal prosecutors. Chauvin, who is white, declared for the first time in court that his actions caused the death of the 46-year-old black man. While he has yet to be sentenced by Judge Paul Magnuson, part of Chauvins plea arrangement was that his state and federal sentences would be served concurrently, which means he will get an extra 2.5 years added to his 22.5-year state sentence and he will also serve his term in a federal as opposed to state prison in Minnesota.

In her closing argument on Tuesday, federal prosecutor Manda Sertich focused on the amount of time that George Floyd suffered under Chauvins knee, begging to be released, while the three police officers did nothing to stop what was going on. Sertich explained that the officers acted willfully in depriving Floyd of his rights, which means that they knew that Chauvin was acting unlawfully. In order to convict the officers, the willful element must be confirmed in the verdict of the jury.

The prosecutor also said that even after his final pleas to be allowed to breathe, all three officers failed to come to his aid and save his life. She said Thao had done nothing for four minutes and 40 seconds as the victim called out for help. During the same time, she said, Kueng ignored the desperate pleas as he got shoulder to shoulder with Chauvin and never told him to get up. Lane held George Floyds legs and chose not to stop the horror unfolding right under his nose. Lane only suggested that Chauvin roll him onto his side once and then did nothing to give George Floyd the medical aid he knew he so desperately needed.

Each of the men have separate lawyers but they all essentially argued the same position before the jury that the former officers were following the lead of the senior officer on the scene, the murderer Derek Chauvin. They said that force was appropriate in the circumstance because Floyd had taken fentanyl and refused to get into the police car after being accused of attempting to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at the nearby convenience store.

They also said that their attention had been diverted from Floyds condition because of the crowd of hostile bystanders that had assembled to witness the brutalization and murder of a man in broad daylight by the Minneapolis Police Department. Thomas Plunkett, a lawyer for Kueng, pleaded with the jurors that they were the former officers last defense against a mob mentality that was driving their prosecution.

In reality, if not for the bravery of the bystanderssuch as teenager Darnella Frazier who captured the entire nine minutes of George Floyds public execution by the officers on her smartphone and shared the video on social mediavery few people would ever have heard about the horrific crime that took place on the corner of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.

While Chauvin was proceeding with his deadly kneeling on George Floyds neck, Thao repeatedly threatened the group of onlookers who had gathered at the scene and were yelling and demanding to the best of their ability that the killing be halted. The four officers were fired only after Fraziers video went viral while the initial report from the Minneapolis Police Department said that Floyd had physically resisted arrest and that Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later.

This type of blatant falsification and coverup is common in cases of police violence and murder against poor and working-class people in cities and towns across the US. According to a database of people shot and killed by police maintained by the Washington Post, the year 2021 saw the highest number of such deaths, 1,055, recorded since 2015.

Another tragic example of police murder and subsequent coverup is the brutal shooting of Breonna Taylor in her own apartment on March 13, 2020. On Wednesday, the trial of former Louisville, Kentucky policeman Brett Hankison, the only law enforcement officer to be charged in relation to Taylors death, began in Jefferson County Circuit Court before a twelve-person jury.

Taylor, a black 26-year-old emergency room technician, was asleep with her boyfriend in her apartment when a squad of three white plainclothes police officers battered her door down while serving a no-knock warrant. Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, thinking that a break-in was underway fired a warning shot from his legally possessed handgun. In response, the officers fired 32 shots into the apartment, six of which struck Taylor and killed her.

An elaborate scheme to cover up the killing was worked out by the officers with a filed incident report that said Taylor had died on the scene, but her injuries were none and there was no forced entry. Once again, the falsifications in the police report and the whitewash of the brutal murder of Taylor would never have been brought to light had it not been for the actions of her family members and the nationwide protests that developed six weeks later following the murder of Floyd.

As it is, the trial of Hankisonan officer with a long record of police misconductis an attempt to make him the fall guy for rampant criminality within the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD). Hankison has not been charged with killing Breonna Taylor but with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, which is a low-level felony, for the shots he fired during the raid into the neighboring apartment where a family was sleeping.

The officer who actually fired the shots that killed Breonna Taylor, Myles Cosgrove, and the senior officer leading the raid, Jonathan Mattingly, have faced no charges after they were cleared by a grand jury overseen by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. The LMPD has maintained that none of the officers were wearing body cameras, while news photos taken at the scene showed at least one of them wearing a camera.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu has demanded that the leaders of Nepals main political parties ratify the Millennium Challenge Corporation-Nepal Compact (MCC) before February 28 or face a review of Washingtons relations with the country.

Nepalese protesters opposing a proposed U.S. half billion dollars grant for Nepal clash with police outside the parliament in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

Lu delivered his ultimatum in separate telephone calls on February 10 with Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-UML) chairman Sharma Oli and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Assistant Secretary of State Lu reportedly voiced Washingtons dissatisfaction over alleged Chinese influence in attempts to block the $US500 million MCC-Nepal Compact which was signed nearly five years ago, in 2017.

The Kathmandu Post said it was the first such strongly-worded message to Nepali political leadership from Washington since the countries established bilateral relations in 1947.

Washingtons threatened review of its relations with Nepal is part of its ongoing efforts to tie the strategically-located country into the escalating US war preparations against Russia and China and reverse its historic decline. Beijing has branded Washingtons intervention as coercive diplomacy, reflecting the deepening geopolitical tensions between the US and India on one hand and China on the other.

The proposed MCC grant involves the development of electricity transmission facilities in Nepal, particularly along its border with India. MCC programs, which are presented as aid, are part of Washingtons efforts to entrench its influence in backward countries. Their strategic importance for Washington is indicated by the MCC leadershipthe US secretary of state serves as MCC chairman and the US Treasury secretary is the vice chairman.

In a direct threat, Lu made clear to Nepali political leaders during his phone call that Washington would use political corruption and human rights issues in Nepal to enforce its demands. Manipulation of MCC by some individuals has made us take a tough stand and position on human rights abusers and those involved in systematic corruption in Nepal.

The US, which has a long and sordid record of human rights violations and war crimes, hypocritically and cynically exploits human rights to pressure other countries into aligning themselves with Washingtons geopolitical agenda.

Lu also blamed supposed social media misinformation campaigns for popular concerns about the MCC program and its political strings, insisting during the call that it was not connected to any security or military elements as hyped by some sections in Nepal.

Stepping up its pressure on Kathmandu, the US embassy in Nepal last week initiated a new Facebook and Twitter campaign against alleged disinformation and to promote Washingtons interests.

The ramped-up US threats have increased political turmoil in Nepal. The Nepali Congress-led government attempted to get parliamentary ratification of the MCC compact last Friday but was forced to backtrack after its ally, the Maoist Centre, said it opposed the program in its present form. Deubas minority government, which came to power last year, relies on parliamentary support from the Maoist Centre.

The media reported that Deuba put the MCC program on the parliamentary agenda again on Sunday, after being assured of support by the opposition CPN-UML leader Sharma Oli.

The Maoist Centre called a demonstration in Kathmandu last Wednesday, and on Sunday, opposing the tabling of the MCC program in the parliament agenda. The government mobilised police to disperse the protesters, attacking them with batons, tear gas and firing rubber bullets.

Nepali workers and students aware of US interventions and regime-change operations in other countries have a legitimate fear of the MCC program. However, the Maoist party, which has been in previous bourgeois coalition governments and is discredited among masses is cynically seeking to exploit this popular opposition.

Dahal, the Maoist Centre leader, is close to China, and was part of the former administration of Prime Minister Sharma Oli which blocked the ratification of the MCC. While Dahal has said that his party will not ratify the aid program unless there are amendments, Lu has rejected any amendments.

In order to increase pressure on the Maoist Centre, the MCC has leaked a joint letter signed by Deuba and Dahal last September. The joint letter sought additional time for the ratification in the parliament but did not raise the question of amendments.

Reflecting the concerns of sections of the Nepali political elite, Ramesh Nath Pandey, a former Nepali foreign minister told the Kathmandu Post: The US will definitely retaliate given its nature and its past records but we do not know what kind of action it may take. He warned that the fallout would impact Nepal on a political, economic and strategic level, and warned, this could invite a huge political crisis in Nepal.

Suresh Chalise, who has served as an ambassador of Nepal in Washington, said that the country should not lose the trust of the US. Nepal needs support from countries like the US, because it is sandwiched between India and China, where you can see ups and downs once in a while.

The government and the ruling elite are also deeply concerned about losing US aid at a time when the economy is reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nepals main foreign currency earnerstourism, and remittances from migrant workershave collapsed. The US is currently the countrys biggest bilateral donor.

Lu has indicated that not only US aid will be curtailed but other assistance and investments Nepal receives from various bilateral and multilateral agencies as well as private investment will suffer. Washington has the final say in international agencies like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

For its part, China has expressed its concerns about Washingtons aggressive pressure in Nepal. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press conference on Friday: We oppose coercive diplomacy and actions that pursue a selfish agenda at the expense of Nepals sovereignty and interests. China, he added, provides international aid to Nepal without political conditions.

Reporting Wangs remarks, the Global Times noted: The US criticism of China is totally groundless. The US has smeared China as an attempt to achieve its own geostrategic goals by sowing discord and creating a rift between China and Nepal.

Well aware of US plans to militarily encircle it, China is seeking to increase its influence on Nepal with investment projects and aid packages. Beijing is also concerned about India, which has increased its influence in Kathmandu since the Nepali Congress formed government last year.

If the Deuba-led minority government fails to secure parliamentary ratification of the MCC program, it could collapse as Washington intensifies its efforts to impose its demands on Nepal.
The Chinese foreign ministry yesterday condemned Washington for deliberately inflaming the danger of war in the Ukraine crisis. It criticised US President Bidens imposition of further sanctions on Moscow after Russian President Putin signed a decree recognising two eastern Ukrainian regions as independent and dispatched Russian troops into these areas.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk to each other during their meeting in Beijing, China, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

At a press conference, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the US was raising tensions, creating panic, and even playing up the schedule of war If someone is adding fuel to the fire while blaming others then that behaviour is irresponsible and immoral.

Asked if China would impose sanctions on Russia, Hua stated that the Chinese government believed that sanctions have never been a fundamental and effective way to solve problems. She reiterated that the Chinese government regarded the US imposition of unilateral sanctions, not just on Russia but other countries, including China, as illegal.

Since 2011, the United States has imposed sanctions on Russia more than 100 times, but we can all think about it calmly, Hua said, adding: Have US sanctions solved the problem? She repeated Chinas plea for negotiations to maintain regional peace and stability.

The US, however, has no intention of solving the problem. It is hell-bent on ramping up tensions in the Ukraine and provoking war with Russia. Beijings pleas for talks and a peaceful solution will fall on deaf ears.

Hua pointedly warned that in its handling of the Ukraine crisis and relations with Russia, the US must not harm the legitimate rights and interests of China and other parties. Beijing is clearly concerned that the US will exploit its unilateral sanctions against Russia as a pretext for taking action against Chinese entities for any alleged breaches.

At the same time, while China has not condemned Putins actions in recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, it has given no political support to the move or Russias dispatch of troops to these areas.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has defended Russias concerns about the encroachment of NATO into Eastern Europe as legitimate, but Beijing is deeply worried by the international precedent set by any redrawing of national borders. It has not formally recognised Russias annexation of Crimea, which followed the US-backed coup, involving openly fascist forces, that ousted the elected pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.

Hinting that Ukrainian security concerns also had to be taken into account, Hua said China had called on all parties to respect and attach importance to each others legitimate security concerns, strive to resolve issues through negotiation and consultation, and jointly maintain regional peace and stability.

Beijings concerns stem from legitimate fears that the US will exploit such precedents to justify support for separatist movements, including in Hong Kong and among the Uyghur and Tibetan minorities, as a means of destabilising and breaking up China. The US propaganda machine endlessly recycles the lie that the Chinese government is engaged in the genocide of the Uyghurs in Chinas western region of Xinjiang.

Moreover, the US is deliberately inflaming tensions over Taiwan, which it nominally recognises as part of China under the One China policy. In a definite echo of its accusations of a Russian invasion of the Ukraine, the US media has repeatedly claimed, without any substantiation, that China is preparing to take control of Taiwan using military force. In reality, the US has undermined longstanding protocols regarding the status of Taiwan by strengthening ties with the island, including the deployment of US troops there for the first time in more than four decades.

The Chinese foreign ministry statements yesterday follow a phone call between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. Wang expressed concern about the evolving situation in Ukraine and did not endorse Blinkens accusations of Russian aggression.

Wang blamed the crisis in the Ukraine on the delayed implementation of the Minsk agreement. This ceasefire deal was engineered by France and Germany, not the US, in 2014 and 2015 to end fighting between pro-Russian separatist militia in eastern Ukraine and the Ukrainian military, which was working with armed fascist groups.

The Minsk agreement cut across the agenda of the US and extreme right-wing Ukrainian parties and groupings, which sought to continue and intensify the fighting, including to regain control of the Crimea. Along with the removal of all foreign fighters and the pulling back of heavy weaponry, the agreement called for greater autonomy for the rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine, while requiring the separatists to return control of the border between Ukraine and Russia to the Kiev regime. These provisions have never been established.

The Russian and Chinese presidents undoubtedly discussed the looming crisis in the Ukraine in depth at their meeting in Beijing on February 4 at the opening of the Winter Olympics. A lengthy joint statement said the two countries had a friendship that had no limits. Without naming the US and its allies, the statement declared that Russia and China stand against attempts by external forces to undermine security and stability in their common adjacent regions, and counter interference by outside forces in the internal affairs of sovereign countries under any pretext.

Putin and Xi no doubt also discussed their somewhat different positions on the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the Crimea. As a result, Putin will not have been surprised by the lack of Chinese support for his announcement recognising Donetsk and Luhansk as independent. He will, however, be looking for Chinese economic and financial support to combat the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies on Russia.

The summit concluded a major agreement for Russia to supply China with 10 billion cubic metres of gas per yeara critical lifeline to Moscow under conditions where its markets in Europe are now being hit by US sanctions. With trade between Russia and China already increasing in the wake of the 2014 Ukrainian crisis, Putin and Xi agreed to boost it to $250 billion annually.

Biden declared that the penalties imposed on Russia this week were just the first tranche, so the potential for conflict with China for breaching the US sanctions regime can only rise. Washington will have no qualms about drumming up pretexts for punitive measures against Beijing, which it regards as even more of a threat to its global domination than Moscow. This underscores the danger that a war in Europe can rapidly extend to the Indo-Pacific, creating a global disaster.
On February 16, a teacher in country New South Wales (NSW) died after testing positive to COVID just two days earlier. She perished at home, alone, isolating in a studio space separated from her husband and two children.

Michelle Hayes (Facebook, family photograph)

Michelle Hayes, who taught at Bowral Public School, in the states Southern Highlands, was just 46-years-old. Her husband, Ben, also works at the school. The family of four only moved back to NSW in January after living and working on Norfolk Island for 12 years.

Speaking to the Australian newspaper, Hayes brother-in-law Will Young said, my heart is with her family, beginning with her forever-smitten husband Ben and two wonderful children Harry and Matilda. Her love for them was boundless and clear.

Messages of support flowed in following the news of her death, describing her as a dedicated and passionate teacher. One person wrote: We are all completely heartbroken. Michelle was one of the special ones. Her pedagogy was exemplary, her warmth, kindness and integrity evident in every interaction, and her commitment to living a full life with love at the centre inspiring. She will be so deeply missed.

In a Facebook post made soon after her death, her husband Ben warned For those who think that Covid isnt dangeroustry losing the love of your life in under 48 hours from a positive test result.

Hayes death is not only an immense tragedy, it is a crime.

It has not been publicly revealed where she contracted COVID, or whether that is known. Australian governments, including in NSW, have lifted almost all safety restrictions, ended contact-tracing and allowed the virus to spread freely, meaning it is often not known where transmission occurs.

There is every likelihood, however, that Hayes contracted the virus at school. She had been working at the school for the two weeks prior to her death. As a relief teacher Hayes would have worked with many different classes at the school each of those weeks.

The NSW government reopened the schools at the beginning of term one, in late January, despite unprecedented Omicron transmission. The Victorian Labor government adopted an identical mass reopening plan, while other states and territories followed suit, with a full return to in-person teaching concluding earlier this month.

Prior to the reopening and since, the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), a rank-and-file teachers group, warned that the return to in-person teaching, amid unchecked community transmission, would lead to mass school outbreaks. These would inevitably result in severe illnesses and deaths.

The CFPE drew attention to the statements of Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the lead-up to the resumption. Spelling out the intent of all the governments, including those led by Labor, Morrison insisted that the schools had to be reopened, because if they were not, it would add to workforce absenteeism. In other words, in-person teaching was solely aimed at forcing parents back into their workplaces, to ensure a full resumption of corporate activities.

The teacher unions have functioned as the police force of this agenda. In Victoria, the Australian Education Union branch explicitly endorsed that states reopening plan. The NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF), made some vague statements of concern, but its president Angelo Gavrielatos signed-off, declaring only that he would closely monitor the situation.

The unions thus enforced and facilitated the forced march of hundreds of thousands of children and teachers into COVID-infested classrooms. No less than the CFPE, they knew that this would result in fatalities and dire illness. But the unions function as an arm of government management. They defend the profit system, are closely tied to the Labor Party, advance the interests of a privileged executive and are hostile to any independent movement of educators.

If Hayes did contract the virus in school, it is no exaggeration to state that the NSWTF sent her to her death.

Tens of thousands of her colleagues are also at risk.

In figures released last week it was revealed that more than 20,000 school students and more than 500 educators in NSW had tested positive to COVID in the first two weeks of school alone. In Victoria 18,875 students and almost 2,000 teachers tested positive in the same time period. No information about what schools are being impacted is being published. Schools have been left with the responsibility of deciding how much information to give to staff and parents about case numbers.

The CFPE is collecting information from parents, teachers and students about COVID cases in schools. Our survey has revealed that there are large clusters developing at schools around the country. Both the Health Department and the Department of Education are suppressing almost all the information about COVID in schools.

Last week it was revealed by concerned parents that Carlingford West Public School in Sydney had more than 200 cases in a school with little over 700 pupils. In the regional towns of Albury and Wodonga on the NSW and Victorian border, several schools have reported large clusters developing with two having more than 50 students and staff contract COVID in the first weeks of the term. In the regional centre of Bathurst at least one school has more than 100 infections among staff and students.

In the regional town of Shepparton in Victoria, Verney Road School has returned to remote learning temporarily after 20 percent of its students and staff tested positive for the virus. The school caters for students with disabilities across all year levels. Despite the state Labor governments decree that schools remain open, the return to remote learning appears to be due to the insistence of the school executive staff who have acted to protect staff and students alike from a mass outbreak at the school.

The situation in Australia mirrors developments around the world. In the United States more than 1300 children and 530 teachers have died of COVID according to the official statistics. In the United Kingdom 150 children and 570 educators have died. Research has shown that around 10 percent of all those who contract the virus suffer from the debilitating effects of Long COVID. The symptoms of Long COVID include chronic fatigue, joint pain and complex neurological problems.

The NSWTF does not appear to have even mentioned Hayes death. Along with the Australian Education Union, it says nothing about the mass transmission in schools, participating in the cover-up along with the governments and education departments.

Next Monday, the NSW government is ending even token mitigations in schools, including a limited mask mandate and nominal restrictions on intermingling between students in different year levels. NSWTF president Angelo Gavrielatos has again mumbled about his concerns, but has made clear the union will do nothing about them.

The real position of the NSWTF, as a partner of the government, was made clear the same week of Hayes death. It announced that it had banned any, even limited industrial action by its members for the remainder of term one, in an ongoing industrial dispute driven by the governments drive to slash pay and its refusal to address intolerable conditions, including massive workloads and understaffing.

In Victoria, the Australian Education Union (AEU) is collaborating closely with the state Labor government. Having enforced the return to in-person teaching, the union has struck a deal for a new enterprise agreement that includes real wage cuts and entrenches the unbearable workplace conditions. When its members have denounced the deal as a sell-out and called for a no vote on the AEU Victoria Facebook page, the bureaucrats have simply deleted their comments in the manner of police censors.

The unions are not workers organisations. They are anti-democratic, bureaucratic shells, operated in the interests of a privileged executive, whose interests are diametrically opposed to those of educators. The unions are willing, not only to attack the pay and conditions of their members, but to inflict illness and death upon them in the interests of corporate profit.

As the CFPE has insisted, teachers and staff must take matters into their own hands, through the formation of rank-and-file committees. These must unify educators, parents and students, in a fight for a return to remote learning, while there is widespread COVID transmission. Otherwise, there will be many more deaths. And they must prepare a political and industrial fight to defeat the union sell-out deals, and to fight for a high-quality, fully-funded public education system.

Teachers, school staff, parents and students can inform the CFPE of school infections and outbreaks using this anonymous survey.

To contact the CFPE and join its fight:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: @CFPE_Australia
Read the statement of the International Committee of the Fourth International, Oppose the Putin governments invasion of Ukraine and US-NATO warmongering! For the unity of Russian and Ukrainian workers!

At 5:50 a.m. Moscow time on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a special military operation in Ukraine.

Explosions were reported in parts of Ukraine starting at around 5:00 a.m. local time, including in the capital Kiev, in the eastern city of Kharkov and in other parts of the country. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry claimed that military bases in Kiev and Kharkov were subject to missile strikes. Later Thursday morning, Ukrainian official Oleksiy Arestovych reported that 40 Ukrainian soldiers and 10 civilians had been killed, and dozens of soldiers wounded.

In this image made from video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressees to the nation in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)

The Ukrainian government also alleged that Russian troops had landed in Odessa and were crossing the border in Kharkov. Contradicting this information, CNN reported that no ground forces had been sighted. On social media, footage was shared showing cars racing on highways to flee Kiev.

The Russian Ministry of Defense denied that Ukrainian cities had been subject to any missile strikes and insisted that only military infrastructure was being targeted. Later, it reported: Military infrastructure at Ukrainian army air bases has been rendered out of action.

The Ukrainian government of Volodymyr Zelensky has proclaimed martial law, without specifying what restrictions would be in place.

The Ukrainian government already declared a state of emergency to go into effect Thursday. It involves a ban on strikes, demonstrations and the production and dissemination of destabilizing information in the media, as well as unspecified restrictions on the use of social media.

Russia has closed the airspace over East Ukraine and bordering Russian regions. The airport in Rostov on Don, the main Russian city near Ukraines border, has been closed entirely. The Ukrainian government had earlier closed several international airports in East Ukraine, including in Kharkov (Kharkiv), Dnepr, Zaporozhe and Kherson. It has now closed its airspace entirely.

US President Joe Biden, who spoke with Zelensky Wednesday night US time, denounced Russias troop deployment as a chosen premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. He will deliver a national address today.

Russia initiated its military operation after the separatist leaders of the so-called Peoples Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (Luhansk) (DNR and LNR) in eastern Ukraine had appealed to the Kremlin for military support. Putin had recognized the independence of the separatist enclaves on Monday.

Russias Rossiya 24 state television channel reported Wednesday night that the Ukrainian armed forces had crossed the border of the LNR and had launched artillery bombardment of the city of Nikolaevka (Mykolaivka).

The DNR and LNR were proclaimed by pro-Russian separatists in 2014, after a civil war broke out following the US-backed far-right coup in Kiev that ousted a pro-Russian government.

In his speech early Thursday morning, Putin denounced NATOs expansion to Eastern Europe and the US wars in the Middle East and Yugoslavia and threatened: Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russias response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history.

He said that Russia did not intend to occupy Ukraine, but only to demilitarize and de-Nazify it.

The Moscow stock exchange halted trading on Thursday, after the index had fallen by 11 percent in the early morning. The ruble has begun a rapid collapse.

European stock markets fell heavily as trading began yesterday morning, with the FTSE-100 down 2.34 percent in London, the Dax down 3.62 percent in Frankfurt, and the CAC-40 down 3.36 percent in Paris. Oil prices surged above US$100 per barrel for the first time in seven years. In Paris, wheat prices rose 10 percent overnight to over 300 per ton.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian and Turkish special representatives for normalization process held their second meeting today in Vienna, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Special Representatives for the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey, respectively, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan and Ambassador Serdar Klc held a meeting today (February 24) in Vienna.

The Special Representatives confirmed that the ultimate goal of the negotiations is to achieve full normalization between Armenia and Turkey, as agreed during their first meeting in Moscow.

They exchanged views on possible concrete steps that can be mutually undertaken to that end and reiterated their agreement to continue the process without preconditions, the Foreign Ministry said.
World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to striking lecturers on picket lines on Tuesday, just before brutal pension cuts were forced through by employers at a meeting of the Universities Superannuation Schemes Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC).

At the University of Manchester, the University and College Union (UCU) called workers out on strike only over the Four Fights dispute. The UCU provides an essential service to the employers by separating the struggle against the evisceration of pay, terms and conditions, from that to defend pensions.

The WSWS spoke to two workers, Poppy and Santiago, who explained their reasons for striking and the difficulties they face on campus as the pandemic continues with all restrictions lifted. The virus, and subsequent variants, are now able to spread freely among over 2 million students and tens of thousands of university workers.

Poppy (WSWS Media)

Poppy said, Im a PGR [Postgraduate Researcher], so I can see how its affecting my colleagues and also my future as well.

Asked whether they had been affected by the issues of casualisation and workload, Santiago said, Its not only casualisation, right? But also lack of investment, and lack of opportunities in terms of getting positions as a career scholar. Its very difficult to see a path that provides security and a decent salary.

There was, they said, a natural link between the Four Fights and pensions disputes, as Its not only employment security, but also old-age security.

Asked what was motivating the lack of investment in staff by universities, Santiago said, They invest their money in financial markets, and theyve become like profit-making machines, and they invest in the areas in which they believe they can make profits and where they can excel in terms of rankings, but not for us in humanities and social sciences of course

Exploitation is a massive thing. You can see international tuition fees payable by students going up and up and up, and the recruiting abroad and making more and more money. And our wages dont reflect that, of course.

Discussing the war drive against Russia by the major imperialist powers, and the United Statess ratcheting up of tensions in order to divert attention from a mounting domestic crisis, Santiago said, The government here is doing exactly the same, its not so different.

Strikers and students at Manchester Metropolitan University (WSWS Media)

Poppy and Santiago opposed the Conservative governments announcement the previous day ending remaining restrictions on the spread of COVID-19, as well as self-isolation support payments. Santiago said, Of course, and there wont be free tests so their statistics wont reflect anything because people wont be testing. Poppy rejected the claims that the Omicron variant meant the end of the pandemic, saying Who knows what the next variant will be? It is disproportionately going to affect poor people and disabled people, who are made to be in poverty due to the lack of support.

Poppy linked the campaign to force workers back to workplaces with an agenda in which employees are further disempowered because theyre having to work so many hours, and their whole life becomes working, and you cant come together because you dont even have the means or the time. Our system makes sure of that.

And thats why they didnt like it when people worked from home because you can have more freedom and flexibility and realise theres more to life. If you can go to an appointment and make up the time later, you realise maybe I dont need to be in these confines of 8 until 6:30 or 7pm. Thats why they were like get back to work! get back to work!, so we can monitor you and make sure youre doing what youre meant to be doing.

Asked whether there had been pressure from the university to return to in-person teaching, Poppy replied Theyve stopped dual-delivery now, so that means that students cant learn from home unless theres extreme circumstances for why they cant come in. Whereas last semester you could opt to study from home, so as a teaching assistant you could do Zoom and in-person. You felt like you were catering both for international students and disabled students, but this semester is 100 percent in-person.

On the removal of other health measures she said, Theres no implementation of masks. When I teach, Im the only one wearing a mask, so theres zero protection. Since masks were made optional for students, I dont necessarily tend to ask, because its a lot of emotional labour to have to ask someone to wear a mask and have them potentially be confrontational.

Poppy said of the new pandemic policy that [Chief Medical Officer] Chris Whitty even said yesterday I urge you to still self-isolate when youve got COVID, like you need to stay at home if youre symptomatic and have COVID, which is the opposite of what [Prime Minister] Boris Johnson said about five minutes earlier, so its not driven by any science.

Poppy was concerned about the burden of Long COVID given the unrestricted spread of the virus. Theyre really underestimating the power of chronic illness. They want a strong workforce and you want everyone to be back, but theyre not going to be strong and theyre not going to be working if theyre chronically ill. Because thats essentially what youre allowing to happen.

For example, with chronic fatigue syndrome, people disbelieved that for years and people have been championing for their rights. And Long COVID is essentially chronic fatigue, it starts with post-viral syndrome for a lot of people. And so all this is going to do is rip through the workforce and have the opposite effect of what they want.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers and locations in Indiana... White River at Edwardsport and Elliston. Wabash River at Montezuma. .Multiple rounds of rain over the last few days, including today, will lead to minor flooding along lower portions of the White River and upper portions on the Wabash River. Additional rainfall later this week should keep portions of the White and Wabash above flood stage through Saturday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT TO SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Montezuma. * WHEN...From late tonight to Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...At 18.0 feet, Montezuma agricultural levee is overtopped. Fourteen hundred acres of low bottomlands flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 10:45 AM EDT Tuesday the stage was 9.1 feet. - Forecast...The river will oscillate around flood stage with a maximum value of 16.4 feet early Saturday morning. - Flood stage is 14.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia Kaja Kallas on the occasion of the country's national holiday, the Prime Ministers Office said.

"Your Excellency,

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, and on my personal behalf, I cordially congratulate you and convey the best wishes on the occasion of the Estonian national holiday - the Independence Day.

Armenia seeks to strengthen friendly relations with Estonia based on common values and mutual trust.

I am full of hope that through joint efforts we will give a new impetus to the mutually beneficial Armenian-Estonian cooperation in the spheres of mutual interest, which will be greatly facilitated by the implementation of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement signed between Armenia and the European Union.

I wish you good health and all the best, and peace, prosperity and further progress to the people of Estonia, reads the Prime Ministers message.
Press Release

February 24, 2022 Opening statement of Senator Pia S. Cayetano

Hearing on the rising number of missing persons allegedly involved in sabong and e-sabong Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to thank the Chairman for taking time to call this hearing. It's a very important matter and I'd like to say hello to our colleagues. Since we are not in session, we don't see each other. But a special mention to our colleagues, Sen. Lacson, Sen. Sotto, and Sen. Villanueva, who are busy campaigning and yet consider this a very important hearing, and our President today to attend. Thank you talaga. And I personally appreciate your presence in this hearing kasi imbes na umiikot kayo eh nag-aabala kayo dito sa napakalaking issue na ito. So let me also join many of our colleagues who have expressed their concern on the disappearance of, as was updated, 31 people in connection with sabong and e-sabong. As Sen. Joel had mentioned, we already know that so many problems are associated with e-sabong and gambling. And online gambling makes it even easier. So he mentioned broken families, mga pamilyang apektado, suicides, lahat yan alam na natin. I don't even have to repeat it. But even in the news I think today, pati pulis nang-holdup ng gas station para makabayad daw, either pambayad daw o pangsugal pa niya. So it's really terrible and it is very clear that this is a social illness. So we have options. As Sen. Grace Poe correctly pointed out, there is a franchise bill pending in her committee. This has already been reported out. With all due respect, I would have wanted to ask more questions, especially to PAGCOR, especially to the franchise holder, because I know Sen. Poe does her best to explain when all of us, when we have the floor. I had wanted the opportunity to be able to directly ask these people these kinds of questions. Kaya very timely po ang pagtawag niyo kasi this gives us another opportunity to directly question these people who are bringing in, who are encouraging, who are financing all the elements that go into a lucrative online gambling institution in our country. And I mentioned that there are different people, groups that play into this because it's not just the franchise holder, it would also be the loan sharks, creditors, online payment systems that are not doing their job well, which require regulations on our part. Because paano magkakautang ng ganun-ganun kung ang laman ng debit card niya is P2,000. For example po ako, nag-Gcash ako. Pupunta ako sa coffee shop sasabihin ko, "Sorry ah wala na pala laman ang Gcash ko, 50 pesos na lang pala." Tapos ito ang totoo niyan, magte-text ako sa staff ko, sasabihin, "Pakilagyan mo naman ng pera ang Gcash ko," kasi literally ang digital wallet ko, walang laman. I cannot buy. But how can they gamble? May limits yan, di ba? O ang nangyari ba dito ay parang may credit card na ito na walang mga limit? Na ang limit, extend, extend, extend, na kahit ang capacity mo to pay, because you cannot apply for a credit card, they look at your capacity to pay. But pagdating dito sa gambling, wala na ba yun? So there are so many questions that go into this. It is so important that we take our time na himayin natin ito. The initial concern of course is the disappearance, the lives at stake here, the people who have died. Pero sabi nga ni Sen. Joel, [kasama mga estudyante]. Again, I go back, we have a choice. Ang pinag-uusapan kanina is nagbigay ng authority ang PAGCOR. That's one choice. We allow PAGCOR to do their mandate, to give authorities left and right. Second, we give a franchise and we put whatever monitoring, check and balances we want. But third, we ban it. We determine as a country that this is not the kind of policy we want for the country. This is not the future we want. I don't have to say the words. Sen. Joel said it before me. What example are we giving our children? Okay lang to gamble, okay lang umutang, okay lang magkanda-sira-sira ang pamilya? We have a choice to make a policy that says this is not okay. And I go back, my last point, if we look at the last few years, we passed a law taxing POGOs. Sabi natin, we do not want POGOs in the country, but given various factors, including the fact that gambling does not happen in the country, Filipinos are not involved in gambling in the country, then we have allowed it, and we will be taxing POGOs, employees, and so on and so forth. Yun ang ating source ng revenues for social concerns. Huwag na natin dagdagan. Let's see how this works first. Let's see what kind of revenues we get out of this. Yun pa lang, alam na natin maraming problema. A colleague of ours has also filed a resolution seeing how damaging the existence of POGOs are in our country. Tapos dadagdagan pa natin. Ginagawa pa nating kabuhayan, pinapayagan na maging kabuhayan ito, not just for those operating e-sabong, but all the other members of that whole wheel that makes it turn, like I said, dun sa nagpapa-utang, sa nagpapatakbo ng maliliit na betting stations, and so on and so forth. So malalim ito, Mr. Chairman, again salamat na tinawag niyo itong hearing na ito, himayin po natin ito, tiyagain po natin, tutal pareho naman tayong naka-break. Pero itong mga kasama natin, nagka-campaign, nandito. Tiyagain po natin kahit ilang araw ho ito abutin. I am sure willing ang mga kasama natin to find a solution to it. And I hope it is similar to what Sen. Joel and I want, na ma-ban na itong mga ganitong klaseng activities. Maraming salamat.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. At the advice of the Prime Minister, the Acting President Alen Simonyan signed a decree on dismissing several high-ranking military officials, the presidency reported.

The dismissed officials are: Chief of the Rocket and Artillery Forces of the Armenian Armed Forces Armen Harutyunyan, Chief of the Department of Morale Support of the Armenian Armed Forces Artur Poghosyan, Deputy Chief of General Staff/Head of the General Department of Readiness of the Armenian Armed Forces Andranik Makaryan, Head of the Engineering Troops of the Armenian Armed Forces Armen Arushanyan.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. A Russian-Armenian Business Forum was held in Yerevan on February 24, pursuant to an agreement reached in December 2021 during the Armenia-Russia 20th session of the Inter-governmental Commission for Economic Cooperation.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy Narek Teryan, Trade Representative of Russia in Armenia Anna Donchenko, officials, businessmen and private sector representatives attended the forum.

Deputy Minister Narek Teryan welcomed the participants and noted that the bilateral trade-economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia continues gaining momentum, also thanks to Armenias membership to the Eurasian Economic Union.

In 2019, for the first time mutual turnover between our countries surpassed 2 billion dollars, and in 2021 it totaled 2,6 billion dollars, he said.

Teryan said Armenia attaches importance to enhancing industrial cooperation with Russian companies, namely in direction of establishing industrial cooperative ties.

He called for the development of joint corporations, innovative projects and organizational-logistic networks, as well as export support centers for SMEs.

In turn, Donchenko noted that Russia remains Armenias top trading partner and said that the cooperation between Russia and Armenia has reached a qualitatively higher level and effective bilateral partnership is carried out especially in direction of implementing investment projects in energy, transport, industry. She noted the active cooperation in radio-electronics, IT and high technologies.
Vos says he supports allowing early count of absentee ballots but won't guarantee a vote on it
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the narrow-format meeting of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

The Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akilbek Zhaparov and the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich also participated in the meeting, the Prime Ministers Office said.

A number of issues relating to the development of integration mechanisms in various areas of the Eurasian territory were discussed. Particularly, the discussions focused on industry, customs processes, information systems, electronic trade, transport connections and other topics.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Acting President Alen Simonyan signed decrees on new appointments in the Armed Forces.

Armen Gyozalyan was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces/Head of the General Tactical Department of the General Staff. He was earlier the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Special Army Corps.

Seryozha Stepanyan was appointed Head of the Morale Support Department of the Armenian Armed Forces.

Vachagan Nersesyan was appointed Head of the Department of Military Training of the General Department of Readiness of the Armenian Armed Forces.

Gor Nikoyan was appointed Chief of the Rocket and Artillery Forces of the Armenian Armed Forces.

Karen Grigoryan was appointed Chief of the Engineering Troops of the Armenian Armed Forces.

Arayik Minasyan was appointed Deputy Commander of the Special Army Corps.

Bagrat Matevosyan was appointed Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Special Army Corps.
Flight tracker shows almost empty airspace above Ukraine as Russia attacks

Commercial flights are avoiding Ukraine airspace on February 24, 2022. FlightRadar24

Russia has launched attacks on Ukraine.

Ukraine announced Thursday that it was closing its airspace to commericial flights.

An online flight tracker shows no commercial flights flying over the country.

A flight tracker shows empty airspace over Ukraine after Russia attacked Ukraine on Thursday morning, and explosions were reported across the country.

Ukraine announced it was closing its airspace to commercial flights from 2:45 a.m. local time Thursday, Reuters reported.

The screenshot of FlightRadar24, as seen above, was taken shortly before 10:50 a.m. Ukrainian time Thursday.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency called Ukraine "an active conflict zone" and warned that any commercial flights within 100 nautical miles of the Russian and Belarus borders could also pose safety risks.

Russia also announced Thursday that it was suspending domestic flights to and from several airports near the Ukrainian border until March 2, Reuters reported.

Moldova, which borders much of eastern Ukraine, also closed its airspace on Thursday morning, the country's deputy prime minister said.

The country also closed some airspace in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, which borders eastern Ukraine, "in order to provide safety" for civilian flights, Reuters reported.

Many global airlines, including Air France, KLM, and Lufthansa, canceled flights to Ukraine in recent days.

The aviation industry has been cautious since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged people to stay calm, telling them to "stay at home."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Gov. Larry Hogan made his way through Hagerstown on Wednesday, checking out the city's local businesses, stopping by Meritus Medical Center and ending his day at the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County.

Wednesday's visit was meant to highlight projects and programs his administration has helped champion during his nearly eight years in office. It was also part of a trip through Western Maryland that took him to Greenbrier State Park and Allegany County on Tuesday before returning to Washington County the next day.

During a lunch inside 28 South's ballroom, Hogan said he was excited to be back in Hagerstown and to see the progress the city has made.

Hogan recalled when he visited Hagerstown and other parts of Western Maryland seven years ago  while he was running for governor.

"I made a commitment in the areas of our state that have been ignored and neglected, that they would no longer be forgotten," Hogan said.

Gov. Larry Hogan said he was excited Wednesday afternoon to see the progress Hagerstown has made over the years.

While Hogan toured downtown Hagerstown, he visited local businesses that have been funded under the $25 million Project Restore initiative  an economic recovery program that Hogan spearheaded last year.

So far there have been 17 businesses in Washington County that have benefited from the program, with an additional 14 businesses announced Tuesday that will receive funding.

The local businesses Hogan visited Wednesday included Alpine Plant Bar, The Collegium and The Foundry Pop Ups.

"These grants were really great for us because we did have a lot of empty storefronts," Mayor Emily Keller Told the Herald-Mail on Wednesday. "And some of these places have been empty for quite some time."

Keller added that Washington County, behind Baltimore, got the highest amount of grants through Project Restore.

More on Hogan's visits: Gov. Hogan hints at new state parks while touting $75M proposed investment in 2023

More on Hogan and Washington County: What Hogan's budget proposal means for Washington County

Story continues

Gov. Larry Hogan toured Hagerstown Wednesday afternoon to visit local businesses alongside Mayor Emily Keller and Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Paul Frey.

'An endemic'

Hogan visited Meritus Medical Center on Wednesday morning to tour the hospital and thank health care workers from various departments.

When asked about the Omicron BA.2 variant, Hogan said the state is in the "best place it's been in quite some time." He added that state officials aim to keep it that way, but that they will continue to follow any new variants that pop up.

"But the immediate spike and crisis has really come to an end," Hogan told The Herald-Mail. "And we're trying to get back to some sort of normalcy while also continuing to protect public health."

Maulik S. Joshi, president and CEO of Meritus Health, told the Herald-Mail that the hospital is prepared should a spike occur.

Maulik Joshi, left, president and CEO of Meritus Health talks with Md. Gov. Larry Hogan outside Meritus Medical Center, near Hagerstown, Wednesday. The governor met local healthcare workers, toured patient care areas and learned about the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are becoming an endemic, which means this is going to be around for a while," Joshi said. "We're ready to turn on any plan we need."

The positivity rate for COVID-19 in the county was 6.76% as of Monday while the positivity rate for the state of Maryland was 2.87%.

The Boys and Girls Club

Hogan also visited the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County in the afternoon to talk about funds dedicated in his proposed capitol budget  currently awaiting approval  toward a new facility for the club.

Gov. Larry Hogan visited the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County on Wednesday to talk about the $2 million dedicated from his Fiscal Year 2023 Capitol Budget towards a new facility.

Hogan dedicated $2 million in his 2023 Fiscal Year Capitol Budget towards the new facility, which has a price tag of $8 million.

Addie Nardi, executive director of the county Boys and Girls Club, said during a Hagerstown City Council meeting this month that she hopes to have the new facility starting next year.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Md. Gov. visits Hagerstown; stops at local businesses and hospital
North Korea, led by Kim Jong-un, has an obligation to balance out its peoples need for food, says UN official (Getty Images)

North Korea should be provided at least 60 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines and the international community should come together to chart out a strategy for this, an independent UN human rights investigator has said.

It is imperative that the population of North Korea start to be vaccinated so that the government will have no excuse to maintain the closing of the borders, Tomas Ojea Quintana, a UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, said on Wednesday.

Covid vaccines could be a way to convince the hermit kingdom to ease its lockdown regulations which have currently sealed off some 26 million people in the country amid reports of harsh winter and starvation, the UN official said while speaking in Seoul.

The most serious situation in North Korea is food, Mr Ojea Quintana said, adding that some of Pyongyangs most vulnerable population is staring at the risk of starvation.

The official added that he had floated the idea of providing 60 million Covid jabs to North Korea during meetings with international diplomats in Seoul, but the proposals have not yet reached Pyongyangs door formally.

A number of issues would need to be worked out, including payments and sanction hurdles North Korea currently faces, he said.

North Korea has an obligation to balance out its peoples need for food, which is linked to their freedom of movement, even if it sees legitimate public health reasons to shut itself out from the rest of the world, Mr Ojea Quintana said.

By imposing these restrictions and closing itself off from the rest of the world, North Korea has damaged the existing situation as it continues to rely on commercial activities along Chinas border, the official said.

This has been magnified by the impact of sanctions, further impacting the country and millions in it, he said.

The UN special investigator has asked for the calls for sanctions on North Korea to be more flexible in order to not cause humanitarian harm to ordinary residents.

Story continues

North Korea is the only known country to have not officially announced any Covid cases, deaths or even its own vaccination plans.

The borders to North Korea remained shut for two years until they opened gradually last month.

It has rejected shipments of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine clubbed under the global Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative as it feared side effects, according to a South Korean think-tank.

None of the Pyongyang officials are known to have asked for Covid vaccines, even as the status of the countrys handling of the Covid pandemic remains unclear.

According to the Unicef, the Kim Jong-un-led country also turned down an offer of 3 million Covid vaccine doses of Chinas Sinovac Biotech last year.

Mr Ojea Quintana said North Korean officials appeared to be suspicious of receiving a partial amount of vaccines and then to be under pressure to accept more, something that could be resolved by reaching a deal to provide enough doses for the whole country.
Editor's note: This page reflects the Russian invasion into Ukraine on Thursday, Feb. 24. Follow the latest news and updates as Russia's military pushes further into Ukraine on Friday, Feb. 25.

***

President Joe Biden unveiled a new raft of economic sanctions against Moscow Thursday as part of an international rallying cry to respond to Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine.

"(Vladimir) Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden said in remarks at the White House.

The U.S. and western allies will block the assets of four of Russia's largest banks  in addition to U.S. sanctions on two financial institutions earlier this week  and impose sanctions on Russian elites and new export controls. The latest measures also targeted Belarus' defense and security industries along with 24 Belarusian individuals and entities for the country's role in the attack on Ukraine.

Biden said the new economic measures would "limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen to be part of the global economy."

The president also announced the U.S. would deploy additional forces to Germany to help bolster the NATO alliance along the eastern flank. Following Biden's remarks, the Pentagon the ordered 7,000 more troops to Europe.

Why is Russia invading Ukraine?: Could it be the start of WWIII? Here's what we know

Financial fallout: Stock markets, energy prices shaken by Russian attack

This aggression cannot go unanswered, Biden said. America stands up to bullies. We stand up for freedom.

But the president stopped short of blocking Russian financial institutions' access to SWIFT, the global financial system which ties together banks across the world. Biden insisted the latest measures "exceed SWIFT" and suggested it was a move that European allies were hesitant to make.

The president said additional Russian oligarchs and their families would face new sanctions but he declined to say why he has yet to sanction Putin personally, only adding that "it's on the table."

Story continues

Biden also issued a chilling warning that he believes Putin "has much larger ambitions" that extend beyond Ukraine's borders.

Transcript of Biden's speech: President Joe Biden addresses Russia's 'brutal assault' on Ukraine

"He wants to, in fact, re-establish the former Soviet Union," Biden said. "His ambitions are completely contrary to the place where the rest of the world has arrived."

Russia's military operation has the goal of overtaking the Ukrainian government and installing a Kremlin-backed one, according to a senior U.S. military official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Here's what to know about the attack on Ukraine:

WHEN DID THE INVASION START? At roughly 9:30 p.m. ET (4:30 a.m. in Ukraine), Russian forces began a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

WHERE IS THE FIGHTING? Ukraines military chief says Ukrainian troops are fighting the Russian army in in the north and the south.

WHAT HAS RUSSIA'S IMPACT BEEN? A Ukrainian official says the Chernobyl nuclear site north of Kyiv has been taken by Russia after a fierce battle. Early reports listed 40 casualties.

G-7 LEADERS RESPOND: "This has fundamentally changed the Euro-Atlantic security situation," the Group of Seven said in a statement issued at midday.

MOUNTING DEATH TOLL: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that 137 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been killed with hundreds more wounded.

The Russian attack began around 4:30 a.m. in Ukraine, with a barrage of over 100 ballistic, cruise and surface-to-air missiles and included 75 medium and heavy bombers, the official said, adding the invasion is the largest in Europe since World War II. The fighting, described as being in an initial phase, has the potential to be very bloody and very costly.

International condemnation of Putin's actions came as swiftly as the invasion.

"This is a brutal act of war," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.

Explosions were heard in major cities, including the capital of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa. Oleksii Arestovich, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said at least 40 people had been killed and dozens others wounded in the attack so far. Ukrainian authorities said Russian forces had hit military assets and other defense facilities, while footage shared by Ukrainian border guards showed Russian military vehicles moving across the border from Crimea.

What we know: Why is Russia invading Ukraine? Could it be the start of WWIII?

Zelenskyy announced Ukraine had cut diplomatic ties with Russia, declaring martial law and offering to issue weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Despite pleas to stay home, people in Kyiv were jamming roads to leave.

Global markets plunged and oil prices skyrocketed on news of the invasion, a dramatic escalation after weeks of diplomacy talks failed to defuse the months-long standoff between Moscow and NATO countries over Ukraine's sovereignty.

Ukraine news: Sign up to get the latest updates on the Ukraine-Russia crisis delivered to your inbox.

Russian troops appear to be advancing on Ukrainian capital

Russian troops appeared to be advancing on the capital city of Kyiv at the start of the second day of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Amid a fast-moving and difficult-to-verify situation, Ukraine's Defense Ministry tweeted early Friday that some Russian troops had broken through to several northern districts on the outskirts of the capital. However, Ukraine's military also said it was resisting the advance on multiple fronts.

The apparent development comes as thousands of civilians spent the night in bomb shelters, typically underground subway stations and Zelenskyy urged his citizens to do all they can to resist Russia's assault. Zelenskyy has vowed to remain in Kyiv with his family and he appealed to Russia for a ceasefire.

Some 137 Ukrainians, a mixture of soldiers and civilians, died Thursday. Britain's Defense Secretary told his country's media Friday that Russia has lost about 450 military personnel.

Uncorroborated reports in Ukrainian media claimed Russian troops are aiming Friday to seize Kyiv's main airport to allow thousands of troops to land, take control of government buildings, sabotage key infrastructure and cause panic and a refugee exodus.

The U.S., Europe and Japan have all unveiled sanctions on key Russian banks, airlines and associates of Putin.

- Kim Hjelmgaard

Russia stripped of Champions League final as UEFA shifts match to Paris

LONDON - Russia was stripped of hosting the Champions League final by UEFA on Friday with St. Petersburg replaced by Paris after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The men's final will still be held on May 28 but now at the 80,000-seat Stade de France after the decision by UEFA's executive committee.

"UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to French Republic President Emmanuel Macron for his personal support and commitment to have European club footballs most prestigious game moved to France at a time of unparalleled crisis, European football's governing body said in a statement. "Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support multi-stakeholder efforts to ensure the provision of rescue for football players and their families in Ukraine who face dire human suffering, destruction and displacement."

The meeting also decided that Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams in UEFA competitions will have to play at neutral venues until further notice.

The Stade de France last hosted the Champions League final 16 years ago, when Barcelona beat Arsenal in the 2006 final.

- Associated Press

Zelenskyy: 137 'heroes' killed, hundreds more wounded in conflict

Zelenskyy said 137 Ukrainians have been killed so far in the Russian invasion of his country.

He calls them "heroes" in a video address released early Friday in which he also says hundreds more have been wounded.

Zelenskyy says that despite Russias claim it is attacking only military targets, civilian sites also have been struck. In his words: Theyre killing people and turning peaceful cities into military targets. Its foul and will never be forgiven.

In addition, he said 316 others have been wounded since Russian launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Each of the Ukrainians who have died will be posthumously awarded the title hero of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said.

This is the sound of a new iron curtain, which has come down and is closing Russia off from the civilized world, he said. Our national task is to make sure this curtain does not fall."

- Associated Press

Ukraine president orders general military mobilization amid invasion

Zelenskyy ordered a general mobilization of the Ukraine population Thursday to support military efforts as Russia attacks Ukraine.

A decree signed by the president orders conscripts and military reservists to mobilize within 90 days to assist the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In this handout photo taken from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses to the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Zelenskyy declared martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraine's military infrastructure. He urged Ukrainians to stay home and not to panic.

Zelenskyy ordered the mobilization in connection with the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and in order to ensure the states defense, maintain combat, and mobilization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the decree reads.

The move comes as Ukraine has banned all males between the ages of 18 to 60 from leaving the country, according to Ukraines State Border Service, CNN reported.

- Joey Garrison

White House 'outraged' over reports Chernobyl workers being held hostage

White House press secretary Jen Psaki condemned Thursday what she said are credible reports that Russian soldiers are holding hostage staff at the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant facility in Ukraine.

The facility, scene of the worst nuclear disaster in history, was taken over by Russians during their invasion of Ukraine, the Associated Press reported.

We're outraged by credit credible reports that Russian soldiers are currently holding the staff of the Chernobyl facilities hostage, Psaki said. This unlawful and dangerous hostage-taking  which could upend the routine civil service efforts required to maintain and protect the nuclear waste facility  is obviously incredibly alarming and greatly concerning. We condemn it and we request their release.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister raised concerns on Twitter about Chernobyl, which is located about 80 miles north of the Ukraine capital of Kyiv.

In 1986, the world saw the biggest technological disaster in Chornobyl, he said. Russias attack on Ukraine may cause another ecological disaster moving its military forces to Chornobyl. If Russia continues the war, Chornobyl can happen again in 2022."

- Joey Garrison

Ukraine president: Russia has marked him target No. 1

Zelenskyy said Thursday he remains in the Ukraine capital of Kyiv, and intends to stay there, even as Russia has made him its top quarry.

The enemy has marked me as target No. 1, my family as target No. 2, Zelenskyy said in an address to Ukrainians. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state.

Asked about Zelenskyys safety, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. is in touch with him and are working to provide him support.

- Joey Garrison

Russia facing 'most impactful, significant sanctions' ever from U.S.

Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh said the sanctions Biden announced Thursday "will isolate Russia from the global financial system, shut down its access to cutting-edge technology and undercut Putin's strategic ambitions to diversify and modernize his economy."

Singh called the actions the most impactful and significant sanctions the U.S. has ever taken.

He said the export restrictions -- developed in coordination with other Western allies -- would work to impair Russias military capabilities, denying Russia sensitive cutting-edge technology that will primarily target Russia's defense, aerospace and maritime sectors.

You will begin to see a chilling effect take hold in Russia as those imports are denied, he said.

- Joey Garrison

Obama: Russia illegal invasion of Ukraine threatens international order

Former President Barack Obama on Thursday condemned Russias attack on Ukraine, saying Moscows reckless actions extend beyond Ukraines borders.

This illegal invasion in the heart of Europe also threatens the foundation of the international order and security, he said.

Obama called on the world to loudly and clearly condemn Russias actions and offer support for the Ukrainian people.

And every American, regardless of party, should support President Bidens efforts, in coordination with our closest allies, to impose hard-hitting sanctions on Russia  sanctions that impose a real price on Russias autocratic elites, he said.

Obama warned that there may be economic consequences at home to sanctions against Russia, but thats a price we should be willing to pay to take a stand on the side of freedom.

For over the long term, we all face a choice, between a world in which might makes right and autocrats are free to impose their will through force, or a world in which free people everywhere have the power to determine their own future, Obama said.

 Rebecca Morin

US hits Belarus with sanctions targeting banks, defense industry

New sanctions imposed by Biden also target Belarus for its role in Russias invasion of Ukraine, with a focus on the countrys defense sector and financial institutions.

The penalties include sanctions on 24 Belarusian individuals and entities, according to the Treasury Department. The U.S. is sanctioning two Belarusian-owned banks along with several actions targeting Belaruss defense and security industries.

 Joey Garrison

Biden has 'no idea' if Putin is threatening nuclear war

The president said he doesnt know whether Putins warning that countries trying to stop him would face historic consequences is a reference to Russias nuclear weapons.

I have no idea what he is threatening, Biden said.

But Simon Miles, a Russia expert at Duke University, called Putins remarks a very thinly-veiled nuclear threat that need to be taken very seriously given his present state of mind.

Right now were seeing a Russian leader who is making strategic decisions in an extremely emotive, extremely grievance-fueled way, Miles said.

 Maureen Groppe

Austin: 7,000 U.S. troops deploying to Europe after Russian invades Ukraine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment Thursday of 7,000 more troops to Europe after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Pentagon announced. The troops include an armored brigade combat team. It will be sent to German to reassure allies.

The U.S. already has about 90,000 troops in Europe and has deployed more to the continent as tensions simmered in the weeks before Russias invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, about 5,000 U.S.-based forces were sent to Europe, and U.S. military personnel already there have been shifting to help bolster NATOs eastern flank.

 Tom Vanden Brook and Rick Rouan

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks about Russia's unprovoked and unjustified" military invasion of neighboring Ukraine in the East Room of the White House on February 24, 2022 in Washington, DC. Biden announced a new round of sanctions against Russia after President Vladimir Putin launched an attack on Ukraine from the land, sea and air on Thursday.

Biden announces new sanctions against Russia: 'Putin chose this war'

In his first remarks after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden condemned what he called an attack made without provocation, without justification, without necessity.

This a premediated attack. Vladimir Putin has been planning this for months, as weve been saying all along, Biden said, accusing Putting of rejecting all good-faith efforts to address mutual concerns. For weeks weve been saying this would happen.

Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war.

Biden said Russias attack on Ukraine is unfolding as officials predicted and that Russia "rejected every good faith effort the United States and our allies."

Biden said members of the European Union including France, Germany, Italy as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and others have joined a global coaliton to amplify a united response.

Biden said G-7 leaders agreed to limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen. The president said the US would block four more major banks in addition to the sanctions imposed on VTB and Russia's military bank.

Biden said the United States is taking steps to defend NATO allies. The organization will convene a summit Friday, which will bring together the leaders of 30 allied nations and close partners to affirm our solidarity and to map out the next steps we will take to further strengthen all aspects of our NATO Alliance.

Biden said hes spoken to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Mark Milley about preparations for additional moves of troops if it becomes necessary to protect NATO allies.

This aggression cannot go unanswered, Biden said. America stands up to bullies. We stand up for freedom.

Biden said his administration is going to use every tool to protect Americans and business from rising gas prices.

He called on American oil and gas companies to not exploit this moment to hike their prices to raise profits.

Our sanctions package is specifically designed to allow energy payments to continue, he said. We are closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption.

Biden warns of Russian cyberattacks on U.S. companies

The president repeated a warning of possible Russian cyberattacks on U.S. companies and critical infrastructure.

Biden, who said he has "no plans" to talk to Putin, added the U.S. is prepared to respond and working closely with the private sector to "harden their cyber defenses" and "sharpen our ability to respond to Russian cyberattacks as well."

The White House sounded the alarm last week to prepare the country for potential cyberattacks on U.S. companies or key parts of U.S. critical infrastructure including pipelines, banks, commercial aviation and hospitals.

Biden added that NATO will provide forces to eastern European nations that are NATO members to ensure the conflict in the region does not grow.

This was never about a genuine security concerns on their part, Biden said of Russia. It was always about naked aggression, about Putin's desire for empire by any means necessary, by bullying Russia's neighbors to cores and corruption by changing borders by force, and ultimately by choosing a war without a cause.

 Joey Garrison, Rebecca Morin, Courtney Subramanian

Clinton condemns 'unprovoked and unjustified' Russian attack on Ukraine

Former President Bill Clinton on Thursday condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, joining world leaders past and present in rebuking Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putins war of choice has unraveled 30 years of diplomacy, with the potential for mass civilian casualties in and huge displacements both within Ukraines borders and beyond, Clinton said in a prepared statement posted to his Twitter account.

Clinton called the invasion unprovoked and unjustified and a brazen violation of international law.

The world will hold Russia and Russia alone accountable, both economically and politically, he said.

The former presidents statement echoed similar sentiments as that of former first lady and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

- Rick Rouan

Ukraine: Russia takes control of Chernobyl site in battle

KYIV, Ukraine  A presidential adviser says Ukraine lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear site, where Ukranian forces had waged a fierce battle with Russian troops.

Adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press that Ukrainian authorities did not know the current condition of the facilities at Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.

After the absolutely senseless attack of the Russians in this direction, it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe, he said.

More: What happened at Chernobyl? What to know about nuclear disaster

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced several hours earlier Thursday that Russian forces were trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.

A nuclear reactor at the plant 80 miles north of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, exploded in April 1986, spewing radioactive waste across Europe.

 Associated Press

US Homeland Security monitoring Ukraine refugee situation

As Ukrainians are fleeing their country following attacks from Russia, its unclear whether Ukrainians already in the United States will be offered temporary protected status that would protect them from being deported to their home country.

The Department of Homeland Security is monitoring conditions but has no announcements to share or preview at this time.

"As is always the case, we continue to closely monitor conditions in various countries across the globe, DHS said in a statement.

Temporary Protected Status is designated by DHS to individuals from a foreign country whose home country may be experiencing an ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster or other extraordinary conditions that would prevent citizens from returning safely to their home, according to DHS.

 Rebecca Morin

UKs Johnson outlines severe sanctions on Russia, Belarus

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United Kingdom is imposing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen and that sanctions will also apply to Belarus for its role in Russias attack on Ukraine.

In coordination with the U.S., Johnson said the United Kingdom is imposing a full asset freeze on the Russian-owned bank VTB that will effectively exclude Russian banks from U.K.s financial system.

Im pleased to tell the House that the United States is taking similar measures, Johnson told the House of Commons.

He said the U.K. will implement new trade and export restrictions similar to what the U.S. will also impose. President Joe Biden is expected to outline severe sanctions during a speech Thursday afternoon.

The prime minister said Russian companies, both private and state-owned, will be prohibited from raising funds in the U.K., taking loans out of the U.K. and making securities transactions in the U.K.

This includes all the major manufacturers that support Putins war machine, Johnson said.

 Joey Garrison

Fact check: Video shows Russian military's Moscow flyover in 2020, not Ukraine in 2022

Protesters hold posters and Ukrainian flags as they protest against Russia's military intervention in Ukraine in front of the Russia Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.

Protesters gather in London, other cities

LONDON  Hundreds of protesters have gathered in London to urge Britain and other democracies to step up action against Russia.

Ukrainians living in the U.K. and activists gathered outside Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Downing Street office Thursday, singing the Ukrainian national anthem.

Natalia Ravlyuk, who helped organize the protest, said they wanted the toughest sanctions and total isolation of Russia now.

We ... feel betrayed by democratic states because we have been talking about this war for eight years, she said. They just need to wake up and stop Putin now.

Demonstrations were held in other European cities, including Sofia, Bulgaria, and Cophenhagen.

 Associated Press

G-7 leaders: Putin 'has put himself on the wrong side of history'

Following a virtual meeting Thursday morning, the leaders of the G-7 issued a joint statement announcing they would bring forward "severe and coordinated economic and financial sanctions" and calling on the global community to condemn the attack in the strongest possible terms.

The leaders of the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada along with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the unfolding conflict "a serious threat to the rules-based international order, with ramifications well beyond Europe."

The leaders called on Moscow to end the bloodshed and condemned Belarus' involvement in Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

"This has fundamentally changed the Euro-Atlantic security situation," the statement read. "President Putin has re-introduced war to the European continent. He has put himself on the wrong side of history."

 Courtney Subramanian

Biden meets with advisers, G-7

As explosions continued across Ukraine, Biden met with his National Security Council in the White House Situation Room to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, according to a White House official.

The president later held a virtual meeting with G-7 leaders and spoke with foreign leaders for about an hour and 10 minutes about a coordinated plan to impose "severe sanctions" on Moscow, according to the White House.

Biden is expected to detail the sanctions in remarks at the White House on Thursday afternoon.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participated in the virtual meeting.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will also attend the G-7 meeting.

 Courtney Subramanian

US military official: Russia wants to replace Ukraine government

Russian ground forces have advanced toward Kyiv from Belarus on Thursday morning with the apparent goal of decapitating the Ukrainian government and installing their own, according to a senior Defense official.

The Russian attack began at about 9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday with a barrage of more than 100 ballistic, cruise and surface-to-air missiles, said the official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. The assault also included 75 medium and heavy bombers. The official described the attack as the initial phase of the invasion.

The Russian objective appears to be seizing key population centers, including the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the official said. The primary targets have been military: barracks, ammunition warehouses, nearly 10 airfields.

There were no reliable estimates of casualties or damage, the official said.

The heaviest fighting has occurred in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, the official said. An air assault by Russian paratroopers is under way there. Ukrainian forces are fighting back.

 Tom Vanden Brook

White House spokesman: Putin, Trump are 'fearful pigs'

A top White House spokesman on Thursday called former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin two nauseating, fearful pigs who hate what America stands for.

In a tweet, Andrew Bates, a deputy press secretary, said that every action by the two men is driven by their their own weakness and insecurity, rubbing their snouts together and celebrating as innocent people lose their lives.

Bates' scathing remark appeared to be in response to a report that Trump called Putin pretty smart for taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions.

The New York Times reported Trump's comments, which he made during a fundraising event Wednesday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, according to the Times.

 Maureen Groppe

Ukraine, Russia give military updates

Ukraines military chief says Ukrainian troops are fighting the Russian army in in the north and the south.

Valerii Zaluzhnyi said a battle was raging Thursday near the Hostomel air base, less than 5 miles northwest of the capital, Kyiv. He said that in the south, fighting was going on near Henichesk, Skadovsk and Chaplynka.

Meanwhile, Russias Defense Ministry said the Russian military has destroyed 74 Ukrainian military facilities, including 11 air bases.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered that Ukrainian servicemen be treated with respect and those who lay down their weapons offered safe corridors.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the loss of a Su-25 attack jet due to pilot error.

 Associated Press

A police officer stands guard by the remains of a shell in Kyiv on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a "full-scale invasion" was underway.

George W. Bush: Invasion unprovoked and unjustified

Former President George W. Bush condemned Russias attack on Ukraine as the gravest security crisis on the European continent since World War II.

The invasion was unprovoked and unjustified, Bush said in a statement.

Bush, who once described Putin as very straightforward and trustworthy," said the U.S. government and the American people must stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its people as they seek freedom and the right to choose their own future.

We cannot tolerate the authoritarian bullying and danger that Putin poses, he said. Ukraine is our friend and democratic ally and deserves our full support during this most difficult time."

 Michael Collins

Former President George Bush, left and President George Bush, right welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin to Walker's Point, the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, July 1, 2007.

Guide to post-Soviet eastern Europe: Where is Ukraine? Where are NATO members?

US involvement: Will US help Ukraine in war vs. Russia? American troops bolster NATO in Europe

Putin meets Pakistan's Imran Khan as world reacts to invasion

As global outrage swelled over Moscow's wide-scale attack on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday.

The prime minister's office posted a video to Twitter of the two leaders shaking hands and said the pair would discuss "the entire gamut of Pakistan-Russia bilateral cooperation, and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest."

Khan, the first foreign leader to meet Putin since he launched an invasion on Ukraine, is expected to pitch the construction of a $2.5 billion gas pipeline in Pakistan, built by Russian companies, as Moscow looks to strengthen its cooperation with Islamabad.

The fate of another pipeline backed by Russia, Nord Stream 2, came to a screeching halt earlier this week as a result of Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. Germany announced it would suspend the Russia-owned pipeline that would directly run from Russia to Germany, increasing Europe's dependence on Moscow for its energy.

Western allies are expected to announce more sanctions later Thursday.

 Courtney Subramanian

European soccer pulls Champions League from Russia

UEFA will no longer stage this seasons Champions League final in St. Petersburg after Russia attacked Ukraine, according to the Associated Press.

An extraordinary meeting of the UEFA executive committee will be held on Friday to discuss the geopolitical crisis and when officials are set to confirm taking the May 28 showpiece game out of Russia.

Following the evolution of the situation between Russia and Ukraine in the last 24 hours, the UEFA president has decided to call an extraordinary meeting of the executive committee .... in order to evaluate the situation and take all necessary decisions, UEFA said in a statement.

 Associated Press

Ukrainian police urge citizens to report suspicious people, objects

Police in Ukraine asked citizens on Thursday to report suspicious people on the streets in what the countrys Ministry of Internal Affairs said was an effort to ensure law and order.

A statement posted on the ministrys website urged citizens to be on lookout for suspicious people and objects. All suspicious items, as well as suspicious people with red items on their clothes, should be reported to a special police hotline, the statement said.

The statement also asked civilians not to go outside in uniform or tactical clothing.

 Michael Collins

Erdogan: Russian invasion a heavy blow to peace

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, calling it unacceptable and contrary to international law.

It is a heavy blow to the peace, tranquility and stability of the region, Erdogan said in a statement posted on Twitter on Thursday.

Turkey supports Ukraine's struggle to protect its territorial integrity, Erdogan said.

We sincerely regret that Russia and Ukraine, which we see as friendly countries and with whom we have close political, economic and social relations, come face to face in this way, he said. He urged Russia and Ukraine to resolve their differences with dialogue through the framework of the Minsk accords that sought to restore peace in eastern Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Erdogan spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and informed him Turkey would not recognize steps against Ukraines territorial integrity.

 Michael Collins

Kyiv mayor urges residents to stay home

Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko advised residents in the Ukrainian capital to stay home Thursday unless they are involved in critical work and urged them to prepare go-bags with necessities and documents if they need to evacuate.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraines interior minister, said on Facebook that the Russian military had launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities but using precision weapons and claimed there is no threat to civilian population.

 Associated Press

Images of the attack: 'Brutal act of war': Photos of Russia invading Ukraine show mass evacuations, rockets

Traffic jams are seen as people leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences you have never seen."

UK's Johnson vows 'massive' sanctions in national address

Johnson delivered a somber national address Thursday, telling the country weeks of warnings about a Russian invasion have proven tragically accurate and that Putin has brought a "tidal wave of violence" to Ukraine.

"A vast invasion is under way by land, by air and by sea," he said.

The British prime minister said the U.K. has coordinated with allies on a "massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy."

Johnson said the U.K. would do more in the days ahead and called on Europe to end its reliance on Russian oil and gas that has allowed Putin a grip on the continent.

He also said western allies "cannot allow that freedom to be snuffed out."

"We cannot and will not look away," he added.

 Courtney Subramanian

More: Ukraine-Russia crisis: How do you pronounce Donetsk? And is it Kyiv or Kiev?

NATO leaders will convene Friday

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced an emergency virtual summit for the military alliance's leaders on Friday, calling Moscow's invasion a "brutal act of war" that has shattered peace on the continent.

"This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion. Russia is using force to try to rewrite history," he told reporters Thursday.

The top European official said Russia launched a sweeping attack from multiple directions that included air and missile attacks, ground forces and special forces that targeted Ukraine's military infrastructure and major cities.

Stoltenberg said European was faced with a "new normal for our security" and would meet to discuss how to defend and protect allies amid the new reality. He added that Finland and Sweden, which are not NATO members, would also attend Friday's meeting.

"We don't have all the answers today but there will be a new reality," he said. "It will be a new Europe after the invasion we saw today."

His remarks came after Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland triggered Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which allows members to "bring any issue of concern, especially related to security of a member country, to the table for discussion with the North Atlantic Council."

The alliance has invoked Article 4 several times since its creation in 1949.

NATO issued a new statement Thursday saying Moscow's actions "pose a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security, and they will have geostrategic consequences."

"We are deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, as well as additional maritime assets," the statement said. " We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies."

 Courtney Subramanian

What time did Russia invade Ukraine?

In a televised address that came around 10 p.m. Eastern time, which is 5 a.m. in Ukraine and 6 a.m. in Moscow, Putin told his country that Russia would conduct a military operation in Ukraine.

The Russian president said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine  a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion. And he claimed that Russia doesnt intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to demilitarize it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen.

More: As Russian forces advance on Ukraine, US, allies escalate diplomatic efforts

Lithuania orders state of emergency

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in the Baltic country in response to Russias military attack on Ukraine. Parliament was expected to approve the measure in an extraordinary session later on Thursday.

The measure, in effect until March 10, allows for a more flexible use of state reserve funds and increased border protection, giving border guards greater authorities to stop and search individuals and vehicles in border areas.

"Never before have we been so strong & so well prepared to face external challenges together with our Allies," Nauseda tweeted. The future of Europe "may depend on how we react in the coming hours & days."

More: 'A tragedy': World leaders react to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Zelenskyy calls on veterans to help fight Russia

Zelenskyy said Thursday that Ukraine has severed diplomatic relations with Russia, adding that Ukraine is defending itself and shall not cede its freedom.

Dear citizens, this morning has gone down in history, he said, according to a translation by CNN as he spoke. But it is a different history for us and for Russia.

Zelenskyy also called on veterans to help fight against Russian troops. He said Ukraine is issuing defensive weapons to those with military experience. He said they are able to join Ukraine defense by reporting to call up stations.

We are issuing arms, defensive weapons, to all those capable of defending our sovereignty, he said. Each citizen of Ukraine will decide the future of our people.

In a tweet shortly after, Zelenskyy wrote: "We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities."

In a second tweet, he added: "We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia. For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine."

 Rebecca Morin

Official says Ukraine attacked from 3 sides

KYIV, Ukraine  A Ukrainian presidential adviser said Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine from the north, east and south. The adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the Ukrainian military is fighting hard.

Podolyak said Thursday that our army is fighting back inflicting significant losses to the enemy. He said that there have been civilian casualties, but didnt give details.

He said that Ukraine now needs a greater and very specific support from the world  military-technical, financial as well as tough sanctions against Russia, he said.

Another adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia has targeted air bases and various other military infrastructure.

Oleksii Arestovich said the Russian strike hasnt achieved its goal to rout the countrys military. He said that we suffered casualties, but they arent significant, adding that the Russian strikes havent eroded the combat capability of the Ukrainian military.

He said that the Russian troops moved up to 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) deep into the Ukrainian territory in the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions, and, possibly in other areas.

-- Associated Press

'An unmistakable message': Biden unveils US sanctions on Russia after Putin's invasion of Ukraine

NATO in emergency session as Russia attacks Ukraine

NATO envoys met in emergency session Thursday after Putin ordered a large-scale attack on Ukraine, as the 30-nation military organization prepares to bolster its defenses in allies neighboring both countries. Preparations were also underway for a NATO summit.

This is a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in statement. The allies are meeting, he said, to address the consequences of Russias aggressive actions.

While some member countries are supplying arms, ammunition and other equipment to Ukraine, NATO as an organization is not, and it will not launch any military action in support of Ukraine, which is a close partner but has no prospect of joining.

We stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time. NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend all allies, Stoltenberg said.

 Associated Press

Vehicles line up to a gasoline station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa, as world leaders decried the start of an Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government.

China calls for talks over Ukraine, criticizes US

China repeated calls for talks to resolve the crisis in Ukraine on Thursday while refusing to criticize Russias attack and accusing the U.S. and its allies of worsening the situation.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters at a daily briefing that the Ukraine issue is complex in its historical background ... what we are seeing today is the interplay of complex factors.

China is closely following the latest developments, Hua said. We still hope that the parties concerned will not shut the door to peace and engage instead in dialogue and consultation and prevent the situation from further escalating,

 Associated Press

More: 'A tragedy': World leaders react to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Oil prices jump as stock markets slump

World stock markets plunged and oil prices surged by nearly $6 per barrel Thursday after President Vladimir Putin launched Russian military action in Ukraine.

Market benchmarks tumbled in Europe and Asia and U.S. futures were sharply lower. Brent crude oil jumped to over $100 per barrel on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies. The price of U.S. benchmark crude briefly surpassed $98 per barrel.

The ruble sank 7.5% to more than $87 to the U.S. dollar.

 Associated Press

More: Will gas prices keep rising after Russia invasion of Ukraine? Here's what we know

A man stands next to the consequences of Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government.

Security video: Russian military vehicles cross into Ukraine

Security camera footage shows a line of Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraine from Russian-annexed Crimea.

Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday. President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences you have never seen.

Ukrainians started fleeing some cities, and the Russian military claimed to have incapacitated all of Ukraines air defenses and air bases within hours.

 Associated Press

Baltic states condemn attack

The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are condemning the Russian operation in Ukraine as a crime against Ukrainian people.

In a joint statement, the three countries foreign ministers condemned strongly the open large scale Russian aggression against the independent, peaceful and democratic Ukraine. They called it a blatant violation of the international law, of all international norms and a crime against Ukrainian people that we condemn.

Finlands President Sauli Niinisto said the Russian move is an attack on the security order throughout Europe.

 Associated Press

EU planning new sanctions for Russia

The European Union says it is planning the strongest, the harshest package of sanctions it has ever considered at an emergency summit Thursday, as the Russian military attacked Ukraine.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in remarks Thursday that Russia should withdraw their troops, adding Putin will not be allowed to tear down the security architecture that has given Europe peace and stability over many decades.

It is President Putin who is bringing war back to Europe, she said.

She added that Putins goal isnt to just invade Ukraine, but to create instability in Europe.

We are facing an unprecedented act of aggression by the Russian leadership against a sovereign, independent country, she said. Russia's target is not only Donbas, the target is not only Ukraine, the target is the stability in Europe and the whole of the International Peace order."

We will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions to European leaders for approval, she said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it the strongest, the harshest package ever considered.

-- Rebecca Morin, Associated Press

People are seen outside the cordoned off area around the remains of a shell in a street in Kyiv on February 24, 2022. - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a "full-scale invasion" was underway.

Japanese PM: 'We strongly condemn Russia'

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned Russias military actions in the Ukraine and said his country will respond in a speedy fashion in concert with the United States and other allies.

This Russian invasion stands to put at risk the basic principle of international order that forbids one-sided action of force in an attempt to change the status quo. We strongly condemn Russia, and we will respond speedily in cooperation with the U.S. and other Western nations, he said at his official residence in Tokyo.

Spain, France, Australia and Italy were among others condemning the attack. Germany and Turkey also warned their citizens in Ukraine to stay in a safe place.

-- Associated Press

German chancellor: 'Dark day'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday condemned Russias attack on Ukraine as a blatant violation of international law.

There is no justification for it, he said. Germany condemns this reckless act by President Putin in the strongest possible terms.

Scholz called on Russia to stop military action immediately, and said the G7, NATO and the EU will coordinate closely today.

This is a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe, he said.

-- Rebecca Morin

'A tragedy': World reacts to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

NATO ambassadors to meet on Ukraine attack

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has convened a meeting of NATO ambassadors to assess the invasion of Ukraine, which borders several NATO members.

The meeting Thursday morning will address the situation in Ukraine and the consequences of Russias unprovoked attack.

Earlier, Stoltenberg had already condemned Russias invasion. Despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression, Stoltenberg said.

He also warned Moscow that the alliance will will do all it takes to protect and defend NATO members.

He called the invasion a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. I call on Russia to cease its military action immediately.

-- Associated Press

People queue for fuel at a gas station in Sievierodonetsk, the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences you have never seen."

Zelenskyy speaks with world leaders

Hours after Putin announced military action against Ukraine, Zelenskyy spoke to several world leaders to garner support for his nation.

In addition to Biden, Zelenskyy in a tweet said he spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Council President Charles Michel, Poland President Andrzej Duda and United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Building an anti-Putin coalition, Zelenskyy said. Immediate sanctions, defense & financial support to (Ukraine)! Close the airspace! The world must force (Russia) into peace.

-- Rebecca Morin

More: Chaotic scenes in Donetsk and Luhansk as Russian troops enter the regions

Australian PM: 'We must ensure there is a cost'

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday said there must be a cost for Russia's egregious behavior against Ukraine.

We must ensure there is a cost for this violent and unacceptable and egregious behavior, he said. There always must be a cost for such reprehensible violence and the way this is being done in Ukraine as we speak.

Morrison added that Australia will stand with like minded countries against Russias attacks, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

-- Rebecca Morin

'Murkiness and doubt': Putin playbook meant to throw White House, allies off balance on Ukraine invasion

In Russia, a different view

Russian state media are portraying Moscow as coming to the rescue of war-torn areas of eastern Ukraine that are tormented by Ukraines aggression.

TV presenters are professing the end of suffering for the residents of the breakaway regions.

You paid with your blood for these eight years of torment and anticipation, anchor Olga Skabeyeva said during a popular political talk show Tuesday morning. Russia will now be defending Donbas.

Channel One struck a more festive tone, with its correspondent in Donetsk asserting that local residents say it is the best news over the past years of war.

Now they have confidence in the future and that the years-long war will finally come to an end, she said.

Whether ordinary Russians are buying it is another question.

-- Associated Press

The enigma of Vladimir Putin: What do we really know about Russia's leader?

People queue for fuel at a gas station in Sievierodonetsk, the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences you have never seen."

Zelenskyy imposes martial law, condemns 'cynical invasion'

Zelenskyy called Russias attack an unjustified deceitful and cynical invasion in a statement early on Thursday.

Only we, all citizens of Ukraine, have been determining our future since 1991, Zelenskyy said. "But now the fate of not only our state is being decided, but also what life in Europe will be like.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian diplomats are informing the world about what is happening in their country. He added: Whether at least something of the force of international law remains will depend on the world's fair and just response to this aggression.

Martial law has also been imposed, Zelenskyy also said, urging civilians to stay home.

Warn your loved ones about what is happening. Take care of those who need help, he said.

-- Rebecca Morin

'War is my biggest horror': Russians brace for deadly conflict, economic hardship as Putin orders invasion

Inhabitants of Kyiv leave the city following pre-offensive missile strikes of the Russian armed forces and Belarus on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.

US Department of State tells Americans in Ukraine to shelter in place

The U.S. Department of State early on Thursday warned Americans still in Ukraine about the current danger.

In a statement online, the department noted: "There are reports of Russian attacks on targets in a number of major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Mariupol, and others. U.S. citizens in Ukraine are advised to shelter in place..."

The statement added that: "Further Russian military action can occur at any time without warning."

-- Luciana Lopez

More: Biden levels sanctions on Russia for beginning an invasion of Ukraine

.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden warns Russia, adds massive sanctions over invasion into Ukraine
EXCLUSIVE: Sky and Peacock are behind a drama based on the notorious 1988 Lockerbie disaster from Academy Award-nominated writers Jim Sheridan and Kirsten Sheridan, Deadline can reveal.

Airing next year, Lockerbie will be based on the search for justice by Dr Jim Swire and his wife Jane who lost their daughter Flora in the air disaster, which killed all 259 passengers and crew on board when it exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, 38 minutes after take off. A further 11 residents lost their lives when the plane came down.

More from Deadline

Swire led a campaign for truth and justice and went on a journey that included meeting Libyas Colonel Gaddafi and successive British Prime Ministers before Libyan national Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was convicted 13 years later. He was released on compassionate grounds in 2009. The series is based on Swire and Peter Biddulphs book about thee disaster.

The five-parter comes from UCP, Sky Studios and Universal International Studios Carnival Films, and represents a big-budget bet for Sky and Comcast-owned NBC streamer Peacock. Sky has tended to co-produce limited series such as Chernobyl with HBO and this show will air on Peacock solely in the U.S., with NBCUniversal Global Distribution handling international sales.

The Pan Am Flight 103 disaster was one of the worlds deadliest terror attacks that continues to have widespread implications for the meaning of justice in the U.S., Scotland and Libya, said Jim Sheridan and Kirsten Sheridan. Over 30 years on, this series takes an intimate and very personal look at the aftermath.

The Sheridans were both Academy Award-nominated for 2002 Paddy Considine-starring feature In America and Jim Sheridan has also picked up nods for Daniel Day Lewis double In The Name of the Father and My Left Foot.

Story continues

The pair are writing all episodes of Lockerbie, with Naomi Sheridan guest-writing one. Nigel Marchant and Gareth Neame are Executive Producers for Carnival, with Samantha Hoyle Executive Producing for Sky Studios. Oskar Slingerland also serves as Executive Producer. The series was commissioned by Gabriel Silver, Director of Commissioning for Drama at Sky Studios and Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content at Sky UK.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Russia and Ukraine

Chris McGrath/Getty

By declaring two territories in eastern Ukraine independent states and ordering troops to the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin now faces a growing list of biting sanctions from the U.S. and its allies for what President Joe Biden called a "flagrant violation of international law" and the start of an invasion that could kick off the first major European conflict in decades.

Though the penalties may be stiff for Russia, world leaders fear their deterrents may not prevent a war, with more than 100,000 troops are stationed along the border with Ukraine awaiting Putin's orders.

"If the worst happens, then a European nation of 44 million men, women and children will become the target of a full-scale war of aggression waged without a shred of justification," U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told British lawmakers.

Geopolitical Fallout

Apart from possible bloodshed, western democracies see the potential for a disruption in global political stability as Putin  and others, like China's similarly autocratic leader Xi Jinping  discard long-standing norms and doctrine in favor of unilateral, anti-democratic actions like what the U.S. describes as Russia starting to invade its neighbor.

For more on what's happening in Ukraine, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.

"The stakes go far beyond Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the U.N. Security Council last week.

"This crisis directly affects every member of this council and every country in the world," Blinken said in a speech that warned of Russian aggression. "Because the basic principles that sustain peace and security  principles that were enshrined in the wake of two world wars and a Cold War  are under threat. The principle that one country cannot change the borders of another by force. The principle that one country cannot dictate another's choices or policies, or with whom it will associate. The principle of national sovereignty."

Story continues

RELATED: What's Next in Russia's Apparent Ukraine Invasion? How Putin Might Fight, How U.S. Response Could Affect You

China neither criticized nor endorsed Russia's latest moves, The New York Times reports, but was not vague about the sanctions that followed.

"Since 2011, the United States has imposed sanctions on Russia more than 100 times, but we can all think about it calmly, a spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry said Wednesday. "Have U.S. sanctions solved the problem?"

Vladimir Putin

ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Vladimir Putin

CBS News' chief foreign affairs correspondent and Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan spoke to PEOPLE about potential long-term fallout from the crisis.

"The question overhanging all of this is: Are we at a point where we are clearly looking at a new world order?" she said. "That's what Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping of China have stood up there and said. And whether we really are trying to figure out what the world looks like, if it's that international order  all the systems and international organizations to date are being pulled at the seams."

"That is how the Biden administration is framing this," Brennan added. "It's about democracy versus autocracy."

State of Emergency

With backing from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's parliament voted to declare a nationwide state of emergency beginning Thursday over fears that Russia will attack, escalating beyond its support for Ukraine's disputed breakaway territories.

A Pentagon official said Wednesday that it is believed nearly all the Russian forces along the Ukraine border are now ready as soon as Putin gives the green light. "It is our assessment that he is fully prepared to conduct a large-scale invasion," the official told The Washington Post.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin indicated previously that Russia was prepared to fight on the ground as well as by sea and air.

"Our information indicates clearly that these forces, including ground troops, aircraft, ships are preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days," he said last week.

RELATED: Who Is Ukraine President (and Former Actor-Comedian) Volodymyr Zelenskyy?

Also last week, President Biden said the U.S. believes Russia "will target Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people," and warned Americans there to leave the country.

"We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world," Biden said of a potential invasion. "Things could go crazy quickly."

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Prime Minister Johnson said British intelligence indicated that a full-scale invasion would not be limited to eastern territories but would include forces "coming down from the north, down from Belarus and actually encircling Kyiv itself."

russia, ukraine

RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The fighting could be intense. In Donbas, the eastern region, more than 14,000 people have died since fighting began there in 2014 between pro-Russian separatists and others loyal to Ukraine. Another 2 million have fled the violence and economic ruin that's plagued the territories in recent years.

Though the prospect of war looms, Biden has vowed to keep American ground troops out of possible fighting in Ukraine, saying Friday that the option is "not on the table."

In January, a Pentagon spokesman said up to 8,500 U.S. troops were put on heightened alert for a possible deployment to NATO allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, which would include warships and aircraft.

RELATED: Russia's Latest Aggression in Ukraine Crisis Is 'Beginning of an Invasion,' U.S. Says

"The United States and our allies are prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory from any threat to our collective security as well," Biden said. "We also will not send troops in to fight in Ukraine, but we will continue to support the Ukrainian people."

Economic Costs

However, the president warned Americans in a speech on Tuesday that "defending freedom will have costs for us as well here at home."

Biden said his administration had imposed new sanctions on Russia that have been "closely coordinated with our allies and partners" and will go "far beyond" steps implemented in 2014, when Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

The "first tranche" of measures target Russian financial institutions, its sovereign debt and the country's elites and their family members, Biden said.

"We've cut off Russia's government from western financing," he also said, adding that the elites "share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pains as well."

RELATED: U.S. Says Russia Lied About Troop Withdrawals as Shells Hit Ukrainian Kindergarten, Moscow Expels Diplomat

The new measures come after the administration banned American economic activity in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in Donbas, and Germany announced that it will halt the certification of Nord Stream 2, a major natural gas pipeline that links the country with Russia via the Baltic Sea, in response to Putin's decree and decision to move troops into Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine

Chris McGrath/Getty

"If Russia goes further with this invasion," Biden added, "we stand prepared to go further with sanctions."

But that could mean an even bigger financial squeeze for the American people, including at the gas pump, as the U.S. continues its economic recovery.

"The first things to react to a crisis like this are the oil and gas markets and that there could be further supply chain issues that result from a conflict in the middle of Europe," Brennan told PEOPLE of the president's thinking as he announced the sanctions against Russia.

"It's really bad for the economy and for the markets when there is uncertainty," Brennan continued. "We are already in this recovery of constantly starting and stopping when it comes to COVID. You have uncertainty on that front. Now we have the uncertainty of geopolitical risk. Where does Vladimir Putin stop? Does this spill over into Poland or Romania or Lithuania, countries that the United States would be required to help militarily defend? That question of just how far it goes makes big companies and big investors move a little bit more slowly or be more calculated in their decisions. All of that can potentially cause economic problems."

In his remarks on Tuesday, Biden promised to take "robust action so that the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economy and not ours."
Former President Donald Trump. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday blamed Russia's invasion of Ukraine on his election loss.

After he brought up false election claims, the Fox News host Laura Ingraham cut the interview short.

Ingraham cut to a speech on the floor of the United Nations, which other networks also showed.

Former President Donald Trump called into Fox News late Wednesday night only to be cut off once he brought up falsehoods about the 2020 US election.

The prime-time opinion host Laura Ingraham was asking Trump about "a lot of weakness in the United States" and where NATO stood as Russia mounted an invasion of Ukraine, news of which broke shortly before the former president's interview.

Trump quickly pivoted to reiterating his baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

"I think you're exactly right  I think that's what happened," Trump said.

"He was going to be satisfied with a peace, and now he sees the weakness and the incompetence and the stupidity of this administration, and, as an American, I'm angry about it, and I'm saddened by it," he continued, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "And it all happened because of a rigged election. This would have never happened."

After Trump brought up his "rigged election" line, Ingraham ended the interview.

"President Trump, we actually have  just, hold on, I'm so sorry to interrupt you  but have, we're going to the Pentagon, I believe?" Ingraham said. "Ukraine, sorry. Ukraine is speaking at the UN."

MSNBC and CNN also carried the remarks from Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's permanent representative to the United Nations.

Representatives from Fox News pointed to the network's live coverage from Ukraine when asked for comment.

The Fox News reporters Trey Yingst and Steve Harrigan were on the ground in Ukraine providing live coverage, and Ingraham returned to her previously scheduled interview with the journalist Glenn Greenwald after coming back from the floor of the United Nations.

Read the original article on Business Insider
COTONOU, Benin (AP)  Attacks by suspected Islamic extremists in northern Benin have killed at least eight people, including army soldiers, park rangers and a French instructor, the government has confirmed.

Six people were killed and a dozen injured in an ambush Tuesday which included explosions from improvised land mines on a patrol of park rangers in the north of the W National Park near the borders of neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, Benin government spokesman Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji said.

Five rangers and their French instructor were killed in that attack, he said.

The rangers were part of an anti-poaching patrol working with African Parks, an international organization that manages several parks on the continent including the W National Park. The W park is shaped like the letter in the alphabet as it follows the bends in the Niger River as it straddles Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso.

Reinforcements from the Benin Armed Forces have been deployed to the area and African Parks is working with the government to secure its staff and the surrounding civilian communities, the spokesman said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Islamic extremist groups with links to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have spread violence across West Africa, including to coastal countries, like Benin.

The French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutors office says it has opened an investigation into the killings, adding that the French instructor involved was 50 years old.

A second attack occurred on Thursday in which a parks patrol hit an improvised landmine and then was assaulted. A civilian and a parks agent died in that incident, he said.

There have been multiple attacks against Benins armed forces since December, according to an internal security report seen by The Associated Press. In December two Benin soldiers were killed by jihadis near the border with Burkina Faso.

The government has warned that security is critical because of the presence of extremists near an area called the triple point where the park borders all three countries.

The latest attacks in Benin raise concerns about the potential spread of militant violence spilling over from the Sahel region, said Laith Alkhouri, CEO of Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory. The risk would be a potential security crisis, particularly in the north of the country, which would overwhelm the security apparatus there, something that should be prevented early on.
YEREVAN, 24 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 24 February, USD exchange rate up by 1.00 drams to 479.78 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 5.91 drams to 537.55 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.34 drams to 5.69 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 6.65 drams to 644.54 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 132.05 drams to 29380.54 drams. Silver price up by 2.24 drams to 371.83 drams. Platinum price up by 96.64 drams to 16828.98 drams.
In the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants organization has confirmed to Robb Report today that it will no longer hold its marquee event in Moscow this summer.

The organization behind the prestigious, yet contentious, restaurant rankings had announced last November that Moscow would hold a series of events in July 2022 that would culminate in the awards. When we reached out to the Worlds 50 Best to see if it still planned to go forward with the event in Russia, a representative responded, At this current time, we are planning on holding the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants 2022 in London in July.

More from Robb Report

As of press time, the organization hasnt responded to Robb Report questions regarding the timeline of its decision, feedback it had received from sponsors or where in London the event will be held.

After taking a year off because of the pandemics devastating effect on restaurants around the globe, the Worlds 50 Best resumed its rankings last October with events in Antwerp, Belgium. Once again, Copenhagens Noma took the top spot on the list, celebrating on stage with many of the proprietors of ranked restaurants watching from the audience. Feeling some wind at its back, a little over a month later, the Worlds 50 Best announced it would head to Russias capital with the ambition to make the events even bigger.

Following the successful return our live awards program in 2021, we have no doubt that the 2022 event program will allow the global gastronomic community to reconnect once more in person and celebrate the indomitable spirit of the hospitality sector on an even greater scale, William Drew, the World 50 Bests director of content, said last fall.

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Holding the event can be a boon to the local restaurants, as the food cognoscenti descends from around the world not just to go to the awards, but to eat around town. When Eleven Madison Park was crowned the Worlds No. 1 restaurant in 2017, it came one year after the awards were held in New York City for the first and only time. Though it may be small, this move by Worlds 50 Best is a hit to Moscows tourism.

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Click here to read the full article.
Kyoukius Washington cries before releasing a balloon in memory of her son Oterious 'Bull' Marks, who died in a drive-by shooting, Central Park in McComb, Miss., on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. A drive-by shooting at a Mississippi park left a 6-year-old boy dead and four others wounded, authorities said.

MCCOMB, Miss.  A Mississippi woman says local officials need to take immediate steps to end senseless violence like the drive-by shooting that killed her 6-year-old son while he was playing with friends at a city park in McComb.

Kyoukius Washington, the mother of Oterious Marks, said her heart aches for this city."

Washington gathered Monday with friends, relatives and school officials at Central Park in McComb, the Enterprise Journal reported. One person held an enlarged photo of her son, as others placed stuffed animals near the blood stain on the basketball court where the first-grader was shot Sunday afternoon.

More: Track 2022 homicides in Jackson using this map

Im upset, Im hurt, Im distraught. Im losing my mind, Washington said as relatives wailed nearby. Im sad, extremely sad. My heart is broken. ... My baby is dead.

Oterious was pronounced dead at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center. Pike County Coroner Wally Jones said the child was struck in the abdomen by a high-caliber bullet.

The crime rate is out of hand, and the recklessness and senselessness that got my son killed," Washington said. Im angry. Im so angry."

Crosses are attached to a fence at Central Park in McComb, Miss., on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022.

More: Hinds Co. coroners are 'strung out, overworked and tired,' handling 200 deaths a month

HOW THE SHOOTING HAPPENED

Oterious had been playing with his brothers and friends as his mother watched from a nearby picnic table. Jody Ramee, Oterious 12-year-old brother, said he had seen someone with a gun at the park earlier but did not think the person would shoot. Then he saw a car come down a road near the basketball courts and someone started shooting. Jody watched a man standing next to him on the court get shot in the leg. Then he saw another bullet hit his brother. Another grazed Jody's arm.

Police Chief Garland Ward said the other people who were shot are 23, 18 and 17. Two of the four wounded were in critical condition, and one of them was airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. The others had minor injuries and were released from the local hospital, Ward said.

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Police arrested four suspects Monday  Bryan Cameron, 18; Yajari Jackson, 19; Bryceon Thompson, 18; and a 17-year-old. All face charges of capital murder and four counts of aggravated assault manifesting extreme indifference to human life. They remained in the Pike County jail Wednesday. It was not immediately clear whether any of them had lawyers who could comment on the charges.

More: Mississippi town loses half of police force, including chief

Memorials are left for Oterious Marks, 6, who died in a drive-by shooting, at Central Park in McComb, Miss., on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. A drive-by shooting at a Mississippi park left a 6-year-old boy dead and four others wounded, authorities said.

A WAKE-UP CALL

Washington said the shooting should serve as an awakening for McComb.

I dont know who the target was in this situation, but I know for sure it wasnt my 6-year-old son, she said.

Oterious, whose family called him Bull, was a first-grader at Otken Elementary School.

He was lovable. He was fun. He had a whole lot of character. He was a sweet boy, Washington said. He was so full of life.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: 'My baby is dead,' Mississippi mom says in call for end to violence
Seven in 10 South Koreans support their country developing its own nuclear weapons, according to a survey report released by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on Tuesday.



The poll, which surveyed 1,500 respondents aged 18 and above, was conducted from Dec. 1 to Dec. 4, 2021, by Hankook Research in South Korea.



Results show that 71% of respondents are in favor of developing a domestic nuclear program, while 56% support a U.S. deployment. When asked to choose between the two options, however, 67% preferred an independent arsenal, while only 9% opted for an American deployment.



The polls findings do not strongly align with reasons for armament cited by some local politicians and analysts, the Chicago Council said. While many have attributed public support for nuclear acquisition to concerns over the strength of the nations alliance with the U.S., 61% of poll respondents who believe that the U.S. will defend South Korea in the event of an attack were positively associated with support for nuclear acquisition.



The report also reflects that threats other than North Korea was the primary driver of support for weapons acquisition, with 55% saying that China will be South Koreas biggest threat in 10 years.



I believe North Koreas missile tests are no longer threatening South Koreans anymore, Kang Hyun-seok, a worker based in Seoul, told The Diplomat. I think South Koreans now think that the diplomatic overtures can only succeed when South Korea be a [sic] more powerful country with nuclear missile technologies, considering how North Korea treated South Korea in the nuclear talks.



Other reasons for supporting nuclear armament included increasing South Koreas prestige in the international community (26%), countering the North Korean threat (23%) and preparing for theoretical shifts such as a U.S. withdrawal (11%).



Still, 46% of respondents selected North Korea as the top national security threat at present. A glaring 82% also believe that Pyongyang will not give up its nuclear weapons.



Authors of the report believe U.S. policymakers should take South Koreans views into account.



We cant just ignore this. We cant treat it as, the public is emotional on these issues, co-author Toby Dalton told the Washington Post. Dalton is also the co-director and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowments Nuclear Policy Program.



While support for a domestic nuclear program is strong, South Korea can currently neither develop its own weapons nor redeploy those coming from the U.S., as Seoul is a signatory of the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) from 1970.



The U.S. withdrew all its nuclear weapons from South Korea in 1991, as per The New York Times. Subsequently, representatives in both South and North Korea signed an agreement to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, but the North has never followed through.



Featured Image (Cropped) via Daniel Oberhaus (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken pauses during a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, not pictured, at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. (Photo: CAROLYN KASTER via Getty Images)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday evening that he believes Russia is on the precipice of entering Ukraine in a major aggression and could cross the border before the night is over.

Unfortunately, Russia has positioned its forces at the final point of readiness across Ukraines borders, to the north, to the east, to the south. Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine, Blinken told NBCs Lester Holt. I cant put a date or an exact time on it, but everything is in place for Russia to move forward.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Russia-Ukraine crisis:



Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine, he tells @LesterHoltNBC. pic.twitter.com/dm6afgR4wJ  NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) February 24, 2022

His comments were undergirded Wednesday by Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby, who said Russia was ready to go and could attack at any time  with a significant military force.

Blinken said the Biden administration was still prepared to turn toward diplomacy, but warned that the U.S.  alongside its European allies  was prepared to hit Russia with even more sanctions and make the nation pay for its decision for a long, long time.

I think theres still an opportunity to avert a major aggression. Yesterday, when they began this invasion of Ukraine, we hit them hard, not just us, but in unison with Europe, going against major financial institutions, taking out a major project, the so-called Nord Stream 2, Blinken said. Weve said very clearly that if Russia continues to escalate, so will we.

He added: At the end of the day, if that doesnt stop President Putin, weve made very clear  that there will be massive consequence going forward, a price that Russia will have to pay for a long, long time.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a direct appeal to Russia on Thursday morning in Kyiv, saying his nation wanted peace and was doing everything it can to build it.

Neighbors always enrich each other culturally, Zelenskyy said in a televised address. However, that doesnt make them a single whole. It doesnt dissolve us into you. We are different, but that is not a reason to be enemies. We want to determine, build our future ourselves, peacefully, calmly and honestly.

He said any impending war rested solely in the Kremlins hands.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Unmasked customers enjoy Sunday afternoon drinks and a meal at the indoor patio seating at Don Orange restaurant in Redlands, California

Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Los Angeles will drop its indoor mask mandate for people who are fully vaccinated, the county's health department announced on Wednesday.

The new policy, which aligns with the state, will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 25 and will allow businesses to implement mask-free policies if customers show proof they are vaccinated, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. People who are not fully vaccinated will have to show proof of a negative test to enter the business and continue wearing a mask indoors except when actively eating or drinking.

"While there are powerful tools that impede virus transmission, none are perfect which is why we often need to use a variety of safety measures to reduce transmission," Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the director of the Department of Public Health, said in a statement. "As transmission drops and there is less virus circulating, some tools may afford significant protections against the very worst risks associated with COVID. Because vaccines are one of these tools, with lower rates of hospital admissions and COVID hospitalizations, it is appropriate in settings verifying vaccination or negative test status, that we transition to strongly recommending masking instead of requiring masking."

By mid-March, Los Angeles expects to "hit a Moderate Rate of Transmission" and plans to fully lift the indoor mask mandate for vaccinated people.

The decision to ease mask rules comes just over a week after California let its statewide mask mandate expire, paving the way for Disneyland to make masks optional for vaccinated guests.

Universal Studios Hollywood, which is located in Los Angeles, currently requires guests to wear masks indoors, according to the park, as well as requires guests to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter the park, in line with the county's rules.

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Similarly, Six Flags Magic Mountain, which is also located in Los Angeles, still requires face masks be worn in all indoor locations regardless of vaccination, a spokeswoman confirmed to Travel + Leisure on Thursday.

A representative for Universal Studios Hollywood did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the county's new policy.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
Feb. 24EAU CLAIRE  Struggles for working parents who need child care and the small businesses that provide the service were among concerns raised in Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes' visit Wednesday to Eau Claire as he campaigns for U.S. Senate.

Barnes listened to a panel of four local small business owners during the hourlong campaign appearance as they spoke about challenges they've faced.

"Child care is one of the biggest things we hear about," Barnes said.

Cathy Svihovec, owner of Little Bloomers Early Learning Community located just south of Eau Claire, spoke about the difficulty she's having to fill positions.

"We're at the point where we don't have enough staff to take on new clients," she said, noting that there are 150 children's names on her wait list.

It is becoming harder to fill jobs though as she acknowledged as competition for workers has increased, as have the wages that other businesses are promoting to attract new employees.

But Svihovec is also aware of the price that parents pay for child care. At her center, which does not qualify for income-based government aid programs, it costs $1,000 a month for a child to go there.

Will Glass, owner of local brewery the Brewing Projekt and a father of four, agreed about the high cost of health care.

His wife stopped working while their children were younger to take care of them because child care cost more than what they could afford.

"The amount we could be paying totally exceeds what she would make here," Glass said.

With all four kids in school now, his wife is back working full time, but still takes summers off to avoid paying daycare costs when the children are out of school.

Les Danielson, a Cadott farm owner who also sat on Wednesday's small business panel, said difficulties working parents face create ripple effects in the economy.

"The problem with child care leads to the other problems, like labor shortages," he said.

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Difficulty finding employees, dealing with inflation, the high cost of health insurance, price swings in agricultural commodities and COVID-19 relief programs for businesses were among the other topics discussed with Barnes on Wednesday.

Barnes' stop in Eau Claire is part of a tour he's doing to promote his campaign's plan for small businesses, which was released on Tuesday.

Its policy stances include increased funding to rural business development grants, using union labor and American products on federal projects, and lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 50.

The plan also states that Barnes would fight in the Senate "to deliver affordable and high-quality child care so more Wisconsinites with young children that want to work, can work."

When asked what he would do to accomplish that, Barnes talked about raising wages for both those providing and needing child care.

"We have to be able to incentivize and hire more staff and pay a higher wage," he said.

To allow more people to pay for child care, he said the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour  which Wisconsin set its minimum wage to  should be raised to $15.

"If the state government won't act to put more money in people's pockets, the feds should jump in," Barnes said.

The lieutenant governor is among about a dozen Democrats campaigning against incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.

A primary for the Democratic candidates will be Aug. 9 to determine who will face off against Johnson in November.

Barnes is among the top four largest campaigns running as a Democrat for the seat. Others are Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry, who is currently on leave to campaign; Eau Claire native and state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson.

The Democrats have recently begun releasing their economic platform plans.

Earlier this month, Lasry introduced a plan that included raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, boosting unions and providing two years of free technical college to students.

Godlewski put out a rural-focused plan late last month that calls for improving access to health care, aiding family farms and turning broadband internet into a public utility.
A video grab taken from footage on the official web site of Russian President Vladimir Putin as he addresses the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow early on Feb. 24, 2022. Putin announced a "military operation" in Ukraine and called on soldiers there to lay down their arms, defying Western outrage and global appeals not to launch a war. Credit - KREMLIN.RU/AFP/Getty Images

When Vladimir Putin declared war early Thursday morning, he did not set Ukraine as his ultimate target. The Russian leader focused instead on the U.S. and its allies, placing them at the center of a speech that set the nights invasion in motion. It was the West, he said, that created the fundamental threats to Russia that prompted him to attack Ukraine, and it is the West, he said, that Russia would seek to humble in the ensuing war.

All of the so-called Western bloc, which the U.S. formed in its image and likeness, all of it in its entirety, is whats known as the empire of lies, Putin said. After the fall of the Soviet Union, he added, the U.S. and its allies tried to crush us, beat us down and finish us off We remember that and will never forget it.

A Russian tank enters a region controlled by Moscow-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Nanna HeitmannMagnum Photos

Only a day earlier, there was still room to hope that Russias incursion into Ukraine was part of a local conflict, focused on border regions Putin had long described as historical possessions of Moscow that had unfairly been taken away. His hour-long address to the nation on Mondaywhich was, up to that point, the most aggressive of his 21 years in powerended with a promise to recognize the independence of those separatist regions. The move was illegal, a blatant violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. But it did not in itself make a wider war seem inevitable.

Read More: Heres What We Know So Far About Russias Assault on Ukraine



Indeed, when the West gave its response on Tuesday, imposing sanctions against a few Russian banks and halting the approval of a Russian gas pipeline to Germany, they wanted to leave room for diplomacy, for some negotiated settlement that would dissuade Putin from further escalations. If Moscows approach changes, we remain, I remain, very much prepared to engage, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Tuesday.

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A woman stands in a street as black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on Feb. 24, 2022. AFP via Getty Images

But by the time the missiles began to fall Thursday, hitting both military and civilian targets across the entirety of Ukraine, it was abundantly clear that Moscows approach would not changethat Putin intends this war as his revenge against the West, and the United States in particular.

Among the many threats he issued in his declaration of war, the most chilling was reserved not for Ukraine but for the outside forces who might come to its defense, a thinly veiled reference to Kyivs allies in the U.S. and Europe. Addressing them toward the end of his speech, Putin said: Anyone who tries to get in our way, let alone tries to threaten us and our people, should know that Russias answer will be immediate, and it will lead to consequences of the sort that you have not faced ever in your history.

Read More: How the West Can Stop Putin

The threat was grave in part because of its ambiguity. Putin did not specify what kind of support for Ukraine he might consider a threat to Russia in a time of war. Over the past year, the U.S. has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to help Ukraine defend itself, and President Joe Biden has made clear that this support would continue in the event of a Russian invasion.

Police and security personnel inspect the remains of a shell in a street in Kyiv on Feb. 24, 2022. ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images

As that invasion started, the Ukrainian leadership called on the West to go much further in its support. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday morning in Kyiv that he had spoken with President Biden and several of Europes leading statesmen with the aim of building what he called an anti-Putin coalition. Among the aims of this coalition, he said in a statement, would be to provide Ukraine with defense and financial support and, as he put it, to close the airspace over his country to halt Russian air attacks.

But would Putin treat that as an act of Western aggression? His speech made it difficult to tell for sure, and that may have been the point. In starting this war, Putin has presented the U.S. and its allies with a painful dilemma. They can either break their promises of support for Ukraine and abandon the country to Russia, or they can risk getting pulled into a war with a nuclear superpower intent on their humiliation.

Read More: How Putins Denial of Ukraines Statehood Rewrites History

For Putin, that may also be part of the point. Most of his half-hour speech on Thursday morning in Moscow amounted to a list of his many grudges against the West, from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the wars in Libya, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. One gets that sense that practically everywhere, in many regions of the world where the West comes to establish its order, they end up turning into bloody wounds that cannot heal, boils of international terrorism and extremism.

These were not the words of an aggressor calling on the West to mind its business while he settles a score with his neighbor. This was a war cry meant for the ears of all Western leaders. With his bombs now falling on Ukraine, Putin has forced them to listen, and he is daring them to respond.
Reuters

The number of people registering as jobless in Spain fell 2.77%in April to 3.02 million people, the lowest level since July 2019, as hirings sped up and took formal jobs to over 20 million for the first time ever, official data showed on Wednesday. Most sectors added jobs in the month, and a strong recovery of the pandemic-ravaged tourism industry during the Easter holidays also contributed to the improvements in the labour market data, the Labour Ministry said. "Unemployment data are better than when we came to power despite the great uncertainty," Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz told an event hosted by Europa Press in Madrid.
Joe Biden

Joshua Roberts/Getty; Mikhail Svetlov/Getty President Joe Biden (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin has announced a "special military operation" in the Donbas area of Ukraine, a separatist region in the country which he said this week should be independent  a move rejected by the U.S. and Ukraine.

In a televised address, Putin said that the operation is to "demilitarize" Ukraine and that Ukrainian servicemen who put down their arms will be able to safely leave the combat zone, per the Associated Press.

Putin also issued a warning to anyone who tried to intervene, saying they "must know that Russia's answer will be immediate, and will lead to such consequences as you never experienced in your history," according to The New York Times.

RELATED: What's Next in Russia's Apparent Ukraine Invasion? How Putin Might Fight, How U.S. Response Could Affect You

Vladimir Putin

Sergei Guneyev/TASS/Getty Russian President Vladimir Putin

Explosions were also reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kramatorsk and other parts of Ukraine shortly after Putin's televised address, the Times reports.

For more on what's happening in Ukraine, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.

President Joe Biden issued a statement on Russia's invasion shortly after the address aired, writing, "The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden's statement continued. "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable."

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The President went on to write that he will address the nation on Thursday as he monitors the situation overseas.

RELATED: U.S. Says Russia Lied About Troop Withdrawals as Shells Hit Ukrainian Kindergarten, Moscow Expels Diplomat

"Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security," wrote Biden.

The 46th president concluded: "We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine."

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser for the Interior Minister of Ukraine, said on his Facebook page early Thursday morning that Russia's "invasion has begun," according to CNN.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, also wrote on Twitter that Putin had "started a full-scale war against Ukraine," per the New York Times.

"This is a war of aggression," a translated tweet read. "Ukraine will defend itself and win. The world must act and stop Putin. It is time to act  immediately."
YEREVAN, 23 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and France today, on February 24, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, ARMENPRESS reports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia announced ton Twitter.

"30 years ago, Armenia and France established diplomatic relations, thus marking the beginning of our interstate relations based on centuries-old friendship, strengthened by excellent cooperation in a number of areas," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

France is one of the closest friends of Armenia, the Armenian people, one of the most reliable partners in the international family of nations. Yerevan - Paris relations are at the highest level. The sides actively cooperate both bilaterally and multilaterally in different dimensions.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the French Republic were established exactly 30 years ago, on February 24, 1992.

During 30 years, 16 documents were signed between Armenia and France, including the Framework Agreement signed between Armenia and the French Governments on December 9, 1997.
It may be a little late, but the Ellensburg Winterhop Brewfest is back for its 18th year
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Aaron C. Kelly, 39, appears Wednesday in Benton County Superior Court on charges he killed one and wounded another on Feb. 7, 2022 inside the Richland Fred Meyer store.
Smoke rise from an air defence base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government.
To the editor -- As the mother of a 2-year-old who is autistic, I have a unique understanding as to the challenges many children and families face today when it comes to early learning, especially for children with specific learning support needs. Thats why ensuring they have a strong foundation to start preschool is so important.

My daughter participates in Save the Childrens home visiting program, Early Steps to School Success (ESSS). Early childhood education opportunities like ESSS make sure children in Washington, and other states across America, are building critical learning skills that set them up for success in the classroom.

As the child of immigrants, I grew up often being the voice for my family as my parents were not able to communicate with my school in their native language. This experience impressed upon me the need for my daughter to be able to effectively communicate in my absence.

Early childhood learning programs make this possible. We must invest in early childhood education to make sure all students can succeed. Washington state legislators should continue supporting early childhood education opportunities in the supplemental budget this legislative session, including funding for Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in the House Proposed Budget.

DAISY CRUZ LOPEZ

Grandview
On the front page of the February Yakima Valley Business Times, Bruce Smith complains of the endless Yakama Nation articles being run in the Seattle-owned local newspaper

I heartily agree with the Times that it is important to critically appraise newspapers for bias related to their funding, but arent Yakama Nation stories exactly the type of local news that should be in our local paper? How many articles on indigenous issues does it take to become excessive? Would the answer be different if they were white?

Thank you, Yakima Herald-Republic, for finally giving the deaths and disappearances of Yakama women coverage. Shining a bright light on what's been long ignored is an asset of free press, and makes a better system for everyone.

JONAH CHRISTIAN

Yakima
YEREVAN, 24 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. An Armenian-French forum will be held in Paris in the near future under the auspices of the French President, which will open new perspectives for the Armenian youth and will contribute to the strengthening of the Armenian-French bilateral ties, ARMENPRESS reports Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France said during the event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Armenia-France diplomatic relations, congratulating the two countries on the important anniversary.

"For thirty years now, France has been standing with Armenia more than ever, helping it to recover and look to the future. This is a moment of joy. Long live the French-Armenian friendship! Lets work for the coming 30 years, the French diplomat said.

Lemoine also informed that the French side has signed an ambitious roadmap for economic cooperation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and soon a forum will be held in Paris in the near future under the auspices of the French President on the cooperation of the French and Armenian civil societies called Ambitions: France-Armenia.

"It will unite the main actors of bilateral relations, and I am sure it will allow to bring forward new ideas, new projects. The aim of the forum is to open a perspective for the Armenian youth, to further strengthen the ties between our two countries, said Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.
Greensboro, NC (27407)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Blasts are heard in Kyiv, Kramatorsk, Odessa, Kharkiv, and Berdiansk, news.am informs, citing UNIAN news agency.

February 24, 2022, 09:45 Ukraine media report about explosions in Kyiv, Kramatorsk, Odessa

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 24, ARTSAKHPRESS: "On Thursday, February 24, after 5 o'clock early in the morning (after 6am Moscow time), the sounds of explosions are heard in a number of cities, including Kyiv. At least four explosions in Kramatorsk, powerful explosions in Odessa, Kharkiv, Berdiansk, and heavy shooting in Donbas are reported," the statement said.

It is added that the sounds of explosions are heard in the capital, too.

"At the same time, there are reports of shootings and explosions near the Boryspil airport," the agency said.
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As the EU imposes another round of sanctions in response to Russias moves in eastern Ukraine, commentators try to make sense of what they see as a partial revival of the Cold War.

In Magyar Nemzet, Laszlo Szocs understands Russias security concerns but approves Hungarys stance in joining the EU sanctions in response to Russias move to carve out two districts from Ukraine. Hungary does not believe sanctions are an efficient deterrent, he writes, but as it belongs to the Western world, it has always accepted joint European sanctions  despite allegations to the contrary.



Magyar Hirlaps Peter G. Feher sees the current events as the logical consequence of mutual efforts by both the West and the East to expand towards each other. He believes Russia is now strong enough to resist sanctions and predicts that the conflict in eastern Ukraine is just a stop-over in a process that will lead the world back to a Cold War.



In his second column on Ukraine in as many days, Nepszavas Miklos Bonta sees President Putins moves as prompted by a Soviet-type mentality. He wonders if Russia will stop with what it has conquered, or intends to move further south, towards the Crimea, moreover, he even asks if President Putin is dreaming about occupying the whole of Ukraine. At any rate, he deems the Russian economy insufficiently robust to sustain such expansionism in the long run.



This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher.

Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online.

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YORK  Rjay Andrade Hernandez, 18, of Springfield, Mo., has been charged with four felonies after being caught with 56 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop in York County.

The case began when a deputy with the York County Sheriffs Department was on regular patrol on Interstate 80.

While conducting a ruse checkpoint, the deputy saw a Cadillac SRX4 traveling eastbound on Interstate 80, suddenly exit at the Bradshaw exit and then turn north on Road H. Due to a traffic violation, the deputy said he initiated a traffic stop, according to court documents.

Hernandez, the driver, and his passenger, Brendon Price, told the deputy they were going to an uncles house in the area.

The deputy notes in court documents he saw a large object in the rear of the vehicle, covered with a blanket.

The deputy said he asked which road the uncle lived on, but received no answer.

The passenger asked if he needed to call a lawyer, which the deputy found to be suspicious.

The deputy asked for permission to search the vehicle, which was denied.

Loki, his K-9 partner, was deployed and the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics.

During a search of the vehicle, the deputies found multiple duffel bags in the rear of the vehicle, which contained 56 pounds of marijuana.

Both men were arrested and taken to the York County Jail.

Hernandez has been charged with two counts of delivery, one count of possession of more than a pound of marijuana and having no drug tax stamp.

The case has been bound over to District Court where arraignment proceedings are pending.
As electric vehicles become a household name, automakers are working hard to make EVs as convenient as ICE-powered vehicles. While improving the product helps the cause, improving the EV ecosystem is as important. The concept of Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) was born to enhance this EV ecosystem and elevate the EV experience. We got in touch with Rajiv K Vij, CEO of Plug Mobility to understand the concept of Mobility-as-a-service and electric vehicles in general.

Tell us about Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS)

Availability of various forms of transport services covering the entire journey of a consumer from discovery to selection, ordering, receiving the service and making payment, providing feedback etc., accessible on demand through Mobile Applications is known as Mobility as a Service.

Also read: Apple to launch its own self-driving electric car soon

Why do you think commercial vehicles are easy to convert to EVs?

EVs are more expensive in terms of initial capital cost but the energy/electricity cost for running an EV is significantly lower as compared to the diesel/petrol cost for an ICE car. Total Cost of Ownership of an EV is much lower as compared to an ICE car if the car is run for over 120 KM per day. Private cars in India, generally run for less than 50 KM per day while commercially registered cars run for 150-350 km per day resulting in significant savings for the fleet owners and thus making the conversion of commercial car industry to EV much easier and viable.

How do you see the current Indian EV ecosystem?

The EV ecosystem is building up fast with a large number of 2w and 3w manufacturers coming up in different parts of the country besides major OEMs making large investments for manufacture of 2w/3w/4w including buses. Significant investments by Indian companies and global energy payers are also being made in setting charging infrastructure in all major cities and highways.

Component manufacturers are also gearing up to manufacture components for EVs. GOI has expanded the scope of FAME II scheme for EV adoption and charging infrastructure set up and the PLI scheme to encourage local manufacturing of battery and other components are helping the growth of the ecosystem.

State Governments have also come up with various incentives as part of their EV policy to support the industry. Financing continues to be a gap in the ecosystem which the GOI is expected to address through policy measures and financial institutions. The sector is expected to see a huge growth over the next 10 years.

Are fleet owners satisfied with EV choices in India?

The situation has improved over the last 12-18 months as compared to last 3-4 years but fleet owners are seeking more choices in hatchback, sedan and van category cars with >250 KM range in a single charge and ability to service all kinds of requirements of consumers. OEMs like Toyota, Hyundai, MG, BYD, Stelantis, Maruti Suzuki, Nissan, Renault besides Tata and Mahindra are expected to launch more car models in the next 12-18 months.

How do you see the governments push for the EV industry?

The GOI and State Governments have implemented various policies to give the EV industry a positive push under FAME II, State wise EV policies, PLI schemes besides amendments in the MV Act. The subsidies available for setting up the charging infrastructure besides making the land/sites available for same, is also helping the sector.

Reduction in taxes on imports besides making financing available to the commercial fleet will further boost the industry. The industry is looking forward to positive policy push for EVs in the budget.

What's next for the Indian EV industry?

The industry is still at an early stage in India as compared to China, Europe and US with EV sales in India at only 1.3% of total vehicle sales during 20-21. But the numbers are growing fast particularly in 2w and 3w sales. The 4w segment is witnessing strong demand pushing the OEMs to make necessary investments in setting up facilities in India.

Setting up of battery manufacturing in India, will be a game changer and is expected to attract large global and Indian companies joining the race. The segment is estimated to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 90 per cent in this decade to touch $150 billion by 2030. The EV industry requires large investments in EV Technology Evolution through R&D, Product Development both on the automobile platforms and battery/charging technology.

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Due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace as a result of Russia's military incursion, an Air India plane that took off for Kyiv in Ukraine on Thursday morning to bring back Indians from the eastern European country has returned to Delhi.

After the Air India flight had departed from Delhi on Thursday morning, the Ukrainian authorities issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which stated that flights of civil aircraft within Ukraine "are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation".

Also read: Airlines should stop flying over Ukraine amid tensions with Russia: Conflict zone monitor

Air India and the central government then decided to call back the plane to Delhi, officials said, adding that the plane took an about-turn in the Iranian airspace to return to Delhi.

Air India flight AI1947 is coming back to Delhi due to NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) at, Kyiv, Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/C6OKj7xMF9  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

An airline spokesperson said the Air India flight AI 1947 is returning as a NOTAM has been issued at Kyiv.The flight started from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here at around 7.30 am for Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv.

Meanwhile, a Ukraine International Airlines flight from Kyiv landed at the Delhi airport at around 7.45 am on Thursday. "There were 182 Indian nationals on board the flight and the majority of them were students... A couple of more flights have been scheduled," Anju Wariah, Director at STIC Group, said. The group is the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Ukraine International Airlines in India.

After weeks of rising tensions, Russia on Thursday announced a military operation against Ukraine. Air India's Thursday flight was scheduled to be the second flight to bring back Indians from the eastern European nation. The first flight, operated on February 22, brought back around 240 people. On February 19, Air India announced that it would operate three flights between India and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26.

With inputs from PTI

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The Russian Armed Forces are not delivering artillery or air strikes against Ukrainian cities and are striking military infrastructure with precision weapons, TASS reports citing the statement of the Russian Defense Ministry.

February 24, 2022, 09:55 Russian Armed Forces are not delivering strikes against Ukrainian cities  Defense Ministry

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 24, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Precision weapons are degrading military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military aerodromes and aviation of the Ukrainian armed forces, the ministry said as quoted by TASS.

Civilians are not threatened, Russias Defense Ministry assured.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on Thursday morning that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.
A conflict zone monitor on February 23 said airlines should stop flying over any part of Ukraine because of the risk of an unintended shootdown or a cyberattack targeting air traffic control amid tensions with Russia.

Safe Airspace, which was set up to provide safety and conflict zone information for airlines after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, said it had increased its risk level to "do not fly."

"Regardless of the actual movements of Russian forces into Ukraine, the level of tension and uncertainty in Ukraine is now extreme," Safe Airspace said on its website. "This itself gives rise to significant risk to civil aviation."

Also read: Tata might relook decision to retain new Air India CEO if govt delays background check

Russia has closed some airspace in the Rostov flight information region to the east of its border with Ukraine "in order to provide safety" for civil aviation flights, according to a notice to airmen. Airports at Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine are closed to traffic until the morning of February 24. No reasons were provided for the closures.

Separatists in Ukraine asked on February 23 for Russian help to repel "aggression" and Kyiv announced compulsory military service and a state of emergency as the West slapped more sanctions on Moscow in a bid to stop an all-out invasion.

The United States, Italy, Canada, France, and Britain have advised their airlines to avoid certain airspace above eastern Ukraine and Crimea but so far have stopped short of a total ban. Safeairspace.net said it expected updated guidance could be issued soon.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said in its latest guidance on February 9 that a cross-border conflict between Ukraine and Russia could pose a direct or indirect threat to civil aviation. Germany`s Lufthansa halted flights to Ukraine from February 21, joining KLM which already suspended flights.

Two Ukrainian airlines last week disclosed problems in securing insurance for some of their flights while foreign carriers began avoiding the country's airspace as Russia massed a huge military force on its border. Several airlines were still flying over Ukraine on February 24.

With inputs from Reuters

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Britain is banning Aeroflot from its airspace, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced, stating the sanctions are in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. PM Johnson told parliament that Putin will never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands.

In the 10-point sanctions package, the British government said it would impose an asset freeze on some major Russian banks, including state-owned VTB, its second-biggest bank, and stop major Russian companies from raising finance in Britain.

Also read: Air India flight AI1947 returning to Delhi due to Notice to Air Missions in Ukraine

Speaking to parliament, Johnson said Putin would be condemned by the world and by history for his invasion, never able to cleanse the "blood of Ukraine" from his hands. "This hideous and barbarous venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure," he told parliament when announcing the new sanctions.

"For our part today the UK is announcing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen."

This is a developing story.

With inputs from Reuters

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The newly appointed CEO and MD of Air India, Ilker Ayci, a Turkish national, to undergo a thorough background check by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The sources on February 20 said MHA will scrupulously carry out the whole process.

The Tata Group, which acquired Air India from the government, had recently announced Ayci's appointment as the CEO and MD of the loss-making airlines. The Home Ministry "scrupulously" carries out a thorough background check of all foreign nationals when they are appointed in the key positions of any Indian company, the sources said. It will be the same process for the newly appointed CEO and MD too, they said.

However, the MHA has not yet received any communication on Ayci from either the Tata group or the Civil Aviation Ministry, the nodal ministry. Once a communication is received, the whole process of security clearance will begin, the sources said.

Also read: Delhi Airport's T1 gets new arrival terminal, first flight from Goa to arrive at THIS time

Since Ayci is a Turkish national, the MHA is expected to take help from the external intelligence agency, RAW, for his background check. Ayci was an advisor of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, when the latter was mayor of Istanbul, from 1994 to 1998. He had served the Turkish Airlines as its chairman from 2015 to 2022 and was credited with turning the airline around.

With inputs from PTI

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea seeking stay on the release of Bollywood movie Gangubai Kathiawadi. The Alia Bhatt-starrer, produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bhansali Production Private Ltd, is scheduled for release on Friday.

A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and J K Maheswari dismissed the plea of Babuji Rawji Shah, who claims to be the adopted son of Gangubai, against the Bombay High Court's order declining him various reliefs such as interim stay on the release of the movie. "SLP dismissed. Reasons to follow," the bench said.

At the outset, senior advocate A Sundaram, appearing for the filmmakers, told the bench that it would practically not be possible to change the name of the movie, as suggested by it, as they will have to go to the censor board again.

He submitted that there cannot be an objection to the naming of the film as censor certificate has been given to the movie.

He questioned the locus of the petitioner and said that Shah claims to be the adopted son of Gangubai without evidence. "There is no basis for adoption. Person is claiming to be the adopted son and there's no prima facie evidence. He is a third party and he has only shown a ration card to prove his claim. Not even a whisper of proof of the same apart from ration card," Sundaram said.

The senior lawyer further said that nothing prima facie has been shown to the court to prove there is anything defamatory in the movie. Sundaram said the entire case is premised on a book based on 2011 which they didn't consider challenging at that time. "The book was "The Mafia Queens of Bombay". Our film glorifies the lady as to what she has accomplished," he said.

There are judgements to show that the right of defamation dies with a person's death, Sundaram said.

"When I produce a film of a public figure who died 40 years ago, we are trying to show how great a lady she was. I am praising her more if she lived in a red light area & achieved great height," he submitted.

The bench then asked, "What if there are sensibilities in the family?"

Sundaram replied that they are not family.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, also appearing for the filmmakers, contended that the movie is not derogatory at all and the character Gangubai has been glorified as to how she rose from a background and became an activist.

"We have certification of the film, it's set to release. It's out of our hands actually," he said.

Rohatgi also questioned the timing of the petition and asked, "Why is there a gap of nine months challenging the Bombay High Court judgment?

Advocate Rakesh Singh, appearing for the petitioner, argued that defamation not only affects the person, but family members as well. "They say the movie is in the book and if the book is defamatory then the movie is defamatory...The book says that she was having an affair and then she was pushed into a brothel in Kamathipura. The promo also depicts this...Dialogue in the movie is also defamatory to the victim."

The bench then said that he will have to establish a strong prima facie case on locus standi and merits of the case.

Shah had earlier moved the high court seeking an order restraining the writers/publishers of the novel from creating any third-party rights or writing any other story on the life of his mother (Gangubai Kathiawadi). He had also sought a stay on release of the movie 'Gangubai Kathiawadi'.

The high court, in its order passed on July 30 last year, had rejected the application noting that any content of defamatory nature dies with that person's death. "It is for the appellant (Shah) to demonstrate that he is the adoptive son of deceased Gangubai Kathiawadi, which he has prima facie failed to do," the high court had said, adding that in a case of claim for defamation, action can be brought by a person in Court of law provided he claimed to be defamed.

Merely because the Appellant is claiming to be son of such person cannot be prima facie inferred to have the legal right to show indulgence, the high court had said.

Prior to this, a lower court had rejected the defamation lawsuit of Shah leading to filing of an appeal in the high court which also refused to grant any interim relief to him.

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New Delhi: GST officers have unearthed a racket of 54 bogus firms involved in fake invoicing of Rs 611 crore involving tax evasion of Rs 38.5 crore, the finance ministry said on Thursday.

Officers of Delhi South CGST Commissionerate conducted searches and inspections spread across Delhi, unearthing a cartel running 54 bogus firms registered in Delhi-NCR region that were engaged in fake invoicing and circular trading.

Incriminating documents such as rubber stamps and letter heads of various firms, mobile phones, laptops etc have been seized from the search premises.

"Preliminary enquiry conducted so far into these transactions has revealed fake invoicing of around Rs. 611 crores and tax evasion of over Rs. 38.5 crores. The members of cartel in their confessional statements have accepted their roles in managing these bogus firms," the ministry said in a statement.

Three key persons of the cartel, namely Ankit Gupta, the mastermind managing these bogus firms and two of his accomplices Rabiendra Singh and Rajendra Singh, were arrested on February 23 and remanded to 14 days' judicial custody.

In a separate statement, the ministry said the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Commissionerate, Faridabad, of Panchkula CGST Zone, on February 23 arrested two persons for running a fake billing racket, involving five dummy firms, for issuance of fake invoices of over Rs 200 crore without actual supply of goods and availing and passing fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC) amounting to Rs 31.85 crore.

As per GST law, issuance of an invoice or bill without supply of goods or services and wrongful availment or utilisation of Input Tax Credit is a cognizable and non-bailable offence if the amount is over Rs 5 crore. Also Read: Gold Price Today, Feb 24: Russia-Ukraine war boosts gold price to Rs 52,500; highest in 2022

"Both the proprietors of the said firms have accepted that they have availed and passed on fraudulent ITC of Rs. 31.85 crore, without actual supply of goods to inter-state recipients and have accepted the total GST liability of Rs. 31.85 crore during initial investigation. The quantum may increase in future," the statement added. Also Read: iPhone 13 Price Cut: Amazon selling smartphone at Rs 11,000 discount, right time to buy?

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Mumbai: Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Michael Patra on Wednesday said the central bank's views about cryptocurrencies might have delayed the government's proposed legislation on crypto assets.

Emphasising that the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) will be introduced in FY23 as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Budget speech, Patra said India will proceed very gradually on the subject as there are concerns on privacy, its impact on monetary policy formulation and energy intensity.

The government had plans to introduce a bill on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin during the Winter Session of Parliament in November-December 2021 but did not introduce it.

"RBI's view is quite known on crypto. I think it is the one of the views that has actually delayed a bill on that subject but we will engage in a fair debate on that subject and will look at all sides of the debate," Patra said, speaking at an event organised by the Pune International Centre.

The central bank is in favour of a complete ban on the speculative assets, saying they hold no underlying value at all, and has also called them a threat to financial stability.

On the CBDC, Patra said there already exists such an instrument on the wholesale front but it is retail where work is required.

"I think we will proceed very gradually. We will cross the river by feeling the pebbles. There are issues of privacy that are involved, there are issues of monetary policy transmission that are involved. There is also an issue of energy intensity of the whole process if it is on a certain kind of technology," he said.

RBI is proceeding "very, very slowly" on the subject and will make calibrated moves in the direction, he noted.

A few weeks ago, former RBI Governor D Subbarao had flagged concerns on privacy on the CBDC front saying the feature to check the entire movement of a single unit of the digital currency makes it susceptible to be tracked and also pointed to the absence of guardrails like a data protection law.

"Why should RBI or the government know how much ice cream I buy every month? or what luxury brands I patronise? So, there is a certain level of discomfort and I think if you have CBDCs, you have to have very robust data protection laws which are credible not only to people within the country but also outside. So, data protection laws are very important in issuing CBDCs," he had said.

"In a country like India where the opposition is very vigorous, there can be fake complaints, or there can be (a) government misusing the data and covering it up. So I can see a lot of political complications coming out of this," the former governor had said.

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New Delhi: The Indian government has paid Cairn Energy Plc Rs 7,900 crore to refund taxes it had collected to enforce a retrospective tax demand, ending a seven-year-old dispute that had tarred the country's image as an investment destination.

The company, which is now known as Capricorn Energy PLC, in a statement said it has received "net proceeds of USD 1.06 billion", of which nearly 70 per cent will be returned to the shareholders.

The tax department had used a 2012 legislation, which gave it powers to go back 50 years and slap capital gains levies wherever ownership had changed hands overseas but business assets were in India, to seek Rs 10,247 crore in taxes from Cairn.

Cairn had in 2006-07 reorganised its India business, which comprised operations of prolific Rajasthan oilfields, prior to its listing on stock exchanges. While the company sold majority holding in the India unit to Vedanta in 2011, it was in 2014 slapped with the tax demand notice over alleged capital gains made on the reorganisation.

The British firm contested the demand, saying all taxes due were duly paid when the reorganisation, which was approved by all statutory authorities, took place.

But the tax department in 2014 attached and subsequently sold the residual shares that Cairn held in the Indian unit. It also withheld tax refunds and confiscated dividends due to it to settle part of the tax demand. All this totalled Rs 7,900 crore.

Cairn dragged the government to international arbitration over the levy and enforcement proceedings and on December 22, 2020, got a favourable ruling that asked India to refund the tax collected together with interest and penalty.

The government initially refused to honour the award but in August 2021 brought a law to scrap all retrospective tax demands and refund money collected but without any interest or penalty.

The change of heart followed Cairn initiating seizure of the Indian government's overseas assets -- ranging from flats used by its diplomatic staff in Paris to Air India planes in the US -- to recover the refund due.

As part of the settlement reached with the government over the levy of back taxes, Cairn withdrew all cases that were brought to collect the tax refund ordered by the international arbitration tribunal after rescinding retrospective raising of demand.

Simon Thomson, chief executive, Capricorn Energy, commented: "India has a special place in our company's history and we are very pleased that this issue has now been concluded."

He said the company's investment in India began in the 1990s when it was one of the first international businesses to participate in the country's oil and gas industry with operations in Andhra Pradesh and then Gujarat.

But it was the discovery of the Mangala oil field in Rajasthan in January 2004, one of the biggest ever hydrocarbon discoveries in India, that had the biggest impact.

"The company ultimately made more than 40 discoveries in the area and constructed the world's longest heated pipeline to take the crude from the Mangala Processing Terminal to the coast, with production commencing in August 2009. Today, the terminal continues to provide more than a third of India's entire crude oil production," he said.

Seeking to repair India's damaged reputation as an investment destination, the government in August 2021 enacted a new legislation to drop Rs 1.1 lakh crore in outstanding claims against multinationals such as telecom group Vodafone, pharmaceuticals company Sanofi and brewer SABMiller, now owned by AB InBev, and Cairn.

About Rs 8,100 crore collected from companies under the scrapped tax provision are to be refunded if the firms agreed to drop outstanding litigation, including claims for interest and penalties. Of this, Rs 7,900 crore is due only to Cairn.

Subsequent to this, the government in November 2021 notified rules that when adhered to will lead to the government withdrawing tax demands raised using the 2012 retrospective tax law and any tax collected in the enforcement of such demand will be paid back.

For this, companies are required to indemnify the Indian government against future claims and withdraw any pending legal proceedings.

Cairn had on November 26, 2021, initiated proceedings to withdraw lawsuits it had filed in several jurisdictions to enforce the international arbitration award, which had overturned the levy of Rs 10,247 crore retrospective taxes and ordered India to refund the money already collected.

First, the lawsuit brought in Mauritius for recognition of the arbitration award was withdrawn, followed by similar measures in the courts in Singapore, the UK, and Canada.

On December 15, 2021, it sought and got 'voluntary dismissal' of a lawsuit it had brought in a New York court to seize assets of Air India to recover the money due from the government. On the same day, it made a similar move in a Washington court where it was seeking recognition of the arbitration award.

Recognition of arbitration award is the first step before any enforcement proceedings like the seizure of assets can be undertaken.

The critical lawsuit in a French court, which had attached Indian properties on the petition of Cairn, was withdrawn thereafter and one in the Netherlands too was dropped. Also Read: ITR Update: Income Tax refunds worth about Rs 1.83 lakh crore issued to 2.07 crore taxpayers

The company thereafter provided documentary proof of the withdrawal of cases and furnished an indemnity bond. After detailed scrutiny of the document, it was refunded Rs 7,900 crore. Also Read: GST Fraud: Officers unearth fake invoicing racket involving Rs 38.5 crore tax evasion

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New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday called on domestic businesses to look at ways and means to support each other in manufacturing and promote local firms like companies do in South Korea and Japan.

Suggesting three points, the minister said Korea and Japan do not import Indian steel and purchase steel from their own players.

"I think there is a need for shared responsibility among companies to address social and environmental challenges and support each other in domestic manufacturing. Look at Korea, they just do not allow Indian steel manufacturer to export to Korea, that's the nationalistic spirit there," he said while addressing the CII Manufacturing Conclave 2022.

Goyal added that Japanese companies do not allow Indian steel in Japan and they will buy a USD 100 per tonne costlier steel but local Japanese steel.

"Many of you may have faced such barriers that are not government barriers that even I cannot fight 'G2G' (government to government). But, it comes out of the spirit of nationalism.

"I think we in India also should look at ways and means to support each other, encourage each other and promote our own domestic brothers and sisters," he said.

Goyal also suggested big companies to integrate with MSMEs and ensure timely payment, and train young minds to get into manufacturing.

Talking about the National Single Window System (NSWS), he expressed "disappointment" that businesses are not using this platform adequately.

"When I see the number of people who have registered or people who are taking approvals on it (NSWS,) I get a little disappointed," he said, urging the industry to use the platform and suggest where they are facing problems.

On exports, he said it would cross USD 400 billion this fiscal.

He expressed confidence that in February, exports would be over USD 30 billion.

"We do have international geopolitical uncertainties as we see today on the Ukraine-Russia crisis, but I am very confident that India will play an increasingly important role in the revival and restoration of international economies in the years ahead," Goyal said.

He also expressed hope that the services exports may touch USD 250 billion this fiscal.

"Looking at the growth on both sides, services will catch up faster and by 2030, India should aspire for trillion dollars of merchandise exports and a USD 1 trillion of services exports," Goyal added.

Meanwhile, the minister also help a review meeting of Steering Committee on Advancing Local value-add and Exports (SCALE) and he emphasised that these efforts are leading to greater employment generation in the country.

During the meeting, Goyal highlighted the need for exploring innovative ways to increase local value add in critical sectors of manufacturing amid existing disruptions in the worldwide value chain. This will enhance the presence of India in emerging global value chains. Also Read: Continued policy support crucial for sustained economic recovery: RBI Governor

Industry and exports representatives from various sectors, including auto components, white goods (ACs, electronics and TV), semiconductor manufacturing, plastics, furniture, bicycles and e-cycles, batteries, leather and footwear, and fisheries participated in the deliberations. Also Read: RBI cancels Certificate of Registration of PC Financial Services

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Jamtara: Total 16 people went missing after a boat capsized due to a storm near Barbendia bridge in Jharkhand on Thursday, said Jamtara District administration.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren wished for everyone`s safety and said that teams of district administration and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are conducting the rescue operations.

"Unfortunate information has been received about the boat capsizing near Birgaon in Jamtara district. The team of district administration and NDRF conducting rescue operations. I wish that everyone is safe," Soren tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi).

As per district administration, there were a total of 18 persons on board, who were going to Jamtara from Nirsa, Dhanbad. Four people have been rescued and sent to hospital, Jamtara district administration said. Rescue operations are underway.

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New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs briefed the media on the Ukraine crisis. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security took place to take stock of the situation in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting and the PM will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly.

Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla said, "It would be difficult to guess in advance the nature of the conversation between Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversations will be around the situation in Ukraine today."

Addressing the media, Shringla spoke about the situation in Ukraine and outlined the steps that India is taking to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals stuck in Ukraine.

Here are some key points from his speech:

1) The situation on the ground is difficult and is rapidly evolving.

2) 4000 Indian nationals have already left Ukraine in the past few days. The MEA control room in Delhi has got 980 calls and 850 emails.

3) At the CCS meeting, PM Modi has stated that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals including students in Ukraine.

4) We will handle the evacuation with utmost precaution. Roadways have been mapped out to evacuate Indian nationals from Kyiv and reach safer places.

5) We are in touch with the Ministry of Defence to keep provision for airlift (of Indians) capacity, in regard to the situation in Ukraine.

6) A number of steps have been taken to deal with the emerging situation in Ukraine. We started the registration of Indian nationals in Ukraine about a month ago. Based on online registration, we found that 20,000 Indian nationals were there.

7) Our Embassy in Ukraine continues to be functional. A number of advisories have been issued by embassies on the situation as it evolves. We're consulting universities, student contractors in the process of providing welfare and safety of our students.

8) One important step we have taken is to pursue all universities in Ukraine to conduct online classes. PM Modi has specifically stated that the MEA should do everything possible for our citizens in Ukraine.

9) Some sanctions have been imposed on Russia by the UK, US, Australia, Japan among others. We have to see what impacts these sanctions will have on our interests. Any sanctions will have an impact on our relationship, I think it would be correct to acknowledge that.

10) External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar will speak to Foreign ministers of Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary. Jaishankar is also expected to speak to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister today.

#WATCH Ministry of External Affairs briefs the media on Ukraine crisis https://t.co/puBkO2eJVM  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Thursday (February 24) in the biggest attack by one state on another in Europe since World War Two. Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders from Russia and Belarus and landing on the coast from the Black and Azov seas, and missiles rained down. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his aim was to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine.

(With ANI inputs)

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April 29, 2022 13:21

Armenia to provide additional 20 billion drams to Artsakh for housing projects

The Government of Armenia will provide an additional 20 billion drams to Artsakh for housing projects given the urgent needs of apartments in Artsakh, State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan announced after the meeting of Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.
Srinagar: Around 180 Kashmiri students are stuck in Ukraine and amid the Russian attack on the east European country, parents of these children are naturally a worried lot. The anxious parents have demanded authorities to help them to bring back their children back home. The authorities have taken up the issue with the External Affairs Ministry, say officials.

As Russia announced military operations in Ukraine, families in Kashmir whose children are studying in Ukraine are having sleepless nights. Data says that around 180 to 200 Kashmiri students are studying in Ukraine in different colleges, universities, pursuing both professional and non-professional courses. Now, with the ongoing military operations, they are stuck there and their families back home are worried about their safety and security

A parent Gulam Rasool said, "My son is studying in Ukraine and I am worried about his safety. We request the government to take steps, like they have done previously in other conflict-torn countries. We hope that soon our kids will be brought back home."

Several political parties have also appealed to the government to take steps for the safe return of Kashmiri students from Ukraine. CPIM state secretary tweeted, "Number of students from J&K are stranded in Ukraine and wish to return back home. Their families are deeply concerned and worried about their safety. We urge the Govt. Of India to facilitate the return of all those stranded from India including students from J&K."

Also read: 4000 Indians have already left Ukraine, safety of our nationals top priority: Harsh V Shringla - 10 points

APNI Party president and former minister Altaf Bukhari said, "We want an immediate evacuation of all stranded J&K students from Russia and Ukraine. I urge the government of India to take necessary steps for ensuring the safe evacuation of all students hailing from Jammu and Kashmir who are stranded in the war-hit Ukraine region and from Russia."

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New Delhi: Artificial intelligence is going to completely change the trade related to agriculture and farming in the 21st century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday. While addressing a webinar today on `Smart Agriculture, the Prime Minister highlighted the need for larger utilization of drones in the agriculture sector.

"Artificial intelligence is going to completely change the trade related to agriculture and farming in the 21st century. The greater use of Kisan drones in agriculture is part of this change. Drone technology will be available on a scale only when we promote agri Startups," said the Prime Minister.

PM Modi mentioned in his address today that the government has a lot of emphasis on Per Drop More Crop and this is also the need of the hour. "The government has a lot of emphasis on `Per Drop More Crop` and this is also the need of the hour. It also has a lot of potential for the business world. You all know very well what changes will come from the Ken-Betwa link project in Bundelkhand," he said.

Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers` Welfare is implementing `Per Drop More Crop` component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY- PDMC). The PMKSY- PDMC focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation technologies such as drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the celebrations of the `International Year of Millets` and urged people in the corporate world to come forward for branding and promoting India`s millets.

"The year 2023 is the International Year of Millets. In this also our corporate world should come forward for branding, promoting India`s millets. The big missions in other countries should also organize seminars and make people aware of the benefits of millets," said PM Modi.

He added, "India`s cooperative sector is very vibrant. Be it sugar mills, fertilizer factories, dairies, loan arrangements, purchase of food grains, the participation of co-operative sector is huge. Our government has also created a new ministry related to it."

PM Modi also mentioned that agri-residue, which is also called `parali` (stubble), is equally important to be managed."Agri-residue, which is also called Parali, is equally important to be managed. For this, some new measures have been taken in this Budget, which will reduce carbon emissions and farmers will also get income," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a webinar on `Smart Agriculture` on Thursday. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala and Food Processing Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras also attended the webinar.

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Russia has launched a full-fledged attack on Ukraine. In the past 24 hours, more than 2 Lakh Russian troops have entered Ukraine. Russia claims that it has destroyed 70 Ukrainian military bases so far. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today tried to contact his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to defuse the matter, however, the latter did not respond- saying he would only talk if Ukraine's military surrenders completely.

Amid all the chaos, the larger question that one would wish to know is - how are the other world powers reacting to the crisis? The anwer is - they are just looking at the situation like spectators.

In today's DNA, Zee News Editor-In-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary makes a detailed analysis of Russia's attack on Ukraine and the helplessness of world powers in stopping Vladimir Putin in his mission.

The war between Russia and Ukraine is increasingly taking the shape of "Putin vs Rest of the world".

Survival of the fittest

A larger message that evolves from today's situation is the theory of "survival of the fittest". Just the way big fishes eat the smaller ones in the sea, mighty animals eat the weaker ones in the jungle, the bigger and more powerful nations - like United States, China and Russia - "eat" the smaller and weaker ones as and when they want too. The nations that don't build their military might, are prone to attacks from external forces.

Russia's big military action sends out three big messages to the world - 1. If a nation is wesk, then international laws and global treaties don't matter. 2. No one comes forward to help the nations that are not able to defend themselves and 3. The nations that have outside interference, have a greater risk of instability.

A bigger and important development that Indian viewers must be aware of is - that this war will have financial repercussions on India too. The prices of crude oil in the international market have gone up to $100/barrel, which means, that price of petrol and diesel are set to soar in India. With this, the commodities and services that are linked to petrol and diesel may also get expensive in upcoming days.

Watch DNA with Sudhir Chaudhary to get the most detailed analysis of Russia's military action on Ukraine.
Kyiv: Indian students woke up to air raid sirens and a suddenly well-lit sky and soon all hell broke loose on the streets of Kyiv, the capital of war-hit Ukraine, as some of them narrated their ordeal on Thursday with frantic people rushing to petrol stations, banks and departmental stores in chock-a-block traffic.

"Tough times don't last but tough people do," Ashna Pandita, a third-year medical student, told PTI from her hostel in Kyiv over phone. Students are not able to exchange their currency as Ukrainian stores have stopped trading dollars. The Indian mission in Kyiv was planning to relocate Indian nationals to the western border and has advised them to keep their passport and necessary documents with them all the time.

"We woke up at 4 am with a bang as we saw skies lit up followed by air sirens," said Pandita who studies at Taras Shevchenko National Medical University along with her twin brother Ansh. Besides Taras Shevchenko, two other universities - Bogomolets and UAFM - house a maximum number of Indian students in various streams.

There was panic in the morning air as "we saw military students studying with us packing their bags to join the forces and there was a clear instruction that no one will be making any video recordings of movement of troops," Pandita said. Bunkers in the hostel were opened and all students were directed to move there in case air sirens were sounded. The same drill has been started in all Metro stations.

Aikin Ash Muthoo, also a third-year student from the same college hailing from Jamshedpur, says initially he thought that an electric transformer had blown up but the confirmation of Russia carrying out an attack came from India. "My parents called up and informed me that there was an attack, news enough to pull me out of the bed to understand the situation as we were preparing to leave for home and were awaiting our turn on Air India flights," Muthoo said.

He said immediately the hostel staff started furnishing bunkers in the hostel so that people could be accommodated there in case of air raids by Russia. The hostel has around 40 Indians and the exact number of students was not available. "We immediately rushed to the departmental store and carried back ration for two weeks and some water to survive for another week or so," he said, adding the exchange of dollars had been stopped.

All the students were keeping an eye on the advisories issued by the Indian mission in Ukraine with the latest being that all flights for evacuation had been closed and alternative arrangements were being finalised so that "Indian nationals can be relocated to the western part of the country".

A fifth-year student at the same hostel, Shahshank Matta, who hails from Bengaluru and manages the Indian students, said, "We are not sure about what is happening other than that we will be getting evacuated to the western part of the country."

Akash Kaul, studying in fifth year at Bogomolets Medical University, said that panic was high on the streets of Kyiv from early hours of the morning. "It took me nearly three hours to cover a distance which normally takes 15 minutes by cab," he said. "I was awaken to the news by my father and immediately I rushed to my apartment to keep my passport and other documents ready," Kaul who was at his friend's place said.

He said while travelling he saw several Ukrainian nationals carrying bags and suitcases were moving out of Kyiv to safer places, "probably to western part of the country and seeking refuge in neighbouring Poland". Kaul had to change his schedule after Air India announced that its evacuation flight had been cancelled due to the closure of air space over Ukraine.

Accompanied by Sampath Ganesh, hailing from Tamil Nadu, Nitin Roy, hailing from Kerala but at present settled in Rajasthan, and Pranjal Singh from Jaunpur, Kaul, who is staying in a rented apartment in Vidrandnyi Ave in Kyiv, is keeping a close watch on the advisory issued by the Indian mission. "I hope that something will be worked out soon," he added.

Back in India, the father of Ashna and Ansh, Anil Pandita is anxious and constantly in touch with the children. "They have limited stores and I hope things ease up soon." He said that airlines escalated the ticket prices to an extent that it became virtually impossible for a middle-class family to afford it. "I had booked them for March 6 but now I don't know whether they can make it," Anil Pandita said in a choked voice.

Muthoo's father Aklesh said in a statement to PTI that they were worried as the children are short on cash as ATMs are not working and soon their supplies will come to an end. The parents made an appeal to the government to evacuate the Indian students from Ukraine at the earliest.

Live TV
Hoshiarpur: A court here on Thursday granted bail to former Punjab chief minister and SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal in a dual constitution case that was filed against his party in 2009.

The court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Rupinder Singh granted bail to Badal (94) in the case wherein the complainant had accused the SAD of submitting two different constitutions -- one with the Gurdwara Election Commission and the second with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to seek recognition as a political party.

Hitesh Puri, lawyer for social activist and complainant Balwant Singh Khera, said that Badal had furnished his surety bonds/bail bonds in the local trial court of ACJM to the tune of Rs 1 lakh in pursuance of the interim bail order of Wednesday passed by the court of J P S Khurmi, Additional Sessions Judge, Hoshiarpur. Badal on Thursday appeared in the trial court of ACJM.

In October last year, a court here had granted interim bail to Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal in the same case involving the allegation that his party had submitted a false undertaking to the poll panel to seek recognition for his party.

The complainant had alleged that the SAD had given a false undertaking to the ECI that it had amended its constitution to incorporate the principles of socialism and secularism whereas it continued its activities as a panthic party and openly participated in Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee elections.

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New Delhi: Amid the ongoing hijab controversy, a Class VI student was allegedly barred from class in a government school in northeast Delhis Mustafabad for wearing a hijab.

The matter came to light after a video of the girl narrating the alleged incident was posted on Twitter by Kashif Afroz, which is now being shared widely. The tweet identified the girl as a student of a Delhi government school in Tukhmirpur, Delhi. The girl was asked to not act like a mother. Along with her, the hijab of two other girls was also removed, Afroz tweeted.

In the video, the girl said that she was asked to remove the hijab. My teacher told me to remove my headscarf. She said, Mummy mat bano. Kal se scarf pehenke mat aana nahi toh class se bahar nikaal doing (Dont be like your mother. Dont wear a scarf from tomorrow, or you will be removed from class). Two more girls wearing scarves were also asked to remove them, the girl said.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, Mohammad Ayyub Gauri, 38, father of the girl, said it was his daughters first day at the school and she studied at a private school earlier.

My daughter went to the school on Monday, her first day in the school. The teacher in her class humiliated her in front of the entire class and rebuked her. What are you wearing? Dont act like a mother and wear this to the classroom again, the teacher told her. She was harassed in front of 40-50 children and was on the verge of breaking down. She removed her hijab after that, Gauri said.

Gauri also said that he went to the school to complain against the teacher to the authorities and asked for a written order over any rule against wearing of hijab in class. But they did not have anything in writing. It might be after the Karnataka incident issue is being made over wearing the hijab, he said.

Additionally, a Directorate of Education official said that an unnecessary controversy was being created over the matter. The official went on to add that the practice of girls removing their scarves before entering the class has been going on for a long time and nothing has changed since then. Maybe an issue is being made out of it in light of the recent Karnataka case, said the official.

The girls family has submitted a written complaint about the incident with Mustafabad MLA Haji Yunus as well as the district education department.

The row over hijab has escalated in the past few weeks after students of a government college in Udupi protested against the dress code implemented by the authorities which denied entry into classrooms to the students wearing headscarves. The Karnataka HC is hearing on a day-to-day basis a petition seeking permission to wear hijab in classrooms.

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United Nations: India on Thursday called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine and cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiraling into a major crisis, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his decision to launch a 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine.

The 15-nation UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Ukraine late Wednesday night, the second meeting this week and the fourth since January 31 as tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine.

As the UNSC meeting was underway, during which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a direct appeal to Putin to 'stop your troops from attacking Ukraine', the Russian leader announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the Council that New Delhi had only two days ago at the Council meeting on Ukraine called for urgent de-escalation of tensions and emphasised sustained and focused diplomacy to address all issues concerning the situation.

"However, we note with regret, that the calls of the international community to give time to the recent initiatives undertaken by parties to diffuse tensions were not heeded to. The situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis,'' he said.

India expressed its ''deep concern'' over the developments, which, if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region. India called for immediate de-escalation and refraining from any further action that could contribute to a worsening of the situation.

"We believe that the solution lies in sustained diplomatic dialogue between the concerned parties. In the meantime, we strongly emphasise the vital need for all sides to maintain international peace and security by exercising the utmost restraint,'' he said.

Tirumurti also underlined that more than 20,000 Indian nationals, including students, are located in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. ?We are facilitating the return of all Indian nationals, including Indian students, as required,'' he said.

India called on all parties to exert greater efforts to bridge divergent interests, with Tirumurti underlining that the legitimate security interests of all parties should be fully taken into account.

India has consistently advocated at the United Nations the need for peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law and with agreements entered into by parties concerned.

Live TV
Kyiv (Ukraine): Following the Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine, the country shut its airspace for civilian flights earlier today (February 24). The Indian embassy in Kyiv has said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine as the Ukrainian airspace has closed.

The information was conveyed through an advisory. The embassy said the schedule for special flights has been cancelled due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace."Alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian nationals. The embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalized so that Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country," added the advisory.

It further suggested that Indian citizens carry their passports and necessary documents at all times. The embassy also issued helpline numbers while directing the citizens to keep following its website and social media for updates on relocation arrangements.

Partha Satpathy, the Ambassador of India to Ukraine, while acknowledging the tensed situation in the eastern European nation, urged people to stay calm and "face the situation with fortitude."

The embassy had said that the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain and Indian citizens should remain calm and safe."All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries," it had said.

Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv on Thursday set up a 24-hour Emergency Helpline for the Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in the country. Indian Embassy in Ukraine said, The present situation in #Ukraine is highly uncertain; set up 24-hour Emergency helpline, which can be accessed by dialling +380 997300428, +380 997300483.

Meanwhile, leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in the Donbas region. Russian President Vladimir Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences".

Notably, Ukraine has introduced martial law, urging citizens to remain calm amid Russia's military operations. Moreover, it has closed the airspace for civilian aircraft "due to the high risk of aviation safety."

(With Agency inputs)

Live TV
KYIV: The Indian Embassy in Kyiv on Thursday set up a 24-hour Emergency Helpline for the Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in the country.

Indian Embassy in Ukraine said, The present situation in #Ukraine is highly uncertain; set up 24-hour Emergency helpline, which can be accessed by dialling +380 997300428, +380 997300483.

In view of the prevailing situation in Ukraine, a Control Room has been set up at @MEAIndia to provide information and assistance: Phone: 1800118797 (Toll free)

+91-11-23012113

+91-11-23014104

+91-11-23017905 Fax: +91-11-23088124 Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) February 16, 2022

The Indian embassy also issued a fresh advisory for the Indian nationals asking them to stay calm and safe wherever they are. "Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit," the Indian embassy said its advisory for Indians in Ukraine after Russia launched its military offensive against the eastern European nation.

"Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit," the Indian embassy said its advisory for Indians in Ukraine. All those travelling to Kyiv are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily. Further advisories soon, it added.

IMPORTANT ADVISORY TO ALL INDIAN NATIONALS IN UKRAINE AS ON 24 FEBRUARY 2022.@MEAINDIA @PIB @DDNEWS pic.twitter.com/e1i1lMuZ1J  India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 24, 2022

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that it is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine. We are closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation. The focus is on the safety and security of Indians, particularly students. A control room is being expanded and made operational on a 24x7 basis, govt sources said, according to ANI.

India on Thursday called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine and cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his decision to launch a 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine.

The 15-nation UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Ukraine late Wednesday night, the second meeting this week and the fourth since January 31 as tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine.

As the UNSC meeting was underway, during which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a direct appeal to Putin to 'stop your troops from attacking Ukraine', the Russian leader announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the Council that New Delhi had only two days ago at the Council meeting on Ukraine called for urgent de-escalation of tensions and emphasised sustained and focused diplomacy to address all issues concerning the situation.

"However, we note with regret, that the calls of the international community to give time to the recent initiatives undertaken by parties to diffuse tensions were not heeded to. The situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis,'' he said.

India expressed its ''deep concern'' over the developments, which, if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region. India called for immediate de-escalation and refraining from any further action that could contribute to a worsening of the situation.

"We believe that the solution lies in sustained diplomatic dialogue between the concerned parties. In the meantime, we strongly emphasise the vital need for all sides to maintain international peace and security by exercising the utmost restraint,'' he said.

Tirumurti also underlined that more than 20,000 Indian nationals, including students, are located in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. We are facilitating the return of all Indian nationals, including Indian students, as required,'' he said.

India called on all parties to exert greater efforts to bridge divergent interests, with Tirumurti underlining that the legitimate security interests of all parties should be fully taken into account.

India has consistently advocated at the United Nations the need for peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law and with agreements entered into by parties concerned.

Live TV
NEW DELHI: An Indian girl stranded in Ukraine, identified as Yashwi Garg, claimed on Thursday that there is no food and water and the stock would last 2-3 days only.

There is no food and water. We have stocks for 2-3 days only, Yashwi said. She further claimed that there is no support coming from anywhere,'' and ''we are on our own (Indian students).

Several Indian students who had travelled to the airport expecting to catch a flight back to the country returned after Ukraine shut its airspace following the Russian attack.

The shocking claim was made even as the Indian government stepped up efforts to help its citizens stranded in Ukraine due to the ongoing war with Russia. The Indian Embassy in Kyiv on Thursday issued an Emergency helpline for the Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in the country.

Indian Embassy in Ukraine said, The present situation in #Ukraine is highly uncertain; set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed by dialling +380 997300428, +380 997300483.

#WATCH | MEA control room in Delhi being expanded and made operational on a 24x7 basis to assist the students and other Indian nationals in Ukraine, amid #RussiaUkraineConflict pic.twitter.com/mEzVsSxtQ3  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

The Indian embassy also issued a fresh advisory for the Indian nationals asking them to stay calm and safe wherever they are. "Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit," the Indian embassy said its advisory for Indians in Ukraine after Russia launched its military offensive against the eastern European nation.

"Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit," the Indian embassy said its advisory for Indians in Ukraine.

All those travelling to Kyiv are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily. Further advisories soon, it added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that it is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine. We are closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation. The focus is on the safety and security of Indians, particularly students. A control room is being expanded and made operational on a 24x7 basis, govt sources said, according to ANI.

India on Thursday called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine and cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his decision to launch a 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine.

Live TV
Press Release

February 24, 2022 Bong Go calls on gov't, school authorities anew to safeguard the health and welfare of students amid gradual expansion of F2F classes Senator Christopher "Bong" Go once again urged government authorities and officials of educational institutions to guarantee the health and safety of students amid the gradual expansion of face-to-face classes nationwide. As Chair of the Senate Committe on Health and member of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Go emphasized that while the country is already experiencing a downward trend in COVID-19 cases that allows most economic sectors to resume normal operations, securing human life and managing the risks brought about by the ongoing pandemic should be primordial concerns. "Hinihimok ko pa rin ang gobyerno at mga school officials na siguruhin ang kapakanan at kalusugan ng ating mga estudyante sa gitna ng gradual expansion ng face-to-face classes sa bansa," Go said. "Naiintindihan po natin na importante po ang edukasyon dahil ito ang tanging puhunan natin sa mundong ito. Kaya hinihikayat ko ang mga bata na patuloy na mag-aral kahit na may krisis tayong hinaharap. Gayunpaman, gawin natin ito sa ligtas na paraan," he added. The senator called on school administrators and educators anew to strictly implement the Required Health Standards for COVID-19 Mitigation jointly issued by the Department of Education and Department of Health as they return to in-person instruction. "We'll do it one step at a time so that our students' safety is not jeopardized. Huwag natin biglain and let us assess what happens. Kahit ayaw nating maantala ang klase nila, importanteng safe ang mga estudyante," reiterated Go. "Health and safety pa din ang importante. Sa kagustuhan nating makapag-aral ang mga bata, 'wag natin kalimutan na unahin palagi ang interes, kapakanan at buhay nila at ng bawat Pilipino," he stressed. Earlier, the Department of Education expressed optimism that additional schools will be eligible to participate in the expansion of physical classes. Notably, the conduct of face-to-face classes may only be implemented in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2. In January, the education department reported that 304 schools were authorized to resume in-person sessions beginning February, following President Rodrigo Duterte's approval of the progressive expansion. DepEd noted that as of February 9, there are 39 schools in the National Capital Region that are able to continue limited physical classes. Twenty-eight of these schools are among the pilot educational institutions that began the conduct of face-to-face classes in November last year. In light of the ongoing vaccination program for children aged 5 to 11 years and adolescents aged 12 to 18, Go also appealed for schools and colleges to be given more resources to organize inoculation drives in order to get more young people immunized. "Pagdating sa mga bata, takot talaga ako. Unang-una hindi pa sila bakunado. Pangalawa, hindi natin kontrolado 'yung galaw nila at pangatlo, baka mag-back to zero na naman tayo. Kaya ngayon na pwede na magpabakuna ang mga bata, 'wag natin sayangin ang oportunidad na ito na proteksyunan sila mula sa sakit," appealed Go. "Lagi natin alalahanin na hindi kaya ng gobyernong mag-isa ang laban kontra pandemya. Hindi rin kakayanin ng mga frontliners kung patuloy na dadami ang dinadala sa mga ospital. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 starts with us being responsible citizens by getting vaccinated and following the health and safety protocols," he stressed. The senator also underscored the importance of providing clear and consistent guidelines to aid local authorities and schools in the safe resumption of face-to-face classes. Finally, Go reiterated that schools should not be compelled to open against experts' advice, and urged the government to provide them with the necessary assistance and resources, such as masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment.
The Duchess of Cambridge has met with Denmark's Queen Margrethe, and our very own Aussie royal Crown Princess Mary in Copenhagen as part of a two-day royal visit.

On Twitter, Kate said the trip "was all about understanding the very earliest stages of a child's development here in Denmark", and would also focus on children's mental health and wellbeing.

The Duchess of Cambridge and Crown Princess Mary together had royal fans abuzz. Photo: Getty

On the final day of the visit, Kate and Mary had a special private lunch.

The pair, who will one day be Queens of their countries, have become friends after they first met during Prince William and Kate's official visit to Denmark in 2011 after their royal wedding.

RELATED:

Mary and her husband Prince Frederik, who is heir to the throne in Denmark, also visited William and Kate in 2016. The couples attended Royal Ascot together.

The women first met during Prince William and Kate's official visit to Denmark in 2011. Photo: Getty

Royal fans loved seeing the Duchess and Princess Mary together, taking to Twitter to share their thoughts.

"Future Queens!" one person wrote.

"Love these two royals," another said.

While a third raved: "Doesnt get more royal than this, seriously this pics of the Duchess of Cambridge with the Crown Princess made me so happy."

The Duchess took a woodland walk with children and had a go at chopping a log while visiting a forest kindergarten in suburban Copenhagen on Wednesday.

She also visited the downtown Copenhagen Danner Crisis Center, a shelter that helps women exposed to domestic violence.

Kate and Mary arrive at the Danner Crisis Center and shelter in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Getty

Kate also slid down a slide at the Lego Foundation PlayLab as part of the trip with her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, the first time she has taken the work of her institution to the international stage.

Before her solo trip to Denmark, the duchess revealed she spent a recent school holiday playing with Danish-made Lego bricks with her three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - who were jealous she got to visit the Lego Foundation.

Story continues

"My children are very jealous they weren't coming to see the Lego Foundation. They were like, 'hang on, there's Lego and we're not coming?'," said Kate, who arrived in the Danish capital on Tuesday and visited the Infant Mental Health Program at the University of Copenhagen.

In 2011, Kate visited the UNICEF Supply Division Center in Copenhagen with her husband Prince William and the heir to the Danish throne, Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife Mary.

Additional reporting by AAP.

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Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police along with security forces arrested three active terrorists including two hybrid terrorists of proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) from Budgam and Baramulla. Besides, one terrorist associate was also arrested.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.

A top police official said, Acting on specific information about presence of terrorists in Aarath area of Budgam, Police along with 2 RR arrested an active terrorist of proscribed outfit LeT identified as Yasir Mushtaq son of Mushtaq Ahmed and a terrorist associate identified as Irfan Bashir son of Bashir Ahmed Dar both residents of Allahpora Budgam.

Incriminating materials of LeT, arms and ammunition including one Chinese grenade, one AK Magazine and 30 AK rounds were recovered from their possession.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested terrorist had joined terror folds recently and the arrested terrorist associate was providing the logistic support to him.

Accordingly, a case has been registered at Police station Budgam and further investigation into the matter is in progress.

Moreover, Police in Baramulla along with 32RR arrested two hybrid terrorists identified as Muzamil Ahmad and Mohammad Yaseen, both residents of Chakloo Baramulla.

As per the police, the duo was missing since February 16, 2022. Two Chinese Pistols, two Magazines and 12 Pistol rounds were recovered.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested duo was in close contact with handlers of proscribed terror outfit LeT across the border and on their directions, they left their homes on February 16, 2022 to join LeT. It was also revealed that they were tasked to carry out attack on Police/SF and soft targets in the coming days. Their involvement in other terror acts is also being investigated.

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Jammu: A major tragedy was averted after Jammu and Kashmir police recovered arms and ammunition on the International Border (IB) which were dropped by a drone.

The police said in a statement, "On the basis of inputs regarding drone activity and dropping of arms and ammunition by Pakistan based militant outfits LeT/TRF on the behest of Pak agency ISI in R.S. Pura, Arnia area, a special search operation was launched by police including special operation group (SOG).

"During the search operation, three boxes of the arms ammunition which were dropped through drone during night hours were recovered by the search party from the Treva village of Arnia/R.S. Pura," the police added.

The arms, ammunition and explosive recovered during the search operation includes three remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), as many detonators, 3 explosive bottles, one bundle of Cordtex wire, two timers of IEDs, one pistol, two magazines, six grenades and 70 rounds.

The dropping of the huge arms and explosive depicts a major terrorist plan of the Pakistan-based terror outfits (LET/TRF). With the recovery of this huge consignment of arms and explosive, a major terror plot was averted by the troops of Jammu and Kashmir police.

Authorities said that Pakistan is continuously trying to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorists active in the union territory (UT) are facing a huge shortage of arms and ammunition so drones are now used to smuggle the arms and ammunition as the army and other security forces have made it impossible for them to get them infiltrated manually through borders.

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New Delhi: A team from the Indian embassy in Hungary has been sent to the border post of Zohanyi to provide assistance to facilitate the exit of Indians from Ukraine. The Indian embassy in Hungary said it is working with the Hungarian government for providing all possible assistance for facilitating the entry of Indians from Ukraine.

As Ukraine closed its airspace for civilian aircraft following the Russian attack, India is looking at evacuating its nationals from Ukraine through land routes. Hungary shares a border with Ukraine.

Currently, around 20,000 Indians, mostly students, are stuck in Ukraine. "Team from Embassy of India in Hungary has been despatched to the border post Zohanyi to coordinate and provide assistance to facilitate exit of Indians from Ukraine. Mission is working with Govt of Hungary to provide all possible assistance," the Indian embassy in Hungary tweeted. It said the government of India is closely monitoring the situation and "evacuation plans are being worked out".

Team from Embassy of India in Hungary has been despatched to the border post Zohanyi to coordinate and provide assistance to facilitate exit of Indians from Ukraine. Mission is working with with Govt of Hungary to provide all possible assistance. @IndiainUkraine @MEAIndia contd.  Indian Embassy in Hungary (@IndiaInHungary) February 24, 2022

Earlier in the day, following the Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine, the country shut its airspace for civilian flights. The Indian embassy said the schedule for special flights has been cancelled due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace."Alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian nationals. The embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalized so that Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country," added the advisory.

Partha Satpathy, the Ambassador of India to Ukraine, while acknowledging the tense situation in the eastern European nation, urged people to stay calm and "face the situation with fortitude."

Meanwhile, students stranded in Ukraine shared that they are not able to exchange their currency as Ukrainian stores have stopped trading dollars. The Indian mission in Kyiv was planning to relocate Indian nationals to the western border and has advised them to keep their passport and necessary documents with them all the time.

(With Agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on telephone on Thursday (February 23) with Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Putin briefed Prime Minister about the recent developments regarding Ukraine. The Prime Minister reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue. Prime Minister Modi also appealed for an immediate cessation of violence and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.

Modi also sensitised the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India. The leaders agreed that their officials and diplomatic teams would continue to maintain regular contacts on issues of topical interest.

When discussing the situation around Ukraine, Vladimir Putin outlined the principal assessments of Kiev's aggressive actions against the civilian population of Donbass, as well as the long-term destructive policy aimed at scrapping the Minsk agreements. In these circumstances, as well as in connection with the unacceptable military development of Ukraine by the United States and its NATO allies for Russia, it was decided to launch a special military operation, Putin informed.

According to reports, Modi thanked for the explanations and asked for assistance in ensuring the safety of Indian citizens currently in Ukraine. The Russian President said that the necessary instructions will be given. Some issues of bilateral cooperation were touched upon in the context of the Russian-Indian summit held in December 2021 in New Delhi. It was agreed on further contacts at various levels.

Russian forces began military operations in the eastern part of Ukraine on Thursday (February 24) in the biggest attack by one state on another in Europe since World War Two. Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders from Russia and Belarus and landing on the coast from the Black and Azov seas, and missiles rained down. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his aim was to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine.

Earlier Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla had emphasised that at the Cabinet Committee Security meeting, PM Modi had stated that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals including students in Ukraine. "We will handle the evacuation with utmost precaution. Roadways have been mapped out to evacuate Indian nationals from Kyiv and reach safer places," Shringla said. He added that a "number of steps have been taken to deal with the emerging situation in Ukraine. We started the registration of Indian nationals in Ukraine about a month ago. Based on online registration, we found that 20,000 Indian nationals were there."

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New Delhi: As the crisis in Ukraine deepens, the Indian embassy in Kyiv on Thursday (February 24) issued a third advisory since this morning telling its nationals how to find bomb shelters.

The embassy asked Indian nationals in Ukraine to head to bomb shelters if they are at places where air sirens/bomb warnings can be heard. "We are aware that certain places are hearing air sirens/bomb warnings. In case you are faced with such a situation, google maps has a list of nearby bomb shelters, many of which are located in underground metros," the advisory read.

Further, the embassy asked Indian nationals in Ukraine to not leave their homes for non-essential activities. While Mission is identifying possible solution to the situation, please be aware of your surroundings, be safe, do not leave your homes unless necessary and carry your documents with you at all times, the advisory added.

Embassy of India in Ukraine in its third advisory asks Indian nationals to head to bomb shelters if they are at places where air sirens/bomb warnings can be heard pic.twitter.com/YmHGZrnZwt  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

Notably, Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed passengers traveling from Ukraine to travel by transit under India-Qatar bilateral air bubble arrangement, Embassy of India in Doha, Qatar was cited by ANI.

The Indian embassy in Kyiv had said earlier today that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine after the Ukrainian airspace closed.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is taking steps to bring back around 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine.Addressing media in Thrissur, the Union Minister said, "MEA is taking steps to bring back about 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine. The central government will ensure the safety of all Indians."

Meanwhile, the Ukraine military plane with 14 onboard crashed near Kyiv, AFP news agency reported. While the Ukraine border guards earlier told the news agency that Russian forces have broken into the north of Kyiv region.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: As Russia launched an attack on Ukraine on Thursday (February 24), the world went into a tizzy. With almost 20,000 nationals stuck in Ukraine, India is monitoring the situation closely while planning evacuations of its citizens. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday. Sources said Modi is also likely to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Besides Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Home minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were seen in a video of the meeting shared by official sources. Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Hardeep Singh Puri who are not part of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) were in the meeting. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and P K Mishra, the principal secretary to the prime minister, also attended the meeting.

#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) pic.twitter.com/9lvHMRi1bT  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

Here are some of the key topics of discussion:

- Discussion on the security of Indian citizens in Ukraine and the plan for their safe return to the country

- Amid fears of rising crude oil prices, plan B being discussed

- Commerce Minister will give a briefing on business-related matters

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and announced the launch of the military offensive against Ukraine on Thursday, also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to consequences they had "never seen".

Currently, around 20,000 Indians, mostly students, are stuck in Ukraine. "Team from Embassy of India in Hungary has been despatched to the border post Zohanyi to coordinate and provide assistance to facilitate exit of Indians from Ukraine. Mission is working with Govt of Hungary to provide all possible assistance," the Indian embassy in Hungary tweeted. It said the government of India is closely monitoring the situation and "evacuation plans are being worked out".

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KYIV: The Indian embassy in Kyiv on Thursday issued a fresh advisory for the Indian nationals asking them to ''stay calm and safe'' wherever they are shortly after Russia launched a military offensive against Ukraine.

"Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit," the Indian embassy said in its advisory for Indians living in Ukraine.

All those travelling to Kyiv are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily. Further advisories soon, it added.

Indian embassy in Kyiv issues advisory after Russian invasion of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/pVTexvesiS  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) February 24, 2022

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that it is ''closely monitoring'' the situation in Ukraine. We are closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation. The focus is on the safety and security of Indians, particularly students. A control room is being expanded and made operational on a 24x7 basis, govt sources said, according to ANI.

India on Thursday called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine and cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his decision to launch a 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine.

The 15-nation UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Ukraine late Wednesday night, the second meeting this week and the fourth since January 31 as tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine.

As the UNSC meeting was underway, during which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a direct appeal to Putin to 'stop your troops from attacking Ukraine', the Russian leader announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the Council that New Delhi had only two days ago at the Council meeting on Ukraine called for urgent de-escalation of tensions and emphasised sustained and focused diplomacy to address all issues concerning the situation.

"However, we note with regret, that the calls of the international community to give time to the recent initiatives undertaken by parties to diffuse tensions were not heeded to. The situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis,'' he said.

India expressed its ''deep concern'' over the developments, which, if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region. India called for immediate de-escalation and refraining from any further action that could contribute to a worsening of the situation.

"We believe that the solution lies in sustained diplomatic dialogue between the concerned parties. In the meantime, we strongly emphasise the vital need for all sides to maintain international peace and security by exercising the utmost restraint,'' he said.

Tirumurti also underlined that more than 20,000 Indian nationals, including students, are located in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. We are facilitating the return of all Indian nationals, including Indian students, as required,'' he said.

India called on all parties to exert greater efforts to bridge divergent interests, with Tirumurti underlining that the legitimate security interests of all parties should be fully taken into account. India has consistently advocated at the United Nations the need for peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law and with agreements entered into by parties concerned.

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Basti: Mayawati on Thursday sought to quash speculation over the possibility of a post-poll tie-up with the ruling BJP, saying her BSP was not the B team of any party and the rivals were trying to mislead her supporters.

The speculation was triggered by a recent remark by Union Home Minister that Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party remained relevant in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and will get Dalit votes.

Mayawati had responded by saying that it was Shah's magnanimity that he acknowledged this but added that the BSP will also get the votes of other communities.

"Ever since the Union Home Minister gave a statement on the BSP's position among Dalits and Muslims after the polling in western UP, rival political parties and the media have started saying that it is the 'B' team of the BJP, when there is no truth in this," the BSP supremo said at an election meeting here.

She also accused the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the BJP as having a "casteist mindset", a charge she also levelled on the media.

Mayawati asked why the Samajwadi Party had allied with the BSP in a previous assembly election and then in the Lok Sabha polls if it was the BJP's B team. She said the media should also tell this to people.

She also referred to the BJP extending support to SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's government in the past.

The Dalit leader targeted the Congress and asked, Why did the Congress once contest the assembly elections with the BSP and why did it seek support for its government at the Centre?

She called it the rivals' disgusting politics.

The BSP supremo said the truth is that the BSP is a national-level party and not "the A or B team of any party".

In a recent television interview, Amit Shah had said the BSP remained relevant in UP.

I believe it will get votes. I don't know how much of it will convert into seats but it will get votes," the BJP leader had said, triggering speculation over the possibility of a post poll understanding between the two parties. In 1995, 1997 and 2002, Mayawati was sworn in as chief minister with the BJP's support.

Lashing out at the media, Mayawati accused it of misleading the Scheduled Caste community by saying that your behan ji doesn't visit victims of atrocities on Dalits when Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra always does this.

Mayawati said like Sonia Gandhi, she is the national president of a party and not just an in-charge of a state -- like Priyanka Gandhi.

She said her party too has office bearers who, like the Congress UP in-charge, rush to help victims of atrocities on Dalits. But there is no drama before the media, as in the case of the Congress and other parties, she added.

She asked her supporters to remain alert of the casteist media and double-faced political parties.

She said it was unfortunate that there were conspiracies to influence the elections in the name of terrorism or activities of the investigating agencies in Maharashtra.

The BSP president said her party is contesting the elections alone with full might so that the good days of the BSP government return to Uttar Pradesh.

Like earlier, the BSP has given tickets to all sections of society (sarv samaj), she said.

If the BSP forms the government, its priority will be to provide jobs and steps will be taken to remove poverty, she said.

Farmers will not be disappointed and the sants and mahants will be respected, she said.

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New Delhi: Hitting the campaign trail in Uttar Pradesh, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying "hatred between religions" has increased during his rule and time has come for a change.

Thackeray addressed a well-attended public meeting in Dumariyagang assembly seat in Siddharthnagar district, terming Shiv Sena candidate Shailedra alias Raju Shrivastav as an "agent of change". He was also scheduled to address a public meeting in Koraon assembly seat in Prayagraj district, where the party has fielded Arti Kol.

Invoking Shiv Sena founder and grandfather Bal Thackeray, he hit out at the BJP for spreading hatred among communities in the name of religion and dubbing farmers, who had protested against the now-repealed farm laws as "Maoists, extremists and terrorists".

"Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray always said politics should be for the welfare of the people. This is reflected in the politics of Shiv Sena. Governance is not about religion, but about the welfare of the people," the 31-year-old Thackeray scion said.

Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, is being projected as the next generation leader of the Shiv Sena and is taking keen interest in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal elections.

Shiv Sena had fielded 60 candidates in the Uttar Pradesh elections. However, 41 are in fray as the Election Commission had rejected the candidature of 19.

Thackeray, the minister for Tourism and Environment in the Maharashtra government, regretted that Shiv Sena was part of the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi which he said had committed a string of mistakes.

He said the people had given an overwhelming mandate to the BJP in 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections and the general elections in 2019.

"The BJP never fulfilled the promises it made, but only spread hatred and fear. It only talks about the state being in danger. This is the land of Shri Ram. There is no danger here," Thackeray said.

He said hatred between religions had increased during the rule of Adityanath and it was now time to ring in change.

"The chief minister of the day will become a former chief minister after the elections," Thackeray said amid slogans "UP ki Shaan, Teer Kaman, Teer-Kaman" (Pride of UP, bow and arrow). Bow and arrow is the election symbol of Shiv Sena.

The Shiv Sena takes pride in its association with the Ram Temple movement in Ayodhya and has asserted that its activists were among those who demolished the Babri Masjid. The party has been claiming that the BJP had shied away from taking responsibility for the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

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Ukraine on Thursday sought India's greater intervention in war against Russia. The Ukrainian Ambassdor to New Delhi, Igor Polikha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among very few leaders whom President Vladimir Putin listens to and New Delhi can use its proximity with Moscow to control the situation.

Igor Polikha, however, said that Ukraine is "deeply dissatisfied" with India's position on the crisis. Polikha said that Ukrainian ambassador said India has special relationship with Russia and it can play a more proactive role in de-escalation of the situation.

On the other hand, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin had on yesterday said that India has been playing a vital role as a responsible global power and it takes an "independent and balanced" approach to world affairs.

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday night, India had called for "restraint on all sides".

It stressed that the immediate priority is "de-escalation of tensions", taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond.

India's latest advisory for its citizen in Ukraine

Following the Russian military operations in the Donbas region of Ukraine, the country shut its airspace for civilian flights earlier today (February 24). The Indian embassy in Kyiv has said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian citizens in Ukraine as the Ukrainian airspace has closed.

The information was conveyed through an advisory. The embassy said the schedule for special flights has been cancelled due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace."Alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian nationals. The embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalized so that Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country," added the advisory.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan is currently on a visit to Russia - a first by any head of state from Pakistan in over 20 years. The visit, scheduled long ago, incidentally fell on the day when Russia announced a complete military action against Ukraine. Despite the tense situation in Russia, Pakistan went ahead with its Prime Minister's visit to Moscow.

As Imran Khan arrived in Moscow today - the Pakistan side was embarrassed as no ministers from the Russian state was present to receive him and only a few officials of the government greeted him.

However, a visibly overzealous Khan made weird comments while interacting a Russian official - "What a time to be here. I am excited to be here". Putin was brutally trolled on social media as people pointed out the insensitive tone of his statement amid a full-scale war.

Later in the day, Imran Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.

Khan began his engagements in Moscow by laying a wreath at "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier", hours after the Russian President ordered a special military operation in eastern Ukraine, ignoring last-minute appeals and warnings from the West. President Putin is holding a meeting with Prime Minister Khan in the Kremlin, state-run TASS news agency reported.
New Delhi: Indian Navy has issued a notification inviting applications from eligible individuals for the post of Tradesman (Skilled). Navy is looking to fill up 1,531 vacancies in the organisation through this recruitment drive.

Interested and eligible candidates can apply for the recruitment drive on the official website of Indian navy- joinindiannavy.gov.in. The last date to apply for the Indian Navy Tradesman Recruitment 2022 is 31 March (tentative).

Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Important dates

Notification issued- February 19, 2022 2

Opening of online registration portal- March 18, 2022 at 1000 hrs

Closing of online registration portal- March 31, 2022 at 1700 hrs

Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Vacancy details

A total of 1,531 posts will be filled via Indian Navy Tradesman Recruitment 2022.

Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Salary details

Selected candidates will get a salary/ pay scale of level 2 (Rs 19,900-Rs 63,200).

Indian Navy Recruitment 2021: Age limit

The minimum age is 18 years and the maximum to apply is 25 years.

Indian Navy Recruitment 2022: Eligibility criteria

Candidates must be 10th pass and should have a knowledge of English. They are required to have completed apprentice training in the concerned trade or served as a mechanic or any equivalent post with two years of regular service in the appropriate technical branch of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

For more information on the Indian Navy Tradesman Recruitment 2022, candidates can see the OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION here.

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New Delhi: After American comedian, Rosie O'Donnell issued an apology on Instagram to actress Priyanka Chopra for mistaking her identity when she first met her, the global icon has some advice on how to make a sincere apology. This is being seen as a response to Donnell's goof-up.

The comedian previously admitted that she had assumed Priyanka was a renowned author and alternative medicine advocate Deepak Chopra's daughter. However, after learning about her mistake, Donnell posted an apology video referring to Priyanka as the Chopra wife and someone Chopra.

In her response, Priyanka Chopra wrote in an Instagram Story, without taking ODonnells name, Hi everyone. Some thoughts. I have never taken myself so seriously to think everyone would know who I am, or my work for that matter. But if you wanted to make a public apology for a very awkward private encounter, I think probably best to take the time to google my name before doing it or even try to reach out directly. We ALL deserve to be respected for our unique individuality and not be referred to as someone or wife especially in a sincere apology. If we can learn to respect our differences in an authentic way, the world we raise our children in. will be amazing. Also PS  As Ive said before, not all Chopras are related to the great Deepak, just as not all Smiths are related to the legendary Will Smith.

Donnell shared a two-part apology for Priyanka. In the first video on Instagram, she said, "Seated next to us was Nick Jonas and his wife someone Chopra, which I always assumed was Deepak Chopra's daughter."

Talking about Priyanka's reaction when Rosie told her she knows her dad, she said, "She (Priyanka) was like, You do? Whos my dad?' I'm like Deepak. She was like No. And Chopra is a common name. I felt so embarrassed."

In the second video, Rosie clarified that she knows Priyanka's name after referring to her as 'someone' Chopra in her earlier video and apologised to PeeCee's fans.

Priyanka is late Dr Ashok Chopra and Madhu Chopra's daughter. She is married to international music sensation Nick Jonas.

Earlier this year, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in a surprise move, made an announcement about them welcoming a baby via surrogacy.
Mumbai: Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon on Thursday shared Prime Minister Narendra Modi's condolence letter for her filmmaker father Ravi Tandon, who passed away earlier this month.

The late director-producer, best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's 'Khuddar' and Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Kapoor's 'Khel Khel Mein', died on February 11 due to respiratory failure at his residence at age of 87.

In the letter, the prime minister offered his condolences to the family and said he was saddened by Ravi Tandon's demise.

Praising his style of direction and eye for detail, Modi wrote, 'Ravi Tandon ji enriched Indian cinema with his skills. He understood the nuances of filmmaking. He gave several memorable films. His death is an irreparable loss for the art world.'

Raveena Tandon expressed gratitude towards the prime minister and wrote, 'Thank you for your kind words Sir. @narendramodi ji Truly said .. He leaves a legacy of versatile work.'

In another tweet, the "Aranyak" actor shared old photos of her father and thanked everyone for their love and support.

'Today being Papa's tehravi' the 13 day, they say, this is the day when the soul finally leaves all attachments and rests in his heavenly abode. I thank all of you for the outpouring of love for him and support for us. A gentleman director. He was and is, truly loved,' she said.
MUMBAI: Shibani Dandekar, who got hitched to longtime boyfriend Farhan Akhtar on February 19, has shared glimpses of her fun-filled boho Mehendi ceremony. Taking to her Instagram handle on Thursday, the actor posted lots of pictures from her Mehendi, hosted by her best friends - Payal Singhal and Nehali Kotian. Shibani looked stunning, wearing a boho-chic multicoloured blouse-and-sharara set with matching floral accessories.

Penning a thank you note in the caption, she wrote, "Two of best friends, my sisters, my protectors, my lifers, threw me the most incredible mehendi! I felt the love and energy hard in the room that might! For standing by me through my wedding and through my life @payalsinghal @nehalikotian the love is beyond deep! You both have wanted this for me for as long as I know so I guess your dreams came true! No words to describe your love and loyalty, only happy tears thank you for this! I'll cherish the memory forever!"

The happy pictures also feature the then groom-to-be Farhan, striking goofy poses and flaunting his Mehendi.

Anusha Dandekar, Shabana Azmi and Rhea Chakraborty can be seen having a gala time, dressed in traditional yellow outfits.

The daytime wedding was attended by several celebrities including Farah Khan, Rhea Chakraborty, Satish Shah, Ashutosh Gowariker and Ritesh Sidwani. Hrithik Roshan also attended the wedding with his parents, Rakesh and Pinkie Roshan.

The couple had been dating for almost three years.

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New Delhi: An employer is under an obligation to pay the damages for delay in payment of the contribution of Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) of an employee, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Abhay S Oka said Employees Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act is legislation for providing social security to the employees working in any establishment and engaging 20 or more persons.

The top court said that the Act casts an obligation upon the employer to make the compulsory deduction for provident fund and to deposit in the workers' account in the EPF office.

We are of the considered view that any default or delay in the payment of EPF contribution by the employer under the Act is a sine qua non for the imposition of levy of damages under Section 14B of the Act 1952 and mens rea or actus reus is not an essential element for imposing penalty/damages for breach of civil obligations/liabilities, the bench said.

The top court was hearing an appeal filed against the judgement of the Karnataka high court which held that the employer is liable to pay damages if he has failed to deposit the contribution of EPF.

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A while back in 2021, an incident was reported in which a Pakistani train driver stopped the train to buy curd. Recently, a similar incident has been reported from the Alwar district of Rajasthan. In this recent incident, a loco pilot stopped the train on a crossing just to collect his Khastakachoris.

In the video, the commuters can be seen waiting patiently while the driver takes his packet of Kachories. Later on, after receiving his food the train driver honks the train and starts moving the train.

The incident is of Alwar's Daudpur crossing, after the video went viral it has been receiving a lot of criticism from netizens. As reported by Dainik Bhaskar this has been a daily routine of the loco pilot.

Also read: Delhi Metro passengers can now get real-time information on their planned journey route, heres how

The crossing gates are dropped every day at around 8 a.m., according to the report, so the food may be delivered to the train driver. The kachori is purchased at a nearby shop and delivered to the train by the railway workers stationed at the crossing. Hundreds of commuters, meanwhile, are inconvenienced every morning because of the driver's snack.

Railway officials and the general populace have both expressed their displeasure with the footage. Authorities began an investigation into the incident after it went viral, according to Indian Express.

Narendra Kumar, the Divisional Railway Manager of Jaipur, has suspended five individuals for the incident: two loco-pilots, two gatemen, and an instructor.

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Jaipur: In a big embarrassment to the ruling Congress in Rajasthan, the BJP legislators have decided to return the iPhones gifted to them by the state government, saying this is "keeping in view the financial burden" it entailed on the state exchequer.

The Ashok Gehlot government had on Wednesday gifted the latest iPhone to all the 200 MLAs after presenting the state budget. However, BJP legislators said that they will return it to the government.

Last year, all the 200 MLAs were gifted Ipads, just after the tabling of the budget by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

On Wednesday, after the chief minister presented the budget and the house was adjourned for the day, all the MLAs were given a briefcase with an iPhone 13 at the time of exit. Each phone costs above Rs 70,000.

Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia, in a tweet, said that the party`s MLAs will return their iPhones. "After discussion with Gulab Kataria Ji and Rajendra Ji and other legislators, it has been decided that all the BJP Rajasthan MLAs will return the iPhone given by the Congress government keeping in view the financial burden on the state government."

Kataria too said, "All of us have phones, it'll set a wrong precedent. All BJP MLAs will return their phones. We will speak with everyone. Normally a bag or briefcase is given in Budget, this wasn't required.

All of us have phones, it'll set a wrong precedent. All BJP MLAs will return their phones. We will speak with everyone. Normally a bag or briefcase is given in Budget, this wasn't required: Gulab C Kataria, BJP Rajasthan govt gifted iPhone 13 to all MLAs after presenting budget pic.twitter.com/d8n8pRMjU0  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

Commenting on the budget that was presented in the House, Poonia said that it looks as if the budget was taken to a beauty parlour and was presented with good makeup.

Notably, BJP has 71 MLAs in the 200-member House. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government had gifted all its MLAs iPhone 13 after the presentation of the state budget in the Assembly today. Last year, the MLAs were presented iPads along with a copy of the budget.

Usually, the MLAs are given a copy of the budget in a briefcase, but this time, they were presented with a leather briefcase with iPhone 13 inside, along with a copy of the budget.

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San Francisco: Google has announced that it is now ready to move into the final phase of the migration from Classic Hangouts to Google Chat for Google Workspace customers.

The company said it will turn on the "Chat preferred" setting for any customers who have not already done so, making Google Chat the default chat application beginning March 22.

"This means that when users visit classic Hangouts in Gmail on the web or the classic Hangouts mobile apps, they will be directed to Chat," the company said in a blogpost.

"Hangouts.google.com will continue to work. It is not possible to opt out of this change. If you would like to export your classic Hangouts and Chat data, learn about exporting your organisation's data," it added.

After domains are upgraded to "Chat preferred", all classic Hangouts applications, except hangouts.google.com, will be disabled. Additionally, the "Chat and classic Hangouts" and "Classic Hangouts only" settings will be removed from the Admin console.

Messages sent in classic Hangouts will continue to be retained and held according to policies set for Chat, and searchable and exportable with Gmail search in Vault. Messages sent in Chat are subject to retention rules and holds you set for Chat and searchable and exportable with Chat search in Vault.

The company also mentioned that except for a few special cases, all the conversation history from Hangouts will be available in Google Chat. However, starting mid-March 2022, any newly created spaces in Google Chat within domain will not appear in classic Hangouts.
New Delhi: After blocking several researchers` accounts as Russia began a military strike against Ukraine on Thursday, Twitter has admitted it "mistakenly" removed a number of accounts sharing details about Russian military activity.

Several researchers sharing Russia-Ukraine information found their Twitter accounts "unexpectedly" suspended since late Wednesday.

Twitter`s Head of Site Integrity, Yoel Roth, said in a tweet that the company`s human moderation team made the mistake.

"A small number of human errors as part of our work to proactively address manipulated media resulted in these incorrect enforcements. We`re fixing the issue and reaching out directly to the affected folks," he posted.

"We do not trigger automated enforcements based on report volume, ever, exactly because of how easily gamed that would be," Roth added.

Earlier, Oliver Alexander, analysts with open-source intelligence (OSINT), said: "I am back again after having been locked out twice in 24 hours. First time for a post debunking the "foiled sabotage / gas attack" and second time for a post debunking the "Ukrainian attack into Russia".

OSINT researcher Kyle Glen was also locked out of his account for 12 hours, according to tweets from Glen and a post shared by another OSINT organisation.

Security analyst Oliver Alexander also claimed to have been locked out of his account twice in 24 hours, reports The Verge.

A Twitter thread compiled by Nick Waters, an analyst at the pioneering OSINT organisation Bellingcat, listed more account suspensions.

In an earlier statement, a Twitter spokesperson said that action had been taken against these accounts in error and was not part of a coordinated campaign. Also Read: Realme Narzo 50 with 6.6-inch FHD+ display launched in India: Price, specs

"We`re closely investigating -- but mass reporting is not a factor here," said Roth. Also Read: D-street bloodbath: Sensex tanks over 2,700 points as Russia invades Ukraine

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#mute
The Ancient Order of Hibernians in Auburn added a St. Patrick's Day tradition in 2020: New York State's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Spanning 291 feet along Van Anden Street, from State Street to the organization's headquarters, the parade paid tribute to William "Doug" McCurdy, a past president of the Auburn Hibernians.

Then, in 2021, that new tradition already had to take a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But it will be back this St. Patrick's Day, the organization announced this week.

The parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the corner of Van Anden and State streets. Leading the crowd to the shamrock painted on the pavement in front of the Hibernians building at 79 Van Anden will be grand marshal Anne Greer, 91, the oldest member of the Auburn Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.

The parade will also lead off a series of St. Patrick's Day events at the Hibernians building and throughout Auburn that week:

 Family Night will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, featuring performers from the Crane Academy of Irish Dance, a 50/50, beverage specials and food for purchase.

 St. Patrick's Day Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 17, at Holy Family Church, 85 North St., and will be followed by a flag-raising ceremony at 11 a.m. at Memorial City Hall, 24 South St.

 At 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 17, the Hibernians will host an open house with meals beginning at noon, beverage specials, a 50/50, raffles and live music by The Flyin' Column from 4 to 7 p.m.

 Lenten fish dinners will be available at the Hibernians building by drive-thru only from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 18.

For more information, call the Ancient Order of Hibernians at (315) 252-6459.

No stopping St. Patrick's Day: Parade, band at Auburn Hibernians among highlights When asked whether the Ancient Order of Hibernians would cancel its St. Patrick's Day events due to coronavirus, club President Bob Oliver laughed.

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Brussels: The European Union is planning the strongest, the harshest package of sanctions it has ever considered at an emergency summit Thursday, as the Russian military attacked Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, the target is the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order, and we will hold President (Vladimir) Putin accountable for that.

We will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions to European leaders for approval, she said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it the strongest, the harshest package ever considered.

Later today, we'll present a package of massive & targeted sanctions to European leaders for their approval. With this, we'll target strategic sectors of Russian economy by blocking their access to key technologies & markets: European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen pic.twitter.com/i57ERwJx8f  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbour country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue, Borrell said. This is not only the greatest violation of international law, it's a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence. It's costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.

Von der Leyen said the massive and targeted sanctions she will put to EU leaders will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia.

She said the sanctions if approved, will weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernise. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.

Like the first package of sanctions that were imposed when Russia recognized the two breakaway eastern Ukrainian republics, von der Leyen said all Western powers were walking in lockstep.

We are closely aligned with our partners and allies the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, but also, for example, Japan and Australia, she said.

World leaders on Thursday called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine and cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his decision to launch a 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine.

The 15-nation UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Ukraine late Wednesday night, the second meeting this week and the fourth since January 31 as tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine.

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MOSCOW: Despite several appeals for peace and concerted efforts by international leaders to prevent a full-scale military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, Moscow on Thursday declared war on Kyiv.

The announcement by Putin has once again stoked fears of the world inching closer to World War III although all international leaders have categorically ruled out the possibility of the Russia-Ukraine conflict turning into a full-grown war, they have not denied that it may ''lead to the deaths of thousands of innocent lives and destruction on a large scale.''

Announcing a special "military operation" in the Donbas region, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize Ukraine and defend people "suffering persecution and genocide" by the Kyiv regime.

"I have taken the decision to carry out a special military operation. Its goal will be to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kyiv regime. For this we will aim for demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine," said Putin, asking Ukrainian soldiers to lay down arms.

"Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russia`s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history," he added.

Russias declaration of War came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his country posed no threat and will not pose any threat to Russia in future.

In an emotional appeal delivered largely in Russian, Zelenskyy said, "You are being told that Ukraine can pose a threat to Russia. "It was not like this in the past, it is not like this now and it will not be so in the future. You demand security guarantees from NATO. We also demand guarantees of our security - from you, from Russia, and other guarantors of the Budapest memorandum," Zelenskyy said in a video address.

Ukrainian President also warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives. The White House too responded by warning that Putin will face significant consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the Russian President to stop "attacking Ukraine" and to give peace a chance, speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday night. "The day was full of rumours and indications of an offensive against Ukraine was imminent. In the recent past, there were several situations with similar indications, similar rumours," Guterres told the council

During the previous UNSC meeting, the world leaders made clear that the fate of Ukraine wasn't worth a direct military confrontation with Russia and the potential of a world war, so sanctions were the only limited option.

Responding swiftly to Russian President Vladimir Putin's order sending troops to separatist regions of Ukraine, world leaders have hit back with non-military actions against Moscow in hopes of averting a full-blown war in Europe. However, despite all that, Putin continued to knock the world off-kilter with a strategy in which confusion about the true extent of an invasion seems to have worked to his advantage.

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Kyiv: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a WAR by approving a ''military operation'' in Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians. In a televised address, Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia doesn't have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for the bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian regime.

#UkraineRussiaCrisis | Russian President Vladimir Putin vows retaliation against those who interfere with Russian Ukraine operation: AFP pic.twitter.com/H2a3lI9kww  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen. He also accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

The Russian leader said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a demilitarisation of Ukraine. Putin said that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Putin's remarks, but US officials have repeatedly pledged to place overwhelming sanctions on the Russian economy and Putin allies in retaliation for a further invasion of Ukraine.

The fast-paced developments came after the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. During the meeting, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and the world leaders told Russian President Vladimir Putin to not send Russian troops against Ukraine and 'give peace a chance.'

Guterres opened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council late Wednesday saying the day was full of rumours and indications that an offensive against Ukraine is imminent.

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Ukraine for Wednesday night, just hours after diplomats from dozens of countries took the floor at the General Assembly to deplore Russia's actions toward the country and plead for diplomacy as fears of a new war in Europe grew.

Citing an 'immediate threat of Russian offensive', Ukraine had requested the council session after Russia said that rebels in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military assistance.

The council, where Russia holds the rotating presidency this month, was met just two days after another emergency session saw no support for Russia's decision to recognise two rebel regions of Ukraine as independent and to order Russian troops there for 'peacekeeping.'

Council diplomats are now finalising a draft of a resolution that would declare that Russia is violating the UN Charter, international law, and a 2015 council resolution on Ukraine, a diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. The resolution would urge Russia to come back into compliance immediately, the diplomat said.

At the General Assembly meeting earlier Wednesday, Russia and ally Syria defended Moscow's moves. But even China, which usually takes Russia's side at the UN, spoke up for the world body's longstanding principle of respecting countries' sovereignty and internationally recognised borders, while not mentioning Russia by name.

Meeting a day after Western powers and some other countries imposed new sanctions on Russia, the 193-member General Assembly didn't take any collective action. But the comments from nearly 70 nations, with more scheduled for Monday, represented the broadest forum of global sentiment since the crisis dramatically escalated this week.

Countries from Guatemala to Turkey to Japan condemned Russia's embrace of the separatist regions' independence claims or voiced support for Ukraine. "Ukraine, you're not alone,'' Bulgarian Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva said. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield exhorted countries 'to get off the sidelines.'

Thomas-Greenfield warned that the confrontation could spiral into a refugee crisis, estimating that as 5 million people could be displaced and could make food prices spike in developing countries where Ukraine supplies wheat.

Syria accused the West of using the assembly to pressure Moscow. "The Ukrainian crisis was created by the Western states, led by the United States, to divide people and to undermine Russian security," Ambassador Bassam al-Sabbagh said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba implored countries to use tough economic sanctions, strong messages and 'active diplomacy' to get Russia to back off. A lacklustre response would jeopardise not only Ukraine but the concept of international law and global security, he warned. "We need to use this last chance for action and stop Russia where it is,'' Kuleba said.

Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in 2014, and pro-Russia rebels have since been fighting Ukrainian forces in the eastern areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. More than 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

After weeks of rising tension as Moscow massed over 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised the two regions' independence and ordered Russian forces there as what he called ''peacekeepers."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres disputed that, saying they are troops entering another country without its consent.

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Brussels: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a military operation in Ukraine, and he is warning other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences they have never seen." US President Joe Biden says the world will "hold Russia accountable." The Ukrainian president earlier rejected Moscow's claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate plea for peace.

Before Putin's announcement, world leaders worked to maintain a united stance and vowed to impose tougher sanctions in the event of a full-fledged invasion.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Wednesday night at Ukraine's request. Here are the things to know about the conflict over Ukraine and the security crisis in Eastern Europe:

PUTIN MAKES HIS MOVE

Putin said the military operation was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine- a claim the US had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion.

In a televised address, Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said Russia's goal was not to occupy Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden denounced the attack as "unprovoked and unjustified." As Putin spoke, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine.

UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT MAKES PLEA FOR PEACE

Speaking in Russian, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave an emotional address early Thursday. "The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace," he said. "But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs."

Zelenskyy said he asked for a call with Putin late Wednesday but the Kremlin didn't respond.

Earlier Wednesday, Ukraine imposed a nationwide state of emergency, which allows authorities to impose restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations.

WHAT ACTION IS THE UNITED NATIONS TAKING?

The UN Security Council held another emergency meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday night, just two days after another emergency session saw no support for Russia's decision to recognize the two rebel regions of Ukraine as independent and to order Russian troops there for "peacekeeping."

"If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart: President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died,? UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council.

Council diplomats are now finalizing a draft of a resolution that would declare that Russia is violating the UN Charter, international law and a 2015 council resolution on Ukraine, a diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.

The resolution would urge Russia to come back into compliance immediately, the diplomat said.

At a General Assembly meeting earlier Wednesday, Russia and ally Syria defended Moscow's moves. But even China, which usually takes Russia's side at the UN, spoke up for the world body's longstanding principle of respecting countries' sovereignty and internationally recognized borders, while not mentioning Russia by name.

WHEN WILL THE WEST IMPOSE MORE SANCTIONS?

Ukraine's forces are no match for Moscow's military might, so Kyiv is counting on other countries to hit Russia hard with sanctions. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter that the West should target Putin where it hurts without delay. "Hit his economy and cronies. Hit more. Hit hard. Hit now," Kuleba wrote.

Biden on Wednesday allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the company's CEO.

Biden waived sanctions last year when the project was almost completed, in return for an agreement from Germany to take action against Russia if it used gas as a weapon or attacked Ukraine. Germany said Tuesday it was indefinitely suspending the pipeline.

Ukraine's Western supporters said they had already sent out a strong message with a first batch of sanctions on Tuesday. They said Russian troops moving beyond the separatist-held regions would produce more painful sanctions and possibly the biggest war in a generation on Europe's mainland.

"This is the toughest sanctions regime we've ever put in place against Russia,? British Foreign Secretary said of measures that target key banks that fund the Russian military and oligarchs. "But it will go further, if we see a full-scale invasion of Ukraine."

The European Union finalized a similar package, which also targets legislators in the lower house of Russia's parliament and makes it tougher for Moscow to get on EU financial and capital markets.

US actions announced Tuesday target high-ranking Russian officials and two Russian banks considered especially close to the Kremlin and Russia's military, with more than $80 billion in assets.

HOW IS UKRAINE'S ECONOMY HOLDING UP?

It is Ukraine, not Russia, where the economy is eroding the fastest under the threat of war. One by one, embassies and international offices in Kyiv have closed. Flight after flight was cancelled when insurance companies balked at covering planes arriving in Ukraine. Hundreds of millions of dollars in investment dried up within weeks.

The squeezing of Ukraine's economy is a key destabilizing tactic in what the government describes as ?hybrid warfare? intended to eat away at the country from within.

UKRAINE SEES MORE CYBERATTACKS

Ukraine's parliament and other government and banking websites were hit with another wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks Wednesday.

Unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware, cybersecurity researchers said.

Officials have long said they expect cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the incidents hew to a nearly two-decade-old Russian playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.

HOW IS THE CONFRONTATION SEEN IN RUSSIA?

Russian state media are portraying Moscow as coming to the rescue of war-torn areas of eastern Ukraine that are tormented by Ukraine's aggression. TV presenters are professing the end of suffering for the residents of the breakaway regions.

"You paid with your blood for these eight years of torment and anticipation," anchor Olga Skabeyeva said during a popular political talk show Tuesday morning. "Russia will now be defending Donbas."

WHO IS BACKING RUSSIA IN THE CRISIS?

Russia is not facing the rest of the world on its own. China is leaning toward Russia and accused the US of stoking the Ukraine crisis.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Washington "keeps sending weapons to Ukraine, creating fear and panic and even playing up the threat of war." She said China has been calling on all parties to respect one another's legitimate security concerns.

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New Delhi: After Russia announced ''military operation'' in Ukraine on early Thursday (February 24) morning, NATO envoys held an emergency session to bolster its defenses in allies neighbouring both countries.

Calling Russias large-scale attack on Ukraine a grave breach, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement as per AP, This is a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. He added that the allies are meeting to address the consequences of Russia's aggressive actions.

NATO, a 30-nation military organisation, is not supplying arms and ammunition to Ukraine, however, some member countries are. NATO will not launch any military action in support of Ukraine, AP reported.

"We stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time. NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend all allies," Stoltenberg added.

Meanwhile, European Union leaders will introduce new sanctions on Russia, freezing its assets, halting its banks` access to European financial markets over its "barbaric attack" on Ukraine, senior officials saidtoday.

An emergency summit which will begin at 1900 GMT will also discuss offering EU candidate status to Ukraine, Lithuania`s President Gitanas Nauseda said. This remains a long-awaited step by Kyiv, however, it may not win approval from all EU leaders.

After Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a special "military operation" in Ukraine early today, missiles were fired on Ukrainian cities and explosions were heard near the capital Kyiv.

As per the latest updates, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ended diplomatic ties with Russia. While adviser to Ukraine President Office claimed that than 40 Ukrainian soldiers have been dead and several dozen wounded in the large-scale attacks.

Earlier today, Zelenskyy had appealed to world leaders to impose all possible sanctions on Russia, saying Putin wanted to destroy the Ukrainian state.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: As many as 40 people have been killed so far in the large-scale attack launched by Russia on Ukraine Thursday morning, AFP news agency quoted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy as saying. Out of those killed around 10 were civilians, the news agency added.

Oleksii Arestovich, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also informed that several dozen people have been wounded.

Arestovich said the Russian strike on air bases and various other military infrastructure was not successful in routing the country's military. He said that Ukraine suffered casualties, but they "aren't significant", adding that the Russian strikes "haven't eroded the combat capability of the Ukrainian military".

Arestovich also said that the Russian troops moved up to 5 km (about 3 miles) deep into the Ukrainian territory in the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions, and, possibly in other areas. Appealing to Ukrainians, he said, The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian, and asked citizens who can defend the country to come to the Interior Ministry's assembly facilities.

Taking to Twitter, President Zelenskyy wrote, "We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.

Earlier today, Ukrainian border guards had released footage of "Russian military vehicles moving in", while big explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Kharkiv in the east and Odesa in the west. The Russian military claimed to have wiped out Ukraine's entire air defenses in a matter of hours.

Amid the Russian threat, Ukrainians fled some cities and European authorities declared Ukrainian air space an active conflict zone.

Meanwhile, NATO envoys held an emergency session to bolster its defenses in allies neighbouring both countries. Calling Russias large-scale attack on Ukraine a grave breach, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement as per AP, This is a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. He added that the allies are meeting to address the consequences of Russia's aggressive actions.

(With agency inputs)

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Kyiv (Ukraine): Ukraine military plane with 14 on board crashes near Kyiv, said emergency service, AFP reports. Earlier the agency also reported that Russian forces have broken into the north of Kyiv region, Ukraine border guards were quoted as saying by AFP. Ukraine on Thursday fought Russian forces along practically its entire border with Russia, and there was fierce fighting in the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odessa and at a military airport near Kyiv, an adviser to the presidential office said.

The Ukrainian official said they feared that Russian forces could be airdropped into the country and then try to penetrate the government district in Kyiv. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said Ukrainian border guards had abandoned all facilities at the Russian-Ukrainian border, the Interfax news agency reported.

A Ukrainian military plane was shot down on Thursday and five people were killed, Ukrainian police and the state emergency service said, as its armed forces sought to defend against a massive Russian military operation.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two. The crisis began when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine to defend separatists in the Donbas region of the country, that's in the eastern part.

In a statement that sent shockwaves worldwide, Putin said, "I have made the decision of a military operation." It confirmed the West`s worst fears and prompted fears of a massive flood of refugees fleeing Ukraine, a nation of 44 million people. Meanwhile, central European countries braced on Thursday for the arrival of refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Poland setting up reception points on its border and Hungary and Slovakia planning to send troops to manage the likely influx. The countries on the European Union's eastern flank were all once part of the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact and are now members of NATO. Among them, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania all share land borders with Ukraine.

(With Reuters inputs)

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The websites of the Russian president en.kremlin.ru, government (government.ru) and State Duma lower house of parliament were intermittently unavailable for users in Russia and Kazakhstan on Thursday. It was not immediately clear what had caused the problem. Asked if the Kremlin`s website had been hit by a DDoS attack, Kremlin spokesperson told Interfax news agency that he thought the platform was working normally.

Ukraine computers also hit by data-wiping software

A newly discovered piece of destructive software found circulating in Ukraine has hit hundreds of computers, according to researchers at the cybersecurity firm ESET, part of what Ukrainian officials said was an intensifying wave of hacks aimed at the country.

The company said on Twitter that the data wiping program had been installed on hundreds of machines in the country, an attack it said had likely been in the works for the past couple of months.

Vikram Thakur of cybersecurity firm Symantec, which is also looking into the incident, told Reuters that infections had spread outside Ukraine. "We see activity across Ukraine and Latvia," Thakur said. A Symantec spokesperson later added Lithuania.

Who is responsible for the wiper is unclear, although suspicion immediately fell on Russia, which has repeatedly been accused of launching data-scrambling hacks against Ukraine and other countries. Russia has denied the allegations.

The victims in Ukraine included a government agency and a financial institution, according to three people who studied the malware since its release.
New Delhi: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (February 24, 2022) said that UK and its allies will respond decisively to Russia`s "unprovoked" attack on Ukraine.

Taking to his Twitter handle, UK Prime Minister said that he is appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the next steps.

"President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively," he added.

I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 24, 2022

PM Johnsons tweet comes a few hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special "military operation to protect Donbas" in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations has appealed to its members to "stop the war" at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

"It is the responsibility of this body to stop the war. So I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war," Ukrainian envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya was quoted as saying by CNN during the meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

However, defending Russia`s decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya said "the root of today`s crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself."

"The root of today`s crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself, who for many years was sabotaging its obligations under the (Minsk agreement)," said Nebenzya.

(With PTI inputs)

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London: Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled Britain's largest-ever package of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, targeting banks, members of President Vladimir Putin's closest circle and wealthy Russians who enjoy high-rolling London lifestyles. Western nations are coordinating action to impose tough sanctions against Russia in response to its all-out invasion on neighbouring Ukraine by staging missile strikes on cities and pouring its troops into the country.

Speaking to parliament just hours after Putin declared war with Ukraine, Johnson said the Russian leader would be condemned by the world and by history for his invasion, never able to cleanse the "blood of Ukraine from his hands". "This hideous and barbarous venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure," he told parliament when announcing the new sanctions, an announcement which saw sanctions being imposed on more than 100 Russian individuals and entities. "For our part today, the UK is announcing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen."

After the West was criticised for earlier, weaker sanctions this week in response to Russia recognising two breakaway republics in Ukraine, Johnson said leaders had agreed to work together to "maximise the economic price" Putin will pay.

A government official said the coordinated sanctions would knock percentage points off the Russian economy in the next 12 to 18 months.

End of Londongrad?

In the 10-point sanctions package, the British government said it would impose an asset freeze on some major Russian banks, including state-owned VTB, its second-biggest bank, and stop major Russian companies from raising finance in Britain.

VTB did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union three decades ago, London's capital markets have been the favoured destination for Russian companies seeking to raise money outside Moscow.

Among the individuals targeted by the second wave of sanctions included Kirill Shamalov, Putin`s once son-in-law. Pyotr Fradkov, chairman of Promsvyazbank, was also under sanctions. The finance ministry has accused Fradkov of working to transform the bank into one that serves the defence industry.

Britain will also ban Russia`s flagship airline Aeroflot from landing in Britain, suspend dual export licences to Russia and ban exports of some high tech exports and parts of the extractive industry. Johnson also went further than some other Western countries, calling for Russia to be excluded from SWIFT, the inter-bank messaging network which is the backbone of international finance - a demand made by Ukraine.

At home, officials said the sanctions were aimed at preventing wealthy Russians from using London, often dubbed `Londongrad` or Moscow-on-Thames, as their playground, reducing their ability to store large amounts of cash in Britain's banks.

"These are people who have international lifestyles," a diplomatic source said. "They come to Harrods to shop, they stay in our best hotels when they like, they send their children to our best (fee-paying) schools, and that is what's being stopped."

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A small backyard poultry flock of eight birds on Long Island recently tested positive for a highly contagious poultry virus that is being referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza. HPAI is more commonly referred to as avian influenza, or bird flu.

As of Feb. 11, over 140 cases of HPAI have been identified in the U.S. in wild bird populations. So far, the disease has not been detected in wild birds on Long Island, but active measures are currently being taken in Suffolk County to prevent the spread of this disease to other domestic poultry flocks.

Avian influenza has the potential to cause significant financial loss and impact the U.S. poultry industry. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, there were 517 poultry farms in New York providing a market value nearing $2 million. When bird flu last hit the U.S. in 2014-2015, over 200 cases were identified in both commercial and backyard flocks and in wild birds. This impacted over 200 farms in 15 states, resulting in more than 50 million birds dying from the virus or being euthanized.

Human cases of avian influenza are rare, and none have been detected in the United States so far. Should you come across a sick or dead bird, avoid touching it by using gloves and washing your hands afterward. Birds removed from infected flocks do not enter the food system; however, proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit kills bacteria and viruses.

Avian influenza can be very contagious among both wild and domesticated birds. Waterfowl, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs of the infection and often show no symptoms. Wild waterfowl carry low pathogenic forms of the virus, which mutate into a highly pathogenic form that then spreads quickly to other birds. The virus can sicken and even kill certain domesticated bird species, including chickens, ducks and turkeys.

As of Feb. 19, HPAI has been confirmed in wild birds in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Georgia and Florida. Concern comes with the potential spread of HPAI, as overwintering wild birds begin their spring migration north. New York is located in the Atlantic Flyway, one of four U.S. migratory routes. The Atlantic Flyway includes states with current HPAI in wild bird populations. As birds migrate north, there is increased potential for bird flu to spread to poultry flocks located along the migratory route.

Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with infected birds, through the air or through contact with surfaces that are contaminated with the virus from infected birds.

Bird flu found in NY flock The state Department of Agriculture and Markets is urging poultry farmers to increase biosecurity protocols after a flock of eight birds on Lo

The confirmation of this highly transmissible disease is a reminder to all poultry farmers regardless of flock size to revisit their biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of bird flu. Poultry producers, regardless of flock size, are encouraged to implement appropriate biosecurity measures now to protect their poultry flock.

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets encourages those involved in poultry production to take extra steps to prevent their flocks from becoming infected. Poultry biosecurity materials and checklists can be found on the USDAs Defend the Flock website. In addition to practicing good biosecurity, poultry owners should keep their birds away from wild ducks and geese and their droppings by limiting outdoor access for poultry.

For those of us who enjoy feeding wild birds, there is currently no guidance to stop feeding them. However, proper cleaning of feeders and other places wild birds gather, like bird baths, will help prevent the spread of diseases, including bird flu should it arrive in central New York.

The United States has the strongest bird flu surveillance program in the world. The USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations with the intent of slowing and stopping its spread.

For those who keep poultry and suspect they may have bird flu, which may show up in the next few weeks, contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office to be linked to appropriate resources. If there is a confirmed case in our region, there will be specific protocols to follow.

Just as concerns for bird flu occurred in 2014-2015, New York was able to protect its domestic poultry flock by implementing biosecurity measures. Putting appropriate biosecurity measures in place now will, hopefully, provide New Yorks poultry industry with a similar outcome in 2022.

Judy Wright is the senior agriculture specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Seneca County. For more information, visit senecacountycce.org or call (315) 539-9251 ext. 109.

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Washington: The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on the company in charge of building Russia`s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, expanding penalties on Moscow after it recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

The sanctions, which target the Nord Stream 2 AG company and its CEO, Matthias Warnig, add to pressure on the Baltic Sea project that was designed to double the gas flow capacity from Russia to Germany.

Europe`s most divisive energy project, Nord Stream 2 has not begun operations pending certification by Germany and the European Union.

Germany on Tuesday halted the pipeline, worth $11 billion, citing Russia`s actions toward Ukraine. The United States and the EU worry the pipeline will increase Europe`s dependence on Russian energy supplies and deny transit fees to Ukraine, host to another Russian gas pipeline.

In a statement on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said his administration had been closely coordinating Nord Stream 2 action with Germany, adding: "Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers."

Biden added: "These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia`s actions in Ukraine. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate."

The U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license authorizing the "wind down" of transactions with Nord Stream 2 AG until March 2.

The sanctions did not affect Gerhard Schroeder, a former German chancellor and a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin`s who has headed the shareholders committee of Nord Stream since 2005.

Nord Stream 2 AG is a registered Swiss firm whose parent company is the Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom. Gazprom owns the entire pipeline but paid half the costs, with the rest shared by Shell, Austria`s OMV, France`s Engie and Germany`s Uniper and Wintershall DEA.

Blinken believes Russia will invade Ukraine before night is out

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC News on Wednesday that he expected Russia to invade Ukraine before the night was over but still sees a chance to "avert a major aggression".

"Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine," Blinken told NBC in an interview, adding he could not be precise about time or place.

EU imposes sanctions on Russian ministers of defense, economy

The European Union said on Wednesday it had imposed sanctions on a number of senior Russian officials, including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, after Moscow recognized the independence of two separatist enclaves in Ukraine.

Also targeted was Andrey Kostin, chief executive officer of Bank VTB PAO, Russia`s second-largest bank. The EU made the announcement in its official journal.

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New Delhi: Amid the ongoing military operation announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, the Ambassador of Ukraine to India, Dr Igor Polikha on Thursday (February 24, 2022) made an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Indias help.

At the present moment, we're asking, pleading for support of India. In case of aggression of totalitarian regime against democratic state, India should fully assume its global role. Modi ji is one of the most powerful and respected leaders in the world, Polikha, Ambassador of Ukraine to India, said.

At the present moment, we're asking, pleading for support of India. In case of aggression of totalitarian regime against democratic state, India should fully assume its global role. Modi ji is one of the most powerful&respected leaders in the world: Ambassador of Ukraine to India pic.twitter.com/uB1mhOiKjA  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

#WATCH | Delhi: Dr Igor Polikha, Ambassador of Ukraine to India seeks Government of India's intervention amid #RussiaUkraineConflict; urges PM Narendra Modi to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. pic.twitter.com/L1b48I42DN  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

"I don't know how many world leaders Putin may listen to but status of Modi ji makes me hopeful that in case of his strong voice, Putin at least should think over. We are expecting for much more favourable attitude of the Indian government," Dr Igor Polikha added.

Dr Igor Polikha also revealed that the attack on Ukraine started early in the morning today. It's a case of blatant aggression which started at 5 o'clock in the morning. We have confirmed information that a lot of Ukrainian aerodromes, military airports, military installations were attacked by bombs & missile attacks, said Dr Igor Polikha.

We have first civilian casualties even on the outskirts of the capital. There's fighting in some areas. According to info of our Ministry of Defence, Ukrainian side shot down 5 Russian fighter planes, 2 helicopters, we destroyed 2 tanks & several trucks, Ambassador of Ukraine to India added.

He further informed that the Russian troops have attacked at several location in Ukraine. Some attacks happened on outskirts of capital. Some attacks happened deep inside the territory of Ukraine. We're getting the first information about casualties among our soldiers & among civilian population, said Dr Igor Polikha, Ambassador of Ukraine to India.

With the Russian troops moving into Ukraine and the possibility of a large-scale war in the offing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an emotional appeal for peace, delivered largely in Russian.

"You are being told that Ukraine can pose a threat to Russia. It was not like this in the past, it is not like this now and it will not be so in the future. You demand security guarantees from NATO. We also demand guarantees of our security - from you, from Russia, and other guarantors of the Budapest memorandum," Zelenskyy said in a video address.

Ukrainian President warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives and reassured that his country posed no threat and will not pose any threat to Russia in future. The White House too responded by warning that Putin will face significant consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine.

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Addressing an emergency briefing, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today vowed fighting back against Russia's big military action in his country. The Ukrainian leader said that National solidarity is the hallmark of Ukraine and appealed people who have military training to join the war against Russia. "We are fighting for our freedom , to protect our country," Zelenskiy said, adding: "We hope - we are ready to protect our country with the weapons in our hands".

Appealing common citizen to join the fight, Zelenskyy said, "We will lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of territorial defense with weapons in hands."

Zelensky further urged global leaders to provide defense assistance to Ukraine and help protect its airspace from Russia. He said that "Russia has unleased a war with Ukraine and the entire democratic world". He asked for world leaders to provide large-scale defence support and to protect Ukraine's airspace from the aggressor.

Zelensky further appealed Russia citizen's to protest against war in their own country.

"We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia. For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine," Zelensky said.
Kiev: Ukraine has requested an urgent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Meet after Heads of the Ukraine breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, have asked the Russian President Vladimir Putin for help.

Taking to Twitter, Ukraine`s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba said, "Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance which is a further escalation of the security situation."

Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance, which is a further escalation of the security situation.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 23, 2022

Apart from Kuleba, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell Fontelles, said that request for assistance from DPR, LPR breakaway regions is a "very dangerous additional step" that would put thousands of lives at risk.

Borrell in a tweet said, "The request for assistance by Moscow from the so-called DPR/LPR breakaway regions announces a very dangerous additional step against #Ukraine`s sovereignty that would put thousands of lives at risk. The EU strongly urges #Russia to refrain from any further escalatory actions."

The request for assistance by Moscow from the so-called DPR/LPR breakaway regions announces a very dangerous additional step against #Ukraines sovereignty that would put thousands of lives at risk. The EU strongly urges #Russia to refrain from any further escalatory actions.  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) February 23, 2022

This comes at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the Ukraine breakaway regions following which Biden imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed US` support to Ukraine.

Putin after his announcement also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine`s breakaway regions.

In another key development, the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, on Wednesday approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions amid the escalating situation at the country`s borders.

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Kyiv: Ukraine military on Thursday claimed to have shot down five Russian planes and a Russian helicopter in the breakaway Luhansk region shortly after Moscow launched a military operation against the country.

Ukraine military says five Russian planes and a Russian helicopter were shot down in Luhansk region: Reuters  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

Ukraine military claims five Russian planes and a Russian helicopter were shot down in the Luhansk region, news agency Reuters reported.

  

    ,       5    .

'       .     .   .

 !  Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 24, 2022

Ukraine's border guard agency said that the Russian military has attacked the country from neighbouring Belarus. The agency said the Russian troops unleashed an artillery barrage as part of an attack backed by Belarus.

They said the Ukrainian border guards were firing back, adding that there was no immediate report of casualties. Russian troops have deployed to its ally Belarus for military drills, a move that the West saw as a prelude to an invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian capital of Kyiv is about 75 km (50 miles) south of the border with Belarus.

Meanwhile, Russia claimed that it has destroyed Ukraine's air bases and its air defences. "Military infrastructure at Ukrainian army air bases has been rendered out of action," the defence ministry said in a statement carried by news agencies, which added that Kyiv's air defence systems were "eliminated".

Ukraine has around 200,000 military personnel and could boost that with up to 250,000 reservists. Moscow's total forces are much larger -- around a million active-duty personnel -- and have been modernised and re-armed in recent years.

But Ukraine has received advanced anti-tank weapons and some drones from NATO members. More have been promised as the allies try to deter a Russian attack or at least make it costly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier made an emotional appeal for peace, delivered largely in Russian.

"You are being told that Ukraine can pose a threat to Russia. "It was not like this in the past, it is not like this now and it will not be so in the future. You demand security guarantees from NATO. We also demand guarantees of our security - from you, from Russia, and other guarantors of the Budapest memorandum," Zelenskyy said in a video address.

Ukrainian President warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives and reassured that his country posed no threat and will not pose any threat to Russia in future. The White House too responded by warning that Putin will face significant consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine.

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KYIV: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday made an emotional plea for peace as his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putting declared war against the country.

Speaking in Russian, President Zelenskyy made an emotional appeal for peace as fears grow about a full-scale Russian invasion. The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace, he said.

But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs, he said.

In a televised address, the President rejected Moscow's claim that his country poses a threat to Russia and warned that a looming Russian invasion could cause tens of thousands of deaths. Zelenskyy also said that he had asked for a call with Putin late Wednesday but the Kremlin didn't respond.

Earlier Wednesday, Ukraine imposed a nationwide state of emergency, which allows authorities to impose restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations.

A nationwide state of emergency was declared for Ukraine on Wednesday. The country's Parliament approved President Volodymyr Zelensky's decree that imposes the measure for 30 days starting at midnight in a vote this evening.

The state of emergency allows authorities to impose restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organisations "in the interests of national security and public order".

It comes after the Ukrainian government was hit by a cyberattack believed to have been carried out by Russian agents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians. In a televised address, Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia doesn't have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for the bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian regime.

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen. He also accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offering Moscow security guarantees.

The Russian leader said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a demilitarisation of Ukraine. Putin said that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

The White House warned Moscow of a decisive response pledged to place overwhelming sanctions on the Russian economy and Putin allies in retaliation for a further invasion of Ukraine.

The fast-paced developments came after the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. During the meeting, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and the world leaders told Russian President Vladimir Putin to not send Russian troops against Ukraine and 'give peace a chance.'

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WASHINGTON: The United States and its allies will respond in a united and decisive way to "an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" on Ukraine, President Joe Biden said after blasts were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

"President (Vladimir) Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said in a statement. "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable," Biden added.

Biden said he would announce on Thursday further consequences to be imposed on Russia by the United States and its allies.

The prayers of the world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. https://t.co/Q7eUJ0CG3k  President Biden (@POTUS) February 24, 2022

The strong condemnation from the US President and allies came after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians. In a televised address, Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia doesn't have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for the bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian regime.

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen. He also accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

The Russian leader said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a demilitarisation of Ukraine. Putin said that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Putin's remarks, but US officials have repeatedly pledged to place overwhelming sanctions on the Russian economy and Putin allies in retaliation for a further invasion of Ukraine.

The fast-paced developments came after the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. During the meeting, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and the world leaders told Russian President Vladimir Putin to not send Russian troops against Ukraine and 'give peace a chance.'

Guterres opened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council late Wednesday saying the day was full of rumours and indications that an offensive against Ukraine is imminent.

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Ukraine for Wednesday night, just hours after diplomats from dozens of countries took the floor at the General Assembly to deplore Russia's actions toward the country and plead for diplomacy as fears of a new war in Europe grew.

Citing an 'immediate threat of Russian offensive', Ukraine had requested the council session after Russia said that rebels in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military assistance.

The council, where Russia holds the rotating presidency this month, met just two days after another emergency session saw no support for Russia's decision to recognise two rebel regions of Ukraine as independent and to order Russian troops there for 'peacekeeping.'

Council diplomats are now finalising a draft of a resolution that would declare that Russia is violating the UN Charter, international law, and a 2015 council resolution on Ukraine, a diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. The resolution would urge Russia to come back into compliance immediately, the diplomat said.

At the General Assembly meeting earlier Wednesday, Russia and ally Syria defended Moscow's moves. But even China, which usually takes Russia's side at the UN, spoke up for the world body's longstanding principle of respecting countries' sovereignty and internationally recognised borders, while not mentioning Russia by name.

Meeting a day after Western powers and some other countries imposed new sanctions on Russia, the 193-member General Assembly didn't take any collective action. But the comments from nearly 70 nations, with more scheduled for Monday, represented the broadest forum of global sentiment since the crisis dramatically escalated this week.

Countries from Guatemala to Turkey to Japan condemned Russia's embrace of the separatist regions' independence claims or voiced support for Ukraine. "Ukraine, you're not alone,'' Bulgarian Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva said. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield exhorted countries 'to get off the sidelines.'

Thomas-Greenfield warned that the confrontation could spiral into a refugee crisis, estimating that as 5 million people could be displaced and could make food prices spike in developing countries where Ukraine supplies wheat.

Syria accused the West of using the assembly to pressure Moscow. "The Ukrainian crisis was created by the Western states, led by the United States, to divide people and to undermine Russian security," Ambassador Bassam al-Sabbagh said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba implored countries to use tough economic sanctions, strong messages and 'active diplomacy' to get Russia to back off. A lacklustre response would jeopardise not only Ukraine but the concept of international law and global security, he warned. "We need to use this last chance for action and stop Russia where it is,'' Kuleba said.

Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in 2014, and pro-Russia rebels have since been fighting Ukrainian forces in the eastern areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. More than 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

After weeks of rising tension as Moscow massed over 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised the two regions' independence and ordered Russian forces there as what he called ''peacekeepers." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres disputed that, saying they are troops entering another country without its consent.

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New Delhi: US President Joe Biden on late Thursday (February 24) night made his first address since Russia launched ''military operation'' in Ukraine earlier today.

Attacking Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden said, "Putin is the aggressor, Putin chose war". 'He added that the US will impose additional sanctions and export controls against Russia for invading Ukraine. "US, allies are blocking assets of four large Russian banks, imposing export controls, sanctioning oligarchs," Biden said.

"Export controls will 'cut off more than half of Russia's high-tech imports," the US President further said.

Biden reiterated that the US will not send its troops to Ukraine but will 'defend every inch of NATO territory'. "Our forces are not and will not be engaged in a conflict with Russia in Ukraine. Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine but to defend and reassure NATO allies," Biden said.

Denying any plan to talk to Putin, Biden said, "I have no plans to talk to Russian President Putin. He wants to re-establish the former Soviet Union, I think his ambition our completely contrary to the place where the rest of the world has arrived."

Meanwhile, after the meeting of G7 leaders, the US President had said in a tweet that the leaders have agreed to move forward on "devastating packages of sanctions" and other economic measures to hold Russia accountable for invading Ukraine. "This morning, I met with my G7 counterparts to discuss President Putins unjustified attack on Ukraine and we agreed to move forward on devastating packages of sanctions and other economic measures to hold Russia to account", Biden said in a tweet.

US President Biden had also convened a meeting of the National Security Council in the White House Situation Room to discuss the "unprovoked and unjustified attack" on Ukraine, where he also deliberated on how to hold Russia accountable for its large-scale attack on Ukraine, the White House had informed earlier.

After blasts were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday, Biden had said that the United States and its allies will respond in a united and decisive way to "an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" on Ukraine.

(With agency inputs)

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Washington: The United States Administration has reacted to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Moscow by saying that it is the responsibility of every "responsible" country to voice objection to Russia's actions in Ukraine.

The US has informed Pakistan about its position on the situation in Ukraine, the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday.

"We've communicated to Pakistan our position regarding Russia's further renewed invasion of Ukraine and we have briefed them on our efforts to pursue diplomacy over war," Price said during a press briefing when asked about Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's scheduled meeting with Russians President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

The United States views its partnership with Ukraine as critical to US interests, Price added.

Pakistani Prime Minister left for Moscow on Wednesday to meet President Vladimir Putin and discuss issues including economic cooperation comes hours after the US and a number of Western nations hit Russia with new sanctions for its military deployment into parts of eastern Ukraine.

Also on the agenda will be the two counties and their mutual concerns in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and regional security cooperation.

Khan is the first foreign leader to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russian troops entered the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine amid the escalating crisis between Russia and the West.

Khan's visit to Moscow - the first by a Pakistani Prime Minister in 23 years - has been in the works for a while, but by going ahead as planned, experts see this as an implicit Pakistani endorsement of the Russian leader's actions.

Earlier today President Joe Biden moved ahead with sanctions on the company in charge of building Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline after blocking such measures last year using a national security waiver.

"Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers. These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate," Biden wrote in a statement.

The move is part of a series of penalties the US and its allies have imposed on Russia this week in response to Putin's recognition of separatist territories in eastern Ukraine as independent.

On Monday, Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of the breakaway people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Following this, Biden announced its first tranche of sanctions on Russia and affirmed its support to Ukraine.

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New Delhi: Russian forces fired missiles and landed troops at several cities in Ukraine on Thursday (February 24, 2022), officials and media said. The development comes hours after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east.

Watch LIVE TV for latest updates

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Shortly after Putin spoke in a televised address on Russian state TV, explosions could be heard in the pre-dawn quiet of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Gunfire rattled near the capital`s main airport, the Interfax news agency said, and sirens were heard over the city.

"Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.

"This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," he added.
The Cayuga County Health Department has scheduled two vaccination clinics for next week, both of which will offer shots for school-aged children and adults.

The clinics will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 3, at the Fingerlakes Mall Event Center. Walk-ins are welcome or individuals can make appointments at cayugacounty.us/health.

Pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11 will be available at the clinic, along with Pfizer shots for people ages 12 and older and the Moderna vaccine for adults ages 18 and older.

The county is partnering with the state through the #VaxForKids initiative to offer the clinics.

Before the clinics next week, the health department will hold a clinic from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the Fingerlakes Mall Event Center. Pfizer shots for children ages 5-11 and doses for individuals ages 12 and older will be available at the clinic.
The Cayuga County Legislature is imploring Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature to make some changes to its criminal justice reform laws.

At a meeting Tuesday night, the Legislature passed a resolution urging the state to amend its bail and discovery law reforms. The resolution received bipartisan support, as every legislator present voted in favor of the resolution; Christina Calarco was not present.

State lawmakers passed legislation in 2019 entailing sweeping criminal reform law changes, including ending cash bail for most nonviolent felony and misdemeanor offenses, quick trial reform and speeding up legal discovery deadlines in criminal cases. These alterations were implemented in January 2020.

Upstate law enforcement officials and entities such as the Auburn City Council criticized the new regulations before they went into effect. Cayuga County Legislator Robert Shea, a Republican, introduced the resolution with the proposed reform amendments at a meeting for the county Judicial and Public Safety Committee earlier this month. Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck recently praised the resolution and expressed concern on the effects of the laws in a Feb. 22 guest column to The Citizen.

The resolution said that under the bail reform laws, local criminal court judges were no longer able to have discretion in setting bail "for many specific enumerated crimes, which means those suspected of committing these crimes can no longer be held in jail after their arrest," regardless of factors such as the strength of the case against the defendant.

After "significant public outcry," the resolution continued, from authorities including prosecutors and law enforcement, the Legislature adjusted their initial bail reform work effective July 2020, adding particular enumerated crimes as "qualifying offenses for which judges could set bail.

Despite these changes, bail reform still restricts local judges' discretion to consider every factor that could affect setting bail, the resolution said. The document also noted the amount of time in which discovery mandates require district attorneys and police to submit "voluminous trial-related materials" to defense attorneys, "causing an inordinate burden to be thrust upon law enforcement officials and prosecutors."

The criminal justice reform amendments in the resolution include restoring local judges' discretion to set bail in a way that considers all of the relevant elements in a given case, "not just the risk of flight by the accused." The document also proposes extending the time where discovery in a criminal case needs to be given to a defendant to 45 days from the date of arraignment "to relieve the unnecessary burden currently experienced by law enforcement and prosecutors."

The third change suggested in the resolution is to appropriate "additional funding to the local communities through aid to prosecution and other relevant means to reimburse local governments for the additional staff that has been necessary to meet the demands of the new discovery statutes."

Before the Legislature voted Tuesday, independent Legislator Tricia Kerr spoke about the resolution.

"This is an important issue for the state and for local government as well. (I'm) glad there's a call for financing for some of this stuff," she said.

Democrat Heidi Nightengale, the Legislature's minority leader, also praised the resolution.

"I found that bail reform was something that was very downstate-oriented and did not represent upstate law enforcement issues and I thought (the resolution) was well-written in terms of giving judges more discretion, also giving discovery time, more reasonable time," she said. "Because you're looking at an unfunded mandate."

Certified copies of the resolution will be sent to Hochul and representatives such as state Sens. Pam Helming, John Mannion and Peter Oberbacker.

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

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Onondaga County Legislator Julie Abbott wants to take her public service to the next level.

Abbott is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge state Sen. John Mannion in the newly drawn 52nd Senate District. The district includes the city of Auburn and towns of Owasco and Sennett in Cayuga County, along with a portion of Syracuse and 10 towns in Onondaga County.

Abbott, who represents the Onondaga County Legislature's 6th district, told The Citizen that she is a proven advocate for her constituents and has "had it" with New York state.

"The overreach into our local municipalities, our local school districts and our counties is completely egregious and I would like to bring some control back to the leaders who live in the communities and know what is best here," she said.

A former anchor and reporter with NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse, Abbott previously served on the Skaneateles school board before she was appointed to the Onondaga County Legislature in 2018. She won a full two-year term in 2019 and was reelected in November.

As a county legislator, she has chaired the environmental protection committee and is a member of the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District board. In those roles, she has emerged as a local leader on water quality issues  a subject that will resonate in other parts of the state Senate district, such as Auburn and the town of Owasco.

"These are gems we are responsible to sustain and maintain, specifically as it pertains to our unfiltered drinking water sources (Skaneateles Lake) and our filtered drinking water sources (Owasco Lake)," Abbott said. "These lakes are economic drivers. They are the epicenters of our quality of life."

Abbott thinks her local government will help her as she seeks higher office. As a member of the Skaneateles school board, she learned how "the state cripples the legislative power of our local leaders in terms of what's best for our communities," she said.

It's an example of the overreach she hopes to combat if elected to the state Legislature. She also panned the mask mandates for schoolchildren. While she is fully vaccinated and her children are also vaccinated, she said there is a lack of consistency in the rulemaking process.

"You don't have to wear a mask in a business, but when the data shows that schools (are not a source of spread), they are still requiring masks?" she asked. "When you don't have data behind your policymaking or a path for moving to the next step, that's just not smart and that's how Albany is being ruled on every level."

She also is a critic of the state's bail reform law that eliminated cash bail for certain offenses, including some felony crimes. There were amendments to the law in 2020, but Republicans continue to push for its full repeal or significant changes to the measure. She thinks that judges should have more power to set bail.

Abbott is seeking to unseat Mannion, a Democrat from Geddes. He defeated Republican candidate Angi Renna in 2020.

While Abbott discussed the policies she agrees or disagrees with, she did not mention Mannion by name. Instead, she focused on what she hopes to do as she campaigns in the new district, which stretches from Auburn in Cayuga County to the town of Manlius in eastern Onondaga County.

She wants to listen to voters and highlight her record  what she calls "proof of performance."

"I'm going to put my face out there and work my tail off because I think I can do this and I think I am a fantastic advocate for the people I serve," she said.

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

BYD Tang EV said to hit market in April

BYD released a tease photo of its 2022 Tang EV, a midsized SUV. The car is reportedly starting presale in March and will be officially on the market at the Beijing auto show in April.

Photo credit: BYD



Li Shufu withdraws from Zhejiang Geely Automobiles board of directors

Founder and chairman of Geely Holding, Li Shufu, resigned as one of the board directors of Zhejiang Geely Automobile Co., Ltd., a sub-subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding (Group), on February 22nd, according to Chinas corporate database, Qichacha.

Chinas Jan. PV sales rise 6.7% YoY: CAAM

In the first month of 2022, China produced 2.077 million passenger vehicles, indicating an 8.8% increase year on year but down 17.8% from December 2021. In the same month, there were 2.186 vehicles sold in the country, up 6.7% from a year ago, but dropped 9.7% month over month, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Leapmotors C01 sedan to debut in April

Chinas EV startup, Leapmotor, is unveiling its new battery-electric mid-to-large size sedan in April. Presale of the vehicle will start in June, and the C01 will be officially on the market in August. According to Leapmotor, the new sedan model offers a maximum of 700 km NEDC range.

China releases world-first open-source C-V2X dataset DAIR-V2X

On February 24th, China released the worlds first C-V2X autonomous driving dataset based on real-life scenarios, the DAIR-V2X.

Volkswagen (Anhui) MEB factory completes body shop construction

On February 23rd, Volkswagen China announced that the body workshop in its Volkswagen (Anhui)s MEB factory has completed construction, and equipment installation is scheduled in March.

Ford buys ADAS mapping service from Chinas navigation company eMapgo

China's navigation service provider, eMapgo Technology, has struck a deal with Ford Motor for implementing its mapping service to the auto giant's EVOS and Mustang Mach-E models.

iFLYTEK said to foray into autonomous driving field with jobs posted

Chinas AI intelligent speech developer, iFLYTEK, might be actively entering the autonomous driving playfield, for it has started to recruit autonomous driving talents this year.

All-new MPV under BYDs DENZA premium auto brand seen in spy shots

The all-new MPV under DENZA, a premium auto brand majority owned by BYD, has been caught in spy shots, which were recently released by Zhao Changjiang, the director of BYD's high-end brand preparation office, on his twitter-like Weibo account.

Polestar 0 Project: Together to the Climate Neutral Car

Along with its partners, ZF continues to drive the decarbonization of mobility forward as the first tier 1 supplier group in the automotive industry to participate in the Polestar 0 Project. The Swedish automakers initiative aims to create a fully climate neutral vehicle by 2030. The main goal is to avoid emissions throughout the entire vehicle life cycle  not to compensate for them by planting trees or buying emission credits.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese megacity Shanghai aims to build a charging network that is able to satisfy the charging demands for over 1.25 million electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025, and the ratio of EVs to charging poles will be no more than 2:1 by that moment, according to a document Shanghai municipal government issued on Feb. 24.



All-new Roewe Ei5; photo credit: Roewe



The document says Shanghai will regard charging piles as the main power supply infrastructure and the battery swapping tools an accessory in the future. The battery swap model will be mainly used in the taxi sector, while the charging facilities will be primarily deployed as privately-owned and dedicated piles.

To achieve the target, Shanghai's authorities will draw up special planning for the development of EV charging and battery swapping facilities, based on the city's parking spot layout, the aim of the digital transition for the transport sector, and the charging and battery swap demands from such key areas as residential areas, public service organization, and special vehicles.

By the end of 2021, Shanghai had owned over 620,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs) running on roads, ranking highest among cities in China, according to the data publicly disclosed. The total number of charging piles deployed in the city had topped 500,000 units as of Dec. 2021, resulting in a ratio of EVs to charging piles of around 1.3:1.
Press Release

February 24, 2022 Sen. Joel Villanueva's Opening Statement

Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Hearing on the Rising Number of Missing Persons Allegedly Involved In "Sabong" And "E-Sabong" Related Incidents Based On News Reports Maganda at mapagpalang araw po sa ating lahat. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to share my two cents on the abduction of at least 29 people, hailing from Manila, Laguna, and even my home province of Bulacan because of their involvement in gambling activities. Hindi po ito ang unang beses na nangyari ang ganitong insidente. The 29 missing individuals are just the latest casualties. Napanood ko po sa isang news ang isang video kung saan nakuha sa CCTV ang pagdakip sa isang residente ng San Pablo, Laguna. Nagpanggap na mga NBI agent ang nag-issue ng warrant of arrest. The victim was reported to be a master agent of online sabong and was accused of game fixing. Mr. Chairman, I leave it to the proper authorities to determine the specific motives and reasons behind these disappearances. Ang obvious lang po sa atin eh malinaw na ang sanhi nito ay sugal. The records will bear us out na nasa Kamara pa lang po tayo ay ipinapaliwanag na natin sa ating mga kababayan kung bakit hindi makabubuti ang sugal sa ating bayan. Una, kabaligtaran po ng lahat ng pagpapahalagang Pilipino (Filipino values) ang pagsusugal. How can we teach our youth to be industrious and to take their study seriously if gambling is rampant or by giving them the false hopes that the "game of chance" can actually improve lives? Recently, a 19-year-old student in Davao de Oro was arrested by the police after he was unable to pay more than P500,000 in bet money for online sabong.[1] Other students have resorted to stealing from their parents to play, some of whom are minors.[2] There is also a reported incident involving a Quezon City police officer who robbed an LBC branch in San Miguel, Bulacan.[3] Sayang naman po ang investments natin sa education and training kung mababalewala lang sa dahil iisipin ng mga kabataan na shortcut sa pag-asenso ang sugal. Pangalawa, ipinapakita ng rising number of missing persons allegedly involved in gambling na napakataas ng "social costs" ng sugal. In a news article written by Ms. Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, she cited the circumstances of several of our OFWs who placed bets online with payments done electronically. She stated that Labor Attache Resty dela Fuente flagged online gambling as an emerging concern among OFWs.[4] The list goes on with stories of bankruptcy, broken families, and other criminal activities as a result of gambling. There's also this 2011 study at Baylor University in Texas[5] stating that the social costs for each pathological gambler is $9,393 per year or almost half a million pesos kapag pinagsama-sama 'yung nagagastos sa pag-solve ng krimen, adjudication, lost job productivity, unemployment insurance, therapy and treatment costs, suicide, social services costs, at iba pa. Pangatlo, and in relation to my second point, na-establish na po ng maraming pag-aaral na ang pathological gambling is a mental disease. Kahit po ang World health Organization, kinlassify ang pathological gambling na isang sakit. Ano po ang mga sintomas? Debts and lies. From these two symptoms, where to? Broken marriage, dysfunctional family, children dropping out from school, infidelity, domestic violence, kidnapping? Mr. Chairman, this public hearing is very timely because it's about time we wake up to the downsides of gambling and discuss its ill effects especially during these times of major health and economic woes. Of course, we should also exert all efforts to locate the 29 missing individuals, save their lives and return them to their families and loved ones. Trabaho po at hindi sugal o ang pagtaya sa sabong ang magbibigay ng oportunidad sa mga Pilipino. Ito po ang dahilan kaya nandirito tayo ngayon dahil trabaho ang trabaho natin. Hindi po tayo papayag na mabalewala ito dahil sa sugal na hindi naman oportunidad kundi panganib ang hatid sa ating mga kababayan. God bless us all. ____________________________________________________ [1] https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/2021/10/27/student-19-arrested-after-failing-to-pay-p561-k-for-online-sabong/ [2] https://tnt.abante.com.ph/kandidatong-pabor-sa-e-sabong-huwag-iboto-bro-eddie/ [3] https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/26/huge-debt-due-to-online-sabong-prompts-qc-police-to-rob-lbc-branch-in-bulacan/ [4] https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/10/06/emerging-threat-to-ofws-mental-and-financial-health-online-sabong/ [5] https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/145417.pdf
LOS ANGELES  Lovense, a leading sex tech company, on Thursday announced the worldwide release of the Lovense Sex Machine.

As the latest development from the pleasure design team at Lovense, the company said the Lovense Sex Machine combines "super power with wide functionality." Its design allows for both solo or two-person use at the same time. Adjustable stroke length (up to 11.4 cm), tilt angle and height create a variety of possible deployment options and positions.

The Lovense Sex Machine is easy to assemble, stable, sturdy, and comes with a discreet storage bag. With a weight of 12.5 kg (27.6 lbs), it runs quietly, and offers a variable speed of up to 300 strokes per minute. The Sex Machine is compatible with all Vac-U-Lock attachments and accessories. Two silicone attachments and two Vac-U-Lock adapters are included in the package.

The Lovense Sex Machine can be controlled both from a wired remote controller and through Lovense apps. It is fully integrated into the Lovense ecosystem and supports the entire functionality of the Lovense Remote app. The device is designed for solo play, close-range, and can be controlled from any distance and synced with games and multimedia content through the Remote App.

We have been working on a sex machine for a long time, tried different designs and options, and are finally ready to release the best sex machine on the market," said Dan Liu, Lovense CEO. With incredibly wide functionality and possibilities, including two-person use, as well as support for all Lovense camming solutions, the Lovense Sex Machine is the first choice for cam models and toy enthusiasts everywhere."

The Lovense Sex Machine is tip-activated, fully supports the Lovense suite of camming software, and can be connected to nearly all major adult streaming platforms. It is compatible with new Lovense developments for cam models like Vibe with Me and Give Control.

To find out more about the Lovense Sex Machine please visit lovense.com/p/XMpr
Flagstaff Unified School Districts (FUSD) board set an end date to its mask requirement during its meeting Tuesday, with the majority moving to encourage rather than require masks on its campuses starting March 21.

The move will come regardless of COVID-19 metrics, unless the districts percent positivity and case rates fall into moderate or low transmission categories before March 21. The district plans to send a notification to staff and families if the lower threshold is met before then.

Masks will continue to be required on buses and at Leupp Elementary regardless of transmission levels until the federal transportation and Navajo Nation orders are rescinded.

The board voted 3-2 to approve the motion, with president Carol Haden and members Anne Dunno and Carole Gilmore in favor and members Christine Fredericks and Dorothy Denetsosie Gishie opposed.

Weve been on, I think, the right path thus far and Im very open to supporting this, Dunno said.

She noted that the recommendation was based on feedback from Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS), the difficulties associated with masking and that N95 masks offer protection to the people wearing them.

Fredericks, Gishie and Gilmore all said in the discussion that they thought the requirements end should be based on transmission levels. Gishie noted that while COVID rates are decreasing, they have not returned to their levels from the beginning of last summer.

Gilmore and Fredericks differed on whether the transmission level should be based on the schools themselves or the larger community.

I dont think that theres a correct time, Gilmore said. I dont think that we could say, absolutely, guaranteed, something is going to happen. But Id like to see that we focus our transmission rates on whats going on inside of our schools."

Gilmore added: "Id like to say that if there is a minimal transmission rate, then, yes, the masks come off, but lets just say we go through a whole other transmission rate, which spikes tremendously. Then maybe masks will have to come back on. But I think were here now, and as a board we have an obligation to make a decision.

Fredericks made the point that our schools are a part of that larger community and that students and employees return home to a variety of places at the end of school days.

Despite Gilmores reservations with setting an end date, she voted for the motion because she believed it would not pass otherwise.

I do not agree necessarily with the date that has been established, she said immediately before the vote. I feel that we are here to make a decision tonight.

FUSD Superintendent Michael Penca said he made the recommendation to the board with much reflection and consideration of the impact it would have on schools, students, teachers and families as well as their various experiences of the pandemic.

The mask requirement was necessary to maintain in-person learning and minimize disruptions to instruction during the delta and omicron surges, he said, and improving metrics and FUSDs mitigation efforts led him to believe that it was time to change it.

While its wise to proceed with both caution and an understanding that we may need to re-institute measures if conditions worsen, we also need to give each other something to hope for and a return to some semblance of normalcy, he said.

COVID has impacted FUSDs students, employees and families over the past two years, he said, listing different areas of concern for each group.

While it will take concerted effort and time to heal, I am confident we can do just that here in Flagstaff, and I am committed to finding ways to listen to, support one another and move forward together, he said. We will not only get through this, but grow.

CCHHS officials presented at the meeting virtually, giving updates on COVID metrics in both Coconino County and the school district.

Since the first coronavirus case was identified in Coconino County in March of 2020, 42,703 cases have been recorded, with 2,160 hospitalizations and 432 deaths. Over the last six months, 23,306 cases were reported in the county, with 707 hospitalizations and 105 deaths. Flagstaff accounted for 68% (15,828) of the total cases and residents younger than 18 accounted for 21% (4,838 cases, with 31 hospitalizations and no COVID-related deaths in residents younger than 20 years old in the last six months).

Metrics have been improving recently, in both schools and the county.

Just as quickly as we saw that increase [in cases due to the omicron variant], were starting to see a major decrease -- which is very good news, CCHHS lead epidemiologist Matt Maurer said.

Cases have decreased by 92% since the Jan. 15 peak, averaging a 45% weekly decrease over the last four weeks. A total of 58% of county residents are fully vaccinated, with slightly lower rates for those under the age of 20 (17% of 5- to 11-year-olds and 48% of 12- to 18-year-olds).

FUSDs metrics follow similar trends to the county as a whole, though right now they are slightly higher. The most recent schools update lists the district as having a case rate of 289 per 100,000 and a positivity yield of 11.1%. The high transmission thresholds for those metrics is 100 per 100,000 and 10%, respectively.

'Light at the end of the tunnel'

Another category, substantial transmission, is between high levels of transmission and the districts threshold for ending the mask requirement at the moderate level. The threshold between substantial and moderate transmission is a case rate of 50 per 100,000 and an 8% positivity rate.

The district is really trending that direction [and] should hopefully be there very soon, Maurer said. ...Were really hopeful that we can continue to see lower levels of transmission as we head into spring here and summer, and hopefully those trends will continue.

CCHHS had sent a letter with its recommendations to the school board Feb. 17, and director Kim Musselman noted that vaccines are key to COVID protection and that CDC still advises anyone aged 2 or older to wear a mask in indoor public settings and locations with high transmission, including in schools, regardless of vaccination status.

She wasnt sure when, but said the CDC was expected to make some announcements and changes in the near future.

I want to make a huge thanks... [to] everyone who has spoken so passionately about all of the things they are struggling with in respect to mask mandates and, quite frankly, just in general with COVID, she said. It has been an immensely difficult two-plus years for all of our community.

Musselman was also hopeful that the county would leave high transmission levels soon. She asked attendees to continue using layered mitigation strategies and to practice kindness regardless of the boards decision.

Our numbers are starting to look really good, and it is because of all of the efforts that each of you have taken and your commitment to being kind and respectful to one another, she said. We arehopefully seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and I just ask for your continued diligence in what you are doing as we hopefully in the next couple weeks are back in moderate and low transmission.

A push from the public

Almost 300 people watched the meeting's live stream and the room was mostly full of parents, teachers and students who had come to make public comment on the districts mask requirement.

There were vocal responses from a few members of the in-person audience during the boards discussion, leading to a short break in the proceedings. Shouts of immediate and tomorrow broke out when potential end dates were brought up and several applauded Gilmore's vote, standing to cheer at her last statement.

The comments policy was changed slightly for this meeting, due to both weather and high attendance. Rather than the standard total of 30 minutes, with three minutes per comment, the comments portion was expanded to 45 minutes, with two for each commenter.

We feel like we can hear a good cross-section of people if we extend our time, Haden said, adding that the board had received several emails since the last meeting.

The majority of commenters were requesting an immediate end to the districts mask requirement. The group included students who had participated in the Feb. 14 mask protest, family members and teachers.

I hope you guys listen to us tonight and I hope you guys understand where were coming from. Because its not OK," said Cesar Villaneuva, a Flagstaff High School senior who opposed the requirement.

A seventh-grader at Sinagua Middle School, said while she wore a mask when requested by her teacher, doing so went against her religious beliefs.

Your choices have great effects in my life and my fellow kids, she said. Please consider making masks optional, because if someone has similar beliefs as me, they can choose not to wear one and if someone is not feeling safe, they can wear one.

Most of the teachers who commented at the meeting work at DeMiguel Elementary. Stephanie Mansfied thanked the students at the meeting for standing up tonight and asked for an immediate end to the requirement.

It is not her first time making this request at a board meeting.

I stand before you again to stand up for students and families and ask you to make masks optional today, not a month from now...so we can rebuild relationships with the community members and families we have hurt and lost over the past two years[and] because students deserve the best education possible, she said.

Two Coconino High School students, members of the schools Drama and Young Progressives clubs, spoke in favor of keeping the mask requirement.

When I heard you were attempting to repeal the mask mandate, my first reaction was fear, Jackson Lander said. ...Im a high-risk individual, and, to be frank, I would not like to spend my senior year on a ventilator. Additionally, I fear for my education. If we remove masks, we will go back into virtual learning. Finally, I fear for my family. I have lost many family members due to COVID and I would rather not be the reason any more pass away. Although people who oppose the mask mandate are louder, they are not the majority in our community.

A recording of the meeting can be found at vimeo.com/679568432. Coconino Countys COVID-19 metrics are updated Fridays on the CCHHS website.

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The Montessori Charter School of Flagstaff is switching from a for-profit to a nonprofit charter school, which it hopes will contribute to the schools long-term sustainability and success.

We all believe [this change] will be for the continued success of the school, said head of school Ike Ozis. It was unanimously approved by the Arizona State Board of Charter Schools at its Jan. 10 meeting.

Arizona is one of the few states that allows for-profit charter schools. Ozis said there were about 25 in the state, of 600-700 total charter schools.

The Montessori School has operated four Flagstaff locations for preK through eighth grade students since 1995. As is typical in Montessori education, classrooms combine three grade levels and emphasize self-directed learning. The change in status will not affect the school's educational method.

The school decided to make the switch for long-term sustainability, Ozis said, a large part of which was the leadership structure. It was previously similar to a corporate board structure, which will now change to an independent school board composed of five parents.

We had to make a lot of decisions during COVID and I made those decisions with my administration team, so I think having a school board and having the nonprofit organizations structure helps schools with their long-term sustainability, Ozis said.

This board will eventually hold public meetings and manage policy-level decision-making, as with other nonprofit charter schools. A different leadership tier at the school level will manage the day-to-day operations.

Members of the new board are Andy Vaughn, owner of Doney Coffee; Dr. Anne Newland, North Country Healthcares CEO; Beya Thayer, the executive director of Yavapai Justice and Mental Health Coalition; Kyler Kuehn, Lowell Observatorys deputy director for technology; and Sara Clancey, program director at NAUs Institute for Human Development.

When we created the school board, [we] really paid attention to the balance of having a healthy board, Ozis said. ....We really have a good, strong board who will open up possibilities to serve the community better.

The pandemic was a major factor in determining this change, because it showed the way Flagstaff Montessoris leadership hoped to approach future crises. Switching to a non-profit is not a choice that's easily reversible.

There were a lot of COVID-related opportunities and as we missed one after another, we started having conversationsdo we want to consider this, is it time to consider this? Ozis said.

The change does not mean the school is ineligible to receive COVID funding (for example, ESSERs I, II and III) it had previously missed due to the for-profit status.

I think COVID helped with this decision-making process, but we knew that those funding opportunities are gone," Ozis said. "...We thought about the future sustainability, so financial was just a small portion. Its more the governing body, the health of the organization of the school, so I think that was really the main [reason]. Usually when you have proper checks and balances in place, you can functionally support a nonprofit thats a better, healthier governing body.

The schools previous owner, Eric Alexander, will still own the school buildings but will be distancing himself from the schools operations

I really appreciate Erics support of this idea, Ozis said. ...He wants schools to be successful long term hes still invested in the school. His main motivation is not really profit, [its] probably providing great education to the community.

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Schools began to announce delays for Feb. 24, in response to continuing winter weather conditions Wednesday afternoon. Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD), Northland Prepartory Academy (NPA), Coconino Community College (CCC) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) have all announced two-hour delays Thursday morning as of 5:45 p.m. Feb. 23.

All FUSD schools will begin two hours later than their usual start time and will dismiss at the regular full-day time.

Morning buses will also run two hours later on Thursday, and afternoon pickup times will be as usual. Families in Kachina Village, Mountainaire and Munds Park will use the alternate bus stops for winter weather. At Kachina Village, this is the loop on the Tovar Trail at Raymond County Park, Mountainaires is the Mountainaire County Store (106 Mountainaire Rd) and Munds Parks is the Munds Park Outpost (50 Pinewood Blvd).

Breakfast will be available to students at the delayed start, and will be served in the cafeterias rather than delivered to classrooms.

According to the announcement, the FACTS before-school program will open at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow and operate until the start of school. Only FUSD students already scheduled to attend morning FACTS will be permitted.

Any additional changes will communicated on the districts website and social media, as well as by email, text and phone calls.

At NPA, Thursday's school day will begin at 10 a.m. for middle school students and 10:15 for high school students and will dismiss at 3:15 p.m.

All in-person and Zoom classes at CCC ending before 10 a.m. have been canceled.

NAU also announced that it would be delaying its start Thursday after closing early on Wednesday. The university closed at 3:45 p.m. on Feb. 23 to allow "NAU, city, and county crews time and access to clear snow and allow everyone on campus ample time to get home safely."

Classes after 3:45 p.m. were canceled and university offices were closed. Campus dining locations will close at 8 p.m.

The school will also delay its start by two hours on Thursday, to allow time to clear roadways "given the forecasted bitterly cold conditions overnight."

University offices will be closed and classes will be canceled until 10 a.m. Feb. 24.

"Faculty members will determine how class work will be made up and communicate with students directly," according to an announcement, and "designated essential employees should talk to their supervisor."

Additional updates can be found at in.nau.edu/emergency-management/alert.

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A structure fire destroyed a Lockwood home early Thursday morning, prompting a response from Lockwood and Billings firefighters.

Working in frigid temperatures, crews managed to bring the fire under control in less than a half hour, but flames and smoke caused extensive damage to the single-story house on the 3300 block of Lark Avenue. Two people were also taken to the hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries.

We believe that it started in the oven, said Capt. Maury Martin with Lockwood Fire District #8.

Lockwood engines responded to the fire just after 1 a.m., Martin told The Gazette, with assistance from Billings Fire Department firefighters. By 1:30, they had the fire under control. Along with Lockwood and BFD crews, American Medical Response personnel were also at the scene. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen has offered a panel of federal judges a map correcting the unconstitutional imbalance of the states Public Service Commission districts.

Jacobsen is the states top election official and submitted the map of newly drawn political districts under court order Tuesday evening. Its been nearly 20 years since the Montana Legislature brought the populations of the five districts into balance, during which time the disparity between the most- and least-populated districts grew to 53,000 people.

At issue are the five districts of the PSC, which most notably determines the price of electricity and gas for some 400,000 Montanans who are captive customers of the state's monopoly utilities. The districts have been redrawn only once in nearly 50 years, the singular revision taking place in 2003.

Jacobsen, a Republican, is the only defendant in the lawsuit brought by former Republican Secretary of State Bob Brown, of Whitefish, along with Hailey Sinoff and Donald Seifert both of Gallatin County. Seifert is a former Republican county commissioner.

Voters have asked the court to bring the districts into compliance with the one-person, one-vote provision of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Voters and the secretary of state have already agreed that Montanan's constitutional rights are being violated by the current districts, though Jacobsen has argued that the changes can wait until after the 2022 election and be left to the Montana Legislature.

Voters have asked the court to stop Jacobsen from carrying out elections for two PSC districts on the ballot this year unless the districts are corrected. The court has also deemed the current districts likely unconstitutional.

The Jacobsen map makes three county changes to the PSCs current political districts, two changes affecting voters in 2022 and one change affecting voters in 2024.

In sum, by shifting these three counties, the districts come into presumptive compliance with the one-person, one-vote rule, the secretary tells the court. . . .. The secretarys proposed map minimizes shifting voters to ensure that current districts are left intact to a large extent.

First, Jacobsen subtracts Glacier County from District 5, anchored by Kalispell and Helena, and adds it to District 1, anchored by Great Falls and Sidney. District 1 is geographically the largest district, but also the least populated. It needs up to 30,229 more people to balance with the other districts.

Secondly Jacobsen removes two counties, Musselshell and Deer Lodge, from District 3, which is anchored by Bozeman and Butte and is the largest district by population. District four needs a reduction of up to 22,903 fewer people to balance with the other districts.

Musselshell County gets added to District 1. Deer Lodge County gets added to District 4, which is anchored by Missoula and Hamilton.

In doing so, Jacobsen assures that no voter has to go more than four years without a vote. Districts 1 and 5 are on the ballot in 2022. She puts Musselshell County voters in the position of electing a commissioner for a second time in two years, but she doesnt deny them a chance to vote beyond a four-year cycle.

Deer Lodge County voters were due a vote in 2024, which they still get, just in a new district.

The result is that District 1 is still 11,721 people shy of the ideal population, but Jacobsen brings the least populated district within minus 5.5% of the ideal population, which is a tighter population deviation than the 10% found acceptable in previous cases by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The voters who brought the lawsuit proposed districts in much tighter balance, the largest deviation being 1.5%, but did so without keeping counties whole. Jacobsen argues that there arent divided counties on the current map and the preference should stand.

Although the secretary produced a map as ordered, Jacobsen remained insistent the task should be left up to the 2023 Legislature. Its the Legislature that draws PSC districts, although it has only done so once in nearly 50 years and there is no law forcing lawmakers to do so.

The court noted earlier that the Legislature could choose to convene in special session this winter and correct the PSC districts in time for the 2022 elections, though the window of opportunity was tight. The candidate filing period ends March 14. The primary election is June 7.

There was discussion by lawmakers about calling a special session, but in the end legislators couldnt agree on limiting the session to just redistricting the PSC, a limitation Gov. Greg Gianforte previously said he would require.

Also, Jacobson argues the voters should have sued the Legislature and the State of Montana, leaving the states top election official out of it. Her argument being that the secretary of state doesnt draw political districts.

However, the secretary of state is responsible for Montana elections. And there is a history of secretaries of state being involved in litigation to prevent elections from taking place when its argued that Montana political districts violate voters rights.

Brown as secretary of state, was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state Districting and Apportionment Commission in 2003 over legislative political districts, with most of the concerns being raised by state lawmakers. And, a year later Brown was a defendant in a lawsuit over legislative districts concerning how holdover senators were assigned to new territories.

In 1992, American Indian voters sued then-Secretary of State Mike Cooney over new legislative district maps that plaintiffs said diluted the strength of the Indigenous vote.

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Republicans of two Bismarck-area legislative districts on Wednesday endorsed candidates for the June primary, with squabbling at one convention over party fees.

District 7 Republicans endorsed U.S. Air Force Reserve Maj. Michelle Axtman for Senate, along with incumbent Rep. Jason Dockter and Bismarck State College student Matt Heilman for the two House seats.

Bret Weiland and Retha Mattern unsuccessfully sought endorsements for Senate and House, respectively.

Longtime District 7 incumbents Sen. Nicole Poolman and Rep. Rick Becker, both R-Bismarck, are not seeking reelection.

Poolman intends to spend more time with her family and students, but also cited an erosion of civility in politics. Becker is running for U.S. Senate.

GOP fee

The convention saw "a real fight and interruptions continually for a while" over the requirement of a $50 membership fee to the state party to vote on endorsements, according to District 7 GOP Chairman Claus Lembke.

He said the District 7 GOP executive committee charged the fee based on advice of the GOP State Committee, that "in order to show that you're a Republican, you have to have the minimum dues for the state party."

State GOP Chairman Perrie Schafer said state party membership has always had a fee, though district parties vary as to whether they have membership fees or eligibility requirements. He didn't comment on whether the State Committee is recommending district parties charge the membership fee.

Dockter said the reason for charging the fee was "We're having all of these groups coming and saying they're Republicans, and we don't know if they're Libertarians. They could be Democrat. We don't know, so we're saying, 'OK, if you're really a Republican and want to vote in District 7 endorsing, you have to be a member."

The District 7 GOP doesn't have dues itself, Dockter and Lembke said. Detractors challenged the fee, saying it's not in the district bylaws, Lembke said.

Many of them were vying to be delegates to the GOP state convention in April, which Lembke said still requires the $50 membership fee plus an additional $85 for the convention. About 30 people "were visibly upset," he said.

Dockter said people overall were polite and cordial at the convention, where Becker and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., gave speeches.

Lembke said the convention ran "a lot better" than the District 7 GOP reorganization meeting in May 2021, which had "a lot of shouting going on."

Bismarck District 35 Republicans' endorsing convention became chaotic last week, with confusion following the Senate endorsement vote in which neither candidate won a clear majority of registered delegates.

Intraparty unrest has roiled the state's dominant Republican Party in recent years, including district-level censures of state lawmakers and several party leaders walking out of a major meeting in protest last year. Political observers have seen a fracture between the party's ultraconservative and establishment members.

Democratic-NPL Party spokeswoman Laura Dronen said District 7 Democrats "have not nominated anyone yet to my knowledge."

District 47

District 47 Republicans endorsed incumbents Sen. Mike Dwyer and Rep. Larry Klemin, both attorneys in Bismarck.

The party also endorsed North Dakota Gaming Alliance Executive Director Mike Motschenbacher for a House seat.

Late last year, longtime Rep. George Keiser, R-Bismarck, announced he wouldn't seek reelection for a District 47 House seat. He died days later on Dec. 22 at age 75 after battling Lou Gehrig's disease.

Republicans last month appointed businessman Robb Eckert to serve out the remainder of Keiser's term to Nov. 30. Eckert is not running for election.

Banker Kevin Strege also sought a GOP endorsement for a District 47 House seat.

Retired salesman Dean Summers is running for a District 47 House nomination in the June Republican primary, when voters will determine political parties' nominees for the November general election.

District 47 GOP Chairman Karl Lembke was pleased with the convention's turnout of 162 delegates plus guests.

"Everybody there was very participatory and cordial and was happy to be part of the process," he said.

District 47 Democrats deferred their endorsements to their executive committee. No candidates had come forward for the district party's endorsing convention last weekend.

Ninety-eight seats in the Legislature are on the ballot this year, more than is usual due to decennial redistricting.

Republicans control the House of Representatives 80-14 and the Senate 40-7.

The filing deadline for legislative candidates is April 11.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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Trial has been delayed nearly seven months for a Bismarck woman accused of plotting the death of her husband in what investigators called a love triangle and an insurance scheme.

The defense attorney for Nikkisue Entzel withdrew from the case Thursday, and South Central District Judge Douglas Bahr moved the start date for her two-week trial from Monday to Sept. 26.

Entzel faces three conspiracy charges -- murder, arson and evidence tampering -- stemming from the death of Chad Entzel, 42. Nikkisue Entzel, 40, and a Canadian man, Earl Howard, 43, were accused in early 2020 of plotting and attempting to cover up Chad Entzels death. Emergency workers found his body when they responded to a call of a house fire in northeast Bismarck on Jan. 2, 2020. He died of gunshot wounds, an autopsy showed.

Public defender Justin Balzer informed Bahr at a Thursday pretrial conference that he was in the process of filing the paperwork to withdraw as Nikkisue Entzels attorney. He told Bahr that he wouldnt be making the move if he didnt feel it was absolutely necessary.

Theres been a breakdown in the attorney/client relationship at this point, which I believe leaves me no option but to withdraw, Balzer said.

Bahr asked Nikkisue Entzel, who appeared by electronic means from the Burleigh Morton Detention Center, if she knew Balzer would be withdrawing.

The relationship is such that you want him to withdraw and be replaced? the judge asked.

Yes, I do, Entzel said.

Neither Balzer nor Entzel provided specifics during the hearing about the relationship breakdown.

Burleigh County States Attorney Julie Lawyer did not object, telling Bahr she doesnt take a position on such matters. Chad Entzel's family wants closure but understands that requiring Balzer to continue as Entzels attorney could cause issues in the future "and maybe not lead to finality in the case, Lawyer said.

Bahr said he was disappointed in the development but was not blaming anyone.

I dont know what the breakdown is. I dont know the issues, the judge said. Obviously theres more stress or more decisions the closer you get to trial.

Howard in October pleaded guilty to four felonies. Bahr accepted terms of a plea agreement between prosecutors and Howard and sentenced him to 50 years in prison with 25 years suspended on the most serious charge of murder conspiracy. Howard will have to serve about 21 years before he's eligible for parole.

Burleigh County Deputy Sheriff Brian Thompson testified during a hearing early in the case that Nikkisue Entzel and Howard were in a romantic relationship, verified by video and photos provided to law enforcement. Nikkisue Entzel took out a $26,000 renter's insurance policy in the days before Chad Entzel's death, and she tried to collect on the policy soon after he died, the deputy maintained.

Prosecutors said Nikkisue Entzel told law enforcement Howard shot her husband, but that an evaluation of the firearm didnt conclude who pulled the trigger. Bahr last May dismissed a murder charge against Howard at the request of Lawyer.

Nikkisue Entzel was arrested Jan. 7, 2020. Authorities the next day issued an arrest warrant for Howard, who has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada. He turned himself in the following day on the Blue Water Bridge connecting Port Huron, Michigan, with Ontario, Canada.

(Editor's note: Past stories on this case have incorrectly referred to the renter's insurance policy as a life insurance policy.)

Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com

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North Dakota's congressional delegation and its governor are condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine, and supporting sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime.

Meanwhile, a North Dakota company with extensive business operations in Ukraine calls the situation "very fluid right now." A spokesman for West Fargo-based Titan Machinery told the Tribune the company is concerned about the safety of workers and customers.

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, said the invasion is "a warning to all of Europe."

The United States must work closely with our allies to oppose Putins efforts to subvert European peace and security," Hoeven said in a statement. "We must ensure Putin pays a heavy price not only as a response to his aggression in Ukraine but also as a deterrent against future aggression in Eastern Europe."

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Putin "harbors fantasies of reuniting the Soviet Union, and now hes translated this fantasy into action."

Cramer said Putin "has absolutely no right to invade Ukraines sovereign borders and impose Russias will on the freedom-loving people of Ukraine," which has a democratically elected government that has increasingly tilted toward the democratic West and away from Moscow's influence. Hoeven and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong called for prayers for the Ukrainian people.

"They want peace," Armstrong said. "Putin has chosen war. America and our allies must stand strong in support of Ukraine. They deserve freedom.

Gov. Doug Burgum said the brazen acts of aggression by Russia and President Putin" have created an "international crisis (that) underscores the importance of U.S. energy security and increasing American production so we can sell energy to our friends and allies versus buying it from our enemies."

"Our thoughts also are with those of Ukrainian heritage here in North Dakota who are concerned for the safety of their relatives as their homeland is under siege, as well as those North Dakota farmers and businesses with interests in Ukraine, the governor said.

Titan Machinery has numerous dealerships in Ukraine.

"We are very concerned about the safety of our employees who woke up this morning to an invasion of their country," Marketing Director Mike Hall said. "Our first concern is for their safety and well-being. Also for the safety and well-being of our customers. Everything we are doing right now is with those goals in mind."

Leaders of North Dakota's Democratic-NPL Party also denounced Russia's attack.

Photos of Ukrainians huddled in subway stations are gut-wrenching," state House Minority Leader Josh Boschee said. "Putin's imperialistic desires have been emboldened by years of weakened global diplomatic ties, rising authoritarianism, and his own attacks on American democracy and democracies around the world.

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Blandowskis Catalogue is one of the most precious items held by the Museums Victoria Archives. It documents natural history specimens collected by William Blandowski (1822-1878) and Gerard Krefft (1830-1881) for the National Museum of Victoria (predecessor of Museums Victoria) during an expedition along the Lower Murray and Darling River in 1857. The catalogue has become infamous to those studying the early history of the National Museum of Victoria due to Blandowskis act of defiance against council members of the Philosophical Institute and Professor Frederick McCoy, the National Museum of Victorias first Director. Blandowski colourfully named and described members of the Philosophical Institute after Murray fishes, as well as refusing to handover many of the specimens collected on the expedition, and associated research notes and illustrations. Blandowskis Catalogue has recently been digitised by BHL Australia and is now available to view online

Blandowski was appointed Government Zoologist in 1854 when the Museum of Natural and Economic Geology (precursor to the National Museum of Victoria, and Museums Victoria) was founded. He had migrated from the Kingdom of Prussia (now Poland) to Adelaide in 1849, then on to the goldfields of Victoria in 1851. Krefft, originally from Duchy of Brunswick (now Germany), immigrated to New York City circa 1850, then to Australia and the Victorian goldfields in 1852. Blandowski was entrusted with a second expedition to the Lower Murray; the first expedition in 1849 had failed under the leadership of Mr Surveyor White. Blandowski selected two assistants to accompany him on the expedition, Gerard Krefft and James Manson. Krefft was hired to collect and sketch specimens on the Lower Murray expedition, and subsequently appointed to catalogue the specimens at the National Museum of Victoria in 1858. The catalogue work Krefft was hired to complete in 1858 is documented in Blandowskis Catalogue.

Mondellimin, named by the Nyeri Nyeri Indigenous peoples, about 480 kilometres from Melbourne, also known as Chaffey Landing at Merbein, near Mildura, was the permanent campsite for the expedition from April to December 1857. On the 6th of August he [Blandowski] left the camp in charge of Krefft and Manson and proceeded towards Melbourne with his valuable collections of specimens of natural history, which had been accumulating in his tent during his long sojourn at Mondellimin, to the extent of 28 boxes and parcels, containing in all about 16,000 specimens (South Australian Register, 15 October 1857, p.3). Blandowski attributed the specimens acquired largely due to the collecting skills of the local Indigenous peoples and acknowledged the taxidermy work of Krefft and Manson.

Although it was reported that 16,000 specimens were collected, less than 3389 specimens were catalogued. Krefft catalogued specimens 1 to 3389, leaving some lines blank, recording specimen number, name of specimen, description of the specimen (although this was mostly left blank), number of specimens, locality whence obtained, donors name (also left blank), and remarks. Each specimen has geospatial information allowing scientists to pinpoint where the specimen occurred at a point in time, making the locality data documented in Blandowskis Catalogue extremely valuable.

The colourful description of Blandowskis infamous Murray fishes is a highlight of the Catalogue: Sample N (named after a very prominent member of the Philosophical Institute Council, the Reverend Mr Bleasdale). Slimy, slippery fish. Lives in the mud. Is of a violent bluish colour on the belly. The whole upper surface is of a dirty olivish-green colour, with numerous irregular dark patches. Sample B (named after another very prominent member of the Council, Dr Eades). A fish easily recognised by its low forehead, big belly and sharp spine.

Blandowski returned to Melbourne from the expedition in July 1857, four months before the rest of the party. To McCoys outrage, Blandowski did not return to the National Museum of Victoria (then located at the University of Melbourne, Parkville campus), and held on to field notes, many of the specimens collected on the expedition, and illustrations from the expedition. The matter was brought before the Board of Science, McCoy wrote to the Chief Secretary on 28 April 1858 (MV Archives OS~04400): Mr Blandowski should be compelled to give up at once all specimens, books, journals and field observations, and the portfolio of several hundred drawings made by the party under his orders, and all illustrative lists and memoranda connected with the Public Collections, the property of the Victorian Government.

Although many of the 16,000 specimens collected were never returned to the Museum, hundreds of specimens are held in the Museums Victoria State Collection to this day. To view the specimens online, visit Museums Victoria Collections website.
My Daughter Alexandria Wang Being Abducted by Humanscums of the American

Evil System

------The February 23, 2022 Virtual Hearing by NYS Queens County "Family" "

Court"

by Limin Wang

Feb. 23, 2022

1. The Brief Review of My Family Over the Decades

Each and every member of this small family, including my two near or just

over 18-yr-old daughter, has been targeted and injured and even murder-

attempted in some same ways and in some different ways by the American Evil

System (AES).

I had been reduced from science & academy to hard-labor slavery, and at the

sweat-shop B.Q. Wide Auto Body Parts Supply, Inc. I had sustained multiple

times of thinly-veiled attempted-murders from humanscums. During the

following workers' compensation case (New York, Case# G2029240) proceeding,

humanscums as "medical professionals", particularly those in New York

Medical & Diagnostic Center, New York City Medical & Neurological Offices,

both referred by my former WC case "representative" attorneys at Bengal,

Cohen & Falconetti, LLP, physically and chemically carried out further and

professional attempted-murders, while the AES providing the SHAM "diagnoses"

, "treatments", and "justice", so my injures sequelae have got severer and

my situation direr! Since I am the pillar of this young family, a crippled

pillar is taken as a SHAME often by the FAMILY members.

Li Li has become PAYCHIATRIC or PSYCHOPATHIC almost daily, and often

multiple times daily, or often hysterical, or symptomatic at any time around

the clock or for any duration between seconds to hours, since her TWICE

desertions from home in year 2014 and return in 2015, aided and abetted by

Humanscums of the American Evil System, including the NYC cops. Li Li used

the sweat & blood money from the joint accounts closed by the AES and then

funneled all into Li Li's own new accounts, for her desertion ~9 months,

without a job but with all expenses. I was the one reporting Li Li's

desertions to police. But the HUMANSCUMS in police uniform were claiming

they could not find Li Li, while neglecting all the clues, and framing a

murder-of-Li Li onto me, and plotting murders onto me, and plotting the

sliding of my YOUNG daughters down the ACTUAL SYSTEMATIC "LEGAL" CHILDREN-TRAFFICKING CHAIN to the so-called "foster care" even years earlier! During the Li Li desertion crises, the NYC public schools were also involved in the

coordinated AES plots of DISINTEGRATING this family! Since Li Li's return,

for so many consecutive years, Li Li has been staying home without any job

or even AFFECTION or CONSORTIUM, and living as a malignant tumor directly on

me, and blaming almost everything --- often "hallucinated" or totally-

baffling things --- on me, and inflicting tremendous and long and permanent

harms to all other members of this family! Mysteriously, Li Li can still

often control herself in front of strangers. So, I suspect that HUMANSCUMS

OF THE AES HAVE MORE "EDUCATED" THAN DRUGGED LI LI FOR HER AND/OR THE AES TO REACH SOME EVIL PURPOSES, SUCH AS CLAIMING "DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" AGAINST ME TO RUIN ME THE POLITICS-ASPIRING LIMIN WANG, SUCH AS DESTROYING MY FUTURE ALTOGETHER WITH MY OFFSPRINGS!

While the AES has NOT really educated my daughters, Rosila and Alexandria,

with some solid science and math knowledge, wisdom of observing and

analyzing matters, social or creational or entertainment skills, and has NOT

provided any great opportunity to their independent future, and has NOT led

them to any real remarkable award, some humanscums of the AES have long

seduced my young daughters via various means, from NYC public school "

education", online influencing, and social "friends", and even "friendly"

strangers, to dislike, to disdain, to hate, to deceive, and to betray the

biological parents, as well as to tread on wrong paths and endanger

themselves. Since I understand my daughters are still too young, and my

daughters have apparently been and are still family-loving, and my daughters

have at least some of their own achievements, my anger of the bad traits

and behaviors OPENLY AND RECENTLY EXPOSED from my daughters is directed

toward the HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM, rather than on my

daughters.

Of course, I am also GREATLY OUTRAGED by the sinister SAFETY ENDANGERMENT AND HEALTH HARMS the AES HUMANSCUMS have IMPOSED onto my daughters, especially the recent ABDUCTION OF ALEXANDRIA WANG BY HUMANSCUMS OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM. The humanscums should not American-dream to get away of their evil words and deeds by THEIR "PYSCHIATRIST" PHRASING MY ANGER TOWARD THEIR EVIL AS MY INTRINSIC PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS. AMERICAN EVIL HUMANSCUMS, you'd better "evaluate" the fuck yourselves on psychiatry, and shut your fucking mouth of phony "democracy" and "liberty", and take your evil hands off all other countries, for the sake of all people around the world.



2. The Outline of Alexandria Wang Being Abducted by AES

Since March 2020, the USA federal and states governments stirred up a COVID-

19 panhoax to shut off or choke up the international travelling and to keep

the children away from school to home. In my home, there has been a

PSYCHIATRIC Li Li, the biological mother of the two daughters. Then, when

NYC schools finally opened to students for in-school "learning", humanscums

namely "Guidance Counselor" Ms. Darby McHugh and "social worker" Ms.

Dianelle Heckman-Perez and a undisclosed "friend" student in Bronx High

School of Science initiated the OPEN ABDUCTION of my 17-and-a-half-years-old

daughter Alexandria Wang, in her HS SENIOR year, away from home, to a

foster care which HAD ALREADY BEEN ARRANGED without any prior knowledge or communication to the PARENTS. The HUMANSCUMS in BHSS, including this McHugh, had done similar things to my both daughters back in Oct. 2018! Alexandria does need a QUIET home to do home study and to rest, which should be attempted by any real outside helpers to NORMALIZE LI LI or to temporarily

take away Li Li for months until Alexandria goes to college. But HUMANSCUMS

OF THE AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM OF COURSE WOULD ONLY "SERVE" THE HARM OR EVEN RUIN.

Li Li has been for years neglected by them to home, but Alexandria was

formally abducted by the NYC Precinct 109 cops and EMS on the night of Sept.

24 to 25, 2021, when I called 911 trying to stop Alexandria's DESERTION.

They took Alexandria Wang first to Long Island Jewish Medical Center, far

away from the NEARBY hospitals, and then on Sept. 28, 2021, further away to

a psychiatric hospital, South Oaks Hospital, until Oct. 05, 2021. These long

dark days IMPOSED! The "medical professionals", particularly the "

psychiatrists", all cowardous ANONYMOUS humanscums to the parents or family

so far, have NOT sought or obtained any consent from either parent, or from

Alexandria herself, but they threw the INVOLUNTARY PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT

onto Alexandria.

Li Li was tricked by the cops to go together with Alexandria into LIJMC

until Sept. 28, 2021, but Li Li was almost always isolated from the minor

daughter, because the HUMANSCUMS there fooled Li Li and the minor with the

term of "PRIVACY"! So, Li Li was used as a SHAM PARENT by the humanscum

professionals. Then Alexandria Wang was STRAPPED onto a stretcher and

transferred without either parent on their forced trip to South Oaks

Hospital, where Alexandria was de facto jailed. The Humanscums of the

American Evil System have NEVER provided any of their "medical reports" on

Alexandria to the parents so far. And, the humanscums at SOH were using

Alexandria as a bait to lure me the father, who has been fighting on many

SERIOUS MATTERS against the specific HUMANSCUMS of the AES, into that JAIL

for my demise there! SOH was talking about for me to sign the RELEASE

document, but these humanscums would not answer me what the CONTENT it is, and no email or text-message with pictures of any "medical reports" or the "

RELEASE" to the parents either!

Then, on Oct. 04, 2021, the INFAMOUS NYC "Administration for Children's

Services" held it SHAM AND SHAME virtual "hearing". The NEGRO man who

identified himself as Gerardo Duran FAKED UP an intense ACCENT and I could

hardly hear what crappy allegations he was talking about, since the

HUMANSCUMS had not presented the parents any written specific allegations

yet. I then demanded the appearance of Alexandria Wang, and the HUMANSCUMS reluctantly allowed her to speak directly only on this "hearing" so far. Alexandria clearly said Li Li's frequent psychotic behavior and thus the

parents' arguments, and then the disturbance to Alexandria, and Alexandria

CLEARLY said that she wants to come back home! BUT A NEGRO WOMAN (MID- TO OLD-AGED) immediately claimed that that's NOT what Alexandria had told them before! Those HUMANSCUMS had prevented Alexandria from her personal

belongings such as her cell phone or laptop, so Alexandria had no way to

RECORD to DISPROVE the HUMANSCUMS right away. Then, another NEGRO woman's voice, presumably an ACS supervisor of this "case", claimed she had enough evidence and then it would be referred to Queens County "Family" "Court".

On Oct. 05, 2021, the "Family" "Court" held the SHAM AND SHAME virtual "

hearing" by "Judge" "Emily Ruben". Right before this "hearing", a male voice

called me claiming that he is from the company of Alexandria's health

insurance, and wants to ask about some information of her health insurance.

That sounds very fishy! He would NOT answer on his NAME, or COMPANY NAME. Then, the phone ended quickly. But later on the AES's "legal document", the HUMANSCUMS state that it's David A. Hansell, the Commissioner of NYC "

Administration for Children's Services"! Then, where is the starter

credibility of NYC ACS??? Also, some strangers kept calling me about Li Li,

saying they wanted to talk with Li Li and represent her on "Family" "Court".

The HUMANSCUM LI LI WAS SO MYSTERIOUSLY SILENT MAKING LUNCH AND HAD ONLY A BRIEF EPISODE OF PSYCHIATRY (AN ARTIFUL "SCIENCE") WHEN SHE ONCE AGAIN USED THE OLD HIGH-PRESSURE-COOKER THE WRONG WAY AND THE RUBBLE BAND YIELDED AND A GUSHING FOLLOWED. LI LI CALLED SUCH A GUSHING AS A MURDER ATTEMPT ON HER, AGAIN. Also mysteriously, the caller woman acted as if she had NOT heard of Li Li's momentary loud ranting. Li Li would not answer her on the phone!

Then, on the first hearing held by "Family" "Court" on Oct. 05, 2021, the

humanscums kept my daughter Alexandria Wang hidden while her social-worker,

a mid-aged whitish woman ("Name"?) made a perjury claiming AW was on the

phone then! Alexandria Wang's phone was kept in her school backpack which

had been kept away from her while at LIJMC, and then had been brought back

home on Sept. 28, 2021 while Alexandria was LITERALLY ABDUCTED by "medical

professionals" into SOH, so Alexandria had NO PHONE to use then. ACS worker

Gerardo Duran did NOT even talk when asked to swear the truth formality! The

"COURT" mysteriously let it go that way. Then, in a HASTY, NOISY, and

BLURRY way to me, without their "hearing" from ME THE RESPONDENT PARENT, the "judge" reached the AMERICAN EVIL SYSTEM'S EVIL DECISION. My daughter,

almost 18-yrs-old then, was "LEGALLY" ABDUCTED BY THESE HUMANSCUMS INTO THEIR ACTUAL CHILDREN-TRAFFICKING CHAIN. The HUMANSCUMS WANT TO LEGALLY "SEVER" THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP WHILE THEY FAKE UP THEIR "SERVICES" TO A YOUNG, KNOW-NOTHING-ABOUT-THE-REAL-AMERICAN-EVIL-SYSTEM, GIRL! The HUMANSCUMS have LONG infused their TOXICITY into my daughters' mind and behavior, so they FOOLISHLY believe they have been "protected" by the American Evil System with MURDER-WEAPONS-CARRYING cops as the guarantee of "restriction order", even on ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS between parents and children. The "Family" "Court" "legal documents" have NEVER showed who has the PHYSICAL CONTROL OVER ALEXANDRIA WANG AT WHAT PHYSICAL ADDRESS! The NYC "Administration for Children's Services" have NEVER showed any "document" about such. The HUMANSCUMS HAD ONLY USED THEIR VICIOUS BUT MOSTLY BOGUS

ALLEGATIONS TO RUN THE SHAM AND SHAME "RULE OF LAW"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REALLY, IT'S SHEAR AMERICAN EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then, on that night of Oct. 05, 2021, at ~9:30 PM, Gerardo Duran, and an

obese NEGRO mid-to-old-aged woman, and two uniformed policemen, came

together with Alexandria Wang who was LITERALLY PHYSICALLY CONTROLLED BY THE ANONYMOUS & MASKED NEGRO WOMAN. They were so ARROGANT, and so MURDEROUS that night. THESE FOUR HUMANSCUMS HAD THEIR PLOT OF CARRYING OUT ANOTHER MURDER ON ME THAT NIGHT. THE VIDEOS PUBLICIZED ONLINE EARLIER TOGETHER WITH A DRAFT TEXT CLEARLY SHOW THEIR MURDEROUS INTENTION. IT'S A SERIES OF PREMEDIATED AND COORDINATED MURDERING PLOTS BY STATE TERRORISTS, INCLUDING

CONSPIRATORS SUCH AS THIS BUILDING'S LANDLORDS AND OTHER FLOORS' TENANTS. They came to this HOME at Late NIGHT with the excuse of getting Alexandria Wang's personal belongings, including her USA passport and birth certificate, away!



The humanscums of the AES then kept holding the phony "hearings" abruptly

and frequently, to show their AUTHORITY to HARASS AND TORTURE me the only

respondent, and to BLATANTLY BUT "LEGALLY" ASSERT THEIR "CONTROL" "POWER" OF RUINING ALEXANDRIA WANG AND THE PARENTS.

3. The "Legal Document" From AES on Feb. 18, 2022

4. The details of the Feb. 23, 2022 PHONY "hearing"

Here is today's virtual hearing. The text and images would be added SOON.

https://www.facebook.com/limin.wang.94651/videos/484051163183359
We Are Ukrainians





By Tian Yu Zhi





7:30am in the morning, the time of

Waking up from the fragrance of coffee

Freshly baked bread, Children head to school

Tourists gather in the square, marvel at

The beauty of golden domes

But today, they wake up from missile blasts,

Air raid sirens, explosions, tanks roaring

Full scale invasion from the Russians and Belarus



A group of Ukrainians gather in the square

They kneel down and pray

The stones are hard cold, just as the heart of

Invaders crossing from Russian Belarus borders

As well as from Crimea

I kneel down with you, thousands miles away

Pray that you are not harmed, my Ukrainian friends

Praying seems to be the only thing

The weak and innocent can do

When hooligans and bullies come straight at us

But do believe, there is justice for everything

Our calls will be answered for, sooner or later

Victory awaits, "We Are Ukrainians"





Enemies, look up to the sky, it is coming





2022.2.24 Morning

* My thoughts are with my academic friends in Ukraine.

I was one of the foreign experts for their Academy of Banking

for many years. Nice group of people.
Here we go again. Another Republican pretending to be a badass as they brandish a rifle in an anti-Democrat video.

This week, it's JR Majewski, an Ohio Republican candidate for Congress who attended the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally. In the video, he shows images of AOC, Ilhan Omar, Colin Kaepernick, and President Joe Biden, and then walks toward the camera with a rifle as he says he will "do whatever it takes to return this country back to its former glory." And then he cocks his gun.

Other videos threatening Democrats with guns include those by Michael Flynn, Lauren Boebert, and Arizona Senate candidate Jim Lamon  and if you count swords, we can add Paul Gosar's bizarre video to the list, in which he fatally slashes a titan with AOC's head attached.

The theme might seem old and unimaginative at this point, but don't be fooled  it's the repeated signaling they are going for.
As we move further into 2022, it's time to wax poetic and pontificate on what the year holds for craft beer, cider and meads. Will IPAs and fruited sours continue to dominate the market? Or, as so many predict year in and year out, will it finally be the year that lagers and pilsners get the spotlight? And what about seltzers? They arent going away anytime soon.

Just as the local beer scene is set to become bigger than it ever has in 2022 with the planned opening of more than a dozen breweries and taprooms, I have expanded the scope of this prediction article to include industry insider thoughts on not only craft beer, but also craft beer packaging and marketing, cider and mead.

Our panel of local experts answers all of these questions and more.

Joe Marshall, co-owner, head brewer of Lilly Belle Meads and TIL Brewing. Looking at 2022 in terms of trends is twofold for me, as a meadery and brewery owner there are points where they intertwine and also go in very different directions.

"In terms of mead, the session strength (4%-6%) are here to stay and will dominate the market for mead sales. There will always be a need and a good demand for standard strength (10%-14%), but the availability of highly flavorful mead you can drink a few of and that are light, carbonated and refreshing makes mead more approachable and a beverage that can be enjoyed daily rather than saved for a special occasion.

"In terms of mead and beer, I see those developing more and more in two areas, that being flavor and ingredients. Beers and meads in traditional styles will always have a (welcome) place on draft boards and store shelves, but the innovations in styles have led to consumers appreciating new and exciting flavor profiles and craft beverage producers are getting better and better at answering the call. Whether it be fruit, spice, new hop varieties, brewing techniques, barrel aging or a combination; things will only get more interesting. That said, the philosophy of 'Everything old is new again' will play a part this year as well. Look for continued innovative takes on classic styles as well.

Matt Gordon, head brewer, 12 Gates Brewing. I don't think we'll see anything new or different than what we have these past three years. Hazy's, fruited sours and occasional lagers, pilsners and kolschs  this is what the people want and it's what they'll get until they tell us otherwise. A new trend that I am personally excited about are the Bills contending for a Super Bowl every year."

Multiple people, Ellicottville Brewing Company.

Paul Martin, sales director: 2022 will bring new innovation to craft beer with sours continuing to grow alongside IPA. Kolsch's will continue their upward trend. I also expect a lot of brewers to continue to do some experimenting with CBD infusions pending New York State regulations, maybe even THC infusions."

Mike Lantinen, sales and marketing: I also foresee healthy, no additives beers to become popular. Sometimes with trends that become so wild and outlandish, the deviation back to the mean can be very polarizing. Simple clean beers with limited sugar and additives that's refreshing and delicious. I would say CBD/THC-infused beers and something similar to what Genesee just released, healthy-ish clean beers. Maybe some sour variety packs, too?

Sara Corsi, marketing director: From a graphics and packaging perspective, psychedelic style art, plastered sticker slap-on effects and very bright and vivid neon colors (hot pink, neon yellows and greens) are all visual trends we can probably expect to see in 2022.

Eddie Graves, head brewer, Clarksburg Cider. I feel as more people from the beer industry are transitioning over to cider, we are seeing more and more beer-type trends in the cider industry. I think we are going to have an explosion of hopped ciders as more cider drinkers discover that hops arent always bitter, but floral and fruity. I think we will see NEIPAs in the cider industry soon  New England India pressed apple, pillowy hoppy ciders with lactose. But honestly, cider can benefit from some lactose. Help boost some mouthfeel and bring body to something that is rather bodiless, and I also foresee some slushy style ciders.

Jason Crossett, head brewer, New York Beer Project: This year, I expect lagers to continue to trend upward as we've been seeing. These beers are crisp, flavorful and refreshing and are appreciated by a wide demographic. IPAs will continue to reign over all other beers as brewers continue to experiment with new hop varieties and yeast strains like Omega's Cosmic Punch. Maybe we'll see more brewers making black IPAs. I can only hope. Lastly, I think we'll see more barrel-aged beer releases and not necessarily just high ABV versions, but beers with moderate alcohol content and across different styles. At New York Beer Project, we're planning on a few these for this year.

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A former City of Buffalo employee who said she was sexually harassed on the job by a co-worker and a supervisor and then terminated after she complained is poised to receive a $90,000 settlement from the city.

Injured firefighter sues Fire Department, saying he was left behind in burning attic Eric Whitehead says he was put in danger  blinded by smoke and steam  after a fellow Engine 21 firefighter evacuated a burning house without him in

A Buffalo firefighter is expected to get a $2.3 million payout after he was left behind in a burning attic fire and unable to signal a mayday, he said. He suffered severe burns to his hands.

And a woman who said she stumbled, fell and broke her an ankle while walking on a city-owned sidewalk likely will get paid $13,500.

The settlement agreements are part of about $2.4 million in personal injury and general litigation claims the Common Councils Claims Committee approved Wednesday. The entire Council will vote on the items Tuesday.

They include:

On-the-job sexual harassment. In her 2017 complaint against the city, former employee Pamela Orcutt claimed she was subjected to gender discrimination, a hostile work environment and sexual harassment from a co-worker and supervisor. She said the actions were humiliating and degrading and left her feeling intimidated and embarrassed.

The treatment continued up until the day of her termination in 2014 for alleged insubordination. But Orcutt said in court documents that her firing was retaliation for complaining about the sexually harassing conduct.

The City of Buffalo denied Orcutts allegations in October 2017 court papers.

Orcutt was hired by the city in 2011 and worked as a meter reader in the Water Division on the day shift, and later as a laborer on the night shift at the Col. Ward Pumping Station, according to court documents.

Orcutt claimed co-worker Charles Davis often used profanity and threatened Orcutt when he told her he would hurt her bad if she performed more than 300 reads a day, the documents said. Orcutt said Davis, who is still employed by the city, told jokes about women dying while having sex and about violent things happening to women. He also spoke in detail about a girl being "gang raped" in India with a broom, she added. He continued to describe the rape three times, even after Orcutt asked him to stop, she said.

Orcutt complained to the city about the sexual harassment and the hostile work environment on multiple occasions, her lawsuit said.

Orcutt was transferred to the laborer position at the pumping station, where the sexual harassment allegedly continued  this time under then-Superintendent Patrick Martin. She accused Martin of calling her derogatory terms like witch and telling her she looks like a man.

On an almost daily basis until she was terminated, Martin made a gesture simulating masturbation in her presence and often stared at her crotch , particularly, for long periods of time in a way that made Orcutt uncomfortable, she said. Martin, who has retired, also told stories about teenage girls and white panties and made comments about Orcutts buttocks, she said.

She said Martin invaded her personal space, made comments about her age and asked her out for a drink, according to the documents.

Orcutt said she complained to Martin directly multiple times, but he did not stop. Nor did the conduct stop after Orcutt complained to Human Resources in February 2014 and to the commissioner the following month.

Orcutt was terminated in March 2014 for what she said was alleged insubordination for not cleaning a men's bathroom. But Orcutt said she had been told by Martin not to go into any men's bathrooms and the termination was retaliation for her complaining about the sexual harassment.

University Council Member Rasheed Wyatt asked for additional information by the March 2 Council meeting on the process for reporting sexual harassment charges.

The city has to be clear in its process, as it relates to sexual harassment claims, that individuals who are affected have a clear way of reporting it and it being addressed and investigated, Wyatt said.

Alone in burning attic, firefighter couldn't signal a mayday: 'I'm about to die up here' Pending Common Council approval, the city will pay $2.3 million for firefighter Eric Whitehead's pain and suffering and pay him his salary and benefits until his retirement age.

On-duty injured firefighter. The Claims Committee also approved a $2.3 million payment to Buffalo firefighter Eric Whitehead, who suffered severe burns to his hands in an attic fire at 82 Butler Ave. in January 2019.

Whitehead said in his August 2019 lawsuit against the Buffalo Fire Department that he was put in danger  blinded by smoke and steam  after a fellow Engine 21 firefighter evacuated a burning house without him. Isolated and disoriented in the attic, Whitehead was unable to press the "man down" button on his radio. So he removed his gloves in a final attempt to operate his radio, resulting in severe burns to both hands.

Whitehead, who was treated in the burn unit at Erie County Medical Center, sued the Fire Department for "negligence, carelessness and recklessness" and violating its procedures and practices when fighting the fire.

Broken ankle on a broken sidewalk. To avoid further litigation, attorneys with the citys Law Department recommended paying Barbara Johnson-Kirk $13,500. In her 2013 notice of claim against the city, Johnson-Kirk said she fell while walking on a sidewalk that was defective and in disrepair at 34 Rawlins St. on July 20, 2012, and broke her left ankle.

Acting Corporation Counsel Cavette Chambers said she did not know if the sidewalk has been repaired. There was ongoing work at the area, so it may possibly be repaired by now.

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NEW YORK  A federal jury Thursday convicted Buffalo developer Louis P. Ciminelli and former SUNY Polytechnic Institute leader Alain Kaloyeros of fraud and conspiracy charges, saying they rigged the bidding process on Buffalo's giant RiverBend industrial project so that Ciminelli's company got the business.

The jury also convicted two Syracuse-area developers, Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, in a similar bid-rigging scheme.

The defendants sat motionless as the verdict was announced. Ciminelli's lawyer Paul Shechtman seemed visibly shaken.

"I have never been more deeply disappointed in my professional life," said Shechtman, widely regarded as one of New York's top trial lawyers. "I didn't think there was any evidence against Lou Ciminelli. The fact that 12 people saw it differently renders me speechless."

For Ciminelli, the verdict marked the latest blow to a once-mighty Buffalo company that has been a force in the construction community since the middle of the 20th century.

A stone-faced Ciminelli left the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in lower Manhattan accompanied by lawyers, friends and family members, some of them in tears.

Shechtman stayed behind to continue defending his client.

"This is a very good man whose company was destroyed by this," Shechtman said.

Shechtman said he had little hope that U.S. District Court Judge Valerie Caproni would throw out the wire fraud charge against Ciminelli, which defense attorneys viewed as particularly weak. Shechtman said Ciminelli would appeal the verdict.

An attorney for Kaloyeros, Michael C. Miller, said his client would appeal as well.

"We are absolutely heartsick," Miller said. "Alain Kaloyeros is a good man. All he tried to do is enact the governor's vision in Buffalo."

But the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey S. Berman, said that justice had been served.

"The guiding principle of the Southern District holds that true justice can only be achieved through independence from politics or influence, and that has never been more important than today," Berman said in a statement. "I commend the career prosecutors of our public corruption unit for their enduring commitment to true justice in our government.

Gary Loeffert, special agent in charge of the FBI's Buffalo Office, said the verdict would have lasting positive effects.

"Years of investigative work by FBI Buffalo and Southern District of New York agents and prosecutors has changed the way business is done in western New York and across the state," Loeffert said. "It is the expectation of the public that officials represent the people when they enter office and not their personal interests."

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who touted Kaloyeros as an economic genius who could spend Buffalo Billion money wisely and bring jobs to the city  and who accepted more than $100,000 in campaign contributions from Ciminelli and his family from 2009 to 2014  refused to defend either man on Thursday.

"The jury has spoken and justice has been done," Cuomo said in a statement after the verdict. "There can be no tolerance for those who seek to defraud the system to advance their own personal interests. Anyone who has committed such an egregious act should be punished to the full extent of the law."

Predictably, though, the verdict quickly became a political issue. Cynthia Nixon, an actress and progressive activist who is challenging Cuomo from the left in a Democratic primary, called the verdict a sign that it's time to clean up the governor's mansion  by ousting Cuomo.

"Governor Cuomo will say that he had no knowledge of Kaloyeros activity, just like he said he knew nothing about the crimes that Joe Percoco was committing in the his own office," Nixon said. "Were supposed to believe that Andrew Cuomo, a notorious micromanager, had no idea what his right-hand man was doing right under his nose?"

The jury issued its verdict after nearly two full days of deliberations, with the jury foreman reading the results to a hushed courtroom at about 4:40 p.m.

None of the 12 jurors agreed to speak to the press at the end of the trial.

The judge, Caproni, set Kaloyeros' sentencing for Oct. 11 and Ciminelli's sentencing for Oct. 17.

The verdicts brought an end to a four-week trial that served as a portrait of how Albany does business  in this case, in the jury's eyes, illegally.

The decision meant that the jury agreed with federal prosecutors who built a case against Ciminelli and Kaloyeros and the two Syracuse defendants that proceeded in fits and starts.

The jury also obviously agreed with the government's key witness, former LPCiminelli vice president Kevin Schuler, who took a plea deal and testified against his former boss early in the trial. Prosecutors dropped their charges against former LPCiminelli executive Michael Laipple.

Schuler spelled out for the jury how he, Ciminelli and Kaloyeros conspired to make sure that LPCiminelli emerged as the winning bidder by designing the request for proposals, or RFP, to favor Ciminelli's company.

"We had significant influence over the project, influence over the RFP and influence over the process that was going to select a winner," Schuler told the jury.

Most notably, potential bidders were told in 2013 that they had to have 50 years' worth of construction experience in the Buffalo area in order to qualify for the project. That prompted Schuler to show the jury a shirt, produced in 2011 celebrating LPCiminelli's 50th anniversary.

"I think someone put this in to help us ... and I'd never seen a requirement like that," Schuler testified.

State officials later shrank the requirement to 15 years of Buffalo experience, saying that the 50-year provision was a typographical error.

Despite Schuler's testimony, prosecutors faced a formidable obstacle in getting the jury to their story  namely themselves.

The team from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York accidentally closed their case without presenting all the witnesses and evidence they wanted to present. Prosecutors asked the judge, Caproni, to allow them to reopen the case, and she agreed.

"These are not the first prosecutors who have had an 'oops' moment," Caproni said.

The defense, meanwhile, sought to discredit both Schuler and Todd Howe, the key government witness in an earlier corruption trial that led to the conviction of Joseph Percoco, a former close aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Schuler, defense lawyers noted, maintained his innocence for months before pleading guilty.

A defense lawyer also asked Schuler at one point: "Did Louis Ciminelli ever ask you to do anything to lead the Buffalo RFP in LPCiminelli's favor?"

"Nothing that comes to mind," Schuler replied. "Take a specific action? No."

Defense lawyers also sought to discredit Howe, a key figure in absentia in the trial, by having another witness read parts of Howe's testimony from the Percoco trial  and by highlighting Howe's many brushes with the law. The defense argued that jurors couldn't trust anything he said about how the Buffalo Billion deal was constructed.

And defense lawyers also made note of an email Kaloyeros sent when asked if more bidders could join the battle for the Buffalo Billion project at RiverBend.

"The more, the merrier," Kaloyeros replied.

Jurors obviously dismissed those defense arguments, though, in convicting Ciminelli, Kaloyeros and the Syracuse developers.

Berman, the U.S. attorney, tied the Buffalo Billion case to other state corruption cases his office had tried recently.

The inscription, The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government, is set in stone in the Manhattan federal courthouse," Berman said. "Those words have never been more poignant for the citizens of New York, as in quick succession less than four months apart they have seen this office secure convictions in separate prosecutions against the State Assembly Speaker, a close confidant and executive aide to the governor, and now the president of SUNY Polytech, the executive leading the expansive Buffalo Billion initiative."

Defense attorneys argued, though, that the recent conviction of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and the federal case against former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skills may have left jurors with an urge to convict.

"You had Dean Skelos on trial just down the hall and Sheldon Silver in this room," Shechtman said. "And a lot of citizens in this state think it's dysfunctional and that there's a cult of corruption."

Stephen Coffey, an attorney for Aiello  one of the Syracuse defendants  agreed.

Noting the Skelos and Silver trials, Coffey said: "It's not a good time to go to trial on a case like this."

It's a good time, though, for critics of the governor and the State Legislature.

Moments after the verdict was announced, the Twitter account of the state Republican Party said: "A full slate of guilty convictions. It is absolutely conclusive that @NYGovCuomo is corrupt. Enough is enough. New Yorkers deserve so much better."
Brian Sciera, a top WS Development executive seeking tenants for the former Northtown Plaza in Eggertsville, was in Buffalo this week for the first time in two years.

A lot has changed since his last visit  just not at the Station Twelve project site, where construction stopped in March 2020 and never resumed.

First Station Twelve stores could open in 2023, developer predicts The company behind the stalled Station Twelve development in Eggertsville vowed work on the project would restart in the coming weeks and its first stores and restaurants should open next year.

But that's about to change, too.

Massachusetts-based WS Development plans to restart work at the property in the next month or so, with a goal of opening the first retail buildings to customers by fall 2023, Sciera said. A retrofitted At Home home decor store should open by this summer, he added.

"We understand people's frustration," Sciera said over breakfast at the downtown Public Espresso + Coffee, one of his favorite local restaurants. "We understand the town's frustration. We understand neighboring projects, their frustration. But nobody's more frustrated than we are."

Amherst prods developer to change plans as Station Twelve project languishes L.L. Bean will open its first store in Western New York on Friday, but not at Station Twelve (the former Northtown Plaza site) as originally planned.

Sciera declined to say which retailers or restaurants will be part of the first wave to open next year. Nor would he say whether any more previously identified tenants have left.

The lengthy delays for a project located along a prime commercial corridor in the Northtowns have vexed residents and officials. Station Twelve is a bellwether for the future of retailing in the region, where other struggling malls and shopping centers seek their own revivals.

It is a parcel on heavily traveled Sheridan Drive, in Erie County's largest suburb, that once was home to a plaza packed with retail outlets, storefront businesses and restaurants, but now is largely desolate outside a Whole Foods Market.

But Sciera, ever the optimist, insisted WS remains committed to the development in a post-Covid-19 world.

"Yes, we're still excited: the density, the incomes, the road network, the strength of the local economy," he said. "We're bullish on Amherst, we're bullish on Buffalo and we're bullish on our type of project."

National decor chain latest tenant for long-delayed Station Twelve project in Amherst At Home, a national home and seasonal decor chain, plans to open a location in the former Northtown Plaza in Amherst.

WS Development's overhaul of the former Northtown Plaza had proceeded in fits and starts before the pandemic struck. The company paid $18.5 million in 2015 for the 18-acre site on Sheridan near Niagara Falls Boulevard.

The region's first Whole Foods opened there in 2017, and demolition of the main plaza began two years later, after WS cleared existing tenants.

WS had rebranded the project as Station Twelve and unveiled a host of prospective tenants, including first-in-the-market retailers such as L.L. Bean, West Elm, Athleta and Vineyard Vines.

Construction on the first three of six planned buildings was well underway by March 2020, with a possible fall 2020 opening for the first stores, when work  and, in many ways, life  ground to a halt.

Last year, prized tenant L.L. Bean left Station Twelve and instead opened a store 2 miles north in Benderson Development Co.'s The Boulevard shopping center.

L.L. Bean is still coming to Amherst, just not where they said they would Western New York will still get its first L.L. Bean store, but it's headed for the Boulevard shopping plaza in Amherst rather than the former Northtown Plaza.

By fall 2021, as another construction season passed, Amherst Supervisor Brian J. Kulpa prodded WS to consider revising its planned "lifestyle center" to include apartments and offices.

Sciera provided an update earlier this month in a video recorded as part of Kulpa's annual State of the Town address.

He elaborated in the interview with The Buffalo News, saying work for now would focus on completing the three unfinished buildings just to the west of Whole Foods.

Crews will recheck their structural integrity before construction resumes, likely within weeks, but Sciera said the company took steps to protect the buildings from the elements two years ago.

Douglas Gesel, the town's supervising code enforcement officer, previously said the company will have to apply for new building permits to replace expired permits before restarting work.

Station Twelve remains stalled, but it could be close to landing a major tenant The developer isn't giving up on the project and believes the idea of open-air shopping, dining and recreational activities will prove even more attractive in a post-pandemic world.

Sciera said the company hopes to have tenants in the three, single-story buildings ready to open their doors by fall 2023. This means WS would finish construction by spring or summer next year before handing the space over to tenants for their final build-out, Sciera said.

"We all know what we all went through the last two years," Sciera said. "We all know supply chain issues. We all know Covid issues. We all know what's going on on the world stage. But that's our hope."

Crews had begun foundation work on two of the final three buildings, but Sciera said the company is re-evaluating its plans for the remainder of the property.

He did say he's received a list from Amherst officials of potential housing developers, and WS is open to adding mixed-use elements, but no substantial discussions have taken place.

"We're retail developers, primarily, and that's where we're focused right now," he said.

Albright-Knox latest to pull out of stalled Station Twelve in Amherst While the pandemic derailed our plans, we continue to follow the Station Twelve development with great interest and look forward to future opportunities to collaborate," Albright-Knox Deputy Director Joe Lin-Hill said in a statement to The Buffalo News.

Sciera didn't have any new Station Twelve tenants to announce Wednesday.

"Are we talking to new tenants that were not part of the previous plan announcements? Yes, we are," Sciera said. "That's one positive thing that I think will come out of Covid."

In addition to L.L. Bean, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery said it was no longer opening a shop at Station Twelve, and Public Espresso said it had put on hold a planned third cafe there.

"It's very back burner for us," said Public co-owner James Rayburg, who said the chain is focused on growing and expanding its existing downtown and South Buffalo locations, as well as its operations inside area Dash's Markets.

L.L. Bean was supposed to go into one of the three buildings where construction soon will restart.

No opening date in sight for revival of Northtown Plaza The transformation of the Northtown Plaza site in Amherst wont restart anytime soon, but the developer said it remains committed to the ambitious project mixing dining and shopping with community space. Construction on the proposed lifestyle center on Sheridan Drive stopped abruptly in March when the state shut down non-essential construction in New York in the face of the

"It's never good when you lose a tenant, but, sometimes, it can be an opportunity," Sciera said. "We're resilient retail developers and the space that they were in in the project is unbelievable real estate."

One WS tenant that will open this year, Sciera said, is the At Home store. Last year, WS filed plans with the town for a $5.3 million conversion of the former Northtown Business Center building, just east of Whole Foods.

Interior demolition has begun and Sciera said the store should open by this summer.

"At Home is underway, and working quite feverishly and quite fast," he said.

For Sciera  who was born in Buffalo and still roots for the Bills despite living deep in Patriots territory  this week's visit was a chance to reacquaint himself with the region and to introduce his colleague, Maxwell Bechtold, to the market.

Groundbreaking nears on new-look Northtown Plaza The developer reviving the former Northtown Plaza in Amherst plans to break ground on its planned lifestyle center later this month. The project dates to WS Developments 2015 acquisition of the Sheridan Drive property. The company finished the first stage of its redevelopment when Whole Foods Market opened in 2017. WS Development had cleared tenants out of the retail

During the pandemic's early stages, Sciera said WS officials scrambled to adjust to health-related shutdowns, business slowdowns and other ripple effects of the crisis.

"As you can imagine, Covid hit and, like every company on the planet, we went into survival mode. We had 100 projects that we had to shore up," Sciera said, including four that fully occupied his time.

By summer 2021, retailers started to see their customers return and to get more active in the real estate market, he said.

"We made a lot of hay last year. We did a lot of business with retailers who figured Covid out and figured out that they liked the open-air format," he said.

He said some of the company's properties in and around Boston, over the past six months or so, had their best-ever months for sales volume.

"So the customer has really taken to our kind of product," Sciera said.

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Traci J. Sunstrum avoided jail Thursday on her misdemeanor Capitol riot conviction, thanks in large part to a federal judge's concern over her lack of productive social and professional networks and a FBI-obtained recording of complaints she made Wednesday night to another Jan. 6 defendant about her guilty plea.

U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper thought it more important for her to be supervised on probation for the next three years than spend a few weeks in jail.

Prosecutors sought a 14-day jail sentence and probation for Sunstrum, a 45-year-old Amherst woman who screamed profanities at beleaguered police officers and shouted "hold the line" as rioters overwhelmed security at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Cooper decided against sentencing Sunstrum to jail, followed by probation, citing the legal uncertainty about whether he could render such a split sentence.

"There are legal reasons why I'm not going to impose a period of incarceration and probation, but actually I think that recommendation does make sense in this case," Cooper said.

He told lawyers on both sides that he would pick one option or the other  but not both  to avoid potential legal problems with his sentence.

Cooper sentenced Sunstrum to three years of probation, 30 days of home confinement and $500 restitution.

"You clearly saw the violence as you were entering in, you cheered it on in some respects, by urging others to 'hold the line,' " Cooper said.

Judge sentences Getzville businessman to probation for role in Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection John J. Juran, who entered the Capitol a half-hour after the building was breached by others on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to three years of probation, fined $500 and ordered to pay $500 in restitution.

Sunstrum becomes the second Western New Yorker to be sentenced on the misdemeanor Capitol riot charge.

"I do realize my actions that day were wrong, and for that I do apologize to the court," Sunstrum said. "There's a proper way for me to peaceably assemble and a proper way for me to exercise my right to freedom of speech. And I made bad decisions that day."

During the sentencing hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Strain said the FBI alerted him to a conversation Sunstrum had Wednesday night.

"Essentially, the FBI obtained this recording and sent it to me," Strain told the judge.

Sunstrum's recorded comments reflected her feeling that she was backed into a corner to enter a guilty plea, that her attorney was not on her side and that she did not have enough time to consider her Nov. 17 plea to illegal parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol, Strain said. She appeared to be talking to another Jan. 6 defendant, he said.

Cooper asked Sunstrum if she still stood by her plea, and she said yes. He also asked her whether she pleaded guilty because she was guilty, or because she was pressured to plead guilty.

"I do have remorse for how my actions were that day," she said.

"Did you do the things you admitted to in open court,' he asked.

"Yes, Your Honor," she replied.

Sunstrum's own cellphone video recordings provided prosecutors the timing and locations of what she did when thousands of people swarmed around and inside the Capitol with hundreds attacking and injuring police officers to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power to a newly elected president.

The prosecution cited her vile epithets hurled toward the police officers seeking to protect the Capitol. When a flash bang thrown by police exploded near her, she screamed the profanity at police and encouraged those around her not to fall back.

But to her credit, prosecutors said, Sunstrum did not engage in violence, theft or destruction during her roughly 30 minutes inside the Capitol, prosecutors said.

"She was part of this group that interfered with the peaceful transition to power," Strain said.

"What happened was despicable and horrifying," Strain said of the Jan. 6 insurrection. "There was violence and mayhem. She was part of it in the crowd. And everybody who was part of it needs to be held accountable for what they did."

The judge noted Sunstrum was wearing a QAnon hat during the riot.

Cooper said he was not punishing her for her political views or personal associations, but he expressed concern whether some conspiracy theory would cause her "to answer this kind of call again."

Prosecutors have noted her Facebook posting on Jan. 6, 2021. "I had a duty to my general and POTUS to be there to capture the truth. If I go to jail, I GO WITH PRIDE," she wrote.

"In light of her statements for being there because my POTUS called me to be there,' it seems to me those facts warrant a period of probation or supervision to ensure that she is free from these sorts of influence going forward," Cooper said at Thursday's hearing.

More than 750 defendants have been arrested for their roles in the Jan. 6 riot, most charged with entering or remaining in a restricted federal building or grounds, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington. Sunstrum was not among the more than 235 charged with assaulting or resisting police officers, including more than 75 who have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to a police officer. About 140 police officers were assaulted that day.

Approximately 210 individuals have pleaded guilty to a variety of federal charges, from misdemeanors to felony obstruction. More than 95 federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and received sentences. Thirty-nine have been sentenced to periods of incarceration. Approximately 30 more have been sentenced to a period of home detention.

Defense lawyer Daniel J. Dubois said Sunstrum, who now works as a home health care aide, "is a different woman today than she was on Jan. 6." Dubois told the judge she has learned a hard lesson.

While her opinions and desire to be around those who agree with her about the election  "and all the other things that people who follow QAnon believe in"  may not have changed, how she will behave will be different, he told the judge.

"She knows the difference between what will get her in trouble and what's protected speech. That's the real difference between Ms. Sunstrum on Jan. 6 and Ms. Sunstrum today or anytime in the future," Dubois said.

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Hong Kong: Fintech plan invites applications

The Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau today announced that the new round of the Financial Practitioners FinTech Training Programme is open for applications.

The programme provides fintech training courses to financial practitioners from different sectors and offers them tuition subsidies to enhance their knowledge of the practical application in the field. The new round will benefit not only practitioners of financial institutions, but also members of trade associations in securities and insurance sectors.

It comprises the Webinars Series and Incentive Scheme, with the Webinars Series providing training on topics such as RegTech, blockchain, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity as well as environmental, social and governance.

Practitioners in the financial services sector can apply for the series. The bureau will offer a full subsidy to applicants who have successfully completed the courses. Some 1,500 financial practitioners will benefit from it.

The Incentive Scheme is designed for the securities and insurance sectors. Trade associations in the sectors can organise tailor-made training for their members on fintech topics of their interest.

The training schemes proposed by the trade associations will be assessed by a vetting team comprising representatives from the Government, the financial services sector and academia. A one-off subsidy will be offered with the maximum amount of $100,000 to each approved scheme.

Noting that the Government spares no effort in nurturing fintech talents, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the Financial Practitioners FinTech Training Programme attracted more than 1,200 practitioners from the financial services sector to join upon its launch in 2020.

He urged the financial practitioners to actively participate in the new round of the training programme.

Through the sharing of local fintech experts and those from other places who have experience in the practical application and research of fintech, participants could learn more about the latest development trends of the fintech landscape, thereby equipping themselves to embrace the huge opportunities brought by the continuous digital transformation of the financial services sector."

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
CALGARY  A new organization aims to spur Canadian development of sustainable aviation fuel, a technology advocates say is the airline industry's best shot at reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

The Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (C-SAF) was launched Wednesday by a consortium of 60 airlines operating in Canada, both domestic (Air Canada, WestJet Airlines Ltd) and foreign-owned (British Airways, Cathay Pacific).

The group's members also include airports, research institutions, and jet fuel producers and refiners.

Geoff Tauvette, executive director of C-SAF, said the organization's mission is to develop targets and a strategy for a made-in-Canada sustainable aviation fuel industry.

There is very little (sustainable aviation fuel) being used right now in Canada, not even a significant volume being produced today in Canada," Tauvette said.

"But there's a global race going on, and we would like to get the right processes in place and get it rolling to ensure we get a piece of the pie."

Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF as it is referred to in the industry, is non-petroleum based jet fuel made from renewable materials. Feedstocks can be anything from corn sugar to used cooking oils to organic municipal waste or even algae.

While SAF doesn't eliminate aircraft emissions entirely, it is a lower-carbon solution that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 85 per cent compared with conventional jet fuel. It's also a "drop-in" fuel, meaning it doesn't require changes to aircraft or any special infrastructure at airports.

That makes it very attractive to the global aviation industry, which committed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. SAF is something that can be implemented now, while other technological solutions  such as hydrogen-powered or electric aircraft  remain far off in the future.

"Aviation is going to be one of the hardest industries to decarbonize," Tauvette said. "We don't have a lot of options on the table today to be able to do so."

Story continues

Sustainable aviation fuel is still very much a fledgling industry, with only about 20 million gallons produced and used on a global basis last year.

The challenge is huge with the U.S. Department of Energy saying global demand for jet fuel is expected to rise to 230 billion in 2050, from 106 billion gallons in 2019.

Still, the global aviation industry has set a goal of 2.5 billion gallons of SAF produced by 2025. Tauvette said Canada should want to be a part of that, in part because this country's significant agricultural resources means it has access to a large supply of potential feedstock materials.

However, SAF is significantly more expensive than traditional jet fuel. Tauvette said to make SAF competitive with traditional jet fuel, the industry will likely require government support. (For example, in California, SAF tax credits are available under the state's low carbon fuel standard.)

Definitely because this is a new market that were trying to create, likely it will need incentives of some sort," Tauvette said.

Marion Town, director of climate and environment with the Vancouver Airport Authority, said the airport is excited to be part of the newly formed C-SAF.

She said the airport has already been studying ways of developing a made-in-B.C. supply of sustainable aviation fuel. The B.C. government has indicated it will require the aviation industry to progressively reduce the amount of carbon in its fuel, as part of the province's clean fuel standard.

Town said she believes SAF holds "great potential" for B.C. and Canada as a whole, as long as industry can work together with government to develop a strategy to make it happen cost-effectively.

"What we have right now in Canada is the possibility to pull together this ecosystem and get the policy levers in place so that the cost will go down," Town said.

"It doesnt have to be a cost that will largely be borne by the person purchasing the flight."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2022.

Amanda Stephenson, The Canadian Press
Photo credit: MEGA - Getty Images

Article updated on 08/4/22

Jennifer Lawrence and her husband Cooke Maroney were seen for the first time since welcoming their a child together.

The couple were spotted at Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, enjoying a cosy date night on Wednesday.

As per images obtained by the Daily Mail, they were without their baby in tow and walked arm-in-arm on the sidewalk.

Upon leaving, Lawrence was seen behind the wheel of the couples black Tesla.

At this point, the gender or exact birthdate of their baby hasnt been revealed.



Article originally published on 24/2/22

Jennifer Lawrence has given birth to her first child with husband Cooke Maroney, we've been informed.

The 31-year-old Mother! actor reportedly welcomed her and the art gallery director's baby in Los Angeles County, but the official birthdate and sex of their child is yet to be confirmed.

Lawrence was first rumoured to be pregnant last September when she was photographed in New York City with what appeared to be a baby bump.

A representative for the Oscar-winning star later confirmed the suspected news to be true.

Photo credit: James Devaney - Getty Images

Lawrence later opened up about personal pregnancy boundaries, speaking to Vanity Fair.

She discussed the pressure she experienced, when it comes to divulging information about her future child, expressing her anxiety around what to keep private and what to open up about: 'If I was at a dinner party, and somebody was like, "Oh, my God, youre expecting a baby," I wouldnt be like, God, I cant talk about that. Get away from me, you psycho!' she told the publication.

However, 'Every instinct in my body wants to protect their privacy for the rest of their lives, as much as I can. I dont want anyone to feel welcome into their existence. And I feel like that just starts with not including them in this part of my work.'

Photo credit: Kevin Mazur - Getty Images

Last September, a source spoke to People about Lawrence's approach towards parenthood and her life with Maroney, who she married in a lavish Rhode Island ceremony in October 2019.

Story continues

The source said: 'Jen wanted a family for a long time and found an ideal mate whom she loves, respects and enjoys being around.

'She loves married life, and they have a solid foundation for a baby. She is very happy and looking forward to being a mom.'

Addressing how Lawrence is likely to approach balancing motherhood with work, the insider added: 'She loves her work and that will continue.

'Like other actors, she will balance her career and her life as a wife and mom. She will do it well. Jen is grounded and ready to be a parent because she loves family life.

'She knows a fulfilled mom is better than one who gives up what she loves then regrets it," the source says. "I doubt that would ever happen with her.'

Further to her own choice to have a child, Lawrence has also actively championed the need for other women to be able to make decisions about their bodies, advocating for planned parenthood in October 2021 by joining a rally for abortion justice - while already pregnant - alongside Amy Schumer.

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Kamoa Copper continues to bolster senior leadership team with appointment of Zhang "Frank" Xingxun as Executive Director

Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo--(Newsfile Corp. - February 23, 2022) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) President, Marna Cloete, announced today that Riaan Vermeulen has been appointed as Kamoa Copper's new Managing Director, effective June 1, 2022.





Riaan Vermeulen

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Mr. Vermeulen will work with Kamoa Copper's current CEO Mark Farren during a handover period to ensure a smooth transition prior to Mr. Farren's retirement.

Mr. Vermeulen has more than 32 years of underground and open-pit mining experience in various operational, project and technical management roles, including Acting Head of Mining: Base Metals for Anglo American.

His most recent role was Head of Projects with Debswana Diamond Company in Botswana, where he was responsible for all major projects, including Jwaneng Underground, Orapa Cut 3 and Orapa 2 plant expansion projects.

Prior to joining Debswana, Mr. Vermeulen was Head of Business Planning and Investments, Head of Technical and Head of Mining with De Beers. Prior to that he was Head of Mine Planning with Anglo Platinum.

Mr. Vermeulen previously worked closely with Mr. Farren at Anglo Platinum, where they designed and built Anglo Platinum's most efficient underground mine  the Middelpunt Hill Platinum Mine.

Mr. Vermeulen has experience across different commodities, including base metals (copper, zinc, lead, niobium and phosphates), precious metals (gold and platinum) and diamonds. He has multi-geographical experience working in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Chile, Brazil, Ireland and Canada. He holds a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor's in Mining Engineering. He also is a registered Professional Engineer in Botswana and South Africa.

Story continues

Zhang "Frank" Xingxun

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Joining Mr. Vermeulen on Kamoa Copper's executive management team is Zhang "Frank" Xingxun as Executive Director.

Mr. Zhang is a long-serving senior executive with Zijin Mining, and has held senior management positions at Zijin's flagship Zijinshan Gold & Copper Mine and Smelter (Fujian), and Zijin's Kolwezi copper operations - La Compagnie Miniere de Musonoie Global ("COMMUS").

During his career, Mr. Zhang has successfully implemented several large-scale technological projects for mine processing optimization, which has earned him numerous awards, including the Science and Technology Award issued by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association.

"We are thrilled to welcome Riaan and Frank into our family. Their seasoned experience will play an integral part in the next chapters of the Kamoa-Kakula growth story," said Ms. Cloete. "New expansions and exploration opportunities will allow us to continue to build a bigger and bolder mining complex. We are incredibly excited about what is yet to come."

About the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex

Kamoa-Kakula is the world's fastest growing major copper mine. Kamoa-Kakula began operations in May 2021 and produced approximately 106,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2021. Kamoa-Kakula's 2022 production guidance is between 290,000 to 340,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate.

Based on independent benchmarking, the project's phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world's second-largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes.

The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Mining Group (39.6%), Crystal River Global Limited (0.8%) and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (20%). A 2020 independent audit of Kamoa-Kakula's greenhouse gas intensity metrics performed by Hatch Ltd. of Mississauga, Canada, confirmed that the project will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa: the development of major new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the Democratic Republic of Congo and at the Platreef palladium-rhodium-platinum-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kamoa-Kakula began producing copper concentrates in May 2021 and, through phased expansions, is positioned to become one of the world's largest copper producers. Kamoa-Kakula is being powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and is projected to be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced. Ivanhoe Mines has pledged to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine. Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its Western Foreland exploration licences in the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the Kamoa-Kakula Project.

Information contacts

Investors: Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834 / Media: Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114488
A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday means Mark Jensen, convicted of killing his wife, Julie, in December 1998 in Pleasant Prairie, will stand trial for a second time.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled without giving a specific reason that it would not hear the case, which lets stand a previous decision by the Wisconsin State Supreme Court that Jensen should receive a new trial.

Jensen, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2008 by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder, has a status hearing Monday before Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Milisauskas, the third judge to preside over the case.

Prior to Tuesdays ruling, a final pre-trial hearing had been scheduled for April 8, with a jury trial set to begin May 23. Those two dates have since been removed from the calendar.

Jensen, now 62, has been in custody in the Kenosha County Jail since April 12, 2021, on a $1.5 million bond. He had been incarcerated at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun since his sentencing in 2008.

After a series of state and federal appellate court rulings, Jensens original conviction was overturned when it was ruled that Schroeder erred in allowing Julie Jensens letter from the grave and voicemails about her suspicions that her husband was trying to harm her to be presented to the jury.

Kenosha County District Attorney Mike Graveley, whose only role in the original trial was briefly as a witness, said his office was disappointed to learn of the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling.

Were disappointed that the Supreme Court didnt take the case, Graveley said. We believe it would have been a great opportunity to sort of clarify that the letters, what we call the dying declaration, would be finally admissible in this case.

In light of that ruling, there is a status conference that is happening on Monday. We anticipate there will be some additional motions that will be filed by both sides, but probably also that some firm dates will start to be given. At this point, we expect the case to be tried again.

Original conviction overturned

Prosecutors have argued that Mark Jensen, who has always maintained his innocence, poisoned his then-40-year-old wife with antifreeze, then smothered her in their Pleasant Prairie garage. At the original trial, which was moved to Walworth County, the defense suggested that Julie Jensen, who had sought treatment for depression, had committed suicide.

Jensen again was convicted in 2017 when Judge Chad Kerkman ruled the letter again would be allowed. Kerkman reinstated the original conviction without a trial, but the Wisconsin Supreme Court last year overturned that decision with a mandate that the letter and voicemails would not be allowed.

Where that letter stands in the upcoming trial remains to be seen, Graveley said, based on a number of motions that are expected to be filed.

Theres been some motion work that was done before this case went through the appeals this time, he said. There have been some rulings made, and those rulings will be the basis of the next trial. What will happen next is the opportunity will be there for both sides to try the case again, so I expect that will happen.

(Whether the letter) can be (a part of the case), it depends entirely on the courts rulings. We expect it to be a piece of the evidence based on the state that the law is currently in nationally. We expect that will be admissible again. We have to await the courts rulings and then go from there.

The state again will be led by former Kenosha County District Attorney Robert Jambois, who originally prosecuted the case and has returned as a special prosecutor. Jambois will be joined by Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Carli McNeill.

Court records show that Jensen has had 12 attorneys as the case has wound through the system. Hes currently listed as being represented by a team of five: Dustin Haskell, Jeremy Perri, Lauren Breckenfelder, Mackenzie Renner and Bridget Krause.
La Crosse area and state leaders are responding in the hours after Russian military forces began invading Ukraine early Thursday morning.

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse

My prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they face an unprovoked attack from Russian military forces. This week Im in London for meetings with officials from the UK government and members of the British Parliament about this aggression, focusing on coordination of sanctions. Now is the time for the United States and our allies to stand united in condemning Putins unjustified actions towards Ukraine and hold Russia accountable. I couldnt be more pleased with the level of cooperation and coordination that we are receiving from our British and European allies.

Kind is the chair of the British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) and has had meetings at Number 10 Downing Street, the British Treasury and Trade offices, and with members of Parliament at Westminster, his statement said.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Putin has violated international law, invading a sovereign and democratic nation that wants peace and independence. Putins aggression has been met with sanctions, and his violent attack against Ukraine should be met with stronger sanctions, including a full set of punishing financial, technology and military sanctions. I stand with the Ukrainian people and I believe we need to continue standing strong with our European allies and NATO by providing them the support they need to hold Putin accountable for the largest invasion of Europe since World War II.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson

Weakness tempts tyrants and totalitarians to seek more power. People who only want to live in peace suffer the consequences. Ultimately, there is only one group of people responsible for the tragedies unfolding  Vladimir Putin and his cronies. They have stolen wealth from the Russian people, destabilized and done great harm to their European neighbors, and now theyve crossed another line that will yield untold horrors. Europe must act with strength and resolve to prevent risking a wider conflict, and the U.S. must support our NATO allies and freedom loving people in this moment of extreme peril.

Deb McGrath, D-Menominee, candidate for Wisconsins 3rd Congressional District, former Army Captain and retired CIA Officer

Last night, I watched unjustified Russian aggression against an independent nation, Ukraine. I served in National Security positions for 25 years, many of which were spent in Central Europe. I know the importance of diplomatic, economic, intelligence and military support to our allies, in support of democracies and freedom world-wide. My prayers are with those who stand in united response to protect a sovereign nations borders.

Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, candidate for Wisconsins 3rd Congressional District, former Navy SEAL

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a flagrant violation of international law and must be met with the imposition of the harshest sanctions by the international community. As we condemn this Russian aggression, we must also demonstrate our unwavering support for the NATO alliance by bolstering our military presence in our allied countries. It must be explicitly clear to Russia that we stand united and will enact Article V immediately if attacked. We do not seek war, but will meet any aggression to our alliance, and we will respond with overwhelming force.

In order to remove Russias ability to fund this and future military adventurism, we must immediately increase domestic energy production and provide the required resources to our allies to remove their dependence on Russian energy.

To be clear, we are in this place as an international community due to the Biden administrations abdication of leadership on the world stage and weakness demonstrated by abandoning Americans in Afghanistan. We must show strength now to stop this tragedy and deter other bad actors around the world from committing acts of expansionism.

This is a developing story and may be updated with more responses from leaders.

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The Lions Club, whose efforts focus on strengthening the community they serve, is the latest recipient of a $5,000 grant from Chippewa Valley Energy and Cenex, the energy brand of CHS. This funding will support the Lions Club in bringing a profound and lasting impact across the community.

The Stanley Lions Club has been bridging the community since their chartering in 1946. Each year, they organize and host local events, like the Watermelon Festival, which is complete with a craft and car show, 5k run, games for families, concession stands and more. Through these fundraising events, the Lions Club supports local and regional projects such as scholarships, highway clean ups and food pantry donations. The Lions Club will use the $5,000 Hometown Pride grant to renovate the community bike trail.

We value being part of such a strong, unique community that rallies together, Michelle Larson, marketing specialist at Chippewa Valley Energy, said. We are ecstatic to contribute to an organization that has poured into this community year after year.

This is the second time Chippewa Valley Energy has honored a community with this grant. The first was given to Mondovi Business Association in February 2021 to support community programming.

Each year, communities like Stanley are nominated and selected through the Hometown Pride grant initiative. This supports cooperatives like Chippewa Valley Energy in honoring what makes their communities special. Now in its fourth year, local organizations across the Cenex footprint will have received $400,000 in grants to support the thriving communities that they call home.

The Cenex brand is committed to supporting and celebrating what makes communities across America special, Mimi Berlin, communications manager at CHS, said. We are proud of Cenex dealers, like Chippewa Valley Energy who are actively involved in supporting and highlighting local organizations, events and change-makers in their community.

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In Butler County, there will be multiple contested races so far for the 2022 election.

The incumbent filing deadline for the primary election was Feb. 21 but several newcomers have thrown their hats into the ring for various positions. The non-incumbent filing deadline is March 1.

Incumbent David Mach and Scott J. Steager have both filed for the Butler County Board District 1 Supervisor position, as has incumbent Scot D. Bauer for District 3, incumbent Janet M. Sypal and Patrick H. Hoeft for District 5 and incumbent Anthony J. Whitmore for District 7.

Sheriff Tom Dion, Republication, has filed but so has Marla Jo Schnell, Democrat.

County Assessor Vickie M. Donoghue, County Attorney Julie L. Reiter, District Court Clerk Sandy J. Hoeft, County Clerk Stephanie L. Laska, County Surveyor Brian J. Foral and County Treasurer Karey Adamy are all seeking re-election for their respective positions.

For David City, there will be three people running for mayor  Jessica J. Miller, Raymond Burt and Keith Marvin. Current mayor Alan Zavodny did not appear to be seeking re-election as of The Banner-Press Tuesday morning print deadline as his name was not on the candidate list.

Incumbents Tom Kobus, David City Council ward 1, and Kevin Woita, David City Council ward 2, will be seeking re-election. As of Feb. 15, there were no filings for ward 3 of the David City Council.

For the David City Public Schools board, incumbents Stephanie Summers, Darrell J. Allen and Kasey Kuhlman have filed for their positions, along with Jeff Blum and Aaron David Rerucha.

Dylan Spatz, Sarah Strizek and Ryan A. Pekarek  all incumbents  have filed for the East Butler Public Schools board.

A current list of candidate filings can be found at bit.ly/35hakPl. Butler County Clerk Stephanie Laska said the filings will be updated regularly.

Some rural Butler County voters may also see their precinct and polling place change, specifically those in Alexis, Savannah, Read and Ulysses townships. This change was due to the Nebraska Legislature redistricting following the 2020 census.

Both the Ulysses and Read township voters had cast their ballots in Ulysses. Ulysses Township voters will now cast their ballots in Dwight at the Dwight Assumption Parish Hall and residents in Read Township will now vote in Rising City at the Rising City Fire Hall.

Previously, the residents of Alexis and Savannah townships were part of the same precinct and voted at the same place. The new polling places of residents in those townships are still being finalized, but Laska indicated that more information on that will be coming soon.

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This week we passed the 30 day mark in the legislative session, which means we are more than half of the way through the 2022 session. I have designated LB1099 as my personal priority bill this year, which would establish a Hydrogen Hub Industry Work Group to submit a proposal to the federal government to receive available grant funding to establish a regional clean hydrogen hub in Nebraska.

I have introduced LB1100, which had a hearing in the Appropriations Committee. LB1100 would provide funding that would be used to conduct a feasibility study to assess existing electric generation facilities, and their compatibility with being replaced by advanced nuclear technology. Bringing this technology to Nebraska would also bring opportunities for high-paying jobs and clean, carbon-free energy in the state.

Last week, debate on taxation measures continued. The legislature began debate on LB939, the Revenue Committees priority bill. LB939 would reduce the top individual income tax rates over the next three years. LB310, Senator Clements priority bill, passed on final reading and was signed into law by Governor Ricketts. LB310 reduces Nebraska inheritance tax rates and increases exemptions.

The Nebraska School District Property Tax Look-up Tool is now open. The Nebraska Department of Revenue (DOR) reminds eligible taxpayers to claim their property tax credit, which is a result of LB1107 signed into law in 2020. This can be done by filing the Nebraska Property Tax Incentive Act Credit Computation form PTC with your Nebraska income tax return. This form can be found on the DORs website, https://revenue.nebraska.gov/ on the homepage under Featured Information.

The Nebraska DOR also has a lookup tool for those wanting to claim an income tax credit. This tool helps these individuals calculate what they are owed. The tool can also be accessed by navigating to the Nebraska DORs website and clicking Nebraska School District Property Tax Look-up Tool.

I appreciate hearing from constituents on issues affecting District 23 and encourage you to contact my office on legislation at 402-471-2719 or bbostelman@leg.ne.gov.
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We live in a diverse world, where being multilingual is a valuable skill to have. The opportunity to learn a second language involves more than just the linguistic basics. It allows you to fully immerse yourself in a new culture, and helps you gain an understanding of specific cultural aspects like food, religious beliefs, daily activities and more.

The Korea Center-King Sejong Institute, or KC-KSI, in the Office of International Programs recognizes the importance of learning a second language and has offered non-credit language classes for nearly 10 years to the Auburn-Opelika community. In 2020, things suddenly changed when they were forced to move their classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this change ultimately provided the KC-KSI with an advantage to reach more people, both locally and globally.

The digital advertising presence and convenience of language learning online ultimately increased our student enrollment, and we are now getting students from around the world, said Ellie Lee, director of academic programs for the Korea Center-King Sejong Institute. Having more of a presence on social media specifically strengthened our audience and engagement, which led more people to register for our classes.

The shift to online instruction was beneficial for many reasons, and for one family the classes not only proved helpful in learning a new language but for strengthening their family bond. Kim Spoor and her two daughters, Kate and Maddie first became interested in learning the Korean language when they were forced to isolate themselves at home during the pandemic. At this time, the Spoor family began watching the Korean Drama, Love Alarm on Netflix. Shortly after, the entire family became fascinated with watching Korean dramas and listening to K-pop music.

In spring 2021, Kate saw a flier for the KC-KSIs Korean language classes being offered during the summer and gathered her mom and sister to join. Even though the Spoor family knew it would involve a lot of time and effort, they registered for the level one class and began learning the language together. The class lasted 15 weeks for 45 total hours. To pass the class, students needed 70% attendance and a score above 60% on their final assessment.

Studying the Korean language really opened up a new world for us, said Kim Spoor. We now have a better understanding and appreciation of the Korean culture, and it is so exciting to hear and understand the Korean language.

The family encourages other people to take the Korean language classes and has even shared what they learned with their American friends. They plan to visit South Korea in 2023 to finally put their new skills to the ultimate test.

The KC-KSI currently offers eight regular language courses to participants from all over the world. In fact, with the transition to online instruction, the institute has 121 students registered this semester, which includes 10 students from Ecuador and three students from Canada. The institute highly encourages everyone to try the classes regardless of age, nationality or skill level.

Each class is designed to help the student gain an appreciation for Korean language and culture through interactive and immersive experiences. Along with the eight language classes, the KC-KSI also offers four conversational classes that are recommended to take after passing class levels one and two. Whether you are looking for career advancement, a new hobby or something to do in your free time, learning a new language can open several professional and personal opportunities.

Registration for the KC-KSIs summer 2022 language classes will open in May. For questions, email auksi@auburn.edu.

To learn more about the Korea Center-King Sejong Institute and its classes and events throughout the year, visit the Office of International Programs website.
The Columbus City Council chambers were filled Tuesday with about 70% of the audience being Columbus Fire Department staff and volunteers supporting one of their own.

That person was Lt. Nathan Jones who was seeking to become the CFDs first-ever assistant fire chief. The position came into place after a reshuffling of the departments organizational structure last year.

Some city council members said they wanted to wait for the new fire chief  who was named earlier in the meeting  to have a say in the matter.

Ryan Gray was named fire chef and, ultimately, Jones was appointed the new assistant fire chief after much deliberation.

A motion was also made to table the appointment until the new fire chief arrived but it was shot down by the council members 4-3 (Third Ward Council Member Rich Jablonski was absent from the meeting).

Second Ward Council Member Troy Hiemer was the one who first entertained the motion.

When the new chief gets his foothold and maybe start again, let him have input because (the assistant fire chief) would be directly working under the chief, Hiemer said. I think he should have some input of who is going to work with him.

Mayor Jim Bulkley said the fire chief candidates were told the city council was going to approve the assistant chief. None of the three expressed apprehension about the matter, he added.

However, going forward the fire chief would be responsible for appointing the assistant fire chief.

The fire chief will run his department, Bulkley said. (City Administrator Tara Vasicek) and I will make the appointment of fire chief. The reality is the appointment of the assistant chief is not designated to have to come before the city council. We did that in an effort to bring it forth because it was a new position."

Jones was one of three candidates who interviewed for the assistant chief position.

Jones has been with the CFD since 2009, serving as lieutenant since October 2019. He has a bachelors degree in fire science and administration from Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa. He also received his masters in organizational leadership: fire rescue executive leadership in 2012 at Waldorf.

CFD and volunteer firefighters also spoke on Jones behalf, saying the lieutenant was a tremendous leader and supportive of them.

Columbus firefighter and International Association of Firefighters Local 1575 President Jojo Dunn said he and the other CFD members and volunteers at the meeting have full support for Jones appointment.

Over the years, Ive personally observed Nathan Jones grow tremendously, not only in maturity and in knowledge and responsibility, Dunn said. Lt. Jones has worked tirelessly over the past few years to approve job performance for both career and volunteer firefighters. Hes been heavily involved in the training academy with both the career and volunteer staff have attended.

Meanwhile, Gray was appointed fire chief after an interview process in which he and two others were considered for the position last month.

Bulkley said Grays background stood out to him and Vasicek, as well as having ties to Nebraska.

Hes worked with both paid fire departments and volunteer groups, the mayor said. The key to our success is finding the way to keep that a viable part of Columbus fire department. I think he has insight into how to do that.

Gray graduated from Nansemond River High School in Suffolk, Virginia, continuing his education at Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama where he earned his associate degree in fire science and bachelors degree in fire administration.

He furthered his studies at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, where he earned his masters degree in organizational leadership/concentration in fire/rescue executive leadership.

Gray has 16 years of fire service in both career and volunteer roles. He began in 2005 with the Driver Volunteer Fire Department, serving as fire lieutenant. He later joined the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department in 2012 where he was the deputy fire chief.

Since 2008, Gray has been with the City of Portsmouth in Virginia, serving as fire lieutenant.

Andrew Kiser is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at andrew.kiser@lee.net.

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Economics Flaring profits: The economics of burning gas

By Nicole Sadek, Zoha Tunio and Sarah Hunt

Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

When companies flare, they do more than burn natural gas. They burn money.

Every year, U.S. oil and gas companies set fire to billions of cubic feet of natural gas and directly vent an additional unknown amount. These processes, known as flaring and venting, dont just waste resources; they also pollute the atmosphere with hazardous, global-warming gases, such as methane.

Companies argue that they flare and vent for safety and maintenance and because selling or reusing the gas is not financially feasible. The industry and its regulators even refer to this gas as waste. But experts say a valuable resource is being squandered because of weak regulations, ineffective tracking of flaring and venting, and a lack of economic incentives to capture and sell the gas.

The atmosphere is a free dumping place, said Robert L. Kleinberg, senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. Its like throwing garbage out the window back in the Middle Ages.

A satellite data analysis by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism found that oil and gas companies in the 13 top-flaring states designated by the Department of Energy flared more than 3.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas between 2012 and 2020. Thats equal to more than $10.6 billion in revenue based on the market value of natural gas in each of those years.

The American Petroleum Institute, the nations main oil and gas trade association, would not answer questions from the Howard Center. Instead, it noted previous statements in which the group has said flaring is necessitated by a lack of gas gathering lines or processing capacity and for safety reasons. Nonetheless, the group has acknowledged that flaring must be reduced.

Colin Leyden, the Texas political director for nonprofit advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund, says that the oil and gas industrys routine flaring is driven by purely the economic interests of the company.

In other words, were here for the oil, he said of the industrys thinking. Wed like to make money on the gas, but if we dont, weve got the oil to make our profit. Thats what our economics are built around.

We use natural gas everyday to heat our homes, cook our food and dry our clothes. But where does natural gas come from and how do its emissions contribute to climate change? Natural gas is a fossil fuel released from the ground during oil and gas drilling. Fracking is the process of injecting liquid into the ground at a high pressure, causing rock fixtures to crack open and release the natural gas and oil trapped inside. The natural gas that is extracted can either be sold on the market, used at the wellsite or disposed of entirely. Many drilling companies say its safer or more economical to dispose of the gas than to use or sell it. They do this by burning it off, or flaring. Natural gas is composed mainly of methane and other greenhouse gases, but flaring burns away a large percentage of those compounds, releasing mostly carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, many malfunctioning flares burn off less methane than theyre supposed to. These inefficient flares push a larger percentage of the greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. Some flares are unlit and simply vent methane directly into the air. Venting is invisible to the naked eye, yet it's more harmful than flaring. Methane released during flaring and venting has more than 80 times the potential to trap heat in the Earths atmosphere than carbon dioxide within a 20-year period. Experts say flaring and venting are the low-hanging fruit of efforts to slow climate change. Graphic: Nicole Sadek, Zachary Van Arsdale / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Regulatory exemptions

Flaring occurs mostly at oil wells, but even companies that primarily produce and sell natural gas also burn off some of it.

At best, a flare breaks down methane-rich natural gas so that only a small amount of the pollutant escapes into the air. At worst, a flare is defective, spewing methane into the atmosphere.

Some flaring is unavoidable, the oil and gas industry says. Between 15% and 25% of natural gas produced in the United States is estimated to be sour, or contaminated with hydrogen sulfide, the nonprofit Earthworks reports. This gas must go through a purification process to become marketable. Not all operators find this process economical, so they flare the sour gas instead.

Operators also flare when drilling or plugging a well to control emissions. Instead of allowing greenhouse gases to escape from the well unadulterated, companies choose to flare them.

Some state regulatory agencies allow companies to burn natural gas that they cant get to market. These companies may not have the technology to convert gas to liquid for transport, or some of their wells may not be connected to high-capacity pipelines.

A flare burns associated natural gas on an oil pad on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation on Oct. 27, 2021. More than 199 billion cubic feet of natural gas has been burned on the reservation from 2012 to 2020, according to a Howard Center Investigation. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

For example, when producers in North Dakotas Bakken Shale began placing multiple wells on a single well pad, gas production exceeded pipeline capacity, forcing operators to dispose of excess gas, according to Lynn Helms, the director of North Dakotas Department of Mineral Resources. But a Howard Center analysis of North Dakota Pipeline Authority reports shows that flaring still occurs more often at wells connected to pipelines compared to those that are not.

State agencies also make exceptions for companies that claim connecting to a pipeline is too costly.

In Oklahoma, regulators may allow flaring if it is not economically feasible to market the gas. Louisiana has a similar economic hardship clause for venting gas directly into the atmosphere. State statutes dont always clearly define these terms, and the regulatory agencies simply require companies to demonstrate that getting the gas to market is economically impractical.

Eliminating routine flaring, however, is technically and politically feasible, experts say.

No one has any reason to put methane into the air for beneficial purpose, said Kleinberg, the energy policy scholar at Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy.

Some companies are already working on slashing routine flaring. Apache Corporation, a subsidiary of publicly traded oil company APA Corporation, which operates in Texas, said in October 2021 that it reached its goal to end routine flaring after investing in pipeline infrastructure. Several other public companies have endorsed plans to eliminate routine flaring by 2030, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

That nonprofit environmental advocacy group says that policies requiring gas capture  the process of trapping natural gas to prevent its release into the atmosphere  are effective and inexpensive ways to end flaring.

Methods for using the extracted natural gas on-site exist, and engineers such as West Virginia Universitys John Hu are hard at work developing portable units that capture and convert natural gas into environmentally safer, marketable materials like hydrogen and solid carbon. Hu and his research partner Xingbo Liu won one of 14 Department of Energy grants in 2020 to build technology that mitigates flaring and venting.

Hu said companies will be more inclined to buy into technology like his if and when the government puts more pressure on companies that flare.

Sooner or later, theyll be in trouble, Hu said of companies that flare. It depends [on] how much of the regulatory pressure.

Poor data, no incentives

The problem of excessive flaring and venting begins with how little we know about the actual amounts of methane being released, said Barry Rabe, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Reporting on methane is done on the honor system, he said.

The problem of excessive flaring and venting begins with how little we know about the actual amounts of methane being released, said Barry Rabe, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and professor of environmental policy at the University of Michigan. (Source: Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan)

While most of the federally designated top-flaring states require oil and gas companies to report the volume of gas they combust, state officials have little sense of those reports accuracy, and none use satellite data to confirm company-reported flaring totals, the Howard Center found. Additionally, satellite data picks up only the heat signatures from flaring and cannot detect how much natural gas is being vented. Specialized infrared imaging technology is able to measure the invisible emissions that come from venting, though its not yet widely deployed.

Patrick Courreges, the communications director for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, said his agency must take company reports at face value.

When it comes to auditing vent and flare, we dont do it, Courreges said. The system we have in place is not a good tool for actually determining how much methane is going out.

Of the states the Howard Center analyzed, four maintain little or no information on flaring and venting volumes. Officials in states like West Virginia and Kansas have argued that flaring is not commonplace, but satellite data reveals that operators in those two states burned a combined total of 16 billion cubic feet of natural gas between 2012 and 2020. Thats equal to carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in over 100,000 homes in one year, according to an Environmental Protection Agency calculator.

In Oklahoma, the nations fourth-largest gas producer in 2020, regulators also dont know exactly how much companies are flaring and venting. Operators may release up to 50,000 cubic feet of gas a day without permission from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the states regulatory agency. The Howard Center built a database to track those extra flaring and venting requests and found that the total was dwarfed by the 32 billion cubic feet of flared gas alone that satellites captured between 2012 and 2020.

Poor or nonexistent data collection is compounded by a lack of statewide economic incentives to capture the gas. Rabe, who also teaches environmental policy at the University of Michigan, argues that severance taxes on natural resources would pressure oil and gas companies to use or sell natural gas instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.

Unless theres pressure politically, regulatory standpoint or taxes, youre not going to invest in the equipment, the metrics, to catch all the gas, Rabe said.

Taxing flared gas would also bolster state revenues. Louisiana estimated that it would have received $801,000 in severance taxes in fiscal year 2021 if it had taxed flared gas, according to the states revenue department.

From an economists perspective, if you can measure it, it would make sense to tax it, said Janie Chermak, chair of the University of New Mexicos economics department.

Of the top-flaring states, only North Dakota and Alaska tax methane emissions, Rabe said, and most efforts to impose such taxes fail.

Texas Rep. Vikki Goodwin proposed unsuccessful legislation in 2021 that would have imposed a 25% tax on the marketable value of natural gas from flaring. If we were to tax it when they release it, then it might give them the incentive to go ahead and set up the infrastructure they need to sell it, the Democratic lawmaker from Austin told the Howard Center.

Goodwin represents the top oil and gas-producing state, which has consistently flared the largest volumes of gas across the United States since 2013, according to satellite data. In fact, Texas has flared more than the next top state, North Dakota, by margins that range from roughly 30 billion cubic feet to 93 billion cubic feet between 2013 and 2020.

But oil and gas companies are resistant to these taxes and some industry groups have even threatened that their companies would relocate to different states if such taxes were enacted.

Natural gas is burned off in a flare stack in McMullen County, Texas, on Oct. 25, 2021. Between 2012 and 2020, oil and gas operators in Texas and a dozen other U.S. states collectively flared at least 3.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to a Howard Center analysis of satellite data. (Aydali Campa / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

Challenges to a centralized policy

A week after his inauguration, President Joe Biden signed an executive order identifying climate change as a key domestic and foreign policy issue. The order included directives for federal agencies to reduce overall methane emissions from the oil and gas industry as quickly as possible.

The administrations subsequent $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which passed Congress in November 2021, initially contained ambitious climate change policies, including a federally mandated fee on methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. But opposition from coal-rich West Virginias Sen. Joe Manchin quashed that effort.

The fee, which would attach a pre-calculated cost to methane emissions from each producing basin for each calendar year, was resurrected in the Build Back Better Framework, touted as the largest effort to combat climate change in American history. That too hit a Manchin roadblock, but negotiations continued into 2022.

Theyre more worried about the fact that in the legislation, not just an executive agency but in legislation, you would have to design a measurement and disclosure system that would have to be made more accurate to make that tax accurate, he said.

Industry groups also argued that the fee would disproportionately impact even operators with low emissions. But Rabe said that companies should not be absolved of the responsibility to implement environmentally conscious practices.

Even at levels of small production, there should be ways, in my view, to follow best practices on monitoring, leak detection, state-of-the-art equipment, he said.

Leyden of the Environmental Defense Fund concurred. Even low-producing oil wells, taken as a whole, emit large volumes of methane into the atmosphere, and many of them are owned by big companies with the resources to address the issue, he said.

Multi-well oil pads burn natural gas in McKenzie County at sunset on Oct. 29, 2021. The advent of horizontal drilling in North Dakota allowed for multi-well oil pad operations that overwhelmed natural gas pipelines. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

In addition to the methane fee, the EPA, under Bidens January executive order, proposed new regulations that would require a reduction in flaring emissions from the oil and gas industry.

These rules, set to be finalized in 2022, aim to eliminate venting and include a nationwide standard to limit natural gas flaring. Operators would be required to use the gas on the well site or transport it for sale. If neither option is available, operators would be allowed to flare the gas only under the EPAs 95% flaring efficiency standard. The EPA is taking steps to put record-keeping measures in place to ensure flares would function properly.

The Bureau of Land Management, the agency responsible for regulating oil and gas activity on federal and tribal land, is also moving to reduce methane emissions from the industry. In November 2021, the White House announced that the agency planned to regulate excessive venting or flaring by requiring operators to pay a royalty fee on gas flared or vented on federal and tribal land.

Its unclear whether these federal efforts will be more successful than previous attempts to regulate the oil and gas industry. Over the last decade, that sector has donated more than $20 million to Democratic and more than $100 million to Republican federal candidates and officeholders, according to Howard Center calculations of campaign finance data from the watchdog group OpenSecrets.

In 2016, the BLM attempted to limit flaring and venting, but states and fossil fuel companies killed those efforts through litigation.

Policy experts worry the same could happen again.

The U.S. Supreme Court has said it will review the EPAs authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants in a case brought by West Virginia, North Dakota and various coal companies.

Rabe predicts a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs could have huge impacts on the EPAs authority to broadly regulate methane emissions.

Reporters Aydali Campa, Jimmy Cloutier, Mollie Jamison, Isabel Koyama, Laura Kraegel, Maya Leachman, Michael McDaniel, Andrew Onodera, Kenneth Quayle, Isaac Stone Simonelli, Rachel Stapholz, Sarah Suwalsky, Zachary Van Arsdale and Alexis Young contributed to this story.
The environmental impact of flaring and venting

By Kenneth Quayle and Rachel Stapholz

Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Flaring and venting are oil and gas industry practices that allow companies to dispose of the natural gas they extract that is not used on-site or sold. Carbon dioxide and methane, byproducts of flaring, are both greenhouse gases. But methane has more than 80 times the environmental warming potential of carbon dioxide in the first 20 years after its release, which is why experts say cutting methane emissions is one of the quickest ways to slow the rate of global warming. As of 2020, Russia, Iraq, Iran, Algeria and the United States each flared more than any other country, according to the World Bank.

What happens when companies flare?

The oil and gas industry flares for operational, safety or economic reasons, or a combination of the three, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Operational flaring is often considered an unavoidable step in the oil and gas production process during drilling, maintenance and well testing. Companies also flare during emergency situations. During the process of flaring, or burning natural gas, methane is oxidized into carbon dioxide and water. The more efficiently flares combust the gas, the less methane is released into the atmosphere  though there will always be some methane that escapes. Some flares burn inefficiently and emit more substantial volumes of methane and other pollutants. State regulations set flare efficiency standards; the EPA recommends a minimum of 95%. However, frequency and thoroughness of inspections vary across states, making it difficult to know if companies are always meeting those requirements.

A warning sign for hydrogen sulfide hangs on a fence near a flare in La Salle County, Texas, on Oct. 28, 2021. Natural gas that contains a high percentage of toxic hydrogen sulfide is known as sour gas. (Laura Kraegel / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

What happens when companies vent?

Venting is the release of natural gas, primarily methane, directly into the atmosphere without combustion. As with flaring, venting can occur at multiple stages in the oil and gas production process for operational and safety reasons. As much as 20% of global methane emissions originate from the oil and gas sector, according to the International Energy Agency. Some U.S. states do not require companies to report the volume of gas they vent and gas they flare separately, obscuring the true environmental impact. Some states prohibit routine venting, but still allow it in certain circumstances, known as exemptions. By directly releasing methane into the air, venting is more damaging to the environment than flaring. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument onboard some satellites  which can be used to measure flaring  cannot capture the volume of methane vented by the oil and gas industry. Specialized infrared imaging technology is able to measure the invisible emissions from venting, though it is currently mostly limited to aerial flyovers and on-the-ground cameras. New satellite technologies under development will help scientists quantify how much methane is being released by oil and gas operators.

A pump jack bobs up and down in the fields of North Dakota on Oct. 31, 2021. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

What emissions do flaring and venting release?

Emissions from flaring and venting can widely vary in content, but scientific studies have identified more than 60 pollutants associated with these processes, including harmful or toxic volatile organic compounds. Flaring can also release several chemicals as a byproduct of combustion, such as nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Hydrogen sulfide, an extremely flammable and lethal gas, may also be present in flare emissions. Venting primarily releases methane, but other harmful pollutants may also be present. In addition to the global warming impact of venting, releasing methane and other uncombusted pollutants into the environment contributes to smog as well as health effects that include asthma and heart problems.

How would reducing U.S. flaring and venting combat climate change?

According to the International Energy Agency, the U.S. accounted for about 16% of global methane emissions in 2020. The U.S. oil and gas industry was responsible for around 30% of U.S. methane emissions in 2019, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Even though carbon dioxide emissions are higher than methane emissions in the U.S., climate scientists agree that reducing methane emissions would slow global warming. This is because methane traps significantly more heat than carbon dioxide during its shorter life span in the atmosphere. Methane emissions from human activities could be cut in half with already available technology, such as leak-detection devices and gas-capture technologies, as well as government- and company-policy changes, according to a study led by scientists with the Environmental Defense Fund.

A multi-well oil pad burns natural gas on Fort Berthold Indian Reservation on Oct. 25, 2021. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

How has flaring and venting been addressed at the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference?

During the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in early November, President Joe Biden unveiled his U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan. This sweeping initiative takes aim at methane emissions from the oil and gas industry, with the EPA, Department of the Interior and Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration all being given directives in the move to reduce emissions from the sector. The plan also outlines ways to reduce methane emissions from landfills, the second-largest industrial source of methane in the U.S.

The EPA has proposed new rules, expected to be finalized in 2022, limiting flaring and requiring the sale of or use of the extracted natural gas on well sites. The rules would also enforce record-keeping and reporting requirements to ensure flares reduce methane and other volatile organic compounds by 95%. The Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management are also working on reducing methane emissions on public lands and waters.

The Global Methane Pledge, formally launched at the U.N. conference, establishes a commitment to reducing methane emissions from energy, agriculture and waste sources. The more than 100 countries that signed on have committed to cut methane emissions by at least 30% globally by 2030. Additionally, the countries have vowed to move toward using better systems for quantifying and tracking methane emissions.
Methodology

Comparing state-reported data to annual flaring volumes recorded by satellite

By Isaac Stone Simonelli

Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Climate change has been described as an existential crisis, and world leaders have made ambitious pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions as they battle the crisis. But calculating a global strategy depends on good data and, so far, government leaders have been largely reliant on the oil and gas industry to accurately disclose the volumes it releases into the atmosphere.

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism sought to check those reported volumes against recorded satellite data for areas of the United States where the oil and gas industry routinely releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, two of the most powerful greenhouse gases.

These emissions occur when natural gas is burned off or simply released into the atmosphere during oil and gas production, respectively known as flaring and venting. Environmentalists and scientists agree that cutting flaring and venting is one of the easiest ways to rein in greenhouse gas emissions and help slow the speed of global warming.

The Howard Center focused its investigation on 13 states identified by the U.S. Department of Energy as having significant ongoing and increasing flaring activity or a possibility that a combination of rapid oil play development and regional pipeline capacity constraints could lead to pressure to increase natural gas flaring.

Texas and North Dakota were the DOEs two Category I states. Category II states included New Mexico, Wyoming, Alaska, Louisiana, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kansas.

Howard Center reporters contacted the relevant agencies in each state to gather the data that oil and gas companies were required to report and calculated annual totals. They then plotted the satellite data to their corresponding states based on latitude-longitude coordinates, allowing them to compare flaring volumes recorded by the satellite with volumes reported to the states.

Eyes in the sky

In 2015, Christopher Elvidge, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist, published a paper detailing how he and his research team were able to determine global flaring volumes using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments aboard satellites to measure near-infrared and short-wave, mid-wave and long-wave infrared light. At night, VIIRS measures three wavelengths of light that show up only for combustion sources, such as the burning of natural gas, eliminating urban and other light sources.

A filtering process uses several algorithms to remove infrared signals from biomass burning events, such as forest fires and flares associated with landfills and coal mines, as well as to deal with nighttime cloud cover obstructing the observation of flares.

A temperature and radiant heat is determined using Plancks law of thermal radiation for each infrared light source identified by the VIIRS satellite. The total annual radiation from the selected sources is then converted to volumes of natural gas burned using a calibration system based on upstream flaring data from 47 countries.

Almost all of the flaring captured by satellite occurs at upstream locations, such as extraction and production sites. A small amount comes from midstream flaring, which occurs after gas leaves extraction sites and before it arrives at a refinery. Based on the advice of experts and available state data, the Howard Center focused its analysis on flaring and venting at upstream sources.

The VIIRS database records flaring volumes in BCM, or billion cubic meters, while all states report their flaring and venting volumes in MCF, or thousand cubic feet. The Howard Center converted VIIRS data from BCM to MCF before making the comparisons.

Elvidge, now the director of the Earth Observation Group at the Colorado School of Mines, and his team conduct a manual check of any burning events caught by the satellite that might not be associated with oil and gas development. But he acknowledges the potential for such points to slip through the cracks. During the Howard Centers investigation, for example, reporters discovered that one of the larger sources of flaring detected by satellite in Colorado for 2019 and 2020 appeared to be a landfill flare, based on a close examination of images on Google Maps. The flare did not show up in earlier years of satellite data, but experts said the large flare could increase the margin of error for Colorado.

Jennifer Miskimins, the head of the petroleum engineering department at the Colorado School of Mines, oversaw a 2021 study that used VIIRS satellite technology to determine differences between satellite-observed flaring and state reported data in North Dakota. Gunnar Schade, an atmospheric scientist at Texas A&M University, oversaw a similar study in Texas in 2019.

Schade believes the current calibration system needs to be reworked to more accurately measure flaring volumes. Elvidge says his team is in the process of doing that, but the new calibration system has yet to be released and applied to the VIIRS data.

Blind spots

While the satellite data offers new insights into the amount of natural gas being flared, it has limitations.

The most significant is that the satellite technology is unable to observe venting  the release of uncombusted natural gas, which is mostly methane. This proved problematic when comparing satellite totals against data from states that report their flaring and venting as a combined volume. Nonetheless, in some of those states, the flaring volumes observed by satellites were greater than the combined totals reported to regulators.

Intermittent flaring can also increase the chance that satellite data does not accurately capture the volume of flared natural gas. There are currently two VIIRS-equipped satellites providing data for Elvidges work. As they pass over Earths surface, the instruments are able to observe a flares combustion for just a fraction of a second. If a flare is unlit at the exact moment the satellite passes overhead, no data will be recorded. Conversely, if the flare is lit, researchers assume it will remain lit for a 24-hour period. Elvidge said he believed such under- and overestimations are balanced out when using annual data.

Anything that impacts the amount of heat being released by a flare can also impact satellite measurements. For example, small flares burning below a certain heat threshold are missed by satellite observations. Elvidge said there are more small and intermittent flares in the United States than other countries.

The technologys inability to capture combustion during the day is also a limitation. This is particularly relevant to oil and gas production above the Arctic Circle in Alaska, where there are months of constant daylight.

Given the various limitations, Elvidge estimated the margin of error for measuring flared gas volumes via satellite at plus or minus 9.5%.

Eyes on the ground

Most of the 13 states had their own, unique system for tracking and reporting natural gas that is flared or vented by industry, but the reporting requirements varied widely. For example, seven states reported flaring and venting amounts as combined volumes. Not knowing how much gas is vented handicaps regulators because vented gas, which is mostly methane, has a greater impact on global warming in the short term than carbon dioxide, the primary byproduct of flaring.

Sifting through relevant rules, regulations and conducting dozens of interviews, the Howard Center determined that not every state required all flaring and venting to be reported. In some states, flaring and venting volumes that fall below a set threshold do not have to be reported; in others, producers need only estimate their volumes.

Reporters reached out to regulators in each state to obtain data on volumes of flared and vented natural gas at oil and gas production sites. Because there are no federal requirements that establish a uniformity for how flaring and venting data is collected at the state level, reporters received a patchwork of data that varied significantly from state to state.

For example, Texas and North Dakota  the two largest flaring states  track those volumes differently. Texas regulators allowed operators to combine their flaring and venting volumes for years until the rules changed in September 2021. In North Dakota, regulators track flaring volumes but generally prohibit venting. They also track monthly oil and gas production, including well sites latitudes and longitudes, unique identification numbers, operators names, and the amount of natural gas sold or flared.

Other states require much more limited reporting by oil and gas companies. Oklahoma had no database of estimated flaring and venting volumes, so the Howard Center built one by extracting information from more than 800 permits submitted to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission between 2012 and 2020.

Reporters were unable to do the same for Kansas, for which satellite data showed about 2 billion cubic feet of flared gas. In response to a public records request for flaring or venting data from 2012 to 2021, the Conservation Division of the Kansas Corporation Commission provided what appeared to be partial records for some of the years and nothing for 2017 and 2018.

Neither Pennsylvania nor West Virginia kept flaring volume data. Instead, both states keep only emissions data, which catalogs various pollutants and cannot be compared to the satellite data.

The Howard Center compared what companies reported to regulators in each of the 13 DOE-designated states against annual VIIRS satellite data from when it first became available on March 1, 2012, through 2020. For Wyoming and New Mexico, company reports were available starting only in 2014.

Reporters also checked data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which says its data is either estimated, gathered via good-faith outreach to state agencies or collected from flaring data publicly available on state agency sites. The numbers published by the EIA did not match the state-reported totals calculated by the Howard Center or the flaring volumes recorded by satellite.

An agency spokesperson said the EIA recognized the importance of having accurate national and state-level data and was investigating ways to improve data collection, including the possible use of satellites.

For a fuller explanation of how data was gathered and analyzed by reporters, see the state-specific GitHub link.
HARRISBURG  Pennsylvanias highest court broke a partisan deadlock Wednesday over a new map of congressional districts by selecting boundaries that broadly adhere to the outlines of current districts, even as the state loses one seat because of sluggish population growth.

The Democratic-majority state Supreme Court in a 4-3 decision picked a 17-district map that had been proposed by a group of Democratic-aligned voters who sued last year in an effort to get the court involved.

It is unlikely to create a big shift in the makeup of the congressional delegation, as the state loses a seat, going from 18 to 17, to account for relatively stagnant population growth in census findings over the past decade, particularly in rural white areas predominantly represented by Republicans.

Carlisle will remain in the 10th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Scott Perry. It also includes Cumberland Countys West Shore, Harrisburg and the city of York.

The map had some wins for Republicans and some wins for Democrats on a map whose stated aim was to stick as closely as possible to districts drawn by the high court in 2018 to replace a six-year-old map it found to be unconstitutionally gerrymandered by Republicans.

The new map provides eight Republican-leaning districts, six Democratic-leaning districts and three closely divided districts, according to an analysis by FiveThirtyEight, a website that focuses on opinion poll analysis, politics and sports.

Nine of the districts were won by Democrat Joe Biden in 2020s presidential election, according to an analysis by Redistricting & You, while Republican Donald Trump won eight. It also pits two Republican incumbents against each other.

Pennsylvanias delegation is split evenly, nine Republicans and nine Democrats, in a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 4 million to 3.4 million.

The court has selected boundaries twice before in the past three decades, and its decision is expected to be the final word, although a federal court challenge by Republicans is pending.

Democrats applauded the map.

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who leads the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and whose affiliate organization, the National Redistricting Action Fund, backed the court-selected map, called it a substantial win for Pennsylvanians who now get to vote for the candidate of their choosing in fair, lawful districts for the next decade.

Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said he was pleased with the decision.

It is a fair map that will result in a congressional delegation mirroring the citizenry of Pennsylvania, Wolf wrote.

Republican response was critical.

Pennsylvanias national Republican committee member, Andrew Reilly, said it was unfortunate that the court majority chose a map that combines two safe Republican districts into one, makes a suburban Pittsburgh seat friendlier for Democrats and was represented in part by the firm of a partisan Democratic Party-aligned lawyer.

Despite that partisan choice, Pennsylvania Republicans will be ready to favorably compete in these districts to assist the National Republican Campaign Committee in taking back the U.S. House in November, Reilly said in a statement.

The court ended up with the decision after Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature deadlocked on a new plan.

Four of five Democrats on the court formed the majority in Wednesdays decision, while one Democrat, Justice Debra Todd, sided with the courts two Republicans in opposing it.

In picking the map, the justices also rejected a lower court judges recommendation of a map backed by Republican lawmakers that Democrats had opposed.

The new map lumps two Republican incumbents  Glenn Thompson and Fred Keller  into a northern district, and draws two Pittsburgh-area districts where there are no sitting incumbents running for another term.

Neither Thompson nor Keller immediately said whether they would run again.

Of the maps Republican-leaning districts, one is held by a Democrat, Matt Cartwright in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The swing districts are held by Allentown-area Democrat Susan Wild, Republican Brian Fitzpatrick of suburban Philadelphias Bucks County and suburban Pittsburgh Democrat Conor Lamb, who is not running for reelection.

The map sides with Republicans on two big issues.

It keeps the city of Pittsburgh in one district, helping maintain a competitive district for Republicans in its suburbs, and it keeps all of Bucks County in one district, helping protect Fitzpatrick.

However, the map also sides with Democrats on certain aspects.

It ensures each Democratic incumbent has their own district and it keeps the metropolitan Harrisburg area in one district with York, instead of splitting it into several districts, as Republicans had sought.

Still, the map will put more pressure on Wild to get reelected, drawing her new district to include conservative Carbon County.

The court also adjusted the petition gathering schedule  starting this Friday going until March 15  but left the May 17 primary date intact for congressional races and statewide contests.

However, the court on Wednesday suspended the primary election calendar for state legislative candidates, because new state House and Senate district maps are being challenged in court.

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History came to Newville on Feb. 9, 1920, with the announcement that the town had been selected as the host site of a training academy.

The Pennsylvania State Police signed a three-year lease with landlord George Frey, owner of the Big Spring Hotel at Big Spring Avenue and Walnut Street. Soon, the first floor was converted into office space, a gymnasium, dining facilities and a recreation room while the upstairs guest rooms became the sleeping quarters for recruits.

By March, the first class of 30 men arrived in town to begin two months of instruction. Nearly all of them were Army or Navy veterans of World War I eager to put their training in the service to use in civilian jobs. Courses taught at Newville include criminal procedure, criminal law, criminal reporting and investigation, traffic control, mob and crowd control, state geography and self-defense.

Legal courses touched on laws governing motor vehicles, fish and game and forestry. In addition, each recruit was assigned a horse and given instructions on cavalry drill, care of the animal and stable hygiene. The hotels 10 acres provided ample space for stables, a horse corral and a drill field.

A badge of civic pride among local residents, the academy lasted only three years. On March 1, 1923, the state police closed the academy in Newville shifting it first to Fort Indiantown Gap and then to Hershey, its current location. The hotel building in Newville was eventually demolished to make room for the Hershey Chocolate Co. creamery, which later closed.

There is reason to believe the state police academy at Newville may have been the first of its kind in the nation. Of the 50 states, only 45 had joined the union by February 1920. Of the 45, only Connecticut, Idaho, Michigan, New York, Virginia and West Virginia had official uniformed state police agencies before Pennsylvania. According to online research, none of those states had established an official state police training academy before the one in Newville.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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Theres an overarching question Scott Buran wants Americans to ask of themselves and their leaders.

What do you expect from the expenditure of national treasure and blood after 20 years of conflict? the retired Marine Corps colonel said, referring to the pull-out of U.S. forces from Afghanistan last August.

Buran is the coordinator of the J. Sherwood McGinnis Jr. War, Peace, and Justice Project that is organizing a symposium this fall to explore the relationship between war, peace and justice.

As a prelude event, the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues is hosting a panel discussion at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium on the Dickinson College campus. Titled Transforming Conflict: Rethinking War, Peace and Justice, the event is free and open to the public.

Founded in 1994 with a gift from trustee Henry Clarke, the forum connects Dickinson College and the broader community with scholars, practicing professionals and activists through the use of lectures, seminars and conferences. The goal is to bring an interdisciplinary liberal arts perspective to the critical examination of pressing contemporary issues.

The March 1 event will provide a foundation on which to understand how this relationship can achieve an enduring peace rooted in justice, so that security and liberty can prosper together, Buran said. We hope to set the stage  to plant the seed to carry on forward to the symposium.

A panel of experts with ties to Carlisle will be asked to address such questions as What is the nature and purpose of war? What is peace? and What is justice? The discussion will turn to the complexities of working through the relationship in the context of Afghanistan, the longest war in American history.

Each panelist will present seven to 10 minutes of their perspective on war, peace and justice, Buran said. This will be followed by an opportunity for the public to ask questions.

Panelists include Judge John Jones III, interim Dickinson College president, along with Margee Ensign, a past Dickinson College president. Other panelists will be Danielle Conway, dean of Penn State Dickinson Law and Maj. Gen. David Hill, commandant of the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks. Retired Army Lt. Gen. James Dubik will serve as the moderator.

The project and its symposium is named in honor of J. Sherwood McGinnis Jr. who died in Carlisle at age 76 on Nov. 18, 2021. A career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, McGinnis had over 30 years of experience in national security, rule of law, governance, economic development and foreign policy. Locally, he was active in community organizations and worked as a professor at the Army War College and Dickinson College.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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The Pennsylvania State Police in Carlisle are searching for a missing Shippensburg woman who might be endangered, the state police said Wednesday night.

Jasmine Lynn Forbes, 31, is approximately 5 01 and 105 pounds, according to a department release. She was last seen on Wednesday in Shippensburg.

Police are asking for the public's assistance in locating her. Anyone with information regarding Forbes' whereabouts is asked to contact the state police at 717-249-2121.

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City of Charlottesville employees may soon have the opportunity to unionize but they will have to wait at least another few months.

Charlottesville City Council at a Tuesday night meeting delayed adoption of a collective bargaining ordinance for the second time. Councilors instead opted to hire a consultant to help the city put procedures and infrastructure in place for eventual collective bargaining.

Council voted to reject a collective bargaining ordinance put forward by the Amalgamated Transit Union, the second time councilors have voted against a proposed collective bargaining ordinance. The first one was put forward by the Charlottesville Professional Firefighters Association in March 2021. The city council voted unanimously in August to direct city staff to develop a collective bargaining ordinance for city employees, but voted to reject the proposed ordinance from CPFA.

Interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers said the city needs more time to prepare for collective bargaining.

It is my opinion, given my own experience in collective bargaining, that we need some time here to put the infrastructure in place so that we can step out on our best foot to move forward with a collective bargaining infrastructure that will be beneficial to the employees, their representation, and to the city, Rogers said. I can assure you that the ball will move forward, he added.

A change in the Code of Virginia that took effect May 1, 2021 allows municipalities to enter into collective bargaining agreements with their employees.

Previously, the state code prohibited governing bodies from recognizing any labor union or other employee association as a bargaining agent of any public officers or employees. It also forbade localities from collectively bargaining or entering into a collective bargaining contract with respect to employment or service.

Loudoun County and the City of Alexandria, both in Northern Virginia, have adopted collective bargaining ordinances under the change in state code. Rogers said none of the state government associations have developed a model ordinance for collective bargaining in Virginia.

So we are faced with a challenge of stepping forward without the pathway being clearly defined. I note that, unlike many states where collective bargaining is authorized, the state of Virginia in this move did not establish a statewide labor relations entity to provide guidance to the local governments and how we should proceed, Roger said. I think that our consideration is that we should take some time to study whats required and the impact it will have on the city.

Rogers said the plan is to hire a consultant within the next six weeks or so to lead the planning. A framework would be presented to city council in about 90 days. Councilors are expected to vote at the next meeting to allocate funding in the upcoming budget for collective bargaining.

Several speakers during the public comment portion of Tuesdays meeting asked the city to approve the ordinance brought forward by the Amalgamated Transit Union.

Collective bargaining is good for workers and this investment in the city workforce will ensure the continued quality of the services available to our community, said John Ertl, an ATU member.

Delaying a decision is preventing hardworking city employees from earning a family-supporting wage that would enable them to live in the city of Charlottesville, said Emily Yen, a city resident.

In December, the city council revisited the collective bargaining discussion, but opted to delay making any decisions, partially due to the unexpected departure of City Manager Chip Boyles. Boyles was supposed to prepare information on how collective bargaining would impact the city but resigned before when the discussion happened. City staff requested more time to research and prepare information for councilors.

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Russian attacks on Ukraine have spiked the already high price of oil. But going up with that are the economic incentives to ditch this primitive fuel -- the environmental reasons being well known.

Russia provides about 40% of Europe's gas import, and its squeeze on supply has forced some factories to cut back on production. The case for moving to renewable energy grows only stronger.

The CEO of the Portuguese utility EDP made this point on CNBC Europe. "These are (indigenous) ... resources -- wind, solar -- that we have in Europe," Miguel Stilwell de Andrade said. "We need to accelerate (their development) and do it much faster."

Americans, meanwhile, can dismiss conservative claims that President Joe Biden has set back America's "energy independence." Policies to replace fossil fuels with low-carbon energy have hardly shut off the flow of domestic oil and gas. Actually, the U.S. became the world's top exporter of liquefied natural gas this year.

On a related topic, Biden's infrastructure bill set aside $6 billion to stop the premature retirement of nuclear plants. Another $2.5 billion is going for work on advanced nuclear technologies. Biden backed this zero-carbon energy source while fighting off some opposition from the left.

Germany's outsized dependence on Russian oil resulted from former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's unwise decision years ago to shutter her country's nuclear plants -- and replace that source of power with Russian natural gas. (Imagine Europe launching its largest fossil fuel project in the year 2022.)

In retaliation for Russia's assault on Ukraine, Germany has suspended approval of Nord Stream 2, an underwater pipeline designed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany. Good for the new chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

Some Europeans are reportedly dealing with the convulsion in fuel prices by installing solar panels and burning wood for heat. Hooray for solar. (Boo for wood-burning, though understandable in an emergency.)

Clean energy means more energy, which, when added to improving green technology, eventually means less-expensive energy. By 2020, solar already provided cheaper power than that from plants fired by coal or natural gas in most countries, according to the International Energy Agency.

The U.S. has just passed the milestone of 200,000 megawatts of utility-scale clean energy capacity, according to the American Clean Power Association. Do you know which state installed the most wind and solar power capacity last year? Texas.

Natural gas prices were, of course, surging before Russia started pummeling Ukraine. That reflected an upturn in demand as the COVID-19 pandemic started to retreat.

But companies in Europe that had made long-term agreements for renewable energy at fixed prices found themselves in a far better place, The Wall Street Journal reports. Orange SA, the huge French telecom company, for one, is securing power from nearby solar and wind farms, as well as its own installations. It plans to obtain half its energy from renewable sources in three short years.

Such businesses, George Bilicic, head of power and energy at the investment banking firm Lazard, said, "should be better positioned than others given current fossil fuel price spikes."

Steep gas prices are, of course, a great selling point for electric cars, not that they need it at this point.

Moving the world away from fossil fuels would erase Russian President Vladimir Putin's biggest nonnuclear weapon. After all, oil and gas accounted for 39% of Russia's budget revenue and 60% of its exports in 2019.

We, on our part, must make major investments in power grids to accommodate the diverse types of low-carbon energy. But there's nothing like international turmoil at the hands of a distressed country run by an unstable leader to provide a major push in that direction. Let's get pushed.

Froma Harrop can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com.
This years Oregon Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony will add three fallen officers names to the memorial wall, including local Oregon State Police trooper John Burright.

The event, scheduled for 1 p.m. May 3 and hosted by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, will honor law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the citizens of Oregon.

The states memorial wall honors more than 180 fallen Oregon officers who have died in the line of duty since the 1860s.

Burrights name will be added to the memorial alongside S. Allen Burdic of the Douglas County Sheriffs Office and Carl Frazier of the Lane County Sheriffs Office.

Burright was born in Corvallis. He attended Oregon State University and later started work as a reserve deputy with the Benton County Sheriffs Office in 1983. He was hired as an OSP trooper and stationed in Roseburg next. Then, he relocated to Albany and finally to Salem where he was an OSP sergeant.

He died May 4, 2021 at the Mennonite Home in Albany after an almost 20-year long battle with disabling injuries he sustained following an on-duty accident in 2001 when he was hit by a vehicle on Interstate 5.

Burrights memorial service was held in Salem on Aug. 25, 2021 and was attended by hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the state and country.

On Feb. 9, 2022, the Oregon House of Representatives voted to adopt a bill that honors Burright and his service to the state.

Due to health and safety restrictions, the ceremony will be closed to the public, according to a news release from Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. Event partners include the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Oregon Concerns of Police Survivors, Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation and other statewide law enforcement associations.
Russia unleashes military assault on Ukraine that Biden calls 'premeditated war'

Wojciech Grzedzinski/For The Washington Post The U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne Division is shown at a staging area in Trzcianiec, Poland. For The Washington Post Russian soldiers are seen Wednesday in Pokrovskoe, Russia, close to the border with Ukraine.

Russia launched a multipronged attack against Ukraine on Thursday, with explosions audible in some of the countrys largest cities, including Kyiv, the capital, in what President Joe Biden called a premeditated war.

The assault came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on state television that Russia was beginning a military operation for the demilitarization and denazification of eastern Ukraine. He said that Russia did not intend to occupy the country. But explosions were occurring across a wide swath of Ukraines territory, not just near separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, suggesting that at least for now, Russia intended a far wider operation.

Flashes could be seen and explosions could be heard in Kyiv, a city of 3 million people, as a senior Ukrainian official said the citys main airport was under assault. Explosions could also be heard in Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city, which lies just 12 miles from the border with Russia. A Ukrainian official also said the city of Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, was being shelled.

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

The explosions marked the beginning of a conflict that Ukraine and its allies had worked for months to avoid. The attack started as a meeting of the U.N. Security Council was underway in New York to discuss the crisis.

The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces, Biden said in a statement. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring.

Biden said he would meet with allied leaders on Thursday morning, then would announce further measures against Russia. He vowed to work with NATO to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.

Putins declaration of operations against Ukraine  broadcast on state television shortly before 6 a.m. in Moscow  was the culmination of months of threats and a military buildup that Ukrainian officials said had brought 200,000 Russian troops to their borders.

Russia cannot feel safe and develop and exist with the constant threat coming from the modern territory of Ukraine, Putin said in the speech, by turns cold and angry. We simply werent given any other option to defend Russia and our people other than that which we will use today.

He said that the goal is the defense of people who for a period of eight years have suffered the scorn and genocide of the Kyiv regime  and for that we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine and bring to justice those who have carried out the many bloody crimes against peaceful civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.

He added that Moscow would not occupy Ukraine and that it had to end eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv government forces have been fighting pro-Moscow separatist militants.

Sitting alone at his desk, with two Russian flags arranged behind him, Putin spoke directly into the camera and said that he intended to protect Russia from those who took Ukraine hostage. And he strongly suggested that he planned to annex parts of the country  as Russia did in 2014 when it seized Crimea from Ukraine.

Let me remind you that when the USSR was created after the Second World War, people who lived in certain territories included in modern Ukraine, no one ever asked them how they themselves wanted to build their life, he said.

Putins speech came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a grim-faced plea for peace earlier Thursday, telling the people of Russia that only they could stop the invasion he said the Kremlin had already ordered.

In an emotional address that sounded as though it were a final request to turn back the Russian forces bristling along Ukraines border, Zelenskyy said he had tried to speak to Putin by phone on Wednesday but had been met with silence.

Speaking in Russian, he said that Ukraine was a sovereign nation that was seeking to build a peaceful future  a different Ukraine, he added, from the violent one that Russian citizens are watching on warmongering state television broadcasts. You are being told that this is a plan to free the people of Ukraine, he said. But the Ukrainian people are free.

A Kremlin spokesman had said that Putin received a request for assistance from separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, a move that Western policymakers feared would be pretext for a Russian assault on its neighbor.

Your leadership has approved them to move forward onto the territory of another country, Zelenskyy said. This step could become the start of a big war on the European continent.

On Wednesday, Biden announced sanctions against the company and executives that run the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that links Russia and Germany.

But even as the United States and Europe imposed economic measures against Russian businesses and senior officials, hopes were dimming that there would be any way for Ukraine and its Western backers to forestall a broader assault. In Washington, policymakers said they were poised to impose more sanctions should Russian troops advance. In Europe, some NATO countries sent more weaponry to Kyiv, and European Union leaders scrambled to gather Thursday in Brussels to plan their next move.

I strongly condemn Russias reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement. Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.

A wave of new U.S. and European sanctions now seems certain.

As the Russian military offensive began, members of the United Nations Security Council made a succession of pleas for peace and dialogue in an emergency Wednesday night session that laid bare the limits of the world bodys influence.

The United States and its allies condemned Russias actions while other nations such as China, Brazil and India urged for de-escalation.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused Putin of exhibiting total disdain for the U.N. by ordering military action at the same time were gathered in the council seeking peace. She called the moment a grave emergency.

Ukraines ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, called out to Russias envoy in a testy exchange, urging him to telephone Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and do everything possible to stop the war. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya declined the offer, saying waking up Mr. Lavrov is not something I plan to do.

In cities across Ukraine, there was confusion in the early morning on Thursday as distant explosions were audible. In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, located just 50 miles from the Russian border, booms could be heard just after Putins speech ended. Its unclear what caused the explosion or what targets were hit.

Russian troops, tanks and missile launchers had been massing in Belgorod, a Russian city just 90 minutes from the Ukrainian city center.

As the sporadic booming continued with sunrise, some people waking up reacted with confusion. At one hotel, a staff member asked a guest what was happening. Told this was likely a Russian invasion, she cursed.

I dont watch the news, she said.

Outside of the hotel, a mother and child packed their car to leave the city.

In Kyiv, explosions and plumes of smoke could be seen from rooftops in the citys center. As dawn broke, however, traffic appeared to be moving relatively normally with plenty of cars driving calmly and no audible sirens or panicked pedestrians.

A day earlier in Neklinovka, a small Russian village close to the border with Ukraines Donetsk region, there were signs that something was imminent. Russian soldiers appeared to be stocking up food for several days, emptying the shelves of a local grocery store and grabbing instant noodles, water, bread and condensed milk. Wednesday was Defender of the Fatherland Day, a military holiday, and dozens of soldiers were celebrating as heavy military equipment stood on train tracks, with barrels pointing toward eastern Ukraine.

The equipment included an array of howitzers and armored vehicles.

Across the road from the grocery store, young men in uniforms lined up in front of a liquor store. A canteen next door quickly ran out of food as soldiers gathered for dinner.

Today, it is like a field kitchen out here, one man standing in line joked. Music blasted from parked cars and smartphones as soldiers smoked outside.

Locals said that troops camped there began arriving about a month ago but appeared Wednesday to be loading into convoys and preparing to leave.

The White House said Wednesday it was considering a range of severe measures if Russian troops advanced.

Imposing sanctions on Putin himself  a step the United States has never taken  remains an option on the table, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Wednesday. That would be an escalatory step, as would be sanctioning the largest banks, the very largest banks and additional components of the financial sector, as would taking export control steps.

Related
The Colorado New Play Summit, which often serves as theater audiences first look at developing new plays that later become fully staged as part of the DCPA Theatre Companys mainstage season, returns for the next two weekends.

The companys two current productions of the world premieres In the Upper Room and Rattlesnake Kate began as Colorado New Play Summit offerings.

This years featured plays and playwrights are Kareem Fahmy ("American Fast"), Kimber Lee (saturday), Leonard Madrid (Cebollas) and Kirsten Potter (Rubicon). The subjects range from three sisters taking an unexpected road trip from Albuquerque to Denver (Cebollas) to the true story of Betty Thorpes transition from society wife to steely spy for British and American intelligence in World War II (Rubicon).

Since its founding in 2006, the Summit has introduced 64 new plays, over half of which were later mounted as fully staged productions.

Readings will be held Feb. 25-26 and March 4-6 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Call 303-893-4100 or go to denvercenter.org

Sangre De Cristo Arts Center repairs

The heartbreak from a water-main break that has temporarily closed the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo practically bleeds through the Facebook post announcing the news: Please don't bother to call us. We're so understaffed. Nobody is around right now. Please do leave a message, if you must.

The arts center, founded in 1972 in downtown Pueblo as a home for community events as well as traditional and performing arts, took massive damage from the busted pipe. Pueblo resident Rachel Pope has started a GoFundMe page for the community to chip in, with a fundraising goal of $5,000.

"COVID-19 has made resources and funds scarce," she said. "The arts center is a bastion of culture and community for Pueblo. It needs the community's help to finish repairs and keep educating and entertaining the next generation of brilliant minds.

To view the GoFundMe, go here.

Judy Greer pokes fun at Denver

Comic actor Judy Greer poked a little good-natured fun at the expense of the Denver Film Festival on last weeks episode of the Conan OBrien Needs a Friend podcast.

Greer was named the fest's John Cassavetes Award winner in 2011  at age 36.

I was like, who dropped out? Greer joked with OBrien. What do they know in Denver that we dont know here?

OBrien picked up that ball and ran with it.

Judy, we got your blood test, and we are giving you a lifetime achievement award, he cracked.

For the record, the Cassavetes award is presented each year to a film artist who has made a significant contribution to filmmaking and whose work reflects the spirit of the late Cassavetes. But when OBrien asked what the award is for, Greer deadpanned, I think being kickass?

All in good fun. Listen here.

Appointments

The Colorado Symphony Association recently named Peter Oundjian as its new Principal Conductor. Oundjian, the orchestras Principal Guest Conductor from 2003-06, will conduct six performances each season and take a leading role in the companys artistic planning. Oundjians first concert in his new role will be the last weekend in March, when he conducts Gustav Holsts The Planets with guest pianist Jan Lisiecki 

Central City Opera has named Pamela Pantos as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Pantos has held executive positions at the Boston Childrens Chorus, Newport Music Festival, Arts Consulting Group and Opera North. Pelham Pat Pearce will continue to serve as Artistic Director and Senior Vice President overseeing the companys annual summer festival and education programs.

In brief ...

 While the sold-out "Hamilton" national tour continues in Denver through March 27, viewers who tune in to the 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday will be treated to original Broadway stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., and Daveed Diggs to open the ceremony. It airs at 6 p.m. MST on TBS and TNT with next-day streaming on HBO Max ...

Rise up! 'Hamilton' is bringing history, theater back to life in Denver | John Moore Its impossible to overstate just how much it means to have the national touring production of Hamilton back up and rapping to sold-out houses at the Buell Theatre after the economic devastation of the pandemic shutdown. To the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. To those who work on or around the show. To culture-starved theatergoers. To the general psyche of the city.

 Believe it or not, the loved and loathed essayist, author and social commentator Fran Lebowitz is making her very first Denver appearance on Monday, at the Paramount Theatre. Lebowitz, the subject of Martin Scorsese's recent Emmy-nominated Netflix series, "Pretend It's a City," will offer her acerbic views on current events and the media. Tickets on sale now ...

 Two big local film festivals unfortunately spanning the same dates (March 3-6) return next week: The Boulder International Film Festival and the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival. More on both here in the coming days 

 One of the biggest concerts of the spring promises to be alt-J with Portugal. The Man, on March 23 at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield. Tickets on sale now 

 The Denver Art Museum will present Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Collection at the Worcester Art Museum from May 15 through Sept. 5. The exhibition examines the historical context of armor and the pragmatic functions it served, as well as the ideological sentiments about armor throughout time, from the Middle Ages into the modern era. Info: denverartmuseum.org

And finally 

On Tuesday, friends held a celebration of the late artist Colin Wards life and legacy in the Meow Wolf art installation he conceived, a mini-dance club called Aquakota. Ward, who died by suicide at age 27 in 2018, called his creation a futuristic nightclub run by alien lemurs. Ward was remembered as a visionary musician and radical artist who sought to make the world a better place through art and activism. Bree Davies, host of the daily CityCast podcast, described Ward in Westword as a poet, an infinite riffer, a living Nickelodeon TV show, an Arthur Russell-meets-Basquiat-meets-Pokemon character, a 16th Street Mall busker, a favorite bandmate, a political hero, a DIY advocate, a supreme creative collaborator, a soulmate. Proceeds from the sale of Wards music at the memorial will go to the Colin Richard Ferguson Ward Fund (CRFW), which supports DIY artists in the Denver area.
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Pine Republican Erik Aadland on Tuesday became the second Colorado congressional candidate to submit petitions to the Secretary of State's Office in a bid to qualify for the June GOP primary in the 7th Congressional District, his campaign said.
Telekom Kosovo (TK) has hit another setback in its long-running spat with Dardafon with the loss of another arbitration case.

State-owned TK, which operates as Vala, terminated its MVNO contract with Dardafon in 2019 and has now been ordered to pay roughly EUR13 million (US$14.7 million) in damages to its former partner by the London-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), reports Balkan Insight.

As noted by TeleGeography, the ruling follows several previous court defeats for TK. The companies first signed their MVNO agreement in 2008, and while Dardafon launched services branded as Z Mobile in 2010, the partnership faltered after TK refused to allow Dardafon to offer 3G or 4G services via its network.

The companies took the dispute to court, with the ICC ruling in Dardafons favour in 2016 and ordering TK to pay EUR39 million in damages. This led to allegations of corruption and mismanagement as the agreement came under fire.

When the deal came up for renewal in 2019, TK declined as Dardafone pushed to collect its dues from its partner. Indeed, the latest ruling reportedly relates to TKs refusal to renegotiate the contract in good faith after it last expired.
Nokia continues to maintain its leadership position in Indias optical networks market for four rolling quarters from Q4 2020 to Q3 2021, said a study.

According to the study by the global research firm Omdia, Nokia's extensive range of optical products, designed to address the unique problems faced by the Indian service providers and enterprises, are the key reasons for its continuous market leadership.

Nokia was the first vendor to introduce the optical line systems enabling operation over the C and L bands of the optical fibre spectrum (C+L band platforms), which doubles the network capacity over C-band only systems. Nokias optical transport systems also support a wide range of protection and restoration capabilities, said the report.

"Implemented in Metro as well as national long-distance networks across India, Nokia's optical solutions ensure the quickest network restoration even in the case of multiple fibre cuts, thus helping Indian service providers address the problem of multiple fibre cuts at the same time," the study pointed out.

Omdia said that Indian service providers are continuously looking for ways to increase network capacity as data consumption continues to grow.

"Nokias fifth-generation Photonic Service Engines (PSE-V) support the transport of 400G wavelengths over most routes, and up to 600G over metro and regional spans, which improves network capacity while ensuring one of the lowest cost per bit, to help operators cost-effectively deliver massive network capacity," it said.

Nokia's PSE-V family, and C+L platforms will further help Indian operators improve their optical network's capacity, reach, and efficiency, said the study.
Abu Dhabis Mubadala Investment Company invested US$350m (309m) in Asian data centre operator Princeton Digital Group (PDG), backed by Warburg Pincus.

Both existing shareholders in PDG, Warburg Pincus and Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board, are also investing in this round, with the total exceeding half a billion dollars, according to the Emirati state-owned holding company (sovereign wealth fund).

Established in 2017, PDG is a leading Pan-Asia data centre operator with an unrivalled footprint across key Asian digital economies. PDG has a portfolio of 20 data centres with over 600MW of secured capacity and spanning five countries.

The company serves hyperscalers, internet and cloud companies, and financial institutions with scalable and reliable internet infrastructure and world-class data centre services to meet their increasing demand across Asia.

According to the release, this fundraise will enable PDG to consolidate its position as the leading Pan-Asia data centre operator with presence in China, India, Singapore, Japan and Indonesia, while accelerating expansion plans into other markets in Asia.

PDG highlighted the potential of the Asia data centre market which it stated is the fastest growing globally, driven by a large base of internet users, acceleration of digitalisation, large volumes of data use, and a tech-savvy young population.

Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer, Real Estate and Infrastructure Investments at Mubadala, said:  PDG is a leading data centre infrastructure platform operating in an attractive market with strong tailwinds and catering to rising demand from the hyperscale segment and more broadly Asias digital economies.

"Mubadalas track record of long-term investments combined with extensive know-how in the digital infrastructure space makes it a great partner as we continue to scale our business. We are also heartened by the continued trust and confidence placed by both Warburg Pincus and Ontario Teachers in PDG, said Rangu Salgame, co-founder, Chairman and CEO of PDG.
Indonesian telecommunications tower company Mitratel (Dayamitra Telekomunikasi) pledged to put US$69.5 million into constructing new towers in remote locations across Indonesia.

The Jakarta Globe reported, the tower company is targeting builds in the countrys frontier and outermost areas, as Mitratel looks to take part in a government drive to connect the population to broadband connectivity.

Dayamitra Telekomunikasi investment director Hendra Purnama said the money will be spent over the next four years, and it will be outside the companys annual CAPEX, which was IDR9.9 trillion (US$688m) last year. The funds will come from the initial public offering the firm conducted in November 2021.

The Indonesian government is aiming to accelerate the countrys digital economy and sees widespread broadband access as a key pillar for this. It urged telecommunication companies to invest in infrastructure in remote locations for this ambition, but the lack of huge commercial returns make this unattractive.

The government had launched a cooperation scheme with telcos to build towers in frontier regions through its telco arm the Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (Bakti). Between 2021 and 2022, Bakti is aiming to build 7,904 towers out of 9,113.
Welcome Emily

News

On Monday, 21 Febuary 2022, the Embassy welcomed the new Irish Deputy Head of Mission to Denmark, Emily Ghadimi.



We are all very happy to welcome her and to work with her in the coming years.



While welcoming the "new" Emily, we also want to thank the "old" Emily, as our previous Deputy Head of Mission, Emily McCormack, left the Embassy in September to step into a new job at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin. We wish her all the best!



In the time when the Embasssy was between Emilys, we were lucky enough to borrow Fearghal and Michelle from other teams in the Department. It was great to meet both, and they did an amazing job of keeping the Embassy on track.









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Alabamas two U.S. senators and the Wiregrass areas U.S. House member Thursday condemned the invasion of Ukraine ordered by Russia President Vladimir Putin and called for a strong, unified response by the United States and its allies.

On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry formally confirmed that its forces moved into Ukraine from Crimea.

Until Thursdays statement, Russia had said only that it unleashed a barrage of air and missile strikes on Ukrainian air bases, air defense batteries, and other military facilities. The ministry said it destroyed nearly 100 Ukrainian military facilities during the early attacks.

Sen. Richard Shelby, Alabamas senior lawmaker, posted on his Facebook page, Putins invasion of Ukraine comes as no surprise. He is on a mission to reconstitute the Soviet Union. This should be a wakeup call for the U.S. and our allies in Europe. Putin must be taken very seriously. A strong, unified response is imperative.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville released a statement in response to Russias invasion, which included him calling President Joe Bidens incremental early sanctions against Putin a weak response.

As weve seen from Putins aggression, strongly-worded statements dont stop wars. Rather than discuss a diplomatic resolution, Putin chose to invade Ukraine and test world order. His actions must be met with a tough and targeted response.

For 80 years, Americans have sacrificed to bring security and peace to the European continent. The events of the past 24 hours underscore that it is time for Europe to contribute more to its own security. The United States should support Ukraine and provide assistance to Ukraines military through weapons and funding for emergency equipment while leveling tough and targeted sanctions to halt Russian escalations and cripple Russias economy.

Tuberville added that allies and adversaries across the globe must be left with no doubt about our strength and resolve.

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, who represents southeast Alabama, said, Vladimir Putins invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine is unprovoked and evil, but despite what President Biden says, this aggression was not inevitable.

President Bidens history of weakness and delayed action opened the door for Putin to continue the annexation of former Soviet territory that began with the invasion of Crimea during the Obama Administration. Pseudo-toughness, passive support, and platitudes will never be enough to stop immoral autocrats like Putin.

Republican senate candidate Katie Britts office released a statement calling on Biden to immediately implement the full range of bone-crushing sanctions against Putins aggression. This includes barring Russia from SWIFT. And here at home, we must return to America First energy independence. Joe Biden should tell the American people and the world that we are reopening the American energy industry.

Britts top opponent in the May GOP primary, Congressman Mo Brooks said, Communist dictator Vladimir Putins unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is barbaric and evil. Putin brought war to a peaceful people. Unfortunately, Ukrainians are learning the hard way that freedom and a republican form of government are never granted, they are hard-won.

While Putins Ukrainian invasion and murders are heinous, this is first and foremost a problem for Western Europe to resolve. America should impose maximum economic sanctions to force a hefty price on Russia for its brutal Ukraine invasion.

Brooks added the U.S. should wait and consider military assistance to its European allies only if Europe asks and, even then, only if Europe takes the lead military role in the defensive measures.
Republican Katie Britt, U.S. Senate candidate from Enterprise, is confident in a primary win following a Florida visit with former President Donald Trump.

People want new blood, Britt said during a meet-and-greet event in the upstairs portion of Eagle Eye Outfitters.

They do not want career politicians; they dont want someone that is working to write their third book. What they want is someone who has the energy, the passion and the fight to make a difference in D.C. to take our country back and to make sure that our state and hardworking Alabamians have a seat at the table.

Britt has raised the most campaign funding out of all the candidates in the crowded race, even surpassing Mo Brooks, whos won Trumps political favor and gained the powerful figureheads endorsement. In the polls, the two candidates seem neck-to-neck with voters.

However, Trump recently sat down with Britt and husband Wesley Britt at Mar-a-Lago.

Wesley and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down with the president and to give him an update on the race, Britt said on Tuesday while declining to discuss specifics of their conversation.

On Tuesday, the homegrown Senate hopeful was happy to be back in the Wiregrass for a meet-and-greet with local officials, business owners, and members of the public.

One of the things I learned after kind of growing up a little bit is that we in the Wiregrass stick together, Britt said. So its nice to be here with so many familiar faces and so many supporters and have an opportunity to talk about the campaign and listen to people about their concerns and their vision both for the country and the state and energize voters to help us make this happen on May 24.

Before her address to attendees, Britt told the Dothan Eagle she was looking forward to talking with Wiregrass voters.

She said the U.S./Mexico border is currently a national security and a humanitarian crisis under President Joe Bidens leadership and sealing the border and re-implementing policies surrounding those illegal crossings are important issues. Chinas undermining of U.S. leaders and workers should also continue to be a topic of conversation, she said.

Every day that Biden is president, our country is weaker and more vulnerable, Britt said, referencing the U.S. militarys clumsy and disastrous exit from Afghanistan last year. It emboldens our enemies and it undermines our credibility across the globe and that is exactly what we are seeing play out right now at the Ukraine border. You have a president who doesnt understand peace through strength and unfortunately we are all going to pay the price for that.

Britt said the U.S. also needs to recommit to being energy independent, making sure people are getting back to work, and fighting against government overreach.

We are at a crossroads in our country where we need leaders that are willing to fight for the foundational principles of this nation, our Christian conservative values, the freedoms and liberties its founded on, and I know that Im the best candidate to do that in the United States Senate to fight for Alabama values and fight for hardworking Americans, Britt said.

The GOP primary is on May 24. Also fighting against Brooks and Britt for the Republican nomination are candidates Mike Durant, Lillie Boddie, Karla DuPriest, and Jake Schafer.

Sable Riley is a Dothan Eagle staff writer and can be reached at sriley@dothaneagle.com or 334.712.7915. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com .
Earlier in the current regular session of the Alabama Legislature, Gov. Kay Ivey called lawmakers into special session to spend more than $433 million in federal coronavirus relief funds that, if not spent, would most likely be called back by the feds.

However, it seems there has been no such urgency with regard to $263 million in federal money to be spent on rental assistance. State officials granted a no-bid contract for application processing to a private firm thats billing the state a whopping $65 an hour for call center workers and $200 an hour for handling applications, and the process has been plagued with delays and a surprising number of claims flagged as fraudulent.

Now the U.S. Treasury has taken back $42 million in undistributed funds, and may well recall the rest because its taken too long to distribute.

Meanwhile, the eviction rate in the state soared to a 500 percent last fall following the end of the federal eviction moratorium, according to a report by al.com.

The relief meant to be delivered by the federal funds was directed at renters whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic, hindering their ability to pay rent, as well as landlords who, for a while, were barred from evicting non-paying tenants while suffering a devastating loss of revenue.

For many of those affected, their situations have worsened. And with eviction moratoriums lifted  Alabamas ended June 1, 2020; the federal moratorium ended six months ago  many are being put out of their homes.

There remains a housing crisis among low income Alabamians, advocates say.

That corresponds to a crisis in leadership in Alabama government that, if political campaigns are any indication, is destined to continue even if the names change.

The utter failure to ensure that Alabama families receive the appropriate aid is unconscionable. Keeping Alabama families in their homes and making landlords whole should be at least as important as funding prison construction.
Islamic extremism and weapons trafficking were among six international terrorism risks named by Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security at a conference Wednesday.

Addressing the international anti-terrorism cooperation conference, Dinh Viet Dung, deputy head of the Department of Homeland Security, said terrorists and terrorist organizations may choose Vietnam either as a refuge or a transition hub for a third location to evade authorities.

Secondly, the spread of Islamic extremism, including member recruitment, calls for sponsorships and instructions on making weapons and explosives also poses a risk for Vietnam.

"The illegal sale, use and storage of explosive materials and supporting tools for explosive precursors lead to the creation of trafficking routes to Vietnam. It is an opportunity for terrorists to send weapons and explosives to Vietnam," Dung said, highlighting the third risk.

While Vietnam believes it has not detected the existence of international terrorist organizations in the country, there are certain Vietnamese revolutionary organizations that are always looking for ways to cause damage. Therefore, there is a fourth risk of these organizations cooperating with international terrorists who enter Vietnam, Dung added.

The fifth risk is of Vietnamese citizens becoming international terrorists, Dung said, citing the example Vietnamese authorities detecting three foreigners of Vietnamese origin who'd joined international terrorist organizations. Such people may be found among those who have either returned to Vietnam or have relatives living in the country, he said.

"There are tens of thousands of Vietnamese living in areas with active terrorist organizations like the Middle East, North Africa or South Africa. Theres also the possibility of these people being recruited by terrorist organizations to return to Vietnam and perform terrorist acts," Dung said.

The final risk he mentioned was that of sponsors of terrorism with ties to foreign organizations and individuals being based in Vietnam.

Bevan Moroney, a representative of the Australian Federal Police, said that while Vietnam hasn't detected the presence of international terrorist organizations, anti-terrorism collaboration was necessary, as it was the only way to fight terrorism effectively.

Countries should actively share their intelligence resources, while not infringing on national interests, in the effort to fight terrorism, he said.
A man receives Covid-19 vaccination in HCMC in 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen

PM Pham Minh Chinh has instructed authorities around the country to speed up the third dose of Covid-19 vaccination for people aged 18 and above.

In a communique sent to all 63 cities and provinces Wednesday, he said all adults should be immunized by the end of the first quarter of this year.

He also called for administering the second dose to everyone aged 12 to 18 this month.

All localities must continue with their campaigns to encourage people to get vaccinated and programs to send medical workers to vaccinate bedridden patients.

Around 75.4 million out of Vietnam's 96 million people have been given two doses, including 8.1 million children aged less than 18.

Besides, 22.39 million adults have gotten a third shot.
Flights from Vietnam to Europe not affected by Russia-Ukraine tension

Ukraine airspace is empty on February 24, 2022. Photo by Flightradar24

Flights from Vietnam to Europe have not been impacted by the Ukraine-Russia crisis as Vietnamese carriers have actively dodged the airspaces of Ukraine and Belarus, a top aviation official says.

Dinh Viet Son, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said currently only Vietnam Airlines operates direct flights to Moscow.

Since tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated; however, the national flag carrier has for long avoided flying over the airspaces of Ukraine and Belarus.

In addition, flights to the U.K., France and Germany have also dodged the airspaces of Russia and Ukraine.

Therefore, international flights from Vietnam to Europe are still operating normally, Son said.

Currently, Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways have resumed weekly regular flights to Europe.

Russian forces fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on its south coast on Thursday.

Ukraine State Air Traffic Services Enterprise said on its website that the country's airspace was closed to civilian flights starting at 00:45 GMT on Thursday and that air traffic services had been suspended, Reuters reported.

Vietnam has resumed commercial flights to 20 of 28 countries and territories that it operated direct flights to before the pandemic, including Moscow.

The country also ended all restrictions on international flights on Feb. 15 after gradually lifting them since Jan. 1 after almost two years of suspension.
I-80 Gold Corp. has announced they have started the underground mining program at the Granite Creek Mine in Humboldt County.

Formerly the Pinson Mine, Granite Creek is south of Nevada Gold Mines Turquoise Ridge and Twin Creeks mines. Granite Creek is at the north end of the Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend at its intersection with the Getchell gold belt.

According to i-80, the underground deposit at Granite Creek is one of the highest-grade gold deposits in North America, with resource grades over 10 grams of gold per metric ton.

i-80 Gold said it remains on target to ramp up to production at Granite Creek this year. Mined material will be stockpiled on-site in preparation for trucking to the Sage Mill at Twin Creeks.

Nevada Gold Mines and i-80 Gold have made interim arrangements allowing i-80 to process mineralization at Twin Creeks until the companys Lone Tree processing facility is operational.

The interim processing arrangement with Nevada Gold Mines has allowed us to fast-track the development of the Granite Creek underground operation, such that it will become Nevadas newest gold mine, said Matt Gili, president and chief operating officer of i-80. Granite Creek is one of four sites being prepared by the company for mining in advance of the restart of our Lone Tree processing facility that includes an autoclave. Additionally, our highly successful drill program has not only defined areas for mining but has also resulted in new discoveries, including the South Pacific Zone that has the potential to materially increase resources at Granite Creek.

The 2021 drill program at Granite Creek was successful in delineating high-grade mineralization in multiple areas near the existing mine workings, according to i-80 Gold. Two Cubex rigs are currently on site drilling to complete definition in advance of underground mining. The first stoping area has been defined and mining of the stope access to the area is underway.

The drilling program has been increased to 30,000 meters. I-80 is also continuing to advance permitting for an open pit mine on the property, including heap leach processing on-site.

Small Mine Development is the contract miner at Granite Creek.

I-80 Gold Corp. got started in March 2021 as a spinoff when Equinox Gold Corp. acquired Premier Gold Mines. I-80 made some property swaps with Nevada Gold Mines and acquired the Lone Tree Complex.

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ELKO  The Nevada Lands Council is hoping more people turn out for its showing of the documentary Rocky Mountain Heist after Facebook reportedly rejected the groups ad for the event.

Facebook censorship has reached the liberty loving Americans in the Elko community, according to Rex Steninger, president of the NLC. He explained his group has scheduled a free showing of the documentary Saturday at Machis Bar and Grill and, in an effort to publicize the event, NLC tried to place an advertisement on Facebook. The ad was rejected and an appeal of the rejection was also denied.

If that can happen to the NLC in little ol Elko, just think about the larger picture, Steninger said. What is happening across Nevada in this important election year in which we have an opportunity to replace a governor who has abused his authority by violating our constitutional rights? What is happening across our nation in a year when we are hoping for a Red Wave to rid ourselves of the dictatorial rule of Democrats? And what is happening worldwide in a year where we have witnessed horrible tyranny on display in places like Australia and Canada?

The Nevada Lands Council is a nonprofit organization that supports efforts to transfer public lands from federal to state ownership and management.

A press release from NLC said Rocky Mountain Heist details the successful efforts of three millionaires and one billionaire to turn the once solidly conservative state of Colorado into the reliably liberal state it is today, and Democrats hail the Colorado Blueprint as a way to take over other conservative states.

The film is being shown in an effort to fight back against the tactic and keep this corner of Nevada from following in the footsteps of Clark County that has become a Democrat stronghold and even Washoe County, where Democrats have made big gains, NLC stated.

We cannot allow this censorship to succeed, Steninger said. We cannot sit by quietly while it happens. We have to actively object to the censorship and support the programs that are being censored.

The documentary was produced by Citizens United and co-written by Michelle Malkin, a former newspaper columnist and TV host.

In October 2014, Malkin wrote for Creators Syndicate that the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals had issued an emergency injunction declaring that Rocky Mountain Heist deserved the same free-speech rights as a traditional news organization.

NLC said while Facebook has censored its ad, locally the Elko Daily Free Press and Ruby Radio have been very supportive in publicizing it.

Rocky Mountain Heist is scheduled to show at Machis Cafe and Grill from 4-6 p.m. Saturday. The showing is free and light snacks will be available. A no-host bar also will be in operation.

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ELKO  Interim Superintendent Clayton Anderson told a mask-less Elko County School District Board of Trustees that the five schools still under a mask mandate should be released in the near future from the mask requirement.

He also said on Feb. 23 that the latest figures from the Nevada Department of Health and Social Services that are reported every Wednesday was the best report yet, with three reported new cases and four active cases between last Wednesday and this Wednesday. There were 26 students that had close contact and missed school until cleared.

The three new and four active ones could have overlapped could have run their course already, Anderson said.

The five schools must follow masking rules until the Nevada Department of Health and Social Services says otherwise after COVID-19 cases there led to the restrictions, he said. The schools are Elko High School, Spring Creek High School, Adobe Middle School, West Wendover High School and Wells Combined School.

Those schools must have a 28-day period of reduced transmissions, and the Nevada Department of Health and Social Services monitors the schools every week, keeping an eye out of spikes in cases.

Anderson said the department hasnt said yet that the five schools are off restrictions, but they are saying that they are looking good.

He said the school district is following Gov. Steve Sisolaks mandates. The governor eased mask restrictions on Feb. 11, but he didnt cover everything in his press conference, Anderson said, adding that not everyone read the full announcement that still requires masks when schools see a spike in COVID-19 cases.

I operate under the governors mandates, Anderson said in a phone interview, explaining that he believes the disconnect between those who expected every student to be free of masks and what the governor said.

Trustee Matt McCarty asked Anderson on Feb. 22 to clarify that any students wishing to wear masks can still do so and whether masks are still required on school buses.

Anderson said any student or teacher or anyone else coming into the schools can continue to wear masks, and we will back them up, while all forms of public transportation, including school buses, are still requiring masks because they fall under federal restrictions.

Misty Atkins, co-founder of Parents of Elko County, blasted the school district during public comment Feb. 22 regarding masks and the schools risk management plan, and she and a few others in the audience handed out packets of documents to school trustees that were notices of intent to file claims against the district.

She said there will be action if this madness doesnt stop. We are at the point where enough is enough. And she recommended the board hold a special meeting to end all mandates.

A statement from school administration following the meeting said, The school district has submitted the notices to our bond and insurance representatives, and if the claims are filed, our representatives will respond directly to the individuals who have filed claims.

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ELKO  Elko County School District trustees have approved buyouts for 16 teachers and school administrators for a savings of $184,001 to the district, but the trustees did not grant buyouts to three others who requested them.

The buyouts follow a year when none won approval. The school board deadlocked on buyouts in March 2021, resulting in no one receiving a buyout.

Trustee Matt McCarty said on Feb. 22 he felt the buyouts should follow school policy and save the district money, and his motion was to give buyouts to the 16 employees who had 28 or more years of service. Three applicants didnt qualify.

The buyouts will cost the district $787,190 but the savings will come from replacing the experienced teachers with newer teachers at beginning pay, and administrative changes with the retirements, such as rolling up a teacher to vice principal and a vice principal to principal and rolling a dean to principal and not replacing a dean, according to the buyout chart.

A beginning teacher with a bachelors degree starts at $42,016. The people receiving buyouts have salaries ranging from $66,239 to $94,902.

Interim Superintendent Clayton Anderson said the district is allowed to buy up to two years of Nevada Public Employee Retirement System credits for those who have a minimum of 20 years with the Elko County School District and a minimum of 28 years with PERS.

Its entirely up to you if we want to move forward with the purchase of credits, he told trustees.

Trustee Jeff Durham of West Wendover questioned whether the district should buy out teachers when we have talked about a shortage.

Anderson said that last year there were in the range of 100 openings and 65 of them were filled, so it is difficult, but weve already begun at recruiting fairs and posting online, and working to remove roadblocks for teacher licenses.

Trustee Ira Wines said he was concerned about losing experienced teachers and what is best for students, so I dont see this as a benefit to the kids, but board member Susan Neal said she appreciated the opportunity for a job when she was a new hire.

Trustee Dr. Joshua Byers said he agreed with McCarty but I appreciate what Ira said. Experience is hard to replace, but I believe it will be good for the district as a whole to approve the buyouts.

Durham said he also agreed with Ira that it is hard to replace experienced people, but the $184,000 savings was a very real consideration.

Teacher Karen Hoem, who is on the buyout list, told trustees that there are only 14 teachers on the buyout list, and you can hire two teachers for the cost of one. She said she understood the districts goal of saving money. Every penny is important.

She suggested that rather than a buyout the board call it a longevity bonus.

Hoem said she checked with a few teachers who wanted buyouts and their reasons for leaving varied from helping elderly parents to losing interest in learning new things to wanting to spend time with a spouse who had cancer.

Board Chairwoman Teresa Dastrup said she has always appreciated the teachers and administrators who work in the school district, and she agreed with Hoem that the buyouts should be considered longevity bonuses.

She said, however, that she was in favor of the entire buyout list, not limiting it to 16, but her motion following the vote in favor of 16 buyouts to include the final three died for the lack of a second. She and Wines voted against the motion for 16 only.

According to the list, the years of service the 16 have with the Elko County School District ranges from 22 to 29, but they all have 28 or 29 years in PERS, except one who has 27 years in PERS and 27 years in the school district but made the cutoff for qualifying.

Anderson said the person with 27 years would be paying for the third year out of pocket.

The buyouts for PERS service credits are to bring each of them to 30 years of PERS service, so they qualify for their full retirement benefits.

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Headlines: What's the latest from Ukraine?

- President Zelensky bans males aged 18-60 from leaving Ukraine and broadens the conscription effort

- Russian forces take the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on Ukraine's northern border - Why does Putin want Chernobyl?

- President Biden gives a White House speech promising tough action against Russian expansion

- Explosions heard in Kyiv and Kharkiv, as well as Dnipro, Kramatorsk, Kharkiv, Odessa and Mariupol

-Russian troops have landed at Odessa and entered Ukraine near the northern city of Kharkiv

- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen promises "swift and severe consequences to the Kremlin"

- President Joe Biden issues statementcondemning the Russian attacks on Ukraine and saying the world will hold Russia accountable

- Donald Trump describes Putin's invasion as "genius", "smart" and "savvy"

- Germany puts the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would have transported natural gas from Russia to Europe, on hold

- New economic sanctions prevent trade with Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region

What you need to know about the conflict

- When did Ukrainebecome an independent state?

- What new economic sanctions can the West impose on Russia, Russian citizens and the Donbas region?

- Explainer: What is a false flag operation and why would Russia need to use one?

Related news articles:
Fighting is raging throughout Ukraine as the Russians have advanced in a four pronged attack from the Crimea, Transnistria, Belarus and Russia proper.

Support for Ukraine has been a call to defend democracy from authoritarian aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack, 'a war against Ukraine, against the whole democratic world.'

Ukraine has been making major steps toward being a fully democratic country in recent years, especially since 2014. But it is not fully there yet, and the invasion will being a huge block in achieving this aim.

How can we quantify how democratic a nation is?

The Economist produces a scale every year on the progress of democracy around the world. It uses more than 60 indicators to determine the rankings: the electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, functioning of government, political participation and political culture. Each rating is from 0 to 10, and given a label from four types of regime.

The rating for Ukraine slipped from 5.81 in 2020 to 5.57 in 2021. This means the report labelled it as a 'hybrid regime'. It is tied with Mexico as the 86th most democratic country in the world, and the 17th highest in Eastern Europe.

For comparison, Russia's score was a lowly 3.24, marking it as an 'authoritarian regime'. The United States was ranked as a 'flawed democracy' with a score of 7.85. The highest ranked country in the world is Norway with a score of 9.75.

In another report, named Freedom in the World, Ukraine has a score of 60 out of 100. Not a bad score, but there is certainly some way to go.

How does Ukraine have this score?

The low score is mostly down to the military pressure the country was under in, The Economist report concedes

'Government functioning under a direct military threat usually restricts democratic processes in favour of the centralisation of power in the hands of the executive and the security or military apparatus with the aim of guaranteeing public safety', the report states.

'In Ukraine, the military played a more prominent role in 2021 and exerted more influence over political decision-making; goverment policy also became less transparent.'
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate. Russia president Vladimir Putin has announced a "special military operation to protect people who have been subjected to intimidation and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The current state of affairs is reminiscent of what happened in with the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Thursday's invasion had been anticipated by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and US intelligence services several few months ago when satellite images confirmed that Russia was amassing troops and weaponry at various points along the border with Ukraine.

Putin does not want Ukraine to join NATO - a move which would be in the interests of the United States. By invading and - the demilitarization of Ukraine, Putin aims to increase his control over the region and position himself as the hegemonic power in an area which, up until August 1991, was part of the Soviet Union.

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia call to invoke Article 4

The governments of eight NATO members - Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia have urged the alliance to invoke Article 4 of the North Atlantic or Washington Treaty. "We have to be prepared for an unpredictable wave of migration, cyber attacks and a disinformation campaign on the Russian side," the Latvian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The governments of Lithuania and Estonia have also made similar statements.

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are former Soviet republics but today form part of the European Union and NATO.

What does article 4 of the Washington Treaty say?

The North Atlantic Treaty was signed in April 1949 with all signatories committing to "safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law" and pledging "to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area".

Article 4 of the Treaty states:

"The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened".
Biden gives speech on Russian invasion of Ukraine

Biden announced additional economic sanctions to be imposed on Russia by the US and its Western allies in response to what the US President said was a "premeditated attack" on Ukraine.

"Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," said Biden.

The US president said he had no plans to speak to his Russian counterpart who ordered the military invasion of Ukraine late on Wednesday night.
Vladimir Putin on Thursday ushered in what EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell termed the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War as the Russian president launched an attack on Ukraine. Putin said the military operation in Ukraine's Donbas region, which contains the rebel-held separatist zones of Donetsk and Luhansk, was mounted in response to western intransigence over security demands, leading to the deployment of Russian troops in what Putin described as a peace-keeping operation to protect civilians in the two Kremlin-backed breakaway regions. And for this we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine the Russian president said in a televised address, adding that any attempts by foreign powers to intervene in Moscows designs would be met with consequences you have never seen, a thinly veiled reminder to NATO and the United States of Russias nuclear capability.

US rules out military intervention in Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has ruled out military intervention in Ukraine, noting that American boots on the ground in direct confrontation with Russia could signify the start of a world war.

However, Biden has reiterated US commitment to safeguarding NATO territory, and has sent military hardware to Ukraine to aid in the defence of the country - which is an Enhanced Opportunities Partner of the alliance but crucially not a full NATO member - as well as providing training, advice and intelligence.

"The United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power. An attack against one NATO country is an attack against all of us. And the United States commitment to Article 5 is sacrosanct., Biden said on 15 February.

NATO member nations Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have already started to receive the first consignments of personnel and materiel promised by Biden in the wake of the Ukraine crisis. An undisclosed number of US F-35 fighters landed Thursday afternoon at NATOs air base in Amari, near Estonias capital Tallinn, Estonian media reported. F-35s were reported to have arrived also at NATOs air base in Lithuania.

On Wednesday evening, the first 40 American soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade arrived in Latvia along with 20 Apache attack helicopters, Latvian media reported.

How many Russian troops are deployed in Ukraine?

Estimates of Russian troop numbers in Ukraine have ranged from anywhere between 100,000 and 200,000 in recent weeks.

Ukraine's defence minister, Oleksiy Reznikov has put Russian forces surrounding the country at 149,000, while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy estimated the figure at around 200,000, in addition to thousands of combat vehicles, which include an estimated 2,840 battle tanks, outnumbering Ukraines armoured capability by three to one.

Reznikovs estimate is in line with US calculations of around 150,000 Russian troops massed on Ukraines borders before the invasion began on Thursday. Russia keeps a static border presence of around 35,000 military personnel on the Ukraine frontier, from a total standing army  the Russian Ground Forces - of 280,000 active duty personnel. Overall, Russia maintains the fifth-largest armed forces in the world, with over one million active personnel and two million reservists split between the various branches, which includes air force, navy, space forces, strategic missile forces, airborne and special operations forces.

However, US intelligence believes that the bulk of the Russian forces around Ukraine  which depending on the accuracy of estimates represent some 50-60% of the total strength of the Russian Ground Forces  will not be involved in the initial phases of the attack. The US stated that Russia's invasion is designed to decapitate Ukraine's government: one of the three main axes of assault is directed at the capital Kyiv, a senior US defense official said.

"It is our assessment that they have every intention of basically decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance, which would explain these early moves.

Reports on Thursday of Ukrainian forces engaged with advance units of paratroopers at the strategic Hostomel airport outside Kyiv bear out the US

How will Ukraine respond to the Russian invasion?

What we have heard today are not just missile blasts, fighting and the rumble of aircraft. This is the sound of a new iron curtain, which has come down and is closing Russia off from the civilised world, Zelenskiy said after the invasion was launched. Our national task is to make sure this curtain does not fall across our land.

Ukraine has 44 million inhabitants, but in terms of land mass is Europe's biggest country after Russia itself, lending credence to Putins assertion that he has no intention of permanently occupying Ukraine.

Ukraine's ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova said that the Ukrainian military was fighting back against a Russian invasion and that "all Ukrainians" would resist the assault.

Now Ukraine has activated our right to self-defence in accordance with international law, she told reporters in Washington. The combat spirit of Ukrainian military is high. We are fighting, we will be fighting - not only our brave and motivated military but all Ukrainians.

Reznikov echoed Markarovas comments on Thursday when he said that anyone who is ready and able to hold a weapon can join the ranks of the territorial defence forces, as the police said they would distribute weapons to veterans.

Ukraines military forces total 215,000 active personnel (of which 125,000 make up the permanent army) and 220,000 reservists, a figure that rises to almost 900,000 taking into account veterans and volunteer defence forces. Paramilitary security forces  the border guards and the National Guard  potentially add another 113,000 trained personnel to Ukraines defensive capabilities.
On Thursday afternoon Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak confirmed that Russian military forces had captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP), the site of the 1986 tragedy which is the most catastrophic nuclear accident in human history.

It was reported earlier today that a significant military presence, including tanks, had been seen at the site and there was a period of fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainian military personnel.

Presidential advisor Podolyak said: It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians.

He added: "This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today.

Footage shared online and obtained by multiple news agencies appears to show Russian tanks on the tarmac at Chernobyl. The exact size of the military presence in the area is yet to be determined but the speed with which Ukrainian authorities announced that it had been taken could suggest that Ukraine was quickly outgunned.

Why would Russia want to control Chernobyl?

The exact reason for Russias offensive on the largely-abandoned area is at this stage still unknown but it marks another stage of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Russia had initially said that it was entering the Donbas separatist-led region on the east of Ukraine to provide peacekeeping support but attacks are now being launched all across Ukrainian territory.

However the pace of the escalation in recent days certainly suggests that Putins ambitions in Ukriane go far beyond the separatist region in the east. Attacks have been launched on several major Ukrainian cities, including the capital of Kyiv.

Chernobyl sits to the north of Kyiv, on the border with Russia-friendly Belarus, where Putin has stationed a huge number of troops in recent weeks. A military offensive through Chernobyl would give him the most direct access to the Ukrainian capital and the largely deserted area should be fairly easy to pass given the extremely low population density.

There has also been some suggestion that the occupation of Chernobyl, a Cold War-era site, could be of symbolic importance to Putin or that it simply carries the threat of nuclear consequences if Russias military were to be targeted in that location.

But while Podolyak calls the attack pointless the capture of such an iconic and tragic location is clearly another issue for the Ukrainian authorities to be concerned with. Putins penchant for multifaceted military campaigns has allowed him to muddy the waters of diplomacy in recent weeks and the capture of the Chernobyl NPP appears to have caught Ukraine off-guard.
China has yet to formally condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine, after Vladimir Putin ordered troops into the Donbas region of the country in a dawn attack on Thursday. This, analysts say, could be a warning sign over Chinas intentions towards Taiwan, which has been a thorn in Beijings side for decades. China views Taiwan as part of its one China policy and has long claimed the country, while refusing to hold diplomatic ties with nations that recognize Taiwans autonomy.

Chin and Russia enjoy a close diplomatic relationship. At the beginning of February, Vladimir Putin was a guest of Xi Jinping at the Olympic opening ceremony and both nations have stated the Cold War mentality should be abandoned, while China has said it recognizes Russias legitimate security concerns and backed its allys calls for a halt to the further expansion of NATO.

China calls for diplomatic solution but avoids mention of invasion

Chinas Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, reiterated that stance in a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Thursday in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, although he did underline that China would always respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. However, China has fallen short of condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine while calling for a diplomatic solution to be pursued. Xi and Putin have been strengthening ties in recent months and what part China could potentially play in the search for a peaceful end to the conflict is no doubt very much on the minds of NATO, the US and their international partners.

In Beijing, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its deputy minister, Hua Chunying, on Thursday called on all parties to remain calm in an attempt to stop the situation from getting out of control, while avoiding the use of the word invasion to describe Moscows attack on Ukraine.

Chinas ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said during the last meeting of the Security Council that China did not believe the door to a peaceful solution has yet been closed.

Taiwan increases alert level



Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has called for increased vigilance of Chinese military movements in the wake of Russias invasion, ordering all security and military units to raise their surveillance and early warning of military developments around the Taiwan Strait.

Separately, Hua responded to international concerns over worldwide repercussions if Western nations failed to support Ukrainian independence by stating: Taiwan is not Ukraine. Taiwan has always been an inalienable part of China. This is an indisputable legal and historical fact.

China has been increasing its military activity in regions near Taiwan over the past couple of years amid rising tensions between the two countries. The Chinese air force has been running fighter sorties into Taiwanese air space for some time and Taiwan's air force was forced to scramble again on Thursday to warn away nine Chinese aircraft that entered its air defence zone, Taiwan's defence ministry said.

China has not ruled out using force to take Taiwan and has repeatedly warned the US not to interfere in its affairs  echoing Putins assertion that intervention against Moscows designs in Ukraine would lead to consequences you have never seen.

Biden backs Taiwan against China attack

However, unlike Ukraine, which is not an official member of NATO, Taiwan has the backing of Washington if attacked. Joe Biden said the US had a commitment to defend Taiwan from a Chinese attack last October, but the White House later clarified his comments.

The US defence relationship with Taiwan is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, a White House spokesperson said. We will uphold our commitment under the Act, we will continue to support Taiwans self-defence, and we will continue to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo.

Under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington is committed to provide resources to the island in the case of hostilities, but the pact falls short of a US military intervention or the supply of advisors or intelligence, as the US is currently providing to NATO member states bordering Ukraine and Russia.
China will take multiple measures this year to increase the output of soybeans and other oilseeds, such as improving subsidies for farmers, actively guiding farmers in Northeast China - a main production base - to plant more soybeans, and promoting soybean-corn intercropping technology, agricultural officials said on Wednesday, after this year's No.1 central document prioritized ensuring food security.

With a self-sufficiency rate of less than 20 percent, soybeans are one of the few grains for which China relies heavily on imports. Industry observers said that it's urgent for the world's second-largest economy to tackle this persisting issue, both to safeguard food security and address vulnerabilities at a time when the global pandemic, fractured global supply chains and rising geopolitical tensions are weighing on China's trade ties.

China will strive to make edible oil bottles "filled up with as much homegrown oil as possible" and the country is determined to address structural issues and beef up the domestic production of soybeans and oilseeds, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian said during a press briefing of the State Council, China's cabinet, on Wednesday, stressing that the country aims for "a significant rise" in self-sufficiency of soybeans and other oilseeds within five to 10 years.

The press briefing was focused on the No.1 central document released on Tuesday night. The annual agricultural and rural policy blueprint includes detailed efforts to expand the output of soybeans and other oilseeds, which industry insiders said would be key to "firmly holding the bottom line of guaranteeing China's grain security," one of the main goals of the policy document.

According to Tang, authorities will improve subsidies for soybean and corn producers, and support the proper rotation between soybeans and corn in Northeast China to encourage farmers to plant more soybeans in spring sowing.

China will also encourage farmers in Northeast China to plant soybeans on arable land that's unsuitable for rice.

Another measure is to actively facilitate soybean-corn intercropping, which refers to planting two lines of corn and four lines of soybeans on farmland that ensures both stable corn and soybean output.

This technology to date has been tried on 7 million mu (466,700 hectares) of farmland, and Tang said it will be further applied this year in suitable areas of the Huang-Huai-Hai region, Southwest and Northwest China. Accompanying services in seeds, machinery and financing will be strengthened.

Jiao Shanwei, editor-in-chief of industry news website cngrain.com, told the Global Times on Wednesday that "a critical moment has come for Chinese authorities to increase financial and technological aid, otherwise the market will deviate further and endanger China's food security."

In 2021, China's total soybean planting area was 126 million mu, down 22 million mu from 2020, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.

Jiao said that the decline was mostly due to farmers' preference for corn, which is more lucrative and has a high level of mechanization. Also, the market price of soybeans fluctuated due to foreign players' pricing power, further affecting Chinese farmers' willingness.

Li Guoxiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that given soaring global agricultural prices, it is necessary for China to reduce reliance on soybean imports, which account for over 80 percent of the supply.

On the one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered global supply chains, posing potential issues of supply suspensions that could last for months. On the other hand, as geopolitical tensions heat up, China's high demand for soybeans may risk handing external forces a bargaining chip that could be used against China, analysts said.

China is the world's largest soybean importer and consumer. In 2021, China imported more than 90 million tons of soybeans, and the volume in 2020 was over 100 million tons, customs data showed. Major sources of imports are the US, Brazil and Argentina.

Observers also suggested that China should increase research and development input in soybean seeding and planting.

"In terms of soybean yield per mu, China is 100 grams lower than the US," so technological breakthroughs can help, Jiao said.

It is expected that the soybean planting area in China will reach 160 million mu, with an output of 23 million tons, according to the 14th Five-year plan (2021-25) issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.




Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

This is also a key, urgent task of the Vietnamese government to shift towards a green, circular, low-carbon development model, Minh told US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, who is on a visit to Vietnam from February 22-25.

The Standing Deputy PM called on Kerry to further support the US to increase its financial and technical assistance to Vietnam, helping the country fulfil the commitment of net-zero emissions by 2050 made at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Minh noted with pleasure the progress in the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership across spheres, with two-way trade reaching 111 billion USD last year.

He thanked Kerry for his efforts and contributions during the normalisation and enhancement of the Vietnam-US ties over the past decades.

The Standing Deputy PM suggested the two countries foster their cooperation in the time ahead to promote the bilateral ties in a stable, long-term, pragmatic and effective manner.

He also thanked the US government for its donations of 29.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam through COVAX, and appreciated the US sides commitments to increasing the funding to deal with war consequences in the Southeast Asian nation.

Minh suggested the US continue its assistance to Vietnam in such areas as education-training, health care, humanitarian affairs and digital economy.

In reply, Kerry reiterated the USs commitments to respecting Vietnams political institutions, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stressed that the US attaches importance to the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and wishes to advance it to a new high in the time ahead.

Speaking highly of Vietnams commitment to net-zero emissions, he said the US will continue to enhance cooperation and assist developing nations, including Vietnam, in climate change response, particularly in clean energy development, infrastructure and the management of water and other natural resources.

The US will step up projects on settling war consequences, including one on dioxin contamination remediation at Bien Hoa airport in the southern province of Dong Nai, while intensifying collaboration with Vietnam in education-training, development, and science-technology, he said.

On this occasion, Standing Deputy PM Minh expressed his hope that the US will beef up comprehensive, sustainable and inclusive cooperation in the region, further back the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)s intra-bloc solidarity and centrality, and promote the ASEAN-US strategic partnership as well as the Mekong-US partnership.

The two sides also shared their views on international and regional matters, including the East Sea issue.

They agreed to forge collaboration within the United Nations (UN) and at other multilateral forums, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, security and development in the region and the world at large./.
Vessel Inazuma at Tien Sa Port on February 24 morning. (Photo: VNA)



The ships with nearly 480 officers and sailors onboard were welcomed by representatives of the municipal Department of External Affairs, the Naval Region 3 Command, the Military Region 5 Command, the border guard and military commands of Da Nang, and the External Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defence.



The welcome ceremony was also attended by Japanese Consul General in Da Nang Yakabe Yoshinori, Deputy Consul General Shimonishi Kyoshi, and Deputy Defence Attache Lieutenant Colonel Hamamoto Michinori from the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam.

Members of the Japanese delegation at Tien Sa Port on February 24 morning. (Photo: VNA)



Colonel II Masaaki, commander of training vessel unit No. 1, said the visit aims to promote exchanges and mutual understanding between the Vietnam Peoples Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, as well as defence cooperation between the two countries.



During the three-day trip, the head of the Japanese delegation will pay courtesy calls to leaders of Da Nang city and the Naval Region 3 Command via videoconference./.
Ambassador Nguyen Trung Kien (R) and Dr. Peter Jankowitsch, President of the Austria-Vietnam Friendship Association (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

At the meeting, Ambassador Kien highly appreciated the associations contributions to the development of relations between the two countries, the valuable support of the association to the Vietnamese Embassy, and the contributions of the members, especially the founders.



The two sides discussed cooperation plans in 2022, the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Austria.

The President of the Austria-Vietnam Friendship Association expressed his pleasure and appreciated that Vietnam is preparing for the establishment of the Vietnam-Austria Friendship Association, and looks forward to soon cooperating with it.

Dr. Peter Jankowitsch used to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1986-1987 and 1990-1992). Since 1998, he has been the President of the Austria-Vietnam Friendship Association and has made many contributions to the relationship between the two countries./.
The event was attended by Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh and RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Alec Cameron, along with officials, businesses, scholars and researchers from Vietnam, Australia and many other countries.

Photo: baoquocte.vn

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh expressed his delight at the expansion of the Vietnam-Australia relations despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with two-way trade rising 50 percent in 2021, making Australia the 10th largest trade partner of Vietnam.

He said that the Prime Ministers of the two countries announced the bilateral Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy in November 2021 and added that during Australian Foreign Minister Marise Paynes visit to Vietnam last year, the two countries agreed to work towards a comprehensive strategic partnership in early February 2023 at earliest.

According to the Ambassador, the launch of the AVPI, the first institute for Vietnamese studies in Australia that gathers business leaders, researchers and government officials who share the interest in the ties between the two countries, is an important event in the bilateral relations.

The diplomat said that in 2022 when the two countries implement the new Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy and celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations and head to a comprehensive partnership, there are high expectations for AVPI's contributions.

He welcomed targets and action programs set by the AVPI, and pledged to work hard to support the institute's activities.

Ambassador Thanh hoped that the AVPI will organise activities to enhance the awareness of people in both countries on the economic and strategic significance of Australia to Vietnam and vice versa, thus increasing mutual understanding in each country's history and the current situation, and helping businesses of both sides to optimise opportunities in each others market.

For his part, Minister Tehan reaffirmed that Australia values the relationship with Vietnam as a key partnership amid the changing situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia hopes to promote the ties in the future to benefit people in both countries as well as the Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific regions as a whole.

Supported by Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the AVPI will act as a dedicated knowledge portal and a collaborative platform to deepen the strategic relationship between Australia and Vietnam./.
Illustrative image (Photo: https://dangcongsan.vn/)



It will operate one daily round trip between Da Nang and Singapore in the morning every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday; and the afternoon every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.



The carrier also planned to gradually raise the frequency of flights to meet the increasing demand of tourists.



Before the pandemic, Singapore was one of the key markets of Da Nang tourism, with four direct flights per day.



The resumption of regular international flights is considered a good sign for the industry of the city in its efforts of re-opening international tourism activities after a long time being affected by the pandemic.



Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam asked the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation to issue a Notice To Airmen on the lifting of all restrictions on international flights from February 15.



After Singapore, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Qatar Airways will also re-start international routes between Vietnam and other key markets such as Incheon, Busan, Jeju of the Republic of Korea; Narita of Japan, and Doha of Qatar./.
Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, delivers the 2022-23 budget speech in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua)

HONG KONG, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Wednesday said it aims to direct more than 54 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 7 billion U.S. dollars) to the financial hub's anti-COVID-19 work in the new financial year.

"At this critical time, we need to direct more resources to relieve people's hardship and provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with some breathing space so as to stabilize the economy and maintain public confidence," said Paul Chan, financial secretary of the HKSAR government, in the 2022-23 budget speech.

With the latest local and external situations as well as the stimulus effect of the fiscal measures, Chan forecast that Hong Kong's economy will put up a better performance in the second half of this year and achieve a growth of 2 to 3.5 percent in real terms for the year as a whole.

About 22 billion Hong Kong dollars will be used to strengthen the COVID-19 testing work and support the HKSAR Hospital Authority, while a further injection of 12 billion dollars will be injected into the Anti-epidemic Fund for the construction of various anti-epidemic related facilities.

Chan said another 20 billion Hong Kong dollars have been earmarked for other potential anti-epidemic needs.

"We will provide full support to fight the epidemic should more resources be required," he said in the speech via video link to members of the Legislative Council.

The budget highlights enhancing Hong Kong's economic resilience and enriching industrial development.

"During this critical juncture of fighting the epidemic, we must take all necessary measures to preserve the vitality of the economy, in particular the survival of SMEs, and strive to safeguard jobs," he said.

The financial secretary proposed reducing profits tax for the year of assessment 2021/22 by 100 percent, a measure expected to benefit 151,000 businesses and reduce government revenue by 1.2 billion Hong Kong dollars.

It is estimated that the counter-cyclical measures which cost a total of over 170 billion Hong Kong dollars in the budget, together with the spending in infrastructure projects and other items, will have a fiscal stimulus effect of boosting the economy by around 3 percentage points, Chan said.

"I forecast that Hong Kong's economy will grow by an average of 3 percent per annum in real terms from 2023 to 2026, slightly higher than the trend growth of 2.8 percent during the decade before the pandemic," he said. 

Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, delivers the 2022-23 budget speech in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, gestures at a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The mainland will continue to provide great development opportunities for young people from Taiwan, said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, on Wednesday.

More and more young people from Taiwan have chosen universities in the mainland because of the improved quality of education, Ma said, commenting on the increasing number of Taiwan students enrolled in mainland universities over the past few years despite the COVID-19 pandemic and tension across the Taiwan Strait.

Ma also attributed the growth to the effective COVID-19 response in the mainland, adding that since 2020 none of the 10,000-plus Taiwan college students in the mainland contracted COVID-19.

He said that the education authorities have upgraded admission policies this year to ease the procedure and improve services for Taiwan students.

The mainland also welcomes Taiwan's youth to develop their careers here, Ma said.

There are 78 career incubators for Taiwan's youth across the mainland. By the end of 2021, more than 4,500 projects were operating there. Also, more than 20,000 young people from the island founded startups or worked as employees and interns in the mainland.

"We will continue to create a favorable environment, provide better services and welcome more young people from Taiwan to come here," Ma said.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attends a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Alfa-Bank (Kyiv) denied media reports about its withdrawal from the Ukrainian market, the bank's press service told Interfax-Ukraine.

"This is a fake. We are now resuming the work of branches in those cities where possible. All information is promptly posted on our social networks," the press service emphasized.

According to the bank's Facebook post, there are 26 branches in Ukraine in 16 cities of Ukraine. The list is being updated.

According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of October 1, 2021 Alfa-Bank ranked sixth in terms of total assets (UAH 115.443 billion) among 71 banks operating in the country.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it is allocating EUR 200,000 in emergency assistance to Ukraine to support people who have been forced to leave their homes and to ensure effective cooperation between humanitarian organizations in identifying the needs of the Ukrainian population and providing assistance.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is providing EUR 100,000 to UNHCR, which plays a leading role in protecting refugees and assisting internally displaced persons, as well as providing housing and basic necessities. UNHCR is also one of the agencies responsible for protecting those in need. The remaining EUR 100,000 is being sent to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which plays a central role in responding to humanitarian crises," the Foreign Ministry said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba insists that the Russian side provide access to the Crimean peninsula it occupies for representatives of the UN Monitoring Mission for Human Rights in Ukraine and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

"If Russia does not agree with all the mentioned resolutions and reports, it should simply provide access to Crimea to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and the OSCE SMM. Access by international organizations to the occupied territories is critical. Ukraine guarantees such access throughout government-controlled territory and continues to demand from the Russian side to do the same in the occupied territories," Kuleba said, speaking at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.

The minister said that since 2014, more than 64,000 citizens of Ukraine were forced to leave Crimea.

"The General Assembly has not accepted and will not accept the Russian mantra that the case of Crimea is closed. The occupying power persists in destroying the identity of Ukrainians and the indigenous inhabitants of the peninsula, the Crimean Tatars. Since 2014, more than 64,000 Ukrainian citizens have had to leave Crimea and moved the mainland of Ukraine due to fear, persecution for political and human rights activities, discrimination on ethnic and religious grounds. Political persecution continued unabated," Kuleba said.
Columns of Russian tanks entered the Lugansk region at the turn of the settlements of Krasna Talivka, Milove, Horodysche, according to the Facebook page of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"The enemy treacherously put white cars with OSCE symbols in the columns. While fighting is going on at this line. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine with brothers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine are holding the line," the ministry said.
Three civilians were killed in Vuhledar, Donetsk region, as a result of shelling, according to the operational information of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

"In Donetsk region in the city of Vuhledar, three civilians were killed during shelling," the ministry said in a statement as of 11:00.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs also saidthat a shell hit the territory of military unit 3012 of the National Guard of Ukraine in Malynivsky district in Odesa.

Mortar shelling also started near Derhachi air force in Kharkiv region.
Military facility in Brovary attacked by cruise missiles, info on victims being clarified  Gerashchenko

A military facility in the city of Brovary, Kyiv region, was attacked with cruise missiles on Thursday afternoon, adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko said.

"There was just a strike by two cruise missiles on our military facility in Brovary. Information from the General Staff. Information about casualties and destruction is being specified," Gerashchenko said on Facebook.

Around noon, explosions were heard in Kyiv, windows were trembling in residential buildings on the eastern outskirts of the city, closest to Brovary.
Luhansk, Rivne, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv customs offices, as well as the customs office in Kherson region, are closed, the rest are operating normally, but some are experiencing failures in the operation of electronic services, the State Customs Service said on Thursday.

"Due to the advance of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine, some of the customs posts are currently not working. Also, airspace is closed in Ukraine, so all customs posts at airports are closed," the customs office said in the Telegram channel.

At the same time, the authority said that the Donetsk customs office works on duty, the information on the work of the Energy and Poltava customs offices is being specified.

Zhytomyr customs (no connection with electronic services), Zakarpattia, Zaporizhia, Ivano-Frankivsk customs (working normally, the customs post Ivano-Frankivsk does not work, there is no connection with electronic services), Kyiv (except for the customs post Boryspil-airport, Kyiv Zhuliany, Vilcha - they do not work), Coordinating and monitoring customs, Kropyvnytsky, Lvivska, Mykolaivska, Odesa (except for the post Odesa-airport), Ternopilska, Khmelnytska, Cherkasy, and Chernivtsi customs are operating as usual.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, on behalf of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, has begun the procedure for breaking off diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation in accordance with international law.

"Ukraine declares the severance of diplomatic relations with Russia without severing consular relations, in accordance with Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963. We will continue to protect the rights and interests of Ukrainians in Russia, including Ukrainian political prisoners," the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine also recalled Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine in the Russian Federation Vasyl Pokotylo to Kyiv for consultations and proceeded to evacuate the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow.

Consular offices of Ukraine on the territory of the Russian Federation continue to work as usual.

"Our state took such a step in response to the act of armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the invasion of Russian troops to destroy the Ukrainian state, seize Ukrainian territory by force and establish occupation control," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry noted that the Russian offensive operation is an attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a gross violation of the UN Charter and the fundamental norms and principles of international law.

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Locked in an epic cosmic waltz 9 billion light years away, two supermassive black holes appear to be orbiting around each other every two years.

The two giant bodies each have masses that are hundreds of millions of times larger than that of our sun, and the objects are separated by a distance roughly 50 times that which separates our sun and Pluto. When the pair merge in roughly 10,000 years, the titanic collision is expected to shake space and time itself, sending gravitational waves across the universe.



A Caltech-led team of astronomers has discovered evidence for this scenario taking place within a fiercely energetic object known as a quasar. Quasars are active cores of galaxies in which a supermassive black hole is siphoning material from a disk encircling it. In some quasars, the supermassive black hole creates a jet that shoots out at near the speed of light. The quasar observed in the new study, PKS 2131-021, belongs to a subclass of quasars called blazars in which the jet is pointing toward the Earth. Astronomers already knew quasars could possess two orbiting supermassive black holes, but finding direct evidence for this has proved difficult.



Reporting in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the researchers argue that PKS 2131-021 is now the second known candidate for a pair of supermassive black holes caught in the act of merging. The first candidate pair, within a quasar called OJ 287, orbit each other at greater distances, circling every nine years versus the two years it takes for the PKS 2131-021 pair to complete an orbit.



The telltale evidence came from radio observations of PKS 2131-021 that span 45 years. According to the study, a powerful jet emanating from one of the two black holes within PKS 2131-021 is shifting back and forth due to the pair's orbital motion. This causes periodic changes in the quasar's radio-light brightness. Five different observatories registered these oscillations, including Caltech's Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO), the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory (UMRAO), MIT's Haystack Observatory, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), Metsahovi Radio Observatory in Finland, and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space satellite.

The combination of the radio data yields a nearly perfect sinusoidal light curve unlike anything observed from quasars before.



"When we realized that the peaks and troughs of the light curve detected from recent times matched the peaks and troughs observed between 1975 and 1983, we knew something very special was going on," says Sandra O'Neill, lead author of the new study and an undergraduate student at Caltech who is mentored by Tony Readhead, Robinson Professor of Astronomy, Emeritus.



Ripples in Space and Time



Most, if not all, galaxies possess monstrous black holes at their cores, including our own Milky Way galaxy. When galaxies merge, their black holes "sink" to the middle of the newly formed galaxy and eventually join together to form an even more massive black hole. As the black holes spiral toward each other, they increasingly disturb the fabric of space and time, sending out gravitational waves, which were first predicted by Albert Einstein more than 100 years ago.



The National Science Foundation's LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), which is managed jointly by Caltech and MIT, detects gravitational waves from pairs of black holes up to dozens of times the mass of our sun. However, the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies have millions to billions of times as much mass as our sun, and give off lower frequencies of gravitational waves than those detected by LIGO.



In the future, pulsar timing arrays--which consist of an array of pulsing dead stars precisely monitored by radio telescopes--should be able to detect the gravitational waves from supermassive black holes of this heft. (The upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, or LISA, mission would detect merging black holes whose masses are 1,000 to 10 million times greater than the mass of our sun.) So far, no gravitational waves have been registered from any of these heavier sources, but PKS 2131-021 provides the most promising target yet.



In the meantime, light waves are the best option to detect coalescing supermassive black holes.

The first such candidate, OJ 287, also exhibits periodic radio-light variations. These fluctuations are more irregular, and not sinusoidal, but they suggest the black holes orbit each other every nine years. The black holes within the new quasar, PKS 2131-021, orbit each other every two years and are 2,000 astronomical units apart, about 50 times the distance between our sun and Pluto, or 10 to 100 times closer than the pair in OJ 287. (An astronomical unit is the distance between Earth and the sun.)



Revealing the 45-Year Light Curve



Readhead says the discoveries unfolded like a "good detective novel," beginning in 2008 when he and colleagues began using the 40-meter telescope at OVRO to study how black holes convert material they "feed" on into relativistic jets, or jets traveling at speeds up to 99.98 percent that of light. They had been monitoring the brightness of more than 1,000 blazars for this purpose when, in 2020, they noticed a unique case.



"PKS 2131 was varying not just periodically, but sinusoidally," Readhead says. "That means that there is a pattern we can trace continuously over time." The question, he says, then became how long has this sine wave pattern been going on?



The research team then went through archival radio data to look for past peaks in the light curves that matched predictions based on the more recent OVRO observations. First, data from NRAO's Very Long Baseline Array and UMRAO revealed a peak from 2005 that matched predictions. The UMRAO data further showed there was no sinusoidal signal at all for 20 years before that time--until as far back as 1981 when another predicted peak was observed.



"The story would have stopped there, as we didn't realize there were data on this object before 1980," Readhead says. "But then Sandra picked up this project in June of 2021. If it weren't for her, this beautiful finding would be sitting on the shelf."



O'Neill began working with Readhead and the study's second author Sebastian Kiehlmann, a postdoc at the University of Crete and former staff scientist at Caltech, as part of Caltech's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. O'Neill began college as a chemistry major but picked up the astronomy project because she wanted to stay active during the pandemic. "I came to realize I was much more excited about this than anything else I had worked on," she says.



With the project back on the table, Readhead searched through the literature and found that the Haystack Observatory had made radio observations of PKS 2131-021 between 1975 and 1983. These data revealed another peak matching their predictions, this time occurring in 1976.



"This work shows the value of doing accurate monitoring of these sources over many years for performing discovery science," says co-author Roger Blandford, Moore Distinguished Scholar in Theoretical Astrophysics at Caltech who is currently on sabbatical from Stanford University.



Like Clockwork



Readhead compares the system of the jet moving back and forth to a ticking clock, where each cycle, or period, of the sine wave corresponds to the two-year orbit of the black holes (though the observed cycle is actually five years due to light being stretched by the expansion of the universe). This ticking was first seen in 1976 and it continued for eight years before disappearing for 20 years, likely due to changes in the fueling of the black hole. The ticking has now been back for 17 years.



"The clock kept ticking," he says, "The stability of the period over this 20-year gap strongly suggests that this blazar harbors not one supermassive black hole, but two supermassive black holes orbiting each other."



The physics underlying the sinusoidal variations were at first a mystery, but Blandford came up with a simple and elegant model to explain the sinusoidal shape of the variations.



"We knew this beautiful sine wave had to be telling us something important about the system," Readhead says. "Roger's model shows us that it is simply the orbital motion that does this. Before Roger worked it out, nobody had figured out that a binary with a relativistic jet would have a light curve that looked like this."



Says Kiehlmann: "Our study provides a blueprint for how to search for such blazar binaries in the future."



The Astrophysical Journal Letters study titled "The Unanticipated Phenomenology of the Blazar PKS 2131-021: A Unique Super-Massive Black hole Binary Candidate" was funded by Caltech, the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, NASA, National Science Foundation (NSF), the Academy of Finland, the European Research Council, ANID-FONDECYT (Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo-Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico y Tecnologico in Chile), the Natural Science and Engineering Council of Canada, the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas in Greece, the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation in Greece, and the University of Michigan. Other Caltech authors include Tim Pearson, Vikram Ravi, Kieran Cleary, Matthew Graham, and Tom Prince. Other authors from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed by Caltech for NASA, include Michele Vallisneri and Joseph Lazio.

The Unanticipated Phenomenology of the Blazar PKS 2131-021: A Unique Supermassive Black Hole Binary Candidate, The Astrophysical Journal Letters

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Ukrainian air defense shot down three Russian helicopters near Hostomel airport, advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs Anton Gerashchenko said in Telegram.

"There has just been an attack by Russian helicopters with a landing on Hostomel airfield. There is a battle going on. Three enemy helicopters have been shot down," Gerashchenko wrote on his Telegram channel on Thursday.
A wave of further air strikes on the territory of Ukraine, including on objects in Kyiv, is possible in the near future, adviser to the head of the President's Office Oleksiy Arestovych said.

"Now there may be a wave of further air strikes on the territory of Ukraine, including on objects in Kyiv," Arestovych said at a briefing on Thursday afternoon after he announced the missile strikes on the location of the SOF Command in the city of Brovary, Kyiv region.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the further Russian invasion of Ukraine a catastrophe for the European continent and called for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders.

"This is a catastrophe for our continent. I will make an address to the nation this morning on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible," Johnson said on Twitter on Thursday.
Russia inflicts over 30 strikes on civilian, military infrastructure as of 13.00  AFU General Staff

Russia inflicts over 30 strikes on civilian, military infrastructure as of 13.00  AFU General Staff

KYIV. Feb 24 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Russia has inflicted more than 30 strikes on civilian and military infrastructure in Ukraine as of 13.00.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of 13.00 on February 24, the armed forces of the aggressor state inflicted more than 30 strikes with Caliber cruise missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, aviation and artillery on the civilian and military infrastructure of Ukraine.

It is noted that the enemy continues the offensive with the support of army aviation from crossing the Ukrainian border in the directions of Armyansk-Kherson, Chaplynka-Kakhovka.

According to the General Staff, the work of sabotage and reconnaissance groups is recorded in the Bessarabian operational area and in the Black Sea operational zone of Ukraine.

It is reported that the groupings of the Joint Forces of Ukraine have switched to a defensive operation.

Operational-tactical groupings conduct defensive battles in all directions of enemy advance.
Between the village of Zhukivtsi and Trypillia, Obukhov district (Kyiv region), a military aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on board of which there were 14 people, downed, killing five people, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said.

"A military aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (14 people were on board) crashed between the village of Zhukivtsi and Trypillia, Obukhov district, followed by a fire, resulting in the death of five people," the State Emergency Service said in Telegram on Thursday.
The leaders of the Group of Seven countries condemn Russia's invasion of the territory of Ukraine and declare their strong support for Kyiv, the G7 said in a statement.

"We strongly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We declare our unceasing support and solidarity with Ukraine," the document says.
Ukrainian road carriers, unable to return to Ukraine due to closure of checkpoint on border with Belarus, can return through Poland

Ukrainian road carriers, who were supposed to enter Ukraine through Belarus and Russia, can return to Ukraine through Poland, with which a corresponding agreement has been reached, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine has reported.

"To the attention of Ukrainian carriers who cannot return to Ukraine due to the closure of checkpoints on the border with Belarus. We agreed with our colleagues from the Ministry of Infrastructure of the Republic of Poland, who expressed their readiness to let through their territory all Ukrainian vehicles that were supposed to enter Ukraine through Belarus and the Russian Federation from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia," the ministry's Telegram channel said.

To pass a car without the appropriate permits, carriers must provide their data for transfer to the Polish side.

The Ministry of Infrastructure asks carriers to immediately provide information about vehicles via a link to a Google form (https://forms.gle/bhMmDDetQAse7ZEj8).
US administration studying possibility of sending additional military personnel to Europe's east  media

US administration studying possibility of sending additional military personnel to Europe's east  media

KYIV. Feb 24 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is considering redeploying additional U.S. troops already in Europe to NATO's eastern flank, CNN reports, citing a source.

According to it, Washington is studying the possibility of transferring its military to Eastern European countries.

According to him, Washington is studying the possibility of transferring its military to Eastern European countries.

The documents says that they have decided, in accordance with their defensive plan to protect all allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense throughout the alliance.

The document says that their measures are still preventive, proportionate and do not increase tension.
New tough painful EU sanctions to be introduced against Russia within 24 hours  Kuleba

New powerful painful EU sanctions against the Russian Federation will be introduced within the next 24 hours, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"I spoke with Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, he assured me, in response to my call, that new powerful and painful EU sanctions against Russia would be introduced within the next 24 hours," Kuleba said in a Facebook live broadcast on Thursday.

The minister indicated that Ukraine would be assisted in the fight against the Russian Federation.

"Also, U.S. sanctions will be announced in the near future, and in a couple of hours I have a scheduled conversation with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken," Kuleba said.

According to him, almost 50 countries have already absolutely clearly accused the Russian Federation of aggression, and this number will grow.

Kuleba also clarified that he is now on his way to Ukraine from the United States.

Earlier head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that later on Thursday, EU leaders would consider a new package of sanctions against Russia, designed to severely limit its access to capital markets. The EU also plans to restrict Russia's access to a number of technologies.
UNHCR warns of possible serious humanitarian consequences due to situation in Ukraine

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed serious concern over the situation in Ukraine and warned of possible severe humanitarian consequences.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement that they are seriously concerned over the rapidly deteriorating situation and ongoing hostilities in Ukraine.

He said that the humanitarian consequences for the civilian population will be devastating.

He added that UNHCR is working with its partners in Ukraine and is ready to provide humanitarian assistance if necessary.
Chahid El-Hafed, 24, Feb 2022 (SPS) The participants in the work of the Arab Conference of Solidarity with the Saharawi people insisted, Wednesday in Chahid El-Hafedh (Sahrawi refugee camps), on the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence , calling for the decolonization of Western Sahara.

In a statement to APS, the president of the Arab committee of solidarity with the Saharawi people, Mahmoud Marai, underlined the support for the Saharawi people in their struggle for their independence, considering that the delay in the process of decolonization of the last colony in Africa was due to the stubbornness of the Moroccan .

The speaker praised "the strong participation of Arab countries in this event, in a context nevertheless marked by a blackout on the Sahrawi question at the Arab and international levels", he said.SPS

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U.S. President Joe Biden, following a meeting with G7 leaders on Thursday, said that the allies are ready to impose a "devastating" package of sanctions against Russia.

"This morning, I met with my G7 counterparts to discuss President Putin's unjustified attack on Ukraine and we agreed to move forward on devastating packages of sanctions and other economic measures to hold Russia to account. We stand with the brave people of Ukraine," Biden said on Twitter.
The United Kingdom is banning Russian airline Aeroflot (MOEX: AFLT) from performing flights to the country, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the British parliament on Thursday.

"We are also banning Aeroflot from the UK," the prime minister said.

Aeroflot performs one daily flight from Moscow to London, according to information on the airline's website. Flights between the capitals are also operated by British Airways.
National security services to turn off all state registers until situation in Ukraine stabilizes, number of documents in Diia not to be available - Digital Transformation Ministry

The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine has announced the shutdown of state registries until the stabilization of the situation in Ukraine for security purposes.

"National security services will turn off all state registries until the situation in Ukraine stabilizes in order to ensure the security of Ukrainians' data. Some digital documents and a number of services in the Diia application will not be available," the message posted on the Telegram channel says.

Also, to ensure data security, digital documents in Diia will not be available.
EU summit to approve not only sanctions for Russia, but also assistance for Ukraine - European Council President

At the upcoming extraordinary summit, the leaders of the EU member states will not only approve a package of new sanctions against Russia, but will also decide on further support for Ukraine, said European Council President Charles Michel.

Michel announced this at NATO headquarters on Thursday, where he met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The meeting was also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

He said that in addition to the sanctions package, the EU summit will decide on political, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and its people. Innocent people have been killed. Women, men, children are fleeing fearing for their lives. They need our support more than ever, he said. He promised to also discuss the geopolitical and economic consequences of aggression against Ukraine.

Michel also addressed the Belarusian people by saying that they have choice not to follow Russian aggressive actions, they have a chance not to participate in this tragedy against their neighbors in Ukraine.
South Africa: Education sector seeks more measures to prevent learner pregnancy

Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, says the sector is in continuous engagement with other role players and parents to strengthen the prevention of early and unintended pregnancy.

Motshekga on Thursday said interventions such as Lets Talks EUP, implemented with support from UNESCO, allow for a safe space for intergenerational dialogue on how best to deal with the issue of early and unintended pregnancy (EUP).

The Minister said the curriculum is also being used to address EUP.

Our commitment is to strengthen the Comprehensive Sexuality Education offering in Life Orientation to ensure that learners are empowered with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their health and sexuality, prevent HIV infection and pregnancy, and focus on their education.

Where early pregnancy occurs, the [Policy for the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy] will help the sector to support the pregnant learner, and ensure that care and support is provided so that the unfortunate occurrence does not impact negatively on their education, the Minister said at the Social Cluster media briefing in Tshwane.

The Department of Basic Education launched the Policy for the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy in Schools last week, following alarming statistics on the pregnancy of young girls between the ages of 10 and 19.

Motshekga called on parents, caregivers and community members to help the sector ensure that children are protected, especially because most of the time, pregnancy among children usually occurs as a result of sexual abuse and coerced sexual intercourse and sexual abuse.

ECD function shift

The Minister said the Basic Education and Social Development Departments have been working together to ensure that the function shift from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education of Early Childhood Development [ECD] happens as planned from 1 April 2022.

We know from international evidence that education systems will contribute to development only when they function optimally, and their component parts are focused on quality improvement, and aligned to ensure accountability for learning outcomes from early childhood and foundations to the more senior grades.

The Minister said one of the key priority areas for the sector is to ECD service delivery as soon as the function shift happens.

The migration of ECD provides us an opportunity to craft and implement innovative strategies to strengthen foundational learning, looking at the continuum from birth to early grades.

Social protection system

The Social Cluster has lauded the social protection system as the greatest among the achievements of the democratic government, reaching more than 18 million people every month.

Motshekga said without this support, millions more people would live in dire poverty.

Since the onset of COVID-19, the Social Relief of Distress Grant has provided support to more than 10 million unemployed people, who remain most vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic.

During his recent State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa announced that government will extend the R350 SRD Grant for a further year, to the end of March 2023.

During this time, government will engage in broad consultations and detailed technical work to identify the best options to replace this grant.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Trend

The repair of the Zangezur tanker owned by Marine Transport Fleet of CJSC Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) has been completed at the Zykh shipyard in Baku, the company told Trend.

During the repairs, the underwater and above-water parts of the vessel, the mechanisms in the engine room, and the main deck were cleaned and painted.

In addition, the tank vessel has been welded and installed.

After the renovation, the tanker has successfully passed sea trials and will be involved in the crude oil transportation from Turkmenistan in the coming days.

The vessel length accounted for 149.9 meters, the width was 17.3 meters, and the carrying capacity was 13,800 tons.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijani, Russian and Iranian Energy Ministers Parviz Shahbazov, Nikolai Shulginov and Ali Akbar Mehrabian have discussed energy cooperation between the countries during a trilateral meeting held in Doha, Qatar on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

The parties focused on the work done to create a North-South Power Transmission Corridor. They discussed the preparation of a feasibility study for the project to connect Azerbaijan's, Iran's, and Russia's electricity networks.

They emphasized the importance of the electricity corridor for all three countries and the need to accelerate the project's feasibility study.

In this regard, it was suggested that a meeting be held with Monenco Iran, the company in charge of the project's feasibility study, as well as the energy ministries of the three countries and relevant energy companies.

Furthermore, during their bilateral meeting, Parviz Shahbazov and Ali Akbar Mehrabian discussed bilateral energy cooperation as well as the implementation of the Khudafarin and Giz Galasi hydropower projects.

Parviz Shahbazov arrived in Qatar at the invitation of Qatar's State Minister for Energy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, to attend the GECF ministerial meeting and the 6th summit of heads of state and government.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijans Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov and Roseximbanks Board Chairman Azer Talibov have discussed the participation of Russian companies in the restoration of the liberated territories.

The parties also discussed the organization of regular business missions by Russian companies to Azerbaijan, as well as energy, railway, and pharmaceutical projects.

Noting the successful development of relations with Russia, Jabbarov emphasized the importance of financial partnership in terms of broader economic potential realization, as well as strengthening trade and investment ties.

He underlined that the favorable business and investment environment created in Azerbaijan, and great economic potential of liberated lands, create new opportunities for expanding regional cooperation.

The minister also noted the role of the banking sector in Azerbaijani-Russian economic cooperation and shared his opinion on the development of relations with Roseximbank.

In turn, Talibov expressed the interest of Russian entrepreneurs in participating in projects implemented in Azerbaijan. He also stressed that the business community will contribute to economic cooperation, business revival, creation of new enterprises and jobs.

Azerbaijan and Russia have mutual cooperation in different fields, such as economy, agriculture, customs, communications, high technology, and others. More than 230 intergovernmental and intercompany documents have been signed between the two countries and six "road maps" are being implemented.

Azerbaijani investments in Russia's economy have exceeded $1.2 billion, with the majority of these investments being in the non-oil sector. In addition, Russian investments in Azerbaijan's economy totaled $6.3 billion, with $5 billion invested in the oil sector and $1.3 billion invested in non-oil sectors.

Additionally, some 14 Russian companies have applied for participation in Azerbaijan's Karabakh reconstruction.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia amounted to $2.9 billion in 2021, making Russia Azerbaijans third-largest partner.
Al-Azhar condemned Friday terrorist attack on a mosque in Afghanistans capital Kabul that left dozens of worshippers dead and injured.
Egyptian authorities succeeded in releasing 20 Egyptian sailors who were held in Yemen over the past several days reportedly over charges of trespassing into Yemeni territorial waters without a permit.
A draft opinion suggests the US Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalize abortion nationwide, according to a Politico report.
Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea and a delegation from Mercedes-Benz Egypt discussed in Cairo on Tuesday boosting the companys projects in the country, with an eye on localising electric vehicle manufacturing.
Safeya Mounir sounds out tourism experts on whether Egypts tourist industry will be affected by the crisis between Russia and Ukraine

As tensions mount between Russia and Ukraine, so too do concerns over a possible war and its impact on many aspects of the global economy, not least tourism. Already the skirmishes in Ukraine are having an impact on Egypts tourism industry.

According to Ali Okda, CEO of Meeting Point Egypt, a tourism company focusing on the Russian market, tourism from both Russia and Ukraine is down to a quarter of what it was before the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

If a war breaks out, there will be no tourism at all, he commented, adding that tourist planes will not take off from Ukraine, its airspace will be closed to civil aviation, and insurance companies will not insure planes coming from either Ukraine or Russia.

He said that the fallout of a war on tourism to Egypt would be largely limited to these two countries, however, with Omicron remaining the leading cause of low tourist rates from Europe.

However, the latter were likely to rise again soon. Hotel reservations in Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada in March are up 30 per cent from February. Europe has begun to open up, and some EU countries have begun to allow in unvaccinated persons.

Even so, Ukraine is a main exporter of tourists to Egypt. According to the Ukraine State Agency for Tourism Development, Ukrainian citizens took 14.7 million tourist trips abroad in 2021. The top two destinations were Turkey, which received 28 per cent of Ukrainian tourists, and Egypt which received 21 per cent.

Mustafa Khalil, a member of the Egyptian-Russian Business Council, said that the tourist markets from both Russia and Ukraine had been affected by the tensions. However, he feared a worse situation could arise if economic sanctions are imposed on Russia after the Ukraine crisis passes, with these likely to sharply reduce Russian tourism.

Egypts tourist numbers are down 40 per cent from October and November levels, he said, though this was largely due to the new variant of Covid-19. Most Europeans are not convinced that war is imminent, Khalil said, pointing to the tourist bookings Europeans have made for March.

He added that while tourism from Russia was still less than it was before Russia suspended flights to Egypt following the downing of the Russian passenger plane over Sinai in 2015, the quality of it was better.

The economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have reduced the numbers of Russian tourists able to come to Egypt, meaning that only those able to spend more were coming.

Director of the Savoy Hotels chain Rami Rizqallah said that the skirmishes in Ukraine had had a significant effect. More than 20,000 Russian tourists per week had earlier come to Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada, but the rate has now dropped to 10,000, he said.

More than 700,000 Russians visited Egypt last year, Russian Ambassador to Egypt Georgy Borisenko told the Sputnik news agency earlier in February.

The same destinations have lately been receiving 6,000 to 8,000 tourists per week from Ukraine. Before the skirmishes, there had been 40,000.

Rizqallah added that Ukraine had been a prime tourist market for Egypt before the Russians returned last summer when direct and charter flights from Russia to the Red Sea resorts resumed after a six-year hiatus.

Russia and Ukraine are among the top sources of tourists to Egypt, and they were among the few markets that started to boom again once the Covid-19 pandemic had begun to subside.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Ukraine's security council on Wednesday approved plans to declare a state of national emergency, in response to the growing threat of a Russian invasion.

The measure, which must be formally approved by parliament, requires stepped-up document and vehicle checks, among other measures, the council's secretary Oleksiy Danilov said.

Danilov said he would deliver a report to Ukraine's parliament later on Wednesday, with lawmakers expected to approve the added security measures this week.

They would apply to all parts of Ukraine except for its two Russian-backed eastern separatist regions, where a deadly insurgency that has claimed more than 14,000 lives broke out in 2014.

Danilov said each of Ukraine's regions would be able to select which particular measures to apply, "depending on how necessary they might be".

"What could it be? This could be added enforcement of public order," Danilov said.

"This could involve limiting certain types of transport, increased vehicle checks, or asking people to show this or that document," he added, calling it a "preventive" measure.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Wednesday that Turkey would not recognise any move against Ukraine's sovereignty, and warned against a military conflict.

Erdogan told Putin that Turkey would "not recognise any step against Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," his office said, adding that this was Ankara's "principled approach".

President Vladimir Putin has defied an avalanche of international sanctions to put his forces on stand-by to occupy and defend two rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine, after recognising the two regions as independent.

NATO member Turkey, which has friendly ties to both Russia and Ukraine, has sought to position itself as a mediator in the crisis.

During the phone call with Putin, Erdogan said "a military conflict would not bring benefit to anyone", and that Ankara placed priority on diplomacy and dialogue, the presidency said.

"Turkey is ready to do its part to reduce tensions and maintain peace," he told Putin.

Erdogan cut short his trip to Africa amid the flurry of diplomacy over the crisis between Russia and Ukraine and returned Turkey late on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters on the plane from Africa, Erdogan said Turkey did not want to make a choice between Russia and Ukraine, in comments published in Turkish media on Wednesday.

"It is not possible for us to give up on both," he said.

"We have political and military relations with Russia. We also have political, military and economic ties with Ukraine," he added.

"We want this issue to be resolved without us having to choose between the two."

Erdogan has proposed a trilateral summit in Turkey with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Turkish leader told Zelensky in a phone call on Tuesday that "Putin's recognition of so-called republics" was unacceptable.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that Russian aggression toward Ukraine is ``an attack on democracy,'' vowing that the US will stand united with its allies around the world in swiftly imposing sanctions on Russia and ensuring financial and political support for an independent Ukraine.

Pelosi, who returned to the Capitol from a diplomatic overseas trip, compared the aggression to Russia's intervention in the United States' own democratic process during the 2016 election.

``There will be a price to pay for Vladimir Putin,`` she said, flanked by lawmakers who had joined her delegation at the annual security conference in Munich.

Pelosi said the Russian president is one of the richest men in the world and warned that the sanctions being imposed by the US and its allies are only the start of what is possible to inflict financial pain on his regime. ``We're doing this together,`` she said.

For now, the US Congress is largely backing President Joe Biden's decision to slap sanctions on Russia, a rare but fragile bipartisan response to the most daunting foreign policy crisis the nation has faced in a generation.

But the next steps remain highly volatile.

With isolationist impulses rising at home, Congress has no appetite for war. And Republican critics of the Biden administration _ and even some Democrats _ want the White House to go even tougher with swifter and more severe sanctions on Russia.

Republican leaders have sought to steer the conversation to their preferred terms, as the party whose defense hawks once led the nation on the national security front.

But it's not at all clear whether today's GOP can keep Republicans from tapping into an impassioned non-interventionist strain unleashed by Donald Trump's ``America First'' approach.

It was Trump who sought to strip protections for Ukraine from the Republican Party platform for the 2016 election, and who was impeached by the House for abuse of power after he pressured the Ukrainian president to dig up dirt on Biden during the 2016 campaign.

This week, Trump cheered on Putin as he massed military forces near Ukraine's border and recognized the independence of its separatist regions in a move Biden and others warned is the start of an invasion of Ukraine.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a longtime champion of NATO, spoke highly of the Western alliance this week, but some within his party are gravitating away from that traditional Republican position and toward Trump's views.

McConnell said he wants to see Biden impose the ``toughest possible sanctions.''

Still, most Republican senators are backing Biden's sanctions on Putin, even if some are clamoring for more.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a sometimes Trump ally who is also one of the party's leading defense hawks, used to globetrot with fellow GOP Sen. John McCain and invoked his late colleague this week in urging Biden to confront Putin more forcefully.

Graham said Congress should impose ``sanctions from hell'' on Putin and his regime when lawmakers return to work next week.

Pelosi said Russians need to understand what their leader is doing. ``It's stunning to see in this day and age, a tyrant roll into a country,'' Pelosi said.

The Senate has bipartisan support for a robust sanctions package but after running into differences over the scope and timing of the response decided to shelve a vote as the White House pursued its own strategy.

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Sandwiched between Russia and the European Union, Ukraine has been torn between its former Soviet master and the West -- of which it wants to be a part -- since its independence in 1991.

Here is an overview:

Dominated by Russia

Ukraine votes overwhelmingly for independence from the crumbling Soviet Union in a referendum on December 1, 1991. Russian President Boris Yeltsin recognises it the next day and a week later Russia, Ukraine and Belarus sign an accord establishing the Community of Independent States (CIS).

After the USSR finally collapses on December 25, 1991, Ukraine spends the next five years trying to wriggle free of its giant neighbour which has dominated it for three centuries.

Kyiv is lukewarm about the CIS, regarding it as a Russian ploy to bring former Soviet republics back into its orbit.

Moscow, Washington and London sign an accord in Budapest on December 5, 1994 to respect Ukraine's independence, its sovereignty and its borders.

Friendship treaty with Moscow

Russia and Ukraine sign a friendship and cooperation treaty in 1997 but it fails to lift all the ambiguity which overshadows their relations.

The treaty resolves a thorny dispute over the share out of the ex-Soviet Black Sea fleet which is anchored in Sevastopol in Crimea.

Russia remains owner of most of the ships, but agrees to pay Ukraine rent to use the port of Sevastopol.

The Kremlin is deeply opposed to Ukraine or any other ex-Soviet republic joining NATO and it is able to hold an economic gun to Ukraine's head.

Russia remains Ukraine's most important trading partner, and Kyiv is totally dependent on Russian oil and gas.

Pro-Westerner survives poisoning

In 2004, Ukraine's fraud tainted presidential election is won by Russia-backed candidate Viktor Yanukovych.

But after unprecedented street protests, the election is annulled.

The victory on December 26 of pro-Western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko marks the beginning of a new political era in Ukraine after a decade under the thumb of Moscow-oriented Leonid Kuchma.

Yushchenko is victim of a mysterious dioxin attack, which disfigures him, during the campaign but survives.

From his arrival in power, Yushchenko voices Ukraine's wish to join the EU, despite opposition from Brussels and NATO.

But in 2008 NATO provokes Moscow's ire when its leaders declare that Ukraine might one day join the alliance.

The two neighbours go through several trade wars and stand-offs, the most spectacular being over gas in 2006 and 2009 which disrupts Europe's energy supplies.

Pro-EU uprising

President Viktor Yanukovych comes to power in February 2010 and begins a rapid rapprochement with Russia, while saying integration with the EU remains a priority.

But under pressure from the Kremlin, he refuses at the last minute to sign an accord with the EU in November and instead goes for a trade deal with Moscow.

The U-turn unleashes a mass pro-European protest movement centred on Kiev's central square, the Maidan.

The street revolt ends in February 2014 with Yanukovych's flight to Russia and his impeachment, after the deaths of around a hundred protesters in violent clashes.

Crimea then Donbas

Russia riposts by deploying its "polite little green men" in Crimea -- which turn out to be Russian troops -- and then annexing the peninsula.

On March 16, 2014 a Moscow-run referendum there approves the Russia takeover.

The annexation provokes the worst diplomatic crisis between the West and Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union and heavy sanctions are imposed on Moscow.

Then in April, pro-Russian separatists seize key sites in Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking industrial region in eastern Ukraine. Clashes degenerate into war in May.

Kyiv and the West believe that Moscow has engineered the separatist drive in retaliation for Ukraine's pro-Western slant.

Some 14,000 people die in the conflict.

Build-up then invasion

Since late 2021 Moscow has massed tens of thousands of soldiers on Ukraine's borders, fuelling fears of an invasion.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognises the independence of the two separatist self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Three days later Russian forces invade Ukraine with Putin warning the West of "horrible consequences" if it interferes.

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As Russia launched Thursday a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine, many potential economic impacts are looming not only for Europe but also for Arab countries, including Egypt.

Below, Ahram Online tries to shed light on the expected impacts of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis on Egypt, especially the flow of wheat imports, petroleum prices and tourism, and what the government is doing to mitigate any harms.

Is wheat at risk?

Egypt  one of the worlds top wheat importers  gets around 80 percent of its wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine together. The crisis may directly threaten these deliveries.

Egypt, whose current strategic wheat reserves are sufficient to cover the coming four months, is anxiously waiting for the local wheat supply season that starts in mid-April to augment its total stock to cover more five months, approximately until next November, according to officials' estimates.

The North African country is also setting its eyes on 14 alternative markets recommended by local agricultural bodies  including non-European countries like the US, Argentina, Canada and Paraguay  to meet its grain needs.

That is not all; another major concern is that the current escalation may drive up wheat prices across the board, Egypt's Cabinet Spokesperson Nader Saad told the media on Wednesday.

Russia and Ukraine together account for nearly 30 percent of the worlds wheat exports.

Saad called upon citizens to rationalise the consumption of bread loaves to the spare the country  which provides tens of millions of Egyptians with subsidised bread  any disruption of wheat supply in light of the conflict.

The country, over the long run, is pushing ahead with domestic what production, aiming to increase agricultural land nationwide by 2 million feddans over the next two years, Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Wednesday

The efforts are in line with the country's plan to expand its reliance on local agricultural production.

In 2021, Egypt imported 5.5 million tonnes of wheat, on top of 3.5 million tonnes from local farms. Egypt also forecast wheat imports in 2022 to drop to 5.3 million tonnes due to an increase in local production.

What about Tourism?

Tourism, Egypt's main source of hard currency is vulnerable to fallout from the conflict as well, according to local and international experts. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the countrys tourism revenues accounted for up to 15 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Russia and Ukraine are major sources of tourists for Egypt. This number could decline if the conflict persists, dealing a serious blow to the sector only recently beginning to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Egypt has been witnessing a gradual recovery in the tourism sector since last summer, with the country hoping to achieve the rates of the pre-pandemic number of tourists, which stood at about 13 million in 2019.

Thanks in part to the resumption of direct flights from Moscow to Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada in August 2021, more than 700,000 Russians visited Egypt in 2021. The first two weeks of 2022 alone saw the arrival of 125,000 Russians.

The resumption of Russian flights to the coastal Egyptian cities came after a hiatus since 2015 over a Russian plane crash over Sinai, before which some 3.3 million Russians visited Egyptian Red Sea Resorts in 2014.

Ukrainians have also significantly contributed to the Egyptian tourism sector, with up to 1.2 million tourists visiting Egypt from July 2020 to July 2021.

In a pre-emptive step, the Egyptian government is doubling efforts to lure alternative tourism markets to soften the expected influence of the ongoing Russian invasion, according to a cabinet statement on Wednesday.

Oil prices vs. Egypt's budget

Egyptian officials are also monitoring the rise in oil prices following the invasion, since any increase could put pressure on the Egyptian states budget.

The local cost of the state subsidised petroleum products could increase due to the conflict, the cabinet spokesperson pointed out.

Since 2019, Egypt has been reviewing and adjusting local fuel prices quarterly through recommendations of Fuel Automatic Pricing Committee. These adjustments are based on the international price of oil, the cost of production and the exchange rate of the Egyptian pound against the US dollar.

In recent years, Egypt has raised gasoline prices several times, the last of which was by 25 piasters earlier this month.

The government has introduced several strategies to lessen reliance on fuel products, which cost the state budget a lot of money, including converting petrol-powered vehicles to run on natural gas, of which Egypt achieved unprecedented production rates in recent years.

The boom in the North African country's gas production has been supported by huge gas discoveries and production, the biggest of which is the giant Zohr field in the Mediterranean, which was discovered in 2015 and is believed to be the largest-ever gas discovery in Egypt and the Mediterranean.

Opportunity looming

The conflict, on the other hand, may help Egypts plan to become a major supplier of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) since Russia is the world's current leading gas exporter, according to experts.

The Russia-Ukraine crisis poses a direct threat to natural gas supply to European countries, since up to 40 percent of Europe's natural gas needs reportedly come from Russia.

In 2020, Russia exported more than 40 billion cubic meters (bcm) of LNG and over 197 bcm of pipeline gas.

If this supply is threatened, Europe may turn their eyes to Egypt to fulfil their natural gas needs.

Days prior to the ongoing war, European Union Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson held talks on energy cooperation opportunities with Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla, including "in the short- and medium-term on LNG." Simon stressed on her Twitter account that "Egypt is a key partner for the EU.

Egypt, which achieved self-sufficiency in natural gas in 2018, is planning to use its position on Europes doorstep to become a major supplier of liquefied natural gas to the continent, which is transitioning away from other fossil fuels.

Egypt has the infrastructure for the transport and handling of natural gas, with a main network of 7,000km of pipelines, as well as a distribution network of 31,000km and 29 gas-treatment plants in addition to the two LNG facilities it owns.

Egypts two LNG export facilities are Idku and Damietta plants, from which, according to S&P figures, the Shell-operated Idku facility produces 7.2 million tonnes per year (mt/year), while the Eni-operated Damietta plant produces 5 million mt/year.

El-Molla stated earlier this month that Egypt's natural gas exports are expected to rise to 7.5 million tonnes by the end of 2021/2022 fiscal year.

The total amount of natural and liquefied gas exports reached 3.5 million tonnes during the first half of current fiscal year, the minister said, meaning that Egypts natural gas exports will jump by roughly 4 million tonnes during the second half of 2021/2022 FY.

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President Ilham Aliyev ends official visit to Russian Federation

23 February 2022 [21:00] -

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today completed his official visit to the Russian Federation.

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EU chief Charles Michel on Thursday urged Belarus to "not take part" in Russia's military assault on Ukraine, ahead of an emergency European Union summit to decide new sanctions on Moscow over its invasion.

In an appeal to Belarus and its people during a media conference at NATO headquarters, Michel said: "You have the choice not to follow Russia's destructive action. You have the choice not to take part in this needless tragedy against your neighbours in Ukraine."

Belarus, a Russian ally that borders Ukraine to the north, has welcomed tens of thousands of Russian troops in its territory in the wake of mass pro-democracy protests that erupted in 2020 after autocratic leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in skewed elections.

Belarus is permitting those troops to pour across its border into Ukraine and to using their positions to hammer Ukrainian forces with artillery, according to Ukraine's government.

Lukashenko on Thursday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had called him to inform him of his military operation against Ukraine. He said that Belarus's own national forces "are not taking part in this operation".

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Egypt has affirmed the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomatic solutions, as well as endeavours that would hasten a political settlement to the Ukrainian crisis, a statement by the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"Egypt is following with deep concern the successive developments regarding the situation in Ukraine, and affirms the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomatic solutions, as well as endeavours that would hasten the political settlement of the crisis," the ministry said.

Such desired political settlement, the statement said, would preserve international security and stability, and ensure that the situation does not escalate or deteriorate.

It, moreover, will help avoid aggravating humanitarian and economic conditions, with their impacts on the region and worldwide, the ministry noted.

The statement comes a few hours after Russias invasion of Ukraine and its developments that unfolded earlier on Thursday.

In a separate statement, the ministry said the Egyptian embassy in Kiev was following closely the latest developments to the Egyptian community currently in Ukraine and shared the mobile numbers of diplomats in the embassy of Egypt to Kiev, including the mobile number of Ambassador Ayman El-Gamal (+380932165877).

Another two numbers are : +380732009984 and +380634779436.

Around 6,000 Egyptians live in Ukraine, with the majority being students, Khaled Mohamed, the head of the Youth Committee of the Egyptian Community in Ukraine, said in a phone interview with TEN TV satellite channel on Wednesday.

Earlier on Thursday, the Egyptian embassy in Kiev urged the Egyptian nationals living in Ukraine to remain at home and to takes measures to ensure their safety.

The Egyptian authorities are in close contact with their Ukrainian counterparts to ensure the safety of Egyptian nationals living in Ukraine, urging expats to follow instructions from the Ukrainian government until further notice, the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy will provide the Egyptian community in Ukraine with any additional instructions through its Facebook page, read the statement

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Egypt's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry asserted on Thursday that all tourists from countries affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine are welcome to proceed with their stay at Egyptian hotels until their safe return to their countries.

In a meeting held in Cairo, Minister Khaled Anani discussed the recent developments following the temporary closure of the Ukraines airspace as well as the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis on Egypts tourism.

Egypts Hotel Association has already issued on Thursday a directive to all hotels in the country to assert on extending the stay of Ukrainian and Russian tourists in Egyptian hotels after the end of their trip till their return to their countries.

The hotels were instructed to provide all the facilities for the tourists till finding a possible solution to their return to their countries.

Earlier, South Sinai Hotels Chamber issued a statement to the general managers of hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh to extend the stay of the Ukrainian tourists especially those who returned from the airport and currently stranded in the country.

The chamber told the general managers to present all needed assistance to them and not to let any tourist to leave any hotel.

The statement of the chamber also asked the officials of the Sharm El-Sheikh hotels to deal carefully between the Ukrainian and Russian tourists.

The Embassy of Ukraine shared the directive statements of both Egyptian Hotel Association and South Sinai Hotel Chambers on its official Facebook page telling the stranded tourists to use those statements if necessary, in their hotels.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Egypt already announced that it was cooperating with officials and tour operators to aid Ukrainian tourists who are forced to stay in Egypt due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the temporary closure of the countrys airspace.

The embassy revealed that they were searching for possible routes of entry to Ukraine through Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry announced earlier that due to the temporarily closure of Ukraine airspace for civil aviation, Ukrainian citizens abroad are recommended to stay in place of temporary residence, follow further development of events , register in the electronic system TRUG and to maintain contact with Ukrainian embassies and consulates.

The Ukrainian embassy in Cairo shared the statement of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs as its official Facebook pages has been flooded with comments of stranded Ukrainian tourists who do not know what is next for them or for their country.

Egypt is among the top destinations for Ukrainians with about 1.5 million visiting Egypt in 2019.

In spite of the coronavirus pandemic, almost 727,100 Ukrainian tourists visited Egypt during 2020.

Ukrainian flights to Egypt suspended for time being

Head of Egypts National Company for Air Navigation Ihab Mohi El-Din revealed on Thursday in media statements that early morning before Ukraine closed its airspace, Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada airports received five flights carrying hundreds of tourists.

Mohi El-Din added that Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport received four flights while Hurghada received one flights.

Sources told Ahram Gate that Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport received two Sky Up Airlines flights from Kiev airport and one Sky Up Airlines flight from Lviv airport.

The South Sinai airport also received a Windrose airlines flight from Lviv airport.

Hurghada Airport received a Ukraine International airlines flight from Kiev airport.

Meanwhile the Ukrainian authorities informed the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority that all the charter flights to both airports have been cancelled. Sources at the Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry told Ahram Arabic website that more than 20 charter flights have been cancelled including 10 flights to Sharm El-Sheikh.

On the other hand, sources told Ahram that EgyptAir decided to cancel its flight to Moscow on Thursday due to the current events whereas the Russian flights to Egypt especially to Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada airports have not been affected.

If you are tourist and need help , you can call Egypts 24/7 Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities hotline in English, Russian and Ukranian is : 19654

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The Egyptian Embassy in Kyiv urged on Thursday Egyptian nationals living in Ukraine to remain at home and to takes measures to ensure their safety.

The embassy said Egyptian authorities are in close contact with their Ukrainian counterparts to ensure the safety of Egyptian nationals living in Ukraine, urging our expats to follow instructions from the Ukrainian government until further notice.

The alert comes following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday and in light of the imposition of martial law in Ukraine and the closure of airspace, as well as trains, said a statement by the embassy.

The embassy will provide the Egyptian community in Ukraine with any additional instructions through its Facebook page, read the statement.

Around 6,000 Egyptians live in Ukraine, with the majority being students, Khaled Mohamed, the Head of the Youth Committee of the Egyptian Community in Ukraine, said in a phone interview with TEN TV satellite channel on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Minister of Emigration and Expatriates Affairs Nabila Makram said that the ministry is staying in touch with the Egyptian community in Ukraine to follow up the situation and stand on their needs.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Makram said the ministry has been communicating with the concerned officials to discuss alternative solutions for Egyptian students to ensure their safety.

She added that members of the Ministry of Emigration Dialogue Centre for Egyptians studying abroad (MEDCE) are also in contact with Egyptian expats studying in the different cities of Ukraine.

"We have formed an emergency group dedicated to following up the situation of the Egyptian community in Ukraine," Makram said, adding that the group is in communication with the heads of the Egyptian community in Ukraine to keep them appraised of the latest developments.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Embassy in Egypt issued a statement on its official Facebook page Thursday afternoon urging its citizens who are vacationing in Egypt to find temporary residence, and to follow further development of events and to register on the electronic system.

The embassy also called them to maintain contact with the relevant embassies and representatives of Ukraine for further instructions.

In an earlier post, the embassy asked Ukrainian tourists in Egypt to keep in touch with their tour operators and follow the information on the Facebook page.

According to the Ukrainian embassy in Egypt, there are almost 4,000 Ukrainians living, working and studying in Egypt.

Egypt is among the top destinations for Ukrainians with about 1.5 million visiting Egypt in 2019.

In spite of the coronavirus pandemic, almost 727,100 Ukrainian tourists visited Egypt during 2020.

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There will be consultations with Egypt over the coming days regarding the situation in Ukraine, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Egypt Christian Berger said while inspecting a number of culture and developmental projects in the Upper Egyptian province of Aswan on Thursday.

The High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, is expected to be in close contact with Egypt and other regional players to explain on a regular basis Europes stance on the latest developments in Ukraine, Berger stated.

European heads of state and government will hold an emergency meeting this evening to discuss the repercussions of the Russian invasion on Ukraine, the EU ambassador said, adding that it is with great regret that we are following whats happening in Ukraine and the Russian invasion.

Borrell has condemned the invasion that took place this morning, which undermines European security that had prevailed for a long time, Berger noted. Russia's attack is a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, he said, stressing EU's standing in solidarity and support with Ukraine in preserving its sovereignty and unity.

Berger pointed out that because Russia recognized the independence of two provinces in Ukraine (Luhansk and Donetsk), the EU will impose severe sanctions on Russia. In addition, Russia will be deprived of its presence in European economic markets, and European financial aid will be cut off for Russia.

He also explained that there will be sanctions against individuals in Russia, and other measures and sanctions will be soon announced on Russia.

He stressed that the EU is in close contact with the Ukrainian side and with EU allies such as Britain and the United States, and these measures and sanctions will be documented between them.

*Additional reporting by Mai Ghandour

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El-Sisi made the remarks in a speech he delivered via video conference on the occasion of the Global Forum for a Human-centred Recovery that is organized by the International Labor Organization (ILO).





The president expressed thanks to ILO for organizing this important event that brings together heads of state and government who are responsible for formulating and implementing the national policies of their countries.

He stated that the future of the international system in a new world has been taking shape day after day, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged economic and social conditions with its impact surpassing that of the most severe crises across the world.

Any attempt to overcome the repercussions of this crisis has to be human-centred, El-Sisi noted. In this regard, the president said the coronavirus pandemic was, and is still, a human crisis in general, not just a health, economic or a social one.

The president added Egypt has managed to overcome a lot of consequences associated with the coronavirus crisis over the past two years through financial, economic and social policies that have proven successful and effective.

We are currently making efforts that have been recognized by various international parties, El-Sisi said, noting that those efforts "have enabled us to achieve positive growth rates despite all difficulties we have been facing, and contributed to creating a state of stability and international confidence in the Egyptian economys ability to withstand, absorb and overcome crises."



Despite the crisis, Egypt has also been able to implement ambitious initiatives to raise the citizens standards of living in the countryside and areas most in need through the Decent Life Presidential Initiative, the president said.



He added that Egypt also could extend the social security net to hundreds of thousands of families via the Takaful and Karama programme, which contributed to alleviating the burdens of the pandemic.



Meanwhile, El-Sisi reviewed the countrys efforts to promote financial inclusion, integrate informal economy, and ensure the continuation of the national digitization process

The president talked about the future of the international system in the coming years and its ability to respond to urgent global crises and their multi-dimensional consequences.

He pointed out that 61 percent of the worlds labor force is registered as part of the informal economy, noting that about 4 billion people across the world lack social security.



On that score, El-Sisi emphasized the need to draw up new, integrated policies, introduce effective mechanisms for their implementation, and strengthen the financial capacity to do so.



Many developing and least developed countries will experience great difficulties in overcoming those challenges, he noted.



The president added that recovery from the crisis is possible if a sincere international will exist and all parties are committed to the principle of sharing burdens and responsibilities; within the framework of a true international partnership with clear mechanisms and specific responsibilities.



Meanwhile, El-Sisi underscored the importance of the role played by international institutions and organizations in formulating work policies that can find solutions to social problems, which arise and develop rapidly in a way that may be beyond the capacity of the current international system to keep pace with and adapt to.



The president affirmed the significance of ILOs efforts in this regard, especially its Global Call to Action for a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient.

El-Sisi said the global climate crisis and its negative consequences have undoubtedly cast a shadow over efforts to recover from the pandemic and overcome its multiple effects, especially in developing states.



"Our world today does not have the luxury of waiting, or failure to make the required effort to confront climate change and ward off its impacts," he added.



El-Sisi reiterated the need to find ways to enable developing countries to fulfill their commitments and raise the ambition of their climate action in accordance with the Paris Agreement without prejudice to the principles of equity; while providing social protection, and supporting efforts to achieve development and eradicate poverty.



In this regard, the president called for providing an international environment that contributes to mobilizing the necessary funding for developing countries to support their efforts to confront climate change, adapt to its consequences, build resilience while putting commitments into practice, and bridge the gaps experienced by global climate action at all levels.\

This is some of what we aspire to achieve during Egypt's presidency of the upcoming climate change summit in Sharm el Sheikh late this year, El-Sisi said, noting that Cairo will work with all parties impartially and transparently to that end.



Meanwhile, the Egyptian leader expressed hope that the results of the ILOs forum, expected to reflect the valuable discussions it included, would contribute to enhancing understanding of the size of the current global problem, and ways to move forward towards finding effective solutions that "achieve the legitimate aspirations and hopes of our peoples".

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The president of Romania has condemned Russia's ``reprehensible'' attack on Ukraine and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin "threatens the peace of the entire planet.''

Romania borders Ukraine and is a member of NATO and the European Union. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that Russia "chose the reprehensible and completely illegal path of massive armed violence against an independent and sovereign state.''

Iohannis said that Romania, a country of about 19.5 million people, is ready to deal with the economic and humanitarian consequences that the conflict could generate.

He stressed that Romania will not be drawn into the military conflict in Ukraine and said Romanian authorities will take "absolutely all the necessary measures'' to ensure the safety of the country's citizens.

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Viewed from Paris, London and Washington, the events unfolding in Ukraine may seem like a new Cold War taking shape in Europe.

From the Baltic countries, it looks much worse.

To Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians _ particularly those old enough to have lived under Soviet control _ Russia's belligerence toward Ukraine has some worried that they could be the next target. The escalating tensions which preceded an attack Thursday brought back memories of mass deportations and oppression.

``My grandparents were sent away to Siberia. My father was persecuted by the KGB. Now I live in a free democratic country, but it seems that nothing can be taken for granted,'' said Jaunius Kazlauskas, a 50-year-old teacher in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital.

Russia's attack on Ukraine sent shockwaves through the Baltic countries. Lithuania's president declared a state of emergency, and Latvia suspended the broadcast licenses of several Russian TV stations accused of spreading disinformation and propaganda.

All three Baltic countries were seized and annexed by Josef Stalin during World War II before gaining independence again with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. They joined NATO in 2004, putting themselves under the military protection of the U.S. and its Western allies. Ukraine is not part of NATO.

Along with Poland, also a NATO member, the small Baltic countries have been among the loudest advocates for powerful sanctions against Moscow and NATO reinforcements on the alliance's eastern flank.

Baltic government leaders in recent weeks have shuttled to European capitals, warning that the West must make Russian President Vladimir Putin pay for attacking Ukraine, or else his tanks will keep rolling toward other parts of the former Soviet empire.

``The battle for Ukraine is a battle for Europe. If Putin is not stopped there, he will go further,'' Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis warned last week in a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Two days before the attack, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that some American forces deployed in Europe, including 800 infantry soldiers, F-35 fighters and Apache helicopters, would be moved to the three Baltic states, describing the step as purely defensive.

The news was met with enthusiasm in the Baltic capitals. While the NATO treaty commits all allies to defend any member that comes under attack, the Baltic countries say it is imperative that NATO show resolve not just in words but with boots on the ground.

``Russia always measures the military might but also the will of countries to fight,'' said Janis Garisons, state secretary at Latvia's Defense Ministry. ``Once they see a weakness, they will exploit that weakness.''

While Putin hasn't publicly expressed any ambition to reassert Russian control over the Baltic countries, many Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians worry he wants to regain influence across all former republics of the Soviet Union, the collapse of which he once described as a tragedy for the Russian people.

In his speech earlier this week setting the stage for Russia's military intervention, Putin said Ukraine is ``not just a neighboring country for us. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and spiritual space.''

Culturally and linguistically different, the Baltic countries don't have the same connection to Russian history and identity. However, they were ruled by Moscow for most of the past 200 years, first by the Russian Empire, then for almost 50 years following World War II by the Soviet Union. All three countries have ethnic Russian minorities; in Latvia and Estonia, they make up about one-quarter of the population.

Though many of them are well integrated, tensions flared in 2007 when hundreds of ethnic Russians rioted against government plans to relocate a Soviet war memorial in Tallinn, Estonia's capital. Estonia suspected Russia of stoking the unrest and orchestrating cyberattacks that paralyzed government computer networks.

``When we hear Putin humiliating Ukraine, calling it an artificial state with no history, it reminds us of the same things that they have been repeating about all former Soviet republics for many years,'' said Nerijus Maliukevicius, a political analyst at Vilnius University. The Russian ``state propaganda machine is now working on unprecedented levels of intensity, and the message is not just about Ukraine,'' he added.

Lithuania borders both Kaliningrad, a Russian region where the country's Baltic Sea fleet is based, and Belarus, the former Soviet republic where tens of thousands of Russian troops have been deployed for joint exercises. Belarus recently announced that the drills would continue because of the tensions in eastern Ukraine.

``It seems they are not going to leave,'' Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine. ``But we must understand that numbers do not mean everything. There are technically very advanced troops on our side of the border. Their main task is deterrence _ and defense, if necessary.''

The Baltic countries have expressed strong support for Ukraine. Baltic leaders have traveled to Kyiv recently to show their solidarity and have sent both weapons and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Estonia, which celebrates its independence day on Thursday, is taking a strong stance in the conflict, but not because it fears for its security, said former President Kersti Kaljulaid, the first woman to hold that office.

``We are doing it because we find it is our moral obligation,'' she said. ``We very strongly feel that ... every nation should have the right to decide their future.''

While the Baltics are direct neighbors of Russia, she said other European countries should be equally worried about the crisis in Ukraine.

``Frankly speaking, I don't think it concerns the Baltics more,'' she said. ``If you look from Kyiv, it's the same distance to Berlin as Tallinn.''

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Egyptian expats' remittances rose by 6.6 percent ($1.8 billion) from January to November 2021 to post $28.9 billion, compared to the corresponding period in 2020, Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced on Thursday.

On the other hand, the banks preliminary data shows that remittances declined in November 2021 by 3.9 percent year-on-year (Y-O-Y) to $2.5 billion, down from $2.6 billion reached in November 2020, according to CBEs sub-governor Adel Abdel Azim.

Otherwise, remittances rose month-on-month (M-O-M) in November 2021 by 8.7 percent compared to October, according to Abdel Azim.

Remittances jumped to an unprecedented rate of 13.2 percent in FY2020/2021 to reach $31.4 billion, up from $27.8 billion recorded in FY 2019/2020, according to CBE

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Egypts wheat import bill will likely be inflated on the back of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

As tensions continue to rise between Russia and Ukraine, observers are anticipating the economic fallout from a possible war in the region since Russia, Ukraine, and Romania combined produce one third of the worlds wheat.

This is particularly important for Egypt, the worlds largest wheat importer.

The expected economic fallout from the tensions in Ukraine will likely lead to an increase in the price of wheat around the world, said Nader Noureddin, a professor of water and land resources in Cairo.

Noureddin said that Egypt imports 90 per cent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine. In 2021, it imported ten million tons from the two countries out of the 13 million tons of wheat it imported that year.

While there are alternative sources such as France, Australia, the US, Canada and Argentina, the cost of wheat from them is much higher.

Egypts reliance on Russian and Ukrainian wheat is due to two main factors, according to Noureddin. First, wheat from the two countries costs ten per cent less than global prices, and second, they are closer to Egypt with shipments taking only ten days to reach Egyptian shores.

In comparison, shipments coming from the US take 24 days, and they take 28 days from Argentina.

Egypt began bidding on wheat from France at a global auction in December, buying just over 300,000 tons that will be delivered in March, according to the General Authority for Supply Commodities.

As well as adding to transportation costs, the Russia-Ukraine crisis could also raise the price of oil worldwide, meaning a hike in the cost of food production in general since energy constitutes 33 per cent of the cost of agricultural production, according to Noureddin.

A former adviser to the minister of supply, Noureddin said that the cost of shipping around the world is rising not only because of the price of fuel but also because of the higher cost of insuring goods, especially any that pass near Ukraine.

He expects the Egyptian government to have to pay an additional LE1 billion in extra costs to import wheat, yellow corn, and cooking oil if the Ukraine crisis continues.

Egypt is the largest importer of wheat in the world, the fourth-largest importer of corn, and the fifth-largest importer of cooking oil, Noureddin said. It relies for 90 per cent of its annual needs on the same sources  Russia and Ukraine.

The government has been preparing for the possible additional costs, and Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli announced some days ago that the price of subsidised bread was being reviewed, with a possible slight adjustment being made.

The price of bread in Egypt has not been adjusted since 1988, and at the time the cost for the state was five piastres a loaf, Madbouli said. Today, the cost of subsidised bread is 65 piastres a loaf, and this means there must be a slight adjustment.

Some 71 million of Egypts 100 million population buy subsidised bread using the smart-card ration system.

A day after Madboulis comments, Minister of Supply Ali Meseilhi said that Egypt expects to reduce government imports of wheat in 2022 to 3.5 million tons, compared to 5.5 million tons in 2021.

This is used to produce between 250 and 270 million loaves of subsidised bread a day, he said.

Last year, Egypt imported a total of 13 million tons of wheat, divided between municipal bakeries producing subsidised bread and the private sector producing macaroni, desserts, and other bakeries producing unsubsidised bread.

Government wheat imports in 2021 amounted to 5.5 million tons, Moseilhi told a news conference on 15 February, compared to 3.5 million tons grown locally. The reduction in imports this year has been supplemented by an increase in local production supplied by Egypts farmers.

Noureddin said that Egypt had silos that can store between 3.5 and four million tons of wheat, about one third of domestic consumption, which means it has a strategic stock of four to five months of wheat that can be stretched to cover six months.

Alongside the review of the price of subsidised bread, currently costing consumers five piastres a loaf, the Ministry of Supply has also taken other measures to rationalise wheat consumption.

These include digitising the system for receiving wheat from farmers in order better to monitor the amounts received and the better monitoring of deliveries to silos, mills, and bakeries and of bread production and distribution via smart-cards.

The database of the 70 million people who receive subsidised bread is being overhauled in order to remove any who do not qualify for the subsidies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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By Azernews

By Vafa Ismayilova

The Azerbaijani army positions have come under Armenia's fire in liberated Lachin region, the Defence Ministry reported on February 24.

Starting from 2030 to 2055 on February 23, the Armenian armed forces periodically shelled the Azerbaijani army positions in Lachin region's Ahmadli village from the positions in the direction of Armenia's Gorus region using small arms, the ministry said.

It described as stable the current situation in the abovementioned area and added that the Azerbaijani army units control the operational situation.

Earlier on February 23, Azerbaijan's military positions in liberated Fuzuli were shelled by the illegal Armenian armed groups on the Azerbaijani territory where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed.

The Azerbaijani army units took appropriate retaliatory measures to suppress the opposite side.

About 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have been deployed for five years in Karabakh under the trilateral cease-fire deal signed by Baku, Moscow and Yerevan on November 10, 2020. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw all its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it had occupied since the early 1990s.

The trilateral ceasefire deal signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the three-decade conflict over Azerbaijans Karabakh region which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s.

The deal also stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin regions. Before the signing of the peace deal, Azerbaijan liberated 300 villages, settlements, city centers, and historic Shusha city that had been under Armenian occupation for about 30 years.

On January 11, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed the second statement since the end of the 44-day war. The newly-signed statement was set to implement clause 9 of the November 2020 statement related to the unblocking of all economic and transport communications in the region.

On November 26, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed a statement and agreed on a number of issues, including the demarcation and delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border by late 2021, some points related to humanitarian issues and the issue of unblocking of transport corridors which applies to the railway and to automobile communications.

On December 14, 2021, during the Brussels meeting, organized between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders at the initiative of European Council President Charles Michel, the sides reaffirmed their commitment to the conditions agreed in the Sochi meeting.

Both sides agreed to establish a temporary working group on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The issue of demining the liberated territories of Azerbaijan was also brought up on the agenda, and the European Union's readiness to provide technical assistance to Azerbaijan in this regard was underlined at the meeting.
Moscow ordered troops into Ukraine earlier this week in support of areas in the east of the country and giving rise to immediate Western sanctions.

Diplomacy failed to stem the escalation of the Ukraine crisis earlier this week when Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia does not recognise the eastern region of Donbas as part of Ukraine and ordering Russian troops over the border as part of what he called a peacekeeping mission.

As a result, Europe now faces the threat of a war between Russia and Ukraine, an international refugee crisis, and severe tensions in Moscows relations with the West.

It is a complex and dangerous situation that is still developing because it is about the recent past as well as the near future. Among its possible repercussions is the forced redrawing of the map of Europe.

All eyes will now be directed towards the repercussions of the Russian actions, and whether they are the first phase of a larger strategy.

The UK announced that the Russian invasion has begun after Putin ordered troops over the border, but EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell was less direct, commenting that I wouldnt say that its a fully-fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil.

EU foreign ministers met on Tuesday in Paris to decide what sanctions to impose over Russias move.

Clearly, that response will be in the form of sanctions, Borrell said, adding that the aim was not to impose the whole range of sanctions the EU has prepared but rather to address its recognition of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent territories.

The apparent divergence between the UK and the EU will help Putin play down the significance of his action and whether or not it is a fully-fledged invasion.

In a speech on Monday night, Putin declared that Russia does not recognise the Donbas region as part of Ukraine.

I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Luhansk Peoples Republic, Putin said, referring to two pro-Russian parts of Ukraine that since 2014 have been engaged in a war with the Kyiv government.

In his speech, which included Putins version of Russias modern history, the Russian president was dismissive of modern-day Ukraine, saying that its creation as a sovereign state was a tragedy.

Arguing that there had never been a separate Ukraine until Soviet times, Putin blamed Soviet leaders such as Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin for the present situation. He also criticised the decision of former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to take Crimea from Russia in 1954 and award it to Ukraine.

Putin painted todays Ukraine as a corrupt, barely functioning puppet of the United States that threatened Russias security.

He said that the West had deceived Russia repeatedly since the end of the Cold War and had expanded much more than what had been agreed after the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

The Russian narrative says that in 1990-1991 after the fall of the Berlin Wall Russia had been promised that NATO would not expand to the east, but the West did not honour its pledges.

However, the Western narrative is different, with US academic Mary Sarotte writing in her book Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of the Post-Cold War Stalemate about the post-Cold War order and how this has affected the current geopolitical environment, that Russia was not given a binding commitment by NATO not to expand eastward, though the idea was discussed by US and Russian officials.

Putins declaration to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk will end the Wests diplomatic efforts to prevent a possible military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the recognition of the republics was a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the charter of the UN.

There are now fears that the coming days may witness a bloody conflict in eastern Ukraine after Russias announcement that it was sending peacekeeping forces into Donetsk and Luhansk to protect them from Ukrainian attacks.

The Russian recognition of the two territories also effectively finishes the 2014-2015 Minsk Agreements that, although still unimplemented, have until now been seen as the best chance for a solution. The agreements call for a large degree of autonomy for the two regions inside Ukraine.

Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, collectively known as Donbas, broke away from Ukrainian government control in 2014 and proclaimed themselves as independent peoples republics.

Now that they have been recognised by Russia, this will create a new reality on the ground and make it difficult for Ukraine to apply for NATO membership as it does not control the whole of its territory.

Russia has recognised the independence of breakaway regions before, something which took place with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two Georgian breakaway regions, after a short war with Georgia in 2008.

It has provided these regions with extensive budgetary support, extended Russian citizenship to their populations, and stationed thousands of troops in them.

In the case of Georgia, Russia used recognition of the breakaway regions to justify an open-ended military presence in a neighbouring and former Soviet republic with a view to thwarting Georgias aspirations to join NATO. The same considerations could apply to Ukraine.

But this could be only the first stage of Russias strategy, and a senior Russian MP has said he believes Russia intends to recognise separatist claims over the entirety of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Rebel forces currently control just over a third of the two regions in the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics. The rest is still under Ukrainian government control.

Leonid Kalashnikov, a Communist Party MP and head of the Russian Dumas regional affairs committee, told the RIA news agency he thought Moscow would recognise both eastern regions.

Recognition of the Luhansk Peoples Republic and the Donetsk Peoples Republic will be within the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Kalashnikov said, explaining that it would be decided in the coming days.

His statement opens the door to fears that Russia may try to expand the territory controlled by the rebels.

In response to the Russian moves, the US, UK, and EU declared sanctions against Russia this week.

The certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline cannot go ahead as a result of Russias actions, German Chanceller Olaf Scholz said. The pipeline between Russia and Germany was completed last September, but it is not yet operating.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned Russias decision to recognise the two territories in eastern Ukraine at an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, warning that the consequences would be dire across Ukraine, Europe, and worldwide.

She said that Putin has torn the Minsk Agreement to shreds and that Washington did not believe he will stop at that, according to the Reuters news agency.

Russias Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya argued for the need to defend Russian-backed separatist areas of Ukraine from what he called Ukrainian aggression.

Allowing a new bloodbath in Donbas is something we do not intend to do, he said.

The Kremlin said that Russia remains open to all diplomatic contacts over Ukraine and that Kyivs cutting ties with Moscow would worsen the situation. The statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was considering breaking off diplomatic relations with Russia.

Ukraine has sent a letter to the Russian mission to the UN, which currently holds the chair of the Security Council, demanding another emergency meeting. The chair cannot stop a meeting from taking place and must hold it within 24 hours of a member state requesting it.

US President Joe Biden spoke with Zelensky during the second half of Putins speech, before calling Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, who had been trying to arrange a Biden-Putin summit.

Macron condemned the Kremlins move to recognise the two Ukrainian separatist regions as independent, urging the EU to agree on new sanctions against Moscow.

This is clearly a unilateral violation of Russias international commitments and a breach of Ukraines sovereignty, he said in a statement issued after chairing a meeting of Frances defence and security council.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK would introduce immediate economic sanctions against Russia and warned that Putin was bent on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel said that the recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Minsk Agreements.

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun told the Security Council meeting on Ukraine that all parties must exercise restraint and avoid action that could escalate the situation.

While there is unity in the West about the need to respond to the Russian action, there may be disagreements regarding that response.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Tuesday that we should not hesitate to take whatever action we need to deter President Putin from undermining both NATO and Europe, and more importantly, our values.

His declaration came after reports that Washington and London might secretly arm resistance fighters in Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion, leading to a proxy war between Russia, the US, and the UK.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday predicted that nuclear armament for Korea, Japan, and Taiwan will become a "big point of discussion" in response to China's alleged aggression.

Asked by Hugh Hewitt on MSNBC radio whether Korea, Japan or even Taiwan should seek nuclear weapons in response to China's "recklessness with [Covid-19]" and "aggressiveness," Trump said, "I'm not going to suggest anything."

But he added, "It causes problems. And it's a big point of discussion for us over the next two months... a very big point of discussion."

That suggests he is likely to make the threat of nuclear armament of China's neighbors a major talking point in his flagging re-election campaign until November.

Meanwhile, a new book claims that Trump threatened to cut troop numbers in Korea to extort a sharp increase in Seoul's share of the upkeep cost for the U.S. Forces Korea.

CNN security correspondent Jim Sciutto quotes unidentified military officers to that effect in his book "The Madman Theory: Trump Takes on the World" out Tuesday.

He recalls that Trump demanded a fivefold increase in Seoul's contribution, and when Korea demurred, U.S. officials walked out.

"If Seoul did not pay up, the National Security Council instructed its negotiators to hint to Korean officials that the president could withdraw some U.S. forces from the peninsula," Sciutto writes.

"Specifically, the threat involved the removal of an entire brigade combat team, comprising some 4,000 U.S. soldiers -- about one in seven of the nearly 28,500 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines based there."
Ukraine's foreign minister appealed to the international community on Wednesday to "take swift, concrete and resolute actions" to help preserve his country from Russian military aggression.

"Russia will not stop at Ukraine," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told a meeting of the UN General Assembly. He added that a full-scale war against Ukraine would be the end of the world order as we know it. "Russia shows signs of readiness to further escalate its aggression against Ukraine, and we have limited time to stop, deter and contain it," he warned. "Every hour of inaction now is a threat to the lives of Ukrainians, not only military but also civilians, including women and children. This is an escalating threat to our collective global security and to our freedom."

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has amassed 150,000 troops along Ukraine's border, signed a declaration recognizing the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent entities. He then ordered Russian troops to the area, saying the purpose was to protect civilians. The move has been widely condemned as a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, as well as a breach of international law, the UN charter, the Helsinki accords, the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk agreements.

Wednesday's General Assembly session had been planned in advance to discuss the situation in the Crimean Peninsula in southern Ukraine, which Russia annexed in 2014. No country has recognized that move, and the meeting is known as "Situation in the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine" on the UN agenda. This is the fourth time the assembly has discussed it in eight years.

Russia's envoy opened by criticizing the name of the event, saying it would be more accurate to say, "territory lost as result of hate-filled policy against its own citizens." He then launched an attack on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his criticism of Moscow's latest land grab. "It is to our great regret that the UN secretary-general, today and few days ago, has made some statements regarding what is going on in the east of Ukraine that are not in line with his status and his mandate under the UN charter," Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said.

Guterres has strongly criticized Moscow for violating the UN charter and causing the most serious global peace and security crisis in recent years. Nebenzia also criticized Ukraine for not living up to the Minsk agreements -- the framework for a political settlement of the eastern Ukraine issue. "The cornerstone of the [Minsk] package is dialogue, and this has been sabotaged by Ukraine all this time," Nebenzia claimed.
The vaccine, called Cominarty, contains the same substances as the drug for adults but in smaller doses. Two injections are administered three weeks apart, while children with low immunity levels are given a third shot four weeks after the second one.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Wednesday authorized the use of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for children as young as five.

Comirnaty has been authorized for children by 62 governments including the U.S. and EU. Pfizer conducted a clinical study on 3,109 children and 1,064 people aged 16 to 25 in Finland, Poland, Spain and the U.S. and found no major differences in safety.

The most common side effects were pain in the area of injection, fatigue, headaches and chills, while children showed a higher tendency of swelling than young adults, but the side effects disappeared within three days and the preventive effect reached 90.7 percent a week after the second shot.

The vaccine may help stem the surging spread of the virus and keep vulnerable children with underlying health problems from getting seriously ill, although some concerns about vaccinating children remain.

Choi Eun-hwa, a medical professor at Seoul National University, said, "Children suffering from obesity, chronic lung ailments, heart disease and diabetes who can develop into serious cases if infected with COVID-19 should have the vaccination first."
Seventy percent of South Koreans support their country acquiring its own nuclear weapons, a poll suggests, and more than 80 percent believe that North Korea will never abandon its nuclear arms.

In the poll of 1,500 South Koreans conducted by Hankook Research for the U.S. think tank Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 71 percent of respondents supported South Korea's development of nuclear weapons.

"Once a topic for the political fringe, acquisition of nuclear weapons has become a mainstream feature of South Korea's national security discourse," the council said. "Public opinion polling over the last decade shows consistent majority support for nuclear possession The growing threats in the region and doubts about the security alliance with the United States make the nuclear question increasingly relevant."

When asked to choose between two options -- South Korea developing its own nuclear weapons and a deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in South Korea, 67 percent preferred the former and nine percent the latter. Some 24 percent are opposed to the whole idea.

Sixty-one percent were confident that the U.S. will "defend South Korea in a conflict with North Korea."

When asked about the biggest national security threat to South Korea, the largest proportion or 46 percent picked North Korea, followed by China (33 percent), Japan (10 percent), and the U.S. (9 percent). But when asked what the biggest threat will be in 10 years' time, a majority of 56 percent chose China, followed by North Korea (22 percent), Japan (10 percent), and the U.S. (8 percent).
China has condemned Australia's plans to boost its scientific and strategic presence in Antarctica. The government in Canberra on Tuesday announced plans to fly a fleet of surveillance drones and long-range helicopters over the icy continent.

Australia's US$570 million Antarctic plan has environmental and strategic ambitions. It aims to chart unexplored parts of the continent's interior with drones and long-range helicopters to boost research into glaciers, marine science and rising sea levels.

Australia also has concerns about China's expansion in the increasingly contested region. At a media conference Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not mention specific countries by name, but he said some were eager to "exploit its resources." "We are stewards of some of the most important and most sensitive environments anywhere in the world," he said. "We need to keep eyes on Antarctica because there are others who have different objectives to us."

Australia lays claim to more than 42 percent of the continent, a territorial ambition that is recognized by few other nations. The Australian government wants to uphold the 1961 Antarctic Treaty, which bans military and mining activity. About 30 countries maintain dozens of research bases on the world's coldest, driest, and windiest continent.

Professor Donald Rothwell is from the Australian National University's College of Law. He said some countries have ambitions to use the continent for defense purposes. "Antarctica was demilitarized under the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty and also de-nuclearized," he said. "Antarctic is a nuclear-free zone but that does not mean to say that issues have not been raised from time to time about dual-use capacity, and also, dual-use technology."


Wu said China could have the potential to attack targets other than Taiwan in the future. "China has made so much investment and have modernized their military capable of not only striking at Taiwan but go beyond the first island chain, so we need to develop our asymmetric warfare so that Taiwan is able to defend itself," he said, referring to the name of the defensive barrier of Taiwan, Japan, Okinawa, and the northern Philippines.

Taiwan has lived under the threat of military action by China since China's Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang fled the mainland after losing the Chinese civil war in 1949. While the conflict has remained largely a stalemate since then -- with Beijing continuing to claim Taiwan as a province -- an aggressive military modernization campaign by China means it could be able to attack Taiwan as early as 2027, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

Speaking with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Wu argued for continued U.S. support of Taiwan through arms sales, military exchanges, shared intelligence, and freedom of navigation exercises in the Taiwan Strait. "We want the people here in Taiwan to be able to defend themselves if China is going to launch a war against Taiwan," Wu said.

Taiwan's current strategy is to make certain "China will understand it will pay a very heavy price if it initiates conflict against Taiwan," Wu said during a virtual event hosted by the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University.

As Taiwan continues to face a military threat from China, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said this week the Taiwanese government continues to focus on its "asymmetric defense" capability -- including U.S. assistance -- to make it an unattractive target, despite its limited military power.

Similar concerns have led the United States as well as France, Japan, Australia, India, South Korea, the Philippines, and the European Union to become more vocal about the future of Indo-Pacific security in the face of a rising China. Earlier this month, Washington released its latest Indo-Pacific strategy, which called for greater cooperation with regional partners.

Wu said Taiwan must be "very careful" to not provoke China and trigger a conflict. The most recent incident occurred in 1995 and 1996, when China fired missiles toward Taiwan ahead of its first democratic elections. Future triggers could include a formal declaration of independence by Taiwan from China, which is why leaders such as President Tsai Ing-wen are extremely careful when they discuss Taiwan's political status.

Wu said domestic problems could also force Beijing's hand if it needed to unite China against a common enemy. "We also need to watch out for this classical theory about authoritarian countries. They like to divert domestic attention by initiating external conflict. If something is happening in China, inside their country, for example, economic slowdown, unemployment, or major disasters, things like that, that might be the time that we need to watch very carefully," he said.

In the meantime, Taiwan continues to face Chinese efforts to sway public opinion and destroy morale from within Taiwan by convincing civilians "democracy is doomed." Tactics have included more than 1,000 Chinese People's Liberation Army air sorties toward Taiwan last year, Wu said, as well as disinformation campaigns and political infiltration.

Wu said these tactics are "below the thresholds of a military conflict" but still require Taiwan and allies such as the United States to keep pushing back.

Events like Wu's talk at the McCain Institute are part of Taiwan's greater public relations strategy to remain a central concern for both the U.S. government and the U.S. public, said Kitsch Liao Yen-fan, a cyber and military affairs consultant at the Taiwanese civil society group Doublethink Lab.

Liao said this was a particular concern for Taiwan after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan last year, as the U.S. public may not want to see its military send troops to another foreign conflict. While the United States is not formally committed to defending Taiwan if it were attacked, under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act it has pledged to help it defend itself.

Whether this would ever extend to sending U.S. personnel to Taiwan in a wartime scenario, however, is still a topic of debate -- and a decision that Taipei hopes to influence.

Talks like those by Wu, however, "create sufficient momentum to tip public opinion on Taiwan's side, and on the political side of the United States to reach a tipping point where the willingness to actually send the military into the next conflict will be reversed again," said Liao.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 24, 2022 - 21:34 | All, World

Russia on Thursday launched a major attack against Ukraine following a months-long military buildup on the border, triggering international condemnation for an "unjustified" war that is feared will result in significant loss of life in Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin moved ahead with what Ukraine called "a full-scale invasion" after announcing that Moscow would carry out a "special military operation" in eastern Ukraine known as the Donbas, where two pro-Russia separatist regions are located.

More than 40 soldiers have been killed and dozens more hurt as Russian forces attack Ukraine from the north, east and south, according to media reports, citing information from the Ukrainian government.

The attack, which defied earlier warnings of international sanctions, follows Russia's annexation of Crimea from the former Soviet republic in 2014.

Moscow has been asserting that its security is under threat with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's eastward expansion and the possibility of Ukraine's membership in the alliance.

U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO immediately condemned the Russian invasion as an "unprovoked" and "unjustified" attack on Ukraine.

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Biden said in a statement. "The United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way."

As a virtual meeting of the leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, including Britain, Germany and Japan, is set for later Thursday, Biden pledged in a different statement that "severe sanctions" will be imposed on Russia.

Ukraine, which has declared a state of emergency, has "severed diplomatic relations with Russia," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted, after weeks of efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

"For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine," he added.

Putin had been setting the stage for his country's military to advance into the neighboring country, having recognized on Monday the independence of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas and ordering the deployment of troops there for "peacekeeping" missions.

The two regions are home to Russia-backed separatists who have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.

The Russian military campaign started after the rebel regions sought military assistance from Russia to repel what they claimed was Kyiv's aggression. Explosions were heard in the areas as well as Ukraine's capital, according to media reports.

Ukrainian military command centers in Kyiv and Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine located in the country's northeast, were also reportedly attacked by missile strikes.

Putin said in a televised speech that the "special military operation" was to protect the people in the Donbas who were being subjected to "abuse" and "genocide" by the Kyiv regime, and he would seek to "demilitarize" Ukraine.

He asserted the operation was for self-defense, and he had no plan to occupy Ukraine.

He also warned against any interference from other countries, saying such actions would be met by "consequences that you have never encountered in your history," according to Russia's Tass news agency.

The United States, in lockstep with the European Union, Japan, Australia and others, has responded to Russia's recognition of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics with some sanctions, including against financial institutions and Kremlin-connected elite individuals.

On Wednesday, the United States announced additional sanctions on a company in charge of building Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and its company officers.

With more than 150,000 Russian troops massed near Ukraine's borders before the attack, there was growing concern about the scale of suffering resulting from the invasion.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted Thursday, "Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin."

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told CNN before the attack started that "thousands of lives could be lost" in the event of a massive invasion of Ukraine as the people will fight back hard, while Russia has "the largest conventional military in Europe."

The United States has sent forces to Europe to bolster the security of its NATO allies and has been providing security assistance to Ukraine to help defend its own territory. But it has denied any intention to put American troops in Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO although it aspires to join.

Washington has rejected Moscow's key demand for a security guarantee precluding Ukraine's entry into NATO, but it has also sought to hold talks to address security concerns, such as by setting reciprocal limits on military exercises in Europe and missile placement. However, no progress on the talks has been seen.

Related coverage:

Biden says Russia beginning "invasion" of Ukraine, unveils sanctions

Japan to impose sanctions on Russia amid Ukraine crisis: PM Kishida

Japan, Germany say Russian moves "totally unacceptable" over Ukraine
KYODO NEWS - Feb 24, 2022 - 13:27 | All, Japan

Snow-clearing accidents killed 45 people in the three months through January, emergency authorities said Thursday, as Japan's snowy regions have been hit by heavier falls than usual this winter.

Many of the victims in 10 prefectures including Aomori died after being buried by snow falling from the roofs of their homes, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

Aomori Prefecture in northeastern Japan saw the largest number of deaths at 11, followed by Hokkaido in the country's north at 10. Akita, Fukushima and Yamagata prefectures in the northeast recorded three deaths each.

In Hokkaido, areas facing the Sea of Japan have seen heavier snow than usual this season, according to a local observatory.

Over 90 percent of the victims were over the age of 65, according to the agency.

Local police have urged people to stay away from the eaves of their houses, and wear helmets and use lifelines if they climb on top of their roofs. Residents have also been asked to work in groups or notify others before and after trying to clear snow to avoid going unnoticed in case of an accident.

In Hokkaido, heavy snowfall has caused transport disruptions. Around 4,000 travelers have been stranded since Wednesday evening at Hokkaido's New Chitose airport as train and bus services connecting to the prefectural capital Sapporo were suspended.

Around 660 people, including students traveling to take university entrance exams, spent the night at the airport despite Hokkaido Railway Co. running a special service linking to Sapporo from around 3 a.m.

"I'm worried about my physical strength as I could not sleep much," said senior high school student Reika Muraki, 18, after arriving on Wednesday from Miyazaki Prefecture in southwestern Japan and spending the night at the airport. "But I made it this far, so I won't lose my cool now and will try to give the exam my all."

Kousei Sakamoto, 18, came to the airport on Thursday morning to travel to Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, for the University of Tsukuba entrance exam.

"It looks like I'll be able to fly so I'm relieved," he said.

Related coverage:

Heavy snow batters northern Japan, disrupts traffic

Over 500 in Tokyo treated at hospitals after falling due to snow, ice

Over 230 flights canceled in Hokkaido due to heavy snow
KYODO NEWS - Feb 24, 2022 - 19:45 | Sports, All, Japan

Japan's delegation to the Beijing Winter Paralympics was formally launched in a ceremony Thursday, promising to emulate the success this month of their Olympic compatriots.

"The Olympians giving their best greatly moved the citizens of Japan," said Japan's captain, women's para-alpine skier Momoka Muraoka, who is looking to add to her five medals from 2018 that included giant slalom gold.

"The Paralympic team, too, is resolved to never quit and fight to the end while giving all we have."

Japan's Winter Olympic team won a record 18 medals in Beijing, including three gold.

Flagbearer Taiki Kawayoke, a men's para-Nordic skier, attended the ceremony, where he received the team's flag from Chef de Mission Junichi Kawai. The remaining athletes took part online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife, Crown Princess Kiko, were present at the ceremony, while Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent a video message.

The Beijing Paralympics will be held from March 4 to 13.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a videoconference meeting with Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, Azertag reported on February 24.

President Ilham Aliyev hailed the fruitful meetings held as part of the visit of the Moldovan Parliament Speaker to Azerbaijan.

The head of state said that the Parliament Speaker visited the liberated territories and the city of Shusha, familiarized himself with the destruction committed by Armenia during the 30-year occupation, as well as the construction work carried out by Azerbaijan in the liberated territories in a short period of time on the ground.

Recalling his meeting with the President of Moldova in Brussels last December, as well as the recent visit of the Moldovan Foreign Minister to Azerbaijan, the head of state noted with satisfaction that the bilateral relations are dynamic and intensive. He underlined the importance of continuing this course and further strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries.

Expressing satisfaction with his visit to Azerbaijan, Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament Igor Grosu pointed out the fruitful and productive meetings he held with the Speaker of the Milli Majlis and other officials as part of the trip. He noted that the two countries have always supported each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Igor Grosu said that he had visited the liberated territories and the city of Shusha, and that familiarized himself with the situation on the ground there. The Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament also pointed out that the Azerbaijani Diaspora living in his country was very well integrated into the local community.

The sides exchanged views on the expansion of economic and trade relations, energy cooperation between the two countries, as well as joint activities in international organizations, international inter-parliamentary institutions, and other issues.










KYODO NEWS - Feb 24, 2022 - 21:05 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday strongly condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine, saying that the act undermines the foundation of international order.

The premier said Japan will work closely with the United States and other nations after Russia launched what Ukraine called "a full-scale invasion" following Moscow's announcement it would carry out a "special military operation" in eastern Ukraine known as the Donbas, where two pro-Russia separatist regions are located.

"The Russian attack shakes the foundation of international order that never tolerates unilateral change to the status quo by force, and we strongly condemn Russia," Kishida told reporters.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin to lodge a protest, calling on Russia to "stop invading Ukraine immediately and withdraw" troops.

"We will never tolerate unilateral change to the status quo by force, so we strongly condemn this invasion," Hayashi told Galuzin at the beginning of their meeting, which was open to the media.

The envoy responded by saying that a Russian invasion has not occurred.

Tensions over Ukraine have heightened after Russian President Vladimir Putin formally recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent and ordered the deployment of troops to "maintain peace" there despite global calls for Russia not to take military action against Ukraine.

Kishida earlier told reporters that securing the safety of Japanese nationals in Ukraine is a "very important issue," and the government will take necessary steps.

There were about 120 Japanese nationals in Ukraine as of Monday, according to the government.

The attack came a day after Japan announced the imposition of economic sanctions on Russia and the two pro-Russian separatist regions, denouncing Moscow's recognition of the two regions' independence and order to deploy troops there as a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and international law.

"We will swiftly work to take further measures (against Russia) while coordinating with the international community in accordance with the change of the situation," Kishida said during a House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting.

Japan has been involved in a decades-old territorial dispute with Russia over a group of islets off Hokkaido, which has apparently put Tokyo in a difficult position in determining how tough its sanctions should be.

The sanctions announced Wednesday included suspending visa issuance for officials from Donetsk and Luhansk, the freezing of their assets and a ban on exports to and imports from the two regions, also known as the Donbas.

The issuance and trading of new Russian sovereign bonds in Japan were also banned.

The sanctions were similar to those announced Tuesday by the United States. The European Union and countries, including Australia and Britain, have also decided to impose economic sanctions.

The Japanese government is considering a partial release of oil reserves together with the United States and other countries to curb the sharp rise in crude oil prices in case the conflict intensifies with Russia, one of the world's major oil suppliers, according to sources close to the matter.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a regular news conference that Japan has "enough reserves," addressing concerns over energy supplies. The government will closely monitor the Ukraine crisis to assess the impact on the Japanese economy, he said.

Japan had some 240 days' worth of oil in private and state reserves as of the end of last year, according to the industry ministry.

Japan has already decided to divert part of its liquefied natural gas imports to Europe, which is facing the threat of supply disruptions given its high reliance on Russia.

The leaders of the G-7 -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union -- are scheduled to hold a virtual meeting later Thursday to discuss the Ukraine crisis.

Related coverage:

Russia launches "full-scale invasion" of Ukraine, sparks int'l outcry

Japan to impose sanctions on Russia amid Ukraine crisis: PM Kishida

PM Kishida to forgo Hiroshima trip with U.S. envoy amid Ukraine crisis
RAMALLAH, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Wednesday condemned the killing of a Palestinian boy by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.

In a press statement, Tor Wennesland, UN special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, expressed his deep concern over the killing of Mohammad Shehada, 14, on Tuesday night near the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

On Tuesday night, Palestinian social media activists published video footage of the boy laid on the floor, half-naked of his upper part, covered with blood and surrounded by several soldiers.

Wennesland, who serves as the UN Secretary-General's personal representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, underscored the need to "avoid children being the target of violence or exposing them to harm."

He called on Israeli security forces "to exercise the utmost restraint and to use lethal force only when it is unavoidable to protect life."

On Wednesday, a general strike dominated the city of Bethlehem and the nearby town of al-Khader in protest of the boy's killing, where all shops closed, and children refrained from going to schools.

The Israeli army meanwhile said that Shehada was killed while he was throwing a Molotov cocktail at Israeli army vehicles and that the soldiers opened fire when their life was in danger.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement that it calls on the countries members of the Fourth Geneva Convention to oblige Israel to abide by international law and respect its medical teams in the Palestinian territories. 
ANKARA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced Thursday that he tested positive for the COVID-19 again, only five days after his coronavirus test came out negative following his infection last week.

Cavusoglu made the statement during his official visit to Kazakhstan.

"After the test that I had in Kazakhstan came out positive, we held the strategic planning group meeting with my brother (Kazakh foreign minister) Mukhtar Tileuberdi via video conference as a precaution," he tweeted.

On Feb. 16, Cavusoglu announced that he tested positive for the coronavirus. His symptoms were mild and he planned to continue to work from home, the minister stated.

Four days later, the foreign minister tweeted on Feb. 19 that his COVID-19 tests had turned negative.

Turkey's daily COVID-19 cases have been hovering around 80,000, according to the Turkish Health Ministry. 
CAIRO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Al-Hajraf signed Thursday a memo of understanding on the mechanism of political consultations between the two sides, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez tweeted.

Earlier, Shoukry and Al-Hajraf discussed means of boosting relations between Egypt and the Gulf countries, as well as tackling a number of important regional and international issues, Hafez added.

In December 2021, Egypt and the GCC launched for the first time the Political Consultation Mechanism, when Al-Hajraf said that "Egypt-Gulf relations are pillars for regional security and stability." 
YAOUNDE, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least three people died after terror group Boko Haram raided a locality in Cameroon's Far North region overnight into Thursday, according to local and security sources.

Militants of the group raided Ziler locality of the region, killing a blacksmith, a mason and a septuagenarian.

"The terrorists also kidnapped a member of local vigilante group and torched so many houses and looted," a military official who asked not to be named told Xinhua.

The army has deployed troops to the localities to reinforce security.

Boko Haram has multiplied attacks on the civilian population in the region since January, according to security reports. 
* A total of 11 airfields, three command posts, a Ukrainian naval base, and 18 radar stations of the S-300 and Buk-M1 air defense missile systems were among the facilities destroyed, the Russian Defense Ministry said.



* NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday in a press briefing that "we have made it clear that we do not have any plans and intentional deploying NATO troops to Ukraine."

* The White House said Wednesday that the United States would not be in a war with Russia or put troops on the ground in Ukraine.



MOSCOW/KIEV, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized on Thursday "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack.



A total of 11 airfields, three command posts, a Ukrainian naval base, and 18 radar stations of the S-300 and Buk-M1 air defense missile systems were among the facilities destroyed, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Signs of nervousness were growing as planes flew overhead, explosions were heard, and an alarm siren sounded in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, where citizens were standing in long lines hoping to draw money and stock up on supplies.

In the center of Kiev, the local bus system, subway, banks, supermarkets, pharmacies and hotels were still operating normally. However, many private shops and bookstores have closed.

The United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have both denied the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine.





RESPONSE TO NATO'S "FUNDAMENTAL THREATS"

In a televised speech to the nation earlier this day, Putin said, "Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," noting that Russia's move is in response to "fundamental threats" by NATO, which has expanded to Eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Putin called on all people living on the territory of Ukraine to "independently determine the future of their own and children."

In Kiev, explosions were heard at Boryspil International Airport and other places across the city, according to local media reports. The country's airspace was closed for civilian aircraft, and local authorities were evacuating passengers and staff from the airport.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday declared martial law in the country following Russia's military operation.

In a video address, Zelensky said his country is under attack. According to the Interior Ministry, military depots and airfields in the capital were hit by missiles.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday in a press briefing that "we have made it clear that we do not have any plans and intentional deploying NATO troops to Ukraine."

Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg (C), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) and European Council President Charles Michel attend a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

The White House said Wednesday that the United States would not be in a war with Russia or put troops on the ground in Ukraine.

"What I will tell you is the president has been crystal clear and consistent: He is not sending U.S. troops to fight in Ukraine. That has not changed," said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki during a daily briefing.

Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states and deployed "peacekeeping" forces in the two regions.

Seeing it as "a matter of time" for NATO to expand eastward, Putin took military action against Ukraine after recent negotiations with the United States and NATO failed.

Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons, he said Thursday, adding that Russia took action to protect itself from "those who take Ukraine hostage."

In a late-night address Wednesday, Zelensky said he had unsuccessfully sought talks with Putin. "I initiated a telephone call with the president of the Russian Federation. Result: silence."





MILITARY OPERATIONS UNDERWAY

While mobilizing troops, Russia closed its airspace to civilian aircraft on its western borders with Ukraine and Belarus, the aviation authorities said Thursday.

Additionally, the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsiya announced that Russia has temporarily closed more than 10 airports in the south and Crimea.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Armed Forces are destroying "military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" with high-precision weapons, not targeting Ukrainian cities.

A 37-year-old citizen named Anna said that sales in her cosmetics stores in Kiev dropped by 40 percent in the past month due to heightened tensions.

Having not planned to leave the city because her children are still in school, she expressed the hope that the war would not interrupt school for her children.

Besides Kiev, several military targets in eastern and southern Ukraine were under attack early Thursday, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

The Ivano-Frankivsk International Airport and its fuel and lubricants depots in western Ukraine were also destroyed by Russia's missile systems, reported Ukrinform, citing the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.

Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2022 shows vehicles queuing up to leave the city in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by Sergey Starostenko/Xinhua)

Ukraine's border guard service said Russia's ground forces crossed into Ukraine from several directions on Thursday. Russian tanks and other heavy equipment crossed the frontier in several northern regions and Crimea in the south.

The border guard also said separately that Russian troops had crossed the Ukrainian border into the Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Lugansk regions.

Following Russia's operation, Zelensky announced that Kiev had severed diplomatic relations with Moscow after Russia launched military operations in Donbass, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported.

In a televised address, Zelensky said that more than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in the conflict.

In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the severance of bilateral diplomatic ties was "not our choice," Sputnik reported.





INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

Shortly after Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday night called on Russia to withdraw its troops.

If the military action would lead to a generalized war, "it is difficult to forecast how dramatic it will be in the number of people who will die, in the number of people who will be displaced, in the number of people who will lose hope in relation to the future," Guterres told reporters following a Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine.

Photo taken on Feb. 23, 2022 shows the scene of the UN Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine at UN headquarters in New York. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told a meeting with top military brass that the purpose of Russia's military operation in Donbas is to prevent local destruction and civilian casualties in Donetsk and Luhansk, noting that even though the conflict has already begun, the sides must find ways to prevent bloodshed and full-scale war.

To rally the support of his Western allies, Zelensky has reached out to U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron by phone.

During the call, Biden briefed his Ukrainian counterpart on the steps Washington is taking "to rally international condemnation," adding that the United States "will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," according to a White House statement.

Biden also said he would meet with leaders of the Group of Seven countries on Thursday.

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2022 shows a screen broadcasting U.S. President Joe Biden delivering remarks on Ukraine situation in a live stream provided by CNBC. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The United States has announced what it called "the first tranche" of punitive measures on Russia -- sanctions on two major Russian banks and the country's sovereign debt, preventing Moscow from raising money from the West and trading new debt in the U.S. or European markets. It also sanctioned Russian elites and their family members.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said on Thursday that "everything must now be done to avoid further escalation and to protect lives."

Emphasizing that "peace comes first," Van der Bellen said the way to the negotiating table must be open to all sides.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian tweeted on Thursday that "The #Ukraine crisis is rooted in NATO's provocations. We don't believe that resorting to war is a solution."

It is "imperative to establish ceasefire & to find a political and democratic resolution," he added.

Guterres on Wednesday night asked Putin to send his troops back to Russia and "give peace a chance" after the Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine concluded.

China maintains that the Cold War mentality should be completely abandoned and a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism should be finally established through dialogue and negotiation, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday.

(Video reporters: Li Dongxu, Meng Jing; Video editors: Lin Lin, Mu Xuyao)
SINGAPORE, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Singapore recorded 18,593 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total tally to 661,198, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.

Of the new cases, 1,992 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 16,601 through ARTs (antigen rapid tests), according to the health ministry.

Among the PCR cases, 1,915 were local transmissions and 77 were imported cases. Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk, there were 16,519 local transmissions and 82 imported cases.

A total of 1,615 cases are currently warded in hospitals, with 44 cases in intensive care units.

Twelve more patients have died from complications due to COVID-19 infection, bringing the death toll to 975, the ministry said.

The ministry said on Thursday that the previously announced changes to existing COVID-19 safe management measures will be postponed, with a new date for implementation to be announced shortly. This is due to the current surge in daily cases and the extensive work involved in going through the detailed rules across different settings. 
ABUJA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 466 extremist militants have surrendered to troops in Nigeria's northeast region in the past two weeks, the military said Thursday.

The militants of the Boko Haram and Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) groups surrendered during various operations carried out by troops between Feb. 10 and Thursday, Bernard Onyeuko, a spokesman for the military, told reporters in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

Among them were 120 adult males, 137 adult females, and 209 children, Onyeuko said, noting the troops had sustained land and air raids during the period. Some 26 suspected criminals were also arrested.

"The surrendered terrorists and arrested criminals have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate security agencies for necessary action," he said.

The surrendered terrorists claimed that they had lost interest in the Boko Haram terrorists' ideology, according to the spokesman.

The ISWAP has been collaborating with its sister group Boko Haram to establish an Islamist state in northeast Nigeria. The terror groups have also extended their attacks to other countries in the Lake Chad Basin. 
ABUJA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 159 Nigerians stranded in Libya while seeking to enter Europe voluntarily returned home on Wednesday, Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said.

The Nigerians, who arrived in the economic hub Lagos Wednesday evening, were received by local officials, Ibrahim Farinloye, NEMA's coordinator, told reporters.

Among them were 67 male adults, 80 female adults, 10 children and two infants, Farinloye said.

Libya has for years been a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

The returnees were supported by the International Organization for Migration through the Voluntary Humanitarian Return program, which makes arrangements to help illegal immigrants stranded in Libya return to their homelands. Since 2015, more than 53,000 illegal migrants have returned from Libya through the program. 
ABUJA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Scores of militants have been killed following different operations by troops in Nigeria's north region in the past two weeks, the military said here Thursday.

Bernard Onyeuko, a spokesman for the military, told reporters in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, that troops in the northern part of the country had sustained land and air raids between Feb. 10 and Thursday across the region, to record the success.

On Feb. 11, one of the leaders of the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) group identified as Mohammed Yusuf and five other militants were killed in an air raid by the military in the Marte area of the northeastern state of Borno, said Onyeuko.

He said the troops also recorded a major operational breakthrough on the same day when a notorious bandit identified as Dogo Umaru and nine of his fighters were killed in another air raid inside a forest in the northwestern state of Zamfara.

The spokesman said the troops had sustained both kinetic and non-kinetic operations across Plateau and Kaduna states in the central and northwest regions, respectively, killing more than 75 bandits on Feb. 17. And during the period, at least 60 internally displaced persons kidnapped by gunmen were rescued and returned to their camp in the central state of Benue.

Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. 
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev has said that Saudi Arabia is an essential partner and a brotherly country for Azerbaijan.

He made the remarks in a congratulatory letter sent to Saudi Arabias King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

For us, Saudi Arabia is an essential partner and a brotherly country. I attach great significance to the comprehensive development of our relations underpinned by mutual trust, he wrote.

The president noted with pleasure the two countries' fruitful cooperation within the international organizations, particularly the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, and expressed the determination to continue advancing the mutual performance.

Throughout these 30 years, our interstate relations have seen dynamic development, in line with the interests of our people who share historical, religious and cultural roots, and our cooperation has expanded both in a bilateral and multilateral format, he wrote.

The head of state also stressed that Azerbaijani people highly value Saudi Arabias support to Azerbaijans territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of its recognized borders, as well as Saudi Arabias just position.

Noting that the joint accomplishments across different spheres are gratifying, the president stated that the cooperation in the energy sector, being among priority directions, including the successful engagement within the OPEC+ format, is commendable.

I wish to highlight our collaboration in the renewable energy sector particularly. We are delighted that the ACWA Power company, precisely from your brotherly country, is the investor and implementer of the Khizi-Absheron Wind Power Station project, to be Azerbaijans largest power station in that sector and to contribute to our countrys energy security, he wrote.

Aliyev also expressed the belief that Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia will continue the joint efforts to expand traditionally friendly relations between the two countries and harness the full potential of cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally.

I always recall with fondest impressions the great attention and hospitality extended to me during my visits to Saudi Arabia and our meetings held in the spirit of kindness and sincerity... I wish you robust health, long life and success and to the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia everlasting peace and prosperity, he wrote.
BERLIN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Customs seized more than 2.6 tons of cocaine in the port of Hamburg in Germany, worth more than 350 million euros (390.1 million U.S. dollars) on the black market, the customs authority said on Thursday.

The cocaine was hidden in a container from Ecuador, which according to the shipping documents was supposed to be loaded with bananas, the statement noted.

"With this outstanding cocaine seizure, customs once again underlines its significant role in the fight against organized crime," said Rene Matschke, head of the Hamburg customs investigation office.

The container had already been unloaded in the port of Hamburg on Dec. 24 and had been stored at a container terminal since then. Due to the long storage time, the sea container came into the focus of customs.

An X-ray inspection of the container was ordered, showing "suspicious structures of the goods," which strengthened the suspicion of cocaine smuggling, the statement noted. The container shipment of bananas was destined for a company in another European country.

Further investigations by the Hamburg customs investigation office on behalf of the Hamburg public prosecutor's office would continue.

Last year, customs in Hamburg have seized around 16 tons of cocaine in containers from Paraguay. The find was considered the largest amount of cocaine ever seized in Europe. (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars) 
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A new study suggests that racial ethnic minorities in the United States were more likely than White adults to experience COVID-19-related discrimination.

In the study published Wednesday in the American Journal of Public Health, researchers measured the prevalence of COVID-19-related discrimination in all major racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

They also analyzed the impact of other social and demographic factors on COVID-19-related discrimination.

Researchers at the U.S. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), collected information from 5,500 American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, African American, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Latino, white, and multiracial adults.

A total of 22.1 percent of the participants reported experiencing discriminatory behaviors, and 42.7 percent reported that people acted afraid of them, according to the study.

All racial minorities were more likely than White adults to experience COVID-19-related discrimination, with Asian and American Indian adults being most likely to experience such discrimination, according to the study.

Limited English proficiency, lower education, lower income, and residing in a big city or the East South Central census division also increased the prevalence of discrimination.

The pandemic has exacerbated preexisting resentment against racial minorities and marginalized communities, said the study.

"The study showcases the need for careful and responsible public health messaging during public health crises to help prevent and address discrimination against groups that have been marginalized," said a release of the NIH on Thursday. 
New Delhi:

Amid heavy deployment, the mega anti-CAA march towards Parliament was stopped near Okhla on Monday. Two groups of protesters from Mandi House and Jamia Nagar assembled outside the Jamia Millia Islamia and started walking towards the main road. However, they were stopped by the police. The protesters were seen climbing the barricades and breaching the security cordon. As the tension grew, Jamia Millia Islamia Chief Proctor Waseem Ahmad issued an appeal to the protesters. I request both students and police to deal with the situation in a calm manner. I appeal to students to move back, Ahmad said.

The protesters, including Jamia students and alumni, were led by the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC). They were marching towards Parliament to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Police said the protesters did not have permission to march towards Parliament. There was heavy deployment of security personnel, many donning riot gear, in and around the university. The protesters began their march from Jamia's gate no. 7. The police appealed to them to end their march. The protesters raised slogans like "Kagaz Nahi Dikhayenge" (We will not show documents)" and "Jab Nahi Dare Hum Goron Se Toh Kyun Dare Hum Auron Se" (When we did not fear the British, then why should we fear others).

Several women are also part of the protest. Many waved tricolour and raised slogans of "Halla Bol". Men formed a human chain on either sides of roads as women walked ahead. "It has been two months since we are protesting. No one from the government has come to talk to us, so we want to go to talk to them," said Zeba Anhad, a burqa-clad protester.

A scuffle ensued as policemen tried to stop the protesters. Many protesters jumped over barricades. The area has turned into the epicentre of the anti-CAA protests. Previously, the Centre on February 4 told Delhi High Court that the investigation into the incident of violence at Jamia Millia Islamia during an anti-citizenship law protest was at a crucial stage. The submission before a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar was made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta while seeking more time to file a report regarding the probe.

Jamia Millia Islamia students and locals had protested at Jamia Nagar in Delhi on December 15, 2019 against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Protesters allegedly torched four buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with the police in New Friends Colony. Delhi Police baton charged the protesters and used tear gas shells to disperse the mob before entering the varsity campus, detaining several persons allegedly involved in the violence.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi:

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia won the Patparganj seat in East Delhi after a tough fight against BJP's Ravinder Singh Negi. After trailing initially, Sisodia wrested the seat in final rounds of counting. He got 70,163 votes and defeated his closest rival - Ravinder Singh Negi of BJP- by 3,207 votes.

The Patparganj Assembly seat is one of the 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi. The seat falls in the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency in eastern Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded deputy CM Manish Sisodia from the seat for the third time. The BJP and Congress have fielded Ravi Negi and Laxman Rawat, respectively.

AAP senior leader Sanjay Singh also said that by giving a massive mandate, people of the national capital have said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is not a terrorist but a staunch nationalist. Despite the BJP using all its might to wrest power in the national capital, the son of Delhi won, he said.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is leading on 57 seats while the BJP on 13, according to Election Commission (EC). The two crore families of Delhi have now said that their son Arvind Kejriwal is not a terrorist but a staunch nationalist. I salute the people of Delhi from (for) giving AAP such a massive mandate, Singh said in a tweet.

The AAP leader was referring to remarks made by BJP MP Parvesh Verma at a poll rally. Verma had called Kejriwal a terrorist over his alleged support to an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest in south Delhis Shaheen Bagh.

Despite BJP leaders putting all their force behind it (election campaign), the son of Delhi won. Amit Shah has been shown that the son of Delhi has won and people of Delhi have voted for development and progress, said Singh, referring to Kejriwal.

Singh was addressing party workers at the AAP headquarters here. According to ECs website, Kejriwal was leading from his New Delhi constituency. He reached the party office as the counting got underway. Counting centres are spread across 21 locations, spanning 70 constituencies. Polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly was held on Saturday.

11:35 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia is trailing with over thousand votes.

10:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In According to Election Commission, AAP candidate Manish Sisodia is leading from Patparganj with only 74 votes.

08:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The BJP has fielded Ravi Negi against Sisodia. Negi is BJPs Vinod Nagar Mandals (ward) president and originally hails from Uttarakhand.
The last class of 11 NASA astronauts, which graduated in January, were picked from a record-breaking 18,000 applicants. (Photo Credit: NASA/Twitter)

Houston:

Wanted: The next generation of astronauts to walk on the Moon and journey to Mars. You'll need a relevant Master's degree, be prepared to live and work 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth on the International Space Station, and be a US citizen. NASA announced on Tuesday that it was seeking to boost its astronaut corps, which currently stands at 48 active personnel, as part of plans to dramatically expand its crewed space missions in the coming years. "We're celebrating our 20th year of continuous presence aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in low-Earth orbit this year, and we're on the verge of sending the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

"For the handful of highly talented women and men we will hire to join our diverse astronaut corps, it's an incredible time in human spaceflight to be an astronaut. We're asking all eligible Americans if they have what it takes to apply beginning March 2."

The requirements for a Master's degree in science, engineering or mathematics (STEM) can also be met by being two years into a STEM PhD, or by being a test pilot, one of the most well-worn paths to the astronaut corps. A medical degree -- or one in osteopathic medicine -- also works. The candidates will need at least two years' professional experience, or, in the case of pilots, 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time.

And, for the first time ever, candidates will be asked to complete a two-hour online test. The process is competitive. The last class of 11 NASA astronauts, which graduated in January, were picked from a record-breaking 18,000 applicants.

Their resumes are stellar: One of them, Jonny Kim, is an emergency physician and a veteran of 100 combat operations with the Navy SEALs, where he earned a Silver Star. He also has a mathematics degree and doctorate in medicine from Harvard.

NASA expects to select the next class by mid-2021, and the candidates will then embark on a two-year training program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

It will include classes in spacewalking at NASA's underwater Neutral Buoyancy Lab, robotics, the systems of the International Space Station and piloting the T-38 training jet, Russian language lessons, and the building blocks of the Artemis program to return to the Moon by 2024.

The privileged few will join the 500 or so people who have ventured into space, as NASA looks to resume sending US astronauts to the ISS on private US rockets, go back to the Moon and head onward to Mars in the 2030s.

Traditionally, about half of new recruits have come from the military, especially test pilots who fly dangerous experimental aircraft, including the likes of Alan Shepard, the first American in space and Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon.

And the pay? For civilian candidates, it starts at the 11th grade for federal workers at $53,800 to $70,000.

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New Delhi:

Delhi Assembly Election results 2020: Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari looked extremely confident for the Delhi Assembly Elections verdict. While the exit polls have predicted the incumbent AAP returning to power, Tiwari says that he doesnt believe in exit polls and people should wait for exact polls. As the counting began at 8 am, Tiwari had a very sharp prediction for the Delhi results. I am confident that it will be a good day for BJP. We are coming to power in Delhi today. Don't be surprised if we win 55 seats, Tiwari was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. (DELHI RESULTS LIVE UPDATES)

On the voting day on February 8, Tiwari had also made a prediction on Twitter. In a tweet, Tiwari had said that his party will win "48 seats" and form a government in the city. Tiwari tweeted that all the exit polls will fail and asked his detractors to save his tweet.

Exit polls for the Delhi Assembly election on Saturday predicted a comfortable victory for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) despite a likely rise in tally for the BJP in the 70-member House. Times Now-Ipsos exit polls predicted that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will retain his chair with the AAP winning 44 seats against 26 for the BJP.

Republic-Jan ki Baat survey gave the AAP 48-61 seats and the BJP 9-21 seats. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Cicero predicted 54 seats for the AAP, 15 for the BJP and one for the Congress. The AAP had scored an overwhelming victory in the 2015 assembly polls, winning 67 seats and reducing the BJP to three.

The election, largely seen as a battle between the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party, which went aggressive during the high-octane campaign was held on Saturday, sealing the fate of 672 candidates -- 593 men and 79 women. Nearly 24 hours after the polling ended in Delhi, the Election Commission on Sunday announced that the final voter turnout was 62.59 per cent, five per cent less than 2015, and asserted that it followed the laid down process to compile data, after the AAP questioned the "delay".

Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP sought to retain power on development plank, against the BJP that ran an aggressive campaign centred around the issues of anti-CAA protests and nationalism. Most exit polls also predicted that the Congress is unlikely to open its account even this time in Delhi, which it ruled from 1998 to 2013. Looking to capture power after 22 years, the BJP had mounted one of the most aggressive campaigns in the Delhi Assembly polls, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah leading the saffron charge on its planks of Hindutva and nationalism, and its strident opposition to Shaheen Bagh protests.
New Delhi:

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has congratulated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for winning Delhi Assembly Elections 2020. My best wishes & congratulations to Mr Kejriwal and the AAP on winning the Delhi Assembly elections. The Wayanad MP wrote on Twitter. Kejriwal-led AAP has won at least 38 seats and leading on the other 24 seats.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhis tweet, Kejriwal wrote, Thank you @RahulGandhi ji.

Meanwhile, senior Delhi Congress leader and national spokesperson of the party Sharmishtha Mukherjee alleged delay in decision making and lack of strategy and unity at the state level for the party's humiliating performance reflected in the Assembly poll results on Tuesday.

Mukherjee, president of Delhi Mahila Congress, stated that it was high time that the party takes some action. She added that she too was responsible for the Congress' poor show.

The Congress is on the verge of drawing blank again in the Assembly polls as all its candidates were way far behind their AAP and BJP opponents on all the 70 seats. In the 2015 Assembly elections too, Congress failed to win any seat.

"We r again decimated in Delhi. Enuf of introspection, time 4 action now. Inordinate delay in decision making at the top, lack of strategy & unity at state level, demotivated workers, no grassroots connect-all r factors. Being part of d system, I too take my share of responsibility (sic)," Mukherjee tweeted as the results came out.

She also accused the BJP of playing divisive politics while crediting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for playing "smart politics" as the results showed a clean sweep by the AAP to return to power.

"BJP playing divisive politics, Kejriwal playing 'smart politics' & what r we doing? Can we honestly say that we've done all 2 put our house in order? We r busy capturing Congress whereas other parties are capturing India. If we r 2 survive, time 2 come out of exalted echo chambers! (sic)," she said in another tweet.

The Congress contested the Delhi polls in alliance with the Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD), fielding candidates on 66 seats and leaving four to its partner.
New Delhi:

In a massive relief for the resident of the National Capital Region, the administration opened the Yamuna bridge that links Noida and Delhi on Tuesday. The barricades that were put in place for past two months have been removed now. Though people will still find the blockade towards Kalindi Kunj and Shaheen Bagh, but now at least they can entre the city limits. But this might lead to a bottleneck situation. The decision comes a day after the Supreme Court came down heavily on the anti-CAA protests that have been going on in south Delhis Shaheen Bagh area since December 15 last year.

You cannot block public roads indefinitely, protests cannot continue like this, the top court said in a stern observation. The apex court issued notices to the Delhi Police, NCT government in the matter. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for February 17. The Supreme Court said the people are entitled to protest but they have to do so in an area designated for agitation. However, the top court refused to give an interim order in the case.

A bench comprising Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph issued the order that is likely to affect the future of the anti-CAA stir. Restrictions have been imposed on the stretch as also the Okhla underpass due to protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Advocate Amit Sahni, who has filed an appeal in the apex court against the January 14 order of the high court directing the police to deal with the situation keeping in mind law and order, said that due to the protests since December 15 last year traffic flow on Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch has been badly affected.

The protests at Shaheen Bagh was one of the major issues in the recently-held Delhi Assembly Elections. Top BJP leaders were seen making provocative statements against the stir at Shaheen Bagh. Union Minister Giriraj Singh had sparked a massive controversy with his provocative tweet against the ongoing anti-CAA protests in Delhi Shaheen Bagh area. Senior BJP leader tweeted a clip and said that Shaheen Bagh has become the hub of making suicide bombers. He termed the protests at Shaheen Bagh as an anti-national conspiracy. Along with the tweet, Singh had posted a video in which a woman could be heard exhorting the protesters for qurbani.
Tokyo:

Two Indian crew on board a cruise ship off the Japanese coast have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Indian Embassy in Japan said on Wednesday as authorities confirmed that 174 people have been infected with the deadly disease. The cruise ship Diamond Princess with 3,711 people on board arrived at the Japanese coast early last week and was quarantined after a passenger who de-boarded last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of the novel virus on the ship.

A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were on board the ship. Due to the suspicion of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection, the ship has been quarantined by the Japanese authorities till February 19, 2020, the embassy said in a statement.

As of February 12, 2020, altogether 174 people have been tested positive for nCoV, including two Indian crew members, it said. All the infected people have been taken to hospitals for adequate treatment, including further quarantine, in accordance with the Japanese health protocol, it said.

The Indian Embassy was in constant touch with the Japanese authorities to ensure the welfare of Indian nationals on board the ship as well as the possibility of their early disembarkation, in case they are not found to have tested positive for the virus, it said.

Also Read | VIDEO: Man Lands Himself In Legal Trouble For Pretending To Die From Coronavirus In Metro Creating Public Chaos

Japanese authorities have confirmed that they are following the designated health protocols, it said.

The Embassy of India in Tokyo has reached out to the Indian nationals through emails and telephone calls and explained to them about the health and safety regulations of Japanese authorities and have requested for cooperation, the statement said.

None of the Indian nationals have complained of discriminatory treatment meted out to them," it said, adding that the mission has been in constant touch with the ship management company- Princess Cruises (for the crew members) and the employer of six passengers to tie up their travel back to India.

Giving details, it said that those who have not tested positive, irrespective of their nationality, have not been allowed to disembark except the critically ill passengers and crew members who have been allowed to be taken to hospitals for further treatment and quarantine.

Media reports had earlier showed a video of Indian crew members pleading to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the UN to segregate the Indians on board the ship on an urgent basis.

One of the crew members in the video, identified as Binay Kumar Sarkar, said, please somehow save us as soon as possible. What's the point if something happens (to us)...I want to request the government of India and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi-ji, please segregate us and bring us back home safely.

Also Read | Why Coronavirus Outbreak Is Giving Jitters To India's Smartphone Industry

Those on the ship have been asked to wear masks and allowed limited access to the open decks as they are advised to remain in the cabins most of the times to contain the spread of the virus, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, the operator of the ship on Monday vowed to refund all 2,666 passengers due to the on board outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Carnival Japan Inc., the Japanese branch of Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., which operates the ship, said refunds will be offered via travel agencies through which the passengers made their bookings.

The company will additionally cover all costs incurred by those quarantined aboard the ship since last Tuesday, when passengers were originally scheduled to disembark at Yokohama.

The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak rose up to 1,113 with 97 new fatalities reported mostly in the worst-affected Hubei province while the confirmed cases of infection jumped to 44,653, health officials said on Wednesday.

The coronavirus outbreak originated in central China's Hubei province in December last year. The virus was officially named "COVID-19" by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday. Several countries have banned arrivals from China while major airlines have suspended flights to the country.

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Washington:

President Donald Trump will embark on his first India visit later this month, the White House announced on Tuesday. Trump, who would be in India for two-day, will make his first trip to the country as the President of the United States.

The President, who will be accompanied with First Lady Melania Trump, will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad during the visit from February 24-25, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said.

During a phone call over the weekend, Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed the trip would further strengthen the India-US strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people, she said.

President @realDonaldTrump & @FLOTUS will travel to India from February 24-25 to visit Prime Minister @narendramodi!



The trip will further strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership & highlight the strong & enduring bonds between the American & Indian people. YY YY  The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 10, 2020

Trump's Visit Is Crucial

President Trumps trip to India is timely in view of the bilateral trade issues that need to be resolved and in light of the collaborations between the US and India in various realms, M R Rangaswami, Indian-American philanthropist and head of Indiaspora, told PTI.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi meets President Donald Trump at the White House

His predecessor, Barack Obama, had travelled to India twice, in 2010 and 2015.

Describing this as a significant visit, Mukesh Aghi, president of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum, noted that last three American presidents had made trips to India.

Its essential to send a message to the region that India is a significant partner and the president values that, Aghi added.

According to him, India has a role to play not only in its immediate neighbourhood, but in making sure that the South China Sea and the Indo Pacific region is part of the international global order.

(With PTI Input)

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By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Against the backdrop of Baku's numerous steps to normalize Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, Yerevan persists in its provocations.

To summarize, Azerbaijan proposed signing a peace treaty and opening all regional communications as part of the aforementioned steps. For the first time since the 44-day war in 2020, Azerbaijani lawmakers visited Yerevan.

During his meeting with visiting Azerbaijani MPs in Yerevan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke positively about the advancement of Armenian-Turkish relations, his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Brussels on December 14, 2021, and a virtual meeting also attended by Aliyev, French President Emanuel Macron and European Council President Charles Michel on February 4, 2022.

Armenian provocation

Another provocation was committed at a Yerevan-hosted joint meeting of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly's committees on economic integration, social issues, culture, and civil society during the discussion of the document "Capitals: Economic development in post-COVID realities", the author of which is Tahir Mirkishili, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation.

During her speech, Diana Sarumova, executive director of the European Business Association of Armenia, displayed a map that distorts Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, local media reported.

In his statement, Mirkishili described Diana Sarumova's actions as a provocation, and he urged everyone to follow the rules of the international organization.

He informed that part of Azerbaijan was incorrectly depicted on the map, which could have been avoided.

If we invite someone to speak here, these issues should be taken into account and we should be treated with respect. We are members of Euronest PA. We must respect the norms of international law, the norms of the European Parliament, and the norms of the Partnership program. Therefore, I urge you to be careful, to stop provocations against our organization," the MP added.

MPs visit Blue Mosque

Tahir Mirkishili, the chairman of Azerbaijan's parliamentary committee on economic policy, industry, and entrepreneurship, and another MP, Soltan Mammadov, visited the Blue Mosque in capital Yerevan as part of their trip to Armenia.

"As far as we know, this is the only Azerbaijani monument preserved in Yerevan. Although there are inscriptions related to another state on its walls, these walls, and architecture as a whole belong to Azerbaijan," he explained.

Protests upon MPs' arrival

It should be noted that members of the Armenian ultranationalist left-wing party Dashnaktsutyun (Armenian Revolutionary Federation, ARF) gathered outside the Marriott Armenia hotel, where members of the Azerbaijani delegation were accommodated, and tried to get inside on February 22.

About a dozen protesters were detained during the clash outside the hotel, the report added.

As reported earlier, a group of people describing themselves as war veterans blocked the road to Armenia's Zvartnots International Airport in protest against the arrival of Azerbaijani MPs in Yerevan on February 21.

Azerbaijani MPs Tahir Mirkishili and Soltan Mammadov visited Yerevan to attend meetings of the committees of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, which was held on February 22.

The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is the inter-parliamentary forum in which members of the European Parliament and the national parliaments of Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, and Georgia participate and forge closer political and economic ties with the European Union. It was established in 2011 by the European Commission as a component of the Eastern Partnership.
I love you, Delhi, thank you for trusting me as your son, says Kejriwal in emotional victory speech (Photo Credit: ANI/Twitter)

New Delhi:

Delhi Assembly Election Results 2020: Arvind Kejriwal struck an emotional chord as he delivered his victory speech at the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday. The incumbent AAP registered lead in early morning trends with the word go. As the day progressed, it was clear that the AAP was returning to power in Delhi with a thumping majority. At time of publishing this story, AAP was leading on 63 seats whereas the BJP was at distant second in the Delhi Assembly Elections. Dilli walon ghazab kar diya aap logon ne! I love you (Dear Delhi, you did a miracle. I love you)," Kejriwal said. (LIVE UPDATES)

Thank you for trusting me as your son. People of Delhi have given us so many seats, we have to work for them together. I cant do it alone, Kejriwal said. "It is the beginning of a new era, a new kind of politics," Kejriwal added.

Delhi you have done it!!!



For the first time in the history of India, an election has been won on the basis of work. pic.twitter.com/aPGms4Myfn  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 11, 2020

On the day of polling, BJP leaders had made issue out of Kejriwals visit to famous Hanuman Temple located in CP. It seemed that Kejriwal had not forgotten Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwaris jibe. He said that Lord Hanuman had blessed the AAP victory on Mangalvar. In Hindu Mythology, Tuesday is considered as day of worshipping Lord Hanuman. Kejriwal concluded his victory speech with chants of Bharat Maata Ki Jai, Inquilab Zindabad and Vade Mataram.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party was on course to a landslide victory on Tuesday in the high-stakes Delhi Assembly polls, leaving the main rival BJP way behind and decimating the Congress in a bitterly-fought contest that took place in the midst of massive protests over the new citizenship law. The AAP was leading in 63 seats, the BJP in seven constituencies while the Congress drew a blank in the 70-member assembly, according to the latest vote tally. The AAP's stupendous victory comes nearly eight months after it suffered a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls in which the party drew a blank while the BJP won all the seven seats.

Among the AAP heavyweights who won the elections after a nail-bitter included Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Ragav Chaddha and Atishi. Delhi cabinet ministers Gopal Rai, Satyender Jain also were among prominent winners. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was leading in New Delhi Constituency by over 17,000 votes against his BJP rival Sunil Kumar Yadav.

The elections in the national capital took place in the midst of massive protests in the city and elsewhere over the new citizenship law, an issue which was strongly raised by the BJP top leadership during the campaigning which often turned bitter and vitriolic.
London:

Deficiency in the levels of vitamin D in pregnant women is associated with a higher risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, according to a study. ADHD makes it difficult for a person to pay attention and control impulsive behaviours. The study is the first population-level research to demonstrate an association between low maternal vitamin D level in early to mid-pregnancy and an elevated risk for diagnosed ADHD in the offspring, the researchers said.

"Alongside genotype, prenatal factors such as vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy, can influence the development of ADHD," said Minna Sucksdorff from the University of Turku in Finland.

The study, published in Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, included 1,067 children born between 1998 and 1999 diagnosed with ADHD in Finland, and the same number of matched controls. The data was collected before the current national recommendation in Finland for the intake of vitamin D during pregnancy, which is 10 microgrammes per day throughout the year.

Image Credit: Pexels.com

Primary investigator, Professor Andre Sourander said that, despite the recommendations, vitamin D deficiency is still a global problem. "This research offers strong evidence that a low level of vitamin D during pregnancy is related to attention deficiency in offspring," Sourander said.

"As ADHD is one of the most common chronic diseases in children, the research results have a great significance for public health," he said.

The study is part of a larger research project that aims to discover the connections between the mother's health during pregnancy and ADHD in offspring, the researchers said. The goal is to produce information for developing preventative treatments and measures for identifying children with ADHD risk, they said.
Coronavirus in China: The new virus is believed to have emerged last year in a market that sells wild animals in Hubeias capital Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak. (Photo Credit: IANS)

New Delhi:

The death count in Chinas novel coronavirus outbreak has climbed to 1,110, Chinas national authorities announced on Wednesday. Almost all the deaths are in Hubei Province which showed a sharp increase with new confirmed cases. There are now more than 44,200 confirmed cases across China, based on previously released figures from the government.

In its daily update, Hubeis health commission also confirmed another 1,638 new cases in the central province, where the outbreak emerged in December.

The new virus is believed to have emerged last year in a market that sells wild animals in Hubeis capital Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak.

The death count due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China has surpassed the toll from the SARS outbreak on the mainland and Hong Kong almost two decades ago. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a disease in the same family as the new coronavirus, left nearly 774 people dead in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. More than 120 others died around the world.

China has struggled to contain the current virus despite having placed some 56 million people under effective lockdown in Hubei and its provincial capital, Wuhan. Other cities far from the epicentre have also taken measures to keep people indoors, limiting the number of individuals who can leave their home.

China imposed a lockdown on a major city far from the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic. The United States, Australia, New Zealand and Israel have banned foreign nationals from visiting if they have been in China recently, and they have also warned their own citizens against travelling there.

Coronavirus: China opens new hospital

China has opened a new hospital built in 10 days, infused cash into tumbling financial markets and further restricted people's movement in hopes of containing the rapidly spreading virus and its escalating impact.

The virus was officially named COVID-19 at a conference in Geneva held by the World Health Organization, where the bodys chief said countries had a chance of stopping its global spread.

WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday that although 99 percent of cases are in China, where it remains very much an emergency, it also holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world.

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New Delhi:

Delhi Assembly Polls 2020- Arvind Kejriwal, engineer, civil servant and Delhi's man with a development agenda, is the David who slayed the mighty Goliath for the second time in five years. The Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) is poised to win 62 of Delhi's 70 seats, leaving the BJP with seven and decimating the Congress, overcoming the BJP's divisive campaign.

Nine years ago, Kejriwal slipped into the political frame behind Anna Hazare during the Lokpal movement in 2011 before quickly enlarging his canvas, first as a satyagrah activist and then as founder of the cleverly named Aam Aadmi Party that took on the might of the BJP to reclaim Delhi for a third time on Tuesday.

The name of his party as carefully chosen as his public persona perhaps, Delhi's 51-year-old chief minister is the embodiment of the everyday man but one who has tailored his politics and campaign in keeping with the times.

As he emerged on the victory stage to loud cheers from his AAP supporters and shouted Bharat Mata ki Jai, ?Inquilab Zindabad? and ?Vande Mataram? before saying ?I love you? to Delhiites, many remembered the earnest activist who went on a hunger strike for a Lokpal bill in 2011.

The year after, in 2012, he started his political party and emerged as a mascot of an alternative brand of politics ? and the ?aam aadmi' politician with his muffler casually wrapped around his neck, and sometimes his head, oversized shirts and open toed sandals.

Though his ambitions to make the AAP a national party have not met with much success, the Delhi chief minister's hat is one that will stay -- for the next five years at least.

His effort to be seen as a direct challenger to Narendra Modi came a cropper in 2014 when he contested the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi. He tried to make an electoral dent in Punjab and Goa in 2017 but that didn't work either. So Delhi it is for the moment.

In 2013, he became chief minister but only for 49 days, images of him sleeping in his utilitarian Wagon R while on ?dharna' for a Jan Lokpal (ombudsman) wrapped in a cotton quilt against the cold winter nights making the front pages.

Battling allegations of being autocratic and unyielding in his politics, Kejriwal resigned soon after, only to bide his time till 2015 when he scripted a stunning win to bag 67 of Delhi's 70 seats.

Earning the moniker mufflerman' for his fondness for the muffler, Kejriwal runs his party with the proverbial iron fist and has learnt to temper his aggression, say people close to him.

He has mellowed since his days as the rebel leader on a 'dharna', carefully calibrating his political message and refusing to be baited by the BJP which made the anti-CAA protests in 'Shaheen Bagh' its campaign centrepiece.

During the election campaign, Kejriwal attacked BJP on several occasions, asking who is their chief ministerial candidate. He was careful, however, to not speak out too clearly on the Shaheen Bagh protests.

Notwithstanding the electoral triumph for BJP in the May Lok Sabha polls, the IIT graduate has managed to anchor a campaign that wooed all sections in the city.

He announced in the beginning of the campaign that he will run a positive campaign fought on the basis of his government's development work in the last five years.

His main poll planks were schemes such as free bus travel for women in DTC buses, free 200 units of electricity, installation of 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras and free 20,000 litres of water.

He was called a "terrorist" by BJP leaders, but Kejriwal hit back saying voters could back the BJP if they thought so or opt for his party if they view him as a son of Delhi.

Born on August 16, 1968 in Hisar in Haryana to Gobind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi, Kejriwal is a man of simple tastes. His family is always by his side.

Kejriwal, who lives with his parents, wife Sunita and two children, is often seen going out for a quiet meal or the occasional film. Both daughter Harshita and son Pulkit are IIT products.

On Tuesday, the self-confessed film buff and fond husband told his cheering supporters from the victory dais that it was Sunita's birthday. A strict vegetarian who prefers home-made food, Kejriwal is married to Sunita, who is also an Indian Revenue Service officer and his batchmate. He is known to be an ardent practitioner of Vipassana, and seldom misses his yoga and meditation sessions.

The Ramon Magsaysay award winner was part of Team Anna that also included India's first woman IPS officer and now Puducherry governor Kiran Bedi and lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

He was the civil society representative member of the committee constituted by the government to draft the Jan Lokpal bill, following the campaign for introduction of the anti-graft legislation.

Kejriwal did a degree in Mechanical Engineering graduate from IIT Kharagpur.

He joined Tata Steel in 1989 and, after working for three years, resigned in 1992 to take up the Union Public Service Commission examination which he cleared to become an IRS officer. He also worked with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.

Kejriwal worked with people in slums through an NGO called Parivartan he set up with his confidant Manish Sisodia.

His efforts towards the enactment of the RTI Act to empower the poorest citizens of India won him the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in 2006.

In February 2006, after resigning as joint commissioner in the Income Tax Department, he became a full-time activist and started another NGO, Public Cause Research Foundation, with his award money as a corpus fund.

Will this man with many accomplishments manage to break out of Delhi to extend his political reach to other parts of the country? That's the challenge facing the AAP today.
New Delhi:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday called up Arvind Kejriwal to congratulate him for his party's performance in Delhi Assembly polls. The Aam Aadmi Party appeared to be heading back to power for a second term in Delhi with the party leading in 58 seats of the 70 and the BJP ahead in 12 as votes for last weeks assembly elections were counted, according to Election Commission figures.

The contest for political power over the national capital was a bipolar one with the Congress nowhere in the reckoning, according to initial trends.

AAP supremo and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was leading in the New Delhi seat by 4,300 seats, while his deputy Manish Sisodia from Patparganj seat was ahead by 102 votes.

BJP leader Vijender Gupta, who is also leader of opposition in the Delhi legislative assembly, was trailing by over 1,200 votes from Rohini.

As early celebrations broke out in the AAP headquarters in Rouse Avenue, BJPs Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari asked his party supporters not to lose hope.

There are 27 seats where the difference of votes is between 700 to 1,000, Tiwari told reporters.

Looking ahead at victory, he said he was not nervous and was ready to take on the responsibilities that a win would bring.

All talk is over. We have to wait for the blessings of the people. I am confident it will be a good day for BJP. We are coming to power in Delhi today. Dont be surprised if we win 55 seats, Tiwari said.

Kejriwal, who had led his party to a spectacular win of 67 of 70 seats in 2015,

is expected to address party workers and the media later in the day. However, his party workers were upbeat and in celebratory mode.
New Delhi:

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Surendra Kumar won the Gokalpur (SC) seat in the Delhi Assembly elections on Tuesday, defeating BJPs Ranjeet Singh by 19,488 votes. Fateh Singh of the AAP had won the seat by 31,968 votes in the 2015 Assembly polls. He had defeated Ranjeet Singh. Fateh Singh got 48.71 percent of the votes.

In 2020, Surendra Kumar received 53.22% of the votes cast in the state election, while Ranjeet Singh, SP Singh polled 41.5%, 1.34% votes respectively.

Gokalpur Assembly seat comes under North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. On February 8, along with 69 other constituencies, Gokalpur went to poll to select a new government. The terms of present Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government will come to an end in February 22, 2020.

In 2015 assembly elections, Kejriwal-led AAP had won 67 seats in the 70-member assembly, Gokalpur Assembly seat being one of them. In 2015, seven candidates were in the contest for the seat. This year, in 2020, the number is eight.

Arvind Kejriwal led the Aam Aadmi Party to a stupendous victory yet again in the Delhi Assembly polls, dealing a body blow to the main rival BJP and completely decimating the Congress in a keenly-watched battle in the midst of anti-CAA protests.

The 51-year-old bureaucrat-turned-politician almost replicated the AAP's fairy-tale victory of 2015 by riding on his government's development agenda, and in the process emerged as a key leader in the national political landscape.

As AAP was poised to bag 62 out of 70 seats, leaders cutting across party lines including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi (Congress), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Naveen Patnaik (BJD) and MK Stalin (DMK) congratulated Kejriwal for the historic victory.
New Delhi:

The sixth day of Valentines week is celebrated as Hug Day on February 12 every year by people across the world. Hugging is the simplest way of expressing love and affection. This beautiful day is not just celebrated with your romantic partner but with anybody whom you love. Apart from giving a hug to your loved ones, you can also exchange wishes on WhatsApp, Facebook and SMS. Here are some of the best ones:

1. I WANT A HUG. Not just a normal hug, one of those tight hugs that take my breath away, Give me butterflies and make me smile like crazy.

2. A hug is the best gift you can give. It fits all. And nobody ever minds if you return it. Happy Hug Day.

3. Just hug me, I want it and I want it for this life forever. You hug is solace for me my dear friend. Happy Hug Day 2020!

Image Credit: Pexels.com

4. Sending you today a hug from across the miles so warm and tight, the distances would disappear and you'd know how much I love you!

5. If a hug could convey how much I love you, I would hold you in my arms forever.

Also Read: Valentine Week 2020 List: When Is Teddy Day, Hug Day, Kiss Day And The Other Days Of Love This Year

6. When I was in dearth, it was you my friend that saved me losing myself. Just your hug gave me the strength to get back everything what I had lost. Happy hug day my dearest and closest friend.

7. Just give me a tight hug. I need it from you my love of life. Thank you for being there for me every time. You are beautiful part of my life and always will be. Great hugs from me!





Image Credit: Pexels.com

8. You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug. That must be why god gave us arms. So here is a hug for you on this hug day.

9. No matter where are you, I'll always find my way to Hug you tight and shower you with passionate kisses. I love only you, Sweetheart! Wishing my dear a very Happy Hug Day.

10. Never wait until tomorrow to hug someone you could hug today, because when you give one you get one right back your way.
New Delhi:

Delhi Assembly Election Results 2020: While the newsrooms across India may have declared the trends for all 70 seats for the Delhi Assembly Elections, the Election Commission of has released the trends a short while ago. According to the poll panels official figures, trends of 20 seats are available. The poll panel shows both Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP leading on 10 seats each. The trend is changing rapidly. At time of publishing this story, trends of 36 seats went live on poll panel site. The AAP leading on 22, whereas BJP is leading on 14. In terms of voting percentage, AAP has got 49.61 per cent votes, whereas BJP has got 43.74 per cent votes. (LIVE UPDATES)

Delhi voted in single phase on 70 seats on February 8. However, there was lot of confusion over the voter turnout. Nearly 24 hours after the polling ended in Delhi, the Election Commission on Sunday announced that the final voter turnout was 62.59 per cent, five per cent less than 2015, and asserted that it followed the laid down process to compile data, after the AAP questioned the "delay".

Most exit polls also predicted that Congress is unlikely to open its account even this time in Delhi, which it ruled from 1998-2013.

Looking to capture power after 22 years, the BJP had mounted one of the most aggressive campaigns in the Delhi Assembly polls, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah leading the saffron charge on its planks of Hindutva and nationalism, and its strident opposition to Shaheen Bagh protests.

The issue often dominated the political discourse during the campaign, with many BJP leaders targeting the ruling AAP, and the Congress, accusing them of "misleading people" holding anti-CAA protests in Delhi.

A section of voters on Saturday claimed that the prolonged street agitation demanding revocation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was not an issue in the beginning of the campaign but political parties had slowly turned it into one.

Ballimaran constituency recorded the highest voter turnout of 71.6 per cent among all the 70 assembly seats in the national capital, while Delhi Cantonment brought up the rear in polling percentage, according to data shared by officials on Sunday.

Okhla constituency recorded 58.84 per cent. Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Nagar fall in Okhla assembly constituency, where hectic polling had taken place till late afternoon. Shaheen Bagh has been the epicentre of anti-CAA protests in Delhi, running into over 50 days now.
New Delhi:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to address a pro-Citizenship Amendment Act meeting in Telangana soon, BJP sources said on Monday. However, details of the event, includingits date, had not yet been finalised, they said.

The BJPs state unit has organised various events in support of the amended citizenship law in recent weeks.

Earlier, the Government of India on Monday signed a landmark tripartite accord with representatives of all factions of banned organisation National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were present during the signing ceremony. Today Centre, Assam government and Bodo representatives have signed an important agreement. This agreement will ensure a golden future for Assam and for the Bodo people, Shah said after the peace accord was signed at the Home Ministry office in North Block.1550 cadres along with 130 weapons will surrender on 30th January. As the Home Minister, I want to assure all representatives that all promises will be fulfilled in a time-bound manner, Shah further said.

What Bodo accord says?

This accord will pave the path for development of both Assam and Bodo region, Shah said. According to the peace pact, the Centre will grant Rs 1,500 crore to the region, which will be spread in the three-year period. Special attempts will be made to safeguard language, culture and land rights in the region. Those who will surrender will be rehabilitated accordingly. Families of those killed in Bodo movement will get relief of Rs 5 lakh each. All stakeholders of Bodo society has signed this agreement, reaffirming the territorial integrity of Assam, Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The four factions of the NDFB, which signed the pact, were led by Ranjan Daimari, Govinda Basumatary, Dhiren Boro and B Saoraigra.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi: In the annual press conference of Delhi Police, Commissioner Rakesh Asthana has informed that in the year 2021, the Delhi Police Special Cell foiled the plan of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI to destroy Delhi and arrested a total of 13 terrorists, out of which two terrorists Osama and Zeeshan had also gone to Pakistan and underwent terror training.

The Delhi Police Commissioner further said that along with this, the Delhi Police also arrested a Pakistani-origin terrorist who was infiltrating into India in the year 2004 and hiding in various states including Delhi. At the same time, Delhi Police also gave intelligence inputs about the terrorist attacks to other states of the country and on the basis of this information, the police of other states took action. He further said that in the coming years, we have many challenges before us, for which we are fully prepared. On the orders of the Home Minister, we have prepared our action plan, which we are ready to implement.

Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said cybercrime is a big threat to national security in the times to come. The Cyber Cell (IFSO) of The Delhi Police received 1,15,2013 calls, out of which 24,219 were of financial fraud. Police seized Rs 4.31 crore. Apart from this, in the second web of Corona, when people were in trouble, cybercrime had increased a lot at that time.

Big racket of drugs busted, two foreign women arrested with cocaine worth 10 crores

Nadeem, the main accused in the Azamgarh poisonous liquor scandal, was caught after the encounter, 7 people had lost their lives.

Murder of wife by slitting throat, husband absconding with both children
By Azernews

By Sabina Mamamdli

Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva has urged the world community and relevant international agencies to adequately respond to the brutal act committed in Azerbaijan's Khojaly, recognize it as a genocide and bring its instigators and perpetrators to justice.

She made the remarks in a statement to international agencies on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.

Aliyeva has called for effective and drastic international sanctions against Armenia for flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, as well as increased pressure on the responsible state to provide information about the fate of Azerbaijani citizens who have been taken prisoner, hostage, or gone missing.

Thirty years have passed since the Khojaly genocide, which entered into history as one of the most horrific tragedies of the 20th century and a grave crime against humanity, she said.

Aliyeva stressed that hundreds of thousands of civilians have been massacred and expelled from their native lands as a result of Armenia's ethnic cleansing and genocide policies against Azerbaijanis throughout history.

In the statement, she addressed the facts of the brutal murder of people in Khojaly, noting that Armenian armed groups committed massacres in Azerbaijani settlements, the most horrific of which occurred in Khojaly while operating in an environment of impunity.

She emphasized that February 26 was declared the Day of the Khojaly Genocide and that the truth about the genocide was conveyed to the international community in 1994, at the initiative of late national leader Heydar Aliyev.

"The Armenian armed forces, Armenia-backed terrorist groups, and the 366th motorized infantry regiment of the former Soviet Army stationed in Khankandi town committed genocide against the civilian population of Khojaly on the night of February 25 to 26, 1992," she said.

The rights commissioner added that "this genocide act resulted in the brutal murder of 613 people, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly, while 1275 people were kidnapped and tortured. The fate of 150 hostages remains unknown, including 68 women and 26 children. During this genocide act, 487 people were severely injured. Furthermore, eight families were completely exterminated, 130 children lost one parent, and the remaining 25 children lost both parents. It should be noted that the fate of nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis who were taken captive or hostage and went missing, including those missing in Khojaly, remains unknown since Armenia began its illegal territorial claims against Azerbaijan".

She emphasized that Armenian policies of ethnic cleansing and genocide against Azerbaijanis have grossly violated a number of international binding documents.

According to the statement, the international campaign "Justice for Khojaly!" launched on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation played a critical role in promoting the truth about Karabakh, particularly the Khojaly genocide, throughout the world.

The commissioner emphasized that legislative bodies in 17 countries, as well as 24 states in the United States, have passed resolutions and decisions condemning the massacre of civilians in Khojaly. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) declared Armenia to be an aggressor and the Khojaly tragedy to be genocide.

Aliyeva stated that a number of the world's leading news organizations, including The Times, The Guardian, Reuters, and the BBC, have reported on the brutal scenes of criminal acts committed against humanity in Khojaly, and a number of resolutions have been passed as a result.

The commissioner also drew attention to Armenia's use of ballistic missiles and cluster bombs on densely populated cities and villages located kilometers away from the combat zone during the Second Karabakh War, as part of its genocidal policy.

"These attacks killed approximately 100 civilians, including 12 children, and injured over 400 people, including 50 children. Armenia's indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets destroyed over 3,410 houses, 120 multi-story residential buildings, and 512 civilian infrastructure, including numerous schools, hospitals, and kindergartens," she said.

Aliyeva stated that the Azerbaijani military liberated native lands that had been under Armenian occupation for approximately 30 years as a result of counter-offensive operations aimed at halting military aggression against our State and protecting civilian lives.

"Unfortunately, although 30 years have passed since the commission of the act of genocide in Khojaly, applying double standards, the international community has yet to establish a political and legal assessment of this brutal act, and its perpetrators have yet to be brought to justice," she concluded.




UZBEKISTAN: Following a meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan, the Central Asia Special Envoys for Afghanistan, and the EU Special Representative for Central Asia issued a joint statement. In Afghanistan, the declaration called for the formation of an inclusive administration.

Tomas Niklasson, the EU Special Envoy for Afghanistan, tweeted on Monday that he was heading to Tashkent with Terhi Hakala, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, to discuss Afghanistan's regional relevance and how the EU might "act as a constructive partner."

The representatives "emphasised the ongoing need to ensure good governance and service delivery, promote and respect rule of law, universal human rights, and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, particularly women and girls, children, and members of ethnic groups and minorities, as well as the establishment of an inclusive and representative government through a credible and legitimate political process in which meaningful participation by all ethnic and po The attendees also reiterated EU-Central Asia collaboration in support of Afghans, as well as security and "regional resilience."

The participants also reaffirmed their "ambitions" for a developed, stable, safe, autonomous, and wealthy Afghanistan in which "all Afghan women and men can have full rights and freedom," according to the statement.

Ukraine declares state of emergency in response to rising tensions with Russia

World Trade Organization to conduct a ministerial meeting in June

Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges its citizens to return from Ukraine
New Delhi: Ukraine has closed its airspace after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war. Amidst the Russian attack, Ukraine fears that the passenger planes coming to them may be cyber-attacked. Apart from this, there is also the possibility of shooting down targeting civilian flights. According to the Ukraine State Air Traffic Service, airspace across Ukraine has been closed for civil flights on Thursday in view of the dangers.

Let us inform that Europe's aviation regulator had already issued an alert regarding the dangers of flying in areas adjacent to the border of Russia and Belarus due to military activities. Europe had said that there could be misunderstandings about passenger planes amid the circumstances of the war. If this happens, many people's lives will be in danger. At the same time, on Thursday, Air India flight number AI1947 has returned to Delhi from Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

In this, many Indian citizens including medical students have returned home. In fact, in 2014, a Malaysia Airlines plane MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine. That's why this time the airlines have already become alert about the attack.

CM Hemant Soren gave strict instructions to banks

Ukrainian airspace shut; Air India plane en route to Kyiv called back

Subramanian Swamy - DNA of all Indians is one, many universities have proved it
Home  Just In  Hidden yet heinous: Intimate partner violence is haunting Nepali women, and theres no way they can share it

Mohini Sharma, 26, still vividly remembers the day when her boyfriend forcibly took her to Kathmandu on his bike from Banepa, her hometown, one casual afternoon a few years ago.

He was angry because I came to Banepa to visit my sick uncle without informing him, says Sharma, who used to stay in Kathmandu with her brother and sister-in-law, The demeaning words he used during the ride still echoes in my head. I wish to forget that day, yet it haunts me time and again.

Sharma, a media person in Kathmandu who has asked us to hide her real name in this story, says her relationship with the man was okay until that day. He looked always perfect and romantic, she says, He used to ask me many things about my day. I thought I would never get a man who cares so much about me.

But, after the incident, she says, It grew as a cage for me. I couldnt speak up against him or seek help even from the family and friends as I was scared of losing my and my familys prestige. I thought if he could insult me in the middle of the market, he could also come to my house just to defame me.

She stayed silent until she reached her limit. Then, after four years of surviving the toxic relationship, I came out.

Experts and stakeholders working in the human rights sector of Nepal say Sharmas case is the tip of the iceberg. Intimate partner violence goes unnoticed in Nepal as violence in a marital relationship is taken for granted traditionally, and the same value system is being replicated in unmarried relationships. They suggest it is high time society educated people, teenagers in particular, about the long-term impacts of such violence so as create happy, healthy relationships.

Pervasive presence

Psychosocial counsellor Radha Basnet, who has been handling such cases for the past seven years, says intimate partner violence is affecting hundreds of people in romantic relationships, both married and unmarried. These cases, however, rarely get reported as societal norms and values do not favour that, according to her.

Representational image

Yet, the data of reported cases are also already alarming. As per the National Women Commissions recent factsheet, men were accused as perpetrators in around 90 per cent of 5,515 cases of violence against women reported from November 2017 to September 2021. Among the accused, 66 per cent were intimate partners: boyfriends or husbands. This shows intimate partner violence is pervasive in Nepal.

Inspector Anu Lama, the chief of Women, Children and Senior Citizen Service Center (WCSC) of Nepal Police, also supports the claim that intimate partner violence is a big problem in Nepal. She says most of the cases that come to her centre are of domestic violence; in the last fiscal year only, 2,246 cases of domestic violence were registered. Around 80 to 90 per cent of the survivors had been facing violence from the known persons, mainly husbands or boyfriends in live-in relationships.

And, this is not the first time that such incidents are happening to them, she says.

Endless endurance

Counsellor Basnet says intimate partner violence survivors rarely resort to reporting in the early stage of violence. There are two major reasons: Nepali society reinforces the idea that issues within a couple should be solved within them; then, many are still not aware of support services.

In general, they come after experiencing five to six years of facing physical, psychological and economic violence. After they see no end to the violence happening to them for years, it becomes very difficult for them both psychologically and physically to bear any longer. Then only, they seek help.

File image

Many women surviving intimate partner violence fear their relationship will go from bad to worse once the violence is reported to authorities as the alleged perpetrators want to take vengeance, according to Lama.

Basnet says, Along with this, they are afraid that they will lose their security. But, the more they tolerate, the more it encourages the perpetrator to do violence. The survivors usually come here (to the counsellors) at a stage when they have no respect and love left towards their partners.

Both Lama and Basnet observe the issue of intimate partner violence in live-in relationships is becoming alarming. They live together without marriage. They have neither any legal right nor social recognition. It has caused a huge problem recently, says Basnet.

Nirijana Bhatta, the vice-president of Yuwalaya, a youth NGO that has conducted a couple of surveys about intimate partner violence, says, Having a romantic partner before marriage is not accepted by our society. Therefore, many teenagers and youth keep their relationships a secret. In such a case, many think if they speak up against their partners in any case, their secret will get revealed and this will lose their prestige.

Interestingly, some men have also survived intimate partner violence, but that is less severe as it rarely involves physical violence in their case. They usually reach here because of the unbearable mental torture from wives extramarital affairs, not taking care of children, alcohol addiction and all, says Lama.

Crucial causes

Shreejana Gnawali, a sociologist current based in the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), studied various factors associated with intimate partner violence in Nepal. She summarises her observations, There are a lot of factors: social, economic, individual and others that are associated with the problem. Female illiteracy, low economic status, violent family history, and a lack of decision-making autonomy, husbands educational level, alcoholism, and a high number of children are some of the factors that lead to intimate partner violence.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Gnawali also says the women living in the Terai and belonging to the underprivileged communities and castes are at greater risks of intimate partner violence.

Likewise, Basnet adds, The causes of intimate partner violence in the cases I have handled have been doubts and suspicions. The husbands who are abroad to work do not trust their wives; therefore, they remain contactless for years and instead accuse the wife of extramarital affairs and all. Also, we have seen the tendency of protecting the perpetrators by the families themselves.

But, Sociologist Sunita Raut says the root cause of all such problems is patriarchal values that women should be submissive in front of their male partners. In our patriarchal society, it is implied that women should have the ability of endurance and not answer back to their partners, both husbands and boyfriends, since their early childhood.

As per her, intimate partner violence is a result of wrong socialisation. When the children reach the stage when they are aware of their sex, the boys are taught to be bold whereas you want girls to be soft. In the process, gender ideas are linked with norms and values and unseen power creating fear in them. This kind of thought is developed in them that they have to tolerate every verbal, physical, sexual and psychological abuse done by their husbands and boyfriends, says Raut.

Likewise, Basnet shares that the survivours have become habituated with violence as they see it is happening to other women also in her family and surrounding as well.

The need for awareness

As many women are unaware that intimate partner violence is a problem, proper communication and counselling can be helpful in minimising such incidents, according to Basnet.

Representational image

She adds, But, when a woman seeks help from authority, her partner does not acknowledge his wrongdoings, instead doubts of extra affairs. Hence, men also should be aware of this.

Likewise, Gnawali suggests that there is a need for the formation of context-specific policy and intervention programmes. She also views awareness and acknowledgement that intimate partner violence is a problem and it is not something to tolerate can be a key to mitigating this in Nepal.

Meanwhile, Raut thinks school curricula should be gender-neutral. Also, neutral socialisation should happen at home.

The change should happen in all micro-macro institutions, and it will take time.
Adevinta ASA

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR WOULD REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR OTHER MEASURES.

Oslo, 24 February 2022 - Adevinta ASA (Adevinta or the Company) has decided to initiate a buyback of up to 10 million of its own shares. The share buy-back programme will be structured into two tranches.

A first tranche of the buyback will be for up to 4 million shares, and will be made in accordance with the authorization granted to the Board of Directors by the Companys General Meeting held on 29 June 2021. The authorisation is valid until the Ordinary General Meeting in 2022. The first tranche of the buyback will commence on 25 February 2022 and is expected to end no later than on June 28th 2022. In the first tranche, shares for up to around NOK 320m will be purchased. (According to the authorization, the minimum price that can be paid per share is NOK 20 and the maximum price is NOK 750.)

A second tranche of the buyback of up to 6 million shares will be launched subsequent to the 2022 AGM, and subject to renewal of the shareholder authorisation at the annual general meeting to be held on 29 June 2022. The second tranche is expected to end no later than January 31st, 2023.

The purpose of the buyback is to acquire shares to be used as settlement in the Companys share-based incentive plans over the next 3 years. The shares shall be purchased on Oslo Brs. Adevinta is entering into a non-discretionary agreement with DNB Markets (part of DNB Bank ASA), to carry out the share buyback on behalf of the Company. DNB Markets will make its trading decisions independently of the Company.

The execution of any repurchases will depend on market conditions, the buyback programme may be discontinued at any time and the Company may resolve to terminate the buyback programme before the threshold set out above is reached.

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The execution of further tranches of the share buy-back programme for 2022 will be notified to the market.

In the first tranche in 2022, shares will be purchased on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Transactions will be conducted in accordance with applicable safe harbour conditions, and as further set out i.a. in the Norwegian Securities Trading Act of 2007, EU Commission Regulation (EC) No 2016/1052 and the Oslo Stock Exchange's Guidelines for buy-back programmes and price stabilisation February 2021.

This is information that Adevinta is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Adevinta owns 654,736 shares in the Company as of today.

For further information, please contact Investor Relations:

Marie de Scorbiac

ir@adevinta.com

+33 (0) 6 14 65 77 40

Anne-Sophie Jugean

ir@adevinta.com

About Adevinta ASA



Adevinta is a leading online classifieds specialist, operating digital marketplaces in 15 countries. The company provides technology-based services to connect buyers with sellers and to facilitate transactions, from real estate to motors, and consumer goods.

Adevintas portfolio spans more than 40 digital brands, covering one billion people and attracting approximately three billion average monthly visits. Leading brands include top-ranked leboncoin in France, Germany's leading classifieds sites mobile.de and eBay Kleinanzeigen, Marktplaats in the Netherlands, fotocasa and InfoJobs in Spain, and 50% of fast-growing OLX Brasil. Adevinta employs around 7,500 people committed to supporting users and customers daily. Find out more at Adevinta.com.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

The buyback and the distribution of this announcement and other information in connection therewith may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions, and the buyback is not made in any jurisdiction in which this would be unlawful, require registration or other measures. The Company does not assume any responsibility in the event there is a violation by any person of such restrictions. Persons into whose possession this announcement or such other information should come are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

The buyback is not being made directly or indirectly in, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia (the "United States") or any other jurisdiction in which this would be unlawful. This includes, but is not limited to, facsimile

transmission, internet delivery, e-mail, telex and telephones. Accordingly, copies of this release and any related documents are not being, and must not be, mailed, e-mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into the United States and so doing may invalidate any purported sales offer.




James Clear will be the keynote speaker at the 2022 Sioux Falls Leadership Summit by Sales and Marketing Executives of Sioux Falls.

A top-selling author on personal development themes is set to be a keynote speaker in Sioux Falls, and the public can attend to watch it.

James Clear, author of New York Times-bestselling Atomic Habits and a popular newsletter writer, will speak June 14 at the 2022 Sioux Falls Leadership Summit, according to a news release. The event will be at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

Clears popular 3-2-1 newsletter has thousands of readers and his books have sold over 4 million copies.

The Sioux Falls Leadership Summit, in its second year, is a signature event for Sales and Marketing Executives of Sioux Falls, a networking group and event. The inaugural event's keynote was led by John C. Maxwell.

More: South Dakota Symphony Orchestra's 2022-23 season to feature everything from 'Messiah' to 'Star Trek'

Atomic Habits book by James Clear.

Clear's keynote speech theme has not yet been announced, but the writer is known for professional development and other themes.

Our inaugural Sioux Falls Leadership Summit was a major success, and we are keeping the momentum with James Clear, Jan Feterl, the board president of SME said in the statement about the event, which draws junior and senior sales professionals.

Mr. Clear is a thought leader in the world of personal and professional improvement, and we have no doubt our community leaders will glean valuable insights from him," Feterl said.

John C. Maxwell appears in a keynote at the inaugural 2021 Sioux Falls Leadership Summit. This year, the event returns with a speech from James Clear, author of "Atomic Habits."

The Sioux Falls Leadership Summit is open to the public. It will take place in the afternoon on June 14 and features multiple events and an announcement of the "Rising in Excellence" award winner from the community.

Early ticket pricing is available now through March 31 at $100 for general admission.

Learn more at www.SMESiouxFalls.org

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: James Clear, author of 'Atomic Habits,' to speak at Sioux Falls event
DENVER, Feb. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - BellRock Brands Inc. ("BellRock" or the "Company") (CSE: BRCK.U) announces that it has changed its auditors from Manning Elliott LLP ("Former Auditor") to Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP ("Successor Auditor" or "MGO") due to the prior audit delays. At the request of the Company, the Former Auditor resigned as the auditor of the Company and the board of directors of the Company appointed the Successor Auditor as the Company's auditor in each case effective as of February 11, 2022.

BellRock Brands Logo (CNW Group/BellRock Brands Inc.)

There were no reservations or modified opinions in the Former Auditor's reports on the Company's financial statements during the period that the Former Auditor acted as the Company's auditor. In addition, there are no reportable events, including disagreements, consultations or unresolved issues (as defined in National Instrument 51-102  Continuous Disclosure Obligations ("NI 51-102") between the Company and the Former Auditor.

In accordance with NI 51-102, the notice of change of auditor, together with the required letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor, have been reviewed by the board of directors of the Company and filed on SEDAR.

Once the Company completes its outstanding filings, it intends to apply to have the general cease trade order rescinded so that the Company's common shares can resume trading on the CSE.

MGO is one of the fastest-growing professional services firms in the US, and one of the first national accounting firms to develop and provide targeted accounting and advisory services to the cannabis and hemp industries. BellRock has benefitted from this deep cannabis experience as MGO previously provided auditing services to BellRock and BR Brands, LLC prior to their merger. MGO has since registered with the Canadian Public Accountability Board and is authorized to conduct the audits BellRock requires.

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In addition to replacing its auditor, the Company has retained FGMK to aid its efforts in streamlining financial reporting and bolstering its internal financial systems and processes as it continues to further integrate its various subsidiaries and meet ongoing reporting requirements.

"This investment in our future is one that sends a strong signal of our commitment to meet the financial and systematic needs of our expanding business in an ever-changing regulatory marketplace," said BellRock President Brian Jansen.

"We are excited to join BellRock as a financial advisor and partner to build upon our existing relationship and aid the Company in bolstering its current financial systems and reporting," said FGMK Managing Partner Mario Donato. "We look forward to aiding BellRock in its continued growth and path to becoming a best-in-class cannabis platform."

About BellRock Brands

BellRock Brands is a cannabis multi-state house of brands and intellectual property focused CPG operator that possesses one of the industry's broadest branded product portfolios. BellRock consists of two iconic cannabis brands, Mary's Medicinals (a pioneer in the Health & Wellness segment since 2013) and Dixie (a market-leading cannabis-infused edibles brand since 2010). BellRock also includes two growing California-based brands, Rebel Coast and Defonce. BellRock's CBD portfolio includes the brands Mary's Nutritionals and Mary's Tails. With 7 brands and over 200 SKUs, BellRock reaches nearly every key consumer group and addresses the needs of a diverse cannabis consumer base. The BellRock manufacturing and distribution footprint continues to expand and currently spans nine states, and the Company owns or manages production facilities in its largest markets. For more information, visit www.bellrockbrands.com.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

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SOURCE BellRock Brands Inc.

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View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2022/24/c1627.html
BitMEX founders Arthur Hayes and Benjamin Delo pleaded guilty to violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) in federal court on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday.

Hayes and Delo were accused of violating the BSA by operating BitMEX, a crypto spot and derivatives trading platform, to operate with poor anti-money laundering (AML) protocols.

The two each pleaded guilty to one count of violating the BSA on Thursday. They could face a maximum of five years in prison, though their actual sentences will be decided by a federal judge later.

The DOJ and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) both brought federal charges against BitMEX and its founders in 2020. The CFTC and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network settled their own charges with BitMEX last year, with the company paying a $100 million penalty to the two regulatory agencies.

The DOJ alleged in October 2020 that Hayes, Delo and fellow company owner Samuel Reed attempted to evade U.S. AML regulations by setting up shop offshore but allowing U.S. customers to transact on the platform. The CFTCs charges added on to this, claiming BitMEX allowed U.S. customers to trade crypto derivatives products despite BitMEX not registering as a derivatives platform with the federal regulator.

It was not immediately clear whether Reed and Gregory Dwyer, BitMEXs first employee who was also charged in 2020, also plan to plead guilty to the charges.

As a result of its willful failure to implement AML and KYC programs, BitMEX was in effect a money laundering platform. For example, in May 2018, Hayes was notified of allegations that BitMEX was being used to launder the proceeds of a cryptocurrency hack, the DOJ said in a press release published Thursday.

BitMEX also allowed customers from Iran, a sanctioned jurisdiction, to use the platform, the DOJ said.

Hayes stepped down as BitMEXs CEO shortly after the charges were brought.

In a statement sent after the publication of this article, Hayes said he accepted responsibility for his actions "and looks forward to the time when he can put this matter behind him."

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In a statement sent through a spokesperson, Delo said "he regrets that BitMEX, the cryptocurrency derivatives platform he co-founded, lacked an adequate customer identification program. Ben voluntarily appeared in the US to address these charges."

Taylor Bossung, a spokesperson for BitMEX, said, "We are aware of developments in the DOJ case but will not be commenting on an ongoing legal matter to which no BitMEX entity is a party. It's business as usual, all funds are safe, and there is no impact to the functionality of the platform including deposits and withdrawals."

UPDATE (Feb. 24, 2022, 23:10 UTC): Adds statements from Hayes, Delo and BitMEX.




Fortune Business Insights

Companies covered in border security system market are BAE Systems (U.K.), Controp Precision Technologies Ltd. (Israel), Elbit Systems (Isreal), Flir Systems (U.S.), Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (Isreal), Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.), Raytheon Company (U.S.), Thales (France) and more players profiled.

Pune, India, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global border security system market size is anticipated to gain traction. The primary factor to steer the growth of the border security system is the rising adoption of unmanned solutions by military and defense forces across the globe. Fortune Business Insights has presented this information in its upcoming report titled Border Security System Market, 2022-2029. Furthermore, the increasing territorial disputes and geopolitical uncertainties in the Asia Pacific may likely boost the market. Although, high maintenance costs associated with maintaining the border security system can be a factor to hinder the markets growth.

Report Coverage -

The research report delivers a detailed analysis of the border security system market over the prediction period. The report additionally offers a true evaluation by highlighting data on several factors inclusive of growth drivers, restraints, industry developments, and partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions. The report also offers a cumulative impact due to COVID-19 on the market.

Get a Sample PDF Brochure:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/border-security-system-market-105208

List of Key Players in the Border Security System Market

BAE Systems (U.K.)

Controp Precision Technologies Ltd. (Israel)

Elbit Systems (Isreal)

Flir Systems (U.S.)

Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (Isreal)

Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.)

Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.)

Raytheon Company (U.S.)

Thales (France)

Drivers & Restraints -

Increased Adoption of Unmanned System Solutions to Augment Markets Growth

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The border security system is anticipated to be driven by factors such as the adoption of unmanned system solutions by military and defense forces across the globe. An increase in defense spending for technologically superior security systems is a market opportunity that will present itself in the near future. Additionally, the rising territorial conflicts and geopolitical instabilities in the Asia Pacific are likely to boost the border security system market growth. Although, the high operating and maintenance costs may hinder the development in the coming times.

Key Players Assessment in this Research:

The report offers detailed analysis of leading companies in the market across the globe.

It provides details of the major vendors involved in this market

A comprehensive overview of each company including the company profile, generated revenue, pricing of goods and the manufactured products is incorporated in the report.

The facts and figures about market competitors along with standpoints of leading market players are presented in the report.

The recent developments, mergers and acquisitions related to mentioned key players are provided in the market report.

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/border-security-system-market-105208

Major Segmentation -

On the basis of environment

ground aerial

ground

naval

On the basis of the system

Radar

Laser

Camera

unmanned vehicles

perimeter intrusion

wide band wireless communication

C2C

biometric systems

Geographically

Europe

North America

Asia Pacific

Rest of the World

Regional Insights -



North America to Lead the Market During the Forecast Period

North America is likely to lead the global market throughout the prediction period. The growth is attributable to technologically advanced border security solutions from the markets important key players to secure the international boundaries. Furthermore, the government of the U.S. and Canada is expected to increase financing to detect and track multiple threats by employing radar technology.

Asia Pacific is expected to experience the fastest growth in the global border security system market share during the projection period. It occurs because growing economies like China and India are increasing their demand for border security systems. Leading players in Europe, such as BAE Systems and Thales, are expected to lead the market. The growing demand for border security systems to promote national security in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa drives market expansion in the Rest of the World.

Competitive Landscape -



Key Players In The Global Defense System to Dominate Border Security System Market

Global defense systems and technology providers such as General Dynamics Corporation, Raytheon Company, and Thales Group dominate the market. Many geographical areas have local players who are equally powerful and supply smaller subsystems of a larger network/project in collaboration with global leaders. Local competitors in the Middle East, North America, and Africa pose a danger to global leaders as they attempt to provide a comprehensive solution for a fraction of the price suggested by these global giants without losing quality or reliability.

Get Your Customized Research Report

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/border-security-system-market-105208

Key Industry Development -



January 2021: The French Ministry of the Interior and Idemia signed a contract for a new biometric border control system. Idemia supplied the French government with a biometric border control system to save traveler time during controller border checks. A high-performance border control system was designed to synchronize all border control activities.

November 2020: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has awarded SAIC a contract valued at USD 973 million to identify security threats to travelers and cargo goods.

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Business deal adds two new locations in Southeastern Virginia, expanding Capital Digestive Cares footprint across the Mid-Atlantic region

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Silver Spring, Md, Feb. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital Digestive Care, the largest private gastroenterology practice in the Mid-Atlantic region, announced it has signed a transaction with Gastroenterology, Ltd. of Virginia Beach (GLTD), a premier gastroenterology practice in Southeastern Virginia. The deal marks Capital Digestive Cares second major partnership in Virginia over the past year after Gastrointestinal & Liver Specialists of Tidewater (GLST) joined the group in 2021. With the addition of GLTD, Capital Digestive Care will add two office locations and a state-of-the-art endoscopy center, bringing the number of GI specialists serving the region to more than 140.

With nine board-certified physicians and six advanced care providers, GLTD has been serving Virginia Beach for more than 53 years. GLTD physicians are highly experienced in the evaluation and treatment of digestive and liver diseases and deeply committed to high-quality, compassionate, patient-centered care.

Our mission has always been to provide exemplary digestive healthcare to the community of Virginia Beach, said Jan Janson, MD, FACG, of Gastroenterology, Ltd. This partnership positions GLTD for continued growth while allowing us to focus on what we do best  delivering exceptional patient care. Were delighted to align with a group like Capital Digestive Care who shares our core values.

A key element of the partnership agreement is the value of leveraging the PE Practice Solutions platform under PE GI Solutionsa physician-oriented management services organization (MSO). PE GI Solutions partners with GI physicians through its practice and center solutions platforms to streamline operations and diversify and enhance revenue streams. The MSO will play an integral role in the partnership and transition process, providing GLTD with access to Capital Digestive Cares robust infrastructure and state-of-the-art systems, processes, IT capabilities, and resources, along with the expertise of top healthcare executives to help GLTD further expand clinical programs and business opportunities.

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We continue to seek out highly-respected practices to join our growing network and welcome GLTDs providers and staff, said Michael Weinstein, President & CEO of Capital Digestive Care. As an organization dedicated to shaping the future of digestive health, this partnership allows us to join forces with talented physicians, preserve the private practice model, and expand our offerings to serve even more patients throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

About Capital Digestive Care

Founded in 2009, Capital Digestive Care is the largest private gastroenterology practice in the Mid-Atlantic. Recent partnerships with Gastrointestinal & Liver Specialists of Tidewater and Gastroenterology, Ltd. in Southeastern Virginia have expanded its network to more than 140 physicians and advanced care practitioners who treat a wide range of conditionsfrom the common complaint of heartburn to the complex management of Crohns Diseaseand offer critical services for the prevention of colon cancer for more than 100,000 patients annually.

With business operations located in Silver Spring, MD, Capital Digestive Cares integrated care model connects its doctors to more than 25 office locations and outpatient surgery centers as well as specialized laboratory services and the largest clinical research program of its kind in the region. For more information, please visit www.capitaldigestivecare.com.

About Gastroenterology, Ltd.

Since 1969, the physicians of Gastroenterology, Ltd. (GLTD) have been committed to providing state-of-the-art medical care for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal and liver disease across Virginia Beach, VA. With two offices, an endoscopy center, infusion center and 15 board-certified providers on staff, GLTD strives to preserve quality of life and well-being for patients by continually seeking the latest and most effective methods of diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit https://www.vbgastro.com.

About PE Practice Solutions

The PE Practice Solutions platform is part of PE GI Solutions, a physician-oriented management services organization (MSO). A collaboration between PE GI Solutions and Capital Digestive Care, we are committed to preserving the independence of gastroenterologists and advancing digestive healthcare. PE GI Solutions partners with GI physicians through its practice and center solutions platforms providing resources to help practices improve operations, drive growth, and enhance patient, physician, and staff experiencesall while maintaining their independence. It is the only physician partnership and management services organization built by - and for - gastroenterologists to address the unique challenges faced by GI physicians. For more information on PE Practice Solutions, visit https://pegisolutions.com/practice-solutions

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CONTACT: Missi Hoch Capital Digestive Care 202-875-9942 mhoch@pegisolutions.com




Chiesi USA, Inc.

Employee-led assessment affirms Chiesi USAs strong performance in culture, leadership, values and trust

CARY, N.C., Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chiesi USA, Inc. (key-A-zee), a Cary-based specialty pharmaceutical company, has earned the Great Place to Work Certification for 2021 in the U.S., following its first recognition in 2019. The accreditation is awarded by Great Place to Work, a global management consulting firm that uses benchmark data to help organizations quantify their culture and improve the work experience for all employees.

Chiesi USA earned the credential through the firms two tools  the Trust Index employee survey and the Culture Audit of HR management policies  that compare employee perception about their work environment with efforts of the company. Each tool includes questions about the five elements of the Great Place to Work For All methodology: Trust, Maximizing Human Potential, Leadership Effectiveness, Innovation By All and Values. The Trust Index specifically measures the five dimensions of Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride and Camaraderie. In total, 92% of employee respondents agreed Chiesi USA is a great place to work, and the companys Trust Index average increased from 86% in 2019 to 89% in 2021.

We are overjoyed to accept this employee-driven recognition, as it exhibits our commitment to ensuring that our employees feel respected and supported, take pride in their work and feel like part of a community, said Jon Zwinski, General Manager and CEO of Chiesi USA. As a family-owned business, this commitment is core to our values and roots. This recognition signals that our efforts to constantly improve our workplace are recognized and valued by our employees.

According to survey results, employee sentiment in Camaraderie (91%), Pride (91%) and Credibility (89%) are core areas of strength. The Chiesi USA leadership teams ongoing response to the pandemic, marked by transparent, honest and timely communication and people-centered focus to meet employee needs, is a key driver behind improved results from its 2019 certification.

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Our team is humbled and incredibly grateful to be recognized again as a Great Place to Work by this respected organization, said Allyson Stevens, Senior Director of HR at Chiesi USA. This recognition means more to us than ever as we continue to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with the goal of providing support to our employees in both their professional and personal lives.

The companys CSR program Chiesi in the Community also supports a positive internal culture. In 2021, Chiesi USA donated more than $815,000 through local and national initiatives that align with its therapeutic areas and social and environmental goals. As an employee-led program, more than half of Chiesi USA employees supported 85 unique organizations with 1,100 hours of time.

In addition to the Great Place to Work Certification, Chiesi USA received the Top Employer in the U.S. certification for the last seven years by the Top Employers Institute. Chiesis Italian parent company Chiesi Group earned its Top Employer in Italy certification for the last 14 years and Top Employer in Europe certification for the last 10 years. The companys recognitions worldwide all ladder up to its corporate sustainability goals as a Certified B Corporation, a status obtained by the Group in 2019.

About Chiesi USA

Chiesi USA, Inc., headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on commercialization of products for the hospital and target office-based specialties. The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of family-owned Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, a global R&D-focused pharmaceutical company based in Parma, Italy. In the United States, the Company delivers therapies and enhances care for patients in the areas of acute cardiology, neonatology and cystic fibrosis. Recognized as a Certified B Corporation, Chiesi is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of its communities through its employee-led corporate social responsibility program, Chiesi in the Community. Innovation, collaboration and impact are the cornerstones of the Chiesi culture. For more information, visit www.chiesiusa.com.

About Chiesi Group

Based in Parma, Italy, Chiesi is an international research-focused pharmaceuticals and healthcare group with over 85 years experience, operating in 30 countries with more than 6,000 employees (Chiesi Group). To achieve its mission of improving peoples quality of life by acting responsibly towards society and the environment, the Group researches, develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in its three focus areas: AIR (products and services that promote respiration, from new-born to adult populations), RARE (treatment for patients with rare and ultra-rare diseases) and CARE (products and services that support specialty care and consumer-facing self-care). The Groups Research and Development center is based in Parma and works alongside 6 other important research and development hubs in France, the U.S., Canada, China, the UK and Sweden to pursue its pre-clinical, clinical and regulatory programs. Chiesi, since 2019, is the worlds largest B Corp certified pharmaceutical group. The global B Corp movement promotes business as a force for good. Moreover, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. has changed in 2018 its legal status to a Benefit Corporation, by incorporating a double purpose for the creation of shared value, and to generate value for its business, for society and the environment. As a Benefit Corporation, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. is required by law to include objectives of common benefit in its bylaws and to report annually in a transparent way. The Group is committed to becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2035.

For further information: www.chiesi.com.

Contacts

Media: FleishmanHillard, Elizabeth Comtois, (919) 334-3786, elizabeth.comtois@fleishman.com

Chiesi USA: Neha Suryavanshi, (919) 6786611 x1533, neha.suryavanshi@chiesi.com

PP-G-0817 v1.0

PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/edb9e72d-d360-4460-af3f-e14d02a23070








Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev is one of the biggest international politicians of our times, Russian military expert, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko told Trend.

"The scale of his personality and intellectual potential make him one of those leaders of the modern world whom everyone watches and closely follows," he said.

"The fact that [President Ilham Aliyev] managed to sign the Declaration with Russian President Vladimir Putin is, of course, an outstanding diplomatic and political result. It will have an impact on the development of our relations for decades to come. We note the exceptionally successful and fruitful visit of Azerbaijani President to Russia. The Russian expert community welcomed his arrival, and, of course, the signed declaration is an outstanding document that was achieved through the efforts of the two sides. It brings relations between our countries to a new strategic level of interaction," Korotchenko said.

He stressed that Russia sees Azerbaijan as a reliable ally, a strategic partner in the entire spectrum of relations between the two countries.

"It is very important to note that Russia, within the framework of this Declaration, has committed itself to suppress the activities of any organizations and individuals that will work on the territory of Russia to the detriment of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. We often see when a number of public organizations, individuals, in this is mainly an Armenian and pro-Armenian lobby, which makes territorial claims to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. I believe that Russian law enforcement agencies should now, guided by this Declaration, prevent such activities immediately," he noted.

"I think that certain changes should be made in the field of law enforcement technologies - now there should be no propaganda of Armenian separatism should not be in the Russian media, nor on Russian television, nor in public statements," he stressed.

Korotchenko also drew attention to the fact that relations between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Russia will develop.

"Obviously, we will be talking about a series of exercises. I believe that, first of all, it is necessary to conduct anti-terrorist exercises of the Special Forces of Azerbaijan and the Special Operations Forces of Russia. Here we need an exchange of experience, a joint fight against terrorism. Considering that the risk of this kind is still real today in the region, it is necessary to resolve the issue of the withdrawal of all illegal Armenian armed formations from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan as soon as possible," he said.

"I confirm once again about urgent need to unblock transport communications in the region, delimitation and demarcation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border," he added.

Igor Korotchenko added that, in general, the Declaration contains a large number of points, each of which deserves special attention.

He also emphasized that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is a great friend of Russia.

"We note how much is being done by the efforts of President Ilham Aliyev personally to ensure that the Russian language is freely used on the territory of Azerbaijan. We note his support in the field of activities of schools where teaching is conducted in Russian, support in the activities of the Baku and Azerbaijan diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. We respect President Ilham Aliyev as a worthy son of Azerbaijan, a worthy son of his great father Heydar Aliyev. He is an ally, a partner who will never deceive and who keeps his word," Korotchenko said.

He stressed that both Russia and Azerbaijan are fully sovereign in their foreign policy, which is very important.

"There are probably no more than ten such countries in the world that can afford, without regard to external centers and forces, some circumstances to implement a sovereign foreign policy," he concluded.
Addition of top-tier six lawyer team positions firm among nations premier plaintiffs antitrust practices and deepens its 50-lawyer national bench

NEW YORK, February 24, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DiCello Levitt Gutzler today announced a dramatic expansion of its national plaintiffs antitrust and competition practice with the addition of six litigators. The team, all based in New York, includes Gregory Asciolla, Karin Garvey, Robin A. van der Meulen, and Matthew Perez as partners, as well as Veronica Bosco and Jonathan Crevier as associates. They will join the firm on March 7.

Their addition immediately positions DiCello Levitt among the nations premier antitrust and competition litigation practice groups, while significantly expanding the firms presence in New York and increasing its overall attorney headcount by 15%. Given DiCello Levitts existing strengths in the technology industry  including lead roles in several of the largest data privacy cases in U.S. history, which helped earn it Law360 Cybersecurity & Privacy Group of the Year honors in 2021 and 2022  this group is a natural fit within the firms strategic growth objectives. The move also comes at a time when antitrust, particularly in the technology sector, is one of the hottest areas of law.

"Given our core strengths, we have long believed that playing a significant role in the plaintiffs antitrust bar is a natural and important progression for our firm," said Adam Levitt, the firms co-managing partner. "However, we only wanted to do so if we were able to maintain the same high standards we have always set for ourselves and for our clients. That meant only bringing in top-tier attorneys, as we are fortunate to have done with this group. Moreover, the strength of our expanded antitrust practice, combined with the virtually unmatched pedigree of our technology and cybersecurity practice group and our award-winning trial practice, will place DiCello Levitt at the crest of the wave in leading these important cases."

"When we began our discussions with DiCello Levitt, we were immediately drawn to its diverse mix of practice areas and collaborative culture that is hard to find," said Asciolla, who will lead DiCello Levitts antitrust and competition litigation practice. "Our team has achieved a tremendous amount together, and the opportunity DiCello Levitt presented  to do the highest quality of work as part of a cohesive, fast-growing, dynamic, national platform  was exactly what we wanted for the future of our practice."

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Greg Gutzler, managing partner of DiCello Levitts New York office added: "Its a huge compliment to DiCello Levitt that we have attracted such a talented team of antitrust lawyers. There are very few plaintiffs firms out there positioned to do what we are doing here. This group will significantly enhance our diversified but tightly integrated practice areas."

New Attorney Bios:

(All join from Labaton Sucharow LLP in New York)

Gregory Asciolla, Partner

Asciolla focuses on representing businesses, public pension funds, and health and welfare funds in complex antitrust and commodities class actions. Named a "Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar" by Law360 as well as a leading plaintiffs competition lawyer by Global Competition Review and Chambers & Partners USA, Asciolla is often recognized for his experience and involvement in high-profile cases. He currently represents clients in antitrust matters involving price-fixing, monopolization, benchmark and commodities manipulation, pay-for-delay agreements, and other anti-competitive practices. Asciolla also represents pro bono clients in matters involving the arts and immigration/asylum of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Karin Garvey, Partner

With more than two decades of litigation experience, Garvey focuses on representing businesses and public pension funds in complex antitrust class actions. She has been appointed lead or co-lead counsel in four major antitrust class actions and appointed to the plaintiffs steering committee in several others. Garvey has significant experience managing complex, multi-jurisdictional cases from initial case development through resolution and appeal. In addition to deposing top executives, she has also prepared and defended company executives for deposition, hearing, and trial. Garvey also has significant experience working with expertsincluding economists, regulatory experts, patent experts, medical experts, toxicologists, materials scientists, valuation experts, foreign law experts, and appraisersdeveloping reports and testimony, preparing for and defending depositions, as well as taking depositions of opponents experts.

Robin A. van der Meulen, Partner

van der Meulen has over a decade of experience litigating a wide variety of antitrust matters, including price-fixing, monopolization, benchmark and commodities manipulation, pay-for-delay agreements, and other anti-competitive practices. Previously selected as a finalist for Euromoneys Antitrust and Competition Lawyer of the Year, she was appointed to lead a class of end-payor plaintiffs in In re Bystolic Antitrust Litigation, a pay-for-delay case in the Southern District of New York. van der Meulen also represented end-payor plaintiffs in In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litigation, a massive case alleging price-fixing and anticompetitive conspiracies against some of the biggest drug companies in the world.

Matthew Perez, Partner

Perez represents businesses and public pension funds in complex antitrust class actions. He formerly worked at the New York State Attorney General's office, where he served as a Volunteer Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Bureau. While there, Matthew received the Louis J. Lefkowitz Memorial Award for his work investigating bid-rigging and other illegal conduct in the municipal bond derivatives market, resulting in more than $260 million in restitution to municipalities and nonprofit entities. He also investigated pay-for-delay matters involving multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Veronica Bosco, Associate

Bosco focuses her practice on litigating complex antitrust class actions on behalf of institutional investors, businesses, and consumers. She has represented institutional investors in international antitrust litigation against financial institutions for collusion and price-fixing. Bosco has also represented investors in opt-out litigation proceedings alleging restraint of trade in violation of antitrust laws. Bosco previously served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Claire C. Cecchi, U.S. District Court (District of New Jersey), where she drafted judicial opinions for motions on antitrust and ERISA matters, among others.

Jonathan Crevier, Associate

Crevier prosecutes complex antitrust class actions on behalf of institutional investors, businesses, and consumers. He actively litigates cases against several of the worlds largest companies in antitrust matters involving alleged price-fixing, benchmark and commodities manipulation, pay-for-delay, and other anti-competitive practices. Crevier previously served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Henry Pitman, U.S.M.J. (Southern District of New York).

About DiCello Levitt Gutzler

At DiCello Levitt Gutzler, were dedicated to achieving justice for our clients through class action, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, and mass tort litigation. Our lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases  whether by trial, settlement, or otherwisefor people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens rights and interests. Every day, we put our reputationsand our capitalon the line for our clients.

For more, visit our website: https://dicellolevitt.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220224005794/en/

Contacts

Jason Milch

312.379.9406

jmilch@baretzbrunelle.com
DUBLIN, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Online Recruitment Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis By Job Type (Permanent and Part-Time) and Application (Finance, Sales and Marketing, Engineering, IT, and Others)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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According to a new market research study on "Europe Online Recruitment Market to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis and Forecast by Job Type and Application," is expected to reach US$ 12,656.76 million by 2028 from US$ 7,384.59 million in 2021. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8% from 2021 to 2028. The report provides trends prevailing in the Europe online recruitment market along with the drivers and restraints pertaining to the market growth. Digitalization of all business processes including recruitment is the major factor driving the growth of the Europe online recruitment market. However, common worries faced in online recruitment hinder the growth of Europe online recruitment market.



In Europe, the COVID-19 pandemic has a different impact on different countries, as only selective countries have witnessed the rise in the number of cases and subsequently attracted strict, as well as prolonged, lockdown periods or social isolation norms. However, Western European countries such as Germany, France, Russia, and the UK have seen a comparatively modest decrease in their growth activities because of the robust healthcare systems. According to a new study from Eurostat, the European Union's statistical office, the unemployment rate remained relatively constant from September to December in 2020, with an annual increase of 7.5% percent in 2020 compared to that of 6.5% in 2019. According to a Eurostat report In December 2020, 16 million men and women were unemployed, which indicates a surge of 2 million over that in the previous year. This had a negative impact on the European online recruitment market. However, with the declining COVID-19 cases across the country on average as well as manufacturing units, hospitality sector, and retail stores resuming their normal course of business have propelled the demand for employees across the European countries. This has led to the increase in recruitment across the region in many industries, thereby bolstering the online recruitment market growth.



The Europe online recruitment market is segmented into job type, application, and country. In terms of job type, the online recruitment market is bifurcated into part-time, permanent. In 2020, the permanent segment held the largest share Europe online recruitment market. Based on application, the online recruitment market is categorized into finance, sales and marketing, engineering, IT, others. In 2020, the IT segment held the largest share Europe online recruitment market.



iPlaceUSA, Inc.; itForte; Info Edge (India) Ltd. (naukri.com); LinkedIn Corporation; SH Inc; StepStone GmbH; are among the leading companies in the Europe online recruitment market. The companies are focused on adopting organic growth strategies such as product launches and expansions to sustain their position in the dynamic market. For instance, in 2018, LinkedIn launched a new product to assist employers in managing candidate sourcing, interviewing, and hiring. LinkedIn is also experimenting with how it can assist businesses in improving their diversity by allowing recruiters to assess the gender proportions in a pool of candidates.



The report segments the Europe Online Recruitment Market as follows:

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Europe Online Recruitment Market - By Job Type

Permanent

Part-Time

Europe Online Recruitment Market - By Application

Finance

Sales and Marketing

Engineering

IT

Others

Europe Online Recruitment Market - By Country

Germany

France

Italy

UK

Russia

Rest of Europe

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction

1.1 Study Scope

1.2 Research Report Guidance

1.3 Market Segmentation

1.3.1 Online Recruitment Market - By Job Type

1.3.2 Online Recruitment Market - By Application

1.3.3 Online Recruitment Market - By Country



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology

3.1 Coverage

3.2 Secondary Research

3.3 Primary Research



4. Europe Online Recruitment Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.2.1 Europe

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis

4.4 Expert Opinion



5. Europe Online Recruitment Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Combination of Technologies in Online Recruitment

5.1.2 Digitalization of All Business Processes Including Recruitment

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 Common Worries Faced in Online Recruitment

5.3 Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Emulsion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Initiation of Fully Remote Companies and Social Media Recruiting

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Online Recruitment Market - Europe Analysis

6.1 Europe Online Recruitment Market Overview

6.2 Europe Online Recruitment Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



7. Europe Online Recruitment Market Analysis - By Job Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Europe Online Recruitment Market, By Job Type (2020 and 2028)

7.3 Permanent

7.4 Part-Time

8. Europe Online Recruitment Market Analysis - By Application

8.1 Overview

8.2 Europe Online Recruitment Market, By Application (2020 and 2028)

8.3 Finance

8.4 Sales and Marketing

8.5 Engineering

8.6 IT

8.7 Others

9. Europe Online Recruitment Market - Country Analysis

9.1 Overview

9.1.1 Europe: Online Recruitment Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

9.1.2 Europe: Online Recruitment Market, by Key Country



10. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Europe Online Recruitment Market

10.1 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic



11. Industry Landscape

11.1 Merger and Acquisition

11.2 New Development



12. Company Profiles



Companies Mentioned

Info Edge (India) Ltd. (naukri.com)

iPlaceUSA, Inc.

itForte

LinkedIn Corporation

SH Inc

StepStone GmbH

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e8dldb

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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Corus Studios' Standout Series Return with New Seasons: Project Bakeover on March 31, Big Food Bucket List on April 2 and Fire Masters on April 17

New Series Be My Guest with Ina Garten, Cakealikes and The Julia Child Challenge Debut Alongside Returning Fan-Favourites Chef Boot Camp, Spring Baking Championship, Top Chef, Tournament of Champions, and more

Stream Food Network Canada Live and On Demand with STACKTV

L to R: Project Bakeover hosts Tiffany Pratt and Steve Hodge, Big Food Bucket List host John Catucci and Fire Masters host Dylan Benoit. Images courtesy of Food Network Canada. (CNW Group/Corus Entertainment Inc.)

Download hi-res images here

Get a first look at the new episodes of Project Bakover here and Top Chef here

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TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - This spring, Food Network Canada viewers can look forward to a lively lineup of new programming and returning top-performing series, providing fresh culinary content all season long. Corus Studios' Project Bakeover, Big Food Bucket List and Fire Masters, some of the network's top-rated original series, return with new episodes. The schedule continues to bloom with brand-new programming including ultimate cake design series Cakealikes, new daytime series Be My Guest with Ina Garten and high-stakes culinary competition The Julia Child Challenge. Rounding out the schedule are new seasons of fan-favourite series including Spring Baking Championship, Top Chef, Tournaments of Champions and more.

Spring is a time for renewal and Corus Studios' second season of Project Bakeover (10x60min), the #1 new Canadian original program on Food Network last spring*, is back to help struggling bakeries do just that. Beginning Thursday, March 31 at 9 p.m. ET/PT prominent pastry chef and entrepreneur Steve Hodge (Great Chocolate Showdown) joins forces with beloved HGTV Canada designer Tiffany Pratt to reinvigorate bakeries across the country. In the first episode "Cute Doesn't Pay the Bills," Vancouver, B.C.'s Kanadell Japanese Bakery and its owner Keiko are having trouble keeping afloat. Steve will have to help her back on the path to success to keep her sweet dream a reality. Throughout the season, Wayfair helps the businesses create a fresh new look by providing them with furnishings and decor for each renovation. The brand is included in active integrations where the design team shops on wayfair.ca, and viewers will be able to "Shop the Look". In the kitchen, Ardent Mills is keeping the pantries stocked with the brand's high-quality flours that assist the businesses in creating top-notch baked goods.



Corus Studios' Big Food Bucket List, (11x30min), the network's #2 Canadian program last spring*, returns Saturday, April 2 at 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET/PT with host John Catucci taking viewers on another epic, coast-to-coast journey as he checks buzz-worthy, crazy, delicious food off his bucket list. In each episode, John visits the restaurants behind these must-eat meals and hits the kitchen to learn how the chefs make their mind-blowing creations. The premiere episode, "Bun in A Million" sees John in Newfoundland for some pit cooking and fresh fishcakes. Next, he heads down to Chicago, Ill. to explore Peruvian cuisine, followed by digging his fork into an epic slice of lemon meringue pie in Toronto, ON. Experience Comox Valley joins as a sponsor, providing John with recommendations for bucket list-worthy dishes that highlight the inspired coastal cuisine the Comox Valley, B.C. region is famous for.

Story continues

Corus Studios' grilling competition series Fire Masters kicks off with blazing hot new episodes beginning Sunday, April 17 at 7 p.m. ET. Professional chef Dylan Benoit returns as host, joined by a rotating panel of expert judges including new additions Dominique Leach, Jenni Lessard, Roger Mooking and Stuart Cameron. Each episode will challenge three chefs to show off their grilling talents and creativity for a chance to go head-to-head with a renowned judge in the third and final round, fighting for a $10,000 cash prize and the title of Fire Masters Champion. Napoleon returns as the exclusive grill sponsor, providing top-of-the-line grilling stations that are engineered to give the ultimate in grilling performance. Certified Angus Beef brand comes back as the exclusive beef provider and sponsors a "Beef Lovers' Feast" integrated challenge, where the competing judge and chef will both spin the Certified Angus Beef Lovers' Banquet wheel to determine what cut of beef must be used in two dishes during their four-course feast in the final round. Montana's BBQ & Bar sponsors a "Montana's Market" area in the pantry, and integrated challenges where winning dishes have the chance to become an "inspired by" menu item at Montana's. Additionally, Carnivor Wines joins for an active "Battle of the Reds" integration where the competitors must create a mouthwatering wine and meat pairing.

On Sunday, February 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, Guy Fieri's culinary competition Tournament of Champions (8x120min), a Top 10 series on the network last spring*, is back and tougher than ever with double the chefs, double the battles, and a staggering cash prize of $100,000. The competitions continue with Spring Baking Championship: Easter (6x60min) on Tuesday, March 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT as host Sunny Anderson and judges Jordan Andino and Stephanie Boswell oversee a group of bakers competing to create wonderful Easter-themed baked showpieces. Come March 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, Spring Baking Championship (3x120min, 5x60min), a Top 5 program on Food Network last spring*, returns with host Molly Yeh overseeing a new group of talented bakers who are tasked to create and elevate springtime desserts to win over esteemed judges Kardea Brown, Nancy Fuller, and Duff Goldman.

Top 20 overall specialty entertainment program**, Top Chef is back for Season 19 (14x60min) beginning March 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons see 15 talented chefs come to Houston, Texas for a fierce face-off for the title of Top Chef and the $125,000 prize. Immediately following Top Chef, fans of the series can also visit foodnetwork.ca to catch all-new episodes of Last Chance Kitchen, where eliminated chefs compete for a chance to re-enter the Top Chef competition. Up next, it's lights, camera, action on March 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT when Cakealikes (6x60min) debuts, tasking three talented cake artists with creating life-sized cake replicas of celebrities. The judging panel must determine which "Cakealike" makes the A-list, for a prize totaling $10,000 and a one-of-a-kind celebrity souvenir.

Highly-anticipated new series The Julia Child Challenge (6x60) begins March 22 at 8 p.m. ET. Based on the legacy of iconic chef Julia Child, eight top-notch home cooks must compete to find out who has the fire, skill and passion to win the competition series dedicated to all things Julia Child. Beloved Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten invites friends old and new to her East Hamptons home beginning March 27 at 10 a.m. ET/PT. Each episode of Be My Guest with Ina Garten will see Ina providing guests such as award-winning actress Julianna Margulies, James Beard Award-nominated chef Erin French, beloved broadcaster Willie Geist, and Hollywood director/producer power couple Rob Marshall and John DeLuca with great conversation, cocktails and home cooking, as well as visiting some of her favourite local spots. Up next, Chef Bootcamp (8x60min) is back on Wednesday, April 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with Cliff Crooks continuing to assist struggling restaurants and seeing if they have what it takes to turn their businesses around.



Visit the new foodnetwork.ca to learn more about these series and experience our freshly launched look! From drool-inducing recipes created by diverse recipe creators to thought-provoking food industry stories and exclusive expert tips from our chefs and hosts, we're serving up something for every foodie, all from a Canadian lens. Foodnetwork.ca provides a universe of delicious possibilities waiting to be experienced.

Project Bakeover is produced by eOne with Jocelyn Hamilton and Toby Dormer serving as Executive Producers and Debbie Brown as Food Network Canada's Executive in Charge of Production. Big Food Bucket List is produced by Lone Eagle Entertainment with Michael Geddes and Rachel Horvath as Executive Producers, Tanya Blake as Series Producer and Dora Fong as Food Network Canada's Executive in Charge of Production. Fire Masters is produced by Nikki Ray Media Agency with Mike Sheerin and Tanya Linton as Executive Producers, Jen Pratt as Co-Executive Producer and Dora Fong as Food Network Canada's Executive in Charge of Production. All series are produced in association with Corus Studios for Food Network Canada. For Corus Studios and Food Network Canada, Krista Look is Vice President of Original Lifestyle Content and Lisa Godfrey is Senior Vice President of Original Content and Corus Studios.

Sources:

*Numeris PPM Data, Total Canada, SP'21 (Jan 4  May30/21), 3+ airings, Food Network, A25-54 AMA(000) * *Numeris PPM Data, Total Canada, SP'21 (Jan 4  May30/21), 3+ airings, A25-54 AMA(000),CDN SPEC COM ENG excluding sports



SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Follow Food Network Canada on Twitter @FoodNetworkCA, Facebook Food Network Canada, Instagram @FoodNetworkCa and TikTok @FoodNetworkCA

Join the conversation using: #ProjectBakeover, #BigFoodBucketList, #FireMasters, #TopChef

Follow Corus PR on Twitter: @CorusPR

Food Network Canada a Corus Entertainment Network.

Food Network Canada is a Corus Entertainment Network and is available through all major TV distributors, including Shaw, Shaw Direct, Rogers, Bell, Videotron, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink, SaskTel and STACKTV, streaming on Amazon Prime Video Channels, Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream.

About Corus Entertainment Inc.

Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that develops and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world. Engaging audiences since 1999, the company's portfolio of multimedia offerings encompass 33 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a suite of digital and streaming assets, animation software, technology and media services. Corus is an internationally-renowned content creator and distributor through Nelvana, a world class animation studio expert in all formats and Corus Studios, a globally recognized producer of hit scripted and unscripted content. The company also owns innovative full-service social digital agency so.da, lifestyle entertainment company Kin Canada, leading 2D animation software supplier Toon Boom and children's book publishing house, Kids Can Press. Corus' roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, The HISTORY Channel, Showcase, Adult Swim, National Geographic, Disney Channel Canada, YTV, Global News, Globalnews.ca, Q107, Country 105, and CFOX, along with broadly distributed Canadian streaming platforms STACKTV, Nick+, the Global TV App and Curiouscast. For more information visit www.corusent.com.

SOURCE Corus Entertainment Inc.

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ReportLinker

Abstract: What`s New for 2022? -Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares. -Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial.

New York, Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Assistive Furniture Industry" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06030764/?utm_source=GNW

-Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

-Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform

-Complimentary updates for one year



Global Assistive Furniture Market to Reach US$5.3 Billion by the Year 2026



Assistive furniture makes quite a difference for individuals with long-term disabilities or injuries and the idea of assistive furniture is to assist individuals in normal day-to-day activities like standing, resting, and sitting with less effort. The category comprises aids and technologies that enable sitting and standing in a secure and safe manner. The aids are essential for enabling people with impaired motor functioning and balance to sit and stand safety. Positioning equipment for instance is essential to ensure equal distribution of body pressure without affecting movement. Assistive furniture comprises aids and devices such as medical beds, riser reclining chairs, railings & bar, and door openers among others. The disabled and elderly assistive technologies in general and furniture in particular is being driven by rising elderly population, rising healthcare costs, and advances in technology. The growth in elderly population is straining healthcare systems across the world. Home-based care is being actively practiced as an alternative to prolonged hospital stays. Technological advances have enabled assistive products to be connected to healthcare networks, and is aiding the shift to home-based care.



Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Assistive Furniture estimated at US$3.8 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$5.3 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% over the analysis period. Beds, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 6.6% CAGR to reach US$2.2 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Riser Reclining Chairs segment is readjusted to a revised 5% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 27% share of the global Assistive Furniture market. Hospital beds are available in a fully electric or manual range that enables the individuals to lower and raise the feet, head, or the entire bed with just a push of the button. Hospital beds or medical beds comprise side rails, spring support, and adjustable foot/headrests, which are a suitable option for individuals who are anticipated to be off their feet for a long time. People who have difficulty getting in and out of traditional chairs, or who simply want a practical chair for their living room, are increasingly turning to riser recliners. An electric rise and recline chair are frequently purchased by those who need greater support when sitting.



The U.S. Market is Estimated at $2 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $320.3 Million by 2026



The Assistive Furniture market in the U.S. is estimated at US$2 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 51.42% share in the global market. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$320.3 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 6.9% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 4.8% and 5.3% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 5.4% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$207.1 Million by the end of the analysis period. Growth in North America region is due to increased demand, the growing geriatric population, and the government`s increased focus on patient safety. Furthermore, well-established distribution channels and technological advancements are the prime factors propelling the growth of the disabled and elderly assistive devices market in the region. Increased disposable income and growing awareness among people regarding the usage and availability of assistive furniture like beds, riser chairs, and door openers are estimated to boost growth in Asia-Pacific region.



Railings & Bar Segment to Reach $1 Billion by 2026



In the global Railings & Bar segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 4.5% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$672.6 Million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$917 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$68.3 Million by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 5.1% CAGR through the analysis period.

Select Competitors (Total 156 Featured) -

Story continues

Blue Chip Medical Products

Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare

Invacare Corporation

Medline Industries, LP.

Permobil

Pride Mobility Products Corp.

Sunrise Medical LLC







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06030764/?utm_source=GNW



I. METHODOLOGY



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Looming Global Recession: 2020

Marked as a Year of Disruption & Transformation

As the Race between the Virus & Vaccines Intensifies, Where is

the World Economy Headed in 2021?

World Economic Growth Projections (Real GDP, Annual % Change)

for 2020 through 2022

How the Healthcare Industry Has & Continues to be Impacted by

the Pandemic & Whats the New Normal?

With the COVID-19 Pandemic Exposing Global Healthcare

Unpreparedness, There is Increasing Policy Led Focus on

Rebooting Health Systems Worldwide: Current & Required

Healthcare Spending as % of GDP

Healthcare Industry Pushed to Adopt Digital Technologies &

Innovate to Save Lives amid the Crisis

Digital Health Technologies Poised to Break New Grounds Post

Pandemic: Global Opportunity in Digital Health (In US$

Billion) for Years 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2026

The Pandemic Triggers Shift in Consumer Behaviour & Engagement

with Healthcare Technologies & Services

Assistive Furniture - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market

Share in 2022 (E)

Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for

Players Worldwide in 2022 (E)

A Prelude to Assistive Technology and Devices Market

An Introduction to Assistive Furniture

Types of Assistive Furniture

Assistive Devices and Furniture Helping Elderly in Times of Need

Global Market Prospects & Outlook

Recent Market Activity

World Assistive Furniture Market by Type (2021 & 2027):

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for Beds, Riser Reclining

Chairs, Railings & Bar, and Door Openers

Analysis by Application: Home Care Dominates the Market

World Assistive Furniture Market by Application (2021 & 2027):

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities, and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

Regional Analysis

Increasing Access to Healthcare in Emerging Regions

World Assistive Furniture Market: Percentage Breakdown of Sales

for Developed and Developing Regions for the Years 2021 & 2027

World Assistive Furniture Market - Geographic Regions Ranked by

CAGR (Sales) for 2020-2027: China, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East, Africa, USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan



2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Assistive Technology Trends to Impact the Assistive Furniture

Market

Smart Technologies Integrating Assistive Furniture to Help

Elders Lead Better Quality of Life

Smart Assistive Sofa for Older Adults Conceptualized

Building Assistive Technology Tools to Allow Mobility Impaired

People Use a Computer

Rising Online Sales of Assistive Furniture Products

Assistive Bedside Furniture for Helping Surgical Patients

Achieve Early Postoperative Mobilization

Smart Wheelchair Technology

Healthcare Hubs in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Home Health Hub: A Boon for Immobile Patients

Coronavirus Pandemic Poses Challenges for Home Healthcare Workers

Increased Emphasis on Remote Patient Monitoring Creates Fertile

Environment for Growth of Home Care Market

Focus on Reducing Hospital Readmissions Provides Impetus to

Home Care Solutions and Assistive Furniture

Rapidly Evolving Role of Home Telehealth Instigates Broad-based

Opportunities

Increase in Number of Fractures and Rise in incidence of

Delayed Union & Nonunion Bone Fractures Elevates Demand for

Assistive Furniture

Select Musculoskeletal Conditions - Percentage Breakdown by Age

Group

Percentage Share Breakdown of Number of Fractures by Age Group:

2019

Rise in Vertebral Fractures to Steer Growth

Rising Population of Aged People and their Vulnerability to

Chronic Diseases: Strong Business Case for Assistive Living

Solutions

Global Aging Population Statistics for the 65+ Age Group in

Million by Geographic Region for the Years 2019, 2025, 2035

and 2050

Rising Middle Class Population Aids Growth

Global Middle Class Population (in Millions) and as a

Percentage of Total Population: 2005, 2015, 2025 & 2035

Increasing Obesity Levels Propels Market Growth

Global Obesity Epidemic: Percentage of Overweight, Obese, and

Severely Obese Adults for 2014 & 2025

Severely Obese Population (in Thousands) Worldwide by Country:

2014 & 2025

Average Per Capita Annual Health Expenditure (In US$) due to

Obesity

Obesity Prevalence Rate (%) in Select Countries for the Years

2019 and 2030P

Rising Incidence of Physical Disabilities: A Grim Reality

Driving Significance of Assistive Living Technologies

Percentage of Population with Disabilities by Age Group

Rise in Healthcare Expenditure to Drive Growth

World Healthcare Expenditure (In US$ Billion) for the Years

2017-2023



4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

Table 1: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan,

China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and

Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 2: World Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 3: World 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa Markets for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 4: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Beds

by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 5: World Historic Review for Beds by Geographic Region -

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual

Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 6: World 15-Year Perspective for Beds by Geographic

Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada,

Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East

and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 7: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Riser

Reclining Chairs by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan,

China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and

Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 8: World Historic Review for Riser Reclining Chairs by

Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 9: World 15-Year Perspective for Riser Reclining Chairs

by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 10: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Railings & Bar by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan,

China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and

Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 11: World Historic Review for Railings & Bar by

Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 12: World 15-Year Perspective for Railings & Bar by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 13: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Door

Openers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China,

Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 14: World Historic Review for Door Openers by Geographic

Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 15: World 15-Year Perspective for Door Openers by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America,

Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 16: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Home

Care by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 17: World Historic Review for Home Care by Geographic

Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin

America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and

% CAGR



Table 18: World 15-Year Perspective for Home Care by Geographic

Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada,

Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East

and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 19: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assisted Living Facilities by Geographic Region - USA, Canada,

Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East

and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in

US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 20: World Historic Review for Assisted Living Facilities

by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 21: World 15-Year Perspective for Assisted Living

Facilities by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value

Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific,

Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 &

2027



Table 22: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Hospitals & Nursing Homes by Geographic Region - USA, Canada,

Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East

and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in

US$ Thousand for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 23: World Historic Review for Hospitals & Nursing Homes

by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe,

Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 24: World 15-Year Perspective for Hospitals & Nursing

Homes by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value

Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific,

Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 &

2027



III. MARKET ANALYSIS



UNITED STATES

Assistive Furniture Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in the United States for 2022 (E)

Table 25: USA Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 26: USA Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by Type -

Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 27: USA 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 28: USA Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 29: USA Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 30: USA 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



CANADA

Table 31: Canada Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 32: Canada Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door

Openers Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 33: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 34: Canada Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 35: Canada Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 36: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



JAPAN

Assistive Furniture Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in Japan for 2022 (E)

Table 37: Japan Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 38: Japan Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by Type -

Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 39: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 40: Japan Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 41: Japan Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 42: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



CHINA

Assistive Furniture Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in China for 2022 (E)

Table 43: China Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 44: China Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by Type -

Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 45: China 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 46: China Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 47: China Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 48: China 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



EUROPE

Assistive Furniture Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in Europe for 2022 (E)

Table 49: Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Geographic Region - France, Germany,

Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 50: Europe Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia

and Rest of Europe Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual

Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 51: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe

Markets for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 52: Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 53: Europe Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door

Openers Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 54: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 55: Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 56: Europe Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 57: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



FRANCE

Assistive Furniture Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in France for 2022 (E)

Table 58: France Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 59: France Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door

Openers Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 60: France 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 61: France Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 62: France Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 63: France 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



GERMANY

Assistive Furniture Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in Germany for 2022 (E)

Table 64: Germany Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 65: Germany Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door

Openers Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 66: Germany 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture

by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 67: Germany Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 68: Germany Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 69: Germany 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture

by Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



ITALY

Table 70: Italy Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 71: Italy Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by Type -

Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 72: Italy 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 73: Italy Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 74: Italy Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 75: Italy 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



UNITED KINGDOM

Assistive Furniture Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in the United Kingdom for 2022 (E)

Table 76: UK Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 77: UK Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by Type -

Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 78: UK 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 79: UK Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 80: UK Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 81: UK 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



SPAIN

Table 82: Spain Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 83: Spain Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by Type -

Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers

Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand

for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 84: Spain 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 85: Spain Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 86: Spain Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 87: Spain 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



RUSSIA

Table 88: Russia Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 89: Russia Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door

Openers Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 90: Russia 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Beds, Riser

Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers for the Years

2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 91: Russia Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for

Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent Analysis

of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 92: Russia Historic Review for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



Table 93: Russia 15-Year Perspective for Assistive Furniture by

Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Home

Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



REST OF EUROPE

Table 94: Rest of Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 95: Rest of Europe Historic Review for Assistive

Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings &

Bar and Door Openers Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual

Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 96: Rest of Europe 15-Year Perspective for Assistive

Furniture by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 97: Rest of Europe Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted

Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 98: Rest of Europe Historic Review for Assistive

Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living

Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through

2019 and % CAGR



Table 99: Rest of Europe 15-Year Perspective for Assistive

Furniture by Application - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales

for Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and Hospitals &

Nursing Homes for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



ASIA-PACIFIC

Assistive Furniture Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/

Trivial - Key Competitors in Asia-Pacific for 2022 (E)

Table 100: Asia-Pacific Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Assistive Furniture by Geographic Region - Australia,

India, South Korea and Rest of Asia-Pacific Markets -

Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years

2020 through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 101: Asia-Pacific Historic Review for Assistive Furniture

by Geographic Region - Australia, India, South Korea and Rest

of Asia-Pacific Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales

in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 102: Asia-Pacific 15-Year Perspective for Assistive

Furniture by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value

Sales for Australia, India, South Korea and Rest of

Asia-Pacific Markets for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 103: Asia-Pacific Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Assistive Furniture by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs,

Railings & Bar and Door Openers - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020 through 2027

and % CAGR



Table 104: Asia-Pacific Historic Review for Assistive Furniture

by Type - Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door

Openers Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$

Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR



Table 105: Asia-Pacific 15-Year Perspective for Assistive

Furniture by Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for

Beds, Riser Reclining Chairs, Railings & Bar and Door Openers

for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027



Table 106: Asia-Pacific Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis

for Assistive Furniture by Application - Home Care, Assisted

Living Facilities and Hospitals & Nursing Homes - Independent

Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for the Years 2020

through 2027 and % CAGR



Table 107: Asia-Pacific Historic Review for Assistive Furniture

by Application - Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities and

Hospitals & Nursing Homes Markets - Independent Analysis of

Annual Sales in US$ Thousand for Years 2012 through 2019 and %

CAGR



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Hawa Sultani, middle, with her mother and Crest Cafe co-owner Monira Sultani, right; and Shabnam Ahmadi, head of operations. Courtesy photo

When Hawa Sultani turned down medical school, she took a year off to do some serious soul searching.

Growing up as a first-generation Afghan immigrant in Queens, New York, Hawas dream had always been to help people like her. She had grown up without health insurance, and she wanted to help others get the care they needed. But after some experience in the healthcare industry, she realized that the inequities she wanted to fight were systemic.

I learned that there are many larger factors at play in terms of why certain populations arent getting healthcare, Hawa tells Poets&Quants.

FINDING PURPOSE

Hawa Sultani: The reality is, many of us havent questioned what we want, what drives us, and what our values are. Courtesy photo

Hawa knew she wanted to make a difference in the world, to help provide equal opportunity for women and persons of color. In 2018, she quit her job, went traveling  and asked herself some hard questions.

The reality is, many of us havent questioned what we want, what drives us, and what our values are, she says. I needed to figure out what my purpose in life was.

Little did she know that she would find that purpose upon her return home, at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Sacramento, California.

CREST CAFE: RUN BY WOMEN REFUGEES

In 2009, in the depths of the Great Recession when many businesses were going bankrupt, Hawas mother Monira traded in her role as a stay-at-home mom to become the owner of Crest Cafe, a small restaurant on K Street in downtown Sacramento. No one was buying a business at that time, but my mom did it anyway, Hawa laughs.

Despite limited English skills and no prior experience, Monira Sultanis passion for food drove her to build Crest into a thriving business  one that her daughter says built a cult-like following, its modern Mediterranean menu drawing dedicated customers from all over the city. Hawa says people have driven two hours just to get Crests nachos.

Story continues

As good as it was, it wasnt the food that created the biggest shift in Hawas life  and completely changed the trajectory of her career. It was the cafes employees, the majority of whom are refugee women from Afghanistan, with a smaller number from Syria, Iraq, and Russia.

THE PIVOT

When Hawa returned from her travels, she visited her mom at Crest Cafe and found a line out the door. Her interest was immediately piqued; she wondered how such a tiny eatery, with an outdated register and hardly any marketing, could be so successful. When she sat down at a table, she spoke to the employees, some of whom had worked there for more than eight years. She soon realized that Crest Cafe was more than just a workplace  it was a home, and the staff were a family.

The womens stories were inspirational  and harrowing. They had left war-torn countries suffering from trauma and PTSD, and with children to support. Hawa suddenly knew her next step: She was going to grow her moms business and provide opportunities, on a larger scale, for refugee women to rebuild their lives.

While her mother first declined her offer to help, Hawa wouldnt take no for an answer.

I just started working there without her permission, she laughs. I wasnt getting paid a dollar and I was living off of my savings, but I loved everything about it.

CHANGING GENERATIONS TO COME

After Hawa developed Crests brand identity and social media presence, her mom eventually agreed to letting her officially work at the restaurant, and named her Head of Brand. She was still confused about why I turned down medical school, Hawa says. But once she saw the momentum I was building, she realized the value of having me on the team.

In the 13 years that the Sultani family has owned Crest Cafe, it has not only become a safe space that helps refugee women rebuild their lives; it has also become a driver of change for generations to come.

A lot of women in the Afghan community became homemakers, and the father is the figure that goes out and provides, Hawa says. The opportunity for women to work helps my community to know that women can get an education, become financially independent, and meet up to everyones expectations with grace, resilience, and brilliance.

For the first time in her life, Hawa saw herself in the women she was surrounded by.

Growing up, my journey always felt so incredibly lonely; I never saw someone I could relate to or look up to as a role model, she says. These women are so inspiring to me. Theyre my motivation. Theyre my drive. Despite what theyve gone through, every day they come into the business and treat it as if its their own.

MORE THAN BUSINESS: FAMILY

Hawas mom treats her employees like relatives, and goes above and beyond a restaurant owners responsibilities; she helps solve immigration issues, steps in with childcare, and picks up their kids from school. I think my mom did all of that because she resonated with the challenges of being a mom, a daughter, or a sister in a country where we dont know the language and there arent many resources for us, Hawa says.

Ive learned a lot from my mom as Ive watched her run Crest Cafe. She says that at the end of the day, you have to treat your employees better than you treat anyone because your employees are the engine of your business. You need to make sure your employees love your business and care about it as if its their own.

Since those from war-torn countries are often disempowered in their rights to education, its more difficult to get work. The Crest Cafe team helps to give refugee women work opportunities  no matter what their English level or circumstances  by sourcing employees from local advertisements within the refugee community and Lao Family Community Development Inc., which is an organization that supports diverse incoming refugees, immigrants, and low-income U.S.-born people in achieving financial self-sufficiency.

Crest Cafe also works with an organization called Read2Lead, and provides some of their monthly profits to help support families and orphans in Afghanistan.

Hawa Sultani, left, with her mother Monira and cafe head of operations Shabnam Ahmadi. Courtesy photo

Working with her mom, Hawa Sultani found a new passion for business. Eager to learn more, she began taking free accounting and finance classes at the California Capital Women Business Center. They offer free workshops for anyone that wants to start a business, she explains. I was getting all of these business terms thrown at me, and I was absorbing them like a sponge.

Inspired by the cafes momentum and her own growing business acumen, Hawa decided to apply to business school in 2019 to take Crest Cafe to the next level. She was accepted by the University of Rochester Simon Business School. She split her time between New York and California, where she would return every few weeks to support the business.

BUILDING A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY

Hawa says she her B-school experience was special  she was overwhelmed by the support she received from classmates and faculty. Everyone was understanding about her situation. Not only did they follow her business journey closely, they even helped Crest Cafe raise money to help feed healthcare workers in Sacramento during the pandemic.

She was also grateful for the ways in which her schools resources helped her to grow the restaurant; Simons Ain Center for Entrepreneurship connected her with lawyers, financial advisers, and branding folks. One of my professors even helped me improve the menu, she says.

Ive never felt that homey, family, community atmosphere at other schools, Hawa says. To this day, I still have people from admissions or people from their career center message me and ask about how the restaurant is doing.

WE NEED MORE LEADERS THAT HAVE EMPATHY

Through her experience as Head of Brand for Crest Cafe, Hawa saw the inequities of not only being a woman, but of being an immigrant and person of color. It was harder to be taken seriously when speaking with banks and landlords, she explains.

Once at Simon Business School, she was introduced to more data that demonstrated the lack of funding for women and people of color. I thought, I need to help change this and provide more opportunities and seats at the table for people like myself, she says. We need more leaders that have empathy and a high EQ, not just IQ.

On top of growing Crest Cafe and her regular MBA studies, Hawa became president of the Simon School Venture Fund, a $2M student-run fund that invests in companies founded by women and BIPOC. She says that SSVF and her work at Crest Cafe is what gives her hope for Afghan women. Theres at least a group of us getting educated and there will be more of us sitting at the right seats and at the right tables. Changes will come, she explains.

EXPANDING THE FLAGSHIP STORE

After graduating in 2021, Hawa started a full-time job as a business program manager for Microsoft in the global cloud doing design, delivery, and strategy. Shes continuing to split her time between New York and Sacramento to expand Crest Cafe; on February 26, the team will be opening a second location in Sacramento, which will be the flagship store.

She says that Crest Cafe has been  and continues to be  an essential part of her professional growth; not only has it become a passion project, its also helped her gain experience growing a business from the ground up. If youve never built something, you cant give advice about it, Hawa says. I want Crest Cafe to continue to be a platform to hire, support, and inspire women.

Her dream is to eventually be an investor that supports women-owned businesses, with the hopes of building generational wealth for the communities that tend to not have it. A lot of the Crest womens stories have provided inspiration for what I want to do next with my career and who I want to support, she adds.

YOU HAVE TO FIND THE LIGHT INSIDE OF YOU

Had Hawa Sultani gone against her instincts and accepted her medical school offer, her future may have looked very different. Im so grateful for my journey and most importantly, for trusting the process and going with my gut feeling, she says.

You have to find the light inside of you, she continues. A lot of people cant find it because they dont know their purpose, what theyre doing, or why theyre doing it. I struggled for so long to find mine. I was so unhappy until I joined this small little hole in the wall on K street in Sacramento, California. Ill never look back.

DONT MISS THIS MBA STUDENT-RUN FUND IS A TEMPLATE FOR IMPROVING VC DIVERSITY and MEET ROCHESTER SIMONS MBA CLASS OF 2022

The post Through Her Family Business, This MBA Is Helping To Empower Women Refugees appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Photo credit: yangwenshuang - Getty Images



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The classic image of a modern-day meditator looks something like the calming figure of the Buddhaa man or woman sits with their legs crossed in the traditional lotus position, palms facing up on their knees, a perfectly erect posture, and a facial expression of sweet placidity. To some, it looks like an enviable state of serenity, but for those afflicted with a monkey mind and a spazzy bodily tempo, it looks like a triple root canal at a sadistic dentists office. Clear my mind of thoughts?! Stop moving?! It can send a cortisol surge of panic through every corner of ones body.

Well, my fellow frenetics, fear notvisualization meditation is your route to nirvana: You can do it on the go, and it relies on an active mind. Its counterintuitive because in meditation were taught to let thoughts enter our brains and not get attached to them, says Shelly Tygielski, meditation guru and author of Sit Down to Rise Up: How Radical Self-Care Can Change the World . But in visualization meditation, youre latching onto a thought or concept or goal for an outcome you want to achieve.

Kessonga, a meditation and mindfulness teacher at Headspace , adds: Its a technique where a person uses their imagination or their minds eye to conjure up specific imagesa person, a situation or scenario. In doing so, Kessonga and Tygielski promise, practitioners can find relief from stress, anxiety, and depression and realize their highest hopes and dreams. Read on to find an expert-approved meditation practice that fits your needs.

Meditate to relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety.

To help clients alleviate anxiety, for example, Tygielski first asks them to identify what they are feelingName it to tame it, she says, citing psychologist Dan Siegel and where it resides in their bodies. Then she guides them through a calming bodily reset using a technique pioneered by Andrew Weil, MD, decades ago: a three-part rationed breath, where you inhale-hold-exhale in a ratio of any kind (such as 4-7-8, or 6-1-8, if you cant hold your breath for long), as long as you breathe out for a longer duration than you breathe in, which generates a soothing and sedating effect.

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After two or three cycles, she says, youll start to calm yourself down physiologically, and then the mind-body connection starts to work and you can enter your happy place. It could be fantasy-based (a sweet sojourn on a beautiful beach in the Bahamas) or fact-based (your beloved grandmothers kitchen table), but bringing it to life in rich detail with all your five senses is key. Visualizing that vacationmay lift your spirits and bring about a sense of happiness and joy. Then you can bring your attention back to the present moment and go about what youre doing, Kessonga adds.

Like any muscle-building exercise, over time this practice will create new pathways in your brain that will help you respond rather than react to uncomfortable mind-body states. Youre practicing and practicing. So when game day comes, youll be able to draw upon that muscle memory, Kessonga says.

Meditate to realize your loftiest ambitions.

Whether you want a gold medal, an Oscar, or a promotion, bring it before your minds eye in full fruition so you can seize the moment when it finally arrives. Imagine the process of being promoted, Tygielski suggests. Youre literally walking yourself down the hallway. Youre reaching out and touching the doorknob, opening the door to your bosss office. Youre sitting in the chair in front of your boss. Go through the conversation and ask for that raise. Go through it step by step like a slideshow.

As youre going through the motions, youre assessing and labeling your emotions until youre able to be in that moment with ease and grace. You want to get to the point where youre totally calm and collected. Athletes use the term flow state and can take full advantage of the opportunity when it arises, she explains.

Meditate on the go.

The beauty of this exercise is that it can be done anywhereat your office desk or even in line at Starbucks, Kessonga says. A favorite meditation Kessonga practices can last as long as one to three minutes while youre waiting for your latte: Center yourself with one gentle deep breathin through the nose, out through the mouth. As you exhale, visualize a very warm, calming light engulfing your body, from head, to neck, to shoulders and through the entire body, he says. Before you draw in your next breath, youll immediately begin to notice all the tension, stress, and anxiety built up in your body giving way to an overall feeling of well-being and positivity, he says.

What better way to spend time in line?

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Hong Kong: Chinese medicine helps virus effort

The Food & Health Bureau today said the first batch of Chinese medicines for COVID-19 donated by the Mainland will be distributed in phases to people under isolation.

This batch of proprietary Chinese medicines (pCms) includes Lianhua Qingwen Jiaonang and Jinhua Qinggan Keli, which will be sent to people under isolation at the Pennys Bay community isolation facility.

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan said: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the Central Peoples Government for its ceaseless support to Hong Kongs anti-epidemic work in co-ordinating the delivery of anti-epidemic Chinese medicines to Hong Kong within a short timeframe to assist our fight against the fifth wave of the epidemic, which demonstrate its deepest care for the people of Hong Kong.

Furthermore, Huoxiang Zhengqi, another pCm, will arrive Hong Kong in phases.

Recommended in the Mainlands Diagnosis & Treatment Protocols for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia, the three kinds of pCms are widely applied in the countrys anti-epidemic work. Under Chinese medicine practitioners clinical guidance, they could be used during the stage of medical surveillance, as well as the treatment for patients with mild and common symptoms, the bureau said.

To safeguard health and medication safety, the public should seek professional advice from practitioners before consuming Chinese medicines, it noted.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also expressed its appreciation for the Hospital Authoritys multipronged efforts in supporting citizens affected by the epidemic, including implementing the Special Chinese Medicine Out-patient Programme and the Special Chinese Medicine Programme for COVID-19 In-patients to provide rehabilitation service and treatment.

The Hong Kong SAR Government is actively exploring with the Chinese medicine sector and the authority in implementing all feasible measures to combat the epidemic with the use of Chinese medicine, Prof Chan added.

To support people under isolation at Pennys Bay, the authoritys Chinese Medicine Department has set up an advice hotline, with registered Chinese medicine practitioners available to answer relevant enquiries.

Call 2794 3171 for details.

This story has been published on: 2022-02-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Baku has urged Azerbaijani citizens permanently and temporarily residing in Ukraine to avoid military concentration zones.

In light of the situation in Ukraine, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry advised citizens not to travel to areas of military concentration (border areas in Ukraine's eastern region) and to avoid military facilities in the country.

"Our citizens are advised to stay at home or in safe places and avoid travel unless necessary," the ministry said in a statement on February 24.

The ministry also advised the citizens to follow the official information of Ukrainian state authorities.

"For special cases, our citizens can contact Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv at (+38073)5050000 and by e-mail [email protected], the Consulate in Kharkiv at (+38057)7000531 and by e-mail [email protected]," it stressed.

The ministry emphasized that depending on the development of the situation, the Azerbaijani embassy in Ukraine will provide additional information.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that in response to the appeal of the leaders of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Lugansk People's Republic" decided to conduct a special military operation in Eastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian authorities introduced martial law throughout the entire territory. Ukrainian media report explosions in a number of cities.
Pakistan-based fintech platform NayaPay has raised $13 million in a seed round to roll out its multi-service messaging and payment app, and to build payment acceptance and financial management tools for businesses in the South Asian country.

NayaPay CEO and founder Danish Lakhani told TechCrunch that the super-app allows people residing in Pakistan to send and receive money, split bills and make payments conveniently from smartphones. They have also issued virtual and physical Visa cards linked to the NayaPay wallet, further allowing its users to make POS payments and businesses to accept payments.

Lakhani said that NayaPay is leading a digital payment revolution in Pakistan, a cash-heavy economy, where only 1% of $4 trillion payments are done electronically. This is in a country of 220 million people. But NayaPay's goal is even bigger: to bank millions of adults that remain unbanked, with women affected the most -- only one in three women holds a bank account. The youth and freelance communities in Pakistan are also majorly locked out by traditional banks. About 100 million people are unbanked in Pakistan, according to this World Bank report.

Students and freelancers are among the most underbanked population, and they are our first target market. They find it very difficult to open bank accounts because they don't have a source of income. Bank compliance departments consider them very high risk, but we see them as a group with the highest lifetime value, said Lakhani.

The round was led by Zayn Capital; London-based investment firm MSA Novo; global fund manager Graph Ventures; and an early-stage VC from Silicon Valley. It had the participation of Singapore-based Saison Capital, Waleed Saigols Maple Leaf Capital and Warren Hogarth, CEO Empower Finance and sponsors of the Lakson Group (a Pakistani conglomerate). The seed round is the largest seed financing round in the South Asian market, leapfrogging Tag, a banking and financial services platform that raised $12 million last year.

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We are very bullish on fintech in Pakistan. While just beginning to emerge, Pakistani fintechs have the advantage of learning from peers and placing better informed strategic bets. We were impressed by the completeness of the vision of the founding team at NayaPay, and their differentiated platform-based strategy-- first focused on servicing the needs of underbanked consumers and SMBs with specific use cases and building out from there, said Zayn Capital Fronteir co-founder and managing partner, Faisal Aftab.

Image Credits: NayaPay

With a proven ability to execute on the ground, the founder has an impressive track record of building and scaling businesses in Pakistan, including the countrys largest fiber broadband service (StormFiber a subsidiary of Cybernet), said Aftab.

The idea to launch NayaPay was born during Lakhanis visits to China, where social messaging and payments apps like WeChat Pay and AliPay are commonly used. He was at the time leading Cybernet, a broadband company he helped build from scratch, and which has grown to be the largest internet and data communication network service provider.

He says he was inspired by the ease in use of the Chinese super apps and decided to replicate the model with NayaPay, which he says is going to revolutionize the payments landscape in Pakistan.

Lakhani, who grew up in Pakistan, returned to build Cybernet after his undergraduate and graduate studies in the U.S., where he pursued a degree in applied mathematics - computer science at Brown University, a graduate degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

NayaPay has already acquired the requisite authorizations, including the E-Money Institution license from the State Bank of Pakistan.

It targets to have 5 million users over the next five years and grow the number of digital payments, which he says will impact other sectors like e-commerce as more people use the NayaPay wallet to make online transactions.

Online shopping accounts for only 2% of retail in Pakistan and is growing at a 51% CAGR, so theres a massive demand which has been accelerated because of COVID. For example, restaurants that used to depend mostly on a POS terminal for acceptance, are now requiring payment gateway for their online sales, he said.

They also plan to introduce other digital financial services like lending and investment, in the future.

We will grow this platform to give them the ability to invest in money market funds, stock trading and buying other digital assets.
Sign warning boaters on road to Digger Bay on Lake Shasta in August 2021.

Citing "unprecedented" North State drought conditions, federal officials on Wednesday delivered bad news to numerous local water agencies, with some being told they would not receive any water this year.

"This is a different year. This is not just another dry year. This is a really bad year," said Don Bader, area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates dams on Lake Shasta and Trinity Lake.

The water delivery news comes as January and February, typically the wettest months of the year, received very little rainfall, leaving Lake Shasta and Trinity Lake levels far below normal, Bader said.

Those two reservoirs hold water that is used to supply numerous local water agencies, including the cities of Redding and Shasta Lake, Bella Vista Water District and other smaller water districts in the Redding area.

Compounding the problem is that the North State endured two previous years of extreme drought. But Bader said 2022 could be the worst in decades, in terms of low water storage and delivery.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map indicates the North State is currently in a "severe" drought. This year's low rainfall has left Lake Shasta's water level about 45 feet below where it was at this time last year.

As of Wednesday, Lake Shasta was about 37% full, and about 53% of normal for this time of year. Trinity Lake, which also supplies water to Whiskeytown Lake and the Sacramento River, was at about 48% of normal, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

A dead fish sits on the sun-baked shore of a shrinking Lake Shasta in August 2021.

"It's a historically dry year, worse than we've seen in recent droughts," Bader said. "Everybody has to be on board that this is going be the worst year that they've experienced."

The city of Redding, which has a "senior" water right of about 21,000 acre feet, will initially see its allocation cut at least 25%, Bader said. A typical household uses between 1 and 2 acre feet of water annually.

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Because this year's drought is so severe, it is likely senior water rights holders like the city of Redding will have their allocations reduced further than 25%, Bader said.

More: North State districts brace for water supply cuts as California drought worsens

The city also has a smaller allocation of 6,140 acre feet, which is a "junior" water right. That allocation is being reduced to zero, said Josh Watkins, the city's water utility manager.

Watkins said Wednesday that the city has not imposed restrictions on water use or over-use penalties. The city plans to increase its "messaging" to customers to conserve water.

Dropping water levels due to the drought reveal an extraordinary look at Lake Shasta in August 2021.

In addition to its right to a larger amount of water from the Sacramento River, the city also has numerous wells it can use to pump water from the ground.

Other water agencies with junior water rights face severe cutbacks, Bader said. Those agencies include Bella Vista, Clear Creek Community Services District in Happy Valley and the city of Shasta Lake.

The city of Anderson relies mainly on groundwater pumping for drinking water.

More: With rains on hold, the future looks cloudy for an end to the drought. Here's why.

Some agencies also purchase water from such senior water rights holders as the Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District, the McConnell Foundation and the city of Redding.

However, whatever amount of water those agencies get from other sources is deducted from the already meager allocation from the bureau, Bader said.

The minimum public health and safety allocation for local districts with junior water rights is 55 gallons per person, he said.

Lake Shasta's lack of water due to the drought left marinas and other boat docks high and dry in August 2021.

The Bella Vista district already has water-use restrictions in place, requiring customers to reduce water use at least 20%.

Because Bella Vista has other sources of water, it does not expect to receive any water from the bureau, said David Coxey, the district's general manager.

Tony Thomasey, Shasta Lake Water Department superintendent, said Wednesday it is likely there will be restrictions imposed on water use in the city, but he did not know yet what they would be.

Lake Shasta's lack of water due to the drought left marinas and other boat docks high and dry in August 2021.

More: Warm water leads to thousands of salmon deaths in the Sacramento River

Damon Arthur is the Record Searchlights resources and environment reporter. He is part of a team of journalists who investigate wrongdoing and find the unheard voices to tell the stories of the North State. He welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834 by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: North State water rations cut to zero in 'historically dry' conditions
Coverage and streaming rights begin with inaugural PFL Challenger Series leading into 2022 Regular Season

Partnership to focus on live events, original programming, archived content, and coverage of elite talent including New Zealanders Genah Fabian and Michelle Montague

PFL MMA Regular Season kicks off on April 20 to more than 160 countries

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, and Sky New Zealand today announced an exclusive broadcast partnership for 2022. Sky Sport will become the exclusive PFL content provider in New Zealand, carrying both the PFL's inaugural Challenger Series and the 2022 PFL Regular Season, Playoffs, and PFL World Championship.

Photo by Professional Fighters League

Additionally, Sky New Zealand will bring MMA fans exclusive PFL content including archival season footage from 2019-2021 and original content from PFL Studios.

PFL Women's Lightweight fighter Genah Fabian, a proud New Zealander, continued making a name for herself during the 2021 PFL Season, qualifying for the 2021 Playoffs after a 2-0-0 record with wins against both Laura Sanchez and Julija Pajic.

Additionally, Women's Lightweight fighter Michelle Montague will make her PFL debut at the inaugural PFL Challenger Series on March 4. The Kiwi is a former IMMAF champion and will look to earn a 2022 PFL Regular Season contract.

"As we look ahead to an event-packed 2022 season for the Professional Fighters League, we are elated to announce our broadcast partnership with Sky in New Zealand," said PFL CEO Peter Murray. "Sky is the home of sports and entertainment in New Zealand, and we are eager to deliver MMA fans PFL's world class content and fighters."

"I'm thrilled that fight fans across the country will have access to world-class fighters and exclusive MMA content on Sky New Zealand in what will be PFL's biggest season ever," said Ray Sefo, President of Fighter Operations of PFL. "Genah Fabian and Michelle Montague are two standout talents and I know all of New Zealand will be supporting them when they step into the SmartCage for the upcoming Regular Season and Challenger Series events."

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"MMA is a growth sport in Aotearoa New Zealand and has huge appeal to a wide range of fans," said Adam Crothers, Sky's Head of Sports Partnerships. "Peter and his team have a bold vision for where they want to take the PFL and it's exciting for us to be able to share the PFL with Kiwis who keenly follow and admire the extraordinary athletes and personalities who take part in this sport. What's more, they can do this where they are with Sky Go, Sky Sport Now and through their Sky box."

The deal was spearheaded in conjunction with Athletic Sports Group and its subsidiary Fight Globe, the world's largest combat sports distributor.

PFL is the first and only MMA league with a true sports-season format where elite fighters from around the world compete in a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship. The four competitors in each division who earn the most points advance to the win-or-go-home Playoffs, followed by the biggest night in MMA  the PFL World Championship  with each winner going home with the $1 million prize.

Following a breakthrough year that saw 100 percent audience growth, PFL has accelerated its momentum in the early part of 2022 with a multi-year renewal with ESPN, generating widespread buzz around the upcoming Challenger Series on Fubo Sports Network, and adding several leading brands to its blue-chip sponsorship portfolio.

Professional Fighters League is the No. 2 MMA company globally and features an elite talent roster with 25 percent of its fighters independently ranked in the top-25 of the world, including 2021 PFL champions Ray Cooper III and Movlid Khaybulaev. PFL has live event coverage in 160 countries on leading distribution platforms and delivers a unique, innovative product to the more than 600 million MMA fans globally.

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SOURCE Professional Fighters League (PFL)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, February 24, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--REVITALIST LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS LTD. ("Revitalist" or the "Company") (CSE: CALM) (OTCQB: RVLWF) (FSE: 4DO) is pleased to announce its research division has received independent institutional review board approval ("IRB") from the highly renowned Biomedical Research Alliance of New York ("BRANY"). IRB approval from BRANY will facilitate clinical trials at all nine Revitalist clinics, development of proprietary data, and partnerships advancing the field of psychedelics.

Each Revitalist location has trained professionals from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services who have completed Human Research Protection Training. This specialized training is a prerequisite to IRB approval and distinguishes Revitalist from other companies in the psychedelic space.

BRANY has been serving academic medical centers, research organizations, and research sites for over 20 years. The organization reflects the highest standards in human research protection while providing ongoing communication that promotes stakeholder engagement.

Revitalist CEO, Kathryn Walker states, "Partnering with BRANY allows Revitalist the ability to show our thought leadership in this rapidly evolving sector of healthcare. Publishing data and research in our speciality of translational medicine will highlight the evolution of best practices on national and international levels."

ABOUT REVITALIST LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS LTD.

Revitalist Lifestyle and Wellness Ltd. (CSE: CALM) (OTCQB: RVLWF) (FSE: 4DO) is a publicly traded company, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, with clinics operating across the United States and expanding. Revitalist is dedicated to empowering individuals toward an improved quality of well-being through a combination of comprehensive care and future-centric treatments provided by medical professionals, mental health experts, and chronic pain specialists. The company proudly practices translational medicine which is supported by three main pillars: bench side, bedside, and community, with a goal to improve the global healthcare system significantly. Since opening their first clinic in 2018, Revitalist has provided thousands of infusions for patients suffering from treatment-resistant conditions. Additionally, Revitalist offers a number of lifestyle optimization services and vitamin infusions that can bring anyone closer to total wellness. For additional information and to be added to the Companys mailing list, please click here.

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Twitter: @RevitalistCorp

Facebook: @RevitalistLifestyleandWellnessLtd.

Instagram: @RevitalistCorp

LinkedIn: @RevitalistLifestyleAndWellnessLtd

On Behalf of the Board

Kathryn Walker

Chief Executive Officer

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Revitalist to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release.



Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220224005451/en/

Contacts

For further information please contact:

Revitalist Lifestyle and Wellness Ltd.

Email: IR@revitalist.com

Tel: (865) 585-8414
Elon Musk isn't about to catch a hoped-for break from the SEC any time soon. Sources for The Wall Street Journal claim the SEC is investigating whether Musk and his brother Kimbal violated insider trading regulations with recent share sales. Officials are concerned Elon might have told Kimbal he planned to ask Twitter followers about selling Tesla stock, leading the brother to sell 88,500 shares just a day before the November 6th tweet. If so, the company chief might have broken rules barring employees from trading on undisclosed information.

Kimbal Musk has frequently traded Tesla stock at regular intervals under a plan. He didn't on November 5th, according to an SEC filing.

We've asked the SEC for comment. Tesla isn't available for comment as it disbanded its communications team sometime in 2020. Musk clearly isn't on friendly terms with the Commission, however, as he said a day earlier that he "will finish" a fight he believed the SEC started.

If the report is accurate, the investigation will add more tension to a years-long feud. It began in 2018, when the SEC took action against Musk over tweets about taking the company private. While Musk agreed to a settlement that included approval requirements for any financially relevant social media posts, that wasn't the end of the fight between the two. The SEC has been looking into Musk's tweets over the past few years over concerns production-related tweets weren't approved, and just days ago subpoenaed Tesla for information on the EV maker's processes for honoring the 2018 settlement.

Musk has publicly sparred with the SEC at the same time. This year, he accused the regulator of conducting a "harassment campaign" that unfairly singled him out and excluded the court from monitoring. The SEC denied the accusations. Whatever the truth behind those claims, it's safe to presume Musk won't welcome any new investigation with open arms.
GURUGRAM, India, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shipsy, a leading SaaS-based smart logistics management platform provider, has raised USD 25 million in a Series B round co-led by A91 Partners and Z3 Partners along with existing investors Info Edge and Sequoia Capital India's Surge.

Shipsy Founding Team (L to R- Sahil Arora, Dhruv Agrawal, Himanshu Gupta, Soham Chokshi, and Harsh Kumar)

The funding will enable Shipsy to continue growing its stronghold in the Middle East, India and Southeast Asian markets while accelerating global expansion into Europe and the US. Shipsy will also use the funds to drive rapid technological innovation with a greater focus on enhancing logistics sustainability and its AI, ML and Blockchain capabilities.

"We are thrilled to partner with seasoned investors with a common vision to transform the global logistics industry technology. Their continued support strengthens our mission of enabling customers to achieve sustainable business and logistics excellence. It takes us closer to our goal of becoming the de-facto logistics operating system globally," says Soham Chokshi, CEO and Co-Founder Shipsy.

Shipsy's technology-first approach has enabled them to build customer trust and loyalty, a key factor driving investments.

"Shipsy's technology offering enables them to be the single partner of choice for enterprises who are transforming their logistics operations. Large category leading customers have been thrilled at the impact of Shipsy in their operations. We look forward to partnering with them as they become a leader in logistics software," says Kaushik Anand, Partner at A91 Partners

Shipsy's continuous focus on enabling businesses to provide customer transparency, flexibility and convenience has been a critical reason behind its growth.

"Shipsy is building a comprehensive customer-first SaaS company servicing a critical need in shipping, freight and the entire global supply chain. Shipsy's addressable market has quadrupled post-COVID. We are excited to partner with Soham, Dhruv, Harsh and team as they build Shipsy into a world-class software company," Gautam Patel, Managing Partner, Z3Partners.

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Commenting on Shipsy's growth, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge, highlighted the immense potential the company holds.

"We have been backing Shipsy from a very early stage. We are delighted to see them growing rapidly over the past couple of years. They have demonstrated significant impact on the supply chain and logistics industry. We believe in their mission and foresee them becoming one of the largest global logistics SaaS ventures that's built in India," says Bikhchandani.

This round comes on the back of Shipsy having raised a Series A funding of USD 6 million in 2020 led by Sequoia Capital India's Surge and Info Edge. In 2021, to support a growing customer base in the Middle East, Shipsy established its regional HQs in Dubai and, more recently, in Indonesia for its Southeast Asian customers. The company also recorded a growth rate of 2.5x in its ARR and grew its customer base by 75% last year.

Shipsy Media Team

media@shipsy.io

+91-9867999866

SOURCE Shipsy
The experienced leader will formally take the helm in a ceremony highlighted by longstanding traditions and celebrate the most successful fundraising campaign in U of R's history.

REDLANDS, Calif., Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Redlands will celebrate the inauguration of Krista L. Newkirk, the University's 12th president as well as the completion of the Forever Yours campaign on February 23, 2022. The day of festivities will begin with a formal installation ceremony in the University's Memorial Chapel at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Events include the inaugural REDtalks, the announcement of the amount raised during the Forever Yours campaign, and conclude with a dance party on the Quad.

"This inauguration represents a transformational moment in the history of the University of Redlands," said Jamison J. Ashby '82, Chair, University of Redlands Board of Trustees. "We have in President Newkirk a leader who knows how to solve problems and lead necessary change while preserving our legacy."

U of R Presidential Search Committee Chair and First Vice-Chair of the Board Larry Burgess '67 added, "We are excited for the potential President Newkirk brings to the next chapter of the University's history."

Since arriving at the University of Redlands in early July 2021, President Newkirk has led the charge to create a safe environment for in-person campus activities. She also oversaw the launch of the School of Business and Society, implemented and expanded the Redlands Promise marketing plan, initiated a collaborative strategic planning process, and completed the University's comprehensive Forever Yours fundraising campaign.

"I am honored to be part of the University of Redlands community," President Newkirk said. "I look forward to celebrating all we have accomplished over our long and distinguished history while anticipating the bright future we will build together."

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As part of the inauguration celebration, the University will host its first-ever REDtalks. From making the world a better place to branding yourself in the age of social media, REDtalks will showcase the expertise, talent, and thought leadership of University of Redlands faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends, including New York Times bestselling authors Jim and Deborah Fallows and NFL championship coach Norv Turner. The Fallows will discuss their book, Our Towns: A 100,000 Mile Journey into the Heart of America, and Jim will lead a panel discussion. Redlands Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Evan Sanford '17 will emcee the event.

Closing out the evening festivities, the University will announce the completion of its historic Forever Yours comprehensive fundraising campaign. Nearly 70 percent of the record-breaking total will be directed to the University's endowment, with a significant portion of that support benefiting scholarships and financial aid. Vice President for Finance/CFO Kevin Dyerly said, "The campaign's contributions to the endowment will make a significant impact in supporting future generations of students at the University."

For more information or to view the live stream inauguration of President Krista L. Newkirk, followed by the REDtalks, visit www.redlands.edu/inauguration2022

"This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise. For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com."

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SOURCE University of Redlands
The US Justice Department on Wednesday announced the end of the China Initiative, a programme launched by the Trump administration to fight Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft but which critics said was racially biased and led to prosecutorial overreach.

The move is a recognition that the focus on China was too limited, said Matt Olsen, the assistant attorney general for the agency's National Security Division, adding that a new approach would focus on Russia, Iran and North Korea as well as China and would be "threat-driven".

"We are no longer going to have a China Initiative," Olsen said, citing growing criticism from members of Congress. "But in particular, it came from the scientific and academic community, as well as from the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community."

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Olsen said his department's months-long review found no evidence that federal prosecutors lowered their standards for people with ties to China or that the programme discouraged talented scientists from studying and doing research in the US.

But even a widespread belief that the department has been unfair exacts a price, he added. "Perception of that type of bias undermines our efforts, and makes it harder for us to earn the trust of the communities that we're trying to serve," he said.

Started in November 2018 as the Trump administration's anti-China comments increased, the initiative targeted leaks of technological and other sensitive information, with universities identified as particularly leaky and vulnerable.

As it gained momentum, however, cases were increasingly brought not on espionage or trade secrets grounds - which face a higher burden of proof - but for paperwork violations in grant applications. And sometimes the "secrets" academics were accused of leaking often were openly available in academic journals.

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"This change is going to result in less racial profiling of Asians and Asian-Americans, and that is a good thing," US Representative Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, told Reuters. "Now we need to monitor it and see what actually comes of the change."

Members of the Asian-American community also accused the Justice Department of playing "gotcha" by announcing headline-grabbing indictments only to quietly drop them in disproportionate numbers.

According to a study released in September by Andrew Chongseh Kim, a lawyer and law professor, cases involving Chinese professors under the Economic Espionage Act were far more likely to be showcased in press releases and punished more severely than non-Asians. As many as one in three Asians were falsely accused, the study said.

"The unfair and unequal discriminatory treatment of Chinese-Americans and Asian-Americans in contrast to people with non-Asian names is absolutely shocking and unacceptable," Gary Locke, chairman of the Committee of 100 and a former US ambassador to China, said in another survey by the Committee of 100 civic group.

Another problem, critics said, is that the initiative took on its own bureaucratic momentum, incentivising federal prosecutors and FBI agents to find cases to please their bosses and earn promotions, whether justified or not. FBI Director Christopher Wray said last month that the agency had a backlog of 2,000 China-related cases.

Almost all sides acknowledge that the problem is real and that China has ever more resources, technology and manpower devoted to espionage. But the US needs to be more selective and targeted in prosecuting genuine infractions rather than technicalities, they said, something the new approach has vowed to do.

"The Chinese government steals staggering volumes of information," Wray said, adding that the FBI was still opening a new case against the mainland every 12 hours. "There is just no country that presents a broader threat to our ideas, our innovation and our economic security than China."

Matt Olsen, an assistant attorney general in the US Justice Department, says the new strategy will be threat-driven. Photo: AP alt=Matt Olsen, an assistant attorney general in the US Justice Department, says the new strategy will be threat-driven. Photo: AP>

Olsen said the Justice Department would continue working on existing cases. "We review those like we do every case," he said. "I am comfortable with those cases as they stand."

Many of them involve academics participating in the Thousand Talents Plan, which was set up by Beijing in 2008 to attract foreign talent. But scientists expressed concern that US grant-making institutions and universities encouraged them to participate in foreign talent programmes. Then the rules suddenly changed as US-China tensions rose, they said.

Asian-American groups say the initiative has tarnished long-nurtured academic reputations, derailed careers and led to inordinate stress. Universities also reacted differently when their employees were indicted. Some quickly fired professors and distanced themselves.

Others, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - in a case involving Gang Chen, a mechanical engineer and nanotechnologist - were supportive. It launched petition drives and lent financial support for his legal defence.

But analysts note that MIT also has far more resources than smaller US universities and research institutions.

As the number of cases involving paperwork infractions grew, so too did the number of those cleared of charges, along with increased criticism and calls for reform. Among those acquitted were Anming Hu, a University of Tennessee, Knoxville biomedical associate professor; Qing Wang, a heart disease researcher at the Cleveland Clinic; brain researcher Chen Song at Stanford University; and Xin Wang, a visiting neurological diseases researcher at the University of California, San Francisco.

A major turning point came with Hu's case, which ended when a federal judge acquitted him after a jury declared a mistrial. One of the jurors, Wendy Chandler, said she kept looking for a big reveal but ultimately characterised the trial as "the most ridiculous case" and the charges against Hu as "a series of plausible errors, a lack of support from [the university] and ruthless ambition on behalf of the FBI."

A significant victory for the Justice Department involved the case of Charles Lieber, who headed Harvard's chemistry department and was an expert in nanotechnology. The conviction was won largely on charges of tax evasion and that he hid his participation in the talent programme, which largely turned on a confession Lieber gave the FBI shortly after his arrest.

Harvard Professor Charles Lieber leaves federal court in Boston in 2020 after being charged with lying about his links to the Chinese government. He was found guilty in December. Photo: Reuters alt=Harvard Professor Charles Lieber leaves federal court in Boston in 2020 after being charged with lying about his links to the Chinese government. He was found guilty in December. Photo: Reuters>

The initiative has also coincided with Asian-Americans' growing clout in the US political arena. The demographic has become the fastest growing ethnic or racial group in the electorate, accounting for nearly 5 per cent of eligible voters.

It had an Asian-American presidential candidate in 2020 when Andrew Yang ran, record numbers of state and local government officials and increasingly savvy use of political pressure through multiple groups.

US President Joe Biden's administration indicated early in its tenure that it would review the China Initiative, but Asian-Americans had grown frustrated by the slow pace.

The Democratic administration has also had to walk a fine line. Struggling with declining support nationwide, it remains wary of looking weak on China, an issue Republicans have been quick to exploit.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2022 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2022. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
NEW YORK, February 24, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today, the launch of a new grant program to aid small businesses owned by individuals from underrepresented communities. The five recipients, all Black-owned, technology-based businesses, will each be awarded $10,000 to help them grow and thrive.

"This inaugural grant program reflects our mission to make a secure financial future possible for everyone. Several of these startups are women-owned, all are Black-owned, and each one demonstrates a commitment not just to success, but to a shared value with Voya  giving back to the community," said Braeden Mayrisch, associate vice president, Stakeholder Equity and Impact, and vice president, Voya Foundation. "We invest in Black and African American leaders, be they teachers, STEM professionals, or small businesses and nonprofit executives, and showcase aspirational careers to our nations children."

The grants are a program developed by the companys Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force, undertaken in collaboration with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), focused on supporting Black- and African American-owned businesses and positioning Black entrepreneurs as role models for youth.

"AEO and our 2,600 members and partners are excited to support this vital work  helping underserved entrepreneurs contribute to the economic growth of their families and communities," said Connie E. Evans, president and CEO of AEO. "It is even more impactful that these grants are targeting an underrepresented field like technology."

The five grant recipients  each of which offer technology-based products and solutions for different industries and are at various stages in their corporate development  are:

Imani Software, a technology service based in Pflugerville, Texas, that provides education administrators with early warning and intervention assistance for at-risk youth.

LiftEd, located in Brooklyn, New York, this education technology service uses data and software tools to support special-education instructors, simplify success monitoring, and enhance lesson plans.

Nailstry, an augmented reality beauty application based in Davie, Florida.

Shared Knowledge, an education technology service that designs free smartphone apps to help with data analysis, training, and mental health in school systems, based in Sterling, Virginia.

Total Analysis, is a Detroit-based technology company that uses a platform to streamline pathogen identification in the healthcare space.

Story continues

About Voya Financial

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), is a leading health, wealth and investment company that provides products, solutions and technologies that help Americans become well planned, well invested and well protected. Serving the needs of 14.3 million individual, workplace and institutional clients, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $4.2 billion in revenue in 2021 and $739 billion in total assets under management and administration as of Dec. 31, 2021. Certified as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work Institute, Voya is purpose-driven and is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has earned recognition as: one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute; a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index; and a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" on the Disability Equality Index. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @Voya.

About Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO)

AEO is the leading voice of innovation for microbusiness and microfinance. We create economic opportunity for underserved entrepreneurs throughout the United States. We engineer transformational change through Research, Incubation, Convening & Advocacy to foster a robust and inclusive marketplace. For more information, visit aeoworks.org.

VOYA-IR VOYA-CR

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220224006016/en/

Contacts

Media:

Latoya Dobyns

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Phone: (917) 868-7485

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijans Land Forces units are holding the command and staff drills, the Defence Ministry reported on February 24.

The drills were conducted under the approved annual combat training plan, the report added.

According to the plan, the deployment of military units command and control bodies, which were put on alert, is ensured and the subunits activities are clarified on the map. Reports on decisions made by commanders regarding the fulfillment of tasks are heard, the ministry said.

The drills aim to develop commanders' commanding and agile decision-making abilities while bringing units to various levels of combat readiness, as well as the headquarters' operations and interoperability between units.

All of the tasks in the command-staff exercises were successfully completed, the ministry said.

Azerbaijan periodically holds drills to improve its military personnels combat readiness.

The drills also aim to improve interaction and combat coordination between the servicemen during operations, as well as to develop commanders' military decision-making and unit management skills.
The gold address plaque of Bank Rossiya is seen outside the bank's head office in St. Petersburg.

Western countries are responding to Russias incursion on eastern Ukraine with a series of sanctions targeting the countrys financial sector.

Russian troops have entered two breakaway regions in Ukraine that were recognized as independent by president Vladimir Putin yesterday (Feb. 21). While Russia is calling the incursion a peacekeeping mission, Western leaders are warning the move is one step closer to a full-fledged invasion.

The UK announced sanctions against five Russian banks and several rich individuals, while the US and European Union are expected to finalize additional measures later today.

UK sanctions five banks, individuals

The UK this morning ordered (pdf) the assets of five Russian banks to be frozen:

Bank Rossiya

Black Sea Bank for Development and Reconstruction

Joint Stock Company Genbank

IS Bank

Public Joint Stock Company Promsvyazbank

Additionally, the UK added three Russian billionaires to its sanctions list:

Gennady Timchenko, a major shareholder in Bank Rossiya, which has supported Crimeas annexation

Boris Rotenberg, a close ally of Putin and a major shareholder of SMP Bank

Igor Rotenberg, another Putin ally who chairs the board of directors of National Telematic Systems (NTS)

The individuals sanctioned will see their UK assets frozen and be banned from traveling to Britain, said prime minister Boris Johnson. British individuals and entities are also now prohibited from doing business with the three Russian billionaires added to the sanctions list.

Pretty tepid, if you ask me, tweeted Bill Browder, once the largest foreign investor in Russia.

EU, US announce further sanctions

The EU agreed to sanctions targeting Russian officials as well as imports and exports with Ukraines separatist regions, and banning EU investors from trading in Russian state bonds. The sanctions stopped short of targeting Putin himself, as the bloc still hopes to convince the leader to pull back on Ukraine.

Story continues

US president Joe Biden issued an executive order yesterday prohibiting new investment, trade and financing by US persons to, from, or in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two regions targeted by Russia. Today the US also announced sanctions on Russian bank VEB and its military bank, as well as on Russias sovereign debt.

The sanctions mean Russia can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade its new debt on our markets. or European markets either, Biden said today.

Germany took one of the most significant retaliatory moves so far in suspending certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, jeopardizing a potentially vital natural gas supply.

Do sanctions go far enough?

Sanctioning banks has the potential to have a ripple effect across the Russian economy, causing credit to tighten and certain businesses to go under, according to Brian OToole, a former senior adviser to the director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the US Treasury Department.

But thus far the UK sanctions dont look very impressive, OToole told Quartz. The three oligarchs named by the UK have been subject to US sanctions since 2018. Whats more, the four largest state-owned banks, which account for 55% of the Russian banking sectors total assets, are not on the UK list.

The US is going to need to toughen up what the UK has done so far to have sufficient deterrent, OToole says.

Nate DiCamillo contributed reporting.

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Damian Maculam, 29, pumps gas into his car at a Chevron near Union Station in downtown Los Angeles in November. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Anyone who's filled up a car in recent months knows that gas prices are crazy high. And it's no secret that prices in California are well above those in the rest of the country  the current average price in California, about $4.75 per gallon, is about $1.20 more than Wednesday's U.S. average, according to AAA.

And prices are expected to go up some more before they go down, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects. The pain isn't ours alone; it's being felt globally as gasoline prices rebound from the pandemic-induced slump in 2020. But that's little comfort for Californians shocked by record prices at the pump.

What's behind all this? To a large degree, it's the same force that's pushing California housing prices into the stratosphere: Demand has been outstripping supply for some time now. In the case of gasoline, that's a function not just of COVID-related production problems but also our growing consumption of masks, COVID test kits and plastic packaging.

There are extra costs imposed by California's policies and markets too. Throw in stiff sanctions on Russian oil exports, and that's a recipe for even more expensive gasoline.

Here's a breakdown of why gas prices are so high.

Oil prices

Gasoline is one of many products made from crude oil, which is bought and sold on markets that are global in scope. The buyers typically are refiners that convert the crude into products for consumers or industrial users, including transportation fuels, propane, ammonia and the feedstocks used in some plastic goods.

One factor in the current doldrums is flagging crude oil production, which started falling in 2019, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported. Although it's expected to return to its pre-pandemic level this year, that's not going to be enough to sate the growing demand.

What happened to production? Geopolitics played a key role at first, in the form of U.S. sanctions on oil exports from Iran and Venezuela and a decision by OPEC nations to cut production. Then the pandemic hit, and the sharp drop in demand for motor fuels led producers around the world to pull back.

Story continues

Since then, consumption of crude oil has rebounded, although the demand for motor fuels hasn't. Production, meanwhile, has increased at a slower pace, in part because of operational problems and in part because of decisions by OPEC to hold down supplies and keep prices high.

The American Petroleum Institute, a trade association for the U.S. oil and gas industry, reported that the U.S. demand for petroleum in January was the highest for that month since 1963. While the demand for gasoline and jet fuel remained below their pre-pandemic levels, the demand for petrochemicals used in products such as medical plastics and packaging materials rose to the highest level since 1965, making up almost one-third of crude sales. The demand for truck fuel was significantly higher than its pre-pandemic level as well.

This shift reflects a lingering effect of the pandemic. It's not just the millions of COVID test kits and other medical products made from petrochemicals. It's the mountain of packaging materials being used to support our prodigious online shopping habit, as well as the fleets of trucks needed to deliver those goods.

The gap between production and consumption has caused the United States  still the world's leading source of crude oil  to import more than it produces, said Dean Foreman, chief economist for the petroleum institute. It has also led refiners to draw down their inventories, he said. Those three conditions  reduced production, higher imports and thinner inventories  have historically translated to higher gas prices, Foreman said.

The supply of both crude oil and refined fuels could take a significant hit as the Ukraine crisis deepens. Russia is the world's second-largest contributor in both categories. It accounts for about one-sixth of the crude and refined petroleum products on the market, Foreman said.

Although Europe is a much bigger consumer of Russian oil than the U.S. is, Foreman said, sanctions on Russia's output would ripple through the global market. "Any significant disruption to that would have to be made up somewhere else," he said, adding that the already tight market would have trouble finding a replacement.

Translation: More pressure on prices.

The Energy Information Administration projected earlier this month that global oil supply and demand would come back into balance this year, with production exceeding demand in 2023. That would lead to crude oil prices falling slightly this year and more next year. But even then, the EIA predicts, crude prices in the U.S. would remain more than 60% higher than they were in 2020. And the agency's projections didn't factor in the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The price of crude oil is the single biggest component of gasoline costs, representing 43% of the price per gallon, the EIA estimated. Notably, a 2014 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis showed that pump prices rose quickly when crude prices went up, but they took a more leisurely path down when crude prices fell.

California taxes and policies

But while crude prices and the gap between supply and demand account for the rise in U.S. gas prices, they don't explain why Californians pay more than residents of other states. Californians were paying $4.75 a gallon on Wednesday, according to AAA's daily average. We were joined in the $4 club by Hawaii, at $4.53. Every other state was under $4.

California's premium stems from the state's environmental laws and its taxes on motor fuels, as well as the special blend of gasoline required in the warmer months.

California's environmental rules require refiners to follow specific gasoline formulas designed to reduce air pollution when the temperature is high. In particular, the reformulated gasoline is less volatile and contributes less to the state's smog problem. As a result, the California Air Resources Board says, gasoline prices differ from winter to summer.

By the Western States Petroleum Assn.s calculation, California state policies increased the price of gasoline here by $1.27 per gallon at the end of January. Almost two-thirds of that amount came from the states 51-cent excise tax and its 2.25% sales tax on motor fuels. The rest represented the cost of the states Low Carbon Fuel Standard and its cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon emissions.

The cost of the fuel standard and the cap-and-trade program are dictated by market forces, but they haven't gone up as sharply as crude oil prices have. Instead, the cost per gallon is about 8 cents higher now than it was last May, the Western States Petroleum Assn. said.

According to the Legislative Analyst's Office, the state excise tax is charged to gasoline suppliers before they deliver gasoline to retail stations. However, that tax is passed along to drivers through higher prices at the pump.

California drivers also have to pay a federal excise tax on gasoline, which is similarly charged to suppliers and felt at the pump. But so do drivers in other states.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A man who sexually assaulted a woman hed hired to clean his trailer in 2019 pleaded guilty to rape Tuesday in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.

Angel ServinRodriguez will face a maximum active prison term of five years when he is sentenced April 25. As part of a plea agreement, charges of abduction and assault were dropped.

According to court records, the victim went to ServinRodriguezs home in the 4600 block of Glenwood Circle in Spotsylvania on Dec. 22, 2019, for a cleaning job. When the woman tried to leave, court records state, ServinRodriguez grabbed her, threw her onto his bed and covered her mouth with his hand.

He then pulled off her pants and raped her. The woman, who said ServinRodriguez had been drinking and used a knife or a broken bottle to threaten her, reported the incident to police. A test at a medical facility turned up DNA evidence tying ServinRodriguez to the attack, though he initially claimed the sex was consensual.

ServinRodriguez, who is not a United States citizen, will be barred from Virginia once he finishes serving his time. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.

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The latter half of the work week brings abrupt changes from spring to winter to spring again in Fredericksburg.

The transition from late winter to early spring can feel like a weather whiplash. A case in point is Wednesday's warmth followed by todays chill and possible wintry precipitation. Several weather factors will create the drastic change.

Temperatures began Wednesday morning in the low 60s thanks to warm southwesterly winds. A cold front cruised through Fredericksburg, swapping winds around out of the west. That wind direction continued to boost Wednesdays warmth via the downsloping process (theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/111). Thus, Wednesday afternoon local thermometers climbed all the way into the mid-70s.

Unfortunately, that level of warmth didn't last, especially since those downsloping westerly winds would veer around out of the north by late afternoon. Cold air poured into the Fredericksburg area, with temperatures dropping into the mid-30s by dawn today.

Today will bring a return of the always annoying cold air damming wedge (see graphic), courtesy of strong high pressure centered over eastern Canada.

A low pressure system will drop into the southern states tonight and then ride northeastward via the jet stream tomorrow. Moisture associated with that system will interact with todays chilly air, fostering a mixed bag of sleet and cold rain during the morning. No ice accumulations are anticipated in and around Fredericksburg, with precipitation switching to all rain by noon. Today will be a very raw day, with temperatures likely not even reaching the 40 degree mark.

Friday will dawn wet and chilly before another cold front barges through Fredericksburg during the early afternoon. That boundary will scour away the cold air wedge, the clouds, and the rain. That will allow afternoon temperatures to boost back to near 60 degrees via more downsloping westerly winds. The weather whiplash will thus be in full force over the next several days.

The weekend weather looks much calmer. Fridays Weather Blog post will examine the details.
Just over two years ago, the White Oak Primitive Baptist Church in southern Stafford County nearly closed its doors forever.

There will be a rebirth, we will find a way, said Price Jett, treasurer of the Patawomeck tribe in southern Stafford.

Jett recalled the moment on Feb. 2, 2020, when that rebirth occurred, just after he and fellow tribal member Charles Bootsie Bullock finished trimming the yard at the church grounds at 10 Caisson Road. Members of the White Oak Indian tribe had been maintaining the property for years, not only as a community service to help keep the nearly abandoned country church spruced up, but as a tribute to the many Patawomeck tribal members interred within the graveyard on the church grounds.

What Jett and Bullock saw that day were several cars parked at the church and its occupants already inside, including 83-year-old Betty Jo Lael of Spotsylvania County, the last member of the church.

Jett said Lael was being consoled by the acting church pastor and a handful of others after learning the church would soon close due to a lack of parishioners and a lack of money. Bullock said the church group planned to simply abandon the structure and let it fall into ruin, but also felt obliged to somehow maintain the graveyard.

In all the years of grass cutting and performing maintenance outside the church, it was the first encounter Jett and Bullock had with a church member inside its doors.

Betty was emotional, she was crying, Jett said. [She was] the only voting member of the church and she felt like it was all falling on her to shut down the church.

Jett said he and Bullock felt compelled to help save the church that has been a fixture in the White Oak community since it was founded over 230 years ago.

We heard that and were overcome, Jett said. We told [Lael], dont worry, this will not be the death of this church.

Jett and Bullock soon met with fellow tribal members David Carpenter and Bruce Sullivan and the four formed a nonprofit they named the Historical White Oak Primitive Baptist Church to get to work on maintenance and fundraising and help keep the old church alive.

The church has no plumbing, Bullock said. It is much like it was during the Civil War.

So far, the group has raised more than $30,000, but the list of new projects to tackle at the church keeps growing.

Bullock said since the nonprofit took possession of the building, the termite problem has been solved and the portions of wood flooring the pests destroyed have been replaced. Many of the windows have been either replaced or reglazed, and the white accents inside the church have all been repainted. Outside, the roof has been repaired and repainted and about $4,000 is spent each year to help keep the building and the grounds in shape. The property is a Virginia Historic Landmark and a U.S. Civil War Trails site, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Weve gotten it back in great shape, Bullock said.

Bullock said about 30 years ago, the churchs exterior was covered in white vinyl siding, but he said the next big project is to replace that with siding made of fiber cement that is long-lasting and mimics the wood plank that the church was originally finished in. Bullock said that job is expected to cost somewhere between $30,000 and $50,000.

When the siding is replaced, the original window shutters that are still inside the church will go back on, Bullock said.

Although the refurbished church has no pastor or registered congregation, a Christian worship service is held every fourth Sunday of the month.

Its just people in the area, people who love the church, Jett said.

Along with local residents who have enjoyed the church for generations, there is also a newer group of parishoners who have found it to be a great place to worship in a country setting. Two months ago, more than 150 people crammed into the original hand-carved pews for a Christmas candlelight service heated by two wood-burning stoves positioned in the heart of the church.

Several churches in the community came together that one night, Bullock said. Its a special place.  The community is really supporting it.

During the Civil War, Union forces occupied and camped around the church, and Jett said the church has always had a spirit of unity. It was among one of the first churches in the Fredericksburg area to open its doors to Black worshippers over 150 years ago.

Jett said during the 1860s, many slaves wanted to worship in a church but local churches would not allow it with the exception of the White Oak Church. Jett said letters to the church from Fredericksburg politicians and affluent city residents requesting their slaves be allowed to worship there are all part of a trove of historical literature and church documents that was recently obtained from the Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives in Nashville, Tenn. Jett said all of the church records were recently located there and brought back to Stafford. How the documents found there way to Tennessee is anyones guess.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Carolyn Galyen Lampert of Spotsylvania attended White Oak Church every other Sunday with her sister, father and grandfather. Lampert, 79, remembers daylong services where parishioners would break for lunch under the trees outside and feast on fried chicken, ham, potato salad, deviled eggs and coleslaw. After lunch, Lampert said the congregation returned to their pews for more preaching in a church where no musical instruments were ever allowed.

As a little girl, I was a little bored, but there was some good food there, Lampert said. There was no music and the preachers preached a long, long time.

Lael, who last week returned to the church with the original pewter communion vessels used beginning in 1897, said the church is once again alive, vibrant and in caring hands.

I just want everyone to remember what it really stood for, Lael said. Just a lot of memories left here.

Visit whiteoakprimitivebaptistchurch.org for more information.

James Scott Baron: 540/374-5438 jbaron@freelancestar.com

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The Spotsylvania County School Board presented its proposed fiscal year 2023 budget to the Board of Supervisors during a Tuesday night work session.

Recent School Board meetings have been packed with upset and angry residents. That was not the case at Tuesdays meeting, as both boards and school staff focused on trying to understand the budget request, which relies on an $8.2 million increase in local funding compared to the current budget.

School Board Chairman Kirk Twigg and Vice Chair April Gillespie led off the budget presentation, and both lamented staff shortages and problems with pay.

Acting Superintendent Carol Flenard also provided budget information and noted her concern with a shortage of teachers, especially in elementary schools, something she said she hasnt seen in more than two decades.

Twigg told the board the system has 167 vacancies needed to be filled. Of those vacancies, 59 are teacher positions and 58 are school bus drivers.

While the School Board members said their $140.48 million local funding request for the next fiscal year is aimed at addressing major problems, it didnt include needs board members had identified in work sessions during several weeks leading to its approval.

The School Board had identified up to $33.14 million in additional needs, such as modernizing the salary scales for bus drivers and non-administrative staff and adding a variety of new positions, including counselors, school psychologists and social workers.

School Board members Dawn Shelley, Nicole Cole, Lorita Daniels and Rabih Abuismail failed in their attempt to add those items to the budget.

Some believe the school board now wants to gut our schools. That is not true, Twigg said.

He said the School Board wants a school system that works, and its budget helps address those issues.

Our salaries are not competitive, and we must bring our salaries up to market so we can fill our 167 vacancies, Twigg said. And we must adjust our salaries to relieve the compression in our pay scales.

The salary compression issue involves inexperienced teachers and staff earning nearly the same as experienced staff with more education.

The proposed budget includes pay changes to address both issues.

The budget request as approved includes a 5 percent raise for all staff and 54 new positions required for compliance with state standards of quality, all paid for by state revenue.

The budget also includes $5.6 million to modernize the teacher salary scale and 19 additional positions in elementary staffing support, health and wellness and school safety. Those investments would require the $8.2 million in new revenue from the Board of Supervisors.

The school system pay plan adjustment extends three years, but talk on Tuesday was focused primarily on existing needs.

Supervisor Deborah Frazier, a middle school principal, asked if the proposed budget meets critical needs this year in the school division.

The needs of the school system are never ending, Gillespie said. This is the best thing we could come to you with  that wouldnt cost an arm and a leg.

Gillespie noted that the School Boards budget needs had reached the $30 million mark, but we really stripped it down to what we need right now.

While the proposed school budget includes an additional $43 million in state and federal funds, that money addresses requirements established at the state and federal level.

Supervisor Chris Yakabouski criticized state and federal mandates and how those authorities fail to properly fund them.

He also said the proposed school budget was a good start at addressing pay problems, adding that all of the needs associated with the $8.2 funding gap are worthy items he has pushed to address for years.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Tim McLaughlin said they are just getting started on the countys budget, so they could find ways to fill the school budget gap.

Supervisor Kevin Marshall suggested looking at the school systems capital improvements program budget as a way to find more money.

Youre short $8.2 million, he said. We need to work together to try to get there.

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The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.

With the passing of Presidents Day, these words mistakenly attributed to George Washington should remain in focus as proposed veterans legislation and actions during this General Assembly session are examined.

Veterans are among the nations most patriotic bunch, all initially raising their right hands, swearing against all enemies foreign and domestic. That they might be wounded or die is understood.

That level of commitment deserves our appreciation, as well as any support we can offer them. And there are a number of areas that veterans need our support.

State Sen. Bryce Reeves, RSpotsylvania, the most seasoned veteran Republican candidate in the new 7th Congressional District race for Congress, has sponsored legislation that would allow active-duty members serving as caregivers to apply for the Child Care Subsidy Program.

Reeves also sponsored SB 528, a bill reducing taxing veterans retirement income up to $40,000 in 2023 and after. In addition, he sponsored legislation allowing the stepchildren of deceased veterans to receive educational benefits previously denied.

Hes also proposed a budget amendment providing $200,000 yearly to the local Rappahannock Veterans Docket. This is a specialty docket for veterans facing prosecution for minor infractions who have substance dependency or mental trauma issues like PTSD to rehabilitate.

Delegate Tara Durant, RStafford, also is attempting to sponsor responsible legislation to help veterans regain driving privileges in such Veteran Dockets, but sadly is facing pushback.

Perhaps the most pressing issue facing vets, however, is the prevalence of suicide due to post-traumatic stress disorder and other war traumas. According to data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there were 188 veteran suicides in Virginia in 2019, mainly by men over age 35.

Credit Del. Anne Ferrell Tata, RVirginia Beach, for a bill creating a suicide prevention coordinator position within the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.

This individual would help increase mental health screenings of military members, and work with others to analyze information relating to the causes and methods of suicides in Virginia.

Also helping to advance the cause of vets is Daniel Gade, who served as the coalitions director during the Youngkin campaign and today is Virginias commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services.

Gade, himself a wounded Army veteran who had his leg amputated, wrote with Daniel Huang a book titled Wounding Warriors: How Bad Policy is Making Veterans Sicker and Poorer.

While it responsibly focuses on the abuses of the veterans disability process, some Virginia legislators might misinterpret his opinions with respect to proposed veterans legislation.

Examining Gades writings and resume, what is concerning is that he, along with others, supports the privatization of the Department of Veterans Affairs and cuts for veterans with service-related conditions. Were talking 6 million vets, folks.

Not that Gade doesnt make a few sanguine points about vets gaming the system. But allow a fellow wounded, totally disabled Vietnam veteran to suggest that the problem is not a Virginia or Veterans Administration procedural problem, but an issue about how veterans rehabilitation efforts move, and who gets to make that decision.

Yes, the entitlement opinion for veterans remains a contentious one.

Then there are vet-friendly actions by Virginias Attorney General Jason Miyares, who says hes supporting cutting collection fees in half on overdue student debt from 30 to 15 percent. With the state of todays economy Miyares compassionate action is a godsend not just to military families, but all families.

Fortunately, compassionate patriots like Durant, Gade, Miyares, Reeves and Tata acknowledging the quotes words are in step with Gov. Youngkins views on appreciating veterans.

Along with approximately 800,000 Virginia vets and as the chairman of the National Vet Court Alliance, were carefully watching outcomes for our vets.

You should too.

Daniel P. Cortez is a Stafford resident, presidential appointee, political writer and broadcaster who serves as the volunteer co-chair of the Latinos for Youngkin coalition.
PERU  Elmwood-Murdock students aced their business tests this past week during a regional competition at Peru State College.

The Knights traveled to Peru State on Feb. 16 for the 49th annual PSC Business Contest. Nineteen students in the E-M Future Business Leaders of America chapter participated in a variety of business events throughout the day. Elmwood-Murdock seniors Lexi Bacon and Sela Rikli each won two medals and junior Cade Hosier and sophomore Tatum Backemeyer each collected one medal.

Laura Rikli serves as co-advisor for Elmwood-Murdocks FBLA program and state treasurer for the Nebraska FBLA organization. She said the Knights were happy with the way they performed at Peru State.

E-M FBLA members were excited to secure six top-five medals, Rikli said.

Students competed in contests for the business disciplines of accounting, advanced accounting, business law, entrepreneurship, marketing, business math, introduction to business, personal finance, business communications, computer concepts, job interview, webpage design, business ethics, economics, keyboarding and word processing.

Each school could enter up to three students in each event except for job interview and keyboarding. Each school could enter two students in the keyboarding contest. They could enter first-choice and second-choice applicants for the job interview event, with the first choices getting preference depending on the number of time slots available.

Students received up to one hour to take each test. Winners were determined by the highest test score. In the event of a tie score, the student who finished in the quickest amount of time was declared the winner.

Bacon earned a pair of third-place medals for the Knights. She captured awards in the job interview and business communications contests.

Rikli also left Peru State with a pair of medals. She earned fourth place in both the job interview and business communications contests.

Backemeyer captured a fourth-place award in the keyboarding contest. Hosier pocketed a fifth-place medal in the entrepreneurship event.

Students in the business communications contest took an exam that covered their ability to communicate ethically and effectively in a diverse business environment.

Students in the entrepreneurship category took a test that covered their knowledge in economic issues. They had to display an understanding of the skills needed to successfully run their own business.

The job interview contest required students to write a letter of application, prepare a resume and take a formal interview with a professional human resources person. They had to include three references with their resume. Judges conducted a ten-minute interview with each student.

Students in the keyboarding contest had to type documents using the Microsoft Word program. They had to type two separate manuscripts during a pair of three-minute tests. Students who had the fastest speed with the fewest errors earned medals. Any entries who had more than three errors were disqualified.

Elmwood-Murdock students competed against fellow teenagers from schools in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. Students who finished in the top five spots in each category won medals. The champions in each event also earned scholarships.

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Streaming services class to be offered by Northeast Community College in West Point

Anyone who may be interested in learning about streaming services will have an opportunity to learn the basics in a class being offered at Northeast Community College in West Point.

Streaming Services (INFO 5107/22S & CRN #70111) will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 12, at the Northeast Community College Extended Campus, Room 212, 202 Anna Stalp Ave.

Some of the most popular streaming devices are Roku, Chromecast, Firestick and Apple TV. In this class, participants will learn how they can enjoy these services plus Netflix, Hulu, ESPN, Amazon videos or other services to actually stream shows, movies and music.

Cost of the class, with Annie Laushen the instructor, is $20. To register, call Northeast Community College in West Point at 402-372-2269.

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By Trend

A hotline has been opened for Azerbaijanis living in Ukraine, the State Committee of Azerbaijan for Work with Diaspora told Trend.

According to the committee, its in close contact with diaspora organizations and their activists in connection with the situation in Ukraine.

Given that a large number of Azerbaijanis live in the country, an operational headquarters has been set up in the Rada [Parliament] of Ukrainian Azerbaijanis, the committee said.

"Our compatriots, especially those who live in the regions, in case of any problems, can call us at +380442773489. They can also contact us via email - [email protected] The operational headquarters of the Rada of Ukrainian Azerbaijanis works 24 hours a day to provide comprehensive moral and informational support to our compatriots in connection with the current situation, added the committee.
Two people were killed and 13 others wounded in a clash between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani forces in the southern Afghan border town of Spin Boldak, health officials in Kandahar told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on February 24.



A spokesman for the Taliban governor in Kandahar, Mahmoud Azzam, confirmed the clash between Afghan Taliban border guards and Pakistani forces in Spin Boldak but gave no further details.



An official at the Mirwais Regional Hospital in Kandahar, who wished to remain anonymous, told Radio Azadi that two bodies and 13 wounded people, including civilians and Taliban insurgents, had been brought from the scene.



The situation in the area remains tense and the gate between Spin Boldak and the Chaman crossing is closed, according to local people who spoke with RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. The crossing is an important transit hub for trucks moving fruit and produce exports from Kandahar.



Asif Hakimi, a spokesman for the Taliban's police headquarters in Kandahar, told Radio Azadi that fighting broke out after Pakistani forces killed an Afghan civilian in the Shiro Obo area of Spin Boldak district.



One man was killed, and one man and one woman were wounded on our side," Hakimi said.



Earlier, local sources and eyewitnesses told Radio Azadi a different story, saying the clash broke out when Pakistani forces brutally beat an Afghan child. There was no further information available about the fate of the child.



The sources said the firefight between the two sides lasted hours and most of the casualties were civilians.



Naeem Khan, a resident of Spin Boldak, told Radio Azadi that the civilian casualties on the Afghan side were caused by Kalashnikov fire and mortar shells from Pakistani forces.



"There are civilian dead and wounded -- no news of Taliban casualties. The wounded are mostly people standing on rooftops in the streets. Now people are evacuating their homes from the war zone."



Another eyewitness, who identified himself only as Mahmud, told Radio Azadi that a mortar shell mounted on a truck caused most of the casualties.



"The shooting started, Pakistani troops fired mortars, and a mortar shell hit [the truck] on the Afghan side, injuring several people."



Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the first shots were fired by Pakistani forces.



"Leaders on both sides have been informed and the situation is now under control," Mujahid added on Twitter.

The Pakistani side has not yet commented.

With reporting by AFP
The Netherlands has evacuated 294 Afghan citizens who arrived in neighboring Pakistan over the past few days and will be flown soon to a Dutch destination, the Foreign Ministry said on February 23.

The group, consisting of translators, nongovernmental workers, and other people assisting Dutch missions to the war-torn country as well as their families, have been allowed across the Afghan-Pakistani border following "intense diplomatic negotiations," the Hague-based ministry said in a statement.

The group consists of "persons and families of whom not everyone has valid travel documents," it added.

"The Pakistani authorities have made an exception for this specific group and have given permission to travel to the Netherlands via that country," the Foreign Ministry said.

The group is currently being housed by the Dutch government in hotels in Islamabad, the NOS public broadcaster reported.

A first group of 35 evacuees were given permission to travel to Pakistan in January and arrived on February 18 in the Netherlands on a charter flight via Hanover in Germany, the ministry added.

The Netherlands evacuated more than 1,500 people, both Dutch nationals and eligible Afghans, in the final chaotic days before the United States pulled out of Afghanistan on August 31.

But many Afghans were left behind, including 22 interpreters, according to the government, despite calls from MPs and diplomats in Kabul to evacuate them months ago.

The chaotic Dutch withdrawal prompted two ministers to resign in its wake.

"The Dutch government continues to look for solutions to this and in the meantime advises people to apply for a passport where possible," the ministry said.
A Pakistani court sentenced the scion of a wealthy industrialist family to death on February 24 for raping and beheading his girlfriend in a murder that sparked an outcry over violence against women in the deeply patriarchal nation.

Pakistani-American Zahir Jaffer, 30, attacked Noor Mukadam at his Islamabad home in July last year after she refused his marriage proposal -- torturing her with a knuckleduster and using a "sharp-edged weapon" to behead her.

Mukadam, the 27-year-old daughter of a former ambassador, had made repeated attempts to escape the sprawling mansion but was blocked by two members of staff.

"The main accused has been awarded the death sentence," said judge Atta Rabbani at the Islamabad district court.

Jaffer's parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, were found not guilty of attempting to cover up the crime.

The two staff members were sentenced to 10 years in prison for abetting murder.

"I am happy that justice has been served," said Shuakat Mukadam, Noor's father, while pledging to challenge the acquittal of Jaffer's parents.

The case prompted an explosive reaction from women's rights campaigners reckoning with the pervasion of violence against women.

The shocking nature of the murder, involving a couple from the privileged elite of Pakistani society, led to pressure for the trial to conclude swiftly in a country where the justice system is notoriously sluggish and cases typically drag on for years.

According to the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell, a group providing legal assistance to vulnerable women, the conviction rate for cases of violence against women is lower than 3 percent.

Victims of sexual and domestic abuse are often too afraid to speak out, and criminal complaints are frequently not investigated seriously.

Jaffer, who will be able to challenge the February 24 verdict, was thrown out of court several times during the trial for his behavior.

He was frequently carried into proceedings by stretcher or wheelchair, and his lawyers argued he should be found not "mentally sound" -- a maneuver prosecutors said was designed to suspend the trial.

At one hearing he claimed someone else had killed Mukadam during a "drug party" at his house.

When questioning Mukadam's father -- a former ambassador to South Korea and Kazakhstan -- Jaffer's lawyer implied she was killed by her own family for conducting a relationship outside of marriage.

Prosecutions for violence and sexual assault frequently see the female victim's personal history picked over according to Pakistan's patriarchal mores -- another reason why justice is rare for women.
Beware of the music of Mardi Gras. It has been known to be so powerful that first-time listeners decide to move to New Orleans.

Roger Lewis says hes seen it happen.

New Orleans music is very spiritual, he said. It makes you do some strange things. It just makes you feel good.

Lewis would know. The 80-year-old New Orleans native has been playing this kind of music since he was 7.

From the first time he picked up a saxophone, Lewis began betting on a career as a musician. Reading his familys encyclopedia, he was drawn to pictures of landmarks from around the world. Music, he decided, was going to take him places.

And it has.

As a founding member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, which formed in 1977, Lewis has spent decades seeing the world while on tour.

This is all I have ever wanted to do, Lewis said. I always wanted to play music and travel the world. Im living my dream.

Of the places hes visited, Lewis still counts his hometown as a favorite. And wherever he travels, Lewis likes to share the power of New Orleans with them.

That goes for a show on Thursday at The Black Sheep in Colorado Springs, one of several Colorado stops for the brass band coinciding with Mardi Gras celebrations.

Were going to bring a little taste of Mardi Gras to you, Lewis said.

The show, billed as a Mardi Gras Mambo, will also feature music from fellow Louisiana band Nathan and The Zydeco Cha-Chas.

Contrary to what the name suggests, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has seven members. Lewis is the only original member after many lineup changeups through the years.

Im the glue, Lewis said.

He has stuck around because of his love for music.

And because the band has found love from anyone who listens.

Theyve recorded songs with stars such as Elvis Costello, DJ Logic and Norah Jones. They have toured with The Black Crowes and opened up for Miles Davis.

When the band played an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, the series founder, Bob Boilen, described them as an abundance of euphoria.

Lewis lists off many words to describe their sound: Happy, joyful noise, uplifting.

This might be heightened around the festive time of Mardi Gras, when playing a Dirty Dozen Brass Band concert reminds Lewis of another New Orleans staple.

This music is like eating a big pot of gumbo, he said. It makes you feel so good that you keep coming back for more.
By Trend

Iran and Qatar level of ties should be promoted in all fields, especially economy and politics, said the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Trend reports citing IRNA.

"Setting targets and timetable to expand bilateral ties by related officials of the two countries especially Iran-Qatar Joint Economic Commission is an effective solution to promote ties in all fields," the president said during his meeting with the Emir of Qatar.

We agreed to seriously increase our cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, infrastructure, trade, investment, food security, health, and culture, Raisi stated.

Iran and Qatar signed several bilateral cooperation deals during a visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Doha.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys met Wednesday afternoon to discuss several early matters in the case of Joel Hollendorfer, a Black Forest man accused of first-degree murder in the death of Kara Nichols, who went missing nearly 10 years ago.

After the case was reassigned to Fourth Judicial District Chief Judge William Bain during a first appearance hearing last week, defense attorneys and prosecutors on Wednesday argued several motions related to preserving and collecting evidence and communication with authorities.

Hollendorfer, 46, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Nichols, whose remains were discovered earlier this month on Hollendorfer's property after she disappeared nearly 10 years ago.

Among the motions considered Wednesday was a request from defense attorneys for law enforcement agencies to preserve physical evidence, as well as a request for the preservation of notes, recordings and other correspondence from authorities related to the case.

Bain ordered the physical evidence preserved, as well as all correspondence, noting authorities didnt need to gather the correspondence  they just should not delete it. His order extended to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, which also investigated the case.

Bain further ordered that Hollendorfer be notified ahead of time about requests for evidence with privacy concerns, such as medical records, and that such evidence be gathered through search warrants or subpoenas. He allowed a request from defense attorneys prohibiting law enforcement from contact with Hollendorfer that isnt coordinated through his attorneys.

He does not wish to speak to law enforcement about this or any other matter, defense attorney Charlotte Ankeny said.

Bain also ruled that all abide by Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, which limit pre-trial conversations with media that could be publicly released and affect the case. He said there have already been several requests for expanded media coverage, and Ankeny said the defense had a standing objection to such requests.

With prosecutor Christina Perroni saying neither she nor the defense have yet received discovery in the case, Bain set Hollendorfers next hearing for the afternoon of April 6, which will partially be used to decide based on evidence all sides will have received by then when to hold a preliminary hearing, which would determine whether Hollendorfer would go to trial.

Hollenorfer was arrested Feb. 7 on an unrelated warrant. According to an arrest affidavit filed in his murder case, that was the same day investigators began a search on a property in the 9600 block of Burgess Road, where they discovered human remains later identified as Nichols. That discovery was preceded by an interview with a woman who previously did not cooperate with the original investigation into Nichols' disappearance, according to the affidavit, but who said Hollendorfer had confessed to killing Nichols and burying her remains on a horse grave on the property years before.
The number of Coloradans who've fatally overdosed with fentanyl has increased nearly 20-fold in just six years, a trend sparked by changes in the drug market and accelerated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In just the past two years, the number of monthly fatal overdoses involving fentanyl has quadrupled, according to state data. Fentanyl is attractive to drug traffickers because it's potent, cheap and relatively easy to produce and transport. Those factors make it lucrative and, as a result, ubiquitous: Even as law enforcement seizes ever-increasing quantities of fentanyl pills, more slip through. The sheer amount of the drug saturating the market means it can be found in everything from heroin to cocaine to methamphetamine, putting users of those substances at higher risks of accidental overdoses and death.

The result is the worst overdose crisis in the state's history, experts say, which is killing people who knew they were taking fentanyl alongside those who didn't, across substances and frequencies of use. The five people who died in Commerce City last weekend, suspected to be a result of accidental fentanyl overdoses, are the latest grim sign of the drug's presence and what impact it will continue having in the near future.

"Fentanyl is going nowhere," said Don Stader, an emergency and addiction medicine physician who started a campaign to distribute naloxone to hospitals across Colorado. "I don't think theres a great prognosis there  lets just say that  that were going to be able to trim off the fount of fentanyl thats suddenly here in Colorado and across the country."

Seizures of 1,000 counterfeit pills used to be worth celebrating, said David Olesky, the acting special agent in charge for the Denver office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. But the scale of fentanyl trafficking now dwarfs that: In the past five months, law enforcement has seized nearly 800,000 counterfeit pills in Colorado, Olesky said. That's almost 10 times the number of pills seized in the entirety of 2019, and overdoses continue to rise.

The drug's growing prominence can more tragically be tracked by the deaths it leaves in its wake. Fueled by fentanyl, fatal overdoses overall are rising: Through September, 1,427 Coloradans had fatally overdosed in 2021, a 25% increase from the same period in 2020 and 85% higher than 2019, according to data from the state Department of Public Health and Environment.

Fentanyl was present in more of last year's deaths  both overall and proportionally  than ever before. Through September, fentanyl was involved in 699 fatal overdoses last year, a 68% increase from the same period in 2020 and an increase of more than 900% from 2018.

In 2015, 41 Coloradans died of an overdose involving fentanyl. In 2021, six counties had more than that by themselves: At least 130 died in Adams County, up from 72 in 2020; 88 came in El Paso County, doubling its previous tally; and 185 died in Denver County, according to state data. Denver's alone is more than the entire state of Colorado in 2015, 2016 and 2017 combined. Those numbers are likely to increase as the state finishes calculating deaths for the last three months of 2021.

Nationally, more than 100,000 Americans fatally overdosed between March 2020 and March 2021, the first time the nation has eclipsed that milestone in a 12-month span. Olesky said the daily death toll to fentanyl nationally is akin to a commercial airplane going down every day.

When it initially began to arrive in the United States in force several years ago, fentanyl came directly from China, Olesky said. Then the Chinese government cracked down on it, making it and its components controlled substances. Now, the precursor needed to create fentanyl is primarily shipped from China to Mexico, where drug cartels create the drug and send it  often either in powder or counterfeit pill form  up into the U.S.

Several years ago, the overdose crisis was driven by legitimate pills being overprescribed and diverted from their legitimate use. That would lead some users to heroin, Olesky said. Now, regulators and law enforcement have cracked down on those legitimate pills, and heroin is harder to find, thanks to the cartels' realization that fentanyl is stronger, cheaper and more lucrative.

Heroin has become increasingly difficult to find in Denver, officials say, but fentanyl is omnipresent. It's an easy economic move for the cartels, Olesky said: Heroin requires acres of land, a large workforce, a cultivation and production process. But fentanyl is synthetic. It can be made in a garage, and it's more potent than heroin. The chemicals needed to make it aren't reliant on seasonality or climate, and the drug can be made in huge quantities, year round.

"You can get a kilo of fentanyl from $10,000 to $40,000 per kilo and yield a product in the end that can get you $2 million to $3 million in revenue," Olesky said. "Why wouldn't I go with this?"

The drug is often pressed into pills that look like legitimate Xanax, hydrocodone or OxyContin tablets. One mother who spoke at a press conference in December said her son took what he thought was an opiate, but the pill was actually laced with fentanyl, and he fatally overdosed.

It's also increasingly being found in other substances. Traffickers flush with fentanyl can use it to pad out a package of heroin, cocaine or meth, giving them more bang for their buck, while further addicting users on a substance that is lethal in small doses. According to the DEA, 2 milligrams of fentanyl is generally considered a lethal dose.

Stader and Olesky said many people who use meth, cocaine, heroin or other substances aren't aware they're also ingesting fentanyl. As a result, they have no tolerance prepared for opiates, making the already more powerful synthetic even more dangerous.

The presence of fentanyl in overdoses involving other substances has increased significantly in recent years, state data shows. Meth was present in at least 650 fatal overdoses in 2021. Of those 650, fentanyl was also present in 271, a larger share than 2020. Fentanyl was present in 150 of 235 cocaine overdoses last year, and 58 of 176 heroin deaths.

Fentanyl's presence is prominent enough across substances that Stader and other experts say test strips, which can be used to reveal fentanyl's presence in another drug, won't be necessary for much longer.

But Stader said that trend makes broad availability and access of naloxone, which can reverse opioid-related overdoses, all the more vital.

Though some are unaware that they're ingesting fentanyl, plenty of users are knowingly taking it, Stader said. More patients self-identify as using fentanyl than heroin, he said, "a very dramatic shift from before COVID."

Last year, a number of experts told The Denver Gazette that the social isolation and broad mental health declines brought on by the pandemic had helped accelerate the fatal overdose crisis. Fentanyl had been a steadily building fire, but COVID's arrival was akin to pouring gasoline atop the blaze.

Gazette reporter Evan Wyloge contributed to this report.
By Trend

The 14th meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation of Iran and Uzbekistan was held with the participation of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade of Iran Reza Fatemi Amin, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov, Trend reports citing IRNA.

During the meeting, Fatemi Amin said that Iran and Uzbekistan enjoy a long-term social, cultural, and civilizational history.

He expressed Iran's readiness to improve economic and trade relations between the two countries based on the cultural affinity and long-standing relations.

The Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade called the 14th Iran-Uzbekistan Joint Commission Meeting as a turning point for developing economic ties.

Sardor Umurzakov also said that the roadmaps for economic and trade cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan are being prepared.

He described the barter deal system and holding joint exhibitions as two practical steps to improve bilateral trades.
By Trend

Ukraine has stated that the Russian troops attacked the border of Ukraine from the Russian Federation and Belarus by using heavy weapons, Trend reports referring to the statement of the Ukrainian State Border Service.

The state border of Ukraine in the area with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus was attacked by the Russian troops supported by Belarus at about 05:00 (GMT+2), the Ukrainian State Border Service said. The border units, border patrols and checkpoints are attacked through artillery, heavy equipment and small arms. Ukraines Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr districts have been attacked. Moreover, the attack was also made from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

The Ukrainian State Border Service said that the sabotage and reconnaissance groups are operating.

"Depending on the situations on the border sections, the border guards, together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine, fire at the opposing side, the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service said. Presently, the information on the wounded border guards is being specified."




Barry Fagin is Senior Fellow at the Independence Institute in Denver. His views are his alone. A two-time Fulbright Scholar to the Russian Federation and a fluent Russian speaker, he has taught and lectured at Russian universities. His wife was born in Donetsk, and is currently visiting family in eastern Ukraine.
A sign stands at the entrance to Camp Amache, the site of a former World War II-era Japanese American internment camp in Granada.
Some members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe refer to Pikes Peak by its Ute name  especially when speaking about their cultural heritage. Some people want that to be the case all the time. Might Tava Mountain be the new name for America's Mountain.
The deaths of five Commerce City residents, reportedly due to overdoses tied to fentanyl, prompted lawmakers on both sides of the aisle at the state Capitol to call for changes in state law Tuesday, with some calling the law that eased penalties for drug possession a "mistake."

"Clearly a mistake was made" to decriminalize possession of up to four grams of fentanyl, and "we need to fix this," said Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton.

Kirkmeyer was referring to the legislature's action in 2019, when lawmakers reduced the charges for possession of up to four grams of schedule II drugs, which includes fentanyl, from a level four drug felony to a level one drug misdemeanor. Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 19-1263 into law on May 28 that year.

Kirkmeyer made the plea even as policymakers, including the governor, acknowledge that fentanyl is fueling deaths in Colorado and elsewhere in country but have yet to act to confront the crisis. No legislation has yet been filed specifically introduced to deal with fentanyl deaths.

The 2019 bill had bipartisan support; it was sponsored by Democrats Rep. Leslie Herod of Denver and Sen. Pete Lee of Colorado Springs, and by Republicans Rep. Shane Sandridge of Colorado Springs and Sen. Vicki Marble of Fort Collins.

The General Assembly was divided over the issue; the final 20-15 vote in the Senate included 10 Republicans and five Democrats voting against. The House was more united in its support, with only one Democrat, then-Rep. Bri Buentello of Pueblo, voting against it, along with 19 Republicans. Four Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

During committee hearings, district attorneys representing multiple judicial districts asked that fentanyl be excluded from the bill, but those pleas failed to persuade the bill's sponsors.

Kirkmeyer on Tuesday told the Senate that lawmakers made a mistake and should fix it. She said the recent deaths of five Commerce City residents is a call to action, arguing that "would be enough for all of us to realize that there are times when the legislature just gets it wrong." Kirkmeyer noted she wasn't in the legislature in 2019, but the bill was sponsored by her predecessor.

Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can kill, and so can the vapor, she said.

Four grams are enough to kill thousands of people, and since 2019, Colorado has moved up to No. 2 where fentanyl deaths have increased the fastest in the nation, according to Kirkmeyer. The state went from 147 deaths in 2019 to 709 in 2021, a 382% increase, Kirkmeyer noted.

"Clearly we don't want to become No. 1," she said.

Kirkmeyer asked that lawmakers put party affiliation aside and admit that well-intentioned reforms sometimes bring about disastrous consequences.

The Denver Police Chief "called us out, and rightfully so," Kirkmeyer said, referring to a Monday CBS 4 report, in which Police Chief Paul Pazen said the "effort was to help people" but the "result is that people are dying."

"I call on my fellow legislators, on the leadership, to approve a late bill," Kirkmeyer said, adding she would co-sponsor such a measure to demonstrate bipartisan support and fix what she called "this terrible wrong."

House Speaker Alec Garnett of Denver told reporters Tuesday he is working on a comprehensive solution, although he declined to be more specific on the legislation.

"Fentanyl is the most dangerous substance that man has ever created; it's not really a drug, it's like toxin ... that poisons people," he said. "It's definitely something I'm working with law enforcement and with public health officials to try to get right."

He said the problem is that while harm reduction saves lives, fentanyl is so addictive that it's used several times a day, making harm reduction less effective. Small doses can do huge damage, and the most important action is to get those who are peddling it off the streets, Garnett added.

Calls from outside the General Assembly have been growing for months.

Sheriffs, police chiefs, district attorneys, Attorney General Phil Weiser and even Polis, who signed the 2019 bill, are calling for changes in the law. Polis reiterated his call in his 2022 State of the State address "to strengthen penalties for drug dealers peddling fentanyl in our communities."

Weiser told The Denver Gazette last week he wanted to tighten felony laws around fentanyl possession, reiterating a position he took publicly in December. He deferred when asked what amount of fentanyl should qualify for a felony charge, but he said 4 grams  the current level  "is not a plausible use for your own personal addiction."

He said he also supports a sentencing enhancement for people who distribute fentanyl to users who later die.

Polis reiterated his call for harsher penalties for drug peddling in a statement sent to Colorado Politics.

"Fentanyl is devastating our communities," Conor Cahill, the governor's spokesman, said. "Governor Polis believes the General Assembly needs to act on a comprehensive approach to address the dangers of fentanyl including increased criminal penalties. While there is no guarantee that increased criminal penalties would have prevented this tragedy, we clearly need real consequences and harsher sentences for those involved with dealing or possessing enough fentanyl to kill people. This drug is unlike any our country has seen before, people are taking it without even realizing they are doing so, which is why we urgently need comprehensive solutions that include harsher penalties and also addresses the unique nature of this crisis and to do more to bring awareness to the problem."

Michael Allen, the attorney for the Fourth Judicial District in Colorado Springs, also appealed for immediate state action on Tuesday.

"The only people that can fix this are the governor and those elected to the Colorado legislature," he said in a statement. "I can tell you that cartels will continue to take advantage of the weaknesses in our laws until those in power get serious about closing the loopholes."

He added: "The first step should be increasing the penalty for possession of fentanyl back to a felony because as little as 2 mg of fentanyl can be deadly. The second step should be including a sentencing enhancer that includes a mandatory prison sentence for those who distribute fentanyl that leads to an overdose death. Finally, let us not forget the importance of treatment."

Denver Gazette reporter Seth Klamann contributed to this report.
Minutes before opening, Whataburger franchisee William Tamminga (center) and employees rally for the first day on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. This is the first Whataburger in Colorado since the chain left in the 1970s. The chain is out of Texas and has a very loyal following. Hundreds waited both outside and in the drive through to be there for the first day. This is the only Whataburger in Colorado. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
TOKYO, February 24, 2022Canon Inc. will celebrate in March 2022 the 35th anniversary of the launch of the company's EOS System, which includes EOS-series interchangeable-lens cameras and a diverse range of system accessories, beginning with interchangeable EF lenses.

The 35th anniversary logo The EOS R System

Canon's EOS System made its debut in March 1987 with the launch of the EOS 650 single-lens reflex (SLR) camera and EF lenses1. An acronym of "Electro Optical System" while also carrying the name of the Greek Goddess of the dawn, the EOS series saw first light in 1987 as the world's first fully electronic mount system, representing a new generation of AF SLR cameras.

During the film-camera era, EOS SLR cameras garnered high acclaim from a wide range of users for their innovative technologies and designs focused on Canon's key concepts of high speed and ease of use. During this period, the company launched the top-of-the-line professional model EOS-1 in 1989 and, with the introduction of the compact lightweight EOS Kiss (EOS Rebel XS and EOS 500 in other regions) in 1993, succeeded in expanding its user base.

Following the introduction of the EOS D30 in 2000, when the popularization of digital SLR cameras was in full swing, Canon developed such innovative models as the high-speed and high-image-quality professional-oriented EOS-1D (2001), the EOS Kiss Digital (2003, EOS Digital Rebel or EOS 300D in other regions) which appealed to a broad user base, and the EOS 5D Mark II (2008), which featured Full HD video recording, in an effort to offer products that fulfilled the company's new key concepts of high speed, ease of use and high image quality. In 2012, EOS video technology was transformed for the B-to-B sphere in the form of the Cinema EOS System, marking Canon's entry into the video production industry.

From there, Canon continued to serve an increasingly diverse range of users. In 2018, the EOS R System was born from Canon's desire to construct the ideal lens mount and maximize the appeal of its new RF lenses. The company followed up in 2020 with the EOS R5, the world's first digital camera to feature 8K recording2. The next year, 2021 witnessed the launch of the EOS R3, which boasts eye-control AF capability, and the EOS VR System for recording VR content.

Enabling visual expression through still photography, video, and even VR content, the EOS system expands the possibilities of visual expression with a lineup comprising a total of 21 EOS series cameras3 and 104 RF and EF lenses4. Further underwriting the company's long-running and expansive user base, Canon has maintained the world's No.1 share5 of digital interchangeable-lens cameras since 2003a total of 18 years running.

Canon will continue to refine its diverse imaging technologies based on its core optical technology to create an even stronger EOS System that meets the needs of increasingly diverse users to promote the spread of photo and video culture.

1 The EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, EF35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 and EF50mm f/1.8 were released alongside the EOS 650.

The EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, EF35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 and EF50mm f/1.8 were released alongside the EOS 650. 2 Among interchangeable-lens digital cameras available as of July 8, 2020.

Among interchangeable-lens digital cameras available as of July 8, 2020. 3 Includes 5 digital cinema cameras for video production. As of February 24, 2022.

Includes 5 digital cinema cameras for video production. As of February 24, 2022. 4 Includes 30 EF cinema lenses (EF and PL mount) and 4 lens extenders. As of February 24, 2022.

Includes 30 EF cinema lenses (EF and PL mount) and 4 lens extenders. As of February 24, 2022. 5 Shares of unit sales. Based on Canon research.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijans State Border Service has seized over 23 kg of drugs on the countrys southern borders as a result of two operations, the Service has reported on its website.

The first incident was registered in the service area of the Kaladahna coast guard unit of the Southern Regional Department near the Astara regions Shahagaji village at about 0105 on February 22, the report added.

The border guard noticed a car approaching the area. One of the passengers took two bags hidden among the bushes near the concrete bridge, which drew the border guard's attention.

The border guard apprehended the unidentified individuals who were attempting to flee the scene. One of the suspects (previously convicted), Gurban Aghayev, opened fire several times, injuring two border guards slightly.

Over 16.9 kg of drugs (4,085 grams of marijuana, 9,920 grams of opium, 2,090 grams of methamphetamine, and 870 grams of heroin) were seized from Astara residents Gurban Aghayev (42) and Gulshan Aghayeva during the inspection.

Given Agayev's previous convictions and recognition as a drug dealer in the area, the State Border Service, in collaboration with the Astara district police office, conducted necessary investigations and inspected his home. As a result, 1.1 kg of marijuana-like drug was discovered hidden in the garage.

The case is currently undergoing operational and investigative procedures.

Another incident occurred on February 20 around 0050 at the Horadiz border detachment's border post near the Bartaz village in the Zangilan region, according to the State Border Service.

The border guard noticed signs of state border violation from Iran to Azerbaijan. The area was immediately closed by the border guards and operational measures were taken.

As a result of border search activities, 5,320 grams of unattended drugs (4,795 grams of marijuana and 525 grams of methamphetamine) were found in a white package found in the area. The investigation is underway.
The city of Clear Lake is beginning to see a clearer vision for its 2023 budget.

Clear Lake has a total municipal budget of $19.4 million on the docket, which includes roughly $10.5 million in operating and maintenance costs, $8 million in capital projects and $850,000 in debt services.

The $8 million in the capital budget includes some exciting projects in the city of Clear Lake, according to Clear Lake Finance Director Creighton Schmidt.

The biggest project in the city's capital budget for the 2023 fiscal year is the East Main Street reconstruction project.

This is the third and final phase of the city's renovations to East Main Street, with the planned renovations to the road taking place between Eighth Street and 14th Street.

This is the most expensive project on the city's capital budget for the coming fiscal year, and will cost just under $2.5 million.

Additionally, the city also has the South 15th Street park on the budget.

The proposed park is designed with the intention of having the entire space be accessible. As a result, the proposed layout of the project will incorporate a large green area next to the playground, various shaded areas and a splash pad accessible to anyone wanting to use it.

The estimated cost for the project is expected to be roughly $1.8 million, with the city council previously agreeing to fund $1.3 million of the project through a loan.

Half of the $1.8 million is being funded through this current fiscal year, with the other $900,000 slated for fiscal year 2023.

Clear Lake City Council takes steps towards $1.3 million loan for accessibility park The Clear Lake City Council is working towards acquiring a $1.3 million loan for a proposed accessibility park on South 15th Street.

The city has plans for over $1.1 million in water and sewer upgrades in the coming fiscal year. The improvements planned are for the city's storm-sewer collection system and water distribution system, upgrades to the water treatment plant's water pumps, safety improvements to the chlorine room and geographic information system (GIS) mapping improvements.

These projects will all be funded by the $1.1 million received by Clear Lake through the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal grant program launched by President Joe Biden to help communities recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clear Lake aiming to use ARPA funds on infrastructure improvements Heading into 2022, the city of Clear Lake is keen on making some serious infrastructure impr

The first steps were taken towards approving the budget in the city's most recent city council meeting, where the council set a hearing date for the proposed maximum property tax levy for the fiscal year.

Schmidt told the city council that the tax rate for the city is not expected to change this year, remaining at $9.70 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

This will be the seventh year in a row where the city's tax rate either remains the same or decreases. This also gives the city the fifth lowest tax rate in the state of Iowa for communities with a population of more than $4,000, according to Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory.

The hearing date over the maximum property tax levy was set for Monday, March 7. The city is aiming adopt the fiscal year 2023 budget on March 21.

The 2023 fiscal year begins on July 1.

Zachary Dupont covers politics and business development for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at 641-421-0533 or zachary.dupont@globegazette.com. Follow Zachary on Twitter at @ZachNDupont

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Clear Lake resident Whitney Mixdorf announced her intention to run for the Iowa State Senate on Thursday.

I feel called to run for State Senate because Iowans need a champion for families and small businesses," Mixdorf said via press release. "As State Senator, I plan to focus on advocating for Iowas small businesses, helping family farmers, defending the public education system and our teachers, and advocating for the needs of lower- and middle-class Iowans.

Mixdorf will be running as a Democrat in District 30 against current Republican Sen. Waylon Brown, who has held the seat in District 26 since 2016.

Mixdorf is a small business owner in Clear Lake, running South Shore Donut Company since 2017. She is also Vice Chair of the Cerro Gordo County Democratic Central Committee, and Co-Chair of the Communications Committee for the New Iowa Project.

Brown previously represented northern Cerro Gordo, Mitchell and Worth counties in District 26, but due to legislative redistricting he is now competing in the new District 30 which includes Cerro Gordo, Worth, Mitchell and a portion of Floyd counties.

Mixdorf is stepping up to replace the vacancy left by current Democratic Sen. Amanda Ragan, who would have been in District 30 but recently announced she would not be seeking re-election.

The general election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and the new districts kick in on Jan. 3, 2023.

Zachary Dupont covers politics and business development for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at 641-421-0533 or zachary.dupont@globegazette.com. Follow Zachary on Twitter at @ZachNDupont

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Thanks to the civilian services of a resident goat, Virginia's Henry County Sheriffs Office got their man.

Capt. Scott Barker with the Henry County Sheriffs Office told the Bulletin that it was a goat who helped two deputies flush out the person they were chasing on Feb. 13.

Deputy David Parnell was investigating a domestic assault in the Fieldale area of Henry County, Barker said. At the point where Deputy Parnell explains to the suspect hes under arrest, the suspect flees on foot.

Barker said Parnell chased the fleeing person through a fence line and across a field.

A goat from the property joined Deputy Parnell in the chase, said Barker. When Deputy Parnell and the goat reached the next fence line of the field, the goat continued through the fence in front of Deputy Parnell and entered a wooded area.

After the goat took over the lead in the chase, Parnell halted to survey the situation and watched the goat chase the man into the woods.

The goat and the deputy on the other side flushed the man out of the woods, and Parnell took the man into custody.

The goat was returned to its owner by Deputy Parnell once the incident was resolved, Barker said.

Asked if the goat might be recognized by the department for its outstanding citizenship and contribution to the prevention of crime, Barker said: Thats about all I know at this point.

Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt.
In North Carolina, the worries about climate change often focus on more frequent storms with heavier rainfall, but a new federal report points to an equally potent danger  the seeping effect of sea level rise.

A report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as part of a multi-agency project shows that sea levels along U.S. coastlines will rise, on average, by as much as a foot over the next 30 years  equal to the rise measured over the last century.

Rick Luettich, who heads the Center for Natural Hazards Resilience, said the projection for 2050 isnt radically different than it was 10 years ago, but there is a lot of clarity to these numbers now.

That means sea level change isnt a case of scientists speculating on what might happen given various scenarios. The change is here and accelerating.

This new report says this is real now and its going to be significant much earlier than 2100, Luettich said.

The most noticeable effect will be more coastal flooding, even without storms. NOAA said in a summary of the reports findings: Sea level rise will create a profound shift in coastal flooding over the next 30 years by causing tide and storm surge heights to increase and reach further inland. By 2050, moderate (typically damaging) flooding is expected to occur, on average, more than 10 times as often as it does today, and can be intensified by local factors.

Flooding related to sea level rise will be more extensive in North Carolina because of its low coastal plain. As seawater seeps further inland, it will render land unusable for agriculture, impair fresh water sources and disrupt the effectiveness of septic systems.

Salt water intrusion is a major concern for the viability of coastal areas for agriculture and septic function is much less viable if the water table rises, Luettich said. Thats the hidden consequence.

Todd Miller, founder and executive director of the nonprofit North Carolina Coastal Federation, said the NOAA report offers a chilling view of the not too distant future.

If this report is accurate, the current challenges we have with ongoing sea level rise along the coast will grow exponentially more difficult to handle, Miller said. This is not simply an issue of where the sea meets the land. A foot rise in sea level in 30 years means parts of our barrier islands will be severely eroded or disappear, Pamlico Sound and other barrier island protected sounds and estuaries will be transformed into unprotected bays, and estuarine shorelines and salt marshes along our mainland areas will erode dramatically and move inland.

The rise of sea levels is a global problem with a global cause: growing emissions of greenhouse gases. While little can be done about the next few decades, a drop in emissions could lessen the long-term swamping of the coasts. The NOAA report projects that under current conditions, sea level could rise by 2 feet by the end of this century. But if emissions are not checked, the increase could be as much as 7 feet.

Orrin Pilkey, a Duke expert on coastal geology, has approached the threat of rising sea levels by calling for development to retreat from the beach and barrier islands.

But thats unlikely in North Carolina, given the large role of beach tourism and coastal real estate in the states economy. An alternative to retreating is stronger control over coastal development and more investment in infrastructure to limit flooding and protect freshwater supplies and wastewater systems.

Luettich said sea level change can be mitigated by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, but bringing that about involves an unknown thats harder to predict.

We understand the natural systems better than what people are going to do.
By Trend

Azerbaijani airline Buta Airways cancels today's flight on the Baku-Kyiv-Baku route due to the restriction of civil aircraft flights within the airspace of Ukraine NOTAM (international notification system for aviation personnel), Trend reports citing press service of the company.

Passengers who have purchased tickets for this route can exchange them for other dates or return them without penalty.

"We ask all our passengers to follow the latest flight information on the pages of the airline's official social media accounts," said the Airways.
The Carroll College Political Science and History departments will host a Zoom webinar, "Understanding the Ukraine Crisis," at 7 p.m. tonight.

The panelists will be: Jeremy Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of political science; Dean Pavlakis, Ph.D., associate professor of history; and Alex Street, Ph.D., associate professor of political science.

The event is free and the public may attend. To register, go to:

College officials said the program was planned prior to Russia's attack on Ukraine that occurred there Thursday morning, but tensions have been building along the border with a military buildup by Russia for weeks. Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine, hitting cities and military bases with airstrikes or shelling.

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The second annual Montana Ducks Unlimited Ice Fishing Tournament on Canyon Ferry Reservoir reeled in 625 attendees, surpassing last years inaugural event total of 478.

And to think that last year organizers optimistically estimated they would have 125 participants.

Jake Hansen, state chairman of Ducks Unlimited Montana, said the Feb. 19 tourney, known as Ducks on Ice and which offered $13,000 in cash prizes, continues to exceed expectations.

Ice fishing has a good culture in Montana, he said Tuesday, adding that Canyon Ferry is a good, central location.

We thought it might take a few years to get to the size we are now," Hansen said. We are way ahead of where we thought we would be.

"We're very happy it has turned out as well as it has," he said.

Hansen said the Montana chapter of Ducks Unlimited, which has 8,564 members, felt the need to have a regional fishing event. He said Ducks Unlimited has a good following in Montana, but ice fishing gives us something not done before.

He said similar events in Minnesota draw 20,000 people. Hansen said Montana members knew they would never hit those numbers.

He said the event drew participants from seven states. The Big Fish prize was $2,500 and the fisherman with the largest walleye and perch each got $1,000. Other prices included Charles Daly O/U 20 gauge shotguns, Kenetrek boots, Vortex Viper 10X42 binoculars, an Otter Vortex Lodge fish house, Sitka Mountain 2700 backpacks, Aqua View 715C cameras, Camp Chef pellet smokers and $250 Kenyon Noble gift cards.

Hansen said this year they have received a lot of positive feedback. There was some criticism last year for not allowing hut-style shelters and electronics such as underwater cameras to be used.

He said the rules, which were taken from Minnesota, were tweaked to cater more to Montana.

Ducks Unlimited touts itself as the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. It says it conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitat for North America's waterfowl.

Rusty South caught the biggest fish, a 2.74-pound burbot. Jerrod Gustovich caught the smallest, a walleye that weighed in at 0.05 pounds.

Dustin Bauch placed first for perch with 1.74 pounds, and Eric Krouss and Joe Sayer tied for second with 1.33 pounds each.

James Callahan placed first for walleye with 1.41 pounds, Jamie Szlemko came in second with 1.10, and Duncan Tomas placed third with 1.09.

In the youth division, Harper Moran placed first with 1.26 pounds, and Coleman Moon and Michael Hand tied for second with 1.25.

Hansen said he was very happy the event turned out as well as it did, and he credited volunteers for their help.

Im proud of the volunteer staff, he said, noting they came from all areas of the state including Billings, Bozeman, Kalispell, Lincoln, Missoula and Sidney.

Hansen said Tuesday it was not known how much money was raised during the one-day event, but added that planning is already underway for next years tournament.

He said it will be Feb. 18, as long as the state approves the permit.

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

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Despite a recent interpretation of Montana state law that aerial hunting of wolves is not prohibited, doing so runs afoul of federal law.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks argued in state District Court recently that state law does not prohibit aerial hunting of wolves. FWP's arguments came as legal justification for the agency removing language from the states wolf regulations that had stated hunting wolves from aircraft was barred. The agency says that inclusion of that language in the regulations for a decade was an error.

In response to media reporting on the case, a number of readers pointed to federal law addressing aerial hunting. The Airborne Hunting Act of 1972 prohibits shooting or attempting to shoot or harassing any bird, fish or other animal from aircraft except for certain specified reasons, including protection of wildlife, livestock and human life as authorized by a federal or state-issued license or permit.

It is accurate to say that, under the federal Airborne Hunting Act, hunting wolves or other animals from the air is prohibited in most circumstances, Jessica Sutt, a spokesperson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said in an email. The law allows for permitted federal or state agents to shoot from aircraft for defined management purposes.  The average person with a hunting license can't shoot from an aircraft under AHA.

In response to a question about the federal law, FWP spokesperson Greg Lemon wrote in an email, The federal law that prohibits aerial hunting has an exception for state-permitted activities. We believe FWP (is) exempted from that law.

In an effort to clarify the states position, the Montana State News Bureau asked the agency whether permitted activities meant licensed hunters could use aircraft. FWP spent more than a week in part doing legal analysis on the question, Lemon said, and replied on Wednesday: Aerial recreational hunting of wolves is currently prohibited by federal law.

Outside of state or federal agents shooting from the air, the federal law does come with exceptions that have led states to allow the public to shoot from the air under certain circumstances. Language in Montana and other state programs describes the activities as management for livestock or wildlife depredation.

The Montana Department of Livestock offers aerial hunting permits specifically for coyotes and foxes. Licensed pilots may purchase a permit via an application that includes a request from a livestock producer. The application specifies the permit does not allow shooting coyotes or foxes for recreational purposes.

Alaska developed intensive management programs for certain areas where it has determined moose or caribou populations are below desired levels. The public may apply for permits that allow a pilot and gunner to shoot wolves, or bears in some cases, from the air in an effort to bolster ungulate numbers. In several places, however, Alaska states that aerial hunting is prohibited outside of the intensive management areas and without the permit.

These permits allow for aerial shooting by a backseat gunner," one management plan states, as well as spotting wolves from the air, landing and immediately hunting.

Idaho uses language stating that recent efforts to expand methods of take for wolves do not include aerial hunting, citing the federal law.

These expanded methods do not currently include aerial shooting of wolves, which is subject to the Federal Airborne Hunting Act and not allowed in Idaho, according to Idaho Fish and Game. If Idaho should allow aerial hunting of wolves, it would be specific to designated control actions and by permit from the Idaho Department of Agriculture, which is authorized through the Federal Airborne Hunting Act.

The issue with Montanas wolf hunting laws and regulations arose as FWP and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission are facing a lawsuit from two wildlife advocacy groups. The groups say they were denied the right to participate when FWP removed language that had previously appeared in wolf hunting and trapping regulations stating that aerial hunting was prohibited by a rule made by the commission. The groups argue in part that regulation changes should have gone through the open commission process rather than be done unilaterally by FWP.

According to testimony from a former FWP attorney, an agency review found the commission had not passed such a rule and likely lacked the authority to do so. The review concluded that the state Legislature, rather than the commission, would need to make a change in order to prohibit aerial hunting of wolves under state law, according to testimony.

The Montana Legislature has enacted state bans on aerial hunting for big game animals, such as elk and mountain lions, as well as furbearers like as bobcats and beavers. But wolves are legally defined by the state as a species in need of management, and the Legislature has not enacted a similar prohibition for wolves, state wildlife officials said in testimony and court documents.

The current wolf regulations do not mention the federal prohibition on aerial hunting. FWP does not have authority to enforce federal law but in some cases has passed rules and regulations through the commission shaped by federal law, such as regulations for hunting migratory birds, or a game warden having authority to write a ticket for driving off road on federal land.

Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources.

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State lawmakers with oversight of the state health department have called a special committee meeting for next week to discuss the immediate jeopardy status of Montana State Hospital.

The federal government last week issued a notice to Montana State Hospital administrator Kyle Fouts that it has until March 13 to correct noncompliance issues or it may lose federal funding. This week, details emerged about the conditions that led the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to place the facility on "immediate jeopardy" status.

"Obviously, the (immediate jeopardy) finding is very concerning," said Rep. Ed Stafman, a Bozeman Democrat who chairs the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Committee. "We're concerned about the danger that patients might be in and we're also concerned about losing our federal funding."

The committee is set to meet at 1 p.m. on March 4, although Stafman said the schedule could change in the next week.

"Our hope is that we will roll up our sleeves and work together with the (DPHHS Director Adam Meier) to fix these problems," he added.

The federal health violations detailed by CMS inspectors earlier this month fall into two categories: patient rights and infection control.

Big Sky Lede: Crisis at the Montana State Hospital On this episode, Seaborn Larson talks about an inspection report that lays out how those conditions have affected patients, and in some cases, how violations of federal health rules have had fatal consequences.

The inspection found patients had fallen 41 times over the course of January, 10 of which were attributed to one woman who ultimately died as a result of falling from her wheelchair. The hospital is required to implement plans to prevent such events when patients are prone to falls.

Inspectors also found the state hospital had no COVID-19 prevention plan in place when the facility was struck by an outbreak in January. All but 20 of the 107 patients were infected with the virus, briefly isolated in one unit before COVID-19 had "overrun" the facility. Staffing sheets showed employees had been assigned to work both COVID-positive units and non-COVID units, sometimes in the same day.

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Montana State Parks saw visitation dip last year amid a summer of wildfire smoke, but numbers still remained high with several parks setting individual records.

Montanas 55 state parks saw a little less than 3.4 million visitors in 2021. That is a dip of 1.3% from 2020, in which parks set a record for visitors. That uptick came in part due to a pandemic-related surge in outdoor recreation. Still, last years numbers were 28% higher than 2019, and 79% above the nearly 1.9 million visitors from 10 years ago.

Visitation was on another record-setting pace through July, and then wildfire smoke and drought dominated the end of summer and fall. That early surge helped 11 state parks see more than 100,000 visitors compared to eight from the record year of 2020.

The most-visited state park in 2021 was Giant Springs State Park along the Missouri River near Great Falls. Giant Springs recorded nearly 415,000 visitors, an 8% jump, passing the collection of state parks on Flathead Lake that was the highest in 2020.

Giant Springs manager Alex Sholes said the park is currently working with the University of Montana to better determine the residency of visitors. The park is a popular spot for locals while also drawing tourists to view the springs and walk along the river. Giant Springs also tends to host a share of visitors that come to the nearby Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

The park is heavily visited by Great Falls folks, but in summer we have about an equal draw, for tourists, Sholes said. The big thing for that is were kind of a mid-point between Glacier and Yellowstone [national parks].

Several state parks located along the shores of Flathead Lake saw a dip of 28% from 2020 but still saw the second highest visitation in the state at nearly 340,000 visitors. A wildfire late last summer temporarily shuttered two parks on the lakes south end and smoke was prevalent for much of the summer.

Like Giant Springs, many of the other parks topping the 2021 list are located close to urban areas.

Cooney State Park, located about an hour from Billings, was third on the list. It saw a visitation dip by nearly 97,000 from 2020, a year where visitation doubled from 2019.

Spring Meadow Lake State Park on the western edge of Helena moved up a spot into fourth place last year with about 254,000 visitors. Thats a 43% jump over 2020, which was already an increase of 32% from 2019.

Rounding out the top five was Lake Elmo State Park near Billings. The nearly 213,000 visitors in 2021 was a dip of 19,000 from 2020, but also well above 2019 numbers.

Other state parks seeing big years included Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park with about 146,000 visitors, rebounding a whopping 259% over 2020 when cave tours were closed. Makoshika State Park near Glendive saw more than 150,000 visitors for a 17% increase over 2020.

Parks and Recreation Division Administrator Hope Stockwell noted that increasing trends in visitation are something managers must grapple with as more use means a greater impact to sites.

Its important to say that its not just state parks, our fishing access sites and wildlife management areas, although we dont keep track of them in the same way, but anecdotally have also seen increased use, she said. We take our stewardship responsibility very seriously  and were definitely keeping an eye on those impacts. We may tweak management because we want to continue to provide awesome experiences balanced with the health of the resource.

For example, FWP may look at designating campsites at wildlife management areas to cope with increasing visitation, she said.

Stockwell was hired by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks last year to lead the new Parks and Recreation Division  the product of an agency reorganization that includes consolidating maintenance responsibilities. She says the public will likely not notice a difference in the field as the department continues its reshuffling behind the scenes, with a goal of providing more maintenance coverage for all FWP sites.

Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources.

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When Montana Republicans tell you they are fighting for your rights and freedoms, theyre speaking out of both sides of their mouths. While presenting themselves to Montanans as champions of our rights and liberty, they have been hard at work chipping away at the very rights they pretend to hold so dear. They are undermining the independence of our judicial system, rolling back our right to privacy, interfering in our health care decisions, taking away local control for our childrens education, and weakening Montanans right to vote. Montana is the only state with a right to a clean and healthy environment, but the GOP endeavors to destroy our outdoor heritage by weakening water quality standards and selling off our wildlife and open lands to wealthy out-of-staters.

All of these rights make Montana the Last Best Place  and they are all guaranteed in Montanas Constitution. This begs the question: why are the Republicans working so hard to dismantle it?

But dont take my word for it. Just this month, Republican legislator John Fuller wrote that democracy is a methodology of government that has failed as miserably as socialism. Republican Derek Skees has repeatedly called Montanas Constitution a socialist rag and stated that it should be thrown out. State Supreme Court Justice Jim Rice, a former Republican legislator himself, called the actions of Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen before the court destructive to our democratic system of government.

And while they continue their crusade against Montanas Constitution, Montana Republicans are also failing to step up and solve the problems actually facing our state.

Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan to lower costs for Montana families and help businesses recover after these tough years. Sen. Testers Infrastructure and Jobs law is delivering critical investments in Montana highways, bridges and high-speed internet. And as our kids face a new epidemic of mental health issues, Democrats have fought tooth and nail to protect funding for our mental health services. When the Gianforte administration tried to change the elk hunting rules to benefit out-of-state millionaire trophy hunters, Democratic legislators partnered with public land stakeholders to ensure the voices of Montana hunters were heard and our outdoor heritage was protected for generations to come.

Our communities are struggling and Republicans refuse to act. Republicans are sitting on 85% of the resources they should be investing in our future. As housing prices skyrocket, Republicans are holding back millions of federal dollars meant for emergency rental and homeowner assistance. Republicans are lying, telling you they cut your taxes when they just gave handouts to millionaires while most folks got pennies  all while killing Democratic proposals to cut property taxes and expand tax credits for working families. In fact, they wouldnt even give those bills votes on the floor.

These unprecedented times have brought unprecedented challenges to our state. Montana Democrats know that to face those problems, we have to be bold, put our money where our mouth is, and fight to keep Montana the Last Best Place. We know that Montana cannot become a playground where the rich and elite take their vacations or build their sixth homes while the people who actually live and work here increasingly struggle to get by  but thats exactly what Rosendale, Daines, Gianforte, Skees, Hertz, Manzella and Knudsen and the rest of them want. We know that our kids deserve good schools and a shot at a bright future, not just to become pawns for billionaire-backed Republicans.

The rights enshrined in the Montana Constitution are not only worth defending, but the very thing that has made Montana great. Montana Democrats will always fight for our rights.

Robyn Driscoll is chair of the Montana Democratic Party.

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Parks and rec board to meet March 3

The Montana State Parks and Recreation Board will meet 1 p.m. March 3, at the Montana state Capitol in Room 317.

The public may comment via Zoom, in person or at any FWP regional office. Those interested in commenting via Zoom must register online at the Fish, Wildlife & Parks website. The public may also comment in person at the meeting or at any FWP regional office.

The public comment sign-up opportunity is now through noon on March 1. To sign up, go to: https://bit.ly/3Ij3tDG.

To listen to the meeting and for information on how to join via Zoom, click on the State Parks and Recreation Boards webpage prior to the meeting start time.

The board will take action on the following items: 2023 FWP budget goals; Somers Beach interim development project, increased costs; Smith River State Park and River Corridor Biennial Rule and Administrative Rule 12.14.120.

It will also discuss a land exchange to increase lake frontage at Lake Mary Ronan State Park; First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park DNRC lease renewal; Lone Pine State Park archery range acquisition; and Flathead Lake State Park  Big Arm Unit archery range development.

Also on the agenda are the Lower Yellowstone River Corridor Zero land site acquisition endorsement and Lower Yellowstone River Corridor Powder River depot land acquisition endorsement.

The board will also hear updates on the 2018-2019 State Agency Biennial Report on Cultural Resources (SB 3); 2021 Visitation and Camping Reservation Reports and FWP reorganization and planning update

For the full agenda and background on the scheduled topics, go to the State Parks and Recreation Board page on the FWP website, or https://bit.ly/3h8pYQ3.

FWP's website offers live-streamed audio of each State Parks and Recreation Board meeting.

New hunting rules posted on FWP website

New regulation booklets for moose, sheep, mountain goat, bison, deer, elk and antelope are available online at fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations. Printed booklets will be available later this month.

Hunters should make sure to read through the new regulations before applying for permits and licenses this spring. The first application deadline for deer and elk permits is April 1.

Hunters should pay particular attention to these things for the coming season:

MyFWP app

Permits for either-sex elk or brow-tined bull-antlerless elk will limit the holder to hunting for antlered elk within only the designated HD for the period identified on the permit. Antlerless elk hunting will not be limited by the permit. A general license may be used to hunt in any open district during dates outside of that identified on the permit.

Several Deer/Elk hunting districts have been combined or reconfigured. Make sure you are aware of the hunting district boundaries.Bull permits limiting hunters to only the district theyre drawn in.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved hunting regulations for the 2022 and 2023 hunting seasons during its Feb. 4 meeting. All final regulations approved at the meeting will go into effect when the new license year begins on March 1.

Elk test negative for brucellosis

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff recently captured elk in the Tobacco Root Mountains south of Whitehall as part of a multi-year Targeted Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project.

All captured elk tested negative for brucellosis.

This took place in northern and southern areas of the Tobacco Roots. In the northern portion, which is south of Interstate 90 from Whitehall to Three Forks, 100 cow elk were captured with the aid of a helicopter. Forty of those elk were outfitted with radio collars, which will be active for one year and help wildlife managers better understand their seasonal ranges, migration routes and potential mixing with other elk herds.

FWP staff helped capture 63 elk in the southern portion, which is north of Montana Highway 287 from Twin Bridges to the Virginia City hill.

Staff did not deploy radio collars in the southern portion because elk were captured here in 2014, and movement data was collected from 26 animals at that time. While 49 elk tested negative for brucellosis in 2014, this herd was sampled for brucellosis testing again because two cow elk in the Ruby Mountains nearby to the south tested positive for brucellosis in 2020. Collar movement data in this area showed potential for herd mixing.

The goal of these operations is to evaluate the presence and understand the movement of brucellosis in Montanas elk populations. The research will also help wildlife managers understand the overlap between elk and livestock on the landscape.

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that can infect humans, cattle, bison and elk and can result in abortion or the birth of weak calves. The disease is primarily transmitted through contact with infected birth tissues and fluids.

This project is a joint effort between the Department of Livestock and FWP, with support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. In addition, this project and capture operation would not be possible without the generous support and permission from landowners to capture elk on their property.

More information about brucellosis and the Targeted Elk Brucellosis Surveillance project can be found online at fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/elk.

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BLOOMINGTON  James Todd Ringel, a prominent defense attorney who handled many major felony cases in Central Illinois courts, has died. He was 54.

His death was reported on the afternoon of Feb. 17 in his Bloomington home, and only the day before he had handled a felony trial that went on into the evening in Macon County Circuit Court.

Presiding Judge Thomas Griffith, who presided at that trial, said Ringel had been on his usual top form: He seemed his normal kind of jovial self and he did a good job like he always does, added Griffith.

He was always very down-to-earth, personable and kind of self-effacing. He would tell funny stories about himself and, as a lawyer, he was smart, he was prepared and he was able to get things done. I liked him very much and he was very well-liked among the judges because of how he was. I am going to miss him very much.

Ringel had spent years working with the Johnson Law Group in Bloomington but had recently joined Decatur-based Hawkins, Amero & Root as a solo practitioner.

Attorney Chris Amero said hes had the difficult job of telling many clients that the lawyer they trusted above all others is no longer around to handle their cases.

I met with one of his clients last night down at the jail and he started crying when I told him about Todds death, Amero said, speaking Thursday. He was just telling me stories about Todd and what a great guy Todd was.

Amero said Ringel had worked as an administrative law judge but had returned to criminal defense work because that was his first love. He said he had a passion for the law and was a true believer in the system and always went the extra mile for his clients, even handing out his cell phone number and taking their calls at all times of the day and night.

Todds clients believed in Todd, said Amero. And while they may not have believed in the system, they definitely believed in Todd.

A Celebration of Life event will be held in Ringels memory from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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MOUNT ZION  Lindsey Scherer has been a member of the FFA at Mount Zion High School ever since she was influenced by her brother during freshman year.

Continuing to help students find their passion through agriculture, Scherer said being a part of FFA helps create connections and future pathways for jobs in the industry.

"I found that my future career is going to be in agriculture education and to be a high school FFA adviser and teacher," said Scherer, now president of the Mount Zion High School FFA chapter. "It helps us get into colleges, it helps us get future jobs and everywhere we go we learn new ways to lead each other."

As part of National FFA Week, the Mount Zion High School FFA invited local officials and agriculture business owners for its annual breakfast in the school cafeteria on Wednesday.

Every year, the agricultural industry is celebrated in high schools around the country during National FFA Week to highlight the importance of agriculture education in schools and communities.

The breakfast invited farmers from the area and individuals like state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, and Mount Zion Mayor Luke Williams, as well as guest speaker Jess Smithers, director of the Agricultural Programs at Richland Community College.

"FFA is as robust as ever in Macon County," Smithers said. "Obviously agriculture is central to the state of Illinois but it's even more so here within our community and it's vitally important."

After the program was relaunched in August 2018, Richland agriculture students are encouraged to be active learners and those interested in a career in agriculture should consider the college's program for its "good value," Smither said.

Smithers said students participate in leadership development opportunities like the Agriculture Future of America events, which improves their communication and technical skills as well as developing relationships.

Highlighting the more than 120 acres of farmland on campus and their new agriculture building, Smithers also reminded students of the importance getting experience outside of the classroom and taking up any internships that could lead to full-time positions.

"In FFA, teenagers are considered important contributors rather than passive recipients," Smithers said. "You're gonna learn a lot more when you get your hands on and that's what we do."

In addition, resident Alex Ballweg announced an FFA Alumni Association for anyone in the community to be a part of and support the high school organization through financial means or networking.

"I look out in this room and I see a lot of different strengths as far as agricultural areas," Ballweg said. "The value of that is for the students to have different people to reach out to and get some help."

Agriculture teacher and FFA faculty adviser JC Walker said the organization and events like the breakfast allow for students to meet with local experts and build connections in the community they can rely on to learn new aspects of agriculture, practice for interviews or even get jobs.

"A number of my students are actually looking at some kind of agriculture major, if not something closely related, so having those connections in the community will really help them as well as being able to sit here and network," Walker said. "That'll give them the experience they need in order to talk to people and have hose one-on-one conversations."

Walker, who grew up in Mount Zion and graduated from the high school in 2009, said the school currently offers five different agriculture classes: intro to agriculture, agriculture construction and technology, horticulture science, biological science application in agriculture and physical science application in agriculture.

"I really enjoy seeing them build their skills in agriculture but also seeing them grow as leaders in the industry," Walker said.

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By Trend

Several Azerbaijani-owned vehicles engaged in international cargo transportation are currently in the military action area in Ukraine, the Azerbaijan International Road Carriers Association (ABADA) said, Trend reports.

According to ABADA, contacts have been established with carrier companies. Drivers who have operated international trips are in safe areas.

The association also said that additional information will be provided on the matter.
DECATUR  Aric L. Corsby, the Decatur man who flew into a rage and beat and terrorized his girlfriend with a handgun after she told him she found love-making painful, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday.

The 20-year-old defendant had been convicted at a jury trial in November. Jurors found him innocent of a charge of attempted murder but convicted him on charges of aggravated kidnapping, the aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated battery.

Macon County Circuit Court Presiding Judge Thomas Griffith sentenced Corsby to 30 years on the aggravated kidnapping charge. He also sentenced him to another 10 years on the remaining charges, but ordered those sentences to run concurrent with the 30-year sentence which must be served at 85%.

The prosecution case, presented by Assistant Macon County States Attorney Stephen Friedel, said Corsby's rage had been ferocious. ... He got mad, and I am not talking about a little mad, Im talking about a lot mad, he told the jury during the trial.

He said the girlfriend Corsby had dated for five months had been beaten severely and then menaced with the handgun. He had fired the weapon several times, blowing holes in the bedroom wall before jamming the barrel of the gun against her neck in the April 22, 2020, attack.

She grabs it (the gun) and as she grabs it he pulls the trigger and it goes off in her hand, Friedel had said during the trial. Thankfully, the bullet scrapes her hand and doesnt go through her hand.

The woman told police she had been tied up but later, bloodied and only wearing a T-shirt, she had managed to escape and ran to a neighbors house for help after Corsby fell asleep.

Defense attorney Chris Amero never tried to sell the jury on the idea that his client was a pleasant person to be around. He had described his behavior toward his girlfriend as disgusting, despicable, horrible but he had pleaded that Corsby was not guilty of the most serious crimes he had been accused of.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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For the first time since the start of the year, the entire country is no longer on Chicagos travel advisory for unvaccinated people.

Maryland was removed Wednesday, meaning there are now 48 states and four territories on the list of states from which unvaccinated travelers are urged to take extra COVID-19 precautions. Illinois is not included in the list because officials do not want to restrict intrastate travel.

The last time there was at least one state not on the travel advisory was the first week of January.

Children under age 5 are exempt because they are not yet eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, but the adults they are traveling with must be inoculated or quarantine.

Though one state has come off our advisory, and Chicago and Illinois now have our lowest daily COVID-19 case rates in months, the virus is still with us, in Chicago and around the country, Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said in a statement. The fact remains that nearly every state or territory is on the advisory.

The advisorys latest guidance calls for unvaccinated people to test for COVID-19 one to three days before leaving Chicago and three to five days after they return to the city. They must also quarantine for five days upon coming back to Chicago regardless of the test result.

States get on the travel advisory if they track more than 15 daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. Three more states and three territories could get off the list next week, as they have already dipped below that threshold.

Meanwhile, Illinois daily case rate is at 13.5 per 100,000 residents, while Chicagos is 10.3. The city has fared well in recent weeks with COVID-19 metrics, allowing for Tuesdays announcement that Chicago can follow the state in lifting its mask mandate next week.

The most recent city data shows an average of 278 cases per day and a positivity rate of 1.5%.

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SPRINGFIELD  Every year, the Illinois General Assembly meets on and off for about five months or so to do the people's business  everything from large tasks like crafting a state budget to smaller ones, such as designating the official state microbe.

Coverage is often tilted towards the end of session, when a flurry of large bills will often move in quick succession. And then there are some days earlier in session, such as the governor's budget address, that will attract attention.

What often gets missed is the day-to-day sausage-making that makes government run. In the House and Senate, much of this work happens in committee, where bills are fleshed out before advancing for a full floor vote.

The past couple weeks have been busy in Springfield  the deadline to get substantive bills out of Illinois Senate committees was Feb. 11. The deadline in the House was last Friday.

Of course, getting bills out of committee is just one step in the process. Many, once passing, will often be held on "second reading" while waiting for amendments, which can be considered in a later committee hearing or on the floor of the House or Senate.

Once it passes the chamber of origin, it heads to the opposite chamber, where it will be assigned a committee and will go through the same process there. But there's never a guarantee the bill will receive a vote in the opposite chamber.

The road from bill to law is often meticulous. Many bills will die along the way. Thousands are introduced every year while just hundreds will ultimately become law.

Still, a sampling of the various bills that have been proposed offer a flavor of what's happening under the Capitol dome, even if they may not eventually hit Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk.

Here are just a few of the interesting proposals, some serious and some perhaps a bit silly, that have passed out of committee in recent weeks:

Reporter Taylor Vidmar contributed to this report.

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SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois Supreme Court is being asked to review the states mask mandate and other COVID-19 mitigation orders for K-12 schools on an expedited schedule.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a petition for appeal Tuesday, along with a motion for an emergency stay of a Sangamon County judges order to block enforcement of the rules.

On Feb. 4, Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the rules which, among other things, require schools to exclude students or staff from their buildings if they have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, and require unvaccinated staff to undergo testing at least once a week.

In her ruling, Grischow cited a section of the Illinois Department of Public Health Act that says people may not be quarantined without their consent or a court order and concluded that the mitigation mandates amounted to a kind of quarantine.

Two weeks later, a three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeals declined to review that decision, saying the issue was moot because, in the intervening time, the legislatures Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted not to extend the Illinois Department of Public Healths emergency rules that put those mandates in place.

The appeal comes just days before Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration is scheduled to lift the statewide indoor mask mandate Feb. 28 for most public places, except in schools and health care settings. Pritzker has said he intends to lift the school mandate as well, possibly within the next few weeks, saying schools need more time because of the large number of unvaccinated children in the buildings and the close proximity in which they work.

Asked Wednesday why the administration continues to appeal the case, Pritzker said he thinks its important to clarify the powers of the governor and state agencies in case of another public health emergency.

This really is about what do we do in the next emergency, as much as anything, what happens when there is another omicron wave or, God forbid, at some future date, another pandemic or some other major emergency that affects everybody in the state, Pritzker said during an unrelated news conference in Decatur. We want to be able to do the right thing for the people across the state and so we hope that the Supreme Court will see that and rule on that despite the decision by the appellate court.

In his appeal, Raouls office also argued that there needs to be clarity because different appellate courts have ruled differently on the same question.

In 2020, the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Kane County ruled against the owners of FoxFire Tavern in Geneva and upheld Pritzkers indoor mask mandate for bars and restaurants. In that ruling, the court specifically found that the orders were not tantamount to quarantine orders, isolation orders, or business-closure orders, and that the governors actions were authorized under the Illinois Emergency Management Act.

As a result, the (Sangamon County) circuit courts order has infused confusion into an area of law that was settled and holds the governor to a standard not required by statute, Raouls office stated in the appeal.

In its motion to stay the Sangamon County restraining order, Raouls office said the order is creating confusion for entire communities.

Today, parents, teachers, school staff, and members of their communities are faced with impossible choices, the motion states. Some schools have eliminated mitigation measures on the threat of legal liability, some parents have been forced to withdraw students from school, and uncertainty regarding the applicable legal regime reigns. This court should stay the circuit courts (temporary restraining order) during the pendency of these proceedings and restore the status quo.

The state is asking for a schedule that would allow for oral arguments as soon as the week of March 20.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Cloudy early then partly cloudy and windy later in the day. High near 90F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
A Bristol, Tennessee, man has been charged after authorities said he helped three escapees in Johnson City, Tennessee, including one that faces charges in connection with a 2021 shooting in Bristol, Virginia.

On Tuesday, the Johnson City Police Department arrested Nathan Adams, 28, and charged him with three counts of facilitating escape, according to a news release. At 5:35 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the JCPD were notified of three inmates of the Johnson City Detention Facility had walked away from a work detail at Freedom Hall Civic Center, the release states.

"It was discovered that Mr. Adams gave a ride to the three escapees and transported them to an undisclosed location," police said in the news release.

Adams is being held on $30,000 bail at the Washington County Detention Center in Jonesborough. He's scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Washington County Sessions Court.

Police continued to search Wednesday for Brianna Marie Fleenor, 30, and Kayla Danielle Pierson, 25, who both are serving sentences on meth charges, and Mary Elizabeth Dunn, who was sentenced for felony theft and evading arrest, the release states.

On Wednesday, Sergeant Steve Crawford with the Bristol Virginia Police Department confirmed Fleenor is also wanted in connection with a 2021 shooting at Eastridge Apartments. She faces charges of malicious wounding and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Fleenor is accused of shooting a man in the shoulder as he sat in his car at the apartment complex, according to police. The man has since recovered. Crawford said there appears to have been a verbal dispute.

Fleenor was later arrested in Tennessee, where she has served time on various drug-related charges.

All three women remained at large late Wednesday.

Anyone with information relevant to the escape investigation or the whereabouts of the three women is asked to call 911, the Johnson City Police Departments Criminal Investigation Division at (423) 434-6166 or to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at (423) 434-6158, the release states. Messages can also be sent to the Johnson City Police Department Website to crimestopper@johnsoncitytn.org.

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Today, masks are optional for Hickory Public Schools.

The school system has required masks since the beginning of the school year and is the last district in Catawba County to move to an optional masking policy. Catawba County Schools has been optional since the beginning of December 2021, and Newton-Conover City Schools has been optional since the beginning of January.

The Hickory Public Schools Board of Education met at 1 p.m. Wednesday, and the board voted unanimously to move to optional masks on Thursday. The called meeting lasted roughly 15 minutes.

The board will revisit the decision every month.

While discussing the policy change, board members pointed to changes in the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit made by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. The toolkit no longer requires schools to do contact tracing, and students exposed to COVID-19 who dont have symptoms are no longer required to quarantine.

Weve gotten out of the flu season. Weve gotten past the cold winter and a lot of the issues and major concerns we had about people getting sick. I think at some point in time herd immunity is going to have to kick in, board member Ittiely Carson said. I just believe we are here, in this day and time, where we should be able to do optional and let each child go by what their parent has instructed them to do.

Carson also said the school system should continue providing masks for anyone who wishes to wear one. Board member Sarah Temple said she would want the district to reiterate what other safety precautions it is taking. School Superintendent Bryan Taylor said the information would be shared during the districts monthly COVID-19 update at the next board meeting.

Board chairperson Bryan Graham said he is proud of the district for being consistent through this school year regarding masks and COVID-19 protocols.

With the toolkit and the way it was written, masking kept kids in school, he said. Regardless of whether we wanted kids to not wear masks or have masks be optional, because I think that opinion may have differed. The No. 1 goal of this board has been to keep kids in school. I think with the change in the toolkit and with the change in the virus itself, right now, this is the time to make masks optional.

There was no time set aside for public comments at the meeting. There will be a time for public comments at the next board meeting which will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the auditorium at Grandview Middle School.

I do kind of wish that we had waited until Monday to make this decision, the more I thought about it, just because of the public comments section, Temple said. On the other hand, it (the mask policy) has been on our agenda every single month for the entire school year as an item of discussion and action. We have discussed and acted on it every single month and have not had a single person come and speak to us.

Kevin Sparks attended the meeting and shared his concerns afterward.

So the comment was made by one of the members of the board that we will reach herd immunity in Catawba County, therefore we should drop mask requirements and have no metrics for tracking the status to make a different decision, he said. I think theres hazards with a decision like that. I think the evidence is very strong that if you want to reach herd immunity, the vaccination rate needs to be very high, perhaps 80% or more. Were currently at 52 or 53%, as reported by the CDC, in Catawba County.

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Financial institutions will need to work on a complete plan for ISO-20022 adoption, including gathering of requirements, high-level design, budget and training, noted a webinar.

The webinar was organised by UAE Banks Federation (UBF), the sole unified voice and representative of UAE banks, together with Swift.

The webinar was for all the members of UAE Swift Users Community, to discuss the latest update on ISO20022 adoption programme, which will go live on November 19, 2022. This will be followed by a 3-year coexistence period with legacy Swift MT Standards, which will end in November 2025.

During the 90 minutes webinar, speakers covered various topics of interest and shared details of the planned tailored trainings for both technical and business teams as part of Swift learning centre.

We were happy with the response we received for this webinar, reflecting our UBF members' commitment. Over 175 attendees, including UBF member banks' Swift Administrators and Officers, Swift IT Technical Operation officers, Department Managers, and Swift Business Operation Officers, attended this webinar, which shows how important it is for us at UBF and Swift to share the correct information and provide the required support to the banking sector as we move towards enhancing their experience, said Jamal Saleh, UBF Director General and Chairman of UAEs Swift Users Group.

Onur Ozan, Head of Middle East, North Africa and Turkey at Swift, said: The payment industrys migration to ISO 20022 is fast approaching. As the industry begins the transition to this new standard, we are starting to plan and execute on strategies to make this migration a success and enable the payments community to extract the true value that ISO 20022 can bring. Richer payment data will unlock opportunities in terms of transparency, efficiency, and also the development of new, value-added propositions for customers.-- TradeArabia News Service
" " Russian Armed Forces approach the Perekop checkpoint connecting the Crimean peninsula to the Ukrainian mainland Feb. 24, after Russian President Vladamir Putin announced a "special military operation" be conducted in both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Sergei Malgavko/TASS/via Getty Images

The first casualty of war, says historian Ronald Suny, is not just the truth. Often, he says, "it is what is left out."

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a full-scale attack on Ukraine Feb. 24, 2022, and many in the world are now getting a crash course in the complex and intertwined history of those two nations and their peoples.

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Much of what the public is hearing, though, is jarring to Suny. That's because some of it is incomplete, some of it is wrong, and some of it is obscured or refracted by the self-interest or the limited perspective of who is telling it.

Suny, a professor at the University of Michigan, responded to several popular historical assertions about the two nations.

Putin's view of Russo-Ukrainian history has been widely criticized in the West. What do you think motivates his version of the history?

Putin believes that Ukrainians, Belarusians and Russians are one people, bound by shared history and culture. But he also is aware that they have become separate states recognized in international law and by Russian governments as well. At the same time, he questions the historical formation of the modern Ukrainian state, which he says was the tragic product of decisions by former Russian leaders Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin and Nikita Khrushchev. He also questions the sovereignty and distinctive nation-ness of Ukraine. While he promotes national identity in Russia, he denigrates the growing sense of nation-ness in Ukraine.

" " Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Moscow on Feb. 22, 2022. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Putin indicates that Ukraine by its very nature ought to be friendly, not hostile to Russia. But he sees its current government as illegitimate, aggressively nationalist, and even fascist. The condition for peaceful relations between states, he repeatedly says, is that they do not threaten the security of other states. Yet, as is clear from the invasion, he presents the greatest threat to Ukraine.

Putin sees Ukraine as an existential threat to Russia, believing that if it enters NATO, offensive weaponry will be placed closer to the Russian border, as already is being done in Romania and Poland.

It's possible to interpret Putin's statements about the historical genesis of the Ukrainian state as self-serving history and a way of saying, "We created them, we can take them back." But I believe he may instead have been making a forceful appeal to Ukraine and the West to recognize the security interests of Russia and provide guarantees that there will be no further moves by NATO toward Russia and into Ukraine. Ironically, his recent actions have driven Ukrainians more tightly into the arms of the West.

The Western position is that the breakaway regions Putin recognized, Donetsk and Luhansk, are integral parts of Ukraine. Russia claims that the Donbass region, which includes these two provinces, is historically and rightfully part of Russia. What does history tell us?

During the Soviet period, these two provinces were officially part of Ukraine. When the USSR disintegrated, the former Soviet republic boundaries became, under international law, the legal boundaries of the post-Soviet states. Russia repeatedly recognized those borders, though reluctantly in the case of Crimea.

But when one raises the fraught question of what lands belong to what people, a whole can of worms is opened. The Donbass has historically been inhabited by Russians, Ukrainians, Jews and others. In Soviet and post-Soviet times the cities were largely Russian ethnically and linguistically, while the villages were Ukrainian. When in 2014 the Maidan revolution in Kyiv moved the country toward the West and Ukrainian nationalists threatened to limit the use of the Russian language in parts of Ukraine, rebels in the Donbas violently resisted the central government of Ukraine.

" " The War in Donbass region of eastern Ukraine has caused at least 10,000 deaths and 1.4 million people displaced from their homes since the start of the conflict in March 2014. Martin Trabalik/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

After months of fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebel forces in the Donbas in 2014, regular Russian forces moved in from Russia, and a war began that has lasted for the last eight years, with thousands killed and wounded.

Historical claims to land are always contested  think of Israelis and Palestinians, Armenians and Azerbaijanis  and they are countered by claims that the majority living on the land in the present takes precedence over historical claims from the past. Russia can claim Donbass with its own arguments based on ethnicity, but so can Ukrainians with arguments based on historical possession. Such arguments go nowhere and often lead, as can be seen today, to bloody conflict.

Why was Russia's recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as independent such a pivotal event in the conflict?

When Putin recognized the Donbass republics as independent states, he seriously escalated the conflict, which turned out to be the prelude to a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That invasion is a hard, harsh signal to the West that Russia will not back down and accept the further arming of and placing of weaponry in Ukraine, Poland and Romania. The Russian president has now led his country into a dangerous preventive war  a war based on the anxiety that sometime in the future his country will be attacked  the outcome of which is unpredictable.

A New York Times story on Putin's histories of Ukraine says "The newly created Soviet government under Lenin that drew so much of Mr. Putin's scorn on Monday would eventually crush the nascent independent Ukrainian state. During the Soviet era, the Ukrainian language was banished from schools and its culture was permitted to exist only as a cartoonish caricature of dancing Cossacks in puffy pants." Is this history of Soviet repression accurate?

Lenin's government won the 1918-1921 civil war in Ukraine and drove out foreign interventionists, thus consolidating and recognizing the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. But Putin is essentially correct that it was Lenin's policies that promoted Ukrainian statehood within the USSR, within a Soviet empire, officially granting it and other Soviet republics the constitutional right to secede from the Union without conditions. This right, Putin angrily asserts, was a landmine that eventually blew up the Soviet Union.

The Ukrainian language was never banned in the USSR and was taught in schools. In the 1920s, Ukrainian culture was actively promoted by the Leninist nationality policy.

But under Stalin, Ukrainian language and culture began to be powerfully undermined. This started in the early 1930s, when Ukrainian nationalists were repressed, the horrific "Death Famine" killed millions of Ukrainians, and Russification  which is the process of promoting Russian language and culture  accelerated in the republic.

Within the strict bounds of the Soviet system, Ukraine, like many other nationalities in the USSR, became a modern nation, conscious of its history, literate in its language, and even in puffy pants permitted to celebrate its ethnic culture. But the contradictory policies of the Soviets in Ukraine both promoted a Ukrainian cultural nation while restricting its freedoms, sovereignty and expressions of nationalism.

History is both a contested and a subversive social science. It is used and misused by governments and pundits and propagandists. But for historians it is also a way to find out what happened in the past and why. As a search for truth, it becomes subversive of convenient and comfortable but inaccurate views of where we came from and where we might be going.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here. It has been updated to reflect the correct ethnic and linguistic character of the villages in the Donbas during the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. They were Ukrainian."

Ronald Suny is the William H. Sewell Jr. Distinguished University Professor of History at the University of Michigan; Emeritus Professor of Political Science and History at the University of Chicago; and Senior Researcher at the National Research University  Higher School of Economics in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

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Originally Published: Feb 24, 2022
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.

AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, celebrates the 75th anniversary of Hesston by Massey Ferguson  in 2022. The innovative equipment manufacturer began in 1947 when a farmer and manufacturer came together to solve harvesting inefficiencies. Since then, the company has kept producers at the heart of every user-friendly, highly productive product design it has produced. As Hesston by Massey Ferguson reflects on 75 years in business, the company continues to build on its legacy of innovation, promising revolutionary new products in 2022 and beyond.

Farmer-Focused Innovation

Hesston Machine & Manufacturing was founded in Hesston, Kansas, in 1947 by Lyle Yost and Adin Holdemann. Yost, a farmer and contractor, recognized inefficiencies unloading grain from combine grain tanks. Working with Holdemann, a manufacturer, he developed a new method based on an unloading auger that increased productivity and safety for this important task. The company continued to produce innovative non-powered implements that revolutionized grain harvesting. In 1955, the company entered the hay industry with the first commercially available self-propelled windrower  the Hesston Model 100, which increased productivity and hay quality and encouraged the company to specialize in hay harvesting equipment. Today, Hesston by Massey Ferguson is recognized across North America as an innovative leader in hay equipment manufacturing.

Since its inception, Hesston by Massey Ferguson has sought to provide the straightforward and dependable solutions that address the everyday needs of farmers, said Matt LeCroy, marketing director, Hay and Forage North America for Hesston by Massey Ferguson. As a specialized hay equipment manufacturer, we have cultivated a deep understanding of the hay industry and hay producers, allowing us to lead the way with the right products at the right time.



Revolutionary Legacy

Over the last 75 years, Hesston by Massey Ferguson has introduced many revolutionary products that improved hay production and quality for both commercial and traditional operations. Important developments in this lineage include:

1970, introduction of the StackHand 60, the worlds first loose hay stacker.

1976, introduction of the 5400 and 5800 large round balers, turning hay production into a one-man operation.

1978, introduction of the Hesston 4800, the worlds first large square baler, producing 4-by-4-foot square bales that minimized dry matter loss and increased hay production efficiency.

2007, introduction of the MF 2100 Series common platform large baler, which brought the original large square baler into the modern era.

By focusing on the farmer in the field, Hesston by Massey Ferguson has remained at the forefront of the hay industry for 75 years and promises tremendous value for customers in the decades to come, LeCroy said. To date, the company holds more hay inspired patents than any other manufacturer.



Looking to the Future

The facility in Hesston, Kansas, continues to manufacture some of the most cutting-edge hay equipment in North America, including the companys very popular windrowers, balers, and combines. An additional investment of $45 million in 2013 added a new state-of-the-art paint facility.

We are proud to be a part of 75 years of straightforward, dependable equipment manufacturing and a cornerstone in the Hesston, Kansas, community, said Seth Beytien, director, supply chain, plant lead for Hesston by Massey Ferguson. We look forward to the next 75 years of farmer-focused innovation as North Americas leading hay equipment manufacturer.



Today the Hesston, Kansas, facility is AGCOs number one location in North America for manufacturing implements and combine harvesters. Hesston by Massey Ferguson continues a tradition of innovative engineering, producing revolutionary and timely hay equipment, including the release of the new WR Series self-propelled windrower in 2022.

For more on Hesston by Massey Fergusons rich history and to see a full lineup of the companys innovative products, visit www.masseyferguson.com.
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.

Strong global demand and tight supply helped drive U.S. dairy exports to a second consecutive volume record in 2021 and a new all-time high in value. U.S. export volume last year increased 10% over 2020 to more than 2.3 million metric tons (MT) milk solid equivalent. Value rose 18% to $7.75 billion.

Export volume in 2021 was equivalent to more than 17% of U.S. milk produced last year, also an all-time high.



Weve seen tremendous growth in U.S. dairy exports over the past two years. That growth is all the more impressive because it came in the face of the ongoing pandemic and a supply chain crisis that continues to challenge U.S. dairy export competitiveness, says Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). But its important to remember that this is a long-term progression. U.S. exports have been rising for the past two decades, and the U.S. dairy industryfrom farmers to manufacturershave been doing the hard work to build and service demand for U.S. dairy for just as long. That investment in and dedication to export customers is one of the reasons why weve been able to face todays challenges and grow the industry.

Here are some of 2021s highlights:

The U.S. set annual export records in cheese, nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NFDM/SMP), whey, lactose, and fluid milk and cream. U.S. cheese shipments topped 400,000 MT for the first time and whey surpassed 600,000 MT for the first time. NFDM/SMP fell just shy of 900,000 MT, topping out at 892,528 MT.





U.S. dairy exports to Mexico rebounded strongly in 2021 alongside Mexicos economic recovery. U.S. cheese sales to Mexico set a record, rising 13% and exceeding 100,000 MT for the first time. U.S. NFDM/SMP sales to Mexico jumped 18% to 337,846 MT, second highest in history. Mexico accounted for more than a quarter of total U.S. cheese exports in 2021 and 38% of U.S. NFDM/SMP shipments.





U.S. cheese exports jumped 14% in 2021 to 404,675 MT, led by strong demand from Latin America. Shipments to Central America soared 53% and the additional 12,117 MT U.S. suppliers shipped there last year represents the largest cheese export gain to any major market. Exports to South America j.umped 33%, while shipments to Mexico grew 13%.





U.S. suppliers had their best year for butterfat exports since 2014. Sales rose 121% to 57,487 MT, led by a tripling of volume to the Middle East/North Africa (MENA), but also supported by strong gains in many key markets, including Canada, China, Southeast Asia, South Korea and Australia.





Total U.S. exports to the MENA region soared in 2021 across product categories: butterfat +154%, cheese +39%, NFDM/SMP +51% and whey products +20%.





U.S. whey exports grew 10% to 613,944 MT in 2021, driven primarily by China, which accounted for 44% of total whey volume. U.S. whey sales to China rose by nearly 50,000 MT, as the nation rebuilt its pig herd from African Swine Fever in the first half of the year. Chinese purchasing decline sharply in the second half, as pork prices plummeted and herd expansion efforts halted. Vietnam, South Korea and Mexico recorded strong double-digit increases as well.





Southeast Asia remained the second-largest U.S. market in value terms, with the U.S. shipping nearly $1.4 billion worth of products to the region (an increase of 11% over the previous year). However, the region was the hardest hit by delays and cancellations caused by U.S. supply chain issues. That resulted in fairly flat volume performance overall, although Southeast Asia still accounted for 36% of U.S. NFDM/SMP exports, running a close second to Mexico.



Strong underlying fundamentals continue to drive global demand for high-quality, affordable dairy nutrition, says Harden. We are optimistic that will continue to translate to opportunity for the U.S. dairy sector. At the same time, we remain realistic about the challenges, from supply chain issues to global economic performance. (For more on USDEC expectations for 2022, see the U.S. Dairy Exporter Blog post, U.S. dairy exports set multiple records in 2021.)



Record performance or not, the last two years should demonstrate to any remaining doubters that the U.S. dairy marketplace is global, says Harden. The U.S. dairy industry has invested in people, facilities and products specifically targeted to export markets. USDEC and the industry continue to work hard to reduce barriers to trade, stimulate overseas dairy consumption and reinforce the U.S. reputation as a committed, go-to source for dairy around the world. Over the long-term, we know that dairy export trend line will continue to rise.








ACS President Dr Nick Tate launched the Election Platform at the ACS Reimagination Thought Leaders' Summit 2022. Photo: Good Thanks Photography

ACS has outlined a roadmap for the next federal government to boost the digital economy and improve Australias technology sector.

The ACS 2022 Election Platform features nine key policies aimed at making Australia a technology leader.

ACS President Dr Nick Tate launched the platform during this weeks ACS Reimagination Thought Leaders Summit in Sydney, saying the last two years have proven the importance of technology for the economy and society overall.

Everything from working from home, check-in applications, and alleviating supply chain issues hinges on a skilled IT workforce, he said.

Expanding this workforce is now essential to maintain the nations standard of living and grow our economy.

The ACS Election Platform lays out a roadmap for the next government  regardless of who wins  to build on the Australian economys strength over the last two years and help the nation keep its place in the digital economy.

At the ACS Digital Disruptors Awards 2022, NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello endorsed the Election Platform, signing a copy of the document on stage.

I used to think IT was like tonsils  I didnt understand what it did or why it was necessary, he told Wednesday nights crowd of IT professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

But as weve seen in recent years, IT is the spine of organisational structures.

You are seriously shaping our future," he told the crowd, "and it is very important that we secure that future by improving the Australian IT and technology sector.





NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello spoke at the Digital Disruptors Awards 2022. Photo: Good Thanks Photography

The nine measures proposed in ACS 2022 Election Platform are:

A $500m program to boosting the technology professions diversity and inclusion $100m on encouraging Digital Technologies education in schools A $10,000 employer tax credit to improving the workforces digital skills Stronger cyber security rules for government agencies and contractors A $100m crackdown on spam and scams $500m for growing Australias regional digital economy Establishment of a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Creating a Cabinet-level Digital Economy portfolio Establishing a commission to evaluate the needs of tomorrows workforce

ACS consulted with members and the public to form the policy priorities.

The community noted a need for more diversity and inclusion in the IT workforce along with a strong need to increase the number of IT professionals working in Australia.
With lecture theatres closed, completing university degrees during the pandemic has been a struggle  but as new graduates consider where to find their first jobs, tech-driven companies remain among the most welcoming and rewarding options, a new survey has found.

Four technology companies  Canva, Google, Xero Australia, and Amazon  placed in the top ten of GradAustralias new Top 100 Graduate Employers list, with tech stalwarts Optus, Telstra, MYOB, DXC Technology, FDM Group, and Microsoft all sitting inside the top 50.

There were also good reviews for graduate recruitment programs of conventional businesses known for heavy use of technology, with top-20 rankings for the likes of Coles, ANZ Bank, BHP, Coles, Deloitte, PwC, Capgemini and even the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

The rankings are based both on student popularity and program quality, GradAustralia explained, ensuring that the rankings reflect graduates experiences of recruitment processes for those trudging from one interview to another.

But what makes a company particularly appealing to recent graduates?

Money was far from the top consideration for employees at #1-ranked online-design unicorn Canva, whose recent graduates gave the strongest scores in areas such as corporate social responsibility, company culture, diversity, sustainability, the office work environment, and other workplace-related metrics.

New hires lauded very flexible work hours, convenient office space, lack of a dress code, childcare programs, LGBT support and diversity training, COVID-19 pandemic support initiatives, and other programs aimed at supporting its more than 800 employees.

People do genuinely follow the companys value to be a good human, one Canva employee said, while another noted that everyone always aspires to be a force for good on and off work.

Ninth-ranked Amazon ANZ also posted strong marks for cultural metrics, career prospects, its amazing office and work environment, and overall satisfaction, although some graduates noted the steep learning curve when starting technical jobs.

The interview process was rigorous with lots of difficult technical questions supplemented with behavioural questions, one reviewer said, adding that interviewers always made me feel welcome and calm.

Strong support during and after recruitment improves perceptions of companies as employers of choice, with Optus  ranked 5th among technology companies and 18th overall  scoring nearly perfect tens for recruitment, culture, management, and satisfaction.

My team is so supportive and willing to teach, one reviewer said, which made me feel confident and comfortable to ask questions and learn.

Another lauded company management that are available whenever I need them and make time to help me with whatever I ask for.

Fighting for skills

With recent surveys finding that forcing workers back to the office can be catastrophic and that 52 per cent of IT workers wouldnt recommend their current workplace no matter how much free food it provides, employers providing strong pastoral support are likely to fare better with talented graduates navigating the challenges of the post-pandemic workforce.

Finding work after graduation was already tough before the pandemic, with a 2019 Australia Institute study noting that only 73 per cent of recent graduates had secured full-time employment in a jobs market described as intensely free-market, dog-eat-dog.

With employers forced to support remote working, many refocused their ambitions and overhauled recruitment and culture building  but growing investments in digital transformation have seen many companies hiring more graduates than ever.

Weve been looking to increase the engineering, cyber security, data and analytics skills that go through the organisation, Sian Lewis, human resources group executive with the 20th-ranked Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said during the recent Gartner IT Symposium.

Were recruiting four times as many engineers as we were 18 months ago, she continued, citing surging demand for software, cloud engineering, and other skills that had seen the company recruiting around 100 engineers per month.

There was already a very big agenda for us to move into a space where we could compete with the technology giants and fintechs moving into financial services, Lewis said, and one of the things Im proudest of is that we did not withdraw from graduate recruitment.

During the first lockdown, we managed to recruit 200 technology graduates at a time when a lot of other organisations were withdrawing from campus.

Tech graduates arent the only ones top graduate employers are targeting: across the board, GradAustralia found, leading companies are actively recruiting from across the spectrum of majors.

Eighth-ranked cloud-accounting firm Xero, for example, not only recruits conventional STEM graduates but has been hiring majors in business and management; creative arts; humanities, arts and social sciences; law, legal studies and justice; property and built environment; and teaching & education.

This echoes observations by the Australia Institute, which noted that despite the recent emphasis on STEM education math grads have one of the worst full-time employment placement rates of any discipline.

Employers report they especially seek applicants with verbal, social, problem-solving, and communication skills.

The GradAustralia rankings corroborate a recent Contino study that found workers most value traits such as company culture and the ability to work with modern technologies, and were most likely to leave a job due to bad management or leadership teams.